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__label__cc	0.735444	0.264556	Here's what's wrong with religion October 14th, 2011 at 10:01:33 AM permalink Quote: FrGamble God help us I've been trying to but you ignore me or deny it is valid. You have presented nothing yet, except arguments. - the physical world around us is evidence. Where did it come from? Why is it so beautiful? Why is it often so complex or intricate? It looks like there is order to it? Yes, it is also ugly at times and chaotic so one could use the physical world around us as evidence to try and disprove God, but for me the reality of the world around us is evidence that God exists. That's an arbitrary assertion on your part, mixed with value judgments about the world. Specifically you claim the world is beautiful. Well, parts of it are, others not so much. But that's a judgment every person makes, if they bother to, not an integral aspect of the world. You might as well claim there is a god because brussel sprouts are tasty. Anwyay, the world, and the universe, is indeed complex. how does that indicate in any reasonable way the existence of any god? No arguments, evidence. If you go with the argument that the universe is too complex to be the result of radnom chance, then kindly explain where your god came from. if he is complex enough to create a complex universse, he must have come from a yet more complex creator. And god's creator ought to have a still more complex creator. and so on, ad infinitum. - the testimony of billions, upon billion, upon billions of people. You seem to have a problem with this, but as I've tried to say before to you testimony is an important part of evidence. Curious that out of billions you cannot present one. Becasue if you mean reasons I've heard why epople believe in god, I've yet to find anything other than "because I feel it," "because I can't know everything," or simply "because!" These are the least irrational, you understand. I've heard a few that are much, much worse. But I hesitate to impose on your good will to the extent of quoting those. - there are many, many miracles that have occurred throughout history, many in our own day. That, too is an arbitrary asserion. And at the risk of drawing the wrath of your colelague, the Reverend DJ, I will say it is a particualrly ilogical one for you to make. Why? because you've gone on at length on how mcuh we don't know about the workings of nature. That's perfectly true: there's a lot we don't know. That being so, how can you classify any event, no matter how remarkable, as the work of a deity, rather than as a yet unexplained phenomenon? We could talk about history and also about where the desire for perfection in us comes from, but until you recognize that there is some evidence for a reasonable assent of the will to believe in God then I have no evidence from you that it is worth keeping up the conversation. Peace! I dare you to repeat that in a way that is understandable :) I'll wait. But I must warn you so far you're doing a close imitation of Sagan's "Venus" parable. odiousgambit Quote: Nareed I'll wait. I think by signing 'peace' that means he is done. But then again, you got him to come back once after saying that [g] I must warn you so far you're doing a close imitation of Sagan's "Venus" parable. Care to elaborate? the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder FrGamble Quote: progrocker 1. The world is obviously not perfect. Nor is man perfectly designed. We still get lower back problems later in life because our feet have not evolved to be large enough to support a bipedal lifestyle...yet. Beauty is cultural and I don't think I would know what beautiful was unless I was told my entire life (see Eye of the Beholder, the greatest Twilight Zone episode IMO). 2. Appeal to popularity, one of the many logical fallacies out there. You seem to think testimony is important but it really is not. Anecdotal evidence is no evidence at all. Many are made to feel the 'presence of God' via clever marketing, 3. Misinterpretation. Often highly improbable events are believed to be impossible, therefore are described as 'miracles'. I have yet to see evidence of anything happening that was literally impossible. The real problem with religion is that it is either a) wholly inaccurate or b) wholly inadequate in describing the fundamental nature of the Universe, We are incapable of understanding, so why even bother trying? Accept the world as your reality and live as best you can. Empty the head, fill the belly. 1. Yes the world nor we are not perfect how is that proof God does not exist? Is it possible that the brokenness of this world and even ourselves is meant to inspire in us a longing for something more than this world can ever give? Stop selling yourself short by the way, you know what beauty is without others telling you. If what they told you was beautiful went against your inner and instinctive notion of beauty you would reject it. By the way I cut out the little quip about logical fallacies because they are indeed well known as are the responses to them. 2. I am not appealing to popularity. That is indeed a logical fallacy. I am appealing to credible testimony. How much hubris must you have to dismiss thousands of years of people who have experienced God in a real and tangible way. Was Gandhi tricked by clever marketing?!? Come on, the real experience that I have of God and countless others cannot be attributed in any lasting way to the smell of incense or stained glass windows. Again I think you are selling yourself short and maybe not thinking about the possibility that a cathedral only taps into a dormant seed of something special that is inside all of us. 3. You have not seen any evidence about miracles, what about those who have? Again you may have never seen a volcano but you know that they exist. I was leading a group through a local shrine the other day and there were hundreds of stories about miraculous healing. One story was told of a little girl whose one leg was three inches shorter than the other. She came in with a school group to pray. The other kids ran off to the playground she stayed in Church and was lost in an experience of prayer. They almost left without her. When she walked back to the bus the limp was gone and both legs were the same length. There are pictures and testimonies from her parents and doctors but you wouldn't believe them for some reason. I believe them, but again I don't need these type of things to believe in God - they are indeed extraordinary. Religion is the only adequate way to describe the fundamental nature of the universe! It is Holy adequate while everything else is full of holes. Some use wormholes others all types of things including imaginary universes or my favorite argument - just give us time and we will figure it out. It is a waste of time to just sit around and wait for us to discover the fundamental nature of the universe on our own, but it is not a waste of time at all to discuss these things. They determine much about how we view life and how we live whether it is empty the mind, fill the belly or fill the mind, empty the belly or my favorite - fill your mind, body and soul! Quote: odiousgambit ICare to elaborate? Venus has a thick atmosphere overly rich in clouds. It is the closest planet to the Earth, but due to its thick and ever-present cloud cover its surface cannot be seen. Many astronomers assumed the clouds were water vapor clouds. Therefore venus ought to have a lot of rain. They also assumed Venus closely ressembles Earth. It does, actually, being near-twin in size and density (though its density was guesswork until recently, given the absence of a satellite). Well, then a planet like Earth with lots of rain ought to ahve large oceans, mighty rivers and, being warmer since it's closer to the Sun, it ought to have alrge areas of jungle-like areas. the combination of abundant water and higher temperatures on such a world would suggest lots of life, too. Come the XX Century and two developments: Radar and rocketry Radar waves were bounced of Venus. The planet is too far and at that distance radar is too crude for mapping, but we found out its period of rotation. Slow, very, very sloooooooooooow. It takes Venus a large part of a Venusian year to complete one rotation about itself. Cloud cover or not, the planet must be broiling and the side away from the sun must be ice cold. Come rocketry and we can actually send probes all the way to Venus. the first ones were of limited use, but they helped settle the composition of the atmosphere. This turns out to be mostly carbon dioxide, sulphuric acid and very little water vapor, only traces of water vapor. Latter ptobed landed there and others used shorter radar waves to gather a reasonably detailed map of Venus. Ou near twin has an atmosphere tens of times thicker than ours, made mostly of carbon dioxide and no water to speak of. It's a parched dessert, drier than dust, without as much as a creek. The thick atmosphere made of a greenhouse gas traps heat so well the side facing the sun and the side facing away from the Sun are at almost the same temperature. So Sagan says: "Observation: there is nothing to be seen on the surface of Venus. Conclussion: it must be teeming with life. Later we learned better" The moral of the story is: ignroance is just lack of knowledge, not a blanket permission to fill in the blanks with that which you find most pleasing. I will just try to make my crazy run-on sentence a little more intelligible, sorry about that. I said, "We could talk about history and also about where the desire for perfection in us comes from, but until you recognize that there is some evidence for a reasonable assent of the will to believe in God then I have no evidence from you that it is worth keeping up the conversation. Peace!" Dear Nareed, Like one of your earlier posts I could go on and on about evidence for God but I will not because you are unwilling to grasp that there is reasonable evidence for God. I also will not go on because even though I do readily admit there is evidence that could be used to disprove God you have hardly quoted any. Go back and read your posts with the same critical eye with which you looked at mine and see how many of your, 'what is wrong with religion' points are conjecture, stereotypes, misunderstandings, and strong personal feelings. Let me leave you with a quote that I think sums up our little conversation, "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible." -- Author Unknown October 14th, 2011 at 12:10:44 PM permalink 1. Yes the world nor we are not perfect how is that proof God does not exist? It isn't. It also isn't evidence that god exists. It's evidence that the world is as it is. 2. I am not appealing to popularity. That is indeed a logical fallacy. I am appealing to credible testimony. How much hubris must you have to dismiss thousands of years of people who have experienced God in a real and tangible way. Whether one person or nine trillion of them, feelings are only evidence of the state of mind of oen person and perhaps of that of people similar to them. Not of the existence of something outside themselves. And I'm still awaiting a single such testimony. When she walked back to the bus the limp was gone and both legs were the same length. There are pictures and testimonies from her parents and doctors but you wouldn't believe them for some reason. I don't believe you. I don't suggest you're lying; indeed I believe you're sincere in this claim. But the claim is too extraordinary to believe without proof. You know, on faith? I would be willing to see the pictures, read interviews with the parents, the girl and any witnesses, and submit the whole thing to any interested physicians. I hope you'll be willing to understand that some instances of differences in limb length are actually due to spinal cord issues, or abnormalities in the pelvis. Lastly, assuming this was a supernatural occurrence, what is your evidence to claim it was a specific deity who did it? BTW, just so you won't get your hopes up, even if we could authenticate the claim and the "healing," we'd only just be at the beginning. Next we'd need to investigate what happened. Then we'd need to look at possible mechanism as to how it happened, and whehter there's a reason it happened at the time it did. I also think it's fair to tell you I do not expect to ever se any photos or transcripts of any interviews. Somehow such things are never available. Religion is the only adequate way to describe the fundamental nature of the universe! I've never heard a single explanation of the nature of the universe originating in religion, let alone a fundamental one. "God did it" is not an explanation. "God did it for reasons you cannot comprehend" is less than that. Dear Nareed, I do thank you for taking the time to explain. Like one of your earlier posts I could go on and on about evidence for God but I will not because you are unwilling to grasp that there is reasonable evidence for God. I will dispense with the reference to Reagan. I dont' fail to grasp it. You have failed to offer any evidence at all. I've explained why, you've kept repeating the same arguments. I also will not go on because even though I do readily admit there is evidence that could be used to disprove God you have hardly quoted any. I've quoted none. I don't intend to present any, either. I don't need to. The burden of proof doesn't rest on me, it rests on those making a claim; ie it rests on you in this case. Go back and read your posts with the same critical eye with which you looked at mine and see how many of your, 'what is wrong with religion' points are conjecture, stereotypes, misunderstandings, and strong personal feelings. None. They're all based on observation and experience. It's odd you should bring this up, too, because one of the first things you did in this debate was to push faith on me. I should say I'm flattered by the attention, but it's like receiving a comp to an all-expenses paid night at the most expensive nightclub in Vegas: it offers nothing of any use to me. Let me leave you with a quote that I think sums up our little conversation, "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible." -- Author Unknown I'd be ashamed, too, had I come off with such an intelelctually weak statement. I've used it to mock the Dalals Cowboys. You know, "Q: why do you dislike the Cowboys? A: If you're a football fan, no explanation is necessary. If you're not a fan, no explanation is possible." It works as a joke because it's already absurd but sounds profound. MathExtremist A long time ago, before monotheism, gods or supernatural beings were used to explain that which humanity could not. All of the pre-Abrahamic religions, including the Greek/Roman pantheon, the Egyptian pantheon, the Hindu pantheon, the Native American pantheon (and I mean both north and south -- they were different), the Chinese pantheon, all of these were developed by people to explain what early humans observed but could not understand. Something as simple as "the Earth is round" was totally unknown to early man, so he invented sun-gods carrying a flaming ball of light across the sky, disappearing into the underworld every night. The concept of "underworld" is a throwback to when humanity thought the Earth was flat and therefore there must be something under it. So you had Apollo, Ra, Surya, Tonatiuh, etc. But then we learned that the Earth was round. And after that, we learned that the Sun wasn't revolving around it but vice versa. And now nobody reveres Apollo or Ra anymore because we understand that the Sun isn't a plaything of the gods but a ball of hot gasses undergoing constant nuclear fusion. "In my own case, when it seemed to me after a long illness that death was close at hand, I found no little solace in playing constantly at dice." -- Girolamo Cardano, 1563 EvenBob The famous myth author and religion expert, Joseph Campbell, tells of a priest who said to him: "Mr Campbell, if we could prove there was a god, we would have no need for faith." To which Mr Campbell Replied: "Father, if you could prove there was a god, we would have no need for religion." "It's not enough to succeed, your friends must fail." Gore Vidal Thinking back on it, I did make one error. I said Jewish prayers are all flattery or requests and directionto or of god. That's not entirely right. In my haste I forgot there's also as large subset of thanking god for this and that and the other thing. Be these things that exist or actions that god commands of his followers. In my defense I'll say that these expressions of gratitude are mixed in with flattery. For example "Blessed art thou God, our God and King of the world, that thou has commanded us to/given us/made me/not made me/etc" It's still sickening. and I won't even get into the content of some of those baruchot, or of how transliterating Hebrew is different in English than in Spanish. I regret the ommission.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1172
__label__cc	0.742183	0.257817	LESSONS FOR LIFE JOHN GARIPPA ©2016 Garippa Foundation To much of the business world, John Garippa is known as an attorney specializing in property tax litigation for Fortune 500 Companies. John is the senior and founding partner with the law firm of Garippa, Lotz & Giannuario with offices in New York, Philadelphia, and Montclair, NJ. He has authored and published more than ninety articles in the field of taxation, and is a contributing author on two treatises on valuation published by the International Association of Assessing Offices. Mr. Garippa has received the Literary Achievement Award from the Institute of Property Taxation, and has been quoted as an expert by the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. He has also been the president of the American Property Tax Counsel for twelve years, the national affiliation of property tax law firms throughout North America. John holds the highest legal designation awarded by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and is listed in the Registry of Preeminent Lawyers in the United States. This designation is awarded to less than 8% of attorneys nationwide. However, John would say that the most important part of his resume is that God has called him to be a Bible teacher in Naples, Florida. Every Monday he runs the Naples Men’s Bible Study at the Naples Conference Center with over 200 men attending from many different churches. Every Sunday he leads a non-denominational church The Naples Gathering. He is broadcast twice on Saturday and twice on Sunday on Kingdom FM radio, Fort Myers Florida.As of March, 2016, John will be broadcast on the CSN radio network on more than 350 radio stations throughout the United States.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1184
__label__wiki	0.622911	0.622911	Nasopharyngeal Cancer and the Southeast Asian Patient CHENG HER, M.D., University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin Am Fam Physician. 2001 May 1;63(9):1776-1783. Patient information: See related handout on nasopharyngeal cancer, written by the author of this article. Illustrative Case Etiology and Pathogenesis Tumor Assessment and Staging Because of a documented increased incidence, nasopharyngeal cancer should be considered when signs or symptoms of ear, nose and throat disease are present in patients from southern China (in particular, Hong Kong and the province of Guangdong) or Southeast Asia. Environmental factors, the Epstein-Barr virus and genetic factors have been associated with the development of nasopharyngeal cancer. Patients with this malignancy most often present with a cervical mass from metastatic spread to a lymph node. Other possible presentations include ipsilateral serous otitis, hearing loss, nasal obstruction, frank epistaxis, purulent or bloody rhinorrhea, and facial neuropathy or facial nerve palsies. Radiotherapy is often curative. The addition of chemotherapy has produced high response rates in local and regionally advanced disease. Although nasopharyngeal cancer is rare in the general U.S. population, it is significantly more likely to occur in refugees from Southeast Asia who have come to the United States in the past 25 years. Once diagnosed, the malignancy has great potential for cure. This article provides a brief overview of nasopharyngeal cancer, with emphasis on its occurrence in patients from Southeast Asia. A 47-year-old Hmong man presented to his family physician with bloody rhinorrhea, epistaxis, right-sided hearing loss and headache of two weeks' duration. (The Hmong, also known as the Miao or Meo, are mountain-dwelling peoples of China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.) The patient's medical history was remarkable for colon cancer at 36 years of age, which evidently responded to Hmong therapies (nonsurgical). There was no family history of cancer. The patient had never smoked; he used alcohol rarely and did not use illicit drugs. The patient's family had fled from Laos to the United States in the mid-1970s. The review of systems was remarkable only for fatigue in the previous few weeks. The physical examination revealed right middle ear effusion, right hemifacial and periauricular hyperesthesia, and a trace of mucoid, bloody discharge in the nares. Neither cervical nor clavicular adenopathy was present. Subsequent endoscopic biopsy of the right nasopharynx demonstrated mixed keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma and nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a right nasopharyngeal mass with erosion into the sphenoid sinus. Nasopharyngeal cancer was diagnosed and determined to be stage III (T3 N0: tumor invasion into the bony structures and/or paranasal sinuses; no regional lymph node metastasis). The patient underwent concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy; he experienced postirradiation headache and facial neuropathy. One year later, follow-up MRI studies showed nearly complete tumor regression. Nasopharyngeal cancer accounts for fewer than 1 percent of malignancies in North America, western Europe and Japan, with incidence rates of one to one and one-half cases per 100,000 population per year.1 This malignancy has an intermediate incidence of five to nine cases per 100,000 population per year in inhabitants of northern China, the Mediterranean basin (southern Italy, Greece and Turkey), North Africa and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore), and in persons of southern Chinese heritage who were born in the West (Australia, Hawaii and California). Among the Inuit in Alaska and Greenland, the incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer is increased to 15 to 20 cases per 100,000 population per year.1,2 In southern China, particularly Hong Kong and Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton, and the capital of the province of Guangdong), nasopharyngeal cancer has a much higher incidence, with documented rates of 10 to 150 cases per 100,000 population per year (Table 1).1,2 Indeed, this malignancy is often referred to as “Cantonese cancer” or ”Kwangtung tumor.”1 (Kwangtung is the old name for Guangdong, the province in which Guangzhou is located.) Average Incidence of Nasopharyngeal Cancer by Geographic Area Average number (range) of cases per 100,000 population per year Average percentage of total cases per year Southern China (particularly Hong Kong and Guangzhou [formerly Canton])* 80 (10 to 150) Alaska and Greenland 18 (15 to 20) Northern China 7 (5 to 9) Mediterranean basin (southern Italy, Greece and Turkey) Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) North America, western Europe and Japan 1 (1 to 1.5) *—For persons of southern Chinese heritage who were born in the West, the average incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer is seven cases per 100,000 population per year; these persons account for 5 percent of nasopharyngeal cancers annually. Information from Collins SL. Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx. In: Ballenger JJ, Snow JB Jr., eds. Otorhinolaryngology: head and neck surgery. 15th ed. Media, Pa.: Williams & Wilkins, 1996:249–368, and Vasef MA, Ferlito A, Weiss LM. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, with emphasis on its relationship to Epstein-Barr virus. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1997;106:348–56. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS The consumption of salted fish and other salt-preserved foods, including eggs, leafy vegetables and roots, in early childhood has been documented as a substantial risk factor for the development of nasopharyngeal cancer in Malaysian Chinese.3 Similarly, salted-fish consumption in early childhood has been correlated with an unusually high incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer in the boat communities of Hong Kong's harbors.1 N-nitro-sodimethylamine in salted fish, perhaps in combination with vitamin deficiency, has been considered a likely carcinogen.1,3 Occupational hazards, including exposures to formaldehyde, dust and smoke particulates, and certain aromatic hydrocarbons, have been investigated as risk factors for nasopharyngeal cancer.4–6 Tobacco and alcohol have also been examined as possible risk factors for this malignancy.3,4 Epstein-Barr virus, a herpesvirus, is the causative agent in acute infectious mononucleosis and is also associated with Hodgkin's disease, Burkitt's lymphoma, lymphoproliferative disease in the post-transplant setting, and T-cell lymphoma.1,2 Epstein-Barr virus initiates an early active (or lytic) infection; the virus then persists in a latent state until it is reactivated under certain conditions of immunosuppression or illness. The link between nasopharyngeal cancer and Epstein-Barr virus was first observed in 1966, when the sera of patients with the malignancy were found to manifest precipitating antibodies against cells infected with the virus.7 Subsequent studies have described elevated levels of IgG and IgA antibodies directed against particular components of Epstein-Barr virus in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer.1,2 GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY Genetic susceptibility has also been proposed as a risk factor for the development of nasopharyngeal cancer. Haplotypes that have been associated with the malignancy include certain human leukocyte antigens (HLA), including HLA-A2, HLA-B46 and HLA-B58.8 HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION A thorough history and a complete physical examination are essential in patients with ear, nose and throat complaints, especially patients from populations with an increased incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer. Most often, patients with nasopharyngeal cancer present with a cervical mass from metastatic spread to a lymph node. Another common presenting sign is unilateral serous otitis as a result of eustachian tube occlusion by the primary tumor.2 In some instances, digital examination in patients who have received a general anesthetic may localize a nodular lesion in the region of the eustachian tube orifice. Such tumors are often difficult to discern, however, as they can be small. The presentation may also include nasal obstruction, frank epistaxis or purulent, bloody rhinorrhea, hearing loss (which may be temporarily relieved with autoinsufflation), tinnitus or headache. Patients with nasopharyngeal cancer may report facial hyperesthesia, paresthesia or dysesthesia, sometimes in the distribution of the second and third divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Cranial nerve infiltration with resultant palsy may also be present.2,9 The differential diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer includes other nasopharyngeal or sinusal masses (e.g., lymphoma, including Hodgkin's disease and lethal midline reticulosis), Wegener's granulomatosis and mucocele. Further definition of the lesion or direct visualization of a nonpalpable but suspected lesion is possible with indirect nasopharyngoscopy or fiberoptic flexible or rigid endoscopy. Moreover, endoscopy allows a biopsy to be performed.9 Endoscopy is felt to be essential to the work-up for nasopharyngeal cancer. LABORATORY STUDIES Although serologic testing for Epstein-Barr virus is not a diagnostic tool for nasopharyngeal cancer, it may be beneficial in some patients. Fine-needle aspiration and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to identify Epstein-Barr virus genomes may be useful in patients who have cervical adenopathy but no discernible primary lesion.10–12 TUMOR IMAGING MRI is the modality of choice for the imaging of nasopharyngeal cancer9,13 (Figure 1). Chest radiography, hepatic ultrasonography and bone scanning may aid in the assessment of metastatic disease and, ultimately, the staging and treatment of this malignancy.14 View/Print Figure Sagittal magnetic resonance image in a patient with newly diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx. Arrows denote the primary tumor and a lateral retropharyngeal node metastasis. The patient was treated with high-dose radiation therapy and has been free of disease for two years. TUMOR EXTENSION Structures adjacent to the nasopharynx, such as nerves and vessels, facilitate the infiltration of nasopharyngeal cancer through foramina and fissures, from extracranial to intracranial spaces. Another mechanism of disease extension is direct invasion into the bone.1,9 Consequently, recognition of advanced disease is based on the degree of derangement of nasopharyngeal anatomy by the tumor mass, as well as the extent of tumor infiltration into surrounding tissue (Table 2).15 Clinicopathologic Correlations in Nasopharyngeal Tumor Extension The rightsholder did not grant rights to reproduce this item in electronic media. For the missing item, see the original print version of this publication. The presence of bulky cervical adenopathy is predictive of distant metastasis. Lungs, followed by bone, are the most common sites for metastasis.14,16–18 The American Joint Committee on Cancer and the International Union Against Cancer have developed staging systems for primary lesions based on the region of the nasopharynx that is involved.1,9,19 One investigator20 developed another system for staging cervical metastases; this system has been adopted primarily in Hong Kong. Nasopharyngeal cancer has traditionally been treated with full-course radiotherapy. After appropriate radiotherapy, only about 10 to 20 percent of patient deaths are caused by local treatment failure.1 Treatment results are more favorable in early stage disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy are effective in the treatment of local and regionally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer.14,16 In one study21 of concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for patients with early stage (stage I and stage II) nasopharyngeal cancer, consistently high survival rates were documented. In this study, patients with stage I disease were treated with radiotherapy alone while patients with stage II disease received concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Three-year disease-free survival rates were 91.7 percent for those with stage I disease and 96.9 percent for those with stage II disease. Late-stage nasopharyngeal cancer (stage III and stage IV) demonstrated a three-year overall survival rate of 93 percent in another study22 of concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this study, all patients received concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Similarly, neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy in local and regionally advanced disease has resulted in consistently high response rates.23,24 Nevertheless, distant metastases continue to impede improvement of survival rates for patients with nasopharyngeal cancer. Since the mid-1970s, hundreds of thousands of refugees from Southeast Asia have been granted admittance to the United States as a direct result of their alliance with this country during the Vietnam War. These refugees constitute numerous groups, including, but not limited to, Vietnamese, Laotians and Cambodians, as well as a host of ethnic subgroups such as the Hmong. Subsequent studies undertaken in the United States have developed data on the incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer in persons of Chinese origin and persons of Southeast Asian (non-Chinese) heritage.25–27 These data seem to correlate with results from previous studies. However, specific Southeast Asian ethnic subgroups (the Hmong, Karen and Akha, to name only three) are not well defined in the studies. One possible explanation for this lack of data is that many Southeast Asian ethnic groups are reluctant to seek Western health care. Obviously, diseases are not reportable if patients do not volunteer complaints or do not allow themselves to be identified as ill. For the Hmong in particular, gruesome myths of torture and cannibalism at the hands of “American” physicians perpetuate a mentality of mistrust founded on misinformation and suspicion. In addition, cancer registries and surveillance systems to date have been unable to further stratify “Asian/Pacific Islander” adequately. This could result in underreporting and, thus, underrepresentation of Southeast Asian ethnic subgroups that may be vulnerable to nasopharyngeal cancer. Although many Southeast Asian ethnic groups claim genetic distinction from the Chinese and consequently may have less genetic susceptibility to nasopharyngeal cancer, the distinct possibility remains that environmental and virologic exposure among these ethnic groups mirror those of their southern Chinese neighbors. The relative proximity of Southeast Asia to southern China may have afforded similar exposures. Commercial and cultural interchanges (including intermarriage) within this shared geography may have resulted in exposure to similar insults (carcinogens and viruses). It is important for family physicians to be aware of the possibility of nasopharyngeal cancer in Asians of Chinese heritage. Furthermore, although many Southeast Asian ethnic groups claim no genetic commonality with the Chinese, it is advisable to consider these groups to be at risk of nasopharyngeal cancer. CHENG HER, M.D., is a research fellow in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, where he also completed a family medicine residency. Dr. Her received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School-Minneapolis.... Address correspondence to Cheng Her, M.D., Department of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, 777 S. Mills St., Madison, WI 53715-1896 (e-mail:cher@fammed.wisc.edu). Reprints are not available from the author. The author thanks Michael McDonald, M.D., clinical associate professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, for his review of the manuscript, and William E. Scheckler, M.D., professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, for his support of the research. The author also thanks Stacy Her, M.D., for reviewing preliminary drafts of the manuscript. Figure 1 was provided by Paul M. Harari, M.D., associate professor of human oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 1. Collins SL, Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx. In: Ballenger JJ, Snow JB Jr., eds. Otorhinolaryngology: head and neck surgery. 15th ed. Media, Pa.: Williams & Wilkins, 1996:249–368.... 2. Vasef MA, Ferlito A, Weiss LM. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, with emphasis on its relationship to Epstein-Barr virus. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1997;106:348–56. 3. Armstrong RW, Imrey PB, Lye MS, Armstrong MJ, Yu MC, Sani S. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Malaysian Chinese: salted fish and other dietary exposures. Int J Cancer. 1998;77:228–35. 4. Farrow DC, Vaughan TL, Berwick M, Lynch CF, Swanson GM, Lyon JL. Diet and nasopharyngeal cancer in a low-risk population. Int J Cancer. 1998;78:675–9. 5. Vaughan TL, Stewart PA, Teschke K, Lynch CF, Swanson GM, Lyon JL, et al. Occupational exposure to formaldehyde and wood dust and nasopharyngeal cancer. Occup Environ Med. 2000;57:376–84. 6. Mirabelli MC, Hoppin JA, Tolbert PE, Herrick RF, Gnepp DR, Brann EA. Occupational exposure to chlorophenol and the risk of nasal and nasopharyngeal cancers among U.S. men aged 30 to 60. Am J Ind Med. 2000;37:532–41. 7. Old LJ, Boyse EA, Oettgen HF, dé-Harven E, Geering G, Williamson B, et al. Precipitating antibody in human serum to an antigen present in cultured Burkitt's lymphoma cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1966;56:1699–704. 8. Ren EC, Chan SH. Human leukocyte antigens and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Clin Sci [Colch]. 1996;91:256–8. 9. Altun M, Fandi A, Dupuis O, Cvitkovic E, Krajina Z, Eschwege F. Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal cancer (UCNT): current diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1995;32:859–77. 10. Feinmesser R, Miyazaki I, Cheung R, Freeman JL, Noyek AM, Dosch HM. Diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by DNA amplification of tissue obtained by fine-needle aspiration. N Engl J Med. 1992;326:17–21. 11. Smith SS, Fowler LJ, Hausenfluke L, Cho CG, Eagan PA, Gulley ML. Diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma using fine-needle aspiration biopsy and molecular diagnostics. Diagn Cytopathol. 1995;13:155–9. 12. Shotelersuk K, Khorprasert C, Sakdikul S, Pornthanakasem W, Voravud N, Mutirangura A. Epstein-Barr virus DNA in serum/plasma as a tumor marker for nasopharyngeal cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2000;6:1046–51. 13. Ng SH, Wan YL, Ko SF, Chang JT. MRI of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with emphasis on relationship to radiotherapy. J Magn Reson Imaging. 1998;8:327–36. 14. Geara FB, Sanguineti G, Tucker SL, Garden AS, Ang KK, Morrison WH, et al. Carcinoma of the nasopharynx treated by radiotherapy alone: determinants of distant metastasis and survival. Radiother Oncol. 1997;43:53–61. 15. Ortiz McWilliams JA. History and physical examination. In: Myers EM, ed. Head and neck oncology: diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. Boston: Little, Brown, 1991:19–42. 16. Cheng SH, Jian JJ, Tsai SY, Chan KY, Yen LK, Chu NM, et al. Prognostic features and treatment outcome in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma following concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1998;41:755–62. 17. Geara FB, Glisson BS, Sanguineti G, Tucker SL, Garden AS, Ang KK, et al. Induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone in patients with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer: results of a matched cohort study. Cancer. 1997;79:1279–86. 18. Sanguineti G, Geara FB, Garden AS, Tucker SL, Ang KK, Morrison WH, et al. Carcinoma of the nasopharynx treated by radiotherapy alone: determinants of local and regional control. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1997;37:985–96. 19. Cooper JS, Cohen R, Stevens RE. A comparison of staging systems for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer. 1998;83:213–9. 20. Ho JH. An epidemiologic and clinical study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1978;4(3–4):182–98. 21. Cheng SH, Tsai SY, Yen KL, Jian JJ, Chu NM, Chan KY, et al. Concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy for early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2000;18:2040–5. 22. Cooper JS, Lee H, Torrey M, Hochster H. Improved outcome secondary to concurrent chemoradiotherapy for advanced carcinoma of the nasopharynx: preliminary corroboration of the intergroup experience. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2000;47:861–6. 23. Chan AT, Teo PM, Johnson PJ. Controversies in the management of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Curr Opin Oncol. 1998;10:219–25. 24. Chan AT, Teo PM, Leung TW, Johnson PJ. The role of chemotherapy in the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer. 1998;82:1003–12. 25. Marks JE, Phillips JL, Menck HR. The National Cancer Data Base report on the relationship of race and national origin to the histology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer. 1998;83:582–8. 26. Miller BA, Kolonel LN, et al, eds. Racial/ethnic patterns of cancer in the United States, 1988–1992. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Health, 1996; NIH publication no. 96–4104. 27. Sutton JB, Green JP, Meyer JL, Louie D, Heltzel M, Karp AH. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A study examining Asian patients treated in the United States. Am J Clin Oncol. 1995;18:337–42. Members of various family practice departments develop articles for “Problem-Oriented Diagnosis.” This article is one in a series coordinated by the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison. Guest editor of the series is William E. Scheckler, M.D. ENT, Nose Continue reading from May 1, 2001 Previous: Evaluation and Treatment of Galactorrhea Next: Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension Home / Journals / afp / Vol. 63/No. 9(May 1, 2001) / Nasopharyngeal Cancer and the Southeast Asian Patient	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1185
__label__wiki	0.799776	0.799776	Ideology must not trump kids’ rights in adoption For release: 23 March 2015 The Australian Christian lobby today appealed to the Victorian Government to reconsider its position on changing the Adoption Act to allow same-sex couples to adopt children. ACL yesterday lodged a submission with the Department of Premier and Cabinet which is reviewing the Act. ACL Victorian Director Dan Flynn said opening up adoption to same-sex couples was not in the best interests of the child. “No one denies that two men can love a baby but every child has the right, wherever possible, to be raised by their mother and father. “If children cannot be returned to their parents, the state on behalf of the community has a duty to restore them to, as near as possible, the mother and father environment they have tragically lost.” Mr Flynn said. “The social order of raising children within opposite sex parenting has been faithfully practiced by diverse cultures for millennia,” he said. “This government should not be enacting legislation that ignores the overwhelming body of research that shows both a mother and father are important to optimising a child’s development1.” If, contrary to the best interests of children, the Victorian government proceeds to legislate for same-sex adoption, the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 should be amended. This should allow parents of children who are being adopted and faith-based adoption agencies to prescribe that a particular child be adopted by a mother and father. Mr Flynn said it was important that ideology was not allowed to trump policy in the best interests of the child. 1 Professor Patrick Parkinson (July 2011), For Kids’ Sake: Repairing the Social Environment for Australian Children and Young People, The University of Sydney, p 48. Morrison Under Fire Scott Morrison is finding himself in the same position as Tony Abbott. Big sections of the media want him gone,... Charity endures the flames of disaster The Australian Christian Lobby has commended volunteers and charitable Australians assisting those impacted by current heatwaves and bushfires. Pump the brakes on gender-transitioning kids The Australian Christian Lobby has urged Australian MPs to pump the brakes on public hospitals conducting irreversible gender treatments on...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1187
__label__wiki	0.966831	0.966831	HomeNewsArticle Display Scott AFB celebrates century of service By Karen Petitt , 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs / Published January 11, 2017 SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- This year the Air Force celebrates its 70th birthday and the fourth oldest “continuously active duty flying field” in its inventory will celebrate its 100th. Located in the heartland of America, Scott Air Force Base marked the historic milestone with a kickoff celebration Jan. 7 that helped launch a yearlong effort to honor its heritage, thank its mission and community partners and posture the installation for the next 100 years. Air Force senior leaders have sent congratulatory messages which include Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein who reminded Scott Airmen that they “serve in the contrails of airpower’s elites … aviation pioneers … and airlift giants” and that in the past 10 decades there has been no bridge too far for Scott’s transportation and logistics hub. “The rich legacy of all of our military services as well as the tremendous community support we’ve enjoyed throughout the years is what makes us strong today, and is what will keep us even stronger as we begin the next century of service,” said Col. Laura Lenderman, the 375th Air Mobility Wing and installation commander. “We’re proud of our heritage and honor the men and women who sacrificed, broke barriers, innovated and championed airpower—some at great cost to themselves. We are the benefactors of a collective 100 years of service in a variety of ways—whether it was from military service, or business partners, or in the way of family support. Together we’ve lifted each other and our Air Force to new heights, and this year we plan to recognize and celebrate those achievements as we look forward to building on this foundation of excellence.” The start of Scott’s 100-years of service began during World War I during which community and business leaders wanted a flying field in the Midwest. They foresaw the location in the Midwest as an integral part for the nation’s defense. Scott Field began as a mere 624 acres, and after 10 decades of growth, it has increased to 3,589 acres that support the nation’s premier transportations cyber hub that hosts 31 mission partners from all branches of the service and the Defense Department. After inspecting several sites, the U.S. War Department agreed to the lease on June 14, 1917. Congress appropriated $10 million for its construction, and 2,000 laborers and carpenters were immediately put to work. The government gave the Unit Construction Company 60 days to erect approximately 60 buildings, lay a mile-long railroad spur, and level off an airfield with a 1,600-foot landing circle. Construction was underway when the government announced it would name the new field after Cpl. Frank Scott, the first enlisted service member killed in an aviation crash. Flying operations Construction was completed in August, and the first flight from Scott Field occurred Sept. 2, 1917. Because of the dangers of flying at the time, Scott officers made two air ambulances by modifying Jenny aircraft to carry patients, and on Aug. 24, 1918, Scott’s air ambulance transported its first patient after an aviator broke his leg. Scott Field’s future became uncertain after the end of WWI as many airfields were closed down, but good news came early in 1919 when the War Department announced it would purchase Scott Field. A new mission came in 1921, when Scott Field was selected to become a lighter-than-air station. Many new facilities were built to accommodate its new balloon and airship mission—the most notable being the airship hangar, which was the second largest in the world at that time. Its checkered roof and massive size would have been the most noticeable object among the flat patches of farmland. Even two years after Scott Field had transitioned away from lighter-than-air operations, the airship hangar still stood in 1939 for all to see. That same year, the chief of the Army Air Corps decided to stop all lighter-than-air activities, paving the way for new missions. Scott was chosen to become the new home of General Headquarters Air Force, and with that came construction that more than doubled the size of Scott Field, adding nearly 100 colonial-style buildings which still stand today. The onset of WWII prevented Scott Field from becoming the Air Force headquarters. Instead, Scott became a communications training hub for the Army Air Forces. During the war, Scott’s Radio School produced graduates that were known for being the "eyes and ears of the Army." In total, the Radio Communications School at Scott graduated 150,000 students. After the Air Force became a separate service on Sept. 18, 1947, the mission began shifting from technical training to air transport and aeromedical evacuation. By 1959, the last remaining classes at Scott Field signaled the end of the Communications School, but not the end of the communications and cyberspace mission sets, as those missions continue today. Today, five separate communications units call Scott home, including the Air Force Space Command’s Cyberspace Support Squadron, 688th Cyberspace Operations Group and 375th AWM Communications Group. By 1957, Military Airlift Transport Service, the predecessor to Air Mobility Command, took up permanent residence at Scott and oversaw all aspects of global mobility in the aeromedical evacuation, aerial refueling, cargo and senior leader transport missions. By 1964, Scott Field became responsible for all aeromedical transportation within the U.S., and by 1975, the base was responsible for worldwide patient movement via the Patient Airlift Center. The PAC had earlier coordinated 61 aeromedical missions to bring 357 former prisoners of war back to the U.S. During this time, the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing activated, and soon added a fleet of C-9A Nightingales as the backbone for the worldwide aeromedical evacuation system. Today the 375th AMW is home to one of four active-duty aeromedical evacuation squadrons in the Air Force, and is also responsible for training all Air Force aeromedical evacuation crews at its geographically separated unit—the Detachment 4, 375th Operations Group—located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Det. 4 standardizes qualification training for all Reserve, Guard, and active-duty flight nurses and aeromedical evacuation technicians. Because of advances in both medical techniques and the Air Force’s quick response capabilities, wounded service members have “an incredible 98 percent survival rate” if they reach the aircraft with a heartbeat, with an average return time of a patient to the U.S. under 72 hours. This is a dramatic increase from the Dessert Storm survivability rate, which was 75 percent—taking an average of 10 days to return. In Vietnam, the survivability rate was 75 percent, taking an average of 45 days. Operational support airlift In 1978, the 375th AMW gained another mission -- operational support airlift. Scott had received its first T-39A Sabreliner in 1962 and had since been managing a dispersed continental fleet of 104 Sabreliners flying a combined 92,000 hours per year. Even though the T-39As were phased out in 1984, the operational support airlift mission continued with the arrival of C-21A Learjets. The 375th AMW continues flying this mission today, as well as hosting the only formal training unit for C-21 pilots. As the 375th AMW reorganized during the 90s, it transitioned to an airlift wing and then in 2009 became an air mobility wing in conjunction with a new “active associate” partnership with the Illinois Air National Guard’s KC-135 refueling mission. The wing also enjoys a Total Force Association partnership with the Air Force Reserve’s 932nd Airlift Wing in flying the C-40 aircraft for senior leader airlift missions for the DOD. Scott AFB serves as one of six locations in AMC and one of 10 throughout the Air Force where TFA efforts currently exist. Since the very beginning, the surrounding communities have played an important role in the success of Scott AFB, and community relations remain strong 100 years later. Scott AFB is the largest employer in southern Illinois and the fourth largest employer in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Every year, the base injects over $3.5 billion into the local economy and positively impacts over 13 counties in the surrounding areas. Today, Scott AFB remains deeply connected to the surrounding communities and works hand in hand with local government and civilian organizations on a daily basis. From security forces and firefighters responding to crises outside the gates when requested during times of mutual aid to medical residents saving lives in the local hospitals, to servicemen and women volunteering across the region, Scott personnel are passionate about making a positive difference and continuing to grow community partnerships. The men and women serving at Scott are grateful to the surrounding communities, for they could not successfully accomplish the past century-worth of missions without their tremendous support. history Scott AFB birthday AMC Centennial 100 @@usairforce-22 Jan RT @AFResearchLab: Our 711th Human Performance Wing is studying Airmen's sleeping habits to improve performance and readiness to further th… .@NellisAFB Airmen help prep an @AusAirForce C-17 Globemaster III to receive fire suppressant needed to aid in the… https://t.co/fRiXN5lNh0 RT @USSOCOM: SOF Truth III: Special Operations Forces cannot be mass produced. It takes years to train operational units to the level of pr… Comptrollers from @TeamTyndall received the Gen. Larry O. Spencer Special Acts and Services Award for assisting mor… https://t.co/TIclfKmU2B RT @F22DemoTeam: Everyone has a history. Some have a legacy. We are excited to introduce Maj. Joshua ‘Cabo’ Gunderson, commander and pilot… A KC-135 and three F-16s from @EdwardsAFB conduct a flyover above @levisstadium during the #NFCChampionship. Fly… https://t.co/0K7GcYO1Ia RT @AirNatlGuard: "We can always count on the training, professionalism and drive of every Airmen at the @176thWing and the Alaska Rescue C… RT @LukeAFB: Starting the week off with a F-16 slow-mo! ✈ #slowmomonday #aviation #jets #f16 #fighterjet #usaf #sunrise https://t.co/toXXl… RT @AETCommand: Airmen from the 29th AMU check over the first MQ-9 Reaper to be transported through ferry flight, Jan. 8, 2020, on @Holloma… RT @DeptofDefense: The cold won’t slow down the @usairforce! The Air Force is working with the @usarmyccdc to test cold weather gear and e… RT @USAFCENT: GROUND SUPPORT \| USAF Airmen assigned to the 379th AEMS worked alongside the 746th EAS to load cargo onto & launch a C-130 at… RT @USAFHealth: #DidYouKnow, Air Force Expeditionary Medicine brings leading-edge medicine directly into battle providing injured personnel… As he served, let us serve. Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. https://t.co/SuE0D4UAnI RT @AirNatlGuard: "We talk about lining ourselves up with our sister services and joint efforts to make sure we accomplish our mission; the… RT @AFResearchLab: The year is 1947. The @usairforce officially broke the sound barrier with the Bell X-1 aircraft. This incredible feat w… RT @theF35JPO: Congratulations to the @AusAirForce for completing their #F35 training mission at @LukeAFB! 🇦🇺 ⚡ Learn more 🔗 https://t.co/2… RT @CENTCOM: A French Rafale conducts nighttime air refueling with a U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary… RT @DeptofDefense: Jumping from a plane becomes a big step toward friendship. 301 soldiers and airmen from @USArmyReserve, @usairforce, and… Explosive Disposal Ordnance (EOD) Airmen are often assigned to some of the most dangerous missions and perform tact… https://t.co/xYc9Ip5psn Start this year by supporting your #Airmen in their pursuit of #resiliency. Learn about common triggers of invisibl… https://t.co/6gJSfJKvcK	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1193
__label__wiki	0.503777	0.503777	Our website uses cookies to help us provide you with a good experience and allow us to improve the website. Find out more. Civil Aviation Authority Botswana (CAAB) Jambo Food Products Ltd 2020 Musika Development Initiatives 2020 Pirtek Africa South African National Blood Service (SANBS) 2020 Trevali Perkoa Umgeni Water World of Windows VODACOM SOUTH AFRICA Typifying Transformation The leading player in South Africa’s telecommunications industry, Vodacom is pioneering change through intuitive innovation and creative investment Writer: Jonathan Dyble Project Manager: Lewis Bush Shrouded by a tense political environment and regulatory constraints during much of the late 20th century, South Africa was somewhat late to the global telecommunications revolution. Today, however, the country stands as one of the world’s most promising and exciting telecommunications sectors, renowned as the most evolved such market on the entire continent. Since competition was introduced in the 1990s, the country’s vibrant mobile market has experienced rapid growth, with market penetration standing at close to 100 percent with 47.3 million subscribers by 2010. Further, in the nine years since it is estimated that this number has almost doubled. From fixed-line expansion to mobile banking to international fibre connectivity, this revolution has covered all aspects of the industry, an industry that Vodacom South Africa has remained at the forefront of. “Vodacom was launched at the same time as the birth of South Africa’s democracy in 1994,” explains Jorge Mendes, the company’s Chief Officer of Consumer Business Unit. “It’s been a fruitful journey for our company in the years since, and we now serve 43 million people across South Africa, selling around 25,000 handsets monthly.” A company that holds almost half of the country’s entire market share, Vodacom SA has become celebrated as a leading pioneer of innovative telecommunication solutions. Having initially started out as a firm that provided mobile phones and associated services, the company’s expertise now spans a wide range of segments including financial services, on demand video and traditional voice and data services. “We proudly introduced prepaid to the world, the first 3G and 4G networks in South Africa, and the first 5G offering in Africa through Vodacom Lesotho,” Mendes explains. “We continue to invest heavily in infrastructure so that we are able to effectively maintain our network advantage and deliver exceptional customer experience.” Driven by an all-encompassing ethos of innovation and customer care, Vodacom South Africa has excelled in the past decades, now providing the widest population coverage and distribution footprint across the country. “Since I joined Vodacom 20 years ago, the absolute constant has been the company’s commitment to always putting the customer at the centre of everything,” Mendes continues. “Ultimately, we want to be a leading digital company that empowers a connected society and lead the charge from an innovation perspective.” Embracing innovation These philosophies are largely powered by the company’s esteemed team, with Vodacom having emphasised talent management as a crucial factor behind its ever-growing success. “Certified as a Top Employer for Africa 2019 by the Top Employers Institute, our talent management framework is aligned to our business strategy, ensuring we allow our people to excel and upskill through capability building initiatives which include training and performance coaching,” states Mendes. This strategy encompasses people from all backgrounds, Vodacom SA priding itself on being an inclusive business as demonstrated in its listing on the Thompson Reuters Most Inclusive Companies index for 2019 and through its Gender Mainstreaming Awards. “Our retention strategy is anchored on a robust learning and development programme which has seen us invest over R360 million in the skills development of our employees in the last fiscal year,” Mendes adds. Further, alongside its extensive staff investments, the company has launched a number of innovative ventures such as its Just 4 You offering, providing its customers with tailor-made voice and data packages based on their own usage. “Not only has this been instrumental in driving down the effective price of data in South Africa, but it also allows us to provide our customers with a personalised experience by creating offers that are specifically customised to suit individual demands,” Mendes reveals. Equally, the firm’s Vodacom 4U brand, established 15 years ago, has been similarly transformational. A slightly differentiated offering in terms of service and experience, the business has allowed Vodacom to better target a younger audience and in turn expand its footprint. “In recent times we also acquired a strategic stake in Kenya’s Safaricom, a prized asset on the African continent, and became the first telco to list in Tanzania,” Mendes adds, citing some of the firm’s other investments. “Closer to home we announced a R16 billion BBBEE transaction during the course of last year having created significant value for the Yebo Yethu shareholders that invested in our first empowerment initiative in 2008.” Emphasising education Social empowerment is close to the hearts of both Mendes, himself being the company’s sponsor for the LGBT community, and the wider Vodacom Group, particularly evident in the role of the Vodacom Foundation. An organisation that has a proud history of driving social development across the country, this foundation has partnered with numerous government and private sector organisations on a multitude of different development programmes, granting over R1.2 billion over the past 20 years. “At the beginning of 2019 we partnered with Global Citizen, a global movement of engaged citizens who are looking to use their collective voice to end extreme poverty by 2030,” Mendes reveals. “We pledged that as part of our work to invest in education – the Vodacom Foundation will spend more than R500 million over the next five years on enhancing the education system in South Africa. “Equally, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education we have connected and maintained 92 teacher centres and over 3,000 schools across the country, and trained over 250,000 teachers in the use of information and communication technology in the classroom.” Education is often a core focus of these initiatives, with Vodacom also having launched its e-School platform in January 2015 – a free, unlimited online education portal that provides content to learners of all school years. To date, this alone has reached more than half a million people across the country. Mendes continues: “What’s more, in a bid to help address skills development and job creation within the sector we established the Vodacom Youth Academy in partnership with CISCO, Microsoft, the Independent Development Trust and Mict-Set. This particular project offers free ICT skills training and has benefitted 966 trainees since its inception four years ago.” Largely aligned with both Vodacom’s other CSR ventures and its Youth Empowerment Initiative, a programme that provides individuals with the opportunity to work for an NPO of their choice in South Africa for a year, these social development strategies have been fundamental in helping the country achieve its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aspirations and meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals targeted to South Africa. The company’s expansive corporate social efforts aside, Mendes and the wider Vodacom Group remain committed to ensuring that the company is driven by innovation. “The future of retail is changing, and we have to be nimble and agile enough to meet the evolving demands of our customers,” the company’s Chief Officer of Consumer Business Unit reveals, citing the firm’s successful smart retail transformation strategy. These statements and pioneering activities in mind, Vodacom South Africa retains a positive outlook ahead, seeking to play an active role in shaping the country’s telecommunications future. Mendes concludes: “We are particularly encouraged by the positive momentum on the regulatory front in South Africa following firm commitments by government and the regulator to stage an auction of 4G spectrum in the early part of this calendar year. “It is also expected that the emergence of eSIM smartphones will substantially increase due to both Apple’s inclusion of these in its latest product range and growing interest from Android providers. “However, the required network changes will be significant for all the network operators since traditional mobile number provisioning will cease to exist – something that we will be monitoring closely during 2019 and beyond.” Outlook Publishing Ltd. East Wing, 69-75 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1UA, United Kingdom Sales: +44 (0) 1603 959 650 ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com Editorial: +44 (0) 1603 959 657 tom.wadlow@outlookpublishing.com	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1194
__label__wiki	0.773415	0.773415	Australian-first with corporation... Australian-first with corporation fined $127,500 for unlawful advertising Consultationscollapseexpand Recommendations from the Coronercollapseexpand Web service announcementscollapseexpand In an Australian-first, Wellness Enterprises Pty Limited, which traded as Australian Male Hormone Clinic, has been fined $127,500 plus costs after being found guilty and convicted of 17 charges related to unlawful advertising of regulated health services. Charges brought by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) followed advertisements the business published in newspapers around Australia between February and August 2017 for treatment of testosterone deficiency. The full page ‘advertorial’ style advertisements made a number of claims about the benefits of treatment, including increased energy, focus, masculinity and strength, and ability to satisfy sexual partners. AHPRA challenged the validity of the claims citing best available evidence. In the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on 3 October, the corporation was found guilty and convicted on 17 charges. Magistrate Atkinson cited the seriousness of the offences in fining the corporation $7,500 on each charge, totalling $127,500. The corporation was also ordered to pay court costs of $3,000 and professional costs up to $3,000. This is the first time that a corporation, not an individual health practitioner, has been convicted following advertising charges brought by AHPRA under section 133 of the National Law1. AHPRA CEO Mr Martin Fletcher welcomed the court’s decision. ‘Our primary objective is to protect the public. Advertising can heavily influence a patient’s decision-making around their healthcare needs and information in advertising must be accurate and based on acceptable evidence. AHPRA and the National Boards will continue to take action against unlawful advertising in the best interests of all consumers of regulated health services,’ he said. Wellness Enterprises Pty Limited was incorporated on 13 April 2016. It was placed into voluntary liquidation on 12 September 2017. What can AHPRA do? Section 133 of the National Law states that a person must not advertise a regulated health service or a business that provides a regulated health service, in a way that: is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to be misleading or deceptive, or offers a gift, discount or other inducement to attract a person to use the service or the business, unless the advertisement also states the terms and conditions of the offer, or uses testimonials or purported testimonials about the service or business, or creates an unreasonable expectation of beneficial treatment, or directly or indirectly encourages the indiscriminate or unnecessary use of regulated health services. A person or a business providing a regulated health service, whose advertising breaches the National Law, may be prosecuted and ordered by a court to pay a $5,000 penalty per offence (for an individual) or a $10,000 penalty per offence (for a body corporate). When a registered health practitioner has breached the advertising requirements a National Board may also decide that this raises concern about the practitioner’s conduct. Action under the National Law can include placing restrictions on an individual health practitioner’s registration which may affect their ability to advertise their services. ‘Regulated health service’ means a service provided by, or usually provided by, a health practitioner, as defined in the National Law. The advertising provisions of the National Law cover the advertising of a regulated health service, or a business that provides a regulated health service. Lodge an online enquiry form For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 9275 9009 (overseas callers) For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200 1Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory (the National Law). Page reviewed 4/10/2017	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1197
__label__cc	0.662033	0.337967	Access Engineering: A Powerful New Reference Tool for Professionals, Academics, and Students Originally delivered Aug 28, 2013 Source: AIChE Preview Webinar: A powerful engineering reference tool for professionals, academics, and students, AccessEngineering from McGraw-Hill is an innovative online reference and learning resource providing seamless access to some of the world's most trusted collection of critical research resources. Alyson Swerdloff Alyson Swerdloff earned her bachelor’s degree in English from West Virginia University and a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the Palmer School of Long Island University.Read more AIChE Members Free Non-Members $0.00 Webinar content is available with the kind permission of the author(s) solely for the purpose of furthering AIChE’s mission to educate, inform and improve the practice of professional chemical engineering. All other uses are forbidden without the express consent of the author(s). VLS: Great Inventions That Changed The World You will not only learn about inventions and inventors, but also the impact they have had on our lives and the society and environment in which we live today... Realities of CCS: Geologic Sequestration The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a Geologic Sequestration (GS) rule under the Safe Drinking Water Act’s Underground Injection Control...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1198
__label__wiki	0.933242	0.933242	Today’s Report Chronology: History of Airpower Documents Home Accident Investigation Board Reports Strategy & Policy Papers Our Staff & Products Join AFA Bonus Pay Up to $420K Available To Certain Pilots In Fiscal 2019 Jan. 23, 2019 \| By Rachel S. Cohen 1st Lt. Jake Brodacz, 62nd Fighter Squadron F-35A Lightning II student pilot, prepares an F-35 to taxi to the runway at Luke AFB, Ariz., on Dec. 19, 2017. Air Force photo by SSgt. Jensen Stidham. Another round of bonus pay for aviators announced this week continues the Air Force’s effort to entice pilots to remain in the service. The Air Force is offering bomber, fighter, mobility, special operations pilots, and remotely piloted aircraft operators a maximum of $420,000 over 12 years to continue flying, the service said in a Jan. 23 press release. Those service members are eligible for an extra $35,000 annually if they extend their contracts by three to 12 years. To qualify, they must be Active Duty aviators whose initial undergraduate flight training ends this fiscal year. Bomber, fighter, and mobility pilots also have the option of receiving $100,000 up front if they sign up for another seven to nine years, or $200,000 for 10 to 12 years. For combat search-and-rescue operators in fixed-wing aircraft, as well as those who fly command, control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms, bonuses can total $30,000 each year for a three- to nine-year extension, or $35,000 annually for 10 to 12 additional years. A lump sum of $100,000 is also available for those who sign up for another seven to nine years. Rotary-wing CSAR pilots, combat systems officers, and air battle managers can tap into the lowest two bonus levels. Those who fly platforms like the HH-60G Pave Hawk may receive up to $225,000, or $25,000 annually for three to nine years. Combat systems officers and air battle managers would earn that same amount if they extend their contract for seven to nine years, or make up to $120,000 if they fly as many as six more years. The bonus structure is slightly different for aviators whose contracts have expired or who haven’t accepted the extra money before. All rated pilots that fall into that category, including RPA operators, can fly for another three to nine years and receive $25,000 to $35,000 annually, depending on their career. Those airmen cannot fly longer than 24 years total. Combat systems officers and air battle managers in that category can earn up to $100,000 over five years. They must have accrued at least 19 years of total active federal military service but, like pilots, cannot exceed 24 years in aviation. “Congress raised the annual maximum aviation bonus from $25,000 to $35,000 in the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act and required the Air Force to present aviation bonuses based on a business case analysis,” the service said in the release. “The Air Force evaluates its rated inventory every year to ensure the AvB program is tailored to meet the service’s needs.” As the Air Force tries to reverse its shortage of around 2,000 pilots within the next five years, it is experimenting with 69 initiatives to boost retention. In addition to bonus packages, the service is inviting retired pilots to return, reforming its officer assignment process, discussing possible collaborations with commercial airlines that attract military pilots, and more. Airmen can apply for fiscal 2019 bonuses until Aug. 30. The fiscal year ends Sept. 30. CSBA: USAF Must Get Bigger, Stealthier, Faster, and More Spread-Out SDA’s 2020 Plans Take Shape Iraq Training Mission Makes Strides in the Air, Though Pause... Eastern Europe MQ-9 Detachment Shifts to Romania First Data-Sharing Demonstration Opens New Joint Warfare Possibilities Subscribe to the Daily Report Get your daily fix of Air Force news delivered right to your inbox every day. There's no more reliable source for news about your Air Force. The Air Force isn’t well-structured to carry out the National Defense Strategy, and in order to deter a major war, it must add more and stealthier aircraft, expand its use of unmanned systems, accelerate the development of new technology, and learn to operate from more dispersed locations, according to a… The Space Development Agency in 2020 is embarking on its first full year of work to put up potentially thousands of satellites that aim to share combat data in new ways and better protect US interests. After standing up in March 2019, working through leadership turmoil, and eventually reaching out… Iraq Training Mission Makes Strides in the Air, Though Pause Persists The US-led coalition’s air operations may have slowed in the fight against the Islamic State group, but the US Air Force’s mission to train the Iraqi Air Force has started to “pay dividends” as the Iraqis take on more strikes on their own, a top coalition commander said. Much of… The Air Force’s MQ-9 presence in Eastern Europe has moved south again, as the 52nd Expeditionary Operations Group Det. 2 begins flying in Romania this month. The MQ-9s are deployed to Miroslawiec AB, Poland, and this is the second time they have moved to the 71st Air Base at Campia… A recent Air Force demonstration to share data between USAF and Navy fighter jets, Army munitions, a Navy destroyer, and more proved largely successful, paving the way for a bigger test in April. Air Force acquisition boss Will Roper and Advanced Battle Management System architect Preston Dunlap told reporters Jan.… Saab Starts Building T-7A Tail Sections Saab has begun construction of the first tail sections for Air Force T-7A Red Hawk trainers, which eventually will replace the T-38 Talon, the company announced Jan. 21. Saab will build the first seven tail sections for the advanced jet trainer at its Linkoping, Sweden facility. They will then be… F-35 Program Dumps ALIS for ODIN The F-35’s problematic Autonomic Information Logistics System, or ALIS, will be replaced by a new system starting later this year, which it is hoped will be more user-friendly, more secure, and less prone to error. It’s also to be re-branded as ODIN, for Operational Data Integrated Network. ODIN “incorporates a… DARPA’s Gremlins Program Accomplishes First Flight Dynetics and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency are moving forward with their Gremlins drone swarming program after flying a small unmanned aircraft for the first time in late November. The X-61A flew with and launched from a C-130 wing at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. This first airborne test demonstrated… Third V-22 Osprey Variant Takes Flight, This Time for the Navy The third variant of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey took flight for the first time Jan. 21. The US Navy CMV-22B flew at the Bell assembly plant in Amarillo, Texas. The sea-going variant will replace the Navy’s aging C-2A Greyhound, tasked with flying personnel, mail, supplies, and high-priority cargo from… Air Force Magazine is the official publication of the Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. Copyright 2020. This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience. 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__label__wiki	0.677714	0.677714	Tampa Bay Bucs QB Jameis Winston reportedly groped an Uber driver in 2016, BuzzFeed News reports By: Kelly Bazzle The NFL is reportedly investigating allegations that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, Jameis Winston, groped a female Uber driver in 2016, according to BuzzFeed News . Winston however, says the allegations are false. In an article posted on Friday , BuzzFeed says a letter was sent from the NFL's special counsel for investigations to the Uber driver on Thursday. The incident reportedly happened in Scottsdale, Arizona at approximately 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 13, 2016. The female Uber driver, identified as Kate, told BuzzFeed News that when she arrived to the location to pick up her passenger, a group of men told her that she would be driving around someone famous. Jameis Winston sat down in the front passenger seat and the Uber driver says right after she started driving, Winston began behaving poorly. The incident happened at a drive-thru Mexican restaurant after Winston reportedly asked to stop for food. The driver says Winston reached over and "grabbed my crotch." Kate tells BuzzFeed News she was shocked and asked "what's up with that?" "The behavior the driver reported is disturbing and wrong. The rider was permanently removed from the app shortly after we learned of the incident," a spokesperson for Uber said. According to Uber's community guidelines , there is to be "no sexual conduct with riders, no matter what." On Friday at 1:35 p.m. Jameis Winston posted a statement on his twitter regarding the incident. He wrote: "A news organization has published a story about me regarding an alleged incident involving a female Uber driver from approximately two years ago. The story falsely accuses me of making inappropriate contact with this driver. I believe the driver was confused as to the number of passengers in the car and who was sitting next to her. The accusation is false, and given the nature of the allegation and increased awareness and consideration of these types of matters, I am addressing this false report immediately. At the time of the alleged incident, I denied the allegations to Uber, yet they still decided to suspend my account. I am supportive of the national movement to raise awareness and develop better responses to the concerns of parties who find themselves in these types of situations, but this accusation is false. While I am certain that I did not make any inappropriate contact, I don't want to engage in a battle with the driver and I regret if my demeanor or presence made her uncomfortable in any way." The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released a statement on Friday afternoon. “We are in the process of obtaining further information regarding today’s media report. We take these matters seriously and are fully supportive of the investigation that is being conducted by the NFL.” The NFL released the following statement when ABC Action News reached out for a comment on the incident. "The allegation was shared with the NFL and we have reached out to Uber to request any information they may have."	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1203
__label__wiki	0.858472	0.858472	US accuses Suriname president's son of terror Prosecutors charged Dino Bouterse with inviting people he thought were from Hezbollah to set up base in his country. 09 Nov 2013 06:53 GMT The indictment said Bouterse had agreed to an initial payment of $2m to host a Hezbollah base [File: AP] A son of Suriname's president invited people he thought were from the Lebanese group Hezbollah to set up a base in his country to attack Americans in exchange for millions of dollars, US prosecutors said. Federal prosecutors who already were pursuing drug charges against Dino Bouterse, a son of President Desi Bouterse, filed the latest allegation in US District Court for the Southern District of New York on Friday. The younger Bouterse's defence team said in a statement that he "is not, and never has been a supporter of any terrorist organisation and never intended to render aid to such an organisation". Dino Bouterse held a senior counterterrorism post in the South American country, but was arrested in Panama in August and sent to New York to face charges of smuggling cocaine into the United States. He pleaded not guilty to those charges. According to a superseding indictment, US authorities recorded conversations Bouterse had with unnamed people and at least one US agent who posed as members of Hezbollah. The US State Department has designated Hezbollah a foreign terrorist organisation since 1997, and US officials have sought to limit what they believe to be the group's operations in South America. The US indictment said Bouterse was willing to allow Hezbollah fighters to have a permanent base in Suriname and agreed to an initial payment of $2m. According to the indictment, he would give the Hezbollah fighters fake identities and arm them with surface-to-air missiles and other weapons for attacks on the US and the Netherlands, Suriname's former colonial ruler. The indictment charges Bouterse with violating a US law against providing support to a foreign terrorist organisation. His father, Desi Bouterse is a former military ruler accused of human rights violations, such as the killings of 15 political opponents in 1982, and drug trafficking. He ruled in Suriname from 1980 to 1987, and reclaimed power in 2010. SOURCE: Agencies	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1204
__label__cc	0.532559	0.467441	Aircraft of World War II: Mini Encyclopedia Chris Chant Aircraft of World War II contains 300 of the most important and influential military aircraft in service between 1939 and 1945. From Allied fighters to Axis bombers, from biplanes to flying boats, each of the aircraft featured is presented with... Read moreRead less Aircraft of World War II contains 300 of the most important and influential military aircraft in service between 1939 and 1945. From Allied fighters to Axis bombers, from biplanes to flying boats, each of the aircraft featured is presented with a full colour profile artwork, alongside technical specifications and text explaining the aircraft’s development and service history. Including some of the most famous and beautiful aircraft of the twentieth century, Aircraft of World War II is a pocket-sized reference guide that will appeal to any reader interested in military technology, World War II and aviation. Format: 163 x 123mm Illustrations: 300 colour artworks Chris Chant is an aviation expert of more than 25 years’ experience who specializes in the history of aircraft in World War II. There is currently no Amber trade edition available. The Eastern Front: Campaigns of World War II The Bismarck: Great WWII Weapons The Pacific War: Campaigns of World War II Warplanes of World War II SS: Hell on the Western Front B-17 Flying Fortress: Great WWII Weapons German Campaigns of World War II SS: Hitlerjugend Atlas of Air Warfare Panther Tank: Great WWII Weapons	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1208
__label__wiki	0.916328	0.916328	Fiscal Sponsor Program Bandh: Meditation on Dream, 2005 Ananya Dance Theatre came together in 2004 as an ensemble of women artists of color who were interested in exploring possibilities of bringing together dance and activism. Simultaneously, inspired by the politically charged “group theatre” tradition of Kolkata, where she grew up, and the intricate beauty and power of the classical dance form Odissi, which was her primary training, Artistic Director Ananya Chatterjea issued a call to Twin Cities communities and women artists. Her exhortation to women artists of color to come together to dance about their dreams elicited a powerful response and ultimately led to the company’s founding. Many of the founding women shared similar experiences of marginalization within the world of concert dance. All were committed to crafting a responsible artistry that was invested in building community and organizing. They were also responding to personally felt needs to create alliances with other artists of color across differences of race, nationality, and class, and to stand together on a shared forum. Duurbaar: Journeys Into Horizon 2006 Early on, a leadership group emerged organically and shared the labor of writing grant applications and organizing logistics of performances. This steering committee, comprised of founding company members, formalized the ensemble’s structure and establishment as a non-profit corporation in 2005. Chatterjea began evolving a movement vocabulary and crafting a pedagogy that would create a shared artistic platform for dancers who came from different backgrounds and trainings. At the same time, conversations among the dancers revealed interest in and need for constant “research,” investigations into the untold or little-known stories of women from global communities of color. The sharing of this research within our ranks led to a collectively shaped and committed vision of the world to which we aspired through our dancing. It also established a specific creative process for the company, one where the themes and narrative arcs of projects emerged through a process of research, discussion, and debate. By the end of 2006, our focus had shifted outward, reaching to extend our community and explore issues that were part of our daily lives. Thus evolved our methodology of sustained exploration of themes in multi-year projects: the trilogy on environmental justice, the quartet of works exploring women and systemic violence, and the quintet of dance pieces exploring women’s work. After a decade of continuous work, what remains vital in the company’s work is the commitment to a nuanced sense of artistry and to a process that is vigilant about social justice. Our artists identify as “cultural activists,” movement artists who claim a stake in shaping our future. It has since become increasingly important to our process to invite audiences into our work, to join the movement that fuses art and social justice, and to respond to our daak/call to action. Inspired by the Occupy Movement, Chatterjea has framed the daak in terms of #occupydance, inviting audiences to embody movement as a mode of civic action. We believe that the intentional embodiment of gestures and moving with people from different walks of life teaches us a way of working collaboratively without infringing on others and models a sustainable way of living. This way of working has lead ADT in the last several years to develop two kinds of performances, and dancing in at least two different kinds of venues: performances at concert halls where we can realize fully produced theatrical visions, and less produced performances at outdoor and less formal venues, where perhaps dance might not typically be seen, but which creates great access for different audiences. Our goal is to bring together concert dance and participatory art throughout the United States and around the world. ADT also celebrates its legacy of collaboration with a series of talented artists, particularly from global communities of color. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to grow as we have worked with activists, organizers, dreamers, and artists from a range of disciplines, whose support of our vision has enriched our process.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1210
__label__wiki	0.932756	0.932756	Suggest a News Story In Memoriam Submission C&M Home Angelo State Alum to be Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor U.S. Army Master Sgt. Matthew Williams, a graduate of Angelo State University, will be awarded the Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump on Oct. 30, according to a White House news release. ASU Alum, Master Sgt. Matthew Williams (U.S. Army photo)The Medal of Honor is the highest U.S. military decoration and is awarded for gallantry and bravery in combat at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Williams is being honored for his actions that saved the lives of four wounded soldiers and kept others from being overrun during a mission in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan that would later be called the “Battle of Shok Valley.” The mission was in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The White House news release states: “On April 6, 2008, while serving as a member of a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3336, Special Operations Task Force-33, assault element, then-Sergeant Williams exposed himself to insurgent fire multiple times while rescuing other members of the assault element and evacuating numerous casualties. In the face of rocket-propelled grenade, sniper, and machine gun fire, Sergeant Williams led an Afghan Commando element across a fast-moving, ice-cold, and waist-deep river to fight its way up a terraced mountain to the besieged lead element of the assault force. Sergeant Williams then set up a base of fire that the enemy was not able to overcome. When his Team Sergeant was wounded by sniper fire, Sergeant Williams exposed himself to enemy fire to come to his aid and to move him down the sheer mountainside to the casualty collection point. Sergeant Williams then braved small arms fire and climbed back up the cliff to evacuate other injured soldiers and repair the team’s satellite radio. He again exposed himself to enemy fire as he helped move several casualties down the near vertical mountainside and as he carried and loaded casualties on to evacuation helicopters. Sergeant Williams’s actions helped save the lives of four critically wounded Soldiers and prevented the lead element of the assault force from being overrun by the enemy.” A more detailed account of the mission, including a video account by Williams, is available at www.army.mil/medalofhonor/williams/?from=hp_spotlight. According to a story posted by Military.com, Williams will be just the 14th Medal of Honor recipient from the war in Afghanistan and the 10th from the U.S. Army. He would also be one of the only recipients still on active duty, as he is currently assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C. A native of Boerne, Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Angelo State. He and his wife, Kate, have a son, Nolan. Williams Feature on Army.mil Military.com Feature White House News Release Angelo State Online Homeland Security & Criminal Justice Programs Earn Multiple National Rankings National Rankings for Security Studies & Criminal Justice Online Homeland Security Degrees Earn Multiple National Rankings Global Security Studies Program Ranked Top 5 in U.S. Online Master’s Degrees Ranked No. 1 for Affordability	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1212
__label__wiki	0.91287	0.91287	Anna Boghiguian By Tatiana Istomina Tatiana Istomina More Stories by Tatiana Istomina Irina Nakhova’s Post-Soviet Works Probe the Meaning of the Museum Charles Long Anna Schachinger View Gallery 3 Images Anna Boghiguian’s exhibition at the New Museum,“The Loom of History,” offered a passionate treatment of today’s most contentious issues, such as immigration, economic inequality, and the legacy of colonialism. The show, which featured mostly works made in the past couple years, was housed in a single gallery. The walls were painted black from about four feet up and dark yellow below; in certain areas, the black section was covered with long passages of text handwritten by the artist in yellow paint—a theoretical explication of the motley assortment of works on view, which included drawings, collages, sculptures, and tableaux of paper cutouts. Among the most memorable pieces was Woven Winds / The Making of an Economy—Costly Commodities (2016), a sequence of twenty-seven drawings, displayed on a single shelf, illustrating the rise of the United States as an economic superpower. The narrative begins with an image of a human brain and handwritten commentary on history, progress, and reason. Following this, the loosely chronological work includes a portrait of Columbus with some notes on the European slave trade and the discovery of America; a brief account of the Dutch purchase of Manhattan from Native Americans and of the island’s subsequent seizure by England; and a black-and-white portrayal of African slaves marching in chains. We encounter Alexis de Tocqueville, Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin, a poem by Walt Whitman concerning dead soldiers. Like a propaganda film, Woven Winds puts forth a montage of carefully selected scenes and compelling visual metaphors to convey a specific political message: the economic and political dominance of the United States is built on human suffering, crime, and war, and this dark history is still present with us today. Boghiguian further fleshed out this message in a dramatic installation that shares the drawing sequence’s title and that was placed beside a patch of dirt with some dried cotton stalks thrust into it. Rendered in quick, expressive brushstrokes on paper cutouts affixed to poles are ten historical scenes, ranging from slaves laboring in a cotton field to workers and spinning machinery in a cotton mill to a crowd of immigrants disembarking from a ship. Shown nearby were several separate cutout works that bring Boghiguian’s history up to date—one, for instance, depicts a crowd of protesters holding signs and banners bearing statements like FOREIGNERS ARE TERRORISTS and OUR COUNTRY FOR OURSELVES (Demonstration, 2017). In such works, Boghiguian excoriates the populism, nationalism, and xenophobia taking over many Western democracies. The history of migration has personal significance for this septuagenarian artist, who was born in Cairo into an Armenian family that had moved to Egypt in the early 1900s. Her own life has been nomadic. Since studying political science in Cairo and art and music in Montreal, she has traveled extensively around Europe, Asia, and the Americas. These journeys seem to be integral to her work, much of which she makes on the road. The extensive didactics with which she frequently pairs her imagery—such as her wall writing at the New Museum—tend to be dry expositions that draw on historical, philosophical, and sociological sources. The imagery, however, reveals a deeply personal, slightly eccentric poetics that undermines and complicates her texts’ ostensibly impartial, analytical character. Her work is at its strongest when it captures the anger, empathy, and sorrow she clearly feels when faced with the scenes of injustice and suffering unfolding around the world. “The Loom of History” The World's Premier Art Magazine since 1913. Subscribe today and save up to 54%!	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1214
__label__wiki	0.910245	0.910245	Grant Calendar Texas Touring Roster Direct Deposit Sign Up Form Be a Panelist – Review grants for TCA Search Current Grants Search Past Grants Logo & Downloads Becoming Accessible Creative Forces Initiative Cultural Districts Program Regional Resource Sharing Rural Initiatives State of Texas Tourism Partners Statewide Conference TCA Professional Development Webinars Texas State Artist Young Masters Program Art Opportunities Post a Job/Opportunity Statistics & Studies Tools for Results Tool-kit Video Tape Identification Assessment Guide Art as a Career Being an Artist in Texas Art in Communities Art in Schools Funding a Small Business or Project Promote the License Plate Fund Sources Texas Cultural Trust Texans for the Arts Agency Budget Commission Meeting Agenda TCA Newsletter Current State Artists State Artists for 2019 & 2020 The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) is pleased to announce the Texas State Legislature’s 2019 and 2020 appointments to the positions of state poet laureate, state musician, state two-dimensional artist and state three-dimensional artist. Little Joe Hernandez Carrie Fountain Mary McCleary Rick Lowe Emily Gimble Emmy Pérez Earlie Hudnall, Jr. Gabriel Dawe 2019 TEXAS STATE MUSICIAN – LITTLE JOE HERNANDEZ Little Joe Hernandez is the leader of Little Joe y La Familia, one of the most popular Tex-Mex bands. Described as the “King of the Brown Sound,” he helped to pioneer Tejano music, a mix of traditional norteño music and country, blues, and rock styles. In 1953, while working in the cotton fields of Texas, the thirteen-year-old Joe joined his cousin’s band, “David Coronado & The Latinaires,” as a guitarist. With his first paid performance at a high school sock hop, Little Joe realized that picking guitar beat picking cotton. In 1959, David Coronado left the band, which was renamed “Little Joe & The Latinaires.” In California in 1970, Joe discovered “Latinismo,” a strong Latin musical world which was not found in Texas at that time. It had a profound influence on his music and cultural values, prompting him to change the name of the band from The Latinaires to La Familia, emphasizing Joeʼs passion for his heritage and roots. Little Joe y La Familia have received five GRAMMY Awards and been nominated for eleven. Over sixty years and many albums after his start, Joe continues touring, breaking down cultural and musical barriers, and innovating his musical style. 2019 TEXAS STATE POET LAUREATE – CARRIE FOUNTAIN Carrie Fountain’s poems have appeared in Tin House, Poetry, and The New Yorker, among others. Her debut collection, Burn Lake, was a National Poetry Series winner and was published in 2010 by Penguin. Her second collection, Instant Winner, was published by Penguin in 2014. Fountain’s debut novel, I’m Not Missing, was published in 2018 by Flatiron Books (Macmillan). Her forthcoming children’s book on the life and legacy of poet W.S. Merwin will be published by Candlewick Books. Born and raised in Mesilla, New Mexico, Fountain received her MFA as a fellow at the James A. Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas. Currently writer-in-residence at St. Edward’s University, she is the host of KUT’s This Is Just to Say, a radio show and podcast where she has intimate conversations with America’s most influential poets. Fountain lives in Austin with her husband, playwright and novelist Kirk Lynn, and their two children. 2019 TEXAS STATE VISUAL ARTIST 2D – MARY MCCLEARY Mary McCleary makes collages of great complexity that combine painterly craftsmanship and striking iconography. Her subject matter comes from religion, science, history, and literature—the sources of big themes. McCleary has participated in over 350 one-person and group exhibits in museums and galleries in 29 states, Mexico, Canada, and Russia. These venues include the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, AR), the National Museum of Women in the Arts (Washington, DC), the Museum of Biblical Art (New York, NY), the Grey Art Gallery at New York University, the Boston Museum of Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City, MO). McCleary’s works are in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; the El Paso Museum of Art; the San Antonio Museum of Art; the Art Museum of South Texas (Corpus Christi); and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas (Beaumont). She is Regents Professor of Art Emeritus at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, where she taught from 1975 to 2005. In 2011, she was named Texas Artist of the Year by Art League Houston. 2019 TEXAS STATE VISUAL ARTIST 3D – RICK LOWE photo credit: The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Rick Lowe lives in Houston, Texas. He has exhibited and worked with communities nationally and internationally. His exhibitions include: Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles), Neuberger Museum of Art (Purchase, NY), Gwangju Biennale (Gwangju, South Korea), Venice Architecture Biennale (Venice, Italy), Nasher Sculpture Center (Dallas), Documenta 14 (Kassel, Germany and Athens, Greece), and the Museo de Antioquia (Medellín, Colombia). Community projects include Project Row Houses (Houston) Watts House Project (Los Angeles), Anyang Public Art Program 2010 (Anyang, Korea), Translation Vickery Meadow (Dallas), and the Victoria Square Project (Athens, Greece). In 2014, he was named a Fellow by the MacArthur Foundation for “reinventing community revitalization as an art form by transforming a long-neglected neighborhood in Houston into a visionary amalgam of arts venue, community support center, and historic preservation initiative.” Additional honors include Rudy Bruner Awards in Urban Excellence, the AIA Keystone Award, the Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities, the Loeb Fellowship at Harvard University, 2016 Haas Center for Public Service Distinguished Visitor at Stanford University, and Neubauer Collegium Visiting Fellow at the University of Chicago for 2018-2019. Mr. Lowe is a Professor of Art at the University of Houston. 2020 TEXAS STATE MUSICIAN – EMILY GIMBLE photo credit: Ashleigh Amoroso Emily Gimble has been singing and playing on-stage since she was seven years old. Music is in her blood: her father is guitarist and upright bass player Dick Gimble, and her grandfather is Johnny Gimble, one of the most beloved fiddle players of all time (and the 2005 Texas State Musician). Piano beckoned Emily early on—the Austin Music Awards named her “Best Keyboards” of the city four times (2013, 2014, 2018, & 2019)—as did her voice, full of natural range and feeling. “A Case of the Gimbles,” the 2005 album she recorded with her father and grandfather, showcased her vocals and launched Emily on a national family tour. With the Marshall Ford Band, Emily focused on western swing, and with Warren Hood and the Goods, she explored jazz, country, folk and pop. In 2014, Emily joined the iconic, GRAMMY Award-winning band, Asleep at the Wheel. With them, she played “Austin City Limits” twice and recorded a duet with one of her idols, Merle Haggard. In 2017 she released “Certain Kinda,” her debut solo album. She continues to tour on her own; with her family band, the Gimbles; and with artists like Amy Helm, Floyd Domino, and Hayes Carll. 