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US Supreme Court Center > Volume 280 > TAGG BROS. & MOORHEAD V. UNITED STATES, 280 U. S. 420 (1930)
TAGG BROS. & MOORHEAD V. UNITED STATES, 280 U. S. 420 (1930)
Tagg Bros. & Moorhead v. United States, 280 U.S. 420 (1930)
Tagg Bros. & Moorhead v. United States
Argued October 23, 1929
Decided February 24, 1930
1. The Packers and Stockyards Act of August 15, 1921, § 301, declares that persons engaged in the business of buying and selling in interstate commerce livestock at a stockyard on a commission basis are "market agencies." Section 310 provides that, whenever,
after a full hearing, the Secretary of Agriculture is of opinion that any rate "of a stockyard owner or market agency" is unreasonable, he may (a) fix the charge to be thereafter observed and (b) make an order that "such owner or operator" shall not thereafter "collect any rate or charge for the furnishing of stockyard services other than the rate or charge so prescribed." Held, construing these with other provisions of the Act, and with regard to its legislative and executive interpretation, that market agencies are within § 310(b), the term "operator" being an apt designation of such an agency. P. 280 U. S. 435.
2. The market agencies at the Omaha Stockyards are owned by corporations, partnerships, and individuals, distinct from the corporation owning the stockyards. Their specific work does not require them to invest much capital, but involves the use of space and facilities in the stockyards, the charges for which, paid to the stockyards corporation, are ultimately borne by their customers. They perform an indispensable service as brokers in the buying and selling of livestock in interstate commerce, enjoy a substantial monopoly of that business at the Omaha yards, and, by agreement among themselves, have fixed uniform rates for their services, regardless of differences in experience, skill and industry.
(1) The rates of such market agencies are subject to regulation, under authority of Congress, to prevent their services from becoming an undue burden upon, or obstruction of, interstate commerce. Pp. 280 U. S. 436-439.
(2) Such regulation is not an attempt to fix wages or limit anyone's net income, and does not violate the due process clause. P. 280 U. S. 439.
(3) The mere division of the stockyard services between the stockyards corporation and the market agencies does not deprive Congress of a power of regulation which it otherwise would have had. P. 280 U. S. 438.
(4) There is nothing in the nature of monopolistic personal services which makes it impossible to fix reasonable charges therefor, and there is nothing in the Constitution which limits the government's power of regulation to businesses which employ substantial capital. Id.
(5) Whether a business is affected with a public interest depends not upon the amount of capital it employs, but upon the character of the service which those who are conducting it engage to render. P. 280 U. S. 439.
3. A notice from the Secretary of Agriculture informing market agencies of a hearing to be held under Title III of the Packers and Stockyards Act to inquire into the reasonableness of a new Schedule of rates, which had been filed by them and had been suspended, and apprising them that they would have "the right to appear and show cause why a further order in respect of the said schedule of rates and charges should not be made" pursuant to Title III held sufficient to put such respondents on notice that rates lower than those in either the proposed or the existing schedules might be fixed by the Secretary under §§ 306(e) and 310 upon the evidence to be adduced at the hearing. P. 280 U. S. 439.
4. Evidence before the Secretary of Agriculture held sufficient to support his findings and conclusion relative to the reasonableness of the rates of market agencies. P. 280 U. S. 440.
5. Mere admission by an administrative tribunal of matters which, under the rules of evidence applicable to judicial proceedings, would be deemed incompetent, or mere error in reasoning upon evidence adduced, does not invalidate an order made by it. P. 280 U. S. 442.
6. An order fixing rates of market agencies under the Packers and Stockyards Act must be set aside if it rests upon an erroneous rule of law, or is based upon a finding made without evidence, or upon evidence which clearly does not support it. But the order here assailed is not subject to these infirmities. Id.
7. A failure of the Secretary of Agriculture to give due notice of a hearing on such rates would be ground only for setting aside the resulting rate-fixing order as having been made irregularly; it would not justify trying in court, upon new evidence, issues respecting the merits of the order. Id.
8. A proceeding under § 316 of the Packers and Stockyards Act is a judicial review, not a trial de novo. P. 280 U. S. 443.
9. In such review, the validity of the order of the Secretary must be determined upon the record of the proceedings before him, save as there may be an exception of issues presenting claims of constitutional right. On all other issues, his findings must be accepted as conclusive if the evidence before him was legally sufficient to sustain them and there was no irregularity in the proceeding. Id.
10. It is within the power of the Secretary, and it is his duty, to modify his order if new evidence warrants the change. A rate order is not res judicata. P. 280 U. S. 445.
11. Whether new evidence may be taken in the court reviewing the order, on the issue of confiscation, is a question of practice not
necessary to be determined where the claim of confiscation is not sustained by the evidence a received by the Secretary or as added to in the court. P. 445.
29 F.2d 750 affirmed.
Appeal from a final decree of the district court, of three judges, in a suit under the Packers and Stockyards Act to enjoin the enforcement of an order of the Secretary of Agriculture prescribing a tariff of maximum charges for the services of market agencies at the Omaha Stockyards. The decree dissolved an interlocutory injunction and dismissed the bill.
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Steve Klintberg
Brentwood, DC Real Estate
The Brentwood community in the northeast quadrant of Washington takes its name from Brentwood Mansion, built in 1817 by the first mayor of Washington City, Robert Brent. The greater Brentwood area is also home to Gallaudet University, the nation’s leading undergraduate and graduate school for the hearing impaired. The university was created by an act of Congress in 1864 and its charter was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. A portion of the Gallaudet campus is built on the site of the old Brentwood Mansion. The National Arboretum is a 400+ acre oasis near Brentwood and is dedicated to botanical research, and is operated by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Much of the housing stock in Brentwood is comprised of townhouses, duplexes and row houses that were constructed in the mid-20th Century. And while it wouldn’t be accurate to call Brentwood a “college town,” nearby universities are an important part of community life.
Brentwood enjoys ready access to the Rhode Island, New York Avenue and Minnesota Avenue metro stops and is served by major roads including Benning Road, New York Avenue and the Anacostia Freeway. Bus service through the area is excellent.
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by A D Jameson
People keep calling The Force Awakens “a real Star Wars movie,” to the point where I wonder whether they’re quoting a Disney press release. I also have to wonder if they’ve seen the original Star Wars, or The Empire Strikes Back. Because make no mistake, The Force Awakens mostly reveals that J.J. Abrams and company don’t get what made those original movies classics.
I. Weaker Characters
I’ll start with what I expect to be my most controversial point: the characters in The Force Awakens are much less compelling than the characters in Star Wars and Empire.
It’ll help to recall that there are far fewer central characters in Star Wars and Empire—roughly a dozen in each film—and those characters are sharply defined and indelible. Luke is a whiny farm boy whose ambitions far exceed his abilities. Leia is an aloof leader of the Rebellion, wholly committed to her cause. Han Solo is a cocksure smuggler who looks out for himself (and Chewie), and who assumes a patronizing attitude toward the others. Our heroes are onscreen most of the two films, bickering even as they work together to achieve their goals. They are defined by their flaws and conflicts as much by their bravery and heroism, and a chief pleasure of the Original Trilogy is watching them grow individually and together. At the end of Star Wars, Han returns to help Luke blow up the Death Star. By Return of the Jedi, Luke has learned to not surrender to his emotions, while Han and Leia have fallen in love. Watching this happen is what binds them to one another, and us to them.
What defines the new characters central to The Force Awakens? Rey is a scavenger who’s self-reliant and fiercely independent … but who quickly learns to trust others. She’s also a natural at anything she tries. Finn is a squeamish Stormtrooper who defects and wants to flee the First Order … but who quickly learns to trust others. By the film’s end, he’s going toe-to-toe with the leader of the First Order himself in a lightsaber duel. Poe is a great pilot who quickly adopts Finn and mostly isn’t in the film. Unlike in Star Wars and Empire, the characters don’t really bicker, and they don’t have any substantial flaws that they have to overcome. Everyone turns out to be very nice! (It makes you wonder what they’re going to do with them in the next two films.) They also get much less screen time than their predecessors: by my reckoning, there are sixteen important characters in TFA, including ones who don’t really do anything, and who easily could have been saved for another time—Snoke and Captain Phasma, as well as Artoo and Threepio, who are there simply because they were in the Original Trilogy. Even Luke didn’t have to appear until Episode VIII.
The new characters are all too nice and capable, and suffer as a result. Their personalities also don’t drive the plot. Instead, Rey and Finn are at the service of the plot. Rather than being protagonists who pursue their own agendas, by the middle of the movie, they’re tagging along after Han Solo like baby ducks, going wherever he goes. Kudos to Abrams and Disney for casting Ridley and Boyega in lead roles—but one gets the impression the powers that be were afraid to then give the characters flaws, which smacks of pandering. Just compare Finn to Moses, John Boyega’s character in Attack the Block (a much better film than The Force Awakens): that young man starts out as a mugger and aspiring drug dealer before coming into his own and risking his life to save his friends and neighbors from an alien invasion. I’ve seen some call Finn “the Han Solo character” of Force Awakens, but Moses is more like Han Solo than Finn.
As for Rey, when Disney announced the initial cast of Star Wars VII, more than a few people decried the lack of female characters. (I wrote such an article myself and, yes, I’m still wondering where poor, forgotten Lando is. I mean, Nien Nunb and Ackbar returned, but not General Calrissian? What gives?) Producer and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy responded by saying there were still more casting announcements to come, and indeed the powers that be soon revealed that Lupita Nyong’o and Gwendoline Christie would be in the film. But note which characters they wound up playing: Nyong’o’s Maz Kanata is a motion-capture alien, and Christie’s chrome trooper, Captain Phasma, spends the film bedecked in body armor. You wanna know what I think? The backlash to the initial casting announcement caught Disney with their pants down, so they made the easiest gender-swaps they could to avoid looking sexist. (Empire Magazine’s Helen O’Hara has voiced similar suspicions.) And I’ll bet anything that J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan then revised Rey’s character, removing anything that risked making her seem weak. The result is patronizing, and poor storytelling.
Even Han and Leia, when we catch up with them, are shadows of their former selves. We learn that their relationship didn’t work out, which is fine—but when the two reteam, they’re … exceedingly polite to one another. They’re like Michael Corleone and Kay in The Godfather: Part III, kindly reminiscing over their failed marriage while sipping wine in the Italian countryside. (“You mean you don’t know where Lando is, either?”)
The one new character who succeeds in making an indelible impression is Kylo Ren, who is very clearly defined, and who spends the film actively working to achieve his own goals. He’s also the cleverest thing about the movie. Tasked with creating a new Darth Vader, which risked being weaker and a letdown, Abrams &co. wrote the problem into the artwork, literally making the character a weaker Darth Vader. (That said, Ren shouldn’t have taken off his helmet until his confrontation with his father, if at all.)
Here’s how all of this could have been improved: Rey could have been fiercely independent and suspicious of others. Her being strong with the Force should have concerned Leia and Han, who fear she’ll be seduced, the way their son was. Poe should’ve been arrogant and aloof—a cocksure pilot. Han Solo should have been anything other than a friendly grandpa—losing his son and marriage should have made him far more conflicted.
Finn, meanwhile, shouldn’t have overcome his fear of the First Order so quickly—but I wouldn’t have made fear his defining characteristic. Why couldn’t he have been battle-hardened and cynical, rather than inexperienced? As the film is now, Finn’s choice to rebel looks like an error in his biological programming, rather than a decision he gradually came to via experience. Again, he seems more at the service of the plot, rather than driving it—which is why he spends the second half of the film with nothing to do. (People keep mistaking him for a Resistance fighter, so he just becomes one.)
II. Weaker Dialogue
Above all else, the biggest loss is the lack of bickering, which seems to me essential to a Star Wars film. How could Abrams and Kasdan have forgotten to include that? (Did I see a bad print?) Even the Marvel Movies remembered to include character conflict in The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. (Guardians is more like a Star Wars movie than The Force Awakens.)
The incessant politeness reminded me of a fundamental problem on Star Trek: The Next Generation, where Gene Roddenberry insisted that Starfleet officers never argue with one another—a constraint that famously hamstrung the show’s writers. Unsurprisingly, the dialogue in The Force Awakens is bland and forgettable. Early on in the film, when Poe gives the map chip to BB-8, he says (and I quote), “You take this. It’s safer with you than it is with me. You get as far away from here as you can! Do you here me? I’ll come back for you! You’ll be all right.” None of those lines are necessary, let alone all of them. If Poe really had to say something, how about just, “Get as far away as you can!” That would have at least some drama to it. But Abrams belongs to the “explain everything directly and repeatedly” club, because you never know—some viewers might be playing Angry Birds Star Wars on their cell phones, and thereby miss what’s going on. His cinema is just like his television: his characters constantly narrate everything they’re doing, and why.
Imagine if Princess Leia had said any of that slop in Star Wars, while sticking the data tapes in Artoo. When we see her crouching beside the little droid, she’s actually just finished recording a message—“Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.” But Lucas didn’t show us that; we don’t hear that message until much later. And before we get the full message, we get just a tease. This is what makes Star Wars so beguiling, and so memorable.
Star Wars is all memorable lines. It’s not Howard Hawks, but it’s snappy, and we quote from it endlessly—Empire, too. If you sat down a gaggle of geeks, and gave them pen and paper, they could recreate the screenplays from memory.
But can you remember a single line from The Force Awakens? Forty years from now, will anyone sit around quoting it? When you recite Poe Dameron’s instructions to BB-8, will you manage to include all those generic sentences in the right order? No, because forty years from now, no one will remember The Force Awakens. (Because it ain’t Star Wars.)
III. Weaker Narrative
The narrative of a Star Wars film should be simple, direct—A to B to C. In A New Hope, it’s Tatooine to the Death Star to Yavin IV. In Empire, it’s Hoth to the space chase / Dagobah (our heroes split up), then Bespin. We also spend some time cutting to Darth Vader, but he’s not a distraction—he’s the antagonist, busy making life miserable for our heroes.
The Force Awakens is more like the Prequels, in that it’s a convoluted mess. To begin with, the basic scenario is needlessly murky. Who are the Republic, the Resistance, the First Order? We’re immediately confused, unlike in A New Hope, where we understand at once that there’s an Empire (bad and big) and a Rebel Alliance (good and severely outgunned)—we learn that in the opening shot of the film. How big and powerful is the First Order? They must be huge, even bigger than the Empire, if they managed to build the Star Killer Base, which is so much bigger than the Death Star. Then how big is the Resistance? Are they outgunned? Or are they the official military of the Republic? How much of the galaxy does the Republic control? Why is the Republic headquartered on Hosnian Prime (?), rather than Coruscant? When the Hosnian System gets wiped out, does that mean the Republic got wiped out? Why is any of this a mystery? Could it be the people who made the film don’t actually know? (Abrams is bringing to Star Wars the same magic he brought to Lost.)
Who is supposed to be the protagonist of the film—who is the Luke character? I’d guess Rey (and it should be Rey), but it turns out to be Han Solo: he’s the one calling the shots, presumably because Harrison Ford would only return if he got top billing, and got to be in charge. Imagine if Alec Guinness had turned out to be the hero of A New Hope, rather than a supporting character to Luke. Or just remember Star Trek: Generations, where Kirk fought Picard for top billing. The Force Awakens is Star Wars: Generations.
Why do we cut around so much, go so many places? Star Wars and Empire were set in five and six locations, respectively (including outer space). The Force Awakens has no fewer than ten locations: Jakku, the First Order Star Destroyer, the Millennium Falcon, Han and Chewie’s creature smuggling ship, Maz Kanata’s planet, the Resistance’s base planet (?), the Star Killer Base, Hosnian Prime, outer space (of course), and wherever it is Luke is standing around at the end of the film, busy looking like a bum. It has roughly as many central characters and locations as Return of the Jedi, which was the third film of its trilogy. (How many characters and locations will we have by Episode IX?)
What’s more, not all of those people and places were needed. We didn’t need to see the citizens of Alderaan before it blew up, and we sure don’t need to see the people on Hosnian Prime. Just detonate the system and be done with it! Han and Chewie could have simply boarded the Falcon—we didn’t need the scene with the Beholders on their own ship, and we certainly didn’t need the rival gangs, who looked like they walked in from The Fifth Element. Luke could have been saved for the next film—imagine if Yoda had suddenly appeared at the end of Star Wars! (It would have sucked!) But more than anything else, the film should have belonged to Rey and Finn, whose conflicting personalities and decisions should have driven the action forward, the same way the decisions made by Luke, Leia, and Han propelled both Star Wars and Empire.
(I’m not going to even get into how idiotic it is for the First Order to make a third Death Star, only to have the Rebels once again swoop in and shoot it until it explodes. Even our heroes couldn’t get excited about this bit of nonsense—Han could barely contain his boredom—and I was bored beyond belief. The assaults on Death Stars Mark 1 and 2, in A New Hope and Jedi, are thrilling. Here—whatever. Nor am I going to rag on the bizarre and horrible physics of the Star Killer Base draining suns and blowing up other systems, all of which is somehow visible from the Resistance Base, as though Leia and the others were standing on a rooftop in my home neighborhood, Logan Square, watching an attack on downtown Chicago—except to say that, just like in the Prequel Trilogy, all of this made the people in The Force Awakens seem very stupid, and the galaxy feel very small.)
IV. Weaker Filmmaking
The entirety of The Force Awakens feels diminished, less epic, less grand. Remember how Star Wars opened? The tiny Rebel Blockade Runner is pursued by the massive Imperial Star Destroyer, then swallowed up. We cut inside to rushing droids and chaos—Threepio and Artoo have no idea what’s going on. Rebel soldiers rush by and grimly prepare to be boarded. They look frightened but resolute. Then the action calms down: Lucas takes his time, using the soundtrack—those echoing clanks—to create an air of mystery as to what will happen next. A door sparks, then explodes, and gleaming white Stormtroopers start spilling through. Wordlessly, a pitched battle ensues. Finally, Darth Vader is given one of the greatest entrances in film history. Black and towering—visually distinguished from everything we’ve seen thus far, and forming a stark contrast with the white troopers and corridor—he steps through the blasted doorway, calmly surveys the bodies, then silently strides on. This is visual storytelling, clear and focused and dramatic.
How does The Force Awakens open? With mishmash. A Star Destroyer eclipses a planet, but the shot is dim and weakly composed. Abrams next gives us flashes of Stormtroopers in a transport—a fine stab at an impressionistic style, although the film proceeds to entirely drop that approach. We next get a flat exchange between Lor San Tekka and Dameron Poe, indifferently framed and edited. Their dialogue immediately nods to the Original Trilogy, with an in-joke about General Leia no longer being a princess. This is not cinema, but television—close-ups of characters telling us what they’re doing and why, with fan-service substituted for drama.
Then the Stormtroopers land, and the film becomes a blur of shots and edits. Abrams swings the camera every which way in extensive tracking shots, hoping that the movement will create excitement. It doesn’t. There’s no clear agenda, no suspense, no focused attempt at a strong, dramatic effect—there’s just stuff. He also intercuts Poe’s perspective with that of the Stormtroopers, instead of staying with one or the other. In a random shot, he places the camera inside the Stormtrooper transport; we watch the troops rush past us, out onto Jakku, in a moment perhaps cribbed from Saving Private Ryan. Imagine if Lucas had cut away from the Rebel troops to show us what the Stormtroopers were seeing as they boarded the Blockade Runner. Imagine if Spielberg had cut away from the Allied troops, in Ryan, to show us the German soldiers preparing for the assault. There’s a reason why those two filmmakers didn’t do that. Abrams may worship Lucas and Spielberg, but he hasn’t studied their films carefully enough, because he doesn’t understand why their filmmaking works.
(Of course some might object here that we need all those shots from the Stormtroopers’ POV because Finn is among them. But we don’t know who Finn is yet, and these shots do nothing to establish his character. We don’t realize Finn is special until his fallen comrade bloodies his mask. And we don’t really need Finn until Poe gets captured—that’s when the perspective should shift, like the passing of a baton. I mean, c’mon folks—this ain’t Rashômon.)
Note also how Kylo Ren is introduced. Poe sees his ship approach, and seems scared—that much is fine. But Abrams again cuts around willy-nilly, including a needless extreme wide shot that diminishes the moment’s intensity. And when the ship’s hatch opens and Ren comes striding out, the shot is framed on an oblique angle that doesn’t do the character any favors. Abrams then cuts to a much better shot of Ren marching straight toward the camera—so why all the other fuss? It could’ve all been done in a single shot: cut from Poe to a tightly framed image of Ren’s ship landing, the hatch opening, the villain striding imperiously toward us.
So what do people mean when they say Abrams made “a real Star Wars film”? They mean he got the production design right. In the lead up to the film, there were countless fawning articles about how Abrams was using puppets and miniatures, foregoing the endless CGI that marred the Prequel Trilogy. This time around, there would be real locations, and realist, practical effects. And those things do, to some extent, distinguish Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. But the Original Trilogy was always much more than that.
V. A Lack of Realism
Not that Abrams got the realism right, mind you. In Star Wars and Empire, a large part of the realist effect comes from how Lucas and company present the extraordinary world they’d constructed as something mundane. Starships and droids are remarkable to us, the viewers, but they’re common, everyday things in that galaxy far, far away. Threepio and Artoo are nothing special—indeed, the first time we see them, there’s another robot much like Threepio in the background of the shot. And soon the droids are being bought and sold like appliances, surrounded by other robots. Luke, their new master, turns out to be kinder than most of their former owners, but even he tunes Threepio out. (He doesn’t take any interest until he finds out they belonged to the Rebellion.)
The characters don’t marvel at things in Star Wars; they take their world for granted. But in The Force Awakens, Rey and Finn are constantly in awe over the people and things they encounter. Luke dismisses the Millennium Falcon as “a piece of junk.” For Rey, the Falcon is an historical artifact—a legendary ship—and Han and Chewie are also legends. “This is the ship that made the Kessel Run in under fourteen parsecs!” she breathlessly exclaims, and while she gets her facts slightly wrong, she could be any Star Wars fan. That’s because she is a Star Wars fan—she and Finn are audience surrogates in a way Luke and Han and Leia never were. Unlike their predecessors, Rey and Finn know the lore of Star Wars, more or less, and are impressed by it. This is what makes The Force Awakens feel like a fan-film, like Star Wars cosplay—something cheap. Star Wars should be epic, and above all else, ignorant of the viewer. Imagine if, when Han Solo told Rey that she was standing aboard the Millennium Falcon, her response had been, “Never heard of it.” That would have made her more like Luke, a kid from a backwater planet who’s out of the loop. It also would have better established her character—someone fiercely independent, and wrapped up in her own problems. (She could even have been lying to Solo—imagine that! Characters with their own agendas who say things other than exposition!)
As for the indomitable BB-8, why don’t we see other robots like her? Bright orange and white, she stands out everywhere she goes (and leaves obvious tracks that anyone could follow). No wonder that, no matter what planet she finds herself on, people immediately know she’s the droid that everyone is looking for. Imagine if she’d instead been lost in a sea of other droids identical to her—just like Threepio and Artoo. (And not to nitpick, but how can Rey speak her language? Especially when no one else can. Threepio needed to interpret Artoo, and Luke used a computer to translate what the astromech droid was saying—the rest of the time, he just guessed.)
VI. A Lack of Romanticism
Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back were subtle blends of realism and expressionism (as in German Expressionism). They were also Wagnerian, epic in their look and sound. In making them, Lucas drew on the work of directors like Fritz Lang, F.W. Murnau, and Leni Riefenstahl, as well as visually daring filmmakers like John Ford and Akira Kurosawa. He also learned from directors like Jean-Luc Godard—the New Hollywood absorbed a lot from the French New Wave—and experimental filmmaker Arthur Lipsett, whose 1964 short film 21-87 provided the term “the Force,” and much inspiration for the soundtrack. (Lucas’s earlier feature THX-1138 is a clear homage to Lipsett.) There’s a reason why the shots and sounds of the Original Trilogy have lingered in the popular consciousness, and why A New Hope won the Academy Award for Best Editing: Lucas’s supposed popcorn movies are distillations of a wide spectrum of filmmaking craft.
Abrams has never had a strong grasp over film grammar, and his compositions and editing are consistently murky and unfocused. The look of Force Awakens is more like Firefly than Star Wars—functional, but never artistic (although Firefly, to be fair, was aiming for a less composed look). The best moment by far, visually, is the confrontation between Kylo Ren and Han Solo on the long bridge, where Abrams does his best to mimic Peter Suschitzky’s phenomenal cinematography on Empire. (Why didn’t he hire Suschitzky to shoot this new film? The man’s still working.) But like the flash of impressionism with the Stormtroopers early on, it comes across as mere momentary imitation, because there’s nothing else like it in the film—The Force Awakens lacks the elegant, consistent appearances of either Star Wars or Empire.
In composing the score for Star Wars, John Williams understood the Romantic effect Lucas was aiming for, which is why he wrote something so Wagnerian. The movie was supposed to be epic, transcendent of any particular place or time. (This is why it’s set as far away from present-day Earth as possible.) Star Wars is supposed to be sincerely mythical and Romantic. Lucas famously instructed his actors to play the purplish dialogue straight, to avoid winking at the camera or hamming it up. The Force Awakens betrays that sensibility, constantly winking at its viewers, showering us with feeble jokes that won’t age well—BB-8 using her lighter to give a thumbs up—not to mention empty nods to the Original Trilogy. The score, too, mostly finds Williams revisiting past glories. Rey gets a somewhat memorable leitmotif, but the rest is just callbacks to Star Wars. Say what you want about The Phantom Menace, but at least I left the theater humming “Duel of the Fates.”
VII. A Lack of Vision
All in all, the worst failing of The Force Awakens is a lack of vision. No matter whether you love or hate George Lucas, the man is a genius. Back in the mid-70s, no one else could have made Star Wars—no one else could even understand what Lucas was going on about (see Dale Pollock’s brilliant biography Skywalking). No one except maybe Steven Spielberg thought the movie would turn out to be any good, let alone a smash hit. Lucas blindsided everyone.
And when it came time to make a sequel, no one expected that the man would hire Irvin Kershner and Peter Suschitzky and let them make an independent art film. It would have been far safer to make Star Wars II—especially since Lucas was funding the film himself, and risked losing everything—but instead everyone involved made something more daring, and artier. They doubled down on the Wagnerian Romanticism, doubled down on the space opera, doubled down on their protagonists being flawed—and threw in an unhappy ending to boot.
And when it came time to make the Prequel Trilogy, Lucas again made what he wanted to make. You might loathe those three films, think them the worst movies ever made—and make no mistake, they are very bad movies—but they are also innovative and astonishing. Nearly seventeen years after The Phantom Menace, there’s still a part of me that doesn’t believe that movie got made and screened in theaters—that it wasn’t somehow a practical joke. I keep expecting to wake up and learn it was all just a dream. The Phantom Menace was a failure, but it was a spectacular failure. Lucas never did anything small.
By way of contrast, what is The Force Awakens? It’s a watery remake of A New Hope, reminiscent of other cynically calculating, made-by-committee movies trading openly in nostalgia, like Jurassic World. It’s not even the best action blockbuster of 2015. (That would be Mad Max: Fury Road.) It doesn’t do anything new or daring or bold—it just cribs from the Original Trilogy, and throws in copious amounts of fan service to remind you of what are much better films, movies I know I’d rather be watching. Return of the Jedi was a disappointment after the glory that is Empire, retreading familiar ground, but it still gave us wonderful new characters, like Jabba and the Emperor, and it pushed its characters further (especially Luke). It also brought the Original Trilogy to a close via Luke’s confrontation with Vader, a highlight of the first three films.
The Force Awakens doesn’t even match Jedi. In the end, it isn’t Star Wars for a very simple reason: George Lucas is a genius, a visionary filmmaker with aesthetic ambition and a deep and eclectic interest in cinema. J.J. Abrams, meanwhile, is a slavish director-for-hire who knows how to copy certain things from better artists, but who doesn’t understand what made their movies so magnificent in the first place.
(Thanks to Joel Janiurek, Mazin Saleem, Tim Feeney, Jeremy M. Davies, and especially Justin Roman for helping me clarify my thoughts about the film.)
AD Jameson
AD Jameson is the author of three books: Amazing Adult Fantasy, Giant Slugs, and 99 Things to Do When You Have the Time. He’s written a lot of stories that are online as well as a lot about movies. He’s currently a PhD candidate in the Program for Writers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and is completing a book on geek cinema.
This entry was posted in Audio / Visual, Featured, Review and tagged ad jameson, Cinema, Film Review, fim, Movies, review, star wars. Bookmark the permalink.
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85 NE Interstate 410 Loop, Suite 604, San Antonio, Texas 78216
Traffic ticket attorney San Antonio TX
Commercial traffic ticket lawyer San Antonio
Occupational license lawyer San Antonio
TDL Suspensions
A trip to the courthouse often exceeds two hours. Some courts may require you to make more than one appearance. There are often delays in obtaining paperwork and seeing the prosecutor and/or judge. Fines must be paid. To avoid these time-consuming hassles, let us do the work for you.
Many courts allow you to pay a traffic fine online or through the mail. This is an ill-advised course of action, however, because the ticket will show up as a conviction on your driving record. Convictions are what the Texas Department of Public Safety and insurance companies look at to impose costly penalties against you.
We handle traffic tickets for the San Antonio Municipal Court, the Bexar County Justice of the Peace Courts, and many other courts in and around the San Antonio area. We will appear in court on your behalf and negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecutor. Our goal is to keep the violation off of your driving record. This is typically accomplished by deferred disposition.
Procedures vary for CDL’s, Past Due and Warrant Tickets, Construction Zone Offenses, High Rates of Speed, and Misdemeanors such as theft, minor in possession of alcohol, drug paraphernalia, and code violations. Do not be discouraged if you have these situations. Although the procedures vary, depending on the offense you are charged with, we have a great deal of experience and handle many of these cases. Our goal is to keep these off your driving record.
Call us for fees and details.
If you have a commercial driver’s license and have received a ticket — Call us! We can help.
If you received notice of suspension of your driver’s license or are unable to renew your driver’s license — Call us! We can help.
If you need an occupational license — Call us! We can help.
Payment plans are available in certain cases.
Our Attorneys at Law
David P. Volkman
David Volkman has 30 years of experience as an attorney. He was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Bradley University with a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Southern Illinois University. He also has a master’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He has been licensed as an attorney since 1985 in Illinois and since 1987 in Texas. Mr. Volkman is also licensed to practice in Federal Court for the Western District of Texas since 1987. Besides traffic tickets, Mr. Volkman also has extensive experience in bankruptcy law, wills, probate law, family law, and many other areas of law.
Paul Talamantez, Jr.
Judge Paul Talamantez Jr. was licensed on May 6, 1994, by the State Bar of Texas and has been a practicing attorney for the past 21 years. A third generation San Antonian, Paul graduated from St. Mary’s University and Texas Southern University School of Law. He has an extensive knowledge in various areas of the law. Paul also served as a Judge for the City of San Antonio from 2001-2006. He now dedicates himself to defending traffic tickets and all class C misdemeanors.
David Volkman has 30 years of experience as an attorney. He was born in Pennsylvania, raised in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Bradley University with a bachelor’s degree and a law degree with Southern Illinois University. He also has a master’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He has been licensed as an attorney since 1985 in Illinois, and since 1987 in Texas. He is also licensed to practice in Federal Court for the Western District of Texas since 1987. Besides traffic tickets, Mr. Volkman also has extensive experience in bankruptcy law, wills, probate law, family law, as well as many other areas of law.
Judge Paul Talamantez, Jr. was licensed on May 6, 1994 by the State Bar of Texas and has been a practicing attorney for the past 21 years. A third generation San Antonian, Paul graduated from St. Mary’s University and Texas Southern University School of Law. Paul has an extensive knowledge in various areas of the law. Paul also served as a Judge for the City of San Antonio from 2001-2006. He now dedicates himself to defending traffic tickets and all class C misdemeanors.
See how we can help you get your violation off your record! Contact us today!
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Investigators inspect the scene where 58 people were killed near the Las Vegas Strip on Monday morning. A man on the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay opened fire on the 22,000 spectators at a country music festival across the street on Sunday night.
Transcript Bulletin Staff Writer Mark Watson and his wife Mary pose for photo in front of a display at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden in Las Vegas. Mark was forced to run from Mandalay Bay to the Luxor during a mass shooting on Sunday night.
Dog Days of summer have a saving grace – La Grande Boucle
Voters can create real change at the ballot box
Stadium food is always hard on my waistline
All I could envision was a gunman, or gunmen, chasing us
While I roamed the casino floor of Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Sunday night, a man in the same building on the 32nd floor opened fire on concert goers across the street.
I entered the hotel about 10 p.m., and after a few minutes, saw a group of three or four men scramble out of a restaurant and head toward for what I assumed was a restroom. It seemed extremely odd because they moved quickly, and appeared to be in a state of panic.
As I walked toward The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, which connects Mandalay Bay to the Luxor Hotel, a security guard walked toward me and others on the floor level.
“Everybody must leave now!” he shouted. “Get out of here! Go to the Luxor!”
The crowd began to scurry to the escalator and stairs that led up to the shops that run north for about 300 yards to the Luxor Hotel.
I ran to the escalator with the group and nobody pushed or shoved. Some looked back as we ran through the exquisite, spacious hallway area lined with shops and restaurants on both sides.
Everybody seemed confused as to what was happening.
Then I thought I heard “Pop, pop, pop,” like firecrackers.
That was when the crowd began to sprint toward the Luxor. I sprinted, too. All I could envision was a gunman or gunmen chasing us.
My heart pounded and I figured this could be the end for me. I wondered what the ride would be like in the ambulance. I didn’t think about experiencing pain, other than, “if it happens it happens.” It would be a first-time experience getting shot.
I stopped to catch my breath, and figured I should be in better shape than this, but at the same time “so far, so good.”
It being my third night at the Luxor, I knew the way I needed to run to get to a safe place.
Once in the Luxor, it was down an escalator that had stopped, through the lobby and down another hallway to the room elevators.
I glanced around at some of the people in the Luxor lobby and hallways. Women were crying. I heard one woman say, “We were right there!”
I joined the others in the elevator and pushed 17 for the floor where my wife and I were staying. Inside the elevator, a man tried to comfort his wife or date.
She was shaking.
“We’re OK now,” he said.
“No, we’re not OK,” she said.
“We’ll be OK as soon when we get to the room,” he said.
My wife Mary already was in our room. After dinner at a restaurant at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, she went back to the room about 9:30 p.m., while I checked out Mandalay Bay.
“Man, I had to run as fast as I could just now from Mandalay Bay to here,” I told Mary when I was safe inside our room.
I immediately switched on the TV and a local news station reported there was an active shooter at Mandalay Bay. Initial reports indicated one person dead and a few injured. TV news crews were kept several blocks away from the scene.
An emotional Mary then said: “Thank you for running!”
We continued to watch the news and learned about emergency crews on the scene from North Las Vegas, Henderson and other Clark County locations.
Luxor Hotel is on the west side of the Las Vegas Strip. Our window overlooked the scene below where a massacre had just occurred.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, we could hear the music of the fourth annual Route 91 Harvest Festival from our hotel room. It is a country music event similar to Tooele County’s Country Fan Fest.
We didn’t know this annual event was happening near our hotel until we checked in and watched the crowd on the sidewalk walking to and from the festival.
In general, I like music. The first night was annoying while trying to sleep. But by the second and third nights, I started to feel the rhythm of the drums; the bands were polished regardless of the style of music.
“They’re not amateurs,” I told Mary. “Those drummers sound really good.”
While watching the newscasts about the shooting Sunday night and into Monday morning, we began to doze off. Then at about 1 a.m., a buzzer blared in our room.
“Stay in your room. The Luxor is in lockdown until further notice,” said a voice through the intercom.
“We’re in a war zone,” I said to Mary.
The intercom message repeated a few more times throughout the night. Another message blared at about 4:30 a.m. that it was OK to leave the room.
Our traveling partners, Perry and Cathy Dunn, who were staying on the 10th floor, called our room at about 7:30 a.m.
“Can you guys be ready in a half hour? Let’s get out of here,” Cathy said to Mary on the phone.
We already had the TV on. We learned that the gunman on the 32nd floor had killed 58 people and wounded more than 500.
He shot at the crowd continuously from 10:08 p.m. to 10:18 p.m., according to media reports. It took about 75 minutes from the first shot until the shooter was found dead in his hotel room.
While Mary and I were in our room, Perry went down to the lobby early Monday morning to see if he could get us checked out to leave. He said it was then he realized the scope of what had happened.
“The halls, lobby and casino were filled with people covered with blankets, trying to sleep,” he said. “I figured they were guests of the Mandalay Bay ordered to go to the Luxor, not allowed back to the Mandalay Bay.
“I felt a quiet that I hadn’t felt since 9/11,” Perry said.
“I heard crying, whispering, and nothing from the casino,” he added. “So I walked out as far as I could go, took a few pictures of the Mandalay Bay and the crime scene, then we left. Leaving was not fun since everything was blocked off. We finally had to go south towards LA before finding an open on-ramp to northbound Interstate 15.”
When we left the hotel, I looked at people’s faces and many appeared sedated. One woman’s face was scratched and bruised.
All four of us received texts and calls about our status on Monday. We certainly felt the love and concern.
We engaged in some small talk as we traveled back to Utah. As we passed Mesquite, Nevada, we talked about what we had heard about the killer. Mary and Cathy answered text messages. I stared out the window at the Virgin River Gorge.
Earlier that morning, a call from my sister, who was concerned, nearly brought me to tears.
Having felt her emotion, I thought of the emotional and psychological impact of what had happened the night before — the grief and sorrow felt by all the families and friends of the 58 people who died in one night, in the same place, by the hands of one man.
I cannot fathom what that experience was like for those at the festival.
Sports Editor at Tooele Transcript Bulletin
Mark directs all editorial coverage of sports in addition to reporting on a wide range of events from high school football to international racing. He has a wealth of journalism experience, having worked for four other newspapers in the state. Mark grew up in Tooele County and graduated from Grantsville High School and Brigham Young University.
Latest posts by Mark Watson (see all)
Grantsville approves first phase of high-density development - July 18, 2019
Grantsville seeks more comments before finalizing new General Plan - July 18, 2019
In 1919, Women’s Club wants swimming pool in Tooele - July 18, 2019
Tooele-Opoly puts local twist on classic game
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PARSHAS BEHAR 5776
PARSHAS EMOR 5776
PARSHAS KEDOSHIM 5776
PARSHAS ACHREI MOS
Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – ASHAR
Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor
“CHARITY OF TIME”
The Gold family was sitting shiva for their revered father, Mr. Jack (Yaakov) Gold in October 1976. Rabbi Yaakov Pollack, Rabbi of Congregation Shomrei Emunah in Boro Park and a Maggid Shiur at Yeshiva University, entered the house and sat down. He said to the mourners, “You’re probably wondering why I came to be meanchem avel[1] Avie Gold, son of Jack Gold, when neither of them ever davened in my shul. I’ll explain it to you by relating the following story:
“Many years ago an Orthodox Jewish man was driving in Queens near a Jewish cemetery when he noticed an elderly lady standing under a bus shelter. He pulled over and asked her in Yiddish where she was heading. She answered that she was going home to Brooklyn, and she told him where she lived. He replied that he was heading to the same neighborhood and he would be happy to drive her home.
“During the drive to Brooklyn she explained that she had yahrtzeit and had come to the cemetery to daven. She had been waiting for the bus to take her home. They cordially conversed until he dropped her off in front of her home.
“Almost a year later the man called the elderly women, “Since we both have yahrtzeit on the same day and we live so close to each other I’m going to pick you up on the yahrzeit and we’ll go to the cemetery together, and then I’ll drive you home.”
“The scene repeated itself for a number of years until the elderly women passed away.
“Before she died, the women mentioned the story to her son and told him the name of the man who drove her to the cemetery every year on the yahrtzeit.
“The elderly women in the story was my mother, and the man was your father. So when I heard he passed away I came to express my gratitude and to tell you how special your father was.”
The mourners were moved by the story, but they realized that the story was far greater than he had realized because their father had not lived anywhere near her, nor did he have yahrtzeit on the same day as she did.
It is one thing to do a chesed for someone one time or to do a chesed when it is convenient. But for a person to go a few hours out of his way every year for a stranger demonstrates incredible selflessness. And what’s more amazing is that he never told anyone – not even his own family – about the story. Were it not for the fact that Rabbi Pollack told the Gold family the story, no one would have ever known. If Jack Gold did such clandestine chessed, there must have been many other stories that we will never know of[2].
“If your brother becomes impoverished and his means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him – proselyte or resident – so that he can live with you.”
The gemara[3] quotes Rabbi Yitzchak who said, “Anyone who gives a perutah (small copper coin) to a pauper is blessed with six blessings… and anyone who comforts him with words is blessed with eleven blessings.[4]”
Why is one who encourages a poor person considered so much greater than one who actually gives money to a poor person?
Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov Lubchansky zt’l explained that time is the most precious commodity we possess in the world. Time contains potential and opportunity for anything we want and hope to accomplish.
Someone who is willing to give up of his precious time to lend an ear and to give his attention and heart to another has given away of his most precious commodity in the world, and that is the highest level of charity.
When Moshe Rabbeinu ascended Sinai the Torah states, “Moshe arrived in the midst of the cloud and ascended the mountain; and Moshe was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.”
Ibn Ezra comments about those forty days in which Moshe did not eat or drink that “this was a great wonder; there was none like it before.”
Although Moshe’s ascension to heaven and his abstention from eating and drinking for forty days was surely a great miracle, was it greater than the miracles in Egypt or at the Splitting of the Sea?
Rabbi Chaim Kreisworth zt’l[5] explained that during those forty days Moshe became a quasi-angel, and that is why he did not need to eat or drink. During that time he did not have the challenges and struggles of this world because he was living an ethereal existence. However, if he did not have the struggles of this world he also could not obligated in the daily performance of mitzvos as they apply to mortals. He could not receive reward for his actions because he did not have to overcome his free choice in order to perform them.
The fact that Moshe Rabbeinu, who understood the unimaginable reward for the performance of every mitzvah better than anyone else, was willing to give up forty days of that reward so that he could learn and teach Torah to Klal Yisroel is absolutely incredible. It is about that uncanny altruistic sacrifice that Ibn Ezra writes was a greater wonder than anything that occurred until then.
One of the hallmarks of our Torah leaders is their profound understanding of the value of time. They are people who optimize their every minute and never have enough time for Torah study and their other various efforts on behalf of their people. Yet perhaps the most common feeling expressed by those who have the opportunity to spend even a few minutes with such leaders is an awed appreciation of how he made them feel special. “He spoke to me like there was nothing else in the world that mattered, like my issue was paramount in his mind.”
Rabbi Reuven Feinstein shlita related that he once came to discuss a pressing matter about the yeshiva with his illustrious father, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt’l. Before he had a chance to begin a well-dressed woman entered Rabbi Moshe’s office and began pouring out her troubles. It was quickly apparent that the woman was deranged. She related to Rabbi Moshe her harrowing experiences with aliens pursuing her. After a half-hour Rabbi Reuven prepared to stop her for his father’s sake. Rabbi Moshe stopped him and said, “Zee hot keinem nisht ihr ois tzuheren azeleche zachen – She has no one who will listen to her tell of such things.”
She continued talking for an hour and a half and only stopped because it was almost nightfall and that was when the aliens came out[6].
This all from a man who literally valued every moment of his life.
“You shall strengthen him”
“Anyone who comforts him… eleven blessings”
[1] “Console the mourner”
[2] I am deeply grateful to Rabbi Noach Sauber (a rebbe and mentor from Camp Dora Golding) who related this story to me. I am particularly grateful because Jack Gold is my great-uncle (father’s mother’s oldest brother). I verified the details of the story with my cousin, Rabbi Avie Gold, a noted writer.
[3] Bava Basra 9b
[4] Tosafos note that one who gives a pauper both money and encouragement merits all seventeen blessings
[5] Quoted in Ohel Moshe (Rabbi Moshe Sheinerman)
[6] From “Reb Moshe” by Rabbi Shimon Finkelman
“COUNTING DAYS”
Imagine there is a bank that credits your account with $86,400 each morning. It carries over no balance from day to day, and every evening it deletes whatever part of the balance you fail to use during the day. Wouldn’t you try to use every cent?
Every day has 86,400 seconds. Every second used well is yours forever. Every second wasted is lost forever.
Time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it’s called the present.[1]
The clock is ticking.
Throughout my High School years, somewhere towards the end of May, on the upper right-hand corner of the board in front of the classroom was posted the countdown of how many days were left until graduation. I remember watching the decreasing numbers enviously. Finally when I was a senior my classmates and I enjoyed the experience for ourselves. As the numbers decreased our excitement proportionately increased. Then on the morning before graduation there was a big number 1 that stood proudly in the box – just one more day; we had made it!
Truthfully, I loved High School, including my classmates, the student body, my rabbeim, and the atmosphere that pervaded the yeshiva. It was a special four years and an experience I knew I would miss. But graduation is an exciting milestone and so I couldn’t help but get swept up in the graduation fever and the final countdown.
Unlike all other holidays, Shavuos is not identified by a calendar date, but rather as the fiftieth day of the Omer count[2].
“You shall count for yourselves… seven weeks they shall be complete. Until the morrow of the seventh week you shall count, fifty days; and you shall offer a new meal-offering to G-d.[3]”
The Sefer Hachinuch[4] explains the purpose of the counting of the Omer: “We are to count from the day after the first (day of the) Yom Tov of Pesach until the day of the giving of the Torah (i.e. Shavuos) to demonstrate in our souls our tremendous desire for the honored day, for which our hearts pine like a servant yearns for shade. He should count constantly in anticipation ‘when will that desired time come when I will achieve my freedom?’ Counting demonstrates to a person that all of his hope and desire is to arrive at that time.”
There is a glaring question that emerges from the Sefer Hachinuch’s beautiful explanation of Sefiras Haomer: If the point of counting is to demonstrate our passionate and unbridled excitement for Shavuos, the anniversary of the day we received the Torah, why are we counting upwards? If our focus is only on our destination in time then the time that passed is seemingly irrelevant[5]. Would it not be more logical to count how many days are left?
Rabbi Shimshon Pinkus zt’l explains with a parable: If a desperately impoverished man wins the lottery and is informed that in thirty days he will receive a million dollars in one lump sum, those thirty days will feel like an eternity to him. The only thing between him and the money is the passage of the requisite amount of time, and so he will impatiently wait for those days to pass.
However, if the impoverished man who won the million dollar jackpot was told that he will receive ten thousand dollars a day for a hundred days, to him the days will pass all too quickly. The experience of getting such a significant amount of money each day is so enjoyable that he will savor the experience. Each day equals another ten thousand dollars in his pursuit of the full million. To him the days aren’t a mere period of waiting but a continual process of receiving his newfound fortune. Every day is invaluable to him.
The forty-nine day count to Shavuos and the receiving of the Torah is not merely a countdown of time. Rather, each day is a period of growth, a continuous amassing of spiritual greatness in preparation for our reacceptance of the Torah. The days of the counting of the Omer represent forty-nine days of spiritual treasures.
Rabbi Avigdor Miller zt’l[6] noted that Sefiras Haomer teaches us that we must count our days for each day is invaluable. “Every day is a precious bauble. Whether it is raining outside or snowing, the day is a precious opportunity. There is no such thing as spare time. If a person should live to the age of one hundred and twenty, when he reached his last day, he would still believe it had come too quickly. Think – what would you do if you only had one day of life? How valuable would that one day be?”
Rabbi Chaim Volozhiner zt’l would say that the greatest mussar shmooze (ethical discourse) in the world is a ticking clock. The clock continues to tick moment after moment, indicating the constantly fleeting passage of time.
Dovid Hamelech beseeches G-d[7], “Teach us to count our days, then we shall acquire a heart of wisdom.” He who knows how to take advantage of his time truly possesses a wise heart.
During the 1500s a Jewish man was arrested on trumped up charges. Despite the brutality of the prison the warden offered to grant him any one day to leave jail to pray in a synagogue.
The prisoner’s first thought was that he should choose Yom Kippur so he could spend the holiest day of the year in shul. Then he thought perhaps Pesach the holiday of our national freedom and the night of the Seder presented the greatest need for community. On Purim he might not have the chance to hear the Megillah unless he was in a synagogue.
The prisoner sent his question to the Radvaz[8]. The Radvaz replied that he should request his amnesty for the following day! There is no greater opportunity than the present. If he has the chance to daven with a minyan he should do so at the next available chance he has[9].
Rabbi Shach zt’l[10] commented that from when he reached the age of fifty he would say to himself every morning, “Lazar, remember today may be your last day. Make the most of it.”
The lesson of Sefiras Ha’omer is timeless: “Don’t count your days; make your days count!” After a week of weeks trying to internalize the incredible value of every day and every moment, then we are ready to receive the eternal transcendent Torah anew.
“You shall count for yourselves”
“Then we shall acquire a heart of wisdom.”
[1] A different version: "Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have - so spend it wisely" (Kay Lyons)
[2] which begins on the second day of Pesach, when the Omer offering was brought upon the altar
[3] Vayikra 23:15-16
[4] Mitzvah 306
[5] Such as when we were counting towards graduation we didn’t start fifty days before and count upwards to fifty, we counted how many days were left!
[6] “The Path of Life”, parshas Emor
[7] Tehillim 90:12
[8] Rabbi Dovid ben Zimra (1480 – 1573) Chief Rabbi of Egypt, Teshuvos HaRadvaz 13
[9] The Radvaz bases his response on the rule of “Ayn ma’avirin al hamitzvos – we do not pass over an opportunity to perform a mitzvah”. Therefore one must take advantage of the first available opportunity to perform a mitzvah that becomes available to him; also see Chacham Tzvi 106 who questions the Radvaz.
[10] Rabbi Eliezer (Lazer) Shach zt’l was the acknowledged Ponovezher Rosh Yeshiva and leader of the Yeshivah world who lived to 108 years old.
“PURITY OF EXPERIENCE”
Elderly woman breaks student's nose for failing to give up bus seat
Julian Ryall in Tokyo, 09 Jul 2010
Tamiko Masuta, 66, the manager of an apartment complex, was arrested after assaulting a teenager on a bus with her umbrella. According to witnesses, she flew into a rage when the student did not stand up and offer her his place, designated as a "silver seat" for elderly passengers. As well as striking him with an umbrella, the pensioner kicked the 18-year-old student and inflicted bruising as well as the broken nose.
Police said she has refused to either admit or deny the charges against her, but added that she has been questioned previously over assaults on students in buses in the city and been given verbal warnings about her conduct.
The incident in Nagasaki is symptomatic of the widening chasm between the generations in Japan, with older people continuing to expect young people to show the respect that is traditional in Japanese society for the elderly.
The Torah demands that we honor and show respect to the elderly and to one who has attained laudable levels of wisdom. “In the presence of an old person you shall rise, and you shall honor the presence of a zakain (sage).”[1]
The gemara[2] explains that ‘zakain’ refers to ‘zeh shakana chochma – this (one) who has acquired wisdom’. The word zakain only hints to ‘zeh shakanah’; how does the gemara know it refers to wisdom?
Chasam Sofer explains that by the world’s standards the more current or contemporary something is the more valuable and accurate it is. This is true in virtually all facets of knowledge - including science, medicine, technology and political science. What was once new and exciting quickly becomes archaic and outdated.
The notable exception is Torah. We make it our mission to try to understand the Torah as closely to its pristine form as possible. All of the explanations advanced in the last three thousand years, are only to gain deeper insight and understanding to the Torah as taught to Moshe Rabbeinu on Har Sinai. In fact, the greatest encomium is for one to say that a Torah thought is “Toras Moshe MiSinai”.
This is how Chazal derived that this pasuk must be referring to a Torah sage. The beginning of the pasuk refers to the honor that must be accorded to an older person. The next clause states that one must honor “one who has acquired”. What has he acquired? It must be referring to someone who has acquired something which, the older it is the more respect it deserves. That can only refer to the eternal wisdom of Torah.
In Parshas Vayigash, after Yosef reveals his true identity to his shocked brothers, he instructs them to hurry back to Canaan to bring Yaakov Avinu to Egypt. He sends with the brothers a gift for his father consisting of, “ten he-donkeys laden with the best of Egypt.”[3] The gemara[4] explains that Yosef sent his father ‘aged wine which pleases the elderly’. Maharsha explains that the elderly enjoy aged wine because it warms them.
Rav Shmuel Rozovsky zt’l explained[5] that as people age they feel their vitality wane. They don’t have the energy they once had, and they lack the agility of their youth. In the words of Koheles[6]: “The years will arrive when you will say ‘I have no pleasure in them’.”
It is for this very reason that the elderly have particular pleasure from aged wine. Unlike other foods and beverages which decay with time, the taste and value of wine only improves with age.
Yosef sent Yaakov a tremendous amount of aged wine to symbolize how invaluable Yaakov would be for Yosef, his family, and for all of Egypt. Yaakov would be the “aged wine” of all of Egypt.
Why there is such a breakdown of respect in our society is the subject of much discussion and debate. One component has to do with what we idolize and revere. In a society which venerates youth and external appearance, those who possess wrinkles and are no longer physically fit do not possess the value of athletes and celebrities. That’s a consequence of a superficial society, more interested with external appearances than attainment of depth and meaning.
The Torah however, supremely values wisdom and its pursuit. The gemara[7] relates that Rav Yochanan would stand up for every elderly person – even non-Jews because living life entails learning its lessons and gaining life experience, and that itself makes them worthy of respect.
Another reason for the breakdown of respect is that we are raising a generation who feel a strong sense of entitlement.
Psychologist, Dr Aric Sigman noted that, “Authority is a basic health requirement in children's lives. Children of the spoilt generation are used to having their demands met by their parents and others in authority, and that in turn makes them unprepared for the realities of adult life…This is partly the result of an inability to distinguish between being authoritative versus authoritarian, leaving concepts such as authority and boundaries blurred.”
The fact is that many children today lack proper boundaries, which leads to a lack of respect.
One of the fundamental ideas in the Torah is to be thankful for those who help us in any way. One who is humble and thankful is respectful as well.
The gemara[8] states that in the generation prior to the advent of Moshiach chutzpah will be prevalent. That surely does not mean that we should succumb to it. Rather, we must invest more effort to be respectful, and to teach our children that the Torah obligates us to be respectful.
There is no other country in the world besides Eretz Yisroel where the public transportation busses have a little sticker behind the driver on which is written the words of the pasuk, “In the presence of an old person you shall rise”. It is more than one of the commandments, it represents a basic value for Torah living – respect for wisdom and those who have attained it, even if only from life experience.
We owe great respect for those who, through their wisdom and years, connect us to our illustrious past. Those connections are vital in our desire and effort to connect ourselves with the greatest even of all – Kabbolas HaTorah.
“You shall honor the presence of a zakain”
“Laden with the best of Egypt”
[1] Vayikra 19:32
[2] Kiddushin 32b
[3] Bereishis 45:23
[4] Megillah 16b
[5] Quoted in Ohel Moshe (Rav Moshe Scheinerman)
[6] 12:1
[7] Kiddushin 33a
[8] Sotah
“INSPECT YOUR BRAKES”
Chrysler recall of vehicles for possible brake failure
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, senior writer January 19, 2010
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Chrysler Group is recalling about 24,000 late-model Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles to fix a defective part that could cause sudden, unexpected brake failure…
Some of these vehicles could have an improperly formed brake booster rod retaining clip, and some Ram trucks may have been built without the piece. The part is necessary for consistent and proper functioning of the brakes...
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Now It's the Brakes on the Prius, as Toyota Recall Spreads to Japan
Japanese Government Asks Car Maker to Investigate Brakes on 2010 Prius
BY MARGARET CONLEY -- ABC News
The Japanese government has called on Toyota to investigate a number of complaints about the 2010 Prius in North America and Japan, potentially spreading the carmaker's largest recall ever to its home country.
"While I was trying to park the car at home, I stepped on the brake pedal but didn't stop and I ran into my house," read the details of a complaint as translated on the Ministry of Transport's homepage.
Toyota’s Top Executive Under Rising Pressure
By Hiroko Tabuchi and Bill Vlasic - NY Times
NAGOYA, Japan — When Akio Toyoda took control last summer of the company started by his grandfather, his challenge was to lead Toyota out of its worst financial crisis in half a century.
That, it turned out, was the easy part.
Since last fall, Mr. Toyoda and his top United States executives have been struggling to find the words to calm consumers about the safety of Toyota’s cars, and it is proving to be a far more difficult task than fixing the company’s finances.
After the first big recall of Toyota vehicles last fall, Mr. Toyoda said publicly that the company was a step away from “capitulation to irrelevance or death.” The company, he added, was “grasping for salvation.”…
The company has recalled about nine million cars worldwide, and reports are growing of fatal accidents involving possibly defective Toyota vehicles.
Honda Brake Problems Lead to Recall of 412,000 Minivans and SUVs
A recall is being issued for approximately 412,000 Honda Odyssey minivans and Honda Element sport utility vehicles (SUVs) due to brake problems that have caused a number of crashes.
The Honda brake recall was announced on Tuesday by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. after the Japanese automaker received complaints that the brakes in certain 2007-2008 model year vehicles felt “soft” and lost effectiveness over time.
Defective manufacturing allows air to slowly enter into the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) modulator, which is part of the brake systems of the recalled vehicles, Honda said. This results in the brakes not engaging until the pedal is pushed closer to the floor than usual, and the Honda brake problems may worsen over time.
The Torah introduces its discussion about the details of the Yom Kippur Service performed by the Kohain Gadol by stating that G-d instructed these laws to Moshe, “After the death of the two sons of Aharon, when they approached before G-d, and they died[1].”
The Torah seems to be conveying that there is a vital lesson to be learned from the death of the sons of Aharon that must preface the unique and holy Yom Kippur Service. What is that underlying message?
The commentators offer numerous explanations for what exactly was the sin that Nadav and Avihu, the two righteous sons of Aharon, committed that warranted immediate death in the sanctuary. The Torah states, “Nadav and Avihu died before G-d when they offered an alien fire before G-d…[2]” Righteous and holy as they were, Nadav and Avihu were guilty of overzealousness. In their unyielding excitement and burning desire to serve G-d they performed an act which had not been authorized by G-d.
Their death served as a vital example that one cannot dictate G-d’s Will. It is not within our purview to compose our own dictates and laws, and we have no right to add to His Commandments. Rather it is incumbent upon us to adhere to the laws and commandments of G-d as He commands them[3].
This idea had to be understood before Aharon could be instructed about the Yom Kippur Service. On the holiest day of the year the holiest man in the world was to enter the holiest place on earth. At such an intense moment he may be tempted to add to the Service. He may be seized with such feelings of devotion and love to G-d that he may want to do more than what he was instructed. Thus does the Torah commence its narrative of the Yom Kippur Service by invoking the memory of the tragic death of Nadav and Avihu. He must remember that the Service is Divinely ordained. The Kohain Gadol would only be able to achieve penitence and forgiveness for the nation if he followed the prescribed modus operandi.
In the Hagaddah we quote the verse[4], “And I passed over you and I saw you downtrodden in your blood and I said to you: “Through your blood shall you live!” And I said to you: “Through your blood shall you live”.”
Rashi explains that the prophet repeats the words, “In your blood you shall live” in reference to the ‘two bloods’ in whose merit our forefathers were redeemed from Egypt: the blood of the Pesach sacrifice and the blood of circumcision[5].
However, the Torah records a different merit for which they were redeemed from Egypt, “This shall be your sign that I have sent you: When you take the people out of Egypt, you will cause them to serve G-d on this mountain[6].” In other words, the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt because they were destined to receive the Torah at Sinai. If so, why did they need the merits of the blood of circumcision and the blood of the Pesach offering?
Rabbi Yaakov Galinsky zt”l explains with a personal anecdote:
“I was once traveling on a bus from Tel Aviv to Rechovot to teach. Next to the driver there was a sign posted which said the following: “Driver, check the belamim before you go on your way.” The sign was signed by ‘the committee for the prevention of car accidents’.
I asked the driver what the sign said. He replied, “Don’t you know Hebrew?” I answered that I was from B’nei Brak and only knew Biblical Hebrew. The word בלמים was a Modern Hebraic word.
The driver was only too happy to explain, “You see every car has בלמים, what you call ‘brakes’. At times the brakes can become jammed or disconnected making it impossible to stop the bus, which can cause an accident. Therefore, the sign reminds all drivers to be proactive, by making sure the brakes are in perfect working order before they pull out of the parking lot.”
I nodded, “Now I understand. But tell me; is the sign for people too?” He looked at me with a look of perplexity. I explained, “Every person also travels along a road. It’s a long road which begins in our youth and continues into our old age. Our brakes are our power of restraint, our ability to hold ourselves back from wrongdoing and to swallow our pride when necessary. How many ‘accidents’ happen because people fail to test their brakes and make sure they are greased and in good working order before they get onto that road? What a great and profound reminder; we always have to check our brakes before we begin our journey down the roads of life.”
Based on that story, Rabbi Galinski explained that in truth our ultimate merit for leaving Egypt was because we were going to receive the Torah at Sinai, as promised to our ancestors. However, before we could begin our trek towards that acceptance we had to ensure that our brakes were in perfect working order. Did we have the fortitude and courage to say no, i.e. to defiantly reject the culture and belief system of our captors who enslaved us for over two centuries? We had to prove ourselves worthy to receive the Torah.
We proved that we were committed by circumcising ourselves and thereby engraving the mark of distinctiveness into our bodies, and by slaughtering the lamb, the god of the Egyptians. Only when we had proven that our brakes were vibrant and strong were we ready to exercise our true merit, the fact that we were destined to become the Torah nation.
Before the Kohain Gadol could begin the elite Yom Kippur Service he had to ensure that he understood his limits. He could not allow himself to be overcome by passion and love. He had to know his boundaries and the laws which governed his every action during those most intense moments of the Holy Day.
And before Klal Yisroel could leave Egypt to accept the Torah they too had to know the limitations and boundaries. The Torah is not an added set of laws and dictates which must be adhere to but a completely different way of life. It represents a new direction on a completely new road. Before heading down that road they had to ensure that they were prepared to undertake that challenge; they had to ensure that their brakes were strong.
After a baby is circumcised the Mohel calls out, “זה הקטן גדול יהיה – This small/young one, shall become great.” Now that he has been entered into the covenant of our patriarch Avrohom, he has been indelibly marked with the symbol of the distinctness and diverseness of a Jew. In doing so he has begun his quest to become a גדול.
On the tenth of Nissan when the Jewish people heeded G-d’s command to transcend their fear and set aside a lamb for its eventual slaughter in full view of the Egyptians, that too was a mark of greatness. The Jews had demonstrated that they dared to be different, and that transformed them into גדולים - great people.
The courage to be unique and different, to not succumb or submit to the surrounding culture, and to be able to ‘step on the brakes’ vis-à-vis the trends of the times, is a symbol of greatness. Therefore, the day when Klal Yisroel set aside the lambs following their circumcision, was a day of transformation when they became גדולים - great people. How apt then that the Shabbos prior to Pesach is titled, ‘Shabbos Hagadol – the great Shabbos’ or ‘the Shabbos of the great’. It is the Shabbos when we set out on the path towards greatness by demonstrating our national maturity as a special and unique nation.
“After the death of the two sons of Aharon”
“Through your blood shall you live”
[2] Bamidbar 3:4
[3] This should not be confused with customs and personal/communally accepted stringencies which are important and necessary. Here we are discussing adding to G-d’s commands, as opposed to differences in understanding of what the command is, or going beyond the letter of the law.
[4] Yechezkel 16:6
[5] In order to partake of the Pesach offering all males had to be circumcised. Since the overwhelming majority of the nation had never been circumcised during the Egyptian exile they had to do so just days before the redemption. Then on the day prior to the exodus they slaughtered the Pascal lamb, despite the fact that the lamb was the god of the Egyptians. They then smeared the blood of the offering upon their doorposts. It was in the merit of these two acts which involved the flowing of blood that we ‘lived’, i.e. were redeemed from Egyptian bondage.
[6] Shemos 3:12
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The David Glass Ensemble, La Dolce Vita - A Musical
Using the imagery of Frederick Fellini’s classic film La Dolce Vita, David Glass creates a musical reinterpretation of the story. The choreography, design and lighting conjure up a spectacularly stylish world with fine performances from a multitalented ensemble. La Dolce Vita tells the story of Marcello Rubini (vividly played by Gerard Casey), a journalist who realises too late in life that he has allowed himself to become misdirected and has lost his way. David Glass with writer Paul Sand focus on this aspect of Fellini’s narrative, bringing Rubini’s irrevocable and degrading personal descent to the fore. They develop the character of Steiner (Johnson Willis), thus paralleling Fellini’s own source influence, Dante’s Divine Comedy. Thus, by being true to Fellini’s sources and collaborators, David Glass – with his own sources and collaborators – celebrates a fine work. Like Fellini, Glass believes that by placing the music as an integral part of the production, the emotional response of the audience is heightened and the poetic sensibility in the narrative is enhanced. This production, for its content and form, will probably not prove popular. But it may originate more original approaches to musical theatre in the future.
David Glass Ensemble
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Antisocial Media: Is It Changing Society?
Eliana R., Middle School Staff Writer
Social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Snapchat, and Facebook have changed the world and the way people communicate, but is it for better or for worse? Lately, social media has been so popular that people would often rather talk to their friends online than to talk to them face to face. People have many different opinions on this topic, whether they agree that it is affecting us in a good way or in a bad way. As someone who uses most of the social media apps, one might agree that they do make us less social in person, but on the Internet people can meet new people through online connections.
Facebook was the first online creation that begun the wave of social media. It was created by Mark Zuckerberg, in 2004 when he was 19 years old. Facebook is a great way to communicate with friends and show them what you’ve been up to. The social media forum has come a long way since then and has improved a lot. Now there is Facebook messenger, which provides the ability to message friends without anyone else seeing. Facebook has about 1.317 billion users active monthly and 829 million daily users.
The next big hit in social networking was Instagram. Instagram is all about showing your friends what you’re up to and just how artsy you are. Instagram was created in 2010 by Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom, both in their late 20s. Instagram rapidly gained popularity in less than a year, with over 100 million users. There are an average of 75 million daily Instagram users and an average of 200 million users active monthly.
Instagram also inspired a huge new company called Snapchat. Snapchat was created by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy in 2011. Snapchat is a way to privately message your friends through pictures, lasting only a few seconds, without anyone seeing. Spiegel and Murphy were offered $3 billion for their company by Facebook before it was even popular, but made a gut move to keep it and see where it would take them. There are 100 million active users on Snapchat monthly and about 400 million snapchats sent each day.
A lot of people are now on social networks and are obsessing over what they should post or if they got enough likes. Now, people would rather comment on someone’s Instagram telling them that they are pretty than to tell them face to face. Not only does social media make us less social, but they are also very dangerous because of the many predators lurking in the shadows of the networks.
Social media has both pros and cons, but overall the most important thing to remember is to be careful and aware of who is online.
Tags: Facebook, Instagram, social media, Twitter
One Response to “Antisocial Media: Is It Changing Society?”
Rory Ismail on October 29th, 2014 12:34 pm
I sometimes wonder if social medias are changing this world for the world.
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The Everglory scam: productivity incentive shot to pieces
Posted by alex on June 25, 2017 in Articles, Stories
Bikas (left) and Mazibar (right) were two highly experienced workers from the group of five
This is a story of how one branch of the government undermines what another branch is trying to do.
Low productivity in the construction industry has been a concern for years. Among the measures being tried is a push to get construction companies to have higher-skilled or more experienced workers. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA), on its webpage “Raising the Quality and Productivity of the Construction Workforce” laid down a rule that by 1 January 2017, ten percent of Work Permit holders must be of R1 category. This same rule also appears on the Ministry of Manpower’s website.
R1 can be achieved through four pathways, three of which are through additional training. The fourth pathway is termed “Market-based skills recognition framework”, which provides for a Work Permit holder to be classed as R1 if he has at least six years’ construction experience in Singapore and earns a fixed monthly salary of $1,600 or more.
As a sweetener, the monthly foreign worker levy is lower for an R1 worker. It is $300 per month compared to $650 per month for the lower category of R2 (to be increased to $700 per month from 1 July 2017). Link.
Five men from Everglory
Three men showed up in TWC2’s office in September 2016, all employees of Everglory Construction Pte Ltd. Two more showed up in December. They had come to Singapore and started work with this company between May and October 2015. Through these months, they were paid less than their correct salaries. By August 2016, they had had enough and jointly lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Everglory Construction Pte Ltd’s sole shareholder (paid-up capital $100,000) is Huang Guixing with a Jurong West address. It was incorporated on 14 July 2014.
The five men’s case went to the ministry’s administrative tribunal, known as the Labour Court, which, after hearings on the matter, issued an order in their favour. Everglory Construction was ordered to pay the five men a total of $18,000. The order was dated 30 November 2016, which meant that the due date for payment was 14 December.
TWC2 case officer Jason Lee was perplexed by the $18,000 figure (the total for all five men). “I calculated the amount that the company should be paying Bikas (one of the five men), and that alone came to around $14,100,” he noted. The latter figure was net of the partial payments Bikas had received through the course of the year. “But the Labour Court Order only awarded him a little over $3,300.”
Anu, another of the five men, had a similar mismatch between the claim amount and the award. His claim totalled $20,743 but the Labour Court only awarded him $4,515.
It is not clear how the Labour Court arrived at its figure. The frustrating thing is that no written judgement is issued by the Labour Court so the reasoning applied is opaque. However, based on the arguments presented at the court, Anu, for example, believed that the Assistant Commissioner for Labour (who presided over the hearings), based the award on a basic salary of $26 per day. The award was for the two months he had not been paid computed at this rate of pay, together with recovery of some unauthorised deductions.
It wasn’t long before TWC2 connected the dots; the contours of the ‘scam’ began to emerge.
The ‘R1 scam’
It’s like this: All the five men had been promised basic salaries of $1,600 or slightly more. This figure can be seen in their In-Principle Approvals for Work Permit (IPA) which is a letter that MOM sent them prior to their joining Everglory Construction. The IPA informed the prospective employee about the employment details that the employer had declared (to MOM) at the time of applying for a Work Permit for him.
Bikas’ IPA (above) and Anu’s (below) state basic and fixed monthly salaries of $1,600 and $1,625 respectively
But soon after starting work, their pay was adjusted down to a much lower figure, for example, $26 a day in Anu’s case. This is equivalent to only $620 a month, a far cry from the $1,625 per month declared in Anu’s IPA. This difference is the chief reason for the huge discrepancy between their claimed amounts and the Labour Court’s awards.
It’s not hard to wonder about the motive behind the employer’s behaviour. Declaring to MOM that these workers — who each had over six years’ experience — would be paid at least $1,600 in basic salary, would mean that they would be classed as R1, thereby permitting the company to meet the ten-percent rule. The company would also enjoy lower levy rates for employing each of these men. But perhaps the company felt that they could save more money by not even paying the men the promised salaries?
Naturally, the workers were unhappy with the reduced salary. Having paid recruitment fees which are now unrecoverable, they stayed on in the job for at least the money they could get, all the while hoping that their employer would make up the arrears before long. After eight to ten months — some workers joined a little later than others — they gave up hope of getting those arrears and marched off to MOM.
Legitimising the scam
This is where they would be further disappointed. It is unclear what rationale the company gave to the Labour Court for slashing their salaries, but going by other cases that TWC2 has come across, it would likely have been something along the lines of poor business and inability to afford the initially agreed salaries. And this is the other frustrating thing about MOM and its Labour Court. It has a strong tendency to give the benefit of doubt to employers, accept their reasoning and then endorse the reduced salary rates. There are many cases like this one involving the five Everglory men, where the men can point out that their salaries were slashed right from the beginning. If the company had already been in poor shape then, why was it promising $1,600 basic salaries? Prima facie, this kind of behaviour is suspicious and should be read as an insincere promise, and a sign that it had no intention to honour the implicit employment contract.
Regretfully, the Labour Court decision did not reflect this degree of insight. Nor did it refer to the following guidelines and bylaws that MOM itself had set out:
In an FAQ sheet, MOM said:
If my WPH [Work Permit Holder employee] met the Market-Based Skills Recognition requirements and obtained a ‘Higher Skilled’ (R1) status, but due to unforeseen circumstances, his salary was reduced, will he still qualify for ‘Higher Skilled’ (R1)? If not, will he be downgraded immediately?
Employers are required to declare to MOM if their employees’ salaries are reduced. A failure to declare is an offence and may subject you to penalties. If the WPH’s salary is reduced to less than $1,600 per month, he will no longer qualify for ‘Higher Skilled’ (R1) under the MBF. The WPH will be considered ‘Higher Skilled’ if he meets the other skills upgrading pathways.
In the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act >> subsidiary legislation Employment of Foreign Manpower (Work Passes) Regulations 2012 >> Fourth Schedule (Conditions and Regulatory Conditions of Work Permits) >> Part IV >> Section 6A, it says:
6A.—(1) The employer shall not —
(a) reduce the foreign employee’s basic monthly salary or fixed monthly allowances to an amount less than that declared as such in the work pass application submitted to the Controller in relation to the foreign employee; or
(b) increase the amount of fixed monthly deductions to more than that declared as such in the work pass application submitted to the Controller in relation to the foreign employee,
except with the foreign employee’s prior written agreement.
(2) Before implementing such reduction or increase, as the case may be, the employer shall inform the Controller in writing of the proposed reduction or increase, as the case may be.
(Emphases added by us)
As can be seen, the Labour Court does not even implement MOM’s own written bylaws. The Everglory workers never gave prior written consent to a reduced salary.
Considerable injustice is done to workers this way. They came on a promise of a certain salary only to be deprived of it and then this deprivation is endorsed by MOM’s own processes contrary to the ministry’s own rules.
Undermining State policy
If one looks at the bigger picture, it is even worse. On the one hand we had policy-makers in MOM and the BCA putting in a ten-percent R1 requirement to push contractors to upskill their workforces and improve productivity. Creating a salary floor at $1,600 is part of this aim as it will incentivise mechanisation. On the other hand, this incentive is negated when the Labour Court legitimises the lower salaries post-facto.
Another aspect of this aim — to use fewer, more experienced workers to improve productivity — is also negated: With the inflated-at-no-extra-cost number of R1 workers, this allowed the employers to hire more R2 workers (at a ratio of nine R2s to one R1).
Even more, the employers meanwhile would have gotten away with paying a reduced levy for these R1 workers which strictly speaking should have been classed as R2 since they weren’t paid at least $1,600. The government got cheated too!
In late March, TWC2 mentioned our observations to MOM. It appeared from officials’ reaction that they had not noticed this pattern of behaviour by employers. We also notified BCA that their policy was being undermined not only by employers, but by MOM’s Labour Court too. BCA said they’d look into it.
Meanwhile, the Everglory five waited for the employer to pay up on the pathetic amount that the Labour Court awarded them (due on 14 December 2016). In vain. The employer said it wouldn’t pay, and that, apparently, is the end of it. The men told TWC2 that MOM had advised them that there was nothing more the ministry could do to enforce their own Labour Court order, and that they would be repatriated.
See also Today Weekend carries out Everglory scam story
By Darren Oei Rama, a forty-ish Indian national, comes up to TWC2 volunteer Alex, giving him an update to his case. Alex nods and says “Good, that’s good,” though I can’t make sense of what Rama is saying. Then for some reason, Rama turns to me and continues telling me his good news, but he...
Veluchamy Duraisamy is a happy worker. On or around 4 August 2014, he (more or less) won his case at the Labour Court. He is extremely grateful to TWC2. It might have turned out very differently without us. Durai had to go to the Labour Court eight times to get his overtime pay, leaving the...
Posted on August 31, 2014 in Articles, Stories
By Sean Yee In Parliament on 6 February 2017, Manpower minister Lim Swee Say said, “MOM received about 9,000 salary-related claims involving some 4,500 employers in 2016. So, 9,000 claims; 4,500 employers. Through mediation by MOM and adjudication by the Labour Court, we have been able to resolve more than 95% of these claims.” This...
Posted on April 8, 2017 in Articles, Stories
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Agartala airport to soon become the third international airport in Northeast India
At present, Northeast has only two international, one at Guwahati and the other at Imphal, which was turned into an international airport just two years ago. As of now, Agartala airport, after Guwahati’s Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, is the busiest airport in Northeast India.
Pranajit Singha Roy, Tripura Transport and Tourism minister mentioned that the airport would be completed by the end of this year. In case the task is hampered by heavy rains during the monsoon or any other reason, early 2020 will see the completion of this project. The state government has already allotted 72 acres of land to AAI for the project.
A few days back, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb was visiting Delhi, where he had a long discussion with the Civil Aviation Minister about the upgradation of the airport according to the international standards. An official from the Chief Minister’s Office informed that Deb’s request was taken quite positively by the Union Civil Aviation Minister Raj Kumar Singh.
The airport in Agartala was built by then King Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur back in the year 1942. Also, it has major historical significance, as, during the World War II, the airport was extensively used by the US army.
Tags : # the third international airport,
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The Central Seminary Scheme
In the years following the restoration of the English and Welsh hierarchy in 1850, a lot thought was given to establishing diocesan seminaries.
Seminaries, in fact, are an English idea. In 1556, Cardinal Pole laid the idea before a synod of the English Church, and though, as is well-known, events were to overtake him and his scheme, the Council of Trent was to pick up the idea and run with it. Trent's idea (Session 23, Chapter 18, Cum Adolescentium Aetas) is that each diocese should have its own seminary, situated near the Cathedral and bishop, to mutual benefit. The bishop can get to know his future clergy, and imbue them with his vision for the diocese; in some sense, the seminarians can be apprenticed to him. The Cathedral, too, would benefit from experienced and professional serving—real clerics performing the appropriate role allotted to their order.
In England, during the Second Spring, bishops wanted to implement this, but there were a lot of difficulties, the major one being finance. So the plan was slow to get off the ground.
Westminster Diocese had trained its students at St Edmund's, Old Hall Green, Ware, which was half of the old Douai college, the other half having gone to Ushaw. Both places also, like Douai, doubled as secondary schools for boys, and even, to some extent, substituted for the Universities that Catholics were forbidden to attend (initially by the Universities' rules, and then by the Church's own).
Cardinal Manning tried to remedy that for Westminster, trying an abortive University in Kensington, and, only a little more successfully, a proper dedicated seminary in Hammersmith. This has as its patron St Thomas of Canterbury, and its buildings now house the Sacred Heart Convent and School. I think that they were also used for filming part of Nuns on the Run, but I'm not certain.
St Thomas' was not a happy place, it is said, but it endured until Manning's death. However, almost the first act of the new Archbishop, Bernard Vaughan, was to decree its closure. He did this, rather tactlessly, on the seminary's feast day itself, 29th December 1892. His decision was not to send the students back to St Edmunds (Cardinal Bourne was to do that), but instead to establish a Central Seminary for the whole south and midlands of England. This was to be domiciled at Oscott.
It didn't quite work. He knew that the scheme would never manage to draw in Ushaw, so he left that alone. Wonersh had only just been founded, and so he thought that if he applied a little pressure, Wonersh could function as a junior seminary, and the seniors could go to Oscott. The bishop of Southwark, John Baptist Butt, and the first Rector, Francis Bourne (later the Cardinal) fought furiously to preserve their own seminary, and in the end won their right to independence.
It should be pointed out that Vaughan himself came to regret what he had done. A central seminary has a lot of advantages—the sharing of resources, for one. But it entirely lacks that necessary connection between bishop and student that makes a good seminary. Vaughan was to find that by sending Westminster students to Oscott, he lost all control over their formation, this coming under the Bishop of Birmingham instead (it did not have an archbishop until 1911). And, as I mentioned, Bourne was to bring the Westminster students back to St Edmund's in 1904 (he had succeeded Vaughan in 1903).
Now why do I write all this? Well really because I hear on the grapevine (from a source in the north of England) that the idea of a central seminary at Oscott is being talked about again among the bishops. With the closure of St Cuthbert's Ushaw now on the cards, and the majority of students to be moved to Oscott, there is talk of making the seminary at Oscott a national one, which would entail the closure also of Allen Hall and Wonersh (though presumably not Valladolid or Rome).
Please, your graces and your lordships, think well about this. A seminary is a kind of a home and common inheritance for priests who have surrendered these things for the sake of the Gospel. And, most particularly, you will yourselves lose influence over your students and their education. As in so many other things, expensive committees will take over your own roles, and though Eccleston Square can no doubt find time to do it on behalf of the Bishops' Conference, your own input will be severely restricted, and you will not feel able to intervene on behalf of your own students should you believe it to be necessary.
Our seminaries may be small, but they are ours. They can be decanted into smaller, more economic, buildings, should this be thought necessary (I wish they had done that at Ushaw), but they should not lose their local nature. They are part of the inheritance of the particular churches; in one sense they are the family silver which should not be lightly disposed of. The principle of subsidiarity suggests that one should not let economic considerations do the driving in this instance.
Sadie Vacantist said...
The answer is to shut down all the English seminaries. The local model is no longer working as the local Church has collapsed. Not that things in Rome or Valladolid are much better but moving the students abroad reflects the reality of our situation here in England and Wales where decades of contraception and modernism have finally taken their toll.
Et Expecto said...
I am sure that you are aware, Father, that a movement is gathering momentum in the north of England to save Ushaw. Unfortunately, at the present time it lacks co-ordination, with many of the proposers not having viable stratergy. That is the only objective is to save Ushaw.
I have put forward a business proposition to the trustees of Ushaw College which is, I believe, viable. This is for a new trust to be formed to expand the existing business activities based around the college and its estate. These mostly concern the running of a conference centre, which already is a significant profit centre.
I am in touch with people who are prepared to invest the necessary amounts of money to make this work. With enhanced revenue from these sources, the overheads of running the extensive buildings could be met with or without a seminary. It would then be up to the bishops to decide whether they wished to continue to have a seminary in the remaining parts of the buildings. These are so vast that there would be plenty of space.
This way the heritage, especially the library and St Cuthbert's Chapel, would be saved at no cost to the Church, and the retention of the seminary would remain an open question.
One suggestion is that Ushaw College could become a seminary with a leaning towards the traditional rites. That is, there would more emphasis on Latin, Gregorian Chant and the traditional liturgies etc. Such a seminary could be run by the bishops, and I understand that consideration has already been given to a system whereby each seminary was specialist in a particular area.
Alternatively, an independent traditional seminary could be established at Ushaw.
One thing I an confident of, is that, given good will on the part of the bishops, a more traditional seminary would not be short of students.
pelerin said...
That sounds like a cry from the heart, Father. I do hope you are listened to by the powers that be. It is sad indeed for the ordinary layman to hear about these closures so how much sadder it must be for Priests whose home the seminaries had been for so many years.
Thank you, Pelerin; you are right.
Old Ushite said...
"Please, your graces and your lordships, think well about this. .... And, most particularly, you will yourselves lose influence over your students and their education. ....your own input will be severely restricted, and you will not feel able to intervene on behalf of your own students should you believe it to be necessary."
It looks like this has been the case with Ushaw - and there are really only 8 bishops feeding it seminarians from the Northern Province and Shrewsbury.
A disastrous lack of influence by the bishops (well, those who sent men there), and the enormously dangerous influence of a (mainly) mediocre faculty - some with their own 'agenda' - along with one or two of the more powerful bishops.
Paul Mallinder said...
I loved reading your post on the history of our Seminaries because I had little understanding (Zero) of our tradition in this area. I do agree that our prospective candidates need to be close to their local Bishops BUT they also need to be very close to Peter (in my simple judgement :) ). I would not want my children to grow up in their Catholic faith that is not in harmony with Peter. Enough said me think!
The Pope will present Thought for the Day
Down to earth with a bang—
Solstice — fulcite me floribus
Our new Nuncio
Prayers please
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Report on Dukono (Indonesia) — 27 February-5 March 2019
Smithsonian / US Geological Survey Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 27 February-5 March 2019
Global Volcanism Program, 2019. Report on Dukono (Indonesia). In: Sennert, S K (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 27 February-5 March 2019. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.
Volcano Profile | Weekly Report (27 February-5 March 2019)
Based on satellite and wind model data, ground observations, and notices from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 27 February-5 March ash plumes from Dukono rose to altitudes of 2.1-2.4 km (7,000-8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions. On 28 February two plumes rising from the crater were visible; a northern plume was identified in satellite images and a southern plume rising to less than 1.5 km (5,000 ft) a.s.l. was reported by a ground observer. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and visitors were warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Geologic Background. Reports from this remote volcano in northernmost Halmahera are rare, but Dukono has been one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes. More-or-less continuous explosive eruptions, sometimes accompanied by lava flows, occurred from 1933 until at least the mid-1990s, when routine observations were curtailed. During a major eruption in 1550, a lava flow filled in the strait between Halmahera and the north-flank cone of Gunung Mamuya. This complex volcano presents a broad, low profile with multiple summit peaks and overlapping craters. Malupang Wariang, 1 km SW of the summit crater complex, contains a 700 x 570 m crater that has also been active during historical time.
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Teresa Scassa
Class action lawsuit by Quebec taxi drivers against Uber is certified
On January 24, 2017, Justice Peacock of the Quebec Superior Court certified a class action law suit against Uber Technologies and three of its related companies. The plaintiff, a Quebec taxi driver and permit holder, represents a class of plaintiffs consisting of individuals and companies who are holders of taxi permits and/or licences to drive taxis in designated regions of Quebec since October 28, 2013. That date marks the moment when UberX services became available in Quebec.
The law suit seeks compensation from Uber and its related companies for damages alleged to have been suffered by the plaintiffs as a result of Uber’s unlicensed and unauthorized operations in Quebec. The alleged damages include the loss of revenue suffered by drivers and permit owners, as well as the loss of value of taxi permits. Because the Quebec government authorized a pilot project in Quebec in the fall of 2016 which provides a framework for UberX to be legally deployed in the province, Justice Peacock restricted the period during which damages could be claimed to between October 28, 2013 and October 15, 2016 – the period of Uber’s alleged unauthorized operations in Quebec.
The certification of a class action law suit is far from a decision on the merits of the case. At this early stage, the court’s role is to filter out applications that are entirely without merit. The plaintiff need only show that he or she has an arguable case. Justice Peacock found that the representative plaintiff in this case had met that threshold. He framed the questions to be decided in the lawsuit as whether the defendants, through their activities in Quebec, had violated laws, including those relating to the taxi business. If so, it would be necessary to determine whether they had engaged in unfair competition. If they are found to be at fault, the court would have to determine the appropriate quantum of damages for both drivers and permit owners, both in terms of lost revenue and devaluation of permits.
Justice Peacock noted that, while not determinative of the issues in this case, a judge in another Quebec case had recently found that Uber drivers were acting outside the law by offering taxi services without the proper permits. Justice Peacock found that this earlier decision at least lent some credence to the view that the class plaintiff had an arguable case. He also found that there was sufficient evidence to support the argument that the class had suffered both lost revenues and lost value of their permits. Noting that the court could take judicial notice of the law of supply and demand, he observed that the value of a taxi permit in Quebec would necessarily be devalued if a considerable number of UberX drivers began offering services in competition with taxis.
Uber Technologies, the California-based company responsible for the development of the Uber app argued that it should not be joined as a defendant in the suit since its only connection to the province of Quebec was via the availability of its app in virtual app stores. It argued that this was too tenuous a connection to give rise to the court’s jurisdiction. Further, it argued that its actions in developing an app were not per se illegal. The court dismissed this argument noting that under Quebec law, courts may take jurisdiction over a matter where a fault is committed in Quebec or where harm is caused in that province. In this case, Justice Peacock noted, if the app developed by Uber Technologies was used to facilitate the commission of the delict (tort) of unfair competition in Quebec, then this in and of itself could be actionable.
Although the class action lawsuit by Quebec taxi drivers and permit holders has cleared an initial hurdle, it is a long way from being over. The case will be interesting to watch as municipalities across Canada struggle to address the challenges posed by the rise of ride-sharing services such as UberX and their disruption of incumbent taxi industries.
Published in E-Commerce & Internet Law
platform economy
Election Advertising Registration Requirements: the SCC balances transparency with civil liberties
How does one balance transparency with civil liberties in the context of election campaigns? This issue is at the core of a decision just handed down by the Supreme Court of Canada.
B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association v. Attorney-General (B.C.) began as a challenge by the appellant organization to provisions of B.C.’s Election Act that required individuals or organizations who “sponsor election advertising” to register with the Chief Electoral Officer. Information on the register is publicly available. The underlying public policy goals to allow the public to see who is sponsoring advertising campaigns during the course of elections. The Supreme Court of Canada easily found this objective to be “pressing and substantial”.
The challenge brought by the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (BCFIPA) was based on the way in which the registration requirement was framed in the Act. The Canada Elections Act also contains a registration requirement, but the requirement is linked to a spending threshold. In other words, under the federal statute, those who spend more than $500 on election advertising are required to register; others are not. The B.C. legislation is framed instead in terms of a general registration requirement for all sponsors of election advertising. BCFIPA’s concern was that this would mean that any individual who placed a handmade sign in their window, who wore a t-shirt with an election message, or who otherwise promoted their views during an election campaign would be forced to register. Not only might this chill freedom of political expression in its own right, it would raise significant privacy issues for individuals since they would have to disclose not just their names, but their addresses and other contact information in the register. Thus, the BCFIPA sought to have the registration requirement limited by the Court to only those who spent more than $500 on an election campaign.
The problem in this case was exacerbated by the position taken by B.C.’s Chief Electoral Officer. In a 2010 report to the B.C. legislature, he provided his interpretation of the application of the legislation. He expressed the view that it did not “distinguish between those sponsors conducting full media campaigns and individuals who post handwritten signs in their apartment windows.” (at para 19). This interpretation of the Election Act was accepted by both the trial judge and at the Court of Appeal, and it shaped the argument before those courts as well as their decisions.
The Supreme Court of Canada took an entirely different approach. They interpreted the language “sponsor election advertising” to mean something other than the expression of political views by individuals. In other words, the statute applied only to those who sponsored election advertising – i.e., those who paid for election advertising to be conducted or who received such services as a contribution. The Court was of the view that the public policy behind registration requirements was generally sound. It found that a legislature could mitigate the impact on freedom of expression by either setting a monetary threshold to trigger the requirement (as is the case at the federal level) or by defining sponsorship to exclude individual expression (as was the case in B.C.). While it is true that the B.C. statute could still capture organized activities involving expenditures of less than $500, and might thus have some limiting effect, the Court found that this would not be significant for a number of reasons, and that such impacts were easily reconcilable with the benefits of the registration scheme.
The decision of the Supreme Court of Canada will be useful in clarifying the scope and impact of the Election Act and in providing guidance for similar statutes. It should be noted however, that the case traveled to the Supreme Court of Canada at great cost both to BCFIPA and to the taxpayer because of either legislative inattention to the need to clarify the scope of the legislation or because of an over-zealous interpretation of the statute by the province’s Chief Electoral Officer. The situation highlights the need for careful attention to be paid at the outset of such initiatives to the balance that must be struck between transparency and other competing values such as civil liberties and privacy.
Published in Privacy
U.S. law clears way for use of citizen science by government
The U.S has cleared the way for the use of citizen science by federal government agencies and departments in a new law titled the American Competitiveness and Innovation Act (ACIA) (awaiting presidential signature).
The ACIA as a whole should be of interest to Canadians, as it lays out the principles for how the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the United States should approach its mandate to support scientific research. Earlier bills failed to reach acceptable compromises; some of these would have restricted types of scientific research funded by the NSF to specific sectors. This has echoes of the controversial choices in Canada under the previous government to focus on applied rather than basic scientific research. The American Competitiveness and Innovation Act has moved away from this narrow approach and sets out two main criteria for funding scientific research: intellectual merit and broader public impacts.
The ACIA contains a distinct section titled the Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act (CCSA) which paves the way for the use by government agencies and departments of scientific research practices based upon distributed public participation. The CCSA defines citizen science as “a form of open collaboration in which individuals or organizations participate voluntarily in the scientific process in various ways.” (§402(3)(c)(1)) The level of participation can vary, and may include public participation in the development of research questions or in project design, in conducting research, in collecting, analyzing or interpreting data, in developing technologies and applications, in making discoveries and in solving problems. In its preamble, the CCSA acknowledges some of the unique benefits of crowd-sourced research, including cost-effectiveness, providing hands-on learning opportunities, and encouraging greater citizen engagement.
The CCSA specifically empowers the heads of federal science agencies to make use of crowdsourcing and citizen science to conduct research projects that will advance their missions. It enables the use of volunteers in research – something that might otherwise become entangled in red tape. The Act also directs agencies to draft appropriate policies to govern participant consent, and to address “privacy, intellectual property, data ownership, compensation, service, program and other terms of use to the participant in a clear and reasonable manner.” (§402(4))
Significantly, the CCSA also mandates that any data collected through citizen science research enabled under the legislation should be made available to the public as open data in a machine-readable format unless to do so is against the law. It also requires the agency to provide notifications to the public about the expected use of the data, any ownership issues relating to the data, and how the data will be made available to the public. (I note that these issues are addressed in my co-authored guide Managing Intellectual Property Rights in Citizen Science published by the Wilson Center Commons Lab.) The statute also encourages agencies, where possible, to make any technologies, applications or code that are developed as part of the project available to the public. This legislated commitment to open research data and open source technology is an important public policy statement.
One barrier to the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science in the government context is the fear of liability within the risk-averse culture of governments. The CCSA addresses this by proving that participants in citizen science projects enabled under the statute agree to assume all risks of participation, and to waive any claims of liability against the federal government or its agencies.
The CCSA permits federal agencies to partner with community groups, other government agencies, or the private sector for the purposes of carrying out citizen science research. After a two-year grace period, the statute also requires the filing of reports on any citizen science or crowd-sourcing projects carried out under the CCSA, and contains detailed requirements for the content of any such report.
The inclusion in this science and innovation bill of provisions that are specifically designed to facilitate and encourage the use of citizen science by governments is a significant development. It is one that should be of interest to a federal government in Canada that is attempting to carve out space for itself as open, pro-science and keen to engage citizens. Citizen science has significant potential in many fields of scientific research; it also brings with it benefits in terms of education, citizen engagement, and community development.
Published in Geospatial Data/Digital Cartography
Open licensing of real time data
Municipalities are under growing pressure to become “smart”. In other words, they will reap the benefits of sophisticated data analytics carried out on more and better data collected via sensors embedded throughout the urban environment. As municipalities embrace smart cities technology, a growing number of the new sensors will capture data in real time. Municipalities are also increasingly making their data open to developers and civil society alike. If municipal governments decide to make real-time data available as open data, what should an open real-time data license look like? This is a question Alexandra Diebel and I explore in a new paper just published in the Journal of e-Democracy.
Our paper looks at how ten North American public transit authorities (6 in the U.S. and 4 in Canada) currently make real-time GPS public transit data available as open data. We examine the licenses used by these municipalities both for static transit data (timetables, route data) and for real-time GPS data (for example data about where transit vehicles are along their routes in real-time). Our research reveals differences in how these types of data are licensed, even when both types of data are referred to as “open” data.
There is no complete consensus on the essential characteristics of open data. Nevertheless, most definitions require that to be open, data must be: (1) made available in a reusable format; (2) prepared according to certain standards; and (3) available under an open license with minimal restrictions or conditions imposed on reuse. In our paper, we focus on the third element – open licensing. To date, most of what has been written about open licensing in general and the licensing of open data in particular, has focused on the licensing of static data. Static data sets are typically downloaded through an open data portal in a one-time operation (although static data sets may still be periodically updated). By contrast, real-time data must be accessed on an ongoing basis and often at fairly short intervals such as every few seconds.
The need to access data from a host server at frequent intervals places a greater demand on the resources of the data custodian – in this case often cash-strapped municipalities or public agencies. The frequent access required may also present security challenges, as servers may be vulnerable to distributed denial-of-service attacks. In addition, where municipal governments or their agencies have negotiated with private sector companies for the hardware and software to collect and process real-time data, the contracts with those companies may require certain terms and conditions to find their way into open licenses. Each of these factors may have implications for how real-time data is made available as open data. The greater commercial value of real-time data may also motivate some public agencies to alter how they make such data available to the public.
While our paper focuses on real-time GPS public transit data, similar issues will likely arise in a variety of other contexts where ‘open’ real-time data are at issue. We consider how real-time data is licensed, and we identify additional terms and conditions that are imposed on users of ‘open’ real-time data. While some of these terms and conditions might be explained by the particular exigencies of real-time data (such as requirements to register for the API to access the data), others are more difficult to explain. Our paper concludes with some recommendations for the development of a standard for open real-time data licensing.
This paper is part of ongoing research carried out as part of Geothink, a partnership grant project funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
New PIPEDA Finding exposes transparency challenges in state access to personal information
Many Canadians are justifiably concerned that the vast amounts of information they share with private sector companies – simply by going about their day-to-day activities – may end up in the hands of law enforcement or national security officials without their knowledge or consent. The channels through which vast amounts of personal data can flow from private sector hands to law enforcement with little transparency or oversight can turn the companies we do business with into informers and make us unwittingly complicit in our own surveillance.
A recent Finding of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) illustrates how the law governing the treatment of our personal information in the hands of the private sector has been adapted to the needs of the surveillance state in ways that create headaches for businesses and their customers alike. The Finding, which posted on the OPC site in November 2016 attempts to unravel a tangle of statutory provisions that should not have to be read by anyone making less than $300 per hour.
Basically, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) governs how personal information is collected, used and disclosed by private sector organizations at the federal level and in all provinces that do not have their own equivalent statutes (only Quebec, B.C. and Alberta do). One of the core principles of this statute is the right of access to one’s personal information. This means that individuals may ask to be informed about the existence, use and disclosure of their personal information in the hands of an organization. They must also be given access to that information on request. Without the right of access it would be difficult for us to find out whether an organization was in compliance with its privacy policies. The right of access also allows us to verify and request correction of any erroneous information.
Another core principle of PIPEDA is consent. This means that information about us should not be collected, used or disclosed without our consent. The consent principle is meant to give us some control over our personal information (although there are huge challenges in this age of overly-long, vague, and jargon-laden privacy policies).
The hunger for our personal information on the part of law enforcement and national security officials (check out these Telco transparency reports here, here and here) has led to a significant curtailment of both the principles of access and of consent. The law is riddled with exceptions that permit private sector companies to disclose our personal information to state authorities in a range of situations without our knowledge or consent, with or without a warrant or court order. Other exceptions allow these disclosures to be hidden from us if we make access requests. What this means is that, in some circumstances, organizations that have disclosed an individual’s information to state authorities, and that later receive an access request from the individual seeking to know if their information has been disclosed to a third party, must contact the state authority to see if they are permitted to reveal that information has been shared. If the state authority objects, then the individual is not told of the disclosure.
The PIPEDA Report of Findings No. 2016-008 follows a complaint by an individual who contacted her telecommunications company and requested access to her personal information in the hands of that company. Part of the request was for “any information about disclosures of my personal information, or information about my account or devices, to other parties, including law enforcement and other state agencies.” (at para 4). She received a reply from the Telco to the effect that it was “fully in compliance with subsections 9(2.1), (2.2), (2.3) and (2.4) of [PIPEDA].” (at para 5) In case that response was insufficiently obscure, the Telco also provided the wording of the subsections in question. The individual complained to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC).
The OPC decision makes it clear that the exceptions to the access principle place both the individual and the organization in a difficult spot. Basically, an organization that has disclosed information to state authorities without the individual’s knowledge or consent, and that receives an access request regarding this disclosure, must check with the relevant state authority to see if they have any objection to the disclosure of information about the disclosure. The state authorities can object if the disclosure of the disclosure would pose a threat to national security, national defence or the conduct of international affairs, or would adversely impact investigations into money laundering or terrorist financing. Beyond that, the state authorities can also object if disclosure would adversely impact “the enforcement of any law of Canada, a province or a foreign jurisdiction, an investigation relating to the enforcement of any such law, or the gathering of intelligence for the purpose of enforcing any such law.” If the state authorities object, then the organization may not disclose the requested information to the individual, nor can they disclose that they contacted the state authorities about the request, or that the authorities objected to any disclosure. In the interests of having a modicum of transparency, the organization must inform the Privacy Commissioner of the situation.
The situation is complex enough that in its finding, the OPC produced a helpful chart to guide organizations through the whole process. The chart can be found in the Finding.
In this case, the Telco justified its response to the complainant by explaining that if pushed further by a customer about disclosures, it would provide additional information, but even this additional information would be necessarily obscure. The Commissioner found that the Telco’s approach was not compliant with the law, but acknowledged that compliance with the law could mean that a determined applicant, by virtue of repeated requests over time, could come up with a pattern of responses that might lead them to infer whether information was actually disclosed, and whether the state authority objected to the disclosure. This is perhaps not what Parliament intended, but it does seem to follow from a reading of the statute.
As a result of the complaint, the Telco agreed to change its responses to access requests to conform to the requirements outlined in the table above.
It may well be that this kind of information-sharing offers some, perhaps significant, benefits to society, and that sharing information about information sharing could, in some circumstances, be harmful to investigations. The problem is that protections for privacy – including appropriate oversight and limitations – have not kept pace with the technologies that have turned private sector companies into massive warehouses of information about every detail of our lives and activities. The breakdown of consent means that we have little practical control over what is collected, and rampant information sharing means that our information may be in the hands of many more companies than those with which we actively do business. The imbalance is staggering, as is the risk of abuse. The ongoing review of PIPEDA must address these gaps issues – although there are also risks that it will result in the addition of more exceptions from the principles of access and consent.
Supreme Court of Canada weighs in on "implied consent" under PIPEDA
The Supreme Court of Canada has issued a relatively rare decision on the interpretation of Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Although it involves fairly technical facts that are quite specific to the banking and mortgage context, the broader significance of the case lies in the Court’s approach to implied consent under PIPEDA.
The case arose in the context of the Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC) attempt to obtain a mortgage discharge statement for property owned by two individuals (the Trangs), who defaulted on a loan advanced by the bank. The mortgage was registered against a property in Toronto, on which Scotiabank held the first mortgage. In order to recover the money owed to it, RBC sought a judicial sale of the property, but the sheriff would not carry out the sale without the mortgage discharge statement. Scotiabank refused to provide this statement to RBC on the basis that it contained the Trangs’ personal information and it could therefore not be disclosed to RBC without the Trangs’ consent.
PIPEDA allows for the disclosure of personal information without consent in a number of different circumstances. Three of these, raised by lawyers for RBC, include where it is for the purpose of collecting a debt owed by the individual to the organization; where the disclosure is required by a court order; and where the disclosure is required by law. Ultimately, the Court only considered the second of these exceptions. Because Scotiabank refused to disclose the discharge statement, RBC had applied to a court for a court order that would enable disclosure without consent. However, it found itself caught in a procedural loop – it seemed to be asking the court to order disclosure on the basis of a court order which the court had yet to grant. Although the Court of Appeal had found the court order exception to be inapplicable because of this circularity, the Supreme Court of Canada swept aside these objections in favour of a more pragmatic approach. Justice Côté found that the court had the power to make an order and felt that an order was appropriate in the circumstances. She ruled that it would be “overly formalistic and detrimental to access to justice” to require RBC to reformulate its request for a court order in a new proceeding.
Although this would have been enough to decide the matter, Justice Côté, for the unanimous court, went on to find that the Trangs had given implied consent to the disclosure of the mortgage statement in any event. Under PIPEDA, consent can be implied in some circumstances. Express consent is generally required where information is sensitive in nature. Acknowledging that financial information is generally considered highly sensitive, Justice Côté nevertheless found that in this case the mortgage discharge statement was less sensitive in nature. She stated that “the degree of sensitivity of specific financial information is a contextual determination.” (at para 36) Here, the context included the fact that a great deal of mortgage-related financial information is already in the public domain by virtue of the Land Titles Registry, which includes details such as the amount of a mortgage recorded against the property, the interest rate, payment periods and due date. Although the balance left owing on a mortgage is not provided in the Registry, it can still be roughly calculated by anyone interested in doing so. Justice Côté characterized the current balance of a mortgage as “a snapshot at a point in time in the life of a publicly disclosed mortgage.” (at para 39)
Justice Côté’s implied consent analysis was also affected by other contextual considerations. These included the fact that the party seeking disclosure of the discharge statement had an interest in it; as a creditor, it was relevant to them. According to the Court, the reasonable expectations of the individual with respect to the sensitivity of any information must be assessed in “the whole context” so as not to “unduly prioritize privacy interests over the legitimate business concerns that PIPEDA was also designed to reflect”. (at para 44) The fact that other creditors have a legitimate business interest in the information in a mortgage disclosure statement is “a relevant part of the context which informs the reasonable expectation of privacy.” (at para 45) In this regard, Justice Côté observed that the identity of the party seeking disclosure of the information and the reason for which they are seeking disclosure are relevant considerations. She noted that “[d]isclosure to a person who requires the information to exercise an established legal right is clearly different from disclosure to a person who is merely curious or seeks the information for nefarious purposes.” (at para 46)
Justice Côté also found that the reasonable mortgagor in the position of the Trangs would be aware of the public nature of the details of their mortgage, and would be aware as well that if they defaulted on either their mortgage or their loan with RBC, their mortgaged property could be seized and sold. They would also be aware that a judgment creditor would have a “legal right to obtain disclosure of the mortgage discharge statement through examination or by bringing a motion.” (at para 47)
It seems that it is the fact that RBC could ultimately legally get access to the mortgage discharge statement, viewed within the broader context that drives the Court to find that there is an implied consent to the disclosure of this information – even absent a court order. The Court’s finding of implied consent is nevertheless limited to this context; it would not be reasonable for a bank to disclose a mortgage discharge statement to anyone other than a person with a legal interest in the property to which the mortgage relates. The Court’s reasoning seems to be that since RBC is ultimately entitled to get this information and has legal means at its disposal to get the information, then the Trangs can be considered to have consented to the information being shared.
Pragmatism is often a good thing, and it is easy to be sympathetic to the Court’s desire to not create expensive legal hurdles to achieve inevitable ends in transactions that are relatively commonplace. It should be noted, however, that the same result could have been achieved by the addition of a clause in the mortgage documents that would effectively obtain the consent of any mortgagor to disclosures of this kind and in those circumstances. No doubt after the earlier decisions in this case and in the related Citi Cards Canada Inc. v. Pleasance, banks had already taken steps to address this in their mortgage documents. One of the reasons for having privacy policies is to require institutions to explain to their customers what personal information is collected, how it will be used, and in what circumstances it will be disclosed. While it is true that few people read such privacy policies, they are at least there for those who choose to do so. Nobody reads implied terms because they are… well, implied. Implied consent works where certain uses or disclosures are relatively obvious. In more complicated transactions implied consent should be sparingly relied upon.
It will be interesting to see what impact the Court’s judicial eye roll to the facts of this case will have in other circumstances where consent to disclosure is an issue. The Court is cautious enough in its contextual approach that it may not lead to a dangerous undermining of consent. Nevertheless, there is a risk that the almost exasperated pragmatism of the decision may cause a more general relaxation around consent.
Federal Court affirms "right to read" in paywall copyright case
The Federal Court has just released a decision in a case that raised issues of fair dealing and copyright abuse. Blacklock’s, an Ottawa-based online news agency, had argued that officials at the Department of Finance breached its copyright in news articles when these articles were circulated internally. The decision is an important confirmation of the ‘right to read’ in Canada and may go some way to dispelling the aftertaste of an earlier flawed decision by the Ontario Small Claims Court in a similar dispute.
Blacklock’s business model is to offer its news content on a subscription-only basis. Its articles are behind a paywall, and only subscribers, equipped with a password, can gain access to them. Individual subscriptions are available for $148 a year, whereas institutional subscription rates range between $11,470 and $15,670.
In this case, a reporter from Blacklock’s had interviewed the President of the Canadian Sugar Institute, Sandra Marsden, for a story relating to sugar tariff changes. The same reporter had sought comments from Department of Finance officials and ultimately had an exchange of email correspondence with the Department’s media relations officer. In what appears to be Blacklock’s practice, teasers about the story were sent out to Marsden by email and by Twitter. Based on the teasers Marsden became concerned about the accuracy of the article. She paid for an individual subscription in order to access it. After reading the article her concerns grew and she cut and pasted the article into an email, to a Department official. The same reporter wrote a follow up piece which Marsden also found problematic; she forward this piece to the Department of Finance as well. The two articles were circulated between a total of 6 Finance employees who discussed amongst themselves whether any follow-up with Blacklock’s was required. In the end it was decided that the matter should be dropped.
