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__label__wiki	0.871012	0.871012	Woman dubbed 'Swing Set Susan' charged with impersonating officer to chase Hispanic teens off playground The Fort Worth Police Department identified the woman as Samantha Louise Eley, who is not a member of their department. Thursday, October 24th 2019, 1:10 PM EDT by NBC News Samantha Eley. Tarrant County Correction Center A white woman is under arrest for pretending to be a police officer in an apparent attempt to drive Hispanic teenagers out of a Texas playground in a profanity-laced tirade that was caught on video. The Fort Worth Police Department identified the woman Wednesday as Samantha Louise Eley, who has been charged with impersonating a public servant in connection with the Oct. 16 confrontation over a swing at the city's Dream Park. The incident has been seen by some as the latest in a spate of incidents across the country in which people of color have been unfairly targeted for imagined infractions. The exchange at Dream Park was captured in a minutelong video taken by one of the teens, and posted on Twitter just more than an hour after the encounter. It has since been viewed more than 5 million times. "Well, I’m a f---ing P.D., so get the f--- out of here if you’re not here to play as a child," the woman can be heard yelling at one of the teens who was using a playground swing. "Read the f---ing signs." Eley, 38, was arrested Monday on an unrelated bond violation charge stemming from a previous arrest in a domestic violence case, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which obtained the arrest warrant. Before Eley was identified, she was dubbed #SwingSetSusan in an apparent reference to other incidents involving white people who called police to complain about the conduct of persons of color, including the so-called "BBQ Becky" and "Permit Paddy." In this latest incident, the woman in the video can be heard erroneously telling the teens that they had to be 13 or younger to use the playground after they complained that they had the right to be there as minors. Fort Worth police later clarified that the playground is open to children below the age of 18. Citing the arrest warrant, the Star-Telegram reported that Eley, who has also gone by the names Samantha Silvers and Samantha Chacon, was charged Aug. 29 with assaulting a family member in Fort Worth 12 days earlier. Eley was sentenced to 16 months probation for driving while intoxicated in Southlake in 2014 and she spent 50 days in jail for DWIs in 2017, according to the newspaper, which cited Tarrant County court records.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1842
__label__cc	0.587976	0.412024	Understanding Context: Environment, Language, and Information Architecture How does context relate to content? On this week's Writer Podcast, Byron chats with Andrew Hinton, author of Understanding Context: Environment, Language, and Information Architecture. The interview covers several topics, including the concept of context with mobile experience, and how context fits into the customer journey. Andrew is a Senior Digital Experience Architect at State Farm, and a founding member of the Information Architecture Institute . You can learn more about him at http://andrewhinton.com/. Byron: Welcome back, everyone. I’m here with Andrew. Andrew, welcome. Andrew: Hi. Nice to be here. Byron: Understanding Context, now that should take several hours. Andrew: It took me several years. It was a long, hard road to get that book written. But yes, there’s a lot going on there. Byron: Indeed. Tell us where this concept of context hit you. It’s pretty clear what…Well, go ahead. How does context fit with the environments of marketing and communications as we know it? Andrew: Well, very briefly what got me onto that topic was trying to figure out what we do when we do information architecture. So when we’re categorizing things, connecting things, creating structures out of information, what’s the material we’re working with? Because in other kinds of design, you can say, “I’m working with that sort of material.” What is it that you’re architecting? So that was kind of the central question that’s sort of an ongoing discussion in the IA community, and I just kept working on that and landed on context as kind of the central problem domain. So information architecture feeds into content. In a nutshell, the way I put it at least, is it’s like you’re building the city block or the building or whatever that all this activity moves through. So the architecture is kind of creating the conditions, the structures within which people can create and share and communicate the content. So their categorization schemes, the structures people are accessing content in, the structures that they’re creating in them, even the rules behind all that, they’re all architectural concerns. Now that we’re trying to create content that can be used in many different places, in many different contexts, we need to understand how context works in terms of the way people understand their environment, understand the content that they’re getting in terms of where it is when they get it, what’s related to it and all those things. Byron: We tend to design in a vacuum, most of us, how something is going to look or how it’s going to feel. What about the contrast with how people actually use what we design? Where does context fit with the use of the things we design? Andrew: Well, in the book I go pretty deep into what’s called embodied cognition. Embodied cognition theory is an emerging, rich way of understanding how any sentient creature or sentient, conscious, perceiving creature understands and uses their environment and acts in it. Building from that, then figuring out how do people interact with their environment, and then you have language and digital systems to that where we’re pumping all this language out and the various ways. That’s getting at that challenge of how are people interacting with what we make, like how do people understand whether something is a button or not when it’s really just a sheet of glass that they’re tapping their finger on. We can make pretend buttons all over the place, but some things look like I can tap them and I really can. Sometimes, content shows up in a place where it makes sense. The same content can show up somewhere else where because of what’s around it it ends up meaning the opposite or offending somebody or just not making any sense at all. When people are trying to navigate some kind of digital place, all we have to work with is language to structure that place. So, how are we using language to make that? Those are all central concerns in terms of how people are interacting with and understanding their environment. Things we make are things that we’re putting in their environment, so really I’m framing all this as we are all creating parts of people’s environments, what’s the fundamental principles behind how they interact with that. Byron: How has our mobile dependency changed user experience? And are we really starting to strip everything down so it can be quickly conceived of and acted up in a mobile device? Andrew: Yeah, I mean I think what mobile did was it broke the way we were starting to think of digital stuff, because digital stuff was largely about desktop, laptop computers. It was about big computing devices and we could assume a lot of that location and the context people were in. Now what people are doing is…and this is part of what I frame in the book, is that it’s really not about mobile versus not mobile; it’s really about expanding our perspective to include the whole environment, because people are going to recruit from the environment whatever they need in a moment. And whether that’s a stick that they can break off of a tree or that’s a phone that they can pick up and grab that email rather than having to pull their laptop out of their bag, we have to now start thinking about the whole environment, because now digital is pervading and ambient in the whole environment. We’ve got this internet of things going on where your Nest thermostat, your smart home devices, your car, all these things are networked and interrelated. So in a way, we almost have to get past this idea of, well, now we have these mobile devices. We really need to think about how the whole ecosystem works. So in a way mobile was sort of a gateway drug into, I think, having to really just break out of the screen in general and not think about screens as much. Of course we didn’t have to design for screens, but we have to that understanding the whole picture. Byron: When you say expanding our environment, could you define environment? It’s the center piece of your book I know, but does it mean culture, does it mean tools, does it mean devices, does it mean the language we use? What does environment really mean to you? Andrew: Well, it’s all those things. If you think of any creature, like I’ve got two Boston terriers, their environment is the people, the other dogs, and what they think of as their pack, our house, our yard, when we go on a walk, their daycare. They’ve got these different places and they’ve got these objects and things that they have to interact with just to get around, just to eat, just to live their lives and meet the needs that they have. We’re really no different. It’s just that we have this added layer of language on everything, because humans are a symbolic species. So over a millennia developed symbolic language, and that’s added a whole other dimension to our environment. You’ve got environment in terms of physical information, which is just the stuff that we walk on and touch and the food we eat, then we’ve got this sort of linguistic dimension of it, what I’m calling semantic information that humans have added to create whole other structures. You could be working in an office that’s just one big floor with a bunch of tables, but there’s an orchard that structures the way you’re going to work together in ways that walls don’t. That’s just made of language. So that’s all part of environment. That’s just one way to frame it, but that’s the primary way I frame it in the book. And then what happened was we added this whole digital information thing, and that really scrambled how all that stuff works. It scrambles what a place means to us, what a word means to us. When we touch a book made out of paper, it doesn’t do anything back. But now when we touch our book in our Kindle, it does something back. Digital enables all these things that weren’t possible before and we’re still, I think, catching up to what we’ve done with technology in terms of making context understandable to people. But that’s the framework I use to describe environment, but really just environment is, ecologically speaking, just the surroundings that we live in, all the stuff that we live in. Byron: In the end of the day, a lot of what you’re describing and talking about is of course design, and I wanted to ask you…design a product and try and make products better, right? Try and sell more products, right? I mean that’s the mission. I wanted to ask you how you think some of the new age thinking on customer experience fits with your book, mainly the customer journey throughout the whole cycle. We used to have…I’ll sort of just footnote a little bit more by saying, with customer experience we often have not thought about customer experience in a total way where it starts with your marketing department and the look and the feel of your brand and your brand voice, and then the sales department and the experience that you feel there when someone does a trial of your product, and maybe they get a phone call within five minutes and a book in the mail if they buy something from you like they actually do at WriterAccess…We mail books out…So there’s all these experiences happening. Do you ever worry that people remain in silos and don’t think about the overall customer experience? And when you say environment, is that what you’re talking about, that total experience? Andrew: Yeah. If you were a scientist, a biologist or a zoologist, or I don’t know what would do this, but you go and you observe how a creature lives in the wild, you’re not going to silo where you’ve got one person thinking about where they’ll get water and somebody else thinking about where they’ll get food. You’re going to pay attention to how that creature lives their whole life, appropriating everything in their environment. That’s really the same thing, except that we’ve got multiple kinds of technology, multiple touch points. It’s more complex in a lot of ways because of all the stuff that humans have created and added to our environment. But yes, that’s what I mean by environment. So when I’m saying frame what we’re doing as an environmental design, what that does is that I don’t have to remember that…Yeah, we have to focus in silos sometimes, but more and more we can’t get by with just focusing in that silo. So back when it was all media was more broadcast oriented, you didn’t really have to line it up that much because it didn’t all link together, but now it does. Now somebody is going to be looking at their website while they’re reading their brochure, or while they’re on the phone with their customer service representative. This is all the stuff you need to line up in some way. It doesn’t mean it has to be straight-jacketed, but it means that it needs a spine or a skeleton or a nervous system that keeps it all coherent. And so when you mention customer experience, I mean I think customer experience is a nice way of framing things. I’ve been pushing even in my employer now to go beyond that and to think of this as…I like how service design does things because it does broaden the aperture a little more in terms of when you really can understand what the customer is going through and so you really understand all the layers in the cake from the databases on up to the service personnel. But then even beyond that, at some point you have to frame the whole environment, not privileging just one actor or the other, because you do need to be able to zoom in and look through the eyeballs of the customer service representative too, as if they were our “customer”. Byron: That’s true. Andrew: …or the sales agent, or the data entry person, because all of those things create sometimes like this house of cards or this Jenga stack where if one block isn’t paid attention to, everything else falls apart. And ideally we’d be creating more resilient systems than that, but then also, looking at it as a whole system then forces you to have to think more about making systems that are less brittle, so in many ways it brings a lot of benefits. Byron: How do people put context into what they touch as they navigate around the digital environments? Is there a new sense of context that the digital marketplace is bringing together? You talk about that as a core element in the book. Andrew: Yeah. I don’t know about the marketplace per se. I mean when we… I go into some lengths in the book to try to describe how it is that the invention of like binary digital information, just the fundamental nature of it, it scrambles and kind of…destabilizes is a better word. It destabilizes the way that we understood our environment before. We’ve had millions of years as creatures to understand just the physical world. We’ve had millennia to understand language and what it means, and it’s more complicated in a lot of ways than the physical world, because a word can mean many different things depending on the context. But then we add this digital piece and it makes it so that now if I’m walking down my hall from my bedroom to my bathroom, it isn’t just about walking down the hall anymore. It’s also because my Nest thermostat knows that I’m walking back and forth and it’s making decisions on how it’s going to heat or cool my home because I’m walking. So there’s this invisible process happening in the world around me that I’m not necessarily aware of. Or if I’m a content creator in a company and I’m putting something into a content management system and I’m thinking it’s for this one project, but it’s not clear to me all the other invisible places where that content is going to go, and if that hasn’t been modelled properly, then I might put something in there that is really just not going to fit, the other places where the organization wants to use that content. And you couldn’t do that in nearly the same scale before digital information. It was like once I typed something, it was typed and it was done and it was going to go in one ad, and why would we think about anywhere else where it’s going to go! So this reuse, this disorientation that can happen because of digital stuff, that’s why we need to focus on context a lot harder than we really had to before. Byron: What primary role does context play in the decision-making process? Is it more in the awareness phase or the experience phase or the consideration phase, the purchasing phase? Andrew: Oh, it’s the same. You’re about like the funnel…Well, it’s equally… I mean context is one of the things where it’s just equally present and important everywhere all the way through, so that’s why the book is less about step by step how to do a thing; it’s more about understanding the principles underneath it, because then you can apply it to whatever. Because the thing is that that funnel that you just described, that’s just one way of mapping things, but it isn’t necessarily square one to one with reality. Reality is always more complex than the model [0:15:55 crosstalk] Byron: Yeah, right. Andrew: So that’s why I was trying not to be too reductionist in the book and I was trying to…And honestly, I probably cut myself out of 90% of my potential audience by being more principle-based rather than here’s how to do it step by step. But I just couldn’t do the step by the step because I knew it was too brittle. I really needed to explore the underpinnings of how it works. Byron: Okay. So I’m going to answer that question the wrong way and you can tell me right or wrong, but I think what you’re saying is context would fit in all of those stages of the funnel, and that’s the whole point, is to help consistently find context in strange and mysterious ways. Andrew: Yeah, understanding the principles of how it functions and how when we make stuff such as the taxonomy that you just mentioned where you go from awareness to consideration to blah blah blah...Every time we create some kind of model or map of the world, we’re using language to kind of narrow down on one interpretation. And the way context works actually goes beyond that. It’s actually kind of meta because it’s…Just describing what you just described created a context for understanding the way people interact with a brand. And part of what the book is getting at is you have to always be ready to reframe models like that, because eventually you may need a different way of looking at it. Ideally, a very pluralistic approach where you’ve got multiple models that are all sort of in checks and balances with each other. Because I’ve seen in companies over and over again where they latch onto one way of seeing something, and then before you know it – give it a year – and everybody has forgotten all the complexity; all they’ve latched onto is this one simple model. And then they find themselves trying to cram square pegs in a round hole all the time. So yeah, I mean context is an ongoing consideration like a lot of other things in terms of just the principles of how stuff works in the world. Byron: How does language fit in, the language we use, the actual content that we use? How does that fit with context? Andrew: Well, yeah, so for humans… Byron: And a smart guy like you…I should ask you, because you’re so smart obviously, and much smarter than all of us listening, but neurologically, that’s the interesting question…how does language fit? Andrew: Yeah. There’s actually some really interesting work going on in a number of different fields trying to figure out how it is that cognition and language actually work together, how is it that we actually understand… like how is that when I’m driving down the road…When I first started driving, I had to think really hard about what a stop sign means, but it didn’t take long to where my body just reacts to a stop sign almost without any thought. I treat it as if there’s an actual wall on the road, almost. So there’s some really interesting work going on around that. I’m not a scientist, so I can’t really address it to a great deal of expertise, but it is an important thing because we’re getting to where we need to understand the human machine, so to speak, in such a way that we really know what it is that we’re firing off in people when we put certain things in front of them, because we really can’t assume that they…Even in your own smartphone, there’s just so much complexity going on. I can never remember what the tap, win, what the swipe from one app to the next; it’s all so convoluted. All of that is a language issue, because there aren’t physical things in there. It’s just graphics, semantic information, signifiers. It’s graphics, it’s colors, it’s shapes, it’s words, it’s symbols; and so it’s really critical for us to get underneath that rather than just being like…People throw around wordings a lot without really digging into what that means, and so that’s part of what I try to do in the book as well. So all of that that’s with this sort of embodied cognitive way of understanding how do brains and bodies interact with their environment, and language is just really tricky because it’s not physical stuff. We put it on physical stuff, but it doesn’t have the same properties as like a rock or a hammer. You pick up a hammer, it’s going to be a hammer one way or the other, but you can use the word hammer in a lot of different contexts, like MC Hammer. That’s not the thing. If you put MC Hammer in front of me, I would not mistake MC Hammer for a ball-peen hammer or a claw hammer, but the word is still there. So language is slippery and weird and so that’s why we have to pay extra special attention to it, because it’s so much fuzzier. Byron: Only time for a few more questions. Here’s the first. How does A/B testing fit into understanding context? Andrew: Yeah, I mean…But I think that understanding the way context works enriches and in some ways challenges, I think, the work we think A/B testing is doing for us. A/B testing is not the be-all-end-all. It’s a way of saying okay…This is a big question, man. I don’t know. It’d take an hour. But honestly, like just a couple of things, I mean…What is that you’re measuring when you’re A/B testing? Because by deciding on what it is that you’re measuring, you’re not measuring other stuff, and that’s okay. You just need to be very conscious of the fact that you’re not measuring that other stuff. I’ve seen measurements go on time and time again with metrics where so many assumptions were built into what they’ve chosen to measure, and really what they’re choosing to measure, there’s a lot of complexity underneath it that gets ignored. So you could do this A/B test, but you need to be thinking about the context you’re doing it in, who’s using it, because it could be that then you release that out in the wild with some other situation around it and it doesn’t work. Also an A/B test by definition is sort of a very narrow set of conditions that you’re trying to test against. When at many times you need to really be zooming out and thinking about, “Well, what are the other possibilities that we should be exploring besides just staying on this narrow road and saying whether blue or turquoise is going to work on this.” So you can A/B test yourself into such a corner if you’re not careful, if you’re not thinking about what we were talking about before, that whole environment issue. Byron: Two final questions for you, Andrew. Who would you like to hear from in our audience and how can they get a hold of you? Andrew: I’m on Twitter, @inkblurt is my name there, I-N-K-B-L-U-R-T. My website is andrewhinton.com and I’ve got ways to contact on there. I don’t know. People who are generally interested in the content of the book and the issues that it’s trying to address, if you’re reading it and you’ve got questions about, well, what did you mean about this or whatever, I would welcome an opportunity to engage in a conversation around that. Byron: Terrific. I want to thank you for being here. Thanks very much. Andrew: Thank you. I had a great time. Byron: Right on. I hope I challenged you wonderfully. Andrew: That was great. It was just fine. I enjoyed the conversation very much. Byron: Great. Thanks for listening, everyone. We’ll see you next week. Thanks for tuning in.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1844
__label__cc	0.590015	0.409985	Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Episode 9 Episode 10 Episode 11 Episode 12 Episode 13 Episode 14 Episode 15 Episode 16 Episode 17 Episode 18 Episode 19 Episode 20 Episode 21 Episode 22 Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Episode 9 Episode 10 Episode 11 Episode 12 Aan irreverent and outrageous take on true family love‐and dysfunction. Newly sober single mom Christy struggles to raise two children in a world full of temptations and pitfalls. Testing her sobriety is her formerly estranged mother, now back in Christy’s life and eager to share passive-aggressive insights into her daughter’s many mistakes. Director: Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, Gemma Baker Actors: Allison Janney, Anna Faris, Beth Hall, Blake Garrett Rosenthal, Jaime Pressly, Mimi Kennedy, Sadie Calvano, William Fichtner Studio: Chuck Lorre Productions, Warner Bros. Television Networks: CBS Eight young people spend the summer in Panama City Beach in hopes of finding love, cash and close friends. Bizaardvark The live-action comedy follows comedy duo Paige and Frankie, two quirky teens who write funny songs and create music comedy videos for their online channel. With the help of friend… Status: Canceled Fauna Hodel, who was given away by her teenage birth mother, begins to investigate the secrets to her past, following a sinister trail that swirls ever closer to an infamous… The State’s Attorney’s dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators navigates heated city politics and controversy head-on, while fearlessly pursuing justice. A tight-knit, but slightly dysfunctional family of five, gather in their hometown of Chicago for the “perfect” holiday. From break-ups to arrests to sharing one bathroom, each family member is… Two mismatched students at a magical school for knights in training form an unlikely alliance to protect each other’s secret and pursue their dreams. From a 1969 Chevy Nova to a race-ready farm truck, the vehicles – and their drivers – come in all shapes and sizes and have one thing in common: the… Dr. Gregory House, a drug-addicted, unconventional, misanthropic medical genius, leads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey. The adventures of a larger-than-life red dog on Bridwell Island. Genre: Animation, Kids RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars The most celebrated competitors from RuPaul’s Drag Race vie for a second chance to enter Drag Race herstory. This drag queen showdown is filled with plenty of heated competition, lip-syncing… Every day is a matter of life and death in a hectic New York City hospital, but for Nurse Jackie that’s the easiest part. Between chronic back pain that won’t… Hilarious ensemble comedy that follows Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, and her tireless efforts to make her quintessentially American town just… The pirate adventures of Captain Flint and his men twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic “Treasure Island.” Flint, the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his… The story of a world-famous televangelist family with a history of deviance, greed and, yes, charitable work, all in the name of Jesus. Bravo’s cameras turn to the Southern states as the network presents this inside look at the Real Housewives of Atlanta. These women handle the personal dramas that affect their affluent… The multigenerational epic follows two concurrent time periods: One, the story of young Eli McCullough after he is kidnapped and indoctrinated into a tribe of Comanches in 1849. The other,… Escape the Night Welcome to “Escape the Night.” In this surreality competition series, hosted by Joey Graceffa, 10 guests are invited from the modern world to attend a dinner at his newly acquired… TMDb: 10 Couples travel to a tropical paradise where they are forced to decide if they’re ready to commit to one another for the rest of their lives. A reboot of the… Valley of the Boom An adrenaline-fueled ride through the culture of speculation, innovation and disruption during Silicon Valley’s unprecedented tech boom and subsequent bust in the 1990s. This mostly scripted series weaves in select… The story of an inner-city Los Angeles police precinct where some of the cops aren’t above breaking the rules or working against their associates to both keep the streets safe… Genre: Action & Adventure, Crime, Drama In the year 2199, a young woman who has lost everything finds a new life at Earth’s Space Training Academy where she learns to defend the galaxy from intergalactic threats. Some of literature’s most terrifying characters, including Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the novel Dracula are lurking in the darkest corners of Victorian London. Penny Dreadful is… The story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a… J.R., Bobby and Sue Ellen Ewing are all back at Southfork, with plenty of secrets, schemes and betrayals in mind. This time, they’re joined by the next generation of Ewings,… Trailer: Mom	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1848
__label__wiki	0.722915	0.722915	The greatest adventure of mankind: Secrets of the Apollo ProgramStephan Bleek2019-12-06T18:05:39+01:00 The greatest adventure of mankind: Secrets of the Apollo Program The Apollo program was the largest space project in the USA. It brought people to the moon for the first time. “This is a small step for a man, a big leap for mankind,” astronaut Neil Armstrong wrote on July 20, 1969, when he climbs from the head of the lunar ferry “Eagle” and enters the moon’s ground. The Apollo program and its background The Apollo program was conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) between 1961 and 1972. The film outlines the social environment of the 1950s and 1960s from which the program was born. It was a time of technological change and competition with the Soviet Union. For the Soviet Union had been ahead of the pack for many years when it set off into space, as we also show in our film “Secrets of Soviet Technology”. The space race With the announcement of the Apollo project by President Kennedy, the USA accepts the challenge. In addition we show color films of President Kennedy’s speech in Houston Texas, which introduces the Apollo program to the public. Then the steps of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions will be discussed. The highlight will be the Apollo 11 mission and the following moon landings. The film traces the course of the journey to the moon from partly unpublished Nasa archive films and weekly newsreels. The film also tells of the catastrophes and the sacrifices that Apollo has claimed, and of the happy rescue of the crew of Apollo 13 who raced in a wreck towards the moon. And also guaranteed anecdotes are described. For example Buzz Aldrin, who wants to start the ferry Eagle for the return from the moon, but no longer finds a switch for the reset of the system. Armstrong and Aldrin almost got stuck there. Symbol for the abilities of the human being And until today the view from the moon to the small blue earth in the infinite black of the universe is a symbol for the fragility of our planet. To this day, the flight to the moon is a technical masterpiece and the best symbol of man’s great abilities. Capabilities that extend even beyond one’s own orbit. Even if on Earth we do not succeed in achieving a satisfactory order of our affairs. Sometimes it is claimed that the program was a gigantic waste of money. I would disagree. Because the Vietnam War cost the USA more money in 1969 alone than the entire Apollo program over 10 years. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of war victims. And without Apollo there would not have been many groundbreaking developments in computer technology or space travel. Or at a much later date. Because “Apollo bombed the future into the 60s” – Ulrich Walter comments in the film. Fortunately, these bombs were peaceful breakthroughs in science and technology. Das größte Abenteuer der Menschheit Ein Film der zb Media für das ZDF. (43 min.) Buch und Regie: Peter Kocyla, Stephan Bleek Kamera: Wanja Nolte Schnitt: Wanja Nolte Mit Ulrich Walter, Helmuth Trischler, Peter Sartorius und anderen. Secrets of Soviet Technology The Power of Computers	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1852
__label__cc	0.718648	0.281352	Pope with Migrant Family © Vatican Media Pope to Celebrate Mass for Migrants July 8 In Memory of 6th anniversary of His Visit to Lampedusa July 01, 2019 16:45Jim FairFrancis In memory of the 6th anniversary of his visit to Lampedusa, on Monday, July 8, Pope Francis, will celebrate a Mass for Migrants, at 11:00 a.m., in St Peter’s Basilica, according to a statement released July 1, 2019, by Alessandro Gisotti, Interim Director of the Press Office. Around 250 people will participate in the celebration, among whom will be migrants, refugees and those who are dedicated to saving their lives, Gisotti said. Taking part in the Mass, presided over by the Pope at the Altar of the Chair of St Peter, will be only those persons invited by the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, to whom the Holy Father has entrusted the organization of the event. While Vatican Media will provide a live broadcast of the Mass, the presence of the press in the Basilica is not anticipated. The Holy Father desires that the moment be as recollected as possible in the remembrance of how many have lost their lives fleeing war and misery, and so as to encourage those who strive day after day to sustain, accompany and welcome migrants and refugees. Pope Francis made an emotional plea for the world to help refugees during his homily at Mass in Lampedusa on July 8, 2013: “Lord, in this liturgy, a penitential liturgy, we beg forgiveness for our indifference to so many of our brothers and sisters. Father, we ask your pardon for those who are complacent and closed amid comforts which have deadened their hearts; we beg your forgiveness for those who by their decisions on the global level have created situations that lead to these tragedies. Forgive us, Lord!” The Holy Father also challenged world leaders to address the refugee crisis in his for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2019, to be held this coming September 29, on the theme: “It is not just about migrants”. “Dear brothers and sisters, our response to the challenges posed by contemporary migration can be summed up in four verbs: welcome, protect, promote and integrate,” the Pope said in his letter, released May 27, 2019. “Yet these verbs do not apply only to migrants and refugees. They describe the Church’s mission to all those living in the existential peripheries, who need to be welcomed, protected, promoted and integrated. If we put those four verbs into practice, we will help build the city of God and man. We will promote the integral human development of all people. We will help the world community to come closer to the goals of sustainable development that it has set for itself and that, lacking such an approach, will prove difficult to achieve.” July 01, 2019 16:45Francis Head of Polish Bishops Offers Advice for Summer Cardinal Newman to be Canonized October 13	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1853
__label__cc	0.597558	0.402442	Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona PPAA Home Receive Care Book Club: Woman Rebel – The Margaret Sanger Story Posted on March 17, 2014 by Matt Now that comic books have become the source material for blockbuster movies, the oft-told story of the maligned and misunderstood superhero should be a familiar one, even to many who have never read a comic. Think Professor Xavier’s cohort in the X-Men movies or Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman. They’re extraordinary. They’re also flawed, often unable to shake the ghosts of an uneasy past. But their powers, not their shortcomings, are the reason they’re so maligned. No matter their good intentions, they challenge what is known and established, earning them fear and distrust. Bagge’s graphic novel is a refreshing contribution to a medium that is often a guilty pleasure at best. Given that trope, maybe it wasn’t such an odd idea to give the comic book treatment to the life of Margaret Sanger, the reproductive rights pioneer and founder of Planned Parenthood. Writer and illustrator Peter Bagge, a veteran of alternative comics, does just that in Woman Rebel: The Margaret Sanger Story (Drawn & Quarterly, 2013). The outcome is a graphic novel that doesn’t let exaggerated expressions, vivid colors, and terse speech bubbles derail an intelligent and sensitive retelling of Sanger’s life. Comparing Sanger to a superhero might be hyperbole, but Sanger’s trailblazing work not only created the movement to advocate for birth control but also spurred the development of the oral contraceptive, or “the Pill.” She had the drive and the know-how to contribute to the movement as an author, editor, lecturer, and founder of a reproductive health clinic. Along the way, Sanger helped change the laws that stood in the way of reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy, while rubbing shoulders (and sometimes developing romances) with many luminaries of her time, from novelists to political agitators to wealthy industrialists. March is Women’s History Month, and this year’s theme is Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment — a theme perfect for someone of Sanger’s stature. Sanger’s visionary efforts earned her many accolades — as well as a campaign of character assassination that has called her everything from a fascist to a proponent of genocide. In the first several pages of Woman Rebel, it’s apparent that Bagge knows how to handle this biography, deftly dramatizing episodes from Sanger’s life that reveal how she arrived at her views. We see a childhood among several siblings, with a father whose income is not steady enough to support his family, especially as it keeps growing. We see a mother whose life and health are always on the brink of falling apart as pregnancy after pregnancy results in more births and more miscarriages. With each pregnancy, Margaret fears for her mother’s well-being. In spite of the family’s limited income, Margaret experiences a lucky turning point in her life when she gets into a private school, Claverback College, through the help of her sisters and a work-study program. It’s at Claverback that she learns she has a knack for persuasion — and the resolve to stand by her ideas even when her classmates find them radical or bizarre. Claverback gives Sanger the academic boost to pursue a career in nursing later. As a nurse, Sanger sees the challenges her mother faced writ large. Working in impoverished neighborhoods in New York City, she sees first-hand the life-threatening effects of complicated pregnancies, and she quickly becomes outraged at the laws that forbid her and the doctor who employs her from providing advice on birth control. She knows that the advice would save lives — and give the families in these impoverished neighborhoods a better chance at survival and social mobility by putting child-rearing in line with financial readiness. It was that outrage, combined with her early involvement with the radical leftist Emma Goldman, that turned Sanger into the advocate we know today. Bagge does excellent work fitting Sanger’s political thought into speech bubbles, which don’t lend themselves well to a lot of elaboration. He is at his best when he portrays Sanger delivering a speech at the Park Theater in New York in 1921: “Tonight I’d like to discuss the morality of birth control. When one acts recklessly and irresponsibly we regard such behavior as immoral … except, we’re told, when it comes to procreation.” At the same time, Bagge stays true to the comic form. Nonfiction graphic novels (a seeming oxymoron, but they exist) run the risk of reading like drastically abridged history texts that are awkwardly mashed together with sequential illustrations that distract more than they illuminate or entertain. Sometimes the idea doesn’t gel — but not this time. Bagge captures both the spirit and intellect of Margaret Sanger in his graphic novel. Nonetheless, there’s room for more commentary, which he takes the time to write in his afterword, “Why Sanger?” Bagge’s afterword answers how and why he decided to write about Sanger, explaining among other things where he used his artistic license. More importantly, he addresses many of the accusations that have been leveled against Sanger. After using his graphic novel to tell her story as accurately as the medium allows, he uses his afterword to expose the lies that have been told about her. Even though her first marriage was to a Jewish man, she was a Japanophile and repeat visitor to Japan, she once fired a nurse who made a racist comment about black patients, and in many other ways showed her inclusiveness and forward thinking on race and ethnicity, her critics have accused Sanger of being an advocate of ethnic cleansing, due in large part to her association with the eugenics movement. Bagge takes this accusation head on: Yet another irony is her association with the eugenics movement, which her critics often use as evidence that she was an advocate of “ethnic cleansing” and a hero of Hitler’s (her books were among the very first to be banned by the Nazis, in fact). One would never know it by the hysterical way the subject is discussed today, but there was no uniform “school” of eugenic thought — rather, it was a catch-all term for a set of practices its proponents believed would improve the human gene pool, including nutrition, hygiene, environmental protection, prenatal care, and, of course, birth control, all now universally acceptable. In fact, most eugenics advocates of the early 1920s (including several U.S. presidents) didn’t regard Sanger as a legitimate spokesperson for the movement at all, partly due to her refusal to acknowledge ethnicity as any kind of measure of human “fitness.” Bagge’s graphic novel is worth picking up just for its afterword, which sets the record straight about Sanger, addressing many of the most repeated accusations and criticisms Sanger has faced both then and now. As a whole, the work is a refreshing contribution to a medium that is often a guilty pleasure at best. Women are significantly underrepresented in comic books and are frequently secondary, less powerful characters who are sexually objectified; and works like Michael Sheyahshe’s Native Americans in Comic Books: A Critical Study give us painful reminders of how poorly the medium does on other counts. While honest about her stubbornness and other flaws, Bagge’s work is an important step in redeeming Margaret Sanger from the relentless smear campaign against her, and it’s a welcome alternative in a medium with a questionable track record. This entry was posted in Book & Film Reviews and tagged Adolf Hitler, Batman, biography, birth control, Charles Xavier, Christopher Nolan, Claverback College, comic books, comics, Drawn & Quarterly, Emma Goldman, environmental protection, ethnic cleansing, eugenics, fascism, genocide, graphic novels, hygiene, Japan, Margaret Sanger, Michael Sheyahshe, miscarriage, movie, Native Americans in Comic Books, Nazi, Nazism, New York, New York City, nutrition, oral contraceptives, Park Theater, Peter Bagge, Planned Parenthood, poverty, pregnancy, prenatal care, Professor Xavier, racism, reproductive freedom, reproductive health, review, superhero, the Pill, Woman Rebel, Women's History Month, X-Men by Matt. Bookmark the permalink. Matt has a background in human services, health disparities research, and administrative support at an academic health sciences center. In addition to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, he volunteers with Read Between the Bars, a program that sends books to people in Arizona’s prisons. In his free time, he enjoys reading, studying Spanish, and playing Scrabble. View all posts by Matt → 23 thoughts on “Book Club: Woman Rebel – The Margaret Sanger Story” ldouglas on March 23, 2014 at 8:20 pm said: “and in many other ways showed her inclusiveness and forward thinking on race and ethnicity, her critics have accused Sanger of being an advocate of ethnic cleansing, due in large part to her association with the eugenics movement.” I could pick a hundred quotes that proved that this is a lie, but here’s one in particular that sticks out: “It is said that the aboriginal Australian, the lowest known species of the human family, just a step higher than the chimpanzee in brain development, has so little sexual control that police authority alone prevents him from obtaining sexual satisfaction on the streets. According to one writer, the rapist has just enough brain development to raise him above the animal, but like the animal, when in heat knows no law except nature which impels him to procreate whatever the result.” And here’s the source: https://www.nyu.edu/projects/sanger/webedition/app/documents/show.php?sangerDoc=304923.xml Just another racist white feminist that other white feminists will insist on defending and revering until the cows come home. Is the next article in the series ‘Mary Daly: Not Transphobic After All?’ Anna C. on March 23, 2014 at 8:42 pm said: Thanks for the citation; I will look into it. l certainly appreciate the groundwork that Sanger laid for family planning and birth control, though when I researched her for the series I wrote on her time in Tucson for this blog I didn’t find her to be entirely likable. I think you underestimate people when you imply that those who defend her from illegitimate character assassination are necessarily mindlessly revering her. There are those of us who can appreciate a warts-and-all description of a complicated historical figure. You seem to be making other assumptions here as well, and I think it is pretty offensive to jump to some of these conclusions. My support for Planned Parenthood stems from the important work they do now. I appreciate that some people put a higher priority on the organization’s history and the controversy surrounding its founder than I do. I assume they hold Ford Motors, Procter & Gamble, Tucson Medical Center, and other such entities in similarly low esteem and are just as ready to voice their disdain when the topic comes up. And by the way, equating “called for the forcible sterilizations of people with disabilities” to “not entirely likable” makes you part of the problem. So does the fact that you still don’t seem able to acknowledge the fact that PP has flat-out lied in defense of Sanger. I never said why I found her not to be “entirely likable.” The series l wrote was about her time in Tucson, and focused mainly on her personal life. During my research of this period of her life, l came across descriptions of off-putting aspects of her personality, as well as evidence that she treated her house staff quite poorly. She certainly was a flawed personality in her private life. To acknowledge the “flat-out lies” I need to be aware of them, if they exist. In another thread you simply said that the whitepaper linked to in this post was filled with lies, but to my knowledge did not provide support for this claim or cite particular examples of these “lies.” Your other comment is in moderation and probably in violation of this site’s commenting policy. l will respond to it soon, but for now l’d like to say that the people here are receptive to friendly disagreement backed up by legit references. Your initial comment was rather hostile, and you implied that we were a bunch of transphobes on top of everything else. That doesn’t stimulate productive dialogue; it shuts down conversation. Speaking personally, I am very interested in productive dialogue and very open to the possibility that Sanger said and did some heinous things. I am not interested in flame wars and we strive to keep the comments section free of them. That doesn’t mean that we don’t allow dissent — we just don’t see this as a place for personal attacks. ldouglas2 on March 23, 2014 at 10:16 pm said: And part of the problem is that you’ve created an environment in which being called out for racist apologetics is a ‘personal attack’ and can therefore be safely ignored. Why do you think so many WOC feel unwelcome in feminist politics? Perhaps you chose not to read my citations, but they were provided. For example, the white paper claimed that “But Sanger always believed that reproductive decisions should be made on an individual and not a social or cultural basis,” whereas in reality she pushed for laws l that would make the sterilization of women with disabilities mandatory. Source: Source: https://www.nyu.edu/projects/sanger/webedition/app/documents/show.php?sangerDoc=101807.xml I get that it’s more comfortable to write off any criticism of these racist actions as just being right-wing attacks motivated by anti-choice ideology, but the reality is that you’re continuing to defend white supremacy with your actions. Anna C. on March 24, 2014 at 12:02 pm said: Calling out racism isn’t a problem. The problem is using limited information to assume the worst about others. You say I defend white supremacy with my actions. My actions so far, as I see them, have been: 1) to demand citations for claims that I have thus far only heard from opponents of abortion and birth control 2) not to have immediately read your citations in full and therefore not yet engaging your claims at this point That Sanger could have said and done reprehensible things is not outside the realm of possibility for me. If these are historical facts then I am interested in learning more about them, and I am going through your sources on my own timetable, taking into account my other obligations. ldouglas2 on March 23, 2014 at 9:16 pm said: I’m confused- where did you get the idea I disliked Planned Parenthood? To the contrary, I donate money to it every year. I would consider myself a very strong supporter of the organization. That doesn’t mean I approve of everything it does; for example, publishing flat-out lies in defense of its racist, colonialist, genocide-apologist founder. Sanger did not support women’s reproductive freedom; she supported reproductive freedom for white upper-class neurotypical women. For other women she supported mandatory sterilization, forcible abortions, and internment in concentration camps. To pretend that working to help white upper-class neurotypical women and working to help all women are the same is racist, classist, and ableist, and that’s what you, this article, and Planned Parenthood continue to be. Anna C. on March 24, 2014 at 11:49 am said: I got the idea that you disliked Planned Parenthood from a comment you said in another thread, which is unprintable here. (I asked the communications department about f-bombs before, and was not given the green light.) To pretend that working to help white upper-class neurotypical women and working to help all women are the same is racist, classist, and ableist I do not believe these things are the same, any more than I believe that the Founding Fathers’ work to create a democracy for white, landowning males is the same as creating a democracy for everyone. As I’ve said before, I am receptive to claims that Sanger has said and done reprehensible things, but I have to see the evidence. I am going through the sources you have linked to. ETA: [This paragraph originally had more personal information that I have since deleted.] Speaking personally, due to past experiences with verbal and emotional abuse in different contexts, I react poorly when I perceive others to be jumping to the most sinister conclusions about me, coming at me with guns blazing, etc. rainbowcolouredbroccoli on March 24, 2014 at 3:47 pm said: As another person who’s been lurking and reading this discussion, I wanted to say that Idouglas2 isn’t the only one who’s interpreted your comments here as racist. So that you know for the future, it’s racist to minimise racism to “not entirely likeable” or “warts and all”. It’s racist to demand that people of colour be perfectly polite when calling out racism. It’s racist to take greater issue with the tone people use to call out racism than with the original act of racism. It’s racist to see the mere act of calling out racism as being hostile. It’s racist to create an environment where calling out racism is a personal attack but saying something racist isn’t. It’s racist to refuse to use the word “racism” to discuss racism. And I’m saying all this so you can learn. I’m guessing that you want feminist spaces to have room for all women, not just white women. Part of that is taking a back seat and not tone policing discussions of racism, or positioning people who identify racism as the aggressors and people who are called on racism as the victims. I really do hope you listen and learn. “Not entirely likable” was not a reference to racism, though I apologize that I did not make that more explicit in my original comment. I would not want to minimize racism with such a phrase. I was referring to a series I wrote about Sanger’s years in Tucson, where she came to retire (mostly) from public life. The material I came into contact with for my research didn’t cover her early years or any of her writings about race, sterilization, or other issues that have been brought up here. Instead, I came across many descriptions of her personality, and I found that she could be very stubborn, vain, and arrogant. That is what I found to be “not entirely likable.” The “tone policing” issue is one that I am very conflicted about. On the one hand, it makes sense that racism should inspire anger, and for that anger to be voiced without compromise. On the other hand, while I don’t think that the mere act of calling out racism is necessarily aggressive, hostile, or impolite, I have seen conversations that could have been productive be shut down when one person feels attacked. Regardless of whether or not those feelings are legitimate, I wonder if more growth would take place if the tone were different. On yet a third hand, is it the responsibility of the person calling out the racism to fully accommodate their target’s feelings? Is it guaranteed that to do so will make that person more receptive to new ideas? Everyone’s approach will be different, but based on my current thinking, when arguing with people with whom I disagree, I believe that I am more likely to plant a seed in their minds if they don’t feel put on the defensive, so I do try to accommodate their feelings. When I used words such as “hostile,” I was mostly reacting to perceptions of assumptions being made about me and words being put into my mouth. The fact that we don’t know each other makes it very easy to create strawmen. Matt on March 24, 2014 at 8:39 am said: I’d be curious to know what the other 99 quotes you could pick would be. The one you used is right from the Wikipedia article about Margaret Sanger; it’s not one that anyone would have to dig very deeply to find. Really, though, whatever you could scrape up is irrelevant to me. I am already perfectly aware that Sanger did and said some very inexcusable things in her time, but her record on race is far from being consistently bad enough to merit the blanket condemnations she has received. That record is far better than her slanderers make it out to be. You seem to have already made up your mind about me, but if it matters at all, I’ve also been involved in a significant amount of anti-racist activism. Excusing anyone’s racism is not in my interests. But at the same time, I’m generally not interested in sniffing out and exposing racism among feminists (or for that matter sniffing out and exposing sexism among anti-racist activists). If I’m going to be a detractor to anyone, I can think of better targets. Feminists already have enough detractors among those who are entrenched in the privilege they challenge. In short, I’ll exercise greater patience with people I can consider my allies on many issues (if not all), and I’ll exercise greater scrutiny with people who seem to have little or no common cause with me. “But at the same time, I’m generally not interested in sniffing out and exposing racism among feminists” Annnnd there we have it. White women matter, WOC don’t. Yes, there we have it: your selective attention to what I write and your straw-man arguments make it pretty clear that I am wasting my time with these replies. Here are some links that might be helpful in terms of raising consciousness about the ways your actions are problematic: http://dearwhitefeminists.wordpress.com/ Matt on March 24, 2014 at 6:35 pm said: If profanities aren’t allowed in the comments on this blog, I’m not sure how your comment above got approved. It’s one step removed from a healthy dose of profanity through the link you provided. I’ll leave that warning for those who might find it inappropriate. That aside, I’d like to point out that nowhere in my piece did I say that Sanger was consistently or thoroughly forward thinking in her views on race; such absolute qualifiers can too rarely be applied, even today. What I did mean to point out was that her critics have resorted to a great deal of slander, and they’ve made little or no effort to reconcile that slander with some very contradictory evidence. Historians can try to sort out how much of Sanger’s published writing was that of her editors and that of her ghost writer, Robert Parker. But even if we took all of her writing at face value and attributed it entirely to her, we still have to weigh that against other words and actions that stand in sharp contrast. From my perspective, that record hardly merits calling Sanger a “racist, colonialist, genocide-apologist founder.” And it hardly seems likely to me that W. E. B. DuBois (among others) would have been comfortable with a person who fit those labels; it seems insulting to his intelligence and his integrity to assume that. I came from a biracial (Asian and white) family and have been on the receiving end of plenty of racism. Apologizing for anyone’s racism is hardly a priority of mine. But at the same time, I think people like Sanger defy convenient labels, and the worst labels applied to her seem to be borne more of anti-feminist propaganda than a clear assessment of her words and actions. ldouglas on March 25, 2014 at 9:57 am said: Do you consider the following passage at all problematic? -Margaret Sanger https://www.nyu.edu/projects/sanger/webedition/app/documents/show.php?sangerDoc=304923.xml That’s fair. We’re all shaped by our experiences. Can you understand why- though you may be the wrong target- I’m very angry with the author of this article and PPs handling of this issue? He, presumably, researched Sanger’s history in depth, as did PP. So when they makes claims like she believed in equality for all women, or when they minimize calls for genocide by saying she just had some “unpopular ideas that were more common in her time,” it’s presumably with the full knowledge that she felt that many women should be put in concentration camps or forcibly sterilized. What that says to me is that those women just don’t matter to PP or Matt- at least as much as protecting the memory of someone long dead for political reasons. If I seem overly angry, that’s why. Sorry for the delay in replying. I have taken time to reflect on my own, which is often more helpful for me than rapid-fire Internet-mediated conversation. Matt and I have also been discussing some of these issues between ourselves. With some distance from this thread, I now feel that the most important issue (i.e., Margaret Sanger’s connection to the eugenics movement, as well as Planned Parenthood’s current framing thereof) has been buried in issues that might be viewed as peripheral. Right off the bat, both Matt and I felt that unfair presumptions were made about us. Speaking for myself, when I perceive that words are being put into my mouth or when someone who doesn’t know my background is making assumptions about me, one of my first reactions is anger, and I act by attempting clarification. This type of defensive position puts us on a path away from productive conversation, and distracts from the core issue that we are ostensibly here to discuss. It was easier to defend myself against what I saw as erroneous assumptions than it was to engage the core issue. Easier, because I could do it immediately. I wanted to read your links — not just the excerpts — but I knew I wouldn’t have time for more in-depth reading until the weekend. But addressing the assumptions? That was something I could do right away. In reality, it might have served to derail things into a “tone argument,” which, as I said in my reply to rainbowcolouredbroccoli, is something I have conflicted feelings about. Matt and I are both members of oppressed groups, so not only do we have experience speaking out against oppression and injustice, we also have experience being affected by oppression directly and personally. We also happen to have similar styles of rhetoric when it comes to “calling out” these things. My personal style is to attempt a more calm approach. I believe that it is less likely to shut down conversation or to entrench both sides in their polarized positions. I think a less threatening approach (because, yes, being called on deep-seated prejudices can feel like a threat to one’s own identity) is ideal, as it makes me more accessible and better allows for a Socratic style of conversation. I probably hold to these beliefs because I know that it is the approach that works best with me when I’m on the receiving end. I am mentioning this to show where I’m coming from, what my own preferences are for confrontation, whether I’m on the giving or receiving end. I’m not trying to be proscriptive and say that this is the best way for everyone — I understand that some people might respond well to other ways of being “called out,” or that other people might feel silenced by perceived demands to be nice, nonthreatening, polite, or what have you. But I definitely have my biases when it comes to rhetorical techniques. Of course I understand why you are angry, just as I hope you can understand why I was angry. While I felt very viscerally that words were being put into my mouth and unfair assumptions were being made, you seemed to feel very viscerally that this was yet another disappointing or even enraging encounter with someone who minimized racism or is even denying its existence. As the conversation progressed, perhaps you even felt that my reference to your demeanor as “rather hostile” was an example of tone policing or an attempt to silence you or deny your right to be angry. While I noted it because it mattered to me (see above re: my “personal style” of being on both the giving and receiving end of confrontation), it probably was an example of tone policing, although I don’t think I ever thought you didn’t have a right to your anger. My own research on Sanger thus far has been limited. Usually, the only negative things I read about her originate from dubious sources — opponents of abortion and birth control. The first time I encountered criticism of her from a feminist perspective was several years ago (2007-ish?) when I read Dorothy Roberts’ Killing the Black Body. As I recall, she devoted an entire chapter to examining Sanger’s record on race, and I found it to be both disturbing and enlightening. But my own research (reading her writings or those of her feminist biographers) has focused on the last decades of her life, when she was retired in Tucson and not as politically active. In that research, I didn’t come across anything too heinous, except for the aforementioned descriptions of a personality that I found to be “not entirely likable” (again, by which I mean that she could be vain, arrogant, and stubborn). There was one vague reference to eugenics sentiments as late as 1950 (from a speech written by Sanger and delivered by her son, who was embarrassed by it), but I’m not sure what exactly those beliefs consisted of at that time. Now that I have free time, I’d like to spend some of my weekend reading your links and exploring the NYU website a bit more. Just as I would ideally like to read an original research article from a medical journal rather than rely on the media’s interpretation, I like to read original source material in context if possible. In a perfect world, I would have been able to do that immediately and respond to your first comments here with my thoughts on the actual links, rather than get distracted by the perceived need to defend myself against what I felt were assumptions and misinterpretations. I’m not getting a “Reply” link on rainbowcolouredbroccoli’s comment, so I’ll reply here. Please be reassured that if there were no controversy over your claims of racism, this piece, for starters, would have been written very differently. And your and ldouglas’s replies would have been preaching to the choir. The problem was that you presupposed a clear-cut, case-closed conclusion and then declared it to be racist apologetics — and assumed a lot about Anna and me — when we weren’t entirely receptive to that conclusion. The evidence ldouglas provided about Sanger’s racism was a link to a 1912 article. Well, I could take writings and recordings from the beginning of, say, Malcolm X’s early days as a human rights leader and find a wealth of sexist ideas therein. But I also know that in his later days he was far more receptive to women’s leadership (his friendship with Yuri Kochiyama is one example), and his early sexism was all but gone. How, then, do you propose I assess his record? When you take people from eras when much of the social progress we now take for granted was still in fledgling stages, you don’t often have neat boxes to put them in. You call Sanger a racist. I call her a mixed bag who hardly earned the blanket condemnations she has received. You and ldouglas raise great points, which I take to heart, but I don’t share your conclusions, and I take exception to accusations that my hesitation and Anna’s amounts to minimizing racism or otherwise bolstering white supremacy. ldouglas on March 25, 2014 at 10:26 am said: Ok, well, in response to your question about ’99 other quotes;’ my attempts to post examples are all being eaten by the mod filter. Presumably that means you’ve seen them anyways, whether you want to admit they exist or not. With the exception of some duplicate comments, all of your posts have been approved. ldouglas on March 25, 2014 at 12:46 pm said: You’re correct, my apologies; I think they just ended up out of order. Here’s another example of Sanger calling for sterilization and internment of disabled people in concentration camps: “Feeble-minded persons, habitual congenital criminals, those afflicted with inheritable disease, and others found biologically unfit by authorities qualified judge should be sterilized or, in cases of doubt, should be so isolated as to prevent the perpetuation of their afflictions by breeding.” “Our failure to segregate morons who are increasing and multiplying demonstrates our foolhardy and extravagant sentimentalism… which brings with it, as I think the reader must agree, a dead weight of human waste.” Source: http://www.nyu.edu/projects/sanger/webedition/app/documents/show.php?sangerDoc=213391.xml aaaa on April 10, 2014 at 1:23 pm said: pardon idouglas but i read the link you posted and couldn’t find the comment i assume it must have been a mis-link on your part would you mind telling me the page your quotes came from? Leave a Reply to Anna C. 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__label__wiki	0.665046	0.665046	Freethought: Not So Free After All One of the most popular terms used by atheists and agnostics to describe themselves is the term “freethinker.” Accordingly, their self-styled brand of reasoning, known as “freethought,” is hitting the upper echelons of academia as the in vogue way to think. From the ideas contained in this compound word, its advocates are attempting to lead people to believe that freethinkers are free to think as they like. Supposedly, freethinkers can go where the evidence leads them, since they are not bound by traditional ideas on morality, deity, the inspiration of the Bible, and other “wayward” notions that have “hindered” freedom in the past. One of the most outspoken defenders of freethought is a man named Dan Barker. Prior to his “deconversion” into freethought, he was a zealous denominational preacher and missionary. In his most famous written work describing his new-found atheism, Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist, he includes an entire chapter titled, What is a Freethinker? At the end of this chapter, Barker says, “Freethought allows you to do your own thinking…. Freethought is truly free” (1992, p. 136). Obviously, Mr. Barker wants everyone who comes in contact with freethought to believe that it is an avenue of thinking that allows each individual to go where his or her thoughts lead. Upon further investigation, however, freethought is not so free after all. On the very first page of his chapter on freethought, he contends, “No one can be a freethinker who demands conformity to a bible, creed, or messiah.” So, according to Mr. Barker, since he and his group of freethinkers do not think they see enough evidence for the Bible’s inspiration, then all “freethinkers” must reject conformity to the Bible. What happened to the idea that freethought allows “you to do your own thinking.” Again, on the same page he wrote, “Freethinkers are naturalistic” (p. 133), meaning that freethinkers cannot believe in anything outside the realm of what can be measured scientifically using the senses. What if certain evidences compel a person to believe in a supernatural deity? According to freethought, a person is not free to follow that type of evidence. Once again, freethought proves to be much less “free” than we have been told. Another telling statement from Barker’s pen comes on page 134, where he says, “Individuals are free to choose, within the limits of humanistic morality.” Freethought, then, allows a person to choose freely any set of ethical and moral standards, as long as those standards conform to the “humanistic morality” adopted by Barker and his fellow “freethinkers.” But what if those moral standards fall outside the realm of “humanistic morality?” Then a freethinker must choose some other standard—or cease to be a freethinker. In one of his concluding paragraphs, Barker states: “A multiplicity of individuals thinking, free from the restraints of orthodoxy, allows ideas to be tested, discarded or adopted” (p. 135). Barker subtly omits the other restraints such as naturalism and humanism, from which freethinkers are not free. In essence, freethinkers, according to Dan Barker, are those people who think like him and his fellow freethinkers. If a person does not think like the humanistic, naturalistic Dan Barker, then that person must be an enslaved thinker, not a freethinker. In reality, “freethought” is a misnomer and is not free after all. In fact, it is one of the “least free” ways to think that is available in the marketplace of ideas. In actuality, the only thing that can ever make a person free is the truth (John 8:32). From the statements quoted above, it is evident that Dan Barker and his fellow freethinkers are not really interested in freedom but, rather, are interested in forming a group of “freethinkers” that toes the party line on such false concepts as naturalism and humanism. Barker, Dan (1992), Losing Faith In Faith—From Preacher to Atheist (Madison, WI: Freedom from Religion Foundation).	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1866
__label__wiki	0.594179	0.594179	golden-thoughts.com aranygondolatok.com/en Q: Why was no one riding… Q: Why was no one riding the bike? A: Because it's two tired. Jokes, +1: This crazy guy walks into a restaurant and tells the waiter, “Lemme get a cheeseburger, not too rare, not too well done, but right in the groove. Lemme get some fries, not too crispy, not too burnt, but right in the groove. And while you’re at it, throw in a shake, not too thin, not too thick, but right in groove.” The waiter took down the order and came back five minutes later and told the man, “The cook said you can kiss his ass, not to the left, not to the right, but right in the groove.” You might also be interested in these Teacher: "I asked you to draw… Teacher: "I asked you to draw a cow and grass, but I only see a… I think I killed my best… I think I killed my best friend. He asked me what was the best thing… Two blondes are at work when… Two blondes are at work when one of them gets a delivery of a dozen… What do a blonde and a… What do a blonde and a door knob have in common? Everybody gets a turn. Q: Wanna hear a joke about… Q: Wanna hear a joke about construction? A: Never mind, I'm still working on it. A husband and wife are in… A husband and wife are in church. The preacher notices that the husband has fallen… Yo mama so dark when I… Yo mama so dark when I clicked on her profile pic, I thought my phone… A bear walks into a bar.… A bear walks into a bar. He says, "I'll have a gin... ... ... ...… Q: Why did the duck go… Q: Why did the duck go to jail? A: Because he got caught selling quack. A little girl and her older… A little girl and her older brother were visiting their grandfather's farm. The older brother… In surgery for a heart attack,… In surgery for a heart attack, a middle-aged woman has a vision of God by… What do hookers and the Dolphins… What do hookers and the Dolphins have in common? They both have hundreds of balls… I hate school and got caught… I hate school and got caught skipping the other day. My principal said, "Walk normal… Two bats are hanging upside down… Two bats are hanging upside down on a branch. One asks the other, "Do you… A woman was taking an afternoon… A woman was taking an afternoon nap. When she woke up, she told her husband,… A lawyer married a woman who… A lawyer married a woman who had previously divorced 10 husbands. On their wedding night,… info@humormagazin.com	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1867
__label__wiki	0.95724	0.95724	For a complete explanation of the steps to sainthood see the following From the Catholic Encyclopedia From the Pantagraph -- Bloomington, IL reprinted with permission Diocese takes next step for sainthood for Sheen By Sharon K. Wolfe -- February 1, 2008 swolfe@pantagraph.com EL PASO -- A milestone in the cause for sainthood of El Paso native Archbishop Fulton Sheen comes Sunday, with a special mass of thanksgiving at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Peoria. It is part the “postrema session,” which ends the Peoria Diocese’s role in Sheen’s path to sainthood. During the mass, documents collected over the past few years will be officially packed, sealed and notarized. Sheen was a diocesan priest who later became famous worldwide as a radio and television personality, author and orator. He died in 1979. The documentation for sainthood includes about 100 testimonies of 15- to 30 pages each; reviews of each of Sheen’s nearly 70 books from the diocese’s Theological Commission; and about 1,500 pages of historical/archival materials, said Monsignor Richard Soseman, the diocese’s judicial vicar. There is some open seating for the public, but any reserved seats that remain unoccupied by 10:15 a.m. will be opened to the public. Bishop Daniel R. Jenky will lead the mass, which will be broadcast internationally through the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) starting at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The broadcast will include interviews with Sheen experts. The ceremony is the culmination of thousands of hours of gathering documents, books and personal testimonies. Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, a specially trained theologian, will carry them to the Vatican, said Soseman. The items will be examined by the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, which will review the documents as well as those describing a reported miraculous healing of a Champaign woman, said the diocese in a statement. If the congregation concurs a miracle occurred, the group will recommend the Pope declare Sheen as “blessed.” More review and the possible response of the Holy Father could take another two to five years or more. Another process follows beatification, including evidence of another miracle, before Sheen could be canonized as a saint, the diocese statement said. Part of the early materials came from the El-Paso based Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation, a museum inside the Freight House Exchange. The foundation donated a set of his books along with personal testimonies, said Karen Fulte, a key volunteer. Sheen was born in El Paso on May 8, 1895. The foundation received hundreds of letters attesting to Sheen’s virtues, along with communications crediting him with miraculous intervention in people’s lives. “We’re vessels of clay — an instrument,” said Fulte, who said the experience has been “overwhelming and awesome.” Thomas C. Reeves, while writing “America’s Bishop: The Life and Times of Fulton J. Sheen (Encounter Books 2001),” said, “I discovered a brilliant, charismatic and holy man who has been underestimated by historians, largely overlooked by the contemporary mass media, and forgotten by too many Catholics. Indeed, I came to the conclusion that Fulton J. Sheen was the most important Catholic of twentieth century America.” The Freight House Exchange museum is open by advance appointment by calling (309) 527-4062 or (309) 750-0849. Mass ends diocesan stage of Sheen's path to sainthood By Bridget Flynn -- February 4, 2008 bflynn@pantagraph.com PEORIA -- Father Andrew Apostoli wryly mentioned an old saying in his homily Sunday that if your are going to be canonized you should not write too much. He was speaking during a Mass of thanksgiving for Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a native of El Paso who became famous as a television and radio personality and writer. Now Sheen, who died in 1979, is undergoing the steps toward being canonized a saint, but he obviously paid no attention to that old saying mentioned by Apostoli. Sheen wrote more than 70 books, and during the procession before the Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, altar servers carried numerous file boxes full of reviews of Sheen’s voluminous writings. Apostoli offered his own review of Sheen, lauding him for his outspoken stand against communism during the Cold War and calling him, “a solitary voice warning the nation against the dangers of communism.” The boxes also included about 100 testimonies regarding alleged miracles that some say occurred through Sheen’s intercession. The documents have been collected over the past five years by the Catholic Diocese of Peoria’s Theological Commission. The Mass, held in the cathedral where Sheen was ordained a priest in 1919, was part of the “postrema session,” which means the next stage and that concludes the diocesan phase of the path toward sainthood. After the Mass, Bishop Daniel Jenky commissioned Andrea Ambrosi, a theologian, to present the packages to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican. Sheen, whom Pope John Paul II declared a “servant of God,” has reputedly interceded in the healing of an ailing Champaign woman. The Congregation for the Causes will, after reviewing the documents gathered Sunday, determine whether there is sufficient evidence that Sheen has interceded in a second miracle. If they decide that he has, they will recommend that the pope declare Sheen “blessed.” After the beatification, another process is necessary, including uncovering evidence of another miracle, before one who is blessed is declared a saint. One of the testimonies gathered Sunday involves the healing of a Philadelphia woman, Francis Pelosi. Pelosi’s daughter, Karen Fulte, who was attending the mass, said that after Pelosi’s doctors diagnosed her with inoperable cancer and estimated that she had six months to live, Pelosi and her doctors made a novena, a nine-day prayer, to Sheen. Pelosi is now 84, and is called a “survivor” by her daughter. In his homily, Apostoli told of Fulton’s sense of humor, as expressed in his acceptance speech after winning the Emmy for outstanding television personality in 1952. Sheen thanked his script writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Apostoli also praised Sheen for having spoken against contraception, abortion and euthanasia. He said that Sheen is “still very much the voice of the church.” After the Mass, the Monsignor. Richard Soseman discussed the Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation, which provides low-income housing in the Rochester, N.Y., area, where Sheen was bishop. Soseman said that in addition to overseeing the foundation, Sheen spoke in support of the idea of the equality of the races in the 1920s and that he was frequently witnessed giving his coats to needy strangers. Sheen was a major figure in the childhood memories of those who attended the Mass and who had grown up in the Roman Catholic church. Dolores Sheen, who married Fulton Sheen’s nephew and served as a gift-bearer at the Mass, said the she recalled writing reviews of Sheen’s show every week for classes at her Catholic school. Father Stanley Deptula, the master of ceremonies, said he was taught in his Catholic school in Newark a prayer written by Sheen about the Virgin Mary called “The Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue.” Life Dates \| Visitors \| Museum \| Special People \| Holy Mother Mary St. Mary's Church \| Become a Volunteer \| Buy a Book \| Museum Shop How to Find Us \| Our Future \| Our Beginnings \| Photo Gallery \| Links \| Personal Testimonies Calendar of Events \| Bishop Sheen Quotes \| Inspirational Messages \| Contact Us \| Home	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1868
__label__cc	0.569162	0.430838	Home Adventure & Tourism Climate Adaptation Planning Adventure & Tourism Climate Adaptation Planning November/December 2011 \| by Kelsey Rideout Community-led holistic approach key to safer Arctic strategies Major effects of climate change in Canada’s Arctic are prominently featured in national news coverage. Recently, stories have surfaced about the pending disintegration of winter roads and the growing ozone hole hovering over Arctic land. The ongoing saga of the government’s increasingly robust plans to develop future oil and gas deposits found beneath melting ice also appears below headlines. Beneath these reported issues are the everyday realities of climate change that many Inuit communities amongst others in the North, are facing. While climate-focused policies often target the macro-level solution of mitigation through the reduction of greenhouse gases, it’s equally important for communities to adapt to climate change effects and uphold their quality of life. Across the Arctic this is already happening. Collaborative efforts are underway with governments, organizations, communities and individuals combining their knowledge and resources to develop more effective adaptation strategies. An example of this kind of joint effort is the community-led adaptation work being done in Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok. Established by two passionate climate change scientists, James Ford (PhD) and Tristan Pearce (PhD), their Canadian-based organization, ArcticNorth, is teaming up with communities in the Northwest Territories to develop and implement adaptation action plans, as part of their vision to better assist communities, businesses and industry in adapting to a changing climate. Changes in Paulatuk Paulatuk is a hamlet located in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), an area in the Northwest Territories that is bearing the brunt of climate change effects. Scientists and community members have identified several disconcerting climate trends. Temperatures are increasing at a rate more than twice the global average, permafrost is continually melting, and wildlife migration patterns as well as sea-ice regimes are steadily changing. For Paulatuk, where subsistence activities largely contribute to the social, cultural and economic well-being of the community, environmental changes make an enormous difference in the day-to-day lives of many individuals. Part of the Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan’s mandate is to help establish five community working groups in Paulatuk. The groups are then divided into different themes, including: Business and Economy, Culture and Learning, Health and Well-Being, Subsistence Harvesting, and Transportation and Infrastructure. Herb Nakimayak, a Paulatuk resident who was originally born in Inuvik, was a participant in both the Business and Economy and Health and Well-Being working groups. Herb described some of the challenges in Paulatuk that are brought on by climate change. “Here in Paulatuk, everyone is a harvester … Unpredictable conditions is the concern as well as [people’s] livelihood if they’re going out hunting and fishing. It’s in our culture. The eroding banks in town, the amount of accumulation of snow we get in the winter… Our graveyard is right in the middle of town, and that’s [been] waterlogged too.” Herb recalled when a search and rescue operation was conducted last year, after snowmobilers were unable to move because of melting ice conditions. The incident sparked concern amongst hunters in the community that winter. “Everyone is sticking to the dry land, and travelling in pairs as well.” After several months of working with the Amundsen for a McGill University research team that was assessing health in Arctic communities, Herb moved to Paulatuk, where he can apply his knowledge and skills in his home region. He is an active member of the Hamlet Council and serves as a liaison between exploration companies and the community. Herb believes