2020 TEXAS STATE POET LAUREATE – EMMY PÉREZ photo credit: Texas A&M University Corpus-Christi Emmy Pérez is the author of the poetry collections With the River on Our Face and Solstice. She is a member of the Macondo Writers Workshop and is a former recipient of poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, CantoMundo, and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Her work is published on the Poetry Foundation website, in Poem-a-Day by the Academy of American Poets, in Split This Rock’s The Quarry: A Social Justice Poetry Database, and anthologies such as Ghost Fishing: An Eco Justice Poetry Anthology, Other Musics: New Latina Poetry, and Entre Guadalupe y Malinche: Tejanas in Literature and Art. A graduate of Columbia University and the University of Southern California, she grew up in Santa Ana, California and has lived in the Texas borderlands for over 18 years, in El Paso where she has family roots, and currently in McAllen. She is Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she received a UT Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. She also serves as Associate Director for the Center for Mexican American Studies at UTRGV, is on the organizing committee for CantoMundo, and is a co-founder of Poets Against Walls. 2020 TEXAS STATE VISUAL ARTIST 2D – EARLIE HUDNALL, JR. Growing up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Earlie Hudnall, Jr. learned the importance of community and culture. After serving as a Marine in the Vietnam War, he moved to Houston to study art at Texas Southern University. While there, Hudnall was hired to photograph communities impacted by the federal Model Cities Program, which was inspired by President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society and War on Poverty. The young photographer explored and documented the daily lives of African American families, individuals, elders, and children in the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Wards, which had a lasting impact on him as an artist. Hudnall has continued to photograph these same communities throughout his career. Earlie Hudnall’s photographs have been exhibited widely in museums and art galleries throughout the country. His photographs are in major museum collections, including the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (Fort Worth); the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (New York City); and the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture (Washington, DC). 2020 TEXAS STATE VISUAL ARTIST 3D – GABRIEL DAWE Originally from Mexico City, Gabriel Dawe’s work is centered in the exploration of textiles, aiming to examine the complicated construction of gender and identity in his native Mexico and attempting to subvert the notions of masculinity and machismo prevalent in the present day. His immersive, site-specific installations stem from that exploration and go beyond by awakening a universal sense of wonder in the viewer. Dawe’s work has been shown in numerous exhibitions at diverse national and international venues, including the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, the Toledo Museum of Art, the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, DC), Museum Rijswijk (The Netherlands), and the National Centre for Craft and Design (United Kingdom). His work is in the collections of several institutions including the Newark Museum, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, AR), the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (Fort Worth), and the US Department of State’s Art in Embassies Program. Dawe has lived in Texas since 2008 when he moved to Dallas to pursue an MFA from the University of Texas at Dallas. In 2018 he received its Distinguished Alumnus Award. Texas State Artist Nominations Previous State Artists (visual art) Previous State Musicians Previous State Poets Laureate Search State Library Document Reader Texas Commission on the Arts	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1215
__label__wiki	0.940797	0.940797	Bell Works v. Fort Monmouth: Is there room for both at the Shore? They're 13 miles apart on the Parkway and both racing for a piece of the tech pie Michael L. Diamond and Dan Radel, Asbury Park Press Published 5:00 a.m. ET Feb. 11, 2019 \| Updated 8:48 a.m. ET March 12, 2019 They were New Jersey landmarks that sparked ground-breaking research, building the economy into a powerhouse and changing the way the world communicates. Now, Bell Labs and Fort Monmouth, their sites long since closed, are into their second lives, searching for a blueprint that can survive in the digital age they created. But in the race to reinvent themselves as hubs for innovation, they are on different tracks. The newly christened Bell Works has emerged as a thriving technology hub that has drawn national acclaim for its vision. Fort Monmouth is at the halfway point of a 20-year plan that is coming together in fits and starts, its progress stymied by buildings that aren't salvageable, a changing marketplace and government bureaucracy at every turn. Vistors and employees gather for lunch in the open common space at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race. (Photo: Tanya Breen) The disparity, experts say, is easy to pinpoint: Bell Works is operated by Ralph Zucker, a private developer who can rule as if by fiat; Fort Monmouth has to go through a maze of government agencies that ultimately need consensus. More:Fort Monmouth tech giant Commvault replaces long-time CEO Bob Hammer Sometimes, consensus is hard to find. Last Thursday night, the Oceanport council wound up in a shouting match over the details of a college planned for their section of the fort. Residents called on the council for more unity. But the Shore’s future ultimately is tied to the success or failure of both projects. “The pure size alone makes them important,” Peter Reinhart, director of the Kislak Real Estate Institute at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, said. “You’ll have jobs, you’ll have tax revenues, consumer spending increases, improvement in housing, all the good things that happen when you have a successful, large redevelopment.” Most observers say there is room for both of the giant projects. In the fight for a new generation of workers, New Jersey needs to make a transition from its stodgy suburban office parks to hip campuses where people can live, work and play. But the unfolding history so far suggests that the path for one will be decidedly more circuitous than the other. The current scene Bell Works and Fort Monmouth sit 13 miles apart from each other on the Garden State Parkway. Both were once home to inventions that helped make New Jersey a technology hub that attracted the best and brightest. View at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race. Researchers at Bell Works’ predecessor, Bell Labs, came up with Nobel Prize-winning breakthroughs like telecommunications satellites, the Big Bang theory and fiber optics, while researchers at Fort Monmouth were the first to create weather radar, develop walkie-talkies, bounce an electronic signal off the moon, and figure out how to make night-vision goggles. These days both sites have an abundance of deer, but that’s where the similarities end. The Bell Labs building is now called Bell Works. It’s owned by Somerset Development, a real estate developer run by Ralph Zucker. And it is set under one roof — 2 million square feet of office and retail space that is filling up fast. Caroline DeFelice of Shrewsbury, a freelance graphic artist, works in the comon area at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race. Bell Labs to Bell Works:How one man saved the historic site and made it a tech mecca Redeveloping the land: The new battle at Fort Monmouth On a recent winter day at Bell Works, employees from fast-growing technology companies gathered in the atrium for lunch, visiting Bell Market, a new breed of food hall that features wood-fired pizza from Corbo & Sons and French pastries from Honeybell Bakery. Two exits south on the Garden State Parkway, Fort Monmouth stretches 1,127 acres over three towns — Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls. It has about 1,000 structures totaling 5.1 million square feet. About 3.5 million to 4 million square feet of those buildings have to be cleared. The gate is down:Fort Monmouth is open to traffic On one portion are newly constructed buildings owned by technology company Commvault and the all-girls preparatory school Trinity Hall, symbols of the promise that redevelopment holds. Aerial survey of the former Fort Monmouth property. (Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) But elsewhere are vast expanses of outdated buildings and overgrown lawns, fully eight years after the Army closed the post. Colossus Media Group, a digital marketing company, in July moved to 4,900 square feet in Russel Hall that once served as the fort’s headquarters. Dom Santamaria, who founded the company with his 19-year-old twin brother, Rocco, said the reasonable rent and vision of the fort as a high-tech hub convinced them to set up shop there. But he looked out of his window to a desolate landscape, aside from Verizon employees working on the fort’s communication system. “It’s just very slow,” Santamaria said. “We want to see it really take off. We have two or three client meetings a day where new clients come to our office and they’re, like, ‘We had no idea about Fort Monmouth, we didn’t even know that it existed.’” Bell Labs and Fort Monmouth were linchpins to the local economy, providing thousands of high-paying jobs that supported the housing market, restaurants and retailers. Their impact reached beyond their boundaries. Bell Labs employees spun off to form new companies. Fort Monmouth attracted defense contractors that filled local office parks. By one count, the fort was indirectly responsible for 22,000 jobs in New Jersey. Bell Labs’ owner Lucent Technologies Inc., closed the Holmdel building in 2007. Fort Monmouth was shuttered four years later. Fort Monmouth:Take a look at its 100 years of history For New Jersey, and the Shore in particular, their timing couldn’t have been worse. The state already was witnessing the giant millennial generation migrate from the suburbs to the cities. It was trudging through the Great Recession. And it was slammed in 2012 by superstorm Sandy. The Army agrees to lease 468 acres from a landowner in Eatontown. A temporary camp is set up in Little Silver for the Signal Corps.(Photo: U.S. Army Collections) The new installation gained permanent status in 1925 and was named Fort Monmouth in honor of the soldiers of the American Revolution who died in the battle of Monmouth Court House.(Photo: U.S. Army Collections) The first radio-equipped meteorological balloon soared into the upper reaches of the atmosphere, a forerunner of a weather sounding technique universally used today.(Photo: U.S. Army Collections) The Charles Wood site was added to the fort's property.(Photo: U.S. Army Collections) The Army's homing pigeon service, was headquartered at Fort Monmouth since the end of WWII, until it was discontinued in 1957 due to advances in communication systems.(Photo: U.S. Army Collections) Walter S. McAfee unveils a sign with the then-commander of Fort Monmouth.(Photo: U.S. Army Collections) The first televised weather satellite, Tiros-1, was developed under the supervision of Fort Monmouth Laboratories.(Photo: U.S. Army Collections) Colonel Clifford A. Poutre tossing the last bird in 1957 at the close-out of the U.S. Army Signal Corps Pigeon Service, Fort Monmouth.(Photo: U.S. Army Collections) A time capsule that was buried at Fort Monmouth in 1960 is removed in 2010.(Photo: File Photo) US Army Signal Corps time capsule that was buried in 1960 at Fort Monmouth is unearthed and will be transferred to Fort Gordon in Georgia. The ceremony at Russel Hall, June 21, 2010.(Photo: File Photo) 08-01-08 Aerial. Fort Monmouth taken Aug. 1, 2008.(Photo: File Photo) Fort Monmouth gate is locked following closure of the fort on Sept. 15, 2011.(Photo: File Photo) Fort Monmouth Police Lt. John Dixon (right) presents the final flag that flew over Fort Monmouth to Maj. Gen. Randolph P. Strong, commander of the Communications- Electronics Command at the post, Sept. 15, 2011.(Photo: File Photo) Cowan Park, Fort Monmouth.(Photo: File Photo) The left hand turn signal continues to function at the entrance to Fort Monmouth at Route 35 and Tinton Ave. in 2012, months after the fort had closed.(Photo: File Photo) Aerial view of Fort Monmouth in August 2008.(Photo: File Photo) Fort Monmouth's Avenue of Memories, seen here in 2014.(Photo: File Photo) Whitetail deer at Fort Monmouth(Photo: File Photo) Fort Monmouth, 2011.(Photo: File Photo) Fort Monmouth on Sept. 13, 2011.(Photo: File Photo) Commissary at Fort Monmouth in Eatontown Nov. 22, 2013.(Photo: File Photo) Rendering of Freedom Pointe, a mixed-use development planned for the Eatontown side of Fort Monmouth at the Route 35 entrance.(Photo: OURTESY OF PARAMOUNT REALTY/MASSA MULTIMEDIA ARCHITECTURE) An engraving on Russel Hall, Fort Monmouth, 2014.(Photo: File Photo) Looking East down the Avenue of Memories in Fort Monmouth, 2014.(Photo: File Photo) James Gorman, Chairman, Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, addresses crown gathered for the opening of County Route 537 through Fort Monmouth. Eatontown, NJ. Tuesday, January 17, 2017.(Photo: Noah K. Murray-Correspondent/Asbury Park Press) “I would have to say it was quite a major hit,” Ben Waldron, executive director of the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council, an economic development group, said of the two powerhouses shutting down at the same time. “I think probably more of a concern was the unknown of what we may have lost.” Karl G. Jansky of Bell Labs in 1933 with the rotating antenna he used to discover radio waves coming from space. Photo courtesy of Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs(Photo: Photo courtesy of Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs) This Dec. 20, 1974 photo provided Tuesday Oct. 6, 2009 by Alcatel-Lucent shows Bell Labs researchers Willard Boyle, left, and George Smith at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, N.J., with the charge-coupled device, which transforms patterns of light into useful digital information. Smith and Boyle, and Charles K. Kao, whose research in the 1960s laid the foundation for digital images and lightning-fast communication shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in physics Tuesday for their work developing fiber-optic cable and the sensor at the heart of digital cameras.(Photo: AP) In this undated handout photo released by Alcatel Lucent, Bell Labs' Robert Wilson, left, and Arno Penzias, 1978 Nobel Prize winners for their discovery of the "Big Bang" theory of the universe's creation, are photographed in front of the famous Horn Antenna in Holmdel, NJ From the ubiquitous technology made possible by Bell Labs' invention of the transistor and laser to its scientists helping prove how the universe began, the lab has greatly influenced technology and culture. (AP Photo/Alcatel Lucent)(Photo: AP) DR. ARNO PENZIAS AND DR. ROBERT WILSON STANDING ATOP THEIR RADIO TELESCOPE AT BELL LABS, HOLMDEL..(Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) August 16, 1985 David G Thomas (wearing dark jacket and glasses), executive director of AT&T Transmission Systems Division leads a demonstration of video teleconferences via satellite yesterday at Bell Laboratories in Holmdel Township while he views and talks to other particip[ants who are in Hawley PA. (Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) April 13 1992 Michael Jacobs an AT&T employee uses a prototype electronic toll collection system by AT&T and Lockheed at AT&T Bells Labs in Holmdel NJ last month. A smart card is inserted into a (dash-mounted) radio transponder near a toll- collection area where the toll amount can either be deducted from the smart card or a bill sent to the user. Receivers in the roadway note where the vehicles enter and exit. (Photo: AP) George Smith of Waretown: The 79-year-old former Bell Labs researcher won the Nobel Prize in physics along with a former co-worker for their 1969 invention. (PHOTO: JESSICA INFANTE) #43257(Photo: JESSICA INFANTE) 1990- Alan Huang, one of the AT&T Bell Laboratories research scientist who helped develop the world's first digital optical processor, in his labrotory. The optical processor, which makes use of light (photons), as opposed to electtrons, to process information, may eventually enable computers to operate 1,000 times faster then their electronic counterpart today. (Photo: Courtesy of AT&T) Holmdel, 5/6/98 - Exterior of Lucent Technologies - Bell Labs in Holmdel. ...(Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) 10/7/99 Bell Labs, Holmdel:Peter W. Wolniansky, a scientist in Wireless Communications, works on a piece of test equipment his team designed and built for their research.(Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) 10/7/99 Bell Labs, Holmdel: Peter W. Wolniansky, a scientist in Wireless Communications, works on a piece of test equipment his team designed and built for their research.(Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) 10/7/99 Bell Labs, Holmdel: Employees walk through the 2 million sq ft modern office building.(Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) The former Bell Labs building which hosted the NJ Economic Policy Forum. Holmdel -- 12/15/09 --(Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) Aerial photos of Monmouth and Ocean lakes and rivers. For story on water quality. Bell Labs in Holmdel...8/12/11(Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) Nobel winner Arthur Ashkin is honored at Bell Labs.(Photo: Brian Johnston, Brian Johnston) Ashkin won the Nobel Prize for physics for his three decades of work at Bell Labs in Holmdel.(Photo: Brian Johnston) View of the construction of the new outdoor deck at Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017.(Photo: Tanya Breen) A 2015 file photo shows the interior of Bell Works in Holmdel.(Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) 06/22/17 - Relaxing in a hammock, Dan Russo of Middletown, marketing associate, works with Allison Whalen of Howell, marketing associate, at Vydia inside Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Rick Saporta of Neptune City, director of data science, works at Vydia inside Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) View of the cafe at Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) View of the water tower from WorkWave’s vacant space, which will be built as the business grows, inside Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017.(Photo: Tanya Breen) (L-R) Ally Mnich of Holmdel, marketing coordinator, Leann Burns of Keyport, marleting coordinator, and Amanda Gagliano of Marlboro, marketing associate, work together on swing chairs and a bean bag chair at Vydia inside Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) View of the astroturf in the atrium area from the fifth floor inside Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017.(Photo: Tanya Breen) View of the astroturf area in the atrium of Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) Nala, owned by Sarah Robbins, director of client services, and Frankie Corrado, financial life guide, spends the day at Blue Blaze Financial Advisors inside Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) Overall of the lobby area at WorkWave inside Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) View of the entrance of Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) Lunchtime at Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) Ralph Zucker is winning accolades for bringing the old Bell Labs building back to life, turning a reserach center for a giant monopoly into an economic hub for the digital age.(Photo: Peter Ackerman) 03/31/17 Holmdel, NJ Ralph Zucker, President of Somerset Development, is shown under new solar panel glass (top, far left) that was recently installed at the Bell Works project site.(Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) The site of the former Bell Labs on Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel was opened to the public Wednesday evening as Somerset Developers presented their development plans.(Photo: THOMAS P. COSTELLO) People gather inside the former Bell Labs on Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel as it was opened to the public Wednesday evening as Somerset Developers presented their development plans.(Photo: THOMAS P. COSTELLO) A photographer works in the lobby of the former Bell Labs on Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel as it was opened to the public Wednesday evening as Somerset Developers presented their development plans.(Photo: THOMAS P. COSTELLO) People walk past a projected image inside the former Bell Labs on Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel as it was opened to the public Wednesday evening as Somerset Developers presented their development plans.(Photo: THOMAS P. COSTELLO) Interior of the former Bell Labs building which hosted the NJ Economic Policy Forum.(Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) Chris Bachofen, support representative, decorates his work space at WorkWave inside Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) Frank M. DeBenedetto, president and chief technology advisor of Two River Technology Group, poses for a photograph at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Monday, June 12, 2017.(Photo: Tanya Breen) David Battino of Tinton Falls, SEO manager, sits on a bean bag as he works at WorkWave inside Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) Paola Zamudio, creative director at Bell Works, chooses colors for the new furniture for the atrium at Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) (L-R) Lauren Dandusevski, director of agency services, Kristina Craven, talent development and onboarding specialist, and Michael Impelluso, website design and implementation manager, participate in a career development meeting at WorkWave inside Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017. (Photo: Tanya Breen) Josef Straus, retired CEO of JDS Uniphase who is Bell Works project's key investor.(Photo: Peter Ackerman) Bell Works in Holmdel has signed three new tenants, including MetTel, a New York communications company.(Photo: Photo courtesy of NPZ Design.) To turn out-of-date Bell Labs into Bell Works, Somerset Development has turned to Paola Zamudio, a New York designer who is trying to make the building state-of-the-art.(Photo: TANYA BREEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Workers eat lunch at Bell Works June 22 in Holmdel. $70 million in financing has been secured to continue upgrades in infrastructure and improvements for tenant spaces. Lunchtime at Bell Works, which is slowly becoming one of the hippest places to work in New Jersey, if not the country, in Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, June 22, 2017.(Photo: Tanya Breen, Tanya Breen) Colin Day Chairman and CEO of iCims addresses employees at the Bell Works building in Holmdel. They will be the anchor tenant in space.(Photo: Asbury Park Press File Photo) iCIMS, a fast growing technology company, signs a lease to take up 300,000 plus-square-feet of space in the former Bell Works building. Holmdel, NJ Wednesday, July 20, 2016@dhoodhood(Photo: Doug Hood/staff photographer) Vistors and employees gather for lunch in the open common space at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Nancy Araujo of East Brunswick and Daniella Tallarico of Brick, both work at Salon Concrete, play ping pong together at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Vistors and employees eat lunch outside of Bell Market at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) A man works on a laptop in the second floor hallway at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Vistors and employees walk around the building at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Employees walk around the hallways at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Vistors and employees eat lunch in the open common space at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Employees of iCMS eat lunch together at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) View at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Employees and visitors relax in the common space at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Caroline DeFelice of Shrewsbury, a freelance graphic artist, works in the comon area at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Bryce Bradley, 4, of Tinton Falls plays on the abstract seating during a visit to the library with his parents, Scott and Caroline, at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Employees and visitors walk the hallways at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Employees and visitors walk the hallways and eat lunch in the open common space at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ Thursday January 31, 2019. Bell Works versus Fort Monmouth. Who's winning? The Shore's two biggest redevelopment projects got underway at about the same time, but Bell Works has pulled far ahead in the race.(Photo: Tanya Breen) Next step and the next and the next Bell Labs’ redevelopment hasn't come easily. Somerset Development’s Ralph Zucker worked for a decade to wrest control of the property from other developers; convince Holmdel residents that he could save the iconic building; gain approvals from the town; and find the financing he needed to get started. But nothing quite compares with Fort Monmouth, whose redevelopment has been tangled in nearly every level of government bureaucracy since 2005, when it was targeted by the federal Base Closure and Realignment Commission for closure. The first step: Former Gov. Jon Corzine in 2006 signed into law the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Act, creating the now-defunct Fort Monmouth Revitalization Planning Authority. The next step: That authority drew up the Fort Monmouth Reuse and Redevelopment Plan in 2008, the blueprint to redevelop the fort once it closed, giving itself a 20-year window to sell off the fort. The next step: In 2010, the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority was signed into law by former Gov. Chris Christie to advance the plan. The plan originally called for 2 million square feet of office and technology space; 500,000 square feet of retail; 300,000 square feet of nonprofit, civic, government and educational space; 1,585 housing units and 500 acres of open space. It has been amended 14 times. “We have 10 people in the office that are 100 percent committed to their work through thick and thin,” said Bruce Steadman, FMERA’s executive director. “We have a long list of stakeholder partners that have been outstanding in their support and we have taken this skeleton that has been presented to us and we’ve put muscle and skin and flesh on it and have turned it into a living breathing entity.” As economy recovers, which do you bet on? At Bell Works, employees at the technology company WorkWave work in an office that looks like it would be at home in Silicon Valley, complete with beanbag chairs and a boardwalk-style basketball toss. Three years ago, the company was outgrowing its office in Neptune and looking for a place to expand. Chris Sullens, its chief executive officer at the time, began to search for space that was hip enough to attract a new generation of workers raised in the digital age. If he wanted to keep the company in Monmouth County, he said he had two choices: He could lease space at Bell Works, or he could purchase the McAfee Center, a building constructed in 1998 that has been targeted by the fort’s authority as the centerpiece of a technology campus. He went with Bell Works, agreeing to lease 77,000 square feet with an option for 77,000 more. It gave Zucker an anchor tenant, bringing life to the cavernous building. WorkWave moved in May 2017 with 185 employees. It has since grown to 220. And its website lists openings for 13 more. Zucker “had a pretty clear vision, and he was the decision-maker in terms of negotiating a lease and those kind of things,” Sullens said. “The challenge we had with Fort Monmouth is, there was similar, if not more, uncertainty in terms of who was going to be around.” At the fort, “you had the combination,” he said. “The Army was still involved with (FMERA). They were trying to sell the property instead of doing a straight lease, and then the amount of improvements that we would have had to do — because a lot of the buildings are out of date — just led to a timeline that wasn’t going to work for us.” The dam at Bell Works broke. Zucker looked like Alabama football coach Nick Saban signing all the blue-chip recruits. WorkWave was followed by perhaps the Shore’s biggest technology company, iCIMS. Jersey Central Power & Light, International Flavors & Fragrances, Guardian Life Insurance signed on. And more pieces are falling into place, including restaurants, retailers, and a 186-room boutique hotel on the roof. Sullens left WorkWave last summer to become CEO of CentralReach, a Florida-based company that develops health care software, but decided to at least temporarily keep the New Jersey operation of his new company at Bell Works. “As a high-tech company we feel this is the right place to be in New Jersey,” said Ekaterina Golovchenko, vice president of IPG Photonics, a company that develops lasers and plans to move from an office it is outgrowing in Holmdel to Bell Works in a couple of months. “It will help us attract new talent.” Fighting the U.S. Army? Don’t even try For a while, it looked like Fort Monmouth would be a tough competitor to Bell Works. Commvault, a technology company that spun off from Bell Labs and outgrew its space in Oceanport, picked the post for its sparkling new headquarters. It moved in 2015. But then the momentum stopped. In the way: 1. Outdated buildings The Meyer Center, also known as the “Hexagon” because of its shape, was a colossal building used for research and development, but FMERA couldn’t sell it. The property is 38 acres but saddled with about 700,000 square feet of buildings that are now obsolete. No developer wanted to spend the money to clear the structures. Only after the state's Economic Development Authority took control of the building and razed it at a reported cost of $1 million did FMERA attract a buyer: RWJBarnabas Health plans to purchase the property for $8 million to create a medical campus. Meyer Center: Fort Monmouth's Hexagon will be home to RWJBarnabas medical campus Then there is Howard Commons, a 64-acre site with 486 derelict housing units that once served as Army housing. The homes were shuttered in 1999. Two developers made offers but backed out during negotiations. Two of the major issues: high groundwater and asbestos remediation. 2. The changing marketplace Paramount Realty took a crack at developing a 90-acre parcel by the Route 35 entrance, going so far as to market the name, Freedom Pointe. The proposed $130 million project was to include 302 townhouses and 350,000 square feet of commercial space, giving the post a jewel of curb appeal. But the project stalled after it couldn’t attract retailers, the developers said. 3. Government red tape While FMERA was established in 2010 to lead the redevelopment, it didn’t have full control over the Main Post until it purchased the land from the Army a decade later for $33 million, using a loan from Monmouth County. The Army is still in the picture on the Charles Wood section. In the interim, any plans had to go through a lengthy approval process that frustrated developers and local leaders. Michael Abboud, chief executive officer of the technology company TetherView, negotiated with both the Army and FMERA to purchase Russel Hall in 2015 for $1.3 million. Now he’s trying to buy the 13-acre Allison Hall property for offices, retail and a hotel. New homes:Fort Monmouth real estate boom at Parker Creek It’s been an easier process now that the Army is no longer involved, Abboud said. “I believe I was the last contract purchaser from the Army,” Abboud said. “As you can imagine it was generally a bureaucratic process. I think it was also being defined as we were going. We were one of the first on the site. It was frustrating at that time. “The Allison Hall process is significantly different,” he said. “FMERA was involved in both, but (this time) FMERA didn’t have the extra layer of bureaucracy as I mentioned with the Army. It just made it a little more efficient. Allison is much more efficient.” The Army’s marching orders were to maximize the sales price for each parcel, Monmouth University’s Reinhart said. “That’s not the way to do a large development project,” he said. Fort Monmouth officials think momentum is picking up. The McAfee Center that wasn't ready for WorkWave will be put out to bid this winter or spring and has already drawn strong interest, said David Nuse, Fort Monmouth's director of real estate. Bell Works' Somerset has signed on to build 140 townhouses at the fort near the Little Silver train station. "The success of both Bell Works and, eventually, Fort Monmouth, is going to be providing a place to work closer to home for the incredibly talented work force in New Jersey," Ralph Zucker said in an interview. And on a Friday night late in January, Trinity Hall threw the lights on and welcomed the community inside for a tour a new academic wing that doubled the school's size to 40,000 square feet. “We love our place on the fort because we have a nice location to the distance from our (students') towns,” said Mary Sciarrilo, head of school. Enrollment has climbed from 159 when it moved to Fort Monmouth in 2016 to 247, drawing students from Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. The new addition means even more students. The new addition of Trinity Hall, an all-girls private school in Tinton Falls. Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) Balloons marked the unveiling of the new addition of Trinity Hall, an all-girls private school in Tinton Falls. Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) Trinity Hall's Head of Schools Mary Sciarrillo, greets people at the unveiling of a new wing at the all-girls' private school on Fort Monmouth on Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) Trinity Hall's new chapel, which was part of the new wing that was unveiled at the all-girls' private school on Fort Monmouth on Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) Trinity Hall's new chapel, which was part of the new wing that was unvield at the all-girls' private school on Fort Monmouth on Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) Looking down Trinity Hall's new wing, which was part of an expansion at the all-girls' private school on Fort Monmouth that was unveiled on Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) Trinity Hall's Head of Schools Mary Sciarrillo, greets people at the unveiling of the new academic wing at the all-girls' private school on Fort Monmouth on Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) Erin Straine, a visual arts instructor at Trinity Hall, tours the new studio that was part of the expansion of the all-girl's private school in Tinton Falls on Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) People walk the hallway at the unveiling of the new academic wing at the all-girls' private school on Fort Monmouth on Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) Cheryl O'Kelly of Brielle, tours the new visual arts studio that was part of the expansion of the all-girl's private school in Tinton Falls on Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) The Trinity Hall emblem. The all-girl's private school in Tinton Falls unveiled a new wing on Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) New lockers located in the new wing Trinity Hall, an all-girl's private school in Tinton Falls. The wing was unveiled Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) A new stairwell in the new wing Trinity Hall, an all-girl's private school in Tinton Falls. The wing was unveiled Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) Looking down the new wing of Trinity Hall, an all-girl's private school in Tinton Falls. The wing was unveiled Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) Trinity Hall students in attendance for the unveiling of the new wing for the all-girl's private school in Tinton Falls on Jan. 25, 2019.(Photo: Felecia Wellington Radel) “It was viewed as a 20-year redevelopment project," Nuse said. "Our anticipation is that the fort will be fully redeveloped by that date." If not sooner, Steadman said. “I think in my mind, we’re probably two to three years ahead of schedule at this point,” Steadman said. Still, there are days when 20 years doesn't seem long enough. On a dreary Thursday night, a workshop meeting of the Oceanport mayor and council meeting devolved into a shouting match as the governing body debated FMERA’s amendments to a plan for a college campus at Squier Hall. Historic Russell Hall on the former Fort Monmouth property in Oceanport. The historic building once served as the garrison headquarters. The building is owned by TetherView. Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) The East Gate townhomes on the former Fort Monmouth property in Oceanport. The historic homes are the former "Officer's Row." Nov. 14, 2018.(Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) The Parker Creek section of the former Fort Monmouth property in Oceanport. Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) Historic Russell Hall on the former Fort Monmouth property in Oceanport. The historic building once served as the garrison headquarters. The building is owned by TetherView. Nov.. 14, 2018. (Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) Parcel B section of the former Fort Monmouth property. This section is in Eatontown and is designated for a town center in the fort's reuse plan. Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) The former Army chapel on the former Fort Monmouth property in Oceanport. The church is owned by Triumphant Life Church Assembly of God. Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) The Howard Commons area on the former Fort Monmouth property is shown Wednesday, November 14, 2018.(Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) The Howard Commons area (right) on the former Fort Monmouth property is shown Wednesday, November 14, 2018.(Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) The Howard Commons area (lower left) on the former Fort Monmouth property is shown Wednesday, November 14, 2018.(Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) Looking west from the parade grounds on the former Fort Monmouth property in Oceanport. Nov. 14, 2018. (Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) Aerial photo of the Oceanport side of Fort Monmouth where the borough's police department is located in the former Fort Monmouth firehouse in the center of the photo. Nov. 14, 2018.(Photo: Thomas P. Costello & Mike Davis) The Army used the hall, built in 1935, as a laboratory for the Signal Corps. It is now the proposed site of a New Jersey City University satellite campus. The borough supports the campus. But FMERA wants to allow for an 80-foot-high performing arts building, a five-story dormitory and a parking garage. The council is wary that the dorm means they will have to absorb more residents than they're statutorily required. Squire Hall: New Jersey City University bringing campus to Fort Monmouth The proposal is not consistent with Oceanport’s zoning, which only allows for building heights of 35 feet. The town doesn’t even have a fire ladder that can reach 80 feet, Council President Steve Solon said. “It’s an example of our zoning laws being taken out to the woodshed,” Councilman Rob Proto said. “The plan is equivalent of FMERA trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.” Michael L. Diamond; @mdiamondapp; 732-643-4038; mdiamond@gannettnj.com. Dan Radel: @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com Enjoy a limted number of articles over the next 30 days Subscribed, but don't have a login? Activate your digital access. To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Bell Works v. Fort Monmouth: Is there room for both at the Shore? They're 13 miles apart on the Parkway and both racing for a piece of the tech pie Check out this story on app.com: https://www.app.com/story/money/business/main-street/2019/02/11/bell-works-v-fort-monmouth-there-room-both-shore/2524058002/	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1218
__label__cc	0.593614	0.406386	Homily on the Feast of the Transfiguration Archdiocese Staff Keeler Homilies Thanks to Supreme Knight Carl Anderson for the invitation to offer these reflections on the word of God proclaimed here today. It is early in the day, too early perhaps for me to ask questions of you, but not too early for us to recognize that the prophet Daniel knew how to catch the attention of those he wished to reach. (Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14) In the first reading, Daniel relates his extraordinary vision of God the Father. In vivid language, he talks about the power and glory of our heavenly Father. His account is refreshing, as he describes God’s throne as one of fire and tells of the “thousands upon thousands” who minister unto God. Ours is a festal gathering, and I take it as an opportunity to recall a festive moment in Rome at the end of June, when the Holy Father led in the celebration of the First Vespers for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul and promulgated his Apostolic Exhortation following on the Special Synod of Bishops for Europe. The next day came the Eucharist for the feast and the conferral of the pallium, the sign of office of Archbishop and Metropolitan, on some 40 new archbishops from around the world, including our own Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee. Although his limbs are frail, the Holy Father’s voice was strong and clear on both occasions. What a wonderful gift the Lord has given to the Church in the person of our Holy Father, successor of the Apostle Peter. Tradition places the site of the Transfiguration at Mount Tabor, a tradition Pope John Paul recalled earlier this year when he added to the Rosary the new Mysteries of Light. If you have seen Mt. Tabor, you know it is a special place. It juts up from the Plains of Esdralon, like a loaf of bread upended. When Jesus led the Apostles up that mountain, he challenged them to an exertion that required them to climb a very steep slope and brought them to a place where they could look to the West and see the Mediterranean on the horizon, stretching away toward Greece and other points, and to the East. There they saw the depression caused by the Sea of Galilee and knew that Copernaum and Tiberias were on its banks. Also, very clear before them was the village of Nazareth, where Jesus, conceived of the Virgin Mary, began his sojourn on earth. (2 Peter 1:16-19) In the second reading the Apostle Peter himself addresses us. He compares the message, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” to “a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (Mark 9:2-10) The Gospel passage brings us again in touch with the event of the Transfiguration. There is an explosion of light, of brightness, so that the Godhead is visible in the humanity of Jesus. Before this moment of new and intense light, the three Apostles had been drowsy. Now the weariness was gone. They were totally awake. They were pointed in a new direction, with an inner firmness of purpose and conviction. They heard from Jesus a new charge: they were not to reveal what had happened until he rose from the dead. But this mystery of resurrection they did not, they could not understand, nor could they grasp what he meant by his prediction of betrayal and of physical suffering. We do know what happened, and we see it repeated, dramatically and painfully, in our own day. But we know that all is for the purification of our family of faith, the Church. Now we prepare to enter into the great mystery of faith, when Jesus, under signs of bread and wine, renews his great prayer to the Father and the sacrifice that makes our peace with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are attentive to the Father’s words, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” We may thank God that the Church has listened to the Son in the tradition that is living and vital. We know we are called to works of justice and peace, and especially must we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and that who Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce nunc enim, consequat ac nunc eu. Miami priest brings social media muscle to Mid-Atlantic Congress January 22, 2020 ‘Ed’ Wall, former Catholic Review editor and veteran journalist, dies at 94 January 22, 2020 An open letter to the former royals during #Megxit January 21, 2020 Bishop Strickland says he asked pope about McCarrick report January 21, 2020 God calls the Catholics of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to be a welcoming, worshipping community of faith, hope, and love. Through his Spirit, the Lord Jesus lives in those who believe, and reaches into our world with his saving message and healing love. 320 Cathedral Street As disciples of Jesus our mission is: Evangelization: to evangelize ourselves, our families, our parish and local communities, and our world. Liturgy: to celebrate our faith with joy through vibrant and prayerful worship. Education: to educate and become educated in the truths of the Gospel and in the formation of conscience. Service: to reach out in love and service to those in need. Stewardship: to develop the material, financial and human resources of the Church and to manage them as faithful stewards. Miami priest brings social media muscle to Mid-Atlantic Congress ‘Ed’ Wall, former Catholic Review editor and veteran journalist, dies at 94 An open letter to the former royals during #Megxit	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1220
__label__wiki	0.802692	0.802692	http://www.barrons.com/articles/generations-take-sides-on-organic-non-gmo-foods-1483167189 Generations Take Sides on Organic, Non-GMO Foods Follow Up \| Dow Indicator \| Preview Disconnect: Younger consumers think organic and non-GMO food is healthier. Yet their eating habits suggest otherwise. Illustration: William Waitzman for Barron’s According to a recent Pew Research Center study, more young folks than old ones think organic food is healthier than conventionally grown alternatives. Likewise, the under-30 crowd is far more in favor than its elders of foods that haven’t been made with genetically modified organisms. Yet, the generations’ eating habits are remarkably similar, perhaps because, while talk is cheap, organic and non-GMO foods aren’t. Pew found that 61% of respondents aged 18 to 29 said organic options were better for them, compared with 45% of respondents 65 and over who felt that way. But just 41% of the under-30s said most or some of the food they eat is organic, roughly on par with the 39% of older adults who favor organic products. The generation gap was almost as narrow when it came to consumption of non-GMO foods. The food-service industry is betting that younger consumers’ growing financial clout will alter eating patterns over time. Many restaurants are redesigning their menus to include, or even emphasize, organic options, while packaged-food companies are changing their product line-ups. General Mills (ticker: GIS) removed genetically modified ingredients from some of its brands, and Hormel Foods (HRL) acquired Applegate Farms, a seller of organic packaged meats. In April, Hershey (HSY) acquired the parent company of barkTHINS, certified non-GMO chocolate snacks. Studies have found little evidence that organic foods are are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods, or that GMO foods pose health risks. But don’t expect most millennials to bite. -- Gabriel Alpert The Fallout Over Hacking The White House announced sanctions against Russia for hacking Democratic Party organizations during the presidential election. The U.S. expelled some 35 Russian intelligence officers and their families, penalized four top military intelligence officers, closed two Russian facilities in the U.S., and claimed that American diplomats in Russia had been harassed. Russia criticized the actions, but President Vladimir Putin chose not to retaliate against U.S. diplomats in Moscow. President-elect Donald J. Trump, who has been skeptical of Russian involvement, reiterated his call to “move on,” but promised to meet with U.S. intelligence officials about the hacking this week. Battling over Israel After the U.S. abstained on a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements on the West Bank, Secretary of State John Kerry harshly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for blocking progress to a two-state solution. Netanyahu fired back that Kerry was paying lip-service to terrorism. Earlier, President-elect Trump had lobbied the White House to veto the resolution. More from Trump Besides comments about Russian hacking and support for Israel, the president-elect announced he would dissolve his charitable foundation, which remains under investigation by the New York attorney general, and took credit for some 8,000 U.S. jobs earlier promised by Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son, the chief of U.S. wireless carrier Sprint and satellite company OneWeb. A Jolly Shopping Season The Christmas shopping season looks likely to show robust growth, according to The Wall Street Journal. The strengthening U.S. economy fueled online and last-minute shopping that made up for a slow start. Estimates from retail research firms suggest stronger growth than in recent years, with growth approaching the mid-2000s. Quiet Holiday Markets The Trump stock rally lost a little altitude as 2016 came to an end in light trading, but remains above levels from before Election Day. The Standard & Poor’s ended the year up 9.54%, while the Dow Jones industrials finished up 13.42%. Shaky Syrian Cease Fire In Syria, a cease fire between the Russian-backed Syrian government, Turkey, and some rebel groups began on Friday, with reports of scattered violations. The agreement, pushed through by Russia, follows the defeat of rebel forces by the government in Aleppo. Unresolved issues remain between the parties to the cease fire, which even Russian President Putin characterized as “fragile.” Fisher, Reynolds Die Actress, author, playwright and producer Carrie Fisher, 60, died after suffering a heart attack on a plane. Fisher, the daughter of Hollywood stars Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, was most famous for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies, and for her work about her own bipolar condition. A day after her death, Reynolds, 84, died suddenly. • Singer George Michael, 53, passed away on Christmas Day. • Auto-parts maker Takata appears close to a settlement with federal prosecutors over exploding air bags. Edited by Robert Teitelman and Bill Alpert Food for Thought: Millennials favor organic, non-GMO foods more than seniors do	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1230
__label__cc	0.729632	0.270368	The Issue And Action Of Drugs 941 WordsJun 13, 20164 Pages War on drugs has been an issue in the United States for several years now. Being a college student at East Carolina University, I have met several people in the community and have witnessed a lot. As I continued to grow as an adult at East Carolina, I began to fully understand how serious of a problem drugs were. People see doing drugs as a way to fit in with others, using it for social purposes. After having friends go to the hospital or sadly, die from an overdose on drugs, I have decided to take action myself. It seems that the majority of the people today do not want to fully understand the consequences that come from drugs. Yes, they feel sympathy for those who have passed away from overdose or mixing drugs with other drugs but do not seem to change their ways any. We first as a community need to understand and accept the fact that drugs are a serious issue and action needs to take place. The solution to preventing people from getting their hands into addictive drugs and becoming addicted to them is for our community and law enforcement to collaborate and start a prevention agency. Firstly, it all starts with the children and I believe we should start trying to find a way to keep drugs away from them. We need them to understand at a young age that doing drugs is not something cool to do even though you may see it as a fun time like television shows and movies make it out to be. This is when parents and school systems should play a big role. They need to let kids know The War On Drugs : A New Us National Security Doctrine concept of security has meant that other issues, additional to ones outlined by the traditional definition, are included in it’s conceptualization. This means that the concept of security has grown to include environmental, economic, and social issues of security which have a big effect on how security is understood in general. Within the domain of social issues, they can be further broken down to include things like the war on drugs, which as a social issue has had a unique effect on the security Drugs and Ethics Essay example companies tend to use shortcuts that create ethical problems. Drug companies have spent millions/billions of dollars in research, and they obviously want to see favorable results during the testing stage so they know that they didn't spend all that money for nothing. The companies usually are the ones who influence what, when, how and who tests their drugs. This gives them an influential leg up on the negative outcomes. Sometimes, drug companies have even resorted to testing on individual without Background 1 Objectives 2 Proposed Actions 2 Anticipated Outcomes 3 Key roles and responsibilities 3 Timelines and resources required 3 Key risks 3 Evaluation Method 3 References 4 Background Drugs and alcohol is a major social issue (J. David Hawkins, Richard F. Catalano, and Janet Y. Miller, 1992). It is not something that can be solved by the law (Lee P. Brown, 2008). Throughout history, many attempts have been made to try and legalize and control alcohol and drug addiction but has failed Factors That Affect The Rate Of Drug Distribution rate of drug distribution. Absorption "The main factor which relates to absorption of drugs is the route of administration. Physiological considerations in absorption are blood flow, total surface area, time of arrival of the drug and time of drug at absorption site. Other considerations for absorption are solubility, chemical stability and how soluble the drug is in lipids". Distribution "Drugs are distributed into major body fluids (e.g. plasma). Specific tissues may take up certain drugs (e.g. iodine The Disastrous Effects Of Parental Drug Addiction On Children The Disastrous Impact of Parental Drug Addiction on Children Drug addiction is a serious issue in not only America today, but globally. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, substance addiction is a “chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite the harmful consequences” (“What is drug addiction?”). Drug abuse affects not only the user, but those around the user as well. The actions of a drug user place a significant amount of worry Module 3 Questions Essay 1. Are drug companies that test experimental drugs in foreign countries acting ethically? Drug companies that test experimental drugs in foreign countries are not acting ethically. Testing of experimental drugs should be done in the country where the drugs are being manufactured. The major ethical dilemma is that the foreign countries that these clinical trials are not fully educated on the risks and understand what they are getting themselves into. In the article, many things stood out that Essay about Counter Narcotics United States has a very stern policy regarding the use, distribution, and trafficking of drugs. However, it is clear that the current U.S. policy is failing, and the supply of illegal drugs as well as the demand is increasing. The U.S. government has focused for years on dealing with the demand aspect of this issue. Through government programs directed towards education and national awareness of the harm that drugs cause, the government has been attempting to severely reduce the demand for narcotics The Role Of Ethics And Differences For Nurses priority of physicians is different than the priority for nurses. Although they both want the best for their patients’ health, nurses are not met with the same high demands as doctors. The modern practice of medicine raises a plethora of complex issues, medical, ethical and legal and while the nurses is primarily focused on the patient, the doctor has much more to consider. Representatives from Industry: Insurance Companies Insurance companies are responsible for selling health care plans to people Harmful Effects of Drugs on the Human Body to their bodies without any further thoughts of the impacts, for example like drugs use. From my own perspective, I believe that there must be a limitation on the use of strong drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine which have high tendency of addiction. Besides, these kinds of drugs will lead to a drastic changes not only mentally but also physically. Behaviors are one of the obvious changes on the drugs user which will led them to harm a person regardless who such as his or her families The People's Republic of Bangedesh is Combatting Drug Trafficking Republic of Bangladesh adheres to the international effort in combating the illicit trade of drugs through multiple United Nations treaties such as the 1961 First Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 Convention against the Illicit Trade in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Bangladesh stresses the need of addressing the illicit trade of drugs within the respective borders of Member States alongside an active participation of the international More about The Issue And Action Of Drugs How Thinking Controls Our Behavior Inventory Control And Its Effect On The Performance Of The Production Control System The Caribbean And C.l. R. James Student Credit Cards For College Students Computerized Physician Order Entry Systems Is Kantian Moral Philosophy Inferior?	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1231
__label__cc	0.657222	0.342778	A Taxi Driver Texting While Driving May Have Caused Yellow School Bus Accident On Monday morning in the Briarwood area of Queens New York, as the school bus was traveling west on 87th Avenue, a taxi driver allegedly ran a red light and collided with the school bus. The accident caused the bus to roll on its side. According to the New York Post, there were children, the bus driver and a chaperone on the bus at the time of the accident. The chaperone suffered serious injuries and had to be cut from the wreckage. Witnesses said that the taxi driver was talking on a cell phone at the time of the crash. Just within this past month, there was another yellow bus accident in Queens where a minivan crashed into a school bus and another school trip bus accident as kids were coming home after a day at Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom. Earlier this year, a dump truck collided with a school bus in Chesterfield and it killed one triplet and seriously injured her sister as well as other students. In the United States, most school buses are not required by law to have passenger seat belts. Instead, it is believed that the school buses provide protection to the riders by creating small passenger compartments in the event of a crash. In addition, they should have crush-proof roofs in case of a rollover, strong joints in between steel paneling, seats with high backs and thick padding. However, it appears that even with these "safety features" yellow school bus riders are still thrown around the passenger compartment of the bus during an accident and seriously injured or killed. If you, your child, or a loved one was injured while on a yellow bus or school bus, you would want to speak with an attorney who is experienced with complex cases and special laws regarding school buses, manufacturing defects, road design defects, school transportation, driver error, product defects and motor vehicle accident law. Since 1958, the experienced auto and bus accident attorneys here at the Philadelphia Beasley Law Firm have been successfully representing children who were catastrophically injured or killed in bus accidents. To date, we have had over $2 billion awarded on behalf of our injured clients with hundreds of million and multi-million dollar verdicts or settlements. Please feel free to contact us at (215) 866-2424 for a strictly confidential and free consultation. FAQ: Do I Have to Report My Accident to the Authorities?	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1234
__label__cc	0.728181	0.271819	Philip Guston began his career as a figurative painter in the 1930s and 1940s, working at times for the WPA. He was soon swept up into the current of abstract expressionism, however, and his work from the following two decades was primarily non-objective. This exhibition focused on the drawings that he executed between 1968 and 1980 in which he revisited the figurative vocabulary of symbols and idioms of his work from the '30s and '40s. Throughout Guston's fifty-year artistic career he worked in "cycles," continuously reinventing his style. He often used drawings as sounding boards to work out ideas, images and compositions. The pure nature of drawing and the immediacy of the medium made it the perfect vehicle to explore and develop his thoughts "without the distraction of color and mass." Recurring images in these late drawings include nail-studded shoes, books, clocks, ropes and the hooded figure that first appeared in the 1930 drawing for Conspirators. In the mid 1970s, Guston removed the figure's hood to reveal a bloated, one-eyed head, often smoking cigarettes and surrounded by studio detritus. These self referential works reflected Guston's growing struggles with age and sickness, which were to plague him until his death.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1244
__label__wiki	0.770931	0.770931	Irene’s Ghost – A new feature length documentary exploring mental illness, family, grief and friendship Inspired by the birth of his own daughter, Irene’s Ghost director, Iain Cunningham sets out to discover what happened to his mother Irene, who died when he was three years old, and who has remained a mystery to him all these years. There seemed to be a lot of confusion around Irene’s death, and no one in his family spoke much about it. At age 18, Iain’s dad gave him a box of Irene’s belongings, and Iain was shocked to discover that among jewellery, trinkets and photographs, was his baby book which had some strange scribblings in the front-cover. The layers of silence around Irene’s death were so tightly bound, that it took Iain decades to broach the subject with his father. But as he encountered long-lost relatives and friends of Irene, he got to know her through their stories and began to piece together the fragments of her life. 'Irene’s Ghost' follows director Iain Cunningham’s personal journey of discovery about who his mother was. Mixing animation with filmed footage, this feature documentary movingly rebuilds a lost life, and opens up important conversations around postpartum psychosis, mental illness, grief, family and friendship. You can watch Irene’s Ghost at the BFI London Film Festival on Saturday 13th and Tuesday 16th of October. Tickets can be purchased at this link: http://bit.ly/IrenesGhostLFF Follow Irene's Ghost on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and keep in the loop about any future screenings by visiting the film's website. Author: Guest Blogger	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1245
__label__wiki	0.774376	0.774376	Toll Free +1 855-345-1420 9am - 9pm EST contact@bestdegree.online Campus Schools Search Universities By Arts & Humanities Earn an accredited arts & humanities degree from a top arts school A degree in arts & humanities may open door to vast career options in numerous fields such as media & communication, fine arts, culinary arts, hospitality management, human psychology, history and politics. A bachelor's of arts degree in any of the disciplines related to arts & humanities can help a graduate secure a mid-level career position in the public or private sector. After high school, a student may opt for an associate degree to begin a career in some of the most sought-after fields like TV & press journalism, interior designing and cooking. Those who are already doing an entry-level or mid-level job and possess an undergraduate degree may opt for a master’s program in their specific field to witness progression in their respective professions. In order to obtain authority over a subject, a student may carry on with a doctorate or PhD degree to bring innovation to his/her profession and provide answers to the questions faced by his/her peers in the occupation. Explore from our large database of accredited arts & humanities colleges to earn a university degree and fulfill your career goals. Choose from the following top arts & humanities institutes to earn your accredited degree: Berkeley College Berkeley College Campus © bestdegree.online All Rights Reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1246
__label__cc	0.612682	0.387318	Bill's Book Reviews and News Interesting books, and news items about books and periodicals, particularly with respect to political and social issues. Since May, 2016, many of my larger book reviews have been put on a hosted Wordpress site; so now this blog emphasizes previews, interviews with authors, booklets, large periodical articles, and literary business issues. Note: no one pays me for these reviews; they are not "endorsements"! Jesse Ventura's "American Conspiracies": Wow! Author(s): Jesse Ventura (aka James George Janos) and Dick Russell Title: "American Conspiracies" Publication: 2010, Skyhorse Publishing, ISBN 978-1-60239-802-3, 228 pages, hardcover, 14 chapters; Amazon link. The title of the book calls to mind the film “An American Haunting.” I feel flippant because I was astonished at the mass of theories presents. Ventura was governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, and was considered both an Independent and a rep for the Reform Party. He was popular with the Libertarian Party of Minnesota during the days that I worked with them . He is level-headed and sensible, so at first glance this work sounds astonishing. Some of his other books are “I Ain’t Got Time to Bleed” and “Don’t Start the Revolution Without Me.” The best way for me to launch a review of this book is to develop my own personal experience with some of the material he presents. I remember the joyful “wake” in an Irish bar in St. Paul, MN on election night in November 1998, with friends from the LPMN. We broke out in cackles as Ventura pulled ahead. I had been impressed by the level of activism. An insurance professional had run for city council in Minneapolis (“basic services first” -- I remember the debates on loose shopping carts) and a college student (who would later launch my speech and cable television appearance on my own book) had run for council in St. Paul at something like age 21. Flash forward three years, to a Saturday night late in September in 2001. Jesse Ventura, while governor, comes to the Human Rights Campaign dinner in Minneapolis. We have a chat (by then he probably knew me and my work on “don’t ask don’t tell”), and we talk about 9/11. He agrees with me that “It is safe to fly” now. There’s no hint of radical interpretations of all these “bad things” in his remarks. Now, I flash back to about a week before 9/11, when I had moved into a larger apartment in the same downtown Minneapolis highrise. I celebrate Labor Day weekend by going up north, to Duluth gay pride, and stay in a motel in Wisconsin, unable to connect to my email. But Sunday night, in Thunder Bay, Canada, I connect to AOL, and I recall a bizarre email heading with “911” in the title. I figure it is sent by a virus and delete it. But several other friends of mine report getting a similar email, which had apparently arrived mid-day Saturday. The day after Labor Day, back at work, I picked up a Popular Science issue in a drug store, an issue that talks about the possibility of local EMP attacks launched by terrorists with relatively cheap microwave generators. Another friend at work (rather much more of a techie and engineer than me) had seen it and is concerned. Later, the movie “Oceans 11” would have a plot incident based on the idea. The last two days that week (Sept. 6 and 7), we had the largest (and really only) computer network virus infection ever at work. It was a big deal. I had a feeling something was going to happen. It had been a bizarre summer in some ways, and there was a sense something would happen. So I dig Ventura’s imagination, at least. We needed more imagination, and we certainly need it now. But if the government (the old libertarian paranoia, perhaps) is the source of the plots rather than Al Qaeda, we’re pretty much sitting ducks. Let me mention one more autobiographical oddity. I spent boyhood summers in a town of Kipton, Ohio, five miles west of Oberlin; and I was told by local sources that the flight 93 actually turned in that area and might have crashed a few miles NE of Kipton. So I come back to the subject of “imagination” and I must say that Ventura states a lot of facts and theories. And he does provide beaucoup bibliographic references and endnotes. It would be quite a challenge to go through this book’s 14 chapters on different “incidents”. On 9/11, he mentions some interesting records about the path of Flight 77, enough to suggest that something else (a missile) could have hit the Pentagon – and notes the lack of debris from Flight 93 and similar questions about its path and whether the government really would have shot it down in time to protect the Capitol if “Let’s Roll” hadn’t happened. Why was the government so slow to respond to the multiple attacks? He questions the usual theories that jet fuel fire could have caused the WTC towers to pancake in ten seconds, and analyzes the nearby Building 7 that collapsed. He recommends the “Loose Change” movie (reviewed on the “disaster movies” blog Oct. 1, 2009. One could ask questions about why FBI Agent John O'Neill was "allowed" to go to work for the Port Authority and WTC Security Operations and be in the towers on 9/11, his first day of work on a new job, to die, as in a PBS Frontline documentary (link, near the end). One should also ask why Zacarias Moussaoui's laptop wasn't examined by the FBI (he was nabbed in Minnesota in flight training, remember), or about FBI agent Coleen Rowley whose warnings were ignored (I believe I met her in a coffee line on the Skyway underneath the Minneapolis 111 Building once), or about the NSA's intercepting a message (like the mysterious email above) on 9/10 and not looking at it until 9/12. By the way, there were mysterious arrests in Boston on 9/12 that the media reported but never followed up on. Ventura's most convincing chapters concern the stolen election(s). It’s true that voting software is vulnerable to manipulation. I’ve worked as an election judge three times in northern VA, and found the procedures (with the machines from Advanced Voting Solutions, with no paper trail) strict enough – we were kept there for 18 hour days with low pay. In Minnesota we had voted with punched cards that could be counted, so there was a paper trail. He mentions, in discussion of the 2004 election, the subjects of draft dodging and combat heroism in Vietnam, somewhat in departure from his libertarian leanings. He also suggests that one official who “knew to much” may have been murdered by having an microwave EMP blast fired at a private plane he was in. That’s the old but obscure Popular Science article again. The Washington Times has also discussed the EMP problem in some op-ed columns (see my International Issues blog). On the Collapse of 2008, his work more or less parallels the writings of Michael Lewis (“The Big Short”, which I haven’t personally looked at yet but saw summarized on 60 minutes – see my TV blog for March 15). True, AIG and Goldman-Sachs were artificial. Ventura "comes out" for ending the war on drugs in his chapter on the Iran-contra affair. On other materials, he really gets interesting. On the JFK assassination, he presents the theory of a double for Oswald, which sounds reasonable. On Watergate, he supposes that Nixon wasn’t so bad himself but that he was set up, with a Watergate burglary intended to fail and “get caught”. He explores the idea of a “Manchurian candidate” style mind control black ops in the CIA, particularly with the RFK assassination and possible programming of Sirhan. He talks about Lincoln’s end as a wide-netted plot not covered in history books, and mentions the possibility of biological warfare (with yellow fever) in the Civil War (let alone smallpox in the Revolutionary and French and Indian Wars). He presents some evidence that Jonestown was actually underwritten by the CIA, with almost all the residents actually murdered. One can only say, wow. In his last chapter, he warns about the extent that government can go to, declaring martial law and shutting down communication on the Internet at a whim. This is no “duck and cover”. I remember the concerns right after 9/11 about the web and steganography, and the idea that ordinary people’s sites could be hacked with steganographic instructions. In fact, on an old site of mine, a file was hacked right at the point where I started talking about suitcase nukes. Who was trying to send me a message. The Alex Jones Channel offers a perspective on the book (and Ventura's TV shows and "True TV"): Jones calls this Ventura's "best books" and speaks of government crimes himself. There were at least two "hit man" killings of people working on highly sensitive government projects in the Maryland suburbs of DC in late 2008, in one case leaving bizarre clues on social networking sites; one wonders if Ventura's theories could apply to these cases. The governmnet did it? Frankly, “my dear”, I an’t got time to bleed. Posted by Bill Boushka at 6:14 PM 1 comment: Labels: financial stability, history, meeting radical Islam, Ventura Scientific American offers comprehensive view of Titan, most "Earthlike" body in Solar System ("moon" of Saturn) besides Earth itself Although usually magazine articles shouldn’t get book reviews (I do a few with NatGeo), the March 2010 Scientific American has a fascinating portrait of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, well deserving of blogger congratulations. It’s on page 36 (does SciAm use wonderful font for its page numbers? – looks like grade school!). The article is by Ralph Lorenz and Christopher Sotin, and it is titled “The Moon that would be a planet.” Larger than Mercury, it has an atmosphere thicker than Earth’s, and apparently is the only other body in the solar system with both significant land and liquid surfaces. (That’s superficial – underneath, there may be a water layer, like Europa, or ice; also, the appearance of Triton and Pluto deserves some speculation). The article compares the structure of Earth’s atmosphere’s to Titan’s. There is a kind of pseudo-volcanism that may resurface Titan every hundred thousand years or so (a similar observation has been made about Venus, which turned itself inside out half a billion years ago, pretty recently). But from pictures and aerial maps, some of it looks like California desert country. One observer thought he recognized Malibu Beach in one of the pictures. The link for the article is here. One of my own movie scripts is called “69 Minutes to Titan.” That’s about how far light would take to get there from Earth when Saturn is on the same side of the Sun as Earth. BBC Worldwide YouTube video on Titan: Carl Sagan's illustrated book "Cosmos" in 1980 had offered artist's impressions of Titan and suggested that organic compounds called thiolins fall on the surface. Posted by Bill Boushka at 7:02 PM No comments: Labels: astronomy Jim Wallis: "Rediscovering Values": a call for more sociability? What about introverts? Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street Author: Jim Wallis Title: "Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street: A Moral Compass for the New Economy" Publication: New York: Howard Books, 2010. ISBN 978-1-4391-8312-0, 255 pages, hardcover, 7 parts, 17 chapters, Introduction and Epilogue, endnotes. Available as ebook. ‘’ On page 56, Wallis writes, “The problem comes when ‘I am special” turns into ‘I am an exception.’ When ‘I believe in myself’ becomes ‘I do not believe in others.”” I would react by saying, “I believe in some others, but I must have the freedom to select those others.” I remember an episode of WB’s “Smallville” where teenage Clark Kent says, “I’m different, not special.” I’m getting ahead of myself, here. I’ll come back to the personal reaction. This book was mentioned in a recent issue of the AARP Magazine, and purports to be an interdenominational examination of our values, of what we should be living for as we come out of the Great Recession. You could say that he combines George Soros's criticism of "market fundamentalism" with a religious suspicion of hyperindividualism. In a sum, it seems that we are no longer sufficiently social (or sociable) creatures. (On p. 63 there is a section “We are social creatures” in the chapter “It’s all about me”.) We need to learn to live for purposes greater than ourselves. (John McCain has said that.) We need not so much a social contract as a social “covenant”. But, in this author’s view, the issue is much bigger than the loss of the focus on “family”, even if it should not remain so nebulous as "the common good". In fact, Wallis stays away from characterizations of the “natural family” (a book by Carlson that I reviewed in September 2009) and the divisive social issues that result (like gay rights) and keeps things pretty general. His thinking is a bit like Rick Warren’s “it’s not about you” or the “Purpose-Driven Life”. Of course, this can lead to loss of individual choice or freedom as we normally see it today (loss of “personal autonomy” or “individual sovereignty”) and can invite corruption from those who do wind up in command of the social structures. It's important to note that Wallis points out that we need to learn to ask the right questions. Are we talking about accepting the importance of loyalty to family and community in a way to cover sacrifice, or are we talking about "rules of engagement" that keep the veneer of individualism while addressing "sustainability"? We like to get rid of "double standards" but doing so explicitly (getting rid of "don't ask don't tell"-style thinking completely) can result in loss of freedom for everyone. There's no way a society can make things absolutely "equal" and "fair" for everyone (as we often expect it) and preserve freedom as we experience it. That probably explains some of the "socialism" of most religious teachings. Wallis's perception of Wall Street is pretty straightforward: financial practice got separated from contact with the customer. Banking entered the world of abstraction, with the packaging of securities into bundles (“derivatives”) that had nothing to do with people. The motive was short term profit and a particularly simplistic, Hollywood-ish idea of “greed” (perhaps not even the enlightened self-interest of reputable objectivism). Generally, big business became more consolidated and disregarded the needs of its workers (here he sounds like he comes from the Left). As a result, families tended to be hit harder by the uncertainties of the workplace than did single or childless people, and young adults felt discouraged to take on personal responsibility for others. In my view, the eldercare demographic crisis can change this quickly. But it’s how we look at individual people that matters. A culture of hyper-individualism replaced the solidarity of earlier generations, with a view that the poor or vulnerable are personally responsible for their own plight. (One can ask that question of borrowers of subprime mortgages when they later defaulted; was this "getting something for nothing", or an inevitable consequence of taking on family responsibility, which cuts both ways when it comes to materialism.) Not so, he says: people don't start out at the same place in line, and God never intended that invidivuals completely control their own fates; all major religions have a tradition of accepting the reality that some poverty is unavoidable. He compares the socialism of the early Christians to that of Shariah law and the Muslim practice of forbidding usury, which in some cases leads to financial practices in home ownership that are more sustainable. He also discusses periodic redistribution of land or wealth in Jewish law in the Old Testament. (I think that the Parable of the Vineyards provides an interesting paradox, as does the Parable of the Talents.) One interesting notion is "moral hazard" as he defines it. That is, someone keeps the gains, but vanishes from the planet before the house of cards falls. That again is a "generativity" problem. He does mention fatherhood as giving him a sense of futurity. But it’s how the individual himself or herself should behave – and interact with other people – that interesting. His last chapter has “twenty moral exercises” which generally lead to more interaction with others (particularly family) and less emphasis on “artificial” self-reliance buoyed up by a vulnerable technological infrastructure. I wondered how these suggestions should apply to “introverts” or people who do better if they do guard their own spaces and safe harbors in life. Not everyone has children or wants them – but that could be seen as part of “the problem” (as noted in other books talking about “sustainability” and “generativity”). Indeed, the effect that the emotional and financial demands of family life can be passed on to those who did not make their own choices in these matters (including the childless) creates moral tensions. I understand the practical benefit of “staycations” but sometimes one wants the adventure of, say, the high speed train trip to Tibet in China. Media sounds like a poor replacement for people, but media (as understood in the broadest sense, going back for centuries, including performing arts) provides income and culture for millions. In my case, there are some particular problems. I spoke out (with my self-published books and websites), and presented my taste in “people” as kind of “knowledge of good and evil.” (There are particular reasons for this in my early upbringing: what was probably intended to teach “teamwork” or social interdependency got converted or elaborated into a moral exercise in measuring the worth of people, especially when they do fall behind – all the way back in the 1950s.) Therefore, it’s not surprising that some people challenged me as to why I resist personal “intimacy” (and willingness to give affection to others whom I did not "choose" or give "consent" to) in situations where it is really needed. (My history as a substitute teacher, discussed on other blogs, bears that out.) And, from my social reticence, I have at least come to understand why some people want to see moral purity (even as spelled out in religious texts) around them so that their obedience in setting up familial relationships actually has “meaning.” This is important in explaining some of the horrific things some people have done. Wallis mentions many ideas that most of us think of as progressive and ultimately improving freedom and sustainability both: alternate fuels (he mentions destruction of the environment, peak oil, and mountaintop removal), and a creative commons for intellectual property. The recent fights over copyrignt and digitat rights management has made it clear that we all might have more if we took a more “Commons” oriented approach to cultural innovation (“Creative Commons”, often discussed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, is one example). Link to author’s video discussing his book is here. YouTube version from Simon Schuster Posted by Bill Boushka at 6:41 AM No comments: Labels: faith and conservatism, family, financial stability A valuable compendium explaining the entire Qur'an (Koran) On February 28, I attended a screening of a one hour film “Inside Islam” (see my movies blog March 1) at a northern Virginia protestant church, and at that event someone was offering complimentary copies of the three-volume compendium “The Message of the Qu’ran”, translated and explained by Muhammad Asad (1900-1992, born in the Ukraine), published by The Book Foundation, England. The three volumes are paper, 1174 pages, indexed. The volumes comprise a Prologue by Husan Gai Eaton, a Foreword, a layout explanation, the 114 Surahs (split among the volumes as 1-9, 10-29, 30-114), and four appendices. The layout of each page consists of four components: on the upper right is the original Arabic; below it is Arabic transliteration; to the left is an English “interpretation”, and below are the footnotes and commentary. The Prologue explains the proper understanding of “translation”. Eaton writes that the Qur’an (or Koran) may be understood fully only in the original Arabic, because the language contains a syllabic structure that is comparable to poetry and even music. Asad writes in the Foreword, “We Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the Word of God, revealed to the Prophet Mohammed through the medium of a human language. It was the language of the Arabian Peninsula: the language of a people endowed with that particular quick-wittedness which the desert and its feel of wide, timeless expanses bestows upon its children.” He goes on and explains “ijaz”. Perhaps this notion is roughly like what the high school English literature student faces in understanding Shakespeare’s plays in iambic pentameter. However, the use of detailed commentary and footnotes helps justify the English “translation.” The appendices deal with some esoteric materials, such as the meaning of the concept “jinn” as a kind of hidden but reconciled kernel of consciousness, as well as the Night Journey. The social and political application of the “message” – and the paradigm that converts the message into human laws of interaction, is always controversial. But Asad believes that the underlying issue is the individual spirit itself, and not just the laws – even if Islam, to the westerner, seems unusually preoccupied with moral perfectionism and justice. Therefore, Asad would seem to support a moderate, civil system of law like what we expect from mainstream Judeo-Christian societies. This compendium of the Qur’an reminds me of a 1949/1957 book from Thomas Nelson Publishers, “Gospel Parallels: A Synopsis of the First Three Gospels”, edited by Burton H. Throckmorton, Jr.; it used to be taught at American University in Washington DC in the late 1950s by a pastor Frank Baumann. E-book piracy concerns are rising, but the business models are different The introduction of Apple’s new Tablet (or iPad), as if Moses should have downloaded the Ten Commandments onto one, doesn’t necessary exacerbate a problem that is slowly smoldering: copyrignt infringement with e-books, on a smaller scale than but ultimately similar to the problems with music and movies. And the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) could come into play. Tom Spring has a detailed article on the problem in the March 2010 PCWorld, “E-Book Piracy: The Publishing Industry's Next Epic Saga? With the rise of e-book readers like the Kindle, Sony Reader, and Nook comes the scourge of the digital world: pirates.” The link is here. In some cases, well-established authors like J.K. Rowling with the Harry Potter novels have refused to allow their books to be published in e-book form. However, “entrepreneurs” might jive up ways to make illegal electronic copies available anyway. This issue may be more of an problem with books where the “ending” matters and where there is a “spoiler” potential. Another problem is that different readers only work with their own downloads; there is no interchangeability, as there is with CD’s. (We’ve had the problem with DVD formats, though, just as we did with VCR’s in the mid 1980s.) Remember back in 2000 Stephen King had tried an experiment with “The Plant”, an honor system where users paid for chapter downloads. It didn’t work. Here’s an old account on Applelinks from Nov. 2000 by John F. Farr, “Deadbeats Kill King Internet Book, at Least for a While”, link here. Many "less established" authors make their work available for free browsing online, in either HTML or PDF format, to become better known. 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Jim Wallis: "Rediscovering Values": a call for mor... A valuable compendium explaining the entire Qur'an... E-book piracy concerns are rising, but the busines... Bill Boushka Since the 1990s I have been very involved with fighting the military "don't ask don't tell" policy for gays in the military, and with First Amendment issues. Best contact is 571-334-6107 (legitimate calls; messages can be left; if not picked up retry; I don't answer when driving) Three other url's: doaskdotell.com, billboushka.com johnwboushka.com Links to my URLs are provided for legitimate content and user navigation purposes only. My legal name is "John William Boushka" or "John W. Boushka"; my parents gave me the nickname of "Bill" based on my middle name, and this is how I am generally greeted. This is also the name for my book authorship. On the Web, you can find me as both "Bill Boushka" and "John W. Boushka"; this has been the case since the late 1990s. 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__label__cc	0.659403	0.340597	Katie Massa Kennedy Katie has written for "The Queen Latifah Show," ABC's "Wipeout," "Fashion Police," and the talk show "Parental Discretion with Stefanie Wilder-Taylor" for NickMom. She has been seen on "Love Bites" on NBC, "The Nick Cannon Show," and as a regular panelist on "Parental Discretion." 'Ally McBeal' Cast: Where Are They Now? 'Ally McBeal' premiered on September 8, 1997. Check out what the cast has been up to since their dancing baby days. By Katie Massa Kennedy	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1248
__label__wiki	0.611754	0.611754	Log In for more results Lyle Smith Professor of English Biola Affiliations CV Document (PDF) Ph.D., University of Minnesota M.A., University of Minnesota B.A., University of Minnesota Lyle Smith grew up in Minneapolis, Minn. He attended Wheaton College, and graduated from the University of Minnesota, where he also completed post-graduate work in English Renaissance studies. His dissertation dealt with the history of English anti-clerical satire between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, culminating in the Martin Marprelate pamphlets of 1588–89. He is married to a beautiful California girl who, for ten years, was a missionary in South Africa, worked until 2004 as a psychotherapist and taught in the Human Services department at California State University, Fullerton. 13800 Biola Ave. La Mirada, CA 90639 © Biola University, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Giving to Biola	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1249
__label__wiki	0.7529	0.7529	BU names first Alumni Volunteer of the Year Business studies graduate, Jordan Stovold, has been named BU’s first Alumni Volunteer of the Year. Jordan, who graduated in 2016, was nominated for the breadth and impact of his volunteering activities over the last year, which included providing guest lectures, mentoring undergraduates, speaking to applicants at open days and providing feedback to students via an expert panel. Jordan is currently Strategic Product Development Analyst at computer software company, ibcos, having recently exited his first business – ViewScape – which he co-founded three years ago with a fellow BU graduate. On receiving the award, he said: “I specialised in innovation and entrepreneurship when I was studying at BU, so I typically speak to students who are on the same pathway. I’m able to talk to them about what it’s like to start a business after graduating and what that entrepreneurial journey is like. “Over the years I’ve been involved in numerous ways, from being a panel member for start-up business pitches to mentoring those that have gone on to start their own business. “It’s brilliant that the Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award has been developed and a great honour to be the very first winner. It’s a pleasure to be involved with the university and I really look forward to my continued involvement.” Dr Sukanya Ayatakshi-Endow, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at BU, said: “Jordan is a very supportive alumnus who is always prepared to make time to work alongside students and staff. He is a great brand ambassador, as can be seen through his career and passion for education. I am delighted to support his nomination for this award.” During the 2018-19 academic year, more than 140 alumni gave a combined total of 1,173 hours of volunteering. This included 116 mentoring partnerships and 56 guest speaker sessions. Jonathan Goode, Head of Alumni Relations at BU, said: “The Volunteer of the Year Award recognises the outstanding support provided by BU’s alumni community to enrich the student experience, enhance employability and build the reputation of the university. Congratulations to Jordan who is a deserving first winner of this award.” If you are a BU graduate who would like to volunteer, complete our online form. If you are a member of academic staff wanting to involve alumni in the delivery or promotion of your programme, please contact alumni@bournemouth.ac.uk. Internal student news Fire alarm testing across BU Please be aware that the fire alarm sounders will be tested between 6am-8am over the next few weeks. BBC Radio 4’s The 3rd degree quiz show Join us to watch BU staff and students battle it out in a live recording of Radio 4 quiz show The 3rd Degree. SportBU: sign up for Campus Sport activities Start your New Year's resolution and get fit with these great offers from SportBU!	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1251
__label__cc	0.665125	0.334875	Could better care outside hospital save cash in the long run? Should health and social care services be more focused on supporting people at home? Paul Faulkner Three quarters of the predicted increase in the cost of individual “care episodes” across Lancashire over the next decade could be offset by investing in efforts to keep people living independently at home – or get them back home quicker after a stay in hospital. That was the conclusion of a report into the region’s intermediate care system, which provides support for people who are at risk of being admitted to hospital and for those who need extra help to be safely discharged. The changes would mean that the health and social care system in Lancashire and South Cumbria would be spending an additional £28m on care in ten years’ time instead of an extra £115m under the current trajectory. But a meeting of the Lancashire health and wellbeing board heard that the changes needed to achieve the saving would require the number of staff currently working in the intermediate care sector to be more than doubled to over 1,700 in the same timeframe. “This is a considerable financial opportunity, but the biggest challenge is where we [will find] the workforce,” Tony Pounder, Lancashire County Council’s director of adult services, said. “But if we do nothing, then total spending will increase from £456m to £571m – and where we will get that money from, I’m not sure.” The suggested new model would see staff doing “everything they can” to keep a person at home and creating an integrated system which allows staff from the NHS and social care to create “wrap-around” support for patients depending on their individual needs. It would build on existing programmes like Home First, where patients are sent home for an assessment of their support requirements rather than waiting in hospital for it to be carried out. The report predicts that the acute care sector would be the biggest beneficiary of any overhaul. The bill to hospital trusts for looking after patients who would be eligible for intermediate care would actually fall by £38m over the next decade, rather than increase by £51m under the current scenario. However, Lancashire’s director of public health Dr. Sakthi Karunanithi warned that there needed to be a “definite plan” for the investment required to make the necessary changes. The meeting heard that money would have to be moved around the health and social care system in order to make the plans work and that any changes would be phased in over four years. Members were also told that the current intermediate care arrangements are fragmented across the region – and the outcomes for patients mixed. Sue Stevenson from patient group Healthwatch said the litmus test of the policy would be the response of those who had been treated under it. “People have to believe that staying at home is the best thing for them and that means they have to experience the very best care at home. Until somebody who has gone through it tells [others] the story that it worked for them, then the model will not be as effective as it needs to be,” Ms. Stevenson said. There are various types of intermediate care operating in the region – from bed-based rehabilitation centres to so-called “reablement” teams providing support in people’s homes. Cervical Cancer Prevention Week: Here are the common misconceptions around cervical cancer and HPV Current intermediate care programmes are funded by two similarly-named pots of money. The Improved Better Care Fund is new cash from the government which has been worth a total of £46m to Lancashire since it was introduced in 2017, but which runs out next year. The Better Care Fund is a policy whereby NHS and local authority organisations pool parts of their existing budgets for the purpose of integrating care. More than £60m was shared across the two sectors in Lancashire during 2018/19.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1253
__label__cc	0.656695	0.343305	Outreach & Initiatives {[ result.headline ]} How a college student became a planet hunter Anne Dattilo Former student, University of Texas at Austin I didn't grow up thinking I was going to be an astronomer. There wasn’t a moment when I looked up at the moon and realized my destiny. I grew up loving math and science and in college, I gradually discovered that I loved learning everything I could about stars and planets. When I started studying and doing research in astronomy, I felt like I was given secrets about the universe. During my junior year, I took a class on planets. My professor was away for a week, so we had a guest lecturer come in. That’s when I met Andrew Vanderburg and heard about his work with former Google engineer Chris Shallue (he recently left to pursue his PhD at Harvard in astrophysics). A few years ago, Andrew and Chris built an AI system with TensorFlow that sifted through the approximately 14 billion data points captured from NASA’s Kepler mission. In doing so, they discovered two new planets: Kepler 80g and Kepler 90i. When I walked into that classroom, I couldn't have imagined that it would lead to the discovery of two new planets. When I started, I had zero experience with machine learning. I had no idea what a neural network was or how I could build one. I learned everything as I went along using YouTube tutorials and TensorFlow and collaborating with incredible people. Using TensorFlow, I built a way to look through space telescope data and identify signs that planets could be around those stars. By the end of the summer, my neural network was successful and could recognize planets we already knew about, and discover new ones. I discovered two new planets, but I also created a method that makes it possible for people to find many more. (If you want to learn how to hunt for planets, you can read my tutorial). Accessible technologies and open-source data allowed me to do this work, and because of that, it’s never been easier to discover not only planets, but also other mysteries of the universe. The possibilities for what we might find are endless. Powered by TensorFlow Using AI to improve breast cancer screening How Tim Shaw regained his voice Using AI to find where the wild things are Google for Startups Accelerator empowers AI startups in Europe AI is bringing back balance to Japanese workers Why newsrooms should pay attention to AI	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1254
__label__cc	0.57289	0.42711	Bob: The Epic Viking Quest Slots Bob: The Epic Viking Quest is an online slots game that’s powered by reliable NetEnt online casino software. The game has a theme that revolves around Norse mythology and it has uplifting orchestral music playing in the background. The game is set in what appears to be a deep canyon and it has many fascinating symbols that help to tell the story. These symbols include the Viking, his battle axe, his shield and more. It has 5 reels, 25 paylines and a variety of special features. This article will walk players through the various aspects of this online slots game. It will cover the game’s design, denominations, payouts, bonus rounds and special features. How to Play the Bob: The Epic Viking Quest Slot The Bob: The Epic Viking Quest slots game has a mystical look to it that’s done in a cartoonish way. The background of the game depicts cliffs and blue skies. The reels are bordered in a metal and leather frame. The symbols are free floating within the frame. They are bold and have fine details to them that help them to stay within the theme of the game. The game’s totals and buttons are offered on the bottom portion of the game’s screen. The buttons are a combination of light and dark greens that help to give them an entertaining look. This game also has a feature preview button. By clicking this button, the player will be able to view the bonus round, so they know just what to expect when they enter the feature. This game allows players choose one of four bet levels. The fact that it has 25 paylines means players can enjoy a lot of chances to win. The bet range starts at .25 coins and goes to 50 coins. The symbols in the Bob: The Epic Viking Quest slots game include high ranking card symbols that are the lowest paying ones in it. These symbols are designed with Nordic knots, helping to keep with the theme. The 10s pay out 75 for 5, the Jacks pay out 75, the Queens pay out 100, the Kings pay out 100 and the Aces pay out 125. The shield pays out 250 for 5, the battle axe pays out 250 and the helmet pays out 500. Bob: The Epic Viking Quest Bonus Features The wild symbol in the game will come on the reels to replace the other symbols. This will create more winning combinations for the player. There are two symbols the wilds can’t replace and those are the scatter and bonus symbols. Also, getting five of the wilds can produce a payout for the player that’s worth 7500. The golden Viking ship is the scatter symbol in the Bob: The Epic Viking Quest slots game. Getting at least three of the scatters will trigger the free spins feature for the player. They will be given 10 free spins. In this feature, they will get to spin the reels without spending any credits to do so. This means all of the winnings they get are 100% profit. The winnings they get during the free spins round will also be tripled. This can make for some extremely large winnings. The Viking is the bonus symbol in the game. Getting three or more of these symbols will take the player to the bonus round. In this round, the player will be taken to a second screen. They will see two rows of cards and need to click on cards to reveal symbols. The player will get a prize for each sword they reveal. The feature will come to an end when they reveal a Nordic knot instead of a sword. The Bob: The Epic Viking Quest slots game is a fascinating game with a great theme. The symbols on this game help to give it a look players will appreciate. Plus, it has free spins that are tripled and that means the wins can be worth a whole lot of money. The bonus round is an interactive one that offers the players the ability to play a game within a game. When I first saw the Bob: The Epic Viking Quest slots game, I figured it was going to be a lot of fun and I was right. The game ran well and it had a great sound to it that helped to make playing it even more enjoyable. The bonus round and the free spins feature were helpful with regards to getting more credits. Plus, they are both easy to activate, so I was able to do it quite a bit during my time on this slots game. Anyone else looking for an entertaining game to play should give this one a try. They may find it as exciting as I found it to be.