Justice Barnes found that there was no disputing that the Finance officials had used Blacklock’s copyright-protected material without paying for it or seeking Blacklock’s consent. The key issue was whether the use fell within the fair dealing exception for research or private study in s. 29 of the Copyright Act. After reviewing the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark fair dealing decision in CCH Canadian v. Law Society of Upper Canada and its more recent decision in SOCAN v. Bell Canada, he concluded that the use constituted fair dealing. He noted that, according to the case law, “research” does not have to lead to the creation of a new work of authorship; it can be ““piecemeal, informal, exploratory, or confirmatory”, and can be undertaken for no purpose except personal interest.” (at para 31)
Justice Barnes found that the Finance officials “had legitimate concerns about the fairness and accuracy” of the reporting in the article. Her further found the internal circulation of the piece was justified on the basis that “[e]veryone involved had a legitimate need to be aware in the event that further action was deemed necessary”. (at para 35) He identified a number of considerations that influenced his conclusion that the officials’ dealing with the material was fair. He noted that the articles had not been obtained by illegal means such as hacking the website; rather, they had been provided by a subscriber to the site who had legally accessed them and had forwarded them for “a legitimate business reason”. (at para 36) The articles had been sent to the Finance officials and not solicited by them; they received limited circulation; and they were not republished or used for any commercial purpose. The court also found that the two articles were a tiny fraction of the content available from the Blacklock’s site. Further, Justice Barnes opined that “a finding of copyright infringement against a news source for the simple act of reading the resulting copy is likely to have a chilling effect on the ability of the press to gather information.” (at para 36). Justice Barnes also stated that “copyright should not be a device that serves to protect the press from accountability for its errors and omissions.” (at para 36).
Blacklock’s had argued that its terms and conditions for access to its paywalled content had been breached when the material was forwarded to Finance officials, and that this breach should serve to negate a finding of fair dealing. Justice Barnes appeared sympathetic to this argument on its face, stating that it was a “relevant consideration” (though he did not state that it would necessarily be determinative). However, he cautioned that for this factor to be taken into account, the copyright owner would have to demonstrate that the user was aware of the terms and conditions and that the terms and conditions actually barred the conduct at issue. In this case, he found that none of the parties involved had either read or even been aware of Blacklock’s terms and conditions which were not readily part of the process for signing up for an individual subscription. He also found that the terms and conditions were not clear, stating: “On the one hand they seemingly prohibit distribution by subscribers but, on the other, they permit it for personal, or non-commercial uses.” (at para 42).
Blacklock’s also objected that a finding of fair dealing would undermine its business model – selling online news through a subscriber-only paywall. Justice Barnes was not particularly sympathetic, noting that “All subscription-based news agencies suffer from work-product leakage.” (at para 45) Further, he stated that “whatever business model Blacklock’s employs it is always subject to the fair dealing rights of third parties.” (at para 45) At the same time, he noted that by so stating, he was not endorsing “blameworthy conduct in the form of unlawful technological breaches of a paywall, misuse of passwords or the widespread exploitation of copyright material to obtain a commercial or business advantage.” (at para 45)
As I noted in an earlier comment on this case, the defendants had argued that Blacklock’s was engaged in copyright misuse and was acting as a kind of “copyright troll”. In fact, there are 9 other suits brought by Blacklock’s against the federal government on similar sets of facts. Noting that “there are certainly some troubling aspects to Blacklock’s business practices”, Justice Barnes nevertheless found it unnecessary to rule on the copyright abuse and trolling arguments in light of his findings on fair dealing. The other cases, which were stayed pending the resolution of this first dispute, may now end up being settled out of court.
In the course of his decision, Justice Barnes referred to what occurred in this case as “no more than the simple act of reading by persons with an immediate interest in the material.” (at para 36) This right to read is fundamentally important in a society that values knowledge and the freedom of expression. The decision makes it clear that business models for content distribution cannot run roughshod over certain fundamental users rights.
Published in Copyright Law
copyright misuse
New Police Investigatory Technique Raises Serious Privacy Considerations
In a press release issued on October 26, 2016, the Ontario Provincial Police announced that they would be adopting a new investigative technique – one that relies on cellphone tracking of ordinary members of the public. The use of this new technique is being launched in the context of the investigation of an unsolved murder that took place in Ottawa in 2015. Police are searching for leads in the case.
The OPP sought a Production Order from a justice of the peace. This order required major cellular phone service providers to furnish them with a list of cellphone numbers used in the vicinity of West Hunt Club and Merivale Road in Ottawa, between 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. on December 15, 2015. Production orders for cell phone information have become commonplace. Typically, however, they have been used to determine whether a person of interest to the police was in a certain area at a specific time. This is not the case here. In this case, the police intend to send text messages to the individual cell phone numbers provided by the phone companies. These messages will encourage recipients to visit a web site set up by the police and to respond to some questions. According to the press release, the production order did not include customer name and address information associated with the phone numbers. In theory, then, individual privacy is protected by the fact that an person who does not respond to the text message does provide any further identifying information to the police.
There is clearly a public interest in solving crimes. Where investigations have grown cold, new techniques may be important to finding justice for victims and their families. However, it is also important that any new investigative techniques are consistent with the principles and values that are an integral part of our justice system. Privacy advocates and the public have reason to be concerned about this new investigative technique. Here are some of the reasons why:
First, production orders of this kind provide completely inadequate opportunities to hear and consider the privacy interests of affected individuals. Persons accused of crimes can always challenge in court the way in which the police went about collecting the evidence against them. They can argue that their privacy interests were violated and that search warrants should never have been issued. However, ordinary members of the public have little practical recourse when their privacy rights are infringed by investigations of crimes that have nothing to do with them. In a decision of the Ontario Superior Court (which I wrote about here) Justice Sproat reviewed production orders for massive amounts of cell phone data sought by police. He was sharply critical of both the seeking and the granting of a production order for quantities of cell phone customer data that far exceeded what was genuinely required for the purpose of the investigation. The case impacted the privacy rights of the broad public (it involved the data of over 43,000 customers) yet as is so often the case, the public had no way to learn of or challenge the production order before it was granted. In that case, it was the Telcos – Rogers and Telus – who challenged the production orders and raised privacy issues before the courts. Without this intervention, there would have been no voice for the privacy interests of ordinary citizens and no means of reviewing the legitimacy of the order.
Second, production orders of this kind come with no safeguards for the protection of data after it has been used by police. Production orders typically do not contain directions on how long data can be retained, whether it should be destroyed after a certain time, what other uses it might (or should not) be put to, or what safeguards are required to protect it while it is in the hands of police. The lack of such safeguards was commented upon by Justice Sproat in the case mentioned above. He was of the view that this was an issue for Parliament to address. Parliament has yet to do so.
In its press release, the OPP analogized what it was doing to police going through a neighborhood where a crime has taken place and knocking on doors to see if anyone has seen or heard anything that might be relevant. The analogy is problematic. The existence and location of houses and apartment units are matters of public record – they are in plain view. However, data about the cell phone usage of individuals, along with their location information, as they carry out their day to day activities are not. When police seek access to information that allows them to identify the locations of thousands of individuals who are not suspected of engaging in criminal activity, they are doing more than knocking on doors.
There needs to be a public conversation about how and when police get to tap into the massive volumes of data collected about the minutiae of our daily activities by private sector companies. The use of cell phone data production orders by the OPP in this case merely adds to list of subjects for that conversation. Because the use of this data by police is now to identify and contact people who are themselves not the targets of criminal investigation, these individuals effectively have no way in which to raise privacy concerns. This is a conversation that must be led by Parliament and that most likely will require new law.
Tackling Offensive Sports Trademarks
The Toronto Star is reporting that Canadian architect and indigenous activist Douglas Cardinal is seeking an injunction to prevent the Cleveland Indians from wearing uniforms bearing their logo and team name, and from displaying their logo when the visit Toronto this week for the Major League Baseball playoffs. The legal basis for the injunction is an argument that the team’s name and mascot are discriminatory. Mr. Cardinal has also filed human rights complaints with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
While Mr. Cardinal is litigating, he might also want to consider that the name and the offensive cartoonish mascot are also registered trademarks in Canada. (Search for “Cleveland Indians” in the Canadian Trademarks Database). Challenges to the registration of the Washington Redskins’ notorious trademarks are currently before the courts in the U.S. The Redskins trademarks, which most recently have been cancelled in the U.S. for being disparaging of Native Americans (with that decision under appeal), are also registered trademarks in Canada. To date, no one has challenged these or other offensive trademarks in Canadian courts.
Canada’s Trade-marks Act bars the adoption, use or registration of trademarks that are “scandalous, obscene or immoral”. I have written before about circumstances in which this provision has been invoked – or not – to disallow the registration of trademarks. Any challenge to the validity of the marks could be based on the argument that the marks should never have been registered, as they were racist and discriminatory at the time of registration (which, in the case of the Cleveland logo was in 1988). While an applicant to have the trademark expunged might have to address issues of delay in bringing the application, it should be noted that s. 11 of the Trade-marks Act also prohibits the use of a trademark that was adopted contrary to the provisions of the Act. In principle then, the continued use of a trademark that was “scandalous, obscene or immoral” when it was adopted is not permitted under the legislation. Of course, this use restriction raises interesting freedom of expression issues. In the United States, marks that are denied registration for being “disparaging” can still be used, thus arguably shielding the trademarks legislation from First Amendment (free speech) challenges. There is a great deal of unexplored territory around the adoption, use and registration of offensive trademarks in Canada.
Former Justice Murray Sinclair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (now Senator Sinclair) called for action to address the use of offensive and racist sports mascots and team names. Douglas Cardinal has clearly responded to that call; there is still more that can be done.
Note: At the hearing on the injunction on October 17, 2016, the Court declined to grant the injunction, with reasons to follow. Toronto Star coverage is here.
Published in Trademarks
Reflections on Open Government in Canada for Right to Know Week 2016
Note: I was invited by Canada’s Information Commissioner and the Schools of Journalism and Communication, and Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University to participate in a workshop to launch Right to Know Week 2016. This was a full afternoon workshop featuring many interesting speakers and discussions. This blog post is based on my remarks at this event.
For the last 5 years or so, governments at all levels across Canada have been embracing the open government agenda. In doing so, they have expressed, in various ways, new commitments to open data, to the proactive disclosure of government information, and to new forms of citizen engagement. Given that the core goals of the open government movement are to increase government transparency and accountability in the broader public interest, these developments are positive ones.
There is a risk, however, that public commitments to open government have become a bit of a ‘feel good’ thing for governments. After all, what government doesn’t want to publicly commit to being open, transparent and accountable? As a result, it is important to look behind the rhetoric and to examine the nature of the commitments made to open government in Canada and to question how meaningful and enduring they really are.
For the most part, commitments to open government in Canada have been manifested in declarations, policy documents, and directives. These documents express government policy and provide direction to government actors and institutions. Yet they are “soft law” at best. They are not enacted through a process of legislative debate, they are not expressed in laws that would have to be formally repealed or amended in order to be altered, there are no enforcement or compliance mechanisms, and they remain subject to change at the whim of the government in power. Directives and policies, of course, can provide rapid and responsive mechanisms for operationalizing changes in government direction, and so I am not criticizing decisions to set open government in motion through these various means. But I am suggesting that a longer term commitment to open government might require some of these measures to be expressed in and supported by legislation in order to become properly entrenched.
For example, much effort has been invested by the federal government in creating an open licence to facilitate reuse of government data and information. After a slow and sometimes painful process, we now have a pretty good open government licence. It is based on the UK OGL and is very user friendly compared to earlier iterations. It is bilingual and it can be customized to be used by governments at all levels in Canada (for example, a version of this licence was just adopted by city of Ottawa). This reduces the burden on provincial and municipal governments contemplating open government and it creates the potential for greater legal interoperability (when users combine data or information from a number of different governments in Canada).
But let us not forget why we need an open government licence in Canada. An open licence permits the public to make use of works that are protected by copyright without the need to ask permission or pay royalties, and with the fewest restrictions on re-use as possible. Government works in Canada – and this includes court decisions, statutes, Hansard, government reports, studies, to name just a few – are protected by copyright under section 12 of the Copyright Act. One might well ask why, instead of toiling for years to come up with the current open licence, the government has not shown its commitment to openness by abolishing Crown copyright. It’s not as radical as it might sound. In the U.S., s. 105 of the Copyright Act expressly denies protection to works of the U.S. government without any obvious negative consequences. In the U.S., these works are automatically in the public domain. This legislated, hard law solution makes the commitment real and relatively permanent. Yet as things stand in Canada, government works are protected by copyright by default, and governments choose which works to make available under the open licence and which they wish to provide under more onerous licence terms. They can also decide at some point to tear up the open licence and go back to the way things used to be. Crown copyright in its current incarnation sets the default at ‘closed’.
It is true that some aspects of open government are already part of our legislative framework. We have had freedom of information/access to information laws for decades now in Canada, and these laws enshrine the principle of the public’s right to access information in the hands of government. However, the access to information laws that we have are ‘first generation’ when it comes to open government. The federal Act is currently being reviewed by Parliament, and we might see some legislative change, though how much and how significant remains to be seen. As Mary Francoli has pointed out, there wasn’t really a need for further review – the new government had plenty of material on which to take action in proposing amendments to the Act.
The many deficiencies in the Access to Information Act have been well documented. For example, in 2015 the Information Commissioner set out 85 proposed reforms to the statute to modernize and improve it. The June 2016 Report by the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on its Review of the Access to Information Act takes up many of these proposals in its own recommendations for extensive reforms to the Act. We are now awaiting the government’s response to this report. Rather than review the many recommendations already made, I will highlight those that relate to my broader point about enshrining open government principles in legislation
The Access to Information Act as it currently stands is premised on a model of individuals asking for information from government, waiting patiently while government puts together the requested information, and then complaining to the Commissioner when too much information is redacted or withheld. Open government promises both information and data proactively, in reusable formats, and without significant restrictions on reuse. While proactive disclosure of information and open data cannot replace the access to information model (which is, itself, capable of considerable improvement), they will provide quicker, cheaper and more effective access in many areas. Yet the Access to Information Act does not currently contain any statement about proactive disclosure. Proactive disclosure – also referred to as “open by default” is not really “open by default” unless the law says it is. Until then, it is just an aspirational statement and not a legal requirement. We see a proliferation of policies and directives at all levels of government that talk about proactive disclosure, but there are not firm legal commitments to this practice, or to open data. And, although I have been focussing predominantly on the federal regime, these issues are relevant across all levels of government in Canada.
A core principle of open data is that the data sets provided by governments should be made available in open, accessible and reusable formats. Proactive disclosure of information should also be in reusable formats. Access under the conventional regime is also enhanced when the information disclosed is in formats that facilitate analysis and reuse. Yet even under the existing access model, there is no default requirement to provide requested information in open, accessible and reusable formats. It is important to remember that it is not enough just to provide ‘access’ – the nature and quality of the access provided is relevant. The format in which information is provided in a digital age can create a barrier to the processing or analysis of information once accessed.
I would like, also, to venture onto territory that is not addressed in the calls for reform to access to information laws. Another challenge that I see for open data (and open information) in Canada relates to the sources of government data. I am concerned about the lack of controls over the use of taxpayer dollars to create closed data. As we move into the big data era, governments will be increasingly tempted to source their data for decision-making from private sector suppliers rather than to generate it in-house. We are seeing this already; an example is found in recent decisions of some municipal governments to source data about urban cycling patterns from cycling app companies. There will also be instances where governments contract with the private sector to install sensors to collect data, or to process it, and then pay licence fees for access to the resulting proprietary data in the hands of the private sector companies. In these cases, the terms of the license agreements may limit public access to the data or may place significant restrictions on its reuse. This is a big issue. All the talk about open government data will not do much good if the data on which the government relies is not characterized as “government data”. It is important that governments develop transparent policies around contracts for the collection, supply or processing of data that ensure that our rights as members of the public to access and reuse this data – paid for with our tax dollars – are preserved. Even better, it might be worth seeing some principle to this effect enshrined in the law.
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Eric Bogle, The Dreamer (Greentrax, 2009)
Although largely unknown to mainstream music audiences, Eric Bogle is a legendary figure in Celtic folk circles. The 65-year-old Scottish native who immigrated to Australia has amassed a large assortment of memorable songs over his long career. Some are funny, but his most famous songs are sharply poignant. Bogle has a particular skill in writing songs about war and the toll it exacts on the participants. Nobody forgets the first time they hear "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda," a much-covered song about an Australian soldier wounded at Gallipoli. "No Man's Land," alternatively titled "The Green Fields of France," similarly pays tribute to the Scottish soldiers of the First World War, while questioning whether the enormous sacrifice imposed on the soldiers lying in the vast French graveyards accomplished anything constructive.
Bogle has plenty of things to say about a variety of topics, though, and on his new album The Dreamer he gets to many of them. Bogle addresses American casualties in Iraq on "Bringing Buddy Home," his daughter growing up on "Flying Away," environmental pollution on "Someone Else's Problem," and last year's severe drought in "An Australian Prayer for Rain." A few songs stick out for me, though. The first is "Nothing Worth Saving," a tribute to a friend of his (and to committed activists in general) who are willing to make the extra sacrifice to preserve something they believe in. "For nothing worth saving comes easy or free, Nothing worth fighting for comes with a guarantee, that you’re going to win my friend, without sacrifice; for if something’s worth saving, there’s always a price." "Snowdrop," written and sung by longtime friend and bandmate John Munro, talks about the plight of homelessness in Russia, where bodies have a disturbing way of emerging from underneath the snow in the spring melt-off. Bogle gets autobiographical in the title song; he's been criticized for being a dreamer, but much like John Lennon in the song "Imagine," he wears the label as a badge of honor. "Yet I dream of a world without hunger, I dream of a world without war; Where we live at peace on this earth together, where the air tastes sweet, the rivers all run clear. Dream it first and it will happen, but if you don’t believe that it can, just leave me to my dreaming, because I’m happy where I am." "Lost Soul" tells the story of an Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal warrior who died fighting for Australia in the First World War, whose gravesite was discovered in Belgium by Australian students in 2006. Sand from his native area, the Coorong, was sprinkled on his grave, and dirt from his grave was brought to the Coorong to return his spirit home. On the closing song "The Last Note," Bogle talks about of the spirit of the music stays with him long after the performance is done. The song's significance was magnified by Bogle's announcement that his 2009 tour would be his last.
As usual with Eric Bogle's albums, the songs on The Dreamer tend to be weighty but emotional. I suppose I could be critical of this album lacking the usual amount of levity with which Bogle balances things out on his recordings. Still, listening to any new Eric Bogle album is like re-connecting with an old friend who's seen and done a lot in his time, and who understands the workings of the world and humanity better than most people do. People who like good storytelling songs will like anything that Eric Bogle puts out, and The Dreamer is no exception.
Eric Bogle and John Munro perform the title song on Bogle's Farewell Tour of the UK.
Reprinted with permission from The Green Man Review
Copyright 2010 The Green Man Review
Labels: Australia, Celtic, Eric Bogle, Music, Scotland
John Fogerty, The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again (Verve, 2009)
In 1973, John Fogerty released an album of country, gospel, and bluegrass covers called Blue Ridge Rangers. While the album cover shows silhouettes of five different musicians, there was no actual band with that name; in fact, Fogerty sang all the vocals and played all the instruments on the album himself. A mere thirty-six years later, Fogerty decided to reprise the concept of his first solo album with a new album of rustic, rootsy standards. Fogerty employs a solid group of backing musicians for this record, but in an ironic nod to its predecessor, he titled the album The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again.
The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again opens with John Prine's "Paradise" and closes with The Everly Brothers' "When Will I Be Loved" (featuring a guest appearance from Bruce Springsteen), and also includes songs from the likes of Delaney and Bonnie, Buck Owens, and John Denver. Fogerty also includes a countrified version of his own song "Change in the Weather," originally off his 1986 album Eye of the Zombie. The song that sticks out most for me is "Garden Party," Rick Nelson's 1972 hit about the negative response he received when he brought his country band to a 50's revival show. The line in the chorus that goes "You see you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself" has a universality to it which still resonates after all this time. Nelson's embrace of country rock was a major influence on the early recordings of The Eagles, and Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit were very appropriate and very effective choices to provide backing vocals on Fogerty's version.
The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again shows John Fogerty having fun paying tribute to a numbers of artists who inspired him and brought him enjoyment over the years. There may not be any super-strong track on it, but fans of Fogerty will find the album as a whole to be an enjoyable listen.
John Fogerty performs "Garden Party" at the Americana Music awards in Nashville in September.
Labels: John Fogerty, Music, Rock, USA
The Sherlock Holmes archetype of the flawed genius is popular on many television shows -- Monk, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, House -- so why not reboot the actual character? The result is Sherlock Holmes, a somewhat faithful but hyperactive treatment of the world's greatest detective.
Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Doctor Watson (Jude Law) are facing professional and personal challenges. Their case involves Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), an occultist who was hanged and apparently returned from the dead -- after being pronounced deceased by Watson. At the same time, Holmes is having trouble dealing with Watson's upcoming marriage to Mary (Kelly Reilly), which will deprive Holmes of his roommate and friend. Adding to the mix is Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), Holmes' love interest and deceptive criminal; her involvement creates many twists and turns.
I was skeptical when I heard Guy Ritchie was directing Sherlock Holmes -- and this feeling was fairly justified. While Ritchie does capture the sometimes rough but deep friendship between Holmes and Watson, he's far more interested in action: Holmes engaging in shirtless bare-knuckle boxing; explosions; chases; etc. You'll leave with less of an impression of Holmes' genius and more of him as an action hero.
This is a pity, as the cast is pretty good in their roles. Downey Jr. portrays Holmes' brilliance and decadence, making him as unstable as he is smart. Law's Watson is smart and serious, admiring Holmes as much as watching out for him -- and not taking his manipulation. McAdams is more attractive than intriguing, though she does what she can with what she has, and Strong has little to do but appear mysterious and menacing.
Sherlock Holmes ends with a clear setup for a sequel. The leads would certainly be welcome again -- but a calmer director would be a nice change.
Labels: Action, Jude Law, Movies, Mystery, Rachel McAdams, Robert Downey Jr, Sherlock Holmes
Caesar's Women - Colleen McCullough (1996)
Caesar's Women is a meticulously researched historical novel of Republican Rome - although empire is just barely visible in the distance. Spanning a decade or so in the 7th century B.C., the action concerns Gaius Julius Caesar's political manoeuvrings in the Roman Senate. While that may not sound all that interesting out the gate, it is, in fact, fascinating.
The political world of Roman politics, as interpreted by McCullough, is cut-throat, violent and packed with enough special interests and personal vendettas that one cannot help but think "the more things change the more they stay the same." Written over a decade ago about events over two millennia ago, it almost seems like one could simply update the names, drop chunks of it into a newspaper or blog today and it wouldn't seem at all out of place.
McCullough writes very well and engagingly. The characters are vivid and inhabit a Rome which itself seems alive and vibrant. The research is in-depth and thorough, but not obtrusive; a glossary is provided for the various Latin words and terms which are used, but one needn't refer to it unless one is interested in the intricacies of, for instance, the Roman college of augurs or the Pontifex Maximus. The book is a long one, running nearly a thousand pages (although that includes historical notes and glossary), but it doesn't feel long since the action moves along at a good clip.
The book is fourth in a series of seven which chronicles the late Roman Republic.
Overall Grade: B+ (A- for those interested in Roman history)
Posted by JB at 09:33
Labels: A Rated, Colleen McCullough, Historical Fiction, Rome
Race against opponents! Solve puzzles! Collect jewels! This is the world of Ubongo, a fun little game from Z-Man Games that is as close as the world will ever come to a Tetris board game.
At the start of Ubongo a large number of jewels are placed randomly along several rows on a board. Players put their token at the base of these rows. The winner is the player with the largest number of gems of the same color; if players tie, they compare their next-highest number of same colored gems to see who wins.
So, how do you get gems? Puzzles! All players get a collection of differently shaped and colored pieces. They also have a number of tiles with boxes to be filled, and horizontal rows showing a symbol (on the game's die) and three or four of the aforementioned pieces. Each turn a player rolls a die. Then, when the timer is turned, each player has to fill in their tile's box using the pieces next to the symbol rolled on the die. (Easier games have players using three pieces, while filling it with four is much tougher.)
When the first player completes their puzzle, they shout "Ubongo!" and move their token from zero to three spaces on the board, and take the two gems closest to them on the row. The second player to solve the puzzle can move their token up to two spaces and collect two gems, the third player can move their token up to one space before collecting, and the last player can collect their gems from the row they're in. If a player doesn't solve their puzzle before the sand runs out of the timer, they get no movement and no jewels.
Ubongo is an interesting mix of visual coordination and strategy. Finishing puzzles the quickest gives you more options, but you also have to keep track of what gems your opponent has -- and may go for next. All puzzles can be completed, but after several rounds a player who couldn't solve their puzzle asked other players to solve it to see how it could be done. Games are pretty quick -- usually finished in less than half an hour, even with four players -- and it's competitive without becoming mean or cutthroat. The game is fairly repetitive, but while I wouldn't want to spend all day turning and shifting tiles Ubongo is a terrific game to play to warm up for something else. "Ubongo!"
Labels: Games, Ubongo
Chris Smither, Time Stands Still (Signature Sounds, 2009)
At 65, Florida native Chris Smither is a venerable elder statesman of the blues scene in this country. His first album came out in 1970, and his new CD Time Stands Still is his thirteenth studio release.
Smither's laid back, front porch approach to blues will definitely remind people of J. J. Cale, and maybe a little bit of Mark Knopfler as well. (The album closes with a cover of Knopfler's "Madame Geneva's," further cementing the connection.) So if you're a fan of those performers, you already know enough to justify looking into Time Stands Still. Smither is an excellent acoustic guitarist, producer David Goodrich provides some solid backing on electric guitar, and Zak Trojano fills things out on drums and percussion. His crotchety-sounding baritone might be an acquired taste for some, but Smither makes up for a lack of smoothness with plenty of warmth and character.
The album has a bunch of decent songs, but the brilliant "Surprise, Surprise" is worth the price of the whole CD. This song is a humorously cynical look at the current economic state of affairs. "Call Yourself" is another strong track, reflecting on the need for self-reliance when life gets difficult. Yes, the subject matter for
most of the songs on the album is weighty and dark, but this is the blues after all.
People looking for a fix of good picking music will like Chris Smither. Time Stands Still is a pretty good collection of songs with a couple of standouts. I may have to dig into Smither's work a bit further myself.
"Surprise, Surprise." The feel-good song of 2009? Not quite, but a great song nonetheless.
Labels: Blues, Chris Smither, Music, USA
Brandi Carlile, Give Up the Ghost (Columbia, 2009)
Brandi Carlile made a quick, favorable first impression when her self-titled debut CD came out in 2005. The combination of well-written songs, a powerful voice, and melodic yet energetic folk rock reflected a considerable amount of promise from such a young artist. Her second album The Story came out in 2007, and while it had some good songs it was still a bit disappointing; the energy level failed to match what I had seen in a great live performance the year before. Now Carlile has returned with her third album Give Up the Ghost, which matches the high quality of her debut.
As usual, the muscle is provided by Carlile's soul mates and songwriting partners, identical twins Phil and Tim Hanseroth. Carlile plays some piano in addition to guitar on this record, but the overall sound of Give Up the Ghost doesn't depart significantly from its predecessors. The lively songs dominate the album, especially the opening song "Looking Out" and the great single "Dreams." "Caroline" is also very noteworthy, not simply for being an overt expression of Carlile's sexual preference, but also for the fun sing-along chorus and the rollicking piano and backing vocal supplied by Elton John. The quieter songs are not as consistent, but "That Year" is an interesting reflection on a high school romance, and the closing song "Oh Dear" possesses some nice Beatle-ish harmonies.
(on edit: "Caroline" is actually about Brandi's niece, as a few people have pointed out. I read something about Brandi into the lyrics that, while not actually wrong (I did fact-check on that), does not apply to the song in question. I'm neither perfect nor above criticism, and while I do try to fact-check before I write reviews, it's not always easy to verify everything on severe time constraints, especially when I try to interpret song lyrics. I do appreciate that people actually read what I write and care enough to comment, and will try to hold myself to a higher standard in the future, or at least refrain from speculation that I can't back up.)
Brandi Carlile is a first-rate talent, and she and the twins have an impressive and expanding collection of good songs under their belts. Give Up the Ghost solidifies Carlile's status as one of the best performers to emerge this decade, and is definitely worth getting.
Labels: Brandi Carlile, Music, Rock, USA
I must preface this review by noting that I am not a car person. I don't have a car; I'm not interested in Ferraris or Astor Martins; I couldn't change a car's oil; to me a good car is one that gets me from point A to point B, and a great car has a cd player. And yet I absolutely love Top Gear, a British show that's all about cars and other vehicles.
Top Gear is hosted by three men. Jeremy Clarkson is the big, dopey guy who's always thrilled with speed and power. Richard Hammond is a cheerful guy who suffers from innumerable jokes about his height and having his teeth whitened. And James May is the quietest, most thoughtful member of the show; he's also nicknamed "Captain Slow" due to his poor track record at the show's races. The only other regular cast member is the Stig, the silent professional driver who's always wearing a white racing suit and a face-concealing helmet.
As you might expect, Clarkson, Hammond, and May race cars -- some of the fastest, most powerful cars in the world. They also have the Stig drive them around a track, then keep a record of which cars have the fastest times. If that was all there was to Top Gear, this show would be pretty boring. But there's a lot more.
Every episode the three hosts face off against each other, or others, in a series of challenges. They had to build their own strtetch limousines (resulting in a 45-foot car, a convertible limo with no roof, and the front halves of two cars fused together) and drive a celebrity to an awards show; they had to make buy Astor-Martins for less than a thousand pounds and enter them in an Astor-Martin contest. (Hammond's car leaked so much coolant he had to crank it in from the driver's seat while driving.) Once a host raced down a snow-covered mountain, competing with two skiers heading down. And, in a full-length episode, Clarkson and May (in a specially-designed jeep) raced Hammond (on a dogsled) from Canada to the North Pole.
There are other features on the show. Celebrities drive around a track in a Very Reasonably Priced Car, with their results posted for all to see. News and strange items are discussed, from upcoming car plans to bizarre laws.
Top Gear is simply terrific. Even a car novice like me can tell that Clarkson, Hammond, and May are experts at cars, able to determine and discuss what makes a car great, awful, or simply fun. There's a lot of ribbing between the three ("It's a very elegant solutuon to a problem that never should have existed in the first place") and their competitiveness goes hand in hand with their playfulness. There are the occasional "Britishisms" -- references that may be hilarious or well known in England but mean nothing here in America -- but otherwise Top Gear perfectly captures the joys of driving and vehicles.
Labels: automobile, Television, Top Gear, tv
Porcupine Tree, The Incident (Roadrunner Records, 2009)
For well over a decade at this point, England's Porcupine Tree have been the leading proponents of contemporary progressive rock. Steven Wilson (vocals, guitar, piano), Richard Barbieri (keyboards), Colin Edwin (bass), and Gavin Harrison (drums) have churned out a number of solid concept albums, the best of which was Deadwing in 2005. Their 2007 CD Fear of a Blank Planet wasn't quite as good, though, and I was worried that the band was starting to head in the wrong direction. Happily, the new album The Incident is a return to form.
The Incident is a double CD. The first disc is a continuous song cycle running about an hour. Wilson takes his inspiration from news events, like the raid at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Texas last year, and from less newsworthy but no less traumatic occurrences like car crashes. The underlying theme is that people keep themselves emotionally detached from sad or disturbing events when they hear about them, but the people who suffer through these events are just as human as the rest of us and have stories that need telling. It's a weighty subject to base a whole album around, but thankfully Wilson and the band churn out some solid rock and roll and keep things from getting too bleak. Like a lot of the "art rock" albums made by bands like Pink Floyd, King Crimson, or Genesis, the highlights on the first part of The Incident are often song fragments or portions of particular tracks; the chorus of "Drawing the Line" is especially inspired in that regard. This doesn't make the album particularly iPod friendly, but Wilson happily aims his work at listeners with enough of an attention span to listen to the album as whole.
The second disc is actually quite short, with four stand-alone songs. Of these, the last two songs are noteworthy. "Black Dahlia" has the best chord progression on either part of the album, and "Remember Me Lover" is a particularly potent break-up song.
Album-oriented rock has certainly become something of a lost art, but Porcupine Tree are firm believers in it. The Incident demonstrates that an album as a whole can be better than the sum of its individual parts. The underlying concept is dark but intriguing, and Wilson is skilled enough as a songwriter to make it work all the way through. Ultimately, though, the album depends on some strong musical performances to succeed, and Porcupine Tree delivers.
Some outtakes from the recording sessions.
Labels: England, Music, Porcupine Tree, Rock
Mark Knopfler, Get Lucky (Reprise, 2009)
After going through a long stretch of time where his album releases were few and far between, Mark Knopfler has had a very productive decade. Including his duet with Emmylou Harris called All the Roadrunning, Get Lucky is his sixth album over the last ten years. While he has shied away from his guitar hero past, Knopfler remains one of the best musical storytellers around.
As usual, Knopfler sings about life in working class England and Scotland, with references to his own childhood. The title song, for example, is about a transient worker that Knopfler met when he was fifteen; the man sang in bands in the winter then headed south to France to pick fruit or find truffles when the weather got warm, always looking forward to the next stroke of good fortune. "Border Reiver" tells of a Scottish truck driver making deliveries in to England in the late sixties. "Cleaning My Gun" is about an ex-soldier turned bartender who plans to be ready the next time mob goons come into the pub and try to smash the place. "Piper to the End" is dedicated to an uncle that Knopfler never met, who carried his pipes with him into his final battle in France in 1940. Knopfler's stories can be poignant or they can be humorous, but either way the songs succeed because even the fictional characters are palpably real.
Musically, Get Lucky continues the blend of laid back rock, folk, Celtic, and country that has characterized all of Knopfler's recent work. His core backing band, consisting of Richard Bennett (rhythm guitar), Danny Cummings (drums), Guy Fletcher (keyboards), Matt Rollings (piano and keyboards), and Glenn Worf (bass), has remained constant since his first solo CD Golden Heart in 1996 -- a remarkable feat, given the instability of the Dire Straits lineups. The band is augmented this time around by renowned Scottish folk musician John McCusker, who plays fiddle, cittern, and whistle. I've complained in the past that Knopfler has gotten a bit too mellow for his own good, but after adjusting my expectations I can still say his music is worth a few listens.
Mark Knopfler plugs his new record on the BBC.
Labels: England, Mark Knopfler, Music, Rock
Some science fiction takes you to far-away places yet remains rooted in familiar ideas. This is the case with Avatar, a visually stunning James Cameron film that becomes very pedestrian if you stop looking and start thinking.
Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is a wheelchair-bound marine sent to the planet Pandora, a jungle planet far from Earth. This planet is rich in a resource that the mysterious/menacing company wants to mine. Unfortunately, native species the Na'vi -- blue aliens twice as tall as humans, with with tails and large yellow eyes -- is hostile to humans and protects their land with bows and arrows. Worse, their village is on top of the richest deposit of this resource. Company man Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi) wants to avoid bloodshed if possible, while Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is ready for combat.
Hoping to reach a diplomatic solution, scientists Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) and Norm Spellman (Joel Moore) have created Avatars: a mix of human and Na'vi d.n.a. that looks like a Na'vi and a human mind can transfer into. Sully's twin brother was part of this project when he was killed, and Jake can transfer his brother's Avatar.
On Sully's first day out in his new body he becomes stranded alone on Pandora at night, where he meets and gains the attention of beautiful Na'vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). Soon Jake is being taught the language and ways of the Na'vi, Grace and Norm are thrilled to be learning more about the Na'vi, and Colonel Quaritch wants intel on the aliens -- and promises to have Jake's legs fixed when the mission is done.
Avatar is about 60% cgi, and that part of the movie is absolutely stunning. The planet of Pandora is lush and mysterious, filled with floating mountains, various benign creatures and deadly predators, and even dinosaur-like monsters. The Na'vi (and Avatars) are remarkable creatures, alien to us and yet believable. I enjoyed seeing how each Avatar resembled its human operator. There's also a nice contrast between the natural ways and weapons of the Na'vi (organic bows, flying steeds) and the cold metal of the human military (large 'Mechs, hovering helicopters).
Unfortunately, Avatar is absolutely predictable. As with his previous movies, James Cameron has his good guys and bad guys so obvious they might as well wear white and black cowboy hats. Ditto for the antanogism--to-romance relationship between Sully and Neytiri. While we could all learn to be more respectful of nature, this movie really clubs its viewers over the head with that message. If you are ever going to see Avatar, see it on the big screen for the special effects. Just don't expect to be surprised or impressed by anything else in the movie.
Labels: Action, Avatar, James Cameron, Movies, Sci Fi, Science Fiction
RIFFTRAX LIVE! CHRISTMAS SHORTS-STRAVAGANZA
With Christmas approaching, so to do the Christmas specials. Some are timeless classics, like A Charlie Brown Christmas; others are more recent gems, such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Bad Santa. Then there are those specials that fall into the "what were they thinking?" category, with scary Santas, incoherent stories, and horrible sound and special effects. Fortunately, the Rifftrax folks are ready to gie these awful flicks the commentary they deserve.
Rifftrax Live! Christmas Shorts-Stravaganza has the MST3K folks -- Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy -- doing a live performance of their take on some truly terrible Christmas shorts (and, for some reason, specials on pork and summer aquatic sports) in the theater. The shorts selected are truly awful, from one focusing on a monotone voiceover covering a tree "of no account" to dolls coming eerily to life to Santa controlling people's dreams.
The Rifftrax humor ranges from topical jokes -- Twilight and the song "Poker Face" -- to sarcasm, sexual innuendo, and bizarre additions. Sometimes it's juvenile, but it's often quite funny -- sometimes at the same time. I wonder about the two decidedly non-holiday shorts, and I'm surprised they didn't do more with "Weird Al" while he was there. Still, the Rifftrax Live Christmas Shorts-Stravaganza was a lot of fun -- and a great contrast to the often-excessive sentimentality of the holiday season.
Reviewe by James Lynch
Labels: Christmas, Comedy, Rifftrax
Southeast Engine, From the Forest to the Sea (Misra Records, 2009)
Southeast Engine are an Athens, Ohio quartet consisting of Adam Remnant (vocals, guitar, piano), Leo DeLuca (drums), Jesse Remnant (bass), and Michael Lachman (keyboards). Their album From the Forest to the Sea is a morality play, in which Adam Remnant tells a story about a man's quest for redemption after giving into temptation.
From the Forest to the Sea was recorded onto analog tape in an old schoolhouse from the 19th century, giving the music a creepy sort of ambience. Or perhaps the creepiness comes from Remnant trying too hard to channel Nathaniel Hawthorne; it's hard to tell. The band's sound leans heavily on psychedelic hard rock, with Lachman's organ playing making a lasting favorable impression. But if you think that it would be a challenge to combine sixties retro prog with heavily biblical allusions and pull it off, well, you'd be right. To be fair, the album has some moments, especially the song "Black Gold." That's really the only track that can stand on its own, though. Everything else stands or falls with the album as a whole, and the second half of the album unfortunately didn't work for me. The imagery involving Noah's Ark and diving to the bottom of the Sea of Galilee struck me as a very long-winded, and not particularly revelatory, way of saying that the album's protagonist screwed up and now it was time to repent.
Adam Remnant and Southeast Engine don't suffer from a lack of musical ambition. On From the Forest to the Sea, they swing for the fences but only occasionally make contact. "Black Gold" is worth a few listens, and I guess people interested in rock music with biblical themes will at least be curious about the rest of it. Otherwise, the band just didn't achieve the depth they were aiming for.
"Black Gold"
Labels: Music, Rock, Southeast Engine, USA
Various Artists, A Taste of the Indestructible Beat of Soweto (Earthworks, 1992) and Voices from Mother Africa (African Cream, 2007)
While a lot of indigenous music from across the globe has reached international audiences in the twenty-three years since Paul Simon released Graceland, the music of South Africa remains the most familiar form of world music to most mainstream listeners. South African music is dominated by two styles. One is called mbaqanga or "township jive," and is characterized by smooth, melodic guitar lines, simple major-key chord progressions, and steady but infectious rhythms. The other is a variant of a capella choral music performed by large groups of singers, as best exemplified by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Here I review a pair of compilation albums featuring multiple performers of both styles. The first, A Taste of the Indestructible Beat of Soweto belongs to a series of similarly themed compilation albums of mbaqanga music, while the second, Voices from Mother Africa, is a recent assortment of South African vocal music.
Originally released in 1992, A Taste of the Indestructible Beat of Soweto is exactly what the album's title claims it to be. It continues a string of sampler albums compiled by a man named Trevor Herman to promote South African music internationally. (The first of these albums was simply called The Indestructible Beat of Soweto. Released in 1985, it generated a significant amount of press even before the arrival of Graceland.) The album contains twelve songs from a number of different performers, the most frequently recurring of which are Mahlatini and the Mahotella Queens. Mahlatini's endearingly distinct bass voice was a national treasure for nearly forty years, and his vocals really stick out on this CD. Virtually everything on the disc is fun, groove-oriented guitar music, and the album as a whole demonstrates the considerable depth and flavor of the mbaqanga style.
Voices from Mother Africa was released in 2007, and consists of fourteen songs from five different groups singing without accompaniment. The one common act to both these CDs is The Mahotella Queens, who have continued to perform on their own since Mahlatini passed away in 1999. The performances include all-male, all-female, and mixed choral arrangements. Ladysmith Black Mambazo do not perform on this record, but their influence is felt throughout, especially on the cover of "Homeless" performed by The Aba Khibesiwe Choir. The other song with a readily recognizable element is "Mbube," performed by Amaryoni. This song is a variant of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," except the jungle is vanishing and the lion is angry and now keeping his eyes wide open.
Either of these discs would serve as a satisfactory introduction to the music of South Africa, or a basis to explore further if your knowledge of the music doesn't extend beyond Graceland. I'd also recommend any of Johnny Clegg's music you can find, and if you like the sound of the group vocals you should also get your hands on some of Ladysmith Black Mambazo's own CDs.
A Taste of the Indestructible Beat of Soweto A-
Voices from Mother Africa B+
Labels: Africa, Music, South Africa
REEFER MADNESS: THE MOVIE MUSICAL
What happens when an unintentional comedy is remade as a deliberate comedy? Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical takes on the 1930s anti-marijuana Reefer Madness by adding musical numbers and upping the stereotypes of the original.
Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical opens in a black-and-white classroom in 1936. A lecturer (Alan Cumming, who plays several roles in the movie) is showing parents and teachers his film depicting the perils of marijuana: "Creeping like a communist, it's knocking at your doors/turning all our children into hooligans and whores!" His lecture -- and movie -- is full of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and hyperbole (like the "fact" that marijuana is more addictive than heroin) -- and he treats any questioning or disbelief as a sign of anti-patriotism and anti-Americanism.
The movie-in-the-movie is about two all-American pure teen sweethearts: Jimmy Harper (Chris Campbell) and Mary Lane (Kristen Bell). These two are in love, rehearsing for Romeo and Juliet (and she just knows it'll have a happy ending!), and getting ready for the big dance. But Jimmy can't dance -- and this leads him down the path of corruption.
Jimmy falls for the snares of slick marijuana dealer Jack Stone (Steven Weber), a slick, brutal man out to addict kids. His den of iniquity includes: Mae Coleman (Ana Gasteyer), an older woman who knows how evil weed and Jack are but can't kick "the stuff"; Sally (Amy Spanger), the beautiful temptress who has a habit of walking into things and endangering her kid; and Ralph (John Kassir), the burned-out weirdo who got hooked on pot in college and wears his varsity sweater all the time.
Naturally, one puff of marijuana turns the innocent kids into addicts, thieves, murderers, sex addicts, and even cannibals! And what better way to show all this than lavish musical numbers? From the initial G-rated dance at the soda shop (featuring Chris's sister Neve Campbell) to a Vegas-style number with a shirtless Jesus (Robert Torti) to a wild animated sequence, there's music a-plenty here!
Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical is a fun one-joke movie, er, movie musical. Not unlike The Colbert Report, the conservative view is delivered so excessively "serious" that it becomes its own joke. The cast here is excellent -- both in comic timing and at singing and dancing -- and the movie is an excellent parody of its unintentionally silly source material. (The dvd also includes the original movie!) So if you want to spend some time in a looney version of the good old days, threatened by the demon weed, then check out Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical.
Labels: Comedy, DVD, Movies, Musical, Reefer Madness the Movie Musical
Norah Jones, THE FALL
Does a lovely singing voice equal a lovely album? Norah Jones has an always great voice very often employed in making mellow music. Despite a slight variety of styles, her new album The Fall remains very mellow.
The Fall is primarily an album about romance, be it thwarted by geography ("Back to Manhattan") or slightly mischevious ("you've ruined me now/ but I liked it"). Norah Jones' voice is beautiful, and the songs here are not just ballads but have elements of the blues, country, and even a little alternative.
Even with expanding her musical style, Norah Jones' songs tend to be a bit too mellow after a while. You can appreciate her singing, but the songs start to blend together after a while. Even the Target exclusive (discalimer: I work for Target -- or does Target work for me ?) covers -- Johnny Cash's "Cry Cry Cry," Wilco's "Jesus Inc." and the Kinks' "Strangers" -- made me more interested in hearing the originals than in Norah's versions again. The Fall is pleasant enough, though a bit slow.
Labels: Music, Norah Jones, The Fall
NINJA BURGER: SECRET NINJA DEATH TOUCH EDITION
The ninja. Deadly. Stealthy. Fast. Able to deliver a hamburger anyplace on the planet. What, you didn't know that last fact? Then you haven't played Ninja Burger: Secret Ninja Death Touch Edition, a card game from Steve Jackson Games.
Each player takes on the role of a ninja out to get enough honor to win. Each ninja has a number of skills (with "Other Stuff" used to cover any skill they don't have); sometimes they have advantages or penalties, which are balanced by lower or higher skills. Players start with three Fortune cards (used to help themselves or hinder opponents), some money (to buy Ninja Stuff, a type of Fortune card), and six honor.
Players win in one of three ways: having the most honor when the honor total among all players is ten times the number of players; having the most honor when the total honor among all players is less than four times the number of players; or having five more honor than the next-closest player.
To gain (or possibly lose) honor, ninjas go on Missions to deliver their burgers. Missions are in a wide variety of places, from Buckingham Palace to Office Cube 2357-B ("Be careful. 2357-A is in another building") to Mount Everest to a Nuclear Submarine. Missions have a number of skill checks (rolling the ninja's skill or less on three six-sided dice). If the ninja makes all the skill checks, they gain something, usually honor, money, or both. Failure results in a penalty, usually a loss of honor, money, or both. There are also Errands, which are easier than missions but have less reward.
Then there are staff meetings. Each turn players get a Mission card (along with a Fortune card and money) and can decide to attend or skip the staff meeting. (Everyone decides this together, at the same time.) People who attend the staff meeting get a Fortune card and can swap Missions with each other. However, a player can force a player with lower honor to swap a Mission with them. A person who skips the staff meeting can't trade their Mission or get a Fortune card, but they can reroll one failed skill check on their turn.
After everyone's had a turn, if only one player succeeds they gain one extra honor; if only one player failed, they lose one extra honor. Players then check to see if anyone has won, and if not the turn starts anew.
Ninja Burger: Secret Ninja Death Touch Edition is quick, fun, funny, and simple. There's plenty of humor here: silly flavor text ("No one has explained why the franchise has its own leopard. But it needs to be walked, right now"), art from Greg Hyland, exotic/ridiculous locations, and even cards letting a player swap skills but having to explain how they're doing it. This latest edition has the cards from the original Sumo-Size Me expansion (the Tip Jar, New Menu Items, Goals, Enhancers) that add a little more variety to the game; there are also money and honor tokens that cute but unnecessary extras. Gameplay can get pretty cutthroat, but the high humor level keeps things from getting too serious. Ninja Burger: Secret Ninja Death Touch Edition is a neat little game that's easy to quickly teach and start. There's no grand strategy involved, but this is a terrifically enjoyable game that proves that fast food delivery can be amusing -- providing you're a ninja, of course.
Labels: Games, Ninja Burger
VICTORIA'S SECRET 2010 FASHION SHOW
Ah, early December: Thanksgiving is a recent memory, Christmas looms, shoppers begin hitting the retail stores in droves, and some of the most beautiful women in the world strut in revealing underwear. The latter isn't a beautiful delusion of mine but the Victoria's Secret 2010 Fashion Show, where the lingerie company takes over CBS for an hour. This year had few surprises -- except a dive into the reality competition genre -- and lots of, well, Victoria's Secret models.
This year's show was hosted by Heidi Klum, shown right below, perky and charismatic as ever (and stunning, especially since she had given birth a few weeks ago). She discusses the behind-the-scenes goings-on of the show -- and also the competition. For this year's show, Victoria's Secret had a competition to find their next Angel, and in-between runway walks we got to see the competition, from the initial auditions to the top ten, top five, top two, and the during-the-broadcast voting to pick which person would walk down the runway on the show. Angel Boot Camp (their term, not mine) was strenuous but not interesting, and the whole contest felt like an attempt to cash in on the American Idol craze.
Musically, the Victoria's Secret 2010 Fashion Show had the Black Eyed Peas, with Fergie even dressing accordingly, shown below. There were also the usual club-style musical mash-ups (who knew Kings of Leon's "Sex on Fire" worked so well with the Police's "Message in a Bottle?") and current top 40 hits.
As always, the styles shown aren't for sale but are instead the inspirations for Victoria's Secret designs going into 2010. The one exception, shown below, is the $3 million Fantasy Bra, made with diamonds and worn by Marissa Miller.
This fashion show also included Victoria's Secret's Pink line, underwear aimed at teens and college women. Otherwise, Victoria's Secret 2010 Fashion Show offered the same as their previous shows: a perfect fusion of beautiful women and beautiful undergarments, unneded slow motion, and the odd inclusion of Victoria's Secret commercials during the breaks in the Victoria's Secret fashion show. So scroll down and enjoy some more pictures from the always-amazing Victoria's Secret 2010 Fashion Show.
(who is, mercifully, not shown below in lingerie)
Labels: Fashion, Television, tv, Victoria's Secret
RAMSAY'S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES
Can a restaurant go from the brink of disaster to culinary and financial success? And can this happen in a single week? This is the challenge of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, a British show where chef and restaurant owner Gordon Ramsay tries to help restaurants turn themselves around in seven days.
Each episode features Ramsay trying to make a failing restaurant succeed again, along with his voiceovers and interviews with the restaurant's staff. Most episodes follow a pattern: The first day Ramsay visits for the first time and tries the food; the second day he inspects the kitchen; the third day he observes a typical dinner service; the next three days cover changes -- menu, decor, staff, etc; then the last day is a relaunch for the restaurant with the changes.
This sort of show hinges on the host, and Gordon Ramsay is certainly engaging. Very passionate (and swearing enough to get bleeped frequently, even on BBC America), Ramsay is critical and argumentative -- and willing to roll up his sleeves and do the grunt work along with the chefs and staff. He approaches each challenge with a new strategy (though simpler, less pretentious food is a frequent fix) and the receptions vary from unconditional acceptance to shouting matches. There's usually a visit a few weeks or months later, when we see how the restaurants have done after Ramsay's visit. (Some do well, some close, and one sued Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares for causing it to fail.) The show does use narration and dramatic music to manipulate the audience a little, but it's nice to see a show where the star is willing to do some real work -- and effect a real change.
Labels: Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, Television, tv
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: EXPOSURE
Ah, the dream team: a collection of the best people in a field, gathered together for a spectacular performance. While the dream team often applies to sports, Sports Illustrated: Exposure assembles its own dream team of supermodels in an amazing coffee table book.
Sports Illustrated: Exposure is different from most Sports Illustrated swimsuit shoots. Instead of having numerous locations, a wide variety of swimsuit colors and styles, and (more recently) body paint, this collection of photos was taken over a 10-day period in Harbour Island in the Bahamas. Photographer Raphael Mazzucco also had the models clad in a variety of all-white swimwear.
So, what makes this a dream team? That would be photos of eight women who have graced the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue: Rachel Hunter, Rebeca Romijn, Daniela Pestova, Elle MacPherson, Yamila Diaz-Rahi, Elsa Benitez, Veronica Varekova, and Carolyn Murphy. To call these women beautiful is an understatement, and Mazzucco combines the perfect Harbour Island background with the models' posing, often with each other, in styles from sensual to playful.
Sports Illustrated: Exposure is a true wonder. It would be hard to imagine a more perfect collection of models to be photographed together (though if you can, we do have a comments section), and the photos are both stylish and natural. One may feel having nothing but all-white swimwear is limiting, but there's no repetitive feeling in the photographs here. Sports Illustrated: Exposure is, simply, amazing.
Overall grade: A+
Labels: Fashion, Photography, Sports Illustrated Exposure
PARTY POOPER
Whick of your friends would be the most likely to do something -- or the least likely? Knowing the answer to this, or knowing how someone else will answer, is the key to Party Pooper, a game from Out of the Box Publishing.
Out of the Box also published Apples to Apples, and Party Pooper shares a key element with that earlier game: One player acts as a judge each round (in Party Pooper they're "the host"), and the other players (in Party Pooper they're "the guests") try to guess how the host will make a decision.
At the start of each round of Party Pooper the host rolls a six-sided die that will come up either "Party Pooper" or "Party Animal." The host then draws a card which has a situation on it. The host has to decide which player -- including themselves -- would either be most likely to do what the card called for (if "Party Animal" was rolled) or would be the least likely to do it (if "Party Pooper" was rolled.) The guests decide who the host will choose. When everyone is ready, the judge says "One... two... three... point!" and everyone points at their pick. Every time a guest picks the same person as the host, that guest and the host each get a plastic chip. Then the person to the host's left becomes the new host. After a certain number of rounds where each player gets to be the host the same number of times, whoever has the most chips wins.
Party Pooper is fun -- with some qualifications. As with many party games you need to know the other players -- friends or family members work best -- to do more than blindly guess. Unlike Apples to Apples, players can't discuss what they think the best answer is. My biggest problem is the pointing: Anyone who pauses half a second can change their pick, resulting in more arguments and accusations of cheating than fun party antics. (I find it easier to have people write down their picks.)
But Party Pooper does provide some lighthearted fun. There are 400 question cards, so you can play a large number of games without repeating questions. The question cards are almost all family-friendly (though with my niece and nephew playing we skipped a card about nude sunbathers), and the situations presented are more silly than potentially insulting. Party Pooper has its flaws but is an enjoyable little party game.
Labels: Games, Party Pooper
Harlem Shakes, Technicolor Health (Gigantic Music, 2009)
As you might guess from their name, the members of Harlem Shakes are New Yorkers, although the quintet of Lexy Beinam (vocals), Todd Goldstein (guitar, vocals), Jose Soegaard (bass, vocals), Kendrick Strauss (keyboards, vocals), and Brent Katz (drums, vocals) were actually based in Brooklyn rather than Harlem. Their music combines indie rock with some rudimentary electronics. Technicolor Health came out this past spring, but since they've recently announced a split, their second album appears to be their last.
Technicolor Health has its moments. Beinam's pleasantly unassuming voice reminds me a lot of Nick Lowe, and suits the songs well. "Niagra Falls" has a nice piano part and a good bounce to it, and the really good single "Sunlight" boasts an infectious chorus. But most of the album lacks a real spark. Plus, the electronics often sound cheesy and do more harm than good.
So on the whole, you'll find a couple of songs worth a few listens or a download, but not enough quality to sustain a full album. Harlem Shakes might have been capable of eventually making an album that's strong all the way through. Technicolor Health is not that album, though, and it doesn't seem likely that they'll give themselves another chance.
Harlem Shakes play "Sunlight" in front of their home crowd in Brooklyn.
Labels: Harlem Shakes, Music, Rock, USA
Shakira, SHE WOLF
It's always refreshing to discover pop music that doesn't sound like everything else on the radio. This atypical and rewarding feat is achieved on She Wolf, the terrific new album from Shakira.
She Wolf uses lots of synthesizers and electronics, but these are flavored with other influences: Latin, Indian, and even folk music. (I could see "Gypsy" being written by the Indigo Girls as easily as by Shakira.) And it's all held together by Shakira's voice, which can go from sensual to powerful to playful -- sometimes in the same song.
This time around, Shakira sings almost completely about love and lust. ("She Wolf" and "Gypsy" are more about self-discovery.) Songs topics include repeatedly falling for the wrong guy ("Did It Again"), playful exhibitionism ("Spy"), and pure sensual fantasy ("Good Stuff"). The lyrics are light and fluffy, and if She Wolf has one flaw it's the occasional clunker in the writing: "I'm so happy I should get sued," "I'm starting to feel just a little abused/like a coffee machine in an office." But there is also clever writing here, from the dark obsessed and vindictive ex-girlfriend in "Mon Amour" to bemoaning a lack of eligible men in "Men in This Town": "The good ones are gone or not able/ and Matt Damon's not meant for me."
She Wolf has nine songs in English, three of those songs performed in Spanish as well, two live songs, and two songs with rappers Lil Wayne and Kid Cuti. The version from Target (disclaimer: I work for Target. Disclaiming: It's good for what ails ya) has a bonus dvd with two live performances, an interview with Shakira, the video for "She Wolf" and a making-of feature for that video. She Wolf won't revolutionize all music or become immortal poetry. What it is, first and foremost, is fun. Shakira has made an album that's very enjoyable and easy to listen to repeatedly. Aooooooooo!
Väsen, Väsen Street (NorthSide, 2009)
Over the past fifteen years, no band has epitomized new Swedish folk music more than Väsen. A superior live act with an unsurpassed sense of instrumental interplay, Olav Johansson (nyckelharpa), Mikael Marin (viola), and Roger Tallroth (guitar) have built up enough of a following internationally that the organizers of the Lotus World Music & Arts Festival have started lobbying the town of Bloomington, Indiana to name a street after them. Whether their efforts come to fruition or not, Väsen Street can be enjoyed by anybody for the price of a typical CD.
On the new album, Väsen provide the usual assortment of self-composed and traditional polskas, schottishes, and waltzes. The schottishes (bouncy tunes in 2:4) get a bit more emphasis than usual, and "Garageschottis" is my favorite track on the CD. There are a couple of twists on Väsen Street as well. "Absolute Swedish" veers off in a bluegrass direction about halfway through, with the assistance of American musicians Mike Marshall (mandolin) and Darol Anger (fiddle). "Hagsatra Brudmarsch" was originally composed for Mikael Marin's wedding and played by a wedding orchestra; for the recording, Väsen are joined by Marin's wife Mia (from the band [ni:d]) and Emma Reid on fiddle, along with frequently recurring fourth member Andre Ferrari on percussion.
Otherwise, anybody familiar with Väsen will know exactly what to expect. This is something of a mixed blessing, as dependability often goes hand in hand with predictability. And their recorded output, good though it is, still doesn't match their phenomenal live shows. Having said that, on Väsen Street the band continues to meet the high standard of musicianship they've set for themselves, and if you like the sound of Swedish fiddle music at all, then it's impossible not to love Väsen.
Hey, I was there! Väsen performing what would become the title tune of their new album at the 2008 Nordic Roots Festival in Minneapolis.
Labels: Mikael Marin, Music, Sweden, Väsen
Vieux Farka Touré, Fondo (Six Degrees Records, 2009)
With his 2006 self-titled debut CD, Vieux Farka Touré embraced the legacy left him by his late father, the venerable Malian guitarist singer Ali Farka Touré. The younger Farka Touré has quickly built up a solid reputation on his own terms, though. His second CD Fondo finds him largely going electric, finding a middle ground between the guitar and kora music of his homeland and some good old-fashioned rock and roll.
Touré's embrace of amplifiers and distortion on Fondo is a mixed blessing. On one hand, the album's high-energy songs really rock, especially the hyper workout "Sarama." Touré puts some percussion and some simple yet very effective drumming underneath his frenetic guitar playing, and the result is a really exciting track. On most of the quieter numbers, though, the electric guitar doesn't work quite as well as an acoustic guitar would. I also don't think Touré has the same melodic sense with his playing that his countryman Habib Koité does, and he frequently lets his guitar dominate the instrumental arrangement too much. For example, the song "Mali" has some nice accompanying instrumentation, but you have to listen closely to hear it underneath the heavily distorted guitar. By contrast, Touré shares the spotlight with kora player Toumani Diabaté on the really pretty instrumental "Paradise." Fondo would have benefited from more tunes like this one.
Vieux Farka Touré clearly builds most of the arrangements to the songs on Fondo around his guitar. While I'm sure this works perfectly well in a live context, it sometimes sounds as though the song exists merely as an excuse to set up the next guitar solo. This isn't necessarily a bad thing -- Eric Clapton is probably more guilty of that than anybody, and I'm a huge fan -- but you do have to wonder how many of the songs really hold up independently of the guitar. Still, "Sarama" and "Paradise" are excellent recordings, and fans of Malian guitar music will probably find plenty else to like here as well.
Co-producer Yossi Fine talks about the making of Fondo.
Labels: Africa, Mali, Music, Vieux Farka Touré
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Vieux Farka Touré, Fondo (Six Degrees Records, 200...
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Bela Bartok and Albert B. Lord’s Yugoslav Folk Music, Volumes 1-4
Brendan Foreman wrote this review for Folk Tales.
It may be a little hard to believe, but, were it not for the work of Bartok and those of his generation, the current folk music industry would probably be a completely different sort of beast. In fact, it might not even exist.
Allow me a slight digression to explain my position. Before Bartok — who began recording the peasant music of Hungary in the 1910s, almost as soon as the technology, i. e., portable phonographs, was available — and others of his generation, traditional music of Europe and America was a neglected field. Considered by many musicians, conductors, and scholars to be not much more than a pathetic byproduct of the then current class structure of most of European society. Watered-down versions of folk music made their way into the music of composers such as Franz Liszt, who wanted to make nationalistic statements of some sort, but for the most part few beyond the “folk” themselves were paying much heed to their art forms.
That is, no one until the turn of the twentieth century and the advent of portable recording equipment (actually, the advent of recording equipment at all, come to think of it). For some reason, many in the generation that grew up with the first recording equipment seemed also to grow up with a fascination with the traditional elements of their homelands, and the first three decades of the twentieth century saw a number of scholars across the world — from Bartok in Hungary to John Lomax in the United States — scouring their respective countrysides for source material. Also, throughout the universities, which were producing like rabbits at the time, more and more scholars developed an interest in the study of these recordings and what they said about the people who both produced and listened to such music.
All this activity produced not only a wealth of documented traditional music but, more importantly, a newfound and world-wide respect for the music and the cultures that produced it. This new appreciation had far-reaching effects on the generations ahead, since it not only paved the way for future field recorders such as Alan Lomax and Ralph Rinzler, but it also inspired Harry Smith to view the recorded popular American music of the 1920s and 1930s as a form of American folk music while providing financial incentive (albeit small ones) for such recording companies as Folkways, Vanguard, and Rounder to begin distributing the music commercially.
The current state of folk and traditional music is the product of the massive folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Any “folkie” out there now has some antecedent from then, from the singer-songwriters to the neo-traditionalists.
Now, back to the books at hand. Yugoslav Folk Music is a massive body of work that unfortunately proved to be the last item of ethnomusicology that Bartok would work on. All during the 1910s to 1930s, he had been busily conducting field recordings throughout much of Hungary and other areas of Eastern Europe (especially where there were any substantial Hungarian settlements). Rigorously comparing the various melodies, tune structures, rhythms, and harmonic systems, he had by the mid 1930s come up with a working model of the origins and development of much of Eastern European music. However, by the time he got to considering how the multi-multi-ethnic country, now known as “Yugoslavia” — freshly carved from the skeleton of the late Austro-Hungarian Empire — fit in with the rest of Eastern Europe’s traditional musical cultures, the political situation would not let him enter or leave Yugoslavia with any sort of recording equipment; he could not do any field recordings whatsoever there. In fact, the political situation in all of Central Europe was compelling him to relocate away from Hungary altogether, for the Nazification of Europe had just begun.
A happy bit of providence chimed in when Bartok was informed that a certain Milman Parry from the United States had successfully recorded thousands of songs and tunes in Yugoslavia during the early ’30s, in a search for the origins of the works of Homer. But Parry had died before he had a chance to start analyzing his recordings, which contained a substantial amount of heroic epic folk songs, and Harvard, which now had possession of the recordings, was interested in getting Bartok to aid in the work.
At the same time, Columbia University was trying to find a professorial position for Bartok in their music department. Thus, the Bartoks — Bela and his wife, Ditta Pasztory-Bartok — arrived at New York in late October of 1940 for a lecture and recital tour which ended in March of the following year, when he began work on the Parry recordings.
Although the actual work and first draft of his work on the Parry collection only took about a year to complete, the editing process took far longer, and unfortunately Bartok died in 1945 — six years before the final version was finally published. The current edition has been re-edited by Benjamin Suchoff at SUNY for the New York Bartok Archive. Additional material — as will be explained — has been added.
This edition comes in three volumes. As much as I can figure out, it seems that the first few editions of Yugoslav Folk Music only included most of the first volume. Subtitled “Serbo-Croatian Folk Songs and Instrumental Pieces from the Milman Parry Collection” and co-written by Bartok and Albert B. Lord, this volume will be of most interest to the lay reader or casually interested musician. Included is a preface by Suchoff detailing the history of the Parry Collection and Bartok’s work on it, as well as a very brief foreword by George Herzog.
The meat of the first volume consists of two parts written by Bartok and Lord, respectively. The first details Bartok’s theories about Serbo-Croatian folk music as given by the Parry Collection. His beginning essay is erudite and quite difficult for the lay reader (such as myself) to understand. However, this is followed by a set of beautifully typeset music, which was used as examples in the previous essay. A total of 54 pieces are laid out from Bartok’s transcriptions of the Parry Collection. Even a cursory glance at them will let the reader know both the complexity of Yugoslavian folk music and the genius of Bartok’s transcripting abilities. The second part of the first volume consists of Albert Lord’s translations of the lyrics for the previous 54 songs. He provides an interesting essay detailing the significance of these pieces and how they fit within the general make-up of Eastern European music in terms of theme and variation. The appendices consist of additional material that was not provided in the first edition, including several of Bartok’s handwritten transcriptions.
The next volume, subtitled “Tabulation of Material,” is for the hardcore ethnomusicographer only. In this tome, Bartok outlines the results of his comparative study of the various tunes that he transcribed from the collection. He does this by detailing the characteristics of each tune on a massive table — several tables, actually, describing the meters, harmonies, and divisions of each piece. However, regardless of the genius and hard work involved with the making of it, this portion of the collection is complicated and only interesting to a scholar of the field — professional or amateur.
The last two volumes consist of Bartok’s own handwritten transcriptions from the Parry Collection. This material was not in the original edition, since his later editing work on this set involved mostly getting the typesetting right. And it is a little unclear whether Bartok actually wanted these publicized. However, anyone interested in material beyond that provided in the first volume will have plenty to work with in these last two books. Most of the songs are very short; he seems only to have written the first few bars of each piece, getting the gist of each song down, then moving to the next. It’s nevertheless a fascinating glimpse into Bartok’s thinking process and a testament to his skill as a transcriber.
Ethnomusicology — like many of the humanities — has changed a lot since the early 1940s. There is more emphasis on the content and context of the lyrics than on the morphology of the tunes themselves. Nevertheless, this is an invaluable aid to the scholar of East European music. And it is also interesting to anyone just interested in the field. Be warned, though, it’s a tough read but well worth it.
(State University of New York Press, 1978)
About Diverse Voices
Diverse Voices is our catch-all for writers and other staffers who did but a few reviews or other writings for us. They are credited at the beginning of the actual writing if we know who they are which we don’t always.
It also includes material by writers that first appeared in the Sleeping Hedgehog, our in-house newsletter for staff and readers here. Some material is drawn from Folk Tales, Mostly Folk and Roots & Branches, three other publications we’ve donedone the centuries.
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986 Articles0 Comments
I have a degree in Visual Communication which included Creative Writing,Graphic Design, Photography, Illustration and Marketing. I am a Freelance Graphic Designer and have worked as an Art Director, Photographer and Art Teacher . I have a passion for anything that allows me to be express my creativity. @linita_masters
The Annual Festival’s Opening Night Will Feature Lena Headey, Debra Messing, Dane Cook, Aisha Tyler, Brittany Snow, Matthew Modine, Anthony and Ann Russo, among others. Over six-thousand submissions later, the Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival is thrilled to announce their star-studded…
Famed composer Ramin Djawadi has today earned an Emmy® Award nomination for his exceptional musical work on the eighth and final season of HBO®‘s hit series Game of Thrones. His score for the season’s third episode “The Long Night” has…
Jim Halterman of TV Guide Magazine to Moderate Series of FOX Panels at 2019 San Diego Comic-Con
Jim Halterman, West Coast Bureau Chief at TV Guide Magazine, will lead two Fox panels during 2019 Comic-Con International: San Diego. Halterman is a veteran television journalist and has been covering the television landscape for nearly 15 years. Before TV…
This July 7, 2019 Ringo will return to Capitol Records Tower in Los Angeles for his annual Peace & Love Birthday event where he will join fans gathered for a Noon #peaceandlove celebration. The dream is to create a wave of Peace…
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The Award Winning — FIND ME directed by TOM HUANG, Theatrical release in LA MAY 31st
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Television Academy Foundation Partners with Easterseals to Present the Power of TV: Representing Disability In Storytelling
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BASIC Magazine & H.E.R. Pre-Grammy Party with Absolut Elyx
On Friday evening, BASIC Magazine threw an intimate pre-Grammy party at the private residence of Jonas Tahlin, CEO of Absolut Elyx, to celebrate 5-time Grammy nominee H.E.R. R&B artist H.E.R., nominated in 2019 for 5 Grammy Awards including Album of…
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Subscribe To Our Press Releases
4G Americas: 300 Live LTE Networks in 107 Countries
PCC Mobile Broadband
4G Americas reported that the live commercial LTE networks worldwide have reached 300 in 107 countries, adding 109 new commercial networks year-over-year since June 2013. By end of this year, the number is expected to reach 350. The numbers include LTE and LTE-Advanced. Meanwhile, LTE-Advanced is commercially deployed on 9 networks in 7 countries worldwide, with those numbers expected to reach 40 networks by year-end 2014.
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FAREWELL TO KEVIN NELSON, LINFIELD FOOTBALL BROADCAST PLAY-BY-PLAY ‘VOICE’
Tweet by Kevin Nelson @k6nelson 1:56 AM - 26 Jun 2019
Wow, I just really appreciate all the love from everyone today. This was a tough decision and I’ll miss being on the call more then you all know! Thanks for all the support!
Tweet by Kevin Nelson @k6nelson 5:53 PM - 25 Jun 2019
I have decided to pursue a social media manager opportunity in Portland and will no longer be employed by Linfield Athletics. I can’t thank the Linfield Administration both past and present enough for believing in me and allowing me to grow as a professional in sports media. Thank you to all of the alumni, student-athletes, coaches and the Linfield community for all of the great memories and your support these past 7 years. I’ll always be rooting for the ‘Cats but now it will be away from the press box. Thank you, Roll ‘Cats!
https://golinfieldwildcats.com/staff.aspx?staff=73
Kevin Nelson
· Title
External Relations Coordinator and Football Play-By-Play Broadcaster
knelson@linfield.edu
· Phone
Kevin Nelson is in his third year as a member of the sports communications staff and first as the Athletics External Relations Coordinator.
A 2016 Linfield graduate, Nelson assists with story writing and sports information needs for golinfieldwildcats.com, maintains the athletic department’s social media accounts and graphics, and serves as the primary sponsorship sales representative in the community.
As the lead play-by-play announcer on the Linfield Sports Network, Nelson has called more than 200 games and is entering his fourth professional season with the Wildcats. The Voice of Linfield Football, Nelson broadcasts all home and away games with color analysts, Dave Hansen.
Nelson graduated from Enumclaw High School in his hometown of Enumclaw, Washington in 2012.
Posted by Wildcatville at 7:28 AM
Linfielder Mike Barrow's name added to Vietnam War memorial in Bend, Ore.
Article on pages 1 and 4 about Mike Barrow in May 27, 2019, Bend, Ore., Bulletin daily newspaper. URL link to PDF of entire issue: https://newmedia1.wescompapers.com/ePaper/completePubs/bendbulletin/TheBulletin/2019_05_27_BulletinDaily/pdfs/combined.pdf
Dan Spencer named head head baseball coach of Linfield Wildcats 6/17/2019
Story below 6/17/2019 from Linfield Sports Info.
Photos above found on Internet.
Dan Spencer has been named baseball coach at Linfield College, director of athletics Garry Killgore announced Monday (6/17/2019). He replaces Stan Manley who retired at the end of the 2019 season.
"Dan is an excellent fit as Linfield's next head baseball coach. He has an outstanding reputation and track record within the baseball community and epitomizes the Linfield tradition of excellence," said Killgore. "Dan will be a great leader for our baseball team and a wonderful addition to our coaching staff and the community at large. I am very excited to have him on board with us."
Spencer becomes just the sixth Linfield baseball coach in the span of the last 70 seasons. He takes over a program regarded nationally for its lasting stability and winning ways. Since recording its first Northwest Conference baseball championship in 1923, Linfield has won three national championships (two as part of the NAIA and one in the NCAA), along with 41 additional conference titles.
"I'm very excited and honored to be joining the Linfield family," said Spencer.
"Growing up in Southwest Washington in 1975, I would always hear about Linfield and its reputation for winning baseball games. The baseball program and the people at Linfield are all fantastic, no matter what angle you look at it from, whether that's academically, athletically or from a facilities point of view."
Spencer is an outside-the-box hire, becoming the first non-Linfield graduate to lead the program since 1949. He has strong ties to the Pacific Northwest and brings with him 28 years of coaching experience, including 22 at the Division I level with stops at Washington State, New Mexico, Oregon State and Texas Tech.
He departs Washington State for Linfield after three seasons in which he served as the Cougars associate head coach, pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.
Before Washington State, Spencer was an assistant for three years at New Mexico (2013-15), where he helped the Lobos reach the title game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament. In 2014, his pitching staff recorded the lowest collective ERA (4.23) since 1977 and seventh-lowest staff ERA in the program's 115-year history. The UNM bullpen saved a school-record 16 games.
He spent a total of 11 years as a member of the Oregon State coaching staff, first as an assistant (1997-2003) and then as associate head coach under Pat Casey (2004-07). While in Corvallis, the Beavers won back-to-back national titles and appeared in three straight College World Series (2005-07). His pitching staffs led the Pac-10 in ERA during both 2005 and 2006 and in saves in 2006 and 2007. He also served as the program's recruiting coordinator and brought in three nationally ranked recruiting classes. Collegiate Baseball Magazine named Spencer as its National Pitching Coach of the Year in 2007.
Spencer spent five seasons at Texas Tech, one as associate head coach and four more as head coach. He was the first Red Raiders head coach to win at least 25 games in each of his first four seasons and his teams defeated 32 nationally ranked opponents. His players excelled in the classroom, earning 31 Academic All-Big 12 awards during his four years, nearly as many (34) as the school received in the 12 years preceding his arrival.
During his time at Oregon State, Texas Tech and New Mexico, Spencer coached 12 players to 26 All-America awards. Thirty five players he coached were selected in the first 10 rounds of the Major League Baseball draft, including 14 in the top five rounds and three first-round picks.
Spencer began his head coaching career at Green River Community College in Auburn, Wash., where he was the head coach from 1992-96. In 1992 and 1994, he was named the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Coach of the Year. He also spent one season as an assistant at Tacoma Community College. His first coaching job was leading Vancouver's Ryder Construction 16-18 year-old Senior Babe Ruth team.
As a player, Spencer played three seasons as a catcher and third baseman at Texas Tech after beginning his collegiate career at Mira Costa College in Oceanside, California.
A native of Vancouver, Wash., and Fort Vancouver High School graduate, Spencer completed his bachelor's degree in history from Portland State University in 1990. He and his wife, Susie, have three children: Wade, 24, Logan, 21, and Elizabeth, 14.
DAN SPENCER'S COACHING CHRONOLOGY
246-179 overall record (131-67 junior college)
Washington State, Associate Head Coach, 2016-19
New Mexico, Assistant Coach, 2013-15
Texas Tech, Head Coach, 2009-12
Texas Tech, Associate Head Coach, 2008
Oregon State, Associate Head Coach, 2004-07
Oregon State, Assistant Coach, 1997-2003
Green River C.C., Head Coach, 1992-96
Tacoma C.C., Assistant Coach, 1991
QUOTING LINFIELD COACH DAN SPENCER On the kind of team fans can expect to see on the field
"We're going to be known for having very good fundamentals and for playing hard and running around. We'll be athletic, fast and physical and we'll have some toughness. People will recognize us as looking a lot like Linfield teams of the past, teams that won a lot of games by using a blue collar mentality."
On why coming to Linfield makes sense for him
"I really feel like Linfield is the perfect place for me and I'm looking forward to getting started. We're going to come in and see just how many games we can win. There's so much support for the program already. I can't wait to get started."
On what stands out to him about coaching at Linfield
"Coaching at Linfield is going to be so different from the Division I experience where each sport is its own separate entity. As I was going through the application process, it really felt like Linfield was a family with everyone pulling toward a common goal."
On the differences between Division I and Division III
"Division I sports have changed a lot over the last 10 years where now you are going in and recruiting 15- or 16-year-old kids. Picking a college is a big decision someone that age. At Linfield, we'll recruit juniors and seniors rather than freshmen and sophomores. So when a guy shows up to play, you have pretty good idea they are already capable students or they wouldn't be here. That takes a lot of stress off the coach, knowing that a kid you recruit is a very likely going to take care of business in the classroom."
Former Oregon State pitching coach Dan Spencer hired as Linfield baseball coach
6/19/2019 Oregonian by Nick Daschel
Dan Spencer, who spent more than a decade with Oregon State baseball and served as pitching coach on the Beavers’ 2006 and 2007 national title teams, is back in Oregon as Linfield baseball coach.
The Wildcats hired their first baseball coach without school ties since 1949, replacing Stan Manley, who retired after the 2019 season.
Spencer most recently was associate head coach at Washington State for the past four years.
Spencer was part of Pat Casey’s coaching staff from 1997-2007, including associate head coach from 2004-07. In 2007, Spencer was honored as pitching coach of the year by Collegiate Baseball magazine in 2007.
During a college coaching career that started in 1991, this is Spencer’s third stint as a head coach. He previously served in those roles at Green River CC from 1992-96, and Texas Tech from 2009-12.
Linfield has been one of the Northwest’s strongest small college baseball programs over time. The Wildcats are three-time national champions, including 2013 under Scott Brosius. However, Linfield struggled in 2019, posting their first losing season since 1987.
Story Links
McMinnville auto dealership has a Linfield connection: Dave Lum, Class of 1958
Read more about Linfielder Dave Lum, Class of 1958, at this link:
https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2018/12/auto-dealership-founded-in-astoria-by.html
On the run, May 15, 1970
Video (originally Super 8 film) from Friday, May 15, 1970. Linfield 1970 Commencement was Sunday, May 17.
Sharon Shepherd, Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame
Article about and photo of Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame member SHARON SHEPHERD, Linfield Class of 1960, from 18 Oct 1958 Oregon Statesman daily morning newspaper, Salem, Ore. Link to her Hall of Fame bio:
https://golinfieldwildcats.com/hof.aspx?hof=29
After 30 years, Linfield’s nameless HHPA should memorialize Paul Durham
(This story posted June 1. 2019.)
During the summer of 1989 Linfield College’s HHPA/Health, Human Performance and Athletics building opened at the corner of Linfield Avenue and Lever Street.
A story in the June 15, 1989, Oregonian said the college’s new “physical education, health and athletics complex … has not been named.”
It’s been 30 years since HHPA went into use that summer and it’s approaching another 30 year milestone in November. It was dedicated Nov. 4, 1989.
HHPA is a well-designed and well-used facility which serves the needs of a vibrant college community. From when it opened its doors to the present, the building has continued to have a generic name when other athletics-related facilities on campus memorialize former Linfield coaches:
· Roy Helser Field.
· Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
· Hal Smith Fitness Center.
· Ad and Joan Rutschman Field House.
There is one person for whom HPPA should be named: Paul Durham (1913-2007).
Born in 1913 in Portland, where he was raised, he died at age 92 in Honolulu in 2007.
Call it the "Paul Durham Health, Human Performance and Athletics Building."
Durham’s initial contact with Linfield came as one of its students. He had wide ranging talents. Competing in football, basketball and track, he was a star athlete at Linfield in the 1930s and is one of the few Wildcats in history to earn 10 or more letters. A good student, he was also a talented singer. He graduated from Linfield in 1936, then coached at high schools in Yamhill and Portland before returning to his alma mater in 1948 to coach football and, starting in 1949, to also serve as the college's athletic director.
Durham was Linfield's head football coach for 20 seasons (1948-1967), compiling a record of 122 victories, 51 defeats and 10 ties for a .694 winning percentage.
In his final 12 football seasons, the Wildcats went 90-16-6 (.830), won six Northwest Conference championships and reached the national championship game of the NAIA twice. Those two teams were the first from the Northwest Conference to participate in the NAIA football playoffs.
His 1956 team started "The Streak" of consecutive winning seasons that continues to this day as the national record at all levels of college football.
Durham was inducted into six athletics Halls of Fame, including the Linfield Athletics, (1998, charter class); Portland Interscholastic League (2001); Oregon Sports, 1989; NAIA Football, 1969; Helms Foundation and University of Hawaii Circle of Honor (both 1997). He has been nominated for the national College Football Hall of Fame.
In 1961 he was Oregon ‘Man of the Year’ and in 1962 the NAIA football ‘Coach of the Year.’
In the season-opening game of 1967, Durham took the football Wildcats to Honolulu, where they upset the University of Hawaii, 15-13, at rainy Honolulu Stadium before a Honolulu Stadium crowd of about 20,000 - still the most ever to see a Linfield game.
Hawaii was so impressed with Durham and the Wildcats that it hired him away from Linfield in 1968 to direct its athletic program.
Durham was a Renaissance man.
Not only did he coach and teach (he taught health classes in addition to the life lessons he imparted on the football field) at Linfield, Durham read widely, sang in choirs and as a soloist, was an accomplished formal speaker, a wonderful story and joke teller with a deep, booming voice.
Raising a family in McMinnville on a small-college coach's salary was a challenge, so Durham augmented his income in other ways.
During summers -- in addition to teaching classes at Linfield -- he ran the McMinnville city recreation program - overseeing activities in the city park during the day and softball games at night.
And, he was sports editor of the McMinnville News-Register newspaper. He also wrote a popular sports column, "Dodging with Durham.”
He was paid to sing popular hymns such as “How Great Thou Art” at funerals in McMinnville.
He was chosen First Citizen of McMinnville by the Chamber of Commerce and was elected president of the Linfield Alumni Association and honored as Alumnus of the Year.
There’s more.
Here’s the story -- engraved on one of the tablets accompanying the Paul Durham statue/monument on the Linfield campus next to HHPA -- to look into his soul:
“Long before racial sensitivity became a national issue, (Paul) Durham judged his athletes by the strength of their character without regard to race or religion.
“He made a strong unpublicized statement for human and civil rights during the Champion Bowl in Augusta, Georgia, in December of 1965. When a hotel official wanted to serve the Black and Hawaiian members of the team in the kitchen at the banquet following the game, Durham advised the restaurant manager the entire team would eat in the kitchen.
“When the manager said there was not enough room to feed the team in the kitchen, the team stayed in the dining room but there was no food served at the Linfield tables.
“As a result of this incident and his personal lobbying efforts, the 1966 NAIA championship game was moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“Such was the profound influence of a man whose memory is still alive in the hearts, minds, and actions of those he touched during his distinguished career and extraordinary life. One of life’s blessings was to be a friend of Paul Durham. He was a beacon of light in the darkest of times.”
Paul Durham was more than a football coach. He was an extraordinary person. A talented Linfield student, including in athletics and music, his successes after graduating from Linfield are storied. He was a respected community leader in McMinnville with a positive national reputation which enhanced Linfield. His teaching skills and leadership of Linfield teams and athletics and impact on all of those with whom he had contact, including players he coached, were beyond compare.
For all the good Paul Durham did and for his undeniable positive impact on Linfield, Linfield Athletics, McMinnville and more, the Linfield Board of Trustees doesn’t think it was enough.
Twice, most recently in 2014, the trustees were asked by alumni to name HHPA for Paul Durham. Twice the board said, “no.”
In the aftermath of the Linfield Trustees saying no in 2014, friends raised funds and had the aforementioned Paul Durham statue/monument created and installed next to Linfield Avenue between HHPA and the Linfield Aquatic Center. It was dedicated in 2014.
In concert with that, to placate some, Durham’s name went on the front of HHPA to indicate the lobby and foyer inside HHPA are named for him.
(The Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame and Hall of Champions are housed within the Paul Durham Lobby and Foyer.)
But, don’t be misled. It’s what’s inside HHPA/Health, Human Performance and Athletics building that’s named for him, not the building itself.
In summary, Paul Durham’s name is on the building and inside the building. But, the building is not, as it should be, named for him.
Read more about Paul Durham here:
http://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2007/07/paul-durham-father-of-linfield.html
https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2008/06/coach-durham-was-about-lives.html
https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2017/08/for-linfielders-augusta-georgia-means.html
=Although not athletic facilities, Lever and Brumback Streets on the Linfield campus memorialize former coaches. Lever Street is for Henry Lever, longtime Linfield coach and athletic director. Brumback Street is for Arthur M. Brumback, a former president and the college’s first football coach.
=HHPA was to be named for Kenneth W. Ford (1908-1997) of Oregon. As it turned out, it is not. Instead, another building on campus -- Kenneth W. Ford Hall, home of Marshall Theatre at Linfield – bears his name. According to The Ford Family Foundation website, Ford “pursued a vision with a single sawmill in the southern Oregon community of Roseburg. From his tenacity grew Roseburg Forest Products Co., one of the largest, family-owned wood products.”
=PHOTOS: Linfield Archives, Wildcatville, Oregonian, McMinnville News-Register.
HHPA over the years
1989 –In June 1989, Linfield’s new Health, Human Performance and Athletics (HHPA) building opens. On June 17, 1989, it is host of Oregon boys’ high school all-star basketball games.
1989 – On Nov. 4, 1989, HHPA dedicated. During dedication, it’s announced gymnasium is named for Ted Wilson, a Linfield men’s basketball coach.
1991 – On Oct. 19, 1991, HPPA’s fitness center dedicated for Hal Smith, a Linfield track & field, cross-country, wrestling coach and p.e. dept. chair.
1998 – On Oct. 17, 1998, Paul Durham among six members of first “class” enshrined in new Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame.
2006 (guesstimate) – Linfield Board of Trustees say “no” to naming HHPA for Paul Durham.
2007 – On June 22, 2007, Paul Durham dies at age. Born Oct, 18, 1913 and a 1936 Linfield grad, he was a Linfield coach (football, basketball, golf), administrator (athletics) and faculty member (health and p.e.), 1948-1968.
2014 – On April 14, 2014, Linfield Board of Trustees -- via Dave Haugeberg, board chair -- say “no” to naming HHPA for Paul Durham.
2014 – In June 2014, Paul Durham signage added to HHPA building exterior.
2014 – On Oct. 18, 2014 -- 101st anniversary of Paul Durham’s birth -- Paul Durham statue/monument, funded by his Linfield players and friends, unveiled/dedicated on Linfield campus outside near HHPA. Event took place during Linfield Homecoming, before a Wildcats football game.
2019 – In June 2019, HHPA is now 30 years old. It has been 30 years since HHPA opened and it’s still not named for Paul Durham.
FAREWELL TO KEVIN NELSON, LINFIELD FOOTBALL BROADC...
Linfielder Mike Barrow's name added to Vietnam War...
Dan Spencer named head head baseball coach of Linf...
McMinnville auto dealership has a Linfield connect...
After 30 years, Linfield’s nameless HHPA should me...
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AIBD TV & Radio Awards 2019
AIBD is pleased to announce the opening of call of entry for the AIBD Awards 2019. We are pleased to present this opportunity to all AIBD members and affiliates. Supported by AIBD, this competition will provide the opportunity for television and radio producers to receive international recognition for their work.
Download "Criteria & Regulation Form"
The Awards are open in the following two categories:
AIBD TV Award for the Best TV programme on:
Category 1: Best TV programme on: The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher
Download "Entry Form"
Roughly 263 million children globally are out of school. While education is the basic human right, having a qualified teacher deserves equal importance. According to recent UNESCO statistics, the world needs to recruit almost 69 million new teachers to reach the 2030 education goals universal primary and secondary education.
This year AIBD TV awards is focusing on this theme to look at some successful case studies in bridging the qualified teachers’ gap for not only general society but also for vulnerable populations such as children with disabilities, refugees, street children and poor children living in rural or the remote areas.
Category 2: Best TV programme on: The Sound of Silence
With 7.7 billion people on earth, there are roughly 6,500 languages. Considering the estimated population of 360 million deaf and dumb people, sign language should be the sixth most widely used language globally. Unfortunately, it is not. Due to inequalities in developing societies, social gaps, lack of standards in special education and cultural generalizations, many deaf and dumb people cannot play their part of being a socially responsible citizen with their potential.
AIBD TV Awards will be focusing on the stories from the world with no sounds. The award will be looking at the positive context of Sign language and how it can cope with challenges in cultural diversity, economic pressures as well as social inclusion.
AIBD Radio Award and Reinhard Keune’s Memorial Radio Award Best Radio Programme on:
Category 1: AIBD Radio Awards 2019: Rural Women: Tapping the power within:
With the advent of technology and social media, communication has become a lot easier than before. Various humanitarian campaigns are initiated with the click of a mouse. However, the challenges of women living in rural and remote areas are still under-discussed around the world, especially where they don’t have the basic resources to survive. Domestic abuse, slavery, trafficking, child marriages become far worse when combined with poverty and unheard.
AIBD Radio Awards are seeking voices of Women activists from rural and remote areas, where they play a significant role not only to improve their own lives but other fellow unprivileged women around them, on their own without any external help.
Category 2: Reinhard Kuene’s Memorial Award 2019: Vanishing Sounds:
Social scientists claim that music might have existed even before mankind had discovered its own voice. Every culture has its own form of music, as distinct and unique to its area as language and cuisine. The timeline of the evolution of musical instruments can be considered parallel to the evolution of mankind itself. With the coming age of the 21st century, many musical instruments have been replaced and obsolete due to the digitization of the music industry, thus losing the soul and essence of purity which music offers. However, there are still great musical instrumentalists trying to preserve and revive the old school of music, hoping to see better days.
Reinhard Kuene’s Memorial Award 2019 is looking forward to receiving impactful stories that how traditional musicians are surviving and reviving the musical instruments in this age of digitized musical era.
We are pleased to present this opportunity to all AIBD members and affiliates. Supported by AIBD, these Awards will provide the opportunity for your television and radio producers to receive international recognition for their work.
“The Prize” consists of US$500.00 cash, a trophy and a certificate presented by AIBD per Award topic.
Winners and runners-up will be announced during the 45th Annual Gathering / 18th AIBD General Conference & Associated Meetings, to be hosted by Bhutan August 2019.
Please note that producers can submit one programme per topic (limit of four submissions for the four topics) and the deadline for programme submission is 12 July 2019.
Please find the relevant information on criteria, regulations and application forms for the AIBD Television & Radio Awards 2019 on our website http://www.aibd.org.my/aibdtv and http://www.aibd.org.my/aibdradio.
If you have any queries regarding these Awards, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Nabeel Tirmazi (AIBD Programme Manager) at [email protected] .
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Lacuna Coil Release End of Time Video
. Lacuna Coil has released a new music video for their song "End Of Time," which comes from their latest album Dark Adrenaline.
The video was produced by K48 and directed by the Italian director Saku, who had worked with the band for previous videos such as "Spellbound" and "I Won't Tell You". He also directed the mini-movies that were featured on the bonus-DVD included on the limited editions of Dark Adrenaline. Watch it here
Lacuna Coil recently announced that they will be touring the US in February 2013 with Sevendust.
Tour Dates with Sevendust:
02/02/13 - Winston-Salem, NC @ Ziggy's
02/03/13 - Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligans
02/05/13 - Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club
02/06/13 - Clifton Park, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall
02/07/13 - Portland, ME @ The Asylum
02/08/13 - Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
02/09/13 - Lynchburg, VA @ Phase 2
02/10/13 - Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
02/12/13 - Fayetteville, AR @ George's Majestic Lounge
02/14/13 - Biloxi, MS @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
02/15/13 - Broussard, LA @ The Station
02/16/13 - Beaumont, TX @ Dixie Dance Hall
02/17/13 - Little Rock, AR @ Revolution! Music Room
02/19/13 - Springfield, IL @ Boondocks
02/21/13 - Bloomington, IL @ The Castle Theatre
02/22/13 - South Bend, IN @ Club Fever
02/23/13 - Cedar Falls, IA @ Pepsi Pavilion
Lacuna Coil CDs, DVDs and MP3s
Lacuna Coil T-shirts and Posters
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New Digital Modes Changing Complexion of Bands and Perhaps of Ham Radio
The wave of software-based digital modes over the past several years has altered the atmosphere of the HF bands. Some suggest the popularity of modes that make it possible to contact stations neither operator can even hear has resulted in fewer CW and SSB signals on bands like 6 meters and 160 meters. Traditional modes require far more interaction and effort on the part of the operator; the newer digital modes not so much. The recent advent of the still-beta “quick” FT8 mode, developed by Steve Franke, K9AN, and Joe Taylor, K1JT — the “F” and the “T” in the mode’s moniker — has brought this to a head. Some now wonder if FT8 marks the end of an era and the start of a new, more minimalist age.
“We’ve been as surprised as anyone about the rapid uptake of FT8 for making QSOs on the HF bands,” Taylor told ARRL this week. Rather than viewing FT8 as a total game-changer, he sees a dividing line between such digital modes and more traditional modes.
“SSB and CW are general-purpose modes,” Taylor asserted. “They are good for ragchewing, DXing, contesting, emergency communications, or whatever. FT8 and the other modes in WSJT-X are special-purpose modes. They are designed for making reliable, error-free contacts using very weak signals — in particular, signals that may be too weak for the more traditional modes to be usable, or even too weak to hear.”
Taylor notes that the information exchanged in most FT8, JT65, and other digital-mode contacts “is little more than the bare minimum for what’s considered to be a valid contact.” In addition to call signs and signal reports, stations may exchange grid squares and acknowledgments.
Radio amateurs recently commented in response to a Top Band Reflector post, in which Steve Ireland, VK6VZ, averred that because of FT8, “160-meter DXing has changed, perhaps forever” in recent weeks. Ireland said he downloaded FT8 but just couldn’t bring himself to use it on the air. “My heart isn’t in it,” he wrote. “My computer will be talking to someone else’s computer, and there will be no sense of either a particular person’s way of sending CW or the tone of their voice. The human in radio has somehow been lost.”
In his blog, Steve McDonald, VE7SL, compiled not only Ireland’s posts, but some responses to it, although not identified by name or call sign. One commenter suggested that the game-changing aspect of FT8 is that those who typically operate CW or SSB will gravitate to FT8. “The amount of activity on the FT8 frequency of any band is phenomenal,” the commenter observed. A few complained that no skill is involved in making contacts using computer-based digital modes.
Another suggested that FT8 is already falling victim to its own success, with too many stations crowding around the designated FT8 frequencies. Others were more philosophical, with remarks along the lines of this one: “It is allowing people who have smaller stations the opportunity to get on and use their radios and a computer to make contacts they never would have been able to make. This is great for ham radio!”
Taylor would agree. As he sees it, FT8 won’t replace modes such as CW or SSB. “Nevertheless, it’s clear that — at least in the short term — many hams enjoy making rapid-fire minimal QSOs with other hams, all over the world, using modest ham equipment,” he said. “For this purpose, FT8 shines.”
In a related “lightning talk” at the 2017 ARRL-TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC) earlier this year, ARRL Contributing Editor Ward Silver, N0AX, challenged his savvy audience to develop a keyboard-to-keyboard mode “between FT8 and PSK31” that would support casual and competitive operating, be more interference and noise tolerant, and be usable by those with “compromised” stations and antennas. He also challenged his listeners to develop a “smart” spectrum display that would identify signals by mode, so Amateur Radio could move away from the practice of setting aside specific frequencies for digital modes.
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The Trial of Faith
by T. Austin-Sparks
Reading: Jeremiah 32:1-27.
The Lord's word for us at this time comes out of the chapter which we have just read. I think it is all bounded by a declaration and an interrogation; a declaration - "There is nothing too hard for Thee"; and the interrogation - "Is there anything too hard for Me?" And it is interesting to note that the declaration is made by man - "There is nothing too hard for Thee"; and the interrogation is made by God after man has made his statement, "Is there anything too hard for Me?" and to me the message just lies in the interpretation or explanation of that order of things. We might have expected it to be the other way, the Lord first challenging: "Is there anything too hard for Me?" and after a certain amount of exercise, man responding and making his declaration, "There is nothing too hard for Thee". But it is not in that order. It is in the reverse order, and the explanation of that contains the message.
You have seen the situation. Here is Jeremiah in a double imprisonment, shut up in prison, guarded in the house of the king, and then the city in siege, the Chaldean armies encamped around: imprisonment indeed. There is not much doubt about it. In his own personal life: shut up, and in the case of his people or the Lord's people: shut up.
But a third factor which is an even more difficult and formidable one than that which lies right behind this scene, the fact that Jeremiah from the beginning was called to fulfil a ministry which, from every human standpoint, was destined and doomed to be a failure and he knew it. You know how often in the case of these prophecies you find Jeremiah rebelling against his own ministry, angry, sometimes complaining, fretful, because of the ministry which he had been chosen to fulfil, which he had been told from the beginning would not be received, and so far as this world is concerned, or his own lifetime was concerned, it would be a failure, that is, on certain grounds, according to certain standards. We can never say that Jeremiah's ministry was in the long run a failure, but in his own life and for immediate purposes, all his prophesying, his pleading, his tears, his burden, his suffering, were in vain, and he was told from the beginning that that ministry, so far as having any immediate result or result for a long time to come, was going to be a failure. Well, that is not a very bright outlook, taking all these things and putting them together: the foredoomed failure because of the setness of the situation amongst the Lord's people; the Lord's people themselves now in this siege which Jeremiah, for forty years up to this time, had been foretelling would end in their captivity. And then himself personally, a man in prison.
That is the situation, and then the Lord's word came to him in the midst of that, telling him that his cousin would come and propose to him that he should buy the field in his native town of Anathoth. He waited and his cousin came according to the word of the Lord, and he said, "I knew that this was the word of the Lord because what had been intimated to me by the Lord was fulfilled!" The Lord gave the word and the Lord gave the witness that he was to take this step.
The Public Declaration
And then the transaction. What strikes us is the thoroughness with which Jeremiah carried out this business. I do not know how you would feel about it, but if ever I were tempted to be slack in a business transaction, I think it would be under conditions like these. We might be very thoroughgoing business people under other conditions, but see what the situation is, the forlorn hope and the risks involved. I am quite sure our hearts would not be in this business, but we are impressed with the way in which Jeremiah goes to work. He leaves no detail unattended to. He goes through the whole course of the legal procedure quite thoroughly, has two documents drawn up, or a document and its copy made, brings the witnesses, has the original read, the copy compared to see that they are both exact, sealed and signed before the elders of the Lord's people of the city, then the one, the original, is sealed up and becomes the closed copy. The other is the one for any reference at any time, left open. So the thing is carried through very thoroughly. I mention it because it bears so much upon the one thing at the heart of this, the faith of Jeremiah. Then the documents are put into a vessel and buried. Jeremiah knows what that means. The Chaldeans were going to take the city, the people are going to be taken away into captivity seventy years. Well, possibly he will not live to possess the field which he has purchased, but against that day he purchases and reserves and preserves the title, the title deeds.
Well, we have got so far, so good. That has all been done in public before men; men have seen and heard and taken note. No doubt they have criticised, no doubt they have had their questions, no doubt they have called him a fool, "Here is a man who, for forty years, has been telling us that this city is going into the possession of a foreign power, it is going to be overrun and occupied, the inhabitants are going to be carried away, the land is going to pass out of our possession! Here this man, having been talking in this way all these years, now buys fields, transacts business in this thoroughgoing way!" Would they not say, "This is surely a contradiction, surely he does not believe what he has been saying; surely the man is mad, if he does believe it!" You know the position they could take. It has all been done in public and they have been taking note.
The Secret Conflict
The witnesses have gone, the elders have departed, closer friends have gone to their homes. Jeremiah is left alone. The public side of things has faded away. He is alone with what? Reaction! When he had handed the deeds to Baruch and they had been taken and buried, he is alone in the secret place. Then he says, "I prayed"! His declaration is not the declaration of a heart that is without questions, doubts, or fears. It all comes over him and in the terrible conflict, of his own doubts, misgivings, fears, heart unbelief, he makes this cry, "O Lord, there is nothing too hard for Thee!" That is not the confident, bold statement of a man who is absolutely sure of that. It is a man who is trying to save his own faith in the hour of reaction, a man who is struggling with all that is to be seen which so positively denies the position that he has taken, a man who is in the throes of a terrible battle between everything on the outside which says, "Impossible, it can never be! You have made an awful mistake, you have taken the wrong course, you have given everything away!" and that inward other life which knows that God has said something at one time. He had a leading from the Lord, and then the Lord bore witness to it, confirmed it. He knows the Lord in his deepest heart. There is a realm down deep in him where he is sure, but today, just at this moment of terrible reaction, when he has been making this public declaration, it all comes back on him when he is alone and Satan assails him. "Was I right? Have I made a mistake?" A battle; everything is saying, "No, you are wrong!"
You know it is true, beloved, is it not, that so often there are things about which we had absolutely no doubt in the hour when the Lord spoke to us and wonderful confirmations and witnesses that the Lord has given, but then comes the time of trial when we question, we are in the bitter conflict with the greatest certainties in our history.
Well, Jeremiah has this reaction, and he fights it by first of all making his affirmation - "There is nothing too hard for Thee." Then he seeks to strengthen that position of faith in the Lord by going over all the wonderful things that the Lord has done for His people from Egypt onwards, no, from the creation onwards; the mighty works of God. He is supporting himself by bringing up Divine history to his rescue in the hour of conflict for faith.
Now, why have I said all that? Not to justify a situation like that, though it may be comforting to us all to find that even a Jeremiah has been the way that we have gone and are going. What is faith? A man who has never had a doubt does not know what faith is. A man who has never had a fight with unbelief does not know anything about faith. A man who has no positive beliefs knows nothing whatever about true faith. Faith is always a militant thing in the Word of God. That is why you have got to take the shield of faith, and that is the big shield of faith over all. It is always militant. How is it militant? Because of these fiery darts, these wiles of the devil. You see, when you have taken the position by revelation from God, that is going to precipitate you into the deepest conflicts with the unbelief of your own heart reinforced by satanic onslaught, and you will need to call up every reserve to maintain that position before God. Faith is never passive.
Here we see Jeremiah in his terrible reaction from his public declaration, fighting the doubts which arise in his own heart. But it is that that makes a prophet, it is that that makes a servant of God. That is the way in which everything that is really going to count for God has to go, and these times of terrible reaction are all a part of the great purpose and achievement of God in the long run. Remember subsequent history opens with these words, "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia" (Ezra 1:1). And Daniel, with all his great ministry in the latter days of this captivity, said, "I learned by the books." Jeremiah had said, "the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah". History in the purpose of God was bound up with this position and with this terrible conflict which raged in the secret place over faith's declaration and faith's position as to God's will and God's intention.
Let me just reiterate that you may, beloved, sometimes be tempted to feel that you ought never to have a doubt, ought never to have a question, that your ground ought never to seem to shake under your feet, that if really you were a true servant and child of God, you would never for a moment have a shadow of a question. Well, I do not want to help you to doubt, but I do want to help you not to go under in such times by showing you that this large section of this chapter finds Jeremiah in the vortex of conflict with a big question immediately following upon the boldest public act of testimony, and having to fight this thing out in secret to preserve his position with God.
It does not end in doubt, fear, uncertainty. There is triumph in the end, but this is a part of the difficult side of standing with God in a dark day for something which seems and is, naturally, so impossible from every natural standpoint, when a ministry is doomed to failure in certain respects. All the Lord's people are not going to accept that for which you are standing. No, a remnant shall return, and in that remnant God will have His thought. The rest will not have it, they are doomed to failure, and yet you are standing for that essential triumph of God's testimony. You are standing for that which must be eventually, or God is for ever defeated. And yet how impossible it seems!
Many of you will be seeing more than I am saying, but we are all very conscious of the impossibility of the situation so far as the great body of Christians are concerned. How impossible it is that there shall be that which wholly represents God's thought. This buying of this field was a testimony enacted to the truth: the day will be when God will have what His heart is set upon. You have got to read the rest of this chapter where God comes in after this interrogation, and see how the Lord begins to open His heart about the history of Israel and then says, "I have given them into the hands of the enemy. The city has been a disappointment and a failure from the day that it was founded. It has been a tragedy and a scene of iniquity which has stirred My anger to white heat!" These are the things the Lord is saying, "I am now handing it over to the enemy, but they shall come back, it shall be inhabited again! Men shall buy fields and build houses and plant vineyards. It shall be!" Yet it was only that day before the Lord said this to Jeremiah, that Jeremiah had borne his public testimony in thoroughgoing acts unto a day which was to be, not in his own lifetime, but that is another matter. It is the testimony, not his own life and ministry, with which the prophet is bound up. It is the Lord's testimony; he is given to that.
God's Contradiction of the Impossible
Well now, let us look at this thing and see what it really says to us. I think it says in the first place, that the Lord here, by leading His servant to do this thing, that is, to buy this field, is definitely contradicting the strongest adverse conditions. Conditions are such and such. The position is this and that. It is a very desperate situation, and the word may well be used - Impossible! The question may be raised as to whether it is possible, too hard, language rightly used in connection with this situation, but the Lord's leading in this matter is the Lord's own contradiction of those most adverse conditions, most impossible situations. If Jeremiah read rightly into the leading of the Lord and carried that reading through his experience, he would see that the very leading of the Lord was a contradiction of the circumstances. That is, he would have to say, "The Lord led me to do that, to buy that field, therefore the Lord means something in that! The situation is so-and-so, but by what the Lord has led me to do, He contradicts the situation". The situation says, Impossible! but God, by His very leading, has denied that. The position that He has led us to take is His denial that it is ultimately impossible of realisation, whatever the circumstances may be, and you have faith. Faith is just that in essence, that it holds to the leading of the Lord in spite of impossible conditions which subsequently develop. I do not say I have got that faith; I don't suppose you have, but that is what is here and perhaps we have got to try and support our poor faith as Jeremiah did.
The Lord is seeking to try and strengthen our faith in a day when outwardly we would say, "Too hard! Impossible!" Is that what the Lord says? "Is there anything too hard for Me?" He might well come back on Jeremiah's - "There is nothing too hard for Thee!" "Is there anything too hard for Me?" It is not out of place for the Lord to say that after the declaration. Well, the Lord contradicts by the buying of this field in those conditions which seem to shout so loudly that nothing more is possible. Then Jeremiah believes God and acts according to his faith. His faith is resolved into obedience, and his obedience is a businesslike obedience, not a slack, slothful obedience, but as we have pointed out, a very thorough transaction. That is the obedience of faith for which the Lord looks.
