Split (1)

train · 601k rows

pred_label stringclasses 2 values	pred_label_prob float64 0.5 1	wiki_prob float64 0.25 1	text stringlengths 97 1.02M	source stringlengths 37 43
__label__wiki	0.857981	0.857981	December 18, 2019 / 10:09 PM / a month ago U.S. appeals court sidesteps major Obamacare ruling Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court ruled on Wednesday that a component of the Obamacare law is unconstitutional, but dodged a major ruling by stopping short of declaring that the rest of the landmark 2010 healthcare statute must also be struck down. FILE PHOTO: A sign on an insurance store advertises Obamacare in San Ysidro, San Diego, California, U.S., October 26, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on a 2-1 vote that the law’s individual mandate that directed Americans to obtain health insurance - a provision already gutted by Republican-backed legislation passed in Congress - was unlawful. The court, however, avoided answering the key question of whether the rest of the law can remain in place or must be struck down, instead sending the case back to a district court judge for further analysis. That means the fate of the signature domestic achievement of Democratic former President Barack Obama remains in limbo. Writing for the majority, Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod said that Texas-based U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor must “employ a finer-toothed comb” to determine if the entire law must be struck down. In 2018, O’Connor ruled the entire law was unconstitutional. Elrod wrote that it may be that the law does eventually have to be struck down in full, but “it is no small thing for unelected, life-tenured judges to declare duly enacted legislation passed by the elected representatives of the American people unconstitutional.” The dissenting judge, Carolyn Dineen King, said she would have found that the challengers had no legal standing to bring the lawsuit. She also said the rest of the law could be upheld even if the individual mandate was unconstitutional. The law has drawn Republican ire since its passage. Congressional Republicans tried and failed numerous times to repeal it, and the Trump administration has taken several actions to undermine it. Trump says court decision on Obamacare won't change healthcare system “The 5th Circuit correctly held that the individual mandate is unconstitutional, and we look forward to the opportunity to further demonstrate that Congress made the individual mandate the centerpiece of Obamacare and the rest of the law cannot stand without it,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican who leads the legal challenge brought by 18 conservative-led states. President Donald Trump, a Republican, said the decision would not change the current U.S. healthcare system. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats would fight Republican efforts to rollback Obamacare. “Tonight’s ruling is a chilling threat to the 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions and every other family who depends on the lifesaving protections of the Affordable Care Act,” she said in a statement. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who heads a coalition of 20 Democratic-led states defending the law, said the ruling means Trump “got the gift he wanted — uncertainty in the healthcare system and a pathway to repeal.” California will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, a spokeswoman for the state attorney general said. Obamacare has helped roughly 20 million Americans obtain medical insurance either through government programs or through policies from private insurers made available in Obamacare marketplaces. Republican opponents have called the law an unwarranted intervention by government in health insurance markets. In 2012, the Supreme Court narrowly upheld most Obamacare provisions including the individual mandate, which required people to obtain insurance or pay a financial penalty. The court defined this penalty as a tax and thus found the law permissible under the Constitution’s provision empowering Congress to levy taxes. In 2017, Trump signed into law a tax bill passed by a Republican-led Congress that eliminated the financial penalty under the individual mandate. The 2017 law means the individual mandate can no longer be interpreted as a tax provision and is therefore unlawful, the appeals court concluded in Wednesday’s ruling. Trump’s administration supported the legal challenge and declined to defend the law in court. Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Additional reporting by Nate Raymond; Editing by Leslie Adler and Lisa Shumaker	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4811
__label__cc	0.510329	0.489671	Pictures \| Sat Dec 28, 2019 \| 12:13am GMT Armando Martin, 11, of California plays a guitar to honor GYSGT George Figone Jr. in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, December 25, 2019. REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy Reuters / Wednesday, December 25, 2019 People take photos with their smartphones as they monitor the annular solar eclipse on Jabal Arba (Four Mountains) in Hofuf, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, December 26, 2019. An annular eclipse occurs when the moon covers the sun's center...more Reuters / Thursday, December 26, 2019 People take photos with their smartphones as they monitor the annular solar eclipse on Jabal Arba (Four Mountains) in Hofuf, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, December 26, 2019. An annular eclipse occurs when the moon covers the sun's center but leaves its outer edges visible to form a ring. Thursday's was visible in Saudi Arabia as well as Singapore, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed A wolf bites a wolfhound as he is attacked by dogs during a hunting contest outside Almaty, Kazakhstan December 21, 2019. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev Reuters / Saturday, December 21, 2019 Women scatter flower petals in the waters of the Bay of Bengal during a prayer ceremony for the victims of the 2004 tsunami on the 15th anniversary of the disaster, at Marina beach in Chennai, India, December 26, 2019. More than 230,000 people died...more Women scatter flower petals in the waters of the Bay of Bengal during a prayer ceremony for the victims of the 2004 tsunami on the 15th anniversary of the disaster, at Marina beach in Chennai, India, December 26, 2019. More than 230,000 people died on the morning after Christmas Day in 2004, when a 9.1 magnitude quake off northern Sumatra island triggered a tsunami with waves as high as 57 feet that swept over vulnerable coastal areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and nine other countries. REUTERS/P. Ravikumar Firefighters walk at the scene of a fire in Valparaiso, Chile, December 24, 2019. A fire in a poor neighborhood of the coastal Chilean city destroyed dozens of houses. Inhabitants fled their homes in the middle of Christmas Eve festivities, some...more Reuters / Tuesday, December 24, 2019 Firefighters walk at the scene of a fire in Valparaiso, Chile, December 24, 2019. A fire in a poor neighborhood of the coastal Chilean city destroyed dozens of houses. Inhabitants fled their homes in the middle of Christmas Eve festivities, some losing all their belongings and even pets, a Reuters witness said. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido A participant of a welcoming ceremony puts on lipstick while writing the word "Crimea" on a railway carriage with lipstick upon the arrival of the first direct train from Saint Petersburg to Crimea, following the opening of the Kerch Strait road and...more A participant of a welcoming ceremony puts on lipstick while writing the word "Crimea" on a railway carriage with lipstick upon the arrival of the first direct train from Saint Petersburg to Crimea, following the opening of the Kerch Strait road and rail bridge in Sevastopol, Crimea December 25, 2019. REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, atop an ULA Atlas V rocket, lifts off on an uncrewed Orbital Flight Test to the International Space Station from launch complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida December...more Reuters / Friday, December 20, 2019 The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, atop an ULA Atlas V rocket, lifts off on an uncrewed Orbital Flight Test to the International Space Station from launch complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida December 20, 2019. A software problem caused the capsule to fail to attain the orbit needed to rendezvous with the International Space Station, but the Starliner two days later made a "bull's-eye" landing in the New Mexico desert, a successful ending to the crewless test mission. REUTERS/Joe Skipper Police arrest a Hong Kong protester after a Chinese flag was removed from a flag pole at a rally in support of Xinjiang Uighurs' human rights in Hong Kong, China, December 22, 2019. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson Reuters / Sunday, December 22, 2019 A man dressed as Santa Claus wades through floodwater in St. Mark's Square during high tide in Venice, Italy, December 23, 2019. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri Reuters / Monday, December 23, 2019 A Muslim woman cries during a protest against a new citizenship bill in New Delhi, India December 22, 2019. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi Drew Miller, manager and co-founder of Fortitude Ranch, poses for a portrait at his survival camp in southern Colorado. For an annual fee of around $1,000, members can vacation at the camps in good times, and use them as a refuge during a societal...more Drew Miller, manager and co-founder of Fortitude Ranch, poses for a portrait at his survival camp in southern Colorado. For an annual fee of around $1,000, members can vacation at the camps in good times, and use them as a refuge during a societal collapse. Picture taken December 9, 2019. REUTERS/Adria Malcolm Prince Philip leaves the King Edward VII's Hospital in London, Britain December 24, 2019. The 98-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth was released from hospital and joined other members of the royal family for their Christmas celebrations. He had been...more Prince Philip leaves the King Edward VII's Hospital in London, Britain December 24, 2019. The 98-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth was released from hospital and joined other members of the royal family for their Christmas celebrations. He had been taken to hospital as a precautionary measure for treatment for a pre-existing condition, the palace said. REUTERS/Hannah McKay People cross the road outside the State Theatre Building that is slated for demolition in the North Point neighborhood in Hong Kong, China. Picture taken December 11, 2019. REUTERS/Thomas Peter Trucks carry belongings of people fleeing from Maarat al-Numan, in northern Idlib, Syria December 24, 2019. The United Nations said 235,000 civilians had fled their homes in rebel-held northwestern Syria during a Russian-backed campaign of air...more Trucks carry belongings of people fleeing from Maarat al-Numan, in northern Idlib, Syria December 24, 2019. The United Nations said 235,000 civilians had fled their homes in rebel-held northwestern Syria during a Russian-backed campaign of air strikes and shelling this month. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano People walk next to New Year and Christmas decoration installations in Moscow, Russia December 25, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Cats are pictured on shelves inside a room at a cat shelter called "Rumah Kucing Parung" in Bogor, West Java province, Indonesia December 23, 2019. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli clashes with Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Britain, December 22, 2019. Action Images via REUTERS/John Sibley A demonstrator reacts during a protest against Chile's government in Santiago, Chile December 20, 2019. REUTERS/Pablo Sanhueza Huge waves break on the cliffs off the coast of Llanes, Spain December 22, 2019. REUTERS/Eloy Alonso President Donald Trump arrives at Family Church for Christmas Eve mass with first lady Melania Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida, December 24, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis Volcano blankets Philippine city in ash Tens of thousands of residents of have abandoned their homes since Taal, one of the Philippines' most active and deadliest volcanoes, began spewing massive clouds of ash, steam and gas.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4812
__label__cc	0.508706	0.491294	Briefing af det diplomatiske korps vedrorende den nye udviklingspolitiske og humanitaere strategi Briefing af det diplomatiske korps vedrørende den nye udviklingspolitiske og humanitære strategi Eigtveds Pakhus den 25. april 2017 Thank you for attending today’s briefing. As many of you may know, the role as Minister for Development Cooperation is not unfamiliar territory for me. I have the honour to come back to this portfolio which I held from 2005 to 2010 and which lies very close to my heart. When I was here the last time, we were working with the 8 MDG’s. Now, we work with the 17 SDG’s. When I was here the last time the world’s goals were really goals for the developing world. Today, the world’s goals are for a developing world. I wholeheartedly welcome this change, which symbolises a holistic approach to development. What has stayed the same, though, is that Denmark is only one of 6 countries that meet the common UN goal of providing 0,7 % of GNI in ODA. We have done so since 1978 and we will continue to do so. I am happy to be back. My commitment and dedication to the development agenda is as strong now as it was when I was first appointed Minister for Development Cooperation in 2005. ‘My second term’ as Minister for Development Cooperation coincided with the adoption of a new Danish strategy for development cooperation and humanitarian action. The new Danish strategy is built on the SDG’s in practice as well as in spirit. And for the first time ever, a broad political majority in the Danish Parliament has entered into a five-year political agreement on Denmark’s strategy for development policy and humanitarian action. Our new strategy is ambitious and it is realistic. It recognises that Denmark is a small country in a big world. We know that we cannot do everything, everywhere. We must prioritize what we do and where we do it.Therefore, we will focus our effort on the activities and areas where we have the most at stake and where we can obtain the greatest influence through strategic use of our strengths, expertise and experience. The Danish focus on promoting SRHR in our development policy is an excellent example of just that. Our focus on youth and migration is another. And we are prioritising geographically. We will prioritise engagement in fragile states and regions with a direct impact on Danish interests. When I was Minister for Development Cooperation for the first time, Denmark provided ODA to 32 countries. With the new strategy we have identified 12 priority countries, where our engagement will be strong and long-term. The Danish strategy is ambitious. So are the SDG’s. The UN has estimated that if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals over the next 13 years, it will require increased global investments of between 1.9 and 3.1 trillion USD – every year. It goes without saying, that we cannot provide that kind of money solely through ODA – not even if all the rich countries met the commitment of providing 0,7% of GNI in ODA. We still need ODA. We still need all the rich countries to meet our common goal. But we also need to be innovative, efficient and to bring in the private sector. The SDG’s introduce a paradigm shift in development cooperation. Development assistance will continue to be vital, but going forward, the assistance will be increasingly catalytic. Last week I took part in the spring meetings at the World Bank. I was thrilled to feel the commitment from the bank and the donors to strengthen cooperation with the private sector. To crowd-in private companies in our development work. As such the SDGs represent a final break with the view that development is a task that first and foremost requires ODA. Development must be based on partnerships between governments, the private sector and the civil society. The SDGs also confirm that human rights are a fundamental factor for achieving sustainable development. This nexus is a central element of the Danish campaign to become a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2019-2022. Our engagement in the Council will focus on the interlinkages between human rights and sustainable development, guaranteeing people their fundamental human rights and freedoms, as a way to empower them to create the life they want for themselves and their family. The SDGs have brought about a new synergy that will bring progress on both accounts. We will do our part as a member of the Council. Partnerships are the heart of the new Danish strategy and the thread through our four areas of strategic focus. Our first area of strategic focus is security and stability. Without security and stability – no development. With the new strategy Denmark has also become the first donor country to launch a joint strategy for development cooperation and humanitarian action. As conflicts and fragility tends to grow in scale, impact and time, a new international approach is required to strengthen the coherence between peace building, humanitarian action and development cooperation. We need to dismantle barriers between immediate humanitarian assistance and more long term development efforts.Denmark will strengthen the coherence between humanitarian responses and development cooperation. We must always meet immediate needs, but also to a much greater extent adapt long-term approaches from the outset. Victims of war, armed conflict and natural disasters must be given the opportunity for a safe and dignified life without being dependent on humanitarian assistance – also when it is not possible to return home. And we must do what we can to prevent conflict, help resolve it once occurred and get fragile countries back on track towards peace and development. As the CEO for the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva, very timely put it at a debate on Syrian refugees last week. “If we want to avoid refugees, we must avoid conflict. The Best Way to do that is development”. Our second area of strategic focus is migration. Migration is one of the 21st century’s biggest challenges and will continue to be so, not least due to the world’s demographic development. By 2030 the world’s population is expected to grow to 8.5 billion people. In Africa alone the population is expected to grow by more than 40 percent by 2030. Compare that to an average economic growth of less than 3 pct. per year. That is simply insufficient to sustain the growing population. One of the first travels I went on after becoming Minister for Development Cooperation - this time around - was to Niger - a longstanding Danish partner going back to the 1970’s. I visited a center for migrants who had tried their luck through the dessert, had given up and now wanted to return home. There were 400 men and I had the opportunity to talk to some of them. The men I spoke to had one thing in common, they would rather have stayed in their home country, but they were forced to migrate out of desperation and in the pursuit of a better life. The visit clearly illustrated the complexity we face in addressing irregular migration. Our engagement must be based on a comprehensive approach. We must ground our efforts in genuine partnerships with the countries of origin and transit. It is a joint responsibility to ensure increased local ownership and coordination on the ground. We will continue to support local authorities in their efforts to counter human trafficking and smuggling. Assisting partner countries in enhancing the management of migration also includes a strengthened return and readmission policy with both positive and negative incentives. But first and foremost we must counter the root causes. The lack of prospects for the future and equal opportunities for children and young people are among the primary reasons why families migrate. This requires investing massively and rapidly in creating employment opportunities, gender equality, education and the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls. To create hope for a better future for people where they live. This applies not least for the many young people. In a country like Niger, 50 pct. of the population is under 15 years of age and many of them face unemployment. This leads me to the third area of strategic focus in the strategy. Inclusive growth and job-creation. If we are to reach the potential of the large generation of youth, we need jobs and inclusive growth. The world is home to the largest generation of young people ever. An estimated 1.8 billion young people - of which more than three in four are living in developing countries. The largest youth generation ever also represents the greatest opportunity for development ever. However, this will not happen by itself. The opportunity must be seized. Denmark will aim to ensure that our development cooperation is not only for young people, but also with and by young people.Young people represent an enormous potential as agents of change, as committed citizens and not least as great innovators and entrepreneurs. Denmark is committed to seizing this potential to the benefit of the young, their countries and the world as a whole. Last but definitely not least. Our fourth area of strategic focus is on human rights and equal opportunities. This is an area that is particularly close to my heart. It is simply wrong that half of the population in many developing countries don’t enjoy basic human rights. Fighting for women’s rights is not only right. It’s also rational. Studies show that we can increase global GDP by 25% if girls and women enjoyed the same rights as boys and men. Denmark will continue to be at the forefront, fighting for gender equality and women’s rights including as a strong global advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights.Girls and young women can only make use of their full potential if we eliminate all forms of discrimination, violence and harmful practices against them. They must be able to exercise their right to have control over their own bodies.It goes without saying, that a young woman, who cannot control if and when she has children, is seriously hindered in completing an education, maintaining decent work or starting an enterprise. I was recently in Kenya where I visited the Kakuma refugee camp. I was glad to visit the school where refugee children are pursuing an education. However, I was very sad to see that even though overall enrollment is improving, enrollment for girls significantly falls as they progress through school and by 8th grade, only 26 out of more than 300 girls were still in school. This shows that even though we have come far, we still have a long way to go to reach equality and to unlock the potential for girls and young women. A lot of progress has been made since I held the office of Minister for Development Cooperation the first time. But many challenges remain and new global challenges have surfaced. If we are to ensure that Danish development cooperation remains among the very best and delivers the necessary results, it requires innovative thinking. With Denmark’s new strategy on development cooperation and humanitarian action we have taken a first vital step towards addressing these challenges and securing the necessary long-term political platform going forward - towards “The World 2030”. Once again thank you for attending todays briefing. I look forward to cooperating with you and the countries you represent on implementing the new strategy. I am happy to take questions – so please feel free. http://um.dk/da/om-os/ministrene/tidligere-ministres-taler-og-artikler/ulla%20toernaes%20taler%20og%20artikler/briefing-af-det-diplomatiske-korps-vedrorende-den-nye-udviklingspolitiske-og-humanitaere-strategi/	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4813
__label__wiki	0.759548	0.759548	Artborne Magazine December 2016 - Page 54 First Contact Keeping Time by Charlie Griffin It’s Tuesday night at Orlando’s Marks Street Senior Recreation Center, and a small but enthusiastic collection of seniors are here to dance. At 7pm, nine couples are already on the dance ﬂoor and ready to go. The hall is dimly lit, with six of the nine ceiling fans illuminated and spinning above. There sits a thin, wooden platform overlaid on standard vinyl tile, which is ﬂanked on three sides by large, unadorned banquet tables capable of accommodating ﬁve or six couples each. On the fourth side of the dance ﬂoor is Trumpet Blues: an 11–piece band founded over 25 years ago by trumpeter and now-retired mechanical engineer, Tony Pizzurro. The musicians come at this from many angles: for some of them this is the only public music-making they do all week because of non-musical day jobs, while for others it’s one fun gig amongst many. Faye Novick and Maurice Salamy, photo by Jason Fronczek The other trumpeter is Eric Wright, an Adjunct Professor of Humanities and History at Valencia College. John Babb, the baritone saxophonist, works for Charles Schwab and is also a real estate developer. I knew Melissa Davis as a yoga instructor at Warrior One on Corrine Drive in Audubon Park before I learned she plays second alto saxophone in the group. The singer, Barbara Jones, is an executive assistant at The Wyndham. Kurt Sterling, on tenor saxophone, does instrument repair and makes mouthpieces. They blend in seamlessly with the working musicians: the lead alto saxophonist Gerald Retner, bassist Larry Jacoby, trombonist Will Rogers, drummer Bill Cole, and Howard Herman—the pianist, composer, and frequent arranger for the band. Herman has created over a dozen arrangements for Trumpet Blues, including some original compositions. His contributions complement the more than two hundred songs the band has ready to go at any given moment. Meringues, rumbas, sambas, cha-chas, tangos, and foxtrots make up the majority of tunes requested of the band. Pizzurro consults with Jones and calls out tunes by their number so the musicians can locate them easily in their thick binders of sheet music, and the dancers come so regularly that they have some of the tune numbers memorized themselves. Most of the songs are understandably on the moderately paced side. Tony Pizzurro on trumpet, photo by Jason Fronczek I see grace, dignity, and playfulness as couples revolve past each other, occasionally offering greetings to each other as they rotate past. I engage a few couples in conversation as they take small breaks, with a lot of repeating ourselves to be heard over the band. 93 years old and still incredibly spry, John Ticen and his wife Clarice have been coming to Marks Street for 20 years. Joe grew up loving planes during the Great Depression in Indiana and served as a pilot in the Air Force, ﬂying patrol and interception missions in Panama during World War II. Using the GI Bill after the war, Joe became an engineer and moved to Florida in 1957 to work for Martin, which would eventually become Lockheed Martin. He’d wanted to be a pilot his whole life, but the timing was wrong for him to become a commercial pilot. By the time that would have become a possibility, he was 53 www.ARTBORNEMAGAZINE.com	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4820
__label__cc	0.675353	0.324647	Flames of Love by RasmaSandra November 16, 2019, 1:02 am 66 Views 6 Votes 5 Comments My ears picked up a song I hadn’t heard in a long time and it brought back some memories. I decided to look into who the singer was. Most of you probably have not heard of him but his song “Flames of Love” is really worth listening to. The singer of this song goes by the name of Fancy but his real name is Manfred Alois Segieth. He is a German disco singer who became popular in the mid to late 1980s. He is considered to be a Spanish German producer, songwriter and pop singer. His international career began in 1984 with his worldwide disco hit “Slice Me Nice”. His second hit was “Chinese Eyes” which rose to second place on the U.S. Billboard Dance Charts. Another hit was “Come Inside”. In Spain, he rose to number one on the charts with “Bolero”. In the mid-1980s he came out with nine singles in a row in Germany. His biggest hit of all remains “Flames of Love”. He remains active in the world of music. Written by RasmaSandra nice song indeed , thanks for sharing Nabi Bux Koree says: this is old song. I am too young so I like new songs Where are you from, what country do you call home? Are you familiar with the term ageist? Gloridaze says: This song sure takes me back to the days of disco RasmaSandra says: My days of disco were spent in NYC Gloria and I still don’t know how I got through all that pulsating music and colorful disco balls but it was an amazing time, Pesky insects in the garden	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4824
__label__cc	0.559582	0.440418	The Pope to the Syriac-Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch: “Yours is a Church of martyrs” Vatican City, 19 June 2015 (VIS) – Following a tradition established in 1971 by the Syriac-Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Holiness Ignatius Jacob III and Blessed Paul VI, this morning Pope Francis received in the Vatican His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II, accompanied by a Syriac-Orthodox delegation, recalling that the historic first meeting was the beginning of a “holy pilgrimage” towards full communion between the two Churches. Francis also mentioned the Joint Declaration on the common profession of faith in the mystery of the Incarnate Word, the true God and the true man, signed in that year by the Patriarch and the Pope, which laid the foundations for a path to unity among disciples. Subsequent meetings between Patriarch Ignatius Zakka Iwas and St. John Paul II, first in Rome and then in Damascus, represented important steps toward the concrete pastoral collaboration for the good of the faithful. “How much has changed since those first meetings!” exclaimed the bishop of Rome. “Yours, Beatitude, has been a Church of martyrs since the very beginning, and continues to be so to this day in the Middle East, where, along with other Christian communities and other minorities, it suffers greatly as a result of war, violence and persecution. How much pain! How many innocent victims! Faced with all this, it seems that those in power seem unable to find solutions”. “Let us pray together for the victims of this brutal violence and for all the situations of war throughout the world. In particular, let us remember the Metropolitan Gregorios Ibrahim and the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church Griega Paul Yazigi, abducted at the same time two years ago. Let us also remember the priests and the many other people, of different groups, deprived of their freedom. And let us ask of the Lord the grace always to be willing to forgive and to be builders of reconciliation and peace. This is what inspires the witness of the martyrs. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the unity of the Church and the tool for the edification of the kingdom of God, which is the kingdom of peace and justice”. “Beatitude, dear brother, in this moment of tension and pain”, concluded the Pope, “let us increasingly strengthen the bonds of friendship and fraternity between the Catholic Church and the Syriac-Orthodox Church. Let us hasten our steps on the common path, looking towards the day in which we will be able to celebrate our common belonging to Christ's single Church around the same altar of the Sacrifice and of worship. Let us exchange the treasures of our traditions as spiritual gifts, as what unites us is far greater than what divides us”. The Holy Father and the Patriarch then prayed together in the Redemptoris Mater chapel. Published by VISarchive 02 - Friday, June 19, 2015 0 commenti To the Catholic Biblical Federation: pastoral effort to ensure the centrality of the Word of God in the life of the Church Vatican City, 19 June 2015 (VIS) – This morning in the Consistory Hall Pope Francis received the members of the Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF), which has recently elected Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, metropolitan archbishop of Manila, Philippines, as its new president. The Federation is currently holding its tenth plenary assembly dedicated to the theme “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you”, drawn from the First Epistle of St. John; reflecting on the Sacred Scripture as the source of evangelisation, it commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the promulgation of the dogmatic Constitution on the Divine Revelation Dei Verbum. “To be able to proclaim the word of truth, we ourselves must have had the experience of the Word: we must have listened, contemplated, almost touched it with our own hands”, writes the Holy Father in the discourse he handed to those present. “Christians, who are the People of God, 'that you may proclaim the excellencies of him', must, as the dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum suggests, first of all venerate, read, listen, proclaim, preach, study and spread the Word of God. The Church, who proclaims the Word every day, receiving nourishment and inspiration from it, makes herself the beneficiary and excellent witness of the efficiency and strength inherent in that same Word of God. Neither we, nor our efforts, but rather the Holy Spirit works through those who dedicate themselves to pastoral ministry, and He does the same for the listeners, preparing them to listen to the Word and to receive its message of life”. Referring to the anniversary of Dei Verbum and the timeliness of dedicating the plenary assembly to the relationship between the Scriptures and evangelisation, Francis mentions that in 1986 St. John Paul II had invited the CBF to undertake a careful rereading of the dogmatic Constitution, applying its principles and implementing its recommendations. The Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church in 2008 offered another important opportunity for reflecting on its application. He adds, “Likewise today I would like to invite you to go ahead with this work, always taking into consideration the value of the treasure of the Conciliar Constitution, as well as the subsequent Magisterium, while you communicate the joy of the Gospel to the furthest confines of the world, obeying the missionary mandate”. “However, there are places where the Word of God has not yet been proclaimed or, although proclaimed, has not been received as the Word of salvation”, the Pope remarks. “There are places where the Word of God is emptied of its authority. The lack of the support or vigour of the Word leads to a weakening of the Christian communities of ancient tradition and curbs the spiritual growth and missionary fervour of the young Churches. We are all responsible if 'the message will run the risk of losing its freshness and will cease to have the freshness of the Gospel'. However, it remains valid to encourage a special pastoral effort to emphasise the central position of the Word of God in ecclesial life, promoting the Biblical inspiration of all pastoral ministry. We must ensure that the habitual activities of all Christian communities, in the parishes, associations and movements, truly have at heart the personal encounter with Christ communicated to us in His Word since, as St. Jerome teaches, 'ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ'”. “The mission of the servants of the Word – bishops, priests, men and women religious and laypeople – is that of promoting and favouring this encounter, which inspires faith and transforms life; therefore I pray, in the name of all the Church, that you may fulfil your mandate: ensuring 'that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured', until the day of Jesus Christ”. May no-one feel excluded from sport, says the Pope to the athletes of the Special Olympics Vatican City, 19 June 2015 (VIS) - “The world of sport looks to the Church with trust and attention, as it is aware that together it is possible to work to restore to sporting practice its true meaning: an educational, playful and recreational meaning, and also its cultural and social dignity. You are well aware of this, having chosen sport as an experience of development and growth, in the presence of a condition of fragility and limitation”, said the Pope as he received in audience 150 athletes participating in the Italian “Special Olympics”, and who will participate in the finals of the World Games in Los Angeles this July. The “Special Olympics” is an international sporting association founded in 1968 in the United States by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to help those with different mental capabilities to develop confidence in themselves and in their social capacities through training and competitive sport. “It is beautiful and meaningful that young people and adults find in sport and participation in competitions, including at an international level, an incentive to live their life fully. It is a challenge”, emphasised Francis, “and you have accepted it and 'taken the field'. I encourage you to continue in your efforts to help each other to discover your potential and to love life, to appreciate it in all its limits and above all, its beautiful sides. Sport is a path that is well-suited to this discovery, to opening oneself up, to coming out of oneself and getting involved. In this way one learns to participate, to outdo oneself, to strive together. All this helps you to become active members of society and also of the Church; and it helps society itself and the Church to overcome all forms of discrimination and exclusion”. “Please”, he continued, “be faithful to this ideal of sport. Do not let yourself be contaminated by a false sporting culture, that of economic success, victory at any cost, and individualism. Rather, it is necessary to rediscover amateur sport, the sport of gratuity, sport for sport's sake. We must protect and defend sport as an experience of human values: competition yes, but in loyalty and solidarity. Dignity for every person: always! No-one must feel excluded from sport. And the generous action and harmony between the various institutional and social bodies is necessary to attain this objective”. He concluded by wishing them a joyful and serene experience at the upcoming World Championship, expressing his hope that they would enjoy themselves and form friendships with brothers and sisters throughout the world and reminding them to pray for him. Christians and Muslims, together to counter violence perpetrated in the name of religion Vatican City, 19 June 2015 (VIS) – “Christians and Muslims: Together to counter violence perpetrated in the name of religion” is the title of the Message from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue for Ramadan, which began this year on 18 June, and 'Id al-Fitr. The document, signed by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran and Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.I., respectively president and secretary of the dicastery, is dated 12 June. “For some of you and also for others from other religious communities, the joy of the feast is shadowed by the memory of the dear ones who lost their life or goods, or suffered physically, mentally and even spiritually because of violence. Ethnic and religious communities in a number of countries of the world went through various and enormous unjust sufferings: killing of some of their members, destruction of their religious and cultural heritages, forced emigration from their homes and cities, molestation and rape of their women, enslavement of some of their members, trafficking of persons, commerce of organs, and even selling of cadavers! “We are all aware of the gravity of these crimes in themselves. However, what makes them even more heinous is the tentative of justifying them in the name of religion. It is a clear manifestation of instrumentalising religion for gaining power and richness. “Needless to say that those who have the responsibility of security and public order have also the duty to protect their people and their properties from the blind violence of the terrorists. Besides, there is also the responsibility of those who have the task of education: families, schools, curricula, religious leaders, religious discourse, media. Violence and terrorism are first conceived in the mind of the deviated persons, thereafter perpetrated on the ground. “All those are involved in the education of the youth and in the various educational spaces should teach the sacred character of life and the derived dignity of every person, regardless of his or her ethnicity, religion, culture, social position and political choice. There is no life that is more precious than another one because it belongs to a specific race or religion. Therefore, no one can kill. No one can kill in the name of God; this would be a double crime: against God and the very person. “There cannot be any ambiguity in education. The future of a person, community and of the whole humanity cannot be built on such ambiguity or apparent truth. Christians and Muslims, according to their respective religious tradition, look at God and relate with Him as being the Truth. Our life and behaviour as believers should reflect such conviction. “According to St. John Paul II, Christians and Muslims have 'the privilege of prayer' (Address to Muslim Religious Leaders, Kaduna, Nigeria, 14 February 1982). Our prayer is much needed: for justice, for peace and security in the world; for those who have deviated from the true path of life and commit violence in the name of religion, so as to return to God and change life; for the poor and the sick. “Our feasts, among others, nourish in us hope for the present and the future. It is with hope that we look at the future of humanity, especially when we do our best to make our legitimate dreams become a reality. “With Pope Francis, we wish that the fruits of Ramadan and the joy of ‘Id al-Fitr may bring about peace and prosperity, enhancing your human and spiritual growth”. Vatican City, 19 June 2015 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father received in audience Archbishop Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio in the Syrian Arab Republic. Vatican City, 19 June 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop emeritus of Cologne, Germany, as his special envoy to the inauguration of the recently-restored “conventual complex” of the Shrine of Maria-Radna at Timisoara, Romania, to be held on 2 August 2015. The Pope to the Syriac-Orthodox Patriarch of Antio... To the Catholic Biblical Federation: pastoral effo... May no-one feel excluded from sport, says the Pope... Christians and Muslims, together to counter violen...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4825
__label__wiki	0.532567	0.532567	ONE STEP INTO EUROPE The water tap in our kitchen started leaking. My wife, who makes final decisions about what should be repaired or renovated in our apartment, has been putting off a call to a plumber for quite some time. The reason, she explained, was the irresponsibility and, more often than not, utter unwillingness of the plumber to provide the maintenance of the utility at an acceptable level (plumbers, electricians, yard-keepers, etc., are usually assigned by the local utilities service office, popularly known here as “zhek”, to each separate building in the area). Our plumber, Mykhailovych by name, was a stout man nearing his retirement age. He found it already problematic to bend his body or kneel down when he had to screw or unscrew some bolts in the bathroom, much less to replace a corroded water pipe. Knowing the professional qualities of Mykhailovich, my wife once called a private utility service to do some repairs, but the guy was no better professionally, though his service was much more expensive. This time, when the leakage of the kitchen tap reached a degree which made it possible to also wash your hands and face while your original intention was only to fill a glass with water, my wife gave a ring to the “zhek.” After a few minutes of the phone talk she entered my room with her eyes shining. “I couldn’t believe my ears,” she said. “Before it was next to impossible to contact them in the morning. This time the answering machine told me I was a third in line to place my order. When my turn came, a pleasant young voice answered and apologized for the inconvenience caused – they had so many repair orders after the long weekend. Then the lady registered my request and asked when it would be better for the plumber to come – in the morning or in the afternoon… Could a talk like that be possible only a year ago? The plumber is coming at one o’clock in the afternoon. No, not Mykhailovych. Mykhailovych has retired. Our house has got a new plumber!“ My wife voice was energetic and young. “It looks like they have begun introducing the long-promised reforms. Europe is getting closer,” I murmured. The plumber came at a quarter to one. He was a young man wearing a baseball cap and an unbuttoned shirt. Instead of the usual kit with instruments he held only a spanner in his hand. And he was noticeably drunk. He staggered to the kitchen, gave a long stare at the tap and said that the thread “was kaput,” but he had no instruments at the moment, because he had left the kit at another building – the kit was too heavy to carry it from one place to another. But he would try (!) to come tomorrow, though he wasn’t sure because he had about fifty orders to do. If he did not come, we might call him. His name was Roman and his mobile number was… After Roman had gone, my wife and I looked gloomily at each other and then at the note with Roman’s number. Luda was clearly downhearted. “Take it easy”, I said. “At least, that lady on the phone… she was polite…” Tags:Europe, plumbing, reforms, standards, utilities service The police reform project in Ukraine is being implemented with the backing of the United States. Washington has provided training and money. Generally, the United States has contributed $15 million to the effort. Earlier this year 100 Ukrainian police instructors were trained by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Those instructors then went on to teach the new police course in Kyiv for the first class of officers. The U.S. influence is seen even in the U.S.-style uniforms with the kind of high-crowned, black-brimmed caps worn by the police in American cities. The hybrid cars Toyota Prius used by the police now were bought for the money that Japan paid to Ukraine in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol – the amount is the price of Ukraine’s emission quota. The organizational side of the reform was secured through hiring the Georgian Eka Zguladze as the supervisor of the project. Her experience of successfully overhauling (under then President Mikhail Saakashvili ) the previously corrupted police force in Georgia was taken into account. It seems that the Ukrainian party is also doing its best by enrolling young people who possess higher moral standards, have better education and are, on the whole, more intelligent compared to the contingent of the “old militia.” The video with a policeman playing the instrumental version of One Republic international hit “Apologize” (he was doing it on the piano placed in one of Kyiv streets) became viral (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzR_m5nN8D0 ). Personally, I know a young lady – a sincere believer, a devout Christian – who joined the new police corps here in Kyiv. The number of applicants for one vacancy varied from 7 to 10 people, depending on a city. The new police are better paid too. Average monthly pay for the new officers in Kyiv ranges from 7,000 to 10,000 hryvnyas ($320 -$450), a cut above the average Kyiv salary of 6,000 hryvnyas. It must be admitted, though, that many of those enrolled come to the capital city from provincial towns and have to rent apartments, which eats away a noticeable amount of their earnings. The average monthly rent of a one-room apartment in Kyiv is at the moment as high as 4,000 hryvnyas. Considering that the real value of the consumer basket in Kyiv in 2015 equals more than 3,000 hryvnyas, it becomes clear that the new police can hardly be placed into the bon-vivant category. What is particularly unique for Ukraine is the style of communication between the new police and the TOs, or “typical offenders.” The police speak too much, which, in my opinion, is an indicator of their inexperience. They try to explain to an offender what wrong has been done, instead of proceeding from the position of immediate law-enforcement. This expostulatory approach is unfortunately interpreted by many wrong-doers as a sign of weakness. On the other hand, quite a number of perpetrators keep thinking that they are above the law and, as a result, conflicts arise. While it is easier to cope with a guy who is driving under the influence (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voT4thAeOJg ), it is already more difficult to withstand a hysterical blond who is coming up with threats saying that her husband is a militiaman, and who attempts to run over the policeman before her car is blocked by two other cars – one in the front and the other in the back – to prevent a much heavier crime (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MjNUF3iHys ). I think the new police should undergo another course of American training to learn how to deal with the offenders, regardless of how high-positioned they may be, or what kind of cover or protection they may enjoy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lKwkn6JT74&feature=youtu.be ). The police reform project is considered experimental. I do wish for it to succeed. For me the project is no less important than the educational reform, which is under a fierce attack now on the part of those who are used to manipulating laws by pushing the buttons of their cell-phones (see my blog entry of July 23). If implemented, both projects would make people believe that ideas defended on the Maidan in the winter of 2013-2014 have started to materialize. Tags:new police, reforms, Ukraine VOCABULARY NOTES – RESUMED A few days ago I heard a discussion on the Internet about the latest developments in Ukraine. The participants (all Americans) were positively disposed toward my country. One of the observers commented on Victoria Nuland’s last visit to Kyiv when she had attended a session of the Ukrainian parliament at which the future status of the Donbas was being discussed. The political observer didn’t like her “supervision” saying it was “bad optics.” The word combination sounded somewhat strange, and I browsed the Web to find out its definition. It turned out to be a comparatively recent buzzword meaning “the way a situation looks to the general public.” A quote from The Economist says: “A scenario in which NATO starts bombing the very forces they previously helped would have “bad optics”, as they say in Washington” (1st April 2011). Another issue in the discussion was whether Ukraine has been put on the back burner by the U.S. Administration –what with Iran’s nuclear program, ISIS and Europe’s economy. An expert on Eastern Europe remembered some politician’s words: “In no way are we going to dilute our concerns for Ukraine.” While directing the debate the moderator, as he himself put it, “segued” from one topic to another. However, the spelling of “segue”may be different, because I only heard the word and didn’t see it in print. It looks that it can be re-spelt for the scooter “Segway” – as in the example: “I think it’s time to just Segway into that issue a little” – with the meaning “to change the direction of a conversation.” An older word “segue” in its original usage meant “to proceed without pause from one musical number or theme to another.“ There’s many a slip between a nonce usage of a word and its being registered by the Oxford Dictionary or Merriam-Webster. In my student’s years a key-word for the topic of the day was “MIRV” (a multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicle, in simpler words: “a missile with two or more warheads designed to strike separate enemy targets”). Though the word has been preserved in Merriam-Webster, it is outdated. As for its metaphoric derivative “to mirv” <“When in the hotel, the friends “mirved” to their rooms”>, it’s out of use, I guess. At least I have never come across it since the 1980s. By and large, it pays off to follow new vocabulary coinages, even though they may be short-lived. For me it’s the poetry of language and its music. The main thing is not to miss the most interesting lexical units, not to “sleep on life.” I picked up the verbal phrase “to sleep on life” from a talk between two friends: “You haven’t heard this song? Everybody knows this song, bro, you sleep on life.” As for Victoria Nuland… I don’t think her presence was decisive for the voting in the Rada. The Ukrainians have their own “supervisors” – less conspicuous and more powerful… Tags:English vocabulary, language and politics You are currently browsing the BLOGGING IS LIVING blog archives for August, 2015.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4826
__label__cc	0.729141	0.270859	Present a portfolio Overview Illustration is a visual language, and has a strong relationship with the text that it addresses. Each half of this partnership has different techniques, but they have to work together. At Worcester, you can be part of the global picture of Illustration. We have a strong emphasis on international collaboration and real-world experience, you will have the opportunity to develop your ideas and your portfolio, and will also have every chance to show them off in public exhibitions. Industry links with major illustrators and publishers from around the world, such as Axel Scheffler, mean you can be a part of the international illustration community from day one. Key Features - Work to real-world briefs provided by professional publishers - Home of the International Centre for the Picture Book in Society - Award-winning lecture staff have extensive experience as professional illustrators - Opportunities to exhibit your work nationally and internationally. Field trips within the UK and overseas - Celebrate your achievements and showcase your talent with our final year Degree Show, housed within the state-of-the-art facilities in The Art House and share your work with top industry professionals Learn more about the course at our Open Days Visiting us is the best way to get a feel for student life at the University of Worcester. You'll find out more about the course at our subject specific talks, and have the opportunity speak to staff, students and recent graduates about what it’s really like to study at Worcester. Book your place at www.worcester.ac.uk/open-days Want to work in a growing, creative sector where we are a world leader? Welcome to design! The UK has a proud reputation as a centre of design excellence, and last year just over 14,000 design degrees were awarded. At the moment, the jobs market looks a little better for fashion and textile designers, and not as good for multimedia or interactive designers — but that may change by the time you graduate. In general, design graduates are more likely than most to start their career in London, although that also varies by subject — last year fashion designers often found jobs in the North West, graphic designers in the South West, illustrators in the South West, East Anglia and Midlands, textile designers in the Midlands and the North West, and visual designers in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Midlands. Design is also a good degree for people who want to work for a small business - more than half of graduates start at a small employer. Fine Art and Illustration Illustration (including Year 0)	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4827
__label__wiki	0.659541	0.659541	<< Previous TITLE 18 / PART II / CHAPTER 232 / § 3663 Next >> 18 USC 3663: Order of restitution Text contains those laws in effect on January 21, 2020 From Title 18-CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDUREPART II-CRIMINAL PROCEDURECHAPTER 232-MISCELLANEOUS SENTENCING PROVISIONS Jump To: Source CreditReferences In TextAmendmentsEffective DateMiscellaneous §3663. Order of restitution (a)(1)(A) The court, when sentencing a defendant convicted of an offense under this title, section 401, 408(a), 409, 416, 420, or 422(a) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841, 848(a), 849, 856, 861, 863) (but in no case shall a participant in an offense under such sections be considered a victim of such offense under this section), or section 5124, 46312, 46502, or 46504 of title 49, other than an offense described in section 3663A(c), may order, in addition to or, in the case of a misdemeanor, in lieu of any other penalty authorized by law, that the defendant make restitution to any victim of such offense, or if the victim is deceased, to the victim's estate. The court may also order, if agreed to by the parties in a plea agreement, restitution to persons other than the victim of the offense. (B)(i) The court, in determining whether to order restitution under this section, shall consider- (I) the amount of the loss sustained by each victim as a result of the offense; and (II) the financial resources of the defendant, the financial needs and earning ability of the defendant and the defendant's dependents, and such other factors as the court deems appropriate. (ii) To the extent that the court determines that the complication and prolongation of the sentencing process resulting from the fashioning of an order of restitution under this section outweighs the need to provide restitution to any victims, the court may decline to make such an order. (2) For the purposes of this section, the term "victim" means a person directly and proximately harmed as a result of the commission of an offense for which restitution may be ordered including, in the case of an offense that involves as an element a scheme, conspiracy, or pattern of criminal activity, any person directly harmed by the defendant's criminal conduct in the course of the scheme, conspiracy, or pattern. In the case of a victim who is under 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased, the legal guardian of the victim or representative of the victim's estate, another family member, or any other person appointed as suitable by the court, may assume the victim's rights under this section, but in no event shall the defendant be named as such representative or guardian. (3) The court may also order restitution in any criminal case to the extent agreed to by the parties in a plea agreement. (b) The order may require that such defendant- (1) in the case of an offense resulting in damage to or loss or destruction of property of a victim of the offense- (A) return the property to the owner of the property or someone designated by the owner; or (B) if return of the property under subparagraph (A) is impossible, impractical, or inadequate, pay an amount equal to the greater of- (i) the value of the property on the date of the damage, loss, or destruction, or (ii) the value of the property on the date of sentencing, less the value (as of the date the property is returned) of any part of the property that is returned; (2) in the case of an offense resulting in bodily injury to a victim including an offense under chapter 109A or chapter 110- (A) pay an amount equal to the cost of necessary medical and related professional services and devices relating to physical, psychiatric, and psychological care, including nonmedical care and treatment rendered in accordance with a method of healing recognized by the law of the place of treatment; (B) pay an amount equal to the cost of necessary physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation; and (C) reimburse the victim for income lost by such victim as a result of such offense; (3) in the case of an offense resulting in bodily injury also results in the death of a victim, pay an amount equal to the cost of necessary funeral and related services; (4) in any case, reimburse the victim for lost income and necessary child care, transportation, and other expenses related to participation in the investigation or prosecution of the offense or attendance at proceedings related to the offense; (5) in any case, if the victim (or if the victim is deceased, the victim's estate) consents, make restitution in services in lieu of money, or make restitution to a person or organization designated by the victim or the estate; and (6) in the case of an offense under sections 1028(a)(7) or 1028A(a) of this title, pay an amount equal to the value of the time reasonably spent by the victim in an attempt to remediate the intended or actual harm incurred by the victim from the offense. (c)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law (but subject to the provisions of subsections (a)(1)(B)(i)(II) and (ii),1 when sentencing a defendant convicted of an offense described in section 401, 408(a), 409, 416, 420, or 422(a) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841, 848(a), 849, 856, 861, 863), in which there is no identifiable victim, the court may order that the defendant make restitution in accordance with this subsection. (2)(A) An order of restitution under this subsection shall be based on the amount of public harm caused by the offense, as determined by the court in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the United States Sentencing Commission. (B) In no case shall the amount of restitution ordered under this subsection exceed the amount of the fine which may be ordered for the offense charged in the case. (3) Restitution under this subsection shall be distributed as follows: (A) 65 percent of the total amount of restitution shall be paid to the State entity designated to administer crime victim assistance in the State in which the crime occurred. (B) 35 percent of the total amount of restitution shall be paid to the State entity designated to receive Federal substance abuse block grant funds. (4) The court shall not make an award under this subsection if it appears likely that such award would interfere with a forfeiture under chapter 46 or chapter 96 of this title or under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.). (5) Notwithstanding section 3612(c) or any other provision of law, a penalty assessment under section 3013 or a fine under subchapter C of chapter 227 shall take precedence over an order of restitution under this subsection. (6) Requests for community restitution under this subsection may be considered in all plea agreements negotiated by the United States. (7)(A) The United States Sentencing Commission shall promulgate guidelines to assist courts in determining the amount of restitution that may be ordered under this subsection. (B) No restitution shall be ordered under this subsection until such time as the Sentencing Commission promulgates guidelines pursuant to this paragraph. (d) An order of restitution made pursuant to this section shall be issued and enforced in accordance with section 3664. (Added Pub. L. 97–291, §5(a), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1253 , §3579; renumbered §3663 and amended Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §212(a)(1), (3), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1987 , 2010; Pub. L. 98–596, §9, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 3138 ; Pub. L. 99–646, §§8(b), 20(a), 77(a), 78(a), 79(a), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3593 , 3596, 3618, 3619; Pub. L. 100–182, §13, Dec. 7, 1987, 101 Stat. 1268 ; Pub. L. 100–185, §12, Dec. 11, 1987, 101 Stat. 1285 ; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7042, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4399 ; Pub. L. 101–647, title XXV, §2509, title XXXV, §3595, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4863 , 4931; Pub. L. 103–272, §5(e)(12), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1374 ; Pub. L. 103–322, title IV, §§40504, 40505, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1947 ; Pub. L. 104–132, title II, §205(a), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1229 ; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §§601(r)(1), (2), 605(l), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3502 , 3510; Pub. L. 106–310, div. B, title XXXVI, §3613(c), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1230 ; Pub. L. 109–59, title VII, §7128(b), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1910 ; Pub. L. 110–326, title II, §202, Sept. 26, 2008, 122 Stat. 3561 .) The Controlled Substances Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), is title II of Pub. L. 91–513, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1242 , as amended, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§801 et seq.) of chapter 13 of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 801 of Title 21 and Tables. 2008-Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 110–326 added par. (6). 2005-Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 109–59 inserted "5124," before "46312,". 2000-Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 106–310 inserted "which may be" after "fine". 1996-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–132, §205(a)(1)(A)–(E), substituted "(a)(1)(A) The court" for "(a)(1) The court", inserted ", section 401, 408(a), 409, 416, 420, or 422(a) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841, 848(a), 849, 856, 861, 863) (but in no case shall a participant in an offense under such sections be considered a victim of such offense under this section)," before "or section 46312,", "other than an offense described in section 3663A(c)," after "title 49", and ", or if the victim is deceased, to the victim's estate" before period at end, and added subpar. (B). Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–294, §601(r)(1), inserted at end "The court may also order, if agreed to by the parties in a plea agreement, restitution to persons other than the victim of the offense." Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104–132, §205(a)(1)(F), as amended by Pub. L. 104–294, §605(l), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "For the purposes of restitution, a victim of an offense that involves as an element a scheme, a conspiracy, or a pattern of criminal activity means any person directly harmed by the defendant's criminal conduct in the course of the scheme, conspiracy, or pattern." Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–132, §205(a)(2), (3), added subsec. (c) and struck out former subsec. (c) which read as follows: "If the court decides to order restitution under this section, the court shall, if the victim is deceased, order that the restitution be made to the victim's estate." Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 104–294, §601(r)(2), inserted "or chapter 96" after "under chapter 46". Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–132, §205(a)(2), (3), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which read as follows: "To the extent that the court determines that the complication and prolongation of the sentencing process resulting from the fashioning of an order of restitution under this section outweighs the need to provide restitution to any victims, the court may decline to make such an order." Subsecs. (e) to (i). Pub. L. 104–132, §205(a)(2), struck out subsecs. (e) to (i), relating to provisions for restitution to persons who had compensated victims for their loss as well as offsets for restitution received by victims against amounts later recovered as compensatory damages, court orders that defendant make restitution in specified time period or in specified installments, payment of restitution as condition of probation or of supervised release, enforcement of restitution orders by United States or by victim, and supervision, termination, or restoration of eligibility for Federal benefits of persons delinquent in making restitution, respectively. 1994-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–272 substituted "section 46312, 46502, or 46504 of title 49" for "under subsection (h), (i), (j), or (n) of section 902 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. 1472)". Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 103–322, §40504(1), in introductory provisions, inserted "including an offense under chapter 109A or chapter 110" after "victim". Subsec. (b)(3) to (5). Pub. L. 103–322, §40504(2)–(4), struck out "and" at end of par. (3), added par. (4), and redesignated former par. (4) as (5). Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 103–322, §40505, added subsec. (i). 1990-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–647, §2509, designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added pars. (2) and (3). Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 101–647, §3595, substituted "604(a)(18)" for "604(a)(17)". 1988-Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–690 amended subsec. (h) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (h) read as follows: "An order of restitution may be enforced by the United States in the manner provided in sections 3812 and 3813 or in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action, and by the victim named in the order to receive the restitution in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action." 1987-Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 100–185 inserted "or the person designated under section 604(a)(17) of title 28" after "Attorney General". Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 100–182 substituted "revoke probation or a term of supervised release," for "revoke probation," in two places and inserted "probation or" after "modify the term or conditions of" in two places. 1986-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–646, §20(a), which directed that subsec. (a)(1) be amended by inserting ", in the case of a misdemeanor," after "in addition to or", was executed to subsec. (a) to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the prior amendment to subsec. (a) by Pub. L. 99–646, §8(b), below. Pub. L. 99–646, §8(b), struck out par. (1) designation, and struck out par. (2) which read as follows: "If the court does not order restitution, or orders only partial restitution, under this section, the court shall state on the record the reasons therefor." Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99–646, §79(a), substituted "such offense" for "the offense". Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–646, §77(a), amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) read as follows: "The court shall impose an order of restitution to the extent that such order is as fair as possible to the victim and the imposition of such order will not unduly complicate or prolong the sentencing process." Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 99–646, §78(a), substituted "in the manner provided for the collection of fines and penalties by section 3565 or by a victim" for "or a victim". 1984-Pub. L. 98–473, §212(a)(1), renumbered section 3579 of this title as this section. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–596, §9(1), substituted "court" for "Court" after "If the". Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 98–596, §9(2), added par. (4). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 98–473, §212(a)(3)(A), amended subsec. (g) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (g) read as follows: "If such defendant is placed on probation or paroled under this title, any restitution ordered under this section shall be a condition of such probation or parole. The court may revoke probation and the Parole Commission may revoke parole if the defendant fails to comply with such order. In determining whether to revoke probation or parole, the court or Parole Commission shall consider the defendant's employment status, earning ability, financial resources, the willfulness of the defendant's failure to pay, and any other special circumstances that may have a bearing on the defendant's ability to pay." Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 98–473, §212(a)(3)(B), amended subsec. (h) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (h) read as follows: "An order of restitution may be enforced by the United States in the manner provided for the collection of fines and penalties by section 3565 or by a victim named in the order to receive the restitution in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action." Amendment by Pub. L. 104–132 to be effective, to extent constitutionally permissible, for sentencing proceedings in cases in which defendant is convicted on or after Apr. 24, 1996, see section 211 of Pub. L. 104–132, set out as a note under section 2248 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 100–182 applicable with respect to offenses committed after Dec. 7, 1987, see section 26 of Pub. L. 100–182, set out as a note under section 3006A of this title. Amendment by section 8(b) of Pub. L. 99–646 effective Nov. 1, 1987, see section 8(c) of Pub. L. 99–646, set out as a note under section 3553 of this title. Amendment by section 20(a) of Pub. L. 99–646 effective Nov. 1, 1987, see section 20(c) of Pub. L. 99–646, set out as a note under section 3556 of this title. Pub. L. 99–646, §77(b), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3618 , provided that: "The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the 30th day after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1986]." Pub. L. 99–646, §79(b), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3619 , provided that: "The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1986]." Effective Date of 1984 Amendments Amendment by Pub. L. 98–596 applicable to offenses committed after Dec. 31, 1984, see section 10 of Pub. L. 98–596. Amendment by section 212(a)(3) of Pub. L. 98–473 effective Nov. 1, 1987, and applicable only to offenses committed after the taking effect of such amendment, see section 235(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3551 of this title. Section effective with respect to offenses occurring after Jan. 1, 1983, see section 9(b)(2) of Pub. L. 97–291, set out as a note under section 1512 of this title. Profit by a Criminal From Sale of His Story Pub. L. 97–291, §7, Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1257 , required the Attorney General to report, by Oct. 12, 1982, to Congress regarding any laws that are necessary to ensure that no Federal felon derives any profit from the sale of the recollections, thoughts, and feelings of such felon with regards to the offense committed by the felon until any victim of the offense receives restitution. 1 So in original. Probably should be "(ii)),".	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4829
__label__wiki	0.999811	0.999811	Save the U.S. Army’s Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute: An Open Letter WOTR Staff As people who have dedicated our careers to national security issues, we are deeply concerned about the Army’s imminent decision to eliminate the Department of Defense’s forces’ joint proponent for complex operations — the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI). For two and a half decades: PKSOI has been the chief coordinating organization infusing doctrine, training, education, and operations with best practices needed to effectively conduct complex missions in states and regions threatened by, or currently experiencing, conflict, terrorism, and other grave threats to security. In doing so, PKSOI saves U.S. servicemembers’ lives. PKSOI has been a critical bridge between the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development , and the vast U.S. military structure, ensuring U.S. national security goals are managed with greater harmony and effectiveness. PKSOI has been an important conduit between the U.S. military and civilians, to other militaries and international organizations throughout the world who join to conduct complex operations. Indeed, PKSOI is the approved NATO Partnership Education Training Center (PTEC) for NATO on behalf of the United States. PKSOI has acted as a key interlocutor between non-governmental organizations and the military; preparing our forces to understand key, large actors in these operations. Even in an era of great power competition, complex operations will not go away and may actually become more crucial. To consolidate hard-won victories and secure the peace, all elements of national power must work together across a wide range of operations. We need PKSOI to continue to support our troops and civilians in harm’s way. With 42 billets at a cost of $3 million per year, this is a worthy investment that the military and nation will need as we continue to pivot to the future. John C. Acree, former director, Civil-Military Cooperation, U.S. Agency for International Development (8/9/2018) Wendy R. Anderson, former Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Defense William C. Banks, founding director, Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism, professor of law and professor of Public Administration and international affairs emeritus, Syracuse University College of Law, Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs (8/9/2018) Lt. Gen. David W. Barno, U.S. Army (ret.), U.S. and coalition commander for Afghanistan, 2003 to 2005 Amb. (ret.) Robert M. Beecroft Dr. Nora Bensahel, visiting professor of strategic studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (8/9/2018) Amb. (ret.) Ryan Crocker Beth Cole, former director of Civilian-Military Cooperation, U.S. Agency for International Development Joseph J. Collins, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for stability operations (8/9/2018) Melissa Dalton, former senior advisor for force planning, Department of Defense (8/9/2018) Hon. Janine Davidson, former undersecretary of the U.S. Navy Dave Dilegge, editor-in-chief, Small Wars Journal (8/9/2018) Brig. Gen. Kimberly Field, U.S. Army (ret.) Dr. Johanna Mendelson Forman, senior advisor and co-founder, Office of Transition Initiatives, U.S. Agency for International Development Volker Franke founding director of the Ph.D. program in international conflict, Department of Political Science & International Affairs, Kennesaw State University (8/16/18) Linnea Gavrilis Col. (ret.) James K. Greer, former director of the School of Advanced Military Studies and leader of peacekeeping troops in the Balkans and stability operations in Iraq (8/9/2018) Maj Gen. (ret.) William Grimsley, former DCG Operations for MND-B, Iraq; former DCG Operations III CORPS (8/9/2018) Joseph P. Gregoire, coordinator for security governance initiative at the U.S. embassy in Mali and retired foreign service officer (8/16/18) Todd Harvey, former acting secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities Hon. John Herbst, former ambassador to Uzbekistan and Ukraine, and former coordinator for reconstruction and stabilization, U.S. Department of State Hon. Kath Hicks, former deputy undersecretary of defense for policy Lt. Gen. (ret.) Ben Hodges, Pershing Chair, Center for European Policy Analysis; partner, Berlin Global Advisors (8/9/2018) Bruce Hoffman, former director of the Center for Security Studies and a tenured professor at Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service Sarah Holewinski, senior fellow, Center for a New American Security Victoria K. Holt, former deputy assistant secretary, International Organization Affairs, U.S. Department of State Neal Keny-Guyer, chief executive officer, Mercy Corps David Kilcullen, former senior counterinsurgency advisor, Multinational Force Iraq Rachel Kleinfeld, co-founder of the Truman Security Project, and senior fellow at the Conflict and Governance Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace James R. Kunder, former acting deputy administrator at USAID, former director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance; former assistant administrator for Asia and the Near East at USAID (8/16/18) Scott E. Jacobs, president and chief executive officer, New Century US, and former senior executive service (ret.), executive assistant director, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (8/16/18) Mark R. Jacobson, U.S. Army veteran and former deputy NATO senior civilian representative in Afghanistan (8/9/2018) Seth Jones, former representative for the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command to the assistant secretary of defense for special operations Emily Knowles, programme director in the Remote Warfare Programme, Oxford Research Group (8/16/18) Harvey Langholtz, Ph.D., executive director, Peace Operations Training Institute (8/9/2018) Col. Steven Leonard, U.S. Army (ret.), former assistant chief of staff, Combined Arms Center, Ft. Leavenworth Maj. Gen. Alphonso E. Lenhardt, U.S. Army (ret.), former deputy administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development, former ambassador to Tanzania, former sergeant at arms, U.S. Senate, former commanding general, U.S. Army Recruiting Command (8/16/18) Amb. (ret.) Dawn Liberi Howard R. Lind, president and executive director, International Stability Operations Association (8/9/2018) Clare Lockhart, director, Institute for State Effectiveness (8/16/18) Amb. (ret.) Robert Loftis, former acting coordinator for reconstruction and stabilization, Department of State Mark V. Lonsdale, director, operational studies, Specialized Tactical Training Unit (8/9/2018) Jahara “Franky” Matisek, Department of Military and Strategic studies, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (8/16/18) Col. Christopher T. Mayer, U.S. Army (ret.) (8/16/18) Amb. (ret.) Stephen G. McFarland (8/16/18) Amb. (ret.) Sherwood McGinnis, Ph.D., former professor at the Army War College (8/16/18) Brian McKeon, former deputy under secretary of defense for policy and acting under secretary (8/9/2018) Tom McNaugher, former director, RAND Arroyo Center retired senior visiting professor at Georgetown’s Center for Security Studies (8/16/18) Dr Jerry Meyerle, principal research scientist, strategic advisor to U.S. Central Command (8/9/2018) Hon. James Miller, former undersecretary of defense for policy Amb. (ret.) Ronald Neumann Michael E. O’Hanlon, senior fellow at The Brookings Institution Col. Mark A. Olinger, U.S. Army (ret.), former director of operations for the Defense Energy Support Center and former commander, Defense Energy Support Center–Middle East (8/9/2018) Beth Paige, retired career minister, U.S. Agency for International Development Francis J.H. Park, former policy and strategy advisor in the International Security Assistance Force and at Combined/Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (in Afghanistan and Iraq respectively) (8/9/2018) Gen. David H. Petraeus, U.S. Army (ret.), former commander of coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and of U.S. Central Command and former director of the Central Intelligence Agency Eric G. Postel, former associate administrator, former assistant to the administrator for Africa, former assistant administrator, E3 Bureau, USAID (8/9/2018) Susan Reichle, former counselor, U.S. Agency for International Development Nadia Schadlow, former deputy national security advisor James D. Schmitt, former chairman of the executive board, International Peace Operations Association (8/16/18) Hon. Sarah Sewall, former undersecretary of the Bureau for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, U.S. Department of State Ms. Jordan A Slopey, NATO Special Operations Headquarters (NSHQ); commander’s representative & liaison Officer to NATO HQ (8/9/2018) Brig. Gen. Paul Gregory Smith, former land component commander of the Massachusetts Army National Guard (8/9/2018) Leanne Smith, former chief of policy and best practice for UN peacekeeping, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (8/9/2018) Jenny Taw, associate professor of government and international relations at Claremont McKenna College Maj. Gen. Hugh Van Roosen, deputy military advisor, Office of Military Affairs, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (8/9/2018) Jodi Vittori, fellow in the Conflict and Governance Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (8/16/18) Lt. Gen. Keith Walker, U.S. Army (ret.), former director, Army Capabilities Integration Center William F. Wechsler, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for special operations and combating terrorism and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for counternarcotics and global threats (8/16/18) David Whetham, PhD, professor of ethics & the military profession, Defence Studies Department, King’s College London (8/16/18) Garland H. Williams, PhD, Colonel, U.S. Army (ret.) (8/9/2018) Paul D. Williams, George Washington University (8/16/18) Anne A. Witkowsky, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for stability and humanitarian affairs Sam Worthington, chief executive officer of InterAction Gen. Anthony Zinni, U.S. Marines (ret.), former commander of U.S. Central Forces Command (1997 to 2000) If you would like to add your name as a signatory, please email Beth Cole at bth.cole@gmail.com. Image: Capt. Keith E. Thayer, 4IBCT PAO	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4832
__label__cc	0.706068	0.293932	Memoir of a Contemporary Physician Mafia hits More womanly woes September 28, 2019 Autobiography, Memoir, Wednesday's ChildAnal sex, Broken engagement, Chinese tong, Chinese woman, Engaged to be married, Italain woman, Italian parents, Love affairs, Mafia hits, Opiod overdose, Wedding ringsaladec Leave a comment More Woes I only had two other relationships of note when I was in medical school. Although neither of the women were virgins, and while not giving me a lethal STD either, they both were potentially lethal for other reasons. One affair was a brief fling with a Chinese girl who was working as a secretary for a Cardiologist that I met when rotating through his service at the Boston City Hospital. I asked her out for a drink and after one beer she asked to see my room…the bedroom. I should have known then that if the deal seems too cheap, too easy, and too good to be true, there is probably something wrong with it. Caveat emptor. As it turned out, the only virginal orifice she had remaining might have been her left ear. Things went well for a few months and she was especially good to have around when ordering food in the local Chinatown restaurants. She also took me on a tour of the Chinese gambling parlors and certain other places where a white man would not only fear to tread but would undoubtedly be denied entrée—or worse. What I did not know about her was that she was a hard-core opioid addict, only finding this out one night when I picked her up at her parent’s apartment. When I rang the bell, she opened her front door, then promptly flopped onto the floor in a drug induced coma. Wearing nothing but a negligee and wrapped in a white fur coat, she looked like a semi-conscious fluffy chinchilla. It was a strange way to start a date, except for the fact that because she was already dressed for bed, perhaps that’s where we should have gone first. We were supposed to go to her friend’s house for a party but ended up driving around in large urban circles looking for the place. While I drove, she occasionally became conscious enough to either give me bogus directions or perseverated repeatedly: I love you. Soon your family and my family will be as one. Meanwhile I was thinking that “Bless Happy Family” was just an oriental dinner dish listed under column A; and not a lifetime commitment. Because she wasn’t sober enough to know where we were going, I brought her home to her parents, rang the doorbell, and left her asleep at the front door. When I spoke to her the next day, she couldn’t remembere any details of what had happened, and not even the fact she had proposed to me. Blessed happy relief! The other thing I did not know about her was that she worked part time in a pornography shop. That was fine. I even enjoyed a private tour of the place and met some of the girls who worked as strippers in the glass faced dollar-a-minute jerk off booths. What was not fine was the fact that she had nearly been stabbed to death in a gang related brawl and that she was in fact the immediate ex-girlfriend of a local Chinese Tong gang leader. She had made up some completely whacky story about landing a bit part in a Woody Allen movie, then having an accident on the set that explained away the twelve-inch scarred over gash in her abdomen. Tell me again. You were on a movie set. Then a knife flew out of nowhere and landed in your spleen, so they fired you, right? Yes. It was a stunt gone wrong. For about a minute I was stupid to believe her fantastic prefabrication. Forget about drug overdosing or contracting VD. That was about as close as I ever wanted to come to meeting her boyfriend, the Mao Ze-Dong of Boston’s combat zone. You round eyed running dog of Yankee Imperialism. You fuck my girlfriend. You die. The next near-death relationship involved my engagement to a nurse I met when rotating through a surgery elective in Springfield. By this time, I was a twenty-three-year-old who was beginning to think about getting married and settling down. When I met her, she was having an on and off affair with a married surgical resident who she said almost always had anal intercourse with her to avoid the possibility of an embarrassing pregnancy. In fact, he had deflowered her anus before her hymen; a statistic on the very low end of how young women first get laid. Anal sex as birth control was a nice enough way for two lovers to mutually rationalize that perversion, and being no prude myself, I couldn’t have cared less. In fact, it opened exciting new possibilities for deviant sexual experimentations I could try with her. She was also having an affair with a real estate broker who was twice her age but who had made it clear he had no intention of going further than dating. I suppose it was a good thing I was not a prude then, and instead of asking whether she was a virgin or not, asked her instead if she had any holes that had not as yet been penetrated— like a nostril or an ear canal. She was not amused. We started dating. She gave up the affairs. We seemed to get along. But there was only one thing about her I could not get over; which had nothing to do with her recent jaded sexual history. Although she was an extremely pretty girl of Italian descent, she happened to have a mole on her face exactly where my Aunt Roses’ had been, and which drove me crazy with the less than fond memories of forced holiday visits at the Guinea Ponderosa. I asked her to get it removed. She did. Things were good. What was not good was letting her talk me into getting married after knowing her for only a month or so. Her biological clock was ticking, she was in dead-end relationships, she was on a mission of matrimony and I just happened to be the new missionary. When I called my parents and told them I was engaged the response was predictable. My father was happy, especially when he heard about her heritage; and my mother was less than discreet in voicing her displeasure. At first, I thought it was only because of my father’s elation that she was Italian and that my mother was only being spiteful. However, it was more likely the case that in her eyes no one would be good enough for her son. No one. Not ever. In retrospect I had either forgotten about the penchant for my mother’s opinions to be co-opted by cognitive bigotry, or more likely the case that I was not even aware then that she had this fatal character flaw in the first place. She used the usual lines: You’re still in school. You’re too young. You haven’t known her long enough. She’s probably just a gold digger. She’s only looking for a bird’s nest on the ground. You have your entire career ahead of you. And who will support you if she gets pregnant and she can’t work? Not me. Not us. Bird’s nest on the ground, mom? And what do you think we have that’s so rare and valuable? Faberge eggs? My automatically opinionated mother was an overwhelming intimidator. Also coupled with the fact that if she did not like something or someone, she either never let you forget about it or she treated the subject with both passive as well as with aggressive behavior. Unfortunately, I was still dependent on my parents for room, board and tuition, which made me too afraid to confront the bitch, or if so, would forever have to tiptoe around her ire. That was my excuse. The truth was, I simply had no balls. In retrospect, however, even if I had showed up with Bridgette Bardot there would have been something wrong with her as well. But mom; she’s beautiful, she’s talented, and she’s rich. She has a funny accent. Dump her. But two things happened to end the affair. One was the fact that after several months all my fiancé could talk about was the kind of house she wanted, the type of furniture we were going to get, the pile or color of the carpets, how many children she wanted, and where we were going to live; preferably close to her parents. Notwithstanding the fact that her parents probably would have bought us the house or built it in the customary Italian manner in their back yard, I began to see any potential control over my life and future going down a predetermined spousal and in-law drain. I started having cold waves of sweat that seemed to come out of nowhere. The second thing was simply the fact that we ran out of conversation as the differential in our intellects began to overshadow the initial blind passion of our sexual attraction. Being a neophyte physician, I definitively knew that unexplained cold sweats was a non-definitive but still equally poor premonitory sign for something bad in the larger domain of potential illnesses, such as cancer, tuberculosis, or lupus. As my loan shark friend Chubby used to say: Doc, the sex only lasts for about thirty minutes. Then each day you got to figure out what to do with them for the rest of the twenty-three and a half hours. So, if nothing else, you better really like ‘em, too. One of my roommates said it better. If she was a guy; would you always want to hang out with her? Falling into a panic at the potential loss of autonomy and intellectual succor, I wanted to call it all off, but was afraid of the repercussions after how far everything had gone. We had the rings, the wedding date, the catering hall and were about to send out the invitations, which had already been printed—at no trivial cost. Michael came to the rescue. He explained that breaking an engagement was not like irreversible neuronal damage. However, being in a bad marriage might make me feel as though I did have a stroke. He said to tell her it was quits during the car ride back from my parent’s house on Long Island to Massachusetts. that way she would not be able to do anything drastic or foolish and would be captive long enough to talk it out. That was bad advice. Bolstered by the example of my cousin Laura breaking her engagement several days before her wedding, I told my fiancé I wanted out as we were going 65 miles an hour along Interstate highway 95. I said I only wanted to postpone things, but not being an idiot, she knew immediately what my sorry excuse really implied. After a few choice four-letter words and other epithets, followed by streaming monolog castigation, she suddenly opened her car door and tried to escape. What a nightmare. That was all I needed; a dead soon to be ex-fiancé splattered against the median barrier, while having to come up with a good alibi to cover up the accident. Oh, officer. She decided it was far better to kill herself than to have to tell me she was breaking our engagement. Sure. I understand. Happens every day out here on this horrible highway of broken dreams. I feel for you. I quickly pulled onto the shoulder, spent several hours calming her down and made her promise not to jump out when we got underway again. She must have thought better about suicide but spent the rest of the ride alternating dead silences with loud cursing. She also said her father would be royally pissed off about this. After several months, things calmed down a bit and I called her. She was still bitter, but back with the real-estate agent and biding her time until another potential mate showed up. She ended the conversation with a cryptic comment that I owed my life to her, as her father had seriously considered putting a contract out on me when I dumped her. Apparently in so doing I had shamed and disgraced the entire family. I didn’t know he was mob connected, or I might never have dated her in the first place. Or perhaps I should have gone ahead with the whole thing and had affairs for the rest of my life, like most “made guys” seem to do. Have the family. Ignore the wife and kids. Do whatever the fuck you want, any time you want. And fuck whoever you want to fuck, whenever the fuck you want to fuck them. But she said she had persuaded her father otherwise about having me put six feet under and that in the long run I was not worth it anyway. That’s not what she really said. What she really told her father was: He’s a worthless piece of shit. He isn’t even worth wasting a bullet on. I kept the wedding bands in a desk drawer for thirty-seven years until my second wife persuaded me to hock them for cash. You know how women get about any past life, or history, or relationship baggage that comes attached to their new mates. They want it expunged…or in this case, melted down. It was a funny thing too, because before I sold the rings, I tried to put mine on, but it wouldn’t even come close to crossing the appropriate fourth left finger knuckle. Yes, I was a little bit bigger and a little bit fatter and a wee bit more arthritic. But at least I was still alive. If you play with fire, you are bound to get burned. Mafia figure http://www.dw-world.de/..1617262_1,00.jpg Archives Select Month October 2019 September 2019 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 Wednesday’s Child Part Two: Manhood Reverse Interviews Medical Board Exams The King of the Congo	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4837
__label__cc	0.749074	0.250926	ABOUT USogitiven2018-05-28T10:20:01+01:00 The project WISE SEE (Women in Sustainable Energy South-East Europe) promotes women’s meaningful participation and representation in sustainable energy development, climate change and environmental protection. The project is being implemented by the civil society organization Center for Promotion of Sustainable Development – CPSD, financially supported by Swiss Cooperation Office (SECO) and with the institutional support of UNECE, Energy Community, Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia and Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia. The project has successfully mapped women professionally engaged in sustainable energy, climate change and environmental protection. It also created a database of around 180 women from Serbia professionally engaged in those sectors. The first survey among the women in Serbia was also a part of the project. It consisted of two parts: the first part was conducted among women professionally engaged in the sectors and its goal was to find out those women’s attitudes, position and roles. The second part of the survey approached women in households to find out their awareness and attitudes related to sustainable energy and climate change. 1,100 women participated in the research, whose results are presented in the publication Women in Sustainable Energy, climate change and environmental protection – LEADERSHIP FOR CHANGE. The ultimate goal of the project is to empower women, network them and make them visible and ready to contribute to bringing policies that pave the way for a transition to sustainable, green and low-carbon future of Serbia. WOMEN ARE AGENTS OF CHANGE Women are globally perceived as powerful agents of change in transition to sustainable solutions in the energy sector, climate change and environmental protection. In order to fully utilize their potentials, knowledge and skills in Serbia, the first country in the region of South Eastern Europe to implement this project, it is important to incorporate gender equality perspectives into renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, climate change, and environmental protection projects, policies and planning. The project WISE SEE targets the gender-sustainable energy-climate change-environmental protection nexus and it is in accordance with the National Gender Equality Strategy of the Republic of Serbia for the period 2016-2020. Branislava Jovičić – Project Manager Branislava Jovičić is President of the civil society organization Center for Promotion of Sustainable Development (CPSD), who, within the CPSD, also performs the role of Project Manager for the Balkan Green Energy News project. Branislava is a certified Consultant for Public Relations and Communications with 15 years of experience in both the corporate environment and consulting business. She strongly believes in sustainable development and regional cooperation, and is committed, both in her consultancy work and engagement in the civil society sector, to its promotion with a focus on the topics of sustainable energy and climate change. During her career Branislava has been working for and partnering with many companies and organizations: the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs(SECO), the GIZ Open Regional Fund for SEE – ORF-EE, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the GIZ project Energy Efficiency in Buildings, KfW German Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Belgrade Fund For Political Excellence, Telenor, Hellenic Petroleum and her own public relations agency Beyond Communications Consulting. Maja Turković – sustainable energy expert Mrs. Turkovic has specialized in the field of renewables over the course of a professional career lasting nearly 20 years. For the last seven years she has been engaged as entrepreneur in the development of renewable energy projects. Maja was actively involved in the establishment of the Serbian Wind Energy Association (SEWEA). She is a member of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce’s Expert Team for Renewable Energy Sources and a member of the national CIGRE Committee on Electricity Markets. Mrs. Turković is also a co-founder of the Association for Sustainable Development. Višnja Baćanović – gender equality and gender perspectives expert Apart from gender mainstreaming of public policies in different sectors, Višnja has worked on the development of over the 20 local action plans for gender equality and the National Action Plan for the implementation of the National Strategy for Gender Equality (2016-2020). She has also worked and gained significant experience on projects related to gender in environmental protection, waste management, disaster risk reduction and energy efficiency – on impact assessment and gender analysis, but also on capacity building trainings and guidelines for gender mainstreaming in these areas. Marija Nešović – Assistant Marija Nešović is a chemical engineer, specialized in the field of environmental protection. Parallel to postgraduate studies, Marija works as an environmental and energy journalist. During the five-year engagement in the CSO sector, she participated in writing and implementing over ten projects, which included topics of sustainable development, circular economy, renewable energy sources, and climate change. She was a participant in several programs, workshops, and summer schools organized by UNDP, GIZ, and others, and visited numerous conferences in the country and abroad. ABOUT THE CENTER FOR PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Center for Promotion of Sustainable Development Promotion (CPSD) is a civil society organization from Belgrade. Its mission is to promote and facilitate implementation of sustainable development goals in Serbia and other Balkan region countries through awareness raising campaigns, advocacy, and capacity building of relevant stakeholders. At the same time the CPSD is active on partnering with relevant sustainability developers, i.e. companies, development organizations, institutions, associations, other CSOs and individuals whose strategies, activities and programs contribute to the promotion of sustainable development goals. The CSPD was established in 2014; and in 2015 it developed, and has since managed the Balkan Green Energy News project.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4845
__label__cc	0.606216	0.393784	Tag Archives: women football Lyon ladies the new European Champions womenforfootball – In an all French rendezvous, today Lyon made history by winning the most European trophies along with their German counterpart. In Cardiff, England, there were French flags flying instead of England’s: Lyon’s and PSG’s flag to be more specific. At Cardiff, Lyon women football club were to face Paris Saint-Germain women team for… June 1, 2017 in Club football. Countries with barriers for Female football fans womenforfootball.com- Last we checked it is year 2016, more than a decade into 21st century, and yet in very few countries, women are not allowed to enter stadiums to attend men’s football games. To put it into Canadian perspective, it is as if a Canadian man, father of two, cannot take his daughter to Toronto… May 27, 2016 in Club football, National teams. Everything you need to know about 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup womenforfootball- The wait is over. Finally the day has come to kick off Women’s World Cup games in Canada. As a Canadian football fan, this Tournament is particular exciting and important to me. 1. Because it is been held in Canada. 2. Because Canada’ Women football National team, unlike our men National team, is one… May 28, 2015 in National teams. Which male & female players will scoop FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013? womenforfootball.com – First, let me begin by saying Happy New Year to all dear followers of this blog and wishing you all the best and all the football excitement you dream! Year 2014 is going to be a year of excitement with many important football events; Including 2014 FIFA World Cup games, FIFA U-20 women’s… January 5, 2014 in Club football. FIFA Ballon d’Or 2012 Award Nominees in Perspective As I’m watching English FA Cup games on my Saturday afternoon, and witnessing Manchester United getting knocked out of Cup games (juicy development!), I cant help but think about FIFA Ballon d’Or Award ceremony on this coming Monday. “FIFA Ballon d’Or” Award, which was previously only awarded by UEFA for “Best Player in Europe”, is… France scoops 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy There were interesting round of Under 17 Women World Cup games this year at Azerbaijan. The games which were held from Oct 4th to Oct 13th, at the end saw record results for several women teams. Amongst 16 competing teams, France youth women team managed to defeat defending champions, DPR Korea, in the Final in… October 14, 2012 in National teams.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4849
__label__wiki	0.551924	0.551924	Glasgow Women’s Library is part of a wide-reaching and diverse network of libraries, information centres and organisation devoted to helping women find the information they need to improve their lives and the societies they live in. From internationally recognised archives to grassroots activists, feminist publishers and blogs, these links are just some of the sister organisations the Library works with and has been inspired by. Many of the Library projects, policies and initiatives have developed after peer group visits, contacts or discussions. One early inspiration came from exchange visits with Kunstlerinnenarchiv, Nurnberg (now located at Bildwechsel, Hamburg) in 1990/1. Another inspiring sister organization was the former Women Artists Slide Library, now the Women’s Art Library (MAKE), based at Goldsmith’s College, London. We are members of the Women’s Information Network Europe (WINE), which has over 50 member organisations from women’s libraries, archives and information centres across Europe. We are also part of the KnowHow community, a worldwide network of information specialists who are making information about the position of women in society available and accessible. Staff from the library have attended the internationally renowned KnowHow conferences in Amsterdam and Mexico City, which offered fantastic opportunities for networking, inspiration and learning.