it’s of critical importance to identify more effective adaptation actions at the community-level. “We have to start teaching new ways in how to adapt and figure this out together. If we don’t, we’ll be left behind.” Amanda Caron, a researcher at ArcticNorth, helped to facilitate the community working groups discussions on adaptation. She describes how climate change is impacting Paulatuk. “People are finding that they’re having to take longer trips to access the same hunting and fishing grounds… There’s open water where there didn’t used to be open water. So they need different equipment and more gas. It’s become more expensive so some people aren’t able to go hunting or fishing as much or at all.” Caron explains that it’s not only harvesters who are concerned about the changes occurring. Many worry that youth are not equipped with adequate local environmental knowledge — something that is vital for effective adaptation planning. “The main thing that really struck me and that came up in every workshop regardless of the theme of the workshop was a strong concern that younger generations are not getting the practical experience and traditional knowledge of older generations, which is needed in order to hunt and fish and travel safely. This is especially important when people are describing changing and increasingly unpredictable conditions for travelling.” When carrying out discussions related to climate change and adaptation planning, it is essential that Elders are included and recognized for the invaluable knowledge they carry. They are leaders in the community whose concerns are rooted in a deep history and more intimate relationship with the land. “Having the Elders’ inputs and knowledge, I don’t think any research can go on without it. Otherwise, you’re missing a huge link. It’s very important,” says Nakimayak. “Given they have travelled and lived on the land.” Adaptation Report In Paulatuk’s Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan, the list of outlined adaptation actions is extensive, ranging from promoting training opportunities for better diversification of the economy, to establishing more addictions services to help overall community cohesion and well-being. The report, which is a direct result of the community working groups’ findings, was submitted to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), the funder behind ArcticNorth’s adaptation work. The gathered information shows the need to embrace a more holistic approach when it comes to climate change adaptation. In communities like Paulatuk, where people’s lives have a complex connection to the environment, all areas of community life must be considered in adaptation planning. Addressing community health challenges that are seemingly unrelated to climate change serve as important adaptation actions. “Some participants noted the role emotional health plays in community cohesion and the ability to adapt, and expressed the need to strengthen support services in the community,” explains Caron. In the report, adaptation actions are identified with varying levels of urgency and are followed by a list of resources that could assist in their implementation. Actions related to transferring Elders’ environmental knowledge to the community, especially to youth, are seen as requiring immediate attention. These include: supporting initiatives to teach traditional skills and knowledge such as drum dancing, sewing, traditional art forms and storytelling, supporting land camps for youth, and identifying opportunities to record and pass on oral history of how Inuvialuit have adapted and been resilient to environmental changes throughout their history. Reaching policy and moving forward After conducting research on climate change vulnerability, establishing working groups, and developing an Adaptation Action Plan for Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok, Arctic North is now working in the last two stages of their four-stage approach to adaptation plan development. The group is currently overseeing a detailed assessment of the adaptation actions they have identified and are conducting a policy analysis related to the actions. They are also embarking on their final step, which is to implement the outlined adaptation actions and evaluate the progress being made in the two communities. Pilot projects are being developed to test the effectiveness of proposed adaptation actions. In Paulatuk, a community kitchen series has brought community members together to share recipes that combine country foods and healthy store-bought foods. A strategically located snow-fencing project is also being built. In Ulukhaktok, the team is helping to develop an oral history database. Caron would like to see the Adaptation Action Plans having some influence on future policy decisions related to climate change adaptation in the Arctic. “Another major goal in this process is to communicate local ideas about what needs to be done to decision makers and policy makers at all different levels, at the local level but also regionally, territorially, federally.” Shifts in policy could help alleviate some of the historical socio-economic problems that complicate local efforts to adapt to climate change. “I think everyone in the community can relate to a policy-level frustration because local resources are already strained. Communities are dealing with a lot of changes simultaneously, many of which are the legacy of something that they had little control over, such as policies for permanent settlement and residential schools.” Caron hopes that Canada’s Arctic communities will be given the same kind of attention in adaptation planning that other low-lying coastal communities in the ‘developing world’ have received. “We need to acknowledge that there are high-risk communities within developed nations like Canada and the U.S., and they’re going to need some extra support as well.” Discussions at the community level and collaborations with policy makers nationally enhance communication and promote better strategies for everyone. Until established climate initiatives are fully operational, the residents of Paulatuk will continue to adapt as best they can — something they have been doing long before climate change earned its hesitant position on the political agenda. “Climate change is spoken at the coffee table…” explains Nakimayak. “If you go to the east there are a couple of rivers to worry about, and if you’re going out west there are other issues. Everyone is concerned about this. At the end of the day, it’s the safety of everyone.” amanda caron arctic climate change arctic climate change policies arcticnorth research Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan climate change in paulatuk northern climate change Previous articleA Time For Ideas Next articleInuktitut Online Igloo Village: A cultural experience Ulittaniujalik To the “top of the world” with Google Street View	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1870
__label__wiki	0.69167	0.69167	Anti-war protests begin in Asia-Pacific On October 2, 1,000 students marched in Seoul, condemning the continued presence of 37,000 US troops in South Korea. Source : World Socialist Web Site by WSWS correspondents Recent protests against the planned US invasion of Iraq indicate a growing level of opposition to the war throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Newspaper opinion polls suggest a marked shift in public sentiment since the last assault on Iraq in 1991. The largest protest occurred in Melbourne, Australia last Sunday, when more than 30,000 took to the streets, voicing their opposition to the US war and the unconditional support given to it by Australian Prime Minister John Howard. A sea of banners and placards condemned the Bush and Howard governments, with slogans including �No blood for oil� and �Regime change begins at home�. The rally, which was called by the Victorian Peace Network, a coalition of 50 student, church, political, trade union and other organisations, attracted many more participants than organisers had anticipated. The numbers were swelled by workers, youth and professional people who joined the protest after hearing of the terror bombing in Bali the night before, intent on demonstrating their concern that the US-led �war against terrorism� would only lead to more such tragedies. On October 5-6, some 500 demonstrators, including students, parliamentarians and lawyers, rallied outside the Pine Gap joint US-Australian military base near Alice Springs in central Australia. Established in 1968, Pine Gap is a surveillance and satellite relay station that will provide crucial intelligence for the planned strike on Iraq. Northern Territory police blocked access to the base, making repeated and violent attacks on the protestors and arresting 17 people. A week earlier, on September 28, several thousand people marched through both Melbourne and Sydney, opposing the Howard government�s plans to join any US-led assault. Across the Tasman Sea, protests were held in two major centres in New Zealand on the same day. In Auckland up to 3,000 people demonstrated carrying banners and placards declaring, �No war in Iraq� and demanding the US respect international law. Many watching the march demonstrated their approval by giving a thumbs up or by clapping. A range of speakers who condemned US war plans and Israel�s continuing brutal assault on the Palestinians addressed the rally that followed. The speakers included Rotem Dan Mor, a conscientious objector who had been recently jailed for refusing to serve in the Israeli armed forces. Martin Hutt from the Iraqi Medical Alert Support Group said sanctions that had been imposed on Iraq for the past 12 years had caused the deaths of thousands of children and �were themselves a weapon of mass destruction�. On the same day, about 180 people rallied in Cuba Mall in the centre of Wellington. Leaflets condemning the war were distributed to passersby and the rally was addressed by a series of speakers. Some criticised the NZ unions for failing to take a stand in opposition to the war. In Indonesia on October 8, more than 200 youth, members of various large Islamic organisations, waved banners outside the US Embassy in Jakarta with messages including �No More Blood.� The demonstrators issued a statement appealing to the American people to ask their government to find a peaceful solution to the Iraq issue. On the same day, in South Korea, about 50 anti-war activists gathered in front of the US Embassy in Seoul. The protesters, representing 46 civic and religious activist groups, issued a statement saying US plans to attack Iraq could not be justified �and will instead threaten world security�. Earlier, on October 2, 1,000 students marched in Seoul, condemning the continued presence of 37,000 US troops in South Korea. Chanting �Let�s drive out US troops,� they stomped on two large American flags with skulls drawn on them and carried signs that read: �We oppose US war against Iraq.� Later, 300 students fought 30 policemen who blocked them from breaking through the locked steel gate of the main US military base in Seoul. The students defied President Kim Dae-Jung who, just hours earlier, had denounced a series of protests against the US military presence. �We must understand that the US military�s presence in the Korean Peninsula is indispensable for our security, peace on the Korean Peninsula and a balance of forces in northeast Asia,� Kim said. In a protest that received almost no media coverage, Philippines students demonstrated outside the US Embassy in Manila on October 4, carrying placards such as: �US government No.1 terrorist�. It was the second recent anti-war protest outside the Manila embassy. On September 27, more than 100 church workers from 22 countries linked arms along the road in front of the building, urging a halt to �US state terrorism� worldwide. Nuns and church leaders held up placards reading �No to US invasion on Iraq� and �Justice, not war� as anti-riot police stood by. The group issued a statement calling the �war on terror� an �opportunistic use of violence to consolidate and expand US economic, political, cultural and military hegemony� that would undermine human rights and civil liberties of people in targeted countries. On October 4, about 200 US and other foreign citizens who live in Phnom Penh, Cambodia held a vigil for peace. Under banners reading �War�Not In Our Name!� the participants read a �Not In Our Name� pledge aloud and took signed copies of the pledge to the US Ambassador�s residence. No anti-war demonstrations have been reported in Malaysia, where the Mahathir government has exploited the Bush administration�s �war on terrorism� to suppress its own political opponents, using the notorious Internal Security Act. On October 8, in a sign of the government�s concern about public disquiet, Youth and Sports Minister Hishamuddin Hussein told delegates at the East Asian Economic Summit in Kuala Lumpur that his government was �for the US, if it is a force for good,� but �cannot support the US if it pursues the course of unilateralism with scant regard for world opinion�. In Japan, polls published in the press have found little public support for strikes against Iraq. The Asahi Shimbun newspaper last month reported that its telephone survey found 77 percent of people opposed to a US military attack, with only 14 percent in favour. Asked whether Japan should cooperate with the United States if it began an assault on Baghdad, 69 percent said no, while just 20 percent said yes. The poll pointed to the contrast between public opinion this time and during past US-led military actions. An October 2001 poll showed 46 percent support for that month�s attack on Afghanistan, with 43 percent opposed. In a February 1991 poll, just after the start of the Gulf War, 51 percent supported the attack on Iraq with 35 percent opposed. Newspaper interviews revealed concern that a war will only increase the danger of terrorism. �It�s better if they don�t go to war,� Toshiro Kobayashi, a shopkeeper in Tokyo, said. �It would be one thing if war would solve the problem, but terrorist acts will happen again.� The mayor of Hiroshima, one of the two Japanese cities obliterated by US atomic bombs in 1945, is currently visiting the United States, urging Washington not to go to war. Interviewed at the commencement of his trip, Tadatoshi Akiba called on the US to cut down its nuclear weapons stockpile. This would raise Washington�s credibility in urging other nations to not build their own weapons, he said. More than 200,000 people in Hiroshima were killed and hundreds of thousands more sickened in the US atomic bombing of the city on August 6, 1945. A second atomic bomb on Nagasaki three days later killed at least 74,000 people. On August 6, addressing 45,000 people at an anniversary commemoration, Akiba warned: �The US government has not been given the right to impose a �Pax Americana� and to decide the fate of the world ... In this environment, only the weak become victims, many of them women, children and the elderly.� Vietnam, another country subjected to horrific US bombing, has officially protested �against any military activity against Iraq aimed at overthrowing the government of President Saddam Hussein. Interference by external forces to change the political regime of a country constitutes a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter and is unacceptable.� Responding to last week�s US Congress vote to give President Bush full authority to use military force against Iraq, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said the Vietnamese people were �very concerned about this development�.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1871
__label__cc	0.687834	0.312166	ANI, the splendid city of Bagratid Armenia, at its zenith, in the Xth century, had a population of more than 100,000 citizens, which during the Middle Ages was an impressive number of residents. Ani was a castle and an outpost from the Vth to the IXth century. In the Xth century, Ani became the capital of the restored Kingdom of Armenia under the royal House of Bagrat. Beginning from the Xth century, the city became a great center of trade, commerce and culture, where caravans from distant and far away lands of the Far East, including China and India stopped, sold and traded good, often continuing further on towards the West, to the cities of Byzantine Empire and Europe. Ani was hailed as the 'The City of 1001 Churches' by the contemporary historians. This number was significant and symbolic of the fact that the City of Ani had numerous beautiful churches of breathtaking grandeur architecture, built by the talented Armenian masons and craftsmen. Armenian master builders like Master Trdat (Tiridates in Latin), the Chief Architect of the Armenian kings and catholicoi (active from the second half of the Xth century to the first half of the XIth) who became renowned throughout Armenia after he designed and built a number of churches and cathedrals throughout Armenia, most notably in Ani. He is credited with the erection of the Church of Argina (973-77), Ani's Mother Cathedral (989-1001 - 12 years to complete the great temple - by far the Master's magnum opus) and the Cathedral of Saint Gregory the Illuminator (1001-10) in the Gagkashen (named after King Gagik) district of the city. THE CUPOLA OF BANAK/ZVARTNOTS/GAGKASHEN He is also credited by some scholars with building the Haghpat Monastery of the Surb Nshan (Holy Symbol), the Amenap'rkich' - the Church of the Savior in Sanahin, the Church of Marmashen and also the Church of the Savior and the Walls of Smbatashen, both in Ani. After an earthquake rocked the Byzantine capital of Constantinople, the dome of the marvelous Cathedral of Hagia Sofia (Church of the Divine Wisdom - consecrated by the Emperors to the Eternal Feminine principle) partially collapsed. The Emperor was quick to summon Trdat to restore the dome of the great church, knowing well that the master architect and builder was the best choice for such a difficult task to restore the most loved cathedral in all of Byzantium. It took him almost 4 years (989-92) to restore the dome to its former splendor... THE FLOOR PLAN OF BANAK/ZVARTNOTS/GAGKASHEN SECTION OF THE RUINS OF ANI'S WALL ENCLOSURE IN THE EAST. THE CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR IN THE [LEFT] BACKGROUND. DUIN OR EREVAN GATE OF ANI. PROTO-GOTHIC FORMS PIONEERED AND APPLIED BY ARMENIAN MASTER BUILDERS IN THE MOTHER CHURCH OF ANI. ABOVE AND BELOW: RELIEFS WITH STYLIZED TRADITIONAL ARMENIAN [DOUBLE] COLUMNS SUPPORTING THE ARCHES DECORATED ARCHES WITH VEGETATIVE AND NATURE MOTIFS. ...Today the great City of Ani is in ruins... a ghost town, a mere shadow of the once world-renowned splendor of 1000 years ago. The "nick-name" of "ghost town" was not coined by this author, dear reader. It is the name given to abandoned ruins of Ani, in the Turkish travel brochures printed by the Turkish government. It will be impossible for the traveler who is provided with these brochures to find the word 'Armenian' or 'Armenia,' be it in historic or contemporary context. The once crowded streets are no more. ARMENIAN WARRIORS LED BY VAHRAM SPARAPET FIGHTING NEAR THE GATES OF ANI XIXTH CENTURY ENGRAVINGS. A CHURCH NEAR THE MOTHER CATHEDRAL. ENTRANCE HALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUILDING ADJOINING THE ROYAL PALACE. VICTORY OBELISKS CAPPED WITH A CROSS-STONE. RUINS OF ONE OF THE HALLS IN THE CITADEL. RUINS OF ONE OF THE CATHEDRALS. RUINS OF A CHURCH. DOUBLE-FLOOR GATES OF THE PAHLAVUNI OR BAGRATID ROYAL PALACE. ABOVE FLOOR LAID IN CHECKERED-SQUARE PATTERN WITH TWIN PILLARS SUPPORTING THE POINTING ARCH [VULVA] WITH INLAID SUNBEAMS POINTING TO HEXAGRAM PATTERN. BELOW FLOOR WITH EQUAL ARMED CROSSES FORMING OCTAGRAMS WITH TWIN PILLARS SUPPORTING THE ARCH WITH OBLONG SQUARES FORMING OCTAGONS. Only the decaying remains of the magnificent ruins give the visitor a clue and a glimpse into a time of civilization, building and advancement, a time when Ani was called the Great Mother City. Nowadays Armenians from the other side of the Arax river, the artificially natural state boundary between Republic of Armenia and Western Armenia, only few miles away watch and hope that someday they can once again return and rebuild their beloved city. For no one else will care for the rapidly vanishing city, which can only be restored and once again become a center of Life, Learning and Civilization by the creative people who built it. FURTHER READING \| HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: VIRTUAL ANI -- A TRULY GREAT SITE SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO THE CITY OF ANI http://www.virtualani.freeserve.co.uk/	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1872
__label__wiki	0.549342	0.549342	No. 449: Saturday, November 2nd, 2013 October’s already half-forgotten “government shutdown” was universally credited as a major defeat for the Republican party, and above all, as a tactical error that kept attention away from the administration’s botched roll-out of the Affordable Care Act. After the Syrian demonstration of Obama’s fecklessness in international diplomacy, the revelation of his administration’s incompetence in implementing his signature law (“Obamacare”) despite three years to prepare its Internet presence has raised serious doubts in the general public about the “big-government” philosophy that Obama, in contrast to Clinton, has been eager to put into practice. Given the system’s need to bring together data from several sources to compute premiums and subsidies in a context not of mere punctual sales but of long-term contractual obligations, its difficulties are not easily resolvable by mere hi-tech competence of the kind team Obama wielded so skillfully during the last election campaign. Yet with their shutdown theatrics, the Republicans played into the hands of the liberal media and of Obama himself, who became the “adult in the room” simply by refusing to attach strings to the continuing resolution. Meanwhile, “neutral” TV journalists were able to inflict damage on the Republicans for half a month simply by airing federal employees’ takes on how given portions of the government, the economy, and the nation were being injured by the shutdown. Yet “establishment” Republicans, some solidly conservative, were cowed by the fear the Tea Party strikes into the heart of primary-averse incumbents. My purpose is not to defend the Tea Party, even less its recent strategy, but to explain its existence. I find that the characterizations of this group offered by friends and foes alike miss its central motivation, one that by its very nature cannot be expressed openly in our political culture, and which for that very reason augments the frustration that is at the core of the movement. The Tea Party’s rhetoric and the focus of its activism is on limited government. The Obama administration unapologetically encourages government dependency and caters to really or imaginarily vulnerable client populations. As the proportion of the population in the workforce declines (and Obamacare makes employers reluctant to hire or to keep workers on the job for more than 29 hours a week), food stamps and often dubious disability benefits proliferate. But focus on the size of government and on its fostering of dependency leaves out what I believe is the most anthropologically significant feature of Obama’s big-government operation: its advancement of victimocracy. The argument currently before the Supreme Court that an anti-discrimination amendment to the Michigan state constitution is by its very nature discriminatory is an emblem of this. This argument, although self-contradictory on its face, no longer sounds scandalous; indeed, it is used all the time. When I was a college student, I worked a couple of summers in the Post Office. Hiring was based on an examination, a kind of postal aptitude test, and since I was able to score 100% (not a particularly difficult feat) I was hired right away. This test, along with many similar ones, has long been defunct; its results produced “disparate impacts.” Given the common practice of eliminating such tests without any other proof of bias, how can we allow a constitutional amendment that presumably makes taking account of “disparate impact” itself a form of discrimination? Indeed, is it clear that the polity was damaged rather than improved by diminishing the role of measurable intelligence in hiring for the Postal Service? Did I deserve to be chosen over people for whom the job would have been a real career? Maybe “disparate impact” is in fact the best policy. I am not presenting my personal opinion on these matters, nor on the rightness or wrongness of the views of the Tea Party membership. My point here is simply to explain the specific nature of their frustration. I think the simplest way of looking at the Tea Party is that they are the party of embattled normality. (I use the term “normal” here in the sense in which Edmund Burke refers to “custom” in reaction to the radical rationalism of the French Revolution, not in the more problematic sense given to it by Michel Foucault, for whom it is the product of the normalization process that marks the transition from traditional society to modernity.) The old normal corresponds to the world I was born into, the “middle American” culture nostalgically celebrated in the opening pages of Charles Murray’s Coming Apart, where the (moderately) rich and poor smoked the same cigarettes, drank the same coffee, watched the same movies and TV, and owned more or less luxurious but similar (American) cars and homes. It was a time when children—including those in the African-American community, whether in the North or the segregated South—were generally born in wedlock, attended public schools, and were taught both not to take candy from strangers and to respect the admonitions of respectable adults other than their parents, when marriage was what it had been for millennia, and when the professed ideal of the Civil Rights movement was race-neutral integration, judging people by the “content of their character,” an objective that, taken at face value, is diametrically opposed to the current insistence on “diversity.” For better or for worse, and ultimately as a result of the Holocaust’s demonstration of the horror that can arise from de jure discrimination, throughout the postwar era the old normal has been eroded by the victimary well beyond its overtly discriminatory elements. At the moment of 9/11, I over-optimistically predicted that a “post-millennial” age would succeed the victimary era, whose decadence that catastrophe seemed to demonstrate. Alas, this was not to be. The election of our first African-American president, although surely both a product and a source of long-term improvement in race relations, has given rise to a newly aggressive pursuit of race- and gender-oriented policies, policies which, as I pointed out in Chronicle 442, justify speaking no longer simply of “the victimary” but using the term, proposed by Adam Katz, of victimocracy. The Tea Party groups the partisans of the old normality, which has not been replaced by a stable new normality, but is constantly eroded by a victimary epistemology that attacks the “oppression” of normality and its accepted norms of firstness. The other day when filling out a form online, under “sex,” I was given the choice of male, female, and “other.” The consecration of a category that responds to the presumed need of a tiny fraction of the population to identify to the point of biological denial with the opposite sex is emblematic of what offends the sensibilities of the Tea Party. Perhaps they are “narrow-minded” not to accept gay marriage and racial preferences and three-gender online forms. But I think they are offended less by such things in themselves than by the sense that they are merely the latest victories in a systematic, ongoing victimary war against the normal. I have never attempted to formulate explicitly the tenets of this victimary position; the following is a preliminary attempt at such a definition: No notion of normality, however venerable and apparently reasonable, is acceptable when it is felt to stigmatize behavior that some identifiable group of individuals find essential to their identity, so long as it does not explicitly damage others. The sense of victimization aroused in the offended party is accepted as prima facie evidence of such stigmatization; that is, the burden of proof is on the “normal” accused rather than the accuser. Conversely, any principle or behavior that can be claimed to risk damage to others and that no group considers essential to its identity should be strictly forbidden, even when the risk from such things as “secondary smoke” is vanishingly small. Potential victims here explicitly include the realities of “nature,” animate and inanimate; sentiments of outrage at the “desecration” of nature are considered as of similar nature to resentment of personal injustice. Victimocracy as thus described is less a doctrine of positive morality than a discovery principle for violations of it. Since the victim’s resentment is conceived as justified until proof of the contrary, there is an increasing disdain for the traditional requirement of proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” as a means for determining guilt (see Walter Olson, “Sentence First, Verdict Afterward,” Commentary July-August 2013). This resentment is precious because it allows us to discover the oppression masked by discriminatory norms inherited from the unenlightened past. “Enlightened” victimary thought denies the Burkean wisdom of normality as a model of conduct. Once victimization is discovered either in relations between humans or in their relationship with nature, the urgency of its mitigation and eventual elimination trumps any broader social considerations. Firstness is subject to what in constitutional terms is called “strict scrutiny”: it must be shown to be of immediate value to all concerned. The recent government shutdown and Obamacare are monitory examples of the dangers of both sides of the current debate. The Tea Party, unable to attack victimocracy save in marginal and incremental ways, focuses its attention on government expenditure as both a metonymy of governmental expansion and its means of implementation. Thus it reacts to the impossibility of defunding Obamacare by “shutting down” the government or refusing to raise the limit on its indebtedness. The chief significance of Obamacare is not that it implements the program of the left—in fact, it sought a great compromise between the welfare state, the insurers, and the medical community—but that it is meant to demonstrate the viability of vastly increased government control of health care. We were told it would expand choice, insure the uninsured, bring relief to the already ill, allow the happily insured to keep their insurance, and lower costs into the bargain—little of which appears to be true. I do not think Obama and his cohorts were merely cynical in their promises. They assumed that in whatever domain, the more the federal government is involved, the better things will be managed. Where I differ with most conservative analyses of this hubristic faith is in focusing on its victimary aspects. The superiority that the Obama administration attributes to the government over the private sector, and to the federal government over its more local forms, is less a technocratic than a moral superiority, a superior concern for victims that makes the government the privileged engine of “fairness.” Requiring men’s insurance policies to cover female contraceptives, pregnancy, and childbirth might be called pandering to the women who form part of Obama’s “base,” but I think his operatives see it rather as just compensation to an “oppressed” group. Hence the fiasco of the ACA rollout and the headaches it has created for users and insurers alike is no mere tactical blunder. If, as is far from unlikely, Obamacare fails, independently of its Internet problems, to provide the general public with attractive insurance options at reasonable premiums, this failure will provide strong evidence that the victimocracy has exceeded its capacity to preside over the national economy. (I had completed a first draft of this Chronicle when I saw Daniel Henninger’s “Progressive Government Fails” in the October 30 Wall Street Journal. Henninger refers to “progressivism,” but his main point is that the term “progressive” denotes something different from, and far more coercive than, traditional post-war liberalism—something close in spirit to our category of victimocracy.) Another important, although less politically salient, part of what offends the Tea Party is the disregard for the old normality embodied in such things as the ever-increasing percentage of out of wedlock births and disinclination for marriage among the non-college-educated: sexuality detached from marriage and child-making detached from parenting. The enforced tolerance of such practices is an example of “soft” victimary thinking that tends to escape attention because it is not focused on the purported oppression of one group by another. In the past, illegitimate children were stigmatized, even if people realized that the stigma should attach not to the children but to their parents. One of the most striking features of the victimary era is the fouling of public space as a result of the defeat of the principle of public respectability by the rights granted the unrespectable. We must bear with the strong-smelling man sitting opposite us at the library, who a few decades ago would have been asked to leave. Mental patients too were at one point granted victimary status and released from confinement, and a vast street population has been the result. Nor has replacing the “unwed mother” by the “single mother” made life better for the vast proportion of children they produce—some 70% in the black community, and over 40% among high-school-educated whites. The most hopeful analysis of the decline of respectability may well be that of “Spengler” (David P. Goldman) in How Civilizations Die (Regnery, 2011): family-oriented religious people, since they have more children than less traditional groups, will dominate the world population of the future; Goldman includes Israel as well as the United States in this optimistic forecast. A final example, minor but surely not trivial. At the beginning of 2013, UCLA, along with the other campuses of the University of California, distributed to faculty and students a “Campus Climate” survey requesting respondents to reveal incidents of discrimination against minority groups. In reaction to the lengthy report issued as a result, a write-up in the October 19 LA Times reads “UCLA faculty survey cites racism.” Although I have no reason to doubt the veracity of the contributors to the report, I think I can say with some authority that such incidents of discrimination are far from common. I have taught at UCLA for over 40 years and have not witnessed a single incident where a “minority” student, let alone a faculty member, was singled out for (negative) discrimination of any kind. On the contrary, I have observed the expenditure of a great deal of effort and money on promoting the interests of minorities, and on seeking to create, despite policies that officially make racial considerations illegal, a more “diverse” campus. Above all, whatever the substance of the complaints contained in the report, one cannot miss the irony that a critical mass of racism is being discovered at the heart of this ostensibly ultra-liberal institution just as we enter the second administration of our first African-American president. Some of my happier memories of the Bronx High School of Science were my occasional exchanges with Victor S., one of the few black students at the school. We would bump into each other in the hall or lunch room, and got a special thrill from calling each other “n…..” and “k…,” with a select choice of adjectives. Vic was the only person who signed my yearbook. I didn’t ask anyone to sign it, but he just grabbed it, wrote a friendly little blurb, and signed his name. He was that kind of guy. This was a dozen years past the Holocaust, and only a few after Brown vs Board of Ed. As I was to discover another few years later, cities as far north as Baltimore were still racially segregated. Even in New York, Blacks and Jews were not on an altogether equal footing. Yet in these encounters, for a few seconds, Vic and I were brothers. Not so much both victims, as both members of groups that had known persecution, but who were satisfied enough with their lives to smile about it. I wasn’t really close to Vic, and I never saw him again after graduation. Vic, if you’re out there somewhere, let’s exchange insults again. Nobody has called me a “k…” in a very long time.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1877
__label__wiki	0.943622	0.943622	Stephen Kroft Net Worth 2019 Age Biography Top Hidden Facts Stephen Kroft Net Worth Stephen F Kroft, an American Journalist, is also a correspondent for 60- minutes was born on August 22, 1945. He has acclaimed Awards like – Peabody Awards and Nine Emmy Awards. Out of which, one was an Emmy for Lifetime Achievement. BIRTH August 22, 1945, at Kokomo, Indiana, US EDUCATION Kokomo High School, Columbia University OCCUPATION Journalist ACTIVE YEARS 1971- present SPOUSE Jennet Conant CHILDREN John Conant Kroft Kroft’s Early Life Kroft born in Kokomo, Indiana was the son of Margaret and Fred Kroft. Kroft earned his Bachelor’s degree in the year 1967. He was one of the members of Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Syracuse. He was in the United States Army after his Graduation as well as he served in the Vietnam War. He was also a Reporter for the Armed Forces Network where he covered the Division’s participation in the invasion of Cambodia. Again he was reassigned to the military newspaper ‘Stars and Stripes’ as a photographer and correspondent when the Decision was redeployed. After receiving the honourable discharge from the army in 1971, Kroft began his Journalism career as a Reporter for WSYR – TV in Syracuse, Newyork. After enrolling from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Kroft earned his Master’s degree in the year 1975. Finally, he moved to Florida, where he worked for two stations owned by Washington Post Office. Eventually, in 1977, he moved to WPLG- TV in Miami, where his work got famous in the CBS News. Kroft’s CBS Career In the Year 1980, Steve joined in the Northeast Bureau, based out of New York City as a reporter in CBS News. Right after that year, Steve was named as a Correspondent, and he moved to Southwest Bureau, where he stayed until 1983. In the very same year, Kroft returned to Florida after CBS reassigned him to Miami Bureau. He4 soon started visiting the Caribbean and Latin America frequently while covering the Civil war in El Salvador and US Invasion of Grenada. Steve started extensive travelling to cover the stories in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East when he got a job as a Foreign Correspondent at the CBS London Bureau. Many of his Assignments also involved International Terrorism and Sectarian Violence – Hijackings of TWA Flight 847 and Achille Lauro and also the Rome and Vienna airport attacks of the Abu Nidal Organisation, The Lebanese Civil War. And even the violence in Northern Ireland. Kroft won an Emmy for his report of CBS Evening News on the assassination of Indira Gandhi. In the year 1986, Kroft became a principal correspondent on a news magazine show called the West 57th. He was in the program until the year 1989. On that very September of the same year, Kroft and his West 57th Colleague joined ’60 Minutes’ as well. Kroft was the first American Journalist who was also given extensive access to the Contaminated Grounds of the Chernobyl Nuclear Facility in the year 1990 as well. Also, this story won him an Emmy. Kroft also interviewed the Governor – Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary in the 1992 Presidential Elections. Kroft’s Interview was one of the defining moments in the Election. In 1994, two of the Kroft’s stories also won Emmy Awards that are – ‘a profile of Senator Bob Dale and Expose on the Cuban Government’s QuarantinePolicy for people infected with AIDS. In the Year 2003, he and his team for 60 Minutes team were Awarded Emmy’s for lifetime achievement. During an interview with Clint Eastwood, Kroft asked him, “How many Kids do you have’? For which Eastwood responded, ‘I have a few’. Over which Kroft broached the subject with a declarative question, “Seven Kids with five women right’?. Eastwood did not answer and stared at Steven silence for about 30 seconds. Kroft retired from 60 minutes on May 19th 2019 on the 30th season of his show. Kroft’s Presidential Interviews While Interviewing US President Barack Obama on Dec 13, 2009, Kroft was corrected by the Gallup.com on public opinion that he cited. In the interview, he stated that “Most American’s right now do not believe that this war is worth fighting”. And Kroft questioned President Obama about the war without even Public support. Frank Newport, Gallup’s Editor in chief, challenged Kroft’s statement and presented data, that indicated – American’s were split on the War in Afghanistan’. Kroft lives in a New York City with his wife, Jennet Conant who is a journalist as well as an author. They also have a son, John Conant Kroft who attends the Julliard School. Several reports have also stated that Kroft was admitted to an affair with Lisa Goines, a married Manhatten Lawyer who is a graduate of Columbia Law School. He played several roles like, one in the episode of ‘Murphy Brown’ and then again in Woody Allen’s 2000 movie, ‘Small-time Crooks’ in which he interviewed Allen’s character for a segment on his show, ’60 Minutes’. Lifetime Awards He has won 11-time Emmy Award including a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2003. Also, he is a 5 time Peabody Award Winner, two times Columbia University DuPont Award Winner, 1992 George Arents Medal – that is the highest honour given to a Syracuse University alumnus. He received two Awards in 2007 – Medallion of the University – the highest honour given byUniversity of Albany and also ‘Gerald Loeb Award’ for Television Enterprise Business Journalism. In 2009 as well, he received Gerald Loeb Award for TV Breaking News business journalism for, “Economic Crisis”. In 201o, he received the Paul White Award and Finally in 2014; he received the Gerald Loeb Award for Personal Finance Business Journalism. Related Itemsstephen kroft net worth More in Journalist Julian Assange Net Worth 2019 Bio Wiki Julian Assange arrested Team WorkApril 21, 2019 Copyright © Allnetworths.