What does that mean to us? Well, if we have had reason to believe that the Lord has led at some time to take a certain course, do certain things, things which correspond to the buying of the field, and situations subsequently arise which seem to prove all that to have been a great mistake, all wrong, not, after all, in the will of God, the obedience of faith will call upon us to strengthen our attitude in that matter and hold on to that, whatever it is, in a new way, against the conditions which arise. Not, "Oh well, we shall wait and see!" - being slack about it, yielding rather to the pressure of conditions, letting go, taking an attitude, "Well, if it was of the Lord, of course, it would come through, I don't see how it is going to be," and so on; or really, with both hands, in a double attestation, with two documents, over against the circumstances, affirming this thing has got to be, if God is true, it must be, it shall eventuate! The obedience of faith positive. We are in a day like Jeremiah's in many respects and this is one of the things, I feel, that faith demands, that we shall come down on both feet and with a double document, and stand firmly there upon the ground which we know in our heart of hearts, deeper down than all the circumstances and all the doubts, is the ground which God gave us, the field which the Lord led us to take, costly as it has been, and the weighing out in the balances is a very real part of this obedience of faith. It is a costly procedure.
Faith's Selflessness
Then this was all, as we have suggested, for a time to be, and it demanded, so far as Jeremiah was concerned, that element, that quality in faith which is marked by an utter selflessness. I do think that so often we appear to be so much in the position that, if we were to be told that it will not be in your lifetime the thing for which you are suffering, praying, preaching, testifying, we would lose interest. Perhaps our heart would go down, and if we did not put it into words, or even allow ourselves to think it definitely, our feeling would be, "Well, what is the good, what is the good of our spending and suffering and enduring and going through all this and paying the price and we are never to see the accomplishment of it?" The quality of Jeremiah's faith was that it was so selfless that he did it and he knew in his heart of hearts that he would never occupy that field. He was buying it testifying unto a day to come, a time to be, not his time.
We said earlier, it was the Lord's interests, the Lord's faithfulness, the Lord's testimony, that mattered. If that should be realised at last, what matters it whether we are here to see it or not? That is the quality of faith, and I think that is real strength of faith. I believe really that the weak element in our position so often is that self element. That is just the clay part of this. It is brittle. It will not stand up to pressure. It is the self element in our enterprise; it is the self element in our position, in our ministry. We want so much to see this thing and to see it in our own time. Time goes on, the years pass, and we are apt to lose heart because we are coming to realise that this can never be fully in our time and we lose heart. We have got to have a longer view than that, and not only believe for a time to come, but work to a time to come which may or may not be our time. The point is, there is not to be the admixture of self with faith which will be a weak element in faith and the point at which we shall always be breaking down.
Faith's Vindication
That is all, except this. He bought the field, the enemy captured the city, the land, the people, the king, carried them away into captivity. Jeremiah was between sixty and seventy years of age when it happened. It was to be for seventy years. When seventy years were past, the remnant came back, occupied the city and the land, came upon the field, dug up the field and found the vessel with some documents in it, and read the documents. Jeremiah is vindicated!
What did they say, that new generation that came back? What did they say? "Ah, Jeremiah was right! In his day no one believed him, men called him a fool, they said every hard thing and did every hard thing, but Jeremiah was right." What faith was Jeremiah's! How true to the Lord was Jeremiah. He stood alone at great cost. Here is the evidence that he was right, his position was right. Jeremiah was loyal to the Lord; the Lord has proved Himself loyal to Jeremiah. That is the end. I believe if we are loyal to the Lord, the time will come, if not in our lifetime, when all will see and know that the Lord was loyal and has been loyal to us. The Lord will be no man's debtor.
How much that comforts you, I don't know. But here is this little meditation upon a man acting in faith, taking a position in faith, and then knowing the terrible reaction of his own position and act, the fight with his own heart, questions and doubts, but coming through at last vindicated, triumphant. I do not believe that a vessel really comes to its full service to the Lord until faith has suffered every kind of shaking and been established. There may be usefulness in measure with very weak faith, but full measure of usefulness to the Lord comes when faith has been established through much shaking and much suffering. Yes, that is the way of every vessel of the Lord. It has been thrown into this awful conflict over faith, and then its main usefulness has come out. That is another subject, but you can think about it.
Moses had a certain amount of faith when he struck out in Egypt, but forty years later he is a very disciplined man and can be of very much more use to the Lord. But what a forty years of inaction for a man like Moses! If that is not enough to test a man's faith and all that he has gone through after his devotion to the Lord in Egypt! Paul's full usefulness to the Lord did not come until he went to Rome and was in prison. The Church's enrichment has been a thousandfold more by those last years of his life in prison, but what a test of faith, what a perfecting of faith after many years, and so it is that a vessel, for its full usefulness, has to know a deep work by which faith is established. The Lord give us grace to endure the establishing processes!
Edited and supplied by the Golden Candlestick Trust.
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Two die after car crashes into hillside
KUANTAN, 20 Jan (Bernama) -- Two members of a family were killed while two others escaped with minor injuries when the car they were travelling in crashed into the side of a hill at Kilometre 165.4 of the East Coast Expressway near Maran yesterday.
Maran police chief DSP Norzamri Abd Rahman said the driver Muhammad Aidil Suhaidi, 25, and his grandfather, Saad Salleh, 72, who was seated behind him, died in the 10.30am crash.
Muhammad Aidil, of Desa Pandan, Kuala Lumpur, was the driver and personal bodyguard of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Muhammad Aidil’s brother, Muhammad Aliff, 23, who sat in the front passenger seat, suffered bruises while his grandmother Siti Zaleha, 57, suffered minor injuries to her face and back.
“The accident happened when the Honda Jazz, driven by Muhammad Aidil, skidded and veered to the left of the road before hitting the side of a hill.
“The impact of the collision resulted in both the driver and the back passenger to be thrown out of the car and they died at the scene,” he said in a statement today.
Ahmad Zahid yesterday uploaded a post on Twitter, saying Muhammad Aidil had planned to hold his engagement ceremony in Kelantan.
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Hyattsville, MD Real Estate
Hyattsville is located between the District and College Park in the northwestern part of Prince George’s County. Christopher Clark Hyatt, the man from whom Hyattsville takes its name, purchased the first plot of land in March of 1845, predicting that the area would make for suitable suburban developments.
Hyattsville is an evolving, residential community of cape cods, colonials, Victorian and arts and crafts homes. Hyattsville’s historic district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the early 1980s.
There is a growing arts district along Route 1. A number of restaurants and coffee shops have recently opened their doors. Hyattsville residents have access to a number of amenities nearby at The Mall at Prince Georges. The Riverdale Park Farmers Market is also closeby. It is held every Thursday from April to November and features live music.
Green Line access at Prince George’s Plaza Metro. MARC rail can be found near the Riverdale Park Farmers Market. East West Highway, Queens Chapel Road and Route 1 are Hyattsville’s major thoroughfares.
View all Hyattsville Listings
SEARCH FOR LISTINGS IN HYATTSVILLE
6506 AMERICA BOULEVARD #716
4334 FARRAGUT STREET G
3310 RUTGERS STREET
4326 KENNEDY STREET
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BODHI COLLABORATIVE BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU
Mat Chat
The powerful combination of wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
"Why wrestlers become good BJJ players and why good BJJ players learn to wrestle"
Although I had no wrestling experience before I started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I’ve trained with some high-level wrestlers through the years that have helped me incorporate wrestling into my jiu jitsu. The goals of the two sports are very different and there are fundamental adjustments that need to be made when applying wrestling to BJJ, but when you get down to it the objective is similar: POSITIONAL DOMINANCE.
Whether you’re a wrestler moving into BJJ or a BJJ player looking to add some wrestling to your game, here are some techniques that translate really well.
Double Leg: The traditional double leg can be a powerful tool in bringing a fight to the ground. There are some considerations to be made while wearing a gi, but some basic wrestling principals apply, such as changing your levels, keeping your head up and getting a deep penetration step. A key difference in BJJ is breaking of any gi grip, as attempting a double leg while your opponent still has grips is usually not effective. When a double leg is executed correctly, the opportunity to land in side control offers an ideal way to get your ground work started.
Single Leg: Being able to attack one leg is almost always easier to do than attacking two. In addition, many single legs can be performed even if the opponent has grips on your gi. But although it’s often easier to execute than a double, a single will often times land you in what can be considered as a less desirable position such as half guard or full guard. Still, it’s worth two points in a tournament and if you’re a strong passer anyway, it’s an opportunity to score an additional three points for the pass. As an added bonus, many sweeps against a standing opponent are basically single leg takedowns. So you can use the same single leg takedown details when applying them to your sweeps.
Fireman’s carry: Similar to a single leg, a fireman’s carry can be hit when your opponent has grips. Timing and weight distribution of your opponent is a little more critical with this takedown, but once you get the entry, the finish is quite simple. The fireman’s carry also often lands you in side control, so you’re off to a great start once you hit the mat.
Front Headlock: Getting a front headlock from standing often leads to a takedown. But with a few adjustments, you can turn this into an arm-in guillotine. Olympic wrestler David Schultz has used this to temporarily put people to sleep, get the takedown, and score the pin. Although chokes are illegal in wrestling, most of his opponents would wake up before they knew what happened. In BJJ you’ll either get the tap, or they’ll nap.
Arm-in Pin/Arm Triangle: I’m not sure if there’s a technical wrestling term for this, but this is basically an arm triangle choke. It’s a great control position in wrestling which often gets the pin, but in BJJ with a few minor adjustments it’s one of the best ways to get a tap. With the position being so familiar to wrestlers, it’s not surprising it’s one of the first submissions they adapt into their games when they start BJJ.
Cross Face: The wrestling cross face is a simple yet devastating move designed to do one thing: Get your opponent’s head to point where you want it to go, because where the head goes the body follows. As a BJJ player, you can incorporate this into your game from many different positions. It can be used to keep someone from re-guarding you in side control, you can use it to block a single leg attempt, or try it when someone is attempting to flatten out or turtle.
Hammer Lock: There are limitations on what you can do with a hammerlock in wrestling, but in BJJ it’s basically a Kimura. In wrestling, you have to be careful not to bring your opponents arm past a certain angle or you’ll get disqualified. In BJJ, this is your objective: Get the angle severe enough that it causes enough pain for the opponent to tap.
Granby Roll: Primarily used as an escape from referees position in wrestling, the granby roll can be used not only for escapes in BJJ, but also to re-guard and to set up submissions from the guard like omoplatas, triangles and kneebars.
Leg Ride: The leg ride is a great way to attack from the referee’s position or in the case of BJJ, the turtle. In wrestling, the objective is to use the leg ride to turn the opponent so his shoulders get pinned to the ground. In BJJ, there are many submissions from here including a calf crush, or rolling into an Eddie Bravo style twister (which is called a guillotine in wrestling). Or you can use it to get your hooks in.
This is just a start. There are many, many techniques that crossover between the two disciplines. So as you can see, the two sports go hand in hand. Most Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schools do incorporate some wrestling into their programs whether the students realize it or not. Some even have separate classes. If you’re one of the lucky people to have a dedicated wrestling class at your school, start participating in the classes and see how much your jiu jitsu game improves.
See everyone on the mats.
Stop by and try out one of our classes in Downers Grove. First class is alway free.
Bodhi Collaborative is part of CounterStrike MMA Academy | 1730 Ogden Ave Downers Grove, Il. 60515 | (331) 330-0662 | bodhi.collaborative@gmail.com
2015: A great time for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the Chicago Area
"Chicago is my kind of town ...
for Brazilian
Jiu Jitsu"
If you live in Chicagoland and train jiu jitsu, or are thinking about starting, you are lucky to be living in such an exciting time in such a great area. While Chicago is not quite the mecca of BJJ that California is, we’ve come a long way in the past decade.
Chicago, and the Midwest as a whole, has always been home to grapplers as tough as the local winters. There are many decorated wrestling champions with roots from this area. The Midlands, one of wrestling’s most prestigious tournaments, is held at Northwestern University every December. But Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a fairly new grappling sport that has experienced tremendous local growth over the past few years.
Back when I started in 2002, I could probably count the number of black belts in the area on one hand. And choosing a school was a lot simpler because you didn’t have many choices. You just had to be willing to drive at least half an hour, and many times longer, to be able to train with a legitimate instructor. Now there are three schools within five miles of my house.
For competitions, there were only a few very small tournaments usually held at a local school. You were lucky to see a couple of purple belts competing. If you wanted something on the regional or national stage, you had to travel to Ohio for the Arnold’s Gracie Worlds which was held once a year or fly out to California for the Pan Ams.
Fast forward to 2015; there are pockets of Chicagoland where there are schools within a few miles from each other. Homegrown black belts are now plentiful and eager to share their years of experience. Schools have grown from individual dojos to a massive network of teams and affiliations.
The tournament scene has exploded as well. There’s a competition almost every month; from smaller promotions like NAGA, U.S. Grappling and New Breed, to the IBJJF Chicago Open which is considered by many to be “the big show”.
It’s certainly made moving easier. Although sticking with your school is ideal, often times moving too far just doesn’t make it possible. Now instead of quitting or cutting down on training, you’re more likely to find a school in your new neighborhood than you were in the past. And if you’re part of a big team, there may even be an affiliate school in the area.
There are a lot more options when looking for a school to fit your needs. Each school has their own vibe and atmosphere. Some are more competitive focused. Some are more family oriented. Some are stricter and very traditional. While others are more laid back. Now you can try out several schools within a reasonable distance to make sure the one you ultimately choose is the perfect fit. There's no need to settle for less than what you expect.
As a consumer, it’s great to have all these great options. And as an instructor, it pushes you to provide the best BJJ product you can deliver. All in all, this growth has really upped the level of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. For those of you just starting, relish the fact that many have laid the groundwork for this journey you’re about to take. Realize you’re now part of a subculture with a very rich recent history that you can actually trace. For those of you that have been part of it all a long, be proud of the local scene you helped to create.
Now let's all enjoy every minute of our time on the mat.
Looking for a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school in the western suburbs of Chicago? Make sure you put Bodhi Collaborative BJJ at CounterStrike MMA on your list of schools to try. We’re conveniently located in Downers Grove just off I-355 and I-88, so it’s a short ride from surrounding areas such as Bolingbrook, Wheaton, Addison, Oak Brook, Naperville, Lisle, as well as all the surrounding areas.
Contact us today to set up a free trial class!
Chicago Western Suburbs
Home | Instructors | Classes & Pricing | Media | Contact | Mat Chat
Located inside the CounterStrike MMA Academy | 2081 63rd St. Downers Grove, Il. 60516 | (331) 330-0662 | bodhi.collaborative@gmail.com
Bodhi Collaborative Brazilian Jiu Jitsu proudly serves the Western Suburbs of Chicago, including Downers Grove, Lisle, Addison, Oak Brook, Woodridge, Glendale Heights, Naperville, Bolingbrook, and Lombard as well as their surrounding areas.
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Stories from Thursday, April 7, 2011
Meeting focuses on Main Street Connection (Local News ~ 04/07/11)
Downtown Cassville Partnership learns how program will benefit local community
Jury in murder trial to be selected (Local News ~ 04/07/11)
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Thursday in the murder trial of Christopher Collings, 35, of Wheaton. Collings stands charged with first degree murder, forcible rape and statutory rape for the Nov. 2, 2007, death of 9-year-old Rowan Ford, of Stella...
Bank building gets a make over (Local News ~ 04/07/11)
Help support the joy of reading (Editorial ~ 04/07/11)
Last week, during a trip to Springfield, we stopped at Barnes and Noble. As a new mother, I was instantly drawn to the colorful section of the store that featured row after row of books for children of all ages. I dreamed of purchasing a variety of reading materials for Sophie and then selecting one or two books to read to her before tucking her into bed at night...
Cassville begins middle school softball program (High School Sports ~ 04/07/11)
A conversation with Ben Abramovitz, Lady Wildcats coach
CHARLES RAY ENGLAND (Obituary ~ 04/07/11)
Charles Ray England, age 81, of Cassville, Missouri, left his earthly home to be with God on March 30, 2011. Charles was the youngest son of George and Nerva Brock England. He was born on May 22, 1929, in the Mineral Springs community, attended elementary school at Gaddis, graduated from Cassville High School in 1946, and attended Monett Junior College...
DORA HELEN SPAULDING (Obituary ~ 04/07/11)
Dora Helen (Beaver) Spaulding, 98, of Pierce City, passed away on Monday, March 28, 2011, at her home. She was born on Oct. 3, 1912, in Stella, the daughter of Carence Craven and Bessie Mae (Bufford) Kirk. She attended Horton School near Rocky Comfort. On July 10, 1928, she married George Irvin Beaver in Cassville, and he preceded her in death on June 7, 1966. She and George moved to Redding, Calif., and in 1982, she returned to Missouri...
VICKIE WALTERS (Obituary ~ 04/07/11)
Vickie K. Sutton Walters, 47, of Butterfield, passed away Sunday, April 3, 2011, in Neosho. She was born Oct. 8, 1963, in Bakersfield, Calif., the daughter of Harold E. and Beulah I. (Bolton) Smith. On March 2, 2010, in Wheaton, she was united in marriage to William Bud Walters, who survives...
BECKY BOX PILANT (Obituary ~ 04/07/11)
Becky Box Pilant, 59, of St. Louis, passed away April 1, 2011, after a short illness. She was the wife of Dale L. Pilant and "Bemaw" of Bryant, Kaitlin and William Pilant, all of St. Louis and Dale's family home in Washburn. She born in Cynthiana, Ky., on July 31, 1951, the daughter of Ruth M. and the late Lark K. Box. She was the sister of Terry Box, Marylark Box, Judy Ross, Jeanne Box, Michael Box and Laura Powers...
THELMA CARLSON (Obituary ~ 04/07/11)
Thelma D. Carlson, 71, of Shell Knob, passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2011, in her home. Arrangements will be announced by Fohn Funeral Home, Shell Knob. A complete obituary will be in next week's paper. Visit www.fohnfuneralhome.com for online obituaries, guestbook and private condolences...
WANDA L. STEPHENS (Obituary ~ 04/07/11)
Wanda L. Stephens, 85, of Washburn, passed away on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, at her home. She was born on Oct. 11, 1925, daughter of CH and Cleo (Stephens) Pendergraft in McDonald County. She grew up and attended school in the McDonald County area. She was united in marriage to Onza Stephens on Nov. 21, 1943. Shortly after their union, they moved to the Washburn area to make their home, where Onza was employed as a logger and she often assisted him. He preceded her in death on Sept. 6, 1987...
LINDA DUNCAN MAY (Obituary ~ 04/07/11)
Linda Duncan May, 72 of Cassville, passed away of brain cancer, on March 30, 2011. She was born at Purdy on March 5, 1939, the daughter of Burnis and Violet Duncan. On Aug. 7, 1957, she was united in marriage to Leland May. Her undergraduate education was at Purdy, her bachelor's degree in English at Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar and her master's degree at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville. ...
JACK HARLEY KING (Obituary ~ 04/07/11)
Jack Harley King, 80, of Cassville, passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2011, in his home. He was born Oct. 17, 1930, in Greenwood, S.D., the son of Joseph Vincent and Mary (Rans) King. On Nov. 2, 1957, in Montgomery, Ala., he was united in marriage to Betty Annette Barnes, who survives...
ESTON HARRISON (Obituary ~ 04/07/11)
Eston R. Harrison, 82, of Wheaton, passed away Monday, April 4, 2011, in Freeman Neosho Hospital, Neosho. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Maplewood Cemetery, Exeter, under direction of McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in McQueen Funeral Home, Wheaton...
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The Harrison Museum of African-American Culture is an educational and cultural institution committed to promoting, showcasing, and celebrating the art and history of African-Americans in the Roanoke Valley and beyond. Memorabilia, photographs, and objects relating to the African-American experience form an extensive portion of the Harrison Museum’s Permanent Collection, as does an impressive collection of African and contemporary art. In addition, oral stories and recollections of community elders highlight the culture and significance of the Valley’s black communities offering a significant enrichment to the materials found in the Museum’s archives.
Just as our other organizations seek to cultivate awareness and appreciation of their form, the Harrison Museum does the same for the significant contributions of people of African descent, and Center in the Square is excited to have the opportunity to help further that mission. Residency in Center in the Square enables the Harrison Museum to foster and educate our children, reach broader audiences, garner greater visibility, and contribute significantly to an inclusive and cohesive image by sharing the collective African-American story – one of great individual accomplishment in the face of adversity and prejudice.
For more details about the Harrison Museum of African-American Culture, please visit www.harrisonmuseum.com
The Historical Society of Western Virginia promotes regional history and provides educational services, research, and historic preservation at the History Museum of Western Virginia, the O. Winston Link Museum, Kegley Publications, and the Crystal Spring Pump Station.
Housed in Center in the Square, the History Museum of Western Virginia’s purpose is collection and preservation of material pertaining to the history of the area. Facilities include multiple exhibition galleries, a library, archival and collections storage, and an education workshop. The Museum’s collection is now the largest repository (more than 20,000 objects) of material devoted to tracing the human history of Western Virginia, showcased in continuing and changing exhibitions. The Museum’s Clare White Research Library holds volumes of the museum’s books, manuscripts, photographs, papers, and ephemera; welcomes scholars and independent researchers; and is the site for conducted research for the Society’s own books. The Kegley Publication Fund provides steady financial resources for these publications.
As part of its 50th anniversary, the HSWV embarked on a major renovation project. Thus far, the Historical Society has completed refurbishment of its administrative offices, research library, and education workshop. The Watts Library is an excellent research facility housing a collection of 1,800 books, 8,000 photographs, 2,000 slides, 150 maps, 800 periodicals, and thousands of documents and manuscripts, including business records and family papers.
For more details about the History Museum of Western Virginia, please visit www.vahistorymuseum.org
Don & Barbara Smith Children’s Museum | Kids Square
The Don & Barbara Smith Children’s Museum, Kids Square, is a space in downtown Roanoke located on the third floor inside of the Center in the Square. This fun museum is geared towards children ages 10 and under. The exhibits encourage play, education and gross motor skills that are important for the development of children in this age range. Children over the age of 10, yes that includes adults, will enjoy our interactive exhibit and other areas within the Kids Square as well!
Let your child’s magic run free with our carefully selected exhibits that are geared toward learning through play and discovery! Exhibits include:
THE TOWN: Approximately 4,000 of the 15,000square feet of the museum is a miniature real-life town. Each space is designed as a different miniature version of real businesses. Currently; Hometown Bank, Kroger, COX Communications, Carilion Children’s, Roanoke Catholic School, BlueRidge Dental, Miracle Ear, Cave Spring VeterinaryClinic and Grand Home Furnishings are all located in our little town.
THE FOREST: Tree forts, a rock climbing wall, log tunnels and slides, are just a few of the active opportunities children will be able to enjoy. Also included in this area is a camping exhibit complete with a kid sized RV camper along with a tent and a camp fire! Look out for the hobbit house…hidden within the trees!
THE THEATER: This space will include a stage with costumes and props, kid controlled stage lighting, a lighted vanity and a puppet theater. The stage will also give our beneficiary organizations an opportunity to do pop-up performances or gather together as a group.
BUILDING ZONE: Families will come together to build a ball run, magnet maze or simply build their own structures with many different materials including; blocks, Lincoln Logs and more. {This is a traveling exhibit and may change periodically.}
SENSORY COVE: This area was designed specifically for children that have sensory challenges, although a child at any age or development level will be able to enjoy this space.Cause and effect lighting, tactile walls, fun mirrors and a fish aquarium will be highlighted in this area.
THE DIG PIT: Kids can enjoy pretending to dig in our kid friendly mess-free pit!
CLASSROOMS: Programming space for educators to utilize when visiting the museum.
For more details about the Don & Barbara Smith Children’s Museum | Kids Square, please visit www.kidssquare.org
Center in the Square is proud to house one of the country’s top professional nonprofit regional theatres. Mill Mountain Theatre (MMT) has served for almost 50 years as a nationally recognized professional, regional performing arts theatre committed to producing the highest quality theatre in Southwest Virginia, actively promoting and developing new theatre works, strengthening the artistic influence in the community through education and outreach, seeking and developing new audiences, and providing a diverse population access to both alternative and traditional theatre.
Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory (MMTC) is the educational wing of Mill Mountain Theatre offering several scholarships to low-income individuals on as-needed basis. MMT works together and collaborates with other theatres and professional arts organizations across the region to provide excellent programming for the citizens of Southwest Virginia.
For more details about Mill Mountain Theatre, please visit www.millmountain.org
The O. Winston Museum is dedicated to preserving, collecting and interpreting the photographic, audio and video works of photographer Winston Link and his project to document the last days of steam along the Norfolk and Western Railway. With over 300 black and white and color images on exhibit, the Museum welcomes all to explore this vibrant but gone part of our history. The Museum also exhibits work by other photographers on a temporary and regular basis as part of the goal to create a photography cultural center.
The Collection of the O. Winston Link Museum is certainly focused on the Norfolk and Western project. Link captured the last days of steam operation on the N&W Railway in the late 1950s, but within the walls of these Galleries, our visitors experience much more than just photographs. This collection is more than trains and rail operations. The images created by Link are vignettes into history and sociology. They are art; they are a part of the history of photography and they are a tool to share an era with every person.
For more details about the O. Winston Link Museum, please visit www.linkmuseum.org
Southwest Virginia’s only professional opera company, Opera Roanoke presents fully-staged productions and a variety of smaller-scale presentations each year. Scott Williamson is the General and Artistic Director of Opera Roanoke, where he was an Associate Conductor, Chorus Master, and artist beginning in 1998. Steven White, Principal Guest Conductor & Artistic Advisor, is one of North America’s premiere conductors of both operatic and symphonic repertoire.
Opera Roanoke has moved its offices into the Center in the Square facility in order to enhance its budgetary position, take advantage of in-house benefits, and to support a strategic cost-savings move by Center in the Square.
Guest artists of national and international distinction perform on the Opera Roanoke stage. Southwest Virginia’s pool of talent is an integral part of the Opera Roanoke experience. The Roanoke Symphony is the official orchestra of Opera Roanoke. The Roanoke College Children’s Choir, Roanoke Ballet Theater, and the Blacksburg Master Chorale are just some of the outstanding local organizations that frequently add luster to Opera Roanoke productions.
Educational and outreach programs and activities of Opera Roanoke allow persons of all ages and socio-economic levels to enhance their knowledge and enjoyment of opera. Teacher Resources offer information relative to performances with cross-curricular ideas for lessons that meet the Virginia Standards of Learning. Opera Roanoke also introduces local students to production cast members through in-school performances. These free programs offer opportunities for students to interact with singers while learning more about opera and its career opportunities.
Most significantly, Opera Roanoke is proud to offer the Sempre Libera Program – Free Admission for Students! This initiative encourages students of all ages to attend any performances entirely free of charge. Italian for “always free,” Sempre Libera allows students the opportunity to experience an art form that encompasses everything young people love: high drama, thrilling music, sly humor and extravagant costumes regardless of ability to pay.
Opera Roanoke’s administrative offices are housed in Center in the Square at Center on Church – performances held in Shaftman Performance Hall at Jefferson Center. Performance tickets may be purchased through Jefferson Center Box Office
For more details about Opera Roanoke, please visit www.operaroanoke.org
Roanoke Ballet Theatre, Inc. (RBT) is one of Virginia’s preeminent dance companies, and is known nationwide for its innovative and exciting ballet and cutting-edge modern performances and is Roanoke’s only non-profit school of dance, providing excellent instruction in ballet, pointe, modern, tap, jazz, and specialty classes for all ages and skill levels. Dedicated to the heritage, development and promotion of dance, RBT is committed to offering excellent dance instruction in a diverse range of styles and levels; creating and sustaining a challenging artistic environment; providing a variety of performing opportunities for dancers; and offering our community a variety of opportunities to experience dance.
RBT maintains a Company of professional and student artists that offers performances and tours throughout the year. RBT’s teaching philosophy embraces a holistic approach, wherein each student is regarded as a “whole” being, and not just as a dancer needing technical training. Positive attitudes, good nutrition, teamwork, creativity, and personal commitment are all important components of instruction.
Past projects which have received international recognition for innovation include Bluegrass Ballet with the Del McCoury Band, Aerial Ballet, and NASCAR Ballet. RBT has presented and/or performed in concert with North Carolina Dance Theatre, Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, Moscow State Ballet, Guangdong, Richmond Ballet, Doug Varone and Dancers; and individual artists from Dance Theatre of Harlem, National Dance Institute, School of American Ballet, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Charleston Ballet, National Ballet of Ecuador, Mongolian National Ballet, Merce Cunningham Company, Shen Wei Dance Arts, Urban Bush Women, Pilobolous, Moving Poets, and others.
For more details about Roanoke Ballet, School of RBT, Roanoke City Ballet, City Modern Ensemble, and Tinker Showcase please visit www.roanokeballet.org
The Roanoke Pinball Museum is one of the newest additions to the Center in the Square family.
The Roanoke Pinball Museum is an interactive museum dedicated to the science & history of pinball. Our mission is to cultivate curiosity in science, art and history through pinball while preserving & honoring its role in American culture. The Roanoke Pinball Museum opened its doors in the summer of 2015, with over 50 machines with production dates ranging from 1932 to 2016. Admission to the Roanoke Pinball Museum allows patrons to play at their leisure, but also to learn. Pinball players, young and old, will be introduced to the history of pinball, the science behind the game, and have an opportunity to appreciate the color, composition and overall design of the backglasses and playfields. SOL-compliant curriculum and educational resources are available to students and teachers to reinforce their visit to the museum. We have the opportunity to playfully educate and introduce a new generation to a game that has consistently reflected the sign of the times in American pop culture. The greater picture is just as promising. Due to a prime location and Center in the Square’s consistent record of successful economic impact, it is safe to say that the Roanoke Pinball Museum will greatly contribute to our region’s attractiveness.
For more details about the Roanoke Pinball Museum, please visit www.roanokepinball.org
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1953, is the largest professional orchestra in Virginia west of Richmond. In 1986 the Roanoke Symphony hired its first full-time, resident music director, Victoria Bond; established its professional status; and made a public commitment to artistic excellence and meaningful educational programs. Since that time, the orchestra has been recognized nationally for its artistic achievements, its innovative education programs and its unique outreach to diverse audiences.
David Stewart Wiley serves concurrently as Music Director and Conductor of both New York’s Long Island Philharmonic and Virginia’s Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. Wiley’s tenure with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra continues to be a remarkable success story, and the RSO is rapidly becoming an example for a successful new artistic business model for a vital and stable regional orchestra. Under his artistic leadership, the RSO balanced budget has almost tripled, with dramatically increased artistic quality, community excitement, endowment growth, and increased ticket sales. Wiley partners with schools and numerous arts organizations throughout the region, and innovative events like “RSO Rocks” have broadened what a symphony event can be for new audiences.
The administrative offices for RSO are located on the second level of the historic Shenandoah Hotel building at 128 East Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke with studio space for David Stewart Wiley, Music Director and Conductor of the RSO, occupying the north-east corner of the building on the ground level. Picture windows open up the space and invite observers to enjoy a glimpse into the excitement of the Symphony and engage the public in downtown Roanoke.
“The Green Room” is the heart of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra’s new location just steps away from Roanoke’s downtown City Market. Wiley, together with RSO musicians, are able to advance opportunities for participation in the arts and strengthen the RSO’s integration into the cultural and educational mainstream of our community. Visit The Green Room for music, learning, and fun in the rhythm of Roanoke’s downtown city center. Programs are given by RSO musicians, music director David Stewart Wiley, plus guest speakers and performers.
For more details about the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Roanoke Youth Symphony, In-School Ensembles, and RSO’s Educational Programs, please visit www.rso.com
The Science Museum of Western Virginia continues to reinvent not only the exhibit galleries, but also the entire museum and its connecting spaces, classrooms, and programs in order to transform the way visitors engage in learning science. The museum currently features the Healthy Bodies Gallery, Healthy Earth Gallery, an expanded How it Works Gallery, Living River & Touch Tank, Maker Lab, and The Bubble for preschoolers. The Butterfly Garden at the museum has transitioned from an exotic butterfly habitat to a native pollinator garden. The new Hidden Garden reflects the growing awareness of the importance of supporting pollinators in all stages of their life cycle. Visitors will be able to search for eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises, and adult butterflies within the garden. The museum also offers your event one of the most unique settings in the Roanoke Valley, whether you’re planning a wedding, birthday, or company party.
As one of the oldest science museums in Virginia and one of the most visited attractions in the region, the museum has served millions of K-12 school children and thousands more through college and community outreach programs and public events. Each and every week, hundreds of children come from more than 40 school districts in Virginia.
For more details about the Science Museum of Western Virginia, please visit www.smwv.org
Even after 35 years in our community, Roanoke’s iconic Center in the Square continues to grow their mission to enhance education, economic development and quality of life.
Following the massive success of Kid Square Children’s Museum and the truly eclectic Roanoke Pinball Museum; Center in the Square’s home at One Market Square now presents: Roanoke STARCADE.
With a name honoring another iconic Roanoke structure, The Roanoke STARCADE is a new, 3,000 square foot facility just a quick walk from the Roanoke Pinball Museum on the 2nd floor of Center in the Square featuring classic and new arcade systems and activities for gaming, competition, private engagements and of course, great fun.
The experience at Roanoke STARCADE will be similar to Roanoke Pinball Museum in that patrons can pay one low entry fee for endless gaming during their regular business hours.
A grand opening will feature live music and refreshments on Thursday, January 31st beginning at 5pm.
Stay tuned as they announce special events, new games, features and much more.
For more details about the Roanoke STARCADE, please visit www.roanokestarcade.org
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Home Dr Laura Haynes
Dr Laura Haynes
Director, Behavioural Insight & Intelligence at Capita
Director, Behavioural Insight & Intelligence , The Capita Group
Dr Laura Haynes is the Director of Behavioural Insight and Intelligence for the Capita Group. Previously she was the Head of Policy Research in the Behavioural Insights Team at the Cabinet Office in January 2011. Laura has spearheaded the use of scientific evidence and the scientific method to guide and assess the team's work on behaviour change. As Head of Policy Research, she has led the development of more than twenty low-cost randomised trials in a range of policy areas to identify cost-effective policy solutions grounded in behavioural science. Laura is lead author of "Test, Learn, Adapt: Developing Public Policy with Randomised Controlled Trials" which is one of the Cabinet Office's most downloaded publications (see here). Laura also heads up the team's work on health and energy/environment.
Since receiving the University Medal at the University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia) for her undergraduate studies in psychology, Laura has completed a PhD in Experimental Psychology at the University of Cambridge and is currently Visiting Research Fellow in Health Psychology at King's College London, and Policy Fellow at the Centre for Science and Policy. Laura's work in the public sector includes Research Fellowship in Behavioural Economics at the National Audit Office, where she developed a framework to assess value for money when government seeks to influence citizen behaviour.
Professional Development Policy Workshop for Behavioural Scientists
In partnership with Cambridge Neuroscience, the Centre for Science and Policy is organising a workshop for early career researchers in neuroscience and behavioural sciences at the University of Cambridge. This event will take place at Downing College on the 2 December 2014.
25 April 2013, 6pm
Behaviour and Health Research Unit Annual Lecture: Peter Kellner, President YouGov
Behaviour and Health Research Unit Annual Lecture: "Redefining Equality" Peter Kellner, President YouGov
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Bengaluru: Catholic edition of ESV Bible launched
Sat, Feb 10 2018 01:44:27 PM
Bengaluru, Feb 10: The last few days brought much cause for rejoicing here as the Catholic edition of the ESV Bible, one of the ‘most distributed Bibles’ in the world, was launched. Also, Asian Trading Corporation (ATC), wholesale distributor of biopic, historical and religious books, which turned 50, has grown in age, stage, and stature.
The launch of ESV-CE (English Standard Version – Catholic Edition) Bible took place on February 4 as Oswald Cardinal Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, and president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) officially released the first copy of the first edition.
Earlier, he had granted the ESV-CE the mandatory imprimatur on behalf of the CCBI (an official approval issued by the Roman Catholic Church which permits the printing of an ecclesiastical or religious book). The Pope Paul VI auditorium of the St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences quivered with awe and controlled excitement as 140 Bishops from across India, CCBI office bearers and the city’s own revered Archbishop Bernard Moras, witnessed the event and got their individual copy of the new ESV–CE Bible, published by Asian Trading Corporation (ATC).
The ESV-CE is an adaptation of the ESV Bible, which was first published in 2001 as an adaptation of the Revised Standard Version (RSV) Bible. The Catholic Church in India used the RSV for decades in the Liturgy. Eight scholars from across India, led by head of Scholars’ Committee Fr Dr Lucien Legrand worked on the translation process comparing it to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Nigel Fernandes, CEO of ATC, co-ordinated the project. After careful scrutiny and examination of the completed work, the CCBI Commission for Bible headed by Fr J Susaimanickam recommended the ESV-CE to the CCBI to be used for liturgical readings. This ‘essentially literal’ very first edition is recommended for public reading, preaching and private meditation, academic and devotional study. Like eminent Catholic scholar and master of ceremonies, Fr Dr Assisi Saldanha, put it, “With its commitment to literary excellence, the ESV-CE is well suited for in-depth study of the Bible.” On the occasion, two other important books were released – “The Order of Confirmation and The Order of Celebrating Marriage” – published by ATC in collaboration with CCBI Commission for Liturgy.
The celebrations were carried over to February 5, with ATC celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its Bengaluru operations, at The Grand Magrath Hotel here. Nigel Fernandes and Brenda Fernandes, CEO and Co-CEO of ATC, the couple with limitless enthusiasm thanked the dignitaries and guests which included Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Telesphore Cardinal Toppo, about 70 archbishops and bishops, Dr Lane Dennis, president and CEO and Co-CEO, Dr Dane Ortlund, executive vice-president and Bible publisher, Crossway Publishers, US, ESV-CE Scholar Committee, CCBI office bearers and executive secretaries, provincials, rectors, superiors, librarians, and Ivan Fernandes, MD of Regent Technologies Dubai, chairman of KE Global, Adrian D’Souza, president and representatives from Kanara Entrepreneurs, Peter Anil Rego, MD and other directors of Brilliant Printers, ATC Patrons and ATC Staff.
All the speakers on the occasion lauded the work of ATC and said that it is a remarkable example of the unique contribution which the laity has made to the mission of the church. They also lauded ATC’s contribution to ecumenical collaboration. Archbishop Bernard Moras commended and specially felicitated Nigel and Brenda Fernandes with a shawl and garland for the work of ATC in Bengaluru archdiocese and for reaching Christian literature to different corners of India and the globe.
In 1968, Bengaluru welcomed its first ATC bookstore in Brigade Road started by the late Fredrick Pais. (ATC founded in 1946 in Bombay), ATC was the Catholic resource centre for seminaries, convents, monasteries, religious houses, educational institutions and the laity. Today, ATC has become the most frequented Catholic bookstore in Bengaluru with 4 outlets across the city. ATC has published over two thousand titles, is one of the few bookstores to sell Catholic and protestant titles of various publishers side by side. ATC also has a great collection of books on self-help and current interest. Books published by ATC are today popular in Bookstores and Church stall across South East Asia.
ATC is the only lay organisation to publish four Bible translations in Asia – the Revised Standard Version (RSV), RSV Second Catholic Edition, the New Living Translation Catholic Edition (NLT-CE), and ESV-CE. ATC has the distinction of having Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI write a personally signed letter in April 2010 to Fr Joseph Fessio, the editor of Ignatius Press, San Francisco requesting him to grant rights to ATC to publish the Pope’s books for Asia. In addition to Pope Benedict’s books, ATC has also published the writings of Pope Francis, St Mother Teresa, Fulton Sheen, Henri Nouwen, etc. The recent bestsellers from ATC include the very popular Youcat Series. In the pipeline are the 3 volume Lectionary Chapel edition of the Missal for India and several other exciting titles.
(To purchase your copy of the English Standard Version- Catholic Edition (ESV-CE) contact ATC bookstore or call 080 2549 0444/25487444/25471444/7090100444/9036003544 or log on to www.atcbooks.in.
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Moving Image New York 2016
THREE MINUTE MIRACLE
We are excited to announce that dc3 Art Projects has been invited by Moving Image New York to present Saskatoon-based artist Amalie Atkins’ large-scale video installation Three Minute Miracle.
Moving Image will return to the Waterfront New York Tunnel, March 3-6, 2016, coinciding with The Armory Show and INDEPENDENT in New York. Moving Image was conceived to offer a viewing experience with the excitement and vitality of a fair, while allowing moving image-based artworks to be understood and appreciated on their own terms.
Participation is by invitation only by the Moving Image Curatorial Advisory Committee who has invited a selection of international commercial galleries and non-profit institutions to present single-channel videos, single-channel projections, video sculptures, and other larger video installations.
This is the first year that Canadian galleries have been invited to participate in Moving Image, and we are excited to be representing Canada, alongside Joyce Yahouda Gallery from Montreal, QC, who will be presenting the work of Perry Bard.
Three Minute Miracle is Amalie Atkins’ first major installation, which debuted at the survey show of contemporary Canadian art, Oh, Canada, at MASS MoCA in 2012, and subsequently toured across Canada. Three Minute Miracle was also chosen as a Feature Project at Art Toronto 2014.
Amalie Atkins is a multidisciplinary artist who creates cinematic fables through a blend of film, textiles, installations, performance, and photography. Offering a glimpse of prairie upbringing, a love of storytelling, and an affection for both whimsy and darkness, Three Minute Miracle embodies the distinctive hand-made craft aesthetic of Atkins’ work. Slipping on felt boots and entering the white tent, the viewer becomes a participant in Atkins’ dreamlike narrative as she guides us into her world – a contemporary fable where a girl with a giant cake goes to a place where all teeth ache.
Amalie Atkins’ recent solo exhibition and accompanying catalogue, we live on the edge of disaster and imagine we are in a musical, was co-organized by the MacKenzie Art Gallery (Regina, SK) and the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (Lethbridge, AB), and she was commissioned by Remai Modern to create The Little Black Egg Listening Hut for Guy Maddin’s mixtape at Nuit Blanche Saskatoon 2015.
Amalie Atkins was born in Winnipeg, MB, Canada in 1975. She completed her BFA from the Alberta College of Art & Design in Calgary, AB in 2001. She currently lives and works in Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
dc3 Art Projects will also be showing Three Minute Miracle in our Edmonton gallery space March 10 – April 16, 2016.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country.
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A Merry Christmas to both of my readers
China Medical News will be back after the summer break here in sunny Sydney.
A roundup of the medical news headlines from China
Efforts to establish a primary care system in China are faltering because a lack of qualified doctors entering the specialty, according to the People's Daily. It says GPs account for about 50% of doctors in western countries but only 5% in China. In addition, few young doctors want to become GPs because of the poor status, lack of career prospects and poor pay. The article says China must increase pay and career prospects for community care doctors if it is to achieve its stated aim of having a gatekeeper system to reduce hospital overcrowding.
edical College,
In Sichuan, villagers have petitioned to expel an 8 year old boy because he is HIV positive. Even his own grandfather was among those who signed to get rid of the boy from an un-named village. The villagers said the boy was a 'time bomb' and he should be removed to "protect villagers' health".
The Washington Post has a feature on the new wave of foreign investors trying to make a buck out of the rapidly changing and deregulating Chinese healthcare system. However, the feature notes that efforts by foreign investors to open hospitals and clinics in China is limited by the lack of medical insurance and the overall shortage of skilled doctors in China.
Chinese ministers are doing the rounds of county-level hospitals, which are the target for the next wave of reforms. The government wants to try stop the decline of county hospitals as patients bypass them and head straight to major city hospitals, which they believe to have more expertise.
One in four patients admitted to rural hospitals in China doesn't need to be there, according to a study from Tongji Medical University in Wuhan. The study found that 27% of patients at rural hospitals had been admitted inappropriately, with wrongful admission rates as high as 37% for older Chinese. The researchers said the higher reimbursement levels provided in the New Rural Medical Insurance scheme for inpatients than for outpatients encouraged patients to be admitted and treated inappropriately.
Baby for sale to pay medical bills | Ambulances misused by non-urgent callers | Avian flu returns more virulent
Rural migrant sells baby to pay medical bills
A rural migrant women from Sichuan has been trying to sell her baby on the street of Fuzhou to raise money to pay medical bills for the baby's father. Police were called when the women displayed a sign saying "Boss fled after industrial accident and we don't have the money for treatment; I'm willing to sell my child to save her father." The woman said she had already paid Y7000 in medical bills for treatment of her husband who had injured himself after falling from a construction site. Some sympathetic passers-by gave the women some money before she was persuaded to end her 'sale.'
Beijing ambulances used for non-urgent cases
Ambulance services in Beijing are overstretched because 80% of cases they transport are non-urgent and do not need to attend the emergency department, a survey has found. Only 20% of the people brought in to hospital by ambulances had life-threatening conditions, according to a report from the Beijing's Health Planning Commission, which found that most of the ambulance patients could be treated in the outpatients department. The commission has suggested that patients are triaged before being taken to hospital as many critically ill patients are left without transport while ambulances are dealing with non-urgent calls.
Avian flu returns more lethal
The severity of H7N9 avian flu in China increased with the "second wave" last winter and the virus may return in an even more virulent and lethal form this winter, researchers have warned. The lethality of the H7N9 virus increased by 48% from the first wave in 2013 to the second wave in 2014, according to Dr Li Feng and colleagues at the Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease at the China CDC, Beijing. In the latter part of the first wave the death rate among hospitalised patients was 17% for young people under 60 and 42% for people over 60. In the second epidemic the death rate was 36% in people under 60 years, and 59% in people aged 60 years or above.
"If another epidemic of human infections with influenza A(H7N9) virus occurs in the winter of 2014/15, proactive control measures on the poultry-human interface may be preferable to reactive measures," the researchers suggested.
Labels: ambulance, emergency departments, hospital fees, influenza
Nurses inadequately trained | Child physical abuse common | Coal use causes black lung
Nurses lack adequate training
Only one in seven nurses in China undergoes a three year undergraduate training program, and many lack adequate training, medical educators have complained. In a letter to the Lancet, Liu Fengxia and colleagues at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University say that they are worried by the fact that most nurses in China not receive standard nursing training. Each year only 30,000 out of 186,000 graduate nurses earned standard bachelor degrees, they noted. Most nurses received only diplomas after brief training. The lack of education and the stressful working conditions mean that poorly trained nurses could make mistakes in patient care - and their lack of training may also be a factor in triggering violence against health staff.
"Nurses are intermediates between doctors and patients. In our practice, we have seen misunderstanding and mistrust between patients and doctors most probably due to of the inadequate training of nurses. A more comprehensive training system for nurses is needed," they write.
Physical punishment of children condemned
China's high rates of physical punishment of children amount to a culturally-accepted high level of child abuse, researchers have said. A major review found that 36% of children in China experienced physical abuse from parents, typically in the form of slapping and spanking for disciplinary reasons. They said the rates of physical punishment in mainland China were significantly higher than in other Asian countries, where the influence of western methods of parenting was stronger. The researchers said physical punishment was "culturally accepted" within Chinese society because the Confucian philosophy of parenting, which endorses parents’ authority and filial piety, is still prevalent in the minds of Chinese parents and children.
"A well-known proverb “gun bang di xia chu xiao zi” (also translated as “spare the rod, spoil the child”) indicates that the filial piety is achieved by strict physical discipline of children," they noted.
They said China's high rates of physical abuse were concerning because of the known associations with poor mental health and harmful behaviors, such as depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, childhood behavioral disorders, suicide attempts, drug use, and risky sexual behaviour.
Coal use leads to black lung
China's high use of coal for fuel has led to high rates of pneumoconiosis and "black lung", researchers say. In a Dow Jones report, clinicians said pneumoconiosis was common in mining workers and other coal-related industries, especially as workplace safety rules were often ignored in China. masks could help prevent pneumoconiosis but were often not provided to workers, they noted. The number of people diagnosed with pneumoconiosis has risen sevenfold from 2005 to 2013 to about 750,000, at an average pace of 35% annually, according to official data. And while treatment is available, it is often unaffordable for many low paid workers, labour activists note.
Labels: nurses, occupational health, paediatrics, respiratory medicine
Zhejiang hospital runs out of money, can't pay for medicines
A hospital near Taizhou in Zhejiang is "crying poor" saying that increasing patient burden and rising prices means it does not have enough money to buy essential drugs. The Xianju county hospital has out up a notice on its public LED screen asking for "understanding" because it is no longer able to provide medical supplies such as blood plasma.
The hospital authorities said their outlays exceeded their income and they no longer had funds to buy drugs and other medical supplies. The director of the hospital, Chen Xiaojun, told Xinhua that the hospital was more than 15 million yuan in debt because the New Rural Medical Insurance Scheme did not cover all the expenses incurred by patients and the insurer was refusing to release further funds. The local health department was also refusing to provide further funding, and the unpaid bills of 11 million yuan meant that pharmaceutical companies were no longer willing to supply drugs to the hospital.
The shortage of drugs was most acute for the high cost drugs for conditions such as bronchitis and anaesthetics and other drugs needed to cover surgery, he said. This meant that operations at the hospital also had to be curtailed. Medical staff said patients were being advised to find another hospital if they had a serious disease, and medical staff were also complaining that their wages had not been paid for some months.
The hospital authorities blamed the 'bankruptcy' on three factors: they said the government reimbursement levels for had been set in 2008 and had not kept up with rising costs or increasing patient numbers. Secondly, the price of drugs had also increased substantially, leaving hospitals out of pockets, especially with new zero markup policies. And most importantly, the rural medical insurance scheme expanded the reimbursement to patients for inpatient costs from 40% to 80% of fees, which meant many patients now wanted to stay as inpatients for longer, driving up costs.
A spokesman for the Xianju country government said the relevant departments were now having a 'crisis meeting' to solve the problems that had led to the lack of funding at the hotel. However a spokesman said the Xianju hospital was not the only hospital facing the problems of rising costs and falling income, and the problem had to be tackled on a wider basis by changing the reimbursement system and charges, he said.
The local government also criticised the hospital for making public announcements about its poor financial state and lack of medications, as this would lead to public panic and loss of faith, he said.
Infusion superstition condemned | Hukou medical reform | Heavy metals found in wheat
Doctors condemn superstitious belief in infusions
A life-threatening incident of allergy to an infusion has lead a Shanghai doctor to criticise parents and grandparents for insisting their children have unnecessary infusions to treat minor illnesses with fever. A 12-year old boy with fever treated at the Ruijin Hospital nearly died after having a massive allergic reaction to an infusion he was being given for a fever. The boy recovered thanks to the rapid response of medical staff, but doctors said they faced huge pressure from parents to give infusions when they were not needed. Doctors said parents had an almost superstitious belief in infusions and insisted on them to help their children get better quicker so they would have more time to study.
Hukou reform will give rural migrants healthcare rights
Millions of rural migrants may get access to affordable healthcare as China modifies its household registration (hukou) system to give more right to the floating population. In a major shift in policy, reforms to the residence permit system will grant migrants the same access as urban residents to public services such as medical treatment for their children. The plan, which has been released for consultation by by the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, would allow migrant workers who stay in a city for half a year with a stable job and residence may apply for the residence permits.
Wheat near Yellow River contains heavy metals
People living near the Yellow River are being poisoned by eating crops containing high levels of heavy metals absorbed from irrigation water drawn from the river, a study shows. Wheat grown in areas around Baotou irrigated by Yellow River water showed high levels of mercury, lead and selenium, researchers from the Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology showed. Crops also contained high levels of copper, zinc and manganese, they found.
Beijing doctor explains on Youku about bribes and commissions
A video is circulating on Youku of a man purporting to be a former surgeon at a Beijing hospital, explaining how the red envelope bribe and commission system works in China.
The erstwhile doctor, claimed to be Li Rui of the Beijing Aerospace Institute Hospital Urology department. He said that during his time working in surgery, doctors would make huge commissions by charging patients exhorbitant sums for ancillary items such as a 1500 yuan gauze pad to stop bleeding, on which they earned a 30% fee. He said surgeons performed many simple operations such as removing appendix in 10 minutes and then adding lots of expenses to the bills. Dr Li said it was best to work in procedural specialties such as orthopaedics, surgery and obstetrics where there were more opportunities to perform operations and use expensive medical supplies and devices. The man was purportedly giving a presentation at the well-known New Orient academy in Beijing, although the institute denied any knowledge of his working there. In a statement the Beijing Aerospace Institute Hospital denied the man's claims, describing them as baseless and slanderous. The hospital said there had been a Dr Li working at the hospital but he had been absent for six months and thus his contract was terminated. The hospital said the man's statements on video lacked credibility, citing as an example that there was no way a surgeon could do an appendix removal in 10 minutes, even with the most modern equipment.
However, the video has been widely circulated on Chinese social media sites, drawing comments on the greed and corruption of doctors and the profit-seeking nature of public hospitals.
Labels: Beijing, corruption, hospitals
Diabetes in China: the numbers are staggering
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal is this month running a series of articles focusing n type 2 diabetes in China.
The numbers make for grim reading: more than 12% of Chinese are reported to have diabetes (100 million people) according to US criteria (although there is some dispute over whether these criteria may result in overestimates). Because of the lack of awareness and lack of adequate screening and intervention programs, many of the Chinese with diabetes are undiagnosed, untreated, or uncontrolled.
The articles say that Chinese people are especially prone to type 2 diabetes at relatively low levels of overweight, and Chinese people are more susceptible to [insulin producing] beta cell failure and deficits in insulin production. The blame, unsurprisingly, is put on China's rapid development and shift to lifestyle factors such as eating an unhealthy diet and doing less exercise.
A second article says that there are also problems with provision of prevention and treatment programs for diabetes in China. As well, there is little research on the best forms of drug therapy for Chinese people with diabetes. Newer [and more expensive] anti-diabetes agents such as the gliptins seem ideal, but they are not currently accessible or widely used by most doctors.
The articles conclude by saying that any solution to the diabetes epidemic in China must be based on multiple strategies: there needs to be healthcare reform to make diabetes prevention and treatment more widely available through primary care and through initiatives such as diabetes nurses. There are need to be major preventive health campaigns to promote healthier eating and activity, to reduce the risk factors for diabetes in China. The articles also note that health reforms are needed to provide adequate health insurance cover and reimbursement for treatment of diabetes patients in China
Labels: diabetes, endocrinology
China's best case scenario for an Ebola outbreak: 3000 deaths
With more than 600,000 annual passenger arrivals from Africa and a poor to non-existent public health infrastructure in most parts of the country, China faces a very real risk of an Ebola outbreak. That the verdict of infectious disease specialists who have modelled what will happen if a person with Ebola lands in China and is not detected immediately.
Dr Chen Tianmu and colleagues from the Changsha Center for Disease Control and Prevention have used data from previous Ebola outbreaks overseas and also from outbreaks of dengue and HIV viruses in China to model the likely spread of the infection before it can be brought under control. They modelled several different scenarios based on different levels of infectivity of the virus and different levels of detection and containment.
They based their calculation on the fact that there were 524,900 African visitors and 112,966 Chinese returning from Africa each year in China. Based on current distribution of Ebola Virus Disease and the rates of carriage in Africa, they estimated that 0.04%–0.16% of these arriving passengers in China (255–1021 people) may carry Ebola. Even if an optimistic assumption is made that only 1% of them slip through the entry-exit inspection and only 1% of these are not picked up by further reporting and monitoring follow ups, this would still mean 3-10 Ebola virus carriers could be at large in China.
The researchers noted that China lacks a primary care system and most sick patients go direct to hospitals that are overcrowded and where Ebola patients might spread the virus to others. China also has limited public health reporting and surveillance systems for much of the country, and it would therefor be possible that cases of Ebola virus could be misdiagnosed and slip though the net until the patient became symptomatic and infectious.
The researchers then calculated that the likely impact of such 'index cases' spreading the Ebola infection to others would be outbreaks of Ebola in China affecting between 6000-10,000 people. With a likely fatality rate of around 50% this would mean a severe mortality burden for China, they wrote.
Writing in Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases, they said the lack of Ebola testing facilities in China and poor infection control practices would further encourage the spread of the infection, they predicted. Other factors, such as the lack of quality control on blood transfusions (as seen with outbreaks of HIV and hepatitis) would also increase the risk of spreading Ebola in China, they warned.
"Even if a good surveillance and monitoring system is implemented at immigration, an effective and efficient local medical response system involving primary health care providers and awareness of the general public is necessary to minimise the risk of an Ebola Virus outbreak due to other unknown sources," they suggested.
Labels: Ebola, epidemiology, infection control, infectious diseases, virology
Cancer treatment unaffordable | Drug pricing corruption | Premier tackles HIV stigma | Rare diseases not reimbursed | US medical exams popular in China
Public punchbag to pay son's cancer fees
In Beijing a man who cannot afford the Y700,000 ($114,000) medical bills for his son with leukaemia has offered himself as a public punchbag to raise money. The man called Xia Jun stands outside Guomao station and asks for 10 Yuan to be thumped. He says he has collected 10,000 yuan in one day without anyone taking up the opportunity to hit him.
Corruption on drug price setting cited as reason for abolition
The recent move to abolish price caps for prescription medicines was triggered by corruption in the agency charged with setting drug prices. Critics said officials in the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) were under investigation by the anti-corruption and bribery bureau under the Supreme People's Procurate for taking bribes. Pharma company executives said the current pricing system forced them to pay bribes to regulators to set higher procurement prices.
Premier lends support to ending HIV stigma
Premier Li Keqiang has shown public support for people with HIV and aimed to dispel prejudice and ignorance about the infection by visiting a HIV clinic at the inspected Beijing You'an Hospital.
For World AIDS Day, the Premier met HIV patients and healthcare workers and said the old attitudes of fear surrounding the topic of HIV must be abandoned and HIV patients need more care.
Rare diseases slip through the health insurance cracks
China's health system is not working for children with rare diseases, as their families face high treatment costs and no access to medical fee reimbursement, according to an article in the SCMP. One mother of a 3-year old boy with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) said his bills for diagnosis and treatment had reached nearly 200,000 yuan ($33,000), of which just 4,800 yuan ($780) had been reimbursed by the rural medical insurance scheme.
US medical exams popular in China
Thousands of China's medical students and young doctors are studying for the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) that will allow them to practice medicine in the US. However, despite studying for up to 1500 hours for the exam, many of them say they are taking it to improve their medical skill rather than just to get a better paying job. Many Chinese students said the US medical exams taught them a more patient-centred approach and put more emphasis on communication and empathy rather than just rote-learning of medical facts. The test is also taken by many of the 60,000 foreign students studying medicine in China.
Labels: cancer, corruption, HIV, medical education, paediatrics, pharmaceuticals
Survivors of Mao's 1959 Great Famine now in poor health
The Great Famine of 1959-61 triggered by Mao Zedong's disastrous agricultural policies is estimated to have caused 16-30 million deaths. But its effects are still being felt among the survivors - especially the children who were born around that time and who are now reaching retirement age.
In a major national survey two Chinese researchers Fan Wen and Qian Yue have found that the "59-61" generation have significantly worse physical and self rated health than a similar cohort of unaffected people. The poor health is not unexpected given the malnutrition experienced by the children growing up in that era. Previous studies have shown major effects on growth retardation and development. Interestingly, the researchers found that those currently in the worst health tended to be people from families who had Communist Party connections. This was presumably a 'weak survivor' effect because people with Party connection had better access to food during the famine, whereas families without Party connections would simply have starved, killing off the weaker children. Writing in Social Science Research, the researchers say there are millions of Chinese in their fifties and sixties who in poor health because of the early life effects of the famine.
They conclude: "Having experienced one of the largest famines in human history, these individuals are now moving through their retirement years. Our study suggests the necessity of paying special attention to this cohort, with programs designed specifically to meet their special needs."
Drug price caps abolished | Healthcare staff HIV knowledge lacking | China develops drug for lung cancer
Drug prices to rise as price caps abolished
The Chinese government is to abolish price caps on all medicines in a move to end drug shortages and bring market forces into play on the country's pharmaceutical supply system. Draft rules propose to "cancel government-set prices on drugs, and through insurance price controls and the tendering process, allow the actual transaction price of drugs to be set by market competition,"an official report said. Drug prices will in future be determined by health insurance departments, tendering processes and negotiations, it said. Analysts said the government would have to strike a balance between keeping essential medicines affordable and ensuring that companies had enough profit to ensure supply of medicines.
HIV ignorance still common in rural China
Healthcare workers in rural China have a poor understanding of HIV and how it is transmitted, a study carried out in Shaanxi has shown. When subject to a knowledge test on HIV, healthcare workers such as nurses and medical technicians scored only about half of questions correctly, and showed a lack of knowledge of about the transmission of HIV, exposure risks and appropriate protection measures. The lack of knowledge about HIV also translated into inappropriate behaviours, said researchers from the Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Public Health.
Lung cancer drug shows promise
China's homegrown epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor (EGFR) icotinib (Conmana) shows promise for non-small cell lung cancer, researchers say. The targeted anti-cancer molecule has been researched and produced by the Zhejiang-based Beta pharmaceutical company. It has shown good results published in the Lancet and offers a lower cost alternative to western drugs for the disease that is very common in China, say experts.
China's move to a GP-based primary care system: lots of policy, little progress
In China the average salary for a GP is about half that of a hairdresser.
If you relied on the official Chinese media you could be forgiven for thinking that China's primary care system was the best thing since sliced bread. Hardly a week goes by without an article extolling the virtues of the new networks of general practitioner-based community health clinics.
Many cities such as Beijing and Shanghai are strongly encouraging all residents to enrol with the local community medical centre and to visit the GP for everyday ailments rather than going direct to hospital. The public are enticed to see GP clinics with incentives, such as the free or low cost availability of GP clinic services and ease of getting to see a GP with little need for waiting or queuing up for registration, as is the case with hospitals. Unfortunately, the great Chinese public are not buying it, and they continue to make a beeline for hospitals whenever they are sick.
This week a revealing commentary in the Quarterly Journal of Medicine paints a more realistic picture of China's fledgling GP system. In fact, fledgling isn't the word, foundling might be a better descriptor.
According to the article by Dr Kong Xiangyi and Dr Yang Yi of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, the primary care system is in a kind of "Failure to Launch" status. They say the government's stated aim of training 150, 000 GPs by 2015 is pie in the sky. The problem, it seems, is that nobody wants to be a GP and nobody wants to see a GP. In China, to be a doctor in the community health service is a low-status position in an underfunded and unrecognised branch of medicine. As the two doctors point out, "the average annual income of a Chinese GP is less than half of a hairdresser and far lower than a specialist."
Part of the problem is that there isn't really any good local model for the would-be GP to emulate. There is no real definition of a GP, and currently many GPs are little more than barefoot doctors - local clinic practitioners who have received five years of basic training in health and medicine. They are employed to offer the "Six Basics" of health: prevention, health education, women and children’s care, elderly care, immunisations and physical rehabilitation. There is also a three-year postgraduate program for medical graduates to train as GPs, similar to that seen in western countries. However, there are very few takers for these courses and their impact on the national medical workforce has been minimal.
The authors of the article say that there appears to be little real enthusiasm for creating a genuine general practice system in China. As they put it, there is a lot of policy, but very little concrete support for funding and training programs. There are no primary care institutions or programs in China: the speciality is a career dead end, and the cream of China's medical expertise and social status is still centred around the big teaching hospitals.
The solution, according to the authors, is for China to emulate foreign countries that operate well-funded and high status family medicine programs. The aim must be to create a gatekeeper system in which patients are triaged by the GP before being allowed to see a specialist. And conversely, GPs must be enabled to provide follow up care after a patient is discharged from hospital. To do this, the health ministry needs to harness the skills and the prestige of the major hospitals to implement such programs.
Until that happens, patients will continue to avoid the community medical clinics, which are underfunded and have poor quality and outdated equipment. The lack of funding means that GPs have to charge commissions on drugs and medical supplies, further eroding trust in their services.
"China’s current reforms still do not emphasize enough the value of GP led primary care," they conclude.
Labels: com, general practice, GP, primary care, training, workforce
China's anaesthetists are dying of overwork
The sudden death of a 40-year old anaesthetist at the Beijing Fuwai hospital this month has put the spotlight on the high work burden of anaesthetists in China and the shortage of doctors in this speciality.
Colleagues of the doctor who died of a brain haemorrhage after a long shift are not only mourning him but also the dire state of their branch of medicine. Many of the deceased doctor's colleagues said it could have been them, given the amount of strain they are working under. As one doctor told the CCTV news station, anaesthetists were working such long hours that some of them took naps on spare operating tables. And it was well known that there have been more than 15 fatigue- and stress-related sudden deaths among anaesthetists in recent years.
A recent survey carried out by the Chinese Medical Association's anaesthesia branch found that more than half of the doctors were working shifts in excess of 10 hours a day and 80% believed they were working beyond safe limits to do their job properly. In addition, 70% of anaesthetists said they were dissatisfied with their branch of medicine.
These findings were confirmed in an interview with an anaesthetist in her mid 40s who told reporters that it was not unusual to do 12 hours shifts due to the lack of staff and it was even known for doctors to work right through a double shift of 24 hours.
The president of the CMA anaesthetist branch Professor Hou Ren said the job was highly stressful as they literally had people's lives in their hands every hour of the day. The job was especially taxing because of the high workload and lack of time for preparation, which meant that an anaesthetist might be dealing with a frail elderly person one minute, then a person with cardiovascular problems the next and later a pregnant woman . Each of these situations required very different management and skills, he said and anaesthetist had to make decision and adjustments according to a patient's condition by the minute.
He said the main problem was that the anaesthetist workforce had not kept track with the increasing number of hospital patients and operations. There were 2.8 million doctors in China, of whom only 2.5% were anaesthetists, which meant there was a national shortage of about 70,000 anaesthetists.
And while some hospitals had enough anaesthetists in theory, in practice there were always shortages because anaesthetists were off sick, on study leave or because they had to teach students.
To remedy the problem some general physicians were being re-trained as temporary anaesthetists, but this was only a short term solution, he said. Another way of addressing the problem was to learn from foreign countries which had managed to use anaesthetists more efficiently through the use of technology and better staff management, he added. In the meantime, anaesthetists faced high levels of pressure and there would continue to be overwork, stress and potentially unsafe work situations.
Labels: anaesthesiology
County hospitals under scrutiny | iKang CEO gets award | Mass General expands into China
China sends in hit squads to fix unpopular country hospitals
Authorities in China have decided to take action to tackle the growing problem of Chinese patients leapfrogging their local hospitals and making a beeline for the big city hospitals (which makes them hopelessly overcrowded). County hospitals are seen by many Chinese as second rate and over priced, and hence they willing to travel long distances to be seen by a doctor in a major hospital in a big city. Now the State Council has decided to send teams to inspect improvements at county-level public hospitals around the country.The teams will conduct onsite inspections to ensure that reforms are being implemented, including overhauls of financing to eliminate commissions and profiteering in commissioning and contracts.
Healthcare tycoon wins entrepreneur award
The head of medical centre operator iKang has won an international award for being Entrepreneur of the Year. Zhang Ligang, who is CEO of iKang, has been named as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the 2014 National Life Science Awards. Mr Zhang is the founder of iKang, which now owns 50 private medical clinics and has contract arrangements with a further 300 medical facilities and hospitals.
Prejudice against leprosy patients triggers riots in Hainan over new medical centre
Deeply felt cultural phobias and prejudices about infectious diseases have triggered mass riots in the southern province of Hainan, where local residents in Haikou violently opposed the construction of a leprosy recovery centre.
According to local reports, thousands of local residents in Hainan clashed with riot police over the construction of a new dermatology clinic in the Sanjiang district for patients recovering from infections including leprosy and STDs.
Although authorities explained that patients who had recovered from leprosy were no longer infectious, this was not enough to assuage the fears of local residents, who strongly opposed the building of the clinic and rest facilities in their neighbourhood. Authorities said the clinic was a rehab centre for elderly people who had recovered from the disease and who were no longer contagious, but local people violently opposed the building of the clinic.
According to Chinese state media, local people clashed with police and overturned police vehicles. Several police and local residents were injured in the riot.
Local authorities were reported to have ceased construction of the clinic until a consensus could be achieved with local residents.
Labels: infectious diseases
9 scary health stories from China that might put you off working there
1. Six nurses have been murdered and a hospital janitor killed in a knife attack on a hospital dormitory in Hebei. The attack at the No. 281 Hospital in Qinhuangdao was thought to be the work of a 27-year old male from Tangshan, who has been detained by police.
2. Outdoor pollution can't be escaped by staying indoors in China because it is also a major cause of sick building syndrome, according to researchers at the Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan. In a study of 2134 school students they found that many suffered from skin and mucosal problems that were exacerbated by high levels of outdoor air pollutants such as SO2, NO2, O3 and PM10 particles.
3. A quack doctor in Henan has been jailed for 15 years after he killed a student with what he claimed to be a traditional Chinese medicine cure based on soy sauce, sugar and vinegar. The 65-year old bogus healer had only just been released from jail after serving an 11-year sentence for the same offence - his previous quack remedies had killed as several people in Luoyang.
4. Make no bones about it - China has about a quarter of a billion osteoporotic fractures every year due to brittle bones. A study from Anhui Medical University and Nanjing Medical University estimated that in 2010 there were more than 2.3 million osteoporosis-related hip, clinical vertebral and wrist fractures in Chinese people aged 50 years and over, costing the Chinese healthcare system US$9.61 billion.
5. An outbreak of scrub typhus that originated in a Guangzhou park killed four people and caused serious disease in 29 people, according to local researchers. The outbreak at the Xiaogang Park in May 2012 seemed to affect people who sat on the grass or who were near rat burrows.
6. One in seven young Chinese are Weibo addicts, findings from a study in Anhui suggest. In a study of more than 3000 college students between 4% and 15% of students showed signs of addiction to Weibo-like microblogs, including cravings, dependence, withdrawal and disruption to everyday activities, according to researchers at the Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, and School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei.
7. Extreme weather triggers heart attacks, according to a Jiangsu study. Heart attacks were found to be more common following changes in atmospheric pressure and variations in temperature, according to a study by Dr Jia Enzhi of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. The findings suggested that climate change could have a major impact on cardiovascular disease rates, he concluded.
8. Superbugs are already a major problem in China and now it has been shown that the use of animal manure as fertiliser is spreading the problem of antibiotic resistance even further. A study of agricultural soil in Jiangsu found that fertiliser was responsible for the high prevalence of sulfonamide-resistant bacteria and their resistance genes.
9. A previously unrecognised tick disease may be endemic in several parts of China inlcuding Yunnan and Zhejiang, say parasitologists.After a recent epidemic of babesiosis in malarial areas of Yunnan they carried out a review that suggests the diseases carried by ticks and rodents may have caused many more cases of disease and outbreaks in recent years that were mischaracterised as other tick-borne fevers.
Doctors refuse red envelope pledge | Online pharmacies to be allowed | Chinese diabetes patients don't adjust diet
Famous doctor won't sign bribe pledge
One of China's leading doctors has refused to sign the government's anti-bribery pledge against accepting red envelopes, saying it is an ineffective and damaging document. SARS hero Professor Zhong Nanshan said the no red envelopes pledge was not a legally-binding document and its ethical pledges were already contained in the Hippocratic Oath that doctors already swore when they graduated from medical school. He said that if doctors signed the pledge it would be a tacit admission of guilt that all doctors were accepting bribes for preferential treatment, which was not the case. He added that signing the pledge also sent the wrong signal that doctors were to blame for the high costs of medical bills, which he said were actually driven by systemic problems such as the linking of hospital doctors incomes to overservicing and the lack of government funding for government hospitals.
Online pharmacies permitted from 2015
Online sales of prescription medicines in China may begin within months, according to the China Food and Drug Administration. The regulatory agency is expected to announce new policies that will allow online prescription medicine sales as early as January 2015. Pharmaceutical retailers have said the opening up of online medicine sales will open up a potential 10 billion yuan market for drugs. However, the expected increase in online pharmacies will have a major impact on bricks and mortar pharmacies, they have warned.
Diabetes patients don't adjust diet
Chinese people with diabetes have little idea how to manage their diet so as to better control their condition, a new study shows. A survey of 100 people with type 1 diabetes by researchers at Peking University People's Hospital found that less than half had ever seen a dietician and few monitored or adjusted their diet to help control their blood glucose levels. The study found that while 64% were aware of carbohydrate counting', only 12% ever used the technique
Labels: corruption, diabetes, diet, pharmaceuticals, pharmacists
China's public hospitals and breastfeeding mums are the losers with latest free trade deal
China's private hospitals are the winners and breastfeeding mums are the losers under the Free Trade Agreement Xi Jinping agreed with Australia today.
The FTA gives Australian companies unprecedented access to China's healthcare system, allowing Aussie health providers to build and operate hospitals in China without the current restrictions that apply to other foreign health companies.
Until recently foreign companies have only been allowed to set up joint venture hospitals, although rules have recently been eased to permit foreign hospitals to be buy or set up hospitals and clinics in Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin.
One of Australia's leading private hospital operators, Ramsay Health, has already announced a move to buy into a Chengdu private hospital group that operates five hospitals. However, it remains to be seen whether other Australian companies follow suit, especially given that Australia has only a limited number of private hospital operators. Australian healthcare companies may also find it difficult to work in the cut-throat China healthcare environment as they are accustomed to working in a heavily protected and subsidised market. Private health companies receive $5 billion in Australian government handouts a year in a support scheme introduced in the 1990s to prop up the uncompetitive industry when Australians abandoned private hospitals in favour of the public hospital system funded by Medicare.
Australians are more accustomed to dealing with China over resources than services, though one mining tycoon has been quick off the mark to cash in on the free trade agreement to sell milk formula to anxious Chinese mothers. Billionaire Gina Rinehart, whose fortune come from iron ore mines she inherited from her father, has announced she will set up a massive dairy operation to produce milk formula for the China market. Australia's richest woman will acquire about 5,000 hectares of farmland in Queensland to that is expected to produce an estimated 30,000 tonnes of infant formula for export to China every year.
However, the move is unlikely to be welcomed by China's child health specialists, who are already struggling to raise China's pitiful 28% breastfeeding rate to somewhere near to the global average of 40%. Groups such as the World Health Organisation and UNICEF have called for urgent action to boost China's breast feeding rates, but they struggle against aggressive and unethical promotions by milk formula companies, who are also known to bribe hospitals and clinicians to promote their products.
Labels: hospital, Xi Jinping
Leukaemia donations missing | Asthma rates soar | Syphilis rates as high as 44% in sex workers
Leukaemia boy misses out on donations
One of the top stories in the Xinhua news this weekend is the story of a boy from Leshan in Sichuan with leukaemia who has missed out on most of the funds donated by wellwishers for his treatment. The family of the 8-year-oldcalled Lin Zhouzheng appealed for help in paying several hundred thousand yuan in medical bills after they ran out of money and even sold their house to pay for chemotherapy for their son. They were approached by a local man called Xu Ping who mounted a major publicity drive to raise money, and this netted more than 100,000 yuan. However, to date the boy's family have only received 7,000 in money from all the fundraising despite taking part in many media interviews, publicity appearances and having an army of volunteers working under Xu Ping. However, Xu Ping told reporters that the 110,000 yuan raised had only been pledges rather than actual donations - and he was still working to get companies and individuals to make good on their pledges.
Asthma rates soar in Shanghai
Asthma rates in Shanghai have increased four-fold over the last 15 years, with pollution being given much of the blame. A study of more than 27,000 residents of Pudong found that the prevalence of asthma was 1.4%, markedly higher than the 0.4% rate seen in the last major study carried out in 1997. Researchers from the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the Shanghai Putuo District People's Hospital carried out further pulmonary tests on 428 people with asthma and found that 53% had an FEV below 80% of normal and the severity of impaired lung function increased with age. The main triggers for asthma were dust exposure, cold air and respiratory tract infections.
STDs rates high in Jiangxi sex workers
More than 40% of female sex workers in Jiangxi have syphilis, a study has found. Researchers from the Department of Dermatology and STDs at the Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University tested 361 street-based female sex workers and found that 44% had syphilis infection. About half of the sex workers had little education, a high proportion had been sex workers for several years and many failed to use condoms consistently. "Comprehensive interventions targeting this high-risk group, especially scaling up screening and ensuring consistent use of condoms during sex are needed," the researchers suggested.
Labels: asthma, oncology, respiratory medicine, Sichuan, STDs
China's first mental health law - 27 years in the making, but will it change negative attitudes?
There is a very severe stigma about mental health in China - just try calling someone "shenjingbing" (神经病, mentally ill) and watch the reaction. This cultural taboo about mental health is just as strong for doctors in China - a 2012 survey found that even Chinese psychiatrists had negative and unscientific views about mental illness. Most worryingly, many psychiatrists believed that the best approach for someone with mental illness was to institutionalise them, by force, if necessary. There is still a strong belief in involuntary treatment of mental health conditions in China.
It is therefore interesting to see the reactions to the Mental Health Law that was enacted more than a year ago, in May 2013. This law had originally been proposed by the Ministry of Health back in 1985. Such was the lack of interest in change and the entrenched attitudes, it took more than 20 years to get even as far as the draft stage, when it was submitted to the State Council in 2007. After much more negotiation and consultation, the law was approved and came into effect on 1 May 2013.
To westerners, much of the law would appear unremarkable. It states that mental illness must be treated according to basic clinical guidelines, with an emphasis on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Where the law has proved controversial (in China at least) is on the matter of involuntary treatment. The new law states that for people with mental illness, "voluntary admission and treatment should be the priority". It also states that involuntary admission should be based on “risk criteria", but this is a grey area that is untested in China.
In an article published this month by three psychiatrists from Shanghai's Jiaotong University School of Medicine, it is argued that the new law is flawed and will still allow mentally ill patients to be inappropriately 'committed' to an institution on flimsy pretenses. They argue that the risk criteria are too broad and open to interpretation. They say the regulations put too much weight on the opinions and wishes of the families of mentally ill people. In reality this will mean that families with 'backward' attitudes and knowledge about mental health will be able to 'get rid' of the stigma of mentally ill person in their family by having them admitted involuntarily.
The psychiatrists say the national law also lacks detail and may not be implemented at a local level. They point to local programs and treatment pathways for mental illness that have been adopted in advanced cities such as Shanghai and Beijing, and they say these should be the model for other parts of China.
However, for the time being psychiatric treatment remains out of reach for many people with mental illness in China. There are an estimated 173 million people with psychiatric disorders in China, but only 20,000 psychiatrists and a few hundred mental hospitals and clinics. China has a long way to go in providing appropriate care for its many citizens with mental illness.
Labels: mental health, psychiatry
The crisis in paediatrics in China
by Michael Wodhead
In the US medical journal Pediatrics this month is an extraordinary editorial about the workforce crisis affecting the discipline of paediatrics in China.
The article written by Dr Zhang Shu-Cheng and colleagues at the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, says that few doctors in China want to be paediatricians because of the low pay and high pressure from pushy parents. Dr Zhang says there is a recruitment crisis affecting paediatrics in China, with many hospitals unable to fill positions.
The country has a shortage of 200,000 paediatricians, and this creates a vicious circle by creating additional pressure on those who do choose to work in this field. Because paediatricians are in short supply, they have to see high volumes of patients, leading to more errors and more dissatisfaction from families who feel their child's medical complaints are being rushed and ignored. This in turn leads to conflicts between families and doctors - especially as Chinese culture and the one child policy puts a lot of focus on the health and wellbeing of the child.
According to Dr Zhang and colleagues, much of the problem stems from the low pay and low status of paediatricians. They receive about 70% of the base pay of other doctors, and even less when it comes to the 'grey income' based on sales of drugs and income from procedures and other items. And yet despite these problems - and their causes - being well known to the government, nothing is being done, they lament. Many paediatricians are voting with their feet - moving into better paid or less stressful positions within hospitals, such as lab work or as administrators. Others change to different branches of medicine or leave clinical medicine altogether.
"Despite this crisis, little is being done by the Chinese government to stop the loss of pediatricians, by either increasing their pay, decreasing their job intensity, or attempting to prosecute the violence
committed against pediatricians. The government needs to play a leading role in dealing with this crisis by writing and implementing appropriate laws and establishing fair and objective third party
accreditation bodies. Increasing the investment in pediatrics from public finances, easing the pressure on pediatricians, eliminating the practice of physicians supplementing their income by selling medicines, and increasing pediatricians’ salary levels are possible steps that will lead to
more pediatricians willing to stay in the profession," they conclude.
Labels: paediatrics, workforce
Health insurance cover for 95% of Chinese? More like 30%.
For the last few years the official Chinese media have been proudly trumpeting the claim that almost all Chinese are now covered by government-funded basic health insurance. Health minister Li Bin's recent statement that "China's public insurance schemes have achieved over 95% health coverage in urban and rural populations" was accepted and repeated uncritically by Lancet editor Richard Horton on a recent visit to China.
But wait a minute ... is it true? The Atlantic last year reported Chinese academics saying that the true figure was likely to be much lower. And this week we have further confirmation that health insurance cover is nothing like 95% - especially for the most impoverished and vulnerable of China's citizens, the 250 million 'floating population' of migrant workers
A survey of more than 600 migrant workers carried out by researchers from the National Center for Chronic and Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing found that only a third had health insurance in their place of residence. This is probably because health insurance is provided according to the hukou (residence permit) by the authorities of a citizen's hometown, and that is not the place of residence for most migrant workers. But even in their hometown, only about 60% of migrant workers had health cover. The researchers, including an actuary from the China Life Insurance Group, said the low rates of health insurance cover were likely due to a number of reasons, including lack of awareness and inability to negotiate the system and its paperwork for poorly-educated rural residents.
And as well as having poor coverage, health insurance cover had little depth in the real world - it did not cover most of the expenses for those who had it. The study showed that rural migrant workers faced high out of pocket costs for health - averaging 2000 yuan a year in gross average payouts and more than 1000 yuan per person per year even after upfront costs had been reimbursed.
The authors conclude: "overall the coverage depth of basic insurance is still very limited, and the insured in China still end up paying a high amount of medical cost out of pocket. In addition, the floating population has a lower coverage rate than the general population, which further diminishes the protecting effects of insurance."
My take? China's government deserves credit for trying to bring in universal health insurance. Unfortunately, the implementation has been patchy and has favoured the urban, employed and middle classes. Claiming 95% coverage may sound good at WHO conferences and on the front page of China Daily, but the reality is that effective health coverage is nothing like that level. And the biggest losers are the rural migrants. Somehow, Xi Jinping's "The China Dream" left them behind.
Corruption crackdown targets doctors running clinical trials
Senior doctors who accept drug company money to run clinical trials are to be reined in by new health ministry regulations that aim to clean up the potentially unethical and corrupt practices and make clinical research more ordered and accountable.
The National Health and Family Planning Commission has released a new position statement entitled "Administrative Measures for the Clinical Study Projects of Medical Institutions" which will force clinical trials to be run under the auspices of hospital research committees rather than individual doctors or their departments.
The new rules stipulate that to clinical trials will be co-ordinated by a Clinical Study Administration Committee in hospitals, and funding for trials from industry will be channelled through hospitals rather than a particular department or individual doctor.
The study committee will have to set standards and procedures for administering clinical trials and maintain constant supervision of studies. Each trial will need to have a full record and documentation of its aims, protocols and the researchers involved. There will also be strict rules about the financing of trials and bans on having industry paying for or accepting "expenses".
Labels: NHFPC, research
Dengue crisis worsens as disease spreads north
China is now experiencing its worse outbreak of dengue fever in two decades, with almost 1000 cases a day being recorded in south China, and the infection spreading as far north as Henan.
Outbreaks of the serious infection spread by the Aedes mosquito are centred around Guangdong, where almost 43,000 cases have been recorded this year.
However, the disease is now affecting other parts of China, including Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan and Guangxi, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC).
"The outbreak of dengue fever this year is the worst in China since 1995, when 6,812 cases were recorded," according to Qin Chengfeng, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences.
Alarm bells are ringing because the infection has also been reported as far north as Henan, half way between Shanghai and Beijing. Researchers say this is the first time the disease has been seen so far from the traditional areas of south China. Infectious disease experts said there were more than 50 cases of dengue fever reported in Shenhou township, presumably imported by migrant workers who had been in south China and Laos. They said the findings should act as a warning that the disease is spreading rapidly within China.
Other experts have attributed the spread of dengue to changing weather patterns, pointing to high rainfall that encourages the breeding of the Aedes mosquito.
Labels: dengue fever, Henan
CMA pharma ban | Cancer survival lags | High rates of undiagnosed diabetes
Health ministry curbs CMA's lucrative industry links
The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) is taking steps to curb hugely-profitable links between the Chinese Medical Association and the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Although supposedly a non-profit organisation, the CMA makes 820 million yuan ($133 million) in income from industry-sponsored events such as medical conferences. The NHFPC has ordered the doctor's professional association to put its conference management on a more sound ethical footing and to stop promoting links between industry and the profession.
Cancer survival rates in China lag behind other countries
Cancer researchers have highlighted the huge disparity between cancer survival rates in China and in developed nations. A study of 139,000 Chinese cancer patients found that only about one-third of survived five years after their diagnosis, compared to 70% in counties such as the US. Researchers from the Cancer Prevention and Control Office said the poor survival rates in China ere due to poor levels of medical treatment and research. Another reason was that China had more cases of stomach, lung and liver cancers, which were more difficult to detect and treat than the common cancers in western countries.
High diabetes rates in central China
Diabetes has become a major public health problem in the region around the Three Gorges of the Yangtze, and a large number of the cases are undiagnosed and untreated. A study involving 3721 randomly selected adults found that the prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose were 7.6% and 9% respectively. About 55% of the cases of diabetes identified in the study were previously undiagnosed. The researchers from the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing said diabetes was linked to age, family history of diabetes, central obesity, educational level and hypertension for both men and women.
Low awareness of cervical cancer prevention in China
Cervical cancer is not 'on the radar' of even the most health literate Chinese, a new survey suggests.
A study of medical students has found that while most were aware of HPV as a cause of cervical cancer, few were aware of the screening techniques for cervical cancer or the role of a HPV vaccine in preventing the disease.
The survey of 1878 students at Chengdu Medical College found that 79% of females and 54% of males had a positive view of cervical cancer screening, 40% of females and 45% of males were not aware of what it involved. Most had little idea of when cervical screening screening should start or the role of HPV in the development of cervical cancer. Likewise, few Chinese medical students were aware of the ideal intervals for screening, according to the findings published in PLOS One.
When asked about HPV vaccine, only 14% were aware that persistent HPV infection was the necessary cause of cervical cancer and only 29% knew there was an HPV vaccine available. About 50% of males and 65% of females said they would support HPV vaccination, but about 40% said they had concerns about side effects and the cost of the vaccine.
The researchers led by Dr Pan Xiong Fei of the Department of Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, said it was a major concern that China's health providers knew little about HPV and prevention of cervical cancer.
"It is important to improve the knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer among medical students in order to supply well-informed health care providers for prevention and control of cervical cancer," they concluded..
Rather busy at the moment ...
Normal service should be resumed shortly.
China Medical News is having a rest until October 20 while I take a holiday in Yunnan. See you on the other side ...
Patients ignore primary care clinics | Decline in Hepatitis A | Online ratings platform launched for hospitals
The government's newly created network of primary care clinics are struggling for recognition in China, according to a new survey carried out in Chengdu. More than 60% of people surveyed had not heard of the primary care clinics and didn't know where they were located, according to local media. Most people surveyed also said they would still prefer to go direct to hospital for treatment rather than go to a local community clinic, the survey showed.
China has seen huge reductions in hepatitis A over the last two decades, with rates of infection falling from 94% to 42%, a study carried out in Hebei has shown. Rising living standards, better hygiene and widespread childhood immunisation have contributed to the drop in hepatitis rates, and also resulted in most infections being delayed until adolescence rather than infancy, according to researchers from Shijiazhuang. However, the lower infection rates mean that many people now have little immunity to the disease and will benefit from immunisation, the researchers say.
A Tripadvisor-like mobile online platform has been developed that allows patients to rate their experience with hospitals and health providers in China. The Care Voice (Kangyu in Chinese) is a Shanghai-based social platform that enables consumers to share reviews on hospital services, physicians and treatments and connect with other patients and professionals.
Labels: e-health, hepatitis, primary care
How GSK bribed doctors in China: the gory details
GSK's Mark Reilly, given a suspended prison sentence by Chinese court for bribery.
The main points of GSK's record 3 billion yuan ($500 million) fine for bribery in China have been reported elsewhere - I won't go over the same ground.
Suffice to say that several senior executives (including one from the UK) have been implicated in the giving of massive levels of bribes/kickbacks to institutions and hospitals in China to promote the use of GSK's drugs. The company was also found guilty of transfer pricing - dodgy accounting to transfer profits out of China via pricing mechanisms that favoured the revenues of the parent company over the China subsidiary.
Most of the western reports have focused on the implications for GSK and for the prospects of western businesses in China. Surprisingly few have questioned the ethics of what GSK was doing - except to suggest that "Chinese companies were all doing it, it's the way of doing business in China."
I have been reading some of the Chinese language media reports, and they give a lot more detail of the practices GSK was found guilty of. Very few western media reports have focused on the actual bribery methods used by GSK or the specifics of the transfer pricing arrangements (which I presume are not confined to China).
Here are a few examples reported in the Chinese media:
1. According to Chinese prosecutors the bribery was systematic and on a huge scale. Drug reps bribed doctors. Area managers bribed hospitals and 'VIP clients'. Country managers bribed officials in charge of distribution and purchasing. Bribery was done via travel agencies, gifts, sponsorship and through entertainment budgets and PR agencies. There were separate promotional teams for different product groups - the cold chain (vaccine) group is said to have spent 130 million yuan bribing officials in the regional Communicable Diseases Centres with everything from cameras and electronic equipment to cars.
2. How were individual doctors bribed? One liver specialist physician in Hunan called Dr Lee told the court how it worked. For every lamivudine prescription he wrote he was paid 20 yuan by GSK rep. For every new patient he got a bonus of 100 yuan. Dr Lee said every month he wrote about 150-200 prescriptions for lamivudine and started 5-8 new patients on the drug. Do the maths - that 12,000 yuan ($2000) a month, or 144,000 yuan ($23,400) a year. Dr Lee said the GSK rep arranged to pay him his commission every month at a special meeting when he would be paid for 'lecture fees' and travel expenses for the company. He received these fees 12 time a year but only did 3-4 lectures for GSK each year.
3. It wasn't just individual doctors who were bribed - the court heard how professional 'medical associations' also had huge sums of money transferred to their accounts from GSK to promote the endorsement and use of their products. Medical groups also received millions of yuan in material bribes such as non-medical items like fridges, cars and TVs. Hospital managers were also bribed millions to influence their purchasing policies - sales reps were given a 'Great Wall Plan' and a 'Dragon Plan' of incentives to persuade hospitals to abolish their 'Chinese-made generic drugs only' policies.
The end result was that Chinese consumers paid more for their medicines. Drugs such as Contac, Fenbid and lamivudine were overpriced up to seven-fold compared to other countries. The unit cost of lamivudine was said to be 142 yuan in China compared to 18 yuan in South Korea and 30 yuan in the EU, Japan and Hong Kong. Drug prices were padded to pay for kickbacks. About a third of the cost of GSK pharmaceuticals was said to have been to cover 'commissions', according to a financial controller. This meant Chinese consumers paid 30% extra for drugs just to cover the cost of bribes.
GSK was driven by high pressure sales tactics for pharmaceuticals: GSK's revenue in China rose from 3.9 billion to 7 billion yuan between 2009 and 2012. The sales workforce increased from 1000 to 5500 people over that period, and each rep was given a budget of 3000-5000 yuan per month to influence prescribing - presumably though officials, doctors and health institutions. Sales reps were promised unlimited bonuses and membership of an 'Elite Club' with foreign travel if they met their targets
Cooking the books: from 2009-2013 GSK had almost 22 billion in revenue from drug sales in China and yet recorded a profits of only 100 million yuan. Investigators found this was due to a 'Five Step' transfer pricing system, by which the costs of products such as the antibiotic Zinacef were inflated at various stages of production in Italy and Cyprus until eventually 'sold' to the China subsidiary. This was a way of repatriating profits back to the US, but again meant that Chinese patients paid far more than they needed to for drugs.
The overall picture is not pretty - call it what you want - commissions, kickbacks, bribes, - GSK was guilty of them but they were by no means the only pharma company in China doing it. Commissions and kickbacks are obviously widespread in the Chinese health system, and others have been caught out - such as in the Zhangzhou, Fujian case last year where 73 hospitals were found to be guilty of accepting bribes.
In Chinese media reports on the GSK case, most commentators have concluded that the massive fine and the jail sentences will be a lesson to the pharma industry - and the stamping out of bribes will result in lower medicine prices for Chinese consumers.
However, one leading financial commentator has said the GSK case is a prime example of China's tactic of "killing the rooster to scare the monkey" - but it would not work. Cai Shen Kun says corrupt practices are so entrenched in China's pharmaceutical industry and are so much a part of the healthcare system that even a major case like the GSK one will not put a stop to them. He says kickbacks have become an unwritten rule in the industry that all insiders believe that nobody can ignore if they want to make sales - even a major international company like GSK.
Cai Shen Kun says the long term solution is to reform the health and pharmaceutical system to make it transparent and remove the incentives for commissions. He also says nothing will change until those who accept the bribes are brought to justice - and that means prosecuting the government officials and senior doctors who accept the 'crazy money'.
Labels: bribery, corruption, hospitals, pharmaceuticals
What expat nurses tell us about China's healthcare system
A survey of Chinese-trained nurses working in Australia has revealed some interesting insights into the role of nurses in the Chinese healthcare system.
Three main themes emerge from the interviews with 28 Chinese nurses working in Australia carried out by Zhou Yunxian from the Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou. In Australia, Chinese nurses found they had more independence and responsibility than they did under China's more regimented and hierarchical hospital system. Chinese nurses said they felt uneasy about having to take the initiative in patient care rather than be given orders by a senior nurse or doctor.
"Generally speaking, nurses here are more independent. They don’t rely on doctors totally. They can have their own thoughts and make decisions on the caring of patients," said one nurse.
Demarcation of roles is obviously stronger in the Chinese system - the nurses working in Australia found it strange that there was open communication and equality between nurses and doctors in a western healthcare system. "I don’t know what they (local colleagues) are doing, chatting with doctors – a waste of time from my perspective," said one, who believed that nurses should concentrate on 'nurses work' and not get involved with doctors.
Another theme that emerged was around the role of the nurse and their scope of practice. In China, nurses often saw themselves more as clerks and technicians fixing up IV lines rather than patient-oriented 'hands on' nurses. Chinese nurses were horrified to find that in Australian hospitals they were expected to do 'dirty' manual work such as bathing patients or helping to feed them. "I feel too embarrassed to tell people (the fact)…If I tell my family that a nurse in Australia needs to shower the patient, I think even my family would find it very hard to accept," said one.
This revealed that in China, manual work in hospitals is done by unqualified low-status 'care assistants', and personal help with feeding, toileting and bedding is the responsibility of the patient's family, not the nursing staff. Nurses from China also found it hard to adjust to the notion of a family leaving the care of a relative to 'the system' rather than taking personal responsibility - especially with the elderly and the way they are left in nursing homes.
A third theme that emerged was communication. In China, nurses expected to be given clear instructions about tasks from superiors, however they did not feel any obligation to communicate with patients or their families. Chinese nurses were surprised to find that in western hospitals, nurses were expected to be friendly and personal with patients, who they regarded as strangers. "Here every nurse calls everyone 'sweetie', 'love', things like that. It is totally different from us… I have never thought of addressing a patient so intimately. It is hard for us because we don’t feel this way," said one nurse.
Language and cultural differences also meant that Chinese nurses found their usual 'direct' style of communication appeared rude and imperious to westerners. They found it hard to be 'warm' and polite, believing this to be insincere. In contrast, Chinese nurses expected that their colleagues would become their workmates and were disappointed to find that westerners were out of the door at 5pm and not interested in networking. "Anyway, they (local colleagues) come when they are on duty and they leave when they finish the shift. In China, we are colleagues even after the work. We go out together, and then we become very good friends."
Although designed to investigate the problems of Chinese nurses adjusting to the western workplace, the study highlights many of the assumptions that underpin the Chinese health system
Labels: hospitals, nurses
Medical comic strips | Anti-smoking laws weakened | No support for Orphan Diseases
A female doctor in Shanghai draws weekly comic strips and posts them on WeChat to try demystify medical jargon and improve doctor-patient relations
Dr Chen Haiyan, a cardiac ultrasonographer at the Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital has used the comic strips to explain conditions such as heart defects and high blood pressure in easy-to-understand ways. She also tries to explain the daily life of medical staff and show they are human in an effort to defuse the major tensions that have triggered many recent violent attacks against hospital staff.
Health experts have expressed disappointment that Beijing's proposed anti-smoking regulations have been watered down. The latest draft legislation only bans smoking in "shared indoor public places," compared to a previous draft that banned smoking in all indoor public areas, said Professor
Wang Qingbin, a legal expert at the China University of Political Science and Law,
"By banning smoking only in 'shared' indoor public areas, the legislators are giving officials with their own offices a chance to smoke, which is against the spirit of equality," Wang said, adding that it will only make law enforcement all the more difficult.
China lacks adequate health systems to deal with rare 'orphan' diseases such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, medical experts say. At a recent conference on rare diseases at the Children's Hospital of Fudan University experts called for legislation and policies on the prevention and treatment of rare diseases that affect more than 10 million people in China."Related regulations should be created to help provide better support to patients with rare diseases and their families," said Li Dingguo, chairman of the rare disease branch of the Shanghai Medical Association.
Labels: cardiology, neurology, tobacco
Intern scheme concerns | Telehealth ban sparks backlash | Rural residents too poor to pay for care
Internship scheme will create bottlenecks and headaches
Doctor training moves to a three-year internship system next year but many medics believe the changes will leave hospitals with even worse staffing shortages. The new system which will see newly-graduated doctors rotate through various hospital departments to gain experience is intended to bring China into line with other countries and to create a uniform high standard of medical practitioners. However, critics warn that the additional three years of being a trainee will mean that doctors earn very little and the low income will deter many from entering the medical profession. Another drawback of the new system is that doctors will serve as interns in tertiary 'teaching hospitals' and will then refuse to be 'downgraded' to work in smaller local country and township hospitals.
Ban on telehealth consultations triggers backlash
There has been a major backlash against an announcement that doctors will be banned from conducting online consultations by the National Health and Family Planning Commissioning. The NHFPC said this week that 'remote' consultations are illegal except through accredited medical institutions because all doctor consultations need to be carried out according to the regulations of the NHFPC as currently laid down for hospitals and clinics. The NHFPC said remote consultations should be viewed as no different to any other kind of consultation and therefore all the usual regulations on medical practice apply. However, after a major backlash from health groups and online health providers such as www.haodf.com, the NHFPC said it would look again at the legislation and would 'listen to the opinion of the masses' in interpreting the legislation.
Rural health insurance not working
People who live in remote rural areas of China are so poor they cannot afford to seek medical attention when they are sick, a study from Hebei has found. More than 50% of people living in the Dabie mountain areas of Hebei said they would not seek medical care if they felt unwell. The main reason (for 38% of people) was financial difficulty. Other reasons included inconvenience and preference to self medicate. Researcher Dr Fang Pengqian and colleagues from the Tongji Medical College, Wuhan said the findings suggested that the universal health coverage from the New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) was was not working for people in poorer highland areas. They said the locals could not afford to pay the necessary insurance premiums to cover basic care and the low reimbursement meant they faced high out-of-pocket costs.
Labels: medical education, rural health, telemedicine, training
A roundup of the medical news headlines from China...
Baby for sale to pay medical bills | Ambulances mi...
Nurses inadequately trained | Child physical abuse...
Zhejiang hospital runs out of money, can't pay for...
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Beijing doctor explains on Youku about bribes and ...
China's best case scenario for an Ebola outbreak: ...
Cancer treatment unaffordable | Drug pricing corru...
Survivors of Mao's 1959 Great Famine now in poor h...
Drug price caps abolished | Healthcare staff HIV k...
China's move to a GP-based primary care system: lo...
County hospitals under scrutiny | iKang CEO gets a...
Prejudice against leprosy patients triggers riots ...
9 scary health stories from China that might put y...
Doctors refuse red envelope pledge | Online pharma...
China's public hospitals and breastfeeding mums ar...
Leukaemia donations missing | Asthma rates soar | ...
China's first mental health law - 27 years in the ...
Health insurance cover for 95% of Chinese? More li...
Corruption crackdown targets doctors running clini...
CMA pharma ban | Cancer survival lags | High rates...
Low awareness of cervical cancer prevention in Chi...
Patients ignore primary care clinics | Decline in ...
What expat nurses tell us about China's healthcare...
Medical comic strips | Anti-smoking laws weakened ...
Intern scheme concerns | Telehealth ban sparks bac...
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The school is named after James Chuter Ede who assisted R.A. Butler in drawing up the 1944 Education Act. He later became Home Secretary in the post war Labour Government.
The school opened in 1964 in Main Street where the church hall is currently situated and was then called Balderton Main Street Primary School.
The present building opened in January 1967 and has been extended substantially since. A new annex to the school was built in Fernwood Village and opened in September 2012.
James Chuter Ede Wikipedia page about James Chuter Ede
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COSEE.NET
Strategies for Cultural Inclusiveness and Diversity for Ocean Science Education
Date: 07/26/16 2:00 PM Eastern
The Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement (COSEE) invites educators, scientists, and interested parties to participate in its final webinar as part of the 2016 series.
A diverse workforce is vital to ocean science innovation, problem solving, public engagement, efficacy, and impact. As the ocean science community continues to look for effective ways to broaden participation and increase diversity in the field, the role of culture, cultural sensitivity, and cultural integration in ocean science education are important considerations. In this webinar we will look at approaches for enhancing cultural inclusiveness within various ocean science education frameworks that have been implemented in the COSEE Network. Exemplar programs and practices at the pre-college, undergraduate, and graduate levels will be highlighted.
To attend this webinar, you must register using this link by July 22, 2016.
Marilyn Sigman is Alaska Sea Grant's Marine Education Specialist and an Associate Professor of Marine Education in the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. She was the Program Manager for COSEE Alaska for six years.She has worked for several decades in the field of natural resource management for both state and federal agencies, and as an educator, education program manager, and executive director of non-profit organizations. She has an undergraduate degree in Human Biology and an M.S. in Wildlife Management and recently completed an MFA in Creative Writing/Literary Arts.
Dr. Corey Garza is an associate professor of Marine Science in the School of Natural Sciences at California State University, Monterey Bay. He serves as the principal investigator for the Marine Landscape Ecology Lab where his group employs GIS modeling and spatial statistics to study linkages between species distribution and habitat complexity in the marine environment. He is also active in promoting the participation of underrepresented in groups in STEM through research and conference based activities. Dr. Garza serves as the director for the Ocean Science REU at CSUMB and, for the last 12 years, has organized scientific and professional development sessions in Ocean Science at the annual SACNAS Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science conference.
Dr. Judy Lemus is a science and education faculty member at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. She develops collaborative partnerships that promote community-science interactions, integrate science and culture, and provide professional development opportunities for both young and established scientists. Dr. Lemus received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology from UCLA and a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of Southern California with a specialization in symbiotic systems. She led marine education and outreach programs in southern California for 10 years as the Marine Advisory Program Leader for USC Sea Grant and the Director of Education for the USC Wrigley Institute of Environmental Studies. Her citizen science work in Hawaii focuses on creating opportunities for community members that integrate science and traditional knowledge. Dr. Lemus is currently the principle investigator and director of the National Science Foundation “Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence” in Hawaii (COSEE Island Earth). She is an active participant of the International Pacific Marine Educators Network and a partner in the Pacific Islands Climate Education Partnership to provide professional development in climate science for high school teachers in Hawaii and the Pacific.
Contact Name: Andrea Gingras
Contact Email: agingras@uri.edu
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No. 1305: St. Gregory's Church, Dorchester, Mass.
Postcard. Caption on front: St. Gregory's Church, Dorchester, Mass. 7339. Postally unused. On verso: American Art Postcard Co., Boston, Mass. Photolux.
St. Gregory's Church, an example of Romanesque Revival. In 1844 a Catholic parish was formed in South Boston under the name of Saints Peter and Paul. Its territory included all of South Boston, Dorchester, Milton, Hyde Park, Canton and Stoughton. Prior to that time the Catholics of Dorchester and Milton went to church in West Quincy or in Roxbury. Many immigrants moved to southern Dorchester because they could find work in the mills along the Neponset River and in the large homes in Lower Mills and Milton Hill. The pastor of Saints Peter and Paul, Father Fitzsimmons, and his associates found it difficult to serve such a far-flung parish, and in 1847 found a lot on the corner of Washington Street and Churchill's Lane across from Richmond Street in Lower Mills where they hoped to establish a new parish.
Anti-Catholic sentiment prompted Father Fitzsimmons to use a straw to purchase the property, but soon the news leaked out, and a group of citizens attempted to buy the land from Father Fitzsimmons at a price even higher than he had paid. He refused, but opposition grew when rumors circulated that he intended to open a burial ground on part of the property. The townspeople attempted to influence that state government to pass a law forbidding a cemetery to be opened without the consent of the mayor and aldermen of a city, or the selectmen of a town. The law did not pass, but the strong feeling was clear.
Father Fitzsimmons began building but ran out of money, and the bank holding the mortgage foreclosed. On July 4, 1854, the building was set on fire, and it burned to the ground. Speculation was that the church was blown up by the "Know-Nothings", the political arm of the nativist movement. In December, 1862, Father Fitzsimmons named Thomas R. McNulty as pastor of a new parish including all of Dorchester, Milton, Hyde Park and a section of Quincy called Atlantic, Squantum. Soon after, Father McNulty purchased land on Dorchester Avenue in Lower Mills close to the site of the earlier unfinished church. Construction of a new church building at 2221 Dorchester Avenue in the Romanesque Revival Style began on August 16, 1863.
St. Gregory's parish covered a large area, and since there was a large concentration of Catholics in the Meeting House Hill section of Dorchester, Father McNulty began a mission there. In 1870 Hyde Park became its own parish, Hyde Park being a new town made of parts of Milton, Dedham and Roxbury. In 1871 Atlantic was added to the Quincy parish. In 1872 St. Peter's parish at Meeting House Hill was set off to cover the northern half of Dorchester.
Father McNulty died in 1875 and was succeeded by Father William H. Fitzpatrick who served until 1913. In 1880 Father Fitzpatrick purchased land in the Neponset section of Dorchester and built a church that was ready for use in December, 1881. St. Ann's remained part of St. Gregory's until it became a separate parish in 1889. In 1888 he found land on Norfolk and Darlington Streets and two years later built a church there. The church opened in 1890 and became St. Matthews' parish in 1900. In 1899 Father Fitzpatrick bought another piece of land at Dorchester Avenue and Rosemont Street to build a chapel that became St. Mark's parish in 1905.
In 1878 Father Fitzpatrick bought a piece of land abutting St. Gregory's for a new rectory. By 1890 the parish had enough money to rebuild and enlarge the rectory. He purchased the Hannon estate to the rear of the Church and part of the Kelch estate. He later purchased an acre of land across the street from the Church bordering the Baker estate on the corner of Richmond Street and Ellen McMahon's property (now the site of the St. Gregory High School and Convent). This site is now the location of St. Gregory's Grammar School. As part of an expansion beginning in 1894 a new facade with two towers was added, and in 1902 the church was re-dedicated. Father Fitzpatrick died in 1913.
Francis X. Dolan became the pastor in 1914. He undertook the construction of a grammar school which opened in 1915. A convent was opened in 1921. E. Ambrose Gallagher replaced Father Dolan in 1944. In 1952 Bernard J. McNulty became the pastor following the death of Father Gallagher. In 1954 a new rectory was built and the site of the old one became the garden of the crucifixion. Father McNulty retired in 1970, and Paul Sweeney served as pastor from 1970 to 1978. William Glynn served from 1978 to 1981, and Mark Breheny served from 1981 to 1986, followed by Paul T. Ryan in 1987.
For more information, consult:
Parise, Michael. The History of Saint Gregory's Parish, Lower Mills, Dorchester and Milton, 1862-1987. Dorchester: Published by Saint Gregory's Parish, 1987.