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4850
__label__wiki	0.527352	0.527352	Muslim youth group steps up in big ways to help during shutdown By: Nicole Vowell The partial government shutdown has now entered day 32, and there’s still no end in sight. Now, one religious youth group is stepping up to help furloughed workers who are struggling to make ends meet. Zahid Yousaff is part of the Virginia’s chapter of Ahmadiyya, the nation's largest Muslim youth association. Right now, the group is focused on feeding those who need help. "I hope it will go a long way for them, they'll appreciate it, and it will be one less meal they'll have to worry about,” Yousaff says. The group is focusing on stocking up area food banks and assisting local furloughed federal workers. “After the shutdown, a couple weeks after, we decided to see what the need was in the communities,” says the group’s vice president, Habbi Iqbal. Members like Basil Sindu also hope to make a mark. He says they plan to pack 25,000 meals. He hopes the group can not only help feed the hungry, but to spread a message about faith. "Tell the world or society around us that Islam is a peaceful religion,” Sindu says. In the last couple of weeks, the Muslim youth group has also donated their time cleaning up national parks.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4852
__label__wiki	0.97371	0.97371	English Lead Singer Named Nick Who Died Jul 15, 2015- Dedicated to those beautiful ladies ( and gents!) who lend their heavenly voices to the stars. See more ideas about Singer, Singers and Music. May 01, 2018 · The English Folk Dance and Song Society headquarters in London, otherwise known as Cecil Sharp House, became a Mecca in the late 1960s to young musicians and singers. Different than those who flocked the place in previous decades, they were armed with electric guitars and smoked rolled cigarettes that smelled funny. Like their predecessors they mined the vast library. Young died in Sydney after suffering from dementia for several years, his family said in a statement. “It is with deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of Malcolm Young. Top,” replaced. The best of Open House New York 2019. Things to do The best of Open House New York 2019. During the annual Open House New York festival, check out. Whos The Guy Singing Put It In My Mouth As she started taking a liking to me, I felt my anti-smoking grip ease. One night, this girl breaks open a pack of cigarettes and I asked if I could have one. But man, I am not good. picked it up, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops (CNN) – Although many people view Memorial Day as Feb 9, 2018. McKinney was named iHeartRadio's “On the Verge” artist and was signed. with “Love” by Keyshia Cole and chose to challenge Nick Harrison. Nick Rhodes Simon Le Bon John Taylor Roger Taylor British Invasion No One Loves Me Rock Music Music Love My Music. lead singer of Duran Duran. Simon Le Bon (Still gorgeous, though I do wish he’d lose the beard). Simon John Charles Le Bon is the English lead singer, lyricist and musician with the band Duran Duran and its offshoot, Arcadia Vee, whose hits included the chart-topping “Take Good Care of My Baby” and who helped a young Bob Dylan get his start, died Monday of. Within months the young singer and The Shadows, which included. Pete Shelley, lead singer of the punk rock band Buzzcocks, has died at 63, according to the band. Shelley, whose real name was Peter Campbell McNeish, was born in the English town of Leigh in 1955. English. Lead singer of alternative rock band "The Stone Roses". Notes & Trivia. Until late in April 2019, most of the Manchester United team contained names of the current players. Since then, the entire squad has been changed to be all made of fictional players. Gavin Shane DeGraw, American singer-songwriter Gavin McGregor Rossdale, English lead singer of band Bush Gavin Christopher Floyd, American baseball player Gavin MacLeod (born Allan George See), American actor Gavin Christopher Newsom, American politician; 48th lieutenant governor of California Gavin Hood, South African film director Gavin Free, English filmmaker of RoosterTeeth;. On Sunday, however, they broke from that tradition of safety, making Jerome the first Afro-Latino actor to win Lead Actor in a Limited. meme while co-presenter Nick Cannon just stood there. Why? May 05, 2012 · 1962 ~ GARY DALY the English lead singer of CHiNA CRiSiS was born on the 5th day of May in 1962. The video below features a great song from 1985 by China Crisis ~ “Black Man Ray” 1963 ~ James LaBrie the Canadian lead singer in. Dec 19, 2017. Here are the odds on whether Steve Carell, Mindy Kaling, John. He then tries out for a singing competition show, and fails so. Kaling just finished starring in a TV show that had her name on it. Current job: Lacy plays Nick Beverly on Showtime's “I'm Dying Up Here,” which also stars Clark Duke. English singer and guitarist Nick Drake, born 52 years ago Monday, died of an overdose of antidepressants in 1974. From all evidence, there couldn’t have been: Drake simply didn’t lead a very. 10 Female celebrities who committed suicide. Laurie Bird was an American actress and photographer. In 1979, she committed suicide by taking an overdose of Valium in the apartment she shared with Garfunkel in New York. For those who are unfamiliar with the name, Naked and Afraid is a reality TV. her father's death, which is why she was handed something by the producers that. The performer died of heart failure, according to his longtime manager. George Michael has died of heart failure, according to the singer’s longtime manager, Michael Lippman. The English singer. The ultimate news source for music, celebrity, entertainment, movies, and. The singer walked away with the coveted Geller Cup. Jordyn Tilchen 15h ago. Movies · Unlike Twilight, Robert Pattinson 'Didn't Get Death Threats' When He Was Cast As Batman. Nick will co-produce what could turn into your new TV obsession. David Gahan – English lead singer for Depeche Mode, converted to Greek Orthodox Christianity to marry his current wife Jennifer. Constance Geanakoplos, Concert pianist Chris Hillman – original member of The Byrds; George Michael – celebrity pop singer, a Greek-Cypriote. Dimitris Mitropoulos – Conductor, pianist and composer. Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. English pianist who is the frontman and lead vocalist of Take That American rapper who was one of the founding members of The Black Eyed Peas, and has since 2001 released four solo albums Lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas and elected council woman for the city of Detroit 2005-09 In 1673, a famous French playwright collapsed while performing the lead role in his play, betraying its title The. Relf had been the lead singer of The Yardbirds throughout the Sixties. He was the frail, blond-haired youth who shook his maracas defiantly in the teeth of an uproar of lead guitar solos from the likes of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. Feb 10, 2018. Jóhann Jóhannsson, the Oscar-nominated film composer of 'The. as an indie rocker and experimental electronic musician before releasing his first. Jóhannsson's final LP Orphée was named one of Rolling Stone's 20 Best. Simon Le Bon (1958–): English lead singer and lyricist of the band Duran Duran and its offshoot, Arcadia. Geddy Lee (1953–) : Canadian singer and bassist of the progressive rock band Rush. Lemmy (1945–): English rock singer and bass guitarist, most. In 1986, Roger Waters, leader and bass guitarist with "Pink Floyd," applied in a British court to have the partnership between him and fellow group members David Gilmour and Nick Mason dissolved. Andrew Gold, a singer, songwriter and versatile musician who had a Top 10 hit in 1977 with “Lonely Boy” and was a vital component of Linda Ronstadt’s pop success in the 1970s as a member of her band, Motörhead leader Lemmy Kilmister died of cancer in Los Angeles in 2015. Cameron would become only the second drummer. Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra Schedule Tickets are on sale for the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s Masterworks concert "Carmina Burana" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Raising Cane’s River Center Theater for the Performing Arts, 220 St. Louis. Set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the LSU Union Theatre on campus, the performance features the LSU A Cappella Choir, LSU Philharmonia Rockin Robin Roberts – Died 1967 – Car accident ( Rock ) Born 1940 – Lead singer for The Wailers (They did, "Out of Our Tree" and an early version of,"Louie Louie"). Phil Crowther – Died 1967 – Choked ( Rock ) Was a member of The Ramrods. The story of two North Carolina teens, Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan, who are thrown together after Landon. Nicholas Sparks (novel), Karen Janszen ( screenplay). First Love Never Dies · poll image. The Vow · The Last Song · The Notebook · Safe Haven · The Lucky One. Language: English. Also Known As:. They also recruited English lead singer, Roy Robinson, who helped give their music an international appeal. Roy wrote most of the lyrics which he sang in English, on a. Where Not To Leave A Musical Instrument He added, “Northeast Indiana is a hot bed for musical instruments. At one time there were about a hundred manufacturers of instruments. Over the years, people would leave a company and start their own. Whos The Guy Singing Put It In My Mouth As she started taking a liking to me, I felt my anti-smoking Fred Hellerman, a self-taught guitarist who sang of — and in — harmony with Pete Seeger as a founding member of the pivotal 1950s folk quartet the Weavers, died Sept. blues guitarist and singer who. He died on Jan. 23, 2019. 20of109Jacqueline Steiner. The singer-songwriter first made a name for herself in the Boston area. After nearly 20 years, Modern English lead singer Robbie Grey has reunited with original bassist Mick Conroy, guitarist Gary McDowell and keyboardist Stephen Walker. Unfortunately, original drummer Richard Brown wasn’t available for the reunion, Grey said during a telephone interview from his home in England. He would later sue lead singer John Fogerty in an infamous lawsuit, contending that a song on the singer’s solo ‘Centerfield’ album, titled "Zanz Kant Danz," was intended as a slight toward Zaentz. Dec 01, 2017 · He gained a new legion of followers as the recent judge on The Voice. And Boy George didn’t disappoint his long-time fans on Friday night, when he. LONDON — Pete Shelley, the singer-songwriter and co-founder of the punk band the Buzzcocks, has died at age 63. Shelley, whose real name was Peter Campbell McNeish, was born in the English town of. In Case You Slept Through High School ” This fantastic gif tells the story of how America came to be. Since the Constitution took effect on March 4, 1789 until the U.S. added the 50th state of Hawaii in 1959, a quick look at this gif shows us how a nation was formed. He now takes pride in the spotlight and seeing his band’s name on venue marquees all. ‘This talented singer-songwriter. The bassist and singer was a founding member of English rock band Pink Floyd, and after the departure of original lead. by the British punk rock group X-Ray Spex, led by singer-songwriter Poly Styrene–who in her lifetime certainly. “I’m not. Oscar Brand, a folk troubadour, raconteur, broadcaster and writer whose radio show “Folksong Festival” aired for 70 years and helped introduce then-unknown entertainers such as Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4854
__label__wiki	0.586206	0.586206	Downsizing Your Empty Nest? Homes you can get for under $200,000 by Susan Kreimer, AARP Bulletin, March 23, 2011 \| Comments: 0 En español \| Buying a home sweet home has rarely been sweeter. For empty nesters, it may be the perfect time to downsize. With interest rates at record lows and prices near rock bottom, the housing market is ripe with rewards. Before Downsizing, Take Control of Clutter Chaos. Read Rightsizing Your Home. Watch What to Do When the Kids Are Grown Up. Listen For existing single-family homes, the national median price stood at $170,600 in the fourth quarter of 2010, barely rising from $170,300 for the same period in 2009, the National Association of Realtors reported in February. "The active adult is moving from their larger home to a smaller property, depending upon their lifestyle," says Armand Christopher, 62, owner of Senior Living Realty in Dallas. "What they're trying to do is get away from the expense of the big home." Christopher and his wife, Cindy, 58, a recruiting director for a large accounting firm, enjoy the freedom of living in a gated homeowners' community catering mainly to the 55-plus age group. Lawn mowing and landscaping are included in their maintenance fee, and there's a common area with a swimming pool, tennis courts and other amenities. When it comes to prices, homes in senior communities can range from very affordable to the millions of dollars. The same is true for stand-alone homes in cities and towns across the country. We took a look at the affordable. Here are some examples from four U.S. regions of what you can get for under $200,000, ranging from new construction to old-time charm. Click on their websites for photos and more details. Next: Affordable housing in 55+ community in Florida. >> Location: SummerGlen, a 55-plus community in Ocala Listing price: $179,900 for the Melbourne II model Courtesy of Florida Lifestyle Communities What you get: 1,694 square feet in living area, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, "great room" with formal dining area. Master bedroom/bath with walk-in closet. Sliding glass doors open to a screened lanai. Two-car garage. Monthly maintenance fee: $125, includes lawn mowing and use of club, pool and spa, fitness and crafts centers, sports and activities. Optional golf club membership: $7,500 equity payment upfront, transferable to a future buyer. Annual dues vary from $1,700 to $2,900. Nonmember homeowners can play golf for about $35 per round. Annual taxes: $2,300-$3,000, depending on whether the property is claimed as the primary residence. The pitch: The bedrooms sit on the opposite end of the house, so "there's lots of privacy, and it's nice and quiet," says Charlene Martin, who, with her husband, Charlie, moved from Michigan in December into a Melbourne II model. Next: Walkable community for all ages in New Mexico. >> Location: RainbowVision, a diverse community with no age restrictions in Santa Fe Courtesy of Rainbow Vision Properties, Inc. What you get: 1,138 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, brightly decorated in local colors — rust, rose, green and sunset yellow. The upgraded kitchen has granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Fireplace, patio and fenced yard. Homeowners association monthly fee: $310, includes trash collection, landscaping and exterior maintenance. Also, clubhouse amenities: about $1,000 a month, includes van service, outdoor hot tubs, concierge, fitness center and spa with steam rooms. Annual taxes: about $1,300. The pitch: "Our members come from all walks of life and lifestyles," says Jane Steinberg, RainbowVision's national director of marketing and sales. Van service means residents don't need to drive. Next: Cul-de-sac living in Pennsylvania. >> Location: Buckingham Springs, a 55-plus community in Buckingham, near New Hope Courtesy of Crane Pennsylvania Homes What you get: 1,570 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, open floor plan, vaulted ceilings, living room, formal dining area, breakfast room, deck. Homeowners association monthly fee: $456, including clubhouse, heated outdoor pool, fitness center, library, trash/snow removal and shuttle service. Annual taxes: $2,229. The pitch: The house is located on a cul-de-sac, the lawn edged by a row of pine trees. Original owners Donald and Millie Sparks are moving to assisted living. The house has a lot of privacy: When you sit on the deck, you're not looking at the people next door, says their son, Don Sparks. Next: Walks along the lake and trails in Wisconsin. >> Location: single-family home in Mount Horeb, just west of Madison Built: around 1890 Courtesy of Chuck Learned What you get: 1,300 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath Cape Cod, with new metal roof, vinyl siding, a 2 1/2-car attached garage, a 6,000-square-foot lot with private deck. Other features include natural gas furnace, fireplace, kitchen with oak floor and cherry butcher-block countertop. A recent addition of the third bedroom atop the garage could be a home office, guest quarters or rental space; it's separate from the main house, and a second heat source is recommended. The pitch: "It's a nice layout for someone who's downsizing and looking for an affordable place to live," says Chuck Learned, 49, who owns the home with his wife, Linda Farmer. A lake, hiking trails and a park with a swimming pool are nearby. Susan Kreimer is a writer in New York.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4857
__label__cc	0.663902	0.336098	AARP Livability Fact Sheet - Economic Development Livable communities both save and make money — and they're very good for business Download the Economic Development fact sheet to learn about the economic benefits of livable communities. More Livability Fact Sheets First, the bad news. If public transit and community walkabilty continue to take a back seat to vehicle-only transportation systems, total U.S. costs resulting from obesity may be as high as $957 billion by 2030. The price of poor air quality due to transportation-generated pollution is predicted to come in between $50 billion and $80 billion per year. Expenses from traffic crashes in urban areas are expected to exceed $299 billion annually, with congestion costs adding another $121 billion or more to the bill each year. A more balanced transportation system is needed or these costs will continue to climb and undermine the nation’s economic health and quality of life, say various experts and research studies. The good news: Beneficial changes can be made and the investment in them will almost surely pay off. Among the economic benefits of livable communities as cited in the fact sheet: Building bicycle infrastructure creates an average of 11.4 jobs for every $1 million spent while road-only projects create 7.8 jobs per $1 million. After slowing traffic and improving bicycling on Valencia Street in San Francisco’s Mission District, nearby businesses saw sales increase by 60 percent, which merchants attributed to increased pedestrian and bicycle activity. Houses with above-average levels of walkability command a premium of about $4,000 to $34,000 more than homes with average levels of walkability. A nationwide survey by Smart Growth America of 17 development studies concluded that dense, mixed-use development costs 38 percent less than conventional suburban development on average, generates 10 times more tax revenue per acre and saves municipalities an average of 10 percent on public services such as police, ambulances and firefighting. One study estimates that if the U.S. would grow in a more compact way between 2000 and 2025, the country could save $110 billion in local road costs. Among the places where smart growth and livability-oriented development efforts have paid off: Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, Fla., was only 30 percent occupied in 1993. After a $10 million traffic-calming project rebuilt a fountain, restored key buildings and provided for event spaces, property values on the street doubled, $350 million in private investment came to the area and more than 80 percent of the building space became occupied. As traffic slowed, social links between neighbors increased, trash along the streets disappeared, and the area evolved from abandoned to alive. The average home sale price increased from $65,000 to $106,000. The main boulevard in downtown Lancaster, Calif., was transformed into a thriving residential and commercial district by adopting a form-based code, streetscaping, new public facilities, affordable homes and local businesses. The project has generated almost $300 million in economic output and nearly 2,000 jobs. Because the fact sheets in the Livability series are only four pages each, the materials are quick and easy to read online or to download and print for sharing. The Economic Development fact sheet can be used by policy makers, transportation planners, community leaders and citizen activists to educate themselves and others (such as investors, business owners and developers) about the financial benefits of creating walkable, bike-friendly, livable and lively and downtown communities. Fact sheet published Summer 2014 Each issue of the award-winning AARP Livable Communities e-Newsletter contains a mix of inspiring examples, community resources and information about livability efforts from places near and far. Subscribe today!	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4858
__label__wiki	0.915689	0.915689	Baseball vets share minor league experience Having fun is serious business at the University of the Fraser Valley baseball club in Chilliwack. Eric Welsh Nov. 4, 2016 7:00 a.m. Kyle Lotzkar (middle) watches Cascade outfielder Trevor Brammer throw warm-up tosses during a Tuesday afternoon practice at ‘The Yard Kyle Lotzkar and Wes Darvill agree on the most important lesson they learned as minor league baseball players. Keep the game fun. That’s what both men try to hammer through to players on the University of the Fraser Valley baseball club. “At this level it’s so competitive it’s almost like a job for these guys, but we remind them to play the game like it’s a game,” Lotzkar says. “These guys are so busy with homework and studying for mid-terms and final exams, and they bring that stress to the field.” “Baseball should be a outlet for them, a way to take their mind off of that.” Lotzkar and Darvill recently joined the coaching staff of the Cascades, where they work under their mentor, UFV head coach Shawn Corness. Combined, Lotzkar and Darvill played 15 seasons and 702 games in minor league ball. Lotzkar is 27 years old and a former first round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds, taken 53rd overall in 2007. The South Delta secondary school grad’s career was marred by a series of injuries that never let him hit his stride. “The first injury I had was breaking my elbow when I was 18, so I had a screw put in there,” Lotzkar says, listing them off. “Then I had Tommy John surgery.” “And then, when one part gets injured you start compensating with another body part, and I did that with my shoulder.” That led Lotzkar to tear his rotator cuff and labrum. “And because my arm wasn’t working well I tried to compensate with my lower body and ended up tearing the labrum in my hip, and now I’ve got arthritis in both hips.” When he was healthy, Lotzkar says he had tons of fun. But his career serves as a cautionary tale for the value of staying healthy. “If you’re not healthy you just get passed by,” Lotzkar says. Getting passed by is the fear of every baseball player, but Lotzkar encourages his young charges to worry only about the things they can control. “A lot of these guys want to go on to play pro baseball, and they get caught up in it,” Lotzkar said. “I tell them they should be thinking about how to get better day by day and reach their potential.” “It’s a more achievable goal, and if they do that the rest will sort itself out.” The trick for any young coach is this. It’s easy to have the knowledge but not so easy to convey it. Darvill is two years younger than Lotzkar, 25 years old and coaching teenagers. “It’s fun trying to find ways to connect to the kids and get through to them,” Darvill says. “I think it’s a big advantage that I’m still an active player.” “I’m still playing, making adjustments and going through the same processes that they’re going through.” “I can probably level with them a little bit more.” A graduate of Langley’s Brookswood secondary school, is a former fifth round pick of the Chicago Cubs, drafted 170th overall in 2009. Like Lotzkar, he spent last year with the Winnipeg Goldeyes, an unaffiliated team in American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. Darvill intends to play again next year. The Goldeyes want him back, but he hopes an affiliated team may be interested in signing him. “The offseason is difficult and quite long when you’re looking for a job and things aren’t coming up,” he says. “It worked out for me last year because I kept working hard on the things I thought I needed to improve to get back to where I once was.” “I worried about the process more than where I was going to end up and I ended up in a good situation in Winnipeg.” “Work as hard as you can and you won’t have regrets.” Darvill knows his playing career will eventually end, which is why he’s here. He’s taking business courses at UFV while giving back to the game he loves. “Being around baseball is fun and I really enjoy helping these guys with the things I’ve learned over the years,” he says. “I can help coach, go to school and stay in shape.” “It’s all worked out.” Lotzkar says he’s ‘probably’ retired, that his body just can’t hold up to a full season. He’s happy to help the Cascades while he figures out what’s next. “Shawn (Corness) invited me to help out and I’m loving it. It’s been a great substitute for playing,” Lotzkar says. “I almost prefer coaching because you get the competitiveness and you don’t have the constant battle with injuries.” “From that perspective I think it’s better.” The Cascades have just wrapped up their fall-ball schedule and will be training throughout the winter. The team will gear up for the Canadian Colleges Baseball Conference season which starts in the spring. UFV Cascades basketball tipping off ACS Knights win Fraser Valley championships	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4860
__label__cc	0.653904	0.346096	Political Science, Terrorism Essays and Research Papers, pg.4 Recent publications in the Political Science / Terrorism category The Concept of Human Security An exploration of the concept of human security. # 151034 \| 2,697 words \| 9 sources \| MLA \| 2012 \| Al-Qaeda and their Attack on the United States A brief discussion on bin Laden's Al-Qaeda and the September 11 attacks. An Analysis of: "Civil Liberties and the War on Terror" A critical approach to the USA Patriot Act, primarily supported by the article: "Civil Liberties and the War on Terror" by Matthew Robinson. Killing Spree in France This paper describes and explores the events surrounding the killing spree that took place between 11 March and 22 March, 2012 in and around Toulouse, France. Commercial Aviation Safety An overview of commercial aviation safety in the age of global terrorism. Australian Policy and the Global Terrorism Threat A look at how Australia should approach the threat of global terrorism. $19.95 $9.95 Add to cart More information Civil Liberties in the Age of Modern Terrorism A look at questions regarding civil liberties as they relate to modern terrorism. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad A review of the motivations, tactics, political goals and ideology of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Terrorism and its Media Interpretation Proposes research to evaluate the validity of 'one man's terrorist, another man's freedom fighter' as presented by the Western media portrayal of Al Qaeda and other terrorist organisations. Australian Policy on Terrorism A critical analysis of Australian legislation and policy stance concerning terrorism, with respect to both national security and foreign policy.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4863
__label__wiki	0.537851	0.537851	The Roger Sturtevant Award Award Application Form Current Recipients: Jamie Zeidman & Rodd Farhadi Jamie Zeidman and Rodd Farhadi have been chosen as the 2018 recipients of The Actors’ Equity Foundation’s Roger Sturtevant Award. The Roger Sturtevant Award is given annually to one male and one female Equity Membership Candidate (EMC) who have each demonstrated outstanding talent and skill in musical theatre. The recipients are chosen based on an application, recommendation letters, and a video audition that are then evaluated by a panel of Foundation members and CSA Casting Directors. Ms. Zeidman was described by one mentor as a performer who is a phenomenal singer, a shining onstage presence with a wide dramatic range, and a delight to work with. Jamie recently graduated from Emerson College and has performed in Europe and the United States. Rodd Farhadi is a 2017 graduate of UCLA and has been described as possessing the crucial ingredients for a long and successful career as a musical theatre artist: great talent, total commitment to excellence and a joyfully collaborative spirit. Since graduation he has worked at the Hollywood Bowl in Mama Mia as Eddie and in Cabaret at the La Mirada Theatre in southern California. He has film and TV credits as well. Jamie Zeidman Rodd Farhadi	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4866
__label__wiki	0.811042	0.811042	Aether apparel Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. About Us DNA Timeline Office Press AETHER (pronounced “ē-ther”) was started in 2009 when founders Palmer West and Jonah Smith were inspired to create something they couldn’t find. They were city dwellers with a passion for the outdoors, businessmen who wanted outerwear that supported their lifestyle without making them look like they were in a lift line. AETHER was born out of the desire for a men’s collection that looked at home in the city but was built to withstand the outdoors. Today, AETHER is a complete lifestyle collection for urban-dwelling, design-focused, well-traveled men and women. The company is headquartered on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, just blocks away from its flagship store on La Brea Avenue. Other retail locations include New York City, San Francisco, and Aspen. In character, in manner, in style, in all the things, the supreme excellence is simplicity. AETHER’s design philosophy is to create modern, classic pieces that defy trends and seasons. Seventy-five percent of what AETHER makes is created for an urban environment, where we live and spend most of our time, but much of it is constructed using highly functional, technical fabrics that stand up against the outdoors, where we prefer to be. While our pieces look great in the city, they excel in the wild, which is exactly why they carry a lifetime manufacturing guarantee. The truth is when you think of high-tech outerwear, you don’t commonly think of beautiful design, and when you think of great design, you likely aren’t picturing super functional pieces. AETHER checks both of those boxes. We are a brand devoted to the finest in technical apparel held to an urban aesthetic. Here, a brief timeline of milestones in the history of AETHER. Former movie producers Palmer West and Jonah Smith launch AETHER with a small collection of men’s technical outerwear. AETHER moves to its current headquarters on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. The AETHERstream—a mobile store within a completely refurbished Airstream PanAmerica—takes to the road, making its first stop in New York City’s Nolita neighborhood. AETHER launches a women’s collection. AETHER opens its first retail store, constructed out of recycled shipping crates, in Hayes Valley in San Francisco. AETHERnyc opens on Crosby Street in Soho. AETHER launches its first leather motorcycle jacket, the Eclipse, a collaboration with Italian-based brand Spidi. AETHER opens its flagship store, complete with a walk-in freezer, on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles. Collaborating with Southern California-based luxury eyewear brand SALT., AETHER launches the Scout and Explorer, two limited-edition, moto-inspired sunglass styles. AETHER expands out of urban environments with the opening of AETHERmtn in Aspen, Colorado. AETHER launches a new, completely revamped website. AETHER launches its new pop-up concept, the AETHERoutpost, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Once again collaborating with SALT., AETHER creates the ultimate adventure sunglass, the limited-edition Voyage, which features flexible memory metal and custom silicone side shields. AETHERnyc moves across the street to 16 Crosby St. The AETHER headquarters is located on Melrose Avenue in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The clean, modern aesthetic was created by architect David Thompson, focusing on an airy, open space conducive to communication. In an effort to be as eco-conscious as possible, 50% of the power used in the office comes from solar panels on site. “What started six years ago with six men’s jacket styles has since evolved into a range of men’s and women’s performance gear and off-duty athleisure for mountain, motorcycle, gym and street. Smith and West are on their way to having a luxury sport lifestyle brand to rival Moncler, Belstaff, the North Face and Patagonia — and they’ve done it while avoiding the cliché Polar fleece.” “You know that old, beat-up cotton sweatshirt you always reach for? Meet its wintertime equivalent. From dawn-patrol ski tours to hitting the bars around Santa Fe, we found ourselves wearing AETHER’s slick, warmer-than-it-looks Space Jacket every time we left the house.” “Technically advanced gear sans logos and bulk that looks just as good on the slopes as in the city. And here’s the thing: They nailed it…As it turns out, Aether is the best-kept secret to surviving the winter months. It’s a total game-changer.” “When you first slip into Aether’s Atmosphere, it feels like you’re barely wearing a jacket at all… it’s trim, moves well, sits just right. But its PrimaLoft punch is concealed, and this thing can handle nearly anything Old Man Winter tosses your way. Sealed seams, and zips means you aren’t getting wet, ever, and the pocket placement is scary perfect.” “The jackets are practically slick to the touch, especially the short, slim one made of ripstop nylon ($260), the stuff of parachutes…The jackets want to do their job with a minimum of show-offiness (though most come with a whistle around the neck), and everything in Aether was designed to serve as a reminder of function.” “Ski coats around these parts tend to skew overly technical or ridiculously over-the-top, but this Los Angeles-based brand is all about basics in subtle colorways that look just as good on the streets of New York as they do in Highland Bowl.” View all press About Us Stores FAQ Careers Contact Accessibility Order Status	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4870
__label__cc	0.632974	0.367026	10/14/19 -- If you didn't see the new Broadmoor Magazine, check it out! I have two stories that I loved writing. 10/2/19 -- Back to book editing. Booking up (zing!) quickly. If you need a book edited, let me know ASAP. 9/16/19 -- Finished writing "Colorado Day Trips by Theme." So excited to publication in 2020! 6/5/18 -- After editing more than 40 books and contributing to eight, I am excited to share than I am going to FINALLY be publishing my own book! Yeah, like from scratch and with a (gasp) byline and stuff. I will be working with a publishing company that specializes in adventure travel on a Colorado day trips book, to publish in the spring of 2020. All those summers I spent alone hiding in my dark bedroom reading books instead of playing with other kids are paying off! 4/13/18 -- Gearing up to launch TravelBoulder.com's first ever print magazine. 10/27/17 -- When my writers are recognized for their talent, I feel a greater pride and joy than if it were my own accolades. I am moved and grateful for the well-written and also a highly deserved positive book review of the book I edited, "Trial By Fire." 4/12/17 -- If you haven't checked out my new travel project, TravelBoulder.com, do it yesterday. 12/20/16 -- I have decided to quit my job at the Boulder Daily Camera to pursue travel writing full-time. 9/20/16 -- Just returned from a trip to Aruba, where I attended the World Happiness 360 Conference, hosted by the World Tourism Association of the United Nations and the country of Aruba. 7/20/16 -- Happy to announce I was granted an Online News Association leaders scholarship to attend the ONA Convention this fall. Ghostwriting a full-length fiction book. Can't tell you what it is, but it's one of the most exciting opportunities in my career. 5/10/16 -- I've been so busy traveling for About.com and Denver Life Magazine that I can't even chronicle it. Follow my adventures on Instagram and Facebook. 12/17/15 -- You'd think it would get old, but it's still a pleasant surprise to find one of my travel stories on the home page for About.com/Travel. Granted, I should thank the awesome guy who built the North Pole in Colorado for this one. 10/05/15 -- I am headed to China for a travel-writing story for Denver Life Magazine this month! 6/15 -- I will be updating the Summit County chapter for Fodor's Travel Guides this month. I'm coming for ya, Breckenridge! 6/15/15 -- I'm thrilled to announce I will be the new Colorado travel expert for About.com, one of the top 15 websites, with 90 million visitors a month! 5/17/15 -- The first story in my road trip series for USA Today 10Best.com recently launched and is featured on the home page: "10Best Spots Still Left on Route 66." 5/6/15: Right now, I'm busy exploring Vail Valley and Southern Colorado for next year's Fodor's Colorado travel guide book, as well as working on some fun road trip stories for USA Today 10Best.com. So much travel! 3/27/15 -- Headed to New Mexico next week to explore the Hyatt's Tamaya Resort and Spa for a luxury travel article! Can't wait. 3/25/15 -- I will be moderating the Conference on World Affairs panel, “Romancing the Purse: Product Design and Consumer Culture,” 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8. Come join! 2/27/15 -- My involvement with the Daily Camera's coverage of the 2013 floods won first place for the use of social media during a breaking news event. 1/29/15 -- My story, "Evil Cheesey's Final Ride," won an award for best features story from the Colorado Associated Press and Editors and Reporters. 1/7/15 -- Editing an exciting sci-fi novel that has me seriously considering whether my husband may, in fact, be a cyborg. 12/28/14 -- I just finished editing the diary of a Jewish girl in the '20s. It was translated from Yiddish into English, and I helped rewrite it to make it sound more colloquial. My story about a boy who always wears the same shirt for school pictures went viral (#1 most-read story at Dailycamera.com and #2 and #8 on Denverpost.com) -- and the shirt he was looking for was located! Read the stories here and here. UPDATE: The story was picked up by "The Today Show" and media outlets around the world. 9/16/2014 -- I was selected to receive the 2014 Belknap Service Award from the nonprofit MESA (Moving To End Sexual Assault) for my news coverage of the issue of sexual violence over the past few years. 8/31/2014 -- "Service Station Angel" won a silver medal in the Christian Fiction category of the Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest. 8/25/14 -- "Look Good Now and Always" won first place in"How To" and second place in "Interior Layout and Design" in the Colorado Independent Publisher's Association contest! 8/20/2014 -- "Look Good Now and Always" is a finalist in two categories for a Colorado Independent Publisher's Association context. We find out soon which award(s) it won! 7/24/14 -- The book I edited, "Service Station Angel," by Lisa Schuster, was named a finalist in the 2014 Readers' Favorite contest in Christian fiction. 7/23/14 -- Just started editing my 15th novel! Headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico, for a spa extravanza with the SpaTravelGal.com. We will be reviewing 12 spas and two luxury resorts in two days! Working on an exciting article for Hi-Fructose, The New Contemporary Art Magazine. 4/17/14 -- Starting next month, I will be writing a monthly column for Net News Check, featuring my favorite digital journalism tools. 4/15/14 --- I just taught a fun digital journalism class at the University of Colorado. 4/4/14 -- I will start writing for USA Today's travel section soon! Join me on April 9 at the University of Colorado in Boulder as I moderate the Conference on World Affairs panel, "The Opposite Sex: Beyond Stereotypes." 4/2/14 -- I made the list of 92 Boulderites to follow on Twitter. 3/18/14 -- Just launched a new website that I built for Loveland Yoga & Core Fitness. Check it out! I will be speaking at the University of Colorado's Digital Ethics Symposium March 14. 2/11/14 -- Proud to announce I led a team of regional journalists to win the most recent regional DFMie award. Four different newspapers came together to create an innovative digital package that judges called "an awesome, extraordinary package that many readers no doubt found helpful in planning their holiday celebrations." 2/5/14 -- I was featured in a NetNewsCheck article about the future of journalism and Digital First's groundbreaking Project Unbolt. 1/26/14 -- Join me today as I cover the Grammys Red Carpet live for Digital First Media. Read the syndication live at dailycamera.com and dozens of other media outlets nationwide. 1/15/14 -- The book I edited, "Look Good Now and Always," by Marian Rothschild, has reached Amazon.com No. 1 best-seller in the fashion category. 1/7/14 -- Stoked to announce my holiday lights project with the Prairie Mountain Publishing crew won the Digital First winter engagement contest!	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4871
__label__cc	0.551884	0.448116	In Texas, You Can Soon Hail A Free Self-driving Car Ride Thanks To Drive.ai AIT News Desk 10 May 2018 Autonomous Vehicles Leave a comment 812 Views Drive.ai, the City of Frisco, And Local Partners Will Launch The First On-Demand Self-Driving Transportation Service In Texas in July California-based self-driving car company Drive.ai announced a pilot program to bring an on-demand self-driving car service to Frisco, Texas beginning in July 2018. Working in cooperation with the Frisco Transportation Management Association (TMA), Drive.ai will offer rides to over 10,000 people in self-driving vehicles within a geofenced area comprised of retail, entertainment, and office space. The initial pilot will run for six months, beginning with fixed pickup and drop-off locations around HALL Park and The Star, and with planned expansion into Frisco Station. This program is a milestone for the State of Texas, marking the first time members of the public will have access to an on-demand self-driving car service on public roads. This pilot program is a model for the deployment of self-driving vehicles in a public setting, one of the first of its kind in the nation, and a major step forward for the industry. Drive.ai’s self-driving on-demand service will be operated in conjunction with Frisco TMA, a public-private partnership dedicated to bringing innovative last-mile transportation options to the growing population of Frisco, Texas. The Frisco TMA includes the City of Frisco, HALL Group, Frisco Station Partners, The Star, and the Denton County Transportation Authority, which will administer the program. Leading up to the July launch date, office employees, residents, and patrons of these partners’ Frisco developments will gradually on-board into the program, gaining access to Drive.ai’s ride-hailing smartphone app. Once the program is live, riders will use the app to hail complimentary on-demand rides in self-driving cars that connect to popular destinations in one of Frisco’s most lively areas. “Frisco is recognized as a leader in using ‘smart,’ innovative traffic technologies,” said Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney. “Drive.ai’s autonomous vehicles will help people get around one of our most vibrant, commercial areas along Frisco’s ‘North Platinum Corridor.’ We applaud the collaboration of the Denton County Transportation Authority, as well as our private partners at HALL Park, Frisco Station and The Star, which gave the green light, so to speak, to this pioneering pilot program. Today definitely marks a mobility milestone for our entire region. It also gets us closer to achieving one of our council’s ‘Top Ten’ goals, which is to improve traffic throughout Frisco, one of the fastest growing cities in the country.” Drive.ai is dedicated to partnering with cities and transit authorities to safely deploy self-driving technologies in a scalable, measured way. Leading up to the July launch, Drive.ai will work with its partners to engage with members of the Frisco community, ensuring they are educated about and comfortable with the self-driving program. In addition, informational signage will be placed throughout the route, the vehicles will be painted a highly-visible orange, and they will feature four external screens that communicate the vehicles’ intended actions to pedestrians and other drivers on the roads. Sameep Tandon “Self-driving cars are here, and can improve the way we live right now,” said Sameep Tandon, Co-founder and CEO of Drive.ai. “Our technology is safe, smart, and adaptive, and we are ready to work with governments and businesses to solve their transportation needs. Working with the City of Frisco and Frisco TMA, this pilot program will take people to the places they want to go and transform the way they experience transportation.” Drive.ai is a self-driving vehicle company transforming the relationship between people and transportation. The company uses a deep-learning-first approach to develop an integrated software and hardware solution that is both scalable and adaptable to a variety of vehicles and environments. Drive.ai works closely with public and private partners to deploy geofenced Level 4 self-driving solutions that address transportation challenges and improve the state of mobility today. Founded in 2015 by graduate students out of Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence Lab, Drive.ai has over 100 employees, with locations in Mountain View, California and Frisco, Texas. The Frisco Transportation Management Association (TMA) is a collaborative effort by partners City of Frisco, Denton County Transportation Authority, Frisco Station, The Star and Hall Group to evaluate and address first/last mile connectivity, and advance innovative mobility options for employers, employees, residents and visitors within Frisco’s North Platinum Corridor. The Frisco TMA seeks to enhance mobility and connectivity between and within Frisco’s newest and most vibrant emerging corporate and entertainment destinations, Frisco Station, The Star and HALL Park. Read More: How Did We Get Here? A Brief History Of The GDPR Denton County Transportation Authority Drive.ai Frisco Transportation Management Association news 2018-05-10 Tags Denton County Transportation Authority Drive.ai Frisco Transportation Management Association news Move Over Conventional SEO Conferences, It’s Time We UnGagged! Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems, Inc Selected For DARPA Award Consumer Excitement for Autonomous Vehicles Soars but Barriers Remain Drone Racing League Launches DRL RacerAI, the First-Ever Autonomous Racing Drone Mitsubishi Electric Develops Cyber Defense Technology for Connected Cars Quantum to Demonstrate In-Vehicle Storage for Autonomous Vehicle Development at CES 2020 RoboSense Announces World ’s First Public Road Test of Vehicle Equipped With Smart LiDar Sensor at CES 2020 Kratos Awarded Unmanned Aerial Target Drone Systems Contract with $93.3 Million Potential Value	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4873
__label__wiki	0.979925	0.979925	His Highness the Aga Khan AKDN leadership AKDN's approach to development Quality of Life Unit Awards received by AKDN Support AKDN Tourism promotion Aga Khan Academies Aga Khan Agency for Habitat Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance Aga Khan Education Services Aga Khan Foundation Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development Aga Khan Health Services Aga Khan Trust for Culture Aga Khan University University of Central Asia Home \| Press Centre \| In The Media Pakistani healthcare simulation centre becomes South Asia’s first to receive prestigious accreditation The Aga Khan University’s Centre for Innovation in Medical Education, CIME, has become South Asia’s first simulation-based educational institution to be accredited by the US-based Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSIH). The university’s CIME was judged to meet the highest standards in simulation-based education by the SSIH, which has accredited over 170 centres in 19 countries around the world. The accreditation means that CIME will join a global community of practice bringing the latest advances in the field to Pakistan. University of Central Asia joins UiPath academic alliance The University of Central Asia (UCA) announced it has joined the UiPath Academic Alliance programme, offering its students and staff training in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), a key technology recognised by top analysts for its potential to empower the next generation of workers with the skills of the future. This partnership will enable members of the UCA community to access the contents of the basic RPA courses, developed by UiPath, and gain RPA literacy and skills over the next three years. AKDN supports early development of children in Tajikistan Six Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres that were launched in Tajikistan last year under the support of AKDN now successfully function in the country. An official source at the Ministry of Education and Science said the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) had made a noticeable contribution fort the creation of decent conditions for early development of children in the country and added that 283 preschool children’s development centres had been established at the general educational institutions in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region in collaboration with AKF and 482 teachers were engaged in educating and raising more than 6,500 children at these centres. The Ministry of Education and Science emphasised that it would continue collaborating with AKDN on supporting early childhood development. New project to foster peace and stability in Tajikistan’s Khorog A presentation of the project "Critical Infrastructure to Contribute to Stability and Peace" was held in Khorog last month to the GBAO Governor and a Delegation of the European Union. The project, funded by the European Union, is implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation, the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat and the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme in close partnership with the local Government. Implemented over the period of 18 months, the project aims to foster peace and stability in Khorog by improving highly demanded public infrastructure and services, strengthening confidence in local authorities, and generating temporary employment opportunities through construction work. Celebration in Bahrain for Aga Khan Award Laureate "Revitalisation of Muharraq" The Revitalisation of Muharraq, a series of restoration and reuse projects that highlight the World Heritage site's pearling history, was recently celebrated at a ceremony under the presence and patronage of His Excelency Sheikh Khaled Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Farrokh Derakhshani, Director of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The project evolved into a comprehensive programme that aimed to re-balance the city's demographic makeup by creating public spaces, providing community and cultural venues, and improving the overall environment. E.g., 22-01-2020 (-) Remove Infrastructure development filter Infrastructure development Pakistan: President Mamnoon lauds Aga Khan’s development initiatives AKA Aga Khan Academies AKAH Aga Khan Agency for Habitat AKAM Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance AKES Aga Khan Education Services AKF Aga Khan Foundation AKFED Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development AKHS Aga Khan Health Services AKTC Aga Khan Trust for Culture AKU Aga Khan University UCA University of Central Asia © 2018 Aga Khan Foundation, an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions • Privacy Policy	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4874
__label__wiki	0.668957	0.668957	Asset Management & Investment Funds: EU & International Developments - March 2018 EU Commission proposals on cross-border distribution of UCITS and AIFs On 12 March 2018, the European Commission published proposals intended to boost the cross-border market for investment funds, as part of the Capital Markets Union (CMU). The proposal is open for feedback until 10 May 2018.The press release notes that the EU investment funds market amounts to a total of EUR 14.3 trillion and that just over a third (37%) of UCITS funds and around 3% of AIFs are registered for sale in more than three Member States. The proposal states that it aims to make cross-border distribution simpler, quicker and cheaper. The proposal will need further work before it is fit for purpose. The shift in decision making from national regulators to ESMA continues inexorably. The proposed directive on cross-border distribution of funds contains amendments to the UCITS IV Directive and the AIFMD relating to, among other things, pre-marketing of AIFs and the discontinuation of marketing. UCITS provisions on content requirements for UCITS marketing communications (Article 77) and the publication of national rules on marketing (Article 91(3)) are deleted from the UCITS Directive and replaced with provisions in the proposed Regulation (which will have direct effect and so will allow less scope for differences in implementation). UCITS provisions on the provision of local facilities (Article 92) will be replaced so that the facilities may be provided on-line and Member States may not require the UCITS ManCo to provide the facilities through a physical presence. Similar provisions are introduced for AIFMs marketing AIFs to retail investors. UCITS provisions requiring that document updates be furnished to host regulators are changed to require notification to the home regulator. The home regulator must then notify the UCITS within 10 working days that it is not to implement the change (if it believes the UCITS would no longer comply with the UCITS Directive) or, if not, inform the host regulator of the changes. Similar changes are made to the AIFMD with different time limits. New UCITS procedures (Article 93(a)) are introduced which will permit a UCITS ManCo to discontinue marketing in a Member State (other than the UCITS home Member State) if there are less than 10 investors in that Member state holding less than 1% AUM, in which event the ManCo will be obliged to make a blanket public offer to repurchase, free of charges and deductions, all shares or units held by investors in that Member State, which offer must remain open for at least 30 working days and publicise its intention to stop marketing in that Member State, by a medium customary for marketing a UCITS and suitable for a typical UCITS investor. The ManCo will notify its home regulator and, within 20 days, the home regulator will transmit the request to the host regulator and to ESMA and inform the ManCo. The UCITS may not be marketed thereafter although the obligations to provide information to investors who remain will continue. Similar provisions are introduced for AIFMs. A new harmonised regime for pre-marketing of AIFs in the EU will be introduced. Currently, Member States adopt differing approaches to pre-marketing. The directive provides for an authorised EU AIFM to engage in pre-marketing in the EU, without any notification obligations. "Pre-marketing' is defined as "a direct or indirect provision of information on investment strategies or investment ideas by an AIFM or on its behalf to professional investors domiciled or registered in the Union in order to test their interest in an AIF which is not yet established". The right falls away where the information presented to investors in the pre marketing: relates to "an established AIF" contains a reference to "an established AIF" enables investors to commit to acquiring units/shares of a particular AIF or amounts to a prospectus, constitutional documents of a not-yet-established AIF, offering documents, subscription forms or similar documents whether in a draft form or a final form allowing investors to take an investment decision. This definition and the carve-outs will need further refinement if the provision is to achieve the intended purpose. Moreover the right to pre-market is not extended to non-EU AIFMs. The proposed regulation on facilitating cross-border distribution of funds and amending the EuVECA Regulation and the EuSEF Regulation will impact AIFs and UCITS. National regulators will be permitted to charge fees which must be proportionate and subject to a transparent process. National regulators will be required to publish online all applicable national laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning their marketing requirements for UCITS and AIFs and their fees and charges and must notify these to ESMA. Where national law requires that marketing materials be submitted to the national regulator for review, the national regulator must itself comply with provisions which aim to improve transparency and equal treatment. UCITS and AIFs will be required to comply with harmonised requirements for their marketing materials with ESMA required to issue guidelines on the requirements. National regulators will be required to transmit notifications, notification letters, written notices and information relating to notifications to ESMA. ESMA will be required to establish central databases of: the national marketing requirements the national fees and charges a list of EU authorised AIFMs and UCITS ManCos, AIFs and UCITS which those AIFMs and UCITS ManCos manage and market and the Member States in which those AIFs and UCITS are marketed. The EuVECA Regulation and the EuSEF Regulation will be amended to provide for a pre-marketing regime similar to that set out for AIFMs in the draft directive. ESMA is to publish a myriad of templates, forms and procedures, central databases of information, regulatory technical standards, implementing technical standards, guidelines and reviews (every 2 years) after the regulation enters into force. ESMA Speech on CMU, Brexit and ESA review ESMA chair, Steven Maijoor delivered a speech on CMU, Brexit and the ESA review making a number of points, some of which are highlighted below. Brexit and the issue around ESMA's work on delegation "The decision of the UK to leave not only the EU but, also the Single Market, has led to a situation in which there is the potential for a significant shift of entities and activities from the UK to the EU27." "This triggered concerns about the risk of regulatory arbitrage between the EU27 Member States seeking to attract this business." "We are not looking to question, undermine or put in doubt the delegation model. We know that this is a key feature of the investment funds industry and that the flexibility to organise centres of excellence in different jurisdictions has contributed to the industry's success"..."What our opinions are seeking to address is the risk of letterbox entities. I hope you would all agree that it is in no-one's interest to allow the creation of such entities. Both the UCITS Directive and the AIFMD explicitly require there to be enough substance in the entity established in the home Member State." "In other words, financial centres in the EU27 should be free to compete based on the particular strengths they can offer relocating firms, like speed and efficiency, but in all cases the EU rulebook should be consistently applied. Otherwise, there could be insufficient substance in the EU27, which may pose risks to ESMA achieving its stability and investor protection mandates." "On the methodology for calculation, ….we are ready and willing to look at this issue but that we need to see concrete evidence to assess whether these flaws are real. In the absence of any such evidence, we maintain our view that the methodology is sound and that negative transaction cost figures should be extremely rare." CMU/ESAs Review "...to those who see only additional complications and burdens from a strengthened role for ESMA on delegation, I would point out that the Supervisory Coordination Network (SCN) has been doing similar work over the past six months without creating any of the disruption that has been warned about. In addition, I would like to highlight that the tools we would be empowered to use under the Commission's proposal – namely opinions – are a very standard convergence tool that we have used hundreds of times already on a range of different topics, including under MIFID I and MiFID II." "Another point some Member States and parts of the industry have been critical about is the new funding model. I and my colleagues at ESMA looked at these numbers, and the shift to the industry-funded budget for indirect supervision, as proposed by the Commission, would inter alia impact about 2,500 investment management companies across the EU. Their yearly contribution, however, based on ESMA's 2018 budget and the proposed distribution key would mean an average of €650 per entity annually. I cannot imagine that this level of burden could significantly impact the profitability of the BVI's membership" [the BVI represents the interests of the German investment fund and asset management industry]. "At the same time I predict that with a more independent funding base, ESMA would be able to expand its supervisory convergence activities, which ultimately benefits the CMU project, and both consumers and the financial industry. Finally, I think it is important to keep in mind that ESMA's Board of Supervisors would retain the budget approval powers, and the Member States would continue to co-decide the general EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework which also applies to ESMA." Money Market Funds - stress tests ESMA published the official translations of its Guidelines on stress test scenarios under Article 28 of the MMF Regulation. The Central Bank must notify ESMA whether it complies or intends to comply with the Guidelines. Brexit legal text for transition period On 19 March 2018, the UK government and the European Commission published a draft withdrawal agreement which includes text agreed by the negotiators on the post-Brexit transition period. The UK government has agreed that the transition period will end on 31 December 2020. The agreed text provides that the UK "may negotiate, sign and ratify international agreements" entered into in its own capacity in areas of exclusive EU competence during the transition period "provided those agreements do not enter into force or apply during the transition period" unless authorised by the EU. The transition period is described in Article 121 as "a transition or implementation period". ELTIF Regulation On 23 March 2018, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/480 supplementing the Regulation on European Long-Term Investment Funds (ELTIF Regulation) with regard to regulatory technical standards (RTS) on financial derivative instruments solely serving hedging purposes, sufficient length of the life of the ELTIF, assessment criteria for the market for potential buyers and valuation of the assets to be divested, and the types and characteristics of the facilities available to retail investors was published in the Official Journal of the EU. The Delegated Regulation will enter into force on 12 April 2018. ESMA MiFID II Q&As on investor protection On 23 March 2018, ESMA published updated Q&As on investor protection topics under the MiFID II Directive and MiFIR. ESMA has added new Q&As or updated existing Q&As relating to the following topics: Inducements Information on costs and charges Post-sale reporting The meaning of the term "ongoing relationship", which is used in various Articles of the MiFID II Directive and MiFIR. ESMA Q&As on the Benchmarks Regulation On 22 March 2018, ESMA published updated Q&As on the implementation of the Regulation on indices used in financial instruments and financial contracts or to measure the performance of investment funds (Benchmarks Regulation) with a new Q&A on how supervised contributors should apply Article 16 of the Benchmarks Regulation (covering governance and control requirements for supervised contributors) during the transitional period. ESMA Q&As on CSDR On 23 March 2018, ESMA published updated Q&As on the implementation of the Regulation on improving securities settlement and regulating central securities depositories (CSDR) with two new Q&As, relating to: The assessment of CSD links to be made by the competent authorities in the context of the authorisation procedure Whether links between CSDs participating in TARGET2-Securities (T2S) are interoperable links as defined in the CSDR. ESMA also updated an existing Q&A on the implementation of Article 35 of the CSDR, to specify the extent of the flexibility that can be granted to CSDs in their use of international standards to communicate with their participants or with other market infrastructures. ESMA Q&As on Market Abuse Regulation On 23 March 2018, ESMA published updated Q&As on the Market Abuse Regulation with an updated Q&A 5.1 on the disclosure of inside information on compliance with Pillar II requirements. EU Commission proposal on Crowdfunding On 8 March 2018, the European Commission published proposals on crowdfunding (both lending and investment based) which include a Commission proposal for a regulation on European Crowdfunding Service Providers (ECSP) for Business. The Commission proposes enabling crowdfunding platforms to obtain an EU authorisation from ESMA, to be supervised by ESMA and to be permitted to engage in cross-border activities. The proposals are part of the CMU agenda and will be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU with a view to adoption by mid-2019 and application by mid-2020. ESMA speech on FINTECH On 27 February 2018, ESMA published a speech delivered by Steven Maijoor, ESMA Chair, on taking a measured approach to FinTech which involves two strands. The first strand involves monitoring innovations diligently and intelligently. The second strand is to take action in a measured way (that is, to carefully consider how best to act, weighing risks and benefits in an objective fashion). ESMA identifies three key areas of FinTech: Structural features of FinTech Monitoring FinTech by looking at economic function Challenges and opportunities for regulators Mr Maijoor refers to the European Commission's proposals which envisage work for the European Supervisory Authorities in four areas pursuing convergence on licensing requirements for FinTech companies clarifying and updating the supervisory outsourcing frameworks co-ordinating national technological innovation hubs cybersecurity. European Commission 2018 FinTech Action Plan In March, 2018, the European Commission published its 2018 FinTech Action Plan. The Action Plan sets out a number of initiatives aimed at creating a "more future-oriented regulatory framework" within the EU where "innovative fintech products and solutions can be rapidly rolled out… without compromising financial stability or consumer and investor protection". Some notable initiatives proposed by the Commission include: A proposed assessment of the suitability of the current EU regulatory framework for initial coin offerings (ICOs) and cryptoassets. The Commission will present a report on best practices for regulatory sandboxes by Q1 2019. The Commission will set up an expert group to assess by Q2 2019 whether there are unjustified regulatory obstacles to financial innovation in the EU financial services regulatory framework. The Commission will host an EU FinTech Laboratory where European and national authorities will engage with tech providers in a neutral, non-commercial space with a view to building capability and knowledge. The Commission has already created an EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum. This agency will report on the challenges and opportunities of cryptoassets later in 2018 and is working on a comprehensive strategy on distributed ledger technology and blockchain. Read here for more information. ESAs report on the impact of Big Data on consumers and financial firms The Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) published its final report on Big Data analysing its impact on consumers and financial firms. It also issued a factsheet for consumers. The ESAs found that while the development of Big Data poses some potential risks to financial services consumers, the benefits of this innovation currently outweigh these. Many of the risks identified by the ESAs are mitigated by existing legislation and any legislative intervention at this point would be premature. Joint ESMA and EBA Guidelines on the assessment of the suitability of members of the management body and key function holders ESMA and EBA issued joint Guidelines on the assessment of the suitability of members of the management body and key function holders. These Guidelines specify the requirements regarding the suitability of members of the management body of credit institutions, investment firms, financial holding companies and mixed financial holding companies. The Guidelines do not apply to UCITS and AIFs but may inform the regulatory approach.. The Guidelines specify, in particular, the notions of sufficient time commitment; honesty, integrity and independence of mind of a member of the management body; adequate collective knowledge, skills and experience of the management body; and adequate human and financial resources devoted to the induction and training of such members. The issue of diversity in the selection of members of the management body is also addressed. The annex sets out a template for assessments to take account of the business model, governance, risk management, compliance, audit, management and decision making and experience. On 21 March 2018, the G20 issued an update, following a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors. G20 remains committed to the full, timely and consistent implementation and finalisation of the Basel III reforms and their evaluation. G20 will continue to address the decline in correspondent banking relationships. G20 commits to implement the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards as they apply to crypto-assets, and looks forward to the FATF review of those standards. G20 commits to step up its fight against terrorist financing, money laundering and proliferation financing. The G20 calls on the FATF to enhance its efforts to counter proliferation financing. The G20 calls on the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) to produce, by July 2018, a policy guide for G20 and non-G20 countries to use digitisation to provide financial services to unserved and underserved individuals and businesses currently operating in the informal economy. Anti-Money Laundering/ Combating the Financing of Terror/ Corruption FATF The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) held a plenary meeting in Paris in February 2018. Key developments included: the adoption of a new counter-terrorist financing operational plan the adoption of updated FATF Guidance on Counter Proliferation Financing an update on recent developments on de-risking improving the understanding of virtual currencies risks. Wolfsberg Group FAQs on assessments for financial crime country risk On 19 March 2018, the Wolfsberg Group published FAQs on assessments for country risk in relation to financial crime. The FAQs relate broadly to financial crime risk, which includes money laundering, sanctions, bribery and corruption risks, financial secrecy and tax transparency. The FAQs are based on current best practices. The Wolfsberg Group correspondent banking due diligence questionnaire The Wolfsberg Group published an updated version of its correspondent banking due diligence questionnaire, together with accompanying documents, which has been expanded to cover anti-bribery and corruption, counter terrorism financing and sanctions exposure controls. European Parliament adopts recommendation on cutting sources of terrorist income On 1 March 2018, the European Parliament announced that it has voted to adopt a recommendation on cutting the sources of terrorist income. For more information please contact a member of the Asset Management & Investment Funds Team. Asset Management & Investment Funds	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4876
__label__wiki	0.929366	0.929366	Anger as Swedish neo-Nazis prepare for Yom Kippur march The event dubbed 'Revolt against the traitors' is scheduled to take place on September 30. by Patrick Strickland The neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement marching in Stockholm in 2016 [File: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images] Swedish anti-racist politicians, watchdog groups and Jewish organisations have expressed anger as self-professed National Socialists prepare for a rally slated to take place on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur in the country's second-largest city. WATCH: Sweden - 106-year-old Afghan woman appeals deportation (02:08) The Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM), which anti-racist organisations describe as neo-Nazis, is holding a demonstration on September 30 in Gothenburg, which is located on Sweden's western coast. They have dubbed the event "Revolt against the traitors". The event will be a rally against "the politicians in the Swedish parliament as well as the European Parliament" who "have flung our nation's borders wide open to an unprecedented invasion", the NRM said in a statement, referring to the country's acceptance of refugees and migrants fleeing war and economic devastation in recent years. The statement added, "Today's politicians and journalists are nothing short of robbers and traitors!" At the time of publication, the NRM had not replied to Al Jazeera's repeated requests for additional comment. Linda Snecker, a spokesperson for Sweden's Left Party, described the NRM as "a threat against our democracy and open society". Speaking to Al Jazeera by telephone, she said, "It's a threat against all of us who are anti-racists, who are feminists, [and those] who celebrate LGBTQ society. The neo-Nazis are a threat against all of those values that we believe and fight for." Police have changed the NRM's planned route, prompting the group to hold a flash demonstration in Gothenburg on September 17, with some 60 demonstrators marching through the city centre. READ MORE: Inside the alt-right - 'Genocidal behind closed doors' In a video posted on the NRM's YouTube channel, the demonstrators waved flags and chanted against immigration. When angry passers-by confronted them, an NRM protester threw a woman to the pavement. Although the NRM has been active for two decades, Snecker said the group is attempting to capitalise on the rise of the far-right Sweden Democrats Party, which has 49 seats in the national legislature, and the wave of far-right populism that has hit parts of Europe and the US in recent years. "Their agenda is violence, to scare people, to show you can't protest against them and that they have a violent capacity," she said. "That's really scary." 'Uncomfortable associations for Jews' The demonstration was set to pass near a synagogue in the city centre, which has prompted faith leaders to express concern for the city's Jewish community. However, a court ruled on Monday that the route would have to be changed. Aron Verstandig, chairman of The Official Council of Swedish Jewish Communities, and Allan Stutzinky, chairman of the Jewish Community in Gothenburg, decried the police's decision to grant the NRM a permit in an opinion article published by the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper earlier this month. "Aside from out of fear for our own security, it evokes uncomfortable associations for us Jews. During the Holocaust, it wasn't unusual for the German Nazis to conduct their horrendous atrocities on the most important days of the Jewish calendar," they wrote. Henrik Dahlberg, a media spokesperson for the City of Gothenburg, said it does not have the legal authority to prevent the march from taking place. READ MORE: How a raised fist against Swedish Nazism went viral "Demonstrations such as this one have a very strong protection in the Swedish constitution," he told Al Jazeera by email. "Therefore, the march in and of itself cannot be stopped." In 2016, the anti-racist magazine Expo documented 3,064 instances of neo-Nazi activities in Sweden. The bulk of the activities involved spreading propaganda, such as distributing flyers and posting stickers. In a December 2016 study that examined the profiles of 159 NRM members, Expo found that more than a quarter of them had previously been charged with violent crimes, while 56 percent had been convicted of a crime. Explaining that the group had grown in recent years, Expo added that a third of active NRM members in 2015 had not previously had any documented connections to neo-Nazi organisations. 'Outrage' Last week, Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven called for action to combat the rise in far-right activity in the country. "When we now see an escalation of these extremist forces, and we are moving towards a normalization of racist parties too, then we must do something," he said. Daniel Wiklander, Expo's acting managing editor, described the NRM's upcoming demonstration as "an outrage". Wiklander explains that the NRM draws on the ideological traditions of the German National Socialists, American white supremacist groups that were prevalent in the 1980s and other European fascist organisations that were active in the lead-up to and during World War II. "At this point, it's the only national socialist organisation, but they exist within a larger white nationalist and far-right alignment," he said. "For a long time, they were a fringe movement because they were very hostile to [far-right] competition and mostly stuck to their own. In the last 10 years, they've [benefited from] different [white supremacist] groups coming together." The NRM was founded as the Swedish Resistance Movement in 1997 by Klas Lund, who has previously spent time in prison for bank robbery and manslaughter for the 1986 killing of an anti-racist organiser who intervened to stop the harassment of migrants. READ MORE: Meet the refugee who fought neo-Nazis in Sweden More recently, the NRM has established a branch in neighbouring Finland, where its members have attacked anti-racist demonstrations and LGBTQ pride events. The group advocates Sweden's exit from the European Union, the mass deportation of all refugees and migrants and what it describes as "Nordic self-sufficiency" based on National Socialist ideology, among other far-right policies. In July 2017, a court in Gothenburg sentenced three men with ties to the NRM over bomb attacks that targeted refugee shelters and left one person severely injured. The men were sentenced to eight years and six months, five years and a year and a half, respectively. Following the election of right-wing President Donald Trump in the US last November, the NRM staged its largest demonstration to date. More than 500 NRM supporters went onto the streets of Stockholm, the country's capital and largest city. In February 2016, the NRM praised a mob of more than 100 black-clad Swedes who attacked refugees and migrants in central Stockholm. Explaining that the NRM has been "reaching out to people who are leaning toward authoritarian, far right politics", Expo's Wiklander said the group has "increasingly been viewed as the muscle on the far right". He concluded: "They are attracting more people to their demonstrations... They've become more visible, and they are carrying out more activities." Follow Patrick Strickland on Twitter: @P_Strickland_ Editor's note: The article has been updated to reflect the court's decision to change the route of the NRM's march on September 30. THE LISTENING POST: Charlottesville - White supremacy and the White House (25:44) Patrick Strickland @ P_Strickland_	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4878
__label__wiki	0.945497	0.945497	Multiple foreign armed groups involved in Libya conflict: UN Report names five Sudanese and four Chadian armed groups it says contributed combatants to Libya's civil war. Libya has been in turmoil since an uprising in 2011 toppled Muammar Gaddafi [Goran Tomasevic/Reuters] Multiple armed groups from Sudan and Chad have been involved in the conflict in Libya this year, said a report by the United Nations. The UN report published on Tuesday named five Sudanese and four Chadian armed groups, which it said contributed several thousand combatants to both sides of the civil war. But it did not mention the presence of Russian mercenaries - who were recently identified in their hundreds in media reports as fighting in the conflict. Erdogan: Turkey, Libya could conduct exploration in Mediterranean US officials meet Libya's Haftar to end Tripoli offensive Libyan officials cite evidence of Russian mercenaries in war Russia has denied that private military contractors are supporting renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar who launched an April offensive to seize the capital, Tripoli, from armed groups backing the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). Libya has been in turmoil since a civil war in 2011 toppled longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, who was later killed by rebels. In the chaos that followed, the country was divided with a weak UN-supported administration in Tripoli overseeing the country's west, and a rival government in the east aligned with the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Haftar. INSIDE STORY: Who's fuelling the fighting in Libya? (25:40) Despite no mention in the UN report, a diplomat - who spoke on condition of anonymity - said it is "an open secret that large numbers of Russian mercenaries are fighting in Libya". The reason the Russians were not mentioned in the document is that their activities have "largely taken place since the cut-off date for compiling the report", he said. "However, we are aware the panel are in the process of gathering evidence of the extent of Russian activity and will update the committee in the coming months," the diplomat said. A summary of the report, seen by AFP news agency, said Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have regularly supported Haftar's forces with Turkey backing the GNA in violation of a UN arms embargo imposed on Libya since 2011. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday his country was ready to send troops to Libya in support of the GNA if Tripoli requested it. The UN report noted that military materials made by the United States, Russia and China appear to be in use in the conflict, but do not appear to have been supplied by any of those countries directly. "Both parties to the conflict received weapons and military equipment, technical support and non-Libyan fighters in non-compliance with the sanctions measures related to arms," the report said. ISIL focus UN investigators said in the 376-page report that counterterrorism operations in Libya against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) and al-Qaeda members by the government and Haftar's forces continue to disrupt both armed groups and reduced their capacity to conduct operations. However, they reported a new focus on Libya by ISIL, quoting a video in July by their leader in Libya, Mahmud Massud al-Baraassi, also known as Abu Musab Allibi, "in which he highlighted that Libya was now one of the main axes of future ISIL operations, which are designed to compensate for the loss of ground" in Syria. "ISIL in Libya finances its activities through robbery, kidnap for ransom, extortion of Libyan citizens and the cross-border smuggling of artefacts and other commodities," the report said. "Taxation of human trafficking networks continues to be a source of funding for ISIL in Libya."	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4879
__label__wiki	0.882497	0.882497	Turkey-Syria border Tens of thousands flee Syria's Idlib as deadly bombings intensify UN observers say at least 18,000 refugees have fled Idlib in just 24 hours as bombings kill more people. Smoke billows from a building following a reported bombardment by pro-Syrian government forces in the town of Maarat el-Numan in Syria's Idlib province on Friday [Abdulazez Ketaz/AFP] Tens of thousands of civilians have fled Syria's Idlib province to the Turkish border, after an increase in bombings by Russia-backed government forces, creating a new humanitarian challenge as the winter season arrives. United Nations observers said on Friday that at least 18,000 people have been displaced in Idlib in just 24 hours, as the deadly bombardments continue. Erdogan says 50,000 Syrians fleeing Idlib to Turkey US Congress takes aim at Syrian war crimes, Russian aggression US seeks clarification on Erdogan's military base closure threat On Friday morning, at least seven more people were reported killed, after at least 19 civilians were killed on Thursday. In the last five days, at least 80,000 Syrians have already fled near Turkey's border, according to reports quoting Syria's Response Coordination Group. Thousands flee as Assad prepares to recapture Idlib (2:35) There are already about one million Syrian refugees living near the border with Turkey. In September 2018, Turkey and Russia had agreed to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone. Since then, more than 1,300 civilians have been killed in attacks by the Syrian government forces in the de-escalation zone, according to reports. Al Jazeera's Mohammed Adow, reporting from Istanbul, said the Russian-backed Syrian government bombings include air raids, shelling and barrel bomb attacks in the town of Maarat el-Numan in southern Idlib. Syrians living in the area said the attacks were indiscriminate with hospitals, markets and homes targeted. On Friday, public anger against the offensive spilled onto the streets, with hundreds of people in Idlib taking to the streets to denounce what they called the neglect of their plight by the International community. They also called for a swift halt to the bombardment. Witnesses also said that evacuees were targeted as they tried to flee their homes. In the town of Sarmada, a hub for aid going into Syria and just a few kilometres from the border with Turkey, fighters from the opposition Hay'et Tahrir Sham set up barriers to stop protesters from walking towards the border. Turkish security forces said they were forced to send reinforcements to ensure protesters did not cross into Turkey. Cold, hungry winter Idlib is home to an estimated 2.4 million people, more than half of whom are internally-displaced and living camped out near the Turkish border. Before the latest bombings, there were already about one million Syrian refugees reported living near the border with Turkey [Aaref Watad/AFP] With the intensified bombing campaign forcing thousands to flee, many face a cold and hungry winter. Official camps on the Syria-Turkey border are already in full capacity, forcing many of the newly-displaced civilians to live in flooded makeshift camps, where aid deliveries are few and far between. Crippling fuel shortages, which have raised the cost of food and transport, also threaten medical care in the province. Fuel prices have more than doubled in the past two months, and charities and hospitals said they are struggling to respond to the crisis. As the situation on the ground deteriorates, the UN Security Council failed to approve any of the rival resolutions that would continue the delivery of humanitarian aid across borders to more than a million Syrians every month in mainly rebel-held areas. A resolution, cosponsored by Germany, Belgium and Kuwait and supported by the UN humanitarian office, which would have extended the mandate for deliveries for six months and cut one of four crossing points, was vetoed by Russia, the Syrian government's closest ally, and China. A rival resolution sponsored by Russia and China, introduced only on Monday, was also defeated. The current year-long mandate for aid deliveries through four border crossings in Turkey, Iraq and Jordan is set to expire on January 10. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a report to the council circulated on Monday that "the United Nations does not have an alternative means of reaching people in need in the areas in which cross-border assistance is being provided." UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric called the humanitarian situation in northwest and northeast Syria "horrific", saying "it would be markedly worse without the cross-border operation". Attack on oil and gas facilities Elsewhere, Syrian state TV reported that near-simultaneous attacks believed to have been carried out by drones hit three government-run oil and gas installations in central Syria on Saturday. No one claimed responsibility for the attacks, which targeted the Homs oil refinery - one of only two in the country - as well as two natural gas facilities in different parts of Homs province. The government's oil ministry said that several production units had been damaged and repair teams were working alongside firefighters to try to restore output as quickly as possible. Government-held areas of Syria suffer from a chronic shortage of fuel, partly because of Western sanctions on crude imports and partly because the largest oil and gas fields lie in the east, which remains under the control of US-backed Kurdish forces. Syria's War	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4880
__label__wiki	0.76069	0.76069	Bias of Reuters Judge's order on government lawyer shake-up adds hurdle for Trump in U.S. Census dispute Posted on AllSides July 10th, 2019 A judge in New York on Tuesday denied the U.S. Department of Justice’s request to shake up the legal team that was handling cases on the 2020 Census, adding another hurdle to the Trump administration’s bid to put a contentious citizenship question on the survey. U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman said in a court order the 11th-hour request to change lawyers handling the case is “patently deficient” and provides no “satisfactory reasons.” The department attempted to change the team of lawyers after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 27... See full media bias rating for Reuters Pensacola Shooting A Terrorist Act, Says AG Barr Woman sues Mormon church for reporting husband’s child sex abuse William Barr is unfit to be attorney general More news about Justice https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-census/judges-order-on-government-lawyer-shake-up-adds-hurdle-for-trump-in-u-s-census-dispute-idUSKCN1U4295 As a former U.S. attorney general, I am reluctant to publicly criticize my successors. I respect the office and understand just how tough the job can be.... George Zimmerman sues Trayvon Martin's parents and others for more than $100 million (CNN)George Zimmerman was acquitted in the fatal 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin, but according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Florida, he believes there was... CNN (Web News) William Barr Says Those Who Don’t Show More Respect To Cops May Not Get Police Protection The remarks are the latest example of the U.S. attorney general’s “tough on crime” approach that President Donald Trump has adopted. U.S. Attorney General... Appeals court refuses to block House subpoena for Trump’s financial records The ruling orders Deutsche Bank, Capital One to comply with the request for records. House Democrats can access President Trump’s private financial records... Roger Stone found guilty of laundry-list of crimes stemming from his contacts with WikiLeaks, Trump... The dirty trickster is all out of tricks. Roger Stone, a longtime Donald Trump confidant and self-described “dirty trickster” of GOP politics, was found... Hands shackled behind her back, R. Kelly’s girlfriend pleads not guilty to attacking another... Her hands shackled behind her, a public defender at her side, a girlfriend of jailed singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that she hit... Alex Jones ordered to pay $100,000 in Sandy Hook defamation case The case has been brought by the father of a child killed in the Sandy Hook mass school shooting in 2012. Mr Jones has long claimed on his show and Infowars... Roger Stone guilty of witness tampering, lying to Congress WASHINGTON (AP) — Roger Stone, a longtime friend and ally of President Donald Trump, was found guilty Friday of witness tampering and lying to Congress about... Supreme Court will allow Sandy Hook families to move forward in suit against gunmaker Remington WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court said Tuesday that it will not hear a closely watched case against gunmaker Remington, a move the company has warned could... Judge orders Trump to pay $2 million for violating charities law A judge has ordered President Trump and his children to pay $2 million to a group of nonprofit organizations as part of a settlement with the New York state... The wife of an Oregon sicko convicted of molesting the couple’s daughter is suing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — because Mormon officials... Prosecutor Targets Pastor, Labeled Protesters 'Religious Loonies' for Opposing Drag... Even after a judge ruled against them twice, prosecutors in Spokane, Washington are still going after a pastor who was present at protests of the Drag Queen... Actor Jussie Smollett files counterclaim against Chicago, alleges malicious prosecution: '... Actor Jussie Smollett filed a counterclaim— which names the alleged acts of “multiple police officers and two brothers" — against the city of Chicago on... TheBlaze.com Roger Stone found guilty of lying to investigators in Russia probe President Trump’s longtime confidant Roger Stone was convicted on Friday of lying to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential... 'Transgender,' 'nonbinary,' 'intersex,' 'other' to be new... The jury information card for New York's court system will include "transgender," "nonbinary," "intersex," and "other" as gender options along with "male" and...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4881
__label__wiki	0.950504	0.950504	ALTA Names Director of Government Affairs ALTA on Dec. 16 announced the appointment of Benjamin Lincoln as director of government affairs. He will focus on building and strengthening relationships between members of Congress and ALTA. Lincoln also will work to enhance the relationships individual ALTA members have with members of Congress and increase ALTA member participation in grassroots activity. “Strengthening our relationships with members of Congress remains a constant goal for ALTA and our members and Ben brings valuable experience to take our advocacy efforts to the next level,” said Michelle Korsmo, ALTA’s chief executive officer. “Ben’s previous experiences creating relationships between industry and members of Congress on and off Capitol Hill will enable ALTA to better connect with legislators and assist our members in properly conveying the value of the land title industry.” Lincoln joins an already effective and strong government affairs team at ALTA. Headed up by Justin Ailes, vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs, others working to protect the land title industry include Steve Gottheim, legislative and regulatory counsel; Jessica McEwen, director of public affairs; and Madeline Nagy, director of state government affairs. Prior to joining ALTA, Lincoln served as a senior vice president for LTD Group LLC, where he interacted with multiple entities on Capitol Hill and the White House to further the legislative goals of LTD Group’s client base. LTD Group represents multiple Fortune 500 companies in the financial services industry and provides strategic political consultation. “Throughout my career I have gained an exceptional appreciation for working with broad coalitions, and look forward to transferring those ideals into my position with ALTA,” Lincoln said. From early 2006 to 2011, Lincoln served as a congressional staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served as chief of staff and legislative director to Rep. Travis Childers (D-MS), a member of the House Financial Services Committee throughout the implementation and passage of the Wall Street Reform Act. Prior to joining the office of Congressman Childers in 2008, Lincoln served as a legislative assistant to Rep. John Tanner (D-TN), a founding member of the Blue Dog Coalition.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4882
__label__wiki	0.878497	0.878497	Yemen: Investigate ‘despicable’ killing of prominent journalist 18 March 2015, 14:56 UTC Photo: Yemeni journalist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani speaking at the Oslo Freedom Forum in 2010. © Oslo Freedom Forum The Yemeni authorities must set up a prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into today’s despicable killing of leading journalist and activist Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani, Amnesty International said. According to media reports, unidentified gunmen on a motorbike shot Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani dead near his house in the centre of the capital Sana’a today. A former recipient of Amnesty International UK’s Special Award for Human Rights Journalism under Threat, he had been imprisoned several times and faced years of harassment under former President ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Saleh. Given the history of intimidation and harassment Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani faced for his outspoken journalism and peaceful activism, his despicable killing today smacks of a politically motivated assassination. Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme “Given the history of intimidation and harassment Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani faced for his outspoken journalism and peaceful activism, his despicable killing today smacks of a politically motivated assassination,” said Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. “We fear that his murder will be perceived as a warning to anyone still brave enough to carry out journalism in Yemen today. It is of the utmost importance that the authorities, including the Prosecutor General, immediately open a thorough, independent and impartial investigation and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice in fair trials without resort to the death penalty.” Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani’s journalism and activism supported the country’s minority Zaidi population and the Huthi political movement. The Huthi movement emerged in the country’s Saada province in the early 2000s as a reaction to perceived discrimination during President Saleh’s 33-year rule, which ended in 2011. They fought the central government in several armed conflicts between 2004 and 2010. Since the departure of President Saleh, Huthi armed groups have risen to prominence and have consolidated their hold on the capital Sana’a and the country as a whole in recent months. On 6 February they dissolved parliament and issued a constitutional declaration mandating the creation of a transitional presidential council for the next two years.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4884
__label__wiki	0.650127	0.650127	Forum on Physics and Society FPS Menu Submit your Input FPS Home \| Newsletters \| Physics & Society: April 2016 \| Gravitational Waves Ripple Through House Science Committee Gravitational Waves Ripple Through House Science Committee Gregory Mack Several comments during the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s February 24 hearing on LIGO’s tremendous gravitational wave discovery took me by surprise. First, Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) praised LIGO during his introductory remarks, saying “The NSF’s support for the LIGO project is a great example of what we can achieve when we pursue breakthrough science that is in the national interest.” That last phrase surprised me. Smith sponsored a bill that passed the House recently titled “Scientific Research in the National Interest Act” H.R. 3293. This legislation prescribes that NSF, whose mission is to support basic science research, only fund scientific activities if they fall into one of seven categories that the bill classifies as “in the national interest.” It’s unclear he would have found the fundamental research done decades prior to the LIGO announcement “in the national interest” based on his definition. During the 1970s and 1980s, NSF funded Rainer Weiss’s initial investigations into laser interferometric techniques that ultimately formed the basis for LIGO, resulting in the construction of the NSF-funded facility in the 1990s. The investment paid off in a huge way with the confirmation of the final, big prediction of Einstein’s General Relativity. But would it have been funded if H.R. 3293 were in place? Would Smith deem Weiss’s research a satisfactory fit for one of the categories? The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) put out a comment in opposition to this bill. Along with noting that the NSF gold-standard merit review process already works to select the best proposals for federal investment, the OSTP document states that “most of the criteria offered by the bill for determining whether an award for basic research is in the national interest are not applicable to basic research at all—they relate to whether the research will increase economic competitiveness, increase health and welfare, strengthen the national defense, and so on, and, thus, they are applicable only to applied research.” Although Smith said LIGO was an example of science “in the national interest,” his first question to the witnesses after their statements asked about the discovery’s practical applications. While I had expected this question from him, I hadn’t expected it following the context of his opening statement. Was he separating “practical application” from “national interest” (which would seem at odds with the wording in the bill)? Was he asking how it fit in with his criteria? Of course, as with many basic research discoveries, we don’t know the answer to his question yet. In response, the witnesses discussed some important consequences stemming from the scientific processes used to reach this discovery. One aspect was innovation. To get the precision needed to measure a detection involving the size of one billionth of one billionth of a meter, technological advances had to be made. Another was workforce development. People had to handle the vast amounts of data generated by the experiment, resulting in many data science experts. A long list of companies was rattled off during the hearing where LIGO graduate students had found employment as data analysts when they finished their degrees. Yet another was education, a subject addressed by Reps. Elizabeth Esty, Suzanne Bonamici and Barbara Comstock. The LIGO team has developed education materials and programs to help with understanding this important discovery, and the science behind it, with a goal of informing and inspiring a diverse STEM workforce. As the witnesses illustrated, all of these examples show the importance of supporting this type of research—it’s not only about advancing scientific knowledge, but also the societal benefits and developments that come with the process. That certainly, by anyone’s criteria, is in the national interest. These contributions have not been peer-refereed. They represent solely the view(s) of the author(s) and not necessarily the view of APS.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4887
__label__wiki	0.96325	0.96325	Art + Auctions How Did Six Willem de Kooning Paintings End Up Forgotten in a Storage Unit? They are expected to be worth somewhere between $10,000 and $10 million when they head to auction By Katherine McGrath Image courtesy of David Killen Gallery. When David Killen, a New York gallerist and auctioneer, got a cold call in 2016 from a schoolteacher offering to sell him a storage unit filled with art, he almost turned it down. A large auction house had already passed on it, and the contents seemed mostly unremarkable. A will executor had tried and failed to return the works to their original owners, and after no such luck, offered the contents to auctioneers. It was likely filled with junk, Killen thought, but at least the works could be used as filler lots for his biweekly auctions, so he offered $15,000 for the contents of the unit and didn't think much of it. But then, as he was loading the boxes into his truck, the impossible happened. Something so unbelievably rare, and truly life-changing, that would make for a riveting episode of Storage Wars: he stumbled upon six paintings by the Dutch Abstract Expressionist artist Willem de Kooning. It was a sheer amount of dumb luck to come across the works, though it wasn't entirely surprising. The storage unit had once belonged to mega-restorer Orrin Riley, who founded the conservation department at the Guggenheim Museum before setting up his own practice. When he died in 1986, he left everything to his wife, Susanne Schnitzer, including all of the works he had been restoring. When Schnitzer died in 2009, a group of her friends tried to return the paintings but were left with 200 or so still unclaimed. They consulted the New Jersey Attorney General's office, who advised the group that since no one had come forward to claim ownership, they were free to do what they pleased with the paintings—including sell them. But with no ties to the art world, and no real interest in keeping the paintings, they called up a couple of auction houses in the area to propose a sale, eventually striking a deal with Killen. As the gallerist loaded the works into the back of his truck, he noticed that there was a box labeled "de Kooning pulloffs," which contained six paintings of various sizes, all unsigned. “What are the odds of finding a de Kooning in a storage unit?" Killen says to AD. “It’s unheard of!” (Though last summer, a stolen de Kooning was found hanging inconspicuously in an elderly couple's bedroom in New Mexico). Lawrence Castagna and David Killen admire one of the de Koonings. Intrigued, though skeptical, he contacted an art conservator based in East Hampton, New York, named Lawrence Castagna to examine and restore the paintings, which were slightly damaged—the reason Killen believes the initial auction house passed on them. He contacted Castagna for a couple of important reasons; first, for his talent as a conservationist, but also because he was employed as a studio assistant for de Kooning and his wife, Elaine, before working for Orrin Riley. "It was a magical combination for me, finding Lawrence," Killen tells AD. "He walked into the gallery and took one look. And it was his look, the look in his eyes that told me they were real," Killen recalls. "His eyes start to tremble with excitement, and he started to stammer and shake; he was in awe." "It’s basically a gut feeling, because you’ve seen so many paintings that a red flag would be thrown out in your brain if you see something that’s unusual," Castagna says to AD. "I know his work pretty well, and can pretty much pinpoint certain things. If it's not scraped enough, not frenetic enough. You come to have this knowledge and understanding of the way the paint was applied, the type of paper, the oil bleed." Castagna says he can confidently place each work into other series that de Kooning did; the three larger works were made in the ’70s, while a smaller work was done in the late ’60s. Two are newsprint paintings, which were initially just single pages from The New York Times that he would run his brushes over at the end of the evening. "Elaine told me that he was so frugal that he didn't want to waste the paint. Years later, or even at the time, he would give them to friends, which is how they got out in the world," said Castagna. De Kooning was known to rip the paper he painted on, another thing that tipped Castagna off Though Castagna possesses the knowledge and expertise necessary to identify a work by de Kooning, he points out that he is not an official authenticator, as other media have falsely reported. The artist does not have a catalogue raisonné, or a complete list of authentic works known to exist that is agreed upon by scholars, which makes an official declaration impossible, coupled with the fact that the de Kooning Foundation, like most other artist foundations, refuses to authenticate works for fear of being sued. But the official stamp of the Foundation doesn't matter much to Killen; there has been little to no question as to who had made the works. While restoring the paintings, Castagna found some fingerprints and a thread of human hair, which could be used for a DNA test. Killen hasn't thought much about that route, though. He doesn't feel he needs that kind of evidence when he puts the works up for auction this fall. "I don’t think anybody disputes they’re real. So far no one has. I’m going to let the quality of the artwork speak for itself." Explorewillem de kooning Willem de Kooning's Former Studio Building in New York Gets a Contemporary Addition At 827-831 Broadway, DXA Studio designed a three-story addition that abstracts light—and considers a cultural landmark's aesthetic merit By Elizabeth Fazzare and Courtesy DXA Studio	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4890
__label__wiki	0.919279	0.919279	Musician mauled to death by grizzly bear while trying to record sounds of nature Aug 21st 2019 9:40PM A musician who travelled to the Canadian wilderness to record nature sounds was mauled to death by a bear as he slept, according to the BBC. Julien Gauthier, a French-Canadian composer, was travelling with biologist Camille Toscani in the country's Northwest Territory when the attack took place. Toscani alerted authorities of the attack at around 7:45 in the morning last Thursday. She told the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that Gauthier had been dragged away in the middle of the night. Police launched a search and found his body the following day. Gauthier, 44, was born in Canada but moved to France when he was 19. He was an accomplished composer and recording artist who had been serving as the composer in residence at France's Brittany Symphony Orchestra since 2017. The orchestra released a tribute to Gauthier in a Facebook post, calling him a "sensitive, generous and talented man." According to a fundraising page for the journey, Gauthier's goal was to record and compose original sounds from what he discovered in the wilderness while Toscani took photos. Upon his return, Gauthier planned to collaborate with French cellist Michèle Pierre on an original piece of music that would incorporate his recordings. "It was his dream to go there, to go to the North," Toscani told the French-language newspaper Le Parisien. "He had asked me to take part in this adventure, we had been thinking about it for three years. We were so happy to get to do it. He was a unique artist, inspired by open spaces and nature." This wasn't Gauthier's first nature-recording excursion either. The musician spent five months in Antarctica's Kerguelen Islands last year, a journey that led him to compose his "Southern Symphony," which was later broadcast on French radio.