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Sweden/
Gothenburg & West Sweden
Fashionable Gothenburg may not be Sweden’s capital, but the country’s second-largest city outshines its big brother, Stockholm, in many respects. Abuzz with music, art and culture and with a chilled-out, cosmopolitan atmosphere, this makes a strong claim for the title of Sweden’s most likeable city. It’s also home to some world-class hotels, such as Upper House – a contemporary boutique in the heart of the city with Michelin-starred cuisine and a rooftop, glass-bottomed pool. With a relatively small population of half a million, Gothenburg punches above its weight culturally, with top museums, galleries and music venues; famous children of the city include musicians Jose Gonzalez and Little Dragon, and Oscar winner Alicia Vikander.
Away from the urban buzz, Sweden’s west coast is home to beautiful seaside villages like Fjallbacka, one-time holiday haunt of Ingrid Bergman and a charming base from which to explore the beautiful coastline, diving spots and islands of the surrounding coastline. The picturesque island of Kladesholmen is peppered with fishing huts, and while the industry is not as booming as it once was, its legacy lives on in an abundance of world-class seafood restaurants, the pick of them being Salt & Still, which is also Sweden’s original floating hotel. As with everything on Kladesholmen, herring is the star of the show, but there’s much more fresh seafood to enjoy besides.
The island of Tjorn has long been a haven for artists thanks to its stunning light and landscapes, and at nearby Skarhamn, you can pay a visit to the popular Nordic Watercolour Museum or embark on yachting trips. If you’re here in August, you can witness one of Sweden’s premier sailing competitions, the Tjorn Runt.
Other Regions in Sweden
Southern & Southeast Sweden
Stockholm & Central Sweden
Swedish Lapland
See all Itinerary Ideas in Gothenburg & West Sweden
See all Places to Stay in Gothenburg & West Sweden
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https://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/entertainment/article/Review-Ed-Sheeran-wins-again-with-new-terrain-14091324.php
Review: Ed Sheeran wins again with new terrain, new friends
Mark Kennedy, Ap Entertainment Writer
Updated 12:15 am EDT, Sunday, July 14, 2019
Ed Sheeran, "No. 6 Collaborations Project" (Atlantic)
If anything, Ed Sheeran's new album does two things. It lets him show off his tremendous range. And it lets him show off his impressive rolodex.
A stunning who's who of music's top stars — including Cardi B, Justin Bieber, Travis Scott, Khalid, Eminem and Bruno Mars — appear on "No. 6 Collaborations Project." The result is an understandably scattershot of styles — G-Funk, grime, trap, R&B, tropical hip-hop, ballads, hair metal — but what knits it together is an impossibly high level of songwriting and an undeniable joy.
Sheeran seems to revel in playing with Migos effects (Skrrt!), rap with Eminem, sing in front of a horn section and be on a track with Cardi B purring "Okurrr."
The title of the 15-track project is a nod to his 2011 "No. 5 Collaborations Project," which saw Sheeran team up with U.K. rappers. This time, he welcomes everyone from H.E.R. to Paulo Londra, an artist from Argentina. If listeners go on to explore some of the lesser-known collaborators — like the brilliant rapper Dave — then everyone wins.
Standouts include "Cross Me" with Chance the Rapper and PnB Rock, "Take Me Back to London" with Stormzy and "Beautiful People" with Khalid.
Despite all the collaborations, there are little touches that remind you it's a Sheeran album. He's still got that sad-sack, lovable misfit thing going on, despite earning acclaim and millions of bucks. Two songs — "Beautiful People" and "I Don't Care" with Bieber — have Sheeran at a party where he feels he doesn't belong. "I always feel like I'm nobody," he sings.
One thing that has changed is that marriage seems to agree with Sheeran. If in the past, he was creeping a little in an ex's DMs, the newly wed Sheeran has created an album awash with love messages to his wife. "I'm stickin' with my baby, for sure," he sings on "Cross Me." On "Put It All on Me," he admits: "Having my woman there is good for my soul." Missing home is a continual theme.
He does get frisky for someone not Mrs. Ed Sheeran on another fun track "South of the Border," a kind of U.S. cousin to his "Galway Girl." He and Camila Cabello celebrate a lass with "brown eyes, caramel thighs" who makes him cry out (OK, a little cringingly) "te amo, mami." Finally, Cardi B storms in to play up the double entendre of the title and announce: "I think that Ed got a lil' jungle fever."
A few of the guests elevate some songs — Stormzy and YEBBA, among them — but there are a few underwhelming tracks, including the Sheeran-Ella Mai union on "Put It All on Me" and the Bieber song.
For the last track, Sheeran, Mars and Chris Stapleton — just take a moment to wrap your head around that stunning trio — get into a Led Zeppelin groove with "BLOW," a head-banger awash in sexual imagery. "Pull my trigger/Let me blow your mind."
Too late. Our mind was blown a few tracks ago.
Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
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Education, Higher education, Arts & Culture, Society
Mark C. Taylor: Silos within silos within silos
In order to prepare students for the 21st century, institutions of higher education should be structured like webs, not like assembly lines, says the author of “Crisis on Campus.”
On April 26, 2009, The New York Times published “End of the University as We Know It”, an op-ed written by Mark C. Taylor, chair of the Department of Religion at Columbia University.
In the piece, Taylor called graduate education “the Detroit of higher learning...
“Most graduate programs in American universities produce a product for which there is no market … and develop skills for which there is diminishing demand ..., all at a rapidly rising cost,” wrote Taylor, who earned a doctorate in the study of religion from Harvard University and taught at Williams College from 1973 to 2007 before joining the faculty at Columbia.
The roots of this crisis, he wrote, can be found in the way modern universities were formed. Among his proposals to reform higher education were ending tenure, abolishing departments and restructuring curricula.
The op-ed “set off a firestorm,” Taylor said. “But there were no ideas in that op-ed piece that I hadn’t published 10 years earlier. ...There was something in the ether.”
He has since expanded his thoughts into the 2010 book, “Crisis on Campus: A Bold Plan for Reforming Our Colleges and Universities.”
Taylor was one of five speakers in a lecture series at Duke University called Re-Imagining the Academy. He spoke to Faith & Leadership about his book, how the study of religion serves as a microcosm of higher education, and what it means to be a student of students. The following is an edited transcript.
Q: What is the crisis in higher education as you see it?
I do not think we’re doing a good job preparing students for life and work in the 21st century. I think we’re frozen in the past in many, many instances. The model of the university that we now have comes out of [philosopher Immanuel] Kant.
That model is industrial -- one size fits all. What would it be like to create an educational institution structured like a web rather than an assembly line? That’s the way the world is, and that’s the way knowledge is and the modes of production and reproduction and the way knowledge is structured. The problem is that we have institutions that are basically very static in a world that’s very fluid.
Also, higher education as we now do it is financially unsustainable. In 2020, an education at an elite institution will cost $330,000. In 2035, if we keep to the current projection, it will be $788,000. You can’t sustain that. The level of student debt is escalating.
There are ethical issues here. It seems to me to be ethically questionable to have been training graduate students since 1970 for jobs that don’t exist. So why do universities do it? At least in part because institutions need cheap labor [in the form of] teaching assistants and research assistants.
Q: You wrote in your book that the study of religion can serve as a microcosm of what is happening with higher education. Explain what you meant by that.
There are multiple problems with higher education. It’s partly financial and economic. It’s partly institutional. It’s partly curricular. I made that comment in the context of the curricular.
On the curricular side of the issue, the problem as I see it is that, since the early 1970s, there has been an increasing proliferation of hyper-specialized subfields. The disciplines have become more and more specialized. As that has happened, they’ve become more and more fragmented.
The reasons for this are multiple, and they’re interconnected. One of the reasons is that in the early 1970s, jobs dried up in academia. As that happened, there was increasing pressure on faculty to publish [to differentiate themselves]. As they began to publish, they began to do more specialized work. That led to journals and book series and so forth, and that trickled over and down into the classroom.
That took place across the university. Within religion, the problem was compounded.
First of all, it’s important to understand departments of religion in nondenominational schools as they now exist. Those departments really only emerged in the 1960s. Prior to that, religion departments were either extensions of the chaplain’s office, which meant they were usually Protestant, or part of the philosophy department, which meant they were primarily Western. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, at least in part as a result of the Vietnam War, other cultures and traditions opened up and we began to have departments that included comparative work -- Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and so on. Islam came along later.
When I came to Columbia [in 2007], we had eight subfields. Those subfields would include Christian studies, Jewish studies, Buddhist studies and Hinduism. But it’s even more fine-grained than that. We have a very good program in Buddhist studies, but then we also have programs in Chinese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Korean Buddhism. So you have these silos within silos within silos. And before I came, those subfields were as independent as philosophy and chemistry.
[This is an example] of this fragmentation of the curriculum. I think we have a siloed institution and curriculum in a world that’s a network or a web. The challenge is to break down those roles, but it’s very difficult.
Q: You wrote that higher education was built on three pillars (the principle of autonomy, the mechanical logic of industrialism, and the distinction between usefulness and uselessness) and that framework continues today. What are the foundations that you think the university should rest on?
I think creativity involves bringing together what’s usually held apart, and I think the most interesting work and innovation is done at the margins and intersections.
So you have to create a structure -- an institutional structure, a curricular structure and a faculty structure -- that is flexible, that is adaptive and that encourages innovation and supports risks. The structure of the system we have now is counter to all that.
Q: What changes have you made during your time as chair of the Department of Religion at Columbia that fall in line with your vision of higher education?
What we’ve done at Columbia is not to get rid of work in particular traditions, but to try to create areas of inquiry. We call them zones of inquiry that cut across disciplines and across traditions. That can be done in a variety of fields.
I think that we also need to become more willing to consider the practical importance of what the arts and the humanities -- or anything -- do. It’s never been more important to study the liberal arts and humanities than in today’s globalized world, but you have to make your argument on practical grounds. The whole rationale for the arts and humanities since Kant has been that they’re not practical, they’re non-utilitarian, they’re knowledge for knowledge’s sake. You have to have a practical component.
Q: What other changes do you think should be made in higher education?
What I would do would be to abolish tenure and to impose mandatory retirement at 70, and I would move to seven-year renewable contracts with review in the sixth year. I would require all students and all faculty to participate in those reviews, and I would include in that review process not only people in that specific subfield but people working in related fields.
[This review process] would create incentive for change. You would create the possibility for review and accountability, which we don’t have now, and you would begin to create an institution that was more like an emergent network than a static structure.
Q: How does your vision of higher education influence how you teach?
Every course I teach, regardless of what it is, I require the students to read The New York Times every day. Why? Because I think that the materials that I teach are important not only for their own sake but insofar as they help us understand the world around us.
In a media lab I taught for many years, a term paper wasn’t the right fit for that course. What I asked them to do was to develop a critical analysis of the issues that we were considering in a multimedia format or whatever format it was, but it had to be a critical analysis and they had to learn to make arguments with images, with written text, with sound, with design, because those are going to be the media they work in. They’re not going to write scholarly monographs. They’re not going to write articles.
In other courses, they have to write the term paper. It’s important for people to learn how to write in a traditional way.
Q: In “Crisis on Campus,” you wrote that when you were at Williams you learned how to be a student of your students. What does it mean to be a student of students?
I taught an experimental course in 1992 called Imagologies: Media Philosophy with a professor from the University of Helsinki. [Ten students from Williams met weekly with 10 students from Helsinki via teleconference.] At the end of the course, students were required to write a paper that brought together theory and practice. The students rebelled. They said it made no sense to write a traditional paper for my course. I said, “You’re right, but this is as far as I’ve been able to get. I’ll work on it.”
I got together with one of my students and I said, “Alright, here’s what I want to do. The model will be a science course. I’ll teach a seminar and I’m going to have a lab and I want the students to learn A, B and C. I want you to figure out how to do it. I want you to write an electronic lab manual. I want you to teach the labs.” And I did that for many years.
A student who was in that course came to me and said, “Why don’t we webcast your classes?” I had never even heard of webcasting, but I started webcasting my classes. If I can conceptualize it, they can do it and they can tell me things I might do that I never knew were possible.
Many faculty are reluctant to enter into that kind of a relationship with students because of questions of authority. But for me the issue was, “I’ll teach you what I think you need to know and you teach me what you think I should know.” And to this day I hear from that student who did that original lab manual. He’s now the head of web operations for Telemundo.
Q: Why should teachers be a student of their students?
The world in which young people now live is so different from the world in which their teachers grew up. Any good teacher must try to meet students where they are in order to move them along. And the way that I’ve been able to know which way the wind is blowing is because I listen to the students.
I’ve written many, many books, but I firmly believe that in the long haul, my greater contribution will have been to the students I taught rather than the books that I’ve written.
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China eyes merger of metals giants Minmetals and China National Gold: Sources
By: Reuters |
Hong Kong | Published: July 18, 2017 1:13:17 PM
China is considering a merger between China Minmetals Corp, one of the country's largest miners and metals traders, and China National Gold Group, as Beijing pushes consolidation of its state-run firms, sources with knowledge of the matter said.
Three sources with knowledge of the discussions said the two state-owned firms have been in negotiations for months, though any agreement could still be some time away. (Reuters)
China is considering a merger between China Minmetals Corp, one of the country’s largest miners and metals traders, and China National Gold Group, as Beijing pushes consolidation of its state-run firms, sources with knowledge of the matter said. Three sources with knowledge of the discussions said the two state-owned firms have been in negotiations for months, though any agreement could still be some time away. The talks between two of China’s largest metals producers are part of Beijing’s broad efforts to shake up its indebted and inefficient state sector, streamline the number of companies and create globally competitive firms in sectors including power generation, shipping and metals. Minmetals, which controls Hong Kong-listed unit MMG , said it was not aware of any discussions over a tie-up and said it would publish any statement on its website. China National Gold – one of the top gold miners in a country that has become the world’s largest producer – declined to comment. The State Assets and Supervision Administration Commission (SASAC), which oversees the sector and favours an overall shake-up, did not respond to a request for comment. China Minmetals owns eight listed companies in China and Hong Kong, including Metallurgical Corporation of China which has a market capitalisation of around $15 billion, and MMG Ltd with a $3 billion market value.
The two listed units under China National Gold have a combined market value of around $5.8 billion.
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Sundance 2012: Magnolia Gets 'Compliance', '2 Days', 'Nobody Walks'
Magnolia Pictures went on a buying spree recently to wrap up the 2012 Sundance Film Festival this weekend. While the indie distributor, still owned by Mark Cuban, already picked up the horror anthology V/H/S and the doc Queen of Versailles, three more big acquisitions have rolled in very recently. Magnolia is picking up the controversial fast food abuse drama Compliance, written & directed by Craig Zobel, as well as Julie Delpy's new comedy 2 Days in New York, a sequel to her 2 Days in Paris, and Ry Russo-Young's drama Nobody Walks, starring Olivia Thirlby, John Krasinski and Rosemarie DeWitt. More info below!
I've seen all three of these films that they just picked up, and at least two of them are good films with some solid buzz (Nobody Walks, on the other hand, is mostly a dud). Compliance, in particular, is the one coming out of this fest with the kind of buzz that could push the film far in the indie distribution world. It's about the real-life incidents at fast food restaurants where a man posing as a police officer on the phone somehow talked various employees into detaining a young girl and doing heinous things to her. The film caused quite a stir and angered moviegoers who voiced their complaints at a Q&A after its premiere. However, others like Raffi of The Film Stage loved it, saying it's one of his favorites of the fest because of to how subversive it is.
"I'm super happy to come home to Magnolia for this film," said Compliance director Craig Zobel (via indieWire). "They consistently release movies I love, and are a pleasure to work with. They've been very supportive of me, and I can't wait to team up again. I'm psyched! Rock and roll!" Magnolia Pictures, and their genre label Magnet, tend to release films through the VOD platform with limited theatrical openings to follow. Early word is that 2 Days in New York, Nobody Walks, Compliance, V/H/S and maybe even Queen of Versailles will be released in 2012 in that way. We'll continue to keep you updated on the plans they set.
Find more posts: Indies, Movie News, Sundance 12
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Robert Romano: Warrantless Surveillance Exposed
CONSTITUTIONALITY QUESTIONED …
An unsealed April 26 court ruling from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court found that the administration of Barack Obama administration violated “the NSA’s minimization procedures involving queries of data acquired under Section 702 using U.S. person identifiers.”
“The full scope of non-compliant querying practices had not been previously disclosed,” the court ruled.
Under FISA, the court is supposed to determine whether the minimization procedures – those that are supposed to seal the identities of U.S. persons swept up in foreign surveillance – comply with Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.
An example of those rules falls under USSID 18, which govern the collection, retention and then dissemination of foreign intelligence gathered to and from U.S. persons.
Those rules are promulgated by the Attorney General under 50 USC 1801(h)(2), which provides that they include “procedures that require that nonpublicly available information, which is not foreign intelligence information, as defined in subsection (e)(1), shall not be disseminated in a manner that identifies any United States person, without such person’s consent, unless such person’s identity is necessary to understand foreign intelligence information or assess its importance.”
Under USSID 18, to have kept the communications would have required either sign off from the Attorney General if he or she believes that the “contents indicate a threat of death or seriously bodily harm to any person,” under Section 5.4.a. Or the Director of the National Security Agency, under 5.4.d., if he determines the communications contain “significant foreign intelligence” or “evidence of a crime or threat of death or seriously bodily harm to any person.”
For these U.S. persons to have been included in a report for dissemination could have only occurred if, under Section 7.2.c., the “appropriate approval authority” determined “[t]he identity of the U.S. person is necessary to understand foreign intelligence information or assess its importance” or “[t]he information is evidence that the individual may be involved in a crime that has been, is being, or is about to be committed, provided that the dissemination is for law enforcement purposes.”
What the FISA Court is saying in its April 26 ruling was that these bare minimal rules, which do not even require a warrant to unmask a U.S. person, were not being followed. Since all the agents must show is that the information is relevant to foreign intelligence matters, that is saying something. The only explanation is that in those cases, the searches had no bearing on foreign intelligence gathering.
According to reporting by Circa.com’s John Solomon and Sarah Carter, “More than 5 percent, or one out of every 20 searches seeking upstream Internet data on Americans inside the NSA’s so-called Section 702 database violated the safeguards Obama and his intelligence chiefs vowed to follow in 2011, according to one classified internal report reviewed by Circa.”
Circa could not ascertain how many such inappropriate searches had occurred, as the information was classified, but it does provide a window into how the FISA Court responds to these instances even when there are violations.
The federal government under Attorney General Jeff Sessions has since applied to the FISA Court to change those minimization rules on March 30, which the court granted. Two days later, on April 28, the National Security Agency issued a statement that it “will no longer collect certain internet communications that merely mention a foreign intelligence target.”
According to the court ruling, “Under the revised procedures, the government may acquire communications to which United States persons and persons within the United States are parties when such persons communicate with a Section 702 target.”
The court praised this move, stating, “The Court agrees that the removal of ‘abouts’ communications eliminates the types of communications presenting the Court the greatest level of constitutional and statutory concern.”
This appears to indicate American citizens who were merely mentioning the name of a foreign target were apparently being subjected to surveillance and potentially unmasked without warrants.
Information previously gathered on this basis will now be destroyed: “Revisions to the NSA Minimization Procedures now state that all Internet transactions acquired on or before [March 17] and existing in NSA’s institutionally managed repositories will be sequestered pending destruction such that ‘NSA personnel will not be able to access the[m] for analytical purposes.’ NSA will destroy such sequestered Internet transactions as soon as practicable through an accelerated age-off process.”
The new rules appear to be a sharp departure from previous practice, but do they go far enough to reform minimization abuses?
In assessing whether minimization procedures are constitution, the court applies the so-called reasonableness standard, that is, those exceptions to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement to perform a search. These typically include situations such as a police officer witnessing a crime in progress or conducting a search during the course of a lawful arrest. Nearly all of these exceptions all require some nexus to criminal activity in order to justify the search. Generally, if there is no crime, then no search can be justified.
The standard used by the FISA Court, however, does not consider any of that. Foreign intelligence gathering in itself is not focused on gathering information about crimes but about threats to national security or the workings of foreign powers.
Yet, the FISA Court still uses the same precedents and language from 4th Amendment Supreme Court cases to justify itself: “In assessing the reasonableness of a governmental intrusion under the Fourth Amendment, a court must ‘balance the interests at stake’ under the ‘totality of the circumstances.’ … Specifically, a court must ‘balance … the degree of the government’s intrusion on individual privacy’ against ‘the degree to which that intrusion furthers the government’s legitimate interest.’ … ‘The more important the government’s interest, the greater the intrusion that may be constitutionally tolerated.'”
These standards were established in various cases involving traffic stops and arrests in criminal contexts. For example, in Riley v. California (2014), where the Supreme Court ruled that the contents of a cellular phone could not be searched without a warrant even when a lawful arrest has occurred. Or Wyoming v. Houghton (1999), where the nation’s highest court ruled that the contents of a vehicle could be searched without a warrant if the police had reason to believe it had been used in the commission of a crime or contained contraband.
In every case, for a warrantless search to occur, some sort of criminality was needed, and even then, certain restrictions were applied to the extent the search was constitutional.
Not so in the FISA Court, we now know, where intelligence is gathered without regards to criminality. Which is why the disclosure of classified intelligence that includes U.S. person identifiers — so-called incidental collection as happened in the case of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn — is such a serious crime. So that mere contacts with foreign intelligence surveillance targets are not used to create the appearance of being a foreign agent or to create legal jeopardy.
All of this raises serious constitutional questions of how FISA has been applied on U.S. soil.
Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning urged Congress to slow down reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA in a statement, saying, “The implications of the Obama administration unmasking hundreds of targeted people unconstitutionally leads any reasonable person to wonder how precisely this illegally gained information was used. In light of the obvious abuse of power in the Mike Flynn case of leaking Flynn’s name to the press after being unmasked for political reasons, it becomes reasonable to assume that was the intent of these unmaskings all along, and calls into question the continuance of the entire program.”
When it comes to U.S. persons and persons on U.S. soil, the American people should consider whether they want the federal government conducting warrantless searches where no criminal activity is implicated, a constitutionally dubious standard.
If a criminality standard had been applied, Flynn’s conversation might not have ever been intercepted in the first place.
But even if that were a bridge too far for Congress — because recording every conversation by foreign ambassadors on U.S. soil is somehow deemed essential — Congress should consider the fact that the Attorney General can apparently, according to the FISA Court, just reinstitute “abouts” collection at his discretion.
As the court states, “This Opinion and Order does not question the propriety of acquiring ‘abouts’ communications and MCTs as approved by the Court since 2011, subject to the rigorous safeguards imposed on such acquisitions. The concerns raised in the current matters stem from NSA’s failure to adhere fully to those safeguards.”
In other words, unless Congress acts, these types of warrantless searches — where a person who says “Kisylak” or “Putin” on the phone might be intercepted and recorded and that person’s identity might be unmasked without a warrant even if no crime has been committed — could just be reinstituted later.
The Justice Department under Sessions is to be applauded for discontinuing this practice for the moment, but Congress should act to make certain these types of abuses never happen again.
The Church Committee was convened in 1975 to get to the bottom of revelations by Seymour Hersh’s explosive report to the New York Times on Dec. 22, 1974 that the CIA had been engaged a mass, domestic surveillance program against anti-war protestors, members of Congress and other political figures.
We are on the edge of the abyss of tyranny Sen. Frank Church (D-Idaho) warned about in 1975.
To the extent the American people presently look the other way in terms of foreign government officials being under constant surveillance on U.S. soil, even with warrants, they will not do so if they believe their own activities are under threat to come under scrutiny without warrants merely because they took an interest in foreign affairs.
Or if these powers are being used against political opponents, as apparently happened in the last year of the Obama administration, against the Trump campaign and then transition after the election.
If Congress is not currently telling itself, “Never again” — if it believes such political surveillance against the opposition party in an election year is somehow justified on the most dubious of grounds — then we’ve got a bigger problem that most people realize.
Robert Romano is the senior editor of Americans for Limited Government. His column, reprinted with permission, originally appeared on NetRightDaily.
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Baby Boomers Retiring – Selling Their Businesses
May 19, 2013 by South Florida Business Broker
“Roberta Bonoff, new owner of Creative Kidstuff, a toy store chain based in Minneapolis. Bonoff said the previous owner was tired and ready to sell. Baby boomers preparing for retirement are driving a surge in small business sales, as they find more and more buyers confident enough in the improving economy to expand their own businesses through acquisitions. In the first three months of this year, the number of sales that closed jumped 56 percent from the same time in 2012, according to BizBuySell.com, an online marketplace for small businesses. Retirement was the No. 1 contributor to business sales in the fourth quarter of last year and the first quarter of 2013, according to a survey by Pepperdine University and two trade groups, the International Business Brokers Association and M&A Source. “It was almost like a light switch went on in January,” says Michael Schuster, a broker with World Business Brokers in Miami. “We started getting a lot of activity with sellers who said, ‘I don’t want to go through another downturn or tough time. I want to see if I could sell my business.'” Sales are so strong in Florida that Schuster’s brokerage is opening two more offices in the state. Three-quarters of the sellers or potential sellers that his company sees are baby boomers, most of whom don’t have family members willing to take over their businesses. Some of these owners want to sell just part of their firms, essentially taking on a partner, because they don’t want to keep carrying all the risk themselves. Honey Rand fits the category. After 17 years of running her Tampa, Fla., public relations firm Environmental PR Group, she’s starting to think about selling. The 55-year-old wants to get away from the administrative work that goes into running a business, and focus on working with clients. “Like most people who end up starting a business, I’m really good at the work I do and I’d love the opportunity to wallow around in it,” says Rand. She’s optimistic that she’d be able to sell, because she was approached twice by prospective buyers in the last 10 years. And Rand expects that she would remain with the company for a period following a sale to help with the transition to new management — something that many business owners do.
While she hasn’t definitely decided to sell just yet, she plans to talk to a broker soon.
“I like to think ahead, to understand the process and the things that could affect a sale or sale price. When the time comes, or if it comes, I want to be ready. I don’t want to feel like it’s a fire sale,” she says. In California, the pace of sales is more of a “slow pickup, not a huge spike,” says Dave Richards, owner of Keystone Business Advisors, a brokerage in Westlake Village, Calif. “Baby boomers are where we’re really seeing the growth. It’s pent-up demand,” Richards says. One of those boomers is Walt Pocock. In late 2011, Pocock met with a broker to discuss possibly selling his Chino, Calif., business, Palo Verde Landscape Management Co. But he and his wife Dee, who also worked with the company, weren’t quite ready to let it go. However, selling became “something we were thinking about from then on,” Pocock said. Within a year, the 70-year-old decided he was ready to retire and Dee, 78, agreed. The difficult business climate was a factor in their decision. “The economy had not been good and it had been a struggle and we got tired of the struggle,” he said. The put the company on the market in January, and quickly had several bidders. Pocock got his full asking price, and the deal closed April 1. Now he and his wife are looking forward to traveling around the country in their motor home. Sellers like Pocock are going to keep the market for small businesses thriving for years to come. “Trillions of dollars of business value are going to change hands in the next 10 to 20 years,” says Bob Balaban, managing director at Headwaters MB, an investment bank based in Denver. He believes so-called ‘strategic acquisitions’ — purchases by companies looking to expand — will be a key factor in that trend. In a tight economy, companies looking to grow feel that it would take years to build up their businesses.
“They have to do acquisitions to continue to grow and grow quickly,” Balaban says.
Buyers appear to be ready to step up and are looking for companies that will be good fit with their existing operations. Health-care related businesses like medical billing firms, pharmacies and even medical and dental practices are particularly in demand, says Keystone’s Richards. He’s seeing less interest in restaurants and retailers, industries where profit margins are thinner and where many companies are still struggling. Schuster, the Miami broker, says he sees people who were waiting for the economy to pick up, and they’ve decided that business is good enough for them to take the plunge. “There’s a lot of people who were sitting the sidelines and could not do that anymore — the election’s over and things are getting better,” he says. Sellers are benefiting from this trend because buyers are willing to pay more money if a deal will quickly get them into the markets they want to serve, says Mike Carter, CEO of BizEquity, a company that helps businesses calculate their sales price. “For a growth company, we’re seeing them getting almost 15 percent more than what they were getting four years ago (during the recession),” he says. Creative Kidstuff, a toy retailer based in Minneapolis, just expanded by buying a 26-year-old online and catalog toy retailer, Sensational Beginnings. Roberta Bonoff, CEO of Creative Kidstuff, said the owner was tired and ready to sell. Bonoff declined to disclose the purchase price, but said “everybody walked away from the purchase with their needs met.” Both companies serve similar markets, but 87 percent of Creative Kidstuff’s revenue comes from its six traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Buying Sensational Beginnings will allow it to expand its online operations. “We just found this as an opportunity to grow our online business and theirs and have more people get to know who we are,” Bonoff says. She has her ear to the ground for more opportunities to expand. “When the opportunity looks like the right fit, we’ll do it,” she says. BCER, an engineering firm in Arvada, Colo., bought another engineering business, Rimrock Group, which specializes in designing technological systems for new buildings and renovations. The purchase allowed BCER to immediately expand into an area of expertise it didn’t have — and that would have taken it years to develop by putting a staff together one by one. “Growing things organically is very difficult,” says Marc Espinosa, president of BCER. “I had been discussing seriously for two years, how could we develop this specialty in our company?” Some buyers are looking to expand into a new geographic area. Jodi Hamilton now owns both of the Dream Dinners franchises in Chicago, giving her the entire territory for the stores where customers assemble ingredients for dinners that they can pack up and take home to cook. Hamilton opened a store two years ago in the city’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood, and hoped to expand at some point. Then earlier this year, the owner of a Dream Dinners in the Roscoe Village neighborhood approached Hamilton and asked if she wanted to buy her store. It took Hamilton only about a week to say yes. She nailed down a private loan, and closed the deal.
“It was too good an opportunity to pass up, knowing that we would have the entire Chicago market,” Hamilton says.”
Reprinted from Associated Press May 19, 2013
Filed Under: Retirees
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A Sure Way to Lose Money: Short Royal Bank (TSX:RY)
Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR): Has This Stock Seen its Peak?
The Motley Fool Canada » Dividend Stocks » If You Don’t Buy Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU) Today, You’ll Be Kicking Yourself Later
If You Don’t Buy Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU) Today, You’ll Be Kicking Yourself Later
Nelson Smith | October 24, 2018 | More on: SU SU
Canada’s energy sector has been making headlines lately, but for all the wrong reasons.
First, investors have to understand not all oil is the same. Light crude is ideal because it’s much easier to refine into gasoline and other related products. Heavier crude can also be refined, but the process is more expensive. Thus, it’s only natural heavier crude — like the stuff produced in the oil sands — would be priced lower. A spread between the two prices always exists.
These days that spread is higher than ever. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) trades at approximately $68 per barrel after a bit of a sell-off. Western Canadian Select (WCS) trades at just $18 per barrel. The $50 per barrel gap is a huge spread. Just five months ago, the spread was as low as $10/barrel.
The huge gap can be attributed to a couple of factors. There are two big refineries offline that normally process a lot of the production coming from Northern Alberta. These facilities should be back to full capacity in a few months. Second, investors are punishing the Canadian government for delays in expanding its recently-acquired TransMountain pipeline system. Even if everything goes well, it might take a decade for the planned expansion to be built.
Naturally, the largest heavy oil producerf, Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU), has taken this news squarely on the chin. Shares are down 14% over the last three months after hitting a 52-week high. It’s obvious that the market is expecting short-term results to be weak.
Investors should take advantage of this weakness and add shares to their portfolio. I’m confident that a long-term investment in Suncor should work out handsomely. Here’s why.
WCS recovery
Suncor is in a great position to benefit when WCS prices recover.
The same pattern happens all the time, especially in commodity companies. Nobody is developing much of anything in the region. And who can blame them? It’s going to take a big improvement in WCS prices before anyone even thinks of adding production capability. But remember, it takes years for oil sands projects to get off the ground, which means that companies like Suncor will get to enjoy the benefits once prices recover.
A solid balance sheet
Suncor has gone on a bit of a buying spree over the last few years, further consolidating its dominant position in the oilsands.
It has done so while keeping its balance sheet rock solid. The company has just over $16 billion worth of net debt versus more than $45 billion worth of shareholder’s equity. That’s a debt-to-equity ratio of just 28%. It also easily earns enough to cover the interest payments as well as the dividend.
One of the things I really like about Suncor is the company’s diverse operations. Sure, it’s still tied to the oil sands. But it owns plenty of other assets that churn out predictable profits.
Through the first six months of 2018, Suncor generated approximately $5 billion in funds from operations. $1.8 billion — or nearly 40% — of that was earned by the refining and marketing division, which includes Suncor’s four refineries and its 1,500 Petro Canada locations.
Giving back to shareholders
Suncor has consistently raised its dividend over the years, including an increase every year since 2010. Yes, Suncor even managed to increase its dividend during the 2015 oil rout, a vicious bear market that saw most of its competitors cut or eliminate their payouts. Shares currently yield 3%.
The company is also rewarding shareholders by repurchasing its stock. Suncor bought back some 20.86 million shares through the first six months of 2018, spending nearly $1 billion on buybacks. Once you add in the dividends, Suncor is on pace to give back $4 billion to shareholders in 2018.
You don’t become one of the largest oil producers in the world by accident. Suncor’s management are disciplined capital allocators in charge of a company that’s well positioned to weather this current storm. The spread between WCS and WTI will indeed return to normal. When it does, investors who don’t buy now will be lamenting the missed opportunity.
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Fool contributor Nelson Smith has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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Tag Archives: protest
The Protester’s Imperative
April 11, 2008 david (b) hayesburma, china, dalai lama, darfur, protest, tibet
prakhar
Be heard, provoke consideration, but never–never–be perceived as impetuous. The second the public at large sees you are a bigger problem than the problem you’re protesting about, you’ve lost.
These thoughts of mine were provoked in no small part because of the amount of coverage that recent protests along the path of the Olympic torch relay have provoked. Thus far, I’d say that protesters have done an admirable job of making their concerns heard without becoming the story, but they’re treading perilously close to that line.
Obviously, it can be hard to judge when you’ll become seen as a pest and not earnest citizens with a legitimate grievance. There are some people who see even the most minor protest as too big a bother and will, consequently, do their best to handicap the cause for which the protesters demonstrate.
It’s hard to judge exactly what’s accepted by the majority of people and what’s not. Surely, to the average American, “terrorism” is not a legitimate form of protest. If there’s one lesson from the late sixties and the early seventies, it’s that violent protest doesn’t work. Fights scare off the luke-warm and the merely curious, armed clashes and explosive used against Americans will mean you’ve completely lost the public argument.
Surely in some cases and in some circles, by some people, terrorism is considered acceptable. Al Quaeda is not completely without supporters who see their action as a justified means of protest and self-defense. Surely the violence of the IRA was accepted in at least some of the Catholic areas of Northern Ireland. So to was the terrorism of John Brown accepted, even fêted in some parts of America before the civil war.
Without a doubt, audience matters. Protesters who violate the sensibilities of their intended audience do a great disservice to their cause by acting dishonorably. Almost without question, black empowerment became less popular in America when the protests organized by Martin Luther King, Jr. gave way the militancy and violence of Black Panthers and other groups. By showing that their hand included guns and a openness to “any means necessary,” they scared off many luke-warm supporters. The militancy of those and other 1970s protesters is widely recognized as the cause for the conservative resurgence of the last quarter of the twentieth century.
Surely it’s no minor tragedy that China has a history of intransigence on the crisis in Darfur. Surely it’s no minor tragedy that China still refuses to acknowledge the role of the Dalai Lama as the representative of the Tibetan people. Surely it’s no minor tragedy that the Chinese have been one of the most crucial supporters of the military junta controlling Burma.
But it’s not out of the question that outrage about beligerent protesters could overwhelm people’s outrage about such tragedies. And if the continued irritation of extinguishers of the Olympic flame becomes the story rather than the tragedies for which they seek attention, I think that would be the biggest tragedy of all.
iPhones, etc.
June 28, 2007 david (b) hayesfiction, idealism, iPhone, materialism, protest 3 Comments
“Hello,” I say to the 21 year old stranger waiting in line.
“Hello,” says the stranger.
“What’s the game?” I ask.
“To make manifest the insane desires of materialism run amuck,” he says.
“You don’t want the phone?” I ask.
“No,” he says, “this is a protest.”
“Oh really?” I ask.
“Indeed,” he says.
“Can I have the phone?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says, asking 1000 dollars.
“That’s preposterous,” I say.
“That’s the game,” he says.
“Wasn’t it a protest?” I ask.
“You’re a protest,” says the 21 year old idealist.
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Merideth Langdale
“I am a visual artist, educator and explorer of sustainable art practices. My recent work explores Eco dyed techniques. Each silk scarf has a unique marking from gathered Eucalyptus leaves heated and soaked in rusty water. Yes, the latter sounds strange but it's properties bring out colour and contrast that the Australian landscape offers - a beauty rich in flora and fauna.”
Between 1998 and 2000, Merideth studied art in Australia and the United States of America. She taught painting at Waverley-Woollahra Art School and Cooperative, Sydney as well as painting and ceramics at both the Artisian Art and Craft Shop and Studio and Whichcraft Studio, Canberra. In 1996, she was commissioned to paint the interior of Cafe Della Piazza restaurant, Canberra. From 2004 to 2006, Merideth studied life drawing and painting through the Visual Arts Access Program, Centre for Continuing Education. In 2006 and 2007, she also studied fabric and paper conservation at the Canberra Institute of Technology. While she's works predominantly in abstract expressionist painting, recently Merideth has moved into the discipline of textile and fibre art. In 2017, she commenced a Bachelor of Visual Arts at the ANU School of Art and Design.
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Dynasty Warriors 7 DLC detailed and new Online Gameplay Video Revealed
By Alex Smith on Tue, 02/22/2011 - 06:12
Dynasty Warriors 7 producer Akihiro Suzuki has revealed some new and important information about the game. In a meeting Akihiro announced that DW7 fans in Japan will be able to download costumes from previous Dynasty Warriors games in the series (last three i.e DW4, DW5 and DW 6) that too free of cost.
At present the DLC is has been announced for Japan only, no words were given out whether the DLC will be available for US and European gamers.
At the meeting some online gameplay footage of the Dynasty Warriors 7 was also shown, you can watch it below:
Dynasty Warriors 7 is slated to release in Japan on March 10, in North America on March 22, and on April 1 in Europe for PS3 and Xbox 360.
dynasty warriors dlc
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The Career Of Heath Ledger - In His Own Words
By Total Film 2009-01-22T08:00:00.21Z Feature
The late actor's own opinion on his seminal movies
A Knights Tale
"I never felt the weight of a leading man and the weight that I was carrying the movie because I had a great ensemble cast with me the whole time," Ledger recalled. "So, the only weight that I felt was when I saw my mug on the poster, THAT was just slightly intimidating."
Prev Page 1 of 5 Next Prev Page 1 of 5 Next
Monsters Ball
"It keeps you alive doing smaller movies and smaller roles. There's less pressure. It's fun to be able to just walk in and walk out and not have the pressures of creating this huge arch for the character to carry a movie. You can just go in there and pretty much do what the f**k you want."
"It was one of the most beautiful scripts I've ever read. So a combination of those two things and also the character of Ennis del Mar. I'd never come across such a complex, lonely figure and I felt it was going to be an opportunity to mature as a person and mature as an actor and that's always exciting.”
Im Not There
“I feel like I’m wasting time if I repeat myself. I feel the same way about everything I do. The day I say, ‘It’s good’ is the day I should start doing something else.”
“I don't know if I was fearless, but I certainly had to put on a brave face and believe that I have something up my sleeve and something that was different.”
Dragon Quest Builders 2: "A beautiful mashup of iconic games with a quirky sense of humour"
The Lion King review: "Live-action remake is an astonishing spectacle that closely follows the original"
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Shailene Woodleys Mary Jane may not be in Amazing Spider-Man 3
By Matt Looker 2014-01-21T18:31:00.2Z News
Actress has other commitments
It looks like Shailene Woodley’s hopes of ever playing Mary Jane may be dashed, as the actress says her commitments to the Divergent sequels may prevent her from appearing in any forthcoming Spider-Man movies.
The Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb cast Woodley as Mary Jane, who was set to appear in the forthcoming The Amazing Spider-Man 2 , but the role was dropped when Sony decided to extend the future of the Spidey movies.
Webb in turn decided that MJ should be introduced at a later stage. Woodley then moved on to sci-fi book adaptation Divergent .
Now, speaking to MTV about the probability of playing MJ in The Amazing Spider-Man 3 , Woodley said: “I don’t know anything, but seeing as how they picked up the next two Divergent films, I don’t know how I would keep my sanity with two big action films in one year. But anything can happen.”
With such a busy work schedule and Sony planning a whole roster of Spider-Man films over the coming years, it seems possible that Webb may end up having to recast the Mary Jane role.
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Remembering Musician Bob Dorough’s ‘Schoolhouse Rock!’ Legacy
By Stoogeypedia | April 30th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Multi-faceted and talented musician and composer Bob Dorough passed away last week. The 94-year-old is best remembered for his southern fried twangy voice on those superbly memorably catchy three-minute Schoolhouse Rock! songs, which taught generations how to do Math, English, Science, and History correctly with a verve and moxie that not only permeates throughout the songs, but also to this very day.
For many who were kids in the early 1970s, Schoolhouse Rock! was unlike any other program before or since. It became a Saturday Morning Television staple for over two decades. In terms of its look, the design, flavor, and direction, which was mired in a kind of urban meets suburban feel, the cartoon was pioneering alone. But it was the music that really sent it over the top, making it the now legendary and seminal program in the history of the medium educating children that Schoolhouse Rock! remains.
Topics: Features, Music, Obit, Television
Tags: Bob Dorough, Schoolhouse Rock
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Trawler exhibition hauls in the crowds
A special photographic exhibition featuring a Peterhead trawler has already proved a hit with visitors.
The exhibition, by commercial photographer Gareth Easton, details a fishing trip aboard the Blue Toon trawler Budding Rose, skippered by Peter Bruce.
Gareth spent a week aboard the vessel earlier this year and captured their exploits on camera. The result is now on display at the exhibition, which opened at the port heritage centre on Saturday, October 8.
Gareth said he originally had a commission from SeaFish to do photography of the industry from sea to packing.
He added: “I had been to Peterhead two or three times and got to know Peter Bruce, owner of The Budding Rose.
“We went out in July for eight days and I was really overwhelmed by it.
“We had a really good week but it was a very challenging climate in which to photograph,” he said.
“The exhibition is a document of the guys working on the boat and it’s going to feature on the main wall. There are around 45 images in total and entry is by donation which will be in aid of the Peterhead and District Fishermen’s Benevolent Fund.”
Prior to the Saturday a special pre-opening event was held at the heritage centre for invited guests.
Luckily the crew of the Budding Rose made it home in time for the event, while also in attendance was local MSP Peter Chapman.
Although from a farming background, Mr Chapman said he appreciated the hard work that went in to catching fish.
“These photographs show a snapshot of what like is life aboard a trawler and will be fascinating to many people.
“I think it’s an excellent exhibition and Gareth has done a great job,” he said.
Fyvie Castle to play host to The Jersey Notes
The exhibition runs for the next two weeks and all are welcome to head along.
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Home » CISPA Faces Uphill Battle
CISPA Faces Uphill Battle
By Kate M. Growley, CIPP/G, CIPP/US on May 9, 2012
Posted in Cybersecurity
Proponents of the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (more commonly known as CISPA) won a small battle last month when the House of Representatives passed the proposed bill by a vote of 248 to 168, with 42 yays from Democrats. Yet the war for comprehensive cybersecurity legislation is far from over, as CISPA’s next campaign – the Senate – is expected to be a tougher fight. Even if it were to prevail there, the White House has stated that it would likely veto the bill.
Still, CISPA supporters believe that last-minute amendments may persuade some opponents into reconsidering their positions. According to an Office of Management and Budget statement made prior to the vote, the Obama Administration’s primary concerns were that CISPA did not go far enough to protect critical infrastructure; that it repealed portions of electronic surveillance law without implementing counterbalancing privacy protections; and that it granted too much shelter to the private sector from cyber liability. Representatives Rogers (R-MI) and Ruppersberger (D-MD), the bill’s co-sponsors, have since responded that regulating critical infrastructure is beyond the purview of the House Intelligence Committee – from whence the bill came – and that the now-approved changes to the bill narrow the government’s ability to retain and then use shared data. The amendments have yet to scale back liability exemptions, provisions that remain popular with industry. The White House has yet to comment on the revised bill.
In its current form, CISPA has won the support of Internet and technology companies such as Facebook and Symantec. Notably, though, some companies have jumped ship and now oppose the legislation. Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, also remain unconvinced. Cyber activist group Anonymous has been particularly vociferous in its opposition, calling for a series of protests and "swift messages" against industry supporters.
CISPA is not the only cybersecurity bill to face growing scrutiny. Members of the House and the Senate have offered at least nine other cybersecurity bills, including separate proposals from Senators Liberman (I-CT) and McCain (R-AZ). As with CISPA, some critics believe Congress has yet to advance legislation comprehensive enough to cure the country’s growing cyber vulnerabilities while protecting the citizenr’s civil liberties – a familiar quandary in post-9/11 America.
Tags: CISPA, cyber intelligence sharing and protection act, Cybersecurity, data, privacy, protection
Kate M. Growley is a counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Crowell & Moring, where she is a member of the firm’s Privacy & Cybersecurity, Government Contracts, and Litigation groups. Her practice covers a wide range of counseling and litigation engagements, including cybersecurity compliance reviews, risk assessments, incident response, law enforcement cooperation, regulatory investigations, data breach class actions, trade secrets litigation, and health care disputes.
Kate is a Certified Information Privacy Professional for both the U.S. private and government sectors (CIPP/US, CIPP/G) and has been named a “Rising Star” by both Law360 (2018) and the American Bar Association’s Science & Technology Section (2016).
Read more about Kate M. Growley, CIPP/G, CIPP/US
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OOPS 2018 Preview: Contractors and Cybersecurity
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Grosse Pointe High School Class of 1968
Our 50th Class Reunion
REUNION PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE!
Click here for photos from the party at Atwater Brewing
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM THE REUNION AT THE GPYC
Attention all classmates:
Please fill out this form if you would like to be included in our class of 1968 alumni directory:
Click here to complete the GPHS 1968 Alumni Directory Form
THE LAST CLASS T-SHIRTS
A historical keepsake!
Only $10 plus $6 shipping & postage
LIMITED QUANTITIES REMAIN!
To order, please contact Randy Cain at rcain1309@gmail.com
It's time to get together!
GROSSE POINTE HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS OF 1968 – 50th HIGH SCHOOL REUNION
Dear Fellow Classmates:
Memories of friends and community are special. We didn’t realize it at the time but here we are, fifty years later, and our lives are still intertwined. We may not remember faces or names. We may not have thought about the Class of 1968 for years but it’s time to come together to celebrate! It’s our 50th High School Reunion!
Plans have been made to celebrate in our uniquely Grosse Pointe way and we hope that you will join us at the festivities. And, if you haven’t been back to the Detroit area in a while, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by everything that the Motor City has to offer!!
We have many events planned for the weekend of September 21st-23rd, 2018. Starting on Friday, we will be gathering at Atwater in the Park for an informal get-together around 7:00 p.m. There’s a lot happening in the Kercheval in the Park area with several new bars and restaurants so it’s a fun place to meet. There is also a trolley service that travels to and from Kercheval in the Park through The Village and The Hill and it turns around in Grosse Pointe Farms near Stephens Road and goes back to the Park. Park along the route, hop onboard and leave the driving to the trolley.
Saturday, we have arranged for a tour of The High which is tentatively scheduled for 11:00 a.m. See how The High has weathered these past fifty years! And, the big event, the reunion is at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club at 6:30 p.m. There will be food stations with a variety of entrée items, as well as music and a cash bar. This will be a memorable evening with a videographer and other surprises so you definitely don’t want to miss it! The cost is $68.00 per person…the same amount that we charged 20 years ago! You can find registration information through this link. We would like to have your permission to provide a list of classmates to attendees and non-attendees, too. We will also be recognizing those classmates who are no longer with us.
Sunday, we will be gathering at Windmill Pointe Park at the foot of Barrington and Windmill Pointe, or “The Park Park”. We will meet at 11:00 a.m. for an informal picnic. The Fairfax Market at 899 Beaconsfield is open Sunday mornings so you can stop there to pick up supplies. There are also a variety of restaurants or bakeries, Cornwall Bakery on Kercheval in the Park, Marais on Kercheval in The Village, or Red Crown restaurant in the Park to name a few, where you can grab some fun food items. We will have some grills going but please BYO everything! Rain or shine! Look for signs!
We really hope that this reunion will bring us all together in a special way. Let’s sing, dance, reminisce and party like it’s 1968!! Hope to see you soon!!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Cathy Champion at cathy@cchampion.com or call Joe Tompkins at 313-574-4233 or write John Steininger c/o Grosse Pointe Moving and Storage, 11850 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48214. Or, visit our Facebook page at Grosse Pointe High School Class of 1968 or website at www.gphs68.com.
The Class of ’68 Reunion Committee
P.S. There was an article about us in the Grosse Pointe News on the front page of the Features Section! Click here to read page 1 and here to read page 2.
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Mt. Olivet UMC Cemetery Fund Brings Peace of Mind
During the past 50 years, Nolan Ragsdale’s passion for preserving the resting places of the saints at Mt. Olivet UMC Cemetery in Banks County has never waned. As his health declined, however, he began to worry about the cemetery’s fate after he was gone.
Fortunately Nolan’s niece, Carolyn Roebuck of Douglasville, discovered that the Georgia United Methodist Foundation could help.
“I was serving as a delegate at the 2012 Annual Conference in Athens and just happened to read a newsletter article about the Foundation’s ability to manage funds,” she said. “I thought this may be an avenue where my Uncle Nolan could invest his money for the perpetual care of this cemetery.”
Nolan was born and raised in Homer. He is a World War II veteran and a graduate of the University of Houston. In the 1960s, he returned to his hometown after accepting a position as an auditor for the Georgia Public Service Commission.
He was dismayed to discover that the Mt. Olivet UMC Cemetery had become overgrown with trees. “This cemetery is so important to us because it’s part of our childhood. We have relatives buried there,” said Nolan’s 89-year-old sister, Marie Creel of Doraville. “Nolan took charge of that cemetery and cared for it until he got too old to do so. Then, he paid someone to do it. This went on for years.”
Nolan began raising money for the perpetual care of the cemetery. He experienced great difficulty until Frank Garrison pledged $3,000 while on his death bed. Frank is the great-grandson of Mt. Olivet UMC Founder Francis Marion Ragsdale and the great-great-grandfather of Ruth Alexander, who now serves as secretary/treasurer of the Mt. Olivet Cemetery Association.
“He put in a great deal of his own money and kept this money invested so that it would draw interest. He had tried and tried to find some organization that would take the money and be in charge of the perpetual care of the cemetery,” Marie said. “Nolan was getting very upset and frustrated. He’s 92-years-old and didn’t want to die and not have this set up. Finding out about the Foundation was a God-thing for Nolan.”
The Gainesville District of the North Georgia Conference, which owned the cemetery, was willing to transfer title of this property to an appropriately organized cemetery association. Retired Foundation President Rev. Charles (Chuck) W. Savage II worked closely with Nolan, Carolyn, Marie and several other interested parties to form the Mt. Olivet Cemetery Association. Carolyn currently serves as president, while her mother, Marie, serves as a trustee.
Using the monies Nolan raised, the Foundation established the Mt. Olivet Cemetery Fund. The principal will remain intact. Any interest earned will be disbursed on a quarterly basis to provide for the perpetual care and maintenance of the cemetery.
This article was originally published in the Winter 2014 edition of Faith & Money, a publication of the Georgia United Methodist Foundation.
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The Legacy of Rev. Louis and Millie Gholson
Rev. Louis Gholson and his beloved wife Millie of St. Simons Island may be gone, but they will never be forgotten. An endowment established with the then South Georgia United Methodist Foundation ensures their love of God and devotion to The United Methodist Church will live on forever.
For 26 years, Louis served as a pastor and chaplain in The South Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church. Millie served alongside him throughout their 50+ year marriage.
Louis and Millie worked part-time at Epworth By The Sea after retiring there in 1975. They became close friends with Joel Willis, who currently serves as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Before his death in 1995, Louis named Joel executor of their estate. Louis asked Joel to take care of Millie, which he did, until she passed away in 2000.
“They were good solid folks. This is a couple who made very little money, but what little they had, they wisely invested for the long-term,” Joel said. “They saved all of their life, and then they gave it all away to the Church. They didn’t do it for themselves. They did it for Jesus Christ!”
Louis and Millie gave generously to causes involving children, the elderly, and individuals with developmental disabilities. They also supported ministries that establish new churches, enhance worship experiences, and improve retirement benefits for preachers.
Millie’s last will and testament directed the Foundation to establish the Louis E. and Millie Coats Gholson Fund. The Foundation was instructed to invest these funds and then to distribute the income annually to South Georgia Conference entities including the Board of Pensions, Epworth By The Sea, the Foundation of Methodist Home for Children and Youth, Golden Cross, Magnolia Manor, New and Revitalized Church Development, and Wesley Glen Ministries.
“It’s one thing to be committed to a ministry, and it’s another to leave a legacy gift. All the ministries they supported during their life, they wanted to continue supporting after their death,” Joel said. “Millie and Louis have done their part to ensure that the Church will continue to be a positive influence on many lives for generations to come.”
This article was originally published in the Summer 2012 edition of Faith & Money, a publication of the Georgia United Methodist Foundation.
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1994 Toyota Supra Mk IV Turbo
2dr Sport Roof 6-cyl. 2997cc/320hp FI Turbo
History of the 1993-1998 Toyota Supra
The late 1980s and early 1990s were a crazy time for the Japanese car industry and for sports cars in particular, with some of the most memorable designs to ever come out of the country before or since introduced from 1985-95. One solid contender for the greatest of all of them is the Mark IV Supra, also known as the A80. While the Supra started as a car based largely on the Celica, it had developed into its own distinct model and by the time of the A80’s unveiling at the 1993 Chicago Auto Show, Toyota had gotten ambitious.
Toyota had trimmed 100kg off of the third generation car, and while based on the same platform as the Lexus SC, the Supra was still 13 inches shorter. It was also lighter than the rival 300ZX Twin Turbo and Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, and had double wishbone and multilink suspension, with turbocharged models fitted with a limited-slip differential and electronic traction control. The A80 also has remarkable brakes, with a four-sensor ABS system with yaw control that helps the Supra Turbo brake from 70-0 mph in 149 ft.