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1258
__label__wiki	0.681729	0.681729	Information & Enquiries ICJB Press Releases, Statements, Letters Press Releases, Statements, & Letters News Articles on Bhopal & Dow Chemical The LowDOWn Newsletter ICJB Victories हिन्दी समाचार New Clippings – 1991-1996: The Medical Crisis Continues May 6, 1996 Adrian Leave a comment EXPOSURE TO MIC CAN CAUSE CANCER: DR PATEL from National Mail 18/3/91. Dr. Patel reveals that the exposure to MIC gas is a potential danger that could lead to cancer. He said that cancer takes at least 15 to 20 years to take root. In Bhopal the incident of throat, tongue, lungs and cervix cancer was the highest in the country. THEIR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE HAS NO END from the Statesman 1/7/91. Women activists demonstrated outside the Supreme Court in New Delhi, demanding proper medical care so they can at least do their daily work. A doctor testified to the inefficacy of the medical facilities. It is reported that the ICMR guidelines for treating these victims are not being followed. Doctors did not come to the hospitals and those who come at all are severely overworked and have to see 400 to 500 patients in two hours. They carry out cursory examination and treat the first ailment they discovered. Also, medicines prescribed by the ICMR are not being used. Pressure from large medicine companies to use drugs that are substandard prevent the hospitals from using drugs that are cheap and effective. Of the six lakh people who had applied for medical examination, three lakh remain without one. GAS VICTIMS SUFER FROM SERIOUS DISEASES from Free Press 16/12/91. The story claims the gas victims residing in the affected areas were suffering from serious ailments like jaundice, gall bladder stones and blood vomiting. At the same time the hospitals meant for the treatment of gas victims were plagued with unhygienic conditions, chaos and menace of the anti-social elements. CHEMICAL ‘TAXI’ SPREAD BHOPAL TOXIN from the Hindu 12/2/92. Chemists in U.S. have proposed a new theory to explain the terrible symptoms that still afflict survivors of the gas disaster. However, they say that if the theory is true it will still not be of any assistance to the survivors because the damage they suffered is irreparable. The lungs of many people who survived became permanently scarred, but what puzzled doctors was the diversity of unexplained symptoms in other organs. Which range from the eyes, heart, bones, muscles and gastrointestinal tract. Thousands have impaired immune systems, and many report reproductive problems while spontaneous abortions remain high. CONDITION OF GAS-HIT WORSE DURING PRESIDENT’S RULE from the Free Press 21/6/93. Regarding the mismanagement and corruption prevalent in the gas hospitals attention of the government had fallen on deaf ears. Despite reminders to the government the situation remained the same. Victims were being deprived of medicines and other essential treatment at the hospitals meant for the victims. The hospitals had no treatment for TB and patients were being forced to buy medicines from the market at high price. HEALTH CARE OF GAS VICTIMS INADEQUATE from Times of India 22/1/94. The International Medical Commission on Bhopal has observed that the health care system for the Bhopal gas tragedy victims has been inadequate. There is no system of proper follow-up and the treatment has been generally symptomatic. The IMCB condemned the Union Carbide not only for its responsibility for the deadly gas leak, but also for its behavior later. BHOPAL HEALTH CARE INADEQUATE from the Hindustan Times 25/1/94. The International Medical Commission says that Bhopal’s hospital-oriented delivery of health care was inappropriate for the chronic nature of problems. The Commission found that most of the data collected by the ICMR and others on the Bhopal experience were not freely available. It recommended an urgent review and full dissemination of such data and further information should be collected, and should include an evaluation of the current and long-term effects on women and children. PROTEST AGAINST IRREGULARITIES IN HOSPITALS FOR GAS-AFFECTED 6/5/94. Activists held a rally to protest the alleged irregularities in the hospitals. They alleged that facilities were only available to those who pay extra fees to the doctors and visit the doctors at their clinics. They also drew attention to the non-availability of doctors at the hospitals during duty hours. They alleged that the government had turned a blind eye towards the woes of the victims. BHOPAL STRUCK BY WAVE OF ‘CHEMICAL AIDS’ from the Observer (London) 20/11/94. Ten years after the disaster the daily live of the survivors is still dictated by the tragedy. Hundreds of people suffering from the effects of acute gas poisoning queue daily at the government hospitals. Their symptoms include breathing problems, streaming eyes, ulcers, unstoppable menstrual bleeding, tuberculosis caused by the poison-induced collapse of their immune systems. Survivor’s groups claim the numbers of people coming forward with long-term, gas-induced symptoms have risen substantially in recent years. DISASTER’S CHILDREN CONDEMNED TO CARRY LIFELONG SCARS from Business Standard 30/11/94. The story is about the situation in Bhopal a decade later. Victims don’t know what is rotting inside them; they cough, are out of breath easily and eyes burn. Although the complaints of people in queues outside the hospitals continue to increase, government agencies like ICMR have shut down 20 of the 22 gas-related investigations. It also says potentially the most dangerous long-term impact is that of psychological impairment, especially in children. It is also possible that genetic disorders and cancers may manifest themselves later. 10 YEARS LATER, CANCER LOOMS OVER SURVIVORS OF BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY from Asian Age 1/12/94. Cancer is now the latest threat stalking survivors of the gas disaster. A team appointed by ICMR was still studying the long-term effects of MIC. They said the cancerous effects of the gas would take much longer to unravel. BHOPAL – THE COVER-UP CONTINUES from Times of India Sunday Review 4/12/94. The reporter claims that ten years later, medical research into the gas tragedy is shockingly inadequate. There is hardly any authoritative scientific work on the consequences of exposure to MIC. Union Carbide toxicologists may have the best information on MIC but they are treating it like a trade secret. Union Carbide insisted the effects of MIC were short-term only, and limited to the lungs and eyes. But this was patently false. GAS VICTIMS TO HOLD DEMONSTRATON 29/8/95. Hundreds of gas victims will demonstrate to protest against the inadequate health facilities and present a memorandum to the Chief Minister regarding their long-pending demands. They claim the government has not been able to provide proper treatment for the victims. Rs. six crore were alleged to have been spent on medical stores but it was yet to benefit the victims. Medicines were stolen and sold in the black market but no action had been taken to stop this. 17 GAS AFFECTED REPORT DAILY 18/10/95. A decade after the disaster 17 victims were being admitted daily to more than a dozen hospitals in Bhopal whereas the number of outdoor patients per day had swelled to 4000. Gas relief and rehabilitation minister admitted that the hospitals constructed by the government for the gas victims lack various medical facilities. GAS VICTIMS STILL FIGHT DISEASES from the Times of India 2/12/95. One-fourth of the gas victims are chronically ill, with diseases of the respiratory, gastro-intestinal, reproductive, musculoskeletal, neurological and other systems. Corneal opacity and early-age cataract are common, and exposure to the gases has made the people vulnerable to secondary infections and the incidence of tuberculosis is at least four times higher than in an unexposed population. A study by the ICMR says that 10 to 15 people continue to die of exposure-related causes every month in Bhopal. MASSIVE COVER UP OPERATIONS STILL CONTINUING 3/12/95. Massive cover-up operations are still continuing on behalf of the government, with nobody in position to say how long the people will continue to suffer. The outcome of some of the studies by ICMR, were still being kept secret for some mysterious reasons. DOCTORS STILL LACK DATA ON BHOPAL CRISIS 6/12/96. Twelve years later doctors lack information on everything from the number of casualties following the disaster to the chemical composition of the gas. More than 50,000 are still suffering according to ICMR and most of them are not being treated any differently than the general population. There was no special recognition on the part of the doctors that the ailments were gas related and have a special protocol for treatment. As a consequence many Bhopalis suffer from the after-effects of the gas leak but are prescribed the same treatments as patients who are suffering from normal ailments. BHOPAL LIVES from the Village Voice 3/12/96. This story is about the release of the report from the International Medical Commission, twelve years after the disaster. The commission found that up to 50,000 survivors were suffering from partial or total disability. In addition to the widely recognized lung and eye injuries, the report details medical conditions that have never been identified before, such as neurotoxicological effects and post-traumatic stress syndrome. BHOPAL VICTIMS STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES 16/12/96. The survivors of the gas disaster are suffering from long-term neurotoxicology according to the International Medical Commission. Also, there is a stigma in being a gas victim. Women told the commission about miscarriages, inability to lift loads, breathlessness, poor vision, red and white discharge, bleeding from the nose and children with weakness, blotches on the skin and other malformations, and medicines are not effective beyond a few days. Community Blog, Photos and Resources “Bhopal Lives” – Personal Accounts of the Disaster and its Aftermath November 27, 1995 Adrian Leave a comment Next Tuesday, December 3, the International Medical Commission-Bhopal (IMCB) will release its final report on the current medical, social, and economic status of the survivors of the Union Carbide disaster, a leak of toxic gas that claimed around 10,000 lives in Bhopal, India, 12 years ago. The report, the culmination of a three-year study by a group of doctors affiliated with prestigious institutions in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, is the first comprehensive, peer-reviewed study of the chronic effects of the disaster that has been released publicly. The commission found that up to 50,000 survivors are suffering from partial or total permanent disability as a consequence of the gas disaster. In addition to the widely recognized lung and eye injuries, its report details medical conditions that have never been identified before, such as neurotoxicological effects (damage to the brain and central nervous system). They affect short-term memory, balance, and motor skills-they affect the survivors’ ability to hold jobs, their children’s ability to read and write. The study documents, for the first time, post-traumatic stress syndrome in the survivors. “People were buried alive,” says Dr. Rosalie Bertell, one of the commissioners. “Some of them actually were in a pile of bodies to be burned, and came to-you can imagine the nightmares and panic attacks after that”. According to earlier studies done by the Indian Council of Medical Research, descendants up to the third generation of survivors may sustain genetic damage leading to cancer and abnormalities in offspring. The new findings were not available to the Supreme Court of India when it imposed a settlement for damages in 1989, which the commission found to be “decidedly inadequate.” The report, therefore, should provide new grounds to reopen the case. BHOPAL HAS JOINED THE roster of internationally recognized symbol-placesalong with Hiroshima, Auschwitz, Chernobyl-whose very names have become synonymous with the tragedies that have taken place within their precincts. Mention the word Bhopal to a person outside India, and they won’t think of a graceful city on the hills above two lakes with some of the most glorious Muslim architecture in India. They will think about what happened on the night of December 2 and the early morning of December 3, 1984, when an accident at a chemical plant owned by Union Carbide of Danbury, Connecticut, led to history’s worst industrial disaster. There is a pornography of images of disaster in the Third World-famine, floods, war, earthquakes. Quick television interviews with the victims reinforce those images. And, as with all pornography, the net effect is this: the affected people lose their individuality, their humanity, and we, the viewers, who have no idea about their lives, begin to distance ourselves from them. As it is, they all look so foreign to us: all these brown or black people, poor things. A lot has been written about the bare facts of the Bhopal disaster: how it might have happened, how many died, how many were injured. This article, the first of twc parts, examines what has rarely been portrayed: the complexity of people’s individual response. to an enduring disaster. The Night of the Gas In May 1982, a Union Carbide inspection team from the Danbury headquarters visited the Bhopal plant and found 61 safety and maintenance problems, 30 of them major. A series of gas leaks had already resulted in the death of one factory worker and injuries to several others. Five months before the night of the accident, vital refrigeration and cooling systems had been shut down. Around the same time, the maintenance crew was reduced from six to two workers as part of a cost-cutting drive. Local lawyers and journalists had been warning Union Carbide for months that the plant could be dangerous to its neighbors. The company responded that such fears were “absolutely baseless” In the early morning hours of December 3, 1984, water entered under still-disputed circumstances an underground storage tank containing 90,000 pounds of methyl isocyanate, a highly toxic chemical used to make pesticides. This set off the following reaction: CH3 NCO + H20 CH3 NH2 + C02 Forty-one tons of methyl isocyanate along with a stew of other highly toxic gases possibly including hydrogen cyanide boiled over and burst through the tank at a temperature of over 200 degrees Celsius and at a rate of over 40,000 pounds an hours This was the birth of what the scientists later named “Bhopal Toxic Gas” The gas rose from the plant, then sedately, unhurriedly, floated out over the sleeping city. Bhopalis have very personal relationships with “the gas” Accounts of that night-again, when in Bhopal someone says “that night,” they mean the night of December 2-3, 1984describe how the gas was going toward Jahangirabad or Hamidia Road; how it hovered a few feet above the ground at some places or how it hugged the wet farm earth in others; how it killed buffalo and pigs but spared chickens and mosquitoes; how it made all the leaves of a peepul tree turn black and how it had a particular hunger for the tulsi plant; how it would travel down one side of a road but not the other, like rain falling a few feet from you while you’re standing in the sunshine. People know the gas like a member of their family-they know its smell, its color, its favorite foods, its predilections. One thing everybody remembers is the smell of chilies burning. Chilies are normally burned to ward off the evil eye, when, for example, a child is sick. People woke up and thought: it must be a powerful evil eye that’s being driven away, the stink is so strong. As people ran with their families, they saw their children falling beside them, and often had to choose which ones they would carry on their shoulders and save. This image comes up again and again in the dreams of the survivors: in the stampede, the sight of a hundred people walking over the body of their child. Iftekhar Begum went out on the morning after the gas to help bury the Muslim dead. There were so many that she could not see the ground-she had to stand on the corpses to wash them. As she stood on the bodies, she noticed that manv of the dead women had flowers in their hair. The gas had come on a Sunday, a night when people had dressed up to go out to a film or to someone’s house for dinner. The women had, as is common all over India, braided their hair with jasmine or mogra-small, fragrant flowers. When Iftekhar Begum came back from the graveyard, all her fingertips were bleeding, she had sewn so many shrouds. Arun’s Story What would you do if you woke up one night when you were 13 years old and by the morning, seven of the 10 members of your immediate family were dead? How would your life change? When I first meet the young man I will call Arun, to whom this happened, he is busy writing a wedding invitation card. Not his own. Not anybody’s, in fact; there will only be one copy of this invitation, and it will be shown to the judge in the gas victims’ claims court. There is a Muslim woman with him. She was allotted 50,000 rupees ($1429) in compensation for her injuries, which the government has kept in a fixed-deposit bank account to prevent her from spending it all at once. To withdraw funds from her account, she has to demonstrate to the judge that she has some compelling need, like the wedding of a daughter. Arun is wise to the inscrutable ways of the authorities; for a consideration, he will help her get her money out. So he sits next to me making up this invitation to a wedding that will never be. Arun’s fee for writing up the affidavit and printing up one copy of the wedding card at a printing press (which costs him 100 rupees, or $3) is 3000 rupees ($86). This, he points out, is less than what a lawyer would charge, which is 10 per cent, or 5000 rupees ($143). “The lawyers hate me, he crows. The gas victim Arun loves his life. He wakes up at noon, massages himself with mustard oil, and spends the afternoon sitting on the newly constructed balcony of his house, chatting with friends. In the evenings, he drinks, or goes to the Hotel International and asks to see the “special menu,” which consists of several pages of pictures of the women they have for sale upstairs. On an occasional Sunday, he’ll get partridges, which he kills with his own hands, cooks, and shares with his friends, who seem to be in awe of him. Three or four times a month, he goes to the claims courts on behalf of someone, and that’s enough money for him, mostly. Arun first learned of the deaths of his parents and five siblings when he saw their photos stuck up on the wall by the side of the road. Till then people would tell him but he didn’t believe them. Looking at the pictures the government had put up to alert survivors, Arun did not cry. Arun claims he has never once cried. “There were so many corpses. Who will you cry over? After a while, the heart becomes quiet” On the night of the gas, Arun fell in love. As Arun and his family ran, as one by one his parents, brothers, sisters dropped to the ground or got separated from him, Arun felt someone holding his hand and leading him. On they ran, through the chaotic streets. That was the beginning of Arun’s first love. The girl holding his hand lived in his neighborhood, and later on, she fed him and took care of him. That girl was the first of his neighbors to adopt Arun and take care of him, but she was by no means the last. There were other families in the slum, his extended family in Lucknow, a rickshaw driver and his wife, and finally, the activ ist Satinath Sarangi, known with much love as “Sathyu” among the survivors. Arun moved into Sathvu’s house and became a poster child of the activist movement; his story was widely used, and he was recruited by all manner of groups, including the youth wing of the Communist Party of India, the state’s major political parties, and almost all of the activist groups working on Bhopal. Arun became a kind of traveling victim, going on tours to talk about the tragedy that had devastated his family, not only all over India but also, twice, to the United States. He was a natural. “At the age of 15 I learned to give such good answers that the journalists loved me,” he recalls gleefully. On one of his trips to the U.S., Arun and a couple of the other survivors, while attempting to distribute literature in the Houston hotel where the annual meeting of Carbide’s shareholders was being held, were arrested by the police and spent 10 hours in jail. An was impressed by the fact that the American jail was air-conditioned. But gradually, Arun went from being a victim to something of a predator. Sundry scam inevitably pop up in any community where a large amount of money enters the scene all at once, and Arun has learned how to profit from them. So, for a commission, using an efficient system of bribes paid to everyone from clerks to judges, An will extract the gas victims’ compensation money from the clutches of the government. He is also a loan shark; he advances money at exorbitant rates of interest to illiterate migrants from the countryside, actively assists them in spending it in the Bhopal bars, and beats them soundly if they cannot pay him back. He has a gang, which will assault people’s enemies for a price. He points to my knee-300 rupees ($9) for breaking that-and then to my arm-360 rupees ($10) for that. Once, when Sathyu was remonstrating with Arun about his misdeeds, Arun responded, “Look at Warren Anderson [then Union Carbide’s chairman]. He got away with killing so many people. If he can get away, so can I: Besides, Arun sometimes puts his potential for violence to good use. Though he is Hindu, he put his life on the line during the bloody HinduMuslim riots of 1992, when he stood guard outside Muslim homes with a sword. Every year, on the anniversary of the gas leak, the chief minister holds a big commemorative public meeting and invites a number of victims. Arun will go this year and ask him for a favor-a coveted license to sell kerosene, which he’ll divert to the black market. The chief minister, he tells me with a laugh, will never refuse such a famous orphan anything when there are so many journalists present. Arun hates the term “gas victim” Once, in 1987, when he and other survivors were traveling to a demonstration, the train stopped at a station and the loudspeakers boomed out: “Now, all the gas victim children from Bhopal, go and play in the special waiting room” An sought out the government officer responsible for the announcement and swore: “Your mother’s cunt” “Is it stamped on my forehead, `gas victim’?” he asks me. “Should I beg for pity, Hai Allah, help me, give me some food, I’m a gas victim?” Arun instructs his kid brother: “Ifa man thinks himself to be weak, he will be weak.” Accordingly, he insists the 12-year-old boy get up at six every morning to do calisthenics. There is a reason, Arun believes, that he himself has remained strong. “Gas? I shit gas out of my ass. You drink enough, you smoke enough, and there won’t be any gas.” To prove that he is stronger than anybody, gas-affected or not, Arun steps in front of a passing minibus and looks at me. “Shall I beat up the driver?” he asks. But Arun also tells me, matter-offactly, that he’s been having gabrahat. This is a condition that is commonly reported by survivors, and there’s no exact English translation. All of a sudden, Arun’s heart will beat wildly, he’ll start sweating, and his mind will flood with anxiety. This lasts for about 10 minutes. Since most of the people affected by the gas lived in the poorer part of Bhopal, they were, by and large, not deemed worthy of psychiatric treatment or counseling. It’s certainly not anything the government will give Arun, or anyone, compensation for. One night, three of us-Arun, his sidekick Ramdayal, and I-sit in the gas victims’ beer bar, a shed off the housing colony. Around us are gas victims, all of them men, drinking with the compensation money they should be spending to get treatment for their wives, education for their kids. As the evening progresses, Arun and Ramdayal are getting a lot more drunk than I am because they are drinking whisky-and-beer cocktails. Presently, they get into a theological argument: Was God present on the night of the gas? On the night of the gas, as his family was dying, as he was falling in love, Arun lost his faith in God. “Mother’s prick, six, seven people died-where the fuck was Ganesh? If I met him, I’d beat him with shoes and chase him off, mother’s prick, sister’s prick. The gas came, Ganesh fucked my mother, then ran away. If my mother were here I wouldn’t have a history.’ I’ve never seen him so angry; he’s almost shouting, and finally he becomes completely incoherent and the gaps between the obscenities vanish and it’s all just obscenities: mother’s prick, sister’s prick. When he calms down, he says, “Only work is karma, work is the fruit” Later I realize what he’s just said, in a single sentence: Krishna’s teaching to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. The Lifting of the Veils In the years after the poison cloud came down from the factory, the veils covering the faces of the Muslim women of Bhopal started coming off. The Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan (the Bhopal Gas-Affected Women Workers’ Organization), or BGPMUS, is the most remarkable and, after all these years, the most sustained movement to have sprung up in response to the disaster. The BGPMUS grew out of a group of sewing centers formed after the event to give poor women affected by the gas a means of livelihood. As they came together into the organization, the women participated in hundreds of demonstrations, hired attorneys to fight the case against Carbide as well as the Indian government, and linked up with activist movements all over India and the world. On any Saturday in Bhopal, you can go to the park opposite Lady Hospital and sit among an audience of several hundred women and watch all your stereotypes about traditional Indian women get shattered. I listened as a grandmother in her sixties got up and hurled abuse at the government with a vigor that Newt Gingrich would envy. She was followed by a woman in a plain sari who spoke for an hour about the role of multinationals in the third world, the wasteful expenditure of the government on sports stadiums, and the rampant corruption to be found everywhere in the country. As the women of Bhopal got politicized after the gas, they became aware of other inequities in their lives too. Slowly, the Muslim women of the BGPMUS started coming out of the veil. They explained this to others and themselves by saying: look, we have to travel so much, give speeches, and this burkha, this long black curtain, is hot and makes our health worse. But this was not a sudden process; great care was paid to social sensitivities. When Amida Bi wanted to give up her burkha, she asked her husband. “My husband took permission from his older brother and my parents Assent having been given all around, Amida Bi now goes all over the country without her veil, secure in the full support of her extended family. Her daughters, however, are another matter. Having been married out to other families, they still wear the burkha. But Amida Bi refuses to allow her own two daughters-in-law, over whom she has authority, to wear the veil at all. “I don’t think the burkha is bad, she says. “But you can also do shameful things while wearing a burkha” Half of the Muslim women still attending the rallies have folded up their burkhas for ever. Sajida Bano’s Story Sajida Bano never had to use a veil until her husband died. He was the first victim of the Carbide plant: In 1981, three years before the night of the gas, Ashrat was working in the factory when a valve malfunctioned and he was splashed with liquid phosgene. He was dead within 72 hours. After that, Sajida was forced to move with her two infant sons to a bad neighborhood, where if she went out without the burkha she was harrassed. When she put it on, she felt shapeless, faceless, anonymous: she could be anyone’s mother, anyone’s sister. In 1984, Sajida took a trip to her mother’s house in Kanpur, and happened to come back to Bhopal on the night of the gas. Her four-yearold son died in the waiting room of the train station, while his little brother held on to him. Sajida had passed out while looking for a taxi outside. The factory had killed the second of the three people Sajida loved most. She is left with her surviving son, now 14, who is sick in body and mind. For a long time, whenever he heard a train whistle, he would run outside, thinking that his brother was on that train. Sajida Bano asked if I would carry a letter for her to “those Carbide people; whoever they are. She wrote it all in one night, without revision. She wants to eliminate distance, the food chain of activists, journalists, lawyers, and govements between her and the people in Danbury. Here, with her permission, are excerpts that I translated: Big people like you have snatched the peace and happiness of us poor people. You are living it up in big palaces and mansions. Moving around in cars. Have you ever thought that you have wiped away the marriage marks from our foreheads, emptied our laps of children, bathed us in poison, and we are sobbing, but death doesn’t come. Like a living, walking corpse you have left us. At least tell us what our crime was, for which such a big punishment has been given. If with the strength of your money you had shot us all at once with bullets, then we wouldn’t have to die such miserable sobbing deaths. You put your hand on your heart and think, if you are a human being: if this happened to you, how would your wife and children feel? Only this one sentence must have caused you pain. If this vampire Union Carbide fictory would be quiet after eating my husband, if heartless people like you would have your eyes opened, then probably I would not have lost my child after the death of my husband. After my husband’s death my son would have been my support. But before he could grow you uprooted him. I don’ know myself why you have this enmity against me. – Why have you played with my life so much? What was I, a poor helpless woman, spoiling of yours that even after taking my husband you weren’t content. You ate my child too. If you are a human being and have a human heart then tell me yourself what should be done with you people and with me. I am asking you only, tell me, what should I do? Negative-Positive The gas changed people’s lives in ways big and small. Harishankar Magician used to be in the negative-positive business. It was a good business. He would sit on the pavement, hold up a small glass vial, and shout, “Negative to positive!” Then, hollering all the while, he would demonstrate. “It’s very easy to put negative on paper. Take this chemical, take any negative, put it on any paper, rub it with this chemical, then put it in the sun for only 10 minutes. This is a process to make a positive from a negative.” By this time a crowd would have gathered to watch the miraculous transformation of a plain film negative into an image on a postcard. In an hour and a half, Harishankar Magician could easily earn 50, 60 rupees ($2) in this business. Then the gas came. It killed his son and destroyed his lungs and his left leg. In the negative-positive business, he had to sit for hours. He couldn’t do that now with his game leg, and he couldn’t shout with his withered lungs. So Harishankar Magician looked for another business that didn’t require standing and shouting. Now he wanders the city, pushing a bicycle that bears a box with a hand-painted sign: “ASTROLOGY BY ELECTRONICE MINI COMPUTER MACHIN”. Passersby, seeing the mysterious box, gather spontaneously to ask what it is. He invites them to put on the Stethoscope, which is a pair of big padded headphones attached to the Machin. Then the front panel of the Machin comes alive with flashing Disco Lights, rows of red and yellow and green colored bulbs. The Machin, Harishankar Magician tells his customers, monitors their blood pressure, then tells their fortune through the Stethoscope. The fee is two rupees (six cents). Harishankar doesn’t like this business; with this, unlike his previous trade, he thinks he is peddling a fraud. Besides, he can only do it for an hour and a half a day, and clears only about 15 rupees (43 cents). Harishankar Magician is sad. He yearns for the negative-positive business. Once the activist Sathyu took a picture of Harishankar’s son, who was born six days before the gas came. He died three years later Harishankar and his wife have no photographs of their dead boy in their possession, and they ask Sathyu if he can find the negative of the photo he took. Then they will use the small vial of chemical to make a positive of their boy’s negative, with only 10 minutes of sunlight. The Plague of the Lawyers AImost immediately after the disaster, the American lawyers started corning, by the dozens. Out they stepped from the plane, blinking and squinting in the strong Bhopal light, covering their noses with handkerchiefs as they stepped gingerly through the dung-strewn lanes of the slums, glad-handing the bereaved, pointing to their papers and telling their translators to tell the victims, “MILLIONS of rupees, you understand? MILLIONS!” And so the people signed, putting their names down in Hindi, or just with their thumbprints. In the Oriya slum, 11 years later, word spreads that a visitor from America has come, and a cluster of people come to meet me. A young man, Bhimraj, and his mother, Rukmini, approach me hesitantly, holding out a carefully preserved piece of paper. -The American government gave us this, he says. “Can you tell me what it says?” I look at the document. It is a legal contract. “Contract between law office of Pat Maloney, PC, of the city of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, and Suresh. “Client agrees to pay attorney as attorney’s fee for such representation one third (33%) of any gross recovery before action is filed, forty percent (40%) of any gross recovery after the action is filed but before the commencement of trial, and fifty percent (50%) of any gross recovery after commencement of trial. “This contract is performable in Bexar County, Texas.” On the night of the gas, Rukmini abandoned her three-year-old son, Raju, who was dead, and ran with her five-year-old daughter, Rajni, who died three days later. When the lawyers came, they got Rukmini’s husband, Suresh, to put his name down in Hindi on this document. They took the family’s pictures. “They didn’t even send us a copy,’ says Rukmini. That was the last the family heard from the man they believed came on behalf of “the American government.” So now they ask me, what should they do with this paper that they’ve been holding on to for II years? “Tear it up and throw it away, I tell them. “It’s junk” They look at me, their faces blank, not understanding. (When I returned to America, I tried to contact attorney Pat Maloney. He did not return phone calls.) Responding to such abuses, the Indian parliament passed a law declaring itself the sole legal representative of all of the Bhopal gas victims. It sued Carbide in federal court in New York. The court held that the proper venue for the case should be in India; spectators were treated to the uniquely edifying spectacle of hearing the Indian government’s lawyers argue the inadequacy of its own legal system, countering Carbide’s lavish testaments to the excellence of the very same system. The reason was simple: everybody knew that any potential damage award given out by an Indian court would be considerably smaller than one awarded by a U.S. court. Had the victims succeeded in suing the company in its home country and winning, they would probably have bankrupted the giant corporation, much as the asbestos liability cases bankrupted the Manville Cor)oration and breast-implant litigation bankupted Dow Corning. As it transpired, after prolonged legal wrangling, the Indian Supreme Court unilaterally, without giving the victims a chance to make their case, imposed a settlement to the amount of $470 million, with the government to make up any shortfall. The government had asked for $3 billion from Carbide. Carbide executives vere delighted; they speedily transferred the money to the government. That was in 1989. The first victim did not see the first rupee of Carbide s money until Christmas of 1992, eight years after the night of the gas. A total of 597,000 claims for compensation have been filed. As of May 1996, the government has passed rulings on only about half of them302,422-and awarded compensation for injuries to 288,000 Bhopalis. Out of the total settlement amount of $470 million plus interest since 1989, the government had, by May of 1996, only disbursed some $241 million. The Quantification of Loss A government psychiatrist who has done a close study of the minds of the gas victims has come to this conclusion: they don’t want to work. “You can’t get domestic help in Bhopal nowadays;’ the doctor complained to me. “If a family has five affected people who get 200 rupees $6] each [in interim relief], that’s a thousand rupees a month, so they don’t want to work” There is a widespread belief that the people destroyed by the gas-who tended to come from the poorer sections of Bhopal-aren’t receiving deserved compensation for grievous injuries that they are legally and morally entitled to, but some sort of unearned windfall that’s made them indolent. This belief is prevalent among the rich in new Bhopal, government officials, and Carbide executives. J. L. Ajmani is the secretary of the gasrelief department of Madhya Pradesh state, and he won’t give me an interview. Ajmani is a man of the 21st century. In his luxurious office, he has a computer, a bank of three phones, a sofa, a huge desk, and an executive chair in which he reposes under a big picture of Mahatma Gandhi. While brushing me off, he keeps tapping into his digital diary. I ask him about allegations of corruption in his department. He laughs fearlessly. “It’s been 11 years. Volumes have been written. You also write.” Although the government isn’t releasing figures about the average amount of awards, the welfare commissioner’s office told me that the maximum compensation awarded for deaths is 150,000 rupees ($4286), except in a handful of cases. Mohammed Laique, a local lawyer who has been representing claimants from the beginning, gave me the standard rates of compensation. For most deaths, the amount awarded is 100,000 rupees ($2857). For personal injury cases, 90 per cent get 25,000 rupees, or $714 (the award bestowed on most of the survivors I spoke to directly). Of these amounts, says Laique, “claimants lose between 15 per cent and 20 per cent at the outset in bribes. To get money out early, you pay another 10 per cent” Then there are sundry small bribes. Clerks in government offices demand anywhere from 100 to 2000 rupees ($57) to move papers, depending on the size of the awards. The payments the government has been disbursing since 1990 for interim relief (200 rupees, or $6 a month) are also deducted from the awards. This means that from an award of 25,000 rupees, the maimed survivor in September 1995 could expect to receive as little as 7600 rupees. Two hundred and seventeen dollars. Union Carbide claims that the compensation is “more than generous by any Indian standard”Is it really? For comparison, Laique pulls out the schedule of standard compensation set by Indian Railways for railway accidents. The schedule is gruesomely specific: In case of death: 200,000 minimum ($5714). For disability of 1 leg: 120,000 ($3429) If one or two hands are cut off: 200,000 If one or two legs are severed: 200,000 Thumb cut off: 60,000 ($1714) If four fingers cut off from one hand: 100,000 ($2857) 3 fingers cut off: 60,000 2 or 1 fingers cut off: 40,000 ($1143) Breast cut off: 180,000 ($5143) For problem with 1 eye: 80,000 ($2286) Hip joint fracture: 40,000 Minimum for bodily injury: 40,000. “And the railways give very fast decisions, plus interest after three months,” adds Laique. During the bloody communal rioting that followed the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque in Ayodhya in 1992, the government gave a minimum of 200,000 rupees ($5714) to the families of each person killed; these were people of the same socioeconomic status as Carbide’s victims. It’s clear that, if a Bhopali had any choice in the instrument of his death, it would be financially much more advantageous to be killed or maimed in a train wreck or at the hands of a religious fanatic than through an American multinational’s gas cloud. historyInternational Medical Commission on Bhopal (IMCB)medicaltestimonies News Clippings – 1984-1990: The Unfolding Medical Disaster MORE DEATHS LIKELY IN BHOPAL: US EXPERTS 6/12/84. American toxicology experts believe that many more people in Bhopal may die of the secondary effects of the poisonous gas MIC. These experts say that the people who have survived so far could die as a result of ordinary respiratory infection because their lung tissues are damaged by the gas. PEOPLE EXPOSED TO MIC MAY SUFFER NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS from the Patriot 9/12/84. The report is about the possibility of behavioral disorders and chronic nervous disease. According to neurotoxicologists people who were exposed to the poisonous MIC gas might suffer from neurological disorders. GAS VICTIMS HAVING BREATHING TROUBLE, BURNING FEELING IN EYES 12/12/84. General weakness, recurrent respiratory and breathing trouble, and a burning sensation in the eyes, were the most common complaints of the people who had been discharged from hospitals. At Hamidia Hospital there was no oxygen because of the rush of patients and people were asked to wash their eyes and return home. RELIEF WORK INADEQUATE from Economic Times 13/12/84. This report claims that the state is not able to cope with the problems the gas leak has created. There are complaints about lack of medicine and non-attendance by doctors. The affected people are using various methods to voice their resentment and protesting the non-availability of medical assistance. The reporter goes into the affected neighborhoods where almost everybody is coughing constantly, having pain and irritation in chest and experiencing lack of vision. These people are in no condition to get out of bed and are hardly eating anything. Young men are trying to get the attention of the higher authorities to get necessary and adequate medical help. DISABLING AND INCURABLE AILMENTS STILL AFFLICT THOUSANDS IN BHOPAL from the New York Times 29/3/85. The story claims that thousands of people are suffering from incurable problems with breathing, sleeping, digesting food and performing even light physical labor. Problems in counting the injured, confusion, inefficiency and haphazard record-keeping are plaguing the medical relief system. Experts said there was random or casual prescribing of painkillers, sedatives, antacid tablets and many other drugs, some of them potentially harmful. Patients complain that the pills give them no relief and a doctor acknowledged that victims were going from one hospital or clinic to another in a desperate search for cures that did not exist. He said there were no treatments available that would improve their symptoms. NEUROSIS AFFLICTS BHOPAL GAS VICTIMS from Indian Express 3/16/85. Every fourth MIC patient is suffering from mental disorder. A survey by a mental health team work confirmed that delayed psychological effects are likely to occur. POLICE DEMOLISH CLINIC, HAND RECORDS TO CARBIDE 27/6/85. The police raided the clinic run by People’s Health Centre and handed over all medical records of MIC patients to Union Carbide. The clinic was set up for administering sodium thiosulphate injections to MIC patients. The People Health Centre strongly protested against the demolition of the clinic. A YEAR LATER, HEALTH OF MANY IN BHOPAL STILL IN QUESTION from the Observer 1/12/85. Medical studies conducted in the year since the chemical leak at the plant indicate that the chemical responsible for the accident causes serious long-term health problems. Medical experts also say that the clinical evidence compiled show that the deaths and injuries were not solely caused by MIC, instead they assert some MIC had been broken down into hydrogen cyanide before the toxic material escaped from the storage tank. MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR GAS-HIT WOMEN SOUGHT 6/12/86. At a press conference doctors stressed that timely medical treatment for women, particularly pregnant was essential. They said the gas seemed to have affected women the most. There were complaints of various ailments, including stoppage of child movement in wombs. Apart from still births they had also seen deformed children being born due to the effects of the gas. LUNG DAMAGE TO GAS VICTIMS LONG-TERM 6/9/86. Studies prove that MIC-induced lung disease has a long-term course. Studies carried out by a team of doctors show that MIC has restricted the functioning of the lungs of the affected persons and caused secondary psychiatric abnormalities. POINTLESS ARRESTS 13/9/86. The Madhya Pradesh arrested two voluntary workers, once again demonstrating its complete intolerance towards any legitimate questioning of its relief efforts for the gas-affected victims. The two men were found taking notes and taping a meeting of government doctors which had been announced in the press and thus was not a secret or closed-door meeting. BERGMAN, 2 OTHERS BEING ‘HARASSED’ 17/9/86. This is one of many stories in 1986 about the government’s harassment and persecution against relief workers and volunteers opposed to Union Carbide. It’s about the framing up of three relief workers under the “absurd” charge of violation of Official Secrets Act. One of the accused cycled from England to raise money for the gas victims and decided to stay on to help children. He was now being labeled as a spy. Two others who write for a monthly newspaper “Bhopal” had been accused of “illegally trespassing” and recording the meeting of Indian Council of Medical Research with local doctors to discuss the mode of treatment for the gas victims. Thirty one relief workers from different parts of the country had been charged under various offences. OXYGEN HUNGER – MAIN CAUSE OF GAS VICTIMS’ TROUBLES from Dainak Bhaskar 27/4/87. Scientists claim that the damaged lungs of the victims have made them respiratory cripples. Also a study on schoolchildren finds that the gas tragedy has left them suffering with a number of physiological, neurological and psychological problems. The ailments included breathlessness, uneasiness, chest pain, loss of appetite, headache, body ache, loss of muscular coordination, blood pressure, palpitation, confused thinking, loss of ambition, emotional attacks, loss of memory and working capacity, and among girls there was disturbance in the menstrual cycle. NO SOPS FOR HAPLESS CARBIDE VICTIMS from Dainik Bhaskar 14/8/87. The report claims that the victims of the gas leak are practically without any assistance from either the Government or Union Carbide. The doctors and lawyers who were once engaged in helping the victims find little time for them now. The Government admits delay in relief work. PANEL FEARS PRESENCE OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN VICTIMS 28/8/87. The Supreme Court Committee for the Bhopal gas victims apprehends the presence of toxic substances in gas-affected people. There is evidence of MIC entering the blood stream, generating antibodies and disturbing the immune system. Another alarming feature is the Pregnancy Outcome Study which has established that the spontaneous abortion rate has increased four-fold, and that the toxins present in gas-exposed women were causing damage to the fetus. BHOPAL VICTIMS STILL SUFFERING 30/11/88. Four years later the effects of MIC are still evident on the victims, with the fact that the death rate was shot up alarmingly. Thousands of people are still seen waiting in queues at the hospitals with symptoms like breathlessness, loss of appetite, persistent cough, pain in abdomen and considerable weaknesses. Also, what was not perceptible at first is the traumatic effect on the minds of the affected people now suffering from mental derangement, anxiety and depression. GENERAL HEALTH DECLINES from Madhya Pradesh Chronicle 3/12/88. The general health status of the gas victims has declined further in comparison to the last four years. A doctor claims that the MIC has now “set in” among the victims, causing a continuous deterioration in the health of severely gas hit people. AFTER THE DISASTER 3/12/88. A study by ICMR shows that the overall infection rate in the babies who were delivered by the women who were pregnant in the areas which were badly hit due to the gas leak, has increased. A high incidence of fever, cough and cold, loose motions and acute respiratory problems was reported among the children who were born to the gas hit ladies in the post disaster period. VITAL DRUG BEING DENIED TO BHOPAL GAS VICTIMS 4/12/88. The one antidote that gave relief to 29,000 severely affected gas victims has not been administered to the rest of the estimated 60,000 acutely affected victims or to the mass of over 5 lakh people affected by the killer gases. Within a few days of the disaster the presence of deadly cyanide was found in blood samples of victims and doctors recommended the use of sodium thiosulphate injections. Most patients felt better, subsequently a Union Carbide specialist sent a fax recommending the use of sodium thiosulphate. But after some months, there were clear instructions from the MP administration directing medical institutions to stop sodium thiosulphate therapy. RESEARCH ON MIC’S EFFECTS IS CRUCIAL FOR THE VICTIMS 5/12/88. The report stresses that for the thousands who are still suffering from the ill-effects of MIC any research findings that can be beneficial in devising a line of treatment must be the prime concern, as there seems to be overwhelming scientific evidence to suggest the multi-systemic involvement of MIC. They claim Union Carbide has remorselessly tried to underplay the toxic effects of MIC, saying that MIC was merely an eye and throat irritant, when it is now clear that they had access to the most comprehensive inhalation study of MIC to date much before the disaster. MIC MAY HAVE DAMAGED IMMUNE SYSTEMS from Statesman 9/9/89. According to an immunologist’s research, some of those who survived the gas leak may have long-term damage to their immune systems, which could cause other health problems for the rest of their lives. 361 ABORTIONS, 22 STILLBORN, CARBIDE’S PARTING GIFT from Patriot 18/9/89. Official surveys have confirmed that the lethal MIC gas had its most treacherous impact on pregnant mothers and their unborn children. Out of 2,245 women who were within three months of their pregnancy on the night of the gas disaster show that 361 women had abortions, 22 babies were born dead, 84 were premature births and 17 of the babies born alive had congenital defects. BHOPAL OFFICIALS HINDERING DE-TOXIFYING PLAN 30/9/89. Doctors of a clinic run by voluntary organizations charged state government officials with trying to stop the collection of medical and chemical evidence of cyanide poisoning due to the gas leak. The doctors said in a statement that the officials were obstructing the clinic’s program of detoxifying the gas victims. The doctors appealed to the chief minister to take action against the officials who were not only adding to the suffering of the gas victims but also protecting Union Carbide. ILLNESS AFFLICTS MIC VICTIMS 30/1/90. According to a medical study, 70 – 80% of the gas affected population in the seriously affected areas and 40 – 50% in the mildly affected area suffer from medically diagnosed illnesses even five years after the MIC leak. TOXIC WATER FOUND AROUND UCC PLANT 16/5/90. Several toxic chemicals and cancer-causing agents have been found in the water samples collected from around the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal. This poses a serious risk to the people who continue to suffer and die of diseases related to their exposure to toxic gases that leaked from the plant. UNENDING HELL FOR BHOPAL VICTIMS 21/11/90. Almost six years after the gas disaster life continues to be an unending purgatory for the victims. According to ICMR the tragedy continues to unfold through growing general morbidity, a rising incidence of lung, eye, gastro-intestinal, skin and neuro-psychological disorders, as well as high rates of involuntary abortions among pregnant women. HOW KILLER MIC LIVES ON IN BHOPAL from the Economic Times 25/11/90. Almost six years after the gas disaster survivors are still dying and the number of dead continues to go up. The deaths have been mainly due to respiratory causes. The toxicity of MIC and its long-term effects have largely issued a systemic character with several morbidities coexisting. The story explains how even the “simple injury” cases identified after the disaster are by no means simple any longer. ← Previous 1 … 570 571 #Bhopal35 – Join the Campaign Read our Newsletter! Read inspiring narratives of suffering, courage and solidarity as our community of Survivors, Activists, Volunteers and Allies relate their personal stories. Email Us if you would like to write a blog post. Contents of old Bhopal.net websites Original studentsforbhopal.org website An international coalition working to address the grave injustices suffered by half a million Bhopalis. What Happened in Bhopal? 1. Setting the Stage for Tragedy: 1969-1984 2. That Night: December 3, 1984 3. The Immediate Aftermath: 1984-1989 4. The Fight for Justice Continues: 1990-Present 5. Contamination & the Ongoing Disaster: 1969-Present Join Our Current Campaigns & Events Skills & Resources Toolbox About ICJB What is ICJB? Mission Statement & Guiding Principles Five Years of Modi 35th Anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Disaster #Bhopal33 Protest - Part 2 ICJB on YouTube Copyright © 2019, International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, All Rights Reserved. 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__label__cc	0.749433	0.250567	by cosmicconvergence2012 from CosmicConvergence Website Don’t these people live on the same planet, work in the same world, and play on the same turf as the rest of us?! Don’t they drink the same water, eat the same food, breathe the same air? Truly, the leaders of the World Shadow Government (WSG) have soiled their own nest in ways that are forever irremediable and irreversible. Sounds totally crazy, doesn't it? That’s because it is! However, the question still remains... Why?… WHY?!… …WHY?! If ever there was a 64,000 dollar question, THIS IS IT. Why would TPTW (The Powers That Were) destroy their own home… ruin their own living environments… spoil their own stretches of beautiful and pristine beaches, and mar their mountaintop enclaves. Does acid rain somehow avoid their hidden chalets? Do oil spills decide not to wash up on their private shorelines? Do the different vectors of dissemination of radioactivity conveniently discriminate in their favor? If there is one question which permeates every nook and cranny of the alternative internet culture and is asked more than any other, this is the one in 2012. Why do those who populate the peak of the New World Order hierarchy pursue an agenda of relentless planetary destruction? There are three primary reasons why the World Shadow Government has permitted the unmitigated and ongoing destruction of the planetary environment… on every level… in every sphere of life… on every continent… in every ocean. There are in fact more than just these 3 reasons, but these are the prime movers. These are the underlying, overarching explanations, which simply cannot be refuted. For those who want the short story, it is as follows: End-Time Madness prevails around the world during the end of the Kali Yuga The Kali Yuga is always known for a proliferation of mind-altering drugs and chemicals coupled with genetic mutation and years of inbreeding among the ruling families. The end days of Kali Yuga are always defined by technospheric breakdown, environmental destruction and societal degeneration How do these three statements inform the previously stated fact of life on Planet Earth in 2012? That those who reside at the pinnacle of worldly power have clearly allowed, and even encouraged, the systematic destruction of the entire earth realm. I. End-Time Madness ...prevails around the world during the end of the Kali Yuga Those who operate at the peak of the Global Control Matrix (GCM) are subject to all the same daily influences that you and we are. They suffer the same ailments, eat the same food, and grow old in the same ways. Since they are vulnerable to the same environmental risks and dangers, health-undermining co-factors and variables of living life in the 3rd density as the rest of us, they do get sick just like everyone else. The many life-threatening diseases and chronic illnesses, which abound throughout the world, are not safely avoided by them. In fact, the stresses that exist at their level of planetary administration are many and diverse. The pressure is pretty darn high… all the time. When you’re so challenged mentally, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually, and you’re in the driver seat within the GCM, you can imagine the degree of stress. No, you really can’t. We’re talking LOTS of stress, which always serves as the number one trigger for all that ails us here on earth. Once these folks are captured by their fancy version of the healthcare system, their physical health and mental faculties will deteriorate. Just as the rest of society experiences physical degradation after being regularly exposed to the health- destroying toxicities associated with the medical-pharmaceutical complex. Because they do have privileged access to the best and the brightest throughout science and medicine, they are vulnerable to all of the flawed approaches that the ‘best’ science/medicine can buy. The same medical complex, which has forever captured them, also has ways of ensuring that no one ever leaves the reservation, especially at their level of involvement. Therefore, you can imagine how being locked in for life can feel rather suffocating, particularly for those who have a more refined code of ethics and are independent thinkers. When one is born into the upper echelons of the GCM or WSG, and nothing but your last name keeps you imprisoned in such a system of leadership over global management and control, the experience will inevitably become oppressive. And so it does! To the point where each individual is trapped in a crucible of sorts which has its own set of trials and tribulations. Of course, these positions also come with awesome perqs which are illusory at best, personally destructive at worst. The End of Kali Yuga: When the craziest among us are running the asylum How deeply do we have to explore this subject to adequately answer the question in the title? As we retrospectively view the history of the planet over the past 100, 1000 or 5000 years, we see a landscape littered with the ravages of war, conflict and awesome oppression. There are so many examples of mass murder and theft of resources on such a grand scale that one sometimes wonders if this place might be hell. Of course, it is only a hell for those who created it and surely those who run the place have always played a major role in the tragedy side of life. But not without many of us acting as accomplices, wittingly or unwittingly. In any event, we only need to visit an oft-repeated definition for insanity to really understand who's been in charge of the realm for all these years. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” Sounds pretty familiar to us, as it looks very familiar throughout this new millennium, everywhere we look. As follows: Environmental Chaos BP Gulf oil spill 2010 Chinese oil spills 2010 & 2011 Nigeria oil spill 2011 North Sea oil spill 2011 New Zealand oil spill 2012 Brazil oil spill 2012 Fukushima nuclear disaster Alberta tar sands USA nationwide fracking Wars of Aggression Lebanon War Palestinian battles Undeclared war on Pakistan Columbian drug wars Threats against Iran Mexican drug wars War in Darfur Attacks on Somalia Drone attacks in Yemen 9/11 bombings of NYC, DC & PA Moscow theatre siege-2002 Beslan school attack 2004; 3/11 Madrid train bombings 7/7 London bombings, 2005 Bali bombings, 2008 Mumbai attacks 2009 Jakarta bombings 2011 Norway attacks These three lists are by no means exhaustive, but each is illustrative of just how much crazy mischief TPTW can make in a fairly short period of time. This conduct, however, is exactly what we’re talking about when we say insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again. When will these controller types ever get with a new program? Perhaps not in our lifetime, they’ve been in power for so long. We assume that you now more fully comprehend the notion of End-Time Madness. While it does come in many shapes and sizes, TPTW usually exhibit very similar symptoms which can be observed in their handiwork as listed above. Hopefully we all agree that the behavior delineated above qualifies as full blown madness, clear cut insanity and downright craziness, whichever you prefer. II. The Kali Yuga is always known ...for a proliferation of mind-altering drugs and chemicals Environmental radioactivity and electro-pollution also pervade the global habitat. This status quo is coupled with an epidemic of genetic mutation, as well as inbreeding among the ruling class. In his book entitled “While The Gods Play” Alain Danielou perceptively pointed out the following dynamic that occurs throughout and especially at the end of the Kali Yuga: “When the gods wish to destroy a wicked tyrant, they inspire the madness in him to lose himself. Drugs are among their armaments. Their irrational and immoderate intrusion signals the imminent end of the species at the end of Kali Yuga.” With an ever-increasing exposure to myriad manmade chemicals, especially through the ingestion of countless pharmaceutical medications and synthetic food additives, we see a derangement of mind, body and soul which threatens the entire civilization. Recreational drugs, such as caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, LSD, amphetamine, as well as the many new synthetic versions, have become a permanent fixture in our society. All taken together, their aggregate use puts the entire order at great risk. The unbridled proliferation and use of chemicals throughout the entire civilization has likewise put the health and life of the global population in great danger. The human body was simply not designed to process and detoxify such a steady onslaught of chemical assaults. As these chemicals and compounds, pollutants and contaminants, toxins and poisons begin to bio-accumulate over generations, the gene pool becomes degraded, as the quality of life precipitously declines. Eventually, the people (especially the leaders) become so inundated with chemical exposures that their ability to respond to life and its challenges becomes short-circuited. Three very significant and profound developments occur in the process of societal devolution. Each of these inevitable outcomes applies particularly to those who staff the World Shadow Government. The capacity to apply the faculty of reason begins to flee humankind Common sense becomes very rare and a thing of the past Irrationality and unreasonableness start to rule the day everywhere, all the time As these three societal phenomena become amplified, the manifestations of their presence can hardly be overlooked. Particularly when the masses are so easily influenced that they can be: stampeded into war corralled into a drug culture compelled to tattoo their bodies convinced of the propriety of sexual perversions boxed into a thoroughly corrupt two-party political system persuaded to vote against their very own interest coerced to vaccinate their children on a regular basis forced into drinking fluoridated water transfixed by the TV - the ultimate weapon of mass deception duped into paying taxes to rogue, criminal governments defrauded out of their life savings and retirement accounts deceived into worshipping the Almighty Dollar, instead of an Almighty God Certainly the overlay of the Pharmaceutical Culture has gone a long way toward addicting and compromising every aspect of the human body and mind. This whole process of taking over each person is a rather complicated plot and will be taken up in a future essay entitled: First They get Your Body; Then They Get Your Mind; Finally They Get Your Soul This upcoming essay will thoroughly elucidate the multi-decade plan to create a drug culture so entrenched that it functions, in and of itself, to ensure that the orders of the World Shadow Government are always carried out. Willingly and without complaint is how a great majority of people go about their day, because of how they have been sufficiently anesthetized, desensitized and chemically lobotomized. For additional insight into this major co-factor, you may want to consult a previous article entitled: Global Population Explosion Marks The End Of The Iron Age. III. The end days of Kali Yuga ...are always defined by technospheric breakdown, environmental destruction and societal degeneration This third and last answer to the question in the title is as causal in nature as it is an effect of the very nature of the Kali Yuga. You see, the Kali Yuga is the final age of an epoch punctuated by this current Age of Quarrel (aka Kali Yuga). This grand epoch is composed of four yugas and includes the three yugas preceding the Kali Yuga. Each of these progressively shorter yugas descends into times of greater chaos and disorder. Ultimately, the epoch reaches completion with the end of the Kali Yuga, culminating with the appearance of Lord Kalki. Yes, He has come and gone, and only a very few knew of his earthly incarnation. The obvious political anarchy, social pandemonium and economic/financial mayhem which exists everywhere around the globe is a reflection of this Age of Conflict. The longer the status quo is allowed to continue, and the more the global population increases, the greater the magnitude of problems on every front. Competition for scarcer resources coupled with unparalleled earth changes only serve to magnify the awesome challenges we face as a world community. More than ever, humankind is being compelled to live in harmony and peace to address these obstacles. Instead many are moving in the opposite direction. This is the result of man’s inhumanity to man as witnessed throughout so much of today’s ‘civilization’. When the human race loses it ability to think and act rationally and ethically, what else could be expected. The inexorable densification of spirit and matter over the course of the Kali Yuga is designed to produce the hapless outcomes we see all around us. Given the densifying nature of the Iron Age (iron is much more dense than gold, as well as silver and bronze) the only possible scenarios are those which we have experienced since we took birth on this blue orb. Just as the Golden Age of Satya Yuga was known for its cultural refinement and sublime spirituality, our current Age of Iron is now famous for popularizing that which is truly coarse, crude and crass. The longer these societal qualities persist, the more the civilization will degenerate into outright cruelty devoid of compassion. And so it has. How does this relate to “technospheric breakdown and environmental destruction”? Social degeneration inevitably sets the stage for the degradation of the planetary environment. Likewise, lack of conscience and unsound science will guarantee an eventual technospheric breakdown. The pervasive lack of respect for life and planet will always devolve into wanton environmental devastation and the consequential ecological apocalypse. Technospheric breakdown is of course also the product of perceived existential threats to the human race, and the many defective scientific endeavors pursued and technological innovations implemented to address them. Desperation to live at all costs, in the face of insurmountable challenges, will always drive the left brain, linear-oriented, egocentric mind to try and do anything possible to survive. This attitude has produced numerous technological developments and industrial enterprises which are profoundly and fundamentally deficient. Whereas most of the foundational paradigms throughout modern civilization are inherently flawed, each contains the seeds of its own destruction. One need only review the disasters directly resulting from the Nuclear Energy Paradigm to grasp this critical point. A glimpse into the planetary consequences of the Hydrocarbon Fuel Paradigm will likewise reveal the unfolding technospheric breakdown within that realm of operation. Yes, but how does all this relate to the WSG? THEY do have access to all the information that LOTS of money can buy. THEY control the observatories and laboratories alike. Every university and research institution operates under THEIR umbrella with the exception of a very few. Therefore, THEY have access to a tremendous amount of empirical data and authoritative information which tells the true state of the planet and solar system. For instance, THEY know exactly where Planet Earth is relative to rapidly escalating Global Climate Change. THEY know all about the never-seen-before changes within the earth’s core. TPTW are aware of the many consequential astrological alignments which have been stacking up, and what kind of societal cataclysms to expect. THEY are fully cognizant of the power of the internet and how it has awakened many to their (TPTW) multi-millennial agenda. If you were in their shoes right now, what would you do? What could you do?! All of the financial schemes and political plots are in full cyberspace view. Much of what anyone might want to know about how we ever got into this global condition is already plastered all over a world wide web. The proverbial cat is out of the bag, never to be re-bagged. What might we expect in light of their (WSG) previous history and future expectations for massive planetary transformation? Well, here’s their MO going forward. It revolves around one very practical matter where it concerns their ‘running’ of the world. They seek to create their own version of order out of chaos, which is all they’ve ever done for thousands of years. Also, as previously discussed, they are quite proficient at doing the very same thing over and over with catastrophic results (aka insanity). Furthermore, one thing they are not and that is clueless about just what would happen if everyone knew what they know. They have never been about sharing the truth or disseminating the facts regarding anything. It’s just not in their blood to do so. But much more significantly for themselves, they do know what would transpire all across the planet should the common man/woman become acquainted with certain eventualities. Please bear in mind that their supreme management goal has always been about control. That’s why we call it the Global Control Matrix. Ergo, the last thing TPTW wants to deal with, particularly during a predictably tumultuous end-time scenario, is uncontrollable chaos. Truly, it is visceral and widespread panic which they always seek to prevent. This has driven their agenda from time immemorial, just as it has driven them crazy. Question For The Reader If you were the top boss and knew everything that they know, would you use the worldwide media to inform the masses about the true state of affairs? It’s actually an unfair question since you don’t have a hint concerning some of the most grave and formidable obstacles facing the human race. The real serious stuff is always hidden under the cover of all the apparently ‘bad’ news you see on the front pages and evening news. From our seat, we do not in any way justify their actions. However, we do understand the pickle they are in, especially as we approach the end of the Kali Yuga. Also, we are well aware that they cannot proceed with any plan or course of action unless allowed to do so by the Highest Power - spiritual power, that is. Macrocosmic Perspective The good news here is that the Kali Yuga is always manifesting according to the destiny of each individual… as it manifests according to the destiny of each nation and every other earthbound collective. Nothing can go wrong here, or at any time. What we are experiencing 24/7 is but a never-ending sport of Consciousness. Karma, and in some cases instant karma, is coming at us fast and furiously during the end-time. And the WSG is merely the instrument of the outworking of that karma, especially that which manifests as the destiny of nations. (i.e. The WSG is not destroying the planet, Kali is. The WSG is simply the unwitting instrument by which all things shall come to pass at the end of Kali* Yuga.) * Kali, the Goddess of Hindu spirituality is also known as the Destroyer of false consciousness. Sometimes this play is a comedy, other times a tragedy; nevertheless, each act, each performance contains its own perfection. The lessons which can be learned throughout the Kali Yuga can only be learned during a Kali Yuga. Just as life during the Golden Age offered the perfect setting for those souls who needed to receive the experience of a golden age. The Bronze Age preceding our current era was also defined by a gradual degeneration of the natural order and declining adherence to scriptural truths. Which is exactly what every soul incarnation experienced during the Dwapara Yuga (aka the Bronze Age). Every civilization sits on an undergirding philosophical foundation of sorts. Therefore, the extent to which the integral systems of philosophy, religious paradigms, and schools of spirituality are unsound will be reflected in all the institutions and structures which society builds. Likewise, the degree to which those institutional blueprints are inherently flawed will also show up in the functioning, or rather dysfunctioning, of the society. When the foundations are laid by individuals whose thinking is skewed toward self-interest or is fear-based, we see the results all around us. Conversely, when the necessary systems and institutions are constructed on the basis of egocentricity, instead of respect for all life and reverence for the immanent Divine, we again can plainly see the consequences. Hopefully, you can now better apprehend the various subtleties and nuances around the answers to the question: Why does the World Shadow Government permit the ruination of its own living environment? Conspicuously absent from this WSG revelation is the obvious inevitability of things to occur on Planet Earth by virtue of paths chosen at the outset of the Industrial Revolution. Unknown to many, the Industrial Revolution (IR) was completely engineered by the WSG. It exerted as much control then as it does today; albeit in a much broader and more sophisticated way in 2012. The decisions taken at the inception of the industrialization of the world set the stage for all that we experience today. In other words, once the Oil & Gas Industry was given its place of prominence to fuel this worldwide enterprise (IR), the global infrastructure and superstructure were constructed to accommodate that decision. Hence, the Hydrocarbon Fuel Paradigm is now the predominant energy source across the planet. In light of this reality, what can be done at this late date to free the planet from such a destructive energy paradigm? Particularly in the midst of a global economic depression, such a necessary transition away from oil and gas would surely deal a death blow to all the fragile economies that rely on petrodollar revenues. The WSG knows this of course, and also relies on the very same revenues to grease many of their many covert operations. This same assessment is applicable to the Nuclear Fuel Paradigm, as well as other basic societal paradigms. Many of these other paths to which the WSG overly committed the civilization also cannot be undone without tremendous hardship and sacrifices for every resident of Planet Earth. Now many are saying let’s just transition to free energy, and we say go for it. Everywhere it can be done, just make it happen. Getting off their energy grid - forever - is certainly the best and quickest way to take back our power… individually and collectively… literally and figuratively. Compelling Anecdotal Evidence The BP Gulf oil spill was a defining moment throughout the current and unprecedented revelatory period of how the WSG actually works. Many of us worked on the remediation of the Gulf and we were shocked to see the apathy and lack of involvement on the part of the rich and famous who own extensive beachfront real estate and expensive mansions along the entire coastline of Florida. Bear in mind that the stretch of shoreline from Stuart to Miami is considered by insiders to be the stomping grounds for many of the world’s richest and most influential power families. And yet their response was mute throughout the course of the spill, as it is up to this very day. In the end, many of us determined that the coordinated BP and US Government response to this oil spill disaster was taken at the behest of these very same powerbrokers who basically own the peninsula of Florida. They’re all about the pharmaceutical culture, so why not just disappear the oil with Corexit. That way it won’t wash up on the beaches and bring down the property values. Nor will it foul the waters on the surface with slicks. Again, just sink the oil no matter that it will kill off the marine life; just as long as it doesn't show up on the beach or on the hulls of the fancy yachts parked in the marinas up and down the coast of Florida. Never have the intentions and modus operandi of the WSG been so transparent with regard to grave environmental concerns than during the BP oil spill. Owning a $45 million island home off the coast of Miami in the middle of the largest oil spill in North American history becomes a radically altered investment, doesn’t it? We did not take up the topics of genetic mutation or inbreeding among the ruling class because each is worthy of its own separate essay. We all know what multi-generational inbreeding will cause to the progeny. The many ruling families of the plutocracy/oligarchy have been fastidious about keeping it all in the family for many centuries. This policy has been pursued with dire consequences to the mental, emotional and psychological health of entire bloodlines. The physical and constitutional health has likewise suffered greatly. It’s therefore much easier to view their circumstances with understanding and compassion. Any one of us could have been born into any one of these Illuminati families. Actually, some of us were, and that’s why they write and reveal this type of esoteric and long-kept secret information! As for the genetic mutation component of this story, it’s not difficult to comprehend how generations of under-the-radar genetic mutations and their subclinical symptomatology will eventually translate to fuzzy thinking and fuddled feelings. Among the masses, we see evidence everyday in the outpicturing of this hidden dynamic in the form of some wild and crazy behavior. Therefore, it is quite easy to deduce that when the same phenomena occur throughout the WSG, all hell can break loose, at any time, in any place. And so it does, with increasing regularity. “When a real big cog in a real big machine moves just a little, all the smaller cogs connected to it “down the line” are set off into their own frenzied orbits, sometimes spinning completely out of control for fear of what the biggest cog might do. Or not do.” Return to The Global Elite Return to Consciousness and Sociopolitics Return to The Secret-Shadow Government	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1262
__label__cc	0.542425	0.457575	Political Violence and the Illicit Economies of West Africa Vanda Felbab-Brown and James J.F. Forest Thursday, November 15, 2012 Editor’s note: For the full article and most updated version, see Terrorism and Political Violence, 24:787-806, 2012. Read the introduction and recommendations below. The interactions between organized crime and terrorist networks or other violent groups are often about resources. In some cases, transactional relationships are established, almost always on a temporary basis, when the criminals and terrorists see a mutual benefit to be derived from such collaboration. Some terrorist networks attempt to forge alliances of convenience with criminal groups for profit, access to illicit logistical chains, or for the sake of joining forces against a common enemy, the state. In other cases, an adversarial relationship exists between organized crime and terrorist networks. Here, the presence of illicit economies may attract terrorists into a particular location, where they offer themselves as protectors of the population against the deficiencies of the state and the predatory behavior of criminal groups, and in return they expect to receive local support for their group. Of course, both organized crime and terror networks are just some of the many violent non-state and state actors who are pursuing access to, and control over, resources and population. These kinds of interactions are particularly prominent in West Africa, where robust illicit economies—infused by globalization and other factors—have contributed to a substantial increase in trafficking activities. In turn, illicit economic activity compounds and intensifies a host of problems—such as corruption, predatory behavior of political elites, political instability, weakening of law enforcement and rule of law, and so forth—that enable the ideologies of terrorists to resonate among disaffected populations.[i] Yet it is important to emphasize that despite some overall common characteristics of West African countries, their political arrangements and institutions, patterns of economic (under)development, and integration of illegal economies into the political terrain are hardly uniform. Nor is West Africa a monolithic region. Rather, it is characterized by a great diversity of political, economic, and social institutional arrangements and historic developments and legacies. There are great differences in political institutionalization, the quality of governance, economic performance and potential, and overall state-building trends in the region. Politically, economically, socially, and culturally, Ghana is not the same as Equatorial Guinea, for example. Nor does Senegal’s development over the past twenty years mimic that of Cote d’Ivoire or Liberia. West Africa’s various countries continue to experience divergent trends, with some previously affected by predatory rentier behavior and wars over economic rents showing important progress recently in managing their resources and combating illegal economies, while others have failed to do so. Liberia, for example, has achieved notable improvement — at least in terms of policy input — in its regulation of illegal logging. As with the analysis of any political and social processes, understanding the local texture and history is critical in studies of the nexus of political violence and illicit economies. Developments in Somalia Vanda Felbab-Brown Wildlife and drug trafficking, terrorism, and human security PRISM Thursday, November 8, 2018 Mexico’s out-of-control criminal market Even with this cautionary note, it is nonetheless possible to describe some broad patterns of violence and criminality in West Africa. The comparative analysis offered in this article draws on widely published frameworks of policy analysis and on field research in several West African countries to illustrate the dynamic relationships between political violence and organized crime in this vital sub-region.[ii] Particular attention is given to the increasingly vibrant drug trade in Guinea-Bissau and the various forms of political violence in Nigeria (which has the largest population, economy and security forces in West Africa). Then we examine recent policies and strategies pursued by the U.S. and the international community that, in the name of combating terrorism, seek to constrain the illicit economies of the sub-region, but in doing so may do more harm than good. For example, governing elites may profit from illicit trafficking activities, and thus be willing to provide safe haven for criminal groups to continue their operations. While on the surface they may be accepting U.S. and international counternarcotics and counterterrorism assistance, they may seek to undermine its effectiveness while at the same time improving their international image. Further, the weakest criminal groups can be eliminated through such an approach, with law enforcement inadvertently increasing the efficiency, lethality, and coercive and corruption power of the remaining criminal groups operating in the region. Overall, this analysis illustrates why the international community and the United States need to engage with West Africa in law enforcement, counternarcotics, and counterterrorism operations with extreme caution. Senior policymakers must recognize that some governments in West Africa will come to see international counternarcotics aid as yet another form of rent to be acquired for their power and profit maximization, in the same way that they had often seen anti-Communism or counterterrorism aid. Such funds can be diverted for personal profits, or worse yet, used for violent actions against domestic political opposition, as a result undermining institutional development and effective and accountable governance in the sub-region. Further, building up law enforcement capacity and intervening against illicit economies in West Africa may often be perceived by local populations as antagonistic to their interests, and can exacerbate other governance challenges. The article concludes with several proposed guidelines for new policies that incorporate these considerations. Status of WTO Legal Instruments – 2019 Edition By World Trade Organization WTO and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD Competition Policy, Intellectual Property Rights and Trade in an Interdependent World Economy By Robert D. Anderson, Nuno Pires De Carvalho, and Antony Taubman Tariff Negotiation and Renegotiation By Anwarul Hoda This comparative analysis leads to some overarching policy recommendations for combating the drug trade in West Africa, and reducing the potential for terrorist organizations to derive benefits from it. First and foremost, it is unrealistic to expect that outside policy interventions in West Africa can eradicate all organized crime and illicit economies or for that matter of all the drug trade in the region. The priority for the United States and the international community should be to focus on the most disruptive and dangerous networks: those with the greatest links or potential links to international terrorist groups with global reach, those that are most rapacious and detrimental to society and the development of an equitable state in West Africa, and those that most concentrate rents from illicit economies to a narrow clique of people. These three criteria may occasionally be in conflict, and such conflicts will pose difficult policy dilemmas. In addition to considering the severity of the threat posed to the international community and to the host state and society by such drug trafficking or organized-crime groups, the estimated effectiveness of any policy intervention needs to be factored into the cost-benefit analysis of policy choices. It is important to realize that indiscriminate and uniform application of law enforcement—whether external or internal—can generate several undesirable outcomes. For example, the weakest criminal groups can be eliminated through such an approach, with law enforcement inadvertently increasing the efficiency, lethality, and coercive and corruption power of the remaining criminal groups operating in the region. Further, such an application of law enforcement without prioritization can indeed push criminal groups into an alliance with terrorist groups—the opposite of what should be the purpose of law enforcement and especially outside policy intervention in West Africa. Both outcomes have repeatedly emerged in various regions of the world as a result of opportunistic, non-strategic drug interdiction policies. Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy, Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence Twitter VFelbabBrown James J.F. Forest Overall, the international community and the United States need to engage with West Africa’s countries in law enforcement, counternarcotics, and counterterrorism operations with extreme caution. A do-no-harm attitude and careful evaluation of the side effects of policy actions need to prominently figure in policy considerations. Clearly, there are multiple risks in rushing to action in West Africa. First, there is the danger that with minimal presence of the United States and the international community on the ground, U.S. or internationally-trained law enforcement forces will “go rogue” and the international community will only end up training more capable drug traffickers or coup forces. Second, there is a not-insubstantial risk that some governments in West Africa will come to see international counternarcotics aid as yet another form of rent to be acquired for their power and profit maximization, in the same way that they have often seen anti-Communism or counterterrorism aid. Such funds can be diverted for personal profits; or worse yet used to take harmful actions against domestic political opposition, and undermine institutional development and effective and accountable governance in the region. And third, building up law enforcement capacity and intervening against illicit economies in West Africa may be perceived by local populations as antagonistic to their interests, particularly in countries like Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and others where most opportunities for a decent income are derived from engaging in shadow/black market economic activities. The United States and the international community can reduce these dangers through several guiding principles. First, international assistance should be carefully calibrated to the absorptive capacity of the partner country. In places where state capacity is minimal and law enforcement often deeply corrupt, an initial focus on strengthening the police capacity to fight street crime, reducing corruption, and increasing the effectiveness and reach of the justice system may be the better initial intervention strategies than immediately establishing specialized anti-organized-crime or counternarcotics units. Only after careful monitoring by outside actors has determined that such assistance has been positively incorporated will it be fruitful to increase assistance for anti-organized crime efforts, including advanced-technology transfers and training. Careful monitoring of all counternarcotics programs—including their effects on the internal political arrangements and power distribution within the society and their intended effects on the power of criminal groups and their links to terrorist groups—needs to be consistently conducted by outside actors. Further, the international policy package needs to include a focus on broad state-building and the fostering of good governance in West Africa. Policy interventions to reduce drug trafficking there, and to suppress any emergent crime-terror nexus, can only be effective if there is a genuine commitment and participation by recipient governments. Finally, a broader institutional package, within which law enforcement and counternarcotics aid should be incorporated, should include: a) the development of police forces that are responsive to their citizens’ concerns, such as street crime, and accountable to their citizens; b) the strengthening of the capacity, transparency, and accountability of the recipient country’s justice system; and c) a complementary focus on economic development that generates employment and social opportunities for the vast impoverished and marginalized segments of society in West Africa. The goal of such programs should be to make sure that crime and illicit economies are not the only employment opportunity and hence perceived as legitimate. Such an approach, a long-term and difficult undertaking no doubt, will best reduce the political power of emerging domestic traffickers in West Africa and help mobilize the community’s cooperation with law enforcement. [i] For a discussion on enabling environments for terrorism, please see James J.F. Forest, “Terrorism as a Product of Choices and Perceptions,” in Terrorizing Ourselves, edited by Benjamin H. Friedman, Jim Harper, and Christopher A. Preble (Washington, DC: Cato Institute, 2010), p. 23-44. [ii] Specifically, this article draws on field research in West Africa conducted by James Forest, and on policy analysis and fieldwork in Latin America and Asia by Vanda Felbab-Brown, particularly regarding the effectiveness of various policy interventions to mitigate the crime-terror nexus.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1263
__label__wiki	0.813182	0.813182	Foreword of “”Half Way From Everywhere: A Portrait of America’s First Tier Suburbs”” by William Hudnut Series: First Suburbs Bruce Katz Sunday, June 1, 2003 Despite many signs of central city revitalization, particularly in places like Boston and Chicago, the 2000 U.S. Census confirms that suburbs continue to dominate our country’s economic, social, and political landscape. As suburbs have become more demographically, economically, and politically powerful, they have also become much more varied. While it is common to talk about “the suburbs” as a group of homogeneous jurisdictions, they are in fact highly diverse. At one end of the continuum lie older, first tier suburbs built in the early or mid-part of the 20th century that are experiencing central city-like challenges—aging infrastructure, deteriorating schools and commercial corridors, and inadequate housing. Like cities, these older communities and first suburbs require reinvestment and redevelopment. In some cases, like the southern suburbs of Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta, and Chicago, they also require broader responses to the issues presented by populations that contain disproportionate numbers of working poor families and aging homeowners. However, while some first suburbs are in decline, others are affluent and are doing quite well. Many of these places, while small in size, are the true anchors for metropolitan stability. At the other end of the suburban continuum lies the newest ring of suburbs, emerging at the fringe of metropolitan areas. These places—Loudoun County in Northern Virginia, Douglas County outside Denver, the Route 495 corridor around Boston—are growing at a feverish pace. Yet it is a particular kind of growth—expansive, low-density, and auto-dependent. They represent the “exit ramp” economy, with office, commercial and retail facilities, and in many cases, high tech campuses, located along suburban freeways miles from the urban core. However, residents and businesses in these communities have found that suburban prosperity comes with the heavy, unanticipated price of traffic congestion, overcrowded schools, disappearing open space and diminished quality of life. Until recently, most academic studies failed to describe adequately the range of suburban experiences. Many traditional urban scholars focused exclusively on demographic, social and market trends in central cities and did not distinguish between the first suburbs and those built after the 1970s. The lack of dedicated quantitative or qualitative analysis meant that the unique circumstances of older suburbs were hidden from view. In fact, the term “suburb” is still used in a very general way to describe a residential area or a community outlying a city and reinforces the notion that all suburban communities are the same and face similar challenges. Yet the failure to appreciate the diversity of suburban experiences is not limited to academia. The differences between suburbs are rarely reflected in today’s policy debate around metropolitan growth. Strategies seem to be limited to either slowing growth at the suburban fringe or promoting growth in our central cities. As a result, older, first tier suburbs are often caught in a policy blindspot between the attention long directed to central cities and new attention focused on fast-growing exurban areas. First suburban challenges are generally not incorporated in central city reinvestment strategies nor are they reflected in efforts to address farmland consumption and hypergrowth on the suburban fringe. Over the past several years, Bill Hudnut, the former Mayor of Indianapolis and one of America’s most astute urban observers and practitioners, has dedicated his substantial energies to describing the new metropolitan and suburban reality. His latest effort, Half Way From Everywhere: A Portrait of America’s First Tier Suburbs, recognizes the critical differences between suburban communities and tells a coherent and compelling story about those communities that came first. As Hudnut astutely chronicles, older, first-tier suburbs are places where many of our nation’s most critical issues—educational reform, immigration and diversity, economic restructuring, neighborhood planning, social exclusion—are being played out on a daily basis. He focuses on the unique and substantial assets these places have to offer metropolitan America and highlights the loyalty, dedication and commitment of the people who live, work and play there. His thoughtful journey into the heart of these centrally-located communities uncovers a vitality and enthusiasm not tempered by decay, decline and disinvestment. Rather, he finds that interest in first suburbs has never waned and the desire to keep, or make, them strong still prevails. As Hudnut recognizes, however, the path to maintaining first suburbs that are economically competitive, socially vital and fiscally sound ultimately lies with policy, political and organizational reform. If first suburbs are to address their challenges and realize their potential, the complex web of federal and state policies that currently undermine older communities and unfairly support newer communities will need to be fundamentally altered. If these policies are to be altered, political alignments at the regional, state and federal levels will need to be remade. Yet those alignments will only be remade if older suburbs (and their political representatives) achieve their collective voice and learn to operate more as a formal network of local governments than as a fragmented collection of parochial jurisdictions. By Bruce Katz and Jeremy Nowak The Metropolitan Revolution By Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley By Greg Clark This book, therefore, is ultimately a call to action. The future of first suburbs will depend, in part, upon their ability to build political and legislative coalitions that reflect their unique set of issues and challenges. These coalitions will, by necessity, reach across spatial, partisan, ideological and disciplinary lines. They will be difficult to build and sustain. They will require local jurisdictions to change the way they do business and relate to each other. The stakes are very high. Older suburbs—because of their location, condition and demographic composition—are uniquely positioned to exert a positive influence on future growth and development in metropolitan America. Coalitions of these jurisdictions could find themselves wielding enormous influence—aligning on some issues (e.g., educational aid, economic development) with the central city, on other issues (e.g., land preservation/reclamation) with rapidly growing suburbs and rural areas. In short, first tier suburbs could help reset major spending, tax and regulatory policies in favor of existing communities, where the bulk of the metropolitan population already reside. That would be nothing short of a policy revolution and could, if implemented vigorously, ultimately shape metropolitan communities that sprawl less, preserve more and offer all citizens greater access to employment and educational opportunities. The full book may be purchased at ULI-Urban Land Institue. Former Centennial Scholar Twitter bruce_katz U.S. Metro Areas	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1264
__label__wiki	0.949086	0.949086	Resume & Career Help Sat, Jan 25 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Pacific Library Get help writing your resume so you stand out! Bring a copy of your resume, flash drive, laptop (optional). Or, if you do not have a resume, bring a list of past employment. Just Drop In! Resume & Career Help (Flatbush Library) Mon, Jan 27 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Flatbush Library Meet with a Job Information Resource Librarian for help with your job search. Learn where to find job openings and training opportunities, get feedback on your resume and cover letter, or practice for your job interview. This is a... Wed, Jan 29 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific Library Sat, Feb 1 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Pacific Library Mon, Feb 3 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Flatbush Library Wed, Feb 5 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific Library Mon, Feb 10 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Flatbush Library Wed, Feb 12 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific Library Sat, Feb 15 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Pacific Library Mon, Mar 2 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Flatbush Library Wed, Mar 4 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific Library Sat, Mar 7 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Pacific Library Wed, Mar 11 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific Library Sat, Mar 14 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Pacific Library Mon, Mar 16 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Flatbush Library Wed, Apr 1 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific Library Sat, Apr 4 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Pacific Library Sat, Apr 11 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Pacific Library Wed, Apr 15 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific Library Sat, May 2 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Pacific Library Wed, May 6 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific Library Wed, May 13 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific Library Sat, May 16 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Pacific Library	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1265
__label__cc	0.539055	0.460945	Calendar w t f s s m t w t f s s m t w t f s s m t w t f s s m t w t f December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February Stirrings Diary January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 , 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Date Selector Enter text for a new event: Start Time: None 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 :00 :05 :10 :15 :20 :25 :30 :35 :40 :45 :50 :55 --- :01 :02 :03 :04 :05 :06 :07 :08 :09 :10 :11 :12 :13 :14 :15 :16 :17 :18 :19 :20 :21 :22 :23 :24 :25 :26 :27 :28 :29 :30 :31 :32 :33 :34 :35 :36 :37 :38 :39 :40 :41 :42 :43 :44 :45 :46 :47 :48 :49 :50 :51 :52 :53 :54 :55 :56 :57 :58 :59 AM PM End Time: None 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 :00 :05 :10 :15 :20 :25 :30 :35 :40 :45 :50 :55 --- :01 :02 :03 :04 :05 :06 :07 :08 :09 :10 :11 :12 :13 :14 :15 :16 :17 :18 :19 :20 :21 :22 :23 :24 :25 :26 :27 :28 :29 :30 :31 :32 :33 :34 :35 :36 :37 :38 :39 :40 :41 :42 :43 :44 :45 :46 :47 :48 :49 :50 :51 :52 :53 :54 :55 :56 :57 :58 :59 AM PM end date: January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 , 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Border? Enter a URL, or text for a popup window: Repeat Information (Optional)[Hide/Show] Repeat every day(s) ( Skip Weekends) Repeat every week(s) on: Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Repeat every month(s) on these dates: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Repeat every month(s) on the: First Second Third Fourth Last Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Repeat until January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 , 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Date Selector This field is not used: Email Notification (Optional)[Hide/Show] Specify email addresses to notify that this event has been added. (Use commas between addresses.) BCC: Specify any additional comments that you would like included with the notification.