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4892
__label__wiki	0.805202	0.805202	IBM awarded $74.4 million US GSA contract The eight-year project will consolidate nine GSA databases Grant Gross (IDG News Service) 19 February, 2010 07:56 The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded IBM a contract of up to US$74.4 million over eight years to consolidate nine databases that track government contract data across all U.S. civilian agencies and the U.S. Department of Defense. The fixed-price contract will have a three-year base period and five one-year options, the GSA said in a press release. The GSA is the U.S. government's main contracting provider. IBM will work with GSA to design and develop an IT architecture to support the agency's Integrated Acquisition Environment, which is used by hundreds of thousands of civilian and defense employees, as well as companies doing business with the U.S. federal government, IBM said. The nine GSA databases will be folded into one system using open-source software, IBM said. The integrated system will allow the GSA to provide a one-stop online resource where federal agencies and suppliers can access information including approved products and services, existing GSA contracts, contractor registrations and certifications, project reports, and federal business opportunities, the company said in a press release. The project is part of a GSA effort to reduce costs, improve efficiency and improve the quality and accessibility of services to its federal clients. GSA could see a significant cost savings by consolidating the databases into one standard architecture, IBM said. Northrop Grumman, Vertex Information and Computer Consulting Services and Collins Consulting will work with IBM on the project. Tags IBMU.S Department of Defence	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4893
__label__wiki	0.661295	0.661295	Johnnie Cooper: throe on throe Submitted by AlbanyArtsCommu... on 2 April 2019 - 3:49pm Exhibition Type: How many artists: How many exhibition works: Friday, 19 April 2019 to Saturday, 4 May 2019 Thursday, 18 April 2019 - Featuring a selection of work by the acclaimed British artist Johnnie Cooper, this exhibition at Saatchi Gallery, London, comes at a time of heightened interest in the artist. In 2018, as part of its initiative to re-evaluate key twentieth and twenty-first-century artists, art publisher Black Dog Press produced a monograph documenting Cooper’s 50-year career; and this eagerly-awaited presentation – his first in London in three decades – will be complemented by further shows in the U.K. and America. Displayed across two galleries, the show is comprised of more than 50 paintings and sculptures, including works from the 1970s – a time when Cooper appeared alongside Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth with his own solo exhibition to mark the Wakefield Silver Jubilee Festival – and culminates with his most recent atmospheric large-scale oil and acrylic paintings that display broad gestural brush strokes and reflect his love for the natural landscape. Cooper describes his approach to painting as three dimensional; accordingly, this exhibition begins with a collection of his early sculptural works. Chained to the Nest (1974), which depicts a newly-hatched bird struggling to extricate itself from a womb or nest, illustrates his attraction to, in his own words, ‘the physicality of the surface’, a quality evident in all his paintings. Since the late 1980s, Cooper has tirelessly investigated the formal limits of painting, experimenting in many genres at his rural Worcestershire studio. throe on throe tracks this progression with examples primarily drawn from five bodies of work: Longdon Marsh (1996 - 2006), A Long Series Of Events (2014), Continuums (2011 - 2016), The Levant Series (2018 - 2019) - up to the present day, with a suite of spectacular paintings entitled The Listener Series realised between 2018 – 2019, works that display broad gestural brush strokes and reflect his love for the natural landscape. Image: [Johnnie Cooper, Anstel, 2018, oil and acrylic on canvas, 80 x 100 cm] Artist ( Name ): Johnnie Cooper Artist ( Description ): Johnnie Cooper (b.1950, Wolverhampton) spent his early years in Saint-Eustache, a suburban town near Montreal, Quebec, where he was immersed in Native American visual culture, before returning to the UK in 1960. In 1970, he undertook studies at Staffordshire College of Art, advancing to the inaugural sculpture course, which was convened by the renowned cosmopolitan sculptor, Stuart Osbourne. Further postgraduate study followed at Bretton Hall, Yorkshire, where from 1976 onwards he was mentored by Peter Murray, Principal Lecturer in Art. Murray, now Chief Executive of Yorkshire Sculpture Park, organised for Cooper to exhibit works at the college in conjunction with the 1976 inaugural exhibition of Yorkshire Sculpture Park (located on the grounds of Bretton Hall). The following year, Murray invited Cooper to organise a solo exhibition of work to coincide with the 1977 Wakefield Silver Jubilee Festival, which featured sculpture by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. This opportunity led to media exposure and served to launch his career. An intense period of formal experimentation ensued, leading Cooper to turn to painting in 1984. His first paintings were exhibited at the Crucial Gallery in Notting Hill, London. Cooper has worked in art education throughout his career, appointed as Head of Art at Bredon School, Gloucestershire and lecturing at Oxford Tutorial College. In 2004, he was invited to lecture on European Romanticism for the Art History department at Kellogg College, Oxford University. In 2007, Cooper spent three months in Shanghai working as artist in residence and cultural ambassador for Oxford International College. Cooper has shown work in Dallas and Shanghai. He has exhibited with the Free Painters and Sculptors Society, at the Manchester Academy of Fine Art, The Mall Galleries, and at the Royal Academy. His work features extensively in private collections. Cooper continues to investigate the formal and conceptual limits of painting, developing new processes that reprise motifs of his early sculptural practice and reflect his love for the natural landscape. Opening Hours: 10am - 6pm, 7 days a week, last entry 5:30pm http://www.saatchigallery.com Venue ( Name ): Venue ( Address ): Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London SW3 4RY Other shows from Albany Arts Communications Oluwole Omofemi: The Way We Were Oluwole Omofemi: The Way W... Albany Arts Communications Basil Beattie: Pathfinder Essex Road 6 Contagio Related Shows This Week in UK Portal II: Inside the Cordillera Portal II: Inside the Cordille... October Gallery SAATCHI GALLERY WELCOMES ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE TO RESPOND TO TUTANKHAMUN SAATCHI GALLERY WELCOMES ARTIS... Slade Runner ASC Gallery Naum Gabo: Spatial Impressions Cristea Roberts Gallery Liz Pearson: Sense of Self The National Centre for Craft and Design Ourtown Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange Opportunities, Open Calls and Jobs for the Arts and Cultural Industries www.artjobs.com ART BEST Competition for the best artists www.artbest.com	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4896
__label__cc	0.575295	0.424705	2014 2-Series Active Tourer - The First Front Wheel Drive Vehicle from BMW Posted by Victor Ivanov on 14 February 2014, 11:05 AM Here is a short lesson – "How to disappoint tens of millions of fans". Firstly, create a brilliant car manufacturer with huge history in motorsport and awesome road cars. Secondly, produce only rear-wheel drive cars in your entire history and third, but most important – release a FWD car. There is no doubt that fans of BMW all over the world will be so disappointed, that I don't have words to express it (including myself). Enough for the disappointment, actually the all-new Active Tourer is a great car, but it really needs to have a different badge… a Mercedes-Benz one for example. 2014 BMW 2-Series Active Tourer will make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show, next month. It was previewed by the Concept Active Tourer, which is the same as the production model. All fans and customers had the hope that BMW will actually make it RWD, but alas. Otherwise, the 2-Series Active Tourer is a typical BMW. It has the recognizable kidney grille, twin circular headlights and the familiar Hofmeister kink. The dimensions are 4,342mm long, 1,800mm wide and 1,555mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,670mm. The exterior can be opted with a Sport Line package that has high-gloss black accents, special air intakes and exclusive 16" or 17" alloy wheels. There are also sports front seats, high-gloss black trim and contrast stitching for the interior. The Luxury Line adds high-gloss chrome grille and different 16" or 17" alloy wheels. There is also a leather sport steering wheel, different seat upholstery and some chrome accents. The top-of-range trim level – the M Sport Package boasts a complete aerodynamics package, a high-gloss black grille, a sport-tuned suspension dropping the ride height by 10mm and 17" or 18" light alloy wheels. The interior gets an M leather steering wheel, leather sports seats, an anthracite roof and M logo all over the place. The interior comes with the typical driver-centric design. There is a folding front passenger seat, a 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat and a head up display (available as an option). The 2-Series Active Tourer can be also ordered with BMW ConnectedDrive Services & Apps. The engine range includes a 218i – a 1.5 liter three-cylinder turbocharged petrol – 136HP (100 kW) and 220Nm (162 lb-ft). 0-100 km/h in 9.3 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). It will return 57.6 mpg UK – 4.9 l / 100 km with CO2 emissions of 115 g/km. The 225i has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged petrol – 231HP (170 kW) and 350Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph). The diesel variant is only one – 218d – a 2.0 liter turbodiesel – 150HP (110 kW) and 330Nm (243 lb-ft). 0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 205 km/h (127 mph). BMW will also produce a super-efficient 216d as well as 220d and 220i. There will be xDrive versions of the 220d and 225i. 2014 BMW 2-Series Active Tourer Source: BMW BMW Concept Active Tourer at the 2013 New York International Auto Show 2014 BMW 2-Series Active Tourer ///M Sport KW 2014 BMW 2-series M235i - Adaptive DDC Coilovers The BMW 2-Series Active Tourer BMW xDrive Technology Featured in the New BMW 2 Series Active Tourer CARACTERE VW Golf 6 Cam Shaft Cadillac CTS-V Volvo V70 2005 Perodua Myvi Jet and Sport Silver Limited Edition MTM Audi A1 Nardo Edition Terrafugia Transition Flying Car New York 2012 Kia GT4 Stinger Concept Detroit 2014 BMW Stormtrooper by Vilner 2015 Carbonfiber Dynamics Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4898
__label__cc	0.580224	0.419776	Series:Advances in Computer Science Research Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Mechatronics, Materials, Chemistry and Computer Engineering 2015 Zuoyi Liang Xiaoliang Li Part of series ACSR All articles in these proceedings are submitted for indexation in CPCI, CNKI and Google Scholar. Optionally, we also submit to Compendex and Scopus. Note that in case you need information about the indexation of these proceedings, please check with the organizers of the conference as we cannot reply to messages received from participants. In order to increase the visibility of this conference and of the papers from its participants, this conference has chosen to sponsor the online publication of the conference papers. Therefore, all conference papers can be read and downloaded for free; no subscription or other payment is required. The copyright of all articles published in these proceedings remains with the Authors, i.e. Authors retain full ownership of their article. Permitted third-party reuse of the open access articles is defined by the applicable Creative Commons (CC) end-user license which is accepted by the Authors upon submission of their paper. All articles in these proceedings are published under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license, meaning that end users can freely share an article (i.e. copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt it (i.e. remix, transform and build upon the material) on the condition that proper attribution is given (i.e. appropriate credit, a link to the applicable license and an indication if any changes were made; all in such a way that does not suggest that the licensor endorses the user or the use) and the material is only used for non-commercial purposes. For more information, please refer to the Open Access and User Licenses section in the Atlantis Press Open Access & Article Sharing policy. Each article that is published in these proceedings is assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOIs are standardized digital identities which can be used to cite and link to electronic content. A DOI is guaranteed to never change, so can be used as a persistent identifier to permanently link to an electronic article no matter where it is stored. More information on how to cite and use DOIs can be found here. Permanent Archiving Atlantis Press is committed to the permanent availability and preservation of scholarly research and to ensure accessibility to this research by converting and upgrading digital file formats to comply with new technology standards. Besides maintaining its own digital archive, Atlantis Press therefore collaborates with the National Library of the Netherlands which permanently archives all Atlantis Press content in their “e-Depot”. All proceedings are uploaded to this e-Depot after publication to guarantee permanent archiving of the articles. Print Copies In case you wish to have printed copies of these proceedings you can order these directly from our partner Curran Associates. Atlantis Press Atlantis Press is a professional publisher of scientific, technical and medical (STM) proceedings, journals and books. We offer world-class services, fast turnaround times and personalised communication. The proceedings and journals on our platform are Open Access and generate millions of downloads every month. For more information, please contact us at: contact@atlantis-press.com ProceedingsJournalsBooksPublishing services AboutNewsContactSearch Copyright © 2006-2020 Atlantis Press HomePrivacy PolicyTerms of use	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4902
__label__wiki	0.872383	0.872383	Charlie the record breaker On this day in 1973, Charlie Aitken became a record-maker for the first time when he made his 479th league appearance for the club. The Scottish left-back passed the previous record, held by Billy Walker, when he played in a 2-0 defeat by Sunderland at Roker Park. Aitken, who had made his debut in 1961, went on to amass a total of 660 league and cup appearances for Villa, a record which will almost certainly never be surpassed. By Rob Bishop @robbishopavfc 8th December 1973 Home Charlie the record breaker	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4903
__label__wiki	0.538717	0.538717	National Origin, Discrimination, and Employers—Oh My! National origin issues are all over the news. Can the United States treat individuals differently based on their country of origin? How will a person’s country of origin affect her ability to obtain a visa to work in the United States? What do you do when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents or other law enforcement officials show up at your place of employment to arrest a noncitizen worker? Are your I-9 practices consistent with federal law? We can expect issues involving national origin to remain a daily subject of news coverage and to have an impact on many areas of our lives, including employment. Below is guidance on some of the more common national origin discrimination issues that may confront employers. What is national origin discrimination? Discrimination is the different treatment of a person based on a protected characteristic such as gender, disability, or national origin. Discrimination is most often an intentional act, such as a failure to hire someone based on his race. But discrimination can also be unintentional if an employer’s policy, rule, or job requirement has a disproportionate impact on a protected class of individuals. For example, women and people of certain nationalities would be disproportionately affected by a hiring criterion requiring employees to be at least six feet tall. National origin discrimination claims may arise from disparate treatment (intentional discrimination) or disparate impact (unintentional discrimination). National origin discrimination occurs when an individual is treated differently because of where he was born or because of his ancestry, culture, linguistic characteristics, or accent. For example, discharging or harassing an employee because he is Arab or paying an employee less because he is Mexican would constitute national origin discrimination. National origin discrimination also includes discrimination against a person who associates with someone of a particular ethnicity or an organization aligned with members of a certain ethnicity. For example, discharging an employee because his spouse is from Iran would constitute national origin discrimination. Taking an adverse action against an employee or a job applicant because you believe she has a particular national origin, even if she doesn’t, is also national original discrimination. Additionally, discrimination or harassment based on physical or cultural traits or clothing may constitute national origin discrimination. Who is protected under federal and state law? Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the federal law that specifically prohibits employment discrimination based on national origin. Title VII forbids employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against employees or job applicants on the basis of their national origin in all types of employment actions, from the recruitment process through the termination of their employment. The other primary federal law applicable to national origin discrimination is the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). In addition to prohibiting discrimination based on immigration or citizenship status, INA/IRCA prohibits “document abuse” discrimination—i.e., requiring a job applicant to provide more or different documents than allowed by law as part of the I-9 process. Wisconsin’s Fair Employment Act (WFEA) also prohibits discrimination based on national origin and ancestry. The WFEA has no minimum number of employees for coverage, meaning it’s applicable to all Wisconsin employers. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, lawful temporary residents, and refugees are protected under federal and state law, and the laws apply to current employees as well as job applicants. Moreover, national origin protections overlap with other protections. For example, an employee whose country of origin is Iraq may also be Muslim. Discrimination against the employee because of her choice of dress, which may be required by her Islamic faith, may be prohibited religious discrimination as well as national origin discrimination. Similarly, discrimination against a person based on the color of her skin may constitute unlawful discrimination because of color as well as national origin. National origin inquiries and preferences Generally, there is no need to request that an individual state her national origin or ancestry as part of the employment application process or during an interview. However, if you do seek that information because it’s requested as part of a government contract or your affirmative action requirements, or simply for diversity purposes, you should make clear to the employee or job applicant that disclosure is voluntary. Additionally, it’s best to retain the information in a separate file to which access is limited, similar to how you maintain employees’ medical records. Generally, a person’s national origin cannot be considered as a factor in a hiring or employment decision. However, there may be limited circumstances in which national origin may be a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ). For example, if you are a movie company filming a movie about migrant farmworkers, you may need to hire Hispanic individuals. Agencies and courts will find national origin to be a BFOQ in only the rarest of circumstances. Also, you cannot make hiring or job assignment decisions based on national origin because of client or customer preference. For example, you cannot assign an employee who appears Middle Eastern to a job in which he has no customer contact because of concerns that a customer may not want to interact with him because he’s from the Middle East. English testing/English-only rules and accents Employers are not prohibited from asking job applicants to take tests gauging their written or spoken English proficiency. If you use such a test, you must require all job applicants to take it. Before asking applicants to take the test, consider the job they’re applying for, including the qualifications that are actually necessary to do the job. You don’t want to deny employment to a qualified applicant based on a poor test score if her English proficiency wouldn’t affect her ability to perform the job. Discrimination based on a person’s accent also may be unlawful. Your focus should be on whether the individual’s accent will actually affect his job performance. More often than not, performance is not negatively affected by a person’s accent. However, it’s conceivable that a person with a strong accent whose job requires him to deal with irate customers in person or on the telephone may have difficulty performing his job adequately. The determination must be made on a case-by-case basis. English-only workplace rules are generally disfavored. Rules that require employees to speak only English at all times, including during breaks, are generally not enforceable. If you have an English-only rule that’s critical for business reasons, you must state, preferably in writing, when employees are required to speak only English and the consequences for failing to abide by the policy. National origin harassment Harassment based on national origin, like other forms of workplace harassment (e.g., sexual or racial harassment), is unlawful. To be actionable, the harassing conduct must be based on the individual’s national origin, unwelcome, and severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile work environment. Also, there must be a basis for employer liability. As with other forms of workplace harassment, it’s critical to make an effort to prevent national origin harassment, and when you’re informed about possible harassment, promptly investigate all complaints, and take appropriate remedial action based on the results of your investigation. EEOC guidance Late last year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued enforcement guidance on national origin discrimination (for more on that document, see “EEOC issues new guidelines on national origin discrimination” on pg. 2 of our January 2017 issue). The EEOC enforces Title VII, so much of the guidance relates directly to Title VII issues. A good Q&A publication from the EEOC can be found at www.eeoc.gov/ laws/guidance/national-origin-qa.cfm. Additionally, the EEOC’s lengthier enforcement guidance document can be found at www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/national-origin-guidance.cfm. The enforcement guidance includes “promising practices,” which are suggestions from the EEOC about practices employers should consider adopting to prevent or remedy national origin discrimination in the workplace. Although many of the suggested promising practices go beyond what is required by law, they do provide guidance on what the EEOC considers best practices at this time. The EEOC continues to receive a substantial number of national origin discrimination charges, and there’s no reason to believe there will be a decrease in this type of discrimination claim anytime soon. National origin often overlaps with other protected classes like religion and color. Title VII protections also overlap with protections afforded by the federal immigration laws. Finally, remember that the EEOC and many courts take the position that national origin discrimination includes claims based on a perception that a person has a particular national origin, and mistreatment based on an employee’s association with a person of a particular national origin, regardless of the employee’s own national origin, constitutes national origin discrimination. This article, slightly modified to note recent updates, was featured in the April 2017 issue of the Wisconsin Employment Law Letter, which is co-edited by Axley Brynelson Attorneys Saul Glazer and Michael Modl and published by BLR®—Business & Legal Resources. Reproduced here with the permission of BLR®—Business & Legal Resources. For more information about "National Origin, Discrimination, and Employers—Oh My!," contact Michael J. Modl at mmodl@axley.com or 608.283.6702.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4905
__label__wiki	0.506952	0.506952	Bexleyheath and Crayford Conservative Association Cllr. Christine Catterall Christine has lived in the London Borough of Bexley since 1988. She currently lives in Bexleyheath. She has three adult children who went to local primary and secondary schools and works as Head of Department in a local Academy school teaching Foreign Languages. Christine has been a Councillor in East Wickham since May 2014. She enjoys meeting people and trying to help them with issues and concerns. She has worked with residents to prevent fly tipping, sorted out uneven paving stones and has liaised with the London and Quadrant Housing Trust with regard to regeneration of disused land. Christine has attended Safer Neighbourhood meetings with the police and regularly attend the fetes organised by St Mary the Virgin Church. She has also helped fund the Welling Christmas tree over the past four years. In her spare time she enjoys cycling and horse riding. She also enjoys reading, watching films and walking. Follow Christine's link to Bexley Council's website. Cllr. Linda Bailey Linda has lived in Bexley since 1972 with her husband and two daughters and four grandchildren. All were educated in Bexley schools and all still live in Bexley. Cllr. Nigel Betts Councillor Nigel Betts is widowed, with a grown up family and formerly worked in the field of computer security. He was first elected in May 1974 and has served on most Council Committees. He is currently Vice Chairman of the Places Overview & Scrutiny Committee. Cllr. Brian Bishop Brian has lived in Bexley for over 40 years having moved from East London looking for a good place to live and bring up a family. He now has grandchildren attending school and nursery and his own children are happy living in Bexley. Cllr. Christine Bishop Bexley has been her home town now for the past 43 years and she has two daughters living locally. It is important to Christine to continue to ensure Bexley remains a safe place to live with good schools and opportunities, particularly as her grandchildren attend local schools and nursery. Cllr. Sybil Camsey Sybil has lived and worked in Bexley since 1966 and retired from teaching in 2009 after a 42 year career. Cllr. Val Clark Val has lived a great deal of her life in Bexley and that experience, combined with engaging regularly with residents on their doorsteps and through monthly surgeries means she understands what matters to her residents allowing her to represent their views. Cllr. John Davey John has lived in the new West Heath Ward all his life and will continue to work hard to keep it a place that all of it's residents love to live in; looking after our parks and open spaces, improving our roads and pavements and keeping it clean and safe. Cllr. Louie French Louie has lived locally all his life and is passionate about protecting and improving our local area and community. Cllr. John Fuller Having lived and worked in the borough for many years John has an understanding of what’s important to those living & working locally and has tried to represent that over the 12 years he has been a Councillor. Cllr. Sue Gower Sue lives in Bexleyheath and has been a Bexley resident for 34 years. She is married (her husband manages a local charity) has 3 children and a grandson. Borough Councillors Bexleyheath and Crayford Conservative Association Promoted by Cllr Howard Jackson on behalf of Bexleyheath and Crayford Conservative Association, both at 17 Church Road, Bexleyheath, Kent. DA7 4DD. Copyright 2020 Bexleyheath and Crayford Conservative Association. All rights reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4909
__label__cc	0.748135	0.251865	Bible > Sermons > Luke 3:23-38 The Double Genealogies of Christ as the Son of David And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,… The general facts are these — 1. The genealogy in St. Matthew descends from Abraham to Jesus, in accordance with his object in writing mainly for the Jews; whereas St. Luke's ascends from Jesus to Adam, and to God, in accordance with his object in writing for the world in general. 2. The generations are introduced in St. Matthew by the word "begat"; in St. Luke by the genitive with the ellipse of "son." 3. Between David and Zerubbabel St. Matthew gives only fifteen names, but St. Luke twenty-one; and they are all different except that of Shealtiel (Salathiel). 4. Between Zerubbabel and Joseph St. Matthew gives only nine generations, but St. Luke seventeen; and all the names are different. The difficulty as to the number of the generations is not serious. It is a matter of daily experience that the number of generations in one line often increases far more rapidly than that in another. Moreover the discrepancies in these two lists may all be accounted for by noticing that Matthew adopts the common Jewish plan of an arbitrary numerical division into tesseradecads. When this system was adopted, whole' generations were freely omitted, for the sake of preserving the symmetry, provided that the fact of the succession remained undoubted (cf. Ezra 7:1-5 with 1 Chronicles 6:3-15). The difficulty as to the dissimilarity of names will of course only affect the two steps of the genealogies at which they begin to diverge, before they again coalesce in the names of Shealtiel and of Joseph. A single adoption, and a single levirate marriage, account for the apparent discrepancies. St. Matthew gives the legal descent through a line of kings descended from Solomon — the jus successionis; St. Luke the natural descent — the jus sanguinis. St. Matthew's is a royal, St. Luke's a natural pedigree. KJV: And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, WEB: Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4911
__label__wiki	0.934173	0.934173	Chris Hughton Birmingham City: Jeff Kenna voices fears that Blues could 'do a Leeds' FORMER captain Jeff Kenna has voiced his fears about Blues’ future and painted a bleak picture of what failure to make a quick return to the Premier League would mean. Worryingly for the club’s supporters, the ex-Republic of Ireland international, who was at St Andrew’s from 2002-04 and was part of the side who won promotion to the top flight in his first season, likened the worst case scenario to what happened to Leeds around the same time. Mere mention of the Elland Road outfit has come to be used as a short-hand for severe financial troubles off the pitch, relegation-tinged agonies on it and a fate few would wish for any football club, as Leeds plummeted from the semi-finals of the Champions League to the darkness of League One. Which is why Kenna expressed his sympathy with his former team and also outlined the need for promotion back to the television-revenue rich top-tier before the cost of last term’s demotion becomes too great. “When you live local and you have played for the club it’s a sad state to be in,” Kenna lamented. “If they don’t bounce straight back up you look at what happened to Leeds and you can see that happening. “And it will be a long and difficult process to get back up to where they were if that were to happen. “Are these parachute payments their window of opportunity? Without a doubt. You look at players’ wages, I don’t know if that will get near players’ wages. “They have obviously got players there who will be on decent contracts.” Blues have been, and remain, in the process of reducing that number. Seventeen players were released at the season’s end, including big earners Kevin Phillips, Lee Bowyer and loanees Obafemi Martins and Aleksandr Hleb. Craig Gardner has been sold to Sunderland for £6 million and Roger Johnson has gone to Wolves for £7 million. Stoke City have tried to sign both Cameron Jerome and Scott Dann, while Albion want Liam Ridgewell. But Kenna believes there will still be some on inflated salaries, with Nikola Zigic for example earning around £50,000-a-week. “You are going to have players there who will be earning Premier League wages and it’s how long they can afford to keep them before they either move them on or get back to the Premier League,’ he added. “That is the difficulty of it all. And if Mr [Carson] Yeung has financial problems that certainly won’t be helping because he won’t be in a position to put more money into the club. It just seems then it’s a downward spiral and who knows where it ends then?” However, Kenna does see hope in the appointment of Chris Hughton, with whom he has worked in the international set-up. Hughton was a coach under Brian Kerr when Kenna was involved with the Republic squad and he was impressed with the new manager’s abilities. “I think he is a great appointment. I found him to be a very good coach,’’ he said. “I thought he got a particularly raw deal at Newcastle. He will obviously feel this is a fantastic opportunity to cement his standing as a Premier League manager. “Certainly if he was to get the club straight back up that would only improve his stock. “I bet the last thing he needed when he was two weeks into the job was the owner to be brought up on money laundering charges. It’s difficult enough as it is. “He has got so much to contend with the last thing he needs is for something like that to become an issue. “Players being players will then just go ‘will I be getting my wages’? “Obviously, the owners will be expecting the club to bounce straight back up and that in itself puts the pressure on. “It’s such a tough league to get out of, they have to hit the ground running and to do that he needs to have players in that he wants in and players all pulling in the same direction.” Nikola Zigic Liam Ridgewell Lee Bowyer	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4916
__label__cc	0.58602	0.41398	Home » Information Technology Services » Policies » Acceptable Use of Computers and Information Technology Bemidji State University policy on acceptable use of computers and technology states computer and information technology resources are essential tools in accomplishing the university mission. These resources must be used and managed responsibly to ensure their availability for the competing demands of teaching, scholarship, administration and other mission related uses. This policy further states that as responsible members of the university community, individuals using information technology resources are expected to act in accord with general principles based on the acceptable law as well as common sense, common decency and civility applied to the networked computing environment. The university encourages the use of information technology as an effective and efficient tool within the framework of applicable state and federal laws, policies and rules and other necessary restrictions. Scope and Purpose of Policy The scope of this policy applies to university information technology resources, wherever located, provided for use by currently enrolled university students, administrators, faculty, other employees, and other authorized users. Access to and the responsible use of modern information resources is a privilege and is essential to the pursuit and achievement of excellence at BSU. The university encourages appropriate use of technology to enhance productivity through the efficient exchange of information for intended uses of the university mission. Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted to expand, diminish or alter academic freedom, articulated under MnSCU Board Policy and university collective bargaining units. Use of these resources must be consistent with these goals. Bemidji State University and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are not responsible for any personal or unauthorized use of resources, and security of data transmitted on its information technology resources cannot be guaranteed. Security measures means processes, software, and hardware used by university and network administrators to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the computer resources and data owned by the university or its authorized users. Security measures may include, but are not limited to, monitoring or reviewing individual user accounts for suspected policy violations and investigating security-related issues. University information technology means all university facilities, technologies, and information resources used for information processing, transfer, storage and communications. This includes, but is not limited to, computer hardware and software, computer labs, classroom technologies such as computer-based instructional management systems, and computing and electronic communications devices and services, such as modems, e-mail, networks, telephones, voicemail, facsimile transmissions, video, mobile computing devices, and multimedia materials. Transmit means to send, store, collect, transfer or otherwise alter or affect information technology resources or data contained therein. User means any individual, including, but not limited to, students, administrators, faculty, other employees, volunteers, and other authorized individuals using university information technology in any manner, whether or not the user is affiliated with Bemidji State University and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. The following information applies to all users: Users must comply with laws and regulations, MnSCU Board policies and university procedures, contracts, and licenses applicable to their particular uses. This includes, but is not limited to: the laws of libel, data privacy, copyright, trademark, gambling, obscenity, and child pornography; the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which prohibit “hacking” and similar activities; state computer crime statutes; applicable conduct codes, including the MnSCU System Procedure 1C.0.1, Employee Code of Conduct; applicable software licenses; and Board Policies 1B.1, prohibiting discrimination and harassment, 1C.2, prohibiting fraudulent or other dishonest acts; and 3.26, concerning intellectual property. Illegally downloading or distributing copyrighted material (including but not limited to software, data, music, and video) through any means, is a violation of Federal law. The University/College is obligated to take immediate action upon receipt of “cease and desist” notices, or upon discovery of any activities concerning copyright infringement. In some instances, streaming content may be considered “downloading.” Users are responsible for the content of their personal use of university information technology and may be subject to liability resulting from that use. Users must use only university information technology they are authorized to use and use them only in the manner and to the extent authorized. Ability to access information technology resources does not, by itself, imply authorization to do so. Wired or wireless routers and access points that are not managed or maintained by BSU or NTC Information Technology Services are not allowed on the University/College network. Students are allowed to use unmanaged “simple” switches only. Users must abide by the security restrictions on all information technology systems and information to which access is authorized. Users must not allow others who are not authorized to: use any account or password assigned by the university to anyone else; share any account or password, assigned to the user by the university, with any other individual, including family members; allow others to use university information technology under the user’s control. Users must not circumvent, attempt to circumvent, or assist another in circumventing security controls in place to protect the privacy and integrity of data stored on university information technology. Users must not change, conceal, or forge the identification of the person using university information technology, including, but not limited to, use of e-mail. Users must not knowingly download or install software onto university information technology unless allowed under applicable procedures or prior authorization has been received. Users must not engage in activities that interfere with or disrupt network users, equipment or service; intentionally distribute viruses, worms, Trojans, or other malicious code; or install software or hardware that permits unauthorized access to university information technology. Users must not engage in inappropriate uses, including: Activities that violate state or federal law or regulation; Wagering or betting; Harassment, threats to or defamation of others, stalking, and/or illegal discrimination; Fund-raising, private business, or commercial activity, unless it is related to the mission of the university or its colleges and universities. Mission related activities are determined by the college, university, or university office, and include activities of authorized campus or university-sponsored organizations; Storage, display, transmission, or intentional or solicited receipt of material that is or may be reasonably regarded as obscene, sexually explicit, or pornographic, including any depiction, photograph, audio recording, video or written word, except as such access relates to the academic pursuits of a university student or professional activities of a university employee; and “Spamming” through widespread dissemination of unsolicited and unauthorized e-mail messages. All users are expected to abide by the security restrictions on all university systems and information to which you have access. Activities that interfere with or disrupt network users, equipment or services are prohibited. All users found abusing computer facilities, or using the equipment without permission, or using the equipment for non-academic, recreational purposes, or copying copyright protected software will be subject to disciplinary action. Conduct that involves the use of university information technology resources to violate a university policy or procedure, or state or federal law, or to violate another’s rights, is a serious abuse subject to limitation or termination of user privileges and appropriate disciplinary action, legal action, or both. Bemidji State University reserves the right to temporarily restrict or prohibit use of its university information technology by any user without notice, if it is determined necessary for business purposes. Repeat violations of copyright laws Bemidji State University may permanently deny use of university information technology by any individual determined to be a repeat violator of copyright or other laws governing Internet use. Disciplinary proceedings for alleged violations shall be addressed through applicable university procedures, including but not limited to University Procedure 1B.1.1, to address allegations of illegal discrimination and harassment; student conduct code for other allegations against students; or the applicable collective bargaining agreement or personnel plan for other allegations involving employees. Continued use of university information technology is a privilege subject to limitation, modification, or termination. Sanctions-Willful or intentional violations of this procedure are considered to be misconduct under applicable student and employee conduct standards. Users who violate this procedure may be denied access to university information technology and may be subject to other penalties and disciplinary action, both within and outside of the university. Discipline for violations of this procedure may include any action up to and including termination or expulsion. First offense: Students will receive a warning that their activities may be in violation of this Technology Policy and/or the Student Code of Conduct, and made aware of potential future consequences or penalties should violation of the policy continue. Second offense: Network service will be disabled for forty-eight (48) hours, and the student will be referred to the University/College conduct system. Students subsequently found in violation of the Code of Student Conduct may be subject to sanction, up to and including expulsion from the University/College. Network service will be disabled indefinitely and the student will be referred to the University/College conduct system. Students subsequently found in violation of the Code of Student Conduct may be subject to sanction, up to or including expulsion from the University/College. Under appropriate circumstances, Bemidji State University may refer suspected violations of law to appropriate law enforcement authorities, and provide access to investigative or other data as permitted by law. Access to and the responsible use of modern information resources is essential to the pursuit and achievement of excellence at BSU. The university encourages appropriate use of technology to enhance productivity through the efficient exchange of information for research. Use of these resources must be consistent with these goals. Supporting References MnSCU Board Procedure Acceptable Use of Computers and other Information Technology Resources Policy. http://www.minnstate.edu/board/policy/522.html MnSCU Board Policy 5.22.1 Acceptable Use of Computers and other Information Technology Resources Procedures. http://www.minnstate.edu/board/procedure/522p1.html MnSCU Board Policy Employee Code of Conduct. http://www.minnstate.edu/board/procedure/1c0p1.html	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4918
__label__wiki	0.673859	0.673859	A & E Bergen President Obama Just Shared His Simple 3-Part Framework for Making Even the Toughest Decisions No one has to make harder decisions than the president. Here's how Obama dealt with his toughest calls. You think you have to make stressful, high-stakes decisions for your work? Just imagine what it's like to have to make the call to send young soldiers into harm's way or weigh bailing out bankers who deserve a jail sentence more than a rescue boat against tanking the economy? How on earth could any mere mortal make such impossibly tough decisions? There are only five Americans in the world who can speak to that, and one of them just opened up. Speaking at a gathering of tech workers, former President Barack Obama spoke in detail about how he handled the crushing pressure of presidential decision-making. Every call was horrible -- "If it was an easily solvable problem, or even a modestly difficult but solvable problem, it would not reach me, because, by definition, somebody else would have solved it," he recalled -- but he figured out a constructive approach to thinking through some of the world's most intractable problems. 1. Swap certainty for probabilities. Psychologist David Dunning, of Dunning-Kruger effect fame, is known for studying stupidity, but through the power of contrast his work also illuminates how smart people think. Dumb people, he recently opined, see the world in black-and-white. Smart people think in probabilities. "Not, 'Will X or Y occur?' but, 'What is the chance of X or Y occurring -- 10, 50, 80 percent?'" he said. Obama agrees with him. The first step to making a truly tough decision, he told the gathering is "being comfortable with the fact that you're not going to get [a] 100 percent solution, and understanding that you're dealing with probabilities, so that you don't get paralyzed trying to think that you're going to actually solve this perfectly," Quartz reports. 2. Get the smartest people in the room. "I'm old fashioned. I believe in these enlightenment values like facts and reason and logic," Obama went on, offering a not-so-subtle dig at his fact-challenged successor. "If I had set up a good process in which I could get all the information, all the data, all perspectives, if I knew that I had around the table all the angles...then I could feel confident that even if I didn't get a perfect answer, that I was making the best decision that anybody in my situation could make," he continued. How do you get the best information? From the best people, of course, and that means putting your ego aside and not insisting you know everything or have the biggest brain. Obama insisted "having the confidence to have people around you who were smarter than you, or disagreed with you" was "critical." 3. Ask dumb questions. Just humbling yourself to seek out expert advice and actually listen to it isn't enough, however. You also have to understand it. That often means going a step further and asking a lot of seemingly-dumb questions. "I always would say to somebody, if they're talking about a really complicated issue, 'I don't understand what you're saying. Explain it to me in English,'" Obama relates. "I think one of the problems with people who are in big jobs is they start feeling as if they have to project that 'I have every answer' when, in fact, most of the time, you may not." Looking for more information on how this process played out in regards to some of the most high-profile decisions of his presidency, such as the Bin Laden raid and the Deep Water Horizon oil spill disaster? Check out the complete Quartz article for lots more detail. Content gathered & updated by the Bergen Review Media team. Caring For The Enviroment Going Green In New Jersey Bergen Review Media is a WebClientReach, llc Company The Bergen Review is Bergen county's concierge for best businesses, restaurants, health, fitness & entertainment. Our agency has a combined total of over 15 years experience in online media and marketing in New Jersey. Our team of experts scour every nook and cranny of Bergen county's businesses, restaurants & venues to present to our clients the full scoop of what the deal truly is. If you are new to the Bergen county New Jersey area or have been here for a number of years, is very hard to find the REAL scoop on what Businesses, restaurants & venues best fit your interests. We here at the Bergen Review have a team that visits every establishment. unlike having your business reviewed by the general public Our team of experts know what to look for. Making sure the consumer gets the best experience by visiting or doing business with an establishment. Our only interest is to make living in Bergen county as exciting as it can be. Website by Bergen Review Media	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4920
__label__wiki	0.810406	0.810406	The Facts: Blackpool 1 Norwich 3 What To Take From The Clash Despite taking the lead, Norwich City proved too strong for Blackpool on Saturday. Pool scored their first goal of the month, but that was little consolation. Here are ten things you may have missed. It was the first time more than three goals had been scored in a Blackpool match this season. It was also the first time Pool have conceded three goals this campaign. José Miguel Cubero made his debut for the club, being subbed off in the closing stages. Jacob Mellis made his return from injury, his first appearance since the defeat to Blackburn last month. It was the first meeting between the two sides since March 2009. No player made more interceptions than Joan Oriol, who made eight against The Canaries. Blackpool goalkeeper Joe Lewis played against Norwich for the first time since leaving them in 2008. The defeat was Blackpool's 13th against Norwich, the first of which came in 1937. Pool were the featured match on the Football League Show for the first time this season. It was the first time an own goal had been scored in a Seasiders match this season.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4926
__label__wiki	0.594546	0.594546	Understanding Car Specifications The basis for vehicle classification is the three most commonly used names, the Make, Model and Type. For example, the name Ford Fiesta ST refers to the brand; Ford, the Model Name; Fiesta, and the particular Variant; ST. In casual reference, a vehicle might be referred to by its Model name only. When a person says "he drives a Mustang", there is little need to include the Brand name. However, discerning listeners will wonder about the type. Additional examples of this three name structure include Dodge Ram 2500 and Audi A5. Image courtesy of pixabay.com, licensed under CC0 Public Domain. As is apparent, naming of model variations is largely discretionary with manufacturers choosing their own naming conventions. Typically however, names of model variations will indicate which features each variant includes and may speak directly to the trim package that is included. For example, a Dodge Ram 2500 is a full size truck with heavy duty towing and hauling capacity as opposed to the Dodge Ram 1500 which is the full size truck with standard capacity towing and hauling capacities. Likewise, an sedan with the variant "LE" will include upgrades to interior materials and systems befitting its designation as a Luxury Edition. Beyond naming conventions, vehicles are often described in terms of their shape. The use of one, two, or three-box design designations may be used. When using the box-design terminology, a vehicle's shape is divided into engine area, passenger area, and trunk space. A Toyota Prius, for example, might be called a One-Box design due to the sweep of the pillars that give the visual impression from outside the vehicle, that engine, passengers and cargo are all contained in one space. Likewise, a common sedan, like a Ford Taurus, for example, would be considered a Three-Box design where the engine, passengers and cargo are clearly separated into three visual spaces when viewed from outside the vehicle. A station wagon, for example, would be a Two-Box design under these criteria with the engine compartment in one box and the passengers and cargo in a second. Size and Usage-based Classification Vehicles are often categorized in terms of their size and usage. For examples, the terms sedan, economy, luxury, sports, SUV, MPV and CUV are all used to describe vehicles. For example, a sedan is generally a four door, five or six seat vehicle while a sports car is usually a two seat, two door, much smaller vehicle. Image courtesy of pexels.com, licensed under CC0 Public Domain. Vehicles do not always fit neatly into one category as designers seek to differentiate their brand by blending purposes and adjusting size as gas prices and consumer taste changes. For quick reference: A passenger car, typically in 3-box configuration, for four or more people. Could be any type of vehicle that is appointed with higher quality equipment, higher performance components, or innovative features to increase passenger comfort or convey an image of prestige. A highly subjective term. Another subjective term but generally used to describe a vehicle with components designed to maximize performance sometimes at the cost of passenger comfort and space. A small car with low purchase price and cost to be operated. Can be any design shape. Typically a two-box design, often with four-wheel drive and increased towing capacity. Usually built on a light truck frame. Multi-Purpose vehicle, also known as a minivan. A two box designed built to maximize passenger carrying capacity. Often includes sliding doors. Built on a light truck frame, smaller than a full-size van. A Crossover Utility Vehicle. An SUV built to provide car-like handling and gas mileage with SUV-like cargo and seating capacities. Typically a two-box design. Size and weight also provide convenient ways to describe vehicles, especially pickup trucks. Wheelbase, track width and ground clearance might all be used to describe a vehicle. Wheelbase is the length from front to rear wheels, track width is the distance between tires and clearance is the distance between the ground and the bottom of the vehicle. High clearance vehicles, four wheel drive pickups for example, provide lots of clear space under the vehicle for rolling over obstacles. Image Courtesy - «Ford F650 XLT Super Duty Pickup Truck» by amateur photography by michel on Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Low clearance, think low-rider, sits lower to the ground. The turning radius of a vehicle will be defined by its wheel base. A jeep, with short wheel base, will turn around in a shorter distance than a full size pickup with long wheelbase. If the wheel was held over and the vehicles driven in a circle, the jeep makes a much smaller turn than the truck. Keep in mind that where dimensions are concerned, things like trunk space, the volume of the cargo carrying area may be referred to as well. Image Courtesy - «Car2Go/Smart Car Trunk» by Atomic Taco on Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Vehicle weights are usually referred to in terms of Curb Weight and Gross Weight. Curb weight is the weight of the vehicle with full fluids, as it sits with no cargo or passengers. Gross weight is the maximum design weight. The difference between gross weight and curb weight will define the maximum weight of cargo and people that the vehicle is rated to carry. When used to describe a vehicle, a(href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine2.htm" target="_blank") engine terms \| like gas, diesel, hybrid, four cylinder or six cylinder may be used. Likewise, fuel burning engines may be described by the volume of space used for combustion (in the cylinders). A 304 V8, for example is an 8-cylinder engine with 304 cubic inches used for combustion in the cylinders (often referred to as displacement). Without getting hung up in the physics of it, the term horsepower is used to describe the power available from the engine and torque is a description of how hard the engine can work at low speeds. Torque is therefore most often used to describe ability to pull a load and horsepower will define ultimate speed. Acceleration will be discussed as a description of how fast a car will accelerate from a stop to 60 mph. Race cars do this in a few seconds. A sedan usually needs a few more seconds and a pickup is going to need a few more than that. Image Courtesy - «Acceleration!» by Nikos Koutoulas on Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Keep in mind that as top speed, acceleration, engine size (displacement) and horsepower go up, so does fuel consumption. Fuel efficiency, often given in miles per gallon, will describe how well a vehicle uses each gallon of gas. High performance comes at a price. Also consider that as fuel consumption goes up, typically so does the size of the tank. Fuel tank capacity might be worth considering if the vehicle is estimated to burn fuel at a high rate. Finally, engines burn a wide variety of fuel and the terms gas, diesel, hybrid, alternative and electric will be used in engine discussions. Generally, the term used tells which fuel is used with hybrids using some combination of electrical energy and petroleum based fuel. Alternative fuel vehicles will use a non-petroleum based power source like bio-diesel, bio-ethanol or hydrogen. Where transmissions are concerned, it is important to note the distinction between a manual and an automatic. In manual transmission, the driver uses the clutch to disengage the transmission and a lever to select the appropriate drive gear. In an automatic, the driver selects a setting such as "drive" and the transmission makes gear changes automatically based on throttle position and engine conditions. Automatic transmissions require less interaction from the driver but can be costly to repair. Manual transmissions require a different skill and interaction level but can give customized control to a driver. It should be noted that the term gearbox is often used to relate the number of gears available. For example, a five-speed gearbox indicates that within the transmission there are five selectable gears. This may also be described as a 5 speed transmission. Steering and Handling Handling is the way a vehicle drives in terms of steering and stability. It is influenced by the powertrain (everything related to power generation and delivery), drivetrain (all the parts that deliver power after the transmission), suspension, steering controls, tires and even the shape of the vehicle. Handling is also largely influenced by the configuration of the vehicle for front, rear, four or all wheel drive. Rear and front wheel drive are self-explanatory terms but four and all-wheel drive can cause some confusion. Typically, four wheel drive is optimized for rough, off-road conditions. All-wheel drive is a constantly variable power delivery system that improves traction during acceleration and in sloppy road conditions by adjusting the amount of power delivered to each wheel as needed. Suspension refers to the assemblies designed to cushion the interaction between the vehicle and the roadway. It can be defined as independent, wherein each wheel can move in relation to the others, or dependent, wherein both wheels on an axle must react to bumps with each other. Suspension is configured to improve handling based on expected use. A sports car will have a fully independent suspension, for example, to maximize handling at speed. Tires should not be overlooked as a component of handling. The shape, size and design of a tire will vary with intended use and will change the way a car handles. Summer tires, made of material best suited to hot, dry roads will be a harder compound than winter tires which tend to be softer and have a different tread pattern. Performance tires will be softer and meant for higher speeds and better cornering. Several subsystems designed for passenger comfort and convenience will be a part of vehicle classification. Power steering, a hydraulic assist for steering inputs, power windows, which are electrically actuated, and central locks which lock all the doors at the press of a button, will all be described in vehicle literature as will infotainment systems like radio, satellite interface, GPS and onboard navigation. Image Courtesy - «BMW i3 Infotainment System Car Leasing Made Simple» by Car leasing made simple on Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Likewise, Anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) systems use computer sensors to monitor brake inputs and forces and to minimize skids. Sensors might also be used to provide collision avoidance, blind-spot detection and adaptive cruise control systems to avoid collisions and to assist with driving tasks that are associated with accidents. Airbags, described by location (side impact, knee, curtain) will be discussed as a part of the safety language. Car safety ratings will provide some information on the resistance of the vehicle to deformation in the event of front, rear, side and rollover accidents. Safety ratings are assigned by ratings agencies and are based on vehicle responses to standardized test "crashes". If you are still unclear about some of the automotive jargon, read our short blog article on a few car terms you should know. Glossary of Car Terms Gathering Essential Car Gear Handling Basic Car Maintenance Opting for a Professional Car Service Seasonal Car Maintenance Prolonging Vehicle Life Car Safety Technology Common Car Issues Major Red Flags for Car Trouble	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4927
__label__wiki	0.501419	0.501419	Anthropologist Margaret Mead on Female vs. Male Creativity, Gender in Leadership, Equitable Parenting, and Why Women Make Better Scientists The Problem of Shakespeare’s Sister: Virginia Woolf on Gender in Creative Culture The Dinner Party: Artist Judy Chicago’s Iconic Antidote to the Erasure of Women in the History of Creative Culture In the Company of Women: Wisdom and Advice on the Creative Life from Beloved Women Artists, Makers, and Entrepreneurs Neko Case, Nikki Giovani, Tavi Gevinson, Maira Kalman, Debbie Millman, Carrie Brownstein, and more. “Women had always made a significant contribution to the development of human civilization, but these were consistently ignored, denied, or trivialized,” artist Judy Chicago wrote at the height of the women’s liberation movement in her iconic 1979 celebration of women’s place in creative culture. Exactly half a century earlier, Virginia Woolf had famously insisted that a woman must have money and a room of her own in order to create. Today, as we awaken to a world in which equality is in real and imminent danger of being tossed into a time machine, we have to wonder what it takes to counter the forces determined to ignore, deny, or trivialize women’s work. A powerful counter-force of visibility is to be found in shining a light on the rooms — the studios, boardrooms, showrooms, classrooms, and mansions of the mind — in which today’s creative women make their work, make their money, and make themselves. That’s what Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney offers with In the Company of Women (public library) — an invigorating and empowering collection of life-earned wisdom and practical advice from more than one hundred diverse women artists and entrepreneurs: painters, poets, designers, ceramicists, illustrators, actors, chefs, typographers, tattoo artists, and other creative mavericks from a kaleidoscope of ethnicities, orientations, and backgrounds spanning four generations. Grace Bonney (Photograph: Christopher Sturman) Echoing pioneering astronomer Vera Rubin’s poignant words about the importance of cultural modeling, Bonney writes in the introduction: Activist Marian Wright Edelman said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Visibility is one of the most powerful tools we have in inspiring people to pursue their dreams and educating them about all the amazing options that exist. Swiss graphic designer, entrepreneur, and Swiss-Miss creator Tina Roth Eisenberg attests to this sentiment with her own formative experience: When I was about seven, on vacation in the South of France, I watched my uncle draw type. I asked him, “What are you doing?” And he said, “I am working!” I was confused, as in my understanding he was just doodling, drawing, having fun. So I followed up, saying, “Working as in making money?” And he just said, “Yep!” I was a kid who was never not drawing. It was as if a lightbulb went off in my head. “I can make money off drawing type? Drawing can be my profession?” This makes me understand how important it is to expose my kids to as many different “worlds” as possible. Nearly a century after Virginia Woolf captured the perennial specter of self-doubt in creative work, author and television host Janet Mock offers: A consistent fear is: Am I doing enough? Does my work really matter? These thoughts plague many people, and I see it as common. What I always have to remind myself is that it is okay to recognize [such] doubt but that it cannot stay for long. It’s a visitor that ensures I am always cognizant of where I am with myself and my work. Like John Steinbeck, artist, architect, sculptor, and designer Maya Lin folds that inevitable self-doubt into the creative process itself and uses it as fuel for work: My process in creativity has always been about doubt and worrying about the project, then exploration, then finding and making the work — I tend to take myself and the work apart a lot in the process before finally figuring it out. Nikki Giovanni (Photograph: Christopher Bonney) Poet Nikki Giovanni echoes Sister Corita Kent’s famous assertion that “there’s no win and no fail, there’s only make,” and offers a grounding, elevating perspective on the fear of failure that lurks beneath self-doubt: Mistakes are a fact of life; they are building blocks, stepping-stones, the way we learn new things. Columbus wasn’t looking for a New World, he was searching for a route to spices. All mistakes teach us something, so there are, in reality, no mistakes. Just things we learn. Artist, educator, and radio host Debbie Millman shares her professional motto: Busy is a decision. We do the things we want to do, period. If we say we are too busy, it is just shorthand for the thing being “not important enough” or “not a priority.” Busy is not a badge. You don’t find the time to make things, you make the time to do things. If I want to do something, I don’t let busy stand int he way. I make the time to do it. She reflects on the words of wisdom that most inspire and motivate her: I was interviewing the great writer Dani Shapiro, and we were talking about the role of confidence in success. She stated that she felt that confidence wasn’t as important as courage, and that the action to do something was much more critical to success than the idea that you feel confident about doing it. The notion that courage is more important than confidence has stayed with me ever since. She builds on this sentiment when asked about her definition of success: I think success is a practice, sort of like love or happiness. Reflecting on what she most admires in other creative women, musician Thao Nguyen echoes Georgia O’Keeffe’s immortal words on success in creative work and offers: I admire their fire and their empathy, their devotion to what they make and the consistent return to work, no matter the perceived success or failure. I admire these things because I believe them to be what is most important about creativity, and at my best, they are what I strive most to meet and inhabit. In answering a question about learning from a mistake that led to success, Nguyen embodies one of the most rewarding aspects of the book — the women’s courageous willingness to inhabit the vulnerability of discussing the darkest and most difficult aspects of their professional, and often personal, lives: My greatest professional mistake has been complacency. At the time in question I was dissatisfied and depressed with my work and my professional progress in general. I just sank into a sort of lulling lament. I had to learn that complacency got me there, and the only thing to do was shut up and get it together. Also, a huge thing I had to learn was not to compare my career to the careers of others. Compare and despair. It’s helpful to take note of other people’s success and funnel it into motivation, using their successes as examples and benchmarks. My self-worth is separate from my creative work and any response it may or may not elicit. Artist and illustrator Ping Zhu echoes Thoreau’s definition of success and approaches the question from a similar angle: Success is contextual and fleeting, so when things are harmonious, even for a moment, I try to savor it. Neko Case (Photograph: Rick Levinson) Musician Neko Case looks back on her semi-accidental trajectory away from the mainstream music industry: The thing I’m most grateful to have missed out on was being signed by a major label… Having people near who won’t be yes-men can be your biggest asset. Louise Fili (Photograph: Sasha Israel) Pioneering graphic designer Louise Fili, who has paved the way for women in design, reflects on a defining choice she made when she was first starting out — a choice that stands as a testament to the power of personal integrity in effecting cultural change: When I started my business, it was the pre-Google era, which meant that when you named your company, you couldn’t get too creative. After all, people had to find you. I knew I had to name it after myself, which could have been a liability. I suppose that I could have come up with something like “Fili Associates” to look bigger and more important. In the end I chose Louise Fili Ltd because I really wanted to send a message, which was this: If you have a problem with my being female, then I don’t want you as a client. Maira Kalman (Photograph: Sasha Israel) Artist Maira Kalman shares the best piece of advice she was given when starting out — advice she has been putting into practice for forty glorious years of creative work: I was told to do what I loved and not to veer from that. Musician Carrie Brownstein makes a case for building pockets of stillness into one’s daily routine and shares hers: I have always been a morning person, but now I find myself getting up between five and six a.m. every day. I feel like I am stealing daylight hours being awake so early, and even the largest metropolises are quiet at this hour. The stillness helps me to think. The first thing I do is make coffee and read the paper; feeling engaged and part of the world allows me to orient myself, it posits me in the here and now, it wakes me up. Then I head out on a hike or walk. I don’t bring my phone, but I bring a small notepad. I jot down ideas. Or I don’t. It’s like meditation: there are no wrong thoughts, just being. Then I come home and write. Tavi Gevinson (Photograph: Sasha Israel) When asked about the best piece of business advice she was given while starting out, writer, editor, and media entrepreneur Tavi Gevinson offers a sort of modernist Zen koan with a dual meaning: Own everything. To a question about the character trait of which she is proudest, she answers: I have a physical aversion to wasting time. It helps to recognize self-doubt as such. Samin Nosrat (Photograph: Sasha Israel) Chef and author Samin Nosrat reflects on the formative dreams and experiences that coalesced into becoming who she is: As a little girl, I adored and admired by aunt Ziba, who lived with us while she was in college. She had a part-time job shelving books in the university library. So I wanted to be a librarian, just like her, when I grew up. In high school, my English teacher and cross-country coach changed my life. Tom Dorman was the first feminist I ever met. He taught me to change a tire, to love the natural world, and to question authority. He also gave me a subscription to The New Yorker and told me that I could write. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to be a writer. Even as I began my cooking career, I never abandoned the idea that one day I’d write books. When asked what she thinks the world needs more of and what less of, Nosrat replies with an homage to artist Susan O’Malley, who died suddenly just before giving birth to her twin girls: In the words of the tragically late, luminous artist Susan O’Malley, “Less Internet, More Love.” Art by Susan O’Malley from Advice from My 80-Year-Old Self Reflecting on her coping mechanism for setbacks and moments of self-doubt, author and activist Dominique Browning shares her seven-step toolkit for resilience — one as applicable to our personal struggles in life and work as it is to our shared cultural predicaments: Let yourself boil over with fury, and vent, rage, curse, rain down wrath, and tear out your hair. (But try not to do it publicly. And certainly not online.) Let yourself mourn. Setbacks are sad. Maybe even depressing — but don’t confuse the two. Let yourself feel the sadness of loss. Get moving. You don’t want that sadness to tip into a paralyzing depression. So get out and take a walk, several times a day. Feel the air move against your cheeks. Feel forward momentum. Learn to ask for help. Most successful people get there by being strong and independent. We help others. It is harder to learn to ask when we need help — and to realize that admitting it is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of respect for what others can contribute to your life. Turn your thinking upside down: That wasn’t a setback. It was an opportunity to re-create. Know fear, and honor it. When you feel fear, that’s when you are growing. Stop negative thinking: Just stop. Force it. Including the arrogance of thinking everything was your fault. You aren’t really in control of much. Bad luck happens. Now what are you going to do about it? That’s the really interesting — and even thrilling — part. Complement In the Company of Women, which features more wisdom from such celebrated creators as Eileen Fisher, Julia Turshen, Thelma Golden, Roxane Gay, Mary Lambert, Carson Ellis, and Julia Rothman, with this illustrated celebration of trailblazing women in science and some of today’s greatest artists on courage, creativity, and success. For the making-of story behind the project, itself a feat of entrepreneurial ingenuity and creative determination, listen to Bonney’s terrific Design Matters conversation with Debbie Millman: https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/11/23/in-the-company-of-women-grace-bonney/ artbookscreativityculturedesign	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4931
__label__wiki	0.916977	0.916977	The Las Vegas Wrestling Scene continues to grow as the talent developed within the city limits keeps improving. There are shows almost weekly with several promotions in operation right now. Future Stars of Wrestling celebrated their 10th Anniversary June 23rd and are the unquestioned leader of Indie Wrestling in Las Vegas. The talent drawn from their school is cultivated with monthly or bi-monthly FSW Arena shows and the larger Casino Events. However, the “Casino Shows” draw much bigger names like Killer Kross, Brian Cage, Sami Callihan, Taya Valkyrie, and John Morrison. Their FSW10 show at Sam’s Town Live was sold out featuring Kross and former WWE Superstar TJ Perkins. Big Valley Wrestling continues to make strides, Versus Pro Wrestling just signed up with Vampiro’s new school, and The Nerd hosts shows with multiple companies and wrestlers. Here’s a look at the companies making Vegas happen. http://www.futurestarsofwrestling.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/FutureStarsWrestling https://www.facebook.com/FSWVegas/ Twitter @FSWVegas IG: @FSWLasVegas https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAQHkM_rywkL3GY3IJNv0RQ https://www.facebook.com/bigvalleywrestling/ IG: @BigValleyWrestling Twitter: @BVWrestlingLV https://www.facebook.com/VersusProWrestling/ Twitter: @VersusPW IG: @VersusProWrestling https://www.facebook.com/LuchaLibreLasVegas/ Rajah Live www.rajahlive.com Twitter @rajahlive	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4933
__label__wiki	0.616228	0.616228	Course of infection Last Updated: Jan 16, 2020 See Article History Alternative Title: typhoid Typhoid fever, also called typhoid, acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. The bacterium usually enters the body through the mouth by the ingestion of contaminated food or water, penetrates the intestinal wall, and multiplies in lymphoid tissue; it then enters the bloodstream and causes bacteremia. salmonella typhiPhotomicrograph of salmonella typhi, the causative agent of typhoid fever. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Image Numer: 2115) history of medicine: Typhoid In 1897 English bacteriologist Almroth Wright introduced a vaccine prepared from killed typhoid bacilli as a preventive of typhoid. Preliminary… Most major epidemics of typhoid fever have been caused by the pollution of public water supplies. Food and milk may be contaminated, however, by a human carrier of the disease who is employed in handling and processing them; by flies; or by the use of polluted water for cleaning purposes. Shellfish, particularly oysters, grown in polluted water and fresh vegetables grown on soil fertilized or contaminated by untreated sewage are other possible causes. The prevention of typhoid fever depends mainly on proper sewage treatment, filtration and chlorination of water, and exclusion of carriers from employment in food industries and restaurants. In the early part of the 20th century, prophylactic vaccination using killed typhoid organisms was introduced, mainly in military forces and institutions, and contributed to a lowering of the incidence of the disease. After an average 10–14-day incubation period, the early symptoms of typhoid appear: headache, malaise, generalized aching, fever, and restlessness that may interfere with sleep. There may be loss of appetite, nosebleeds, cough, and diarrhea or constipation. Persistent fever develops and gradually rises, usually in a stepwise fashion, reaching a peak of 39 or 40 °C (103 or 104 °F) after 7–10 days; left untreated, the fever continues with only slight morning remissions for another 10–14 days, sometimes longer. During about the second week of fever, typhoid bacilli are present in great numbers in the bloodstream. At that point, some patients develop a rash of small rose-coloured spots on the trunk, which lasts four or five days and then fades away. The lymph follicles (Peyer patches) along the intestinal wall in which the typhoid bacilli have multiplied become inflamed and necrotic and may slough off, leaving ulcers in the walls of the intestine. The dead fragments of intestinal tissue may erode blood vessels, causing hemorrhage, or they may perforate the intestinal wall, allowing the intestine’s contents to enter the peritoneal cavity (peritonitis). Other complications can include acute inflammation of the gallbladder, heart failure, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, encephalitis, and meningitis. With a continued high fever, the symptoms usually increase in intensity, and mental confusion and delirium may appear. By the end of the third week, the patient is emaciated, abdominal symptoms are marked, and mental disturbance is prominent. In favourable cases, about the beginning of the fourth week, the fever begins to decline, the symptoms begin to abate, and the temperature gradually returns to normal. If untreated, typhoid fever proves fatal in about 10 to 30 percent of all cases; with treatment, as few as 1 percent of patients die from the disease. Patients with diseases such as cancer or sickle cell anemia are particularly prone to develop serious and prolonged infection with S. Typhi. Diagnosis of typhoid fever is made by blood culture, stool culture, and serological testing. Infection is treated with antibiotics, primarily fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin), ceftriaxone, or azithromycin (or some combination thereof). Those agents help rid the body of S. Typhi, consequently lowering the patient’s fever and enabling progressive improvement thereafter. The treatment of typhoid fever has been complicated by the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of S. Typhi. Historically, the antibiotic of choice against the disease was chloramphenicol. In the 1970s, because of widespread chloramphenicol resistance, ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole became the treatments of choice. Those drugs, however, were eventually rendered ineffective by multidrug-resistant S. Typhi. Strains of the bacterium that are resistant to contemporary antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones, have been increasingly reported in Asia and Africa. Typhoid bacteria can persist for an indefinite period of time in the bile passages of patients. If they practice poor hygiene or if they are food handlers, those carriers can pass the infection to healthy persons. Patients who are recovering from typhoid fever are transient carriers of the disease, excreting the causative bacteria in the stool or urine for up to three months. Patients who continue to excrete the bacteria for a year or more after infection are considered to be long-term carriers; those individuals harbour the microorganisms and typically shed them for years. One of the most famous instances of carrier-borne disease in medical history was the case of “Typhoid Mary” (byname of Mary Mallon). Fifty-one original cases of typhoid and three deaths were directly attributed to her during the early 20th century. This article was most recently revised and updated by Kara Rogers, Senior Editor. In 1897 English bacteriologist Almroth Wright introduced a vaccine prepared from killed typhoid bacilli as a preventive of typhoid. Preliminary trials in the Indian army produced excellent results, and typhoid vaccination was adopted for the use of British troops serving in the South African… human disease: Bacterial diseases …of the micro-organism (as in typhoid, caused by Salmonella typhi), or (3) the induction of sensitivity within the host to antigenic properties of the bacterial organism (as in tuberculosis, after sensitization to Mycobacterium tuberculosis).… human disease: Classifications of diseases To use the example of typhoid, a disease spread through contaminated food and water, it first becomes important to establish that the disease observed is truly caused by Salmonella typhi, the typhoid organism. Once the diagnosis is established, it is obviously important to know the number of cases, whether the… Typhoid Mary Sir Almroth Edward Wright Fernand-Isidore Widal Sir William Jenner, 1st Baronet William Budd Zhang Zhongjing Pierre-Fidèle Bretonneau Paratyphoid fever Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi Widal reaction NHS - Typhoid Fever Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Typhoid Fever MedlinePlus - Typhoid fever The Nemours Foundation - For Parents - Typhoid Fever MayoClinic.com - Typhoid Fever typhoid fever - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) typhoid fever - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4934
__label__wiki	0.945318	0.945318	A Fascinating History Written by George Devonshire Burley Manor’s history makes fascinating reading. Its first recorded owner was Forester Roger de Burley way back in 1212. The de Burley family remained as Lords of the Manor until 1388 when Sir Simon de Burley, a Knight of the Garter brought up with King Edward III’s son Edward (the Black Prince), was impeached for treason and died a traitor’s death.He was executed and his lands were forfeited to the crown. Hampshire cricketer Sir Thomas Ridge lived at the manor in the early 1700s, before Brigadier-General John Carnac became its owner. The British officer who served three times as Commander-in-Chief of India later became an MP. But the current building was built by Colonel William Clement Drake Esdaile, who became its owner in 1852 and demolished the original building. The colonel was a magistrate and Verderer – custodian – of the New Forest. By 1935, the manor had become a hotel and it has served guests ever since, apart from a short spell as a military HQ when it was requisitioned by Lord Montgomery during the war. We're one of the UK's cosiest hotels Stays without the children	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4940
__label__cc	0.540271	0.459729	Alpha Holdings Sends Open Letter to OncoSec Stockholders Responds to Misleading Statements Made by CEO Daniel J. O’Connor to Secure Approval for the China Grand Takeover SEONGNAM, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alpha Holdings, Inc. (KOSDAQ: 117670) (“Alpha”), the largest stockholder of OncoSec Medical Incorporated (NASDAQ: ONCS) (“OncoSec”), with an approximate 15.1% ownership stake, today sent an open letter to its fellow OncoSec stockholders in advance of the Company’s upcoming Special Meeting of Stockholders, currently scheduled for January 17, 2019, urging them to vote on the BLUE proxy card “AGAINST” the proposed takeover of OncoSec by China Grand Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Holdings (“CGP”) and Sirtex Medical US Holdings, Inc. (“Sirtex”), an affiliate of GCP (together, “China Grand”). The full text of the letter, which responds to a number of misleading statements made by OncoSec CEO Daniel J. O’Connor in a recent video message to stockholders, is set forth below and can also be found at www.VoteNoOncoSec.com, along with other related materials. Dear Fellow OncoSec Stockholders: OncoSec CEO Daniel J. O’Connor and the Board of OncoSec Medical Incorporated have gone to great lengths to confuse stockholders and distract from the problems with their decision to transfer a controlling interest to China Grand Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Holdings (“CGP”) and Sirtex Medical US Holdings, Inc. (“Sirtex”), an affiliate of GCP (together, “China Grand”). On December 9, 2019, OncoSec released a video of Mr. O’Connor that was chock full of confusing and misleading statements. As OncoSec’s largest stockholder, Alpha Holdings (“Alpha” or “we”) believes it is important for stockholders to have THE FACTS about the China Grand Takeover Proposal. Misleading Statement #1: Dan O’Connor: “[The China Grand Takeover proposal] gives certainty for our shareholders. The deal, you know, is like cement around our foundation of our company.” Certainty? By OncoSec’s own admission, it is transferring control of the company for ONE YEAR’S WORTH OF FINANCING. OncoSec says it is burning through cash at $2.5 million a month, which means the $30 million it would receive in the China Grand Takeover would last 12 months. In what universe is that certainty? And how does that provide a solid “foundation” for a company that needs more than one year to get its key product to market? We believe the only “certainty” is that OncoSec will have to do even more dilutive deals in the future and that the “cement” here is more like a pair of “cement shoes” that will weigh down OncoSec shares. Dan O’Connor: “The transaction allows [China Grand] to get three board seats out of nine board members. So there’s really no change of the control of our board at all.” OncoSec’s own proxy clearly states that China Grand can appoint 3 directors initially and fill the next 2 vacancies.1 In our world, 3 + 2 = 5. Even worse, this right will exist even if China Grand reduces its ownership to as low as 23%.2 Does it seem right that a 23% holder should potentially control five of nine board seats? With control of the Board, China Grand could rebuff offers from third parties who could be interested in acquiring OncoSec. In addition, with its 53% ownership stake, CGP will be able to control the outcome of every single future stockholder vote including elections of directors. Dan O’Connor: “I don’t like the stock price where it is. I haven’t for a long time. We as a company are doing everything we can to change that.” We don’t believe OncoSec is doing everything they can by transferring control of the company for one year’s worth of financing. And how can Dan O’Connor possibly say, “Alpha does not care about your investment”3 when, as OncoSec’s largest stockholder, Alpha’s interests are directly aligned with yours? We believe it is management that has different financial interests than stockholders like us. Consider this: Dan O’Connor has a so-called “golden parachute,” which means that he stands to receive substantial benefits if his employment is terminated after a change of control transaction. Specifically, he stands to receive a cash payment of more than $1.2 million4 -- plus accelerated vesting of equity awards and a host of other benefits. While we do not expect this payment to be triggered by the China Grand Takeover, we do believe it is important for OncoSec investors to have a full picture of Mr. O’ Connor’s financial incentives. Value of Dan O’Connor’s Severance Package Value of Dan O’Connor’s Stake in OncoSec 1.2 million dollars ~40 thousand dollars Ask yourself, whose interests are more aligned with yours, a 15.1% owner like Alpha or Dan O’Connor? Misleading Statement #4 Dan O’Connor: “Waiting is extremely dangerous.” Dan O’Connor wants to give you a false choice: The China Grand Takeover or nothing. We do not believe this is true. Consider these three facts: OncoSec’s financial advisor did NOT say the China Grand transaction was the best option. Torreya’s opinion stated: “[O]ur opinion does not address the relative merits of the Transaction as compared to any other transaction or business strategy in which the Company might engage or the merits of the underlying decision by the Company to engage in the Transaction.” OncoSec’s financial advisor identified comparable transactions where the low end of the valuation range was more than double the $2.50/share China Grand is paying. Buried in its proxy, OncoSec states that Torreya Partners performed analysis identifying comparable transactions ranging in value from $5.31 per share to $9.65 per share. The OncoSec Board has given no explanation of why they would approve a deal at $2.50 per share when their own advisor’s analysis indicates the valuation should be much higher. Recent TAVO results were hailed as positive: OncoSec’s Chief Clinical Development Officer stated: "These data show a strong signal for clinical benefit with TAVO enhancing sensitivity to pembrolizumab in treating metastatic TNBC patients who were previously unresponsive to multiple prior rounds of therapy" and "They also confirm the consistent safety profile of TAVO as a well-tolerated cancer immunotherapy." We believe in OncoSec and its prospects, which is why we have been speaking with financial advisors and are prepared to lead a consortium to raise up to $30 million in financing on less onerous terms if the China Grand Takeover is defeated. Dan O’Connor: “The best judge of whether or not we should enter into this deal is a vote of our shareholders.” OncoSec amended the China Grand Takeover Proposal to lower the stockholder vote standard necessary to approve the sale of shares to China Grand. Selling control of a company is the most important decision a Board can make – shouldn’t at least 50% or more stockholders have to approve it? Please visit www.VoteNoOncoSec.com for more information about Alpha’s opposition to the proposed transaction. YOU DESERVE BETTER! VOTE “AGAINST” THE PROPOSED ONCOSEC TRANSACTION ON THE BLUE PROXY CARD TODAY We urge you to vote “AGAINST” the China Grand Takeover and demand that your board fulfill its fiduciary duty to all current OncoSec stockholders by finding a better alternative to continue clinical trials and preserve OncoSec's value. If you have any questions, require assistance in voting your BLUE proxy card, or need additional copies of Alpha’s proxy materials, please contact Okapi Partners at the phone numbers or email address listed below. Okapi Partners + 1 (212) 297-0720 (Main) + 1 (888) 785-6617 (Toll-Free) Email: info@okapipartners.com Alpha Holdings Haynes and Boone, LLP is serving as legal counsel to Alpha. About Alpha Holdings, Inc. Alpha Holdings, Inc. is a top-ranked Korean company engaged in the design-development service and manufacturing of system semiconductors, biotechnologies and thermal compound materials. The company, formerly known as Alpha Chips Corp., is headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea and was founded in 2002. Alpha is listed on the KOSDAQ Market. All statements contained in this press release that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are "forward-looking statements," which are not guarantees of future performance or results, and the words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "potential," "could," "opportunity," "estimate," "plan," and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. The projected results and statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are based on current expectations, speak only as of the date of this press release and involve risks that may cause the actual results to be materially different. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation as to future results. Alpha Holdings disclaims any obligation to update the information herein and reserves the right to change any of its opinions expressed herein at any time as it deems appropriate. Alpha Holdings has not sought or obtained consent from any third party to use any statements or information indicated herein as having been obtained or derived from statements made or published by third parties. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT THIS COMMUNICATION IS BEING MADE IN CONNECTION WITH A SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY ALPHA HOLDINGS, INC. IN RESPECT OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION BETWEEN ONCOSEC MEDICAL INCORPORATED (“ONCOSEC”) AND DECADE DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED, A DIRECT, WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF CHINA GRAND PHARMACEUTICAL AND HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS LIMITED (“CGP”), AND SIRTEX MEDICAL US HOLDINGS, INC. ONCOSEC HAS SCHEDULED A SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS (THE “SPECIAL MEETING”) IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. ALPHA HOLDINGS, INC. HAS FILED A DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14A WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE “SEC”) IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING. STOCKHOLDERS OF ONCOSEC ARE ADVISED TO READ ALPHA HOLDING’S DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH SEC BY ALPHA WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN SUCH PROXY SOLICITATION. THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND FORM OF “BLUE” PROXY CARD AREAVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE AT THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION’S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. 1 See OncoSec Proxy, p. 25: “…the Company has entered into Stockholder Agreements (the “Stockholder Agreements”) with each of CGP and Sirtex, which will take effect upon Closing. Pursuant to the Stockholder Agreements, among other things, CGP and Sirtex have the option to nominate a combined total of three (3) members to the Board of Directors, initially at the Closing, and thereafter at every annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company in which directors are generally elected, including at every adjournment or postponement thereof. CGP will also have the option to nominate two (2) independent directors to the Company’s Board of Directors if any independent director currently serving on the Board of Directors ceases to serve as a director of the Company for any reason, provided that the independent director nominee shall be satisfactory to a majority of the independent directors of the Company.” 2 See Alpha Holdings Proxy at 5. Includes 10,616,740 shares currently outstanding plus 12,000,000 shares to be issued in the transaction for a total of 4,800,000 out of a total of 22,616,740, or approximately 23%. 3 See OncoSec Letter to Stockholders dated December 12, 2019. 4 The payment includes two times his annual salary of $400,000 and target bonus of $200,000. See OncoSec Medical Incorporated Change In Control Plan, dated June 7, 2019 filed with the SEC on Form 8-K on June 7, 2019. Bruce Goldfarb / Chuck Garske Renée Soto / Hugh Burns / Nicholas Leasure Reevemark	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4941
__label__cc	0.61534	0.38466	From the Reading Room to the Classroom Civics Education with Congressional Records The future of the great experiment in government that is the United States of America relies on an informed and engaged electorate and inspired leadership from today's students. The Byrd Center is contributing to this future through the development of educational resources that enable students to understand the complexities of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and to inspire them to play their part in the "People's Branch." With the support of the National Archives and Records Administration's Center for Legislative Studies and a nationwide network of congressional repositories known as the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress, the Byrd Center is uniquely positioned to be a leader in the development and implementation of educational resources focusing on Congress, the Constitution, and civic engagement. In addition to creating lesson plans and classroom tools, the Byrd Center also offers training for these resources through its annual Teacher Institute which provides one-day workshops across the state of West Virginia. Below are a sampling of teaching resources that have been developed from the Byrd Center's collections or through collaborations with partner organizations and archival repositories. The Great Society Congress The lesson, "Congress, the Great Society in the 1960s, and Today", studies legislation passed in response to President Lyndon Baines Johnson's call for America to become a "Great Society." Students will detail the President's vision, summarize its historic context, and explain the ways in which Congress responded. This lesson plan is designed to assist teachers with using primary source materials to integrate Congress into history, government and civics classes. It is suitable for junior high and high school students. Redeveloping Appalachia: Legislating the Future of West Virginia In 1965, Congress passed the Appalachian Regional Development Act, the result of nearly twenty years of lobbying on the part of West Virginia’s, as well as other Appalachian states’, senators and representatives. The act established the Appalachian Regional Commission, a board made up of the governors of the thirteen Appalachian states as well as two presidential appointees who distributed funds appropriated annually to developing infrastructure, education, and healthcare services in the impoverished region. In the past fifty years, billions of dollars have been allocated through the Appalachian Regional Commission to projects intended to not only improve general living conditions in the states, but also to encourage economic growth and diversification to ensure the future prosperity of a region long tied to extractive industries. Redeveloping Appalachia designed to support classroom instruction on the history of the Appalachian Regional Development Act and its predecessor legislation in the effort to inspire students to consider, from a policy standpoint, what can be done to address the historic, systemic socio-economic issues that have plagued this region of the United States for over a century. The Flood of 1985: The Government Responds This lesson uses congressional and political documents to introduce students to the historic 1985 Election Day Floods in West Virginia and to lead them through the recovery process. Additionally, students will build research and information analysis skills through closely examining documents from the archival collections of Senator Robert C. Byrd, Congressman Harley O. Staggers, Jr., and Governor Arch Moore, Jr. The document on the left contains the overview, lesson plan, and worksheets for this teaching module. The document on the right contains all of the archival primary sources utilized in the lesson plan (this file may take a couple of minutes to download). The National Archives and Records Administration's Center for Legislative Archives provides several dynamic teaching modules and lesson plans focusing on an array of topics from American history and delving into the U.S. Congress and Constitution.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4942
__label__wiki	0.551725	0.551725	Culture Dispatch Dubrovnik Croatia Tourists are flocking to Dubrovnik over Game of Thrones Video: GameofThrones / YouTube Text Elise Morton Thousands of tourists are visiting Croatia purely because the hit HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones is partly filmed in Dubrovnik, a recently published study shows. The data, collected by researchers from the Zagreb Institute of Economics and the Johannes Kepler University Linz, shows that 60,000 people visit Dubrovnik annually for the sole reason that Game of Thrones is shot there. 