The most famous ingredient of the A80 Toyota Supra, though, was its engine –the JZ-series straight-six. Eminently tunable, it’s a unit that people have gotten over 2,000 hp out of, and even 700 hp is apparently possible without having to open up the bottom end. In stock naturally aspirated form, the engine made 220 hp. The twin turbo model, meanwhile, made 326 hp and came with a 6-speed Getrag manual, although a four-speed automatic with manual shift mode was an option. Peak torque came all the way from 1,300 to 4,500 rpm. 0-60 for turbocharged models came in about five seconds, and top speed was a limited 155 mph. Supras were raced all over the world from Pikes Peak to Le Mans, and won championships in the Japanese Grand Touring Championship (JGTC) in 1991, 2001, 2002 and 2005. It’s also an icon of tuner culture.
When it came out, the Supra was also one of the best looking new cars out there, not just from Japan but from anywhere. Turbo models also came standard with a rear-spoiler and, from 1996, a targa roof. 1997 models got a restyled front bumper and headlights, and 1998 got a restyled interior with three-spoke steering wheel.
Unfortunately, the Supra suffered from the same problem as all of the high-end Japanese performance cars in the 1990s. Unfavorable exchange rates saw prices skyrocket while the cars largely remained the same. In only its first few years it had gone from $30,000 to $50,000. At least Honda’s NSX had a premium Acura badge on it. For many people $50,000 for a Toyota, no matter how fast and advanced, was hard to justify. Sales fell, and the Supra was gone from the Canadian market in 1996 and the U.S. market in 1998. All production ceased in 2002.
The A80 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo is arguably the definitive Japanese performance car of its decade, and for that alone it is highly collectible. It has also been a highly popular tuner car, though, so many of them have been highly modified. Plenty have been crashed as well. A good, unmolested, low mileage example is therefore hard to come by, and these cars are considerably more desirable than cars with a checkered history.
1994 Toyota Supra Mk IV Turbo Info
2dr Sport Roof
6-cyl. 2997cc/320hp FI Turbo
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COCON 4
COCON 4.2 Specific guidance on senior manager cond...
COCON 4.2 1Specific guidance on senior manager conduct rules
SC1: You must take reasonable steps to ensure that the business of the firm for which you are responsible is controlled effectively.
COCON 4.2.1G 07/03/2016 RP
An SMF manager's role and responsibilities are set out in the statement of responsibilities.
Strategy and plans will often dictate the risk which the business is prepared to take on and high-level controls will dictate how the business is to be run. If the strategy of the business is to enter high-risk areas, then the degree of control and strength of monitoring reasonably required within the business will be high. In organising the business for which they are responsible, senior conduct rules staff members should bear this in mind.4
Strategy and plans for the branch in the United Kingdom of an overseas firm will often be set by those parts of the firm which are based outside the United Kingdom.4
If an overseas firm proposes a significant strategy or change in strategy (‘the proposal’) for its branch in the United Kingdom, particularly to enter higher risk areas, the senior conduct rules staff member responsible for the matters likely to be affected by the strategy should assess its impact on the branch in the United Kingdom.4
The senior conduct rules staff member should ensure that they take reasonable steps to implement the proposal in a way that complies with the regulatory system.4
If the firm proposes to implement the proposal and the senior conduct rules staff member considers that it is likely to be non-compliant with the regulatory system, the senior conduct rules staff member should promptly inform the appropriate regulator.4
To comply with the obligations of rule SC1 in COCON 2.2.1R, senior conduct rules staff members may find it helpful to review whether each area of the business for which they are responsible has been clearly assigned to a particular individual or individuals.
The organisation of the business and the responsibilities of those within it should be clearly defined. Reporting lines should be clear to staff. Where staff have dual reporting lines there is a greater need to ensure that the responsibility and accountability of each individual line manager is clearly set out and understood.
Where members of staff have particular levels of authorisation, these should be clearly set out and communicated to staff. It may be appropriate for each member of staff to have a job description of which they are aware.
Senior conduct rules staff members should take reasonable steps to satisfy themselves, on reasonable grounds, that each area of the business for which they are responsible has appropriate policies and procedures for reviewing the competence, knowledge, skills and performance of each individual member of staff.
If an individual's performance is unsatisfactory, the relevant senior conduct rules staff member should review carefully whether to allow that individual to continue in their position. In particular:
If the senior conduct rules staff member is aware of concerns relating to the compliance with requirements and standards of the regulatory system (or internal controls) of the individual concerned, or of staff reporting to that individual, the senior conduct rules staff member should take care not to give undue weight to the financial performance of the individual or group concerned when considering whether any action should be taken.
An adequate investigation of the concerns should be undertaken (including, where appropriate, adherence to internal controls). The senior conduct rules staff member should be satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that the investigation is appropriate, the results are accurate and that the concerns do not pose an unacceptable risk to compliance with the requirements and standards of the regulatory system.
As part of organising the business, a senior conduct rules staff member should ensure that there is an orderly transition when another senior conduct rules staff member under their oversight or responsibility ceases to perform that function and someone else takes up that function. It would be appropriate for the individual vacating such a position to prepare a comprehensive set of handover notes for their successor. Those notes should, at a minimum, specify any matter that is ongoing which the successor would reasonably expect to be aware of to:
perform their function effectively;
ensure compliance with the requirements and standards of the regulatory system; and
ensure that the individual with overall responsibility for that part of the business of the firm maintains effective control.
In organising the business, a senior conduct rules staff member should pay attention to any temporary vacancies which exist. They should take reasonable steps to ensure that suitable cover for responsibilities is arranged. This could include taking on temporary staff or external consultants. The senior conduct rules staff member should assess the risk to compliance with the requirements and standards of the regulatory system as a result of the vacancy, and the higher the risk the greater the steps they should take to fill the vacancy. It may be appropriate to limit or suspend the activity if adequate cover for responsibilities cannot be arranged. To the extent that those vacancies are for controlled functions, they may only be filled by persons approved for that function.
COCON 4.2.10G 07/03/2016 RP
The following is a non-exhaustive list of examples of conduct that would be in breach of rule SC1.
Failing to take reasonable steps to apportion responsibilities for all areas of the business under the approved person's control.
Failing to take reasonable steps to apportion responsibilities clearly among those to whom responsibilities have been delegated, which includes establishing confusing or uncertain:
reporting lines; or
authorisation levels; or
job descriptions and responsibilities.
In the case of a manager who is responsible for dealing with the apportionment of responsibilities, failing to take reasonable care to maintain a clear and appropriate apportionment of responsibilities including:
failing to review regularly the responsibilities which have been apportioned; and
failing to act where that review shows that those responsibilities have not been clearly apportioned.
Failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that suitable individuals are responsible for those aspects of the business under the control of senior conduct rules staff member, including the following:
failing to review the competence, knowledge, skills and performance of staff to assess their suitability to fulfil their duties, despite evidence that their performance is unacceptable;
giving undue weight to financial performance when considering the suitability or continuing suitability of an individual for a particular role; and
allowing managerial vacancies which put compliance with the requirements and standards of the regulatory system at risk to remain, without arranging suitable cover for the responsibilities.
SC2: You must take reasonable steps to ensure that the business of the firm for which you are responsible complies with the relevant requirements and standards of the regulatory system.
A senior conduct rules staff member must take reasonable steps to ensure their firm's compliance with the relevant requirements and standards of the regulatory system and to ensure that all staff are aware of the need for compliance.
Senior conduct rules staff members do not themselves need to put in place the systems of control for the business, unless it is within their role and responsibilities. However, they should take reasonable steps to ensure that the business for which they are responsible has operating procedures and systems with well-defined steps for complying with the detail of relevant requirements and standards of the regulatory system and for ensuring that the business is run prudently. The nature and extent of the systems of control that are required will depend upon the relevant requirements and standards of the regulatory system, and the nature, scale and complexity of the business.
Where a senior conduct rules staff member becomes aware of actual or suspected problems that involve possible breaches of relevant requirements and standards of the regulatory system within their area of responsibility, they should take reasonable steps to ensure that they are dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner. This may involve an adequate investigation to find out whether any systems or procedures have failed and why. They may need to obtain expert opinion on the adequacy and efficacy of the systems and procedures.
If an issue raises questions of law or interpretation, senior conduct rules staff members may need to take legal advice. If appropriate legal expertise is not available in-house, they may need to consider appointing an appropriate external adviser.
Where independent reviews of systems and procedures have been undertaken and result in recommendations for improvement, the senior conduct rules staff member responsible for that business area should ensure that, unless there are good reasons not to, any reasonable recommendations are implemented in a timely manner. What is reasonable will depend on the nature of the issue to be addressed and the cost of the improvement. It will be reasonable for a senior conduct rules staff member to carry out a cost benefit analysis when assessing whether the recommendations are reasonable.
Failing to take reasonable steps to implement (either personally or through a compliance department or other departments) adequate and appropriate systems of control to comply with the relevant requirements and standards of the regulatory system for the activities of the firm.
Failing to take reasonable steps to monitor (either personally or through a compliance department or other departments) compliance with the relevant requirements and standards of the regulatory system for the activities of the firm in question.
Failing to take reasonable steps to inform themselves adequately about the reason why significant breaches (suspected or actual) of the relevant requirements and standards of the regulatory system for the activities of the firm may have arisen (taking account of the systems and procedures in place). This would include failing to investigate whether systems or procedures may have failed and failing to obtain expert opinion on the adequacy of the systems and procedures where appropriate.
Failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that procedures and systems of control are reviewed and, if appropriate, improved, following the identification of significant breaches (suspected or actual) of the relevant requirements and standards of the regulatory system relating to the activities of the firm, including:
unreasonably failing to implement recommendations for improvements in systems and procedures; and
unreasonably failing to implement recommendations for improvements to systems and procedures in a timely manner.
For a manager with responsibility for overseeing the establishment and maintenance of appropriate systems and controls or the apportionment of responsibilities, any failure to take reasonable care to ensure that those obligations are discharged effectively.
For a proprietary trader, failing to maintain and comply with appropriate systems and controls in relation to that activity.
For a money laundering reporting officer, failing to discharge the responsibilities imposed on them by the firm for oversight of its compliance with the FCA's rules on systems and controls against money laundering.
For a senior conduct rules staff member who is responsible for the compliance function, failing to ensure that:
the compliance function has the necessary authority, resources, expertise and access to all relevant information; or
a compliance officer is appointed and is responsible for the compliance function and for any reporting as to compliance; or
the persons involved in the compliance functions are not involved in the performance of services or activities they monitor; or
the method of determining the remuneration of the persons involved in the compliance function does not compromise their objectivity; or
the method of determining the remuneration complies, where applicable, with the Remuneration Code or, for a Solvency II firm or a small non-directive insurer3, other relevant requirements in relation to remuneration2.
SC3: You must take reasonable steps to ensure that any delegation of your responsibilities is to an appropriate person and that you oversee the discharge of the delegated responsibility effectively
An SMF manager may delegate the investigation, resolution or management of an issue or authority for dealing with a part of the business to individuals who report to them or to others.
A senior conduct rules staff member should have reasonable grounds for believing that the delegate has the competence, knowledge, skill and time to deal with the issue. For instance, if the compliance department only has sufficient resources to deal with day-to-day issues, it would be unreasonable to delegate to it the resolution of a complex or unusual issue without ensuring it had sufficient capacity to deal with the matter adequately.
The FCA recognises that a senior conduct rules staff member will have to exercise their own judgement in deciding how issues are dealt with and sometimes that judgement will, with the benefit of hindsight, be shown to have been wrong. The senior conduct rules staff member will not be in breach of rule SC3 in COCON 2.2.3R unless they fail to exercise due and reasonable consideration before they delegate the resolution of an issue or authority for dealing with a part of the business and fail to reach a reasonable conclusion. If they are in doubt about how to deal with an issue or the seriousness of a particular compliance problem then, although they cannot delegate to the FCA the responsibility for dealing with the problem or issue, they can speak to the FCA to discuss his approach.
Senior conduct rules staff members will not always manage the business on a day-to-day basis themselves. The extent to which they do so will depend on a number of factors, including the nature, scale and complexity of the business and their position within it. The larger and more complex the business, the greater the need for clear and effective delegation and reporting lines, which may involve documenting the scope of that delegation and the reporting lines in writing. The FCA will look to the senior conduct rules staff member to take reasonable steps to ensure that systems are in place to ensure that issues are being addressed at the appropriate level. When issues come to their attention, they should deal with them in an appropriate way.
Delegating the authority for dealing with an issue or a part of the business to an individual or individuals (whether in-house or outside contractors) without reasonable grounds for believing that the delegate has the necessary capacity, competence, knowledge, seniority or skill to deal with the issue or to take authority for dealing with part of the business indicates a failure to comply with rule SC3 in COCON 2.2.3R.
Although a senior conduct rules staff member may delegate the resolution of an issue, or authority for dealing with a part of the business, they cannot delegate responsibility for it. It is that person's responsibility to ensure that they receive reports on progress and question those reports where appropriate. For instance, if progress appears to be slow or if the issue is not being resolved satisfactorily, the senior conduct rules staff member may need to challenge the explanations they receive and, if necessary, take action personally to resolve the problem. This may include increasing the resource applied to it, reassigning the resolution internally or obtaining external advice or assistance. Where an issue raises significant concerns, senior conduct rules staff members should act clearly and decisively. If appropriate, this may be by suspending members of staff or relieving them of all or part of their responsibilities.
Failing to take reasonable steps to maintain an appropriate level of understanding about an issue or part of the business that the senior conduct rules staff member has delegated to an individual(s) (whether in-house or outside contractors) including:
disregarding an issue or part of the business once it has been delegated;
failing to require adequate reports once the resolution of an issue or management of part of the business has been delegated; and
accepting implausible or unsatisfactory explanations from delegates without testing their accuracy.
Failing to supervise and monitor adequately the individual(s) (whether in-house or outside contractors) to whom responsibility for dealing with an issue or authority for dealing with a part of the business has been delegated including any failure to:
take personal action where progress is unreasonably slow, or where implausible or unsatisfactory explanations are provided; or
review the performance of an outside contractor in connection with the delegated issue or business.
In determining whether or not the conduct of a senior conduct rules staff member complies with rule SC3 in COCON 2.2.3R, the factors which the FCA would expect to take into account include:
the competence, knowledge or seniority of the delegate; and
the past performance and record of the delegate.
SC4: You must disclose appropriately any information of which the FCA or PRA would reasonably expect notice
For the purpose of rule SC4 in COCON 2.2.4R, regulators in addition to the FCA and the PRA are those which have recognised jurisdiction in relation to activities to which COCON applies and have a power to call for information from the relevant person in connection with their function or the business for which they are responsible. This may include an exchange or an overseas regulator.
SC4 applies to senior conduct rules staff members in addition to rule 3 in COCON 2.1.3R. Although, the rules have some overlap, they are different. Rule 3 normally relates to responses from individuals to requests from the regulator, whereas rule SC4 imposes a duty on a senior conduct rules staff member to disclose appropriately any information of which the appropriate regulator would reasonably expect, including making a disclosure in the absence of any request or enquiry from the appropriate regulator. A senior conduct rules staff member2 is likely to have access to greater amounts of information of potential regulatory importance and to have the expertise to recognise when this may be something of which the appropriate regulator would reasonably expect notice.
Where a senior conduct rules staff member is responsible within the firm (individually or with other senior conduct rules staff members) for reporting matters to the regulator, failing promptly to inform the regulator concerned of information of which they are aware and which it would be reasonable to assume would be of material significance to the regulator concerned, whether in response to questions or otherwise, constitutes a breach of rule SC4 in COCON 2.2.4R.
If a senior conduct rules staff member comes across a piece of information that is something of3 which they think the FCA or PRA could reasonably expect notice, they should determine whether that information falls within the scope of their responsibilities.5 For an SMF manager those responsibilities will be set out in that person’s statement of responsibilities.5
If it does, then they should ensure that, if it is otherwise appropriate to do so, it is disclosed to the appropriate regulator. If it does not fall within the scope of their responsibilities then, in the absence of any reason to the contrary, they might reasonably assume that its disclosure to the appropriate regulator was being dealt with by the senior conduct rules staff member with responsibility for dealing with information of that nature. If a senior conduct rules staff member was not sure that the matter was being dealt with by another senior conduct rules staff member, or if they were not sure whether this was in their area or not, the FCA would expect them to make enquiries to inform themselves, rather than disregard the matter.2
In determining whether or not a person's conduct complies with rule SC4 in COCON 2.2.4R, the factors which the FCA would expect to take into account include:
whether it would be reasonable for the individual to assume that the information would be of material significance to the regulator concerned;
whether the information related to the individual themselves or to their firm; and
whether any decision not to report the matter was taken after reasonable enquiry and analysis of the situation.
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Lions re-sign OL Andrew Donnal
Detroit Lions re-sign offensive lineman Andrew Donnal
Lions re-sign OL Andrew Donnal Detroit Lions re-sign offensive lineman Andrew Donnal Check out this story on hawkcentral.com: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/03/22/lions-re-sign-ol-andrew-donnal/39241585/
AP Published 11:47 a.m. CT March 22, 2019
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have re-signed offensive lineman Andrew Donnal.
The Lions announced the move Friday. Donnal appeared in two games last season for Detroit. He previously spent time with the Ravens and Rams.
Donnal was a fourth-round draft pick in 2015 by the Rams. He has appeared in 29 NFL games with six starts. He played 16 games for the Rams in 2016 but has not made a start since that season.
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Missy Franklin makes big change after feeling pressure
Missing Franklin is working to move past her heartbreaking Olympics in Rio.
Missy Franklin makes big change after feeling pressure Missing Franklin is working to move past her heartbreaking Olympics in Rio. Check out this story on hawkcentral.com: http://usat.ly/2gm8DCJ
Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports Published 11:06 a.m. CT Nov. 23, 2016 | Updated 3:13 p.m. CT Nov. 24, 2016
USA TODAY Sports' Nancy Armour shares her Top 5 from Rio. USA TODAY Sports
Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin attends Glamour Women Of The Year 2016 LIVE Summit Breakfast at NeueHouse Hollywood on Nov. 14, 2016 in Los Angeles.(Photo: Emma McIntyre, Getty Images for Glamour)
NEW YORK — As she works to move past her heartbreaking Olympic Games, Missy Franklin’s main goal is to fall back in love with the water.
“If I want to continue having the longevity in the sport the way I want to, I need to take a step back now and realize why I'm doing this,” Franklin, 21, said Monday before the Golden Goggles, USA Swimming’s annual awards gala. “And who I'm doing this for. And making sure that I'm going to practice every day because I want to and not because I feel like I have to or because I need to make someone else happy.”
Franklin said she never fell “out of love” with the sport of swimming exactly, but her tough meet at U.S. Olympic trials and then her even more challenging Olympic meet wore on her. Franklin won one medal (gold) in Rio, as part of the women’s 4x200-meter freestyle relay, though she only swam in the preliminary heat and not the final. She failed to qualify for finals in either of her two individual events, the 200 free and the 200 backstroke. Her trademark ear-to-ear grin was replaced by tears.
“This summer was almost like going through a bit of a break-up,” Franklin said. “You put so much work into something and it really, really lets you down and you're just so disappointed with that. … It's horrible. It's the worst thing that you ever experience.
Michael Phelps explains why he was secretly married before Rio
“So now, it's just a matter of going back to the roots and going back to the little girl who fell in love with it. All the pressure I felt this summer and just the way that I felt like I disappointed so many people — I want to make sure that when I head out there again that I have the right mindset and attitude going into it.”
Franklin immediately made some drastic changes. She returned to Cal to take classes — online for now, but she’s registered for on-campus classes in the spring semester — and she’s also begun training with Dave Durden, the Bears’ head men’s coach who also trains a group of postgrad swimmers that includes five-time Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian. Twelve-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin had also trained with Durden’s men’s group in the lead-up to the 2016 trials.
Coughlin, who had trained previously with Teri McKeever and the Cal women’s team, said often that she benefited from her change to her training routine, and the guys around her. Franklin, so far, has found her switch revitalizing as well. She, too, had trained with McKeever during her two years at Cal before returning home to Colorado and her prep coach, Todd Schmitz, in the lead-up to Rio.
Now, she’s back on a campus she loves surrounded by friends she missed. And she’s starting a new training regimen. She maintains that her goal is to swim in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Durden said his training group has been a good fit for Franklin so far, and her goals align, obviously, quite well with that of his other elite postgrad swimmers, who train with their eyes on major international meets and not the collegiate calendar.
“I’ve never enjoyed going to practice so much,” Franklin said. “They're incredible teammates, they work so hard every single day. It's just such a fun group.”
Said Durden: ““I think it’s been good for her to do something a little different, with a group of guys she spent a lot of time with out in Rio.”
Durden, an assistant coach for the U.S. men’s team, had five swimmers in Rio, and four of them won at least one medal — led by Ryan Murphy, America’s new backstroke star, who took home three gold medals. At the Golden Goggles Monday night, Durden was named USA Swimming’s Coach of the Year.
“There are a lot of reasons why I chose Dave,” Franklin said. “I really respect who he is as a person, not only as a coach, but what he stands for and the values that he teaches his team and the way that he coaches. I always loved the way that Dave interacted with his athletes, and the way the athletes interacted with each other, it seems he’s really, really special. I've never heard a bad word about him. He's obviously an incredible coach; that speaks for itself, especially with the results from this summer.
“I felt like it was an environment where I could go into it and be open, be myself and also have someone who really understood where I was at, who understood my position and who was going to work with me to help me through it. That's exactly what he's been doing.”
PHOTOS: SWIMMING AT OLYMPICS IN RIO
Swimming at the Rio Olympics
Ryan Murphy, Michael Phelps, Cody Miller and Nathan Adrian of the U.S. won the men's 4x100 medley relay. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Nathan Adrian (USA) dives in for the final length during the men's 4x100 medley relay final. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) swims during the men's 4x100-meter medley relay. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Murphy (USA) starts the men's 4x100 medley relay final. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Kathleen Baker , Lilly King, Dana Vollmer and Simone Manuel celebrate after winning the women's 4x100-meter medley relay. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
Lilly King (USA) swims during the women's 4x100-meter medley relay. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Dana Vollmer (USA) swims during the women's 4x100-meter medley relay. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Simone Manuel (USA) swims during the women's 4x100-meter medley relay. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Connor Jaeger (USA) after taking second in the men's 1,500-meter freestyle final. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) celebrates with Gabriele Detti (ITA) after the men's 1,500-meter freestyle final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Pernille Blume (DEN) reacts after winning the women's 50-meter freestyle. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Connor Jaeger (USA) swims during the men's 1,500-meter freestyle final. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) swims during the men's 1,500-meter freestyle final. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Ervin celebrates with his gold medal in the men's 50-meter freestyle. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Ervin celebrates after winning the men's 50-meter freestyle final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Katie Ledecky celebrates after winning the women's 800-meter freestyle. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Katie Ledecky takes a big lead in the women's 800-meter freestyle final. USA TODAY Sports
Joseph Schooling of Singapore celebrates after winning the men's 100-meter butterfly final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps reacts with Laszlo Cseh of Hungary after they both finished as part of a three-way tie for silver in the men's 100-meter butterfly. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps during the men's 100-meter butterfly final. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
Maya Dirado reacts after winning the women's 200-meter backstroke. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Maya Dirado swims during the women's 200-meter backstroke final. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
Simone Manuel (USA) reacts after getting gold in the women's 100-meter freestyle final. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Simone Manuel (USA) hugs Penny Oleksiak (CAN) after they tied for gold in the women's 100-meter freestyle. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Simone Manuel (USA) celebrates after getting a tie for gold in the women's 100-meter freestyle final. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Simone Manuel (USA) during the women's 100-meter freestyle. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte react after the men's 200-meter individual medley. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) holds up four fingers, for his fourth gold of the Rio Games, after winning the men's 200-meter individual medley. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) races Ryan Lochte (USA) during the men's 200-meter individual medley. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) swims in the men's 200-meter individual medley. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Murphy (USA) reacts after winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Murphy celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Murphy (USA) swims during the men's 200-meter backstroke final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Maya Dirado (USA) swims during the women's 200-meter backstroke semifinal. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Missy Franklin (USA) and Maya Dirado (USA) react after the women's 200-meter backstroke semifinal. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Long Gutierrez Feng (MEX) during the men's 100m butterfly heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Swimmers in the start blocks during the men's 50m freestyle heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) during the men's 100m butterfly heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Yaxin Liu (CHN) during the women's 200m backstroke heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
The U.S. team of Maya Dirado, Allison Schmitt, Leah Smith and Katie Ledecky celebrate after winning the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY Sports
Team USA celebrates after winning the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY Sports
Allison Schmitt started off the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay for the United States. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) and Ryan Lochte (USA) swim during the men's 200-meter individual medley semifinals. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) and Ryan Lochte (USA) react after the men's 200-meter individual medley semifinals. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Lilly King (USA) swims during the women's 200-meter breaststroke semifinals. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY Sports
Mirela Belmonte Garcia (ESP) celebrates after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Mireia Belmonte Garcia (ESP) swims during the women's 200-meter butterfly. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Chalmers (AUS) celebrates after winning the men's 100-meter freestyle. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Nathan Adrian (USA) greets Kyle Chalmers (AUS) after the men's 100-meter freestyle final. Adrian took third. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY Sports
Nathan Adrian (USA) swims during the men's 100-meter freestyle final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Hali Flickinger (USA) greets Cammille Adams (USA) after the women's 200-meter butterfly final. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY Sports
Simone Manuel (USA) swims during the women's 100-meter freestyle semifinals. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Murphy (USA) swims during the men's 200-meter backstroke semifinals. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Jacob Pebley (USA) swims during the men's 200-meter backstroke semifinals. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Guangyuan Li (CHN) reacts after the men's 200-meter backstroke semifinals. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Dmitriy Balandin (KAZ) celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter breaststroke final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Josh Prenot swam to a second-place finish in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) during the men's 200m individual medley heats in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Rexford Tullius (ISV) during the men's 200m backstroke heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Abbey Weitzeil (USA) during the women's 100m freestyle heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Simone Manuel (USA) during the women's 100m freestyle heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) , Masato Sakai (JPN) and Tamas Kenderesi (HUN) with their medals after the men's 200m butterfly final in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) , Katie Ledecky (USA) and Emma Mckeon (AUS) with their medals after the women's 200m freestyle final in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Katinka Hosszu (HUN) reacts after winning the women's 200m individual medley final in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps during the 200-meter butterfly final. He won the race for his 20th career gold medal. Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports
Katie Ledecky celebrates after winning the women's 200-meter freestyle final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Duo Shen of China during the women's 200-meter freestyle final. Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports
Caeleb Dressel of the U.S. competes in the men's 100-meter freestyle semifinal. Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports
Caeleb Dressel (USA) and Nathan Adrian (USA) after the men's 100m freestyle heats in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Adams (USA) during the women's 200m butterfly heats in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Natalie Adams (USA) blows a kiss after the women's 200m butterfly heats in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Lilly King (USA) celebrates winning during the women's 100m breaststroke final. Eric Seals, USA TODAY Sports
Lilly King (USA) celebrates winning the women's 100m breaststroke final. Eric Seals, USA TODAY Sports
Lilly King (USA) and Katie Meili (USA) celebrate after the women's 100m breaststroke final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Lilly King (USA) swims in the women's 100m breaststroke final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Lilly King (USA) races during the women's 100m breaststroke final. Eric Seals, USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Murphy (USA) and David Plummer (USA) pose with their medals after the men's 100m backstroke final. Eric Seals, USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Murphy (USA) celebrates with David Plummer (USA) after the men's 100m backstroke final. Murphy won, and Plummer placed second. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
David Plummer (USA) and Ryan Murphy (USA) react after the men's 200m freestyle final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Murphy (USA) swims in the men's 100m backstroke final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Katinka Hosszu (HUN) celebrates after winning the women's 100m backstroke final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Kathleen Baker (USA) celebrates on the podium after the women's 100m backstroke final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Conor Dwyer (USA) with his bronze medal after the men's 200m freestyle final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Yang Sun (CHN) celebrates after winning the men's 200m freestyle final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Yang Sun (CHN) celebrates on the podium after winning the men's 200m freestyle final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) competes during the men's 200m butterfly semifinals. Eric Seals, USA TODAY Sports
Katie Ledecky (USA) swims during the women's 200m freestyle semifinals on Monday. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) in the men's 200m butterfly heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Missy Franklin (USA) in the women's 200m freestyle preliminary heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Maya Dirado (USA) in the women's 200m individual medley heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Duo Shen (CHN) in the women's 200m freestyle preliminary heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Melania Costa Schmid (ESP) in the women's 200m freestyle preliminary heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Tamas Kenderesi (HUN) in the men's 200m butterfly heats. Rob Schumacher, Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) in the women's 200m freestyle preliminary heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Camille Cheng (HKG) in the women's 200m freestyle preliminary heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
USA's Katie Ledecky and Leah Smith celebrate with their medals after the women's 400m freestyle final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
USA's Nathan Adrian , Ryan Held , Michael Phelps and Caeleb Dressel celebrate with their gold medals after the men's 4x100m freestyle relay final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) and Caeleb Dressel (USA) celebrate after winning the men's 4x100m freestyle relay. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Nathan Adrian celebrates after anchoring the USA to victory during the men's 4x100m freestyle relay final. David E. Klutho, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps helped the U.S. men's 4x100m freestyle relay team take gold. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps swam the second leg for the U.S. men's 4x100m freestyle relay team. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps preps for the men's 4x100m freestyle relay final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps (USA) leads his relay teammates to the pool before the men's 4x100m freestyle relay final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Leah Smith (USA) and Katie Ledecky (USA) celebrate after the women's 400m freestyle final. Ledecky won, and Smith placed third. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Katie Ledecky (USA) celebrates with Leah Smith (USA) after winning the women's 400m freestyle final. David E. Klutho, USA TODAY Sports
Katie Ledecky (USA) celebrates after winning the women's 400m freestyle final, breaking her own world record in the process. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Katie Ledecky (USA) preps for the women's 400m freestyle final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Cody Miller (USA) celebrates on the podium after placing third in the men's 100m breaststroke final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Adam Peaty (GBR) celebrates after winning the men's 100m breaststroke final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Adam Peaty (GBR) and Cody Miller (USA) celebrate after the men's 100m breaststroke final. Miller came in third. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Dana Vollmer (USA) receives her bronze medal on the podium after the women's 100m butterfly final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) reacts after setting a world record during the women's 100m butterfly final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Dana Vollmer (USA) reacts after placing third in the women's 100m butterfly final. David E. Klutho, USA TODAY Sports
Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) swims during the women's 100m butterfly final. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Lilly King (USA) swims during the women's 100m breaststroke heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
David Plummer (USA) swims during the men's 100m backstroke heats. Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports
Mitchell Larkin (AUS) during the men's 100m backstroke heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Jimmy Feigen (USA) greets Anthony Ervin (USA) after the men's 4x100m freestyle relay heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Corey Main (NZL) during the men's 100m backstroke heats. Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports
Katinka Hosszu (HUN) during the women's 100m backstroke heats. Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports
USA team members Simone Manuel , Abbey Weitzeil , Dana Vollmer and Katie Ledecky on the podium with their medals after the women's 4x100m freestyle relay finals during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Australia team members celebrate after winning the women's 4x100m freestyle relay finals during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Maya Dirado (USA) celebrates after the women's 400m individual medley final during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Katinka Hosszu (HUN) in the women's 400m individual medley final during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Kosuke Hagino (JPN) celebrates after winning the men's 400m individual medley final during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Dana Vollmer (USA) in the women's 100m butterfly semifinals during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Chase Kalisz (USA) in the men's 400m individual medley final during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Chase Kalisz (USA) stretches before the men's 400m individual medley final during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Connor Jaeger (USA) and Yang Sun (CHN) after the men's 400m freestyle heats during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Conor Dwyer (USA) in the men's 400m freestyle heats during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Maya Dirado (USA) in the women's 400m individual medley heats during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Ross Murdoch (GBR) in the men's 100m breaststroke heats during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Katie Ledecky (USA) swims in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay heats during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. Mandatory Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Katinka Hosszu (Hungary) in the women's 400m individual medley. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Conor Dwyer (USA) reacts after the men's 400m freestyle heats. Rob Schumacher, USA TODAY Sports
Ziao Qiu (CHN) in the men's 400m freestyle heats. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Daynara de Paula (BRA) reacts after winning a women's 100m butterfly heat. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Chase Kalisz (USA) dives in at the start of the men's 400m individual medley heat. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Japan's Kosuke Hagino (JPN) in the men's 400m individual medley heats. Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
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UPDATE: KBI investigates attempted murder in Smith Center
Update 7:30 p.m. with release from KBI
SMITH COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating the attempted murder of a woman in Smith County, as well as an officer involved shooting which occurred as police attempted to apprehend the 15-year-old suspect.
Preliminary information indicates that on Dec. 15 just after 10:20 a.m., the Smith County Sheriff received a 911 call, and responded to 10021 O Road in Smith Center. Upon arriving, they located a 66-year-old white female victim who reported being restrained, beaten, and strangled. She was taken to a local hospital, and is expected to recover.
The suspect, a15-year-old black male, fled the area on horseback. When he was located by Kansas Highway Patrol troopers at 100 Road and L Road, in Smith County, he was armed with a firearm. KHP and Smith County Sheriff’s deputies spent a few hours attempting to apprehend the suspect. Then just before 2:20 p.m. the suspect fired at troopers. Two troopers returned fire, striking the subject.
They rendered medical aid and EMS responded. EMS transported him to a local hospital. He was then flown to a Kearney, Nebraska hospital where he underwent surgery. His condition is currently unknown. The identity of the subject will be withheld because he is a juvenile.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
This investigation is ongoing. No further information will be released at this time.
Update 6 p.m. with information from KHP
SMITH COUNTY — A suspect in an attempted homicide was shot after a search that lasted around four hours Saturday through rural Smith County.
According to information from Trooper Tod Hileman, public information officer for Troop D of the Kansas Highway Patrol, the patrol was called to assist at about 10:39 a.m. The suspect fled the scene and ground units and KHP aircraft began a search in northwest Smith County with multiple agencies responding.
The suspect was reportedly on horseback between N and M roads and 100 and 110th roads and at one point raised a firearm at law enforcement, according to traffic on law enforcement scanner channels.
The suspect was located in a wooded area where at about 2:30 p.m., he fired a weapons at troopers, according to Hileman. They returned fire and the suspect was struck. He was transported to Smith County Memorial Hospital and a request was made for air transport to a Nebraska hospital, according to scanner traffic.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation, according to Hileman.
SMITH CENTER — An active shooter search in rural Smith County ended after several hours Saturday afternoon with the suspect suffering a gunshot wound to the chest.
Multiple agencies including K-9 and air support from the Kansas Highway Patrol responded to the situation, according to scanner traffic.
The suspect was reportedly on horseback between N and M roads and 100 and 110th roads in the northern part of the county and at one point raised a firearm at law enforcement.
Around 2:30 p.m., scanner traffic indicated shots had been fired and soon after was a report the suspect had a gunshot wound to the chest.
Information was not immediately available as to whether the suspect was shot by law enforcement of if it was a self-inflected wound. The suspect was transported to Smith County Memorial Hospital and a request was made for transport to a Nebraska hospital, according to scanner traffic.
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Home › Artists › Danny and the Champions of the World › New Danny and the Champs Album – What Kind of Love
New Danny and the Champs Album – What Kind of Love
adminPosted on December 4, 2014 Posted in Danny and the Champions of the World, Pedal Steel Guitar, Reservoir Studio, Studios, What Kind of Love
After our October tour of the UK, road-weary and ragged, we went straight into the studio (Reservoir Studios) to begin recording the next Champs album.
Many hours in the bus were spent listening to Soul classics from the 60s, and this has shone through in the resulting feel of the new album.
All the rhythm section and most of the lead vocals were recorded in the first four days as a live four-piece of Dan, Chris, Steve and Paul (Paul bought a Silverface Princeton Reverb that he could crank in the studio and not overpower the room).
The results were fantastic! Four musicians attuned and balanced!
Then some guitar overdubs, me and Geoff put down pedal steel and saxophone, a bit of brass, some backing vocals, a few days of mixing with Chris developing a severe case of cabin fever offset only by boxes of red wine.
Recording the new Danny and the Champions of the World album at Reservoir Studios
It’s almost there.. now the eternal conundrum – What’s it gonna be called?!
Should be available some time in the spring…
The album is now out, it’s title is ‘What Kind of Love’ this is the cover (photo by Tom Sheehan)
What Kind of Love – Danny and the Champions of the World
http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Review/81174/T/
http://www.americana-uk.com/index.php/cd-reviews/item/danny-the-champions-of-the-world-what-kind-of-love
https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/2015/06/03/danny-and-the-champions-of-the-world-what-kind-of-love/
http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2015/06/danny-the-champions-of-the-world-what-kind-of-love/
https://paulkerr.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/danny-and-the-champions-of-the-world-what-kind-of-love-loose-music/
http://bluesdoodles.com/2015/06/08/cd-review-danny-the-champions-of-the-world-what-kind-of-love/
http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/album-review-danny-and-the-champions-of-the-world-what-kind-of-love/
http://www.eventhestars.co.uk/2015/06/danny-and-champions-of-world-what-kind.html
http://folkandtumble.com/danny-and-the-champions-of-the-world-what-kind-of-love/
http://www.vanguard-online.co.uk/danny-the-champions-of-the-world-what-kind-of-love/
http://www.outlineonline.co.uk/music/albums/danny-and-the-champions-of-the-world—what-kind-of-love
http://www.bluesinthenorthwest.com/index.php/2015/07/17/review-danny-and-the-champions-of-the-world-what-kind-of-love/
Danny and The Champions Of The World: What Kind Of Love
Five Stars from Rock and Reel!
Mojo gave us a four star review!
Brilliant Light Available for Pre-Order
Brilliant Light Reviews
Keys Session for Henry Senior Jr Second Album
‹ Emmons Push Pull
Leaving Home EP with Kelly Lethbridge and Jimmy Owen ›
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State board opts against approving new charter schools
Katie LannanState House News Service
BOSTON — This year's round of charter school applications came to an end on Tuesday, with no new charters granted.
By statute, charter approval requests come before the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education at its February meeting. Three groups submitted prospectuses for potential charter schools to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education last August, and two of those — Equity Lab Charter School in Lawrence and Massachusetts Wildflower Montessori Public Charter School: Haverhill — were invited to submit full applications.
Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley told the board at its Tuesday meeting that the applicants behind Equity Lab withdrew their request on Jan. 31, before he reached his final decision, and that he was not recommending Wildflower Montessori for approval, citing concerns around governance, management and special education.
Riley said the Wildflower proposal had strong elements but did not "substantially meet our approval criteria."
"It's an unusual year for us in that no new charters are going forward," Riley said.
In a memo to the board, Riley wrote that Massachusetts has one of the strongest charter sectors in the country and that the state "has earned its reputation of holding charter applicants (as well as applicants for renewal or expansion of a charter) to a high standard for approval."
There are 82 charter schools in Massachusetts, serving more than 45,000 students, according to the Department of Elementary Education.
Charter schools are publicly funded and operate with more autonomy than traditional district schools. A ballot question that would have lifted the charter school enrollment cap failed in 2016, with 62 percent of voters opposing the cap lift.
Riley said he has received letters indicating some people believe the defeat of the ballot question stopped the charter process in Massachusetts entirely. "That is not the case," he said.
"The bottom line is that we want great seats at great schools for our kids," Riley said.
One of the main criticisms raised by opponents to the ballot question — that charters can drain resources from district schools because a student's share of state funding follows them if they leave a district for a charter school — bubbled up during Tuesday's meeting, as board members approved a 56-seat expansion request for Excel Academy Charter School in Chelsea.
Excel Academy, which has campuses in Chelsea and East Boston, has a current enrollment of 1,297 students in grades five through 12, and 1,089 students on a waiting list, according to board documents.
The board previously set a limit on Excel's Boston enrollment at 748 students, and the 56-seat increase approved Tuesday would not change that cap.
"The school's waitlist demonstrates sufficient Chelsea demand to support the proposed increase in enrollment," Riley wrote in his recommendation for approval. "Chelsea residents account for 10 percent, or 155 students, and 13 percent, or 204 students, of the school's waitlists in March 2017 and March 2018, respectively."
The expansion request was approved on a 7-4 vote, with board members Ed Doherty, Mary Ann Stewart and Margaret McKenna and Vice Chair James Morton opposed.
Morton, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston, said he was "deeply troubled by the dilemma that I think we get placed in every time there's a charter proposal in front of us."
"We find ourselves in a position of diverting resources from one opportunity to another without ever really addressing the underlying issue, which is finding some other source of funding for charter schools so that we can have both our public school children getting what they need and our charter school children having an opportunity to attend charter schools that might be a Montessori school that addresses the way they particularly might learn," he said. "It's going to get pretty close to the moment where I vote against anything until we deal with that underlying issue, and I think that moment is today."
Chairman Paul Sagan said he did not think it would be appropriate if the board took the students who would be affected by the Excel expansion and "made them hostage" to broader questions around school funding, which he said are largely legislative issues the board is not "empowered to solve."
Lawmakers this session will have the opportunity to consider various education finance reform plans, including one offered by Gov. Charlie Baker that includes changes to how districts are reimbursed for charter tuition.
Riley also offered the board a brief update on the status of the Alma del Mar Charter School expansion in New Bedford. Last month, the board approved a plan that would allow Alma del Mar to open a new campus that would draw students from a neighborhood zone created by the New Bedford Public Schools instead of using a citywide lottery. The plan requires legislative approval before it can be implemented.
Riley said the education department is working with the "local partners" to help develop potential legislative language "which would be necessary to get across the finish line."
He said he is "optimistic" the required local approval for a memorandum of understanding and for the conveyance of New Bedford's former Kempton Elementary School facility to Alma del Mar would be secured before the board's March 26 meeting.
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To receive news and publication updates for Complexity, enter your email address in the box below.
Volume 2018, Article ID 9672849, 15 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9672849
The Resilience of Public Policies in Economic Development
Gonzalo Castañeda1 and Omar A. Guerrero2,3,4
1Centro de Investigación y Docencia Economica (CIDE), Mexico
2The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
3Department of Economics and STEaPP, University College London, UK
4CABDyN Complexity Centre, University of Oxford, UK
Correspondence should be addressed to Omar A. Guerrero; moc.liamg@rerreugo
Received 3 April 2018; Accepted 2 August 2018; Published 2 October 2018
Academic Editor: Claudio Tessone
Copyright © 2018 Gonzalo Castañeda and Omar A. Guerrero. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This paper studies the resilience of public policies that governments design for catalyzing economic development. This property depends on the extent to which behavioral heuristics and spillover effects allow policymakers to attain their original goals when a particular policy cannot be funded as originally planned. This scenario takes place, for example, when unanticipated events such as natural disasters or political turmoil obstruct the use of resources to advance certain policy issues, e.g., infrastructure or labor reforms. Here, we analyze how the adaptive capacity of the policy-making process generates resilience in the face of disruptions. In order to estimate the allocation of resources across policies, we employ a computational model that accounts for diverse social mechanisms, for example, coevolutionary learning and network interdependencies. In our simulations, we use a data set of 117 countries on 79 development indicators over an 11-year period. Then, we calculate a resilience score corresponding to each development indicator via counter-factual analysis of policy disruptions. Next, we assess whether some development strategies produce resilient/fragile policy profiles. Finally, by studying the relationship between policy resilience and policy priority, we determine which issues are bottlenecks to economic development.
Most economists are largely concerned with designing efficient policies for firms and the public sector but much less preoccupied of why certain strategies fail when facing adverse situations. Their focus on the optimal allocation of resources has, on one hand, an ontological explanation since—in the neoclassical view—governments and firms are assumed to have the capacity to control the performance of a system or organization [1]. On the other hand, there is an epistemological explanation since economic theories are deductive constructions built on agents maximizing objective functions that are specified in well-defined problems. These features become evident in the most well-known textbook definition of economics, e.g., “the study of rational behaviors dealing with multiple objectives and limited resources that can be used for alternative purposes” [rephrasing [2]].
Unfortunately, the rational conception of economics—where consumers, firms, and governments are centrally coordinated through equilibria—does not allow for a clear understanding of why firms, policies, and economies fail. That is, the study of resilience in human-made systems is not possible without a decentralized systemic view. The concept of resilience has different connotations depending on the field of inquiry (e.g., physics, ecology, economics, sociology, or psychology). In this paper, we use a definition that is compatible with the problem of policy-making and development: “Resilience is the [adaptive] capacity of a system, enterprise, or a person to maintain its core purpose and integrity in the face of dramatically changed circumstances” ([3], p. 7).
Under the lens of complexity science, explanations for the failure of economies and their resilience come to light. This is so because complexity builds on the idea that agents within a system and systems themselves are interconnected; hence, they are not fully decomposable [4, 5]. Thus, it is possible for a moderate perturbation on a subpopulation to permeate throughout the system and influence its overall performance with—sometimes—catastrophic consequences. Complexity, however, is not only about connectivity but also about diversity and adaptation. These properties stem from the evolutionary nature of economic systems. With these properties, economies are equipped to respond to adverse events or failures of their components. On one hand, diversity allows a system to generate alternative solutions to the ones impaired by a failure. On the other, adaptation allows agents to react by updating their objectives and strategies when the environment changes.
In this paper, we study the resilience of transformative public policies. A policy is transformative when it is designed to generate a change in a specific issue in order to reach a goal. For example, if the goal is to decrease infant mortality by 50%, a transformative public policy is the construction of hospitals in marginalized communities, while a nontransformative one is the expenditure to maintain the current health infrastructure. When countries attempt to reach a large set of goals simultaneously, resilience arises from the evolutionary nature of the process where policies are designed and implemented. The work of [6] (hereon refer to as CCG) provides a framework to model such process as a behavioral game between a central authority (government) and public functionaries (bureaucrats) on a network of policy spillovers. For a country, the estimated “allocation profile”—i.e., the evolved distribution of resources across policy issues—can be thought of as a consistent (or relatively efficient) package. In this political economy game, the government tries to make the best use of its budget, while bureaucrats may divert some of the allocated funds for a personal gain (i.e., corruption). Hence, rather than modelling agents designing an optimal budgetary allocation, we estimate the emergent allocation profile.
In order to study resilience, we estimate the alternative allocation profiles that emerge in the pretense of adverse events. The intuition is that it is not always feasible to implement the allocation profile estimated for an economic setting that is free of unexpected adversities. These adversities occur when resources initially intended for a transformative policy have to be reassigned to a different purpose. For instance, improving health facilities is put on hold because fighting an epidemic outbreak consumes a large share of resources from the ministry of health; a labor reform has to be postponed when the affected unions sabotage its implementation; an expansion of the highway system is cancelled because recovering from a natural disaster requires substantial resources for repairing damaged infrastructure.
An estimated allocation profile depends on the goals of the government. Consistent with the literature of economic development, we assume that those targets are drawn from exemplary countries. That is, a government determines its goals by imitating the development indicators of a more advanced nation. We term these adopted targets a development mode. Resilience is measured by estimating the allocation profile of a development mode when one of its public policies is exogenously suspended, which we call a disruption. Therefore, resilience is the capacity of the system to maintain the evolution of socioeconomic indicators in line with a prespecified development mode. For a single country, the allocation profiles corresponding to each development mode allow estimating the expected time of convergence to targets. Significant deviations from the expectation indicate whether a policy is resilient or fragile. In this sense, resilience is not the property of being able to recover the initial condition of a system but rather its capability of continuing to fulfill its goals when facing adverse circumstances.
Resilience analysis allows us to compare not only policy issues but also allocation profiles. For example, a country like Mexico may have different options of development modes (Canada, Singapore, France, etc.); however, some allocation profiles may be more resilient than others. Therefore, assessing the feasibility of a development mode is not only an exercise about costs and benefits but also of endurance to adverse events. This analysis is significantly enriched when considering the priority that governments assign to specific policy issues (i.e., the amount of resources allocated). For instance, a policy issue that is not resilient may hinder the possibility of reaching the targets set by the government. If such a policy receives a low priority from the government, the outcomes in terms of economic development may be worse than expected. In other words, policies with poor resilience and low priority act as bottlenecks to economic development. Identifying these bottlenecks is paramount to development studies. Ironically, due to the rational-equilibrium epistemology of neoclassical economics, there are no adequate quantitative tools for this purpose. Our work fills this gap and provides a well-suited analytic tool.
The rest of the paper is structured with five more sections. In the second section, we frame our approach in the literature of policy resilience. In the third section, we present the data used to calibrate our model. In the fourth section, we provide an overview of the CCG model for analyzing the policy-making process and explain how allocation profiles and their resilience are estimated. In the fifth section, we show the results of our estimations for three country cases and a more detailed description of aggregate outcomes for the entire database. Finally, in the sixth section, we discuss the benefits of complexity tools for studying resilience and summarize our main findings.
2. On the Nature of Resilience and Policy-Making
This paper studies the resilience of public policies that are formulated through a process of adaptation and learning. (It is neither about a system’s architecture nor of policy tools that can improve the resilience of a particular system (e.g., ecological, environmental, transportation, regional, social, financial, urban, organizational, productive, and business).) It explores the likelihood of failure in the pursuit of specific development modes, independently of how this mode was originally established (e.g., internal political agreements, imitating successful countries, through international consensus, or from pressures of the civil society). This is a relevant and intriguing question since the evaluation of society’s (or government’s) aspirations requires to estimate the reachability of alternative standards. In the related literature, this approach falls under the umbrella of policy resilience at the process level. This literature refers to the institutional and procedural features of policy-making that are in place when an unanticipated shock disrupts a socioeconomic system [7]. In this respect, resilience should be of great concern in setting a societal agenda (development modes) and in formulating an allocation profile that is coherent with such agenda.
The policy process relates to three mechanisms. First, it has to do with the governance of decision-making (e.g., stakeholder participation, institutional accountability, and multilevel and polycentric architectures). Second, it relates to the functionaries’ capability of harnessing information for producing workable policies (e.g., involvement of nonstate actors with specialized expertise, a culture of evidence-based decision-making). Third, it deals with the administrative capacity of public officials at the local (or agency) level so that policies can be implemented rapidly and with certain degree of flexibility (e.g., well-designed protocols, use of transparent rules, mechanisms for conflict resolution among agencies, and a well-functioning system for the monitoring and sanctioning of corruption).
The political economy game developed by CCG incorporates important aspects of this policy-making process, emphasizing the distinction between design and implementation. For example, it specifies the mechanisms for the misuse of budgetary allocations by bureaucrats. Accordingly, we employ this model to study how the disruption of a public policy modifies the distribution of resources allocated to the remaining policies, while maintaining the original set of goals. This is a resilience problem because the policy-making process is able to readjust the allocation profile without losing its ability to fulfill the government’s agenda (i.e., it is a dynamic property of the system). A related but different concept is robustness. In the literature of complexity, robustness refers to the ability of a system to keep working when some components fail (e.g., an edge in a network). Sometimes, robustness occurs due to the redundancy of components, paths, and functions [8]. Clearly, robustness is a static property of the system since it is not intended to capture the adaptive nature of an economy (it only considers connectivity and diversity).
In recent years, we have witnessed an explosion of quantitative methodologies for analyzing the resilience and robustness of socioeconomic systems [9, 10]. However, the literature of policy analysis at the process level is mainly qualitative [11–13]. Consequently, the tools and recommendations in this line of research are based solely on case studies and on an informal treatment of complexity. In order to develop a quantitative framework at the process level, it is convenient to construct a calibrated model on how policies are endogenously designed and implemented. This is precisely our approach. First, we build a computational political economy game. Then, we perform Monte Carlo simulations to estimate allocation profiles and resilience scores. Finally, we analyze the outcomes in terms of countries, socioeconomic indicators, development modes, and bottlenecks.
The data consist of annual observations of 79 policy indicators for 117 countries, covering the 2006–2016 period. Three secondary sources are used to build this database: the Global Competitiveness Report produced by the World Economic Forum, the World Development Indicators, and the World Governance Indicators, being the latter two assembled by the World Bank. Following CCG, we normalize these indicators so that the worst possible outcome takes a value of 0, while the best value is 1 across countries and years.
We synthesize this information by grouping the 79 development indicators in 13 commonly used pillars. To illustrate the data structure, we pool countries into four clusters by similarity in their development indicators (with cluster 1 being the most advanced and cluster 4 the least). We identify the clusters of countries by applying Ward’s method with the L2 (Euclidean) norm as the distance metric across the 79 indicators. Figure 1 shows that, in general, more advanced nations have higher levels of development indicators. The large gap between the clusters 1 and 2 denotes the middle-income development trap.
Figure 1: Gaps in socioeconomic indicators between development clusters in 2016. The X-axis corresponds to development indicators, organized by development pillar. The wider the shaded area, the more development indicators within the corresponding pillar. For countries without observations for 2016, we take the most recent one.
3.1. Spillover Network
An important component of the CCG model is a network of spillovers between public policies that accounts for well-known interdependencies between policy issues [14–16]. Empirically, this network is estimated from partial correlations between development indicators at the level of each country. Therefore, we estimate one network for each country. Arguably, a network topology reflects the socioeconomic conditions in a specific nation. We employ a two-step empirical strategy developed in the estimation of neural networks from functional magnetic resonance imaging data [17, 18]. First, we apply the method of triangulated maximally filtered graphs (TMFG) [19] to estimate which pairs of indicators have significant relationships. Then, we determine the edges’ directions (inferred causality) through the likelihood-ratios method developed by [20]. The field of network estimation has various different methods, without a broad consensus on a gold standard. Each method assumes a specific underlying model and is designed for data with certain properties. Our methodological choice is based on the applicability of this strategy to high-dimensional time series of short length. However, as new and better methods emerge, we expect further improvements to our estimations.
4. Methods
We use the CCG model in order to simulate the policy-making process through a behavioral game with two types of agents: a central authority (government) and public servants (functionaries or bureaucrats). Firstly, the government allocates resources to different public policies, with the aim of improving the indicators associated to their respective policy issues. Secondly, functionaries in charge of implementing these policies have incentives to divert public funds for personal gain. This game takes place on a spillover network. These spillovers encourage free-riding and reinforce a misalignment between the government’s and functionaries’ incentives. (See [6] for a detailed interpretation of the model’s equations and different validation tests).
4.1. Evolution of Development Indicators
There are policy issues in the economy, each one with an indicator that measures its level of development. As a government invests resources in a policy issue, its indicator grows, i.e., the investment accumulates. This means that, when the government sets a target for policy issue , indicator will reach after a number of periods. Hence, the dynamics describing the evolution of are given by where captures the effectiveness of policy-making in a specific country; is the contribution of bureaucrat (see explanation in next section), and is the adjacency matrix of the spillovers network (a weighted directed graph).