Created: July 26, 2003 Modified: July 26, 2003
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Judge Robert L. Dietz Receives Professionalism Award
Written by Martin Leibowitz.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Florida Judge of Compensation Claims, Robert L. Dietz, recently received the 2018 David Hammond Professionalism Award of the Judge William Wieland Workers’ Compensation Inns of Court of Central Florida. Dietz is assigned to the Sebastian/Melbourne District office, hearing workers’ compensation cases for Brevard, Indian River and Okeechobee counties, as well as statewide cases as needed.
The Judge William Wieland Workers’ Compensation Inns of Court of Central Florida presents the annual David Hammond Professionalism Award based on the criteria of professionalism, preparation, legal knowledge, ethics, respect by all parties, honesty, conduct and longevity. The winner is selected by the inn’s professionalism committee, comprised of judges, state and private mediators and attorneys. The award is named for David Hammond, a well-respected claimant attorney in Orlando who died in 2001 at the age of 51 and who was known for all of the qualities listed.
Dietz, an attorney with over 30 years of experience, is a Florida Bar Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Lawyer, since 1992, and an adjunct professor at Barry University College of Law. In addition, he is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Civil Mediator, mediating more than 1,300 cases. Throughout his career, Dietz has focused his practice in the area of workers' compensation law.
A national and statewide leader in the legal profession, Dietz has formerly served as President of both the Professional Mediation Institute and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and is the former National Chair of the American Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Committee. In 2013, Dietz was awarded one of only two prestigious international awards presented at the Civitan International Convention, the International Honor Key for outstanding service to the community and the organization. Dietz holds a B.A. degree from Eckerd College (1979), and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School (1982).
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No 37 Ire Akari Road, Isolo, Lagos.
About FGC PH
The Foursquare Church, officially named the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, is a Pentecostal denomination that resulted from the dynamic evangelistic ministry of Aimee Semple McPherson, who opened the historic Angelus Temple on Jan. 1, 1923.
Following the opening of Angelus Temple, our founder did not take time to rest on her laurels. The first “branch” church from Angelus Temple had its beginnings in Oct. 1923 in Long Beach, Calif. Other Los Angeles-area church plants rapidly ensued in Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Santa Ana; all four churches are still open today. As time passed, Foursquare branched out to the rest of the United States; we now have churches in most of the 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska.
The launch into foreign ministry fields also began in the 1920s. In 1927 Sister McPherson commissioned Vincente and Teodora DeFante as missionaries to the Philippines. Foursquare is still alive and well in the Philippines, which has a very strong national church presence. A former missionary herself, our founder’s desire to go around the world with the Foursquare Gospel led to The Foursquare Church’s being known as a missionary movement. At this time we have approximately 100 missionary units deployed throughout the world. From our earliest days, foreign missions was a primary emphasis—and remains so today.
Another early Foursquare initiative was establishing an educational institution to train Foursquare ministers and missionaries. The Echo Park Evangelistic and Missionary Training Institute opened in 1923, not long after Angelus Temple opened. The institute’s name was changed in 1926 to L.I.F.E. (Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism) Bible College. Today the school is known as Life Pacific College in San Dimas, Calif.; it is a WASC accredited college.
Copyright © 2018 FGC Potter's House. All rights reserved.
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Geoffrey Harcourt RDI DesRCA
Designs for Artifort
Geoffrey Harcourt archive of designs and paintings
Paintings and drawings
Harcourt CV
Designs for other manufacturers
Sketch book pages
Born in London in 1935 and attended High Wycombe Technical School, then High Wycombe School of Art where he gained an National Diploma in Design (NDD) and won a place at the Royal College of Art after conscription into the Royal Artillery in 1955.
Royal College of Art 1957 - 60, Des RCA, Silver Medallist and Major Travelling Scholarship Winner to the United States.
Travelled and worked in the USA from 1960 - 61. notably for an industrial design partnership in Chicago. On return to Europe he worked in Copenhagen for Jacob Jensen, the inspiration behind the Bang and Olufsen range of products.
Returned to England in 1962 to start his own practice.
Notable among his clients since 1962 has been the Dutch manufacturer Artifort for whom he has designed a great many programmes of seating, many of which are still in production. Perhaps most notable a chaise longue which has come to be known as 'Cleo' which was designed in 1970 and remains a modern classic and still in limited production. His furniture designs are manufactured under licence in Italy and Japan. Clients in the UK have included Gordon Russell, Hands of Wycombe. Ben Dawson of Musselburgh, Mines and West and many more.
Nominated for a design award by one of America's Societies of Design in 1968.
Work by Geoffrey Harcourt has been exhibited world wide, notably at the Steidlijk Museum in Amsterdam 1967 and included in their permanent collection, the Pompidou Centre in Paris, Prague Museum of Decorative Arts 1972. Design Council London and Glasgow 1976 and 81; Eye for Industry Exhibition at the V & A 1987. Nederlands Textile Museum 1988, Manchester Prize Exhibition 1988 and at both the 100 year and 150 years Exhibitions at the Royal College of Art.
Elected to the Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry (RDI) in 1978 and was Master from 2003 - 2005. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
He has taught periodically at many academic institutions including the RCA and has been external examiner to that College and many others.
Published two volumes of pages from his sketch books through Amazon and available through them in Arts and Architecture section.
Fuller biography in Who's Who and People of Today.
geoff@harcourtgj.demon.co.uk
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Andy Warhol Liz
Artist: Andy Warhol
Medium: Offset lithograph on paper
Title: Liz
Edition: approximately 300, unnumbered
Framed Size: 28" x 27 3/4"
Reference: Feldman II.7
Signed: signed and dated in ball-point pen.
Andy Warhol was born Andrew Warhola on August 6, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Slovak immigrants. Warhol's father was a construction worker who died in an accident when Andy was only 13 years old.
Warhol showed talent early on for drawing and painting. After high school he studied commercial art at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, from which he graduated in 1949. He then went to New York where he worked as an illustrator for such magazines as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, and for commercial advertising. He soon became one of New York's most highly-sought and successful commercial illustrators. In 1952,
Warhol had his first one-man show exhibition at the Hugo Gallery in New York. Four years later he was part of an important group exhibition at New York's renowned Museum of Modern Art.
Warhol's preferred printmaking technique was the screenprint, more commonly known as the silkscreen. The technique was highly conducive to the artist's idea of the proliferation of art. In the 1960s, Warhol began to paint quotidian, mass-produced objects such as Campbell's Soup cans and Coke bottles. From 1962 forward, he produced silkscreen prints of famous personalities such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.
The essence of Andy Warhol's art was to make no distinction between fine art and commercial art used in magazine illustrations, comic books, record albums, or advertising campaigns. Warhol once expressed his thinking in one sentence: "When you think about it, department stores are kind of like museums."
The pop artist not only depicted mass-produced products but also wanted to mass-produce his own works of pop art. Consequently, in 1962 Warhol founded The Factory, an art studio where he employed 'art workers,' primarily to mass-produce prints and posters, but also other items such as shoes. The Factory was first located on the 5th floor of 231 East 47th Street in Manhattan's Midtown, and would later relocate to 820 Broadway in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. The Factory also doubled as a filmmaking studio. It was there that Warhol made over 300 experimental films, many of which contained ambiguous or pornographic content. For instance, his earliest film, Sleep, consists entirely of footage of a man sleeping for over six hours.
In July of 1968, a woman named Valerie Solanis shot Warhol in the chest multiple times. Solanis had worked occasionally for the artist in The Factory, and had founded a group called SCUM (Society for Cutting Up Men), she being the sole member. Upon her arrest, Solanis said: "He [Warhol] had too much control over my life." Warhol never completely recovered from his wounds, and for the rest of his life wore a bandage around his waist.
After 1968, Warhol's activities became more and more entrepreneurial. His process of producing art took a radical turn, and he spent most of his time making individual portraits of the rich and affluent such as Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, and Brigitte Bardot. He founded his own night club and also a magazine, Interview. In 1975, Warhol published The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B & Back Again), wherein he provides the reader with his own broad definition of art: "Making money is art, and working is art and good business is the best art." In his later years, he promoted other artists such as Keith Haring and Robert Mapplethorpe. Warhol died February 22, 1987, from complications after a gall bladder operation.
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The following 130 magazines are available in category "Music" :
Result Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next 10
Guitar magazines
Guitar World, Guitar Player, Guitar & Bass Classics, Bass Player, Bass Guitar, etc...
Metal / Rock magazines
Kerrang Magazine, Revolver Magazine, Vintage Rock, Classic Rock, Rock Sound, etc...
Hip Hop magazines
Rime Magazine, ALARM, Right On!, Midwest Flavaz, etc...
One year (12 issues) for £114.95
Rolling Stone Magazine is the leading Rock & Roll magazine. Rolling Stone is the chronicle of more than one generation, covering music, celebrities, politics and pop culture. Each issue of Rolling Stone features the very best reviews of music,... (continue)
Related: English magazines, Entertainment & TV
United Kingdom 9.0
SOUND ON SOUND is recognised internationally as the 'bible' of the hi-tech music recording industry. Every month our UK edition delivers over 300 pages packed full of in-depth product tests of Synthesizers, Keyboards & Rack Modules, Music Software, Samplers, Soundcards,... (continue)
Related: Entertainment & TV, English magazines
If you're into making music using anything from computers and soft synths to a room full of samplers, rack effects and keyboards, then Future Music is the magazine for you. Each month we have exclusive and in depth reviews of the latest hardware and software,... (continue)
Related: English magazines, Audio/Video, Electronic
Independent, authoritative and essential - Q is the UK's biggest selling music magazine and the world's best music guide. The reason is simple - Q gets the interviews and exclusives that no other magazine can. Couple this with the famous Q review section and you've... (continue)
Related: English magazines
Kerrang Magazine
Kerrang! Is the biggest-selling weekly, rock magazine in the world; if you're into Jon Bon Jovi, Skunk Anansie, Korn, Marilyn Manson and many more this is your ideal magazine. Subscribe and get 51 issues direct to your door.... (continue)
Related: English magazines, Metal / Rock magazines
Classic Pop!
Classic Pop is the music magazine everyone's been waiting for. If you grew up to the explosion of New Wave sounds in the late-70s to mid-80s with the excitement of synth-pop, New Romantic, ska and indie-pop casting away the turgid rock stereotypes - Classic... (continue)
A subscription to BBC Music magazine is a must-have for anyone with a passion for classical music. BBC Music is the world's best-selling classical music magazine covering the latest news, reviews and the most thought provoking features. BBC Musics links... (continue)
Music Week
Music Week has been the voice of the music business for more than 50 years.Now it is building on that legacy with a series of changes to ensure it provides a service for the needs of a rapidly evolving business.The emphasis of our work is on providing the information,... (continue)
Record Collector
Record Collector is a comprehensive guide to rare and collectable U.K. releases. It publishes complete discographies with current market values for every record and covers a wide selection of music, including '50s rock & roll, '60s beat music, progressive rock,... (continue)
Related: English magazines, Collectibles
Vintage Rock
One year (6 issues) for £64.95
Vintage Rock celebrates a time when music really did change the world - 45s, youth culture and the odd thrusting pelvis. We chronicle all the stellar artists and music, the enduring legacy of those early pioneers - and why it's still the best way to live.Spanning... (continue)
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Jan 31 Esoteric (a.) - You wouldn't even begin to understand
Watch on other streaming sites.
YouTube | BitChute | DTube | PewTube | Facebook
Hidden only available to a select few either through membership in a group or background knowledge required.
History & Etymology
The word esoteric was originally attributed to Aristotle as a classification of his written material. Exoteric referred to materials meant for consumption by the general public, and esoteric on the other hand referred to materials more appropriate or meant for the students within his school, the Lyceum.
The Oxford English Dictionary notes in their etymology of the word esoteric that Aristotle never used used the words esoteric in this way. He’s only recorded as use the word exoteric and then he only meant it in the sense of popular or nontechnical.
The word esoteric was first used in writing in the works of Lucian a satirist and rhetorician who lived around the mid 100s AD. He was the first to ascribe this classification system to Aristotle.
Esoteric was then borrowed into the English language and was used in writing for the first time in the 1600s in Thomas Stanley’s 4 volume book entitled History Of Philosophy. Thomas uses the word esoteric to refer to secret doctrines that Pythagoras, yes the triangles guy. Pythagoras would share these esoteric doctrines only among a select few of his disciples who had mastered his material.
Now we can trace the origin of greek root eso- in esoteric comes from the Proto-Indo-European word ens- or enso- which is the extended form of the root Proto-Indo-European root en- which mean “in” and is the origin of the English word in.
http://0-www.oed.com.catalog.multcolib.org/view/Entry/64367
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyceum
https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=exoteric
https://www.etymonline.com/word/esoteric
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/esoteric
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/exoteric
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucian
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Stanley_(author)
Adjective, Greek
The Video Dictionary
Dictionary RSS
Feb 9 Free (a.) - Free Beer!
Jan 26 Absolution (n.) - The Sacrament of Penance
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Et-Taiyiba, Survey
Yotam Tepper
During September 2007, a survey preceding development was conducted at et-Taiyiba (Permit No. A-5227; map ref. 24150–275/72250–375), prior to preparing a master plan. The survey, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by the Gilboa‘ Regional Council, was directed by Y. Tepper, with the assistance of A. Shapiro (GPS and plans) and B. Hana.
The village of et-Taiyiba is situated on the western bank of Nahal Issakhar, c. 1.5 km north of Moshav Moledet and c. 3.5 km south of Qibbuz Gazit. The village was among the sites surveyed by N. Tzori (Nahalat Issachar, Israel Exploration Society, Jerusalem. 1977) and was documented in the Survey of Israel (Z. Gal. 1991. Map of Gazit [46]:47–50). The remains of a fortress dating to the Crusader and Mamluk period are clearly visible in the middle of the village. Two ruins are known within the village precincts, Horbat Haddad, east of Nahal Issakhar and Khirbat et-Taiyiba to its west.
The archaeological remains documented in the current survey included walls, remains of agricultural installations, building stones, architectural elements and potsherds dating from the Roman to the Ottoman periods, as well as the boundaries of Horbat Haddad, Khirbat et-Taiyiba and the Crusader fortress. It should be mentioned that several potsherds dating to the Early Bronze Age were found in the vicinity of Horbat Haddad.
In addition to the survey information, data from archaeological projects that were conducted in and around the village are summarized below.
The Survey (Fig. 1)
The documented remains are described in the following table:
Site No. (Fig.1)
Description of Finds
Boundary wall delimiting cultivation plots; a similar wall to its north.
Boundary marker of Horbat Haddad, based on potsherd scatterings in the area. Doorjambs, an olive press weight (No. 3), building stones and potsherds dating to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods were found.
A basalt olive press weight.
Boundary wall delimiting cultivation plots.
A wall (Fig. 1: J), preserved three courses high, probably remains of an ancient building. A bronze coal pan was found near the wall during antiquities inspection.
A wall (width in excess of 1 m) of an ancient building. A large ashlar with a triangular cross-section, probably from the Crusader fortress, is located near the building. Pottery dating to the Crusader period was found in the vicinity of the building.
Coin from the Roman period.
Remains of an ancient rectangular building (c. 8×10 m), south of the spring.
The spring house (c. 4×5 m). Its walls are built of well-dressed basalt ashlars. Modern repairs are clearly visible in the walls and the building’s ceiling is built of cement. Three limestone column drums (diam. 0.5 m) were found nearby.
Remains of an ancient rectangular building (c. 8.×10.5 m), north of the spring. Its walls are built of large fieldstones, some are coarsely dressed.
A conical cupmark hewn in basalt bedrock (depth 0.1 m, diam. 0.15 m).
An industrial mosaic floor of limestone tesserae (discovered during an antiquities inspection, see below, C); pottery dating to the Roman, Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods. A fragment of an Ionic capital and other basalt architectural elements were found nearby.
A built rectangular tomb in an ancient cemetery; a cross is engraved on a stone in the bottom course.
A built rectangular tomb in an ancient cemetery; an architectural element is incorporated in the upper course.
Six built tombs in an ancient cemetery, arranged side by side and oriented north–south. Their upper part is vault shaped and their lower part is a wide, built foundation that serves as a broad base.
Boundary markers of et-Taiyiba, based on the survey finds.
A wall built of large stones (max. width 2 m).
A boundary wall delimiting cultivation plots.
Boundary walls delimiting cultivation plots.
Potsherds from the Roman and Byzantine periods.
Basalt slabs, probably for covering tombs. Potsherds dating to the Roman and Byzantine periods and several fragments from the Early Bronze Age.
Walls, see Nos. 28–30.
Fragment of a limestone sarcophagus; a fragment of an olive press weight was found nearby.
Barrel vault of an ancient building in the cellar of a modern building.
Remains of traditional construction and the Crusader fortress in the center of the village are still impressive and visible. The survey found archaeological evidence of human activity dating from the Roman until the Ottoman periods at the site. A few earlier potsherds that probably date to the Early Bronze Age were found in the agricultural area southeast of the village. Architectural elements and numerous ashlars reflect the nature of the buildings that stood at the site.
The survey documented areas of traditional agriculture in the vicinity of the village and evidence of agricultural installations (an olive press weight, Fig. 2) were found. Potsherd concentrations, building stones and architectural elements were noted on the northern and eastern slopes of Khirbat et-Taiyiba and in the vicinity of Horbat Haddad, indicating the intensity of the settlement.
Remains of crosses on ashlars are indicative of a Christian population, possibly from the Byzantine period, but more likely from the Crusader period. An old cemetery that was probably established sometime in the Ottoman period is located in the north of the village. Sarcophagi (Fig. 3) that dated to the Roman and Byzantine periods were found on the slope southeast of et-Taiyiba.
Finds from Antiquities Inspections
In recent years, some twenty trial sections were carried out in the declared antiquities areas of the village; these have contributed greatly to the understanding of the village and the nature of its antiquities. The main finds are listed below:
A—Antiquities in ten locations; numerous walls and floors with ceramic finds, particularly from the Late Byzantine and Early Islamic periods.
B—A number of walls and potsherds from the Byzantine, Early Islamic and Mamluk periods.
C—Floors, walls, ash layers and industrial mosaic floors (Fig. 1: 21).
D—Walls and floors dating to the Byzantine period.
E—A wall and potsherds from the Roman and Byzantine periods, located on the northwestern slope.
F—Walls, terraces and potsherds from the Byzantine to the Mamluk periods on the eastern bank of Nahal Issakhar.
G—Walls from the Byzantine and Crusader periods southwest of the Crusader fortress.
H—Walls from the Byzantine and Crusader periods.
I—Walls built of basalt stones and potsherds from the Mamluk and Ottoman periods west of the fortress.
J—Walls and potsherds from the Roman to the Ottoman periods along the channel at the foot of the site. A bronze coal pan is a special find.
The intensity of the antiquities is evident from the inspections and probe trenches, particularly on the northern slope, but also in other regions: near the fortress, along Nahal Issakhar, as well as next to Horbat Haddad. It seems that the site was first inhabited in the Roman period and the settlement continued throughout the Byzantine, Early Islamic, Crusader and Mamluk periods.
Archaeological Excavations
Three archaeological excavations were conducted in et-Taiyiba village and near Horbat Haddad, in the wake of the aforementioned antiquities inspections (Fig. 1: Permit Nos. A-3546, A-4622, A-5179). The excavation along the northern slope of the village (HA-ESI 120) exposed numerous architectural remains in three strata that dated to the Byzantine (fourth–sixth centuries CE), Crusader (eleventh–twelfth centuries CE) and Mamluk (thirteenth–fourteenth centuries CE) periods. The finds from this excavation included fragments of pottery and glass vessels, metallic objects and several coins that dated to the Late Roman and Mamluk periods. A round industrial installation was excavated along Nahal Issakhar and the finds it contained were date to the latter period.
The excavation conducted along Nahal Issakhar at the foot of Khirbat et-Taiyiba (Permit No. A-4622) revealed two pools or reservoirs (4.8×5.2 m, depth 1.2–1.5 m) that were supplied with water conveyed by a built aqueduct, which was partially exposed coming to the pools from the direction of the spring. The pools, coated with hydraulic plaster, dated to the Byzantine period.
Three strata from the Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods were exposed in the excavation next to the Crusader fortress (HA-ESI 123); no remains that predated the Crusader period were discovered.
Remains of buildings and installations that ranged in date from the Roman to the Ottoman periods were exposed in the excavations. No remains that predated the Crusader period were found near the fortress, whereas architectural remains of a settlement that dated to the Byzantine period and continued uninterrupted to the present day were found on the northern slope and along Nahal Issakhar.
Two ruins are known in the village of et-Taiyiba. Based on the survey finds, it seems that the Byzantine-period settlement expanded eastward to Nahal Issakhar, toward the area of Horbat Haddad. The center of the settlement was situated west of the stream in later periods that were documented, particularly the Crusader and Mamluk periods. Owing to the limitations of the survey in the modern village, the center of the modern village could not be properly documented. Nevertheless, the combined data from the survey, antiquities inspections and excavations make it possible to mark the antiquities concentrations within the boundaries of the modern village (Fig. 4).
I—The region of the Crusader fortress and its visible remains.
II—The region of Horbat Haddad
III—The old cemetery to the north.
IV—The northern and eastern slope on the bank of Nahal Issakhar, open areas that have not yet been covered with modern construction.
V—On the southeastern slope outside the built-up area of the village, in terraced farmland, probably tombs.
VI—An area around the fortress ancient buildings dating to the Crusader and Mamluk periods are standing.
Archaeological finds from the Bronze Age(?), Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic, Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods were documented in the surveys. The bronze coal pan that was discovered during an antiquities inspection is presumably indicative of a Jewish population at the site. The documented crosses and architectural elements from public buildings are indicative of the importance of the settlement at the site and contribute to the understanding of the history of man’s settlement in Ramat Issakhar.
1. Survey map.
2. An olive press weight at the edge of the village, looking south.
3. Fragment of a sarcophagus on the eastern slope of the village, looking west.
4. The antiquities sites in et-Taiyiba village (aerial photograph of the village from the 1990s).
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Buildings on 5th Avenue in downtown St. Cloud
Official seal of St. Cloud, Minnesota
Nickname(s): The Granite City
Location of the city of St. Cloudwithin Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne Countiesin the state of Minnesota
Location of the city of St. Cloud
within Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne Counties
in the state of Minnesota
Coordinates: Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 668: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
Stearns, Benton, Sherburne
Dave Kleis
Area[2]
• City
41.08 sq mi (106.40 km2)
1,030 ft (314 m)
• Estimate (2013[4])
• Rank
US: 520th
• Urban
110,621 (US: 281st)
• Metro
191,306 (US: 222nd)
CST (UTC-6)
CDT (UTC-5)
www.ci.stcloud.mn.us
Red River cart at Saint Cloud, 1887
File:Stcloudaerial.JPG
Downtown Saint Cloud, 2007
St. Cloud /ˌseɪntˈklaʊd/ is a city in the State of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. Its population is 66,462, according to the 2014 MN State Demographer's population estimates, making it Minnesota's ninth largest city.[6] St. Cloud is the county seat of Stearns County[7] and was named after the city of Saint-Cloud, France (in Île-de-France, near Paris), which was named after the 6th-century French monk Clodoald.
Though mostly in Stearns County, St. Cloud also extends into Benton and Sherburne counties, and the Mississippi River runs through the city. It is the center of a small, contiguous urban area totaling over 116,000 residents, with Waite Park, Sauk Rapids, Sartell, St. Joseph, Rockville, and St. Augusta directly bordering the city, and Foley, Rice, Kimball, Clearwater, Clear Lake, and Cold Spring nearby. With 189,093 residents at the 2010 census, the St. Cloud metropolitan area is the fourth-largest in Minnesota, behind Minneapolis–St. Paul, Duluth–Superior, and Rochester. (The population of Fargo-Moorhead is also larger than St. Cloud's, but most of that is in North Dakota, with only 58,999 residents in Minnesota.)
St. Cloud is 65 miles (105 km) northwest of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis–St. Paul along Interstate 94, U.S. Highway 10, and Minnesota State Highway 23. The St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is made up of Stearns and Benton Counties.[8] The city was included in a newly defined Minneapolis–St. Paul–St. Cloud Combined Statistical Area (CSA) in 2000. St. Cloud as a whole has never been part of the 13-county MSA comprising Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington and parts of western Wisconsin,[9] although its Sherburne County portion is considered part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area by Census Bureau definition.
St. Cloud State University, Minnesota's third-largest public university, is between downtown and the Beaver Islands that form a maze for a two-mile stretch of the Mississippi. The approximately 30 undeveloped islands are a popular destination for kayak and canoe enthusiasts[10] and are part of a state-designated 12-mile stretch of wild and scenic river.[11]
St. Cloud owns and operates a hydroelectric dam on the Mississippi that can produce up to nine megawatts of electricity.[12][13]
2 Parks
3 Transportation
3.1 Major highways
4.1 Colleges
6.1 Adjacent communities
7 Climate
8.1 2010 census
9.2 Sites of interest
10.1 Top employers
12 Notable people
13 Sister cities
14 Popular culture
What is now the St. Cloud area was occupied by various indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Europeans encountered the Ottawa, Ojibwe, and Winnebago when they started to trade with Native American peoples.[citation needed]
Minnesota was organized as a territory in 1849. The St. Cloud area was opened up to settlers in 1851[14] after treaty negotiations with the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) tribe in 1851 and 1852. John Wilson, a Maine native with French Huguenot ancestry and an interest in Napoleon, named the settlement St. Cloud after Saint-Cloud, the Paris suburb where Napoleon had his favorite palace.[citation needed]
St. Cloud was a waystation on the Middle and Woods branches of the Red River Trails used by Métis traders between the Canadian border at Pembina, North Dakota and St. Paul. The cart trains often consisted of hundreds of oxcarts. The Métis, bringing furs to trade for supplies to take back to their rural settlements, would camp west of the city and cross the Mississippi in St. Cloud or just to the north in Sauk Rapids
The City of St. Cloud was incorporated in 1856. It developed from three distinct settlements, known as Upper Town, Middle Town, and Lower Town, that were established by European-American settlers starting in 1853.[15] Remnants of the deep ravines that separated the three are still visible today. Middle Town was settled primarily by Catholic German immigrants and migrants from eastern states, who were recruited to the region by Father Francis Xavier Pierz, a Catholic priest who also ministered as a missionary to Native Americans. Lower Town was founded by settlers from the Northern Tier of New England and the mid-Atlantic states, including former residents of upstate New York.[citation needed]
Upper Town, or Arcadia, was plotted by General Sylvanus Lowry, a slaveholder and trader from Kentucky who brought slaves with him, although Minnesota was organized as a free territory.[16] He served on the territorial Council from 1852 to 1853 and was elected St. Cloud's first mayor in 1856, serving for one year.[16][17]
Jane Grey Swisshelm, an abolitionist newspaper editor who had migrated from Pittsburgh, repeatedly attacked Lowry in print. At one point he organized a "Committee of Vigilance" that broke into Swisshelm's newspaper office and removed her press, throwing it into the Mississippi River. Lowry started a rival paper, The Union.[17]
The US Supreme Court's 1857 decision in the Dred Scott case ruled that slaves could not file freedom suits, as well as declaring the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, so the territory's prohibition against slavery became unenforceable. Nearly all Southerners left the St. Cloud area when the Civil War broke out, taking their slaves with them.[17] Lowry died in the city in 1865.[citation needed]
Beginning in 1864 Stephen Miller served a two-year term as Minnesota governor, the only citizen of St. Cloud ever to hold the office. Miller was a "Pennsylvania German businessman", lawyer, writer, active abolitionist, and personal friend of Alexander Ramsey. He was on the state's Republican electoral ticket with Abraham Lincoln in 1860.[18]
Steamboats regularly docked at St. Cloud as part of the fur trade and other commerce, although river levels were not reliable. Granite quarries have operated in the area since the 1880s, giving St. Cloud its nickname, "The Granite City."
In 1917, Samuel Pandolfo started the Pan Motor Company in St. Cloud. Pandolfo claimed his Pan-Cars would make St. Cloud the new Detroit. He was later convicted and imprisoned for attempting to defraud investors.[19][20]
The city maintains 95 parks, totaling more than 1,400 acres (5.7 km2) and ranging in size from 80 "neighborhood and mini parks" to 243 acres (0.98 km2). The largest developed park, Whitney Memorial Park, is the former location of the city airport. It features a recreation center for senior citizens, a dog park, and numerous softball, baseball, and soccer fields.
St. Cloud is a regional transportation hub within Minnesota. Major roadways including Interstate Highway 94, U.S. Highway 10, and Minnesota State Highways 15 and 23 pass through the city.[21]
Bus service within the city and to neighboring Sartell, Sauk Rapids, and Waite Park is offered through St. Cloud Metro Bus which was recognized in 2007 as the best transit system of its size in North America. An innovative system gives transit buses a slight advantage at stoplights in order to improve efficiency and on-time performance.[22] The Metro Bus Transit Center in the downtown area is also shared with Jefferson Lines, providing national bus service.
Bus service links downtown St. Cloud and St. Cloud State University with the western terminus of the Northstar Commuter Rail line in Big Lake, by the way of Northstar Link Commuter Bus, which in turn links to the Metro Transit bus and light rail system at Target Field Station in downtown Minneapolis.
Several rail lines run through the city, which is a stop on Amtrak's Empire Builder passenger rail line. St. Cloud is also home to St. Cloud Regional Airport, from which daily connecting flights to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport were made on Delta Connection, operated by Mesaba Airlines, until January 1, 2010, when the service was discontinued. On December 15, 2012, Allegiant Air began nonstop flights between St. Cloud Regional Airport and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, on McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft.[23]
In 2014 United Express began two daily roundtrip flights between STC and Chicago O'Hare.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 10
Minnesota State Highway 15
The city of St. Cloud is part of the St. Cloud Area School District, which serves St. Cloud, St. Augusta, Clearwater, Waite Park, St. Joseph, and Haven Township. The district has eight elementary schools, a new K-8 school in St. Joseph, and two major public high schools, St. Cloud Technical High School and St. Cloud Apollo High School.[24] St. Cloud also has a major private high school, Cathedral High School. Both public high schools offer a broad selection of Advanced Placement courses, and rank high in the state in number of AP tests taken and of test takers.[25] St. Cloud Tech is the older of the two, opening in 1917, and is just west of downtown on the city's south side. Apollo opened in 1970 and serves the expanding north side of the city. Other high schools and secondary schools that serve the city of St. Cloud include St. Robert Bellarmine's Academy, St. Cloud Christian School, Immaculate Conception Academy, St. John's Preparatory School, and St. Cloud Alternative Learning Center. St. Cloud also has one of the most successful charter schools in the state, STRIDE Academy,[26] which is K-8. The nearby cities of Sauk Rapids and Sartell also have their own school districts and high schools, bringing the number of public high schools in the metropolitan area to four.[citation needed]
St. Cloud is home to several higher education institutions, including Minnesota's third-largest university, St. Cloud State University. St. Cloud State's fall 2013 enrollment was 16,245, including 1,604 graduate students, 1,025 international students and 700 veteran students.[27]
Other post-secondary institutions and campuses in St. Cloud include St. Cloud Technical and Community College (SCTCC), Rasmussen College and Globe University/Minnesota School of Business. Neighboring Sartell is home to a campus of the Duluth-based College of St. Scholastica, and the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University are in neighboring St. Joseph and nearby Collegeville, respectively.[28]
The mayor of St. Cloud is Dave Kleis, who won reelection in 2012 running unopposed. St. Cloud is in Minnesota's 6th congressional district, represented by Tom Emmer (R). St. Cloud is partly in Minnesota House of Representatives district 14A, represented by Tama Theis (R), and partly in 14B, represented by Jim Knoblach (R). State Senate District 14 is represented by vice chair of the state capital investment committee John Pederson (R).
In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama and Joe Biden won 54% of the vote in the city, and John McCain and Sarah Palin 46%.[29]
Past mayors of St. Cloud include Sylvanus B. Lowry (1856), John L. Wilson (1857–58), E. O. Hamlin (1868), J. A. McDonald (1900), J. R. Boyd (1901), J. E. C. Robinson (1902–05 and 1906), J. N. Bensen (1905), David McCarty (1907), Louis Brown (1907), Hugh Evans (1908–09), D. H. Freeman (1910 and 1916–19), P. J. Seberger (1911–12), H. J. Limperich (1919), W. W. Matson (1920–24), J. Arthur Bensen (1924–28), James H. Murphy (1928–32, 1945–48), Phil Collignon (1932–45), Mathew Malisheski (1948–52), Lawrence A. Borgert (1952), George Byers (1953–60), Thomas E. Mealey (1960–64), Ed Henry (1964–71), Al Loehr (1971–80), Sam Huston (1980–89), Chuck Winkelman (1989–97), Larry Meyer (1997–2001), and John Ellenbecker (2001–05).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.08 square miles (106.40 km2); 40.04 square miles (103.70 km2) is land and 1.04 square miles (2.69 km2) is water.[2] The city is bisected by the Mississippi River, and part of the Sauk River runs along its northern edge. Just south of downtown, near Technical High School, is the 7-acre, 35-feet-deep Lake George.
Adjacent communities
Sartell – north
Sauk Rapids – northeast
St. Augusta – south
Waite Park – west–southwest
Rockville – southwest
St. Joseph – west
St. Cloud lies in the warm summer humid continental climate zone (Köppen climate classification Dfb), with warm, humid summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. January is the coldest month, with an average high temperature of 19 °F (−7 °C) and an average low temperature of −1 °F (−18 °C). July is the warmest month, with an average high of 82 °F (28 °C) and an average low of 58 °F (14 °C).
Climate data for St. Cloud, MN (St. Cloud Regional Airport)
Record high °F (°C)
(36) 105
Average high °F (°C)
(−7.4) 25.7
Average low °F (°C)
(−18.4) 6.4
(−14.2) 19.1
(−6.4) 5.5
(−14.7) 31.07
(−0.51)
Record low °F (°C)
(−42) −40
(−36) −3
(−19) 18
(−8) 32
(0) 40
(−8) 2
(−42)
Average precipitation inches (mm)
(19.3) 0.59
(15) 1.50
(114.6) 3.34
(17.5) 27.13
Average snowfall inches (cm)
(0.5) 0
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)
8.8 6.9 8.3 9.4 11.1 11.4 10.6 10.0 9.3 8.5 8.3 7.9 110.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)
8.5 6.8 5.1 2.4 0.2 0 0 0 0 0.8 5.7 8.3 37.8
Source #1: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000)[30]
Source #2: The Weather Channel (records)[31]
Est. 2014 66,389 [32] 0.8%
2013 Estimate[34]
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 65,842 people, 25,439 households, and 13,348 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,644.4 inhabitants per square mile (634.9/km2). There were 27,338 housing units at an average density of 682.8 per square mile (263.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.6% White, 7.8% African American, 0.7% Native American, 3.7% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.
There were 25,439 households of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.6% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.5% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.95.
The median age in the city was 28.8 years.[35] 18.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 23.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 21.5% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.5% male and 48.5% female.
St. Cloud is the principal city of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan area that covers Sherburne, Benton and Stearns counties and had a combined population of 167,392 at the 2000 census.
In the 2000 census, 27.3% of St. Cloud households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.9% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,346, and the median income for a family was $50,460. Males had a median income of $33,670 versus $23,759 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,769. About 5.0% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
The city is home to
the St. Cloud State University Division I ice hockey teams. Men's Husky Hockey competes in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Women's Husky Hockey competes in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The men's team has made nine NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship appearances, notably advancing to the 2013 Frozen Four in Pittsburgh, Penn.[36] The 2012-13 team's co-captain and fifth-year forward, Drew LeBlanc, was named WCHA Player of the Year and earned numerous national honors, including the Hobey Baker Award, the most prestigious award in men's college hockey.[37] The 2013 team earned also earned a share of the WCHA league title and its symbol, the century-old MacNaughton Cup.[38] The Huskies play in the 5,763-seat Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, which underwent a $18 million renovation and expansion in 2012-13.[39]
the Granite City Lumberjacks, a tier III hockey team.
the St. Cloud Rox (formerly the River Bats) of the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The Rox play at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud and were founded in 2012.
the Saint Cloud Area Roller Dolls, a flat-track roller derby league founded in 2011.[40]
File:2013-0408-StCloudVA.jpg
The St. Cloud VA Medical Center was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
Cathedral of Saint Mary, the largest church serving the oldest parish in the community, built in the 1920s in the Italian Romanesque style. The Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud.
The St. Cloud Central Business District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. St. Cloud is a Preserve America Community.[41]
St. Cloud State University, with 16,457 students from about 80 nations.
Great River Regional Library, a six-county regional system serving 32 communities. A new main library building opened in St. Cloud in September 2008.
Munsinger Gardens and Clemens Gardens, extensive flower gardens dating from the 1930s. See Munsinger Clemens Botanical Society.
Quarry Park, a unique public park that features 20 granite quarries, hiking, biking and ski trails. Part of the Stearns County park system.
Paramount Theatre and Visual Arts Center, a restored 706-seat theater, built in 1921.[42]
St. Cloud Hospital, part of CentraCare Health, was founded in 1886 as St. Benedict's Hospital. The regional health system includes four smaller hospitals and numerous outreach and outpatient clinics and services.
Stearns County History Museum, with two floors of exhibits, a research area, a museum store, and a 100-acre (0.40 km2) nature park. The only county museum in Minnesota accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, dedicated to preserving Minnesota's baseball history.
St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center, a 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) meeting center overlooking the Mississippi River.
St. Cloud Regional Airport, providing scheduled commercial turboprop passenger service, private, corporate, cargo and military operations.
St. Cloud Technical & Community College, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.
Minnesota Correctional Facility – St. Cloud, built in 1889, housing nearly 1,000 prisoners.
According to St. Cloud's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[43] the top employers in the city are:
1 CentraCare Health System/St. Cloud Hospital 4,110
2 State of Minnesota 2,036
3 St. Cloud VA Medical Center 1,360
4 Electrolux Home Products 1,259
5 St. Cloud School District 828
6 New Flyer Industries 530
7 Wolters Kluwer Financial Services 525
8 ING Direct 495
9 Bluestem Fulfillment 484
10 City of St. Cloud 438
The main newspaper is the St. Cloud Times, a Gannett newspaper. The St. Cloud Diocese also publishes the St. Cloud Visitor, which serves the regional Catholic community.[citation needed]
Television station KPXM-TV (channel 41), an "ion" network affiliate, is licensed to the city, though the signal also reaches the Twin Cities region. Low-power stations are: WCMN (channel 13) which is not always on the air, and K19BG (channel 19), a former TBN affiliate. Additional, St. Cloud State University students operate cable-only UTVS (channel 21), which includes local news.[citation needed]
Radio stations include:
WXYG 540 AM "540 The Goat" (classic rock), Tri-County Broadcasting
WBHR 660 AM "660 The Bear" (sports), Tri-County Broadcasting
WVAL 800 AM (classic country), Tri-County Broadcasting
WMIN 1010 AM "Uptown 1010" Tri-County Broadcasting
KYES (AM) 1180 (religious programming), Gabriel Media
WJON 1240 AM (news/talk), Townsquare Media
KXSS 1390 AM (sports), Townsquare Media (affiliated with KFAN)
KNSI 1450 AM (news/talk), Leighton Broadcasting
KVSC 88.1 FM (college radio), St. Cloud State University
K208DV 89.5 "Air 1" (Contemporary Christian music), Educational Media Foundation
KNSR 88.9 FM (news/talk), Minnesota Public Radio
KSJR-FM 90.1 FM (classical music), Minnesota Public Radio
KCFB 91.5 FM (Christian radio), Minnesota Christian Broadcasters
KKJM 92.9 FM "Spirit 92.9" (Contemporary Christian music), Gabriel Media
KMXK 94.9 FM "Mix 94.9" (Adult Contemporary), Townsquare Media
KZRV 96.7 FM "REV 96.7" (Active Rock), Townsquare Media
WWJO 98.1 FM "98 Country" (country music), Townsquare Media
KZPK 98.9 FM "Wild Country 99" (country music), Leighton Broadcasting
KCML 99.9 FM "Lite 99.9" (Adult Contemporary), Leighton Broadcasting
WHMH 101.7 FM "Rockin' 101" (active rock), Tri-County Broadcasting
KNSI 103.3 FM (news/talk), Leighton Broadcasting
KLZZ 103.7 FM "The Loon" (classic rock), Townsquare Media
KCLD 104.7 FM (Top 40), Leighton Broadcasting
Mathew Ahmann, civil rights activist
Tom Burgmeier, Major League Baseball player. Grew up in St. Cloud and attended Cathedral High School.[44]
Loren W. Collins, Minnesota jurist and legislator; mayor of St. Cloud
Jim Eisenreich, Major League Baseball player
Howard M. Fish, retired American Air Force lieutenant general, former assistant vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force
Charles A. Gilman, ninth Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
Janey Gohl, Miss Minnesota USA 1978
Lawrence M. Hall, longest-serving Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
June Marlowe, actress notable for playing Miss Crabtree in the short-film series Our Gang
Stephen Miller, abolitionist, Civil War veteran, Republican politician, fourth governor of Minnesota
William P. Murphy, former Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court
Tom Petters, former CEO and chairman of Petters Group Worldwide,[45] convicted for involvement in a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme[46]
Reynold Philipsek, gypsy jazz guitarist
Michael Sauer, professional ice hockey player for the New York Rangers
Nate Schmidt, professional ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals
Stephen Sommers, film director and alumnus of Cathedral High School and St. John's University
Charles Thomas Stearns, politician
Jane Swisshelm, newspaper owner and editor and abolitionist
Nate Wolters, professional basketball player
Gig Young, actor
Marshall Eriksen, fictional character on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother
Spalt, Germany
* Akita, Japan [47]
Courtroom scenes in the Disney Film The Mighty Ducks were filmed in St. Cloud, and a few scenes were filmed at the Municipal Athletic Complex (MAC) but did not make the final film.
Senator Al Franken and Tom Davis's One More Saturday Night is set in St. Cloud, but was not filmed there.
Juno was partially set in St. Cloud, which is referred to as "East Jesus Nowhere", though no filming took place in the city.
The song "On a Bus to St. Cloud", by Gretchen Peters, is on Trisha Yearwood's 1995 album Thinkin' About You.
In 2005, Penn & Teller: Bullshit! shot an episode on the SCSU campus.
In the 2007 horror movie 1408, St. Cloud is mentioned as one of the scariest places the protagonist has visited while investigating haunted houses.
Judith Guest and Rebecca Hill's novel Killing Time in St. Cloud is set in the eponymous city.
John Bellairs's character Mr. Emerson is from St. Cloud.
In the novel The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood, the main character's mother grew up in the city.
In the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, Marshall Eriksen is from St. Cloud. Throughout the series, St. Cloud is visited by several characters several times, but is portrayed as a much smaller town than it is in reality.
The post-hardcore band For All Those Sleeping formed in St. Cloud[48]
1998 St. Cloud explosion
Minnesota portal
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↑ http://mn.gov/admin/demography/data-by-topic/population-data/our-estimates/
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↑ Metro Council website, Twin Cities Metropolican Area Geographic Definitions, "Definitions Used By The U.S. Census Bureau"
↑ Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, "Mississippi River", "St. Cloud to Anoka"
↑ "The Wild & Scenic Mississippi River". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2009-10-03. <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
↑ City of St. Cloud, Public Utilities, Hydroelectric Services
↑ John Weeks, John Weeks, The Bridges and Structures of the Mississippi River Headwaters, A Detailed Look At The Bridges, Dams And Other Structures On The Mississippi River In The Headwaters Region From Lake Itasca To Minneapolis, November 2007.
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↑ "3 Towns Into 1 City, A Narrative Record of Significant Factors in The Story Of St. Cloud Minnesota."
↑ 16.0 16.1 "Sylvanus Lowry", Minnesota Legislators Past and Present, accessed 4 Juley 2012
↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Ambar Espinoza, "St. Cloud professor unearths history of slavery in Minnesota", Minnesota Public Radio, 7 May 2010, accessed 4 July 2012
↑ John J. Dominik Jr., "Three Towns Into One City," St. Cloud, Minnesota: St Cloud Area Bicentennial Commission, 1976, p. 13
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↑ County of Stearns, Minnesota, election results.
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↑ http://www.stclouddowntown.com/files/374.pdf
↑ http://www.paramountarts.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/08/General-Tech-and-Floor-Plan-Packet.pdf
↑ City of St. Cloud CAFR
↑ Tom Burgmeier at SABR Baseball Biography Project
↑ Nicole Muehlhausen, BIO: Tom Petters, KSTP.com, September 24, 2008, Accessed October 8, 2008,
↑ Hughes, Art (December 2, 2009). "UPDATE 2-Tom Petters found guilty of Ponzi scheme fraud". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved December 10, 2009. <templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
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Rice, Minnesota
Municipalities and communities of Benton County, Minnesota, United States
County seat: Foley
Royalton‡
Sartell‡
St. Cloud‡
Glendorado
Granite Ledge
Langola
Mayhew Lake
Watab
Brennyville
Duelm
Fruitville
Jakeville
North Benton
Popple Creek
Silver Corners
Municipalities and communities of Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States
County seat: Elk River
Princeton‡
Orrock
Municipalities and communities of Stearns County, Minnesota, United States
County seat: St. Cloud
Brooten‡
Clearwater‡
Eden Valley‡
Crow Lake
Crow River
Eden Lake
Krain
Le Sauk
Maine Prairie
Munson
Jacobs Prairie
St. Cloud, Minnesota Metropolitan Area
Core City
(over 1,000)
(under 1,000)
Fairhaven§
Ronneby§
‡ indicates that it is partially in the metropolitan area. § indicates a CDP
Saint Paul (capital)
Dissected Till Plains
Minnesota River Valley
Siouxland
pop. over 25,000
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Anna Howard Shaw: The Work of Women Suffrage (Women In American History) by Trisha Franzen: A Book Review
Anna Howard Shaw: The Work of Women Suffrage (Women in American History)
Author: Trisha Franzen
Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Release Date: March 15th 2014
Synopsis: With this first scholarly biography of Anna Howard Shaw (1847-1919), Trisha Franzen sheds new light on an important woman suffrage leader who has too often been overlooked and misunderstood.
An immigrant from a poor family, Shaw grew up in an economic reality that encouraged the adoption of non-traditional gender roles. Challenging traditional gender boundaries throughout her life, she put herself through college, worked as an ordained minister and a doctor, and built a tightly-knit family with her secretary and longtime companion Lucy E. Anthony.
Drawing on unprecedented research, Franzen shows how these circumstances and choices both impacted Shaw's role in the woman suffrage movement and set her apart from her native-born, middle- and upper-class colleagues. Franzen also rehabilitates Shaw's years as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, arguing that Shaw's much-belittled tenure actually marked a renaissance of both NAWSA and the suffrage movement as a whole.
Anna Howard Shaw: The Work of Woman Suffrage presents a clear and compelling portrait of a woman whose significance has too long been misinterpreted and misunderstood.
My Review: Anna Howard Shaw is famous for being the leader of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Yet, she is merely glanced over by historians for her famous predecessors: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Carrie Chapman Catt. Indeed, when I was helping a high school student learn about the American women temperance and suffrage movement, I noticed that Anna Howard Shaw was not even mentioned in his American history textbook. However, Trisha Franzen has written the first scholarly biography of Anna Howard Shaw. In this biography, she depicts Anna’s accomplishments and challenges and shows a remarkable woman that contributed great changes to the women’s suffrage movement.
Anna Shaw is actually an English immigrant, who at four years-old moved with her family to the U.S. They first settled in Lawrence, Massachusetts where she formed a friendship with a prostitute, which was uncommon at that time because they were considered unsuitable for proper society. When she was twelve, her father moved his family out west to Michigan and became a farmer. Because her father had no experience or knowledge of farming, Anna’s father left the farming duties entirely up to his children. She must have thought, "Gee, thanks, Dad!" Because Anna was farming alongside her brothers, Anna believed that women and men were equal. She believed that women could do any job as capable as a man. She then became a schoolteacher, and later aspired to become a minister. Anna struggled to become a minister because it was almost entirely a male profession. However, she did succeed and she also got a medical degree. She soon worked for the women’s temperance and suffrage movements, where she eventually became the protege of Susan B. Anthony, and then later became president of the NAWSA.
The author also mentions Shaw’s personal life, including her relationships with women, most in particular Lucy Anthony, Susan B. Anthony’s niece. Because of this, Shaw believed in alternative families. She also believed that the suffrage movement was for all women of different races. The author also focused on the challenges Shaw faced with her presidency. One of the challenges was the famous militant women marches and protests headed by Alice Paul, whom Shaw disagreed with.
Overall, this was a great biography of Anna Howard Shaw. This author writes in an engaging tone that makes it general reader accessible. She not only discusses her personal and professional life, but also addresses some of the misconceptions that historians have criticized her for. This biography proves that Anna Howard Shaw needs to have historians’ attentions and her name in the textbooks. It is the never ending work of women like Anna Howard Shaw that have helped give us American women our rights as U.S. citizens. I believe that Trisha Franzen has paved the road for historians to see this remarkable woman in a different perspective.
19th Century 20th century 5 stars America Biography Book Reviews History Nonfiction Trisha Franzen Woman Suffragist
Heath Jacks February 23, 2014 at 2:57 PM
Good Review.
Diane February 27, 2014 at 5:57 AM
I really do not know anything about the American suffrage movement, so this could be an interesting book from the point of view of broadening one's perspective. Great review, Lauralee.
Lauralee Jacks February 27, 2014 at 10:43 AM
Thanks. It was a good book.
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Baduk Prodigy
Fictional diaries based on a true story
Entry #16 – May 23, 1997 / Friday
I didn’t have any ice cream or candy after school today, and the lunch at the grandparents’ place had nothing unusual. But, for some reason I was feeling a subtle stomach ache. I would have skipped baduk school for this, except that I had already almost arrived. Plus, I had an important game today.
Our baduk school has a league where everyone plays everyone else in the same division twice. In lower divisions the league results were used for ratings, but the top division, where I belonged, had no ratings. We just played even games. When people asked me how strong I was, I often said I needed four stones against my teacher, who is a strong amateur player. Today, I had the final game of the current league against my new rival, Brad. Because I had one win and one loss against Colin, and Colin and Brad were also one and one, I was about to win the league if I won the second game against Brad. There were more people in the league other than the three of us, but they rarely won against us. I won my baduk school’s league before, and the nicest thing about it was to have my name at the top of the league board – the order of the names on the league board reflected the results of the previous season. But this season was different. When it started a few weeks ago, our teacher showed us a beautiful wooden fan from the Nihon-kiin, the Japanese Go Association. He said he got it as a winner’s prize for the league. I had seen pictures of top professional players playing matches with these fans, and the idea of having one thrilled me. Now, I was just one game away from actually getting it!
“Hey, are you ready for the final game today?”
My teacher welcomed me as I entered the baduk school. He was organizing handout prints for today’s lesson.
“I am feeling a bit of a stomach ache, but I should be okay.”
“Are you nervous about the game?”
“Somewhat.”
“I’ve seen many students who get a stomach ache before important games. You will be okay.”
It comforted me to know that it was just my feeling making me sick and it was not unusual.
The teacher gave us a lesson about how to choose better joseki, and soon paired me with Brad for the final game of the league. I felt some tension when the teacher called our names, as everyone knew that I would either win the league or make a three-way tie depending on the result of this game. I thought about the last game Brad and I played. I was white, and I won a critical Ko fight because I had more Ko threats. I didn’t know how to replicate this, though. I thought I would just play as usual. I was black this time, and I always felt more confident with black. Komi was supposed to be a good equalizer, but I liked the feeling of having sente in the opening. I started the game with the low Chinese opening. There were no surprises in the opening, and I enclosed a large territory on the lower side while white had good potential on the upper side. As we entered mid-game, I debated between enlarging my own and reducing white’s potential. My strength was in complicated fights and I wasn’t particularly good at endgame. I decided to make a deep invasion into white’s upper side.
The game was going into the endgame. My invasion succeeded, and white was behind in territory. Outside the board, there was a big crowd surrounding our game. I saw Colin closely following this game as soon as he finished his own. After a long pause, white attached to one of my border stones. It looked like an overplay, but it wasn’t obvious how I should respond. I could take a step back, let him reduce my territory a bit, or find the strongest possible move to punish his overplay. ‘Probably hane at the top is the way to go’, I thought. I wanted to prove in front of everyone that I had good reading and I was strong. But on the other hand I really wanted the Japanese fan and didn’t want to risk a tie situation where I will have to face both Brad and Colin again. I took a deep breath and counted all the territories very carefully. In my calculation, I was still ahead even if I let him get away with his overplay. I descended, defending my territory, and when white ran away I claimed the largest endgame spot on the board.
“Kids, take a seat. We will do a quick award ceremony before we finish today.”
It was almost 5:30 already. Most students were all packed and eager to leave the classroom. The teacher had a long and narrow envelope with a red ribbon in his hand.
“Hajin won the top division today, and here is the prize I promised. Hajin, come out!”
I approached the teacher and received the envelope. I couldn’t believe I made it. Other students applauded to congratulate me.
“Are you going to be using it?” Someone asked me.
“No, I am going to keep it new until I become a pro player.” I said, picturing myself in professional matches with the fan.
Author ProdigyPosted on April 22, 2018 Leave a comment on Entry #16 – May 23, 1997 / Friday
Entry #15 – May 15, 1997 / Thursday
“Hajin, come here! I saved space for you!” Mina called from the crowd of kids around the blackboard. On the blackboard, there were drawings of flowers and messages, written in multiple colors. “You are the best teacher ever! Love you.” One message stated. “Teacher, I feel so lucky to be in your class!” said another.
“Mina, I don’t know what to write. Did you write something already?” Every year, I felt awkward seeing all the other kids showering our teacher with these messages and gifts. It’s been only a little over two months since the new academic year started. I liked our teacher, but I didn’t want to say she was the best already. Why can’t Teacher’s Day be in February, right before we move up a grade? I will have had a year with my teacher then.
“Yeah, mine’s here!” Mina pointed to a message in the center – “I think you are a great teacher, especially for science.”
“Why science?” I asked.
“Well, it’s something I am not learning outside of school, and I like her science classes.”
“I see. What do you think I should write?”
“Do you have a favorite class?”
“I am not sure. I think all our classes are okay.”
“Oh, then how about, ‘you are my favorite teacher’?” I knew there was nothing wrong with writing something like that, but I didn’t want to write something that I didn’t really feel. After a few seconds of hesitation, I carefully wrote with a white chalk in the space Mina reserved for me, “Thank you for being our teacher! Happy Teacher’s Day!”
“I need to get something at the stationery store. You wanna come with me?” I asked Mina on our way out of school. In my small orange wallet I had 2,000 won, and I knew I had no immediate need of money for anything else.
“Sure, what are you getting?”
“I don’t know yet. I will have to see.”
The store was crowded with kids and a few mothers who were buying school supplies. Right next to the counter, there was a low table for a special display. The table was full of carnation bouquets and items with decorated with carnations. I picked up a plastic box that had a single artificial carnation in it. It was 1,000 won.
“Hajin, we already finished at school. Are you thinking about going back with a flower?” Mina asked.
“No, I want one for my favorite teacher.”
“Who is your favorite teacher?”
“My baduk teacher! He’s been my teacher for over two years now.”
“Cool! How about this one?” Mina handed me a small, shiny metal carnation pin. I could easily imagine my teacher wearing it on his dress shirt.
“I like it!” I kept it in my hand, and also picked out a small Teacher’s Day themed paper card. They were 1,500 won together.
As soon as I finished lunch with my grandparents and Jane, I went to the playroom with my backpack. I took out the card and a pencil, and wrote, “Hi Teacher! It’s Hajin. Thank you for your baduk classes. You are my favorite teacher!” This time, I was excited to write it because I meant it.
By the main door of the baduk school, there already were two orchid pots that I hadn’t seen before. They must have been delivered earlier today. I entered the baduk school, hoping the teacher would be alone. I thought I would be too shy to give my gifts to him if there were anyone else around. Luckily, there was no one inside, not even the teacher. He must have been taking a smoke break. I thought this was even better. I quickly took out the pin and the card, and left them on the teacher’s desk. Then I took my usual seat in the corner and opened my life-and-death problem book.
“Hey Hajin, do you want some juice?”
Soon the teacher was back, and he asked me this as he was entering. He must have received a box of bottled juice again. It was the most common gift parents brought when they visited the baduk school.
I like ice cream, but I never really liked any drinks. I don’t like soft drinks like Coke, I don’t really like sweet fruit juice, and worst of all, I hate drinking plain milk. I also didn’t want to go into his office before he finds my gifts because I felt shy about it.
“Aww, what a surprise! Thanks, Hajin!”
The teacher came out of the office wearing the carnation pin, just as I pictured in my head. I was delighted that he liked my gift.
“How do I look? Handsome?”
I giggled, and nodded too. I thought he did look handsome, but I knew he was joking, and there was no way that I would say such a thing out loud.
Author ProdigyPosted on April 16, 2018 Leave a comment on Entry #15 – May 15, 1997 / Thursday
Entry #14 – May 10, 1997 / Saturday
Hmm, this color doesn’t look quite right. I kept looking back and forth between the example picture and my orange crayon. In the picture, the girl’s hair color was somewhere between orange and yellow, somewhat closer to orange. I knew orange was the closest choice I had in my crayon box, but I was concerned it would look too different from the picture.
“I am done here! What should I do next?” Jane asked, looking proud of her work in progress.
“Well done! What do you think? Which one do you want to color next?”
“How about this flower here?”
“Sure, go ahead and color that one.”
“Which color?”
Jane and I looked closely to the colorful print, identical to her coloring page.
“Maybe this one?”
Jane picked up a purple crayon.
“But, this flower is blue!” I said, picking a blue crayon to hand it over to Jane.
“I want a purple flower!” Jane insisted. Then I realized that we didn’t have to follow the example exactly.
“You are right, you can do purple there.”
Seeing Jane making her flower purple, I decided to change my character’s hair color to black as well. Maybe that would look nicer.
“I am done! What’s next?” Jane asked.
“You know, you don’t need to ask me every time. You can do whatever you like.”
“Are you upset because I made it purple?
“No, not at all. I think now you are good enough to decide on your own.”
“Oh, okay.”
I was genuinely encouraging Jane to be more confident, but she seemed a bit sad that I asked her to be on her own.
“Lunch is ready!”
Jane and I left everything on the floor, and hurried to the kitchen. Mom liked to start serving as soon as the food was ready so that we can start eating while it’s still warm. Dad was helping Mom set the table, and Jane and I took our seats. Lunch was grilled fish, seaweed soup, a few other side dishes and a bowl of mixed rice.
“Jane, we have news,” said mom, looking at Jane, then at me. I could sense what this was about.
“What news?”
“Hajin will be away for three weeks in summer, learning Go at Master Grimm’s dojang.”
“Three weeks? How many days is that?”
“That’s 21 days.”
Jane seemed shocked.
“Hajin, is that because I made the flower purple?”
“No, it’s not… I want to become a professional player,” I said, feeling guilty for Jane’s confusion and sadness.
“Professional players are the best baduk players in the country. Their job is to win in tournaments.”
“Will you be a professional player after 21 days?”
“It will take at least a few years of hard training. Many people don’t make pro even after several years of intensive study. It’s a difficult path,” Dad responded to Jane’s question, noticing my hesitation. Then, he added, looking at me, “If you do become a professional player, though, you will have a good life. Professional players get paid well to play each official match, and they are highly respected regardless of their age.”
Mom nodded in agreement, and Jane seemed to be recovering from the initial surprise. For me, I’d been feeling more and more confident about my choice ever since I decided I would take up this challenge.
“Hajin, shall we have a game after lunch?” Dad asked, and I nodded.
“Let’s do two today.”
I took one stone back to my bowl from the board. We played with three handicap stones five times. I lost the first two games, but won the third and the last one. Dad and I both bowed to each other in silence, as usual.
The board looked empty with one fewer handicap stone. We only played ten moves or so, but it already looked quite even, which made me nervous. I felt pressure to play only the right moves to maintain my advantage from the handicap. By the end of the opening, white was creating a large moyo on the upper side. Now that all the corners and sides were taken, it was the time to do something about the upper side. I made a shoulder hit to white’s stone on the third line, remembering one lecture I watched at the baduk school on shoulder hit reductions. Once I made a good shape, white’s potential was limited. White launched a deep invasion into my territory on the right side, and I played carefully to avoid losing everything in an improper attack. The game was getting to the endgame, and I judged it was very close. I counted and counted, trying to figure out the best scenario for me.
“Hajin, you will need to play a bit faster.”
I must have spent too much time. It was unusual for my dad to say anything during a game.
I began playing a bit faster, feeling uncertain about my choices. The game moved on to big endgame to small endgame, and soon we filled in all the dame as well.
“Who do you think won?” Dad asked. He often asked this question before scoring the board.
“I think I lost.”
“You did very well, though.”
We scored the game, and we found out that white won by five points. I was disappointed that I lost, and briefly thought I may have won if I had spent more time in endgame.
“It seems like you are now a good match with only two stones.”
Dad sounded happy, and that made me feel better about the game as well.
Author ProdigyPosted on April 9, 2018 Leave a comment on Entry #14 – May 10, 1997 / Saturday
Based on a true story. People’s names are changed except for my own. Some details may be different due to my blurred memory.
Entry #31 – August 25, 1997 / Monday
Entry #30 – August 21, 1997 / Thursday
Entry #29 – August 17, 1997 / Sunday
Entry #28 – August 13, 1997 / Wednesday
Entry #27 – August 8, 1997 / Friday
Entry #26 – July 26, 1997 / Saturday
Entry #25 – July 23, 1997 / Wednesday
Entry #24 – July 20, 1997 / Sunday
Baduk Prodigy Proudly powered by WordPress
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Nexen 5 - Samsung 2, Daegu [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
Nexen scored first on a solo homerun by Kim Min-Seong in the top of the 2nd. The Heroes held on to the lead as Samsung was never able to come back. Rookie Ahn Tae-Yeong had another great game for Nexen, going 2 for 3 with a single and a double. Nexen starting pitcher Brandon Knight pitched 8 innings, allowing 9 hits and 2 runs for the win. The loss went to Samsung's Yoon Sung-Hwan. The Heroes avoided the sweep and also broke Samsung's 7 game winning streak.
Interview with Nexen pitcher Brandon Knight (English)
Doosan 7 - LG 4, Seoul (Jamsil) [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
LG scored first, putting 2 runs on the board in the top of the 3rd, but the lead would not last long. Doosan scored all 7 of their runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning. The Twins added 2 more runs late in the game, but would be unable to recover from the big deficit. Doosan's Yu Heui-Kwan pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing 8 hits and 3 runs for the win. The Loss went to LG's Radhames Liz who pitched 5 innings, allowing 6 hits, 4 walks, and 1 earned run (plus 6 unearned). Doosan wins the series 2-1.
SK 4 - Lotte 3, Busan [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
The Lotte Giants put the first run on the board in the bottom of the 1st on an RBI single by DH Jang Sung-Ho. The Giants extended that lead to 3-1 by the 7th inning. They held the lead until the top of the 9th where SK scored 3 runs off of a walk, a hit batsmen, a single, and a 2-RBI double by third basemen Choi Jeong. The win went to SK reliever Yoon Kil-Hyeon while the loss went to Lotte's Kim Sung-Bae who now has 3 straight blown saves. SK wins the series 2-1.
KIA 8 - NC 4, Changwon [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
This was a much closer game than the final score would indicate. The score was tied at 4-4 heading into the 9th inning. The KIA Tigers scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th, including a 3-run homerun from second baseman An Chi-Hong to take the lead. NC right fielder Kwon Hee-Dong hit 2 homeruns, reponsible for all 4 of NC's RBIs for the night. KIA reliever Choi Hyang-Nam got the win while the loss went to NC's Lee Seong-Min.
Samsung 6 - Nexen 5, Daegu [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
Nexen held the lead at 3-1 heading into the 9th inning, but Samsung managed to score 2 runs off of aa triple by Bae Young-Seop, a single by Park Han-Yi, and a double by Park Seok-Min to tie the score at 3-3 and send the game into extra innings. In the top of the 10th Nexen first baseman Park Byung-Ho hit a solo homerun, and Seo Dong-Wook came through with an RBI single to put the Heroes ahead 5-3, but the Samsung Lions answered right back in the bottom half of the inning, starting off the inning with 4 straight signles to tie the score at 5-5. The game continued until the bottom of the 12th when Park Seok-Min came to the plate with the bases loaded and 1 out. Park hit the walk-off single up the middle and the game was over with the score 6-5 in favor of Samsung. The Lions lead the series 2-0 and have now won 7 games in a row. The other interesting story in this game is Nexen's 28 year old rookie Ahn Tae-Yeong who made his KBO debut tonight. Ahn joined the team after playing for the independent Goyang Wonders. Ahn made an incredible opening statement, going 4 for 4 with 3 singles, a homerun, and a walk giving him a batting average of 1.000 so far in his KBO career.
LG 9 - Doosan 5, Seoul (Jamsil) [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
Derek Hankins made his KBO debut as the starting pitcher for Doosan tonight. He pitched 6 innings, allowing 9 hits, 2 walks, and 5 runs to start his KBO career with a loss. LG held the lead at 5-1 heading into the 8th inning. The Bears scored 1 run in the bottom of the 8th on an RBI single by right fielder Min Byeong-Heon making the score 5-2, but that was as close as the score would get. LG scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th, putting the game out of reach. Doosan didn't give up however, scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th, all with 2 outs, but it would not be enough to catch up. The winning pitcher was LG's Shin Jae-Woong who gave up 5 hits, 0 walks, and 1 run in 6 innings. The series is now tied 1-1 with the final game Sunday in Jamsil.
Lotte 7 - SK 4, Busan [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
SK held the lead at 3-1 after 6 innings, but Lotte put together a comeback late in the game, scoring 3 runs each in the 7th and 8th innings. SK managed one more run in the top of the 8th on an RBI single by Han Dong-Min, but the Giants' late game surge would prove to be too much for the Wyverns. Lotte reliever Kim Sung-Bae is credited with the win while the loss went to SK's Yoon Kil-Hyeon.
NC 5 - KIA 4, Changwon [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
NC's Park Jong-Jun hit a solo homerun in the bottom of the 1st to put NC ahead 1-0. KIA came back by scoring 3 runs in the 3rd to go ahead 3-1. NC's Lee Ho-Jun hit a 3-run homerun in the bottom of the 5th to put NC ahead 4-3. The score held until the top of the 9th when KIA's Choi Hee-Seop hit a solo homerun to tie the game at 4-4. In the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs and runners on second and third NC's Mo Chang-Min hit one off the wall in right field for the win.
Doosan 15 - LG 12, Seoul (Jamsil) [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
A sellout crowd in Jamsil got to see a ridiculous amount of scoring. The game featured a total of 27 runs scored, which is the most in a single game so far this season, and the most ever in a game between LG and Doosan. The Twins lead by as many as 5-0 in the top of the 3rd inning, but Doosan came back with 6 runs of their own in the bottom half of the 3rd. LG answered back and the game was tied at 9-9 after 4 innings. The Bears would take the lead for good by scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th. Individual leaders included LG's Park Yong-Taik who went 4 for 6 with 2 homeruns, 3 RBIs, and 3 runs scored and Doosan's Lee Won-Seok who went 3 for 4 with a walk, a homerun, 2 singles, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. A total of 15 pitchers saw action. The Win went to Doosan reliever Hong Sang-Sam and the loss to LG's Jong Hyun-Wook. The two teams will meet again on Saturday in Jamsil where Derek Hankins will make his KBO debut.
Samsung 13 - Nexen 7, Daegu [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
Samsung scored 2 in the 1st and 4 in the 2nd to take an early 6-0 lead which the Heroes would never recover from. Choi Hyeong-Woo continues to have the hot bat for Samsung. He went 3 for 4 including a 3 run homerun in the 7th. Choi finished with 5 RBIs and 3 runs scored. He has hit at least 1 homerun in each of his last 4 games and is not tied with Nexen's Park Byung-Ho for the league homerun lead with 20. The Lions have now one 6 games in a row.
SK 11 - Lotte 1, Busan [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
SK played their first game since the All-Star break. The rest seems to have done them well as they simply destroyed the Lotte Giants tonight. First baseman Park Jung-Kwon went 3 for 3 with 5 RBIs for SK. Starting pitcher Kim Kwang-Hyun allowed just 4 hits in 7 innings for the win. Lotte's Heo Jun-Hyeok takes the loss after allowing 6 runs in just 3 innings.
Samsung Lions sign Esmailin Caridad
Osen Sports is reporting that the Samsung Lions have signed right-handed pitcher Esmailin Caridad. Caridad is 29 years old and a native of the Dominican Republic. He made his MLB debut on August 10, 2009 for the Chicago Cubs. He has spent the first half of the 2013 season with the AAA Iowa Cubs where he appeared in 16 games and finished with 3 wins, 3 losses, and an ERA of 5.02. His fastball is reportedly in the 150-153 km/h (93-95 mph) range.
Caridad will replace Aneury Rodriguez who was released from the team on Wednesday. Samsung, currently in 1st place, will likely rely on Caridid to stay on top of the league in the second half of the season.
It will be Caridad's first stint in Korea, but he is no stranger to Asian baseball. He made brief appearances with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan as well as the Guangdong Leopards of the China Baseball League.
LG 1 - KIA 0, Seoul (Jamsil) [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
The only scoring in this game came in the form of an RBI single by LG right fielder Lee Jin-Young in the bottom of the 3rd. KIA managed only 2 hits in 7 innings against LG starting pitcher Woo Kyu-Min. Lee Dong-Hyun and Bong Jung-Keun pitched a perfect 8th and 9th to complete the shutout. KIA starter Yoon Suk-Min pitched a complete game, allowing 8 hits and 1 run but ended up with the loss. LG wins the series 2 games to 1.
Lotte 5 - Hanwha 1, Daejeon [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
19 year old Jo Jee-Hoon got his first ever KBO start for Hanwha tonight. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed 2 hits and 2 runs, including a homerun by Jeon Jun-Woo in the top of the 4th. The Eagles didn't have much offense going, scoring their first and only run in the bottom of the 8th. Lotte wins 5-1 and sweeps the 3 game series against Hanwha.
Samsung 6 - NC 1, Daegu [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
Samsung scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st, including a homerun by red hot left fielder Choi Hyeong-Woo. Choi has a hit a homerun in 4 of his last 5 games. The 2-0 lead would prove to be all that the Lions needed. The Lions added 4 more over the course of the game, and NC scored their only run in the top of the 9th. Samsung's Cha Woo-Chan gets the win while Lee Jae-Hak takes the loss for NC. Samsung sweeps the 3 game series.
Doosan 11 - Nexen 5, Seoul (Mokdong) [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
Doosan center fielder Lee Jong-Wook lead of the top of the 1st with a homerun, and the Bears would add one more to take a very early 2-0 lead, but Nexen answered with 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the 1st on a 3-run homerun by shortstop Kang Jung-Ho to give Nexen the lead with a score of 4-3. Unfortunately for the Heroes, the lead wouldn't last long. The wheels fell off in the top of 3rd, as Doosan scored 7 runs in the inning, putting the game out of reach. Nexen starter Kim Byung-Hyun gave up 8 hits and 8 runs in only 2 1/3 innings for the loss. Doosan's Lee Jae-Woo pitched 5 innings allowing 4 hits and 4 runs for the win. Doosan avoids the sweep, but Nexen wins the series 2-1.
Hankins: "I know what the team wants"
Each day we're seeing more and more news come out about the KBO's newest foreign pitcher, Derek Hankins of the Doosan Bears. The Sports Kyunghyang interviewed him at Doosan's game against Nexen last night, and published a short article with some of his quotes. Read the translation below. Keep in mind, everything written here is translated from a Korean news article. The quotes below are NOT his exact words, but should be a fairly close aproximation.
New foreign pitcher Hankins: "I know what the team wants"
“I know that the team brought me here to win.”
On July 24 Doosan’s new foreign pitcher Derek Hankins (30) had his first practice with the team before their game against Nexen. Hankins signed with the team during the All Star break and since then he has had a medical checkup, gone to Japan to get his work visa, and has done some basic bullpen pitching.
The practice was his first chance to mingle with his new teammates. “I’ve wanted to come to Korea for a long time and have been looking for an opportunity. I’m happy that Doosan has given me the chance. I would like to stay with Doosan as long as possible. I want to show the team that I have what it takes to pitch here.”
Since his debut in 2004 Hankins has spent his career in the minors, usually as a starter. He is a right hander with a career record of 55 wins, 68 losses, 8 saves and an ERA of 4.40. He said, “I’m not the type of pitcher that gets a lot of strikeouts.” He explained his style as, “I use my head and find ways to get outs. I hate walking batters.”
Hankins has played in winter leagues in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela before, but this is his first time playing in Asia. He is still unfamiliar with Korean baseball, but he has been introduced to it indirectly. Hankins has become close with former KIA player Mike Cervenak (2006) and former Lotte pitcher Ryan Sadowski (2010-2012).
“Sadowski and Cervenak gave me a lot of advice before I came to Korea. Sadowski and I talked a lot by email and telephone. He told me, as a foreign player, having a good relationship with teammates is very important.”
And then, as if he suddenly remembered something, “Sadowski told me it is especially important to acknowledge the special etiquette between older and younger players,” he laughed. Hankins also remembers former major leaguer and current Nexen pitcher Kim Byung-Hyun. “We played together back when I was with Pittsburgh. I remember his face.”
Hankins will not get any adjustment time and is expected to pitch this weekend against Jamsil rival LG. He said, “Baseball is more or less the same everywhere. I’ve been pitching in AAA and I think I am ready, but I don’t really know Korean batters very well, so I think I’m going to need to do a lot of studying.” “I know what Doosan expects from me. They want to win and they want to make the playoffs, and I’m going to do everything that I can to make that happen,” he said with determination.
A close game throughout, NC held the lead late in the game with the score at 3-2 after 8 innings. Samsung's Lee Seung-Yeop lead off the bottom of the 9th with a double, and 2 batters later he was driven in with a single by Park Seok-Min to tie the score at 3-3. The game went into extra innings. Kwon Hee-Dong hit a double for the Dinos in the top of the 10th to put a runner in scoring position with 1 out, but NC couldn't find a way to bring him home. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th, Samsung's Choi Hyeong-Woo hit a walk-off homerun to right field to win the game for the Lions. Winning pitcher was Samsung reliever Ahn Ji-Man. The loss went to NC's Song Jeong-Wook.
Choi Hyeong-Woo's 10th inning walk-off homerun
Nexen 8 - Doosan 6, Seoul (Mokdong) [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
A lot of scoring early on in this one, with Doosan scoring 4 and Nexen scoring 3 runs all in the 1st inning. Doosan added 2 more in the top of the 5th and Nexen's Park Byung-Ho answered with a 2-run homerun in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 6-5 in favor of Doosan. It was Park's 20th homerun of the season, currently the most in the league. The Heroes tied the score in the bottom of the 7th on an RBI double by Kim Min-Seong. Nexen finally took the lead in the bottom of the 8th when catcher Hur Do-Hwan scored from third on a wild pitch by Doosan reliever Hong Sang-Sam. A sacrifice fly by center fielder Lee Taek-Keun scored one more to bring the score to 8-6. Lee had a great night, going 4 for 4 with 2 doubles, 2 singles, and the sac fly. He finished with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored.
Samsung Releases Aneury Rodriguez
The Samsung Lions have announced that Dominican pitcher Aneury Rodriguez has been released from the team. Rodriguez is the second foreign pitcher to be let go today, and may not be the last. July 24 is the KBO's waiver deadline. Rodriguez was in his first season in the KBO. He appeared in 11 games this year and ended up with 3 wins, 5 losses, and an ERA of 4.40. No word yet on who might replace him with the Lions.
Anthony Lerew Released by KIA Tigers
OSEN Sports is reporting that the KIA Tigers have released American pitcher Anthony Lerew. Lerew was the Tigers' closer for most of the first half of the season. He started the season well, but has gone through a major slump recently and has spent several weeks in the minors. Lerew appeared in 30 games this season, finishing with 0 wins, 3 losses, 20 saves, 4 blown saves, and an ERA of 4.50. Lerew was a starter for the Tigers last year and finished the 2012 season with 11 wins, 13 losses, and an ERA of 3.83.
Today (July 24) is the KBO's waiver deadline, and the Tigers waited until the last possible moment to send Lerew home. The trade deadline is July 31 and the deadline for a new signing is August 15. The Tigers have not yet announced Lerew's replacement. We will report on any news as soon as it becomes available.
It was a pitching contest down in Daegu tonight, with the only scoring occuring in the bottom of the 6th in the form of a 2-run homerun by Samsung left fielder Choi Hyeong-Woo. Samsung starter Yoon Sung-Hwan pitched 7 scoreless innings while allowing just 2 hits for the win. Relievers Ahn Ji-Man and Oh Seung-Hwan pitched a perfect 8th and 9th to complete the shutout. NC's Charlie Shirek gave up 7 hits and 2 runs in 7 innings, and with no help from his offense he was stuck with the loss.
Doosan got on the board first with an RBI single by Kim Hyun-Soo in the top of the 1st to take the early 1-0 lead. Nexen would tie the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the 2nd on a sacrifice fly bu Kim Ji-Soo. The 4th inning featured an absolutely ridiculous play, where after 2 terrible throws from Nexen, Doosan's Oh Jae-Won was tagged out at the plate. Nexen would take the lead for good on a 2-run homerun by center fielder Lee Taek-Keun in the bottom of the 6th. Shortstop Kang Jung-Ho added a 2-run homer of his own in the bottom of the 7th to give Nexen the 6-2 lead. Doosan made a shot at a comeback, hitting 3 homeruns in the late innings, including back to back homeruns from Kim Hyun-Soo and Jung Soo-Bin. Unfortunately for the Bears they were all solo homeruns. The game featured a total of 6 homeruns between the two teams, accounting for 9 of the game's runs. Nexen's Brandon Knight got the win after giving up 6 hits and 2 runs in 6 innings. The loss went to Doosan starter Yu Heui-Kwan.
LG 13 - KIA 3, Seoul (Jamsil) [Box Score] [Video Highlights]
LG made quick work of KIA starting pitcher Henry Sosa. The Twins scored 6 early runs and Sosa lasted only 2 innings. The Twins added 1 run in the 6th and a 6 more in the 7th to make the game a blowout. LG spread the offense around fairly evenly, with every member of the starting line getting at least one hit, as well as recording at least 1 RBI or one run scored. LG starter Radhames Liz got the win after allowing 3 runs on 2 hits in 7 innings.
A Lesson on Losing from Korean Baseball Fans (2)
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Turkish army kills militants in Syria, Iraq
Turkish jets have hit terrorist targets separately in Syria and Iraq as part of its policy of fighting against terrorism outside its borders.
A total of 57 militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) were killed in an air strike by Turkish warplanes in northern Iraq on Jan. 13 and 14, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) said in a statement on Jan. 27.
It added that many militants were also wounded in the air strikes.
Turkish armed forces have been engaged in armed clashes with the PKK since the mid-1980s.
Separately, 22 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants were “neutralized” in northern Syria over the last 24 hours as part of the Turkey-backed Euphrates Shield operation, the Turkish military said on Jan. 27.
Turkish authorities use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply the militants in question were either killed, captured or incapacitated.
The Turkish Armed Forces also hit 272 ISIL targets including command and control facilities, defense points, shelters, vehicles and weapons used by ISIL militants in northern Syria, a Turkish General Staff statement said on the 157th day of the operation.
Turkish jets also hit 21 buildings used as shelters, two headquarters, one weapons depot and four bomb-laden vehicles. Some 73 handmade explosives were neutralized.
Since the beginning of the operation, 3,282 handmade explosives and 55 mines were neutralized under controlled conditions.
The Euphrates Shield operation began late August 2016 to tighten border security, eliminate the terror threat along Turkey’s southern borders and support opposition forces in Syria. Turkey backs the Free Syrian Army with artillery and jets as part of the operation.
Meanwhile, the Russian army said on Jan. 26 that Russian and Turkish warplanes carried out new air strikes in Syria on the same day, targeting positions of ISIL militants in the town of al-Bab in the northern Syria.
“On Jan. 26, the Russian and Turkish air forces conducted another joint air operation against the Islamic State group in the town of Al-Bab,” the army said in a statement, AFP reported.
The operation involved Russia’s Su-24M bombers and Su-35S fighter planes along with Turkey’s F-16 and F-4 fighter jets, the army statement said.
The Russian planes “destroyed three command and communication centers and several fortified positions,” it added.
Moscow and Ankara had already carried out air strikes against ISIL in al-Bab on Jan. 18 and 21, after signing an accord earlier this month to coordinate their air campaign against “terrorist targets” in Syria.
In all, 58 ISIL targets had been destroyed in the joint air raids, the Russian army said.
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HearAbility
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A celebration of culture
The Foundation for Hellenic Studies is founded upon the premise that many aspects of Hellenic culture – including language, religion, the arts, sport, food and politics – are central to the notion of our Australian identity. The irony, that could paradoxically be considered a compliment, is that in contributing to the development of this identity, many unique aspects of Hellenism are no longer distinctly identified as “Greek”.
In acknowledging the significant role that Greeks have played in Australia, the Greek, Cypriot and South Australian Governments and various Australian educational and cultural institutions have provided their support in establishing the Foundation for Hellenic Studies.
The Foundation is a not-for-profit entity managed by a Board; chaired by Honorary Greek, Greg Crafter; and driven by a band of volunteers who actively seek to promote cultural events that celebrate Hellenism.
The Foundation works closely with educational institutions to improve the accessibility and quality of Greek language education to ensure that future generations of Australia can continue to learn the language that is the basis of more than 30 per cent of English words. It will also promote the arts, language, literature and history of Hellenism through its own and partners’ lectures, seminars, conferences, exhibits and workshops.
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The Foundation for Hellenic Studies is a trust established by Deed that currently holds status with the Australian Taxation Office as a deductible gift recipient. The Trustee for the Foundation is a corporation: The Foundation for Hellenic Studies Pty Ltd. The Board of Directors of the Trustee are Hon. Greg Crafter LL.B, Mr Theo Maras AM, Prof. Michael Tsianikas and Mr Harry Patsouris LL.B. We are honoured to have His Honour Chief Justice Chris Kourakis of the Supreme Court of South Australia as Patron of the Foundation for Hellenic Studies.
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Late September-November 2001: Pakistani ISI Aids Taliban Against US, While Simultaneously Supposedly Helping US Fight Taliban
The ISI secretly assists the Taliban in its defense against a US-led attack. The ISI advises Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf that the Taliban will hold out against the US invasion until the spring of 2002 at least, and then will be able to hold out through a guerrilla war. Encouraged, Musharraf allows the ISI to continue to supply the Taliban on a daily basis. Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid will later explain, “The ISI justified its actions as stemming from fear of an Indian controlled Northern Alliance government after the overthrow of the Taliban. It also did not want to totally abandon the Taliban, its only proxy in Afghanistan. At the same time, the [Pakistani] army wanted to keep the Americans engaged, fearing that once Kabul had fallen, they would once again desert the region. With one hand Musharraf played at helping the war against terrorism, while with the other he continued to deal with the Taliban.”
ISI Supplies and Advisers - Fuel tankers and supply trucks cross the border so frequently that one border crossing in the Pakistani province of Balochistan is closed to all regular traffic so ISI supplies can continue to the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar with little notice. [Rashid, 2008, pp. 77-78] Between three and five ISI officers give military advice to the Taliban in late September. [Daily Telegraph, 10/10/2001] At least five key ISI operatives help the Taliban prepare defenses in Kandahar, yet none are punished for their activities. [Time, 5/6/2002] Secret advisers begin to withdraw in early October, but some stay on into November. [Knight Ridder, 11/3/2001] Large convoys of rifles, ammunition, and rocket-propelled grenade launchers for Taliban fighters cross the border from Pakistan into Afghanistan on October 8 and 12, just after US bombing of Afghanistan begins and after a supposed crackdown on ISI fundamentalists. The Pakistani ISI secretly gives safe passage to these convoys, despite having promised the US in September that such assistance would immediately stop. [New York Times, 12/8/2001]
US Aware of ISI Double Dealing - Rashid will later comment, “Thus, even as some ISI officers were helping US officers locate Taliban targets for US bombers, other ISI officers were pumping in fresh armaments for the Taliban.” On the Afghan side of the border with Pakistan, Northern Alliance operatives keep track of the ISI trucks crossing the border, and keep the CIA informed about the ISI aid. Gary Berntsen, one of the first CIA operatives to arrive in Afghanistan, will later say, “I assumed from the beginning of the conflict that ISI advisers were supporting the Taliban with expertise and material and, no doubt, sending a steady stream of intelligence back to [Pakistan].” [Rashid, 2008, pp. 77-78]
Taliban Collapses as ISI Aid Slows - Secret ISI convoys of weapons and other supplies continue into November. [United Press International, 11/1/2001; Time, 5/6/2002] An anonymous Western diplomat will later state, “We did not fully understand the significance of Pakistan’s role in propping up the Taliban until their guys withdrew and things went to hell fast for the Talibs.” [New York Times, 12/8/2001]
Entity Tags: Central Intelligence Agency, Pervez Musharraf, Taliban, Pakistan Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, Northern Alliance, Gary Berntsen
Timeline Tags: 9/11 Timeline, War in Afghanistan
Category Tags: Pakistan and the ISI, Afghanistan, Pakistani ISI Links to 9/11
Late September-Late October 2001: US Military Slow in Entering Afghanistan until Rumsfeld Makes Power Grab
By late September 2001, the CIA covert plan to conquer Afghanistan is in place but it needs the US military to work. CIA official Gary Schroen will later recall, “We were there for just about a month by ourselves in the valley. We were the only Americans in the country for almost a month.” According to a PBS Frontline documentary, at some point around the middle of October, “there was a fiery NSC [National Security Council] meeting. The CIA had been complaining [Defense Secretary Donald] Rumsfeld was dragging his feet in Afghanistan. It was said Rumsfeld didn’t like taking orders from the CIA.” Lt. Gen. Michael DeLong will later say, “Rumsfeld went to the president and said, ‘The CIA has to work for me, or this isn’t going to work.’” President Bush finally agrees and places Rumsfeld in charge of the Afghanistan war. A short time later, on October 20, the first US Special Forces are put into action in Afghanistan, calling in precision air strikes. The Taliban fold in the face of the attack and the capital of Kabul will fall in mid-November. But according to Schroen, “I was absolutely convinced that that would happen and that the Taliban would break quickly. That could have happened in October, early October,” had the US military arrived to assist the CIA sooner. [PBS Frontline, 6/20/2006]
Entity Tags: George W. Bush, Central Intelligence Agency, Gary C. Schroen, Michael DeLong, National Security Council, Donald Rumsfeld
Category Tags: Afghanistan
Late September-Early October 2001: Bin Laden Reportedly Agrees to Face International Tribunal; US Not Interested?
Leaders of Pakistan’s two Islamic parties are negotiating bin Laden’s extradition to Pakistan to stand trial for the 9/11 attacks during this period, according to a later Mirror article. Under the plan, bin Laden will be held under house arrest in Peshawar and will face an international tribunal, which will decide whether to try him or hand him over to the US. According to reports in Pakistan (and the Daily Telegraph ), this plan has been approved by both bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar. [Mirror, 7/8/2002] Based on the first priority in the US’s new “war on terror” proclaimed by President Bush, the US presumably would welcome this plan. For example, Bush had just announced, “I want justice. And there’s an old poster out West, I recall, that says, ‘Wanted: Dead or Alive.’” [ABC News, 9/17/2001] Yet, Bush’s ally in the war on terror, Pakistani President Musharraf, rejects the plan (stating that his reason for doing so was because he “could not guarantee bin Laden’s safety”). Based on a US official’s later statements, it appears that the US did not want the deal: “Casting our objectives too narrowly” risked “a premature collapse of the international effort [to overthrow the Taliban] if by some lucky chance Mr. bin Laden was captured.” [Mirror, 7/8/2002]
Entity Tags: George W. Bush, Mullah Omar, Osama bin Laden, Pervez Musharraf
Category Tags: Afghanistan, Escape From Afghanistan
Late September 2001-November 26, 2001: Theft of WTC Steel Leads to Tight Security Measures
The New York Police and FBI are investigating the theft of over 250 tons of steel from the remains of the collapsed WTC towers. Apparently, the steel was hauled away by trucks involved in the official clear-up operation (see September 12-October 2001), but instead of being taken to Fresh Kills—the FBI-controlled dump on Staten Island where it was intended to go—the steel was driven to three independently-owned scrapyards, two in New Jersey and one on Long Island. The London Telegraph says the scrap metal value of the stolen steel would have been roughly $17,500. Investigators believe the theft was organized by one of New York’s Mafia families. [Daily Telegraph, 9/29/2001] Consequently, on November 26, 2001, the city initiates use of an in-vehicle Global Positioning System (GPS), to monitor the locations of nearly 200 trucks removing steel from the WTC collapse site, at a cost of $1,000 per unit. This system sends out alerts if any truck travels off course or arrives late at its destination. One driver involved with the clear-up operation is subsequently dismissed simply for taking an extended lunch break. [Access Control and Security Systems, 7/2002]
Entity Tags: World Trade Center, New York City Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Category Tags: WTC Investigation, 9/11 Investigations
Timeline Tags: Events Leading to Iraq Invasion, 2001 Anthrax Attacks
Category Tags: Terror Alerts
Late September 2001: Surgeon General: Terrorist Strike on US Chemical Plant Might Kill Millions
The Army’s Surgeon General, Admiral David Satcher, estimates that a terrorist assault on a US chemical plant (see April 1999 and December 1999) might kill or injure as many as 2.4 million people, a figure far higher than previous estimates. [Roberts, 2008, pp. 93]
Entity Tags: David Satcher
Category Tags: Internal US Security After 9/11
September 30-October 7, 2001: US Media Report Hijackers Received $100,000 from Pakistan
Several media outlets report that, in addition to other transactions, the hijackers received $100,000 wired from Pakistan to two accounts of Mohamed Atta in Florida (see also Summer 2001 and before and Early August 2001). [ABC News, 9/30/2001; CNN, 10/1/2001; Fox News, 10/2/2001; Associated Press, 10/2/2001] For example, CNN says, “Suspected hijacker Mohamed Atta received wire transfers via Pakistan and then distributed the cash via money orders bought here in Florida. A senior law enforcement source tells CNN, the man sending the money to Atta is believed to be Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh.” [CNN, 10/6/2001; CNN, 10/7/2001; CNN, 10/8/2001] The story will also be mentioned by Congressman John LaFalce at a hearing before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Financial Services. [US Congress, 10/3/2001] However, Pakistan, a nuclear power, has already become a key US ally in the war on terror (see September 13-15, 2001). ISI Director Mahmood Ahmed, who is found to have had several telephone conversations with Saeed (see Summer 2000), is replaced (see October 7, 2001), and the story soon disappears from view (see September 24, 2001-December 26, 2002).
Entity Tags: Saeed Sheikh, Mohamed Atta
Category Tags: Pakistan and the ISI, Saeed Sheikh, Mahmood Ahmed, FBI 9/11 Investigation, 9/11 Investigations, Possible 9/11 Hijacker Funding, Pakistani ISI Links to 9/11
September 30-October 4, 2001: British Prime Minister Tony Blair Claims Seeing ‘Incontrovertible Evidence’ that Bin Laden Is Responsible for 9/11
British Prime Minister Tony Blair says, “I have seen absolutely powerful incontrovertible evidence of [Osama bin Laden’s] link to the events of the 11th of September.” However, he says that because “much of this evidence comes to us from sensitive sources, from intelligence sources,” there is a question over how much of it can be made public. [BBC, 9/30/2001; Daily Telegraph, 10/1/2001] Three days later, the two British opposition leaders meet for a 45-minute confidential briefing with Blair, where he shows them this evidence. Following this briefing, Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy says he now accepts there is “compelling evidence” of Bin Laden’s guilt. [Daily Telegraph, 10/4/2001; Guardian, 10/4/2001] Blair refers to the evidence he has seen on October 4, 2001, when he presents to Parliament a paper indicating that al-Qaeda is responsible for 9/11 (see October 4, 2001), but again he says that because of sensitivity issues, “It is not possible without compromising people or security to release precise details.” [CNN, 10/4/2001]
Entity Tags: Tony Blair, Al-Qaeda, Charles Kennedy, Osama bin Laden
Category Tags: Other 9/11 Investigations, 9/11 Investigations
(After September 14, 2001-October 2001): FBI Translation Supervisor Blocks Agent’s Request to Have Certain 9/11-Related Material Re-Translated
One of Sibel Edmond’s main assignments as a contract FBI translator is to expedite requested translations from field agents. Shortly after she is hired by the FBI, an Arizona field agent requests that certain material be re-translated. He is concerned that the original translation may not have been thorough enough. When she does the re-translation, she discovers that it contains information extremely relevant to the September 11 attacks, including references to “blueprints, pictures, and building material for skyscrapers being sent overseas” It also “reveals certain illegal activities in obtaining visas from certain embassies in the Middle East, through network contacts and bribery” (see July-August 2001). [Edmonds, 8/1/2004] After re-translating the documents, she goes to supervisor Mike Feghali and says, “I need to talk to this agent over a secure line because what we came across in this retranslating is gigantic, it has specific information about certain specific activity related to 9/11.” But Feghali refuses to send the retranslation to the same agent, telling her, “How would you like it if another translator did this same thing to you? The original translator is going to be held responsible.” The agent never receives the re-translation he requested from Edmonds. Instead he is told by the Washington field office that the original translation is fine. [Boston Globe, 7/5/2004; Edmonds, 8/1/2004]
Entity Tags: Sibel Edmonds, Mike Feghali
Category Tags: Sibel Edmonds
October 2001: Secret CIA Interrogation Center Set up at US Military Base in Afghanistan
According to several press reports, the CIA has set up a secret detention and interrogation center (see October 2001-2004) at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan where US intelligence officers are using aggressive techniques on detainees. The captives—imprisoned in metal shipping containers—are reportedly subjected to a variety of “stress and duress” interrogation tactics. [Washington Post, 12/26/2002; New York Times, 3/9/2003] The detention facility at Bagram is a rusting hulk originally built by the Soviet Army as an aircraft machine shop around 1979, and later described by the New York Times as “a long, squat, concrete block with rusted metal sheets where the windows had once been.” It is retrofitted with five large wire pens and a half-dozen plywood isolation cells, and is dubbed the Bagram Collection Point, or BCP, a processing center for prisoners captured in Afghanistan and elsewhere. The facility typically holds between 40 to 80 prisoners before they are interrogated and screened for possible transfer to Guantanamo. [New York Times, 5/20/2005] Detainees are often forced to stand or kneel for hours, wear black hoods or spray-painted goggles for long periods of time, and stand or sit in awkward and painful positions. They are also reportedly thrown into walls, kicked, punched, deprived of sleep, and subjected to flashing lights and loud noises. [Washington Post, 12/26/2002; New York Times, 3/9/2003; Amnesty International, 8/19/2003] Some detainees tell of being “chained to the ceiling, their feet shackled, [and being] unable to move for hours at a time, day and night” (see December 5-9, 2002). [New York Times, 3/4/2003; New York Times, 9/17/2004] Psychological interrogation methods such as “feigned friendship, respect, [and] cultural sensitivity” are reported to be in use as well. For instance, female officers are said to sometimes conduct the interrogations, a technique described as being “a psychologically jarring experience for men reared in a conservative Muslim culture where women are never in control.” [Washington Post, 12/26/2002] Human rights monitors are not permitted to visit the facility. [Washington Post, 12/26/2002; Agence France-Presse, 12/29/2002] The US claims that the interrogation techniques used at Bagram do not violate international laws. “Our interrogation techniques are adapted,” Gen. Daniel McNeil claims in early March 2003. “They are in accordance with what is generally accepted as interrogation techniques, and if incidental to the due course of this investigation, we find things that need to be changed, we will certainly change them.” [Guardian, 3/7/2003]
Entity Tags: Daniel McNeil, Central Intelligence Agency
Timeline Tags: Torture of US Captives, War in Afghanistan
October 2001: Spain-based Al-Qaeda Operative Flees Despite Police Round-up
Amer el-Azizi slipped surveillance after 9/11. [Source: El Pais]Amer el-Azizi, an al-Qaeda operative active in Spain, escapes a round-up of suspected al-Qaeda operatives by fleeing the country two weeks before arrests start to be made, even though he is under surveillance. [Wall Street Journal, 3/19/2004; Wall Street Journal, 4/7/2004; Los Angeles Times, 4/29/2004] El-Azizi, who had previously been arrested and released twice (see October 10, 2000), returns to Spain shortly after this and falls under police surveillance, but his arrest is frustrated by Spanish intelligence (see Shortly After November 21, 2001). He goes on to play a role in the Madrid train bombings (see Before March 11, 2004 and 7:37-7:42 a.m., March 11, 2004).
Entity Tags: Amer el-Azizi
Category Tags: Counterterrorism Action After 9/11, Other Possible Moles or Informants, Al-Qaeda in Spain
October 2001: FBI Recovers Hijacker E-Mails
Reports this month indicate that many hijacker e-mails have been recovered. USA Today reports many unencrypted e-mails coordinating the 9/11 plans written by the hijackers in Internet cafes have been recovered by investigators. [USA Today, 10/1/2001] FBI sources say, “[H]undreds of e-mails linked to the hijackers in English, Arabic and Urdu” have been recovered, with some messages including “operational details” of the attack. [Washington Post, 10/4/2001] “A senior FBI official says investigators have obtained hundreds of e-mails in English and Arabic, reflecting discussions of the planned September 11 hijackings.” [Wall Street Journal, 10/16/2001] However, in April 2002, FBI Director Mueller says no documentation of the 9/11 plot has been found. By September 2002, the Chicago Tribune reports, “Of the hundreds, maybe thousands, of e-mails sent and received by the hijackers from public Internet terminals, none is known to have been recovered.” [Chicago Tribune, 9/5/2002] The texts of some e-mails sent by Mohamed Atta from Germany are published a few months later. [Chicago Tribune, 2/25/2003]
Entity Tags: Mohamed Atta, Robert S. Mueller III, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Category Tags: FBI 9/11 Investigation, 9/11 Investigations
October 2001-September 11, 2002: Army’s History Detachment Conducts Interviews of Witnesses of Pentagon Attack for Book
Between October 2001 and September 11, 2002, the US Army’s Military History Detachment works on the US Department of Defense’s own book recording the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. The 305th and 46th Military History Detachments interview every willing survivor and witness from the Pentagon attack. More than 1,000 witnesses are interviewed. The findings are to be published in book form, and kept at the Army Center of Military History in Washington, DC. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 12/16/2001; Fox News, 12/17/2001; Juniata Magazine (Juniata College), 9/2002; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9/11/2002] The Historical Office of the Office of the Secretary of Defense will eventually publish a 250-page book in September 2007, which is based on many of these witness interviews (see September 2007). [Fayetteville Observer, 9/13/2007; Washington Post, 9/27/2007]
Entity Tags: Pentagon, Military History Detachment
October 2001-September 2003: 9/11 Attacks Result in Increased Funding for Pentagon Renovations
The 9/11 attacks result in significant extra funding for the Pentagon. Since 1993, the building has been undergoing major renovations. These were scheduled to be complete by 2014. But in October 2001 this is declared to be too long to leave major areas of the building unprotected, and Congress soon appropriates $300 million so the renovations will be finished four years sooner. Also that month, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz approves a $15 million package to protect command centers and other critical areas of the building against chemical, biological, and radiological attack. A road, Route 110, had been considered a security threat, as it ran within 40 yards of some of the most sensitive areas of the Pentagon. Previously, the possibility of moving it had been dismissed as too expensive, but now $40 million is promptly found to cover the cost of rerouting it, along with making other road-security improvements. Before 9/11, the renovation of the Pentagon was already the largest reconstruction project in the world, costing $2.1 billion. But, as the Washington Post reports in September 2003, following the attack on the Pentagon, “the renovation mushroomed and now encompasses about $5.3 billion worth of projects in and around the Pentagon.” In an e-mail on October 1, 2001, Pentagon Renovation Program manager Lee Evey writes, “Recent events have shaken up complacency and there is unprecedented willingness” among the services to do whatever Paul Wolfowitz and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld want. [Washington Post, 9/7/2003; Vogel, 2007, pp. 472-473]
Entity Tags: Lee Evey, Paul Wolfowitz, Pentagon
Category Tags: Other Post-9/11 Events
October 2001: CIA Helps Arrest Egyptian Militant Leader Linked to Bin Laden
Ahmed Refai Taha. [Source: Al-Ahram]Ahmed Refai Taha, head of Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya, an Egyptian militant group, is arrested at the airport in Damascus, Syria, and then quietly extradited to Egypt. He is reportedly executed in Egypt soon thereafter. Taha was one of the signers of bin Laden’s 1998 fatwa calling for the killing of Americans and Jews around the world (see February 22, 1998). He also appeared with bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri in a video in 2000 (see September 21, 2000). [MSNBC, 6/22/2005] CIA Director George Tenet will later claim that Taha was living in Syria and was arrested on a tip provided by the CIA. [Tenet, 2007, pp. 148]
Entity Tags: Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya, Ahmed Refai Taha, Central Intelligence Agency, George J. Tenet
Category Tags: Key Captures and Deaths, Counterterrorism Action After 9/11
October 2001: Conference at WTC Would Have Discussed Terrorism and Building Collapses
An emergency preparedness conference was originally scheduled, prior to 9/11, to take place some time this month at the World Trade Center. It was going to include a discussion on terrorism. Reportedly, “One of the topics they were going to talk about was the danger of collapsing buildings.” Further details, such as who was organizing the event, are unknown. [Florida Times-Union, 9/12/2001]
October 2001: US Military Downplays Importance of Targeting Bin Laden
On October 8, 2001, Gen. Tommy Franks, Central Command commander in chief, says of the war in Afghanistan, “We have not said that Osama bin Laden is a target of this effort. What we are about is the destruction of the al-Qaeda network, as well as the… Taliban that provide harbor to bin Laden and al-Qaeda.” [USA Today, 10/8/2001] Later in the month, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld makes similar comments, “My attitude is that if [bin Laden] were gone tomorrow, the same problem would exist. He’s got a whole bunch of lieutenants who have been trained and they’ve got bank accounts all over some 50 or 60 countries. Would you want to stop him? Sure. Do we want to stop the rest of his lieutenants? You bet. But I don’t get up in the morning and say that is the end; the goal and the endpoint of this thing. I think that would be a big mistake.” [USA Today, 10/24/2001] One military expert will later note, “There appears to be a real disconnect between what the US military was engaged in trying to do during the battle for Tora Bora - which was to destroy al-Qaeda and the Taliban - and the earlier rhetoric of President Bush, which had focused on getting bin Laden.” [Christian Science Monitor, 3/4/2002] Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers will make a similar comment in April 2002 (see April 4, 2002). [Christian Science Monitor, 3/4/2002]
Entity Tags: Osama bin Laden, Thomas Franks, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Donald Rumsfeld
October 2001-February 2002: Union Official Concerned Whether Anyone Has Heard Controllers’ Recorded Statements from 9/11
The local vice president of the air traffic controllers’ union checks with a manager at the FAA’s New York Center whether anyone has listened to an audio tape that was recorded on September 11, on which several controllers recalled their experiences of the attacks, and is assured that the tape is going to be destroyed. [US Department of Transportation, 5/4/2004 ]
Union Vice President Asks about Tape - Within a few hours of the 9/11 attacks, Kevin Delaney, the New York Center’s quality assurance manager, tape-recorded witness statements from six controllers at the center that had been involved in handling or tracking two of the hijacked aircraft (see 11:40 a.m. September 11, 2001). [9/11 Commission, 10/1/2003 ; Washington Post, 5/6/2004; Air Safety Week, 5/17/2004 ] On at least two occasions over the following few months, the local vice president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)—the controllers’ union—asks Delaney whether anyone has listened to the tape of those statements. (Delaney will later recall that he speaks with the union vice president about the tape in October 2001 and again in February 2002.)
Delaney Says He Will Destroy Tape - Delaney, who is the custodian of the tape, assures the union vice president that no one has listened to the tape, and it is not going to be provided to anyone. He also says he will “get rid of it” once the center’s formal accident package, which will include the controllers’ written statements about the 9/11 attacks, has been completed (see November 2001-May 2002). [US Department of Transportation, 5/4/2004 ]
Center Manager Gave Similar Assurance - Before the taping of the six controllers commenced on September 11, New York Center manager Mike McCormick had given similar assurances to Mark DiPalmo, the local NATCA president. DiPalmo agreed to the recording going ahead on the condition that the tape would only be a temporary record until written statements were obtained, after which it would be destroyed (see (Shortly Before 11:40 a.m.) September 11, 2001). [9/11 Commission, 10/1/2003 ; US Department of Transportation, 5/4/2004 ; New York Times, 5/6/2004]
Tape-Recording Statements Not Standard Procedure - The Washington Post will report that, according to union officials representing air traffic controllers, the tape-recording of controllers’ accounts of an accident is almost unheard of, and the normal procedure is for controllers to provide written statements after reviewing radar and other data. [Washington Post, 5/7/2004]
Entity Tags: Kevin Delaney, National Air Traffic Controllers Association
October 2001-September 2002: Vital Army Translators Dismissed for Homosexuality
Nine Army linguists, including six trained to speak Arabic, are dismissed from the military’s Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, because they are gay. At the same time, the military claims it is facing a critical shortage of translators and interpreters for the war on terrorism. [Associated Press, 11/14/2002] The Miami Herald comments: “The message is unmistakable: We find gay people more frightening than Osama bin Laden, whose stated goal is our destruction.” [Miami Herald, 11/22/2002]
Entity Tags: Osama bin Laden
October 2001-2004: US Creates Multilayered Secret Overseas Prison System Holding 10,000 Prisoners
The United States government creates a multi-layered international system of detention centers and prison camps where suspected terrorists, enemy combatants, and prisoners of war are detained and interrogated. [Washington Post, 5/11/2004, pp. A01] The Washington Post reports in May 2004: “The largely hidden array includes three systems that only rarely overlap: the Pentagon-run network of prisons, jails, and holding facilities in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo, and elsewhere; small and secret CIA-run facilities where top al-Qaeda and other figures are kept; and interrogation rooms of foreign intelligence services—some with documented records of torture—to which the US government delivers or ‘renders’ mid- or low-level terrorism suspects for questioning…. The detainees have no conventional legal rights: no access to a lawyer; no chance for an impartial hearing; and… no apparent guarantee of humane treatment accorded prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions or civilians in US jails.” [Washington Post, 5/11/2004, pp. A01] One administration official tells the New York Times that some high-level detainees may be held indefinitely. [New York Times, 5/13/2004] Secrecy permeates the system. For example, renditions are done covertly and the locations of the secret CIA-run interrogation centers are considered “so sensitive that even the four leaders of the House and Senate intelligence committees, who are briefed on all covert operations, do not know them.” [Washington Post, 5/11/2004, pp. A01] In May 2004, it is estimated that there are 10,000 prisoners being held in US facilities around the world. They come from a number of countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Britain, the Palestinian territories, and Yemen. [Independent, 5/15/2004]
October 2001-February 2002: KSM’s Attempt to Duplicate 9/11 Plot on West Coast of US Fizzles
The Library Tower in Los Angeles. It is later renamed the US Bank Tower. [Source: Kim D. Johnson / Associated Press]9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (KSM) attempts to organize a follow up attack to the 9/11 attacks. Beginning in October 2001, KSM and Hambali, a top al-Qaeda leader in Southeast Asia, recruit four operatives for the new plot, all of them Malaysian:
Mohamad Farik Amin (a.k.a. Zubair).
Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep (a.k.a. Lillie).
Zaini Zakaria.
Masran bin Arshad.