244,415 tourists have visited Dubrovnik between 2012 and 2015 because of its association with the show, spending 126 million euros ($147 million) while on their travels — a significant boost to the local economy. “We find that the filming of the TV series in Dubrovnik has a robust and positive effect on the number of tourist arrivals. Additionally, [our results] show that there are positive spillover effects on other counties and the whole country,” say the researchers, quoted by Croatia Week. From season two of Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik has served as the filming site of “King’s Landing”. The city has been the backdrop to a number of international hit films and series in recent years, including Robin Hood: Origins and Star Wars: Episode VIII. Source: Croatia Week travel tourism television game of thrones filming locations croatian architecture	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4945
__label__wiki	0.568889	0.568889	Article 8(j) and related provisions Bearing in mind that for the purposes of this decision, protection of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices must be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of Article 8(j), A. Implementation and in-depth review of the programme of work for Article 8(j) and related provisions and integration of the relevant tasks of the programme of work into the thematic programmes 1. Requests the Executive Secretary to continue to report on progress on the implementation of Article 8(j) and related provisions based on information submitted to the Executive Secretary, for consideration at the fifth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions; 2. Invites Parties to submit through their national reports, if appropriate, to the Executive Secretary, reports on progress in achieving national participation of indigenous and local communities, and associated capacity-building, and requests the Executive Secretary to compile these submissions and, as appropriate and with the assistance of Parties and of indigenous and local communities, prepare a statistical report thereon identifying, inter alia, participation in different bodies of the Convention, participation from different countries/continents, participation in government delegations as well as outside of government delegations, and those funded by voluntary mechanisms; 3. Requests Parties that have not yet submitted information regarding the implementation of the programme of work to do so in consultation with indigenous and local communities, as appropriate, in time for the fifth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions 4. Underlines that the continued implementation of the programme of work should take note of work being carried out in other relevant international bodies; 5. Requests the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions at its next meeting to address, as a priority, the timeframe to initiate work on the remaining tasks of the programme of work ; 6. Requests the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions to analyse work initiated and/or advanced on related provisions, in particular Articles 10 (c), 17, paragraph 2, and 18, paragraph 4, of the Convention, and based on this information to provide advice on how these related provisions may be further advanced and implemented; 7. Decides further that the fifth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions be organized prior to the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in order to ensure further advancement of the implementation of the programme of work on Article 8(j) and related provisions; 8. Notes the progress made in the integration of the relevant tasks of the programme of work in the thematic programmes of the Convention; 9. Requests the Executive Secretary to continue reporting on progress achieved in the integration of relevant tasks of the programme of work on Article 8(j) into the thematic programmes, and to consider ways and means that the Working Group can assist in the implementation of work in the thematic programmes for the consideration of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions at its fifth meeting. B. Composite report on status and trends regarding the knowledge innovations and practices relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity I. COMPOSITE REPORT 1. Takes notewith appreciation of the information prepared for the fourth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions and in particular, the completion of phase one of the composite report, which includes the report on traditional-knowledge registers and the regional Arctic report; 2. Also notes with appreciation the progress in the work of phase two of the composite report; 3. Further notes the discussion on the composite report held at the fourth meeting of the Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions and requests the Executive Secretary to further develop phase two of the composite report taking into account comments made at the discussion; 4. Recommends to Parties and Governments to bear in mind that registers are only one approach to the protection of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, and as such their establishment should be voluntary, not a prerequisite for protection. Registers should only be established with the prior informed consent of indigenous and local communities; 5. Requests the Executive Secretary to explore the possibility of developing technical guidelines for recording and documenting traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, , and to analyse the potential threats of such documentation to the rights of holders of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities; 6. Notes with concern the specific vulnerabilities of indigenous and local communities, inter alia, of the Arctic, small island States and high altitudes, concerning the impacts of climate change and accelerated threats, such as pollution, drought and desertification, to traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, and requests further research be conducted, subject to the availability of resources, into highly vulnerable indigenous and local communities, with a focus on causes and solutions, with the outcomes of the research to be made available to the Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions for attention at its fifth meeting; 7. Recalls element 19 in the annex to decision VII/16 E (“Parties should establish measures to ensure respect for the rights of unprotected or voluntarily isolated communities”) and requests the Executive Secretary in consultation with Governments, international organizations, indigenous and local communities and all interested stakeholders, to research and prepare a report on possible measures to ensure respect for the rights of unprotected and voluntarily isolated communities taking into account their traditional knowledge and the development of access and benefit-sharing regimes; 8. Decides to renew the mandate of the advisory group established by decisions VI/10, annex I, paragraph 28 (b), and VII/16 E, paragraph 4 (d), and to continue to provide advice on the further development of phase two of the composite report and, in particular, element D, subject to the availability of resources. II. ELEMENTS OF A PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE RETENTION OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATIONS AND PRACTICES EMBODYING TRADITIONAL LIFESTYLES RELEVANT FOR THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 9. Notes with appreciation the advancement of many elements of the plan of action for the retention of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices embodying lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; 10. Urges Parties and Governments to take appropriate measures to further advance the elements of the plan of action; 11. Requests the Executive Secretary to continue to report on progress on the further development of elements of the plan of action at the fifth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions; 12. Requests the Executive Secretary to take into consideration comments made at the fourth meeting of the Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions, and to continue gathering and analysing information, in consultation with Parties, Governments, indigenous and local communities, with a view to further developing the plan of action, giving priority to sections B and D, and to report on the advancement of this task to the Working Group at its fifth meeting; 13. Requests the Executive Secretary to collaborate with Parties in convening, subject to the availability of financial resources, regional and subregional workshops to assist indigenous and local communities in capacity-building, education and training, with particular emphasis on the participation of women from indigenous and local communities. C. International regime on access and benefit-sharing: collaboration with the Ad Hoc Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing and participation of indigenous and local communities Recalling its decision VII/19 D, 1. Requests the collaboration and contribution of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions to the fulfilment of the mandate of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing by providing views on the elaboration and negotiation of an international regime on access and benefit-sharing relevant to traditional knowledge, innovations and practices associated with genetic resources and to the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization and requests the Executive Secretary to compile these views and make them available to the Ad Hoc open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing before its sixth meeting; 2. Invitesindigenous and local communities to submit to their governments and to provide to the Secretariat comments, including case-studies, on their experience with effective measures for the protection of their traditional knowledge, innovations and practices associated with genetic resources; 3. Requests the Executive Secretary, where practicable, to make the necessary arrangements for the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing to be convened immediately following the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on the Article 8(j) and Related Provisions; 4. Invites Parties, Governments, and donor organizations to contribute to provide the ways and means to facilitate sufficient preparation and participation of representatives of indigenous and local communities in the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions and the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing; 5. Requests the Executive Secretary to endeavour to make documentation for the meetings of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions and the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing available three months prior to those meeting, where possible, to facilitate consultations with representatives of indigenous and local communities; 6. Having regard to paragraph 1 above, reaffirms paragraph 6 of decision VII/19 D, and to this end: (a) Requests the Executive Secretary to provide administrative support to representatives from indigenous and local communities through practical measures, including making available meeting rooms, access to documentation, and computer and photocopying facilities, subject to the availability of funds; (b) Invites Parties and Governments to increase the participation of representatives of indigenous and local communities’ organizations in official delegations to meetings of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access Benefit-sharing and the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions, without prejudice to the participation of representatives of indigenous and local communities outside official delegations. (c) Invites Parties, Governments, donor countries and organizations to facilitate the participation of indigenous and local communities in preparatory processes for the meetings of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access Benefit-sharing and the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions. 7. Invites chairpersons to facilitate the effective participation of representatives of indigenous and local communities and to consult them, as appropriate, on issues related to traditional knowledge, innovations and practices and associated genetic resources, in proceedings related to decision VII/19 D in accordance with the rules of procedure. D. Mechanisms to promote the effective participation of indigenous and local communities in matters related to the objectives of Article 8( j ) and related provisions The Conference of the Parties adopts the following mechanism to promote the effective participation of indigenous and local communities in meetings held under the Convention. I. CRITERIA FOR THE OPERATION OF THE VOLUNTARY FUNDING MECHANISM 1. Adopts the draft criteria for the operation of the voluntary funding mechanism annexed to the present recommendation; 2. Urges Parties, Governments as well as relevant funding institutions and mechanisms to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund; 3. Invites Parties, Governments and relevant funding institutions and mechanisms to provide financial support to developing country Parties, in particular the least developed and small island developing States among them, and countries with economies in transition, where appropriate, for capacity-building and training for representatives of indigenous and local communities in meetings of the Convention; II. THE ROLE OF THE THEMATIC FOCAL POINT UNDER THE CLEARING-HOUSE MECHANISM 4. Noteswith appreciation the launching of the traditional knowledge information portal and related initiatives by the Secretariat, including the provision of other communication tools that are easily accessible for indigenous and local communities; 5. Takes note of the need for appropriate and effective funding being made available for the translation of notifications and other information resources, including the traditional knowledge information portal, for indigenous and local communities, as appropriate, into the six official languages of the United Nations, 6. Requests the Executive Secretary to: (a) Convene, subject to the availability of financial resources, regional and subregional workshops on new information and web-based technologies to assist indigenous and local communities in their use and to facilitate the establishment of communication networks; (b) Monitor the use of the Convention website and in particular, the traditional knowledge information portal, and to consult with indigenous and local communities and their organizations, that are participating in the work of the Convention, such as the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, to identify any gaps or shortcomings and to report to the fifth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions; (c) Launch, subject to available resources, pilot projects in developing countries, in particular the least developed and small island developing States among them, and countries with economies in transition, relating to enhancing the role of the national clearing-house mechanism in providing information to indigenous and local communities; (d) Provide, in a timely fashion, documentation for meetings under the Convention in the six United Nations languages to the national focal points, in order to facilitate their use in the process of consultations with, between and within indigenous and local communities; 7. Invites Parties, Governments and relevant funding institutions and mechanisms to provide financial support to developing country Parties, in particular the least developed and small island developing States among them, and countries with economies in transition where appropriate, to support national projects for the translation of documentation for meetings of the Convention on Biological Diversity into local languages. DRAFT CRITERIA FOR THE OPERATION OF THE VOLUNTARY FUNDING MECHANISM A. Administrative context, structure and processes of the fund The following administrative context, structure and processes are based on precedents adapted to the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity and are consistent with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations. (a) Title of trust fund The title of the trust fund is the Voluntary Trust Fund to Facilitate the Participation of Indigenous and Local Communities in the Work of the Convention on Biological Diversity. (b) Fund management The Trust Fund will be administered by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as Trustee with a 13 per cent charge for administrative costs and expenditures, and shall operate in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations . (c) Title of programme manager The Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity is the programme manager of the Fund. (d) Advisory Selection Committee In the selection of beneficiaries in accordance with the criteria for selection provided in section B below, the Executive Secretary will consult, though electronic means and long-distance communication, with an Advisory Selection Committee consisting of seven representatives of indigenous and local communities nominated by indigenous and local communities from the seven geo-cultural regions applied under the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, as well as with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties. (e) Legislative mandate The legislative mandate derives from paragraph 10 of decision VII/16 G, on participatory mechanisms for indigenous and local communities adopted at the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties. (f) Possible donor(s) Voluntary contributions are anticipated from various Parties and Governments, financial institutions and foundations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and private entities. (g) Fund-raising and sources of funding The Executive Secretary may undertake appropriate activities and initiatives to encourage contributions, as required. (h) Focus/purpose of the Fund The primary focus of the Fund is to facilitate the participation of indigenous and local communities, in meetings under the Convention, including meetings of the indigenous and local community advisory group/steering committee to the programme of work of Article 8(j) and Related Provisions, (hereafter referred to as the “Advisory Group”) established by decision VI/10, annex I, paragraph 28 and VII/16 E, paragraph 4 (d), and relevant meetings of ad hoc technical expert groups, and in particular but not exclusively those that are related to the objectives of Article 8(j) and Related Provisions. (i) Relationship to other approved or proposed trust funds In supporting participants from indigenous and local communities, in the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Fund remains the only United Nations fund specifically for indigenous and local community participation in meetings related to the Convention. (j) Collaboration with other Trust Funds The Secretariat will remain in contact with other relevant funds to ensure complementarity, to achieve gender, age and geographic equity and to avoid overlap or duplication regarding funding arrangements and to ascertain that the level of expertise and qualifications of individual applicants is ensured and by doing so that funding is effectively allocated and used. B. Proposed recommendations for selection criteria for beneficiaries of the fund The following selection criteria for beneficiaries of the Fund are applied, in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, to ensure an objective and transparent selection process: (i) Main criteria (a) Special priority is given to participants from indigenous and local communities from developing countries and countries with economies in transition and small island developing States but not excluding applicants from indigenous and local communities in developed countries. (b) Gender balance should be applied, recognizing the special role of indigenous and local community women (in knowledge, innovations and practices) from indigenous and local communities. (c) Broad geographical representation and geographic, demographic and ethnic balance should be applied according to the seven geo-cultural regions applied under the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, while recognizing that issues under discussion at specific meetings may require the representation of particular indigenous and local communities. (ii) Other criteria (a) Age balance should be applied recognizing the important role of Elders, in the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities and the role of youth. (b) The Secretariat will give priority, as appropriate, to applicants living in their own community and territory and/or country (vis-à-vis applicants living abroad). (iii) Requirements (a) The only beneficiaries of assistance from the Fund shall be participants from indigenous and local communities and their organizations: (i) Who are so considered by the Executive Secretary in consultation with the Advisory Selection Committee and the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, and in accordance with established practice under the Convention, or through official accreditation under other bodies; (ii) Who would not, in the opinion of the Executive Secretary in consultation with the Advisory Committee, be able to attend the meetings without such assistance provided; (b) Travel costs (economy air ticket and daily subsistence allowance, not including health, accident or travel insurance – these costs should be met by the individual and/or the organization being represented) approved by the Secretariat are given on an individual basis. An organization or beneficiary cannot request that a beneficiary be replaced by another one, except under exceptional circumstances, time permitting and upon approval by the Secretariat. Nominating bodies are strongly encouraged to ascertain the availability of individuals before they are nominated and to nominate a number of candidates in priority order taking into account geographic, age and gender equity; (c) The participants nominated should be those nominated by the indigenous or local communities and the organizations applying for financial assistance should be indigenous or local community organizations. Indigenous and local community individuals from non-governmental organizations may also be considered where necessary and appropriate. The Secretariat will also consider indigenous and local community individuals who have the authority to speak on behalf of their communities as political representatives; (d) The Secretariat will only consider applications, which provide a letter of recommendation signed by an executive of their organization or by indigenous and local community representatives. The Secretariat will not take into account a letter of recommendations signed by the applicant herself/himself; (e) For participants from indigenous and local communities from developing countries, including small island developing States, as well as countries with economies in transition, participating on the official delegations of Parties, the Secretariat will only consider applications which provide a letter of recommendation from the organization or community being represented and confirmation from their government that the participant will be included on their official delegation; (f) The Secretariat only considers a maximum of two (2) applicants per organization or community and organizations or communities submitting two names are requested to consider gender balance (and where possible, to submit both a male and a female applicant); (g) Applicants must submit application forms and recommendation letters in one of the six official languages of the United Nations (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese or Arabic). Applications in other languages will not be considered by the Secretariat; (h) Applicants must indicate their role and/or responsibilities in their organization or community; (i) The Secretariat's selection of an applicant to attend a specific meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity does not exclude another recommendation to attend other relevant meetings and vice versa. The criteria for selection are reflected in the application forms, which are available on the webpage of the Secretariat at http://www.biodiv.org/default.shtml . The Secretariat will advise of meetings through official communications, where possible, five months in advance to facilitate early applications. Applications must be received by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity within 45 days of the official communication by the Secretariat of the call for applications. An application form is provided in the appendix hereto. E. Development of elements of sui generis systems for the protection of the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities Recalling decision VII/16 H, in particular paragraphs 6 (a) and 6 (b), 1. Urges Parties and Governments to develop, adopt and/or recognize national and local sui generis models for the protection of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities. 2. Urges Parties and Governments to report on these initiatives to adopt local and national sui generis models and to share experiences through the clearing-house mechanism; 3. Invites Parties and Governments with transboundary distribution of some biological and genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge to consider the establishment of regional sui generis frameworks for the protection of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, as appropriate, with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities; 4. Requests the Executive Secretary to continue gathering and analysing information, in consultation with Parties, Governments, indigenous and local communities, to further developas a priority issue, the possible elements listed in the annex to decision VII/16 H for consideration by the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions at its fifth meeting, and further requests the Working Group on 8(j) to identify priority elements of sui generis systems; 5. In the spirit of mutual supportiveness and to avoid duplication of efforts, requests the Executive Secretary to inform other relevant organizations, such as those listed in decision VII/16 H, of the potential elements to be considered in the development of sui generis systems for the protection of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices; 6. Acknowledges the work being done at the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore of the World Intellectual Property Organization on the intellectual property aspects of sui generis systems for the protection of traditional knowledge against misappropriation and misuse; 7. Acknowledges the ongoing discussions in the World Trade Organization to examine, inter alia, the relationship between the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and the Convention on Biological Diversity and the protection of traditional knowledge; 8. Invites the Parties and Governments, indigenous and local communities, and non-governmental organizations to communicate to the Secretariat their views on the definitions (UNEP/CBD/WG8J/4/7, annex II), related to the present decision and requests the Executive Secretary to compile these views for consideration at the fifth meeting of the Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions; F. Elements of an ethical code of conduct to ensure respect for the cultural and intellectual heritage of indigenous and local communities relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity 1. Takes note of the draft elements of an ethical code of conduct to ensure respect for the cultural and intellectual heritage of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, as contained in the note by the Executive Secretary on the subject (UNEP/CBD/WG8J/4/8); 2. Invites Parties, Governments, indigenous and local communities, relevant international organizations and other relevant stakeholders, after having undertaken, where appropriate, consultations, to submit written comments to the Executive Secretary, on the draft elements, at least six months prior to the fifth meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions; 3. Requests the Executive Secretary to transmit the present decision to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and to seek collaboration in the development of the code; 4. Requests the Executive Secretary to compile the views and comments provided and make the compilation as well as a revised draft on elements of an ethical code of conduct, available at least three months prior to the fifth meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions for its consideration; 5. Requests the Ad Hoc Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions to further develop the draft elements of an ethical code of conduct and submit these to the Conference of the Parties at its ninth meeting for consideration and possible adoption; 6. Invites Parties, Governments, relevant international organizations and relevant stakeholders to take note of the annex to the present decision. 1. In the further development of the draft elements of an ethical code of conduct, all relevant actors are encouraged to engage positively and in a constructive manner. 2. The following list reflects a variety of views that were raised in an initial exchange of views at the fourth meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions, which are not necessarily commonly held but which may be useful in further work: (a) Consistency with the mandate of the Convention on Biological Diversity; (b) Paying due respect to the work and mandates of other international organizations, in particular of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights; (c) Developing a more logical structure of the document and of the sequence and location of paragraphs; (d) Audiences: the draft elements of the ethical code of conduct should be targeted and useful for different audiences; (e) Scope of the draft elements of the ethical code of conduct: language of the code to be reviewed; (f) Respect for national legislation; (g) Section 3 (“Ethical Principles”) of annex I to the note by the Executive Secretary on elements of an ethical code of conduct (UNEP/CBD/WG8J/4/8) offers guidance relating to the scope of the draft elements of the ethical code of conduct; (h) Incorporation of customary law and practices; (i) Research management tools for indigenous and local communities; (j) Some aspects in the document UNEP/CBD/WG8J/4/8 which appear in the draft elements are more appropriate as an explanation; (k) Relationship between different indigenous and local communities; (l) The draft elements of the ethical code may cover not only research on sacred sites, lands and waters; (m) Title of the draft elements of the ethical code may be revisited; (n) The concept “indigenous communities” may be replaced by the concept “indigenous peoples”; (o) Ethical principles: application of the draft elements of the ethical code may not be restricted to research carried out inside indigenous and/or local communities but include research on traditional knowledge carried out ex situ; (p) Take into account the integrity of indigenous peoples’ collective rights; (q) The scope of the draft elements of the ethical code may include both interaction with indigenous and local communities as well as research, access to, use, exchange, and management of information concerning traditional knowledge, innovations and practices for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; (r) The draft elements of the ethical code of conduct may take into account the need for researchers to return the results of their research to indigenous and local communities and to seek the prior informed consent of the communities before applying for intellectual property rights; (s) The draft elements of the ethical code of conduct may include the elements of ethical principles of indigenous peoples. G. Indicators for assessing progress towards the 2010 biodiversity target: status of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices 1. Considers that a more structured technical process is required to guide further work in the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions on further development of a limited number of meaningful and practical indicators for assessing the status of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, for assessing progress towards the 2010 biodiversity target; 2. Invites Parties, Governments and relevant organizations, in consultation with indigenous and local communities, to provide to the Executive Secretary information on activities pertaining to the development and application of indicators for assessing the status of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, including on the testing of prototypes and pilot projects, through existing reporting mechanisms; 3. Requests the Executive Secretary to compile this information and make it available through the clearing-house mechanism and, as appropriate, to the technical process referred to in paragraph 1 above; 4. Invites the Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions, to further elaborate a limited number of meaningful and practical indicators for assessing progress in the implementation of the Strategic Plan of the Convention and the 2010 biodiversity target, before the 5 th meeting of the Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions: 5. Welcomes the initiative of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) Working Group on Indicators to organize an international expert seminar on Indicators relevant for indigenous and local communities and the Convention on Biological Diversity, with the aim of supporting the work of the Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions, the Strategic Plan of the Convention, the 2010 target, and the Millennium Development Goals; 6. Invites Parties, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, IUCN, the 2010 Biodiversity Indicator Partnership and organizations with relevant experience and data-sets relevant to this work, donors, the academe and research institutions and other interested bodies to support and collaborate with the Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions and the IIFB Indicators Initiative with the above mentioned technical process; H. Recommendations of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 1. Welcomes the close cooperation between the Convention process and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on matters pertaining to indigenous and local communities and their knowledge, innovations and practices relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity as an important initiative to avoid duplication of work and maximize synergy; 2. Notes with appreciation the Workshop on Cultural, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments based on the Akwé: Kon Voluntary Guidelines and aimed at the further strengthening of the understanding of the link between environment and cultural diversity, which was held in Tokyo, Japan, from 30 May to 2 June 2005, in collaboration with other United Nations agencies and relevant international organizations, with the participation of representatives of indigenous and local communities; 3. Requests the Executive Secretary to transmit the report of the Workshop to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; 4. Takes note of the request by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions to advance its mandate to develop mechanisms for effective sui generis systems of protection based on customary laws of indigenous peoples.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4948
__label__wiki	0.933314	0.933314	Everything We Know So Far About Callen's Past We know so much about Callen's past, but do we really know anything at all? He failed his top-level clearance test. Even though he's a tough-as-nails agent, it was revealed on "Citadel" (Season 7, Episode 2) that Callen actually previously failed his HL7, which is a behavioral test for top-secret clearance. Watch NCIS: Los Angeles on Sundays at 8/7c on CBS and CBS All Access. He hated foster homes. You think your family can be tough sometimes? Callen spent time in 37 foster homes. He keeps his apartment sparse. We've gotten a few glimpses of Callen's home over the years, but on "Cancel Christmas" (Season 7, Episode 11) it was confirmed that he still hasn't done much to dress up the place. Sam even commented on the lack of festive decorations. He speaks a ton of languages. Callen has been known to speak Polish, Russian, German, Italian, French, Arabic, Romanian, and Czech. Also, according to Hetty, his Chechen is "passable." Hetty stepped in the save Callen when he was a teen. Hetty knew much more about Callen's past than he did when the two met oh-so-long ago. Callen had just spent three weeks in juvenile detention before escaping, robbing a storage locker, stealing a car, and then crashing it. That's when Hetty decided to get involved. He's been shot. Like, a lot. Callen has five bullet scars on his back. His mom served her new country. Callen’s mother, Clara, was born in Romania, but fled for the United States as a refugee before becoming a CIA agent. Clara eventually returned to Romania, while working for the CIA, and posed as a student (Hetty acted as her CIA handler). She spent six years abroad before she was murdered at the hands of the Comescu family. He was given a toy soldier before his mother was killed. For some reason, the people who were behind the killing of Callen's mother gave him a toy soldier to distract him while the assassin completed the job. He was in the CIA. Like his mom, Callen worked for The Company. His relatives were part of a bloody feud. The Comescus are a Romanian crime family that had an ongoing feud with the Callens since World War II. That's when Callen's grandfather hunted them down for war crimes. His sister met a terrible fate. Callen's sister, Amy, was supposedly killed when she fell into the L.A. River. Callen has magical tendencies. On a happier note, Callen is no stranger to magic. In Season 1, he went undercover as an illusionist and even owned a rabbit—which he claimed came with the hat that he bought. He has a strong relationship with Gibbs. Callen and Gibbs served together at least twice, and Callen is one of the few people Gibbs permits to call him "Jethro." He's been married. Kinda. While working undercover, Callen was once married to a CIA double agent named Tracy Rosetti. He looks good in a tux. Callen tried to wear his undercover tuxedo out for drinks, but Hetty quickly put a stop to it. He's spent many years trying to find out who his father is. Callen's mysterious past includes a mysterious father, who Callen discovered was a possible KGB Major. Though his dad was sent to a labor camp in Siberia, there was no record of his death. Callen's father assumed the name Konstantin Chernoff. Hetty came to Callen with information she found in the Kremlin's system after Callen had asked Eric to dig into it for him. There was man whom Arkady dealt with in Russia until 1988 named Konstantin Chernoff. There are no records of that man before 1974, the year Nikita Reznikov was sent to the Gulag. Hetty and Callen deduced that Callen’s father escaped, then dropped the name Reznikov and assumed the name Chernoff. Chernoff lived in Ruza, about an hour west of Moscow. There's a tombstone with the name Konstantin Chernoff in Ruza. Hetty told Callen that Konstantin Chernoff died in 2008 and is buried in the town cemetery in Ruza. Uncirculated coins like this one had a very special use to Callen's father. Callen found a rare coin with Lenin's face on it among Arkady's belongings that matched coins Callen has in a box of artifacts about his past. Hetty identified the coin as very rare because it was minted but never circulated. She mused that—allegedly—Lenin was critical of Russia in his private life. She also told Callen that apparently the coin meant something to his father. Arkady later revealed that he and Callen's father used the coins to communicate about whom they could trust. Arkady Kolcheck knows more about Callen's past than he's saying. Arkady Kolcheck may be Callen's only chance of finding out who his father was and where he came from, according to Hetty. Callen's father was a loyal espresso drinker. While in Russia, Callen learned that his father was a loyal customer of a cafe there, which had been serving the same espresso from the same machine dating back 100 years. The Russian cafe might have a photo of Callen's father on the wall. Arkady told Callen that this photo was taken eight years after his father was supposedly taken to the Gulag—but is that Callen's father in the photo? If Callen's father is buried in Ruza, who is this guy? At the end of the Season 6 finale, we saw a man sitting in the cafe that the NCIS team was just in. The man was spinning a coin like the one that Callen and Arkady had while sipping a cup of espresso. Could this man be Callen's father? Callen's father helped a man named Hans Schreiber. One of the refugees Callen's father helped escape Russia was Hans Schreiber, a man who kept an eye on Callen for years in return for his freedom. Schreiber was killed by Vasile Comescu before Callen could get any more information from him. The G stands for Grisha. When Callen was in Russia to break Arkady out of prison on "Matryoshka, Part 2" (Season 7, Episode 16), he met a local man named Garrison—who we recognize as the man from the cafe in Season 6. During their encounter, Garrison says that Callen's mother wanted him to know where he comes from. We knew that the name "Callen" is from his mother's side of the family, but the G has long been a mystery. Garrison revealed that it's short for Grisha, which comes from his longer name: Grisha Aleksandrovich Nikolaev. "Do you know who I am?" Garrison and Callen shared a poignant moment, with Callen indicating that he knew who the man was—and that he wanted to know more. Garrison promised to tell Callen everything at a later time, but they had to split up as the NCIS team fled the country. His family is bigger than he realized. Callen's family history is an ever changing, ever evolving tapestry, and in "Glasnost" (Episode 9, Season 8) the special agent learned from his father, Garrison, that he has a half-sister named Alex (played by India de Beaufort) and a young nephew.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4949
__label__wiki	0.93801	0.93801	Join CBSNews.com Politics & Power CTM Saturday Morning Rounds CTM Cartoons Eye Opener Eye on Money By Amanda Cochran CBS News June 27, 2013, 11:31 AM Aaron Hernandez case: Understanding the weight of circumstantial evidence (CBS News) NFL star Aaron Hernandez's lawyer says the case being built against him is circumstantial. But could circumstantial evidence be enough to try and convict him? Hernandez is accused of first-degree murder in the killing of Odin Lloyd on June 17. Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee. Prosecutors say Hernandez is seen on video carrying a gun minutes after the shooting. The New England Patriots tight end was arrested on Wednesday and then, shortly after, fired by his team. Aaron Hernandez due back in court for murder case Aaron Hernandez charged with murder in Mass. death CBS News legal analyst Jack Ford says circumstantial evidence is often perceived as a negative aspect of a case, but, in fact, circumstantial cases can hold water - and often do - in court. He said, "A lot of people tend to think there's something wrong with circumstantial evidence. How many times have you seen a lawyer on the courthouse steps - I probably did it myself when I tried cases - saying, 'No, no, no. This is just a circumstantial evidence case.' The reality is jurors are told by judges a circumstantial case is perfectly fine, indeed, in some cases, can be even more persuasive than direct evidence." Turning to Hernandez's promising career in football, "CBS This Morning" co-host Norah O'Donnell remarked, "He's 23 years old. He just signed a $40 million extension with the Patriots. He's great football player, and yet he, according to the police, is seen on surveillance video from his own home carrying a gun in and out of the house." On "CBS This Morning," CBS News special correspondent James Brown also discussed the Hernandez case and its impact on the NFL. Watch his full interview below. Prosecutors: Hernandez seen holding gun in surveillance video NFL tight-end Aaron Hernandez New England Patriots tight end, Aaron Hernandez, was arrested June 26, 2013 and charged with murder in the shooting death of semi-pro football pl... Ford replied that defense attorneys have a saying: "You can't protect against random acts of stupidity on the part of your clients." He continued, "We always tend to take our heroes, our celebrities, our professional athletes, and we put them up on pedestals, and we don't think that they have the same human frailties that everyone else has. Just because you're a good football player- and again, we don't want to prejudge him because this is very early in the case, but you certainly can look at it and say, 'Why would you let yourself get involved in a situation like this given where your life is heading?'" In terms of charges Hernandez faces, even if he didn't pull the trigger he could still be found guilty of murder in the first degree. "We heard the prosecutors say he orchestrated the killing," said Ford. "That suggests either they don't know who pulled the trigger or they think someone other than he did. The reality is you can still be guilty of murder if you're the one who ordered it done, so you don't have to be just the triggerman to be the one who can be found guilty of murder one if they can indeed prove that you set this up, you orchestrated it, and you were the moving force behind it. You could still be found guilty of murder one." A Twitter List by CBS This Morning Watch CBS News anytime, anywhere with the our 24/7 digital news network. Stream CBSN live or on demand for FREE on your TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone. 2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest winners Inside Apollo 11 Eerie underwater photos of USS Hornet wreckage CBS Bios CBSi Careers CBS News Radio CBS Local Copyright © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4950
__label__wiki	0.570574	0.570574	Anton McKenzie From the University of Massachusetts, Anton McKenzie signed with Saskatchewan Roughriders as a free agent in 2006. McKenzie spent his first two seasons in green and white (2006 and 2007) playing mainly on special t eams. McKenzie became a regular linbacker in 2009, recording 68 defensive tackles in 14 games. McKenzie was named to both the West and CFL All-Stars. BC knew a good thing when they saw one playing for the Riders and signed McKenzie as a free agent for 2009. McKenzie won a second West All-Star with 85 defensive tacklesand 14 more on special teams. GP, Tackles,Knockdowns and Sacks 2006 SASK 7 8 10 18 0 0 1 0 2007 SASK 9 12 7 19 0 0 1 0 2008 SASK 14 68 7 75 6 13 1 1 2009 BC 18 85 14 99 4 5 4 6 2010 BC 16 59 6 65 3 3 2 1 2011 BC 18 79 5 84 11 21 2 2 Int+FumReturns 2006 SASK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2009 BC 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 10 0 10 2	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4954
__label__cc	0.569499	0.430501	Oscars 2019: When, where, how to watch the Academy Awards Whether you're rooting for "Black Panther" or "BlackKklansman" or something in between, the 91st Academy Awards go down this Sunday in Los Angeles. Here's everything you need to know about watching the 2019 Oscars, with and without cable. When: Sunday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. EST Where: Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles Test your Oscars knowledge with this quiz How to watch: ABC will air the show on TV and on its online streaming service if you log in with your cable or satellite provider. If you don't have cable or a login, try Hulu with Live TV (you can get a free seven-day trial) or run out to purchase an antenna to get ABC on your TV. How to watch all the Best Picture nominees Who's hosting: Nobody. Yeah, really. It's the first time in 30 years the show has gone on without a host. Who's nominated: Well, a bunch of people. "Green Book" is a favorite for Best Picture, despite controversy surrounding the film. Rami Malek is a favorite for the Best Actor award for his role in "Bohemian Rhapsody," and Glenn Close is the favorite for Best Actress for her role in "The Wife," despite the immense commercial appeal of Lady Gaga's role in "A Star is Born." However, Lady Gaga and her costar Bradley Cooper will likely take home the award for Best Song for "Shallow." Listen to all the Best Song nominees	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4957
__label__wiki	0.951161	0.951161	Car Accident Aid News » Car Accidents If you are injured as a driver, a passenger or a pedestrian in a car accident, claiming compensation for car accidents enables you to recover compensation for the pain and suffering you have experienced, the deterioration in your quality of life and any costs or loss of income you may have incurred as a direct result of your accident – or any costs or loss of income you may incur in the future. Although the most common type of injury claim in Ireland, no two injury claims for car accidents are the same. The impact that two similar injuries have of two individuals may be completely different, and it is always in your best interests to consult an experienced personal injury solicitor to ensure that you receive your full entitlement to car accidents compensation. If you would like further information about claiming compensation for car accidents, you are invited to call our Solicitors Advisory Panel on the free phone number above, and discuss the circumstances of your accident with a solicitor. The solicitor will be able to answer any questions you may have and guide you through the process of claiming injury compensation for car accidents in Ireland. Psychiatric Nurse Awarded €108k in Relation to Fall & Car Crash Injuries Posted: October 21st, 2019 A former psychiatric nurse who suffered injuries in a car crash in 2015 and then slipped in a supermarket a matter of few months later has been awarded more than €100,000 in personal injury compensation at the High Court yesterday. Ms Justice Miriam O’Regan estimated personal injury compensation at €20,000 in relation to the road traffic incident. He also awarded another €88,000 personal injury compensation in relation to the fall. The sum of personal injury compensation totalled in excess of €108,000 to Mary Barry of Westcliffe, Ballincollig, Co Cork, at the High Court sitting in Cork. In calculating the total amount of compensation to be awarded, Ms Justice O’Regan reviewed several aspects of the plaintiff’s legal claims. Her legal team, Seán Lynch and John O’Mahony, asked n opportunity to clarify all issues with John Lucey, representing the defence. Following this, it was agreed that €20,000 was the final figure plus costs in relation to the traffic incident on November 25, 2015, at the Kilumney roundabout near Ballincollig. More than €88,000 plus legal costs was awarded in relation to her accident and fall at Wilton Shopping Centre on March 2, 2016, thought to have been caused by yoghurt/ice cream on the floor that had not been cleaned up. In relation to the plaintiff’s claim for post-traumatic stress arising from the car accident, where it had been alleged she was not able to get out of her car for some time after the incident, the judge did not make any compensation award. Ms Justice O’Regan said yesterday in her judgment said: “Of total significance in my view is that she has indicated she could not get out of the car but evidence was given that she had gotten out of the car on two occasions prior to the arrival of gardaí. That was completely contrary to the evidence she has given.” Two Young Girls Awarded €17,000 Road Traffic Injury Compensation Two young girls, sisters, have been awarded €17,000 in road traffic passenger accident damages in relation to an accident during which their father crashed the car that they were travelling in into a wall. Even though both of the young sisters were both correctly wearing seatbelts, they were both thrown backwards and forwards around the car. The road traffic accident happened during April, 2016. Letterkenny-based GP Dr James McDaid treated both of the young girls following the incident and he advised the court that they were suffering from the classic symptoms associated with whiplash injuries. Legal counsel for the two young sisters Barrister Gareth McGrory told Letterkenny Circuit Court that the children were only 5- and 4-years-of-age at the time that the accident took place. Medics recorded that both of the sisters we suffering with chest pain and muscle injury. They were further treated and then diagnosed when they were taken to Letterkenny University hospital following the road traffic accident. As is normal a compensation action for a road traffic accident will take into account all pain and suffering sustained, psychological trauma, loss of earning, future loss of earnings and damage to property. In relation to this the Judge was told that both girls have made a full recovery in relation to all of the injuries that they suffered in the accident. Justice Judge John Aylmer informed the court that he was happy to recommend the offer of €17,000 road traffic injury compensation for the two young girls involved in the accident. Taxi Driver Awarded €75k Car Accident Compensation after Two Serious Collisions 57-year-old Taxi Driver Dolores McMahon has been awarded almost €75,000 road traffic accident compensation after having two different taxis written off in separate accidents At the Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke praised Ms McMahon for her courage after she survived two accidents in which she had twice been injured and in both collisions had seen her taxi damaged beyond repair. He awarded her the compensation in relation to personal injury, loss of earnings and compensation for two written off taxis Legal Counsel for Ms McMahon, Caitriona O’Reilly, informed the Circuit Civil Court that her client had suffered neck and shoulder injuries in the initial accident that took place on December 14 2014 and then experienced a lower back injury in the subsequent collision which took place on July 14 2016. She added that, in both road traffic incidents the driver of the other vehicle had ‘cut across’ the path of Ms McMahon’s taxi and liability had been conceded in both claims. She had exacerbated the neck and shoulder injuries she had suffered in the first crash just over 18 months earlier. At this point in time the court was being asked to assess damages. Ms McMahon took the taxi accident compensation action against Mr Arthur Oliver Ryan, Rathbeale Road, Swords, and Martin Mann, of Hampton Street, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, following the accidents at Old Airport Road, Santry, and Balheary Road, Swords. Commenting on the compensation action, Judge Groarke said he noted that following periods of recovery after each of the accidents Ms McMahon went on get on with her taxi driving despite having been nervous about it. She no longers drives on the 14th of any month as she considers it her ‘unlucky’ day. He awarded Ms McMahon a total of €46,468 compensation in relation to personal injuries, loss of earnings car replacement and special damages arising out of the first accident and a total of €28,444 combined damages in relation to the second collision, a total of €74,912. Judge Groarke said: “This is a lady who was very genuinely and very badly affected psychologically and has suffered quite extensive physical injuries.” €60k Damages Awarded to Girl (31) for Read End Collision Injuries Yesterday, Karen Brown (31) settled a €60,000 damages claim against a motorist from Dun Laoghaire, in relation a rear end collision incident that occurred almost two years ago. Ms Brown was a passenger, in car owned by her partner Pete Taylor, on March 5 2017 when a car belonging to Enda Curran car collided with it at Upper Glenageary Road, Co Dublin. Ms Brown’s legal representative, Barrister Paul Gallagher, informed Circuit Court President Justice Raymond Groarke that a settlement had been reached in her (Ms Brown’s) car accident compensation claim following talks with the Mr Curran’s legal representatives and could be struck out with an order for her costs. The Court was not advised if a similar whiplash compensation injury claim had been lodged on behalf of Mr Taylor’s, who was driving Ms Brown at the time of the accident. Specific details of the settlement were not made public. Ms Brown, a marketing and sales consultant, was accompanied by her partner throughout settlement discussions outside Circuit Civil Court No 28. She, Ms Brown claimed in her legal action that Enda Curran, of Highthorn Park, Dunlaoghaire, had, due to negligence, breach of duty and while allegedly driving without due care and attention, crashed into the back of Mr Taylor’s vehicle in which she was a passenger. She claimed in her legal action that she had sustained whiplash injuries to her neck, shoulders and back and that pain had not lessened with the aid of painkillers. Due to this she went to Dr Peter Joyce on May 25 at Beechlawn Medical Centre. Here she was diagnosed as having some tenderness to her neck and upper back. Dr Joyce had prescribed her a course of anti-inflammatory medication. However, but by early June she had reported that the pain in her neck was getting worse and that she was experiencing a persistent dull ache with sharp headaches. Brown stated in her car crash legal action that she had been unable to exercise due to the pain, something that she had done regularly before the accident. She had undergone an MRI of her cervical spine and had been advised she should be seen by specialists. At the request of Mr Gallagher, Judge Groarke, struck out the proceedings with an order for Ms Brown’s legal costs. Monkstown Crash Crash Results in €60k Compensation for Librarian Posted: January 17th, 2019 A road traffic accident compensation settlement of €60,000 has been agreed at the Circuit Civil Court between a 64-year-old librarian and the former Bank of Ireland Governor Laurence Crowley following the defendant accepting liability for a car crash that took place in August 2015. Mr Richard Barrett, a librarian who lives at the Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin, took the legal action against Mr Crowley and the registered owners of the car O’Flaherty Holdings Limited in relation to injuries he suffered in the car crash that occurred at Monkstown Crescent, Dublin. Mr Crowley was not in the Circuit Civil Court for the legal proceedings which was scheduled to hear Mr Barrett’s testimony regarding his injuries following the incident and the medical reports detailing the same. Mr Barratt advised Justice Groarke that he had suffered from shock and trauma following the road traffic accident. Mr Barrett had a previous history of anxiety disorder, and the suffering additional panic attacks in the time period after the accident. He was brought to the emergency department of St Vincent’s University Hospital and was dealt with by Dr Nigel Salter, consultant in emergency medicine. Mr Barrett told Justice Groarke that he had not suffered any bone or internal injuries as a result of the crash in Monkstown. However, he had been prescribed anti-inflammatory and pain killing medication to remedy injuries on his chest and abdomen. Mr Barrett alleged that Mr Crowley had been driving the Mercedes 300 car in a negligent fashion when the crash took place. He told the Judge that on 29th August 2015 he was a front seat passenger in a vehicle when a Mercedes coming out from a minor road collided with them. He informed the Circuit Civil Court that he felt the Mercedes in question was being driven at an excessive speed and that the driver had not shown an acceptable level of awareness for other road users regarding his surrounds. Legal representatives for Mr Barratt Barrister Ivan Daly appearing with HJ Ward Solicitors told Judge Justice Raymond Groarke that there had been an admission of liability by the defendants. Due to this, and following an assessment of damages, the case had been settled and could be struck out with an order for costs. Chinese Woman Knocked Down by Car in Dublin Awarded €256,000 PTSD Compensation Posted: July 18th, 2018 Cheng Zhang, a Chinese accountancy student based in Dublin, has been awarded more than €250,000 in personal injury compensation damages after a High Court judge ruled that she had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after an accident where she was struck by a car in Dublin in 2011. The total amount of compensation awarded to the 36-year-old girl by Mr Justice Anthony Barr was €465,526. However this was reduced due to contributory negligence. The contributory negligence was assessed at 45pc as she had decided to cross the junction when the pedestrian light was still red. The judge said that after the car crash Ms Zhang became very mentally unhealthy and could no longer complete her work duties. Her job was her only source of money and, due to this, she fell into rent arrears, became homeless and relied on local authority emergency accommodation. The judge said that, taking the level of intelligence, ambition and high level functioning which Ms Zhang displayed prior to the accident, he was happy to believe that she would have gone on to qualify as a certified accountant and would be in full employment if it was not for the incident. Ms Zhang, from of the Liaoning province of China, arrived in Ireland in 2003 to study English. When the accident occurred she was studying accountancy. She had taken the car accident compensation action against the driver of the car Stephen Farrell due to the accident that occurred on April 17 2011. She had been crossing at the junction of Merrion Row and Merrion Street Upper when she was hit by Mr Farrell’s car and thrown into the air. The Court was told that she suffered soft tissue injury to her knees and pelvis and a blow to the head. The result of this was that she was unable to move or communicate with anyone for about an hour after the accident took place. The Court was also advised that Ms Zhang went on to experience severe and constant mental illness in the form of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as the condition known as fibromyalgia. Mr Farrell Legal Counsel told the Court that Ms Zhang had listed a number of physical complaints for which no organic basis could be proven and that she now experiences an anxiety disorder. Mr Justice Barr said that he believed the evidence of Ms Zhang’s psychiatrist that she suffered serious mental health issues due to the road traffic accident and had undergone a catastrophic change to her mental stability. He said that he also accepted the evidence of the psychiatrist that stated Ms Zhang’s symptoms are chronic and enduring despite the best efforts at treatment so far. Former Bin Man Awarded €3.5m Compensation after Fall from Disposal Lorry Posted: June 15th, 2018 Benjamin Heffernan, a former bin man who experienced a severe brain injury after he was thrown from a waste disposal truck to the roadhas settled his work injury compensation action for €3.5m. Mr Heffernan fell through the side door of the van cracking his skull in the fall and being inflicted with a brain injury, his solicitor Liam Reidy SC advised the High Court. He was working with a van that was owned by Killarney Waste Disposal when he was bringing compost bins to households in the Durrus area of Bantry, Co Cork at the time of the accident occurring when the incident occurred in January 2015. When he landed on the road after being thrown from the bin lorry, Mr Heffernan lost consciousness and was rushed by ambulance to nearby Dunmanaway. From there he was airlifted to Cork University Hospital where he underwent an emergency craniotomy. After this he was later brought to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dublin. He remained in the hospital until August 2015. Mr Heffernan, now aged 50, will no long be able to work though he has regained some mobility according to his legal representatives. In approving the work injury car accident compensation settlement Mr Justice Kevin Cross said he felt it was a good one and he wished Mr Heffernan and his family all the best. Solicitor Amy Connolly of Cantillons Solicitors, speaking outside the court, said Mr Heffernan had remained in hospital for 33 weeks following the accident having experienced life changing injuries. She said: “This settlement will provide for the ongoing care of Mr Heffernan, but no money can ever truly compensate him for the effect his injuries have had on his day to day life”. Counsel for the waste disposal company argued that Mr Heffernan had allegedly told the driver to proceed before he got in the back of the van. Additionally it was claimed he (Mr Heffernan) did not ensure the van was decommissioned when he allegedly was aware of a defect in the latch of the van door. Mr Heffernan denied these claims. Family of Truck Accident Victim to Receive €10,000 in Car Accident Compensation A truck driver has been ordered by Court to pay €2,000 a year for five years, to a total of €10,000 to the parents of the victim who died when his (the truck driver) vehicle suddenly veered off the M8 Dublin-Cork motorway and crashed into a car that had pulled over on the hard shoulder. The young mother travelling in the back of the car was killed in the road traffic collision. She had been on her way to Temple Street Hospital in Dublin to visit her sick new born baby. The truck accident compensation case, being heard in Tipperary Circuit Criminal Court, was told that the new mother, Nicola Kenny (26) from Thurles, was killed instantly in the crash on September 5 on 2016. This was just a day after the birth of her only child Lily Rose. At the tme of the accident she was being driven to Temple Street Hospital by her aunt, with her mother also, to visit her new born baby. They stopped on the M8 hard shoulder to take a call from the hospital to say the new baby was now doing fine. While imposing a suspended 18-month prison sentence, Judge Tom Teehan said the evidence suggested it was most likely the truck driver briefly fell asleep at the wheel rather than being distracted by a bout sneezing as was claimed. He went on to say: “He is somebody who is going to have to live for the rest of his days with the knowledge that he has caused the death of another human being and caused life changing effects to an entire family.” Lily Rose has been born in Clonmel Hospital on September 4. She became ill and was hurried to Temple Street in Dublin. Ms Kenny had just been collected by her mother and aunt who were taking her to visit the baby in Dublin. Judge Teehan was made aware that the defendant indicated to Gardaí he take a guilty plea at a very early stage and co-operated in full with the investigation. The court was told that he is deeply remorseful and was now suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He was also disqualified from driving for five years. Infant Awarded €1,500 Grief Compensation for Death of Sister Before He Was Conceived Posted: April 26th, 2018 A 23-months-old infant, who had not been conceived when his older sister Vanessa passed away in a hit-and-run incident in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on April 6, 2015, was awarded €1,500 personal injury compensation last Tuesday. The child in question, Marcel Siatka, was born on May 24, 2016 one year and 47 days after his sister died. Legal representative for the Siatka family, Barrister Conor Kearney told Circuit Civil Court Judge Terence O’Sullivan that the Injuries Board had assessed damages of €42,777 to be divided between between Vanessa’s family and to pay for the cost of her funeral. The Injuries Board had not, according to Mr Kearney, taken compensation for Marcel into account in its final assessment. Judge O’Sullivan was told that, as per the Civil Liability Act, the claim that Mr Siatka had taken was on behalf of members of his family, including Marcel. Mr Siatka, who lives at Brandon Square, Waterville, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, said Vanessa had a brother born more than a year after her death, who was not considered in the award settlement. Mr Kearney said that the fact that the Circuit Court had to approve the assessment and the parents had stated that they would be happy with the approved amount being shared with Marcel. Judge O’Sullivan said it was not a happy duty to split money between families but he was of the opinion that it was proper to mark the fact that Marcel would, no doubt, inquire about his sister in future and would encounter some grief regarding her death. He directed that the €6,000 set aside for the three grandparents should be reduced to €1,500 each so Marcel could also receive €1,500 and he directed that Marcel’s money be paid into court. €85,000 Road Accident Compensation for Three Brothers Injured in SUV Accident Posted: March 23rd, 2018 three young brothers from Dublin have been awarded €85,000 Car Accident Compensation due to injuries experienced when a a wheel came loose from an SUV on a motorway. Barrister John Nolan told Circuit Court President Raymond Groarke in the Circuit Civil Court that Mr Simon Sweeney was driving on the M9 Motorway in Co Kilkenny with his family when the accident occurred. The three Sweeney brothers,- James aged ll, Stephen aged 15 and Jason aged 17 – took the legal action against Pat White Cars based at Longmile Road, Dublin; Kia Motors (UK), Calmount Park, Dublin and their father Simon Sweeney with an address at Kilcarrig Close, Fettercairn, Tallaght, Dublin 24, who was driving the vehicle when the accident took place. The money was awarded was as follows: James was awarded €25,000 compensation; Jason was awarded €35,000 compensation and brother Stephen was awarded €25,000 compensation from Pat White Cars and Kia Motors UK. Both of these businesses had made car accident compensation settlement offers to the brothers. O’Brien Ronayne Solicitors representing Mr Nolan, advised the court that when the rear driver’s side wheel fell off the KIA SUV the car lost control and crashed into the centre barrier, injuring all of the people that were in the vehicle at the time. The Court was told that compensations claims relating to adults travelling in the vehicle had previously been handled in the High Court. Mr Nolan told the Court that the accident had occurred on 20th March 2011, a little more than one year after Michelle Sweeney had purchased the 2006 vehicle at Pat White Cars. He said the family had first being taken to Kilkenny Hospital but later had been treated at Tallaght Hospital. Stephen, who uses a wheel chair, had been tied secrurely into the back seats of the vehicle and firemen had to cut him out of the seat. The three brothers had not sustained serious physical injuries in the car crash but had suffered from post-accident trauma. Uninsured Driver Claims handled by MIBI Increased by 10% Since 2016 A 10% rise in the number of accident claims involving uninsured or untraceable drivers grew by almost 10 per cent since 2016. Spokespeople for the insurance industry sector sources have revealed that say the increasing costs of rising costs of premiums are possible a contributing factor to the steep increase in claims registered by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). Set by in 1955, the MIBI compensates the victims in vehicle accidents involving uninsured and unidentified vehicles. It is funded by insurance companies fund. Per annum, the MIBI distributes between €55 million and €60 million in insurance settlements with a mean cost per insurance claim of €55,364. 2,758 claims were registered by the MIBI in 2017, a relatively minor increase on the 2,802 claims submitted in 2016. On a county by county basis Co Dublin registered the most claims with 41 per cent of all compensation claims submitted to the bureau throughout 2017. It was followed closed by Cork and Limerick in second and third place. In other counties, the highest percentage increase was experienced in Leitrim with 70 per cent). Next was Roscommon, Carlow and Monaghan with 60%, 43% and 42% respectively. €28,000 Award for Dublin Woman Involved in Rear Ending Incident Noeleen Coakley (45), a sister-in-law of a well-known member of the Dublin crime scene, was described as “a woman who just seemed to attract misfortune” by judge Circuit Court President Judge Raymond Groarke – during a recent car accident compensation claim- after being advised that she had been injured in six car accidents. Judge Groarke made his remarks as he awarded €28,000 damages for car accident injuries to for injuries she suffered in a rear-ending traffic accident. Noeleen Coakley Hutch (45) is a sister in law Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch since she married his brother, Derek Hutch. The court had heard she has been injured in six car accidents. Judge Groarke told the court “She seems to have an attraction for misfortune and the moral of the story is don’t travel in a car with Ms Coakley” after being advised of her involvement in six car accidents. As liability had already conceded in the case, the hearing was an assessment of damages for car accident injuries. Despite the similarities in the accidents that Ms Coakley was involved in Judge Groarke commented that he believed her to be an honest lady, thought with an unfortunate history of accidents. He added that he ‘took exception’ to the way in which legal representatives for the defence sought to assert that Ms Coakley was “a chancer or a fraud” because of her experience of so many road accidents and the fact that she had previously been awarded roughly €60,000 road traffic accident compensation for those accidents. Judge Groarke accepted she was an innocent party in all of those claims. In relation to the accident that Judge Groarke was assessing the damages for, he was advised that Ms Coakley had been rear-ended while driving her car in Ballybough, on May 19, 2014. After the accident and had been brought by ambulance to the Mater Hospital Emergency Department, where she had been treated. Judge Groarke assessed Ms Coakley’s award of road accident compensation of at €28,000 and awarded her legal costs. Garda Work Traffic Accident Compensation for Man (46) Posted: November 20th, 2017 A Garda has been awarded €31,000 damages as a result of injuries he suffered when his patrol car was rammed in a car accident that occurred seven years ago. Following a high-speed chase involving a Mercedes car, Garda, and former Limerick hurler, Nigel Carey (46), of Croom, Co Limerick, was injured when the Garda patrol car he was sitting in was rear ended in October 2010. Barrister Kevin D’Arcy, representing Garda Carey, claimed his client had been quite a renowned hurler at the time of the crash occurring in 2010. The Garda attended his family doctor to have his neck, shoulder and lower back injuries seen to and was told that he should seek physiotherapy treatment The Garda patrol car, according to Garda Carey, “sent flying” due to the impact of the crash and was so badly damaged it had to be written off following the accident. In the accident his neck, right shoulder and lower back were badly damaged. He also said that his shoulder was still restricted in movement slightly. Mr Justice Bernard Barton remarked that “the best medical report supporting Garda Carey’s claim for compensation” was given by the chief medical officer from An Garda Síochána who had medically examined Mr Carey for the defendant – the Minister for Public Expenditure. The judge praised Garda Carey’s dedication and work ethic during the Garda Traffic Car Accident Compensation hearing as Mr Carey had only been absent from work for three days in the aftermath of the incident. He also said that it was to Garda Carey’s credit that he had not made an issue of the nature of his back injury which quickly cleared up following the incident. Mr Carey had made no attempt to build up more and more medical reports to make more of his injuries than was there in his workplace traffic compensation claim. €33,000 Road Accident Compensation Award to Two Young Sisters Posted: October 9th, 2017 Two young sisters from Lucan, Co Dublin have been awarded €33,000 in road traffic compensation due to an incident that saw the car that they were travelling in rear ended in February 2016. The girls, aged seven and five years old, Amy and Izy Saul were involved in the road traffic collision when a car owned by Tadgh Hartnett, hit their family car which it was travelling behind. The two girls, with a family address at Rossberry Terrace, Lucan, Dublin were represented in court by Barrister Francis McGagh. Mr Hartnett, who was not present at Court, gave an address at AIG Insurance, North Wall, Dublin. Mr McGagh advised presiding Circuit Court President Mr Justice Raymond Groarke that the Saul sisters were extremely lucky to avoid debilitating injuries and were absent for one day of school to see their local GP after the accident. However, he advised the Court that their local doctor saw that the young girls had been inflicted with psychological injuries due to the experiences of the road traffic accident. An official medical report from their local doctor was provided that stated the girls’ had been inflicted with “a mild effect on the mental health”. He added that he expected this nervousness to fade over time. The girls mother, Claire Saul, told the judge that she was content with the €33,000 road traffic compensation offered. Ms Saul made an affidavit to the court which said that both of the girls, who have their birthdays later this month, now tend to become nervous when travelling in a motor vehicle which their famoly doctor said, in the aforementioned report, was a commonly experienced symptom following such an road traffic accident. AIG Insurance made the motor traffic compensation settlement offer of €16,500 each to the two girls, and their court expenses, on behalf of Mr Hartnett. High Court Confirms Car Injury Compensation Awards Posted: August 3rd, 2017 The High Court has dismissed an appeal against seven car injury compensation awards that were made by the Buncrana Circuit Court in 2015. The car injury compensation awards related to an accident that occurred in Lifford, County Donegal, on June 28th 2011; when a hire car failed to slow down approaching a roundabout and crashed into a second car. Three of the occupants in the hire car and the four occupants of the second car suffered soft tissue injuries and claimed compensation against the negligent driver and the car hire company. In 2015, car injury compensation awards of between €5.050 and €9.550 were made to the seven victims by the Buncrana Circuit Court. However, the car hire company appealed the awards of the grounds that the accident had been fabricated and that the seven victims considerably exaggerated the extent and effects of their soft tissue injuries to maximise the value of their car injury compensation awards. The appeal hearing took place last month at the High Court before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, when it was claimed the negligent driver had telephoned one of the injured men when he returned the hire car to the car hire company and had spoken with him as if he knew him well. Further investigation revealed the negligent driver and plaintiffs were known to each other through their membership of the Joseph Plunkett and Charlie D’Arcy Societies. The plaintiffs disputed the allegation as outrageous and, although admitting that they knew each other “to see”, denied the accident had been set up with the intention of claiming car injury compensation rewards. Judge Meenan reserved his decision at the original hearing, but this week dismissed the car hire company´s appeal and found in favour of the plaintiffs – upholding the car injury compensation awards made by Buncrana Circuit Court. Explaining his decision, the judge said the friendly nature of the telephone conversation between the negligent driver and one of the injured men was not enough to support any other decision than the original one. He added the negligent driver made the call to find out details of the injured party´s car, and “one would have thought, if the collision was a setup, the information sought in the call would already have been firmly fixed in his mind prior to returning the hire car.” Plaintiffs win case against car dealership for roof malfunction The plaintiffs in a case against a car dealership which sold them a vehicle with a faulty sunroof have been awarded compensation for injuries caused by the roof blowing off while on the motorway. While travelling from Dublin to Newry for a pre-Christmas shopping expedition in November 2013, the sun roof of the car the two plaintiffs were travelling in blew off. The car had been travelling along the M1 at a speed of 80-90kmph. The driver was startled by the incident, and braked hard in alarm as the roof blew off of their vehicle. Due to the very rapid stop, the five passengers in the car (the two plaintiffs and three of their family members) suffered whiplash-type injuries. There were two children in the vehicle, which were luckily unharmed. However, the driver´s 72-year-old mother, suffered several injuries, including a compression fracture to one of the vertebrae in her lower back. The affected family members sought legal counsel, and subsequently made claims for car accident injuries against the showroom from which the car had been purchased. The vehicle had only been purchased four months prior to the incident. In their motion, the plaintiffs claimed that the sun roof had been faulty and the fault should have been identified by the dealer. The defendants-Denis Mahony Limited of Kilbarrack Road in Dublin-denied liability for the faulty sun roof and the plaintiffs´ injuries. The case was heard at the Circuit Civil Court in Dublin by Mr Justice Raymond Groarke. The judge was informed that corrosion found around the remaining frame of the sun roof would have been present on the Toyota at the time it was sold. According to the testimony of an independent motor assessor, the corrosion led to the sun roof blowing off. Judge Groarke stated that he understood that the sun roof being blown off at 90kmph would have been a terrifying experience for the plaintiffs, and understood why the driver plaintiff had applied the brakes so sharply. He awarded the driver of the car €12,500 compensation and her mother €25,000 compensation in settlement of their claims for car accident injuries. Hit-and-Run Incident with Cyclist Settled in Court A hit-and-run accident-which left the cyclist with severe brain damage-has been settled in the High Court. In early August 2013, a man on a bicycle-who was not wearing a helmet at the time-was cycling in Blanchardstown, Dublin. When he reached the junction of the Ongar Distributor Road and Shelerin Road, he was hit by a van. Several people witnessed the accident, and one eye-witness statement claimed that the impact of the van threw the cyclist nearly three metres into the air. The emergency services were called, and he received immediate on-scene attention. It was determined that thirty-three year old cyclist suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the accident. He was transferred to Beaumont Hospital, where he underwent a decompressive craniotomy at the Beaumont Hospital. After this initial treatment, he was later transferred to the National Rehabilitation Centre. Due to the severely traumatic nature of his injury, he cyclist suffered amnesia for four months. A psychologist later had to tell him that he had been involved in a serious accident. A police investigation was launched, and it concluded the van was travelling at a speed of 57kmph at the time. The driver of the van – who had fled the scene of the accident – was tracked down, and subsequently charged with criminal offences. He was brought before the courts in November 2015 and convicted with dangerous driving and causing serious harm while driving without a license or insurance. He was sentenced to 3½ years in prison. Following the criminal conviction, the cyclist´s wife claimed cyclist brain injury compensation on behalf of her husband. As the van driver was uninsured, the claim was made against the Motor Insurers´ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). The claim was not contested and, after reports to assess the plaintiff´s future needs had been competed, a €3 million settlement of the cyclist brain injury compensation was agreed. The compensation would have been higher, but it was found that the cyclist had not been wearing a cycling helmet and therefore was liable for some of the damages. As the claim had been made on behalf of a plaintiff unable to represent himself, the settlement went to the High Court for approval. The case was heard at the High Court by Mr Justice Kevin Cross. The judge was told the circumstances of the tragic accident, the consequences of the accident, and the fact that the settlement had been reduced to reflect the cyclist´s contributory negligence. Judge Cross approved the settlement of cyclist brain injury compensation – commenting it had been a dreadful incident, and closing the approval hearing by wishing the cyclist and his family the best for the future. Claim Made for Passenger Injuries of Child caused by Negligence The accident occurred on the 26th December 2016 when Cora-Lynn Kelley-Mattock, then aged two, was travelling with her mother Josephine along the A484 in Llandygwydd, Cardigan. Her mother crashed the car they were travelling in into a wall, causing severe injuries to herself and her young daughter. Josephine, who was just nineteen when the accident occurred, died just three days after the crash because of her injuries. Cora-Lynn suffered extensive damage to her head and internal organs, and the damage to her brain has left her with life-long disabilities. Her vision has also been affected y damage to her eye. The coroner who spoke at the inquest into the accident in 2014 determined that Josephine’s death was caused by misadventure. He commented that she was probably trying to avoid another car when she crashed, or was distracted by her young daughter. However, solicitors working on behalf of Cora-Lynn have claimed that they believe Josephine could have been acting negligently when she crashed the car. As such, they have filed a claim for compensation against Josephine’s motor insurance company and her estate. The claim alleges that Josephine was driving at a speed unsuitable for the conditions of the road at the time of the accident, considering the wet conditions. They also claim that she had failed to strap her daughter in properly before the accident, as Cora-Lynn was found suspended from her waist in the car seat. If she were secured properly, the straps around her shoulders would have protected her upper body. Representatives of Josephine’s estate and the motor insurance company that insured her contest this claim, saying that though there is no disagreement as to the circumstances of the accident, the solicitors representing Cora-Lynn will have to show Josephine was negligent by causing the crash and not securely fastening her daughter’s seatbelt. Brain Injury Compensation Awarded in Court A twenty-five year-old man has received a settlement of compensation for injuries to the brain after the sum was approved in Dublin’s High Court. The accident occurred on the 27th January 2009, when Francis Smith – of Edgeworthstown in County Longford – was driving along a road and had to suddenly manoeuvre away from an oncoming car. However, this action meant that Mr Smith crashed instead into the back of a lorry parked ahead of him on the road. Mr Smith, then aged just eighteen years old and was employed in a local factory, was so severely injured by the collision that he can no longer work, and is reliant on his mother, Martina Dempsey, for round the clock care. His cognitive and physical injuries were extensive. Ms Dempsey made a claim for compensation for the road accident on her son’s behalf. The claim was made against the Longford County Council, and alleged that there were no sufficient signposts of roadworks, and there was no flagman posted on the road to warn of oncoming vehicles. She also claimed that the lorry – into which her son crashed – was parked such that it extended too far onto the road. The lorry posed a significant danger because of its proximity to the other roadworks. The County Council denied any liability for the injuries Mr Smith sustained, stating the the accident was largely Mr Smith’s own fault as he had been negligent and driven too fast for the conditions of the road. Yet when the case proceeded to the High Court, the overseeing judge – Mr Justice Kevin Cross – heard that a compensation settlement of €750,000 was negotiated between the parties. The judge noted that the value was just 25% of the full value of the claim, and proceeded to approve the settlement. Before closing the case, Judge Cross commented that the settlement was good and that he wished Mr Smith well for the future. Five-Figure Compensation Settlement Awarded for Car Crash Fatality Posted: December 1st, 2015 A claim for the death of a man in a car crash has been resolved in Belfast’s High Court. Leslie and Elizabeth Browne were driving on the B8 from Newry to Hilltown during July 2010 when they were involved in a head-on-collision with another car. The collision occurred on an infamous stretch of the B8, locally known as The Seven Sisters – so same because of a successive series of treacherous bends. The Brownes collided with a Toyota Yaris driven by Sandra Murray. Mr Browne, who was driving the car when the couple collided with Ms Murray, sustained very severe injuries and died just a month later. Mis wife proceeded to seek legal counsel, subsequently making a claim for her husband’s death against Ms Murray. In her claim, she alleged that Ms Murray was negligent in her driving, and the crash was caused by her inattentiveness and lack of adequate driving for the conditions of the road. Ms Murray denied any liability for the death of Mr Browne, instead claiming that she had lost control of the car because her vehicle had been hit from behind by another car, driven by Michal Marczak. Mr Marczak denied this claim, saying that there had never been any contact between his car and Ms Murray’s, stating that the crash was caused by Ms Murray’s excessive breaking – which lead her to lose control. The claim proceeded to Belfast’s High Court, where Judge Stephens oversaw proceedings. He heard that a settlement of £50,000 had been agreed between the parties, though he was to establish liability. Mr Justice Stephens heard of the lack of evidence pointing to contact between Mr Marczak’s and Ms Murray’s cars, and as such, he found that Ms Murray bore sole responsibility for the death of Mr Browne. He said that this was in part due to her excessive speed (it was determined that she was travelling between 27mph and 37mph), and that this combined with her excessive breaking to lead to the crash. The judge also agreed with Mrs Browne’s claim that Ms Murray was inattentive whilst driving, saying that “I consider that it reflects the fact that the first defendant did not and does not know what happened so that she grasped at anything that might exonerate her.” Ms Murray, in addition to paying the compensation settlement, must also pay for Mrs Browne’s and Mr Marczak’s legal costs. Claim Made by Daughter Against her Mother for Injuries Sustained in Car Crash Resolved A teenager, who made a claim for compensation against her own mother, has received a seven-figure compensation settlement. When Beth Cullen, then aged just six years old, was travelling with her mother on the 26th November 2005, she sustained severe injuries in a car crash on the infamous “Nine Bends” stretch of the N11, near Ballinameesda. As a result, Beth became blind in one eye, deaf in one year and completely lost her sense of smell. William Cullen, Beth’s father, made a claim for compensation on his daughter’s behalf against Caroline Barrett, Beth’s mother. Ms Barrett had been driving the vehicle when it crashed, and is held responsible for the events. In their claim for compensation, Mr Cullen claimed that Ms Barrett did not adequately handle the car prior to the accident, and as a result, she did not have enough regard for the safety of her young daughter. Ms Barrett’s insurance company conceded liability for the accident, and the parties negotiated a €1.3 million settlement of compensation for Beth. However, as Beth was a minor and as such the claim had to be made on her behalf, the settlement had to be approved by a judge before it could be awarded. The case then proceeded to the High Court in Dublin, where it was overseen by Mr Justice Kevin Cross. The judge was told of the circumstances of the accident, and how they had impacted Beth’s day-to-day life. The judge was also informed that Beth was doing well at school, despite her difficulties, and Judge Cross proceeded to approve the settlement, wishing the teenager well for her future. RSA Blames Increased Fatalities in Car Accidents on Lack of Seatbelt Use The Road Safety Authority has published provisional data relating to fatalities in car accidents during 2013, and has attributed the higher number of fatal injuries to drivers and passengers not wearing their seatbelts. Each year the Road Safety Authority (RSA) publishes provisional details of accidents on roads in Ireland ahead of their annual report, and the unconfirmed figures for year-ended 31st December 2013 have just been released. In a reversal of the general downward trend since the RSA started producing annual reports in 1997, there were more fatal collisions (181) and fatal injuries (190) in 2013 than there were in 2012 (152 and 162 respectively). Drivers accounted for 95 of the fatalities in car accidents recorded by An Garda Siochána (78 in 2012), with the number of car passengers who sustained fatal injuries also increasing from 27 in 2012 to 32 in 2013. The 63 remaining deaths on Irish roads were accounted for by vulnerable road users such as pedestrians (31), motorcyclists (27) and pedal cyclists (5). Various factors are blamed for the increased number of fatal accidents in Ireland – noticeably how the number of motorcycle accidents increased during the summer months because of the fine weather – but these were countered by the decrease in fatalities among the 21-25 age group (32 > 27) and those which were attributable to speeding. However, the RSA did point to a substantial proportion of fatalities in car accidents which may have been avoided in the driver and/or passenger was wearing a seatbelt. In all fatal collisions in which a car user had been killed – and in which An Garda Siochána could determine whether the victim(s) had been wearing a seatbelt – the fatally injured driver and/or passenger had not been wearing a seat belt 38% of the time. The conclusion drawn by the RSA was that more emphasis on seatbelt wearing was required – both for drivers and passengers. Injuries Board Awards €157.2 Million Compensation for Car Accident Injuries The Injuries Board of Ireland has released statistics revealing that assessments of compensation for car accident injuries amounted to €157.2 million in 2012. According to figures released by the InjuriesBoard.ie, November is the most dangerous month of the year to venture out in a car, and the independent Government body has just released details of the awards it distributed in 2012 to highlight the fact. The analysis of compensation claims for car accident injuries in 2012 also revealed that the total number of applications for assessments had increased by 1.3 percent to 7,622 and that the most dangerous day of the week on which to drive is Friday. Claims for compensation for car accident injuries accounted for 75 percent of all the applications for assessment received by the Injuries Board (the remainder were comprised of public liability claims and for accidents at work), with the majority of these being for soft tissue injuries (whiplash) and broken bone injuries. The statistics also showed that the average value of awards for car accident injuries in 2012 was €20,631, with women making a slightly larger number of claims than men. It was also shown that Donegal (11) and Cork (10) were the counties in which the highest number of fatal accidents due to somebody else´s negligence occurred. However, the InjuriesBoard.ie press release included some assumptions that not everyone might agree with – for example; as only 4 percent of awards were made to drivers over the age of fifty-five, the Injuries Board described this age group as the “safest” – neglecting to consider research that has demonstrated that older drivers are four times more likely to cause a fatal crash than teenagers. It might also be the case that older drivers do not accept the Injuries Board assessments as, in 2012, fewer than 5,000 plaintiffs actually agreed with the amount of compensation for car accident injuries that had been assessed (from 7,622 assessments) , and chose to pursue their claims outside of the Injuries Board process. Commenting on the figures, Patricia Byron – CEO of the Injuries Board – said “Our award trends indicate that the winter months are the most dangerous on our roads and we are urging all road users to be extra vigilant at this time. We awarded over €157m in compensation for injuries sustained in road traffic accidents last year which reflects the significant human cost of these accidents not to mention the social impact.” Girl Compensated after Car Accident Prenatal Injury Claim Heard in Court A young girl from Rathfarnham in Dublin is to receive €17,800 in compensation after a settlement of her car accident prenatal injury claim was approved in court. Aoife Sheehan (now 14 years of age) was delivered prematurely at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin on 15th April 1999; two days after her mother – Martina – had been involved in a car accident which allegedly caused her to go into early onset labour at thirty-six weeks. Unable to breathe independently, Aoife was admitted to the neo-natal intensive care unit of the Coombe Hospital where her breathing had to be supported by medication and a ventilator. Aoife was diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome and remained in intensive care critically ill for three weeks. Through her mother, Aoife made a car accident prenatal injury claim for compensation against the driver of the vehicle with which her mother had the accident – Elaine O’Connor also from Rathfarnham – but insurers for the defendant denied their client´s liability, stating that there was no medical evidence to prove the connection between the accident and Aoife´s premature birth. The insurance company also claimed that any injuries that Aoife had been sustained before she was born and she was not eligible to be awarded compensation. However, the solicitors from whom Martina had sought legal advice pursued the car accident prenatal injury claim and, and after a period of negotiation, acquired a settlement that would see Aoife receive €17,800 compensation. After hearing the details of the case, Judge Matthew Deery at the Circuit Civil Court approved the settlement – saying that Aoife´s solicitors had done a good job in securing a settlement, as proving liability in the case had it gone to court would have been difficult. Woman Wins 2 Year Battle to Recover Compensation for being Rear-Ended A woman has won a two-year battle against the State of Texas and her own insurance company to recover compensation for being rear-ended and suffering whiplash injuries. Brenda Nolen from Young County in Texas was hit from behind by a vehicle driven by a Texas Forest Service employee who had fallen asleep at the wheel when she was returning from a shopping trip in April 2011. The force with which her Dodge pick-up was hit, shoved it onto a garage forecourt, where it crashed into a petrol pump which exploded on impact. Fortunately passers-by were able to rescue Brenda from her burning vehicle, but she sustained a broken arm, multiple burns and a serious neck injury in the accident which required her to undergo multiple operations over the course of the following year. Brenda made a claim for being rear-ended against the Forest Service driver´s employers – the State of Texas – to cover to cost of a new vehicle and her medical expenses. However, the State of Texas rejected her claim on the basis that employees of the State Forest Service are immune from responsibility for any injuries or accidents that happen while they are en route to an emergency. Her own insurance company – State Farm – also declined her claim for compensation for being rear-ended despite Brenda obtaining a statement from the Texas Forest Service employee who had hit her vehicle to confirm that he had fallen asleep at the wheel and was not on his way to an emergency. Brenda sought legal advice and, with help from a solicitor and the threat of court action, a negotiated settlement was reached with Brenda´s insurers and the State of Texas that will see her recover an undisclosed amount compensation for being rear-ended – enough to purchase a new Dodge pick-up and cover the majority of her medical expenses. Insurers Claim New Limits on Car Accident Compensation will lead to Higher Premiums Posted: September 3rd, 2013 Insurance companies have claimed that new limits on car accident compensation will lead to higher premiums following the introduction of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill The Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 – previously known as the Courts Bill – will increase the upper limits on car accident compensation that can be awarded in the District Court from €6,384 to €15,000, and in the Circuit Court from €38,000 to €60,000 On publication of the report in July, Justice Minister Alan Shatter said that the changes would lead to reduction in legal costs due to fewer car accident compensation claims going to the High Court; however two insurance experts have warned that the Bill could add as much as 30% to car insurance premiums. Thousands More Cases in the Courts According to Ciaran Phelan – CEO of the Irish Brokers Association – and Ken Norgrove from Zurich Insurance, the Seanad passed the legislation without considering the implications of insurance costs – which both claim will encourage more plaintiffs to “have a go” at taking their claims for car accident injury compensation to court, rather than settle their claim without legal action. Mr Phelan said “These changes will see thousands more cases reach the courts this year, which obviously will increase the legal costs for insurers [and] which will in turn be passed onto consumers. There will be no getting around this”. “Those amounts are too high”, agreed Mr Norgrove, who claimed that the new limits on car accident compensation will only encourage more claims and a return to the “compo culture” of previous years. “The Personal Injuries Board was great for straightforward and uncontested injuries but people will now take their chances in the District Court”. A Smoke Screen for Insurer´s Own Troubles? The latest attack on the new limits on car accident compensation settlements came a day after several insurance companies announced that insurance premiums were likely to rise due to an underwriting gap between the funds they receive in insurance premiums and what they have to pay to settle car accident injury compensation claims. Whereas it is not unusual for car insurance companies to make an underwriting loss, they have normally been able to rely on investment income from funds they have on deposit. However, the return on investment has fallen in recent years while at the same time car insurance companies have been involved in fierce competition which has reduced their income from car insurance premiums. Motorcyclist Receives Compensation for a Foot Injury in a Car Accident Posted: August 8th, 2013 A motorcyclist, who was knocked from his bike by a car driver who failed to look when pulling out of a car park, has been awarded £250,000 compensation for a foot injury in a car accident. The unnamed motorcyclist was returning home from his weekly ride on his motorbike, when a car emerging from a car park drove straight across his path. The rider was thrown across the top of the car and into a roadside hedge. The victim was taken to hospital by air ambulance where doctors identified injuries to both legs and his collarbone including multiple fractures to the right foot. The victim stayed in hospital for ten days before being discharged and then had to undergo months of physiotherapy to regain his coordination and recover the strength in his legs and foot. After seeking legal advice, the former building manager made a claim for a foot injury in a car accident against the negligent driver to account for future medical treatment – including the possibility of further surgery if the bones in his foot degenerate – and loss of earnings as he has had to take a less strenuous job. Liability was accepted for the accident, and a settlement of compensation for a foot injury in a car accident amounting to £250,000 was agreed in out-of-court negotiations. Injury Compensation for an Accident on a Motorbike Approved in Court A woman, who sustained permanent brain injuries after the motorbike she was a passenger on was in collision with a car, has had a settlement of injury compensation for an accident on a motorbike approved at the High Court in London Barbara Oliva (26) from Sao Paulo in Brazil was a passenger on her husband´s Honda in 2008, when the two were involved in an accident with a car driven by Yusef Mahmoud, of Southwark, London on London´s Embankment. Barbara´s husband escaped with minor injuries, but Barbara landed on her head when she fell and, despite wearing a motorcycle helmet, suffered severe brain damage. She can no longer walk or talk coherently, and has to rely on the 24-hour care provided by her mother in the family home in Brazil. Through her mother – Edna – Barbara made a claim for compensation for an accident on a motorbike against Yusef Mahmoud and, at the High Court in London, Mr Justice Lewis heard that a final compensation settlement of £7 million had been agreed between Barbra´s legal representatives and Mahmoud´s insurers. Mr Justice Lewis approved the settlement of injury compensation for an accident on a motorbike, stating that it was “just and reasonable” and praised Edna for the care and devotion she had shown her daughter after Barbara and her husband had separated. Compensation Awarded for Head-On Collision A man who suffered quadriplegic injuries and was left with severe brain damage following a road traffic accident has had a €6.5 million settlement of quadriplegic injuries compensation approved in the High Court. Alan Kavanagh (41) from New Ross, County Wexford, sustained his horrific injuries when he was involved in a head-on collision with a van driven by Liam Toohey of Nenagh, County Tipperary in November 2004. The injuries Mr.Kavanagh sustained in the accident means he is now completely dependent on others for nursing care. Ms Justice Mary Irvine heard that the victim is currently living in a nursing home for the elderly although this is not suitable for his requirements. Claiming compensation through his brother, the court heard that a settlement of €6.5 million had been proposed by Liam Toohey and the owner of the van involved in the accident – John Heffernan, a haulage contractor, also of Nenagh, County Tipperary. The judge after hearing evidence from Mr Kavanagh´s partner – Loretto Power – approved the settlement saying it gave Alan the best chance of meeting his future needs. Lollipop Lady Settles Claim for Hit and Run Injuries A 49-year-old woman who was run over by a female driver while she was working as a lollipop lady has settled her compensation claim for a four figure sum. Karen Littler (49) from Wigan, Lancashire claimed hit and run compensation against Ceris Lovett after Ms.Lovett collided with her in Aston-in-Makerfield in March 2012 and then failed to stop to see if Ms.Littler was injured. Another motorist who saw the incident recorded the registration number of Ms.Lovett’s Honda and reported it to the Greater Manchester Police. She was later convicted of driving without due care and attention by Wigan magistrates. The victim made a claim for hit and run injuries directly to the negligent party’s car insurance company who, despite the conviction of their policyholder, failed to respond in the required time frame to Ms.Littler’s request for compensation which eventually led to court proceedings being issued. Ms.Littler has now received an undisclosed settlement of her claim for hit and run injuries. Girl Receives Compensation Car Passenger Injuries Posted: January 23rd, 2013 A 12-year-old schoolgirl who lost her sister and best friend in a car accident has been awarded €200,000 compensation for the injuries she sustained in the incident. Faith Varden-Carberry was seven years old when the car in which she was a passenger collided with a clay embankment outside Edgeworthstown, County Longford, in November 2007. Her mother Mary Carberry (36) the driver of the vehicle was banned from driving at the time due a previous accident, she was arrested and sentenced to six years imprisonment for her part in the crash. Claiming through her grand-father Anthony Carberry the compensation claim was transferred to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) as Mrs Carberry was uninsured. Mr Justice Peter Charleton was told in the High Court that a settlement of compensation for injuries in a car accident had been agreed amounting to €200,000. Approving the settlement the judge also allowed for €2,000 to be instantly withdrawn from it in order to allow Faith to have a new computer to assist her with her schoolwork. Compensation Claim for a Tricycle Injury Approved A child has had his settlement of €100,000 for injuries he sustained when he was hit by a car approved by the High Court. Bartosz Zakrzewski from Birr, County Offaly was nine years old when his tricycle was hit by a car driven by Caitríona Kelly on An Coran Street in Birr. The boy sustained head injuries, curs and lacerations to his body and also a broken leg. Claiming compensation for a road accident on behalf of her son, Monika Zakrzewski said Ms Kelly had been driving without due care and attention and in breach of her duty of care. However, shortly before the case was due to be heard before the High Court, Ms Justice Mary Irvine was told that the two parties had reached a compensation settlement without Ms Kelly admitting liability for the incident. The judge approved the settlement. Compensation for Car Crash Spinal Injury Awarded Posted: October 3rd, 2012 A schoolboy who suffered horrific injuries after he was thrown against the windscreen of his mother’s car has been awarded €11.5 million by the High Court in Dublin following the accident in May 2008. Ten-year-old Cullen Kennedyof Loughrea, County Galway was awarded the sum at the Dublin High Court. Ms Justice Mary Irvine heard that on the day of the accident Margaret Kennedy was momentarily distracted by her son while driving and crossed into the path of an oncoming car. Although neither she nor the driver of the other vehicle suffered serious injuries, her son was left quadriplegic and breathes through a ventilator after sustaining severe spinal damage. The compensation claim was made by Cullen Kennedy’s grandmother against the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) as Margaret Cullen was an uninsured driver. The award of €11.5 million was made after assessing the care the victim had already received and what may be required in the future. The sum is the highest ever award of compensation for a car crash injury in the State’s history. Compensation Claim for a Spinal Injury A man, who requires around-the clock care after sustaining a severe brain injury in a car accident has been awarded €4.25 million in compensation. In March 2008 the victim – who cannot be named for legal reasons as he is a ward of court – was thrown from a car in which he was a back seat passenger after it ran into a tree. He suffered severe mental injuries as a result and is now only able to communicate via a thumb up or thumb down sign. Ms Justice Mary Irvine heard in the High Court that as the driver of the car was uninsured the compensation claim was made against the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland. The judge was told that an agreement had been reached between the two parties although the settlement of €4.25 million was reduced by 20 per cent due to the contributory negligence of the victim by failing to wear a seatbelt. The judge approved the settlement and ordered that the foster mother receive a payment upfront of € 544,800 to cover expenses and hospital bills already incurred. Compensation Awarded for Hit and Run Beach Claim A woman from Dublin, has been awarded €79,000 in compensation after a car reversed over her after she had slipped and fallen. Siofra O´Loughlin (24) from Rolestown, Dublin slipped on wet sand while trying to retrieve a ball on Dollymount Beach in July 2006 and was on the ground when a motorist reversed over her. According to a report given to the Gardai by Ms O’Loughlin and her friends, the driver of the vehicle stopped a short distance from the incident and saw Ms O’Loughlin injured on the ground before driving away. Gardai were unable to trace the driver of the vehicle therefore Ms O’Loughlin had to make her compensation claim for a hit and run injury against the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland. The MIBI disputed the compensation claim arguing that a different version of events had been reported to Gardai however Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill dismissed their argument and awarding Ms O’Loughlin €79,000 in compensation for the injuries she sustained in the hit and run incident. Injury Claim Settled for Patrol Car Collision Four Dublin children have been awarded a total of €26,000 in compensation for injuries they sustained when the car in which they were travelling collided with a Garda patrol car. Dean McEvoy (15) and his three sisters, Lauren (13), Cody (11) and Megan (10) suffered soft tissue injuries when a patrol car being driven ‘at some degree of urgency’ struck the car driven by their mother Lorraine McEvoy on the Tallaght bypass in November 2005. At the time of the incident the Garda car had no siren or warning lights on. Circuit Civil Court President, Mr Justice Matthew Deery was told that the State had accepted liability for the accident only after a lengthy dispute was settled in the High Court and he was asked to approve the agreed settlements for the four children. Car Accident Compensation Settled for Child Injury A six-year-old boy, has been awarded €17,500 in compensation for a car accident injury after he was knocked down by a van while playing near his home in Tallaght, Dublin. Warren Lavelle who was three year old at the time suffered head injuries and was left with a permanent scar on his head as a result of the accident on July 13 2008. At the Circuit Civil Court in Dublin Judge Jacqueline Linnane was told that the driver of the van John Connors, also of Tallaght, Dublin had already admitted liability for the accident leaving the judge to approve the car accident settlement of compensation. Student Awarded €7 million after Claiming Compensation for a Truck Accident A 26-year-old women has had her €7 million settlement of compensation approved by the High Court. Valerie Bourke of Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary suffered serious brain damage after her car collided with a truck in May 2006 when she was 21 years old. The accident occurred on the Carrick-on-Suir to Waterford road and from there Ms Bourke was taken to Waterford Regional Hospital where she remained for eleven months. She was then transferred to the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire and from there to a neuro-rehabilitation centre in England six months later. In December 2008 – two and a half years after the accident- she was able to return home. Ms Bourke’s parents had renovated the family home to accommodate her needs although the court heard that her mobility and cognitive functions remain limited. The driver of the truck Patrick Holden and its owner Stefan Gilchrist of Piltown, County Kilkenny admitted liability for the victim’s injuries and Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill approved the settlement ordering €4 million to be put aside for Ms Bourke’s future care. He also announced that an application was to be made to make Valerie Bourke a ward of court. Compensation Awarded for Post-Traumatic Stress Claim after a Car Accident A Dublin man has been awarded € 91,000 after successfully pursuing a post-traumatic stress claim after a car accident. Mr James Killeen (55) of Artane was trapped in his jeep for 90 minutes after it was violently struck from behind by a car driven by Mr Hongbo Guo of Castleknock, County Dublin, in November 2007. The court heard that Mr Killeen became frantic while trapped due to his fear for his son’s safety who was also trapped in the jeep and also due to the presence of petrol fumes at the time. On his way to the hospital the ambulance Mr Killeen was travelling in, had to stop four times to allow him to vomit. He suffered soft tissue damage to his lower back causing him pain and discomfort. Mr Justice John Quirke at the High Court heard that Mr Killeen had been involved in seven previous road traffic accidents between 1986 and 2009 and the psychological trauma of this accident resulted in an emergency admission to St Ita´s Hospital in 2008 as the result of attempted self-harm. The court heard that the negligent party accepted liability for the post-traumatic stress claim after a car accident and the judge awarded Mr Killeen € 91,000. Family Awarded Compensation after a Fatal Road Accident A family has been awarded compensation after a fatal road accident left a mother and child dead in 2006. The incident occurred on July 9 2006 and Yvonne Mahoney (24) and her daughter, Bobbi-Ann (2) were killed when the car driven by Ms.Mahoney’s partner John Maloney (33) – who was also killed in the accident – collided with another car as it exited the crossroads junction at Lodge Cross, County Galway. Claiming on behalf of her deceased daughter Mary Mahoney of Loughrea, County Galway alleged that Galway County Council failed to cut down, prune or trim the hedges at the junction meaning Mr.Maloney did not have a clear view of the road, it was also claimed that the council had failed to erect yield or stop signs. Mrs Mahoney also made a claim against Mr. Maloney’s estate alleging that he had been negligent with his driving. The court heard that the issue of liability had been withdrawn and Judge Mr Justice Moriarty awarded Mrs Mahoney and the family of the deceased children €100,439 in compensation after a fatal road accident. Child Accidents Restaurant Accidents Taxi Accidents Tractor Accidents Whiplash Accidents Work Traffic Accidents	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4959
__label__wiki	0.822581	0.822581	2018 Alpine A110 detailed: video Revealed last week, the hotly-anticipated 2018 Alpine A110 has now been detailed ahead of its European launch later this year. Weighing just 1080kg, the A110 is a featherweight by today's standards, while its performance specifications should worry some established sports cars. Under the bonnet is a new 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, developing 185kW of power and 320Nm of torque, sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The A110 can sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds on its way to an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h. A standard dual-clutch Porsche 718 Cayman S completes the benchmark sprint in 4.4 seconds, while the Alfa Romeo 4C hits triple figures in 4.5 seconds. The A110 features three driver modes; Normal, Sport and Track, which adapt the engine, transmission, steering, ESC, exhaust note and driver display to the driving conditions and driver's mood. As detailed in the teasers released in the lead-up to the car's reveal, the A110 has extensive aerodynamic and weight-saving equipment to reduce drag and add downforce. The flat floor and rear diffuser are inspired by race cars, while air inlets in the front bumper help to create a curtain along the front wheel arches to improve airflow and reduce drag, while the all-aluminium chassis keeps weight low. Alpine says the A110 has a drag coefficient of 0.32 which is "among the lowest in the sports car segment". In terms of its design, the new Alpine A110 features modern interpretations of numerous styling elements from the original A110 Berlinette of the 1960s and 1970s. Up front are four independent LED daytime-running light signatures that hark back to the four-ringed light design of the original, while the 'X'-shaped LED tail-lights feature dynamic indicators. Inside, the A110 sports a minimalist design trimmed with natural-grain leather, structural aluminium and carbon-fibre. While not detailed by the company, the A110 appears to feature a fully-digital instrument cluster, along with a large central touchscreen infotainment system. To commence the production run, Alpine is offering a limited run of 'Premiere Edition' models, limited to a run of 1955 cars - the same year that Jean Redele founded the company. Priced from 58,500 euros ($81,447) in its home market of France, the A110 Premiere Edition is equipped with unique 18-inch matte-black forged alloy wheels, sports braking system with 'dual-material' brake discs, active sports exhaust, Focal audio system, matte carbon-fibre interior accents, brushed aluminium pedals, quilted leather Sabelt sports seats, 'Tricolore' blue white and red badging inside and out, along with a numbered 'Premiere Edition' plaque on the centre console. Deliveries of the new Alpine A110 Premiere Edition will commence in late-2017 in European left-hand drive markets such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, with right-hand drive markets like the UK and Japan to get first deliveries next year. Alpine says it will offer several versions of the A110 once the run of Premiere Edition is completed, along with a range of personalisation options. Renault Australia has already confirmed the Alpine A110 will be offered in Australia, sometime in 2018, although it remains to be seen if the right case can be made for the car. In September last year, the company said to expect a starting price between $75,000 and $90,000 - the Alfa Romeo 4C kicks off at $89,000 while the Porsche 718 Cayman starts at $110,000. Click the photos tab for more images MORE: Alpine A110 revealed MORE: Alpine news MORE: Geneva motor show coverage CarAdvice Winners Circle: Alpine A110 CarAdvice Winners Circle 2018: Our favourites	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4961
__label__cc	0.544897	0.455103	Which pioneering technologies and brands are paving the way to sustainable fashion? 