4.2. The Learning Process of Public Servants
In a given period , a public servant receives resources from the central authority and uses effectively in the implementation of the public policy. Hence, is the level of corruption of , while the level of ’s indicator gives him (or her) political status. Then, in order to determine the impact of this contribution, the bureaucrat evaluates the change in benefits expressed through where is an indicator function derived from the supervision of the central authority, and is a map from the indicator of rule of law to a probability. In the CCG model, a period should not be interpreted as time, since the method does not aim at reproducing time series. Instead, it should be interpreted as the realization of events such as budgetary readjustments. Hence, if it takes more periods to reach one set of goals than another, we say that the former are more difficult to attain than the latter.
We assume that the government cannot observe the functionaries’ contributions directly, although larger diversions of funds are more difficult to hide. Hence, we model government supervision as a random variable . The outcome is 1 if the public servant in policy issue is caught diverting public funds and zero otherwise. Then, the probability mass function of at time is where is a function mapping the indicator of control of corruption to a probability.
Note that captures the efforts from the central authority to detect corrupt officials. Meanwhile, reflects the capability of the state to punish officials involved in these activities. These two mechanisms describe different constraints that governments face when fighting corruption. To be more specific, and take the form where for the rule of law, or for control of corruption.
The contribution of functionary is determined by where is the most recent change in benefits, and is the sign function such that
That is, functionaries’ contributions increase when higher (or lower) past benefits coincide with higher (or lower) past contributions. Therefore, as time goes by, bureaucrats learn the level of corruption that gives them certain confidence of keeping the benefits derived from their public post.
4.3. The Adaptive Behavior of the Central Authority
The government’s problem consists in deciding how to allocate its limited resources to a large set of policies. Its objective is to reduce the gap between the current indicators () and their targets (), where the latter come from a previously selected development mode. Formally, the government’s multidimensional problem is
Resource allocations are the control variables of the central authority. We call a specific configuration of these variables an allocation profile. These packages of policies are the key endogenous variables to be simulated by the model. The amount of resources that the government can invest per period in a profile is restricted by where denotes noncommitted resources of the central authority. It is important to clarify that the resources involved in this problem are those destined to transformative policies, not public expenditure committed to previously established purposes (e.g., highway maintenance, agricultural subventions, and payment of public debt).
Each time step, the central authority determines an allocation profile and evaluates the gap between targets and observed indicators. The amount of resources allocated to policy issue is determined by where is the propensity of assigning resources to policy , defined as where is the number of outgoing connections of node , also known as its out-degree. Here, the out-degree captures the centrality or importance of a policy issue for the country. Hence, the government does not know the structure of the network but has a proxy of the relevance of each policy issue.
Finally, the amount of resources allocated to policy is
This component of the policy-making process indicates that the government’s behavior is adaptive. That is, resources are redistributed when undesired events such as the detection of corruption materialize.
4.4. Algorithm
Once the political economy game is formulated mathematically, an agent-based model is programmed with Algorithm 1. Note that, for each simulation, four endogenous variables are obtained: public servants’ contributions and benefits, government’s allocations, and society’s development indicators. A simulation halts when a convergence criterion is met for all indicators. The combination of a coevolutionary learning process, the diversity of conditions that bureaucrats face, and the network of policy spillovers requires computational simulation.
Algorithm 1: Computation implementation.
4.5. Estimation of Allocation Profiles
Each country in the data set can adopt development modes of nations with (1) a higher GDP per capita (adjusted for purchasing power parity) and (2) a higher average level of development indicators. This means that, for the sample of 117 countries, there are more than 6000 combinations of country-mode pairs (e.g., RUS-CAN stands for Russia adopting the Canada development mode). We estimate the allocation profiles of each of these pairs, assuming no policy disruptions. For a given pair, a single allocation profile consists of the intertemporal averages , where is the number of periods before converging to the targets. For the same pair, we perform Monte Carlo simulations and compute the average allocation profile . Each simulation is calibrated by imputing the empirical values of the country’s development indicators in 2016 (the initial conditions), the estimated network of spillovers, the values of the adopted mode’s development indicators in 2016 (the targets), and the budget constrain obtained from an indicator on public expenditure as a fraction of GDP.
In order to provide inference on aggregate metrics, we calibrate parameter to fit our endogenous variable of corruption () to the observed levels of an empirical indicator on the diversion of public funds. This is done through a clustering algorithm that classifies all countries into different categories of (see details in [6]). Once the model has been calibrated, we obtain the average allocation profile for a set of Monte Carlo simulations. The purpose of estimating these profiles is to obtain the relative priorities that governments give to different policies under each development mode, which we use in this paper to identify bottlenecks.
For illustration purposes, Figure 2 presents the estimated policy profiles for three different country-mode pairs. From this example, we infer that policy priorities depend on the specific pair, which highlights the relevance of context in the design and implementation of policies. Likewise, we can conclude that the coherence of the allocation profile, and not the strength of isolated policies, is what really matters to achieve development goals.
Figure 2: Average allocation profiles of three country cases.
4.6. Estimation of Resilience
The strategy to assess the resilience of an individual policy is to measure the effect of disrupting its budgetary allocation. This exercise describes a scenario where the central authority of a country is forced to put off the implementation of a transformative policy due to an unexpected event. In the context of our behavioral game, the disruption of a transformative policy in issue precludes it from receiving sustained allocations. Aware of this disruption, the government adapts and modifies its policy priorities in an attempt to reach the targets specified by the chosen development mode. In other words, this “change of plans” alters the coevolutionary learning process between central authority and functionaries, and, hence, the dynamics through which the indicators reach all their targets. More formally, assume that policy has been disrupted ( for all ). Let denote the time it takes for indicator to converge to its target while has been disrupted. Then, the adjusted convergence time induced by a disruption of is where takes into account the fact that, by disrupting an indicator with a large initial gap, the average convergence time becomes shorter. The fact that a policy issue is not receiving direct investments does not inhibit the possibility that the level of its associated indicator can increase. On the contrary, this is likely to happen because there are spillover effects among policies.
As we previously discussed, resilience is a dynamic property of a system. This means that the effect of disrupting a particular public policy needs to be measured beyond the budgetary consequences of setting . In other words, a policy is said to be resilient if the corresponding adjusted convergence time is lower than the expectation from removing direct investments from . In contrast, the policy is said to be fragile if its adjusted convergence time is higher. (A direct comparison of convergence times between the complete and the disrupted models is not informative. This is so because it is not possible to isolate the effect of the disrupted policy due to the adaptive nature of the model. That is, the complete model has N objectives and the disrupted has N-1, rendering any comparison useless without a normalization that accounts for the effect of the disrupted policy.)
Our proxy to measure the direct budgetary effects on convergence time is , the average allocation to policy issue obtained from the model without disruptions. Note that, by (11), and are positively correlated. Therefore, if the model was purely driven by budgetary effects, a relationship between and would be almost perfect (although not necessarily linear). Deviations from the expectation of such relationship denote evidence of resilience and fragility. Allow us to illustrate this with a hypothetical example. Figure 3 shows artificial data about the positive relationship between and . The solid line represents the estimated relationship, i.e., the expected budgetary effect on the adjusted convergence time. The dots above the confidence interval denote fragile policy issues because their disruption increase convergence time more than expected. The dots under the interval correspond to resilient policies. Finally, the policy issues inside the interval are undefined because they are explained by the budgetary effect.
Figure 3: Hypothetical identification of resilient/fragile policies.
Figure 3 exemplifies the importance of a systemic approach to public policy. The points away from the expectation capture the effects derived from the coevolutionary dynamics of the model and the network. Given that each country can choose between multiple development modes and that it has a unique combination of network topology, initial conditions, and institutional factors, the relationship to be estimated for each country is where and are the parameters to be estimated via nonlinear least squares. Then, we construct our resilience score of policy as follows where and denote the lower and upper bounds of the estimated confidence interval. For clarity in the exposition of our results, the positive value of this score indicates that the corresponding policy is resilient (below the curve), while the negative value denotes that the policy is fragile (above the curve).
We estimate the 79 disrupted allocation profiles of each country-mode pair (for each of the 79 cases of disruption in a country-mode pair, we performed 30 Monte Carlo simulations). For an individual country , we pool all the outputs from simulating the adoption of all the development modes that can follow. Then, we fit the curve in (14) to these outputs. Although we do not display confidence intervals in our plots (due to their narrowness), all our results were calculated considering an interval of 95% confidence. This curve provides the expected adjusted convergence time when cuts its budget allocation to a disrupted policy with certain level of priority. When the convergence time from disrupting a policy deviates significantly from this expectation, it suggests resilience or fragility.
First, we provide an aggregate example in Figure 4 by fitting (14) to the pooled outputs of all the country-mode pairs. (The time variable in the vertical axis is normalized by the sum of adjusted convergence times of all perturbations in the profile, while the priorities in the horizontal axis are normalized by the country’s budget .) This aggregate exercise is useful to show the general structure of convergence times and relative priorities. Note that the simulated points produce a nonlinear fit, so resilient policies are those below the curve, while fragile ones lie above it. Many policies exhibit low relative priorities and short convergence times when disrupted. On the other hand, fewer have large budgetary allocations while, at the same time, produce long convergence times. The inset panel shows the distribution of deviations from the curve. This shows that most of the points are well explained by budgetary effects.
Figure 4: Expected convergence time from budgetary effects for all country-modes pairs. The inset panel shows the deviations from the fitted curve.
5.1. The Importance of Spillovers
Our next aggregate result highlights the importance of spillover effects on the simulation outcomes. Network effects on node-level dynamic were already identified by [6], who showed that more incoming spillovers induce lower contributions. Then, in the context of resilience, a straightforward demonstration of these effects is through the adjusted convergence time when the allocation on issue is disrupted. Figure 5 shows this metric aggregated by countries (Figure 5(a)) and by indicators (Figure 5(b)). That is, the dots represent average values across simulation runs and development modes for all indicators and for all countries, respectively. In each panel, the estimates have been obtained from the full model, incorporating spillover effects, and from an incomplete version where we deactivate all interactions among policy issues.
Figure 5: Estimations for the adjusted convergence times in models with and without spillovers. (a) Aggregation by country (sorted by ). (b) Aggregation by indicator (sorted by ).
Figure 5(a) shows that the simulations generate significantly different convergence times for most countries when we remove spillovers. Notice that, in most cases, the adjusted convergence time is lower when countries have spillover effects. This indicates that network effects tend to be beneficial for reaching development goals, independently of disrupted public policies. In some cases, however, this does not occur due to different mechanisms. In our view, an intuitive explanation for an increase in convergence time due to spillover effects has to do with the reallocation of resources. For example, it is possible that—for some countries and development modes—redistributing resources from a disrupted issue to other policies generates biases in favor of nodes with relatively fewer outgoing spillovers. Under these circumstances, it may seem as if the presence of spillovers is detrimental for reaching the targets. Interestingly, we find that these cases tend to be advanced nations, suggesting that spillover effects are more beneficial (at least in a more direct way) in developing countries. Of course, second order effects might also contribute to this phenomenon.
In Figure 5(b), we can see that, by removing the spillovers, the adjusted convergence time varies modestly between indicators. This is expected since, in the absence of a network, indicators evolve only through the contributions of their bureaucrats. In this case, most of the empirical variation comes from the different budget constraints across countries. Since indicator-level aggregations include all countries, this variation is not observed across indicators. Therefore, spillovers provide an important source of heterogeneity to study resilience at the aggregate level of each indicator.
5.2. Simulation Results for Three Countries
Out of the 117 countries in the data set, we select three to estimate (14). These countries are in significantly different stages of development, for example, Mexico is considered a high-middle income country (cluster 2), Albania is lower-middle (cluster 3), and Nigeria is low (cluster 4).
Figure 6 shows the pooled outputs of all the country-mode pairs for each of the three cases. To be more precise, each dot in Figure 6(a) corresponds to and when is disrupted in a specific development mode that Mexico can adopt. That is, there are 79 dots for each development mode. Here, we highlight the dots corresponding to the most resilient development mode (in blue) and to the least one (in orange). The resilience of a country-mode pair is measured through the average resilience score from its 79 disrupted policies. High resilience at the level of an allocation profile does not imply that all policies are resilient. It means that a country adopting a particular development mode has better chances at reaching its targets below the expected time.
Figure 6: The most (blue) and the least (orange) resilient development modes for three countries. The majority of orange dots are not visible because they are covered by the blue ones. Gray dots refer to other development modes.
Figure 7 shows the outcome of a similar exercise, this time, highlighting the indicators with the highest and the lowest average resilience scores across development modes. The blue (orange) dots highlight the most (least) resilient indicator across different development modes. In the Mexican case, the most fragile issue falls into the pillar of public governance, while the most resilient belongs to the pillar of cost of doing business. For Albania, the most resilient indicator corresponds to the R&D innovation pillar and the most fragile to the financial market development pillar. In the case of Nigeria, the most fragile issue relates to the pillar of infrastructure while the most resilient is part of the health pillar. These findings illustrate two important facts: (i) a disaggregated analysis is very important because some policy issues within a development mode can be very resilient while others can be extremely fragile, and (ii) a particular policy issue can be highly resilient (or fragile) for a country, no matter which development mode is adopted.
Figure 7: The most (blue) and the least (orange) resilient development indicators for three countries.
Finally, Figure 8(a)–8(c) show which ones are the most and the least resilient development pillars. The resilience of a pillar measures the average score of its corresponding indicators (or policy issues) across all development modes adoptable by a country. For the Mexican case, public governance is the most fragile pillar while infrastructure is the most resilient. Interestingly, the most resilient (fragile) pillar contains indicators that are rather fragile (resilient), highlighting the importance of disaggregation. This also occurs in the other two cases but with different pillars. For Albania, the most fragile pillar is health, and the most resilient is R&D innovation. This picture is completely reversed for Nigeria. This is an interesting result since, intuitively, one would expect health to be fragile. The Nigerian case is special because the effect on convergence time is largely dominated by the gap between initial conditions and targets. In fact, Nigeria exhibits a disproportionate indicator-target gap of its health-related indicators, which makes it a high-priority pillar (due to (11)), as shown in Figure 2. In contrast, for example, Mexico’s top pillar—public governance—is the most fragile. This highlights the importance of context specificity and the interactions between initial conditions, targets, and spillovers.
Figure 8: The most (blue) and the least (orange) resilient development pillars for three countries.
5.3. A Global View of Resilience
In this section, we provide a global perspective of resilience by computing average scores at the level of development pillars and indicators. The purpose of this section is to understand how, across all the countries in the sample, certain policy issues tend to be fragile or resilient. These global averages are obtained from all the country-mode estimations. In other words, these results should be interpreted as the level of resilience that we should expect if we were to study a policy issue in a hypothetical country with the average characteristics of the population.
Figure 9 shows the average resilience scores at the level of development pillars. The top three most resilient pillars are governance of firms, technological readiness, and cost of doing business. In contrast, the three most fragile pillars (negative resilience scores) are infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, and business sophistication. Note that, due to the dominance of laggard economies in the country population, these estimates are biased towards developing countries. Nevertheless, if we pick a country at random, these are the expected levels of resilience to be found in each development pillar.
Figure 9: Average resilience by development pillar.
Figure 10 presents the average resilience scores at the level of each development indicator. Once more, the bar diagram highlights the importance of a disaggregated analysis. For instance, Figure 9 indicates that the macroeconomic environment pillar is rather fragile, yet in Figure 10, we can see that the inflation indicator is resilient. This is particularly interesting given the generalized notion that controlling inflation is central for economic development. This result, in contrast, suggests that this policy issue is not critical to attain the rest of the development goals. This is coherent with the idea of incorporating more diverse development goals in the international agenda. For example, one of the drivers behind the Sustainable Development Goals has been a critical position towards the narrow scope of the Millennium Development Project, which focused almost exclusively in economic outcomes. In fact, most development pillars have at least one indicator with the opposite classification (resilient/fragile). The top five most resilient indicators are time to resolve insolvency, time required to enforce a contract, government procurement of advanced tech. products, survival to age 65 (male), and adolescent fertility rate, with two of them belonging to the pillar of cost of doing business and two more to health. The top five most fragile indicators are business cost of crime and violence, infant mortality rate, tuberculosis cases, quality of port infrastructure, and quality of roads, with two of them belonging to the health pillar and two more to infrastructure.
Figure 10: Average resilience by development indicator.
5.4. Bottlenecks and Sturdy Policy Issues
One of the key challenges in development is the identification of policy issues that act as binding constraints to development [21–23]. In other words, there exist certain policy issues that act as bottlenecks, so their identification can make policy design substantially more effective. In our context, bottlenecks are fragile policy issues that receive a low relative priority by the central authority. Put it differently, these are policies where the central authority does not invest large sums, and, ironically, their disruption lowers the chances of attaining the goals of a chosen development mode.
Another important concept is sturdiness. We say that a policy issue is sturdy when it is a prime objective of the central authority, and, nonetheless, it is very resilient to disruptions. This paradoxical scenario is explained by two important features of the policy-making process. On the one hand, the adaptability of the agents involved in the design and implementation of policies (governments and public functionaries) allows a proper reallocation of resources from the original priorities to alternative policies which, in turn, mitigate negative impacts. On the other hand, the network of interdependent policies helps to improve the performance of an indicator even if it does not receive direct contributions from the general budget.
In order to identify bottlenecks and sturdy policies, we isolate those points that fall in the 5th and 95th percentiles of relative priorities. Bottlenecks are fragile policies in the 5th percentile, while sturdy ones are resilient issues in the 95th. Once isolated, we calculate the overall score of the bottlenecks (which is negative) and sturdy policies (positive) at the levels of pillars and development indicators. The overall score consists of summing the indicator-level scores. The reason for a sum, and not an average, is that the sum takes into account the frequency with which a policy appears in bottleneck or sturdy issues across all country-mode pairs. Figure 11 shows the overall scores of bottlenecks and sturdy policies in each development pillar.
Figure 11: Bottlenecks and sturdy policy overall scores by development pillars. Bottlenecks: fragile policies in the 5th percentile of relative priorities. Sturdy: resilient policies in the 95th percentile of relative priorities.
The first thing to notice in Figure 11 is the large difference in the number of cases between bottlenecks and sturdy policies, being the latter much more frequent. This pattern emerges from the learning and adaptive behavior of the agents. It means that the adaptive nature of the policy-making process reduces the number of scenarios where adverse events hinder economic development. The second feature is that the sturdiest indicators belong to the pillars of business sophistication, financial market development, and governance of firms. On the other hand, the most critical bottlenecks belong to the pillars of business sophistication, public governance, health, and infrastructure.
Figure 12 presents a similar visualization, disaggregated by development indicators. Here, the sturdiest policy issues are control of international distribution, venture capital availability, financing through local equity market, buyer sophistication, and ethical behavior of firms. In contrast, the most critical bottlenecks are production process sophistication, value chain breadth, extent of staff training, university-industry collaboration, and business impact of HIV/AIDS. The reason why an indicator can be sturdy and a bottleneck at the same time is that resilience scores may be differ significantly between country-mode pairs. Figure 13 in the appendix presents another visualization at the level of the development pillars but disaggregated into countries.
Figure 12: Sturdy policies and bottlenecks by development indicators. Bottlenecks: fragile policies in the 5th percentile of relative priorities. Sturdy: resilient policies in the 95th percentile of relative priorities.
The quantitative study of prioritization and resilience of public policies demands a systemic approach in order to provide rigorous guidelines for policy advice. Traditional methods such as regression analyses, growth diagnostics, and benchmarking are severely limited for this purpose because they neglect the fundamental systemic qualities of any economy. These include the interdependencies between policies, the importance of societal context (i.e., initial conditions, structure, and development modes to pursue), the multiobjective goal-seeking behavior of governments, and political economy considerations that produce misaligned incentives. In this paper, we develop a complexity approach that overcomes these limitations and use it to understand the phenomenon of resilience in public policy.
Our framework allows identifying the allocation profiles that an adaptive government selects—through a behavioral game—in an attempt to reach the multiple targets of a prespecified development mode. These profiles are established in an environment where public functionaries in charge of implementing policies learn how to divert public funds. Thus, by modelling the policy-making process, our methodology is capable of analyzing the adaptive nature of resilience in policy issues when facing adverse events.
By disturbing the resource allocation to specific policy issues, we obtain multiple results that help us to understand policy resilience. First, some policy issues are resilient (i.e., the development goals are reached earlier than expected) while others are fragile. Second, context matters because the level of resilience or fragility depends on the country’s initial conditions and the adopted development mode. Third, for specific countries, some policy issues prove to be resilient across development modes. Fourth, although some development pillars tend to be resilient for specific countries, it is common to find that at least one of its indicators is fragile. Fifth, there is a set of sturdy policy issues that combine high levels of resilience with large budget allocations. In contrast, fragile policies with low budgetary priority are identified as the bottlenecks to development. Overall, there are more sturdy policies than bottlenecks. However, the latter should raise some flags in the development strategies of governments, since they represent major impairments to the economic development of their nations.
Country-Level Analysis
Figure 13: Sturdy policies and bottlenecks by development indicators by country (sorted by purchasing power parity income per capita). Bottlenecks: fragile policies in the 5th percentile of relative priorities. Sturdy: resilient policies in the 95th percentile of relative priorities.
The data was obtained from public datasets from the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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Home> Publications & Directories> Perspectives on History> Issues> September 2015> From the National History Center> Rewriting the Revolution: The Decolonization Seminar Helps Forge a New Field
From the National History Center
Rewriting the Revolution: The Decolonization Seminar Helps Forge a New Field
Dane Kennedy | Sep 1, 2015
It is a wonderful thing to witness the birth of a new historical field. I’ve had the privilege to be party to such an event as a founding faculty member of the International Decolonization Seminar, which came to an end this summer after a remarkable 10-year run. Starting in 2006, each year the seminar brought 15 early-career historians to Washington, DC, where they spent the hot, steamy month of July exploring the incomparable resources of the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and other area research institutions, engaging in vigorous debates with faculty leaders and one another, and writing in-depth research papers that became the basis for countless articles, book and dissertation chapters, conference presentations, and other scholarship on decolonization. Over the past decade, the 150 seminar participants have helped to forge a new and vibrant field of study.
I do not mean to suggest that until the launch of the seminar historians had not noticed what Farina Mir has recently referred to as one of “the most significant events or processes of the 20th century.” Christopher Bayly, Frederick Cooper, John Darwin, and various other distinguished historians had already written important works on the subject. Wm. Roger Louis was arguably the leading authority on the British withdrawal from empire long before he envisioned the idea of the seminar and served as its director from start to finish.
Even so, a decade ago few historians saw decolonization as a distinct field of study. In the early years, most of the seminar participants identified themselves as historians of empire or the Cold War or particular countries or regions. But once they came together, they discovered that their individual research interests often overlapped, revealing common patterns and parallel trajectories. Perspectives were widened, insights gained, friendships forged, collaborations created, and an intellectual cohort brought into being. The international composition of the seminar proved especially valuable and generative. Participants came from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Malaysia, Portugal, Turkey, Singapore, and the United States. Each of them contributed particular experiences, skills, observations, and information to what became a common enterprise. Together they broke down cultural and intellectual barriers, enriching their own research and the field of decolonization as a whole.
What the seminar accomplished can be measured in a variety of ways. Seminar alumni have introduced new courses on the history of decolonization at their home institutions. They have organized panels at meetings of the American Historical Association, the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, the North American Conference of British Studies, and other scholarly venues. They have founded the H-Net listserv H-Decol. And, of course, they have published lots of books and articles, creating an intellectual synergy around the issue of decolonization that has become all but impossible to ignore.
Above all, the seminar alumni have contributed to a wholesale reassessment of decolonization—its causes, character, and consequences. When the seminar launched, the story of decolonization was told almost exclusively in terms of the political and diplomatic struggle between imperial states and anticolonial nationalists. This was an important story, to be sure, and it remains integral to our understanding of decolonization. But over the past decade, the range of issues that have attracted the attention of seminar participants has multiplied. Whereas many historians once believed decolonization took place mainly in the colonies, it is now recognized as having had an equally profound impact on imperial homelands. Formerly regarded as a moment of great rupture, it is now understood to have involved substantial continuities as well. Interest has increasingly shifted from the actions of states to the influence of international agencies like the United Nations, multinational conglomerates like Lonrho, and nongovernmental agencies like Oxfam.
Much recent research has also moved from the state to the local level, where decolonization’s experiential impact on peoples was more readily apparent and where factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and sexuality contributed to community mobilization and identity formation. The crucial issue of sovereignty—its nature, its scope, and the conditions and consequences of its transfer—is increasingly understood to have been far more variable, contested, and problematic than once supposed. This has helped spur greater interest in issues such as the drawing of borders, the expulsion of peoples, and the construction of national and subnational loyalties. Spatial, social, cultural, and other considerations now jockey with political ones for prominence in interpretations of decolonization.
Most early participants identified themselves as historians of empire, the Cold War, or particular countries or regions. But they discovered that their individual interests revealed common patterns and parallel trajectories.
When I joined the team of faculty that Roger Louis assembled for the inaugural seminar in 2006, I never imagined that it would last as long as it did or have such a profound impact on the study of decolonization. Nor, I suspect, did Roger or the other veteran seminar faculty: Philippa Levine (Univ. of Texas at Austin), Jason Parker (Texas A&M Univ.), Pillarisetti Sudhir (American Historical Association), and Marilyn Young (New York Univ.). Each of us brought a different expertise and set of interests to the seminar, which also benefited over the years from various guest faculty: Julia Clancy-Smith (Univ. of Arizona), John Darwin (Oxford Univ.), Jennifer Foray (Purdue Univ.), Joseph Miller (Univ. of Virginia), and Lori Watt (Washington Univ. in St. Louis). Parker, Foray, and Watt were themselves alumni of the seminar. I’m sure I speak for all of them when I say that it has been a rare privilege to be part of this seminar, getting to know so many talented young historians from so many different countries and bearing witness to their vibrant role in reshaping our understanding of decolonization.
Finally, it should be stressed that the seminar would not have been possible without the remarkable generosity of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which funded its 10-year run, and the wonderful hospitality of the Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, which provided the magnificent setting and support for our proceedings.
Dane Kennedy is director of the National History Center and author of Decolonization: A Very Short Introduction, forthcoming from Oxford University Press in March 2016.
Tags: From the National History Center
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Here's What Happens In The Original, Terrible 'Game Of Thrones' Pilot That Never Aired
We went to a small Texas library to track down the script. It's got everything from an unreleased Cersei scene to a really drunk Jon Snow.
By Bill Bradley, HuffPost US
LENA VARGAS AFANASIEVA FOR HUFFPOST
“One of the most painful experiences of my life.”
That’s how David Benioff once described seeing friends test-screen his and co-showrunner Dan Weiss’ original “Game of Thrones” pilot in 2010. After that viewing, more than 90 percent of the episode was supposedly reshot before it aired on HBO in April 2011, eventually leading to the phenomenon that the series is today.
But that first terrible, horrible, no good, very bad pilot ― called a “piece of shit” by the showrunners’ screenwriter friend Craig Mazin ― never saw the light of day. It became legend, something that could live only in Old Nan’s stories. Or so we thought.
It’s an oft-forgotten fact that George R.R. Martin, whose A Song of Ice and Fire novels serve as inspiration for “Game of Thrones,” has been depositing old copies of his writing to Texas A&M’s Cushing Memorial Library in College Station for more than two decades. He is said to have fallen in love with Cushing’s sci-fi collection and its archival system during visits to AggieCon as far back as the 1970s and decided to make the quiet spot in Texas a home for his massive catalog of original manuscripts.
The resulting collection at the library takes up multiple walls, the first of which is properly called the Wall. It’s a collection so vast, it’d make Samwell Tarly’s head spin, staffed by a team of dedicated librarians and professors who serve as a kind of Night’s Watch. Among the archive’s many files are manuscripts for the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, and ― as I learned during a trip to Texas over the summer ― a box containing a production draft of that painful “Game of Thrones” pilot.
An early version of the pilot script supposedly surfaced online years ago, but the script’s authenticity was never officially verified. No one seemed to know how similar it was to the rejected pilot that HBO shot or how much it differed; scripts often go through various rewrites, so the mysterious version floating around online could have been from any phase of revisions.
I had three days to spend in Texas, but it took only five minutes to realize the script online and the one at Cushing are different. There are reasons to believe that the version in Texas is similar to the pilot script that HBO shot: The production draft at Cushing is dated Oct. 22, 2009, right around the time the unaired pilot started filming. The Cushing script credits the unaired pilot’s original director, Tom McCarthy, who was later replaced in reshoots by Tim Van Patten. Plus, in terms of content, the Cushing script contains storylines that have been rumored to be in the unaired pilot script (as we’ll get into below) ― key story departures, dialogue alterations and location changes that cast the Seven Kingdoms in a different light.
“Game of Thrones” isn’t returning until April 2019, but fans are already bracing for a final season full of callbacks to early moments in the show, which will complete its eight-year “massive jigsaw puzzle,” as it was described by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who plays Jaime Lannister.
In advance of the season premiere, we exhaustively rummage through the secrets hidden in the pilot script from Martin’s collection, involving everything from an unreleased Cersei Lannister moment to a really drunk Jon Snow making a scene. Here’s what Westeros might have looked like if that “piece of shit” pilot had aired:
The Cersei scene that might ruffle some feathers
Let’s begin with a defining scene between King Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark in the Winterfell crypts.
The scene that aired on HBO is slightly different from the scene in the Cushing script, but the gist is the same. Robert asks Ned to be his new Hand of the King, a position left open after Jon Arryn’s death. That’s when Robert places something small but highly symbolic on a statue of his onetime betrothed, Lyanna Stark: a feather.
And that pretty much sums up the sequence you saw in Season 1:
But in the script found in the Cushing library, Queen Cersei plays a pivotal role in this exchange’s aftermath ― so much so that her involvement would have changed a Season 5 episode, the recent Season 8 teaser and possibly more.
The following scene is written into the pilot script found at Cushing and involves Cersei visiting the crypts right before the feast at Winterfell:
Cushing Memorial Library & Archives, Texas A&M University
Cersei exits the crypts, crosses the courtyard and walks into the antechamber between the kitchen and the Winterfell great hall. The celebration for the king’s arrival is underway, and servants are rushing past her with food. The queen’s handmaidens make adjustments to her outfit and remove her heavy fur.
Then Cersei reveals something she has inside her sleeve:
The episode that aired on HBO gave no indication that Cersei was aware of the feather Robert placed on Lyanna’s statue, let alone that she removed it to be burned.
Without this intervention, the feather goes on to play an important role in HBO’s recent Season 8 “Game of Thrones” teaser, falling to the ground as Jon Snow walks by and freezing when a wave of cold air rolls over it.
Even before that, the feather was featured in Season 5, Episode 4, “Sons of the Harpy,” when Sansa Stark visits the Winterfell crypts and comes across the token Robert placed on the statue years ago.
The series’ creators, Benioff and Weiss, acknowledged the feather’s station in the crypts to Making of Game of Thrones, explaining that, after all this time, the feather would surely still be there because there “hasn’t been a janitorial crew going down and vacuuming.”
“We thought it would be kind of a great thing,” they added, “to have Sansa wondering about it.”
Why Sansa? And why a feather?
If you’ve been living under a Casterly Rock your entire life, you might’ve missed the curious role that birds play in “Game of Thrones.” There’s Varys’ spy network of “little birds,” there’s the High Sparrow, there’s the Three-Eyed Raven, and then there’s Sansa, who is often referred to as a “little bird” or “little dove.” These characters have a few things in common: They’re misunderstood, underestimated and often hold powerful information.
The feather could hint at how Lyanna, too, was a misunderstood character, another little bird. It could also serve as a symbol for her secret, her child, Jon Snow.
Now remember, in the Season 5 episode in which the feather reappears, viewers still think Lyanna had been kidnapped and raped by Prince Rhaegar. It hadn’t been revealed that she and Rhaegar were actually in love, married and had a baby — a secret that, with her dying breath, she made her brother Ned promise to keep.
The connection to Jon is reiterated in that Season 8 teaser when he looks back at the feather. Could Cersei’s burning the feather in the scrapped pilot script have been a hint at something else on the way? Will she do the same to Jon?
With Dany’s dragons flying around and Cersei having blown up part of King’s Landing with wildfire, it’s not much of a stretch to imagine a fiery run-in between Cersei and Jon in the future.
The cut feather scene is perhaps the first small hint of Cersei’s penchant for burning her enemies’ “cities to the ground,” as she likes to say. Considering HBO’s “Dragonstone” teaser from late in 2018, which shows a fire engulfing the signature Lannister lion, more flames are likely in the Lannisters’ future. And, just possibly, Jon Snow’s.
The much more consensual sex scene between Dany and Khal Drogo
One of the more substantial differences between the script at Cushing and the episode that aired on HBO can be observed in the writing of Daenerys Targaryen’s marriage consummation scene.
In the Cushing script, Dany has a lot more control. She smiles when she realizes Drogo can say only the word “no” in her language, she helps him take rings out of his hair and, most important, she ultimately consents to sex:
This is far from the scene that aired on HBO, in which she cries as he undresses her, then has sex with her from behind. The more consensual framing of the scene is straight out of Martin’s books, which explains why it was included in an earlier version of the script; the pilot script at Cushing tends to hew closer to Martin’s words.
The version of the scene that aired, however, is traumatic. Daenerys is raped. Her relationship with Drogo eventually grows into love, but that doesn’t erase the fact that he raped her — and does so time and time again.
She addresses these rapes in her first conversation with Jon in Season 7, telling him, “I’ve been shamed and betrayed, raped and defiled. Do you know what kept me standing through all those years in exile? Faith, not in any gods, not in myths and legends. In myself, in Daenerys Targaryen.”
Though a consensual scene would have been less traumatic to watch, Daenerys actress Emilia Clarke spoke about her character’s rape to Glamour in 2016, explaining some possible reasoning behind the scene:
At the heart of it, we’re telling a story; you need that part of the story to feel empathy for Daenerys. You see her attacked by her brother, raped by her husband, and then going, “F―k all of you, I’m gonna rule the world.” That’s where we are now.
A rape scene is hardly necessary to build empathy for Dany’s plight, but as Clarke said, it underscores the terrors Dany overcame and her transformation from a scared, abused child into the khaleesi.
Somewhere between her rape and her decision to sleep with Jon, aka King of the Squats, in Season 7, a completely different Mother of Dragons has emerged.
The much more confusing sex scene between Jaime and Cersei
After watching the “Game of Thrones” premiere on HBO, fans are well aware that Jaime and Cersei are related. It’s a pretty pivotal plot point. Interestingly, one of the most prominent critiques lodged against the unaired pilot was that this info wasn’t clear enough. Early viewers didn’t know Jaime and Cersei Lannister are brother and sister.
Perhaps that’s why a scene featuring the incestuous siblings talking at King’s Landing was added to the episode that aired. In it, the two basically chat about how very, very related they are and how if anyone discovered their secret affair, their heads would be on spikes.
“As your brother, I feel it’s my duty to warn you, you worry too much,” Jaime explicitly states. This scene is not in the Cushing pilot script or the script previously available online, as io9 points out.
Keeping in mind that many viewers of the original pilot didn’t understand the Lannister twins’ relationship, a scene in the script at Cushing would have made it even more complicated. (Get out of here, Bran. You don’t want to see this.)
In all versions of the pilot, Bran Stark climbs the exterior of a tower at Winterfell and happens upon a window, through which he peeps a naked man and woman (Jaime and Cersei). In the script at Cushing, however, the encounter reads slightly differently, with Cersei telling Jaime to stop:
In the episode that aired, Cersei objects to Jaime only after she spots Bran inadvertently being a little creep in the window.
In contrast, in Martin’s book and the script at Cushing, she protests much sooner. It’s confusing to Bran and possibly would’ve been confusing to TV viewers too.
Consider how this scene would have affected Jaime’s triumphant moment in Season 7, when he chooses to walk away from a power-hungry Cersei. Until that point, audiences are meant to believe he has always been under Cersei’s control; only then is he able to break free from her influence. The Cushing version of Jaime and Cersei’s sex scene could have made this harder to swallow.
In a show riddled with constant backstabbing, endless subplots and so many characters you remember as What’s His Name and Who’s Her Face, the less confusing a scene, the better.
The White Walkers who wouldn’t shut up
The Cushing pilot script opens a lot like the episode that aired: Three men from the Night’s Watch are tracking down wildlings when they are ambushed by White Walkers. Things don’t go well.
In the early pilot script, one of those men, Will, realizes the bodies of the dead wildlings have vanished and proceeds to climb a tree to get a better view. He does this right before the Walkers arrive, and his decision is a lifesaving one. In contrast to the aired episode, which shows a Walker sparing a member of the Watch from death for some unknown reason, it’s Will’s position in the tree that prevents him from being killed along with the others.
The White Walkers descend on the other two men, all the while speaking a language of ice:
Will stays in the tree. He’s going to let this one just play out.
At this point, White Walker dialogue is well documented. It just has never shown up on TV. However, it’s in the books, it’s referred to by Vanity Fair writer Joanna Robinson after she reviewed a number of “Game of Thrones” scripts, it shows up in the pilot script floating around online and it’s also in the one from Martin’s collection at Cushing.
I asked “Game of Thrones” language creator David Peterson about the White Walker dialogue, which he named Skroth, in a previously unpublished portion of a 2017 interview.
Reflecting on early plans for the White Walkers to speak, he told me he originally put something together for the opening scene of the show.
“I came up with basically some dialogue. I recorded it, and then I suggested to them, ‘Here’s how you might modify it digitally to give it a unique sound,’” he said. Peterson wanted the language to sound like it was described in Martin’s books, like “the cracking of ice on a winter lake.” Though, we imagine that could’ve possibly looked like a White Walker whose mouth is filled with pop rocks.
“It didn’t get used for the pilot, and then there was discussion they were thinking about using it in Season 2,” he said. “They said they tried it, and it just wasn’t working out, so they abandoned the idea.”
Peterson sent me a pre-effects example of the White Walker dialogue, which he previously played at conventions and gave us permission to include. Here’s an early version of what a White Walker would’ve sounded like:
At the time, he said, “Game of Thrones” sound designer Paula Fairfield was still hopeful they could use it one day, but that obviously hasn’t happened.
It’s not the only language casualty. Peterson said he created a full language for the Children of the Forest in Season 6, but for a variety of reasons (a desire to avoid the need for subtitles during action sequences, stunt people having difficulty with their lines), they “were either cut or shortened, and all of them were turned into English.”
“It was an idea. They tried it. It just didn’t work,” he said.
The time Jon Snow got wasted
In the “Game of Thrones” pilot that aired, Jon does not make an appearance in the memorable great hall scene. Instead, he stays outside, heeding Catelyn Stark’s wishes that Jon — who she and almost everyone else believes is Ned’s bastard son — not be present.
But in the pilot script at Cushing, he sits inside. He’s not at the highborn table, but he manages to have a drunken conversation with Benjen Stark in the great hall anyway.
Our guy is left alone to drink more wine and eventually causes a scene:
The scene in the Cushing pilot script is almost exactly the same as the scene in Martin’s novel A Game of Thrones. From the book:
He must have drunk more wine than he had realized. His feet got tangled under him as he tried to leave, and he lurched sideways into a serving girl and sent a flagon of spiced wine crashing to the floor. Laughter boomed all around him.
Beyond the exclusion of Snow’s drunken escapade, the Cushing version of the sequence was drastically rearranged to form the scenes that aired on HBO. For example, in the episode that aired, the confrontation between Ned and Jaime in the great hall ends after Ned says, “I don’t fight in tournaments because when I fight a man for real, I don’t want him to know what I can do.”
Jaime replies, “Well said.”
But in the Cushing pilot script, as well as the one that has been online, the moment continues long enough for Jaime to remind Ned of how his brother and father were killed:
It continues:
A flashback of Ned’s brother Brandon being killed also purportedly existed in an early version of the filmed pilot (a screenshot exists online), but this is not included in the script at Cushing (though it could have fit in around this conversation).
The Cushing version of the scene goes even further, with Ned leaving and Tyrion, who overheard everything, telling Jaime, “If it came down to it, Brother, I’d bet on you ― but I wouldn’t bet much.” Tyrion then downs another tankard of wine, realizes he drank too much, staggers out of the hall and eventually talks to Jon outside.
While it would’ve been fun to see the future King in the North get shitfaced (you know nothing about holding your alcohol, Jon Snow), it’s so much extra character interaction to digest that you could be left feeling as dizzy as Tyrion.
There are a few moments that are really important from the Winterfell feast scenes, and Jon’s conversations with Tyrion and Benjen are at the forefront. The conversation with Tyrion is referred to in Season 7, when Tyrion writes Jon a letter that includes “All dwarves are bastards in their father’s eyes.” It’s a line Tyrion says in their first chat, and it seemingly convinces Jon he’ll be safe when he travels to see Daenerys.
Of course, with Benjen he talks about going to serve in the Night’s Watch at the Wall, which he clearly does and then lives happily ever after.
The other character interactions, while entertaining, could have distracted from the truly important moments, so let’s all pour one out for Jon’s long-lost wasted scene.
The weird Catelyn who wanted Sansa to be queen
Catelyn and Daenerys were originally played by different actors — Jennifer Ehle and Tamzin Merchant, respectively. Before Michelle Fairley took on the role of Catelyn, the character’s personality was a lot different too.
For example, in a bedroom scene in the pilot script, Catelyn urges Ned to accept Robert’s offer of betrothal between Joffrey and Sansa and to head south with the king.
Maester Luwin then enters with the note from her sister Lysa, saying that the Lannisters murdered her husband, Jon Arryn. Ned has no choice but to take up his old friend Robert’s request to be the new Hand of the King and go to King’s Landing to figure out what’s going on.
In the episode that aired, however, Catelyn urges Ned to stay in the North, claiming that she’ll confront Robert and tell him, “Listen, fat man. You are not taking my husband anywhere. He belongs to me now.”
You tell ’em, Cat.
In terms of the differences between the pilot script at Cushing and the episode that aired, Catelyn is my pick for most improved character. Benioff and Weiss were smart to realize that fans have pages and pages to get to know the Catelyn in the books but only a few scenes to get to know her on the show. The Cushing script might have made Catelyn seem a bit title obsessed, like Season 1 Sansa, who was, objectively, the worst.
Just ask Season 1 Arya Stark.
Instead, the showrunners chose to lean into the image of the Stark matriarch as a protective mother and wife who would later fend off an assassin in an effort to save her injured Bran.
It’s also worth noting that after reading Lysa’s letter in the Cushing script, Catelyn says to Ned:
In the episode that aired, Catelyn stops after saying Jon Arryn was murdered by the Lannisters. She doesn’t say, “By the queen.”
John Standing, the actor who plays the dearly departed Jon Arryn, once said the original pilot included a “lunatic” scene in which Cersei watches his character die. Though this scene isn’t included in the script at Cushing, a line about Jon Arryn being killed by the queen paves the way for the bit to have been added later.
The time Joffrey Baratheon, First of his Name, was a jerk from the start
When “Game of Thrones” begins, you don’t realize Joffrey is quite as turdish as he is until Episode 2, when Tyrion slaps him silly for not going to the Starks to offer sympathies after Bran’s fall. But in the pilot script at Cushing, you get the impression that Joffrey is a walking, talking pile of human excrement right away.
At a training session between the Lannisters and Starks, Bran has just finished pummeling Tommen Baratheon with a wooden sword, and Ser Rodrik, Winterfell’s master-at-arms, asks Robb Stark and Joffrey if they’d like to go another round. Robb’s in, but Joffrey complains that he’s “tired of swatting at Starks with a play sword.” He suggests “live steel,” and Rodrik is just not cool with that.
While the pilot script gives Robb this early interaction with Joffrey, it omits many other scenes that made their way to air — the Winterfell scene where Bran is learning archery with his family, the scene in which Sansa and Arya are practicing their stitching, the scene in which Sansa begs Catelyn to let her go to King’s Landing and the infamous shaving scene in which the Stark boys stand around shirtless and flexing.
The Joffrey moment could have added tension later in the series — for instance, during the War of the Five Kings skit at Joffrey’s wedding, which features someone riding around with a wolf’s head to represent the decapitated Robb. But it seems likely that some minor scenes like this were cut in order to make room for more vital moments, such as getting to know the Starks. And, frankly, more Starks and less Joffrey sounds like a winning formula, bare-chested flexing and all.
The final takeaways
In addition to the cut scenes, there were quite a few subtle differences between the script available online and the one from Martin’s official collection in Texas. In the version online, Tyrion pets the Stark direwolf Ghost, his brothel scene takes place at King’s Landing (not in the North), and there’s a long scene meant to describe a now-discarded title sequence.
But none of this happens in the script at the Cushing library. (In fact, as far as the credits go, the script there describes an opening sequence with just the words “TITLE CARD: GAME OF THRONES.”)
There are some less significant but amusing details sandwiched into the script at Cushing too. Ned, who’s about the grimmest dude around, makes a joke in the crypts:
The line was taken out and given to Jaime in Season 1, Episode 3:
Various shooting locations changed as well. For instance, Dany’s wedding was originally filmed in Morocco and featured a cameo from Martin himself as a Pentoshi (something that could have easily fit into the Cushing script, since it mentions “Merchants of Pentos” gathered for the ceremony). However, when Clarke was brought in as the replacement Daenerys, the subplot was altered and reshot in Malta.
The Cushing script alone doesn’t reveal exactly why the original pilot was such a “massive problem,” as Mazin put it. Kit Harington, who plays Jon Snow, touched on that version’s “mistakes,” telling The Guardian, “It didn’t look right, didn’t feel right.” The devil is likely in the scene execution details, which we might never see, although he said the showrunners would threaten to release the pilot on YouTube when he pissed them off. Perhaps the early drunk scenes weren’t the King in the North’s finest hour.
Still, reading the script at Cushing, I got a sense of how even small changes would have led to a vastly different show. One of the most interesting aspects for me ― a moment that would’ve changed the way some future “Game of Thrones” scenes unfold and added some foreshadowing ― was Cersei’s cut scene. As the adage goes, where there’s smoke, there’s ... Cersei trying to light something on fire.
The scenes illustrated by Lena Vargas Afanasieva are not meant to be exact depictions of the scripted sequences.
Additional reporting by Leigh Blickley and Sara Boboltz.
Bill Bradley Entertainment Editor, HuffPost
MORE: Game of Thrones hbo George R. R. Martin
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Fresh starters: why the internal audit team at Quilter Plc won an Audit & Risk Award 2018
Setting up a new internal audit structure and taking the control environment to a new level in the highly regulated financial services sector is tough. Preparing for listing on the London and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges is tough. Separating part of a business from its parent organisation and preparing for it to go alone is tough. Doing all this with a large team of internal auditors who are highly motivated, with a well-established leader, would make the task marginally less daunting. Unfortunately, when Matt Burton was brought in to lead the internal audit function of Old Mutual Plc’s wealth management business in 2016, he quickly realised the scale of the task at hand.
“I looked around the table and thought ‘Wow! We’ve got a lot of work to do’,” he comments.
Despite these challenges, Burton and his team were the first department in the firm’s wealth management business to be fully prepared for life as a stand-alone listed organisation. By the time the company listed in June 2018, they had emerged as a skilled, trusted group of specialists who were consulted, listened to and supported by the senior management – they had developed a reputation for being brave and honest and for genuinely supporting the board and the executive team across Quilter. It was this transformation that won them the Audit & Risk Outstanding Team – Financial Services Award last year.
Burton’s first move was to develop the relationship with the board and the executive and to gain their confidence in the function. At the same time, he was identifying the expertise he needed to bring into the team. He had got to know Old Mutual when he was a partner at PwC, which had been supporting the team, and he continued to draw on PwC’s support while he developed an internal team with the expertise he needed for the future. Within six months of joining, he was given a place on the firm’s executive committee.
“Having internal audit represented as a member of the executive committee is not common, and some would no doubt say that it presents a conflict of interest, but it gave me the opportunity to champion the work of my team and positively impact the control environment in a much more direct way. I do not believe we would have got the firm to where it is today if this had not happened at that time,” he says.
Purpose-built
The separation of the wealth management division and the creation of Quilter as a listed entity was a massive opportunity to transform a relatively overlooked audit function in a large business into a focused, purpose-built team supporting the new organisation. Burton looked for people with a wide variety of backgrounds – finance, risk management, IT, regulations, change management, strategy and first-line customer experience – and even employed an ethical hacker. The new recruits then gained the necessary internal audit knowledge, skills and methodology through training and shared experiences.
By the end of 2017 internal audit had gone from being the team with the lowest engagement scores across Old Mutual to the most engaged area in the firm. Almost half of the team of 28 people had been in their jobs for less than 18 months, but they enjoyed the full support of senior management and of the audit committee and, even more importantly, had confidence that their opinions were respected and being acted upon.
Proof of this came as part of internal audit’s work on a huge IT project. “Management knew it was failing, but we could get down to the root causes to see why it was failing. We realised that we could not give the board the confidence they needed that the project would ultimately achieve what the organisation expected,” Burton explains. “We presented several strong messages backed with evidence and perspective, and ultimately the project was terminated.”
He adds that this decision was a brave one. “I’m full of admiration for the board and our CEO for making such a difficult decision. We want to be known as the UK’s leading wealth manager and this was absolutely the right decision for our customers.” The decision has paid off. Burton says that the replacement project is making good progress, with the build nearly complete and the system undergoing live customer testing as part of a soft launch.
The close relationship with management goes both ways. The CEO recently attended one of internal audit’s team meetings and talked about what he wanted and expected from the function. He also discussed what he saw as his main concerns and fears and how he needed internal audit by his side in these areas.
“He knows that we’ve got his back and he knows most of the team by name,” Burton says. “In the past, internal audit felt that it sat in the shadows and auditors were frustrated because they were writing reports that had limited impact or purpose. What we’ve done is to pull them out of the shadows and allowed them to be heard. It’s amazing how much the organisation has listened to them and responded to their advice.”
As a result, Burton says that he is confident that his relatively small team exerts more influence than many far larger audit teams he has experienced in the past at leading global financial services organisations.
To build up this reputation and influence, the team employed innovative techniques as well as its wide range of specialist experience. Good customer outcomes are vital to Quilter’s business, so the internal audit team worked directly with current and potential customers through a combination of recorded interviews, feedback sessions with groups and mystery shopping using genuine prospects. This proved a powerful form of assurance and created fresh insights into the business. Some of the mystery shoppers went on to become customers of the firm, so the investment paid off in more than one way.
The actual split from Old Mutual was a significant undertaking for the audit team. They needed to create new support structures and develop expertise in areas where they previously relied on other functions within Old Mutual (such as its audit IT platform). Building a new corporate governance infrastructure for a separate public company meant creating a new audit charter, audit methodology, dedicated audit plan and quarterly/annual audit opinions. A new board and audit committee also meant that they needed to build strong relationships quickly.
To help ensure they were going about the transformation in the right way and didn’t miss anything, the team went through two external quality assessments in successive years – the first to confirm that their plan was adequate and the second to check that it had been executed well. The second was particularly positive and confirmed that they had successfully delivered the transformation. This also helped to reaffirm stakeholders’ strong perceptions of the team, Burton says.
He adds that, in addition to implementing the essential governance elements, the team has also introduced new and improved audit practices, including data analytics capabilities and a “management awareness and approach” rating, which assesses how well managers understand, and are focused on improving, the control aspects of their business or function.
Building credibility
“If I had to do all this again, or was advising someone else who was about to do it, I would say pick one or two areas of risk where you want to be known for making a difference in your first year and go all out to deliver in these areas,” Burton says. “This helps to build credibility for you and the team. Then look to extend this to other areas over time.”
Winning the Audit & Risk Award has been a huge boost for the team – even writing the nomination felt like a milestone, according to Burton and Phil Nicholls, acting head of GIA operations, who was responsible for putting the nomination together.
“We don’t usually spend time sitting back and looking at what we’ve achieved, but when we thought about it, it made
us realise we’ve done a lot and we’re really proud of it,” Nicholls says. “When we asked the CEO and the chair of the audit committee for their feedback, they were enormously supportive, which was so gratifying.”
“The award came at a great time for us,” Burton adds. “We don’t take it lightly and we’re not going to rest on our laurels, but we can now build on what we’ve done with real confidence.”
Winning the award also generated significant publicity and praise for the team from across the firm. Burton recalls the wave of WhatsApp messages from the senior executives, board members and the rest of the audit team when the awards were announced. “It was the perfect end to a landmark year for us and for Quilter,” he says.
More importantly, he adds that it also supported the decisions team members made to join Quilter internal audit. “There was uncertainty for those joining this team – we didn’t know whether it would be successful – but we were excited by the prospect of being part of something genuinely new,” he says. “Some planned listings never happen, and so 2018 confirmed to all of us that we’d made the right decision and we were now part of a great team.”
The CEO mentioned the team’s award in his year-end message to the company, and the audit committee chair referred to it in his annual report. News about the award was also posted on the internal company website and written about in the staff magazine. “It’s really helped to put us on the map and, as a result, there’s been a lot of interest in joining our team,” Burton says.
“Inevitably, it also means that people in the first and second line in the organisation are approaching members of my team, and I’m very supportive of this. I think internal audit works best when it acts as a talent pool for the rest of the organisation. Similarly, our ability to source good people from elsewhere in the organisation has definitely improved. We know that we are seen as one of the top teams in the company and one of the best internal audit teams across our industry. It gives us more scope to bring in top talent and push the boundaries of what internal audit can do.”
For more about the A&R Awards and to fill in a nomination form see page 12 and visit iia.org.uk/ar-awards
This article was published in July 2019.
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Inflammatory bowel diseases on the rise in very young Canadian children
April 18, 2017 Toronto
Canada has amongst the highest rates of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the world, and the number of children under five years old being diagnosed increased by 7.2 per cent every year between 1999 to 2010, according to a new study by researchers at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute and the Canadian Gastro-Intestinal Epidemiology Consortium.
“The number of children under five being diagnosed with IBD is alarming because it was almost unheard of 20 years ago, and it is now much more common,” says Dr. Eric Benchimol, lead author of the study, scientist at ICES and a pediatric gastroenterologist at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre, in Ottawa.
IBD primarily includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which are lifelong conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract, leading to chronic diarrhea, blood in the stool, abdominal pains and weight loss.
The study published today in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, identified children under 16 years of age diagnosed with IBD from 1999 to 2010 from five Canadian provinces (Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec), and found that cases among children five and younger have increased 7.2 per cent per year from 1999 and 2010.