The plan is for these operatives to blow up the doors to airplane cockpits using shoe bombs, take over flying the aircraft, and then crash them into US buildings—essentially the same technique as was used in the 9/11 attacks, except with the addition of the shoe bomb and the use of East Asians instead of Middle Easterners. Apparently several buildings are initially targeted. KSM will later name them as the Library Tower in Los Angeles (later renamed the US Bank tower), the Sears Tower in Chicago, the Empire State Building in New York, and a tall building in Washington State. But the plot soon focuses on just the Library Tower, the tallest building on the West Coast of the US, due to a lack of pilots. The members of the plot go to Afghanistan and swear an oath of loyalty to Osama bin Laden, and then continue to train with Hambali in Asia. However, the plot does not go far because Zakaria, the only trained pilot of the group (see (Spring 2000)), drops out in late 2001, saying he has small children to consider. In February 2002, bin Arshad, the leader of the four operatives, is arrested and other other members decide the plot has been canceled. Zakaria turns himself in to Malaysian authorities in 2002, and apparently remains in detention in Malaysia without being charged. Amin and Bin Lep will be arrested in 2003 with Hambali and taken into US custody (see August 12, 2003). Amin, Bin Lep, and Hambali will all be transferred to Guantanamo prison as high-value detainees in 2006 (see September 2-3, 2006). It is unknown who arrests bin Arshad or what becomes of him. [Time, 10/5/2003; Time, 10/6/2003; White House, 2/9/2006; Associated Press, 2/10/2006; US Department of Defense, 3/10/2007 ]
Entity Tags: Mohamad Farik Amin, Masran bin Arshad, Hambali, Zaini Zakaria, Al-Qaeda, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep
Category Tags: Hambali, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Al-Qaeda in Southeast Asia, Alleged Al-Qaeda Linked Attacks
October 2001-April 2002: Pentagon Establishes Secret Unit for Conducting Covert Missions Previously Run by CIA
In October 2001, the Pentagon establishes what is later known as the Strategic Support Branch (SSB), or Project Icon, to provide Rumsfeld with tools for “full spectrum of humint [human intelligence] operations” in “emerging target countries such as Somalia, Yemen, Indonesia, Philippines and Georgia.” It become functional in April 2002. It is said that Rumsfeld hopes the program will end his “near total dependence on CIA.” According to Assistant Secretary of Defense Thomas O’Connell, a possible scenario for which the Strategic Support Branch might be called to action would be if a “hostile country close to our borders suddenly changes leadership… We would want to make sure the successor is not hostile.” When SBB’s existence is revealed in early 2005 (see January 23, 2005), the Pentagon denies that the program was established to sideline the CIA, insisting that its sole purpose is to provide field operational units with intelligence obtained through prisoner interrogations, scouting and foreign spies, and from other units in the field. [CNN, 1/24/2005; Washington Post, 1/25/2005] As an arm of the Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) Defense Human Intelligence Service, SSB operates under the Defense Secretary’s direct control and consists of small teams of case officers, linguists, interrogators and technical specialists who work alongside special operations forces. [Washington Post, 1/23/2005] However some SBB members are reported to be “out-of-shape men in their fifties and recent college graduates on their first assignments,” according to sources interviewed by the Washington Post. [Washington Post, 1/23/2005] When the SSB’s existence is revealed in 2005, its commander is Army Col. George Waldroup, who reports to Vice Admiral Lowell Jacoby, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). SSB’s policies are determined by Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen Cambone. [CNN, 1/24/2005] Critics say Waldroup lacks the necessary experience to run SSB and note that he was once investigated by Congress when he was a mid-level manager at the INS. SSB includes two Army squadrons of Delta Force; another Army squadron, code-named Gray Fox; an Air Force human intelligence unit; and the Navy SEAL unit known as Team Six. According to sources interviewed by the Washington Post, the branch is funded using “reprogrammed” funds that do not have explicit congressional authority or appropriation. [Washington Post, 1/23/2005] However, this will be denied by the Pentagon when the unit’s existence is revealed. [CNN, 1/24/2005]
Entity Tags: Stephen A. Cambone, US Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Gray Fox, Donald Rumsfeld, Strategic Support Branch, or Project Icon, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment--Delta, George Waldroup, Thomas O’Connell
Early October 2001: Former Prime Minister of Yemen Says 9/11 Hijacker Was Involved in Attacks on USS Cole
Abd al-Karim al-Iryani, who was prime minister of Yemen at the time of the USS Cole attacks, tells the Guardian: “Khalid Almihdhar was one of the Cole perpetrators, involved in preparations. He was in Yemen at the time and stayed after the Cole bombing (see 10:35-10:39 a.m., August 7, 1998) for a while, then he left.” [Guardian, 10/15/2001]
Entity Tags: Abd al-Karim al-Iryani
Category Tags: 2000 USS Cole Bombing, Alhazmi and Almihdhar
Early October 2001: ISI Director Prevents Key Taliban Leader from Defecting
Jalaluddin Haqqani. [Source: PBS]Lt. Gen. Mahmood Ahmed is supposedly helping the US defeat the Taliban (see September 13-15, 2001) while secretly helping the Taliban resist the US (see September 17-18 and 28, 2001 and Mid-September-October 7, 2001). Jalaluddin Haqqani is a Taliban leader close to bin Laden who controls the Khost region of eastern Afghanistan where most of bin Laden’s training camps and supporters are. Journalist Kathy Gannon will later note, “Had he wanted to, Haqqani could have handed the United States the entire al-Qaeda network.” [Gannon, 2005, pp. 94] He also has extensive ties with the ISI, and was a direct CIA asset in the 1980s (see (1987)). Journalist Steve Coll will later say, “There was always a question about whether Haqqani was really Taliban, because he hadn’t come out of Kandahar; he wasn’t part of the core group. And it was quite reasonable to believe after 9/11 that maybe he could be flipped.… [US officials] summoned him to Pakistan, and they had a series of meetings with him, the content of which is unknown.” [PBS Frontline, 10/3/2006] In early October 2001, Haqqani makes a secret trip to Pakistan and meets with Mahmood. Mahmood advises him to hold out and not defect, saying that he will have help. Haqqani stays with the Taliban and will continue to fight against the US long after the Taliban loses power. [Gannon, 2005, pp. 94]
Entity Tags: Haqqani Network, Jalaluddin Haqqani, Mahmood Ahmed, Taliban
Category Tags: Pakistan and the ISI, Mahmood Ahmed, Afghanistan
Early October 2001: FBI Translation Center Hires Turkish Man Who Is Not Proficient in English
The FBI hires Kevin Taskasen as a Turkish translator, despite him having failed language-proficiency tests for English. The FBI will later send Taskasen to Guantanamo to be the detention center’s only Turkish translator. Some time after his return, he is promoted to head of the Turkish department in the FBI translations center. [Anti-War (.com), 7/1/2004]
Entity Tags: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kevin Taskasen
Early October 2001: US Launches Attacks on Afghanistan from Pakistani Bases
The US begins using the Shahbaz air force base and other bases in Pakistan in their attacks against Afghanistan. [London Times, 10/15/2001] However, because of public Pakistani opposition to US support, the two governments claim the US is there for purely logistical and defensive purposes. Even six months later, the US refuses to confirm it is using the base for offensive operations. [Los Angeles Times, 3/6/2002] Such bases in Pakistan become a link in a chain of US military outposts in Central Asia. Other countries also falsely maintain that such bases are not being used for military operations in Afghanistan despite clear evidence to the contrary. [Reuters, 12/28/2001]
Entity Tags: Pakistan, United States
Category Tags: US Dominance, Pakistan and the ISI
Early October 2001: Germans Question 9/11 Hijacker Associate and Lose Track of Him; He Will Later Be Convicted of Militant Activity in Italy
Mohamed Daki. [Source: ANSA]Three weeks after 9/11, German investigators question Mohamed Daki, a Moroccan. Daki came to Germany on a student visa, but he never enrolled in college, instead associating with radical Islamists at the Al-Quds mosque in Hamburg. Daki admits that he knows members of the al-Qaeda Hamburg cell and that hijacker associate Ramzi bin al-Shibh was registered as his roommate in 1997 and 1998 (see December 1997-November 1998), but in retrospect, it appears he lies about some other things. The Germans let him go and do not investigate him any further. The New York Times will later report that “officials now concede they also lost track of him. And, apparently, his name was not added to any international list of suspicious persons.”
Involved in Militant Activity in Italy - In the spring of 2002, Daki will move to Milan, Italy, another center of al-Qaeda activity. Italian investigators believe Daki eventually joins an al-Qaeda-related operation to recruit fighters in Europe to fight against US forces in Iraq. In March 2003, Italian intelligence will monitor a call to Daki from Abderazek Mahdjoub in Syria. Mahdjoub also has ties to the al-Qaeda Hamburg cell, and had been under investigation in Germany since 2000, if not earlier (see 2000). Investigators believe he headed the al-Qaeda cell in Milan while living in Hamburg. Mahdjoub will tell Daki that he and others have been detected: “Listen to me attentively. Wait for my call. Move yourself to France and await orders.” In April, Daki and some of his associates will be arrested in Italy. Italian officials will say that only after these arrests do they find out the intelligence Germany had on them, including their links to the 9/11 plotters. One Hamburg police investigator will later comment, “Looking back, I would say that we should have asked more pointed questions [about Daki] than we did.” [New York Times, 3/22/2004]
Convicted in Italy - In 2005, Daki will be acquitted on charges of sending fighters to oppose US-led forces in Iraq, when the Italian judge argues that it is not illegal to send “guerrillas” to fight there. But in 2007, this decision will be overturned and Daki will be sentenced to four years in prison. [La Repubblica (Rome), 10/24/2007]
Entity Tags: Mohamed Daki, Abderazek Mahdjoub, German intelligence community
Category Tags: 9/11 Investigations, Al-Qaeda in Germany
Early October-December 2001: US and Pakistan Do Little about Pakistani Nuclear Scientists Who Helped Al-Qaeda
Ummah Tameer-e-Nau’s headquarters in Kabul. [Source: CBC]In early October 2001, Secretary of State Colin Powell visits Pakistan and discusses the security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. He offers US technical assistance to improve the security of Pakistan’s nukes, but Pakistan rejects the offer. Powell also says that the CIA learned of a secret meeting held in mid-August 2001 between two Pakistani nuclear scientists and al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri (see Mid-August 2001). As a result of US pressure, Pakistan arrests the two scientists, Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood and Chaudiri Abdul Majeed, on October 23. The Pakistani ISI secretly detains them for four weeks, but concludes that they are harmless and releases them. [Tenet, 2007, pp. 264-268; Frantz and Collins, 2007, pp. 269-271] In mid-November, after the Taliban is routed from Kabul (see November 13, 2001), the CIA takes over the headquarters there of Ummah Tameer-e-Nau (UTN), a charity founded by the two scientists. In addition to charity material, they find numerous documents and pieces of equipment to help build WMD, including plans for conducting an anthrax attack. [Levy and Scott-Clark, 2007, pp. 322] As a result, on December 1, CIA Director George Tenet, Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, head of the CIA Counterterrorist Center’s WMD branch, and a CIA analyst named Kevin make an emergency trip to Pakistan to discuss the issue. Accompanied by Wendy Chamberlin, the US ambassador to Pakistan, Tenet meets with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and urges him to take stronger action against the two scientists and their UTN charity. Musharraf reluctantly agrees, and the two men are rearrested. According to a 2007 book by Tenet, after being tested by a team of US polygraph experts and questioned by US officials, “Mahmood confirmed all we had heard about the August 2001 meeting with Osama bin Laden, and even provided a hand-drawn rough bomb design that he had shared with al-Qaeda leaders.” During the meeting, an unnamed senior al-Qaeda leader showed Mahmood a cannister that may have contained some kind of nuclear material. This leader shared ideas about building a simple firing system for a nuclear “dirty bomb” using commercially available supplies. [Tenet, 2007, pp. 264-268; Frantz and Collins, 2007, pp. 269-271] However, on December 13, the two scientists are quietly released again. The US does not officially freeze UTN’s assets until December 20, and Pakistan apparently follows suit a short time later (see December 20, 2001). [Wall Street Journal, 12/24/2001; Frantz and Collins, 2007, pp. 271]
Entity Tags: Wendy Chamberlin, Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, Pakistan Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, Pervez Musharraf, Al-Qaeda, Chaudiri Abdul Majeed, Colin Powell, George J. Tenet, Osama bin Laden, Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Ummah Tameer-e-Nau
Timeline Tags: A. Q. Khan's Nuclear Network
Category Tags: Pakistan and the ISI, Pakistani Nukes & Islamic Militancy
Early October-Mid-November, 2001: US Air Force Is Repeatedly Denied Permission to Bomb Top Al-Qaeda and Taliban Leaders
In mid-November 2001, the Washington Post will report that senior Air Force officials are upset they have missed opportunities to hit top al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders since the start of the bombing of Afghanistan. According to these officials, the Air Force believes it has the leaders in its crosshairs as many as ten times, but they are unable to receive a timely clearance to fire. Cumbersome approval procedures, a concern not to kill civilians, and a power play between the Defense Department and the CIA contribute to the delays. One anonymous Air Force official later says, “We knew we had some of the big boys. The process is so slow that by the time we got the clearances, and everybody had put in their 2 cents, we called it off.” The main problem is that commanders in the region have to ask for permission from General Tommy Franks, based in Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, or even Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and other higher-ups. Air Force generals complain to Franks about the delay problem, but never receive a response. For example, at one point in October, a Taliban military convoy is moving north to reinforce front line positions. Targeters consider it an easy mark of clear military value. But permission from Central Command is denied on the suspicion that the target is so obvious that “it might be a trick.” In another example, a target is positively identified by real-time imagery from a Predator drone, but Central Command overrides the decision to strike, saying they want a second source of data. An anonymous official calls this request for independent verification of Predator imagery “kind of ridiculous.” [Washington Post, 11/18/2001] The London Times paraphrase officials who claim that, “Attempts to limit collateral damage [serve] merely to prolong the war, and force the Pentagon to insert commandos on the ground to hunt down the same targets.” [London Times, 11/19/2001] By the end of the war, only one top al-Qaeda leader, Mohammed Atef, is killed in a bombing raid (see November 15, 2001), and no top Taliban leaders are killed.
Entity Tags: US Department of Defense, Taliban, Donald Rumsfeld, Thomas Franks, Al-Qaeda, Central Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Atef
Category Tags: Afghanistan, Escape From Afghanistan, Counterterrorism Action After 9/11
October 2001: Three of the Four Black Boxes from the WTC Crashes Allegedly Secretly Found
A poster to help law enforcement officers locate the missing ‘black boxes’ in the WTC debris. [Source: FBI / Smithsonian Institution]Three of the four black boxes from Flight 11 and Flight 175 are found this month, according to two men who work extensively in the wreckage of the World Trade Center, but the public is not told. New York City firefighter Nicholas DeMasi will mention the discovery of the black boxes in a book published in 2003. He will claim to have driven federal agents on an all-terrain vehicle during their search and state that they found three of the four missing black boxes. The Philadelphia Daily News will report on the story in 2004 when another recovery worker, volunteer Mike Bellone, backs up DeMasi’s account and claims to have seen one of the black boxes. Spokesmen for the FBI and the New York City Fire Department will deny the claims of these two workers. [Swanson, 2003, pp. 108; Philadelphia Daily News, 10/28/2004] But in 2005, CounterPunch will report: “A source at the National Transportation Safety Board, the agency that has the task of deciphering the data from the black boxes retrieved from crash sites—including those that are being handled as crimes and fall under the jurisdiction of the FBI—says the boxes were in fact recovered and were analyzed by the NTSB. ‘Off the record, we had the boxes,’ the source says. ‘You’d have to get the official word from the FBI as to where they are, but we worked on them here.’” An NTSB spokesperson will deny that the FBI ever gave the NTSB the black boxes. [CounterPunch, 12/19/2005] On September 18, it was reported that investigators had detected a signal from one of the black boxes in the debris at Ground Zero (see September 18, 2001). [New York State Emergency Management Office, 9/18/2001 ] But the 9/11 Commission Report will state that the black boxes from Flight 11 and Flight 175 “were not found.” [9/11 Commission, 7/24/2004, pp. 456]
Entity Tags: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mike Bellone, New York City Fire Department, Nicholas DeMasi, RobertMoomo
Category Tags: 9/11 Investigations, FBI 9/11 Investigation, Other 9/11 Investigations
Early October 2001: Filming Originally Set to Begin for CBS TV Movie about Plane Crash Possibly Caused by Bin Laden
Nicholas Meyer. [Source: Shanghai TV Festival]Filming was originally going to start in Winnipeg, Canada, around this time for Fall from the Sky, a big-budget CBS TV movie about the investigation of a jumbo jet crash in which the possibility that Osama bin Laden was responsible is one of the lines of inquiry. [Observer, 9/30/2001; Irish Independent, 10/7/2001; Winnipeg Free Press, 3/22/2002] Fall from the Sky was co-written by Nicholas Meyer, who previously wrote several of the Star Trek movies, and Brian Rehak. [Variety, 9/19/2001; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10/31/2003; Los Angeles Times, 7/22/2010] It has been budgeted at $7.2 million and is set to star Forest Whitaker, who previously played jazz legend Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwood’s movie Bird.
Hundreds Killed in Fictional Plane Crash - Fall from the Sky would be set a couple of years in the future and involve the crash of a plane that is one of a new generation of passenger jets. According to some reports, 700 people die in the fictitious crash. [Chicago Sun-Times, 8/20/2001; Winnipeg Free Press, 3/22/2002] But according to Variety magazine, 400 people are on the plane that crashes. [Variety, 9/19/2001; Variety, 9/24/2001] Whitaker was to have played the National Transportation Safety Board investigator who leads the examination of the crash. The story would “concentrate on the meticulous process of gathering scientific evidence after the tragedy,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times. [Chicago Sun-Times, 8/20/2001; Winnipeg Free Press, 3/22/2002] Meyer has said that the planned TV movie would “not show the crash—only pieces [of plane wreckage] on the ground.” [Variety, 9/24/2001] However, Jamie Brown, the CEO of a special effects company that was going to work on Fall from the Sky, will later say his company planned to depict “the destruction of a super jumbo jet” for the TV movie. [Winnipeg Free Press, 12/5/2001]
Possible Bin Laden Responsibility Investigated - Furthermore, the storyline of Fall from the Sky includes “the investigation of a theory that the crash had been the work of Osama bin Laden,” according to The Observer. [Observer, 9/30/2001] But according to Meyer, it turns out that terrorists were not responsible. [Variety, 9/19/2001; Variety, 9/24/2001] Whitaker will say that the story “dealt a lot with the FAA and issues of concealment. It almost read as if it was a true story, because of the political things that were going on inside of it.” [Winnipeg Free Press, 3/22/2002] It “shows the political pressures brought to bear on the investigation,” Meyer will say. [Variety, 9/24/2001]
Production Canceled due to 9/11 - Fall from the Sky was in preproduction in September. Filming was scheduled to begin in Winnipeg on October 2, according to some reports. [Playback, 11/12/2001; Winnipeg Free Press, 3/22/2002] But according to Variety magazine, it was set to begin on October 8 or October 9. Production was halted within two weeks of 9/11. [Variety, 9/19/2001; Variety, 9/24/2001] The Winnipeg Free Press will comment, “Naturally, the deliberate, catastrophic destruction of four passenger jets on September 11 made a TV movie about a fictional jumbo jet crash untenable for CBS.” [Winnipeg Free Press, 3/22/2002] Fall from the Sky is one of a number of movies and television dramas that are canceled or rewritten as a result of the 9/11 attacks (see (January 1998-2001); February 1999-September 11, 2001; June-September 11, 2001; Before Before September 11, 2001; September 13, 2001; September 27, 2001; November 17, 2001). [Denver Post, 9/17/2001; Irish Independent, 10/7/2001] Meyer has commented that his TV movie “was in its own way rather timely,” and added, “I think it’s unfortunate that it’s been canceled.” [Observer, 9/30/2001] Another, unnamed, TV movie dealing with an airline disaster was set to begin production in Vancouver, Canada, around this time, according to the Canadian magazine Playback, although further details of that movie are unstated. [Playback, 11/12/2001]
Entity Tags: CBS, Jamie Brown, Nicholas Meyer, Forest Whitaker
Late 2001 and 2003: Al-Qaeda Operative Whose Arrest Was Frustrated by Spanish Intelligence Reportedly Meets Al-Zarqawi
Amer el-Azizi, a senior al-Qaeda operative whose arrest was frustrated by Spanish intelligence (see Shortly After November 21, 2001), is said to meet Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who leads a group of foreign fighters in the Iraq war. One meeting may take place after 9/11 in 2001, when el-Azizi reportedly travels to Iran, intending to enter eastern Afghanistan. [Wall Street Journal, 3/19/2004] According to communications intercepts, another may take place in Iran in 2003, and some evidence indicates el-Azizi may also go to Iraq around this time. In addition, el-Azizi sponsors two recruits who train at a camp run by al-Zarqawi, according to documents obtained by the Spanish police. [Wall Street Journal, 4/7/2004; Los Angeles Times, 4/14/2004] El-Azizi and al-Zarqawi also have a common acquaintance, Abdulatif Mourafiq, an associate of al-Zarqawi’s in Afghanistan whose contact details were found in el-Azizi’s flat when it was raided in October or November 2001. [Brisard, 2005]
Entity Tags: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Abdulatif Mourafiq, Amer el-Azizi
Category Tags: Counterterrorism Action After 9/11, Other Possible Moles or Informants
October 1, 2001: Taliban Possibly Trained Pilots in Afghanistan
It is reported that “a worldwide hunt is under way for 14 young Muslims said to have been trained in secret to fly Boeing airliners at an air base in Afghanistan. A senior pilot for the Afghan state-owned airline Ariana has told how he and four colleagues were forced by the Taliban regime to train the men who are now thought to be hiding in Europe and the United States. The fourteen men, seven of whom are said to speak fluent English, are described as ‘dedicated Muslim fanatics’ who spoke of being involved in a holy war. They are thought to have left Afghanistan a year ago. All had close links with the Taliban and some had fought for the regime.” [Evening Standard, 10/1/2001]
Entity Tags: Taliban
Autumn 2001: FBI Hires Daughter of Pakistani Spy, Despite Internal Protests
The FBI hires Hadia Roberts, the daughter of a former Pakistani general who is thought to have worked as a spy in the US, despite objections by the FBI agent that vets her. John Cole, manager of the FBI national counter-intelligence program for India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, says he is alerted to her by the personnel security officer, who thinks the woman might not be suitable as an Urdu translator.
Alarming Information - Cole examines the file and “it stuck out a mile: she was the daughter of a retired Pakistani general who had been their military attaché in Washington.” Cole is aware that “[e]very single military attaché they’ve ever assigned has been a known intelligence officer.” [Vanity Fair, 9/2005; Antiwar (.com), 10/8/2005; Sunday Times (London), 1/6/2008] In addition, several hits appear for her father’s name when it is run through the FBI’s computer and at one time he had been the subject of an FBI investigation, which is “an alarming piece of information that was somehow overlooked in the preliminary background check.” Further, the former attaché spends six months in the US a year, and Cole will later comment, “He’s got a lot of friends that are still there in military intelligence, and he more than likely talks to them frequently, living there as he does six months out of the year.” What is more, the results of Roberts’ polygraph examination are inconclusive, so Cole recommends she not be hired.
Hired Anyway - However, a week later she is given a job, top secret security clearance, and access to sensitive compartmentalized information. Colleagues say that Roberts frequently boasts her father is a retired general and say she is such an Islamic “zealot” that she tries to convert her colleagues to Islam. [Sperry, 2005, pp. 155-8] A few weeks later, an FBI field office finds that classified information has been provided to Pakistanis, but it is not known who leaked it, although an investigation will determine that it must have been either the technical agent or one of the Urdu translators. Roberts will still be translating Urdu for the FBI in July 2005, when this incident is first mentioned in the press. [Sperry, 2005, pp. 155-8; Vanity Fair, 9/2005; Antiwar (.com), 10/8/2005] Around this time the FBI is investigating a nuclear technology smuggling ring headed by Pakistani intelligence and allegedly assisted by top US officials (see Mid-Late 1990s, (1997-2002), and 2000-2001).
Entity Tags: Federal Bureau of Investigation, John Cole
Category Tags: Sibel Edmonds, Pakistan and the ISI, Pakistani Nukes & Islamic Militancy
October 1, 2001: Some Officials Question If Intelligence Service Helped Bin Laden in Plot
The New Yorker reports that “a number of intelligence officials have raised questions about bin Laden’s capabilities. ‘This guy sits in a cave in Afghanistan and he’s running this operation?’ one CIA official asked. ‘It’s so huge. He couldn’t have done it alone.’ A senior military officer told me that because of the visas and other documentation needed to infiltrate team members into the United States a major foreign intelligence service might also have been involved.” [New Yorker, 10/8/2001] No specific service is named, but the ISI would be one likely candidate. In fact, one day after this article is published, a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) cable indicates the ISI created the Taliban and has helped al-Qaeda extensively (see October 2, 2001).
Entity Tags: Pakistan Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, Osama bin Laden, Central Intelligence Agency
October 1, 2001: Kashmir Suicide Attack Involves 9/11 Funder Saeed Sheikh
A suicide truck-bomb attack on the provincial parliamentary assembly in Indian-controlled Kashmir leaves 36 dead. It appears that Saeed Sheikh and Aftab Ansari, working with the ISI, are behind the attacks. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 3/3/2002; Vanity Fair, 8/2002] Indian intelligence claims that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is later given a recording of a phone call between Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Maulana Masood Azhar and ISI Director Lt. Gen. Mahmood Ahmed in which Azhar allegedly reports the bombing is a “success.” [United Press International, 10/10/2001]
Entity Tags: Mahmood Ahmed, National Security Agency, Pervez Musharraf, Maulana Masood Azhar, Aftab Ansari, India, Saeed Sheikh
Category Tags: Pakistan and the ISI, Saeed Sheikh, Pakistani ISI Links to 9/11
October 2, 2001: US Intelligence Cables Review ‘Hidden Agenda’ of ISI Support for Taliban
An agent of the Defense Intelligence Agency sends two classified cables to various US government agencies detailing how Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) created the Taliban and helped al-Qaeda. The agent writes that during the Soviet-Afghan War, the “Pakistan government also had a hidden agenda… Pakistan decided to deliberately influence the outcome. Rather than allow the most gifted Afghan commanders and parties to flourish, who would be hard to control later, Pakistan preferred to groom the incompetent ones [because] they would be wholly reliant on Pakistan for support… Pakistan also encouraged, facilitated, and often escorted Arabs from the Middle East into Afghanistan. Eventually a special facility was constructed… with [ISI] funding.” When Ahmed Shah Mossoud captured Kabul in the early 1990s, “Pakistan could not accept this result and the fragile Afghan coalition began another civil war, with the Pakistan stooge (Gulbuddin Hekmatyar) being backed to seize total power. In the end Pakistan was proved right about only one thing, Hekmatyar was incompetent. He was never able to wrest Kabul from Massoud, despite massive logistical and material (including manpower) support from Pakistan.” When Hekmatyar failed, “[Pakistan] created another force they hoped to have better control over than Hekmatyar’s rabble. It was called Taliban… To lead the Taliban Pakistan chose Mullah Mohammad (Omar), who was willing to do as he was told… Omar’s emergence is credited to Pakistan ISI actions… The fully supported (by Pakistan) Taliban prevailed over the unsupported legitimate government of Afghanistan…” [Defense Intelligence Agency, 10/2/2001 ; Defense Intelligence Agency, 10/2/2001 ]
Entity Tags: Taliban, Ahmed Shah Massoud, Mullah Omar, Pakistan Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
Category Tags: Soviet-Afghan War, Pakistan and the ISI
October 2-3, 2001: No Jet Fuel in Soil and Water at Flight 93 Crash Site
It is reported that soil and groundwater around the spot where Flight 93 crashed show no signs of jet fuel contamination. About a week after 9/11, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) started taking soil samples from the 50-foot hole dug around the crash crater, to check for contamination by the plane’s fuel and other hazardous materials. Three test wells have also been sunk to monitor groundwater. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9/17/2001; WTAE-TV, 10/2/2001; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10/3/2001] According to the National Transportation Safety Board, Flight 93 had about 37,500 lb of fuel remaining when it crashed. [National Transportation Safety Board, 2/13/2002, pp. 8 ] Some of the first people who arrived at the crash site reported that there was an “incredibly strong” and “overpowering” smell of jet fuel in the air. [Longman, 2002, pp. 213; Kashurba, 2002, pp. 32, 40, 43 and 64] Yet, so far, no contamination has been found in either the soil or the groundwater. Betsy Mallison, a spokeswoman for the DEP, says that whether it burned away or evaporated, much of the jet fuel spilled at the site seems to have dissipated. [WTAE-TV, 10/2/2001; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10/3/2001] DEP Secretary David Hess says most of the hazardous fluids must have been consumed by the crash’s fire. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9/17/2001] Yet some of the first people who arrived at the site say they only saw a very small fire, if any at all, at the crash crater. [Longman, 2002, pp. 213; McCall, 2002, pp. 30-31]
Entity Tags: David Hess, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Betsy Mallison
October 3, 2001: FBI List Mistakenly Posted on Internet Reveals Details of Hundreds of Al-Qaeda Suspects
A confidential list of people suspected of helping the al-Qaeda terrorist network leaks out on the Internet. The list of 370 individuals was put together by the FBI and European security agencies, and had been circulated to central banks and government financial authorities cooperating in the fight against terrorism. The 22-page document is posted on the website of Finland’s Financial Supervision Authority, RATA. [Daily Telegraph, 10/5/2001; United Press International, 10/11/2001] It is the most extensive list of its kind yet made public by authorities anywhere in the world. [Helsingin Sanomat, 10/5/2001] Some of its entries include only a name. [United Press International, 10/11/2001] But, in many cases, aliases, last known addresses, dates of birth, and sometimes phone numbers are given. Many of the addresses are in the United States—with Florida featuring extensively—or Germany, particularly Hamburg. [Helsingin Sanomat, 10/4/2001; Daily Telegraph, 10/5/2001] More than 300 of the names on the list came from US sources, and are listed with US addresses or Social Security numbers. Out of the 370 individuals, all of whom have Arab names, the FBI and other security authorities have identified the nationalities of 163. Saudi Arabians form the largest group, with 59 being on the list. The FBI has been unable to identify the nationality of the other 207 individuals. According to UPI: “With the exception of the two Americans [on the list], all of those listed would have had to apply for American visas in their home countries to enter the United States legally. Yet the spreadsheet’s sparse information seemed to indicate that the FBI apparently had been unable to locate the information that these applications normally would contain.” At least 77 of those on the list lived near flight schools. Many of the individuals have aliases, with some having up to 20. [United Press International, 10/11/2001] The list includes all 19 of the alleged 9/11 hijackers, who are mostly listed as “possibly deceased.” It also includes al-Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui. It will be removed from the RATA website within 24 hours, at the recommendation of the Finnish data protection commissioner. The London Daily Telegraph cautions, “Like any police intelligence file,” the list “is based on hearsay and unverified leads, and should have been kept strictly confidential to protect those falsely accused. It is far from clear whether the telephone numbers or email addresses are reliable.” For example, “A random call to a suspect in Vero Beach, Florida, was answered by the receptionist of a commercial law firm, who angrily slammed down the receiver.” [RATA, 10/3/2001 ; Daily Telegraph, 10/5/2001; Helsingin Sanomat, 10/5/2001]
Entity Tags: Federal Bureau of Investigation, RATA, Al-Qaeda
October 3, 2001: FBI Links Alleged Hijacker Associate Basnan to Bin Laden Family and Saudi Government
A classified FBI report on this date indicates that alleged hijacker associate Osama Basnan has long-time links to both the bin Laden family and the Saudi government. The report states that Basnan has “been determined to have known Osama bin Laden’s family in Saudi Arabia and to have telephonic contact with members of bin Laden’s family who are currently in the US.” It also states, “The possibility of [Basnan] being affiliated with the Saudi Arabian Government or the Saudi Arabian Intelligence Service is supported by [Basnan] listing his employment in 1992 as the—.” Unfortunately, the rest of that sentence remains redacted. The report further notes that the fact that in July 2001 Basnan moved into the same San Diego apartment building where hijackers Nawaf Alhazmi, Khalid Almihdhar, and hijacker associate Omar al-Bayoumi lived right after al-Bayoumi moved away “could indicate he succeeded Omar al-Bayoumi and may be undertaking activities on behalf of the Government of Saudi Arabia” (see June 23-July 2001). The FBI report, which will be obtained by the website Intelwire.com in 2008, is heavily redacted, and all mentions of Basnan’s name appear to be redacted. However, one can sometimes determine when Basnan is being referred to. For instance, the same paragraph that mentions his link to the bin Laden family also says the same person with that link hosted a party for Sheikh Omar Abdul-Rahman in 1992, and press reports have indicated that person was Basnan (see October 17, 1992). [Federal Bureau of Investigation, 10/3/2001 ]
Entity Tags: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Osama Basnan, Omar Abdul-Rahman, Omar al-Bayoumi
Category Tags: Bayoumi and Basnan Saudi Connection, Saudi Arabia, Bin Laden Family, FBI 9/11 Investigation, 9/11 Investigations
October 4, 2001 and Shortly Afterwards: First Case of Anthrax Reported in the Media, Causing National Panic
Robert Stevens. [Source: Associated Press]The first case of anthrax infection, of Robert Stevens in Florida, is reported in the media (see October 3, 2001). Letters containing anthrax will continue to be received until October 19. After many false alarms, it turns out that only a relatively small number of letters contain real anthrax (see October 5-November 21, 2001). [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/8/2001] In 2004, Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen will recall how a widespread sense of panic spread across the US over the next few weeks, as millions felt the anthrax could target them next. He will write, “People made anthrax-safe rooms, and one woman I know of had a mask made for her small dog. I still don’t know if that was a touching gesture or just plain madness.” He says, “The [9/11] terrorist attacks coupled with the anthrax scare unhinged us a bit—or maybe more than a bit.” But he will also mention that the panic quickly passed and was largely forgotten by most people. [Washington Post, 7/22/2004] Columnist Glenn Greenwald will later comment in Salon, “After 9/11 itself, the anthrax attacks were probably the most consequential event of the Bush presidency. One could make a persuasive case that they were actually more consequential. The 9/11 attacks were obviously traumatic for the country, but in the absence of the anthrax attacks, 9/11 could easily have been perceived as a single, isolated event. It was really the anthrax letters—with the first one sent on September 18, just one week after 9/11—that severely ratcheted up the fear levels and created the climate that would dominate in this country for the next several years after. It was anthrax… that created the impression that social order itself was genuinely threatened by Islamic radicalism.” [Salon, 8/1/2008]
Entity Tags: Tom Daschle, Patrick J. Leahy, NBC, Glenn Greenwald, New York Post, Richard Cohen
October 4, 2001: British Prime Minister Tony Blair Presents Case for Al-Qaeda 9/11 Involvement
Tony Blair presenting evidence on October 4, 2001. [Source: Associated Press]British Prime Minister Tony Blair publicly presents a paper containing evidence that al-Qaeda is responsible for the 9/11 attacks. [Los Angeles Times, 10/4/2001; Los Angeles Times, 10/5/2001] Secretary of State Powell and other US officials had promised on September 23 that the US would present a paper containing such evidence. [Los Angeles Times, 9/24/2001] However, the US paper is never released (see September 23-24, 2001). Apparently, the British paper is meant to serve as a substitute. [New Yorker, 5/27/2002] It begins, “This document does not purport to provide a prosecutable case against Osama bin Laden in a court of law.” Nevertheless, it continues, “on the basis of all the information available [Her Majesty’s Government] is confident of its conclusions as expressed in this document.” [BBC, 10/4/2001] In his speech, Blair claims, “One of bin Laden’s closest lieutenants has said clearly that he helped with the planning of the September 11 attacks and admitted the involvement of the al-Qaeda organization” and that “there is other intelligence, we cannot disclose, of an even more direct nature indicating guilt” of al-Qaeda in the attacks. [CNN, 10/4/2001; Time, 10/5/2001] There has been no confirmation or details since of these claims. Even though most of the evidence in the British paper comes from the US, pre-attack warnings, such as the August 6, 2001 memo (see August 6, 2001) to Bush titled “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US,” are not included. In fact, Blair’s paper states, “incorrectly, that no such information had been available before the attacks: ‘After 11 September we learned that, not long before, bin Laden had indicated he was about to launch a major attack on America.’” [New Yorker, 5/27/2002]
Entity Tags: Al-Qaeda, Colin Powell, Tony Blair, Osama bin Laden
October 4, 2001: British Prime Miniter Tony Blair Says 9/11 Hijacker Played ‘Key Role’ in Embassy Bombings
In a key speech about al-Qaeda’s responsibility for the 9/11 attacks, British Prime Minister Tony Blair says that one of the hijackers played a “key role” in the 1998 African embassy bombings (see 10:35-10:39 a.m., August 7, 1998). Though he doesn’t specify which one, he does say the individual was one of the three hijackers who were quickly identified after 9/11 as known al-Qaeda associates (see 9:53 p.m. September 11, 2001) and someone who had also played an important role in the USS Cole attacks (see October 14-Late November, 2000). [UK Prime Minister, 10/4/2001] Blair’s description of this hijacker as being involved in the USS Cole and African Embassy attacks strongly suggests the person he is referring to is Khalid Almihdhar. Almihdhar allegedly had a hand in the Cole attack (see Early October 2001) and had links to one of the captured embassy bombers, Mohamed al-Owhali. Before the Cole attacks, al-Owhali stayed at an al-Qaeda communications hub in Yemen run by Almihdhar’s father-in-law (see February 2001 and After). Additionally, al-Owhali met an al-Qaeda operative in Pakistan by the name of Khalid, although this may have been Khallad (aka Tawfiq bin Attash), or even Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. [United State of America v. Usama bin Laden, et al., Day 14, 3/7/2001; Guardian, 10/5/2001; CNN, 10/16/2001; Burke, 2004, pp. 174; 9/11 Commission, 7/24/2004, pp. 222; Wright, 2006, pp. 309] It is also possible that the person alluded to in Blair’s speech is Nawaf Alhazmi, who also had connections to the embassy bombings (see 1993-1999).
Entity Tags: Khallad bin Attash, Tony Blair, Salem Alhazmi, Khalid Almihdhar, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Ahmed al-Hada, Nawaf Alhazmi, Mohamed al-Owhali
Category Tags: Key Hijacker Events, 1998 US Embassy Bombings, 2000 USS Cole Bombing, Alhazmi and Almihdhar, Other 9/11 Hijackers, Al-Qaeda Malaysia Summit, Yemen Hub
October 4, 2001: NATO Meeting Sets Stage for Secret CIA Rendition Flights
One of the executive jets used by the CIA to fly prisoners to Guantanamo. This one, a Gulfstream with tail number N44982 when used by the CIA, is pictured in Geneva, Switzerland in 2005 with a new tail number. [Source: Public domain via Wikipedia]A secret arrangement is made in Brussels, Belgium, by all members of NATO. Lord George Robertson, British defense secretary and later NATO’s secretary general, will later explain NATO members agree to provide “blanket overflight clearances for the United States and other allies’ aircraft for military flights related to operations against terrorism.” [London Times, 11/25/2007] Over 700 prisoners will fly over NATO countries on their way to the US-controlled Guantanamo prison in Cuba beginning in 2002 (see January 14, 2002-2005).
Conditions of Transfer - According to a 2007 report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC—see March 15, 2009), detainees flown on CIA rendition flights would be:
Photographed both clothed and naked;
Subjected to body cavity (rectal) searches, with some detainees later alleging that they were administered suppositories of some sort;
Dressed in a diaper and a tracksuit, with earphones placed over the ears (through which shatteringly loud music would sometimes be played), a blindfold, black goggles, and sometimes cotton wool placed over the eyes;
Shackled by hands and feet, and thus carried onto an airplane, where they would remain, without toilet privileges, from one to 30 hours.
The prisoners would usually be allowed to sit upright, but the ICRC will later find that on “some occasions detainees were transported lying flat on the floor of the plane… with their hands cuffed behind their backs,” causing them “severe pain and discomfort,” as they were moved from one location to another. [New York Review of Books, 3/15/2009]
Entity Tags: George Robertson, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, International Committee of the Red Cross
October 5, 2001: Study Reveals Significant Oil and Gas Deposits in Afghanistan
Contrary to popular belief, Afghanistan “has significant oil and gas deposits. During the Soviets’ decade-long occupation of Afghanistan, Moscow estimated Afghanistan’s proven and probable natural gas reserves at around five trillion cubic feet and production reached 275 million cubic feet per day in the mid-1970s.” Nonstop war since has prevented further exploitation. [Asia Times, 10/5/2001] A later article suggests that the country may also have as much copper as Chile, the world’s largest producer, and significant deposits of coal, emeralds, tungsten, lead, zinc, uranium ore, and more. Estimates of Afghanistan’s natural wealth may even be understated, because surveys were conducted decades ago, using less-advanced methods and covering limited territory. [Houston Chronicle, 12/23/2001]
October 5-November 21, 2001: Anthrax Letters Kill Five, Heighten Terrorist Attack Fears
The five fatal victims of the anthrax attacks, from to right: Josep Curseen Jr., Thomas Morris, Ottilie Lundgren, Robert Stevens, and Kathy Nguyen. [Source: Reuters and Associated Press] (click image to enlarge)Two waves of letters containing anthrax are received by media outlets including NBC and the New York Post (see September 17-18, 2001), and Democratic senators Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy (see October 6-9, 2001). The letters sent to the senators both contain the words “Death to America, Death to Israel, Allah is Great.” Five people die:
October 5: Robert Stevens, 63, an employee at the Sun, a tabloid based in Florida.
October 21: Thomas Morris Jr., 55, a postal worker in Washington, DC.
October 22: Joseph Curseen Jr., 47, a postal worker in Washington, DC.
October 31: Kathy Nguyen, 61, a hospital employee in New York City.
November 21: Ottilie Lundgren, 94, of Oxford, Connecticut.
At least 22 more people get sick but survive. Thirty-one others test positive for exposure. As a result of these deaths and injuries, panic sweeps the nation. On October 16, the Senate office buildings are shut down, followed by the House of Representatives, after 28 congressional staffers test positive for exposure to anthrax (see October 16-17, 2001). A number of hoax letters containing harmless powder turn up, spreading the panic further. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/8/2001; Associated Press, 8/7/2008] Initially it is suspected that either al-Qaeda or Iraq are behind the anthrax letters (see October 14, 2001, October 15, 2001, October 17, 2001, and October 18, 2001). [Observer, 10/14/2001; BBC, 10/16/2001] However, by November, further investigation leads the US government to conclude that, “everything seems to lean toward a domestic source.… Nothing seems to fit with an overseas terrorist type operation (see November 10, 2001).” [Washington Post, 10/27/2001; St. Petersburg Times, 11/10/2001]
Entity Tags: Iraq, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Patrick J. Leahy, Tom Daschle, Al-Qaeda
Timeline Tags: 2001 Anthrax Attacks, US Domestic Terrorism
October 6, 2001: Last Federal Rescue Team Leaves Ground Zero
Almost a month after the 9/11 attacks took place, the last federal rescue team leaves Ground Zero. Although workers still hope to find survivors, their official mission from this point on shifts to recovery. The last survivor to be rescued was Genelle Guzman, 26 hours after the collapse of the North Tower (see September 12, 2001). [9/11 Memorial, 9/12/2011]
Entity Tags: Genelle Guzman
Shortly After October 5, 2001: White House Officials Pressure FBI to Prove Link between Anthrax Attacks and Al-Qaeda
In August 2008, the New York Daily News will report that after Robert Stevens is the first to die in the anthrax attacks on October 5, 2001 (see October 5-November 21, 2001), White House officials repeatedly press FBI Director Robert Mueller to prove the attacks were conducted by al-Qaeda. According to an unnamed retired senior FBI official, Mueller was verbally “beaten up” during President Bush’s daily intelligence briefings for not producing proof linking the attacks to al-Qaeda. “They really wanted to blame somebody in the Middle East,” this FBI official will say. But within days, the FBI learned the anthrax was a difficult to make weapons-grade strain. “Very quickly, [experts at Fort Detrick, Maryland] told us this was not something some guy in a cave could come up with. [Al-Qaeda] couldn’t go from box cutters one week to weapons-grade anthrax the next.” But several days after this conclusion is reached, Bush and Cheney nonetheless make public statements suggesting al-Qaeda was the culprit (see October 15, 2001 and October 12, 2001). [New York Daily News, 8/2/2008]
Entity Tags: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert S. Mueller III, Al-Qaeda, White House
October 7, 2001: US Hesitates, Fails to Kill Mullah Omar
On the first night of the Afghan war, an unmanned Predator drone identifies a convoy of vehicles fleeing Kabul. Mullah Omar, head of the Taliban, is determined to be inside this convoy. The CIA is in control of the Predator attack drone and wants to use it to kill Omar, but they have to ask for permission from military commanders who are based in Florida. General Tommy Franks decides not to fire any missiles or launch an air strike against the building in which Omar takes shelter. Eventually fighters attack and destroy the building, but by then Omar and his associates have moved on. One anonymous senior official later says of this failure to kill Omar, “It’s not a f_ckup, it’s an outrage.” According to one senior military officer, “political correctness” and/or slow bureaucratic procedures are to blame. [New Yorker, 10/16/2001] It is later revealed that this is part of a pattern of delays that will hinder many attacks on al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders (see Early October-Mid-November, 2001).
Entity Tags: Thomas Franks, Central Intelligence Agency, Mullah Omar
Category Tags: Afghanistan, Escape From Afghanistan, Drone Use in Pakistan / Afghanistan, Counterterrorism Action After 9/11
October 7, 2001: Stolen 9/11 Documents Appear in Mysterious Circumstances
On this day, Zeljko E., a Kosovar Serb, enters a Hamburg, Germany, police station and says he wants to turn himself in. He tells the police that he has robbed a business and stolen piles of paper written in Arabic, with the hopes of selling them. A friend of his told him that they relate to the 9/11 attacks. The 44 pounds of papers are translated and they prove to be a “treasure trove.” The documents come from Mamoun Darkazanli’s files, which were not in Darkazanli’s apartment when police raided it two days after 9/11. “It makes for a great story. A petty thief pilfers files containing critical information about the largest terrorist attack in history and dutifully turns them over to the police. [But German] agents do not buy this story for a minute; they suspect that some other Secret Service was trying to find a way of getting evidence into [their] hands. The question is, whose Secret Service?” Some German investigators later suggest that the CIA was responsible; there are also reports that the FBI illegally monitored Darkazanli after 9/11. [Der Spiegel (Hamburg), 10/27/2001; Der Spiegel, 2002, pp. 166-67; Chicago Tribune, 11/17/2002]
Entity Tags: Germany, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Der Spiegel, US Secret Service, Central Intelligence Agency
Category Tags: Al-Qaeda in Germany, Mamoun Darkazanli
October 7, 2001: Bin Laden Issues Video, Warning the US, but Does Not Claim Responsibility for 9/11
Bin Laden appears on Al Jareeza, in a taped statement broadcast shortly after US-led strikes on Afghanistan begin. [Source: Al Jazeera]In a recorded statement broadcast on television worldwide, Osama bin Laden issues a strongly worded message to the United States, but makes no claim of responsibility for 9/11. The recording is broadcast on the Al Jazeera television network within an hour of the first US strikes on Afghanistan, and is then shown by CNN. There is no date on the tape and no immediate way of determining where it was made. [New York Times, 10/8/2001] Bin Laden is shown sitting in a stone cave. His top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, appears at his side. [Associated Press, 10/8/2001] Referring to the 9/11 attacks, bin Laden says, “What the United States tastes today is a very small thing compared to what we have tasted for tens of years.” He praises those responsible, saying, “I ask God Almighty to elevate their status and grant them paradise.” [BBC, 10/7/2001] It is the first time he has spoken publicly about 9/11. But he makes no claim in his statement of having been responsible for the attacks. [Associated Press, 10/8/2001] He has previously explicitly denied responsibility for 9/11 (see September 16, 2001 and September 28, 2001). Bin Laden concludes his message warning, “[N]either the United States nor he who lives in the United States will enjoy security before we can see it as a reality in Palestine and before all the infidel armies leave the land of Mohammed.” [BBC, 10/7/2001] The following day, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer will tell reporters that, after watching this message, President Bush concluded that bin Laden “virtually took responsibility” for 9/11. [CNN, 10/8/2001]
Entity Tags: Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden
Category Tags: Osama Bin Laden, Other 9/11 Investigations, Alleged Al-Qaeda Media Statements, 9/11 Investigations
October 7, 2001: ISI Director Replaced at US Urging; Role in Funding 9/11 Plot Is One Explanation
The on-line Wall Street Journal article discussing the connections between Lt. Gen. Mahmood Ahmed, Saeed Sheikh, and Mohamed Atta. [Source: Public domain]ISI Director Lt. Gen. Mahmood Ahmed is replaced in the face of US pressure after links are discovered between him, Saeed Sheikh, and the funding of the 9/11 attacks. Mahmood instructed Saeed to transfer $100,000 into hijacker Mohamed Atta’s bank account prior to 9/11. This is according to Indian intelligence, which claims the FBI has privately confirmed the story. [Press Trust of India, 10/8/2001; Times of India, 10/9/2001; India Today, 10/15/2001; Daily Excelsior (Jammu), 10/18/2001] The story is not widely reported in Western countries, though it makes the Wall Street Journal. [Australian, 10/10/2001; Agence France-Presse, 10/10/2001; Wall Street Journal, 10/10/2001] It is reported in Pakistan as well. [Dawn (Karachi), 10/8/2001] The Northern Alliance also repeats the claim in late October. [Federal News Service, 10/31/2001] In Western countries, the usual explanation is that Mahmood is fired for being too close to the Taliban. [London Times, 10/9/2001; Guardian, 10/9/2001] The Times of India reports that Indian intelligence helped the FBI discover the link, and says, “A direct link between the ISI and the WTC attack could have enormous repercussions. The US cannot but suspect whether or not there were other senior Pakistani Army commanders who were in the know of things. Evidence of a larger conspiracy could shake US confidence in Pakistan’s ability to participate in the anti-terrorism coalition.” [Times of India, 10/9/2001] There is evidence some ISI officers may have known of a plan to destroy the WTC as early as July 1999. Two other ISI leaders, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Aziz Khan and Lt. Gen. Muzaffar Usmani, are sidelined on the same day as Mahmood (see October 8, 2001). [Fox News, 10/8/2001] Saeed had been working under Khan. The firings are said to have purged the ISI of its fundamentalists. However, according to one diplomat, “To remove the top two or three doesn’t matter at all. The philosophy remains.… [The ISI is] a parallel government of its own. If you go through the officer list, almost all of the ISI regulars would say, of the Taliban, ‘They are my boys.’” [New Yorker, 10/29/2001] It is believed Mahmood has been living under virtual house arrest in Pakistan (which would seem to imply more than just a difference of opinion over the Taliban), but no charges have been brought against him, and there is no evidence the US has asked to question him. [Asia Times, 1/5/2002] He also has refused to speak to reporters since being fired [Associated Press, 2/21/2002] , and outside India and Pakistan, the story has only been mentioned infrequently in the media since. [Sunday Herald (Glasgow), 2/24/2002; London Times, 4/21/2002] He will reemerge as a businessman in 2003, but still will not speak to the media (see July 2003).
Entity Tags: Muzaffar Usmani, Mohamed Atta, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Northern Alliance, Mohammed Aziz Khan, Taliban, Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, Mahmood Ahmed, India, World Trade Center
Category Tags: Pakistan and the ISI, Mahmood Ahmed, Afghanistan, Pakistani ISI Links to 9/11
Timeline Tags: Events Leading to Iraq Invasion, War in Afghanistan
Category Tags: Alleged Iraq-Al-Qaeda Links, Afghanistan, Escape From Afghanistan
October 8, 2001: Musharraf Replaces Islamic Extremist Officers with More Loyal Islamic Extremist Officers
Lt. Gen. Ehsan ul-Haq. [Source: ISI Public Relations]When Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf fires ISI Director Lt. Gen. Mahmood Ahmed on October 7, 2001 (see October 7, 2001), the US government and the international media hail the move as an attempt to purge Islamist extremists from the ISI. But authors Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clark will comment in a 2007 book, “But far from it being an attempt to come clean with the US, it was a move that further entrenched the extremist element in the military, as well as strengthening the hand of Musharraf.” They point out that only Mahmood and Lt. Gen. Muzzaffar Usmani had the background and power base to stand up to Musharraf, and both of them are fired. [Levy and Scott-Clark, 2007, pp. 317-319] The new ISI director is Lt. Gen. Ehsan ul-Haq, a long-time friend of Musharraf. [Knight Ridder, 10/9/2001; Independent, 11/10/2001] While ul-Haq is presented as more moderate than Mahmood, media accounts from earlier in the year indicate that he is an Islamist extremist as well. He is quoted as saying, “There’s the American New World Order and this world order,” pointing to the Koran. “The whole of the globe belongs to Allah, and the whole of Allah’s law has to be executed on the globe.” [Boston Herald, 9/17/2001] And in a Newsweek profile, he proclaims that he is fighting a holy war for Allah, praising martyrdom and even saying that his forces in Kashmir have been aided by angels: “I have seen corpses where the heads were chopped off—not by man, but by angels.” [Newsweek International, 2/19/2001] Musharraf also promotes two loyal allies, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Aziz Khan, and Gen. Mohammed Yusaf. Aziz Khan, who is promoted to chairman of the joint chiefs of staff (a mostly ceremonial position), has been particularly close to Islamist groups, and had previously convinced Musharraf not to clamp down on the Taliban and bin Laden in the face of US pressure. Yusaf is promoted to vice chief of army staff. Both are members of the Tablighi Jamaat movement, which advocates replacing Pakistan’s civilian government with a clerical one. Sharifuddin Pirzada, Musharraf’s legal counselor, will comment in 2007, “Although Musharraf had been presented to the outside world as leader since the coup of 1999, it was really a cabal of generals who had pitched in and elevated him. But after 9/11, those who acted as balances and power breaks were disposed of or died accidentally, leaving Musharraf preeminent.” [Levy and Scott-Clark, 2007, pp. 317-319]
Entity Tags: Pervez Musharraf, Sharifuddin Pirzada, Pakistan Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, Muzaffar Usmani, Mahmood Ahmed, Ehsan ul-Haq, Tablighi Jamaat, Mohammed Aziz Khan
Category Tags: Pakistan and the ISI, Mahmood Ahmed, Pakistani ISI Links to 9/11
October 8, 2001: US Still Monitoring Zubaida’s Phone Calls; Bosnian Plot Possibly Foiled
Bensayah Belkacem at Guantanamo. [Source: US Defense Department]US intelligence intercepts numerous phone calls between Abu Zubaida and other al-Qaeda leaders and Bensayah Belkacem, an operative living in Bosnia. The New York Times will later report that shortly after 9/11, “American intelligence agencies, working closely with the government of neighboring Croatia, listened in as Mr. Belkacem and others discussed plans for attacks.” One US official says, “He was apparently on the phone constantly to Afghanistan, with Zubaida and others. There were dozens of calls to Afghanistan.” Belkacem, an Algerian, had moved to Bosnia to fight in the early 1990s war there, then obtained Bosnian citizenship and settled in Zenica, working for an Islamic charity. [New York Times, 1/23/2002] On October 8, 2001, Bosnian police detain Belkacem. While searching his home, they find a piece of note listing the name “Abu Zubeida” and Zubaida’s phone number. [Washington Post, 8/21/2006] It is later revealed that Belkacem made 70 calls to Zubaida between 9/11 and his arrest and more calls before then. He had repeatedly sought a visa to leave Bosnia for Germany just before 9/11. Phone transcripts show Zubaida and Belkacem discussed procuring passports. [Time, 11/12/2001] A US official will later claim that it was believed Zubaida was in Afghanistan with bin Laden at the time of Belkacem’s arrest. [New York Times, 1/23/2002] It has not been explained why this knowledge was not used to capture or kill Zubaida and/or bin Laden. It appears that Western intelligence agencies had been monitoring Zubaida’s calls as far back as 1996 (see (Mid-1996) and October 1998 and After). Belkacem and five of his associates will be renditioned to Guantanamo Bay prison in 2002 and remain imprisoned there (see January 18, 2002).
Entity Tags: Abu Zubaida, Bensayah Belkacem, US intelligence
Category Tags: Remote Surveillance, Abu Zubaida, Al-Qaeda in Balkans, Key Captures and Deaths, Counterterrorism Action After 9/11
October 8, 2001: Pakistani President Musharraf Assigns Taliban Sympathizer to Catch Terrorists Fleeing Afghanistan
Ali Jan Orakzai. [Source: Associated Press]Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf appoints a general sympathetic to the Taliban to seal off the Afghanistan border as US forces close in on al-Qaeda and Taliban militants on the other side. Ali Jan Orakzai is appointed on October 8, 2001, a day Musharraf responded to US pressure and fired some Islamist extremist officers, only to replace them with other Islamist extremist officers (see October 8, 2001). Orakzai, a friend and close adviser to Musharraf, will generally be known as someone who hates the US and sympathizes with the Taliban (see Late 2002-Late 2003). His instructions are to send troops to Pakistan’s tribal region next to Afghanistan to catch fleeing terrorists. On October 11, Pakistani helicopters will begin dropping soldiers in mountainous regions where no Pakistani soldiers had been to before. By December 2001, Orakzai will position more than 30,000 soldiers in the region. [London Times, 1/22/2005] However, when he ends his command of troops in the region in 2004, he will claim that his forces never even saw one Arab there (see January 22, 2005). Musharraf will finally fire him in 2007 for his ineffectiveness and militant sympathies (see July 19, 2007).
Entity Tags: Ali Jan Orakzai, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Pervez Musharraf
Category Tags: Pakistan and the ISI, Haven in Pakistan Tribal Region, Hunt for Bin Laden in Pakistan
October 9, 2001: Richard Clarke Resigns as Counterterrorism ‘Tsar’
Richard Clarke resigns his position as counterterrorism “tsar,” a position he has held since 1998. Frustrated with the Bush administration’s approach to counterterrorism, he had arranged the date of his retirement back in June 2001 (see June 2001). He becomes Special Adviser to the President for Cyberspace Security instead. He is replaced by Gen. Wayne Downing, a highly decorated retired military officer. [Washington Post, 10/10/2001] Clarke will quit his cyberspace security job in February 2003 and leave government. He will then become a prominent critic of the Bush administration. [Washington Post, 4/8/2003]
Entity Tags: Richard A. Clarke, Wayne Downing
October 9, 2001: Afghan Pipeline Idea Is Revived
US Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin meets with the Pakistani oil minister. She is briefed on the gas pipeline project from Turkmenistan, across Afghanistan, to Pakistan, which appears to be revived “in view of recent geopolitical developments” —in other words, the 9/11 attacks. [Frontier Post, 10/10/2001]
Entity Tags: Wendy Chamberlin, Pakistan
October 9, 2001: FBI Agents Told to Curtail 9/11 Investigation and Focus on Preventing Future Attacks
It is reported that the FBI and Justice Department have ordered FBI agents across the US to cut back on their investigation of the September 11 attacks, so as to focus on preventing future, possibly imminent, attacks. According to the New York Times, while law enforcement officials say the investigation of 9/11 is continuing aggressively, “At the same time… efforts to thwart attacks have been given a much higher priority.” Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller “have ordered agents to drop their investigation of the [9/11] attacks or any other assignment any time they learn of a threat or lead that might suggest a future attack.” Mueller believes his agents have “a broad understanding of the events of September 11,” and now need “to concentrate on intelligence suggesting that other terrorist attacks [are] likely.” The Times quotes an unnamed law enforcement official: “The investigative staff has to be made to understand that we’re not trying to solve a crime now. Our number one goal is prevention.” [New York Times, 10/9/2001] At a news conference the previous day, Ashcroft stated that—following the commencement of the US-led attacks on Afghanistan—he had placed federal law enforcement on the highest level of alert. But he refused to say if he had received any specific new threats of terrorist attacks. [US Department of Justice, 10/8/2001] The New York Times also reports that Ashcroft and Mueller have ordered FBI agents to end their surveillance of some terrorist suspects and immediately take them into custody. However, some agents have been opposed to this order because they believe that “surveillance—if continued for days or weeks—might turn up critical evidence to prove who orchestrated the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.” [New York Times, 10/9/2001] Justice Department communications director Mindy Tucker responds to the New York Times article, saying it “is not accurate,” and that the investigation into 9/11 “has not been curtailed, it is ongoing.” [United Press International, 10/9/2001]
Entity Tags: US Department of Justice, John Ashcroft, Mindy Tucker, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert S. Mueller III
October 10, 2001: FBI Issues List of 22 Most Wanted Terrorists; $5 Million Reward Placed on All of Them
The FBI releases a list of its 22 most wanted terrorists. The US government offers up to $5 million for information leading to the capture of anyone of the list. The men are:
Al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden, who was indicted by a grand jury in 1998 (see June 8, 1998), Ayman al-Zawahiri, linked to a 1995 bombing in Pakistan (see November 19, 1995), and Mohammed Atef, who provided training to Somali fighters before the Black Hawk Down incident (see Late 1992-October 1993);
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (KSM), for his role in the 1995 Bojinka plot (see January 6, 1995). KSM is actually the mastermind of 9/11, although the US intelligence community has allegedly not yet pieced this information together (see (November 7, 2001));
Several other operatives suspected of involvement in the 1998 US embassy bombings in Africa (see 10:35-10:39 a.m., August 7, 1998): Fazul Abdullah Mohammed (see August 2, 2008), Mustafa Fadhil, Usama al-Kini (a.k.a. Fahid Muhammad Ally Msalam (see August 6-7, 1998)), Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani (see July 25-29, 2004), Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan (see July 11, 2002), Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah (see September 10, 2002), Anas al-Liby (see January 20, 2002- March 20, 2002), Saif al-Adel (see Spring 2002), Ahmed Mohammed Hamed Ali, and Mushin Musa Matwalli Atwah (see April 12, 2006);
Abdul Rahman Yasin, a US-Iraqi involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing (see March 4-5,1993);
Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Mughassil, Ali Saed Bin Ali El-Houri, Ibrahim Salih Mohammed Al-Yacoub, and Abdelkarim Hussein Mohamed Al-Nasser, for their alleged part in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia (see June 25, 1996);
Imad Mugniyah, Hassan Izz-Al-Din, and Ali Atwa for the hijacking of TWA Flight 847 in June 1985. [CNN, 10/10/2001]
Entity Tags: Mohammed Atef, Mushin Musa Matwalli Atwah, Mustafa Fadhil, Osama bin Laden, Saif al-Adel, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Usama al-Kini, Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan, Imad Mugniyah, Mohammed Hamed Ali, Hassan Izz-Al-Din, Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, Abdul Rahman Yasin, Abdelkarim Hussein Mohamed Al-Nasser, Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Mughassil, Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, Ibrahim Salih Mohammed Al-Yacoub, Ali Saed Bin Ali El-Houri, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ali Atwa, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Anas al-Liby
Category Tags: Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Osama Bin Laden, 1998 US Embassy Bombings, Counterterrorism Action After 9/11
October 10, 2001: Two Israelis Are Detained in Mexican Legislature Building after Behaving Suspiciously and Found To Be Carrying Arms
Two Israelis, Salvador Gersson Smike, 34, and Sar Ben Zui, 27, are arrested in the Mexican Congress Building in Mexico City. Smike is carrying a plastic 9 mm sophisticated Glock 9 mm pistol tucked into his underwear in his lower back. Glock pistols are made with a special plastic material and are very easy to smuggle. [Correo, 10/11/2001; El Heraldo de Mexico (Mexico City), 10/11/2001; Cronica de Hoy (Mexico City), 10/12/2001] He also has with him a briefcase reported to contain 58 bullets, bomb-making materials, three detonators, and nine grenades. [El Heraldo de Mexico (Mexico City), 10/11/2001] The two were apprehended after ex-sugarcane workers, who were waiting for a congressional hearing, saw the two Israelis behaving strangely at around 4:00 p.m. They were reportedly photographing the workers below the belt. When the workers demanded that the two men identify themselves, the Israelis said they were press photographers. The workers dismissed their claims, overcame them, and then discovered they were armed with pistols and other high caliber arms. The two men had apparently also been seen the day before taking pictures. [Cronica de Hoy (Mexico City), 10/12/2001] Security guards soon arrived, disarmed the men, and took them to the security office. At around 6:00 p.m., it is learned that the two men are Israelis and that one of them, Salvador Gersson, is a former colonel of the Israeli Special Forces. [Correo, 10/11/2001; Diario de Mexico (Mexico City), 10/11/2001 ] Soon after, a man claiming to be a supervisor from the company, Desarrollo de Sistemas de Seguridad Privada (Private Security Systems Development), says the two men are employees at the firm and that they were taking pictures because they are “vacationing.” The journalists who are present scoff at the claim. [Correo, 10/11/2001; El Heraldo de Mexico (Mexico City), 10/11/2001] After October 13, no additional information is reported about the incident.
Entity Tags: Salvador Gersson Smike, Sar Ben Zui, Private Security Systems Development
Timeline Tags: Alleged Use of False Flag Attacks
Category Tags: Israel
October 10, 2001: Al-Qaeda Spokesperson Calls 9/11 Attacks a ‘Good Deed,’ Promises More Attacks
Suliman abu Ghaith in an October 2001 video. [Source: Al Jazeera]Al-Qaeda spokesperson Suliman abu Ghaith calls the 9/11 attacks a “good deed” and threatens new attacks. The statement is made public in a video broadcast on Al Jazeera on this day, but it was recorded a few days earlier. Abu Ghaith does not explicitly state that al-Qaeda was behind the 9/11 attacks, but he does not deny it either. He says: “The actions by these young men who destroyed the United States and launched the storm of planes against it have done a good deed. They transferred the battle into the US heartland. Let the United States know that with God’s permission, the battle will continue to be waged on its territory until it leaves our lands, stops its support for the Jews, and lifts the unjust embargo on the Iraqi people who have lost more than one million children.” [BBC, 10/10/2001] Several days later, he will make another video statement. He warns Muslims in the US and Britain not travel by plane or live in skyscrapers, and tells all non-Muslims to leave the Arabian Peninsula. [BBC, 10/14/2001]
Entity Tags: Al-Qaeda, Suliman abu Ghaith
Category Tags: 9/11 Investigations, Other 9/11 Investigations
October 10, 2001: Report: Bin Laden’s Financial Network Is Successor to the BCCI Bank
A 70-page French intelligence report claims: “The financial network of [Osama] bin Laden, as well as his network of investments, is similar to the network put in place in the 1980s by BCCI for its fraudulent operations, often with the same people (former directors and cadres of the bank and its affiliates, arms merchants, oil merchants, Saudi investors). The dominant trait of bin Laden’s operations is that of a terrorist network backed up by a vast financial structure.” The BCCI was the largest Islamic bank in the world before it collapsed in July 1991 (see July 5, 1991). A senior US investigator will later say US agencies are looking into the ties outlined by the French because “they just make so much sense, and so few people from BCCI ever went to jail. BCCI was the mother and father of terrorist financing operations.” The report identifies dozens of companies and individuals who were involved with BCCI and were found to be dealing with bin Laden after the bank collapsed. Many went on to work in banks and charities identified by the US and others as supporting al-Qaeda. About six ex-BCCI figures are repeatedly named, including Saudi multi-millionaire Ghaith Pharaon (see October 10, 2001). The role of Saudi billionaire Khalid bin Mahfouz in supporting bin Laden is emphasized in the report. In 1995, bin Mahfouz paid a $225 million fine in a settlement with US prosecutors for his role in the BCCI scandal. [Washington Post, 2/17/2002] Bin Laden lost money when BCCI was shut down, but may have benefited in the long term as other militants began relying on his financial network instead of BCCI’s (see July 1991 and After July 1991). Representatives of bin Mahfouz will later argue that this report is false and was in fact prepared by Jean-Charles Brisard and not the French intelligence service. Bin Mahfouz has begun libel proceedings against Mr. Brisard, claiming that he has made unfounded and defamatory allegations, and denies that he has ever supported terrorism. [Kendall Freeman, 5/13/2004 ]
Entity Tags: Jean-Charles Brisard, Ghaith Pharaon, Khalid bin Mahfouz, Al-Qaeda, Bank of Credit and Commerce International, Osama bin Laden
Category Tags: Pakistan and the ISI, BCCI
October 10, 2001: Baggage Handling Company Cleared of Wrongdoing
It is reported that Globe Aviation Services Corp., in charge of the baggage handlers for Flight 11 and all other American Airlines Flights at Boston’s Logan Airport, have been cleared of any wrongdoing. Globe Aviation supervisors claim that none of the employees working that day was in the US illegally. Supposedly, no weapons were detected, but a baggage handler for Globe Aviation and American Airlines has told the FBI that one of the hijackers—believed to be either Wail or Waleed Alshehri—was carrying one wooden crutch under his arm when he boarded Flight 11. Crutches are apparently routinely scanned through X-ray machines. [Boston Globe, 10/10/2001]
Entity Tags: Logan International Airport, American Airlines, Globe Aviation Services Corp., Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wail Alshehri, Waleed Alshehri
October 10, 2001: Famous Arab Commentator Says Al-Qaeda Could Not Have Conducted 9/11 Attacks
Mohammed Heikal. [Source: Publicity photo]Mohammed Heikal, longtime Egyptian journalist, former government spokesman, and the “Arab world’s foremost political commentator,” expresses disbelief that bin Laden and al-Qaeda could have conducted the 9/11 attack without the US knowing. “Bin Laden has been under surveillance for years: every telephone call was monitored and al-Qaeda has been penetrated by American intelligence, Pakistani intelligence, Saudi intelligence, Egyptian intelligence. They could not have kept secret an operation that required such a degree of organization and sophistication.” [Guardian, 10/10/2001]
Entity Tags: Mohammed Heikal, Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden
Category Tags: US Government and 9/11 Criticism
Timeline Tags: Events Leading to Iraq Invasion, 9/11 Timeline, Domestic Propaganda
Category Tags: Media
October 10, 2001: Prominent BCCI Front Man Linked to Bin Laden
Ghaith Pharaon shaking hands with Alexander Haig. [Source: Bob Morris / Sygma]Shortly after 9/11, the Guardian will report that Ghaith Pharon is “directly linked to bin Laden through banks, holding companies, and charities.” This information is said to come from a French intelligence report (see October 10, 2001). [Guardian, 10/10/2001] Pharon was a pivotal figure in the criminal BCCI bank. A Saudi, he built up a Saudi construction firm called REDEC that had over $1 billion in revenues by the mid-1970s. He lives an extremely opulent lifestyle and moves easily in high-powered circles in Western countries. But in the 1980s his businesses began failing and he became a BCCI front man. BCCI used his charm and his connections in Saudi Arabia and the US to buy banks in the US, such as the First American Bank. He threw lavish parties and became friends with many influential Americans, such as former President Jimmy Carter. Meanwhile, he stole at least $500 million of the money invested in BCCI. When the BCCI scandal broke in 1991, many of the key figures cut deals with prosecutors, but Pharon did not. An international warrant was issued for his arrest, and in 1997 it was determined that he owes $2 billion for his role in the BCCI scandal. [Beaty and Gwynne, 1993, pp. 168-182; Financial Times, 9/6/1997] But Pharaon continues to run his business empire and live a lavish lifestyle. In 1997, it was reported that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are both refusing to acknowledge the warrant for his arrest. He spends time in both countries, but mostly lives on his large yacht. [Financial Times, 9/6/1997]
Entity Tags: Osama bin Laden, Ghaith Pharaon
Category Tags: Terrorism Financing, BCCI
October 11, 2001: Early Account of Able Danger Remains Classified
Dr. Eileen Preisser testifies before a congressional briefing. Dr. Preisser was one of four analysts in the US Army’s Land Information Warfare Activity (LIWA) supporting Able Danger in late 1999 and 2000 (see Fall 1999). While her testimony remains classified, the next day, Representative Christopher Shays (R-CT) gives a brief summary: “In a briefing we had yesterday, we had Eileen [Preisser], who argues that we don’t have the data we need because we don’t take all the public data that is available and mix it with the security data. And just taking public data, using, you know, computer systems that are high-speed and able to digest, you know, literally floors’ worth of material, she can take relationships that are seven times removed, seven units removed, and when she does that, she ends up with relationships to the bin Laden group where she sees the purchase of chemicals, the sending of students to universities. You wouldn’t see it if you isolated it there, but if that unit is connected to that unit, which is connected to that unit, which is connected to that unit, you then see the relationship. So we don’t know ultimately the authenticity of how she does it, but when she does it, she comes up with the kind of answer that you have just asked, which is a little unsettling.” [US Congress. House. Committee on Government Reform. Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs and International Relations, 10/12/2001] Note that according to some media accounts, the CIA monitored Mohamed Atta purchasing large quantities of chemicals in Germany in the spring of 2000 (see January-May 2000). Atta also sends a series of e-mails to the US in the spring of 2000, inquiring about flight school opportunities for himself and a “small group” of his associates (see January-March 2000). Dr. Preisser is apparently willing to testify about her role in how Able Danger uncovered Atta’s name, but in September 2005 she is prohibited from publicly testifying before Congress (see September 21, 2005).
Entity Tags: Al-Qaeda, Christopher Shays, Eileen Preisser
Category Tags: Able Danger
October 11, 2001: FBI Incorrectly Claims Majority of 9/11 Hijackers Were Unaware They Were on Suicide Mission
According to an FBI report, “FBI investigators have officially concluded that 11 of the 19 terrorists who hijacked the aircraft on September 11 did not know they were on a suicide mission.” “Unlike the eight ‘lead’ attackers, who were all trained pilots, they did not leave messages for friends and family indicating they knew their lives were over,” and they did not have copies of Mohamed Atta’s final prayer note (see September 28, 2001). Personal items found suggest the men thought they were taking part in a conventional hijacking and were preparing for the possibility of prison. [Observer, 10/14/2001] This is later contradicted by video filmed in Afghanistan in March 2001 showing several of the 11 non-lead hijackers proclaiming their willingness to die on an upcoming suicide mission (see (December 2000-March 2001)).
Entity Tags: Federal Bureau of Investigation
October 11, 2001: Attorney General Ashcroft Takes Over All Terrorist Prosecutions
It is reported that Attorney General John Ashcroft and his Justice Department is assuming control of all terrorism-related prosecutions from the US Attorney’s office in New York, which has had a highly successful record of accomplishment in prosecuting cases connected to bin Laden. 15 of the 22 suspects listed on a most wanted terrorism list a month after 9/11 had already been indicted by the New York office in recent years. A former federal prosecutor says of the New York office, “For eight years, they have developed an expertise in these prosecutions and the complex facts that surround these groups. If ever there was a case where you’d want to play to your strength, this is it.” [New York Times, 10/11/2001] A grand jury in the New York district began investigating the 9/11 attacks one week after 9/11. But media accounts of this grand jury’s activity stop by late October 2001 and there appears to be no other grand jury taking its place (see September 18, 2001).
Entity Tags: US Department of Justice, Osama bin Laden
Timeline Tags: 9/11 Timeline, Civil Liberties
October 11-29, 2001: General Terror Alerts Issued, Terrorists Said Poised to Attack US ‘in the Next Week’
On October 11, 2001, President Bush uses his first prime-time news conference to give an update on the early stages of the war on terrorism. He confirms that the Justice Department just issued a blanket alert “in recognition of a general threat.” [CNN News, 10/11/2001] This general threat never materializes. On October 29, the administration warns again of plans to strike the United States “in the next week.” In a quickly called news conference, US Attorney General John Ashcroft says intelligence sources have found “credible” information the nation could be the focus for some sort of terrorist attack within the week. No specific information is provided to the public now or later to explain what information may have caused this alert. [CNN News, 10/29/2001] Bush tells Americans “to go about their lives, to fly on airplanes, to travel, to work.” [Rich, 2006, pp. 36]
Entity Tags: George W. Bush, John Ashcroft, US Department of Justice
Category Tags: Terror Alerts, Internal US Security After 9/11
October 12, 2001: Additional Suspected Terrorist Supporters’ Assets Frozen
The US and Britain freeze the assets of 39 additional individuals and organizations designated by the US as connected to terrorism. $24 million is seized. The British also freeze the assets of 27 other entities named by the US in late September 2001 (see September 24, 2001). The new list includes 33 individuals and six organizations. Twenty-two of the individuals appeared on the FBI’s latest “most wanted terrorists” list. Saudi multimillionaire businessman Yassin al-Qadi is named (see October 12, 2001). So is Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who will later be identified as the mastermind of 9/11. Five of the names were al-Qaeda leaders on a United Nations list published in March 8, 2001, with a recommendation that all nations freeze their assets. Other countries froze the assets of those on that list before 9/11, but the US did not (see March 8, 2001). [Associated Press, 10/12/2001; Guardian, 10/13/2001; Los Angeles Times, 10/15/2001]
Entity Tags: Al-Qaeda, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United Kingdom, United Nations, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Yassin al-Qadi
Category Tags: Saudi Arabia, Terrorism Financing, Counterterrorism Action After 9/11
October 12, 2001: US Declares Al-Qadi Terrorist Financier
Yassin al-Qadi. [Source: Arab News]Yassin al-Qadi is included in a new US list of 39 individuals and organizations designated by the US as connected to terrorism (see October 12, 2001). The US officially declares him a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” and his US assets are frozen. [Chicago Tribune, 10/14/2001; Chicago Tribune, 10/29/2001] Al-Qadi says he is “horrified and shocked” by the allegations. [Chicago Tribune, 10/16/2001] There have been several accusations that al-Qadi laundered money to fund Hamas and al-Qaeda. He headed the Muwafaq (Blessed Relief) Foundation, a Saudi-based charity. Treasury officials allege it has funneled millions of dollars to al-Qaeda (see 1995-1998). [Chicago Tribune, 10/16/2001; Chicago Tribune, 10/29/2001] An investigation into his al-Qaeda connections was canceled by higher-ups in the FBI in October 1998 (see October 1998). In late 2002, Saudi Arabia will freeze al-Qadi’s accounts, an action the Saudis have taken against only three people. However, he has yet to be charged or arrested by the Saudis or the US. [Washington Post, 12/7/2002]
Entity Tags: Yassin al-Qadi, United States, US Department of the Treasury
Category Tags: Robert Wright and Vulgar Betrayal, Saudi Arabia, BMI and Ptech, Terrorism Financing
October 12, 2001: Two Suspected Charities Apparently Protected by Saudi Government Ties
Muslim World League logo. [Source: Muslim World League]The International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) and the Muslim World League (MWL) are Saudi charities directly financed by the Saudi government. In 1996, the CIA gave the State Department a report detailing evidence that the IIIRO supported terrorism. It claimed the IIRO has funded Hamas and six militant training camps in Afghanistan, and one funder of the Bojinka plot to blow up airplanes over the Pacific was the head of the IIRO office in the Philippines (see January 1996). US intelligence officials also believe that MWL employees were involved in the 1998 US embassy bombings (see 10:35-10:39 a.m., August 7, 1998). Harper’s magazine claims that it has long been known that both groups helped fund al-Qaeda. However, in October 2001, it is reported that the Bush administration has left the two organizations off an October 12, 2001 list of designated terrorist groups to spare the Saudi government from embarrassment (see October 12, 2001). In March 2002, the Virginia offices of the IIRO and MWL will be raided by US Customs agents (see March 20, 2002). [Harper's, 3/2004] In September 2003, it will be reported that US officials recently gave Saudi officials a detailed documenting the IIRO’s terrorism links and asked the Saudis to close all of the organization’s overseas offices. [New York Times, 9/26/2003] However, as of January 2006, it will be reported that it appears the overseas offices of the IIRO and MWL are still open and the US has not officially declared either group to be terrorist sponsors. The US will still be complaining to the Saudis about these two organizations and others, and the Saudis will still not do anything about them (see January 15, 2006).
Entity Tags: International Islamic Relief Organization, Bush administration (43), Saudi Arabia, Muslim World League
October 12, 2001: President Bush Decides Against Attempting to Seal the Afghanistan-Pakistan Border to Prevent Al-Qaeda and Taliban from Escaping
President Bush briefly considers sealing the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan to prevent the escape of Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders, but then decides against it. According to journalist Bob Woodward, a National Security Council (NSC) meeting held on this day is attended by Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, CIA Director George Tenet, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, and others. Intelligence indicates that about 100 people per day are going from Pakistan to Afghanistan to fight with the Taliban. Woodward will claim, “There was some talk of sealing the border.” But he adds the idea is immediately dismissed: “It seemed an impossible idea, not practical given the hundreds of miles of mountainous and rough terrain, some of the most formidable in the world. There were few roads. Getting from one point to another could only be done on foot, with mules, or on horseback.” [Woodward, 2002, pp. 205] CIA official Michael Scheuer will later comment, “There is no denying that closing that border was a hard job, but if the NSC did not believe that the best military in the world could close the border and trap bin Laden, why did it decide that the task could be safely allotted to the poorly armed and trained and generally anti-US Pakistani forces?” [Scheuer, 2008]
Entity Tags: National Security Council, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, Richard (“Dick”) Cheney, George J. Tenet, George W. Bush
October 12, 2001: Vice President Cheney Suggests Al-Qaeda Could Be Responsible for Anthrax Attacks
Vice President Dick Cheney suggests al-Qaeda could be behind the recent anthrax attacks (see October 5-November 21, 2001). Cheney tells PBS: “We know that [Osama bin Laden] has over the years tried to acquire weapons of mass destruction, both biological and chemical weapons. We know that he’s trained people in his camps in Afghanistan. For example, we have copies of the manuals that they’ve actually used to train people with respect to how to deploy and use these kinds of substances. So, you start to piece it altogether. Again, we have not completed the investigation and maybe it’s coincidence, but I must say I’m a skeptic.” He adds, “I think the only responsible thing for us to do is proceed on the basis that it could be linked.” [BBC, 10/13/2001] A senior FBI official will claim in 2008 that this comment came shortly after the FBI told the White House that the anthrax strain was most likely too technically advanced to have been made by al-Qaeda (see Shortly After October 5, 2001).
Entity Tags: Al-Qaeda, Richard (“Dick”) Cheney
October 12, 2001: Rumsfeld Allegedly Says that Missile Hit Pentagon
In an interview for Parade magazine Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld apparently says the Pentagon was hit by a missile. In the printed interview and a Defense Department website re-posting he is quoted as saying: “Here we’re talking about plastic knives and using an American Airlines flight filled with our citizens, and the missile to damage this building and similar (inaudible) that damaged the World Trade Center.” [Parade Magazine, 10/12/2001] This will be taken by some who think the Pentagon was not hit by American Airlines Flight 77 (see Early March 2002) as an accidental admission of a missile strike. However, in 2004 Parade will say that a “transcription error led to the confusion, but conspiracy theorists latched onto Rumsfeld’s supposed admission and spread it over the Internet.” Although the transcription error is not specified, if the word “and” is replaced by the word “as” the statement becomes “[…] using an American Airlines flight filled with our citizens as the missile to damage this building.” [Parade Magazine, 9/4/2004]
Entity Tags: Donald Rumsfeld
October 12, 2001: Recovery Workers Find What They Think Is One of the Planes’ Black Boxes in the Debris of the WTC
Pier 25 on the Hudson River. [Source: Larry Lerner / FEMA]Recovery workers find what appears to be one of the black boxes from Flight 11 or Flight 175—the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center on 9/11—while they are working near Ground Zero, but FBI agents who inspect the object deny that it is one of these devices. [Keegan and Davis, 2006, pp. 94-96] The two black boxes carried by all commercial aircraft—the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder—can provide valuable information about why a plane crashed. Although they are called “black” boxes, they are in fact painted bright orange. [CBS News, 2/25/2002; PBS, 2/17/2004] Since the initial days of the recovery effort at Ground Zero, finding the black boxes from Flight 11 and Flight 175 has been a priority, due to the critical information they might hold. Many posters with photos of a plane’s black boxes have been put up around the WTC site so workers will recognize these devices if they turn up in the debris.
Operating Engineer Thinks He Has Found a Black Box - Today, an operating engineer notices an object that looks like it could be one of the black boxes while he is scraping up a load of debris at Pier 25 on the Hudson River. [Keegan and Davis, 2006, pp. 94] At Pier 25, near Ground Zero, debris from the WTC site is being loaded onto barges and transported to the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island. [New York Daily News, 1/6/2002; APWA Reporter, 3/2004] The operating engineer thinks the object is the same shape as a black box. It is too blackened and charred, though, for him to determine if it is painted orange, like a plane’s black boxes are. He stops operations at the pier so he can get the opinion of the crane operator there. The crane operator agrees that the object looks like a plane’s black box and says its discovery should be reported. The operating engineer therefore makes a call to report the find and is put through to Lieutenant Ed Moss of the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD).
Police Officers Think the Unearthed Object Is a Black Box - After the operating engineer tells him about the discovery, Moss heads to Pier 25 with his colleague, Lieutenant Bill Doubrawski. He examines the object and he too thinks it is one of the black boxes. Excitedly, he contacts Lieutenant William Keegan, who is in charge of the PAPD’s nighttime rescue and recovery operation at Ground Zero. Talking over a secure phone line, Moss tells Keegan: “I think we found one of these things. I’m looking at the diagram. I think this is it.” Moss says Doubrawski agrees with his assessment. He describes the object as being “[h]ard as a rock, not orange,” and looking “like it was torched, all blackened.” Keegan says he wants to see the object and heads to Pier 25 to examine it.
Senior Police Officer Agrees with His Colleagues' Assessment - When he arrives there, he compares the object to some photos of a plane’s black boxes and agrees that it appears to be one of these devices. “The object found on the pier was absolutely close enough to the pictures available to us to notify the FBI without delay,” Keegan will later write. The PAPD officers arrange for some FBI agents who are working at Ground Zero to come to the PAPD command post to see the object.
FBI Agents Think the Object Is a Black Box but Then Change Their Minds - Around 20 to 30 minutes later, two FBI agents arrive at the command post. The agents examine the object that has been discovered and compare it to a diagram of a plane’s black box. They then say words to the effect of “Wow, this looks like it” and “It’s the same shape,” according to Keegan. However, after looking at the object for a few more minutes, they apparently change their minds. “We don’t think it’s a black box,” one of them tells the PAPD officers. In response, Keegan asks: “So it’s okay to throw it back on the barge? You’re clearing it?” The other agent quickly replies, “No, no, we’re going to take it with us.” The two FBI agents then leave the command post, taking the object with them. Keegan and his colleagues will subsequently never receive any information from the FBI, regarding whether the object really is one of the black boxes. [Keegan and Davis, 2006, pp. 94-96] The 9/11 Commission Report will state that the black boxes from the planes that crashed into the WTC “were not found.” [9/11 Commission, 7/24/2004, pp. 456] But firefighter Nicholas DeMasi, who works extensively in the wreckage of the WTC, will say he helped federal agents recover three black boxes at Ground Zero (see October 2001). [Swanson, 2003, pp. 108; Philadelphia Daily News, 10/28/2004]
Entity Tags: Bill Doubrawski, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ed Moss, William Keegan
Timeline Tags: Events Leading to Iraq Invasion
Category Tags: Alleged Iraq-Al-Qaeda Links
Shortly After October 12, 2001: Software Company Whistleblowers Ignored
Yassin al-Qadi, a Saudi multimillionaire businessman, was officially declared a terrorist financier in October 2001 (see October 12, 2001). [Arab News, 9/26/2002] That same month, a number of employees at Ptech, a Boston-based computer company that al-Qadi and other individuals suspected of financing officially designated terrorist groups invested in (see 1994), tell the Boston FBI about the connections between Ptech and al-Qadi. However, FBI agents do little more than take their statements. A high-level government source later will claim the FBI does not convey the Ptech-al-Qadi link to Operation Greenquest, a Customs Department investigation into al-Qadi and other suspected financiers, and none of the government agencies using Ptech software are warned about the possible security threat Ptech represents. [Boston Globe, 12/7/2002; WBZ 4 (Boston), 12/9/2002] According to a private counterterrorism expert involved in investigating Ptech at the time, “Frighteningly, when an employee told [Ptech president Oussama Ziade] he felt he had to contact the FBI regarding al-Qadi’s involvement in the company, the president allegedly told him not to worry because Yaqub Mirza, who was on the board of directors of the company and was himself a target of a [Greenquest] terrorist financing raid in March 2002 (see March 20, 2002), had contacts high within the FBI.” [National Review, 5/27/2003] A Ptech investigation will finally begin in 2002 after more whistleblowers come forward (see May-December 5, 2002).
Entity Tags: US Customs Service, Yacub Mirza, Operation Greenquest, Yassin al-Qadi, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ptech Inc., Oussama Ziade
Category Tags: Terrorism Financing, BMI and Ptech, FBI 9/11 Investigation, 9/11 Investigations
Mid-October 2001: Al-Qaeda Offers to Arrange Television Interview of Osama bin Laden
An al-Qaeda representative offers to arrange a television interview of Osama bin Laden. There are two versions of how this offer is made. According to CNN, an al-Qaeda contact of the Qatar-based Al Jazeera, with which it has a footage-sharing agreement, invites CNN and Al Jazeera to submit questions to bin Laden. CNN, worried about accusations of improper conduct, contacts the other major US television news stations and tells them it will share any footage that emerges. It also says it will only air the interview as long as it is newsworthy and not “propaganda.” CNN then draws up six questions about al-Qaeda’s role in 9/11 and the recent anthrax attacks in the US. It gives the questions to Al Jazeera, which adds another 25 and sends them to its Kabul bureau, which, in turn, passes them on to its al-Qaeda contact. The ethics of this are hotly debated in the US media, with Fox News publicly refusing to participate. Nevertheless, an Al Jazeera manager will later say: “I assure you they [Fox] contacted me to send more questions of their own. I got calls and emails from them.” Fox will later admit to the contacts, but say it would only have agreed to take part in the event of a regular interview. However, Al Jazeera media relations manager Jihad Ballout will contradict CNN’s account of the offer, saying the two organizations are approached independently, and al-Qaeda eventually chooses Al Jazeera. [Miles, 2005, pp. 175-176, 179-180] The interview will take place on October 20 (see October 20, 2001).
Entity Tags: Jihad Ballout, Al Jazeera, Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, CNN, Fox News
Category Tags: Osama Bin Laden
October 14, 2001: Bin Laden Reportedly Has Supporters at All Levels of Saudi Arabia
The Boston Herald reports: “Three banks allegedly used by Osama bin Laden to distribute money to his global terrorism network have well-established ties to a prince in Saudi Arabia’s royal family, several billionaire Saudi bankers, and the governments of Kuwait and Dubai. One of the banks, Al-Shamal Islamic Bank in the Sudan, was controlled directly by bin Laden, according to a 1996 US State Department report.” A regional expert states, “I think we underestimate bin Laden. He comes from the highest levels of Saudi society and he has supporters at all levels of Saudi Arabia.” [Boston Herald, 10/14/2001] The US has yet to take any official steps against the Al-Shamal bank, and some suggest this is because of its ties to influential Saudi figures (see September 24, 2001 and After).
Entity Tags: Osama bin Laden, Al-Shamal Islamic Bank
October 14, 2001: ’Strange Coincidence’ Briefly Increases Suspicions Al-Qaeda Is behind Anthrax Attacks
Gloria Irish. [Source: AP / St. Petersburg Times]The FBI confirms that Gloria Irish rented an apartment to two of the 9/11 hijackers. Her husband is Michael Irish, who is an editor of the Sun, a Florida tabloid newspaper, and the first victim of the anthrax attacks earlier this month. Bob Stevens, who also worked at the Sun, and several others at the tabloid offices were injured. The FBI says that Irish rented different apartments in Delray Beach, Florida, to hijackers Marwan Alshehhi and Saeed Alghamdi during the summer of 2001. But one FBI spokesperson says, “Right now it looks like a coincidence,” and another calls it a “strange coincidence.” Two of the hijackers, including Mohamed Atta, also had subscriptions to the Sun. [Knight Ridder, 10/14/2001; Guardian, 10/16/2001] But Irish says “there is no way” the hijackers could have known about any Sun connection through her. [Washington Post, 10/15/2001] Michael Irish is a licensed pilot who was a member of the Civil Air Patrol based at Lantana Airport. Atta reportedly rented a plane at that airport in August (see August 16-19, 2001). Stevens, who died of anthrax on October 5, also lived in Lantana. But there is no evidence that Irish or Stevens crossed paths with Atta. [St. Petersburg Times, 10/15/2001] The story will quickly die after nothing more is found to the connection.
Entity Tags: Mohamed Atta, Marwan Alshehhi, Bob Stevens, Gloria Irish, Saeed Alghamdi
October 15, 2001: Two Democratic Senators Targets of Anthrax Attacks
The envelope to the Tom Daschle letter. [Source: FBI]Two Democratic senators are targets of the 2001 anthrax attacks (see October 5-November 21, 2001). On this day, Senator Tom Daschle’s office opens a letter mailed October 9, containing a lethal dose of anthrax (see October 6-9, 2001). A similar letter to Senator Patrick Leahy mailed the same day and from the same location is misrouted to Virginia on October 12, and is not discovered until November 17. Neither Leahy nor Daschle come into contact with the anthrax, but some of Daschle’s staffers do. [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/8/2001]
Entity Tags: P. Patrick Leahy, Tom Daschle
October 15, 2001: Russian Newspaper Calls Afghanistan War US Political Power Move
According to the Moscow Times, the Russian government sees the upcoming US conquest of Afghanistan as an attempt by the US to replace Russia as the dominant political force in Central Asia, with the control of oil as a prominent motive: “While the bombardment of Afghanistan outwardly appears to hinge on issues of fundamentalism and American retribution, below the surface, lurks the prize of the energy-rich Caspian basin into which oil majors have invested billions of dollars. Ultimately, this war will set the boundaries of US and Russian influence in Central Asia—and determine the future of oil and gas resources of the Caspian Sea.” [Moscow Times, 10/15/2001] The US later appears to gain military influence over Kazakhstan, the Central Asian country with the most resource wealth, and closest to the Russian heartland (see March 30, 2002).
Entity Tags: United States, Russia
Category Tags: Afghanistan, US Dominance
October 15, 2001: President Bush Suggests Link between Anthrax Attacks and Al-Qaeda
At a press conference in Italy, President Bush says “there may be some possible link” between the recent anthrax attacks (see October 5-November 21, 2001) and al-Qaeda. He adds: “We have no hard data yet, but it’s clear that [Osama] bin Laden is a man who’s an evil man. He and his spokesmen are openly bragging about how they hope to inflict more pain on our country. So we’re watching every piece of evidence.” [CNN, 10/15/2001] A senior FBI official will claim in 2008 that this comment came shortly after the FBI told the White House that the anthrax strain was most likely too technically advanced to have been made by al-Qaeda (see Shortly After October 5, 2001).
Entity Tags: George W. Bush, Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaeda
Mid-October-December 2001: British Muslim Radicalized by Informer Fights Allied Troops in Afghanistan
A British Muslim radicalized at Finsbury Park mosque in London, which is run by British intelligence informer and radical imam Abu Hamza al-Masri (see Early 1997), fights against British troops in northern Afghanistan. The man’s name is not known, but he will be said to be a former DJ of Lebanese descent from a rich family. [O'Neill and McGrory, 2006, pp. 88]
Entity Tags: Finsbury Park Mosque
(Mid-October-mid November 2001): Gold and Silver Recovered from WTC Basement Area; Evidence Suggests Attempted Theft
The Bank of Nova Scotia gold vault, located under WTC Building 4, is examined in late October 2001. [Source: Leslie E. Robertson and Associates]Workers at Ground Zero discover large amounts of gold and other precious metals stored below the ruins of the WTC. As debris is removed they are able to access parts of the 16-acre WTC basement, which drops 70 feet below ground level. Precious metals are stored in numerous vaults within this area. The London Times says the quantity of these “has been a carefully guarded secret,” but estimates $750 million of gold and silver in vaults belonging to the Comex metals trading division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. There appears to have been an attempt, since 9/11, to break into a Comex vault containing $200 million of precious metals belonging to the Bank of Nova Scotia. A government official involved in the recovery work says, “It looked like they used a blowtorch, a crowbar,” but a bank spokeswoman denies there has been any attempted break-in. The banks later states that “All of the silver, gold, platinum, and palladium stored in its vaults at 4 World Trade Center” has been relocated to a depository in Brooklyn. Other gold is discovered in a service tunnel below WTC 5. According to the London Times, this was being transported through the tunnel on the morning of 9/11 (see (Before 9:59 a.m.) September 11, 2001). [New York Daily News, 10/31/2001; London Times, 11/1/2001; New York Times, 11/1/2001; Reuters, 11/17/2001]
Entity Tags: Comex
October 15, 2001-February 22, 2004: Waiter Who Served Atta Lunch Is Imprisoned for Five Months, Government Attempts to Keep Court Case Secret
Mohamed Kamel Bellahouel is arrested and held for five months after investigators discover he worked at a restaurant where Mohamed Atta and Marwan Alshehhi sometimes ate lunch in South Florida. In a sworn statement, Michael Rolince, head of the FBI’s International Terrorism Operations Section, says, “It is likely that Bellahouel would have waited on both Atta and Alshehhi since Bellahouel had worked at the restaurant for 10 months, and both Atta and Alshehhi were frequent patrons during shifts that Bellahouel worked.” Rolince also alleges Bellahouel may have waited on a third hijacker, Saeed Alghamdi, and says that a cinema employee claims Bellahouel saw a film with a fourth hijacker, Ahmed Alnami. However, Bellahouel, who denies going to the cinema with Alnami, has trouble gaining access to the evidence used against him. His attorney comments, “They won’t call it secret evidence and they won’t call it classified, but they won’t give it to you, either.” He is held in prison without bond and without charge from October 15, 2001 to March 1, 2002. After he is released, US authorities attempt to deport him, as he entered the US as a student, but then dropped out of college and started work, marrying a US citizen in June 2001. His attorney says the problem is that he is a Muslim. “If he were a Catholic coming from Venezuela or Colombia, they would have let him adjust his immigration status.” Bellahouel sues the government over his incarceration, but the case is shrouded in secrecy and the press only learns the case is ongoing due to a court error. [Miami Daily Business Review, 3/14/2003] For example, a journalist, who does not event know Bellahouel’s name, attempts to attend a hearing in March 2003. But the court is closed. After some effort, the reporter finally finds the name in the electronic docket. When he tells a court official Bellahouel’s name is on the docket, the official replies, “Is it? We’ll have to fix that, too,” and the name disappears. [Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 12/2004] In February 2004 the Supreme Court declines an appeal from Bellahouel to have an open hearing, and media organizations are prevented from accessing sealed court proceedings. [New York Times, 1/5/2004; CNN, 2/23/2004]
Entity Tags: Marwan Alshehhi, Michael Rolince, Ahmed Alnami, Mohamed Kamel Bellahouel, Saeed Alghamdi, Mohamed Atta
Category Tags: Mohamed Atta, FBI 9/11 Investigation, 9/11 Investigations
Mid-October 2001: Bin Laden’s Oldest Son Confirms He Still Works with Family Company
Abdullah bin Laden, Osama bin Laden’s oldest son, confirms in an interview that he works with the family business, the Saudi Binladin Group, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He declares his allegiance to the Saudi government, but also defends his father and refuses to disown him. Two knowledgeable sources from within Saudi Arabia claim that Abdullah is being prevented from leaving Saudi Arabia, with the implication that the government could bring harm to him if Osama attacks Saudi Arabia. [Wall Street Journal, 10/2/2001; New Yorker, 11/5/2001] Abdullah also says that he lived with Osama in Sudan until 1996, but then moved back to Saudi Arabia when his father moved to Afghanistan, as he did not want to experience the hardships there. [New Yorker, 12/5/2005] In 2005 it will be reported that Bakr bin Laden, the family patriarch and chairman of the Saudi Binladin Group, is said to frequently dine in public restaurants in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with Abdullah. [Der Spiegel (Hamburg), 6/6/2005]
Entity Tags: Abdullah Awad bin Laden
Category Tags: Saudi Arabia, Bin Laden Family
October 16, 2001: Some Flight Control Transcripts Released, but Sections Are Missing
The government releases flight control transcripts of three of the four hijacked planes [New York Times, 10/16/2001; New York Times, 10/16/2001; New York Times, 10/16/2001] ) . Strangely, Flight 93 is left out. Yet even the three released transcripts are incomplete (for instance, Flight 77’s ends at least 20 minutes before it crashes), and certain events that are part of the official story do not show up on these transcripts.
October 16, 2001: Several Israelis Arrested for Curious Sears Tower Surveillance
Two men, Moshe Elmakias and Ron Katar, are arrested in rural Pennsylvania after being found with a detailed video of the Sears Tower in Chicago. In addition, a woman named Ayelet Reisler is found with them, carrying conflicting identification information. They are arrested for illegal dumping, using a van with the name Moving Systems Incorporated. The video contains extensive zoom in shots of the Sears Tower; it is not known when the video was filmed. [Mercury (Philadelphia), 10/17/2001]
Entity Tags: Ron Katar, Sears Tower, Ayelet Reisler, Moshe Elmakias
October 16, 2001: Bin Laden Cleared of Insider Trading in Britain
“The Financial Services Authority—Britain’s main financial regulator—has cleared bin Laden and his henchmen of insider trading. There has been a widespread suspicion that members of the al-Qaeda organization had cashed in on the US attacks, dumping airline, aerospace and insurance company shares before September 11th. The Authority says that after a thorough investigation, it has found no hard evidence of any such deals in London.” [American Public Media, 10/17/2001] On September 24, Belgium’s Financial Minister had claimed there were strong suspicions that British markets may have been used for 9/11-related insider trading in early September. [CNN, 9/24/2001]
Entity Tags: Al-Qaeda, Financial Services Authority
Category Tags: Insider Trading/ Foreknowledge
October 17, 2001: JCS Chairman Myers Says He Hadn’t Thought of 9/11-Type Scenario
Gen. Richard Myers, acting Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman on 9/11, says of 9/11, “You hate to admit it, but we hadn’t thought about this.” He was promoted from Vice-Chairman to Chairman three days after 9/11. [American Forces Press Service, 10/23/2001]
Entity Tags: Richard B. Myers
Category Tags: Warning Signs, 9/11 Denials
October 18, 2001: Paul Wolfowitz Issues Memo Urging Secrecy Among Defense Department Staff
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz issues a memorandum to senior officials throughout the Defense Department stating that, following President Bush’s declaration of a national emergency on September 14, Defense Department employees should exercise great caution whenever discussing information relating to their department’s work. The memo instructs: “Do not conduct any work-related conversations in common areas, public places, while commuting, or over unsecured electronic circuits. Classified information may be discussed only in authorized spaces and with persons having a specific need to know and the proper security clearance. Unclassified information may likewise require protection because it can often be compiled to reveal sensitive conclusions. Much of the information we use to conduct [the department]‘s operations must be withheld from public release because of its sensitivity. If in doubt, do not release or discuss official information except with other [Defense Department] personnel.” According to the memo, “the security of information critical to the national security will remain at risk for an indefinite period.” [US Department of Defense, 10/18/2001; Washington Times, 10/23/2001]
Entity Tags: US Department of Defense, Paul Wolfowitz
October 18, 2001: CBS Drama Canceled because It Includes Plot about an Anthrax Attack in the US
Chase Brandon. [Source: Daily Mail]An episode of the CBS drama series, The Agency, about a planned terrorist attack in the United States using anthrax was scheduled to be broadcast on this day, but is postponed in response to the actual anthrax attacks taking place in the US. [Variety, 10/16/2001; Associated Press, 10/17/2001; People, 11/6/2001] The Agency shows the CIA tackling problems of national security, taking on villains such as Arab terrorists and Colombian drug dealers. [Guardian, 9/6/2001; Guardian, 10/5/2001]
German Terrorist Plans to Attack Washington with Anthrax - The episode, titled “A Slight Case of Anthrax,” which was filmed in August, features a German man who is planning to attack Washington, DC, using anthrax sprayed from a crop duster plane. The man has acquired the same anthrax that the US government developed and sold to Iraq when it was an ally. The CIA discovers that he was behind an anthrax attack in Belgium, and Washington is his next intended target. CIA agents then scramble to stop the terrorist before he can reach the capital. [St. Petersburg Times, 10/29/2001; E! Online, 11/2/2001; People, 11/6/2001; Jenkins, 2012, pp. 68] Al-Qaeda was originally going to be responsible for the anthrax attacks in the storyline, according to Michael Frost Beckner, who wrote the episode. However, CBS said: “This al-Qaeda thing, you’ve got to get off that. No one is interested. Trust us.” The episode was consequently redrafted so that it featured “Iraqis making an anthrax attack through German terrorist proxies.” [Hollywood, Health and Society, 4/2/2002 ]
Episode Canceled due to Actual Anthrax Attacks - The US is currently in the middle of a series of terrorist attacks using anthrax (see October 5-November 21, 2001). [South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/8/2001] Anthrax has been discovered in three states and the District of Columbia in the past two weeks. At least 13 people either have anthrax or were exposed to its spores, and one person has died. The episode of The Agency about anthrax attacks is therefore canceled and is replaced with another episode of the show. CBS spokesman Chris Ender explains, “We certainly don’t want to do anything to add to the country’s fears about anthrax.” [E! Online, 10/16/2001; Associated Press, 10/17/2001] “A Slight Case of Anthrax” was in fact going to be broadcast a week ago, on October 11, but had to be rescheduled because President Bush decided to hold a prime-time news conference that evening. [Variety, 10/16/2001; Associated Press, 10/17/2001]
Storyline Was Suggested by CIA Liaison - Gail Katz, one of the show’s executive producers, will later suggest why the storyline about anthrax so closely resembles real-world events, commenting: “This is a series which is dealing with reality. It has to deal with threats like this that concern us.” [E! Online, 11/2/2001] Bazzel Baz, a former CIA operative who is a technical adviser for The Agency, will say, “We know how the CIA works, so if we write a script about anthrax or about a bomb or about an assassination or about bin Laden, it’s probably going to happen.” [CNN, 10/30/2001] Tracey Rabb, the show’s publicist, will comment, “[Y]ou really can’t do a serious drama about the CIA without colliding with topical events.” [People, 11/6/2001] However, Beckner will reveal that the storyline for “A Slight Case of Anthrax” was suggested to him by Chase Brandon, the CIA’s entertainment liaison officer. Author Tricia Jenkins will note that this means it “originated from the CIA.” [Jenkins, 2012, pp. 66] The CIA has in fact cooperated extensively with the producers of The Agency, such as by reviewing the show’s scripts. [New York Times, 8/26/2001]
Episode Airs in November - “A Slight Case of Anthrax” will finally be broadcast on November 8. [E! Online, 11/2/2001; People, 11/6/2001] The pilot episode of The Agency, which features a storyline in which Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda terrorist group plots to blow up a department store in London, was also canceled and will be broadcast on November 1 (see September 27, 2001). [New York Times, 9/29/2001; South Florida Sun Sentinel, 10/25/2001; Hollywood, Health and Society, 4/2/2002 ]
Entity Tags: CBS, Bazzel Baz, Chris Ender, Gail Katz, Michael Frost Beckner, Tracey Rabb
Timeline Tags: 9/11 Timeline, 2001 Anthrax Attacks
Late October 2001: UAE Confused over Hijacker Bank Accounts
Governor of the United Emirates Central Bank Sultan Nasser al-Suwaidi first says that hijacker pilots Mohamed Atta and Marwan Alshehhi had accounts in the United Arab Emirates, but then later contradicts this saying that Atta did not have one. Initially, he admits that Atta had an account at a Citibank branch in Dubai, but says it was closed a year before the attacks. “Mohamed Atta was like any adult expatriate in the UAE,” he says. The account was apparently busier than normal, with frequent transfers of $10,000 to $15,000. [Los Angeles Times, 10/20/2001; CNN, 10/22/2001] Although the existence of Alshehhi’s account is confirmed (see July 1999-November 2000), al-Suwaidi denies Atta had an account a few days later. He says that his bank had confused Atta with an Afghan who had a similar name, but different photo, age, and occupation. “They are different people, different nationalities,” he insists. The Afghan had an account with Citibank from 1997 to December 2000, but there were apparently no suspicious transfers to Afghanistan. [UAE Interact, 10/25/2001; Gulf News, 10/25/2001]
Entity Tags: Sultan Nasser al-Suwaidi, Marwan Alshehhi, Mohamed Atta
Category Tags: Marwan Alshehhi, Mohamed Atta, Possible 9/11 Hijacker Funding
October 19, 2001: Germany Issues International Warrant for Al-Qaeda Hamburg Cell Member Essabar
The German government issues an international arrest warrant for Zakariya Essabar, a member of the al-Qaeda cell in Hamburg, Germany, with a few of the 9/11 hijackers. Essabar left Germany to fly to Pakistan in late August 2001 (see Late August 2001). This is the third 9/11-related international warrant issued by Germany, following warrants for cell members Ramzi bin al-Shibh and Said Bahaji issued in late September 2001 (see September 21, 2001). [CNN, 10/19/2001] Essabar was seen in an al-Qaeda training camp in late September 2001 (see September 10, 2001). He has not been heard of since.