12th March 2019 /0 Comments/in circular economy, Manufacturing, Supply Chain /by Verane Gross Carbon Smart’s top picks from London’s 8th Future Fabrics Expo From the launch of the UK government’s inquiry into the fashion industry to the promise of a global UN charter for sustainable fashion, 2018 saw a rise in the sustainable fashion agenda. The momentum has continued into 2019 with fashion industry leaders assembling at Davos House early this year during the World Economic Forum to discuss the launch of the 2019 CEO Agenda. Meanwhile, designers, fabric innovators and wider fashion stakeholders gathered in London for the 8th Future Fabrics Expo. The event included a series of seminars which saw key industry experts share their vision and progress towards sustainability. Cutting-edge brands and designers, including Stella McCartney, Bossa Denim, Toyoshima, Comistra, G-Star Raw and Lenzing, discussed the opportunities for textile recycling, the importance of improving transparency in garment labelling and the need for increased investment to scale-up innovations. In conjunction with the seminar series, the expo showcased hundreds of innovations, each targeting key impact areas of fashion value chains. The emphasis was mainly on brands and manufacturers that were addressing key environmental issues associated with raw material sourcing and manufacturing, as well as dyeing and finishing processes. A select few companies showcased their solutions to enhance transparency, traceability, end-of-life solutions and the circularity of garments, but these remained a minority. The following are a few examples of the types of innovative solutions displayed at the expo. 1.Raw material sourcing and manufacturing The raw material sourcing and manufacturing of fabrics is highly resource intensive, accounting for a large share of the environmental impact in textile supply chains. Greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, chemicals, waste and biodiversity loss are prominent issues across fashion supply chains. Several brands are at the forefront of addressing these issues, using pioneering design and technologies to reduce impacts. Lenzing is one such company, recognised as an international leader in wood-based cellulose fibres. The Austrian group has several brands and is well-established, with revenues exceeding the €2 billion mark in 2017. The company sources wood pulp from FSC and PEFC certified forests and uses these to produce fibres. Unlike agricultural crops, such as cotton, wood production does not require artificial irrigation, nor does it compete with agricultural land used for food production. Lenzing’s production processes are certified to numerous environmental standards and involve several close-loop models. One of the organisation’s brands, TENCEL™, produces lyocell and modal fibres that are used by high-street brands across the world, including Patagonia and Reformation. While less advanced in scale, BOLT Threads is another innovative company aiming to create closed-loop production processes. Through bioengineering, BOLT Threads is moving fabric manufacturing away from petroleum-based polymers and toxic processes. One of its innovations, Microsilk®, is an alternative to conventional silk production where high amounts of energy and fertilizers are typically used to produce cocoons. By studying silk proteins spun by spiders, BOLT Threads has developed proteins using fermentation, yeast, sugar and water. The bioengineered liquid silk protein is extracted from this process and spun into fibres. BOLT Threads also use mycelium cells, from the underground root structure of mushrooms, to create an alternative to animal leather named Mylo™. The material eliminates the demand to raise cattle, which has a significant environmental footprint due to the land area, feedstock and transportation required. Besides, Mylo™ does not use toxic chemicals that other alternative ‘pleathers’ made from polyurethane or PVC use. The cruelty-free company, Stella McCartney, recently announced their partnership with BOLT Threads and unveiled their iconic Falabella bag made with Mylo material. source: https://boltthreads.com/ 2.Dyeing and finishing Fabrics are often made more attractive through the use of colour. However, synthetic dyes that provide colour are notoriously harmful to the environment, especially when leached into waterways. Research by the World Bank suggests that up to 20% of all water pollution worldwide is related to the process of dyeing textiles. WeAreSpindye is a brand that offers an alternative innovative colouring system. Primarily focused on polyester, the world’s most popular man-made fibre, WeAreSpindye uses trailblazing technology to create masterbatches of dye. By adding pigments to the spinning solution, the company creates consistent colouring of fibres. The process uses 70% less water, 90% less chemicals and up to 40% less energy than traditional dyeing methods. Japanese-based dye manufacturer Food Textile also focuses on eliminating the need for toxic chemicals. Using tomatoes, cabbage, onions, coffee and other perishables that would have otherwise been disposed of, Food Textile is pushing boundaries in more ways than one. The company creates natural dyes using food waste, thereby creating a circular model that not only addresses waste but also avoids synthetic dyes. As a result, the company has launched a successful range of textiles in a spectrum of natural hues. source: http://www.foodtextile.jp/ 3.Transparency, traceability and the circular economy Fashion supply chains typically include several tiers of suppliers, often spanning across the globe in countries where legislation to safeguard the environment and human rights are less stringent. The complexity and extent of these supply chains can make it difficult for brands to map their supply chain and ensure responsible sourcing. Supplycompass is a sourcing platform that aims to simplify this complexity. The platform matches brands with manufacturers and includes a dashboard allowing for cost estimates, the creation of technical design packs, sample requests, as well as the organisation of freighting and deliveries. In doing so, Supplycompass provides an opportunity for enhanced transparency and traceability, allowing brands to build “faster, leaner and more responsible supply chains”. Enhancing transparency and traceability is vital in the creation of more responsible supply chains. However, the fashion world needs to increasingly move towards circular models that consider entire value-chains, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life. Global textile production has doubled in the past 15 years, now exceeding 100 billion garments annually. Yet, less than 1% of these garments are recycled into new clothing. The surplus of waste is increasingly problematic. Many fashion companies resort to burning excess stock, while most of the donated clothing ends up in markets across developing countries, where demand for the influx of garments is rapidly declining. Circular.fashion is a digital platform that allows material suppliers, fashion brands and recyclers to close the loop. The platform includes a circular design software that helps brands select recyclable materials with sustainable properties. It also includes guidelines for circular design to ensure that garments are more readily recyclable. Circular.fashion also offers brands with the opportunity to create a scannable tag, the “Circularity ID”, which can be attached to each garment. The tag acts as a digital summary of the product’s lifecycle, which can be used by customers and in sorting/recycling facilities. While still in its infancy, EON is another company harnessing technology to improve the circularity of garments. The start-up was considered the first global tagging system for textile recycling and is supported by The Fashion for Good-Plug and Play Accelerator, a programme aimed at scale-up promising technologies in sustainable fashion. EON is designed to provide a digital identity to garments to enhance the traceability of garments across their entire value chain. Yet the transition to circular fashion is first and foremost dependent on recycling systems. Mechanical recycling, which involves the deconstruction of fabrics into fibres that can be reused, is more common than chemical recycling. The process is, however, challenging due to blended fabrics (e.g. blended cotton and polyester) and dyes. Chemical recycling is typically costly and is comparatively underdeveloped. UK-based start-up, Worn Again, is overcoming these challenges through the development of pioneering recycling technologies capable of chemically separating and decontaminating fabrics for reuse. While still in its infancy, the company aims to be competitive against virgin resources and is already partnering with leading fashion brands, such as H&M and Kering. Innovation in the manufacturing and processing of fabrics is on the rise. The 8th Future Fabrics Expo presented a room full of hope for the future of the fashion industry. While the technologies outlined above are at different stages of commerciality, growing investments into fabrics, manufacturing processes and recycling infrastructure have the potential to turn fashion into a force for good. Nonetheless, it is important to note that no single innovation is a panacea for the future of fashion. More emphasis needs to be placed on circular practices that address the range of environmental impacts that occur at each stage of a fashion supply chain. While companies such as Supply Compass, EON.ID and Worn Again are bringing new ideas and solutions to the table; there remains ample room for progress, increased action and investment in end-of-life solutions and circularity business models. In 2019, we hope to see the momentum for sustainability and circular solutions continue to grow to the top of the fashion agenda. Interested in understanding the impacts across your fashion value chain? Get in touch for a free consultation. Call us on +44 (0) 207 048 0450 or email: info@carbonsmart.co.uk Tags: blognews https://www.carbonsmart.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ashim-d-silva-89336-unsplash.jpg 1600 2400 Verane Gross https://www.carbonsmart.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cs_col_horiz_hr1-300x117.png Verane Gross2019-03-12 16:57:402019-03-28 10:43:19Which pioneering technologies and brands are paving the way to sustainable fashion? Resource efficient business models 2017 - UK’s greenest year to date thanks to renewables Everyone is talking about blockchain, so why all the hype? Staying ahead: BDO's commitment to low carbon future What does the IPCC’s latest Special Report mean for SBTs? Lowering costs and carbon with heat pumps Solar technology: innovations, challenges and small scale installation benefits We need to talk about plastics Resources and Waste Strategy: a shift in responsibility The energy and carbon reporting imperative: how can ESOS help you to get re...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4962
__label__wiki	0.816373	0.816373	PHOTO: Image of drowned father, daughter at U.S. border underlines migrants’ perils Warning: This story contains graphic images Jun. 26, 2019 9:20 a.m. Warning: This story contains graphic images, discretion is advised. The man and his 23-month-old daughter lay face down in shallow water along the bank of the Rio Grande, his black shirt hiked up to his chest with the girl tucked inside. Her arm was draped around his neck suggesting she clung to him in her final moments. The searing photograph of the sad discovery of their bodies on Monday, captured by journalist Julia Le Duc and published by Mexican newspaper La Jornada, highlights the perils faced by mostly Central American migrants fleeing violence and poverty and hoping for asylum in the United States. According to Le Duc’s reporting for La Jornada, Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez, frustrated because the family from El Salvador was unable to present themselves to U.S. authorities and request asylum, swam across the river on Sunday with his daughter, Valeria. He set her on the U.S. bank of the river and started back for his wife, Tania Vanessa Ávalos, but seeing him move away the girl threw herself into the waters. Martínez returned and was able to grab Valeria, but the current swept them both away. The bodies of Salvadoran migrant Oscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his nearly 2-year-old daughter Valeria lie on the bank of the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico, Monday, June 24, 2019, after they drowned trying to cross the river to Brownsville, Texas. Martinez’ wife, Tania told Mexican authorities she watched her husband and child disappear in the strong current. (AP Photo/Julia Le Duc) The account was based on remarks by Ávalos to police at the scene — “amid tears” and “screams” — Le Duc told The Associated Press. Details of the incident were confirmed Tuesday by a Tamaulipas state government official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, and by Martínez’s mother back in El Salvador, Rosa Ramírez, who spoke with her daughter-in-law by phone afterward. “When the girl jumped in is when he tried to reach her, but when he tried to grab the girl, he went in further … and he couldn’t get out,” Ramírez told the AP. “He put her in his shirt, and I imagine he told himself, ‘I’ve come this far’ and decided to go with her.” From the scorching Sonoran Desert to the fast-moving Rio Grande, the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border has long been an at times deadly crossing between ports of entry. A total of 283 migrant deaths were recorded last year; the toll so far this year has not been released. Rosa Ramirez sobs as she shows journalists toys that belonged to her nearly two-year-old granddaughter Valeria in her home in San Martin, El Salvador, Tuesday, June 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Antonio Valladares) In recent weeks alone, two babies, a toddler and a woman were found dead in the sweltering heat. Three children and an adult from Honduras died in April after their raft capsized on the Rio Grande, and a 6-year-old from India was found dead earlier this month in Arizona, where temperatures routinely soar well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The search for Martínez and his daughter was suspended Sunday due to darkness, and their bodies were discovered the next morning near Matamoros, Mexico, across from Brownsville, Texas, several hundred yards (meters) from where they had tried to cross and just a half-mile (1 kilometre) from an international bridge. Tamaulipas immigration and civil defence officials have toured shelters beginning weeks ago to warn against attempting to cross the river, said to be swollen with water released from dams for irrigation. On the surface, the Rio Grande appears placid, but strong currents run beneath. READ MORE: Acting U.S. border boss quits amid uproar over migrant children Ramírez said her son and his family left El Salvador on April 3 and spent about two months at a shelter in Tapachula, near Mexico’s border with Guatemala. “I begged them not to go, but he wanted to scrape together money to build a home,” Ramírez said. “They hoped to be there a few years and save up for the house.” El Salvador’s foreign ministry said it was working to assist the family, including Ávalos, who was at a border migrant shelter following the drownings. The bodies were expected to be flown to El Salvador on Thursday. In this Sept. 2, 2015 file photo, a paramilitary police officer investigates the scene before carrying the body of Syrian 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi from the shore, near the beach resort of Bodrum, Turkey. (Nilufer Demir/DHA via AP, File) READ MORE: Donations for Syrian refugees accepted after image of boy on beach goes viral The photo recalls the 2015 image of a three-year-old Syrian boy who drowned in the Mediterranean near Turkey, though it remains to be seen whether it may have the same impact in focusing international attention on migration to the U.S. “Very regrettable that this would happen,” Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Tuesday in response to a question about the photograph. “We have always denounced that as there is more rejection in the United States, there are people who lose their lives in the desert or crossing” the river. There was no immediate comment from the White House. Mexican authorities walk along the Rio Grande bank where the bodies of Salvadoran migrant Oscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his nearly two-year-old daughter Valeria were found, in Matamoros, Mexico, Monday, June 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Julia Le Duc) Man charged in crash that killed B.C. pregnant woman Province unveils 10-year plan to boost mental health, addiction recovery services	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4964
__label__wiki	0.975074	0.975074	Siemens displays fresh interest in Cleveland as a tech center and "healthcare hub" Eric Spiegel, CEO of Siemens USA, came home to Northeast Ohio Tuesday to connect with researchers at Case Western Reserve University. By Robert L. Smith, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Siemens Corp., one of the world's largest manufacturers, is taking a deeper look at the potential of Northeast Ohio to support its operations in advanced manufacturing, energy and healthcare. Fresh interest brought Youngstown native Eric Spiegel, the president and chief executive officer of Siemens USA, to the campus of Case Western Reserve University on Tuesday. In a day of encounters with university administrators and researchers, Spiegel shared details of new programs and investments Siemens envisions for the region. He and other executives revealed plans for: Investing nearly $2 million to outfit a space in the Moving a regional headquarters focused on medical imaging from Pittsburgh to Cleveland and bringing about two dozen high-paying jobs downtown. Forming more partnerships with CWRU to tap its expertise in radiology, biomedical engineering and medical imaging. Until Tuesday, Siemens had been quiet about its plans for the Global Center. Its third floor space, at nearly 3,000 square feet, makes it one of the larger tenants. "This city has become quite a hub for the healthcare industry" and the global center makes that more obvious, Spiegel said in an interview at CWRU's Adelbert Hall, where he met with university President Barbara Snyder. "We're a leader in healthcare technology. To be part of this new institution is something we're really interested in." Munich-based Siemens is a $100 billion company employing 360,000 people around the world. As CEO of Siemens USA, Spiegel runs a $24 billion subsidiary that employs about 52,000 people, including about 2,000 in Ohio. Siemens' Ohio operations include a giant engine plant in Norwood, near Cincinnati, which makes motors for Amtrak locomotives and for pipeline pump stations. The emergence of Ohio's Utica shale gas fields makes it likely the company will invest more in the state's energy industry, including green energy, Spiegel said. "People say, 'Wind's not a big deal in Ohio.' But Ohio is one of the top states selling wind components," he said. "We think there's a good talent base here," he added. "It's a good location for a lot of our businesses." Siemens is in the process of buying a Rolls-Royce manufacturing plant in Mount Vernon, in Knox County, which ships turbines and compressors out of the Port of Cleveland. In Garfield Heights, Siemens employs about 200 people in its building automation sector. Meanwhile, the company plans to strengthen its connections with the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and especially CWRU. "We want to get more involved with leading universities," Spiegel explained. "That's why I'm here." A towering, affable man, he arrived on campus leading a team of 10 executives who fanned out to meetings and demonstrations. CWRU has had a 30-year relationship with Siemens, dating to the university's pioneering work in medical imaging technology. Its researchers are now at work on advances in diagnostic imaging and energy technology of interest to advanced manufacturers, including the Lake Erie wind farm project, Spiegel said. "We're basically here to explore. It's kind of like bringing the right people together," he said. One of those people is Jeffrey Duerk, dean of CWRU's School of Engineering and a friend of Spiegel's for 20 years. Duerk said Siemens' renewed interest in CWRU research will pay off in jobs for the region. "When they invest and we can hire researchers, there's a multiplier effect," he said. "It's a great and exciting time for Case Western and for the city of Cleveland." For Spiegel, 56, the visit on a bright autumn day was a bit of a homecoming. He came of age in the Youngstown of the 1970s. He looked back on cold and closing steel mills as he left for Harvard. "My father said, 'There'll be nothing for you to come back to,'" he recalled. "Now there's a new steel mill in Youngstown? That's going to keep growing." He's still an ardent Browns and Indians fan, but a bigger fan of Cleveland technology. Duerk made a point of noting the other leading universities on Spiegel's tour: MIT, Georgia Tech, Cal Tech and Carnegie Mellon. "That's exactly the crowd we should be associated with," he said.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4965
__label__wiki	0.731289	0.731289	Stow Heath Primary completes turnaround with Good rating A Wolverhampton school placed into special measures three years ago is now "Good" across the board, according to Ofsted. Inspectors visited Stow Heath Primary School last month and found "an improving school", where leaders work "with drive and ambition to the benefit of staff and pupils". They said the commitment of senior leaders and staff was resulting in the majority of pupils doing well in a range of subjects, with pupils behaving well, enjoying attending school and having a "good attitude to their learning". Early Years children "get off to a good start in their education" and make rapid progress from their starting points, while governors "take an active role, both supporting and challenging staff to be the best they can be". The report concluded that the effectiveness of leadership and management, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, the personal development, behaviour and welfare of pupils, the outcomes for pupils and the Early Years provision at Stow Heath are all Good. Headteacher Vivienne Bunce said: “The outcome of our Ofsted inspection is a testament to the drive and ambition of leaders and the hard work and dedication shown by all the staff and Governors during our journey from Special Measures in December 2013 to Good today. “The report reflects our school motto, ‘Shine like a Star’, which demonstrates the ambition that we have for our school, and also recognises the good progress made by pupils, their good behaviour and that they feel safe in school and enjoy their time with us.” Bill Hague, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Head of School Planning and Resources, said: "The turnaround at Stow Heath Primary School over the last three years is very impressive and testament to the hard work of Vivienne Bunce and her leadership team, the teachers and support staff, governors, pupils and parents. "The council's School Improvement Team has worked closely with Stow Heath to support their recovery with termly reviews and school improvement board meetings. These were used to validate the school’s own self-evaluation and identify any support required for particular aspects of the curriculum, teaching and learning. “We look forward to Stow Heath continuing its rapid improvement and becoming an Outstanding school in due course.”	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4966
__label__wiki	0.767394	0.767394	National recognition for an inspirational NHS union steward Sarah Bunting, Critical Care Outreach Physiotherapist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, has beenawarded with the Union Steward of the Year Award Clare Kelly A member of staff at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised nationally for providing excellent support to colleagues in her role as a steward. Sarah Bunting, Critical Care Outreach Physiotherapist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, has been awarded with the Union Steward of the Year Award by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy at an annual awards ceremony. This award recognises a steward within the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy who goes above and beyond to provide a voice to colleagues and support other members at work. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is the professional, educational and trade union body for the UK’s 58,000 chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and support workers. Sarah was nominated by her team due to her dedication to staff over the years in her role as CSP Steward. Her team describe her as being incredibly knowledgeable regarding staff affairs and professional conduct and seeks support and guidance from the CSP when needed. Despite undergoing cancer treatment this year, she has continued to support staff and teams in a kind, caring and confident manner. Sarah really deserves to be recognised for all her hard work and achievements over the years. Rachael Moses, Consultant Physiotherapist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “Despite chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, Sarah has continued to support both staff side and managers both within the physiotherapy team and beyond. "She provides valuable guidance and advice on a number of complex situations and she has never once backed off into a corner or let things bring her down. She has been an inspiration to many, and she truly deserves this recognition.” Sarah said: “I have been a CSP steward for over 20 years and have supported many members over this period. It has been hard at times and more demanding in recent years with NHS changes. Although it has been quite challenging, I still find the role satisfying and rewarding.” Students in Preston put on meningitis alert	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4973
__label__wiki	0.564818	0.564818	The Quick Take for July 25, 2014 Lots of superhero news, and the Christian critic who was surprised at the marriage behind 'Sex Tape.' Larisa KlineJuly 25, 2014 Streaming Picks If you're a fan of Joaquin Phoenix, you can check out The Master on Netflix this week. Brett McCracken reviewed the film for us when it was released in theaters. McCracken describes the film (which also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams) as a "Scientology epic [that] explores human nature and our attraction to self-help systems." Just in time for Christmas in July, Netflix is releasing Christmas with the Kranks. Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen team up as parents who decide they're going to try to nix celebrating Christmas—and chaos ensues. Netflix also recently starting streaming the 1982 classic Gandhi. Sir Ben Kingsley stars in the film that depicts the life of the attorney who stood up against injustice. Amazon Prime members can enjoy our classic pick of the week: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World. The 1963 comedy follows the lives of eight vacationers and the gut-wrenching laughter that ensues. Critics Roundup Although most would think there would not be any redeeming qualities to a movie with a name like The Purge: Anarchy, PluggedIn's Paul Asay was able to find a few. One character risks his life to save others again and again, and in turn, those he saves "show him how much better and nobler it is to preserve life rather than take it." Despite this, the good doesn't make up for the bad. There is an obscene amount of language and repulsive violence. As Asay notes, the message of the film might just be "that some folks deserve to be purged." Despite the content of the film, the New York Times' Manohla Dargis describes the movie as a "satisfyingly creepy, blunt, down-and-dirty thriller, one of those follow-ups that improves ... Larisa Kline Bryan Stevenson Wants to Liberate People from the Lie That Their Life Doesn’t Matter The author of the book behind the new film ‘Just Mercy’ shows the church a way forward. Dominique DuBois Gilliard	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4974
__label__wiki	0.799791	0.799791	Hamilton, it's not just a county. Or a city. Or a musical. We explore the links between the real- life Alexander Hamilton, the musical and the county where we live. Hamilton, it's not just a county. Or a city. Or a musical. We explore the links between the real- life Alexander Hamilton, the musical and the county where we live. Check out this story on cincinnati.com: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/02/14/hamilton-county-named-after-alexander-hamilton-and-more-fun-facts/2778864002/ Cincinnati Enquirer Published 10:52 p.m. ET Feb. 14, 2019 \| Updated 11:12 a.m. ET Feb. 15, 2019 Alexander Hamilton, the guy and the Broadway show that bears his last name, has had a lot of press lately. The worldwide kind. The celebrity kind. Even of late, the controversy kind. Hamilton, the county, is a little less vividly talked about. It’s not just us that pale in comparison. There are 10 such counties in the United States. But none, it should be noted, are about to, or will likely ever, host the now-traveling Broadway show unless and until the blockbuster gets a high school production nod from whoever gives nods to such things. The Richard Rodgers Theatre has a 1,319-seat capacity. And since "Hamilton" opened, it sells out night after night. (Photo: Meg Vogel/The Enquirer) Yes, Cincinnati is the only major city – if you don’t count Chattanooga, and we don’t – that sits inside a county named for the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander (no middle name) Hamilton and that will host the musical, starting Feb. 19. Which means we must shoulder a heavy burden: To connect the city with the man. But first, let’s get the most exciting and newsworthy entertainment connection out of the way. Get this: The statue of Alexander Hamilton that graces Hamilton, the city, is almost exactly the same as the one that graces the logo for the musical. (The Broadway in Cincinnati people say they have Googled everything and can’t find another statue in the same position.) Here’s visual proof: A statue of Alexander Hamilton by sculptor Kristen Visbal stands on High Street in Hamilton, Ohio. The town is named for Hamilton. (Photo: The Enquirer/Jeff Suess) Now that's out of the way, let's start answering those connection questions for you. Hamilton, the city, is named after the man, then? Well, yes, but the city was first named Fairfield. Its proximity to Fort Hamilton – indeed named for Alexander – prompted the rename. The fort was constructed there in 1791 to help get rid the Americans that were already here – the Shawnee and Miami tribes. The fortress was constructed by Arthur St. Clair, who did indeed get his hat handed to him by the Native Americans, but then the fort was used again by “Mad” Anthony Wayne, who was a pretty terrible person but still has a street named after him in Northside. P.S. There are 37 other cities named Hamilton in the United States, including those with Township added to their monikers as an afterthought. Think of the piling on like measles in Washington State. So we’re sure the county was named after the man himself? We are. The land that now makes up the county was bought for the paltry sum of 67 cents an acre. It was called the Miami Purchase. In January 1790, when the land was reassessed for boundary lines and such, the guy who had shelled out the cash got to name what he bought. You should know that man, John Cleves Symmes, never missed a political advantage when he saw it. Historians say he likely figured he would need Hamilton’s largesse and this was a good opportunity to score some points. (Federal money came through the Treasury and that meant it came through Hamilton.) More: Want $10 'Hamilton' tickets? Here's your chance More: There's a Cincinnati story hidden inside 'Hamilton' the musical You should also know that Symmes had agreed to do a lot of things when he was allowed to purchase the land. He didn’t do most of them, spoiling that fun for everybody since. The government quickly put a halt to such future sales. Was Hamilton appreciative of Symmes’ vanity play? If so, we will never know. Hamilton died unexpectedly in 1804 from the wounds inflicted when he dueled Aaron Burr. Did any towns want to curry favor with that other guy, you know, Burr? One, that was in Tennessee. Founded in 1801, pre-duel, it was named for the then-Vice President of the United States. Burr, it seems, had done a great deal in getting Tennessee admitted to the Union and people were appreciative. But, lo, in 1809, Burr was not so much admired. After all, he had by then gunned down Hamilton and was charged with treason in connection with an alleged conspiracy to take over land in Texas and the Louisiana Purchase. The town changed its name to Clinton. (Feel free to insert any manner of response here.) Did either Hamilton or Burr ever visit Cincinnati? Burr visited Cincinnati twice when he went to the Terrace Park home of U.S. Sen. John Smith, who later ended up being indicted for treason with Burr. There is no record of Hamilton gracing our piece of paradise. But Hamilton knew Cincinnati, yes? He did. But he also knew and revered Cincinnatus, the legendary Roman figure of civic virtue, who gave us his name. When both Burr and Hamilton met for the infamous duel in Weehawken, New Jersey, on July 11, 1804, both men were members of the Society of the Cincinnati, what is said to be the “oldest private patriotic organization in the United States.” That may be, but a few of the Founding Fathers expressed dismay early on that the society was, in fact, creating some kind of caste system in America. Which, they contended, they had all fought to demolish. The society required you to have descended from a real Revolutionary War soldier and be male to belong. The society still exists today. Same rules. Read or Share this story: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/02/14/hamilton-county-named-after-alexander-hamilton-and-more-fun-facts/2778864002/	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4975
__label__wiki	0.837725	0.837725	Stay Tuned: Netflix gets the Michael Bay treatment with action thriller ‘6 Underground’ Melissa Crawley More Content Now Dec 10, 2019 at 9:45 AM Dec 10, 2019 at 9:45 AM A Chicago improv performer stars in a witty comedy series, football coaches share their wisdom, amateur bakers offer up holiday treats, a beloved sci-fi series gets a second chance and Michael Bay brings his signature action to Netflix. Dispatches: Weekly TV news HBO announced a series order for a drama based on the personal and professional lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers. So far untitled, the project will be based on Jeff Pearlman’s book, “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.” New York City’s Uptown Records, which played a role in the careers of hip hop, soul and R&B stars including Heavy D & The Boyz, Mary J. Blige, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and more, will be the focus of an original scripted miniseries on BET. “Uptown” will explore the label’s beginning to current day and feature the music and stars that shaped what would come to be called the Uptown “sound.” The series is scheduled to premiere in 2020. Contenders: Shows to keep on your radar Chicago improv performer Abby McEnany is co-creator and star of “Work in Progress” (Dec. 8, Showtime, 11 p.m. ET). McEnany plays Abby, a 45-year-old self-identified, fat, queer dyke who unexpectedly finds a transformative relationship while struggling with depression and suicidal tendencies. Did I mention it’s a comedy? A witty and provocative series that skillfully moves between tragedy and humor, Abby’s story will have you rooting for her. Full of confidence one minute and despair the next, she deals with a dead-end job, weight issues, and dating someone half her age, a story point which makes for some funny moments. Get some pointers on winning from coaches Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and Nick Saban of Alabama’s Crimson Tide who are profiled in sports documentary, “Belichick & Saban: The Art of Coaching” (Dec. 10, HBO, 9 p.m. ET). Ten of the country’s top amateur bakers compete in the latest Christmas installment of all things sugar on “The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition” (Dec. 12, ABC, 9 p.m. ET). Expect explosions. Michael Bay’s latest action-packed thriller, “6 Underground” (Dec. 13, Netflix), stars Ryan Reynolds as the leader of a global team of operatives who have faked their deaths to take out a dictator. Over a year after Syfy cancelled it, “The Expanse” (Dec. 13) makes its return on Amazon. An intergalactic tale of the darker side of human nature, the fourth season of the series follows the crew of the Rocinante as they encounter an alien civilization that is causing trouble on the planet Ilus. Report Card: A look at ratings winners and losers Winner: The crossover “Arrowverse” episode, “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” gave the CW its highest rating of the season so far. Loser: Fox’s “Miss Universe” competition was down 18% from last year’s rating. Melissa Crawley is the author of “Mr. Sorkin Goes to Washington: Shaping the President on Television’s ‘The West Wing.’” She has a Ph.D. in media studies and is a member of the Television Critics Association. To comment on Stay Tuned, email her at staytuned@outlook.com or follow her on Twitter at @mcstaytuned.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4986
__label__wiki	0.648517	0.648517	Free Concerts at Steamboat Resort This season’s Steamboat’s Rock The Boat Free Concert Series is underway with The Main Squeeze set to play this Saturday. All concerts are free to the public and take place on the Steamboat Stage in Gondola Square beginning around 3:30pm (with some exceptions). “This year’s lineup provides a little of something for everyone, with a wide span of musical options,” said Katie Brown, vice president of sales and marketing for Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. “To be able to bring together our guests and staff in the base area with a musical celebration each weekend is one of the highlights of a visit to Steamboat.” We have some old favorites returning and fresh new additions to keep everyone on their feet dancing. The following outlines the full schedule of concerts as part of the Rock the Boat free concert series: March 16: The Main Squeeze March 23: Freddy Jones Band March 30: Southern Avenue April 6: The Commonheart April 13: TBA April 14: The Wailers SCHEDULE & BAND LISTING The Main Squeeze Saturday, March 16 A powerful combination of hip-hop, funk, and rock, the Main Squeeze has vastly evolved from their humble beginning as a party band at Indiana University. Their unique sound and soulful energy have propelled them to the stage at Red Rocks as well as performances alongside The Roots and Aloe Blacc. The soulful sound of front man Corey Frye’s vocals mixed with creative instrumentals bring an emotional and funky stage presence that invites the audience to experience and enjoy life. The Main Squeeze debuts their new album, “Without a Sound”, this April which continues to build on their classic yet innovative music with the goal of appealing to the senses of their listeners. Freddy Jones Band Saturday, March 23 Building on their previous roots-rock hits, Freddy Jones Band most recently released “Never Change”, an album described as “euphoric” by the band’s lead singer/songwriter Marty Lloyd. Lloyd is a founding member of the band that was formed in the early ‘90s and is accompanied by Rich Ross on bass, Stu Miller on guitar, and drummer Goose LaPoint. This long-running act brings a mix of Southern rock and blues producing number-one singles such as “In a Daydream”, “Take the Time”, and “Those Diamonds” from their newly debuted album. Southern Avenue Saturday, March 30 Named for a street in their home town of Memphis, Southern Avenue puts a twist on gospel with a unique blend of R&B and soul. Founded by guitarist Ori Naftaly, who grew up in Israel with a passion for blues and funk, the band was formed when Naftaly met Memphis natives Tierinii Jackson and her sister Tikyra who provide soulful vocals and powerful drumming along with bassist Daniel McKee, and Jeremy Powell on the keyboard. The Commonheart Saturday, April 6 Debuting their new album, “Grown”, The Commonheart brings an energetic tone and energy infusing crisp sound with powerful instrumentals. The nine-piece band, formed in Pittsburgh, is made up of vocals from front man Clinton Clegg along with trumpet, saxophone, keys, and guitar bring a powerhouse performance with blues, soul, and gospel influence. The Commonheart’s sound is a true testament to the past while completely holding its own as one of today’s most promising acts. To Be Announced Saturday, April 13 The Wailers Sunday, April 14 Throughout the ‘70s, Bob Marley & The Wailers helped bring the genre of reggae music to the world. Today they continue this quest in memory of their original front man after his untimely passing in 1981. Several original members, including Aston ‘Familyman’ Barrett on bass guitar and lead guitarist Donald Kinsey are among the eight-piece band delivering a bright and innovative sound. The group continues its mission of sharing Bob Marley’s message of unity and the spirit of their leader alive through music. « Cross Country Cruising – Expert Tips from a Steamboat Local Tips for Safely Viewing Wildlife In Steamboat Springs »	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4987
__label__wiki	0.734331	0.734331	Difference between revisions of "Silent majority" JDano (Talk \| contribs) (expand) 1990'sguy (Talk \| contribs) (Fixes.) In [[United States]] history, the term has been closely associated with the Nixon Administration. Nixon was a middle-of-the-road politician who reached out to [[China]] as a counter-balance to the Soviet Union and established the [[Environmental Protection Agency]]. He positioned himself to the left of principled conservatives such as [[Barry Goldwater]] and [[Ronald Reagan]]. The "silent majority" sought to appeal to working-class voters, particularly those in the south who were upset by the Civil Rights legislation adopted in the 1960s under [[Lyndon Johnson]]. The silent majority has usually consisted of law-abiding [[conservatives]], fed up or unpersuaded by the vocal [[left-wing]] minority. Rather than holding major [[protest]]s, oftentimes disruptive or violent in the case of the left-wingers, they let their views be known through the ballot box. ==Origin of the term== The existence of the silent majority was further seen in the [[United States presidential election, 1972\|1972 presidential election]]. Democrats nominated [[George McGovern]], likely the most [[left-wing]] nominee in history at that point. Large numbers of [[Democratic Party\|Democrats]] abandoned the party and its nominee who was not in line with their traditional conservative values and voted for Nixon.<ref name="Britannica">[https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1972 United States presidential election of 1972]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> Nixon was successfully able to point out McGovern's extreme views, and he won the election in one of the largest landslides in United States history.<ref name="Britannica"/><ref name="WaPo1972">Broder, David S. (November 8, 1972). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/110872-1.htm Nixon Wins Landslide Victory; Democrats Hold Senate, House]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> Even traditionally Democrat states, such as [[West Virginia]], [[New York]], and [[Texas]], voted for Nixon (he won 49 states).<ref name="WaPo1972"/> As of 2016, the 1972 presidential election was the 4th largest landslide election in terms of the popular vote, and even larger than the [[United States presidential election, 1964\|1964 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/largest-landslide-victories-in-us-presidential-election-history.html Largest Landslide Victories In US Presidential Election History]. ''worldatlas.com''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> ==Other examples of appeal to the "silent majority" in history== ==Other potential examples of the silent majority in U.S. history== ===Black silent majority=== During the 1960s and 70s, a silent majority existed in the [[African Americans\|black community]] that opposed the undue sympathy of the liberal elites towards criminals and drug dealers.<ref name="Federalist">Grabar, Mary (May 5, 2016). [http://thefederalist.com/2016/05/05/the-forgotten-history-of-the-black-silent-majority/ The Forgotten History Of ‘The Black Silent Majority’]. ''The Federalist''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> Rather than condemning "police brutality", blaming crime and drug use on racism, or supporting the [[welfare state]] as a solution, they supported tougher crime laws.<ref name="Federalist"/> Some even supported [[capital punishment]] for these crimes.<ref name="Federalist"/> However, the term "Black Silent Majority" did not gain widespread acceptance. During the 1960s and 70s, a silent majority existed in the [[African Americans\|black community]] that opposed the undue sympathy of the liberal elites towards criminals and drug dealers.<ref name="Federalist">Grabar, Mary (May 5, 2016). [http://thefederalist.com/2016/05/05/the-forgotten-history-of-the-black-silent-majority/ The Forgotten History Of ‘The Black Silent Majority’]. ''The Federalist''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> Rather than condemning "police brutality", blaming crime and drug use on racism, or supporting the [[welfare state]] as a solution, they supported tougher crime laws.<ref name="Federalist"/> Some even supported [[capital punishment]] for these crimes.<ref name="Federalist"/> ===Reagan's majority=== Another example of the silent majority is seen in [[Ronald Reagan]]'s presidential election campaigns. Despite claims that he was too [[conservative]] to be elected president, Reagan easily defeated Democrat [[Jimmy Carter]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1980\|1980 presidential election]].<ref name="Britannica1980">[https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1980 United States presidential election of 1980]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> The American public was fed up with Carter's weak foreign policy, calls for energy conservation, as well as liberal, [[big government]] economic policies, and even [[Reagan Democrat\|many Democrats]] voted for Reagan.<ref name="Britannica1980"/> In 1984, Democrats nominated liberal [[Walter Mondale]], who even stated outright that he would raise taxes as president, who Americans rejected in a landslide—a repudiation of liberal policies.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1984 United States presidential election of 1984]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> Another example of the silent majority is seen in [[Ronald Reagan]]'s presidential election campaigns. Despite claims that he was too [[conservative]] to be elected president, Reagan easily defeated Democrat [[Jimmy Carter]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1980\|1980 presidential election]].<ref name="Britannica1980">[https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1980 United States presidential election of 1980]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> The American public was fed up with Carter's weak foreign policy; calls for energy conservation; liberal, [[big government]] economic policies; as well as the poor economic state of the nation; and even [[Reagan Democrat\|many Democrats]] voted for Reagan.<ref name="Britannica1980"/> In 1984, Democrats nominated liberal [[Walter Mondale]], who even stated outright that he would raise taxes as president, who Americans rejected in a landslide—a repudiation of liberal policies.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1984 United States presidential election of 1984]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> ===Trump's silent majority=== [[Donald Trump]] frequently mentioned the silent majority in speeches during the [[2016 U.S. presidential election\|2016 presidential election]].<ref>Sanders, Sam (January 22, 2016). [http://www.npr.org/2016/01/22/463884201/trump-champions-the-silent-majority-but-what-does-that-mean-in-2016 Trump Champions The 'Silent Majority,' But What Does That Mean In 2016?]. ''NPR''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> While polling predicted [[Hillary Clinton]] would win easily, Trump performed significantly better than polling suggested.<ref>Mercer, Andrew; Deane, Claudia; McGeeney, Kyley (November 9, 2016). [http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/why-2016-election-polls-missed-their-mark/ Why 2016 election polls missed their mark]. ''Pew Research Center''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref><ref name="FiveThirtyEight">Bialik, Carl; Enten, Harry (November 9, 2016). [http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-polls-missed-trump-we-asked-pollsters-why/ The Polls Missed Trump. We Asked Pollsters Why.]. ''FiveThirtyEight''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> Trump voters were underrepresented in polling samples, and it is possible that, because it is social taboo in mainstream society to support Trump, many voters did not state their real voting intentions to pollsters, even though that idea was rejected by some.<ref name="FiveThirtyEight"/> Throughout the campaign and after the election, Trump critics were extremely vocal about their views, while Trump supporters acted more discreet. Anti-Trump demonstrators caused massive disruption, stopping at least one Trump rally in Chicago, and after the election, they continued in their protests and violence. While Clinton narrowly won the nationwide popular vote (by about 2%), Trump won a large majority of the states (30.5, including Maine's second district; 61%).<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/index.html 2016 Presidential General Election Results]. ''Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> In addition, Trump won 2,623 counties—the largest number for both a Republican or Democratic Presidentail candidate since [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984—while the Democrats won only 489.<ref>Jacobson, Louis (December 4, 2016). [http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/dec/04/mike-pence/mike-pence-says-donald-trump-won-most-counties-rep/ Mike Pence says Donald Trump won most counties by a Republican since Ronald Reagan]. ''PolitiFact''. Retrieved December 4, 2016.</ref> Geographically speaking, Trump accordingly won 85 percent of the land area of the nation.<ref>Wallace, Tim (November 16, 2016). [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/16/us/politics/the-two-americas-of-2016.html?_r=0 The Two Americas of 2016]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved December 5, 2016.</ref> Throughout the campaign and after the election, anti-Trump critics were extremely vocal about their views, while Trump supporters acted more discreet. Anti-Trump demonstrators caused massive disruption, stopping at least one Trump rally in Chicago, and after the election, they continued in their protests and violence. While Clinton narrowly won the nationwide popular vote (by about 2%), Trump won a large majority of the states (30.5, including Maine's second district; 61%).<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/index.html 2016 Presidential General Election Results]. ''Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections''. Retrieved December 18, 2016.</ref> In addition, Trump won 2,623 counties—the largest number for both a Republican or Democrat presidential candidate since [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984—while the Democrats won only 489.<ref>Jacobson, Louis (December 4, 2016). [http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/dec/04/mike-pence/mike-pence-says-donald-trump-won-most-counties-rep/ Mike Pence says Donald Trump won most counties by a Republican since Ronald Reagan]. ''PolitiFact''. Retrieved December 4, 2016.</ref> Trump accordingly won 85 percent of the nation by land area.<ref>Wallace, Tim (November 16, 2016). [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/16/us/politics/the-two-americas-of-2016.html?_r=0 The Two Americas of 2016]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved December 5, 2016.</ref> ===="Women's March"==== After Trump's inauguration, a vocal minority of leftist protesters staged "women's marches" around the world.<ref>Keneally, Meghan (January 22, 2017). [http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/womens-march-heads-washington-day-trumps-inauguration/story?id=44936042 More than 1 Million Rally at Women's Marches in US and Around World]. ''ABC News''. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref> This "women's march" was largely just a sham intended to bash President Trump and promote feminist ideology that hundreds of millions of women oppose.<ref name="LiberalTPs">Mcardle, Mairead (January 21, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/womens-march-sports-slew-of-liberal-talking-points/article/2612596 Women's March sports slew of liberal talking points]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref> Additionally, [[pro-life]] groups were excluded from the D.C. march, even though they support the humane principle of opposing legalized murder.<ref name="LiberalTPs"/> Additionally, hateful leftist activists such as [[Madonna Ciccone\|Madonna]]<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/01/21/madonna-gives-profanity-laced-speech-at-womens-march-in-washington.html Madonna gives profanity-laced speech at Women's March in Washington]. ''Fox News''. January 21, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref> and [[Ashley Judd]]<ref>Laila, Cristina (January 21, 2017). [http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/01/unhinged-ashley-judd-recites-nasty-woman-poem-womens-march-video/ Unhinged! Ashley Judd Recites ‘Nasty Woman’ Poem At Women’s March (VIDEO)]. ''The Gateway Pundit''. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref> gave hateful, vulgar, and idiotic rants against Trump. These protesters forgot that Trump still managed to win about 42% of women and won a strong majority of about 53% of white women according to liberal "mainstream" exit polls.<ref>[http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/president Presidential Results]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/election/results/exit-polls/national/president Exit polls]. ''CNN''. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref> After Trump's inauguration, a vocal minority of leftist protesters staged "women's marches" around the world.<ref>Keneally, Meghan (January 22, 2017). [http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/womens-march-heads-washington-day-trumps-inauguration/story?id=44936042 More than 1 Million Rally at Women's Marches in US and Around World]. ''ABC News''. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref> This "women's march" was largely just a sham intended to bash President Trump and promote far-left and [[feminist]] ideology that hundreds of millions of women oppose.<ref name="LiberalTPs">Mcardle, Mairead (January 21, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/womens-march-sports-slew-of-liberal-talking-points/article/2612596 Women's March sports slew of liberal talking points]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref> Additionally, [[pro-life]] groups were excluded from the D.C. march, even though they support the humane principle of opposing legalized murder.<ref name="LiberalTPs"/> Additionally, hateful leftist activists such as [[Madonna Ciccone\|Madonna]]<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/01/21/madonna-gives-profanity-laced-speech-at-womens-march-in-washington.html Madonna gives profanity-laced speech at Women's March in Washington]. ''Fox News''. January 21, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref> and [[Ashley Judd]]<ref>Laila, Cristina (January 21, 2017). [http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/01/unhinged-ashley-judd-recites-nasty-woman-poem-womens-march-video/ Unhinged! Ashley Judd Recites ‘Nasty Woman’ Poem At Women’s March (VIDEO)]. ''The Gateway Pundit''. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref> gave hateful, vulgar, and idiotic rants against Trump. These protesters forgot that Trump still managed to win about 42% of women and won a strong majority of about 53% of white women according to liberal "mainstream" exit polls.<ref>[http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/president Presidential Results]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/election/results/exit-polls/national/president Exit polls]. ''CNN''. Retrieved January 22, 2017.</ref> ====Refugee suspension==== Richard Nixon in Paoli, Pennsylvania, July 1968. A silent majority is a large amount of people who, as the term implies, constitute a majority or large amount of the population on a certain issue or issues, but have not openly expressed their opinions. This causes the opposing side to appear numerically larger, but the silent majority can often be seen on election days. In United States history, the term has been closely associated with the Nixon Administration. Nixon was a middle-of-the-road politician who reached out to China as a counter-balance to the Soviet Union and established the Environmental Protection Agency. He positioned himself to the left of principled conservatives such as Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. The "silent majority" sought to appeal to working-class voters, particularly those in the south who were upset by the Civil Rights legislation adopted in the 1960s under Lyndon Johnson. The silent majority has usually consisted of law-abiding conservatives, fed up or unpersuaded by the vocal left-wing minority. Rather than holding major protests, oftentimes disruptive or violent in the case of the left-wingers, they let their views be known through the ballot box. 1 Origin of the term 1.1 Outcome 2 Other potential examples of the silent majority in U.S. history 2.1 Black silent majority 2.2 Reagan's majority 2.3 Trump's silent majority 2.3.1 "Women's March" 2.3.2 Refugee suspension 2.4 Homosexual agenda Origin of the term The term "silent majority" first originated under Republican U.S. president Richard Nixon. Nixon, who was elected president in 1968, promised an end to the Vietnam War.[1] After he assumed office, Nixon decided against a quick withdrawal, as it would severely damage international trust and confidence in American leadership.[1] However, liberal antiwar activists, who wanted a quick withdrawal regardless of its effects, were very unhappy and vocal in their unhappiness, staging at least one major protest in Washington D.C.[1] On November 3, 1969, Nixon gave a major speech to call for national unity and explain his plan for Vietnamization—to reduce U.S. troop presence in the country until either true peace could be achieved or until the South Vietnamese could defend themselves.[1][2] At the end of his speech, Nixon called on the "great silent majority" to support his plan.[1][2] While the New Left, antiwar protestors, and hippies vocally expressed their leftist views, a silent majority of Americans who had not given in to their agenda. In fact, a Gallup poll released soon after Nixon's November 1969 speech showed 77 percent of Americans in favor of Nixon's policy, despite the antiwar protests.[2] The existence of the silent majority was further seen in the 1972 presidential election. Democrats nominated George McGovern, likely the most left-wing nominee in history at that point. Large numbers of Democrats abandoned the party and its nominee who was not in line with their traditional conservative values and voted for Nixon.[3] Nixon was successfully able to point out McGovern's extreme views, and he won the election in one of the largest landslides in United States history.[3][4] Even traditionally Democrat states, such as West Virginia, New York, and Texas, voted for Nixon (he won 49 states).[4] As of 2016, the 1972 presidential election was the 4th largest landslide election in terms of the popular vote, and even larger than the 1964 presidential election.[5] Other potential examples of the silent majority in U.S. history Black silent majority During the 1960s and 70s, a silent majority existed in the black community that opposed the undue sympathy of the liberal elites towards criminals and drug dealers.[6] Rather than condemning "police brutality", blaming crime and drug use on racism, or supporting the welfare state as a solution, they supported tougher crime laws.[6] Some even supported capital punishment for these crimes.[6] Reagan's majority Another example of the silent majority is seen in Ronald Reagan's presidential election campaigns. Despite claims that he was too conservative to be elected president, Reagan easily defeated Democrat Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential election.[7] The American public was fed up with Carter's weak foreign policy; calls for energy conservation; liberal, big government economic policies; as well as the poor economic state of the nation; and even many Democrats voted for Reagan.[7] In 1984, Democrats nominated liberal Walter Mondale, who even stated outright that he would raise taxes as president, who Americans rejected in a landslide—a repudiation of liberal policies.[8] Trump's silent majority Donald Trump frequently mentioned the silent majority in speeches during the 2016 presidential election.[9] While polling predicted Hillary Clinton would win easily, Trump performed significantly better than polling suggested.[10][11] Trump voters were underrepresented in polling samples, and it is possible that, because it is social taboo in mainstream society to support Trump, many voters did not state their real voting intentions to pollsters, even though that idea was rejected by some.[11] Throughout the campaign and after the election, anti-Trump critics were extremely vocal about their views, while Trump supporters acted more discreet. Anti-Trump demonstrators caused massive disruption, stopping at least one Trump rally in Chicago, and after the election, they continued in their protests and violence. While Clinton narrowly won the nationwide popular vote (by about 2%), Trump won a large majority of the states (30.5, including Maine's second district; 61%).[12] In addition, Trump won 2,623 counties—the largest number for both a Republican or Democrat presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1984—while the Democrats won only 489.[13] Trump accordingly won 85 percent of the nation by land area.[14] "Women's March" After Trump's inauguration, a vocal minority of leftist protesters staged "women's marches" around the world.[15] This "women's march" was largely just a sham intended to bash President Trump and promote far-left and feminist ideology that hundreds of millions of women oppose.[16] Additionally, pro-life groups were excluded from the D.C. march, even though they support the humane principle of opposing legalized murder.[16] Additionally, hateful leftist activists such as Madonna[17] and Ashley Judd[18] gave hateful, vulgar, and idiotic rants against Trump. These protesters forgot that Trump still managed to win about 42% of women and won a strong majority of about 53% of white women according to liberal "mainstream" exit polls.[19][20] Refugee suspension Despite major left-wing hysteria and criticism due to President Trump's executive order temporarily suspending refugee inflows as well as immigration from certain high-risk nations, 49 percent of the American public supported the decision compared to 41 percent opposed, according to the "mainstream" Reuters,[21] and 57% percent of likely American voters supported the ban according to Rasmussen.[22] Despite the fact that only 4.1% of the U.S. population in 2017 identified as LGBT, just over half a percentage point higher than four years prior,[23] Americans greatly overestimate the proportion of homosexuals in the nation to be an average of 23%.[24] While neither statistic shows homosexuals in the majority, their size and strength is greatly exaggerated, in conformance with earlier examples. Interestingly, Republicans and conservatives gave estimates closest to the actual number.[24] ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Nixon's "Silent Majority" Speech. chnm.gmu.edu. Retrieved December 18, 2016. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nixon calls on the “silent majority” - Nov. 3, 1969 - This Day in History. History.com. Retrieved December 18, 2016. ↑ 3.0 3.1 United States presidential election of 1972. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 18, 2016. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Broder, David S. (November 8, 1972). Nixon Wins Landslide Victory; Democrats Hold Senate, House. The Washington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2016. ↑ Largest Landslide Victories In US Presidential Election History. worldatlas.com. Retrieved December 18, 2016. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Grabar, Mary (May 5, 2016). The Forgotten History Of ‘The Black Silent Majority’. The Federalist. Retrieved December 18, 2016. ↑ United States presidential election of 1984. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 18, 2016. ↑ Sanders, Sam (January 22, 2016). Trump Champions The 'Silent Majority,' But What Does That Mean In 2016?. NPR. Retrieved December 18, 2016. ↑ Mercer, Andrew; Deane, Claudia; McGeeney, Kyley (November 9, 2016). Why 2016 election polls missed their mark. Pew Research Center. Retrieved December 18, 2016. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Bialik, Carl; Enten, Harry (November 9, 2016). The Polls Missed Trump. We Asked Pollsters Why.. FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved December 18, 2016. ↑ 2016 Presidential General Election Results. Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved December 18, 2016. ↑ Jacobson, Louis (December 4, 2016). Mike Pence says Donald Trump won most counties by a Republican since Ronald Reagan. PolitiFact. Retrieved December 4, 2016. ↑ Wallace, Tim (November 16, 2016). The Two Americas of 2016. The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2016. ↑ Keneally, Meghan (January 22, 2017). More than 1 Million Rally at Women's Marches in US and Around World. ABC News. Retrieved January 22, 2017. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Mcardle, Mairead (January 21, 2017). Women's March sports slew of liberal talking points. Washington Examiner. Retrieved January 22, 2017. ↑ Madonna gives profanity-laced speech at Women's March in Washington. Fox News. January 21, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2017. ↑ Laila, Cristina (January 21, 2017). Unhinged! Ashley Judd Recites ‘Nasty Woman’ Poem At Women’s March (VIDEO). The Gateway Pundit. Retrieved January 22, 2017. ↑ Presidential Results. NBC News. Retrieved January 22, 2017. ↑ Exit polls. CNN. Retrieved January 22, 2017. ↑ Kahn, Chris (January 31, 2017). Exclusive: Only a third of Americans think Trump's travel ban will make them more safe. Reuters. Retrieved January 31, 2017. ↑ Most Support Temporary Ban on Newcomers from Terrorist Havens. January 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017. ↑ Gates, Gary J. (January 11, 2017). In US, More Adults Identifying as LGBT. Gallup. Retrieved January 18, 2017. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Newport, Frank (May 21, 2015). Americans Greatly Overestimate Percent Gay, Lesbian in U.S. Gallup. Retrieved January 18, 2017. Silent majority definition according to the Cambridge Dictionary Retrieved from "https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Silent_majority&oldid=1304742"	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4990
__label__wiki	0.596914	0.596914	Judge blocks VA from firing corrupt employee who failed veterans Blueberries \| GettyImages The judicial tyranny never fails to disappoint. Now a federal court is saying the president can’t fire corrupt bureaucrats who run the VA hospitals and have failed our veterans. Amidst the brouhaha over the firing of FBI Director James Comey, many commentators have brought to life the debate over the president’s ability to fire executive personnel. Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of the Constitution should recognize that, politics aside, a president has the legal authority to fire any executive official, because there is no position that is independent from the president’s executive leadership (assuming that position is not under the auspices of the legislative or judicial branches of government). Even Congress has no power to force particular executive staff upon the president. Now the federal courts are essentially giving corrupt employees extra bites at the apple to keep their jobs … even when Congress explicitly agreed with the administration’s decision to terminate the bureaucrat. Sharon Helman ran the VA hospital in Phoenix, Ariz., which, according to bipartisan investigations by Congress, was found to be neglecting patients and posting phony wait-times in order to bolster their performance bonuses. She was accused of retaliating against whistle-blowers. Helman was also recently found guilty of accepting $50,000 in gifts from medical industry lobbyists in a pay-for-play scandal and was sentenced to probation. The Obama-led VA fired her in 2015. Now, the Court of the Appeals for the Federal Circuit is saying that, contrary to a recent law passed by Congress (which the court “struck down,” in part), Helman is entitled to another administrative appeal in order to save her job. Here are the details from USA Today: Helman will now have a chance to appeal her dismissal to the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, despite a criminal conviction in a separate court case. The Court of the Appeals for the Federal Circuit shot down a provision of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, a measure adopted by Congress in part to expedite the removal of Department of Veterans Affairs executives based on misconduct or gross incompetence. The court ruled that, after an administrative judge upheld Helman’s firing by the VA, she should have been allowed to appeal that ruling to the MSPB. However, based on the new law, board members refused to hear her case. Appellate justices agreed with Helman that the expedited procedure violated the Constitution’s so-called “appointments clause” by placing too much power with an administrative judge. The fact that even someone like Helman, amidst the VA crisis, cannot be readily fired … even after Congress made it easier to do so, demonstrates the unimaginable power of the judicial autocracy under which we live. It’s true that the 2014 act of Congress gave administrative judges more discretion to fire employees, but the president doesn’t need any act of Congress; any secretary or high government official, acting on behalf of policies set ultimately by the president, have the power to fire anyone for any reason. That the courts are now going after statutes that merely buttressed this power under the Obama administration demonstrates that they will easily go after firings from this administration that are not pursuant to statute, albeit in accords with Article II powers. The president can fire any executive employee The civil service laws are largely unconstitutional. As we’ve noted before, Congress has many Article I powers at its disposal to check a president, including the ability to defund an office, statutorily change its mission, or block (in the case of the Senate) new presidential nominees. But Congress cannot force upon the president any particular personnel he doesn’t want to keep. There is no fourth branch of government that can be created by Congress, operating autonomously within the executive branch and not subject to the president’s power to fire. As James Madison said, “[I]f any power whatsoever is in its nature Executive, it is the power of appointing, overseeing, and controlling those who execute the laws.” In 1926, back when judges actually understood the Constitution, Chief Justice (and former president) William Howard Taft upheld the plenary power of the president over the removal of executive officials in a scholarly 70-page opinion (Myers v. United States) which drew upon endless quotes from the Constitutional Convention and the members of the first Congress in 1789. Yet, beginning in the FDR- and Warren-court eras, concurrent with the court expanding its own jurisdiction, judges began limiting Article II powers over firing and have slowly green-lighted the creation of a fourth branch of government. In the independent counsel case of 1988 (Morrison v. Olson), Justice Antonin Scalia, in a scathing dissent, noted how later court decisions were “gutting, in six quick pages devoid of textual or historical precedent for the novel principle it set forth, a carefully researched and reasoned 70-page opinion” of Taft. What is so sad here is that fixing the VA is one of the few bipartisan issues in politics. Sure, there is a wide gulf between conservatives and Democrats over whether veterans should be endlessly dependent on government-run health care or offered better private options, but everyone agrees on the need to fire bad actors. Yet, it always comes back to the courts. The need to strip the courts of jurisdiction The House already passed in March the VA Accountability First Act, which would make it easier to fire poorly preforming, much less corrupt, employees of the VA. It’s time for them to repass the bill and add a provision exercising Article III Sec. II powers to strip the courts — especially the lower courts — of jurisdiction over this issue. What better issue to plant the flag of judicial reform upon than VA reform? Let Democrats side with judicial tyranny over veterans. Unless Congress directly strips the court of jurisdiction or moves personnel firing claims to a different circuit, we will never be able to get past the juggernaut of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. This specialized circuit (which was created by Congress in 1982, not the Constitution!) now has a 9-3 Democrat-appointee majority, with seven Obama appointees and no vacancies. It is gone for a generation. But it oversees the Merit Systems Protections Board, which means that any effort by the Trump administration to drain other department swamps will be stymied by this same court through the appeals process. If Congress is going to allow a court it itself created in 1982 to continue holding jurisdiction over issues it granted them and can rescind at any time, its members are at fault. Absent wholesale judicial reform, it’s quite evident that even if the president gets serious about draining the swamp, and even if Congress passes new legislation expediting the firing of corrupt or failed VA officials, the courts will declare themselves king over those issues as well. After all, if courts can have the final say on marriage, abortion, immigration, election law, and redistricting, what’s a couple of corrupt VA figures in the scheme of their social transformation?	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4991
__label__wiki	0.841138	0.841138	Finisar Acquires Big Bear for 40 Gbps Transponders Wednesday, November 30, 2005 Optical Finisar Corporation acquired all of the optical transponder assets of Big Bear Networks for $1.9 million in cash. The assets purchased include equipment, inventory and intellectual property associated with Big Bear's 10Gigabit Ethernet Xenpak and X2 transponders and their industry leading 40Gigabit transponder that has already been qualified by a number of telecom equipment companies. Big Bear Networks realized approximately $4.0 million in revenues for transponder sales during calendar 2005 through October 31, most of which was for 40 Gbps products. Finisar will move all acquired assets into its facilities in Northern California and believes that the transaction will be neutral to its bottom line during the first year of operations. http://www.finisar.com http://www.bigbearnetworks.com In November 2003, Big Bear Networks, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California raised $18 million in a third round of private venture funding for its next-generation 10 and 40 Gbps optical system products. Big Bear said its electronic dispersion compensation technology automatically corrects for the fiber impairments (e.g., modal dispersion, chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion) that become more severe as systems move toward greater speeds and transmission distances. This round of funding was led by Menlo Ventures. Other participants include previous investors Accel Partners, Austin Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, and Sequoia Capital. In January 2002, Big Bear raised $40 million in its second round of private funding. Lead investors for the Series B funding were Austin Ventures, Austin, Tex., and Menlo Ventures, Menlo Park, Calif. Other participants in the current round include Oak Investment Partners, Menlo Park; as well as original investors Accel Partners and Sequoia Capital, which together invested $20 million in Big Bear in June 2000. Level 3 Sells IT Outsourcing Unit to Infocrossing Wednesday, November 30, 2005 Service Providers Level 3 Communications completed the sale of its IT infrastructure management outsourcing subsidiary, (i)Structure, to Infocrossing for approximately $84.8 million. (I) Structure, headquartered in Broomfield, CO, provides computing operations and managed infrastructure services to enterprise clients from data centers located in the central and western United States. http://www.level3.com http://www.infocrossing.com/istructure Verizon Wireless to Offer MediaFLO's Mobile Real-time TV Services Wednesday, November 30, 2005 Mobile Verizon Wireless will be the first U.S. wireless service provider to offer MediaFLO realtime TV services when the network is commercially available. Verizon is with QUALCOMM and its subsidiary MediaFLO USA Inc. to launch mobile TV services over the MediaFLO network in approximately half of the markets already covered by Verizon Wireless' CDMA2000 1xEV-DO-based broadband network. FLO technology is a new air interface originally developed by Qualcomm with multicasting capabilities designed to increase capacity and reduce content delivery costs to mobile handsets. The technology is independent of the cellular network but complements CDMA2000 1X, 1xEV-DO and WCDMA cellular network data and voice services. MediaFLO USA Inc. is building a nationwide network based on QUALCOMM's FLO technology to deliver multimedia content to mobile devices in the 700 MHz spectrum. QUALCOMM holds a nationwide footprint of spectrum licenses in this band. MediaFLO USA Inc. expects to begin commercial operation of the new network in 2006. Following the initial launch, QUALCOMM and MediaFLO USA Inc. will continue to expand the MediaFLO network throughout other markets that cover the Verizon Wireless' V CAST and BroadbandAccess service areas. Verizon Wireless plans to offer mobile TV service to its subscribers through MediaFLO-enabled EV-DO handsets and use the MediaFLO network to deliver mobile TV services when the network begins commercial operation. "MediaFLO USA's network will allow us to provide compelling real-time multimedia services to wireless customers, complementing our industry-leading wireless voice and data services -- including our successful V CAST broadband multimedia service," said John Stratton, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. http://www.qualcomm.com/http://www.verizonwireless.com/ India's BSNL Selects UTStarcom's IP DSLAM India's Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) selected UTStarcom to deploy 90,000 lines of its AN-2000 IP-based DSLAM in the operator's growing nationwide broadband network. BSNL is the incumbent and largest telecommunications services provider in India, with a presence in the fixed-line, cellular mobile, long distance and data markets. This contract represents an expansion on a previously announced deployment of its AN-2000 IP DSLAM and related equipment for the second phase of BSNL's National Internet Backbone project. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.utstar.com http://www.bsnl.co.in BellSouth Reorganizes into Retail and Business Units BellSouth announced a new operational structure aligned around two customer units: Retail Markets and Business Markets. Retail Markets, which will focus on BellSouth's residential and small business customers, will be headed by David Scobey. Reporting to Scobey will be William Pate, Chief Marketing Officer-Retail Markets, and Paulino Barros, Chief Product Officer-Retail Markets. Business Markets will provide support for enterprise and wholesale customers and will be led by Dick Anderson, vice chairman and president, Business Markets. Reporting to Anderson will be Donna Lee, Chief Marketing Officer-Business Markets. Within each operating unit sales, product development, marketing, and customer service functions will work together to deliver innovative products with superior customer service. Other appointments include: Keith Cowan was named Chief Field Operations Officer of the Network Services organization, reporting to Rod Odom, President, Network Services. Rex Adams was named Web Development Officer, and will now report to Fran Dramis, CIO, E-Commerce and Security Officer. In his new role, Adams will lead BellSouth's on-line strategy. "As competitive pressures intensify, speed to market is critical to success in the communications marketplace. This new alignment is designed to simplify our organization, provide focus on these two markets, and streamline the process for delivering customer solutions. This will better enable us to get the right products to the right customers more quickly," said Mark Feidler, BellSouth President and Chief Operating Officer. http://www.bellsouth.com ViaSat Acquires Efficient Channel Coding Wednesday, November 30, 2005 Satellite ViaSat acquired privately- held Efficient Channel Coding Inc. (ECC), a producer of broadband communication integrated circuits and satellite communication systems. Terms of the deal include initial consideration of approximately $16.5 million and the assumption of certain stock options as well as $9.0 million of additional consideration to be paid in cash and/or stock based on ECC meeting certain financial performance targets over the next two years. ViaSat said the deal enhances its position in the new S2 version of the DVB-RCS satellite broadband standard. The company also becomes the supplier of modem chips for the Asian IPSTAR spot-beam satellite system. Efficient Channel Coding is based in Cleveland, Ohio and has 55 employees. http://www.viasat.com http://www.efficientchannelcoding.com ViaSat's full line of satellite communication products includes VSAT systems for network access and infrastructure, and Ka-band satellite systems, from user terminals to large gateways. NTT America Consolidates Global IP and Enterprise Services NTT America, a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of NTT Communications Corporation, announced the launch of its Global IP Network business and Enterprise Hosting business in addition to the private network services already offered under the Arcstar brand. Both the Global IP Network and Enterprise Hosting businesses were previously operated at Verio, another NTT Communications subsidiary, which was acquired in September 2000. By combining the offerings under one roof, NTT America will be in a position to provide integrated data networking, IP, and hosting solutions through a single resource to its growing global customer base. Following the transfer of these businesses to NTT America, Verio will focus on the delivery of hosting and managed services to small and mid-market businesses and partners worldwide. "The integration of the Global IP Network and Enterprise Hosting services under NTT America will reemphasize NTT Communications' leadership position as a comprehensive enterprise solutions provider," said Tatsuo Kawasaki, President & CEO of NTT America. http://www.nttamerica.com/ AT&T Resumes Trading Under "T" Symbol Wednesday, November 30, 2005 Financial The new AT&T resumed trading under its legendary "T" symbol on the New York Stock Exchange. The company said its decision to adopt the "T" ticker symbol reflects both the rich heritage of the combined enterprise as well as its commitment to lead the next major shift in communications technology -- the transformation to integrated solutions based on Internet Protocol. The "T" symbol was used by AT&T Corp. before its acquisition by SBC Communications Inc. AT&T Corp. was a member of the Dow 30 until April 2004. The "T" ticker symbol was first used by American Bell, the predecessor of American Telephone and Telegraph Company, in 1888 on the Boston Stock Exchange. In 1901, American Telephone and Telegraph, which later became AT&T, started trading under the symbol "ATT" on the New York Stock Exchange, and it adopted the "T" symbol in 1930. The "SBC" stock ticker symbol dates back to 1984, following the creation of Southwestern Bell Corporation after divestiture by the original AT&T. Pactolus Appoints VPs of Engineering and Advanced Technology Pactolus Communications Software, a developer of Class 4/5 SIP-based IP voice services, named Steve Weeks as Vice President of Engineering and Jeff Gibson as Vice President of Advanced Technology Development. Weeks was most recently VP of Engineering for Brontes Technology and also served as Vice President of Research and Development for NBX Corporation, which developed a packet-switched PBX. http://www.pactolus.com Paragon Wireless Raises $7 Million for VoWLAN Wednesday, November 30, 2005 Start-ups Paragon Wireless, a start-up based in Dallas, Texas and Beijing, China, raised $7 million in Series B funding for its VoWLAN solution. Paragon designs and develops standards-compliant VoWLAN equipment including handsets and access points. ParaPhone is a smart phone with IEEE 802.11 and SIP-based VoIP engine. It provides end customers real multimedia experience, such as VoIP, E-mail, web surfing, MP3, high-quality photo, and video streaming in home, office, and hot spot/zone. ParaPhone Twins combines VoWLAN and GSM/GPRS into a single handset. It enables end customers to use it as a cell phone anywhere anytime and enjoy broadband applications and economical voice service many-time many-where. ParaAP, the AP product, integrates DSL (ADSL2+), WLAN AP (802.11g), router, VoIP (SIP), and IP-PBX together into one box. The product is already on the market. The latest funding round was co-led by Austin Ventures and CID Group. The funds will be used to further research and product development, and expand international sales and marketing activities. Paragon Wireless currently has 40 employees based in Beijing, China, and has recently established their international headquarters in Dallas, Texas. http://www.parawireless.com Cox Boosts Cable Modem Speeds to 9 Mbps downstream, 1 Mbps upstream Wednesday, November 30, 2005 Last Mille Cox Communications has increased the speed of its fastest Cox High Speed Internet package at no additional charge for customers in Cleveland, OH, Kansas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK, as well as Orange County and San Diego, California. Cox High Speed Internet customers that subscribe to the Premier package in these markets now get speeds up to 9 Mbps downstream and up to 1 Mbps upstream, a download speed up to 80% faster than before the upgrade. Earlier this year, Cox also increased data speeds in its Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, Rhode Island and Virginia markets. http://www.cox.com Agilent's Semiconductor Group Begins Operations as Avago Wednesday, November 30, 2005 Silicon Agilent Technologies completed the divestiture of its Semiconductor Products business to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) and Silver Lake Partners for $2.66 billion. The new company will operate under the name Avago Technologies. Avago Technologies has a portfolio of more than 5,500 products, which are sold into a broad set of applications and end markets, including wireless and wired communications, industrial, automotive, consumer electronics and storage and computing. The company maintains "top three" market leadership positions in optocouplers, infrared transceivers, optical communications, printer ASICs, optical mouse sensors, and motion control encoders. Avago Technologies is co-headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and Singapore, and begins operations with 6,500 employees of which 1,000 are analog design engineers. The company said it will differentiate its business through effective supply chain management, strong worldwide distribution channels and a highly variable, low-cost operating model. "Our strategy is to leverage our substantial intellectual property, design expertise and system-level knowledge to win in our markets," said Dick Chang, president and CEO of Avago Technologies. "We'll continue to provide the innovative products that enable our customers and that have established our market leadership positions. We'll also continue to drive profitability through a highly variable, low-cost operating model, and we'll capitalize on our new independence by developing an efficient, stand-alone cost structure."http://www.avagotech.comAgilent Technologies announced its plan to divest its Semiconductor business in August 2005. CNN Launches Paid Broadband Video Service Tuesday, November 29, 2005 TTP CNN launched a paid, broadband Internet news service offering live and on-demand content without commercials. A free video news service with commercials remains available on the company's website. CNN Pipeline offers up to four simultaneous news streams. Ad ownloadable player uses Windows Media 9 encoding and requires approximately 750 kbps of bandwidth. A Web-based player needs about 450 kbps. The service costs $0.99 per day, $2.95 per month or $24.95 per year. http://www.cnn.com Norwegian Broadcasting Offers Interactive Mobile TV App Tuesday, November 29, 2005 Mobile Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation launched a trial, interactive mobile TV service that allows users to vote, chat and communicate with a television presenter while watching their favorite show. Ericsson and NRK launched a downloadable client for the existing interactive TV format, Svisj. http://www.ericsson.com Korean Broadcasters Launch Terrestrial DMB Major Korean broadcasters, including KBS, MBC, SBS and YTN, launched free terrestrial digital media broadcasting (DMB) to specially-equipped mobile phones. The mobile TV offerings, which are initially is available in the Seoul area, are generating a luke warm response from service providers, according to the Korea Herald, because of an uncertain business model for the network operators. A growing number of DMB-enabled mobile handsets could change the outlook by next year. http://www.kbs.co.krhttp://www.koreaherald.com In May 2005, SK Telecom launched a satellite DMB service that delivers high-quality video broadcasts to a mobile phone or car-based video entertainment system. SK Telecom is initially delivering 11 video channels, 25 audio channels, and 3 data channels. Consumers in South Korea are able to receive the broadcasts either on mobile phones or in-car displays. The video uses MPEG-4 H.264 system and the music channels are furnished through a MPEG-2 AAC+ system. In areas where the satellite view may be obstructed, such as alongside tall buildings, SK Telecom will boost its service using a signal "gap filler" from its mobile base stations and existing towers. The Ku-Band (13.824~13.883GHz) is used between the Signal Transmission Center and the satellite (which is positioned at 144 degrees east longitude), and the S-Band (2.630~2.655 GHz, 25MHz) is utilized between satellite and the mobile terminals. The Ku-Band (12.214~12.239GHz) is used between satellite and base stations providing supplemental signals. NTT DoCoMo Invests in ACCESS CO. for Mobile Browsers NTT DoCoMo is increasing its equity stake in ACCESS CO., a Tokyo-based developer of software for mobile phones, from 7.12% to 11.66%. DoCoMo and ACCESS have been strengthening their partnership to develop mobile phone browsers and ACCESS's browser is widely used in DoCoMo's 3G FOMA handsets. http://www.nttdocomo.com NTT DoCoMo Invests in Aplix for Mobile Middleware NTT DoCoMo has acquired 15,000 newly allocated shares, or 14.98%, of software company Aplix Corporation, a Tokyo-based developer of embedded software, for mobile phones and PCs. DoCoMo and Aplix already enjoy a close working relationship in the development of DoJa/Java platforms, which have enabled an increasing number of Java products to be adapted to 3G FOMA handsets. Investors Bid $12 Billion for TDC Tuesday, November 29, 2005 Financial A group of international investors managed by APAX Partners, The Blackstone Group and Kravis Kohlberg Roberts made a $12 billion cash offer to acquire TDC, the incumbent carrier in Denmark. TDC's Board of Directors has recommended shareholders to accept the offer. TDC, which was fully privatized in 1998, has 13 million fixed line and mobile customers in Denmark and elsewhere in Europe. TDC is the largest alternative provider of Internet, data and telephone services in Switzerland and operates under the trademark sunrise. In Germany, TDC owns the company Talkline, which is the third largest provider of mobile services in Germany.http://tdc.com/ HP to Acquire Trustgenix for Federated Identity Mgt HP agreed to acquire Trustgenix, a provider of federated identity management solutions, for an undisclosed sum. Trustgenix, which is based in Santa Clara, California is HP's original equipment manufacturing partner for HP OpenView Select Federation, which uses industry-standard federation protocols to link multiple accounts with different providers on the Internet so that secure user authentication occurs only once. When a user navigates to different sites belonging to the same federation, Select Federation recognizes the user and is able to provide a secure, personalized experience based on the user's preferences and identity. HP said the acquired technology extends the federation capabilities of HP OpenView, enabling enterprise customers to help their business partners secure access to information residing on different systems. The deal builds on HP's recent acquisitions of companies like AppIQ and the recently announced agreement to acquire Peregrine Systems that round out the management capabilities of HP's enterprise portfolio. http://www.hp.com HP Unveils OpenCall Media Platform for IMS Tuesday, November 29, 2005 Packet Systems HP unveiled a new version of its OpenCall Media Platform to help telecom carriers deliver blended voice, data and multimedia services across wireless, wireline and broadband networks. The new OpenCall Media Platform Media Resource Function (MRF) provides a foundation for advanced multimedia and interactive services in emerging Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networks. Current and planned capabilities include audio and voice services (interactive voice response, voicemail, conferencing) as well as a wide range of multimedia, collaborative and interactive services such as video mail, video conferencing, participation TV and music sharing. A key feature of the HP OpenCall Media Platform MRF is that it can support the real-time, simultaneous blending of voice, data and multimedia services on IMS networks. For example, in an IMS network, wireless users can create an audio or video conference, share photos and messages and provide location-specific information -- all in one integrated session that is seamless and easy for the callers. HP also announced with Movial and Ubiquity Software a new service called Mobile MusicSharing. The service enables mobile users to join in a conference call, listen to their favorite music and talk about it at the same time -- all in a secure session that protects digital copyrights. The integrated solution includes HP OpenCall Media Platform, Movial's Connect application for IMS and Ubiquity Software's SIP Application Server. SunCom Selects Ericsson for IMS, UMA, Softswitch SunCom Wireless, a mobile carrier serving the southeastern U.S., has selected Ericsson's Mobile Softswitch solution for its next generation core network. Additionally, the two companies will conduct IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) trials to prepare the operator's network for next generation capabilities. SunCom has begun to deploy Ericsson's Mobile Softswitch solution to carry voice and data traffic in 3GPP Release 4- compliant network architecture. After just two months of installation, the softswitch started full commercial operation in September; full deployment is scheduled for completion in 2006. Ericsson is also providing network design services, training and on-site support. China Telecom Selects Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System China Telecom will adopt the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System to integrate the supercore network nodes of ChinaNet, the largest IP service network in China. Financial terms were not disclosed. Traffic processed by the Cisco CRS-1 will then transit the previous multi-router structure of ChinaNet's core network nodes in eight cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Xi'an, Chengdu, Wuhan and Nanjin. After integration, ChinaNet will significantly enhance the network capacity and improve management efficiency, enabling China Telecom to strengthen broadband business as well as laying foundation for the development of next-generation Internet applications. ChinaNet currently has more than 21 million broadband subscribers, with a total capacity of 4,000 gigabits per second (Gbps), accounting for more than half of China's bandwidth for Internet services. In order to satisfy the needs of the rapidly escalating number of broadband subscribers and advanced multimedia applications, ChinaNet has required a continuous upgrade of its backbone bandwidth. The latest enhancement will anticipate this future demand with higher network availability and scalability. Cisco Systems China Vice President Hanh Tu said, "Adhering to its goal of becoming a modern integrated information service provider, China Telecom has taken remarkable initiatives to deliver innovative new services." Cisco noted that more than 22 customers around the globe have adopted over 100 units of the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System since the platform was introduced a year ago. http://www.cisco.com Juniper Routers Selected for China Next Generation Internet (CNGI) Juniper Networks' M- and T-series routing platforms have been selected for the core of the China Next Generation Internet (CNGI) project. The CNGI project was launched in 2003 by China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and its charter is to create a next-generation national IPv6 backbone covering 20 cities and 39 massive network points of presence (GigaPOPs) to provide pervasive advanced IP services. Financial terms were not disclosed. "As one of the world's most ambitious IPv6 projects, all of China's major service providers and communications networks are participating in the CNGI project," said Eric Yu, Juniper Networks' vice president, Greater China. http://www.juniper.net Alcatel Claims #2 Position in IP Edge Aggregation Routing Alcatel has overtaken to Juniper to claim the #2 position in market share for IP edge aggregation routing in Q3, according to a new report from Synergy Research Group that was released by the company. According to Synergy, Alcatel secured 23.6% of the IP edge aggregation routing market in Q3 2005, compared to Cisco at 45.9% and Juniper at 19.7%. In Q2, Synergy Research Group found that Cisco held 60.4% and Juniper 20.7% of this same IP edge aggregation market worldwide. Alcatel noted that more than 90 wireline and wireless service providers in 40 countries have selected its portfolio of edge routers. Recently, Alcatel announced deployments with such progressive service providers as the UK's BT, for its new Ethernet VLAN service for enterprises in London; ntl, the UK's largest cable company, to extend the reach of its business Ethernet services across the UK to more than 260 points of presence; KPN, in the Netherlands, for triple play service delivery nation-wide; Finland's Elisa for the convergence of fixed and mobile services; Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom for support of national triple play service delivery; and Turk Telecom, who selected Alcatel as the integrator for a turnkey multi- service IP/MPLS backbone network. Also in Q3, Alcatel announced availability of the latest feature releases for its IP portfolio, with unique high availability features including non- stop IP/MPLS service delivery, as well as a new addition to the portfolio -- the Alcatel 7250 Service Access Switch. http://www.alcatel.com RIM's BlackBerry Service Faces Possible Shut-Down in Patent Dispute In a long-running patent dispute, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled that a settlement agreement between Research In Motion Limited (RIM) and NTP was not an enforceable agreement. The ruling raises the possibility that RIM's popular Blackberry mobile e-mail service could be shut down in the U.S. RIM said it will file a request that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear its appeal in the patent case. While further review by the Supreme Court is generally uncommon, RIM continues to believe this case raises significant national and international issues warranting further appellate review. As a contingency, RIM also said it is preparing software workaround designs which it intends to implement if necessary to maintain the operation of BlackBerry services in the United States. Further details will be made available if such implementation becomes necessary. Separately, Telefónica Móviles and Research In Motion announced plans to launch BlackBerry in 13 Latin American countries beginning in early 2006. Telefónica Móviles operates GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Mexico and Uruguay and CDMA 1XRTT and CDMA EV-DO networks in Brazil and Venezuela. http://www.rim.net Verizon Begins FiOS Deployment in Washington State Tuesday, November 29, 2005 Last Mille Verizon announced plans to rollout FTTP to its local telephone customers in Washington state, including the cities of Bellevue, Bothell, Everett, Kenmore, Kirkland, Redmond, and adjacent areas in the two counties. Washington becomes the 16th state in which Verizon will deploy its all-fiber network. Verizon expects to install more than 2.7 million feet of fiber-optic cabling throughout the region in 2006, passing about 60,000 homes and small businesses with fiber. TiVo Builds DVR Application for Intel Viiv TiVo confirmed that it is building an application that will enable it to work with Intel Viiv technology. The new application will further extend TiVo's "TiVoToGo" features, allowing existing TiVo subscribers to securely transfer their favorite television programs from their TiVo Series2 DVR to an Intel Viiv technology based PC using only the remote control. The application will also allow any content downloaded from a TiVo DVR to an Intel Viiv technology enabled device to be securely played back on certain compliant media adapters, which will be supported in a future planned release of the application. This application will be available in the first half of next year. http://www.tivo.com http://www.intel.com Intel Announces Content Partners for "Viiv" Digital Home Systems Intel is aiming to accelerate the trend towards on-demand, Internet-based entertainment by working closely with video content distributors, the music industry and gaming companies on a worldwide basis. Specifically, Intel is working with more than 40 content providers for its forthcoming "Viiv" PC platform for digital home entertainment. Intel plans to verify that these content services and applications run on the new Viiv platform, which will encompass consumer devices and networked media devices, portable media players, digital media adapters, digital TVs, DVD players and routers. Intel is providing the engineering support, specifications and verification tools to content owners, content distributors, portals, software application developers and device vendors to help deliver these Internet--based content services and software applications that are tested and verified to work with an Intel Viiv technology-based PC. The verified content services and applications will be capable of being accessed in full screen format with simple access using a remote control. Intel's Viiv strategy includes: Movies, Video, TV: Enable consumers to rent and download hundreds to thousands of major motion picture and independent movies via subscription-based, pay-per-view or free video-on-demand services. Intel is working with such companies as Afendis AG, arvato mobile, Bellrock Media Japan Inc., British Sky Broadcasting, Broadband Tower, Inc., Canal + Group, Glowria, Gretech Corp., LoveFilm.com, MEDION AG, Movielink, NEC, Sohu.com, Telecom Italia, Tiantian Online Inc., TiscaliS.p.A., TiVo, T-Online International, Usen Corp., webs-tv Digital International Co. Music: Enable consumers to purchase the latest hits or subscribe to services to download and enjoy thousands of music tracks in your home or on a portable media device. Intel is working with companies worldwide, including Afendis AG, arvato mobile, Avex Network Inc., Gretech Corp., Loudeye, MEDION AG, Napster, Oricon Inc., SK Telecom, Skysoft Co. Ltd., Telecom Italia, Tiantian Online Inc., and VirginMega. Games: Enable consumers to play a purchased premier title game, including several number one titles in a variety of local markets, online with other players or play a Web-based game alone. Intel is working with such companies as arvato mobile, CAPCOM, CCR Inc., DISCover's My Games, Exent Technologies, Metaboli, NHN, Ourgame, Square Enix Co., Telecom Italia, The 9 Limited, TWP Corp., and Ubisoft. Photos: Enable consumers to use photo editing software to organize, edit and share personal photos in a slideshow format on the TV screen in the living room. Intel is working with such companies as Adobe, arvato mobile, CyberLink Corp., muvee Technologies, Pinnacle, Ulead Systems, and Sonic Solutions to bring these types of applications and services to Intel Viiv technology-based PCs. "The immediacy, global reach and on-demand nature of the Internet, together with the 10s of millions of broadband-ready PCs that already exist today worldwide, support a new trend in how people get their entertainment," said Kevin Corbett, vice president and general manager, Content Services Group, Intel Digital Home Group. In the second half of 2006, personal and premium content services, applications and devices will also work with software from Intel that enables content to be shared across a home network to Intel Viiv technology verified devices. In August 2005, Intel announced its "Viiv" (rhymes with "five") consumer brand for future digital home entertainment systems. PCs based on Intel Viiv technology will be powered by a suite of Intel technologies, including a dual-core processor, chipset, platform software and wired networking capabilities. Some of the specific characteristics of Intel Viiv PCs will also include: * a remote control, the Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition operating system and media software that lets consumers interact with their PC in the same way they operate a TV. * Intel Quick Resume Technology that enables the PC to be quickly turned on and off (after initial boot-up) with the touch of a button. * 5.1 surround sound (with optional support for up to 7.1 surround sound) for home theater-quality sound. * DVR capabilities when equipped with an optional TV tuner card * ability to access on-demand content * a network configuration wizard that can be navigated with the system's remote control will be included to make it easy for consumers to connect many devices including portable media players, DVD players, TV sets and stereos. * an integrated media server "engine" that can reformat various digital content files so they can be viewed on a selection of devices verified by Intel to work with Intel Viiv technology-based systems. Additionally, Intel worked with the PC, CE and content industries to set interoperability specifications so that consumers can easily move a variety of online media from room to room and between various devices in the home network. Intel Viiv technology-based entertainment PCs are expected to be available from a number of system manufacturers worldwide in the first quarter of 2006 and will come in various shapes and sizes to fit different styles and sizes of homes. Intel is also developing platforms to power consumer electronics devices such as plasma TVs and personal media players. Specifically, Intel plans to introduce "Oplus" MN301, a "system-on-a-chip" multimedia display processor for flat panel displays. Production-ready reference designs for dual-channel HDTV are now available. The Oplus MN301 display processor and the Oplus Image Perfecting Engine were developed by Oplus Technologies, Ltd., the Israeli subsidiary of Oplus Technologies, Inc., and a company Intel acquired in April 2005. Nokia Tests Fixed-Mobile Convergence in Philippines Tuesday, November 29, 2005 PacketVoice The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Nokia have set up a Next Generation Network Laboratory to develop and test end-to-end Fixed- Mobile Convergence services prior to their commercial launch. The Next Generation Network Laboratory can leverage PLDT's current fixed and mobile networks to create converged services for PLDT Group customers. Nokia has been the main GSM network supplier to PLDT's Smart Communications division since 1998. Nokia's solution includes a Unified Core and converged access networks as well as Nokia multimedia and VoIP enabled terminals. The Nokia Unified Core includes the Nokia IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the Nokia VoIP Server, the Nokia MSC Server System (MSS), Nokia Media Gateway (MGW), Nokia Intelligent Service Node (ISN), Nokia Intelligent Content Delivery (ICD) for multi-access control and data services charging and Nokia D500 IP DSLAM. As an example of the new services development, PLDT and Nokia organized a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) contest for Filipino application developers called the "SIP Challenge". Forum Nokia provides the developers training and assistance, and they can test their IP-based applications at the Next Generation Network Laboratory. Farmers Telephone Extreme's Ethernet to Link Central Offices Farmers Telephone Cooperative (FTC), which serves over 60,000 customers in rural South Carolina, selected Extreme Networks' Metro Ethernet network infrastructure for linking 17 FTC central offices. FTC chose Extreme Networks BlackDiamond modular switching platform. The new network has to be capable of supporting emerging IPTV services using wire speed Layer 2 Ethernet with non-stop forwarding, traffic prioritization and device redundancy. The new equipment will aggregate thousands of ADSL connections to the customer premises. http://www.extremenetworks.com/ OnFiber Deploys World Wide Packets for Ethernet Monday, November 28, 2005 Optical OnFiber, which builds and operates metro networks in major U.S. markets, has selected World Wide Packets' LightningEdge Carrier Ethernet Product Family to enable Ethernet services for business customers. World Wide Packets said its solution was selected because of its ability to provide automated provisioning, which simplifies integration and maintenance while ensuring predictable, flexible and scalable results. OnFiber's Ethernet services range from 10 Mbps to 1000 Mbps. With the World Wide Packets rate limiting feature, increasing from 10Mbps, at the low end of the offering service, may be done remotely. http://www.worldwidepackets.com http://www.onfiber.com T-Com Venture Fund invests in Nominum Monday, November 28, 2005 Start-ups The T-Com Venture Fund has made an equity investment in Nominum, a developer of IP address infrastructure solutions. Nominum's Foundation product family includes scalable, reliable and secure DNS and DHCP servers and IP address management (IPAM) systems for service providers. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.nominum.com http://www.t-venture.de TI's OMAP2 Processor Accelerates H.264 and VC-1 Monday, November 28, 2005 Silicon Texas Instruments (TI) began sampling its new OMAP2-based processor for 3G mobile phones, boosting video performance by up to 4X and imaging performance by up to 1.5X. TI said the device will enable secure downloadable media streaming and playback, digital video recording, still image capture, video teleconferencing and 3D gaming on 3G phones. The latest OMAP2430 application processor offers even higher performance than first-generation OMAP 2 processors while at a lower cost. The OMAP2430 includes TI's latest generation imaging, video and audio accelerator, the IVATM 2, a power-optimized version of the signal processing technology used in TI's recently announced "DaVinci" technology. IVA 2 is a programmable engine that enables quick integration of new codec standards, codec enhancements, and stabilization algorithms for flexibility and differentiation. The IVA 2 engine is software compatible with TI's DaVinci technology, allowing third parties to attack a broader market space. The OMAP2430 processor supports DVD resolution decode up to 30 frames per second (fps) for MPEG4 and Windows Media Video 9 (Microsoft's implementation of VC-1, the proposed SMPTE standard) formats, and up to 30-fps VGA resolution decode for H.264 and RealVideo 10. The OMAP2430 is based on TI's high-performance, low leakage 90-nanometer CMOS technology and integrates an ARM1136 RISC processor core and dedicated 2D/3D graphics hardware acceleration, in addition to the IVA 2 engine. System hardware support includes a high-speed USB 2.0 On-the-Go (OTG) interface for significantly faster file transfers on and off the handset, an increasingly important feature as the mobile phone becomes a primary media capture, storage and playback device. Additionally, TI is announcing the all-in-one audio/power management companion device to the OMAP2430 processor, the TWL4030, which enables lower power and smaller phone designs. http://www.ti.com/omap In September 2005, Texas Instruments unveiled its DSP-based DaVinci silicon technology aimed at next generations of digital video products. The DaVinci product portfolio, which will include processors, software, tools and partnership solutions, addresses digital video requirements across a range of applications, including video security, IP set-top boxes, video conferencing, automobile infotainment, portable media players and digital cameras. DaVinci processors, some of which are already on the market, consist of combinations of DSP and ARM cores, memory configurations, video accelerators, and peripheral interfaces for specific applications. DaVinci silicon is based on the new TMS320C64x+ core and it is code compatible with TI's TMS320C64x DSPs. TI will support a full range of audio, video and imaging codecs. A key feature of the DaVinci portfolio will be common Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to accelerate the development of new consumer products. APIs will make it easier for OEMs to develop interoperable code that will work with other DaVinci-based applications. TI is also developing an en-to-end video ecosystem through a range of partners. Over the coming year, TI and its third parties plan to introduce a large number of products, including multiple development platforms, reference designs, software and silicon based on DaVinci technology. Lucent and Infoblox to offer IP Address management for Enterprises Monday, November 28, 2005 Packet Systems Infoblox and Lucent Technologies have teamed to offer a scalable, secure, and easy-to-deploy IP address management (IPAM) solution for mid-to-large enterprise customers. The new IP address management solution, which includes support for the domain name system (DNS) and the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP), combines Infoblox's network appliance and distributed grid management technologies with Lucent's VitalQIP IP Address Management software. Pricing for the Infoblox-1000 appliance with the Infoblox Integration Module for Lucent VitalQIP Software and the Infoblox Keystone Module starts at $13,495 in the U.S. http://www.infoblox.com. http://www.lucent.com MFA Forum Notes Progress, Elects New Board Members Monday, November 28, 2005 StandardsWatch �Following its fourth-quarter meeting in Boston earlier this month, the MFA Forum (MFAF) announced that several technical specifications are ready for final vote. Going to final ballot are specifications addressing ATM and Frame Relay to MPLS Control Plane Interworking: Client-Server and Use of Virtual Trunks for ATM/MPLS Control Plane Interworking, and High Speed Connections for ATM. The two Control Plane Interworking specifications define the control plane and protocol interworking procedures for ATM and Frame Relay connections across an IP/MPLS PSN using pseudo wires. The ATM Control Signaling group has approved for final ballot the High Speed Connections specification. This specification alleviates the current maximum signaled bandwidth of 7 Gbps per connection for ATM. This enables storage applications with ATM core networks to make full use of current 10 Gbps core ATM networks, scaling to terabit connections in the future. The MFAF also welcomed new member companies Adtran, Analog Devices, Calix Networks and Telcordia Technologies. The MFAF also attracted major companies to its board, with newly elected directors Michael Buttery of Sprint and Lily Lu of Cisco Systems. Bernard da Costa of Bell Canada, Doug O'Leary of Verizon, and Tom Walsh of Lucent Technologies were re-elected to the board of directors. O'Leary remains in his position as treasurer, and Walsh continues as vice-chairman. http://www.mfaforum.org neuf Cegetel Reaches 350,000 VoIP Users with Nortel Softswitch neuf Cegetel, the largest alternative operator in France with an installed based of one million residential broadband subscribers, has deployed VoIP services to more than 350,000 of these subscribers using Nortel solutions. Nortel's VoIP solution for neuf Cegetel includes the Communication Server (CS) 2000 superclass softswitch for both consumer and business VoIP services. neuf Cegetel has also deployed the Nortel Media Gateway (MG) 15000, which serves as a high density IP trunk gateway to interconnect with other carrier networks. Earlier this year, neuf Cegetel also selected Nortel solutions to launch neuf Office service, a carrier-grade VoIP services offering for business customers. http://www.nortel.com Orca Hires New CTO Monday, November 28, 2005 Financial Orca Interactive, a supplier of middleware and applications for IPTV, named Dr. Ofer Weintraub as its new CEO. Most recently, Weintraub was a telecom and cellular consultant with The Standard Insider, a consulting firm based in Herzelyia, Israel, and focused on mobile data services and IP infrastructure (IMS). He previously served as chief technology officer and research group manager at Emblaze Systems where he was responsible for the overall technology roadmap, standardization work and patent applications, and was personally involved in contributing to the 3GPP, the OMA and other standardization bodies. Before joining Emblaze Systems, he was the co-founder and CTO of Crosseller Technologies, a startup that developed remote data mining solutions for eCommerce. http://www.orcainteractive.com Tropian Secures Funding for Multimode Radio Silicon Tropian, a start-up based in Cupertino, California, announced the completion of an additional financing round led by Crosspoint Ventures for its patented "Polar Impact" approach to Radio systems. Tropian provides multi-mode radio solutions for the cellular handset market. The company's Polar Impact polar modulation approach to RF design supports multiple standards. Its products offer a combination of multimode capability, with a single radio and power amplifier for all modes, and greater power efficiency and integration. http://www.tropian.com Ericsson HSDPA Deployments Underway in 15 Countries Monday, November 28, 2005 Mobile Ericsson's HSDPA solution is now in operation in 15 countries, providing data speeds up to 3.6Mbps in the downlink. "We have received positive reactions from our customers to the opportunity to explore the mobile broadband possibilities of HSDPA at an early stage. There are now 15 live HSDPA systems, with ongoing evaluations of applications. This strengthens my belief that we will see many successful HSDPA launches during 2006, based on our solution," said Carl-Henric Svanberg, President and CEO of Ericsson. Cingular and Orange Offer Consolidated Services for Multinationals Cingular Wireless and Orange SA will offer consolidated mobile services to multinational companies in the U.S. and Europe under Cingular's WorldView program. Cingular and Orange customers with operations in the U.S., Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland now can access and manage their combined Cingular and Orange wireless usage and expenditures through a secure online portal, called WorldView Wireless Information Navigator, which is available exclusively to WorldView customers. In addition to this combined domestic/international management capability, Cingular customers who are signed up under Cingular's flagship business offer, Cingular Corporate Digital Advantage (CCDA), can now also apply their wireless usage with Orange to their minimum usage commitment under CCDA to qualify for volume discounts with the WorldView Global Discount Program. http://www.cingular.com Cisco to Acquire Cybertrust's Intellishield Alert Manager Cisco Systems agreed to acquire select intellectual property and assets of Cybertrust, including its security intelligence information service, known as Intellishield Alert Manager. Cisco will pay $14 million in cash in exchange for the technology, customer contracts and other components of Cybertrust's Intellishield Alert Manager. Intellishield Alert Manager is a web-based security intelligence service, providing daily information to customers about information security threats and IT product vulnerabilities that affect the entire corporate information technology domain. The service is delivered through a continually updated web portal, XML feeds and email subscriptions. Intellishield Alert Manager will become part of the Cisco MySDN security intelligence Web site. This acquisition further demonstrates Cisco's commitment to address Internet security issues and will join Cisco's portfolio of Security Lifecycle Services that assist customers in making their networks secure. Cisco said the ability to research, understand and advise customers on all types of threats and vulnerabilities is core to its Self-Defending Network strategy. Cybertrust is based in Herndon, Virginia. Cisco's 2005 Acquisitions CyberTrusts's Intellishield Alert Manager security intelligence service, providing daily updates Telephony Provisioning set-top boxes and video transmission systems memory technology to enhance performance of core switching platforms virtualization technology Technology A/S NetSift packet processing I. Secure Corporation and VPN solutions FineGround optimization appliances customer premise equipment networking equipment designed for grid and utility computing controllers, Access Points, WLAN Management and Location Software, and Security capabilities Bluetooth Shipments Take Off Monday, November 28, 2005 Wi-Fi More than 9.5 million Bluetooth-enabled products are shipping per week, according to IMS Research and the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). In May, the shipment figures were 4.75 million per week and in September -- only four months later -- this figure had doubled. "By doubling the Bluetooth shipments in just four months, Bluetooth technology has once again proved itself as the wireless technology for the personal area network," said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director of the Bluetooth SIG. http://www.bluetooth.com Mexico's Cablemas Selects ARRIS' CMTS Monday, November 28, 2005 Last Mille Mexican Multiple System Cable Operator (MSO) Cablemas has selected the ARRIS Cadant C4 CMTS to provide VoIP and high-speed data service to its customers. Several fully-loaded C4 CMTS chassis have been installed and activated in Tijuana in anticipation of widespread VoIP and high speed data deployments throughout the Cablemas service area of more than 1.5 million homes passed. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.arrisi.com FCC Chairman Urges A-la-Carte Video Programming or New Decency Requirements Monday, November 28, 2005 Regulatory In testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin called on the cable industry and direct satellite broadcasters to offer better tools and packages to filter between adult-oriented content and family-friendly programming or face new rules. Specifically, Martin called upon multichannel video providers to offer a-la-carte programming choices so that viewers do not have to purchase objectionable content as part of a "basic" or "expanded basic" package. Some highlight of his testimony: "I have urged the industry to voluntarily offer one of several solutions. First, cable and satellite operators could offer an exclusively family-friendly programming package as an alternative to the "expanded basic" tier on cable or the initial tier on DBS. This alternative would enable parents to enjoy the increased options and high-quality programming available through cable and satellite without having to purchase programming unsuitable for children. Parents could get Nickelodeon and Discovery without having to buy other adult-oriented fare. "A choice of a family friendly package would provide valuable tools to parents wanting to watch television with their families, and would help them protect their children from violent and indecent programming. Other subscribers, meanwhile, could continue to have the same options they have today. Indeed, some cable and DBS operators are already providing tiers such as digital sports tiers and Spanish-language tiers. "Alternatively, the programming that cable and DBS operators offer in the expanded basic package could be subject to the same indecency regulations that currently apply only to broadcast. This standard would apply only to channels that consumers are required to purchase as part of the expanded basic package, not premium channels." http://www.fcc.gov TiVo Adds 434,000 Subscribers in Latest Quarter Monday, November 28, 2005 TTP As of October 31, 2005, TiVo had 4,008,000 subscribers, which represents 74% growth in the subscription base during the past year. Total net new subscription additions in the most recent quarter were 434,000, an increase over the 419,000 total net new subscriptions added in the same quarter of last year. TiVo-Owned gross subscription additions were 92,000 for the quarter, compared to 119,000 in the third quarter of last year. TiVo-Owned net subscription additions were 55,000 compared to 103,000 in the third quarter of last year. DIRECTV net subscription additions were 379,000 for the quarter, compared to 316,000 in the third quarter of last year. Service and technology revenues for the quarter increased 52% to $43.2 million, compared with $28.4 million for the same period last year. TiVo reported a net loss of ($14.2) million and net loss per share of ($0.17), a significant improvement compared to a net loss of ($26.4) million, or ($0.33) per share, for the third quarter of last year. Freescale Develops 24-Mbit Nanocrystal Memory in CMOS Sunday, November 27, 2005 Silicon In what it termed a major step toward replacing conventional floating gate-based flash memories, Freescale Semiconductor announced the first production of 24-megabit (Mbit) memory array based on silicon nanocrystals. Silicon nanocrystal memories are part of an advanced class of memory technologies called thin-film storage. Freescale said they are more scaleable than conventional floating gate-based flash technology, as their tunnel oxide thickness can be reduced without impacting data retention. The charge is stored on isolated nanocrystals and is lost only from those few nanocrystals that align with defects in the tunnel oxide -- while the same defects would result in significant charge loss from a conventional floating gate. A thinner tunnel oxide permits lower-voltage operation, substantially reducing the memory module area needed to generate the bit-cell programming voltages, and allowing for significant wafer processing simplifications and manufacturing cost reductions. The combination of higher bit density and reduced cost translates to lower cost per bit to embed silicon nanocrystal memories. Freescale expects significant reductions in cost per bit of silicon nanocrystal thin-film storage memories. The 24-Mbit memory array technology was manufactured at Freescale's Austin Technology & Manufacturing Center using 90-nanometer (nm) CMOS bulk technology. "The industry anticipates that conventional embedded flash memory technology will reach its scaling limit within the next four years due to high-operating voltage, fabrication process complexity and cost," said Freescale Chief Technology Officer Dr. Claudine Simson. "A viable alternative is crucial for key suppliers to automotive, wireless and consumer markets to continue to scale their products and add new functionality. Silicon nanocrystal technology offers lower operating voltages, reduced memory module size, simpler process flow and lower manufacturing costs. Additionally, it requires no new materials or wafer fabrication equipment, allowing for immediate compatibility with existing production wafer fabs."http://www.freescale.com More than 120 Million Wi-Fi Chipsets Shipped in 2005 Sunday, November 27, 2005 Wi-Fi Approximately 120 million chipsets will ship in 2005, according to In-Stat and the Wi-Fi Alliance. "Wi-Fi has truly come of age," said Frank Hanzlik, Managing Director of the Wi-Fi Alliance. "Today more than 90% of notebook computers are Wi-Fi enabled, and as we look ahead, there are seemingly limitless opportunities, due to the insatiable consumer and enterprise demand for the technology. We expect the next milestones will come even faster as Wi-Fi becomes integrated into consumer electronics and mobile handsets and more people around the world experience the benefits of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products."http://www.wi-fi.org/ FLO Air Interface Enables Multicast to Mobiles Sunday, November 27, 2005 StandardsWatch The new FLO (Forward Link-Only) Air Interface Specification (AIS) has been ratified by the FLO Forum, an association of wireless industry leaders. The technical requirements captured in the AIS form a foundation for compatibility standardization for FLO based terrestrial mobile multimedia multicast systems. FLO technology is a new air interface originally developed by Qualcomm with multicasting capabilities designed to increase capacity and reduce content delivery costs to mobile handsets. The AIS includes a complete description of the Physical layer, which uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and advanced forward error-correction techniques, and a complete description of the Stream/Control and MAC layers, which multiplex a multiplicity of simultaneous multimedia services into logical units distinguishable at the radio interface (physical) layer. The specification enables the delivery of multiple, multimedia streams over the standard TV channel allocation bandwidths while ensuring fast service acquisition, robust performance in mobile fading links, and low receiver power consumption. The AIS, the first technical specification produced by the FLO Forum, will be forwarded to Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) for inclusion in new standards that address the delivery of terrestrial mobile multimedia multicast services to mobile devices. http://www.floforum.org FLO Technology is independent of the cellular network but complements CDMA2000 1X, 1xEV-DO and WCDMA cellular network data and voice services. In September 2005, QUALCOMM announced the first live, over-the-air demonstration of "FLO" (Forward Link Only) Technology delivered to a wireless handset. The demonstration will feature over-the-air delivery and viewing of multiple channels of wireless multimedia content, both streaming video and multicast packet data on a form factor accurate (FFA) handset. In July 2005, QUALCOMM and other key members of the wireless industry announced the establishment of The FLO Forum, a new non-profit industry association that promotes the development of products and services related to the delivery of advanced multimedia services to wireless devices around the world using "FLO" (Forward Link Only) technology. TiVo Announces First Advertising Search Product for Television Sunday, November 27, 2005 Service Providers TiVo plans to launch a television-based advertising search solution in Spring 2006. Advertisers will have the ability to deliver television advertising, on demand and targeted to consumers, without the limitations of traditional television media placement. Advertisers will be able to reach viewers in the market for a certain product or service. Ads will be delivered to subscribers who can conduct a search for a product by category or associated with keywords. Leading media and advertising agencies including Interpublic Media, OMD, Starcom Mediavest Group and The Richards Group, as well as Comcast Spotlight, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, have worked with TiVo to develop the capability. Alcatel Introduces High-Density 10GigE Enterprise Switches Sunday, November 27, 2005 Packet Systems Alcatel introduced a family of high-performance 10-Gigabit Ethernet core switches. The new OmniSwitch 9000 family, which is the first chassis on the market to use Broadcom's Strata XGS III family of Ethernet switch chips, offers 570 Mbps of aggregate switching capacity, enabling high densities of 10GigE or Gigabit Ethernet connections. It deliver wire-rate processing for IPv6 and support multicast applications. The OmniSwitch 9000s are part of Alcatel's end-to-end enterprise switch family that includes stackable and modular edge switches, which use the AOS for simplified manageability, high availability, security, and reduced total cost of ownership. High availability is ensured through component redundancy and security features are provided through the unique Alcatel OmniVista Quarantine Manager, which identifies and isolates viruses and unauthorized users. the Alcatel OmniSwitch 9700 model is available in a 10-slot chassis with a dedicated high-performance management and switching-fabric module. Initial choice of modules will include a two-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet (XFP) module, a 24-port Gigabit Ethernet copper (10/100/1000 RJ45) module and a 24-port Gigabit Ethernet fiber-optic (SFP) module. The larger Alcatel OmniSwitch 9800 chassis as well as additional modules including a six-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet (XFP) module, a 24-port Gigabit Ethernet copper (10/100/1000 RJ45) with power-over-Ethernet support modules and a dedicated high-performance management and switching-fabric module, will be available shortly. The Alcatel OmniSwitch 9000 family features a completely redundant configuration starting at $23,995. Cisco and Northrop Grumman Supply IP Video for U.S. Military Cisco Systems will provide IP-based video and voice conferencing capabilities to the Department of Defense through the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) as part of the Northrop Grumman Corporation team. The DISA Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization awarded the Defense Information Systems Network Video Services II (DVS II) task order under Encore I, which is a seven-year, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract awarded by DISA in 2002. Under the $51 million, one-year DVS II task order, Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector is upgrading DISA's integrated services digital network system with IP-based capabilities. The new fully compatible, integrated and secure net-centric system will provide real-time video and audio-conferencing services to DISA and users of the global information grid-bandwidth expansion network. The solution provides fully integrated rich-media communications including video, web and audio with rich collaboration and meeting control capabilities, as well as security, Layer 2 and Layer 3, call center and network management products. The foundation of DVS II architecture is based on the Cisco Internet Protocol Video Conferencing (IPVC) 3540 Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) for video conferencing and Cisco MeetingPlace for integrated video, voice and web conferencing. Cisco said the DVS II award represents the largest single acquisition of IP video and voice conferencing services in the federal government. Additional suppliers on the Northrop Grumman team include AT&T, FC Business Systems, CritiCom, NETCONN Solutions, Parsons and Radvision. http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/http://www.cisco.com PMC-Sierra Adds Processors for Network Storage and Media Servers PMC-Sierra announced the addition of network storage devices to its portfolio of Multi-Service Processor (MSP) solutions. The new MSP devices -- MSP2200, MSP2202, MSP2204 and MSP2206 -- are storage-optimized processors integrating key features such as hard disk drive (HDD) controllers, while providing superior performance and significantly lower costs compared to general-purpose processors. PMC-Sierra said the new family of network storage processors represents a natural extension to its VoIP solutions for the digital home and office. "The expansion of triple play-bundled services from carriers, along with the rapid growth of content-intensive applications such as digital music, photos, recorded TV shows and home movies, is driving the demand for easy-to-use storage solutions that must seamlessly integrate into home networks," said Dino Bekis, vice president of marketing and applications for PMC-Sierra's Communications Products Division. http://www.pmc-sierra.com/nas Alvarion's WiMAX Solution Deployed in Mali Sunday, November 27, 2005 Mobile Ikatel, an affiliate of France Telecom offering broadband data services in the West African country of Mali, will install Alvarion's BreezeMAX 3500 system, including hundreds of CPEs based on the Intel WiMAX chip to deploy a WiMAX network in the capital city of Bamako. Ikatel, a leading GSM and Internet operator in Mali, expects to deploy the network by year-end. http://www.alvarion.com DCL and MetaSwitch Report Record 30% Revenue Growth Sunday, November 27, 2005 Financial Data Connection (DCL) reported a 30% rise in revenues to $68 million for its financial year ended 31-Aug-2005. The year also represented the 24th consecutive year of increasing profitability, with record earnings of $16M. Data Connection saw increased revenues from all its business units contributing to this record year for the entire company. MetaSwitch, the next generation softswitch division, more than doubled its gross revenue from the previous year, increasing its share of total revenue to 40%. The division now has over 170 deployments - up from 60 this time last year - with incumbent and competitive telephone operators, primarily in North America. Notable events during the year included the introduction of the UC9000 Unified Communications System, adding a powerful range of IMS applications services to the division's established strength in Class 4/5 softswitching, and the successful introduction of a distributed softswitch architecture with the CA9020 Call Agent, already deployed in more than 30 carrier networks. Data Connection's Network Protocols Group continued its leadership position in the areas of IP routing, MPLS, VoIP and ATM, and expanded into a major new product area with a portable, software-based Session Border Controller for OEMs, known as DC-SBC. In IMS networks, DC-SBC implements a range of security, address translation and quality of service functions within network elements such as edge routers, switches and media gateways. Strategic relationships announced during the year include Entrisphere, Fujitsu, Hammerhead Systems, Infinera, NEC, Photonic Bridges and QNX. The company's Internet Applications Group, which provides unified messaging, web conferencing and directory solutions, made particularly strong growth in the tier 1 service provider and government markets, by leveraging Data Connection's industry-leading expertise in next-generation, VoIP-based application services for the telecommunications market. Major recent R&D investment in key areas such as legacy voicemail replacement and service creation environment (SCE) functions, will sustain growth in the coming year. The Enterprise Connectivity Group continues to operate successfully through its long-term strategic relationships with IBM, Microsoft, Cisco, HP and other major OEMs, in addition to its direct sales to large enterprises. http://www.dataconnection.com http://www.metaswitch.com Redback Teams with HP for MPLS VPNs Redback Networks an HP will offer an integrated solution for managing MPLS virtual private networking services. The solution combines the edge routing, Ethernet aggregation and subscriber management capabilities of the Redback SmartEdge Service Gateway with the management capabilities of the HP OpenView Service Activator, simplifying operations support system (OSS) integration and reducing time-to-market for new IP services. The SmartEdge platform supports both Layer 2 and Layer 3 MPLS VPN services in conjunction with virtual routers to create a flexible and powerful service offering. Combined with HP's OpenView Service Activator, Redback's SmartEdge platform enable carriers to rapidly deploy and manage VPN services in any environment. MPLS VPN services can be delivered over ATM, Frame Relay, or Ethernet. http://www.redback.com Conexant Selected by LG for DVB-S2 Set-Top Box LG Electronics has incorporated Conexant's satellite set-top box (STB) DVB-S2 demodulator and CX24118 advanced modulation 8PSK tuner in their new high-definition television (HDTV) receiver. LG's model H20 is the world's first set-top box based on DVB-S2, the industry's newest digital video broadcast standard. DVB-S2 leverages key developments in channel coding and modulation to provide up to a 35% capacity increase over the previous DVB-S standard. The H20 STB is currently being deployed by DIRECTV in the United States. http://www.conexant.com Siemens Supplies ADSL2+ and Mobile Technology to Greenland Thursday, November 24, 2005 Last Mille Siemens Communications is supplying ADSL2+ for the 57,000 inhabitants of Greenland. By the end of the year, all settlements on the island will be connected to the IP-DSLAMs of the ADSL2+ network, enabling Internet access at 12 to 24 Mbps. Currently, satellite or microwave links are used to link settlements across Greenland because it is not feasible to bury fiber in the ice. Siemens is also deploying IP-based nanoBTS GSM base stations in conjunction with the new local switching technology. This technology enables intra-village mobile phone conversations to be connected directly, eliminating the need for them to be routed via satellite. For the population of Greenland, this is an enormous advantage. In many villages, the number of mobile phone users is rapidly rising, and now totals more than 70%throughout Greenland -- some 37,000 subscribers. http://www.siemens.com BNS Showcases MPEG-4 IPTV Middleware for Flexible Pricing Models Thursday, November 24, 2005 TTP Broadband Network Systems Ltd (BNS) is showcasing MPEG-4 standard-based middleware at this week's IPTV Forum Asia in Hong Kong. The BNS solution features a real-time pricing engine that enables service providers to create complex IPTV business models with highly flexible pricing. The BNS booth will also feature key showcases by BNS's partners Entone (VOD content management), Envivio (MPEG-4 H.264 broadcast series encoders and middleware) and Widevine (conditional access and digital rights management solution). http://www.bnsltd.com Hong Kong-based Broadband Network Systems (BNS) is a strategic consultant, technology integrator and content aggregator for broadband service providers deploying IPTV. Its customers include Chunghwa Telecom, Hanaro Telecom, Telekom Malaysia and others. is Asia leading the Global IPTV Revolution? is leading the IPTV revolution. The region boasts the highest broadband penetration rates and is already the fastest growing market for IPTV. Forecasts predict IPTV subscribers set to double in the next 12 months for major markets in Hong Kong, Japan and Korea. There are a number of contributing factors for IPTV that are shared across other markets in Asia. However, IPTV business models and technologies are still evolving. The next 12-18 months will be an exciting time. China Reaches 380 million mobile subscribers, Further Growth Forecast Thursday, November 24, 2005 Mobile China currently has 380 million mobile subscribers. Nokia said it holds about 30% market share amongst handset makers in China. The company is forecasting an additional 250 million mobile subscribers in China by 2010. Marconi Posts Quarterly Profit Thursday, November 24, 2005 Financial Marconi reported quarterly revenue of £312 million, up 9% sequentially and up 2% on the prior year. The adjusted gross margin was 30.8%, compared with 33.4% a year earlier. There was a profit of £7 million for the quarter, compared to a loss of £6 million in the prior quarter and a profit of GBP 2 million a year earlier. Marconi said optical and access network solutions continue to be its main drivers of growth. http://www.marconi.com In October 2005, Ericsson agreed to acquire most of Marconi for approximately £1.2 billion (US$2 billion). The deal, which continues the trend of consolidation in the industry, gives Ericsson access to a more comprehensive portfolio of solutions, an expanded R&D capability, and strategically important customer accounts worldwide. Swiss Federal Council to Block Swisscom-Eircom Acquisition Thursday, November 24, 2005 Regulatory Switzerland's Federal Council has instructed its representative on the Board of Directors of SwissCom to vote against the company's proposed acquisition of Eircom, the incumbent telco in Ireland, and other possible acquisitions that Swisscom might make abroad. Market observers believed that Swisscom might have been contemplating a bid for Tele Danmark (TDC). Instead, the Swiss government is encouraging SwissCom to distribute available capital to its shareholders. The Swiss state holds approximately 66% equity stake in SwissCom. In a statement on Thursday, representatives of the government's finance and communications ministries also said the state would sell additional shares in Swisscom, encouraging the move toward privatization. http://www.swisscom.com http://www.uvek.admin.ch/kommunikation/index.html?lang=en Canada's Rogers Cable Hits Milestone of 100,000 HD Subscribers Since January 2005, Rogers Cable Communication has more than doubled its HDTV customer base, which now exceeds 100,000. The cable company now offers up to 28 HDTV channels. Rogers Digital Cable also noted that 1 in 3 new HDTV customers adding an HDPVR to their service. Rogers offers the Scientific-Atlanta Explorer 8300HD PVR digital terminal, which features a dual tuner and the ability to record up to 20 hours of HDTV programming or 90 hours of regular television programming. http://www.rogers.com Rogers Cable passes 3.4 million homes in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland, with 67% basic penetration of its homes passed. Sagem and ST Debut First Single-Chip MPEG4 Set-top Box Sagem introduced the first MPEG4 set-top boxes based on a single-chip decoder. The new advanced range of STBs from Sagem employs ST's next-generation MPEG4 decoder chip for HDTV, the STB7100. Sagem's first two STBs available in the new family are standard-definition (SDTV) models, the SAGEM ITD80 for Pay and Free-to-air DTT (digital terrestrial TV) broadcast reception, selected by CANAL+, and the SAGEM ITAD80 for both IPTV and Free-to-air DTT, already selected by several operators. Before the end of this year, Sagem will expand its new MPEG4 range of STBs, all based on ST's STB7100 decoder family, to include new HDTV-capable models for all transmission media (satellite, cable, terrestrial, and IP). ST's single-chip MPEG4 decoder, which is implemented in 90nm process technology, embeds all the major functions of a STB in a single device, including a high-performance CPU, video-decoding circuitry, and a wide range of peripheral devices. Sagem said it expects to ship at least 100,000 MPEG4 STBs by the end of 2005. Announced customers include France Telecom and Telecom Italia for the SAGEM ITAD80 for IPTV and free-to-air DTT (Digital Terrestrial TV), and Canal Plus for the SAGEM ITD80 for free-to-air and pay DTT. http://www.sagem.com http://www.st.com In June 2004, STMicroelectronics and Microsoft announced a partnership to develop a series of new integrated circuit components for extending the reach of high-quality, secure Windows Media 9 Series content, in both standard and high definition, to a wide range of popular devices such as set-top boxes and DVD players. ST will supply these new components to consumer electronics manufacturer for use in set-top boxes, DVD players, digital video recorders (DVRs), Portable Media Centers, home-networking devices, etc. In addition to standard formats, the devices will includes the following audio and video technologies: Windows Media Audio 9, Windows Media Audio 9 Professional (which delivers 5.1 or even 7.1 channels of discrete digital surround sound at bit rates as low as 128 kbps, and supports 24-bit resolution and 96 kHz sample rates to deliver better-than-CD quality sound), and Windows Media Video 9 (including VC-9). ST launched the world's first integrated MPEG2 decoder STB chips in the mid 1990s. Trilithic to Provide Emergency Alerts for Nortel's IPTV Trilithic's Emergency Alert Systems will be offered as a part of Nortel's IPTV Ecosystem. As Trilithic's E.A.S. provides FCC mandated National Level Alerts for notifying the TV-watching public, as well as interruptions for National Weather Service weather warnings and the Amber Alert. Trilithic's Emergency Alert System for IPTV provides a digital solution capable of various configurations for local and centralized channel insertion, and the flexibility of no channel insertion. Through a user-defined configuration, the E.A.S. alert message text and digitized audio is delivered on the IP network via Ethernet to a middleware server, or to a companion Encoder/Decoder in the Super Headend or Video Hub Office for distribution to an entire region or market with minimal hardware requirements. Trilithic supplies E.A.S. solutions for broadband cable, low-power FM, broadcast TV and IPTV. http://www.trilithic.com Hong Kong's PCCW Tops Half Million IPTV Subscribers Tuesday, November 22, 2005 Service Providers PCCW, the incumbent telecom operator in Hong Kong, has topped the half million mark for its now Broadband TV service. The milestone was reached one month ahead of the projected target date of December 31, 2006. PCCW Ltd also announced the addition of major new channels on now TV, in line with its aim of providing a comprehensive range of top quality viewing options for subscribers. New content includes CNN International, HBO Family and HBO Hits, and new VOD titles from Star Chinese Movies. http://www.pccw.com PCCW Rolls Out MPEG-4 AVC HD IPTV with Tandberg Hong Kong's PCCW's now Broadband TV service is using TANDBERG Television's advanced compression solutions for its rollout of HD IPTV over DSL. The deal expands on the two companies' existing relationship and will make now TV Asia's first advanced encoding HD operator, as it deploys the TANDBERG HD encoding solution for MPEG-4 AVC. The now Pay-TV service launched in 2003 and has been using TANDBERG Television MPEG-2 encoding for its premium channels. With the TANDBERG EN5990 MPEG-4 AVC encoder now TV will be able to deliver an HD service with sport, entertainment and news content in half the bandwidth that would have been required for the same picture quality with MPEG-2. TANDBERG Television's MPEG-4 AVC HD systems are already deployed by other broadcasters and operators, including DIRECTV, BSkyB, JSAT and Premiere basing their HD services and trials on the encoding engine. http://www.tandbergtv.com http://www.pccw.com/eng Ericsson Acquires Australian Systems Integration Company TUSC Ericsson announced the acquisition of TUSC, an Australian company that specializes in systems integration for telecommunications, utilities and enterprises. TUSC, which has around 80 employees, is a subsidiary company of Allied Technologies Group, listed on the Australian stock exchange. Financial terms were not disclosed. Ericsson said this acquisition illustrates its ambition to further strengthen and develop its position within telecommunications services and the focus areas of systems integration, telecom management and operational support systems (OSS). The TUSC acquisition also allows Ericsson to diversify its customer base into a closely related sector -- utilities. Shaw Family Purchases One Million More Shares The Shaw Family, and entities owned or controlled by them, completed the purchase of an additional 1,000,000 Class B Non-Voting Shares of Shaw Communications. The Canadian communications company provides cable television, High-Speed Internet, Digital Phone, telecommunications services (through Big Pipe Inc.) and satellite direct-to-home services (through Star Choice Communications Inc.) to approximately 3.0 million customers. http://www.shaw.ca Shaw Communications Inc. was incorporated in 1966 under the name Capital Cable Television Co. Ltd. It subsequently changed its name to Shaw Cablesystems Ltd. in 1984, and then to Shaw Communications Inc. in 1993. The company is the largest television supplier in Western Canada. Raptor Networks Raises $7.7 Million for Distributed Switching Tuesday, November 22, 2005 Start-ups Raptor Networks Technology, a supplier of modular switching technologies for video, VOIP, high speed storage and other latency sensitive network applications, announced $7.728 million in equity financing led by Brookstreet Securities Corporation. The terms of the transaction include warrants that give the investors the right to purchase additional common stock which, if exercised, would increase the total value of the funding to over $20 million. Raptor Networks' has developed a "Distributed Network Switching Technology" blurs the distinction between core switching and edge switching. The company is based in Santa Ana, California. http://www.raptor-networks.com Scientific-Atlanta Comments on Shareholder Suits In response to two purported class action lawsuits related to its announced acquisition by Cisco Systems, Scientific-Atlanta said it believes the complaints are without merit and intends to defend the actions vigorously. Scientific-Atlanta said its board engaged in a thorough and deliberative process to obtain the best transaction at the highest price available for its shareholders, culminating in the definitive merger agreement with Cisco, which was announced on November 18. As previously announced, Cisco is acquiring Scientific-Atlanta for $43 per share in cash in exchange for each share of Scientific-Atlanta, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $6.9 billion. http://www.scientificatlanta.com/ LG Electronics Launches First DVR with Microsoft Program Guide LG Electronics launched the first DVR for North America featuring the new Microsoft Program Guide service. The LG LRM-519 Digital Media Recorder (MSRP $599) is a combination digital video recorder (DVR) and DVD recorder powered by Windows Media Center Technologies with a 160-gigabyte hard drive. The Microsoft Program Guide service is available through three subscription options: a one-month subscription for $9.99, a one-year subscription for $99.99 or a one-time subscription for $249. The service allows users to search up to 14 days of programs by title, keyword or category. The Microsoft Program Guide also provides the engine for the "parental controls" features that allow parents to monitor the programs their families can access. The LG Digital Media Recorder can be added to the home network via wired Ethernet or an 802.11a/b/g wireless connection. http://www.lgusa.com/ Nokia Lands US$141 Million GSM Contract with India's BSNL Nokia was selected for a comprehensive GSM/EDGE and GPRS network expansion project in North India by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The expansion, valued at US$141 million, will include core and radio network equipment, and an extensive range of services. The expansion will enable BSNL to significantly increase its network coverage and capacity in the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh (both east and west circles), Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. The new contract is an extension of a US$284 million GSM/EDGE and GPRS contract signed by Nokia and BSNL in 2004. TeliaSonera Denmark Tests Motorola's UMA Solution Tuesday, November 22, 2005 VoIP Following an initial six-month trial of Motorola's Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) solution, TeliaSonera Denmark is moving to phase two of the trial project -- making calls with Motorola A910 handset over the first 3GPP compliant UMA system in an operational network environment. The market trial is an important step forward in delivering Motorola's vision of Seamless Mobility incorporating products and services from across the organization. The complete, fully tested UMA solution from Motorola includes network infrastructure, A910 handsets, and integration and deployment services. In addition, Motorola is developing UMA-based connected home solutions to enable seamless access around the home. UMA offer TeliaSonera customers lower-cost mobile calls with better coverage in the home as well as a seamless mobile experience using a single device, single number, contacts book, voicemail and bill. http://www.motorola.com T-Systems Teams with PROGNOSIS for VoIP Integrated Research will supply its PROGNOSIS performance monitoring solutions to Deutsche Telekom's T-Systems division for a VoIP deployment in Germany. PROGNOSIS for IP Telephony is a suite of lifecycle management solutions spanning VoIP network-readiness assessment, pre-deployment assurance testing and ongoing performance management for Cisco IP Communications environments. The company also announced the opening of a new office in the center of Frankfurthttp://www.ir.com/http://www.t-systems.com/ NEC Selects Ikanos for New VDSL Equipment NEC Magnus Communications has selected Ikanos' Fx 100100 and Fx100100S-4 chipsets to deliver up to 100 Mbps symmetrical data services in new versions of its broadband access products. NEC Magnus has used Ikanos' VDSL chipsets in its access platforms and customer premises equipment for three years, most recently in systems that deliver up to 100 Mbps downstream and 50 Mbps upstream performance in MTU/MDU applications. With the latest Fx and FxS series chipsets, NEC Magnus can now offer systems providing up to 100 Mbps symmetrical data rates. Moreover, the Fx and FxS chipsets are designed to be backwards-compatible with previously deployed Ikanos Fx and FxS chipsets, in order to accelerate and reduce the cost of equipment upgrades by carriers. Japanese carriers have been deploying in-building, fiber-fed access platforms in combination with VDSL over existing building wiring to deliver high-speed broadband services in multi-tenant and multi-dwelling buildings. http://www.ikanos.com/http://www.necmagnus.com Disability Groups Call for Telecom Legislation for Access to Broadband Services The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), the American Foundation for the Blind other disability groups is calling upon Congress to enact legislation mandating disability access to Internet-based communication services. The groups are urging that any updates to the Telecom Act include disabled access provisions for all services. Kelby Brick, NAD Director of Law and Advocacy, said: "People with disabilities use communications technologies every day that were not even in existence at the time our nation's communications laws were last amended. The 1996 Telecommunications Act did not contemplate instant messaging, email, video relay, peer-to-peer video or such handheld devices as the Firefly and the Tictalk. "Although the 1996 Act contained disability provisions for access to telecommunications products and services, it was mainly limited to those used with the public switched telephone network, not the Internet. As a result, people with disabilities will only gain equal access to today's communications infrastructure and services if Congress acts to extend these protections to Internet-enabled products and services."http://www.nad.org Nintendo Reports Strong Initial Uptake for WiFi Gaming Nintendo reported that 45% of people who bought its new "Mario Kart" DS racing game for its Nintendo DS system already have test driven its free Wi-Fi capabilities. On November 14, Mario Kart DS became the first game to use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Through the end of Sunday, more than 112,000 people in the United States had purchased the game. In the same time frame, nearly 52,000 unique users had logged onto Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to play against people from all over the country. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection lets users connect to the service at no additional charge using both home wireless networks and select Wi-Fi hotspots, without any complicated setup procedures. Three new titles that use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection will be launched in the coming months. http://www.nintendowifi.com/ Loral Emerges From Chapter 11 Monday, November 21, 2005 Satellite Loral Space & Communications completed its financial reorganization and emerged from the Chapter 11 process. Loral exits chapter 11 with approximately $180 million in cash. During the chapter 11 reorganization, Loral did not require any debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing, and, as of its emergence from chapter 11, has only $126 million of debt in the form of the notes issued by Loral Skynet. Loral Skynet has also issued $200 million of preferred stock to certain creditors of Loral Orion. Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) is a leading manufacturer of commercial satellites. Loral Skynet's fleet is positioned to serve areas with high growth potential such as Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the trans-Atlantic market. Skynet has also expanded its services beyond traditional FSS leases with the introduction of new IP-based data services. Loral's new XTAR joint venture has been awarded contracts for service to the U.S. State Department and the Spanish Ministry of Defense. http://www.loral.com/ QUALCOMM Announces Foundry Partnership with Samsung QUALCOMM announced a new manufacturing partnership with Samsung Electronics focused on advanced CMOS-based foundry processes for CDMA. QUALCOMM and Samsung's new foundry partnership expands on the two companies' existing relationship, and builds upon QUALCOMM's fabless business model of outsourcing foundry operations to partners such as Samsung. The companies will collaborate on current and future technology needs, with plans including the usage of Samsung's 90 nanometer (nm) and sub-90 nm nodes to enable manufacturing of leading-edge system-on-a-chip (SOC) products. http://www.qualcomm.com http://www.samsung.com CopperGate Secures $14.5 Million for Home Networking Silicon (HPNA) CopperGate Communications, a start-up based in Tel Aviv, raised approximately $14.5 million in a third round funding for its chipset solutions for multimedia home networking. The financing led by new investor Carmel Ventures, with the participation of existing investors Tamir Fishman Ventures and the Challenge Fund. CopperGate has been a prime contributor to the HPNA V3 specification for high performance multimedia home phoneline networking. HPNA V3 standard chipsets utilize existing coax cables and telephony wiring in the home for connecting devices such as residential gateways, TV set-top boxes, personal video recorders (PVRs) and PC peripherals. http://www.copper-gate.com Cisco Partners with ZTE in China, Asia-Pac Cisco Systems will partner with ZTE Corporation to pursue business opportunities in the telecommunications service provider market in China and the Asia Pacific region, excluding Japan. The agreement was signed at a ceremony at ZTE's headquarters in Shenzhen, China earlier this month. http://www.zte.com.cn	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4992
__label__cc	0.592292	0.407708	Why cruise lines should make do and mend Rebecca Gibson asks Mark Henderson how Magicman’s repair and restoration services help cruise lines to upgrade their ships without damaging the environment or their bottom line Magicman’s skilled team can quickly and easily restore damaged fixtures to their former glory This article was first published in the Autumn/Winter 2019 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed. First introduced in 1941 by the British government during World War II, the ‘make do and mend’ initiative encouraged British citizens to do whatever they could to extend the life of their clothes. Now, 78 years later, one British firm is successfully showing the cruise world why the same approach works well for damaged items on passenger ships too. The most obvious advantages of ‘make do and mend’ for cruise ships are the significant cost and time savings, says Mark Henderson, CEO of repair and restoration services provider Magicman. “Replacing items can be tricky – it can take a long time to source them and sometimes they can only be manufactured in bulk, or they have gone out of production and need to be remanufactured specially,” he explains. “This incurs high costs and could mean that there is a long delay in between the item being damaged and replaced. In addition, when tradesmen remove old items to install the new ones, they can unintentionally cause ancillary damage to the surrounding area, further increasing costs. It’s much quicker and less expensive to have skilled technicians from a company like Magicman repair and restore surfaces or pieces of furniture because we can work on many different items per day.” Magicman’s ability to board ships at short notice and complete tasks quickly means restoration is also less intrusive for guests and crew. “Sometimes cruise lines have to close off certain parts of the ship to guests while fit-out projects to install new fixtures or surfaces is being carried out, or they may even have to take the vessel out of service,” says Henderson. “The former limits the guests’ overall cruise experience, while the latter has significant implications in terms of itinerary planning and potential lost revenue. However, we can work onboard ships while they’re in service and, because we make minimal noise, we can complete most of our tasks at night without disturbing guests or crew.” Repairing and restoring, rather than ripping out and replacing, damaged surfaces, furniture, fixtures and fittings also has environmental benefits. “Most items involve a long manufacturing and distribution process – the initial composite materials are produced in one place and then transported to the manufacturer to be made into the final product, which is shipped to a distributor before it finally reaches the cruise vessel,” says Henderson. “Each of these processes emits harmful greenhouse gases and, when the old damaged items are taken to either a recycling or landfill site, this creates more emissions. Consequently, regularly replacing items could result in a significant carbon footprint for the cruise line. Magicman’s repair and restoration services cause minimal waste and emissions in comparison, helping cruise lines to become greener and eco-friendlier.” Magicman’s sustainable ‘make do and mend’ approach has already helped multiple cruise lines to measurably reduce costs and their environmental impact. “Our team has restored thousands of items of furniture, artwork, glass, sanitary ware, bar tops and virtually every other hard surface that you can find on a cruise ship, all of which has prevented a large volume of waste going to landfill and saved operators hundreds of thousands of dollars,” comments Henderson. “For example, one cruise customer had earmarked multiple pieces of heavy and expensive gym equipment for replacement due to damage and flaking paintwork. However, we were able to repair everything without a substantial cost to the operator or our planet.” To further reduce costs for cruise clients, Magicman has improved its operational processes and sustainability credentials. “We’re constantly exploring how we can enhance our services, while also reducing our effect on the environment,” he says. “We’ve analysed the costs, amount of time and environmental impact associated with shipping our plant, tools and stock around the world to meet demand and investigated the possibility of establishing warehouse facilities in key locations to reduce all of these factors. Opening warehouses worldwide would also mean that we can react more quickly when clients tells us they have sudden unexpected cabin availability so that our team can carry out work.” Magicman also ensures it stays up to date with the ever-evolving challenges cruise lines face when updating ship interiors. “Every cruise operator has its own unique goals and requirements, so it’s always wise to listen to each client and understand their specific needs, wishes and operating parameters,” he explains. “Not only do we have to work alongside our clients’ onshore and shipboard staff, but we must also consider the needs of their passengers while we’re sailing on the ships, so it’s imperative that we fully comprehend all aspects of the projects before starting them. It’s the only way to ensure we provide the best possible service for everyone and achieve success.” One way Magicman does this is by regularly participating in industry events, such as the inaugural Cruise Ship Interiors Expo (CSIE), which was held in Miami, Florida in June 2019. The expo was the first of its kind to be devoted solely to the cruise ship interior design and outfitting market. “We were very proud to sponsor and attend CSIE – the event provided the ideal area for showcasing Magicman’s skills and services to our target market,” says Henderson. “Unlike some conferences that cover the whole spectrum of the marine industry, CSIE focused specifically on our core business so we were able to gain new insights into the overall cruise ship interiors market and the approach different operators are taking. This will help us to further develop our services and make them even more relevant to our client base.” CSIE also provided the perfect opportunity for Magicman to forge deeper relationships with its existing clients and expand its network. “We were able to catch up with our existing clients – some of whom we’d previously only had long-distance communication with – and we had plenty of opportunities to meet potential new customers too,” says Henderson. “Plus, we made contact with new suppliers during and after the show.” Certainly, Magicman’s presence at CSIE has now firmly established the company as a key player in the cruise industry’s interior design sector. “For many years, clients have been drawn to Magicman because of our high-quality services, flexibility, good organisational structure and the fact that our skilled employees can deliver projects on time and within budget anywhere in the world, but attending CSIE has undoubtedly helped our name become more widespread,” explains Henderson. “We’re very proud of the many plaudits we received from existing client and those who are yet to work with us. We secured new orders after CSIE, so we’re looking forward to helping these customers to keep their ships in pristine condition, while setting new sustainability standards for the industry.” Subscribe to International Cruise & Ferry Review for FREE here to get the next issue delivered directly to your inbox or your door. By Rebecca Gibson Why collaboration is the key to success for the Port of Cork	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4996
__label__wiki	0.689883	0.689883	Home \| Biography \| Research \| Publications \| People \| Teaching \| Related links \| Contact Alan Mackworth's research program is focused on constraint-based computational intelligence. We have developed a formal theory for the design and implementation of constraint-based intelligent systems. Our Constraint-Based agent (CBA) framework is a set of theoretical and practical tools for designing, simulating, building, verifying, optimizing, learning and debugging controllers for agents embedded in an active environment. The agent and the environment are modelled symmetrically as, possibly hybrid, systems in the Constraint Net (CN) dynamical systems language, as developed in this research program. We are developing and applying the CBA framework, emphasizing the important special case where the agent is an online constraint-satisfying device. Here it is often possible to verify complex agents as obeying real-time temporal constraint specifications and, sometimes, to synthesize controllers automatically. The CBA framework demonstrates the power of viewing constraint programming as the creation of online constraint solvers for dynamic constraints.Our objectives are to develop the theory further and to validate and improve it using experimental implementations on varous robotic systems in our lab. The experimental environment for this work includes the soccer-playing platforms pioneered by us, a CBA Java environment and a set of mobile robots with on-board real-time stereo and colour vision. We propose to use CBA models for the control, perception and coordination algorithms required for multi-agent real-time collaborative activities such as soccer, cognitive assistants, navigation and manipulation. The scientific novelty of this approach stems from its formal foundation, its practicality and its simplicity as a unitary theory of hybrid intelligent systems. The symmetry of the agent-environment pair model is necessary and unique. The technical significance is that it is a foundation for a new design framework for perceptual, collaborative, constraint-based agents. Most Significant Contributions to Research Alan Mackworth on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Alan Mackworth pioneered in the development of Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs) and Constraint Programming, important areas of activity in modern Computer Science and its applications. The central idea of Constraint Programming is to specify the constraints that a solution to a problem must satisfy, rather than details of how to satisfy them. This technology makes computers easier to program and use. Mackworth's ideas and algorithms are now used extensively in many constraint programming languages including CHIP, CHARME, CLP(FD), Newton, ILOG Solver, BNR Prolog and Echidna. These languages are widely used in commercial systems, developed by companies such as ILOG, for scheduling, simulation and diagnosis. Problems such as scheduling airline flights, ship movements and radio frequencies can be solved with this approach. It is the solution method of choice, dominating other approaches. More recent developments in this project include the Constraint Net model with parallel, distributed and on-line constraint satisfaction languages and algorithms that are being used to design and build robots and other agents. He has published over 120 research papers. Alan Mackworth proposed and built the World’s First Soccer-Playing Robots, which led to the development of robot soccer as the premier global platform for multi-agent robotic research through the International RoboCup Foundation, where he has been honoured as “The Founding Father”. Robot soccer as a challenge problem has great scientific significance. It has now become a standard test environment for cross-testing research ideas: a forum for evolving theories of multi-agent systems. Through regular international RoboCup tournaments many research teams of students and professors compete and cooperate in the development, testing and evolution of new theories and new algorithms. As the founding Director of the UBC Laboratory for Computational Intelligence, Alan Mackworth has led the development of a world-renowned lab. He has also played, and is playing, major leadership roles in the development of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research AI and Robotics Program, the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS) NCE, Precarn, the UBC Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems (ICICS) and the Intelligent Computational Assistive Science and Technology (ICAST) network. In addition to co-authoring a major new AI text covering state-of-the-art research, Computational Intelligence: A Logical Approach, Alan Mackworth has co-developed CIspace, a suite of new online research and teaching tools. In collaboration with others, Alan Mackworth's work contributed to the formation of a very successful UBC spinoff company, Point Grey Research, with currently about 60 employees, which designs, manufactures and sells digital imaging and robot stereo vision systems. Recent Research Highlights Constraint Satisfaction Alan Mackworth's work on the foundations of Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs) continues to have a major impact. Our CSP and Constraint Programming models are both very influential. Our most recent results in this area are reported in [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Constraint Nets In a departure from offline models such as CSP and SAT we proposed Constraint Nets (CN), an online model of computation and a family of languages. CN connects the worlds of dynamic systems, computation, constraint programming, and formal specification/verification. This work is joint with Ying Zhang in an equal collaboration. The most recent development extends CN to Probabilistic Constraint Nets (PCN) [1, 2, 3]. Our implementation of CNJ [5] now provides a complete visual programming environment for CN and for PCN. Robot Soccer Alan Mackworth is the Originator of Robot Soccer as a major AI and robotics testbed. This has turned out to be a most significant idea: changing the paradigm. We also reported the first successful soccer system using a two-layer reactive-deliberation architecture, which was described in Arkin's textbook as the first of its kind. It has served as a template for many subsequent winning systems. Our recent work, using soccer as a test domain to shift the model of AI architecture from GOFAIR to Situated Agents, is described in [1, 2, 3]. Hybrid System Architecture We have proposed a unique unitary model of hybrid system architecture [1], based on our CN model. This is a unique contribution to the growing hybrid system community, developing new ways of designing, programming and verifying embedded hybrid systems - a critical application. Constraint-Based Agents Our theory of Constraint-Based Agents (CBA) is the emerging synthesis of many years of development [1, 2]. CBA is a systematic treatment of the design issues for a class of agents in a dynamic environment. Copyright @ 2013 Pooyan Fazli	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4998
__label__wiki	0.944744	0.944744	South Korea seeks U.S. help in bitter trade spat with Japan Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press Published Thursday, July 11, 2019 1:29AM EDT Last Updated Thursday, July 11, 2019 6:05AM EDT In this Tuesday, July 9, 2019, file photo, notices campaigning for a boycott of Japanese-made products are displayed at a store in Seoul, South Korea. The signs read: "We don't sell Japanese products." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of -- South Korea is seeking U.S. help in a bitter diplomatic row with fellow American ally Japan over its moves to tighten controls on high-tech exports. The government said Thursday that Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha discussed the issue with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo by phone and conveyed Seoul's view that Japan's "undesirable" trade curbs could disrupt global supply chains and hurt trilateral co-operation among the countries. The ministry said Pompeo expressed an "understanding" of South Korea's position and agreed to help facilitate communication through diplomatic channels among Washington, Seoul and Tokyo. Tokyo last week tightened the approval process for Japanese shipments of photoresists and other sensitive materials to South Korean companies, which need the chemicals to produce semiconductors and display screens used in TVs and smartphones. The diplomatic dispute over that has further soured relations long troubled over Japan's brutal colonial rule of Korea before the end of World War II. "(Minister Kang) expressed concern that Japan's trade restrictions would not only inflict damage to our companies, but could also disrupt global supply chains and cause negative effects not only to U.S. companies but also to the global trade order," the ministry said in a press release. "This would not be ideal for the bilateral friendship and co-operation between South Korea and Japan and also the three-way co-operation between South Korea, the United States and Japan," it said. Kim Hyun-chong, deputy chief of South Korea's presidential National Security Office, arrived in Washington on Wednesday and told reporters he would discuss the trade spat with Japan with U.S. officials. His trip came a day after South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged Japan to refrain from pushing the situation to a "dead-end street" and respond to Seoul's efforts to resolve the matter diplomatically. "I came because there are a lot of bilateral issues between South Korea and the United States to be discussed in meetings with the White House and also the Senate and House," Kim told South Korean reporters at Dulles International Airport. When asked whether South Korea would ask the United States to mediate in the trade dispute with Japan, Kim said, "That issue will be discussed too." The deteriorating relationship between South Korea and Japan could possibly complicate U.S. efforts to strengthen three-way co-operation on North Korea's nuclear program and in countering China's growing influence in the region. But it's unclear whether the Trump administration would be willing to intervene. South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said its minister for trade, Yoo Myung-hee, will head for the United States soon to discuss the Japanese trade curbs. South Korean trade officials plan to visit Tokyo to meet with their Japanese counterparts on Friday. So far, Japan has so far shown no willingness to negotiate. It will likely use the meeting to explain and reaffirm its stance, the ministry said. According to the ministry's figures, Japanese direct investment in South Korea dropped 51% in January-June from a year earlier, to $330 million. Park Tae-seong, a senior ministry official, said the decline was unrelated to Tokyo's trade curbs. He sidestepped questions of whether antagonisms were hurting investment. South Korea relies heavily on exports and is the world's biggest supplier of computer chips and displays. It sees the Japanese trade curbs as retaliation for court rulings ordering Japanese firms to compensate aging South Korean plaintiffs for forced labour during World War II. Japanese officials have suggested South Korea is not trustworthy, hinting at security risks and illegal transfers of sensitive materials to North Korea without citing specific cases. Toronto stock market dips but Dow Jones closes above 27,000 for first time In Japan, Trump eyes 2020 race while pushing allies on trade Samsung predicts 56 per cent drop in 2Q profit on weak chip market Vancouver ranked world's second-least affordable housing market—again Brazil prosecutors charge Vale, individuals in dam disaster Stormy weather in N.S. and N.B.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line4999
__label__wiki	0.564903	0.564903	Politics and the New Counter-Culture Part 3: No Peace, No Justice By Greg Scorzo – Brutality vs Bigotry Critics of progressivism may be today’s western political counter-culture. Yet there is one political issue which, when raised, is fairly effective at silencing even the fiercest critics of progressivism: police brutality towards people of colour. This silencing is understandable, because at least in the US, it has long been common knowledge that people of colour are disproportionately shot by police officers. It’s also common knowledge that US police officers, rather than merely protect citizens, can often harass, bully, and beat them. From these two pieces of common knowledge comes a third idea: people of colour are shot more than whites in the US, because white police officers are generally racist. As a person of colour who grew up in the US, I can understand the reasons people accept this idea. In the US, police are often aggressive in ways that British police, for instance, are not. Part of this aggression might have to do with the possibility of US suspects carrying firearms. But either way, police officers having a reputation for aggression is a terrible recipe for those officers being able to successfully protect citizens. When one lives among police one is more frightened of than criminals, this causes completely understandable reactions of resentment, distrust, and anger. The criminal population winds up being more resentful and angry than the civilian population. The police know of this resentment and double down on their aggression in a vicious cycle that produces even deeper antagonisms between the police and the public. Law enforcement, we should remember, only works, if civilians, to some extent, have faith in society. If one is a relative of someone who was shot by a trigger happy policemen, this is not just a personally devastating loss. It’s also simultaneously a loss of faith in a society that is supposed to protect, rather than harm you. When one loses this faith in this society, one can’t effectively use society to better oneself. After all, in siding with criminals over the police, you are siding with social stagnation, rather than mobility. Yet despite the completely understandable rage at police brutality, there is a mistake that’s commonly made in campaigns against that brutality. The mistake is to assume, as a person of colour, that if a police officer is brutal toward you, that this brutality would not happen if you were white. This mistake is the analogue of the white person being harassed by a black police officer, who then assumes he would get much better treatment if he were black. Excluding the officer shouting racist abuse, there’s simply no way we can tell we are being racially discriminated against, simply because a police officer is harassing, abusing, or even beating us. To assume otherwise is to make a similar mistake to the feminist who sees a wage gap between men and women and infers from this gap that society is sexist. Just because one race is shot more than another, it doesn’t follow that this disparity is best explained by white racism. Nor is any instance of an officer bullying, harassing, or beating a person of colour automatically explained by white racism. Of course, the fact that one can’t infer racism in these circumstances in no way means the above misconduct is somehow acceptable, or something that shouldn’t be reported. But there is a danger in assuming (without evidence) that any police misconduct you experience is motivated by racism, just as its also bigoted to assume most white police officers are racists. Yet one can still sympathise with people of colour who feel this way. There is, after all, a genuine problem, and progressives offer a tantalising, socially respected solution that gets frequent celebrity endorsements. The solution winds up reducing the conflict to a simple “good guys vs bad guys” narrative that’s easy to understand in the deep recesses of one’s own heart. The people of colour are the good guys, while the gun toting white police officers are the racist, homicidal bad guys. But solving the problem of police brutality this way amounts to little more than telling off white police officers for being racist, while forcing law enforcement institutions to stop them from expressing their racism, on the job. This progressive solution unsurprisingly makes things worse. Not only does it engage in racially bigoted double standards, but it also shows a lack of empathy for the police, and deprives people of colour from using their most effective tool for creating a better relationship to law enforcement: personal responsibility. Expecting personal responsibility isn’t the same as saying either that a person or a community doesn’t need assistance in the form of infrastructure funding, community development, or other social programs. But it is to say that one’s background can never be an excuse, justifying behavior which is harmful and destructive. The only way any human being can learn responsibility, is to be given responsibility for needlessly breaking the law, or hurting others through violence. It’s true that we all need help in learning how to behave. But we can’t learn how to behave without also learning that certain behaviours are inexcusable. Contra the progressive, class and race can neither excuse or justify such behaviours. Resentment Privileges Because the progressive believes the west privileges whites and is racist against people of colour, they also believe this is a way whites are responsible for behaving badly throughout the years. Because whites have behaved badly, it’s understandable for progressives, that people of colour would fear and resent whites. That fear and resentment is tolerated to some extent by both progressives and mainstream society. This is what explains why there are comparatively higher demands on whites to perform their non-racism. This is also why, for many progressives, racial bigotry against whites is nowhere near as bad as racial bigotry against people of colour. On the progressive outlook, racial bigotry against people of colour is an expression of systemic racism. Racial bigotry against whites is just racial bigotry. Racial bigotry is unpleasant to the progressive, but if it’s against whites, it’s no worse than say, bigotry against smokers or people with extremely loud voices. Hence, when people of colour express racial bigotry towards whites, it’s normally excused. The bigotry is almost always framed as something that throughout history, whites have provoked. In contrast, people of colour are never given the responsibility to provoke racial bigotry against them from whites. It doesn’t matter how they behave. If there is ever any statistic which paints people of colour in a bad light, progressives normally either deny this statistic, or try and re-frame it so as to make sure people of colour are conceptualised as victims. The same tendencies do not happen, the other way around. If whites, for instance, are shown to murder blacks at a higher rate than blacks murder whites, the progressive will claim that this is evidence of whites oppressing blacks. If a different statistic shows that blacks murder whites more than whites murder blacks, the progressive will try to either deny this statistic, or explain the homicides in terms of blacks being victims of poverty. The poverty will then (surprise surprise) be explained in terms of white racism. Black Lives Matter is a progressive movement that insinuates that the rates at which police officers shoot black suspects in the US is evidence that american society values the lives of blacks less than whites. The fundamental problem with this movement is that it sees only the unjust violence of white police officers as the violence it’s ok to be frightened and resentful towards. A white police officer is not allowed to feel these things about blacks and consequently be trigger happy, simply because he knows blacks have higher rates of committing homicide than whites do.22 He also can’t be trigger happy because he knows of the resentment towards police within the black community. Being trigger happy towards a black suspect is absolutely unacceptable, because its an expression of institutional white racism. However, if a black suspect, afraid of police violence, is trigger happy with a white police officer, it’s never condemned in quite the same way. It’s certainly seen as wrong, but not wrong enough to frequently makes headlines. And when it does make headlines, politicising the racial aspect of the murder is something most reporters take great pains to avoid. There is a palpable fear of appearing racist against blacks, especially when reporting and discussing black on white crime in the US. There is no corresponding fear of appearing racist against whites, when reporting and discussing white on black crime. The implicit assumption here is that blacks already have the public making bigoted generalisations about them. So in reporting black on white crime, journalists take special care not to amplify this. There’s also a corollary assumption made: whites (and especially white police officers) do not have the public making bigoted generalisations about them. If there is fear or resentment towards white police officers, either from blacks or from progressives, this fear and resentment is justified. This supposedly isn’t racism because whites have power, and power for the progressive is defined in terms of inequality. The upshot of this view is a bizarre double standard: if either the population, blacks, or progressives feel fear and resentment towards whites as a demographic group, this is not racist. If anybody (including blacks) feel fear and resentment towards blacks as a demographic group, this is racist. A Thought Experiment Let’s transpose this situation to another country. Suppose a minority of the population of Japan is German. Suppose this German minority, on the whole, is economically deprived, relative to the Japanese population. Suppose that, adjusting for the relative populations of Japanese and German citizens, Japanese officers shoot German suspects more than they shoot Japanese suspects. Suppose part of what explains this is the fact that Japanese police feel fear and resentment towards the German population in Japan. Would we say this is anti-German racism on the part of Japanese police officers? Possibly. But in calling them racist, we’d first have to establish that this fear and resentment doesn’t have anything to do with what the population of Germans actually does. That is, we’d have to make sure that Germans in Japan don’t commit crimes (and especially not homicides) more than the Japanese population does. If it turns out that the German population has a statistically justified reputation for crime and homicide, we would see this inequality in police shootings as terrible, but understandable under the circumstances. Especially if we also knew that Germans in Japan were part of an ethnic sub-culture that, on the whole, deeply resented Japanese police. Unlike the US situation, we’d probably say there was something like a mutually reinforcing conflict happening between the German population and the Japanese police officers. Germans commit more crime and exude hostility, which in turn provokes Japanese police officers to be consequently more frightened and resentful towards them, in life or death situations. That fear and resentment is what explains the disparity in which suspects get shot, and at what frequency. Here, I think we wouldn’t merely condemn and punish the Japanese officers for their fear and resentment, accusing their instinctive, in the moment reactions to Germans of being socially unacceptable forms of oppression. And while we would understand the German fear and resentment towards the Japanese police, we wouldn’t automatically assume that the Japanese shootings of Germans were less justifiable than their shootings of Japanese citizens. Each shooting would be evaluated on a case by case basis. The racial inequality in the shootings wouldn’t be seen as prima facia evidence of the Japanese police persecuting the German population. We wouldn’t simply describe the situation as one in which innocent Germans are being killed by racist Japanese police officers. Our assessment of the Japanese officers would be more compassionate than this. We’d think, “If I were a Japanese police officer in this situation, I might be scared and resentful too.” Then we’d extend that same empathy to the Germans, in relation to their hostility and mistrust of the police. We’d say that both the Germans and the Japanese police need to change their relationship to one and other. Such a change could involve a national effort to change elements of the German community, through various forms of state assistance and publicly funded projects. And such a change would greatly benefit both Japan and its community of Germans, most of whom don’t commit crime. The fundamental flaw in western progressivism is it can’t do something analogous to this. Whether it uses state assistance or not, it needs to describe one group as a total victim and one group as a total victimiser. Much like progressive gender politics, no blame can go to the victim for anything. Even the victim’s homicidal violence winds up being characterised as an understandable response to being poor, or even a form of self-defense. On progressivism, violence is only worthy of social outrage, when middle and upper class white people do it. What goes unnoticed within progressivism is that if victims are never responsible for their own violence, they lack agency. And if progressivism explains blacks in the US in a way where it robs them of their agency, progressivism isn’t merely racist against whites. It’s also racist against blacks. Rather than help the black community, it does little more than describe it as something like a group of culturally determined robots, lashing out in anger. Today’s counter-culture prefers to treat blacks as autonomous adults, and that is perhaps why it contains so many eloquent black voices.23 In rejecting equality of opportunity and outcome, it looks (superficially) as though today’s counter-culture is simply a libertarian challenge to progressivism. There’s a grain of truth in this assessment, as the counter-culture does contain many libertarian figures. But the problem with this assessment is it defines libertarian, simply in terms of whatever is the opposite of the modern progressive. One can make a convincing case that today’s modern progressive is far less left-wing than the counter culture which is supposedly libertarian. Today’s progressive, in being the opposite of today’s counter-culture, is also the antithesis of a liberal. Liberals are traditionally against judging different groups, according to wildly divergent double standards. Liberals can acknowledge differences between groups, as well as the ways in which they are equal. Liberals don’t problematize every collective inequality between different demographics without first wondering if those outcomes are the product of perfectly valid collective choices. Liberals value choice, and because of this, never absolve people of their responsibilities, simply because of statistics about the demographics they come from. Liberals are also pro-free speech, and so don’t insulate themselves from external criticisms by stigmatising their opponents. They don’t see their opponents as culturally determined, or think there is no point in believing them when they defend themselves from accusations of bigotry. And unlike modern progressives, liberals don’t believe that rejecting their narratives on racism and sexism makes you a bad person. Liberals are pluralists, after all. And there’s no reason why lefties shouldn’t be both pluralists and liberals. For those of us who value liberalism, pluralism, free speech, choice, diversity, treating people as individuals, and judging different groups according to universal standards, it’s important for these values not to be seen as de facto expressions of either libertarianism or conservatism. One can accept all these values, while still supporting the welfare state, a ban on firearms, the presence of abortion rights, nationalised health care, the legalisation of marijuana, the elimination of capital punishment, a basic income for all citizens, the removal of draconian copyright laws, a more peaceful foreign policy, and an immigration system which keeps migrant numbers manageable, while simultaneously allowing migrants to cheaply and quickly become citizens. If all of these values are important parts of a liberal democratic society, there needs to be a movement which can combine all of them. In much the same way that marxists had to make alliances with hippies, modern lefties need to make alliances with critics of progressivism. Progressives make the left look illiberal and intolerant, and in doing so, undermine the important left wing projects which are neither of those things. Fundamentally, the left has historically been about extending economic prosperity to everyone, while using the state to both protect people and facilitate various forms of liberty. The victim politics of progressivism is counter-productive for the left, because it’s less concerned with prosperity and liberty than with expressing resentment towards society. With a politics that can only resent the masses, individuals can’t be given responsibility for being anti-social. Without this responsibility, there is no possibility of helping a community decrease either its poverty, its deprivation, its crime rates, or its targeting by police. You can only begin to help a disadvantaged community if you don’t treat them like culturally determined robots. When you treat a disadvantaged person like a culturally determined robot, you deny them both the responsibility and the opportunities that facilitate the alleviation of their hardships. That is, you take away the very things that remove their disadvantages. When someone can never be held accountable for anything they do, they can never be treated as an equal to those who are more privileged than they are. They can also never choose not to be racist, if they live in a racist society and are in the racial demograpic of the majority. On the progressive outlook, the racism of whites is as robotic as the crime of blacks. Because mainstream attitudes are so influenced by progressivism today, resisting the temptation to treat people like robots is deeply offensive. It’s seen as callous, as an example of victim blaming, and as something which reinforces both systemic racism, as well as misogyny, and a more generalised persecution of the downtrodden. This is perhaps why the new counter-culture isn’t merely offensive and outrage inducing. It’s culture on the offensive, just like the punks, the hippies, and the beatniks were before. It’s as much a shock to the system as the first stirrings of progressivism. And it has that familiar habit of making people as angry, and as frightened, as anything within our rose tinted memories of the 20th century. Responsibility is scary and outrage inducing, in the early 21st century. Much more so than violence or racism. The Outraged establishment. CLICK HERE TO READ PART 2. Privileges and Powers. 