Researchers say a change in the bacterial composition of the gut may be to blame for the increase in IBD cases but they don’t know what is causing the change. They suspect a combination of environmental risk factors could be to blame, such as early life exposure to antibiotics, diet, or lower levels of Vitamin D in Canadians.
“What our research tells us is that we need to focus future research on identification of triggers in young children with IBD, understand the biology behind changes resulting in the disease, and intervene to prevent the occurrence of IBD in this vulnerable age group,” adds Benchimol.
The researchers found that the incidence of IBD has stabilized in children over the age of five, but in children under five it continues to rise rapidly.
The researchers estimate that approximately 600 to 650 children are diagnosed with IBD every year in Canada. The study findings indicate that the number of children under 16 years old living with IBD in Canada rose from 29 per 100,000 in 1999 to 46 per 100,000 in 2008, an increase of almost 60 per cent.
Almost 3,000 children under the age of 16 years old are currently living with IBD in Canada.
“Trends in epidemiology of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in Canada: distributed network analysis of multiple population-based provincial health administrative databases,” was published today in the American Journal of Gastorenterology.
Author block: Benchimol EI, Bernstein CN, Bitton A, Carroll MW, Singh H, Otley AR, Vutcovici M, El-Matary W, Nguyen GC, Griffiths AM, Mack DR, Jacobson K, Mojaverian N, Tanyingoh D, Cui Y, Nugent Z, Coulombe J, Targownik LE, Jones JL, Leddin D, Murthy SK, Kaplan GG.
The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) is an independent, non-profit organization that uses population-based health information to produce knowledge on a broad range of health care issues. Our unbiased evidence provides measures of health system performance, a clearer understanding of the shifting health care needs of Ontarians, and a stimulus for discussion of practical solutions to optimize scarce resources. ICES knowledge is highly regarded in Canada and abroad, and is widely used by government, hospitals, planners, and practitioners to make decisions about care delivery and to develop policy. For the latest ICES news, follow us on Twitter: @ICESOntario
The CHEO Research Institute coordinates the research activities of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa. Its three programs of research include molecular biomedicine, health information technology, and evidence to practice research; key research themes include cancer, diabetes, obesity, mental health, emergency medicine, musculoskeletal health, electronic health information and privacy, and genetics of rare disease. The CHEO Research Institute makes discoveries today for healthier kids tomorrow. For more information, visit www.cheori.org. For the latest CHEO news, our Twitter handle is @CHEOhospital
Deborah Creatura
Media Advisor, ICES
deborah.creatura@ices.on.ca
(o) 416-480-4780 or (c) 647-406-5996
Adrienne Vienneau
Communications, CHEO Research Institute
avienneau@cheo.on.ca
(o) 613-737-7600 x4144 or (c) 613-513-8437
Trends in epidemiology of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in Canada: distributed network analysis of multiple population-based provincial health administrative databases
Inflammatory bowel diseases on the rise in Canadian children
High rates of inflammatory bowel disease in young Canadian children 'alarming'
4/18/2017 | The Ottawa Citizen | Article
Follow @ICESOntario on Twitter for the latest in science and health care news.
Sexual assault needs to be more broadly defined in health care settings in order to accurately track and understand… https://t.co/amBAnmR5f9
Nearly 53,000 sexual assault cases treated in Ontario hospitals over 15 years: coverage of a new study by… https://t.co/BJN1TPjOiL
This researcher is available for media interviews.
Contact the media office or call media advisor Deborah Creatura at (o) 416 480 4780 or (c) 647 406 5996.
Deborah Creatura / MEDIA ADVISOR
(o) 416 480 4780 (c) 647 406 5996
media@ices.on.ca
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Daily World News Digest, 6 February 2018
Filed under Daily Digest
Nepal: new law on enforced disappearance
Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the government to draft a law criminalizing conflict-era torture and enforced disappearance. Unveiling an 11-point recommendation on Monday, NHRC Chairman Anup Raj Sharma urged the authorities to amend the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act taking into consideration the Supreme Court’s ruling to criminalize torture and disappearance and remove the statute of limitations for registering conflict-era cases. “If the laws are not amended to ensure justice within the country, the conflict-era victims will be forced to seek justice from beyond the borders,” he said. http://bit.ly/2EiocKn
UNHCHR: Rohingya abuses could spark regional conflict
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, speaking in Jakarta on Monday, has warned that possible acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing against Myanmar’s Rohingya minority could fuel a conflict that spreads beyond the country’s borders. His remarks follow the publication of…
More migrants feared drowned off Libyan coast
Ninety migrants are feared drowned after a boat capsized off the Libyan coast, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Most of those who drowned were said to be Pakistani nationals, with Libyans also aboard. So far in 2018, there have been 6,624 irregular maritime arrivals to Europe, compared to 5,983 in the same period of 2017. http://bbc.in/2BNmgE5
Myanmar denies report of new mass graves in Rakhine
The authorities in Myanmar have denied an Associated Press report of mass graves in Rakhine state. The Myanmar government’s Information Committee, part of the office of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said a team had visited the village where AP recently reported that mass graves had been discovered “and found out that it is not true”. The statement said that 19 “terrorists” had been killed when they attacked security forces in the village in late…
Pattern of human rights violations in Myanmar
Yanghee Lee, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, said on Thursday that recent reports of attacks against civilians, homes, places of worship and villagers; sexual violence; arbitrary arrests; and torture and enforced disappearances in Myanmar follow a pattern established over generations. “While reports from Rakhine state have rightly provoked international outrage; for many in Myanmar, they have elicited a tragic sense of déjà vu,” she said, adding that the civilian Government is “persisting with repressive practices of the past.” http://bit.ly/2FAtH3Y
“Migrants are more profitable than drugs”
More than 80 percent of women brought to Europe from Nigeria are unknowingly “sponsored” by sex traffickers who have paid for their journey, according to the International Organization for Migration. The rest will have paid the smugglers to get them to Europe, but once they get there, will be unlikely to escape the sex-trafficking rings. An…
Extra-Judicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh
An article in Just security examines the issue of impunity in Bangladesh. On 23 March 2010, Bangladesh ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, making it the first South Asian State to do so. “Despite its commendable ratification, Bangladesh has failed to adopt legislation incorporating the crimes into domestic law. It has also failed to investigate credible allegations of the involvement of its own State Security Services in close to 1,300 extra-judicial killings, more than 400 enforced disappearances, the arbitrary arrest and detention of several thousand political opponents, and the systematic practice of torturing detainees” the article says. http://bit.ly/2nrb386
Sri Lanka PM Wickremesinghe: legislation on disappearances to be implemented
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said on Wednesday that legislation to address the issue of enforced disappearances will soon be enforced. “The government has already got the Enforced Disappearance Bill approved and…
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The next step for Additive Manufacturing
Room IV
Speaker Biography (Luke Gear)
Luke is a Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, where his areas of research include electric vehicles and energy storage. Luke holds a Master of Physics from the University of Bath, where he studied a variety of topics including photonics, nanoscience and condensed matter. Before joining IDTechEx, Luke completed his Master's placement at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy. His focus was on increasing the computational efficiency of an in-house software called SMITER, which models the heat distribution of components inside a fusion experiment. This work contributed to the ITER project, currently under construction in France, which hopes to be the first fusion experiment to generate a surplus of energy.
Luke has also completed an industrial placement at BAE Systems, where he helped test radar-absorbent materials, and engineer high-bandwidth antennas. He received a Chairman's Award for Innovation for his experimental work in November 2014. More recently, Luke completed an internship at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, where he published a report and datasets on policy drivers for behind-the-meter energy storage.
Company Profile (IDTechEx)
IDTechEx provides independent market research, business intelligence and events on emerging technologies to companies across the value chain. Our clients use our insights to help make strategic business decisions and grow their organizations.
IDTechEx business and technology experts provide international perspective in a diverse range of emerging technologies including 3D printing, electric vehicles, energy harvesting, energy storage, life sciences, printed electronics, IoT and many other topics.
IDTechEx is headquartered in Cambridge, UK with additional offices in USA, Germany and Japan and associates in South Korea.
Corinne Jennings
c.jennings@IDTechEx.com
b.core@IDTechEx.com
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Miranda and Caliban (Hardcover)
By Jacqueline Carey
Tor Books, 9780765386793, 352pp.
Miranda and Caliban is bestselling fantasy author Jacqueline Carey’s gorgeous retelling of The Tempest. With hypnotic prose and a wild imagination, Carey explores the themes of twisted love and unchecked power that lie at the heart of Shakespeare’s masterpiece, while serving up a fresh take on the play's iconic characters.
A lovely girl grows up in isolation where her father, a powerful magus, has spirited them to in order to keep them safe.
We all know the tale of Prospero's quest for revenge, but what of Miranda? Or Caliban, the so-called savage Prospero chained to his will?
In this incredible retelling of the fantastical tale, Jacqueline Carey shows readers the other side of the coin—the dutiful and tenderhearted Miranda, who loves her father but is terribly lonely. And Caliban, the strange and feral boy Prospero has bewitched to serve him. The two find solace and companionship in each other as Prospero weaves his magic and dreams of revenge.
Always under Prospero’s jealous eye, Miranda and Caliban battle the dark, unknowable forces that bind them to the island even as the pangs of adolescence create a new awareness of each other and their doomed relationship.
Jacqueline Carey is the author of the bestselling Kushiel trilogy (Kushiel’s Dart, Kushiel’s Chosen, and Kushiel’s Avatar) and her epic fantasy duology, The Sundering (Banewreaker and Godslayer). She has won the Locus Award for Best First Novel and the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Fantasy Novel. Her books have been listed on many booksellers’ top ten fantasy books lists. Always an avid reader, Carey began writing fiction as a hobby in high school. After graduating from Lake Forest College, she worked for six months at a bookstore in London, and returned to the United States with a driving passion to write professionally. She resides in western Michigan.
Praise For Miranda and Caliban…
“In this stand-alone, Carey evokes the same stunning worldbuilding and imagery of her "Kushiel's Legacy" and "Sundering" series, as she stirs new emotions from an old story and reveals another side to Shakespeare's epic play.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“Carey turns Shakespeare’s The Tempest on its head, in ways that are always supportable by the original text, with this brilliant deconstruction. The foreordained pattern of the play mixes beautifully with Carey’s intricate characterization and eye for sensory detail, building mercilessly to dazzling, and devastating, tragic effect.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“An eye-opening departure from her previous fantasy yarns, Carey re imagines the back story of Shakespeare’s The Tempest as a tale of star-crossed lovers…[Carey] transforms the largely passive Shakespearean Miranda into a dutiful yet dignified and ultimately tragic figure…Intriguing and impressive while remaining inextricable from its dramatic context.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Infused with dark magic, broken trust, and lost innocence…Miranda and Caliban, both narrators with distinct voices, are given rich inner lives through Carey’s delicate, sensitive portrayal.”—Booklist
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Millesimo, Italy is a small village in the hills of northern Liguria
Millesimo Hotels
Visit Millesimo
The village of Millesimo is in Bormida Valley, in the hills of north-west Liguria and 25 kilometres east of Savona. A quiet town with an interesting historic centre, it is classified as one of the 'most beautiful villages in Italy'.
Although Millessimo is rather out of the way if you are visiting the Liguria coast, there are several historic sites of interest here and a visit is recommended. It is also nice to have an afternoon away from the beach from time to time!
Exploring Millesimo
The 'piazza' in the centre of the town is more of a broad street than what we usually think of as a piazza, and is a pleasant place to start your visit with several arcaded buildings on either side and some buildings with interesting architectural features such as arched windows.
You will soon discover the most unusual monument in Millesimo: the bridge called the Ponte della Gaietta across the river in the center of the town with its medieval defensive tower and gateway in the middle of the bridge, which once served to control access to the town. Although not unusual in some parts of Europe, fortified bridges are not very common in this part of Italy.
There is also a second medieval tower in the town, now part of the Town Hall, which has unusual red-brick crenellations around the top (which I assume are decorative rather than functional).
The Battle of Millesimo also got its name from the town, and was a 'small' battle between Napoleonic forces and Austrian forces in April 1796. Napoleon lost about 700 soldiers in the skirmish, but the Austrians were then forced to surrender because they were besieged in a castle with no supplies.
The principal church in the town itself is the Church of Saint Mary and Saint Anthony, dating from the 15th century and in baroque style. There are various artefacts of note inside the church such as a statue of Madonna del Carmine, a crucifix from the school of Maragliano and a 15th century font.
A more ancient church that was built outside the medieval city walls in the 12th century is the Church of Santa Maria Extra Muros in Piazza Santa Maria. This is a simple, sturdy church built from stone in the romanesque style with a small tower on the right side. Inside the church there is a medieval baptismal font and parts of some frescoes from the 16th century.
The most imposing church here is the Shrine of Our Lady of the Desert, slightly outside Millesimo in a village that is also called Our Lady of the Desert. Built on the site of a miracle, the shrine dates from the early 18th century although most of what you see today - including the dome and the statue of the Virgin - is more recent following substantial work at the end of the 19th century. The paintings inside the dome of events from the life of the Virgin Mary were painted as recently as the 1940's.
You can also see Millesimo castle in the town centre, built in the 13th century and a sturdy building still overlooking the town. Just below the castle walls the Villa Scarzella gardens also merit a visit. The villa itself holds the Napoleonic Museum.
The trails through the natural environment of the Regional Natural Park of Bric Tana can be explored to the south of Millesimo: the visitor centre is in Villa Scarzella.
You can find more local travel ideas in the Liguria guide.
Hotels in and near Millesimo
Map of Millesimo and places to visit
Places to visit near Millesimo
Finalborgo
Finalborgo is a medieval walled village next to the Finale-Ligure seaside resort in Liguria
Finalborgo guide
The medieval village in Borgio Verezzi also has lovely views across the Italian riviera
Borgio Verezzi guide
The resort and medieval village at Noli is one of the most interesting on the Riviera di Ponente in Liguria
Noli guide
The resort of Finale Ligure is an attractive beach resort in Liguria
Finale Ligure guide
The small village of Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena is a perfectly preserved medieval Ligurian hill village overlooked by a ruined castle
Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena guide
Zuccarello is a small medieval village in the Nera Valley to the west of Albenga in Liguria
Zuccarello guide
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Court papers unsealed Monday, photographed in Washington, show part of the criminal complaint against Maria Butina. She was arrested Sunday on a charge of conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of the Russian government. | AP
World / Crime & Legal
U.S. arrests, accuses woman of acting as Russian covert agent, including infiltrating NRA
WASHINGTON - Federal prosecutors in Washington revealed Monday that they have arrested a 29-year-old woman and accused her of working as a covert Russian agent, gathering intelligence on American officials and political organizations through her gun-rights contacts.
The announcement of the arrest of Maria Butina came just hours after President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and just days after special counsel Robert Mueller charged 12 Russian intelligence officials with directing a sprawling hacking effort aimed at swaying the 2016 election.
Mueller didn’t file the charge against Butina, but court papers show that her activities revolved around American politics during the 2016 campaign and included efforts to use contacts with the National Rifle Association and American politicians to gather intelligence for Russia.
Court papers also reveal that an unnamed American who worked with Butina claimed to have been involved in setting up a “private line of communication” ahead of the 2016 election between the Kremlin and “key” officials in an American political party through the NRA.
The court papers do not name the political party mentioned in the October 2016 message, but they contain details that appear to refer to the Republican Party.
Butina, a Russian national who has been living the U.S., was charged with conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of the Russian government. A federal judge in Washington ordered her detained until a hearing set for Wednesday, according to a statement from the Justice Department and Jessie Liu, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
In a statement, Butina’s attorney, Robert Driscoll, called the allegations “overblown” and said prosecutors had criminalized mundane networking opportunities. Driscoll said Butina was not an agent of the Russian Federation but was instead in the U.S. on a student visa, graduating from American University with a master’s degree in international relations.
“There is simply no indication of Ms. Butina seeking to influence or undermine any specific policy or law or the United States — only at most to promote a better relationship between the two nations,” Driscoll said in a statement. “The complaint is simply a misuse of the Foreign Agent statute, which is designed to punish covert propaganda, not open and public networking by foreign students.”
He said Butina’s Washington apartment was raided by the FBI in April, and said she had offered to answer questions from the Justice Department and Mueller’s team but the special counsel’s office “has not expressed interest.”
The NRA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Court papers filed in support of Butina’s arrest accuse her of participating in a conspiracy that began in 2015 in which an unnamed senior Russian official “tasked” her with working to infiltrate American political organizations with the goal of “reporting back to Moscow” what she had learned.
Authorities did not name the Kremlin official, who is described as a member of the Russian legislature who later became a top official in the country’s central bank. The official has since been sanctioned by the U.S.
Prosecutors say Butina, at the official’s direction, met with U.S. politicians and candidates, attended events sponsored by special interest groups — including two National Prayer Breakfast events — and organized Russian-American “friendship and dialogue” dinners in Washington as part of her work.
Court papers also show that after the 2016 election, Butina worked to set up a Russian delegation’s visit to the 2017 National Prayer Breakfast in what she described in an email as an effort to “establish a back channel of communication.” After the visit, Butina emailed the organizer of the breakfast thanking him for a gift and “for the very private meeting” that followed the breakfast.
“A new relationship between two countries always begins better when it begins in faith,” Butina wrote, saying she had “important information” that would further the new relationship.
Two days later, she emailed another American who had been involved in some of the email communication surrounding the prayer breakfast and her efforts to arrange several dinners between Russians and people involved in U.S. politics.
“Our delegation cannot stop chatting about your wonderful dinner,” Butina wrote. “My dearest President has received ‘the message’ about your group initiatives and your constructive and kind attention to the Russians.”
Butina has previously surfaced in U.S. media reports related to her gun-rights advocacy.
In 2011, she founded a pro-gun organization in Russia, the Right to Bear Arms, and she has been involved in coordinating between American gun rights activists and their Russian counterparts, according to reports in The New York Times, Time and the Daily Beast.
Butina hosted several leading NRA executives and pro-gun conservatives at her group’s annual meeting in 2015, according to those reports. Among those who attended were former NRA President David Keene, conservative political operative Paul Erickson and former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, later a strong Trump supporter.
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More Sports / Track & Field
Sani Brown, Koike, Kiryu qualify for 200-meter final; athletes nab national titles in other events
by Kaz Nagatsuka
Online: Jun 29, 2019
FUKUOKA - Asian Games men’s 200-meter gold medalist Yuki Koike, 100-meter national record holder Abdul Hakim Sani Brown and Yoshihide Kiryu calmly qualified for the gold-medal race on Saturday evening at the 103rd Japan National Championships.
Competing in the sprinkling rain, Koike led the entire pack with a time of 20.62 seconds, while Sani Brown followed Koike in 20.84.
Both Koike and Sani Brown finished first in their heats. Koike, who ran in the first heat, sprinted in almost no wind. But Sani Brown, who ran in the third and final group, had to deal with a stronger headwind (1.8 meters per second).
Just like on Friday, the athletes had to cope with high humidity and rainfall that occasionally got heavier at Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium.
Koike insisted that it felt like he was shoving the air and that his body wasn’t moving as well as he would like it to.
Nevertheless, the 24-year-old looks forward to Sunday’s final, competing against Sani Brown and other elite Japanese sprinters.
“I was third in the 100 (on Friday) and second in this discipline (at nationals) last year,” the Hokkaido native said. “So I’d like to get in the race with good preparation, do the best I can in the race and see what result I’ll come up with. That’s my mindset.”
Sani Brown, who completed the 100 and 200 double at the 2017 nationals, looked as though he saved his energy for Sunday’s main event. He started building to take a lead around the bend and slowed down in the last 20 meters or so like he was jogging.
“I ran out of the corner and tried to swing my arms at the final stretch. I just felt good,” said the University of Florida student-athlete, who was crowned as 100 champion on Friday with a meet-record time of 10.02. “I’ll go at full throttle from the beginning and try to put together the final 50 tomorrow.
“Hopefully, I’ll do what I can do best.”
The 20-year-old’s personal-best time (20.18) in the 200 is the nation’s second-fastest mark of all time. Shingo Suetsugu set the record (20.03) in 2003.
Meanwhile, Kiryu couldn’t afford to slow down like Sani Brown did as he finished second slightly behind youngster Kirara Shiraishi with a time of 20.92. Shiraishi completed the race in 20.91.
“I had no problem as far as I’d qualify, and I didn’t care if I’d run in the middle or outside or inside,” Kiryu, who finished runner-up in Friday’s 100, said, referring to his own course. Kiryu will sprint in the far outside on Sunday, in Lane 9.
Veteran Shota Iizuka, who has won the 200 at nationals three times and ran in the same heat with Kiryu, did not finish the race due to a right leg injury.
The 200 gold-medal race will serve as the final competition in the four-day event. It is scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m.
In other notable feats of the day, Takatoshi Abe collected his first national title since 2017, winning the 400 hurdles in 48.80.
As much as the 27-year-old was satisfied with the way he competed, he set his sights on the global level, even hoping to win a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“I’m looking at the world championships and Olympics rather than the national championships,” said Abe, who advanced to the semifinals at the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships in London. “Otherwise, nothing’s going to change. That’s how I’m thinking.”
In the men’s pole vault, 20-year-old Masaki Ejima outperformed his coach and idol Daichi Sawano with a 5.61-meter mark.
Sawano, a longtime elite athlete and national record holder, finished second at 5.51. He has mentored Ejima as a coach at Nihon Univrsity, his alma mater.
“He’s my teacher, coach. . . . It’s not easy to describe what he means to me, but he’s someone that I eventually want to be like,” Ejima said of Sawano. “I’m excited that we’ve finished 1-2. He’s a legend, a true legend.”
Seito Yamamoto, who entered the event as the two-time reigning champion, finished was third at 5.51.
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Yoshihide Kiryu, Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, Yuki Koike, Japan National Championships, Masaki Ejima, Takatoshi Abe
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Boyer Prize Awarded to Miriam Matejova, Stefan Parker and Peter Dauvergne
Go back to News
The Australian Institute of International Affairs is proud to announce Miriam Matejova, Stefan Parker and Peter Dauvergne are the winners of the Australian Journal of International Affairs’ Boyer Prize for 2018.
Their article, “The politics of repressing environmentalists as agents of foreign influence” in Volume 72, Issue 2, 2018, was judged to be innovative, original and will most likely have a wide impact upon and application to a myriad of international issues.
Launched in 2012, the Boyer Prize is awarded annually to commend the best article published in the Australian Journal of International Affairs (AJIA). The AJIA is edited by Ian Hall, Professor of Government and International Relations at Griffith University and Director of Research at the Griffith Asia Institute and Sara Davies, Associate Professor at the Centre for Governance and Public Policy, School of Government and International Relations at Griffith University. The journal publishes high quality scholarly research on international political, social, economic and legal issues, especially (but not exclusively) within the Asia-Pacific region. The journal is published six times a year by Routledge Taylor and Francis.
For direct AJIA subscriptions see the subscriptions page at Taylor & Francis.
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Puerto Rico, Walmart delivers donations to the Food Bank
America International Latest News Retail News
Walmart Puerto Rico reported that it made a donation of 36 food vans and basic necessities valued at $ 1.5 million to the Food Bank, which will be distributed among different entities.
The items included have begun to be delivered to centers for the elderly, children and mental health; non-profit entities that serve people with disabilities, homeless and in the process of rehabilitation; Correctional complexes and community-based organizations that offer social services, among others.
In addition, purchases were distributed to federal employees who, due to the closure of the government, have not received their salary for one month.
“Combating famine is one of the priorities of our company, and that is why we have a close collaboration with the Food Bank of Puerto Rico to reach thousands of homes through the organizations they assist through its different programs. These thousands of pounds of merchandise constitute an additional contribution to the donations that since 2009 our company, through our Walmart, Sam’s Club and Amigo formats, delivers to the charity every week. Knowing that we are helping the needy fills us with satisfaction, “said Viviana Mercado, senior manager of Corporate Affairs at Walmart Puerto Rico.
The Food Bank of Puerto Rico whose mission is to meet the needs of people suffering from food insecurity through 138 non-profit organizations serve different populations that do not have the economic resources to bring food to their homes. The organization annually distributes an average of 5.3 million pounds and serves more than 123,000 people.
Source: elvocero
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You are here: Home / Locations / Kosovo Relocation Guide
Our Kosovan office
Inter Relocation Group
Matrix Relocations
Industrial Zone Veternik N.N
10000, Prishtina
Kosovo (Group Partner)
Ekrem Qerreti – Managing Director
Email: info@interrelo.com
Responsible for: Operations in Kosovo
Contact our Kosovan office
Kosovo Relocation Guide
Capital: Prishtina
Total Area: 10,908 km2
GDP Per Capita (PPP) $9,570
Official languages: Albanian. Laws are also published in Serbian and English. Other minority languages include Turkish, Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, Gorani and Romanian.
Religions: 95.60% Muslim, 3.69% Christian, 0.1%, Others 0.06%, None 0.10%, Not stated 0.55%
Country code: +383
Kosovo represents an important link between central and southern Europe and the Adriatic and Black Seas. With a population estimated 1,809,203 as of 2014. Kosovo has an area of 10,908 square km. The border of Kosovo is approximately 700.07 kilometers long. Most of Kosovo’s terrain is mountainous; the highest peak is Gjeravica (2,656 m/8,714 ft). There are two main plain regions, the Dukagjini region is located in the western part of the Kosovo, and the Plain of Kosovo occupies the eastern part.
The main rivers of the region are the White Drini running towards the Adriatic Sea with the Erenik among its tributaries, the Sitnica, the South Morava in the Goljak area, and Iber in the north. Languages: Official languages in Kosovo are standard literary Albanian. Laws are also published in Serbian and English. Other minority languages include Turkish, Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, Gorani and Romanian.
Prishtina is Kosovo’s capital city and its largest. Preliminary results of the 2011 census put the population of Pristina at 198,000. The city has a majority Albanian population, alongside other smaller communities. It is the administrative, educational, and cultural center of Kosovo. The city is home to the University of Pristina and is served by Pristina International Airport.
Pristina is located in the north-eastern part of Kosovo close to the Goljak mountains and covers 572 square kilometres. From Pristina there is a good view of the Šar Mountains which lie several kilometres away in the south of Kosovo. Pristina is located beside two large towns, Obilić and Kosovo Polje. In fact Pristina has grown so much these past years that it has connected with Kosovo Polje. Lake Badovac is just a few kilometres to the south of the city.
There is no river passing through the city of Pristina now but there was one that passed through the center. The river flows through underground tunnels and is let out into the surface when it passes the city. The reason for covering the river was because the river passed by the local market and everyone dumped their waste there. This caused an awful smell and the river had to be covered. The river now only flows through Pristina’s suburbs in the north and in the south. Pristina has an oceanic climate, with continental influences. The city features warm summers and relatively cold, often snowy winters.
Pristina as the capital city of Kosovo is the center of cultural and artistic development of all Albanians that live in the Kosovo. The Department of cultural affairs is just one of the segments that arranges the cultural events, which make Pristina one of the cities with the most emphasized cultural and artistic traditions. The “Hivzi Sylejmani” library was founded 70 years ago and it is one of the largest libraries regarding the number of books in its inventory which is nearly 100.000. All of those books are in service for the library’s registered readers.[89]
The “Mbretëresha e Dardanisë”(Queen of Dardania) or “Hyjnesha ne Fron”(The Goddess on the Throne) is an artifact that was found during some excavations in 1955 in the area of Ulpiana, a suburb of Pristina. It dates back to 3500 BC in the Neolithic Era and it is made of clay. In Pristina there is also “Hamami i Qytetit”(The City Bath) and the house of Emin Gjika which has been transformed to the Ethnographic Museum. Pristina also has its municipal archive which was established in the 1950s and holds all the records of the city, municipality and the region.
Pristina has only three active theatres: National Theater of Kosova, ODA Theatre and DODONA Theatre. They give live performances every week. There are 21 well-known Kosovan actors employed. They are placed in heart of Pristina. National Theatre (Teatri Kombetar) is placed in the middle downtown of the city, near the main government building. ODA Theatre (Teatri ODA) is placed in the Youth Centre Building, and Dodona Theatre (Teatri Dodona) is placed in Vellusha district, which is near Ibrahim Rugova Square.
PriFilm Fest also known as Prishtina Film Festival is one of the biggest cultural events that happens in Prishtina.
The National Theater of Kosovo (in Albanian: Teatri Kombëtar) was founded in 1946 in the city of Prizren, Kosovo. It is the highest ranked theater institution in the country which has the largest number of productions. The National Theater is the only public theater in Kosovo and therefore it is financed by Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. This theater has produced more than 400 premieres which have been watched by more than 3 million spectators.
Kosovo does not have an official religion. Like the rest of the country, the majority of Pristina’s population consider themselves Muslim. Even though the majority of people are Muslim, not many attend mosques or religious services to the frequency in other Muslim countries. Many however do fast for Ramadan and praying is widely practiced. The small minority of Pristina’s religious population that is not Muslim practices Christianity in the form of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.
Prishtina has a small area, but with a lot of coffee bars, that are near each other. Nightlife amazes the foreign visitors and it is mainly concentrated in the Mother Teresa boulevard, Fehmi Agani road and Pejton neighborhood. Past Korza where the youth walked in the Mother Teresa boulevard has already been replaced with night clubs, discos and different coffee bars.
The best known of all and most distinctive one, flija, is prepared year-round but is a summer favourite. Flija made with saç is a specialty from the traditional Albanian cuisine, that is mostly prepared in mountainous areas. It is most certainly one of the typical Kosovar dishes that everyone local will recommend. Baklava is one of the traditional pastries of the Kosovar cuisine, although of Turkish origin. Bakllasarem is also a traditional food of Kosovo it is a salty pie with yoghurt and garlic covering.
Basketball has been, since 2000, one of the most popular sports in Pristina. Pristina BC is the most successful club in the country, now competing also in the Eurocup. Streetball Kosova is a traditionally organised sport and cultural event at Germia Lake in Pristina since 2000.
Football is also very popular. Pristina’s representatives KF Prishtina play their home games in the City Stadium.
Visiting Prishtina is not all there is in Kosovo. There are other cities in Kosovo that are visited by locals and foreign visitors too. Places worth visiting are:
The Rugova Mountains, located near the city of Peja, a group of villages located in the mountains with some of the highest peaks in Kosovo.
The Sharr Mountains, located near the city of Prizren, also very high mountains and some of the highest peaks. The Sharr Mountains also are host of Brezovica Ski Center, the most popular Ski center, visited by many locals and foreigners during the winter season.
The City of Prizren, is the most visited city after Prishtina, with the river flowing through the center of the city, with some old bridges and old pathways. The castle right above the city, where a good picture of the city could be seen from above. The City of Prizren is also the host of DOKU Fest. One of the biggest Film Festivals in the region, which attracts a lot of foreign visitors.
Tourism in Pristina attracted 36,186 foreign visitors in 2012, which represents 74.2% of all visitors that visited Kosovo during that year. Foreign visitors mostly come from countries like Albania, Turkey, Germany, USA, Slovenia and Macedonia, but also from other places. Some of the most visited places near Pristina are Batllava Lake, Badovc Lake and Gadime Marble Cave, which are also among the most visited places in Kosovo.
The Newborn monument was unveiled on 17 February 2008, the day that Kosovo declared its independence. It is decorated with the flags of the 99 nations which recognised its declaration.
The Grand Hotel Prishtina was the property of the Yugoslav government before the Kosovo War in 1999.
Kosovo Museum is located in an Austro-Hungarian-inspired building originally built for the regional administration of the Ottoman Vilayet of Kosovo. From 1945 until 1975 it served as headquarters for the Yugoslav National Army. In 1963 it was sold to the Kosovo Museum. From 1999 until 2002, the European Agency for Reconstruction had its main office in the museum building. The Kosovo Museum has an extensive collection of archaeological and ethnological artefacts, including the Neolithic Goddess on the Throne terracotta, unearthed near Pristina in 1960 and depicted in the city’s emblem. A large number of artefacts from antiquity are still in Belgrade, as the museum was looted in 1999.
The Clock Tower (Sahat Kulla) dates back to the 19th century. Following a fire, the tower has been reconstructed using bricks. The original bell was brought to Kosovo from Moldava. It bore an inscription reading “this bell was made in 1764 for Jon Moldova Rumen.” In 2001, the original bell was stolen. The same year, French KFOR troops replaced the old clock mechanism with an electric one. Due to Kosovo’s electricity problems the tower is struggling to keep time.
Religious sites in the center of the city include the Cathedral of Blessed Mother Teresa, a Roman Catholic church which was started in 2007. While just outside the center of the city there are a lot of Muslim Mosques. From Ibrahim Rugova Square three of the oldest Mosques can be seen, which are Çarshia Mosque, Jashar Pasha Mosque and Sulltan Mehmet Fatih Mosque.
Prishtina has a number of parks like The City Park, Taukbahqe Park, Arberia Park, and the most known, Germia National Park.
Germia is a regional park located in the north-east of Pristina, capital city of Kosovo, and it covers an area of 62 km2. This mountain massif is a part of the Rhodope Mountains, which lie from the Black Mountain of Skopje to Kopaonik Mountains. Germia’s highest point, Butos’ Peak, is 1050 meters above sea level and its lowest is 663 meters above sea level. Due to its geographical position and climate conditions, Germia mountain massif has a rich fauna with 63 species of animals and a variety of about 600 species of flora.In 1987, the “Germia” complex was taken under protection by Pristina’s Municipal Assembly in the category of the Regional Nature Park.
Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, houses a great number of public and private institutions that have withstood the different periods that this country has experienced, fulfilling the academic aspirations of many generations. Pristina is known for its many educational institutions such as the University “Hasan Prishtina”, the National Library of Kosovo, and the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo. Throughout the last century Pristina has attracted a considerable number of students from Kosovo. Today, the city of Pristina hosts a considerable number of intellectuals, professors, academics, students, and professionals in various spheres.
Currently in the city of Pristina there are only eight public preschools, in which 1,886 children attend education while overall there are 2,074 pupils aged 5–6 years attend pre-primary class in Pristina. 80 percent of children aged 0–6 years are outside the system. In fact, families who succeed to enrol their children in public kindergartens are very privileged because demand exceeds supply up to tenfold. Based on the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, during years 2011 and 2012 in Pristina there were 7,685 children born from mothers with permanent residence in Pristina. Therefore Pristina has more than 40 private kindergartens. The cost of sending ones child to a private kindergarten in relation to the living standards are quite high and mostly difficult to be affordable for most parents since this drains 80 to 100 Euro. Moreover, a large number of these kindergartens work without a license and they often accept more children than their capacity can handle, resulting in low quality education but also increasing risks to children.
The city of Pristina has 41 primary schools and lower secondary schools with 34,342 students. The large number of students in elementary and secondary schools, resulting in a situation that affects the quality of education attained and student success.
The number of secondary high schools in the municipality of Pristina is 14, 12 out of the total number are Albanian Schools and 2 are mixed. Statistics show that the recent total number of students in secondary high schools is 6562 female students and 6838 male student with an average of 33.1 students per class.
There is one special school in Prishtina, Përmarimi, for children that have difficulties in development with a total number of 146 students.
Basketball has been, since 2000, one of the most popular sports in Pristina. Pristina BC is the most successful club in the country, now competing also on the Eurocup. Streetball Kosova is a traditionally organised sport and cultural event at Germia Lake in Pristina since 2000.
The Clock Tower (Sahat Kulla) dates back to the 19th century. Following a fire, the tower has been reconstructed using bricks. The original bell was brought to Kosovo from Moldavia. It bore an inscription reading “this bell was made in 1764 for Jon Moldova Rumen.” In 2001, the original bell was stolen. The same year, French KFOR troops replaced the old clock mechanism with an electric one. Due to Kosovo’s electricity problems the tower is struggling to keep time.
The number of secondary high school in the municipality of Pristina is 14, 12 out of the total number are Albanian Schools and 2 are mixed one. Statistics show that the recent total number of students in secondary high schools is 6562 female students and 6838 male student with an average of 33.1 students per class.
Armenia Relocation Guide
Austria Relocation Guide
Azerbaijan Relocation Guide
Belarus Relocation Guide
Bulgaria Relocation Guide
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Investing in Peace and the Prevention of Violence in West Africa and the Sahel-Sahara
Policies to combat terrorism cannot take an exclusively security-based focus, experts at a recent IPI conference agreed. This is the approach efforts made to solve the problem of violent extremism have taken for nearly a decade, and as continued violence illustrates, these policies have been insufficient.
Recognizing that violent extremism manifests itself differently in different contexts, 60 participants from 14 different countries representing governments, regional organizations, the UN, local NGOs and civil society gathered in Dakar, Senegal to discuss the perceptions and nature of the phenomenon in West Africa and the Sahel-Sahara region. The group also aimed to draw practical lessons from factors associated with peaceful and resilient societies in the region.
Youssef Mahmoud, IPI Senior Adviser, told a conference working group that unless the crisis in state-society relations is addressed, violent extremism in the region would continue. “Social, economic and political inclusion is the prime mechanism in the prevention of violent extremism and in consolidation long-term peace,” he said.
Additional working groups during the two-day seminar focused on the role of independent and responsible media coverage, and sub-regional approaches to prevention beyond national borders.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the United Nations for West Africa and the Sahel, said it was key to take the socio-economic challenges facing the region and its rapid demographic growth into account. “Proactive and responsible policies, integrating the individual as an actor of development, must be a cornerstone in the economic actions and plans of states in the region in order to ensure sustainable development and an equitable access to resources,” he said. A key demographic to bring into the policy planning will be the continent’s young people. This “youth bulge” will become the African majority by 2025–65% of the region’s 430 million inhabitants will be under 25 years old.
The conference built on discussions IPI, the International Organization of la Francophonie and Centre 4S, convened in Tunis last year on strategies of prevention of violent extremism in the francophone space. That session also aimed to develop a regional perspective on implementing the UN Secretary General’s Prevention of Violent Extremism Plan (A/70/674). Participants examined how the UN and its partners can best support national governments and authorities and local communities to reduce violence.
The conference was co-organized with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland (DFAE).
Read more in the joint press communiqué issued.
A meeting note in French (with executive summary in English) will follow.
INITIATIVE Lutte contre l’extrémisme violent en Afrique de l’Ouest et au Sahel : L’Onu appelle les Etats à investir sur la prévention (lequotidien.sn, 28 June 2016)
Communiqué de presse conjoint : Une Rencontre de Haut Niveau pour Investir dans la Paix et la Prévention de la Violence en Afrique de l’Ouest et au Sahel ( humanitariannews.org , 29 June 2016)
Lutte contre l’extrémisme en Afrique de l’Ouest et dans le Sahel : L’Onu pour un investissement accru dans le développement humain (lesoleil.sn, 28 June 2016)
Sénégal: Rencontre internationale sur la prévention de la violence en Afrique de l’Ouest (Afriquinfos, 28 June 2016)
Dakar: Chambas insists on strategic investment to stave off extremism (Afriquinfos, 27 June 2016)
Afrique de l’Ouest : Un terreau fertile pour les djihadistes (dakaractu, 28 June 2016)
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Iraq’s “Pepsi massacre” victims commemorated by mural in Mosul
by Mohamed Mostafa Feb 12, 2019, 8:11 pm
A mural commemorating the victims of a massacre committed by Islamic State militants near a Pepsi factory in Mosul in June 2017. (Facebook)
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) The victims of a horrific massacre committed by Islamic State militants in Mosul in 2017, where several families were killed upon fleeing the extremists’ grip, have been commemorated by locals in the city.
The names of victims of the massacre, which occurred at a so-called “Pepsi factory street”, named after the soda factory located there, is now commemorated with a mural bearing their names.
Members of the extremist group, situated above the buildings of the nearby Najjar area, opened fire in June 2017 at several families who were trying to flee the Zanjili neighborhood in Mosul via the Pepsi factory street, during clashes with Iraqi troops. The United Nations said at the time that more than 200 civilians were killed.
London-based The New Arab quoted activists behind the work that they intend to add more victims’ names when they get approval from their relatives.
It quoted Emad al-Hayyali, a former local official, saying that though markedly appalling, the massacre did not win enough attention by Iraqi authorities in terms of compensation for victims. He added that many of those who disappeared on the day of the catastrophe remain missing.
Iraqi government forces regained control of Mosul In July 2017. The city was the birthplace of Islamic State when its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared the establishment of the groups rule in Iraq and Syria from Mosul’s Old City mosque.
Abu Bakr al-BaghdadiISIS NewsIslamic StateMosulSyriaUnited Nations
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Iraqi security arrest 3 Islamic State terrorists in Mosul
PM to Pentagon chief: Iraqi decision is independent, not affected by any dictates
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A picture of the DPRK and ROK leaders will plant trees and eat home cooking.
2018-04-26 09:11:35 category:Hot
According to Ren Zhongxis introduction, the leaders of the two countries will be in the peace house on the same day and join in the afternoon to commemorate the tree planting activities. In the evening, he will also have a dinner party to welcome Kim Jeong-eun. The 24 day of Chong Wa Dae, the presidential palace of Korea, has announced the dinner menu. The carefully prepared dishes combine with the theme of the meeting, which has a profound meaning and even a political connotation. From wild vegetables on the 38 line to potatoes from Switzerland (The Associated Press called the North Korean leader Kim Jeong-eun to study in Switzerland), the Korean side can be said to be all over the face. The dinner party also brought a takeout, which made the Pyongyang cold noodles made by the chief chef of the jade pavilion from the unified Pavilion on the side of the DPRKs side to the peace house on the side of the Korean side. What are the dishes at the dinner? Look at it first North Korea summit meeting According to the agenda, at about 9:30 on the 27 morning local time, Kim Jeong-eun will walk from the DPRK side to the side of the Korean side from the side of the military division on the side of the DPRKs side. After the two meet, they will walk together to the welcoming ceremony to welcome the ceremony and inspect the guard. At 10:30, Wen began talks with Kim Jeong-eun and his entourage into the house of peace. After the morning session, the two sides will have lunch and rest respectively, and the two sides will jointly carry out commemorative tree planting activities in the afternoon. Trees are the pine trees that symbolize the year of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953. People in South Korea are watching the news of the summit between the two Koreas on television. (graph self - Vision China) After planting trees, Wen Yin and Kim Jeong-eun will return to the peace house to begin the afternoons agenda. After the talks, the two sides will sign and issue a joint statement. Subsequently, the South Korean side expected to hold a welcome dinner around 18:30. After the dinner, Kim Jeong-eun and his party were sent back to Korea. The Koreas have met to rehearse On the 25 day, Jin Changshan, Minister of State Council of the DPRK, led a delegation to visit the peace house. The South Korean Preparatory Committee and the DPRK held a closed door joint rehearsal. The Chong Wa Dae concerned said that because the media made the need to confirm the meeting, the start of the rehearsal time was the same time as the South Korean head is expected to meet. Source: CCTV News Mobile editor: Shao Xiaobo _NN2479
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The Women Who Defended Britain's Skies
In researching my upcoming release, The Light Over London, I was continually amazed at the many—often unsung—ways women contributed to the war effort in Britain during World War II. The Lightseekers is an ongoing series of articles that highlights some of their work and the ways they brought light to Britain in one of its darkest times
In April 1941, a new kind of job opened up for the women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), the women’s branch of the British Army. In order to be taken on, they needed to show great aptitude as well as quick reflexes and a natural courage. They were tested, assessed, and those who made the cut became Gunner Girls.
Also called Ack Ack Girls, these ATS women were given the rank of gunner as they were now attached to the Royal Artillery (RA). They were part of mixed batteries—units with women and men—and they took over some of the vital roles previously performed by men in an effort to free those men up for other jobs.
In an Ack Ack unit, a spotter would work the powerful tool used to locate and identify enemy aircraft. Two women would operate the height and range finder that would gather the information to properly aim the gun. Then that information would be sent over to the predictor, which would calculate and account for both the forward movement of a plane and the time it would take a shell to reach it in order to damage or shoot down the plane. Once trained, the Gunner Girls could do this all in a matter of seconds.
Gunner Girls learning how to use an identification telescope on September 24, 1941. (Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum)
One thing the Gunner Girls didn’t do, however, was pull the trigger on guns. When arguing for the inclusion of women in Ack Ack units, General Sir Frederick Pyle, Commander in Chief of Air Defense, agreed to the government demand that women would not fire the guns. This is because, even in the middle of a war, the government didn’t believe it was appropriate for “life givers to be life takers.”
By the time the first mixed battery units were trained up and dispatched to their first assignments, the London Blitz was over. However, the Luftwaffe still conducted bombing raids in the capital and across Britain throughout the war.
In their book The Girls Who Went to War, Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi, record the story of Jessie Ward, a Gunner Girl. After the war, Jessie remembered speaking to a woman in a fish and chips shop in Aberdeen who sounded as though she was from Hull. Jessie told her that she’d been stationed in Hull during the war as part of an Ack Ack unit, and the woman said, “Oh, you don’t know what they meant to use in the city. Whenever we heard the guns open up, it gave us a bit of hope to hold onto.”
My own family, the Kellys, would’ve been familiar with the 33rd (Western) Anti-Aircraft Battalion that defended Liverpool throughout the war. Liverpool, a major port, was one of the cities bombed at the same time as the London Blitz, and it also experienced its own sustained bombing that came to be known as the Liverpool Blitz. Ack Ack units from the 33rd were stationed around the city and its outskirts and in surrounding towns like Stockport, Birkenhead, and Boodle to try to protect the buildings and people of Liverpool.
My grandparents’ house was one of the 6,500 homes bombed during one of these raids on Liverpool, although fortunately no one in our family was hurt. Family lore has it that my Uncle Nick was actually born during an air raid in the middle of the Liverpool Blitz.
The last air raid of Liverpool happened place in January 1942.
There is now a memorial to the women of the Ack Ack Command in the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Read every story of the The Lightseekers in the series archive. You can also learn more about their stories by following the hashtag #TheLightseekers on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Tagged: History, The Lightseekers, Ack Ack Girls, Gunner Girls
Newer PostThe Light Over London Is Here
Older Post12 Days of Christmas Reads — Second Chance at the Log Fire Cabin by Catherine Ferguson
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And not only the conferences can prosper. So can the host cities.
Missouri Coach Cuonzo Martin, a native of St. Louis, made that point when asked about the SEC Tournament being here. Fans figure to fill hotels and restaurants.
“If you can generate revenue for the area, for the downtown area . . . , all that stuff is very exciting,” he said. “With everybody coming, that’s a beautiful thing.”
It’s too early to know how the SEC Tournament will impact the economy of St. Louis. But Frank Viverito, the president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, said his group was told that the SEC Tournament added $18 to $21 million to the Nashville economy in 2015, again in 2016 and again in 2017.
Postseason tournaments also serve as a way of promoting basketball in the leagues.
Mike Tranghese, a consultant to the SEC and a former commissioner of the Big East Conference, said a postseason tournament in Madison Square Garden gave the Big East credibility.
“I can’t even begin to describe to you the value of the Big East Tournament in New York,” Tranghese said. “It was vital. And our coaches thought it was vital for recruiting.”
The SEC moved its tournament to St. Louis this year in hopes of increasing the league’s influence beyond the Southeast, Tranghese said. As a bonus, Martin improved Missouri’s team, and Michael Porter Jr. returning to action increased excitement.
Tradition also plays a part in why conferences hold tournaments. Because of its postseason tournament, the Atlantic Coast Conference was the envy of other leagues. Imitation became the sincerest form of flattery.
“I remember the other conferences wanted to see if they could create that same kind of magic,” said Bill Hancock, who served as an NCAA liaison to the Selection Committee. “And I think to a great extent, the other conferences have created the same kind of magic.”
Or as Tranghese put it, conference tournaments “have sort of become a way of life in college basketball.”
Conference tournaments serve as an appetizer for March Madness.
“It helps to begin to put the focus on college basketball,” Hancock said. “It sort of whets the whistle of fans.”
Of course, Calipari’s objections are not based on economics nor promotion nor tradition. He’s thinking about what’s right for basketball teams. And he’s been consistent in his displeasure with having to play in a conference tournament. When his UK team’s only chance to play in the 2013 NCAA Tournament was by winning the SEC Tournament, he still termed the event unnecessary.
“John’s probably in the minority,” Tranghese said. “That doesn’t mean he’s wrong.”
Calipari has a new-found ally of sorts in Texas A&M Coach Billy Kennedy. With his team feeling assured of an NCAA bid this year, “You can see the negative of it from the standpoint of playing too many games. . . . I have a different appreciation for what Cal’s saying.”
For instance, A&M guard Admon Gilder usually sits out the day after a game because of knee surgery last year, Kennedy said. If A&M advances, all eyes will be on Gilder.
The conference tournament can give players and coaches a taste of the win-or-go-home reality of the NCAA Tournament.
“That can be a positive,” Kennedy said. “And then the setting being a totally neutral site can be something that can get you ready for the next week.
“And you may play a guy with two fouls in the first half that wouldn’t have played earlier in the year.”
Tranghese suggested that self-interest can rule how a team or coach views conference tournaments. He used this year’s Big Ten Tournament to make the point.
“Purdue was in great shape to get a No. 1 seed,” he said. “They lose. Now it looks like a No. 2 seed. So if I’m Purdue, I don’t like it.
“But if I’m Michigan, I love it. People were talking about them as a five or six seed. I win the Big Ten. Now, all of a sudden they’re talking about me as a three seed.”
Jerry Tipton: 859-231-3227, @JerryTipton
SEC Tournament
When: Wednesday through Sunday
Where: Scottrade Center in St. Louis
Kentucky’s opener: UK plays either Georgia, Vanderbilt or Missouri in Friday afternoon’s second game, which should tip off around 3:25 p.m. EST.
TV: ESPN
uk-basketball-men
Michael Porter Jr. will play in SEC tourney, which makes Missouri ‘very, very dangerous’
Jarred Vanderbilt’s father says son’s injury not serious, unrelated to past setbacks
Here’s which team will win the SEC Tournament. (Or maybe not.)
A conspiracy against the Cats on Selection Sunday? Read this before raging out.
Ranking the 10 best University of Kentucky basketball players during the John Calipari era
Ranking the top 10 teams of the John Calipari era at Kentucky
Ex-Cats
Back from Estonia, Kentucky fan favorite among ex-Cats making a run at $2 million
By Jared Peck
After two seasons playing professionally overseas, former Kentucky fan favorite Dominique Hawkins is joining other ex-Cats on a team trying to win $2 million in The Basketball Tournament which begins Friday at Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington.
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Ten Years of Coach Cal: Ranking the 10 most agonizing defeats
Ten Years of Coach Cal: Ranking the 10 most thrilling wins
Ten Years of Coach Cal: ‘Kentucky isn’t for everyone.’
Kentucky Speedway
It’s a house divided for one of NASCAR’s biggest UK basketball fans
With referees, Kentucky knows that a wrong can be a right
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Oklahoma governor, lawmakers reach deal on $8.3B budget
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Republican legislative leaders have reached a deal on a $8.3 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year that includes an average $1,200 pay raise for public school teachers and tens of millions more dollars for public schools.
The deal announced Wednesday by Stitt and GOP leaders from the House and Senate also socks away $200 million, about one-third of this year’s surplus revenue, into savings, a priority for the first-year governor.
The plan also includes an average pay hike of about $1,300 annually for state workers.
A rebounding economy and a boom in the state’s oil patch, along with a package of tax hikes approved by the Legislature last year, helped provide lawmakers with nearly $600 million in surplus revenue to spend this year.
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NationalNational
Man arrested after speeding past Missouri school bus, swerving up on sidewalk
Viral video led to arrest
Posted: 7:48 AM, Sep 14, 2018
By: Alex Hider
Social media and community tips led to the arrest of a St. Louis-area man who was caught on video speeding past a school bus and swerving up on a sidewalk.
Matthew S. McCloskey was arrested Thursday for leaving the scene of an accident, driving while suspended and violation of a school bus stop sign, according to USA Today .
The incident happened Wednesday when a school bus for the Parkway school district stopped to drop off a student. A car traveling in the opposite direction stopped in accordance with the school bus arm sign, but a second car behind it sped up on the sidewalk, around the stopped car and past the bus.
A camera aboard the bus recorded the incident. The Parkway School District posted the video to its Facebook page, asking followers to contact the Ballwin Police Department if they had information. Their Facebook post has been shared more than 3,000 times.
Ballwin Police say the viral video led to a number of tips. The next day, they arrested McCloskey at his home.
McCloskey told KDSK-TV in St. Louis that the brakes on his car failed, adding "I think I did a pretty good job of not killing anyone."
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes that McCloskey has an extensive criminal record, including attempted rape, failure to register as a sex offender and drug charges.
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
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NBA PLAYOFFS : Warriors Use a Full Nelson to Sweep Jazz
By SCOTT HOWARD-COOPER
OAKLAND —
The series was a sweep, just like most everyone predicted. Three games and done. Broom, broom, out go the lights.
The Golden State Warriors had already cast themselves as the little team that could, Don Nelson having coached his shorty lineup to a 23-game improvement from last season, but now they are something else. They are in the Western Conference semifinals after stunning the Utah Jazz--and the entire National Basketball Assn.--with a 120-106 victory Tuesday night at Oakland Coliseum Arena to take the first-round series, 3-0.
Something else, indeed.
“I said before it would be a miracle if we win it,” Nelson said afterward. “But miracles do happen, and one just happened tonight.
“I’ve been around a long time. I can’t ever remember being more proud of a team or remember a bigger win.”
Three Warriors scored 20 points or more--Chris Mullin with 35, Mitch Richmond with 26 the day after being named the league’s rookie of the year, and Terry Teagle with 24 off the bench--and two others broke double figures. In the biggest game for the franchise in years, contributions came from almost everywhere.
Maybe even above.
“Yes, it was a miracle,” Nelson said, continuing with a theme that will no doubt be retold in these parts for a long time. “For us to win three straight against such a good team, against a team that almost beat the Lakers in seven games last season, for us to do what we did, we had to have had help from somebody else.”
The capacity crowd of 15,025 cut loose with 2:37 remaining--in the third quarter. “Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!” they chanted, proclaiming a notion that no one would have dared even dream a week ago.
The Warriors, the fourth-place team out of the Pacific Division with a 43-39 record, led at that point, 71-66, and were in the midst of a 12-0 streak. When Golden State finished the third quarter with a 7-0 run, it was 82-71. A close game had turned into a double-digit deficit for the Midwest Division champions, and it would get worse in the fourth quarter, reaching 15 points.
When Utah made one last run and cut the lead to 94-88 with 5:25 left, Manute Bol, Golden State’s 7-foot-7 string bean of a cult hero, hit what has become his obligatory three-point shot with 5:02 left.
Rod Higgins hit another three-pointer and it was over, for good.
The kid who held up a home-made sign in the front row had it right: A poster-size envelope, addressed to Bol was stamped in red ink, “Return to Sender.” The return address was Karl Malone at 0-3 Dead End Street.