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1267
__label__wiki	0.956655	0.956655	National Archives Announces New Director of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Retired Brig. Gen. Patrick X. Mordente has been named Director of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, effective February 6. Washington, DC. . . Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero today announced the appointment of retired Brig. Gen. Patrick X. Mordente as the new Director of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, effective February 6. In making the announcement, the Archivist said, “Patrick’s extensive Federal experience leading large organizations, especially team building, process improvement, and crisis management, will greatly benefit the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the National Archives.” Mordente is a 29-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a Command Pilot with over 2,700 hours of flying time in T-37, T-38, and C-130 aircraft. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1987 and attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. He served on multiple high level staffs within the Department of Defense, including the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. He is a combat veteran who served in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. As a Wing Commander, he worked closely with military historians to preserve unit and installation records. He retired as the Vice Commander of 18th Air Force at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, in October 2016. Mordente holds master of science degrees from The National Defense University in National Resource Strategy and from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Air Mobility, as well as a master of arts degree from Webster University in Business, and an undergraduate degree in Engineering Mechanics from the Air Force Academy. The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, located in Dallas, Texas, is one of 14 libraries in the Presidential Library system administered by the National Archives and Records Administration and overseen by the Office of Presidential Libraries. The Presidential Libraries house the records of Presidents Herbert Hoover through Barack Obama and preserve and provide access to historical materials, support research, and create interactive programs and exhibits that educate and inspire. For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300 or Bobbi Gruner (Bush Library) at 214-346-1670, or by email at bobbi.gruner@nara.gov.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1270
__label__wiki	0.956704	0.956704	Home > Government & Economy Scotland's Nationalists dealt a blow in UK local elections Sat, May 06, 2017 - 7:54 AM Scotland's nationalists failed to gain ground in local-government elections as Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives cemented themselves as the biggest threat to their dominance after campaigning against another independence referendum. PHOTO: EPA [EDINBURGH] Scotland's nationalists failed to gain ground in local-government elections as Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives cemented themselves as the biggest threat to their dominance after campaigning against another independence referendum. With ballots in all of Scotland's 32 regions counted, the Scottish National Party lost seven council seats and the Conservatives gained 164. The SNP also lost control of the city of Dundee, one of the few places that backed breaking away from the UK in a 2014 plebiscite. The vote in Scotland was framed as a chance to protest Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's plan for another independence referendum following the decision to leave the European Union. In reality, it was a preview to the June 8 general election. Results suggest the SNP will retain its command over Scotland's parliamentary seats next month, though the question is by how much, as the Tories return to levels of support not seen since the 1980s. "People right across Scotland now are looking for this fight back against the SNP," Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson told the BBC. "The only party strong enough to lead this fight back is the Scottish Conservative Party." Following the trend elsewhere in the UK, most of the gains were at the expense of the Labour Party. It lost control of Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city, for the first time since 1980, as well as two other councils. Could Labour score surprise election win? Ms Sturgeon said it was nothing short of a "clear and emphatic victory" for the SNP, which won the largest number of seats overall, and showed its share of the vote had held up. "It's not the SNP losing ground to the Tories," she said in a BBC interview. "The real soul-searching in Scotland has to be done by the Labour Party." The SNP said it increased the party's number of councilors compared with the last local elections in 2012. The results published by the BBC were adjusted to reflect boundary changes to the districts since then. As Davidson champions her opposition to Sturgeon's plan for a second independence ballot, the nationalists talk of Tory spending cuts and the dark days for Scotland under former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. June Vote The problem for the SNP is that next month will be more about defending its position than strengthening it. The party took 56 of Scotland's 59 districts in the UK Parliament in 2015 in what had been one of the biggest Labour capitulations. The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats took one seat apiece. That came less than a year after Scots voted 55 per cent to 45 per cent to remain in the UK and the nationalists went on to build support up to unprecedented levels. Scots then voted against Brexit last year, and Ms Sturgeon has said they should get the chance to decide their future after the terms of leaving the EU become clear by spring 2019. She won the backing of lawmakers in the Scottish Parliament to seek the legal means from the UK government to hold another referendum, though Ms May rebuffed the demand. Britain must change how land is used to meet climate goal: advisers China halts flights and trains out of virus outbreak city: state media Stocks to watch: CCT, CMT, Frasers Property, ESR-Reit, Cache Logistics THE following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Thursday:	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1271
__label__wiki	0.613254	0.613254	Quizzes Fact Box Photo Identification Famous Art Celebrities Browse Quizzes Trivia Quizzes about Music - Rock AllAwards ClassicalCountry JazzOpera PopRock 1 Song: "Bohemian Rhapsody" Rock 10/09/07 2 Song: "Hotel California" Rock 11/16/07 3 1970's Billboard Pop Singles III Rock 12/17/07 4 The Songs of 1966 Rock 02/21/11 5 Don McLean's "American Pie" - Annotated 2 Rock 08/10/09 6 Don McLean's "American Pie" - Annotated Rock 07/12/08 7 Song: "We Will Rock You" Rock 10/09/07 8 "Grease" is the Word Soundtrack Rock 12/18/07 9 Rockin' Rock Bands Rock 09/14/08 10 1970's Billboard Pop Singles II Rock 12/11/07 11 Kryptonite Rock 01/11/08 12 Steve Miller Band - "The Joker" Rock 06/21/08 13 Song: "We are the Champions" Rock 10/07/07 14 "Eye of the Tiger" Rock 01/12/09 15 "I'm A Believer" - The Monkees Rock 08/11/09 1 2 3 4 5 ... 26 Next	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1276
__label__wiki	0.50699	0.50699	Raccoon, (genus Procyon), also called ringtail, any of seven species of nocturnal mammals characterized by bushy ringed tails. The most common and well-known is the North American raccoon (Procyon lotor), which ranges from northern Canada and most of the United States southward into South America. It has a conspicuous black “mask” across the eyes, and the tail is ringed with 5 to 10 black bands. A stout animal with short legs, a pointed muzzle, and small erect ears, the North American raccoon is 75 to 90 cm (30 to 36 inches) long, including the 25-cm (10-inch) tail. Weight is usually about 10 kg (22 pounds) or less, although large males may grow to more than 20 kg. Those living in northern regions are larger than their southern counterparts. The North American raccoon’s fur is shaggy and coarse, and its colour is iron-gray to blackish with brown overtones. Southern raccoons are typically more silver, with northern “coons” tending toward blond or brown. North American raccoon (Procyon lotor). Leonard Lee Rue III Like all raccoons, the North American raccoon is an intelligent and inquisitive animal. The hairless front feet are highly dexterous and resemble slender human hands, the hind feet being thicker and longer. Although classified as a carnivore, the raccoon is omnivorous, feeding on crayfish and other arthropods, rodents, frogs, and fruit and other plant matter, including crops. Raccoons are mistakenly believed to “wash” their food before eating it if water is available. This misconception arises from their habit of searching for food in or near water and then manipulating it while eating. Raccoons adapt extremely well to human presence, even in towns and cities, where they den in buildings and thrive on a diet of garbage, pet food, and other items available to them. As availability of food is the primary factor affecting the abundance of raccoons, the highest population densities are often found in large cities. In the wild raccoons live in a wide variety of forest and grassland habitats. Most often found in proximity to water, they are also proficient swimmers. They climb readily and usually den in riverbanks, hollow trees or logs, or abandoned beaver lodges. Raccoons overcome winter food shortages by becoming dormant. This period may last from a few days, in response to occasional southern cold spells, to four to six months at northern latitudes. Northern raccoons are able to do this by accumulating large amounts of body fat during the late summer and autumn. Most will double their springtime body weight in order to provide themselves with enough energy to sleep through the winter. In early spring males mate with more than one female. Annual litters contain one to six (usually three or four) young, born in late spring after a gestation period of 60–73 days. The female takes a keen interest in her young and cares for them for about a year, even though the young begin hunting food and are weaned at about two months. In captivity raccoons can live up to 20 years, but few survive beyond 5 in the wild. Their large size and vigorous defense sometimes enable them to fend off predators such as bobcats, coyotes, and mountain lions. Most deaths, however, are caused by humans and disease, especially canine distemper, parvovirus, and rabies. Rabies is especially significant in the eastern United States, where raccoons surpassed skunks in 1997 as the most frequent vector of the disease. Vaccine-laden bait has been air-dropped in Canada in an effort to stop the spread of rabies. Because of its fondness for eggs, nestlings, corn, melons, and garbage, the raccoon is unwelcome in some areas. It is still hunted (often with hounds) and trapped for its fur and flesh. The North American raccoon played an important role in the North American fur industry during the 19th century. In the early decades of the 20th century, raccoon coats were de rigueur for the sporting set. As a result of the fur’s value, raccoons were introduced to France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Russia, where they have become a nuisance. In the latter portion of the 20th century, raccoons expanded their range northward in Canada, likely because of conversion of forest to agricultural land. Warmer temperatures and less-severe winters would enable raccoons to extend their range even farther. The crab-eating raccoon (P. cancrivorus) inhabits South America as far south as northern Argentina. It resembles the North American raccoon but has shorter, coarser fur. The other members of genus Procyon are not well known. Most are tropical and probably rare. They are the Barbados raccoon (P. gloveralleni), the Tres Marías raccoon (P. insularis), the Bahaman raccoon (P. maynardi), the Guadeloupe raccoon (P. minor), and the Cozumel raccoon (P. pygmaeus). Raccoons belong to the family Procyonidae, along with the olingos, the cacomistle, and the kinkajou. Serge Lariviere Article Title: Raccoon Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. URL: https://www.britannica.com/animal/raccoon	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1280
__label__wiki	0.976778	0.976778	Carlow University 3333 Fifth Ave Give to Carlow Student, Faculty, & Staff Webmail CelticOnline CAA Tutoring Grace Library Help! Services Tours & Visiting Research & Discovery Student Activities & Clubs Office of Career Development Office of Equity & Inclusion About Pittsburgh Parking & Public Transportation About Carlow Mercy Heritage & Mission Maps, Directions, & Parking Center for Mercy Heritage & Service Social Justice Institutes Programs & Partnerships Sponsored Programs & Research Giving to Carlow Carlow University Magazine Remembering Sister Jane Scully Student and Alum Success Voices From the Attic Sister Jane Scully (1917-2018), the sixth president of Carlow University, who became the first woman to serve on boards in the corporate and civic worlds in Pittsburgh, died on Saturday, February 17, 2018, at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Oakland, located on the Carlow campus. Sister Jane, who turned 100 years of age in November, became president of Carlow—then known as Mount Mercy College—in 1966. Three years later, the school underwent a name change to become Carlow College, a name that would last until Carlow achieved university status in 2004 and became Carlow University. At the time of the change from Mount Mercy to Carlow, according to Sister Jane, a new name had been discussed for 40 years because of confusion with other colleges that shared the same name or something similar. “A college needs to have an identity of its own and that’s what Carlow College will be,” she told a reporter from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a 1969 interview about the name change. In a 2004 interview with the Post-Gazette, she recalled the name change a bit more colorfully. "There were more than 30 Mount-Mercy-Mary kind of college names, and I wanted to get this fine school out from the M's in the middle. Carlow is the name of the town in Ireland where the Mercies came from. It's short and strong, and right up at the top of the alphabet." “Sister Jane Scully was an exceptional leader during a time of great change for the university in particular and for society in general,” said Suzanne K. Mellon, PhD, the tenth and current president of Carlow University. “One of the first people I heard about when I became president of Carlow was Sister Jane. She was a notable woman leader of her time, setting an example that is still talked about today. She had the ability to create, engage others, and work toward a clear and inspiring vision that others could follow. While she served as a clear trailblazer for women, her work ethic, warmth, and great sense of humor was apparent to all. She will be missed, not just by the Sisters of Mercy and Carlow University, but by many people throughout western Pennsylvania.” Sister Jane was a Carlow graduate who was trained to be a librarian, but she became a leader in the higher education, business, and civic worlds. Leading Carlow until 1982, her service of 16 years as president is the third longest tenure in the university’s history. While president of Carlow University, she was invited to serve on the board of Gulf Oil Corporation. She served ten years on Gulf’s board, through its takeover by Chevron in the mid-1980s. She also became the first woman to be a member of the Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh’s Economic Development Commission, the board of the Pennsylvania Public Television Network Commission, and the board of the Allegheny County Port Authority. In an interview with the United Press International in 1981, she recalled being asked by a television reporter at the time of her appointment to the Port Authority’s board if, as a woman, she felt qualified to be a board member. “’I told him I didn’t know of a man on the board who had as much business experience as I had,’ she said sweetly.” As president, Sister Jane is remembered fondly by students and faculty alike. “I would qualify her as a champion for women, said Cynthia Busin Nicola, PhD, a professor of business management who was a student at Carlow while Sister Jane was president. Nicola told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Sister Jane encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them. “I believe she followed this herself her whole life.” Jim Kelly, PhD, a professor of social work, interviewed her extensively for an oral history project on the Sisters of Mercy. Kelly described her as unafraid to speak up for her college and for women. “She was one of the feistiest, strongest people I’ve had a chance to talk with,” he told the Post-Gazette. Following her tenure as president, Sister Jane received the Women of Spirit® award and the Carlow Laureate Award. She is survived by her brother, Joseph Scully, Sr., of Squirrel Hill, and many nieces and nephews. By Drew Wilson Donate To Carlow Apply To Carlow 3333 Fifth Avenue, Questions@carlow.edu News and Spotlights Campus School facebook twitter instagram You Tube Linked In © Copyright 2020 Carlow University.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1282
__label__cc	0.501847	0.498153	Award-Winning Journalist~Teacher~Author~Wordsmith CAROL WOLF MEDIA About Carol Wolf CFS Resources The "Catch-22" of Cybersecurity Incident Disclosures Five Components for a Cybersecurity Response Plan for the Inevitable Breach Enterprise Risk Management at the Board Level Needs to Include Cybersecurity Institutional Investors Getting in on the Activist Game Top 5 Ways to Communicate Long-Term Strategies to a Market Focused on Short-Term Results Forget Proxy Votes: Activist Investors Harness Media Power to Affect Change Trends in Activist Investing: What You Need to Know 5 Reasons Why Ignoring Emails Will Hurt Your Career A Primer on U.S. Corporate Earnings~Part 1 ~ Everything you ever wanted to know about corporate earnings but fell asleep while thinking about Primer on U.S. Corporate Earnings~Part 2 Conference Jitters? How to Be a Networking Superstar By Carol Wolf It’s corporate earnings time again. That time of fun and frolic where public companies tell the world of their triumphs and misadventures during the past three months and Wall Street votes yea or nay on the tale. Four times a year, Wall Street turns its collective eyes almost exclusively to earnings. But the non-Wall Street crowd often wonders what all the fuss is about and those new to investing may not even understand how the whole process works. For those looking for a better understanding of corporate earnings – this blog’s for you. For those who know the basics, move on to earnings primer part two: “The Earnings Dance.” My daughter once said to me “Mom, all you ever do is earnings!” There may have been some truth in that. By my estimate, I’ve written up at least 1,000 earnings reports while I worked as a reporter for Bloomberg News. So while I’m not a Wall Street analyst, I do know a thing or two about the beast and what follows is my take on what I’ve learned. Let’s start by answering some basic questions. What’s a public company? A public company sells stakes in its financial fortune on an open exchange. The market determines the value of the company by trading shares on a daily basis. A private company is one in which the general public can’t buy shares. We don’t really care about the financial performance of a private company. If we can’t make money on them, why would we? That’s rhetorical. What are corporate earnings reports? By law, public companies are required to provide a clear statement of their financial status four times a year. Once a year they also provide an extremely in-depth analysis of their business. The reports contain a company’s most recent balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows as well as other items including lawsuits or other issues of interest to investors. The reports are submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on a prescribed time table. You don’t think they’d do all this without being forced do you? Again, rhetorical. Why are investors interesting in earnings reports? Investors use the information provided in earnings reports to make decisions about the value of the company. They look at a variety of categories including sales, profit, cash, inventory, cost of goods sold and compare those items to the year ago quarter. So if this is the second quarter of 2014, they look at the same category of items from the second quarter of 2013. They also may compare consecutive quarters, but many companies have seasonal businesses so looking at what happened in the same quarter the year before is more beneficial to understanding the company’s financial progress. Investors make a decision about whether to buy the stock from looking at the health and progress of the company and comparing it to their own financial strategy. Very importantly investors look at what the company says about upcoming quarters. That’s called the earnings forecast. It’s an important item. How does the investor make money off a public company? Generally in three ways: When the stock price goes up; when a company buys back its own shares, and through dividends that some companies give out to investors quarterly. How are corporate earnings reported? Companies are required to provide the financial report to the SEC through a filing called a 10-Q. The Q stands for ‘quarter.’ The in-depth financial report done once a year is called a 10-K. No one knows what the K stands for. Most companies will also write a press release summarizing the key points of their SEC filings. When are corporate earnings reported? Companies must report earnings somewhere between 30 and 90 days after the end of each quarter, depending on circumstances. Quarters are generally closed at the end of March, June, September and December. Some companies follow a fiscal year. A company often picks its fiscal year based on its business cycle although many fiscal years end September 30, including the U.S. government’s. Companies that have fiscal years ending say in March are just trying to give you a headache. Companies generally will tell the public, often to the exact minute, when they will issue their earnings report. They usually do this by issuing a press release several weeks in advance. If a company cannot, for whatever reason, turn in their report to the SEC on time, they must file a form requesting an extension. If a company delays its earnings report, that’s a bad sign. Investors don’t like when this happens. Is there a difference between the press release and the SEC filing? There can be significant differences, but there aren’t always. The press release doesn’t have to provide the specific information required by the SEC. The press release is NOT the final word on a company’s performance; the SEC filing is. The press release can be, and generally is, corporate spin. Investors will scan the SEC filing for differences from the press release. They also look at the SEC filing for warnings, investigations and lawsuits that the company may have chosen not to highlight in a press release. What do public companies do with the money we give them when we buy shares? That’s what corporate earnings tell us: What exactly ARE they doing with the money? Part 2 of this primer will deal with the interplay between companies, investors and analysts related to corporate earnings. Carol Wolf is a freelance ghostwriter and wordsmith. She can be reached at CarolWolfMedia@gmail.com Data Security Breach Notification Act Falls Communication activist investors cybersecurity plan shareholder value short- termism © 2015 by CAROL WOLF MEDIA 202-384-3650 CarolWolfMedia@gmail.com www.CarolWolfMedia.com	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1283
__label__wiki	0.515937	0.515937	St. Jodoc Feastday: December 13 St. Jodoc (Josse) Confessor December 13 A.D. 669 Those Britons who, flying from the swords of the English-Saxons, settled in Armorica in Gaul, upon the ruins of the Roman empire in those parts formed themselves into a little state on that coast till they were obliged to receive the laws of the French. Judicaël, commonly called Giguel. eldest son of Juthaël, became king of Brittany about the year 630. This prince soon after renounced this perishable crown to labor more securely for the acquisition of an incorruptible one, and retired into the monastery of St. Meen, in the diocese of St. Malo, where he lived in so great sanctity as to be honored after his death with the title of the Blessed Judicaël. When he resigned the crown be offered it to his younger brother Jodoc, called by the French Josse But Jodoc had the same inclinations with his elder brother However, to consult the divine will, he shut himself up for eight days in the monastery of Lammamiont, in which he had been brought up, and prayed night and day with many tears that God would direct him to undertake what was most agreeable to him, and most conducive to his divine honor and his own sanctification. He put an end to his deliberation by receiving the clerical tonsure at the hands of the bishop of Avranches, and joined a company of eleven pilgrims who purposed to go to Rome. They went first to Paris, and thence into Picardy in 636, where Jodoc was prevailed upon by Haymo, duke of Ponchieu, to fix upon an estate of his, which was at a sufficient distance from his own country, and secure from the honors which there waited for him Being promoted to priest's orders, he served the duke's chapel seven years, then retired with one only disciple named Vurmare, into a woody solitude at Ray, where he found a small spot of ground proper for tillage, watered by the river Authie. The duke built them a chapel and cells, in which the hermits lived, gaining by the tillage of this land their slender subsistence and an overplus for the poor. Their exercises were austere penance, prayer, and contemplation. After eight years thus spent here they removed to Runiac, now called Villers-saint-Josse, near the mouth of the river Canche, where they built a chapel of wood in honor of St. Martin. In this place they continued the same manner of life for thirteen years; when Jodoc having been bit by an adder, they again changed their quarters, the good duke who continued their constant protector, having built them a hermitage, with two chapels of wood, in honor of SS. Peter and Paul. The servants of God kept constant enclosure, except that out of devotion to the princes of the apostles, and to the holy martyrs, they made a penitential pilgrimage to Rome in 665. At their return to Runinc they found their hermitage enlarged and adorned, and a beautiful church of stone, which the good duke had erected in memory of St. Martin, and on which he settled a competent estate. The duke met them in person on the road, and conducted them to their habitation. Jodoc finished here his penitential course in 669, and was honoree by miracles both before and after his death. Winoc and Arnoc, two nephews of the saint, inherited his hermitage, which became a famous monastery, and was one of those which Charlemagne first bestowed on Alcuir in 792. It stands near the sea, in the diocese of Amiens, follows the order of St. Bennet, and the abbot enjoys the privileges of count. It is called St. Josse-sur-mer. St. Jodoc is mentioned on this day in the Roman Martyrology. See the life of this saint written in the eighth century; Cave thinks about the year 710. It is published with learned notes by Mabillon, Act Ben. t. 2, p. 566 Gall. Chr. Nov. t. 10, pp. 1289, 1290. ← St. Joan of Valois Bl. Johannes Baptist av Oaxaca → St. Maria Goretti Holy Card @ $29.95 $25.46 SAVE 15% St. Catherine of Alexandria Pendant (14 Karat Gold Filled) St. Francis of Assisi Classes The Presence of Christ (8th Grade) Classes	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1285
__label__wiki	0.990632	0.990632	Nova Scotia Power says it now generates 30% of its power from renewables Nova Scotia Power says 30 per cent of the electricity it produced last year came from renewable sources such as wind power. More than half of utility's electrical generation still comes from burning coal, petroleum coke The Canadian Press · Posted: Jun 10, 2019 2:45 PM AT \| Last Updated: June 10, 2019 Nova Scotia Power says 30 per cent of the electricity it produced in 2018 came from renewable sources such as wind power. (The Canadian Press) Nova Scotia Power says it has hit a new milestone in its delivery of electricity from renewable resources. The private utility said 30 per cent of the electricity it produced in 2018 came from renewable sources such as wind power. It said 18 per cent came from wind turbines, nine per cent from hydroelectric and tidal turbines and three per cent by burning biomass. However, more than half of the province's electrical generation still comes from the burning of coal or petroleum coke. Another 13 per cent comes from burning natural gas and five per cent from imports. The utility said since 2007, the province's reliance on coal-fired plants has dropped from 76 per cent of electricity generated to 52 per cent last year. Nova Scotia Power said it expects to meet the province's legislated renewable target of 40 per cent in 2020, when it begins accessing hydroelectricity from the Muskrat Falls project in Labrador. 2,841 patients hit by 'potential' privacy breach at Truro hospital Ottawa announces plans to ban single-use plastics starting in 2021 at the earliest Man, 35, suffers life-threatening injuries in ATV crash	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1287
__label__cc	0.518243	0.481757	Shattering the Myth of Race: Genetic Realities and Biblical Truth Kriss Erickson Shattering the Myth of Race by Dave Unander is a thoughtful discussion of the conflict of race and ethnicity against the backdrop of the history of Western Europe and the United States. A Match Made in Heaven: How Singles and the Church Can Live Happily Ever After Patricia D. Kissell Throughout the book, Widder asserts that today's church is broken when it comes to singleness. But she holds both singles and the church responsible for not treating each other with respect and dignity. She makes great effort to show that God loves everyone and desires a relationship with each of us, whether we are single or married. What Does She Want from Me, Anyway?: Honest Answers to the Questions Men Ask About Women James R. Beck Holly Phillips has written her book from the heart of the Promise Keepers movement (literally and figuratively). Holly is the wife of founding president Randy Phillips, has been a PK staff member from its early days, and was the first woman to address a PK rally. Her book gives us a fascinating glimpse into the homes of PK staffers, especially the Phillips' themselves. Women and Men: Gender in the Church This book emerges out of a rich Mennonite heritage that rather consistently deals with major social issues as they relate to biblical faith. Carol Penner's panel of authors, representing various segments of the North American Mennonite scene, have produced a very usable book suited both for adult Bible study home groups and for adult Sunday School classes. The authors are all egalitarian in their approach to Scripture and practice. Why We're Equal: Introducing Feminist Theology Joseph B. Modica Val Webb, adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota and author of four books, including In Defense of Doubt, has written an engaging, readable, and mostly historical approach to feminist theology. Her thesis is straightforward and often restated: "The goal of this book is to look at the diversity of the feminist movement and show how limited and inaccurate negative stereotyping is." Women of Devotion Through the Centuries Evelyn Bence Forbes now is in secular academia, teaching rhetoric in writing, and she's turned her research attention to selected women who have unwittingly wielded a great deal of influence if not power, particularly in the twentieth century: devotional writers or compilers, principally a woman known for decades as Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman and the earlier Mary Wilder Tileston, compiler of the 1884 book of 365 dated readings, Daily Strength for Daily Needs (still in print). Women in the Church: Reclaiming the Ideal Cheryl L. Kester Carroll Osburn's second edition of Women in the Church is a welcome contribution to the ongoing conversation on this topic, and he has reworked the book to take advantage of new developments and research. It feels like a textbook, but nonstudents will still glean valuable insights. Cut Flowers: Female Genital Mutilation and a Biblical Response Leah Welch Cut Flowers presents a holistic Christian perspective on an issue that many people born and raised in the United States have heard of, but may know little about. Written by Sandy Willcox, a university professor who grew up in South Africa, this book navigates through the cultural layers of a practice prevalent throughout Africa that many consider one of the main issues of women’s justice today. Daughter of the Reformation: A Historical Perspective of the Life and Times of the Wife of Martin Luther Jason Eden In a lively and engaging manner, this book tells the story of Catharina von Bora, the woman who married Martin Luther. The author utilizes contextual evidence, imagination, and primary and secondary sources to create an emotionally gripping narrative related to a key figure of the Protestant Reformation. Unfortunately, the book does not systematically or thoroughly address issues of interest to egalitarian readers Wm. Paul Young, author of The Shack, builds another rich and imaginative space in Eve that questions our conceptions of God, of ourselves, and of the beginning. The novel parallels the rebirth and healing of Lilly from past traumas, with Mother Eve as her guide, and the first birth of creation in Genesis. Through these two stories, Young challenges the reader to let go of preconceived notions, pat answers, and stale imagery of “in the beginning . . . ”	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1288
__label__cc	0.701185	0.298815	Heaven's Keep (Kobo eBook) Intrepid hero Cork O’Connor faces the most harrowing mission of his life when a charter plane carrying his wife, Jo, goes missing in a snowstorm over the Wyoming Rockies. Months after the tragedy, two women show up on Cork’s doorstep with evidence that the pilot of Jo’s plane was not the man he claimed to be. It may not be definitive proof, but it’s a ray of light in the darkness. Agreeing to investigate, Cork travels to Wyoming, where he battles the interference of local law enforcement who may be on the take, the open hostility of the Northern Arapaho, who have much to lose if the truth is known, and the continuing attempts on his life by assassins who shadow his every move. At the center of all the danger and deception lies the possibility that Jo’s disappearance was not the end of her, that somewhere along the labyrinthine path of his search, maybe even in the broad shadow of Heaven’s Keep itself, Cork will find her alive and waiting for him. Publisher: Atria Books Publication Date: August 31st, 2009	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1291
__label__wiki	0.746842	0.746842	Ex-Peregrine CEO Pleads Not Guilty Felix Shipkevich August 20, 2012 Former Peregrine Financial Group CEO Russell Wasendorf Sr. pleaded not guilty to 31 counts of making false statements to regulators on Friday, one month after confessing to a decades-long fraud scheme. Mr. Wasendorf claimed to have embezzled over $100 million, but the ensuing investigations revealed that at least $200 million of customer funds are missing. If convicted, Mr. Wasendorf will face up to 155 years in prison. However, he may attempt to strike a plea agreement that would reduce his sentence in exchange for his help tracking down the misappropriated money. The Peregrine scandal, coming months after similar events at MF Global, undermined faith in the security of funds deposited with Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs), and led the CFTC and the NFA to begin introducing new rules intended to shore up confidence. On August 16, the NFA approved amendments to existing rules that will require FCM to provide regulators with view-only access via the internet to account information for each of the FCM’s customer segregated funds accounts at a bank or trust company. CFTC Proposes Rule on Inter-Affiliate Clearing Exemption Details of LIBOR Reform Taking Shape	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1294
__label__wiki	0.70391	0.70391	Buttonwood Park Zoo: Please Allow Ruth & Emily to be Relocated to The Elephant Sanctuary This petition had 332,682 supporters Sarah Maddux started this petition to Buttonwood Park Zoo Director Keith Lovett and 2 others Ruth and Emily are aging Asian elephants living in deplorable conditions at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, Massachusetts. They endure extreme heat/cold and live in an enclosure that would be much too small for a single elephant. Both elephants, especially Ruth, regularly display behavioral patterns consistent with extreme stress. Even by the lowest of standards, Ruth and Emily are incompatible- a violation of the USDA’s Animal Welfare Act. Emily has attacked Ruth over 30 times and has been seen ramming, biting, and tusking Ruth, leaving lacerations. In 2006, Emily bit off 6.5 inches of Ruth's tail. The Buttonwood Zoo has documented these attacks, but instead of granting Ruth the life she deserves at the Elephant Sanctuary, they falsely claim that Ruth is now too fragile to relocate. Ruth is 56-58 years old. In the wild, she would be coming into her own as a matriarch of her herd. Instead, Ruth was taken from her mother as early as age 1 and shipped to Bensons Animal Farm, where she was trained by a circus elephant trainer named Silvers Madison. In 1978, she was sold to Brian Watson, who used her for parties, parades, and commercials. There is substantial evidence that Watson beat Ruth. Eventually, all of his animals were confiscated. Watson then stole his animals back, including Ruth, whom he had loaded onto a trailer. After his vehicle broke down, he left Ruth at a waste transfer station in Danvers, MA. She was found two days later, still chained to the trailer. Ruth then made her way to the Buttonwood Park Zoo. Emily was taken from Thailand at age 3. She first lived at the Southwick Zoo before being purchased by the city of New Bedford in 1968. She spent her time in an unheated barn or chained in a dirt yard. Due to her deplorable living quarters, the USDA ordered Emily sent to the Baton Rouge Zoo, where she spent 3 years. Here, she was trained by Alan Campbell. Emily was both a victim and an aggressor in a number of adversarial encounters with other elephants. When Emily's barn was complete, she then was moved back to the Buttonwood Zoo, where she continued to be forced to perform stressful and frightening "tricks" for the entertainment of viewers. The Elephant Sanctuary (Hohenwald, TN) welcomes captive elephants that are elderly, sick, and/or in need of a peaceful place to spend the remainder of their lives. The sanctuary provides each elephant with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and the ability to live the lives they have earned. Ruth and Emily deserve to roam The Elephant Sanctuary's 2,700 acres of hills, trees, meadows, and ponds but are currently confined to an outdoor space of less than half an acre. A dedicated group, Friends of Ruth and Emily, has campaigned on behalf of these exploited elephants since 2014. They have raised awareness through tabling, petitioning in person, and meeting with zoo staff and city leaders. The Friends of Ruth and Emily have recently taken legal action against the city of New Bedford, as there is an abundance of evidence that the treatment of Ruth and Emily is a violation of the Endangered Species Act. There are fewer than 40,000 Asian elephants remaining in the wild and the Buttonwood Park Zoo is not affording Emily and Ruth the protection they deserve. Before the case is heard, it is imperative that we bring as much attention as possible to this dire issue. Ruth and Emily can't wait any longer; they have suffered enough. Please join me in asking the Buttonwood Zoo and the city of New Bedford to grant Ruth and Emily the life they deserve at the Elephant Sanctuary! Thank you for being a voice for Ruth and Emily, Please follow Friends of Ruth and Emily on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retireruthembpz Please click here to show additional support by becoming a (free) member of Friends of Ruth and Emily: https://friendsofruthandemily.jimdo.com/free-membership/ Today: Sarah is counting on you Sarah Maddux needs your help with “Buttonwood Park Zoo: Please Allow Ruth & Emily to be Relocated to The Elephant Sanctuary”. Join Sarah and 332,681 supporters today.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1297
__label__wiki	0.555105	0.555105	Christian Psychotherapist: How Believers Must Respond to Depression, Suicide 12:08PM EDT 9/17/2019 Stephen Strang (Photo by Ben White on Unsplash) Last week, megachurch pastor Jarrid Wilson committed suicide. The tragic death of this popular young minister made headlines because he was an avid advocate for mental health and often opened up about his own struggles with depression. Some couldn't understand how this could happen. But sadly, depression seems to be more and more common nowadays, even among Christians. Because this is in the news and because it is not something we talk about much in Christian circles, I reached out to a respected clinical psychotherapist, Dr. Scott Bush, to help my podcast listeners understand more about depression. Neither I nor Dr. Bush know about the details surrounding Jarrid's tragic death, so we talked only about general principles. Dr. Bush told me it's not uncommon for pastors to struggle with severe depression. He has counseled many people who struggle with depression, anxiety and PTSD, so I invited him to share his insights on the topic on my "Strang Report" podcast. "The challenge with pastors is that they are considered the shepherds," Dr. Bush says. "They are the ones who are so tough, strong—they have it all together. They're the spiritual leaders in the church. But they are also people, and people are fragile. A person may not know how fragile they are, but everybody's fragile. And pastors struggle with depression, anxiety and other disorders and situations just like other people." But how does a person even know if they have depression or not? Dr. Bush says he often gives his clients a list of 21 questions that can help them discern if they struggle with depression or not. One of those factors is agitation, but depression can impact other areas of people's lives, including sleep patterns, eating habits, aggression levels and mood (such as sadness versus happiness). "Hopelessness is probably the biggest concern because it's typically people who feel hopeless who are the ones more apt to hurt themselves," Dr. Bush says. "... Many people go through a mild mood disturbance where they can be a little bit depressed. But once someone gets severely depressed, that's when it gets to be very serious." Oftentimes, Dr. Bush says, when people are struggling with depression, they don't need advice. They just need someone to listen. That means offering an empathetic ear to the problems they want to talk about without inserting your own views or saying, "I know what you're going through." Dr. Bush says empathetic listening is half the process of therapeutic counseling. Although depression can sometimes have chemical or biological causes, Dr. Bush says that in his experience, depression is more often related to events in a person's life. "People who don't have the tendency toward depression, they may be able to take a lot more disappointment in life events," he says. "So it doesn't mean that someone is stronger than the next. A lot of it is your genetics. ... So how I treat depression is I find the events that caused the person to go from the side of the mountain where there is no depression and ask, 'What put them over that tipping point to the other side of the mountain, where they have depression?' Then I treat those events that caused the person to go over the tipping point. Once you treat those events, then the person typically doesn't have depression." Dr. Bush recalls a friend who committed suicide in 2008. That event opened his eyes to the seriousness of the issue. "If you know someone who's having a struggle, it's OK to say, 'There were people who have had a similar struggle, and they thought about hurting themselves. Are you thinking about hurting yourself?'" Bush says. "That's a much better question to ask than being silent and having guilt afterward that you didn't ask that question." Dr. Bush has counseled around 4,500 patients and hasn't lost a single one to suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with severe depression, you can reach out to Bush at 407-230-4949 or info@doctorbush.net. Or you can visit his website at drscottbush.net. Be sure to listen to my podcast with Bush to learn more about depression and suicide and how to heal. If you are in crisis, please call 800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You are not alone. RELATED TOPICS: Charisma Podcast Network \| Depression \| Podcast \| suicide John Eckhardt's 6 Book "Prayers That" Series + Holy Spirit Series Did You Think to Pray?	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1299
__label__wiki	0.917346	0.917346	LGBT Groups Boycott Salvation Army's Red Kettles Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists are calling for a boycott of the Salvation Army's annual red kettle drive because of the Christian charity's stance on homosexuality, the Christian Post reports. Maj. George Hood, national community relations secretary for the Salvation Army, said the disagreement between the organization and gay-rights groups came down to theology. "The Salvation Army and the gay community are never going to come to an agreement on the topic," he said, reiterating that the Salvation Army would not change its beliefs about homosexuality any more than gay groups would change theirs. He added that the Salvation Army wouldn't be hurt by the boycott, but rather the people it serves, including many from the gay community. "If people refuse to give, it's the poor and people in need that will suffer," he said.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1301
__label__wiki	0.567572	0.567572	End of Vietnam War 30th Anniversary Cal Thomas \| Syndicated Columnist \| Tuesday, May 3, 2005 The 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war was observed by some last Saturday. Storybooks teach and much of the public believes the war was a disaster and American forces suffered their first defeat. Thomas Lipscomb, the former chairman of the Vietnam veterans leadership program thinks otherwise. He notes it never was a civil war, but that the communist north invaded the free south and basically took it over. But Lipscomb makes an even more important point, while Vietnam remains officially communist, much of the rest of Asia, with the notable exception of China, is not. In fact, much of Asia, which might have fallen to communism had not the U.S. intervened in Vietnam, is prosperous and free. Besides, it was the politicians and not the troops who lost the war. Our men and women were noble and brave. They did as they were told by politicians who let tem down because they fought it poorly after committing to battle. Much of Asia owes their freedom to our efforts in Vietnam, according to Tom Lipscomb and I think he's right. I'm Cal Thomas in Washington. Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C. Watch his television show, After Hours with Cal Thomas, on the Fox News Channel, Saturdays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1302
__label__wiki	0.714449	0.714449	David Goldman/AP How ‘Heartland Visas’ Could Reduce Geographic Inequality Place-based immigrant visas could help revitalize America’s left-behind cities and regions, economic researchers say in a new report. America is growing more divided, not just by economic class, but by geographic region. We’ve seen mounting geographic inequality—something I’ve dubbed “winner-take-all urbanism”—as the divide has widened between coastal superstar cities (like New York and Los Angeles) or leading tech hubs (such as San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, and Washington, D.C.) and the rest of the country. A new report by economist Adam Ozimek of Moody’s Analytics and Kenan Fikri and John Lettieri of the Economic Innovation Group (EIG) takes a closer look at the extent of America’s geographic divide and the factors that are driving it. But instead of stopping there, it also suggests a strategy for addressing it. To bolster the economies of struggling cities and regions, the authors’ proposed solution is placed-based visas (or “heartland visas”), which would effectively channel immigrants to the left-behind places that opt into the program. The report provides details on the forces behind America’s widening geographic rift. For one, population growth in the United States has fallen to 80-year lows. The U.S. now adds about 900,000 fewer people each year than it did not so long ago, in the early 2000s. Indeed, over the past decade, population growth has slowed to the most stagnant pace since the Great Depression. The graph below shows changes in the overall U.S. population and the prime working-age population from 1922 to 2018. (Economic Innovation Group) Population growth is not spread evenly across the country: Certain places are growing more slowly than others, and some are actually losing population. From 2010 to 2017, more than 85 percent of U.S. counties grew more slowly than the nation as a whole. This is up substantially from 64 percent in the 1990s. As the map below shows, while cities and regions on the coasts have grown (the areas shaded blue on the map), many areas of the U.S.—especially those in the heartland—have seen population loss between 0 and 5 percent (in orange) or upwards of 5 percent (in red). Places with slow-growing or shrinking populations tend to have residents who are less educated than in fast-growing counties. As the report notes, on the county level, the share of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree in the counties that are losing the most population is half that in the counties that are growing fastest. Slow population growth or population loss hits hard at a place, leading to weaker economic development and job creation, hurting housing markets, and putting stress on public finances. Historically, the U.S. has seen economic and demographic convergence as people moved to areas of greater opportunity. But as a growing body of research documents, such convergence has slowed in recent years; instead, the economic fortunes of the coasts and the heartland have been diverging. In fact, America now has a dual pattern of migration. There are relatively high rates of mobility for more educated and skilled people, while less skilled, less highly educated citizens are increasingly stuck in place. (I recently called attention to this growing divide between the mobile and the stuck.) As the EIG report notes, “while both low-skilled and high-skilled households used to move towards opportunity, today it is predominantly the high-skilled who leave economically struggling places while the low-skilled stay behind.” And it’s the places with the greatest population loss that also struggle with steepest declines in the “prime-age” working population, as the map below shows. President Trump wants to clamp down on immigration, claiming that the country is “full.” But immigration has been a powerful source of economic and demographic growth in the U.S., especially for affluent, highly innovative regions. My own research has documented the close connection between openness to immigration and rates of technological innovation and economic development. Other research shows that high-skilled immigrants have fueled growth in tech hubs like the San Francisco Bay Area, and that anywhere from one-third to half of major high-tech startups have significant involvement from immigrants. As another map from the report shows, skilled immigrants are mainly concentrated in the same coastal superstar cities and tech hubs, amplifying their economic advantages. The report’s authors argue that immigrants can revitalize and bring growth to lagging sections of the country. The new class of “heartland visas” they propose would spread high-skilled immigrants and the benefits they bring more broadly. As they describe it: Such a program would constitute a flexible, additive, and voluntary pathway for skilled immigrants to come to the United States. Eligible communities would opt-in to hosting visa holders, who would provide a much-needed catalyst of human capital and entrepreneurial vitality into parts of the country that retain considerable economic potential. Heartland visas are a mechanism for spurring growth in parts of the country that aren’t benefiting as much from existing visa programs like the H-1B. These visas would not be tied to a single employer, so their holders could work in startups and small businesses that might otherwise have trouble handling the costs and administrative burden associated with the H-1B program. They would be contingent on visa holders finding and maintaining a job or starting a business, and would provide a path to permanent residency. The program would restrict where visa holders can live and work for a certain amount of time, but they would be able to move within the U.S. once they were granted permanent residency, an incentive for compliance. A Rust Belt City Wrestles With Fear, Immigration, and its Future John Russo Sherry Linkon A New Way of Seeing 200 Years of American Immigration Tanvi Misra Heartland visas are not a panacea for all the myriad problems of struggling places. Many of these places lack research universities or global connectivity or other factors that are required for growth. And many of them have failed to develop the strategy to harness their assets and address the challenges they face. That said, creating incentives that would redirect high-skilled immigrants from established tech centers to less dynamic regions of the country could help spur growth in lagging places while taking some of the pressure off the already unaffordable housing markets of leading hubs. As the authors put it, being “a magnet for skilled and entrepreneurial people the world over is one of the greatest advantages a nation can possess. It is time to fully capitalize on this advantage in pursuit of a more inclusive geography of economic growth and opportunity.” From Andrew Carnegie in steel to Andrew Grove in semiconductors, to name just two examples, immigrants have long driven innovation in America and bolstered its economic advantage. Instead of seeing immigrants as a threat, the U.S. government could see them as an engine of revitalization for places that are being left behind. CityLab editorial fellow Nicole Javorsky contributed research and editorial assistance to this article. @Richard_Florida Richard Florida is a co-founder and editor at large of CityLab and a senior editor at The Atlantic. He is a university professor in the University of Toronto’s School of Cities and Rotman School of Management, and a distinguished fellow at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate and visiting fellow at Florida International University. CityLab University: The Who’s Who of Urbanism 15 people who changed how we plan, design, think about, and live in cities. Benjamin Schneider	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1303
__label__wiki	0.621203	0.621203	Home Communities Dublin Life A Legacy of Service As 2013 draws to a close and we usher in 2014, the City is saying goodbye to one familiar face while welcoming back another. Earlier this year, the City of Dublin’s longest-serving City Councilmember, Cathy A. Boring, decided not to seek re-election. Following Cathy’s announcement, former City Councilmember Greg Peterson decided to run and was successful in his bid for the Ward 1 seat. Cathy’s departure truly marks the end of an era – one filled with many remarkable accomplishments. Since taking office in January 1994, Cathy served as vice mayor for three two-year terms and represented Council as a chair or member of the following committees: public safety, public service, administrative, finance and community development. For eight years, she served as Council representative on the Planning & Zoning Commission. She also has been the Council liaison to Dublin City Schools Board of Education, Dublin Arts Council and the Central Ohio Transit Authority Advisory Panel. In addition, she served on the Blue Ribbon Committee for Dublin City Schools. Cathy has been a champion for many initiatives, including Emerald Fields Park, the Art in Public Places program, the Dublin Community Recreation Center, the planning and construction of Emerald Parkway, and the vision for the Bridge Street District. Throughout her career, Cathy played a significant role in helping shape the City of Dublin into the exemplary community it is today. Not surprisingly, Cathy plans to remain active in our community and spend more time with her family. She recently became a Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) through Experience Columbus. CTAs are a group of professionals whose mission is to enhance visitors’ experience in our region. Cathy also serves on the board of trustees of the Dublin Food Pantry. She and her husband, Mike Summers, have three grown children, four grandsons and one granddaughter. We are thankful for her service to our community and wish her well. Dublin Life Inside Dublin Dublin Life December 2013 Inside Dublin - Dublin Life	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1304
__label__cc	0.574671	0.425329	Foreign Policy Watch: India-United States [op-ed snap] Easing tensions: on U.S.-Mexico trade dealop-ed snapPriority 1 International Relations \| Mains Paper 2: Effect Of Policies & Politics Of World On India'S Interests Note4students Mains Paper 2: IR \| Effect of policies & politics of developed & developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. From UPSC perspective, the following things are important: Prelims level: NAFTA Mains level: U.S. dominant approach in the world economy and how to deal with it US-Mexico NAFTA deal The United States and Mexico have reached a breakthrough bilateral trade agreement replacing the decades-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) This is after Mexico agreed to concessions demanded by the Donald Trump administration The U.S.-Mexico bilateral trade deal comes in the aftermath of President Trump’s statement in June that he might enter into separate trade agreements with Canada and Mexico, thus effectively junking the tripartite NAFTA deal U.S. has also invited Canada to join talks for a renegotiation of trade terms in favour of U.S. interests What’s in the new deal? According to the new agreement, 75% of all automobile content must be made regionally, which is higher than the current level of 62.5% Further, 40-45% of such content must be manufactured using labour that costs at least $16 an hour The U.S. hopes that this will discourage manufacturers from moving their facilities to Mexico, where labour is available at rates lower than in the U.S. Lessons from this deal Mexico’s decision could set an example for other countries which have resorted to retaliatory tariffs to deal with Mr. Trump’s aggressive trade war against them There can be no doubt that Mr. Trump’s protectionist trade policy, including the current deal which increases restrictions on cross-border trade in order to protect U.S. jobs, is bad for the global economy However, the best way to win the trade war against the U.S. may simply be to accept “defeat” by refusing to double down on retaliatory tariffs Why accept defeat? Retaliatory tariffs can only cause further harm to the world economy by increasing the burden of taxes on the private sector, which is crucial to spur growth and create jobs Further, there is no reason for America’s trading partners, in an attempt to protect their domestic producers, to repeat Mr Trump’s mistake of depriving domestic consumers of access to useful foreign goods The right response to Mr Trump’s trade war will be to abstain from any mutually destructive tit-for-tat tariff regimes while simultaneously pushing for peace talks North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) The North American Free Trade Agreement is an agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994 The goal of NAFTA was to eliminate barriers to trade and investment between the U.S., Canada and Mexico NAFTA has two supplements: the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) and the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC) NAFTA established the CANAMEX Corridor for road transport between Canada and Mexico, also proposed for use by rail, pipeline, and fibre optic telecommunications infrastructure A study in 2007 found that NAFTA had “a substantial impact on international trade volumes, but a modest effect on prices and welfare” If the original Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) had come into effect, existing agreements such as NAFTA would be reduced to those provisions that do not conflict with the TPP, or that require greater trade liberalization than the TPP Posted on August 29, 2018 August 29, 2018 \| The Hindu Previous PostPrevious [op-ed snap] India needs to walk the talk on Bimstec Next PostNext [op-ed snap] Cities at crossroads: No more cover-ups	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1305
__label__cc	0.644956	0.355044	Legal Blogs and Updates Consumer and Financial Litigation Estate Planning and Elder Law Posts from May 2018. GDPR Makes the EU Toughest on Data Privacy By Karen Painter Randall on 05.25.2018 Today marks the beginning of a long-awaited and, in some circles, long-feared era—the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is officially in effect. In the months leading up to today, many technology companies have been scrambling to comply with the new regulation. The GDPR, among ... PCI DSS Version 3.2.1 Released: What You Need to Know On May 17, 2018, the Purchase Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) released version 3.2.1 of its PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Founded in 2004 by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, the PCI SSC produces the “best practices” for enhancing the security ... Third Circuit Rejects Application of Discovery Rule for FDCPA Claims By Andrew C. Sayles on 05.16.2018 On May 15, 2018, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision in Rotkiske v. Klem, Case No. 16-1668, concerning the statute of limitations under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). There, the court, following en banc review, found that the FDCPA’s one year statute of ... New Jersey Governor Signs State-Wide Paid Sick Leave Law By Michael A. Shadiack on 05.04.2018 On May 2, 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law A-1827, which requires employers to provide all of their full-time and part-time employees with paid sick leave or the equivalent amount of paid time off beginning October 29, 2018. Following is a summary of the requirements of the law: Each ... NJ Governor Murphy Signs The Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act By Marianne C. Tolomeo, Michael A. Shadiack on 05.03.2018 On April 24, 2018, Governor Murphy signed an equal pay amendment to the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) that will provide the broadest equal pay protection in the country. The new law prohibits employers in New Jersey from paying employees in a “protected class” a lower ... Murphy Orders DEP to Provide Guidance on Environmental Justice By Agnes Antonian on 05.01.2018 On April 20, 2018, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order No. 23 (the “Order”), which strengthens the administration’s commitment to protecting the environment while emphasizing the importance of environmental justice. Environmental justice focuses on ensuring residents of ... Category - All - Commercial Litigation Consumer and Financial Litigation Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Environmental Estate Planning and Elder Law Labor and Employment Real Estate and Land Use www.connellfoley.com	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1306
__label__wiki	0.891966	0.891966	There are schools offering public relations degrees in Maine! Click to browse online public relations degrees > Schools Offering Public Relations Programs in Maine Public Relations Degrees in Massachusetts Public Relations Degrees in Connecticut Public Relations Degrees in Vermont Public Relations Degrees in New Hampshire Public Relations Degrees in Rhode Island Public Relations Degrees in New York See All Schools in Maine Schools in ME Approximately 0.0% of graduates in of Maine receive public relations degrees every year. That means an estimated 1 public relations professionals graduate from Maine's 2 public relations schools each year. The top-ranked school in Maine with a public relations program is Saint Joseph's College of Maine, which is located in Standish. In 2010, it was ranked 42nd nationwide. In 2010, no students graduated from Saint Joseph's College of Maine's public relations program. The tuition rate at Saint Joseph's College of Maine was $27,345 per year. The second-ranked school in Maine with a public relations program is Thomas College, which is located in Waterville. In 2010, it was ranked 50th nationwide. In 2010, Thomas College graduated 1 students from its public relations program. Thomas College charged in-state students $21,680 in tuition fees per year. If you choose to attend a Maine public relations school, average tuition will be $24,513 per year. However, tuition at your particular institution may range from $21,680 per year to $27,345 per year. In 2010, the public relations schools that charged the highest tuition rates in Maine were: Saint Joseph's College of Maine - located in Standish, students are charged $27,345 per year Thomas College - located in Waterville, students are charged $21,680 per year The lowest tuition rates at Maine public relations schools were charged at the following schools: A public relations degree from a Maine school... what next? The largest populations of Maine public relations professional are working in the following counties: Cumberland County - 360 public relations professionals Penobscot County - 50 public relations professionals Aroostook County - 40 public relations professionals The government projects that the number of public relations professionals in Maine will grow by 6%. By 2018, there will be an estimated 300 public relations professionals working in Maine. public relations professionals in Maine make an average of $67,380 per year. In 2010, however, some Maine public relations professional earned as little as less than $37,310 per year or as much as more than $116,200 per year. The following counties in Maine have the highest average salaries for public relations professionals: Aroostook County - $75,750 per year Penobscot County - $67,220 per year Cumberland County - $66,865 per year The following counties in Maine have the lowest average salaries for public relations professional: The public relations professionals with highest average salaries in Maine were: Public Relations Manager - $67,380 per year On average, the lowest paid public relations professionals in Maine were: For more data regarding a career in public relations in Maine and to compare salaries with various related fields such as business management or advertising, take a look at the graphs and charts below. Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations in Maine Curious what studying Public Relations gets you? Check out the different options and how they're looking in Maine Public Relations and Fundraising Managers 470 $67,380 56.7% Below are public relations related jobs in Maine	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1308
__label__wiki	0.614357	0.614357	Iraqi Kurds Want America as Their Divorce Lawyer Featuring Nicholas Heras Source: Foreign Policy Journalist Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian Iraqi Kurds are mounting a campaign in Washington this week to rally U.S. government support for an independence bid before a referendum in September. But Baghdad opposes talk of secession, and with the United States committed to a one-Iraq policy, it’s going to be an uphill fight. Falah Mustafa Bakir, the head of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Department of Foreign Relations, told Foreign Policy during a visit to Washington that the message he hoped to convey to his American counterparts was that “an independent Kurdistan is a solution and not a problem.” Read the full article at Foreign Policy. Nicholas Heras Former Fellow, Middle East Security Program Nicholas A. Heras is a former Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), working in the Middle East Security Program. His work focused on the analysis of complex...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1313
__label__wiki	0.875062	0.875062	With the creation of the Colorado Territory, present Grand County was part of a larger Summit County that stretched from the Continental Divide to the Utah and Wyoming borders. In 1874 the territorial government formally established Grand County, choosing Hot Sulphur Springs as the county seat. The creation of Routt and Moffat Counties established the current western boundary of Grand County in 1877. The Colorado Supreme Court established the current northern boundary in 1886, settling a dispute between Grand and Larimer Counties over land near the mining camp of Teller, in present-day Jackson County (the decision gave the land to Larimer County). The town of Grand Lake was laid out in 1879, and in 1881 the county seat was moved there due to a brief mining boom. This led to a feud between two political factions, one supporting Grand Lake and the other supporting Hot Sulphur Springs. The feud culminated in a deadly shooting in Grand Lake in 1883, which left three county commissioners and the county clerk dead. The county seat was returned to Hot Sulphur Springs in 1888, ending much of the bitterness. White occupation of Middle Park expanded after the Utes had been moved to the western part of the state as per the Treaty of 1868. In the early 1880s Rudolph Kremmling built a general store on the ranch of a Dr. Harris in western Grand County; by 1885 the site had a post office called Kremmling. In 1888 ranchers John and Aaron Kinsey had part of their ranch platted as the town of Kinsey City. Kremmling moved his store to the Kinseys’ new town, and the current community of Kremmling developed around it, incorporating under that name in 1904. Ranching and agriculture grew during and after the short mining boom in 1879, as the grass in Middle Park proved especially nutritious for cattle. One well-known ranch in the area was the Cozens Ranch. Built by Billy Cozens in 1874, the ranch also served as a stopping place for travelers coming across Berthoud Pass through the Fraser River valley. Cozens helped build the town of Fraser and served as its postmaster. Agriculture was limited by the climate and altitude of Grand County, but lettuce and hay became major cash crops for the region in the early twentieth century. The first railroad arrived in Grand County in 1904, allowing for easier shipment of crops and livestock to market and easier access to Middle Park for tourists. The Denver, Northwest & Pacific Railroad, also known as the Moffat Road, reached Grand County by building a line over the Continental Divide at Rollins Pass. The railroad first reached the small town of Arrow, just beyond the pass, in 1904, and later that year it established the town of Granby, which connected train travelers to a stagecoach line that ran north to Grand Lake. The Moffat line reached Kremmling in 1906, continuing north to Steamboat Springs. In 1928 the long-awaited Moffat Tunnel replaced the line over Rollins Pass. The tunnel allowed the railroad to go through the Continental Divide rather than over it. The tunnel also included a pipeline to move mountain water to the Denver Metro area beginning in 1936. Later, in 1956, completion of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project further appropriated water from the Colorado headwaters for farming and urban development along the Front Range. Lake Granby, a large reservoir that is now Colorado’s third-largest body of water, was created in 1950 as part of the project and now serves as a popular tourist destination in the summer.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1314
__label__wiki	0.529359	0.529359	11 important things to remember about Remembrance Day Remembrance Day is fast approaching, and on this day we acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country and acknowledge our responsibility to work for the peace they fought hard to achieve. Anthony Wilson, Special to The Daily News More from Anthony Wilson, Special to The Daily News Published on: November 7, 2019 \| Last Updated: November 7, 2019 1:03 PM EST Several members of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment marched in the parade during the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph in downtown Chatham, Ont. on Sunday November 11, 2018. (Ellwood Shreve/Chatham Daily News) Remembrance Day is fast approaching and, on this day, we acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country and acknowledge our responsibility to work for the peace they fought hard to achieve. During times of war, individual acts of heroism occur frequently, though only a few are ever recorded and receive official recognition. That is why I have chosen to dedicate my weekly article to all those who served, both oversees and at home, and for our freedom. I am hoping to show my support, appreciation and gratitude towards all of our heroes who gave so much through the education of what Remembrance Day means. Here are 11 important Remembrance Day facts. These facts can all be found on the Veterans Affairs Canada website, which I would encourage you to visit. Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth. It was originally called “Armistice Day” to commemorate the armistice agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, Nov. 11, 1918, at 11 a.m. — on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. From 1921 to 1930, Armistice Day was held on the Monday of the week in which Nov. 11 fell. The first Remembrance Day was observed on Nov. 11, 1931, after it was legislated to celebrate it on Nov. 11 each year. Every year on Nov. 11, we pause for a moment of silence to honour and remember all who have served, and continue to serve, Canada during times of war, conflict and peace. We remember the more than 2,300,000 Canadians who have served throughout our nation’s history and the more than 118,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice. The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day. Poppies were a common sight in battlefields during the First World War, especially on the Western Front. They flourished in the soil churned up by the fighting and shelling. Remembrance Day is a federal holiday in Canada, although not fully observed in Ontario and a handful of other provinces. The national ceremony is held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The Governor General of Canada presides over the ceremony. It is also attended by the prime minister, other government officials, representatives of veterans’ organizations, diplomatic representatives, other dignitaries, and veterans, as well as the general public. Before the ceremony, long lines of veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP officers, and cadets march to the memorial led by a pipe band and a colour guard. At the end of the ceremony, they march away to officially close the ceremony. Some of the 54 Commonwealth member states, such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, observe the tradition of Remembrance Day on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Many nations that are not members of the Commonwealth also observe Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, including France, Belgium and Poland. The United States used to commemorate Armistice Day on Nov. 11. However, in 1954, they changed the name to Veterans Day. During the Second World War, thousands of Japanese-Canadians were forced to leave their homes and their jobs and sent to live in internment camps. The government claimed it was a matter of national security. So why do we remember? A quote from Heather Robinson, author of A Terrible Beauty, The Art of Canada at War, answers this question so nicely. “We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those 100,000 Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument.” In closing, if you really want to show your support and appreciation, aside from wearing a poppy, please visit the Veteran Affairs Canada website and learn more. Remember that here in Chatham-Kent “We Grow for the World.” Check out our community agriculture website at wegrowfortheworld.com Anthony Wilson is an Economic Development Officer with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, and can be reached at anthonyw@chatham-kent.ca Sports briefs: basketball, volleyball, hockey Housing supply and demand imbalance push prices higher in Chatham-Kent	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1319
__label__wiki	0.987484	0.987484	Defender Robertson signs new contract at Liverpool Alex Broadway / Getty Images Full back Andrew Robertson has signed a new long-term deal with Liverpool, the English club announced on Thursday, January 17. Full back Andrew Robertson has signed a new long-term deal with Liverpool, the English club announced on Thursday, January 17. (Alex Broadway / Getty Images) Scotland captain Andy Robertson became the latest Liverpool player to sign a new long-term contract on Thursday, with the left-back agreeing a deal until 2024. Signed from Hull City in July 2017, Robertson has become a fundamental part of the Liverpool side that reached last season's Champions League final and currently sits four points clear at the top of the Premier League. "As soon as the club came to me, it was a no-brainer for me –- I want to stay here, so as soon as they put an offer on the table it was signed as quickly as that," Robertson told Liverpoolfc.com. "It was a pretty easy contract for me and I'm sure for the club as well. We both agreed very quickly." Robertson follows the likes of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Joe Gomez in signing new contracts in the past year to remain at Anfield. The 24-year-old has played a big part in a vast improvement in Liverpool's defensive record that has been the catalyst for Jurgen Klopp's men to seize an advantage over Manchester City in the title race. Liverpool haven't won the league for 29 years and Robertson is aware of the pressure the Reds are under to deliver either the Premier League or the Champions League this season. "This club demands trophies and too long has probably passed without trophies," he added. "So I hope to help bring another couple of trophies to this club and help push in that direction because the fans demand it and the club demands it, so that's what we aim to give. "We came close, of course we have with the Champions League and things like that, but it's about taking that next step and hopefully getting a winner's medal around your neck, whatever competition it is. That is the main aim for us." If you are a team that wear red, chances are this weekend was a lot about you. The best of this weekend’s soccer action kicks off with Friday’s marquee match at the Emirates, followed by a key move by the Chicago Fire, an ode to Serie A’s suprise goals king and the bizarre situation in Monaco. Belgian forward Eden Hazard was introduced by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez on Thursday, June 13 as the club's newest player in front of nearly 50,000 supporters gathered at Santiago Bernabeu stadium to welcome the former Chelsea star. The transfer fee has not been revealed but reports indicate the move to cost $163.5 million including escalators, a number that would represent the most expensive acquisition in Real Madrid history. (José Luis Sánchez Pando) United States Men's National Team forward Paul Arriola speaks about the team's upcoming Gold Cup debut against Guyana, coach Gregg Berhalter's message to the squad and more. FC Dallas defender Reggie Cannon speaks about being included in the United States Men's National Team squad that will participate in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. United States Men's National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter speaks about the injury to defender/midfielder Tyler Adams, the inclusion of Reggie Cannon in his place, the loss to Venezuela and more. Atlanta United head coach Frank De Boer previews his team's upcoming match against the Chicago Fire on Saturday, June 1 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Chicago Fire midfielder Aleksandar Katai analyzes the team's upcoming visit to DC United on Wednesday, May 29 at Audi Field in Washington, DC. Angel Martinez / Getty Images New Real Madrid signing Eden Hazard is unveiled by Florentino Perez, President of Real Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on June 13, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. New Real Madrid signing Eden Hazard is unveiled by Florentino Perez, President of Real Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on June 13, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Angel Martinez / Getty Images) SEE MORE GALLERIES GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP/Getty Images Belgian footballer Eden Hazard smiles during his official presentation as new player of Real Madrid CF at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on June 13, 2019. Belgian footballer Eden Hazard smiles during his official presentation as new player of Real Madrid CF at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on June 13, 2019. (GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP/Getty Images)	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1322
__label__cc	0.550733	0.449267	The Sociologic Of Political Silence: Explaining A Discourse In Jamaica’s Society Home Finance Taxes in Taxes The hegemonic categorization of the Jamaican landscape is primarily the justifiable reason for the sophisticated demonstrations and social hemorrhaging. Many of those happenings are caused from the lack of monologue of the business constituents. This group of elitists has exponentially benefited from playing the proletariat class. They have not offered their clientele the respect of voice on matters of social concerns or political mismanagement. The present government’s socio-economic policies are chiefly responsible for the erosion of much of the social fibre and economic livelihood of the Jamaican people. The poor are not only suffering but they are also hemorrhaging while the business class offers the society stillness as a tool of needed social change. PIOJ (2004) report, Economic and Social Survey Jamaica, report confirms that the national poverty stood at 16 per cent. Of the 2, 650,900 inhabitants, there are 424,144 poor people, which absolute valuation seems not to perturb the hegemony of this society. In order to attain that social society that we all desire, justice through actions and deems must be a hallmark of the leadership. The categorization of Jamaicans as poor has been declining (Henry-Lee, 2001) but the economic indicators of growth are not impressive as our Caricom counterparts. Looking at the absolute figures, the social realities of the peoples are not marginally measured or understood. Despite the fluctuations in economic growth valuations, rural poverty continues to be higher than the national figures and of those for other towns and cities. Coupled with the economic hardship of poverty, rural Jamaica over the last six months is seeing a dwindling of economic activities. As a social scientist, I believe that the current tidal waves of price increases are eroding the economic livelihood of many of the poor. This situation means that the economic hardship of the people within the context of the hegemony – silence, is destroying the moral and other social fibre of the poor. “What are poor to do?” 10 Ways Baby Boomers Can Be Happier in 2018 Accounting Development in Third World Countries The Top 10 Risks of Debt Recycling Jan Tinbergen ‘Once economic growth was taking place, it was that poverty would be reduced’ (Henry-Lee, 2001, p.202) but this orthodox phenomenology may be changing in Jamaican as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at constant prices have been increasing (PIOJ, 2004, p.3.1) with a simultaneous change in economic hardship of the poor while the hegemonic class expand their physical surroundings and amass European amenities. To date, the constant salary, the MTTP (Ministers Tricking the Poor), the minimal bus fare increases (only 67 % – what!), the huge increases in prices of basic foods and increase in political leadership are making the ‘poor’ poorer. Those hurdles are not the challenges of the poor as they wrestle with ‘prince’ and ‘guards’ for sanity. The electricity increases, instructional materials increases, the last blatant disdain by the Prime Minister, ‘Rt’ honourable Percival James Patterson, for the intellectual mindset of the ‘black’ academic is frightening and speaks volume of the private sector’s silence. The private sector, despite ‘recognizing’ the challenges of governance and policies formulation of the government, continue to hemorrhage in silence, which, I construe, indicates the tenants of the PNP over the economy. I realize that there is no longer a unified Jamaica but a PNP, a JLP group and a business class. This situation was unfolded to me over time as there is not core concern that may create unison in order that Jamaicans can forge around with the interest of all. Instead, we are ‘Ps’ and a ‘B’. The socio-political arena has changed globally and nationally for the JLP but the reality is, the average citizenry of this society are still clamouring for hegemony and social transformation though development. It is the business class that is the engine of growth in all societies and not the public sectors. This group dictates the terms of economic activities and stipulates the atmosphere of governance but the Jamaican group is hemorrhaging from fear and political conformity. Hence, the present proletariat class, the underclass, is left to view the heavens for a haven. When the business class fails to provide that leadership for the society, the ‘labourer’ class will gradually venture in deviant acts as a medium of grappling with political mismanagement. ‘Too many people are comfortable with the present affairs (Bourne, 2005) and silence of the ‘underclass’ is becoming increasingly deafening. If the business class continues with this dialectic silence, the poor may resort to revolution in an effort to understand and come to a rationale of their social space. The old philosophical construct of poverty is primarily food consumption of the poorest quintile but this definition fails to recognize that poor people are social beings with children. One researcher (Henry-Lee) forwarded a slant that; the poor spend the largest proportion of their earnings on food, which means that the business class must begin to offer a position against any erosion of their economic base. If there are presently 424, 100 absolutely poor people any increase in food prices will see them living how? According to Rapley (1996, p.7), “state interventions to relieve poverty would inhibit initiative, and would stifle investment because they would rely on increased taxes.” Dr. Rapley’s cited perspective is a clear indication of the stance taken by all traditional economists. This stance sees development as solely an economic growth phenomenon that is driven by the free market but many post World War II economists differ on a theorizing for this construct. Lewis concurred with classicalists like Smith and Keynes that development is primarily economic. Rapley (1996, p.16) stated that, “Lewis argued that in a Third World economy, the wage rate was set at a constant level as determined by minimum levels of existence in traditional family farming.” This ensured a virtually unlimited supply of cheap labour, which has an advantageous factor in industrial development (Rapley, 1996 p.16). As a social scientist who is concerned with development and its determinants, the researcher is cognizant of the different discourse on the issue but will analyze both schools of thought before coming to a consensus. The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS, 2002) wrote, “while material poverty affect a large number of households, the Report points to the impending dangers of more widespread and subtle forms of poverty that include poor health, inadequate levels of educational attainment; lack of economic assets or access to markets or jobs that could create the unsafe physical environment; and various forms of social exclusion.” This report forwards the core of the post-1950 scholars’ viewpoints on development that is broader than the Classicalists theorizing that was once the epistemological framework on development thoughts. The article points to other non-economic growth theorizing such as health care, education and other psychosocial conditions. Hence, the author will not seek to continue in the pre-1950s epistemological mindset as it is a one sided theorizing but will seek to quantify any validity of the contemporary developmentalists’ perspective on the issue as this include social, political and economic factors. This paper surrounds the social aspect to development in the form of expenditure on health care and expenditure on education with the intention of using those two (2) determinants of contemporary development in order to ascertain any causal and/or associational relationship between expenditure on social programmes and their influence on levels of development. Spikes (2002) posits: “poverty can be regarded as the inability to obtain the essentials of life; for others it is a matter of low income; for others a problem of social inequality”. He goes on to say that “poverty can be explained in terms of material conditions, that is basic needs, food, clothing, and shelter; however limited resource interfere with the ability to acquire the essentials. Poverty can be seen as exclusion; the European Union defines the poor as persons whose resources (material culture and social) are so limited as to exclude them from the minimum acceptable way of life in the member state in which they live depending on benefits as equivalents as claiming social assistance”. It is frightening to say the least that despite efforts within the technological age people are living in abject poverty that retards the process in which many of these issues should have been addressed. Haralambus (1995)”poverty implies an undesirable social problem that a solution should be found. Basic amenities, for examples, shelter health and nutrition: the latter according to Drewnowski and Scott in Haralambus “is measured by factors in relation to the amount of calories and protein consumed by the individual. Shelter is measured by the quality of living arrangements (dwelling etc.) and health is measured by factors such as infant mortality and the quality of medical treatments available. When individuals are malnourished, the health of these individuals would affect them in terms of their physical and mental states. A medical practitioner, Dalzell-Ward (1974: 23), commented that “The deprivation of energy foods’ will result in excessive fatigue which will in turn diminish social and work performances and interfere with well-being.” There is however, the indication of a level of development, where as if an individual is not in the best of health, this will contribute to fewer hours worked and reduced production. The economist Adam Smith states that this would be an indication of reduced economic growth. Professor Todaro (Todaro, 2000) from his perspective, that development envelope social, political and economic changes in peoples lives. Another medical practitioner concurred with Dalzell–Ward (1974) when she said: In fact many of today’s problems with students are actually health related. Kids are not able to learn sufficiently if they are hungry, tired, hung-over from alcohol, or worried about violence. We need to eliminate barriers that affect students’ readiness to learn. A variety of physical and mental conditions impact students’ attendance and their ability to pay attention in class anger, and restrain from self-destructive impulses. Eurocentric beliefs have so conquered the epistemology of world ideology that it becomes difficult even for the ‘honest’ advocate to be effective. Individualism-profiteerism drives the engine of social existence that humans only protect themselves, even if it appears that another is being helped in the process. Christianity is a by-product of the Eurocentric system and so helps to explain its true tenet. Europe in an effort to corner all epistemologies of the ontology of man’s existence and creation offered spiritualism. Christianity operates as though it has the sole authority to the ontology of creation. Despite its stance, the ideological phenomenology of Christianity subsumes individualism. Unlike the other traditional epistemological construct of man, humanitarianism is a tenet of their doctrine but they are not the iconic thought because they were fashioned prior to Europe’s delineation of world ideology. The social reality is such that we cannot afford to mute a position, the people are being ‘Saddomized’ by the political structure, and it is in the hegemony’s best interest to ensure that the poor and less fortunate are protected as they have nothing to lose in the event of a revolution. Allen, R.G.D. 1967. Macro-Economic theory: A mathematical treatment. New York, United States: St. Martin’s Press. Baguant, J., Prinz, C., Toth, F.L., and Wils, A.B. 1994. Population-Development-Environment: Understanding their interactions in Mauritius. Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Banae, Mitiku, E., and Yandell, Dirk. 2006. Development strategies and opportunities: The case of Africa. Review of Human Factor Studies, 12: 114-133. Academic Research Premier EBSCOhost Research Databases. University of the West Indies Library, Kingston, Jamaica. 12 September 2006 [http://epnet.umi.com/]. Beardshaw, J. 1992. Economics: A Students Guide. England: Pitman Publishers. Bloom, David E., David Canning, and Jaypee Sevilla. 2004. “The Effect of Health on Economic Growth: A Production Function Approach.” World Development 32, no. 1: 1-13. Booth, David. (eds). 1994. Rethinking social development, theory, research and practice. Longman Scientific and Technical. Longman Group Limited. Longman House, Burnt Mill, Harlow. Chambers, Robert. 1989. Rural development: Putting the last first. 7th Edition. United Kingdom: Longman House. Dalzell-Ward, A. (1974). A textbook of health education. London: Tavistock Publications. Easterly, William. 2001. The political economy of growth without development: A Case Study of Pakistan. USA.: World Bank. Retrieved on October 12, 2006 from [http://ksghome.harvard.edu/~drodrik/Growth%20volume/EASTER~1.PDF]. Edey, H.C., Peacock, A.T., and Cooper, R.A. 1967. National income and social accounting, 4th. London, United Kingdom: Hutchinson and Company. Findlay, Ronald. 1989. W. Arthur Lecture: National and Global Perspectives on Economic Development – The two models of Arthur Lewis. National Economic Association and the Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy of Clark College. Francis, Brian and Iyare Sunday. 2006. Education and Development in the Caribbean: A Cointegration and Causal Approach. Economics Bulletin 15(2): 1-13. Retrieved on February 20, 2007 from http://economicsbulletin.vanderbilt.edu/2006/volume15/EB-05O10022A.pdf. Friedman, Milton. 1955. The Role of Government in Education. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1173402/posts (published on 07/17/2004 4:04:55 PM PDT by Remember Salamis, viewed on February 27, 2005). Haq, Klahija, & Kidar, Uner. (1987). Human Development, Adjustment and Growth. Pakistaqn: North South Round Table. Haque, M. S. 2004. The myths of economic growth (GNP): Implications for human development. In Gedeon Mucacumura and M. Shamsul Haque (ed). Handbook of Development Policy Studies. New York: Marcel Dekker, 2004. pp.1-24. Retrieved on October 12, 2006 from http://profile.nus.edu.sg/fass/polhaque/gnp-myth.pdf. Haralambos, M & Holborn, M. (1996). Sociology themes and perspectives. (4th). Collin Education: An Imprint of Harper Collin Publisher. Henry-Lee, Aldrie. 2001. The Dynamics of Poverty in Jamaica, 1989-1999. Social and Economic Studies 50 (1): 199-228. Hettne, Bjorn. 1996. Development theory and the Three Worlds. 2nd Edition. England: Addison Wesley Longman. Hogendorn, Jan S. (1987). Economic Development. Harper and Row, Publishers, New York. King, Damien. 2001. The Evolution of Structural Adjustment and Stabilization Policy in Jamaica. Social and Economic Studies, volume 50, No. 1. Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, University of the West Indies, Jamaica. Kirdar, Uner. 1987. Adjustment and Growth with Human Development: A Review. Human Development, Adjustment and Growth (edited by Khadij Haq and Uner Kirdar). The North South Roundtable, P.O. Box 2006, Islamabad, Pakistan. Kurihara, Kenneth K. 1959. The Keynesian Theory of Economic Development. Columbia University Press, New York Kuznets, Simon. 1989. Economic development, the family, and income distribution. Selected essays. The Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. Lalta, Stanley and Marie Freckleton (Editors). 1993. Caribbean Economic Development, the First Generation. Ian Randle Publishers Limited. Lee, Jong-Wha. 1993. Economic growth and human development in the Republic of Korea, 1945- 1992. Retrieved on October 13, 2006 from http://hdr.undp.org/docs/publications/ocational_papers/oc24aa.htm#foot1. Lewis, Winston. A. 1954. Economic development with unlimited supplies of labour. The Manchester school of Economics and Social Studies, 22, 139-191. ___________. 1955. The theory of economic growth. London: Allen and Unwin. ___________. 1964. Closing remarks in Baer and Kerstenetzky (1964). ___________. 1977. The evolution of the International Economic Order. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Macionis, John, J. and Plummer, Kenneth. 1998. Sociology. New York: Prentice Hall, New York Marglin, Frederizue A., and Marglin, Stephen A. (ed). 1990. Dominating knowledge: Development, Culture, and Resistance. United States: Oxford University Press. Mohammed, Patricia. 2000. City limits: Urbanization and gender roles in the Caribbean into the twenty-first century. In K. Hall & D. Benn. (Eds)., Contending with destiny: The Caribbean in the @!st century (pp.196-203). Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers. Munck, R. (1999a). Deconstructing Development Discourses: of Impasses Alternatives and Politics. In R. Munck, and O’Hearn, D. (Ed.), Critical Development Theory. London: Zed Books. Munroe, Trevor. 1993. An Introduction to Politics. Lectures for First Year Students. Canoe Press, University of the West Indies, 1a Aqueduct Flats, Kingston 7, Jamaica, WI. Norbye, O. D. K. 1974. Health and Demography: Adequate health services for poor countries: how can the rich countries contribute to reaching such a goal? World Development, 2, 13-17. Retrieved on March 10, 2006 from [http://www.lloydwaller.com/] O’Donnell, M (1997). Introduction to sociology. (Fourth Edition). Surrey KT12 5PL. Thomas, U.K.: Nelson House. O’Donnell, Mike (1997). Introduction to Sociology. 4th Edition. Thomas Nelson and sons Ltd. Nelson House, Mayfield Road, Walton-on-Thomas, Surrey KT12 5PL. U.K. Oraganization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). (2002). Human development report. Trinidad and Tobago. SCRIP-J Printers. Owens, Edgar. 1987. The future of freedom in the developing world: Economic development as Political Reform. New York, USA.: Pergamon Press. Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) & Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). 1992-2004. Social and Economic Survey of Living Condition. Kingston: PIOJ & STATIN. Ramirez, A., Ranis, G., and Stewart, F. 1997. Economic growth and human development. Economic Growth Centre, U.S.A.: Yale University. Retrieved on October 12, 2006 from http://aida.econ.yale.edu/growth_pdf/cdp787.pdf. Ramos, Joseph and Sunkel, Osvaldo. 1993. Toward a neostructuralist synthesis. In Sunkel, Osvaldo, (ed). Development form within: Toward a neostructuralist approach for Latin America. United States: Lynne Rienner. Randall, Vicky and Robin Theobald. 1998. Political Change and Underdevelopment. A Critical Introduction to Third World Politics. Second Edition. Macmillan Press Limited. Ranis, Gustav and Stewart, Frances. 