Entity Tags: Zakariya Essabar
Category Tags: Al-Qaeda in Germany, Counterterrorism Action After 9/11
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The Legacy & Quiet of Muir Woods
Gallery May 23, 2017 Kevin D. Hendricks Leave a comment
Last week my wife and I went on vacation to San Francisco. We were there to catch a U2 concert, which was amazing. We also took in lots of other sights. But my favorite—no big surprise—was Muir Woods.
It’s an incredible place filled with 500-year old trees that tower more than 350 feet above the quiet forest floor.
Preserve & Protect
Muir Woods is also an example of the power of legacy.
William and Elizabeth Kent purchased the land to protect it, but in 1907 a water company wanted to dam a river and flood the valley. They threatened to do it with eminent domain and went to court. But instead the Kents donated the land to the federal government and convinced President Theodore Roosevelt to declare it a National Monument.
Thus one of the disappearing stands of coastal redwoods was saved for future generations.
Embrace the Quiet
Perhaps the best part of Muir Woods is the silence. A number of signs encourage visitors to be quiet and emphasize the meditative nature of the forest.
You’re encouraged to keep your voice down and feel the presence of nature around you. Some of the plants on the forest floor get barely any direct sunlight. You’re bathed in shadow, clouded in fog and mist, breathing in the oxygen expelled by trees that have stood tall for hundreds of years.
This quiet solitude is something you have to seek out. Knowing that parking would be hard to find, we arrived at 8 a.m. when the park opened and enjoyed the fullness of that quiet. When we left about two hours later, the tour buses full of people had arrived and idle chatter was gaining volume (it didn’t help that park workers were clearing some branches with chainsaws).
I wish more parks encouraged this atmosphere of quiet, though I imagine it’s hard to preserve. Muir Woods seemed to demand our quiet, somber respect, and it felt entirely appropriate.
After Muir Woods
The drive to Muir Woods and beyond was pretty intense. I’ve driven in the mountains before, but the tight confines of these California mountains were something else. I’ve driven the switchbacks of Colorado, but those were relaxed by comparison. The Panoramic Highway near Muir Woods felt more like an endless slalom, up and down the mountainside.
My heart rate was definitely up. We even pulled over at one point to stave off car sickness.
But it was worth it. Stinson Beach was beautiful. We ate lunch in an open-air restaurant overlooking the ocean. At the far end of the beach there were giant outcroppings of rock you could wander among at low tide.
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BB 2010-09-06 Access inputs and capital goods at competitive prices-Part2
Access inputs and capital goods at competitive price
This second part further profiles export promotion schemes that can best contribute best to accessing inputs and capital goods at competitive prices. Whilst the first part focussed on duty drawback and special economic zones, this part focuses on: schemes in the form of condoning or not collecting government revenues otherwise due, export credits (specialised schemes that need to abide by multilateral trading rules) as well as regional sourcing.Schemes in the form of condoning or not collecting government revenues otherwise due.
Since subsidies can distort international free trade, they are regulated by WTO Agreements and are only permitted under very limited and strict conditions. According to Article 1.1(a)(1)(ii), a government revenue constitutes a “financial contribution”, if it is foregone or not collected while that government revenue is otherwise due. Because normally these financial contributions confer a benefit, and provided that they are specific, they become subject to the application of the rules contained in the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM). The ASCM specifically prohibits subsidies that are contingent upon export performance (export subsidies). The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) also prohibits export subsidies that are listed in that Agreement unless countries have made some specific commitments regarding certain products specified in their Schedule of Concessions. The export promotion schemes must therefore be devised in conformity with ASCM.
However, many developing countries with low per capita GNP and LDCs escape the above-mentioned prohibition of export subsidies under the ASCM as they benefit from special and differential treatment.
Box 1: Special and differential treatment for developing country members
Subsidies may play an important role in the economic development programmes of developing countries. Article 27 of the ASCM thus provides for specific rules and disciplines for developing country members that are less strict than the general rules and conditions applied to developed countries. In particular, the prohibition of export subsidies may be exempted for the following countries:
- Least developed countries (LDCs) designated as such by the United Nations [Annex VII (a)].
- Certain members identified in Annex VII (b) of the ASCM until such time as their GNP per capita has reached US$ 1,000 per year in constant 1990 dollars for three consecutive years. So far, only the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Morocco have been removed from the original list. Additionally, it is provided that a Member shall not leave Annex VII(b) so long its GNP per capita in current dollars has not reached US$ 1,000. (Bolivia, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka,Zimbabwe)
- Other developing country members were initially granted an exemption until 2002. An extension to this provision was subsequently agreed, but only for specific programmes. For example, Barbados has an allowance for a Fiscal Incentive Programme and International Business Incentives; Costa Rica for a Free Zone Regime and Inward Processing Regime.
Although permitted, when developing and least developed countries governments decide to use such measures, they ought to remember, if those subsidy programs cause injury to the industries in importing countries, they could be subjected to countervailing duties by the importing Members.
Options open to a developing country
The options available to a developing country depend on its status:
1. If the country is an LDC or one of those countries listed in Annex VII (b) of the ASCM, it could introduce or maintain grants and schemes foregoing or not collecting certain government revenue contingent upon export performance:
- It could forego, in part or totally, the customs duties payable on imports of capital goods used for the production of existing or new export products, such as banana and mango chips.
- It could forego, partially or totally, company tax payable with respect to profits obtained through the export business of agro-industrial companies producing in that country.
- Other more specific schemes would include special deductions – such as double deductions – for certain activities that the authorities consider would promote exports. These could involve double deductions for all foreign advertising activities, or for attending trade fairs in exporting countries, for example.
Nevertheless, because these are subsidies contingent upon export performance, they could be subject to countervailing measures by the domestic industries of importing members, if they can show that they cause injury. This applies even to LDC subsidies, although LDCs could get some protection from the de minimis clause. These programmes are very frequently targeted in countervailing investigations carried out by Australia, Canada, the EC and the United States. They can also be challenged through the multilateral track (US – FSC is just one example). The country concerned should therefore carefully weigh the risks entailed by these schemes when devising and implementing them.
2. Regardless of its status, a country could develop programmes not contingent upon export performance. These programmes could be similar to those under option 1 mentioned above, but the export contingency requirement would be removed. The effect of these schemes would be felt across a company’s entire production and would, therefore, impact its exported goods only in part. These would therefore constitute indirect export promotion measures.
3. The country concerned may devise schemes that do not fall under the scope of the ASCM. It could do this either by ensuring that they do not fall under any of the financial contribution categories set out in Article 1.1, or by making any scheme non-specific.
Box 2: Vanuatu: Incentive schemes used
With respect to the export promotion support activities, the legislation of Vanuatu does not provide income tax holidays or similar type of measures because there is no corporate tax. However, there are other types of measures to promote investments and exports. Most significantly, full exemptions are applied on trade taxes for manufacturing, processing and mineral exploration and extraction of raw materials and capital items. For other sectors, the benefit, in general, is a reduction of trade taxes. Furthermore, the Government supports and encourages all export-oriented investments and does not levy any export taxes on the export of any goods or services; export manufacturers are exempt from trade taxes on their production inputs and from any taxes on exports.
Export credits
What are export credits?
Export credits arise whenever a buyer or a supplier of exported goods or services is allowed to defer payment for a certain period of time. The types of export credits that involve a certain degree of official support are mainly granted in order to finance the export of capital goods and the related services. How official support is granted varies from country to country. In most countries such support is given to the banking sector either directly or through a specialized intermediary. In other countries the funds necessary for the granting of export credits are provided directly by government agencies. Export credits can take the form either of a supplier or a buyer credit. Supplier credits are extended by the exporting company, which then arranges refinancing. In the case of the buyer credit, the exporter’s bank, or another financial institution, lends funds to the buyer in the importing market. Export credits can be medium-term (two to five years) or long term (at least five years). The objective in either case is the same: the promotion of exported goods and services in foreign markets.
Permitted export credits
The rules concerning export credits are included in Item (k) of the Illustrative List of Annex I of the ASCM as follows: Grants by governments below certain interest rates or payments by governments of at least part of the costs incurred by exporters or financial institutions in obtaining credits used in order to secure a material advantage concerning export credit terms are considered as prohibited export subsidies. Any Member seeking to grant export credits in excess of the terms permitted under the Arrangement, e.g. at lower interest rates or longer maturity, must notify this intention to all fellow Members accompanied by a detailed explanation for the reasons of such deviation.
Regional sourcing
Best practices suggest the sources of material/goods in the regional setting due the shorter delivery time. For example, intermediary products — fibres, fabrics and trims — are available on world markets, but sourcing them from nearby countries can provide shorter delivery times. In addition, as countries capacities to export grow, they need to order larger quantities of production inputs. For example, they will order more raw materials. As the order value increases, as government and business obtains more bargaining power with suppliers, it may be able to obtain discounts and lower prices for the raw materials. In particular, restrictive rules undermine competitiveness by constraining access to cheapest inputs.
Rules of Origin (RoO)
These rules set the condition for market access and are thus important when considering regional sourcing. Moreover, the requirements under which a product may be considered to be of local origin, which would qualify it for duty-free quota free access. Different methodologies can underlie the rules, with the EU using a variety of tests to determine origin3. If the product does not meet these conditions, which are often very specific for each product, a product’s duty-free status is lost and normal import duties will be applicable.
Typically government use restrictive RoO to encourage the development of local input suppliers and domestic integrated production chains. But the global market exacts a heavy price on those who do not use the cheapest and most appropriate inputs. Furthermore, local input suppliers will only emerge if final goods producers are viable. Provisions for cummulation within regional and mulit-lateral trade agreements lessen the impact of restrictive rules and stimulate regional integration.
Whilst preferential market access can facilitate improved market access restrictive RoO can negate the potential impact of trade preferences. For one restrictive rules undermine competitiveness by constraining access to cheapest inputs. Secondly, limit ability to integrate into global production chain. This burden falls particularly heavily upon small and medium sized firms and upon firms in low income countries. Finally, such rules can discriminates against small low income countries where the scope for local sourcing is more limited.>
Box 3: Nepal: Incentive schemes used
With the aim to attract investment in industrial sector from both domestic and foreign investors, policies were simplified, clarified and the investment climate was made more conducive by introducing a number of policy measures and procedural simplifications. In addition, Nepal’s government developed a package of incentives. Industries established with foreign investment in the form of joint ventures or wholly foreign owned units are entitled to the facilities and incentives, including the following tax incentives:
Tax exemptions: to industries using 80% or more domestic raw materials and employing 100% locals are exempt from 10% income tax; manufacturing industries importing plant, machines and equipment for production with a duty rate of 5% are exempted from sales tax under certain conditions.
Tax reductions or other tax-related measures: Income tax rebate of 30, 25 and 20 percent for certain industries, except those to do with cigarette, bidi, alcohol and beer, established and operating in remote, undeveloped, underdeveloped areas of the country, respectively; certain industries using more than 80 percent or more of the local raw materials for their production and employing all the manpower from among Nepali citizens are granted a rebate at the rate of 10 percent of the income tax.
Further measures include duty-drawback and exemption from paying customs duties for specified manufacturing industries importing plant, machinery and equipment under certain conditions. Nepal is immune to possible penalties arising from countervailing investigations, since as an LDC, WTO rules allow certain de-minimis level (maximum permissible level) for subsidies (such as drawbacks).Government measures provide for the various repatriation facilities. Export-oriented industrial companies can open foreign exchange accounts. Industries incorporated as 100 percent foreign-owned or as a joint venture may also open a foreign exchange account to deposit the equity share of the foreign party in convertible currency. This can be used only to import equipment and plants and other fixed assets necessary for the industry.
Nepal has a wide range of measures, such as tax-related exemptions and deductions. As an LDC, under WTO rules Nepal is unique since it is able to provide subsidies without leading to possible penalties.
- Access inputs and capital goods at competitive price) - Part 1
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Israël Science Info
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Hawking and Bekenstein dispute around black hole
Stephen William Hawking (à g.) et Jacob David Bekenstein
On September, 03 2018 by Israël Science Info desk
In the fall of 1973 Dr. Stephen W. Hawking, who has spent his entire professional career at the University of Cambridge, found himself ensnared in a horrendous and embarrassing calculation. Attempting to investigate the microscopic properties of black holes, the gravitational traps from which not even light can escape, Dr. Hawking discovered to his disbelief that they could leak energy and particles into space, and even explode in a fountain of high-energy sparks.
Dr. Hawking first held off publishing his results, fearing he was mistaken. When he reported them the next year in the journal Nature, he titled his paper simply ”Black Hole Explosions?” His colleagues were dazzled and mystified.
Nearly 30 years later, they are still mystified. When they gathered in Cambridge this month to mark Dr. Hawking’s 60th birthday with a weeklong workshop titled ”The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology,” the ideas spawned by his calculation and its aftermath often took center stage.
They are ideas that touch on just about every bone-jarring abstruse concept in modern physics.
”Black holes are still fundamentally enigmatic objects,” said Dr. Andrew Strominger, a Harvard physicist, who attended. ”In fundamental physics, gravity and quantum mechanics are the big things we don’t understand. Hawking’s discovery of black hole radiation was of fundamental importance to that connection.”
Black holes are the prima donnas of Einstein’s general theory of relativity, which explains the force known as gravity as a warp in space-time caused by matter and energy. But even Einstein could not accept the idea that the warping could get so extreme, say in the case of a collapsing star, that space could wrap itself completely around some object like a magician’s cloak, causing it to disappear as a black hole.
Dr. Hawking’s celebrated breakthrough resulted partly from a fight. He was hoping to disprove the contention of Jacob Bekenstein, then a graduate student at Princeton and now a professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, that the area of a black hole’s boundary, the point of no return in space, was a measure of the entropy of a black hole. In thermodynamics, the study of heat and gases, entropy is a measure of wasted energy or disorder, which might seem like a funny concept to crop up in black holes. But in physics and computer science, entropy is also a measure of the information capacity of a system — the number of bits that it would take to describe its internal state. In effect, a black hole or any other system was like a box of Scrabble letters — the more letters in the box the more words you could make, and the more chances of gibberish.
According to the second law of thermodynamics, the entropy of a closed system always stays the same or increases, and Dr. Hawking’s own work had shown that the hole’s surface area always increased, a process that seemed to ape that law.
But Dr. Hawking, citing classical physics, argued that an object with entropy had to have a temperature, and anything with a temperature — from a fevered brow to a star — must radiate heat and light with a characteristic spectrum. If a black hole could not radiate, it could have no temperature and thus no entropy. But that was before gravity, which shapes the cosmos, met quantum theory, the paradoxical rules that describe the behavior of matter and forces within it. When Dr. Hawking added a touch of quantum uncertainty to the standard Einsteinian black hole model, particles started emerging. At first he was annoyed, but when he realized this ”Hawking radiation” would have the thermal spectrum predicted by thermodynamic theory, he concluded his calculation was right.
But there was a problem. The radiation was random, Dr. Hawking’s theory said. As a result, all the details about whatever had fallen into the black hole could be completely erased — a violation of a hallowed tenet of quantum theory, which holds that it should always be possible to run the film backwards and find out the details of how something started — whether an elephant or a Volkswagen had been tossed into the black hole, for example. If he was right, Dr. Hawking suggested, quantum theory might have to be modified. Black holes, he said in his papers and talks in the late 1970’s, were ravagers of information, spewing indeterminacy and undermining law and order in the universe.
”God not only plays dice with the universe,” Dr. Hawking said, inverting the phrase by which Einstein had famously rejected quantum uncertainty, ”but sometimes throws them where we can’t see them.” Such statements aroused the attention of particle physicists. Weird as it may be, quantum theory is nonetheless the foundation on which much of the modern world is built, everything from transistors to CD’s, and it is the language in which all of the fundamental laws of physics, save gravity, are expressed. ”This cannot be,” Dr. Leonard Susskind, a theorist at Stanford, recalled saying to himself.
It was the beginning of what Dr. Susskind calls an adversarial relationship. ”Stephen Hawking is one of the most obstinate people in the world; no, he is the most infuriating person in the universe,” Dr. Susskind told the birthday workshop, as Dr. Hawking grinned in the back row.
In the ensuing 20 years, opinions have split mostly along party lines. Particle physicists like Dr. Susskind and Dr. Gerard ‘t Hooft, a physicist at the University of Utrecht and the 1999 Nobel Prize winner, defend quantum theory and say that the information must get out somehow, perhaps subtly encoded in the radiation. Another possibility — that the information was left behind in some new kind of elementary particle when the black hole evaporated — seems to have fallen from favor.
Relativity experts like Dr. Hawking and his friend the Caltech physicist Dr. Kip Thorne were more likely to believe in the power of black holes to keep secrets. In 1997, Dr. Hawking and Dr. Thorne put their money where the black hole mouth was, betting Dr. John Preskill, a Caltech particle physicist, a set of encyclopedias that information was destroyed in a black hole.
To date neither side has felt obliged to pay up.
Dr. Susskind and others have argued that nothing ever makes it into the black hole to begin with because, in accord with Einstein, everything at the boundary, where time slows, would appear to an outside observer to ”freeze” and then fade, spreading out on the surface where it could produce subtle distortions in the Hawking radiation.
In principle, then, information about what had fallen onto the black hole could be read in the radiation and reconstructed; it would not have disappeared.
The confusion had arisen, Dr. Susskind explained, because physicists had been trying to imagine the situation from the viewpoint of God rather than that of a particular observer who had to be either in the black hole or outside, but not both places at once. When the accounting is done properly, he said, ”No observer sees a violation of the laws of physics.”
The information paradox made it important for theorists to try to go beyond thermodynamic analogies and actually calculate how black holes store information or entropy. But there was a catch. According to a well-known formula developed by the Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann (and engraved on his tombstone), the entropy of a system could be determined by counting the number of ways its contents could be arranged.
In order to enumerate the possible ways of arranging the contents of a black hole, physicists needed a theory of what was inside. By the mid-1990’s they had one: string theory, which portrays the forces and particles of nature, including those responsible for gravity, as tiny vibrating strings.
In this theory, a black hole is a tangled mélange of strings and multidimensional membranes known as ”D-branes.” In a virtuoso calculation in 1995, Dr. Strominger and Dr. Cumrun Vafa, also of Harvard, untangled the innards of an ”extremal” black hole, in which electrical charge just balanced gravity.
Such a hole would stop evaporating and would thus appear static, allowing the researchers to count its quantum states. They calculated that the entropy of a black hole was its area divided by four — just as Dr. Hawking and Dr. Bekenstein said it would be.
The result was a huge triumph for string theory. ”If string theory had been wrong, that would have been deadly,” Dr. Strominger said.
The success of the Harvard calculation has encouraged some particle physicists to conclude that black holes can be analyzed with the tools of quantum mechanics, and thus that the information issue has been resolved. But others say this has yet to be accomplished — among them Dr. Strominger, who added, ”It remains an unsettled issue.”
Degrees of Freedom
Perhaps the most mysterious and far-reaching consequence of the exploding black hole is the idea that the universe can be compared to a hologram, in which information for a three-dimensional image can be stored on a flat surface, like an image on a bank card.
In the 1980’s, extending his and Dr. Hawking’s work, Dr. Bekenstein showed that the entropy and thus the information needed to describe any object were limited by its area. ”Entropy is a measure of how much information you can pack into an object,” he explained. ”The limit on entropy is a limit on information.”
This was a strange result. Normally you might think that there were as many choices — or degrees of freedom about the inner state of an object — as there were points inside that space. But according to the so-called Bekenstein bound, there were only as many choices as there were points on its outer surface.
The ”points” in this case are regions with the dimensions of 10-33 centimeters, the so-called Planck length that physicists believe are the ”grains” of space. According to the theory, each of these can be assigned a value of zero or one — yes or no — like the bits in a computer.
”What happens when you squeeze too much information into an object is that you pack more and more energy in,” Dr. Bousso said. But if it gets too heavy for its size, it becomes a black hole, and then ”the game is over,” as he put it. ”Like a piano with lots of keys but you can’t press more than five of them at once or the piano will collapse.”
The holographic principle, first suggested by Dr. ‘t Hooft in 1993 and elaborated by Dr. Susskind a year later, says in effect that if you can’t use the other piano keys, they aren’t really there. ”We had a completely wrong picture of the piano,” explained Dr. Bousso. The normal theories that physics uses to describe events in space-time are redundant in some surprising and as yet mysterious way. ”We clearly see the world the way we see a hologram,” Dr. Bousso said. ”We see three dimensions. When you look at one of those chips, it looks pretty real, but in our case the illusion is perfect.”
Dr. Susskind added: ”We don’t read the hologram. We are the hologram.”
The holographic principle, these physicists say, can be applied to any space-time, but they have no idea why it works.
”It really should be mysterious,” Dr. Strominger said. ”If it’s really true, it’s a deep and beautiful property of our universe — but not an obvious one.”
The Frontiers of Beauty
That beauty, however, comes at a price, said Dr. ‘t Hooft, namely cause and effect. If the information about what we are doing resides on distant imaginary walls, ”how does it appear to us sitting here that we are obeying the local laws of physics?” he asked the audience at the Hawking birthday workshop.
Quantum mechanics had been saved, he declared, but it still might need to be supplanted by laws that would preserve what physicists call ”naïve locality.”
Dr. ‘t Hooft acknowledged that there had been many futile attempts to eliminate quantum mechanics’ seemingly nonsensical notions, like particles that can instantaneously react to one another across light-years of space. In each case, however, he said there were assumptions, or ”fine print,” that might not hold up in the end.
Recent observations have raised the stakes for ideas like holography and black hole information. The results suggest that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. If it goes on, astronomers say, distant galaxies will eventually be moving away so fast that we will not be able to see them anymore.
Living in such a universe is like being surrounded by a horizon, glowing just like a black hole horizon, over which information is forever disappearing. And since this horizon has a finite size, physicists say, there is a limit to the amount of complexity and information the universe can hold, ultimately dooming life.
Physicists admit that they do not know how to practice physics or string theory in such a space, called a de Sitter space after the Dutch astronomer Willem de Sitter, who first solved Einstein’s equations to find such a space. ”De Sitter space is a new frontier,” said Dr. Strominger, who hopes that the techniques and attention that were devoted to black holes in the last decade will enable physicists to make headway in understanding a universe that may actually represent the human condition.
Dr. Bousso noted that it was only in the last few years, with the discovery of D-branes, that it had been possible to solve black holes. What other surprises await in string theory? ”We have no idea how small or large a piece of the theory we haven’t seen yet,” he said.
In the meantime, perhaps in imitation of Boltzmann, Dr. Hawking declared at the end of the meeting that he wanted the formula for black hole entropy engraved on his own tombstone.
It’s All in the Mathematics
When Stephen Hawking startled cosmologists by asserting that energy and matter could leak out of black holes, his calculations did not say how particles escaped from the black hole, only that they could. The only truth is in the mathematics, he says.
According to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, a pillar of quantum theory, the so-called vacuum of space is not empty but rather foaming with virtual particles that flash into existence in particle-antiparticle pairs on borrowed energy and then meet and annihilate each other in a flash of energy that repays the debt of their existence.
But if only one member of a pair fell into a black hole, its mate would be free to wander away. To a distant observer it would appear to be coming out of the black hole, and, since the energy for its creation had been borrowed from the black hole’s gravitational field and then not been paid back, the black hole would accordingly appear to shrink.
As the black hole shrank it would get hotter and radiate faster, according to Dr. Hawking’s calculations, until it finally exploded.
The mortality of a black hole was of little practical concern. A typical black hole would last 10^64 years, trillions of times the age of the universe.
By DENNIS OVERBYE for the New York Times
Other articles on the same subject
Jeff Steinhauer
ondes gravitationnelles
technion
Université Hébraïque de Jérusalem
Technion: Planet Seeding and Panspermia
(Français) Technion, Stanford et la start-up CytoReason: et si seul l’âge immunitaire comptait ?
Israeli engineers tackling real-life problems in African villages, and at home
Technion (Israel): black holes do emit radiation like an ordinary warm object, as Hawking’s predictions asserted
(Français) Crise alimentaire, des solutions israéliennes durables pour nourrir la planète : algues, champignons, steaks végétaux…
Technion (Israel): Energy by Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
(Français) Université de Tel Aviv et Technion : un médicament de la sclérose en plaques pourrait aider les patients épileptiques
(Français) Diane Abensur Bessin (MBA Technion) : le kit Nanosynex de diagnostic rapide pour prescrire le bon antibiotique
Jet-Eat (Technion, Israël) Wants to 3D Print Vegan Steaks
(Français) Israël-Allemagne : dix minuscules satellites inspirés de la médecine pour étudier les nuages
← Back to Physics
← (Français) Solaire : les start-ups israéliennes préparent une transition énergétique massive
(Français) DLD Israël : Muriel Touaty et des décideurs français, au plus grand sommet de l’innovation israélienne →
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Lost in Sound is Attracting Attention
Kimberly becomes a HearStrong Champion
http://www.hearstrong.org/champion-kimberly-parker.php
Featured in Sound Waves
Interview for the Bainbridge Island Review
Kimberly Parker has a way of telling her story that can be heard and seen.
BY: Michael C. Moore
The Poulsbo resident (she and her husband, Joe, moved there 16 years ago and have raised two sons there) grew up with a genetic condition that caused her to lose her hearing, so gradually and insidiously that, for much of the first four decades of her life, she didn’t even realize it was happening.
“By the time I turned 40, I was deaf,” Parker wrote.
Thanks to Cochlear implant surgery, Parker can “hear” again. And she’s telling the story — what happened to her and how she eventually learned what it was and how to deal with it — in “Lost in Sound: A One Woman Play.” She’s performing the collection of narrative, monologues, vignettes and original music, which she conceived as a graduate student at Gallaudet University in 2011, at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 23 at Town Hall Seattle, and has hopes for many other performances in the future. First aired as a staged reading (of the first draft) at the Jewel Box Theatre in December 2013, it has been performed as a finished product only a few times, to enthusiastic response.
Her goal, she wrote on the website dedicated to “Lost in Sound,” is to “raise awareness of the silent epidemic that is hearing loss.”
Kitsap A&E: What was the process for cobbling together what you refer to as the “narrative, monologues, vignettes and musical solos” in the play?
Kimberly Parker: The process unfolded as I remembered different events, thoughts/feelings/ outcomes and put them on paper. The hard part was getting started and revisiting old memories. Once I made the decision to trust the process and detach from the outcome, my commitment and determination to finish was born.
A&E: How did you decide to tell your story in this form?
KP: The decision to use a mixture of narrative, monologues, vignettes and original musical solos was twofold. Not only did I want it to be interesting and engaging for my audience, I also wanted it to be fun and challenging for me to perform.
A&E: Did you have theater background, or did you just think it would be the most efficient way to get the story across?
KP: I grew up in the theater and I hold a BA in Theatre Arts, from Boise State University.
A&E: Do you have a story in the play about the first time you started to realize there might be something wrong? Was it something specific, like difficulty at school, or more of a general realization?
KP: There are a few stories in the play that indicate that I had a hearing loss. However, since it’s all I have ever known, I did not know what was wrong with me; I just thought that I was stupid. I was first diagnosed with a moderate to severe hearing loss when I was 8. Family denial and other factors kept me from getting the help I needed, and it was soon forgotten.
A&E: What was the first action you took?
KP: I was a junior in college when a professor told me he thought I had a hearing loss and encouraged me to get a hearing test. I was diagnosed with a severe to profound bilateral hearing loss when I was 22. It took me eight years to treat my hearing loss, a highly common occurrence because of denial. I was 30 when I started wearing hearing aids.
A&E: What was your life like during the period before you had your Cochlear implants?
KP: I always did the best I could with the limited hearing I had and I had my ups and downs in life, like everyone. The hardest part was going deaf. Hearing aides were not helping any more. My speech comprehension was 12 percent. Those were my darkest days and it lasted about five years.
A&E: Did you work, have a trade?
KP: My main job was being a stay-at-home mom, which I loved. I did work a few hours a week. I taught classes in theater improvisation, storytelling and puppetry for Parks and Recreation and the North Kitsap PAL program from 2004-2013, until funding for PAL was cut. At that time I set a goal to write, produce and perform a one-woman play, which I accomplished within 90 days. That was the beginning of “Lost in Sound: A One Woman Play.”
A&E: How long have you been married?
KP: Twenty-four years. We met in 1984 at a summer job, driving ice cream trucks. He is my biggest fan and the love of my life.
A&E: Could you describe “electronic hearing?”
KP: I imagine it’s a bit different for everyone, so I can only speak to my own experience. Electronic hearing has given me the ability to hear the high frequencies of speech (which are consonants) so that I can now understand complete words and sentences. At first voices sounded like Mickey Mouse. However, once my brain got used to hearing new sounds, I no longer noticed it and a kind of normalcy set in. I am now able to hear birds (which I love) and insects and the ticking of a clock as well as other high frequency sounds.
A&E: You do podcasts with your husband. What other ways besides that and the play are you getting your story out?
KP: My goal this year is to write a book which I hope will lead to speaking engagements at conferences and universities.
A&E: What are your hopes for the play?
KP: I intend to tour the country with my play for the next two years to raise awareness for the silent epidemic that is hearing loss. Since one in five Americans have hearing loss, chances are you know someone who does. We are all affected by it directly or indirectly. I hope people will be inspired to learn more about hearing loss and how to help themselves and others and to support inclusion. I want to see positive social changes that will make life better for everyone.
A&E: Are there plans for a performance in Kitsap?
KP: I would love a local theater to produce this play — anyone interested? So far, I have produced every show myself and it is a lot of work. I do hope to perform in Kitsap this year; I just need to find the right venue. I am committed to performing in venues that have accessibility for the hard of hearing, and they are few and far between. The reason I chose Town Hall Seattle is because they are the first arts and entertainment venue in the city of Seattle to install a Hearing Induction Loop for the hard of hearing (in August 2014).
A&E: It’s gratifying enough to get an audience’s response to a live performance, but it must be especially so in your case, since your story is a personal one and your aim is to raise awareness of the subject matter …
KP: There is no question that I am passionate about shedding light on this invisible condition and that is exactly what motivated me to write the play. The greatest joy and excitement for me is that people are telling me that it has changed their perspective and empowered them to take positive action in their lives. People feel informed, inspired and moved by something that really matters. Which means I am connecting to my audience on a deep level and making a difference, what could be better than that? The fact that I get to write and act and sing and do what I love to do, and help people at the same time, is truly a dream come true, and for that I am grateful.
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New performance on April 9th in Port Townsend, WA
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Parliamentary Work
AGP LAW
The Docket Podcast
Michael Spratt
Criminal Defence Counsel
116 Lisgar St Ottawa, On K2P 0C2 Canada
michael@agpllp.ca
Filtering by Tag: DNA
Presumption of Innocence and DNA
October 04, 2013 / Michael Spratt
In a recent interview Conservative Justice Minister Peter McKay floated the idea of seizing DNA samples from people who have been accused but not found guilty of a crime. As reported by the Globe and Mail McKay said:
"I know there’s always privacy considerations in the backdrop to this and it has to be balanced in the bigger picture... But I think that, you know, the timing of the taking of DNA is something that could very well emerge in the future as another issue of importance."
The presumption of innocence forms the bedrock of our judicial system. It is the golden thread that runs through all criminal law. If McKay's vision comes to pass it will represent yet another erosion of the presumption of innocence.
Currently the Identification of Criminals Act allows the photographing and fingerprinting of most people accused of criminal offences. Indeed this forms the justification used by the proponents of pre-conviction DNA sampling.
In short, the simplistic logic is that a DNA sample is just the modern version of a finger print. This narrow view misses the point.
The Identification of Criminals Act's primary purpose is to confirm the identity people charge with a serious offence. Fingerprinting fulfills the purpose of the act. The taking of DNA for this purpose would be surplusage.
Quite simply, the taking of DNA would not be to identify the accused but to run the DNA information through databases to further other investigations. This is not the primary purpose of the Identifications of Criminals Act.
The Supreme Court discussed the issues in R. v. Beare; R. v. Higgins :
"Fingerprints serve a wide variety of purposes in the criminal justice system. These include linking the accused to the crime where latent prints are found at the scene or on physical evidence; determining if the accused has been charged with, or convicted of other crimes in order to decide whether, for example, he should be released pending trial or whether he should be proceeded against by way of summary conviction or indictment; ascertaining whether the accused is unlawfully at large or has other charges outstanding; and assisting in the apprehension of an accused should he fail to appear. As well, fingerprints taken on arrest are used to identify prisoners with suicidal tendencies, sex offenders, career criminals and persons with a history of escape attempts so that they can be segregated or monitored as may appear appropriate.
Fingerprints are also of great assistance in the judicial process. Thus in addition to their utility in positively identifying an accused, they may also assist the Crown in determining the punishment it should seek by revealing, for example, whether the accused is a first offender or otherwise. This, of course, will be of assistance to the court in imposing an appropriate sentence."
The Supreme Court went on to find that the taking of fingerprints valid because it did not represent a penetration into the body or the removal of a substance from the body:
"It seems to me that a person who is arrested on reasonable and probable grounds that he has committed a serious crime [...] must expect a significant loss of personal privacy. He must expect that incidental to his being taken in custody he will be subjected to observation, to physical measurement and the like. Fingerprinting is of that nature. While some may find it distasteful, it is insubstantial, of very short duration, and leaves no lasting impression. There is no penetration into the body and no substance is removed from it."
Clearly the taking of DNA is more intrusive and very different in nature than the taking of a fingerprint.
The power to fingerprint incident to arrest for an indictable offence has its roots in and exists at common law. The existence of a common law authority to fingerprint persons in lawful police custody is supported by the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Stillman In that case the Court was careful to distinguish the taking of fingerprints on the one hand from the taking of blood samples or hair samples.
DNA is not a modern version of a fingerprint. DNA is the building blocks of who we are as individuals. DNA contains information about our intimate personal characteristics. Its extraction requires intrusion into our body. Its nature is ripe for misuse.
There are currently institutional problems with the retention of fingerprints of individuals ultimately found to be not guilty. Quite simply once the state has an innocent persons fingerprints there is an uphill battle in ensuring the prints destruction.
It does not strain the imagination to conceive of the privacy problems with the state having DNA samples of any citizen ever charged with a crime.
Demonstrating the rankest example of simplistic (and circular) logic employed by proponents of pre-conviction DNA seizure, Calgary's Chief of Police Rick Hanson told the Calgary Sun:
“There’s a thousand reasons that people would say no and there’s only one reason to go ahead with it and that’s because it’s the right thing to do in this day and age,"
Logic like this has no place in any rational dialogue. It may be politically advantageous for Mr. McKay to suggest a pre-conviction DNA databank. It may even assist in solving some crimes. Against the 'thousands of reasons to say no' this does not justify DNA sampling of the presumed innocent (and in many cases factually innocent).
The purpose of laws in a free and democratic society should be to liberate and to maximize freedom. McKay's proposal is overly intrusive and antithetical to those ideals.
tags / DNA, Innocence, Evidence, Police, CPC
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Nebraska opens November 22nd
Q&A with Bruce Dern at The Middleburg Film Festival
Alexander Payne's latest film NEBRASKA is his best film yet. Bruce Dern along with fellow castmates Will Forte, June Squibb, Stacy Keach and Bob Odenkirk make this a true team movie. Bruce Dern gives a master class in acting "I didn't want to be caught acting I just wanted to be caught being a real human being .That's what I got into the business for when I got with Mr. Kazan, it's about realness"
Bruce Dern along with producers Ron Yerxa and Albert Berger were at The Middleburg Film Festival for a Q&A this past October. This was the very first Middleburg Film Festival started by founder Sheila C. Johnson. It was a great success and I am already looking forward to next year.
www.middleburgfilm.org
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Home civil rights Why Marriage Equality is Not the End of the GLBT Struggle
Why Marriage Equality is Not the End of the GLBT Struggle
Donovan Lord
“Sixty-one percent of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) population in the U.S. will continue to live in states with medium or low legal protections — or that have outright hostile laws,” says a press release announcing the report, Mapping LGBT Equality in America, which was released Thursday.
Mapping LGBT Equality in America ranks U.S. states by their LGBT rights policies, rating them as high, low, medium, or negative in regard to equality. The state rankings derive from their policies in a variety of areas, including antidiscrimination law, relationship recognition, health care, parenting rights, and much more. California ranks highest of all states, Louisiana lowest.
Twelve states and the District of Columbia, collectively home to 39 percent of the LGBT population, rank in the high equality category; 10 states, with 9 percent of LGBT Americans, medium equality; 13 states, encompassing 23 percent of LGBT people, low equality; and 15 states, with 28 percent of LGBT Americans, negative equality.
The report notes that even if the Supreme Court makes marriage equality the law of the land when it rules on the cases it heard in April, 52 percent of LGBT people would be at risk of being fired from their jobs, kicked out of their homes, or denied access to doctor’s offices and restaurants; 86 percent would live in states where their child is not protected from discrimination in school for having LGBT parents; and 81 percent would live in states that allow harmful “conversion therapy” to be used on minors.
The proportion of LGBT people living in states with high and medium overall equality would remain unchanged, but 12 states would shift from negative equality states to become low equality states.
“Without question, a victory at the Supreme Court would be a transformative in helping advance equality for LGBT people,” said MAP executive director Ineke Mushovic in the press release. “However, many other laws are needed to fully protect LGBT people and their families. For example, while same-sex couples may soon be able to marry in their home state, that same state’s laws may fail to protect LGBT youth from being bullied in schools, lack nondiscrimination laws covering LGBT workers, or lack laws and policies that help transgender people update the gender marker on their identity documents. One state may have high equality while a neighboring state has hostile laws. Or a state may have high levels of equality for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people while offering almost no legal protections to transgender people.”
See some of the report’s findings in the infographics below, and read the full report at MAP’s website, which also offers continually updated information on individual states’ LGBT policies.
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As Publisher and Editor of Moot Magazine, Donovan has brought a voice to Texas' Left Wing and progressive citizens.
Dallas adds LGBT protections to city constitution in landslide vote
Federal Judge Rules Texas Ban On Same-Sex Marriage Unconstitutional
Rick Perry is an Ass
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"Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day-to-day living that wears you out." ~ Anton Chekhov
… just got back… from… a walk… up the hill from... our… house………… wait… let me… catch what's left of my… breath.
Richard does this every day, and I used to. It's not just a 2-mile stroll. You start out from our house walking along the sidewalk that goes straight up the hill leading to wilder hills of brush and two or three California Pepper trees, too. Hundreds of wild rabbits live in what must be a huge warren under the biggest tree at the top of that hill, and the "soldier" rabbits nervously rattle away in the brush that lines the sidewalk as you pass.
Quail live there, too. I know because, nearly every third or fourth day in the winter, Richard leaves about 20 pounds of wild bird seed up under one of the Pepper trees along the way. When the quail "watch-dog" sees him strew the seed, he calls to the whole crew of quail. They get so excited, especially in the winter, that 20 pounds of seed is gone in 2 days… every single little seed.
I've seen coyotes walk across the flattened out, chained-off portion of cemented-ground at the top of the hill. No explanation of why this splayed piece of cement was ever laid there in the first place. It's chained off with a rusted length of chain-metal, but that's never bothered the coyote population. Or me, either, for that matter. I checked it out just once on an early-summer morning, but I was cured quickly when I saw a snake sunning itself on that cement "patio."
Once I saw the saddest thing… a huge, very long, headless bull snake was laying in a reckless contortion. I looked at it for a long time, trying to understand why anyone would cut the head off the only snake I knew of that had the nerve to kill rattlesnakes! Then I realized… The maintence men, who were charged with trying to keep Wild Nature in line along the sidewalk to nowhere, must have come across him as they were chopping off limbs of the wild tag-team bushes. They chopped off his head, and flung his body out and away. Slithering all over that wild domain, he died one day because he was in the way of "civilization," I guess... in the way of the sidewalk that nearly no one ever uses, along a seldom-used road up a hill.
When you get to the very top of that curved road, there are houses with fences and dogs in the yards. There are green lawns and flowers galore and cars parked along the street. The view northward, behind the houses, is immense. You can see across the wide valley below all the way to the first row of high hills that stand in front of Mount Baldy and his buddies.
That valley is, of course, filled with towns, cities, people, streets, freeways, trees, and even a man-made lake for fishing. Of course, the "lake" is stocked with more trout than the water can accommodate so that "fishermen" can catch them in record numbers. I betcha I could even catch one of those fish. I think they'd jump at the chance to get out of that ghetto called "the lake." Most of them have probably had enough of shoulder-to-shoulder Southern California living!
The streets are much straighter among those houses at the top of our hill. They go right down from those homes towards the the major roads and racing freeways to get where people want to go. Who would rather take the scenic route along the wild hills that continue and continue into more and more savage land?
Savage, you ask? Yes, I say. Just listen once to a band of coyotes when they hunt down a deer up there. After all these years in Southern California, the barking of the chase and then the screams of the coyote kill-frenzy still make me shiver.
The way back down to our house is softer and more sheltered. Houses perched on small lots with tamed trees line the rest of the walk, more usual, more civilized, more what you'd expect. Once in a while I see someone from one of those houses taking a walk down "my" street," passing the wild place with a dog on a leash, or a bat in their hand to ward off… something or other, I guess.
I only ever saw the tables turned once on a walk around those 2 miles. As I walked along the populated section of "my" street, down into a valley between two hills of backyards, there he stood! A coyote that looked like a hybrid of coyote and wolf. He was standing right below one of the backyards under a large civilized tree with its huge leafy top, and he was staring at me!
No fair! This was NOT that wild portion of the 2-mile, curvy street. This was MY territory! I stamped my foot and lunged toward him, confident that he would run away, of course.
He didn't!
He took 2 strong, confident steps TOWARDS me! ME! …and he never took his eyes off mine…
The wild world is much stronger than the civilized world in these circumstances, I finally realized. He wasn't afraid. It was just a private matter to him, between the two of us, and he knew he could take me out!
I had two chances, go back up that humungous hill or cross the street like a frightened deer.
Of course, there was only one thing to do, being the asthmatic person that I am… I crossed the street, keeping my awareness on him without a stare-down. He'd win that, for sure, too, and maybe he'd lunge at me.
I kept walking, and he kept staring at me, and we never met again. It was just one of those things… just one of those crazy things… a trip to my fear that now and then rings, just one of those things… And I was so glad for the end of it!
"For me, every day is a new thing. I approach each project with a new insecurity, almost like the first project I ever did. And I get the sweats. I go in and start working, and I'm not sure where I'm going. If I knew where I was going, I wouldn't do it." ~ Frank Gehry
Once we lived in Montana… "The Big Sky Country." But it was just for a while. The sky IS bigger there than anywhere I've ever been. It's wider and higher and sometimes bluer, and it has the biggest, angriest storms I've ever been in … well, except for Texas. You've got to be tolerant if you're going to live in Montana… of people, of animals, and, certainly, of the weather. Bears wander about like they own the place… and they DO! At least they did for a lot longer than the people who own the place now.
The Blackfeet people live there, and have done, for about as long as the bears have. They both understand how to live together in peace, it seems to me. It's best not to get "the sweats" around bears. I read once that they are the third smartest animals in the world, and that makes them lots smarter than I am most of the time. No need to make them nervous or jumpy or anything… And, for heaven's sakes, don't creep around them like a frightened rabbit. Or in my case, just stay in the car and drive slowly, carefully, away.
We all lived in trailers when Richard's company was building the missile silos in northern Montana for the U.S. government a long time ago. Bears would come around to ravage the big metal trash cans for tidbits and morsels. They'd lumber into the area, and, not being grizzlys, those brown bears didn't look that big on all fours. Their little beady eyes looked for anything that smelled good to them, anything. All they had to do was knock the lids to the ground, slam the cans to the ground, and rifle through the contents… yum!
Wives used to come out and watch them from their porches as though those bears were muzzled and trained. I, on the other hand, cowered inside our trailer, inside the bathroom, and sat on the stool's seat with my baseball bat in hand!
I could never have been a wife like the one in "Little House on the Prairie"… never, never, never! In my mind that TV show was a farce! They lived miles from any other folks. Her husband would go out to shoot game of some sort for dinner, and he'd lug it back home. Well, people did that in Montana, too, when we lived there. OK, I believe that much, but...
But that "Little House"… Sheesh! It was never, ever dusty! There was no noise of the constant wind rattling through their cabin, I guess their windows were perfectly plastered, or something. And if any of the folks got injured in any way, they were miraculously healed by the next week's episode! And Mrs. Ingles' skin was smooth as silk… always… even when she had beads of sweat dripping down from the perfectly clean hair above her powdered forehead! I say again… SHEESH!
And, where were the bears? I did see them in one episode on our little trailer TV, I think. But bears are big and they aren't afraid of much of anything. Why would they be, these large, smart animals who get to sleep through each cold Montana winter? The humans were driving, working, cleaning house, grocery shopping, and dusting, while trying to keep warm in temperatures that could dip as low as a brutal -43 degrees of winter cold!
Well, that was many years ago, and the SALT talks calmed down the idea of missile silos pointing towards Russia back then. When the agreement was signed, the company sent everyone back where they'd come from, and, with the outsiders gone, the town-folk got right back to small-town life in Montana, the state with "black ice" and no speed limits on any highways… none!
But right now I'm facing my own big brown bear, right here in my own "studio!" OK, OK, my "studio" is really our spare bedroom upstairs. I have to create a original piece of art that needs to be 12" x 10." I've never, ever worked that small! It's much harder to create a well-designed tiny piece like that than the larger pieces I'm used to designing. And that's the "bear" I'm facing right now as I'm writing this, instead of slogging into my "studio" to get to it!
Well, I guess you'd call it a cub I'm facing, not a bear… right? But I got "the sweats" just thinking about that little, tiny piece of cloth that needs to be deftly designed. Hope I'm up to it… Well, maybe I'll start tomorrow...
"One does nothing who tries to console a despondent person with a word. A friend is one who aids with deeds at a critical time when deeds are called for." ~ Euripedes
What a crummy week I had! Perfectly CRUMMY! I lost all hope, all balance, all understanding. I was just miserable. Life had punched my lights out, and my mouth couldn't smile and my eyes couldn't see any brightness and my ears couldn't hear any kindness, anywhere.
Now, don't you dare feel sorry for me! I don't deserve it a bit! It was my lucky lot to be born in a free country, to have a good husband who is still with me after all these years, to have such good health that all I need to do is lose some weight. While half of this world is hungry and so many people in this world have no clean water, my "problem" is a "vanity!" And, no, I won't reveal it to you because I'm ashamed of myself.
Gotta give you just a sampling of 5 minutes of yesterday, though... I was at the post office waiting in line to buy some of their darling padded envelopes to send some tidbits to my two sisters-in-law in Nebraska. The lady behind me had the same envelopes in her hand so, of course, we chatted. The lady said she was 86-years old, and as we talked, she kept looking at me very closely, but that was easy to ignore. She was 86 years old. She said that her daughter had just started selling Mary Kay cosmetics.
"Isn't that nice," I said. "Does she like it?"
"Oh, yes. She really loves it."
Then she stared at me again and snorted! "You don't have to look as bad as you do, you know! I'm going to give you my daughter's card so you can get some of her Mary Kay products. She will teach you how to put them on your face. It would sure help you look better…" (her EXACT words)
"Oh, thank you very much, " I muttered like a frightened child… but she WAS 86-years-old, and it WAS the worst week of my life, so what else could I expect?
Instead I want you to meet a very close, very dear, friend of mine who helped me get my balance back. She helped me see clearly again while her own eyes are nearly useless now.
Anna is an extraordinary teacher. Ask any of her students who now speak English. Ask any of her collegues who learned from Anna how to overcome the complexities of teaching non-English speakers. Ask the parents in her night-time parenting classes who learned how to be much better parents. Yup, Anna is extrordinary!
Every day at lunch time, Bob, an award-winning educator and all-around good guy, and I would meet in Anna's room and talk, and laugh, and tell each other the silly things that had happened in our classes that morning, or talk about politics or whatever else was on our minds. Oh, and Bob and I would reach into that huge jar of candy that Anna always had sitting there on her desk. Long, tall Bob only ever took one piece, if that, but I think every noontime I'd fill any pockets I had on me with those rolls of sugar called "Smiley's!" Gee, I loved them!
Now, every day, Anna liked to get her grading done and all the set-ups for the next day ready before she left for home after school was over. Bob was so organized and efficient that he wouldn't walk out of his door until all was perfectly ready for his history classes in the morning. I would gather up all the English essays I needed to read when I got home, clean the white-boards so there was no trace of the colored markers on them, revamp the chair arragements for the next day's first period class, and then head for home.
Each of the three of us had different parking places. Bob walked right out of his classroom's back door, only steps away from where his car was parked. I would walk down the front breezeway of our school, past the main office, and into the large parking lot where most of the teachers parked. But Anna always parked in a small parking strip at the side of the our school because it was so close to her room.
That parking strip held 10 cars, at the most, and it bordered a very busy, very crowded avenue. It was so small that it looked to me like a parking lot on a very strict diet! The best part was that it was nearly always empty, except for Anna's car. It was Anna's own private parking area, thank you very much!
After school one day, Anna walked out to the parking strip, and balancing her load of books and her bag full of student work, she poked around in her purse searching for her car keys. When she got the door opened, she began the wrestling match to tuck her night's work into her car. Just a few feet away cars were speeding past her.
BAM! SMASH! CRASH! A car careened into the parking strip and hit Anna's car, twisting it until it came to a stop nearly touching the school building's wall. Anna was pinned to the blacktop, half-way underneath her car!
The stolen car that hit her heaved itself backwards a mite, untangling itself from Anna's car, and squealed away through the massive jumble of traffic that had suddenly slowed down so drivers could gawk at the crash site. Anna was alone and stunned, too stunned to know if she'd been hurt.
Magically, police arrived. An ambulance sped into the parking strip. Cars on the avenue began to move again. But all this happened in slow motion for Anna, and none of it made sense to her.
The truth of what happened doesn't make much sense, even now. A young man had "stolen" a car and was whizzing through traffic with his father chasing after him in the family car. Why he sped through the tiny parking strip is anyone's guess. The father, who must have seen the accident, came back to the crash site and explained it to the police who'd already caught the young man. Case closed. But not quite…
Besides other injuries, Anna lost the sight in one eye. She could have died. But she told me later that just before it happened, she had both hands on the top of the open door-frame of her car. When the careening car hit her, all she could think of was "DO NOT LET GO OF THIS DOOR!" It was almost like someone was commanding her to "Hold On!" Obviously, at some point the twisting of her car ripped her hands off its door, and she landed underneath her car. But holding on as long as she did saved her from having the car wheels flatten her completely.
My friend Anna has one eye left, but that eye has only a narrow pin-hole for her to see through. Her eye looks well enough outwardly, but she can only see a fraction of what is there in front of her with no depth perception at all. Anna cannot distinguish colors, anymore. Things are gray or black and white, mostly, even though she had the best eye doctors in the country examine her weekly to try to save what she has left. Now, the hope is that she will have her pinhole vision a little bit longer...
And on Tuesday, the day we always meet for lunch, Anna was helping ME feel better! You see, Anna reads people and understands folks better than I ever can, and she is a "no nonsense" person, to boot. Never, in the 15 years we've know each other, have I ever heard Anna complain about HER circumstances, though… never! And her "ticking bomb" of an eye problem is no exception.
But yesterday at lunch, when I dragged out my distress with my "poor me's" and my "ain't it awful's," Anna told me something that I certainly never knew. As I teared up and whined about my unhappiness, Anna looked at me and said, "Cry, Terry… just cry. It helps."
"But you never cry, Anna! Wha…"
"Oh, yes, Terry. I DO cry… sometimes I cry a lot."
"Children do live in fantasy and reality; they move back and forth very easily in a way we no longer remember how to do." ~ Maurice Sendak
"It's raining.
It's pouring!
The old man is snoring.
He bumped his head
And fell on the bed,
And couldn't get up in the morning."
When I was a little girl, I sang that song over and over until my Mom asked me to learn a new one! She didn't know that I was concerned about that "old man" and how bad his injury might be, and I wanted to help him, but I didn't know him. I was sad when I sang that song.
Now I know that the old coot was probably just drunk, and when he finally got home from the tavern, he probably fell across the bed and passed out. He couldn't get up in the morning because he had an hellacious hang-over. And that's that! I've very little sympathy for him now.
A while back I wrote a piece about my three best friends in Culver City who all liked me but didn't like each other very much… There was Bobby, the sweet one. There was Linda, the selfish one (but don't forget, she was an only child). And then there was Sandy. I've not written about her, mostly because she wasn't either one of those kinds of people. She was Sandy.
Of course, now I'm looking at Sandy through older eyes, but then I was as innocent as a dove. And I wasn't what you'd call a child. I was 12 or 13 years old, but back then, most of us at 12 or 13 were not very worldly-wise. Most of us, that is, but I'm pretty sure that Sandy had been born worldly-wise.
Sandy was about two years older than I was and she lived caddy-corner across the street from us. Her parents owned a gas station in Culver City, or maybe her Dad just worked there, I don't remember for sure. They were nearly never home, though, and Sandy was on her own most of the time. She had an older brother who I nearly never saw, either.
Sandy went to a private school somewhere, not to Betsy Ross Elementary School or Culver Junior High, like I did. They must have taught lots more in that school than they ever taught at my school because she sure did know more about life than I did… well, the parts of life that no one had ever introduced me to. I learned things from Sandy that I learned nowhere else.
We'd walk for miles talking, talking, talking about things that most teenaged girls talked about. On one of those walks I told Sandy that I "liked" a boy named Jim.
"Wha'ja do with him?" she asked me one day.
"Well, in speech class the teacher picked Jim to do a scene in front of the whole class, and she asked him to pick someone to be in the scene with him, and Jim picked me!" I still remember feeling my face flush. Jim picked ME!
"So what!" said Sandy. "Wha'ja do with him?"
"Well, I sat in the chair next to him and we were supposed to pretend it was a car, and…"
"Who cares about THAT! What did you DO with him!!!"
"Wha…"
"AFTER CLASS, SILLY? Didn't you kiss him and stuff?"
"Noooo. Of course not! We were in speech class. But what do you mean "stuff?"
"You know…. STUFF! STUFF!!"
No, I didn't know. I hadn't even had my first "real" kiss with Chris yet. (Remember… I wrote about that a while ago, about the party at Larry's house… you know, my first real-life kiss. If you don't know look back a few entries… it's there.)
"C'mon… tell me… what's 'stuff'?"
"Well, I have a boyfriend, too," Sandy said. "He likes me, and we've kissed and stuff."
There she went again with at that "stuff" stuff. What in the world was she talking about, anyway?
"If you don't tell me what "stuff" is, I'm going to…" What, Terry, what in the world are you going to do? The truth is that you're going to do nothing. After all, you couldn't threated to tell her Mom like you always did to your little brother Jack! I bet her Mom knew what "stuff" was, though.
"Oh shut up!" Sandy snorted. And I followed after her, still wondering what "stuff" meant. But the Foster Freeze place was just ahead, and my mind turned to bigger and better things like a tall vanilla ice cream cone double-dipped in hot chocolate coating that would quickly harden just after the lady twirled it in the chocolate sprinkles.
On the bare-footed walk home with chocolate sprinkles still sticking to my face, I realized that I hadn't asked Sandy about "her boyfriend!"
"Who is he, Sandy? Does he go to your school?"
"Nope," Sandy giggled. "He works at my Dad's gas station, BUT DON'T YOU TELL MY DAD ANYTHING!"
"I wouldn't do that, Sandy!"
"Well, he's 28 years old and he likes me! He told me that he did, and we kissed and stuff," Sandy announced proudly. "He's married, but he said he didn't love his wife anymore, he said he liked me more, so we did stuff and he said he's my boyfriend now!"
That was a lot to swallow for me. Poor man… he didn't love his wife anymore… How could that be? I mean once you were married ALL the books I'd ever read said that "they lived happily ever after!" Sandy must be wrong about that. It couldn't be. Wait… what did "stuff" mean, anyway? Hmmmmmm………….
Well, time passed and Sandy announced one day that she was going to have a party at her house, and I was invited. She was going to ask some kids from her private school to come and I HAD to be there. No threats were necessary, though. I'd be there, for sure.
We probably had cake and ice cream, but I don't remember. I DO remember that we played "Spin the Bottle," though. And I do remember that one of the boys from her class was there and he was cute! Now, I didn't have a clue what "Spin the Bottle" was, but Sandy said that we all had to sit on the floor in a circle, so we did. I noticed that Sandy's floor wasn't as clean as our floor at home, but that wasn't part of "Spin the Bottle."
Now, I've always liked Coke, and the first part of the game, evidentally, was finding an empty bottle. Sandy only had full bottles of Coke, so she handed me one and said, "Terry, drink this, and hurry up! We need the bottle!" So I did. I figured this game was going to be good. So far, the first part was fun!
Well, we were all sitting in a circle on the floor and I was full of Coca Cola and the cute boy was sitting right opposite me and he was smiling at me. I was starting to LOVE this game. Who'd thought this one up, I wondered?
Then Sandy grabbed the empty bottle out of my hand, set it so carefully in the exact middle of our circle, and she gave it a spin. This was the dumbest game I'd ever seen! You sit in a circle and you spin a bottle around… must be a game for lame-brains, I thought. But the silly empty bottle finally stopped spinning and it pointed to me! Sandy grabbed the bottle and gave it another spin. Is this all there is, I thought? Yuck!
I did notice that she had given the bottle a slower spin this second time, and when it finally came to rest, it pointed to one of the boys in the circle. Sandy nearly broke her knee stretching over to reach that boy, and they kissed! They KISSED! So that's the gist of this game… It was a "kissing game!" Hmmmm….
Well, the bottle made the rounds of the circe and it finally came to me, and I gave it a mediocre spin. When it stopped, the mouth of the bottle was pointing directly at the homeliest boy in the circle… one I had no desire to kiss. He looked at me sheepishly, and I leaned across the bottle for the shortest kiss in human history. I was always one who abided by the rules, mind you. But why didn't that stupid bottle point at the cute guy directly across from me? Just my luck, I thought.
Round and round the bottle went, and round and round the circle we went, and finally, finally the bottle landed where I'd hoped it would land. The cute boy across the circle had his turn, but he never spun the bottle at all! He brazenly took the bottle in his hand, laid it on the floor, and turned it carefully so that it pointed at me! I guess he wasn't abiding by the rules, but I didn't care at all, because this game was finally getting interesting! I think the homely boy said something like, "No fair!" but who cared! I loved this game! What genius had thought this one up, I'd like to know!
Well, that was the only time I ever played "Spin the Bottle," and it was many years before I learned what "stuff" meant. I was always a "late bloomer," and, as much as I hated that term when I was young, now I think that I was lucky. In fact, I think that luck was always on my side! Whew!
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Structural and Transformational Properties of All-Interval Tetrachords
Adrian P. Childs
KEYWORDS: all-interval tetrachords, complement-union pairs, common-tone relationships, transformational systems, partitions, Elliott Carter
ABSTRACT: An analysis (from Guy Capuzzo’s 1999 dissertation) of Elliott Carter’s Scrivo in Vento for solo flute serves as a point of departure for the consideration of certain properties of all-interval tetrachords (AITs). First, the roles of the individual (and a priori distinct) dyads are examined in light of the complement-union pair property exhibited by AITs. Second, a systematic means of describing common-tone relationships among AITs is proposed and studied. Examples from two works by Carter (Shard and Scrivo in Vento) show the flexibility and usefulness of the system.
Figure 1. Capuzzo’s analysis of Carter: Scrivo in Vento (mm. 37–42)
[1] Figure 1 shows an analysis, taken from Guy Capuzzo’s 1999 dissertation, of a passage (mm. 37–42) from Elliott Carter’s Scrivo in Vento for solo flute.(1) The figure is organized to highlight all-interval tetrachords (AITs) that occur within the passage, dividing each tetrachord into component dyads of interval class (ic) 3 (on the top staff) and ic6 (on the bottom).(2) This division reflects the fact that any non-overlapping combination of an ic3 dyad with an ic6 dyad will result in an AIT. The AIT set classes are thus what Robert Morris calls complement union pairs (CUP2); and the musical reduction of Figure 1 manifests a path through a compositional space defined by the complement union property (CUP).(3)
[2] In this particular example, Capuzzo is interested in the fact that adjacent AITs often share their ic3 or ic6 dyads (the brackets underneath the figure highlight these common-tone pairs), a feature that is reflected clearly on the musical surface by repetition and register. He suggests that the common tones be heard as “pivots,” and that “thinking of the passage as ‘moving’ through the CUP AIT spaces captures the rhapsodic character of the passage somewhat better than does an analysis that relies solely on [twelve-tone operators], which reflects less clearly the held pitches that typify the passage.”(4)
Figure 2. Modified reduction of Carter: Scrivo in Vento (mm. 37–42)
[3] A closer look at the reduction, however, reveals that every pair of adjacent AITs exhibits at least two common tones. In the instances not bracketed by Capuzzo, the common tones do not form an ic3 or ic6 dyad: the common tones between chords 1 and 2 form ic5; between chords 5 and 6, ic4. Additionally, the final pair of chords exhibits three common tones, with G being held over in addition to the marked ic6 dyad. Figure 2 shows a more detailed reduction of the low-register AITs from this passage (numbers above the figure mark the seven chords appearing in Capuzzo’s reduction).(5) Open noteheads in each chord indicate common tones retained from the previous AIT. As was the case with the reduction in Figure 1, all AITs in the passage share at least two common tones with their predecessors.
[4] Decoupling consideration of common tones between AITs from the lens of CUP spaces (and the necessary emphasis that this places on ic3 and ic6 dyads) reveals that all component dyads of an AIT can participate in common-tone retention. This observation suggests two questions that will frame the remainder of this paper:
What structural role do other dyads (i.e., those not participating in the CUP space) play with respect to AITs? and
How might common tones among AITs be described and explored more systematically?
Figure 3. AITs as partitions on the set of interval classes
[5] An AIT implies a partition on the set of interval classes, dividing its six members into three pairs (or partition components), each defined by virtue of being non-overlapping in the AIT. AITs with prime form [0137] partition the interval classes as 1+4, 2+5, and 3+6; [0146]-type AITs partition as 1+2, 4+5, and 3+6 (see Figure 3). Significantly, the CUP2 characteristic of AITs is reflected in the fact that ic3 and ic6 always appear in the same partition component, since they are always non-overlapping in any given AIT.
[6] The need for ic3 and ic6 to appear in the same partition component is easily proved. Because the partition components are defined by virtue of non-intersection, interval-class dyads appearing in different partition components therefore share one common tone. If ic3 and ic6 were to be in different partition components, they would share one common tone; and the dyad formed by the other two tones would be a member of ic3. Since an AIT has exactly one representative of each interval class, this duplication of ic3 is not permissible. Thus, ic3 and ic6 must be in the same partition component.(6)
[7] Similar reasoning also establishes that interval classes that sum to 6 cannot appear in the same partition component. If, for example, ic1 and ic5 were to appear in the same component, then the ic1 and ic6 dyads would have a common tone (by virtue of appearing in different partition components). However, the non-common tones would form another ic5 dyad, independent from the one occupying the same component as the ic1 dyad. Again, an AIT can have only one of each interval class, so the pairing of ic1 and ic5 in the same partition component is not permissible. The pairing of ic2 and ic4 is ruled out by the same method. These two limitations regarding the structure of partitions implied by AITs are sufficient to reduce the 15 possible pairwise partitions of the six interval classes to the two associated with [0137] and [0146] that are demonstrated in Figure 3.(7)
[8] Four unordered triples of ics—(1,3,5), (1,5,6), (2,3,4), and (2,4,6)—always appear in distinct partition components in both of the permissible partitions. Two of these triples—(1,5,6) and (2,4,6)—relate respectively to the [016] and [026] trichords that are subsets of both [0137] and [0146]. Their complementary partners—(2,3,4) and (1,3,5), respectively—describe the dyads formed between the fourth note and each member of the trichord subset. Other unordered triples can be formed from the ics appearing in distinct partition components for one of the partitions. Again, these describe either a trichord subset ([013] and [037] for [0137], and their M transforms [025] and [014] for [0146]) or the intervals between the fourth note and each member of a trichord subset.
Figure 4. The four qualities of AIT
[9] The distributions of interval classes described by these partitions and sets of unordered triples create a preponderance of trichord subsets that contain or imply tertian harmonies ([025], [026], [037]) or suggest overlapping thirds ([014]). This explains in part the potential for AITs to be heard as quasi-tonal sonorities, particularly when distributed to emphasize these subsets. Figure 4 shows the four qualities of AIT and their associated set class (Tn/In-type) and interval normal form (equivalent to Tn-type) labels, along with a suggested “tonal” label. [0137]-type AITs are labeled + (major) and - (minor), according to the [037] consonant triad embedded within. [0146]-type AITs are labeled as seventh chords, reflecting the distribution that results from placing the ic2 dyad on the outside as a minor seventh. Those with interval normal form (1326) are labeled simply 7, since the modal quality of the seventh chord is made ambiguous by the lack of a third. Their inversions, with interval normal form (2316), are labeled ±7, since the modal quality of the third is simultaneously major and minor. These labels will be used throughout this paper to simplify descriptions of AITs.(8)
Figure 5. Transformational labels for multiple-common-tone relationships among AITs
Figure 6. Examples of transformations performed on F7
[10] Given any AIT, there are 18 other AITs that share at least two common tones with it. Figure 5 demonstrates a contextual labeling system for the transformational relationships that obtain between AITs with at least one dyad in common. In the figure, the initial sonorities are AITs of each quality with a “root” of F (shown to the left of the double bar in each system). The other AITs that share at least two common tones with each initial AIT are shown as the results of the transformations that appear above them. Common tones are highlighted with open noteheads.
[11] Most transformations can be described using the language of partial transposition: two tones remain fixed (trivially, they are transposed by zero half-steps), while the other two are transposed by some other amount.(9) These moves are labeled nTm, where n is the ic of the moving dyad and m is the ic describing the transposition.(10) Since ic3 and ic6 must be in the same partition component, the other dyads (ics 1, 2, 4, and 5) can all be transposed by ic 3 (either T3 or T9) to produce another AIT. The direction of transposition is uniquely determined in each case by the requirement that the final result also be an AIT.(12) Since the dyad being moved shares one common tone with the ic3 dyad (by virtue of being in a different partition component), transposition by 3 half-steps in one direction will move that common tone onto the other note in the ic3 dyad, resulting in only a trichord. The desired transformation is achieved by transposition in the other direction. Figure 6a demonstrates the application of the 1T3 transformation to the F7 AIT. Transposing the ic1 dyad {B, C} by T3 results in {D, E }, which shares a common tone with the fixed {E , F} ic2 dyad. The desired result is therefore described by T9, adding {G , A} to the fixed {E , F} to produce the F±7 AIT.
[12] The special roles of ic3 and ic6 flowing from the CUP2 structure of AITs permit these dyads to be transposed by any value, so long as overlap with the fixed dyad is avoided. Transposition by any of the six ics is possible for the ic3 dyad. For transposition by 1, 2, 4, or 5 half-steps, motion in one direction will create a common tone with the fixed dyad, while motion in the other direction will have the desired outcome of a new AIT. Transposition by 6 half-steps has only one result, so direction is not a concern. Transposition by 3 half-steps yields a special scenario, since it creates an AIT in either direction. The transformations are distinguished by appending + or - to the 3T3 label: + corresponds to T3; -, to T9. These moves also result in three common tones (rather than two), since one member of the ic3 dyad will remain unchanged under the transposition. Due to its transpositional symmetry, the ic6 dyad can only be transposed by 1, 2, or 3 half-steps: transposition by 4 or 5 is equivalent to 2 or 1, respectively; and transposition by 6 results in no change. With the exception of the two 3T3 transformations (which are each other’s inverses), all partial transpositions in this system are involutions.(12)
[13] A few additional transformations occur by exchanging one interval class with another. These are labeled nXm, indicating that icn is exchanged for icm. These transformations represent a change in the partitioning scheme of the initial and final AITs. The dyad exchange takes place around a fixed axis of pitch-class inversion, which holds both the icn dyad of the original AIT and the icm dyad of the resultant AIT invariant. Again, the final product is uniquely determined simply by requiring that the result be an AIT. Figure 6b demonstrates the application of the 2X4 transformation to the F7 AIT. The axis of inversion that holds the ic2 dyad {E , F} invariant is described by I8 (passing through E and B ). The ic4 dyads that share this axis of inversion are {A , C} and {D, F }. Since the first of these creates a common tone with the fixed {B, C} dyad, the exchange of {E , F} with {D, F } will produce the desired result: a B- AIT. Like the 3T3 transformations, the exchange operations are not involutions: nXm and mXn form inverse pairs.
Figure 7. Reduction of Carter: Scrivo in Vento (mm. 37–42)
Figure 8. Excerpt from Carter: Shard (mm. 56–57)
Figure 10. Reduction of Carter: Scrivo in Vento (mm. 1–17, 21–36)
Figure 11. Excerpt from Carter: Scrivo in Vento (mm. 63–66)
[14] Figure 5 is laid out to highlight certain features of the complete transformational system. Barlines segregate the resultant chords by set class and quality. Chords on the upper staff in each system are members of the same octatonic collection as the initial sonority, while those on the lower staff lie in other octatonic collections. Given any AIT, 12 of the other 15 AITs contained within the same octatonic collection will share at least two common tones with the original chord. (Of the other three, two share one common tone, and one is the octatonic complement.)
[15] As an example, Figure 7 reproduces the reduction from mm. 37–42 of Carter’s Scrivo in Vento that appeared in Figure 2, with chord and transformational labels added. The use of a contextual labeling system highlights certain similarities among common-tone relationships that would be obscured by the use of Tn/In/M operators. For example, the three occurrences of 4T3 would be I1, I11, and I3, respectively.
[16] Carter’s treatment of common-tone-related AITs seems to favor maximum variety in the vocabulary of transformations, sometimes modulated by their CUP2 characteristic.(13) Figures 8 and 9 show passages from Shard for solo guitar that illustrate this trend. The excerpt in Figure 8 (with sequential AITs marked with brackets) exhibits systematic alternation of non-overlapping ic3 and ic6 dyads, which produce AITs by virtue of CUP. Of the ten transformations that can navigate the CUP compositional space (those that begin with either 3 or 6), six occur in this passage, with only one duplication. Figure 9 shows a passage that is not limited to common tones associated with the ic3 and ic6 dyads. The patterning of overlapping AITs (again demarcated by brackets) is much less consistent, and adjacent chords occasionally exhibit only one common tone (in which case no transformational label is provided).(14) Again, the transformational labels exhibit maximum variety, with only one duplication.
[17] The musical materials of Scrivo in Vento generally exhibit strong contrasts of pacing, register, and dynamics. The passage modeled by Figures 1, 2, and 7 is fast, low, and soft (with occasional loud, high-register outbursts that are omitted from the reduction), and demonstrates a significant level of transformational variety, although there are more duplications than were found in the excerpts from Shard. The opening section of the piece is also low and soft, but consists of slow notes connected together in long, lyrical lines. Figure 10 provides AIT-based reductions of this material from the opening and also of a later passage that returns to the same character (though in a slightly higher register). Unlike the previous examples, these passages exhibit a much narrower transformational vocabulary. The moving dyad is almost always ic3, and only three of the seven transformations marked by this dyad are employed. Of particular note is the succession 3T3- followed by 3T2, which seems to provide closure for both segments (in both cases a fast figure, omitted from the reduction and symbolized by the dotted barline, immediately precedes the final two chords, further distinguishing them as a closing unit in this texture).
[18] The first half of the piece culminates with an extended fast passage that bridges the earlier contrasts of dynamics and register by moving from high and loud to low and soft.(15) This section, which is given in Figure 11 along with analysis of its component AITs, also synthesizes transformational vocabularies. Like the second excerpt from Shard (Figure 9), the patterning of AITs is irregular, and neighboring chords sometimes have only one common tone. The overall collection of transformations exhibits a high level of variety, although there is some repetition as was seen in mm. 37–42 (Figure 7). Reflective of the opening materials, however, the beginning and ending of this passage exhibit particular emphasis on operations that move ic3 (and, more generally, on those that can navigate a CUP space through manipulation of ic3 or ic6). Both stretches of CUP-related transformations end with inversional pairs: the opening segment closes with twin involutional 3T1s, and the entire excerpt ends with 3T3- (recall its association with closure in Figure 10) and 3T3+.(16)
[19] The proposed system of contextual transformational labels provides a complete, yet succinct, vocabulary for the description of multiple-common-tone relationships among AITs. Brief examination of excerpts from the music of Elliott Carter shows resonance with one of the composer’s primary aesthetics: the exploitation of maximal variety within the context of a single larger unifying concept. Future explorations could consider group structures implied by subsets of the system, especially those focusing on involutions or on maintenance of octatonic collections.(17)
Hugh Hodgson School of Music
Athens, GA 30602-7287
apchilds@uga.edu
Bernard, Jonathan W. 1993. “Problems of Pitch Structure in Elliott Carter’s First and Second String Quartets.” Journal of Music Theory 37 (2): 231–66.
Capuzzo, Guy. 1999. “Variety within Unity: Expressive Means and Their Technical Ends in the Music of Elliott Carter, 1983–1994.” Ph.D., University of Rochester.
Harvey, David I. H. 1989. The Later Music of Elliott Carter: A Study in Music Theory and Analysis. Garland Publishing.
Koivisto, Tiina. “Aspects of Motion in Elliott Carter’s Second String Quartet.” Intégral 10: 19–52.
Lewin, David. 1987. Generalized Musical Intervals and Transformations. Yale University Press.
Lewin, David. 1993. Musical Form and Transformation: Four Analytical Essays. Yale University Press.
—————. 1993. Musical Form and Transformation: Four Analytical Essays. Yale University Press.
McCartin, Brian J. 1998. “Prelude to Musical Geometry.” College Mathematics Journal 29 (5): 354–70.
Morris, Robert. “Pitch-Class Complementation and its Generalizations.” Journal of Music Theory 34 (2): 175–246.
O’Donnell, Shaugn. 1998. “Klumpenhouwer Networks, Isography, and the Molecular Metaphor.” Intégral 12: 53–80.
Schiff, David. 1998. The Music of Elliott Carter. Cornell University Press.
Straus, Joseph N. 2003. “Uniformity, Balance, and Smoothness in Atonal Voice Leading.” Music Theory Spectrum 25 (2): 305–52.
1. Capuzzo 1999, 317 (Ex. 4.12). The notes on the upper staff of chord 6 are erroneously given as F and G in the original. The original figure also contains transformational labels (Tn/In/M) from chord to chord and a reduction of the complete pitch-class content of the figure, both omitted here.
2. The term “all-interval tetrachord” is defined in this paper as referring to any of the 48 pitch-class sets that are members of the M- and Z-related set classes represented by prime forms [0137] and [0146].
3. Capuzzo 1999, 134 (n. 100), 141. CUP and CUP2 are drawn from Morris 1990.
4. Capuzzo 1999, 142–43. The “CUP AIT spaces” are defined by Capuzzo as compositional spaces whose objects—ic3 and ic6 dyads—are connected if they have no pitch classes in common. Compositional spaces, including examples pertaining to AITs, are defined in . Similar networks with an explicitly analytical (rather than compositional) motivation are found in Lewin 1998.
5. Enharmonic respellings are liberally employed in Figure 2 (and other reductions in this paper) to avoid augmented unisons. Dotted barlines in the reduction indicate intervening musical material that has been omitted from the reduction. The final chord of this reduction includes a high-register C that has been brought down; all other pitches are shown in their actual registers.
6. A slightly different reasoning with the same result: The overlapping of an ic3 and ic6 dyad to produce one common tone will create an [036] trichord, which, by virtue of containing two ic3 dyads, cannot be a subset of an AIT.
7. A very different proof of the uniqueness of the two set classes of AITs, focusing on the sequential intervals formed by AITs modeled on pitch-class wheels, is provided in McCartin 1998.
8. Without loss of generality or specificity, these “tonal” labels can be transformed into non-tonal labels of the form Lx, such as those used by Lewin in his analysis of Stockhausen’s Klavierstück III (Lewin 1998, 16–67). In this system, L is a letter representing the set class (with upper- and lower-case letters distinguishing inversionally-related Tn-types) and x is an integer (mod 12) representing the transposition level from a designated canonical form (which is labeled with x=0). + and - would be replaced with one upper- and lower-case letter, and 7 and ±7 would be replaced by another. Pitch-class letter names designating chord “roots” would be replaced by values of x. (I am grateful to an anonymous reviewer for drawing this affinity to my attention.)
9. On partial transposition, see: O‘Donnell 1998 and Straus 2003.
10. It is important to note that m is an interval class (an unordered pitch-class interval) rather than an ordered pitch-class interval (as is traditionally used in the labeling of transposition operations). This distinction is highlighted by the demonstrations associated with Figure 6 below.
11. In every case but one (described in paragraph 12 below), one possible interpretation of partial transposition by ic m will result in an AIT, while the other will not (and is thus discarded; see Figure 6). This limitation in the definition of nTm permits these labels to adhere to the strict definition of transformation proposed by David Lewin. It also renders the transformations injective (one-to-one). As they are also surjective (onto) over the set of 48 AITs, these transformations are thus also operations. See Lewin 1987, 3.
12. Half of the partial transpositions—1T3, 2T3, 3T1, 3T5, 4T3, 5T3, and 6T1—can also be defined as contextual inversions, inverting the AIT across an axis that will hold the fixed dyad invariant.
13. The use of AITs in Carter’s music has been highlighted by other scholars, though without any particular focus on common tones. See: Bernard 1993; Harvey 1989; Koivisto 1996; Schiff 1998.
14. AITs related by one common tone can be modeled by compound operations. The move from C 7 to F7 might be labeled 1T3•3T1 or 6T1•2T3 or 1X5•3T2, for example. (These compound labels use the left-to-right functional orthography that has become standard in contemporary transformational analysis.) Of course, this particular move could also be modeled by T4, but such labeling lacks specific information about retention of common tones.
15. Capuzzo 1999, 308 (Ex. 4.2) delineates the two-part form of the piece.
16. Again focusing on navigation through CUP spaces, Capuzzo’s analysis of this passage captures those AITs that relate by transformations starting with 3 or 6. See 149–50, 321–22 (Exx. 4.18 and 4.19).
17. Preliminary versions of this article were presented at annual meetings of the Southeast Section of the American Mathematical Society and Music Theory Southeast. For their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this article, I wish to thank John Turci-Escobar, Michael Buchler, and an anonymous reviewer.
Capuzzo 1999, 317 (Ex. 4.12). The notes on the upper staff of chord 6 are erroneously given as F and G in the original. The original figure also contains transformational labels (Tn/In/M) from chord to chord and a reduction of the complete pitch-class content of the figure, both omitted here.
The term “all-interval tetrachord” is defined in this paper as referring to any of the 48 pitch-class sets that are members of the M- and Z-related set classes represented by prime forms [0137] and [0146].
Capuzzo 1999, 134 (n. 100), 141. CUP and CUP2 are drawn from Morris 1990.
Capuzzo 1999, 142–43. The “CUP AIT spaces” are defined by Capuzzo as compositional spaces whose objects—ic3 and ic6 dyads—are connected if they have no pitch classes in common. Compositional spaces, including examples pertaining to AITs, are defined in . Similar networks with an explicitly analytical (rather than compositional) motivation are found in Lewin 1998.
Enharmonic respellings are liberally employed in Figure 2 (and other reductions in this paper) to avoid augmented unisons. Dotted barlines in the reduction indicate intervening musical material that has been omitted from the reduction. The final chord of this reduction includes a high-register C that has been brought down; all other pitches are shown in their actual registers.
A slightly different reasoning with the same result: The overlapping of an ic3 and ic6 dyad to produce one common tone will create an [036] trichord, which, by virtue of containing two ic3 dyads, cannot be a subset of an AIT.
A very different proof of the uniqueness of the two set classes of AITs, focusing on the sequential intervals formed by AITs modeled on pitch-class wheels, is provided in McCartin 1998.
Without loss of generality or specificity, these “tonal” labels can be transformed into non-tonal labels of the form Lx, such as those used by Lewin in his analysis of Stockhausen’s Klavierstück III (Lewin 1998, 16–67). In this system, L is a letter representing the set class (with upper- and lower-case letters distinguishing inversionally-related Tn-types) and x is an integer (mod 12) representing the transposition level from a designated canonical form (which is labeled with x=0). + and - would be replaced with one upper- and lower-case letter, and 7 and ±7 would be replaced by another. Pitch-class letter names designating chord “roots” would be replaced by values of x. (I am grateful to an anonymous reviewer for drawing this affinity to my attention.)
On partial transposition, see: O‘Donnell 1998 and Straus 2003.
It is important to note that m is an interval class (an unordered pitch-class interval) rather than an ordered pitch-class interval (as is traditionally used in the labeling of transposition operations). This distinction is highlighted by the demonstrations associated with Figure 6 below.
In every case but one (described in paragraph 12 below), one possible interpretation of partial transposition by ic m will result in an AIT, while the other will not (and is thus discarded; see Figure 6). This limitation in the definition of nTm permits these labels to adhere to the strict definition of transformation proposed by David Lewin. It also renders the transformations injective (one-to-one). As they are also surjective (onto) over the set of 48 AITs, these transformations are thus also operations. See Lewin 1987, 3.
Half of the partial transpositions—1T3, 2T3, 3T1, 3T5, 4T3, 5T3, and 6T1—can also be defined as contextual inversions, inverting the AIT across an axis that will hold the fixed dyad invariant.
The use of AITs in Carter’s music has been highlighted by other scholars, though without any particular focus on common tones. See: Bernard 1993; Harvey 1989; Koivisto 1996; Schiff 1998.
AITs related by one common tone can be modeled by compound operations. The move from C 7 to F7 might be labeled 1T3•3T1 or 6T1•2T3 or 1X5•3T2, for example. (These compound labels use the left-to-right functional orthography that has become standard in contemporary transformational analysis.) Of course, this particular move could also be modeled by T4, but such labeling lacks specific information about retention of common tones.
Capuzzo 1999, 308 (Ex. 4.2) delineates the two-part form of the piece.
Again focusing on navigation through CUP spaces, Capuzzo’s analysis of this passage captures those AITs that relate by transformations starting with 3 or 6. See 149–50, 321–22 (Exx. 4.18 and 4.19).
Preliminary versions of this article were presented at annual meetings of the Southeast Section of the American Mathematical Society and Music Theory Southeast. For their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this article, I wish to thank John Turci-Escobar, Michael Buchler, and an anonymous reviewer.
Prepared by Brent Yorgason, Managing Editor and Andrew Eason, Editorial Assistant
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Forever S01E02 Recap: Look Before You Leap
After a quick recap of Henry's never ending condition the episode opens with a frantic woman in a cab. She pleads with the person on the phone to wait, begging him not to do anything rash. She spots something on the bridge and forces the cab driver to stop as she opens the door in traffic. She runs from the cab and climbs over the guard rail, leaping off to her screaming death. Her body washes up on shore.
Henry's first patient has an axe stuck in his head. The detectives think it to be a homicide,but Henry has another story. The drunk soccer fan tried to cut a branch interfering with his connection, fell from the ladder, and the axe fell from the roof killing him. The woman jumper however, Henry concludes is a suicide. He's never seen a jumper with fractures as hers, she was facing the wrong way and there was a good deal of lead paint beneath her nails, clearly a homicide. Detective Jo Martinez plans to look into it since Henry has yet to be wrong.
Jo's boss however doesn't think time should be wasted on the jumper. Between witnesses and the cab driver's statement that the woman was hysterical before her leap, its a clear suicide. She asks what she's missing, and Jo tells her that the ME has helped out on a number of homicides. The Captain brings up Jo's personal life, telling her that she can't cut her any slack, and if the ME is as good as she says then they'll find better use of his talents.
Henry is asked to rule the jumper as a suicide, but he refuses. Her family wishes to speak to him, but Henry doesn't like to talk to the families. They come in anyways, and Henry is forced to tell them that it looks like she fell to her death. They're adamant that she didn't commit suicide, she was set for an internship in Paris, and they're sure it had to be something else. Henry offers his condolences, but the parents think he has no idea the pain he's going through without having a child of his own.
Past. The baby that was found in the wreckage is happy and healthy, and he needs a home otherwise, Abigail tells Henry, he'll go into an orphanage. She's named him Abraham, and she clearly thinks Henry would be the perfect person to adopt him.
The father has become the son. Abe has Henry try some sauce, but he's distracted with the current victim. He can't get the girl's death out of his mind, but he's done his job and its up to the police. He doesn't want to get caught up in the messy entanglements of life. Abe points out that's the point of life, and he has a date.
The jumper leapt to her death in the middle of the bridge, and Henry sets out on his bicycle to take a look for himself. The impact of falling is one of the worst ways to die. He climbs over the rail for a better look, and finds not only clay marks and paint missing, but also a shoe print. Henry spots something above, and as he grabs it, he nearly falls himself. He manages to get back to the top of the bridge, but gets hit by a truck, killing him.
Running nearly naked with just a pizza box covering, Abe picks him up, his date interrupted by Henry's bad night. Henry was right, there was someone else on the bridge, the girl was indeed pushed.
Henry's steps are light as he gets to work. Under the jumper's nails is paint that matches the bridge, and something more. She scratched someone before falling. On Henry's desk is a gift, offering his condolences on a painful death. Someone is stalking again. Henry tells Jo his findings, and she's surprised to hear that he personally took a look, but he has a special relationship with death. Henry is quick to run out.
He takes his newest note to Abe, who notices a watermark on the paper. They no little about his fan, but Abe thinks he may be able to find out more about the sender. Jo arrives to tell him what she found. The jumper Vicky had checked into her Paris flight, not normal behavior for someone who was about to leap to her death. They head to her school to ask more questions.
Vicky was well liked, and was a shoulder to cry on to those in her dorm. Her parents are in her room, and they're excited to see Henry, thinking that they reopened up her case. Her death is an unexplained death at the moment. No boyfriend. At the moment she was working on translating an Egyptian Codex. The mother mourns, and Henry tells her that he will find out who did this. Outside the room, Jo cannot believe that Henry told the mother that they would solve the case, considering she's not suppose to be looking into the girl's death, and sometimes these cases go years without being solved, but Henry has plenty of time.
They head over to see where Vicky was studying, and they meet her genius professor and see the codex. He's speaking to a group of students about the Codex. Professor James Brown is more than happy to talk about his greatest student. He gushes over the codex, and Henry notices that it was a love letter. They were about to publish their work, and Henry asks if he smoked, because of the way that he holds his pen. He's a former smoker. Professor Brown claims to not have been too close to Vicky, that he was at Opera with his wife, but later Henry tells Jo that they were having an affair, between the title of the paper and the signs of cigarettes in Vicky's bed. There was also a picture in her room wearing his scarf. It's all circumstantial at this point, but Henry has nabbed the pen for a DNA comparison. The DNA is a perfect match to that under her nails.
Henry is impressed by James's brownstone. Her block was extremely popular in the artistic circles. They question her about her and her husbands whereabouts. Henry points it must have been awkward sitting in an opera about betrayal, noting that her husband was never with her, one program was crumbled. He further reasons that she new about the affair and was trying to remind him of happier times with a newly placed picture. Her home is old, and they wouldn't have to bring any shame to her family. She's surprised that he knew all of that. Jo asks her question again, and this time she answers honestly.
James is taken into custody and questioned. They know about the affair, and that Vicky was leaving to study in Paris. His life was unravelling, and Jo says that Vicky was trying to stop him and fell. James tells her that it wasn't like that. He loved her, and he had the strength to break it off with her. He was happy for her, and Henry believes he's telling the truth. He notices a skin condition, and asks him to remove his shirt as his lawyer arrives. They leave, and Henry believes the skin got under Vicky's nails in the heat of passion, not as she fell.
Henry laments over the injustice of James spending his life in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Abe ponders that it could have been a crime of passion, but Henry notes that the crime was meticulously planned. On the paper front, it was manufactured for a Hotel that has been closed for at least 6 years. It came from the Hotel Montliogne, on that he stayed at in 1945, and even wrote a letter on the stationary. As Abigail lay sleeping Henry wrote his letter and left, but Abigail woke and gave chase. He tried to leave her because things wouldn't work. So long as he loved her, she didn't care how it ended. Life is about the journey, not the ending, and she wasn't letting go.
Henry investigates further. If the professor was telling the truth, and he broke up with her, she wasn't letting go, Vicky was a fighter. The scuff marks on her shoes prove there was a struggle. She was lured up there. He opens her mouth, and finds some flesh between her teeth. He tells his assistant to check that against James's, but Jo arrives, telling him its unnecessary, there's another body.
James's body was found at his desk with a suicide note. The detectives think its a clear case, but Henry thinks he was murdered. There was too much blood on the floor, he was drugged and sedated, and his wounds go from the inside out, instead of outside in. The suicide note is written by a left handed person, and theres an improper usage of the word for love in French.
Jo looks through security footage, and she recognizes James's wife Amanda.
Henry gives his condolences to the student that showed him around earlier. He notices
that Tucker is typing with his right hand when he's left handed. He also concludes that he was upset over not being given more credit for the research, and for Vicky falling for the professor, not him. He called Vicky saying that he was going to jump, and she came because that's the type of person she was. Killing the professor and making it look like a suicide tied up all the loose ends. Tucker notices that the police haven't arrived, and looks to tie up Henry's loose end, but slitting his throat. It lacks his regular flare, but improvising is his only option, even though a camera is catching the whole exchange. Henry points out the camera, but its too late for that. Tucker carries Henry out of the room, and Jo see it all. Jo goes after Tucker, and with her partner, Hansen's help they take him down. Henry gets a little cut but he'll live.
Hansen looks over the camera footage, still unable to believe Henry was telling him to shoot Tucker. The captain clears the room, and takes Jo aside. She gets a slight reprimand for going after the case when she was told to back down. She is impressed Jo stuck with her gut, and trusted her ME with a sixth sense about death.
Henry faces Vicky's parents, doing the human thing, and offering comfort and allowing them to start healing. Jo faces her husband, and Henry looks at Abigail. Abe misses her as will, she'd be 94 if she were still alive. Henry always knew she would be gone some day, and hoped they could all be a proper family. Abe tells him that they were a proper family, that he's enjoyed his life. Henry gets a call from his mystery fan. He's done playing games, he asks about the hotel Montliogne. It was an easy manner of looking through records, which helped him finally understand why it all matters, because he still cares. He's a child the caller says. He's been around for thousands of years, and tells Henry to call him Adam.
Labels: Alana De La Garza Donnie Keshawarz Forever Ioan Gruffudd Joel David Moore Judd Hirsch Lorraine Toussaint
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John Adams backstage at Carnegie Hall, New York
Operas by John Adams and Andre Previn receive their UK premieres in semi-staged performances at the Barbican this month. Nina Large sets the scene
Classical Music Magazine
‘This is an amazingly good time for the creation of operas in the States. There’s never been a time, to my mind, when companies were commissioning more operas,’ says American composer John Adams. The evidence is clear enough - San Francisco has commissioned the latest Adams opera Doctor Atomic, inspired by the life of Robert Oppenheimer, Houston has just premiered Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince, Los Angeles Opera will premiere Deborah Drattell’s Nicholas and Alexandra, the Met has a new work coming up by Tan Dun and Chicago’s Lyric Opera has lined up William Bolcom’s A Wedding. No better time then for the Barbican’s own celebration with its American Opera Week running from 25 to 28 June at which it will present the UK premieres of Adams’s E1 Niño and André Previn’s A Streetcar named Desire.
‘There is far greater support for American composers and American opera these days,’ says Robert van Leer, head of music at the Barbican. ‘Despite some of the negative news, opera is a growth area - we know from the statistics that there are more operas being performed year in year out. It’s good to see it not only in more performances of Rigo1etto and Bohème but also in the commissioning of new works.’ The idea for the Barbican week rather presented itself: Van Leer knew that the LSO was already working on staging Streetcar with Renee Fleming and with the Barbican being co-commissioner of Adam’s E1 Niño it gave him the perfect opportunity to programme both operas ‘in a way that sometimes doesn’t get that level of profile’.
E1 Niño (Spanish for ‘The Child) is Adams’ exploration of the mystery surrounding birth, and more specifically the birth of Jesus Christ At its premiere it was fully staged as a multi-disciplinary work (directed by Peter Sellars) with all the singers acting on stage, dancers, film, and a children’s chorus, but right from the start Adams was keen for the work to have a life as a pure concert work as well, Indeed the manner in which the singers share the story between them, without being constrained by one particular role, is similar to oratorio. Willard W White (bass-baritone) sings Joseph and the storyteller, Dawn Upshaw (soprano) and Kirsti Harms (mezzo-soprano) share various roles including Mary and both the London Voices and Theatre of Voices make up the chorus. Adams himself will conduct the cast including the BBC Symphony Orchestra for both performances.
Each of the six presentations since E1 Niño’s premiere in 1999 has been tailored to its performance space, At the Barbican the chorus will remain on stage at all times. Van Leer explains: ‘Peter has envisaged the stage as an altarpiece, with the chorus standing in front of the raised platform where the performers are so that you see them from the waist up as part of the tableau, and the film above the soloists.’
When we meet at a Dominican Republic Cafe in New York, Adams tells me that of all the Christian stories it was the nativity which he most strongly identified with as a child, ‘I was always drawn to medieval and renaissance paintings of the Madonna, particularly Giotto. It’s a beautiful story with dark corners as well as light.’
As befits a present day interpretation Adams sets the story in a modern context, putting fresh emphasis on the female perspective of childbirth, laid bare in all its misery and pain, happiness and wonder. This is represented in particular by the writings of two Mexican women; 17th-century nun Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and the 20th-century novelist Rosario Castellanos. Work by Hildegard von Bingen is also presented, as are the more usual versions of the nativity from the gospels of Matthew and Luke, anonymous verses (the work begins with ‘I sing of a Maiden’, and passages from the New Testament Apocrypha and the Wakefield Mystery Plays.
Music and text are further enriched through dance and film so that the ‘sung’ Mary shares the stage with dancer incarnations of Mary, the film all the while portraying yet another layer to the character. There is no end to the visual and aural stimuli - such abundance has been regarded alternately as both E1 Niño’s triumph and failing. It was Peter Sellars who discovered the Hispanic texts and Adams was determined not to translate them - instead he decided to learn Spanish himself. The satisfaction is still in evidence and I find myself infected by Adams’s enthusiasm as he asks the waitress for coffee and rum cake in elementary but delighted Spanish. It is a reflection of his evident appreciation of cultural diversity, and all that comes with it. ‘You and I in London and San Francisco, and here in New York, we can go at arms length from these people and what makes their lives interesting, or we can open up to them. I think it’s American culture’s openness to influences which keeps it alive, and I think that’s what makes European avant-garde culture so dead on arrival,’ he says frankly.
In fact as we talk further Adams admits that he sees the European scene as bearing the ‘last vestiges of 19th-century individualism and egotism which has informed so much art in the past 150 years. ‘There is often a terrible egotism, which says “this is my work, it’s about me and if you can’t understand it or you don’t like it you will feel inadequate.” I think the avant-garde has completely lost sight of the pleasure principle. With E1 Niño I wanted simplicity and directness. I wanted to create a piece that didn’t have any “attitude” as such.’ Throughout the
work almost every word is clearly audible, which enhances the can dour of the texts and lends the work an almost Handelian directness.
As one of America’s most versatile musicians Andre Previn achieves his goal in very different style from Adams. ‘These operas come from very different vantage points,’ says van Leer, ‘and because they are approaching opera in such different ways I think they create a lot of talking points.’ The chief difference is that where Adams took a basic idea and allowed himself free rein to express it, Previn has taken a pre-existing text, in this case Tennessee Williams’s Pulitzer prize-winning A Streetcar Named Desire, and transformed it from play into opera. ‘I think this is very clear in the scores. It embodies what John and André are about as individuals - and yet they are both still very strong American operas.’
A Streetcar Named Desire involves a glut of musical idioms. The overlay of jazz, pop and blues (so dominant in Previn’s early career) with lush lyricism has encouraged the work to be described both as ‘popular American music drama’ (The Wall Street Journal) and ‘the most riveting of contemporary operas’ (San Jose Mercury News). Its popular appeal led to a screening on the American public television station PBS and when Deutsche Grammophon released its recording the disc won a Grand Prix du Disque.
‘I think we are seeing a move away from a confrontational modernist edge towards work which both the companies and the public perhaps feel more comfortable with,’ van Leer suggests. ‘I think the public was really afraid of new opera; they thought they were going to be forced to sit through something which didn’t have a storyline they could follow but they are now having positive new experiences with modern opera which has created the right environment for more commissions.’ Previn is currently putting the finishing touches to his second opera, based on the Alessandro Baricco novel Silk.
It was San Francisco Opera general director Lotfi Mansouri who asked Previn whether he would be interested making Streetcar into his first opera in
1998. As Previn recalls, ‘The idea of writing an opera is irresistible to anyone who composes; everyone of us secretly wants to create one. William’s play is intensely operatic, poetic and beautiful. There was no way I was going to say no.’ In an interview with Musical America he explained his feelings further: ‘I had always regarded it as an opera with missing music, because the situations are so emotionally potent they quite naturally beg to be expressed in song.’
Renée Fleming played Blanche Dubois in the original staging for San Francisco Opera. Previn has written rather a lot for Fleming over the years, including three settings of poems by Emily Dickinson and The Giraffes Go to Hamburg (a setting of several lines from Karen Blixen’s novel Out of Africa). At the Barbican he will direct his old friends the LSO alongside the original cast including Rodney Gilfry as Stanley Kowalski, Janice Watson as Stella Kowalski, and Anthony Dean Griffey as Harold Mitchell. Previn’s association with the orchestra spans more than 35 years and his roles have included principal conductor (for more than 11 years), conductor emeritus and the specially created current position of conductor laureate. ‘My relationship with the orchestra is very close,’ he says. ‘A few of the players go back to the period when I was principal conductor; coming back is always a great reunion.’
It is perhaps surprising that the UK premieres of these works should take place at the Barbican concert hall rather than in an opera house. ‘I think there is a slight reticence on behalf of the major houses to engage in some of this work,’ suggests van Leer. ‘The Coliseum did Adams’s Nixon in China to great acclaim a couple of years back but even that took almost 20 years before it crossed the ocean and found a home on a British stage.’
The current troubles of the ENO are certainly no help (indeed they were going to partner Chicago and San Francisco Operas in commissioning Adams’s forthcoming Doctor Atomic but Adams told me they had backed out) and van Leer is well aware that putting opera on at the Barbican is possible ‘without having to take the level of risk that the big houses do’. In fact the Barbican is presenting more and more opera these days and next season plans a total of eight. ‘I feel really strongly that we have a role to play. It’s about giving these works an airing, getting people to hear these different sounds, and putting them on to the table for debate - whether it is Saariaho’s L’amour de loin, these American pieces, or the baroque opera that we programme.’
Van Leer even feels that by testing public reaction with works at the Barbican it can, in part, help opera houses gauge their viability on the main stage - he cites Nixon in China as an example of an opera which had two sold out performances in 1998 (Nicholas Payne attended one of them) as part of the Barbican’s Inventing America festival. ‘I think that maybe started people thinking that there is an appetite for this work and it may even have been a contributing factor in the ENO staging Nixon in China.’
‘If we can facilitate the process in some way and open doors even just a crack then I think we have played a useful role for both the public and for the music industry as a whole.’
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Petey Williams Interview
in 2006-2010, Interviews
On Friday morning, NZPWI’s Kirsty Quested had the privilege of speaking to one of the stars of TNA, Team Canada’s Petey Williams.
Petey has been a mainstay of the TNA roster, as one of the stand-out performers in the X-Division. As captain of the Team Canada stable, Petey has wrestled in a variety of environments, making him one of the promotions most versatile performers.
Petey spoke to Kirsty about the difference in singles and tag team wrestling, and about the direction of Team Canada within TNA. He also spoke about his friendship with Team Canada’s Scott D’Amore, who trained Petey from the get-go.
Petey talked about some of his favourite opponents, and those he would love to step in the ring with.
Petey also gives New Zealand fans their own story of the origins of the Canadian Destroyer, as well as describing who experienced it first.
Continuing in the tradition of stand-out Canadian wrestlers, my guest at this time is well on his way to becoming one of Canada’s pro-wrestling legends. A former X-Division champion, he is now a force to be reckoned with on the TNA roster, as captain of Team Canada. He is the master of the devastating Canadian Destroyer, he is Petey Williams.
Kirsty: Petey, how are you?
Petey: I’m great thanks.
You’ve accomplished an impressive amount in your career, for someone so young, and it really all began to get rolling for you on an international scale as captain of Team Canada. How would you compare Team Canada in relation to other Canadian stables from the past, such as the Hart Foundation, Anti-Americans, Un-Americans, guys like that?
I’d have to say that Team Canada is probably one of the top, just because… if you look at the Hart Foundation, they’ve been together for a long time, so I’d probably say they’re the most dominant of all the Canadian groups. Other than that, all the other types of Team Canada, Un-Americans, those type of factions, they haven’t been around for long enough, only probably together for six months or so, whereas Team Canada, we’ve been together for… I don’t know, like two years or so now. Little over two years, so I’d say we’re right up there, one of the top stables from Canada.
You get to be quite versatile within Team Canada, in that you’ve worked in tag teams and as a singles wrestler in the X-Division. Which do you prefer – tag team wrestling or working as a singles wrestler?
They both have their benefits, I mean I like my style, the X-Division style. I like to come up with more innovative, creative type of things to do. When you wrestle guys like Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, AJ Styles, guys like that, they want to be creative and such, but tag teams are good, you have another guy to share the workload with, and you’re wrestling more heavyweights, so I’d say it’s more… I think it’s a toned down style, it’s a little bit slower, but sometimes it’s more hard hitting, you know? But I prefer the X-Division over the tag team division any day.
Given the direction of most modern teams, the trend seems to be that they eventually split up in order to start singles feuds. Do you ever see that happening with Team Canada?
Um… probably. I mean, nothing lasts forever. As much as I’d hate to see it go, it’s probably going to go one day. Team Canada’s probably going to run its course, people aren’t going to want to see it forever. I don’t know how soon it would, as of plans right now I don’t see myself leaving Team Canada anytime soon, I like to stay true to my roots, and if I’m the captain of the team… I mean I don’t have any problems with anyone else, so…
Yeah, yeah.
… I’m going nowhere.
You mentioned before, and you’ve said it in other interviews, that you always have good matches with Chris Sabin. What other X-Division wrestlers do you really enjoy working with?
I pretty much like working with them all, I’ve worked with AJ a number of times and I usually like our matches, I mean, we usually have a strong fan based following who want to see Petey Williams v. AJ Styles.
I also like wrestling Alex Shelley. I just wish I could wrestle him more often, you know?
I’ve only wrestled Chris Daniels on a couple of occasions, that was pretty good…
Would you like to be able to wrestle Christopher Daniels a bit more?
Oh yeah, definitely, I mean Chris Daniels, he’s a veteran in the ring, he’s like a good – really really good – I always tell him that he’s the best in the business at what he does, you know? He always knows what the fans want to see, and how they’re going to react. He has a really really smart mind, when it comes to wrestling. So I always tell him that, all the time. So whenever I can get in the ring with him, it’s always an honour.
TNA have just kicked off their first house shows. How do you think they’re going?
We’ve just done one, we have another one coming up in June. The first one was really successful, I think we had a little over 4,000 people there. And we did a lot of merchandise sales, and the crowd was really pumped. We had a lot of people come from Canada, I think we had a few people come from England. Just like, from all over the States, just to travel to Detroit for the house show…
Our next one is, I believe, June 9, in the old Philadelphia, the ECW arena?
Oh right!
And I’m wrestling Jerry Lynn there…
… so that’s gonna be, I mean Jerry’s a legend so I mean… I just hope we can put on a good match.
TNA have been making waves with acquisitions lately, such as Christian Cage, Sting, Scott Steiner; what impact would you say they’ve had on the overall TNA product?
I’d say they bring a different, like a more casual fan, to view our programme. A lot of people have never heard my name, or Chris Sabin’s name, and maybe not even AJ Styles’ names, because we haven’t had the nationwide exposure that guys like Sting and Christian have, so I think they do bring a casual fan who want to check out our product, they might be like, “Sting wrestles for this promotion? Well let’s check it out,” and then they see Sting, but they also see a bunch of X-Division guys in great matches, so I think it’s good, for the product.
At Lockdown recently you were the second-to-last competitor eliminated in the Escape The Cage match. How do you enjoy competing in the various elimination style matches? How would they compare to something like an Ultimate X match?
I mean, any type of multi-man match, it feels like there’s a lot of traffic in the ring, like you’re stepping over bodies and you’re stepping on people’s toes, there’s just a lot of traffic, you know, so sometimes those are a little bit harder.
The cage match too, we had 6 guys in that cage, if you want to take a breather outside the ring to regroup, you can’t do that. You can’t leave, and Ultimate X match too is a little bit different, no pinfalls, you’re using a lot of your upper body strength, to climb up on the cables.
But I like the experience of being able to do different things, to say “I’ve been there, I’ve done that.” I prefer singles matches, one on one, but these matches are good to mix it up, I think.
You’ve spent time in many independent promotions – Border City, 1PW, CZW, UWF – do you have a favourite?
Well let’s see. I really enjoyed – I mean, I made my start at Border City Wrestling, in Windsor, that’s where, Scott D’Amore owns that company, and that’s where I got my big break, so I was like, I was competing there, it was my home promotion.
But I got a big break when I was wrestling for IWA Mid South, I got on a lot of “smart mark” videos, I was able to wrestle for CZW, and then eventually be able to wrestle for TNA, so I got a lot of exposure through IWA Mid South.
I don’t know if I have a favourite, I mean they all have their own benefits. You see a lot of the same fans in the areas too, so… I’d have to say, when I wrestle in Canada it’s probably the best, because the fans really look up to me there.
Nothing like being on your home turf.
Do you find it difficult, or even a novelty, switching between 6-sided and 4-sided rings?
Actually no. It’s pretty easy. I mean, I’d like to think… I don’t know. The first time I stepped inside a 6-sided ring I was like “oh man I feel lost in here.” And I remember, the first match on TV that was ever in a 6-sided ring was I think, Team Canada vs. some other X-Division guys, I don’t remember. But I remember, we were the first guys in a 6-sided ring, and I felt, it was pretty comfortable. I mean, if anything I feel like there’s more room, because the two sides are more expanded. It’s hard to explain, but there is more room in that ring. And if you’re in a tag team match, there’s more neutral corners to isolate your opponent in.
But 4-sided ring’s good too. I mean, whether it’s 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 sides, it doesn’t matter. I’ll still be wrestling.
You won the NWA Upstate No Limits title from Kevin Dunn last year. Have you worked with many other Ring of Honor guys?
Yeah, a lot of Ring of Honor guys work for TNA. You know, like Jay Lethal, Roderick Strong, Austin Aries, Alex Shelley, AJ, Daniels, Joe, I mean they all work for Ring of Honor, so I’ve wrestled probably like a good majority of their roster, so they’re great guys to work with. They’re right up there with the top talent.
You became the first non-American to win the ECWA Super 8 Tournament. What was that experience like?