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1882
__label__cc	0.604521	0.395479	America's National Day of (Fighting Over) Prayer If you've followed my posts over the past couple of years it should come as no surprise that I absolutely, 100% reject the "America is a Christian Nation" nonsense. My reasons for such a stance are many (and I won't dive into them today) but sufficeth me to say that I believe such as stance is actually quite anti-Christian in nature. With that said, I don't want to be misunderstood here. This does not mean that I believe religion played no role in the founding of America. Quite the contrary. I believe it was (and still is) a fundamental component of American republicanism; one that we cannot and should not do without. Religious freedom and diversity is as important to us as are our separation of powers. And I don't believe I am alone in my beliefs. The role of religion has always been a difficult juggling act throughout American history. The question of when and how religion can be taken too far (or not far enough) in relation to government was a question even our Founding Fathers wrestled with. And in our modern era the story is no different. Which bring us to May 6, 2010. Today is, by presidential proclamation, the National Day of Prayer. And as can be expected, the typical pro and con voices of "reason" have emerged to support/lament this time-honored practice of fighting over prayer, more specifically prayer being sanctioned by government officials. And though I tend to oppose the "Christian Nation" crowd on a regular basis, I am choosing to stand with them today. The National Day of Prayer is a good thing and the secularists need to back off. Here's why: First off, let's travel back a ways to the era of our Founders. Yes, many of them were "Theistic Rationalists," "Unitarians," "Deists," "atheists" or any other "ist" you can think of. However, these same heathens LOVED to pray (it's true). Take, for example, the First Continental Congress. You all know the story. It was suggested that the first official act of business should be to begin with a prayer but when deadlocked over who should give that prayer, Samuel Adams (a pious man to say the least) arose and stated that he was "no bigot, and could hear a Prayer from any gentleman of Piety and virtue, who was at the same time a friend to his Country." Shortly thereafter, Jacob Duché, an Anglican minister, was selected to lead the group in prayer. Fast forward to the war for independence. One of the first General Orders issued by General Washington required soldiers to adhere to a moral code that included prayer: The General most earnestly requires, and expects, a due observance of those articles of war, established for the Government of the army, which forbid profane cursing, swearing and drunkeness; And in like manner requires and expects, of all Officers, and Soldiers, not engaged on actual duty, a punctual attendance on divine Service, to implore the blessings of heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense. And then there is the case of John Hanson, president of the United States under the Articles of Confederation, who, in 1782, issued a proclamation calling for a national day of thanksgiving in which the nation was to "give thanks to God" for their good fortune during the war. And let us not forget, despite the controversy over whether or not he said "So Help Me God", President George Washington stated in his first inaugural address: No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency. And then there are the numerous Thanksgiving proclamations made by several early presidents, each of which implored the American populace to give thanks to God through prayer. Bottom line: prayer, in whatever form, is as American as apple pie. Of course not everyone liked the idea of prayer being sanctioned by government. In 1812, John Adams actually lamented his call for a national day of prayer and thanksgiving: The National Fast, recommended by me turned me out of office. It was connected with the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which I had no concern in. That assembly has alarmed and alienated Quakers, Anabaptists, Mennonists, Moravians, Swedenborgians, Methodists, Catholicks, protestant Episcopalians, Arians, Socinians, Armenians, & & &, Atheists and Deists might be added. A general Suspicion prevailed that the Presbyterian Church was ambitious and aimed at an Establishment of a National Church. I was represented as a Presbyterian and at the head of this political and ecclesiastical Project. The secret whisper ran through them “Let us have Jefferson, Madison, Burr, any body, whether they be Philosophers, Deists, or even Atheists, rather than a Presbyterian President.” This principle is at the bottom of the unpopularity of national Fasts and Thanksgivings. Nothing is more dreaded than the National Government meddling with Religion." -- John Adams to Benjamin Rush, June 12, 1812 And Thomas Jefferson: Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and right can never be safer than in their hands, where the Constitution has deposited it. ...civil powers alone have been given to the President of the United States and no authority to direct the religious exercises of his constituents. ~Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Miller, January 23, 1808. And James Madison: There has been another deviation from the strict principle in the Executive Proclamations of fasts & festivals, so far, at least, as they have spoken the language of injunction, or have lost sight of the equality of all religious sects in the eye of the Constitution. Whilst I was honored with the Executive Trust I found it necessary on more than one occasion to follow the example of predecessors. But I was always careful to make the Proclamations absolutely indiscriminate, and merely recommendatory; or rather mere designations of a day, on which all who thought proper might unite in consecrating it to religious purposes, according to their own faith & forms. In this sense, I presume you reserve to the Govt. a right to appoint particular days for religious worship throughout the State, without any penal sanction enforcing the worship. ~James Madison to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822. And while most modern presidents have followed suit by declaring national days of prayer (Harry Truman even signed a bill requiring presidents to do just that), some presidents sided with Jefferson. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt spoke up for what Roosevelt called "absolutely nonsectarian public schools." Roosevelt added that it is "not our business to have the Protestant Bible or the Catholic Vulgate or the Talmud read in schools." Yes, truly the debate over prayer has a long and tedious history. As Diana Butler, author of the controversial book, A People's History of Christianity points out: When it comes to prayer, Americans love to fight -- and our prayers have driven us apart. Arguing over prayer is an American tradition. In the 1600s, Puritans rejected the formalized prayer of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer and founded their own churches as a way of protesting state-supported prayer. For their trouble, the Anglicans put them in jail. When they got out, they left England and settled in the New World. But the Anglicans were already there with their own colonies and outlawed Puritan prayers again. So the Puritans outlawed Anglican prayer in their own colonies. Quakers, disgusted with the Puritan-Anglican quarrel, rejected verbal prayers altogether, choosing to pray silently instead. In the 1740s, during the Great Awakening, the new evangelical preachers practiced extemporaneous prayer. They rejected all written prayers in favor of being "moved by the Spirit" and making up public prayers on the spot. Many in traditional churches -- Presbyterians, Anglicans, Lutherans, and Congregationalists -- found extemporaneous prayer to be theologically shallow and "unlearned" and forbade its exercise in their churches. These groups didn't imprison each other over prayer. Instead, they consigned each other to hell and set up rival denominations to insure their own salvation. American churches split over prayer, leaving some to free-form prayer and others to written and ritualized prayers. After the Revolutionary War, a puzzling question arose: Whose prayer would undergird the new nation? How might prayer be practiced in the commons? What words should bless state functions? The political leaders (perhaps recognizing that prayer was above their pay grade) came up with a unique and practical answer: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." In other words, "We won't touch that prayer-thing with a twenty-foot pole. You are on your own, people." Of course, the Establishment and Free Exercise clauses of the Constitution didn't solve anything. Congress, despite trying to avoid the issue, had chaplains -- most typically of the formal type -- who prayed for their work. And Americans -- even in the early period when most of them were Protestants -- kept arguing over whose prayer was theologically accurate and most spiritually effective. Entire denominations were formed on the basis of devotional style. And as Americans argued and denominations split over prayer, religious leaders and politicians continued to proclaim days of prayer for national unity. And though it's likely that the debate over prayer's role in the halls of government is sure to remain for as long as the stars and stripes continue to fly, I believe it is important for us all to recognize one important fact: whether you favor prayer being intertwined with government or not we must acknowledge its role in American history. Americans are, for the most part, a prayer-loving people. I am reminded of the very first post ever done here at American Creation entitled, "Did Washington Pray at Valley Forge?" In that post, I pointed out that the story of Washington kneeling in prayer (and made famous by Arnold Frieberg's now infamous painting) is surely a farce. Despite its obvious mythology, fellow blogger Brian Tubbs made an excellent point. He stated, in this blog's first ever comment: Whether GW knelt in prayer at Valley Forge as depicted by the paintings is like asking whether he stood in the boat when he crossed the Delaware. GW probably didn't kneel in the snow at Valley Forge. But I'm sure he prayed at Valley Forge. That GW prayed in the exact manner depicted in the famous painting may be called into question. That he was a man of prayer cannot be challenged. And so it is with prayer on a national level. Perhaps we are not a Christian Nation and that a separation of church and state does keep the men of the cloth from dictating policy. This truth, however, does not mean that we need to throw the baby out with the bath water. We have been, and probably always will be, a nation of praying people. And maybe both the pro and anti-prayer advocates can appeal to Jesus for a resolution on this matter: "Thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men... "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret." ~ Matt. 6:5-6 Posted by Brad Hart at 2:37 PM Labels: Hart's Posts Add Andrew Jackson to Jefferson's side below, which I'll plagiarize from the internet out of laziness: "I could not do otherwise without transcending the limits prescribed by the Constitution for the President and without feeling that I might in some degree disturb the security which religion nowadays enjoys in this country in its complete separation from the political concerns of the General Government." --Andrew Jackson- letter to the Synod of the Reformed Church of North America, 12 June 1832, explaining his refusal of their request that he proclaim a "day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer." As for Jesus speaking of praying in secret, I'm not sure the Bible passage quite applies, since he was referring to hypocrites who made a great show of public piety, not sincere folks. Surely Jesus was not calling for an end to assembled public prayer. Brad Hart said... Nice Andrew Jackson quote. Yeah, I agree with the Jesus stuff. I was mostly looking for a way to conclude my post. It seems "stirring." Let's add that fasting is pretty Christian in this context and "humiliation" is very Calvinist. Much more sectarian than mere prayer. Ray Soller said... Tom, I'm with you that Jesus was not calling for an end to assembled prayers in synagouges or other sacred places of worship, but assembled prayer for the sake of creating a great show of public piety is quite another matter. Brian Tubbs said... Jesus would not be comfortable with prayer being bandied about as a political weapon. In that context, Brad's finale was indeed "stirring" and appropriate. :-) But Tom and Ray are correct that Jesus was not against assembled, corporate prayer. In fact, Judaism had a long tradition of that, and it continued with Christianity. I should also add that even those Founders uncomfortable with government-sanctioned public prayers were still comfortable with (even supportive of) government being grounded in a monotheistic context. For the record, I was addressing Brad's close on a theological level. As for the legal thing, I believe the resolution reads The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals. which doesn't necessarily call for "corporate" prayer. Individual prayer is given equal standing, and the word "may" means do it or don't according to individual conscience. No, I'm not interested in taking the bait and reopening this, Ray. Neither the Constitution nor the "custom and practice" following its ratification demands we forbid this. If the president wants to largely ignore it, which I understand President Obama just did, that's OK too, per Jefferson & Jackson. The fact is that the NDOP proclamation itself is not an optional issue when it comes to current day presidents. President Obama did not have the same option as did Jefferson & Jackson. It also appears that even though the President did "invite all people of faith to join" him "in asking for God's continued guidance, grace, and protection as we meet the challenges before us," he, in fact, as commander-in-chief, is ultimately responsible for having disinvited Evangelist Franklin Graham, co-honorary chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, from attending the Pentagon’s National Day of Prayer event due to Graham's previous comments about Islam. Well, Franklin Graham is getting really far afield from the Founding now. I agreed with the disinvitation, BTW. I'm all for positives, but downing other faiths is contrary to the spirit of pluralism. Brad you asserted: The National Day of Prayer is a good thing and the secularists need to back off. Here's why: ... whether you favor prayer being intertwined with government or not we must acknowledge its role in American history. That's nice to say, but I fail to see how a legislated annual National Day of Prayer is necessarily a good thing when the federal government is involved. Do we really need to have the government legislating those particulars we must acknowledge so we can properly understand our common historical heritage? K. Hollyn Hollman, General counsel, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, in an article, Does the National Day of Prayer Violate Church-State Separation?, put it this way: Even if the National Day of Prayer is not held to be unconstitutional, it is certainly unwise. [my emphasis] Consequently, she concludes her presentation with the proposition: If Congress and the president truly want to promote prayer, they should follow the wise counsel of Jefferson and Madison and keep the government out of it. It turns out Obama may still come to better appreciate the counsel of Jefferson and Madison when it comes to his recent NDoP proclamation. Time magazine has an interesting article, Will the National Day of Prayer Hurt Obama? by Amy Sullivan. Here's what caught my attention: A large part of the problem is that the Pentagon outsources the organization of its day of prayer event to the National Day of Prayer Task Force, a private group run by Shirley Dobson (wife of Focus on the Family Founder James Dobson). The Colorado-based task force is known for making its observance of the day a sectarian affair--it has, for example, prevented Mormons from participating because the task force does not consider them really Christian. It was the task force that chose Graham to be the honorary chair and main speaker for the Pentagon event. It's not crazy to ask why a group that interprets the National Day of Prayer as the National Day of Evangelical Christian Prayer is in charge of organizing a federal agency's observance of the day.[end snippet] Unfortunately, even in the Pentagon's revised program, which "included prayers from Catholic, Jewish and Muslim chaplains, who were hastily added to the program" there still wasn't any mention of any Mormon involvement. Well, I have to disagree, Ray. I don't think the NDOP requires anyone to do anything. It's not like the thing becomes a law. Let's face it, public recognition of God goes back to Washington...heck, it goes back even further, assuming you accept the early settlers as a part of America's heritage. If we're going to get rid of the NDOP then we might as well get rid of Thanksgiving. As for Graham and Dobson's wife, well, I've never been big fans of either. If they are preventing Mormons and other "Christians" from praying the only think I can say is "so what." I'll invoke the words of Samuel Adams in saying that I am "no bigot, and could hear a Prayer from any gentleman of Piety and virtue, who was at the same time a friend to his Country." I think the quarrel over which religion is represented at the Pentagon or not misses the main point. Ok, some religions, most religions, are probably going to get the shaft on any given NDOP. And sure, most of the motivation behind this day probably is political, but let's not toss the baby out with the bath water. Religion, prayer, etc. have been fundamental components to American republicanism. It ignore such a fact is to ignore a part of our heritage. Jefferson and Madison. Jefferson and Madison. As if there were no other Founders. Mark David Hall points out in this debate http://www.isi.org/lectures/lectures.aspx?SBy=lecture&SFor=0e7160cc-5c45-44c7-bb2b-33d6133e8c64 that when the Supreme Court cites the Founders in opinions favoring more secularism, Jefferson & Madison are cited 54% of the time. Truly amazing, but not so amazing, since that side of the issue has a very thin case outside of those two. Not Washington, not Franklin, not John Adams, none of whom were provably orthodox Christians. Neither does Madison even fit here! This Day of Prayer is totally consistent with Madison's own words: "Whilst I was honored with the Executive Trust I found it necessary on more than one occasion to follow the example of predecessors. But I was always careful to make the Proclamations absolutely indiscriminate, and merely recommendatory; or rather mere designations of a day, on which all who thought proper might unite in consecrating it to religious purposes, according to their own faith & forms." Re: " Supreme Court cites the Founders in opinions favoring more secularism, Jefferson & Madison are cited 54% of the time." The biggest reason for this is that Madison and Jefferson recorded their thoughts on this subject. The writings of these two men on the subject is as vast (if not more so) than that of all the remaining founders combined. The reason is those two are all they've got, and Madison lost half his battles and didn't bother to fight the other half. Which leaves Jefferson, Jefferson, Jefferson... Brad, I think that invoking the "toss the baby out with the bath water" cliche' is a bit extreme in this context. If the NDOP Act is finally ruled unconstitutional, what will be thrown out? As far as I can best determine, the President, if he so desires, can still choose to proclaim a special day of prayer. What's more, the president could (or not) do it multiple times in the year and on any day of the year that suits him. When I say, "I fail to see how a legislated annual National Day of Prayer is necessarily a good thing when the federal government is involved," I'm talking about congressional bills that require the president's signature so that the bill can become law. The National Day of Prayer Act fits into this category. If you read carefully you should be able to note how Judge Crabb specified that the US law directing the president to proclaim such a day violates the First Amendment, which prohibits government. establishment of religion. When it comes to Thanksgiving, the only legal directive, I know of, requires the federal government to shut down as best it can and allow federal employees to take a day off. Explicit Atheist said... The National Day of Prayer is all about promoting prayer, it is not about recalling or comemorating any historical event. Some of us think it is in everyone's interest that we all justify our beliefs on the weight of the evidence, that the weight of the evidence is that prayer is ineffective, and that therefore belief in prayer should be discouraged rather than encouraged. Opinion about prayer is a partisan question, there are people who support it and don't support it just like there are people who support and oppose belief in the Trinity, etc. The problem here is government taking sides on such a partisan question that do not directly address issues of governing, thereby implying that citizens who pray are preferred by our government over those citizens who oppose prayer. Re: "It's not like the thing becomes a law." There is an important difference between the observance of a day of prayer during the founding, and that we see today.. Since 1952, law does formalize the observance of the NDOP. While there is essentially no direct impact on anyone's liberty, and I am happy to ignore it, I am of the opinion that it violates the establishment clause. Finance Dissertation Help said... Speaking of the law, my son is the judge in this new NBC series. http://www.nbc.com/outlaw/ J.M. Shaw said... Here is the introduction of the FFRF v Obama decision: “The role that prayer should play in public life has been a matter of intense debate in this country since its founding. When the Continental Congress met for its inaugural session in September 1774, delegate Thomas Cushing proposed to open the session with a prayer. Delegates John Jay and John Rutledge (two future Chief Justices of the Supreme Court) objected to the proposal on the ground that the Congress was “so divided in religious Sentiments . . . that We could not join in the same Act of Worship.” Eventually, Samuel Adams convinced the other delegates to allow the reading of a psalm the following day. The debate continued during the constitutional Convention (which did not include prayer)and the terms of Presidents such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, each of whom held different views about public prayer under the establishment clause. It continues today.” But whether one is for or against a National Day of Prayer today has little or nothing to do with what the founders thought or did. For those who object, the problem stems from the legislative history of the bill. Judge Crabb’s ruling traced the history to a 1952 crusade/rally in Washington DC by the Rev. Billy Graham, in which he called for a national day of prayer and envisioned a "great spiritual awakening" for the capital with "thousands coming to Jesus Christ." Doesn’t that veer towards "establishment”? It was introduced in the House the next day, then later in the Senate as a measure against the "corrosive forces of communism which seek simultaneously to destroy our democratic way of life and the faith in an Almighty God on which it is based." In 1988, at the urging of Campus Crusade for Christ and the National Day of Prayer committee, Congress enacted legislation requiring the president to issue an annual proclamation declaring the first Thursday in May as National Prayer Day. The anti-communist (anti-atheist) role of evangelical Christians in the creation of the law and the shaping of the annual proclamations has raised concern among many non-Christians, according to a litany of cases cited in Crabb's ruling. What happened to “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof?” Congress has no constitutional role or authority to “make” such a law. Recall Jefferson’s aphorism: “We may consider each generation as a distinct nation, with a right, by the will of its majority, to bind themselves, but none to bind the succeeding generation, more than the inhabitants of another country.” Yes one can trace prayers in Congress or presidential proclamations dating to before and after 1787. But why should Americans today be subjected to a law derived from Congress’s emotive anti-communist grand-standing during the 1950s and the “third great awakening” of the 1980s? It’s a good example of yours and Jesus’s invocation of "Thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men… .” Gordon Wood on the Current Christian Nation Contro... Ronald Reagan Occultist and Sorcerer! Happy 2nd Birthday, American Creation!!! The Lillback Roll Christianity, Liberalism, Lillback, Beck and Ironi... Peter Lillback on Glenn Beck on Social Justice Cross Culture on Peter Lillback's "History" One More From Hart on Lillback and Beck Darryl G. Hart on If George Washington Gets A Pass... Darryl G. Hart on Lillback on Machen on Beck The Immanent Frame on Lillback and Beck John Locke on "Christian-Deism" The Profound Ignorance in Respect to Our Founding ... Book review: First in Peace by Conor Cruise O'Bri... Quote of the day from the Founders: on the purpos... Slave Perks at Washington's Philadelphia Executive... Glenn Beck and GW's "Sacred Fire" Washington's Sacred Fire: A Surprise Hit? Harry V. Jaffa on Bloom's "Closing" The foundation of education in a republic John Fea on Romans 13, American Creation and Steve... The Universalists On Elihu Palmer George Washington, David Barton and Unitarianism THE EPISCOPALIANS "Rational Christianity": A Contribution of Medieva... William Livingston on New Jersey View on Religion ... The Rutherford Challenge William Livingston February 18, 1778 William Livingston, Cato, February 4, 1778 Interesting "Christian Nation" Debate Lieberman, Beck, and Inalienable Rights Romans 13 Is Really Beside the Point William Livingston on Church State Separation Rothbard on Bailyn on Trenchard and Gordon Locke, Ponet, and the Universal Law Joseph J. Ellis: When Historians Attack Rev. Jeremiah Leaming to Bishop William White II: ... On the futility of persecution in politics Dr. Priestley is at the Bottom of the Plan Joseph Priestley to Theophilus Lindsey on Jefferso... Adam Smith and the Founders Book review: The Intellectual Origins of Jefferso... What Was Enlightenment About America's Founding Good Article on Calvinist Resistance Theory What was the Declaration of Independence? Lets Stay On Topic Why John Adams is important Some Footnotes on Frazer v. KOI on the Absolutenes... King Of Ireland, The Problem of Othniel, and Bibli... Book review: The Americanization of Benjamin Fran... Calvin, Interposition, and "the Problem of Othniel...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1885
__label__cc	0.731177	0.268823	Burnout is a medical condition and must be addressed to avoid long-term health impacts: HCFI May 28, 2019 Health Care, Heart Care Foundation of India, Medicine Comments Off Work-related stress can even lead to heart diseases New Delhi, 28th May 2019: The WHO has for the first time recognized ‘burn-out’ in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD) which is widely used as a benchmark for diagnosis and health insurers. The decision could help put to rest decades of debate among experts over how to define burn-out, and whether it should be considered a medical condition. The WHO defines burn-out as ‘a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed’. It is characterized by three things: ‘feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy. The need of the hour is to raise awareness on managing stress through lifestyle changes and balance. Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr KK Aggarwal, President, HCFI, said, “Burnouts due to work-related stress are becoming increasingly common especially in the corporate sector. While some workplace stress is normal, an excess of it can interfere with an individual’s productivity and performance, impact their physical and emotional health, and affect their relationships and home life. It can even mean the difference between success and failure on the job. Job stress also raises the risk of heart disease by disrupting the body’s internal systems. Stressed workers tend to eat unhealthy, smoke, drink and skip exercise – all behaviors that are linked to heart disease. Conflicting priorities between work and home have a negative effect on mental health as well.” Some signs and symptoms of excessive workplace stress include anxiety, irritability, depression, loss of interest, insomnia and other sleep disorders, fatigue, trouble concentrating, muscle tension or headaches, stomach problems, social withdrawal, loss of sex drive, and substance abuse. Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, who is also the Group Editor-in-Chief of IJCP, said, “While lifestyle changes and balance are important, we can take few lessons from Lord Ganesha, who can be termed as the stress management guru. If Lord Krishna was the first counselor who taught the principles of counseling, Lord Ganesha taught us the principles of stress management. We should worship Lord Ganesha and become like him whenever we face any difficulty or are stressed out.” There are some precautions and tips one can follow to manage workplace stress and prevent burn out. Form positive relationships and take your colleagues into confidence when you feel a task is getting out of hand. Start your day by eating a healthy and filling breakfast. This will not only help you concentrate but also ensure that you stay away from stress. Get enough sleep and do not let work seep into your sleep time. Make sure you go to sleep around the same time every day. Get about 30 minutes of physical activity every day. This will release endorphins, feel-good hormones that can help uplift your mood. · Prioritize and organize your work. This will ensure that you avoid any backlogs that can spill on to your leisure time. Drug Formulations: Banking on Brands May 28, 2019 Health Care Comments Off Reproduced from: http://www.indialegallive.com/health/drug-formulations-banking-on-brands-65964, published May 26, 2019 Retaining the brand name in a new formulation is misleading and harmful for patients and state drug controllers can crack down on companies which do so The central government has ordered state drug controllers not to allow pharma companies to market drug formulations in which the composition has been tweaked while retaining the old brand name. With this in place, certain companies will not be allowed to retain the brand name in medicines that have undergone a change in raw material or active pharmaceutical ingredient. Hopefully, this will not apply with retrospective effect as a new law ought to be prospective, not retrospective. Article 20 (1) protects individuals against ex post facto legislation and says that no person can be convicted for an offence that was committed before the enactment of the law. This immunity is only limited to criminal proceedings. However, it does not prohibit a civil liability retrospectively, i.e. with effect from a past date. So, a tax can be imposed retrospectively. The Union health ministry on September 12, 2018, banned about 328 FDCs (fixed-dose combination drugs) after an expert panel was formed under the chairmanship of Dr Nilima Kshirsagar, professor of clinical pharmacology at GS Medical College, KEM Hospital, Mumbai. The panel had to review the safety, efficacy and therapeutic justification of these drugs and found them “irrational”. Citing safety issues and lack of therapeutic justification, it recommended the ban which includes painkillers and anti-diabetic, respiratory and gastro-intestinal medicines. Over 6,000 brand names were banned. Many companies which had created a known brand lost their market share overnight and had to create new brands with new preparations. Take one example. Codeine-containing cough medicine was banned in India from March 14, 2016. Pfizer Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of US-based drug maker Pfizer Inc., discontinued the cough syrup Corex (codeine plus chlorpheniramine maleate) in its then form, changed the composition but decided to retain the brand name for its future respiratory products. The new formulation is now called Corex T (codeine plus triprolidine). It is being marketed for dry cough. Since February 1, 2018, all over-the-counter (non-prescription) codeine-containing medicines for pain relief, cough and colds can be bought by prescription only. Retaining the brand name in a new formulation where an ingredient has been tweaked is misleading and harmful for patients. The issue had been discussed for years now and was deliberated in several drugs consultative committee meetings since 2008. The expert panel was of the view that medicines where the ingredient is tweaked by companies but the brand name retained is “not only misleading, but may result in undesirable pharmacological effects” as the consumer would take the formulation, assuming it was the earlier composition. This is especially so in India where even scheduled medicines can be bought without prescriptions. Even Section 200 of the IPC (using as true such declaration knowing it to be false) and Section 415 (cheating, deceiving, fraudulently or dishonestly) may become applicable in such cases. The Supreme Court had held almost 18 years ago in Cadila Health Care Ltd vs Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd that there ought to be some coordination between the trademark registry and drug authorities. In this case, the Court had observed that “drugs are poisons, not sweets”. Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and state FDAs are vested with powers to supervise and overlook the manufacture and sale of drugs. Sections 17 and 17A of the DC Act deal with misbranded and adulterated drugs. Central and state governments are empowered to appoint inspectors who have vast powers as stipulated under Section 22. The High Court of Delhi in the matter of M/s Curewell Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd & Anr vs Ridley Sciences Pvt Ltd had issued an order on August 14, 2018, that the DCGI and state FDAs ought to implement an action plan in which drugs with identical or near identical brand names or marks are not given licences so as to ensure that no confusion is created among doctors, chemists and patients. Though the context in this case was different, the spirit of the judgment was not to create any confusion in the minds of people when it comes to brands. The Supreme Court in the Cadila Health Care case had said: “Keeping in view the provisions of Section 17-B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which inter alia indicates that an imitation or resemblance of another drug… likely to deceive being regarded as a spurious drug it is but proper that before granting permission to manufacture a drug under a brand name the authority under that Act is satisfied that there will be no confusion or deception in the market. The authorities should consider requiring such an applicant to submit an official search report from the Trade Mark Office pertaining to the trade mark in question which will enable the Drug Authority to arrive at a correct conclusion.” Subsequently, in compliance with the order of the Delhi High Court, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of additional secretary and Director General (Central Government Health Scheme), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on November 13, 2018. At the meeting, it was discussed that the brand name/trade name in the case of pharmaceuticals is neither controlled by the licensing authority under the Drugs and Cosmetic Act nor the trademarks office at present. This allows scope for having the same trade names for different drugs manufactured and sold. Thus, the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945, may be amended to include provisions for regulating brand names/trade names by central and state licensing authorities. The Drugs Technical Advisory Board after detailed deliberation recommended devising a mechanism under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, to include provisions for regulating the brand names/trade names of pharmaceutical products. With no system in India for the DCGI to inform every doctor about this, confusion is sure to persist. As for companies, they prefer using popular brand names for new products containing different ingredients as it is easier to market them. Also, they would have spent a lot of money in building that brand name. As long as the name is for the same indication and the company ensures safety by making a rational combination, it can justify it. Of course, extensive communication and information to every healthcare provider should be given. Similarly, a name change of a drug under these circumstances should be communicated on a one-to-one basis to every doctor and not by an advertisement. This seems a difficult task as even the MCI does not have the records of all practising doctors in India. All possible efforts should be made to avoid mistakes with brand names. Prescription errors are the number one cause of medical errors in the country.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1888
__label__wiki	0.671934	0.671934	Posted by Bijay Raut on April 26, 2010 at 2:57am The original text of Yogananda's classic introduction to Eastern mysticism. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. "In the original edition, coming from the period of Yogananda's life, one is more in contact with Yogananda himself. It is prior to his institutionalization that often follows many great personalities once they have passed on. While Yogananda founded centers and organizations, his concern was more with guiding individuals to direct communion with Divinity rather than with promoting any one church as opposed to another. This spirit is easier to grasp in the original edition of this great spiritual and yogic classic." -- David Frawley, Director, American Institute of Vedic Studies Designated One of the 100 Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th century, here is a verbatim reprinting of the 1946 first edition, with all its inherent power intact.Read about real-life saints and masters, how yogis perform miracles, the science of kriya yoga, and much more. Autobiography of a Yogi is not an ordinary book. It is a spiritual treasure. To read its message of hope to all truthseekers, is to begin a great adventure. This is a verbatim reprinting of the original, 1946 edition of "Autobiography of a Yogi". Although subsequent printings, reflecting revisions made after the author's death in 1952, have sold over a million copies and have been translated into more than 19 languages, the few thousand of the original have long since disappeared into the hands of collectors. Now, with this reprint, the 1946 edition is again available, with all its inherent power, just as the great master of yoga first presented it. Editions past the third have been prepared since the author's passing in 1952. In 1953, Self-Realization Fellowship, acquired the rights to "Autobiography of a Yogi" from Philosophical Library; it has been the publisher of all subsequent editions, until this original reprint put out by Crystal Clarity, Publishers. In order to be faithful to the original edition, we have not corrected errors of spelling, grammar, or punctuation. By W. Y. Evans-Wentz, M.A., D.Litt., D.Sc. Jesus College, Oxford; Author of The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Tibet's Great Yogi Milarepa, Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines, etc. The value of Yogananda's Autobiography is greatly enhanced by the fact that it is one of the few books in English about the wise men of India which has been written, not by a journalist or foreigner, but by one of their own race and training--in short, a book about yogis by a yogi. As an eyewitness recountal of the extraordinary lives and powers of modern Hindu saints, the book has importance both timely and timeless. To its illustrious author, whom I have had the pleasure of knowing both in India and America, may every reader render due appreciation and gratitude. His unusual life-document is certainly one of the most revealing of the depths of the Hindu mind and heart, and of the spiritual wealth of India, ever to be published in the West. It has been my privilege to have met one of the sages whose life-history is herein narrated-Sri Yukteswar Giri. A likeness of the venerable saint appeared as part of the frontispiece of my Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines(1). It was at Puri, in Orissa, on the Bay of Bengal, that I encountered Sri Yukteswar. He was then the head of a quiet ashrama near the seashore there, and was chiefly occupied in the spiritual training of a group of youthful disciples. He expressed keen interest in the welfare of the people of the United States and of all the Americas, and of England, too, and questioned me concerning the distant activities, particularly those in California, of his chief disciple, Paramhansa Yogananda, whom he dearly loved, and whom he had sent, in 1920, as his emissary to the West. Sri Yukteswar was of gentle mien and voice, of pleasing presence, and worthy of the veneration which his followers spontaneously accorded to him. Every person who knew him, whether of his own community or not, held him in the highest esteem. I vividly recall his tall, straight, ascetic figure, garbed in the saffron-colored garb of one who has renounced worldly quests, as he stood at the entrance of the hermitage to give me welcome. His hair was long and somewhat curly, and his face bearded. His body was muscularly firm, but slender and well-formed, and his step energetic. He had chosen as his place of earthly abode the holy city of Puri, whither multitudes of pious Hindus, representative of every province of India, come daily on pilgrimage to the famed Temple of Jagannath, "Lord of the World." It was at Puri that Sri Yukteswar closed his mortal eyes, in 1936, to the scenes of this transitory state of being and passed on, knowing that his incarnation had been carried to a triumphant completion. I am glad, indeed, to be able to record this testimony to the high character and holiness of Sri Yukteswar. Content to remain afar from the multitude, he gave himself unreservedly and in tranquillity to that ideal life which Paramhansa Yogananda, his disciple, has now described for the ages W. Y. EVANS-WENTZ (1) Oxford University Press, 1935. Copyright © 1946 Paramhansa Yogananda --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. From the Inside Flap THIS is the first time that an authentic Hindu yogi has written his life story for a Western audience. Describing in vivid detail his many years of spiritual training under a Christlike master--Sri Yukteswar of Serampore, Bengal--Yogananda has here revealed a fascinating and little-known phase of modern India. The subtle but definite laws by which yogis perform miracles and attain complete self-mastery are explained with a scientific clarity. There are colorful chapters on the author's visits to Mahatma Gandhi, Sir Jagadis Chandra Bose, and Rabindranath Tagore. The section dealing with Yogananda'sWestern experiences includes a chapter on his great friend, Luther Burbank, and an account of the author's pilgrimage to Bavaria in 1935 to meet Therese Neumann, the amazing Catholic stigmatist. After establishing a high school with yoga training at Ranchi, India, Yogananda came to America in 1920 as the Indian delegate to the International Congress of Religious Liberals. He has lectured extensively in the United States and abroad, and is the founder of a Yoga Institute at Encinitas, California. Yogananda is a graduate of Calcutta University; he writes not only with unforgettable sincerity but with an incisive wit. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. From the Back Cover What you hold in your hand is not an ordinary book. It is a spiritual treasure. To read its message of hope is to begin a great adventure. Paramhansa Yogananda was the first yoga master of India whose mission it was to live and teach in the West. In the 1920s, enthusiastic audiences filled the largest halls in America to hear him speak. His initial impact was truly impressive. But his lasting influence is greater still. This book, first published in 1946, helped launch, and continues to inspire, a spiritual revolution in the West. Only rarely does a sage of Paramhansa Yogananda's stature write a firsthand account of his life experiences. Followers of many religious traditions have come to recognize Autobiography of a Yogi as a masterpiece of spiritual literature. Yet, for all its depth, it is full of gentle humor, lively stories, and practical common sense. This is a verbatim reprinting of the original edition, nowalso with previously unreleased bonus materials. This is the only available edition that contains: The original, unedited text, as written by Yogananda himself, free from posthumous changes introduced by others The final chapter, written five years after this edition was first published, presented free from all changes made afterYogananda's death *An all-new foreword and afterword, written by Swami Kriyananda, one of Yogananda's best-known direct disciples --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. Paramhansa Yogananda (often misspelled 'Paramahansa' Yogananda) was born on January 5, 1893 in Gorakhpur, India. He was the first yoga master of India to permanently live and teach in the West. Yogananda arrived in America in 1920, and traveled throughout the United States on what he called his 'spiritual campaigns'. His enthusiastic audiences filled the largest halls in America. Hundreds of thousands came to see the yogi from India. At some packed venues thousands were turned away nightly. A national sensation, Yogananda's lectures and books were extensively written about by the major media of the era, including Time Magazine, Newsweek, and Life. He was even invited to the White House by President Calvin Coolidge. Yogananda continued to lecture and write up to his passing in 1952. Yogananda's initial impact was truly impressive. But his lasting impact has been even greater. Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi", first published in 1946, helped launch a spiritual revolution throughout the world. His message was nonsectarian and universal. Yogananda's Guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar, sent him to the West with the admonition, "The West is high in material attainments, but lacking in spiritual understanding. It is God's will that you play a role in teaching mankind the value of balancing the material with an inner, spiritual life." Yogananda brought clarity to hundreds of thousands of people regarding the ancient teachings of India - previously shrouded in the cultural assumptions and terminology of an era long past. These teachings include the path of Kriya Yoga, which Yogananda called the 'jet-airplane' route to God, consisting of ancient yoga techniques to hasten the spiritual evolution of the student. "The true basis of religion is not belief, but intuitive experience. Intuition is the soul's power of knowing God. To know what religion is really all about, one must know God," said Paramhansa Yogananda in the book "The Essence of Self-Realization". He further wrote that "Self- Realization is the knowing in all parts of body, mind, and soul that you are now in possession of the kingdom of God; that you do not have to pray that it come to you; that God's omnipresence is your omnipresence; and that all that you need to do is improve your knowing." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Chapter 26 The Science of Kriya Yoga The science of Kriya Yoga, mentioned so often in these pages, became widely known in modern India through the instrumentality of Lahiri Mahasaya, my guru's guru. The Sanskrit root of Kriya is kri, to do, to act and react; the same root is found in the word karma, the natural principle of cause and effect. Kriya Yoga is thus "union (yoga) with the Infinite through a certain action or rite." A yogi who faithfully follows its technique is gradually freed from karma or the universal chain of causation. Because of certain ancient yogic injunctions, I cannot give a full explanation of Kriya Yoga in the pages of a book intended for the general public. The actual technique must be learned from a Kriyaban or Kriya Yogi; here a broad reference must suffice. Kriya Yoga is a simple, psychophysiological method by which the human blood is decarbonized and recharged with oxygen. The atoms of this extra oxygen are transmuted into life current to rejuvenate the brain and spinal centers. By stopping the accumulation of venous blood, the yogi is able to lessen or prevent the decay of tissues; the advanced yogi transmutes his cells into pure energy. Elijah, Jesus, Kabir and other prophets were past masters in the use of Kriya or a similar technique, by which they caused their bodies to dematerialize at will. Kriya is an ancient science. Lahiri Mahasaya received it from his guru, Babaji, who rediscovered and clarified the technique after it had been lost in the Dark Ages. "The Kriya Yoga which I am giving to the world through you in this nineteenth century," Babaji told Lahiri Mahasaya, "is a revival of the same science which Krishna gave, millenniums ago, to Arjuna, and which was later known to Patanjali, and to Christ, St. John, St. Paul, and other disciples." Kriya Yoga is referred to by Krishna, India's greatest prophet, in a stanza of the Bhagavad Gita: "Offering inhaling breath into the outgoing breath, and offering the outgoing breath into the inhaling breath, the yogi neutralizes both these breaths; he thus releases the life force from the heart and brings it under his control." The interpretation is: "The yogi arrests decay in the body by an addition of life force, and arrests the mutations of growth in the body by apan (eliminating current). Thus neutralizing decay and growth, by quieting the heart, the yogi learns life control." Krishna also relates that it was he, in a former incarnation, who communicated the indestructible yoga to an ancient illuminato, Vivasvat, who gave it to Manu, the great legislator. He, in turn, instructed Ikshwaku, the father of India's solar warrior dynasty. Passing thus from one to another, the royal yoga was guarded by the rishis until the coming of the materialistic ages. Then, due to priestly secrecy and man's indifference, the sacred knowledge gradually became inaccessible. Kriya Yoga is mentioned twice by the ancient sage Patanjali, foremost exponent of yoga, who wrote: "Kriya Yoga consists of body discipline, mental control, and meditating on Aum." Patanjali speaks of God as the actual Cosmic Sound of Aum heard in meditation. Aum is the Creative Word, the sound of the Vibratory Motor. Even the yoga-beginner soon inwardly hears the wondrous sound of Aum. Receiving this blissful spiritual encouragement, the devotee becomes assured that he is in actual touch with divine realms. Patanjali refers a second time to the life-control or Kriya technique thus: "Liberation can be accomplished by that pranayama which is attained by disjoining the course of inspiration and expiration." St. Paul knew Kriya Yoga, or a technique very similar to it, by which he could switch life currents to and from the senses. He was therefore able to say: "Verily, I protest by our rejoicing which I have in Christ, I die daily." By daily withdrawing his bodily life force, he united it by yoga union with the rejoicing (eternal bliss) of the Christ consciousness. In that felicitous state, he was consciously aware of being dead to the delusive sensory world of maya. In the initial states of God-contact (sabikalpa samadhi) the devotee's consciousness merges with the Cosmic Spirit; his life force is withdrawn from the body, which appears "dead," or motionless and rigid. The yogi is fully aware of his bodily condition of suspended animation. As he progresses to higher spiritual states (nirbikalpa samadhi), however, he communes with God without bodily fixation, and in his ordinary waking consciousness, even in the midst of exacting worldly duties. "Kriya Yoga is an instrument through which human evolution can be quickened," Sri Yukteswar explained to his students. "The ancient yogis discovered that the secret of cosmic consciousness is intimately linked with breath mastery. This is India's unique and deathless contribution to the world's treasury of knowledge. The life force, which is ordinarily absorbed in maintaining the heart-pump, must be freed for higher activities by a method of calming and stilling the ceaseless demands of the breath." The Kriya Yogi mentally directs his life energy to revolve, upward and downward, around the six spinal centers (medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses) which correspond to the twelve astral signs of the zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. One-half minute of revolution of energy around the sensitive spinal cord of man effects subtle progress in his evolution; that half-minute of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual unfoldment. The astral system of a human being, with six (twelve by polarity) inner constellations revolving around the sun of the omniscient spiritual eye, is interrelated with the physical sun and the twelve zodiacal signs. All men are thus affected by an inner and an outer universe. The ancient rishis discovered that man's earthly and heavenly environment, in twelve-year cycles, push him forward on his natural path. The scriptures aver that man requires a million years of normal, diseaseless evolution to perfect his human brain sufficiently to express cosmic consciousness. You need to be a member of HigherCons to add comments! Join HigherCons	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1890
__label__wiki	0.696533	0.696533	Home » Interviews » Black Sheep interviews Elizabeth Olsen Black Sheep interviews Elizabeth Olsen Posted by Joseph Belanger on Oct 23, 2011 in Interviews \| 0 comments What’s in a name? In the festival circuit breakout, MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE, the heroine has four of them. Meanwhile, the actress who plays her has a name you’ve likely never heard before. With five films being released over the next year and mounting awards season buzz for her first though, you will know the name, Elizabeth Olsen, soon enough and you’ll be hearing it for a long time to follow as well. “I try not to think about things like momentum and trying to act fast while things are hot,” Olsen tells me, over the phone, after I suggest that things are indeed hot for her right now. “I’m just going to try to continue making choices based on script, character, project, who’s involved, rather than try to jump on some sort of momentum.” Olsen as Martha, Marcy May or Marlene Her choices thus far have been pretty sound or at least have the potential to be. Her upcoming projects include working with filmmakers like Bruce Beresford (DRIVING MISS DAISY), Rodrigo Cortes (BURIED) and Josh Radnor (Ted from How I Met your Mother). It is her breakout in MMMM (cool acronym, huh?), with first time feature filmmaker and now good friend, Sean Durkin though, that will serve as her ultimate unveiling. “Sean wanted to cast an unknown actress for Martha,” Olsen reveals. “He thought it was really important for the audience to see it without any baggage from someone’s prior work because it is such a specific story.” The story in question centers around Martha’s escape from a cult and her difficult integration back into the family she ran from. Her memories and her nightmares become intertwined, making for a unique and haunting film experience. (Read the 5-star Black Sheep review here.) Olsen with Oscar nominee, John Hawkes While It is true that people may not know her name, it is a stretch to suggest Olsen comes without baggage. Olsen is the younger sibling of infamous twin sisters, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. And while she may bear a distinct resemblance to them physically, it only takes about five minutes of watching her on screen to realize she is where she is right now based on the sheer magnitude of her talent and not her connections. This talent is the reason I chose not to discuss her sisters with her during our interview. It is also the reason that the possibility of an Oscar nod is being tossed around for her turn in MMMM. “First off, that’s just like so, it’s so hard for me to wrap my head around it because this is my first movie being released,” Olsen declares, clearly humbled and reluctantly excited by the possibility. “It’s so difficult for me to see that as part of my reality. For me, what I hope comes out of that mere buzz is more people will end up seeing the movie because of that.” Olsen with co-star, Sarah Paulson A significant audience would certainly vindicate the five week shoot, in which Olsen only had one day off and two weeks to prepare for, not to mention the dark places she had to visit in her mind to make Martha believable. “I have a pretty active imagination,” Olsen explains when I ask how she was so convincingly able to look like a shell of a human being on screen at times. “I just would put myself in situations, not like Martha’s situation, but more like something I could relate to, that would be more like a parallel. It makes the movie harder to watch because you remember the things that you were trying to figure out for yourself when you played those scenes.” It may be dark but MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE is nothing but a bright beginning for an exciting new actress with great promise. “At the end of the movie, I did feel sad to leave her behind but I also felt relieved,” Olsen confides, showing genuine conflict. Now many months later, there is no question of the pride she derived from the experience. “I truly believe it’s an original and different cinematic experience for modern day film. I don’t think a lot of films are made like this anymore and I hope people just come game to have a whole different type of experience watching a movie.”	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1897
__label__wiki	0.751407	0.751407	THOUGHTS OF THE DAY; OCTOBER 4, 2018 CUTTING THE HEAD OFF THE SNAKE – AGAIN Another week and the game plan for the 22nd-ranked Florida Gators (4-1, 2-1 SEC) will seem a lot like the one that worked so well last week when the Gators stopped Mississippi State, 13-7, in Starkville. It’s called cut the head off the snake and this week the snake is Joe Burrow, the Ohio State grad transfer quarterback who is the only QB in the country with wins over two top ten teams. The method of cutting the head off the snake will differ somewhat this week. Last week, UF had to make sure Nick Fitzgerald threw the football. Fitzgerald is a talented runner who was kept in containment and never could shake loose against the Gators. The Gators dared Fitzgerald to throw the ball downfield and he failed miserably, hitting only 11-26 of his passes for 98 yards (3.8 per attempt). Florida’s fierce pass rush got to Fitzgerald six times for 39 yards in losses. Burrow is a very good runner, but his strength is throwing the ball downfield. He’s good at getting outside the pocket and throwing on the move. Although he ran for 96 yards against Ole Miss last week, it marked the first time he had run for more than 22 yards in a game all season. Florida has to keep Burrow contained and prevent him from getting to the second level if he turns upfield. Small gains are acceptable but big ones are not. Burrow’s accuracy has been improving with each game and against Ole Miss he hit 18-25 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Ole Miss ranks 126th nationally in defense so it’s not like Burrow was actually challenged Throughout the season Burrow has shown that when he’s given time to throw he has a strong, accurate arm. What the Gators will have to do Saturday afternoon is mix up the pressure and get in Burrow’s face. The Gators have the speed off the edge in Jachai Polite (four sacks for -22 yards) and Jabari Zuniga (3.5 sacks for -36 yards) but defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has shown in the last three games (12 sacks for -90 yards in losses) that he will bring the blitz from anywhere at any time (Fitzgerald will hear the footsteps for years to come; just ask Donovan Stiner). Last year when he was at Mississippi State, Grantham’s all out blitzes turned LSU’s passing game very pedestrian – just 13-29 for 137 yards, a pitiful 4.7 yards per attempt). That’s a number Grantham would be happy to duplicate this year. For a number that matters in Saturday’s game, set it at 5.5 as in 5.5 or fewer yards per pass attempt. If the Gators can deliver that number they will stand a very good chance of cutting the head off the snake and coming away with the upset of unbeaten and 5th-ranked LSU (5-0, 2-0 SEC). ELSEWHERE IN THE SEC #1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) at Arkansas (1-4, 0-2 SEC): The question isn’t will Alabama win this game but by how much? The Crimson Tide is a 35-point favorite against the hapless Hogs and the over is 56 points. One player who won’t be suited up for the Crimson Tide is backup corner Daniel Wright. Nick Saban suspended him for a violation of team rules. Saban could suspend his starters on both sides of the ball and still win this game. Vanderbilt (3-2, 0-1 SEC) at #2 Georgia (5-0, 3-0 SEC): Three weeks ago Vanderbilt had Notre Dame on the ropes in South Bend. How could that same team get stomped by 23 by South Carolina in Nashville and barely beat a D1AA team in the two weeks since? If the Commodores play like they did in South Bend, they’ll still lose in Athens Saturday (Georgia is a 27-point favorite) but for the sake of the rest of the season, they need to make it a respectable whipping. The over is 54 points might be a little bit high but if Vandy plays like it did last week, the over will be reached by the third quarter. #8 Auburn (4-1, 1-1 SEC) at Mississippi State (3-2, 0-2 SEC): “It’s going to get better,” Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead said Monday, claiming the light at the end of the tunnel is “an opening, not an oncoming train.” The State folks might think it’s a train after Saturday evening. Auburn’s offense isn’t all that good but compared to what Moorhead puts on the field at MSU (19 points and 403 total yards in the last two losses combined) it’s the second coming of the point-a-minute teams Fielding “Hurry Up” Yost put on the field at Michigan from 1901-03. Auburn is a 4-point favorite in a game where there is a 41-1/2-point over. It’s hard to imagine Auburn failing to cover. #13 Kentucky (5-0, 3-0 SEC) at Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1 SEC): When we think of Bear Bryant, we think of Alabama but before he became the head coach in Tuscaloosa, Bear was the winningest coach (still is) in Kentucky history and had Texas A&M on the verge of a national championship. Maybe we should call Saturday’s matchup between Kentucky and the Aggies “The What Might Have Been if Bear Had Stayed Bowl.” Neither Kentucky nor Bama have been the same since. This game is also a reunion for Jimbo Fisher (A&M coach) and Mark Stoops (UK head coach). Stoops was an assistant for Fisher at FSU from 2010-12. The Aggies are 6-point favorites with an over of 50-1/2 points. Missouri (3-1, 0-1 SEC) at South Carolina (2-2, 1-2 SEC): Until he messed up a groin in the week three win over Purdue, Emanuel Hall had caught 18 passes for 430 yards and three TDs. He didn’t catch a pass in the loss against Georgia and if he still can’t go full speed – he will play against South Carolina but probably not at 100% — there’s no way the Tigers will be able to stretch the defense. Missouri is a 1-1/2-point favorite and the over is 63 points. The over is probably high because Will Muschamp is going to take the air out of the football. Louisiana-Monroe (2-3) at Ole Miss (3-2): File this one under who cares? Ole Miss is favored by 22-1/2 points and will probably win by at least five touchdowns but it’s a non-conference game against a team from the Sun Belt that has absolutely zero chance to stop those future NFL wideouts. Louisiana-Monroe will score a bunch of points, but a Pop Warner team could score on Ole Miss. COLLEGE FOOTBALL THIS WEEKEND: ESPN says nine teams still have a chance to make the College Football Playoff – Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Clemson, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Washington and Michigan. Funny, but the last time I checked, LSU is unbeaten and the Tigers not only have two top ten wins (Miami and Auburn) but they also play Georgia (at Tiger Stadium next week) and Alabama. And what about UCF? Can the playoff leave UCF out if the Knights are 12-0 with a 25-game winning streak? … The top ten coaches by salary per USA Today: 1. Nick Saban, Alabama $8,307,000; 2. Urban Meyer, Ohio State $7,600,000; 3. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan $7,504,000; 4. Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M $7,500,000; 5. Gus Malzahn, Auburn $6,700,000; 6. Kirby Smart, Georgia $6,603,600; 7. Dabo Swinney, Clemson $6,453,000; 8. Dan Mullen, Florida $6,070,000; 9. Tom Herman, Texas $5,500,000; 10. Scott Frost, Nebraska $5,000,000. Other SEC coaches and their rank: 21. Will Muschamp, South Carolina $4,200,000; 23. Mark Stoops, Kentucky $4,000,000; 26. Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee $3,846,000; 36. Chad Morris, Arkansas $3,500,000; 37. Ed Orgeron, LSU $3,500,000; 44. Matt Luke, Ole Miss $3,000,000; 46. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt $2,812,523; 49. Joe Moorhead, Mississippi State $2,600,000; 56. Barry Odom, Missouri $2,350,000 … The buyout for Jimbo is $68,125,000. It’s a mere $33,600,000 for Saban … If I’m an athletic director at a Power Five school starting to make a short list of potential new football coaches, the first three guys are: 1. Neal Brown, Troy; 2. Lane Kiffin, Florida Atlantic and 3. Seth Littrell, North Texas … True freshman running back Jermar Jefferson of Oregon State might be the best player you haven’t heard of. Playing for one of the worst teams in the country, Jefferson is 105-727 rushing for eight TDs. He lit up Arizona State for 254 yards and two TDs last week … Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald has thrown for 2,100 yards and 24 touchdowns through six games … Baylor has received a notice of allegations that include lack of institutional control from the NCAA. This is in the wake of a sexual assault scandal that caused the firing of football coach Art Briles and led to school president Kenneth Starr stepping down. COLLEGE HOOPS TRIAL: PLAYERS FOR SALE Oregon, which we typically equate with college football and Nike and not basketball recruiting, apparently is up to its wazzoo in trouble as the first of three trials involving corruption that could shake the college game to its very foundations. In her opening remarks to the jury in New York, defense attorney Casey Donnelly (represents former Adidas exec Jim Gatto) said that Oregon offered recruit Brian Bowen “an astronomical amount of money if he’s go to Oregon.” The attorney for co-defendant Merl Code, who is a former Adidas consultant, confirmed that Oregon was prepared to pay big bucks for Bowen. Bowen allegedly took $100,000 from Louisville, which was one of the events that led to the firing of former basketball coach Rick Pitino. Bowen ended up going to South Carolina but never played a minute. He turned pro in the spring and is now playing for a team in the Australian league. Prosecutors say there was an agreement to pay recruit Billy Preston $90,000 to go to Kansas (he never played a minute) and that Arizona was willing to pay $150,000 to land Nasir Little of Orlando Christian, who ended up going to North Carolina. North Carolina State is said to have paid $43,500 for point guard Dennis Scott Jr. According to documents revealed in court Wednesday, former runner/agent Christian Dawkins, one of three defendants in the New York trial and formerly connected to disgraced agent Andy Miller, paid former Alabama one-and-done Collin Sexton $5,000 plus $1,500 per month. Additionally, $21,000 was paid for his family to cover travel expenses and his brother got a four-year job that started at $35,000 with annual raises of $5,000. So far there is nothing that indicates if Alabama was aware of the payments to Sexton. Some other names that will be mentioned in the trial are Duke freshman Zion Williamson and Indiana freshman Romeo Langford. RANDOM THOUGHTS: Here we are just four weeks into the NFL season and there are only two unbeaten teams – Kansas City and Los Angeles Rams, both at 4-0. I think it’s safe to say that the Miami Dolphins of 1973 will remain the only team in NFL history to go unbeaten through an entire season … Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell will miss the first 40 games of the 2019 season for violating Major League Baseball’s sexual assault and child abuse policy … The Baltimore Orioles fired manager Buck Showalter after a season in which they lost 115 games. Showalter is a really good manager. It’s not his fault the Orioles organization has become as bad as there is in all of professional baseball … Kobe Bryant wants to become the king of smell good. He has unleashed his brand of deodorant, body wash and soap under the brand name Art of Sport … The New York Yankees won the American League wild card game Wednesday night, beating the Oakland Athletics, 7-2. The Yankees will face AL East champ Boston in the American League Divisional Series … Now that the Tour Championship has been settled and the Ryder Cup has been played, it’s time for the PGA Tour to crank up the new season with the Safeway Open played in Napa, California. The biggest name in the tournament is Phil Mickelson.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1898
__label__wiki	0.836662	0.836662	A Summary: “When Eight is Enough” Story by Darla Shelden on September 4, 2015 . Click on author name to view all articles by this author. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed. OKLAHOMA CITY – How many “true” stories does it take to execute an innocent man? Editor’s Note: On September 16, Richard E. Glossip is scheduled for execution for his purported role in a “murder-for-hire” plot in 1997. Glossip is currently on death row in Oklahoma waiting his execution. The case has drawn national, and lately international, attention. The following material, offered by Glossip’s advocates who are seeking either a stay in his execution or a 60-day or longer “stay” in carrying out the sentence – is self-explanatory. This summary is condensed from much longer document that breaks down what Don Knight – a well-known Colorado attorney who specializes in capital punishment cases — calls the “eight is enough” reasons to doubt Glossip’s guilt. Below is a transcript summary and commentary written by Richard E. Glossip’s Innocence Legal Defense team Don Knight, Kathleen Lord, and Mark Olive. With the execution of Richard Glossip rapidly approaching, many questions have been raised over why the jury reached the verdict it did. There was no physical evidence linking Richard to the crime. The conviction was based solely upon statements given to the police by Justin Sneed, the man who confessed to the murder of Barry Van Treese. In May 1998, on the eve of Mr. Glossip’s first trial, Mr. Sneed signed an agreement with the District Attorney that spared Mr. Sneed from his own death sentence in exchange for “truthful testimony” in Richard Glossip’s trial. However, a thorough search through the many conflicting statements made by Mr. Sneed since the day of his arrest makes it impossible to know the truth. This document presents for the first time, in comparison, at least eight very different stories told by Justin Sneed. These varying accounts were taken directly from the transcript of his interview with the police, the official court records of his testimonies in the two trials, and statements that he had made to family members since the date of his arrest. These stories highlight exactly how the justice system has failed Richard Glossip, how innocent people can be put to death, and why no one should ever be put to death based on the word of just one person. Story 1 – “I don’t really know what to say about it” When the interview with the police began, Justin Sneed stated he knew the manager of the Best Budget Inn as “Rich,” but he did not even know Richard Glossip’s last name. When first asked by Detectives Bemo and Cook about what happened at the Best Budget Inn on January 7, 1997, Sneed said that he really didn’t know what to say about the death of Barry Van Treese. He did recall that his brother Wes mentioned staging a robbery at one point to get money from Barry Van Treese, but “…it didn’t go no further than that.” Story 2 — “I didn’t kill Barry Van Treese” After being pressed by the detectives following his initial denial of any knowledge, Sneed’s story changed and he said affirmatively that he did not kill Barry Van Treese. He claimed he didn’t really know him and had only met him a few times. The detectives implied that they wouldn’t believe Sneed if he said he acted alone and that he had better give someone else up. For the first time in the interrogation they told Sneed that they had Richard Glossip in custody and “…he is putting this all on you.” Story 3 — “I just meant to knock him out” In this story Sneed described a plan to steal money from Van Treese and then how things went wrong once Sneed entered room 102. He admitted killing Van Treese but made it clear that he had no intention to do so. Sneed claimed that Richard told him Van Treese kept money in the car and that Richard would split the money with Sneed if Sneed took it from Barry’s car. Sneed then went on to state that he entered room 102 only with the intent to take Van Treese’s keys in order to take the money from 2 the car. Sneed stated he had no intent to kill Van Treese. However, as Sneed entered the room Van Treese unexpectedly woke up. Sneed stated he hit Van Treese only with the intent to knock him out but things got “out of control.” Sneed said how he got the keys from Barry’s pants which were on the couch, went to the car, took the money, and moved the car. He never explained to the police what plans, if any, he had to deal with Van Treese’s body. This lack of any plan, which runs through later versions, supports the fact that Sneed never planned to kill Barry Van Treese. Instead, he only planned to steal the money that was in the car. Story 4 – “Rich asked me to kill Barry, so he could run the motel.” In Story 4, Sneed created an entirely new scenario. He began by stating “Actually, Rich asked me to kill Barry, so he could run the motel.” According to Sneed, D. Anna, Richard’s girlfriend, was working in the office and saw Barry drive up at 3 a.m. Sneed claimed that Richard ran to Sneed’s room, woke him up, and told him to kill Barry in exchange for $7000 and some extra money on-the-side for renting rooms. Sneed claimed that after he beat Barry and took the money, he met with Richard and the two of them split the money. They both went into room 102 to see if Van Treese was dead and then moved the car to the bank parking lot. After hearing these various versions of the death of Barry Van Treese, detectives Bemo and Cook told Sneed that this story (number four) would help him avoid the death penalty. In addition, there is evidence now that the two detectives took Justin Sneed from the interview room and continued to talk with him about the case. These conversations were not recorded and there is no way to know what was said. However, it appears they used this unrecorded time to drive home the importance of story number four over all others. Sneed makes a deal to save his own life In May of 1998, shortly before the start of Richard Glossip’s first trial, Sneed made a deal with the prosecution that if he testified against Glossip he would not face the death penalty and would instead receive a life sentence without parole. This required him to give “truthful” testimony. Obviously, it would have to conform in some way to Story four for this to help him. The stories he has given since he made this agreement do contain some of the same threads as Story 4, but also add critical new information that, if true, would certainly have been remembered by Sneed, and told to Bemo and Cook, in Story four. For example, a plan to “melt” the body with Muriatic acid, or an order given by Richard to Sneed to kill Van Treese with a hammer months before the actual homicide, are not details one would easily forget when talking to the police. Story 5 — “Glossip told me to pick up trash bags, a hacksaw, and muriatic acid…” The fifth story was given by Sneed at the first trial in 1998. He testified that prior to the murder, Glossip approached Sneed “several times” with the idea to kill Barry Van Treese, but Sneed never asked him why. Sneed stated that he used methamphetamines several days before, but not the day of, the murder. When asked what he would get in exchange for killing Barry Van Treese he gave various answers, including: $7000; splitting $4000; the money was never on his mind as he was just going along; nothing really; and he could manage one of the motels that Barry owned. At trial Sneed also testified that Glossip woke him up (sometimes by phone, sometimes by knocking) at 3 a.m. and said words to the effect of “quick, go kill Barry” with a baseball bat which happened to be in Sneed’s room. Sneed claimed he then went to the Sinclair station across the street and purchased a coke and waited an hour before going into room 102 with a master key which he used as the motel maintenance man. He stated once he entered room 102, Van Treese woke up and, without saying anything, rushed him. Sneed testified that he hit Van Treese one time with the bat before Van Treese pushed into him. Sneed fell back into a chair and the bat struck and broke the window. Sneed said Van Treese then ran toward the door but Sneed was able to grab him from behind, trip him to the floor, and beat him to death. He claimed he then sat in the room with Barry, watching him take his last breaths, for 30 minutes. Sneed testified he left room 102 and later in the morning both he and Richard returned to see if Van Treese was dead and to tape a shower curtain over the inside of the broken window. They left the room and Glossip told Sneed where the money was in the car. Sneed said he moved the car while Richard went back to his own room. Sneed then called Richard on the phone to come back down to Sneed’s room and count the money. Instead of giving Sneed all the money, Sneed claimed that they split it because “I was never in it for the money.” Sneed stated Glossip then told him to go to the hardware store to buy Plexiglas to cover the outside of the broken window. In the meantime, Sneed said Richard returned to his own room to “take a nap” (despite the fact that there was a dead body in one of his motel rooms). Sneed testified that he waited until 8:30 a.m. before leaving to buy the Plexiglas and, for the first time, stated Richard also asked him to buy trash bags, a hacksaw, and muriatic acid. This information was not given to Detectives Bemo and Cook in Story four. Sneed claimed during this first trial testimony that the acid would be used to “melt” the body, the saw to cut it up, and the trash bags to carry it away. Sneed claimed that even with all of this going on at the motel, Glossip was able to sleep until noon and then go to Walmart with his girlfriend. Sneed stated that the police came to the motel while Richard was away and, once he returned from Walmart, Richard told him twice to leave the motel. Sneed then stated that the tumbler from the doorknob of room 102 was missing and explained that it fell out as he tried to break the key off in the lock to prevent anyone from entering the room that had a key. This was another new fact Sneed had not mentioned. Story 6 — “Now is the time to do it, take the hammer and do it” The second trial took place in 2004. Sneed testified to a great many new “details” which he did not tell Bemo and Cook about in Story four or the jury in the first trial. The transcripts do not say why this is, but they do show the new prosecutor on the case met with Sneed and discussed his testimony at least twice in advance of the trial. This sixth story began with Sneed stating that he could have gone back to live with his mother or his stepfather if things did not work out at the motel. It also said that, on the morning after the murder, Sneed went back to work for a roofing company making $500.00 per week and living in an apartment. His old roofing crew was within walking distance of the Best Budget Inn and he knew right where to find them. Despite these many options, Sneed swore that he had nowhere to go if he were thrown out of the motel and so he had no option but to kill Barry Van Treese at Glossip’s behest. Sneed testified that in the late summer of 1997 he quit working for the roofing company and lived at the Best Budget Inn where he hustled money for drugs. He stated that he used methamphetamine regularly, but claimed the last time he used the drug was the day before Christmas, not just two days before his crime as he previously testified. He claimed that Glossip came to him joking about pulling off a robbery as early as September 1996. He said that Richard wanted to run both motels owned by Barry Van Treese, and said he could con Van Treese’s widow into letting him do it if Van Treese were dead. According to Sneed, the robbery discussions eventually turned to doing a “hit” on Barry. Sneed stated that he was promised various things, including at different times in the testimony: $3500; $5000; $10,000; money from rooms rented on the side; $10,000 again; all the money; half the money; and finally to split around $4000.00 with Richard. Just like in Story five, Sneed added critical new details which he did not give to Bemo and Cook, or to the jury in the first trial. In this version Sneed stated that “sometime in November” Barry Van Treese was working with Sneed and Glossip in the “boiler room” at the motel, attempting to fix the wiring for a cable TV. Sneed testified that, at a point when Van Treese was crouched down close to the floor, Richard suddenly told Sneed to kill Van Treese with a hammer that happened to be nearby. “Now is the time to do it, take the hammer and do it.” However, Sneed testified that he decided not to do so. He gave no explanation for why he could resist Mr. Glossip’s orders in November but apparently not in January. In the second trial Sneed also testified that prior to January 7, 1997, and despite Richard’s supposed near constant talk with Sneed about killing Van Treese, Sneed decided not to because he did not take the talk seriously. However, in the early morning hours of January 7th, when Richard came into his room insisting that he kill Van Treese, Sneed inexplicably felt he had no choice but to follow these orders simply because of the way Richard “raised his voice.” In this testimony, Sneed also added another new wrinkle told for the first time. He stated that during the fight with Van Treese he took a pocket knife out of his back pocket, had time to open the knife using both hands (he is not clear where the baseball bat was at this point in time), and then stabbed Van Treese with the knife one time in the chest before losing control of the knife. When previously asked by both the police and the prosecutor whether he had stabbed Van Treese during the altercation, Sneed denied that he stabbed Barry Van Treese. Sneed also testified for the first time that, following the murder, Richard entered room 102 and took a $100 bill out of Barry’s wallet. He continued that Richard then told Sneed to move the car and take the money from under the seat. Sneed stated that they later met in his room where Richard told Sneed that instead of Sneed getting all the money they would split it. Sneed stated he didn’t mind as “he just didn’t have any argument against it.” Story six contains many statements made by Sneed that he was never given an overall plan by Richard Glossip as to how the homicide or the clean-up was supposed to go. Instead, he testified that he was very suddenly told to kill Van Treese with the bat and then to return to Glossip for further instructions. He stated that Glossip then told him what to do next and, after he completed each separate act, Sneed stated that he simply returned to Richard for further orders. Story 7 — “There actually was a plan” In the second trial Sneed testified that, after he left the police station with Bemo and Cook, he told the detectives that Richard actually did have a plan and apparently told Sneed about it. He said the plan was for Sneed to kill Van Treese, and that Richard agreed it was his (Richard’s) job to clean up the room after the homicide. However, according to Sneed, he told the police that Richard didn’t do a very good job with his end of the bargain. There is no way to know what other things he may have told the police after the tape was turned off, and what information about the case the detectives may have given to Sneed as they continued the conversation. Story 8 — “How high up does this go?” In August 2015, an investigator working for Mr. Glossip’s defense team talked with Justin Sneed’s mother. In this interview, his mother stated that in January 1997, just a few days after he was arrested, Justin Sneed wrote a letter to her from the jail. In this letter to his mother Justin talked about being involved in the murder and that there were others involved as well. According to his mother, Justin wrote in the letter, “You won’t believe who!” His mother told the investigator that in the letter Justin made it sound like there were really powerful and important people involved in this crime and that his mother wondered at the time, “How high up does this go?” His mother told the investigator that she continues to believe there were other people involved in the murder. Anyone who has any information regarding this case can contact Don Knight at don@dknightlaw.com or 303/797-1645. Read the original documents here: When Eight is Enough – How many “true” stories does it take to execute an innocent man? – The transcribed statements of Justin Sneed. A Supplement and Summary to “When Eight is Enough” Richard Glossip’s Legal Team Member, Don Knight speaks at a press conference at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Photo by Mark E. Sine	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1900
__label__wiki	0.531782	0.531782	Interview with Heidi Wyle The celebrated author talks about the background to her forthcoming book A helicopter flies over Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003. Seven students from Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School in Alberta were killed on Saturday Feb. 1 when they were struck by an avalanche. (Photo: Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward) By Aaron Kylie Photo: A helicopter flies over Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003. Seven students from Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School in Alberta were killed on Saturday Feb. 1 when they were struck by an avalanche. (Photo: Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward) Author Heidi Wyle Seven students from Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School in Okotoks, Alta., were killed in an avalanche near British Columbia’s Rogers Pass in 2003, a disaster that shook the country and improved winter backcountry safety and public information about avalanche risks. Here, writer and mountaineer Heidi R. Wyle discusses the tragedy and its outcomes based on research from her in-progress book about the avalanche, Live Big! How did you get so engaged with this tragedy? I love the land, and it has always called me. That connection is particularly strong around Canmore, Alta., where I own a home. I went up there to backpack the Skyline Trail one year, and although I literally threw my hiking boots in the trash can when we got off it, that was it, I was addicted. I went back and did Yamnuska’s Intro to Mountaineering, and although I felt like I was going to die, I got really into it. I became deeply connected to Canmore’s mountaineering community through years of trips with guides. And this tragedy permeated the guiding community. When it happened, there were a lot of guides in the area on their day off, skiing or ice climbing or whatever, and others were working heli-ski guiding or ski patrolling. Hearing the helicopters, many of them made a beeline for the Rogers Pass Parks compound. I knew a lot of them. The whole community was wounded. When guides were together, they would talk about this accident. I climbed Assiniboine one summer, and the three guides spent most of the evening in typical guide talk about the accident, dissecting every detail over and over. That went on for years. And for everybody who goes into the backcountry, especially those with children, it was such a sucker-punch kick in the gut. I had been stewing in that soup of activity with guides for a couple of years, and one day as I was coming down Ha Ling — and honestly, I know this sounds a little nuts — the idea of writing that history hit me like a lightening bolt. Having spent years working on this project, did you develop close relationships with sources? Yes. First of all, most of the East Coast sees this story from the perspective of the urban school and the parents. I do too; I am one of those. But I saw it from the guiding-community perspective as well. I had been steeped in it. The first person I called was Dave Stark [director of operations at Yamnuska Mountain Adventures]. Dave is a dear friend. And he’s extremely well respected. Our mutual friend, Grant Statham, was the guide who was hired as a result of this accident by Parks Canada. Grant was the guy who actually did all the work to create the changes with Alan Latourelle [then CEO of Parks Canada]. I called Grant, and the rest of it just unfolded because Grant knew and trusted me. I had the trust of the mountaineers, and so people actually talked to me. You must have unearthed some difficult memories? I saw many grizzled men cry about this story. These guys have seen every horrible thing. People’s limbs pulled off, and these guys do the rescue. Bad falls, these guys show up. You can imagine what they see. And they cried over this because it was children. So I made a lot of relationships that are very deep, and I was not prepared professionally to know what to do with what ended up coming at me. It was pretty painful. It took me a while to try to figure out how to manage my own self when people were unloading to me the trauma that broke them. I’ve had psychiatrists tell me that I just jumped in where angels fear to tread, and that angels fear to tread there for a reason. Do you have an example of a particularly difficult moment? I can’t tell you the worst ones. What I can tell you, is one of the leading rescuers, who was at the time widely considered the world expert in avalanches, and is as tough a man as they get, at one point broke down and cried. For him the issue was that he was responsible. He spent his entire career, his life, trying to keep that area safe for the people who came into it, and trying to get them out of trouble when they fell into it. And under this guy’s watch — not really, but, he felt it — seven children died. And he dug them out. Did you encounter any surprises during your research? Everything was a surprise. There were terrible surprises. It’s likely one kid was dug up alive. The guy who dug him up, and this is in the book, believes that he felt the kid’s hand squeeze his hand. They worked on him and worked on him and worked on him, but he died. And that’s a terrible thing, because then they feel guilty they couldn’t save him when they actually dug him up alive. And the parents had the idea that their son had been killed instantly instead of being under the snow for an hour. I actually told the parents because I felt I had to. I have two children. How do you feel about the changes made related to backcountry safety as a result of this tragedy? Courage out of tragedy creating enormous good for the world — to me this is the point. Certainly there’s always more you can do, but Parks did an amazing job creating “never again.” They invented world-leading avalanche risk technology and got regulation built in 18 months. And it’s lasted; avalanche deaths plummeted as a result of their work. I’ve thought long about the courage of the families, in particular Donna Broshko [her son Scott died] and Judith and Peter Arato [their son Daniel died], and what it took for them to stand up to the world and demand change. It is virtually impossible to do what they did. Those parents got the world to listen to them. And I think they made really great change. That’s why I wrote the book.