2001. “Growth and human development: Comparative Latin American Experience.” The Developing Economies, XXXIX (4): 333-65. Retrieved on October 12, 2006 from [http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/De/pdf/01_04_01.pdf]. Ranis, Gustav, Stewart, Francis and Ramirez, Alejandro. 2000. “Economic Growth and Human Development.”World Development, 28: 197-219. Rapley, John. 2002. ¬Understanding development: Theory and practice in the Third World. 2nd Edition. United States: Lynne Rienner Publishers. Rasheed, Sadiz. 1998. Development, Europe and Africa: The search for a new partnership, Volume 41, No.4, December 1998. Society for International Development. Rodney, W. 1974. How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. United States: Howard University Press. Rist, G. 2002. The History of Development: From Western Origins to Global Faith. London: Zed Books. Rostow, Walter. W. 1963. The Economics of take-off into sustained growth: proceedings of a conference held by the International Economic Association. Macmillan: London. Rostow, Walter. W. 1960. The Stages of Economic Growth: a Non-Communist Manifesto. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. Seaga, Edward P. G. 1996. Advancing to the 21st Century with a Dynamic Agenda. Kingston: Jamaica Institute for Political Education. Sen, Amartya K. 1999. Development as Freedom. New York: Anchor Books. Stewart, J. 1989. Book reviews. Racial conflict and economic development. The review of Black political economy. Atlanta: National Economic Association and the Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy of Clark College. Streeten, Paul. 1979. “Development Ideas in Historical Perspective,” in Rothko Chapel Colloquium (ed.), Toward a New Strategy for Development. New York: Pergamon Press, pp.21-52. Sunkel, Osvaldo, (ed). 1993. Development form within: Toward a neostructuralist approach for Latin America. United States: Lynne Rienner. Todaro, Michael. 2000. Economic Development. Seventh Edition. Addison-Wesley Longman, Inc. New York. United Nations Development Programme. Human Development Reports (various). New York: Oxford University Press. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (1998). Human Development Report – Consumption for Human Development. New York: Oxford University Press. UNDP. 1999. Human Development Report – Globalization with a Human Face. New York: Oxford University Press. UNDP. 2000a. Choices. New York: UNDP. UNDP. 2000b. Human Development Report – Human rights and human development. New York: Oxford University Press. UNDP. 2000c. Challenges to developing countries. Retrieved October 12, 2005, from [http://www.undp.org/info21/e-com/e7.html#Anchor-Human-51139] UNDP. 2001a. Human Development Report – Making new technologies work for human development. New York: Oxford University Press. UNDP. 2001b. Choices. New York: UNDP. UNDP. 2001c. Creating a Development Dynamic Final Report of the Digital Opportunity Initiative July 2001. New York: UNDP. UNDP. 2001d. Project Sustainable Dryland Agriculture by Mahila Sanghams: Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved March 4, 2005 from [http://www.undp.org.in/ictpe.htm] UNDP. 2002a. Human Development Report – Deepening democracy in a fragmented world. New York: Oxford University Press. UNDP. 2002b. Support to the Jamaica Sustainable Network. Kingston: UNDP Jamaica Country Office. UNDP. 2002c. Choices. New York: UNDP. UNDP. 2004. Human Development Report – Cultural Liberty in Today’s Diverse World. New York: Oxford University Press. UNDP. 2005. What Is Human Development. Retrieved October 21, 2005, from [http://hdr.undp.org/hd/] Waller, Lloyd G. “ICTs for Whose Development? A critical analysis of the discourses surrounding an ICT for Development Initiative for a group of microenterprise entrepreneurs operating in the Jamaican tourism industry: Towards the development of methodologies and analytical tools for understanding and explaining the ICT for Development Phenomenon.” PhD dissertation, University of Waikota, 2006. Waroop, Vinaya S. 1997. Education and Health Care in the Caribbean. Retrieved on February 20, 2007 from http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd Tags: DiscourseExplainingJamaicasPoliticalSilenceSocietySociologic Share199Tweet124Share50 Dumbing Down Our Children - This Is Education "Equity?" Your Legal Rights in a Living-Together Relationship - The Rights of Unmarried Cohabitants How can you live your best life and be happier in 2018? Here are 10 surefire ways to help you... Most third world countries have nearly nonexistent accounting standards and lack the education to inaugurate a movement towards achieving their... What is debt recycling?Quite often the first time you hear about debt recycling will be from a financial planner or... Jan Tinbergen, (born April twelve, 1903, The Hague, Netherlands. - died June nine, 1994, Netherlands), Dutch economist observed for the... Indonesian High Yield Bond Market Structure and Opportunities eget sem, leo. libero Phasellus elit. luctus vulputate, efficitur. massa	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1323
__label__wiki	0.732535	0.732535	Movie review: Keira Knightley blows the whistle in ‘Official Secrets’ Al Alexander More Content Now Sep 3, 2019 at 10:56 AM Sep 3, 2019 at 3:51 PM Some stories are so compelling, even a trio of screenwriters can’t completely screw it up. Such is the fate of the whistle-blowing drama “Official Secrets.” Overwrought, overacted and utterly devoid of subtlety, Gavin Hood’s account of Britain’s version of Daniel Ellsberg is at once anger-inducing and somnambulant, a thrilling snooze about a valiant British woman’s failed attempt to prevent the deaths of more than 100,000 innocents at the hands of American and British troops sent to Iraq on a phony premise of weapons of mass destruction. If your name is Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell or Blair, you’ll definitely want to stay away. You will not be favorably portrayed, despite appearing as yourselves via dozens of damning archival clips proving the lot of you to be either blatant lairs or gross incompetents. On the other hand, if your moniker is Katharine Gun, call all the relatives and promise them a heroic, albeit bland, depiction of a peon in the British military-industrial complex who dared spoil her superiors’ war party by speaking truth to power. Boy, could we Yanks use a person like her right now! With a name like Gun, second only to Bond in British spy lore, you know her aim is true when she takes it upon herself - at great personal risk - to leak a top-secret memo about President George W. Bush and company’s plans to seek dirt on members of the United Nations Security Council in hopes of blackmailing them into voting for the U.S.-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. How Putin of them! As history reminds, her efforts - and those of the muckrakers at the London Observer who published said memo on Page 1 right next to the story about the capture of the 9/11 mastermind in PAKISTAN! - were in vain. Hood and his co-screenwriters Greg and Sara Bernstein blame the flub on an overeager copy editor who ran the thing through spellcheck which changed “favorable” and “recognize” to their British spellings, causing the Drudge Report to declare the thing a fake. It wasn’t. Why is it always the copy editor’s fault? But I digress. If you’re saying to yourself, “I never heard about this story before,” you’re not alone. I’m ashamed to admit I hadn’t, either. But if you’re among the uninformed, “Official Secrets” will have merit. If you do know the story or have read the book it’s based on, “The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War” by Marcia and Thomas Mitchell, consider yourself a prime candidate for residence in Sleepy Town. Hood wastes no clichés while urging his fine ensemble led by Keira Knightley as Gun to speak every line of expository dialogue like they’re playing to the last row at Gillette Stadium. Why must we scream? Does he assume his audience is hard of hearing? Or, is it more likely he’s wagering the extra decibels will help disguise a buy-the-numbers script in which the only surprise arrives late in the third act. It’s a doozy, too - if you don’t know the outcome going in. My major complaint, besides all the hammy acting - and annoying and intrusive score by Paul Hepker and Mark Kilian - is the movie’s discombobulated structure, as it tries to play the story from three perspectives all at the same time. One, of course, is about Gun and her internal fight over whether to stay mum or shout “corruption.” The second, and the film’s best, chronicles the coordinated efforts of the Observer staff to verify the memo and then weigh the consequences before setting it to print. Think Steven Spielberg’s “The Post.” Lastly, there’s Ralph Fiennes as the do-gooder, pro bono barrister looking for an innovative way to spring his client, who really isn’t his client because the Crown’s ridiculous Official Secrets Act doesn’t allow her counsel for reasons too bizarre to explain. Like Knightley, Fiennes chews the foggy, buttoned-up London scenery, as do Matthew Goode, Matt Smith, Conleth Hill and Rhys Ifans as the Observer staffers working the story from both sides of the pond. Luckily, all are so good, you forgive them for occasionally going overboard. What you can’t forgive is the behavior of Messieurs Bush, Cheney, Powell and Blair for engaging in lies and deceit to push an illegal war based on the doubly false premise that Iraq was behind 9/11 and manufacturing WMDs. But that didn’t stop them from committing the most colossal SNAFU of the 21st century. Because of President Donald Trump’s behavior - and the recent deaths of his parents - George W. Bush has been getting a bit of a historical makeover in which many are saying, “he wasn’t as bad - or evil - as we remembered.” Well, “Official Secrets” should but a stop to that nonsense. There’s blood on the hands of the 43rd president and his minions, and if nothing else, that makes Hood’s tale of government malfeasance vital and Gun’s heroics admirable. But it also causes you to lament that a tale of such gull and bravery isn’t allotted the full reverence it deserves. Al Alexander may be reached at alexandercritica@aol.com. Cast includes Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Goode, Matt Smith, Rhys Ifans and Adam Bakri. (R for language.)	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1325
__label__wiki	0.797104	0.797104	Find out how the Evansville-area schools did at the state marching band finals Five schools from Evansville and Newburgh were at Indiana State School Music Association's finals as well as several other area bands. Find out how the Evansville-area schools did at the state marching band finals Five schools from Evansville and Newburgh were at Indiana State School Music Association's finals as well as several other area bands. Check out this story on courierpress.com: https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2019/11/09/find-out-how-evansville-area-schools-did-marching-band-finals/2552488001/ Abbey Doyle, Evansville Courier & Press Published 10:43 p.m. CT Nov. 9, 2019 \| Updated 4:31 p.m. CT Nov. 10, 2019 Gallery: ISSMA 2019 State Marching Band Finals Evansville North Green Brigade Drum Major, Senior Bailey Hardin, leads North to sixth place in the Class B competition, right behind Reitz in fifth, at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday afternoon. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press North Evansville senior Ashley Eick plays the flute at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. North Evansville placed sixth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Barbara Burgdorf, center, with her daughter Jennifer Burgdorf, right, cheer on North Evansville at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. North Evansville placed sixth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press North Evansville senior Eli Campbell at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. North Evansville placed sixth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press North Evansville's Michael Heiger, 8th grade, watches the drum major intently at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. North Evansville placed sixth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press North Evansville senior Bailey Hardin steps onto the field at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. North Evansville placed sixth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Anthria Chatman waves to her daughter in the Harrison marching band at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Harrison placed ninth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Harrison Warrior Command's Zach Owen, eighth grade, shines at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals where Harrison took 9th place in the Class B competition at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday afternoon. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Harrison junior Ava Martin, right, freshman Joe Hansen, and junior Michael Kelley leave the field at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Harrison placed ninth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Harrison juniors Jordi McCollum, left, and Sionna Mitchell, right, after their performance at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Harrison placed ninth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Reitz Color Guard coach Emma Shafer takes a selfie before heading out to the field at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Reitz placed fifth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Reitz Marching Band practices in the warmup room before their performance at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Reitz placed fifth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Reitz junior Leah York and color guard coach Emma Shafer wisen for good luck before the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Reitz placed fifth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Reitz marching band warms up before performing in the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Reitz placed fifth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Cortney Maffia, center, and her husband Steven Maffia, right, cheer on Reitz at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Reitz placed fifth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press All bands in the Class B competition take the field before awards are announced at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Reitz drum majors stay in character at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Reitz placed fifth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Lisa Fletcher cheers on the Harrison marching band as they exit the field at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Harrison placed ninth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press North Evansville's Emily Russell hugs her bandmate after the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. North Evansville placed sixth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Band Director Jay Emmert, center, speaks to North Evansville's marching band after they placed sixth in Class B at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press North Evansville's Abbie Pavlichek, left, and Abby Green, right, comfort each other after the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. North Evansville placed sixth in the Class B competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Mater Dei sophomore Jessie Bacon, right, stretches with the rest of the color guard before performing at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Mater Dei placed tenth in the Class D competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Mater Dei Marching Band freshman Xavier Eigge at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Mater Dei placed tenth in the Class D competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Mater Dei Marching Band senior Brandon Werner cleans his trumpet before stepping onto the field at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Mater Dei placed tenth in the Class D competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Class D marching bands line the fields for the awards ceremony at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Mater Dei's pit crew takes the band's set pieces outside after the performance at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Mater Dei placed tenth in the Class D competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Mater Dei Marching Band packs up before the drive back to evansville after the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Mater Dei placed tenth in the Class D competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Mater Dei Marching Band's coaching team exits the Lucas oil Stadium at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Mater Dei placed tenth in the Class D competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Mater Dei's color guard puts away their materials at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Mater Dei placed tenth in the Class D competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Castle junior Aliyah Lane laughs with friends before going inside for the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Castle placed fourth in the Class A competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Castle performs at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Castle placed fourth in the Class A competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Castle junior Amy Chen at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Castle placed fourth in the Class A competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Castle Sophomore Brynan Hopkins hugs his bandmate after the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Castle placed fourth in the Class A competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Mater Dei waits in formation for the awards ceremony at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Mater Dei placed tenth in the Class D competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Castle senior Drew Steinsultz hugs his bandmate after performing at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019.Castle placed fourth in the Class A competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Castle places fourth at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press Castle senior Nick Williams hugs sophomore Avery Pyle after performing at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Castle placed fourth in the Class A competition. Christiana Botic / Courier & Press INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The southwestern part of the state had a great showing at the marching band state finals Saturday. Five schools from Evansville and Newburgh as well as several other area bands competed at the Indiana State School Music Association finals. Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. made history with three schools making it to state — the North Green Brigade, the Reitz Mighty Marching Panthers and the Harrison Warrior Command. More: Working their way up: EVSC band program building back up with three schools at state More: 5 marching bands from Evansville and Newburgh make it to state More: Our teachers need your support; they deserve better \| A Parently Obvious Castle performs at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Castle placed fourth in the Class A competition. (Photo: Christiana Botic / Courier & Press) Also making an appearance at state: Castle's Marching Knights and Mater Dei Marching Wildcats. Other schools from the region winning a spot include: Mount Vernon Marching Wildcats, Jasper Marching Wildcats, Princeton Marching Tigers, Vincennes Lincoln Pride of the Green, Pride of Paoli, Tell City Marching Marksmen, Forest Park Marching Rangers, Springs Valley Blackhawk Brigade and Southridge Marching Raider Band. They performed throughout the day and evening at Lucas Oil Stadium. Here are the results by class: Homestead - Ft. Wayne Castle - Newburgh Lawrence North - Indianapolis Center Grove - Greenwood Penn - Mishawaka Carroll - Ft. Wayne North Evansville's Emily Russell hugs her bandmate after the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. North Evansville placed sixth in the Class B competition. (Photo: Christiana Botic / Courier & Press) Greenfield Central Northview - Brazil F.J. Reitz - Evansville North - Evansville North Side - Ft. Wayne Harrison - Evansville Pendleton Heights Reitz drum majors stay in character at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Reitz placed fifth in the Class B competition. (Photo: Christiana Botic / Courier & Press) Western - Russiaville Edgewood - Ellettsville NorthWood - Nappanee Norwell - Ossian Concordia Lutheran - Ft. Wayne Lincoln - Vincennes John Glenn - Walkerton Mater Dei Marching Band freshman Xavier Eigge at the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Mater Dei placed tenth in the Class D competition. (Photo: Christiana Botic / Courier & Press) Lewis Cass - Walton Forest Park - Ferdinand Springs Valley - French Lick Woodlan - Woodburn Fairfield - Goshen Southridge - Huntingburg Mater Dei - Evansville Castle junior Aliyah Lane laughs with friends before going inside for the ISSMA State Marching Band Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. Castle placed fourth in the Class A competition. (Photo: Christiana Botic / Courier & Press) Read or Share this story: https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2019/11/09/find-out-how-evansville-area-schools-did-marching-band-finals/2552488001/ Report: Boonville 6-year-old killed by fallen tree Vanderburgh sheriff issues new warrants VCSO: Man arrested after speeding in "racecar" on Lloyd EPD: Crash sends 3 to hospital, driver arrested Two local Old National banking centers to close Toyota announces growth of Highlander production	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1326
__label__wiki	0.717203	0.717203	Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his 2020 State of the State Address on Tuesday, Jan. 14. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Office of the Governor) 2020 WA Legislature Gov. Inslee delivers State of the State Address Tuesday, January 14, 2020 7:09pm By Leona Vaughn, WNPA News Service OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee stood before the Washington Legislature to deliver his 2020 State of the State Address on Tuesday, Jan. 14. “Washington state indeed embodies the best in America,” Gov. Inslee said. “We have been honored to be both the best place to do business and the best place to be an employee, and that combination is a rare and powerful testament to our state.” Even so, he talked about concerns, including homelessness and climate change. “Homelessness is a statewide problem, and it demands a statewide response this year,” Gov. Inslee said. The number of people unsheltered has reached a crisis-level concern that has begun to affect legislators’ constituents throughout the state, according to Rep. Drew Stokesbary (R-Auburn). It’s a problem that lawmakers seem to have different goals and ideas on how to solve. Gov. Inslee previously proposed a plan to add shelter beds, and rental and housing assistance to reduce homelessness in the state by 50% within the next two years. He suggested funding his plan with more than $300 million from the state’s Budget Stabilization Account, also known as the “rainy day fund.” “By trying to fund his response with one-time rainy day funds, he’s kicking the can down the road,” Rep. Stokesbary said. “Even if his plan works, we’ll be right back here in 2023, trying to figure out a more sustainable path forward.” During his speech, Gov. Inslee also expressed his desire to initiate a clean fuel standard, which he insisted would have a minimum effect on costs and a maximum impact on carbon emissions. In response, Republicans noted the governor failed to discuss the increased tax Washington residents would be paying with the implementation of this standard. Sen. Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) referred to it as “the gas tax without roads.” Rep. Stokesbary suggested that more responsibility should be put on private sectors and consumers, rather than a top-down government system that reduces carbon emissions. “Far before the state can mandate away vehicle emissions, you will see consumers voluntarily buying very well made electric vehicles,” Rep. Stokesbary said. Following the State of the State Address, Sen. John Braun (R-Centralia) gave the Republican perspective on Inslee’s speech. Sen. Braun’s speech focused on the possibility of increases in taxes that may result if Inslee’s plans are put into effect. “Today we heard more words from the governor about energy, and, again, he said nothing about taking more money from the people,” Sen. Braun said. Spawning Grounds: Lake Sammamish kokanee documentary premieres Jan. 18	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1328
__label__cc	0.65655	0.34345	Petting Away Depression You've seen the TV commercials, the person in black and white and sad while they watch their friends and family in color happy as can be? Then the sad individual gets help, sees the world in color and has a dog run into frame to play with them, or they are suddenly on the couch petting their beloved cat. Well, there's a reason for that, pets can help individuals with depression/illnesses/anxiety. "Pets offer an unconditional love that can be very helpful to people with depression," says Ian Cook, MD, a psychiatrist and director of the Depression Research and Clinic Program at UCLA. Depression affects millions of individuals in the USA… Celexa May Help Ease Alzheimer’s-Linked Agitation Study finds it might be safer alternative to standard antipsychotics TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) — The antidepressant Celexa shows promise in easing the agitation people with Alzheimer's disease often suffer, and may offer a safer alternative to antipsychotic drugs, a new study finds. "Agitation is one of the worst symptoms for patients and their families: it puts the Alzheimer's patient at risk for other system overloads (cardiac, infection), wears them out physically, and exhausts caregivers and families," noted one expert, Dr. Alan Manevitz, a clinical psychiatrist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He said that while antipsychotic drugs are typically used to help ease the… Treating Depression Often Lies In A Gray Zone – From Pills To Psychotherapy GPs do not have the time to conduct proper psychiatric interviews and rely too heavily on questionnaires. I love you with all my brain? If you have any doubt about what love is, all you have to do is listen to the music through the last several decades. It’s a many-splendored thing and it is a battlefield. It’s been lost, found, thrown away, knocked, stopped, made and fallin’ into. But you can’t buy it and you sure can’t hurry it. Evidently there are different kinds — baby, puppy, jungle, secret, young, endless, runaway, gangsta, sexy, summer, bleeding, international and even a muskrat type that lasts around 40 years. Sorry, Captain and Tennille. There are seas of love, cradles of love, chapels of love, soldiers of love,… How To Encourage Someone To See A Therapist Kids Are Better Off With Pets Sochi Olympics head to Opening Ceremony After spending billions to get ready and fending off concerns of potential terror attacks, the world will be watching as the Sochi Olympics head to Opening Ceremony (Photo: Russell Isabella, USA TODAY Sports) Story Highlights Opening Ceremony is Friday for largest, most expensive Winter Olympics in history With star power down, the USA will need news ones to emerge to make a run at the top of the medal count Despite heavy security, the Games open with the threat of a terrorist attack as an inescapable backdrop SOCHI, Russia — The largest and most expensive Winter Olympic Games in history likely will be remembered for palm trees, reminders of… Women, Men and the Way We Write About Depression Tips to eliminate stress throughout the week How to navigate conversations about mental health; When a loved one is in need Your Pets Are Actually Improving Your Social Life If you've been wondering whether or not you should get a pet, here's a pretty good reason to: A new study reveals that young adults who have a strong connection with a pet also experience social and relationship benefits. Posted: 02/03/2014 8:51 am EST "Our findings suggest that it may not be whether an animal is present in an individual's life that is most significant but rather the quality of that relationship," said the paper's author, Megan Mueller, Ph.D., a developmental psychologist and research assistant professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, in a statement. “The young adults in… Fighting Against the Stigma of Mental Illness Sarah Fader Parenting blogger Posted: 02/02/2014 7:37 pm I have panic disorder. I manage chronic anxiety every single day. I had my first panic attack when I was 15 years old and (at the time) I had no idea what was going on. I thought I might be having a heart attack. It seemed like a physical problem at first. I had an uncontrollable racing heart followed by sweating and shaking. But then I quickly realized that nervous thoughts were accompanying my physical symptoms. Thankfully, I wasn't alone. Anxiety and depression run in my family, and my mother knew exactly what was going on and how to help… A Great Way To Deal With Anxiety, Mindfulness Overcoming Your Manic, Late Night, Emotional, Compulsive, Eating Habits – Strategically SIGNS THAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE GETTING THE BEST OF YOU	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1337
__label__wiki	0.941354	0.941354	Ilitch, Olympia aim to reboot District Detroit narrative Ilitch Holdings chief says partnership that failed set back progress, hints at new announcements Bill Shea Larry Peplin for Crain's Detroit Business Christopher Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Holdings Inc., said time lines for development of the District Detroit may have been too aggressive. After public criticism and media scrutiny for failing to more fully deliver on their District Detroit plans after five years, the Ilitch family is trying to make a fresh start. In interviews last week with Crain's and the Detroit Free Press, Ilitch Holdings Inc. President and CEO Christopher Ilitch acknowledged that the timeline outlined in 2014 to build it all at once was too aggressive, and was stymied further by business relationships with developers going sour. Going forward, with a new in-house development team, the Ilitches plan to reassess their district master plan and rely on market demand by third-party developers to drive the project timeline. In 2014, while the city was wrestling with municipal bankruptcy and grim headlines, Ilitch promised a grand vision of new housing, shops, restaurants, offices and parks spread across 50 blocks around the Little Caesars Arena. Five years later, the Ilitches have delivered on the arena — it is widely praised — but the rest of the district is a couple of parking garages and office buildings. A small handful of stores and eateries are in the works. There's no housing yet. It's an open question whether the Ilitches can regain any lost public goodwill built up via their successful pizza business and stewardship of their Detroit Tigers and Red Wings — two franchises struggling with their own issues after years of success. Much will depend on the organization getting over a steep learning curve in a business that is complicated even for veteran developers — and moreso for a company that has never built an apartment. Ilitch told Crain's and others that his organization has additional progress in the district coming soon: Last week's groundbreaking on a $70 million building for the Detroit Medical Center and the law firm Warner Norcross + Judd; and a new agreement to redevelop the Hotel Eddystone building that has sat windowless for years north of the arena. "I'm always hopeful, but I think what we need to start evaluating is the system of metrics that look at actual results and not plans or projects in financing mode," said Francis Grunow, chair of the Neighborhood Advisory Committee for the District Detroit area and often a critic of the Ilitches' handling of the District. One local public relations veteran said the Ilitches have a lot of work still to do to repair any lost reputation. "In these situations, what companies have to remember is that they are never just one tactic away," said Matt Friedman, co-founder of public relations firm Tanner Friedman in Farmington Hills. "Chris Ilitch sitting down and doing a couple interviews is not going to turn the tide on its own. It could be a step in the right direction, as long as there is more to it than that. A groundbreaking can't turn the tide on its own. There is going to need to be a series of steps that show the community that the District Detroit is real, and if they want to do that, it's going to take time and consistent attention." ‘Some of our timelines have changed' The Ilitch organization last week also said it is reassessing its master plan for the district but has not specified how that will change how the district will be developed. There is no new timeline yet to have most of the project completed, with officials saying the company will rely on market demand to drive individual projects. Ilitch hinted that an announcement about a new housing project will be made in coming weeks. The District Detroit, introduced in 2014 and supported by nearly $400 million in taxpayer subsidies for construction of project anchor Little Caesars Arena, has been under scrutiny for not yet delivering on the renderings of a sprawling mix of new housing, offices, restaurants, bars, retail and green spaces. Ilitch said he's aware of the criticism but said he's instead focused on the future and producing high-quality developments. In 2014, he told Crain's and others that the goal was to have the district built around the arena by the time it opened in September 2017. Much of the development plan, particularly the residential and retail portions, relied on third-party investors, and Ilitch acknowledged what Crain's reported in March: Relationships with developers collapsed, delaying the wider development of the district. "Some of our timelines have changed. Our passion for the city and the growth and revitalization of this area has not," Ilitch said. The $862.9 million arena opened on time, and the Ilitch-owned Olympia organization has repeatedly said that it has met the promise of $200 million in ancillary development within the district that is outlined in the deal with the city to create the sports and entertainment venue project. Ilitch told Crain's that a collapse in an agreement with Detroit-based American Community Developers set back the addition of 538 new units in the family's District Detroit area. "We had started a relationship with a residential developer, and as we got further and further into our relationship, it became apparent that our long-term interests weren't exactly aligned," Ilitch said. "We mutually decided to part ways. I think that set back our timelines quite a bit." Ilitch did not mention ACD by name, but the developer was responsible for 538 out of the 686 units; Ilitch didn't comment on the remaining 148 units slated for the United Artists Building by another developer or other partnerships with groups such as Detroit-based Ventra Group LLC or Baltimore-based Cordish Cos. that have collapsed. Real estate professionals have said privately that Olympia micromanages projects and is difficult to work with, preventing much of the new construction and redevelopment work from getting done. "Having said that, we have used the time since then to really gear up this team ... and that's going to put us in a position to really execute the strategy going forward, and I feel really good about that," Ilitch said. "When you look at what were some of the obstacles, I would say that was one of the biggest ones." New team takes shape The new comments came as ODM announced a development team that Crain's reported in August was in the works, including the hiring of former Disney executive Bradford, who is now heading up the District Detroit efforts. Bradford had been vice president of the rebranded and expanded Downtown Disney, now known as Disney Springs, a retail and nightlife district at the Florida amusement park complex. He was hired to oversee the District Detroit and help it move along as senior vice president of operations and development. Olympia has also been on a hiring spree, seeking to woo real estate professionals from other companies in the region with pay 30 percent or greater than what they were making at previous positions along with other perks, Crain's reported at the time. In a Thursday news release, the company said "recent and anticipated hiring" will bring in more than two dozen new employees. Bradford said Wednesday that even though Olympia has not developed any residential projects before, some of the people hired have experience with multifamily efforts. In addition, Olympia is not ruling out seeking large-scale tax incentives for future projects, Bradford said, including so-called transformational brownfield backing that would probably include more than $100 million in incentives if sought and approved. Dan Gilbert's Bedrock LLC has a transformational brownfield plan that has $618.1 million in incentives for $2.14 billion in new construction and redevelopment, or about 28.9 percent of the total project cost. The minimum threshold for projects in Detroit to receive those incentives is $500 million; at the 28.9 percent level that Gilbert's project receives, that would be $144.5 million for $500 million in development. "I don't think I've seen a single project that doesn't involve some form of financial support, incentive package, associated with it in some way," Bradford said. "The DEGC (Detroit Economic Growth Corp.) itself has said that not a single development project has happened without some level of incentive. There are all kinds of incentives. The way I think about it is that all developers I have seen here is look at financial tools to make their project economically viable. I think that's something we should consider or think about. I would look at all tools available to us." Earlier this month, Olympia announced that it had reached an agreement for the Eddystone redevelopment after it missed a deadline for the building to be turned into residential units within a year of Little Caesars Arena receiving its certificate of occupancy. The Detroit Downtown Development Authority approved an agreement Wednesday that stipulates that Olympia obtains a $33 million letter of credit or performance bond that would be tapped by the city and DDA in the event that ODM or another ODM-chosen developer defaults on terms of the agreement. A large portion of the Ilitch family's 45- to 50-block District Detroit area north of downtown remains surface parking lots, vacant buildings and parking decks, many of which are owned by the Ilitches and affiliates. The area is anchored by Little Caesars Arena for the Ilitch-owned Detroit Red Wings and the Tom Gores-owned Detroit Pistons. The known public subsidy for the arena, which cost $862.9 million to build, and the District Detroit projects so far is $398.1 million. Longtime antiques shop in Eastern Market on the move after ownership change Want to get something off your chest? Send us an email or hit us up on Facebook or Twitter. Joe Louis Arena demolition stalls, city pushes completion date to June Sponsored Content: Caring for kids: Advocating for the mental and physical care of children	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1339
__label__cc	0.504009	0.495991	Byzantine Empire And The Roman Empire Byzantine Empire And The Roman Empire Essay 1134 Words Jul 16th, 2016 5 Pages While the western half of the Roman Empire began its descent in the 5th century, the eastern half maintained its stability and thrived. Centered on the capital Constantinople, the eastern Roman Empire soon came to be known as the Byzantium, which essentially compromised the Roman Empire for more than one thousand years until its demise in the mid-1400s. Byzantine leaders that sought to carry on the influence of the Roman Empire incorporated Roman culture and tradition into the budding empire of Byzantium, which aided the establishment of a new “Rome”. One of the most influential Byzantine emperors, to influence the Byzantium Empire and surrounding regions, was Justinian I. Justinian was a famous Byzantine emperor who ruled from the AD 527 to AD 565. Born and raised a Macedonian peasant, who eventually was able to successfully attain the status of emperor by mastering the intricacies of Byzantine finance, Justinian’s goal was to restore the glory of Rome in the Byzantine Empire. Intelligent and strong-willed, Justinian, along with his ambitious wife Theodora, began to fulfill this dream by reconstructing Constantinople. His ideas for the new empire included reformation of the law, the expansion of the empire, and supporting religious unity. Justinian is best known for his instituting of the Corpus Juris Civilis, which became the basic motive of cannon law and the Christian church. Justinian found the “authority of the law” worthy of his attention. Therefore, by reforming… Essay Byzantine Empire And The Roman Empire Byzantine Empire Byzantine or byzantine was found around 660 b.c by a greek citizen byzas from mergara near athens . No one actually knows where the name came from it had already been there for years .It was renamed by byzas, byzantium was a name by him. Its referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire . Its capital was Constantinople. In A.D. 324 the Emperor of the West, Constantine I, crushed the Emperors of the East, Maxentius and Licinius, in the common wars of the Tetrarchy. Constantine turned… March 2016 Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, sometimes referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire in the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinople. It survived the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD and continued to exist for an additional thousand years until it fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. It was one of the strongest empire to exist and even though some citizens still referred to it as the Roman Empire, it was still… Byzantine Empire The Byzantine empire has much history to it and is a very fascinating topic to learn about. The Byzantine Empire was the successor state to the Roman Empire which was also known by the name Eastern Empire and East Roman Empire. It was named after Byzantium because Emperor Constantine I rebuilt it in A.D. 330 to be called Constantinople and he also made it the capital of the entire Roman Empire. Throughout the time of this Empire it was subject to important changes in its boundaries… Essay The Between Roman And Byzantine Empires between the Persian, Greek, Roman and Byzantine empires have shaped each culture. Through war, trade, religion, migration and expansion these Empire have clashed, and merged and scattered. Although Each Empire varies in core values, government, literature and art, it is easy to find connections to one another through the timeline of each individual Empire. The competition for territory and advancements pushed these cultures forward, in action and reaction to each other; each empire effected one another… Essay Byzantine Art And The Roman Empire formed its idea of “Roman” style are nearly all portable Late Antique works, and the Late Antique carved sarcophagi found all over the former Roman Empire; the determination to find earlier “purer” classical models, was a key element in the art all’antica of the Renaissance.” (Henderson 1977) Byzantine art is the Greek-speaking Byzantine Empire art that had been created after the Roman Empire division of the Eastern and Western sides and even pieces of Italy under the Byzantine rule. It surfaces around… Essay The Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire played a critical role in preserving and transmitting the ancient Greco-Roman civilization. With laws, culture, language, worldview, and a special relationship with Russia, the Byzantine Empire is an important topic in world history. Laws played a huge role in preserving the Greco-Roman civilization. The Byzantine Empire had an absolute ruler named Justinian. During his reign, Justinian developed a law code derived from Roman laws. Three men were appointed to review, purge… Essay The Rise And Fall Of Rome found and establish an empire as opposed to destroying one. However while Rome wasn’t built in a day it wasn’t destroyed in a day either. Empires and kingdoms rise and fall, an important aspect of examining empires is distinguishing when one has fallen and when one has risen. Usually a significant and distinguishing factor of an empire is the ruler. However, while emperors heavily impact the distinction between different empires, it is possible for a ruler to be tied to two empires simultaneously. Especially… The Brilliant Byzantines Essay There are Romans and there are Greeks but who was better in ancient times? Neither were, the Byzantines outlasted both the Greeks and the Romans. Two of the greatest empires come together to make an empire that lasted from ancient times to the beginning of modern times. The Byzantine’s were an empire that lasted for a long time, however its start took a great deal of time. The Byzantine Empire started from a colony in Greece but it didn’t become an empire for a while after becoming a colony. It… Cultural and Political Changes and Continuities in the Roman Empire – 100 C.E. to 1000 C.E. Two aspects of the Roman politics and culture change noticeably; the rise of Christianity, and the division of the empire which ended with an Eastern and a Western Roman Empire. Christianity altered the Roman lifestyle, while the decentralization of the Empire left Western Europe without a strong political system until the formation of the Holy Roman Empire. Although these changes marked the beginning of the Byzantine Empire, an important continuity shaped the Byzantine political attitude; the conservation… The Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, the survivor of the Roman empire, flourished into the oldest and longest lasting empire in our history. It began with Constantine the Great's triumph of Christianity. He then transferred his capital from Rome to the refounded Byzantium in the early 4th century, year 330 AD, and named it Constantinople after himself. This city became the surviving safe spot after the breakup of the Western Roman empire by the 5th century. It was by far the largest… The Report And The Research Experience Similarities And Differences Between Aeneas And Aeneas School Should Be Screen Students For Signs Of Mental Illness And Suicidal Tendencies Development Of Social And Emotional Skills Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Cognitive Therapy Progressivism : The Progressive Era	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1340
__label__wiki	0.754204	0.754204	NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST, NPR, AND KIRKUS REVIEWS A scathing portrait of an urgent new American crisis Over the last two decades, America has been falling deeper and deeper into a statistical mystery: Poverty goes up. Crime goes down. The prison population doubles. Fraud by the rich wipes out 40 percent of the world’s wealth. The rich get massively richer. No one goes to jail. In search of a solution, journalist Matt Taibbi discovered the Divide, the seam in American life where our two most troubling trends—growing wealth inequality and mass incarceration—come together, driven by a dramatic shift in American citizenship: Our basic rights are now determined by our wealth or poverty. The Divide is what allows massively destructive fraud by the hyperwealthy to go unpunished, while turning poverty itself into a crime—but it’s impossible to see until you look at these two alarming trends side by side. In The Divide, Matt Taibbi takes readers on a galvanizing journey through both sides of our new system of justice—the fun-house-mirror worlds of the untouchably wealthy and the criminalized poor. He uncovers the startling looting that preceded the financial collapse; a wild conspiracy of billionaire hedge fund managers to destroy a company through dirty tricks; and the story of a whistleblower who gets in the way of the largest banks in America, only to find herself in the crosshairs. On the other side of the Divide, Taibbi takes us to the front lines of the immigrant dragnet; into the newly punitive welfare system which treats its beneficiaries as thieves; and deep inside the stop-and-frisk world, where standing in front of your own home has become an arrestable offense. As he narrates these incredible stories, he draws out and analyzes their common source: a perverse new standard of justice, based on a radical, disturbing new vision of civil rights. Through astonishing—and enraging—accounts of the high-stakes capers of the wealthy and nightmare stories of regular people caught in the Divide’s punishing logic, Taibbi lays bare one of the greatest challenges we face in contemporary American life: surviving a system that devours the lives of the poor, turns a blind eye to the destructive crimes of the wealthy, and implicates us all.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1341
__label__cc	0.669559	0.330441	Alex Forey on working with networked devices By Creative Bloq Staff (netmag) 2014-03-27T16:22:32.85Z At just 16 years old Alex is already doing commercial work and is now turning his attention to the Internet of Things. Alex Forey is one of 10 nominees for Emerging Talent of the Year in the 2014 net Awards. He's a full stack developer with a large body of work that includes commercial sites, Little Printer publications and projects that make use of other hardware such as Raspberry Pi and Arduino. He's currently focusing on the Internet of Things; building interesting things with connected physical devices, such as smart alarm clocks and thermostats. We quizzed him to find out more. Tell us about your main areas of competency. I’m proficient in a large range of areas - everything you need to create and run a website - HTML, CSS (SASS), JavaScript (jQuery), PHP, Ruby, Rails, Sinatra, sysadmin and devops using Amazon AWS and DigitalOcean. Are you currently working or studying? I’m currently studying for my GCSEs, but I’m also working on and off for Firefly Solutions as well as doing freelance video and web work. Give us a summary of your web work so far. I started by creating my own website, alexforey.com, around two years ago - that was my first significant project. It is written in HTML and SASS, some jQuery and is responsive. My next major project was Markpond, a social bookmarking website. It allows you to save things you find from around the web that interest you, and keep an archive for when you want to get back to those things later. It can even save an offline copy of all your bookmarks (re-hosting them on Markpond) in case the original goes offline: e.g. the original and the offline copy (note the difference in URLs and how all the images have been saved as well). As well as this, it has engines running in the background that can import your bookmarks automatically from Pocket or Instapaper when you’ve finished reading them. It is written in Ruby on Rails and hosted on a Mac Mini in my bedroom. It uses Apache and Passenger for hosting, as well as a host of other technologies such as MySQL, Solr (for full text searching) and ImageMagick. Additionally, it has Safari and Chrome extensions, for easy saving of bookmarks, which are both open source. Markpond is also responsive for mobile devices. Last summer I wrote the Outdoor Advertising Directory, as seen on my portfolio. I was hired by Sam Stuttard to create a website for his startup, which is based in Glasgow. The site is a database of photos of outdoor advertisements on bus stops, billboards, and more - and is designed so that companies can find out what their competitors are doing. Each advert belongs to a category according to its medium, agency, city, and medium. Customers can sign up for a plan according to their needs (£100 per month for one city, £200 per month for two cities, etc.) and access the adverts. Because of this, the site has a username/password system with payment/signup/password reset emails. It also has an admin interface where the owners can log in to add adverts for the customers to view. The Outdoor Advertising Directory I designed the site using Bootstrap, SASS and JavaScript, created the backend using Ruby, Rails, PostgreSQL, and got it on the internet using Amazon EC2, S3 and Unicorn. The site was turned around from concept to reality in less than two months, and it included integration with Stripe for payment processing as well as SVG-only graphics for sharp rendering on Retina and other HiDPI screens. I also set up the servers to communicate over HTTPS with an SSL certificate, to ensure the customers' data was secure when passing through the tubes of the internet. The Outdoor Advertising Directory was recently sold on to a new owner, and is unfortunately currently down as they move it to their new owners and hosting. I’ve also made five Little Printer publications: On This Day - which takes a data stream from Wikipedia, formats it and presents it every day. It is currently has over 400 subscribers, and is one of the most popular publications on their platform. It’s written in PHP. Firefly Tasks - which allows you to get a daily print-out of your homework set through your Firefly Learning platform. It works with Firefly’s APIs and pulls either tasks set today or tasks set tomorrow depending on your preference. Written in Ruby on Rails. Little Commits - a publication that gives you a physical receipt every time you or someone else pushes to one of your repositories on GitHub. It works with a database, and emails you a special code which you put as a post-commit service in your GitHub repository. Written in Ruby on Rails. No Context - a publication that gives you a random top submission from Reddit’s /r/nocontext subreddit. Written inSinatra. Little Markpond - a companion publication to Markpond, which gives you two random bookmarks per day from your catalog. Written in Ruby on Rails. The No Context Little Printer publication My work for Firefly solutions varies according to what they need doing. I made them a Little Printer publication as a proof of concept during 2013, as well as helping out on some of their client projects. I’ve also worked on an internal project which takes subsets of their contacts from their Highrise system and displays them on a Google Map according to certain sets of criteria - for instance ones that signed up in the last three years, or ones who have signed up for training days. It was written in HTML, CSS with a heavy use of JavaScript for the Google Maps APIs. The backend was written in Ruby and Sinatra with a MySQL database to store caches. I had to rewrite some of the interface between Ruby and Highrise to suit my needs, as it didn’t support companies with custom fields and was buggy and out of date. At what age did you start learning to code, and how did your interest in the web get started? I started coding at around the age of twelve, when I realised that no matter how much I messed up it would never damage my computer permanently. I started with HTML, as we’d been taught a bit of it during Year 5 at school. From there I learnt CSS because I felt it was the next logical progression, and when I found out what was possible with those two my interest expanded into learning about more internet technologies. I first learnt to make web "applications" from phpAcademy, when they released their Image Upload Website series, which has since been removed. I made my first Little Printer publication in PHP, and when I met the wonderful people at BERG they suggested that I learn Ruby, because it was easier and more intuitive to make complicated web apps in, and so I did. I started with Railscasts and built it up from there. What was the first thing you built? The very first thing I built was the original alexforey.com, which way back in 2011 looked like this. I’d heard a lot about responsive web design, and this was my first stab at it - notice what happens to the navigation when you resize the width of the browser. I’d also just learnt about sprites, and so I used them as much as possible. Currently I’m turning my attention more to connected physical things, and am in the planning stages of a network of devices in your house that are smart and react to you in real time - for instance an alarm clock that changes when you wake up depending on how long it’ll take you to get to work/school that day, and a bot that reads your Foursquare check-in history to figure out when you’re out of the house/country and acts on your thermostat etc accordingly. For these I’m primarily using various flavours of Arduinos, as well as BERGCloud’s devshield. Are there any people whose work has been especially inspirational to you? Without the work that Clearleft did on my school’s website back in 2008, I would never have been aware of responsive web design, and so my work wouldn’t be up to the standard that it is today. Without BERG’s guidance I’d still be slaving over PHP functions and wasting time instead of developing as fast as I can with Ruby. Vote in the net Awards! Celebrating the best in web design and development, the 15th net Awards is open for public voting until 24 March. With a record breaking number of nominations this year, it's set to be the biggest and best yet. Have your say by casting your votes here.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1342
__label__wiki	0.622032	0.622032	2013 Summit Program Download the Full 2013 Creative City Summit Program [PDF, 3.5 MB] CCNC would like to thank the City of Ottawa for their generous support of the 2013 Creative City Summit! Special Thank You! CCNC would like to thank the following Sponsors, Funders and Venues for their generous support of the 2013 Creative City Summit! F&D Scene Changes City of Hamilton City of Medicine Hat UBC Centre for Cultural Planning and Development Cowichan Valley Regional District Downtown Rideau BIA Ottawa Art Gallery Council for the Arts in Ottawa Heart of Orléans BIA Artengine Canadian Public Arts Funders (CPAF) Arts Court SAW Gallery Ottawa Dance Directive Shenkman Arts Centre Orleans Young Players Theatre School AOE Arts Council Home / Creative City Summits / 2013 Summit 2013 Summit SOLD OUT! The SOLD OUT 2013 Creative City Summit in Ottawa, Ontario proved to be a truly dynamic, engaging and stimulating experience for all. The Summit brought together a diverse mix of municipal cultural workers, provincial and federal government representatives, national, provincial and community based organizations, artists, educators, funders, culture stakeholders and others to our Nation's capital for the Creative City Network of Canada's 11th annual Creative City Summit. Delegates spent three days in two of Ottawa's leading municipal arts venues, 'recalculating' culture in a digital world, as well as learning, networking and sharing creative ideas with peers. The Summit kicked off with a lively and interactive Welcome Reception at the Ottawa Art Gallery in Arts Court. WATCH NOW! Click above image to watch the digital video and learn more about the 2013 Creative City Summit in Ottawa! 2013 Summit Theme: “Recalculating: Culture in a Digital World” As digital technology diversifies and accelerates, its effects on cultural planning and the cultural community are empowering yet challenging. The 11th Creative City Network Summit will remap the field with new research, insights by leading creative individuals and experiences of innovative arts organizations. Join us to explore digital hubs, digital participation and communication, and to debate digital impacts on the cultural realm. From public art, to facilities, to cultural policy, to promotion and participation, to art creation – it’s a new digital world to navigate. 2013 Summit Location: City of Ottawa Ottawa is a vibrant, cultural capital with a unique identity and a colourful history - a dynamic place in which to live, work and play. Surrounded by farms and nature, over 80% of Ottawa’s land is rural. Ottawa’s cultural assets include a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Rideau Canal); major, national cultural attractions; a local arts and heritage scene that reflects the vitality of Ottawa’s communities in two official languages; exceptional home-grown festivals, fairs and events; international award-winning artists in all disciplines; diverse cultural neighbourhoods; historic rural communities and landscapes; interesting street culture; and a thriving culinary scene. Canadian Museum of Civilization, Ottawa Tourism The full 2013 Summit Program available for download Articles, posts and links related to the 2013 Creative City Summit A media roundup of #CCNC13 stories on Storify. Thank you Inga Petri for sharing! Creative City Summit - Day 1 Storify by Inga Petri Creative City Summit looks at digital media and arts By Maria Cook, OTTAWA CITIZEN, May 30, 2013 driving creativity artengine blog : art and technological experimentation Instagram real life with Mark Stephenson’s HipsterMonocle By Ryan Saxby Hill, Apt613, May 30th, 2013 By Day By Night: Your guide to local happenings in Ottawa By Diane Bond, Apt613, May 28th, 2013 Presented by SAW Video Media Art Centre Digi60 Ottawa FIlmmaker's Festival - 2013 Spring Festival Culture in a Digital World - Award Winners The Hipster Monocle A fun project by Mark Stephenson located in Ottawa Canada. Bios, abstracts and presentations for download DR. SARA DIAMOND // Canada’s Creative Community and the City of the Imagination Presentation - English [PDF, 15.7 MB] Presentation Video - English [youtube] Toronto-based Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU) is Canada’s “University of the Imagination.” OCAD University has set “city building” as one of its strategic priorities. We see the city - imaginary and actual - as many overlapping entities such as its governance structure, the built space, its diverse communities, its energy use and carbon outputs or the virtual pathways and processes that are often unseen. All of these elements are layered in the experience of the city. We will share our philosophy and strategies for imagining and building a Creative City derived in part from our work with international partners and many sectors such as the City of Toronto, cultural institutions, creative industries, the technology sector, healthcare institutions, and developers. As a specialized art, design and media university OCAD University has developed a series of tools that facilitate an understanding of the forces that drive change. Strategic foresight practiced by OCAD University’s sLab helps us to imagine trends and paint scenarios. Data analytics and visualizations from the Centre for Information Visualization and Data Driven Design can provide metaphors and insights that reveal the virtual and material city in novel ways. Action research engages communities in collaborations to understand and change their communities. Visual art and environmental design provide other dimensions that allow us to re-imagine the city of the present and propose a City of and for the Imagination. From these layered entities, partnerships and processes, what kind of city will emerge? Dr. Sara Diamond is the President of OCAD University, Canada’s “university of the imagination”. She holds a PhD in Computer Science and degrees in new media theory and practice, social history and communications. She is an appointee of the Order of Ontario and the Royal Canadian Society of Artists. While retaining OCAD University’s traditional strengths in art and design, Diamond has guided the university in becoming a leader in digital media, design research and curriculum through the Digital Futures Initiative, new research in Inclusive Design, health and design, as well as in sustainable technologies and design. She also played a leading role in OCAD University’s establishment of the unique Aboriginal Visual Culture Program. These initiatives have built strong partnerships for OCAD University with science, business and communities, in Ontario and abroad. Diamond was the Artistic Director of Media and Visual Art and Director of Research at the Banff Centre, where she created the Banff New Media Institute (BNMI) in 1995 and led it until 2005. Her book (with Sarah Cook) Euphoria & Dystopia: The Banff New Media Dialogues, a history of the boom, bust and reset years of the first wave of digital media is currently available; published by Banff Centre Press and Riverdale Architectural Press, University of Waterloo. JANINE MARCHESSAULT // Cartographies of Place in the 21st Century: Networked media, sustainable environments, and urban citizenship A new generation of artists are using media technologies to explore the meanings of translocality, public spaces and mobile networks that are distinct configurations grounded in place—indeed, often several places and several times at once. How do such art practices function as new forms of public art and in site- specific settings while serving as a tool for enhancing communication and renovating democratic citizenship? The talk will focus around a landmark exhibition (which opens Sept 21, 2013) called Land/Slide: possible futures (www.landslide-possiblefutures.com) that has invited thirty artists working in a variety of media (from sculpture to data visualization) to transform and reimagine a Heritage village (1820-1930) at the Markham Museum in the Greater Toronto Area. Artists have been asked to reinterpret over thirty pioneer houses (1820-1930) and 8000 historical artifacts in the context of climate change and a planet in transition. Working with everything from digitized diaries, 3D projections and augmented reality, participants will propose new histories and new futures for the use of land on this planet. This is an example of a new form of public space that uses Museums and Archives, often seen as static and “dead” to create dynamic simultaneous temporalities. The installations invite the public to participate in reinterpreting the past by reimagining the future. The role of digital media is central as the entire site is augumented with projections, audio walks, and an AR app that animates the archive, including previous cartographies that have long since vanished in this new 'leveled' urban space. Markham City, one of the fastest growing regions in North America is a future city. But in this future city, the real and virtual are broken down as land itself, and new forms of urban framing and food production become an integral and organic aspect of the exhibition. Janine Marchessault is a Canada Research Chair in Art, Digital Media and Globalization at York University Toronto. She is the Director of the Visible City Project at York University, which is examining urban art cultures in the 21st Century City. She is the author of McLuhan: Cosmic Media (Sage, 2005) and co-editor of Fluild Screens, Expanded Cinema (UTP, 2007). Forthcoming books include, Ecstatic World: Media, Humanism, Ecology (The MIT Press), and the co-edited volumes Cartographies of Place: Navigating the Urban (McGill-Queen’s Press), and Reinventing Cinema: Expo 67 Expanded Screens (McGill-Queen’s Press). In 2009, she co-curated THE LEONA DRIVE PROJECT— a site specific exhibition in six vacant 1940s bungalows in Willowdale, Ontario. She was co-curator of the 2012 Nuit Blanche Monumental Project, “Museum for the end of the World” at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. Her latest project is Land/Slide, possible futures, a multi-sectoral site specific exhibition in that brings together over thirty artists to look at future land uses in one of Canada’s fastest growing regions. She recently received the prestigious Trudeau Award to support her research and curatorial practices in the area of public art and civic cultures. DENIS BERTRAND // Engagement in the Arts: Strengthening the relationship between the arts and communities Presentation - French [PDF, 3.5 MB] Presentation - English [PDF, 3.5 MB The concept of cultural participation or public involvement in the arts is one of the current trends concerning the development of audiences. Three main objectives underlying it: to show that citizens are not only consumers, but also practitioners of the arts; to enhance and strengthen the relationship between artists, cultural institutions and populations they serve, to witness the daily presence of the arts in the lives of the Canadians. Thence, the workshop will focus on the interest that municipalities should be given to this concept, as well as a new version of it, thereof the community engagement for and by the arts. Denis Bertrand Over his more than 30-year career, Denis has held senior management and communication positions with arts organizations, government departments and public agencies, such as Théâtre Action (provincial arts service organization for French-language theatre in Ontario), Ontario’s Office of Francophone Affairs and Ottawa’s La Cité collégiale (Eastern Ontario community college). He was the first Project Coordinator of Arts and Learning: A Call to Action, launched by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the Canadian Conference of the Arts. He has been a Board member of arts organizations such as Ottawa’s Théâtre la Catapulte, La Nouvelle Scène (Ottawa’s Francophone theatre centre) and Sudbury’s Éditions Prise de parole. He has developed communications strategies for clients such as Ontario’s French Language Services Commissioner and Ontario’s Alliance culturelle (provincial arts umbrella organization). He is a graduate of Ottawa’s Algonquin College Journalism Program. Denis has been interested in audience development for the arts for more than ten years. By making use of his marketing and communication expertise, his work-related experience, personal interest for the arts and on-going research in the field, he has developed a practical approach to audience engagement. He shares his knowledge through conferences, workshops and his blog (www.developpezvotreauditoire.com). He also used to write a column for The Magazine, the Canadian Conference of the Arts’ monthly e-newsletter. He makes use of this approach while working on strategies tailored to the needs of each of his clients. They include professional theatre companies, performing arts networks, festivals, government agencies and arts service organizations. He is an Associate of 50 Carleton, a Sudbury-based marketing firm, a partner in Très-Arts, a consulting agency he set up along with Audience Loyalty Expert Diane Chevrette, as well as a member of Arts Consultants Canada. Keynote Speaker Abstracts in French [PDF, 147KB] Artist Panel, Research Panel and Funding Panel Bios, Abstracts and Presentations for download Artist Panel: Media Hubs as Urban Catalysts Artist Panel Video [youtube] Both Artengine and SAT are vibrant centres of media arts research and artistic practice in their respective cities. Though different in size of their budgets and physical facilities, each offers residents a place where media arts are explored, demonstrated, explained and celebrated. Both also present spectacles and media festivals that animate their communities. This panel is an opportunity to hear their story so far, to understand the web of networks, collaborations and partnerships that sustains them, and to consider how cities and media arts hubs can benefit by working together. Luc Courchesne, Director of Research, SAT Presentation - French [PDF, 11.1 MB] Luc Courchesne is a pioneer in media art and design. From interactive portraiture to immersive experience systems, he has developed innovative approaches which have earned him prestigious awards such as the Grand Prix of the ICC Biennale 1997 in Tokyo, an Award of Distinction and several Honorary Mentions at Prix Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria, an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and participations in Wired’s Next Fest. Luc Courchesne [http://courchel.net] is full professor at Université de Montréal [www.umontreal.ca], a founding member and current director of research at the Society for Art and Technology [http://sat.qc.ca], and member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. He is represented by Pierre-François Ouellette (Montreal/Toronto) and by Bryce Wolkowitz (New York). Ryan Stec, Artistic Director, Artengine Presentation - English [PDF, 3.4 MB] Link to presentation text [Artengine blog] Ryan Stec is a media artist working in documentary, experimental and live forms. His projects have been presented in art galleries, cinematheques, underground clubs and major music festivals across Canada and internationally. Highlights from his projects include a commission by the New Forms Festival to remix work from Norman McLaren; a commission from Library and Archives Canada to engage with historical media works in the public domain; and the incredible experience of being the first artist to access the CN Tower LED lighting system for a 2009 Nuit Blanche project. Stec is also the Artistic Director of Artengine, a creative technology center in Ottawa. Since 2005, Stec has developed innovative programming which compliments its unique place at the nexus of art and innovation. Since 2008, Stec and the Artengine team have been responsible for Electric Fields, a festival of electronic art and sound. Now in its sixth edition, the festival continues to push the playful side of technology. Artist Panel Information in French [PDF, 134KB] Research Panel: The Impact of new technologies on the arts Research Panel Video [youtube] The Digital Transitions Report published in 2011 by the Canadian Public Art Funders group (the Canada Council plus the Provincial cultural agencies) provides useful definitions of digital arts and reveals the complex impact of technology and social media on arts disciplines across the country. Useful overviews of the impacts on creation, production and distribution for these disciplines are provided, along with a number of recommendations for funders. CALQ noted these findings, while also undertaking an extensive process of interdepartmental discussions, consultations with the arts community and a survey. The resulting recommendations and options formed the report: Faire rayonnner la culture Qubécoise dans l’universe numérique. Approved in 2011, the report is now the basis for implementing new initiatives such as creation of a digital arts-specific sector. Read Reports: www.cpaf-opsac.org/en/themes/documents/DigitalTransitionsReport-FINAL-EN.pdf www.calq.gouv.qc.ca/alon/sommaire.htm Alain Depocas Presentation - English [PDF, 291 KB] Presentation - French [PDF, 385 KB] Alain Depocas is responsible for the digital arts, cinema and video program at the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) [Quebec arts and letters council]. Previously, he directed the Daniel Langlois Foundation’s Centre for Research and Documentation (CR+D) in Montréal, where he set up and managed a documentary collection on the history, works of art and practices associated with media, electronic and digital arts. From 2005 to 2010, he was also the director of research for DOCAM, an international alliance on the documentation and conservation of media arts. After studying the history of art at the Université de Montréal, he worked as a researcher and documentalist at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MACM) [Montréal museum of contemporary art]. Responsible for the media library website at MACM, he was involved, among other things, in the development of the thematic scan project in contemporary art. The material for this presentation was originally commissioned by and created for Canadian Public Arts Funders. The studies are available in English [weblink to PDF] and French [weblink to PDF]. David Poole has over thirty years’ experience in the arts and arts administration. He is a retired former head of the Media Arts Section at the Canada Council for the Arts, where he supported the creation of programs which provided opportunities for artists to work collaboratively with scientists and cultural industries. During his tenure in Media Arts he experienced many of the changes brought about by the introduction of new digital technologies. His earliest work at the Canada Council was as an Explorations program officer for Ontario, supporting emerging artists, organizations and new arts practices. He was a distributor of artists’ films in Toronto and taught film studies at Ryerson University. He is a graduate in Cinema Studies from New York University and is currently working as an arts administrator for a community-based arts organization in rural Ontario. Funding Panel: Invest YYC: Using Technology to Put the "Public" in Public Arts Funding Funding Panel Video [youtube] Propelled by rapid change in all sectors of society, governments at all levels are examining current approaches to investing in the arts and the impact this investment has on the communities they serve. The digital age provides opportunities for exploring innovative models of arts support that directly engage the public. Among these is the rise of crowdfunding, or micro-financing, a powerful way to connect artists to a community of supporters. In this presentation, Karen Ball, former Executive Director of Calgary2012, and Jeffrey Anderson, Executive Director, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, will discuss the development and early results of InvestYYC. InvestYYC.com is an online, micro-finance and micro-volunteer tool designed to assist Calgary and area artists and non-profit arts organizations by creating a space where their strongest, most inspiring work can be supported by citizens. At the same time, by making a direct connection to creative projects that resonate with them, citizens are given a sense of ownership and a stake in the cultural future of their city. Partners in the project included Calgary 2012, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development and ATB Financial. The project is a legacy from Calgary's Cultural Capital year. The panel will explore the partnerships that made InvestYYC possible, talk about the way in which existing practices such as peer assessment are integrated into the approach, and demonstrate the online tool. Jefferey Anderson, Executive Director, Arts Branch, Alberta Culture & Executive Director, Alberta Foundation of the Arts Jeffrey Anderson is the Executive Director of the Arts Branch for Alberta Culture and also serves as the Executive Director the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. From 2008-10 he was seconded to Alberta’s Cultural Policy Initiative to establish the Premier’s Council on Culture and to begin implementation of The Spirit of Alberta, Alberta’s cultural policy. Jeffrey is also in his third year as the Steering Committee Chair of the Canadian Public Arts Funders (CPAF). Before moving to Edmonton in 2004, Jeffrey spent twenty-two years as an arts administrator, performer and post-secondary instructor, working at Keyano College, Medicine Hat College and the University of Lethbridge. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Victoria, a master’s degree in music from Yale University, and a doctoral degree in musical arts from the University of Colorado. Karen Ball, Former Executive Director, Calgary 2012 Karen is the Executive Director for Calgary2012 and a past member of Alberta's Premier’s Council for the Arts. Previously she was Calgary Arts Development's Director of Resource Development and Director of Community Investment where she built the arts and capital investment programs and cultural policy on behalf of the City of Calgary. Karen has been actively involved in arts and culture throughout the province including serving as Director of Advancement at the Alberta College of Art + Design and as Major/Special Gifts Officer for the Banff Centre. As Executive Director of ArtsHabitat in Edmonton, Karen developed the first and only designated artist live/work housing in the city. She has also served as the Producer of The Works Art & Design festival in Edmonton and as a curator for the Ontario Craft Council. Funding Panel Information in French (PDF) Member and Non-Member P2P Presenter Bios Liane Davison Liane Davison is Manager for Visual and Community Art for the City of Surrey and Director of the Surrey Art Gallery. She has curated over 100 exhibitions on a range of contemporary art practice from interactive media through to ceramic art and themes as diverse as lawn ornaments to the sexuality of muscle cars. Her writing has been published in over 30 catalogues and her work with digital art has been recognized internationally. In 1999 she initiated the Surrey Art Gallery's TechLab, a unique venue dedicated to supporting the production and presentation of digital art forms. In 2008 she launched Open Sound, the Gallery's ongoing audio art program. In 2010 as part of Surrey's public art program, she implemented Canada's largest permanent, non-commercial urban screen venue. Surrey Urban Screen currently serves as the outreach venue of the Surrey Art Gallery and supports commissioning and presenting large scale interactive digital art. Nina de Vaal, Director, Recreation and Culture, Town of Oakville With a background in municipal government, the not-for-profit sector and the private sector, Nina has over 30 years of experience in a variety of management positions in the field of recreation. She is currently the Director of Recreation and Culture in the Town of Oakville. Nina has been an active contributor to the recreation sector through volunteer involvement in Parks and Recreation Ontario. She is a past president and is currently involved in various committees and initiatives. Throughout her career she has advocated for and put a great deal of emphasis on the value and importance of recreation and culture to human development, personal health and well-being and strengthening communities. Sarah Douglas-Murray, Senior Manager, Cultural Service, Town of Oakville Sarah has over 15 years’ experience in the cultural sector in management, fundraising, marketing and media relations. Sarah worked at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art and Harbourfront Centre before joining the Town of Oakville’s Recreation and Culture department in 2009. In March 2012 Sarah took over the role of Senior Manager of Cultural Services. Ben De Santis, Digital Screen Coordinator, City of Mississauga, Culture Division Ben De Santis is the Digital Screen Coordinator for Mississauga Celebration Square. He is an accomplished award-winning designer experienced with print, web, multimedia, and motion design. He is talented with creativity with an emphasis on innovation and exploring current trends. He has led and coordinated a wide range of projects for a variety of clients including municipal government, television broadcasters, internet portals, and non-profit groups. Jeff Evenson, Vice President, Urban Solutions, Canadian Urban Institute Jeff Evenson is the Vice President of the Urban Solutions practice of the Canadian Urban Institute. He has a strong interest in helping municipalities to integrate cultural vitality into all of their city-building activity. He worked at the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and served as Chief of Staff to two Toronto mayors. He helped organize Toronto’s 2008 Olympic Bid, Toronto’s first Vital Signs project and the first Toronto City Summit. He served on the boards of the Kingston Artists Association Inc. (Modern Fuel since 1995), the Funnel Experimental Film Theatre and the Factory Theatre. He co-authored Canada’s Urban Waterfront, Waterfront Culture and Heritage Infrastructure Plan - an early cultural mapping study. He has worked on a range of cultural projects including a Museum of Toronto feasibility study; the first cultural master plans in Mississauga and Kingston; culture databases in London and Kingston and municipal guidebooks on cultural mapping and indicators and performance measures. Eric Fiss, Public Art Planner, City of Richmond Eric Fiss, Architect AIBC, MCIP, brings 30 years of experience in architecture, planning, and art management to his role as Public Art Planner for the City of Richmond. He has worked in the municipal planning environment for 15 years, with a focus on urban design and sustainable development. The City of Richmond is experiencing rapid growth in its city centre, with a new rapid transit rail connection to Vancouver and the international airport, and its award winning Olympic Speed Skating Oval. Public art, sponsored by both the City and private development, has been a significant part of this revitalization. As the City’s public art program has grown, an electronic database has been an invaluable tool in management of the artworks and in sharing the contents of our collection on our website as an on-line archive. Helena Grdadolnik, Associate Director, Workshop Architecture Inc. Helena Grdadolnik is an Associate Director at Workshop Architecture Inc. where she oversees the firm’s public engagement and cultural policy work. Helena has a Master’s degree in Architecture and more than ten years’ experience working with non-profits, private developers and municipalities in Canada and the UK on creative programs and events related to public space. Helena has taught urban design principles to children, municipal councillors and post-secondary students (at Emily Carr University and UBC’s School of Architecture). She has written for Canadian Architect, Azure and Frame and is the co-author of two books: Towards an Ethical Architecture and The Contemporary Canadian Metropolis. Helena previously worked as a Senior Advisor on architecture and public space for the English government (2007-09), as the Public Art Coordinator and Cultural Planner at the City of Mississauga (2009-12) and has been a member of Toronto’s Public Art Commission since 2012. Her current clients include the City of Toronto, the Town of Newmarket, and Ontario’s Design Industry Advisory Committee. M. Sharon Jeannotte, University of Ottawa M. Sharon Jeannotte is Senior Fellow, Centre on Governance, University of Ottawa. From 2005 to 2007 she was Senior Advisor to the Canadian Cultural Observatory, and from 1999 to 2005 she was the Manager of International Comparative Research, both in the Department of Canadian Heritage. She has published research on provincial cultural policies, cultural policy and social cohesion, cultural citizenship, and the role of culture in building sustainable communities. In 2005, she co-edited with Caroline Andrew, Monica Gattinger and Will Straw a volume entitled Accounting for Culture: Thinking Through Cultural Citizenship, published by the University of Ottawa Press. In 2011, she co-edited with Nancy Duxbury a special issue of the journal Culture and Local Governance on culture and sustainable communities. Frédéric Julien Frédéric Julien has been active in the performing arts for fifteen years, as an artist, cultural manager, and consultant. He has held positions at Canadian Heritage and at Réseau Ontario, and he is currently project manager at the Canadian Arts Presenting Association (CAPACOA), where he manages research and development activities. Frédéric has a keen interest in partnership development and cross-sectoral collaboration. Yvonne Koscielak, Public Art Coordinator, City of Mississauga, Culture Division Yvonne Koscielak is a cultural worker, art advisor and creative producer and has worked for the City of Mississauga’s Culture Division since 2009. Her current focus is on creating an Artful Public Realm through the administration of the City’s Public Art Program. Having graduated from the Art Business Master’s Program at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art New York, Yvonne is also experienced in leading a wide range of projects in an art advisory role relating to the enhancement of both private and public realms. Above all, Yvonne is a passionate advocate for arts, creativity and culture. Andrew Milne, bv02 As the entrepreneurial leader of bv02 for the past 12 years, Andrew has a knack for marrying creative design thinking with leading edge technologies to effectively solve problems in a variety of sectors, including education. He consistently pushes the boundaries of digital technology by engaging with users across platforms in order to build unique interactive experiences. Leading digital design and innovation has been a focus for Andrew throughout his career, which has included roles at national companies and digital agencies. Andrew has spent over a decade creating innovative design, strategy and development solutions as the lead strategist and founder of bv02. He has worked with notable clients such as the National Gallery of Canada, the Virtual Museum of Canada, McGill University, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education, CAA, and OC Transpo. Andrew is also actively involved in community organizations, sharing his time, experience and strategic abilities as an advisor and active board member for several groups, including AndyCamper, the Beluga Foundation, IABC Ottawa, and the Algonquin College Multi-Media Program. bv02 is an award-winning full service digital creative agency that has been specializing in creating digital solutions for clients in cultural institutions, government departments, crown corporations and private-sector businesses for over 10 years. Christopher Moreno Christopher Moreno has experience in the acting, recording, audio visual, and installation/integration industry. He was the driving force behind independent recording label MCM records and the Vault Recording Facility in Ontario. He has since parleyed that experience into the evolution of 365 Productions and 365 Installations, which have since expanded to provide live event services and permanent installations across North America and into Australia and New Zealand. As the principal designer behind 365's work at the 2010 Olympics, the City of Surrey's highly acclaimed Chuck Bailey's Urban Screen Project and now the City of Ottawa's Lansdowne Park LED Screen, his creative flair and technical knowledge is matched only by his commitment to customer satisfaction. Inga Petri, CMRP - President, Strategic Moves Inga Petri has designed and implemented strategies for organizations throughout the private, not-for-profit and public sectors over the last 20 years. Inga’s work thrives on the crossroads of research, strategy and marketing / audience development. Since founding Strategic Moves in 2007, Inga has made sustained contributions to audience development at the National Arts Centre (NAC) and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards. She has been leading the Value of Presenting: A Study of Arts Presentation in Canada since May 2011 conducting extensive research into the value, benefits and impact of performing arts presentation. During this study, she and her team have led more than 20 workshops and presentations across Canada with over 1,000 participants from the presenting and performing arts field providing a unique perspective on the opportunities for and challenges faced by the performing arts sector. A Certified Marketing Research Professional (CMRP) and President of the MRIA Ottawa Chapter, Inga also presents at national research and marketing conferences and gives presentations on the rapidly evolving contemporary marketing practice, action research and creating actionable insights. Matt Thomas is passionate about the role of culture and technology in creating vibrant and sustainable communities. His aim is to use the technologies that connected the globalized world to bring neighbours together. He is interested in the role of the creative economy in revitalizing medium-sized cities, and accomplishes this task as board chair of the non-profit LondonFuse, marketing coordinator at Museum London, and consultant at Thread Development. Matt is behind some of Canada’s most innovative online platforms, such as londonfuse.ca and neighbourgoodguide.ca, which provide support to creative and collaborative people, events, projects, and groups on a regional scale. Matt has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and History from the University of Ottawa, post-graduate certificate in Public Relations from Fanshawe College, and is completing his Certificate in Cultural Planning from the University of British Columbia. Follow his updates on Twitter @matt_thomas1. Michael Wheeler, Artistic Director, Praxis Theatre As Artistic Director and co-founder of Toronto’s Praxis Theatre, Michael has worked as a director and social designer to create ten original productions. Last year he also worked as Co-Curator of the Freefall Festival at The Theatre Centre and a Neil Munro Intern Director at The Shaw Festival. This year he is directing the national tour of Praxis Theatre’s award-winning Facebook note turned #G20Romp, You Should Have Stayed Home. Much of Michael’s work has integrated with online tools through praxistheatre.com. His collaborations have led to recognition that includes Winner Best Arts and Culture Blog and Best Blog Post in the Canadian Blog Awards, The SummerWorks Arts Professional Award, Torontoist People to Watch in 2012 and Toronto Theatre 2012 MVP by The Grid. He has created social design elements with numerous other performing arts organizations including Volcano Theatre at Luminato, The Electric Company at Canadian Stage, The Tarragon Theatre and The Wrecking Ball. Colin Wiginton, Manager, Cultural Services for the City of Kingston Colin Wiginton currently works as the Manager, Cultural Services for the City of Kingston. In this capacity, he helped to develop the first-ever Kingston Culture Plan unanimously approved by City Council in September 2010. The approval of the KCP resulted in an increased investment in culture of $2.25 million over four years and has lead to the development of other related projects he is managing, including a Cultural Resource Database, an Integrated Cultural Heritage and Cultural Tourism Strategy and a Public Art Policy and Public Art Master Plan. Prior to joining the City of Kingston, Wiginton pursued a 20 year career in the visual arts and public galleries, most recently at the Art Gallery of Ontario where he participated in the Transformation AGO Project that included a re-design of the Gallery by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Natali Zuniga, City of Ottawa Natali Zuniga, Architect from Cusco, Perú, worked for Guamán Poma de Ayala Community Development Centre on the assessment of the heritage properties in Cusco’s Historic Centre; and for the National Institute of Culture Cusco headquarters on the conservation of “El Templo de la Merced” (a 17th century church). In 2006, she entered a Masters in Heritage Conservation program at Carleton University with a thesis focused on the protection of Aboriginal sacred places.Natali began work at the City of Ottawa in 2008 assessing the significance of City-owned heritage properties and making recommendations for interpretation. In 2009, Natali became a member of the City’s Cultural Development and Initiatives team and passionately worked to engage Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples and the full diversity of new Canadians in the cultural planning renewal process. Natali continues to work on the development and implementation of Aboriginal and Immigrant arts, heritage and cultural initiatives at the City. Presenters Spotlight in French [PDF,127KB] List of 2013 Summit Delegates 2013 Creative City Summit Delegate List [PDF, 131 KB] A full delegate list with contact information will be sent by email to delegates directly Artistic Animation The 2013 Creative City Summit is putting ART in the foreground, with a variety of local projects. Artistic Animation during the 2013 Creative City Summit is made possible by the Ontario Arts Council. Artistic Animation Information - English [PDF, 117 KB] Artistic Animation Information - French [PDF, 127 KB] Information and materials for the CCNC Annual General Meeting: May 31, 2013, Ottawa The 2013 Annual General Meeting will take place on Friday, May 31, 2013 at 8:30am, as part of the 2013 Creative City Summit in Ottawa, Ontario. The AGM and election of the Board of Directors will be held in the Theatre at Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6E2. AGM materials, Proxy and Board Nomination information will be distributed to members by email and posted here in advance of the meeting. 2013 CCNC AGM Agenda [PDF, 123 KB] Draft Minutes - 2012 AGM [PDF, 137 KB] President's Report [PDF, 45 KB] Report from Ian Forsyth, CCNC President Financial Statements [PDF,283 KB] March 31, 2013 - Notice to Reader 2012-2014. Creative City Network of Canada Strategic Plan and Operational Plan [PDF, 106 KB]. This document summarizes the Creative City Network of Canada Strategic and Operational Plan for 2012 to 2014. 2013-2015 CCNC Membership Plan [PDF, 263 KB] For presentation at the Annual General Meeting, Ottawa, ON. Prepared by: CCNC Board of Directors Membership Conditions Resolution [PDF, 21 KB] The Slate [PDF, 153 KB] Report from the Nominating Committee Board Nominations [PDF, 139 KB] Proxy Form [PDF, 106 KB] For use at the 2013 Annual General Meeting of the Creative City Network of Canada. We've put together a document to help you engage with social media during the 2013 Creative City Summit and beyond. So get started and get social! Social Media 101 for Summit Delegates [PDF, 174 KB] Join the conversation and don’t forget to use the hashtag #CCNC13 Pecha Kucha Night Ottawa Optional evening activity for delegates during the Summit. Digi60 Ottawa Filmmakers Festival Thursday, May 30, 2013, 9-11PM ByTowne Cinema, 325 Rideau Street 2013 Spring Edition - We Are Doing a 180 ! Digi60 Short Films Screening - The Digi60 Filmmakers’ Festival asks filmmakers to create short films based around a “Catch” - a common element that all filmmakers must include. The Digi60 Filmmakers’ Festival has held a special Spring Edition in cooperation with this year’s Summit - the “Catch” was that the film had to show “Culture in a Digital World”. Filmmakers from across Canada were given the Catch on April 15th, and had 30 days to create a 3 minute film. The films are juried and the top films will be screened at the Bytowne Cinema (325 Rideau Street) at 9pm. A Pre-Screening and Post-Screening Party will also be held at The Honest Lawyer (141 George Street) so you can meet the filmmakers. Readings and Links Readings and links to encourage delegate learning pre and post-Summit. Canada Council: Strategic Plan 2011-2016 - Strengthening Connections \| Weblink Conseil des arts du Canada : Plan stratégique 2011-2016 - Resserrer les liens \| Weblink CALQ: Faire rayonner la culture québécoise dans l'univers numérique - Éléments pour une stratégie numérique de la culture \| Weblink Canadian Public Art Funders (CPAF): Digital Transitions and the Impact of New Technology On the Arts \| Link to PDF Organismes publics de soutien aux arts du Canada (OPSAC) : La transition vers le numérique et l’incidence des nouvelles technologies sur les arts \| Link to PDF Beyond the Curtain How Digital Media is Reshaping Theatre \| Weblink Arts Organizations and Digital Technologies, Report Overview - Pew Research Center's Internet & Americal Life Project \| Weblink Arts Organizations and Digital Technologies - Findings from a 2012 Pew Research Center Survery \| Weblink Culture 3.0: Impact of Emerging Digital Technologies on the Cultural Sector in Canada, CHRC \| Weblink Canadian Digital Media Network Sponsors and Funders CCNC would like to thank the following for their generous support of the 2013 Summit in Ottawa: CPAF and generous host municipality, the City of Ottawa Keynote Speaker Denis Bertrand on "Engagement in the Arts: Strengthening the Relationship between the Arts and Communities". Photo by Doris Lamontagne, 2013.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1343
__label__wiki	0.64262	0.64262	UConn’s Paige Bueckers, the nation’s top recruit in 2020, is a ‘natural’ Hour Insider By Doug Bonjour Dec. 9, 2019 Updated: Dec. 9, 2019 4:16 p.m. UConn commit Paige Bueckers Photo: USA Basketball / Contributed photo STORRS — Next season, there will be no shortage of expectations placed upon UConn’s Paige Bueckers. “She is going to be under a lot of pressure. She is going to be under the same kind of pressure Stewie was, the same kind of pressure Dee was — a kid coming out of high school that is supposed to be all-everything, God’s gift to everything, and she is going to have to live with that every single day,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said Sunday. “That is not easy for a kid.” Like Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi once were, Bueckers is the most celebrated high school player in the country. She’s the fourth No. 1 prospect in six years to choose UConn, following Katie Lou Samuelson (2015), Megan Walker (2017) and Christyn Williams (2018). Bueckers was at Gampel Pavilion Sunday, seated a few rows behind the Huskies’ bench alongside Azzi Fudd, the top overall prospect in the Class of 2021, Caroline Ducharme, the No. 41 prospect, and Amari DeBerry, the No. 5 prospect, who committed to UConn last month. They watched the fourth-ranked Huskies overwhelm Notre Dame, 81-57. The Minnesota point guard, known for her terrific quickness and creative ball-handling skills, has been deemed the next big thing in women’s college basketball. She’s already been the focus of more than a few highlight-worthy plays in high school, including one last week where she went behind-the-back and crossed up her opponent before dishing a no-look pass in the open court. The video, posted on Twitter by @SLAMonline, received more than 2,000 likes. Bueckers — who signed her national letter of intent Nov. 13 — is part of a five-player class that ESPN ranked second in the country. Joining her will be Aaliyah Edwards (No. 26), Mir McLean (No. 21), Nika Muhl (unranked) and Piath Gabriel (unranked). “This kid was meant to be a basketball player,” Auriemma said of Bueckers. “She was born to be a basketball player. She just plays like this is my personal playground. ‘When I get the ball, I can do whatever I want with it, and you can’t stop me. And I just have fun with it.’ She makes the game fun for herself. And when she is not playing basketball, she is shooting baskets. There are kids who play basketball, and then there are basketball players. She is a basketball player. Born to be a basketball player. Everything she does, she’s a natural.” That’s not to say, of course, that Bueckers will just coast through her freshman season. Auriemma has coached 23 different Associated Press All-Americans, and all of them, with the exception of Maya Moore, struggled at one point their first year. Moore had 678 points as a freshman, more than any player in program history, and is the school’s all-time leading scorer (3,036). “When Stewie was a freshman she took that hard, because the game was so easy in November and everybody was like, ‘Damn, this kid is the like second coming.’ Until reality set in and it was like, ‘Damn, this is going to really hard.’ Paige is in for that,” Auriemma said. “The expectations for her are going to be through the roof. She is going to be great, and she is going to struggle. Look how many struggles Dee had as a freshman. Stewie. Rebecca (Lobo). Everyone. “Maya is the only freshman who came here, ‘Got this.’ She came here as a college player. You didn’t have to tell her anything. She already worked harder than any college kid in America. She had talent. She was tough. She was competitive. First day of practice, you knew: best player in the country. She hadn’t even practiced yet. That is why she is Maya. That is why there is only one Maya.” Fortunately, Bueckers will have a trio of established starters to lean on in Walker, Williams and Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Their return, coupled with the arrival of a ballyhooed recruiting class, should give UConn one of the deepest lineups in the country and fuel big expectations. Auriemma was asked what he expects to be saying next year about Bueckers. His response was telling. “I am going to be saying, ‘You know what, we wouldn’t have won the national championship without her.’ That is what I am going to say. By herself she can’t win anything. But with the people I think we are going to surround her with, I think we can do great things,” he said. BOE leader: Barbis email ‘profoundly hurtful’ to Norwalk Erroneous parking fees given to Norwalk’s economic development office Video: Watch man destroy store displays at Norwalk mall A Norwalk man has been accused of causing thousands of dollars worth of damage in the store’s cosmetics department and punching two people during the incident. With Frontier at crossroads, rural counterpart makes gains in bankruptcy What happens if there’s an active shooter at the mall? Here’s how police... Sound Surfing: Dave Brubeck’s musical legacy lives on with archival... Norwalk DPW prepares for snow this weekend Norwalk middle schooler excels in science competition Witness: ‘All I heard was boom, boom’ as man vandalized mall...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1350
__label__wiki	0.800166	0.800166	A long forgotten Canadian discovery used to treat superbugs Avis Favaro Medical Correspondent, CTV National News @ctv_avisfavaro Contact Elizabeth St. Philip CTV News @LizTV Contact Published Friday, November 29, 2019 10:20AM EST Last Updated Saturday, November 30, 2019 9:21PM EST NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT -- Exhausted, sick and struggling to breathe – that’s how Nicole Stringer feels almost every day. The 27-year-old from Kelowna, B.C. was born with cystic fibrosis – a genetic disorder that causes mucus to clog her lungs and damages her organs. She is also infected with a superbug – a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa that antibiotics can’t kill. “(The superbug) will never go away so you are constantly sick and the older you get, the worse it gets,” said Nicole, who has documented her painful journey in video diaries that she posts online. She uses puffers, an oxygen machine and takes a hundred pills every day to control symptoms like fever and nausea. But she's still in and out of hospital every few months. Like all CF patients, Nicole knows her lungs could fail at any time. That’s why she travelled to the U.S. to become the first Canadian CF patient to try an experimental treatment called phage therapy – using viruses to kill bacteria. She’s part of a group of 13 patients receiving care at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. “I'm at a point where this is my last resort,” said Nicole. PHAGE THERAPY She’s relying on nature’s best killers. Phages are viral smart bombs, blowing up trillions of bacteria every single day. They achieve this feat by attaching to a bug, injecting their DNA to produce more phages until the bacteria explodes, expelling billions of baby phages that search for new targets. They exist everywhere bacteria is found – on skin, in water, soil and rotten food. The phages used to attack Nicole’s superbug, were extracted from municipal sewage, and purified in the lab by Ben Chan, a Yale University biologist. “It’s something that we can dredge out of nature and put into a person and make a big difference in their quality of life…it’s the ultimate dream,” said Chan. Every day for one week in November, Nicole inhaled a dose containing billions of phage that Chan prepared. It's her second treatment in seven months and she says they’re already making a difference. “About three to four hours after my very first dose, I could smell flowers for the first time in about 15 years." “My lungs started feeling like I could breathe just a little bit better,” she said. Her lung function, just 54 per cent before treatment began, is now up to 71 per cent. And she told W5 she’s been coughing up a lot of the sticky mucus that coats her lungs – a sign her infection is clearing. Dr. Jonathan Koff, the pulmonologist monitoring her phage therapy, says the results are promising and he plans to launch a larger study. “We are seeing very clearly that we are dramatically reducing the amount of bacteria in the sputum during the treatment and after, which is very encouraging,” he said. In some patients, phage therapy is as effective as CF drugs. "These are small patient numbers and we have to do our due diligence with clinical trials, but it certainly gives us some optimism that this type of intervention could be effective.” Earlier this year, U.K. scientists used genetically altered phage to fight a treatment resistant infection in CF patient Isabelle Carnell-Holdaway. Doctors gave her less than 1% chance of surviving, but phage therapy restored her good health. News of her dramatic recovery boosted phage’s profile – and the hope the treatment will be offered in Canada. It would be a huge relief for Nicole. Travelling to the U.S. is expensive, costing her and her husband Ben thousands of dollars for each trip. Recently a friend set up a GoFundMe account to help with expenses. Another concern – every time she’s around other passengers, she worries she'll pick up another infection and further compromise her health. "One hundred per cent, if there was a chance to get the phage without coming (to the U.S.) I would do that,” she said. A CANADIAN DISCOVERY Phage therapy may not be available in Canada but it did start here over 100 years ago. French Canadian scientist Felix d’Herelle co-discovered these micro killers in 1917. Early studies showed they were very good at controlling outbreaks of dysentery and typhoid plague. But phages were abandoned in favour of antibiotics, which could be mass produced and were much more profitable. Eventually, D'Herelle moved to the Soviet Union to continue his work. And phages were relegated to the fringes of mainstream medicine. Over the years, bacteria evolved and now many are resistant to our antibiotic wonder drugs. Patients around the world are developing treatment resistant infections after joint replacements, organ transplants and cancer therapy. A recent report predicts superbugs will claim the lives of almost 400,000 Canadian in the next 30 years. And the World Health Organization is warning we are entering a post antibiotic age – where even a simple skin infection can kill. So phages are making a comeback, thanks in large part to another Canadian scientist, Steffanie Strathdee. She witnessed their potential firsthand, when she used them to save her husband’s life. ON THE BRINK OF DEATH In 2015 Steffanie and Tom Patterson, a psychiatry professor, were on vacation in Egypt when he began vomiting after a meal. They suspected food poisoning but it turned out to be something far more serious. He was flown to Frankfurt, Germany where physicians diagnosed acinetobacter baumannii, a potentially deadly pathogen in his pancreas. “The doctor said there is a giant abscess in his abdomen the size of a football and the doctor picked up this flask and was showing me this murky brown putrid fluid,” said Steffanie, an associate dean of global health science at the University of California, San Diego. “I knew that meant there was some bacteria that was growing inside the cyst in his abdomen (...) but I figured, well there's antibiotics that will cure that." Airlifted back to their home near San Diego, Tom was admitted to the hospital at the University of California San Diego Health, where he fell into a coma for several months. “His kidneys were failing and he was beginning to develop liver failure. So he was developing multi organ failure. And you know it's hard to predict how long he would have lived. But it would have been inevitable, something would have pushed him over the edge,” said Dr. Robert Schooley, an infectious disease specialist at UCSD and family friend who oversaw his care. Every antibiotic they tried failed to contain his raging infection. Steffanie had to face the terrifying truth – Tom was dying. “This one particular day, I took his hand and said…if you want to live, I need to know. If you could squeeze my hand, I will leave no stone unturned and I will try whatever I can to try to overcome this thing,” said Steffanie. Tom, still in a coma, squeezed her hand. It was the sign she needed to continue fighting. Steffanie started a desperate search to find something that could save Tom's life. During her research she came across phage therapy – a treatment she learned in school, when she was a student at the University of Toronto. “The idea that there could be a perfect predator that would attack this superbug that Tom had was something that was really compelling," she said. “But unfortunately, with phage, you have to match the phage to the bacteria. It isn’t like any phage will attack any bacteria. It has to be like a lock and key.” She started contacting labs around the world, asking for help to find phages that could kill acinetobacter baumannii – Tom’s superbug. "I wrote these researchers – it was like cold emails, they were total strangers...There was some (phages) that were directly sourced from ... barnyards," she said. In the end the phages came from three sources: The U.S. Navy, a San Diego based biotech company and Texas A&M University, which found phage in purified sewage. On March 15, 2016, the doctors injected billions of phages into Tom's abdomen and bloodstream. Five days later, he woke up. "Literally he was off life support within two weeks,” said Steffanie. "My favourite line is: you know that my husband was cured with phage therapy, he is full of shit.” “I am a fairly skeptical, cynical person,” said Dr. Schooley. “But I was elated to see it. I thought this could be something big.” Read: How doctors could use viruses to kill drug-resitant bacteria Soon Steffanie and Tom were fielding calls from desperate patients, looking for their own ‘miraculous cure’. The couple knew they had a possible key to solving the superbug crisis and a responsibility to share their knowledge with the rest of the world. “Antibiotic resistance is the coming plague.” “And this is a potential solution and we shouldn’t be afraid of alternative medicine,” said Tom. So a year ago Steffanie and Tom launched IPATH – the Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics at the UC San Diego School of Medicine – the first phage therapy centre in North America, connecting doctors and patients suffering from treatment resistant infections, with scientists collecting phage. The group has already treated eight people and is consulting on many international cases. PHAGE RESEARCH IN CANADA Canadian microbiologist Jon Dennis is part of this new scientific network. He and his students hunt for phages on farms and forests for his growing collection at the University of Alberta. “We’re constantly looking for new phages…when we get an (sample) from a patient we go through our library of phages and see if we have one that matches,” he said. “This really is personalized medicine. This is a prime example of how this one medicine for one patient is going to save lives.” His specialty is finding phages for superbugs that afflict CF patients. It’s often a race against time. By the time patients find him they are quite ill and have exhausted all options. Still, he has managed to extended the lives of people in the United States. But he’s frustrated he hasn't been able to help anyone here. Phage therapy is considered a drug and Health Canada has not authorized its use. "I would like to see that -- something discovered in Canada being used to treat Canadians," he said. “In Canada we are still struggling to get past regulatory hurdles." And some physicians are still skeptical that phages actually work. “There was a lot of work done in the last century that sort of made it seem like it was not the best approach to treatment,” said Chan. “So I think a lot of physicians that were trained way back in the day, just still have that in their head and they are not open to considering the possibilities and that’s not right.” Experts stress phage has several benefits that go beyond their superbug killing skills. Researchers are also using phages to prevent infections in farm animals and to stop e-coli and salmonella from growing in food. Another advantage – phage therapy is cheap, according to Chan's calculations, costing about a dollar a dose. But along with the promise are unanswered questions, scientists still don’t always know the correct dose or how to find the right phage for every infection. That’s why Steffanie and Tom are calling for more studies. "It needs to be evaluated to see whether or not it could be licensed alongside antibiotics. It needs its fair shake, and it hasn’t gotten it yet." To spread the word, the couple have turned their story into a best-selling book: "The Perfect Predator: A Scientist’s Race to Save Her Husband From a Deadly Superbug.” It will also become a Hollywood film, ensuring this Canadian discovery – and its life-saving potential – is never forgotten again. “This is a Canadian solution discovered a hundred years ago, Canadians at the forefront. ... We need to be bold," said Steffanie. "We need to take risks and if we hadn’t been bold in my husband's case he would be dead.” Read Health Canada's full statement on phage therapy Watch the W5 documentary 'Super Bug Killers' Saturday on CTV at 7 p.m. '(The superbug) will never go away so you are constantly sick and the older you get, the worse it gets,' said 27-year-old Nicole Stringer, who was born with cystic fibrosis and is also infected with a superbug that antibiotics can’t kill. (Supplied to W5) Doctors using one germ to fight another when antibiotics fail How doctors could use viruses to kill drug-resistant bacteria Health Canada's full statement on phage therapy Nicole Stringer's Instagram account Recent W5 Stories Unsolved murders in London, Ontario stretch back decades; may be the work of serial killers Demolition derby a popular spectator sport, and family affair, in small-town Canada What's next for the Trump impeachment inquiry? What are great white sharks doing off Canada's East Coast? Glen Assoun: One of Canada's most disturbing wrongful convictions Leafs forward Nic Petan and his family open up about the loss of his father to suicide Canadian veterans recall liberation of the Netherlands Canadian choral group getting attention around the world Uncovering a global network of organized crime targeting Canadians in romance scams Canadian soldiers allege anti-malaria medication left them with intense rage, suicidal ideations Getting to know hockey coaching legend Scotty Bowman About W5	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1351
__label__wiki	0.922507	0.922507	Japanese whalers complete first commercial hunt in 31 years Mari Yamaguchi The Associated Press Published Friday, October 4, 2019 6:35AM EDT Last Updated Friday, October 4, 2019 9:00AM EDT Japan's main whaling ship Nisshin Maru returns to its home port of Shomonoseki, southwestern Japan, after whaling commercially for the first time in 31 years, Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. (Kyodo News via AP) TOKYO -- A Japanese whaling ship returned home to the country's southwest Friday after almost meeting its annual quota, ending its first commercial whaling season in 31 years. Operator Kyodo Senpaku Co. said its main factory ship Nisshin Maru returned to its home port of Shimonoseki, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's home constituency, after catching 223 whales during its three-month expedition off the Japanese coast. Nisshin Maru's two support ships, Yushin Maru and No. 3 Yushin Maru, also returned to their home ports. Japan resumed commercial whaling on July 1 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, promising that the whalers would stay within the country's exclusive economic waters. Japan had conducted research hunts for 31 years in the Antarctic and the Northwest Pacific that conservationists criticized as a cover for commercial hunts banned by the IWC. Kyodo Senpaku President Eiji Mori praised the whalers for returning with "better than expected" results despite earlier uncertainty because of their lack of experience in the area. "We were worried if we could catch any, but they did a great job," Mori said. "We will examine the results closely and make a plan for the next season." Of the quota of 232 whales allocated to the main fleet, they caught 187 Bryde's, 25 sei and 11 minke whales, only nine minke whales short of the cap. The fleet brought back an estimated 1,430 tons of frozen whale meat from the catch, down 670 tons from last year's Antarctic hunts. Separately, whalers operating smaller scale hunts in waters just off Japan's northeastern coasts already filled their seasonal quota of 33 minke whales, fisheries officials said. Days after the resumption, their fleet of five small boats returned with two minke whales, whose fresh meat fetched as much as 15,000 yen ($140) per kilogram (2.2 pounds) at a local fish market auction celebrating the first commercial hunt in three decades. "It's wonderful that we had a good start," said Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Taku Eto, a member of Abe's ruling party, which has pushed for commercial whaling. "We will continue our support so that commercial whaling gets on track." His ministry is requesting a 5.1 billion yen ($48 million) budget for fiscal 2020 to support commercial whaling. While opponents condemn Japan's commercial whaling, others question if the embattled whaling program can survive changing times and tastes. Whale meat was an affordable source of protein during the lean times after World War II, with annual consumption peaking at 223,000 tons in 1962, but whale was quickly replaced by other meats. Today, annual consumption is down to 4,000-5,000 tons, according to the Fisheries Agency. Eto says he still has hope. "I recently had fried whale for the first time in years, and it was outstandingly delicious. ... I'm sure consumers will appreciate the taste once they try it." Japan resumes commercial whaling despite low demand Whale meat fetches 'celebration prices' after Japanese hunt Japan to resume commercial whaling after decades-long ban	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1352
__label__wiki	0.937318	0.937318	John Terry, Raheem Sterling, James Rodriguez and Stewart Downing all feature in Glenn Hoddle's 2014 football awards The goal of the year award goes to Real Madrid star James Rodriguez Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is Glenn Hoddle's manager of the year Sam Allardyce also wins praise for his performance in the transfer market Raheem Sterling, John Terry and Stewart Downing also feature By Glenn Hoddle For The Mail On Sunday It has been an amazing year of football in many different ways, from the highs and lows of the World Cup — Germany’s highs and England’s lows — to the Premier League title race. For my last column of 2014, I thought I would dish out some awards for my personal highlights. I’m looking forward to another enthralling time in 2015. Merry Christmas! My Three Kings of 2014 Raheem Sterling — No one has grown more as a player in the last 12 months than Sterling. This time last year he had just broken into the Liverpool team and now, at 20, he is one of the best young players in the world. And if his form isn’t quite what it was, that’s only to be expected from a developing talent. Liverpool and England forward Raheem Sterling has really developed over the last 12 months John Terry has defied those who said age had caught up with him to produce some stunning form John Terry — He’s as solid as he was 10 years ago. When analysing on TV, nobody says, ‘He’s short for pace there’ or ‘He turned a bit slowly here’. There’s no sign of frailties and there’s not a better defender in the country. Terry with Gary Cahill would have been fabulous at the World Cup, and it would be now. Stewart Downing — He looked as though his career might ebb away, having left Liverpool with a big move not having worked out. But credit to Sam Allardyce, who has had him playing off the front in many games and seen him rejuvenated. Now the challenge is to sustain that and earn an England place. I was in the Maracana on that evening when James Rodriguez scored for Colombia in the last 16 of the World Cup against Uruguay. He had his back to play and four players closing him but the key for me was the fact he had a little glance before he shot. You teach midfielders to look frequently over their shoulder for all-around awareness — but to do that then play it off his chest and turn was unbelievable. Stewart Downing's career looked as though it was in decline but this season he has had a renaissance James Rodriguez's spectacular effort for Colombia against Uruguay wins Glenn Hoddle's goal of the year The finish over the goalkeeper and off the bar was sensational but, even before that, he had shown fantastic awareness and skill. The early stages of the World Cup were fabulous and James played a huge part in lighting up the tournament. There can’t be any dispute about this. When Brazil took the field in Belo Horizonte on July 8, we were all anticipating a tight game with Germany as marginal favourites. What unfolded in the first half was the most extraordinary and unusual result I’ve experienced in football. It was as though Brazil were having a collective breakdown. Although they were missing Neymar and Thiago Silva, to watch a team filled with world class and experienced players capitulate in quite such a dramatic way, at home and in front of their own fans, was astounding. It was a seismic football moment. Germany beat hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final of the World Cup, it was a seismic moment in football There can be little dispute that Brazil's capitulation was the most engrossing match of 2014 Buys of the Year When you look at the most astute transfers, Chelsea’s signing of Nemanja Matic last January and Alex Song’s return to English football in the summer are right up there. But Song isn’t even the best buy at his club — that honour falls on Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia. That’s a huge compliment to Sam Allardyce. Real football people wouldn’t doubt him but he has gone from being under pressure at West Ham, with the fans discontented, to having engineered their best start in the Premier League and much of it is down to clever recruitment. There aren’t many undiscovered gems any more but plucking a player like Sakho from Metz in the French second division is as close as you get. Valencia shone in the World Cup but there can always be a risk buying on the back of a good tournament — but West Ham had clearly done their homework. West Ham get the ball down and play with those two, hitting teams on the break; when Andy Carroll comes in, they go a bit more direct. They have two ways to play now — Valencia and Sakho have added a new dimension to their game. Sam Allardyce has this season guided West Ham to their best-ever start in the Premier League Signings like Diafra Sakho (above) and Enner Valencia have helped boost the Hammers this season Tactical Innovation of the Year The best ideas never disappear; they simply come back into fashion in a new guise. It’s no secret that I’ve enjoyed playing the back three and did so with England in the late 90s, but the system became less used in recent years. Slowly it is has come back, with coaches such as Pep Guardiola, Steve Bruce and Roberto Martinez using it at times, but really it was the World Cup that brought it right back in to the mainstream. There’s a whole generation of players now who struggle to play against it and Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli, Costa Rica’s Jorge Luis Pinto, Louis van Gaal for Holland, Mexico’s Miguel Herrera and Algeria’s Vahid Halilhodzic caused teams so many problems with it during the tournament and I for one loved watching it. Costa Rica excelled at the World Cup, in part due to the tactical decisions of their manager Jorge Luis Pinto New Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has been a champion of playing three at the back in 2014 Man of the Year — Jose Mourinho It may be an obvious choice but it’s hard to get away from just how well his time at Chelsea is going — though the test will be whether he wins something. He made a profit for the club in the summer transfer window and still ended up with a stronger team. The balance of the side is lovely. Don’t forget, Mourinho is having to accommodate the desire of the owner for attractive football but he’s doing that without compromising his principles. I love the fact he fielded a strong side at Derby in the Capital One Cup — he wants to win every single game. I think he’s doing an even better job than the last time he was at Stamford Bridge. They’re chasing four trophies and I believe they will at least have the Premier League title in 2015 — and maybe they can challenge Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona for the Champions League. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho wins the manager of the year award for his stellar performance at the club And Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is an early contender for the title for next year's awards And the manager for next year? Eddie Howe His Bournemouth side might have lost to Liverpool on Wednesday night but the job Eddie Howe has done on the south coast is extraordinary. He took over when they were second bottom of League Two. He had 18 months at Burnley, which just didn’t work out, but now he has Bournemouth on the verge of the Premier League, playing attractive football. They have been helped financially by Russian owner Maxim Demin but, nevertheless, Howe, at 37, has demonstrated that he should have a long career in the game. We might be seeing a lot more of him in 2015. Sam Allardyce: West Ham are better than my Bolton side that... James Rodriguez mocked at Real Madrid training by Cristiano... Eden Hazard can become a Chelsea legend, claims Jose... Manchester United were written off, now they're third (but... Real Madrid C.F. - Latest Team and Transfer News \| Daily Mail Online John Terry, Raheem Sterling, James Rodriguez and Stewart Downing feature in Glenn Hoddle's 2014 awards Rugby manager Eddie Jones announces England Six Nations squad	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1353
__label__wiki	0.899021	0.899021	Dana $1.6bn oil and gas development gets go ahead 17 December 2012 Back to press releases A $1.6 billion project to develop two oil fields in the North Sea, led by Aberdeen-based Dana Petroleum, was given the go-ahead today. The Department of Energy and Climate Change has approved the Western Isles project which will develop two discovered oil fields called Harris and Barra in the Northern North Sea, 160km east of the Shetlands and 12km west of the Tern field. The nine-well Western Isles development is expected to produce more than 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent, adding more than 30,000 barrels (net) to Dana’s daily production when it comes onstream in 2015. The green light for this project follows tax measures announced by HM Treasury during 2012 that are helping to support and increase investment in the North Sea. Dr Marcus Richards, Dana’s Group Chief Executive, said: “The Western Isles project is at the heart of our growth strategy. Unlocking the potential of these new fields is a significant milestone as we aim to double our production to 100,000 barrels a day by 2016. “We welcome the announcements by the Treasury this year to support oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea. This will help create a brighter future for the industry.” The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Sajid Javid said: “The North Sea is a vital national asset, with oil and gas production supporting a third of a million jobs. That is why this Government has announced a range of tax measures expected to generate billions of new investment and create jobs. Dana’s announcement today is a further endorsement of that strategy.” John Hayes, UK Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change said: ”I am delighted to announce the go-ahead for this project which will bring new jobs and create new opportunities for UK companies to compete for key parts of the work. Dana Petroleum has really demonstrated its commitment to the North Sea and in doing so is playing its part in helping to secure the UK’s future energy needs.” The Harris and Barra fields are estimated to contain recoverable oil reserves of over 45million barrels. The Department of Energy and Climate Change also approved Dana as operator of the Western Isles development project which is a joint venture between Dana with an equity share of 77%, and Japanese upstream exploration and production company Cieco, which holds the remaining 23%. About Dana Petroleum plc Dana Petroleum plc is a $4 billion oil and gas business with operations in the UK, Egypt, Norway, The Netherlands and Africa, producing 60,000 barrels of oil a day. Our ambition is to grow to become a leading international oil and gas company operating in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. We will invest more than $5 billion over the next five years to more than double the size of the company. About Dana Petroleum UK Our portfolio in the UK consists of exploration, production and development activities throughout the Northern, Central and Southern North Sea, West of Shetland, and in the Moray Firth. We hold a total of 20 operated and 35 non-operated licences acquired through successful licensing rounds, acquisitions and asset farm-ins. Our average annual production in 2011 was 33,000 barrels of oil per day. Our strategy is to continue to invest in our UK exploration portfolio and convert exploration prospects into reserves and production. In 2012 we plan to drill five exploration wells and participate in the UK 27th Licensing Round. About the Western Isles Project The Western Isles Project (Dana 77% and Cieco 23%) will develop two discovered oil fields called Harris and Barra in the Northern North Sea, 160km east of the Shetlands and 12km west of Tern field. It involves a subsea development of at least five production and four water injection wells plus two exploration wells tied back to a new build floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) with oil export using shuttle tankers. Drilling is expected to begin 2013 with subsea installation in summer 2014 and FPSO installation summer 2015. Plateau production is expected to be around 40,000 boepd, adding more than 26,000 boepd to Dana’s UK production. First oil is expected in 2015 and the estimated field life is 15 years. Western Isles Development project maps (click for large version) Project factsheet PDF (0.6MB) FPSO schematic PDF(0.2MB) Andrew McCallum Director of Group Communications and External Affairs + 44 (0)1224 616100 Gordon Welsh Group Corporate Communications Manager	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1354
__label__wiki	0.622454	0.622454	The DCM team has deep expertise and relationships in areas key to entrepreneurial success. We're committed to making the right talent, resources, and ideas available to our entrepreneurs. Ibrahim AlSuwaidi Silicon Valley, U.S. Investment VP Ibrahim’s a venture capitalist by day, and engineer and quant by night. At DCM, Ibrahim focuses on investments in consumer and emerging tech, and is keen on meeting and partnering with ambitious founders solving some of the world’s hardest problems. Prior to joining DCM, he was a Principal at Pear Ventures, a seed and pre-seed focused fund. Earlier still, Ibrahim worked in government strategy and policy consulting and helped manage a multi-billion dollar portfolio of state-owned enterprises. A native of both the UAE and Taiwan, Ibrahim is fluent in both Arabic and Mandarin Chinese. As another by-product of his mixed heritage, he also enjoys dabbling in fusion cuisine experiments. Ibrahim spends much of his time reading scifi and rock climbing, and can often be found at some of the bay area’s various indoor and outdoor climbing spots. Ibrahim also enjoys periodically working on engineering side projects (previous projects include an algorithmic trading platform, hacky song-matching code to win a radio competition, various Slack bots, etc...). Ibrahim holds an M.B.A. from Stanford's Graduate School of Business where he was a Siebel Scholar and Arjay Miller Scholar. He also holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford where he conducted research in drone swarming, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern where he co-authored papers in aquatic locomotion and tribology. ibrahim@dcm.com Focused on early stage consumer and emerging tech opportunities Former gov strategy & policy consultant Engineer & quant at heart Stanford Graduate School of Business, M.B.A. Stanford University, M.S. in Mechanical Engineering Northwestern University, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1357
__label__wiki	0.879291	0.879291	According to the promises made by the popular game developer, Nintendo to release the android version of their famous game, Super Mario run very soon. The promise has been met and the game is scheduled to be officially released on Thursday, March 23; this is according to the official announcement made by Nintendo on Twitter. However, this has been good news for android users who have been looking forward to knowing the release date of the breathtaking game. The game has been exclusive on iOS since December 2016 and the company has since then promised to release the android version of the touchscreen game in this year. However, the game is scheduled to be released on the 23 of this month and it is will be synchronized with the version 2.0 of the game that is planned to be release on that same day. The version 2.0 will allow players to select between the characters; since it will now feature more than the six in the previous versions. Moreover, free players will be able to play world 1-4 of the game if they are able to finish a challenge. Nintendo confirms that these are just some of the updates in version 2.0. The game was released in December 2016 on iOS, which has seemed not to be good news for android users. According to the financial statement released at the end of January 2017, it was discovered that the game made an income of over $53 million dollars for both Apple and Nintendo from paid users; although, it is less than the company’s expectation. Although Nintendo does not hope for an unexpected breakthrough from the day, the android version of the game will be released but we believe that the android version of the game will gather more revenue for the game developer than the iOS version. Where to download the game? As we all know that all android apps and games are to be downloaded from Google play store. The game can be downloaded from the app store as from march, 23 (which is presumably 3 days from now). However, if you are interested in the game and you want to receive notification about the game release, you can register on Google play store. You can also check for the official description of the game. Super Mario Run presents World Tour and Toad Rally versions Super Mario Run sports three chief game versions: the main […] Android users’ wait for Super Mario Run is over; The date has Released by Nintendo A recent tweet by Nintendo USA said that Super Mario Run […] Best 3 Super Mario Games About 40 years ago when Mario was introduced for the first […] Super Mario Run for Nintendo Switch? On the recent presentation, Nintendo shared some more […] Super Mario Kart Game This is a 1992 go-kart running video game created and […] ‹ Android users’ wait for Super Mario Run is over; The date has Released by Nintendo Super Mario Run for Nintendo Switch? › Posted in News Tagged with: Super Mario Run	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1359
__label__cc	0.685669	0.314331	Exposition of the Divine Principle 1996 Translation Rev. Sun Myung Moon Introduction to Restoration The providence of restoration refers to God's work to restore human beings to our original, unfallen state so that we may fulfill the purpose of creation. As discussed in Part I, human beings fell from the top of the growth stage and have been held under Satan's dominion ever since. (cf. Creation 5.2.1; Fall 4.1) To restore human beings, God works to cut off Satan's influence. Yet, as was explained in Christology, we must have the original sin removed before we can sever Satan's bonds and be restored to the state before the Fall. This is possible only when we are born anew through the Messiah, the True Parent. To explain further: we first need to go through a course to separate Satan from ourselves. We do this in order to restore ourselves in form to the spiritual level which Adam and Eve had reached before the Fall - the top of the growth stage. On this foundation, we are to receive the Messiah and be reborn, and thereby be fully restored to the original state of human beings before the Fall. Finally, by following the Messiah, we should continue our growth to maturity where we can fulfill the purpose of creation. Since the providence of restoration is God's work of re-creation, which has as its goal the fulfillment of the purpose of creation, God works this providence in accordance with His Principle. In the course of the providence of restoration, this principle is called the Principle of Restoration. Let us study how the providence of restoration is to be accomplished. The Principle of Restoration through Indemnity 1.1 Restoration through Indemnity Before discussing the Principle of Restoration through Indemnity, we must first understand in what position, due to the Fall, human beings came to stand in relation to both God and Satan. If the first human ancestors had not fallen but had reached perfection and become one in heart with God, then they would have lived relating only with God. However, due to their Fall, they joined in a kinship of blood with Satan, which compelled them to deal with him as well. Immediately after the Fall, when Adam and Eve had the original sin but had not yet committed any subsequent good or evil deeds, they found themselves in the midway position - a position between God and Satan where they were relating with both. As a consequence, all their descendants are also in the midway position. Take, for example, a person in the fallen world who does not believe in Jesus but leads a conscientious life. As long as he leads a virtuous life, Satan cannot drag him into hell; yet God cannot bring him to Paradise either as long as he does not believe in Jesus. He remains in the midway position. His spirit ends up abiding in an intermediate region of the spirit world which is neither Paradise nor hell. How does God separate Satan from fallen people who stand in the midway position? Satan relates with them on the basis of his connection with them through lineage. Therefore, until people make a condition through which God can claim them as His own, there is no way God can restore them to the heavenly side. On the other hand, Satan acknowledges that God is the Creator of human beings. Unless Satan finds some condition through which he can attack a fallen person, he also cannot arbitrarily claim him for his side. Therefore, a fallen person will go to God's side if he makes good conditions and to Satan's side if he makes evil conditions. For example, when Adam's family was in the midway position, God instructed the children, Cain and Abel, to offer sacrifices that they might come into a position where God could work His providence through them. Yet because Cain killed Abel, the condition was made which allowed Satan to claim them instead. God sent Jesus to fallen people that they might stand on God's side through the condition of believing in him. Unfortunately, when he came, many rejected him and remained on Satan's side. This is the reason Jesus is both the Savior and the Lord of judgment. What, then, is the meaning of restoration through indemnity? When someone has lost his original position or state, he must make some condition to be restored to it. The making of such conditions of restitution is called indemnity. For example, to recover lost reputation, position or health, one must make the necessary effort or pay the due price. Suppose two people who once loved each other come to be on bad terms; they must make some condition of reconciliation before the love they previously enjoyed can be revived. In like manner, it is necessary for human beings who have fallen from God's grace into corruption to fulfill some condition before they can be restored to their true standing. We call this process of restoring the original position and state through making conditions restoration through indemnity, and we call the condition made a condition of indemnity. God's work to restore people to their true, unfallen state by having them fulfill indemnity conditions is called the providence of restoration through indemnity. How does a condition of indemnity compare with the value of what was lost? We can answer by listing the following three types of indemnity conditions. The first is to fulfill a condition of equal indemnity. In this case, restoration is achieved by making a condition of indemnity at a price equal to the value of what was lost when one departed from the original position or state. Acts of restitution or compensation are indemnity conditions of this type. The verse "life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth," (Exod. 21:23-24) refers to this type of indemnity condition. The second is to make a condition of lesser indemnity. In this case, restoration is achieved by making a condition of indemnity at a price less than the value of what was lost. For instance, when someone owes a huge debt, if the creditor displays good will in forgiving a portion of the debt, then the debtor can pay back less than the total amount and still satisfy the entire debt. The outstanding example of this is redemption through the cross. Merely by fulfilling a small indemnity condition of faith in Jesus, we receive the much greater grace of salvation, which entitles us to participate with Jesus in the same resurrection. By making the indemnity condition of baptism by water, we can be spiritually born anew through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, by taking a piece of bread and a cup of wine at the sacrament of Holy Communion, we receive the precious grace of partaking in Jesus' body and blood. All these are examples of conditions of lesser indemnity. The third is to make a condition of greater indemnity. When a person has failed to meet a condition of lesser indemnity, he must make another indemnity condition to return to the original state, this time at a price greater than the first. For example, because Abraham made a mistake when offering the sacrifice of a dove, ram and heifer, he had to meet a condition of greater indemnity to rectify his failure. God thus asked him to offer his only son Isaac as the sacrifice. In the days of Moses, when the Israelites failed to believe in God's promise during their forty days of spying in the land of Canaan, they had to fulfill a condition of greater indemnity by wandering in the wilderness for forty years, calculated as one year for each day of the failed spy mission. (Num. 14:34) Why is a condition of greater indemnity necessary when an indemnity condition is set up for the second time? Whenever a central figure in God's providence makes a second attempt to fulfill an indemnity condition, he must fulfill not only his own unfulfilled condition; in addition, he must make restitution for the failures of the people who came before him. Next, let us study the method of fulfilling indemnity conditions. For anyone to be restored to the original position or state from which he fell, he must make an indemnity condition by reversing the course of his mistake. For instance, because the chosen people reviled Jesus and sent him to the cross, to be saved and restored to the original position of God's elect, the chosen people must go the opposite way: love Jesus and willingly bear the cross for his sake. (Luke 14:27) This is the reason Christianity became a religion of martyrdom. Furthermore, human beings caused tremendous grief to God by violating His Will and falling. To restore this through indemnity, we must seek to regain our pure, original nature and comfort God's Heart by living in obedience to God's Will. Similarly, because the first Adam forsook God, his descendants ended up in the bosom of Satan. Accordingly, in order for Jesus, the second Adam, to take people out of the bosom of Satan and return them to God, he had to worship and honor God even after being forsaken by Him. This is the complicated reason behind God's abandonment of Jesus on the cross. (Matt. 27:46) Finally, a nation's laws impose punishment on criminals for the purpose of setting the indemnity conditions necessary for maintaining order in society. Who should make indemnity conditions? Earlier, we learned that human beings should have become perfect by fulfilling their responsibility; they then would have had the authority to govern even the angels. Yet the first human ancestors failed in their responsibility and thereby fell to the state where they were dominated by Satan. To escape from Satan's domination and be restored to the state where we rule over him, we ourselves must fulfill the necessary indemnity conditions as our portion of responsibility. 1.2 The Foundation for the Messiah The Messiah comes as the True Parent of humanity because only he can remove the original sin by giving rebirth to humanity, born of fallen parents. (cf. Christology 4.1.1) For fallen people to be restored to their original state, we must receive the Messiah. Before we can receive the Messiah, however, we must first establish the foundation for the Messiah. What indemnity conditions are required for establishing the foundation for the Messiah? To answer this question, we must first understand how Adam was to have realized the purpose of creation and how he failed to do it, because the condition of indemnity is made by reversing the course of the deviation from the original path. For Adam to realize the purpose of creation, he was supposed to fulfill two conditions. First, Adam should have established the foundation of faith. The person to lay this foundation was Adam himself. The condition to establish this foundation was to keep strictly to God's commandment not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In fulfilling this condition, Adam would have passed through a set growing period, which was the time allotted for him to fulfill his portion of responsibility. This period represents some numbers of providential significance. Hence, the growing period may be thought of as a period to fulfill certain numbers. The second condition which Adam was supposed to fulfill in order to realize the purpose of creation was to establish the foundation of substance. After Adam established an unshakable foundation of faith, he was then to become one with God, thereby establishing the foundation of substance. This means he would have become the perfect incarnation of the Word (John 1:14) with perfect character, fulfilling God's first blessing. In this way, had he not fallen, Adam would have completed the purpose of creation. For a fallen person to establish the foundation for the Messiah, he must pass through a similar course: establishing first the foundation of faith and then the foundation of substance. 1.2.1 The Foundation of Faith Because Adam disobeyed the Word of God and fell, he could not establish the foundation of faith. Hence, he could neither become the perfect incarnation of the Word nor complete the purpose of creation. To restore the basis upon which they can complete the purpose of creation, fallen people must first restore through indemnity the foundation of faith which the first human ancestors failed to establish. There are three aspects to the indemnity condition required for restoring the foundation of faith. First, there must be a central figure. From the time Adam failed to establish the foundation of faith, God has been looking for central figures who could restore the lost foundation of faith. God had Cain and Abel offer sacrifices for this purpose. Likewise, God called men such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the kings and John the Baptist for the purpose of raising them up as central figures. Second, an object for the condition must be offered. When Adam lost faith in God, he lost the Word of God which had been given him for the fulfillment of the condition to establish the foundation of faith. As a result, fallen people could no longer directly receive the Word of God to restore the foundation of faith. It then became necessary to offer objects for the condition as substitutes for the Word. Human beings were degraded by the Fall to a status lower than the things of creation, as it is written, "the heart is deceitful above all things." (Jer. 17:9) Hence, in the age prior to the giving of the Old Testament, people could establish the foundation of faith by offering a sacrifice or its equivalent, such as the ark, procured from the natural world. Thus, the foundation of faith also functioned as the foundation to restore all things, which had been defiled by Satan. In the Old Testament Age, either the Word as revealed in the Law of Moses or representatives of the Word - such as the Ark of the Covenant, the Temple and various central figures - served as objects for the condition, substituting for the original Word. In the New Testament Age, the Word as revealed in the Gospels and Jesus, the incarnation of the Word, were the objects for the condition. From the standpoint of human beings, these objects for the condition were offered for the purpose of establishing the foundation of faith. From God's perspective, the offering of objects for the condition would secure God's ownership of the dispensation. Third, a numerical period of indemnity must be completed. Questions such as why the length of this indemnity period should be based on certain providential numbers and what lengths those numerical periods have, will be discussed later in detail. (cf. Periods 2.4) 1.2.2 The Foundation of Substance As earlier stated, for fallen people to complete the purpose of creation, we must become perfect incarnations of the Word, a state our first ancestors failed to attain. Becoming perfect incarnations requires that first we be cleansed of the original sin through the Messiah. Before we can receive the Messiah, however, we need to lay a foundation for him, which is accomplished when we establish the foundation of substance on the basis of the foundation of faith. After receiving the Messiah and being restored to the position of the first human ancestors before their Fall, a path still remains to be trod: we must become one with the Messiah centered on the Heart of God, then follow him along the uncharted path to the summit of the growing period, and thus finally become perfect incarnations. Fallen people can establish the foundation of substance by making an indemnity condition, the indemnity condition to remove the fallen nature. When the first human ancestors fell and acquired the original sin, they could not realize their God-given original nature. Instead, they harbored the primary characteristics of the fallen nature. (cf. Fall 4.6) By making the indemnity condition to remove this fallen nature, a fallen person can lay the foundation of substance by which he can receive the Messiah, be cleansed of the original sin, and ultimately restore his original nature. In later chapters, we will discuss how this condition may be fulfilled. (cf. Foundation 1.2) The Course of the Providence of Restoration 2.1 The Ages in the Course of the Providence of Restoration Let us now present an overview of the entire course of history since the time of Adam, as reckoned in the Bible, and survey the providential ages which comprise it. God's providence to have fallen people establish the foundation upon which they could receive the Messiah, and thence complete the purpose of creation, began with Adam's family. However, God's Will was frustrated when Cain murdered Abel. Ten generations later, the unfulfilled Will was passed down to Noah's family. God judged the evil world with the flood in order to set apart Noah's family and conduct the providence of restoration. God intended to complete the providence by establishing the foundation for the Messiah in Noah's family and sending the Messiah on that basis. Yet due to the fallen act of Noah's second son, Ham, the providence for Noah's family and the ark failed. As a consequence, the ten generations and the forty-day flood which God had set up to prepare for this providence were lost to Satan. After four hundred years had passed in order to restore through indemnity what had been lost to Heaven's side, God's Will was entrusted to Abraham. If Abraham had established the foundation for the Messiah on the family level exactly as God had intended, the foundation would have expanded to the national level, and thereupon the Messiah would have come. However, because Abraham failed in the symbolic offering, God's Will was frustrated once more. Consequently, the biblical two thousand years from Adam to Abraham, during which God had sought a father of faith who could receive the Messiah, was claimed by Satan. Yet Abraham's situation differed from that of Noah. Although Abraham failed in the symbolic offering, the family foundation for the Messiah was eventually fulfilled through the three generations of Abraham's family: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. On that basis, God multiplied the chosen people in Egypt and expanded the foundation for the Messiah to the national level. For this reason, Abraham is called the father of faith. (Rom. 4:11-12, 16-17) If we judge the significance of the age strictly by its outcome, we can understand that the two-thousand-year period from Adam to Abraham was for the purpose of finding one father of faith who could lay the foundation to begin the providence of restoration. Thus, God's work of restoration can be said to have begun with Abraham. However, due to Abraham's mistake in making the symbolic offering, the two thousand years from Adam to Abraham were lost to Satan. Hence, a period had to be set up in which those lost years could be restored through indemnity to God's side; this is the significance of the two-thousand-year period from Abraham to Jesus. If Abraham had not failed in making the symbolic offering, the Messiah would have come and stood upon the national foundation for the Messiah built by Abraham's immediate descendants, and the providence of restoration would have been completed at that time. Likewise, had the Jewish people believed in and attended Jesus, they would have supported him to stand representing the nation as the living sacrifice before God. They then would have laid the national foundation for the Messiah. Jesus, standing as the Messiah on that foundation, could then have completed the providence of restoration. However, just as Abraham failed in his symbolic offering, the Jewish people failed to make their offering on the national level when their leaders sent Jesus to the cross. Thus, a period of two thousand years - this time from Abraham to Jesus - was lost yet again to Satan. As a consequence, a parallel period had to be set up in which the earlier two-thousand-year period could be restored through indemnity to God's side. This is the significance of the two-thousand-year period from Jesus' time until today. During this age, founded upon the cross of Jesus, Christians must establish the worldwide foundation for the Messiah. 2.2 Categorization of the Ages in the Course of the Providence of Restoration The ages in the course of the providence of restoration show the progressive development of God's providence. They may be categorized according to six criteria. 2.2.1 The Ages Categorized with Reference to God's Word (i) During the two-thousand-year period from Adam to Abraham, people had not yet fulfilled sufficient indemnity conditions to receive God's Word directly. At most, fallen people made indemnity conditions through offering sacrifices; but in doing so, they laid the foundation for the next period when God could begin to work His providence of restoration based on the Word. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence to lay the foundation for the Word. (ii) During the two-thousand-year period from Abraham to Jesus, humanity's spirituality and intellect developed to the formation stage based on the Word revealed in the Old Testament. Hence, this period is called the formation stage of the providence, or the Old Testament Age. (iii) During the two-thousand-year period from Jesus until the Second Coming, humanity's spirituality and intellect developed to the growth stage based on the Word revealed in the New Testament. Hence, this period is called the growth stage of the providence, or the New Testament Age. (iv) During the period when the providence of restoration is to be completed after the Second Coming of Christ, humanity's spirituality and intellect are to develop through the completion stage based on the Completed Testament Word, which will be given for the fulfillment of the providence of restoration. Hence, this period is called the completion stage of the providence, or the Completed Testament Age. 2.2.2 The Ages Categorized with Reference to God's Work of Resurrection (i) During the two-thousand-year period from Adam to Abraham, people offered sacrifices to lay the foundation to commence the Old Testament Age, when God would begin His work of resurrection. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence to lay the foundation for resurrection. (ii) During the two-thousand-year period from Abraham to Jesus, people could be resurrected to the form-spirit level based on the Old Testament Word and the merit of the age in the providence of restoration. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence of formation-stage resurrection. (iii) During the two-thousand-year period from Jesus to the Second Advent, people could be resurrected to the life-spirit level based on the New Testament Word and the merit of the age in the providence of restoration. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence of growth-stage resurrection. (iv) During the period when the providence of restoration is to be completed after the Second Coming of Christ, people are to be fully resurrected to the divine-spirit level based on the Completed Testament Word and the merit of the age in the providence of restoration. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence of completion-stage resurrection. 2.2.3 The Ages Categorized with Reference to the Providence to Restore through Indemnity the Lost Periods of Faith (i) During the two-thousand-year period from Adam to Abraham, God laid the foundation for the Old Testament Age. Although this period was lost to Satan, God, by raising up Abraham, could commence the Old Testament Age, in which He would restore this first period through indemnity. Hence, this period is called the Age of the Providence to Lay the Foundation for Restoration (through indemnity). (ii) During the two-thousand-year period from Abraham to Jesus, God restored through indemnity the previous period of two thousand years - lost to Satan due to Abraham's mistake in the symbolic offering - by working predominantly through the people of Israel. Hence, this period is called the Age of the Providence of Restoration (through indemnity). (iii) During the two-thousand-year period from Jesus to the Second Advent, God has been restoring through indemnity the Old Testament Age - lost to Satan due to Jesus' crucifixion - by working predominantly through Christianity. Hence, this period is called the Age of the Prolongation of the Providence of Restoration (through indemnity). (iv) During the period when the providence of restoration is to be completed after the Second Coming of Christ, God will work to restore through indemnity the entire course of the providence of restoration, which has been lost to Satan. Hence, this period is called the Age for Completing the Providence of Restoration (through indemnity). 2.2.4 The Ages Categorized with Reference to the Expanding Scope of the Foundation for the Messiah (i) During the two-thousand-year period from Adam to Abraham, God laid the family foundation for the Messiah by raising up Abraham's family on the condition of the sacrifices they offered. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence to lay the family foundation for the Messiah. (ii) During the two-thousand-year period from Abraham to Jesus, God worked to lay the national foundation for the Messiah by raising up Israel based on the Old Testament Word. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence to lay the national foundation for the Messiah. (iii) During the two-thousand-year period from Jesus to the Second Advent, God has been laying the worldwide foundation for the Messiah by raising up worldwide Christianity based on the New Testament Word. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence to lay the worldwide foundation for the Messiah. (iv) During the period when the providence of restoration is to be completed after the Second Coming of Christ, God will complete the cosmic foundation for the Messiah by working throughout heaven and earth based on the Completed Testament Word. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence to complete the cosmic foundation for the Messiah. 2.2.5 The Ages Categorized with Reference to Responsibility (i) During the two-thousand-year period from Adam to Abraham, God laid the foundation upon which to conduct His providence in the subsequent Old Testament Age, a providence which was to be fulfilled by God shouldering the responsibility. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence to lay the foundation for God's responsibility. (ii) During the two-thousand-year period from Abraham to Jesus, God took responsibility as the Creator of human beings and carried out the providence of restoration at the formation stage. God worked with the prophets and personally shouldered the first responsibility to defeat Satan. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence based on God's responsibility. (iii) During the two-thousand-year period from Jesus to the Second Advent, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who assumed the missions of Adam and Eve, have conducted the providence of restoration at the growth stage. Jesus and the Holy Spirit have shouldered the second responsibility to defeat Satan as they work to restore fallen people. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence based on Jesus and the Holy Spirit's responsibility. (iv) During the period when the providence of restoration is to be completed after the Second Coming of Christ, the people of faith on earth and in heaven are to bear the third responsibility to defeat Satan, the fallen archangel, and complete the providence of restoration. They are to achieve this in accordance with the Principle of Creation, which lays out the way for human beings to gain the qualification to rule the angels. Hence, this period is called the age of the providence based on the believers' responsibility. 2.2.6 The Ages Categorized with Reference to the Parallels in the Providence (i) During the two-thousand-year period from Adam to Abraham, the foundation for the Messiah was restored by fulfilling parallel indemnity conditions of a symbolic type. Hence, this period is called the age of symbolic parallels. (ii) During the two-thousand-year period from Abraham to Jesus, the foundation for the Messiah was restored by fulfilling parallel indemnity conditions of an image type. Hence, this period is called the age of image parallels. (iii) During the two-thousand-year period from Jesus to the Second Advent, the foundation for the Messiah has been restored by fulfilling parallel indemnity conditions of a substantial type. Hence, this period is called the age of substantial parallels. The History of the Providence of Restoration and I As an individual, each one of us is a product of the history of the providence of restoration. Hence, the person who is to accomplish the purpose of history is none other than I, myself. I must take up the cross of history and accept responsibility to fulfill its calling. To this end, I must fulfill in my lifetime (horizontally), through my efforts, the indemnity conditions which have accumulated through the long course of the providence of restoration (vertically). Only by doing this can I stand proudly as the fruit of history, the one whom God has eagerly sought throughout His providence. In other words, I must restore through indemnity, during my own generation, all the unaccomplished missions of past prophets and saints who were called in their time to carry the cross of restoration. Otherwise, I cannot become the individual who completes the purpose of the providence of restoration. To become such an historical victor, I must understand clearly the Heart of God when He worked with past prophets and saints, the original purpose for which God called them, and the details of the providential missions which He entrusted to them. Yet there is no one among fallen humanity who can become such an historical victor by his efforts alone. For this reason, we must understand all these things through Christ at the Second Advent, who comes to fulfill the providence of restoration. Moreover, when we believe in him, become one with him, and attend him in his work, we can stand in the position of having fulfilled horizontally with him the vertical indemnity conditions in the history of the providence of restoration. The path which all past saints walked as they strove to fulfill God's providential Will is the very path we must walk again today. Beyond that, we must continue on to the end of the path, even walking trails they left untrodden. Therefore, fallen people can never find the path that leads to life without understanding the particulars of the providence of restoration. Herein lies the reason why we must study the Principle of Restoration in detail.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1360
__label__wiki	0.760184	0.760184	Opening day! There are few days on the calendar that I look forward to more than this one. By far my favorite sport, I love the start of a new season. It won’t be long before I’m sitting on my porch listening to ballgames and drinking good gin. Baseball is another reason why I love this city. Imagine re-writing baseball history without St. Louis. Imagine eliminating the Gashouse Gang, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Ozzie Smith from that narrative. Eliminate the St. Louis Browns, “Cool Papa” Bell, Sportsman’s Park, Branch Rickey, eleven World Series championships, and two (maybe three) Negro National League Championships. Without St. Louis, the story of baseball suddenly becomes significantly diminished. Best of all, the fans here are passionate, they drape themselves in Cardinal red, and they fill Busch Stadium no matter where the Cardinals sit in the standings. It is a great baseball city. Now that I’ve probably made every Cardinal fan who reads this blog a little warm and happy inside, I’ll make a confession that may alienate each and every one of them. I loathe the St. Louis Cardinals. That’s right. I am no Cardinal fan. I could barely handle it when St. Louis won those improbable championships in 2006 and 2011. I despised those Mark McGwire years when he was crushing balls off facades and breaking the Roger Maris home run record. I still roll my eyes when I see David Eckstein shirts being worn at Cardinal games. Eckstein? Seriously? My fellow St. Louisans, before you unsubscribe from this blog and hunt me down like a lippy Cub fan, please hear me out. We aren’t that much different. I love this city and the people in it. I love the buildings, the parks, the neighborhoods, and obviously, baseball. I just happen to come from a different part of the country. Born and raised in upstate New York, my baseball loyalties were firmly established long before I set foot in this city. From the moment of my entry into this world, I was bred to be an unapologetic disciple of the Evil Empire. Before I get to the real purpose of this post, let me provide an infographic to detail the history of my Yankee heritage. Hopefully, it will help my St. Louis friends and neighbors understand that shifting my allegiances based on a current address (which is something I am told to do often) simply isn’t going to happen. With that unpleasant business out of the way, let’s get to the real purpose of this post. With baseball being such a rich tradition in St. Louis, I wanted to find out more about where the game has been played in this city. Since I enjoy seeing where old structures used to be, I hatched a plan to find out where every pro ballpark once stood in St. Louis. Fortunately, this turned out to be a pretty simple task. While scouring baseball books and articles, I kept stumbling upon one particular name. A St. Louis baseball historian named Joan Thomas had researched this topic in great detail already. After reading a few fascinating articles written by her, I purchased her book St. Louis’ Big League Ballparks. It told me everything I needed to know except where to find a good drink along the way. I also discovered most of the ballpark locations in St. Louis have commemorative plaques erected where they stood. These plaques were put in place by the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Many of the ballpark histories written for SABR’s project were also written by Joan Thomas. Each plaque contains a brief history of the team, significant facts, and a diagram of the layout. Kudos to SABR, Ms. Thomas, and anyone else who had a hand in this project. I believe it’s a great way to celebrate baseball history in St. Louis. I strongly recommend baseball fans go out and find these locations on their own. It’s fun to stand where these ballparks once stood and think about how the game of baseball was once played there. Follow along as I visit each of the bygone ballparks of St. Louis. The parks are listed in order of their closing, starting with one that I knew absolutely nothing about. I have driven or bicycled over the Compton Avenue railroad overpass hundreds of times, perhaps thousands. Until reading an article by Joan Thomas, I had no idea that beneath that bridge once stood one of St. Louis’s earliest ballparks. In fact, it is where the first professional baseball game in St. Louis was played on May 4, 1875. Although not recognized by Major League Baseball as a Major League, the first professional baseball league ever formed in the United States was the National Association of Professional Baseball Players. In 1875, two St. Louis clubs opted to move up from amateur status and join the league. The Brown Stockings, who played their games at the Grand Avenue Grounds, and the Red Stockings, who played in a new park on Compton Avenue just north of the railroad tracks. That park, known as “Red Stockings Park”, is where the two St. Louis teams met and played that historic first game. Loaded with a roster of “imported” quality players from around the country, the Brown Stockings easily beat the Reds 15-9 (the score was 15-1 until the eighth inning). This was controversial, since many believed teams should consist of local talent, such as the Red Stockings St. Louis-based roster. Success on the field settled the argument. The Red Stockings lasted just a few months before leaving the league and dropping back down to amateur status. The Brown Stockings continued to play winning baseball. They’d become a charter member of the National League the following year. Red Stockings Park would continue to be used for amateur baseball games and other contests until it was torn down in 1898. In 1883, a St. Louis millionaire named Henry Lucas decided to get in on the blossoming baseball craze. He created and funded the Union Association, a new baseball league that began play in 1884. Lucas also owned the dominant team in the league, the St. Louis Maroons. The Maroons played their home games at Union Base Ball Park, located at the northeast corner of Cass and Jefferson Avenues. Being the owner of the league, Lucas selfishly made sure his St. Louis club was the team to beat. At the expense of other teams, he stacked the Maroons with the best talent. As a result, the St. Louis Maroons dominated, winning the title with a 94-19 record (an .832 winning percentage). Many baseball historians don’t consider the league a major league because the St. Louis club was the only one with any legitimate talent. Fred Dunlap, lured to the Maroons when Lucas offered him the highest salary in the league, batted .412. It was eighty-six points higher than his career average. The farce caused the Union Association to fold after just one year of play. With a quality roster, the Maroons joined the National League the following season. After playing in St. Louis in 1885 and 1886, the team was relocated and became the Indianapolis Hoosiers. According to historian Joan Thomas, Union Base Ball park had a capacity of about 10,000. An enthusiastic supporter of sports, Lucas had the park surrounded by a cinder track for running and bicycling. The outfield was planted with blue grass and clover. Center field contained a scoreboard, called a “bulletin board” that would display game scores from around the Union Association sent by telegraph. In 1915, a third major league was created to compete with the established National and American Leagues. Deemed an “outlaw” league by its competitors, the Federal league didn’t utilize the reserve clause, which forced a player to be bound to the team that signed him even after a contract expired. This fact, and the lure of higher salaries, caused many big name players such as Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown”, Chief Bender, and Eddie Plank to sign with Federal League Teams. The St. Louis entry into the Federal League was the Terriers. The team played their games at Federal League Park in 1914 and 1915 before a failed anti-trust suit against established leagues forced the Federal League to cease operations. Although the league lasted only two seasons, the Federal League delivered one very large contribution to baseball. Wrigley Field in Chicago was originally named Weegham Park, and it was built for the Federal League Chicago Whales. The Cubs didn’t move there until 1916 when the Federal League folded. Federal League Park was also called “Handlan’s Park” after the owner of the plot, Alexander H. Handlan. After the Federal League folded, the field was used as the St. Louis University Athletic Field. During the 1920 and 1921 seasons, the St. Louis Giants of the Negro National League played some home games there. In researching this post, I played a little game where I asked several of my St. Louis friends a simple question. I asked them “Can you tell me the names of the four ballparks that the St. Louis Cardinals have called home?”. It was a fun bit of trivia to throw at them. The results were a bit surprising. Not a single person could name all four. Everyone was able to rattle off “Sportsman’s Park, Old Busch Stadium, and New Busch Stadium”. Not a single responder could give me the name of Robison Field, the ballpark where the St. Louis Brown Stockings/Browns/Perfectos/Cardinals played baseball from 1893-1920. The history of the St. Louis Cardinals could be a library in itself, so for the purpose of this post, I’ll briefly describe how the Cardinals came to play their games at Robison Field. The St. Louis Cardinals started as the St. Louis Brown Stockings. After stints in the National Association (as mentioned in the game against the Red Stockings), the National League, and the American Association, the Browns would become permanent members of the National League in 1892. The team played their games at “Grand Avenue Grounds”, which would officially become “Sportsman’s Park” in 1886. In 1893, the owner of the club, Chris von der Ahe, built and moved the team to a new ballpark named “New Sportsman’s Park” just a few blocks away at the corner of Vandeventer and Natural Bridge. In 1899, the Browns changed their name to the “Perfectos”, along with changing the team colors from brown to cardinal red. The color change was so popular that the team name was changed to the “Cardinals” the following year. The ballpark at Natural Bridge and Vandeventer would be the home of the St. Louis Cardinals until 1920. It was here that Rogers Hornsby began a career that would make him one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. Cy Young was a member of the 1899 team. Other notable players include the future manager of the Yankees, Miller Huggins, and Bill Doak, who twice led the National League in ERA. Robison Field is also home to some notable off-field events. In 1911, Helene Britton inherited the Cardinals when team owner Frank Robison died. She became the first female owner of a professional sports franchise in United States history. In 1919, Branch Rickey, the man who integrated baseball, became president and manager of the club. Robison Field was the last professional ballpark that was made primarily of wood. It caught fire numerous times, notably in 1898 and 1901. By 1920, the structure had deteriorated and the team looked to relocate. The last Cardinal home game at Robison Field was played on June 6, 1920. Robison Field continued to be owned by the Cardinals until the property was sold to developers. In 1926, Beaumont High School was built on the site. Beaumont has since created a rich baseball history of its own. The school has produced dozens of major league baseball players, managers, and coaches. Earl Weaver, the famous manager of the Baltimore Orioles, graduated from Beaumont in 1948. The St. Louis Giants were a Negro League baseball team that competed independently in the early 1900’s. Although the team played at several different ballparks around St. Louis, most of their home games were played at Giants or Kuebler’s Park on North Broadway Avenue. The St. Louis Giants would become one of the charter members of the Negro National League, the first long-lasting professional league for African-American players. The league was founded by Andrew “Rube” Foster, a legendary man known as the “father of Black Baseball”. The Giants played at Kuebler’s Park for two seasons before being sold, renamed, and moved. Crowds as large as 5,000 would fill the seats at Kuebler’s Park to cheer on the Giants. Their best player was Oscar Charleston, a future Hall of Famer who batted .436 during the 1921 season. The St. Louis Giants didn’t have to move far when they were sold in 1922. The new owners renamed the club the St. Louis Stars and built them a shiny new ballpark at the corner of Compton and Market. Stars Park, as it would be called, was one of the few ballparks built specifically for a Negro League Team. Stars Park is the field where one of the greatest players to ever step on a diamond began his baseball career. James “Cool Papa” Bell started as a pitcher for the for the Stars in 1921 at the age of nineteen. Like Babe Ruth a few years earlier, Bell began playing outfield on non-pitching days. By 1924, he became the teams full-time center fielder. Considered one of the fastest men to ever play the game, “Cool Papa” Bell led the St. Louis Stars to Negro National League titles in 1928 and 1930. The famous pitcher Satchel Paige once said about Bell: “One time he hit a line drive right past my ear. I turned around and saw the ball hit his ass sliding into second.” Along with “Cool Papa” Bell, the St. Louis Stars boasted two other future Hall of Famers. George “Mule” Suttle and Willie “Devil” Wells played with the St. Louis Stars until 1931 when the league folded. The Stars had the best record at the time the league folded, so they were declared champions in that final year. This title is disputed by many baseball historians. According to baseball historian Joan Thomas, Stars Park had a capacity of 10,000 people. It was known as a hitters park, with a home run to left field only 250 feet away. Today, the same field is used by the Harris-Stowe University baseball team. After folding in 1931, the St. Louis Stars were reincarnated in 1937 and again 1939 to play in the Negro American League. This team had no relation to the earlier version other than reusing the Stars name. According to Philip J. Lowry in his book Green Cathedrals, the 1937 team played at Metropolitan Park, the same site as Giants or Kuebler’s Park. The 1939 team played at South End Park, which was located on South Kingshighway, just south of Tower Grove Park. In my limited time to research this post, I’ve been unable to find any photographs, diagrams, or articles to further describe these ballparks. Sportsman’s Park, perhaps the most famous baseball park in St. Louis, began its tenure as the Grand Avenue Grounds in 1867. Few sites in the United States can claim a baseball heritage as rich as the plot of land that sits at the corner of Grand and Dodier in north St. Louis. Baseball was played at that intersection for over ninety years. Ten World Series and three Major League Baseball All-Star games happened there. The names of great players who competed at Sportsman’s Park is like a Cooperstown roll call: Stan Musial, George Sisler, Lou Brock, Satchel Paige, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Grover Alexander, Willie Mays, Lou Gehrig, and many others. When Chris von der Ahe moved his club to Robison field and changed the name, the Browns name, colors, and ballpark were now available. In 1902, the Milwaukee Brewers relocated to St. Louis and adopted them all. They built a new stadium, aptly naming it “Sportsman’s Park” For the next fifty-one years, Sportsman’s Park would be the home of the American League’s St. Louis Browns. In 1920, the St. Louis Cardinals became tenants of the St. Louis Browns when they moved from Robison Field to play home games at Sportsman’s Park. However, it was the renters that soon began winning pennants. Although more successful during the first twenty years of century, the Browns slid into a long tenure at the bottom of the standings. Despite a notable Browns vs. Cardinals World Series in 1944, it became apparent by the early 1950’s that St. Louis could no longer support two major league teams. In 1953, the Browns sold the stadium to the Cardinals and relocated to become today’s Baltimore Orioles. 1953 is also noteworthy for it is the year that Anhueser-Busch purchased the St. Louis Cardinals. The owners wanted to change the name of the stadium to “Budweiser Stadium”, but the Commissioner feared a public backlash against a stadium named after a beer. In response, August Busch simply named the stadium after himself. Sportsman’s Park was officially renamed “Busch Stadium”. In a peculiar coincidence, Busch beer was introduced to the American market just two years later. The final ballpark in the Distilled History stadium tour is one that has only been gone for about eight years. What many people now call “Old Busch Stadium” was built in 1966 in downtown St. Louis. One of the first of the multi-use “cookie-cutter” designs to be built during the 1960’s, Busch Memorial Stadium was the home of the St. Louis Cardinals until the end of the 2005 season. I was never a fan of the cookie-cutter stadiums (thankfully, they are all gone), but I think St. Louis had the best of the bunch.The ninety-six arches that surrounded the roof added a nice touch to the design. Old Busch Stadium is also where my darkest baseball memory occurred. The one time that I can say I rooted for the Cardinals like I was born and bred in this city was during the 2004 World Series against the Boston Red Sox. Just as the Yankees failed to do in the American League playoffs that year, the Cardinals couldn’t stop that wretched organization from winning its first title since 1918. Busch Stadium had a capacity of over 57,000 when it closed in 2005. Old Busch Stadium hosted the 1966 All-Star game and six World Series (1967, 1968, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 2004). The stadium was the site of Mark McGwire’s 62nd and 70th home runs in 1998. When it comes to finding a drink for a baseball post, there isn’t one more appropriate than cold beer. I certainly have never ordered a cocktail at a ballgame, and I should be justifiably heckled if I did. Except for Old Busch Stadium, few of the old ballpark sites are anywhere near a bar. But one park stands out in this list, and that’s where I had to get my beer. Sitting at the corner of Sullivan and Spring, just across the street from where Sportsman’s Park once stood, sits Valerie’s Sit and Sip Cocktail Lounge. These days, most St. Louisans know the neighborhood around Sportsman’s Park has fallen on difficult times. It’s not a neighborhood where a guy driving a Honda with a notebook and camera goes looking for a drink. But as I stood on the field trying to guess where Babe Ruth caught the final out to win the 1928 World Series, Valerie’s Lounge beckoned. Since it was early in the day, I figured the place had to be empty. I could get a cold beer and maybe ask Valerie (if there really is a Valerie) if she knew anything about the ballpark that once stood on the opposite corner. I’m still at a loss to describe what happened next. I opened the door to Valerie’s, and I was confronted with a bar packed with people. It looked deserted outside, but at least seventy-five people were inside drinking like it was going out of style. A deejay was in the corner playing loud music, and many were dancing away like it was 10 at night. When the door opened, seventy-five heads snapped around and looked at Wally Cleaver standing in the entrance. Gathering my surroundings, I smiled, pushed my way to the bar, and tried (very unsuccessfully) to convey an aura of knowing what the hell I was doing. Since it was so loud, all I could do was point at something to place an order. Although I planned to get a Busch, the only beer I saw people drinking was Miller High Life. A very stern woman stood behind the bar serving drinks. I’m not sure if it was Valerie, but I could tell no monkey business was allowed in this bar. When it was my turn to order, I simply pointed at an empty High Life bottle. Getting my beer, I tipped Valerie very well and smiled broadly while I did so. There’d be no talk of ballparks today. (update! Since publishing this post, a gracious reader forwarded me this link with a full history of the famous bar I picked by chance. I’m glad to report I picked a very appropriate place to get a drink) The only person to engage me in conversation was a woman who walked by and slyly said “How you doin’, baby?”. I stumbled over my response, and the people who overheard me seemed rather amused. When I tried to explain what I was doing there, I noticed my new friend had started to tickle my lower back. It would have been a good story if I stuck around, but I decided to to stay for just the one beer. I worked my way back outside and was harshly reminded by the glaring sun that it was only one p.m.. I walked back across the street and took another look at the empty space where one of the most famous baseball fields in American history once stood. It’s where Stan Musial once hit five home runs in a double-header, where Enos Slaughter’s “Mad Dash” won the 1946 World Series, and where three-foot seven-inch Eddie Gaedel was sent in to pitch hit for the St. Louis Browns. It’s where my beloved Yankees won two World Series titles in 1928 and 1943. In turn, the Cardinals would best the Yanks for three championships on that same field, and add four more against others. It all happened, and much more, on just that one city block. Feeling sufficiently nostalgic, I jumped back into my Honda and drove away. Along with the book by Joan Thomas, a few other baseball books were very helpful in writing this post. Before they were Cardinals : Major League Baseball in Nineteenth-century St. Louis by John David Cash, Green Cathedrals by Philip J. Lowry, and Baseball in St. Louis 1900-1925 by Steve Steinberg. Although it wasn’t used for this post, David Halberstam’s October 1964 is a must for any Cardinal/baseball fan. "Cool Papa" BellBaseballBusch StadiumGeorge SislerJoan ThomasKuebler's ParkNew York YankeesRed Stockings ParkRobison FieldSportsman's ParkSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis GiantsSt. Louis MaroonsSt. Louis Red StockingsSt. Louis StarsSt. Louis TerriersStan MusialUnion Base Ball Park The (Almost) Civil War Bicycle Tour of St. Louis The Summer of Eads, Part I Elmira’s Water Cure 6 comments on “The Bygone Ballparks of St. Louis” Justin McMillan says: The building where Valerie’s reside was once owned by the Valerie’s: http://www.whenitwasagame.net/story_pages/osb.html Wow. Thanks so much for sending this. I figured the location had to be something special, but I just didn’t have time to research it. After reading the article, I’m assuming you meant the Palermo’s owned it? Again, thanks. Correct. Sorry about the typo. My grandmother lived several blocks south of the site. Pingback: The Bygone Ballparks of St. Louis \| i am shep Douglas Sunshine says: thanks for this wonderful information Timbo52 says: Fine job CC, Cardinal fan from Bridgeton. Born in 1952 and think I´ve been a fan since I was 7 or 8 maybe. Worked for a moving and storage company (corner of Cardinal and Olive for two summers (´72 and ´74) and know the inner city like the back of my hand. .. again, fine job. Leave a Reply to Justin McMillan Cancel reply Previous post The Submarine Bar Shooting Next post The Southside Brewing Heritage Tour	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1361
__label__wiki	0.594939	0.594939	HomeAndroidSamsung announces Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e and S10 5G smartphones Samsung announces Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e and S10 5G smartphones During their Unpacked 2019 event, Samsung unveiled four new members of the Galaxy S10 family - The Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10e, and the Galaxy S10 5G. With their new lineup, it looks like Samsung wants to make sure it has something for everyone. Samsung Galaxy S10 and Samsung Galaxy S10+ Samsung has packed everything it can think of into its newest flagships, ensuring its 10th generation handset will dominate 2019. You get a beautiful premium design and powerful hardware packed in to ensure you have the best experience Samsung has to offer. Samsung has its own take on an all screen smartphone, by placing the front camera in a hole cut into the display. Samsung calls this their Infinity-O display giving customers as much screen real estate as they can offer. Samsung has also replaced the traditional fingerprint scanner with an in-display supersonic one. Samsung promises that this technology is faster and more secure than the optical in-display scanner found on the OnePlus 6T and Huawei Mate 20 Pro. Samsung still offers customers the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack and expandable microSD storage. You also get stereo speakers and a USB Type-C port on the device along with a dedicated Bixby button to call up your digital personal assistant. The IP68 water-resistant design of the Galaxy S10 and S10+ will be available in Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, and Flamingo Pink. The green shade will remain exclusive to the international version of the phone, but customers in the U.S. will be able to pick up any of the other colors. The Galaxy S10+ will additionally be offered in Ceramic White and Ceramic Black versions which will boast improved durability and protection against scratches and scuffs. Both the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ have triple-cameras on their rear. These are made up of a regular 77-degree 12MP sensor with an F1.5/F2.4 variable aperture, a 12MP 2x telephoto snapper with a 45-degree viewing angle and a fixed aperture of F/2.4 (both of these are optically-stabilized) and an ultra-wide 16MP (non-OIS) camera with a 123-degree viewing angle and a fixed F2.2 aperture. On the front of the Galaxy S10, you have a 10MP camera located on the upper right side of the device. Samsung has included optical image stabilization and 4K video recording. The Galaxy S10+ features the same camera but includes a second one for depth for improved selfies. The Galaxy S10 features a 6.1-inch display, while the Galaxy S10+ has a 6.4-inch panel. Samsung calls these panels “Dynamic” Infinity-O AMOLED displays and they come with QHD+ resolution, HDR+ certification and 19:9 aspect ratios. Both handsets boast marvelous outdoor visibility and unmatched color accuracy. The Galaxy S10 will be available with 128GB or 512GB of storage and come with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S10+ comes with 128GB, 512GB or 1TB storage options, and offers 6GB, 8GB or 12GB of RAM. Customers will be able to expand their storage by an additional 1.5TB of microSD. Samsung has outfitted both handsets with Qualcomm's 7nm octa-core Snapdragon 855 chipset. This is made up of four efficient 1.8GHz Cortex-A55 cores, three performance 2.4GHz Cortex-A76 ones, and a single high-performance 2.84GHz Cortex-A76 core. The international model will come with Samsung's Exynos chipset. The Galaxy S10 packs a 3500mAh battery while the Galaxy S10+ has a 4100mAh battery inside. Samsung promises over one day of battery life on both handsets. You get reverse wireless charging that is capable of charging other Qi-enabled devices. The gaming experience should be quite impressive on both phones as they are optimized for the Unity Engine and support Dolby Atmos for gaming, but the Galaxy S10+ also packs in a vapor chamber cooling system for lower temperatures during intense gaming sessions. Both the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ run Android 9.0 Pie with Samsung's One UI running on top. One UI is designed with usability in mind and allows for intuitive interaction with almost all stock Samsung apps and menus. You get Bixby 2.0 integrated into the system, and Samsung allows users to reprogram the Bixby key to another function or voice assistant. The base model of the Galaxy S10 with 128GB storage and 8GB of RAM will be priced at $900. Samsung would expect this to undercut the iPhone XS which has a $1000 starting price and only 64GB of storage. The Galaxy S10+ with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage will go up against the iPhone XS Max. Its priced at $1000 which is nearly $100 lower than its iPhone competitor, which also offers only 64GB of storage on its base model. You will be able to pre-order both handsets starting tomorrow February 21. Customers who have already reserved a Galaxy S10/S10+ had the chance to trade-in their old phone and getting up to $550 off the price of their new Samsung flagship. For a limited time, pre-orders of the S10 and S10+ in select markets are also coming with a pair of Samsung's new Galaxy Buds wireless earphones (priced at $130). The devices will be available for purchase from stores and online retailers starting March 8, meaning you should expect your pre-ordered device to be delivered around that date as well. The Samsung Galaxy S10e features an Infinity-O display like its larger siblings but in a smaller form factor. The handset also lacks the curved edges that the Galaxy S lineup has become known for over the past few years. The 5.8-inch display on the Galaxy S10e has a 1440x2960 pixel resolution, HDR support, and Corning Gorilla Glass 6 scratch resistance. On the back of the Galaxy S10e you will find a modest dual-camera setup, made up of a 12MP dual aperture camera (F/1.8; F/2.4) with optical image stabilization, alongside a 16MP ultra wide angle one. On the front, you have the same 10MP camera as the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ offer. You don't get the in-display fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S10e, instead, a physical one can be found on the right side of the device. Other features include a 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD for storage expansion, a USB Type-C port, and IP68 water resistance. The Galaxy S10e comes with a 3100mAh battery. Samsung has included wireless charging and even reverse wireless charging, which allows you to transfer some of the S10e’s power to another smartphone or any compatible device. When it comes to connectivity, the S10e is no different in any way than the S10 and S10+, carrying the same networking components as the bigger versions: Wi-Fi 6 (Wi-Fi 802.11 ax), LTE Cat. 20 with up to 2Gbps download speeds and Bluetooth 5.0. Do we even need to say it has NFC? Fine! There's also NFC. The Galaxy S10e is powered by the same high-end Snapdragon 855 chipset found on its siblings and should offer stellar performance and low power consumption. You can pick between the 128GB storage option with 6GB of RAM or the 256GB storage option which comes with 8GB of RAM. On the software side, you get Samsung's One UI on top of Android 9.0 Pie, just like its siblings. The new interface is a complete revamp not only design-wise but when it comes to functionality as well, making it more user-friendly and intuitive. The Galaxy S10e is priced to compete with the iPhone XR and will cost $749 for its 128GB version with 6GB of RAM. You will be able to pre-order the handset tomorrow, February 21. The device will be available for purchase starting March 8. The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is the most premium of the lineup aimed at enthusiasts, power users and those who demand to live on the bleeding edge of technology. It takes the best of what the Galaxy S10 family offers and packs in a unique feature in the form of a 5G modem. 5G isn't here just yet. The world has slowly been preparing for the next generation of mobile data transfer for a couple of years now. 5G will allow for faster data transfers, reduced latency, and more energy-efficient connections than the current LTE standard. Carriers around the world are currently in the process of slowly rolling out their own support for the new standard. In the USA, all four major carriers have begun deployment in a small number of cities and areas. It is believed that 5G's global spread will have a serious expand some time in 2020 and that it'll be available to 40% of the world's population by 2024. If you are worried about purchasing this device and not being able to use it because its "5G", you'd be happy to know that it still works on LTE and can even support 3G or EDGE in rural areas. The good news is that the Galaxy S10 5G is ready for that future, and for those who are planning to be at the forefront of 5G you will be future proof with this handset. Fortunately, the Galaxy S10 5G offers much more than just the 5G modem. The Galaxy S10 5G comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. You get 256GB of internal storage, a 4500mAh battery and that powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset with 8GB of RAM. Another unique feature on the Galaxy S10 5G is its four camera setup on its rear. You get the main 12MP camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), 12 MP telephoto portrait camera with OIS, and 16 MP wide-angle camera. The fourth is a Time of Flight (ToF) camera meant for Augmented Reality (AR). The module can map up to 300,000 points at a distance of up to 10 feet. This means it can detect a whole lot of objects and peculiarities within a room in no time and then place overlay the AR components much more accurately than we've seen thus far. Samsung hasn't released the pricing or availability details for the Galaxy S10 5G. When it launches it will be a Verizon exclusive for a limited time, coming at some point in the first half of 2019. While it isn't official, we expect this handset to be priced around $100 to $200 higher than the Galaxy S10+. Android Galaxy S10 Galaxy S10 5G Galaxy S10 Plus Galaxy S10e Samsung	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1362
__label__cc	0.697774	0.302226	What If We Stopped Punishing Drug Users Let me repeat a phrase that has been used so often it is almost a cliché: the war on drugs has failed. Existing drug policies have increased drug-related harm, punished the vulnerable and the addicted and bolstered organised criminal networks. Health professionals, lawyers and policy experts have all made the case against current drug policies. Such is the overwhelming expert opinion against our current approach to drugs that words need not be wasted trying to convince you here. Nevertheless, critiquing current drug policies often provokes an inquisitive – if at times slightly smug – response, "well, what do we do instead?" To some, drug law reform stirs up images of laissez faire commercialisation of drug markets: a 'McHeroin' on every corner. Of course, this is not what professionals are advocating for. Instead, there is a growing consensus amongst AOD professionals of the ideal legal framework to tackle drug related harm. To put it simply, most experts are calling for Portugal-style decriminalisation model combined with some model of cannabis legalisation. Drug Decriminalisation Pointless Drug Prohibition Impedes Medical Breakthroughs Medical breakthroughs missed because of pointless drug bans Magic mushrooms might be less mysterious if scientists could find out more about them. In 1632 the Catholic Church convened a case against Galileo on the grounds that his work using the telescope to explore the nature of the heavens contradicted the church's teaching - the culmination of a long fight that had lasted 16 years. Galileo was put under house arrest and his research stopped. Some of his inquisitors refused even to look down a telescope, believing it to be the work of the devil. With his life under threat, Galileo retracted his claims that the earth moved around the sun and was not the centre of the universe. A ban by the papal Congregation of the Index on all books advocating the Copernican system of planetary motion - which we use today - was not revoked until 1758. Three centuries later we have an equivalent case of scientific censorship. In the 1960s and the 1970s the UN effectively banned a whole range of drugs from cannabis, opioids and cocaine through to psychedelics - LSD and "magic mushrooms". They did this in a futile attempt to reduce the use and harms of these drugs, but both consumption and harms have increased ten-fold since then, and many of the negative effects of these laws include the rise of AIDS and the collapse of law and order in Mexico. Three reasons why scientific advice on drugs is ignored By Ghaith Aljayyoussi, University of Liverpool David Nutt, along with many other leading scientists, published a study a few years ago that showed how the overall harms associated with some legal drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco, dramatically exceed the harms of some illegal drugs, such as cannabis, ecstasy and LSD – and even the harms of heroin and cocaine. Of course, these top scientists were right, but politicians continue to ignore scientific advice, and society continues to be largely in favour of current drug laws. Here are three factors that might explain this paradox: 1. Capitalism and class Noam Chomsky, an American social critic and political activist, offered some interesting arguments to explain how capitalism and class shape the legal status of drugs. Cannabis, for instance, is a plant that can be easily grown in someone's backyard, so it is not as easy to commercialise for profit. Tobacco, on the other hand, needs industrial technologies and hence is a suitable product for commercialisation. Similarly, making high quality alcoholic drinks – a fine wine or a decent bottle of whisky – is not nearly as easy as growing cannabis or magic mushrooms in your garden. Legalise Cannabis and Ecstasy A new approach to drug reform: regulated supply of cannabis and ecstasy David Penington, University of Melbourne Sixteen years ago the premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett, asked me to conduct an inquiry into drug policy. At the time, deaths from heroin overdoses were high and the use of cannabis and other drugs continued to mount, despite prohibition. While there has been some improvement in the management of drugs over the years, both in Victoria and nationally, fundamental problems remain. It's time to consider practical solutions to the problem. I propose a novel system whereby Australians aged 16 and over have access to a limited, regulated quantity of cannabis and ecstasy from a government-approved pharmacy supplier – provided they are willing to go on a national confidential user's register. When dispensing the substance, pharmacists would also be able to give clients advice and, where necessary, refer them for counselling or treatment. Why we need a new approach Decriminalisation or Legalisation Injecting evidence in the drug law reform debate One argument for legalisation is it will move the problem away from police and the criminal justice system, where it currently dominates resources. AAP Image/Simon Mossman Alison Ritter, UNSW We should all be concerned about our laws on illegal drugs because they affect all of us – people who use drugs; who have family members using drugs; health professionals seeing people for drug-related problems; ambulance and police officers in the front line of drug harms; and all of us who pay high insurance premiums because drug-related crime is extensive. Drug-related offences also take up the lion's share of the work of police, courts and prisons. But what can we do? Some people feel that we should legalise drugs – treat them like alcohol and tobacco, as regulated products. And legalisation doesn't necessarily need to apply for every illegal drug. Why legalise? Islamic terror and drug profits The little-understood connection between Islamic terror and drug profits Robert Rotberg, Harvard University Terrorists are in it as much for the loot as for the ideology. The Islamic State, or ISIS, could hardly exist, whatever its Islamist fervor, without hard cash from sales of pilfered petroleum, taxes on its subject population and kidnappings for ransom. Likewise ISIS- and al-Qaida-linked groups in Africa prosper by trafficking drugs across the Sahara and by offering "protection" to smugglers who have long been trading illicit goods throughout the continent. Although Westerners tend to think of these groups as driven by ideology, new recruits may be more attracted by opportunities to make money. Terror is big business, especially in the weak and fragile parts of the world.