“You just don’t dream about sweeping a team like Utah,” said Warrior guard Winston Garland, who contributed 11 points. “They’re too good.”
A playoff upset of this magnitude hasn’t happened in the NBA since the New Jersey Nets knocked off the Philadelphia 76ers, the defending champions, in the first round in 1984. What made Utah-Golden State all the more improbable--beyond the fact that the Jazz is one of the most talented teams in the league--is that the Warriors closed the regular season with six consecutive losses, two coming against teams that didn’t make the playoffs.
Then they won the first two games of the series at Salt Lake City, breaking a five-game losing streak there in the process. Mullin scores 41 and 22 points, respectively, Richmond gets 30 and 21, and Bol blocks a combined 13 shots.
Tuesday, the Warriors returned home, where they went 29-12 during the regular season, and played Utah just about even in the first half. They trailed, 49-48, at the intermission, but had a couple impressive stretches and shut down the Jazz inside game despite the usual size disadvantage.
Golden State used a 17-2 run (including a 12-0 spurt) midway through the second quarter to take a 40-32 lead with 5:41 left in the half. Karl Malone’s hook in the lane ended the drought for Utah and started the Jazz on a 17-8 surge to close the period.
The Warriors took control from there, earning a trip to the best-of-seven conference semifinals to meet the Phoenix Suns, beginning Saturday.
To Arizona they go. For at least one more series, heaven can wait.
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IOC grants provisional recognition to Kosovo Olympic Committee
The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today granted provisional recognition to the Kosovo Olympic Committee and proposed that the NOC be granted full recognition at the next IOC Session to be held in December in Monaco.
The NOC of Kosovo was established in 1992 and has more than 30 affiliated National Federations (NFs), 13 of which are Olympic sports federations. Of these, six* are full members of their respective International Federations (IFs), while the other seven** are provisional or associate members of their respective IFs.
The EB noted that the NOC of Kosovo has met the requirements for recognition as outlined in the Olympic Charter. These include the sport and technical requirements as well as the definition of “country” as defined in Rule 30.1 – “an independent State recognised by the international community.” Kosovo is recognised as a country by 108 of the 193 UN Member States.
The decision was taken by the Executive Board in the interests of the athletes in Kosovo and to remove any uncertainty they may have. It will allow them to take part in qualifications for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and in future editions of the Games.
*Table tennis, archery, judo, sailing, weightlifting, modern pentathlon
**Wrestling, boxing, curling, taekwondo, gymnastics, skiing, handball
The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit independent international organisation made up of volunteers, which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, helping athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.
For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000 e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or visit our web site at www.olympic.org.
published on 23 October 2014
Tags: IOC | Kosovo | National Federations | NOC (National Olympic Committee) | Olympic | Paralympics
Contribution of the IOC and of sports bodies essential to Switzerland, says Ueli Maurer
IOC Executive Board Meeting and 127th IOC Session in Monaco
IOC Coordination Commission leaves Rio satisfied with progress
2022 Olympic Winter Games Bid Process: composition of the Evaluation Commission
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Interview with Graham Arthur Director of Legal at UK Anti-Doping (UKAD)
Published 14 April 2011 | Authored by: Sean Cottrell
Doping is a huge problem facing sport. Banned substances and means of delivery are becoming more sophisticated and with the ever increasing infiltration of organised crime in sport, anti-doping agencies and law enforcement agencies are having to work together to sustain the momentum in the fight against cheats in sport.
Recently, Lawinsport.com met with Graham Arthur, Director of Legal at UK Anti-Doping at the Tackling Doping in Sport 2011 Conference to find out his views on a range of topics, from Out-of-Competition testing to the challenges that come with hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. UK Anti-Doping was established in 2009 andis the national body responsible for the implementation and management of the UK’s anti-doping policy.
Graham originally started out in private practice and was formerly outside counsel for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) providing support on classification and anti-doping matters. He has assisted with all the recent IPC events from Athens to Vancouver.
LIS: What did you think of the Tackling Doping in Sport conference?
GA: The mix of representatives from anti-doping organisations, international federations, and national organisations was really helpful. I thought the quality of the scientific presentations was very thorough, clear and accessible for what are quite in-depth issues. For example, the presentation on blood doping [banned technique used to increase the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity] demonstrated that it is feasible, but it requires the co-operation of an infrastructure of medical personnel, and can be picked up by sports and anti-doping organisations so ultimately you would expect people to get caught doing it. One of the more sobering messages was however that there are sophisticated and expensive techniques available to deal with doping.
LIS: What advice do you have for other less supported anti-doping agencies?
GA: I would say do what you can, when you can. The strategy is to make doping harder and more risky. If we can’t get rid of doping, then we want doping to be expensive, to be risky, to be stressful for the people involved, because the harder and more unpalatable it becomes, the less people are going to want to do it.
LIS: How does your current role differ from your previous roles within private practice and the IPC?
GA: It is a very vibrant and interesting role, which is what appealed about it as there is a lot to it, including dealing on behalf of the government with the Council for Europe and UNESCO. I am very lucky to have a great team who do a great job and make my job a lot easier than it otherwise would be.
LIS: What do you get the most satisfaction from in your job?
GA: I guess we get the most satisfaction from making sure the athlete gets fair treatment and that includes athletes who cheat and get two years (suspension). They get fair treatment as they have an opportunity to explain their case and their side of the story to a panel.
LIS: Do you think this approach has strengthened your relationship with athletes?
GA: Well, I think it strengthens the relationship with sport because we are an independent body, which has been a really big plus. We should be seen to be fair and even-handed by sport and I think we are, by the sports we are engaged with, thus far.
LIS: Why do you think this is?
GA: I can give you a short example why. We had a finding involving a Scottish Footballer at the end of January. When that happens we get the charge out straight away to get the clock running. The athlete or his representative or lawyer weren’t familiar with anti-doping practice. So my colleagues here spent a lot of time on the phone to the athlete, his representative and his lawyer telling them what they needed to do. The priority was to identify how the prohibited substance got into the athlete’s system.
We want to work with athletes and we drive that proactively here to make sure all the athletes we engage with get the fairest outcome possible. Athletes that choose to dope may opt for a hearing and we aim to get one set-up in a timely manner to give them the opportunity to explain their case to an independent panel. It’s a different treatment but the interest of the athletes is paramount.
LIS: An athlete has to give an hour window each day to inform you when they are available for Out-of-Competition testing. We have heard that a cheating athlete could deploy methods to avoid detection, as they know when they could be asked for a sample. What is your opinion on how much impact this is having on sport and could things be improved?
GA: I think you have to be realistic about what you can do with your resources and that is your start point. Rather than saying, “if you could make up your ideal rules what would your ideal rules be,” you start with that which you can implement. What we try to do, which reflects what most anti-doping organisations do, is to plan our Out-of-Competition testing which gives us the maximum opportunity to recover a sample.
The whereabouts scheme is a two-way street. It gives the anti-doping organisation a tool to carry out its anti-doping programmes, but also gives the athlete a tool to demonstrate compliance. Not all athletes see it that way, some see it as onerous and burdensome, but we have excellent support in place for athletes; we work very closely with sports who support their athletes and we have a dedicated athlete support officer who works closely with all those athletes to ensure they understand what to and how to make it work for them..
LIS: How important do you think testing is to help provide validity to the clean athletes?
GA: Testing athletes has a number of objectives – to catch those that are doping, to deter those that might be thinking about it and to prove that an athlete is clean. If you go and watch a cycling event, for example, and say, “how do we know our UK cyclists are clean? How do we know that?” The reason you know is because all our cyclists partake in Out-of-Competition testing and in an athlete blood passport scheme. They are willing to take those steps to reassure other participants in the sport, and the paying public, that what they are watching is real. It is so important that athletes commit to being tested, demonstrating they are participating in a clean sport. This is as much in their interest as it is in the interest of the anti-doping organisations. If they can’t demonstrate by their actions they are clean, they lose the buy-in of their public.
LIS: With the Games coming up in the next year what is the biggest challenge you face?
GA: The 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics is a great opportunity for us, we have good relationships with the organisation committee, great relationships with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee and being the agency we are, we have formalised relationships with the UK Border Agency, Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and with the Serious Organised Crime Agency. What the Games give us is an opportunity to develop a broad reaching anti-doping policy that goes well beyond the urine and blood random in-and- out-of-competition tests that are the traditional bread and butter of an anti-doping agency. The Games give us an opportunity to have a great platform to work with partners and to develop a comprehensive anti-doping strategy to support a clean event.
LIS: I guess in one way it will be a legacy of the Games.
GA: Yes it is. It will provide a model for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and an exportable model for other major events as we go on to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games. It gives us a sustainable model so event organisers can say what can be done to ensure a clean event. That legacy Hugh [Robertson, Olympics and Sport Minister and speaker at Tackling Doping in Sport] was talking about, it is a great legacy to contribute to.
Interview conducted by Sean Cottrell, Editor of Lawinsport.com. For further information about the work of UK Anti-Doping please visit www.ukad.org.uk.
Tags: Anti-Doping | UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) | United Kingdom (UK) | World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
Sean Cottrell
Sean is the founder and CEO of LawInSport. Founded in 2010, LawInSport has become the "go to sports law website" for sports lawyers and sports executives across the world.
@spcott
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Van Gogh and Japan
Sun 24 Nov
1:00 PM NFT
“I envy the Japanese” Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo. In the exhibition on which this film is based – VAN GOGH & JAPAN at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam – one can see why. Though Vincent van Gogh never visited Japan it is the country that had the most profound influence on him and his art.
One cannot understand Van Gogh without understanding how Japanese art arrived in Paris in the middle of the 19th century and the profound impact it had on artists like Monet, Degas and, above all, Van Gogh. Visiting the new galleries of Japanese art in Paris and thrn creating his own image of Japan – through in-depth research, print collecting and detailed discussions with other artists – Van Gogh’s encounter with Japanese artworks gave his work a new and exciting direction.
After leaving Paris for the south of France – to what he thought of as near to a kind of Japan as he could find – the productive and yet troubled years that followed must all be seen in the context of Van Gogh bending Japanese influences to his will and defining himself as a modern artist with clear Asian precursors.
In this little known story of Van Gogh’s art we see just how important his study of Japan was. The film travels not only to France and the Netherlands but also to Japan to further explore the remarkable heritage that so affected Van Gogh and made him the artist we know of today.
David Bickerstaff
Can't decide? What about...
G Apollo 11
M MYSTIFY Michael Hutchence
M Never Look Away
M · 25 Jul 2019 Diego Maradona
Release Date: 25 Jul 2019
CTC · 03 Aug 2019 Young Picasso
PG The Lion King
MA15+ · 15 Aug 2019 Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
M The White Crow
M Yesterday
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Little to show: A deserted Bharatiya Janata Party election management and coordination office in New Delhi on Thursday. PTI
In latest election setback, BJP seeks to connect with its cadre
3 min read . Updated: 22 Oct 2009, 09:43 PM IST Santosh K. Joy
BJPPollsLok SabhaLK AdvaniJaswant SinghYashwant SinhaArun ShourieCongressEconomy and PoliticsPolitical Economy
New Delhi: Faced with consecutive poll defeats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says it is time for the party to put its house in order and connect with its cadre.
The main opposition party in the Lok Sabha lost assembly elections in all the three states—Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh—that held polls last week. The results were announced on Thursday.
“We will have to have an honest analysis," said BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad. “We need to address these (internal) issues. There is a need to speak in one voice and be up to the expectations of our well-wishers and supporters." Any reinvention of the party would involve its ideological parent the reassertion of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the BJP, say analysts.
“This defeat would give further reason for RSS to reassert itself," said Bhaskar Rao, political analyst and chairman, Centre for Media Studies. “The reinvention process of the party, which the leadership is openly talking of, involves a greater role of the Sangh."
After losing in the April-May Parliament elections, the BJP was struck by a series of controversies. Senior leaders Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and Jaswant Singh openly criticized the party for its poll strategy. BJP later expelled Singh in August over his book on Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.
Party members have also challenged the leadership of veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani.
Also See Final Count (Graphics)
Analysts say the latest results underscore the BJP’s disconnect with ground realities.
“The BJP was without an agenda," Rao said. “The only agenda that was reflected during the campaign was differences within its leadership. There was a clear lack of communication at all levels in the party."
An internal analysis of the results shows the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray and a party with a similar right-wing ideology, influenced at least 30 seats against the BJP-Shiv Sena combine in Maharashtra. The MNS won at least 10,000 votes in nearly all the places it contested in, eating into what might have been BJP-Shiv Sena votes.
“These 10,000 votes were crucial for us," said a BJP leader who worked closely in the party’s Maharashtra campaign. “The core thing is that those who managed Lok Sabha polls were not the ones who managed these ones. So the problem (is) more organizational than being that of strategy." After the results were announced, the BJP deferred its parliamentary board meeting scheduled for Thursday evening to Friday.
“The country’s main opposition has failed to infuse confidence among the voters to replace the ruling combine. It is a lost opportunity," says analyst and former BJP member Sudheendra Kulkarni.
Analysts also point out that in the latest assembly elections, the BJP took on its erstwhile allies and supporters.
If it was the MNS, a splinter group of an ally, in Maharashtra, in Haryana the party took on the Indian National Lok Dal led by former state chief minister Om Prakash Chautala.
Several key leaders left the party before the polls, including Kiren Rijiju who joined the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh.
Asked about the likely reason for the BJP’s defeat, Rijiju said, “The reason remains the same as the reason I left the party for. The grass-roots-level workers are willing to work but there is no direction from the leadership."
The BJP, which won nine out of 60 seats in Arunachal Pradesh in the previous assembly polls, could only win three.
In Maharashtra, the BJP-Shiv Sena combine won 90 out of 288 seats, and in Haryana, it improved its tally from two out of 90 seats in the previous state election to four.
“We have improved our vote percentage from 10% to almost 16% in Haryana. The message in Haryana is that the only reason for the Congress’ comeback is a divided opposition," said Vijay Goel, party general secretary in charge of Haryana.
“The message (for the BJP) is that it has to be different from the Congress. If it were like the Congress the people will prefer the original and not the photocopy," said analyst and RSS ideologue S. Gurumurthy. He is a former head of the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch.
“It’s time for rejuvenation through introspection," said Tarun Vijay, who heads an RSS think tank in New Delhi and is a former editor of RSS mouthpiece, Organiser.
Graphics by Ahmed Raza Khan / Mint
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Lewis Silkin Ireland
HR Services - Worksphere
Immigration & Global Mobility
Supporting Individuals in Partnerships
Tax for Employers & Executives
Workplace Data Privacy
Transparency in Price and Service
International Project Management
Ius Laboris
No Deal Brexit - The rights of EU nationals after 29th March 2019
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The Government has released some information on the status and rights of EU nationals in the event of a “No Deal” Brexit.
EU nationals entering the UK after 29th March 2019 will be admitted under the UK’s Immigration Rules and will require Leave to Remain if they wish to stay in the UK for more than 3 months. An application will need to be made to the Home Office for European Temporary Leave to Remain which will be valid for up to 36 months and will allow work and study. This leave will be temporary, non-extendable and will not lead to settlement. At the end of this 36 month period, EU nationals who wish to remain in the UK to work or study will need to qualify under the new UK immigration scheme. A fee (details will be announced at a later date) will be charged for an application for European Temporary Leave to Remain.
Family Members of EU nationals who are also EU citizens will need to apply individually for European Temporary Leave to Remain. Non-EU Family Members will also need to apply but only “close” Family Members will qualify. “Close” family is defined as spouse, partner and dependent child under 18 years which is a much narrower definition than under the EU Regulations.
EU nationals and their Family Members who are resident in the UK by the 29th March 2019 will be able to apply for Settled or Pre-Settled status and will be required to register by the 31st December 2020 in the event of no deal.
Nationals of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein will also need to make applications to remain in the UK under this scheme post 29th March 2019.
If you have any queries about this announcement, please do get in touch with a member of the immigration team or your usual contact.
I am the head of Lewis Silkin’s Immigration practice and joined the firm as a Partner in January 2010.
andrew.osborne@lewissilkin.com
Antonia Grant
I specialise in corporate and personal immigration including providing advice on and managing international movement of people
antonia.grant@lewissilkin.com
Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. SRA no. 439493
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Assange to Google's Schmidt: 'I don't use email'
Wikileaks' latest release is billed as a transcript of a "secret meeting," but it may more accurately be termed a promotion.
By Jeremy Kirk , IDG News Service | 19 Apr 13
The site on Friday released a five-hour transcript of a June 2011 meeting between Julian Assange, one of the whistle-blowing site's founders, and Eric E. Schmidt, Google's executive chairman.
The meeting was also attended by Jared Cohen, who was an advisor to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Cohen has been working with Schmidt on a book called "The New Digital World" due to be released next Tuesday.
At the time of the chat, Assange was staying in Norfolk, England, with Vaughan Smith, the founder of the journalism organization the Frontline Club while his extradition case continued. Assange remains in the U.K. today, holed up in Ecuador's London embassy although Britain has approved his extradition to Sweden related to sexual assault allegations.
The lengthy transcript of the meeting with Schmidt offers an interesting fly-on-the-wall account of a wide-ranging conversation between two technology luminaries, with Assange recounting anecdotes of his Wikileaks work and weaknesses in computer security that have rendered Wikileaks much less active.
Assange told Schmidt that the system for issuing SSL certificates -- which cryptographically verify that a web site is legitimate -- is flawed. Hackers have been able to break into companies that issue the certificates and generate their own, which could compromise the secrecy of submission to websites such as Wikileaks.
"The browser-based public key system that we have for authenticating what websites you are going to, it is awful. It is truly awful," Assange said. "The number of people that have been licensed to mint keys is so tremendous."
Near the end of the transcript, Schmidt asks Assange how he is able to communicate with Wikileaks' staff. Assange goes on to say he tends to meet people in person.
"I mean I assume you can do email and all that, no?" Schmidt asks.
"I don't use email," Assange responds.
"Why not, because it's...?" Schmidt asks.
"Too dangerous," Assange said. "And encrypted email is possibly even worse, because it is such a flag for end point attacks ... but we do have encrypting phones. Unfortunately they don't work in all countries, but the SMSs work in all countries."
Assange also recounted an amusing story of a Wikileaks volunteer who was being stalked.
In 2008, the Wikileaks staff member was approached in a supermarket parking lot by a person Assange claims in the transcript may have been with British intelligence. The confident, well-dressed agent told the Wikileaks volunteer that it would be in his best interest to have a chat over coffee, which Assange said was "a clear threat."
The agent, Assange said, was told by the Wikileaks worker that he "wasn't interested in men. See you later! Sorry buddy!" according to the transcript.
Send news tips and comments to [email protected] Follow me on Twitter: @jeremy_kirk
Eric Schmidt: 'We still want Apple to use our Maps'
Google's Eric Schmidt talks Facebook Home, 'phenomenal' new Motorola devices
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The Franklin Institute Admission Ticket
Sightseeing Tickets & Passes in Philadelphia
DepartsThe Franklin Institute
Founded in honor of America’s first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of America’s oldest and premier centers of science education. The museum is known for blockbuster exhibits, a bevy of interactive ongoing exhibitions, and one-of-a-kind theatrical experiences.
Visit: The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaLocated in Center City Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is dedicated to public education and creating a passion for science by offering new and exciting access to science and technology in ways that would dazzle and delight its namesake.Discover something new at The Franklin Institute, where kids and parents can explore the fun side of science through twelve cutting-edge, hands-on exhibitions. Visitors can tour the human body, experience augmented reality, attempt to complete an escape room, gaze at the stars and sky at the Joel N. Bloom Observatory, and much more. Every day The Franklin Institute provides resources that help people to connect with science and technology in creative ways that resonate with learners of all ages and backgrounds.
Entry/Admission - The Franklin Institute
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Lotame Named “Tech Firm of the Year” Finalist
HOME / Resources / Lotame Technology Firm of the Year
Lotame is proud to announce we are a finalist for the Emerging Tech Firm of the Year Award by the Tech Council of Maryland’s (TCM) 2016 Industry Awards Celebration, for our leadership in the technology industry. The winner will be announced at TCM’s annual awards banquet on May 11th, 2016.
The TCM Industry Awards honors the best in Maryland’s life science and technology community. This celebration is one of Maryland’s most prestigious award ceremonies and recognizes executives, businesses, and innovative technology developed in Maryland, as well as its surrounding regions.
The evening of awards brings over 900 technology, life science, government, academia, and supporting businesses together at one place, at one time for Maryland’s best night of networking. Sponsors include Capital One Commercial Banking, Verizon, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and Johns Hopkins.
The Industry Awards Celebration will take place at:
5701 Marinelli Road, Rockville, MD 20852
We are excited to be in the running for the prestigious “Tech Firm of the Year” award. We congratulate our fellow nominees on all they have accomplished, and thank the Tech Council of Maryland for our nomination.
Lotame Named “Emerging Technology Company of the Year”
Lotame has been named the Emerging Technology Company of 2016 by the Tech Council of…
Omar Abdala Receives AMA 4 Under 40 Award for Data Analytics Innovation
Lotame's Chief Data Scientist, Omar Abdala, has been awarded 4 under 40 award by the…
Lotame Named to Deloitte’s 2016 Technology Fast 500
Lotame is proud to announce our inclusion on the Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500, a ranking…
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Latest News for Business /
Archive /
Welsh taxpayers income tax code mix-up
From April 2019, Welsh taxpayers were assigned new income tax codes beginning with the letter 'C'. However, HMRC recently revealed that some Welsh taxpayers were mistakenly given Scottish income tax codes by their employers. As a consequence, Welsh taxpayers have been charged income tax using the Scottish income tax rates and bands.
For 2019/20 the Welsh rate of income tax is set at 10% and this is added to the UK rates, which are each reduced by 10%. Therefore, the overall tax payable by Welsh taxpayers continues to be the same as English and Northern Irish taxpayers.
The income tax rates and bands that apply to employment income, self-employed trade profits and property income are different for taxpayers who are resident in Scotland, with tax rates and bands ranging from 19% to 46% rather than the 20% to 45% which apply across the rest of the UK. Tax codes for Scottish taxpayers begin with the letter 'S'.
HMRC stated that it does not know the full extent of the error or how many Welsh taxpayers have been affected but they will carry out a review of the operation of Welsh tax codes in June 2019.
Llyr Gruffydd, Chair of the National Assembly for Wales' Finance Committee, said:
'We raised concerns about the flagging process for identifying Welsh taxpayers during our enquiries into fiscal devolution and the Welsh government's draft budget.
'On each occasion, we were told the matter was in hand, and the lessons from the devolution of income tax powers to Scotland, where there were similar issues, had been soundly learned and would be put into effect. We are seeking an immediate explanation of how this has happened and will be asking representatives from HMRC to appear before this Committee in the near future.'
If you have any concerns about tax codes, please get in touch.
Internet links: HMRC letter Welsh Assembly news
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The ethics of smart cities
Using big data and AI to manage citiescreates many ethical issues, but efforts to address these concerns can be jsut as contenious, writes Prof Rob Kitchin, Department of Geography
Many cities around the world are seeking to become smart cities by using networked, digital technologies to control infrastructures and deliver and manage city services and systems. These include city operating systems, centralised control rooms, intelligent transport systems, smart energy grids, smart meters, sensor networks, and an array of smartphone apps and sharing economy platforms. These technologies generate vast streams of data and employ forms of artificial intelligence that enable automated and autonomous action.
The rollout and use of such technologies raises several ethical issues. These include the erosion of privacy through persistent mass surveillance at a fine granular scale; notice and consent being largely an empty exercise or absent for many systems; system opacity and automation creating obfuscation and reducing oversight and ownership, control and use of data, including unanticipated repurposing.
Other issues include new and more extensive governance regimes; predictive profiling to differentially treat people; nudging behaviours; biases in data and AI systems and a lack of transparency and accountability; control creep, wherein technologies deployed for one purpose are extended to another; redlining, digital divides, and differential access to digitally mediated services; top-down decision-making and limited citizen consultation; the privatisation and marketisation of public infrastructure and services and the hacking of data and city infrastructure and services.
"Something has to be done"
Despite these issues, many people do not know about them or little appreciate their consequences. Amongst those in government, business and civic society who are familiar with smart city technologies there seems to be an emerging consensus that "something has to be done" to reassure the public that checks and balances designed to protect them from any harms are being put in place.
What that "something" is though is not so clear and reaction has been slow and piecemeal. The general view is that it needs to involve ethical practices in some form, whether that be through market-based regulation, technological fixes, policy changes, governance mechanisms, legal interventions, or a more fundamental rethink of the logic and aims of smart cities.
Initiatives include pan-city collectives (such as Cities Coalition for Digital Rights), individual city-based programmes (including Barcelona Digital City, Detroit Digital Justice Coalition, Seattle Community Technology Advisory Board and Amsterdam Tada!), smart city advisory boards (Smart London Board and Smart Dubai AI Ethics Advisory Board) and in-house projects within city government.
This turn to ethics is part of a more general engagement across the tech sector, with several AI/big data and ethics initiatives being recently launched by universities (Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and MIT/Harvard's Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Initiative), research bodies such as the Ada Lovelace Institute, companies (see Google's short-lived Advanced Technology External Advisory Council), governments (the EU High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence), and stakeholder coalitions (Data for Black Lives and Partnership on AI).
Ethics washing
These initiatives undertake laudable and valuable work, but many have attracted critique. A general concern is that some of them practice forms of ethics-washing, an emerging concept that borrows from the notion of greenwashing. Greenwashing is a set of practices designed to promote the perception that an organisation's ethos, policies and products are environmentally friendly when, in fact, they fail to perform environmentally sound practices.
With ethics-washing, a performative ethics is being practised designed to give the impression that an issue is being taken seriously and meaningful action is occurring, when the real ambition is to avoid formal regulation and legal mechanisms. It is, in effect, virtue signalling, providing empty or superficial support for a position and prioritising appearance over action. The hope is to reassure the public, policy-makers and government with respect to any concerns they might have, and in so doing, promote products and initiatives, enhance reputation and attract investment.
Ethics-washing can also occur through the deliberate or unintentional avoidance of more fundamental normative questions about what kind of society we want to create. As Catherine D'Ignazio and Lauren Klein note, this means that wider moral philosophy concepts such as such as justice, rights, oppression, equity, citizenship, commons and the public good are largely ignored. Instead, attention is focused on more procedural technical and legal concerns – bias, fairness, transparency, consumer rights, accountability, compliance and redress. The sources of ethical problems are located in individuals and technical systems rather than in structural power, with the focus on addressing symptoms rather than underlying causes.
The framing and approach to smart city ethics generally takes place within and reproduces the existing capitalist political economy, rather than challenging its fundamental tenets, which are the source of inequalities and discrimination. The aim is to act, and to be seen to be acting, fairly and compliantly within existing system rules and constraints, rather to question their rationale and logic. As such, the system can perpetuate inequities as long as it does so without creating additional unsanctioned biases or breaking established rules.
Smart cities and ethics
A washing effect has been playing out with respect to citizen inclusion in smart cities for a number of years. A strong critque of smart city developments has been that they are technocratic and top-down in nature, with initiatives imposed on citizens who were rarely consulted about their deployment. In response, both companies and cities have sought to reposition their initiatives as "citizen-centric". However, this label has largely acted as an empty signifier, designed to silence detractors or bring them into the fold while not altering the technocratic workings, profit-driven orientation, or ethos of stewardship (for citizens) and civic paternalism (deciding what's best for citizens) of smart city schemes.
Ethics initiatives extend the washing effect beyond citizenship to related issues concerning how people and their data are treated and used. However, it must be noted that the nature of smart city ethics initiatives is variable, as is the extent to which ethics-washing occurs. In some cases, the scope of ethics is quite procedural and it is more normative in others. In some cases, ethics-washing might be a deliberate political tactic or it might occur despite the intentions of those involved.
Similarly, there can be variation in the aspirations of those involved. Some have limited goals, others want radical change. Some are profit-orientated, others more or community focused. In other words, it is important not to tar all ethics initiatives with the same brush.
The Toronto experience
Let's look at two examples. Announced in October 2017, Quayside is a planned smart city development in Toronto, Canada, to be delivered through a partnership between Sidewalk Labs, a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google's parent company; and Waterfront Toronto, a public agency. It will create at least 3.3m square feet of residential, office and commercial space on a site of 12 acres, with ambitions to scale to a further 800 acres of adjacent land. It aims to be a neighbourhood built from the Internet up, using a suite of networked digital technologies to enhance everyday life.
From its inception the project attracted criticism, with concernsexpressed about process, governance, democracy and the use of AI and big data. A former information commissioner Ann Cavoukian withdrew from a consulting role over privacy concerns, and an independent lobby group, Toronto Open Smart Cities Forum, and a resident-led protest group, #BlockSidewalk, have been established.
Sidewalk Labs have subsequently been fighting a rear-guard action, appointing a Digital Strategy Advisory Panel (DSAP), a data governance advisory working group, an advisory council of Canadian urban thinkers, a residents reference panel, and running civic labs forums open to any member of the public.
In February 2019, Dan Doctoroff, the CEO of Sidewalk Labs stated in a response to leaks over the site's extension: "we weren't trying to do anything in secret … although we recognise that it might have seemed that way." Such statements, the reactive management of critique, remedial interventions, and PR programme are an expression of performative ethics designed to keep the public and local government on-side in what is a massive commercial real-estate project potentially worth tens of millions of dollars, and a testbed model for replication in other cities. Their various advisory groups and labs might be positive interventions, but they have the appearance of ethics-washing exercisesdesigned to mollify opposition and facilitate the large-scale deployment of surveillance capitalism.
We need to be careful that smart city ethics initiatives are more than compliance, self-serving, and ethics-washing exercises that largely work to preserve the status quo.
The view from Barcelona
Whereas Toronto appears to treat ethics in a procedural way, the Barcelona Digital City initiative is designed to be open, inclusive, and participatory in practice and ambition. It seeks to challenge and oppose the marketisation of city services and infrastructure and the logics of surveillance capitalism, tries to reconfigure how smart cities are designed and created and emphasises on community, democracy, rights, and commons.
As well as appointing a new Commissioner of Technology and Digital Innovation who is a champion of civic participation and social justice, the city has made a commitment to using open source technologies, retaining ownership and control of data infrastructures and citizen data and adopting the concept of "technological sovereignty" as a new form of citizenship. Technological sovereignty is the notion that technology should be orientated to and serve local residents rather than its primary purpose being to extract profit, and municipal technologies should be owned as public commons rather than by private companies.
Barcelona has sought to shift the creation and control of smart city initiatives towards citizens, communities, civic movements and social innovation and away from private interests. It is still practising performative ethics – after all, it is trying to sell its model and vision to its citizens and other cities – but it is engaging with a very different ethics register. The city government is asking itself and its citizens more challenging questions: what values do we want to pursue? What kind of society do we want to create and live in? And even, do we want to become a smart city at all? As such, it is practising little, if any, ethics-washing.
Any initiative that starts to take seriously the ethics of digital technologies is to be welcomed. However, it is important to recognize that there are different kinds of ethical considerations and varying politics and intent behind the enterprises.
Ethics is often framed in a procedural way, avoiding larger questions of moral philosophy, and is used as a means to pre-empt and head-off more formalised regulatory and legal responses which would provide citizens with rights and entitlements rather than platitudes. Consequently, one can be well meaning and quite genuine in wanting to produce ethical outcomes, yet simultaneously perpetuate and reinforce the conditions that create the issues one is trying to tackle.
We need to be careful that smart city ethics initiatives are more than compliance, self-serving, and ethics-washing exercises that largely work to preserve the status quo. Instead, we need proactive approaches that tackle the normative challenges posed by networked digital technologies in managing cities and mediating urban life, and envisage and deliver more emancipatory and empowering systems and platforms. That requires city governments, as stewards who act on behalf of citizens, to take a more active-role in setting the agenda and consulting and working actively with all stakeholders in order to develop inclusive and just smart cities.
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Attorney Joseph Wright
Home/About Us/Attorney Joseph Wright
Meet South Carolina Injury Attorney Joseph Wright
Joey Wright has represented victims and families of victims who have been seriously injured by negligence of hospital employees, doctors, and careless drivers of commercial vehicles for over 30 years.
Joey has attained multimillion dollar verdicts in five upstate South Carolina counties and in federal court with two of the verdicts being the highest recorded in the respective counties. In addition, Joey has attained numerous settlements in excess of one million dollars.
Martindale-Hubble, the primary attorney rating service, has given Joey its highest rating of AV for the last five years. Additionally, he has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in the field of medical malpractice for the last five years.
Joey and his wife, Martha, have four sons and four wonderful daughters-in-law. Martha is a retired CPA who divides her time between Highlands and Greenville, presently serving as President of the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society and is on the vestry of the Highlands Episcopal Church. In Greenville, Martha is on the Greenville Country Club building committee for its new clubhouse. In addition to representing clients, Joey enjoys golf and playing with their two Shelties.
Contact a medical malpractice lawyer in South Carolina you can trust
Litigation Percentage
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certified Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy
South Carolina, 1972
U.S. District Court District of South Carolina, 1983
U.S. Supreme Court, 1995
University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina, 1972 – J.D.
Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1968 – B.A., Economics
AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Russell T. Burke
Attorney James L. Ward, Jr.
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Petroleum Development Oman Signs with Ooredoo for Internet Solutions
2018-11-13 - 11:07 GMT
Mobilk - Ooredoo has signed a contract with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the leading oil and gas exploration and production company in the Sultanate, to provide them with network connectivity solutions. These will reinforce the efficiency and productivity of their daily operations. As part of the agreement, Ooredoo will equip PDO with its Internet Enterprise services (OIE), delivering ultra high speed and a dedicated bandwidth, coupled with robust security and after-sales assistance over Oman’s most advanced fibre network.
Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Wahaibi, Chief Business and Wholesale Officer at Ooredoo, said “We are incredibly excited to be working with PDO as their digital partner of choice. To us, this not just a partnership but a strategic alliance of like-minded companies, dedicated to making an impact on Oman’s socio-economic development beyond our industries. By providing PDO with our state-of-the-art OIE services, we will ensure their online operations remain synchronised and secured, allowing them to focus on running their business rather than what keeps them connected – that is our responsibility.”
Ooredoo’s Internet Enterprise delivers reliable and synchronous internet leased lines to businesses with flexible speeds, guaranteed bandwidth, a wide range of IP addresses, DDoS managed security services, and much more. Customers can also take advantage of reliable connections backed by world-class service management and dedicated after-sales support teams.
A total communications provider, Ooredoo offers solutions that support all businesses, no matter how big or small. To date, the company has helped companies across various sectors face their unique set of challenges with the right infrastructure including tailor-made solutions on voice, data and internet services covering both mobile and fixed technologies.
Nawras ('النورس' in Arabic) is a mobile communications provider in the Sultanate of Oman. The services were commercially launched on 16 March 2005 in the market previously occupied by a sole operator Omantel....
Continuing to offer the very best solutions to its corporate customers, Ooredoo signed a partnership agreement with digital solutions provider,..
Ooredoo today announced the opening of a 5G experience zone in their Muscat Grand Mall store and a second zone will be showcased during the Khareef..
As part of its commitment to nurture and empower Oman’s youth, Ooredoo is starting a three month internship programme designed to provide on the..
News Ooredoo Om
Data experience leaders Ooredoo, have updated their artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, ‘Saeed’ with some exciting new features. They include an identification tool, which enables Saeed to recognise customers by subscription type, as well as further service-related information. With an..
Get Prime Class Treatment Using Nojoom Points at Muscat International Airport
Amazing Value with Ooredoo’s New Shababiah Digital Smart SIM
TRA Participates in the Meeting of The GCC Committee of National Centers for Computer Emergency
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DGA CapsNet: 1D Application of Capsule Networks to DGA Detection
Optimizing Parallel Collaborative Filtering Approaches for Improving Recommendation Systems Performance
MDPI — Information
Blasco-Lopez, M.
Hausler, R.
Romero-Lopez, R.
Glaus, M.
Diaz-Sobac, R.
data input
information output
manufacturing of information
composite data
IQ assessment
Monica Blasco-Lopez
Robert Hausler
Rabindranarth Romero-Lopez
Mathias Glaus
Rafael Diaz-Sobac
Information 2019, 10(5), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/info10050156
Exploring Whether Data Can be Represented as a Composite Unit in Form Processing Using the Manufacturing of Information Approach
Monica Blasco-Lopez 1,2,*, Robert Hausler 1, Rabindranarth Romero-Lopez 2, Mathias Glaus 1 and Rafael Diaz-Sobac 3,4
Station Expérimentale des Procédés Pilotes en Environnement, École de Technologie Supérieure, Université du Québec, 1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest Local A-1500, Montréal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
Unidad de Investigación Especializada en Hidroinformática y Tecnología Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad Veracruzana, Lomas del Estadio s/n, Zona Universitaria, Xalapa 91000, Mexico
Instituto de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. Luis Castelazo Ayala, s/n. Col. Industrial Animas, Xalapa 91190, Mexico
Universidad de Xalapa, Carretera Xalapa-Veracruz- Km2. No.341, Col. Acueducto Animas, Xalapa 91190, Mexico
Received: 5 March 2019 / Accepted: 24 April 2019 / Published: 26 April 2019
Data and information quality have been recognized as essential components for improving business efficiency. One approach for the assessment of information quality (IQ) is the manufacturing of information (MI). So far, research using this approach has considered a whole document as one indivisible block, which allows document evaluation only at a general level. However, the data inside the documents can be represented as components, which can further be classified according to content and composition. In this paper, we propose a novel model to explore the effectiveness of representing data as a composite unit, rather than indivisible blocks. The input data sufficiency and the relevance of the information output are evaluated in the example of analyzing an administrative form. We found that the new streamlined form proposed resulted in a 15% improvement in IQ. Additionally, we found the relationship between the data quantity and IQ was not a “simple” correlation, as IQ may increase without a corresponding increase in data quantity. We conclude that our study shows that the representation of data as a composite unit is a determining factor in IQ assessment.
data quality; information quality; data input; information output; data classification; manufacturing of information; information products; composite data; data representation; IQ assessment
Data quality (DQ) and information quality (IQ) are recognized by business managers as key factors affecting the efficiency of their companies. In the U.S. economy alone, it is estimated that poor data quality costs 3.1 trillion U.S. dollars per year [1]. In order to obtain better information quality, researchers have suggested considering data as a product, and have established the manufacturing of information (MI) approach [2], where data are input to produce output data [3,4,5,6,7,8,9] or output information [10,11,12].
The concept of quality for products has been defined as “fitness for use” [5,13,14,15,16,17]. Meanwhile, for information products (IP), this definition applies only for “information quality” (not for the information alone), because it depends on the perspective of the user. According to the context, one piece of information could be relevant for one user and not relevant for another [16]. For that reason, data and information quality assessment should be evaluated according to required attributes for the business. Some desirable attributes are accuracy, objectivity, reputation, added value, relevancy (related to usefulness), timeliness (related to temporal relevance), completeness, appropriate amount of data (here called “sufficiency”), interpretability, ease of understanding, representational consistency, accessibility, and access security [6,16,17,18,19,20,21]. Although extensive research has been carried out in this field, data units (dus) have always been represented as indivisible blocks (file, document, and so on). No single study exists that represents a du in a different way.
For the DQ and IQ assessment, for our part, we consider that the du structure constitutes a data block (DB), such as a document. This DB is composed of several dus, and each du can be represented according to its particular characteristics for two types of materials: the first being a pure (simple) material, and the second being a composite material (formed from two or more elements). These characteristics relate to the attributes of sufficiency and relevance and, thus, could have some impact on the IQ assessment of the information products (IP). Relevance has been related to the concept of usefulness [6,16,22], and sufficiency is related to having a quantity of data that is good enough for the purposes for which it is being used [6], not too little nor too much [23]. Both attributes are closely interconnected. The sufficiency of data is a consequence of counting only the relevant information in the system [6]. In order to have relevant information, the document should ideally have only a sufficient quantity of data.
Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of representing the data as a composite unit, rather than as an indivisible data block, as has been previously considered. This paper conducts research by the model CD-PI-A (classification of data, processing data into information, and assessment), which is developed to class data, weigh it, and assess the information quality. Data quality is considered to be a dependent factor of (1) the degree of usefulness of the data and (2) the data composition.
The applicability of this model is presented through the processing analysis of two organizational forms. These forms are considered as the communication channel which contains requested data. The message is communicated between a sender and a recipient. Once the message is received, the data is transformed into information. The policy, proceedings, and regulations of the organization constitute the context in which communication is done.
In summary, the main contributions of this paper are as follows:
The results suggest that this new representation of the data input should be considered in the evaluation of information quality output from a communication system (CS). With the application of the CD-PI-A model developed here, we show that it is possible to pursue and achieve the same objective with two different documents. Thus, it is possible to capture the same information content with a smaller amount of data and produce a better quality of information;
This new representation and model for evaluating data and information should help highlight the necessity of the consistent use of data and information terminology;
This study shows that, for the already established attributes, a new classification should be considered, according to the moment when the analysis process is made;
From the applicability of the CD-PI-A model, we found that the quality of information output can increase without necessarily having a corresponding increase in the quantity of data input.
The remainder of this article is organized as follows: in Section 2, the main case of analysis, an application form is presented. Then, in Section 3, the CD-PI-A model is developed. In Section 4, the results, and its respective discussions are presented. Finally, in Section 5, we present our main conclusions and perspectives for further research.
2. Case of Analysis
The presented case corresponds to the processing of a printed application form (here called F1–00), which flows through the CS of a higher-education institution. Its objective, according to institutional policies, is to grant (or deny) access of a certain installation belonging to the institution. The application form can be filled out by an internal user (belonging to the institution) or an external user (as a guest).
The F1–00 application form is comprised of 32 fields in total, divided into eight sections (as shown in Table 1). The application form consists of open, closed, and multiple-choice fields to fill out. For this analysis, each field was considered as one data unit. The document must pass through two different departments. In these departments, there are three stations that the document must go through to be processed. A station is understood as the point where du is transformed into semi-processed information (IU), since the person who processes the document makes a change to the process. The first station is where the user or the department secretary fills out the application form with the user data. The second station corresponds to the department director responsible for granting or denying access to the requested installation. Finally, the third station corresponds to the security department that verifies and ends document processing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the responsible document processors. From these interviews, du were classified according to their characteristics (as will be described in Section 3) and are presented in Table 1.
3. Model of Information Quality Assessment: CD-PI-A
The purpose of the model CD-PI-A is to explore the effectiveness of representing the composition of data in information quality assessment. This model is comprised of three phases: (1) classification of data [CD], (2) processing data into information [PI], and (3) assessment of information quality [A], as shown in Figure 1.
Regarding the CS from the context of the MI approach, it is possible to distinguish three main stages in the data processing: (1) the raw material at the entrance (data); (2) the processing period, where data is transformed into pre-processed information. It is considered to be pre-processed as the information that passes from one phase will be the raw material for the next phase, until the end of the process; and (3) the finished product—the information products obtained at the output of the system.
This model initially considers the distinction between the data and information concepts. Here, data has been defined as a string of elementary symbols [24] that can be linked to a meaning related to communication and can be manipulated, operated, and processed [25], and information [26,27] has been defined as a coherent collection of data, messages, or signs, organized in a certain way that has meaning in a specific human system [28]. In addition, we assume that (1) the communication system works technically well, (2) the office document referred to is a form that belongs to an administrative process, (3) this form is the communication channel in the simplest information system (see reference [29]), and (4) the form flows inside an organization according to its objectives and policies.
3.1. Classification of Data (CD)
Classification involves the process of grouping data into different categories according to similar characteristics [30]. Data is tagged and separated in order to form the groups. In this case, tags are put onto form fields. The classification is made in accordance with the results of semi-structured interviews with the processors of the form. The processors are considered to be skilled and experienced workers in information product manufacturing.
The fields (data collectors) are each recognized as a unit that will host one datum. We consider two types of data representation criteria. It is assumed that each type is associated with a fixed value. The first criterion is its composition. The composition representation has one sub-classification: (1) simple (or pure) data, which considers one symbol to contain only one word; one phrase; one choice box; or, in general, one unit corresponding to one and only one piece of data; and (2) composite data, which is a compound of more than one simple piece of data (more extensive explanation below). The second criterion is its content, which corresponds to the degree in which it is placed, according to importance and frequency-of-use scales. Likewise, the content representation has one sub-classification: (1) indispensable data, which corresponds to data that is absolutely necessary; and (2) verification data, which is used to check the indispensable data. For this second criterion, the order system and the frequency of use are facts dependent on the context. In an office document, the objectives and proceedings, considered as the context, grant the meaning and usefulness levels of the requested data.
We denote TD (total data) as all incoming data units to the system, classifying them as follows:
For their composition, the data units can be tagged into two types: (1) simple or (2) composite.
(1) Simple (Ds). Ds = {Dsi|i = 1, …, I}. This is the set of simple data units, where Dsi is the ith data unit and I is the total number of simple dus. This type of du is composed of one and only one element, such as a name, local identification number, date, signature, and so on. In its transformation into information, the data unit takes the weight value w. The value of w is assigned according to the content classification, which is explained via
D s = w .
(2) Composite (Dc) Dc = {Dck|k = 1, …, K}. This is the set of data unit composites, where Dck is the kth du and K is the total number of composite data units. This type of data unit is a compound of two or more simple data units, which can be, for example, a registration number, social security number, institutional code, and so on. In its transformation into information, the corresponding weight w is multiplied by the factor x, which depends on the number of simple data (Ds) units that form the composite data unit:
D c = w x ,
x = ∑ s = 1 n D s .
For content, the data units are classified into two types of data representation. These two types of data are indispensable and verification data.
From this classification, the weight value, w, is assigned. The weight w is given by the personnel in charge of carrying out the process, since it is assumed that they have the best knowledge of the criteria of data unit importance and the frequencies of use required to process the document. A comprehensive and elaborate case study, presented in reference [31], argues that, through the use of interviews and surveys as a method of analysis, it is possible to examine the factors and the levels of influence of data quality in an organization.
This weight captures the relative importance of a data unit within the process in question. We propose the use of a quantitative scale of discrete values, from 4 to 1, to classify the document fields. The field (or du) is classified according to the importance degree for the document processing and the frequency of its use, where 4 corresponds to very important and always used, 3 to important and always used, 2 to slightly important and not always used, and 1 to not at all important and not always used.
Indispensable data (DI), DI = {Dia + Dis}. This type of data unit always appears at some stage in the process and can be one of the following two types:
Authorization (Dia): Dia = {Diam|m = 1, …, M}. This is the type of indispensable du for authorization, where Diam is the mth data unit and M is the total number of indispensable dus for authorization. This type of du corresponds to the highest value of the weight w, since it is considered to be a very important du for processing. Without this, the system cannot produce the information products. This depends on the approval (or rejection) given by the responsible personnel, according to the policies or organizational procedures.
System (Dis): Dis = {Disn|n = 1, …, N}. This is the set of dus indispensable for the system, where Disn is the nth du and N is the total number of indispensable dus in the system. This data type is considered to be important. This du type is essential within the process and, usually, it corresponds to questions such as who, what, when, where, why, and who authorizes. Without them, the processing of information cannot be completed.
Verification data (DV). DV = {Dv + Dvv}. This du type is found frequently during processing; although, in some cases, document processing is carried out without it. This type of du can be of two types:
Simple verification data (Dv). Dv = {Dvs|s = 1, …, S} This is the simple verification du set, where Dvs is the sth du and S is the total number of simple verification dus. Some decision-makers consider it necessary to have this kind of unit to make the decision-making process safer [32]. However, without some of these dus, data can still be processed. This type of du is sometimes used for processing, and it can be considered slightly important;
Double verification data (Dvv). Dvv = {Dvvt|t= 1, …, T}. This is the double verification du set, where Dvvt is the tth du and T is the total number of double verification dus. This du type is rarely used to verify essential data and it may be not at all important to processing but, in some cases, they are still requested.
3.2. Processing Data into Information (PI)
In a communication system, there must be a context that serves as a benchmark to determine the pertinence of a du in communication. The manufacturing process of information is considered the transformation of raw material (data) into finished products, information. This transformation is represented by the weighting of data after classification (for composition and content).
Data transformation into information leads us to give a value to the data units that are at the intersection of the composition and content classifications. Therefore, the possible resulting sets are of two types: (1) Ds ∩ Dia; Ds ∩ Dis; Ds ∩ Dv; Ds ∩ Dvv, where the value of the data unit (duv) corresponds to the weight w assigned according to the importance and frequency of use criteria mentioned above; and (2) Dc ∩ Dia; Dc ∩ Dis; Dc ∩ Dv; Dc ∩ Dvv, where the duv corresponds to the weight w multiplied by the x factor. It is clear that all these sets are mutually exclusive.
Finally, at the system exit, information output is the result of the intersections mentioned above and is grouped in the following manner:
Indispensable information (II), which is the result of transforming indispensable du (simple or composite, catalogued as either for authorization or for the system transformation) into information through its corresponding duv assignment.
Verification information (VI), which is the result of transforming verification du (simple or composite catalogued as either as simple verification or double verification) into information through its corresponding duv assignment.
Data Unit Value (duv)
To determine the data unit value (duv), the combination of both data classifications (composition and content) must be taken as a reference; that is, for its composition (simple or composite data) and for its contents (indispensable or verification). Table 2 shows the values already mentioned.
In a form, there is usually more than just one type of data; therefore, it is necessary to calculate the data unit value for the same dataset. This is called duvset, and it is calculated by the following equation, where f is the frequency of the same type of data:
d u v s e t = f ( d u v ) .
The information relative value (Irel) for the document, as an information product, will result in a value between 0 and 1, where 0 corresponds to a null value and 1 to the total of the information products contained in the document. Ireli, for one type of information, will be calculated from the following equation, where i is the set of same type of data (Dc/Dia, Ds/Dia, Dc/Dis, Ds/Dis, Dc/Dv, Ds/Dv, Dc/Dvv, Ds/Dvv) and DT the total sum of all duvset.
I r e l i = d u v s e t ( i ) D T ( d u v s e t ) .
The cumulative relative information products (Irelacc) calculation is performed according to the following classification:
Information products of the indispensable units (II): this type of IP results from indispensable (simple and composite) du. It must be ordered as follows: first, the information derived from the authorization type (Dc/Dia, Ds/Dia); and second, for the system (Dc/Dis, Ds/Dis):
I I r e l a c c = ∑ I r e l ( I I ) .
Information products of the verification units (IV): this type results from simple verification and double verification data units. It must be ordered as follows: first, the information that corresponds to Dc/Dv and Ds/Dv; and second, the information that derives from the double verification du (Dc/Dvv, Ds/Dvv):
I V r e l a c c = ∑ I r e l ( I V ) .
3.3. Assessment (A)
The last stage of the CD-PI-A model corresponds to the assessment. In order to evaluate the quality of both the data input and the information output, two relationships were developed. These two relationships work as a reference between the real state and the ideal state of the system. They play the role of an indicator of (a) the sufficiency of the requested data (relationship DIDV) and (b) the usefulness of the information gathered through the form (relationship RIC).
3.3.1. Relationship DIDV
The simple ratio as data indispensable/data verification (DIDV) has been used before, to express the desired outcomes to total outcomes [23]. It has been used to evaluate the free-of error, completeness, and consistency [2,33,34]. In this case, the ratio DIDV works as a tool to assess the inbound data unit quality considering the quantity of current data. It indicates, in a simple mode, how many of the verification dus exist in relation to the indispensable dus. Ideally, in order to reduce the extra amount of dus in the data processing and, furthermore, produce a better-quality IP, the form should have a smaller amount of verification dus in relation to indispensable dus. The formal definition of DIDV is as follows:
D I D V = 1 : ( D V ) ( D I ) .
3.3.2. Relationship RIC
The relation information content (RIC) allows us to know the quality of the information content at the output of the system once the transformation of du into an IP is made. The RIC relation considers not only the content but also the du composition. This relation expresses, in terms of information, what portion of it is relevant to the aim pursued. Given a comparison between two scenarios of the same form, the one with the lower value represents the best option, as fewer requested fields are used to verify the indispensable information. This ratio is calculated from the following equation:
R I C = I V r e l a c c I I r e l a c c .
Once the data were classified and organized according to their composition and content (Table 3), the d u v was assigned. In form F1–00, two redundant fields were detected. This was possibly due to the structure and organization of the form; the two fields were student ID and employee ID. For our analysis, these two fields were in one instance considered as indispensable data and the rest of the time as double verification data, as it was required only once to carry out the processing.
As shown in Table 3, in F1–00 there are six indispensable du and 26 verification du, which leads to a DIDV 1:4.33 ratio. This is to say, that for each indispensable data that is requested, there are four data units used to verify it. The current structure and design of the form contributes to the generation of data overload in the information manufacturing system. In this case, the data quality attribute of sufficiency is, consequently, not achieved. Unless a security information criterion exists, this relation can be improved by making the relation between different factors shorter. If a security information aspect is not what led to this ratio of 1:4.33, it is necessary to consider form re-engineering in the structure and field composition to request such data. If the organization continues to use the present form, it will continue to contribute to data overload problems in the system.
Regarding the RIC relationship, which considers, in addition to the content, the composition that generates this information, the F1–00 form has 0.57 information productss of a verification type (IVacc), and 0.43 information productss of an indispensable type (IIacc). According Equation (9), the RIC is equal to 1.32. Ideally, this value should be equal to or less than 1, because the form should request the same amount or less verification information than that of the indispensable type. This relationship works as an indicator of the relevant information content in the CS.
Due to the results of both relationships, it strongly recommended that the form is re-designed. In this case, we present an alternative.
4.1. Re-Engineering
As the proceedings for the F1–00 did not establish any set-points regarding extreme security concerns about data gathering, following the document processor’s recommendations, we propose a new design for this form. The new design was called F1–01, which is comprised of three main sections: (I) identification, (II) status, and (III) authorization; five fewer sections than the original. Furthermore, the new form is comprised of 16 fields in total.
If the document is chosen to be computerized, then the fields are proposed as drop-down menus. If it is chosen to be in paper format, multiple-option questions are proposed. At a data unit level, in an efficiency assessment we would get a higher value simply by reducing the amount of du. At an information product level, due to its contextual aspect, it is necessary to follow the DC-PI-A model in order to assess its quality. Once the results are obtained, it is possible to observe the impact of representing the du composition in the assessment of the information quality.
Table 4 shows the data classification and its corresponding transformation into information for the F1–01. A total of 100% of the du in the F1–00 form was taken as a reference to calculate the F1–01 form.
As shown in Table 4, in the F1–01 form, five dus correspond to indispensable data. These represent 16% (31% of 50%) of the content that was retained in the document. The 11 remaining dus represent 34% (69% of 50%) of the same. In the case of the information products, 58% of the preserved fields represent indispensable information, while 42% remained as verification information.