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1905
__label__wiki	0.832705	0.832705	CBG #1697: Happy Birthday, Stan! Posted by Captain Comics on February 12, 2013 at 9:59am When writing about a legend like Stan Lee, one whose career is as long as the history of comics, you have to narrow the focus to just a few of The Man’s many accomplishments. For that I turned to Legion of Superfluous Heroes and asked for what they remember most fondly about Lee’s contributions to planet Earth. Their answers, as usual, were both surprising and satisfying. “I thought he was a cute kid.” Joe Simon, who gave Lee his first published assignment, a text piece for Captain America Comics #3 (Joe Simon: My Life in Comics, pp. 108-109) Everyone knows the general legend of Stan Lee. How Stanley Martin Lieber was hired as Joe Simon’s assistant at Timely Comics by Publisher Martin Goodman, who was related in some distant fashion. How he used the pen name “Stan Lee” for comics, saving his real name for the Great American Novel he planned to write someday. (And how he later legally changed his name to Stan Lee, once it became apparent that his comics work had contributed more to popular culture than any novel ever could.) What might be less well known is Lee’s experience during the darkest days of the 1950s, after the Comics Code of 1954 had eviscerated the industry, and Goodman compounded the problem in 1957 by dissolving the Atlas distribution company and signing on with another one – which promptly went out of business. Goodman was forced to sign with the distributor owned by arch-rival National Comics (now DC), which only allowed the publisher-formerly-known-as-Atlas eight books a month. Goodman told Lee to fire everyone, since there wasn’t even freelance work available. This shook the affable Lee, who was sickened by what he had to do. “Those were black days for me,” Lee said in his autobiography, Excelsior: The Amazing Life of Stan Lee. “Not only had I worked closely with all of our staff writers and artists, but I considered most of them personal friends. I knew their families. We often went out together socially. And suddenly I was the one who had to give them the bad news.” Things would quickly improve. “Under the name Stan Lee he would become the most famous writer and editor in the history of comic books.” Les Daniels (Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World’s Greatest Comics, p. 41) After darkness, the dawn. The Silver Age of Comics, which Lee himself had a big hand in creating, arrived. Prompted by the big superhero revival at DC Comics, Lee collaborated with some of his favorite artists from the 1950s (Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko) to co-create the pantheon of super-heroes that were – and are – the beating heart of the company he re-named Marvel Comics in the early 1960s. That incredible explosion of energy is probably what Lee, Kirby, and Ditko are most famous for – or infamous for, given some of the ongoing controversies about who created what – but one thing it allowed Lee to do was re-hire some of those he’d had to fire in the 1950s. Lee’s compassion impressed a number of Legionnaires. “He rescued Gene Colan, John Romita, and John Buscema from comic-book limbo and gave each the opportunity to shine as artist and storyteller,” wrote Doc Photo of Rochester, Mich. “Around that same period … he also opened the door for an unknown artist named Jim Steranko, allowing him to pencil, ink, color, and write an entire series.” Lee’s editorial instincts brought to prominence many other important creators, like Sal Buscema, Roy Thomas, and Barry Windsor-Smith. In fact, Lee’s editorial skills were a hot topic among Legionnaires, separate from his writing. “With due respect to Kirby, Ditko and others, Marvel’s rise would not have happened without Stan’s supervision and his editorial skills,” wrote George Poague of Murfreesboro, Tenn. “None of the artists could have managed an entire line of comics (or dealt with Martin Goodman without losing their minds). And no writer of the ‘60s was in tune with the changing times like Stan was.” Not that Lee had any deficiencies as a writer. When he was scribing the entire Marvel line, he developed the “Marvel method” of writing, in which the artist handled much of the story from a plotting session, then the writer added the dialogue. Some feel that as a result Marvel’s artists didn’t get enough credit as writers or co-plotters, but regardless, nobody could miss Lee’s style – chummy, enthusiastic, humanistic, romantic, even occasionally maudlin. Rich Steeves of Bridgeport, Conn., even says the ‘Marvel Method’ may have contributed to how good the stories were, by giving the artist more room to contribute. His success “had a lot to do was his ability to keep all the artists working at the top of their game.” But most Legionnaires enjoyed Lee’s writing for its own sake. “For Stan at his most entertaining, read Iron Man or Daredevil, especially the issues drawn by Gene Colan,” Poague said. “I.M. was a bit more dramatic, but DD was sheer, buoyant fun. … Under Lee and Colan, DD was an offbeat mixture of soap opera, situation comedy and super-hero adventure.” “He was also always good at natural free-flowing dialogue that made others (particularly DC writers) sound stilted,” agreed Dandy Forsdyke of London. “His speeches and captions literally ‘sing’ from the pages. No one tops him, even today.” While Lee’s enthusiastic style was so infectious, it might not have mattered if the stories weren’t any good … but they were. Among the most popular on my website – and fans in general – is the done-in-one from Fantastic Four #51 (Jun 66) titled “This Man, This Monster.” This story featured a scientist jealous of Reed Richards’ success, who masquerades as The Thing to kill Richards. In the course of the story, he learns what Mr. Fantastic – and the Fantastic Four – are all about, and features one of the most touching twist endings in the history of comics. Next was “The Master Planner Saga,” from Amazing Spider-Man #31-33 (Dec 65-Feb 66). As CBG columnist Peter David famously said, that was the story where Peter Parker became a man, and was the last Spider-Man story that ever needed to be written. Third-most-popular was “The Galactus Trilogy” from Fantastic Four #48-50 (Mar-May 66). “I read that thing until it disintegrated,” said Steeves, author of the novel Misty Johnson, Supernatural Dick: Capitol Hell. “That story had a huge impact on my young mind. I loved the character moments, like Johnny’s quest for the Nullifier and Reed’s courage as he stood up to Galactus. And I really enjoyed seeing the Surfer and his discovery of humanity, as well as Uatu’s soft spot for us Earthlings. I have read a lot of Galactus stories since then, but this one was by far the best and marked a real high-water mark for the 100-plus-issue run that Lee and Kirby had on FF.” Other favorites included the pro-tolerance tale “Brother, Take My Hand!” from Daredevil #47 (Dec 68), the Thing-Hulk battle royale in Fantastic Four #25-26 (April-May 64), and the revelation of the Green Goblin’s identity in Amazing Spider-Man #39-40 (Aug-Sep 66). But most entertaining were the Legionnaires who were so inspired by certain Lee passages that they remember them to this day: “One [story] that jumps to my mind is the Red Skull/Cosmic Cube storyline that ran in Tales of Suspense #79-81 [Jul-Sep 66],” wrote Doc Photo. “Stan’s dialogue really helps drive this one along. At one point, as he taunts Cap, the Skull delivers this speech: ‘So long as men take liberty for granted – so long as they laugh at brotherhood – sneer at honesty – and turn away from faith – so long will the forces of The Red Skull creep ever closer to the final victory!’ Heavy duty stuff for a Silver Age story.” Robin Olsen of Crystal Lake, Ill., also chimed in. “One that hit the spot for me, from Journey into Mystery #111, after Odin helps Thor save the life of a dying Jane Foster following a ferocious battle with Mr. Hyde and Cobra: ‘Gently, the mighty immortal lifts the sleeping girl! Then, he slowly turns his back upon his defeated foes, and upon the house of darkness, as he walks into the shining light of morning!’ A good line is always worth repeating!” And for all that, there was yet another aspect of Lee’s work at Marvel that remains a marvel: He made comics cool. “Lee’s conversational narrative captions dropped all pretense of a dispassionate authorial voice in favor of a chummy camaraderie that made it feel as if he were there with you. … The comic itself became your buddy.” (Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human, p. 95) Lee had his tongue in his cheek often during the “Marvel Age of Comics,” but he nevertheless made readers of Marvel Comics feel like they’d joined a secret club. “Marvelites” felt like the in crowd, thanks to Lee, despite there being nothing “in” about reading comics then. “Reading Stan’s Soapbox from the mid-‘70s, just as it was slowly being phased out, gave me the sense that Stan wanted us to have a love of comics without the shame or ridicule that sometimes came along with it,” wrote Philip Portelli of College Point, N.Y. “That we were not alone; there was a Marvel Universe that we were a major part of. And that he wanted to make sure that we had the time of our lives. The feeling I got was that when Stan was in charge, he cared about his audience, appreciated his audience and never underestimated hi audience. To me, Stan Lee made you feel cool reading comics, regardless of what others thought.” Marvel “wouldn’t have been near as much fun without Stan,” wrote Kelvin Childs of Maryland. “A lot of people have called Stan a ‘huckster,’ using it in its more pejorative sense, I think. But I think Stan was, and continues to be, an extraordinary huckster in the classic sense of a carnival barker trying to drum up business. Reading Stan’s Soapbox, or his cover copy, or some of the breathless captions and intros he used to drop into the stories … those incredible meta-before-meta-was-cool comments about Jack’s ‘far-out’ page, or brazen challenges to anyone who had the temerity to say this wasn’t the ‘Marvel Age of’ whatever-it-was at the time. Stan was a huckster, a barker, a showman and spokesman extraordinaire. His product was Marvel Comics and he was in the unique position of saying whatever the hell he had to say to get you to pick that book up off the rack, and turn around and actually deliver on whatever insane promise he’d made on the cover. The man is, quite simply a wonder.” And yet, despite a decades-long career in comics, Lee still had a second act yet to come. He was to become the least likely movie “star” of all. “When Lee finally got his chance to relocate permanently to Los Angeles in 1980, he was all too happy to go. He loved L.A. – the climate, the lifestyle, the culture. He was a celebrity, and these were his people.” Jordan Raphael and Tom Spurgeon (Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book, p. 178) While Baby Boomers know Stan Lee as a comic-book superstar, later generations met “Stan the Man” in entirely different media. From cartoon voice-overs to movie cameos to TV appearances, Lee’s mug has become as famous to today’s pop-culture mavens as it was to comics readers of the Silver Age. “My first exposure to ‘The Man’ was as the narrator of the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends/Hulk cartoon block,” Steeves wrote. “And, for the record, I kinda loved Who Wants to Be a Superhero? [a reality show Lee hosted]. It was fun, and his presence helped elevate it above complete corniness.” A number of Legionnaires cited Lee’s cameo on The Big Bang Theory as a favorite. “One thing I caught was that the judge that threw Sheldon in jail for contempt (causing him to miss the Stan Lee signing) was ‘J. Kirby,’” wrote John Dunbar of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Of all his media appearances, one cameo was singled out by Legionnaires as his best. “Stan’s best movie cameo (more than a cameo, really) was in Mallrats (1995), Kevin Smith’s ode to slackerdom,” wrote Olsen. “If only he’d gotten some scenes with Jay and Silent Bob. We was robbed I tell ya – robbed!” Other remarks included: Jason Marconnet of Tallahassee, Fla.: “I enjoyed the ‘redneck’ Stan in Thor.” Don Collett of Chickasha, OK: “I’m not a real fan of the Fantastic Four movie, but I loved Stan as Willie Lumpkin.” Olsen: “Stan was the only thing I liked about the first Hulk movie.” Poague: “I liked Stan’s cameo in one of the Spider-Man movies, where he gets to say “‘Nuff said.” Today, Lee remains an outsized presence in the pop-culture field, with a presence on Twitter (@TheRealStanLee), as head of POW! Entertainment, as the face of L.A.’s Comikaze Expo, all those cameos and, yes, as a comic-book writer (Stan Lee’s Mighty 7, among others). But despite all the fun and games, he can still inspire. He recently had pacemaker surgery, and released a statement which included these words: “Now hear this! Your leader hath not deserted thee! In an effort to be more like my fellow Avenger, Tony Stark, I have had an electronic pacemaker placed near my heart to insure that I’ll be able to lead thee for another 90 years.” That prompted Legionnaire Jeff Polier of Portland, Ore., to write “That’s a brave, strong man, and I still hope I can meet him someday. Excelsior!” To which I can only add: “‘Nuff said!” Comics” Smith has been writing professionally about comics since 1992, and for Comics Buyer’s Guide since 2000. Comment by Philip Portelli on February 12, 2013 at 4:27pm A belated thanks for the quote, Captain! Especially when it's in boldprint on the margin like I'm important or something! Everyone I showed it to got a big kick out of it! And I thought I was being a tad corny! It really made my day! 'Nuff Said! Comment by Captain Comics on February 12, 2013 at 4:55pm Great! And I appreciate the help! :) Comment by Jason Marconnet (Pint sized mod) on February 12, 2013 at 6:21pm Awesome I got a quote published! Even if it was about liking redneck Stan! Good article Cap!	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1908
__label__wiki	0.803509	0.803509	Flag History & Traditions The Flags Flag Conservation 15th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment - National Flag Organized about a month after the state's three National Guard regiments were federalized, the 15th Minnesota, U.S. Volunteer Infantry, like the 12th and 14th, was destined to stay stateside. Trained in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Georgia before mustering out in March 1899, the 15th, like its counterparts, fought a constant battle with typhoid. Many of its members died from the disease while in the service. While stationed in Georgia, one of the 15th's soldiers was killed in a bar room dispute. Others from the regiment, wanting to exact justice on the killer, pushed aside officers and took over the camp’s weapons and ammunition shed. The armed group then marched toward the town holding the prisoner. Before further violence occurred, officers rounded up the leaders and placed them under arrest. Several of the men were charged with mutiny and spent time in prison. In addition, a number of the 15th's officers were unfairly blamed for not stopping the mutiny. While at Camp Ramsey, located on the Minnesota State Fair Grounds in St. Paul, Mary Hill, wife of James J. Hill, presented the 15th Minnesota with this flag on behalf of the St. Paul Commercial Club. Forty-five gold-leafed stars decorate the canton. One of the regiment's color bearers, Royal Stone, later served from 1923-1942 as an Associate Justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court. 15th Minnesota national battle flag US Army Model 1889 campaign hat US Army officer's sword belt 15th Minnesota Spanish-American War drum US Army Camp Meade souvenir badge	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1912
__label__wiki	0.911382	0.911382	Newest Most Wanted Popular Top Rated Angelina Jolie Naked Celebs Angelina Jolie Pitt (/dʒoʊˈliː/ joh-LEE; née Voight; June 4, 1975) is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and has been cited as Hollywood's highest-paid actress. Jolie made her screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Lookin' to Get Out (1982). Her film career began in earnest a decade later with the low-budget production Cyborg 2 (1993), followed by her first leading role in a major film, Hackers (1995). She starred in the critically acclaimed biographical television films George Wallace (1997) and Gia (1998), and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Girl, Interrupted (1999). Jolie's starring role as the video game heroine Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) established her as a leading Hollywood actress. She continued her successful action-star career with Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Wanted (2008), and Salt (2010), and received critical acclaim for her performances in the dramas A Mighty Heart (2007) and Changeling (2008), which earned her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Beginning in the 2010s, she expanded her career by directing and producing the wartime dramas In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011) and Unbroken (2014). Her biggest commercial success came with the fantasy picture Maleficent (2014). In addition to her film career, Jolie is noted for her humanitarian efforts, for which she has received a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and an honorary damehood of the Order of St Michael and St George (DCMG), among other honors. She promotes various causes, including conservation, education, and women's rights, and is most noted for her advocacy on behalf of refugees as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). As a public figure, Jolie has been cited as one of the most influential and powerful people in the American entertainment industry, as well as the world's most beautiful woman, by various media outlets. Her personal life is the subject of wide publicity. Divorced from actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton, she has been married to actor Brad Pitt since 2014. They have six children together, three of whom were adopted internationally. 269Pictures 20Videos 60Stories pictures/videos/games Create gallery comics/doujinshi Tags: Angelina Jolie More 209 Pictures » More 10 Videos » Add new characters: Add new Charcter + Angelina Jolie's bound To please in Angelina Jolie Starfuck: Angelina Jolie [heavily rewritten] in Angelina Jolie An Almost Perfect Plan in Angelina Jolie va-va-voom in Angelina Jolie Cheating With Angelina in Angelina Jolie The Photo Shoot in Angelina Jolie Jennifer Aniston‘s Jail Journal in Angelina Jolie Fallen Angelina in Angelina Jolie Angelina, Sweet Beauty in Angelina Jolie LUCKY in Angelina Jolie More 50 Stories »	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1913
__label__wiki	0.957214	0.957214	Power Rangers Movie to Reboot Again With New Cast After 2017 Flop While many die-hard fans were happy with the new Power Rangers movie and their modern take on the Mighty Morphin’ team, new parent company Hasbro has apparently decided to move on in a different direction. With a disappointing box office and a mixed reception from the general audience, it seems like they’ve now stopped their plans for a sequel. According to star Dacre Montgomery, who played the Red Ranger Jason in the film from 2017, Hasbro has plans for another film that won’t involve him or any of his castmates, effectively making it yet another reboot for the franchise. Montgomery participated in an Ask Me Anything thread on the Stranger Things subreddit in celebration of the release of Season 3 on Netflix. When asked whether there were plans for more Power Rangers movies, he offered a surprisingly candid response. “I think there is a movie in the works but it’s not with me and the cast. So yes but not with us,” Montgomery wrote on Twitter. So far Hasbro has yet to make any formal announcements about future films set in the Power Rangers universe. So, of course, until it’s set and stone, these plans could change. But with an estimated $100 million budget and just a $142 million box office haul, a sequel seems unlikely. Hasbro purchased Power Rangers from the Saban Brands last year, and later the CEO Brian Goldner expressed a desire to develop a new feature film, even going so far as saying that it would indeed be a sequel. Goldner explained that Power Rangers provided a “significant opportunity for growth given where the brand had been most recently” and that “Hasbro will work with a film studio to develop a new Power Rangers movie as a follow-up to the 2017 release.” Now, they could still develop a sequel to the 2017 film, making it a soft reboot with a brand new cast, based on the properties different iteration. They could follow up the first film with a new take on Power Rangers ZEO, introducing a lot of the new characters who succeeded the original Rangers based on the TV series’ early days. Many fans will likely be disappointed by this news, especially after the first movie set up the introduction of the Green Ranger by teasing the arrival of Tommy Oliver. Now that Montgomery has let the cat out of the bag, hopefully we hear more details soon about Hasbro’s plans for the Power Rangers’ big screen future. In this latest episode we go all-in on the new Disney movie trailers including Mulan and Malefecent! We also tackle the Halle Bailey casting in The Little Mermaid, this week’s comics and a Stranger Things Season 4 recap. Make sure to subscribe now to never miss an episode! Oscar Isaac To Star In And Produce Ex Machina Adaptation The Great Machine WEREWOLF BY NIGHT Returns With TABOO of the BLACK EYED PEAS HBO’s Watchmen Showrunner Kills Hopes For Season 2	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1917
__label__wiki	0.807062	0.807062	Celebrity Hanging Suicides: Syncs and Links The celebrity news of June 2018 was overwhelmed with suicides by hanging. The lives of the victims were intertwined and overlapping. Let's take a look at the syncs and links going back two decades for some suicides by hanging. Jeanine Pepler On June 17, 2018, Jeanine Pepler, 50, killed herself by hanging. Pepler was the agent for The Blair Witch Project (1999) filmmakers (Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez). The Blair Witch Project involved the created legend of the ghost of Elly Kedward, a Blair, Maryland resident accused of practicing witchcraft in 1785 and sentenced to death by exposure. (One alternative ending of The Blair Witch Project has a lead character dying by hanging.) This publicist also represented Sex and the City creator Cate Bushnell. "Candace Bushnell was born in Glastonbury, Connecticut. She is the daughter of Calvin L. Bushnell and Camille Salonia. Her father was one of the inventors of the Air Cooled Hydrogen Fuel Cell that was used in the Apollo Space Missions in the 1960s. Her Bushnell ancestors in the United States can be traced back to Francis Bushnell, one of the signatories of the Guilford Covenant, who emigrated from Thatcham, Berkshire, England in 1639." Source. "On June 1, 1639, more than a month before Guilford’s founders reached the New England shore, 25 Puritan men bound their lives to each other in a Covenant, setting forth their vision for the community they would create together. Aboard the English ship St. John, these men signed their names to a document that stated their intentions to settle with their families as a group near the plantation of Quinnipiack (later New Haven), and to help each other survive and prosper in the New World." Source. "According to this website the Guilford Covenant was a pact made by the first Puritan settlers to arrive in New England. The pact still exists today down through the bloodlines of those 25 families, but now did someone break the oath...thus...all these hanging deaths???" - Kristin Johnson Jeanine Pepler's "death also links back to Anthony Bourdain and ultimately to Harvey Weinstein. It's obvious all of these fashion, TV, and movie people struck deals with one another to blow up their products and make tons of money...but at what price? What secret are they keeping that's worth dying over now?" ~ Sibyl Hunter Anthony Bourdain, 61, killed himself by hanging (reportedly with the belt from his bathrobe) on June 8, 2018. Bourdain was found dead of suicide by hanging in his room at Le Chambard hotel in Kaysersberg, France. There's a Weinstein thread connecting everything. Bourdain was dating actress Asia Argento. She's one of Harvey Weinstein's main accusers. Bourdain publically condemned Weinstein on many occasions and even outed Quention Tarrantino for having knowledge of Weinstein's abuse. The fashion connection: Harvey Weinstein's wife is fashion designer Georgina Chapman who owns Marchesa. Two days ago Asia Argento called for a boycott on Marchesa because of the Weinstein connection (apparently he made his wife's label famous by forcing celebrity actresses to wear Marchesa gowns on the red carpet, including Gwyneth Paltrow). In response, Vogue's all-powerful Anna Wintour came out in support of Georgina Chapman and Marchesa. The Kate Spade connection: Looks like Kate Spade's "sudden" success can also be attributed to celebrity actresses popping up on the red carpet with her bags. Did she and her husband Andy Spade make a deal with the devil Weinstein? Was Anna Wintour involved too? - Sibyl Hunter "Three months after a Vogue editor spotted Brosnahan's table at a trade show, the magazine featured Kate Spade in its pages, right next to Gucci, no less. Suddenly industry insiders like Anna Wintour and Linda Wells were carrying Kate Spade bags, as were celebrities like Julia Roberts and Gwyneth Paltrow." Source. It actually is true that Weinstein used former Mossad agents against those who would do him harm. Ronan Farrow, whose report for The New Yorker unearthed decades of sexual abuse allegations against the powerful Hollywood producer, had also revealed the frightening lengths to which Weinstein went to silence his accusers. The Miramax producer hired Black Cube, run by former Israeli intelligence officers of Mossad, and Kroll, one of the biggest global corporate-intelligence firms, to gather details about the personal lives and sexual histories of dozens of actresses and journalists. @Bourdain would tweet: "There’s a nauseating symmetry: both Trump and Weinstein used AMI(Enquirer) and Black Cube (Israeli private Intel) to do their dirty work" Source. Inés Zorreguieta Cerruti Inés Zorreguieta Cerruti was found dead at her apartment in Buenos Aires, having hanged herself on June 6, 2018. She is the sister of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, born Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti (May 17, 1971), married in 2002 to Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. The Queen of the Netherlands' sister “hung herself” from her door knob. One conspiracy source says: "That particular Queen stepped down after allegations of having “hunts” where children were raped and massacred by her dinner guests." (There appears to be no confirmation that Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has "stepped down" nor was involved with the rumored dinner parties. Three days before Anthony Bourdain died, Kate Spade, 55, killed herself by hanging, Kate Spade (Katherine Noel Brosnahan) died by suicide on June 5, 2018. She used a scarf to kill herself. Her funeral was planned for June 21, 2018. News reports on the 21st noted her father, Earl Francis Brosnahan, 89, died on the eve of Spade's funeral of a "broken heart." Kate Spade was also linked to Sex and the City. The widely popular show was another marketing tool for her bags: "I think of Kate Spade and Sex and the City together in many ways. This was how to be a woman who was independent, on her own, hopeful about the world, and yet could use fashion to say something. The fact that Kate Spade passed the same week of the 20th anniversary of the first airing of Sex and the City is striking."—The Washington Post "2000: In a Sex and the City episode, Charlotte jokes that her tampons won’t fit in her Kate Spade purse." - ET Mark Salling Mark Wayne Salling (August 17, 1982 – January 30, 2018) was an American actor and musician. He appeared in Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering (1996) and The Graveyard (2006), before gaining a recurring role in Glee in 2008. On December 29, 2015, Salling was arrested at his Los Angeles home on suspicion of possessing several thousand photos and videos depicting child pornography, following a tip-off to police from one of his ex-girlfriends. He was released later on a $20,000 bailout but a search warrant found more than 50,000 images of child pornography, downloaded between April and December 2015 on his computer and USB flash drives. The guilty plea was formalized on December 18, 2017, with Salling facing four to seven years in jail. Salling's sentencing date was set for March 2018. Salling was found dead from apparent suicide by hanging on January 30, 2018, near his home in the Sunland area of Los Angeles. August Ames (born Mercedes Grabowski; August 23, 1994 – December 5, 2017) was a Canadian American pornographic actress and model who appeared in almost 290 movies and was nominated for several AVN Awards throughout her career. On December 5, 2017, Ames was found dead, approximately 20 minutes from her home in Camarillo, California, at the age of 23. Her death was ruled a suicide due to asphyxia by hanging by the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office. Bennington was found dead at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California; his housekeeper discovered his body hanging from a doorknob around 9:00 a.m. PDT on July 20, 2017. Bennington picked the birthday of Chris Cornell to die. His death was officially ruled as suicide. On July 21, 2017, Brian Elias, the chief of operations for the office of the medical examiner-coroner, confirmed that a half-empty bottle of alcohol was found at the scene, but no other drugs were present. Born Christopher John Boyle; July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017, Chris Cornell was found unconscious by his bodyguard, hanging from the doorknob in the bathroom of his hotel room at the MGM Grand in Detroit, after performing at a show with Soundgarden at the Fox Theatre on May 17, 2017. Cornell hung himself on May 18, 2017, the same date on which Ian Curtis, 23, lead singer of Joy Division (May 18, 1980), died by a hanging suicide in the kitchen of his house. Prior to his suicide, Curtis had watched Werner Herzog's 1977 film Stroszek and listened to Iggy Pop's album The Idiot. (See also, "The Hanging of Ian Curtis: A Legacy of Copycats.") He was lying on the floor with an exercise band around his neck and blood in his mouth. An MGM medic and EMS personnel were unable to revive Cornell. Cornell was pronounced dead by a doctor at 1:30 a.m. Police ruled out homicide by reviewing a hotel surveillance video, which showed nobody entering or exiting the suite after his bodyguard left at around 11:35 p.m. The cause of death was determined to be “suicide by hanging.” After Chris Cornell’s tragic death, one rumor later emerged that he was working with his best friend, Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, to expose an elite pedophile ring. Chris and his wife set up a charity called the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation which works to help victims of child abuse. Aaron Hillel Swartz was an American computer programmer, entrepreneur, writer, political organizer, and Internet hacktivist who died January 11, 2013 by suicide by hanging. Aaron Schwartz hung himself on his doorknob after he hacked into MIT Computers and allegedly found a huge stash of child pornography. In 2011, Swartz was arrested by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) police on state breaking-and-entering charges, after connecting a computer to the MIT network in an unmarked and unlocked closet, and setting it to download academic journal articles systematically from JSTOR using a guest user account issued to him by MIT. On the evening of January 11, 2013, Swartz was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment by his partner, Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman. A spokeswoman for New York's Medical Examiner reported that he had hanged himself. No suicide note was found. On August 11, 2014, Robin Williams, 63, died at his home in Paradise Cay, California. In the initial report released on August 12, 2014, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office deputy coroner stated Williams had hanged himself after he was found hanging from a doorknob with a necktie. The final autopsy report, released in November 2014, ruled that Williams had died by suicide by hanging himself from the doorknob. Neither alcohol nor illegal drugs were involved, while all prescription drugs present in his body were at “therapeutic” levels, the coroner declared. Kate Spade used the same method to kill herself - from a scarf from a door knob - as had been used by L'Wren Scott, 49, on St. Patrick's Day in 2014. L'Wren Scott, (former girlfriend of Nat Rothschild) was found dead by her assistant at her apartment in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan on March 17, 2014. [In 1996, one of Nathaniel Philip Victor James Rothschild's (born 12 July 1971) cousins, Amschel, hanged himself at the age of 41. He was found hanged at the Hôtel Le Bristol Paris. Like Anthony Bourdain, in France with the belt from his bathrobe.] The police reported that no note from Scott was found and there was no sign of foul play. The New York City Chief Medical Examiner determined Scott’s manner and cause of death to be “suicide by hanging.” She was 49. Laura "Luann" Bambrough (April 28, 1964 – March 17, 2014), known professionally as L'Wren Scott, was an American stylist and fashion designer. A photo of dresses hanging from a tree which was posted on L’Wren Scott’s Facebook page hours after her death has been labeled an “eerie” coincidence. The posting was pre-written and pre-scheduled to automatically publish on her account. Scott used a black satin scarf to kill herself in her ninth-floor duplex on 11th Avenue and West 24th Street, New York City. L'Wren died on the birthday of fashion guru Alexander McQueen, who hanged himself in 2010. Alexander McQueen, a top designer, died by suicide by hanging - with a scarf on his closet doorknob - in 2010, being found in a closet. McQueen’s death was announced on the afternoon of February 11, 2010. In the morning, his housekeeper found him hanging from a doorknob at his home in Green Street, London W1. Paramedics were called and they pronounced him dead at the scene. Three significant fashion designers pick the same method for their suicides. Lee Alexander McQueen, CBE (March 17, 1969 – February 11, 2010) was a famed British fashion designer and couturier. McQueen died by suicide, at the age of forty, at his home in Mayfair, London. His mother had died on February 2, 2010. McQueen left a note saying, "Look after my dogs, sorry, I love you, Lee." On June 3, 2009, at the age of 72, Hollywood actor David Carradine was found dead in his room at the Swissôtel Nai Lert Park Hotel on Wireless Road, near Sukhumvit Road, in central Bangkok, Thailand. He was in Bangkok to shoot his latest film, titled Stretch. A police official said that Carradine was found naked, hanging by a rope tied to the doorknob of the room’s closet, causing immediate speculation that his death was suicide. Reports around the time of his death suggest that Carradine may have been involved in child sex tourism; a rampant issue in Thailand where he was found. Deborah Palfrey Deborah Jeane Palfrey (March 18, 1956 – May 1, 2008) (dubbed the D.C. Madam by the news media) operated Pamela Martin and Associates, an escort agency in Washington, D.C. In October 2006, United States Postal Inspection Service agents posed as a couple who were interested in buying Palfrey's home as a means of accessing her property without a warrant. They soon seized papers relating to money laundering and prostitution charges. In early 2007, Palfrey had reacted to the suicide by hanging of Brandi Britton, one of her former escort service employees, by saying, "I guess I'm made of something that Brandi Britton wasn't made of." Although she maintained that the company's services were legal, she was convicted on April 15, 2008 of racketeering, using the mail for illegal purposes, and money laundering. Slightly over two weeks later, facing a prison sentence of five or six years, she was found hanged. On May 1, 2008, Palfrey was found hanging in a storage shed outside her mother's mobile home in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Autopsy results and the final police investigative report concluded that her death was a suicide. Michael Kelland John Hutchence (January 22, 1960 – November 22, 1997) was an Australian musician and actor. He was a founding member, lead singer and lyricist of rock band INXS from 1977 until his death on November 22, 1997. Michael Hutchence hung himself from his doorknob. Hutchence, aged 37, was found dead in Room 524 at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Double Bay, Sydney. Chris Acland Christopher John Dyke Acland (September 7, 1966 – October 17, 1996) was an English musician. He was the drummer of the London-based shoegazing and Britpop band Lush. On October 17, 1996, after Lush had completed their tour and music festival appearances, and two days after Anderson announced a desire to quit the band, Acland hanged himself in his parents' garden in Burneside, Cumbria. His bandmates in Lush were devastated and disbanded after a period of mourning. Posted by Loren Coleman at 3:45 PM No comments: Links to this post Labels: Anthony Bourdain, Celebrities, Celebrity Deaths, Celebrity Suicides, Hanging Suicides, Jeanine Pepler, Kate Spade, Robin Williams, Sex and the City Capital Gazette Shooting: 888 and Updates The newspaper said there was no way they weren't going to publish a paper the day of the shooting. And they did it. I posted the following graphic on Twitter early on the morning of June 28, 2018. From a slide show presented by Stephen Miles Lewis, Anomaly Archives, 2011. Then, in the afternoon came this breaking news....a rather commonplace occurrence nowadays, unfortunately. At least five people were killed and three injured in an "active shooting incident" at the Capital Gazette building in Annapolis. One suspect (white, 20s, with a ponytail, drab green teeshirt, and black pants, no ID) is in custody. (More on his identity below.) He reportedly used a shotgun. Annapolis, Anne Arundel County and state police, along with officers from neighboring jurisdictions are at the scene in the 800 block of Bestgate Road, near the Annapolis Mall. The incident was reported at 888 Bestgate Road. Four of those wounded suffered critical injuries. Two state police helicopters have been called the scene, and a triage has been set up, SkyTeam 11 Capt. Roy Taylor reports. Suspicious packages were reported. SWAT officers will conduct a room-by-room search. The Capital Gazette is owned by The Baltimore Sun. That paper reports police were at their building, as well. The Capital is a daily newspaper published in Annapolis, Maryland since 1884. Its sister newspaper, The Gazette, is one of the oldest newspapers in America, its origins dating back to the early 18th century. The Capital serves the city of Annapolis, much of Anne Arundel County, and neighboring Kent Island in Queen Anne's County. An evening newspaper for most of its existence, it moved to mornings beginning on March 9, 2015.