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1367
__label__wiki	0.642732	0.642732	David J. Kurtz is a Managing Partner of EnCap Flatrock Midstream. Prior to joining EnCap Flatrock Midstream in 2014, Mr. Kurtz served as President and Partner of Alpine, Inc., an exploration and production company focused on both conventional and unconventional plays. From 2003 to 2013, with Alpine, Mr. Kurtz was responsible for raising capital, acquiring and developing acreage, and the divestiture of more than 700,000 acres in various project areas. Prior to Alpine, Mr. Kurtz served as Vice President of Business Development for OGE Energy Corp., an Oklahoma regulated public utility, and its subsidiary Enogex Inc., an unregulated midstream company, where he was responsible for the successful acquisition and divestiture of numerous assets. Mr. Kurtz has also held various engineering, commercial, and project development positions with Delhi Pipeline Corporation. Mr. Kurtz holds a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Kansas and an M.B.A. from Oklahoma City University. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Brammo, Inc. and serves in an advisory role for CBA Pharma, Inc., two privately held companies. He currently serves on the board of directors of several EFM portfolio companies, including Cardinal Midstream III, Getka Energy, Cogent Midstream and Tall Oak Midstream II & III.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1372
__label__wiki	0.862624	0.862624	Bactrosaurus Fact Sheet Paleontology and Geology Glossary: Da Paleontology and Geology Glossary: Z Paleontology and Geology Glossary: C Paleontology and Geology Glossary: Br Today's featured page: George Washington Carver Cloze Activity: American Inventor ZoomDinosaurs.com Dinosaur and Paleontology Dictionary Click on an underlined word for more information on that subject. If the dinosaur or paleontology term you are looking for is not in the dictionary, please e-mail us. Ba Be Bi Bl Bo Br Bu By BACKGROUND EXTINCTIONS Background extinctions are those extinctions that occur continually throughout time. These extinctions are caused by small changes in climate or habitat, depleted resources, competition, and other changes that require adaptation and flexibility. Most extinctions (perhaps up to 95 per cent of all extinctions) occur as background extinctions. Bacteria are one-celled, microscopic organisms that live all over the world. They are important in the decay of organic material and in the fixing of nitrogen. BACTROSAURUS (pronounced BACK-tra-SAWR-us) Bactrosaurus or Bactrasaurus (which means 'club-spined lizard') was a large, plant-eating, duck-billed dinosaur (a lambeosaurid hadrosaurine), up to about 20 feet (6 m) long, weighing roughly 1500 kg. Its femur (thigh bone was 80 cm long. About six fragmentary Bactrosaurus fossils were found in Mongolia and China. It lived during the late-Cretaceous period, about 97-85 million years ago and was named by C.W. Gilmore in 1933. The type species is B. johnsoni. BACULITES Baculites (which means "walking stick rock") was a genus of ammonite that lived during the late Cretaceous period. It was heteromorphic: in its juvenile stages it had a coiled shell; as an adult, it was straight-shelled, tube-like, and about 2 m long (but some later forms had a cork-screw shape). Baculites was a wide-spread marine cephalopod mollusk that may have lived in colonies on the sea floor. Baculites species are very widespread, so they are used as an index fossil. Baculites was named by the French paleontologist Alcide Dessalines d'Orbigny in 1850. Badlands are barren, severely eroded places on Earth where the soft rock layers are sculpted into beautiful forms. These exposed rock layers are often wonderful places in which to find fossils. They're called badlands because the land is useless for farming and many other human purposes. BAGACERATOPS (pronounced BAG-uh-CER-uh-TOPS) Bagaceratops (meaning "small horned face") was a ceratopsian dinosaur about 3 feet (1 m) long. Bagaceratops weighed rouhghly 65 pounds (30 kg). It was a quadrupedal plant-eater with a short neck frill and a small horn on its snout. It lived in what is now Mongolia, China during the late Cretaceous period, about 70 million years ago. It was described by Halszaka Osmólska in 1975. The type species is B. rozhdestvenskyi. (pronounced BAG-ah-RAH-tahn) Bagaraatan (meaning "small hunter" ) was a speedy, bipedal, meat-eating dinosaur (an early coelurosaur). This theropod was about 11.5 feet (3.5 m) long and dates from the late Cretaceous period. An incomplete skeleton was found in Mongolia and was named by paleontologist Osmolska in 1996. The type species is B. ostromi. BAHARIASAURUS (pronounced bah-hah-REE-ya-SAWR-us) Bahariasaurus (meaning "oasis lizard") was a theropod dinosaur (perhaps a carnosaur) about 20-40 feet (6-12 m) long, weighing about 4 tonnes. It was a bipedal meat-eater from what is now Egypt. It lived during the Cretaceous period, about 109 to 95 million years ago. It was named by Stromer in 1934. The type species is B. ingens. The only known fossil was destroyed in World War II. BAKKER, ROBERT Robert Bakker (1945- ) is a US paleontologist and dinosaur artist who revolutionized our view of dinosaurs in the late 1960's, drawing them as active animals standing upright and not dragging their tails. He named: Chassternbergia (1988), Denversaurus (1988), Drinker (1990, with others), Edmarka (1992, with others), and Nanotyrannus (with others, 1988). Baluchitherium (now called Indricotherium) is a large, extinct, hornless rhinoceros. It was one of the largest land mammals. Adults were about 26 feet (8 m) long, 18 feet (5.5 m) tall, and weighed about 17 - 18 tons (16 tonnes). The skull was 4.25 feet (1.3 m) long. This herbivore ate leaves and twigs from the tops of trees. It had four teeth; two tusk-like front teeth in the top jaw, pointing down and two on the bottom pointing forwards. This extinct ungulate (hoofed mammal) had three toes on each foot and lived from the Oligocene to the early Miocene in central Asia (Pakistan, Mongolia and China). Classification: Order Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates), Family Hyrachyidae (odd-toed ungulates between tapirs and rhinos). BAMBIRAPTOR OR BAMBI (pronounced BAM-be-RAP-tor) Bambiraptor (also known as Bambi) was a juvenile coelurosaur, an advanced theropod (meat-eating dinosaur). This small predator was originally thought to be a juvenile Velociraptor or perhaps Saurornitholestes langstoni. It was a small, fast, meat-eating dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period. Bambiraptor was about 3 feet (1 m) long and may have weighed about 7 pounds (3 kg). It had a deadly, sickle-shaped toe claw on the second toe of its foot. Bambiraptor was found in the upper Two Medicine Formation, Montana, USA. The nearly complete, fossilized skeleton was found in a dinosaur bonebed, near a Maiasaura skull. Bambiraptor was named by Burnham, Derstler, Currie, Bakker, Zhou, and Ostrom, 2000. The type species is Bambiraptor feinbergi. BARAPASAURUS (pronounced buh-RAH-pah-SAWR-us) Barapasaurus (meaning "big-legged lizard") was a sauropod (a long-necked, long-tailed, small-headed, short-legged giant). It was an herbivore, a plant-eater that was about 60 feet (20 m) long, weighing roughly 48400 kg. The femur (thigh bone) is 5.5 ft (1.70 m) long. Barapasaurus lived during the early Jurassic period, about 208 to 188 million years ago. 6 partial skeletons have been found in Southern India's Godavari Valley, but no skulls or feet have been found. It ay belong to the family vulcanodintidae, but this is unsure. Barapasaurus was named by Jain, Kutty, Roy-Chowdhury & Chatterjee in 1975. The type species is B. tagorei. BARBOUROFELIS Barbourofelis (meaning "Barbour's cat") was a carnivorous (meat-eating) mammal, an early cat with long incisors - it was not a dinosaur. This lion-sized cat was the last of the family Nimravidae (false-saber-tooth cats) and lived during the late Miocene, about 15-7 million years ago. Fossils have been found in North America, Turkey, and Spain. Classification: Class Mammalia (mammals), Order Carnivora, Superfamily Feloidea (cats, mongooses), Family Nimravidae (false-saber-tooth cats, early cats), Genus Barbourofelis. (pronounced BAR-oh-SAWR-us) Barosaurus (meaning "heavy lizard") was a diplodocid sauropod (a long-necked, long-tailed, small-headed, short-legged giant). It was an herbivore, a plant-eater. It was huge and slow-moving, perhaps over 60 to 88 feet (20-27 m) long, weighing roughly 40000 kg. Its femur (thigh bone) was 8.2 ft (2.52 m) long. Its primary defense against predators was its size. Barosaurus lived during the late Jurassic period, about 156 to 145 million years ago. Its fossils have been found in western North America and East Africa. Barosaurus was named by paleontologist Othniel C. Marsh in 1890. The type species is B. lentus. BARSBOLD, RINCHEN Rinchen Barsbold is a Mongolian paleontologist. He named: Adasaurus (1983), Ansermimus (1988), Conchoraptor (1986), the family Enigmosauridae (1983), Enigmosaurus (with A. Perle, 1983), Gallimimus (with H. Osmólska and E. Roniewicz, 1972), Garudimimus and the family Garudimimidae (1981), Harpymimus and the family Harpymimidae (with A. Perle, 1984), Ingenia (1981), the family Ingeniidae (1986), the family Oviraptoridae (1976), and the suborder Segnosauria (with A. Perle, 1980). Barsboldia (Maryanska et Osmolska, 1981) was named to honor Rinchen Barsbold. BARSBOLDIA (pronounced bars-BOWL-dee-ah) Barsboldia (named for Rinchen Barsbold) was a duck-billed dinosaur (a lambeosaurine hadrosaur) about 30 feet (10 m) long, weighing roughly 6500 kg. It was a quadrupedal plant-eater with a hollow crest and tall spines on its back vertebrae (which may have formed a fin on its back). It lived in what is now Mongolia during the late Cretaceous period, about 70 million years ago. The type species is B. sicinskii. It was named by Maryanska and Osmolska in 1981. This is a doubtful genus since it is so poorly known. (pronounced BAYR-ee-ON-iks) Baryonyx (meaning "heavy claw") was an unusual theropod dinosaur (a carnivore) from the early Cretaceous period, about 125 million years ago. It had crocodile-like jaws, a low-slung-body, and it ate fish. It was about 31 ft (9.5 m) long and weighed roughly 1700 kg. BASILOSAURUS Basilosaurus was an Archaeoceti whale, a primitve, extinct whale from the Eocene epoch, 50 million of years ago. BASUTODON (pronounced buh-SUE-TOE-don) Basutodon (meaning "Basuto [former name of Lesotho, South Africa] tooth") is a dubious genus of reptile that may or may not be dinosaurian. Fossil teeth that date from the Triassic period were found in South Africa. Basutodon was named by paleontologist von Huene in 1932. The type species is B. ferox. BAVARISAURUS Bavarisaurus was a small, fast-moving, ancient lizard (it was not a dinosaur) that lived during the Jurassic period. A partially digested, fossilized skeleton of a Bavarisaurus was found inside a Compsognathus (a small, meat-eating dinosaur) fossil in Bavaria, Germany.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1373
__label__wiki	0.57086	0.57086	Home / Water & Sanitation / Laaniba: Misery by the Ivory Tower Laaniba: Misery by the Ivory Tower November 4, 2012 Comments Off on Laaniba: Misery by the Ivory Tower 513 Views The sight of roaming goats depicted a typical village setting. The muddy houses, the types found in the remotest of villages possible, lend an air of rural scenery to the locality; their (the houses’) openings for wooden windows intercepting the even splash of mud on the walls. Many of the houses are roofed with iron sheets that have caved in to pressure from several years of overuse, and their decolorised frames are fragmentising and falling off the walls they are supposed to protect. In the heat of the ruthless descent of the scorching sun, two ladies tiredly slowed their steps as they approached their huts, bending down to lower the water pots on their heads and wiping their haggard faces with a piece of lace cloth that had previously served as a neckerchief. Those two are just some of the unlucky lot who regularly trekked long distances to fetch water at a river outside the community, in the absence of a single public tap bearing pipe-borne water. Ordinarily, the people of Laaniba, under Akinyele Local Government in Ibadan, Oyo State, ought not to be grappling with water, housing, and electricity challenges, considering the community’s proximity to the University of Ibadan. In fact, the Ajibode River is its only real separation from the varsity, the rest being a long, straight stretch of road. Pa Joshua Olatunji, head of the community whose age is said to be in excess of 100 years, spoke on the problems of the people. “Our road is very useless even though it is better than it was some years back. Whenever it rains, bicycle and motorcycle riders will have a hard time navigating it while cars many times get stuck for days,” he said, removing his cap in a move that amplified the smallness of his body frame. ALSO READ: Political will needed to reverse poor water supply in Nigeria Replacing his cap, he continued, “We do not have potable water. We drink from the river, and we know it is not hygienic. We know that we will live a healthier lifestyle if we had potable water.” Although Pa Olatunji offered directions to a river where majority of the community fetch water, he had left out the more important details of other activities at the same river. It is, for example, inside the same river that many inhabitants of Laaniba have their baths — that much was confirmed with the sight of two half-dressed women bathing at the river right in broad daylight. In the dead of the night or the early mornings, it is unlikely that the bathing population at the river would be restricted to just two people. And it is unlikely, too, that the same river is not the people’s favourite defecation spot. The result is a chain of diseases that Pa Olatunji’s traditional roots may not recognise, but which exist all the same, as implicitly confirmed by John Joseph, a secondary school student in his early twenties. “We need a hospital in Laaniba, and it is very important, especially because of the kind of water we drink,” Joseph pleaded. “When our people fall sick, our closest option is the clinic at Ajibode. Sometimes, the doctors are unavailable; at other times, it is the drugs that are not available, which leaves us with the difficult challenge of rushing sick people to town. You will agree with me that not all sick people will have the grace to endure such long trips to town without giving up the ghost on the way. That is why I said the provision of a hospital is very important.” ALSO READ: Tanzania to host 6th Africa Water Week He also made a case for a secondary school in the town, saying, “I attend Ajibode Grammar School because all we have here is a primary school. Youths here do not attend school; so many of them just learn trades. And there are no jobs for them even at the end of their apprenticeships, so almost all of them resort to motorcycle riding. Somehow, I do not think that this is all that youths should be dissipating their energy and vigour into. But do they have a choice?” Joseph’s claims were corroborated by Alhaji Ahmed Laaniba, another member of the Laaniba clan, who lamented the lack of government presence in the area for at least two decades. “Laaniba is supposed to be a town and not a village,” he lamented. “So, how is it possible that a town has no single source of pipe-borne water? I was born here and I am already over 70 years; the last time Akinyele Local Government did anything for us was more than 20 years ago. If the government will give us just potable water and stable electricity, we will be a happy people.” At an earlier visit to the only primary school in Laaniba, not much was happening in the waterlogged classrooms in the single building, which itself only slightly bettered a typical abandoned building. A second adjoining building collapsed several years ago, and there has been no effort from the government to raise it. The few pupils at the school cut a pitiable picture, many of them playing around while some fidgeted with their notebooks. ALSO READ: PAVE, UC-Berkeley in water rights research initiative In the absence of the principal who was “away on an official assignment,” a teacher, Mrs. H. A. Abraham, conveyed the frustrations of the students and teachers with the run-down state of the school. “This is a perfect example of how not to run a school,” she quipped. “There are no books, no instructional materials and no facilities. The classrooms are few so you cannot even talk of a toilet or source of potable water. There is a poor attitude among inhabitants towards education. The pupils do not understand English and I have to teach other subjects in Yoruba Language. The consequence is the production of pupils who graduate to secondary schools yet lack what it takes to compete with the rest of the world.” The solution to the educational woes of the people of Laaniba, she noted, is to first develop the social amenities base of the community, and then watch the ripple effect on other areas of life. “Without bringing development to Laaniba, these little children will have nothing to show for all the years in this primary school,” she said chillingly. “Without water, without electricity, without urban housing, without hospital, everything happening in the school will simply end up some nasty joke.” By ‘Fisayo Soyombo The article was initiated courtesy of the Pro-poor WASH Stories Project implemented by the Water and Sanitation Media Network Nigeria, with the support of West Africa WASH Media Network, WaterAid, and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council. Laaniba University of Ibadan water and sanitation 2012-11-04 Tagged with: Laaniba University of Ibadan water and sanitation Previous: Group offers assistance to flood victims Next: Nigeria, others for Lafarge’s affordable housing programme launch Lagos urged to shift stand on water privatisation Why menstruation matters, by WaterAid Tanzania to host 6th Africa Water Week	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1375
__label__cc	0.650894	0.349106	European Association of Preventive Cardiology Prevention in your country About EAPC EAPC Country of the month - Georgia This report was prepared by: Dr Zurab Klimiashvili, MD Director of the Cardiology Clinic LTD “Cardionet Pineo”, Tbilisi, Georgia National CVD Prevention Coordinator for Georgia with the assistance and advice from: • Georgian Society of Cardiology • National Center for Disease Control and Public Health CV and publications Zurab Klimiashvili Baseline information about Georgia Georgia is since 1991 a parliamentary republic with 3.717 million inhabitants. Its area of 70.000 km2 can be compared to Austria. The country has a life expectancy at birth of 72.9 years. It has a young population with only 14.3% above the age of 65. The population is mainly Orthodox Christian Georgian. The annual growth in economy is around 3%. The health sector is one of the priority sectors for the government of Georgia. Medical care is provided both at state owned health facilities and at private institutions. After 2003-2004 the healthcare system was reformed into a heavily privatised model. The state retained control over a few medical facilities dealing with mental illness and infectious diseases, while all other hospitals and clinics were privatised. Primary care is delivered by general practitioners. The Georgian government provides financial coverage through a state agency, the Social Service Agency, though patients must share the cost of some services through co-pays. While the state finances healthcare, the delivery of healthcare is largely reliant on private medical facilities and personnel In Georgia, like in the most of the countries over the World, non-communicable diseases has the largest share in the mortality structure. Diseases of the circulatory system constitute 15.5% of all registered cases of diseases in the country, and 8.6% of all new cases. High morbidity and mortality rates are specific for such diseases as hypertension, ischaemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases. According to WHO 2014 Health Report, non-communicable diseases account for nearly 94% of all deaths, among them 69% due to CVDs, 14% to cancer, 1% to diabetes and 4% to chronic respiratory diseases. According to surveys data, about 34% of the population suffers from either developed, or potential hypertension. Age-standardised prevalence of tobacco smoking among persons 15 years and older: 29.6 The prevalence of diabetes is estimated to be 15% of the population. Obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) is more frequent in women (25.9%) than in men (17.9%), with a prevalence in general population of 22,1% In 2000 - 2015, prevalence of diseases of the circulatory system in Georgia has followed the upward trend. Main actors The main actors in cardiovascular prevention in Georgia are: The Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia The National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) The Georgian Society of Cardiology (GSC) The Georgian Association for CVD Prevention and Rehabilitation (GACPAR) The Georgian Heart Foundation Prevention activities Based on the information provided by the STEPS surveys the multi-sectorial State Council on NCD Prevention and Control was established in 2015. The National Strategy of NCD Prevention and Control and a 4-year action plan has been endorsed in January 2017. Based on the STEPS and other survey data and according to the strategy and action plan the essential drugs for major NCDs (IHD and stroke, asthma and COPD, Diabetes type 2 and thyroid gland dysfunction) for the most vulnerable populations are now provided through the Universal Healthcare Program. This has been operational during the past four years and covers basic benefit package services and some medications at the primary care level. The National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health is implementing the State Program on Health Promotion, the largest component of which is tobacco control, which includes a media campaign, training of the quit-smoking line staff and primary health care centres monitoring of enforcement of smoke-free legislation in public premises, developing tobacco cessation mobile application and school educational materials. The other components are among others alcohol, nutrition, physical activity, mental health. Cardiovascular rehabilitation unfortunately is not well disseminated at present in Georgia due to insufficient financing. There are no dedicated programmes or specialised cardiac rehabilitation centers in Georgia, merely a few centers in the private sector which operate programs for which patients pay out of pocket. Expanding cardiac rehabilitative centers across the country would assist in reduction of CV disability. Aims for the future The key actions for the next five years: Systematic assessment of barriers to CVD prevention on the levels of patient, provider, health care system and organizational level. Improvement of CVD epidemiology and statistical analysis methods, as well as piloting of various incentives for furtherance of prevention in health care, including the primary care level. Cardiac rehabilitation: organizing cardiac rehabilitation programs in all major hospitals and clinics, as well as establishing specialized centers in the major cities. Finally, we need to study the experience of other countries which have witnessed a similar transition like in our country. Note: The content of this article reflects the personal opinion of the author/s and is not necessarily the official position of the European Society of Cardiology.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1377
__label__cc	0.519222	0.480778	Work and parenting by S.D. \| LONDON A WORKING mother knows that balancing the demands of private home and high-rise office is not her only worry. While busy, breadwinning fathers are unlikely to provoke moral panic, the public's interest in how working women raise their children is easily piqued. One of Britain's biggest-selling newspapers proclaimed fearfully on Friday: "Three in four middle-class mothers continue to work after having a baby, a study shows... The figures point to a relentless rise in the number of working mothers of very young children." Contrary to these veiled aspersions, the study in question should reassure career-minded mothers. Conducted by researchers at University College London, it surveyed 19,000 British households to determine how parental employment affects a child's behaviour throughout the first five years of life. The results will startle those who think that children benefit from having a stay-at-home mum. In fact, the paper indicates that maternal employment can often improve the chances of having well-adjusted kids. For example, five-year-olds whose mothers had been at home when they were babies were more likely to have behavioural problems than other children. For each child, the longer the time their mother was off work, the more bratty was the child's behaviour. Housebound women were also far more likely to report symptoms of depression than their working counterparts, problems which can only make the process of childrearing more difficult. Of course, life can rarely be boiled down to simple equations of cause and effect. What complicates this picture is the correlation between work patterns and other factors like lower household income, poorer education and depression, which might affect whether a woman chooses to go to work. Interestingly, when the study adjusted for these factors, the relationship between bad behaviour and maternal unemployment remained strong for girls but not for boys. This may reflect, the authors said, “the importance of gender in family role model processes”—the inference being that girls benefit from having a mother as an exemplar of a woman who is successful and independent, while the effect is less pronounced for boys. The paper also looked at the working arrangements of all adults in the household—a sensible method, and a point of distinction with other studies that focused exclusively on what mothers do with their time. Once again, the trends differed by sex. Boys, but not girls, were likely to suffer from their mother being the sole breadwinner, although once the results were adjusted for income, education and depression, the detrimental impact on boys disappeared. Boys thrived equally in homes where both parents were working, and in two-parent "traditional" families in which their mothers stayed at home. Girls, in contrast, appeared to have significantly fewer problems where both parents were employed than in traditional homes. For social progressives, the results are mixed. Working women can head to their desks knowing that they are doing their daughters a service, and that they are not doing their sons any harm. Yet the study also suggests (the admittedly widely-accepted proposition) that the children of single mothers are more likely to be troublesome, and that the best arrangement for both boys and girls is to live in a two-parent household in which both adults are employed. These results provide a robust defence of why women should be supported in returning to work after childbirth; they make it harder, however, to dislodge the stigma that attaches to single parents. The study has other limitations, too. It restricted its analysis to white children because of problems with sampling other ethnicities. Statistically, that is not a huge drawback: 92% of Britons identified themselves as white in the 2001 census. A bigger issue is the way the data were collected, involving questionnaires about children's behaviour, almost always answered by mothers. Working mums know that they are vulnerable to criticism from certain sections of society and the media; when surveyed, this might incline them to paint defensively rosy portraits of their children, and so to skew the results. More from Blighty What Ed Miliband needs A living wage Pay takes a pounding A leaked speech on Britain's native-born The real taboo	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1378
__label__cc	0.542978	0.457022	9.11.2006: Meldung: Dynetek Industries Ltd.: nine months and third quarter results Dynetek reports 2006 nine months and third quarter results Wednesday November 8, 4:30 pm ET << - Record nine month revenues of $26.3 million - up 32% from the first nine months of 2005 - Record third quarter revenues of $8.7 million - up 45% from the third quarter of 2005 - Contribution margins increased from 22% in the second quarter to 23% in the third quarter CALGARY, Nov. 8 / Dynetek Industries Ltd., a leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of proprietary fuel storage cylinders and systems for compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrogen, today reported results for the three-months and nine months ended September 30, 2006. Conference call information is provided below. - Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 of $26.3 million increased $6.3 million or 32% from the same period of - Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 of $8.7 million increased $2.7 million or 45% from the comparative third quarter of 2005. - Cylinder and system sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 of $24.6 million increased $6.9 million or 39% compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2005. - Cylinder and system sales for the three months ended September 30, 2006 of $8.3 million increased $2.7 million or 48% from the comparative third quarter of 2005. - Contribution margins increased from 22% in the second quarter to 23% in the third quarter. - Eleventh consecutive quarter of positive EBITDA(1) including $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006. - Confirmed order book in excess of $17 million the majority to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2006 and the first quarter of Robb Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer, said the third quarter results reflect Dynetek"s commitment of continuing to focus on CNG cylinder and system sales to our target market of bus and truck manufacturers predominantly in Europe and to new international market opportunities for our bulk hauling solutions. "Our focused strategy of achieving near term revenue increases in CNG and industrial gas storage markets, along with our leadership position in the emerging hydrogen industrial and automotive storage market, has positioned Dynetek for both short and long term growth in the alternative energy market on a global basis," commented Mr. Thompson. "Our third quarter cylinder and system sales were a record 48% higher than the third quarter of 2005 and our nine months cylinder and system sales were 39% higher than the nine months reported in 2005." "As reported in our second quarter 2006 report, our increases in cylinder and system sales during our second quarter were negatively offset by reduced contribution margins related to expediting European customer shipments on a more costly basis, due to delivery issues from a key material supplier," said Mr. Thompson. "In the third quarter we were able to increase our contribution margins to 23% from 22% compared to the second quarter by working closely with our supplier to overcome past delivery issues." (1) Earnings before interest, income taxes, non-cash foreign exchange, depreciation and amortization, stock based compensation and impairment of other assets (EBITDA) is a non-GAAP measure and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Management believes EBITDA is a useful measure to assist in the assessment of Dynetek"s ability to generate cash flows from its operations. OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS For the nine months ended September 30, 2006 Dynetek reported a net loss of ($0.2) million compared to a loss of ($1.8) million for the same period of 2005. For the three months ended September 30, 2006 Dynetek reported a net loss of ($0.3) million compared to a loss of ($1.3) million for the same period of 2005. In the first nine months of 2006, Dynetek achieved total revenues of $26.3 million compared to $20.0 million for the same period of 2005. Cylinder and system sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $24.6 million compared to $17.7 million for the same period of 2005. In the third quarter of 2006, Dynetek achieved total revenues of $8.7 million (2005 - $6.0 million) with cylinder and system sales of $8.3 million (2005 - $5.6 million) included in these third quarter results. The Company"s goal is to achieve increased cylinder and system sales in each quarter compared to the prior year comparative quarter. The Company recorded cash flow deficiency from operations of ($0.8) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to cash flow from operations of $0.7 million for the same period of 2005. Cash flow deficiency from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was ($2.1) million compared to ($1.6) million for the same period of 2005. The Company continues to have positive EBITDA(1) and reported $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and positive EBITDA(1) of $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 representing the eleventh consecutive quarter. The Company continues to focus its compressed natural gas cylinder and system sales in areas such as California and Europe. In Europe, the Company has seen strong growth due to the need to meet regulatory environmental requirements and the price differential of natural gas compared to diesel. In the first nine months of 2006, Dynetek"s European operations achieved record cylinder and system sales of $15.0 million. Dynetek"s proprietary technology provides advantages such as less weight, more compressed natural gas on board and less operating costs, being the value proposition we offer our customers that our competitors cannot provide. This same model was used to develop the California market for heavy-duty trucks. The cylinder and system sales from the Canadian operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $9.6 million, an increase of 48% when compared to the comparable period of 2005. Dynetek"s research and development team continues to focus its efforts on compressed hydrogen and related storage requirements. During the first nine months of 2006 the Company continued to work with 9 different OEMs, including Ford, Hyundai, DaimlerChrysler and Nissan, to design, manufacture and deliver the hydrogen storage solution on 12 confidential development programs. On October 4, 2006 Heinz Portmann, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dynetek Industries Ltd., announced that the Board of Directors had reluctantly accepted the resignation of Robb Thompson, President and CEO effective December 31, 2006. Christian Rasche, Executive Director, Dynetek Europe GmbH, was appointed by the Board of Directors as the new President and CEO effective January 1, 2007. Mr. Thompson agreed to stay on as a director after December 31, 2006. (1) Earnings before interest, taxes, stock based compensation, non-cash foreign exchange, impairment of other assets, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is a non-GAAP measure and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Management believes EBITDA is a useful measure to assist in the assessment of Dynetek"s ability to generate cash flows from its operations. MANAGEMENT"S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS The following sets out management"s discussion and analysis of our financial position and results of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. The interim management"s discussion and analysis (MD&A) updates our annual MD&A included in our 2005 Annual Report to Shareholders, to which readers are referred. No update is provided where an item is not material or where there has been no material change from the discussion in our annual MD&A. Cylinder and system sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $24.6 million, up 39% from $17.7 million for the same period of 2005. Cylinder and system sales for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $8.3 million, up $2.7 million or 48% for the same period in 2005. The Canadian dollar to US dollar exchange rate averaged $1.13 during the first nine months of 2006 compared to $1.23 for the same period of 2005. Had the U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar exchange rate achieved the levels of the first nine months of 2005 in the first nine months of 2006, revenues would have been $0.8 million higher. The Canadian dollar to Euro exchange rate averaged $1.41 during the first nine months of 2006 compared to $1.44 for the same period of 2005. Had the Euro to Canadian dollar exchange rate achieved the levels of the first nine months of 2005 in the first nine months of 2006, revenues would have been $0.3 million higher. During the third quarter of 2006, customers who purchased the DyneCell fuel storage systems(R) for CNG included: Marubeni Metals Corp. (Japan), McNeilus Truck (United States), Iris Bus (Italy), Thomas Built Buses (United States), NEOMAN (Europe), Heuliez Bus (Europe), and Crane Carrier (United States). Customers who purchased hydrogen and other compressed gas fuel storage systems included: DaimlerChrysler (Germany), Hyundai (Korea), Ford Motor Company (United States), and Nissan (Japan). Research and development income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $1.6 million, down 27% or $0.6 million from the same period in 2005. Research and development income for the third quarter was $0.4 million, which is comparable to the same period of 2005. During the first nine months of 2006, Dynetek continued to be involved with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and 9 different Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), including Ford, Hyundai, DaimlerChrysler and Nissan, to design, manufacture and deliver the hydrogen storage solution on 12 confidential development programs. Revenues received from the OEMs regarding these projects are recorded on billing milestones outlined in the contracts and, therefore, timing differences occur between when costs are incurred and funding is received. Non-repayable cost shared monies received from NRCan are recorded as revenue in the period it is invoiced. During the first nine months of 2006, Dynetek received non-repayable cost shared monies of $0.5 million from NRCan for the development and testing of a 700bar (10000psi) complete fueling system. Investment and other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $0.1 million, comparable to the same period in 2005. In the third quarter of 2006, investment and other income was $13,000 compared to $12,000 for the same period of 2005. Cost of goods sold was $18.9 million for nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $13.1 million for the same period in 2005. Cost of goods sold was $6.4 million for three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $4.1 million for the same period in 2005. Corresponding contribution margins for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $5.7 million, or 23% of sales compared to $4.6 million or 26% of sales for the same period of 2005. Corresponding contribution margins for three months ended September 30, 2006 were $1.9 million, or 23% of sales compared to $1.5 million or 27% of sales for the same period of 2005. The reduction in the contribution margin for both the nine and three month periods is reflective of the increase in carbon fibre pricing over the last year and increased freight charges for expedited deliveries to European customers in the second and third quarter of 2006. General and administrative expense was $2.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, $0.3 million higher than the $2.5 million for the same period of 2005. General and administrative expense was $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, $0.1 million higher than $0.8 million for the same period of 2005. Overall general and administration costs decreased as a percentage of revenue from 13% in the first nine months of 2005 to 11% in the first nine months of 2006. Overall general and administration costs decreased as a percentage of revenue from 13% in the third quarter of 2005 to 10% in the third quarter of 2006. Research and product development expense was $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $2.3 million for the same period in 2005. Research and product development expense was $0.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 which is comparable to same period in 2005. Research and development expense consists of materials, labour and costs of benefits and overhead related to research and development activity. The majority of Dynetek"s research and development programs are co-funded with major OEMs and government (NRCan). The funding from the OEMs for the research and development programs is recorded as research and development revenue based on billing milestones outlined in the contracts. This can result in timing differences between when costs are incurred and funding is received. The government funding is recorded either as research and development income or loans. The cost shared monies received from NRCan, which are non-repayable, are recorded as research and development revenue in the period it is invoiced and the repayable government cost shared monies are recorded as a loan. Marketing expense was $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $0.2 million from $1.2 million for the same period of 2005. Marketing expense was $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $0.2 million from $0.3 million for the same period of 2005. Overall marketing expense was 5% of sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to 6% of sales for the same period of 2005. Overall marketing expense was 6% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to 5% of sales for the same period of 2005. The increase in the marketing expense is a result of an increase in commissions paid to outside agents. Interest expense was $22,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $nil for the same period of 2005. Interest expense was $22,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $nil for the same period of 2005. At September 30, 2006 the Company had drawn down $2.2 million on its operating line of credit compared to a $nil balance for the same period of 2005. Depreciation was $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, $0.2 million higher than the $0.9 million for the same period of 2005. Depreciation was $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, $0.1 million higher than the $0.3 million for the same period of 2005. Amortization was $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, which was $0.2 million higher than the same period of 2005. Amortization was $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, which is $0.1 million than the $0.1 million for the same period of 2005. Items included in amortization expense include certification costs, patents and deferred start-up costs for the European operation. Foreign exchange for nine months ended September 30, 2006 was a loss of ($0.2) million compared to a loss of ($0.7) million in the same period of 2005. Foreign exchange for three months ended September 30, 2006 was a loss of ($6,000) compared to a loss of ($0.4) million for the same period of 2005. Dynetek"s Canadian operation invoices the majority of its revenue in US dollars and the European operation invoices in Euros. The Company reports its results in Canadian dollars but the revenues are generated in US dollars, Euros and Canadian dollars. The foreign exchange loss in the first nine months of 2006 is a result of a weakening of the United States dollar against the Canadian dollar, resulting in a negative impact on the foreign denominated accounts receivable and cash when translating into Canadian dollars for financial reporting purposes and the settlement of accounts receivable transactions during the period. To minimize exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations, the Company began in the first quarter of 2006 using monthly forward contracts in order to reduce the foreign exchange translation exposure on accounts receivable, payables and cash. The effect of the monthly forward contracts was a net cash outflow of $57,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Impairment of other assets for nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $nil compared to a loss of ($0.5) million in the same period of 2005. Impairment of other assets for three months ended September 30, 2006 was $nil compared to a loss of ($0.5) million for the same period of 2005. Other long-term assets represented amounts receivable from a customer for which the Company agreed to revise the terms of repayment. As of September 30, 2005 based on current financial information provided by the customer during the third quarter of 2005, management believed the full amount of the receivable had been impaired and collection of the receivable was not likely to occur. This impairment resulted in the one time charge of $0.5 million being expensed in the income statement. Net Loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was ($0.2) million or ($0.01) per common share compared to a loss of ($1.8) million or ($0.09) per common share for the comparable period of 2005. Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was ($0.3) million or ($0.02) per common share compared to ($1.3) million or ($0.06) per common share for the same period of 2005. The reduction in the net loss for nine months ended September 30, 2006 is substantially the result of an increase in cylinder and system sales, a reduction of stock based compensation, no impairment of other assets and a decrease in the foreign exchange loss. The reduction in the net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2006 is substantially the result of an increase in cylinder and system sales, a reduction of stock based compensation, no impairment of other assets and a decrease in the foreign exchange loss, offset partially by a reduction of the contribution margin compared to the third quarter of 2005 and increases in depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets and deferred costs. VALVE DIVISION The Valve Division is focused entirely on research and development activities. During the first nine months of 2006 the Valve Division received no additional funding of non-repayable cost shared monies from NRCan compared to the $0.2 million received in 2005. Dynetek Europe GmbH ("Dynetek Germany") has progressed considerably since its inception in 2001 by obtaining cylinder and production certification, developing infrastructure, and marketing the DyneCell(R) primarily throughout Europe. In the nine months ended September 30, 2006 Dynetek Germany generated $15.0 million of revenue compared to $11.2 million in the same period of 2005. In the quarter ended September 30, 2006 the subsidiary generated $5.5 million of revenue compared to $2.9 million for the same period of 2005. Summary of Quarterly Results The following table shows selected unaudited financial information for the past nine quarters ending September 30, 2006. The information has been obtained from our quarterly unaudited financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP and, in the opinion of management, have been prepared using accounting policies consistent with the audited financial statements and include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the results of the interim periods. We expect our operating results to vary significantly from quarter to quarter and they should not be relied upon to predict future information. Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $1.9 million compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2005. Capital expenditures for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $1.1 million compared to $0.4 million for the same period in 2005. The increase in capital expenditures is due to plant expansion in Germany to meet the growing CNG demand for bus applications. The Company"s capital resource requirements consist of capital expenditures to maintain, expand and improve the existing production line. Financial Resources and Liquidity The Company"s principal liquidity requirements relate to the increase in working capital required to maintain our increase in sales. As at September 30, 2006 Dynetek had cash and cash equivalents of $1.2 million, compared to $2.6 million at June 30, 2006 and $2.8 million at December 31, 2005. Dynetek had a cash flow deficiency from operations of ($0.8) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and ($2.1) million for the three months ended September 30, 2006. Dynetek"s working capital level was $13.6 million at September 30, 2006, as a result of the growth of the Company"s revenues and the increase in production levels to meet demand. The Company"s investment in inventory resulted in an increase of $2.6 million to $13 million at September 30, 2006 from December 31, 2005. Work-in-progress represented by confirmed orders increased by $1.4 million to $4.0 million from December 31, 2005. Raw material levels increased by $1.9 million from December 31, 2005 to $5.0 million as a result of carbon fiber deliveries received at the end of September 2006. Finished goods inventory decreased by $0.7 million to $4.0 million from the December 31, 2005 levels. At September 30, 2006 accounts receivable were $7.4 million, an increase of $0.9 million when compared to December 31, 2005. The Company seeks to manage the collection of receivables and the payment of payables in a manner that working capital levels will continue to fund ongoing operations. Accounts payable at September 30, 2006 were $6.0 million, compared to $5.1 million as at December 31, 2005. The Company"s actual funding requirements will vary depending on a number of factors, including the increase of the CNG system sales on a global basis, the progress of research and development projects and the development of additional relationships with strategic partners. Dynetek remains committed to enhancing its technological leadership and remaining a market leader in the industrial gas fuel storage industry, including CNG and hydrogen. The long-term debt relates to repayable research and development funding supplied by NRCan. These agreements allow Dynetek to retain the intellectual property and to receive long-term funding. The debt is repayable only in the form of royalties based on specific related commercial product sales and is interest free. The Company has $0.2 million to be repaid in 2006. The Company believes that additional cost shared monies will continue to be available from governments and OEMs for future research and development projects. Dynetek continues to build on the strong strategic alliances with several major OEMs whereby confidential joint funding has been obtained to develop complete hydrogen fuel storage systems. Other research programs with strategic partners, such as government bodies, who provide financial and technical support, are also in place to explore other storage applications in the energy marketplace. At September 30, 2006, the Company had drawn down $2.2 million of a $5.0 million operating line of credit facility with a major chartered bank. Transactions with Related Parties For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company purchased under normal terms and conditions $7.6 million (2005 - $5.1 million) of material used in the production of lightweight fuel storage systems from Mitsubishi Rayon Corporation, a shareholder of the Company. Revenues from CNG cylinder and system sales in each quarter of 2006 are expected to increase over the comparative quarter in 2005. This growth is expected primarily from the Company"s existing European operations and from new opportunities primarily in bulk hauling and the Californian market. Revenue from compressed hydrogen cylinder and system sales will continue to vary on a quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year basis. This revenue is dependent on the compressed hydrogen storage requirements of OEMs and other industrial hydrogen companies. The Company is unable to influence the timing of the automotive OEM compressed hydrogen development programs. Research and development income is directly related to the Company"s plans for new products or processes which have the best opportunity of creating near-term revenues. The ability to generate funding from customers and partners dictates how much research and development occurs over any 12-month period. Timing differences can occur between when research and development costs are incurred and when revenue is invoiced and earned. Therefore a deficiency or surplus of revenues over expenditures may vary on a quarter-by-quarter basis. The Company"s goal over a twelve month fiscal period is be at least break-even with the research and development program. In the third quarter of 2006 the Company invested approximately $1.1 million in production expansion for the European operations. The Company believes with these expenditures in manufacturing assets and additional production space, it has the assets in place to support its current rate of growth and has no plans for any additional significant expenditures on capital assets during the remainder of 2006. The Company will continue to seek international opportunities for additional production locations to provide near-term ongoing revenue growth. Potential production strategic partnerships and opportunities to finance international growth are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. On November 2, 2006, the Company announced the signing of a letter of intent with Delphi Automotive Systems Do Brazil LTDA. ("Delphi SA"). Delphi SA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delphi Corp., of Troy, Michigan. The letter of intent records the intention of Dynetek and Delphi SA to negotiate a commercial agreement to establish an exclusive distributorship arrangement and the prospect for a manufacturing plant in Brazil for South America. The initial phase of the project provides for determining the market potential of Dynetek CNG cylinders and systems in Brazil. Delphi SA will introduce Dynetek CNG cylinders into Brazil for bus and passenger car applications. The Company continues to review all options to deal with growth and global prospects. As disclosed in March 2006, a Special Committee has been formed to review and advise the Board of Directors of strategic alternatives available to the Company for enhancing shareholder value, including, but not limited to, raising of capital, strategic partnerships or business combinations. Additional information relating to Dynetek Additional information concerning Dynetek, including the Company"s AIF, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Dynetek Industries Ltd. is a leading international company engaged in the design, manufacturing and marketing of fueling systems and high-pressure components including valves and regulators. The key component of the storage system is the DyneCell (R) cylinder, capable of storing high pressure gases including compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, and various industrial gases. Dynetek"s cylinder and fuel storage systems applications include but are not limited to: the transportation industry, including passenger automobiles, light and heavy-duty trucks, transit and school buses; the bulk hauling of compressed gases; and stationary storage or ground storage refueling applications. Dynetek will hold a conference call and web cast on Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 7:00 a.m. MST (9:00 a.m. EST) to discuss its Third Quarter 2006 financial and operating results and to provide an update on developments at the company. Participants in the continental United States and Canada can access the conference call at 1-800-741-3792. Participants calling from the UK geographic area can access the call at 1-800-528-0631 or 44-870-001-3131. Digital replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after the call is completed and until November 23, 2006. To access the replay in the continental United States or Canada call 1-800-558-5253 or from outside this geographic area, call 1-416-626-4100. To access the replay in the UK geographic area call 1-800-692-0831 or 44-870-000-3081. The confirmation number for the replay is 21307647. The audio web cast can be accessed on Dynetek"s web site at www.dynetek.com and it will be archived for replay for 30 days. Robb D. Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dynetek Industries Ltd., 4410-46 Avenue S.E., Calgary, Alberta, T2B 3N7, Tel: (403) 720-0262 Web: www.dynetek.com Source: Dynetek Industries Ltd.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1379
__label__wiki	0.820534	0.820534	U.S. Department of Education Awards $245 Million to Support High-Quality Public Charter Schools Contact: Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov The U.S. Department of Education announced today new grants totaling approximately $245 million under its Charter Schools Program (CSP), which funds the creation and expansion of public charter schools across the nation. Today’s grants are being awarded to state educational agencies and charter management organizations. The CSP supports the creation of high-quality public charter schools by providing start-up funds for new charter schools, strengthening accountability for charter school performance, sharing leading practices that enable school success, and ultimately, improving educational outcomes for students from high-need communities. The CSP has invested over $3 billion since the program’s inception in 1995 to states and charter school developers. In the past decade, CSP investments have enabled the launch of over 2,500 charter schools, serving approximately one million students. Through the CSP, the Department is committed to supporting the continued growth of excellent public charter schools that are closing equity gaps and improving student outcomes, and these schools’ community engagement and public accountability. “Ensuring that all students have access to an academically challenging and engaging education is critical to preparing them for college and career success,” said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. “Innovative charter schools are continuously developing new and impactful practices to close achievement gaps and provide all students with the skills and abilities they need to thrive. We are proud to support these efforts along with strong charter school authorizing and accountability, particularly given these grantees’ commitment to communities facing steep academic challenges.” This year’s state grant program awarded approximately $177 million in new grants to eight states. The investments will enable each state to run its own grant competition for charter school operators to support approximately 490 new and expanded public charter schools. This year’s CSP replication and expansion program awarded approximately $68 million in new grants to 15 high-quality, non-profit charter management organizations that serve students from low-income families. Today’s grantees have demonstrated success in serving students with significant educational needs and today’s grant awards will enable these organizations to open and expand approximately 180 new schools. Some of these charter management organizations are new CSP grantees, such as The Friends of the Bronx Charter School for Excellence, whose Bronx Charter School for Excellence was selected in 2012 as a National Blue Ribbon School. Today’s investments will enable their expansion from two schools to nine schools, ultimately serving approximately 3,000 students in New York and Connecticut. Today’s grantees also include IDEA Public Schools—a two-time prior grantee under this program, a 2015 Bright Spot in Hispanic Education, and the recipient of the 2016 Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools. IDEA will use today’s award to support the creation of 18 schools in Texas and Louisiana serving over 14,000 students. In addition, this funding will enable IDEA to evaluate its growth and expansion strategies, including its impact on student outcomes, college readiness and teacher and student retention. Please see below for the list of grantees, first year grant amounts, and total recommended funding (contingent on future Congressional appropriations). State Educational Agency Grantees: Grantee Name Total Recommended Funding California Department of Education Georgia Department of Education Louisiana Department of Education* Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Texas Education Agency* Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Note: Grantees are deferred FY 2015 applicants. Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools Grantees: State* AmethodCharter Schools Carmen High School of Science and Technology, Inc. Democracy Prep Public Schools Denver School of Science and Technology Equitas Academy Charter School, Inc. IDEA Public Schools InspireNOLA Charter Schools KIPP Foundation in Consortium with KIPP Regions NACA Inspired Schools Network National Center for Hebrew Language Charter School Excellence Propel Schools Foundation The Friends of the Bronx Charter School for Excellence, Inc. Tindley Network Schools* Uncommon Schools, Inc. Note: Grantee is a deferred FY 2014 applicant. *State reflects where the organization is based; school expansion sites funded under this grant may differ. Tags: Charter SchoolsPress Releases Find By Month	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1380
__label__cc	0.699135	0.300865	How Do You Prove My Case? Fees & Money Problems What if I Can't Work? Understanding the Legal Process What if I Can't Travel to Your Office? What is Compensation for "Pain and Suffering"? Protecting Your Legal Rights on Social Media Frequently Asked Legal Questions Accidents happen in the blink of an eye. One mistake, one misstep -- that's all it takes. But what if your injuries were out of your control? What if the accident wasn't your fault? You may be faced with some of the most stressful times in your life and feel completely alone. Most victims of accidents (and their families) have questions. They're not sure what to expect, what to do, how to deal with the insurance companies, or who to even contact for answers to their questions. At Edgar Snyder & Associates, we want to help. We've answered some of the most common questions we hear all the time from accident victims and our past clients. You Have Questions; We Have Answers After you're injured in an accident -- or a loved one is injured in an accident -- this may be one of your biggest questions. After scene of the accident...after the Emergency Room, after the shock has worn off...you may still face piles of medical bills, time off work, and a large amount of stress. There are a lot of factors that go into determining whether you have a case. Too often accident victims try to handle the insurance companies on their own, only to find out too late that they did something or said something that hurt their claim. The insurance companies have attorneys on their side fighting for them. If the insurance company is trying to offer you a settlement, wants you to give a recorded statement, or is giving you the run-around, you may need a lawyer. Attorney fees can vary, so you may not be sure what you're getting into when you hire one. That's why you need to look for a law firm that works on what's called a contingency fee basis, which means that it doesn't charge any fees unless and until they get you a successful verdict or settlement. If you don't win your case, you won't owe anything. At Edgar Snyder & Associates, there's never a fee unless we get money for you. The amount that you receive for your case -- whether you decide to settle with the insurance company or continue on in the legal process -- can vary by thousands of dollars. Just as there are many factors that determine whether you have a case, the same holds true for the amount your case is worth. Every accident is different, but you can find out how we determine your case is worth. Ask accident victims what they fear the most, and quite often you'll hear them talk about the piles of medical bills. That's why one of the most common questions injury victims have is, "Who pays my medical bills?" How Can I Protect My Rights? For years we've talked about ‘protecting your rights' at Edgar Snyder & Associates. But recently we wondered what accident victims believe that actually means. What rights do you have as an accident victim, and how do you ‘protect' them? So you have a case…now what? What do we do at Edgar Snyder & Associates to prove your case? What goes into getting you a successful outcome? How Much Time Do I Have to File a Claim? In today's busy world, time matters. Every second counts, and the moments after an accident or injury are no exception. Many accident victims aren't sure how long they have to file a claim. You may have heard the phrase "pain and suffering," but wonder what it means. Accident victims can receive compensation for "pain and suffering" after for a variety of reasons. What Should I Know About Social Media to Protect My Rights? Social media has become part of our lives, but there are several things you should know about how it can affect your legal rights after an accident. If you were injured in an accident and need help from an attorney, you may not be able to make it to our office. You may be in a hospital, in a rehabilitation facility, or stuck at home. If you can't make it to us, we'll come to you. If you were injured in an accident, hurt on the job, or need Social Security disability benefits, you may worry how you're going to pay your bills. Learn your legal options now. Why Do I Need an Attorney? Victim died of injuries in a work-related accident Client required multiple surgeries Motorcycle Accident Victim	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1382
__label__wiki	0.504434	0.504434	Solving West Lothian If my writing has any purpose it is to question assumptions. It is for this reason above all that I attract rather a lot of name calling. One of the aspects of modern life that I deplore is that people are scared to say what they think. They are scared to say anything controversial in case they are surrounded by a mob saying you’re not a democrat, or you are a racist or you have transgressed any of the other unforgivable sins of modern life. Politicians are so scared to say anything controversial that they end up saying nothing at all. They repeat platitudes or repeat statistics or repeat slogans. It all ends up being desperately dull and useless. We end up with the government we deserve because we wish to jump on anything a politicians says that is remotely out of the ordinary as an unforgivable gaffe. If any politician told the truth about, for instance, the NHS, that it is considerably worse than equivalent health services in Germany or France, they would be immediately condemned as sinning against our dear NHS. But nevertheless what they said would be true. We all know this to be the case, we whisper it sometimes to each other, but please don’t tell us the truth. I don’t play this game. I’m not a politician, just a woman who writes what she thinks. I assume that my opponents are people of good will just as I am. I may attempt to point out that their assumptions lead to this or that undesirable outcome, but this does not change my respect for them as people of good will. That is how I argue. Likewise if I question the assumptions that you have long held about some aspect of the politics of Scotland please don’t assume that this is because I am a person of ill will. It may be that I am wrong. The discovery of this is also the purpose of putting forward an argument. But please look back at the articles that I have written. You will normally find that I have built up a case for my position and that its implications have been thought through. Your 140 character tweet saying Effie is a this, or Effie is a that begins to look comical in that context. You will find that I am not, or at least you will find something rather more subtle. When diagnosing a problem with a car’s engine it is necessary to go to the root of the problem rather than tinker with the symptoms. Doing a bodge will not in the end help you. Rather if something is wrong with the engine you need to strip it down and remove and replace the part that is causing the trouble. The UK started to go wrong in 1997 with the establishment of the devolved “national” parliaments. There were a few people back then, notably Tam Dalyell, who warned of the problems that would arise but they were ignored by those with lesser minds. The Scottish Parliament in particular is directly responsible for the rise of Scottish nationalism and the destruction of the Labour Party in Scotland. The idea that giving it more power will lessen the appeal of nationalism is like arguing that pouring petrol on a fire will lessen the heat. We have seen this ably illustrated in the past year. When Gordon Brown et al made their Vow it didn’t lessen the appeal of nationalism it rather increased it. It is sad and tragic, but Gordon is liable to go down in history as some character from a Greek play. He strives so hard to be Prime Minister but doesn’t dare go to the electorate when he can win and from then on the thing that he has cherished so long turns to dust. He has the chance of redemption by saving the Union just as once before he had saved the world, but his promise destroys not only his own seat but all bar one of this friends. Would that Gordon had kept silent. Would that there had been no Vow. We would have won anyway, we would have won easily. Such a feeble loss of nerve has led directly to where we are now. When the Smith Commission tried to implement the Vow how many Yes voters did they turn back to the parties of the Union? I suspect none were turned back. On the contrary the Smith Commission fed the insatiable desire for ever more power. It just poured petrol on the flames. The Vow gambit has failed utterly, but it has failed both ways. The SNP has broken the promise they made in the Edinburgh agreement that. We all spent years of our lives expecting a "referendum that is legal and fair producing a decisive and respected outcome.” We commiserated with opponents who had lost only to find out immediately that they had broken their promise. The SNP and supporters immediately broke their vow, why on earth should we keep ours? Smith has served no purpose. It has made the situation worse not better. For this reason it should immediately be dropped. Oh but would that not inflame the situation? How many extra votes would be added to the SNP’s tally if we dropped Smith like a hot coal? None at all. But it would raise an enormous cheer from our side. When will politicians learn the lesson of the past 20 years that trying to appease nationalism only inflames it? It’s not as if granting one more little wafer thin mint of a concession is going to make the SNP want independence any less. It just takes them one step closer to their goal. Rather the answer is that we don’t make any concessions, but rather start going in the opposite direction. But wouldn’t breaking our Vow show that we are just as bad as them? No. Because in fact by breaking our Vow would could fulfil it to an even greater extent. The key is to fulfil the promise of more powers in a different way. We must increase devolution, but we must do so evenly and equally throughout the UK. Devolving to “national” parliaments is the problem as it encourages nationalism. The way to solve this problem is to devolve beyond these parliaments. The UK should be divided up into regions. The number of people living in each region is a matter for debate. But power in Scotland should be devolved to Grampian and Highland if not Aberdeenshire and Sutherland. These regions should have the power that is presently devolved to the Scottish parliament. We must bypass Holyrood. But wouldn’t that make the Scottish parliament obsolete? Quite so. Perhaps it could find a useful purpose as a conference centre or an art gallery. With these regions we could have a federation like Germany or the USA and just like in those countries nationalism would be for a few extremists on the fringes. We would have much more devolution than hitherto. Moreover it would be fair, democratic and local. It would also solve the West Lothian question. Everyone in the UK would have the same degree of local power and everyone would have the same national parliament. All MPs would be equal and all would have equal say in the running of our country. There would above all be no need for English votes for English laws (EVEL) as English people would have just the same amount of devolution as people from Grampian or Highland. There are bound to be objections. People say it would be costly. In fact this sort of model of devolution in Switzerland is considerably less costly than what we have in the UK. Some English people say they don’t want such devolution. They’d rather see Scotland become independent. I am frankly becoming tired of living in a country where so few of my compatriots appear to care about the country we’ve all been living in for centuries. In no other country in the world are so many people hostile to the nation state in which they live. It is folly and it is decadent. If the UK becomes a failed state do you really think your lifestyle will remain intact just as it is right now? Sorry. Divorce would be messy and would have unforeseen consequences. It would diminish all of us in ways you cannot even quite imagine. David Cameron has an absolute majority in Parliament. He can between elections do pretty much anything he pleases. He must do what it takes to make the UK work better. He must not merely tinker with the symptoms, but must reform the UK to make us stronger and more united. We have a problem of nationalism. Here is the solution. It kills nationalism stone dead, because we go beyond it. The nationalists would kick up a fuss. They might even organise an unauthorised referendum. The trouble with such a referendum however, is that they might find that they win one hundred percent of the vote. Anyway they could safely be ignored. Such radical reform to the UK would take effort and would require us to question all of our assumptions, but it would turn us into a stronger, fairer and much more democratic country. Of course, having made such changes we’d need to wait at least 20-30 years before looking again at constitutional issues again. Wouldn’t it be worth it just for that alone? It would fix the engine. I think it would be worth it. From then on we could run smoothly. It would save our country. If you like my writing, you can find my books Scarlet on the Horizon, An Indyref Romance and Lily of St Leonards on Amazon. Please follow the links on the side. Thanks. I appreciate your support. Labels: "The vow", Scottish Devolution, Scottish independence, Scottish National Party, Scottish parliament, Scottish Politics, West Lothian question The debate about the EU must be about democracy Marriage has no purpose now Dazzling with an excess of truth The positive view of the SNP is only shared by ins... A Letter from Scotland to America. Отбрасывая лестницу The Poundzone and the Eurozone follow the same log... What we achieved twice running Throwing away the ladder It’s hatred of Tories that is destroying Labour in... What's so great about Britain?	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1384
__label__cc	0.718532	0.281468	Your Expedia Travel Blog for Canada Travel Sensations Great Canadian Road Trip On the Horizon: 6 New Cruise Ships Arriving in 2020 Ming Tappin, January 13, 2020 Best Winter Waterfalls in the World Expedia Canada, January 13, 2020 What to do in Vancouver in Winter Fitness Breaks CoupleEuropeFrequent FlyerFriendsSingle 5 Berlin Museums You Won’t Want to Miss! Audrey Bergner — April 21, 2015 If there’s one thing Berlin has no shortage of, it’s museums. This city has a staggering 175 art galleries and museums for visitors to choose from, which can make it a little difficult to narrow down your options. That’s why I’m highlighting a selection of favourites which offer a nice mix of history, art and odd curiosities. The German Historical Museum is a must-see for anyone visiting Berlin. This museum showcases around 1500 years of German history in chronological order, providing a comprehensive window at the major events that took place in this region from the years 500 to 1994 . The first floor covers everything from the Middle Ages to the First World War, while the ground floor guides visitors through the Weimar Republic, the rise of National Socialism, the Second World War, a divided Germany, and lastly reunification. The exhibits are riveting and help put history into perspective. Museum Island is the name given to the northern tip of the Spree Island, which houses 5 world-renowned museums. These include the Pergamon Museum, which houses reconstructions of archaeological buildings; the Bode-Museum, which focuses on Byzantine art; the Neues Museum, which is home to artifacts from Ancient Egypt; the Alte Nationalgalerie, which covers everything from Impressionism to Realism; and the Altes Museum, which holds Greek and Roman antiquities. Needless to say, it’s impossible to see it all in one day. If you’re keen to tackle all of them, it’s worth getting the 72 Hour Welcome Card with the added Museum Island option; this will give you access to all five museums and allow you to skip the lines. Currywurst Museum For a rather unusual experience, make your way over to the Currywurst Museum where you can sample some sausage and learn about the craze this fast-food item has created in Berlin. The dish consists of a pork sausage that is first steamed and then fried. The wurst is then cut into slices and topped with a curry ketchup. The result is pure magic! The creation of this dish is attributed to Herta Heuwer who did a little experimenting in her kitchen after she obtained ketchup and curry powder from British troops. She started selling this culinary creation at her food stand back in 1949 and Berlin’s cuisine hasn’t been the same since. DDR Museum DDR stands for Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic) and it refers to the not so democratic state that was once East Germany. The DDR Museum focuses on the every day life of those who lived on the east side of the wall and it documents the unique culture that emerged as a result of their isolation. This interactive museum allows visitors to step back into East Germany and rummage through kitchen cupboards, watch the shows that would have played on TV and sit inside the car that the average family would have owned – the Trabi. Checkpoint Charlie Museum Checkpoint Charlie was the name given to the former crosspoint between East Berlin and West Berlin. It is a checkpoint that many tried to escape through on their quest for freedom in the West. Today the Checkpoint Charlie Museum offers a look at original artifacts used during infamous escapes from East Germany, including everything from escape cars to hot air balloons. What’s your favourite Berlin museum? Tags: berlincultureGermanymuseums Next post A Non-Gamblers Guide to Las Vegas Previous post Cancun About the Author Audrey Bergner Audrey Bergner is a travel blogger and YouTuber with an insatiable case of wanderlust. She has spent the past few years crisscrossing the globe with a notebook in one hand and a camera in the other. Top Things to Do in Toronto Karli Mauldin, January 25, 2018 23 of the Most Luxurious Vacations Around the World Carolyn Albee, January 18, 2018 9 Reasons You Must Visit Mexico This Year Kohleun Adamson, August 22, 2017 Expedia compensates some authors, which may include travel and other costs. Rod Vincent Yabes Audrey Bergner That was one of my favourites too. It’s amazing to see the structures they hold in there – especially the Ishtar Gate and the Pergamon Altar. January 13, 2020 On the Horizon: 6 New Cruise Ships Arriving in 2020 January 13, 2020 Best Winter Waterfalls in the World January 10, 2020 What to do in Vancouver in Winter January 6, 2020 4 Things You Need to Know About Ocean Cay, MSC’s Private Island Paradise January 3, 2020 Best Cities for Unique Winter Activities in Canada Expedia exists to facilitate travel. No matter where you're going or why, we believe that you should be able to plan a trip and go with ease. Our travel blog provides inspiration, vacation ideas, pragmatic advice about booking, and a bit of insight into travelers' lives. We hope it helps you go places. Create Packages	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1386
__label__wiki	0.591006	0.591006	Home / News & Comment / Family Asset Protection - LGBT* clients and alternative families Family Asset Protection - LGBT* clients and alternative families Date:27 SEP 2019 Elizabeth Hicks Bryony Choy Family Asset Protection – LGBT* clients and alternative families In the summer of the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall riots, the LGBT* community have a lot to celebrate. In the last 15 years, there have been significant changes for same-sex couples in England and Wales. In 2004 the Civil Partnership Act 2004 legally recognised the union of same-sex couples. In the same year, the Gender Recognition Act 2004 allowed individuals to change their legal gender and in 2013 the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 finally legalised same-sex marriage in England and Wales. In family law, LGBT* couples and families have many of the same legal issues to deal with as heterosexual couples, but there are also various issues which are unique to the LGBT* community. There are still nuances in the legislative landscape which affect same-sex couples differently to opposite-sex couples, and which affect trans couples differently to cisgender couples. There are also legal considerations relevant to those in less traditional family structures, whether LGBT* or not. In England, Scotland and Wales, if a same-sex couple want to legalise their relationship, they are free to choose between civil partnerships and marriage; but in Northern Ireland, while same-sex couples are able to register a civil partnership, they are still unable to get married. The recent and high-profile case of Owens v Owens in the summer of 2018 drew attention to the somewhat archaic divorce laws in England and Wales. While the Government has recently announced plans to reform the divorce process to remove the concept of ‘fault’, at present there is only one ground for divorce or the dissolution of a civil partnership, being the irretrievable breakdown of the relationship. As of the date of publication, this must be proved on the basis of one of five facts: Adultery* and the other person finds it intolerable to live with them. The other person has behaved in such a way that you cannot reasonably be expected to live with them – also known as ‘unreasonable behaviour’. Two years’ separation and the other party consents. Five years’ separation. Desertion. Broadly speaking, the basis for divorce is the same for same-sex and opposite-sex couples. The key difference in practice lies with the definition of ‘adultery’. At present, the law defines adultery as sexual intercourse with a person of the opposite sex. The result is that sexual contact with a person of the same-sex does not count as ‘adultery’ and a person in a same-sex marriage seeking to get divorced on the basis of their spouse’s infidelity with a person of the same sex would need to do so by alleging ‘unreasonable behaviour’ rather than their adultery. An invaluable guide to this rapidly evolving area... Family Law Webinars One hour of training for just £75+VAT. Our 2019... Unlocking Matrimonial Assets on Divorce A practical and user friendly guide to the more... Same Sex Marriage and Civil Partnerships Provides an authoritative commentary,... An invaluable guide to this rapidly... In England and Wales, it is also possible to bring a marriage to an end by obtaining an annulment. Unlike a divorce, an annulment can be obtained at any time after the wedding (in a divorce, couples must wait at least a year after the wedding) and is usually pursued instead of a divorce for religious reasons. When a marriage is annulled it is treated as though it never existed and was never valid. A marriage can be annulled for a number of reasons including for instance because a party did not properly consent to the marriage. It can also be annulled on the grounds that the marriage was never consummated – but this only applies to opposite-sex couples. Same-sex couples cannot get an annulment of their marriage on the basis of non-consummation. There are also legal considerations that may be of particular note to trans individuals and trans allies. At present, under the Gender Recognition Act 2004, if a person applies for a Gender Recognition Certificate ('GRC') while married, they must obtain their spouse’s consent before the GRC will be issued. If the spouse gives their consent, then a GRC can be issued and the couple can choose whether or not to obtain a new marriage certificate. The marriage itself remains unaffected by the GRC and change of gender of one of the spouses. However, if the spouse refuses to provide their consent to a GRC, then the marriage must be brought to an end before a GRC will be issued. If a person applies for a GRC while in a civil partnership, the rules are slightly more complicated and are different if both partners want to apply for gender recognition at the same time. If just one partner wants to apply for a GRC, the civil partnership must be converted into a marriage first, and then the spouse must provide their consent. If either partner does not want to convert the civil partnership into a marriage, then the civil partnership must be dissolved before a GRC will be issued. Where a partner refuses to provide their consent to a GRC, an individual can apply for an interim GRC, which can be used to apply to the court to annul the marriage or civil partnership and bring it to an end. The application for annulment, called a nullity petition, must be made within 6 months of the issue of the interim GRC. Once the annulment is granted, the court may then issue a full GRC. There are also legal considerations to note when it comes to inheritance. Many wills specify who things should go to in a gendered way e.g. '50,000 to my eldest son'. What this means will depend on when the will was made. For instance, if the will was made on or after 4 April 2005 (when the GRA 2004 came into force), a trans woman who acquired a GRC would not be able to inherit something left to a son, but would be able to inherit something left to a daughter. If the will was made before 4 April 2005, then for succession purposes, a trans woman would be treated as being the sex listed on her birth certificate. A trans woman who had been registered as male at birth would be able to inherit something left to a son, but not something left to a daughter. As trustees and personal representatives are not obliged to ask whether beneficiaries hold GRCs, it can be important that trans individuals speak to the trustees and personal representatives of the deceased directly to prevent this rule being applied incorrectly and to ensure that they receive their inheritance. Non-traditional routes to parenthood and alternative families Legal parenthood is important for a number of reasons including citizenship, child arrangements orders (i.e. contact and residence), child maintenance payments and inheritance consequences. There is an existing common law presumption that where an opposite-sex couple marry, the husband is presumed to be the legal father of a child born during the marriage. There is no equivalent presumption as to the identity of a child’s parents in a same-sex marriage. Where a surrogate is involved, the surrogate is automatically the child’s legal parent, even if they are not genetically related. If the surrogate is married, the child’s other legal parent will automatically be the surrogate’s spouse, even if they are not genetically related. It is possible to change the legal parents by obtaining a Parent Order from the courts, but a number of conditions must be met before the Order will be granted – including obtaining the surrogate’s consent. Where a sperm donor is involved in a surrogacy arrangement, the legal position on parenthood depends on the couple’s relationship to the donor. A sperm donor from a licensed clinic who does not know the couple will not be the legal parent of any child born as a result of the surrogacy. However, if a couple uses a sperm donor who they do know, for instance a friend, the situation is much more complex. The sperm donor will not be the legal father of the child if the couple he donates to are married or in a civil partnership. If there is no second legal parent (i.e. he donates his sperm to someone who is not in a civil partnership or marriage), he might be the legal father, depending on whether he donated through a clinic, at home, what paperwork was in place and what the parties intended. If there is no second legal parent and donation is ‘natural’ rather than artificial, the sperm donor is the legal father irrespective of what the parents agree or what is on the birth certificate. It is important for sperm donors to recognise that as the legal parent, they then have legal obligations towards the child – to include being liable for child maintenance. For the surrogate they need to be aware that another legal parent can make an application to court for a child arrangements order which can include making an application for the child to live with the legal parent or to have contact with them. Adoption involves the transfer of legal parental responsibility from one person to another and must be done through a court order. You do not need to be married or in a civil partnership to adopt, but you must be aged 21 or older and the consent of both birth parents is usually required unless there are exceptional circumstances. This article was first published by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. Reproduced with permission. Equal treatment of same sex couples in English family law? Same Sex Marriage – essential update Authors: Amy Royce-Greensill Same sex marriage in Northern Ireland… finally? Authors: Kathryn Evans Scott Halliday Mutual and mirror wills: the same or similar? Authors: Ally Tow	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1388
__label__wiki	0.847801	0.847801	Home » Places Art » Bellbird And Silvereye Bellbird And Silvereye Artist/Collection: Keulemans, John Gerrard Fine art print inspired by John Gerrard Keulemans. Features Bellbird (Anthornis melanura) and Silvereye (Zosterops lataeralis). Buller said of the Tui: "The early colonists named it the Parson bird, in allusion to the peculiar tufts of white feathers that adorn its throat, and their fancied resemblance to the clerical bands. To those who are familiar with the bird in its native woods, this name is certainly appropriate; for when indulging in its strain of wild notes it displays these “bands,” and gesticulates in a manner forcibly suggestive of the declamatory style of preaching,..t is incessantly on the move, pausing only to utter its joyous notes. The early morning is the period devoted to melody, and the Tuis then perform in concert, gladdening the woods with their wild ecstacy. Besides their chime of five notes (always preceded by a key-note of preparation), they indulge in a peculiar outburst which has been facetiously described as “a cough, a laugh, and a sneeze,” and a variety of other notes, fully entitling it to be ranked as a songster." Buller said of the Silvereye "The story of the irregular appearance of this little bird in New Zealand has for many years past been a fruitful topic of discussion among those who take an interest in our local natural history. Whether it came over to us originally from Australia, or whether it is only a species from the extreme south of New Zealand, which has of late years perceptibly increased, and has migrated northwards, is still PAGE 78 a matter of conjecture. The evidence which, with Sir James Hector’s assistance, I have been able to collect on this subject is somewhat conflicting; but I have myself arrived at the conclusion that the Silver-eye, although identical with the Australian bird, is in reality an indigenous species." Walter Buller KCMG (1838 - 1906) was a New Zealand lawyer and naturalist. His work, "A History of the Birds of New Zealand", was first published in 1873 and as an extended version in 1888. It is regarded as a classic of ornithology and New Zealand wildlife and describes several now extinct birds. The artist who illustrated the birds was John Gerrard Keulemanns, regarded as one of the finest wildlife illustrators of all time. Tags: new zealand Tui Or Parson Bird (Prosthemadera Novaeseelandiae) Huia (extinct). Heteralocha Acutirostris Tui (II) (Prosthemadera Novaeseelandiae)	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1389
__label__cc	0.527062	0.472938	Elixinol Global, Resignation of Chief Innovation Officer Elixinol Global Limited (Elixinol or the Company) (ASX:EXL; OTCQX:ELLXF) today announces that its Chief Innovation Officer, Paul Benhaim, has resigned for personal reasons, effective immediately. Mr Benhaim will continue as a director of the Company in a non executive capacity. Mr Benhaim said “I co-founded Elixinol in 2014, Hemp Foods Australia in 1999 and have been involved in the hemp industry for over 25 years. It’s time for me to take time out to spend more time with my family. I look forward to continuing to work with the Board and the management team in an ongoing director capacity to deliver on the growth opportunities that lie ahead for the Company.”	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1390
__label__wiki	0.806533	0.806533	Bos/Hrv/Mne/Srp Multimédia / Films ESI dans la presse Why Kosovo needs migration. From research to policy Berlin – Pristina Click here to view this document as a PDF file in A4 format. To download the PDF file to your computer, right-click here, select "Save Link/Target As..." in the contextmenu and choose a destination on your hard disk. If you are having problems opening this PDF file, please click here for help. Please note that the PDF version of this document also contains footnotes that are not used in its web version. This document is also available in Albanian. Make it in Germany Edited version of ESI 2006 report Cutting the Lifeline With a new introduction MAKE IT IN GERMANY? (2015) "There is a shortage of qualified professionals in the profession you wish to pursue in Germany. A list of vacancies is available here. You have received a binding job offer. Your qualification has been recognised as being equivalent to a German qualification. Further information on the recognition of vocational credentials is available here. You will have to apply to have your qualifications recognised while you're still in your home country … Due to the increasing number of elderly people, the need for caregivers in Germany is also increasing. It is predicted that there will be a shortage of up to 152,000 caregivers in 2025." "Make it in Germany" website/portal www.make-it-in-germany.com/en In 2005 ESI undertook research on rural poverty, migration and remittances in Kosovo. Our conclusions were published in 2006 in a report called "Cutting the Lifeline"[1] that showed how migration had been a necessity for many generations of young men in particular. The report also examined how after 1999, the European doors to legal work migration closed, and only the lucky few with close family in the diaspora could migrate through family reunification schemes.[2] In the report, we described in detail the economic realities of two villages that are representative of the wider social and economic situation in Kosovo: Cerrce, located in north-west Kosovo on the border with Albania, and Lubishte, situated in the mountainous southeast. Our findings clearly showed that economic development, without significant numbers of people leaving such villages to find work, skills and capital elsewhere, is simply inconceivable. In the decade after our research was concluded little has changed anywhere in Kosovo. In 2005 a Labour Force Survey showed an employment rate of only 29 percent among 15 to 64 year olds (and only 12 percent among women).[3] The 2013 Labour Force Survey was no less dramatic, with an employment rate of 28.4 percent (12.9 percent among women).[4] Close to ninety percent of adult women are not working and have no prospect of ever finding a job. Snapshot of two villages in 2005 Cerrce 1,311 residents, 766 of working age, 231 have a regular cash income. All old industries in nearby towns are gone. Commercial agriculture has collapsed. The largest sources of income are casual construction and the public-sector. Only 35 women are employed (a female employment rate of nine percent). The average household has 1.1 hectares of land. Only two farmers own more than ten cows. Family farms produce almost exclusively for own consumption – wheat to bake their own bread; no specialization; no new crops or techniques. In Cerrce a third of the village population (607) is then living abroad and 14 of 30 tractors are bought with money earned abroad. 100 households own cars: 45 were bought with remittances. Lubishte 1,534 residents, 842 of working age, 134 have a regular cash income. Only two women are employed – less than one percent. A typical farmer has five calves, three milk cows and one bull. He can produce flour to bake bread for ten months. Inputs are expensive. To survive in agriculture he would need more land. This requires savings he will never accumulate through agricultural sales. Across Kosovo, agriculture generates less cash than is invested. In Lubishte 91 of 97 tractors were bought with money earned abroad. 147 households own cars: 137 of these were bought with remittances. Today there are almost no jobs available that allow Kosovo villagers to work while living in their village homes. Nor are there any job opportunities that would pay enough to make moving to a town economically viable. This means that for a rural resident it makes more sense to look for work in Germany than in Pristina, Peja or Prizren, despite the cost and all of the obvious hardships that come with relocation. Policy recommendations – then and now In 2006 ESI made four recommendations to European and Kosovar policy makers: 1. For the EU to talk about Kosovo's development it needs to explore options for regular migration. "This report contains an unwelcome message for EU member states: it is simply incoherent to invest hundreds of millions of euros in the stabilisation of Kosovo, and at the same time to slam the door so abruptly on any further migration." "Unless Europeanisation includes at least some focus on migration and some access to European labour markets, it will remain no more than a slogan. Current EU policy – to continue to invest tens of millions of Euro to stabilize Kosovo and South Eastern Europe without a credible development and migration policy – is incoherent." 2. Opening up possibilities for regular migration that would benefit Kosovars and European labour markets would also prevent irregular migration. "European countries should work with Kosovar authorities to set in place work migration schemes to parts of the European Union in need of labour, in a way that is politically acceptable to European countries. It would require concrete steps to help Kosovars gain access to EU labour markets." 3. Kosovo should make labour migration policy – including circular migration schemes – central to any debate on development. This requires building up analytical capacity and institutions for this and looking abroad for inspiration, from Ireland to Poland: "Kosovo should set up a national institution to manage the economic, social and legal implications of migration. Such an institution would need to focus not only on Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the classic destinations of Kosovars, but on the whole European labour market. It should study experiences with work migration from around the world." 