It probably has to be one of the best experiences of my professional wrestling career. Just to be picked, as a winner, of that tournament, that’s prestigious on its own. Because it’s one of the top tournaments in the United States. But when you go down in history as the first person that is not American, to win the ECWA tournament, it’s a great feeling. That’s just… it’s surreal. Bobby Roode, my fellow Team Canada member, he was the first ever Canadian to compete in that tournament. Then I was the first one to ever win it… it’s really good.
Petey, I know you’ve been asked about the Canadian Destroyer so many times that you come up with a different story about it’s origin every time you’re asked. What’s the story for New Zealand fans then?
I don’t know which ones you guys have heard. OK, here’s a new one.
Let’s see, what can I do… OK. Here it is. It’s actually, I didn’t come up with it. Uncle Jeff, Jeff Jarrett came up with it. He did it back, he used to work with his dad, Jerry Jarrett, in the promotional days, back before WWE and all that stuff, but the thing is, back in the day, his dad told him he couldn’t use it, because he’s a bad guy. And that would make people cheer him. So Jeff, always been a bad guy, that’s when he gave it to me.
Uncle Jeff showed it to me.
Who was the first poor guy to have to endure it while it was still a work in progress?
This guy, he works for Ring of Honor actually, his name’s Matt Sydal? I don’t know if you ever heard of him. It was in February… either January or February of 2004. So, a little over 2 years now. He was the first one. I just said “Hey, Matt, we’re gonna do this move tonight,” he’s like “All right whatever.” No questions asked. Ever since then I’ve been doing it. I said, “OK I’m going to flip you on your head, it’s going to make you flip back, and you’re going to land in a piledriver,” and he said “All right whatever.”
That’s how it happened, and… that’s probably the easiest I’ve ever had talking it to somebody, giving it to them… I know a lot of other people are really nervous about it, stuff like that, but I’ve never hurt anybody with it.
If he’d actually seen it before, he might have gone “Um… no.”
Oh yeah. Oh I know, I was just surprised he had no problem with it. And now, people are lining up. I don’t even have to ask anybody to take it, people are like “Oh can you, let’s do the Destroyer tonight,” and I’m like “All right whatever.”
That must be good though, you know it’s one of the big legendary moves now, “Oh come on, do the Destroyer on me” …
Yeah, I mean… I just like to say, in TNA, you’ll never see that if you turn on TV and watch any other wrestling promotion.
Yeah, you never see that anywhere.
Yeah, only on TNA. And when I’m long gone from wrestling, when I’m dead like 50 years from now, people are still going to be doing the move in wrestling, and it’s… I don’t know, probably call it the Canadian Destroyer or something else, I don’t know, but I’m always going to go down in history as that guy who made that move famous.
Petey, you’ve said that you play guitar in your spare time; what kind of guitar do you play and how long have you been playing?
I’ve been playing guitar for about 12 years now. I play… I have an electric guitar at home. It’s a Gibson Les Paul Epiphone, it’s just an electric guitar. And I also have a BC Rich acoustic guitar. I have another imitation Les Paul bass guitar that I just keep sitting around the house.
I used to be in a band, I did that before I wrestled and stuff. It’s just like a spare time thing, if I have some music in my head I’ll play it… it’s just a hobby.
Speaking of music, you said that you want to know what that guy says at the end of that Radiohead video?
Oh yeah yeah! “Just” do you know what he says?
Well, I THINK that I might have an answer for you.
Somebody said something like, “stay away from the world” or something like that. I don’t know, I think that’s the best one I got.
Well, apparently the band and the director of the video have said that they’ll never tell. But I did read about this one account of this deaf person who was asked to lip read, and when he offered his interpretation, which was that the guy said “I’ll tell you why, I’ll tell you why,” but then the video itself ends, so you’re never going to know.
Oh! So he doesn’t even say it. OK.
I don’t know, I just figure it’s pretty intriguing… those are things that I just think about randomly, throw it up on my My Space, does anybody know this, does anybody know that.
What can you do.
What can you do, yeah.
As long as I’m not left out of the loop. As long as everybody else doesn’t know either, that’s fine.
You’ve said that Scott D’Amore has been a large part of your success, and that you look up to him. What is it about his training and friendship that’s been so important to you?
When Scott first… when I first walked into the wrestling school I had like baggy clothes on, stuff like that, and Scott looked at me like “Huh. You’re too small to be a wrestler.” Kind of, like he didn’t tell me to get out, he’s like “I’ll take your money and train you,” you know that’s what he was thinking, but one day he saw me without my shirt on and he’s like “Oh you have a nice little body on you, OK. But you’re still short.”
He always thought I would never be able to make it, he always used to… it’s too bad, you know like I’ll always be working on the independent scene, I’ll never get my face shown on TV, just because of my height, you know?
But then I remember, we were at Victory Road, our first ever monthly pay-per-view, and I wrestled AJ Styles, and Scott kinda gave me a hug after the match, because this was like a big breaking point, the promotion of TNA and my career as well, and Scott was shedding a couple of tears, and he was like, “People always said you’d never make it because you’re too short, but here you are right now.”
And he trained me and he always did everything for me, helped get me booked and stuff like that, he’s always been there for me… I owe Scott everything.
What’s the best advice he’s ever given you about the industry?
What’s the best advice Scott’s ever given me?
Pretty much when I first walked in, he was just like, “don’t have an attitude.” Because if you have an attitude in wrestling, it’s not going to get you anywhere. If you think that wrestling owes you something… the sport doesn’t owe you anything. You know what I mean? So, just don’t have an attitude.
If you weren’t a professional wrestler, what would you be doing?
I’d probably have to say… I’d probably still be playing part-time in my band. And I went to school to be a police officer, so maybe I’d be doing some sort of law enforcement, that type of thing… I’m not really sure. I don’t know.
If you could wrestle anyone – alive or dead – who would your dream opponent be?
I’d probably have to say… I know he’s not wrestling anymore, but I’d probably have to say Bret Hart.
Oh. Excellent.
You know, he’s a legend. Canadian hero, and stuff like that. I’d like to follow in his footsteps type deal.
In TNA, someone I’ve never gotten to wrestle, I’d like to wrestle Samoa Joe.
I think the fans would love to see that match too.
Yeah! Well maybe one day they’ll get it.
What is something that the fans would be surprised to learn about Petey Williams?
Heheh… I’m kinda embarrassed saying it, but…
Oh go on.
… I don’t like roller coasters. Like, hanging up on top of an Ultimate X and stuff like that, but probably people that would ride roller coasters wouldn’t dare doing… but that’s me, but I don’t like roller coasters. Not a big fan of amusement parks.
Thank you very much for your time today, it’s been fantastic talking to you, and all the best for the future.
OK, thanks a lot. Good talking to you.
Tags: Petey Williams
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Home » Broadsides Discussion Forum » Broadsides Discussion Forum » The navy’s contribution to keeping the oceans safe and secure*
Broadsides Discussion Forum
The navy’s contribution to keeping the oceans safe and secure*
by Administrator|Published 18 March 2011
*Moderator's Note: This article was original published in The Nova Scotian on 07 February 2011.
Many have seen the news on increased piracy in the Horn of Africa and that mariners of all nations still remain at high risk in this area. The desperate actions of economically disadvantaged pirates off the coast of Somalia have an economic impact on Canadian wallets as a result of increased shipping prices and climbing insurance rates. Although quite clearly these acts of piracy are not in Canadian waters, the navy is there to protect Canadian interests by contributing warships, such as HMCS Fredericton in recent past, to the Coalition campaign off the Horn of Africa. We perform these maritime security operations and counter-piracy operations by employing intelligence and surveillance to police the maritime areas, always watchful for the anomalies or warning signs which would cause us to interdict and investigate a suspicious vessel. Surveillance and interdiction are roles used by navies around the world as the primary means to investigate vessels employed in unusual practices or places. As such, it is the primary tool to stop unlawful activity on the high seas such as piracy, narcotics smuggling, weapons smuggling and terrorism.
The Canadian navy is not acting alone in this recent mission; rather, the ships are assigned to a coalition and are acting in company with many other international partners who are all taking an active role in combating piracy. A large proportion of European and North American trade relies on unfettered shipping from Asia through the Suez Canal by way of the Gulf of Aden. In this area, the overall risk to shipping as a result of acts of piracy escalated to an unacceptable level and action had to be taken. In order to reduce the risk to shipping, nations from around the globe, including China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea, deployed their navies to patrol the shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden. Although the long term campaign to eliminate piracy in these waters is difficult, we must continue to defend our national interests, ensuring that sea lanes become a safer place for international security and prosperity.
Furthermore, a deployed combat-capable Canadian warship and crew that are engaged in maritime interdiction efforts such as these also offer the Canadian government additional flexibility. It does so by being easily re-deployed or re-tasked as circumstances and priorities change. Such was the case when HMCS Ville de Quebec was re-assigned from her NATO counter-terrorism operations in the Mediterranean, in response to an urgent Canadian government request, to escort several vessels for the UN World Food Program (WFP) under threat of pirates which were preventing the delivery of vital aid to Somalia. At that time, 90% of the WFP aid was transported by sea but could no longer transit the pirate-infested waters off the African coast. Ville de Quebec, without additional supplies, training, or equipment, was immediately re-deployed to the African coastline to protect the merchant ships from pirates allowing these vessels to deliver vital lifesaving aid.
Thus, by being constantly prepared for high-intensity operations when we send a ship to a theatre of operations, we are also able to provide a full spectrum of roles – from the maritime security and interdiction role to a humanitarian assistance mission to a conflict where warfare skills and lethal force are required. All of these roles have the effect of fighting chaos in areas that need stability, which leads to keeping the global trade flowing as it should.
My goal in giving some general examples of our recent missions is to highlight some of the core aspects of our job as the navy, and how our ships in action have been contributing to maritime security, which directly affects Canadians. Canada does not have a navy for the sake of having ships. Canada has the navy that it requires to meet the expectations of Canadians as determined by our geography.
HMCS Fredericton
HMCS Ville de Quebec
maritime trade
maritime transportation
naval roles
readiness levels
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Hauschka gets his kicks with NFL's Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens placekicker Steven Hauschka (6) follows through on a point-after during the game against the New England Patriots on Sunday Oct. 4, at Gillette Stadium.
By Sean Jacquet
Needham —
Some might look at Steve Hauschka’s whirlwind journey to the National Football League and consider it a detour on his road to a career as a dentist.
But somewhere along the line, the NFL became the destination. Dental school can wait.
“If the NFL comes knocking, you pursue that with everything you have,” said Hauschka in an interview with the Baltimore Sun last week. “Maybe I can go back to dental school later.”
The Needham native and Baltimore Ravens placekicker made his first trip to Gillette Stadium Sunday, drilling all three of his extra-point attempts in a 27-21 loss to the Patriots. The homecoming was just the latest high point in a five-year odyssey that has taken him from football neophyte kicking at Division III Middlebury College to the game’s highest level.
The 24-year-old Hauschka’s story is well documented in these parts but for those unfamiliar, here’s the Cliffs Notes version. A soccer and lacrosse player at Needham High and as a freshman at Middlebury, Hauschka, at the behest of his football player roommate, walked on to the gridiron as a sophomore. He thrived almost immediately, earning second-team All-NESCAC honors as a sophomore and junior (2004 and ‘05). As a senior, he broke the school’s single-season record with 10 field goals - eventually finishing with a career record 20 — making the All-NESCAC first team as the Panthers won the conference title.
“I was about as raw as it got for talent,” said Hauschka in the Sun interview. “Somehow, they ended up going with me, and I did pretty well. And I remember thinking: ‘What am I doing here? I’m a soccer player.’ I never even played football, and there were these recruits and everyone was talking about these recruits that they brought in. So I had those nerves and worried that I might not win this. But the only way to get over that is to keep your head down and get better as a kicker, and those things took care of themselves.”
After graduating from Middlebury with a degree in neurosciences — he finished with a 3.59 grade-point was accepted into five dental schools — Hauschka took his remaining year of NCAA eligibility to North Carolina State in 2007. He earned the starting gig in 2007, becoming a finalist for the Lou Groza award as the nation’s top kicker.
To this point, Hauschka’s journey closely resembles his father’s path. Peter Hauschka was a soccer and track star at Amherst College — now a NESCAC school — in the mid ’60s before earning a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys in 1967 despite never having played organized football. He also had a short stay with the Chicago Bears before attending dental school. His son had taken a similarly circuitous route to the NFL before a likely second career in dentistry.
But that’s where the paths diverge.
Steve signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. The Vikings placed him on waivers, but the Ravens snagged him the next day, signing him to their practice squad. Activated on Oct. 30 to share kicking duties with veteran Matt Stover, Hauschka hit his first field goal attempt, a 54-yarder against the Houston Texans.
After releasing Stover — the starting kicker since the franchise’s inception in 1996 — on March 5 this year, the Ravens re-signed the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Hauschka two weeks later. Despite some early struggles, Hauschka beat out Graham Gano for the starting job, hitting six of his last seven field goals to end the preseason. So far this season, he’s connected on four of five attempts, nailed all 16 of his extra points and even made a solo tackle in a Week 2 win over the San Diego Chargers.
“He’s done a great job,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a conference call last Wednesday. “I think he’s improved tremendously in the last year with Randy Brown, who is one of our coaches who helps him. He has a lot of talent. He’s a big, tall, strong guy and he’s very athletic. He has to prove himself, but he has a chance to kick in this league for a long time. He may miss a kick here or there and work through it, but he may not. So he does a good job.”
He also has a good job — the NFL league minimum is $385,000 — even though, in this profession, he’s liable to have his teeth knocked out as opposed to being the one to repair fractured molars. And he’s got another good gig lined up once his kicking days are through.
But that will have to wait.
Posted by NC Sports on Thursday, October 08, 2009
Labels: NC Sports Athletes in the News, steven hauschka
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SOUTH SUDAN NEWS
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Managing the Caesarian birth of Africa's newest state
Category: Diaspora
Published on Sunday, 21 November 2010 20:00
Managing the Caesarian Birth of Africa’s newest State
Presented by Parek Maduot
at Southern Sudan and Abyei Referenda Conference
Canada, November 20, 2010
I AM delighted to be participating in this conference under the auspices of the Government of Southern Sudan Liaison Office, and our good friends at the New Sudan Vision. I am convinced that the very act of successfully holding this sort of conferences in the Diaspora is a testament to the burning desire of many of our compatriots in this hall to play an active role in shaping the future of Southern Sudan. It is therefore important to note at the outset my sincere gratitude to all of you in the organizing committees who worked ceaselessly to bring us here together to share ideas and plans for our collective future.
My brief presentation will address the question of post-referendum issues facing our leaders and all other stakeholders over both the short and long term. Of course, the immediate task of determining the shape and nature of the relationship between the North and the South if secession is the prevailing choice of the people of Southern Sudan rightfully occupies significant focus and attention at this moment. However, while I would briefly touch upon this obvious challenges, I would like to range a little further down the road beyond the marathon negotiations between the SPLM and NCP, while focusing on what I call the caesarian birth of Africa’s newest nation-state.
A North-South compact
The two partners are faced with the following immediate issues that need to be resolved before the referendum for Southern Sudan or reasonably soon thereafter:
Settling the protracted issue of Abyei peacefully
Agreeing on a new formula for managing the proceeds from the oil produced in the South
Demarcating the border between the two regions as stipulated by the CPA
Agreeing on the status of Southerners in the North and vice-versa
Agree on post-2011 security arrangements, especially with regards to Southern Kordofan and Southern Blue Nile
Agree on the allocation of the assets and liabilities of the old Sudan between the North and South
These are certainly issues that deserve the attention they are getting, even though it is worth mentioning that the protracted nature of some of the items like Abyei and border demarcation is mostly the result of persistent obstruction by the ruling National Congress Party. The Abyei issue has been exhausted and even revisited by the two partners under significant international community guidance, and should not still be outstanding if not for its use as a bargaining chip by the National Congress Party.
The manufactured crises over who is eligible to vote in Abyei as formulated by the NCP and some of the Misseriya leaders is contrary to the spirit and intent of the Abyei Protocols, and makes a mockery of the very concept of self-determination. The people who are accorded that right logically must have asked for it, and that right cannot be sensibly exercised if their will could be trumped through sheer numbers by others who have no obvious grievances with the central authority in Khartoum. It does not make any sense for the Misseriya to be granted the right to vote on whether they want to join the South or stay in the North when they were essential partners of the central authority in its suppression of the people of Abyei. Ultimately, the SPLM must negotiate all these tracks honestly in the interest of peace, but make it abundantly clear that resolving the issue of Abyei justly is an essential condition before the two potential new states can agree on the shape of their future relationship.
The challenge of proving the doubters wrong
I conjured up the image of a caesarian birth of a new baby to illustrate the nature of the pain and agony, but also triumph and happiness for its people, that the emergence of Southern Sudan as an independent state signifies. Like any caesarian birth, it will need many midwives who are frantically committed to its birth as an entity able to overcome the obstacles and growth pains it will surely encounter.
Among all these midwives, the people of Southern Sudan are the most important factor as to the possibility of the South succeeding to prove many people wrong about their forecasts of a failed anarchy-filled cesspool of war and poverty. Beyond the previously discussed question of relations with the North, the South will have to put its house in good order and lay the foundation for a democratic system of governance that recognizes its immense diversity, justly manages and distributes its natural resources, sensibly maintains relations with the rest of the world, and most fundamentally, finds a way to tap into its most important resource, its people.
The development challenge
It is critical in my opinion that we define what we mean by development, and identify the different variables that are essential to attaining quantifiable and sustainable community or societal development. The themes of Education and development are all very broad and important issues, but they are all linked and need to be equally pursued.
As you all know, the desperate state of our people is borne out by dismal social indicator numbers across the whole region, and they are not just data points but real manifestations of serious human suffering and deprivation. What these numbers highlight is the obvious toll that decades of war, displacement and official neglect have wrought on the fabric of the community of Southern Sudan as a whole. Now that we have mercifully achieved a modicum of peace and stability in the region after the signing of the CPA, we must pivot away from the total war for survival and liberation to the monumental challenge of developing ourselves and our land.
It goes without saying that all of you in this hall enjoy unprecedented advantages in comparison to your fellow compatriots in the poor villages around places like Tonj, Kapoeta, Bor and Nasir. That sweeping statement is also true of the vast majority of our officials at all levels of our state and local governments. The key then when we are talking about development is to be cognizant of our own biased inclinations to favor approaches that will primarily benefit the elite in the short and long term, while sweepingly calling it development. Building office buildings and residences for our officials with foreign expertise and labor at significant cost to our treasury might be called development by some of us, but is really a serious public policy error.
We are essentially bankrolling the economies of neighboring countries and their private sector with our limited resources, while not making any progress to that day when a building in Torit could be exclusively designed by an Architect from Gogrial, built by a Contractor and his/her crew from Tonj, and all along having been reviewed and approved by the Town Planner and Inspector who both hail from Malakal. Granted, it is not completely attainable overnight, but we have instruments at our disposal both as officials and citizens to work to bring that day sooner rather than later.
Mass education
We need to significantly address the educational system that we hope to produce the men and women who can really power the engine of development in our state. We must first shift our outlook as citizens to a longer horizon for planning and implementing initiatives for the future. We are mired in a deadly focus on the immediate political and social challenges, without recognizing that long term solutions take time and should be accordingly planned. I am sure that our parents’ generation had the same earnest discussion we are having today about these problems as youth decades ago, but we are still debating them now because the wheels of change were not strong or focused enough to resolve some of our elementary problems.
To lay down some concrete ideas, we need to seriously commit ourselves to the idea of mandatory primary and secondary education across the whole region. It should not be left to the discretion of the parents whether they want their children, and especially their daughters, to be enrolled in school. The government must apportion a significant part of its budget to invest in the long decimated network of schools in the area, and build new ones to extend this primary right to all the children who will be the future leaders. The struggle for justice and equal rights in Sudan cannot be won by people who allow their societies to sustain high double digits in illiteracy without tackling that with the same zeal of a war for survival.
Moreover, this network of schools provides the best mechanism to address the issues of sectional and tribal over-identification at the expense of the wider commonalities that bind us, and reflect one of the legacies of our previous efforts that produce some of our most visionary leaders from institutions like Rumbek Secondary School and Tonj Primary School.
We also need to reinvest in our dormant vocational education institutions, and even more critically, to require that these institutes and their students become partners in rebuilding their states, and not just spectators watching all the work being done by foreigners with no stake in the long term future of our new country.
People-centered development schemes
I strongly believe that our work should focus on initiatives that deal with the man and woman on the ground with as wide a scope as possible, and not be sucked into objectives that appear worthwhile but are actually detrimental in the long run. I am referring to the obsessive desire for physical reconstruction goals, all which are laudable and useful, but cannot succeed or bear the desired fruit in the midst of a community decimated by illiteracy, starvation, sectional divisions and mal-administration.
Allocating our meager resources towards development schemes in the education and health sectors, and shoring up viable economic industries such as animal husbandry and agriculture, will ensure that a wider slice of our people begin to inch up from poverty and neglect. Even in the unlikely case of ensuring a graft and corruption-free government, we would still be treading the same water like we have done in Sudan for the last fifty years and never make a serious dent in developing our people.
Holistic approach to development
Culture and music are essential to our sense of history and to the sense of pride and connection that every society must have with its people. Our conference should resolve to explore ways to initiate or identify projects in these critical areas, and to empower in whatever form feasible efforts to further develop our languages, transcribe our oral history and folklore and help develop musical groups in the area. This is an example of the holistic approach to development that goes beyond tangible physical improvements and towards longer-term strides in areas such as culture, art, music and sports.
Networked initiatives
All of us have at one point or another dreamt of being the one to save the day and have the accolades and legacy that are bestowed on the heroes and trailblazers. Think of lauded figures in their societies like Nelson Mandela, Kamal Ataturk of Turkey, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, Mao Zedong and Fidel Castro.
What these people have in common is the attainment of mythic status in their community because of the good works they put forth during their lifetime. Maybe not at that epic scale, but each one of you does have a burning, and in some cases flickering, desire to do something that will last for posterity, even if in your own small village. The reality is that all these giants did not achieve and make their mark until they were able to work and network with other equally committed compatriots.
In the context of our discussion, we need to coordinate and link the disparate elements of youth and civil society initiatives in the whole Southern Sudan if we are to make any progress. As regular people outside the corridors of power in Juba, you cannot effect the type of change you want without applying a coordinated mass of people behind your ideas and vision. I hope we come out of these conference more determined to share our different endeavors under various associations and organizations, and that we pursue different projects but with tighter linkages between the people pursuing them.
I must conclude finally that I strongly believe that our civil society should and must be proactive players in this effort, and that our leaders and officials can significantly reduce the load on the public treasury if they work hand in hand with these other sectors. The burden is on all of us to acknowledge each other as important stakeholders in this future and to find ways to harmoniously assist each other.
*Parek Maduot is graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park and a regular analyst and contributor to The New Sudan Vision. He presented this paper at Southern Sudan & Abyei Referenda Conference held at the University of Calgary on Nov. 20 2010. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Advisory Comittee
Point of view Workshops
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Photographers Members
Represented Photographers
Photojournalism Scholarship
Home About Exhibitions Workshops Photographers Workshops PRO Consultancy Call for entries Photolover Join us!
The institution’s governance and representative body, responsible for defining the projects it will undertake, approving budgets and annual accounts, and establishing principles of action.
Silvia Omedes
Vera Baena
Founder and Secretary
Leopoldo Blume
Member of the Board
Independent curator, cultural manager, photographers’ agent, editor, and professor of documentary photography. Has been the director of Photographic Social Vision Foundation since 2001 in Barcelona. Began her career working as exhibition coordinator at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. As a visual editor, she has worked for the publishing house Blume and the magazines OjodePez. She combines visiting lectures on documentary photography in different private and public schools in Spain with the creation of alternative photography projects that challenge our society and shed light and create awareness of social issues worldwide.
She has become tutor for various master classes organized by the World Press Photo Foundation in Europe and in Latin America and jury member of awards such as Joven Talento FNAC 2015, Czech Press Photo, LUX, and Poy Latam 2017. She is an official nominator of young talents for the World Press Photo Foundation.
As a photographer agent, she offers consulting services to both individual authors and collections, providing better management skills and strategies for the professional exploitation of photographic archives. Her clients include the first woman photojournalist in Spain, Joana Biarnés, and the heirs of the Jácques Léonard Family Archive. Since 2014 she is a member of the Impulse Commission for the National Photography Plan of Government of Catalonia.
It was her interest in personal development, especially that of children and of society’s most vulnerable groups, that motivated her involvement in the founding of Photographic Social Vision. Vera has had a multifaceted career as businesswoman, executive, and consultant: co-founder of Kukis-Fiesta, a leader in the production of decorated cookies in Spain, she has also been director of organization and development at Caprobo and consultant to the prestigious international human resources firm of Watson Wyatt. A lawyer with a specialization in business law from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and an MBA from IESE Business School, she is currently finishing her degree in psychology. Her goal is to continue developing initiatives on behalf of the youngest and poorest members of our society. Born in Madrid, she lives in Barcelona with her husband and four children.
Graduated with a degree in modern history from the Universidad Central de Barcelona. Director since 1989 of Editorial Blume, a publishing house founded over forty-five years ago which focuses on photojournalism, photography, and art, among other subjects. Its catalogue includes titles by numerous internationally renowned photographers, including Gervasio Sánchez, Sandra Balsells, Miquel Dewever-Plana, Andoni Canela, Rena Effendi, Karl de Keyser, Kim Manresa, Gideon Mendel, Richard Misrach, Susan Meiselas, Lana Slezic, and Pepe Navarro, in addition to many others. Leopoldo is a member of the Premio Europeo de Editores de Fotografía (EPAP) and has served on the juries of numerous photography awards in Spain.
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Pinoy X-Philes
A Philippine-based Fan Group of The X-Files
Join Our Group
Meet fellow Filipino X-Philes and join our gatherings and DVD marathons where we discuss The X-Files, its cast, writers, producers, merchandise (comics, books, action figures, etc.) and everything sci-fi!
Welcome to Pinoy X-Philes
Pinoy X-Philes is a Philippine-based fan group of The X-Files founded in 2003.
Its conception can be traced as far back as 1998, when a small number of Filipino fans of The X-Files decided to form a web-based group after meeting each other online in X-Files forums.
They called themselves as Pinoy X-Philes. Meetups, discussions about the show, and episode marathons were the main staple of the fledgling group. It was only a matter of time before the group became bigger, with members coming from different parts of the Philippines. Eventually the group was renamed as The Filiphiles.
Soon after, The Filiphiles caught the attention of the New Worlds Alliance – a start-up Manila-based umbrella organization responsible for bringing together different Filipino fan groups of the science fiction and fantasy genre. The Filiphiles was invited to become a member of the Alliance, along with three other X-Files fan groups, namely: Club X Manila, The Basement Office, and X-Flips. It was decided thereupon that the four small X-Files fan groups be merged into one big group in preparation for the first-ever Philippine Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention in 2003 organized by the New Worlds Alliance. Thus, the Pinoy X-Philes – the original name of the first group – was born.
Tweets by @pinoyXphiles
Pinoy X-Philes since 1998.
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Michael Flatley Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Michael Flatley and Max Klimavicius Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Niamh O'Brien, Michael Flatley and Max Klimavicius Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Niamh O'Brien and Michael Flatley Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Live Nation and Michael Flatley present the Broadway and New York premiere of Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, created, directed by and starring Flatley, which officially opened Nov. 10 at 7:30 PM following previews that began Nov. 7 at the Lyric Theatre.
The limited eight-week engagement, which follows a sold-out London run, will continue through Jan. 3, 2016. The Broadway run also serves as Flatley's swan song as a performer.
Flatley is featured in a special appearance at the end of each evening's performance. Performers also include Morgan Comer, James Keegan and Cathal Keaney in the title role of the "Lord of the Dance."
The show, according to press notes, features "exciting and ground-breaking new technology, including holographs, special effects lighting, dancing robots, world champion acrobats and of course the greatest team of Irish Dancers in the world."
The score is composed by Gerard Fahy.
Flatley will not perform at matinee performances. Due to prior commitments he will not perform at the evening performances on Nov. 18, Nov. 19, Dec. 4 and Dec. 5.
Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, which recently ended its limited engagement at the Dominion Theatre, will also appear in the West End again, this time at the Playhouse Theatre, Oct. 10, 2015-Jan. 3, 2016.
Tickets for the Broadway engagement are available at ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000. The Lyric Theatre is located at 213 West 42nd Street.
As previously reported, Cirque du Soleil's Paramour will begin previews April 16, 2016, at Broadway's Lyric Theatre, recent home of the revival of On the Town. Opening night is scheduled for May 25.
Michael Flatley
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You are here: Home » Playwrights » Gillian Shirreffs
@sunshinescot
www.sunshinescot.com
Alan McCredie
Former Mentored Playwright
Gillian Shirreffs
Gillian is a Former Mentored Playwright for the 2015 Mentoring Programme.
She grew up beneath the Campsie Hills in the 1970s and then studied English at Glasgow University before embarking on a business career that led her to live and work in the US and mainland Europe. After more than a decade, thanks to a passion for literature and her love of voluntary youth work, she retrained as an English teacher.
After being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2007, Gillian began writing as a way to explore the odd world of illness into which she had been thrust (and to fill extended periods of bed rest).
She recently graduated with an MLitt in Creative Writing from Glasgow University, during which she ran a successful letter-writing project that encouraged non-writers to write and gave them the space to tell their own MS diagnosis stories. This culminated in an exhibition, Step Inside MS, which was held in South Lanarkshire libraries during the summer of 2014 and in the Scottish Parliament in November 2014.
◀ Rebecca Sharp
Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir ▶
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Major funding provided by
John and Abigail Adams | Article
Biography: John Quincy Adams
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography-john-quincy/
John Adams expected great things from his eldest son, John Quincy. "You came into life with advantages which will disgrace you if your success is mediocre. ... And if you do not rise to the head of your country, it will be owing to your own laziness and slovenliness." He would rise, of course; he'd been preparing for the job since childhood.
Courtesy: National Portrait Gallery, Smithisonian
A Childhood Abroad
John Quincy was born on July 11, 1767. In 1778 the 10-year-old accompanied his father on his first diplomatic mission to France. He spent most of the next eight years living with his father in Paris, Amsterdam, and London. At 14, fully conversant in French, John Quincy served as secretary and translator to St. Petersburg emissary Francis Dana. In 1783 John Quincy returned to Paris as his father's secretary during the treaty negotiations that ended the Revolutionary War.
From Law to Diplomacy
Back in America, John Quincy followed his father's path to Harvard and then into law. But he had little interest in a legal career, and in 1790 he gladly accepted President George Washington's appointment as minister to the Netherlands. His next post, as minister to Prussia, would come in 1797 from his father, by then president. This same year, John Quincy, at 30, married Anglo-American Louisa Catherine Johnson. Their marriage was by no means the partnership that his parents' was, but he found her "amiable" enough. They had four children: George Washington; John 2d; Charles Francis; and Louisa Catherine, who died at about one year of age. His sons' childhood, like that of his siblings, was marked by long separations from their ambitious father.
Courtesy: Adams National Historical Park
Changing Sides
In 1803, back in Massachusetts after his father had lost re-election, John Quincy was elected to the state legislature. Appointed to the U.S. Senate (senators were not elected by popular vote until 1913), he enraged the Massachusetts Federalist Party by being the only member of the party to support President Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase. Like his father, he had chosen policy over party. Unlike his father, when the state legislature didn't return him to the Senate, John Quincy defected to the Republican side.
Under President James Madison, John Quincy rejoined the diplomatic corps as the first U.S. minister to Russia. He was one of the negotiators of the treaty ending the War of 1812, a pact that restored all U.S. territory to its prewar borders. As President James Monroe's two-term Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams is regarded by many as the best in the nation's history. He helped create the Monroe Doctrine, which shaped America's isolation policy from Europe through the early 20th century. He established the present-day U.S.-Canadian border from Minnesota to the Rockies; transferred Spanish Florida to the United States; halted Spanish and Russian claims to Oregon; and created a policy for the recognition of new Latin American nations.
Courtesy: Library of Congress
His own presidency would not be as distinguished. In the four-way election of 1824, stodgy New Englander John Quincy lost the popular vote to war hero and "man of the people" Andrew Jackson, but was chosen as president when the decision went to the House of Representatives. Jackson accused Adams of winning through a corrupt bargain and vowed to beat him in 1828, which he did. In his one term as president, Adams advocated large, federally funded projects meant to improve society: road construction, river widening, educational institutions, and a national observatory. Many of these projects, however, were never realized. Like his father, he cultivated few allies in Congress.
Adams left the White House in 1829. In 1831 John Quincy was elected by Massachusetts voters to the U.S. House of Representatives -- a first for any former president. Here, "Old Man Eloquent" achieved the sort of political stature he never had as president, widely respected for his strong opinions on slavery and Indian affairs. On February 21, 1848, John Quincy Adams suffered a fatal stroke in the House chamber. He died two days later.
A descendant of John Ball, the medieval English preacher who led the first popular rebellion in England, George Washington led his own fight for independence in America.
On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted unanimously to declare independence from Great Britain.
Dearest Friend
John and Abigail Adams wrote over a thousand letters to each other while John was away from home helping found a new nation.
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A depth of knowledge.
InstructorsAndrew Karkoulas2019-04-01T15:26:18+00:00
Andrew Karkoulas
Owner/Baseball Instructor
Andrew Karkoulas was born and raised in Guelph, Ontario. Andrew worked his way up through the Guelph Minor Baseball Association until he received a full baseball scholarship to the New York Institute of Technology, an NCAA Division 1 school at Long Island, New York. At NYIT, Andrew was a four year starter and a three year captain of the team. Andrew was a two way player who doubled as both a starting pitcher and outfielder. Throughout his collegiate career, he received many awards including, Team MVP, Gold Glove award and Senior Athlete of the Year. As well, Andrew also played two summers in NCAA sanctioned summer leagues. He was a member of the Lima Locos where he pitched and played first base and was named a league all star. The following summer, Andrew played in the Northwoods league for the Thunder Bay Border Cats. He was awarded with the silver glove for one of the leagues most outstanding fielders. Andrew currently plays for the Guelph Royals where he is the teams starting third baseman and closing pitcher.
Cortney Karkoulas
Shareholder/Senior Marketing Manager
Cortney Karkoulas was born and raised in Guelph, ON. She was a member of the Guelph Gator organizations as well as in the Brampton Blazer Program. While playing in such programs, she has won 2 Eastern Canadian championships, multiple provincial titles all before capturing a National title. Along the path to her captaining her team’s success, she has also won many individual accolades including; Most Valuable Player of Ontario, golden glove awards and multiple game MVP honors at National showing events. She was then selected from hundreds to be a part of the Junior National Canadian team Program which helped aid in her development for collegiate success. She received a full softball scholarship to Division 1 Ball State University located in Muncie, Indiana. While a Cardinal, she was a four-year starting lead-off hitter playing second base, where she competed religiously against nationally ranked collegiate programs. She studied and graduated with a Sports Administration degree as well as obtaining a business marketing minor. She is now a coach in the Guelph Gator Organization.
Pat Coughlin
Athletic Trainer/Baseball Instructor
Patrick Coughlin was born and raised in Cambridge Ontario, where he played baseball his entire life, graduating from Cambridge Minor Baseball to Ontario Terriers where he played 4 years as a Catcher and 3rd baseman while also representing Ontario in several prestigious tournaments in the United States. After high school he earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Maine, a NCAA Division 1 program, where he played for 3 years. Patrick was also the Starting Catcher for the IBL Guelph Royals during his summers home between collegiate semesters.
Patrick was the official Student Intern Strength Coach for the University of Maine, where he worked with NCAA Division 1 Strength Coaches and Athletes, including Baseball, Softball, Football, Basketball and Soccer. He was proficient in improving athletes strength and technique as well as dedicated to improving overall team performance on the playing field.
Matt Stocco
Baseball Instructor
Matt has played at almost every level of professional baseball. He has enjoyed more than 10 years playing both collegiately and professionally as a catcher for the San Diego Padres. He has also embarked in over 8 years of instructing and coaching after playing.
Baseball is a passion that is more important then himself. He finds it incredibly important to pass and share all knowledge that he was fortunate to obtain.
Chris Kopichanski
Chris is a former varsity basketball player finishing his playing eligibility at the University of Guelph. He then went on to play in the CNBL for the London Orion Basketball Club of his hometown.
Since 2002 Chris has been a certified personal trainer, the first nine years of his training career in club, as both a head trainer and fitness manager. The last five working independently with Peak Performance. Over the past 14 years constant professional development and a relentless desire to improve himself and help his clients achieve their personal fitness/performance goals have given him the opportunity to work with many different people. Ranging from weight loss and general fitness to very specific athletic goals.
Moving forward Chris intends to create an excellent athletic development program by bringing in likeminded enthusiastic trainers that in conjunction with our excellent coaching and facility will help create strong, fit, and balanced athletes. And of course training is always available for people who just want to improve general fitness!
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On this Day 9th May 1614
Penzance Charter of Incorporation
Penzance was granted its Charter of Incorporation by King James I on 9 May 1614. Government of the town was entrusted to a Corporation consisting of a mayor, eight Aldermen and twelve Councillors or “Assistants” who were all nominated by the Charter. It was a closed, self-perpetuating body with the Mayor elected annually by and from the Aldermen and Councillors who held office for life. Financial penalties were imposed on these people if they failed to perform the duties of their elected role.
The charter defined the boundaries of the Borough as being a circle of half a mile radius from the middle of the town, the place where the Market Cross then stood, in the Green Market. Within these limits the Borough Justices [Mayor, the last ex-Mayor and the Recorder] had sole jurisdiction. The Charter confirmed the harbour rights granted to the town by Henry VIII in 1512 and granted two weekly markets and seven annual fairs, introducing the Corpus Christi Fair to the town.
The Corporation could hold land and other property; make bye-laws and impose fines for any breaches; hold a civil court of record to deal with matters not exceeding £50; appoint two Serjeants-at-Mace and Le Yeoman to assist the Mayor [as they still do today at civic events]; keep a prison and possess a Common Seal. This seal was to be the head of John the Baptist on a Charger. “Pen Sans” means Holy Headland but the Heraldic College, in punning spirit, interpreted it as Holy Head. However, the Charter did not grant any Parliamentary representation to Penzance unlike most of the other boroughs in the county. This became a source of increasing frustration as the town grew in importance and prosperity.
The Corporation’s revenues were largely drawn from rents from the markets, the fairs and the quay together with fines from infringements of the bye-laws and the Mayor was expected to bear full responsibility for administering the town. The first Mayor of Penzance was John Madern.
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PROVIDER MODULE | MARILYN MANSON > O O O O O > Evidence & Analyses > Heaven, Hell, The Grave...
View Full Version : Heaven, Hell, The Grave...
There's been an idea forming at the back of my mind since The High End Of Low, and I wanted to draw together sources and notes in order to pinpoint what it is.
Although it's easily one of the most stirring and gruesome Manson songs in a long time, I've never been able to isolate what I Have To Look Up Just To See Hell was trying to discuss, but I think Manson is edging further and further towards the notion of Hell On Earth.
"Marilyn Manson will be the house band in Hell"
Marilyn Manson, 1996
I was so wrapped up in the (aforementioned) song I hadn't taken the title in its literal form, looking up from out of one place (burial) into another. I think Manson has been subtly hinting at the idea that humanity is so fucked, that human nature is so warped and counter-advanced, that we've forgotten we're flesh and bone, and can be killed, we can rot, we are essentially just waiting to be claimed back by the earth - "The minute that it's born, it begins to die"/"This is where it starts, this is where it will end".
The High End Of Low (the title itself reflecting the concept of a grave...?) sees Manson discussing things from the viewpoint of the deceased, or those accepting of their own fate:-
"I can see the coffin shining through my tinted window"
"Everyone will come, everyone will come, to my funeral to make sure that I stay dead"
"I'm sick of immortality"
"Call the grave and make a reservation"
"Timelapse and dancing, and rotting in place, and we've reached The High End Of Low"
"You can take me, the grave can take me, the earth is waiting to eat us alive"
"Never eat from the grave"
http://www.providermodule.com/news/uploads/grave_hand.png
Perhaps, "never eat from the grave" refers to not fucking around with nature too much, don't take anything for granted, don't play god, because you will be enveloped as a result.
I think the record (especially leading on from the "immortality" discussed in places during EAT ME, DRINK ME) witnesses a slow progression in Manson's mind from simple death, to understanding of true "destruction", this rather horrifying idea that he accepts the soil as the place we all go, and the refutation of Heaven and Hell - "Forbidden in Heaven and useless in Hell". That makes some sense to me in this light, you would be forbidden a place that doesn't exist, but useless in a Hell that already exists on mortal earth, like any of us.
Remember the rather adamant woman at the beginning of Dead To The World?: "When Manson gets there, he sure won't be the leader..." Maybe she was right? If Hell is on earth, no one is the leader, we're all fucked. And that brings home Manson's continuous notion that if you are only in charge of governing yourself, you have no one to answer to either.
Perhaps that's the real meaning of HELL ETC., it's not just about throwaway phrasology, but rather the idea that life is... "Hell, Et Cetera", and all the various ways Manson has discussed that in the past; Snake Eyes and Sissies, Anti-People, Mechanical Animals, Nobodies, Punk God Angels, Vampires, Rapist Werewolves and "Arma-Goddamn-Motherfuckin'-Geddon"...
I have other ideas to share, but are there any thoughts on this?
Shangri-LIE
“I have no interest in being a dead fucking hero – so forget them.” - John Lennon
I think that you've touched upon something that has perhaps been in the back of Manson's own mind since before he even emerged on the scene. I can see what you're trying to delineate with the lyrics/words of Manson that you've cited and how the establishing of HELL ETC is not just the inevitabally accepted outlook on art, and life that Manson has come to terms with, but also the realization that you're not going to change the world without expecting to die for it. At the same time, if you claim to be a revolutionary one has to eventually conceed to the fact that when you are martyred, you are just creating another corpse for another naive malcontent fuck to feed upon, reincarnate into, and start things all over again. Even if you don't want it.
"Go ahead and build a better messiah. We can dig another grave."
"You say you want a revolution and I say that you're full of shit"
"When I'm God, everyone dies"
"So I'll join the crowd that wants to see me dead. Because right now I feel I belong for the first time"
The point that I think you are getting to, S.D., and the point that I am getting to as well is that yes, we are all fucked, but we can still be fantastic motherfuckers. This shadow is ours to secure. This realm is for us to either burn in or rule in, and it doesn't matter if it is relevant to others or not.
"We know who we are and what we want to say
And we don't care who's listening
We don't rebel to sell, it just suits us well
We're the bright young things "
No matter how many components of Mansons art that we take whether it be lyrical, an excerpt from an interview, or a quotation of any kind, we can make what we want of it. With that said ... I think that we can now expect a true WARTIME FULL FRONTAL
The line "The grave can take me, earth is waiting to eat us alive" from 'I Have To Look Up Just To See Hell' has always intrigued me, and now reading through your analysis it has jolted more thoughts on what it could be referring to.
I think it could support the concept you were talking about of 'Hell being here on Earth', and Manson writing from the viewpoint of the deceased. If heaven's forbidden/non-existent (Four Rusted Horses), and earth is being referred to as Hell, then when you are 'eaten alive by earth' and dead and buried, from the viewpoint of the deceased, you would then be looking up to 'Hell'.
This idea also reminded me of Numbers 16: 31-33. 31 from the Bible:
"The ground under the men opened up and swallowed them alive, together with their
families and everything they owned. Then the ground closed back up, and they were gone."
I think Manson has been subtly hinting at the idea that humanity is so fucked, that human nature is so warped and counter-advanced, that we've forgotten we're flesh and bone, and can be killed, we can rot, we are essentially just waiting to be claimed back by the earth.
This made me think of the lyric,"Timelapse and dancing and rotting in place, and we have reached the high end of low" - supporting the idea of life as time lapses, and people rotting here on 'earth' (apposed to the traditional/biblical perception of Hell) as that's all there supposedly is.
timoldbean
Yeah, very gruesome song - I love the 'in the napalm heart I explode' line and 'the earth is waiting to eat us alive'. I find the song as coming to terms with something ... I don't see it as written by someone who wishes for a change in the world, but perhaps finds himself a home in hell.
I say this mostly because the song announces that it's found what the album was looking for all along ('we've reached the high end of low'). Considering the starting point of this journey - track 1, Devour, is certainly the low end of low.
But there's other reasons - like if you expand S.D's point of taking 'I have to look up just to see hell' literally ...by taking it more literally in that if you look at the tracklist of the album, you only have to look up from that song on the list to see hell (at least, Manson's own hell). From the desperation of Devour, through 'Armegeddon', Running to the edge of the world...there's alot of demons trying to be exorcised in all these songs but I think 'I have to look up just to see hell' in particular that finds meaning and perhaps even a sense of pleasure in being with these demons.. 'I love you damaged, I need human wreckage'. It's an admittance.
What I'm most confused about, however, is this verse:
'the core of a woman
is where her body
chooses to revolve like a corpse.
centrifugal, melted under the skin,
into the napalm heart i explode'
What could be meant by this? The first bit brings to mind a chicken on a turnspit - a revolving corpse, but that's not particularly melted under the skin but it does link in with the idea of devouring a woman / cannibalism that's no stranger to Mansons' work. But I don't get what it's doing here in this song.
“And in Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments. . .” Luke 16:23
All very interesting replies. Earlier on I was entertaining myself with the thought that if you rearrange the word Heart, taking H, and putting it after T, you get Earth. With Hell literally being at the center of the Earth, and his heart being dragged through Hell in pursuit of his true love. So, with that said, Manson is actually talking about being completely devoted to/buried for this woman. Even if that burial is in a literal sense, where he is willing to die more with than for just to be with her forever. "You're just a coffin of a girl I knew, and I'm buried in you".
I don't feel like looking for the exact quotation, but I think that we all remember Manson saying that at his funeral he'd like to have a big bomb that killed everyone else that attended it. He even spoke about how if he hadn't written the song "Devour" on the day he did, it probably would have ended in a murder suicide.
"I was a hand grenade that never stopped exploding" - "I will blow your heart to peices".
To me "into the napalm heart, I explode" is Manson saying that if he can't have the woman he loves all to himself forever, even after chasing after her through Hell just to have her, then he'll blow her and everything else apart. Even if that literally means killing everyone else along with himself.
If heaven's forbidden/non-existent (Four Rusted Horses), and earth is being referred to as Hell, then when you are 'eaten alive by earth' and dead and buried, from the viewpoint of the deceased, you would then be looking up to 'Hell'.
Precisely, the Hell I have started to perceive through this song in particular is Hell of man's own making, which would surely make sense given that "we are our own wicked gods", no? Even tangentially, Manson has made numerous commentaries whereby man is the creative force behind the idea of Heaven or Hell, The Reflecting God being a perfect example: "I went to god just to see, and I was looking at me, saw Heaven and Hell were lies".
Also, during Wormboy, this seems pretty revelatory in relation to the topic:-
"When you get to Heaven, you will wish you're in Hell.
When will you realise, you're already here.
You'll thank us now, when you have crossed over"
It's all the same thing, this idea of Armageddon or Paradise or 72 virgins or enlightenment or whatever the fuck else it is people destroy themselves and others over, it's all already here on earth, we created god in our image and we created Heaven and Hell in relation to our deepest wants and desires, or guilts and fears. They, among other things, are the areas of psychology man couldn't comprehend before psychology had a name. They're good and evil, male and female, child and adult, the two sides of the brain, Marilyn and Manson "Etc".
If Freud had been alive when The Bible was written it would have probably ended up being one of his journals, and ironically there's plenty of parallels between both... You're in Hell when your own human nature is out of your control, and you're in Heaven when it is the governing force behind what you do, and who you are.
That's a brilliant excerpt, I imagine you'd know the text better than I do given your upbringing, thank you for this. It reminds me of his book actually, remember the sections where Armageddon was discussed at Christian school? He said they told him; "You will know the beast has risen up out of the ground, because there will be heard everywhere a great gnashing of teeth" (I think the aforementioned woman from Dead To The World shares similar sentiments...)
But in essence, is this not true? I am not trying to make this topic seem morbid or futile, but essentially the cycle of human life (as mirrored in Shangri-LIE's quoted lyric "Some of us are really born to die") is a process of waiting to be eaten by the planet, it's inevitable, unavoidable, and the ultimate apocalypse; the destruction of everything you know - Your Self.
"When I speak about the end of the world, it may be in literal terms or it may be a matter of everything in your mind dying off and starting fresh."
Marilyn Manson, Seconds (http://www.providermodule.com/media/index.php?v=i/1996/boydrice_manson), 1996
"The whole world is what you make it and if you want to destroy it, that's easy to do. You can do it with just one bullet."
Marilyn Manson, Livewire (http://www.providermodule.com/media/index.php?v=i/1996/livewire), 1996
"But I have to show you, that you played a role
And I will destroy you with one simple hole"
King Kill 33º
Timelapse and dancing and rotting in place, and we have reached the high end of low" - supporting the idea of life as time lapses, and people rotting here on 'earth' (apposed to the traditional/biblical perception of Hell) as that's all there supposedly is.
Absolutely, and a grand analysis of the text. Did you see the caption beneath Concentration Camp Sexy?:-
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/151/m_a83c3145c6df450c92a22ff2f4246a11.jpg
"Besides the traditional aids/leprosy/crazy undead---
i have a strange fascination with the decomposition of a sex symbol.
Like timelapse film"
Why would you waste time being worried about the potential imaginary horrors of Hell, when there's so much damnation and decomposition happening right here and now?: "Our life is horror themed" (Manson, Scream Awards '08).
I think 'I have to look up just to see hell' in particular that finds meaning and perhaps even a sense of pleasure in being with these demons.. 'I love you damaged, I need human wreckage'.
Remember Are You The Rabbit?: "You can't escape, can't escape, all your demons, "Watch out, watch out, for your lovers"".
What I'm most confused about, however, is this verse...
You know something, that section is fucking terrifying, and I have no idea why. It's one of the bleakest things I've ever read from Manson's hand, and it's a severely underrated lyric, though I'm not sure it should ever even find a proper explanation. There's something there, hideous, dark sex, something primal I'm not sure people remember about themselves or their instincts anymore.
There's still so much more to add to this topic, and another theological avenue I'm thinking of branching into a separate one. Thank you for the thoughts so far everyone, I look forward to reading more.
I'm going to go into this later tonight, but S.D., when you mentioned "two parts of the brain", I was actually thinking of that about 4 hours earlier. It isn't the first time that I have, but it was something that I wanted to add but I haven't yet. I was reading through some of my booklets again tonight just while moving some things around, and I was thinking about how Manson seems to write lyrics/orchestrate the story from other "characters" vantage points, instead of it being a straightforward one track bio.
In the meantime as for "You can't escape, can't escape, all your demons. Watch out, watch out, for your lovers". It is actually a reccuring premise to his work. "Don't let them know how far you go or that you use you lovers" - "The day that love opened our eyes we watched the world end" - "I'd love you love you but my heart is a sore" ...ETC. All point towards the Heart being a realm in itself, one that you can consume eachother in, or be consumed by and forgotten. Either way, none of us are getting out of this alive. "Obsession, Obsession, Obsession, Obsession ..."
Dronepool
"We are damned and we are dead
all god's children to be sent
to our perfect place in the sun
and in the dirt"
"They've cast the shadow of our perfect death
in the sun and in the dirt. "
A perfect place in the sun = heaven & the dirt = hell?
The line "You can take me, the grave can take me, the earth is waiting to eat us alive" always intrigued me and the way you summed up your post makes it more awesome. I like the revolving grave theme you highlighted there. I always thought of a 'cycle' when I heard that line. Now going by your themes, A Place In The Dirt always made me think of the grave. That's the first thing that I thought of when I read the name from the back of the CD.
That's really interesting reading Drone, I've thought about A Place In The Dirt before, but not necessarily in this context. Similarly, Shangri-LIE's observations about love and emotional distance/damage are good.
There's actually two further analyses that I should write before I forget, one of them I had considered making a separate topic for prior to this one, but as conversation has moved outside of The High End Of Low well enough, here is more appropriate.
From Fundamentally Loathsome:-
"And I am resigned to this wicked, fucking World
On its way, to Hell
The living are dead, and I hope to join them too
I know what to do and I do it well..."
There's two avenues here, the first once again being Hell On Earth, in the sense that Manson describes the world being headed for Hell, implying the two are synonymous. Also, Hell is where the dead live in eternal torment, which seems conducive with "The living are dead". Hell On Earth and Armageddon texts often explore the notion of limbo, dead spaces, the undead (remember Manson's explanation of Little Horn in his book...), so this seems to fit in with the idea. As an aside, I also think Manson may have had the essence of Bowie's We Are The Dead in mind when writing the song, especially given that Diamond Dogs explores a post Apocalyptic world, with commentary on death and barren landscapes.
Moving back to I Have To Look Up Just To See Hell briefly, it's interesting that chronologically, it is followed by Into The Fire on the album tracklisting, one could stretch to things like "Set the world on fire", and the obvious connotations of flames and the underworld, plus the Arma-Goddamn-Motherfuckin'-Geddon video:-
http://www.providermodule.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_THEOL_Promotional_73.png
That video seemed to show suburbia (the burning house - 'god's house' - "If god crossed us we'd take all his drugs, burn his money and his house down"), and things one would associate with the world we know; "stupid teenage girls", the Police, riots, so perhaps more Hell On Earth commentary in there?
The other thing that occurred to me was a reiteration of one of Mary's analyses from the EAT ME, DRINK ME topic here: http://www.providermodule.com/forum/showthread.php/1812-EAT-ME-DRINK-ME?p=56414&viewfull=1#post56414
If you read from this post downwards, we discussed how the song EAT ME, DRINK ME has the possible personification of The Devil as female (The Red Queen), and "The Wasteland" as a representation of Hell. It all seems familiar now the various lyrics are being discussed, and there's other examples of The Devil as a woman, or related to the subject of women in Manson's work: "I never believed The Devil was real, but god couldn't make someone filthy as you" in Slutgarden, "The Devils are girls with Van Gogh's missing ear" in The Golden Age Of Grotesque (also referenced in the Armageddon video...). There's also this:-
http://i403.photobucket.com/albums/pp112/providermodule/Analysis/Baphomet.png
B A P H O M E T
[Note "The Devil's Tits"]
Manson has of course portrayed himself as the Baphomet numerous times. And then of course this...
http://www.providermodule.com/discography/images/ma/front.jpg
The Red Queen...?
Also, I guess the lyric "On it's way to Hell" and "On the way to the Red Queen" are comparable. Some things to think about and discuss perhaps.
Norsefire
Some really nice thoughts in this thread and since we're looking at Earth being Hell, forgive me if I've over looked this, but these lyrics sprang to mind -
we light a candle on an earth
we made into hell
and pretend that we're in heaven
- The Death Song
The Empirical Guy
There's excellent ideas on everyone's part all throughout this thread, so I won't go in to many specifics, but well done all.
There's one line that I can't believe people haven't beaten me to bringing up: the censored line from the end of ACSS, that is still used live:
"You might as well kill yourself, you are already dead."
Already dead? As has been said, is humanity that fucked? Are we on Earth actually the dead in Hell?
The only thing I'm not entirely comfortable with is the line from Four Rusted Horses, "Forbidden in Heaven and useless in Hell". Maybe I'm just being too literal with it, but given the rest of the song and my personal connection to it I find it difficult to hear that as anything else but a commentary on Manson's place in the music industry today - or rather the industry's views on him. But given the context of this thread, I can definitely see how you would fit it in.
The other interesting thing is the Baphomet painting. Baphomet traditionally has one arm pointed up and one down, pointing to Heaven and Hell, but this figure has both arms upwards. Maybe he has to look up just to see Hell. Also note that one arm is washed out and almost non-existent, it reminds me of the missing arm on the back of MA or in the video for I Don't Like The Drugs, which tie in with the Omega image S.D just linked it with.
It's the left arm that's missing as well, right?
Yes, same arm on both.
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RealEstateRama Rebuilding Together Elects Five New Members to Their National Board of Directors
Rebuilding Together Elects Five New Members to Their National Board of Directors
Washington, D.C. – December 7, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Rebuilding Together has elected Carrie Petty, Mary Busey Harris, Meredith Rosenberg, Jane Eskelund, and Sherry Chris to their National Board of Directors in Washington, D.C.
Carrie Petty, the vice president of Petty Custom Homes in Indianapolis, has been combatting housing issues and poverty throughout her career. Petty Custom Homes donates 10 percent of their corporate profits towards community efforts fighting poverty, hunger, and housing issues.
Mary Busey Harris, the executive vice president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), brings more than 20 years of experience in association executive management. Under Ms. Harris’ leadership, NARI members donate thousands of hours of skilled volunteerism each year to Rebuilding Together projects nationwide.
Meredith Rosenberg, the senior vice president of Fullbridge Inc., has served for four years as chair of the board of Rebuilding Together Boston, and she has continued her role on their Board of Directors as head of the development committee. Ms. Rosenberg has been involved in several Rebuilding Together affiliates, spanning more than 20 years of helping low-income families.
Jane Eskelund, the executive director of Rebuilding Together Providence, started out at her affiliate as a volunteer in 1994. She has been Rebuilding Together Providence’s executive director for over 10 years. Prior to joining Rebuilding Together, Ms. Eskelund spent 35 years helping others as a nurse. She has studied at Harvard University, Georgetown University, Wharton School of Business, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC, brings the knowledge and skills she’s gained from nearly 30 years of real estate experience. She has been awarded several accolades throughout her successful career. She was named one of Inman’s 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders consecutively in 2010 and 2011.
Kathryn Greiner, a current member of Rebuilding Together’s National Board, has been appointed president of Rebuilding Together’s National Affiliate Council. Ms. Greiner has been the executive director of Rebuilding Together Twin Cities since 2005. She has spent most of her career working in the nonprofit sector, often serving in a public relations or marketing capacity.
“These newly elected board members are a phenomenal addition to Rebuilding Together because of their extensive work and in housing issues, remodeling, and management,” said Brad Segal, the Chairman of Rebuilding Together’s National Board of Directors. “I look forward to working with them all very closely.”
The board members will focus on building the strategic vision for nearly 200 local Rebuilding Together affiliates throughout the nation. These affiliates complete 10,000 rebuild projects a year at no cost to recipients thanks to the efforts of nearly 200,000 volunteers.
ABOUT REBUILDING TOGETHER
Rebuilding Together is a Safe and Healthy Housing organization that believes Community Starts at Home. Our focus provides critical repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost to service recipients. Our impact extends beyond the individuals served to revitalize and stabilize vulnerable neighborhoods and communities across the country. Our 200 local affiliates complete 10,000 rebuild projects a year thanks to the efforts of nearly 200,000 volunteers from corporate partners, skilled trades professionals and everyday good citizens. Join us — visit www.RebuildingTogether.org.
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Home / news / The race to upgrade China''s manufacturing
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The race to upgrade China''s manufacturing
View:14411/08/2017
Experts focus on middle-income trap and green concerns
Countries, like companies, have to change their business models as world circumstances change.
In the early 2000s, China's development model was based on low-wage manufacturing combined with high savings and investment rates. The very success of that model in drastically raising living standards has now led the Chinese government to adopt an ambitious set of policies to upgrade China's industry, to escape the so-called middle-income trap and to support a green environment.
At a meeting of the State Council, China's Cabinet, in May 2016, Premier Li Keqiang said of the country's industrial business model: "China is already a big manufacturing nation, but far from a manufacturing power.…Integration of manufacturing and the internet is an inevitable path of modern industry."
Justin Lin Yifu, director of the Center for the New Structural Economics at Peking University, in a recent article in the Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, outlined the theoretical rationale for China's industrial policy:
"The middle-income trap is a result of a middle-income country's failure to have faster labor productivity growth through technological innovation and industrial upgrading than high-income countries. Industrial policy is essential for the government of a middle-income country to prioritize the use of its limited resources to facilitate technological innovation and industrial upgrading."
Huge capabilities
China has enormous manufacturing capabilities. According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China's output ranks first in the world in 220 out of 500 major types of industrial products. It also has world-leading infrastructure, which puts it in a different class from other middle-income countries.
But China's comparative advantage no longer lies with low-wage mass manufacturing. According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group, manufacturing costs in China rose from about 86 percent of the US level in 2004 to about 96 percent in 2014.
"China is being pressured from both sides," an unidentified MIIT official told Xinhua. "Advanced economies such as the United States, Germany and Japan have all formulated policies supporting further development of their own manufacturing. At the same time, emerging economies such as India and Brazil are catching up with their own advantages."
Over the past 15 years, China's real wages have gone up eightfold. This is a good thing in that it raises the living standard of the people, but it forces companies to find higher value-added products.
During the same period, many Western manufacturing companies, particularly in Germany, Japan, the UK and the US, invested heavily in becoming automated and efficient. Meanwhile, fracking technology cut energy costs in the US.
"The government knows clearly that manufacturing is the existing competitive advantage. For the past few years, people have been saying that China's manufacturing is big but not that strong. Given the scale, the government is trying its best to upgrade it to a new shape. They want to do it fast because time is very constrained. In five years, 10 years at most, we will see a new structure of leading countries. The fourth industrial revolution is already going on," said Zhai Xin, associate professor at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management.
The 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) concentrates on a set of policies to create an "optimized modern industrial system" that can deal with this new environment.
"With a focus on carrying out deep structural adjustment and revitalizing the real economy, we will move ahead with supply-side structural reforms, foster new industries while upgrading traditional ones, move faster to put in place a new modern industrial system that has strong innovative capabilities, provides quality services, is based on close collaboration and is environmentally friendly."
The Internet Plus and Made in China 2025 policies introduced by Premier Li in 2015 aim to redirect China's model by using technology to move traditional industries to higher value-added products and to invest in creating new capabilities in 10 new high-tech industries.
Financing the upgrade
Recognizing that industrial upgrading is key to the future economy, the government is putting big money behind its policies, but it is also striving to ensure a high level of market input.
In August last year, the government announced the creation of a $30 billion venture fund especially targeted to boost industrial technology. Somewhat smaller funds have more specific targets.
According to the research company Merics, the Advanced Manufacturing Fund will insert capital worth $3 billion into industrial technology upgrading. The National Integrated Circuit Fund has $20 billion and the Emerging Industries Investment Fund holds almost $6 billion.
In addition, local and provincial governments will setup funds to support industrial upgrading in their regions. By comparison, the German government is devoting only $225 million, and German companies plan to spend about $12 billion over the next decade on the so-called Industry 4.0 upgrading, according to Experton Group, a business consultancy.
The government funds seek to guide market investors, not to provide majority State funding. According to Chen Shaozhi, a senior journalist who heads the Made in China 2025 team at Xinhua News Agency's Economy and Nation Weekly: "The government may lead the industrialization fund, but it is very commercialized. The government puts in a little money. Then the banks, investment companies and venture capital funds all can invest together.
"This type of guidance is similar to the way the government has encouraged private investment in high-tech Silicon Valley-like areas such as Zhongguancun in Beijing. The main goal in traditional manufacturing is to help the entrepreneur make money and survive in the market.
"Everyone, government officials and businesspeople, understand that industry has to upgrade. If you don't upgrade, you will be expelled from the market. If you upgrade, it may bring some hurt. But, if you don't upgrade, the only question is whether you die early or die late."
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You are here: Home / People Speak / Fadzayi Mahere / Bond notes: President has violated the Constitution
Bond notes: President has violated the Constitution
Source: Fadzayi Mahere
Original article URL
On the 31st of October 2016, the President of Zimbabwe purported to pass the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Amendment of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act and Issue of Bond Notes) Regulations, 2016 – S.I. 133 of 2016. The said regulations purport to create a legal framework for the introduction of bond notes. A bond note is a surrogate, fictional form of ‘currency’ which for all intents and purposes constitutes a Zimbabwe dollar that has been officially assigned the value of the United States dollar – well, because the President decrees it to be so in section 3(3) of the regulations.
As a matter of law, the proper course would have been for Parliament to create a framework for the introduction of bond notes by amending the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act pursuant to a properly thought-out monetary policy. (It is no secret that the government has, with the assistance of our banks, raided depositors’ funds and now has to find a way to plug the gap. The Governor’s measures are not bona fide at all.) However, the President has usurped the function of Parliament by purporting to amend section 44 of the Reserve bank of Zimbabwe Act to introduce section 44B which provides that the Minister may by notice in a statutory instrument prescribe that bond notes are legal tender. This is not a sterile argument about form – the President has grossly exceeded his powers and in so doing violated the Constitution.
In terms of Chapter VI of the Constitution, the primary-law making body of Zimbabwe is Parliament which consists of the Senate and the National Assembly. The President has the power to assent (approve) bills passed by Parliament before they become law. However, the President’s function in this regard is limited to approving or disapproving content deliberated upon by Parliament after extensive debate and scrutiny. The President’s role is not, in the first place, to decide what laws should be in place – such an approach would offend the time-honoured separation of powers doctrine because it would mean that the President rules by decree. This is not permitted by the Constitution. In terms of section 131(1) of the Constitution, Parliament’s legislative authority is exercised through the enactment of Acts of Parliament.
In terms of section 134 of the Constitution, Parliament may, in an Act of Parliament delegate power to make subsidiary legislation in accordance with the powers granted in an Act of Parliament. However, the chief caveat here is that Parliament’s primary law-making power must not be delegated or assigned to anyone else. In other words, Parliament cannot arrogate to another agency of Government – and especially not the President, the power to make, amend or repeal Acts of Parliament. The rationale underlying this limitation on the scope of subsidiary legislation is to avoid a situation where the President circumvents the expedient of Parliament to create laws in a manner that raises the potential for the abuse of state power. It also seeks to ensure that Acts of Parliament (primary legislation) go through the rigours of robust Parliamentary debate, public hearings and scrutiny by the Parliamentary Legal Committee to ensure that the end result is “good law.”
It goes without saying that any law ‘passed’ in breach of the Constitution – including the bond note regulations – is ultra vires the Constitution and accordingly invalid and of no force or effect. Section 2 of the Constitution provides that the Constitution is supreme over the President – any law or practice inconsistent with it is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency.
It is not only curious, but worrying too, that the President invoked the expedient of the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act as the “enabling law” to pass the regulations. There can be no doubt that the said Act is ultra vires section 134 of the Constitution as it purports to give the President some primary law making power – on this basis alone, the resultant regulations are invalid. But before we even get there, in terms of section 6(1) of the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act, the lifespan of any regulations made in terms of the Act is 181 days. The clear import of this is that – as thing stands, the legal framework for the “bond notes” will expire within 181 days – after the government has eroded the value of bank deposits irreversibly – among other problems. What becomes of our money and our fate when the bond notes are rendered illegal by operation of law again?! The Act, unconstitutional as it is, only permits for the making of *urgent* regulations. There is nothing urgent about a set of circumstances that was known to the authorities in May 2016; we are now in November! This is compounded by the fact that the President did not even give the Minister an opportunity to craft the bond notes regulations but ‘deemed’ him to have done so in section 3, where he also purported to retrospectively legalise bond coins. (Illegalities are not new to our monetary system.)
Additionally, it can be argued with great force that is grossly irrational, thus a violation of section 68 of the Constitution, for the President to decree an exchange rate of 1 is to 1 between the bond note and the US dollar. What basis was used for such a patently nonsensical valuation of Zimbabwean paper? Those who have been following the Reserve Bank Governor’s announcements since the 4th of May 2016 when this lunacy started will note that the new regulations make no mentions whatsoever of an “Afreximbank facility” or any other reserves held to “back” the bond notes. No mention is made of any export incentive either. The reality is that the President by his decree now seeks to compel us to use the bond notes and exchange them at a value of 1:1. No introduction is required for any Zimbabwean concerning how an official rate prescribed in this manner falls into disuse and how the entire scheme shall be fertile ground for the rebirth of the parallel market where the true value of this fictitious currency will be determined by the black market. It is also noteworthy that no measures have been put in place to curb the excessive printing of this money. The law as it stands allows the government to print as many of these bond notes as they need or want. Zero safeguards are in place to curb inflation.
In sum, the regulations are riddled with spelling and grammatical errors which, along with the above-cited more substantial issues, bear testament to the fact that they were hastily put together. It is a matter of regret that our government is happy to just wing it when it comes to the question of people’s livelihoods and property.
In court and on the street, Zimbabweans must protest a return to 2008. #thisflag #notobondnotes
Filed Under: Fadzayi Mahere, News Articles, Opinion / Analysis, People Speak Tagged With: bond notes, Constitution of Zimbabwe, legal rights, Parliament
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SIUSAI 2018
Co-located Conf.
ICVISP 2019
ISoCC 2019
ICoBN 2019
Keynote Speaker I
Prof. Ian Robert McAndrew
Capitol Technology University, Maryland, USA
Title: Aviation Cybersecurity Issues for Unmanned Vehicles to fly Beyond the Visual Line of Sight
Aviation is now remote in real terms with unmanned vehicles in the air, land and sea. It is now more critical that the Cybersecurity issues have implications for safety, reliability and efficient operations. This research discusses how and why data transfer within these vehicles and with those around now with ever more invasive hacking what practical solutions are available for all ends of the economic market. In particular, the advancements in cyber programming that can be integrated to ensure unmanned vehicles are safe from external hacking. This one issue is the single most items needing solutions before legislation will support their use beyond the visual line of sight.
Prof. Ian R. McAndrew PhD is a Mechanical Engineer that has worked in education for over 27 years. His teaching and research has been globally, starting in London and now with Capitol Technology University where he is the Dean of Doctoral Programs. He has taught in over 20 countries and published with many academics from all over the world. He has 6 degrees, also a qualified Electrical Engineer and FRAeS. He has supervised over 50 PhDs and has almost 60 peer reviewed publications. His current research is in aerodynamics and low speed flight. He is a keen supporter of conferences as this is where junior researchers can develop their skills for a life in research. He is frequently invited to deliver Keynote speeches and is the Chair of several International Conferences. Additionally, he is the editor or assistant editor in chief of several International Journals.
Keynote Speaker II
Dr. Chiman Kwan, President
Signal Processing, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, USA
Title: Practical Issues in Contingency Planning for UAVs with Engine Failures
Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV), also known as Unmanned Air Systems (UAS), are gaining more attention in recent years. Some potential commercial applications may include cargo transfer between major cities, package and food delivery to individual households, etc. However, it is well-known that UAVs are much less reliable and have far more accidents than manned aircraft. This is probably one of the most important reasons that FAA is hesitant to open up the national airspace (NAS) and imposes tight restrictions to UAVs. Reliability of UAVs can be strengthened using durable engines and communication equipment, strong structural materials, advanced conditioned based maintenance and structural health monitoring procedures, accurate fault diagnostic algorithms, and robust and fault tolerant controllers. Despite the above measures, some equipment failures such as engine and communication equipment failures may still occur. In this talk, we present some recent research results done by our team to deal with engines failures, which are the most challenging contingency in UAVs. There is limited hanging time and the mishap UAV needs to land in an unpopulated area. In particular, some practical issues such as landing site selection, contingency waypoint selection, wind effects, etc. are explicitly addressed in our approach. A contingency planning software prototype has been developed that can deal with engine failures. Architectures of contingency planning software and some exemplar application scenarios will be discussed throughout the talk.
Chiman Kwan received his BS (honors) with major in electronics and minor in mathematics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1988, and MS and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1989 and 1993, respectively. He is the founder and Chief Technology Officer of Signal Processing, Inc. and Applied Research LLC, leading research and development effort in real-time control, chemical agent detection, biometrics, speech processing, image fusion, remote sensing, mission planning for UAVs, and fault diagnostics and prognostics.
From April 1991 to February 1994, he worked in the Beam Instrumentation Department of the SSC (Superconducting Super Collider National Laboratory) in Dallas, Texas, where he was heavily involved in the modeling, simulation and design of modern digital controllers and signal processing algorithms for the beam control and synchronization system. He later joined the Automation and Robotics Research Institute in Fort Worth, where he applied intelligent control methods such as neural networks and fuzzy logic to the control of power systems, robots, and motors. Between July 1995 and April 2006, he was the Vice President of Intelligent Automation, Inc. in Rockville, Maryland.
Over the past 28 years, Dr. Kwan has served as Principal Investigator/Program Manager for more than 115 competitively selected projects with total funding more than 36 million dollars from various government agencies and private companies such as Ford, Motorola, Boeing, Honeywell, and Stanford Telecom. He has 15 issued and pending patents, 55 invention disclosures, 325 journal and conference papers, and 500+ proprietary technical reports. He received numerous awards and recognitions from NASA, US Navy, US Air Force, and IEEE.
Keynote Speaker III
Prof. Wenbing Zhao
Cleveland State University, USA
Prof. Zhao is a Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Cleveland State University. He earned his Ph.D. at University of California, Santa Barbara in 2002. He has over 170 peer-reviewed publications. Prof. Zhao’s research spans from dependable distributed systems to human centered smart systems. His research has been funded by the US NSF, US Department of Transportation, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Ohio Department of Higher Education, and Ohio Development Services Agency. He has delivered more than 10 keynotes, tutorials, public talks and demonstrations in various conferences, industry and academic venues. Prof. Zhao is an associate editor for IEEE Access, MDPI Computers, and Peer Computer Science, and a member of the editorial board of several international journals, including Computers, Applied System Innovation, Internal Journal of Parallel, Emergent and Distributed Systems. He is 5 currently an IEEE Senior Member and serves on the executive committee of the IEEE Cleveland Section.
Keynote Speaker IV
Prof. Hesham H.Ali
University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, USA
Title: Innovative Population Based Approaches for Analyzing Big Biological and Mobility Data in Biomedical Informatics
With continuous advancements of biomedical instruments and the associated ability to collect diverse types of valuable biological data, research studies have been recently focused on how to best extract useful information from the ‘Big Data’ currently available. The currently available data is not only massive in size, but it also exhibits all the features of complex big data systems with a high degree of variability, veracity and velocity. In addition, the last several years have witnessed major advancements in the development of sensor technologies and wearable devices with the goal of collecting data to be used in various application domains. Although these developments are certainly welcomed, so much left to be done to take full-advantage of the data gathered by such devices. The most critical missing component is the lack of advanced data analytics. How to leverage this raw data to advance biomedical research and improve health care through personalized and targeted medicine, can be considered one of the most exciting scientific challenges of our generation. In this talk, we propose new big data population-based algorithms and tools to analyze different types of biological and mobility data for the purpose of advancing biomedical research and improving healthcare. We employ a population analysis model to assess health levels of individuals as well as to predict health hazards in various medical applications. We also utilize graph-theoretic mechanisms to zoom in and out of the population networks and extract different types of information at various granularity levels to help with prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of infectious and neurodegenerative diseases.
Hesham H. Ali is a Professor of Computer Science and Lee and Wilma Seemann Distinguished Dean of the College of Information Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). He also serves as the director of the UNO Bioinformatics Core Facility that supports a large number of biomedical research projects in Nebraska. He has published numerous articles in various IT areas including scheduling, distributed systems, data analytics, wireless networks, and Bioinformatics. He has also published two books in scheduling and graph algorithms, and several book chapters in Bioinformatics. He has been serving as the PI or Co-PI of several projects funded by NSF, NIH and Nebraska Research Initiative in the areas of data analytics, wireless networks and Bioinformatics. He has also been leading a Research Group that focuses on developing innovative computational approaches to model complex biomedical systems and analyze big bioinformatics data. The research group is currently developing several next generation big data analytics tools based on the concept of population analysis for mining various types of large-scale biological and medical data. This includes the development of new graph theoretic models for analyzing large heterogeneous biological and health data associated with various biomedical research areas, particularly projects associated with infectious and neurodegenerative diseases, microbiome studies and aging research. He has also been leading two projects for developing secure and energy-aware wireless infrastructure to address tracking and monitoring problems in medical environments, particularly to study mobility profiling for advancing personalized healthcare.
We sincerely welcome professors, associate professors, teachers and other experts in the areas of Intelligent Unmanned Systems on Artificial Intelligence join the conference as a reviewer. We sincerely welcome you to send email to siusai@iased.org for further information. Your request will be processed in 5 working days.We sincerely welcome you to join us.
Join as Presenter
If you are interested in giving presentation on conference, without publishing your paper in the proceeding, you can choose to attend the conference as a Presenter. As presenter, you shall submit an abstract of your presentation before register. For further information, please contact us at: siusai@iased.org.
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Home / Video /
Watch: Depeche Mode launches new album ‘Spirit’ with hour-long live Berlin webcast
Depeche Mode celebrated today’s release its 14th studio album Spirit with an hour-long performance in Berlin that was webcast live — and now you can watch a replay of the full 11-song set. The band performed four songs off the new album, a couple off 2009’s Sounds of the Universe and a clutch of ’90s and ’00s singles, including “Walking in My Shoes” and “Personal Jesus.”
Depeche Mode’s tour opens May 5 in Stockholm, and comes to North America in late August.
Setlist: Depeche Mode, Funkhaus, Berlin, Germany, 3/17/17
1. “Going Backwards”
2. “So Much Love”
3. “Corrupt”
4. “A Pain That I’m Used To”
5. “World in My Eyes”
6. “Cover Me”
7. “Little Soul”
8. “Where’s the Revolution”
9. “Barrel of a Gun”
10. “Walking in My Shoes”
11. “Personal Jesus”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
Depeche Mode plays surprise rehearsal set for 2 dozen stunned fans in New York City
Video: Depeche Mode performs ‘Where’s the Revolution’ on ‘The Tonight Show’
Depeche Mode unveils 28-date fall North American leg of Global Spirit Tour
Depeche Mode asks fans to get in line for upcoming North American tour presale
Depeche Mode to release 14th album ‘Spirit’ in March — stream ‘Where’s the Revolution’
Tags: Depeche Mode, Sounds of the Universe, Spirit
More posts by Slicing Up Eyeballs | Visit the site of Slicing Up Eyeballs
Thom Henry
Awful setlist, same songs as usual and two crappy ones off SOTU? These guys are really lost when it comes to playing to their fanbase.
I hope the full setlist has some surprises, because this is getting ridiculous after the past few tours…I mean do we really need ‘Barrell of a Gun’ again?
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News Dec 7, 2017 - 7:14:11 AM
Positive Directions Welcomes New Executive Director, Jennifer Hrbek, LCSW
By Positive Directions
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Buy the "As seen on" mug
Westport's Positive Directions is excited to announce the appointment of new Executive Director, Jennifer Hrbek, LCSW. Jennifer comes with a wealth of business development and clinical experience in the non-profit sector. She spent the last four years at the Women’s Business Development Council where she was instrumental in leading program development and community partnerships in support of female entrepreneurs throughout the state of Connecticut. Additionally, she spent the last year moonlighting as a therapist at Personal Growth Concepts, Inc. – a private social service agency providing outpatient counseling. Her clinical experience also extends back to her work at Silver Hill Hospital as a residential counselor working with those struggling with mental illness and co-occurring disorders.
“It’s an absolute honor to serve as Positive Directions’ new Executive Director” Jennifer states with a smile. “Positive Directions is a highly regarded organization with a nearly 50-year history of leading prevention efforts and providing counseling in Westport and the surrounding towns. I’m inspired by all of the support the agency has been shown over the years through its rich history. I’m looking forward to growing and expanding these efforts as we head into the new year and continue to build on the foundation that already exists.”
Lynn Abramson, Positive Directions Board President adds, “We are thrilled to welcome our dynamic new Executive Director, Jennifer Hrbek. Her experience as both a clinician and an administrator, as well as her energy and enthusiasm, are the perfect combination to lead Positive Directions in this challenging climate for non-profits. In the few short weeks she has been with us, she has already wowed our Board with her vision, organizational skills and accomplishments. We look forward to introducing her to all of our community partners and supporters.”
Jennifer holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service where she graduated at the top of her class with special recognition from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Additionally, she holds a unique distinction as a Certified Financial Social Worker. Most recently she was nominated as a Fairfield County Business Journal “40 Under 40” Young Professional.
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Politics & Public Policy Today
All In With Chris Hayes
Piers Morgan Live
Jansing and Co.
MSNBC Live
CSPAN
MSNBC Live : MSNBCW : August 2, 2013 8:00am-9:01am PDT
up however one republican state representative says wendy davis should have to pay for the special session prompted by her epic give filibuster's bill. he said the following. but isn't it really rick perry who decides on special sessions and that is how the deficit got raised on what their bill is? >> of course, it's ridiculous. you don't make someone pay money for exercising their rights as a legislature and using proper legislative rules. but i'm sure in texas, it's fantastic short-term politics that demonize wendy davis. long term, nationally, the optics are terrible for the republicans. if they care about winning the senate in 2014 and care about 2016 they can't be extending the war on women, they can't be obsessing about a 20-week abortion plan that punishes women who need abortions for medical reasons but if they are hung up on that they need to adjust and recalibrate to be nationally again and making wendy davis their public enemy number one is not the way to do it. >> the indicator of what we see in the texas legislature particularly when it comes to the treatment of women.
up however one republican state representative says wendy davis should have to pay for the special session prompted by her epic give filibuster's bill. he said the following. but isn't it really rick perry who decides on special sessions and that is how the deficit got raised on what their bill is? >> of course, it's ridiculous. you don't make someone pay money for exercising their rights as a legislature and using proper legislative rules. but i'm sure in texas, it's fantastic...
Texas State : CSPAN : August 10, 2013 8:35pm-9:41pm EDT
by CSPAN
. >> wendy davis gave a speech this week at the national press club. she talked about her future political plans and political climate in texas. funding education and women's healthcare. she filibustered an abortion bill for more than 10 hours. it eventually passed. it bans abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. this about one hour. >> good afternoon. welcome to the national arts club. the reporter for bloomberg news and the wondrous six president of the national press club. we are the leading organization for journalism. for more information about the national press club, please visit our website. , pleasee to programs visit press.org. i would like to welcome our speaker and those you view in our audience today. our head table and clues guess of our speakers -- includes guests of our speakers. members of the general public are also attending, it is not the silly evidence of a lack of objectivity. [applause] our lunches are featured on podcasts available on itunes. you can follow the action on #.tter today using asill ask as many questions time permits. now it is time to introduce
. >> wendy davis gave a speech this week at the national press club. she talked about her future political plans and political climate in texas. funding education and women's healthcare. she filibustered an abortion bill for more than 10 hours. it eventually passed. it bans abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. this about one hour. >> good afternoon. welcome to the national arts club. the reporter for bloomberg news and the wondrous six president of the national press club. we are...
MSNBC Live : MSNBC : August 8, 2013 11:00am-12:00pm EDT
by MSNBC
a reevent daily beast article. among them is wendy davis who gained attention for a filibuster against an anti-abortion measure but is now considering a bid for governor. joining me is editor of citizen jane politics who wrote the article for the daily beast. great to see you. let's start with wendy davis. she's either going to run for re-election in the senate or for governor. the refreshing thing about the way she on oh rates as a politician, she egos after it. she's made no bone s about the fact that she's considering running for governor. is that what makes her a woman to watch and a rising star for the democratic party? >> absolutely. what made her the woman to watch was going against the legislature with the ten-hour filibuster. that was not her first filibuster. she derailed other legislation with previous filibusters. she's fearless. you can see it in her eyes. she's not backing down. i asked myself when i was writing the article, most people didn't know about wendy davis before. where are the other wendy davises in the country. there are buckets of them. this is just a
a reevent daily beast article. among them is wendy davis who gained attention for a filibuster against an anti-abortion measure but is now considering a bid for governor. joining me is editor of citizen jane politics who wrote the article for the daily beast. great to see you. let's start with wendy davis. she's either going to run for re-election in the senate or for governor. the refreshing thing about the way she on oh rates as a politician, she egos after it. she's made no bone s about the...
Full Court Press : CURRENT : August 7, 2013 3:00am-6:01am PDT
by CURRENT
"dallas morning news" to tell us about wendy davis and whether she has a shot at getting elected as the next governor of texas. dylan byers, media critic for politico will be here to talk about "the washington post" purchase and michael, democratic strategist will take a look at the kentucky race and others. but first... >> announcer: this is the "full court press." >> here's what's making news. america's children are slimming down. for the first time in decades, we can say our children are not getting fatter. a study from the cdc that examined the nation's preschoolers found in 18 states, the obesity rate is actually falling. that's the good news. the bad news is the obesity rate held steady in do states. some of the states, ten states overall were examined due to the way data is collected. but a lot of people are crediting michelle obama's let's move campaign for this good news. it certainly helps keep the weight off. >> bill: she's got to get some credit for that. and just raising awareness of the problem. >> absolutely. that's the good news. >> bill: a lot of republicans are bea
"dallas morning news" to tell us about wendy davis and whether she has a shot at getting elected as the next governor of texas. dylan byers, media critic for politico will be here to talk about "the washington post" purchase and michael, democratic strategist will take a look at the kentucky race and others. but first... >> announcer: this is the "full court press." >> here's what's making news. america's children are slimming down. for the first time...
Politics & Public Policy Today : CSPAN : August 6, 2013 1:00am-6:00am EDT
look at health insurance rates under the new health care law followed by wendy davis. paul.en ron and the miami herald says health insurance prices will spike. what is going on with insurance rates right now? what do we know for certain? guest: a lot of the obamacare benefits are about to take effect starting in january. a big part is these insurance exchanges that states they could help people who buy insurance on their own or those who do not get insurance at work. it is for many of the millions of uninsured now. there has been a lot of concern with some of the changes that health care costs with some of the changes that health care costs some of the changes that health care costs sell insurance. they turn away because they think it is too high of a risk. the other big change is insurance cannot charge more for people who are sick. if you cancer or diabetes they cannot charge more for you. they thought in terms of how prices because of that. there are also some things that are forcing down play. that is these new insurance exchanges. people can shop. all the plants will be standardi
look at health insurance rates under the new health care law followed by wendy davis. paul.en ron and the miami herald says health insurance prices will spike. what is going on with insurance rates right now? what do we know for certain? guest: a lot of the obamacare benefits are about to take effect starting in january. a big part is these insurance exchanges that states they could help people who buy insurance on their own or those who do not get insurance at work. it is for many of the...
First Look : MSNBC : August 19, 2013 5:00am-5:30am EDT
absolutely demolish idiot in wendy davis texas in governor race. run wendy run. >>> the recall effort against san diego mayor bob filner is under way. they're gathering signatures to oust the mayor. >>> actress susan sarandon hosted a fund-raiser at her ping-pong club in new york. >>> president george w. bush took a whopping 50 trips to his texas ranch, totalling 323 days in the same time period. >>> that's going to do it for your morning dish scrambled politics. >>> here's nbc meteorologist bill karins. how many vacation days for you? >> 43 if i'm lucky. >>> let's talk about what's going on out there with the weather. over the weekend, got drenched in the southeast. the big story, all of the pictures of that devastating fire in idaho, that's where it's located there, just north of the fairfield area. idaho has definitely been one of the bull's eye points. yesterday, it was 97 in boise. 90 in billings. 98 in denver. lot of the heat that's in the west is now going to head east, after another cool weekend. it looks like temperatures are going to soar this weekend. back where they should
absolutely demolish idiot in wendy davis texas in governor race. run wendy run. >>> the recall effort against san diego mayor bob filner is under way. they're gathering signatures to oust the mayor. >>> actress susan sarandon hosted a fund-raiser at her ping-pong club in new york. >>> president george w. bush took a whopping 50 trips to his texas ranch, totalling 323 days in the same time period. >>> that's going to do it for your morning dish scrambled...
First Look : MSNBCW : August 2, 2013 2:00am-2:31am PDT
when you stand up you better be prepared to pay up. republicans there want state senator wendy davis to cough up the cost for last month's special session. a republican says davis should reimburse taxpayers since it was her filibuster that forced lawmakers to come back. >>> a new poll spells struggle for senate majority leader mitch mcconnell. it is still 15 months before they go to the polls but it shows allyson lundergan grimes leading the polls by 1%. both results fall within the margin of error. >> new jersey governor chris christie, he is reaching into the deep pockets of casino billionaire, sheldon adelson. last night fund-raiser was for the governor's re-election efforts and not a potential 2016 bid. >>> a fed up senator harry reid was not pleased when he talked thursday to try to prevent debate on a transportation bill. here's what happened when senator tammy baldwin tried to call the chamber to order. listen. >> madam president. madam president -- >> the majority leader. >> have them sit down and shut up, okay? it's unfair. >> the senate will be in order. >> if they have someth
when you stand up you better be prepared to pay up. republicans there want state senator wendy davis to cough up the cost for last month's special session. a republican says davis should reimburse taxpayers since it was her filibuster that forced lawmakers to come back. >>> a new poll spells struggle for senate majority leader mitch mcconnell. it is still 15 months before they go to the polls but it shows allyson lundergan grimes leading the polls by 1%. both results fall within the...
Newsmakers : CSPAN : August 4, 2013 6:00pm-6:31pm EDT
conference and we will stay around in case you have further questions. >> wendy davis will speak at the national press club luncheon trade she launched a filibuster against the texas senate abortion bill. it eventually passed in july. we will have live coverage of remarks beginning at 1:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. later in the day, new jersey democratic candidates will debate live from the campus of montclair state university. rushan watch cory booker, holt and frank pallone and new jersey state assembly member sheila oliver@7:30 p.m. eastern also on c-span. " isoining us on "newsmakers senator patrick leahy. .hanks for joining us joining us for the questioning, phil mattingly, of bloomberg news. and legal affairs for cq roll call. thank you for joining us. >> thank you for being here. >> your committee has been at the center of two of the biggest debates, guns and immigration. as we head into this recess, i'd like to know what your personal top priorities are for the remainder of the year. -having a lot of quiet -- i've been having a lot of quiet meetings with members of the house. to g
conference and we will stay around in case you have further questions. >> wendy davis will speak at the national press club luncheon trade she launched a filibuster against the texas senate abortion bill. it eventually passed in july. we will have live coverage of remarks beginning at 1:00 p.m. eastern on c-span. later in the day, new jersey democratic candidates will debate live from the campus of montclair state university. rushan watch cory booker, holt and frank pallone and new...
The Communicators : CSPAN : August 10, 2013 6:30pm-7:01pm EDT
democratic state senator wendy davis. plusalks about a 10 hour filibuster she led against the texas senate abortion bill in june. >> c-span, created by americans -- america's abel companies. -- cable companies. thatth the announcement "the washington post" has been sold to jeff bezos, we thought we would take this opportunity to look at changes in the newspaper industry and the potential future of the news industry in general. we have two guests joining us this week. we want to introduce you to alan mutter. insulting,spaper lecturer at the university of california-berkeley on media consultant, lecturer at the university of california-berkeley on media economics. also joining us from our new york studio is edmund lee, the media reporter for bloomberg news. mr. lee, if we could start with you. how big a deal is this sale? in secularig deal terms, at least. in terms of numbers and finance, $250 million is not a lot of money. compared to other media deals, it is pretty small. it is more the fact that it is "the washington post," the storied newspaper. and jeff bezos, on the other side o
democratic state senator wendy davis. plusalks about a 10 hour filibuster she led against the texas senate abortion bill in june. >> c-span, created by americans -- america's abel companies. -- cable companies. thatth the announcement "the washington post" has been sold to jeff bezos, we thought we would take this opportunity to look at changes in the newspaper industry and the potential future of the news industry in general. we have two guests joining us this week. we want to...
plans. wendy davis did that monday while addressing the national press club. >> i can say with absolute certainty that i will run for two offices. either the state senate seat or the governor. >>> rick perry had another oops moment while speaking in new orleans. he said he was happy to be back in florida. you mean louisiana. . to know who are the hottest politicians in the country? the ranking may surprise you. chris christie tops the list followed by hillary clinton. the it measures voters' attitudes. president obama comes in fourth. >>> baseball's steroid scandal made it its all the way to the white house. some former players of the negro league visited on monday and called players like a-rod cheaters adding they don't belong in the hall of fame. >> you don't have the natural ability. and so why should you be beside guys like babe ruth? >> voters in detroit head to the polls today to whittle down the little of mayoral candidates. they caution ruls may not be known for weeks because of several write-in campaigns. >>> chelsea clinton is leaving the door open for future politica
plans. wendy davis did that monday while addressing the national press club. >> i can say with absolute certainty that i will run for two offices. either the state senate seat or the governor. >>> rick perry had another oops moment while speaking in new orleans. he said he was happy to be back in florida. you mean louisiana. . to know who are the hottest politicians in the country? the ranking may surprise you. chris christie tops the list followed by hillary clinton. the it...
Public Affairs : CSPAN : August 5, 2013 5:00pm-8:01pm EDT
years. today at the national press club, they hosted wendy davis who held a filibuster in texas on a late-term filibuster. here is a look. you mentioned your feud with rick perry. are you thinking about running to succeed him? >> a lot of people are asking me that question lately. i am working very hard to decide what my next steps will be. i do think in texas people feel like we need a change from the very fractured, very partisan leadership we are seeing in our state government right now. a bid for another statewide office other than governor question mark perhaps u.s. senator or lieutenant governor? will run forthat i one of two offices, either my eat or thete ste governor. one more question. would you consider running as a vice residential candidates with hillary clinton? in answer to that i would say we will have to find out whether hillary is planning to run for president first. >> you can watch the rest of her comments at 6:25 p.m. eastern tonight. also in washington, the middle east institute hosted a discussion about the hub future of islam. in july the country's elected pre
years. today at the national press club, they hosted wendy davis who held a filibuster in texas on a late-term filibuster. here is a look. you mentioned your feud with rick perry. are you thinking about running to succeed him? >> a lot of people are asking me that question lately. i am working very hard to decide what my next steps will be. i do think in texas people feel like we need a change from the very fractured, very partisan leadership we are seeing in our state government right...
Martin Bashir : MSNBCW : August 7, 2013 1:00pm-2:01pm PDT
wendy davis. it is a bit embarrassing that abortion barbie doesn't even have her facts straight on kermit gosnell considering abortion is her issue. what do you think of that as a reaction? >> i'm going to take one from joe scarborough. it's stupidity. this is the last thing the republicans -- >> when you use the word stupidity. that suggests irrationality, this is an educated, highly articulate man describing wiend davis as an abortion barbie. >> he knows how offensive that is. he's going for that. he wants the people to get excited about that and rally behind him. what he clearly doesn't care about is the future of the republican party who doesn't have a future with women, and that language isn't going to invite women into the party. it's offensive to see a tweet like that sent out, and i hope it doesn't continue. it's frustrating. >> we should remember that erick erickson is the same person who tweeted a link to wholesale coat hanger retailer after the restrictive abortion law passed in texas. so i think abbey is right. he wants to be inflammatory, and the other aspect of this i
wendy davis. it is a bit embarrassing that abortion barbie doesn't even have her facts straight on kermit gosnell considering abortion is her issue. what do you think of that as a reaction? >> i'm going to take one from joe scarborough. it's stupidity. this is the last thing the republicans -- >> when you use the word stupidity. that suggests irrationality, this is an educated, highly articulate man describing wiend davis as an abortion barbie. >> he knows how offensive that...
The Daily Rundown : MSNBCW : August 6, 2013 6:00am-7:01am PDT
the godfather of baseball reporting. wendy davis plots her next move. will it be re-election or run for texas governor. white house soup of the day, herb swiss charred and feta. everything is better with feta. we'll be right back. yeah, we found that wonderful thing. and you smiled. and threw it. and i decided i would never, ever leave it anywhere. because that wonderful, bouncy, roll-around thing... had made you play. and that... had made you smile. [ announcer ] beneful. play. it's good for you. beneful is awarding a $500,000 dog park makeover... in the 2013 dream dog park contest. enter now. thto fight chronic. osteoarthritis pain. to fight chronic low back pain. to take action. to take the next step. today, you will know you did something for your pain. cymbalta can help. cymbalta is a pain reliever fda-approved to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain. one non-narcotic pill a day, every day, can help reduce this pain. tell your doctor right away if your mood worsens, you have unusual changes in mood or behavior or thoughts of suicide. anti-depressants can increase these in childr
the godfather of baseball reporting. wendy davis plots her next move. will it be re-election or run for texas governor. white house soup of the day, herb swiss charred and feta. everything is better with feta. we'll be right back. yeah, we found that wonderful thing. and you smiled. and threw it. and i decided i would never, ever leave it anywhere. because that wonderful, bouncy, roll-around thing... had made you play. and that... had made you smile. [ announcer ] beneful. play. it's good for...
Texas State : CSPAN : August 11, 2013 1:35am-2:41am EDT
state senator, wendy davis, and he wrote to -- a hero to liberals and pro-choice activists. she began working after school when she was 14 to help support her single mother and three siblings. by 19, she was a single mother herself, working two jobs to make ends meet in hopes of creating a better life for her young daughter. she eventually enrolled in community college, a journey that culminated with a law degree from harvard. soon after she became a practicing attorney in fort worth and served nine years on the city council. she was recruited to run for the texas senate and scored a huge political upset by defeating a well-entrenched incumbent. in the senate, she ran and won the election in 2008 in a race that was considered one of the biggest upsets in texas politics in recent times. she was reelected in 2012 despite rick perry and every major republican officeholder campaigning against her. her main issues are economic development, education and family issues. she was named pressman legislator of the year in 2009. -- freshman legislator of the year in 2009. she apparently likes the
state senator, wendy davis, and he wrote to -- a hero to liberals and pro-choice activists. she began working after school when she was 14 to help support her single mother and three siblings. by 19, she was a single mother herself, working two jobs to make ends meet in hopes of creating a better life for her young daughter. she eventually enrolled in community college, a journey that culminated with a law degree from harvard. soon after she became a practicing attorney in fort worth and...
News Nation : MSNBCW : August 8, 2013 11:00am-12:01pm PDT
author says she was shocked to find macy's and kroger's oppose the bill. and wendy davis who sponsored it in the state senate was surprised at the news. joining me is "huffington post" senior political reporter, amanda turkel. i'm surprised lawmakers would not be prepared for a lobby from some of these corporations who greatly benefit by not supporting equal pay. >> well, i think what was a little bit sneaky about this is that they weren't really lobbying the legislature not to pass it quite as much so what they did though is they quietly sent these letters to governor perry so that, look, it's getting by the legislature but you, governor perry, can still veto it. that is where they focused their attention. >> what is perry saying now that this information has been made public. >> the governor's spokesman said that the governor listens to a wide range of voices on this. he didn't really say whether the retailers were a key constituency in the reason he vetoed the bill but there's a good chance that i think governor perry was probably not going to back this bill whether the re
author says she was shocked to find macy's and kroger's oppose the bill. and wendy davis who sponsored it in the state senate was surprised at the news. joining me is "huffington post" senior political reporter, amanda turkel. i'm surprised lawmakers would not be prepared for a lobby from some of these corporations who greatly benefit by not supporting equal pay. >> well, i think what was a little bit sneaky about this is that they weren't really lobbying the legislature not to...
congressman wendy davis blocked voting on an anti-abortion law in june. now a republican is calling for davis to pay the bill for that special session. it, by the way on this friday, is just one of the things we thought you should know. a? that's a great choice. let me show you some faucets to go along with that. with the latest styles and guaranteed low prices, you can turn the bath you have into the bath you want. good choice. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. right now, this abbey vanity combo is a special buy. just $299. is a special buy. just $299. uh-oguess what day it is!is?? huh...anybody? julie! hey...guess what day it is?? ah come on, i know you can hear me. mike mike mike mike mike... what day is it mike? ha ha ha ha ha ha! leslie, guess what today is? it's hump day. whoot whoot! ronny, how happy are folks who save hundreds of dollars switching to geico? i'd say happier than a camel on wednesday. hump day!!! yay!! get happy. get geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. >>> welcome back. philadelphia eagles wide receiver ril
congressman wendy davis blocked voting on an anti-abortion law in june. now a republican is calling for davis to pay the bill for that special session. it, by the way on this friday, is just one of the things we thought you should know. a? that's a great choice. let me show you some faucets to go along with that. with the latest styles and guaranteed low prices, you can turn the bath you have into the bath you want. good choice. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot....
Former CIA and NSA Director Michael : CSPAN : August 10, 2013 11:30am-12:21pm EDT
davis ineend -- wendy texas as well at her filibuster as a texas -- of a texas abortion bill. >> many of you heard my name for the first time last month when, as allison said, in the last hours of the texas legislative session, the partisans and power attempted to pass not just an abortion bill, but a bill that would block health care access to tens of thousands of women across the state of texas. in the process, these partisan lawmakers were seeking to rob texas women of their voice. because when women showed up at to testify, and they showed up by the thousands, many of them were turned away. and they were unable to give voice to an issue that had a very real impact on their lives. before i took the floor that morning for the longest 13 hours of my life, i worked with my staff to track down testimony that had been submitted in the committee hearings that had not been read. during the next hours, i read every single one of their stories out loud. with aere real people very, very personal stories to tell. many of whom had never, ever given voice to their story before. to anot
davis ineend -- wendy texas as well at her filibuster as a texas -- of a texas abortion bill. >> many of you heard my name for the first time last month when, as allison said, in the last hours of the texas legislative session, the partisans and power attempted to pass not just an abortion bill, but a bill that would block health care access to tens of thousands of women across the state of texas. in the process, these partisan lawmakers were seeking to rob texas women of their voice....
Full Court Press : CURRENT : August 12, 2013 3:00am-6:01am PDT
about wendy davis and some of these up and comers all over the country in the same way that we talk about the castro brothers, barack obama in 2004. it's time that women were part of the conversation, the polling, the punditry, all of it. >> bill: was that the focus, was that the purpose of the panel on friday? >> yes, we wanted to--emily's list does a lot of polling of women voters. this one polled all voters. we polled iowa voters to find out how ready they were for a woman president and not hillary specific, and it was exciting. we held a town hall in iowa to continue that conversation. we invited claire mccaskill to come out, who is a huge hillary clinton supporter. and we talke talked about what d it take to get a woman to win. and we had stacey apple on, who is our emily's list endorsed candidate in iowa, who is running to become the first woman that iowa has ever sent to congress. iowa is only-- >> bill: no, really? >> yes, iowa is one of two states who has never sent a woman to federal office. the other is mississippi, which doesn't surprise you so much, but iowa? >> bill: t
about wendy davis and some of these up and comers all over the country in the same way that we talk about the castro brothers, barack obama in 2004. it's time that women were part of the conversation, the polling, the punditry, all of it. >> bill: was that the focus, was that the purpose of the panel on friday? >> yes, we wanted to--emily's list does a lot of polling of women voters. this one polled all voters. we polled iowa voters to find out how ready they were for a woman...
Politics & Public Policy Today : CSPAN : August 5, 2013 10:30pm-1:00am EDT
on c-span, wendy davis at the national press club. at martha k washington for the first season of first ladies. health news on insurance law.s under the health care democratic state senator wendy davis. delivered remarks at the future press club, her plans, and the filibuster she held against the texas abortion bill. the bill did eventually pass in july. this is just over an hour. [ gavel ] >> good afternoon. welcome to the national press club. i'm a is angela and reporter for the bloomberg news president of the national press club. we're committed to our future with our programming such as this while fostering a free press worldwide. for more information, please visit our website at www.press.org. offered too programs the public through a national institute, ournal visit press.org/institute. members, i our would like to welcome our speaker and those of you in the today.e the head table includes our journalists who are club members. if you hear applause in the members i'd note that of the club are attending so lack of just a journalistic objectivity. are features on our member-pro
on c-span, wendy davis at the national press club. at martha k washington for the first season of first ladies. health news on insurance law.s under the health care democratic state senator wendy davis. delivered remarks at the future press club, her plans, and the filibuster she held against the texas abortion bill. the bill did eventually pass in july. this is just over an hour. [ gavel ] >> good afternoon. welcome to the national press club. i'm a is angela and reporter for the...
Weekends With Alex Witt : MSNBCW : August 10, 2013 4:00am-5:01am PDT
madam president. they are talking about building campaigns. wendy davis became famous for opposing the abortion ban. there. >> casey hunt, that you can very much, from ames, iowa. >>> what happens when someone on twitter threatens your life, next. hello? boo! i am the ghost of meals past. when you don't use pam, this is what you get. residue? i prefer food-based phantasm, food-tasm. poultry-geist works too if you used chicken. [ laughs ] resi-doodle-doo. [ female announcer ] bargain brand cooking spray can leave annoying residue. but pam leaves up to 99% less residue. pam helps you keep it off. ♪ now you can give yourself a kick in the rear! v8 v-fusion plus energy. natural energy from green tea plus fruits and veggies. need a little kick? ooh! could've had a v8. in the juice aisle. and experience the connectivity of the available lexus enform, including the es and rx. ♪ this is the pursuit of perfection. ♪ school's out [ male announcer ] from the last day of school back to the first, they're gonna do a lot of note-taking and note-passing. so make sure they've got a whole lot
madam president. they are talking about building campaigns. wendy davis became famous for opposing the abortion ban. there. >> casey hunt, that you can very much, from ames, iowa. >>> what happens when someone on twitter threatens your life, next. hello? boo! i am the ghost of meals past. when you don't use pam, this is what you get. residue? i prefer food-based phantasm, food-tasm. poultry-geist works too if you used chicken. [ laughs ] resi-doodle-doo. [ female announcer ]...
The Rachel Maddow Show : MSNBCW : August 1, 2013 1:00am-2:01am PDT
when women like texas state senator wendy davis demand to be heard on issues that affect their health. republicans silence, ignore and even arrest them all while shuttering clinics that provide safe, medical procedures that women have a constitutional right to access. despite his campaign promises to the contrary and following the lead of his party earlier this week, pat mccrory signed into law a super restrictive anti-abortion bill that will likely close 15 out of 16 clinics in that state. to protest this assault on their rights, women gathered outside of his mansion in opposition. guess what he did? he came out to greet the protesters with cookies. see, there's no war here. i brought cookies. please listen, i agree, we don't want to have to deal with the texts, tweets, head locks or excuses of poorly behaved democratic men. but even those annoyances, as despicable as they are, are not going to make us forget the all out war that your party is waging on women. and no, cookies don't help. >>> the city of new york was on the brink of disaster when residents woke up to this headline. fo
when women like texas state senator wendy davis demand to be heard on issues that affect their health. republicans silence, ignore and even arrest them all while shuttering clinics that provide safe, medical procedures that women have a constitutional right to access. despite his campaign promises to the contrary and following the lead of his party earlier this week, pat mccrory signed into law a super restrictive anti-abortion bill that will likely close 15 out of 16 clinics in that state. to...
might hold. please help us give a warm welcome to senator wendy davis. [applause] >> thank you. thank you all for having me here today, and thank you, angela, for inviting me to be here. it is a pleasure to be such -- to be with such an esteemed group of people. i have to tell you people get a little bit nervous when i approached the podium these days. you obviously know what happened on june 25 in the texas legislature, but in case you were one of the few people not live streaming it, i thought i would repeat the entire thing for you today. let's get comfortable. in all seriousness, i am very honored and so grateful you are interested in hearing more from me. i am constantly reminded what a privilege it is to have of voice. though i mean the voice figuratively, my initial understanding of the power of voice was quite literal. when i was a young girl my family tried to spend as much time as we could with my grandparents. they lived in the panhandle of texas. my grandfather made his living his entire life as a tenant farmer, and when he was in his mid-'60s suffered a massive stroke. fr
might hold. please help us give a warm welcome to senator wendy davis. [applause] >> thank you. thank you all for having me here today, and thank you, angela, for inviting me to be here. it is a pleasure to be such -- to be with such an esteemed group of people. i have to tell you people get a little bit nervous when i approached the podium these days. you obviously know what happened on june 25 in the texas legislature, but in case you were one of the few people not live streaming it, i...