With the new streamlining of the form, it is possible to (1) reduce the data requested, (2) enhance the information quality produced, and (3) improve the efficiency of the CS. This finding, while preliminary, suggests that a reduction of data does not necessarily mean an improvement in quality of information but a change in the composition of the dus do. Additionally, this implies that the quality of information output can increase without necessitating a corresponding increase in the quantity of the data input.
As shown in Figure 2, the inbound du amount into the system was reduced by 50% in the F1–01 form. This reduction was achieved due to the four major modifications made to the document. In the first place, the redundant fields were eliminated: in the F1–00 form, there were eight different fields asking for the same du type. In the second place, in the F1–00 form two dus that were considered as indispensable and simple data (first name and last name) were merged in the F1–01 form, becoming only one indispensable composed du. The way to convert these du from simple to composite (2 Ds times w) was by writing in the same field (with a low ink saturation) the format in which it is expected to become the new du (last name/first name). In the third place, the computerization of the document considers the possibility of using drop-down menus to select a choice among those already established. The F1–01 form has fewer open fields and more multiple-option fields. Finally, in the fourth place, as a consequence of this type of menu, now there are more explanatory texts that attempt to clarify and specify to the user the requested du.
With regard to the two proposed relationships (DIDV and RIC) to evaluate the du input and information output (see Table 5), we can mention the following.
First, the DIDV relation for the F1–00 is equal to 1:4.33 and, for F1–01, this same relation is equal to 1:2.2. In the current study, comparing both results shows that with the new streamlining of the form, the ratio was cut in half. This new design of the form uses only two fields to verify every one. This certainly leads to an improvement in the efficiency of the organization’s information system.
Second, for the RIC ratio, the result for the F1–00 form was 1.32 and the result for the F1–01 was 0.71. Due to the proposed re-engineering, the RIC ratio for the F1–01 is less than 1. This means that there was less information to verify than indispensable information to achieve the process.
The difference in percentage points of the relevant (or indispensable) information quality between the F1–00 and F1–01 forms was 15 points (43% versus 58%). Accordingly, we can infer that the information quality was improved by 15%. What is most interesting is that we pursued the same objective with both forms (the F1–00 and F1–01); both forms achieved the same purpose and captured the same content information and, yet, the second form contained a smaller amount of data and, therefore, a better quality of information.
Below is presented another applicability case where the requested fields have a different characterization in their classification.
4.2. Another Example of Applicability
The form FIAP–00 has as objective to recollect and summarize all needed data for a research project within an educational institution. The FIAP-00 alternates its format on paper and in electronic within the CS. The document is an internal communication medium; therefore, there are no external agents involved in the information-product manufacturing system. FIAP–00 application form is comprised of 79 fields in total divided into four sections. The application form consists of open, closed, and multiple-choice fields to fill out. The document must pass through five different interchange stations belonging to three different departments. In department 1, the first station is where the agent a fills out the application form with the project data. In department 2, the second station is where the agent b fills out the budget data of the project. The form returns to department 1 where the next two stations are; the third station corresponds to the agent c who fills out another project data; and agent d corresponds to the department director, responsible for granting the authorization. Finally, in department 3, the fifth station corresponds to the agent e, who verifies and ends document processing. In the case of the FIAP-00 form, fields are not promptly mentioned for safety reason but in Table 6 their classification and transformation into information phases are presented.
Once the data were classified and organized according to their composition and content (Section 3), the d u v was assigned. In form FIAP–00, no double verification data were detected. Table 6 shows the data classification with its corresponding weighting, information relative value (Irel), and accumulated information relative value (Irelacc), from Equations (4)–(7). Because there are different composite data in the form and to make clearer the data transformation into information process, in Table 6 two columns were added: factor x, which corresponds to Equation (3), and weight w, which correspond to Table 2.
Unlike the F1–00, the form FIAP–00 has more Dc/Dis than Ds/Dv type. The DIDV relation for the FIAP–00 results in 1:0.72; this means that there was less than one data to verify the indispensable information to achieve the process. In the case of the RIC relationship, the FIAP–00 form is equal to 0.24. This means that only one quarter of the fields are used to verify the indispensable information. In the FIAP–00 case, to have more Dc/Dis types, it helps to have a higher quality information channel in the CS. The combination of these findings provides some support for the conceptual premise that the data representation as either simple or composite in the information quality assessment is relevant.
The results of this study imply several benefits for organizations. In the first place, it reinforces the fact that the document has sufficient data for its processing. In the second place, this analysis helps to mitigate problems, such as data overload, that affect the majority of organizations. In the third place, the analysis leads to an improvement in the efficiency of the organization’s information system. In the fourth place, it generates a new method for monitoring the quality of the data input and information output.
The F1–00 form possibly contributes to generating the effects of data overload [35,36] in workers and to the accumulation of an excess of useless data within the information system. This action, in the end, leads to wastes of material, human, and financial resources. On the contrary, with the use of the F1–01 or FIAP–01, the organization could contribute to decreasing the data overload of the manufacturing information system, making it more efficient and environmentally friendly.
4.3. Comparison with Previous Work
The CD-PI-A model presented in this paper is distinguished from others models that use the manufacturing of information or information as a product [2,7] approach as a reference according to the following characteristics:
Reports that had used the manufacturing of information approach generally used the terms data and information interchangeably, giving them the same value at the entrance and at the exit of the system [2,21,37,38,39]. Very few reports were found that made a distinction between these two terms [5,12], and those that did were only at a conceptual level. The fact of addressing the information at the same level of data leads us to consider the system by which the flow of data acts more like a transmission than a communication system. In this paper, we established, to the extent possible, the distinction between these two concepts in order to avoid misunderstandings and to be consistent with the proposal. The criterion to underline the difference between these two concepts was to use the terms according to the processing moment in which they were applied.
With regards to the proposal of reference [12], where information was considered as an output of a communication system, different alternatives for measuring the information were presented. Three levels of information were considered: technical, semantic, and pragmatic, and a fourth level, the functional, was also added. Regarding the semantic aspect, it was mentioned that the information could be measured by the numbers of meaningful units between the sender and receiver. However, a method to carry it out was not presented. For our part, we propose a method to evaluate the semantic level, which considers the information as an output of the CS.
Additionally, in contrast to previous reports [2,11,40] that considered the document as a data unit, this research considers one document as a data block container of several data units, dus, that are represented according to their distinctive properties. The distinction among these dus is established through a classification, in accordance with their composition and content. This representation creates a distinction between data quantification and information assessment. Furthermore, it considers that data input and data output could be useful in a technical analysis of data transmission. However, the vision of data input and information output implies that, in the quality information assessment, the finished product has a different value than the initial raw material.
The present study was designed to explore the effectiveness of representing data as composite entities rather than indivisible blocks in the manufacturing of information domain, in order to assess the quality of information produced.
In order to evaluate this effectiveness, the authors opted to integrate a communication system vision into the manufacturing information approach in order to establish a new data classification method that considered the context in which this information was produced.
Based on this approach, a new model to evaluate the information product quality was developed: the DC-PI-A model. This model uses three stages: data classification (DC), processing of data into information (PI), and quality assessment (A). In the first stage, data are classified according to their usefulness and composition. In the second stage, the previous classification data are weighted in order to process them. In the third stage, in order to conduct the assessment, two relationships are proposed. These relationships work as indicators of the attributes mentioned below.
The relationship DIDV works as an indicator of the sufficiency of the input data. In an investigation, with the application of this relationship and the new streamlining of a form, 50% of the input data to a system was reduced. The relationship RIC works as an indicator of relevance of information output of the system. In our case, the comparison between the original form F1–00 and the re-designed form F1–01 showed that the quality of information, in relation to its relevance, could be improved by 15%.
We pursued the same objective with different forms (F1–00 and F1–01), where both forms achieved the same purpose and captured the same information content, yet the second form contained a smaller amount of data and, therefore, had better quality of information. Additionally, it was shown that by using more composite type data (FIAP–00) it can be possible to have higher information quality channels within the CS.
The results of this investigation show that both the content and the composition of data (among other factors) are important aspects of determining the value of the information; value that, in the end, will have an impact on the quality of the whole communication and information system. We found that the relation between data quantification and information quality evaluation is not just a “simple” positive correlation. The quality of information output can increase without there necessarily being any corresponding increase in the quantity of the data input.
This new representation and model for evaluating data and information should help to highlight the necessity of consistent use of data and information terminology. In the information era, it is not possible to continue to use these two terms as synonyms. Once delimiting this distinction, users can treat their data in a more conscious and responsible way.
This study shows that the attributes already established should be considered as a new classification. This new classification should be applied at the moment of the process when the analysis is made. If it is at the beginning of the process, the entities must be treated as data and have to be evaluated with data quality attributes (in this case, sufficiency). If it is at the exit of the system, the entities must be treated as information and have to be evaluated with an information quality attribute (in this case, relevance).
Additionally, this study has raised important questions about the nature of the design of forms. This should be a matter of content more than an aesthetic issue. Inside an organization, the forms should respond to the particular business requirements, where the context determines the meaning.
The scope of this study was limited to exploring only two attributes of quality: sufficiency and relevance. Further work will need to be done to determine more accurate information values from this same approach. We wish to include other attributes, such as accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Additionally, including the syntactic and pragmatic levels of information would be valuable. Likewise, as one external reviewer suggested, the inter-connection between the DB concept, here presented, and the data granularity linked with different types of documents may be of interest.
The findings of this study have a number of practical implications in the field of information management. One example of these implications would be the development of new methodologies to evaluate the IQ. These methodologies could be converted into tools for business management. These tools would be used to design better forms that gather useful and sufficient data. All these changes would lead us, in general, to have more efficient and environmentally friendly information manufacturing systems.
We hope our study exploring the effectiveness of representing data as composite units will introduce some guidelines for further research and will inspire new investigations in the same field but at a more detailed level.
M.B.-L. developed the approach and model, managed the data, and wrote the manuscript draft. R.H. contributed to the original idea of data classification and the relationship with the data overload problem. M.G. contributed to the original idea, the data classification weighting, information ordering analysis, and reviewed the manuscript draft. R.R.-L. reviewed the manuscript draft. R.D.-S. reviewed each section draft in detail and the coherence of the manuscript draft in general.
This research received no external funding.
The authors thank financial support of the PRODEP and SEV programs. The authors also would like to thank Prasun Lala, Christine Richard, and the external reviewers for their valuable comments.
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Figure 1. The classification of data, processing data into information, and assessment (CD-PI-A) model.
Figure 2. (a) Data quantification comparison and (b) quality of produced information for the two forms. Left bar of both graphics: F1–00. Right bar of both graphics: F1–01.
Table 1. (Form F1–00). Structure and du classification according to their characteristics. Ds = simple data; Dc = composite data; Dia = indispensable data for authorization; Dis = indispensable data for the system; Dv = simple verification data; and Dvv = double verification data.
Section No.
Data ID.
1 Identification 1 Last name Ds/Dis
2 First name Ds/Dis
3 Home phone Ds/Dv
4 Work phone Ds/Dvv
5 Extension phone Ds/Dvv
2 Paid Employee 6 Employee ID Dc/Dis
7 Student ID Dc/Dis
8 Multiple choice 1 Ds/Dv
3 Paid Partial Time Teaching 9 Employee ID Ds/Dvv
10 Student ID Ds/Dvv
11 Multiple choice 2 Ds/Dv
12 Class name Ds/Dv
13 Beginning date Ds/Dvv
14 End date Ds/Dvv
4 Paid Researcher 15 Employee ID Ds/Dvv
5 Student by Session 17 Student ID Ds/Dvv
19 Club name Ds/Dv
20 Tutor Ds/Dv
21 Other specify 1 Ds/Dv
6 Other (Unpaid or non-students) 22 Temporal ID Dc/Dis
25 Sponsor Ds/Dv
26 Reason 1 Ds/Dv
7 Locals 27 Local numbers Ds/Dis
28 Expiration date Ds/Dis
29 Access out hours Ds/Dv
8 Authorization 31 Signature Ds/Dia
32 Date Ds/Dv
Table 2. Data unit value (duv) for simple data, corresponding to the weight w (which is related to its content). Dia: indispensable data for authorization; Dis: indispensable data for the system; Dv: simple verification data; Dvv: Doble verification data.
Attribute Content
Dis 3
Dvv 1
Table 3. Data classification and weighting. Frequency of accumulated data according information type zone (Dacc), relative frequency of accumulated data according information type zone (Drelacc), information relative value (Irel), and accumulated information relative value (Irelacc) for the F1–00 form.
Information Type
Drelacc
d u v
d u v s e t
Irelacc
II Ds/Dia 1 4 4 0.05
Dc/Dis 1 15 15 0.21
Student ID or employee ID or other ID
Ds/Dis 4 6 0.19 3 12 0.17 0.43
Last name, first name, locals, expiration date
IV Ds/Dv 15 2 30 0.42
Home phone, multiple choice 1, multiple choice 2, class name, multiple choice 3, club, tutor, other—specify 1, multiple-choice 4, other specify 2, sponsor, raison 1, access out, raison 2, date
Ds/Dvv 11 26 0.81 1 11 0.15 0.57
Work phone, ext-phone, beginning date, end date, redundant IDs (seven times)
Table 4. Data classification and its transformation into information, frequency of accumulated data according information type zone (Dacc), relative frequency of accumulated data according information type zone (Drelacc), information relative value (Irel), and accumulated information relative value (Irelacc) for the F1–01 form.
duvset
Dc/Dis 1 6 6 0.11
Last name/first name
Ds/Dis 2 5 0.16 3 6 0.11 0.58
Locals, expiration date
VI Ds/Dv 11 11 0.34 22 22 0.42 0.42
Contact phone, phone type, satatus 1, status 2-A, out hours, specify hours, status 2-B, class name, club or tutor or another name, specify another date
n/a Ds/Dvv - - - - - - -
TOTALS 16 0.50 53 1.00
Table 5. Results for the relations data indispensable/data verification (DIDV) and relation information content (RIC) of the forms F1–00 and F1–01.
Relation DIDV
Relation RIC
F1–00 1:4.33 1.32
F1–01 1:2.2 0.71
Table 6. Data classification and its transformation into information for the form FIAP–00.
Factor x
II Ds/Dia 4 2 4 8 0.02
Dc/Dis 11 3 1 33 33 0.10
9 3 1 27 27 0.08
3 3 1 9 9 0.03
Ds/Dis 3 35 46 0.58 3 105 0.31 0.80
VI Ds/Dv 2 33 2 66 0.20
Ds/Dvv 1 0 33 0.42 1 0 0 0.20
TOTALS 79 1.00 338 1.00 1.00
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Winning Innovators In Children's National $100K Pediatric Medical Device Competition Announced
AventaMed and Prospiria, Inc. each capture $50,000 award at Third Annual Pediatric Surgical Innovation Symposium
Two pediatric medical device innovators, AventaMed of Cork, Ireland and Prospiria, Inc. of Galveston, Texas, were selected from eight finalists to each receive a $50,000 award in the annual competition held by the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Health System. The competition was part of the institute’s third annual symposium focused on fostering innovation that will advance pediatric healthcare and address unmet surgical and medical device needs for children.
"Our heartfelt congratulations to this year's winners, who were selected from a highly competitive field of worthy devices," said Kolaleh Eskandanian, PhD, MBA, PMP, Executive Director of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. "In the institute's role as a catalyst for pediatric innovation, we see this as the beginning of our relationship with AventaMed and Prospiria. Along with the monetary prize, we will make available our institute’s expertise in pediatric product development, including a network of engineering, regulatory, and business advisors to help them get their devices to market faster."
Recognizing that pediatric ear tube surgery is the number one reason children undergo surgery that requires general anesthesia, Ireland-based AventaMed has developed a hand-held pediatric ear tube device that does not require full general anesthesia. "We are elated about this prize because it will allow us to expand our clinical trial to the US more quickly and increase the number of patients, enabling us to submit for FDA approval sooner," said John Vaughan, Co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of AventaMed.
Prospiria, Inc. presented a noninvasive device using optoacoustic imaging to monitor endotracheal tube (ET) positioning for pediatric life support patients. Donald S. Prough, MD, Interim CEO of Prospiria, and Rebecca Terry White Distinguished Chair of Anesthesiology at UTMB, explained that there is currently not an expedient solution to identify the 20 to 50 percent of ETs that are initially malpositioned, or that move during intubation. Incorrectly positioned ETs pose serious risk to patients, especially infants. “The prize money has an enormous impact because it enables us to complete clinical studies, conduct a thorough marketing analysis and obtain outside expertise to create a more user-friendly display," Dr. Prough said. “Winning a competition of this caliber, as judged by a highly skilled multi-disciplinary panel, also gives us the validation needed to pursue additional funding."
A total of 53 submissions from five countries were received for the competition. The finalists each made five-minute presentations to the symposium audience and then responded to judges’ questions. The highly competitive line-up included:
Healthcare Unbound, San Francisco, Calif. – noninvasive therapy for chest deformities in children
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Media Lab, Cambridge, Mass. – device offering improved sensitivity and accuracy of ear infection diagnostics
Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, Texas – internal, motorized bone lengthener device for children
Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. – neonatal umbilical catheter stabilization and infection protection device
Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC – real-time, non-invasive fetal electrocardiogram to diagnose fetal arrhythmias
Actuated Medical, Bellefonte, Pa. – controlled, micron-scale needle oscillation system to enable oblique access as well as reduce insertion force, anesthesia exposure, and reoperation rates for pediatric bone biopsies and bone marrow aspirations.
The judging panel included moderator Bryan Vartabedian, MD, of Texas Children’s Hospital; Charles Berul, MD, of Children’s National; Martha Connolly, PhD, of Mtech Baltimore; James Clessuras of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; Tiffany Wilson of Global Center for Medical Innovation;Peyvand Khaleghian, MD, PhD, of Avicenna Partners Investment Company; and one of the 2014 competition winners, Justin G. Shaka, MBA, of REBIScan. Emily Blum, MD, the Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Fellow in Pediatric Surgical Innovation of Children’s National, served as medical consultant to the judges.
For the third annual symposium, the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation brought together key leaders from the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), researchers, innovators, venture capitalists, regulators, policy makers, and patients and their families to examine and discuss the challenges surrounding the pediatric market and the need for incentives and legislation to stimulate pediatric surgical and device innovation. The event drew more than 250 attendees.
Recognizing the importance of the patient families – both parents and children – who actively participated in the symposium panel discussions, Kurt Newman, MD, President and CEO of Children's National said, “The voice of the patient is essential in creating innovations that will improve pediatric healthcare because their wants, needs, and experiences provide invaluable insights that shape better solutions.”
Keynote speakers included Geoffrey Ling, MD, PhD, leading innovator and Director of DARPA Biological Technologies, and Vasum Peiris, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Pediatrics and Special Populations, Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the FDA. Anthony Chang, MD, Chief Intelligence and Innovation Officer of Children’s Hospital of Orange County, was the luncheon keynote speaker.
The program included panel discussions on insights learned from the Berlin Heart trials and approval process; gap funding in pediatric surgical and medical devices; off-label and investigational use of marketed medical devices in pediatric populations; and pediatric device benefit-risk assessment.
With the goal of making pediatric surgery more precise, less invasive and pain-free, the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation serves as an incubator, accelerator, and advocate for advancements in pediatric healthcare. The institute combines research and clinical work in the areas of imaging, bioengineering, pain medicine, immunology, and personalized medicine to develop knowledge, tools, and procedures that will benefit children globally.
Children’s National Health System, based in Washington, DC, has been serving the nation’s children since 1870. Children’s National is Magnet® designated, and was ranked among the top 10 pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report 2015-16. Home to the Children’s Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National is one of the nation’s top NIH-funded pediatric institutions. With a community-based pediatric network, seven regional outpatient centers, an ambulatory surgery center, two emergency rooms, an acute care hospital, and collaborations throughout the region, Children’s National is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as an advocate for all children. For more information, visit ChildrensNational.org.
SOURCE: Children's National Health System
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Jeff Boldt
In the Life of Grower Jeff Boldt
For grower/packer Jeff Boldt, his story of farming in the United States actually starts over 100 years ago. In 1907, Jeff’s in-laws started farming the same ground he farms today. Jeff’s wife, Brenda, grew up on this land her family bought in the early 1900’s. Jeff and Brenda both realize that farming could actually go back many more generations then they are aware of. They do know that both their families were very involved in farming in the Ukraine, before they came to the U.S.
Both Jeff and Brenda grew up on a farm. Jeff’s dad was a business owner and started Jack’s Refrigeration, but he farmed about 30 acres of raisin grapes as well. Brenda’s dad was a full time farmer. He had about 25 acres of tree fruit and 115 acres of grapes. Because Brenda grew up where farming was the sole income, she started work on the farm at the age of 12. She loves to tease Jeff about working in a packinghouse younger than he did! Brenda’s family was able to do all the packing for their 25 acres themselves. Brenda, her mom and her sister packed, Brenda’s brother palletized, and Brenda’s dad ran everything else. Jeff started working in a packinghouse the summer before his 8th grade year. He continued working in a packinghouse until the summer of his sophomore year in high school. After that he spent many years working in a cold storage. In fact, this cold storage was the same one the Brenda’s family sent their fruit! Brenda would write notes in the boxes for Jeff to read when he received them in the cold storage!
In May of 1983 Jeff started farming under Brenda’s dad, John Buhler. He spent the next four years learning the ropes until the fall of 1987 when he bought his first 30 acres. In 2001 Jeff started his own packing operation in the same building that Brenda grew up working in. They also grew to farming 260 acres. In this year, there was a devastating hailstorm that came through and damaged much of Jeff’s crop. This was his most memorable season because he had just accomplished the milestone of owning his own operation, but just before harvest much of the crop was hit by hail. Jeff persevered and made it through the season, but it was a humbling experience.
Today, Jeff is still enjoying farming and running the same operation that has been in the family for years. He enjoys driving tractor, and says that farming is fun because he gets to do different things on a day-to-day basis. He says he went into farming because he knew farming usually stays in the family, and he needed a job to support his new wife. He enjoyed the fact that he could attend many of his daughters sporting events, and be there while they grew up. Jeff and Brenda have two daughters, Tami and Taylor. Tami married Josh Lehrman in September of 2011, and they are keeping farming in the family. Taylor married Ben Smith in September of 2012 and they are thinking of going into the medical field.
Jeff loves driving the fields during bloom, and loves the smell of fruit in the shed, waiting to be packed. He loves nectarines the most and his favorite varieties are Honey Blaze and Spring Bright. Jeff hopes that you can see, feel, and taste the passion he puts into his farming. He really has spent many years perfecting what he does today.
Visit Gallery
Boldt Family Photos
View & Download high-res photos of the Boldt Family for use in sales materials, social media and print.
Boldt Family Info Packet
Download the entire packet with everything you need to create a "We know the Grower" Campaign. Includes 3 versions of the Grower Bio, photos and more.
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From My Perspective
Views From The Ring Side
For The Culture
Health Is Wealth
World Press Winning Photo
MY ART MY RULES
Terrell Groggins Presents his winning photo by World Press Photo, and Istanbul Photo.
"Claressa Shields Strikes Back"
Olympic champion Claressa Shields (right) meets Hanna Gabriels in a boxing match at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan, USA, on 22 June.
Shields suffered a first-round knock-down by Gabriels—the first in her career—but went on to win the match by unanimous decision. Shields is the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing, and the first (male or female) to win a gold back-to-back in successive Olympic Games. She has had only one loss in her career, against British World Champion Savannah Marshall, in 2012.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8941764/from-migrant-caravans-to-undercover-iran-the-highlights-of-the-2019-istanbul-photo-awards/
terrell@myartmyrules.com
— MY ART MY RULES—
AVAILABLE FOR ASSIGNMENT
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https://www.middletownpress.com/mlb/article/Curt-Schilling-says-cancer-in-remission-11788771.php
Curt Schilling says cancer in remission
Published 5:58 pm EDT, Wednesday, June 25, 2014
In an Aug. 2, 2013 file photo, former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling is inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame. Schilling said Wednesday that his cancer is in remission.
Photo: Michel Perez — The Associated Press File Photo
PROVIDENCE, R.I. >> Curt Schilling, the former Boston Red Sox pitcher turned ESPN television analyst, said Wednesday his cancer is in remission.
Schilling announced the news on social media and thanked his Boston-based medical team.
He revealed his diagnosis in February, saying he planned to “embrace this fight, just like the rest of them, with resolute faith, and head on.”
He hasn’t indicated the type of cancer or his prognosis, but has posted pictures of himself undergoing treatments.
Schilling is a three-time World Series champion — with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 and the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007. In 20 seasons, he was 216-146 with a 3.46 ERA. The right-hander shared the 2001 World Series MVP award with left-hander and teammate Randy Johnson.
After pitching in the 2007 World Series, Schilling suffered reversals on and off the field. His 2-1 victory in Game 2 of Boston’s four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies was his last game.
He spent the entire 2008 season on the disabled list after right shoulder surgery and retired in March 2009. He started an ill-fated video game company, 38 Studios, and later said he invested and lost as much as $50 million. Its collapse is the subject of a lawsuit in Rhode Island after it got a $75 million state-guaranteed loan.
On Feb. 5, Schilling announced in a statement issued by ESPN that he was diagnosed with cancer.
“With my incredibly talented medical team I’m ready to try and win another big game,” the statement said.
On May 28, Schilling received a loud ovation from Fenway Park fans during a pregame ceremony honoring members of the 2004 team that won the Red Sox first championship in 86 years. Like the other players, he walked in from the left-field wall. His son Gehrig was by his side.
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Duet – Availability, Plans, Prices
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located at 704-712 Lea Avenue, Coquitlam
three 3-storey stacked townhouse buildings
60 townhomes
3,383 sq ft of amenity space
two blocks from Burquitlam Station
minutes from Lougheed Town Centre shopping
near Simon Fraser University
BC Lifestyle
Coming soon to Burquitlam, Adera presents Duet, a boutique collection of three stacked townhouse buildings. Ranging from studios to mostly 2-bedrooms, Duet adds a diverse blend of homes that is supportive of young families. Residents will also enjoy access to either large ground-oriented patios or generous rooftop decks. The north-south orientation of the buildings has been purposely designed to maximize sunlight exposure, especially for the lush courtyards that support a range of communal activities to encourage socializing amongst residents. Extended roof overhangs, accented natural materials, and transparency to connect indoor to outdoor spaces help define these buildings in the West Coast style.
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Pricing for Duet
This project is currently in its development permit application stage. Sign up to our VIP list above for priority access to Duet updates.
Floor Plans for Duet
Duet consists of three 3-storey stacked townhouse buildings with the following unit mix:
8 x 455 sq ft studios
8 x 1-bedroom from 489 – 731 sq ft
44 x 2-bedroom from 807 – 1,040 sq ft
Contact me today to discuss availability and plans according to your needs.
Amenities at Duet
Landscaped courtyards with meandering paths through lush planting offer amenity spaces consisting of children’s play areas, impromptu seating, and ground-level patios. A 455-sq-ft indoor amenity space located at the southeast corner of Building 3 will include a fitness room and yoga studio. Adjacent to this space is an outdoor amenity area that with seating, dining, and barbecue areas.
Parking and Storage
Resident parking will consist of 84 vehicle spaces in one level of underground, of which three are accessible and 13 are for visitors. Electric vehicle charging capabilities will be available for 59 spaces.
Maintenance Fees at Duet
TBA.
Developer Team for Duet
As one of BC’s leading multi-disciplinary real estate organizations, Adera has built a world-class portfolio over the last 50 years that includes the development of more than 10,000 homes, townhomes, condos, and over 4 million square feet of commercial space.
Integra Architecture is an award-winning firm located in downtown Vancouver. Formed in 1999 by two experienced architects – Dale Staples and Duane Siegrist – the partners share a belief in client-centered architecture, teamwork, and long-term working relationships. The firm’s capable staff has extensive experience in all types of residential buildings, mixed-use projects, as well as renovations and seniors housing. Through effective communication and high-quality construction drawings Integra bridges the gap between the builder’s reality and the architect’s vision.
Expected Completion for Duet
Are you interested in learning more about other homes in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, or Port Moody?
Check out these great Tri-Cities Presales!
Presale Condo Neighbourhoods
Cambie Corridor – There are numerous presale condos in development along the hot Cambie Corridor’s Canada Line Skytrain linking Downtown Vancouver along Cambie street to the Vancouver Airport. This is one of the fastest growing areas in Vancouver.
Chinatown – Vancouver’s Historic Chinatown neighbourhood, is Canada’s largest Chinatown. Centred on Pender Street, it is surrounded by Gastown and the Downtown Financial and Central Business Districts to the west.
Coal Harbour – Coal Harbour is a downtown Vancouver neighborhood located between expansive Stanley Park and the Canada Place Pier, which sits to the east. Bounded by Burrard Street to the southeast, to the southwest by West Georgia and Pender Streets, and to the northwest by the park.
Downtown – These are presale and pre-construction condos for sale in Downtown Vancouver. This includes the neighbourhoods of Downtown Vancouver, Coal Harbour, Yaletown, The West End, Cross Town, and Gastown.
Fairview – Fairview is a neighbourhood on the west side of the city of Vancouver, It runs from 16th Avenue in the south, to Burrard Street in the west, to Cambie Street in the east, and to False Creek in the north.
Kerrisdale – Kerrisdale Vancouver’s most charming area located in Vancouver’s west side slanting down to the Fraser River. It is a mainly a residential neighbourhood, with long standing occupants. Its private avenues are lined with sweeping, stupendous old trees.
Kitsilano – Kitsilano is located in Vancouver’s West Side along the south shore of English Bay, between the neighbourhoods of West Point Grey and Fairview.
Mount Pleasant – Mount Pleasant is a neighbourhood in the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, stretching from Cambie Street to Clark Drive and from Great Northern Way and 2nd, to 16th and Kingsway.
Olympic Village & False Creek – Vancouver’s newly developed South East False Creek neighbourhood. The Vancouver Olympic Village, is an Olympic Village built by Millennium Development Group for the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics hosted in Vancouver.
West Side – The West End of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is on the downtown peninsula neighbouring Stanley Park and the areas of Yaletown, Coal Harbour and the downtown financial and central business districts.
Yaletown – A mix of Historical buildings and stylish New buildings, Yaletown is an area of Downtown Vancouver bordered by False Creek and by Robson and Homer Streets.
Brentwood – Metro Vancouver’s best real estate value is now even more amazing! Brentwood Town Center is experiencing a tremendous upgrade that, when finished in the fall of 2018, will make it one of the biggest urban destinations in North America.
Highgate – There are numerous presale condos in development in Highgate. Highgate Village, Burnaby’s most remarkable success story, is a large mixed use retail facility with residential units and more to come.
Lougheed – Lougheed Town Centre is a shopping mall in Burnaby, British Columbia. It is located in the northeast corner of the city, near the border with Coquitlam. There are 23 condo towers planned for colossal Lougheed Town Centre.
Metrotown – Metrotown is a town centre serving the southwest quadrant of Burnaby. It is one of the city’s four officially designated town centres, as well as one of Metro Vancouver’s regional town centres.
Downtown New Westminster Presale Condos
Lonsdale – Lonsdale Quay is a transit hub for Vancouver’s North Shore municipalities, as well as a public market and tourist destination. Located at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue in the City of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, it is the northern terminal for the SeaBus passenger ferry. There are numerous presale condos in development in Lonsdale.
Bridgeport – The station serves as a major transit hub with connection to 15 bus lines destined for places throughout Richmond, Delta, South Surrey and White Rock. Walk around or through the casino to the waterfront for a stroll through the Marina, or climb the three stories viewpoint at the Eastern tip of the Walkway to see the Fraser River, dry docks and planes flying low overhead. There are numerous presale condos in development in Bridgeport.
Brighouse/Richmond Centre – Brighouse Station is at the heart of Richmond’s cultural, recreational and administrative offerings. Located on No 3 Road between Saba and Cook Roads, Brighouse Station is within easy walking distance of shopping, community centres, a wonderful park, theatre and much more. There are numerous presale condos in development in Brighouse/Richmond Centre.
Templeton – Today, it provides public transit access to the new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Mall Vancouver Airport, just a half-kilometre east of the Station’s north entrance. The Outlet Mall features many of the world’s major designer brand names. There are numerous presale condos in development in Templeton.
Coquitlam – Coquitlam has the largest population of the three municipalities.
Port Coquitlam – Port Coquitlam has also seen rapid growth in the past years.
Port Moody – Port Moody is the smallest of the three municipalities in terms of population.
Delta (Ladner, Tsawwassen)
Langley – The City of Langley offers residents all the amenities of a major urban centre — great shopping and dining, world-class education and entertainment facilities, extensive recreational opportunities and community events — plus over 346 acres of parkland!
Surrey – A destination and community for families, individuals, and businesses. A diverse community that speaks over 100 different languages. The City of Surrey is the second largest city in British Columbia.
White Rock – White Rock is an exciting seaside community. With eight kilometers of sandy beach and warm shallow waters of Semiahmoo Bay. Property values have steadily increased due to White Rock’s attractive setting and amenities.
June 2019 Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver Statistics Package with Charts & Graphs
May 2019 Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver Statistics Package with Charts & Graphs
April 2019 Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver Statistics Package with Charts & Graphs
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Bandits Offense Explodes in 11-2 Win over Kernels
By Quad Cities River Bandits | May 14, 2019 11:06 PM
The Quad Cities River Bandits received four hits and three runs batted in from outfielder Austin Dennis as they took down the Cedar Rapids Kernels by an 11-2 score on Tuesday night. The 11 runs were the most scored by the Bandits in a game this season. Quad Cities has won 13 of their last 15 contests.
The River Bandits (23-11) didn't wait long to jump in front, scoring an unearned run in the first inning. With one out, Enmanuel Valdez drove a double to the opposite field and then moved to third on Jeremy Pena's groundball through the left side of the infield. With runners on the corners, Cedar Rapids starting pitcher Luis Rijo attempted a pick-off throw to first base that bounced away and into foul ground, allowing Valdez to race home from third.
Cedar Rapids (16-22) evened the score with their own unearned run in the bottom of the second. The Kernels loaded the bases against Cody Deason with a walk, single and error. Jacob Pearson tied the game with a line drive single into center field, but Dennis threw out Gabriel Maciel at the plate to end the inning and keep the score 1-1. The outfield assist was the third of the year for Dennis in just 16 games in the outfield.
Quad Cities took the lead back for good in the top of the third. Pena opened the frame with a double to center field and eventually made his way to third base on Scott Schreiber's tapper to third. With two outs, Cesar Salazar punched a groundball past the third baseman to plate Pena and give the Bandits a 2-1 lead.
The lead grew in a big way during the top of the fifth. The Bandits loaded the bases with no outs against Rijo and capitalized immediately. Scott Schreiber made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly to left, an error by Gabe Snyder on Salazar's groundball to first allowed another run to score and Michael Wielansky worked a bases loaded walk to push the lead to 5-1. Dennis came up with his second hit of the game to drive in two more before the inning concluded with the Bandits leading 7-1.
Valdez widened the gap to 10-1 with his third home run of the season, a three-run shot, in the top of the seventh. Dennis dropped a single into shallow center in the ninth inning to score the River Bandits 11th and final run of the night. The Kernels used a leadoff home run from Chris Williams in the bottom half of the final frame to score their last run.
Deason earned his second straight victory by tossing 5.0 innings and allowed only an unearned run. Luis Garcia pitched the final 4.0 frames and allowed only the solo home run while striking out seven. The two right-handers combined to strike out 14 Cedar Rapids hitters in the game.
Aside from Dennis' four-hit effort, the River Bandits received contributions from up-and-down the lineup. Pena and Valdez each tallied three hits with Valdez finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Marty Costes collected a pair of hits and reached base three times while Wielansky earned his way on base three times with a double and two walks. The team's 15 hits matched their season-high.
The River Bandits and Kernels will close out the four-game series on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 12:05 p.m. RHP Brett Daniels (0-2, 3.18) will take the hill for the Bandits against Cedar Rapids RHP Andrew Cabezas (0-3, 4.21).
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TIM MABREY - PERCUSSIONIST
Tim Mabrey first joined the Midland-Odessa Symphony as a member of the percussion section in 2008, and after several seasons with the orchestra was named Principal Timpani in 2014. In addition to his position with MOSC, Tim is also Principal Percussion with the Round Rock Symphony. Tim has performed with various other groups including the San Antonio Symphony and the Arkansas Symphony, and during summers with the Aspen Music Festival, Opera in the Ozarks, National Music Festival and Hot Springs Music Festival.
Tim’s major teachers include Matthew Strauss of the Houston Symphony, Alan Abel of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Joseph Tompkins of Rutgers University, and Christopher Deane of the University of North Texas.
Originally from Grapevine, Texas, Tim currently lives in Austin where he teaches middle and high school students and maintains an active freelancing career.
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Joe Swanberg Titles, Movies and Posters
You're Next
CAST: Adam Wingard, Sharni Vinson, Nicholas Tucci, Wendy Glenn, AJ Bowen, Joe Swanberg, Margaret Laney, Amy Seimetz, Ti West, Rob Moran, Barbara Crampton, L.C. Holt, Simon Barrett, Lane Hughes,
CAST: Joe Swanberg, Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Ron Livingston, Ti West, Jason Sudeikis, Mike Brune, Frank V. Ross, Michael Gaertner, Kristin Davis, Jim Cibak, Alicia Van Couvering, Joe Swanberg, Michael Zeller, Roberta Chung, Susan Pfeifer, Sam Slater, Callie Stephens,
CAST: Joe Swanberg, Lena Dunham, Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Joe Swanberg,
Long Day's Journey Into Night
CAST: Joe Swanberg, Joe Swanberg, C. Mason Wells, Kevin Bewersdorf, Brigid Reagan, Tipper Newton, Greta Gerwig, Kate Winterich, Nathan Adloff, Rebecca Corry, Laura Lippert,
Nights and Weekends
CAST: Greta Gerwig, Greta Gerwig, Joe Swanberg, Jay Duplass, Elizabeth Donius,
CAST: Ti West, Amy Seimetz, Joe Swanberg, Kate Lyn Sheil, AJ Bowen, Gene Jones, Kentucker Audley, Shawn Parsons, Donna Biscoe, Derek Roberts, Cal Johnson, Madison Absher, Shaun Clay, Alisa Locke, Conphidance,
24 Exposures
CAST: Joe Swanberg, Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett, Helen Rogers, Caroline White, Sophia Takal, Mike Brune, Caitlin Stainken, Hannah Fierman, Micky Francis, Adam Fristoe, Christina Goins, Lance Kilby,
Diggin for Fire
CAST: Joe Swanberg, Jane Adams, Jeff Baena, Steve Berg, Mike Birbiglia, Orlando Bloom, Tom Bower, Padraic Cassidy, Rosemarie DeWitt, Emily Doherty, Sam Elliott, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Judith Light, Ron Livingston, Melanie Lynskey, Chris Messina,
Autoerotic
CAST: Joe Swanberg, Josephine Decker, Lane Hughes, Megan Mercier, Frank V. Ross, Amy Seimetz, Kate Lyn Sheil, Joe Swanberg,
Alexander the Last
CAST: Joe Swanberg, Jess Weixler, Justin Rice, Barlow Jacobs,
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Acta Paediatr. 2012 Sep;101(9):979-84. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02732.x. Epub 2012 Jun 1.
Lifestyle and salivary cortisol at the age of 12 and 24 months.
Swartz J1, Stenius F, Alm J, Theorell T, Lindblad F.
Uppsala University, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala, Sweden. jackie.swartz@neuro.uu.se
To analyse salivary cortisol levels in 12- and 24-month-olds from families with an anthroposophic lifestyle and comparisons ('partly anthroposophic' and 'non-anthroposophic').
Salivary samples were collected at child ages of 12 (n = 178) and 24 (n = 149) months. Cortisol was analysed with radioimmunoassay technique.
Evening cortisol levels in children from anthroposophic families were lower than in comparisons at 12 months of age (geometric means: anthroposophic 1.7, partly anthroposophic 1.9, non-anthroposophic 3.6 nmol/L; p = 0.024) and at 24 months of age (1.1, 1.8 and 2.9 nmol/L, respectively; p = 0.002). At 24 months of age, similar differences were noted also for the afternoon levels (2.3, 3.3 and 3.9 nmol/L, respectively; p = 0.043). At age 12 months, the differences in the evening cortisol were statistically explained by a meat-free diet and at age 24 months by the anthroposophic lifestyle as such. The circadian variations were parallel in the three groups at age 12 and 24 months. No cortisol differences were observed between parents representing different lifestyles.
An anthroposophic lifestyle is associated with low cortisol levels in the evening at age 12 and 24 months, at age 24 months also in the afternoon.
© 2012 The Author(s)/Acta Paediatrica © 2012 Foundation Acta Paediatrica.
Publication types, MeSH terms, Substance
Anthroposophy*/psychology
Circadian Clocks/physiology
Hydrocortisone/metabolism*
Radioimmunoassay
Saliva/metabolism*
Stress, Psychological/physiopathology
HYDROCORTISONE - Hazardous Substances Data Bank
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Determined to make a change
Norton Healthcare / News / Services / Weight Management / Determined to make a change
Jenny’s journey to losing 102 pounds (and counting) and crossing the miniMarathon finish line.
By: Lynne Choate • Posted: April 27, 2016
This is a season of firsts for Jenny O’Bryan. She’s at her lowest weight since she was 25 years old and for the first time will be participating in the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon this Saturday, April 30.
For thousands of runners and walkers, the road race is an annual event; for O’Bryan, who has lost 102 pounds over the past year, this milestone means everything.
Her journey to get here began in May 2015. After posing for family photos on Mother’s Day, she saw something she didn’t like.
“I knew I had put on weight, but after seeing myself in pictures I realized I needed to make changes,” she said.
She began searching for the right approach to losing weight. Unexpectedly, she made a connection through a friend of a friend, which brought her to Norton Weight Management Services.
“A friend was telling me about her own success with the medical weight management program. As she described the meal planning, one-on-one meetings with physicians and dietitians, and the individualized approach, I began to picture myself doing these things,” O’Bryan said.
Once enrolled in the program, she worked with a registered dietitian on a personalized meal plan that consisted of 800 to 1,000 calories per day, reducing carbohydrates to 40 gram per day and increasing her protein intake.
“I was able to make these changes by eating six small meals as opposed to three meals throughout the day,” she said. “That is a significant change, but planning and preparing these meals ahead of time, I was able to keep up with everything.”
O’Bryan credits her partner with helping her succeed by doing most of the food preparation all while supporting O’Bryan in making her health a priority.
“Cooking has never been my strongest contribution in our relationship,” O’Bryan said, laughing. “So having Renee support me by creating healthy meals has been wonderful.”
The couple now also exercises together when they can.
“I had to make time for exercise, and sometimes that can put a strain on household responsibilities and family activities, so with my wife’s support I’ve been able to make these lifestyle changes and find a balance,” O’Bryan said.
Since July, O’Bryan has incorporated walking into her exercise routine. Now she walks with a group of friends as part of her training for the miniMarathon. She also has participated in several organized walks, including Louisville Triple Crown of Running.
“Preparing for the competitive walks has been a challenge,” she said. “I’m very determined and a little hard-headed, so I will finish!”
Other firsts O’Bryan is looking forward to completing in the coming months: shopping in the women’s section of her favorite department store, comfortably sitting with her legs crossed and riding in an airplane without using a seatbelt extender.
“I look forward to the day I can board a plane and not feel that self-conscious again,” she said. “These are things that may not seem significant to others, but for me I will treasure these accomplishments.”
As far as her next fitness challenge, O’Bryan already has something in mind …
“I’m a die-hard fan of University of Louisville women’s basketball and I want to run the steps at the KFC Yum! Center.”
Thinking it’s time to make a change in your health?
Start by taking a free online weight risk assessment.
Find more information on the Norton Medical Weight Management Program that Jenny O’Bryan is participating in.
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Freedom Riders
Above is the full version 1:53.09. Parts 2, 3 and 4 are also posted separately below
FREEDOM RIDERS is the powerful harrowing and ultimately inspirational story of six months in 1961 that changed America forever. From May until November 1961, more than 400 black and white Americans risked their lives—and many endured savage beatings and imprisonment—for simply traveling together on buses and trains as they journeyed through the Deep South. Deliberately violating Jim Crow laws, the Freedom Riders met with bitter racism and mob violence along the way, sorely testing their belief in nonviolent activism. Read more.
Breach of Peace: Portraits of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders
Eric Etheridge, author
On the cover:
Freedom Rider Helen Singleton
Born November 27, 1932, Philadelphia
Arrested July 30, 1961, Train station, Jackson; Student, Santa Monica City College
National History Day documentary on Bull Connor, Birmingham's Commissioner of Public Safety, whose use of police dogs and fire hoses on civil rights demonstrators dramatically backfired and called national attention to the Civil Rights Movement.
PBS - American Experience
The Freedom Rides
Alabama, 1961. White men taunt the Freedom Riders along their route from Montgomery, Alabama to Jackson, Mississippi.
Freedom Riders: Then
mySA June 17, 2011
A group of Freedom Riders from Tennessee stands at the door of a Greyhound bus in Birmingham,Ala., waiting for a bus to leave for Montgomery on May 19, 1961. The Tennessee Board of Regents has changed its decision to deny honorary degrees to 14 students, at what is now called Tennessee State University, who were expelled for participating in Freedom Rides of the 1960s civil rights movement. The board voted unanimously on Friday, April 25, 2008, to change its March vote, which brought criticism from civil rights activists. Read more
Ku Klux Klansmen beat black bystander George Webb in the Birmingham Trailways bus station, May 14, 1961. The man with his back to the camera (center right) is FBI undercover agent Gary Thomas Rowe.
Freedom Riders Jimmy McDonald, left, and Hank Thomas and regular passenger Roberta Holmes sit in front of the burned-out shell of a "Freedom Bus" on May 14, 1961.
Get On the Bus: The Freedom Riders of 1961
In 1961, the Freedom Riders set out for the Deep South to defy Jim Crow laws and call for change. They were met by hatred and violence — and local police often refused to intervene. But the Riders' efforts transformed the civil rights movement.
Raymond Arsenault is the author of Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice. The book details how volunteers — both black and white — traveled to Mississippi and Alabama to fight segregation in transit systems.
Despite being backed by recent federal rulings that it was unconstitutional to segregate bus riders, the Freedom Riders met with obstinate resistance — as in Birmingham and Montgomery, where white supremacists attacked bus depots themselves.
In Freedom Riders, Arsenault details how the first Freedom Rides developed, from the personal level to the legal maneuvering involved. His narrative touches on elements from the jails of Alabama to the Kennedy White House.
Arsenault is the John Hope Franklin Professor of Southern History and co-director of the Florida Studies Program at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg. His previous writing includes Land of Sunshine,State of Dreams: A Social History of Modern Florida and Crucible of Liberty: 200 Years of the Bill of Rights, which he edited.
Read an excerpt from Freedom Riders: Read more
James Peck, seated on a hospital gurney in Birmingham, Alabama, following attack on a Freedom Riders bus.
Roster of Freedom Riders
Freedom Riders BlackPast.org
U.S. National Guardsmen and Mississippi Marshals, seen through a bus window as Freedom Riders make a stop on bus trip from Montgomery, Ala., to Jackson, Miss.
Open Mind Round Table With Malcolm X, James Farmer, Wyatt T. Walker and Alan Morrison. YouTube
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American Eagle Energy Announces Forbearance Agreement
April 7, 2015 - 4:05 PM EDT
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DENVER, CO--(Marketwired - April 07, 2015) - American Eagle Energy Corporation (NYSE MKT: AMZG) (the "Company") announces that on April 2, 2015, the following events occurred in respect of the Notes (the "August Notes") that the Company sold in August 2014:
The Company entered into a Forbearance Agreement with four holders (the "Ad Hoc Group"), who collectively own or manage in excess of 50% (face amount) of the August Notes;
The Company tendered the sum of $4.0 million as a partial interest payment to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under an Indenture, dated as of August 27, 2014, pursuant to which, among other things, the Company issued the August Notes to the holders thereof, some of whom are members of the Ad Hoc Group, which partial interest payment left the Company in default as to approximately $5.8 million of unpaid interest as of April 1, 2015, as well as certain other fees, expenses and other amounts that are chargeable or otherwise reimbursable under the Indenture and the other related documents;
The Company received a letter from SunTrust Bank, as control agent, in respect of an August 27, 2015, Intercreditor Agreement among SunTrust Bank, as First Lien Collateral Agent, U.S. Bank National Association, as the Second Lien Collateral Agent, and the Company, in which SunTrust Bank provided notice of its resignation as control agent under that Intercreditor Agreement, which resignation is to become effective on May 1, 2015, unless SunTrust Bank is replaced in that role earlier; and
The Company received a letter from SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent, in respect of a Credit Agreement that the Company entered contemporaneously with the Intercreditor Agreement, in which SunTrust Bank gave the Company notice of an Event of Default thereunder -- specifically, the Company's failure to have paid the above-referenced interest payment in full, rather than in part.
ABOUT AMERICAN EAGLE ENERGY CORPORATION
American Eagle Energy Corporation is an independent exploration and production operator that is focused on acquiring acreage and developing wells in the Williston Basin of North Dakota, targeting the Bakken and Three Forks shale oil formations. The Company is based in Denver, CO. More information about American Eagle can be found at www.americaneagleenergy.com or by contacting investor relations at 303-798-5235 or [email protected]. Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission can be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and the Company's future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release regarding the Company's financial position, business strategy, plans, and objectives of management for future operations, industry conditions, and indebtedness covenant compliance are forward-looking statements. When used in this report, forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as "estimate," "project," "predict," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "possible," "target," "plan," "intend," "seek," "goal," "will," "should," "may" or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Items contemplating or making assumptions about, actual or potential future sales, market size, collaborations, and trends or operating results also constitute such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and important factors (many of which are beyond the Company's control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, including the amount we may invest, the location, and the scale of the drilling projects in which we intend to participate; our beliefs with respect to the potential value of drilling projects; our beliefs with regard to the impact of environmental and other regulations on our business; our beliefs with respect to the strengths of our business model; our assumptions, beliefs, and expectations with respect to future market conditions; our plans for future capital expenditures; and our capital needs, the adequacy of our capital resources, and potential sources of capital.
The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory, and other risks, contingencies, and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. The Company does not assume any obligations to update any of these forward-looking statements or any of the information set forth in this press release.
Marty Beskow, CFA
Vice President of Capital Markets and Strategy
American Eagle Energy Corporation
www.americaneagleenergy.com
Source: Marketwired (Canada) (April 7, 2015 - 4:05 PM EDT)
Tags: AMZG
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020 7430 9503 20-22 Sandland Street, Holborn, London WC1R 4PZ
Just a stone’s throw from Holborn Underground Station, as well as within walking distance of the City, London’s famous West End and Covent Garden, with its rich mixture of theatres, shops and restaurants, the Old Nick provides the ideal watering hole for your day out exploring all that our great capital city has to offer.
The British Museum was the first national public museum in the world and dedicates itself to human history, art and culture. Its permanent collection numbers some 8 million works and is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence having been widely sourced during the era of the British Empire. The collection documents the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present and is a must for historical and cultural museum lovers.
If it’s jewellery you’re after then look no further than Hatton Garden. Taking its name from Sir Christopher Hatton, who established a mansion here and gained possession of the garden and orchard of Ely Place, it remained in the Hatton family and was built up as a stylish residential development in the reign of King Charles II.
Today Hatton Garden is famous as London's jewellery quarter and the centre of the UK diamond trade, with nearly 300 jewellery related businesses located there, including De Beers and over 55 retail outlets, which represent the largest cluster of jewellery shops in the UK.
For centuries culture vultures have swooped into Covent Garden, relishing the area’s eclectic, ever-changing mix of opera, ballet, theatre and drama, from highbrow to mainstream, fringe and beyond; No other urban quarter in the world is home to two esteemed artistic companies – The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet – in addition to more than twenty thriving theatres in the vicinity.
In addition the area offers a range of world-class fashion, beauty and lifestyle stores, from The Shop at Bluebird, Tom Ford, Mulberry and Tiffany & Co. to Petersham Nurseries and Benjamin Pollock’s Toy Shop, to name but a few.
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Since 1663 the Theatre Royal Drury Lane has provided entertainment for the masses and has been visited by every monarch since the Restoration. The theatre has not one, but two, royal boxes and it was here that the public first heard both the National Anthem and Rule Britannia. The theatre was once renowned for its spectacular Victorian melodramas and pantomimes, but since the 1920s its history has mirrored the development of the modern musical, with the current long standing 42nd Street following this trend.
The Gillian Lynne Theatre recently made showbiz history when, in May 2018, it became the first West End venue to be named after a woman. This was in honour of Dame Gillian’s outstanding contribution to musical theatre – primarily as choreographer of the ground breaking production of Cats, which ran there for over 21 amazing years. Other smash-hit sensations have included Grease, starring Richard Gere and the record-breaking War Horse, so it feels fitting that the theatre now hosts Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest sensational rock show, School of Rock the Musical.
Oxford Street is London’s and indeed Europe’s busiest retail shopping street, with around half a million daily visitors, and as of 2012, approximately 300 shops. Running from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch via Oxford Circus, it is designated as part of the A40, a major road between London and Fishguard, though it is not signed as such, and traffic is regularly restricted to buses and taxis.
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20-22 Sandland Street, Holborn, London WC1R 4PZ oldnick.london@hall-woodhouse.co.uk 020 7430 9503
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Case for Christ Movie Edition
Current Price: $5.99
Publisher: Zondervan
by Lee Strobel
Is there credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God?
Now a major motion picture, Case for Christ, Strobel retraces his own spiritual journey from atheism and former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune to faith. Strobel cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates from schools like Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis who are recognized authorities in their own fields. He challenges them with questions like, how reliable is the New Testament? Does evidence for Jesus exist outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual event?
Strobel’s tough, point-blank questions read like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it’s not fiction. It’s a riveting quest for the truth about history’s most compelling figure.
The new edition includes scores of revisions and additions, including updated material on archaeological and manuscript discoveries, fresh recommendations for further study, and an interview with the author that tells dramatic stories about the book's impact, provides behind-the-scenes information, and responds to critiques of the book by skeptics. As The Case for Christ and its ancillary resources approach 10 million copies in print, this updated edition will prove even more valuable to contemporary readers.
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First ministers’ meeting likely to be most fractious, least productive for PM
For Alberta’s NDP Premier Rachel Notley, the most important issue is the crisis in the oil and gas industry
Dec. 7, 2018 10:30 a.m.