4. Kosovo should define education and social policies with this in mind. If there are special needs in European labour markets, Kosovars with skills (vocational and languages) will be much more successful, for themselves, for their families and for the EU countries where they will work. A Kosovo migration institute should control the progress and "provide feedback to education institutions and policy makes in Kosovo on the needs of European labour market and their implications for education and training." Developments in late 2014 and early 2015 have alarmed EU policy makers, as more than one hundred thousand Kosovars illegally crossed the EU border, often ending up using the asylum system as the only way for them to gain a foothold in the EU. This report offers some answers to European policy makers wondering why this is happening. Most importantly, there are constructive ways to respond to this new migration challenge. Take Germany, the preferred destination of Kosovo migrants today. According to Der Spiegel there are today some 50 million people working in Germany. Current trends will lead to a decline of 10 million in the next 15 years.[5] If 150,000 young people now residing in Kosovo find a regular job in Germany by 2030, both societies would benefit. Such an objective – call it the "150,000 by 2030" vision – would require serious reforms of the Kosovo education system as well. The training schemes to make large-scale regular migration a win-win situation are currently not available anywhere in rural Kosovo. At this moment a whole generation of young rural women are condemned to a life where they will always be dependent and never have any regular work experience. This fact alone will prevent Kosovo's economy from catching up with its neighbours in the coming generation. Last year the number of students in public vocational schools in Kosovo was 55,800. How many among them will be able to successfully fill a position for which there is demand in an EU economy? How many are learning foreign languages? On 16 April 2015 the German-Kosovar Chamber of Commerce signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to send young people above the age of 18 to Germany to be trained in certain fields and work in German companies. Such small projects are no more than a start. For similar projects to address the huge social challenges outlined here a wider policy debate on the future of Kosovo migration is needed. This debate has started in German media already.[6] It is high time for it to be taken up by the Kosovo political elite as well. "People have no faith in the potential of individuals to break from the status quo and bring about change. There is instead a vague assumption that one day everyone, all at once, will change the way they live, that at the same time all parents will send daughters to high school or let sons choose their own wives. No one believes that one individual or family can challenge the force of public opinion." Janet Reineck, The Past As Refuge I. INTRODUCTION (2006) Current policy debates in Kosovo fail to address what might well be the most important development issue facing Kosovo today: the impact of migration. As a result, one of the most destabilising changes to affect Kosovo society for generations – the end of the era of mass migration – risks being entirely overlooked by those responsible for promoting stability and prosperity in Kosovo. This report seeks to put migration at the heart of debates about the future of Kosovo. It analyses the impact of the end of mass migration since 1999, taking two, typical villages in particular as illustrations for the forces that have been set in motion in rural Kosovo. Its core thesis is certain to be uncomfortable for European policy makers: if young Kosovars are no longer able to come to Europe as migrant workers, the current crisis in rural Kosovo is certain to deepen, and the outcome is likely to be serious instability. The basic dilemma of rural Kosovo is not new. In 1979, the World Bank wrote that poverty in Yugoslavia is "basically rural." While it held out hopes for employment growth in most of the less developed regions, it did not see much prospect of change in Kosovo. "The exception is Kosovo, which cannot, even under optimistic assumptions and even if the plan's growth targets are achieved, be expected to absorb the increments to its labour force."[7] Since then, Kosovo's population has continued to grow rapidly, but neither the number of jobs nor the availability of agricultural land has kept pace. With no real prospect of employment within Kosovo and little or no support from the state, generations of Kosovars have taken the migration route to Germany or Switzerland – often with great reluctance – as the only available means of survival. Currently, EU member states restrict labour migration. Countries which have allowed labour mobility, such as Ireland and the United Kingdom, have second thoughts, despite the strong evidence of the economic benefits it has brought them. Against this political background, suggesting that there needs to be serious reflection across Europe about labour migration from Kosovo may appear to be tilting at windmills. But the alternative, to try to stabilise Kosovo society in the absence of any positive economic dynamics, is equally quixotic. The foreign ministries of Europe are struggling with the question of how to craft a lasting political solution for Kosovo. The overriding objective of Europe's interior ministries is to prevent any further migration from the Balkans. These two objectives are fundamentally inconsistent. This report explores what this means for policy, for both European and Kosovo institutions. But there is also an uncomfortable message for Kosovo policy makers in this report. In the post-war period, policy makers have been content with the comfortable notion that remittances from a generous Kosovo Albanian diaspora are able to keep rural Kosovo afloat, despite the absence of any credible agricultural or rural development policies. However, massive migration and large flows of remittances in recent decades have not actually promoted development in rural Kosovo. They have simply maintained the status quo. In doing so, they have helped to preserve one of Europe's oldest and most conservative institutions: the patriarchal Balkan family. The traditional, multi-family household, once common across the former Yugoslavia but now found only in Kosovo, has helped protect Kosovo Albanians in the face of weak or hostile state institutions. It has also contributed to the lowest rates of female employment in Europe, serious underinvestment in education and a general lack of innovation and entrepreneurship. Its survival can no longer be taken for granted. If, as seems likely, the traditional family is entering a process of dissolution, the consequences for rural society will be profound. Kosovo urgently needs continued migration to maintain social stability. However, a society that resolves its labour surplus problems solely through migration, as Kosovo has done for decades, reverts to instability once the safety valve of migration is shut off. Kosovo therefore also needs a social and institutional revolution in its countryside. The starting point for this has to be a reflection on the economic forces and value systems that have kept alive patriarchal family structures, on the status of rural women and above all on the role the Kosovo government can play to break a vicious circle of underdevelopment. II. HOW MIGRATION STOPPED A. Boys on trains Migration has been a defining feature of Kosovo society for decades, just as it was in the past for generations of Irish, Greeks or Spaniards (or, in previous centuries, Germans or Swedes). Throughout the 20th century, rural Kosovo households survived and occasionally prospered by sending their men abroad as migrant labourers, to remain away from the family for most of the year. They became construction workers, agricultural labourers or ice-cream vendors. In the more distant past, they went to Istanbul and Thessaloniki; then, in the socialist era, to Zagreb or Belgrade (and were famed throughout the former Yugoslavia for their patisseries). In the late 1960s, the migration route went further west, to serve the needs of growing European economies for 'guest workers'. Kosovo's migrant labourers did not lose touch with their families back in the village – at least, not for the first generation. They slept many to a room in Stuttgart or Geneva, saving their wages to send back to the family. The remittances would help to generate the cash that rural families needed to purchase a tractor or new livestock, to pay for weddings or enlarge the family house to make room for a new generation. In the words of an American anthropologist who studied Kosovo in the late 1980s, the typical life story in rural Kosovo in 1988 was that of: "a boy who runs free until the day he finds himself on a train, a thirty-hour journey north, to Switzerland, to Austria, to find a job, any job, to earn the money that will buy the satin and gold for the bride that his parents have found for him."[8] For a brief period in the 1970s, it appeared that the benefits of socialist industrialisation might offer an alternative to migration. Education began to be seen as a route to economic security, and its popularity soared, even among the most traditional families. New jobs began to appear in public administration and socially owned companies. For a decade or so, some rural Kosovo Albanians were able to move into employment in Pristina, Prizren or Peja. Women could hope to find husbands who would remain in Kosovo; some women even aspired to work themselves. This short period of hope was not to last. The crisis of Yugoslav socialism from the early 1980s brought urban job creation to an abrupt end; the repression of Milosevic reversed any progress that had been made. By the end of the 1980s, once again only emigration appeared to offer Kosovo Albanian families any hope of material advancement. Departures accelerated dramatically, with Germany and Switzerland the most favoured destinations. By the mid 1990s, it was estimated that as many as half a million Kosovo Albanians – around 25% of the total population – were living abroad. B. Deportations During the early 1990s, when violence and repression in Kosovo escalated, Kosovo Albanians arriving in Europe became political refugees, rather than migrant workers. Those who reached Germany were granted 'toleration permits' (Duldung), rather than political asylum. This enabled them to stay without proving that they had been individually persecuted, but left them subject to deportation at short notice once conditions in Kosovo changed. With NATO intervention in 1999 and the end of Serbian control of Kosovo, the toleration of Kosovo Albanian refugees came to an end. More than a hundred thousand Kosovo Albanians were returned from Germany alone. At the same time, legitimate emigration became restricted to family reunion programmes. All of a sudden, Kosovo began involuntarily to re-import migrant labourers, and migration flows went into reverse. The economic lifeline that had kept rural Kosovo afloat was cut. To understand the impact of migration on Kosovo society, it is important to know how many Kosovo Albanians live outside Kosovo. This proves to be difficult to establish with any certainty. Kosovars are not distinguished in most administrative statistics from other citizens of Serbia and Montenegro.[9] In March 1992, the Kosovar 'government in exile' made the first effort to estimate the total number of Kosovo Albanians abroad, arriving at the figure of 217,000. The study located the largest communities in Germany (82,348), Switzerland (72,448), Sweden (15,652) and Austria (12,300).[10] Germany and Switzerland remained the two most popular destinations for Kosovars throughout the 1990s. As a result, the immigration policies of both countries had the most profound effects on developments in Kosovo. Kosovo Albanians who arrived in Germany during the 1990s often applied for political asylum, but few were successful. The vast majority, including those whose appeal for asylum was rejected, received the status of 'toleration permits' (Duldung). This allowed them to remain in Germany without going through formal status determination, on condition they returned home as soon as the situation permitted. Following the withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo, German authorities decided that that moment had come. In 1999, they announced that 180,000 people from Kosovo had lost their legal status and were obliged to leave the country.[11] Six years later, 90,000 had returned to Kosovo through assisted voluntary returns. Another 20,000 were deported, and an unknown number returned by themselves without being assisted by the authorities.[12] This means that a large proportion of the Kosovo Albanians who arrived in Germany during the 1990s have once again returned to Kosovo. Only one option remains for Kosovo Albanians who seek to live in Germany: family reunification, applied to the children and spouses of foreigners that have a residency permit, enough living space and a stable income. In 2004, exactly 4,905 such cases were registered.[13] This massive post-war exodus from Germany is confirmed by all available data. The total number of citizens from Serbia-Montenegro resident in Germany fell by 212,000 between 1998 and 2004.[14] Subtracting those who received German citizenship during this period leaves 174,000 who left the country.[15] During this period, the number of Yugoslavs in paid employment in Germany also dropped by 58,000. No similar exodus has taken place from Switzerland, although the number of Kosovars had increased tremendously during the 1990s. The Swiss Federal Statistics Office reported in 1999 that there were 145,000 Kosovo Albanians with legal status and another 50,000 asylum seekers.[16] However, the Swiss immigration rules were relatively liberal. Asylum seekers who had been in the country long enough and were economically active were able to obtain a permis de séjour, or temporary residence permit. Such a status led in due course to permanent residence permits. As a result, migration flows from Serbia-Montenegro to Switzerland between 2000 and 2004 remained positive, although they slowed significantly compared to the 1990s.[17] Family unification accounts for 68 percent of all new arrivals in this period. In earlier periods, Western Europe had opened its doors for labour migrants from Kosovo and across the former Yugoslavia to meet its demand for unskilled and manual labour. During the turbulent 1990s, it tolerated Kosovars entering and remaining in large numbers, pending the stabilisation of the region. Since 1999, however, continuing migration has been limited to small numbers under family reunion programmes. This amounts to a major change in both the volume and character of migration from Kosovo. In previous generations, emigrants were predominantly single, young men, sent abroad by their families to find work. Their social obligations to the family in the village remained strong. They would live frugally in their host countries, remitting a high share of their income back to the head of the household. This would usually continue until they returned to Kosovo, unless they married and brought their wife to live with them in Western Europe. As soon as they began to raise a family of their own abroad, formally splitting off from the household in Kosovo, the level of remittances would decline sharply. In other words, remittances decline over time unless they are sustained by a continuing flow of young men leaving Kosovo in search of work. The consequences for remittances back to Kosovo are threefold. First, the total numbers of Kosovars living in the diaspora have decreased. Second, the diaspora is no longer being replenished by new arrivals of single young men. Third, the Kosovo Albanians who remain abroad increasingly have their families with them, and are therefore less likely to remit back to Kosovo. The end of the era of mass migration was of course a reflection of a positive development – the end of political repression in Kosovo. However, it did not reflect any change in the economic conditions in Kosovo that had made mass migration vital for rural communities. It simply shut off a safety valve. C. The moral economy of sending money For a phenomenon acknowledged to be central to the Kosovo economy, remittances have received remarkably little serious analysis. The moral economy behind remittances (who is under an obligation to whom) is rarely examined.[18] In recent years, interest in remittances has increased sharply among economists and policy makers around the world. However, remittances prove to be a difficult subject to grasp. First, they are notoriously difficult to measure. Developed countries do not have accurate figures on remittances leaving the country, much of which goes through informal channels. Second, there are some tricky definitional problems. The concept covers a range of different phenomena.[19] The traditional definition contains three elements: worker remittances are transfers by migrants who are resident and employed in foreign countries. A 'migrant' is someone who stays (or can be expected to stay) a year or more in a country, provided they have not been naturalised. Employee compensation comprises wages and benefits earned by individuals from economies in which they are not resident. This includes wages earned by seasonal workers abroad. In Kosovo's case, it would also include salaries and other benefits paid to Kosovo Serbs by the Government of Serbia. Migrant transfers are the cash and assets brought back by migrants returning from abroad. Unlike the first two items, they are once-off transactions, and in most contexts are small in comparison to the first two items.[20] The IMF first attempted to estimate total remittances to Kosovo in 2001, putting the figure at €610 million.[21] As the IMF acknowledged, there was a fair amount of guess work involved, which was borne out by the wide range of estimates that followed. In 2003, the Kosovo Ministry of Finance estimated remittances and income from foreign pensions at €720 million.[22] In its 2003 Annual Report, the Banking and Payment Authority of Kosovo (BPK) – the closest thing Kosovo has to a central bank – put annual remittances at €568 million.[23] In its Economic Memorandum of May 2004, World Bank suggested that average annual remittances between 1999 and 2003 had been €550 million.[24] From 2004, a lower set of estimates began to emerge. By 2006, the IMF had lowered its estimate for remittances in 2001 by nearly half, to €317 million, but considered that they had been gradually increasing to a high of €375 million in 2005.[25] In fact, in some instances, it appeared that the IMF was adjusting the remittance estimate to fill gaps in its national accounting figures. This practice was noted with disapproval in an internal World Bank document – "it is not recommended that there is a return to the previous IMF method of increasing the workers' remittance figure to reduce errors and omissions" – which called for the use of firmer data in preparing estimates. There is strong evidence to suggest that remittances have been declining steadily over recent years, and are already even lower than these estimates. According to the two most recent Household Budget Surveys, remittances to the average rural household dropped from €58.83 in 2002/03 to €41.65 in 2003/04 – a fall of 25 percent in a single year.[26] During the same period, average household income in rural areas fell substantially, from €324 to €253, as both net wages and remittances fell.[27] The team working on the 2003/04 survey assumed a total of 193,251 rural and 88,448 urban households.[28] Applying this to the survey data yields total remittances of €166 million in 2003 and €123 million in 2004. This is around 36 percent of the IMF's most recent estimate (see table above). This is consistent with the findings of the Kosovo Poverty Assessment, that no more than 15 percent of Kosovo households now receive regular cash remittances. Could remittances have fallen so quickly in the immediate post-war period? One explanation can be found in the mass exodus of Kosovo Albanians from Germany. As more than 100,000 Kosovars returned from Germany, they repatriated their savings and their property (cars, household goods and so on). These were 'migrant transfers' – the third element of the traditional remittance definition. They were not, in economic parlance, a 'flow' like regular remittances, but a once-off transaction. It seems probable that a large share of remittances in the post-war years were transfers of this kind, and naturally came to an end as soon as the period of mass returns was over. In sum, the widely held image of the diaspora as Kosovo's golden goose is based on a reality that no longer exists. D. How migration kept women in the house For many Kosovo Albanians, migration has been their link to the world outside – whether they experienced it directly as migrants, or through consumer goods purchased from foreign earnings. It would seem to follow that migration has been an agent of modernisation in Kosovo. In fact, on closer study, the impact of migration in the past two decades on rural Kosovo may well have been quite the reverse. Janet Reineck, an American anthropologist, studied "gender, migration and ideology" in the region of Opoja (Serbian: Opolje) in south-west Kosovo from May 1987 to December 1988.[29] Her fascinating account of rural society in the final years of Yugoslav socialism highlights "the trend of growing conservatism in rural Kosovo since 1981, and the strategies being used to enforce it: arranged marriages, the restrictions on women's movement outside the home, and keeping girls out of high-school." Reineck noted that, to a region like Opoja, migration serves an essential social function: in the minds of people, it provides the only hope of escaping poverty. The area had been generating migrant workers for centuries. However, migration was not a welcome prospect. As one villager quoted by Reineck put it: "It is understood that we have to become migrants. The prospect of migrating is a weight on everyone's shoulders. We don't like the idea, but for most families it is reality. Migration is the tradition established by our forefathers. It has always been this way."[30] Migration is equated to suffering in popular sayings, songs and poems. "Separated and exiled, just for one dinar." "He who has not tasted the sorrow of migration does not know what this life is about." "He who first went out on the migrant trail, may God never give him peace!" As one poem puts it: The father is a stranger in his own house, Damn the black migration! Child after child is born, And the father is not there to call.[31] Reineck noted a sharp difference in impact between local labour migration and foreign migration. In Opoja, the men that found jobs in nearby towns while remaining close enough to home for frequent visits were quicker to adopt new values than those who went abroad. "The man exposed to non-Opojan ideas, but close enough to monitor his family's behaviour, is more elastic in his interpretation of local cultural mandates. He can send his daughters on to high school because he is nearby to observe their conduct. His wife can visit relatives in Prizren because he is close by, and his community knows it."[32] On the other hand, those who lived further away and visited the family rarely insisted on a strict moral conservatism to 'protect' their wives and children. "The men believe that aging parents and other family members will be secure as long as strict, traditional behaviour is upheld in their absence. And they find comfort abroad knowing that each time they return home they will find the same lifestyle they left months, years, decades ago. The only changes they hope to find are in the family's material conditions."[33] At the centre of this lifestyle was the large patriarchal family. The average household size in Opoja in 1989 was 10 members. Within each family, "wives are to obey their husbands, all adult family members and senior in-married women. Husbands obey their elders. Everyone obeys the will of the head of the household."[34] Those abroad were able to provide materially for their families, with new houses and modern appliances. However, access to consumer goods did nothing to change traditional values and attitudes. Reineck quotes one Opoja villager as saying: "Those uneducated people who became migrants and prospered and spread their way of life in Opoja are responsible for our backward situation. Their idea of progress is to have big weddings, to dress the brides in expensive things, to build big new houses and buy new cars. They are the most conservative people, and they are the ones with influence. As long as I have nothing in my pocket, I cannot have the influence they have." Financial dependence on absent fathers reinforced the passivity and fatalism of those left behind, whose prospects of finding work in Kosovo were slight. "Sensing the futility of planning their futures, the boys pass their eighteenth, twentieth, and twenty-fifth birthdays in the vague hope that an invitation to work from a relative abroad will rescue them from an uncertain future."[35] Reineck pointed out that what she described in Opoja was common across rural Kosovo in the 1980s. At that time, out of 45,000 female students who began primary school each year, fewer than 8,000 made it to eighth grade.[36] In 1988, more than 90 percent of Albanian women in Kosovo were "economically dependent". There was a huge discrepancy between the situation in Pristina (where in 1988 41 percent of girls went to secondary school) and rural areas (where the respective figure was often less than 4 percent).[37] Is it still plausible to assume that rural areas with most foreign migration would also tend to be more conservative? What will be the impact of an end of mass migration for such villages? III. WHY KOSOVO IS STUCK There is a drama unfolding in the Kosovo countryside today.[38] During 2004 and 2005, the two communities supported ESI in carrying out a complete survey of living conditions in two villages. Forty-four questions were put to all 527 households. Information was gathered on more than 4,000 individuals. The goal was to produce an X-ray of rural Kosovo on the verge of a decision on final status.[39] Cerrce (in Serbian Crnce) is a village of 300 households in north-west Kosovo on the border with Albania. Lubishte (Lubiste), a village of 227 households, lies on the foothills of the Karadag Mountains in south-east Kosovo, near the Macedonian border. By Kosovo standards, Cerrce is fairly prosperous; Lubishte is poor. In both villages, however, one can see the same forces that are reshaping rural Kosovo. A. A poor village and Europe's largest families In 2005 the asphalt road into the village of Lubishte runs only as far as the small village square. While some houses are large and well cared for, others are in a state of decay. On top of the highest hill stands a new mosque financed mainly with remittances collected by the village's diaspora in Geneva. Next to the mosque are portable shelters provided by the US military, which are used as classrooms. An attempt was made to replace the old school building from the early 1970s and damaged in an earthquake in 2002, but the project failed for lack of funds, leaving the new building unfinished. What is striking is the obvious absence of any public social life, besides the small store on the village square. An internet café opened and then closed again. Young children gather the moment a visitor stops for more than a minute. Forty-five percent of the village population are younger than 16. The recent history of Lubishte reflects how Kosovo got stuck. The quality of the soil is poor, and there is little water for agriculture. Until the mid-1970s, there was no reliable road connecting the village to the rest of the valley and the minor municipal centre of Viti in Eastern Kosovo. Lubishte was once a pastoral community. Shepherds took their flocks to summer pastures high up in the Karadag mountains, but the creation of an international border with Macedonia in the 1990s brought this to an end. Over the past decade, this mountainous region has occasionally been a refuge for Albanian separatists from Macedonia and the Presevo Valley in Serbia. After the conflict in Macedonia in 2001, a few hundred Macedonian-Albanians temporarily fled to Lubishte. In 2005 Lubishte has a population of 2,134, of which 572 are abroad, mostly in Switzerland and living in close-knit communities around Basel and Geneva. Kosovo has Europe's largest households. It is the last stronghold of a form of patriarchal family structure that was once common across the Balkans, a family structure that has survived 50 years of communism, decades of massive migration to Western countries as well as the disappearance of a pastoral economy. [40] Strikingly, family sizes in Kosovo did not change during a half century of Yugoslav communism. In 1948, the average Kosovo household had 6.4 members. In 1981, this had risen to 6.9 members, and in 2003 was back at 6.4 members.[41] To place this in context, in the European Economic Area the average household size declined from 2.8 in 1980 to 2.5 in 1995, with Ireland standing out with Western Europe's largest families at 4.0 members.[42] In 2005 the average household in the village of Lubishte 9.5 members. A hundred years ago, such households could be found in many rural areas across the Balkans, and were often called by the Slav word zadruga.[43] It refers to the practice of men remaining in the family home after marriage, creating large, multi-family households. One of the keenest observers of such families was Vera Erlich, who undertook a large comparative study of families across Yugoslavia in the 1930s. She looked at 300 Albanian, Bosnian Muslim, Bosnian Christian, Serb and Croat villages. "The basic principle of the zadruga was that the male members never leave the common home. Sons and their descendents remain within it, and only daughters leave it on marriage to become members of the zadrugas of their husbands. The zadruga was governed by a hierarchical system, every member having a definite rank within it. Rank was determined by age and sex, the sex criterion being stronger than the age criterion: all males were superior to any of the womenfolk …"[44] As an economic unit, the zadruga is a true collective. All property is held jointly. "In the zadruga, apart from clothing and small objects, there was no private property. Money was administered by the head, or else by another of the men to whom buying and selling had been assigned."[45] All major decisions are taken by the head of household (zoti i shtepise): from when to plant the crops or slaughter an animal, to what constituted 'a proper way of life'. This authority persists today, with the head of household deciding how remittances from family members abroad should be spent, and how much schooling the children should receive. Each grown man is considered to contribute an equal share to the family income, regardless of his actual labour. Income is pooled, and family members are entitled to equal provision for their basic needs. When households split, all property is divided equally among brothers, including the land. Since wives come from other villages, and daughters are expected to join another zadruga upon marriage, women do not inherit any share of the family property, and occupy a subordinate status within the household.[46] It is striking how little has changed in household organisation since those days. In Lubishte in 2005 there are 89 households with more than 10 members, and 34 with more than 15. Ismet Islami (49), the director of the primary school in Lubishte, is one of the most educated men in the village. He attended university Pristina, and today struggles to offer his five children (three sons and two daughters) the same opportunity. Two are already students, while the youngest goes to secondary school. Despite his education, Ismet upholds the traditional ways. He and his wife live with his parents. His father decides how to spend his teacher's salary of €222 per month. The household owns six hectares land, and he raises 8 cattle to help meet the costs of his children's studies. If he had brothers, he explains, the proceeds from the land would have to be shared with them and their children, and eventually the land would have to be divided. Qefser Qahil lives in a house with 5 rooms with his brother in Lubishte. His brother works as a teacher in the local primary school and has six sons and one daughter. Qefser has two sons and one daughter. Now that his brother's two sons study, Qefser has to work harder than ever to help finance their studies. Recently he began the construction of a second house, to prepare for dividing the household. Once there are two houses, he and his brother will split the 5 ha of land into two. From then on, the two families will operate as separate economic units. The continued prevalence of multi-family households, long after they have disappeared from the rest of the Balkans, is one of the defining features of rural Kosovo today. At first sight, it appears peculiarly anachronistic, given the tremendous changes in the economy and society since the Second World War, in particular the demise of the traditional pastoral way of life, the marginalisation of agriculture and the arrival of the cash economy. In the Kosovo of half a century ago, land was plentiful. It was labour that was the scarce resource for agricultural households. Having many men in one household meant greater wealth and influence, allowing more land to be cultivated and more livestock to be tended. Households were self-sufficient in most respects, from food and clothing to construction and furniture making, and participated only marginally in the cash economy. High mortality rates kept population growth low, preventing households from becoming unmanageably large. However, from the 1950s onwards, improved health services in Kosovo led to a rapid decline in mortality and spiralling population growth. As a result of improving health care life expectancy rose between 1952 and 1982 from 49 years to 68 years for men and from 45 years to 71 years for women! As late as the 1980s, population growth was over 2.5 percent, higher than in the 1940s.[47] At that rate, the population doubles every 30 years. B. Rugova's village and pressure on land Imer Maxharraj, a pensioner and once one of Kosovo's leading irrigation experts, was born in Cerrce in 1939 into a society that had changed little in a hundred years. The village was made up of only 14 large households. The five most influential families lived in kullas – large, fortress-like houses with thick stone walls and narrow slits of windows only on the second floor. Large households were a sign of wealth and influence, and some had more than 40 members. Households in this traditional mould were largely self-sufficient, producing not just their own foods, but also their own clothes and furniture. The Maxharraj household kept goats, sheep and cows, for meat, milk and cheese. It grew maize, wheat, rye, fruit and vegetables, producing its own bread and raki. Imer's father, the head of household, would assign the tasks: one man tended the sheep, another worked with oxen and plough, a third cut timber in the forest. Dairy cows were looked after by the children, who spent the summer months up in the mountain pastures. Horses and oxen were used to bring logs from the forest and stones from the mountains for construction. Occasionally money would be earned through the sale of cattle or vegetables on the green market in Istog. However, the household was able to survive largely outside of the cash economy, in large part because its labour was provided by family members. Households like Imer's have long fascinated foreign visitors. In 2005 one find 27 households with multiple families living under the same roof in Cerrce. Many of the traditional forms of patriarchy are there: there are almost no unmarried women over 30, the eldest male still takes decisions on behalf of the family, and family life is organised around a clear hierarchy. Haki Haskaj (36), who runs the Globi café in Cerrce and spent many years in Austria and Germany, still lives in a traditional multi-generation household with his father, who has worked in Germany, and his brother. The two wives together care for 9 children, and all income is pooled. Population growth forced households to build new houses and divide. In Cerrce, the Rugova family first divided in 1949 – a major event in the life of the village still remembered by the older generation. Today there are 27 Rugova households, living in a distinct Rugova mahala or neighbourhood.[48] Imer's household, the Maxharraj, first separated in 1961, and Maxharraj mahala now consists of 16 households. The Rexhajs, who split first, have given rise to 91 houses in several distinct Rexhaj mahalas. With every split, the land was divided among the sons, and the amount of land held by each household decreased. Through this process of land fragmentation, the decline in fortunes of once influential families could be rapid. Today, the average plot of land owned by a household in Cerrce is around 1 hectare. A growing number of rural households have no agricultural land at all. As a result, the self-sufficiency of rural households has vanished,[49] and they have become drawn further into the cash economy. The traditional pastoral way of life has gone, and a growing proportion of food needs to be bought. Traditional skills in construction and carpentry are now provided for a fee, forming the core of the rural private sector. There have also been changes in rural lifestyles. Illiteracy, which was the norm in the 1940s, had declined to 21 percent in 2000 (although this was higher than in 1981).[50] Among those younger than 30 it has however fallen to less than 2 percent.[51] Houses are full of imported goods, including satellite televisions, suggesting a hunger for images from around the world. Migration has brought knowledge of modern values and lifestyles to even the most backward corner of Kosovo. For all these reasons, historians have been predicting the imminent demise of the extended family in Kosovo for decades. In the 1960s, Vera Erlich offered her readers "the last picture of a foundering ship; the last record of the patriarchal social system which was about to crumble." In 1979, a Norwegian author, Berit Backer, concluded her study of a West Kosovo village by arguing that: "The process of change in Isniq is irreversible. New attitudes will prevent a return to the old ways… It seems clear, at any rate, that with the ideals held by today's youth in the village, the age of the zadrugas has come to an end."[52] The Austrian historian Karl Kaser wrote in 1995 that the patriarchal Balkan household, already restricted to ethnic Albanian areas, was part of a "vanishing culture", and would disappear in the face of socio-economic development.[53] Table: Household composition – Lubishte and Cerrce No. of members 1-4 members 10-14 members Yet every prediction of the imminent demise of the patriarchal family has proved to be premature. Though signs of stress are apparent, particularly in the desperate shortage of land, the dramatic changes in social forms that swept across other parts of the Balkans many generations ago have not yet come to Kosovo. This is the central paradox of rural Kosovo today and it has two main explanations: the peculiar history and impact of Yugoslav communism in Kosovo, and the impact of mass migration and remittances more recently. C. How Communism failed The core economic and social agenda of Yugoslav communism was to overcome rural underdevelopment. Yugoslav sociologists of the pre-communist era had studied the "passive regions" (pasivni krajevi), "areas greatly deficient in food production as well as in other earning opportunities and therefore depending for livelihood, to a large extent, on outside earnings."[54] As Jozo Tomasevic noted: "the problem of agricultural overpopulation was the central economic issue of the country … Since mass emigration was impossible, the only avenue of approach to a permanent solution… was through industrialisation."[55] Yugoslav communists were guided by this vision of replacing a subsistence economy by a modern, urban and industrial one. Peasants were to be educated away from a subsistence mentality "towards an industrial mentality of ever-increasing social wealth."[56] The tool of this transformation was the construction of socially owned factories, strategically distributed across the territory according to a social and political logic, rather than the demands of economic efficiency. Yugoslav communism in Kosovo, however, was from the outset a very different experience. First, for most of its history it was far more repressive than anywhere else in the country. Kosovo suffered from several distinct periods of ethnically motivated repression: from 1945 to 1966 (the so-called Rankovic years, named after Tito's notorious chief of secret police) and again from 1989 to 1999 during the Milosevic era. The immediate post-war period was marked by executions and confiscations, which under Rankovic grew to a wave of brutality that in 1956 prompted large numbers of people from Kosovo to describe themselves as 'Turks' and emigrate to Turkey. The 1970s were a period of relative calm, but unrest erupted again in 1981. The economic and social crisis in Serbia and Kosovo led into the Milosevic period when Kosovo's autonomy was revoked and Albanians were purged en masse from public-sector employment. This adds up to 31 years of serious oppression, out of 54 years of communism. Second, communist development in Kosovo was late, and very superficial. There was no serious programme of industrialisation until the mid-1960s. In Pristina and Mitrovica, a few factories were constructed alongside a large public administration, creating a veneer of modernity. But communist development did not even begin to reach rural Kosovo. The rural municipality of Viti (Vitina), of which Lubishte forms part, illustrates this clearly. Until the mid 1970s, there was no industrial development of any kind. Then a limestone quarry was opened in 1976, followed by a sawmill in 1979. A metalworking company Vinex was created in 1980 to produce nuts and bolts.[57] There was a flour mill, and a company that bottled mineral water. In 1985, the municipality's largest employer, the textile factory Letnica, was established to produce work uniforms. This was a political investment directed at creating employment for some 460 Croat Catholics in the region. Fifty percent of the funds came from Croatia. After 1991, when the Croats left the region, it ceased production. At its height in the late 1980s, no more than 1,500 people in the municipality of around 50,000 had jobs in socially owned industries. Many of them were Serbs and Croats. The lack of any real economic dynamic in the towns also had consequences for rural areas, especially the Albanian villages. In the 1950s, the municipal centre of Viti had 700 inhabitants. Almost none of them were Albanian. In 1978, when Isa Uka, a leading communist official from Lubishte, bought a house in the town, it was only the 7th owned by an Albanian. The village of Lubishte remained cut off from even the most rudimentary efforts at development. There was no electricity until 1970. A road to the village was constructed only in 1976. Until then, people would have to walk to Viti town, down in the valley, and even tractors were often unable to get through. In the winter, it was sometimes impossible to leave the village for months. In Lubishte, a few villagers did succeed in acquiring education and finding jobs elsewhere in Kosovo. However, this was a rarity. Lubishte went from pre-socialist underdevelopment to post-socialist poverty without any intervening period of modernisation. It was a different matter in Cerrce and the municipality to which it belonged (Istog). When Imer Maxharraj became one of the first boys from the village to embark on an academic career – spending 8 years in Istog secondary school before studying agriculture in Belgrade – he was still an exception. Until the Second World War, there had been no primary schools in Albanian language in Kosovo. Until the 1960s, there were very few secondary schools. Since education was a condition for most wage employment, rural Albanians were largely excluded from the formal economy by their language. For villagers, acquiring education meant associating themselves with Serbian language and culture, which many resisted. From the 1960s, there was a major campaign to overcome rural illiteracy, and many farmers' sons began to continue their education into secondary school. New attitudes towards education began to emerge: Vec me shkolle ka ardhmeri (only with education is there a future). In the popular imagination education became the alternative to migration, seen as a far preferable route to economic security. This triggered a revolution in expectations, described by Berit Backer in the village of Isniq in Western Kosovo during the 1970s. The chances of obtaining salaried employment of any kind without education were next to nothing. According to Backer, "People tend to see education as the highway to modernization. This is particularly the case since the status of the Albanian language improved in 1968 in the schools and administration, and a university was opened in 1969 in Pristina."[58] According to Backer, the villagers saw education as a "fairly secure investment" – language which expressed the optimism of the 1970s. In Cerrce, communism also created new kinds of jobs. By 1989, 60 villagers had found a job in socialist companies and 40 villagers had found employment in public institutions: local schools, police, the hospital at Istog. Five socialist cooperatives linked private farmers to markets. There was a veterinary institute, an irrigation company and a fish farm (Trofta). An agricultural combine managed 2,145 hectares of land and vineyards, a thousand head of cattle, 18,000 pigs and a plant for feed concentrate. Yet communism did not change the essentially rural character of West Kosovo. There was little real industrialisation in Istog town: one sawmill (Radusha) founded in the 50s, where by 1989 76 workers produced doors and windows;[59] and a textile factory founded in the 1960s, where 225 workers produced yarn.[60] A large car parts factory in nearby Peja (Ramiz Sadiku), half an hour's drive away, absorbed some of the unskilled village labour. However, in 1981 the 50,000 inhabitants of Istog municipality had no more than 3,000 jobs outside agriculture and a mere 250 in industry. In 1989, over 70 percent of the social product of the municipality of Istog was generated in agriculture.[61] Table: The broken promise of socialism in Kosovo [62] Working age population Non-agricultural jobs (ratio to working age pop.) 77,658 (14.7%) 120,168 (17.6%) Rapid population growth far exceeded the ability of the Kosovo economy to generate jobs. While the ratio of non-agricultural jobs to the working age population rose from 18 to 22 percent in the 1970s, it remained stagnant in the 1980s (see table 4). No more than 22 percent of the working age population had a job outside of (largely subsistence) agriculture. The collapse of the Yugoslav economy, the dismissals of Albanian workers under Milosevic and finally the collapse of Yugoslavia all reversed whatever gains had been made. Opportunities for paid employment almost entirely disappeared, leaving the villages back where they had been a generation before. Many of the young men (and some young women) who had invested in their own education felt cheated by the turn of events. "A boy finished high school and signs up at the employment bureau, but there are no results. And there is nothing to do at home – a little wood to gather, a bit of wheat to harvest. They do not know where to turn. If they finish college, they will end up doing physical labor as migrants anyway."[63] The trend away from formal education in the 1980s was particularly strong for village girls, of whom less than one in five completed primary school. According to Janet Reineck, in Opoja during the late 1970s, 40 percent of the high-school students were females. Ten years later, in 1988, this percentage had plummeted to 4.5 percent. The Fejzaj family in Cerrce illustrates the failed promise of the 1970s. In 1970, when paid employment in Cerrce was impossible to find, young Smajl Fejzaj responded to an advertisement posted in a local labour office to take a job in a factory in Stuttgart, Germany, leaving his family in the village. His wages financed the purchase of additional agricultural land and mountain pastures. With more feed for winter and larger pastures for summer, the family could increase its livestock, and began to produce clotted cream (kajmak) and cheese to sell. Smajl's four sons had higher ambitions. All finished secondary school, hoping for jobs in socially owned factories or the public administration. However, only the eldest son was successful, finding a job for a few years in a local utility company. The third son went to Germany in 1989, managing to obtain residency papers in 2002, after 13 years in Germany. The youngest son obtained a university education in Pristina. In 2001, his family found him a wife 'with papers', a woman from a nearby village who worked in Switzerland. The second son, Faik, entered Germany illegally in 1994 with the assistance of professional traffickers. Once there, Faik received a toleration permit. He worked illegally and was twice arrested by German police during labour inspections. He and his family received the order to leave Germany in 2003. One night a few months later, German police came to their apartment, arrested them and deported the family. In February 2006, Faik died at 44 years of age from a stroke. His father Smajl had died in 2002 on the way to the Pristina airport to return to work in Stuttgart. The fate of the four Fejzaj brothers sums up the modern history of rural Kosovo: traditional agriculture until the 1960s, a brief hope of modernisation in the 1970s, stagnation in the 1980s and exodus in the 1990s. All four brothers began with the same education and opportunities, but were unable to put this to use in the local economy. Today, two of them are doing well in Germany and Switzerland. The third is struggling, surviving largely from his mother's German widow's pension. Faik's widow and four children are left without income, hoping that Faik's brothers will continue to support them. The promise of the 1970s – education, wage employment and a decent standard of living in Kosovo – proved empty for the vast majority of Kosovo's villagers. Huge numbers were forced into migration, as the only available survival strategy. With a state that was absent or actively hostile, the traditional family was the only institution offering reliable protection against poverty. D. Regions workers abandon In Lubishte in 2005 at least 118 houses were financed by remittances. Of 97 households who own a tractor, 91 told us that the money for its purchase was earned abroad. Of 147 households who own a car, 137 bought it with transfers. In short, without transfers there would hardly be any cars, tractors or new houses in the village today. In Cerrce in 2005 at least 14 of 30 tractors were bought with money earned abroad. Of 100 households who own cars, 45 were bought with remittances. Remittances also paid for reconstruction: at least 79 houses were reconstructed or built with diaspora money, for an average sum of around €30,000 per house. We calculated the contribution remittances make to the total cash income of villagers in both Lubishte and Cerrce (see Annex 3). In Lubishte, the dependence on remittances is extremely high: 60 percent of total cash income comes from transfers and foreign pensions. In Cerrce, the wealthier of the two, remittances account for 27 percent of total cash income. Although Cerrce has more people abroad, there are more households which receive remittances in Lubishte (see Annex 1 and 2). However, building houses or buying cars does not produce sustainable growth. What has been the broader impact of migration on the economic structures in the two communities? For Lubishte and Cerrce, as throughout Kosovo, the 1990s was an era of mass migration. The first migrants left the villages in the early 1970s as guest workers, and migration continued steadily through the 1980s. However, it was in the 1990s, against the backdrop of Yugoslavia's economic collapse and Milosevic's repression,that migration increased dramatically. In Lubishte 38 left in the 1970s, 116 in the 1980s and 242 in the 1990s. While most migrants from Lubishte went to Switzerland, the largest number of villagers who left Cerrce headed for Germany.[64] Of the Cerrcians who have migrated, 36 left in the 1970s, 41 in the 1980s and 204 in the 1990s. Since 1999 the migration experience of the two villages diverged. In Lubishte, migration has slowed significantly compared to the 1990s, but has remained positive. There were 17 voluntary returns and 16 deportations until 2005.[65] Over the same period, 39 people left Lubishte, yielding net emigration of 6 people. The reason lies mainly in the location of the main part of the Lubishte diaspora (72 percent) in Switzerland, which unlike Germany chose not to expel Kosovars after 1999. In Cerrce, 1999 marked the point where net migration turned negative for the first time in the history of the village, as Germany began to repatriate Kosovars. Forty-five people have returned 'voluntarily' between 1999 and 2005, and another 31 were deported. Over the same period, only 20 people managed to leave. As a direct result, 33 households lost their source of remittances. The era of labour migration from Kosovo has finished for both Switzerland and Germany, as for the rest of Europe. Since 1999, the only legitimate migration route still available is family reunification. Only those who already have close family in the diaspora are able to leave. What was the impact of this massive outflow of people in the 1990s on the economy and social life of the two villages? The US economist, Jane Jacobs, discussing "regions workers abandon", argues that the contribution of remittances to development is slight. Analysing earlier waves of Yugoslav labour migration, she noted: "Remittances, while they last, do alleviate poverty in abandoned regions … The money buys imports for people and institutions which they would otherwise have to go without, but that is all it does… They did nothing to convert stagnation to development."[66] In Lubishte, of 842 residents of working age, only 134 (16 percent) have any kind of paid employment or regular cash income from work, yielding a desperately low rate of employment. In Cerrce, there are 766 residents of working age. Of these, 231 people describe themselves as having some sort of regular cash income. Looking at all existing jobs reveals a deeply depressed region. The old industrial jobs are gone. Commercial agriculture has totally collapsed. Construction work, much of it casual, and public-sector jobs are the two largest sources of income. Remittance-financed capital investments have not helped to change economic structures – that is, to enable people to do new things, or even old things in new ways. The state of agriculture is a good illustration. A large number of tractors have been purchased through remittances. However, the family farms are producing almost exclusively for their own consumption. They produce corn to feed their cattle for dairy products, and grow wheat to bake their own bread. There is no specialisation, and no new crops or techniques. The purchase of tractors has simply produced over-capitalised subsistence farms. This is due in large part to land fragmentation. Qefser Qahili in Lubishte has 5 calves, 3 milk cows and one bull. On his land he can produce enough flour to bake bread for 10 months. But life is getting more expensive. Before the war, one litre of gasoline cost €0.30; in 2004 it was €0.70, and now it is €1. The price of fertilisers went from €8 to €12 for a 50kg bag. Qefser complains to ESI: "If the state gives us gas for a smaller price it would be better. Or if there would be the possibility to take a credit. But we cannot take a credit because nobody in my family has a permanent, salaried work. My brother only has a contract for 1 year and a small salary." To survive in agriculture he would have to purchase new land down in the plain sold by Serbs. But this is very expensive and requires savings he will never accumulate. Across Kosovo agriculture generates less cash revenues than are invested. The average annual expenditure per farm is €658. The average reported cash revenue is €507.[67] In Cerrce, the average household has 1.14 hectares of land. Only 2 farmers own more than ten cows, still driving them to the mountain pastures during the summer. The socialist cooperatives no longer support farmers with the purchase of inputs or the marketing of produce. Shortly after the war, some 10 people in the village began to work in nearby green markets, trading their own and imported fruit and vegetables. Only four of them have continued in this business. Skender Kaliqani, the former director of the socialist cooperative, has the only specialised agro-business in the area. He runs a chicken farm, selling eggs to retailers in Istog and through his own shop. Both villages illustrate clearly that Kosovo has no effective agricultural or rural development policy. In the absence of a supportive state, remittances are unable to lift local farmers out of their subsistence level. In the enterprise sector, most of the private businesses draw on capital earned abroad, but there are few examples of successful transfer of skills learned abroad to the local economy. In Cerrce, every significant private-sector investment was financed from migration earnings. Of the few entrepreneurs in the village, most are returnees. This is also true for the (very few) businesses in Lubishte. However, even these investments have done little to change the pattern of stagnation in the two villages. There was a construction boom in the first few years after the war (not surprisingly, considering that 90 percent of houses in Cerrce had been destroyed). The largest local construction company, employing 12 people, was launched in 2000 when two brothers returned from abroad with a starting capital of €200,000. However, housing construction was largely complete by 2004, causing the sector to contract rapidly. The remainder of the private sector in Cerrce is made up of family-run micro-enterprises: shops, taxis, car mechanics. There are a few restaurants and cafés, one swimming pool and an internet café. None of the companies require any special skills. The era of mass migration is now drawing to a close, without having changed the structure of the economy having generated any sustained cycle of development. In economic terms, remittances have simply brought about more of what was already present in the local economy: construction services, shops, cafés, taxis, car mechanics and petrol stations. They have provided a supplement to household income, enabling some families to enjoy modern consumer goods, while keeping the poorest families one step away from destitution. However, as Jane Jacobs notes, if remittances dry up, these benefits would quickly dissipate. "The taxi, bought with the savings of years of frugal living in Rotterdam and imported into a poor village in North Africa or southern Europe eventually breaks down beyond repair, and in the meantime it has not earned its owner enough to finance a replacement. The village store fails. The trouble is that the rural economies from which these ambitious migrants come and to which they return are too stagnant and inflexible to make room for new activities."[68] As a result, the economic and social problems that made migration a necessity in the past are still very much present. In Cerrce, 35 percent of the population is under 16. Each year, thirty of them reach working age, without a real chance of finding local employment. Without the safety valve of continued migration, the social pressures are accumulating. Yet for rural Kosovo, Cerrce is as good as it gets. E. Rural women without rights One of the social realities setting Kosovo apart from the rest of Europe today is its extremely low rate of female employment. In Lubishte, there are only two women employed – less than one percent. In Cerrce, there are 35 women employed, making an employment rate of 9 percent among working-age women. This is close to the Kosovo average. Social opportunities for women remain constrained by traditional values. Most women are married by the age of 30, and it is considered a matter of shame for the family if they are not. Divorces remain extremely rare, due to a combination of social and economic constraints. In a society without a social safety net, women have little chance of surviving on their own. Women have equal rights with men under the laws governing inheritance, but very rarely claim their rights. In Lubishte, informants could think of only a single example where a woman had inherited property, in a specific case where there had been no son to claim it. Some villagers regard the official family law as a 'Serb law', and not in keeping with their traditions. Extremely low employment rates among women generate one of Kosovo's most pressing economic problems – its very high dependency ratio. On average, every Kosovo who is employed has to support 4.78 people who are not.[69] Low employment is a reflection of traditional attitudes on the role of women, which are proving tenacious. In the 1970s, Berit Backer noted that education offered the main hope of changing these attitudes. "Women's influence today is not so much the result of rebelling housewives as it is the influence of education among girls… In 1975 more girls than boys were attending the secondary school"[70] But this trend did not survive the onset of the 1981 economic crisis. The percentage of women without primary education is over three times higher than for men. In 2005 seventy percent of adult women have only primary education or less.[71] This leaves women extremely dependent on the traditional household. As Janet Reineck noted in the late 1980s, a rural woman in Kosovo "has little chance of economic survival on her own. She is destined to be economically and emotionally dependent on her husband and his family. In order to live peacefully among them she must earn the respect of the family and the community. To earn this respect, she must fulfil the cultural expectations which inform every part of her life."[72] For Hyre Azizi, secretary at the Lubishte primary school, the main reasons why so few women from Lubishte – currently around ten – attend secondary school are the poverty of so many families and the lack of any real prospect of women earning a living even with education. Most girls, she notes, see that those women who now work as teachers or nurses earn so little that they remain poor. Often the best educated parents, who would be most likely to send their children to higher education, lack the financial means to do so. Those with more money, namely families with members abroad, do not value education the same way – especially since education does not increase a girl's social status. Hyre says: "a girl with papers is more valuable, she enjoys a higher social status, than a female doctor or engineer working here in Kosovo. There are few reasons for girls to continue studying… Some even quit and throw away their university degree even if they are only 2-3 exams away from finishing, if there is a chance to marry a person with papers. Education has lost its value".[73] Fikrete Dalipi, a carpenter's daughter, is one of only two women from Lubishte currently studying at university. She has completed one semester at Kaktus, one of the new, private faculties in Pristina. It costs €270 each semester to register. Fikrete also pays €60 per month in rent for sharing a flat with other girls in Pristina. Her friend Melihate, whose father owns one of the three shops in Lubishte, will join her for the coming semester, studying economics at Fama private university for €1,300 per year. The two are the first women from Lubishte to study in a decade. With no bank loans or scholarships available, the costs of studying are out of reach for most families. Some villagers, at great cost and sacrifice, try to offer education as a way forward to their children. Most do not. According to the director of Lubishte's primary school, a father who wanted his children to study would have to sell land to finance it. There is no system of stipends for rural families. Under these conditions, the fact that nobody expects women to work provides a rationale to save on their education. IV. WHEN PATRIARCHY FALLS APART A. Families, survival, welfare In 2006 German author Frank Schirrmacher published a book – Minimum – that uses the Donner Party - a group of settlers that set out with wagons on the 2,000-mile trek from Illinois to California in the 1840s – as a metaphor for a crisis facing European society in the 21st century. In 1994 the US anthropologist Donald Grayson wrote a scientific study of this group, which met a tragic end in the snows of the Sierra Nevada. The Donner Party was. Having crossed the Great Salt Lake Desert, the party became trapped by early snows in the mountains. Unable to go either forward or back, 40 of 87 perished before help arrived in the spring. This included almost all the young men who had travelled without family. Grayson noted that there was a direct correlation between family size and the likelihood of survival: "surviving males travelled with families averaging 8.4 people. Males who did not survive travelled with families averaging 5.7 individuals. Surviving females of this age travelled with families whose size averaged 10.1 individuals … larger kin groups seem to have provided life-enhancing support to members of the Donner party"[74] Schirrmacher speaks of the family as Überlebensfabrik ("survival machine") increasingly put under threat by sharply falling European birth rates.[75] He offers dire warnings of a future in which most children will grow up without brothers or sisters, and people may come to discover in their old age that they have placed too much reliance on the welfare state. Today, the new EU member states in Central Europe have some of the lowest birth rates in the world: 1.2 children per woman in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Latvia and Poland, far below the 2.1 needed to maintain population. Greece, Italy and Spain have had rates of 1.3 and under for a decade. As one recent article noted alarmingly (and erroneously): "no European country is maintaining its population through births."[76] However, just one hour's flight from Vienna, the traditional, patriarchal family is still the norm. In fact, the situation in rural Kosovo today is the reverse image of that across the rest of Europe, East and West. In Kosovo population growth continues at the rate of 1.6 percent annually.[77] At this rate, the population doubles within 43 years. Instead of closing primary schools, as happens today in many German villages, school classes are run in shifts to keep up with the demand. There is hardly a woman in rural Kosovo older than 30 who is not married. There are almost no divorces in rural areas. There are no rural single-person households. Like the single strong men who travelled in the Donner party and perished first, they simply would not survive. Schirrmacher makes the point that an overly economic way of looking at life runs counter to the 'moral economy' of the traditional family, where services are rendered without expectation of reward. In fact, in rural Kosovo today land is not seen as an economic asset, but as the physical basis for a household. Employment outside the family is exceptional. Kosovo also stands out through the almost complete absence of a welfare state to provide security. The social system of Kosovo takes the solidarity mechanism of the extended Balkan household for granted. It is not designed for a society of nuclear families. In 2005 no household gets any assistance if there is even one adult who is available for work, either in Kosovo or abroad. Whether the adult is actually employed makes no difference. The only exception to this rule is for families which have less than 0.5 ha, nobody abroad and a child younger than 6 years of age. These families may receive a modest benefit, until the child reaches the age of 6.[78] There is a price to be paid – in terms of both economic development and individual autonomy – for having traditional patriarchal families as the only source of social security. As Hyseni Maxharraj put it to ESI in Cerrce: "Who would really like to live together with his brother under one roof, when both are married? We are not different from you in Western Europe. It was only out of need that we arranged ourselves for the time being." However, as long as there is no alternative route to economic security, the traditional values tend to survive. B. How patriarchy falls apart In 2004, ESI was shown a letter in the village of Gjylekare in Viti municipality, just 5 km away from Lubishte, sent by a villager who had emigrated in 1971. Since 1971, he had bought his family a combine harvester, two hectares of land and a number of vehicles, as well as paid for the construction of new houses for each of his four brothers. In the letter, he informed his brothers that from now on, he intended to work only for himself. The end of large-scale migration, cutting the lifeline of cash flowing into rural areas, will increase the stresses on rural households, challenging traditional values and accelerating the creation of smaller units. Modern Balkan history suggests that even the most tried survival machine – the patriarchal family – can break down. Under certain conditions, the patriarchal household breaks down, even in the absence of any alternative path to material security. With the end of mass migration, the pressures in rural Kosovo are growing rapidly. Kosovo's villages, which have long since ceased to be economically self-sufficient, are also becoming ever more crowded. As a result of inheritance rules, the average plot has become inadequate even for subsistence agriculture. Today, 1,397,333 people live in rural areas (73.2 percent of Kosovo's population).[79] In the quarter century since 1981, the urban population grew by 100,000, the rural population by 220,000 people.[80] It is in rural areas that Kosovo's population continues to grow fastest today. In 2004, Kosovo had 117,967 agricultural households.[81] Between them, they had only 115,000 hectares of land under cultivation.[82] Almost 90,000 of their farms are smaller than 2 hectares (the average is 0.88 ha).[83] A growing proportion of rural households no longer have enough land to meet the family's need for wheat flour for the year. It is simply impossible to divide landholdings any further. The result is increasing dissatisfaction and discord. Frustrations rise among those abroad, who have reached the limit of their capacity and their willingness to support family back in the village. Dissatisfaction is also rising among sons who no longer wish to contribute their meagre earnings into the communal pot, but instead prefer to take their chances with the nuclear family. One of the best studies on the impact of economic crisis on family structures is that of Vera Erlich, the Croat social scientist who studied changing family structures in Yugoslav villages in the late 1930s. Published in the 1960s, her research shows how growing dependency of rural households on cash incomes, rising rural populations and a lack of opportunities to migrate from rural areas either abroad or to cities eventually destroyed traditional households, breaking them up into many smaller units. Analysing the data she received from 300 villages across Yugoslavia in 1938, Erlich found that villages in which the zadruga (families which included married sons) still predominated could be found only in Albanian and Orthodox Macedonian villages. In these villages, "sons do not separate from their fathers while he is alive. Such division is regarded as shameful in the extreme."[84] There the authority of the father remained unquestioned. These were closed rural communities, which barely participated in the cash economy. They were also insulated from the hardship that the Great Depression was generating in the rest of Yugoslavia. Everywhere else, the traditional family was in "in different stages of disintegration". As the population increased, cities were unable to absorb the excess rural labour.[85] At the same time, the Great Depression caused a slump in agricultural prices, rapidly eroding farm incomes. Across Yugoslavia, the crisis of the countryside meant that by 1939 the standard of living had fallen below that of a generation before. "An atmosphere of failure, deceived hopes, and pessimism prevailed. The phenomenon of collapse and rebellion is the main impression when one studies family relations in the state of quick transformation. The most common and also the most significant characteristic of this phase is the extensive discord or disunion in the family which suddenly appears."[86] Increasing conflict between sons and fathers was a sign that the traditional household was under stress. A report from a village near Niksic in Montenegro emphasized the economic dimension of this challenge to the traditional hierarchies. "The village was hit by a new wave of scarcity and poverty, and, as a result, the standing of the older people was undermined and hence that of the family. Today more often than ever previously one has children prematurely leaving their parents and not respecting any of the parents wishes."[87] Erlich notes that the breakdown of the authority of the old head of the zadruga resulted in conflicts and violence across rural Yugoslavia. "In the stage of the decay of the patriarchal system, the rights of every member of the family became insecure, hence everybody at once fought for more rights."[88] A similar set of factors had been at work in Croatia in the late 19th century, when the collapse of the zadruga began there. As the Croatian economist Rudolf Bicanic noted: "As long as everything proceeded in the house according to old customs, the zadruga members did not criticize the senior, nor blame him for bad management. But when the price of agrarian products dropped, all needs could no longer be satisfied in the old way."[89] Is this past chapter of Balkan history about to become Kosovo's future? For a brief period in the 1970s, it looked like the transition from the traditional Balkan family to smaller urban households would be gradual, triggered by urbanisation and increasing reliance on wage labour. This has happened in Pristina. Then came the 1980s and 90s, which brought two changes: an increasingly hostile economic and political environment, and the availability of cash remittances from migrant labour. The traditional family reverted to its old role, given a new lease on life by cash earned in Switzerland and Germany. It was remittances that enabled it to survive the decline of the pastoral economy and agricultural society that had given birth to it. Austrian historian Karl Kaser, a leading expert on the Balkan family, warned in 1995 that "we can assume that traditional value systems are put under enormous strain by the processes of modernisation; this includes the threat of an explosion under conditions of social crisis."[90] Today, all the conditions are in place for such an explosion to occur. V. CONCLUSION – END OF AN ERA? There is much loose rhetoric about the Europeanisation of Kosovo as the way forward. But unless Europeanisation includes at least some focus on migration and some access to European labour markets, it will remain no more than a slogan. Current EU policy – to continue to invest tens of millions of Euro to stabilize Kosovo and South Eastern Europe without a credible development and migration policy – is incoherent. Kosovo is confronting a harsh reality. Since 2004, the IMF has been sounding the alarm bell. After some years of celebrating the successes of UNMIK's economic policies, its most recent reports are increasingly blunt in their presentation of Kosovo's economic situation: Kosovo "could fall into a vicious circle"; it has "deeply rooted problems"; the situation is "fragile"; "vulnerable"; and "the near term outlook, even under a more benign scenario, does not look promising".[91] So far the succession of bad economic news has not led to a closer look at economic trends in rural areas. And it has not triggered a serious debate on the impact of European migration policy on Kosovo. Clearly, on the side of Kosovo politicians, the first step would be to define credible economic and social policies for rural areas. Agricultural policy remains marginal to the domestic political debate.[92] Any national development strategy must address the problem of inadequate access to and high costs of further education in rural areas. New funding schemes to enable rural students, including women, to receive a proper education should be a national priority. At the same time European countries should work with Kosovar authorities to set in place work migration schemes to parts of the European Union in need of labour, in a way that is politically acceptable to European countries. It would require concrete steps to help Kosovars gain access to EU labour markets. Kosovo should set up a national institution to manage the economic, social and legal implications of migration. Such an institution would need to focus not only on Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the classic destinations of Kosovars, but on the whole European labour market. It should study experiences with work migration from around the world, and lobby for access of Kosovars. It should provide feedback to education institutions and policy makes in Kosovo on the needs of European labour market and their implications for education and training. Both the citizens of rural Kosovo and European tax-payers deserve better than a set of policies that are failing and bound to fail in the future. It is only by reconsidering current policies that a worthy goal – to stabilise once and for all the Southern Balkans after a decade of wars – will be reached. The PDF-version of this report contains a detailed annex with additional information on Cerrce and Lubishte, and ESI's village research methodology. [1] ESI, Cutting the Lifeline, 2006. [3] Statistical Office of Kosovo, Labor Market Statistics 2005, 2006, p.14. [4] Kosovo Agency of Statistics, Results of the Kosovo 2013 Labour Force Survey, 2014, p.11. [5] Der Spiegel, "2030 Es kommen härtere Jahre", 14 March 2015. [6] Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, "Einwanderung aus dem Kosovo Willkommen in Deutschland!", 25 Februar 2015. [7] Martin Schrenk, Cyrus Ardalan and Nawal A. El Tatawy, Yugoslavia. Self-management Socialism and the Challenges of Development. A World Bank Country Economic Report, p. 284f. [8] Janet Reineck, The Past as Refuge: Gender, Migration and Ideology Among the Kosovo Albanians, 1991, p. 10. [9] Cay Lienau, "Die Albanische Minderheit", in: Cornelia Schmalz-Jacobsen and Georg Hansen, Ethnische Minderheiten in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Ein Lexikon, München 1995, pp. 52-61. [10] Croatia: 9,087; Italy: 5,472; Slovenia: 4,977; Belgium: 4,137; Norway: 3,522; Denmark: 3,314; France: 1,998; Netherlands: 1,078; United Kingdom: 338; Finland: 295; Luxembourg: 166. Rifat Blaku, Hintergründe der Auswanderung von Albanern aus Kosova in die Westeuropäischen Staaten, Vienna, 1995, p. 10. Unlike the 1981 Yugoslav census numbers, these figures include illegal and non-registered workers, as well as second generation Kosovo Albanians. [11] Federal Ministry of Inner Affairs, Sachverständigenrat für Zuwanderung und Integration, Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, Migrationsbericht. Bericht des Sachverständigenrates für Zuwanderung und Integration im Auftrag der Bundesregierung, in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Europäischen Forum für Migrationsstudien (efms) an der Universität Bamberg – aktualisierte Ausgabe November 2004, p. 41. [12] BMI Referat A4, 14 June 2005, Rückkehr in das Kosovo seit Juni 1999. [13] Bundesamt für die Anerkennung ausländischer Flüchtlinge, Referat 213 – Analyse Mittel-, Ost- und Südosteuropa, Informationszentrum Asyl und Migration, Serbien und Montenegro – Online-Loseblattwerk 15, Flucht und Migration, November 2003. [14] Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Migration, und Flüchtlinge, Daten-Fakten-Trends. Strukturdaten der ausländischen Bevölkerung 2004, original source: Statistisches Bundesamt/Bundesverwaltungsamt – AZR. [15] Until 2002: Federal Statistical Office, "Statistics of naturalisations", in: Statistisches Bundesamt, Strukturdaten und Integrationsindikatoren über die ausländische Bevölkerung in Deutschland: Lagebericht 2005, p. 22. Federal Statistical Office. [16] Marcel Heiniger (Bundesamt für Statistik), "Daten zu Muslimen und Musliminnen in der Schweiz", in: Tangram, 7/1999, p. 80. 39,000 received German citizenship in those years. [17] Between 2000 and 2004 some 33,900 citizens from Serbıa-Montenegro picked up residence in Switzerland and 8,800 gave it up. The total number increased from 197,000 to 199,200, despite the naturalisation of almost 27,000 during this period. Ausländer und Asylstatistik, pp. 114f and 130f. [18] For a detailed narrative of the Kosovo diaspora story see Paul Hockenos, Homeland Calling – Exile Patriotism and the Balkan Wars, 2003. On the Fund for the Republic of Kosovo see p. 178. [19] Expert groups from the IMF and the World Bank have only recently (2005) hammered out a new definition to be used by central banks around the world. Since most of the estimates cited here were made before 2005, the old definition is still used. In the new definition migrant transfers are no longer included under remittances. [20] IMF Statistics Department, Balance of Payments Manual (BPM5). [21] IMF, Kosovo – Macroeconomic Issues and Fiscal Sustainability, 2001, p. 23. [22] The Kosovo Government in its Budget 2003 refers to "[€] 720 million of cash remittances, which included foreign social transfers (especially pensions and other social benefits paid to the former workers by governments of Serbia, Germany, Switzerland, and other countries), labour income of Kosovo Albanians currently working abroad (including Serbia), cash gifts provided by foreign residents to Kosovo families, and cash brought to Kosovo by repatriates and visitors. Kosovo Budget 2003, MEF, p. 8. [23] BPK Annual Report 2003, March 2004, p. 14 (numbers based on IMF). Foreign pensions do not appear as a separate category in this report, which suggests that they are included under "remittances." [24] World Bank, Kosovo Economic Memorandum, Washington, 17 May 2004, Report No: 28023-KOS. [25] IMF Aide Memoire 2006. [26] The Kosovo Statistical Office (SOK) has done two household budget surveys, one published in 2003 and the other in 2005. These surveys analysed rural and urban households separately by screening each month 200 households during 24 months. Each survey asked 2,400 families in different districts questions about consumption, expenditure and income sources. SOK, Standard of Living Statistics 2002-2004, Pristina, May 2005, p. 3. [27] Ibid., p. 4. [28] Communication with International advisor to Statistical Institute of Kosovo, Sasun Tsirunyan, 9 February 2006 and 21 February 2006. [29] Opoja then had 37,400 inhabitants and consisted of 21 villages. In fact, Reineck lived in Kosovo over four and a half years between 1981 and 1989. [30] Janet Reineck, The Past as Refuge, 1991, p. 125. [31] Xhemali Berisha, Remember This, Migrant Men, 1988, quoted in Reineck, p. 163. [33] Ibid., p. 190. [34] Ibid., p. 76. [38] In the course of the past two years ESI researchers visited a large number of Kosovo villages, interviewing large numbers of people on changing rural living conditions in the municipalities of Viti, Gjilan, Rahovec, Mitrovica, Prizren, Pristina and Strpce. [39] For information on the questionnaire and the research, see Annex 4. All data is summarized in Annex I and Annex II. [40] Such households have been described in the 1990s by Karl Kaser (Familie und Verwandtschaft auf dem Balkan – Family and Relations in the Balkans, 1995; and Hirten, Kaempfer, Stammeshelden – Sheppards, Fighters, Tribal Heroes, 1992); in the late 1980s by Janet Reineck (The Past as Refuge, 1991); in the 1970s by Berit Backer (Behind Stone Walls – Changing Household Organisation Among the Albanians of Kosova, 1979); in the 1990s by Gjergj Rrapi (the book appeared in 2003 in German as Die albanische Groszfamilie im Kosovo) and in the 1930s by Vera Erlich (Family in Transition), among others. [41] SOK, Demographic and Health Survey 2003. [42] EEA in 1995 was the EU-15 plus Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein. Source: European Environment Agency, Indicator Fact Sheet 2001. [43] Also variously referred to as 'Balkan family households', 'multiple family households', 'Balkan patriarchal families', 'complex' or 'communal joint families'. [44] Vera Erlich, Family in Transition, 1966, p. 32. [46] The unwritten rule that women do not inherit is contrary to both Islamic law and the 1946 Yugoslav Family Law. Anthropologists refer to the principle of marrying only women from outside the village as exogamy, and to the fact that women move into the husband's household as patrilocality. [47] Karl Kaser, Familie und Verwandtschaft auf dem Balkan, 1995, p. 138. [48] The household mahalas remain central to the organisation of social life. Decisions affecting the village (such as how to build a new graveyard in 2006) are taken in a council of mahala representatives. [49] As the demand for land increases, families build on land that used to serve as winter pasture for flocks. However, if they need to buy feed having sheep no longer pays off. [50] Kosovo Education Centre, Facts and Figures about education in Kosovo, 2001. [51] Statistical Office of Kosovo, Demographic and Health Survey 2003, 2004. [52] Berit Backer, Behind Stone Walls – Changing Household Organisation Among the Albanians of Kosova, 1979, p. 106. [53] Karl Kaser, Familie und Verwandtschaft auf dem Balkan, 1995. [54] Jozo Tomasevic, Peasants, Politics and Economic Change, p. 265. [55] Ibid., p 338. [56] Susan Woodward, Socialist Unemployment, 1995, p. 74. [57] Privreda SR Srbije, The Economy of the Socialist Republic of Serbia, 1988. [58] Berit Backer, Behind Stone Walls – Changing Household Organisation Among the Albanians of Kosova, 1979, p. 40. [59] SOE-Database of the UNMIK Department of Trade and Industry, 26th of August 2002. [61] Statisticki Godisnjak SFR Jugoslavije 1991, Belgrade, 1992, p. 656. [62] Source: Statisticki Godisnjka SFR Jugoslavije 1991, pp. 414f. The labor force in SFRY included men between 15 and 64 and women between 15 and 59. [64] The date of departure could not be established for all members of households who are abroad; in addition a number of those now abroad were born there. [65] These repatriations took place from Germany, France and Austria. [66] Jane Jacobs, Cities and the Wealth of Nations, 1984, p. 75. [67] Small farms (less than 2 ha) report expenditure of € 578 and cash revenue of € 408. Source: SOK, Agricultural Household Survey 2004, p. 30. [68] Jane Jacobs, Cities and the Wealth of Nations, 1984, p 77. [69] SOK Labour Force Survey 2004, p. 15. [70] Berit Backer, Behind Stone Walls, 1979, p. 100. [71] SOK, Agricultural Household Budget Survey, 2004. [72] Janet Reineck, The Past as Refuge, 1991, p. 11. [73] ESI Interview, 8 September 2006. [74] Donald Grayson, Differential Mortality and the Donner Party Disaster, Evolutionary Anthropology, 1994, p. 157. [75] Frank Schirrmacher, Minimum, 2006, p. 39. [76] IHT, "Europe, East and West, wrestles with falling birthrates", 3 September 2006. [77] Source: SOK, Demographic and Health Survey 2003. [78] Rexhep Rexhepi, responsible for social welfare in Lubishte, to ESI, September 2006. [79] Communication with Statistical Institute Kosovo, international advisor Sasun Tsirunyan, 9 February 2006 and 21 February 2006. [80] In 1981, there were 1,171,812 people living in rural areas, 73.9 percent of the total population. Statisticki Godisnjak Jugoslavije 1991, Belgrade. [81] An agricultural household is one that possesses and cultivates more than 0.10 ha of arable land or less than 0.10 ha of arable land but at least some livestock. [82] SOK, Agricultural Household Survey, 2004, p. 14. [83] In all of Kosovo there are 369 households that SOK considers "large farms" with an average of 25.5 hectares (the size of a small farm in Germany). [85] In 1931 population growth was between 1.7 and 2.1 percent in most provinces. See Kaser, 1995, p. 150. [86] Vera Erlich, Family in Transition, 1966, p. 424. [87] Ibid. p. 69. [88] Ibid. p. 92: "Peasant sons show inconsiderate attitudes and violence not in the patriarchal phase but in the phase in which the family hierarchy disintegrates." [89] Rudolf Bicanic in Agrarna Krisa u Hrvatskoj 1873-1895, quoted in Vera Erlich, Family in Transition, 1966, p. 50. [90] Karl Kaser, Familie und Verwandschaft auf dem Balkan, 1995, p. 16. [91] IMF, Gearing Policies, 2004, p. 5. [92] Christian Boese, Emil Erjavec, Miroslav Radnak, Strategic Study – Support to Agricultural Sector in the Western Balkans, Arcotrass, 2005. Berlin – Pristina, 23 April 2015 Chronologie des publications d'ESI ESI manuals Refugees, asylum and borders Visa Liberalisation European Enlargement Human rights in Europe Economic trends in the Balkans The Balkans and its Return to Europe The EU and the future of Turkish democracy ESI manuals on EU enlargement Turkey-Armenia – A Difficult Rapprochement The Libertarian Revolution in Georgia Russia and the Southern Caucasus Germany's Great Debate on Turkey and Turks © Initiative Européenne pour la Stabilité 2020	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1396
__label__wiki	0.714441	0.714441	Kazakhstan Region Etihad Airways introduces larger aircraft to accommodate growth of three key Asian routes Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has upgraded services on three key Asian routes this week, introducing larger aircraft to accommodate growing demand. Flights between the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, and major two Chinese cities, Shanghai and Chengdu, have been upgraded with next-generation Boeing 787 Dreamliners, while the South Korean city of Seoul has been boosted from a Dreamliner to an Airbus A380 ‘super jumbo’. “Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing air transport region in the world, and China is the fastest-growing individual market,” said Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways. “As we continue to modernise our aircraft fleet, and as we work with tourism partners to increase visitor numbers to Abu Dhabi, we are deploying newer, larger planes to key markets throughout our network.” Chengdu, in south-central China, is a city of 7.4 million people. Etihad has upgraded its daily Abu Dhabi – Chengdu flights from 262-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft to 299-seat Boeing 787s, a 14 per cent increase in seats. Shanghai, China’s largest city, with a population of more than 24 million, has been upgraded from Boeing 787-9 aircraft to larger Boeing 787-10 jets, seating 336 passengers, up 12 per cent. And Seoul, the capital of South Korea, with a population approaching 10 million, has been upgraded by Etihad from the Boeing 787-10 to the 494-seat Airbus A380, a massive 47 per cent increase. With the upgrades of the Shanghai and Chengdu routes, Etihad now operates Dreamliners to all four of its China gateways, having introduced these planes to Hong Kong and Beijing earlier this year. Recently, Dreamliners have also been deployed to London and Rome, and still to come this year, Etihad will introduce these aircraft to markets including Frankfurt, Milan, Dublin, Johannesburg and Lagos. Flights to Mahe	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1397
__label__wiki	0.585348	0.585348	2011-12Last 16Round 5 Lokomotiv Kuban 82 February 21, 2012 CET: 18:10 Local time: 19:10 SIEMENS ARENA The race for the quarterfinals in Group L of the Last 16 will come down to a final week between an upstart and two time-honored names in European basketball after Lokomotiv Kuban of Russia stormed from behind to beat host Lietuvos Rytas 78-82 in Vilnius, Lithuania on Tuesday. Both teams are now tied with 3-2 records with one game left in the round, with Lokomotiv having now defeated Rytas twice. The fate of both teams will wait until Week 6 however, since Benetton Treviso (3-1 before playing Tuesday), is the opponent of Rytas next week and has beaten Lokomotiv twice. Several scenarios could solve the race, including all three teams could end up tied with 4-2 records, 2-2 against each other, in which case point-based tiebreakers could decide the outcome. In any case, the group won't be resolved until next week. Lokomotiv made sure of that by using an 11-19 third quarter run to tak over the scoreboard after having trailed Rytas by as much as 47-40. After seizing a 58-61 lead at the end of the third quarter, however, Lokomotiv surged ahead by as much as 10 points in the fourth quarter to hold off the hosts. Ali Traore was the big gun for the visitors with 18 points, while Sergey Bykov added 15 and Kelvin Rivers 12. Jeremiah Massey added a double-double of 13 points, 10 rebounds. Jonas Valanciunis had 17 points for Rytas and Ronny Seibutis 12, but none in the game's final 15 minutes. More than anything, Lokomotiv won by taking care of the ball, with just 6 turnovers to the 14 it forced on Rytas. Seibutis took a pass from Valanciunas and got to the basket for a three-point play to open the scoring, though Massey scored Lokomotiv’s first points on the ensuing possession. After an Aleksandar Rasic triple for the hosts, Maxin Sheleketo evened the score from the line. Valanciunas put Rytas up by 4 before back-to-back threes by Vlado Ilievski and Sheleketo lifted the visitors to 12-14. The teams traded baskets for several minutes as the scoreboard flashed four ties before an Arturas Jomantas layup and Grigory Shukhovtsov free throws ended the first quarter at 21-20.Tyrese Rice’s first basket and Valanciunas's points from the line lifted Rytas ahead 27-22, but a pair of quick baskets by Bykov had Lokomotiv back within 1 in a jiffy. After Sheleketo’s second three-pointer of the game evened things at 29-29, the Rytas defense went to work and denied Lokomotiv points for more than 3 minutes during which Rasic and Mindaugas Katelynas led an 11-0 surge to put the hosts in control. K.C. Rivers scored 6 points until halftime to give Lokomotiv hope at the break, although trailing 42-36. A three-pointer by Seibutis and a basket by Valanciunas gave Rytas its biggest lead yet, 47-40, to open the second half, but Rivers and Rodney Blakney dialled up three-pointers to bring Lokomotiv back. By the time Rivers hit his next shot from the arc, the visitors had taken over the scoreboard, 51-53. The lead changed again on a triple by Lawrence Roberts, but there were three ties and another lead change before Traore dropped his fifth basket to keep Lokomotiv in front, 58-61, after 30 minutes. Traore's next pair of shots kept Lokomotiv a step ahead until Bykov blasted a triple to give the visitors better breathing room, 64-68. Traore and Massey ruled inside for 3 more baskets to open a gaping, double-digit lead of 64-74 before Valanciunis cut Lokomotiv's 0-9 run with his own three-point play. Massey matched his dunk, however, to make it 67-76, after which Lokmotiv's defense locked in. Rytas got only 2 points over 4 minutes until Steponas Babrauskas made it 71-78 with 1:20 to play. Katelynas stepped up then with a huge three-point play to bring Rytas within 74-78 with 53 seconds left, forcing a Lokomotiv timeout. Blakney's steal denied Rytas a scoring chance before Bykov put the finishing touches from the foul line on a huge road win by Eurocup newcomer Lokomotiv Kuban. Eurocupbasketball.com Referees: ROCHA, FERNANDO; CONDE, ANTONIO; KOWALSKI, MARCIN Attendance: 7300 (Tentative) Lietuvos Rytas 21 21 16 20 Lokomotiv Kuban 20 16 25 21 Lietuvos Rytas 4 DAMBRAUSKAS, PAULIUS DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 BABRAUSKAS, STEPONAS 22:49 7 3/4 0/1 1/4 1 1 1 1 1 3 4 5 6 RICE, TYRESE 23:31 8 3/9 0/3 2/2 1 1 8 2 1 3 1 3 7 ROBERTS, LAWRENCE 23:42 9 3/4 1/1 1 5 6 1 2 11 10 SEIBUTIS, RENALDAS 28:58 12 4/9 1/3 1/1 1 1 1 2 5 5 5 12 DILYS, VILMANTAS DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14 SAMARDZISKI, PREDRAG 10:25 2 1/1 0/2 2 2 1 1 3 2 1 15 KATELYNAS, MINDAUGAS 17:30 8 1/2 1/2 3/3 4 4 1 1 1 3 10 17 VALANCIUNAS, JONAS 28:23 17 5/6 7/8 2 8 10 3 2 3 2 6 33 19 RASIC, ALEKSANDAR 22:01 7 2/4 1/2 3 3 3 3 4 21 JOMANTAS, ARTURAS 22:41 8 3/5 2/2 2 3 5 1 1 1 10 32 REDIKAS, DOVYDAS DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Totals 200:00 78 23/40 5/14 17/24 9 25 34 16 2 14 3 2 23 25 86 Head coach: DZIKIC, ALEKSANDAR Lokomotiv Kuban 4 GRIGORYEV, MAXIM 10:27 2 1/1 1 1 3 1 1 5 RIVERS, KC 27:02 12 2/3 2/4 2/2 3 3 1 2 4 1 12 6 ILIEVSKI, VLADO 13:37 5 1/3 2/2 1 1 1 1 3 7 7 MASSEY, JEREMIAH 36:27 13 5/7 0/2 3/4 2 8 10 1 2 1 1 2 19 8 CHALMERS, LIONEL 2:47 2 -2 10 BYKOV, SERGEY 18:09 15 3/7 1/3 6/6 1 1 1 1 2 7 17 11 BLAKNEY, RODERICK 29:21 5 1/5 1/3 1 1 2 5 3 2 1 1 2 7 15 ZABELIN, ARTEM 2:07 0/2 1 1 -2 21 SHUKHOVTCOV, GRIGORY 9:00 4 1/4 2/2 2 1 3 2 4 2 24 TRAORE, ALI 29:04 18 8/12 2/4 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 15 25 SHABALKIN, NIKITA 3:11 0/1 1 -2 45 SHELEKETO, MAKSIM 18:48 8 0/1 2/3 2/2 2 1 2 2 9 Totals 200:00 82 21/41 7/18 19/24 8 21 29 13 6 6 2 3 25 23 85 Head coach: MALJKOVIC, BOZIDAR DZIKIC, ALEKSANDAR "We were not lucky tonight. We lost a game that we prepared for well. In the game a couple of possessions made the difference. They are a very experienced team. Basically we have one more chance. We have to win in Treviso. " MALJKOVIC, BOZIDAR "In the first half of the game we looked nervous. I can say that for 30 to 32 minutes we defended very well. I was worried about our ability to fight for rebounds. I know coach Dzikic well; he likes his teams to send 3 or 4 players fight for the ball on offense. I cannot identify a single player, one played well for a few minutes, then another. We won as a team. We made some mistakes, but we played as a team " SEIBUTIS, RENALDAS "We all just wanted to win. We analyzed our opponent and that helped. We pulled away a little in the first half, but they caught up. We tried our best on defense, but they scored anyway. Now it’s difficult to say what will happen. There is still time to review this game. Nothing is lost, we have an opportunity. The goal is to win in Treviso. There is still a possibility." REGULAR SEASON LAST 16 QUARTERFINALS FINALS Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Group I CEZ Nymburk 80 VEF Riga 84 February 21 18:00 CET LIVE FINAL Group J Khimki 88 Aris Thessaloniki 72 Donetsk 93 Asvel Basket 87 Group K Spartak St Petersburg 70 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 64 KRKA Novo Mesto 78 Banvit Bandirma 73 Group L Benetton Basket 74	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1399
__label__cc	0.658588	0.341412	University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg Founded in 2003, the UL is a public institution and the first and only university of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It was set up as a multilingual and international institution and is strongly focused on research. Research focuses on a choice of priority areas. Within these priorities, the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) was created. The LCSB aims at unravelling the biological mechanisms underlying health and disease with a special emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases using molecular analyses and bioinformatics tools and computational models. The key research objective of the Eco-Systems Biology (ESB) research group at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) of the University of Luxembourg (UL) is to develop and apply molecular systems biology approaches to obtain unprecedented understanding of mixed microbial communities, e.g. gastrointestinal microbiota, their interactions with the environment, e.g. the human host, and how certain microbial community compositions lead to certain outcomes, e.g. pathogenesis. In order to achieve this, the group has recently developed a microfluidics-based in vitro model of the human-microbe gastrointestinal interface called HuMiX. The overall vision of the ESB group is to use high-resolution molecular data, obtained from microbial consortia including those established in the HuMiX model, to construct multi-scale models which will highlight key processes governing microbial community structure and function, and which may inform control strategies for microbial communities in the future, especially in the context of human diseases. Role in the project: gut-on-a-chip, induced pluripotent stem cells, systems biology, microbiome, multi-omics, metabolism, modelling Back to participants	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1400
__label__wiki	0.978266	0.978266	Granny who ditched chemo for cross-country road trip celebrates 1 year anniversary By Katie Muse It has been one year since a 91-year-old grandmother embarked on the ultimate journey following a devastating loss and learning she has cancer. In a two-week period, Norma learned her husband of 67 years, Leo, was dying and that she had a large, likely cancerous mass on her uterus. Two days after Leo passed away, Norma was in a doctor's office learning about surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Once the doctor finished telling Norma her options, he asked her how she'd like to proceed. "I'm 90-years-old, I'm hitting the road," the Michigan woman told her doctor. That was in August of last year. Now, more than a year later, she's still on the road with her son and daughter-in-law and more than 400,000 people continue to follow their journey on Facebook. On August 25, the "Driving Miss Norma" Facebook page shared new photos of the elderly woman celebrating 365 days of being on the road. "We celebrated our one year anniversary in true 'Miss Norma' fashion," her family said. "Key lime and chocolate cakes and beer were front and center, of course!" Norma and her family have driven the RV nearly 13,000 miles and slept in more than 75 different locations in 32 states. "We continue to be overwhelmed by the kindness and love that has been directed our way. It feels like a giant nest has been built across the country. Anywhere we land is home." Miss Norma has traveled all over the United States, including several stops in Georgia. On March 31, she celebrated her 91st in Marietta. FOX 5 was there when "The Local" threw her a huge birthday bash. Norma told FOX 5 she never thought her journey would inspire so many people. "I don't know what to say," she said in March. "It is overwhelming for sure." She also told us Marietta was her favorite place, but according to Facebook, she has many favorites. "No matter where we are, when asked where her favorite spot has been on this trip, Norma now says, 'Right here!'" Norma's family said meeting such wonderful people has made their journey incredibly special. "Our families, friends, and the many thousands of former strangers have lifted us up and kept our spirits high." This week, Norma checked in from San Juan Island in Harbor, Washington, which is more than 2,000 miles away from Atlanta.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1405

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