[1] The Capital, the Maryland Gazette and their sister publications have been composed and printed for more than 270 years in numerous locations in and near Annapolis. The company has moved headquarters seven times, including from 3 Church Circle to 213 West St. in 1948, to 2000 Capital Drive in 1987, to Gibralter Road after that, and to 888 Bestgate Road in 2014. In a new posting, "Opening the Beast Gate," on the Super Torch Ritual, Goro Adachi points to this incident being a "clear 'signal events' – events encoded with patterns that give us various levels of insights into what’s going on in our reality, past, present, and future. And we got something about the near future in this one." Goro notes it is an "an in-your-face, 'look at me!' sync in the form of '888' accompanying the event, we have something here practically begging to be decoded." It’s not just “888”. The whole street address is highly suggestive: “888 Bestgate Road”. The surname “Best” means “beast”, hence we have here… a “Beast Gate”! A darker version of our “Stargate”. The Biblical overtones increase with the Christian interpretation of the numerical symbolism of “888” – Jesus. From Wikipedia: In Christian numerology, the number 888 represents Jesus, or sometimes more specifically Christ the Redeemer. This representation may be justified either through gematria, by counting the letter values of the Greek transliteration of Jesus’ name, or as an opposing value to 666, the number of the beast. Wow. So 888 = Jesus = opposite of the number of Beast. This means… “888 Beast Gate” = “Jesus Beast Gate” = “888 666 Gate” Go here for the surrounding context in which Gore Adachi places this. Looking at 666, it should be pointed out again, that Jared Kurshner owns the high profile building - 666 Fifth Avenue in New York City. In December 2006, Tishman Speyer, along with the German investment firm TMW, announced the sale of the building to the Kushner Properties for $1.8 billion (about $2.2 billion real value), at the time the highest price ever paid for an individual building in Manhattan. Kushner Properties' owners are Charles Kushner and his son Jared Kushner. Jared is married to Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump. Jared Corey Kushner (37; above) and Jarrod Warren Ramos (38; below). The alleged gunman was identified as Jarrod Warren Ramos. Goro further adds here, "the name of the Capital Gazette shooter has been identified as 'Jarrod Ramos'. 'Jarrod' means 'rose,' and 'Ramos' means 'branches'. Together meaning 'Rose Branches.'" Couple other name game points: Jarrod Ramos' middle name is Warren. The American, Germanic and Teutonic meanings of Warren are basically the same, "protector," "loyal," with the English variant, "gamekeeper defender (protector)." Traditionally, in the USA, the name covertly links back to, Dr. Joseph Warren (June 11, 1741 – June 17, 1775) was an American physician who played a leading role in American Patriot organizations in Boston in the early days of the American Revolution, eventually serving as President of the revolutionary Massachusetts Provincial Congress. Warren enlisted Paul Revere and William Dawes on April 18, 1775, to leave Boston and spread the alarm that the British garrison in Boston was setting out to raid the town of Concord and arrest rebel leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Warren participated in the next day's Battles of Lexington and Concord, which are commonly considered to be the opening engagements of the American Revolutionary War. Warren had been commissioned a Major General in the colony's militia shortly before the June 17, 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill. Rather than exercising his rank, Warren served in the battle as a private soldier, and was killed in combat when British troops stormed the redoubt atop Breed's Hill. His death, immortalized in John Trumbull's painting, The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775, galvanized the rebel forces. He has been memorialized in the naming of many towns, counties and other locations in the United States, by statues, and in numerous other ways (emphasis added). Source. Jarrod Warren Ramos, the alleged shooter in Annapolis, used the Berserk Brand of Sacrifice (生贄の焼印, Ikenie no Yakīn?) to mark those he was out to involve in a sacrificial ceremony via his Twitter account. Rob Hiaasen, a managing editor and columnist at The Capital newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, was one of the five victims killed in the mass shooting at the newspaper's office on June 28, 2018. Rob Hiaasen wrote one book in 2006, Over My Dead Body. Rob is the brother of Carl Hiaasen (born March 12, 1953), an American writer. A long-time columnist for the Miami Herald, Carl Hiaasen has also written more than 20 novels which can generally be classified as humorous crime fiction and often feature themes of environmentalism and political corruption in his native Florida. The other four killed were: Gerald Fischman, a columnist and the editorial page editor of The Capital, Rebecca Smith, sales assistant, John McNamara, editor and sports reporter, and Wendi Winters, community beat reporter. June 28, 1914 – Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie are assassinated in Sarajevo; this is the casus belli of World War I. Labels: 666, 888, Active Shooting, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Beast, BeastGate, Best, Capital Gazette, Jarrod Warren Ramos, Jesus, June 28, Maryland Mutology Data and Deaths: Tom Adams and Gary Massey Tom Adams (foreground) and Gary Massey (in the background) in the vehicle they called "Thing," which hit many roads on the way to investigate cattle mutilations. This was NOT the Volkswagen Type 181 "Thing," which was a two-wheel drive, four-door, convertible, manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen from 1968 to 1983. Instead, according to Christopher O'Brien, this was the personal nickname that Gary Massey and Tom Adams gave to Massey's 1970s' Dodge van that was retrofitted to have four-wheel drive (as pictured below). Cattle mutilations began in earnest in Illinois, Kansas, and Texas, in the early 1970s. A few of us began filing news clippings and exchanging reports with each other. I corresponded with a few people about the incidents. Jerry Clark, Mark Hall, and Lou Farish were three of my correspondents regarding the topic. Another passionate collector of incidents was Tom Adams, of Paris, Texas, who kept track of the cattle mutilations, as well as the (often black) helicopter sightings, via letters and in his publication called Stigmata. He was an especially well-informed researcher and loyal correspondent whose speciality was this one topic. Traveling west from Texas in 1970, Tom Adams and Gary Massey drove to Colorado to research the 1967 "Snippy the Horse" mutilation case. Adams dove deeper into cattle mutilation cases after that. In 1978, he began publishing his newsletter Stigmata. Tom also wrote The Choppers and the Choppers: Mystery Helicopters and Animal Mutilations (privately published by Tom Adams). Out of this grew "mutology," the study of animal mutilations (most specifically cattle mutes, as they were called). But what became of Tom Adams? And his friend and associate, Gary Massey? Christopher O'Brien and Loren Coleman, June 27, 2018. Christopher O'Brien, on the road in weird and mysterious America... On June 27, 2018, a successful author and long-time cattle mutilation researcher visited me in Portland, Maine. He shared some partial answers to the mysteries of Adams and Massey. Christopher O'Brien pointed me to some information he had posted in 2015: Thomas R. Adams (1945-2014) helped this fledgling investigator/researcher immeasurably from early 1993 through 1999. He sent me hundreds—possibly of thousands of pages of documents to help get me up-to-speed about the cattle mutilation phenomenon (and other peripheral subjects) in the mid-1990s and spent hundreds of hours with me on the phone. I last saw him in 1999 —just before he dropped completely out of the field w/ no explanation. Weirdness has ensued ever since and myself and most of his other researcher friends have never spoken with him again. The prevailing theory is that he burnt out and probably became a hard-core Christian, but that's not for certain. What is for certain, is that in 1999, one of the most important figures in the "cattle mutilation" community disappeared off the radar screen for over 15 years. Now word comes (9 months late) that he died, alone in his Paris, TX house...He died on August 20, 2014 after not showing up for work for a couple of days. ~ Christopher O'Brien. Source. Thomas R. Adams May 6, 1945 Paris, Lamar County, Texas, USA - August 20, 2014 Paris, Lamar County, Texas, USA. Cremated, Location of ashes is unknown The Paris [Texas] News, Sunday, August 24, 2014, Page A7 - Thomas Richard Adams, 69 of Paris, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, at his home. Cremation was under the care and direction of Bright-Holland Funeral Home. Thomas, the son of Jack T. and Hazel Evelyn Hutchison Adams, was born May 6, 1945, in Paris. He graduated from Paris High School and attended East Texas State University. His career at Flex-O-Lite spanned many years, and following that he worked several years at the Dollar Store. He was preceded in death by his father on July 27, 1976, and his mother on Aug. 21, 2004. He was also preceded in death by his grandparents, James Thomas Adams, Ida Hugh Cochran Adams, Judge W. A. Hutchison and Edna Denison Hutchison. Survivors include several cousins including a first cousin, Patsy Daniels and husband Clyde. Source. Also to be consulted is "The Late Great Tom Adams: Thoughts on the Passing of Thomas R. Adams (1945-2014)" by David Perkins, Easter 2015. Tom Adams in 1996. "Itʼs unclear whether at the time of his death, Tom even knew of Gary Masseyʼs apparent suicide in 2010." ~ David Perkins. Christopher O'Brien reports that Massey set his house on fire, shot his dog, and then shot himself dead. Gary Massey was born March 5, 1948, Virginia, and died September 7, 2010, at Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas. He is buried at Restlawn Memorial Park, Sulphur Springs, Texas. Gary Mac Massey, 62, of Sulphur Springs passed away Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, at his residence. A private family burial will take place at a later date. He was born March 5, 1948, in Virginia, the son of J.L. and Robbie Kathlyne Melton Massey. Survivors include his mother, Robbie Kathlyne [Melton] Massey of Sulphur Springs; one brother and sister-in-law, Brad and Holly Massey of Sulphur Springs; and two nieces, Cara Thompson and Meredith Massey of Sulphur Springs. He was preceded in death by his father (J. L. Massey, 73, August 21, 1920 - February 2, 1994, Sulphur Springs, Texas). Source. Thanks to Chris for reminding me to dig deeper for the exact bio details on Adams and Massey, for the record. Christopher O'Brien is the author of The Mysterious Valley (1996) Enter the Valley: UFOs, Religious Miracles, Cattle Mutilations, and Other Unexplained Phenomena in the San Luis Valley (1999) Secrets of the Mysterious Valley (2007) Stalking the Tricksters: Shapeshifters, Skinwalkers, Dark Adepts and 2012 (2009) Stalking the Herd: Unraveling the Cattle Mutilation Mystery (2014) More historical context Two books, both appearing in 1976, pictured below, did much to break the silence about the cattle mutilations happening in the West. The legacy of these early years continues with highway signs in New Mexico and continued reports from the Southwest to Colorado (2009) and Canada (2006). h/t to Martin Willis for hosting C.O. Posted by Loren Coleman at 10:44 PM 1 comment: Links to this post Labels: Cattle Mutilations, Christopher O'Brien, Deaths, Gary Massey, Mutology, Mystery Deaths, Paris, Suicide, Texas, The Choppers and the Choppers: Mystery Helicopters and Animal Mutilations, Thing, Tom Adams 2018: Georgia, Oregon and New York Self-Immolations Self-immolations have been a form of political protest in modern times since a number of Buddhist monks (including the most famous case of Thích Quảng Đức) immolated themselves by fire in protest of the persecution of Buddhists under the administration of Roman Catholic President Ngô Đình Diệm in South Vietnam. The immolations spread through Asia and to America from 1963 to 1971. In the third known high-profile fire suicide attempt of 2018, a man is fighting for his life at Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital with burns to 85 to 90 percent of his body. Georgia Veteran A veteran who was fed up with treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs set himself on fire in protest outside of the Georgia State Capitol building (seen above) in downtown Atlanta on June 26, 2018. The 58-year-old from Mableton, Georgia, who has not yet been identified, parked his car alongside the Capitol before walking toward the building, where he commenced self-immolation, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. “He was strapped with some homemade incendiary devices (and) firecrackers, and doused himself with some kind of flammable liquid,” Georgia State Patrol Captain Mark Perry told the Atlanta newspaper. The Georgia immolation appears to follow the same pattern of the immolation of Charles Ingram, a 51-year-old Gulf War veteran, who grew increasing frustrated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In March 2016, shortly before his VA appointment, Ingram went to the clinic in Northfield, N.J., doused himself in gasoline and lit himself on fire. The clinic was closed at the time. He died. Chloe Sagal Exactly a week before, on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, a person lit themselves on fire in Lownsdale Square (see above), the park located across from the Multnomah County Courthouse in downtown Portland, Oregon. The person entered the park, on crutches, and barely able to walk, wearing a red scarf around the neck. Then the individual sat down and began reading a statement about homelessness and mental health issues. The person died at the hospital. The local media reported some confusion about the gender of the person. It turns out it was video developer Chloe Sagal, 31, who identified herself as trans. Variety wrote: Sagal was best known for her horror game “Homesick,” which follows the story of a woman searching for her friends inside the house where her family was murdered. She also made headlines in 2013 when she ran an Indiegogo campaign that was ostensibly for metal poisoning treatment. But, according to Eurogamer, the money was instead used for gender alteration surgery. David Buckel Another self-immolation of 2018 occurred on Saturday, April 14, 2018, when David Buckel, 60, a prominent green activist and lawyer for LGBT rights, died after setting himself on fire in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park protesting ecological destruction and global warming. The famed 60 year old attorney left behind a suicide note in which Buckel told of his intention of burning himself to death with "fossil fuel" in a bid to show how mankind was likewise killing itself. Buckel also worked as an urban gardener and ecologist with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, helping run what he called the largest composting program in the country to use only renewable sources of energy. The New York Daily News headlined the story. Other related immolation articles: Immolations 2017 Palace Self-Immolation 2015 Aurora Self-Immolation 2014 Colorado Self-Immolation 2014 D. C. Self-Immolation 2013: 1, 2, 3 h/t to Media Monarchy for GA news. Labels: Atlanta, Brooklyn, Capitol, Chloe Sagal, David Buckel, Fire Suicides, Georgia, Immolations, New York, Oregon, Self-Immolations, Veteran John A. Keel's Brother Has Died John Alva Keel, 79, known for his UFO research and books, including The Mothman Prophecies, lived most of his life in New York City. He died July 3, 2009, at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, after some months in a nursing home near his Upper West Side apartment. Alva John Kiehle (later to be known as John Keel) was born on March 25, 1930, in Hornell, New York, the son of a small-time bandleader. His parents separated and he was raised by his grandparents. Various half- and full-siblings survived him in upstate New York State and then throughout the country. One was Raymond Kiley. He has passed away. Below is his obituary. Raymond L. Kiley {January 15, 1941 - June 4, 2018} PERRY {New York} — Raymond L. Kiley, 77 of Perry, passed away on Monday, June 4, 2018. He was born in Warsaw, to the late Chester (Irene Gibbs) Kiley. He is preceded in death by his brother, John Keel. Ray enjoyed collecting sap, making maple syrup, fishing and cutting wood. He attended services at the First Congregational Church in Perry Center. Ray was a man that loved to work and was still working for Donald G. Butler Construction in Perry. He is survived by his children, Joyce Wilson of Las Vegas, Nev., Christine (Ken) Gilbert of Pavilion, Denise (Patrick) McIntyre of Perry, Daniel (Wendy) Kiley of Perry; sisters, Mary White and Cheryl Keaton, both of Florida; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews. {Raymond L. Kiley was} laid to rest in Glenwood Cemetery in Perry {New York}. Source. Raymond Kiley enjoyed Halloween. Thanks to P.H. and D.S. for info and/or images. Labels: Cheryl Keaton, Halloween, John A. Keel, New York, Obituary, Perry, Raymond L. Kiley, The Mothman Prophecies, UFOs Mutology Data and Deaths: Tom Adams and Gary Masse... 2018: Georgia, Oregon and New York Self-Immolation... John Mack, Lawrence of Arabia, and September 27th Alamogordo Crash Another Hanging Suicide: Publicist Jeanine Pepler Name Game Event for June 24, 2018? Cryptokubrology Meets Bigfoot Cryptokubrulogy Meets Trump Anthony Bourdain and Joy Division Wayne Name Game Has Tragic Ending in Orlando Bourdain and Hawaiian Pizza Suicide by Scarf For The Record: Scottsdale Spree Killer 2018 Ramming Death Linked to 1968 Hit-and-Run Kill... The "Eifel" Behind Those Zoo Escapes	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1919
__label__wiki	0.710436	0.710436	Mapping the Robin Hood rifles in mid-nineteenth-century Nottingham, L Sutherland Tags: Nottingham, Robin Hood Rifles, the Rifles, Volunteer Force, Volunteer Movement, Robin Hood, spectators, volunteer corps, the volunteers, social order, Simpkins, the Market Place, volunteers, the relationship, Nottingham Journal, United Kingdom, Collinson, Rifle Volunteer Movement, Nottingham Chamber of Commerce, version, Nottingham Castle, Market Place, Rifles, Nottingham City Libraries Local Studies Library, Industrial Exhibition, Louis Napoleon, Samuel Collinson, George Birkbeck, Nottingham City Local Studies Library, relationship, H. Cunningham, Goose Fair, volunteer soldiers, entrance fee, local communities, University of Nottingham, Napoleon Bonaparte, entrance fees, recreational activities, Nottingham Mechanics' Institute, Consolidation Act Content: Sutherland, Lucie (2017) Mapping the Robin Hood rifles in mid-nineteenth-century Nottingham. Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire, 120 (2016). ISSN 0309-9210 Access from the University of Nottingham repository: http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/43650/1/Sutherland%20-%20Mapping%20the%20Robin %20Hood%20Rifles%20in%20Mid-Nineteenth-Century%20Nottingham.pdf Copyright and reuse: The Nottingham ePrints service makes this work by researchers of the University of Nottingham available Open Access under the following conditions. This article is made available under the University of Nottingham End User licence and may be reused according to the conditions of the licence. For more details see: http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/end_user_agreement.pdf A note on versions: The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher's version. Please see the repository url above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription. For more information, please contact [email protected] MAPPING THE ROBIN HOOD RIFLES IN MID-NINETEENTHCENTURY NOTTINGHAM DR. LUCIE SUTHERLAND INTRODUCTION When, in the spring of 1859, the spirit of alarm or resentment, caused by the addresses of the Colonels of the French Army to the late Napoleon, spreading rapidly through the country, resulted in the formation of a volunteer corps throughout England and Scotland, I, seeing nothing officially being done in that way in Nottingham, and having some knowledge of drill and military organisation, suggested to a few friends that we should form a rifle club, so that in the event of a corps being formed we might be in a sufficient state of efficiency to form a nucleus, and for this purpose I took down the names of those who coincided with this idea, and at once communicated with the Duke of Newcastle, Lord Lieutenant, on the subject.1 Stationer J.G. Simpkins wrote this account of the foundation of Nottingham's Robin Hood Rifles in 1876, and in doing so he revealed the abstract concerns that encouraged the formation of a nationwide volunteer corps. He is unsure, after seventeen years, whether `alarm or resentment' motivated the introduction of the Rifle Volunteer Movement as an adjunct to the regular army, and his own efforts with friends are representative of the fact that there was no systematic procedure endorsed by the military to ensure that corps were established throughout the United Kingdom. What is certain, is that his efforts resulted in an initial drill, on 28 May 1859, in the grounds of Nottingham Castle, and by August almost 400 male residents of the town were members of the Robin Hood Rifles. This article will examine the role of the Rifles in the public -1- life of Nottingham, in the years immediately after the Volunteer Movement was formed in 1859. My interest is in how we might trace the relationship between this group of citizen-soldiers and their various local audiences, as the Rifles moved through and occupied the public spaces of the town, and in what this relationship indicates about the role and influence of such a collective within the mid-nineteenth-century Nottingham environment. The role of the Movement in the (then) town from the middle of the nineteenth century until the corps was absorbed into the Territorial Force, in 1908, was pronounced. As well as moving through Nottingham during training exercises and on more formal parades, watched by sizeable audiences, the Rifles also endorsed conventional civic events, for example through their attendance at church services and as patrons for gala evenings at the Theatre Royal.2 A historian can attempt to assess the presence and influence of this collective by examining accounts such as the one written by Simpkins to commemorate his role in founding the Rifles, as well as diary entries representing the attitude of volunteers to their activities with the corps, and newspaper reports. We can also turn to pictorial records, early photographs and commemorative prints portraying this group of men in sites throughout Nottingham and further afield. However, rather than relying solely upon a reading of accumulated data to examine the presence and significance of the Rifles in a given location, I will argue here that there is a particular way of working with material implicitly or explicitly present in all of these sources, that can assist in the interrogation of how volunteer soldiers interacted with their audiences in Nottingham. It is possible to map the presence of the Rifles in the town, to reconstruct a Spatial Representation of the movement and activities of the Rifles and of those who witnessed their role in public events. This focus upon the spatial, an attempt to analyse presence, can help with an examination of the actions, motivations and influence of a collective such as the Robin Hood Rifles.3 -2- THE EMERGENCE OF THE RIFLE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT The Volunteer Movement of which the Robin Hood Rifles were a part, was founded, ostensibly, because of the threat of invasion by French naval forces. Since the Napoleonic conflicts that took place in the early part of the nineteenth century there had been, in the words of political historian J. P. Parry, `latent psychological fear of French aggression' throughout the United Kingdom.4 Published propaganda from the 1803-1815 conflicts, in part an effort to encourage conscripts to join the regular army, insisted that Napoleon Bonaparte's invading forces would threaten private property, individual liberty and Protestant worship. By the late 1840s, public life in Britain was dominated by men raised in this climate of panic and paranoia, and renewed political turmoil in France encouraged fear of invasion. Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III), nephew to Bonaparte, was elected President of the French Republic in December 1848, and mounted a coup d'etat in December 1851, implementing a new constitution restoring universal suffrage. This sparked a pronounced invasion panic throughout the United Kingdom early in the 1850s, but a graver crisis came at the end of the decade. In 1858-9 there was an attempted assassination of Louis Napoleon by Italian patriots who, prior to the attack, were living in England, and members of the French military advised action be taken against other alleged conspirators resident in the United Kingdom. This apparent threat of French military activity, coupled with completion of a large naval base at Cherbourg in 1858, exacerbated invasion fears. In February 1859 the Conservative government announced a small increase in spending on the military, which also seemed to support rumours of imminent invasion. However, it is important to note a discrepancy between such latent anxiety and the actual threat from France. Although many people did recall the Napoleonic Wars, which informed their instinctive fear of invasion, practical priorities related to the expansion of Empire and trade -3- relationships made actual conflict less probable. For example, the likelihood of invasion was mediated during the mid-nineteenth century by the fact that the United Kingdom and France were allies in military campaigns of the period, such as the Spanish Civil War of the 1830s and the Crimean War. In February 1858, according to Hansard, Disraeli spoke of Anglo-French relations as `the key and cornerstone of modern civilization'.5 In addition to the military collaborations identified above, the incoming Liberal government of June 1859 drew up a Commercial Treaty with France designed to promote improved relations, further tempering any drive towards armed conflict by prioritising the interests of financiers and merchants. Nevertheless, the drive to establish a volunteer force was sustained by an enduring if vastly exaggerated mistrust of the French, and then perpetuated by many sections of the national press, most particularly the Times. In his history of the Rifle Volunteer Movement, Ian Beckett notes that the newspaper had a policy of focusing upon perceived threats of invasion to sustain the paper duties that would be cut if peacetime rates of expenditure were introduced, and the overt support given by the paper to the formation of a volunteer corps is evident; most obviously in their publication of Tennyson's poem `The War', that first appeared in the paper on 9 May 1859.6 In addition, that section of the population who had felt most threatened by radical political and social reformers active in the United Kingdom during the 1830 and 1840s, were surely concerned at Napoleon III introducing universal suffrage in 1851, and saw in the implementation of a nationwide Volunteer Force a means by which adult males in the United Kingdom could be made to focus upon Foreign Affairs and national defence, rather than internal discord over which citizens had the vote. The way in which alleged European despotism and previous campaigns for electoral reform are conjoined in Tennyson's work - `Let your reforms for a moment go!/Look to -4- your butts, and take good aims!' - suggests that domestic Social Cohesion was as pervasive a concern as any potential threat from Europe. The Times thus called for a force that would make use of `of all classes and conditions of its people [...] We must popularize the army and martialise the population. The gulf must be narrowed between the soldier and the citizen.'7 Tellingly, after the establishment of the Volunteer Force, the Volunteer Service Gazette of 15 September 1860 carried an article by William Mathews, a Captain in Somerset, who wrote about the timely domestic value of a volunteer movement doubting `[i]f the political demagogue, the Chartist, the dissenter will not be shorn of his pernicious authority through the agency of a really sensible development of the good which exists in this upmoving of patriotic sympathy.'8 That the Volunteer Force was founded, at least in part, to undermine internal political discord is an important factor when considering the kinds of control groups of citizen-soldiers such as the Robin Hood Rifles exercised over their local communities. However, senior military personnel who believed the disparity in training between professional soldiers and volunteers would be too great in time of conflict did not support the movement; government reluctance to finance volunteer soldiers is also apparent. General Peel, the Secretary of State for War who formalised government authorisation for the Volunteer Movement, is quoted in Hansard as admitting that the Movement `did not arise from any fear of invasion on their [the Government's] part, but solely in consequence of the numerous and urgent applications which were being made to them for permission to form rifle corps, on the express understanding that they were to be of no expense to the country.'9 Repeated applications from particular communities to form a corps of riflemen throughout the 1850s resulted in a government circular of 12 May 1859, permitting Lords Lieutenant to raise a corps under the -5- Yeomanry and Volunteer Consolidation Act of 1804. Reliance upon existing legislation and the lack of initial Financial support from Westminster re-inforces the impression that impetus for formation of the first corps came from small groups of men in local communities and indeed Beckett, in his exhaustive study of the Rifle Volunteer Movement, cites multiple examples of this.10 During the summer of 1859 individuals like Simpkins who had hoped for a formalised volunteer corps took advantage of the circular, and although in June the incoming Liberal government provided some financial support for volunteer corps, signaling the origins of centralised administration for a nationwide adjunct to the regular army, the beginning to a Nottingham corps emphasises that local citizens were key to the existence of the Robin Hood Rifles. THE ROBIN HOOD RIFLES IN NOTTINGHAM The foundation of a corps was the responsibility of local, private citizens, with Simpkins compiling a list of men willing to volunteer in the early months of 1859. This list was housed in his stationers shop, and provided physical evidence of local commitment that was presented to the Duke of Newcastle, who as Lord Lieutenant was required to authorise the establishment of a volunteer corps. Simpkins' role as a tradesman in the town was integral to the formation of the Rifles, providing both the Financial resources to fund his participation and a network of associates who could support the project. Like Freemasonry or membership of the Oddfellows, volunteering made male citizens members of a particular fraternal network, although initially the amateur riflemen had no formal regulations to dictate their activities, as this extract from Simpkins' recollections makes clear: Saturday evening, Mr. Mundella, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Evans, Mr. Perry, Mr. G.T. Hine and myself, accompanied by Mr. White, went [...] to the Castle Grounds, and whilst there, at -6- the suggestion of Mr. Mundella, we "fell in" as a squad on the terrace overlooking the meadows and received our first drill.11 The casual nature of this meeting, with this group choosing to perform as soldiers might Mundella suggesting they fall in - is only made to seem a serious effort to establish the Nottingham corps because of the presence of White, a former professional soldier, formerly Sergeant Major in the 2nd Queen's Royals. However by August, there were six companies making up the Robin Hood Rifles, and almost 400 volunteers. The rapid increase in numbers indicates the appeal of volunteering to a large number of male citizens, but the fiscal demands of this pastime excluded particular social and economic groups. A column in the Illustrated London News of January 1860, detailing the sums necessary for purchasing uniforms and weapons, emphasises that although the corps was still expanding rapidly, men would need a certain level of disposable income to join: The Nottingham Battalion, or Robin Hood Rifles, is decidedly one of the crack corps. It consists of eight companies, all stationed at Nottingham. The Uniform is Lincoln Green, with a black braid and facings: the mountings are of bronze. The arms used by all the companies are the short Enfield, the Lancaster, and the five grooved naval rifle. The entrance fee and subscriptions vary in each company. The yearly subscription in the 1st is Ј1 1s per year, with an entrance fee of Ј2 12s 6d. In the 2nd no entrance fee, and an annual subscription of Ј1 1s. In the third, and all the others, nearly the same. The Rifle Range is Mapperley Plains, and the drill ground for the 1st and 2nd Companies, the Castle. The 3rd Company drills in the Park in the summer and at the Police Station in the winter. The collective strength of the battalion is about six hundred.12 -7- It is useful to compare the subscription fee to that required by the Nottingham Mechanics' Institute, of one shilling per quarter. Additional fees were charged for attending courses and entertainments, but lectures and the resources of the library were available to all members free of charge. George Birkbeck's concept of venues where adult males could enhance their education and pursue improving recreational activities was adhered to, and a low quarterly membership rate was integral to the project. The fees for membership requested by the volunteers corps were far greater and although, nationwide, there was some variation in the amount charged - in Huddersfield volunteers were charged over four pounds during the latter half of 1859, and in some London companies the cost of joining exceeded ten pounds - the need to purchase uniforms and equipment barred potential volunteers who could not pay, with the national average calculated at eighteen shillings per volunteer.13 This would exclude, to cite an obvious example, the many factory workers who had gained employment in the textile industry in Nottingham during the 1850s, a decade when the population of the town grew by almost one third. Initially therefore, the Volunteer Force was envisaged as a middle class fraternal organisation, but individual corps almost immediately became more inclusive. In an early history of the Volunteer Force, a member of the Surrey Rifles notes: At first, in consequence of the cost of uniforms and accoutrements, heavy entrance fees and subscriptions, only those who had means at their command could enrol themselves as Citizen Soldiers, and it soon became evident that, if the force was to increase and become a permanent one, it would have to be encouraged and supported by the public, and access to its ranks brought within the reach of all classes of society. Accordingly, public subscriptions were opened in most of the cities and towns in England, Scotland and Wales, and those who felt disposed subscribed liberally towards raising and supporting -8- local corps. By this means the committee of any corps were enabled to assist those who were inclined to join, by providing them with uniforms, to be paid for by instalments in accordance with a fixed scale, but it was not till 1863 that the Government recognized the necessity of introducing and passing a measure, which placed the Force upon a more certain and permanent footing, and strengthened it more materially by authorising an annual grant to every regiment.14 This account notes that prior to the Volunteer Act of 1863, when a twenty shilling grant was available to all volunteers, men who could not afford to pay the set fee could be supported by public subscription. However, in Nottingham there is evidence of public subscriptions for additional equipment, rather than additional volunteers. When the Robin Hood Rifles Band was established in December 1859, a direct request for funds was made to the town via local newspapers: As the formation of a good infantry band will be a great acquisition to the town, it is confidently hoped that the necessary funds (about Ј160) will be at once obtained. Donations may be forwarded to the Nottingham Banks on account of the Band Fund, or to Dr. Robertson, Wheeler Gate, Honorary Secretary to the Band Committee.15 During the first four years, therefore, the Robin Hood Rifles was a collective dominated by business owners and those employed in the recognised professions. The exclusive nature of the volunteer movement during the first four years that it was in existence is an important consideration when analysing their influence within a specific community. Once more, Simpkins' account is useful, as his acknowledgement that the Rifles were originally made up of `a few friends' evokes an informal pastime rather than a quasi- -9- military organisation.16 Certainly, once established, the Volunteer Movement was a recreational pursuit as well as a program of formal training. NATIONAL DEFENCE OF RATIONAL RECREATION? The concern during the mid-nineteenth century with acceptable recreational activities is a subject that has been considered elsewhere. For example Peter Bailey notes, `leisure constituted a problem whose solution required the building of a new social conformity a play discipline to complement the work discipline that was the principal means of social control in an industrial capitalist society.'17 The volunteer movement had obvious health benefits but it did not, strictly speaking, conform to the concept of `rational recreation', nor was it reacting against leisure pursuits perceived to be harmful, most particularly those connected with licensed premises. However, it did offer the opportunity for male citizens to partake in a form of disciplined playing, the sport of rifle shooting, which became popular at precisely the time when the Volunteer Force was formed. The design for a magazine-fed infantry rifle had been in development and had been used, in armed conflict, by British armed forces throughout the 1850s. This was the type of weapon given to each volunteer, the Times continuing its effusive support of the Force by suggesting that `[w]hat the bow was once, the rifle should become now, a national weapon, natural to our eyes and familiar to our hand'.18 This comparison of the rifle with the bow is particularly salient when considering the Robin Hood Rifles, for in Nottingham, the riflemen were almost immediately compared with that town's most celebrated combatant. In September 1859, three months after the Rifles were established, the local gallery Shaw and Sons placed an advertisement in the Nottingham Journal, informing residents that `Robin Hood and his Merrie Men', a watercolour by E.G. Warren, Esq., was on display in their showroom: - 10 - This latter picture, we should think, will be a great favourite with the members of the new regiment of the "Robin Hood Rifles." It is to be hoped the men in this corps will rival the renowned Robin and his merrie men in the unerring correctness of their aim, though with a different weapon. They may be excused, however, from being so free-and-easy as their great predecessor, though we hope they will always be ready to defend the right. Each of the riflemen should subscribe for a chromo-lithographic facsimile of "Robin Hood and his Merrie Men."19 Shaw and Sons' desire to profit from the prominence of the Rifles in Nottingham just months after their formation aside, the appeal here for riflemen to both hone their skills and prove their patriotism speaks to a convergence of a popular recreational pursuit and national defence. Further examples of this convergence were large-scale events, where the distinctly local corps came together to advertise the sustained presence of the Volunteer Movement throughout the United Kingdom. Selected volunteers attended rifle