Jansing and Co. : MSNBCW : August 2, 2013 7:00am-8:01am PDT
get back to a new normal? >>> remember wendy davis? you won't believe what some republicans want her to do. >>> what about people's role in climate change? we are back in three minutes on msnbc. don't go anywhere. ♪ [ male announcer ] you wait all year for summer. ♪ this summer was definitely worth the wait. ♪ summer's best event from cadillac. let summer try and pass you by. lease this cadillac srx for around $369 per month or purchase for 0% apr for 60 months. come in now for the best offers of the model year. okay, a? b? b. a? that's a great choice. let me show you some faucets to go along with that. with the latest styles and guaranteed low prices, you can turn the bath you have into the bath you want. good choice. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. right now, this abbey vanity combo is a special buy. just $299. >>> hi, everybody. i'm thomas roberts. >>> an unusual move by the state department. sources telling nbc news a possible al qaeda threat is forcing it to close several u.s. embassies abroad on sunday. >> the department has been apprised
get back to a new normal? >>> remember wendy davis? you won't believe what some republicans want her to do. >>> what about people's role in climate change? we are back in three minutes on msnbc. don't go anywhere. ♪ [ male announcer ] you wait all year for summer. ♪ this summer was definitely worth the wait. ♪ summer's best event from cadillac. let summer try and pass you by. lease this cadillac srx for around $369 per month or purchase for 0% apr for 60 months. come in...
Public Affairs : CSPAN : August 5, 2013 12:00pm-5:01pm EDT
from wendy davis from the national press club. until then, a discussion on the amount of money the pentagon spends on generals and admirals. host: we are joined by todd harrison at the center for strategic and budgetary assessments in washington. this is a subject that received scrutiny in washington following the fallout of the scandal involving david petraeus. it has come up again as the department of defense eyes and additional cuts. here's a headline -- are all these cuts going to come from the lower ranks, or do there need to be cuts at the top as well? is still to be determined how they will make these cuts. it is fair to say that the cuts will have to be proportionate, at the senior officer ranks will be cut in proportion to the junior ranks. the senior ranks have swollen at a greater pace over the past few years than the general force. and the drawdown there might need to be reshuffling. one of the areas where the general and flag level officers has grown has been the joint staff and -- in the office of secretary of defense, and that is an area that the secretary of defense
from wendy davis from the national press club. until then, a discussion on the amount of money the pentagon spends on generals and admirals. host: we are joined by todd harrison at the center for strategic and budgetary assessments in washington. this is a subject that received scrutiny in washington following the fallout of the scandal involving david petraeus. it has come up again as the department of defense eyes and additional cuts. here's a headline -- are all these cuts going to come...
Public Affairs Programming : CSPAN : August 4, 2013 3:40pm-6:01pm EDT
] tomorrow, a panel on the future of islam in education politics. and wendy davis will speak at the national press club luncheon. in june she launched a 10 hour filibuster against the texas antiabortion bill. it eventually passed in july. we will ring you her remarks live at 1 p.m. eastern, also here on c-span. last week, civil rights leaders met with president obama and attorney general eric holder. they talked about the supreme court's decision to strike down the voting rights act. after the meeting they spoke to the press for about half an hour. >> we had a very candid and very significant meeting with the president and the attorney general around voting rights. this is a broad coalition of civil rights and voting rights organizations, as well as attorneys and legal groups. our concern was to protect the right of all americans to vote, given the decision of the supreme court in terms of section 4. there was a certain amount of alarm around the country for those concerned with voting rights and civil rights and state legislatures. we have been assured by the president and the atto
] tomorrow, a panel on the future of islam in education politics. and wendy davis will speak at the national press club luncheon. in june she launched a 10 hour filibuster against the texas antiabortion bill. it eventually passed in july. we will ring you her remarks live at 1 p.m. eastern, also here on c-span. last week, civil rights leaders met with president obama and attorney general eric holder. they talked about the supreme court's decision to strike down the voting rights act. after the...
Jansing and Co. : MSNBC : August 9, 2013 10:00am-11:00am EDT
heard names like senator amy klobuchar and senator kristen gill ibrand and you heard wendy davis name here, she took a stand on abortion down in texas. while, on the one hand, it is about hillary, it's about building a bench of women who can take the national stage later on. >> kasi hunt, thank you for being with us. >>> breaking news out of paris. officials have evacuated an closed the eiffel tower over what a spokesperson says was security reasons. just a note of caution here. t tower threats but only have evacuations a few times a year. we will keep you posted as we get most information. the tower is closed says the spokesperson and don't know when it will be open at the present time. >>> kidd rock's decision to slash prices to his concert is paying off. the entire music industry is taking notice. mandy drury is here with what is moving your money. concert tickets can get ridiculous for big acts but kidd rock is seeing big dividends by offering 20 dollars. >> every seat for his show is $20! he is declaring himself a music business revolution. not only is the ticket $20, beers are 4
heard names like senator amy klobuchar and senator kristen gill ibrand and you heard wendy davis name here, she took a stand on abortion down in texas. while, on the one hand, it is about hillary, it's about building a bench of women who can take the national stage later on. >> kasi hunt, thank you for being with us. >>> breaking news out of paris. officials have evacuated an closed the eiffel tower over what a spokesperson says was security reasons. just a note of caution here....
Politics & Public Policy Today : CSPAN : August 10, 2013 6:00am-7:01am EDT
pentagon and their strategies at 10:00 a.m. eastern. tonight, wendy davis's remarks from the press club in washington, dc and she talks about her future political lands and her 10 -- our filibuster in the state senate at eight 30 5 p.m. eastern. at 8:35 a.m.. -- p.m.. theill have the chair of "reign affairs committee on newsmakers." a.m.is sunday at 10:00 here on c-span. >> mayor adrian fendi and councilmember vincent gray faced the most expensive election in recent ec history. adrian fancy raised nearly $5 million. benson great raised only $1.2 million. he won the public over. f he beatenty but shortly after he took office,suleimaon brown who ran for mayor said he was paid and promised a job in expressing for supporting fenty during the election. much of his story was true. they also uncovered an even bigger secret -- the shadow campaign. you had a campaign that was going on. then you had another set of folks who work in an office right next to thegray campaign. there were several workers during the campaign complaining about the other workers because they felt they were getting p
pentagon and their strategies at 10:00 a.m. eastern. tonight, wendy davis's remarks from the press club in washington, dc and she talks about her future political lands and her 10 -- our filibuster in the state senate at eight 30 5 p.m. eastern. at 8:35 a.m.. -- p.m.. theill have the chair of "reign affairs committee on newsmakers." a.m.is sunday at 10:00 here on c-span. >> mayor adrian fendi and councilmember vincent gray faced the most expensive election in recent ec history....
All In With Chris Hayes : MSNBC : August 20, 2013 8:00pm-9:00pm EDT
talked, wendy davis has emerged as the democrats' folk hero in texas. he's voicing their concerns, their antipathy for the president. their belief that obama care is a fraud and is unworkable and should be defunded immediately. i'm with the whole conversation about it almost doesn't make a difference if the effort works. it's, he's speaking to the concerns and the fears of people out there, and ultimately it helps build his brand and ultimately stokes those flames and the fight fwogoes on. the outcome is less important than the fight, itself. >> the outcome will matter because the outcome will matter insofar as whether or not they can force this on to the agenda, have some kind of thread of default or shut down the government which will have real consequence in people's lives. also real political costs for the republican party. what i think is interesting here is that ted cruz seems to me uniquely positioned to essentially pull off what is an increasingly difficult thing for any republican standard bearer to do, which is to tell the base what they want to hear in the most reaction
talked, wendy davis has emerged as the democrats' folk hero in texas. he's voicing their concerns, their antipathy for the president. their belief that obama care is a fraud and is unworkable and should be defunded immediately. i'm with the whole conversation about it almost doesn't make a difference if the effort works. it's, he's speaking to the concerns and the fears of people out there, and ultimately it helps build his brand and ultimately stokes those flames and the fight fwogoes on. the...
pairs. zuckerberg said it touched him. >>> texas state senator wendy davis is lacing up her pink running shoes either for a re-election run or a run for governor. the democrat and rising star made famous by her filibuster of an abortion bill said she will make that decision in a couple of weeks. >>> someone else who might want to move into public office, chelsea clinton. she is learning about talking points. >> i hear my grandmother's voice every day life is not what happens to you about you do you what happens to put. had very much led a private life for a long time and now i am attempting to lead a purposely public life. >> if you read only one thing this morning, "usa today" asks an important and provocative question in this age of tweets and e-mails and lol type shorthands. does spelling matter? check out the article and tell me what you think. it's up on our facebook page at facebook/jansingco. give yoursef a kick in the rear! v8 v-fusion plus energy. natural energy from green tea plus fruits and veggies. need a little kick? ooh! could've had a v8. in the juice aisle. need a
pairs. zuckerberg said it touched him. >>> texas state senator wendy davis is lacing up her pink running shoes either for a re-election run or a run for governor. the democrat and rising star made famous by her filibuster of an abortion bill said she will make that decision in a couple of weeks. >>> someone else who might want to move into public office, chelsea clinton. she is learning about talking points. >> i hear my grandmother's voice every day life is not what...
Piers Morgan Live : CNNW : August 22, 2013 9:00pm-10:01pm PDT
? >> wendy davis, who was the woman who did the filibuster in texas. >> yeah. >> basically she lost in the end, but by losing she won, because it's -- not since really -- you really get to see that kind of jimmy stewart, you know, mr. smith goes to washington moment. >> i'm with you on that. who else? >> that's astonishing, isn't it? somebody mixes together the heaviest breakfast food with the world's other heaviest breakfast food. how does it take so long to figure it out? >> what about the royal baby, are you a big fan? was the royal baby a winner? >> the royal baby is a winner in the sense the royal baby got more focus from the american people than anything else in the last year. they were more focused on this baby, for reasons that escape me. i think the baby in tend is the loser, because i really wouldn't want to be part of the royal family. that's got to be an exhausting thing. you have to stand up straight all the time. it's ridiculous. >> let's go quick think through your three losers of the summer. >> weiner, filner and the american people. weiner obviously because he's --
? >> wendy davis, who was the woman who did the filibuster in texas. >> yeah. >> basically she lost in the end, but by losing she won, because it's -- not since really -- you really get to see that kind of jimmy stewart, you know, mr. smith goes to washington moment. >> i'm with you on that. who else? >> that's astonishing, isn't it? somebody mixes together the heaviest breakfast food with the world's other heaviest breakfast food. how does it take so long to...
Jansing and Co. : MSNBCW : August 16, 2013 7:00am-8:01am PDT
headliners is texas state senator wendy davis who is filibuster made her a national name and landed her a profile in the september issue of "vogue" magazine. another headliner joins me now is sandra fluke and morgan fairchild. >> good morning. >> the first six months of the year for female candidates and i know you're speaking at this event in san francisco. what is your message? >> we are talking about how far we still have to go but how important it is that we get there on electing more women at the federal level, at the state level, at the local level and what a difference that makes to small girls to be able to see women in office. >> we have had conversations on this program. we have had women senators here who have talked about how different the dynamic is in a room when they are women in a meeting as opposed to men. what is your big picture here? >> i think if we truly want to have a democracy we have to make sure our government looks like our population. and right now, it doesn't. so it makes a difference on issues like immigration reform which we of as, quote/unquote, a women's i
headliners is texas state senator wendy davis who is filibuster made her a national name and landed her a profile in the september issue of "vogue" magazine. another headliner joins me now is sandra fluke and morgan fairchild. >> good morning. >> the first six months of the year for female candidates and i know you're speaking at this event in san francisco. what is your message? >> we are talking about how far we still have to go but how important it is that we get...
CSPAN2
Book TV : CSPAN2 : August 31, 2013 12:00pm-1:01pm EDT
by CSPAN2
standing up in the house or the senate, particularly like wendy davis, and talking for a long time. it was a word that described expeditions that went, illegal expeditions that went to various countries like cuba armed to the teeth and also funded by former congressmen in the government, and in this particular series of expeditions and the one i begin with, the intention was to go to cuba, liberate it from the spanish, annex it to the united states -- sounds a little bit like bay of pigs almost -- annex it to the united states and, best of all, make it a slave state. what was interesting to me about that besides the sheer insanity of this idea that one could, again, take law into one's own hands, ignore neutrality laws and just go and say i'm taking you -- bringing you home so that you can wear it like a pin on uncle sam's breast pocket. no, no, that's not even what interested me, although that's pretty interesting. what interested me is we never think of a book that contains a large middle section about the war begin anything cuba. but in a sense it does. the west is just as important as
standing up in the house or the senate, particularly like wendy davis, and talking for a long time. it was a word that described expeditions that went, illegal expeditions that went to various countries like cuba armed to the teeth and also funded by former congressmen in the government, and in this particular series of expeditions and the one i begin with, the intention was to go to cuba, liberate it from the spanish, annex it to the united states -- sounds a little bit like bay of pigs...
The Big Picture With Thom Hartmann : RT : August 19, 2013 10:00pm-11:01pm EDT
by RT
abbott to say that he would definitely demolish that quote retard barbie wendy davis in texas his upcoming governor's race the attorney general responded with a quick thanks for your support abbott has tried to disassociate himself from the right which is offensive tweet by saying that while he thanks all of his supporters he doesn't endorse their bad language at apology rings hollow however i haven't really found which is tweet bad taste the attorney general would have called rutledge out for his bad language in the same tweet you thanked him would but he didn't and that's just purely for. on friday john delong top n.s.a. official in charge of making sure that n.s.a. analysts comply with rules and regulations protecting the privacy of americans responded to reports that the n.s.a. had frequently violated privacy rules speaking to reporters on a conference call to long was responding to the wall. posts report that a leaked internal n.s.a. audit revealed there had been two thousand seven hundred seventy six incidents of violations of our privacy rights in a one year period to long
abbott to say that he would definitely demolish that quote retard barbie wendy davis in texas his upcoming governor's race the attorney general responded with a quick thanks for your support abbott has tried to disassociate himself from the right which is offensive tweet by saying that while he thanks all of his supporters he doesn't endorse their bad language at apology rings hollow however i haven't really found which is tweet bad taste the attorney general would have called rutledge out for...
Washington This Week : CSPAN : August 4, 2013 6:30pm-8:01pm EDT
and the brotherhood. that'll be like at 10:00 a.m. eastern. wendy davis will speak at the national press club luncheon. she launched a more than 10 hour filibuster against an abortion bill. it bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy are at passed in july. we will review her remarks at 1:00 p.m. here on c-span. >> what are the milestone years for first ladies throughout history? >> i would say certainly mrs. to live in thet white house. she was very opinionated and a bright lady. capable. on a more social site, dolly madison. the melodrama of the burning of the house. you have other first ladies. you go through a period where there are not many first ladies. there toake it up from harriet lane. president buchanan is a niece. the white house, everybody would that was theay grandest whiteout that ever happened. --more with his story and historian william seale. candidates gathered at the fancy farm picnic. fromaws a little figures across the state. each candidate spoke for about five minutes. here is mitch mcconnell. you will hear his remarks first. followed by allison grimes and m
and the brotherhood. that'll be like at 10:00 a.m. eastern. wendy davis will speak at the national press club luncheon. she launched a more than 10 hour filibuster against an abortion bill. it bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy are at passed in july. we will review her remarks at 1:00 p.m. here on c-span. >> what are the milestone years for first ladies throughout history? >> i would say certainly mrs. to live in thet white house. she was very opinionated and a bright lady....
The Ed Show : MSNBC : August 10, 2013 5:00pm-6:00pm EDT
colors yet again. he is feeling the heat after calling texas wendy davis abortion barbie. your response? >> well, this is also the man who when texas decided to make abortion and repalm beach county i have the access really, really next to impossible for poor women, put a link to a hanger website up as a joke. if there was abortion barbie, if we'll do the doll metaphor, then he is like gi slow. you know? honestly, it is just -- >> i could do more push-ups than eric erickson. i would like to put that out there. maybe i can challenge him and see who is more of a man. >> he is terrified of us. >> thanks so much. >>> tonight in our survey i asked, does mayor michael bloomberg care more about wall street or workers? 94% of you say wall street. 6% say workers. you 6%, you need to wake up earlier. up next, i'll explain why republicans shouldn't be too invested in a 2016 run for this pretender. the postal service is critical to our economy. delivering mail, medicine and packages, yet they're closing thousands of offices, slashing service and want to layoff over 100,000 workers. the postal servi
colors yet again. he is feeling the heat after calling texas wendy davis abortion barbie. your response? >> well, this is also the man who when texas decided to make abortion and repalm beach county i have the access really, really next to impossible for poor women, put a link to a hanger website up as a joke. if there was abortion barbie, if we'll do the doll metaphor, then he is like gi slow. you know? honestly, it is just -- >> i could do more push-ups than eric erickson. i...
Q & A : CSPAN : August 5, 2013 6:00am-7:01am EDT
politics. at 1:00e coverage later p.m. eastern with the texas democratic state governor wendy davis speaking at the national press club in washington, d.c.. we bring public affairs events from washington directly from you -- directly to you. we offer complete gavel-to-gavel coverage of the u.s. house, all as a public service of private industry. cspan was traded by the cable-tv industry 34 years ago and funded by your local cable or satellite provider and now you can watch as in hd. >> next on "washington journal," we discussed the recent action against the child prostitution ring by the fbi. we will talk about the health care law and its impact on insurance rates. harison does the amount of money the pentagon spends and admirals and generals. host: good morning, it is monday, august 5. congress is not in session as members are home in their the next five weeks for the and -- for the annual recess. president obama is in washington today, scheduled with meetings with senior advisers. are on alert after terror warnings from the state department and terror officials. you'll get more on that thi
politics. at 1:00e coverage later p.m. eastern with the texas democratic state governor wendy davis speaking at the national press club in washington, d.c.. we bring public affairs events from washington directly from you -- directly to you. we offer complete gavel-to-gavel coverage of the u.s. house, all as a public service of private industry. cspan was traded by the cable-tv industry 34 years ago and funded by your local cable or satellite provider and now you can watch as in hd. >>...
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Talk is good as Millbrook looks for EMS solutions
The Millerton News Editorial
Ever an issue in the Hudson Valley, and really, in small communities around the country, providing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is getting harder and harder.
Take the village of Millbrook and the town of Washington, for example. That community is struggling for a solution to its volunteer crisis. As with so many departments in the area, the number of willing and able men and women to volunteer for EMS is dwindling. The need to work more hours, often farther away, takes volunteers out of the area for longer. The population is aging, meaning there is a smaller pool of capable volunteers to man those firetrucks and ambulances. On top of that, the younger population often moves away from home, to go to college, join the military or start a career. And then there’s the expense of training and the investment of time it takes. What it all boils down to is fewer volunteers — and that puts stress on volunteer departments hoping to serve local residents.
In Millbrook, stakeholders in this issue recently held a meeting at the firehouse, on Monday, April 7. Nearly 60 attended to talk about the community’s needs and how best to address them.
Raised as issues of concern: response time, volunteer availability and department growth.
As far as response time, the town and village use a paid service from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., with volunteers taking over weekday nights. Then, on weekends, the service is volunteer unless extra service is needed, when paid services will step up to the plate. With paid services, there’s a paramedic, an ambulance and a driver. If, though, a paid unit is on call and another call comes through, the caller will have to wait for volunteer service or for mutual aid from nearby communities.
It’s not a perfect system, but it has been sufficient. The question is, does it remain so?
There’s no doubt that greater EMS coverage is wanted to better respond to local emergencies. And Millbrook seems to want to maintain its volunteer rescue squad. We understand why. Local volunteers have a stake in their town and village. They know the community and its residents. They take pride in their work and enjoy the camaraderie. And their service is invaluable — just like other volunteer departments throughout the Harlem Valley.
Town and village leaders have said they want to protect the existing EMS. We get that. But it needs to be supplemented, and we’re glad to see open and honest dialogue taking place to come to a consensus on the best approach. Paid service will cost taxpayers more money. But there’s a cost to not having adequate coverage that residents also shoulder — not the least of which could be human life in the worst case scenario.
At last week’s meeting there was talk of incentives. Already, the Millbrook department has the Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) in place, which is like a pension program but helps emergency service organizations. An increase to LOSAP was recently approved that allows for volunteers to accrue hours to be evaluated and converted into retirement funds.
Another possible incentive discussed included paying college tuition for young recruits. That would certainly appeal to some, but how financially feasible is it?
The problem is real. The solution, difficult. But by joining forces, the town, village and fire department can hopefully come up with a sensible solution worthy of those who call Millbrook home. For that, more discussion may be merited — an open mind most definitely is.
If the county comes through with its shared services solution, that would likely alleviate the pressure. Let’s hope that’s on the horizon, because it’s about time all Dutchess County residents are guaranteed fast and reliable EMS coverage at a reasonable cost. And time is of the essence, because this is, at the base level, a life-or-death matter.
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Shattered Glass sp 2016-12-16T01:17:39+00:00
Toni has always had nightmares about fire, and she also has burn scars but no idea how she got them. So when fire destroys the orphanage she has grown up in, she is ready to make her way to Toronto, where she hopes to discover the truth about the mother she believes hurt and then abandoned her.
The SECRETS Series:
Every family has a skeleton in the closet...
www.readthesecrets.com
Visit the series website:
Toten gets the reader in the gut with Shattered Glass…It’s a compelling story…that is never obvious nor predictable but rather sweeping as it carries Toni and the reader along to a satisfying conclusion.
— CanLit for Little Canadians blog
The story is at its best when Toni sifts through the clues to her past—uncovering the identity of her father, determining the sad truth about her mother, and finally learning details of the fire that left Toni emotionally and physically scarred… Recommended.
Toten’s strength is in the cast of characters and misadventures which her heroine encounters. Reminiscent of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Toni is engaging as the ‘good girl’ who is challenged to make her way in the big city.
Toni’s relationships are awkward, and she is often clueless as to what goes on around her. The setting is fascinating, and the dynamics of suddenly moving from a small town to a big city are well explored. Fans of romance and mystery will appreciate this book.
— VOYA
…towards the end I totally broke down and cried. I don’t remember the last book that made me cry but I was so glad to finally come across a book that made me FEEL. In the end they turned to tears of joy, because ultimately it was a beautiful story.
— LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program
Published in Canada by Orca Books
Toni has always had nightmares about fire, and she also has burn scars but no idea how she got them. So when fire destroys the orphanage she has grown up in, she is ready to make her way to Toronto, where she hopes to discover the truth about the mother she believes hurt and then abandoned her. Toronto proves to be both daunting and exciting for Toni, whose charm and innocence attract attention—not always positive—wherever she goes. Buoyed by the music she hears at the folk club where she finds a job, and encouraged by her glamorous landlady, Toni unearths shocking information that contradicts everything she believes and makes her re-evaluate what she feels for all the new people in her life.
Available at: ORCHA BOOKS | APPLE iBOOKS
Nominated for OLA Red Maple Award 2016
I had plotted and dreamed about getting away from the orphanage and all its rules and isolation for forever. Most of the others dreamed about finding their “true” mothers, who would, of course, be impossibly glamorous women who had somehow misplaced their offspring. The Seven would trace and weave convoluted stories to explain away the sins of their parents. I’d weave with them some of the time, even though I knew my mother was a monster and the last person in the world I’d want to find if she was still breathing. In my dreams, she hurt me badly. Dreams or memory? Either way, I was not interested in finding her.
Visit the series website: www.readthesecrets.com
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FeaturesInterviews
Real Talk With Dan Lambton From Real Friends
Leanne Aciz Stanton
Real Friends, the Illinois pop-punk quintet consisting of vocalist Dan Lambton, drummer Brian Blake, guitarist Eric Haines, bassist Kyle Fasel and guitarist Dave Knox, have a real knack for making listeners feel nostalgic for the good ole’ days. Armed with emotion-filled lyrics, Lambton’s refreshing voice and a humble camaraderie within the band, Real Friends have found themselves representing a music scene that they were once fans of themselves—and still are. Fresh off of releasing their newest album, The Home Inside My Head, they are spending their summer on Warped Tour and continuing to enjoy the view from the other side of the barricade.
We recently caught up with singer Dan Lambton to discuss The Home Inside My Head, Warped Tour and more. Excerpts from our conversation are below:
Congratulations on your second full-length album, The Home Inside My Head. What was the experience like recording it?
For every other record, we recorded with one of our friends, who was out of northwest Indiana, so basically like an hour away from us. We had a comfort zone of being able to just go home and chill and really do whatever we wanted when we weren’t recording.
This time around, we went with an actual producer, Steve Evetts, and we were in California. Everything we were doing there was pretty much for the album. We didn’t have the comfort and relaxation of knowing we could go home and turn off whenever we weren’t working on the album, so I think we were more focused. Having Steve there helped a lot too because we never did pre-production or necessarily delved into certain aspects of the songs as much as he did. We would go back, change things and go over whatever we could, but there was a certain point where our ideas could only go so far. To have an outside opinion was definitely awesome this time around.
How does this record compare to Maybe This Place Is The Same and We’re Just Changing?
With Maybe This Place Is The Same and We’re Just Changing we explored the idea of ‘where you fit in/where you are’ and coming to terms with that. I feel like a lot of people, especially younger people, get a distaste of where they come from because they feel like there’s nothing new. You can’t bring this place that you spent so much time in back to life. You have to experience new things. Things change, but if you’re there to experience every little baby step, you can’t see the whole jump.
With The Home Inside My Head, we look at how we fit in and who we are—kind of this idea of expectation versus reality. When we are younger, we have this picture perfect idea of how it’s all going to pan out. When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a stand-up comic, then a cartoonist, and the list goes on. Obviously I’m none of those things right now so people change and people are perceptive of that. They are able to adjust accordingly but some people can’t. Even if you have the perfect dream job, there are still going to be tiny things you don’t necessarily see that can affect you. We can’t get to where we want to be without there being some obstacle.
Another thing we talk about on this record is how people you looked up to when you were growing up have flaws. We’re getting to the ages of our parents when they had us, so it’s like, where I am in my life versus where they were when they were my age. You think to yourself, ‘maybe they did go through more than we thought’ and realize they’re flawed. They’re not perfect so sometimes they’ll fuck up, give shitty advice and just like we do, let other people down. They are people too.
You’re from Illinois, which seems to have a pretty active scene. Fall Out Boy also hails from there. How would you describe the vibe out there to someone who has never been?
Chicago as a city is the best combination of Los Angeles and New York because it’s a bigger city but it’s not super crowded, and not as dirty. As far as the local scene goes, around the time “Sugar, I’m Going Down” was all over the place, that’s when our music scene from the South Side started booming. We’d have local shows with 200-300 people there. We had this awesome venue called Mojos in Tinley Park. We also had all of these bands and venues that gave a shit and all of these kids that were more willing to take chances on going to local shows. You didn’t have the ease of access with Spotify and YouTube, where you can find and check out a band from the comfort of your own home.
We still have no actual dedicated venue in the South Side, as far as I know. Our bass player Kyle booked shows at this bowling alley called Centennial Lanes a couple of years ago and since then it’s had more shows. They kind of turned a party room into a venue but that’s not really ideal because part of the year you can’t use the room because of the leagues. Still, there are a lot of bands and kids really giving a shit. I still see a lot of house shows going on—there are more house shows going on than when I was in high school.
The album cover for The Home Inside My Head has empty picture frames and there is also a song titled “Empty Pictures Frames”. What is the significance?
This album deals a lot with introverted tendencies: keeping things to yourself and not having the confidence to share your problems. Not doing anything with anyone, feeling like your problems are insignificant and that other people shouldn’t have to deal with them. When you have something that you’ve accomplished and you’re so proud, but you don’t want to talk to other people about it because you don’t know how to convey the emotions.
The empty picture frames represent how home is supposed to be this place where you settle down and collect yourself and reflect on all of the good things or bad things that happen in your life. When you have something nice happen in your life, you take a picture and frame it up. The empty picture frames convey the absence of being able to share that and have intimate moments with people and be vulnerable.
In “Well, I’m Sorry”, there is the lyric ‘show me how to be something other than nostalgic’—it’s such a simple sentence but it really speaks volumes. What parts of your past make you want to go back?
For me, a lot of nostalgia comes from the house we lived in with my family. It was the house my grandma lived in while I was growing up and she passed away right before we were working on the album, so she made it in there with the subject matter. The room I have in the house was the room she had when I would spend the weekends with her, watching Saturday Night Live. We’ve been at that house for 15 years and we made some changes, like when we got rid of the obnoxious pink carpeting. We made tiny changes here and there and now the house doesn’t look anything like it did when my grandmother lived there when we first moved in. It still holds that significance in my life: all the memories that I had with her being in that house.
What song are you the most proud of on The Home Inside My Head?
“Scared To Be Alone”. It shows a lot of growth for the band and it shows a different kind of musical style. We were able to go out of our element and I hope in the future we are able to explore a little more of a different sound sonically, vocally, and musically. It’s actually my favorite song that we’ve done.
With this record I tried to be more varying with my voice by using different dynamics: hitting a little harder or a little softer to complement the emotions that we were trying to convey in the song. I feel like that was one of the songs I was able to do that in.
What is it like going on the road for Warped Tour?
It’s awesome. The first time I ever saw Warped Tour was 10 years ago in 2006 and the first band I ever saw there was Senses Fail. Now we’re on the main stage, which is absolutely fucking wild. Our first year playing Warped Tour, we also got to open up for Senses Fail on their full US tour so that was pretty fucking crazy too.
Last year Kevin Lyman and Warped Tour took a lot of heat due to some unsavory behavior by some musicians.
I don’t like the rap that that stuff gets because unfortunately, one rotten apple spoils the bunch. I do understand what Kevin was trying to do with the Front Porch Step situation—he was trying to help rehabilitate him because in reality, he does need help. It was too soon to put him in front of kids. Just the way he acted there was a big slap in the face to Kevin. Kevin caught all of this shit to have this kid on the day of the show and he starts trash-talking people for heckling him, saying he got paid more than everyone else did to be there. He didn’t get paid at all, he was just talking his ass off trying to put himself on a pedestal. Like I said, it’s a fucking slap in the face to everyone on that tour that stands for something and wants to help everybody feel safe. I don’t think it’s right that there are women, minorities, and LGBT people who don’t feel safe.
Kevin reached out to me about helping out with a sexual abuse non-profit called Voice Of The Innocent. You need to promote a dialog between people. We need to convey in a non-confrontational way that these things are not right. If we talk to each other and figure out why people are hurting other people, we’ll be able to start taking steps.
The 2016 lineup seems like a pretty good fit so hopefully it’ll be a better year.
Yeah. Based on the people we know and the friends we have on the tour, everybody we know are great people. Hopefully we’ll be able to do stuff this year that will be able to shed a more positive light.
If you could share the stage with one band, who would it be and why?
Shit, probably Motion City Soundtrack now that they’re breaking up. The first year we did Warped Tour, Jesse from Motion City Soundtrack was super cool to us. We’d be standing on the side of the stage waiting for their set to start and he’d be like, “Yo! Come up, have a beer, chill, be a part of this with us!” That was super reassuring to us because that’s when we were new to full-time touring.
Anyone else that would be on my bucket list, we’ve already had the chance to play with, like The Starting Line, Set Your Goals, and Senses Fail.
You guys are really living the dream.
Yeah. I mean, everything that we’ve gotten to do in the band since the first time we played Warped Tour was icing on the cake because we’ve already accomplished everything that we ever wanted to be a part of. We didn’t even have any goals when we started the band, we just had an idea of what we wanted to do and how we wanted to get things out to people, but we didn’t have a plan. We were like, “If we ever get a chance to tour, do you think you could take a week or two off of work?” Now six years later, here we are—it’s fucking crazy.
Check out Real Friends on Warped Tour July 8 in Camden at BB&T Pavilion, on July 9 in Wantagh at Nikon At Jones Beach Theater, and on July 17 in Holmdel at PNC Bank Arts Center. Their new album, The Home Inside My Head, is available now through Fearless Records. For more information, go to realfriendsband.com.
dan lambtonleanne aciz stantonreal friends
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Taking Back Sunday Rides The Wave
Catching Up With Pepper & Less Than Jake
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GAME, THE
Air Date: Sunday, July 12, 2009
Time Slot: 5:30 PM-6:00 PM EST on The CW
Episode Title: (#40596-033) "Je-Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" (Repeat)
VIEW ALL LISTINGS FOR GAME, THE
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]
"THE GAME" � (5:30-6:00 p.m. ET)
"Je-Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" (TV-PG, L) (HDTV)
AWKWARD RUN-INS �When Melanie (Tia Mowry) goes on a first date with a new guy, Jerome (guest star Mehcad Brooks) he invites her to his work party at the sky box of the Sabers game and she cautiously agrees. Derwin (Pooch Hall) is upset when he first hears the news, but Malik (Hosea Chanchez) tells him to use the energy on the game. Later, Kelly (Brittany Daniel) and Tasha (Wendy Raquel Robinson) compete over an endorsement opportunity for Malik and Jason (Coby Bell). Salim Akil directed the episode written by Jenifer Rice-Genzuk (#40596-033).
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Witchcraft and PNG’s disappearing health service
GOROKA
David Swanson/IRIN
When Mary, aged 45, got sick, residents in her remote highland village in Papua New Guinea (PNG) did not take her to the doctor, but to a traditional healer believed to have magical powers.
“They said a witch had put a curse on me. They had to remove it. Had they not brought me to the nearest health clinic, however, I could have died,” she said. Her symptoms involved respiratory difficulties, in a country with a high incidence of TB.
Such stories are not uncommon in PNG, a largely traditional society with 836 languages and where belief in witchcraft or sanguma as it is known in Tok Pisin, the lingua franca, continues to undermine health care in the country.
“People routinely delay seeking proper medical care when they attribute their sickness or illness to witchcraft rather than natural causes,” said Sibauk Bieb, executive manager of public health within the Ministry of Health. “At that point, however, it can be too late.”
“Whether it’s diarrhoea, diabetes or heart attacks, people think witchcraft is involved and are not open to a medical explanation,” said Josephine Andreas, a registered nurse with 36 years of experience working in PNG’s Eastern Highlands Province. “This is the biggest problem and one deeply entrenched in people’s mind.”
“When people get sick they don’t think in terms of the medical cause, but rather who is to blame,” said Jack Urame, director of the Melanesian Institute (MI), an ecumenical cultural research centre in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province.
For many, old age is the only “natural cause” of death, regardless of what a hospital autopsy might say, according to Richard Eves, a noted Australian anthropologist. All other deaths are invariably viewed with suspicion.
Deteriorating health system
The problem is made worse by PNG’s deteriorating public healthcare system.
“The serious decline of health services in PNG has undoubtedly exacerbated the degree of recourse to sorcery and witchcraft as an explanation of illnesses and death,” Eves said.
Despite strong economic growth rates in recent years (and a projected 6.2 percent growth rate in 2014) fuelled by significant oil, gas, and gold reserves, the country’s public health system is dysfunctional at best.
According to the PNG Department of Health, less than half the population has access to health care; a problem pronounced in rural areas, where 87 percent of Papuans live. Here residents are largely dependent on more than 2,000 community health posts - the mainstay of PNG’s healthcare system - many of which have fallen into disrepair or closed due to lack of funding and corruption.
Health expenditure in PNG is US$114 per capita, the World Bank reports, compared to $148 in the Solomon Islands, $177 in Fiji and $6,014 in Australia, while PNG has 0.58 health workers per 1,000 people (WHO recommends 2.5 per 1,000 simply to maintain primary care).
Jacinta Edson, 55, a pediatric nurse, outside the Asaro Health Centre in PNG's Eastern Highlands Province. In less than 10 years, 50 percent of the work force in the health sector will either have retired or moved elsewhere
Jacinta Edson, 55, a pediatric nurse, outside the Asaro Health Centre in PNG's Eastern Highlands Province. In less than 10 years, 50 percent of the work force in the health sector will either have retired or moved elsewhere...
http://www.irinnews.org/photo/
PNG grapples with ageing health workforce
Photo: David Swanson/IRIN
Health workers can play a big role
In the Highlands province of Ora, nearly 40 percent of all health posts are shuttered, the authorities confirm, due to shortages in funding, and insufficient staff, especially midwives and doctors.
At the same time, a fragmentation in institutional relationships (for example, when some health workers at the village post level do not recognize or fail to refer patients to hospitals or district clinics), compounded by an unclear allocation of responsibilities for service delivery, has exacerbated healthcare woes.
All this in a country where babies, children and mothers continue to die in large numbers from preventable causes. At 230 per 100,000 live births, PNG has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in Oceania region (a collective name for the 25 islands in the tropical Pacific Ocean) and more than 3,000 percent more than neighbouring Australia, while poor drug distribution and PNG’s largely rural and remote population find it difficult and expensive to access basic medical services.
Fuelling the problem further is the inability of health staff to effectively convey health messages and treatment decisions to patients and their families in a way they can readily understand, a fact which can further strengthen people’s belief in a universe of magic.
Doctors and nurses unable to properly diagnose a specific illness will routinely suggest to patients and their families that their sickness might be sik bilong ples (sickness from the village), which serves as a code word for illnesses of magical origin stemming from social disharmony in the village, suggesting that someone with a grudge had caused the sickness by sorcery or witchcraft.
People distinguish between this and sik nating (ordinary sickness), which can be cured by modern medicine, according to MI.
“When delivering health messages, people need to recognize that such beliefs [witchcraft and sorcery] exist and do impact people’s understanding of health,” Lillian Siwi, head of health in Eastern Highlands Province, said.
ds/oa/cb
Mental health - the lasting scars of crisis
From Nigeria to Sudan, humanitarian crises and disasters can have long-term effects on mental health.
Q&A | Tackling Congo’s Ebola outbreak ‘more than a public health response’
Interview with David Gressly, the UN’s Ebola point man, on the challenges ahead
Hunger, measles, cholera, and conflict: Ebola not the only killer ravaging Congo
‘The real issue is the fact that these populations have seen cycles of displacement for decades.’
Briefing: How Congo’s Ebola epidemic became the world’s second deadliest
‘We may end up dealing with this outbreak for a long time.’
Midyear update: Infectious diseases
Ebola and measles strain responses
Ebola response in Congo leaves locals at greatest risk
‘To protect ourselves, we live in anonymity.’
Inside Somalia’s mental health emergency
‘People are denied treatment or even prevented from receiving treatment.’
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Kongres Magazine Sept 2015 issuu
Having been beleaguered by several years of economic turmoil, occasional social disquiet and a stream of seemingly intractable political dilemmas, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that the MICE and tourism industries of Greece might have taken a considerable pummelling. However, in its first full year of having a convention bureau in place, the northern city of Thessaloniki is proud to be able to relay that in fact the opposite is the case and the MICE scene in the city has not only remained healthy, but has been steadily growing and improving.
“Greece’s national meeting industry, represented by the Hellenic Association of PCOs and the Athens and Thessaloniki convention bureaus, has moved to reassure international conference organisers that meetings will go ahead as planned, despite the huge uncertainty about the country’s economic future, and overall there haven’t been cancellations,” said Efi Koudeli, General Manager of the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau (TCB). “We also continued with our strategy of participating in international MICE shows and representing Thessaloniki and its members and creating awareness at the national level of the importance of the development of MICE.”
Lufthansa magazine Aug 2015
Greek heroes of our time
While Greece groans beneath the weight of the debt crisis, most Greeks remain buoyant – especially in Thessaloniki, an ancient port that is now a buzzing creative center. We pay a visit to a city that is crafting its own future.
No city in Greece is as much a symbol of hope for a better future as Thessaloniki. The country is suffering from sanctions and austerity measures, but right here, startups are popping out of the ground like mushrooms beside design firms and delicatessen factories, hiprestaurants and action groups. In these desperate times, the people of Thessaloniki, indeed people throughout much of Macedonia, are boldly following their own ideas – and putting them into practise. Of course poverty and unemployment exist here. “But we don’t take it as hard as the Athenians,” explains one taxi driver, who sets some of his sparse earnings aside to pay for his daugher’s piano lessons, “and we seek solutions.”
Global Traveler Jul 2015
While Alexis Tspiras [sic], Greece's new prime minister is busy renegotiating his country's debt to the European Union, almost every other Greek resident is spending the hot summer days doing what they have always done best, welcoming travelers to the Greek Islands, Athens and Thessaloniki. Yes, Thessaloniki. Located about 300 miles north ofAthens not far from the borders of Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia and Albania, Thessaloniki is Greece's second-largest city and capital of the country s northern Macedonia region. With a city population of 363,000 and an additional 170,000 living in the hilly suburban districts north of the city and the sun-drenched towns along the Aegean Sea to the south, Thessaloniki offers a slice of Greek life quite distinct from Athens or the islands.
A five- to six-hour trip by car,4.5 hours by express train or 50 minutes by air from Athens, Thessaloniki offers a great add-on destination for leisure or business travelers who want to trade the summer heat and mass tourism scene at the Acropolis and Parthenon for the cooler hills, less crowded ruins and more intriguing nightlife. Around 315 B.C., King Cassander of Macedon founded the city and named it after his wife, Thessaloniki, a half-sister of Alexander the Great. Today, so many early Christian and Byzantine structures still stand in Thessaloniki that UNESCO named 15 of them World Heritage sites; and the city's historic architecture, fine art and archaeology museums, stunning seafront promenade and lively theater and music scene led to its designation as European City of Culture in 1997.
National Geographic 2013
A bolt of Greece lightning
Thessaloniki’s sparkling harbor is almost empty—a good thing. It remains one of the last urban seafronts in southern Europe not hemmed in by a giant marina. Instead, wooden caïques still ply the quiet bay while footpaths trace the meandering waterfront of Greece’s second largest city, some 320 miles north—and a world away—from chaotic Athens.
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Welcome to Thornaby C of E!
Welcome to Thornaby C of E Primary School
Thornaby Church of England School was founded in 1846 by the National Society. It was the first school in Thornaby and was moved in 1964 from the original George Street building to its present site.
It is a Primary co-educational school with its own Nursery.
The school is maintained by the Local Education Authority but, as a Voluntary Controlled School, the daily act of Collective Worship is consistent with the faith and practice of the Church of England.
Our building is single storey with ramps at the front entrance and into EYFS. Other areas of the school are easily accessible. There are two disabled toilets in separate parts of the building. Access doors are of an appropriate width. There is a disabled parking bay in the staff car-park.
With God’s help we work together to enrich learning, enhance life, to build a future of hope for everyone.
Ethos Statement
Recognising its historic foundation, the School will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the Church at Parish and Diocesan level.
The School aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils.
We do this by:
Valuing and respecting each other – every effort and achievement.
Encouraging each other to do our best.
Striving for everyone to achieve their full potential – Aiming high!
Creating a happy, supportive, caring Christian ethos.
Ensuring children enjoy and achieve.
Educating the whole child – spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physically.
Making each feel special.
Creating an enthusiasm for learning.
Providing a broad, balanced, relevant, coherent, progressive, creative and differentiated curriculum, offering all pupils the widest range of stimulating educational opportunities to inspire and motivate.
Valuing and welcoming a positive and fulfilling partnership with families, friends and the community.
Embracing other cultures with love and respect.
Upholding a safe and secure Christian environment, whilst celebrating the diverse nature of our community where all are nurtured and can flourish.
Nurturing self-respect, courtesy, good manners and a caring attitude towards other people, the local environment and the wider world.
Opening doors and widening horizons.
Offering new experiences and challenges to all.
Developing structures for life, including democracy, the rule of law and individual liberty in order to prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.
Ensuring equality of access and of opportunity for all.
Letting our children shine!
For any information on academies please look under the 'Academy' tab found under the 'About our School' heading. Here you will find the dat..
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Volga-Dnepr Airlines among the first to respond to devastating tsunami and earthquake in Sulawesi with delivery of 29 tons of vital equipment
Volga-Dnepr Airlines has delivered generators and a water purification system to Indonesia to support the international humanitarian mission dealing with the cataclysmic aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Sulawesi Island at the end of September 2018.
The flight was performed by one of Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ modernised IL-76TD-90VD freighters fr om Châlon Vatry Airport in France to the Indonesian city of Balikpapan on request of the Crisis Centre of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following their arrival in Indonesia, the generators and water purification system – weighing 29 tons in total – will be transported to the worst-affected areas. The equipment will provide much-needed electricity and clean water for the local population.
Volga-Dnepr Airlines continues to maintain its strategic focus on supporting humanitarian missions across the globe. With more than 28 years of experience in participating in international relief programmes, the airline can offer an immediate response, saving vital time in such critical situations. At the beginning of September, Volga-Dnepr’s expertise was also called upon to deliver 64 tons of food supplies and bottled water to Guam Island to help victims of Typhoon Mangkhut.
Since the 1990s, Volga-Dnepr Airlines has been responding to humanitarian and relief calls all over the world. Its experienced and qualified specialists have been able to provide timely and much-needed support to the victims of some of the most devastating disasters of the 21st century, including hurricane Katrina and Irma in the USA, Chaiten volcano Eruption in Chile, earthquakes in Haiti, Turkey, India, Japan and China and other numerous natural catastrophes in the world. Volga-Dnepr’s team understands that time matters in these particular situations and provides the most effective logistics solutions for all types of cargo, from heavy machinery and helicopters for rescue operations to mobile hospitals, large volumes of water purification equipment, tents, and temperature-sensitive goods such as food supplies and pharmaceuticals.
“Our unique fleet of 12 giant An-124-100 freighters and five modernized Il-76TD-90VD give us numerous possibilities while organizing charters for humanitarian missions. These aircraft are self-sufficient in remote locations or wh ere local infrastructure has been damaged, provide both nose and rear ramp loading capabilities, whilst meet all ICAO requirements for international flight operations in compliance with the latest noise and emissions standards. With its expertise and experience in dealing with charter flights, Volga-Dnepr is always among the first responders to support victims of natural disasters, allowing emergency relief management agencies and governmental organisations all over the world to deliver critically-needed cargo and supplies in what is always a significant race against time,” – highlighted Konstantin Vekshin, Executive President Cargo Charter Operations, Volga-Dnepr.
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Home / Blogs / Winnipeg’s Mayor Stephen Juba
Winnipeg’s Mayor Stephen Juba
Posted by: UkrainianWinnipeg in Blogs, UkrainianWinnipeg September 30, 2017 0 1,533 Views
In 1957 Ukrainian Canadians marked an important date on their calendar. This was the year citizens of Winnipeg elected a mayor of Ukrainian descent. Stephen Juba was his name. He became one of the few long serving mayors to hold a high political office in the city from 1957 to 1977.
Stephen Juba was born on July 1st, 1914 and raised in the west end of Winnipeg, in the Weston area, on William Avenue. His parents Gregory Juba and Sophie Nasedyk were Ukrainian immigrants, both came to Canada like so many other new Canadians with aspiration to persevere a new life in a free world.
From 1950 to 1957, Stephen Juba was involved in many political positions, at the civic level and as a member of the legislative assembly. His political affiliation, an Independent, not committed to any particular ideology. Then in the fall of 1956 with the city’s diverse ethnic population particularly in the north end of Winnipeg, Stephen Juba got the opportunity to become mayor of Winnipeg. During his 20 year tenure he won several elections by acclamation and at times Stephen Juba’s contenders never came close to unseating him for the office of His Worship.
Stephen Juba was very charismatic in his approach to promote Winnipeg on the world stage. He lobbied to have the Pan American Games in 1967, where hundreds of athletes, officials and visitors from all over North and South America converged onto Winnipeg. Stephen Juba inspired the construction of the Pan Am Pool, spearheaded the completion of the University of Manitoba stadium. Being a strong believer in promoting tourism, Stephen Juba placed Winnipeg on the map. During his tenure he led a project to build and complete the Disraeli Freeway, inspired to have the new City Hall built and police station. Stephen Juba amalgamated in 1971 the administrative offices of all the suburbs with the City of Winnipeg. He spearheaded the construction of the Centennial Library and the Winnipeg Convention Centre.
As any mayor of a metropolitan area, Stephen Juba had a dream of seeing that a monorail rapid transit system be built but Winnipeg at that time was not interested. One of his major accomplishments during his time in office, reforms made for city’s management. Stephen Juba became a big promoter of the city, frequently making national news across the country. He was a mayor who had a vision for Winnipeg, a person who was very approachable and down to earth, very flamboyant, knew how to work with the media, a popular citizen who never forgot his cultural roots; the first Ukrainian Canadian to hold a high political office in the City of Winnipeg.
For his many accomplishments, Stephen Juba was awarded the Order of Canada in 1970 and recipient of many distinguished service awards from the City and the Ukrainian community. A prominent politician, statesman and a visionary pioneer, a person that cannot be forgotten. Stephen Juba died on May 2, 1993 in Petersfield, Manitoba.
Peter J. Manastyrsky is an active member of the Ukrainian community in Winnipeg.
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UKULELE japan
My Uke Story
Videos and Writings
Legends >
Yukihiko Haida (Moana Glee Club)
Buckie Shirakata (Aloha Hawaiians)
Iwao
Kiyoshi Kobayashi
Ryo Natoyama
Rio Saito
Sweet Hollywiians
T.T. Cafe
Hiroyuki "Tommy" Tominaga
Videos We Like
Shinji Takahashi's Seilen Ukuleles
View more of Shinji Takahashi's work here.
Shinji Takahashi is perhaps one of the best luthiers making ukuleles in Japan and this album is a fine indication of the type of work he does. He sells his instruments under the Seilen brand name and while not cheap, they are exquisite!
Notice the craftsmanship.
Notice the wood. Shinji’s FB posts are as often about the wood he finds as much as they are about the instruments he makes.
Japan may just be the center of high end ukulele luthierie. I hope Shinji will take the next steps and make high-def sound recordings of the wonderful instruments he makes and improve the international distribution of his wonderful products.
Bravo Maestro!
Musical Ambassadors
Betty Inada- circa 1933
Lately I’ve been thinking about the first wave of musicians that popularized Hawaiian music in Japan. Most were American-born Japanese nisei looking for somewhere they could fit in. It’s a sad story that spans the Pacific. It is a story that rarely gets talked about.
Recently I bought an old Victrola phonograph and have been buying old 78s from the first half of the 20th century so I can hear the music as it originally sounded. On Ebay I found a copy of “Sue City Sue” recorded in 1948 by Buckie Shirakata and his Aloha Hawaiians with Betty Inada on vocals. I learned about Buckie while researching an article I wrote for Ukulele Magazine and just had to have the recording.
Although I can’t tell you why, in 1945 “Sue City Sue” was a hit for its author Dick Thomas and then successfully covered by Gene Autry, and Bing Crosby. It’s not a particularly catchy tune and the lyrics are pedestrian. By the time Buckie and Betty released it in ’48, “Sue City Sue" went through a cultural transformation. The Japanese lyrics paint a familiar picture: boy meets girl and a saucy bird sings “chu-chu-chu”. The rest is history. The Japanese version has nothing to do with Sioux City or Sue at least until after Buckie’s steel guitar solo when Betty sings “Sue City Sue” in her native English. That’s what I like so much about this recording. It’s bicultural.
Buckie, best known for playing steel guitar not ukulele, fronted one of the most successful Hawaiian bands in Japan. Buckie, born and bred in Hawaii, arrived in Japan in 1933 at age 21 with a time on his hands and music in his heart. More to the point, there were few places that would hire a young Japanese-American. So he packed up his band and took a gap year with his Aloha Hawaiians. The band recorded two Hawaiian songs before returning to Hawaii to finish college. In 1937 Buckie returned to Japan, got married and settled in Tokyo. From then on his band was named “Buckie Shirakata and the Aloha Hawaiians”.
Betty Inada the US-born daughter of Japanese immigrants a year younger than Buckie Shirakata, grew up in Scramento, California. She was beautiful, headstrong, and talented when she arrived in Japan, also in 1933. If there were few options open for Buckie, there were less available for Betty. In the 1930s headstrong young Japanese women generally weren’t appreciated. Now chances are good that Buckie and Betty’s paths would have crossed in ’33 but we’ll never know. It wasn’t until after the war that they collaborated on “Sue City Sue” and others.
That generation of Japanese-Americans had it hard. They were viewed as neither Japanese nor American by either country. If they had stayed in the USA they would have been placed in relocation camps. But as fate would have it, both were in Japan when the Pacific War broke out and were forced to make a living singing forbidden foreign songs at a time when both countries questioned their allegiance.
Buckie and Betty kept singing throughout the war years, Buckie slyly rebranding his Hawaiian tunes as “southern” Asian tunes using Japanese words.
By the time “Sue City Sue” was released in Japan in ’48 Japanese wanted no more than to forget the recent horrors of the war and Betty and Buckie had a hit. They restarted their careers with mixed success. Buckie stayed in Japan, released multiple Hawaiian albums at a time when Japanese needed dreams of tropical, carefree south sea islands. During the war Betty married a Japanese film star who she later divorced. Betty remarried, moved to Los Angeles and returned only twice to Japan to perform her old songs.
For a more detailed look at the fates of Japanese-Americans during the war years I recommend Midnight in Broad Daylight, by Pamela Rotner Sakamoto. The book traces the fortunes of the Fukuhara family before and after WWII. Some family members sent to Japan to complete their education became stuck there during the war years. One son fought for the Imperial Japanese Army while another remaining in the US was sent to a relocation camp and then enlisted in the US Army and returned to Japan in the occupying forces. Sadly, some family members died of radiation sickness after the bombing of Hiroshima.
The Family That Ukes Together...
I've written before about how hobbies are a "thing" in Japan. If there's any doubt about that this family group proves I'm right. I haven't counted of all the videos they've posted on YouTube, but I'm guessing it's somewhere in the mid-two figures. Only a few of those have garnered more than a couple of dozen views, and yet this family is GOOD and they keep on posting!
The little I know about them is what's disclosed on their Ukulele Keiki YouTube channel "About" page, the sparce notes on their videos, and the odd bit here and there that I've heard said about them at the festivals they go to. Their daughter Moana (12) is a 7th grader, and their son Kanoa (10) is in 4th grade.
I don't know who is doing the arrangements, but they are lovely! They perform well as an ensemble and while not exactly "professionals" they sure make a good go at it. I mean, just getting your kids to sit and practice is hard enough but to do it together as a family group, well that's admirable.
What I like so much is that this family obviously spends a lot of time together playing and perfecting their performances and they seem to be doing it for no other reason than they like it!
I like it too. Play on!
Sotsugyo Shashin
I came of age during the singer songwriter era in the early 70s. James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Carole King, Laura Nyro... You get the idea. Matsutoya Yumi (aka Yumin, nee´ Arai Yumi) is a Japanese singer songwriter from the same era. She wrote some incredibly beautiful songs, many of which have been used by Studio Ghibli as soundtracks for its animated moves.
In this video Yoshida Yuri covers Yumin's Sotsugyo Shashin ("Graduation Photo") beautifully. The tune sounds great on the uke and her vocals are spot on. Kind of like Dylan, Yumin isn't always the best singer of her own songs. But like Dylan what she writes is pure poetry. Read an English version here. You can hear the English version here. It's not a direct translation of the Japanese but it's close and maintains the spirit and feeling of the original. As with all translations, there's inevitably something that's lost.
It's a shame that Americans don't listen to foreign music because Yumin would have been a great hit in the US. Visit her YouTube channel and let me know if you agree.
Download words and chords for each version below.
sotsugyuo_shashin.pdf
Mobius Strap
I recently found a really great strap that allows players of vintage ukuleles to avoid drilling holes in their instruments. It’s the Mobius Strap designed and marketed by Tim Mullins. But before I get to why I think the Mobius Strap is so great, let me drag you along on my journey of discovery.
Genesis:
Like many ukulele players, particularly those in Japan, I’m in love with vintage American ukuleles. I especially like vintage Martins. A few months ago I found a pristine 1950s Martin tenor uke which I have enjoyed playing ever since. Well, almost.
I play mostly finger style and maybe I’m just uncoordinated, but I need a strap. I can't support the uke well enough with my left hand when I’m going up and down the neck switching between chords and notes. Yet my 50’s Martin was so pristine that it didn’t have any strap hardware leftover from a previous owner. That made me the unfortunate one who had to decide whether to deface my beautiful instrument by adding a strap. CRAP!
Before the Fall:
I bought one of those straps which attach to the sound hole but hated it. Not only was the instrument always off balance threatening to fall forward, but the sound hole hook got in the way of my fingers.
Original Sin:
I was just hanging out at the local repair shop looking for a solution, when I took the advice of a respected luthier, bit into the forbidden fruit, and had an ebony end pin put in the lower bout which I could then use with a strap tied at the headstock. The endpin worked perfectly except the necks on those old Martins are quite thin and I swear I could hear a “wow-wow” whenever I applied just a bit of pressure. Now I was really pissed. I’d sinned against my Martin by drilling a hole and I didn’t even enjoy it!
The Paralytic:
Crawling down the road to recovery I made my own sound hole hook using a piece of thin aluminum, expertly bent and wound with black electric tape, then padded with velcro to avoid marring the surface. It looked like a prosthetic brace. All I needed now was for “Marty” to contract polio. I liberated Marty and after a few weeks he began speaking to me again.
Temptation:
I was still upset that I’d added the endpin and was looking for a way to avoid drilling any more holes so I called Martin to see if they recommended adding strap buttons on the heel. NO! Thank Martin. Thank God! (same/same?) I avoided further sin.
Deliverance:
Martin’s “NO!” pushed me to go the extra distance to find what I believe is the perfect solution: The Mobius Strap. No holes are needed. No glue or other adhesives to mar the finish are required. The Mobius strap literally cradles the instrument at the waist and balances it perfectly (Yep, you have to have a waist on your instrument for it to work!). The strap is well made and it's affordable. Learning how to use the strap took a couple of trys but it’s kind of like a bicycle. Once you get it, you’re set for life.
As with most things in life once we reach a plateau where needs and wants are at an equilibrium, our needs increase. While I promise to be true to the Mobius Strap, wouldn’t it be great if it came in something other than basic black? Just sayin’ Tim…
Scripture Reading:
Faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest is a perfect ukulele strap.
Head on over to http://www.mobiusstrap.com for an un-hole-ly strap today. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)
Hobbies and Amateurism
Amateurs are Alive and Well in Japan!
In Japan hobbies are a thing. A BIG THING!
It’s not long after you meet someone that you are inevitably asked: 趣味は？ What’s your hobby?
Here a hobby is like stamp collecting, something your weird uncle Harold did in the 1950s. Wanna see his stamp books? “NO!”, you quickly say. Besides, being an amateur anything just reeks of some juvenile preoccupation, right? Maybe because I’ve lived in Japan and have seen first-hand what true amateurism is, I don’t think so.
In Japan, a hobby is an opportunity to do something simply for the love of it. We’ve forgotten how to do that here.
The french root of the word amateur is amator, which means “lover” as in a lover of something. That meaning, however, often takes a backseat to the more condescending “One who does something without professional skill or ease.”, i.e., a hack. How often have we heard the expression “He’s just an amateur.” as in, “Don’t even bother, he’s not worth it!”
I hereby loudly and forcefully OBJECT! There are many things that can and should be done even if the outcome is imperfect. There’s a tremendous amount of grace and learning that comes from the simple act of trying. Besides, it’s fun.
Japanese don’t labor under the same stigma of amateurism that we Americans do. They take great pride in their hobbies and devote a tremendous amount of time, effort, personal reputation, and money into indulging their passions. Pick any hobby and you’ll find some of the best how-to books, magazines, videos, tapes, accessories, tools etc. available in Japan.
I learned long ago that when you ask a Japanese about their hobby to beware. Personally, I often feel like a hack when compared to a Japanese amateur! While maybe not a “professional”, many Japanese hobbyists I know are darn near that level. They have diligently practiced their hobby for many years making slow yet incremental progress toward achieving hobby nirvana.
It’s like that with the ukulele in Japan too. Instructional methods abound. How-to videos on YouTube are legion. Really good songbooks are everywhere. Japanese love, collect, and cherish expensive ukuleles from the US. They practice. They perform. Best of all, they love what they are doing.
I don’t think American ukulele players are as hung up on being labeled amateurs as other hobbyists are. Perhaps we’ve grown a thick skin because we’re always derided whenever we pick up our small instruments. Or, maybe it’s just the unique joy that the ukulele brings. Whatever it is, I’m glad for it.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for Japanese songbooks, take a look here.
Germans in Kimono
Several years ago I stumbled across an article posted on the Internet titled Germans in Grass Skirts about how the humble Hawaiian uke saved German-American C.F. Martin’s bacon from getting fried in the Great Depression. I faithfully bookmarked the URL and when I recently thought to access it again it was gone. Such is life on the Internet. Whatever, I’m using that title as inspiration for this post about how the Japanese saved Martin's ukulele.
In Germans in Grass Skirts the author described how by 1926 demand for Martin’s ukuleles far outstripped supply. According to Tom Walsh and John King’s excellent book The Martin Ukulele: The Little Instrument That Helped Create a Guitar Giant, in April of 1926 Martin’s Board of Directors decided to raise ukulele prices in the wake of strong demand noting “the reason for the increase is largely to provide money for enlargement and to provide a reserve for harder times.” Boy, did they ever call that one right! By 1929 uke sales were a third of their peak production level in 1925. Fortunately, the extra revenue from ukulele sales helped fund factory expansion and gave Martin a cushion to rest on during the Great Depression.
After ukes surged again in the 1950s (thank you Arthur Godfrey), they fell again and by the late ‘60s C.F. Martin was making only a handful of ukes. 1965 was the last year of regular production after which ukuleles were produced only on special order. In 1994, ukulele production ceased altogether.
Oddly, Martin was the victim of its own success. Between the 1907 and 1977 the company had produced over 190,000 ukuleles and used Martin ukes were cheaper than new instruments. A new style “0” cost $500 at retail but you could get a very good used Martin uke cheap at a flea market. No kidding! Just ask Jim Beloff…
But not so fast… Kurosawa Gakki, Martin’s key Japanese distributor never got over the loss of the ukulele. Japanese are great collectors and, as we know, avid ukulele fans. Despite a depressed US market, Kurosawa felt there was still a market for Martin ukuleles in Japan. Chris Martin, however wasn’t so sure and beautifully tells the story in his “A Word from Chris Ukuleles” in minute 5:07.
I would have loved to have been in that meeting when Chris produced several 5K prototypes to show Kurosawa’s executives. From the video its pretty clear that no one in Martin’s entourage spoke Japanese. In a typical meeting between Japanese and foreign visitors it is not unusual for the Japanese at key moments to break away from the main conversation and have an animated “chat” among themselves about what’s been said and much more. There’s nothing underhanded, they are just trying to gain consensus. If you speak Japanese as I do, it’s a great way to get a real-time feel for what your customers are thinking.
Since neither Chris Martin nor his International Sales Rep. spoke Japanese, they were floored when Kurosawa Gakki came back and met their $5,000 MSRP request and immediately ordered 50. That $250,000 order put Martin back in the ukulele business.
For that amount, I’m sure even Chris Martin would don a kimono. I know I would!
Nisei Ambassadors of Uke
I recently fell down a rabbit hole…
I started researching the origins of the ukulele in Japan, how it got there, who were the early stars , etc., and I learned something new which surprised me but it really shouldn’t have. Second generation Japanese-Americans (nisei), sons and daughters born and raised in Hawaii, brought the instrument back to Japan when they returned there in the 20s and 30s to complete their education.
Yukihiko (Harry) Haida and his brother Katsuhiko both born in Hawaii of immigrant parents returned to Japan with a love for Hawaiian music and a lot of talent. Their Moana Glee Club recordings were well received and started the Japanese love for Hawaiian music that continues today.
Then there’s Buckie Shirakata who arrived in Japan in the 30s and formed the Aloha Hawaiians. Buckie was quite prolific and made over 200 recordings, one of which was with Betty Inada, a Sacramento girl who returned to Japan to become a jazz singer.
So here’s the thing… In the 20s and 30s life in America for most children of Japanese immigrants was like living on a tightrope and having to balance between the culture and traditions of your parents and of the place of your birth. Neither culture fully accepted you. In race conscious America it was hard for a Japanese (“J*ps”) to break into society regardless of talent and brains. Yet in Japan these Americans were looked at suspiciously and said to be bata-kusai- stinking of butter, a derogatory term for Western foreigners.
As ambassadors of the mysterious and exotic Hawaii and the world of jazz, nisei had a cache in Japan that they didn’t have in the States. They were cool! They could also support themselves playing music at a time when there still was money to be made in that profession. Harry Haida and Buckie Shirakata married Japanese women and began to settle down. Betty Inada gained renown as a chanteuse in Tokyo nightclubs. Then the war happened.
Like many Japanese who returned to Japan to complete their education or to work, after December 7, 1941, there was no going home and because they were not born in Japan, life for them was tough there too. “Foreign music” was banned. The Moana Glee Club became “The Southern Band” and the Aloha Hawaiians, “The Music Group”. I can only imagine how difficult it became to support oneself.
I recently learned about the plight of the many Japanese-Americans stuck in wartime Japan by reading the book Midnight in Broad Daylight (Pamela Rotner Sakamoto) which chronicles the wartime experience of one family with children on both sides of the Pacific. One brother was interred and then fought for the US Army, another for the Japanese Imperial Army. A sister was in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped and later died of radiation sickness. All faced discrimination from every side. I’d love to hear Harry’s, Buckie’s, and Betty’s stories of how they coped during that time.
After the war Occupied Japan needed the nisei entertainers to play for the US forces and many gladly did so. Being bi-cultural and often bilingual, the nisei were an ideal group to act as musical ambassadors. Soon a second Hawaiian boom fueled by Hawaiian nisei began to feed Japan’s insatiable curiosity for the exotic islands where the button-down, rigidly proper decorum of Japan was replaced by the flowered-shirt Aloha spirit. Hawaiian bands flourished in the 50s, 60s, and do so even today.
All the while the ukulele has played a staring role in that drama, a role which would not have been possible without the many Japanese-American players: Herb Ohta, Roy Sakuma, Byron Yasui, Herb Ohta Jr., and most recently Jake Shimabukuro.
I started this piece by mentioning the rabbit hole. It appears that there are numerous recordings of Japanese-Americans singing in Japanese and English for Japanese audiences that are still available for listening.
Club Nisei covers the post-war period.
On Soundcloud you can listen to a program in several hour-long installments.
You can read about some of those recordings here.
There are some interesting books too:
Blue Nippon: Authenticating Jazz in Japan. E. Taylor Atkins
Reminiscing in Swingtime: Japanese Americans in Popular American Music 1925 - 1960. George Yoshida
Finally, head on over to UKULELEjapan.com (Artists Pages>Legends) and listen to Buckie Shirakata and Harry Haida.
Back down the hole for me…
Swing Girls
Spoiler alert: this post has nothing to do with ukuleles, but if you're interested in Japan, Jazz, and Japanese culture, read on.
I just finished watching Swing Girls, a 2004 Japanese film staring Ueno Juri. I really enjoyed it, even if there weren't any ukuleles. Swing Girls is what would happen if the Bad News Bears met your local jazz band. Predictable, but fun.
The movie is set in Yamakawa High School in Yamagata Prefecture, deep in the northern backwaters of Japan. The girls are in remedial math class for the summer when they learn that the school's brass band has been sent off to play for the school baseball team without the customary bento boxes for lunch. The girls offer to deliver them so as to get out of class for the afternoon. They miss their train stop, have to walk back, fall in the mud, and manage to give the band food poisoning before they are roped into becoming the new band. Because there aren't enough of them to form a full band, after hearing a recording of Glen Miller's Moonlight Serenade they decide to become a jazz band. Reasonable, right?
The girls face many obstacles, not the least of which is their complete and utter lack of musical training. But they persist. They manage to find a band director, conveniently their former math teacher, who despite his love of jazz and his own desire to play an instrument, is a total failure. At about that time the original band recuperates from their bout of food poisoning and resumes their duty cheering on the baseball team.
Undeterred and now in love with jazz, the girls continue studying and eventually become good enough to enter a regional high school musical competition. Predictably, the forces of nature, their own self-doubt, and any number of minor disasters conspire against them but in the end they prevail.
At about 16:30 in the above clip the girls make their debut at the regionals. I dare you to not smile when they launch into Louis Prima's Sing, Sing, Sing.
Everyone loves rooting for the underdog, especially the Japanese. Perseverance must be genetically encoded in Japanese DNA because they like nothing more than coming up against long odds. It really doesn't matter if they win or lose. It's persevering that matters most.
Maybe that's why Japanese love the much maligned ukulele. Nothing says perseverance so well as a uke!
1) Only one of the 17 actresses who became the Swing Girls had any musical chops. They all learned their instruments well enough to at least play convincingly and after the movie was released held their "First and Last Concert" at the Tokyo JAL hotel in late December, 2004!
2) My Japanese is pretty good, but combine the heavy Tohoku dialect, teenage slang, and pouty girl-talk and I was often lost.
3) In reading some of the PR from the time the movie was released I learned the catch phrase was: 「ジャズやるべ」which translates roughly to "Let's do some jazz y'all!". Understand my problem now?
I'm glad I persevered!
Acoustic Sound Org
The Acoustic Sound Organization ("AcoSoundOrg") is a virtual panoply covering all things ukulele! Video lessons, local performances in Tokyo, a blog, music sales, and much, much more.
I first learned of AcoSoundOrg through its YouTube postings. Frankly, I'm not sure who comprises the actual organization but there seem to be several regulars covering everything from classic Rock and Roll to Jazz and beyond. Some are better than others. All are interesting.
Given my preference for Jazz I recently watched a duo play a spirited arrangement of Take the A Train.
If you are patient you can find a some chord charts on their website for downloading. I found a TAB of Moon River in JPEG format that I was able to print out after adding it to Apple Images.
I'm an amateur ukulele player who happens to be fluent in Japanese. I hope that I can inspire you to learn more about the ukulele, Japan, or better yet, BOTH!
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UK helps Christmas tree farmer complete new plantation
Planting 5,000 trees this year was a momentous task and Clive was delighted Greg accepted his invitation to join him to mark the completion of the new plantation.
Clive has been growing and supplying Christmas trees to retail and commercial customers for over 20 years and recently launched an on-line shop that saw him supplying trees to customers as far away as Scotland and Wales.
A number of new trees are planted every year at Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm, but the new plantation of 5,000 trees is the largest investment in recent years. The business is sustainable and all the trees that are harvested get replaced.
Clive Collins said: “It was brilliant to meet the Minister and I was able to give him a tour of the farm. He was also interested in the fact that I am trying to make my business carbon neutral. The tree he helped to plant is two years old and will take about seven years to grow into a 6ft tree.”
Clive, a former forester, realised his dream to run a Christmas Tree Farm despite being in a wheelchair. Christmas trees need to be cared for all year round and shaped so they are perfectly formed for customers. Clive is able to do a lot of the farm work himself thanks to specially adapted equipment and a team of local people who help him with the work he can’t do.
Speaking in Catsfield, Greg said: “It has not been an easy road for Clive and growing Christmas trees requires a lot of physical hard work. I admire Clive’s determination to use the skills he learnt before his accident to build a successful local business which is growing year-on-year.
“As Minister for Climate Change, I am also pleased that Clive is aiming to make his operation carbon neutral in the near future and is currently having a wood burning system installed to provide heating.”
01 august 2011, World News > Europe
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June 16, 2019 Clyde Duncan
The Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center honored 38 U.S. veterans with inscribed bricks during a bricklaying ceremony Friday morning on their Patio of Honor Annex.
“It’s a very emotional, very heartwarming ceremony to see everyone come out and place a brick in memory of their loved one,” said Stephen Larsen, VA executive assistant to the director. “It’s really important for us to be able to honor each other and remember what we did.”
The bricks were purchased throughout the year by veterans, relatives, and veterans’ organizations. Living or deceased, veterans of all four US military branches can be honored at the VA’s Patio of Honor with a personalized, inscribed brick on the consecrated memorial.
“Time changes and sometimes the man upstairs catches up to you,” said Army PFC, Edward E. Owens, retired. “I never thought that I would get this far.”
Several members of the east Texas raised, World War II veteran gathered to watch him be among those honored and able to witness the tribute.
“I hope I don’t have to feed them all,” he said laughing.
The ceremony also served as a christening of the VA’s second Patio of Honor.
“This is a new area that we hope we can fill up quickly,” said Liz Lowery, Amarillo VA associate director. “This is what we want to do so they can be here for perpetuity, so people can come out and visit them — that’s what we encourage people to do.”
The VA uses money from the sale of the bricks to fund the Lodge — an eight bedroom, fully equipped, temporary lodging for out of town veterans seeking care in the Amarillo VA Health Care System. The Amarillo VA established their first Patio of Honor in 1997.
“I feel like I’m standing on holy ground,” Lowery said. “We always need to take time to honor our veterans anytime we can, and have the community involved; it’s an honor to those men (and women) who raised their hand and said, ‘Yes, me, I’ll do it.’”
← TX Amarillo TX Zone Forecast
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Women’s History Month Reception
This March marks the 31st Women’s History Month. Thousands of cultural, historic, and philanthropic institutions around the country will celebrate the rich and formidable contributions of women throughout history. On March 9, GFWC will host our annual Women’s History Month Reception at Headquarters. Page Harrington, Executive Director of the National Women’s Party (NWP), will speak about the illustrious history of the organization, and its current endeavors to educate the public on the women’s rights movement.
Founded in 1917, the National Women’s Party was host to women wanting to advocate for suffrage. The NWP engaged Congress and the country through the organization of nonviolent protests, such as marches, pickets, speaking tours, and hunger strikes. Their determination and grit captured the attention of the nation and garnered public support for the women’s suffrage movement. After the passage of the 19th amendment in 1920, Alice Paul, founder of the NWP, knew their work was just beginning. In 1923, Paul wrote the Equal Rights Amendment, which the NWP advocated for throughout the remainder of the 20th century. Today, Page Harrington leads the National Women’s Party in its charge for better education and the preservation of women’s history.
The Women’s History Month reception will be held from 2 p.m-4 p.m on March 9. It is open to all clubwomen, as well as the public. Light refreshments will be served. Please join us for what is sure to be a truly historic and enlightening event!
Source:: http://www.gfwc.org/events/womens-history-month-reception/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Be Bold for Change: How Women Are Changing Society and the World
Women In Business Circle: Breakfast
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United Nations Memorial Cemetery
Title: United Nations Memorial Cemetery
Subject: Charles Hercules Green, Bill Madden (GC), Operation Glory, Aftermath of the Korean War, New Zealand in the Korean War
Collection: 1951 Establishments in South Korea, 1955 Establishments in South Korea, 1973 Establishments in South Korea, Aftermath of the Korean War, Australian Military Cemeteries, British Military Memorials and Cemeteries, British Military Personnel Killed in the Korean War, Buildings and Structures in Busan, Canadian Military Memorials and Cemeteries, Cemeteries in South Korea, French Military Personnel of the Korean War, Korean War Memorials and Cemeteries, Military Personnel Killed in the Korean War, Monuments and Memorials in South Korea, New Zealand Military Memorials and Cemeteries, South African Military Personnel of the Korean War, Turkish Military Memorials and Cemeteries, Turkish Military Memorials and Cemeteries Outside Turkey, Visitor Attractions in Busan
Commission for the UNMCK (CUNMCK)
UNMCK Wall of Remembrance
Used for those deceased 1950–1953
plus UNC deceased post-war
(as the United Nations Military Cemetery (UNMC))
93 UN Pyeonghwa-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, 608-812, Republic of Korea
(Old address: 779 Daeyon 4-dong, Nam-gu, Busan)
Total burials
Burials by nation
United Nations Command (UNC):
British Commonwealth Forces Korea
United Kingdom: 885
Canadian: 378[1]
Australian: 281
New Zealanders: 34
South Africa (2 Squadron SAAF): 11[2]
Turkey (Turkish Brigade): 462[3]
Dutch (the "Netherlands Battalion"): 117[4]
France (French Battalion): 44
South Korean: 36 – ROK Army soldiers serving in UNC units[5]
American: 36[nb 1][6]
Norway: 1[7]
Non-combatants: 11[8]
Unknown: 4[9]
Statistics source:
* UN Memorial Cemetery (Official)
* Korean War Memorials: UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea
The United Nations Memorial Cemetery (UNMCK; Hangul: 재한유엔기념공원; RR: jae hahn UN ki nyum gong won),[10] located at Tanggok in the Nam District,[11] City of Busan,[nb 2] Republic of Korea, is a burial ground for United Nations Command (UNC) casualties of the Korean War.[nb 3] It contains 2,300 graves and is the only United Nations cemetery in the world. Laid out over 14 hectares (35 acres), the graves are set out in 22 sites designated by the nationalities of the buried servicemembers.[12]
Temporary battlefield cemeteries and remains recovery 1.1
Construction of the Tanggok cemetery 1.2
Post-armistice 1.3
Foundation as a United Nations cemetery and transfer to CUNMCK 1.4
Cultural heritage and tourism 1.5
Notable graves 3
Further reading 7
Temporary battlefield cemeteries and remains recovery
The Korean War began when North Korean People's Army forces attacked south in June 1950. As the fighting progressed, temporary military cemeteries for battle casualties were established by United Nations forces near the towns of Taejon (July 9, 1950), Kwan-ui (Kwan-ni),[13] Kum-chon,[13] and Sindong.[14] When the North Korean forces pushed towards Pusan, these cemeteries had to be abandoned.[14] Later, as the Battle of Pusan Perimeter developed, temporary cemeteries were established at Masan, Miryang, and Taegu, with a Pusan cemetery being established on July 11, 1950.[15] As the fighting pushed into North Korea, temporary cemeteries were established in or near the towns of Kaesong,[13] Sukehon, Wonsan, Pupchong (Pukchong County),[13] Yudarn-ni and Koto-ri.[16] Some 11 division-level cemeteries were established in the first two months of fighting[17] and later 5 UN military cemeteries were established in North Korea.[18]
A corporal from the 114th Graves Registration Co. fills out a Form 52B, giving information regarding a deceased American soldier at the U.N. Cemetery at Taegu. Nearby are a cross, a triangular unidentified soldier marker, and small bottle containing Form 1042 which is buried with the casualty. (US Army Photo, January 23, 1951)
At the beginning of the war, the nearest U.S. Army mortuary affairs unit was the 108th Graves Registration Platoon in Yokohama, Japan, which was searching for the remains of missing World War II American airmen.[15][19][20] The 108th was reconfigured as the 114th Graves Registration Company and deployed to establish temporary cemeteries at Hungnam, Pyongyang, and Suchon as the fighting continued.[15] Supporting the 2nd Infantry Division was the Graves Registration Section of the 2nd Quartermaster Company, which collected the remains of Allied and American soldiers to be further processed by the 148th Graves Registration Company.[21] When UN forces launched the Inchon Invasion in September 1950, a platoon from the 565th Graves Registration Company accompanied them.[15] Other mortuary affairs units included the 293rd Graves Registration Company, activated in April 1951.[15] It was difficult to recover remains and conduct burials in Korea, due to the rugged geography and harsh climate, and the threat of unexploded ordnance and booby-traps.[6][22]
Construction of the Tanggok cemetery
Construction of the United Nations Military Cemetery (UNMC) at Tanggok began on January 18, 1951 and was carried out by hand-labor over a 28.2 hectares (70 acres) site.[23] It was dedicated by General Matthew Ridgeway on April 6, 1951.[14][23] Graves Registration units then concentrated American and allied remains at Tanggok before they were permanently buried or repatriated.[14][19] Besides burial services, refrigeration units to store remains were added,[23] as were cremation facilities.[24] Today the 2,300 graves in the cemetery are set out in 22 sites designated by the nationalities of the buried service members.[12]
Post-armistice
Following the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in July 1953, the United Nations Command sought to recover bodies interred in North Korean territory.[25] Cemeteries for POWs in North Korea were established at 16 POW camps.[26] From September to October 1954, the resulting exchange of casualties, dubbed Operation Glory, between United Nations forces and the North Koreans resulted in 4,219 remains being recovered, of which 1,275 were non-US casualties.[27] (Also exchanged were the remains of approximately 14,000 North Korean and Chinese casualties.)[28] From 1950 to 1954, approximately 11,000 casualties were interred at UNMC, which was maintained by the United States Army Graves Registration Agency.[5][29][30]
Foundation as a United Nations cemetery and transfer to CUNMCK
It was officially established as the United Nations Memorial Cemetery on December 15, 1955 with the passage of UN General Assembly Resolution 977(X).[31] Following the war, the cemetery was funded from the United Nations budget, but the Sino-Soviet world objected to this funding.[32][33] In 1973, the cemetery was transferred from the UN to the Commission for the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (CUNMCK), which is composed of representatives from the 11 countries who have servicemembers buried there.[12][34]
Cultural heritage and tourism
The cemetery is designated as Site 359 in the listing of Registered Cultural Heritage Sites in Korea by the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea.[35] Also, it is a visitor attraction for Pacific Rim tourists.[36][37] In 2011, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon described it as the only United Nations cemetery in the world.[38]
April 1951 – a Korean girl places a wreath of flowers while an honour guard present arms at the United Nations cemetery in Pusan.
An Honour Guard from the Republic of Korea 53rd Division carries out flag ceremonies daily.[39]
The UN Sculpture Park was established in October 2001 and twenty-nine permanent memorials are in the cemetery.[40] The memorials include:
Commonwealth of Nations memorials:
Australian Memorial[41][42]
British Memorial – dedicated 2010[43]
Monument to Canadian Fallen – an identical monument is located in downtown [41][44][45]
Commonwealth Memorial[46]
Commonwealth Missing in Action Memorial[42]
New Zealand Memorial – designed by Warren and Mahoney architects and built of marble from the Coromandel Peninsula[47][48]
South Africa Memorial – the 2001 sculpture Reconciliation by South African sculptor Strijdom van der Merwe, was created as part of the International Sculpture Symposium[40]
French Memorial – dedicated 2007[41][49][50]
Greek Memorial – dedicated 1961[41][51]
Interfaith memorial chapel – built by the United Nations Command in 1964[12]
Main gate – designed by Korean architect Kim Joong-up and built by the city of Busan in 1966[12][35]
Memorabilia display hall – built by the UN in 1968[12]
Norwegian Memorial[7][52]
Thai Memorial – dedicated November 2008[41][53]
Turkish Memorials I and II – dedicated 1960, 1962, and 2008[41][54][55]
UN Forces Monument – dedicated 1978 and refurbished in 2007[41][56]
United States Korean War Memorial – the Frank Gaylord sculpture was carved from Barre Granite at the Rock of Ages Corporation in Barre, Vermont, and dedicated under the auspices of the American Battle Monuments Commission in 2013[57][58][59]
The Unknown Soldiers' Pathway[41]
The Wall of Remembrance, completed in 2006, has the names of the 40,896 United Nations casualties (killed and missing) inscribed on 140 marble panels.[41][60]
The UNMCK maintains a website in Korean, English, and Turkish (Türkçe), which allows website visitors to post online flowers and tributary messages.[61]
Notable graves
The grounds today
The cemetery contains the graves of 2,289 military personnel and 11 non-combatants. Amongst those are the graves of Bill Madden GC, 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, (who died as a prisoner of war), Kenneth Muir VC (killed in action in the Battle of Hill 282 while serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders),[62] and Philip Curtis VC (killed in action in the Battle of the Imjin River while serving with The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry).[63] Also buried is Lt. Col. Charles Hercules Green DSO, commander of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, who was mortally wounded at Battle of Chongju and died at nearby Anju.[64] Dutch Lt. Col. Marinus Petrus Antonius den Ouden, commander of the Regiment Van Heutsz, was killed in action during Operation Roundup in 1951 and is buried with members of his regiment – posthumously, den Ouden was awarded Netherlands' highest military award, the Military Order of William.[65] In the early days of the war, journalist Christopher Buckley died from a land mine explosion, and was subsequently buried at the cemetery.[66]
^ Post-war deaths only – with the exception of 4 symbolic unknowns, all recovered remains were repatriated.
^ As a transliteration from Korean, the city name 부산 (Korean pronunciation: ) was typically spelled "Pusan" in McCune-Reischauer until 2000. The official Revised Romanization spells the name Busan. See
^ The Korean War started on June 25, 1950 when North Korean forces pushed south of the 38th parallel which divided Korea following World War II. With authorization from the United Nations, forces from the United States and other nations pushed the North Koreans back to the north. When these UN forces approached China, Chinese forces intervened and the battlefront eventually stabilized along the 38th parallel. The Korean Armistice was signed on July 27, 1953 to end the fighting.
Daejeon National Cemetery
Seoul National Cemetery
War Memorial of Korea
Cemetery for North Korean and Chinese Soldiers, established in Paju, South Korea.
^ Korean War casualties only. In 2012, the cremated remains of Archie Hearsay were buried with his brother, Joseph, who had died in Korea while both were serving. See:
^ a b UNMCK: Status of Interred at the UNMCK
^ Reportedly of North Koreans who refused to be repatriated following the war because they had criticized the regime. See:
^ Some unidentified Americans were left as token representatives to the unknowns.
^ United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Korea
^ ; also see: Korea 1:50,000 Pusan Sheet 7019 III (1947) and Pusan – 1947 – AMS Map Sheet L751 – 7109 III
^ a b c d e f
^ a b c d
^ a b c d e
^ The only other American active duty graves registration unit was at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
^ a b c
^ Casualties from the Colombia Battalion were cremated at Tanggok by the American Graves Registration Service and then repatriated to Colombia in 1954.
^ ;
^ Note: the calculation of remains comes from Coleman as the "Historical Summary" gives a total of 4,023 UN remains received.
^ ; also see: United Nations Juridical Yearbook 2003. p. 554. ISBN 978-92-1-133767-9
^ a b c d e f g h i Korean War Memorials: UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea
^ UNMCK: British Memorial
^ UNMCK: French Memorial
^ UNMCK: Greek Memorial
^ UNMCK: Turkish Memorial I; UNMCK: Turkish Memorial II
^ UNMCK: UN Forces Monument
^ Korean War Monument at Busan
^ UNMCK: Wall of Remembrance
^ UNMCK: Cyber Flower Dedications and UNMCK: Tributary Message
A description of the post-interment processing of casualties undertaken at Kokura, Japan, in which they were identified and prepared for repatriation.
South Africa War Graves Project: South Korea
Korea 1953–1954 – for photographs of the cemetery in 1954 from the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum
Wikivoyage Map
UNMCK at WikiMapia
United Nations Memorial Cemetery at Find a Grave
161977660 Ereveld Tanggok (UN Memorial Park) on OpenStreetMap
Belgium & Luxembourg
Arkansas Army National Guard
Medical (non-combat) participants
United Nations Contingents
United States Eighth Army
United States Seventh Fleet
Allegations of biological warfare
American and British defectors
Impact on the economy of the United States
MiG Alley
Operation Blacklist Forty
Operation Glory
United Nations System
Principal organs
General Assembly (→ President)
Security Council (→ Members)
Deputy-Secretary General
Under-Secretary-General
Trusteeship Council
Programmes and
IFAD
SCSL
UNCITRAL
UNDAF
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UNDPI
OzonAction
UNEP/GRID-Arendal
UNFIP
UN-HABITAT
UNICRI
UNITAR
UN-Oceans
UNOPS
UNOSAT
UNRISD
UNU
Principal offices
New York (headquarters)
UN organizations by location
Members / Observers
Founding members (→ UNSC Permanent members)
Four Policemen
Declaration by United Nations
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CTBTO
Delivering as One
Honour Flag
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Laissez-Passer
Treaty Series
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UN Memorial Cemetery Korea
Official website not in Wikidata
1951 establishments in South Korea
Aftermath of the Korean War
Australian military cemeteries
British military memorials and cemeteries
British military personnel killed in the Korean War
Buildings and structures in Busan
Canadian military memorials and cemeteries
Cemeteries in South Korea
French military personnel of the Korean War
Korean War memorials and cemeteries
Military personnel killed in the Korean War
Monuments and memorials in South Korea
New Zealand military memorials and cemeteries
South African military personnel of the Korean War
Turkish military memorials and cemeteries outside Turkey
Visitor attractions in Busan
Harvard University Press, The Black Book of Communism, U.S. News & World Report
Charles Hercules Green
World War II, Korean War, Busan, Australian Army, Korea
Bill Madden (GC)
Australia, Korea, Korean War, South Korea, Busan
Korean War, M*a*s*h, United Nations Command, Korean Armistice Agreement, United Nations Memorial Cemetery
New Zealand in the Korean War
Korean War, Korea, United Nations, New Zealand, North Korea
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Chambers of Commerce are vital, dynamic links for any business looking to succeed and grow in today's competitive environment. From acting as an advocate for business interests, to providing opportunities to network within our community, the West Orange Chamber of Commerce is uniquely positioned to provide every business owner with resources that can't be found anywhere else.
As long as commerce has existed, traders have banded together for the common protection against enemies, to govern the conduct of trade, and later to exert influence on legislation.
The first known use of the term “chamber of commerce” occurred in Marseilles, France, where such an organization was established by the city council toward the close of the 17th century. From this beginning, chambers of commerce spread to Germany, and then throughout Europe.
European chambers have little parallel with the American organization. They frequently operate as quasi-public agencies, with administrative and judicial powers with respect to trade.
The oldest chamber of commerce on the American continent is that of the State of New York, chartered by King George III, in 1770. The establishment of the New York Chamber was a direct result of the Stamp Act that was passed by Parliament in 1765.
The first local chamber of commerce was founded in Charleston, South Carolina in 1773. By 1870, the number of local chambers had increased to 40. The early American, like their European prototypes, were associations of tradesmen, organized for the protection and promotion of commerce.
In the United States, early chambers promoted the sale of goods, organized markets, made and enforced rules of trade, protected goods in transit, and even operated their own trading floors. But their activities were limited to those directly connected with commerce.
The emergence of the chamber as a true community organization came much later, as businessmen began to realize that their own prosperity depended on the development of a prosperous community.
In the 1950s and 1960s, chambers placed major emphasis on industrial recruitment and job creation activities. As we entered the 1970s, 80s, and 90s major problems with inadequate housing, schools, community services, and high unemployment, the role of chambers of commerce expanded to socioeconomic concerns.
The chamber of commerce of the 21st Century is the marketplace for business networking. Over 20 million businesses worldwide are members of local chambers of commerce. Add to that all the marketing, business development, and non-retail sales professionals, plus hiring managers, recruiters, and job seekers, and the number gets very large. Generating revenue and supporting other business processes via relationships are as compelling reasons to connect as finding old schoolmates or potential dating partners.
The basic mission of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce is to create and promote a climate where business can operate in a productive and profitable manner.
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Where Did the Road Go?
Mike Clelland on Owls, Synchronicity, and UFO's: Part 2 - May 14, 2016
Mike Clelland joins me for Part 2 of our conversation about his book, The Messengers; Owls, Synchronicity, and the UFO Abductee. You can find a previous show in our archive with Mike from 2013 when he was starting this book, but this will go so much deeper into this mystery. Mike is often now known as The Owl Guy due to this research. We will discuss the subtleties of what he investigates, how it all ties together, and what it may teach us about ourselves and the weirdness of the universe.
His website is hiddenexperience.blogspot.com
History of the UFO Phenomenon - Part 6 with Aaron Gulyas and Mike Clelland
In this episode we cover the late 1990's. We discuss hoax videos, and how technology was making it easier, John Mack, Dr. Reed's Screaming Alien, Art Bell, The Heaven's Gate Cult, Implants, Black Eyed-Kids, Hybrids, and much more.
Mike Clelland and Aaron Gulyas on UFO History Part 5 - The 1990's - November 21, 2015
Aaron Gulyas and Mike Clelland return for our next part in covering the history of UFO's. After 2 parts spent on the 1980's, we finally move on to the 1990's.
Among the subjects we discuss;
Belgum Triangle UFO Wave and Black Triagles in General
Confrontations, Revelations, and the UFO Chronicles of the Soviet Union by Jaques Vallee
Kenneth Ring's Omega Project
Strieber's Breakthrough and Secret School
The Alien Autopsy Hoax
El Chupacabra
The case Witnessed by Budd Hopkins was based on
The Phoenix Lights
Mexico City UFO Flap
50th Anniversary of Roswell
Mike Clelland and Joshua Cutchin on UFO's, Synchronicity, The Paranormal, and more... - August 8, 2015
In a last minute replacement for our planned show, I am joined by Mike Clelland and Joshua Cutchin to discuss UFO's, Owls, The Paranormal, Bi-aural Beats, Synchronicity and much more. It's a deep and ever changing conversation...
Aaron Gulyas and Mike Celland on UFO History: Part 4 - 1980's - August 1, 2015
This show covers more on the 1980's with Mike and Aaron. We get into some of the events, hoaxes, and mysteries of this time frame...
Mike's website is hiddenexperience.blogspot.com and you can follow Aaron on facebook.
Aaron Gulyas and Mike Clelland on UFO History, Part 3 - 1980's - April 25, 2015
Mike Clelland and Aaron Gulyas return to the show to continue our conversation about the history of the UFO Phenomenon. This is a different view from the standard history. Mike and Aaron have different angles they see this from, and we try to lay out what is actually there, and take away some of the assumptions and dogma that often finds its way into the UFO subject. We start in the early 1980's and make it about 10 years forward. We discuss various researchers, MJ12, Wild Bill Cooper, Budd Hopkins, Whitley Strieber, Government disinformation, the abduction phenomena, and much more. This is also the first show with our new co-host Luke St. Clair.
Part One of our talk can be found here. Part Two can by found here.
Hidden Experience - Mike Clelland's Blog
Hidden Experience - Mike Clelland's blog on his experiences and those of others. Particularly the UFO experience as it relates to Owl imagery. He also has a series of audio interviews available.
Aaron Gulyas and Mike Clelland; Part 2 of an Alternate History of UFO's - 1960-1980 - March 14, 2015
Mike Clelland and Aaron Gulyas return to the show to continue our conversation about the history of the UFO Phenomenon. We will pick up in the 1960's and go up to the 1980's. This is a different view from the standard history. Mike and Aaron have different angles they see this from, and we try to lay out what is actually there, and take away some of the assumptions and dogma that often finds its way into the UFO subject. We cover the Mothman, John Keel, Jacques Vallee, Project Blue Book, Cattle Mutilations, Crop Circles, and much more!
Download the Show
Part One of our talk can be found here.
Mike Clelland - Owls and the UFO Phenomenon - December 21, 2013
We speak with Mike Clelland about his research on strange owl encounters and the UFO phenomenon. He has been collecting stories and doing research on the strange connections in preparation for an upcoming book. We also speak to him a bit about his own personal experiences, which are fascinating.
You can find some of what we will be talking about on his blog; hiddenexperience.blogspot.com. You can also read the long form essay he has on the owl phenomenon here.
Mike, in his own words... "I was born in 1962 in the suburbs of Detroit. Even during my pre-kindergarten years I was a skilled illustrator, and most of what I would draw was goofy and cartoony. Curiously, the stuff I would draw in elementary school looks a lot like my drawing style now.
I was deeply influenced by MAD magazine, and that is still evident in my work today. I need to thank Mort Drucker, Sergio Aregones and Jack Davis for shaping my style. I also need to thank R. Crumb, who I discovered a little bit later in life.
In 1981 I moved to New York City, where I went to NYU Film School for one year. I was all too aware that I was a lousy student, and I dropped out and began working as a free-lance illustrator and art director for advertising agencies.
In the winter of 1986/87 I spent the season as a ski bum in Jackson Hole Wyoming. This experience would make it very difficult to fully embrace my urban career when I returned to New York. I eventually moved out west permanently in 1991, and this move paralleled the advent of the fax machine and Federal Express. These revolutionary tools allowed me to do illustration work anywhere I wanted, and I was still dealing with clients back in The City. All of this became much easier with the internet.
Once out west I began doing book illustrations and teaching for an outdoor school.
It was around 2005 or so when I felt a sort of oppressive need to look into some odd life events, stories and memories that I had denied had any importance. Little by little I realized that I simply could no longer ignore those memories and their implications.
The catalyzing event was a profoundly strange synchronicity involving a bottle of sunblock. From that point on, it felt like the floodgates were opened up.
Let me also add that the initial years of my self exploration have not been easy. The act of trying to peer into my own unknown life events has been enormously challenging. I became a shaky recluse, locked in a spiraling tape loop of insecurity and self-doubt. Presently, things have been a little less difficult, but it's by no means easy. The act of digging like this is no simple undertaking, it’s been hard work. The truth for me is that I simply have to go down this road, no matter what the consequences. It seems I am being pulled ever forward by some unknown force. This might be my own higher self, or it might be something interacting with me from outside my being, I truly don’t know. What I do know is that this new chapter of my life has been profoundly interesting."
Mike Clelland and Aaron Gulyas on the UFO Enigma - February 1, 2014
So for our first show of Year 2, we have back Aaron Gulyus and Mike Clelland. We will be discuss various facets of the UFO Phenomenon, and this conversation gets pretty deep into the subtlety of the phenomenon.
A teacher, historian, and writer (generally in that order), Gulyas received his BA in History from Hanover College in 1998 and promptly went to work for the state of Indiana assessing disability insurance claims. Wearing out his welcome in the civil service within a year or so, he shifted to the thrilling world of proofreading. Realizing he was only really good at history, he returned to school and was awarded an MA in United States History from Indiana University-Indianapolis in 2003. He then moved into teaching, eventually landing at Mott Community College, where he has taught since 2006.
Gulyas's first book, Extraterrestrials and the American Zeitgeist: Contact Tales since the 1950s was published in May 2013 by McFarland Books. His newest book is The Chaos Conundrum, a collection of essays on the paranormal, religion, spirituality, an the atemporal, published by Redstar Books. In Fandom's Shadow, a 50th anniversary retrospective of Doctor Who, Fandom, and its relationship to geography and time, was published in September, 2013 by Deserted Moon Press.
He contributed the introduction to Posthuman Blues: Dispatches From a World on the Cusp of Terminal Dissolution, a collection of writings by the late Mac Tonnies edited by Paul Kimball.
You can find more by Aaron at his website: www.ajgulyas.com or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aaronjohngulyas.
You can find Mike's work on his blog; hiddenexperience.blogspot.com. You can also read the long form essay he has on the owl phenomenon here.
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Aircraft - Rockwell B-1 Lancer
mandun
15 Likes | 6K Downloads | 11K Views
The B-1 Lancer is a strategic bomber used by the United States Air Force. First envisioned in the 1960s as a supersonic bomber with sufficient range and payload to replace the B-52 Stratofortress, it developed primarily into a low-level penetrator with long-range and capable of supersonic speed. Its development was stopped and restarted multiple times over its history, as the theory of strategic balance changed from flexible response to mutually assured destruction and back again. It eventually entered service more than 20 years after first being studied. The B-1B production version has been in service with the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1986. The Lancer serves as the supersonic component of the USAF's long-range bomber force, along with the subsonic B-52 and B-2 Spirit. The bomber is commonly called the "Bone" (originally from "B-One"). With the retirement of the EF-111 Raven in 1998 and the F-14 Tomcat in 2006, the B-1B is the U.S. military's only variable-sweep wing aircraft.
Transportation Aircraft
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(Infographic) The Beef Industry’s Major Contribution to the U.S. Economy
Here are key highlights from the 2017 Census of Agriculture for the beef industry.
As a final send-off for National Beef Month, we’re exploring recent shifts within the beef industry and taking a deeper look at the economic impact of beef production.
May is National Beef Month and a Time for Celebration
This May we celebrate the nation’s beef industry and the farmers and ranchers driving its success.
In honor of National Beef Month, we’re taking a look at the various sectors of the U.S. beef industry and diving into the factors that make cattle and beef production the largest single segment of American agriculture. For example, did you know more farms are classified as beef cattle operations (35 percent) than any other type of farm?
If you’re ready to learn more, read on—chances are you’re going to walk away with a greater understanding of the U.S. beef production system.
Texas Cattle in Chinese Beef Market
The finalizing of an agreement between the U.S. and China make U.S. and Texas cattle exports to China a reality.
Trade talks between the U.S. and China concerning U.S. beef exported to the Asian nation concluded in June with an agreement to allow U.S. exporters to resume beef shipments to China. And it has industry experts talking about Texas cattle making its way to Chinese dinner tables. As the largest U.S. producer of beef, Texas cattle producers stand to benefit a great deal from the renewal of U.S. beef exports to China. See details of the trade developments below.
Peach Season for the Florida Peach Industry and the Southeast: Just Peachy or the Pits
Discover how the Florida peach industry is faring with this season’s peach harvest.
If you’re in peach farming in the Southeast, your season is either going just peachy or it’s the pits. This year, it’s that late season cold snap that created a dividing line between the Florida peach season and the rest of the Southeast’s season. Explore below how the Florida peach industry is progressing compared to their neighboring states in the Southeast.Read More
Just Before Memorial Day – The Beef Industry and Hamburger Day
Take a big bite: beef industry statistics in celebration of National Hamburger Day.
May 28th is National Hamburger Day, and it’s apt that it’s the Sunday right before Memorial Day. While Memorial Day is set aside in observance of those who died while serving in the armed forces, it is also the unofficial start to summer. Many hold Memorial Day picnics during the weekend, and—thanks to the beef industry—hamburgers take center stage. Below, find beef industry statistics to regale your fellow picnic-goers with, plus a few of the top burgers on the grill recipes to kick the festivities up a notch.Read More
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Home > Journals > Affiliated Journals > MISQ > Vol. 29 > Iss. 1 (2005)
Management Information Systems Quarterly
Behavioral Intention Formation in Knowledge Sharing: Examining the Roles of Extrinsic Motivators, Social-Psychological Forces, and Organizational Climate
Gee-Woo Bock
Robert W. Zmud
Young-Gul Kim
Jae-Nam Lee
Bock, Gee-Woo; Zmud, Robert W.; Kim, Young-Gul; and Lee, Jae-Nam. 2005. "Behavioral Intention Formation in Knowledge Sharing: Examining the Roles of Extrinsic Motivators, Social-Psychological Forces, and Organizational Climate," MIS Quarterly, (29: 1).
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Are You An Introvert or an Extrovert?
23 Sep 2013 |
There is a display of religious pamphlets outside Liverpool Street station, which I pass on my stroll into work each morning. A recent pamphlet title: Pornography: Harmless or Toxic?.
The pamphlets are being peddled by Jehovah's Witnesses, a well-funded American-based group that attempts to practise Christianity as it was 2000 years ago. They are probably best known for refusing all blood transfusions, including those that might be life-saving, because "the Bible prohibits health treatments or procedures that include occult practices" (ref jw.org).
I, like most people who don't subscribe to the JW's very special brand of stupidity, am pro-pornography. So I think to myself "pornography is harmless". But I'm wrong, because I can immediately think of examples where pornography is harmful. And so I wonder if the JW's might be on to something. (Spoiler: they are not.)
I've been caught into a logical bind because I've tacitly accepted the premise of their question. They have cleverly phrased their title, drawing on a trick used by salesmen and interviewers everywhere: by offering up two competing categories, people are drawn towards one or the other.
And so it is with the title of this article: Are You An Introvert or an Extrovert? You, dear reader, almost definitely chose "introvert". You did that because I wanted you to. In reality, the label of "introvert" can be a harmful one, and it is probably a label you should reject. Let me explain why.
Labels are useful things because they help us understand ourselves, and help us explain ourselves to other people. On the downside, they do not always allow for nuance or change.
We furries like to label ourselves. We often do so in an online profile, perhaps in a Twitter bio or Fur Affinity userpage. I encourage you to take a look at your own labels before you continue.
Here's my profile, which I wrote, from the [a][s] About page:
JM is a horse-of-all-trades who was introduced to furry in his native Australia by the excellent group known collectively as the Perthfurs. JM now helps run [adjective][species] from London, where he is most commonly spotted holding a pint and talking nonsense.
I've labelled myself three times. I am a horse-of-all-trades, commonly spotted holding a pint, and commonly spotted ... talking nonsense.
I know that labels are important, and so I've refrained from being too direct. "A horse of all-trades" is pretty vague, and my other two labels are qualified with "commonly spotted"; they are things that I do, not things that I am.
Now let's look at Kyell Gold's [a][s] profile:
Kyell is a fox, a writer, and a California resident. He likes to write stories of varying lengths, often (but not always) dealing with gay relationships and foxes.
Kyell is much more direct. He has applied three strong labels to himself: fox, writer, and California resident. I suspect that these terms are internalized, which means that Kyell considers them to be part of his identity.
A "fox" is a good label, because Kyell is free to make and remake himself in that image. A few weeks ago, Makyo and Klisoura did some datamining and published the results here on [a][s], exploring the words that people use when describing their fursona. As you might expect, they vary considerably, although there are some trends. When foxes describe themselves, the most common terms include cunning, sly, and cute. And so we can guess that Kyell might use such terms to describe himself, but in the end he will have a unique relationship with his foxly self.
I'm not sure that "writer" is a good label for Kyell. It's certainly accurate, but this might change in the future. If Kyell were to, say, experience an extended bout of writer's block, he might find this label—this identity—to be problematic. How often does Kyell have to write for him to identify as a writer?
The same goes for "California resident". Again, it's mostly accurate, but what if circumstance sees Kyell spend an extended period of time out-of-state? This label may be a mere statement of fact rather than important to Kyell's identity, although I wonder if Kyell the Oregonian would feel quite right.
When a label becomes part of your identity, it can be limiting. Kyell, for example, might be inclined to turn down an otherwise positive relocation to Oregon, because it could force him to rethink his own identity. A bad label can be self-limiting, and it can provoke an identity crisis.
To use an example that isn't Kyell, consider a brand new furry who considers himself to be straight. Let's call him Straightfox. Straightfox finds furry to be an environment that doesn't have society's stigma on homosexuality, and he—like so many of us before—is interested. But Straightfox, because of his identity as heterosexual, has a problem. He can either:
1. Refuse to participate in any homosexual activity, or;
2. Rethink his identity.
Neither of these options are easy for Straightfox. Those many, many furries who re-evaluated their sexual preference after discovering furry (a group which includes me) know how difficult it can be. Straightfox, like all before him, would have been better off if he never considered his sexual orientation to be important to his identity.
There are similar problems if you identify as an "introvert". It's an attractive label, but it's self-limiting.
"Introvert" is an attractive label because it's in opposition to the unattractive label "extrovert". If asked to conjure a mental image of an extrovert, most people will think of someone acting like a Dallas Cowboy in the 1990s: hyper-social, overbearing, and lacking any sort of introspection or internal narrative.
Furries are especially prone to this because we tend to be analytical, with lively inner lives. Furries are thoughtful, creative, and often a touch depressive. It's easy to look at other people, especially other people in a social environment, and wonder if they have any personal doubts and fears. It's easy to conclude "I'm not an extrovert like all these people".
Extroversion, then is about actions, especially social actions. And introversion becomes a label about inner thoughts. We, each of us, know that social actions make us anxious and uncomfortable and scared. Everyone else, even a coked-up Dallas Cowboy in the 1990s, is also anxious and uncomfortable and scared. But we aren't privy to anyone inner world except our own.
(As an aside, I think that there is a clue to the furry condition here. We are a group of individuals who are prone to feeling alienated from society. This doesn't mean that we are necessarily rejected by the world, it means that we are made to feel as if we are different from those around us; as if we were a different species.)
Someone who identifies as an introvert is tacitly accepting the premise that they derive limited enjoyment from social activity. They may decide that the stress of socializing always overwhelms the positive aspects, or that they simply do not have the social knack. Both of these may be true, but such an identity doesn't allow for nuance or personal growth.
In reality, social skills improve with practice. Nobody enjoys small talk; nobody finds small talk natural. But we engage in it because it provides a non-aggressive entry to conversation, and we get better at it with time. Someone who thinks they are introverted might assume that they will always fail at small talk, and so they stop trying, and never learn the skill.
The marketing world has picked up the popularity of "introvert" as a label. It's now a sales pitch, along the lines of "if you are introverted then you must read these three tips on how to improve relationships with your workmates". It's the same marketing premise as diet books, except that it's aimed to the socially anxious rather than the body-conscious.
Here are a few examples, all books marketed towards people who label themselves as an introvert. Notice how the titles encourage you to identify as an introvert, by suggesting that "everyone else" is an extrovert:
Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life is Your Hidden Strength
The Introvert Advantage (How To Thrive In An Extrovert World)
Introvert's Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World
Quiet Influence: The Introvert's Guide to Making a Difference
Energized: An Introvert's Guide to Effective Communication
And the books marketed towards extroverts? There aren't any. Nobody identifies as an extrovert. Not even a Dallas Cowboy in the 1990s.
The supposed dichotomy between introversion and extroversion is false. They are not mutually exclusive; you do not need to "choose one". In my Jehovah's Witness example, pornography is not always harmful or always toxic; there are elements of both. Similarly w≠e are all introspective to some degree; we are all social beings to some degree.
Labels are important, but "introvert" is a bad one. You can be introspective without undermining your ability to socialize.
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