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is warning that nothing will be accomplished at today’s first ministers’ meeting if premiers insist on expanding the agenda to discuss a laundry list of issues.
“That’s the trick, isn’t it? When you’ve got a few hours to discuss things and there are many things,” Pallister said on his way into a meeting of first ministers with Indigenous leaders preceding the main event. “But if we have too many priorities, we won’t get anything done.”
Pallister’s warning may well turn out to be a prediction. Premiers arrived for the meeting with a host of conflicting issues they want addressed and no clear agreement among themselves on which are the most pressing or what should be done about them.
New Brunswick’s Blaine Higgs, chair of the premiers and like Pallister a Progressive Conservative, said he’s got a list of up to eight items that his fellow provincial and territorial leaders consider priorities that must be discussed.
“It could be a neverending list, I guess, but there’s probably six or eight issues that we want to be sure to have discussion (on),” he said.
In brief remarks opening the main session with premiers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged: ”We have a lot of subjects to discuss and I want to give as much time as possible for discussions.”
Trudeau had intended to make lowering interprovincial trade barriers the focus of the meeting. But amid grumbling from premiers pushing their own priorities, he’s said he’s willing to talk about whatever they want.
In addition to trade and the economy, Trudeau said: “Of course, today the premiers and I will talk about how we can best support Canadians working in sectors that are currently facing significant challenges, whether they’re oil and gas workers in Alberta hit hard by the price differential or GM workers in Oshawa.”
READ MORE: First ministers meeting shaping up to be most acrimonious in years
But grumbling about the agenda continued even after the first ministers went behind closed doors. One provincial source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said Finance Minister Bill Morneau spent more than 10 minutes boasting about federal economic management, until Higgs finally intervened, “in a spirit of this being a dialogue, not a lecture,” to call for questions.
Emerging from the meeting later, Morneau described the proceedings as a constructive, positive and robust discussion of the state of the economy, including the challenges it faces.
For Alberta’s NDP Premier Rachel Notley, ”the single most important economic issue facing the country” is the crisis in the oil and gas industry, caused by slumping prices linked to her province’s inability to get its resources to ports for shipment overseas.
“It is a huge contributor to our GDP, hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country,” she said.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault, whose Coalition Avenir Quebec party is on the centre-right, sees the meeting as an opportunity to push his demand for federal compensation for the costs of dealing with the influx of asylum seekers who have used unofficial border crossings to enter the country from the U.S. He is asking for $300 million from the feds and said he raised the issue during a pre-meeting dinner with Trudeau on Thursday evening.
“There is an opening,” Legault said. “Yesterday, I had the opportunity to discuss it with Mr. Trudeau. As of now, they are offering about half of the total.”
But Pallister is one of the few premiers who wants to keep the focus on Trudeau’s preferred priority.
“We need a unified commitment to eliminate trade barriers that are of our own creation,” Pallister said, calling it a “100-year area of neglect.”
“A fifth of our GDP depends upon internal trade and we’re charging each other about a seven-per-cent tariff on everything we ship to each other. So that’s ridiculous; it needs to be addressed.”
The meeting promises to be the most acrimonious — and likely the least productive — first ministers’ gathering Trudeau has hosted.
Gone are the days when he was surrounded by friendly provincial Liberal allies. Now, he’s facing a phalanx of conservative premiers who are putting up determined opposition to some of his signature policies, in particular his plan to impose a federal carbon tax next year.
And one of them — Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford — has vowed to ensure Trudeau’s Liberals are defeated in next fall’s federal election. Federal officials privately believe that will include efforts to derail today’s meeting, potentially even staging a dramatic walkout — a scenario Ford and his aides have not ruled out.
Ford’s team has been a major source of the complaints about Trudeau’s agenda and demands that it be expanded to include a host of provincial concerns.
In a preliminary meeting with Trudeau on Thursday, Ford listed the carbon tax as his top priority but said he also wants to talk about aluminum and steel tariffs, the oil-price crisis, illegal border-crossers, the impending closure of GM’s plant in Oshawa and internal trade barriers.
No other premier seems inclined to join Ford in threatening to walk out of the meeting.
“I’m optimistic that we’ll all see it through,” said Higgs. “Now, if that changes, I guess it would be maybe a sad day for Canada, but I’m hopeful we won’t get there.”
Prince Edward Island Premier Wade MacLauchlan, a Liberal, put the chances of a walkout by any premier at “very close to zero.”
He acknowledged that “everybody’s coming at things from different perspectives or different interests” and likely won’t be ”100-per-cent on the same page” at the end of the day. But he played down the seriousness of the current tensions compared to some of the “existential” disputes of the past when the unity of the country hung in the balance.
Joan Bryden and Giuseppe Valiante, The Canadian Press
Nechako Watershed Roundtable seeks to open wildfire dialogue with province
B.C. woman accosted by man posing as police officer
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10 Extreme Ways Kids Are Paying for College
September 1st, 2009 by Staff Writers
With the rising cost of higher education and the current economic downturn, it is enough to make many college students start looking for creative ways to come up with money for school. The following list shares ten examples of ideas students have used that are truly interesting, unique, or just way out there. While you may be inspired to try some of these yourself, you may want to think twice before actually doing so.
Going naked. Students who are members of the American Association of Nude Recreation for 18 months can apply for a $2000 scholarship. They must submit an essay supporting nude recreation. AANR also offers $1000 for scholarly articles promoting nudity and $500 for publishable pieces (and photos) about the benefits of going nude.
Prostitution. This popular blog, Confessions of a College Call Girl, supposedly recounts the…uh…activities of a girl in college working to support herself. While some doubt the veracity of the assertions made on this blog, there are plenty of other stories of college women using the oldest profession to pay for school.
Sell a kidney. A man in California tried to sell his kidney on Craigslist for $100,000 so that he could pay off bills, send himself to college, and start a college fund for his children. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize that such transactions are illegal in America, so the ad was removed.
Egg donations. Some women, like this coed at California State University, Northridge, are selling their eggs for between $6000 to $8000 a donation. For women who are able to sell their eggs, some can make as much as $40,000 a year. Men can also sell their sperm, but typically receive much less per donation at around $75 per visit. The requirements for both are based heavily on education, physical appearance, and family medical history.
Sell virginity. A 22 year-old woman auctioned off her virginity in order to pay off college debt and fund her upcoming grad school expenses. Some reports indicate that after news of the auction became public, she received bids up to $3.7 million for one night with her. It must run in the family. Her older sister worked at a brothel in Nevada for three weeks to pay for her education.
Disco. Jason Hopkins took to the street in a different way, disco dancing to earn money for grad school. He taught himself to dance after studying John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever and has earned around $10,000 a year.
Sell class notes. This student created a way to sell class notes to fellow classmates and earned just over $100 in just one class. With ideas for expanding, he may have made even more the next semester–or he may have run into another professor like the one in his Asian studies class where he was warned of the unethical practice on which he was embarking. He made $0 profit in that class (not sure about his grade).
Get corporate sponsorship. Chris and Luke decided to set out to find corporate sponsors to pay their way through college. They offered to eat food, read magazines, drive cars, and whatever else it takes to market the corporate sponsors’ products in return for money to attend college. As wacky as this may sound, it appears to have worked. Chris and Luke received corporate sponsorship from First USA and went to Pepperdine University and University of Southern California, respectively.
Networked begging. One college student sent out an email begging for money to help finance his tuition at New York University. By asking for amounts as small as $2.50, he earned $6,000 from his friends, friends of his friends, and friends of those friends. Describing his situation with a mom on disability and a father working three jobs, the college freshman clearly knows a thing or two about persuasive writing.
Gay porn. A student at a Christian college in Western Pennsylvania was recently suspended when another student at the school recognized him from a gay porn movie. The porn actor claims he did it to pay for college and explained that he could earn up to $8,000 a scene. Luckily, he worked out a deal with the school so that he still gets his diploma, but he isn’t allowed to participate in graduation (even if he promises to remain clothed).
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Illustrator and Climber Extraordinaire
March 17, 2016 Yolanda Chen
We have been so lucky to have our good friend and artist, Sophie Binder, share her incredible talents with Onsight Rock Gym. From day one, Sophie has been involved with all aspects of graphic design for this project. Her work resonates throughout Onsight both behind the scenes and within the facility. Sophie's latest project has been designing Onsight's Limited Edition Grand Opening T-shirts, which will going to production very soon!
Sophie Binder is a free-lance designer/illustrator and a native of France. She studied art and design at the Ecole Nationale des Arts Appliqués Duperré in Paris, then worked as a designer in France, Italy, and the United States for the past 30 years. She has been involved with numerous projects throughout the world.
Sophie’s work has also brought her close to conservation and non-for-profit organizations and the outdoor industry. She counts among her clients Petzl International, Rock & Ice, Ouray Ice Festival, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, FMCS, US Fish and Wildlife Services, MO Department of Conservation, Patagonia, Toulouse Blagnac airport in France...among others.
She has illustrated and co-published four books in France for the publishing company Privat. Sketching and illustration haves always been at the core of Sophie’s life, both professionally and privately. In 2001, she put her belongings in storage and embarked on a 14 month-“field study” and circled the globe on her bicycle with sketchbooks and watercolors stowed in her bike bags. She came back with 600 sketches of people, places, architecture and animals, believing even more in the power of drawing. After her voyage, she settled in St. Louis where she currently freelances in graphic design, illustration, web design and commissioned art. In 2013, She self-published a book about her journey: The World Two Wheels and a Sketchbook. You'll be able to buy a copy for yourself at the Grand Opening Celebration on April 23, where Sophie will be present for a book signing.
When not working, she splits her time between her passions for rock climbing and art.
categories Rock Climbing, Art
tags Art, Graphic Design, Sophie Binder, Onsight Rock Gym
Grand Opening Recap
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Thousands of Brazilians to Go on Strike Against Pension Reforms on Friday
The countrywide general strike is against the proposed pension reforms that are likely to raise the average retirement age. A wide range of demands, including higher spending for education and a halt to privatization of refineries, are also being raised.
The central trade unions will carry out protests this Friday in a general strike in the principle cities of the country. Photo: Mídia Ninja
Thousands of Brazilian workers will go on strike for 24 hours on Friday, June 14, against a proposal for pension reform which the government of Jair Bolsonaro is trying to hastily push through the chamber of deputies. The general strike will mobilize diverse sections of Brazilian society, from bus drivers to petroleum sector workers and students to electricians.
The new reform would lead to Brazilians having to contribute much more to their pensions and working many more years. As per the current system, men who have contributed to the pension system for 35 years can retire at any age, as can women who have contributed to the system for 30 years. Thus, the average for retirement age for both men and women is around 55. However, according to the new system, the minimum age of retirement would be 65 years for men and 62 years for women. For teachers, the minimum retirement age would be 60.
In addition to the common issue of pension reform, various sectors are highlighting specific demands during the strike. The United Federation of Petroleum Workers joined the call for the mobilization to express their rejection of the projects which attack the sovereignty of the country that were started during the government of Michel Temer and have been intensified by Jair Bolsonaro.
“We can count the number of refineries that have been privatized, the closure of oil platforms in Ceará, and the dismantling of the Petrobras system,” said the federation’s director, Alexandre Finamori.
The government of Jair Bolsonaro has already announced the sale of 13 refineries of Petrobras. The contract between the state company and the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade) was signed on June 11, with a timeline of two years being announced for the sale of the units. “The employees are scared of working because of the precarious conditions, and this is the path towards privatization of the company,” he said.
Students, professors and functionaries of the universities and federal institutes, who are in the middle of a major mobilization against budget cuts in education, are also joining the strike.
The president of the National Union of Students, Jessy Dayane, said they plan to bring activities to a halt at most universities in Brazil in what will be a continuation of the student protests that brought more than a million people to the streets. “In all the spaces where we have built dialogue, debate and preparatory processes for the strike, the support is very high,” she said.
Dayane also said the youth would be among the groups most affected by the pension reform.
“Our challenge in this period is to share information, raise the consciousness of the students, debate, hand out fliers and explain to our classmates what is the pension reform, because everyone who knows what it is, is against it,” she said.
“The youth will be greatly affected by the new rules. If the pension reform is passed, the students of today will have to work much more or probably will never be able to retire,” she added.
Dayane pointed out that there are 13.2 million unemployed people in the country, according to statistics by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).
General strike in Brazil
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Students' protest in Brazil
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Brazil’s Fight for Education
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Relatives of Marielle Franco Murder Suspect Were Staffers at Bolsonaro Son’s Office
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January 8-9 Strike Participants Allege Backlash From TMC Govt
#WorkersStrikeBack: Bengal Workers Brave Police Repression to Make Historic Strike A Success
Subodh Varma
On May 28-30, 1970, trade union activists from 18 states representing 1,759 trade unions assembled in Kolkata for a conference.
Peoples Dispatch
Tomorrow on May 30, thousands of students, professors and trade union activists will mobilize across Brazil to protest against regressive education
Hundreds of thousands of school and university students, teachers, professors, and staff took to the streets on Wednesday, May 15, all over Brazil
Road to Qatar 2022: Discussing India's Chances with Renedy Singh (420 Grams S-1, Ep. 37)
New Syllabus: Amid threats and protests, DU succumbs to Right-Wing
Daily Round-up: Karnataka Political Scenario, Workers Protest at Salem Steel Plant, Trump diverts Central American aid to Juan Guaido and more
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Out Loud: The Campaign Against G.M.O.s
By The New Yorker
In this week’s magazine, Michael Specter writes about the work of the environmental activist Vandana Shiva, who has, for many years, led a campaign against genetically modified crops.
On this week’s Out Loud podcast, Specter and Alan Burdick, an editor at the magazine, join Sasha Weiss to discuss Shiva’s work and the roots of the controversy over G.M.O.s. Specter contends that many of Shiva’s claims are factually unfounded and that her appeal, and the wider opposition to G.M.O.s, is driven largely by unfounded and irrational fears. “People don’t always look at all the facts,” he says. “And many people are predisposed, not for terrible reasons, to be suspicious of this new thing that they do not understand. You know, twenty or twenty-five thousand Americans have had pig valves sutured into their hearts. I never saw a protest against that. So when people start saying that we’re altering nature in a fundamental way, it’s both, I think, wrong and a misreading of how we farm.”
You can subscribe to the Out Loud podcast on iTunes. Click here for the latest episodes of all New Yorker podcasts.
The New Yorker offers a signature blend of news, culture, and the arts. It has been published since February 21, 1925.
Genetically Modified Organisms (G.M.O.s)Global Crop Diversity Trust
Michael Specter
Sign up for the New Yorker Recommends newsletter and get expert recommendations every week from the worlds of film, literature, and music.
Annals of Science
Seeds of Doubt
Michael Specter on Vandana Shiva, an activist who accuses biotechnology companies such as Monsanto of imposing “food totalitarianism.” Others believe that G.M.O.s are the key to solving world hunger.
By Michael Specter
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Age and antivirals
The journal BMC Infectious Diseases has published research evaluating the age-prioritisation of antivirals during an influenza pandemic. The Daily Mail referred to the study in an article: “Will mass use of Tamiflu leave Britain all but defenceless as swine flu becomes resistant?”.
The newspaper voices the concerns of a representative from the British Medical Association, Dr Peter Holden, who has questioned the policy of giving the antiviral to people with mild symptoms. He said the policy places extra strain on the NHS, increases the possibility of the virus developing immunity to the drug and exposes people who would otherwise have a mild illness to potential side effects of the drug.
The debate over the widespread use of antivirals is complex. The Department of Health’s approach to treat symptomatic people is part of a well-considered treatment strategy to reduce the spread of infection in this country. Antiviral resistance is possible, but the government is monitoring this situation closely.
However, the study referred to in the news article has little relevance to the issue of antiviral resistance in the UK. The study aims to give some guidance on how to prioritise antiviral stockpiles if these are limited. Making some assumptions about the flu virus, the study concludes that treating all cases and providing prophylaxis to younger individuals is the only intervention resulting in "a significant reduction of the clinical attack rate and requiring a relatively small stockpile of antivirals". The Daily Mail has misinterpreted the findings of this study by suggesting that not giving Tamiflu to pensioners in UK would cut the chance of resistance.
Where was the article published?
The study was conducted by Dr Stefano Merler from the Fondazione Bruno Kessler and colleagues from the University of Trento and the Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Italy. It was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal BMC Infectious Diseases . Funding was provided by the European Union.
What kind of study was this?
The researchers used mathematical models to simulate the spread of an influenza pandemic in Italy and to evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies of prioritising antivirals by age.
The WHO recommends that governments should stockpile sufficient antivirals to treat 25% of their populations. However, some countries do not have sufficient stockpiles for this. For example, Italy currently has enough antivirals to treat seven million people, which is about 12% of the population. Meanwhile, other countries have more than enough antivirals to treat all cases and may therefore need to prioritise the use of the surplus supplies for treatment and prevention.
There are some relevant issues to highlight here:
Antivirals can be used both to treat infected people and to prevent infection in people who are exposed to cases. When being used to treat infection in a person they also reduce how easily that person transmits the virus to other people. Antivirals can also be given to people who are exposed to an infected case, reducing their susceptibility to infection.
The study makes use of a measure called the basic reproduction number (R0), which is used alongside other statistics to determine the impact of outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics. It is defined as the number of secondary cases that a single infected person would cause in a population that had no immunity to the disease (and no vaccines or treatments to control the infection). If the R0 is less than one (that is, only one other person becomes infected by an index case), the infection will not spread in a population. However, if the R0 is greater than one, the infection can spread. If the R0 is large it is harder to control an epidemic. A recent modelling published in BMC Medicine estimated that the R0 for the current pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus is between 1.4 and 1.6, lower than that of the 1918 pandemic strain and similar to that of seasonal flu.
Modelling the impact of a pandemic
The model used in this study is complex, but essentially predicts the impact of the pandemic in Italy. As with all models, a number of factors are fed in and several assumptions need to be made. Broadly, these assumptions consider:
The basic reproduction value. Here researchers assumed R0 values of 1.4 (as in similar past pandemics) and also a value of three (which was seen in some cities during the 1918-1919 Spanish influenza pandemic).
How many cases are imported into the country.
How easily the virus spreads in households, schools, workplaces and through random contacts in the population.
How susceptible people are.
How long symptoms last for.
Absenteeism and attendance at work.
Commuting.
Death rates by age group (these were estimated from previous pandemics including the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic and the 1969 pandemic in Italy).
By how much antivirals (used as treatment and for prevention) would reduce infectiousness and symptomatic disease.
The researchers assumed that all infected people were treated with antivirals before these were used for prophylaxis.
The researchers make a number of conclusions based on the outcome of their model.
Before a vaccine becomes available some measures are key to delaying the epidemic in large countries. These include travel restrictions, social distancing measures (such as school closure and isolating cases), treatment of infected individuals with antivirals and giving prophylaxis antivirals to their close contacts.
If age-specific case fatality rates are assumed to be the same as during the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, then the model suggests that only treating the elderly with antivirals does not significantly reduce the total deaths and that treating adults is more effective. However, if age-specific case fatality rates are assumed to be the same as in the 1969-1970 pandemic in Italy, then it is more effective to treat the elderly than adults.
In addition, giving prophylaxis to close contacts of infected cases is a more effective way of reducing the spread of infection, but it requires a larger stockpile of antivirals.
The model does not take into account potential antiviral resistance or selective treatment of people at higher risk of serious illness, for example hospitalised people and healthcare workers.
Antiviral treatment and prophylaxis are less effective if they are given more than 48 hours after exposure. Late antiviral therapy is not helpful.
If there are sufficient antivirals stockpiled to treat all cases (which is the situation in the UK), then the model suggests that using the excess to provide prophylaxis only to younger individuals is an option to be considered.
What are the implications of this study?
Other studies have also concluded that treating cases with antivirals and giving antivirals to their close contacts is the most effective single intervention strategy for preventing spread in the early stages of a pandemic. This is what the UK did at first during its containment phase.
On July 2, the UK moved to a treatment phase in which cases were diagnosed on the basis of clinical observation rather than laboratory testing. During this phase everyone with flu-like symptoms is assessed and offered antivirals to manage their illness. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) no longer traces close contacts or provides antivirals to limit spread. This is because public health interventions to reduce spread are no longer appropriate and the focus moves to the treatment of individual patients.
For countries with limited supplies of antivirals and still in the early phases of the pandemic, this study highlights the importance of stockpiling antivirals and how closely the number of required doses depends on the basic reproduction number of the virus. For all countries, the availability of the vaccine will reduce the amount of antivirals that will be needed.
This study’s findings regarding limiting treatment with antivirals to the elderly or adults have limited application for the UK. The results are based on assumptions fed into a model simulating the pandemic and different potential treatment strategies in Italy, which has enough antivirals to treat about 12% of its population. The situation is different in the UK, which has a large enough stockpile of antivirals to treat 50% of the population (and has ordered more to increase supplies up to levels needed to treat 80%), and which is not currently considering limiting treatment purely on an age-specific basis.
Resistance to antivirals is possible, and responsible use of Tamiflu is one way to avoid or delay this. The Department of Health recommendations to provide antivirals to people with symptoms of flu are sensible and are in line with this country’s approach to controlling infection. The HPA is monitoring the resistance situation. As of last week, 427 viruses have been analysed by the HPA for the marker commonly associated with resistance to oseltamivir in seasonal influenza (H274Y). None of the viruses have so far been found to carry this marker.
Will mass use of Tamiflu leave Britain all but defenceless as swine flu becomes resistant?
Daily Mail, 28 July 2009
Merler S, Ajelli M and Rizzo C.
Age-prioritized use of antivirals during an influenza pandemic.
BMC Infectious Diseases 2009, 9: 117
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GOP Senators Split from Pro-Amnesty Working Group
Fri, Jan 5th 2018 @ 2:30 pm EST
Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) did not attend Wednesday’s hour-long meeting held by a bipartisan group of pro-amnesty Senators that has been collaborating on Dream amnesty legislation. The group, led by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), had been working on legislation that would pair a Dream amnesty with a few minor border improvements, failing to address any of Pres. Trump’s demands.
The two Republican Senators are reportedly no longer part of the working group which also includes Sens. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). Sens. Bennet, Durbin, Flake, and Graham were all members of the Gang of Eight who’s 2013 bill would have doubled legal immigration and granted lifetime work permits to 11 million illegal aliens.
Sens. Tillis and Lankford are part of a separate working group that includes Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and David Perdue (R-Ga.) who have introduced the SECURE Act, S. 2192 that would pair an amnesty for DACA-eligible illegal aliens with an end to Chain Migration and increased border security.
Sens. Tillis and Lankford attended a meeting yesterday at the White House hosted by Pres. Trump and with Sens. Grassley, Graham, Cotton, and Cornyn. In the meeting, Pres. Trump made it clear that he wanted an end to both the Visa Lottery and Chain Migration in any deal on DACA.
Chain Migration
visa lottery
Updated: Fri, Jan 19th 2018 @ 2:35pm EST
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Africa|Kenya Forces Said to Be Securing Mall After Long Standoff
Kenya Forces Said to Be Securing Mall After Long Standoff
Kenya Presses Assault Against Mall Attackers
View Slide Show ›
Tyler Hicks/The New York Times
By Jeffrey Gettleman and Nicholas Kulish
NAIROBI, Kenya — The bloody standoff at a Kenyan shopping mall edged closer to a conclusion on Monday night, with Kenyan officials saying that their troops were securing the building and that there were no more civilians trapped inside.
“We’re in control of #Westgate,” Kenya’s Interior Ministry said in a Twitter message late Monday night, referring to the large, upscale mall that Islamist militants stormed on Saturday, killing more than 60 people.
Among the militants were two or three young American men who appeared to be of Somali or Arab origin, Kenya’s foreign minister, Amina Mohamed. said Monday. In an interview on PBS, Ms. Mohamed said the American attackers were originally from Minnesota or Missouri. “That just goes to underline the global nature of the war that we’re fighting,” she said.
The State Department’s senior spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said: We have no definitive evidence of the nationalities or identities of the perpetrators at this time. We will continue to look into these reports.”
For more than two days, Kenyan forces have struggled to vanquish the militants, who, after killing shoppers, holed up in various corners of the mall with military-grade weaponry. Hundreds of elite Kenyan troops — backed by armored personnel carriers, helicopters, planes and security officials from Israel, France, Britain and the United States — have been deployed, but the militants, estimated to number from 10 to 15, refused to surrender and held their ground.
By late Monday night, the sound of gunfire had tapered off and Kenyan news media reported that all the militants had been killed.
“We believe all hostages have been released,” said the Kenya National Disaster Operation Center in a Twitter message. “Special forces and KDF soldiers combing the building. Situation of hostiles to be confirmed.”
Kenyan officials have repeatedly tried to reassure the country — and the world — that they were bringing the crisis under control, mindful of the damage to the nation’s image as a cornerstone of stability in an often turbulent region.
A man who lost his father in the attack was comforted by relatives at a city morgue on Monday.CreditJerome Delay/Associated Press
“This will end tonight,” Kenyan officials had declared as a major rescue operation got under way on Sunday evening. But shortly thereafter, three Kenyan commandos were shot dead at close range and several hostages were killed as Kenyan forces tried to move in on militants hiding in a dark corner of the mall, Western officials said.
When The Standard, one of Kenya’s biggest newspapers, hit the stands on Monday with the headline, “The Final Assault,” the sound of gunfire and explosives was still echoing through central Nairobi, spreading even more fear among Kenyans, who have been shocked and demoralized by the events over the past three days. A cone of black smoke rising from the roof of the mall could be seen like a signal fire from all around the city.
Kenya is a crucial American partner, whose security forces work closely with their Western counterparts to contain Islamist militants in the region. Now Kenya’s capital, considered an oasis of prosperity in this part of Africa and an important base for Western embassies and businesses, has become a battleground in the conflict, and there is growing concern that this attack will not be the last.
Several witnesses said that some of the ringleaders of the assault — in which masked gunmen moved methodically through the crowded mall on Saturday, killing men, women and children — may have escaped during the initial confusion. One witness said that an assailant quickly tore off his clothes and changed into a new outfit before running out, hands raised, blending in with a crowd of fleeing civilians.
Security officials in Nairobi said that two other militants — both women who appeared to be directing other assailants during the killings — also managed to escape after the initial stage of the attack, raising fears that well-trained terrorists could be on the loose in Nairobi. Several witnesses have said that some of the militants were clearly not African and may have been from Western countries.
Kenya’s security forces have a reputation for being lowly paid and underequipped, and they seem to have been ill-prepared for a complex hostage situation against die-hard militants like this. According to several Western officials, the Kenyans initially rebuffed offers of assistance from the American government and turned instead to the Israelis, who dispatched advisers from the Israeli Defense Forces. Those advisers have been working closely with the Kenyan commandos inside the mall, helping plan specific tactical operations, though officials said the Israeli advisers had not engaged in any combat and had stayed out of public view.
The American, French and British officials have been left with a more back-seat role from a command center just down the street from the Westgate mall, helping the Kenyans with the investigation of the attack and some intelligence matters, a high-ranking Kenyan official said Monday.
“There’s too much consultation going on,” said the Kenyan official, who had not been authorized to speak publicly. “This should have been a small rescue operation, not preparing for war.”
On Monday afternoon, Kenyan security officials acknowledged that the effort to end the standoff had taken longer than expected, though they offered a different account of their setbacks, saying that about 10 Kenyan soldiers had been injured but none killed.
A day-to-day look at the events that have occurred since Saturday's deadly shooting and hostage situation at an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya.CreditCreditTyler Hicks/The New York Times
The Shabab, a brutal Somali extremist group that had at least 20 fighters from the United States in 2010, many of them young Somali-Americans from a gritty part of Minneapolis, claimed responsibility for the siege on the mall. Its spokesmen said that the attack was revenge for Kenya’s military incursion into Somalia, which began in 2011, when Kenya sent thousands of troops across the border to push back the Shabab.
Three years ago, the group also claimed credit for the coordinated bombings that killed more than 70 people in Uganda as crowds gathered to watch the World Cup, calling it retribution for Uganda’s decision to send troops to Somalia as part of the African Union’s effort to stabilize the country.
But the possible presence of militants from outside of Africa in the mall attack — and the way the assailants fended off attempts to dislodge them — has raised questions about the Shabab’s latest claims. Some Western security officials are now beginning to wonder if other terrorist groups may be involved.
“This whole thing seems more advanced than anything the Shabab has ever done,” said one Western security official, who did not want to be identified because the operations were still continuing.
“They are clearly a multinational collection from all over the world,” said Julius Karangi, chief of the Kenyan general staff. The five-story Westgate shopping mall sits in Nairobi’s Westlands neighborhood, tucked among winding forested roads. Onlookers crept through the trees as the smoke billowed up, trying to catch a closer look. Jittery police officers used tear gas to drive them back and keep the roads clear for the heavy military vehicles entering and exiting the secured area throughout the day.
On Monday afternoon, squads of troops rushed inside the burning building, and long bursts of automatic gunfire rang out, causing onlookers blocks away to hit the deck.
“We are also closing in on the attackers,” said David Kimaiyo, inspector general of the National Police Service, in a Twitter post earlier on Monday.
The attack killed people from many countries: France; Britain; Canada; India; China and Ghana, among others. Many Kenyans fear that the crisis could seriously hurt the economy, which is fueled by tourism and outside investment and is highly vulnerable to swings in perception. Kenya’s currency fell against the dollar on Monday.
On Monday, reflecting the breadth of the crisis, judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague took the unusual step of suspending for one week the trial of Kenya’s deputy president, William Ruto, on charges of crimes against humanity so that he could return home to assist in the government’s response.
“We have been assaulted by hateful, unthinking cowards,” Mr. Ruto said at the airport upon his return. “They work for the devil, we work for a living God,” he added. “We shall defeat them. We shall defeat them.”
Reporting was contributed by Reuben Kyama and Tyler Hicks from Nairobi; Jodi Rudoren from Jerusalem; Mark Mazzetti from Washington; Mohammed Ibrahim from Mogadishu, Somalia; William K. Rashbaum from New York; and Alan Cowell from London.
A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 8 of the New York edition with the headline: After Long Standoff, Kenya Forces Said to Be Securing Mall. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
Witness to a Massacre in a Nairobi Mall
Kenya Mall Carnage Shows Shabab Resilience
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New York|What New York Can Learn From Barcelona’s ‘Superblocks’
What New York Can Learn From Barcelona’s ‘Superblocks’
Streets in the El Born neighborhood of Barcelona used to be open to vehicles now mostly serve pedestrians.CreditCreditDaniel Etter for The New York Times
By Winnie Hu
BARCELONA — Imagine if streets were for strolling, intersections were for playing and cars were almost never allowed.
While it sounds like a pedestrian’s daydream, and a driver’s nightmare, it is becoming a reality here in Spain’s second-largest city, a densely packed metropolis of 1.6 million on the Mediterranean. Ever since the 1992 Summer Olympics focused global attention here, this thriving center of tourism, culture and business — often viewed as a hipper, more easygoing cousin to Madrid, the Spanish capital — has seen its popularity soar along with congestion on its streets and sidewalks.
So in an initiative that has drawn international attention and represents a transformative remaking of its streetscape, Barcelona has decided that many of its car-clogged streets and intersections will hardly have cars at all. Instead, they will be turned over to pedestrians.
Beginning in September, city officials started creating a system of so-called superblocks across the city that will severely limit vehicles as a way to reduce traffic and air pollution, use public space more efficiently and essentially make neighborhoods more pleasant.
An intersection in El Poblenou, a section of Barcelona, that was transformed into a playground with a soccer field and sandbox.CreditConfederación de Talleres de Proyectos de Arquitectura (Confederation of Workshops of Architecture Projects)
“We like to call it ‘winning back the streets for the people,’” said Janet Sanz Cid, a deputy mayor of the city. “People from Barcelona want to use the streets, but right now they can’t because they are occupied by cars.”
Under the plan, the superblocks will be overlaid on the existing street grid, each one consisting of as many as nine contiguous blocks. Within each superblock, streets and intersections will be largely closed to traffic and used as community spaces such as plazas, playgrounds and gardens. Ms. Sanz said that at least five superblocks were expected to be designated by 2018.
Barcelona’s system of superblocks — called “superilles” in Catalan — would go well beyond the pedestrian plazas that have sprouted up on the streets of New York City. While those spaces have carved out more room for pedestrians in busy corridors, the superblocks represent a more radical approach that fundamentally challenges the notion that streets even belong to cars.
The strategy has propelled Barcelona, a city better known for its soccer team and its Gaudí architecture, to the forefront of urban-transportation experiments and has attracted interest from transportation officials, urban planners and advocates in many other cities paralyzed by gridlock.
Janet Sanz Cid, a deputy mayor of Barcelona, described the superblocks program as “winning back the streets for the people.”CreditDaniel Etter for The New York Times
Claire Weisz, an urban designer at WXY, a Manhattan firm that redesigned the streets around Astor Place, said Barcelona’s superblock plan could be applied in New York to redefine streets as public spaces. “The vast majority of people living in our neighborhoods don’t have cars,” Ms. Weisz said. “Yet our streets are primarily used by cars, and we have a huge need for safe places to walk and bike.”
Barcelona’s plan will redirect cars, buses and commercial vehicles to streets along the perimeter of each superblock, though local residents will still be able to drive their cars at reduced speeds and park in designated areas. Deliveries will be allowed at less congested times.
But as Barcelona officials have acknowledged, introducing the superblocks will not be as easy as simply changing the rules. To be widely accepted, the plan will require a cultural shift in the way people view and use the streets.
The first of the new superblocks received a mixed reaction when it was unveiled recently in El Poblenou, a former industrial area that has been redeveloped with low-income housing and offices for technology companies. Though many residents saw the benefits of the superblock, some complained that they were not given enough time or explanation before it was put in place. Businesses have also expressed concerns that it could interfere with their work by, among other things, restricting when they can load and unload goods.
To inaugurate the superblock, architecture professors and students have worked with local associations of residents and businesses to come up with alternative uses for the street space. One intersection, using tires and recycled materials, was transformed into a playground with a soccer field and sandbox.
Marta Louro, 40, a teacher who lives next to an intersection, said the superblock would make streets safer and reduce pollution. “It gives priority to the pedestrian,” she said. “I believe it’s very important that people have space.”
But others have expressed concerns that they will have to walk farther to a bus stop, or will have a harder time using their cars or finding parking. “It’s not a bad idea,” said Oriol Sanchez, 25, a waiter who drives to work. “But for me, it’s a problem for my car.”
Visitación Soria, 78, said the superblock would not be embraced by everyone. “People like their cars,” she said. “People are already saying there’s a problem finding parking, and this will make it worse.”
The plan for a superblock in the El Poblenou district.CreditDaniel Etter for The New York Times/Asier Eguilaz
No matter the merits, the debate over what a modern urban streetscape should look like, how it should function and whom it should serve has grown increasingly clamorous around the world. In New York City, whose population is at a record high of 8.5 million residents, conflicts among pedestrians, cyclists and motorists have drawn attention to busy corridors. Transportation officials have recently taken steps to expand the overtaxed promenade on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Polly Trottenberg, the city’s transportation commissioner, said that 53 pedestrian plazas had been built, in Times Square and other parts of the city, since 2007, and that another 20 plazas were under construction. In all, these plazas will total 27 acres, roughly the equivalent of 20 football fields, Ms. Trottenberg said. “It’s not an insignificant amount of space that we’ve wrestled back from the automobile,” she said.
Ms. Trottenberg said she was aware of Barcelona’s superblocks plan and would consider applying the concept in New York — if not the name. In urban planning circles, the term “superblock” has been used to refer to sprawling public housing projects in American cities. “We’re certainly formalizing things that are close to that concept,” she said. “There are a lot of different models, and there’s not a one-size-fits-all.”
The city tried a one-day “Shared Streets” test in August that promoted recreational use of a 60-block area of Lower Manhattan. The speed limit was reduced to 5 miles per hour, and people were encouraged to take to the streets alongside cars. The program was intended to expand on another initiative, “Summer Streets,” in which a section of Park Avenue south of 72nd Street and all of Lafayette Street were closed to vehicles on three August Saturdays.
New York City tried a one-day “Shared Streets” experiment in August that promoted recreational use of a 60-block swath of Lower Manhattan.CreditGeorge Etheredge/The New York Times
Hundreds of people participated, though not everyone got along. Pedestrians said the slower speed was not strictly enforced, while drivers complained about not being given enough warning and kept honking at people in their way.
Still, Paul Steely White, the executive director of the nonprofit Transportation Alternatives, said, “It helps give people a taste of what their life could be like if that space was reapportioned for people rather just for automobiles.”
In recent weeks, the organization has called on the city to reconfigure 14th Street in Manhattan as a “PeopleWay” to accommodate more pedestrians and cyclists when a section of the L train shuts down for repairs. The proposal would limit car traffic, add bus and bike lanes and widen sidewalks.
Ms. Trottenberg called it “an interesting idea,” noting that the city is working with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the city’s subways and buses, to look at options.
Pedestrians stroll through the neighborhood of El Born.CreditDaniel Etter for The New York Times
In Barcelona, the superblock is not a new idea. The first one was introduced in 1993 near a historic church, the Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar, in the El Born neighborhood in the center of the city. Two more superblocks followed in 2005 in Gràcia, a northern neighborhood known for its plazas and narrow streets.
But superblocks did not become a priority until Ada Colau, a housing activist, was elected mayor last year. Ms. Sanz Cid, the deputy mayor, said that instead of focusing on the big commercial developments favored under previous city-planning policies, the current administration was interested in “concrete, precise interventions” to directly benefit local residents. “We want to look back at the neighborhoods and rethink urban planning,” she said.
The superblocks are part of a comprehensive program to improve the city’s transportation networks and reduce their environmental impact, Ms. Sanz Cid said. The effort, called the Urban Mobility Plan, includes increasing bus service, extending train lines to the suburbs and tripling the number of bike lanes.
Josep Mateu, president of the Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia, which has about one million members, has called for more discussion of the superblocks plan. He described it as well intentioned and said he welcomed the city’s decision to test it in El Poblenou, a less trafficked area in Barcelona. But he added, “We cannot forget that the project does also have other, less positive effects.”
Iñaki Baquero and Jaime Batlle teach architecture at the International University of Catalonia.CreditDaniel Etter for The New York Times
Mr. Mateu said that superblocks, if applied across the city, would significantly limit road capacity for vehicles without reducing the actual number of vehicles to the same extent. “There would be a considerable increase of congestion, which is the situation that produces more pollution,” he said. “It is true that there are areas that will lose vehicular traffic, but it is also true that this traffic would eventually move to other roads and other districts, leading to a strong division between winning roads and losing roads.”
He also noted difficulties some residents could have in gaining access to public transportation, a loss of parking spaces the program could create and negative effects it could have on businesses. “We should also take into account that the superblock project does not seem to be a priority” for Barcelona residents, he said, suggesting that issues like unemployment were more pressing.
Salvador Rueda, the director of the Urban Ecology Agency, the agency that designed the superblock model, said a lesson learned from earlier superblocks was that initial opposition gave way to acceptance, in part because of a growing consensus about the benefits. No one has sued the city to remove a superblock, Mr. Rueda said. “Now we know that the main problem is the resistance to change that occurs at the beginning of the implementation of the superblocks.”
In Gràcia, where more than two-thirds of the streets were turned into public spaces, car traffic has dropped to 81,514 trips annually from 95,889 before the superblocks were established. Street life is thriving: Pedestrians now make 201,843 trips annually through Gràcia, up 10 percent from before the superblocks. Cyclists make 10,143 trips annually, a 30 percent increase.
The transformation has been even more significant in El Born, which by the 1990s had become so run-down that many people avoided it. “It was very tough to walk because they used to park cars on top of the sidewalk,” recalled Isabel Ruiz, 53, a longtime resident of the neighborhood.
On a recent afternoon, Jaime Batlle and Iñaki Baquero, who teach architecture at the International University of Catalonia, walked along El Born’s cobblestone streets pointing out changes the superblock had produced. Palm trees and benches were in the middle of streets. Trash was collected by an underground pneumatic system rather than trucks.
There were no curbs or sidewalks, only a single lane that Mr. Batlle called a “common platform” for drivers and pedestrians so that no one felt more ownership. The lane also forced drivers, when allowed in the street, to drive cautiously. Where storefronts once stood empty, customers now flowed in and out of restaurants, wine shops, hair salons and boutiques.
“It used to be full of cars, and now it’s not,” Mr. Batlle said. “Imagine that for the rest of the city. This is the kind of city we want everywhere.”
Isaac Sastre Boquet contributed reporting.
A version of this article appears in print on , Section MB, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: Barcelona’s Lesson on ‘Superblocks’. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
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You're in my care - Archive
Nurses are at the heart of two-year project that will transform patient care
Yvonne Wilson, front row, centre, and Ann Mitchell, directly to Wilson’s left, were part of a talented group of nurses who showed clinical expertise and leadership as The Ottawa Hospital prepares for the launch of Epic, the digital health network on June 1.
Hundreds of nurses across six health-care partners are leading the charge towards the launch of the Epic digital health network. Many more are supporting the effort as their colleagues and the larger hospital family of over 18,000 people receive training, learn new policies and understand new practices.
Hospital and project leadership recognized from early on the value of involving nurses in all facets of this effort to transform care. Their insights are integral to making the vision of seamless care in a digital age come true.
“Nursing has been involved from adoption of Epic to validation to testing,” said Ann Mitchell, Director of Nursing Professional Practice. “That input has been essential to making this system work well for us and other providers. We spent hundreds of hours in build and design meetings, and we were able to add or change some functions to support how we work and to make the system practical.”
Ann Mitchell is the Director of Nursing Professional Practice.
Clinical expertise and perspective from nurses are setting the entire effort up for success.
“We’re going to be able to provide more holistic care by having patient information available in real time to the patient’s care team across our partner network,“ said Yvonne Wilson, an experienced nurse and Clinical Director at The Ottawa Hospital, who is also the clinical lead for the project.
The launch of Epic across six partners in Eastern Ontario will usher in 21st-century health care for patients in Eastern Ontario. Those six partners include The Ottawa Hospital, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, The Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team, Hawkesbury and District General Hospital, Renfrew Victoria Hospital, and St. Francis Memorial Hospital.
Nurses offer valuable insight and leadership
A project of this size and importance needed world-class teamwork. Clinicians and physicians worked closely together from the start in order to develop a seamless system that will enhance patient care. The dedicated staff of the Project Fusion team, a talented group of Information Technology and clinical professionals, have worked for two years to build and test the system.
Nurses were among the professionals on that team.
Vidhya Veeraragavan became the first Epic-certified analyst at The Ottawa Hospital in 2017. She is a registered nurse with a Master of Science in Nursing.
As an analyst, Veeraragavan offered expertise in the areas of rehabilitation, mental health and security related to documenting information for patients in hospital. She met with clinical managers to collect data on workflows to help build the system so that it is standardized across the partner organizations.
Veeraragavan recognized that it might take some time for staff to adapt to the new system, but that doing so has many benefits.
“It will be so handy – click and go. We’ll save time and energy, so care providers have more time for patient care,” she explained.
Indeed, many nurses became project analysts and reviewed current workflows to customize the system. Peggy Guilbeault, who has worked in the NICU and in infection control over her 30-year career, was in charge of inpatient clinical documentation. She and her team spearheaded the process of standardizing hundreds of workflows, a process which reduced order sets from 560 to 311. This represents an unprecedented level of standardization compared to other Canadian builds.
“I think the biggest win for nurses is that there is a strong element of patient safety.”
Nurses have not only been an essential part of building the new system but also in teaching others how to use it. Dozens of nurse educators have spent months creating tools to help colleagues understand and use the new system.
Front-line nurses were engaged to become Credentialed Trainers, who were responsible for delivering training to over 4,000 nurses. Leading the training presented a great opportunity for nurses to develop new skills and to try a different aspect of nursing. When these Credentialed Trainers return to their unit, they bring with them an in-depth knowledge of the system and become imbedded resources who can provide further support to their peers.
In so many ways, nurses have worked hard to educate and prepare staff for Epic – all to support high-quality patient care.
“I think we have infinite possibilities for how we can enrich patient care once the system is live,“ said Wilson.
Yvonne Wilson is a registered nurse and the clinical lead for the implementation of the Epic digital health network.
A new era in patient safety
“I think the biggest win for nurses is that there is a strong element of patient safety,“ said Mitchell.
For example, beginning in June, nurses at the bedside will scan the medication and the patient’s ID bracelet before administering the medication to the patient. The Epic system helps ensure the right person is getting the right medication at the right time.
“Epic will help the hospital further reduce the risk of medication errors,” said Lisa Mishak, a nurse with 19 years of experience in the ICU. “In addition, some of our patients have thick medical binders given our long-standing care relationship with them. In Epic, we won’t be looking through hundreds of sheets of paper. We’ll actually be able to look up what we need to know on the patient quickly and easily, leaving more time for care.”
“We know that what we see ahead of us isn’t the finish line, but rather the start line of a new era in care, safety and quality improvement.”
The enhanced security features in Epic ensure that members of a patient’s care team have access to the right information while keeping patient health information secure.
“Epic will absolutely give all our other staff access to information in a timely, secure and need-to-know-only fashion,” added Wilson.
Patients as partners through MyChart
Starting June 1, patients can sign up for MyChart, a secure portal that keeps all your health records in one place. MyChart is connected to Epic, so once signed up, patients need only to tell their story once, including their current medications and allergies, and wherever they go in the network, their health-care team will be ready to help.
MyChart is a powerful tool to help patients feel empowered as an active and valued partner in their health-care journey.
“MyChart will give patients another way to play a central role in their care team by engaging them in their care and planning, and having easy access to their patient information,” said Wilson.
Patients can use MyChart to access their health records from their mobile device or desktop. Information and test results are updated in real time, so their health information is always at their fingertips.
Together we strive to Improve care in our community and abroad
While The Ottawa Hospital and its partners have been driving towards the launch of the new system, we know that what we see ahead of us isn’t the finish line, but rather the start line of a new era in care, safety, and quality improvement.
“We are leaving our mark on health care and potentially changing the lives of patients who live thousands of miles away.”
The hospital has a long-standing culture of quality improvement, and Epic will help deepen and enhance our commitment to it.
As an Epic hospital, The Ottawa Hospital will have access to the vast knowledge of hospitals throughout Canada and the United States that also use Epic. In addition, The Ottawa Hospital can contribute to that well of knowledge by sharing its expertise through Epic’s world-class best practice functionality.
In fact, some of the hospital’s world-renowned best practices are already available to members of the larger Epic community, which includes renowned health institutions like the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital.
“We are innovators,” said Wilson. “Our work and research to improve care will be available to hundreds of health-care organizations across North America. We are leaving our mark on health care and potentially changing the lives of patients who live thousands of miles away.”
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Is Morocco Safe to Visit Now? Here’s What Travelers Need to Know
Lilly LeClair April 25, 2019
From the snowcapped mountains and sweeping desert to the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines and French-Arabic culture (think exotic spices, exquisite architecture, and calls to prayer coming from mosques), Morocco serves up a sensory overload. There are many reasons to visit this North African country, but some travelers may have some trepidation about going now -- and understandably so. Morocco has had its fair share of gloomy news in the past year. In addition to continued terrorist threats, the country is also prone to a number of natural disasters, including droughts, earthquakes, extreme heat, floods, tsunamis, and wildfires. So, is Morocco -- a bucket-list destination for many -- safe to visit? To help you gain some perspective, we pulled together a few important facts about safety in Morocco. Read on.
Hotels in this story
Le Jardin des Douars
The Truth About Violence in Morocco
The fact of the matter is that many places around the world, including Morocco, have seen attacks against foreigners. In December 2018, two tourists were killed while camping near Mount Toubkal. Since then, Moroccan authorities have arrested several individuals in connection with the murders. Prior to this, in 2011, 17 people were killed and 25 injured in a large bomb explosion at the Argana Restaurant in Djemaa el-Fna Square in Marrakech. And in 2003, a bigger wave of bombings took place in Casablanca. As of April 2019, the U.S. Department of State listed Morocco as a Level 2 on its travel advisory scale (the same level given to countries such as France, Mexico, and Germany). It’s a fact that ISIS has a presence in Morocco, and the country is susceptible to terrorist attacks carried out by violent Islamist extremists. As the site states, “Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.’ Meanwhile, according to the British government, “Terrorist groups have kidnapped foreigners, government officials, and civilians in the region for financial gain and for political leverage. Further kidnaps are likely. Those engaged in tourism, humanitarian aid work, journalism or business sectors are viewed as legitimate targets.”
However, despite these warnings, Morocco is considered one of the most peaceful countries in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the 2018 Global Peace Index. It has also instilled protective measures all over the country, including adding armed security personnel, which is visible in hotels and popular tourist attractions.
For more peace of mind, the country also has tight gun ownership laws, which has resulted in a low gun mortality rate. According to GunPolicy.org, a 2012 survey showed that gun deaths per 100,000 people was .01 in Morocco, compared to 15.78 in Arizona. While petty crime does occur, most Moroccans are peaceful individuals. Following the recent murders of the Scandinavian tourists, locals gathered to mourn the deaths outside the Norwegian and Danish embassies in Morocco’s capital of Rabat. And according to BBC, hundreds of people held vigils. In an act of solidarity, Merethe Nergaard, Norway’s ambassador to Morocco, advised against “giving in to fear” and said that Norway and Morocco remain allies in the battle against extremists.
What's It Really Like on the Ground?
Morocco can be intimidating for first-time visitors, certainly sparking some culture shock. That’s why many travelers choose to join an organized tour group. If traveling on your own, it’s easy to feel confident while exploring Morocco, as long as you take the proper precautions. You’ll have to be on your guard at all times, and be prepared for pickpockets and people asking for money or offering to show you around (for money). Once you get in the habit of saying ‘no thank you’ in either French or Arabic, exploring Morocco becomes easier.
Before exploring a tourist area, like an old medina, mosque, museum, or shopping area, make sure to have a good game plan. Research your activity and talk to other travelers or hotel staff to decide the best course of action. It may be worth arranging a guide from your hotel, which is usually quite affordable. For example, you likely won’t want to wander in Fez’s old medina alone, as its numerous tiny streets are too small for cars. But you can arrange for a trusted private guide (through your hotel), who will help you navigate these labyrinthine layouts. Just make sure to stress beforehand that you aren’t interested in shopping, unless you want to be taken to vendors selling everything from ceramics to leather goods to rugs. It may seem obvious, but you should also always avoid walking around at night. Petty crime against visitors is rampant in Morocco’s city streets — and even more so after the sun sets. While on the subject, make sure to negotiate a rate for taxis up front (or have your doorman help you translate), so you don’t get ripped off at the end of the trip. Also, this is a Muslim-majority country, so make sure to dress conservatively, covering those upper arms and knees.
Is it Safe to Camp in Morocco?
Camping in the Sahara Desert or Atlas Mountains has always been a popular way to see Morocco, but after the recent event in 2018, many tourists will want to stay clear of wild camping. That being said, there are plenty of safe ways to experience the region’s beautiful, remote landscapes. Daytime excursions such as sandboarding, hiking, camel-trekking, and picnicking in the desert can all be arranged from most Moroccan cities. If you want to spend the night under the starry African sky, in a traditional Berber tent, it’s best to stick to organized camps or tours, settlements, or luxury glamping resorts. Also, don’t share travel plans with strangers or post anything on social media about your whereabouts. On that note, since the desert and mountains lack cell reception, charge your batteries before you depart, then enjoy the unplugged experience.
What About Natural Disasters in Morocco?
Like any place in the world, you’ll want to keep your wits about you, in case of a natural disaster. According to the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, Morocco is one of the most hazard-prone countries in the Arab region, due to its vulnerability to droughts, earthquakes, extreme heat, floods, tsunamis, and wildfires. In the coming years, you’ll see rising average temperatures and an increasing frequency of floods, both of which make the country more susceptible to natural hazards.
Morocco has also experienced thousands of seismic events in the last 20 years, caused by the clash between the African and Eurasian plates. In 2004, for instance, the last major earthquake claimed 600 victims and destroyed 12,000 homes in Al Hoceima region. The government of Morocco is implementing a number of steps, including climate change adaptation policies, to conserve natural resources and make agriculture more resilient. While in Morocco, it doesn’t hurt to follow weather reports and ask about emergency exits and procedures at your hotel.
So, Should You Visit Morocco?
The short answer is yes. Morocco is, for the most part, a safe travel destination when taking the right precautions. It’s true, visiting the country requires you to be vigilant and cautious, but you’ll find that most Moroccans are generally very warm and hospitable. For further motivation, know that your tourism dollars are helping sustain Morocco’s local economy, especially in rural areas where the poverty level is much higher than it looks. So, what are you waiting for? Book a picturesque riad and start planning your Morocco vacation.
Where to Go in Morocco Beyond Marrakech
The Most Picturesque Riads in Morocco
8 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid on Your First Morocco Vacation
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What Does United Nations Peacekeeping Cost America?
SourceAlbert Gonzalez Farran/Getty
Numbers and factoids — fodder for your next cocktail party.
Because peace isn’t cheap — but it does have its benefits.
OZY's electrifying TV show serves up provocative questions each week.OZY's electrifying TV show serves up provocative questions each week. We want to hear your thoughts: thirdrail@ozy.com
By Daniel Malloy
The Daily Dose SEPT 22 2017
President Donald Trump strode into the United Nations General Assembly in Midtown Manhattan this week with a skeptical view of the 193-member body, even though he likes the neighborhood: One of Trump’s own skyscrapers sits just across the street. He critiqued the organization’s bureaucracy and highlighted what he called the undue burden borne by U.S. taxpayers. The numbers are striking.
The U.S. government spent $2 billion on U.N. peacekeeping missions in 2016 — half a billion more than it spent on subsidies for Amtrak’s rail system.
The U.N.’s blue-helmeted soldiers are a neutral international force, typically requested by war-torn countries to maintain order and stability in fragile situations. According to State Department data, America’s biggest peacekeeping line item for fiscal 2016 was $456 million for the Congo, followed closely by $453 million for the Darfur region of Sudan. The U.S. is by far the biggest backer of the U.N., which it helped found in 1945.
The peacekeepers have plenty of critics. Genocides in Rwanda and Bosnia occurred on their watch.…
When Trump stormed into office on “America First” campaign promises, he sought to slash the U.N. budget. Train fans shouldn’t get excited; Trump wasn’t planning to funnel U.N. savings into national railways. In fact, America’s 45th president has proposed cutting the $1.5 billion Amtrak budget roughly in half by ending subsidies to money-losing long-distance routes. But his applied pressure on the U.N. worked, at least in part: New U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres agreed to chop the peacekeeping budget by $570 million, which would save America about $150 million a year. Though it was not as big as the Trump administration’s proposed cut, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley applauded the news.