22. See https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/tables/table-43 Also See https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-black-americans-commit-crime Also see https://www.amren.com/the-color-of-crime/ Also see https://www.amren.com/the-color-of-crime/ Also see http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2015/apr/02/sally-kohn/sally-kohn-white-men-69-percent-arrested-violent/ Also see http://www.dailywire.com/news/7441/7-statistics-you-need-know-about-black-black-crime-aaron-bandler Also see https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2014/tables/table_47_leos_fk_race_and_sex_of_known_offender_2005-2014.xls Also see http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/26/black-suspects-more-likely-to-be-shot-by-black-cop/ Also see https://ucr.fbi.gov/leoka/2014/tables/table_47_leos_fk_race_and_sex_of_known_offender_2005-2014.xls Also see https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/07/19/academic-research-on-police-shootings-and-race/?utm_term=.dd3be9ec5819 Also see http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/black-lies-matter/article/2600164 23. For example, Vlogger That Guy T, Thomas Sowell, Ken Hamblin, Larry Eldar, Tommy Sotameyor, Michelle Malkin, and Mumia Ali. 1 Cover Image. Title: SAN DIEGO, USA – MAY 27, 2016: A woman holds a Black Lives Matter sign while a Donald Trump impersonator pretends to hit her in the head with his fist at a protest outside a Trump rally in San Diego. Copyright : Chad Zuber (Follow) Image ID : 57306827 Copyright: <a href=’https://www.123rf.com/profile_shakzu’>shakzu / 123RF Stock Photo</a> 2. Title: hand with gun pistol , gun pointed(mafia). Copyright : tribalium123 (Follow) Image ID : 17920018 https://www.123rf.com/photo_17920018_hand-with-gun-pistol–gun-pointed.html 3. Title: Four diverse businesspeople standing in a row holding their eyes shut in a conceptual representation of the saying – See no evil. Copyright :Andriy Popov(Follow) Image ID : 17260918 Copyright: <a href=’https://www.123rf.com/profile_andreypopov’>andreypopov / 123RF Stock Photo</a> 4. Title: Young man holding up a gun with the focus on his gun Copyright :Tudor Antonel Adrian (Follow) Image ID : 8029937 Copyright: <a href=’https://www.123rf.com/profile_tony4urban’>tony4urban / 123RF Stock Photo</a> 5. Title Women – hand drawn seamless pattern of a crowd of different women from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Image ID :48042869 Copyright :franzidraws (Follow) https://www.123rf.com/photo_48042869_women-hand-drawn-seamless-pattern-of-a-crowd-of-different-women-from-diverse-ethnic-backgrounds.html Greg Scorzo counter-cultureGreg ScorzoIdentity politicsPolice Brutality PREVIOUS: SERIES OF TALKS - THE 'ART OF THINKING' about GOD Leicester Secular Hall, SEPT - DEC Politics and the New Counter-Culture Part 2: Privileges and Powers Politics and the New Counter-Culture Part 2: Privileges and Powers - CULTURE ON THE OFFENSIVE on 6 October, 2017 at 10:59 […] CLICK HERE TO READ PART 3 […]	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5000
__label__cc	0.720729	0.279271	Pink Updates / PINK Tank ~ Blog / Detained, Deported, but not Deterred: Egypt Stops International Women's Day Delegation to Gaza Mar 11 \| Filed under: Bring Our War $$ Home Posted by CODEPINK Staff by Cayman Kai [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="491"] Women protest in Cairo airport in support of the women of Gaza[/caption] On International Women’s Day, although I woke up in America, my heart was in Gaza. After having been detained for over 22 hours in the Cairo airport without explanation, I had been deported to London and ultimately sent back to America. I was the youngest American of an International Women’s Day Delegation bound for Gaza to answer the call of the women of Gaza issued to the women of the world to come and stand with them in solidarity. We were “armed” with microscopes for hospitals, toys for children, chocolate gifts, and solar lamps as a gesture to give them light in the darkness caused literally and figuratively by the Israeli blockade. As I sat stuck with an amazing group of forty women from around the world between passport control and the arrival gates exit, our thoughts were constantly with the women we were on a mission to visit. Tired from my seventeen hour flight and looking forward to finally crashing in a bed at the hotel, I was surprised when the guard at passport control picked up the phone after stamping my passport and then told me to go sit down without giving my passport back to me. I knew that it would be difficult to get into Gaza, but I did not think it would be difficult to get into Cairo at least. At first I was still optimistic about getting in. Within the first hour of my detention, a large group of French women arrived, joining the eight French women who had been on my flight, all of them hoping to get to Gaza. When they learned that the French who had initially arrived had their passports taken while they were detained, the new group refused to even try to get in. They made it clear from the start: all of them were getting in or none of them were. They made it difficult for the authorities because they did not hand over their passports. I was at first surprised by their solidarity and did not join in when they started to chant and sing and wave Palestinian and French flags. However I quickly realized they had the right idea; by forming a group and making one loud and unified demand, the authorities were forced to listen to us. If we had tried our luck, one by one, we would have been swiftly shut down. It made me realize that in this fight to speak the truth and shed light on the countless injustices committed against the Palestinians by the Israelis, we cannot do it alone – we must join as many hands as possible and lift up our voices together. No one at the airport seemed capable of decision-making, not even the small redheaded man bopping around who was supposedly the owner. It quickly became clear that nothing was going to happen anytime soon, so I, along with my fellow American delegate, Donna, who had been on the same flight, abandoned trying to look like mere tourists and we slowly joined in with clapping, singing, and dancing. We relinquished our hope that we would be able to get to Gaza and we shifted to a hope that we could somehow make a difference right there, stuck between passport control and the arrival gates exit in the Cairo airport. The authorities roped off the area around us, attempting to separate us from the rest of the airport. Ironically, it was not our efforts, but theirs that were in vain. Their attempt to contain us only inspired us to clap longer and sing louder. Passerby took photos and videos; some even clapped and danced or cheered. A pilot jetting by us even stopped for a second to give us a thumbs-up. We were eventually given food and clean water, but as we brought out the solar lamps intended for the women of Gaza, we could not help but think how those women are constantly denied these simple things. The people of Gaza cannot treat their sewage and they must pump it back into the sea. Because there are electricity shortages every single day up to 18 hours a day, they sometimes cannot even do that. The sewage contaminates the aquifer and their drinking water and sometimes it floods entire towns and people and babies drown – yes, they die – in sewage. We were eventually all deported, not one of us let in even to Cairo, let alone Gaza. A few delegates had gotten in to Cairo before our large group, but they also will not make it to Gaza. As the authorities prepared to deport those of us in the airport, there were vague mutterings that we were “security threats,” but when I asked how I, as a twenty-year-old college student who has never been to Egypt, qualified as a “security threat,” no one could answer me. It breaks my heart that the women of Gaza, contained in the largest open-air prison in the world, cannot even have visitors. In America we would call this cruel even for some of our worst criminals, yet we continue to pay for this oppression with our tax dollars by giving $3 billion a year to Israel, one of the world’s wealthiest nations. Although we did not get in, we hope that our message has been heard by the women of Gaza and the people around the world: we have not forgotten the women of Gaza and we will continue to carry them in our hearts and speak, yell, and sing the truth until there is justice and accountability for what is being done to the Palestinians. Egypt’s Hunger Strikers Suffer Amidst increasing Human Rights violations CODEPINK Condemns Conviction of Palestinian-American Activist Rasmea Odeh From Moment to Movement. Where the F*** Are YOU? Are You Coming? A Reflection on the End the Occupation Conference 2014	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5003
__label__cc	0.70535	0.29465	New Led Zepp SBD on Empress Valley! Home / Queen / Queen – One Sweet Moment (Wardour-032) Queen – One Sweet Moment (Wardour-032) gsparaco July 24, 2011 Queen, Wardour label Leave a comment 442 Views One Sweet Moment (Wardour-032) St. James’ Park, Newcastle, England – July 9th, 1986 Disc 1: One Vision, Tie Your Mother Down, In The Lap Of The Gods…Revisited, Seven Seas Of Rhye, Tear It Up, A Kind Of Magic, Day-O, Under Pressure, Another One Bites The Dust, Who Wants To Live Forever?, I Want To Break Free, Impromptu, Guitar Solo, Now I’m Here Disc 2: Love Of My Life, Is This The World We Created?, (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care, Hello Mary Lou, Tutti Frutti, Bohemian Rhapsody, Hammer To Fall, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Radio Ga Ga, We Will Rock You, Friends Will Be Friends, We Are The Champions, God Save The Queen DVD St. James Park, Newcastle, UK – July 9th, 1986: One Vision, Tie Your Mother Down, In The Lap Of The Gods…Revisited, Seven Seas Of Rhye, Tear It Up, A Kind Of Magic, Day-O, Under Pressure, Another One Bites The Dust, Who Wants To Live Forever, I Want To Break Free, Impromptu, Guitar Solo, Now I’m Here, Love Of My Life, Is This The World We Created?, (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care, Hello Mary Lou, Tutti Frutti, Bohemian Rhapsody, Hammer To Fall, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Radio Ga Ga, We Will Rock You, Friends Will Be Friends, We Are The Champions, God Save The Queen One Sweet Moment is the kind of comprehensive and satisfying release that makes collecting these titles worthwhile and fun. Wardour picks Queen’s show at St. James Park in Newcastle for their very first A Kind Of Magic tour release and they’ve release almost all of the available audio and video sources for this great show. The audience source used for the audio is a very good to excellent complete recording. There is a cut in the tape in the reprise of “Now I’m Here” that is filled in by a poor sounding source that may be from this show or not, it’s hard to tell. Tickets were sold out in an hour and this set an attendance record in Newcastle at the time. This was the first of five shows in England that summer and occur right before the famous Wembley shows. It is unfortunate that Freddie was in such poor voice during Queen’s final tour but that really does not detract from these concerts. The “God works in mysterious ways” intro leading into “One Vision” is very exciting. Freddie addresses the audience as “my beauties” after “Tie Your Mother Down”. Brian comes in too early in “I Want To Break Free” and Freddie says “that’s better” when he corrects the mistake. “It seems like yesterday we played the Newcastle City Hall” Brian says before “Love Of My Life” and announces that the proceeds from the show will go to the Save The Children organization before “Is This The World We Created?” The Magic tour contains the longest acoustic set Queen ever performed with the standards “Baby I Don’t Care”, “Hello Mary Lou” and “Tutti Frutti”. This was done to remember their roots and, as May explains in a later interview, because Zeppelin did it. By this time in the tour “Friends Will Be Friends” was inserted between “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions”, introducing another anthem that would unfortunately have no future airings. The silver pressed dvd included in this set is from an audience member’s camcorder. It is just off of the floor and gives a good view of the entire stage and all of the action. The lighting is horrible with the band members being washed out from both the sun and the stage lights so you see a white silhouette of Freddie running around the stage. It improves a bit when the sun goes down during the acoustic set but is not something that will be watched too often. There is also a cut in “Radio Ga-Ga”. At least fifteen minutes of the show was professionally filmed which appeared on television and was released on video tape, but none of that is used here. Nonetheless One Sweet Moment is a wonderful and comprehensive set and definitely worth having. stratcat58: Let's be clear on one thing - Sigma are not the ones responsible for upgrading t... U2 – Higher Ground (EGG 97/98) December 30, 2019	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5004
__label__wiki	0.818266	0.818266	Hindu College Hindu College, Delhi The Core Vision and Mission – Dedication to Producing Complete Citizens Founded in 1899, Hindu College has a storied past that binds it closely to the nation, and to the city of Delhi. The idea of the college was born from the Indian movement for independence, which was growing in strength as the nineteenth century drew to a close. A little more than a decade earlier, the Indian National Congress had been established; in this year, the first party constitution was framed at the historic Lucknow session. In 1899, Mahatma Gandhi was in South Africa, and was succeeding in his early campaign against efforts to disenfranchise the Indian community there. DadabhaiNaoroji was two years from publishing Poverty and Un-British Rule in India. BalGangadharTilak had uttered his now-famous demand for Swaraj as a birth-right. Against this backdrop of gathering nationalist energies, certain prominent citizens of Delhi, notably LalaShriKrishanDassjiGurwale, were committed to starting an institute which would impart higher education to the youth. Dedication to the nation, non-elitism, and non-sectarianism were built into the very foundation of Hindu College, and remain the core of its ethos. LalaKrishanDassji came from a family that treasured legends of how its ancestors sacrificed their wealth as penalty for aiding the revolutionary forces in 1857. Having himself seen the economic hardships of the great famines of 1886 and 1889, he was deeply concerned by economic inequities in access to education, as well as the lack of nationalist commitment in the pedagogies of the many prestigious Indian colleges. His ideal of a national college centered on fees low enough to be afforded by the underprivileged classes, and a syllabus and teaching informed by a liberal and humanist ethos and nationalist commitment. The inauguration of its first, small premises in a hired building in Kinari Bazaar, ChandniChowk, was at the hands of Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya on the traditional first day of spring, BasantPanchami. The first body of students numbered only thirteen. The air of this long-ago spring day in the heart of Old Delhi, in sight of walls already two centuries old, and presided over by a dedicated patriot and educationist, seems to still float through the Hindu College campus and inspires its vision of the future. BA HONS English By the time of the inception of Delhi University in 1922, Hindu College had grown from its modest beginnings. Indeed, the two institutions and many other landmarks of the North Campus have intimate ties from their early years—when the Faculty of Law was proposed in 1923, the governing body of Hindu College put their hall at the disposal of the University for lectures in law. This hall would have been in the College’s second home, in Kundenwalan (Ajmeri Gate area), and many stories from this phase in its history bind it even more strongly with the national struggle. Around 1902, the student body of the College numbered almost a hundred, and could not be accommodated in the ChandniChowk building. Its founder, ShriGurwale, persuaded one of Delhi’s most illustrious citizens to donate a site for its expansion—RaiBahadur Sultan Singh, whose Kashmere Gate residence hosted meetings of the Congress Working Committee, as well as key leaders from Mahatma Gandhi to MotiLal Nehru and Sarojini Naidu. His generosity links Hindu College to other institutions for educational and social welfare institutions that are landmarks of Delhi, for instance, his equally philanthropic son founded the Modern School. Disha-The placement cell Disha, the Placement Cell of Hindu College has been on the fore in bringing about exciting job opportunities for all courses. The cell organizes seminars and workshops on career related matters. With a placement percentage of 95% ,Disha has essayed a pivotal role in the academic lives of students who wish to get a head start in professional field. . Some of the organizations that have participated in the Placement Programmeme are Google, Deloitte, HDFC, KPMG, Maruti, Jaypee, Ernst and Young, Protiviti, DE Shaw, Essar and Royal Sundaram Alliance, among many others have been keenly participating in our placement programme over the past few years. Sudhir Bose Marg, Hindu College, University Enclave, Delhi, 110007 Select Course BA HONS English	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5005
__label__wiki	0.919296	0.919296	MCB assembles curious cast of characters for ‘Alice’ Amy Wilder May 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM May 26, 2013 at 1:00 AM It has been a year of firsts for the Missouri Contemporary Ballet, a full season of performances punctuated by cross-country exchanges with other companies and preparations for a trip to South Korea this summer. Amid all of that, they've been preparing quietly in the background � for months � for another kind of first. This week, MCB performs "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," and the show includes the talents of 40 children from Columbia and beyond. This is the first MCB show to feature children. "They're from all over," said Director of Operations/Ballet Mistress Joanne Sandorfi of the young dancers. "A lot of them are local, but we do have a few from Mexico, from Jeff City. � We've definitely got a nice mix of kids in there." MCB has a dance school, but they decided to hold an open audition this January for "Alice." They wanted to give everyone who was interested an opportunity to participate, and no one was turned away after the auditions. "We had such an array of talent, and you could tell that everyone was just so excited about this opportunity," Sandorfi said. "And we were able to fit everyone in. We were really excited about that." The dancers who auditioned ranged from four- and five-year-olds, who will play hedgehogs, to teenagers and "two adults � adults with full time jobs," Sandorfi said. "They � were dancers, so it was easy to cast them." In fact, all of the participants have some dance background. "We really wanted to make sure this was a community-wide production, not just Missouri Contemporary Ballet and our school," Sandorfi said. "We wanted to open it up to everyone because � this is a chance for them to actually experience how a professional production is run." The idea for "Alice" came about in part because of MCB's school. People kept asking when they were going to stage "The Nutcracker," according to Executive Director Karen Mareck Grundy, "but it's not what MCB does. I wanted to find another ballet that could be more edgy, more contemporary. � So Tom" Andes "and I just started talking about it, and he started playing around with music." Andes, a music instructor at Stephens College, adjunct professor at the University of Missouri and leading area jazzer, has composed an original score for the production, along with Travis McFarlane, who composed one piece � a lobster quadrille. McFarlane is a musical director and accompanist for MCB and a ballet accompanist at Stephens College. The compositions incorporate elements of jazz, blues and classical but don't really fit into a particular category, Grundy said. The music will be played live. Grundy designed the choreography, and company member Alex Gordon � who will play the White Rabbit � helped design and create the costumes. Performers have been rehearsing in partial costume for weeks because the complex nature of some of the creations requires a higher level of creativity and precision. For example, the Cheshire Cat is played by two dancers: Jordan Mazur and Joshua Hasam. As a result, the choreography must be carefully designed, and the dancers have to have time to master it. In order to translate some of the story to the stage, Grundy said the company is utilizing multimedia, including projection. Not wanting to give away too much about how this works, she also hinted that a beloved local landmark will be incorporated into the show.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5007
__label__wiki	0.728335	0.728335	Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees continues to delight visitors during Holidays \| Opinion What I truly love about the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees is this holiday wonderland is a fundraiser for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees continues to delight visitors during Holidays \| Opinion What I truly love about the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees is this holiday wonderland is a fundraiser for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Check out this story on commercialappeal.com: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/opinion/2019/11/28/enchanted-forest-festival-trees-has-brought-generations-joy/4311427002/ Lynn Norment, Guest Columnist Published 6:00 a.m. CT Nov. 28, 2019 Lynn Norment is a Memphis journalist who previously was an editor and senior writer for Ebony magazine. She can be reached at normentmedia@gmail.com. Families wander through the Festival of Trees, part of the Pink Palace's Enchanted Forest. In its 15th year at the Pink Palace, the animatronic exhibit features 89 figures, a gingerbread village, and Santa. (Photo: Jim Weber, The Commercial Appeal) The Enchanted Forest has been a Memphis Christmas tradition for more than 70 years and it continues to entertain and intrigue children and adults across the Mid-South. While growing up in Hardeman County, I would watch and read with wide-eyed wonder news stories about the magical forest with animatronic animals at Goldsmith’s Department Store in downtown Memphis. Finally, I had an opportunity to see it. Last year I had the pleasure of visiting it again, though not at Goldsmith’s, for the famed store had closed its downtown location. In 1990 Goldsmith’s donated its celebrated Enchanted Forest, which had grown and been updated over the years, to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Together We Initiate Growth and Sharing (TWIGS) Foundation. Le Bonheur combined the Enchanted Forest with its Festival of Trees holiday showcase. The combined Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees initially was hosted at the AgriCenter. Its first public showing in 1992 drew more than 68,000 visitors and raised $200,000 for Le Bonheur. Your state. Your stories. Support more reporting like this. A subscription gives you unlimited access to stories across Tennessee that make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you. Click here to become a subscriber. In 2002 Le Bonheur, which has been named a “Best Children’s Hospital” by U.S. News & World Report, partnered with the Pink Palace Museum, which now curates and hosts the popular holiday exhibition. The Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees offers an array of creatively and beautifully decorated Christmas trees in addition to the Enchanted Forest. I was escorted through this holiday wonderland by a three and 10 year old, both apparently enjoyed it tremendously and So did I. The toddler insisted on a second tour, and I happily obliged. She was fascinated by the retro animatronic forest animals and characters decked out in cute little custom-made outfits doing their holidays chores. Mice were baking, bears were building, other characters were wrapping gifts. There were plenty of teddy bears and busy elves. And there was the Penguin Pond populated with cuddly-stuffed penguins that represented donations to Le Bonheur. Bright-eyed and excited, the 3-year old had plenty of questions, which I tried to answer. What fascinated me was that the Enchanted Forest started as an array of holiday displays at the flagship Goldsmith’s store. The original exhibits were created in the late 1940’s by the department store’s display director George Hettinger. Each year he added to the creations. Over the years, Goldsmith’s employees continued to enhance the creations. In the 1970s, characters from storybooks and movies were incorporated into the holiday scenes. The various displays were combined, and in 1963 the first version of Goldsmith’s Enchanted Forest was displayed in the store. In the succeeding years, it drew thousands of visitors to the store during the holiday season. I especially enjoyed the Festival of Trees, which this year features 50 Christmas trees decorated by professional designers, individuals, school groups, businesses and local organizations. There is also a Gingerbread Village that showcases delectable cottages and mansions designed by chefs, businesses, individual and groups. Adding even more charm to the village is the miniature train that bustles through it. What I truly love about the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees is this holiday wonderland is a fundraiser for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, which opened its doors in 1952 and continues to welcome all children in need of medical care. Lynn Norment (Photo: Victor Powell / For CommercialAppeal.com) While you may have missed Santa Claus landing by helicopter on the Pink Palace lawn last weekend to open the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees, you should know that Santa will be at the event through Christmas Eve to take wishes and lists. The exhibit will be closed on Christmas day but reopen the day after and remain open until New Year’s Eve. Admission to the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees is $5 for children ages 3-12 and seniors, and $6 for other children and adults. Admission to the festival goes directly to Le Bonheur and is separate from admission to the museum. Treat yourself and some lucky children to this holiday tradition while supporting a most worthy cause. Thanksgiving cartoons from the USA Today Network The cartoonist's homepage, pnj.com/opinion Andy Marlette, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal Nov. 26, 2019 Mike Thompson/USA TODAY Network The /cartoonist's homepage, https://www.courier-journal.com Marc Murphy, (Louisville, Ky.) Courier Journal Originally published in 2011. The cartoonists homepage, pnj.com/opinion Andy Marlette, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal Originally published in 2016. The cartoonist's homepage, freep.com/opinion/mike-thompson Mike Thompson, Detroit Free Press The cartoonists homepage, pnj.com/opinion Andy Marlette, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal Originally published in 2011 when he worked for Florida Today. The cartoonist's homepage is now dustincomics.com Jeff Parker, Florida Today Originally published in 2016. The cartoonist's homepage, indystar.com/opinion/varvel Gary Varvel, The Indianapolis Star Originally published in 2009. The cartoonist's homepage, news-press.com/opinion Doug MacGregor, The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press Originally published in 2012. The cartoonist's homepage, clarionledger.com/opinion Marshall Ramsey, The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger Read or Share this story: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/opinion/2019/11/28/enchanted-forest-festival-trees-has-brought-generations-joy/4311427002/ Republicans must stand up for moral principles	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5009
__label__wiki	0.923258	0.923258	Reprieve's London office can be contacted on: communications [at] reprieve.org.uk / +44 (0) 207 553 8140. Reprieve US, based in New York City, can be contacted on Katherine [dot] oshea [at] reprieve.org Pakistan Says It ‘May Limit’ Death Penality, Amid Fears for Mentally Ill Prisoner WASHINGTON - Pakistan says it is seeking ways to limit the scope of the death penalty, amid fears for a mentally ill prisoner who faces hanging as early as next week. Speaking on Monday at an event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the first secretary of Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN said the government was examining the country’s penal code to determine whether the death penalty could be “narrowed”, saying: “We are looking at the option of enhancing the duration of life sentence instead of awarding death sentences.” She added: “Pakistan remains fully committed to promoting and protecting the human rights of all our citizens.” Pakistan has executed some 419 people since the lifting of a moratorium on the death penalty in December 2014, making it one of the world’s most prolific executing states. Research last year by Reuters and human rights organization Reprieve found that – despite a claim by the Pakistani government to be targeting ‘terrorists’ – fewer than one in six of those prisoners who had been hanged could be linked to militancy. Among those currently facing execution is Imdad Ali, a former electrician who is severely mentally ill. Yesterday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Mr Ali to stop his hanging, which had been scheduled to take place last week. Ruling that Imdad’s execution could go ahead, the Court said that a large proportion of prisoners in Pakistan suffer from mental illness and that they “cannot let everyone go.” He could now be hanged as early as next week, despite a prison medical report from earlier this month describing him as “insane.” The execution of mentally ill people is prohibited under Pakistani and international law. Yesterday, several UN human rights experts urged Pakistan to halt Mr Ali’s execution, while Amnesty International and the Asian Human Rights Commission have also called for the hanging to be stopped. Commenting, Harriet McCulloch, deputy director of the death penalty team at Reprieve, said: “While it’s encouraging to hear that Pakistan’s government may finally be turning away from its recent shameful spree of executions, the authorities must act now to prevent another illegal hanging. Imdad Ali could be executed within days, despite the government’s own doctors having declared him ‘insane’ – his hanging would be a grave breach of Pakistani and international law. If Pakistan’s leaders are serious about scaling back the death penalty, they must start right away, and call off Imdad’s execution.” With 2020 Endorsement, Racial Justice Group Says Movement Behind Bernie Sanders 'Will Change This Country' Human Rights Advocates Rally at White House to Demand US 'Close Guantánamo and End Torture' The Trump Administration Weakens Standards for ICE Detention Facilities Pakistan, Prisons, Death Penalty, Reprieve	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5010
__label__cc	0.639408	0.360592	Wales: diabetes prevalence reaches 7.4% The prevalence of diabetes is higher in Wales than any other UK country, new analysis by Diabetes UK Cymru shows. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes in Wales has increased from 191,590 to 194,693 since last year. This is a prevalence of 7.4%, the highest in the UK. The UK average is 6.8%. The charity estimates a further 61,000 people in Wales are living with type 2 diabetes but haven’t yet been diagnosed. Dai Williams, national director of Diabetes UK Cymru, said: ‘Diabetes costs the NHS in Wales over £1bn a year. This doesn’t have to happen. ‘We urge everyone to find out their risk of developing type 2 diabetes with the Know Your Risk tool.’ The Know Your Risk tool can be found here. Image credit \| iStock	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5011
__label__wiki	0.871534	0.871534	Heard throws 3 TDs, leads Tigers Caravel wins; St. Mark's loses Heard throws 3 TDs, leads Tigers Caravel wins; St. Mark's loses Check out this story on delawareonline.com: http://delonline.us/1u8g7vr Published 10:52 p.m. ET Nov. 7, 2014 \| Updated 10:41 a.m. ET Nov. 8, 2014 A.I.’s Freddie Heard (Photo: KYLE GRANTHAM/THE NEWS JOURNAL )Buy Photo GLASGOW – Freddie Heard went 10-for-16 for 317 yards and three touchdowns as A.I. du Pont downed Glasgow 47-30 in a Blue Hen Flight A game. Heard threw scoring strikes of 35, 69 and 36 yards to Quadree Henderson, all in the first half as A.I. amassed a 41-8 lead by intermission. Henderson had four catches on the night for 149 yards and added a 57-yard interception return for a touchdown. Anthony Christopher had touchdown runs of 3 and 4 yards for A.I. Tyrique Woodland scored four touchdowns for Glasgow on runs of 21, 20, 14 and 5 yards. Glasgow had one interception on defense. A.I. finished its season at 5-5 while Glasgow went at 3-7. Archbishop Spalding (Md.) 28, St. Mark's 12 SEVERN, Md. – Brett Schweizer rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown but it wasn't enough as St. Mark's fell to host Archbishop Spalding. Schweizer ran 9 yards for a score in the second quarter to get the Spartans within 14-6 but Spalding added another score later in the quarter to make it 21-6 at halftime. Matt Williams threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Connor Eastep in the third quarter to make it 21-12, but the Cavaliers responded with an insurance touchdown in the final quarter. Williams went 14-for-33 on the night for 178 yards. St. Mark's finished the regular season at 7-3. Caravel 35, Mount Pleasant 0 GLASGOW – Darnell Savage rushed for 135 yards and scored a touchdown on both offense and defense to lead Caravel to a nonconference victory. Savage got the Buccaneers started with a 37-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the first quarter and then ran 7 yards for a score to spark a 21-point second quarter for Caravel. He also had one of three Bucs' interceptions. Jonathan Zitofsky and Robinson had the other Caravel interceptions. Dennis Robinson ran for 80 yards and scored on runs of 1 and 44 yards. Quarterback Jackson Argoe went 7-for-10 for 101 yards and tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Carney. Vote for Delaware Online Athlete of the Week for Week 7 of the winter season Why is Doug Pederson taking the blame for Eagles' season? Two new boys hoops teams break into Delaware Online high school sports rankings Delaware Basketball Hall of Fame to induct 8 Sixers: Korkmaz shooting way to an important role Delaware high school basketball: Live scores and more	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5015
__label__wiki	0.502913	0.502913	DU Home » Latest Threads » William Weehours » Journal Page: 1 2 Next » William Weehours William Weehours's Journal Name: Bill Hometown: Bath, Me Home country: US Member since: Wed Nov 13, 2019, 06:40 AM Posted by Name removed \| Wed Nov 20, 2019, 04:36 AM (4 replies) EU holds firm on West Bank settlements as US eases stance Source: Politico By ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH 11/19/19, 9:16 AM CET Updated 11/19/19, 3:07 PM CET The EU's position on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank has not changed, the bloc's foreign policy chief said on Monday, after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the Trump administration would ease its stance toward Israel. Federica Mogherini, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, said in a statement: “The European Union’s position on Israeli settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory is clear and remains unchanged: all settlement activity is illegal under international law and it erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace.” Mogherini continued: "The EU calls on Israel to end all settlement activity, in line with its obligations as an occupying power," adding that the bloc "will continue to support a resumption of a meaningful process towards a negotiated two-state solution, the only realistic and viable way to fulfill the legitimate aspirations of both parties." The EU's statement came after Pompeo said the U.S. was rejecting a 1978 State Department legal opinion that called Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank “inconsistent with international law.” Read more: https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-holds-firm-on-west-bank-settlements-as-us-eases-stance/ Don't party too hearty, Bibi! Posted by William Weehours \| Tue Nov 19, 2019, 10:51 AM (4 replies) Senators press Facebook over user location tracking policies Source: The Hell BY EMILY BIRNBAUM - 11/19/19 06:00 AM EST A pair of bipartisan senators are pressing Facebook over its location tracking policies, questioning whether the social media giant continues to track users even when they've said they don't want Facebook to do so. Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) on Tuesday sent a letter addressed to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg raising concern that Facebook ignores the wishes of users who don't want their exact location to be tracked. The letter comes on the heels of a Facebook blog post in which the company pledged it would stop tracking users' location data when they chose that option on the latest Apple and Google software updates. But the senators said Facebook's blog post leaves open the possibility that it will continue to record and use location information, even when users have opted out on Apple's iOS or Google's Android software. "If a user has decided to limit Facebook’s access to his or her location, Facebook should respect these privacy choices," Coons and Hawley wrote in the letter. "The language in the blog post, however, indicates that Facebook may continue to collect location data despite user preferences, even if the user is not engaging with the app, and Facebook is simply deducing the user’s location from information about his or her internet connection." Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/technology/471032-senators-press-facebook-over-user-location-tracking-policies Facebook, imho, has had the most corrosive effect on American society of anything in the 21st century thus far. Any bad news for Zuckerberg is good news to me. (For those thinking of FOX "News," I would remind you that cesspool was on the air before 2000.) Kremlin confirms Putin to take part in Ukrainian peace summit in Paris MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin confirmed on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in a four-way international summit in Paris on Dec. 9, an attempt to advance efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The French presidency said on Friday that the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine would take part. But until Monday the Kremlin had failed to publicly confirm its attendance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Putin would attend, but declined to discuss what Moscow’s expectations for the event were. Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-russia-summit/kremlin-confirms-putin-to-take-part-in-ukrainian-peace-summit-in-paris-idUSKBN1XS14R?il=0 Oh fucking joy! (Well, at least Trump won't be there, sparing us the sight of Donnie on his knees giving Vladdy a BJ. UGH! I'm outta here!) Posted by William Weehours \| Mon Nov 18, 2019, 06:28 AM (2 replies) NYT: Bloomberg's Bogus, Belated Mea Culpa By Charles M. Blow Opinion Columnist Nov. 17, 2019, 8:20 p.m. ET Last Sunday I wrote a column entitled “You Must Never Vote for Bloomberg” because of Michael Bloomberg’s promotion, advocacy and defense of the racist stop-and-frisk policy that ballooned during his terms as mayor of New York City. This Sunday, Bloomberg apologized for that policy. Speaking at the Christian Cultural Center, a black megachurch in Brooklyn, Bloomberg said: “Over time, I’ve come to understand something that I long struggled to admit to myself: I got something important wrong. I got something important really wrong. I didn’t understand that back then the full impact that stops were having on the black and Latino communities. I was totally focused on saving lives, but as we know, good intentions aren’t good enough. Now, hindsight is 20/20. But, as crime continued to come down as we reduced stops, and as it continued to come down during the next administration, to its credit, I now see that we could and should have acted sooner and acted faster to cut the stops. I wish we had. I’m sorry that we didn’t. But, I can’t change history. However today, I want you to know that I realize back then I was wrong, and I’m sorry.” This is a necessary apology, but a hard one to take, coming only now, as he considers a run for the Democratic nomination, a nomination that is nearly impossible to secure without the black vote. It feels like the very definition of pandering. It is impossible for me to take seriously Bloomberg’s claim that he didn’t understand the impact that stop-and-frisk was having on the black and brown communities when he was in office. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/17/opinion/bloomberg-stop-and-frisk.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage But wait! There's more: Bloomberg hasn't announced yet. Therefore, I'm not posting this in DP. Besides which, Michael Bloomberg? A Democrat? HAHA! Belarus threatens to pull out of Russia integration deal over subsidy row MINSK (Reuters) - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday threatened to pull out of signing an integration deal with Russia next month if Moscow failed to resolve their dispute over energy subsidies. Russia has propped up its traditional ally with loans and subsidies to keep Belarus in its political orbit but now plans to phase these out to lessen the burden on its economy. That has strained ties at the same time as Lukashenko has sought to improve relations with the West. Belarus previously said that it stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year from changes to Russian tax policy and has tried to negotiate compensation. Russia says the subsidies cost its exchequer billions of dollars. Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-belarus-election-lukashenko/belarus-threatens-to-pull-out-of-russia-integration-deal-over-subsidy-row-idUSKBN1XR0CD?il=0 Nice knowin' ya, Alexander. On second thought, you're just an asshole dictator about to be consumed by another asshole dictator, so good riddance. Posted by William Weehours \| Sun Nov 17, 2019, 06:50 AM (4 replies) Stephen Miller is no outlier. White supremacy rules the Republican party By Cas Mudde, The Guardian, 16 Nov 2019 06.17 EST This week, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) published a bombshell article revealing troubling emails that White House senior policy advisor Stephen Miller sent to editors at Breitbart News, the far-right media outlet previously led by Steve Bannon. The emails, which were leaked by former Breitbart editor Katie McHugh and predate Miller’s period in the White House, show Miller’s obsession with immigration and his seemingly successful attempts to get Breitbart editors to write anti-immigration stories, some of which were based on openly white nationalist sources like American Renaissance and V-Dare. The widespread public outrage in response to the revelations is understandable. Miller is the longest serving senior advisor to President Trump who is not related to the president, and is believed to be the architect of the White House’s draconian anti-immigration policies, which doesn’t just target “illegal immigration” but also aims to return to the country to the infamously racist immigration policy of the early 20th century. In its response to the leak, the White House tried to discredit the source, SPLC, which has had some internal and external problems recently, but is overall a very reliable authority on the US far right (full disclaimer: I regularly collaborate with the SPLC). One White House spokesperson went full “alternative facts” by accusing SPLC of antisemitism, because Miller is Jewish. By doing so, the White House displayed a complete lack of understanding about what antisemitism is, which is no surprise, given that Trump considers himself “the least antisemitic person you’ve ever seen”. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/16/stephen-miller-white-supremacy-republican-party Beyond tone-deaf. I sometimes wonder if Trump and his Trash administration actually studied to be so stupid. But it's probably just a natural gift! Turkey says it bought Russian S-400s to use them, not put them aside ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey bought S-400 missile defense systems from Russia to use them, not put them aside, the head of the Turkish Defense Industry Directorate said on Saturday, days after talks between President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump. In an interview with broadcaster CNN Turk, Ismail Demir said it was not logical for any country to purchase such systems only to put them aside, but added that Turkish and U.S. officials would aim to tackle the issue. He also said that no Russian personnel would come to Turkey to operate the S-400s. Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-turkey-russia/turkey-says-it-bought-russian-s-400s-to-use-them-not-put-them-aside-idUSKBN1XQ07Z?il=0 Giving respect to despots does not earn you their respect, Donnie. They look down on you for the weak little snowflake you really are! Posted by William Weehours \| Sat Nov 16, 2019, 04:06 AM (5 replies) Michael McFaul On Yovanovitch's Removal: She Was Getting In The Way Of 'The Drug Deal' - MSNBC I applaud Ambassador McFaul. I condemn President McFAIL! Posted by William Weehours \| Fri Nov 15, 2019, 06:16 PM (2 replies) Laurence Tribe On Impeachment: It's About Time We Pay Attention To Constitution - Hardball From last night: Every word Tribe speaks is a nail in Trump's coffin. Posted by William Weehours \| Fri Nov 15, 2019, 07:59 AM (0 replies) Go to Page: 1 2 Next »	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5016
__label__cc	0.614067	0.385933	Banning a yoga class reveals just how out of touch the church is John Twyford has his say on this remarkable story John Twyford Yoga teacher Atsuko Kato gives a class at the Alwington Village Hall in Devon Banning a yoga class from a church hall simply reveals how out of touch the church is with modern society. Perhaps there was once a time when yoga was seen as some kind of evil cult, trying to tempt us away from the true faith by encouraging strange body contortions and making those who take part suspiciously flexible. But, really, haven't we moved on from such silliness, even in rural Devon? Why would a yoga class pose any threat to the Rev. Nigel Dilkes of Pilton Church, in North Devon? What grounds does he have for refusing it permission to use his church hall? He claims every group wishing to use the church hall has to abide by rules covering the use of all church property. The hall must only be used for activities compatible with the Christian faith, he told DevonLive. Crucially, he added: "The test of this is whether a belief or world view underpinning the activity acknowledges that there is only one God and that the New Testament person of Jesus Christ is God himself." I'm not a fan of the Church of England and find it difficult to understand why people believe in God and, especially, the kind of pedantic mumbo-jumbo trotted out by the likes of the Rev. Dilkes, who incidentally, used to be a research scientist and has a doctorate in plant biology. While yoga might have an element of spirituality connected to it, I really don't think anyone attending a class does so because they're looking for a religious outlet. It's basically a secular activity about keeping fit and being calm. Yoga teacher barred from using church hall because classes are 'not compatible with Christian beliefs' Anyway, I wonder if the Rev. Dilkes sets the same test for other groups using the church hall? What about retired police officer Mick Harrison, who was due to give a talk there last September - was he quizzed whether he agreed that "Jesus Christ is God himself", whatever that means? Atsuko has been teaching yoga in North Devon for 25 years (Image: Moonshine Photographer) And what about the cheese and wine tasting evening? Goodness knows what that could be a cover for. Frankly, the church is not in good shape and cannot afford to be so out of touch if it wants to survive and maintain its privileged position in our society. Grand Designs House of the Year: Stunning Devon Secular Retreat makes shortlist for best home A British Social Attitudes survey in 2018 found that only 14% of the population identified as belonging to the Church of England, down from 31% in 2002, and only one in five of those actually attended. Worryingly for the church, the largest fall was among young people aged 18 to 24, among whom just 2% identified as members. Atsuko says she was not allowed to host yoga classes in a church hall because it was not "compatible with Christian beliefs" (Image: Moonshine Photographer) The majority in every age group said they had no religion at all. I think this is a good thing, as it means that more and more people are recognising religion and its proponents, like the Rev above, as spreading a rather strange kind of magical thinking we are all better off without.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5017
__label__wiki	0.715285	0.715285	The Great Beast and the Buddhist The man who taught Aleister Crowley magic was the same man who helped bring Buddhism to the west, yet you’ve probably never heard of Charles Henry Allan Bennett. Allan Bennett was born in London in 1872. Bennett’s father was a civil engineer and passed away when he was still a child. His father’s death and Bennett’s severe asthma meant that Allan grew up both sickly and in severe poverty. Despite his impoverished upbringing, Bennett was educated at Hollesley College and trained as an analytical chemist. Unfortunately, his poor health made it difficult for him to keep steady work. Bennett was raised a Roman Catholic by his widowed mother, but rejected the faith at a young age. In 1890, when he was around 18 years old, Bennett experienced, what he would later describe as, shivadarshana, a yogic term for a deep trance state where the individual experiences the destruction of the universe and achieves union with the god Shiva. Shivadarshana is one of the stages of samadhi (meditative consciousness), which you’ve probably heard more frequently referred to as right concentration, the final step on the Buddha’s Eightfold Path. (An easier way to parse this experience for those interested in Western mysticism would be “crossing the Abyss”) This incident, which we know little about in terms of details other than what he related to Crowley, had an immense impact on Bennett. Trying to understand this experience is probably what lead him to join The Theosophical Society in 1893 and undoubtedly what helped send him on the path toward becoming a Buddhist monk. Whether she was a charlatan or not, the impact of Helena Blavatsky’s Western Occult cocktail served with an Eastern mysticism chaser cannot be stated enough. Not only did her work introduce Eastern ideas to a wide Western audience, but among indigenous peoples it sparked a revival in their own religions. Buddhism was dead for hundreds of years in India until 1891. And Mohandas Gandhi was quite vocal about how it wasn’t until he was introduced to Theosophy while living in London, that he ever thought about practicing Hinduism, let alone questioning what the Christian Missionaries had told him: that his religion was nothing other than superstitious nonsense. In 1894, Bennett joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. While he never had the same impact on the group as some of its members, he was well known for his supreme concentration, his knack for practical ceremonial magic, and his specially constructed wand whose parts could be changed as needed for different workings. Along with George Cecil Jones, Bennett was one of Crowley’s first magical teachers. When Crowley initially met Bennett, Allan was living in a dilapidated tenement slum south of the Thames. The living conditions were so terrible that Crowley promptly invited him to room with him at 67/69 Chancery Lane. Allan’s impact on Crowley was deep and profound. While roommates, Bennett introduced him to the use of mind-altering drugs to induce altered states of consciousness. The Beast would expand on Bennett and S.L. Mathers’s work on the Hermetic Qabalah for his own Liber 777. And Crowley’s seldom discussed concept of Magical Memory comes directly from Bennett’s later writings aimed specifically for Buddhists. Other than his first mountaineering instructor, Bennett is the only significant person in Crowley’s life that he did not later attack or defame in either public or private writings. Crowley had only positive things to say about Allan, even within his private diaries, calling him “a tremendous spiritual force” and “the noblest and gentlest soul that I have ever known.” He described Bennett’s mind as “pure, piercing, and profound.” Despite being written five years after their last meeting, he dedicated his poem “UT” to Bennett. And, perhaps most telling of all, Crowley would later say that in all his years of studying magic and the occult Bennett was the rarest of breeds -- a man who wasn’t interested in gathering power but in finding enlightenment. Mathers, however, eventually tired of Bennett and the two had a falling out over “orientalism.” In 1900, Allan traveled to Sri Lanka, hoping the change in climate would alleviate his many health problems. There he found employment with the Solicitor General, a man named P. Ramanathan, as a tutor for his sons. Boring enough on the surface. However, to occultists the Honorable Ramanthan was better known as Shri Parananda, a Shavite yogi and the author of commentaries on the life of Christ, which put forth the notion that Jesus was in fact a composite figure created from several different people, including a Hindu holy man whose yogic aphorisms were attributed to Jesus. Crowley visited his friend in 1901 and received instruction in yoga. Later, that same year, Bennett joined a local Buddhist Sangha (unsurprising that this should happen there–the Buddhist revival that began in India in 1891 was lead by a Sri Lankan named Anagarika Dharmapala) before making his way to the city of Sittwe (then called Akyab) in Burma. There, in the monastery of Lamma Syadow Kyoung, he took the monastic vows and the Dharma name Ananda Metteyya. Officially, Bennett is considered to be the second Englishman to be ordained as a Buddhist Monk of the Theravada tradition. George Douglas, who was ordained in 1899 or 1900, was widely considered to have been the first. There are conflicting accounts as to Douglas’s fate, some reports allege he died a mere 6 months after his ordination and others that he relocated to Sri Lanka where he lived quietly. Most research now points to an Irish migrant worker named Laurence Carroll as the first westerner to be ordained. Though he later squabbled with Bennett in the press, Dhammaloka (Carroll’s Dharma name) is mostly forgotten today. Instead of spreading the Dharma, Dhammaloka focused most of his time and energy on attacking Christianity, Western and colonial influence in Burma (this would see him convicted of sedition), and being a harsh proponent of the Vinaya (the monastic rules handed down by the Buddha). Bennett meanwhile, with the help of some wealthy Burmese Buddhists, began working to bring Buddhism west. He founded the Buddhasasana Samagam, the International Buddhist Society, sometime around 1902, began editing and publishing Buddhism: An Illustrated Review in 1903, then founded The Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland in 1908. Until near the end of his life, he divided his time between Burma and London working to spread Buddhism in the UK as much as his health and the generosity of his benefactors would allow. Unfortunately, the climate of Burma did not improve Bennett’s severe asthma. By 1908, he was suffering new health conditions endemic to the tropics. Finally, in 1914, he traveled to England for the last time. While there he met with his sister and hoped to travel with her to California but was denied a VISA due to the start of World War I. Stranded in England, Bennett found it impossible to keep his monastic vows due to the practicalities of modern life in London, so he had no choice but disrobe. He managed to continue teaching and lecturing on Buddhism until his death in 1923. Why then does Bennett remain such an obscure figure? I think there are a couple of reasons. While I’ve heard Bennett described as mysterious, I don’t think that’s true. In this modern age, most of us, with very little effort, generate a lot of info that’s easy to find. You want to know what your high school girlfriend had for lunch last Wednesday? No problem. That’s not true for those who lived in the past. Unless the person was well-known or intentionally sought out the lime-light (like Crowley), the further back in time you go, the more difficult it becomes to find any information. This becomes twice as hard with someone like Bennett who spent most of his life poor and with little possessions. While I do think Bennett has gotten lost in Aleister Crowley’s long and black shadow, I suspect it’s mostly due to how Buddhism has been presented to make it more palpable to Westerners drunk on the illusion of their superior intellect and who, despite claims otherwise, have never been able to fully escape the tyranny of a monotheistic worldview -- even as they take others to task over their faith. These changes make Buddhism more acceptable to Westerns and also, as capitalism is our civic religion, make the Dharma easier to monetize. Walk into your local bookstore and look at the section on Eastern religions. Odds are it’s mostly Buddhist books and odds are those books are about mindfulness, how to be happy, and other self-help topics. But good luck finding anything else. In the West, Buddhism has been purposefully portrayed as a slurry of relaxation techniques and proto-psychological therapy with a mix of philosophy and self-help. This is, I think, quite clear from a quick search of the magazine for Western Buddhists. There is only one article on Allan Bennett at Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. It presents Bennett as the answer to a trivia question. It glosses over Theosophy (never mind there would have been no 20th century Buddhist revival without it), The Golden Dawn, and Crowley in a single sentence. Though Bennett wrote about things like the role of devotion and the miraculous in Buddhism and carefully described meditative techniques for plumbing past lives, the sole article frames Allan’s motivations as the sort of things that would send you or I to the gym and to see a therapist. This is Buddhism in the West. There can be no mention of anything that might make it feel like a religion. Buddhist cosmology and eschatology are only good for anime. Tulpas and the Diamond Vehicle are acceptable only in the context of Twin Peaks' muddy mysticism. And we like the Dalai Lama as long as he’s a leader in exile who irks China, reminds us to be kind, and never mentions that his role as head of a theocratic government in exile is based on controlled powers of reincarnation. And thus poor Allan's Bennett's dangerous journey around the world to search for enlightenment in the face of a great suffering, instead becomes the story of how sickly Allan Bennett made the dangerous journey around the world just to, you know, be happier and healthier...So, don’t forget your mindfulness t-shirt on the way out. And we do accept credit cards. * originally appeared at Disinformation.com	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5018
__label__wiki	0.57572	0.57572	Dark Reading Staff NIST Sets Draft Guidelines for Government AI This is the first formal step in writing the standards that will guide the implementation of AI technologies within the federal government. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a draft guideline for developing artificial intelligence (AI) technical standards, the first major, formal step in writing the standards that will guide the procurement and implementation of AI and machine learning technologies within the federal government. And because many private organizations base their decisions on NIST documents, those standards could have repercussions that reach far beyond government purchasing. Within the draft guideline are sections that deal with a wide variety of topics around AI, including how AI applications are developed, how AI is explained to stakeholders and the public, and how AI applications are used. Security plays a role in several aspects of the proposal, from how to build "trustworthy" AI applications to ensuring that AI's use takes both proper security and proper concern for privacy into account. The NIST Guideline has been developed as part of the response to the American AI Initiative, established by executive order in February. Within five key areas of emphasis set out in the order, one called for NIST "to lead the development of appropriate technical standards for reliable, robust, trustworthy, secure, portable, and interoperable AI systems." Formal comments on the draft are being accepted through July 19. For more, read here. Dark Reading's Quick Hits delivers a brief synopsis and summary of the significance of breaking news events. For more information from the original source of the news item, please follow the link provided in this article. View Full Bio tdsan, Setting standards I agree that the way to get a handle on this AI initiative, we need to start now and work towards the planning aspects of AI, however, I don't agree with certain aspects of the document that may need to be reviewed: Maximizing Use of the Voluntary Consensus Standards Process 302 Current and potential future Federal agency engagement in the development and use of 303 AI technical standards and related tools should meet agency requirements and support 304 the Nation's broader needs. OMB Circular A-119: Federal Participation in the 305 Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities21 306 , highlights several Federal government goals for participation 307 and use of voluntary standards: 308 "Many voluntary consensus standards are appropriate or adaptable for the Federal 309 government's purposes. The use of such standards, whenever practicable and 310 appropriate, is intended to achieve the following goals: 311 (i) eliminating the cost to the Federal government of developing its own 312 standards and decreasing the cost of goods procured and the burden of 313 complying with agency regulation; 314 (ii) providing incentives and opportunities to establish standards that serve 315 national needs, encouraging long-term growth for U.S. enterprises and 316 promoting efficiency, economic competition, and trade; and 317 (iii) furthering the reliance upon private sector expertise to supply the Federal 318 government with cost-efficient goods and services." 319 Other relevant statutes and policies include The National Technology Transfer and 320 Advancement Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-113, 1996) (NTTAA) and the World Trade 321 Organization Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (WTO TBT). - NIST AI Standards Import Standards and Characteristics Determining AI Standards Needs Since the government is not in the business of developing standards for AI, I do think it is essential that we involve Academia (CONUS/OCONUS) and overseas organizations to help define and address a common set of standards (money should not be the limiting factor when we are focused on getting things right). It should be a consortium created to help with establishing the proper standards and protocols when it comes to rolling out AI, this is essential when it comes to attaching this free-thinking AI design to our national infrastructure. How Enterprises Are Developing Secure Applications IT security and application development are disparate processes that are increasingly coming together. Here's a look at how that's happening. How Enterprises Are Attacking the Cybersecurity Problem How Enterprises Are Using IT Threat Intelligence Online Malware and Threats: A Profile of Today's Security Posture	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5029
__label__wiki	0.596627	0.596627	The Department of Economics is one of the oldest and most recognized units at Iowa State University. It is currently jointly administered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Read the Department Governance Document. Iowa State University is classified as a Carnegie Foundation Doctoral/Research University-Extensive, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), and ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top public universities in the nation. Our undergraduate programs strive to train students to think independently and objectively about the inherent economic nature of many of the world’s problems, from basic decisions facing businesses and individuals, to the performance of the macroeconomic system, to global resource utilization issues. Our graduate programs emphasize rigorous analysis and advance training in economic theory, econometrics and several traditional and novel applied fields of inquiry. Research programs are targeted to a number of local, national, and international problems and cover a broad spectrum, ranging from theoretical disciplinary perspectives to applied economic and policy analysis, as well as contributing to exciting multidisciplinary efforts. Our engagement with Iowa’s economy and community is rooted in our extension programs, and also benefits from our faculty’s participation in a number of affiliated centers. Department facts: Economics courses have been offered at Iowa State University since the institution first enrolled students in 1869. The department has existed under seven different names: Department of Mathematics and Political Economy (1878) Department of Economic Science (1898) Department of Economics, Sociology, History, and Government (1906) Department of Applied Economics and Social Science (1914) Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology (1921) Department of Economics (1930) The East Hall addition was completed in 1970, the 65th anniversary of the department. In 1982, it was renamed and dedicated as Earl O. Heady Hall. Three former faculty have won the Nobel Prize for Economics: Theodore W. Schultz (1979) George Stigler (1982) Leonid Hurwicz (2007) Learn more about our history in our online time line.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5030
__label__wiki	0.667573	0.667573	If companies had no employees Run, TaskRabbit, run: July 2030 Driven by technological and legal changes, how far can the “gig economy” go? The World IfJul 7th 2018 edition THE EMAIL that landed in Eva Smith’s mailbox at 7pm on Friday October 13th 2028 had the ominous subject line “Changes”. Ms Smith, a director at a private-equity firm in New York, opened it with trepidation. “Dear team,” it began, “You have probably heard rumours that we are shaking up the way we work at Innovation Investment Management. We will be transitioning to a new model.” All jobs below C-suite level are to be reclassified. All those impacted will no longer be employees of IIM. Instead you will work for IIM on a contract basis. This change sounds scarier than it really is. It holds great benefits both for you and for IIM. The company will be able to respond more nimbly to a rapidly changing marketplace. We hope that you will continue to perform services for IIM on a contract basis, but you will also have the opportunity to work and earn elsewhere. If you have any questions, please ask Irma, our human-resources chatbot. To begin with, Ms Smith did not notice much difference in her relationship with IIM. She was already working on a deal, and while doing so she moved seamlessly from her full-time, permanent position to a fixed-term contract. (Her hourly rate went up by 20%, but she became responsible for her own pension and health insurance.) Ms Smith had hoped to be involved in the next deal. But she then learned that someone with a PhD in engineering from Harvard had got the contract for that gig, not her. “It’s not personal; they have the perfect skill-set for this deal,” said IIM’s boss. Ms Smith’s experience is increasingly typical. During the 2020s companies across the rich world began to rely more heavily than ever on outsourced, temporary workers assigned via digital platforms. TimeToCare, a platform known as the “Uber for social care”, organises 90% of the in-home elderly-care visits in America. Workers from autonomous-taxi mechanics to retail assistants to flight attendants have jobs assigned on a daily or weekly basis through online exchanges that match firms with contractors. McDonald’s, a fast-food company, has taken things the furthest, outsourcing 100% of its restaurant jobs. Servers, cooks and cleaners at McDonald’s are no longer employees of the firm or its franchisees, but bid for positions at the till on an hourly basis through TaskRabbit, an online labour platform. “The First Fortune 500 Company With No Employees,” trumpeted Fortune, a business-news service, in its profile of the firm published in 2029. It is all a stark contrast to the way work was organised in the second half of the 20th century. Back then, businesses were fairly self-contained operations. Most functions were completed in-house by permanent, full-time employees. Many people worked for only one or two companies during their careers. That arrangement had a business logic. As Ronald Coase, an economist, argued in the 1930s, it was usually cheaper for firms to have someone there at all times, and to direct them by fiat, than to negotiate and enforce separate contracts in the open market for every task. America’s disdain for the rules-based order means its criticism of China now rings hollow In the 1980s, however, the Coasean model began to be challenged by a new way of working. As shareholders encouraged companies to focus on their core competencies, firms outsourced certain roles—cleaning, accountancy, branding—to specialist providers. During the 1990s outsourcing fever swept through the business world. Charles Handy, a management guru, spoke of the “shamrock organisation”, which he defined as a “core of essential executives and workers supported by outside contractors and part-time help.” For years, however, the shamrocks struggled to flower. Outsourcing ran up against technological limitations. Firms could not know for sure that they would be able to find the right sort of labour in the open market as quickly as it was needed. Companies were thereby forced to hold on to many employees who were not really central to their business. That arrangement suited many workers, who preferred the stability of permanent employment to the alternative of flitting between short-term contracts, which they would also find difficult to organise. But that all changed around 2010, with the rise of gig-economy platforms such as TaskRabbit, PeoplePerHour and Expert360, capable of quickly and seamlessly matching workers with employers. Ratings given by previous clients provided a way to assess quality. This enabled further chunks of firms’ activities to be outsourced. The gig economy started small, but within a decade it was growing rapidly; its poster-child was Uber, a ride-hailing service. In 2018 roughly 1% of workers were listed on at least one labour platform; by 2028 that figure had risen to 30%. More and more companies are starting to look like IIM. Two factors explain the boom in gigging. The first is changes to the law. For years the gig economy struggled against repeated legal challenges. In many cases, courts found, gig-economy workers were being classified as self-employed when they were really employees. (This meant workers were being denied things like minimum-wage protection and sick pay.) In 2020 FindMeChef, a platform linking cooks with restaurants, lost a ruling before an employment tribunal in Seattle, brought by a worker who had worked on a “temporary” basis for a client for an entire year. FindMeChef had to pay millions of dollars in back-pay and other benefits to its chefs. And Uber lost case after case in employment tribunals around the world, which forced it to stop classifying its workers as independent contractors in some countries. Amid such setbacks, gig-economy companies argued that governments ought to be on their side. They pointed out that gig work could be an important route into the labour market for the unemployed, and should therefore be encouraged, not regulated out of existence. In America the platforms lobbied furiously for the creation of a new category of employment, somewhere between self-employment and employment. Known as “dependent contractor” status, the third category would give workers the flexibility of self-employment but with entitlement to some workers’ rights, such as sick pay. President Donald Trump heeded the call. In 2020 he introduced a package of labour-market reforms which provided for the introduction of “dependent contractor” employment status. The package was backed by Republicans as a way to free companies from red tape, and by some Democrats as a way guarantee some basic rights to gig-economy workers. On the day the reform was announced, the share prices of the big online-labour platforms jumped. Other countries soon followed suit. High-unemployment countries in Europe saw deregulation as a way to boost jobs. Others hoped it would attract foreign investment. The second big driver behind the gig-economy boom has been technology. Progress in artificial intelligence (AI) has made finding the right worker for a discrete task quicker and easier than ever, because modern AI systems can look past crude ratings systems and use a range of signals to determine whether a candidate is a good fit. Since 2026 LinkedIn, a professional-networking service, has offered a guarantee that it can find a suitable worker for any task within six hours—and, thanks to a deal with Uber, can ensure that they are on-site within one working day. All this has given outsourcing a new lease of life. The latest wave of functions being contracted out includes administrative work, marketing and training. And some firms, like IIM, are going even further, shedding employees who perform core operations and rehiring them as short-term contractors to do specific tasks. True, outsourcing has not always gone well. In December 2028 an attempt by a group of American hospitals to use on-demand doctors led to a shortage of staff over Christmas, when many decided not to work even though “surge pricing” had bumped up their hourly rate. Some companies report that morale among contracted workers is low, because they do not feel part of a team. Others worry that some of the “tacit knowledge” that employees gain through working at a business full-time—the culture of a firm, say, or how to approach a particular boss—is lost. But companies that embraced the shift away from having employees have reaped big gains. They no longer need to pay people to be in the office when demand is slack. They can find the worker with the perfect skills for a task, not just someone willing to have a go. Because individual workers’ output is finely measured, and their proficiency at completing a task becomes part of their online profiles, no one can be lazy and get away with it. Productivity growth, which had stagnated in the rich world after the financial crisis of 2008-09, has accelerated since the mid-2020s. Many workers have also benefited. For those with sought-after skills, it can be far more lucrative to flit from contract to contract than to work for a single firm. After a bumpy start, Ms Smith now earns more than she did as an employee. She checks Expert360 and LinkedIn three times a day, playing off rival bidders for her labour against each other. Alongside on-and-off work for IIM, she consults for other investment firms, writes articles and offers lifestyle coaching. Workers without such valuable skills, however, are not doing nearly as well. The biggest problem stemmed from the 2020 labour reform. Dependent contractors working through online platforms, unlike employees, are not entitled to a minimum wage. It is difficult for trade unions to organise workers who are highly dispersed. Automation is also reducing the overall demand for low-skill labour. Having a pool of workers always available makes the gig economy operate efficiently, but limits workers’ bargaining power. In real terms, wages at the bottom of the income distribution have now stagnated for two decades. Such workers cannot afford to contribute to pension pots; health-care coverage has also fallen. Concern over the potential long-term hit to the public finances has led to calls for more regulation of the gig economy. In America, the Democrats want to undo the 2020 reform and extend minimum-wage legislation to more people. But the gig economy has a powerful logic. In 1937, Coase famously asked “why do firms exist”? Nearly a century later, as technology makes it ever easier for them to disassemble their enterprises, more and more managers are asking the same question. This article appeared in the The World If section of the print edition under the headline "Run, TaskRabbit, run: July 2030" More from The World If Europe alone: July 2024 What if America leaves NATO? What if Egypt collapses? A different dystopia: July 2030 What if robots don’t take all the jobs	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5031
__label__wiki	0.562324	0.562324	"Impact of bullying in childhood on adult health, wealth, crime, and social outcomes" Adults who both bullied and were bullies as children develop worse health problems than those who were not bullied or victims who never bullied others, according to a study published online last week in Psychological Science. Researchers interviewed more than 1,400 North Carolina students at ages 9, 11, and 13 and then later as adults. They found that so-called "bully-victims" were twice as likely as those who weren't bullied to have difficulty holding a job and six times more likely to have a serious illness, smoke regularly, or have a psychiatric disorder. The researchers suggest this may be because aggressive students find less support to recover when they become victims themselves, or because long-term bullying may lead victims to become bullies. By contrast, "pure bullies" did not grow up with health or career problems. By Sarah D. Sparks Published in Print: August 28, 2013, as Bullying Read more Report Roundups.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5034
__label__wiki	0.886866	0.886866	More in-depth film festival coverage than any other website! eFilmCritic's 15th Oscar Pick 'em Films I Neglected To Review: You�ll Believe That A Dragon Can Fart. Films I Neglected To Review: Three Christs, No Waiting, Some Wanting Films I Neglected To Review: Not Starting The New Year With A Grudge Films I Neglected To Review: Join The Club Films I Neglected To Revie: Two Popes, No Waiting Films I Neglected To Review: You Want It Darker Interview: Allan Arkush on "Rock 'n' Roll High School" Films I Neglected To Review: Sorry Charlie. . . Films I Neglected To Review: Sound Judgement Films I Neglected To Review: He Who Smelt It. . . Films I Neglected To Review: Unnecessary Sequel Edition Films I Neglected To Review: Mary Mary, Where Are You Sailing To? Films I Neglected To Review: The Bag Is Back Films I Neglected To Review: The Bad News Bara Films I Neglected To Review: The Hands Of Fete Films I Neglected To Review: Strip Stakes Films I Neglected To Review: Tradition Films I Neglected To Review: Water Water Everywhere. . . Films I Neglected To Review: "Dream On!" Hit-and-Run Squad by Jay Seaver Shoot to Kill by Jack Sommersby Day of the Jackal, The by Jack Sommersby Weathering With You by Jay Seaver Wonderland, The by Jay Seaver Crypto by Jack Sommersby Rambo: Last Blood by Jack Sommersby Parasite (2019) by Rob Gonsalves Lighthouse, The by Rob Gonsalves Almost a Miracle by Jay Seaver Bad Boys for Life by Peter Sobczynski Cunningham by Jay Seaver Fast Color by Jay Seaver Liberation by Jay Seaver Atlantics by Jay Seaver Jade's Asylum by Jay Seaver Underwater by Peter Sobczynski Undercover vs. Undercover by Jay Seaver Great Hack, The by Jay Seaver Aquarela by Jay Seaver Back in the Water: Richard Dreyfuss on Jaws and Filmmaking by Dan Lybarger Since 1975, Richard Dreyfus has been bedeviled by a shark, and we are all better for it. As one of the three top-billed actors (the others are Robert Shaw and Roy Scheider) in Steven Spielberg's Jaws, the Brooklyn-born Dreyfuss has racked up a total of 123 acting credits on the Internet Movie Database, but he'll never escape playing marine biologist Matt Hooper who helps Chief Brody (Scheider) and Capt. Quint (Shaw) neutralize a great white feeding on the swimmers of Amity Island. It's public knowledge that the movie won Oscars for sound, editing and John Williams' eerie, primal score and that is was Hollywood's biggest grosser until Star Wars came around two years later. It's also a movie that still frightens despite a difficult production and a mechanical shark that consistently broke down. Since 2001, Jaws has been part of the National Film Registry. This Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Dreyfuss will be at Johnson County Community College in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kan. to present the movie and recall how he, Spielberg and others made it. The event is presented by J&S Promotions, and you can order tickets here. He'll be making similar presentations across America in the coming months. The actor who won an Oscar of his own for The Goodbye Gir is justifiably proud of the movie but has more to talk about than running the risk being fish food. On a telephone interview last Friday, he explained, "There's one thing you should really say in the article: This evening is not meant to be about Jaws only. Jaws was and is one of the most powerful things that ever happened to me, one of the biggest experiences of my life, etc, etc. I usually charge people money to ask questions about it. I've been asked every question under the sun. This is film in general, my films, the history of film. It's about Jaws and Steven. I'm not limiting it to Jaws. That's just a merchandising thing." In the spirit of that thought, we tried to avoid repeating things he's said earlier or will say Thursday night. During our talk, we discussed the role of technology in filmmaking, the weaknesses of the auteur theory, which says that directors should be treated like the authors of books, and a lesser-known but terrific 1991 project Dreyfuss starred in and produced called Prisoner of Honor. Ken Russell (Women in Love, Altered States) directed this recounting of the Dreyfus Affair, in which Capt. Alfred Dreyfus was sent to the notorious French penal colony for selling secrets to the Germans in 1895. His conviction had less to do with evidence and more to do with anti-Semitism. The controversy lasted 12 years and has made for good storytelling but terrible jurisprudence. Like Dreyfus, some of my ancestors came from Alsace, just as Dreyfus, did, and Dreyfuss, who like the man whose story he recounts, is a Jew, so the story means a lot to both of us. Despite cell reception from my location that malfunctioned as often as the shark, Dreyfuss' insights came through strongly, making me eager to check out his presentation on Thursday. Jaws is about the only scary movie one of my friends can watch. Why do you think that is? Probably because our culture is filled to the brim and overflowing with the shark and Jaws references now. It somehow softens the blow. And I would think that there are very few people who would see Jaws for the very first time and a young age without having someone tell them, "It's the scariest movie ever made," so the blow is softened. Today, Mr. Spielberg is known as sort of the king of special effects, but a chart I read recently revealed that the number of special effects shots in his movies is remarkably low. For example, there's only about 19 minutes of dinosaur shots in Jurassic Park, and most of Jaws is about the people on Amity Island and the guys on the boat instead of about the beast itself. Yeah, absolutely. I don't think of Steven as special effects. I think that he's the only one of our generation that had no inhibitions of genre. He's dealt in every genre. And that makes him quite different than anybody else. He hasn't repeated himself except when he's gone out distinctly for that purpose. And Jurassic Park is a world away from Jaws. Jurassic Park, to me, is the closure, the closing of a circle. As I watched it, I saw no reason at all, ever, to forget the filmmakers from then on because they had attained an ability of such expertise that you could literally not ever see the puppets and the strings. When you went to see The Ten Commandments, you forgave The Ten Commandments because you saw the special effects bullshit. When Jurassic Park was released, I looked at that film about as closely as one could without getting arrested. It was perfect time machine. It was then that I realized that the the only thing the industry or the art form was waiting for was the guy who could take all of film's progress and turn it into great films. I think Steven would agree to that. (Spielberg) would say there is a guy going to be born in the next couple of years who's going to do it all. And Steven's personal work with George (Lucas) and all those others, they kind of handed the keys and the creative tools to this unknown figure who is going to be the master. In I Blame Dennis Hopper, fellow actor Illeana Douglas cites your performance in Jaws as perfect and points to the scene where Matt Cooper confronts the mayor (Murray Hamilton) of Amity Island about the shark. Matt keeps interrupting the mayor's sentences and has this look like he's going to steamroll over him. My brother is a biology professor and pauses to make sure people understand him. Matt doesn't. Why? Memory being what it is--I may be getting a bit of this wrong--I think I wrote that scene in front of the billboard. We ate dinner, all of us together every night, following Verna Fields, the editor, and her lead. She would tell Steven we need to get this interstitial shot, and you don't need the gory this or that. It was at dinner that the actual script had us going from the tiger shark being strung up on the pier to the three of us meeting and going out to sea. I said, "You have to prove it." You can't say, "The tiger shark is not the (great white) shark. You have to prove it." So that whole sequence of cutting open the (tiger) shark and the talking in front of the billboard came out of that. I've always referred to Jaws as a sort of improvised epic. With Steven in a very, very unmistakably secure, strong lead, we started that film without a script, without a shark and literally without a cast because I wasn't cast until the principal (photography) was started. So, we were all in on it, and we all participated, from the producer Dick Zanuck on down. The tearing open of the shark and the billboard scene, those are scenes we had to create because there was no logic without them. I had been told by Steven when I first met him, "Don't read the book." I've never, to this day, read the book. Oh, wow. I was unencumbered by the subplots (from the novel). I know about them, but I didn't read them. Steven said he wanted to make (the film) what he described as a "bullet," an unadorned, one-click, one-chamber, bang! And that's what he did. He made a story about a shark, period. Within the story of the shark, he had 100 different mini-plots, mini-stories, but they were all in service to the one. It was an extraordinarily creative experience because there was never a question of someone saying, "No. No. No. You're an actor. You don't have the right to do this." And all of us got in on it. Good ideas came from everywhere. Because Steven had to throw out his preconception of what he was going to shoot because the (mechanical) shark wasn't working. We were the first film, ever, to attempt to be shot on the ocean. Every other film you've ever seen was shot on tanks until Jaws. So the shark, which was constructed by guys back at Universal never had a footing on the real ocean floor. When it rose up through the salt water, it would break. And so he was forced to abandon the showing of the shark as he had planned it, and he had to imply it. It was not a given. No one assumed it was going to be successful. Every single night the studio fired Steven (laughs), but he certainly prevailed. And what he allowed was logic. He never thought the inevitable, illogical reason for shooting a scene. Nor did he indulge. The very first we shot was the scene with all of the extras with the tiger shark being strung up. Matt goes up to the shark's mouth and measures the shark's mouth. When the shot was over, one guy's who was an oceanographer from Woods Hole (Oceanographic Institue) said, "No marine biologist would ever do that." I said, "What do you mean?" He said the bite power of that animal is so strong that even dead and hanging from a steel bar, it had a bite power of something like 340 tons per square inch. It could rip itself off that steel and bite your head off. So no one would come to shark that had only been dead for a few hours and measure it like that. So I immediately turned to Steven and said let's do it again. And we couldn't because the extras had already been dismissed. But we were very proud of the fact that there are scientific errors or exaggerations in that film except for that one I just mentioned. Everything the shark did and was accused of doing was backed up. It sounds like that for all difficulties you had in making Jaws, you somewhat spoiled because of the creative freedom. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. The first five, six, seven films all contributed to my being spoiled because in one way or another, the scripts were brilliant, the cast was brilliant, the conceptual ideal behind a film was incredible, I thought that, yeah, this is what making movies is going to be about (laughs). I was in for some rude shocks. Some of your challenging movies have conversely been ones that the fans seem to like. Jaws was a logistical nightmare, and Prisoner of Honor was tough, but the end result was good. Films are difficult to make. Period. The story of filmmaking and twisted and biased. Because (Dreyfuss' Close Encounters of the Third Kind co-star Francois) Truffaut was the man who invented the auteur theory, I got a chance to say to him, I don't believe in auteur theory. It takes more people than a director to make a movie. It's an endeavor that requires probably the director answering more questions than any other job in the world other than the president of the United States. He's under siege by every department at all times. What his job is to a certain extent is to balance out the input he's getting and interpreting it into a coherent whole. (The auteur theory) is a semantic thing that doesn't mean anything or go anywhere, but Steven makes Steven's films. But he also makes the films that star Tom Hanks and Richard Dreyfuss and art directed by so-and-so and edited by so-and-so. All of those people have creativity flowing through them. They're not hired because they're not creative. They're not hired because they follow orders only. They're hired because they have input, wisdom and knowledge. That's leavened by the director. Anyone who thinks otherwise is being naive.[br] One of my favorite moments in Jaws is one that not many people talk about. Right before Robert Shaw as Capt. Quint delivers his chilling monologue about surviving the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis in World War II, your face changes from amused to astonished when Matt Cooper leans he survived it. That's one of the coolest reaction shots in cinema. There's an answer to this. "Talent will out." If you hire good actors, you're going to hire people who know how to explore moments and phenomena of emotion. When you're isolated, it's kind of like a desert island, which includes all of the research and all of the reading that goes on. The fact about the Indianapolis was that it was top secret when Peter (Benchley) wrote the book, so he didn't include it. He didn't know about it. By the time the film had come out, it had been declassified, so Steven had made it the linchpin of Robert's character. He had everyone you can possible imagine writing versions of that speech from Francis Coppola to John Milius to Robert Shaw and everybody. The end result, the final speech, I can tell you it's like 70 percent Steven, 10 percent Milius, and two percent something else, but it was Steven's. And then we had that story surrounding us at all times. We couldn't escape it. We heard it like the first people in America had ever heard it. It's such truly powerful, awful story. Even if you tried to downplay, it comes down to X number of humans being eaten at a rate of x number per hour for seven days, whatever it is. The horror of that. Robert had this wonderful line where he said that he was most afraid after the PBY (a flying boat) had come down and they were waiting to get on. I understood that. In one of the extras on the Blu-Ray, you said the amazed look on your face was not acting. It's a compliment, but it's meaningless. Of course, it's acting. It's acting on a very base level. What was that, the 130th time we heard the story (laughs)? It had to be acting, but you let yourself go into it. One thing that's common to human endeavor is being in the zone or out of the zone. Whether you're an athlete or an actor or a painter or a carpenter, if you're in the zone, you know. You are surfing. Once you get hooked into that kind of zeitgeist, if you can be aware of it, if you are in tune with acting, those things happen. By the way, no one acts alone, except when the camera's on one person for an hour and a half. I remember when I was watching Cast Away, with my wife. After a certain moment, I leaned over to her and said, "You do know there are 130 people behind a camera?" And she went, "Don't do that!" You still keeping doing interesting things in movies and TV. I think so. Breathing in and out so far as interesting as I'll settle for. That's a good thing to settle for. I brought up Prisoner of Honor because I read about the Dreyfus Affair in college. In the film there's one tiny scene where you as investigator Lt. Col. Georges Picquart see that Dreyfus has been sent to Devil's Island for less than a file folder's worth of evidence. That tiny stack of papers you hold really makes the injustice seem more vivid than any monologue. Yes. As a matter of fact, I'm the only other person named "Dreyfuss" who ever went back to Devil's Island. That's its own story. To be attached to what was known as the most important legal controversy in the western world for so long gives me ownership rights, which is why I chose to play the character I played instead of Dreyfus. The story itself is true. And I underline that because what people find difficult is to realize that humanity is capable of such goofy, awful, dark, bloody shit, and at the same time, nobility. We're all made of that. Picquart was a very proud anti-Semite, who was also the hero of the Dreyfus Affair. Dreyfus, who was accused that the time, said that if he had not been Dreyfus, he would have been an anti-Drefusard (laughs). He's such a duck. I can see why you chose Picquart because he's a more active character in the saga. He's got more to do. Yeah. He was in civilization (France). But when you know what happened on that island and right next to that island by a matter of yards is another, bigger island, which housed of hundreds of men in the subsequent years after him. Until the closing of Devil's Island as a penal colony, if you walked on those islands, you could hear the shrieks of pain and insanity. You could see on the walls, this scratched illustrations and cartoons and paintings done by these prisoners up until 19, I think, 46 (it closed in 1953). There's not a doubt in Hell. I don't know if you've ever traveled to Jerusalem, but when you walk into Jerusalem for the first time, I guarantee you you're going to up because there's so much God that just seeps through the walls. On Devil's Island, the madness and terror and the loneliness and anguish of all of those men is still there. link directly to this feature at https://www.efilmcritic.com/feature.php?feature=4173 originally posted: 04/02/19 03:16:33 last updated: 04/03/19 02:54:54 printer-friendly format Latest Features in the Celebrity Exclusive Interviews Series Interview: Aisling Franciosi on "The Nightingale" Interview With Larry Cohen: Hail To The King Interview: Josh Gordon & Will Speck on ''Office Christmas Party.'' eFilmCritic.com: Australia's Largest Movie Review Database. Privacy Policy \| HBS Inc. \| \| All data and site design copyright 1997-2017, HBS Entertainment, Inc. reviews features movie title writer/director/cast	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5036
__label__wiki	0.521448	0.521448	Elizabeth’s Mansion Bar Bacharach and the Donna E Bistrot Checkin: Children 0 123456 Rooms: 123456 mod / canc The Bar Bacharach and the Donna E Bistot invoke the versatile nature of places conceived to be shared. The name of the bar is a deliberate tribute to Burt Bacharach, the famous composer and pianist who sublimely interpreted the lively and magical atmosphere of the second half of the twentieth century in America; while Donna E Bistrot has been, once more, inspired by the traditional feminine hospitality, typical of our beloved south Italy. In the morning, you can linger over freshly baked brioches, muffins and tarts, spiced teas and perfectly balanced infusions, the clear reinvigorating flavours of seasonal fruit, and superb compositions of soft and velvety eggs, which delicately stimulate and amaze the senses. Elizabeth’s breakfast is an à la carte brunch that reveals the gracefulness and discretion of noble English breakfasts. Good morning ElizabethDonnaE ChristmasBook with the fork The hotel’s gourmet offer continues with a collection of ‘creative menus’ inspired by the traditions of Italian gastronomy and enriched with international suggestions. We have worked to offer you the best gastronomic summery that we could imagine and we hope that tasting our dishes, you will feel the genuineness of the ingredients and the craftsmanship of the home-made, that you will remember flavours from your childhood and you will be amazed by our unexpected combinations. Each dish is an unprecedented combination of flavours which come together in every dish. The Bar menu is a tribute to Italy and offers a collection of signature cocktails dedicated to its regions and a selection of only the finest Italian wines exclusively selected by Luca Maroni, an illustrious name in Italian oenology. The aperitivo is a generous creative introduction to the poetry of a Roman dinner. Drinks and glasses of wine are served with delicious sets of homemade finger food. Many ingredients come from the family estates, from the olive grove to the dairy farms that produces homemade mozzarella and thus guarantee excellent genuine local products. Discover the menu Luca Maroni: all the shades of wine Luca Maroni is one of the most important names in Italian wine making: for over 25 years he has been the author of Yearbook of the Best Italians not to mention his accomplishments in “Wine Tasting" for the Treccani Encyclopedia. Exclusively for Elizabeth Unique Hotel, he has carefully selected only the best wines produced in the country, absolute importance being given to the quality inside the glass: the wine list at the Bar Bacharach & Donna E Bistrot is in fact designed to honuor the guests with a choice from only the finest Italian wines. Bar Bacharach & Donna E Bistrot moments LIFESTYLE PARTNERS Elizabeth Unique Hotel Rome Via delle Colonnette 35 - 00186 Rome www.ehrome.com Email: info@ehrome.com Business name: P.H.C. S.r.l. AMADEUS - DS ROMEUH \| GALILEO - DS E3500 \| SABRE - DS 318566 \| WORLDSPAN - DS FCOEU \| PEGASUS - DS 1040 Powered by HotelNerds © 2004 - 2020 info@ehrome.com To subscribe you must accept the privacy Chauffer Driven Luxury Car Transfers Would you like to book a private car transfer to or from the Elizabeth Uique hotel? Please choose from the following private services we offer or alternatively should you have a specific request which is not listed below, please feel free to contact us (link che apre la mail) and we are more than happy to help you find a suitable solution to get you from A to B. Executive Car Transfer to or from Fiumicinio Airport: € 100,00 one way Distance: 30km Capacity: 3 Adults Luggage Capacity: 2 bags Time: Approx 45 minutes Cost One Way tax included: € 100,00 Luxury Car Transfer to or from Fiumicinio Airport: Viano Minivan Transfer to or from Fiumicinio Airport: Executive Car Transfer to or from Ciampino Airport: Luxury Car Transfer to or from Ciampino Airport: Viano Minivan Transfer to or from Ciampino Airport: Contact us for more information or suggestions! Spherae Virtual Tour A virtual journey back in time leads guests along the streets of Ancient Rome. A multi-sensory experience designed guests to be fully immersed in history through innovative technology. Every day guests are guided when deciding or making bookings for concerts, theater shows and dance performances, which animate the most evocative locations of the city. Tasting on the road An unforgettable walk through the most picturesque streets of the historic center, tasting a selection of Italian wines paired with Roman street food delicacies. Learn anecdotes and secrets of Roman specialties to discover the lively panoramic gastronomy of the city. Workshops and chefs are selected, based on the theme of each course. Dedicated to the little ones The hotel’s team has selected for our younger guests a series of fun activities that will open their eyes to local culture and traditions in a fun and playful format. Its older name was ‘li monti’ (the hills), since it lies among the Esquiline, Viminal and Quirinal hills. Monti is one of the most charming and picturesque Roman neighbourhoods. Its narrow streets, old mansions, extant artisans’ shops and atmosphere take you back to a forgotten Rome. Walking along Via Madonna dei Monti, you will catch Bohemian glimpses, nostalgic about an old-time Rome. Where Via Baccina crosses Salita del Grillo, a magnificent wall retains a collection of delightful ex-votos, and Palazzo del Grillo unveils a spectacular view of the Roman fora. Via Panisperna crosses the neighbourhood, and its first stretch goes down from Largo Magnanapoli to Largo Angelicum. On top of a double flight of steps, you can admire the baroque Santi Domenico e Sisto church, whose façade tinges with shades of pink at sunset. Inside, spectacular Bernini works, like the high altar, await you. On the left, you can enjoy the view of Villa Aldobrandini and its sixteenth-century hanging garden overlooking the Trajan’s Markets’ tower and Palazzo Aldobrandini, with the secluded wonder of the Nymphaeum fountain. Proceed to Sant’Agata dei Goti church, which retains a beautiful Cosmati pavement. Further on, Via Panisperna crosses Via dei Serpenti and Via del Boschetto, with its famous fashion boutiques, and goes up towards Santa Maria Maggiore until it meets Palazzo Falletti, another enchanting garden with fountain, and Via Urbana, studded with taverns and bistros. One last walk must take you across Via Cavour and up to the Borgia palace, covered in ivy during summer, then on to the square of the San Pietro in Vincoli basilica, where you can find the tomb of Julius II and the famous statue of Moses by Michelangelo Buonarroti. Villa Medici, French Academy. A sofa facing the window of a first-floor hall provides one of the finest views of Rome. The ideal itinerary to discover the Tridente neighbourhood could start here. The district encloses the major marvels of the capital, beginning with wonderful Trinità dei Monti church and Fontana della Barcaccia by Pietro and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, in Piazza di Spagna. You cannot miss the timeless charm of Via del Babuino, which retains one of the six talking statues known as The Congress of Wits, and of Via Margutta, whose number 51 reveals the Roman Holiday’s courtyard. There are countless houses of famous personalities, such as Goethe, Keats and Shelley, and the museum-house of Giorgio De Chirico. On Via dei Greci, you walk and listen to the melodies of the strings in Santa Cecilia conservatoire. Along Via dei Condotti, you can find the most exclusive and luxurious shops and have a break at Caffè Greco, an institution in the neighbourhood together with Fiaschetteria Beltramme on Via della Croce, where personalities like Fellini, Flaiano and Guttuso met regularly in the 50s. Proceeding towards the Tiber, you reach the Mausoleum of Augustus, under repair, and the Ara Pacis Augustae, the emperor’s epic tribute to peace. You can start exploring the Jewish neighbourhood from Piazza Mattei, where three precious seventeenth-century turtles by Bernini embellish the fountain designed by Giacomo Della Porta and realised by Taddeo Landini. Keep walking on Via dei Funari to Palazzo Mattei di Giove, which encloses a courtyard worth contemplating. The Theatre of Marcellus in the Circus Flaminius, between the Tiber and the Capitol, was started by Julius Caesar and finished by Augustus, and now is one of the oldest intact buildings where Roman performances took place. Not far, the Porticus Octaviae, dedicated to Augustus’s sister, is the only portico of the square still standing. The graceful Sant’Angelo in Pescheria church was built near the fish market of the time. Boccione bakery is an institution that delights the neighbourhood with traditional Jewish sweets, salted and roasted pumpkin seeds, and savouries, while kosher restaurants serve the intensely flavoured dishes of the Judaic-Roman tradition, like carciofi alla giudea. The bakery’s building still bears the Latin writing by Lorenzo Manili, who owned it in the fifteenth century. Be surprised by Museo del Louvre on Via della Reginella, an eclectic cabinet of curiosities displaying old photographs, posters and other twentieth-century oddities. Faithful to the secluded poetic nature of the neighbourhood, Palazzo Cenci evokes the famous legend of Beatrice Cenci, whose tragic life inspired artists like Stendhal and Shelley. In the Prati neighbourhood, buildings of the time of Umberto I coexist with the plain edifices of the fascist period, and numerous gardens alternate with wide tree-lined roads. Via Cola di Rienzo is the liveliest among them, and the most renowned thanks to its boutiques and gourmet addresses. Enchanting Art-Nouveau residences embellish the Tiber embankment and exclusive streets like Via Pompeo Magno, Via Alessandro Farnese and Via dei Gracchi, and sometimes retain features by famous artists, like Duilio Cambelotti and Galileo Chini. Prati has two souls. One exhibits the versatile cosmopolitan charm of a Roman residential neighbourhood, while the other boasts the major vestiges of Ancient Rome and Christianity, like St. Peter’s Square and its extraordinary artistic and architectural heritage. The Vatican Museums include many museums and collections, such as the Pio Clementino Museum, the Gregorian Etruscan Museum, the Collection of Contemporary Art, the Upper Galleries, the Vatican Library Museum, the Pinacoteca and obviously the Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo Buonarroti’s extraordinary frescoes and works by other famous artists of the second half of the fifteenth century, like Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino and Pinturicchio. Walk along Via della Conciliazione and reach Castel Sant’Angelo, which offers an evocative evening visit in summer. Cross the Sant’Angelo Bridge and enjoy a striking view of St. Peter’s basilica. On Tuesday mornings, you can linger among the stalls of the flower and ornamental market on Via Trionfale and experience a bucolic and genuine facet of the city. Coppedè Art-Nouveau surprises, art deco marvels, glimpses of gothic, medieval and baroque art; Coppedè is an odd mixture of architectural styles stretching from Piazza Buenos Aires to Via Tagliamento, in the Trieste neighbourhood. It is not a proper quarter, but an urban experiment designed by architect Gino Coppedè between 1915 and 1927. An arch adorned with mascarons, ephebi and frescoes introduces to the fairy-tale, fantastic atmosphere of the streets. It is just the beginning of an extraordinary series of mythological figures, marbles, mosaics and stucco works. For example, both Palazzi degli Ambasciatori are studded with original adornments, like the winged Nike that stands out on a turret, or the Madonnella, an eccentric version of the aedicule with the Virgin and Child. Get lost in the streets around Piazza Minci and admire the many examples of the architect’s visionary inspiration. The Frogs’ fountain, which pays homage to Bernini’s turtles in Piazza Mattei; Palazzo del Ragno and its mosaic façade; the building on Via Serchio where tenor Beniamino Gigli lived; the building that houses the Russian Embassy; and Villini delle Fate, the utmost representation of Coppedè style, whose decorations celebrate Italian history and culture. Is one of the most important names in Italian wine making: for over 25 years he has been the author of Yearbook of the Best Italians not to mention his accomplishments in “Wine Tasting" for the Treccani Encyclopedia. Exclusively for Elizabeth Unique Hotel, he has carefully selected only the best wines produced in the country, absolute importance being given to the quality inside the glass: the wine list at the Bar Bacharach & Bistrot is in fact designed to honuor the guests with a choice from only the finest Italian wines. Fabrizio Russo Born in Rome in 1962, Fabrizio Russo represents the fourth generation of a family of gallery owners that has been operating successfully in the sector since 1898. Owner of the Russo Gallery in via Alibert 20, a few steps from Piazza di Spagna, Fabrizio Russo continues the family tradition successfully dealing with modern and contemporary art: alongside the young Italian artists in the rooms of the Gallery are the main artists of the Italian 900 like Giorgio De Chirico, Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, Amedeo Modigliani, Medardo Rosso, Gino Severini and many others. Alongside the numerous anthologies dedicated to the protagonists of Italian art, the Gallery regularly participates in the most important national and international exhibitions. For the Elizabeth Unique Hotel, Fabrizio Russo invited contemporary artists from the Gallery, to create site-specific works by personally selecting all the works exhibited both in the common areas and in the rooms, making the Hotel the ultimate extension of one of the most important galleries in Rome. Requested Position The Vatican Museums The Vatican Museums are one of the major attractions in the world’s smallest sovereign community, which consist in 1200 rooms with more than 70,000 works of art and 20,000 visitors every day. They are packed with incredible art and a guided tour is highly recommended in order to not to lose one’s way nor the main focal points. The private tour lasts three hours and includes the: Pio Clementino Museum with some of the best sculptures from the Greek and Roman world including the Laocoon, the Apollo and the Belvedere Torso. Furthermore, exclusively for those who choose this tour, there is the special opportunity to visit the Cabinet of Masks, an area which is normally closed to the public. The hall is well known for the mosaics inserted in the centre of the floor which derive from various parts of Hadrian’s villa in Tivoli. Amongst the sculptures on display, there are several female subjects: a reproduction of the celebrated group of the Three Graces, a statue of a nymph, much admired by Goethe and a series of statues of Aphrodite inspired by the masterpieces of ancient Greek art. From here we will reach the Candelabra Gallery, the Gallery of Tapestries and the Gallery of Maps. To follow, Michelangelo’s great masterpiece: the Sistine Chapel. The fabulous ceiling and Last Judgement on the alter are not to be missed. The visit ends at St. Peter’ basilica, which represents the heart of Christianity, where it is possible to admire Bernini’s Baldacchino and Michelangelo’s Pietà. - The Vatican museum tours start either at 08:30am or 01:30pm from the hotel and lasts 3 hours. - Please note that an early morning tour is also possible, which starts at 07:00am from the hotel, it is therefore possible to enter the museum one hour before it opens to the general public. - This tour is not available on Sundays. Night Tours of the Vatican Museum Period: April, May, June, August, September, October Day: Friday Time: from 07:00pm to 11:00pm (last entry at 09:30pm) In a few periods of the year it is possible to enjoy the Vatican Museum after normal visiting hours, so as to admire the beauty of a more intimate and tranquil. - The cost for the 3 hour Vatican Tour is €270.80 (vat included) + ticket cost. - The visit to St. Peter’s basilica is not included. Hidden Vatican private Tour Discover the areas of the Vatican museums usually closed to visitors! A special guided tour to discover the hidden masterpieces usually inaccessible to the public:t he architectural staircase of the Bramante Staircase, the wonderful frescoes by Angelico and Gozzoli within the Chapel of Nicholas V and the Cabinet of Masks. - The itinerary or access to this sector could be subject to unexpected variations or cancellations communicated by the State of the Vatican City. - The price for the 5 hour Vatican city tour is € 426.40 (vat included) + tickets + € 850 special hidden Vatican museums. A 3 hour tour which starts by exploring the Flavian amphitheatre, better known as the Colosseum. It was commissioned around 70-72AD by Emperor Vespian fo the Flavian family as a gift to the Roman people and has since then been an important symbol of Rome. After four centuries of active use, the magnificent stadium fell into neglect and until the 18th century was used as a source of building materials. Leaving the Colosseum and walking next to the arch of Titus, we will make our way to the Palatine hill, where Rome was founded 2800 years ago and was a residence for most of the Roman emperors. The Palatine hill is considered as one of the most important of the seven hills and just below the hill you will reach the Roman Forum which was the centre of all political, religious or economical decisions. Today the centre of the Rome’s political administration resides at the top of the Capitoline hill with the Mayor’s office. - The price for the 3 hour Ancient Rome tour is € 270,80 (vat included) + tickets. Fountains and Squares This 3 hour tour includes Piazza Farnese, in the heart of the Farnese Palace, which today is where the French Embassy resides. Its famous facade was completed by Michelangelo and has inspired many other buildings. A few steps away is one of the most chracteristic and lively food and flower markets in Rome, the Campo dei Fiori. From here, the famous Piazza Navona can be reached with the wonderful sculptural Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini. From there through the small winding streets of Rome, we will reach the Pantheon, Rome’s best preserved ancient temple. Last but not least the impressive Trevi Fountain designed in a late baroque style by architect Nicola Salvi, made famous in the movie La Dolce Vita. The tour draws to an end in the most famous and fashionable square in Rome: the Spanish steps, whose monumental 135 step staircase was designed and built to connect the square to the Trinità dei Monti Church. This attracted artists, poets and painters and has become a traditional meeting place for Romans. - The price for the 3 hour Ancient Rome tour is € 270,80 (vat included). Borghese Gallery The Borghese Gallery is one of Rome’s must see museums. It was built in 1613 by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V and has one of the best collections in the world of sculptures, bas –reliefs, ancient mosaics, paintings and sculptures from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century. The villa’s collection is spread out over two floors and divided in 20 decorated rooms; the lower floor is mainly dedicated to sculpture; the upper floor to masterpieces by Bernini, Canova, Caravaggio and Titian. The Borghese Villa has been renovated and extended through the years, and was eventually sold to the Italian government in 1902 along with the entire Borghese estate and surrounding gardens and parklands. Only 360 visitors are allowed at a time into the museum, which makes it a less crowded attraction in comparison to the Vatican museum. The gallery is surrounded by a large public park which you are free to explore afterwards. - The cost for the 2 hour Borghese Gallery tour is €228.80 (vat included) + ticket cost. - Meeting point directly in front of the Borghese Gallery museum – Piazzale del Museo Borghese 5). - No tours on Mondays. This 2 hour tour includes a brief overview of ancient Rome as well as Renaissance works. We will visit the Capitoline hill, one of the most important hills in the history of Rome and one of the most beautiful Renaissance squares, designed by Michelangelo and surrounded by buildings from the Capitoline Museums, one of the oldest museums in the World. From the terrace of the Capitoline Hill there is an impressive view over the ruins of the Roman Forum, the heart of ancient Rome. From the Campidoglio our walking tour continues down Via dei Fori Imperiali where you can see the column of Emperor Trajan. On the opposite side are the ruins of the Forum of Julius Caesar and the Forum of Octavian Augustus, the first public squares of the city. After the imperial squares you will reach the symbol of Rome: the Colosseum a magnificent monument built in only 8 years. The walking tour will end in S. Pietro in Vincoli Church, which holds Michelangelo’s masterpiece, a large marble sculpture of Moses. - The cost for the 2 hour Grand Tour is €228.80 (vat included) + ticket cost. Colonna Palace This is an exclusive tour of Rome’s Palazzo Colonna, one of the oldest and largest private palaces in Rome. It is open by private appointment during the week, a true jewel representing Roman Baroque, the Galleria Colonna was commissioned in the 1600s by Cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna. The Colonna family has lived in the same spot for 800 years. It has included one Pope (Martin V, who saw the papal seat return to Rome from Avignon) and more than a dozen Cardinals. While following the family history and story of Rome through the centuries, visitors can also take in the important art collection and architectural developments of Palazzo Colonna. Continuously inhabited since the middle ages, the palace was extensively renovated in the 17th Century, and offers an unusually complete overview at the lifestyle of the ruling class, especially over the past 500 years. The collection’s prized pieces include Bruegel (younger and elder) in a room dedicated to Dutch paintings and a rich collection of 15-18 Century depictions of Italy. The guided tour begins with a series of rooms exposing art from the family collection, set in a backdrop with authentic periodic furniture and showcasing wonderful marble floors, tapestries, sculptures and chandeliers. During the visit, we will have a chance to visit the private apartments of Princess Isabelle, who lived here in the 20th century and played a pivotal role in opening the palace to the public. - The cost for the 2 hour private tour of Colonna Palace is €250.00 (vat included) + €450.00 (private opening of the Colonna Palace). We would be delighted to arrange special tailor made tours according to specific guest requirements.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5038
__label__wiki	0.769783	0.769783	Book Home Check-in EXPERIENCE• HORSE RACING SPONSORSHIPS Our growing portfolio in the sport of kings With an extensive and vast presence in horse racing, Emirates has key relationships with carnivals, governing bodies, stables and marquee races. Emirates has been synonymous with the sport of kings for many years and Horse Racing now forms an important part of our sponsorship portfolio. As a true enthusiast of the sport, Emirates is today involved in some of the biggest carnivals and races around the world including the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Dubai World Cup, the Dubai World Cup Carnival and the Singapore Derby. Emirates is also a proud partner of the internationally renowned Godolphin Stable which is the Maktoum family's private horseracing stable. Carnivals form an important part of Emirates' presence in horse racing, it has developed partnerships with such events as the Dubai World Cup. Dubai World Cup Carnival Emirates is the official airline of the Dubai World Cup Carnival which culminates with the world’s richest horse race – the Dubai World Cup. The Carnival runs from January through March each year at the prestigious Meydan Racecourse, designed to host world-class horse racing, with each night of racing featuring different events. On the penultimate day of racing, known as Super Saturday, Emirates partners with Meydan in sponsoring this stellar night of prep races for many of the horses looking to compete in the Dubai World Cup. Emirates sponsors an impressive portfolio of races across the globe including the world renowned Melbourne Cup. As title sponsor, Emirates has assisted the Dubai World Cup in becoming one of the world’s top racing challenges, and has drawn the attention of millions of enthusiasts around the globe. The meeting, traditionally takes place on the last Saturday of March and is worth a staggering USD 27.25 million. It is not just about the world’s richest race as the entire nine-race programme features the greatest names in racing and the sport’s brightest stars. Welcoming over 80,000 race-goers to the event, the Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates airline captivates a world audience and is one of the region’s leading sporting events. Emirates’ partnership with Godolphin has helped turn the Dubai-based horseracing stable into a world-beater. As strong supporters of sport in Dubai, Emirates is proud to partner with Godolphin, the global horseracing entity owned by the Maktoum family and named in honour of the Godolphin Arabian, who emerged from the desert to become one of the three founding stallions of the modern thoroughbred. Godolphin, established in 1992, has a reputation of excellence and has become the world’s foremost international racing organisation, winning over 250 Group One races in 12 different countries. Dubai is Godolphin’s headquarters and horses spend the winter in the emirate. During the summer months, the horses are trained at state-of-the-art facilities in Newmarket, England, by trainers Saeed bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby. Godolphin also has a large training operation in Australia, led by trainer James Cummings. Andre Fabre prepares Godolphin runners from his yard at Chantilly, France, while Godolphin also has horses with additional trainers in England, Ireland, France and USA. As part of Emirates’ sponsorship agreement with Godolphin, the Fly Better logo is displayed on Godolphin’s famous blue silks alongside staff clothing, horse blankets and transport vehicles. Emirates has been synonymous with horseracing for many years and the sport forms an important part of our sponsorship portfolio. See also Carnivals and Races.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5041
__label__wiki	0.615189	0.615189	Undergraduate Courses BA Global Studies and Modern Languages (Including Year Abroad) BA Global Studies and Modern Languages (Including Year Abroad) Course options 3 years + Year Abroad Course: Global Studies and Modern Languages (Including Year Abroad) UCAS code: LR04 Based in: Philosophy and Art History (School of) What are the challenges facing the world today? How can nations work together to tackle contemporary issues? How do language barriers hinder relationships between states? Is globalisation an opportunity or a threat? Global Studies and Modern Languages at Essex explores the complex modern world in which we live. You will examine how the problems and developments of today are profoundly international in character. Globalisation has led to a shrinking of borders as travel has increased and information technology has developed rapidly. Yet, the borders constituted by language communities continue to exert a strong influence on the character of the globalised world and effective inter-language communication remains as essential as ever. This course allows you to choose modules from many academic disciplines, including history, sociology, philosophy and politics, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex problems in the modern world. Within these you will examine issues such as: war and areas of political strain Language is fundamental to our thought, our relationships, and our civilisations. Alongside your Global Studies modules, you will also become fluent in your choice of one or more modern languages. You will spend your third year abroad immersing yourself in another culture and enhancing your language skills. By studying within our Interdisciplinary Studies Centre (ISC), you will have access to expertise in modern languages, literature, film, history of art, history, politics and sociology, and more, with contributions from experienced staff from around the University. Our Department of Language and Linguistics is ranked among the Top 150 departments in the QS World University Rankings 2018. You become fluent in one or more optional modern language. You spend your third year studying abroad in a partner institution. You are taught by a team of international experts in a range of subjects at Essex and abroad. Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad. Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. Our staff within the Interdisciplinary Studies Centre teach in departments across the University, and specialise in a wide range of topics including history, law, literature, film, politics, and sociology. We are a team of internationally recognised writers and lecturers with expertise across the arts, humanities and social sciences. As well as being one of the UK’s leading universities for social science, and the highest ranking institution for political science, our staff research topics that stretch across the globe – we are working on issues in Latin America, North America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Our language and linguistics staff are internationally renowned. Their books dominate the reading lists at other universities. All our language teachers are native or bilingual speakers, we maintain excellent student-staff ratios, and we integrate language learning with linguistics wherever there is synergy. In addition to helping you acquire practical foreign language skills, our staff share their expertise with you in the areas of professional translation, interpreting and subtitling, film and art, business, and culture. Our Essex Collection of Art from Latin America (ESCALA) is the largest of its kind in Europe Our Albert Sloman Library’s collections of Latin American, Russian and Eastern European materials are of national significance Extra-curricular activities are available through student societies Our Languages for All programme offers you the opportunity to study an additional language alongside your course at no extra cost Our graduates are well-placed to address the complex issues which confront the modern world. You can gain a diverse set of skills as well as a wide-ranging knowledge of the world’s most current and significant problems. Our course provides you with an excellent basis for going on to a career in media, education, politics, the Civil Service, international organisations such as the UN and NATO or non-governmental organisations, and many other fields. Additionally, companies and organisations in the UK and abroad are struggling to find university graduates who are fluent in at least one other language, apart from English – making you even more employable as a graduate fluent in your chosen language. Our Centre’s have gone on to work in a wide range of desirable roles including an events co-ordinator for Age UK, a business provision manager for BT, an accountant in London, and an account executive for Bluesky PR. A-levels: BBB If Portuguese is taken as the major language, A Level pass (or equivalent) in Italian, Spanish or Portuguese or first language level fluency in Italian, Romanian or Spanish is required. BTEC: DDM, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided. IB: 30 points or three Higher Level certificates with 555 We are also happy to consider a combination of separate IB Diploma Programmes at both Higher and Standard Level. Exact offer levels will vary depending on the range of subjects being taken at higher and standard level, and the course applied for. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information. To study Portuguese as your major language, you need a pass in Higher Level Italian, Spanish or Portuguese or fluency in Italian, Romanian or Spanish. Access to HE Diploma: 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above Flexible offers Eligible applicants that choose us as their firm choice by the relevant deadline will be able to take advantage of a flexible offer. This offer will specify alternative entry requirements than those published here so, if your final grades aren’t what you had hoped for, you could still secure a place with us. Visit our undergraduate application information page for more details. English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall. Different requirements apply for second year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK. Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels listed above. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field, therefore all modules listed are subject to change. To view the compulsory modules and full list of optional modules currently on offer, please view the programme specification via the link below. Year 1 Year 2 Final Year The Making of the Modern World since 1750 Gain a deep insight into the origins of today’s world. This module presents a chronological overview of the key events in western history from the last 200 years. Look at how ideas, cultures, and economies of different peoples intersected, and changed, through the conflicts brought on by capitalism, imperialism, war, and revolution. You develop a solid foundation to study modern history. View The Making of the Modern World since 1750 on our Module Directory Space, Place and Locality In a mixture of lectures and site visits, learn about the history of architecture and the relationship between spaces and those who inhabit them. This module is intended to serve as an introduction to architectural history, as well as concepts of visual culture, urbanism, and the critical theories of space. As part of this module students will be required to go on four trips. They are given a £15 subsidy by the department towards their travel costs where necessary. Students will know which weeks the trips will be taking place in advance so they are advised to make travel arrangements early to make sure the subsidy covers the costs. You will be required to cover any additional costs that fall outside of the £15 subsidy. View Space, Place and Locality on our Module Directory Initial Spanish To whom do you say “¿Cómo estás?” And to whom do you say “¿Cómo están?” Gain the basic linguistic skills to enjoy a visit to Spain. Learn the dialogue, structures and tenses needed for everyday situations, and develop the writing skills required for short messages. View Initial Spanish on our Module Directory The World in Question: the Social, Political and Psychological Legacies of the Enlightenment How have contemporary societies been shaped by the legacies of the Enlightenment, colonialism, and the different phases of capitalism? This interdisciplinary module helps you to critically understand some of the key forces and processes that have shaped the challenges we face in the 20th and 21st century. It is divided into three broad themes Empire, The Self, and Nature. We’ll be examining processes of ‘othering’ that were intrinsic to colonialism and persist today; changing conceptions of the self; as well as both the causes of and potential solutions to the ecological destruction we are confronting today. The module is co-taught by from Art History, ISC, LiFTs, Philosophy, Psychoanalytic Studies and Sociology. View The World in Question: the Social, Political and Psychological Legacies of the Enlightenment on our Module Directory Crisis of the American Idea (optional) Across a wide spectrum of political opinion one finds a shared conviction that something is amiss in the American project. Some point to Trump's election as evidence that something has gone badly wrong. At the same time Trump's supporters pointed to an American crisis as their reason for electing him. What they agree on is that there is indeed an American crisis underway. This module takes an extended, interdisciplinary look at The American Idea and its current crisis. View Crisis of the American Idea (optional) on our Module Directory Art in Latin America (optional) Come face-to-face with over 750 original artworks from 19 countries in the Essex Collection of Art from Latin America (ESCALA). This major, unique, and internationally recognised collection, with works dating from the 1960s to today, is yours to make the most of. Investigate the themes of landscape, revolution, human rights, and the environment, which permeate many of the works and reflect the historical and contemporary challenges faced by the region, and debate the role Latin American art has in the wider art world. View Art in Latin America (optional) on our Module Directory Intensive Initial Italian 1 (optional) Want to learn Italian from scratch? Reach A-level Italian standard, gaining understanding of Italian language structure and functions. Take part in a variety of class activities, including individual and group work, to build your Italian communication skills. View Intensive Initial Italian 1 (optional) on our Module Directory Alternative Americas: Independent Film (optional) Does Hollywood have the last word on America? What do we mean by independent motion pictures? Understand the diverse and changing modes of film production in the USA. Formulate your own ideas of the social, cultural and political dimensions of American films and filmmaking in the last 40 years. View Alternative Americas: Independent Film (optional) on our Module Directory Dangerous Ideas: Essays and Manifestos as Social Criticism Capstone Is Swift’s ‘A Modest Proposal’ the best example of Early Modern Western satire? What kind of writing does George Orwell champion? What did Marx and Engels achieve with ‘The Communist Manifesto’? Examine the ‘dangerous ideas’ presented in a range of subversive essays and manifestos. Study how they challenge and satirise existing ideas and social arrangements. Experiment with writing, thus broadening the approach of your own essays. View Dangerous Ideas: Essays and Manifestos as Social Criticism Capstone on our Module Directory Translation, Interpreting and Subtitling Skills The aim of this module is to provide you with comprehensive practical experience of translating different kinds of texts both from the source language into English and from English into a target language. You will look at a range of texts from news and business correspondence, to manuals, advertising and newspaper clips and develop your ability to reflect on context, purpose, target audience and style, analysing and discussing different alternatives, all relevant for making good choices on translation. It will also introduce you to interpreting and subtitling skills. View Translation, Interpreting and Subtitling Skills on our Module Directory Taught through lectures plus classes of about twenty students You take a one-hour lecture and a one-hour class for each of your modules every week Other teaching methods will depend on your individual combination of subjects Assessed through a combination of written coursework and end-of-year examinations Other assessment methods will depend on your individual combination of subjects Our UK students, and some of our EU and international students, who are still at school or college, can apply through their school. Your school will be able to check and then submit your completed application to UCAS. Our other international applicants (EU or worldwide) or independent applicants in the UK can also apply online through UCAS Apply.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5044
__label__wiki	0.648633	0.648633	Emerging Arts Leaders Symposium EALS 2020 First Name Last Name Mobile Number Email c/o Sherburne Laughlin Katzen Arts Center at American University, Room 215 auartsymposium@american.edu © 2017 by EALS. Christopher McCloskey is a first year graduate student pursuing his Master’s in Arts Management at AU. He joins the EALS team this fall as the Marketing Coordinator, while working as the Greenberg Operations fellow at American’s Greenberg Theatre. Christopher grew up in Washington, DC, but lived for the last eight years in New York City. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Bard College, where he majored in Art History with a concentration in Theater. Prior to graduate school, Christopher worked as the Operations Manager for Jordan Griska, a Brooklyn-based sculptor and in the Standard Hotel. This January, he will be traveling to London to study global art business practices and emerging art markets at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. He hopes to focus his studies on the dynamic relationship between technology and the arts. 2020 EALS Committee Anya is a second year Arts Management Master’s candidate at American University. She began her career in nonprofit management serving as the Co-Director for Camp Kesem Davis as an undergraduate student. After moving to DC and working as a development associate for a leading cancer research organization, her love of museums led her to pursue her master’s at American University. Drawn to organizations tackling innovative projects, Anya has interned with the Smithsonian’s Arts & Industries Building to permanently reopen America’s first National Museum, and she is currently interning with the Advisory Board for the Arts, a startup dedicated to becoming a leading resource for arts organizations across the globe. She has also completed a museum management fellowship at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Anya earned her Bachelor’s degree in Art History at UC Davis. She is also a native Californian, rock climber, runner, and amateur photographer. Anya Simmons Tara is a second year Master's candidate in Arts Management at American University. A Wisconsin native, she received her BA in Studio Art from Ripon College and has worked in the visual arts as a gallery director and curator. Her interest in the functioning of nonprofit arts organizations has led her here to DC, where she hopes to expand her knowledge of these institutions and work to help them flourish. Tara works with Carlyn Madden Consulting Services to help area nonprofits grow their capacity and ensure organizational stability, and is also a Graduate Fellow to the American University Dance Program. She has recently completed an extended internship in the Marketing & Communications department at the Smithsonian's Freer\|Sackler. Outside of EALS you'll find her wandering around art museums, trying new dessert recipes, and petting other people's dogs. Tara Schultz Kara is in her second year at American University in the Arts Management Master’s program. Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she currently works as an administrative assistant at Opera Lafayette and as an intern with the Arts & Industries Smithsonian building. Kara is a recent graduate of a dual degree program at Lebanon Valley College, earning a degree in both Music Business and Music with a vocal concentration. In the rare moment that Kara isn’t busy with work or school, she enjoys petting dogs, exploring the city, playing the organ, and talking to her family back home. Director of Finance & Administration Kara Hess Hope is a second-year Master's candidate in the Arts Management program at AU. Hope is from Goldsboro, NC and received a bachelor's degree in Art History from UNC-Chapel Hill. She most recently worked as the Arts Program Coordinator for Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, NC. Hope would like to use her degree to improve job security and working conditions for art and music teachers and to create more arts opportunities in rural areas of North Carolina. In her free time, Hope enjoys cooking, reading, painting, spending time with her husband and family, and trying to get her cat to love her as much as she loves him. Director of Programming & Logistics Hope Cagle Dan is a first year Arts Management Master’s candidate at American University. He grew up in Southern California and has performed on stage all around the United States in places such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, New York City, Boston and Philadelphia. Dan recently received his BA in Visual and Performing Arts concentrating on Theatre from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. While at the University of Colorado, he served in the Student Government Association as the Senator of the Arts where he was a member of the Advisory Boards for both the Gallery of Contemporary Art and THEATREWORKS (a semi-professional regional theatre company). He is also currently serving as Vice President of the Graduate School Council for the College of Arts and Sciences at American University. When he is not busy advocating for art or studying, he enjoys playing the piano, exploring museums, and running off to New York City to catch the latest Broadway Show. Advancement Coordinator Dan Boyd Simone is a first year Arts Management Master’s candidate at American University. Raised in North Carolina, she graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a BA in Studio Arts. Studying a variety of mediums, Simone mainly concentrates on acrylic and watercolor painting. Simone moved to New York City soon after graduation where she was able to gain invaluable knowledge through a variety of jobs and opportunities in the art world. Through this work she discovered her interest in arts administration, which is what lead her to pursue her master’s degree at American University. In addition to her studies, Simone has a fellowship at the Kennedy Center in the Marketing department and is working part-time with the Capital City Symphony. Simone Booker-Isham Kaitlyn is a first year Arts Management Master's candidate at American University. Her interest in arts organizations stems from a lifelong love of dance and an urge to kick-ball-change she just can't seem to shake. After completing her bachelor's degree in English with a writing concentration/minor in Journalism from Gonzaga University, Kaitlyn moved back to her hometown to begin her nonprofit career as an intern with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. She has since worked for multiple dance studios and is currently serving as a Graduate Fellow in the American University Dance Program, as well as a Studio Assistant at Joy of Motion Dance Center. She hopes that her time at AU will help her to hone these experiences and use them to best serve the dance community that has always served her so well. In her free time you can find Kaitlyn taking a drop-in dance class, investing in too many scented candles, and dying her hair to match pretty backdrops. Kaitlyn Anson J.R. is a first year Arts Management Master’s candidate at American University. A West Virginia native, he received a B.A. in Theatre and a B.A. in History from Fairmont State University. He is currently a fellow at the Greenberg Theatre on AU’s campus, while also following his passion by assisting high schools with technical theatre. In his free time, you can find J.R. exploring state parks or participating in theatre anyway he can. J.R. Watson Sarah is currently a graduate student in Arts Management at American University, where she previously served as the EALS Events Coordinator, and the Programming Chair for the Graduate Student Council. Sarah received her bachelors degree in Art History from the University of Central Florida, and is originally from Cocoa Beach, FL. She now lives on Capitol Hill with her husband, their chow-chow Esmerelda, and black cat Binx. Sarah has traveled to 11 countries, and married her high school sweetheart in Jamaica in 2014. Logistics Coordinator Sarah Counts Growing up in Northern Virginia, Maria Maldonado has been a professional noise maker since age 2, when her mom handed her her first tamborine. Her love of all things noisy and musical continues to be a large part of Maria’s life as she just graduated with a Vocal Performance degree at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA. As Maria starts her Master's in Arts Management at American University in Washington, D.C. , she has taken on a new type of noise making: arts advocacy and leadership. Maria aspires to become a prominent leader within the arts, bringing engaging performances and programs to her community. Maria is currently a Development Fellow at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Programming Coordinator	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5047
__label__cc	0.51701	0.48299	eatright eatright Pro eatright Store eatrightCPE Academy Submits Recommendations for Development of 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Barbara Schneeman, PhD Chair, 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee c/o Eve Stoody, PhD Designated Federal Officer Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Food and Nutrition Service 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1034 Re: Posted Nutrition Protocols and Utilization of Nutrition Science Dear Dr. Schneeman: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the "Academy") appreciates the opportunity to submit comments to the 2020 Dietary Guideline Advisory Committee (DGAC or the "Committee") regarding issues and protocols relevant to the development and integrity of its forthcoming scientific report "outlin[ing] its science-based recommendations and rationale"1 for the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (the "Dietary Guidelines," "Guidelines," or DGAs). Representing more than 107,000 registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered (NDTRs), and advanced-degree nutritionists, the Academy is the largest association of food and nutrition professionals committed to accelerating improvements in global health and well-being through food and nutrition. Our members have helped conduct, review, and translate nutrition research for the DGAs since their inception, and will work to help consumers, industry, and schools choose meal patterns in accordance with the final recommendations of the Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (collectively, the "Departments"). The Academy is pleased with the work to-date of the DGAC and the Departments and recognizes the enormous task before it in developing the 2020-2025 DGAs and the newly required guidelines for Americans from birth to two-years-old. Below, we respectfully offer comments and recommendations related to the following issues: The importance of clarity regarding the DGA's target audience given the prevalence and variety of chronic diseases in the U.S. population. The need for additional research and funding to close identified gaps. The need for enhanced transparency throughout the DGA development process, including work by the Departments after issuance of the scientific report. The unique nature of nutrition science, its value, and its role in developing actionable dietary recommendations. Proposed protocols and the DGAC's intended use of existing systematic reviews. The need to address sustainability, avoid arbitrarily restricting the DGAC's time to complete its work, and focus on the DGA's implementation and dissemination. I. Fundamentals A. Commitment to Science-Based Dietary Guidelines The Academy has full confidence that the Committee will fulfill its charge to "provide independent, science based advice and recommendations to be considered by USDA and HHS in the development of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans."2 We strongly support meta-analysis research to back up the DGAs whenever possible. We look forward to a transparent and collaborative process for reviewing and translating the best available "science into succinct, food-based guidance that can be relied upon to help Americans choose foods that provide a healthy and enjoyable diet."3 We also underscore the importance of conducting regular, quinquennial DGAs that allow the Departments to engage on a continuing basis in scoping and other valuable evidence analysis processes. Nutrition science produces a wealth of valuable literature with substantial, beneficial application from clinical guidelines to industry formulations. B. Focus on Primary Prevention Amid Prevalence of Chronic Disease For 35 years, the DGAs have provided the best available scientific advice to consumers seeking to prevent or reduce their risk of diet-related diseases. This advice has never been more critical. As the most recent iteration makes clear, the DGA's "recommendations are ultimately intended to help individuals improve and maintain overall health and reduce the risk of chronic disease—its focus is disease prevention."4 While appropriate, the Academy notes this focus on primary prevention of diet-related chronic diseases and conditions is not uniformly applicable to most Americans. Two out of three American adults and one out of three children are overweight or have obesity.5 Nearly half of adults have diabetes or prediabetes,6 and roughly half of adults have high blood pressure,7 a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Furthermore, 13 cancers, including breast, colorectal, esophageal, and uterine, are linked to overweight or obesity.8 In total, 60 percent of Americans in 2014 "had at least one chronic condition, and 42 percent had multiple chronic conditions."9 Given the extremely high prevalence of co-morbidities and overweight/obesity, the DGAs need to go beyond mere prevention and equally focus on amelioration of these conditions by leveraging a healthy food environment and food choices. We are fully supportive of extending DGA recommendations beyond its existing target demographic to include pregnancy and children from birth to 24 months ("B-24") as essential to improved primary prevention, including focused recommendations supporting breastfeeding. Good nutrition throughout the first two years of life helps lay the foundation for a child's future health well into adulthood. New research in the fields of neuroscience and the early origins of adult health is shedding light on how infants' brains develop, how children and adults become susceptible to diseases, and how capacities and skills are either nourished or thwarted, beginning at least during pregnancy and continuing through the first two years of life.10,11 This growing body of scientific research indicates that the foundations for lifelong health—including predispositions to obesity and certain chronic diseases—could be significantly determined by poor nutrition early in life that impacts not only a child's health, but also potentially that of the child's offspring.12 The damaging effects caused by poor nutrition in early life could have the potential to cascade down through generations of children and lock families into a cycle of poor health, making comprehensive, actionable recommendations for infants and children essential. C. Target Audience(s) The charter for the 2020 DGAC reminds us that the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (Section 301 of Public Law 101-445 codified at 7 U.S.C. 5341) instructs that [the DGAs] shall contain nutritional and dietary information and guidelines for the general public"13 The Academy strongly recommends the DGAC and Departments reconcile that instruction with the 2015-2020 DGAs' statement that its "primary audiences are policymakers, as well as nutrition and health professionals, not the general public,"14 or otherwise explain whether there has been a change in the primary audience since the 2015-2020 DGAs were published. We recognize the value in directing guidelines at the entities and individuals most able to effect the respective changes on both micro and macro levels, including registered dietitian nutritionists. At the same time, there is a potentially competing value in the guidelines being written in approachable, concise language that is easy for consumers to apply. As there are evidence-based dietary recommendations for many diet-related chronic diseases that do not match the DGAs, confusion can develop among professionals and the public about which dietary recommendations to follow if it is not clear who the DGAs target in terms of nutritional needs. We suggest the Departments consider publishing slightly different iterations of the Guidelines to specifically target intended audiences, similar to the manner in which clinical guidelines often include both clinician-focused and public-facing versions to add clarity and facilitate more effective implementation. In addition to the DGAs' putative applicability to the general public; they are used as the scientific basis for the benefit design and certain programmatic elements of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and senior meals through the Older Americans Act. They also are used by state and local governments and health departments across the country as the basis for many of their nutrition policies and programs, where food may be sold or served on public property or public funds are used. D.Research Needs: Limitations Encountered and Gaps Identified The Academy encourages the federal government to enhance its investment in critical food and nutrition research to build on the work the DGAC and the Departments are doing in the DGA development process. We note that despite continual enumeration of the same research gaps by previous DGACs, this chasm continues to widen from a lack of investment in addressing these fundamental research questions.15 Specifically, we need prospective, translational research in humans including the entire life cycle, comparative effectiveness research, and population based policy studies that examine facilitators and barriers to healthy community environments and access to safe, high quality nutrition care. Accordingly, we reiterate our previous recommendation that the USDA and HHS form an advisory group to address this concern; work with the National Institutes for Health (NIH), National Institutes for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Congress to make funding available to conduct this research; define best practices and methodologies to address the identified needs; and establish a process to identify and resolve lingering research needs. The limited funding for these fundamental health research efforts are resulting in the United States slipping from the leadership role in the global scientific community. At its core, the development of evidence-based guidelines hinge upon the quality and quantity of the science available to make recommendations. We are pleased that the DGAC's charge directs it to "provide its advice and recommendations to[, among others,] the USDA Under Secretar[y] of . . . Research, Education, and Economics (REE). With the tremendous resource of respected scientists at its disposal, the agencies and offices of REE are exactly the right entities to undertake the necessary research consumers, public health practitioners, and the government have been begging for since the first iteration of the DGAs. The research these agencies undertake is essential to the scientific progress necessary to improve the health and well-being of Americans. The recent losses of staff and infrastructure within the USDA Agricultural and Food Research Institute (AFRI) being moved from Washington, D.C. to Kansas City will have a rippling effect for years in the development of science in the areas of food and agriculture research. It will not only be incalculably devastating to the DGAs and the health of the nation but will also be woefully fiscally irresponsible to decimate these offices and agencies by forcing an ill-considered relocation that results in mass retirements and resignations of some the nation's leading scientists. E. Health Equity The Academy's strategic plan encourages a shift in focus toward health equity, social determinants of health, and transparent involvement of broader constituencies throughout the DGA process. The Academy believes that the DGAs and the Departments' other initiatives to improve the nutritional status of Americans, reduce obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases, and increase food security must include efforts to achieve health equity and reduce health disparities. We urge the Committee to include in its scientific report strategies for achieving health equity, including how collaboration across all sectors and levels of government to implement policies can improve public health and provide equitable access to healthy and affordable food, clean water, and effective nutrition care services. Racial and ethnic minorities experience unique health and wellness challenges and are at a greater risk of having food insecurity as well as obesity.16,17 Academy members' research, leadership and community-based efforts provide excellent examples of success stories that can be scaled up across the country to reduce disparities, including: The Academy's just-released comprehensive toolkit for community leaders, which guides them through a step-by-step process to identify the best solutions to improve food security in the community. This toolkit provides a plethora of resources and is free to the public at https://eatrightfoundation.org/why-it-matters/public-education/food-security-solutions/. The NEW Soul Study at the University of South Carolina is examining impacts on blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and weight of a plant-based, soul food diet and low-fat, standard soul food diet in the African American community.18 The Healthy Community study "[e]xamine[d] relationships between number, type and intensity of community programs and policies (CPPs) and child nutrition[, concluding that [m]ultiple characteristics of CPPs to prevent obesity appear important to improve children's diets."19 F. Integrity of the DGA Development Process 1. Conflicts of Interest The actual and perceived integrity of the DGA development process is absolutely paramount. The Academy agrees with the recommendation of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that, "Actual and/or perceived conflicts of interest—both financial and nonfinancial—will need to be eliminated to the extent possible or their effects be minimized and managed."20 The National Academies specifically anticipated that "those who have had relationships with industry or issue-specific advocates in the recent past could participate fairly on a panel if the nature of the relationship was incidental to the work of the panel," so long as any perceived conflicts are identified and mitigated. Despite some claims to the contrary, there has been a distinct lack of bias and little undue, disproportionate, or non-public industry impact or contact in DGACs' development of their scientific reports. The Academy supports additional procedures and transparency to be enacted in accordance with the National Academies recommendations to ensure distinct lack of perceived or actual bias once federal officials and political appointees take the scientific report and draft the final DGAs, ignoring some recommendations and adopting others without sufficient or satisfactory explanation, which adds bias and reduces public trust of the DGAs. 2. Need for Enhanced Transparency at All Stages of the Process Given the Departments' new, powerful role in dictating the scope of the research inquiry at the beginning of the DGA process, we agree with the National Academies that novel, substantial transparency will be especially critical at the final stage of the process, when the agencies take the DGAC's scientific report and transform it into the official Guidelines: "The federal writing team ought not be exempted from adhering to explicit and transparent standards for developing clinical practice guidelines."21 The public must have confidence that the Guidelines are indeed "based on the preponderance of the scientific and medical knowledge which is current at the time the report is prepared"22 that has not been "influenced by politics or other factors" that were noted by the National Academies.23 We strongly agree with the National Academies that, "In the steps of the process where public participation would be inappropriate, such as decision making for the DGA recommendations themselves, it will be critical for the agencies responsible for the DGA to explain to the public why key decisions were made."24 The Academy believes the need for transparency includes identifying the "HHS and USDA nutrition and health experts"25 tasked with drafting and approving the final DGAs and assuring the scientific community and the public that these individuals have the skill set to decide if the research relied upon and the final recommendations of the report are appropriate and reflect the best available science. Scientists—not politicians—should be formulating the guidelines in accordance with the statutory mandate, and it is not just the scientific community urging this: "Americans also voiced a strong preference for experts—not politicians—to develop the dietary guidelines. By a nearly 4-to-1 margin (79 percent to 20 percent), survey respondents agreed that scientists, doctors, and health experts should be able to create recommendations free of interference. . . ."26 Accordingly, to avoid conflict with the National Academies' explicit recommendations and consistent with the need for an evidence-to-decision framework as noted above, the public should expect that the agencies will provide the public with a forthcoming detailed rationale for: Criteria in the continuing development of protocols and systematic reviews; All material deviations from the DGAC scientific report to the final DGA; and The preponderant scientific rationale for each deviation from the Scientific Report. II. Addressing Opportunities and Challenges in Nutrition Science The ability to distill the nutritional factors to health and chronic disease outcomes is complex. Nutrition science presents unique challenges in research and implementation given certain structural differences from other disciplines, ethical considerations, and limited scientific and health literacy among many journalists and much of the general population. The Academy is encouraged by efforts to think about nutrition science in novel, comprehensive, and holistic ways, and we respectfully suggest the DGAC critically evaluate the existing evidence with a focus on rigor and validity as it develops its recommendations through the lenses highlighted below. A. Scientific and Health Literacy Scientific literacy and health literacy are lacking among many journalists and much of the general population. Journalists—particularly science journalists—are tasked with the responsibility to make nutrition, health, and behavioral sciences approachable and easily understandable for a public audience, while at the same time making it 'interesting" or contentious enough to drive internet traffic and get more clicks.27 We appreciate the observation that, "Quality science journalists are a promising model for a scientifically literate populace, but quality science journalism is increasingly difficult to locate amid the explosion of information available in our society through increasingly internetworked sources."28 These science journalists are necessary as "competent outsiders," and although "[t]he expert science journalist may not always be someone with a degree in science, . . . with time he or she has learned to navigate science communities, understand how science experts work, and can make sense of and translate technical language."29 The current need for journalists and the public to translate a single DGA intended for many targets may contribute to the confusion and misinterpretation. There is a pressing need to 1) train journalists on the science behind the DGAs and 2) provide clear and strong rationale for the translation of the scientific report into the DGAs for the journalists and the public. We strongly support efforts to ensure the DGAs are relevant to and understood by the general public as well as science journalists and other competent outsiders. Research indicates that an individual's socio-economic status, educational attainment, numeracy, English literacy, and health status impact what elements of national nutrition guidance are used and the extent to which an individual is able to more broadly incorporate a variety of nutrient content data into the context of a healthy daily diet.30 The Academy commends recent findings on health and scientific literacy among the general public to the DGAC: Efforts to promote healthy eating have often focused on nutrition knowledge or food preparation skills in isolation. However, such efforts may achieve limited population-level gains because they do not address the myriad of socio-ecological factors that shape dietary intake. In contrast, the emerging concept of food literacy explicitly recognizes the impact of environmental factors on people's capacity to develop and apply knowledge, skills, and behaviors that are essential to healthy eating. In concert with policy measures to create healthy food environments and address social determinants, food literacy is theorized as an integral component to improving dietary outcomes.31 These findings are consistent with the 2015 DGAC recommendation that "food and calorie label education should be designed to be understood by audiences with low health literacy, some of which may have additional English language fluency limitations."32 Academy members are renowned for their expertise in both conducting rigorous nutrition research and translating scientific information that consumers can understand and can apply to self-directed goals to improve their overall health. We hope to work closely with the Departments and other stakeholders in developing an effective implementation strategy. B. Dietary Patterns and Nutrition as a Comprehensive Science The Academy supports a holistic focus on nutrition and diet, particularly the Dietary Guidelines' focus on dietary patterns rather than individual nutrients and we encourage HHS and USDA to adopt these recommendations for healthy eating in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It is imperative to translate the complex dietary patterns associated with healthy eating into a relatively simple way to deliver consumer-friendly guidance by utilizing existing knowledge of health and nutrition. As the DGAC's recommendations are translated into real dietary guidance, individuals must be able to understand the types and amounts of foods they should consume as the basis for lifelong health. The Academy supports the use of dietary pattern analysis as a framework for generating public health recommendations and the use of the Departments' systematic reviews on the topics selected for review. It is important, however, to recognize and articulate the limitations of this approach and accordingly, support the DGAC in presenting the findings in a manner consistent with the systematic reviews' most accurate interpretation. We note the difficulty in making inferences about the contributions that individual food groups make to the overall effect observed for a dietary pattern, and encourage use of an analytical approach to compare the contributions of these food group components to either overall scores or to the predictive performance of individual food groups.33 These analyses could help determine whether any individual food group was correctly identified as positively or negatively contributing to the pattern score and disease risk. As a result, the possibility remains that individual food groups have a diminished or even opposite effect of what is expected, an effect that could be masked by other components of the diet pattern assessment techniques that are strongly performing. These efforts will need to address the concerns of substitution in relation to the removal of foods or beverages to assess the cumulative impact of dietary behavior change on dietary and nutrient intakes. A particular benefit of the 2015-2020 DGA has been its focus on dietary patterns instead of individual nutrients, consistent with the way in which we typically eat; the Academy strongly encourages the DGAC to continue this focus in its present task. C. Nutrition as a Biological Variable The Academy strongly encourages the DGAC to conduct its evidence reviews and analysis and make its recommendations considering nutrition as a biological variable and treating it from a systems approach, including how nutrients interact with biological systems and the consideration of nutritional status as both an input and an outcome. Consideration must be given to the impact of substitution and realizing the larger impact of reductions or additions to one's diet. Daniel J. Raiten, PhD, the Nutrition Program Director at the National Institute of Health's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, outlined the meaning of nutrition as a biological variable: An effort to improve the credibility of nutrition as a scientific discipline A more effective integration of nutrition (not just food/diet) in all aspects of biomedical research and by extension to efforts to promote health, prevent and treat disease An effort to provide new tools and approaches to support the constituencies involved in nutrition related research An acknowledgement of the importance of interdisciplinary research at all levels (basic, clinical, translational).34 Dr. Raiten notes that "contemporary nutrition questions concern health effects of marginal nutrient status more than those of acute deficiency" and that "[k]nowing an individual's nutrient status reveals little about function or effect."35 Of particular importance is the manner in which drugs and toxins and nutrients mutually affect one another and the "[i]nterrelationships of multiple nutrients in systems regulating drug metabolism."36 D. Quality of Nutrition Research Despite what some critics of nutritional epidemiology assert, there is significant value in this research. The Academy recognizes that—as in every field—there are certain poorly designed studies, including some epidemiological and intervention studies, in this case by individuals without sufficient training in nutrition. These studies have inherent errors in unfounded or inaccurate assumptions as well as misuse of data because of a lack of understanding of nutrition science. Unfortunately, these errors can help create a body of literature that produces poor quality and often contradictory findings. We believe the literature not only needs to be evaluated based on the outcomes, but also culled for any poor quality designs that impede progress of dietary patterns research. We reiterate, however, that these issues do not render nutrition epidemiology without value; in fact, the truth is quite the contrary. Observational data provides a unique perspective on the daily lives of thousands of Americans that would simply not be available in a timely or cost-effective manner from traditional clinical trials. We note that many of the same methods applied to dietary surveillance today were applied in the past to successfully identify smoking as a cause of lung cancer and a significant public health hazard.37 Although there are limitations to observational data, many of the specific criticisms leveled against NHANES and other data—particularly that underreporting in dietary assessments undermines the validity of the data—have been assuaged when the criticisms are analyzed in detail. Criticisms of NHANES have been found to be exaggerated, based on flawed methodologies, and awash in conflicts of interest.38 Underreporting is also unlikely to interfere with the use of findings from NHANES data to support the DGAC conclusions. In fact, underreporting would most likely serve the bias findings towards the null hypothesis and smaller effect sizes, thereby causing estimates and conclusions to be more conservative.39 When controlled trials are not available or when other research is not yet available, well-designed and sound nutrition epidemiology provides a solid foundation for dietary recommendations and forms the basis of driving dietary interventions. This issue again provides the rationale for fundamentally necessary USDA and NIH funding streams designed to address systemic gaps in the DGAs over time. Fundamental nutrition research questions on dietary patterns, nutrient needs for individuals in different life cycle stages and metabolic status, implementation barriers, and health inequity continue to exist and need to be addressed in a non-biased, rigorous manner. Collaborating with nutrition organizations and universities to get these questions answered is essential to improving the health of the U.S. population. E. Structural Differences There are significant structural differences between nutrition science and other disciplines. As one researcher notes, "there are many challenges and considerations unique to the field, such as the baseline nutritional status of study participants, defining appropriate control groups, effective blinding of participants and investigators, the evolving ethics of randomized control trials, and a tension in a priori decisions regarding inclusion of nutritionally vulnerable participants versus representative samples of general populations."40,41 The DGAs "provide[] guidance for choosing a healthy diet and focus[] on preventing the diet-related chronic diseases."42 The current funding environment allows limited exploration of the long term impacts of dietary intakes, let alone the monitoring of long term effects of nutrition intervention. Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and requirements are particularly difficult for nutrition research, and there are substantial ethical issues with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on individuals for standard of care intervention including difficulty "blinding" the participants for many research trials not focused on dietary supplementation. As Weaver et al write, "deliberately depleting participants in a nutrient to the point of harm—or even to the point of biochemical impairment without overt clinical or physiological consequence—is now typically considered unacceptable. In recent years, IRBs have extended this ethical concept to RCTs in which deficiency is not being induced by the study protocol per se but a portion or all of the study population is low or deficient in a specific nutrient at baseline based on their own selected dietary patterns or other circumstances."43 There remains within nutrition research a lack of standardized and validated measures for some diet-related outcomes, a need for better nutrition standardized terminology and common data elements for research, and a need for additional funding. Securing funding for lifestyle behavior research, especially for prevention, is embattled by the sentiment of "don't we know nutrition is important for health" and the perceived likelihood of success compared to interventions based on supplementation. Funding is particularly critical given many researchers noting an insufficient ability to fund or cultivate interest research to confirm prior findings. Furthermore, Dr. Raiten also notes that, "A disconnect often exists between basic nutrition science and its translation to clinical research. This results, in part, from use or lack of relevant animal/experimental models and diets."44 In addition to the limited evidence in certain topics, challenges also come when designing and conducting research in nutrition science. Due to the nature, it is difficult to conduct double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trials, which most considered as gold standard, for some topics. Thus when conducting systematic studies, non-RCT nutrition studies may be "marked down" in quality or seems weaker compared to drug trials. However, strong recommendations can come from a seemingly lower quality body of evidence. Many nutrients have multiple tissue or metabolic targets and thus a singular focus on one outcome may not demonstrate the whole impact of a nutrient (e.g., with respect to vitamin D, focusing on only one outcome, such as bone density, provides a limited view of the entirety of functions that vitamin D performs in the body. A more wholistic approach to nutrients and foods in general is needed. The use of composite outcomes maybe of use but we recognize the need for more research in this area. III. Research Issues Specific to the Dietary Guidelines A. Assumptions and Methodologies We strongly encourage the DGAC to detail in an ongoing manner its relevant assumptions and methodologies in lay language. To that end, we appreciate the recent updates to the dietaryguidelines.gov website detailing the methodology used and noting the status and current stage of each respective process. Published protocols should provide sufficient detail to enable independent replication; at present, they do not. In addition, going forward, it is imperative for the DGAC to explain the reason for any deviation from the protocols as presented. We are concerned about the impact of artificial, arbitrary time constraints on the systematic review process. At the first public meeting of the DGAC held March 28, 2019, Dr. Obbagy's presentation, Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review, stated, "Due to time and resource constraints, NESR will not be conducting systematic reviews with input from technical expert panels, rather NESR will be conducting systematic reviews directly with the 2020 Committee."45 At the second public meeting, the public was informed of the Departments' intentions to complete the work of the DGAC by May of 2020, approximately five months earlier than anticipated in the DGAC's charter. Critical work of developing systematic reviews should not sacrifice quality for alacrity, nor should they be developed in a manner that is less-transparent or that engages fewer relevant experts than was previously used. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are simply too important to be rushed unnecessarily. Rather than arbitrarily cutting short the process, the Departments could provide additional support through a contracting process that ensures transparency and alignment with consistent methodologies. B. Proposed Protocols 1. Dietary Patterns The Academy has reviewed the available search protocol on dietary patterns and all-cause mortality. The 'intervention/exposure' coined as 'dietary pattern' will likely be common for all the relationships explored under this topic and subcommittee. Thus, it will be important to carefully and explicitly define the concept 'dietary pattern'. As described, it is not explicit that known patterns such as (1) Diet, Western; (2) Diet, Mediterranean; (3) Diet, Vegetarian and (4) others will be consistently searched for. We believe it is important to define what exactly each diet means (e.g., is a high-fat diet predicated upon a percentage of fat in the diet, or is the type of fat in the diet relevant to the definition?). We recommend an explicit listing of specific search terms listed in the protocols, at minimum terms that are MeshTerms in PubMed, to ensure reproducibility of the searches. As presented, key areas may not be addressed, or searches may not be consistent across this group of relationships on all search protocols, including dietary patterns. 2. Sources of Saturated Fat Overall the protocol for sources of saturated fat appears appropriate. However, we encourage the DGAC to ensure that "total amount of saturated fat intake" is collected and taken into consideration when writing conclusions. 3. Specific Nutrients from Supplements and/or Fortified Foods If research is available, we believe it would be appropriate and beneficial to differentiate the studies that used supplement from natural nutrients (i.e., whole food sources) as opposed to synthetic nutrients. 4. Frequency of Eating The Academy shares concerns raised by DGAC members at the second public meeting suggesting that simply drinking water would be considered an "eating occasion" for the frequency of eating protocols. The DGAC should ensure it can reconcile this proposed definition with traditional understandings and concepts of fasting for religious and other purposes. In addition, we note it is not unusual for individuals to eat lunch and dinner eight hours or more apart, whether because work continues into the evening or as consistent with cultural traditions. The use of NHANES for dietary patterns analyses allows for less researcher bias by allowing the participant to define the meal or eating occasion. This adds content and face validity to the DGA recommendations anchored to meal intake patterns. Further, lifestyle and financial barriers, such as food insecurity, may lead individuals to delay eating for eight hours or more at a time. The definition of fasting should account for these experiences and recognize the intentional nature of fasting rather than as a habitual or forced schedule. C. Target Population Issues As noted above, the charter for the 2020 DGAC reminds us that the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (Section 301 of Public Law 101-445 codified at 7 U.S.C. 5341) instructs that [the DGAs] shall contain nutritional and dietary information and guidelines for the general public."46 This creates a significant tension when the general public has obesity, overweight, or one or more other chronic diseases. The DGAC must make clear if and when its dietary recommendations are appropriate for (1) a general population in which more than two-thirds of the adult population is overweight or instead (2) prevention for obesity and other chronic diseases. If there are differences in recommendations for preventing disease among a healthy population and preventing or managing disease among a population with one or more chronic diseases or risk factors for them, the DGAC should explicitly ascertain those differences when evaluating the existing science and make explicit the populations for which it is making recommendations. A different set of literature is needed for disease treatment and health promotion. In addition, the DGAC should make clear whether recommendations are based upon the concepts leading to, and inherent in, the new Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Intake (CDRR) category outlined in the recent National Academies' report, Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium.47 We seek clarification as to the extent to which specific recommendations may rely on DRIs that are outdated, overly reliant upon surrogate endpoints, or otherwise ripe for an update. To promote understanding of the Scientific Report and the subsequent Guidelines, we encourage the DGAC to reiterate that the DGAs don't apply to people with certain health statuses and are not meant to replace medical advice or individualized recommendations based on health assessment and disease status. In addition, recommendations may differ across the lifecycle—particularly for older adults—making the current age-related approach appropriate. In short, the DGAs should indicate when certain recommendations may differ for a significant proportion of Americans, and should explicitly detail its rationale for making differing recommendations. D. Peer Review of Systematic Reviews The Academy is pleased that, "All systematic reviews conducted by the 2020 Committee will undergo a formal peer review process coordinated by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)."48 We look forward to the Departments detailing specifics of this peer review process in advance of the ARS conducting it. It is critical that the scientific community is able to have confidence in the peer review process and be assured that it provides an appropriate, scientifically-sound method for research validation devoid of outside, non-scientific interference. We encourage the Departments and the DGAC to identify how peer review can be better integrated into the timeline, recognizing that peer review may need to happen at multiple timepoints rather than just once in the systematic review process. In addition, we seek clarification as to how the methods of external systematic reviews used to inform the Scientific Report will be vetted. Finally, it is essential that the DGAs themselves be peer reviewed before they are finalized to ensure compliance with the requirements of the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 that the DGAs "shall be based on the preponderance of the scientific and medical knowledge which is current at the time the report is prepared." This necessary aspect of peer review would appropriately occur after the Departments incorporate any suggested changes resulting from congressional oversight or political persuasion. E. Scientific Reviews and Food Pattern Modeling The Academy respectfully requests that the DGAC specify which recommendation statements are based on systematic reviews, which are based on food pattern modeling analyses, and which are based upon a combination thereof. The underlying assumptions and targets of the models will need to be explicitly described from the models. This includes how foods and food groups are evaluated (most commonly consumed vs variety of foods) and if the endpoints target food group intakes or meeting nutrient intake recommendations. When developing public health and clinical guideline recommendations, the DGA scientific committee should use gold standard methods. As such, identification of the type and strength of evidence used to shape the DGA recommendations would enhance their credibility through transparency. The GRADE method is evolving to include subspecialties that have unique challenges limiting their use of RCTs and specifically the GRADE tables could be used to demonstrate the evidence used to shape the DGA recommendations. F. Consideration of Non-Public Data We note that Cochrane systematic reviews sometimes include results from studies that are not yet published. We query whether the Departments and the DGAC will engage with researchers to incorporate these ongoing trials into the systematic reviews guiding the DGAs. IV. Additional Issues for DGAC and the Departments' Consideration A. Sustainability 1. National Academies' Recommendations Implementation of the DGA by the US population is difficult or impossible if healthy food choices are not accessible with an individual's environment. Increasing accessibility to health food choices involves a systems approach that expands from food growth and procurement to sales and ensures that the healthy food is physically and financially available to the majority of the population. The US population cannot fully adopt or implement the guideline recommendations if the foods are unavailable. For example, there are currently available insufficient fruits and vegetables necessary for every American to adopt the current fruit and vegetable recommendations. Including sustainability in the DGA targets this identified-need for enhanced access to a healthy food supply. The Academy has long supported the Departments' implementation of the National Academies recommendations to improve the DGA development process. As part of the ongoing process of implementation, we specifically highlight the National Academies' recommendation that Encouraging adoption of the DGA could be facilitated by including topics of importance to the general public through established methods[, such as] surveys. . . . To develop guidelines that people can follow, it will be important to turn the DGA recommendations into practical advice to help consumers make decisions in the marketplace.49 Indeed, such surveys have already been conducted, including one "by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research[ that] polled 800 Americans and found an interest in sustainability measures that cuts across partisan political lines. Nearly 83 percent of Democrats, 72 percent of Independents, and 64 percent of Republicans agree that the dietary guidelines should take into account environmental considerations as they relate to health, nutrition, and long-term healthy food availability."50> In total, "[n]early three-quarters of adults surveyed believe U.S. Dietary Guidelines should include environmental provisions and support sustainable agriculture practices."51 However, these recommendations need to be based on valid and rigorous scientific outcomes as expected for all recommendations from the DGAs. To implement the National Academies' recommendations, the role of sustainability must be considered for each of the relevant identified topics. 2. Departments' Existing Resources and Authority We recognize that the Departments have specified that, "The Committee will limit its review and advice to dietary guidance for human nutrition on the topics and scientific questions specified by the Departments."52 Pursuant to its charter, the DGAC "will provide its advice and recommendations to the USDA Under Secretaries of Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS) and Research, Education, and Economics (REE) and HHS Assistant Secretary for Health."53 Dr. Scott Hutchins, the Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, oversees both USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) and NIFA, which have together compiled substantial research and drawn conclusions regarding the association of sustainability, climate change, food, and nutrition. Given the importance Dr. Hutchins' own agencies ascribe to sustainability's connection to human nutrition and food, we presume it will incorporate these findings into the 2020-2025 DGAs irrespective of its decision not to "seek[] advice to be examined by the Committee."54 Even if a topic is addressed through existing evidence-based federal guidance or in ERS and NIFA studies but is not addressed by the Committee, we believe it must be included in the DGA if it can help guide individual consumers or institutional policies towards healthier diets or ensure federal policies align with relevant science. If key topics are omitted, there will be significant gaps in evidence-based federal guidance for food and nutrition. Therefore, the 2020-2025 DGA should encompass all of the federal government's evidence on sustainability and other dietary practices for optimal nutrition and food policies, "including new scientific evidence and current resource documents."55 3.Academy Stance The Academy is familiar with the growing body of evidence around the importance of sustainable practices in food and water systems, including the alarming amount of food wasted daily in the United States, which the ARS estimates per capita at 1,249 calories per day.56 Food wasted on a daily basis could provide substantial amounts of the recommended intake of nutrients identified as shortfall nutrients in the 2015-2020 DGAs, including iron for 66% of the population, calcium for 40% of the population, and fiber for 27% of the population.57 Registered dietitian nutritionists recognize the opportunity and responsibility, as food and nutrition professionals, to integrate the principles of sustainable, resilient, and healthy food and water systems into our respective practice areas as a means to secure, preserve, and strengthen these systems now and for the future. The Academy continues to develop and implement standards of professional performance for practitioners in the area of sustainable, resilient, and healthy food and water systems to ensure that we can better serve our clients and communities now and in the future.58 A growing body of literature raises important questions about our collective ability to meet human nutritional needs given the finite natural resource available to us. One of many such reports is the EAT/Lancet Commission, which recommends that dietary patterns should be viewed not only on the basis of their ability to promote health outcomes, but also on the basis of their ability to mitigate environmental externalities and their alignment with global agendas such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.59 The Academy encourages the Departments to review several scientific questions for the proposed sustainability topic, recognizing the questions are also relevant to food insecurity and other cross-cutting issues: What is our nation's capacity to supply, consistently and equitably across regions, the foods recommended by the proposed dietary pattern(s)? If that supply is insufficient or inequitably distributed, what (if any) shifts in agricultural production (i.e., what is produced and how) and policy would be needed to ensure sufficient supply of the recommended foods or food groups? For example, the DGAs generally recommend increased consumption of seafood and fruits & vegetables (above the current levels of typical consumption), but the US seafood supply only provides enough seafood to meet about half of this demand, and only 55% of the global population lives in countries where fruit and vegetable availability surpasses minimum targets for consumption.60,62 This underscores the need to take into account the natural resource constraints that may undermine our ability to meet dietary recommendations now and in the future. Do the proposed shifts in consumption patterns to address environmental sustainability meet the nutritional needs of Americans? This includes the composition of amino acids and fatty acids, as well as the quantity and bioavailability of micronutrients to support optimal nutritional status. Are U.S. households of varying income levels able to afford the proposed dietary patterns, and what is the likelihood of long-term adherence to the proposed dietary pattern(s) in light of potential economic barrier? In addition, the DGAC should assess what, if any, geographic or demographic disparities exist in households' ability to afford adherence to such a pattern. If financial or geographic access to and intake of such foods is inequitable, what evidence-based programs and policies (e.g., based on experiences and experiments at the local, state and regional levels) could be tested or scaled nationally to reduce such disparities and bolster implementation of and adherence to the Guidelines? Evaluate the estimated economic impact (e.g., on our agricultural economy) and ecological impact of collective adherence to the Guidelines and of any shifts in production needed to better support the proposed dietary pattern(s). B. Dissemination and Implementation Resources The National Academies estimates that "less than 10% of Americans actually follow the Guidelines."62 Despite the strength of the recommendations and the evidence underlying them, the Guidelines cannot meet their promise without substantially more widespread and effective implementation and dissemination. We agree with the National Academies that, "The transfer of knowledge from science-based recommendations into actionable guidance that may be adopted by the general public can be challenging. An intentional effort to do so is warranted and should be guided by models that deploy proven processes."63 As noted above, we seek clarification whether the DGAC and/or the Departments will utilize a systematic and transparent process for translating evidence to guidelines. In addition, the Departments should engage a broad group of stakeholders to help translate the guidelines into action and implementation in an effective way. Implementation science is relatively new but shows significant promise in its value, and thus we encourage the DGAC to give considerable consideration to improving strategies for implementation of the Guidelines in the 2020-2025 iteration. In addition, we seek ongoing updates on the DGAC's plans for dissemination. Effective implementation likely includes tailoring of the implementation strategies to the contextual needs of a particular change effort. The Academy encourages the DGAC to assess the ability of various subgroups of the population to effectively implement the Guidelines in their own lives, including those with chronic illness, struggles with hunger and food insecurity, and other impediments. Effective implementation of the DGAs require that the Guidelines themselves recognize the functional reality that health inequities, existing chronic health conditions, and the socio-economic status and environmental conditions of many Americans greatly limits their opportunities to incorporate the DGAs into their lifestyle. The Academy welcomes a scientific review of strategies to help best facilitate the adoption or selection of healthy dietary patterns among Americans. We encourage the DGAC to review the extent to which successful implementation of dietary recommendations depends upon how referenced dietary patterns are interpreted by various subpopulations and the referenced diets or eating styles those subpopulations adopt. Finally, we recognize the increasing interest in personalized and individualized nutrition and the growing body of research in this field. Although the prospects are presently limited, we are excited at the future potential for guidelines that could apply to the general public as the law requires, taking into account genetic, epigenetic, cultural, and other differences. We urge the Departments and the DGAC to consider what tools are offered to support acceptance and adoption of the Guidelines. For example, USDA discontinued Supertracker in 2018 without replacement with the explanation that was too much overlap with existing private resources (e.g., websites and mobile apps available for tracking food, activity and weight). However, not only are these private resources not available at non-charge (as Supertracker was, thereby creating inequity for individuals with low socio-economic status), they do not necessarily meet disability accessibility guidelines, and there is no assurance whatsoever they are either accurate or work to reinforce the DGA messages. C. Timing Pursuant to the charter filed October 5, 2018, "The Committee is established to accomplish a single, time-limited task. It is expected that the Committee will complete the objectives for which it was established within two years from the date this charter is filed." We strongly urge the DGAC to utilize the entire two years for which it is authorized to conduct evidence reviews, analyze the results, consider its recommendations, and draft its scientific report. The DGAC has been tasked this iteration with drafting not just the scientific report similar to that which previous DGACs drafted, but in addition, has been tasked with drafting a wholly new scientific report for a new population: children from birth to 24 months. Given this additional work and the overall importance of the DGA development process, we see no reason to sacrifice quality for expediency; there is no reason why the DGAC needs to complete its work to meet an arbitrary and artificial deadline and should instead complete its work accordance with the charter in October 2020. The Academy appreciates the opportunity to comment on the evidence analysis process and other issues of concern for the DGAC. We are happy to discuss these recommendations in greater detail in the near future. Please contact either Alison Steiber at 202-775-8277 ext. 4860 or by email at asteiber@eatright.org or Pepin Tuma at 202-775-8277 ext. 6001 or by email at ptuma@eatright.org with any questions or requests for additional information. Alison Steiber, PhD, RDN Pepin Andrew Tuma, Esq. Sr Director, Government & Regulatory Affairs Members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Collaborative on the DGAs Catherine Champagne, PhD, MS, RDN, LDN, FADA, FAND Louisiana State University Pennington Biomedical Research Center Alana Cline, PhD, RD University of Northern Colorado (retired) Patricia Davidson, DCN, RDN, CDE, LDN, FAND Sharon Groh-Wargo, PhD, RD, LD Deanna M. Hoelscher, PhD, RDN, LD, CNS, FISBNPA University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health in Austin Teresa A. Marshall, PhD, RDN University of Iowa College of Dentistry Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, PhD, RD, LD Arizona State University College of Health Solutions Hollie Raynor, PhD, RD, LDN University of Tennessee Knoxville Diane L. Rigassio-Radler, PhD, RDN< Kim Robien, PhD, RD, FAND Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University Joanne L. Slavin, PhD, RD< Marie Spiker, PhD, MSPH, RDN Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems Fellow, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Mary Story, PhD, RD Duke Global Health Institute Christopher A. Taylor, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND (Chairman) Brie Turner-McGrievy, PhD, MS, RD, FTOS University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health 1 United States Department of Agriculture. Charter for the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, Section 4 p.2. Available at https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2019 2 Ibid., Section 3, p.1. 3 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition, Introduction at p.6. December 2015. Available at https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/. Accessed July 6, 2019. 5 Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Ogden CL. Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity among adults aged 20 and over. National Center for Health Statistics. 2016 July. Available athttps://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_adult_13_14/obesity_adult_13_14.htm. Accessed July 10, 2019. 6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A Snapshot: Diabetes in the United States. 2017 November. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/socialMedia/infographics.html. Accessed July 10, 2019. 7 Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/ PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017 Nov 7. pii: S0735-1097(17)41519-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.11.006. 8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cancers Associated with Overweight and Obesity Make up 40 percent of Cancers Diagnosed in the United States. 2017 October. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1003-vs-cancer-obesity.html. Accessed July 10, 2019. 9 Buttorff C. Multiple Chronic Conditions in the United States. 2017. Available at http://www.fightchronicdisease.org/sites/default/files/TL221_final.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2019. 10 See, e.g., Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2010). The Foundations of Lifelong Health Are Built in Early Childhood. Available at http://www.developingchild.harvard.edu. Accessed July 10, 2019. 11 Mcmillen IC, Adam CL, Mühlhäusler BS. Early origins of obesity: programming the appetite regulatory system. J Physiol (Lond). 2005;565(Pt 1):9-17. 12 Borja JB. The impact of early nutrition on health: key findings from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS). Malays J Nutr. 2013;19(1):1-8. 13 Secretary of Health and Human Services. Charter: 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Washington, DC: 2013, section 3, p.1. Available at https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dgac2015-charter-final.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2019. (Emphasis added.) 14 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition, Introduction at p.5. December 2015. Available at https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/. Accessed July 6, 2019. (Emphasis added.) 15 Myers EF, Khoo CS, Murphy W, Steiber A, Agarwal S. A critical assessment of research needs identified by the dietary guidelines committees from 1980 to 2010. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013;113(7):957-971.e1. 16 Vaccaro JA, Huffman FG. Sex and Race/Ethnic Disparities in Food Security and Chronic Diseases in U.S. Older Adults. Gerontol Geriatr Med. 2017;3:2333721417718344. Published 2017 Jun 30. doi:10.1177/2333721417718344 ("Although the national average of household food insecurity is 14%, it is 22.4% for Hispanic households and 26% for African American households as compared with 11% for White non-Hispanics." (Internal citations omitted.)). 17 Liang Wang, Jodi Southerland, Kesheng Wang, et al., "Ethnic Differences in Risk Factors for Obesity among Adults in California, the United States," Journal of Obesity, vol. 2017, Article ID 2427483, 10 pages, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2427483. 18 NEW Soul. Nutritious Eating with Soul Study. Available at https://www.newsould.org. Accessed July 30, 2019. 19 Ritchie, L. D., Woodward‐Lopez, G., Au, L. E., Loria, C. M., Collie‐Akers, V., Wilson, D. K., Frongillo, E. A.,Strauss, W. J., Landgraf, A. J., Nagaraja, J., Sagatov, R. D. F., Nicastro, H. L., Nebeling, L. C., Webb, K. L., and on behalf of the Healthy Communities Study Team ( 2018) Associations of community programs and policies with children's dietary intakes: the Healthy Communities Study. Pediatric Obesity, 13: 14– 26. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12440. 20 NASEM 2 at 43. 21 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Redesigning the process for establishing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: https://doi.org/10.17226/24883 (NASEM 2) at 129. 22 National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-445 - Oct. 22, 1990). 23 NASEM 2 at 129. 25 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition, Message from the Secretaries at vii. December 2015. Available at https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/. Accessed July 6, 2019. 26 Wood-Wright, Natalie. "New U.S. dietary guidelines ignore broad support for food sustainability." Hub, Johns Hopkins University, Mar 11, 2016, https://hub.jhu.edu/2016/03/11/dietary-guidelines-sustainability-survey/. 27 Cutberto Garza, Patrick J Stover, Sarah D Ohlhorst, Martha S Field, Robert Steinbrook, Sylvia Rowe, Catherine Woteki, Eric Campbell, Best practices in nutrition science to earn and keep the public's trust, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 109, Issue 1, January 2019, Pages 225–243, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqy337. 28 Polman, J. L., Newman, A., Saul, E. W. & Farrar, C. (2014). Adapting practices of science journalism to foster science literacy. Science Education, 98(5), 766-791. doi: 10.1002/sce.21114 P. 10 30 See, e.g., Rothman RL, Housam R, Weiss H, et al. Patient understanding of food labels: the role of literacy and numeracy. Am J Prev Med. 2006;31(5):391-8. See also, Speirs KE, Messina LA, Munger AL, Grutzmacher SK. Health literacy and nutrition behaviors among low-income adults. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2012;23(3):1082-91. 31 Thomas H, Azevedo Perry E, Slack J, et al. Complexities in Conceptualizing and Measuring Food Literacy. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2019;119(4):563-573 (internal citations omitted). 32 Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC Report). Part D. Chapter 3, Page 25. Dietary Guidelines website. Released February 23, 2015. Accessed July 8, 2019. 33 Nutrition Evidence Library. "A Series of Systematic Reviews on the Relationship Between Dietary Patterns and Health Outcomes." United States Department of Agriculture. 2014. Accessed April 28, 2015. Nutrition Evidence Library. "2015 DGAC Dietary Patterns NEL Systematic Reviews" United States Department of Agriculture. 2015. Accessed April 28, 2015. 34 Raiten, Daniel J. "Nutrition as a Biological Variable (NABV): Integrating Nutrition into Basic and Clinical Research and Care; A Conceptual Framework." Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 2017, http://ilsi.eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/04/Dr-Daniel-Raiten.pdf. 35 Ibid 37 Proctor, R. N. (2012). The history of the discovery of the cigarette–lung cancer link: evidentiary traditions, corporate denial, global toll. Tobacco control, 21(2), 87-91. 38 Archer, E., Hand, G. A., & Blair, S. N. (2013). Validity of US nutritional surveillance: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey caloric energy intake data, 1971–2010. PloS one, 8(10), e76632. Compare to Healthy People 2020. PA-2. Increase the proportion of adults who meet current federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic physical activity and for muscle-strengthening activity. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; [cited 2014]. Available from: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/physical-activity/objectives. 39 Jepsen P, Johnsen SP, Gillman MW, Sørensen HT. Interpretation of observational studies. Heart. 2004;90(8):956-960. doi:10.1136/hrt.2003.017269. 40 Connie M Weaver, Joshua W Miller, Challenges in conducting clinical nutrition research, Nutrition Reviews, Volume 75, Issue 7, July 2017, Pages 491–499, https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nux026 41 Hébert JR, Frongillo EA, Adams SA, et al. Perspective: Randomized Controlled Trials Are Not a Panacea for Diet-Related Research. Adv Nutr. 2016;7(3):423–432. Published 2016 May 16. doi:10.3945/an.115.011023 42 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans — Page vii 45 Obbagy, Julie. "Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review Presentation." Dietary Guidelines for Americans website, March 28, 2019. Accessed at https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/day-1-nutrition-evidence-systematic-review. 46 United States Department of Agriculture. Charter for the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, Section 3 p.1. Available at https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2019-03/DietaryGuidelinesAdvisoryCommitteeCharter-10-05-18.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2019. (Emphasis added.) 47 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Dietary Reference Intakes for sodium and potassium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: https://doi.org/10.17226/25353 52 United States Department of Agriculture. Charter for the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Available at https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2019-03/DietaryGuidelinesAdvisoryCommitteeCharter-10-05-18.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2019. 56 Buzby, Jean C., Hodan F. Wells, and Jeffrey Hyman. The Estimated Amount, Value, and Calories of Postharvest Food Losses at the Retail and Consumer Levels in the United States, EIB-121, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, February 2014. 57 Spiker ML, Hiza HAB, Siddiqi SM, Neff RA. Wasted Food, Wasted Nutrients: Nutrient Loss from Wasted Food in the United States and Comparison to Gaps in Dietary Intake. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2017;117(7):1031-1040.e22. 58 Tagtow A, Robien K, Bergquist E, et al. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Standards of professional performance for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (Competent, Proficient, and Expert) in Sustainable, Resilient, and Healthy Food and Water Systems. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114(3):475-488.e24. 59 Willett, W., Rockström, J., Loken, B., Springmann, M., et.al. 2019. Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems. EAT-Lancet EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31788-4. 60 C. Love, Dave & Fry, Jillian & C. Milli, Michael & Neff, Roni. (2015). Wasted seafood in the United States: Quantifying loss from production to consumption and moving toward solutions. Global Environmental Change. 35. 116-124. 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.08.013. 61 Mason-D'Croz, Daniel & R Bogard, Jessica & Sulser, Timothy & Cenacchi, Nicola & Dunston, Shahnila & Herrero, Mario & Wiebe, Keith. (2019). Gaps between fruit and vegetable production, demand, and recommended consumption at global and national levels: an integrated modelling study. 3. e318-e329. 10.1016/S2542-5196(19)30095-6. 62 NASEM 2 at ix. On the Pulse of Public Policy Regulatory Comments Dietetics in Action MNT Provider Quality and Coverage Research Reports and Studies Election and Nomination News From Our Leaders Philanthropy Digest Nutrition Trends Foodservice and Food Safety ANDPAC News and Updates State Matters EatRight Careers Organizational Units Academy Foundation ACEND and Accreditation CDR and Credentialing Food & Nutrition Magazine Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Meet Our Spokespeople Multimedia News Center DPGs & MIGs Donate to ANDPAC Donate to Foundation Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo™ © 2020 eatright.org. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, All Rights Reserved. Work at the Academy We use cookies to optimize and personalize your experience, provide relevant content and analyze online traffic. We also share information with our analytics and website partners, who may use it to inform decisions about current or future services. By clicking “agree,” you consent to use cookies if you continue to our website. You can manage your cookie settings by clicking the "cookie preferences" button. We use cookies to optimize and personalize your experience, provide relevant content and analyze online traffic. We also share information with our analytics and website partners, who may use it to inform decisions about current or future services. By clicking “Agree” below, you consent to use cookies if you continue to our website. You can customize your cookie preferences by using the settings next to "Analytical Cookies" and "Marketing Cookies." Click the "Save Preferences" button to save your customized settings. You can access and change your cookie preferences at any time by clicking "Data Protection Settings" icon in the lower left corner of our website. For more detailed information on the cookies we use, please visit the Academy's Privacy Policy. Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be displayed by changing your browser preferences.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5049
__label__wiki	0.644993	0.644993	Knowledge > Sci-tech > Total energy independence in the Alps terra-viva French engineer and inventor Fabrice André is whizzing up the Alpine road to his refuge on his latest invention: a tricycle that can climb upwards at more than 50 kilometres an hour and has 270 kilometres autonomy. “The technology is based on the slow discharge from one battery to another in order to achieve maximum autonomy. And you can always use the pedals,” he says with a smile. We meet Fabrice on his tricycle some 2,000 metres up high, above Alpe d’Huez, where he chose to settle down some ten years ago. “I wanted to build a place in the middle of nowhere and prove that I could be totally energy independent. That didn’t just mean electric autonomy but also for heating, for the garden, the vegetable plot and for transport,” he tells us. The refuge is an Aladin’s cave of ideas and energy tricks. The priorities are independence and comfort. The refuge is built with logs from trees that came down in a storm. “When it comes to insulation, a 20 centimetre-thick log is as good as 2 metres of glass wool. Then there’s compression. The more the building ages, the more water-proof it will become. It’s the weight that ensures it is water-proof,” says Fabrice. He shows us his new generation wind mill. “This is a vertical wind mill with variable geometry blades. See how it speeds up. As the wind picks up, it closes up. When the wind weakens, it opens up completely. It’s virtually indestructible because, on a very windy day, it will adapt and turn into a cylinder.” And when you produce energy, you also have to control energy emissions. Fabrice takes us for a walk around the pond next to his chalet. “The chalet is equipped with a phyto-purification bassin. You collect all the waste water from the building. It is re-oxygenised before being put back into nature. Here you can see the Canadian waterweed which is finishing off the job,” he tells us. Over on the north side of the chalet, there is a huge mirror. “This is a solar tracking system. It’s a mirror which reflects the sun onto the northern side of the building, which helps clear the snow by melting it rather than having to use a spade,” says Fabrice. And when there is neither sun nor wind, household waste can always come in handy. Fabrice’s boiler burns it all, even plastic, without causing any harm to the environment. It’s a special kind of boiler of course. “When the temperature exceeds 1,600 degrees, you can burn materials such as plastic and polystyrene, which can be particularly polluting,” says Fabrice. “It’s the high temperature which degrades the toxic molecules.” The season’s first guests haven’t arrived yet, and the living room table is a mayhem of inventions, especially so-called “free energy” specimens, including one made up of two glass balls. “The electric current travels through the air and ends up in these two balls,” Fabrice shows us. “So you have this exchange between the two generators. One is a transmitter, the other a receptor. The electrons between the two, which are all around us, are pumped into the system. Between the earth and infinity, there are certainly more resources than between our feet and the centre of the earth. We’re only aware of an infinite part of this. “Today, we’ve moved onto free energy, we’re no longer looking at renewables, but at procedures where human intelligence allows us to fulfil our needs on a small scale. For us, that’s two kilowatts, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you know how to balance out your charges and stock the energy you don’t need, that’s the perfect answer to our energy needs for the chalet,” says Fabrice, as he gets ready to welcome his first guests of the season. Find more information in our traveller’s diary Blog: Amps in the Alps Eco fashion, smart fashion New York, fashion and clichés Could jellyfish be the answer to fighting ocean pollution? Why hybrid 3D printer robots can offer a boost European manufacturing SpaceX just launched — and purposefully destroyed — a rocket for a key test Space Station crew greet New Year across multiple time zones Two iPhones or the privacy of billions: Why Apple vs. the FBI matters	cc/2020-05/en_head_0062.json.gz/line5050

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.