"Just 5 months into our time here, we've cut over half a billion $$$ from the UN peacekeeping budget & we’re only getting started.” pic.twitter.com/LA7IKqupff
— Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) June 29, 2017
Stephen Schlesinger, of the Century Foundation think tank, calls the cuts “disgraceful.” The result, he says, is a “weakening of the U.N.’s ability to control the forces of mayhem in different countries — not only in Africa but around the world — in terms of stopping crises from spinning out of control.” Schlesinger says instead of placing the $2 billion next to any amounts of domestic spending, it’s better compared with the $600-billion-plus Pentagon budget. Backing other countries’ forces is far cheaper than deploying Americans to more global hot spots, and blue helmets are often better received.
That said, the peacekeepers have plenty of critics. Genocides in Rwanda and Bosnia occurred on their watch; they have been accused of sexual abuse in numerous countries, and missions in Lebanon and Cyprus, among others, have dragged on for decades without resolution. “The unprecedented scope of U.N. peacekeeping operations of the past decade has revealed serious flaws and weaknesses,” Brett D. Schaefer wrote last year in a report for the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank.
But there are ample success stories too. Jordie Hannum, of the Better World Campaign, says civilian deaths and the likelihood of conflict reoccurring drop dramatically when U.N. troops are deployed. And the economic returns for American taxpayers can be tasty. U.N. forces helped keep peace in the Ivory Coast after a nasty civil war, and it’s now Africa’s fastest-growing economy. Hannum says he recently did an event with Mars Inc., whose leaders pointed out that most of the world’s cocoa comes from Ivory Coast and its neighbors. “The point was: No peacekeepers, no chocolate,” Hannum says.
The funding debate remains wrapped up in complex questions about American power and international institutions. Though Trump’s U.N. speech will be most remembered for his fiery rhetoric on North Korea, he also specifically praised the blue helmets’ work in Africa. “The United States bears an unfair cost burden,” Trump said. “But, to be fair, if [the U.N.] could actually accomplish all of its stated goals, especially the goal of peace, this investment would easily be well worth it.” And don’t forget the chocolate.
Daniel Malloy, ReporterFollow Daniel Malloy on TwitterContact Daniel Malloy
Third Rail
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Book Review: Pinocchio: The Making of the Disney Epic
Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on June 23, 2015 - 11:50am
Pinocchio: The Making of the Disney Epic is an epic book on its own that looks at one of Disney's early classics, Pinocchio. This huge 352-page hardcover book is devoted to the complete production process and the stories surrounding how the film was made.
J. B. Kaufman has done a good job tracing the history of Pinnochio, going back to when the story was first written by Italian author Carlo Collodi. The book then goes into where Walt Disney got involved, the circumstances that lead to overtaking Bambi to become the second animated film released by Disney.
There's a huge section devoted to how the story was treated prior to its release in 1940. This includes many of the discarded ideas, sequences, and what went wrong with them. There's also a lot on every character that from the final film as well as those that were cut. That covers the screen writing process. Then there's another section that covers the final screenplay. It's very comprehensive and comes with quotes from the staff.
In addition to the story treatment, the book also features the art, although they take a backseat to the written text. There's still a lot on the artistic style and how they went about animating the film.
The book also has a chapter on the music. Pinocchio won an Academy Award for Best Original Score for the Oscars.
The huge amount of content included is quite amazing considering that books for modern animated films nowadays don't even go beyond half the number of pages that this book offers.
It's a great making-of book for anyone who wants to read up more on Pinocchio.
Pinocchio: The Making of the Disney Epic is available at Amazon (US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | JP | CN) and Book Depository
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Communities & New Homes
The Parkway
Riverlake
Proposed Plans
Central El Dorado Hills Specific Plan
Proposed Project & Amenities
Management Team & Contact
The Village of Marble Valley
The preparation of The Village of Marble Valley Specific Plan and its associated applications and environmental analysis is a complex process involving agency, stakeholder and public input over several months. The environmental review process, which includes the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), is necessary to identify any impacts associated with the proposed land uses and is essential to the decision-making process for the County of El Dorado. The County cannot make a decision based on the merits of the project until after the conclusion of the environmental analysis, and more importantly, after a series of public hearings to gather community input.
Please visit the El Dorado County Long Range Planning website for information about The Village of Marble Valley Specific Plan and application process.
The information that follows is a brief overview of the environmental review process as required by the California Environmental Quality Act. For complete information, please visit the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.
What is CEQA?
CEQA stands for the California Environmental Quality Act, a law enacted in 1970 for the protection of environmental resources. It requires California agencies to identify the significant environmental impacts of their actions and describes measures to avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible.
What is a Lead Agency?
A Lead Agency is the public agency that has the primary responsibility for approving a project that may have a significant impact upon the environment. The Lead Agency for The Village of Marble Valley Specific Plan is the County of El Dorado.
What is an EIR and why is it prepared?
An EIR (Environmental Impact Report) is a document required by CEQA when a Lead Agency determines that a proposed project may have a significant effect on the environment. The Lead Agency has determined that an EIR is needed for The Village of Marble Valley Specific Plan and the EIR will describe the proposed specific plan project, the existing environmental conditions, the impacts from construction and operation of the proposed project, mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate impacts, alternatives to the proposed project and cumulative impacts.
Information in the Draft EIR (DEIR) enables decision-makers, interested parties and the public to evaluate the proposed project and its environmental effects prior to decision-making, discusses ways to mitigate or avoid environmental impacts and discloses to the public any potentially unavoidable impacts.
How does the public participate in the EIR process?
A Notice of Preparation (NOP) is issued at the beginning of the environmental review process and its purpose is to inform agencies and interested parties of a Lead Agency’s decision to prepare an Environmental Impact Report. The NOP is circulated for a 30-day review period, followed by a public Scoping Meeting. The purpose of the NOP and Scoping Meeting is to solicit input from agencies and interested parties, and identify the scope of the potential environmental impacts. All comments received by the Lead Agency during the NOP/Scoping phase will be considered during the preparation of the DEIR.
Several months after the NOP and Scoping Meeting, the Lead Agency prepares and releases the DEIR in hard copy or electronic format for public review for 45 days (minimum). During this 45-day review period, the public, agencies and other stakeholders may voice their opinions by submitting written comments to the Lead Agency.
What happens to the public comments that are received?
Under CEQA, the Lead Agency must respond to each written comment received during the DEIR review period. Each individual comment is evaluated for relevance to the DEIR and a response is prepared. In some instances, a comment may result in revision to the DEIR. The collection of comments and responses together with the DEIR constitute the Final EIR (FEIR). The FEIR must then be certified by the Lead Agency as adequate and in compliance with CEQA before a project can be approved.
What happens at the conclusion of the Final EIR?
The Final EIR (FEIR) includes all written comments received during the DEIR review period, including the Response to Comments and any revisions made resulting from public input. The FEIR is presented to the Planning Commission, which then votes on a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to approve or deny the project.
Processing Schedule
Current Project Status
The County and their environmental consultant are preparing the Draft Environmental Impact Report to be released for public review and comment.
Prior Chronology
County approves contracts with consultants to prepare the Environment Impact Report (EIR)
Marble Valley Company, LLC/Parker Development Company files applications with the County
November 2012 to February 2013
Marble Valley Company, LLC/Parker Development Company hold public outreach meetings prior to beginning the EIR process
County issues Notice of Preparation (NOP)
Scoping Meeting 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Cameron Park Community Services District, Assembly Hall, 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park, CA 95682
Written comments on the NOP due to the County by 5 pm
Parker Development Company
4525 Serrano Parkway, Suite 100
El Dorado Hills, California 95762 916.939.4060 [email protected]
Website by Position Interactive
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The Revolutionary War
As years went by, many of the colonists became impatient with England's insistence that it alone had the right to govern the colonies. This impatience increased when, in the 1760s, the English introduced several unpopular taxes in the colonies. In 1763 King George III of England issued the Proclamation of 1763 forbidding American colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. England wanted Americans to stay in the East to provide a ready market for English goods. George III also forbade the colonists to issue their own currency, and he forced them to pay for England's debts.
As England tightened its control over the American colonies, the colonists started to resist. In December of 1773, a group of colonists led by Sam Adams disguised themselves as Native Americans. They dumped British-owned tea into Boston Harbor to protest British control of the American economy. This event became known as the Boston Tea Party. Resistance to George III grew, and in April 1775, British soldiers exchanged shots with American colonists.
The Continental Congress, made up of representatives from all the thirteen colonies, directed the war from Philadelphia. It appointed George Washington of Virginia as commander of the Continental Army. The war, which lasted eight years, was the longest war in U.S. history until the Vietnam War.
Washington described his army as "composed of men sometimes half-starved, always in rags, often without pay." And these soldiers had to face the best-trained army in the world. In addition, about a third of the colonists remained loyal to England. Many of them served in the English army.
At first the colonists were fighting merely to get the English to stop interfering in their affairs. Then, in 1776, Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense. In this pamphlet he called for independence from England and pointed out why independence had become necessary. Common Sense had such an influence that the Continental Congress appointed five members, including Thomas Jefferson, to prepare the Declaration of Independence. This was issued on July 4, 1776.
The English sent an experienced general, William Howe, to command their army. Throughout the war, Washington's main problem was how to avoid a severe defeat and capture by this greatly superior army. Howe won almost all the major battles, but Washington always managed to save his army by a skillful retreat.
The new nation won its first great victory in 1777 at the Battle of Saratoga, in New York. This battle was the turning point of the war. Because of it, France began sending aid to the Americans.
At this time, the fighting, which had taken place mostly in the northern colonies, moved to the south. The English sent General Cornwallis to crush the southern rebels. Late in the summer of 1781, Cornwallis set up his base at Yorktown, Virginia, along the coast. He thought an English fleet of ships would protect him there. But a French fleet surprised the English and drove off their ships. Washington then marched his army down from New York and pinned Cornwallis against the sea. The fighting ended. The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783, brought the war to a close.
The New Nation
In the Treaty of Paris signed in 1783, England recognized the independence of its former colonies. Americans were on their own to start a new nation. The treaty of 1783 set the boundaries of the United States from Canada on the north to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico on the south. It also gave the new nation western lands as far as the Mississippi River.
The Continental Congress in Philadelphia drew up the Articles of Confederation to set up and describe the new national government. The Congress still led the national government, but the Articles gave it so little power that it could not even tax the states without their permission. Most states collected their own taxes and kept the money. They quarreled among themselves about trade and other matters that Congress could do little about. With no money from the states, the Congress also was unable to pay the country's Revolutionary War debts. The new United States were not really united, and troubles were mounting.
Finally, in 1787, leaders from all the states met in Philadelphia. They planned to rewrite the Articles of Confederation. But this proved hopeless. Instead they created the United States Constitution. The Constitution set up a strong central government with certain powers over the states. In 1789, George Washington became the first president elected under the U.S. Constitution.
New states created from western lands began to join the Union soon after the Constitution took effect. At the same time, the population began to increase rapidly. Pioneers like Daniel Boone led settlers into the western territories.
In 1803 the United States doubled the size of its land area. President Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France. The Louisiana Territory took in more than 800,000 square miles west of the Mississippi River. By this time Americans were taking a different view of themselves. The United States was no longer a tiny country trying to get established. It had grown into a large country with plenty of land for its people.
Troubles with England, however, came up again. By 1812 England and France were back at war. England cut off U.S. ships taking supplies to France. It even stopped U.S. ships and captured sailors from them to serve on English ships. France showed equal disrespect for U.S. rights at sea, but Americans remembered that France had helped fight their War of Independence against England. So the United States sided with France and went to war against England to protect its own shipping rights.
The War of 1812 lasted only eighteen months. Neither the United States nor England won much in the treaty that ended the war. But the United States established its rights at sea and gained the respect of foreign nations. And the war had one other important effect. While fighting England, Americans could not import English manufactured goods as they had done in the past. So the United States built many factories during the war. By the end of the war, the United States was ready to advance into the industrial age along with Europe.
Timeline of the American Revolution: https://www.bl.uk/the-american-revolution/articles/american-revolution-timeline
Important Figures in the American Revolution: http://mrnussbaum.com/ampeople/
Interactive Map of the American Revolution: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1w9kXtzUPHz95iimZZeY_rNN-yN8&hl=en_US&ll=44.315559154878905%2C-70.12573249999994&z=4
Basic lesson Plan on the American Revolution: http://www.socialstudies.com/pdf/SPL115A.pdf
Causes of the American Revolution Quiz: https://www.bcsdschools.net/cms/lib010/SC01916775/Centricity/Domain/1949/3.3.1%20Causes%20Quiz%20-1-.pdf
American Revolution Test Questions: https://www.svsd410.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=5530&dataid=4872&FileName=AMERICAN%20REV%20PACK%20Chpt%204.pdf
Crash Course in the American Revolution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlUiSBXQHCw
Part 2! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EiSymRrKI4
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Battlefield 4 is free for a week on Origin
By Andy Chalk 2014-08-07T22:37:40.218Z
I somehow managed to miss the announcement of Game Time on Origin, and so when the Battlefield 4 freebie was revealed today I thought it was part of some exciting, new way to deal up free stuff. It's not, obviously, but that's not important: What's important is that you can now blow an entire week on Battlefield 4 at absolutely no cost.
Game Time is kind of like On the House , except that instead of a straight-up giveaway, the games in question come with an expiry date—and instead of playing Peggle or Wing Commander 3 , you're playing Titanfall or Battlefield 4. It offers "full access to the entire gameplay experience," and progress is saved so if you decide to spring for a game after the free trial expires, you can pick up where you left off.
Battlefield 4 will be available through Game Time until August 14 , but the one-week of free play won't actually begin until the first time you launch the game. Get it here .
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Telex from Cuba
FROM THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE SHORTLISTED AUTHOR OF THE MARS ROOM
FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD IN FICTION
Fidel and Raúl Castro are in the hills, descending only to burn sugarcane plantations and recruit rebels.
Rachel K is in Havana's Cabaret Tokio, entangled with a French agitator trying to escape his shameful past.
Everly and K.C. are growing up in the dying days of a crumbling US colony, about to discover the cruelty and violence that have created their childhood idyll.
"Rachel Kushner’s debut novel is an absolute blinder... Like the sea which surrounds Cuba, Telex From Cuba is ever-shifting, and it is luminous"
"If you relish glittering language that pursues emotional and political truth, you'll be enthralled by Telex from Cuba... the atmosphere seethes and crackles... [a] lush, intoxicating book"
"Telex from Cuba is epic and enjoyable: the style is lush and precise; the parties and cookouts, the drinks and affairs are beautiful and poignant, full of the pleasures of wealth overshadowed by loss."
Anne Enright, Guardian
"Fascinating and vividly detailed... You can almost feel the heat radiating from the page: the air is mosquito-thick and tainted with a nickel oxide haze, the tropical landscape a character in its own right"
"A piece of fiction quite breathtaking in its assurance […] a beautifully weighted treatise on colonial attitudes, capitalism, racism and the interactions and divisions between cultures and classes"
Billy O'Callaghan, Irish Examiner
"A lush, meticulous, cinematic debut novel"
"Kushner evokes a dreamlike paradise... A poignant tale"
Antonia Charlesworth, Big Issue
"[Kushner's] cleverly counterposed registers and nuanced explanation of the way we make and remake ourselves elevates her book beyond the standard historical romp"
David Annand, Sunday Telegraph
"Detail-packed prose"
Glasgow Herald
"Deeply evocative... A fascinating and vividly detailed portrait of the country"
Natasha Tripney, Observer
The Mars Room
The Lover, Wartime Notebooks, Practicalities
The Flamethrowers
Rachel Kushner’s debut novel, Telex from Cuba, was a finalist for the 2008 National Book Award and a New York Times bestseller. Her follow-up novel, The Flamethrowers, was also a finalist for the National Book Award and received rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. Her fiction has appeared in the New Yorker, Harper’s and the Paris Review. She lives in Los Angeles.
A Reykjavik bookseller on why Iceland is the number one Christmas destination for book lovers
Daisy Johnson, Rachel Kushner and Richard Powers shortlisted for Man Booker Prize 2018
All you need to know about the 3 Vintage titles on the shortlist
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Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good
By Cory Booker
Read by Cory Booker
Category: Biography & Memoir | Domestic Politics
Category: Biography & Memoir | Domestic Politics | Audiobooks
About United
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • United States Senator and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker makes the case that the virtues of empathy, responsibility, and action must guide our nation toward a brighter future.
Raised in northern New Jersey, Cory Booker went to Stanford University on a football scholarship, accepted a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, then studied at Yale Law School. Graduating from Yale, his options were limitless.
He chose public service.
He chose to move to a rough neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey, where he worked as a tenants’ rights lawyer before winning a seat on the City Council. In 2006, he was elected mayor, and for more than seven years he was the public face of an American city that had gone decades with too little positive national attention and investment. In 2013, Booker became the first African American elected to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate.
In United, Cory Booker draws on personal experience to issue a stirring call to reorient our nation and our politics around the principles of compassion and solidarity. He speaks of rising above despair to engage with hope, pursuing our shared mission, and embracing our common destiny.
Here is his account of his own political education, the moments—some entertaining, some heartbreaking, all of them enlightening—that have shaped his civic vision. Here are the lessons Booker learned from the remarkable people who inspired him to serve, men and women whose example fueled his desire to create opportunities for others. Here also are his observations on the issues he cares about most deeply, from race and crime and the crisis of mass incarceration to economic and environmental justice.
“Hope is the active conviction that despair will never have the last word,” Booker writes in this galvanizing book. In a world where we too easily lose touch with our neighbors, he argues, we must remember that we all rise or fall together—and that we must move beyond mere tolerance for one another toward a deeper connection: love.
Praise for United
“An exceedingly good book, and an important book, and a reminder of what makes Booker an important and, through it all, a promising public figure.”—PolitickerNJ
“What sets Senator Booker’s work apart from that of similar political books is that it seeks to elevate discourse rather than bring down opponents of the opposite partisan persuasion. This is a refreshing take, one that is truly worthy of study and contemplation.”—The Huffington Post
About Cory Booker
Cory Booker is the junior United States senator from New Jersey. He was born in Washington, D.C., and his parents, who both worked for IBM, later relocated the family to Harrington Park, New Jersey. A star high school athlete, Booker… More about Cory Booker
Published by Ballantine Books
Published by Random House Audio
People Who Read United Also Read
“An exceedingly good book, and an important book, and a reminder of what makes [Cory] Booker an important and, through it all, a promising public figure.”—PolitickerNJ
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Chicago teachers, students win first-of-a-kind charter school strike
December 10, 2018 By Special to People’s World
"We are now a movement that commands national attention and can stop a city."
High school students walk out nationwide to go vote
November 7, 2018 By Mark Gruenberg
Students from at least 500 high schools nationwide left class on Election Day.
This week in history: The Tlatelolco Massacre
October 1, 2018 By Special to People’s World
Fifty years ago, on October 2, 1968, a horrific massacre of students and protesters took place at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas (Three Cultures Square) in the Tlatelolco housing complex in Mexico City. To this...
Top student loan official resigns, says Trump admin. serves financial companies
August 27, 2018 By Ken Sweet
“You have used the bureau to serve the wishes of the most powerful financial companies in America,” Frotman wrote in his resignation letter.
On the mainland teachers marched; in Puerto Rico, the students
May 30, 2018 By Mark Gruenberg
On the U.S. mainland, teachers have been marching, organizing at the grassroots, for more money for schools. On Puerto Rico, it was the students – 94 percent of them.
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Culture | By Rachel Perez for SmartParenting.com.ph - Oct 26, 2017
An Aneurysm Can Occur Even If You are Young, Fit and Healthy
Isabel Granada is reportedly in critical condition after suffering an aneurysm.
Local entertainment website, Pep.ph, reported on October 25 that singer-actress Isabel Granada is in a coma. Based on the post of her friend, actress Bianca Lapus, Isabel had been rushed to a hospital in Doha, Qatar, after she suddenly collapsed last October 24.
"I would like to ask for healing prayers for my dear friend, sis Isabel Granada. She was rushed at the Heart Hospital Hamad Medical Corp. Now at HGH (Hamad General Hospital) in Qatar," she wrote. The initial report Bianca received from a Filipino nurse in Doha was that the 41-year-old singer-actress suffered from massive internal bleeding and aneurysm.
Bianca added that the 41-year-old mom will undergo an operation any time now. "But according to the respiratory therapist, she had six times cardiac arrest. Please let's pray for Isa," she pleaded.
Chuckie Dreyfus, who was Isabel's former loveteam partner, also asked for prayers. "I would just like to ask everyone for prayers for Isa's quick recovery and restoration. Just a quick prayer. Anywhere you may be. Spare a minute of your time or perhaps just a couple of seconds," he wrote on Facebook.
"Isa, please be strong. You've always been a fighter. You're one of the strongest women I know, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Sending you a deluge of prayers and ALL my love," he added.
Watch: Maggie Wilson-consunji Teaches Us How To Create A Festive Holiday Look
An aneurysm happens when an artery's wall weakens and causes it to expand into an abnormally large bulge, which can rupture and cause internal bleeding, according to HealthLine. It can occur in any part of the body, not just in the brain as most commonly known. It can happen in the leg behind the knee, in the intestines, and the spleen.
Aneurysm can also occur in the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body, according to WebMD.
There is still no confirmation where Isabel's aneurysm occurred or whether it was aortic or cerebral.
What causes it? According to the American Heart Association in the U.S., aneurysms can develop over time with no noticeable symptoms. The exact cause of an aneurysm is unclear, but there are factors that contribute to one developing the condition.
A family history of an aneurysm increases the chances of a person developing one.
A person could also be born with it or born with weaknesses in the blood vessels.
A severe injury to the head may cause an aneurysm
Heart conditions, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking also increases the chances of a person to develop an aneurysm.
According to the National Health Service in the U.K., women are more likely to suffer from brain aneurysms, while men are more likely to suffer aortic aneurysms. The risk for abdominal aortic aneurysms increases as you get older. These aneurysms are more likely to occur in people who are aged 65 or older.
How is it treated? If an aneurysm develops quickly or ruptures, the person may exhibit symptoms such as pain, clammy skin, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, rapid heart rate, shock, and low blood pressure. Seeking medical attention at once is crucial.
Routine exams can help doctors check for warning signs. If a person is diagnosed with an unruptured aneurysm, the artery should be monitored closely. In some cases, surgery is required to reinforce the artery wall.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PITCH PERFECT 2
Isabel's condition comes as a surprise to everyone. She has been an advocate of healthy living and endorses health supplements. She also exercises regularly and grabs every opportunity to participate in sports events, tournaments, and activities.
"Magkaroon ng time sa exercise, whether it be planking to Crossfit, to sports, to boxing, to Zumba, go for it... and have a healthy lifestyle. I eat constant but little amount lang para bumilis metabolism naten and 'di ka tataba," she shared in an Instagram post. She also shared she was not fond of eating rice.
Did Beyoncé Shoot An Ad For Givenchy?
The singer-actress is also a pilot and a mom to her only son, Hubert Thomas Jericho, now 14, with ex-husband Jericho Genasky Aguas, a former councilor in Pampanga and now a businessman.
In 2015, Isabel married Arnel Principe-Cowley and became a mom to two step-children. They celebrated their anniversary recently before flying to Doha, Qatar last October 18. Isabel was invited to speak at the Philippine Trade Tourism Conference last October 20. (Isabel is the marketing director while hubby Arnel is the business development manager of StarNet, a networking business that have taken them to all over the country and abroad.)
The That's Entertainment alum was last seen on GMA News TV's Pop Talk last October 14. She also recently starred in GMA's Tadhanda last September. In July, she starred in an episode of ABS-CBN's Maalaala Mo Kaya and the teleserye A Love To Last with Ian Veneracion and Bea Alonzo.
Ariana Grande Is the New MAC Viva Glam Spokesperson
WATCH: Liz Uy, Erwan Heussaff, and More Local Celebs Read Mean Comments
Where to Get a Copy of Preview November 2015 with #AlDub on the Cover
The Different Stages of Getting a Short Haircut, As Told by Divine Lee
This story originally appeared on Smartparenting.com.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
health, isabel granada, Local Celebrity, aneurysm,
This Preview Cover Girl Is The Latest Weinstein Victim To Come Forward
What Really Happened During Anne Curtis’ Bachelorette Party In La
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Lassen County Public Notices Public Notices
Lassen County Public Notices for the week of 3/19/19
March 19, 2019 Staff
Herlong Property Sale
Herlong Access Road
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE TS No.: FHAC.277-142 APN: 139-090-50-11 Title Order No.: 180475354-CA-VOI NOTE: THERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT ATTACHED. YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 9/10/2007. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state will be held by the duly appointed trustee as shown below, of all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described below. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale. Trustor: RONALD D. OSBORN A MARRIED MAN AS HIS SOLE and SEPARATE PROPERTY Duly Appointed Trustee: PROBER AND RAPHAEL, ALC Recorded 9/18/2007 as Instrument No. 2007-07071 in book N/A, page N/A of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Lassen County, California, Date of Sale: 4/3/2019 at 2:00 PM Place of Sale: At the main entrance of the Lassen County Courthouse, 200 Block of South Lassen Street, Susanville, CA 96130 Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $152,695.64 Street Address or other common designation of real property: 740-350 HERLONG ACCESS ROAD, HERLONG, California 96113 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown above. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (714) 730-2727 or visit this Internet Web site www.lpsasap.com, using the file number assigned to this case FHAC.277-142. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. Date: 2/26/2019 PROBER AND RAPHAEL, ALC 20750 Ventura Blvd. #100 Woodland Hills, California 91364 Sale Line: (714) 730-2727 Candy Herzog, Trustee Sale Officer A-4686541 03/05/2019, 03/12/2019, 03/19/2019
March 5, 12, 19, 2019|
Janesville Area Property Sale
Elysian Valley Road
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE Trustee Sale No. 143083 Title No. 95520938 NOTE: THERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT ATTACHED. YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 09/26/2008. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. On 03/25/2019 at 2:00 PM, The Mortgage Law Firm, PLC, as duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust recorded 10/01/2008, as Instrument No. 2008-06052, in book xx, page xx, of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of Lassen County, State of California, executed by Matti T. Ripatti and Paula R. Ripatti, Husband and Wife, As Joint Tenants, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK/CASH EQUIVALENT or other form of payment authorized by 2924h(b), (payable at time of sale in lawful money of the United States), At the main entrance of the Lassen County Courthouse, 200 Block of South Lassen Street, Susanville, CA 96130. All right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State, described as: FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE ABOVE DEED OF TRUST. APN 129-650-13 The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 465-525 Elysian Valley Rd, Janesville Area, CA 96114 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, if any, under the terms of said Deed of Trust, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $331,152.35 If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned caused a Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located. Dated: 2/26/2019 THE MORTGAGE LAW FIRM, PLC Adriana Durham/Authorized Signature 27455 TIERRA ALTA WAY, STE. B , TEMECULA, CA 92590 (619) 465-8200 FOR TRUSTEE’S SALE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 714-730-2727 The Mortgage Law Firm, PLC. may be attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained may be used for that purpose. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (714) 730-2727 for information regarding the trustee’s sale or visit this Internet Web site – www.servicelinkASAP.com – for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case: 143083. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. A-FN4686195 03/05/2019, 03/12/2019, 03/19/2019
Little Valley Property Sale
Downing Road
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE Foreclosure No. 5820054 APN# 037-073-03-11 On March 26, 2019 at 2:00 p.m., Mid Valley Title and Escrow Company, Trustee, or Successor Trustee or Substituted Trustee of that certain Deed of Trust executed by Tremeka Muamiska Yeboah, and recorded April 30, 2018 as Instrument No. 2018-01572, of Official Records of Lassen County, California, and pursuant to that certain Notice of Default thereunder recorded November 9, 2018 as Instrument No. 2018-04578, of Official Records of said County, will under and pursuant to said Deed of Trust sell at public auction for cash, lawful money of the United States of America, a cashier’s check payable to said Trustee drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state, at the main entrance of the Lassen County Courthouse at the 200 block of South Lassen Street, Susanville, CA 96130, all that right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State described as: shown on said deed of trust (X)The street address or other common designation of said property: 528-625 Downing St., Little Valley, CA 96056 (X)Name and address of the beneficiary at whose request the sale is being conducted: Jacob Solomon, 685 48th Avenue, #6, San Francisco, CA 94121 Directions to the above property may be obtained by requesting same in writing from the beneficiary within 10 days from the first publication of this notice. Said sale will be made without covenant or warranty, express or implied, as to title, possession or encumbrances to satisfy the unpaid balance due on the note or notes secured by said Deed of Trust, plus estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of this Notice of Sale: $167,949.18 NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED APRIL 20, 2018 UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call the automated sales line at 916.939.0772 or check the website at www.nationwideposting.com for information regarding the trustee’s sale, using the file number 5820054 assigned to this case. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. The undersigned mortgagee, beneficiary or authorized agent for the mortgagee or beneficiary declares that the mortgagee or beneficiary has satisfied the requirements of California Civil Code 2923.5. DATED: 02/25/2019 MID VALLEY TITLE AND ESCROW COMPANY Address: 601 Main Street Chico, California 95928 Phone: (530) 893-5644 BY: GREG WOOD, FORECLOSURE OFFICER NPP0349514 To: LASSEN COUNTY TIMES 03/05/2019, 03/12/2019, 03/19/2019
TS # 18-2581 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED: 2/13/09. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state, will be held by the duly appointed trustee, as shown below, all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described below. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to satisfy the obligation secured by said Deed of Trust. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the property address or other common designation, if any, shown herein. TRUSTOR: Esther Retallack, an unmarried woman as her sole and separate property DULY APPOINTED TRUSTEE: Foreclosure Specialists, a General Partnership RECORDED: 2/17/09 AS INSTRUMENT NO. 2009-00754 of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Lassen County, California. DATE OF SALE: Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at 2:00 PM PLACE OF SALE: At the main entrance of the Lassen County Courthouse at the 200 block of South Lassen Street, Susanville, CA 96130 THE COMMON DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY IS PURPORTED TO BE: Vacant Land-Directions to the property may be obtained pursuant to a written request submitted to the Beneficiary, Elizabeth Loll, within 10 days from the first publication of this notice at P.O. Box 994465, Redding, CA 96099-4465 LEGAL DESCRIPTION: In Township 34 North, Range 11 East, Mount Diablo Meridian, according to the official plat thereof, Section 21: The NE1/4 of the NE 1/4 and the South 1/2 of the NE 1/4. Section 22: The NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4. Excepting therefrom all the coal and other minerals contained in said land together with the right to prospect for, mine and remove the same pursuant to the provisions and limitations of the Act of December 29, 1916 (39 STAT. 862.) AS RESERVED in the Patent from the United States of America to Nellie Thomasson, recorded July 1, 1937 in Book 35 of Deeds, at Page 273. APN: 053-070-14 & 053-080-12 Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $95,834.70 Beneficiary may elect to open bidding at a lesser amount. The total amount secured by said instrument as of the time of initial publication of this notice is stated above, which includes the total amount of the unpaid balance (including accrued and unpaid interest) and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of initial publication of this notice. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to fee and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call the trustee’s information line at 530-246-2727; Toll Free: 844-333-6766, or visit this Internet Web site: calforeclosures.biz, using the file number assigned to this case: TS # 18-2581.Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NPP website and sales line number: www.nationwideposting.com Trustee Sales Automated Number: 916-939-0772 DATE: 2/25/19 FORECLOSURE SPECIALISTS P.O. Box 994465 REDDING, CA 96099-4465 530-246-2727; Toll Free: 844-333-6766 Janelle St. Pierre / Manager Foreclosure Specialists is assisting the Beneficiary in collecting a debt. Any and all information obtained may be used for that purpose. NPP0349695 To: LASSEN COUNTY TIMES 03/05/2019, 03/12/2019, 03/19/2019
Proposed name change
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA,
COUNTY OF LASSEN
2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130
Petition of RAYMOND RENE PACHECO LOPEZ for change of name
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR
Case Number: 62231
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:
Petitioner Raymond Rene Pacheco Lopez filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
Present name: RAYMOND RENE PACHECO LOPEZ to Proposed name: RAYMOND RENE LOPEZ.
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
Time: 9:00 a.m., Dept. 2C.
The address of the court is same as noted above.
A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county (specify newspaper):Lassen County Times.
Date: Feb. 26, 2019.
/s/ Tony Mallery, Judge of the Superior Court.
Filed: Feb. 26, 2019
Clerk of the Superior Court,
By L. Niemeyer, Deputy Clerk
March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2019|
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
NO. 2019F010 (Expires: 2/22/2024)
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALL WAYS CARING HOMECARE. Business Address: 805 N WHITTINGTON PARKWAY, SUITE 400, LOUISVILLE, KY 40222, County of Lassen.SOUTHERN HOME CARE SERVICES, INC., 805 N WHITTINGTON PARKWAY, SUITE 400, LOUISVILLE, KY 40222.This business is conducted by: A Corporation. Registrant(s) has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name listed herein.
Signed: /s/ Jennifer Kurz, Secretary.
This statement was filed in the office of the County Clerk of Lassen County on the date indicated below: Filed: Feb. 22, 2019.
Julie M. Bustamante, County Clerk
Published: LCT
March 12, 19, 26, April, 2, 2019|
NO. 2019F012 (Expires: 3/1/2024)
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DESERT BOUND GUN DOGS. Business Address: 709-920 PINE JANESVILLE, CA 96114, County of Lassen. MICHAEL AARON SMITH, 709-920 PINE JANESVILLE, CA 96114; AITA DELAVERNGE SMITH, 709-920 PINE JANESVILLE, CA 96114. This business is conducted by: Husband & Wife.
Signed: /s/ Michael A. Smith.
This statement was filed in the office of the County Clerk of Lassen County on the date indicated below: Filed: March 1, 2019.
NO. 2019F013
(Expires: 3/4/2024)
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NORCAL REPAIR SERVICES. Business Address: 1290 N. BUNYAN RD., SUSANVILLE, CA 96130, County of Lassen. CHRISTOPHER EDWARD TRAETZ, 1290 N. BUNYAN RD., SUSANVILLE, CA 96130. This business is conducted by: An Individual.
Registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name listed herein on: March 4, 2019.
Signed: /s/ Chris Traetz. This statement was filed in the office of the County Clerk of Lassen County on the date indicated below: Filed: March 4, 2019.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PYRENEES INVESTIGATIONS. Business Address: 701-350 RICHMOND ROAD E., SUSANVILLE, CA 96130, County of Lassen. MICHAEL BENGOA BOLLINGER, 701-350 RICHMOND ROAD E., SUSANVILLE, CA 96130. This business is conducted by: An Individual. Registrant(s) has not yet commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name listed herein on. Signed: /s/ Michael Bollinger. This statement was filed in the office of the County Clerk of Lassen County on the date indicated below: Filed: 4/20/2018. Julie M. Bustamante, County Clerk
COUNTY OF LASSEN’S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM (EHR)
The Health and Social Services Administration Department announces its intent to contract for the provision of Behavioral Health Electronic Health Record System (EHR).
The purpose of the Request for Proposal is to solicit proposals from qualified individuals or organizations specializing in state of the art electronic information services that support clinical documentation, patient scheduling, revenue cycle management, and person-centered recovery and care coordination.
Proposal forms are available at the Department of Health and Social Services, 336 Alexander Avenue, Susanville, CA 96130 or phone Program Manager, Cynthia Raschein at (530) 251-8260, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, to request forms by mail.
Sealed proposals must be submitted to the Lassen County Health and Social Services Administrative Office, Lassen County RFP No. HSS-2019-02 – Electronic Health Record System, attention Cynthia Raschein, 336 Alexander Avenue, Susanville, CA 96130, by mail or in person until 4:30 p.m. Friday April 26, 2019. bidder’s conference will be held March 22 at 11:00 am, and March 29 at 1:00 p.m. Lassen County reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to waive informalities and minor irregularities in bids.
For the County of Lassen,
Tiffany Armstrong
Behavioral Health Director
March 12, 19, 2019|
Estate of Schultz
NOTICE OF PETITION
TO ADMINISTER ESTATE of
MURRAY LEWIS SCHULTZ, decedent
Case Number P8347
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: MURRAY LEWIS SCHULTZ, aka MURRAY L. SCHULTZ and MURRAY SCHULTZ.
A Petition For Probate has been filed by: JEFFREY LEWIS SCHULTZ in the Superior Court of California, County of LASSEN.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that: JEFFREY LEWIS SCHULTZ be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests the decedent’s wills and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: April 9, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., at the Superior Court of California, County of Lassen, Dept. 2C, Courthouse, 2610 Riverside Dr., Susanville, CA 96130.
Attorney for Petitioner: STACEY L. MONTGOMERY, 805 MAIN STREET, SUITE I, SUSANVILLE, CA 96130, (530) 257-8088, SBN: 166870
Endorsed: March 14, 2019
March 19, 26, April 2, 2019
Provisional Appointment
Due to the term expiration of one member of the Board of Trustees of the Johnstonville Elementary School District, the Board voted at its September 13, 2018 meeting to call for a provisional appointment to fill the vacated seat. Community members wishing to be considered for a provisional appointment must:
1. Be a resident of the school district listed above.
• Complete a questionnaire, which may be obtained by contacting Rhonda Lavacot, Johnstonville Elementary School District, Susanville, California, 96130, (530) 257-2471 or visit our website www.johnstonville.org to access the information. Completed questionnaires must be submitted to the Johnstonville Elementary School Office.
Applications from candidates meeting the above qualifications will be reviewed by the Johnstonville Elementary School District Board of Trustees, and the Board may fill the vacancy at the next scheduled meeting of the Board. Unless a petition calling for a special election, containing a sufficient number of signatures, is filed in the Lassen County Office of Education within 30 days following a provisional appointment, the appointment shall become effective. The appointee shall hold office until the next regularly-scheduled board member election, which will be in November 2020.
March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 2019|
Petition of JEREMIAH SEVERS for change of name
Petitioner Jeremiah Severs filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
Present name: AXEL RAYMOND OLIVEIRA to Proposed name: AXEL RAYMOND SEVERS.
A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county (specify newspaper):LCT.
Date: Dec. 14, 2018.
Filed: Dec. 14, 2018
By Niemeyer, Deputy Clerk
Feb. 26, March 5, 12, 19, 2019|
NO. 2019R002
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Lassen Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
Business Address: 2005 River Street, Susanville, CA 96130
CF Susanville, LLC, 6300 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA 90048
This business is conducted by: Limited Liability Company
The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above name(s) on 02/13/14
Signed: /s/Jacob Wintner, Manager
CF Susanville, LLC
This statement was filed in the office of the County Clerk of Lassen County on the date indicated below:
Filed: February 11, 2019
Julie Bustamante, County Clerk
2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19/19
LASSEN COUNTY TIMES
(Expires: 2/13/2024)
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JEFFERSON COFFEE CO.
Business Address: 462-315 JACKPOT LN., JANESVILLE, CA 96114, County of Lassen.
JOSEPH S. STURGEION, 462-315 JACKPOT LN., JANESVILLE, CA 96114; JEREMIAH J. STURGEON, 840 WASHO LN., SUSANVILLE, CA 96130.
This business is conducted by: A General Partnership.
Registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name listed herein on: 1/1/2019.
Signed: /s/ Joseph S. Sturgeon; Jeremiah Sturgeon.
Filed: Feb. 13, 2019.
Lassen Municipal Utility District is accepting bids for the following project:
Professional Auditing Services
The Full RFP is available on our website at www.lmud.org
(Under “Quick Links”, then “Hearings & Bid Proposals”)
Sealed Bids must be received prior to 2:00 pm on Thursday, April 4, 2019.
Open bids will not be considered, and any bids received after this date/time will be returned unopened.
Please write “Sealed Bid Proposal for Professional Audit Services” on the envelope and return to:
Karen Rollings
Lassen Municipal Utility District
65 S. Roop Street
Susanville, CA 96130
LMUD Contact Person: Catherine Schroeder (530) 257-6806
CATTLE GRAZING – SUSANVILLE RANCH PARK
The County of Lassen intends to enter a Spring cattle grazing lease at Susanville Ranch Park for the following time period; June 3, 2019 thru June 30, 2019. The grazing areas are located in the vicinity of Paiute Creek, immediately northwest of the City of Susanville. The Susanville Ranch Park is open to the public as a multiuse non-motorized recreation area.
Feed supply is estimated to sustain approximately 60 cows for a period of four weeks. Bids will be accepted for a minimum of 50 cows and a maximum of 90 cows, with the stipulation that the duration of occupancy will be adjusted to accommodate the proposed number of cows relative to the amount of feed available. The County of Lassen will retain the authority to determine the location and period of livestock use to meet the objectives of the Grazing/Range Plan for the Park.
Please contact Lassen County Public Works for complete bid information and bid form.
Bid Deadline
All bids must be received by the County of Lassen on or before March 22, 2019 by 3:00 pm by mail or in person.
Questions can be directed to the Lassen County Public Works Department at (530) 251-8428.
2610 Riverside Dr., Susanville, CA 96130
Petition of TIMOTHY L. MCKAY-DRAUGHON for change of name
Petitioner Timothy L. McKay-Draughon filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
Present name: TIMOTHY LLOYD MCKAY-DRAUGHON to Proposed name: TIMOTHY ROBERT DRAUGHON.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RANDALL’S SHEDS.
Business Address: 810 MAIN STREET, SUSANVILLE, CA 96130, County of Lassen.
RANDALL STEIN, 16692 IOLA WAY, GRASS VALLEY, CA 95949.
This business is conducted by: An Individual.
Registrant(s) has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name listed herein.
Signed: /s/ Randall I. Stein.
Susanville Property Sale
Lake Forest Drive
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE T.S. No. 16-00680-CI-CA Title No. 160197147-CA-VOI A.P.N. 099-190-28-11 ATTENTION RECORDER: THE FOLLOWING REFERENCE TO AN ATTACHED SUMMARY IS APPLICABLE TO THE NOTICE PROVIDED TO THE TRUSTOR ONLY PURSUANT TO CIVIL CODE 2923.3 NOTE: THERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT ATTACHED. YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 09/13/2010. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, (cashier’s check(s) must be made payable to National Default Servicing Corporation), drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state; will be held by the duly appointed trustee as shown below, of all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described below. The sale will be made in an “as is” condition, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale. Trustor: Richard J. Russell, a married man as his sole and separate property Duly Appointed Trustee: National Default Servicing Corporation Recorded 09/27/2010 as Instrument No. 2010-04989 (or Book, Page) of the Official Records of Lassen County, California. Date of Sale: 04/24/2019 at 2:00 PM Place of Sale: Main Entrance of Lassen County Courthouse, 200 Block of South Lassen St., Susanville, CA 96130 Estimated amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $205,300.44 Street Address or other common designation of real property: 478- 610 Lake Forest Drive, Susanville, CA 96130 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown above. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The requirements of California Civil Code Section 2923.5(b)/2923.55(c) were fulfilled when the Notice of Default was recorded. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 800-280-2832 or visit this Internet Web site www.ndscorp.com/sales, using the file number assigned to this case 16-00680-CI-CA. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. Date: 03/11/2019 National Default Servicing Corporation c/o Tiffany and Bosco, P.A., its agent, 1230 Columbia Street, Suite 680 San Diego, CA 92101 Toll Free Phone: 888-264-4010 Sales Line 800-280-2832; Sales Website: www.ndscorp.com Rachael Hamilton, Trustee Sales Representative A-4687681 03/19/2019, 03/26/2019, 04/02/2019
Janesville Property Sale
Tietz Road
Trustee Sale No. 18-006107 TSG# DS7300-18003086 APN# 129-060-14-11 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 11/27/15. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. On 04/10/19 at 2:00 pm, Aztec Foreclosure Corporation as the duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to the power of sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Malay Erwin and Rex Erwin, wife and husband as joint tenants, as Trustor(s), in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Freedom Mortgage Corporation, as Beneficiary, Recorded on 12/31/15 in Instrument No. 2015-05721 rerecorded on January 12, 2016, as Instrument 2016-00101 of official records in the Office of the county recorder of LASSEN County, California, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH (payable at time of sale in lawful money of the United States, by cash, a cashier’s check drawn by a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association, or savings bank specified in section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state), At the main entrance of the Lassen County Courthouse, 200 Block of South Lassen Street, Susanville, CA 96130, all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County, California described as: 708 -360 TIETZ RD, JANESVILLE, CA 96114. The property heretofore described is being sold “as is”. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, if any, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, estimated fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust, to-wit: $154,424.82 (Estimated). Accrued interest and additional advances, if any, will increase this figure prior to sale. The undersigned caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located and more than three months have elapsed since such recordation. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call or visit the Internet Web site, using the file number assigned to this case 18-006107. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. www.Servicelinkauction.com 866-539-4173 or Aztec Foreclosure Corporation (877) 257-0717 www.aztectrustee.com DATE: March 12, 2019 AZTEC FORECLOSURE CORPORATION Elaine Malone Assistant Secretary / Assistant Vice President Aztec Foreclosure Corporation, 3636 N. Central Ave., Suite #400, Phoenix, AZ 85012 Phone: (877) 257-0717 or (602) 638-5700; fax: (602) 638-5748 www.aztectrustee.com NPP0350475 To: LASSEN COUNTY TIMES 03/19/2019, 03/26/2019, 04/02/2019
March 19, 26, April 2, 2019|
RFP – Computer Aided Dispatch/Report Management System CAD/RMS
Lassen County Sheriff’s Office Susanville Police Department
The County of Lassen (County) and City of Susanville (City) are seeking a firm to develop a CAD/RMS System for the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, Susanville Police Department, and the County 911 Communication Center that provides dispatch services for both agencies. It is in the best interest of the City and County to identify a vendor that can meet the CAD/RMS needs of both agencies.
Key Dates for this RFP:
Issue Request for Proposal (RFP) – March 19, 2019
Question and Answer Closed – April 12, 2019
Proposals Due – April 22, 2019
Bid documents may be downloaded from www.lassencounty.org. Bid documents may be picked up at the following locations: Lassen County Administration Building at 221 Roop Street, Susanville, CA 96130 or requested by calling (530) 251-8333.
Lassen County Sheriff’s Office at 1415 Sheriff Cady Lane Susanville, CA 96130.
Please direct all questions and inquiries to Lassen County Sheriff’s Office C/O Regina Mineau, Sheriff’s Executive Assistant,1415 Sheriff Cady Lane Susanville, CA 96130 gmineau@co.lassen.ca.us.
ALL Proposals must be delivered to the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office C/O Regina Mineau, 1415 Sheriff Cady Lane, Susanville, CA 96130 no later than 10:00am Monday, April 22, 2019.
For the County of Lassen
Dean F. Growdon, Sheriff
Abandons business name
ABANDONMENT OF USE OF
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME
The following person has abandoned the following Fictitious Business Name: MCN ELECTRIC.
Business Address: 464-805 DOWNS DRIVE, JANESVILLE, CA 96114, County of Lassen.
MARTIN C. NINE, 464-805 DOWNS DRIVE, JANESVILLE, CA 96114.
This business was conducted by an Individual.
Original Fictitious Business Name File Number: 2015F146.
Original Filing Date: 12/21/2013.
Signed: Martin C. Nine
This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Lassen County on date indicated below.
Filed: March 6, 2019.
March 19, 26, April 2, 9, 2019|
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MCN ELECTRIC.
Business Address: 470-755 COUNTY RD. A3, STANDISH, CA 96128, County of Lassen.
ADVANCED COMFORT CONTROL, INC., 470-755 COUNTY RD. A3, STANDISH, CA 96128.
This business is conducted by: A Corporation.
Registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name listed herein on 1/1/2019.
Signed: /s/ Crystal M. Harkness, Secretary.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KLUMP PUMP INC.
Business Address: 465-930 NORVELL LN., JANESVILLE, CA 96114, County of Lassen.
JERRY NORMAN VICE, 465-930 NORVELL LN., JANESVILLE, CA 96114.
Registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name listed herein on 3/11/2019.
Signed: /s/ Jerry N. Vice.
Filed: March 11, 2019.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HIGH DESERT STACKING
Business Address: 444-990 ALLEN FARMS RD., HERLONG, CA 96113, County of Lassen.
WILLIAM JOHN SORENSEN, 444-990 ALLEN FARMS RD., HERLONG, CA 96113; CHANELLE SOUTHWICK SORENSEN, 444-990 HERLONG, CA 96113.
This business is conducted by: A Husband & Wife.
Signed: /s/ William Sorensen; Chanelle Sorensen.
Plum Restoration Project
Lassen National Forest
Hat Creek Ranger District
Shasta County, California
Notice for Opportunity to Object
Draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact
As the Responsible Official, Forest Supervisor Chris Christofferson has prepared a draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) for the Plum Restoration Project Environmental Assessment. The EA and draft DN/FONSI are available for review at the Hat Creek District Office 43225 E Hwy 299, Fall River Mills, CA 96028, or online at www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=47742.
The proposed decision is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B. A written objection must be submitted to the reviewing officer within 45 calendar days following publication of the legal notice of the objection period in the Lassen County Times, which is the newspaper of record. It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure their objections are received in a timely manner (36 CFR 218.9(a)). The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Objectors should not rely upon time requirements provided by any other source.
Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific, written comments regarding the project during the scoping and opportunity for comment periods in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific, written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.
The objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in §218.8(d) and incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in §218.8(b). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to §218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
The following address must be used for objections sent by regular mail, private carrier, or hand delivery: Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region at 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays. Objections can be faxed to the Objection Reviewing Officer at (707) 562-9229. The fax coversheet must include a subject line with “Plum Restoration Project Objection” and should specify the number of pages being submitted. Electronic objections must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer via an email to objections-pacificsouthwest-regional-office@fs.fed.us with “Plum Restoration Project Objection” in the subject line. Electronic objections must be submitted in a format that is readable with optical character recognition software (e.g. Word, PDF, Rich Text) and be searchable.
The objection must meet the content requirements of 36 CFR 218.8(d), and include the following information: 1) The objector’s name and address, with a telephone number or email address, if available; 2) A signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for email may be filed with the objection); 3) When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector as defined in 36 CFR 218.2 (verification of the identity of the lead objector shall be provided upon request); 4) The name of the project being objected to, the name and title of the responsible official, and the name of the national forest on which the project will be implemented; 5) A description of those aspects of the project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the project and, if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; and supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider; and, 6) A statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments on the particular project or activity and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunity for formal comment. With certain exceptions (36 CFR 218.8(b)), all documents referenced in the objection must be included with the objection. Incomplete responses to these requirements make review of an objection difficult and are conditions under which the reviewing officer may set aside an objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218.10.
For additional information, please contact Greg Mayer, Timber Management Officer, at gmayer@usda.gov or by phone at (530) 336-5521.
March 19, 2019|
DESIGN CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR curb, gutter, sidewalk, DELINEATION, landscaping and OTHER RELATED FRONTAGE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 36 (MAIN STREET) FROM JOHNSTONVILLE ROAD AND TO 0.1 MILES SOUTHEAST OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE
‘2019 Southeast Gateway Project for Main Street (State Highway 36) Frontage Improvements in the City of Susanville
Proposals Are Due: April 12, 2019 prior to 4:00 P.M.
The City of Susanville is now accepting proposals for design services on the City’s pavement rehabilitation projects programmed under the State’s STIP program for local agencies. The services required are to develop construction quality documents for the completion of frontage improvements along Main Street. This includes, curb, gutter & sidewalk, landscaping and irrigation, street lighting, pavement delineation and any accompanying ADA compliant pedestrian facilities as required by the California Division of Architects (DSA). Additionally, the project includes a monument sign to be located approximately 0.1 miles southeast of Riverside Drive along the state highway.
Approval of these documents is required prior to receiving funding allocations for construction from Caltrans Local Assistance. This work is subject to State contract discrimination compliance pursuant to Government Code Section 12990. The City of Susanville has determined a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal of 10.69%. If the consultant elects to utilize DBE firms as part of their services, compliance with all applicable portions of the LAPM and LAPG will be required. A DBE goal for this project is mandatory.
Proposal information and RFP packages can be obtained from the City of Public Works Department located at 720 South Street in Susanville or by calling (530) 257-1041. Electronic copies can be obtained via email from dgibbs@cityofsusanville.org or by calling the City Engineer directly at (530) 257-1050.
Any submittals as a response to this call for RFP must be received no later than Friday, April 12, 2019 at 4:00 P.M. At that time, they will opened, verified for completeness and referred to an evaluation committee comprising of City staff. Incomplete RFP’s will be immediately rejected. Consultants will not be notified of the status of their submittals regarding incompleteness so please ensure the all documents comply entirely with the requirements of the RFP instructions.
The City of Susanville reserves the right to refuse or reject any proposals as the City Council deems appropriate or as funding constraints against the City present themselves due to action taken by the California Transportation Commission (CTC).
Approved for release this day March 13, 2019.
DANIEL GIBBS
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Survey announced for the Lake Almanor/Westwood area trail system →
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Home > Inclusion Services > NDMC > Harilyn Rousso: Activist, author, psychotherapist, and painter
Harilyn Rousso: Activist, author, psychotherapist, and painter
By Genelle Thomas
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the National Disability Mentoring Coalition has named 25 outstanding leaders as the first inductees into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame. These inductees were selected for their demonstrated commitment to mentoring and for the impact of their contributions on improving the lives of people with disabilities.
We are proud to induct Harilyn Rousso into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame’s 2015 inaugural class.
Harilyn Rousso is a disability activist, feminist, psychotherapist, writer and painter. Considered one of the “founding mothers” of the U.S. disabled women’s movement, she has worked on issues of women and girls with disabilities for more than twenty-five years. She is the founder of the Networking Project for Disabled Women and Girls of the YWCA/NYC, a unique mentoring program that has been replicated widely, the executive producer of the documentary Positive Images: Portraits of Women with Disabilities, and author of numerous publications on gender and disability, including Double Jeopardy, Addressing Gender Equity in Special Education (2001, SUNY Press), and Strong Proud Sisters: Girls and Young Women with Disabilities (2001, CWPS). Her memoir, Don’t Call Me Inspirational: A Disabled Feminist Talks Back, was published by Temple University Press in 2013.
Rousso is a former board member of the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the Center for Women Policy Studies, the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Sister Fund and Educational Equity Concepts, and a former commissioner with the New York City Commission on Human Rights. In 2003, she was selected by the National Women’s History Project as an honoree for National Women’s History Month.
Rousso’s educational background includes a B.A. in economics from Brandeis University, graduate work in economics at Harvard University, a Masters in Education from Boston University, a Masters in Social Work from New York University, and a Certificate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from the New York School for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.
Further information is available at www.harilynrousso.com.
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