contests organised by the National Rifle Association, military reviews, and also Sham Fights, which, according to one volunteer, Captain W.G. Hummel, gave volunteers `some idea what real campaigning was like'.20 It seems unlikely that these events did parallel the experiences of the regular army, that a Sham Fight on the Brighton Downs could parallel combat in the Crimea. However, these gatherings seemed to foster a type of patriotic unity, while recreational pursuits including shooting were pursued. These events also provided some opportunity for travel, as attendance was funded by each corps rather than each volunteer. A blend of personal recreational entertainment with a collective display of national power is apparent in these meetings, but as well as the particular appeal of such public events for the volunteers, it is evident that large audiences were attracted to the activities of these citizen - 11 - soldiers. One example, of a Review in Hyde Park on 23 June 1860, provides evidence of this. `Timon' was a Nottingham rifleman who attended the Review and wrote an account six years later. This subjective recollection suggests that enthusiasm for the voluntary movement was sustained by the collective occasion: [...] the guns sound again, to inform us that the review [...] was over; and then by a union of feeling, which sometimes, but not often, moves large numbers, a tremendous shout rose from the Volunteers, and was re-echoed back from the masses of spectators. Cheer after cheer rung through the park, the scene of the first Volunteer Review, since Volunteers had become an Institution; hats were thrown aloft and upheld on bayonets, regardless of the injury to our head-gear in the exuberance of our feelings, and it is said that as responsive shouts came from the distance, all testifying to the loyalty of civilians and civilian-soldiers, that our Queen was not unmoved [.]21 Timon's impressionistic account cannot be verified in every detail, but if it is compared to a column in the Nottingham Journal, which appeared just days after the Review, some common points seem significant: The surface of Hyde Park is, in fact, an elevated plateau, sinking at the extremities into low wood and water. The spectators being arranged along one side of the plateau and the troops on the other, the latter showed only their front rank, the rest of the mass receding down the slope. Accordingly, the great force in the field was only perceptible when, as it were, it melted into motion, and flowed round the field past the spectators and the royal stand.22 What unites these descriptions, both coloured by an obvious desire to promote the efficacy of the Volunteer Force, is the insistence on an almost incomprehensible mass of participants and - 12 - spectators. `Timon' focuses on evocative sounds that communicated a successful conclusion to the Review, and the Journal columnist notes general movement, rather than particular manoeuvres, to evoke the numbers present. Although there are no specific figures for the event, by 1 October 1860 enrolled volunteers numbered 119,146, so this was certain to be a large gathering of citizens. The annual event became a vast performance of national pride and national unity: both accounts conclude by insisting that the Review united participants, spectators and the monarch, who were all here engaged with the volunteer force as a recreational pursuit.23 PLACES OF PERFORMANCE FOR THE ROBIN HOOD RIFLES The collective experience at Hyde Park was an exercise in nationalism, a large scale version of the advertisement of ideal social order that could be found in the public appearances by volunteers in their local communities. It is at this point that the concept of space, of the ways in which these volunteers were present and interacted with their audience, becomes significant. Focusing upon the activities of the Rifles in Nottingham, the rest of this article will explore that subject. Supervised by the Duke of Newcastle, as Lord Lieutenant, and based in premises on his land in the grounds of Nottingham Castle, the Rifles became integral to the civic life of Nottingham from May 1859 onwards. The use of the Castle is significant; the building itself was derelict, burnt out during protests against the previous Duke's opposition to the 1832 Reform Bill. The use made of the area by a group of citizen soldiers recalls the argument of William Mathews, cited above, that political dissent might be overcome by the presence of the volunteers. Built on a hill overlooking the town, the castle remained a strategic and a focal point, characteristics that could be co-opted by any individual or group associated with the site. This had been the case when supporters of electoral reform set fire to the property in 1831, and was so - 13 - when the first two Rifle companies developed land to the east of the building as their parade ground, a space where orthodox patriotic behaviour could be enacted and also witnessed by citizens of Nottingham. For as has been established, although the Volunteer Force was an advertisement of the nation's defensive capabilities, its activities were witnessed, primarily, by a domestic rather than an overseas audience. Public events featuring the Rifles were influenced by aspects of military behavior, including choreographed movement and formal dress, that carried connotations of control and order. Anthropologist Don Handelman notes the relationship between many forms of public event and social order: Public events are locations of communication that convey participants into versions of social order in relatively coherent ways. As the flow of living so often is not, public events are put together to communicate comparatively well-honed messages. If the flow of mundane living may be quite uncertain in terms of direction and outcome, the converse is true of public events. In the extreme case, they are operators of, and on, social order.24 This idea of a consciously structured event conveying a favoured version of social order seems applicable to the activities of the volunteers in their local communities, and in Nottingham the presence of a military collective would not have been novel for spectators. Certainly, at the time when a volunteer force was formed, the presence of the professional military in Nottingham was advertised and used to encourage spectators to attend a wide range of events. For example, when a company of the Royal Artillery was stationed in Nottingham during April 1858, they not only conducted manoeuvres at sites throughout the town, but also acted as patrons for particular programmes at the Theatre Royal. Reporting on a benefit night, the 9 April 1858, the Nottingham Journal notes: - 14 - Mr. C Goodall's benefit last Friday evening was well attended, and the performances passed off satisfactorily. The patronage of Captain Leslie and his other officers of the Royal Artillery, now stationed in Nottingham, was obtained for the occasion, and they, with many of the men of that corps, including some who arrived in the town on Friday en route for Woolwich, were present.25 As well as moving through the town of Nottingham during training exercises and formal parades, watched by sizeable audiences, the Rifles replicated the behaviour of the professional military who visited the town, for example acting as patrons for gala evenings at the theatre and conducting `church parades', which involved marching in uniform to attend religious services. For example, on 11 November 1859, a musical entertainment at the Mechanics' Institute, Miss Clara Seyton's The Omnibus, was advertised as `Under the Patronage of the Nottingham Robin Hood Rifles'.26 The patronage of civic leaders and local gentry was often sought by productions at the Theatre Royal and the Mechanics'; that the production would seek the patronage of the Rifles indicates the status of the corps in the town. This collective performed a version of national unity in the streets and performance venues of Nottingham, and it is apparent that the behaviour of these men as volunteers aimed to influence the conduct of spectators. MAPPING THE ROBIN HOOD RIFLES The Robin Hood Rifles worked to advertise a form of national unity, whether as performers in drills and parades or while ostensibly acting as spectators to theatrical and civic performances. In doing so, they played an integral role in the social and performance culture of the town, their behaviour as volunteers influencing, in turn, the behaviour of both spectators and society as the Rifles moved through and occupied key sites in Nottingham. However, this influence on behaviour was not consistent. Personal accounts portray a particular kind of tension - 15 - that was prompted by the presence of the Rifles on the streets of Nottingham, between enforced order and potential dissent. To return, once more, to Simpkins, and to his account of the first formal inspection by the Duke of Newcastle, on 20 August 1859, the stationer notes the relative inexperience of volunteers, and the consequent reactions of young spectators: The company gathered in the Market Place on the morning of 20th August and, headed by a hastily assembled band, marched briskly away `en route' for Patchitt's park and the first taste of military glory. Unfortunately the ensuing spectacle failed to reach the dizzy heights predicted for it; the band were far from inspiring, the men were without uniforms or rifles, and the parade was dogged by a relentless mob of scruffy urchins, who kept up a constant barrage of derisive remarks until the last of the gallant 400 disappeared through the gates of the big house. A repeat performance was inflicted upon the self-conscious marchers during their progress back to town.27 This memoir is in contrast to the precise description of manoeuvres in the press; the Nottingham Journal described this event as a `military display' where `the spectator may well fancy somewhat of the realities of actual warfare, as the mimic bands of gallant volunteers take up their assigned positions, turn themselves into tiny squares, or advance in skirmishing order', recalling Handelman's description of public events portraying versions of social order in `relatively coherent' ways.28 It is apparent that in practice, interaction with the audience compromised the authority of the volunteers as a collective, and indeed, even when the Rifles became more skilled, the influence of spectators upon the conduct of the volunteers remained significant. Samuel Collinson joined the Rifles on 21 June 1859, and as Secretary to the Nottingham Chamber of Commerce he typified the earliest entrants to the Volunteer Force. Collinson's diary provides information on the interaction between volunteers and spectators: - 16 - Thursday May 24th 1860 Queen's Birthday. Evening the Robin Hood Rifles assembled at the Castle, 500 strong. From there they marched to the Park, headed by the Colonel. Grand Parade. Fired a `feu de joie', formed square for Cavalry, free firing from right faces, volley from kneeling ranks. Reform column, deploy into line, fire a volley, charge in line [...] Oh! the excitement of the soldiers, and the rushing about amongst the crowd, such squeezing and tumbling about head over heels among the `gamins'. The charge was too rapid and the word halt could not be heard, the line charged right up to the crowd, it was very dangerous. It is calculated that at least 20,000 spectators were on the ground and the whole affair was very well got through. The Battalion afterwards marched to the Market Place and was dismissed.29 As in Simpkins' account, the contrast between well-choreographed manoeuvres and physical contact with the crowd emphasises that this was a group of men enacting social order within their own communities, a company of soldiers made up of friends, neighbours, husbands, brothers; local citizen-soldiers who were known to many spectators. Such familiarity between the volunteers and their audience, a particular and intimate performer-spectator relationship, was one reason why the Rifles became integral to civic life in Nottingham, but rather than imposing absolute authority upon crowds or confronting serious opposition when on manoeuvres, these accounts both suggest that the volunteers were challenged to maintain discipline and to demonstrate martial skill as a local volunteer force, encountering a local audience. Mapping the information provided by Simpkins or Collinson, and displaying the presence of both volunteers and spectators in a certain space at a particular time, allows for further analysis of how the volunteers moved through Nottingham, and of their relationship to - 17 - spectators, enabling a more thoroughgoing reading of this tension between integration - as brothers, husbands, sons and townspeople - and separation as a uniformed and trained militia engaged in displays of authority within the town. To take the example from Collinson: Figure 1 here: Movement of the Robin Hood Rifles through the town of Nottingham during Queen's birthday celebration, 24 May 1860. [All images are sections from a map of Nottingham drawn up by Edward Salmon in 1861, reproduced by permission of Nottingham City Libraries Local Studies Library] When the route of the march is charted on a map of the town, it is apparent that the volunteers had room for a large scale parade in the Castle grounds and the Park area. Although Collinson's estimate of 20,000 spectators can not be confirmed, it is clear that this was one section of the town with space for large gatherings, but the march by 500 volunteers in to the Market Place highlights the fact that the Rifles also moved through the smaller streets of the town, and needed to negotiate both the restricted areas and the individuals sharing these spaces. Mapping events like this enables the researcher to chart the presence of the Robin Hood Rifles and the challenges to the discipline and authority this collective sought to convey, as presented by the physical layout of the town, and by the actions of spectators. Mapping the activity and presence of the Rifles at events within the town also highlights their sustained engagement with the civic culture of Nottingham, showing how they became integral to that culture during the mid-nineteenth century. Frequent reports in local newspapers show that the Rifles managed to retain a distinctive presence in the community, for example by initiating fundraising events for charitable causes. On 17 February 1865, the No. 1 Company gave a public reading in the town's Exchange Hall, on behalf of a public soup kitchen, with entrance charged at 1s. or 6d. Throughout the evening, individual volunteers undertook piano - 18 - recitals and readings, including two extracts from Dickens and a reading of Tennyson's `Ode to the Death of the Duke of Wellington' by Rifles founder J.G. Simpkins. While raising money for a Nottingham charity, he could not resist the temptation to remind his audience of the Napoleonic Wars, and by association a subsequent threat of invasion that justified the presence of volunteer riflemen in the town. This is one more example of how volunteers were involved in multiple aspects of civic life in addition to public drills and manoeuvres, another prime example being their role in the opening ceremony for the Nottingham and Midland Counties Working Classes Industrial Exhibition in September 1865.30 This Exhibition was intrinsically linked to the evolving civic identity of Nottingham during the period, including the growing range of leisure activities that were characteristic of the town. By the mid-1860s two new sites of performance had appeared in the town, characterised by their position to the north of the Market Place, an area which was undergoing significant regeneration. During September 1865 these new sites were opened: a newly constructed hall housing the Industrial Exhibition on Shakespeare Street, and a new Theatre Royal at the top of Market Street, where the Rifles acted as patrons for specific performances, such as a Grand Fashionable Night on 1 November 1865, when a programme of comedies was staged.31 These buildings were in close proximity to the Mechanics' Institute, where the Rifles were frequently involved in entertainments to raise money for charitable causes, such as a `Grand Military Concert' in April 1865 by the Robin Hood Rifles Band. It is possible to analyse the presence and influence of the volunteers in the town by 1865 through working with such precise examples: Figure 2 here: Selection of locations for public events involving the Robin Hood Rifles in the town of Nottingham, 1865. 1 - Nottingham and Midland Counties Working Classes - 19 - Industrial Exhibition building, 2 - New Theatre Royal, 3 Mechanics' Institute, 4 Exchange Hall within the Market Place. Charting these few activities, it becomes apparent that, rather than being restricted to the Castle and Park areas, the Rifles were present at sites throughout the town, and at key events - civic, charitable, and theatrical - which were integral to the ongoing public life of Nottingham during the 1860s. As with the earlier map, it becomes clear that the volunteers would be present not only in the venues but on the streets, a regular focus for spectators and a frequent characteristic of public events in the town. Some opposition to their presence can be charted in personal accounts, yet this kind of analysis of their presence at prominent sites over time further establishes their role as the characteristic representation of social order in this mid-nineteenthcentury urban environment. Although the actual order imposed was compromised by their proximity to a dynamic audience within Nottingham, the mapping of the Rifles can assist in determining the extent of their presence, and of the role they performed, within the life of the town. CONCLUSION On 3 October 1861, during the annual Goose Fair, there was an inspection of the Robin Hood Rifles: The site chosen for the review was the cricket-ground on the Forest [...] The number of all ranks on the round was nearly 700, and about half-past two they slowly wheeled out of the Castle lodge, the band marching ahead [...] The line of route was up the Hollows, Pastern-street, Wellington-circus, North Circus-street, Vernon-street, Clarendon-street, and Waverley-street. Their progress was somewhat impeded by the immense mass of - 20 - spectators that accompanied them on their march. The volunteers arrived at the place of review a few minutes after three.32 Reading this account from a local newspaper, it is possible to conjecture that such an extravagant event, requiring the Rifles to move through many areas in the town of Nottingham, was arranged for this week so that visitors to Goose Fair could witness the proficiency of the volunteers; special trains from surrounding counties brought a tourist audience that increased the number of potential spectators. However, the amateur soldiers had no overt relationship with the main attractions of Goose Fair, which took place annually in the Market Place, unlike for example Manders' Menagerie and also Edwards' Panorama, in the Exchange Hall on the Eastern side of the site. Yet when we map the movements of the Rifles in relation to the Fair, we can begin to precisely examine the relationship between two distinct events, and the audiences that were present for them: Figure 3 here: Route taken by the Robin Hood Rifles for inspection on 3 October 1861. In combining evidence relating to these two public events, Goose Fair and the Rifles inspection, and representing the sites for these events on a map, the issue of proximity is highlighted. It becomes apparent that the large audience for Fair events shared the centre of Nottingham with the volunteer soldiers, and the process of charting not just these events, but also their audiences, is initiated. The choice of route offered the Rifles a chance to display their skills and presence to a larger audience than was usual, but also perhaps provided the civic authorities with a display of military presence which was welcome in the context of an influx of strangers and fair-goers to the town. Focus here upon the activities of the Rifles in and beyond Nottingham over the first years of their existence is not meant, primarily, as an extension to existing work on the nineteenth - 21 - century Rifle Volunteer Movement. Rather, I have dealt with the first years of the Robin Hood Rifles to establish how an investigation of event and context might be aided and enriched by the literal mapping of the surviving evidence of their presence within Nottingham. As researchers, the particular moment of an event, such as a parade by the Robin Hood Rifles, must be investigated in relationship to its wider context, the factors that create an environment where the event will occur. In this case such factors include Britain's altering relationship with France, a desire to promote internal accord in the aftermath of protests over electoral reform, the increasing popularity of rifle shooting, the desire of independent businessmen like Simpkins to form a civilian adjunct to the regular army, and increased diversity in nineteenth-century leisure pursuits. By considering both event and context via a resource, a map, that emphasises the physical presence of all event participants in a particular space at a given time, it becomes possible to begin to examine the relationship between social performers - here the volunteers and their audiences, and to chart that interaction alongside broader contextual issues relating to the developing civic identity of Nottingham. Moving beyond abstract consideration of how control was exercised by these volunteer soldiers, or any simple acceptance of the few personal accounts of volunteers and the reception they received from spectators, it is an approach that allows for consideration of a particular environment shared by the Robin Hood Rifles and witnesses to their activity at a particular historical moment. [6828 words; 7248 with endnotes] Endnotes: 1 Account reproduced in R. Iliffe and W. Bagueley, Victorian Nottingham: Volume 15 (1975), 5. 2 Both the original building at St. Mary's Gate and then the `new' Theatre Royal at the top of Market Street, opened in September 1865. - 22 - 3 Initial research for this article was undertaken as part of an AHRC-funded project, `Mapping Performance Culture: Nottingham 1857-1867', running from 2006-2009 at the University of Nottingham (www.nottingham.ac.uk/mapmoment). Led by Dr. Jo Robinson in collaboration with Dr. Gary Priestnall (School of Geography), and in partnership with the Manuscripts and Special collections at the University of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire County Archives, Nottingham City Local Studies Library, Brewhouse Yard Museum Nottingham and the East Midlands Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, this project investigated performance and entertainment in Nottingham through development of an intuitive interactive map and Research database which layered social, cultural and economic data onto a spatial representation of the town. 4 J. P. Parry, `The Impact of Napoleon III on British Politics, 1851-1880', Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, 6th Ser., 11 (2001), 147-175, 149. 5 Quoted in Parry, 149. 6 I. Beckett, Riflemen Form: A Study of the Rifle Volunteer Movement 1859-1908 (1982), 15. 7 Times (23 Sep. 1857). 8 Quoted in H. Cunningham, The Volunteer Force, a social and political history, 1859-1908 (1975), 28. 9 Quoted in Cunningham, 13. 10 It is not the purpose of this article to consider the social demographic of the movement, but close analysis of archive material can be found in Beckett, 39-89. 11 Iliffe and Bagueley, 5. 12 Illustrated London News (January 1860). 13 Beckett, 55. 14 D. Capern, A Short History of the Principal Events in Connexion with the Volunteer Force, From its Origin in 1859 to the Present Time (1871), 2. 15 Nottingham Journal (30 December 1859). 16 Iliffe and Bagueley, 5. 17 P. Bailey, Leisure and Class in Victorian England (1978), 5. 18 Times (29 June 1860). 19 Nottingham Journal (2 September 1859). 20 H. W. Hummel, The Discipline of the Volunteer Force (1877), 9. 21 Quoted in Iliffe and Baguley, 20. 22 Nottingham Journal (29 June 1860). 23 Statistic taken from Cunningham, 47. 24 D. Handelman, Models and mirrors: towards an anthropology of public events (1990), 15. - 23 - 25 Nottingham Journal (9 April 1858). 26 Nottingham Journal (11 November 1859). 27 Iliffe and Bagueley, 6. 28 Nottingham Journal (26 August 1859); Handelman, 15. 29 Samuel Collinson Diary, Volume 2, 1858-1870, Nottinghamshire Archives, M383.30 30 Coverage of these events were printed in two local newspapers: the Nottingham Journal and the Nottingham and Midland Counties Daily Express. 31 Don Cжsar de Bazan, An Object of Interest, and Steeple Chase were performed by the Theatre Royal company. 32 Nottingham Journal (4 October 1861). - 24 - L Sutherland File: mapping-the-robin-hood-rifles-in-mid-nineteenth-century-nottingham.pdf Title: Microsoft Word - Sutherland Mapping Article Author: L Sutherland Author: Christine Middleton Published: Fri Oct 13 19:31:28 2017 , pages, 0 Mb COURSE BOOKS, 22 pages, 1.91 Mb The Web is dead. 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__label__cc	0.731695	0.268305	20.916(6) (6) Payment for unauthorized travel prohibited. The payment of travel expenses not authorized by statute is prohibited. Any unauthorized payment made shall be recoverable as for debt from the person to whom made. 20.916(7) (7) Personal use of state vehicles and aircraft. With the approval of the secretary of administration, a state officer or employee may use a state-owned motor vehicle or state-owned aircraft for personal use. An officer or employee shall reimburse the state for personal use of a state-owned motor vehicle at the same reimbursement rate provided an employee by the state for the use of his or her privately owned automobile on state business as approved in the schedule under sub. (8). An officer or employee shall reimburse the state for personal use of a state-owned aircraft at a rate determined by the secretary of administration that covers all costs associated with the operation of the aircraft. 20.916(8) (8) Uniform travel schedule amounts; allowances. 20.916(8)(a) (a) The administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration shall recommend to the joint committee on employment relations uniform travel schedule amounts for travel by state officers and employees whose compensation is established under s. 20.923 or 230.12. Such amounts shall include maximum permitted amounts for meal and lodging costs, other allowable travel expenses under sub. (9) (d), and porterage tips, except as authorized under s. 16.53 (12) (c). In lieu of the maximum permitted amounts for expenses under sub. (9) (b), (c), and (d), the administrator may recommend to the committee a per diem amount and method of reimbursement for any or all expenses under sub. (9) (b), (c), and (d). 20.916(8)(b) (b) The approval process for the uniform travel schedule amounts under this subsection shall be the same as that provided under s. 230.12 (3) (b). The approved amounts for the uniform travel schedule shall be incorporated into the compensation plan under s. 230.12 (1). 20.916(9) (9) Reimbursement for travel expenses. 20.916(9)(a) (a) Definitions. In this subsection, unless the context otherwise requires: 20.916(9)(a)1d. 1d. “Appointing authority" has the meaning given in s. 230.03 (4). 20.916(9)(a)1m. 1m. “Employee" means any officer or employee of the state and any legislator or board member entitled to actual, reasonable and necessary expenses. 20.916(9)(a)2. 2. “Headquarters city", “headquarters village" and “headquarters town" include the area within the city, village or town limits, if any, where an employee's permanent work site is located and the area within a radius of 15 miles from the employee's permanent work site. 20.916(9)(a)3. 3. “Reasonable" means not extreme or excessive. 20.916(9)(b) (b) Lodging. Subject to the limitations under sub. (8) and s. 16.53 (12) (c), all reimbursement claims for lodging must be accompanied by a receipt. 20.916(9)(c) (c) Meals. Subject to the limitations under sub. (8) and s. 16.53 (12) (c), employees shall be reimbursed for all reasonable amounts expended for their own meals incurred in the performance of their official duties. Receipts for meals are not required except for claims in excess of the maximum amount, which must be accompanied by a receipt and full explanation of the reasonableness of such expense. 20.916(9)(d) (d) Other allowable travel expenses. Employees shall be reimbursed for actual, reasonable, and necessary expenses, including specifically laundry, telephone, facsimile, porterage, and tips, when traveling on state business, but not to exceed any limitations or maximums established by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration under sub. (8) and s. 16.53 (12) (c). 20.916(9)(e) (e) Expenses in an employee's headquarters city, village, or town. Employees who are headquartered in a city, village, or town in which the expense occurs shall be reimbursed for their actual, reasonable, and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of official duties only on the approval of the appointing authority of the state agency at which the employee is employed. This does not apply to travel between an employee's residence and the city, village, or town in which the employee is headquartered, which shall not be reimbursable. 20.916(9)(f) (f) Transportation. Employees shall be reimbursed for their actual transportation expenses when traveling in the performance of their official duties, subject to the following limitations: 20.916(9)(f)1. 1. `Scheduled air travel.' Reimbursement for air travel shall be limited to the lowest appropriate airfare, as determined by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration. An employee may be reimbursed for air travel at a rate other than the lowest appropriate airfare only if the employee submits a written explanation of the reasonableness of the expense. 20.916(9)(f)2. 2. `Train.' Travel by train shall be limited to coach, if available, unless overnight, where accommodations should be limited to roomette. 20.916(9)(f)3. 3. `Reimbursement.' Receipt limits for all claims for reimbursement of transportation expense shall be established by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration in the compensation plan under s. 230.12. 20.916(10) (10) Applicability. This section shall not apply to officers or employees of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. 20.916 History History: 1971 c. 261, 270; 1973 c. 51; 1973 c. 90 s. 560 (3); 1973 c. 333; 1975 c. 39; 1975 c. 189 ss. 16, 99 (1), (2); 1975 c. 224, 421, 422; 1977 c. 418 ss. 192m to 195, 924 (18) (b); 1979 c. 221, 328, 355; 1981 c. 317; 1983 a. 27, 140, 495; 1985 a. 34; 1989 a. 31, 107; 1989 a. 125 ss. 2 to 8, 14; 1991 a. 39, 316; 1993 a. 12, 246; 1995 a. 27 ss. 1187, 9126 (19); 1995 a. 37; 2001 a. 16, 103; 2003 a. 33 ss. 708 to 713, 9160; 2003 a. 117; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 146; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20 ss. 2365m, 9448; 2015 a. 55. 20.916 Annotation The department of administration may not impose a requirement of demonstrating automobile liability insurance coverage and possession of a valid operator's license upon state employees as a condition for entitlement to reimbursement for travel expense. 59 Atty. Gen. 47. 20.917 20.917 Moving expenses; temporary lodging allowance. 20.917(1)(1) 20.917(1)(a) (a) Whenever an employee currently employed in a position in the civil service, other than on a limited term basis, is ordered to relocate or is promoted to a different position in the civil service and the new place of employment requires in the judgment of the new appointing authority at the new place of employment, or in the judgment of the appointing authority in an intra-agency relocation or promotion, a change in location of residence, the appointing authority shall authorize payment of the employee's actual and necessary expense of transporting the employee and the immediate members of the employee's family to the new place of residence and for the transportation of the employee's household effects to the new place of residence. 20.917(1)(b) (b) Payment under this section for an employee who relocates as a result of transfer or demotion made at the employee's request is at the discretion of the new appointing authority, or in an intra-agency transfer or demotion at the employee's request, at the discretion of the appointing authority of the state agency at which the employee is employed. 20.917(1)(c) (c) Payment for moving expenses may be granted to a person reporting to his or her first place of employment or reporting upon reemployment after leaving the civil service, if payment is recommended by the appointing authority and approved in writing by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration prior to the time when the move is made. 20.917(1)(d) (d) Payment may not be granted if the distance between the old and new residences of the employee is less than a minimum distance established by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration for payment of moving expenses. 20.917(1)(e) (e) In addition to other costs payable under this subsection, an employee who is eligible for payment of moving expenses under par. (a) shall be paid a stipend in an amount established in the compensation plan under s. 230.12 for preparation of household effects incident to moving and other moving expenses not otherwise reimbursable under this section. An employee who is eligible for payment under par. (b) may, at the discretion of the appointing authority, be paid a stipend of not more than the amount established in the compensation plan under s. 230.12 for preparation of household effects incident to moving and other moving expenses not otherwise reimbursable under this section. An appointee who receives a payment under par. (c) may, at the discretion of the appointing authority, be paid a stipend of not more than the amount established in the compensation plan under s. 230.12 for preparation of household effects incident to moving and other moving expenses not otherwise reimbursable under this section. 20.917(2) (2) 20.917(2)(a)(a) The administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration may establish a maximum amount for payment of any employee moving costs under sub. (1) (a) to (c). This amount shall be submitted for the approval of the joint committee on employment relations in the manner provided in s. 20.916 (8), and upon approval shall become a part of the compensation plan under s. 230.12 (1). 20.917(2)(b) (b) The amount of reimbursement for transporting the employee and his or her immediate family to the new place of residence may not exceed the cost of automobile travel at the rate determined under s. 20.916 (4). 20.917(2)(c) (c) No more than 2 reimbursements under sub. (1) may be granted to any employee in a calendar year. Each reimbursement shall be approved and paid in the same manner as provided for the payment of travel expenses under s. 20.916. 20.917(2m) (2m) An individual who is living outside the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia and who incurs moving and transportation expenses for the purpose of reporting to his or her first place of employment or reporting upon reemployment after leaving the civil service to a location within the contiguous 48 states or District of Columbia may be paid for actual, necessary and reasonable expenses incurred, if the reimbursement is recommended and approved in the manner prescribed in sub. (1) (c). Any such payment may not exceed the maximum amounts available for an individual who incurs such expenses upon appointment to a position in the federal government, as prescribed by applicable federal regulation. The payments under this subsection are in lieu of those otherwise payable under subs. (1) and (2). 20.917(3)(a)(a) An appointing authority may recommend payment of a temporary lodging allowance for not to exceed 45 days to an employee or person reporting to employment in the civil service, other than on a limited term basis, if the employee or person is eligible for moving expense reimbursement under sub. (1), whether or not that reimbursement is granted, and must establish a temporary residence at his or her headquarters city, village or town, subject to the following: 20.917(3)(a)1. 1. Lodging allowances shall be in accordance with the schedule established by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration, but may not exceed the rate established under s. 13.123 (1) (a) 1. 20.917(3)(a)2. 2. Lodging allowance payments are subject to prior approval in writing by the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration. 20.917(3)(a)3. 3. Claims for lodging allowances shall be approved and paid in the same manner as travel expenses. 20.917(3)(b) (b) This subsection applies to employees in all positions in the civil service, including those employees in positions included in collective bargaining units under subch. V of ch. 111, whether or not the employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. 20.917(5)(a)(a) To encourage affirmative action, as defined in s. 230.03 (2), at the correctional facilities under s. 302.01, the department of corrections may, from the appropriation under s. 20.410 (1) (a), reimburse an employee for any of the following expenses incurred during the first 30 days of employment or the first 30 days following successful completion of a preservice training program: 20.917(5)(a)1. 1. All or a portion of one month's rent, if the employee does not receive a temporary lodging allowance; 20.917(5)(a)2. 2. All or a portion of a rental security deposit, not to exceed one month's rent; and 20.917(5)(a)3. 3. The cost of transportation between the employee's home and headquarters city, village or town, not to exceed the cost of 4 round trips. 20.917(5)(b) (b) Payments under this subsection are in addition to any payments made under sub. (1). Payments under this subsection may be made only with the prior written approval of the administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration. 20.917(6) (6) The administrator of the division of personnel management in the department of administration may, in writing, delegate to an appointing authority the authority to approve reimbursement for moving expenses under sub. (1) (c), a temporary lodging allowance under sub. (3) (a) 2. or expenses under sub. (5) (b). 20.917 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1975 c. 39; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (9) (f); 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 32; 1981 c. 20, 140; 1981 c. 347 ss. 7, 8, 80 (2) and (4); 1981 c. 391; 1983 a. 27 ss. 581 to 586, 2200 (15); 1983 a. 30, 192; 1985 a. 34; 1987 a. 32; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 12, 16, 246; 2003 a. 33 ss. 714 to 719, 9160; 2003 a. 117; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 10; 2015 a. 55. 20.918 20.918 Damaged personal articles. A state agency may reimburse its employees for the cost of repairing articles of clothing, watches or eye glasses damaged in the line of duty, if the damage is not caused by employee carelessness or normal wear and tear resulting from the type of work performed by an employee. If the clothing, watch or eye glasses are damaged beyond repair, a state agency may pay an employee an amount not exceeding the actual value of the clothing, watch or eye glasses as determined by the employee's appointing authority. Payments under this section are subject to the approval of the appointing authority and shall not exceed the amount specified in the compensation plan under s. 230.12. Payments shall not be approved for damage to an item if the actual value or repair cost is less than an amount set forth in the compensation plan under s. 230.12. 20.918 History History: 1989 a. 119. 20.919 20.919 Notary public. Each state agency may expend from its proper appropriation a sum sufficient to pay all fees and expenses necessarily incurred in qualifying an employee as a notary public, and securing a notarial seal or rubber stamp, but such notary shall receive no fees for notarial services rendered to the state. 20.920 20.920 Contingent funds. 20.920(1)(1) Definitions. In this section: 20.920(1)(a) (a) “Agency head" means the constitutional officer, secretary, commissioner, executive or administrative officer or body serving as appointing authority for staff of a state agency. 20.920(1)(b) (b) “Contingent fund" means an amount of money set aside for a state agency to use in making small payments. 20.920(1)(c) (c) “Secretary" means the secretary of administration. 20.920(2) (2) Establishment. 20.920(2)(a)(a) With the approval of the secretary, each state agency may establish a contingent fund. The secretary shall determine the funding source for each contingent fund, total amount of the fund, and maximum payment from the fund. 20.920(2)(b) (b) No part of a contingent fund may be utilized to pay the salary or wages of an employee of a state agency. 20.920(2)(c) (c) All moneys in a contingent fund, except petty cash accounts established under s. 16.52 (7), shall be deposited in a separate account in a public depository approved by the secretary or his or her designee. The agency head of each state agency having a contingent fund is responsible for all disbursements from the fund, but the agency head may delegate the responsibility for administration of the fund to a custodian, who shall be an employee of the agency. State agency invoices which qualify for payment from a contingent fund may be paid by check, share draft or other draft drawn by the agency head or custodian against the account. No such invoice need be submitted for audit prior to disbursement. After making each disbursement, the agency head shall file with the secretary a claim for reimbursement of the contingent fund on a voucher which shall be accompanied by a copy of the invoice to be reimbursed. Upon audit and approval of the claim by the secretary, the department of administration shall reimburse the contingent fund with the total amount lawfully paid therefrom. 20.920 History History: 1985 a. 29; 2003 a. 33; 2017 a. 59. 20.921 20.921 Deductions from salaries. 20.921(1)(1) Optional deductions. 20.921(1)(a)(a) Any state officer or employee or any employee of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority may request in writing through the state agency in which the officer or employee is employed or through the authority that a specified part of the officer's or employee's salary be deducted and paid by the state or by the authority to a payee designated in such request for any of the following purposes: 20.921(1)(a)1. 1. The purchase of U.S. savings bonds. 20.921(1)(a)2. 2. If the state employee is a public safety employee under s. 111.81 (15r), payment of dues to employee organizations. 20.921(1)(a)2m. 2m. Payment of amounts owed to state agencies or to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority by the employee. 20.921(1)(a)2n. 2n. Payment of amounts owed as child support, maintenance payments or family support. 20.921(1)(a)3. 3. Payment of premiums for group hospital and surgical-medical insurance or plan, group life insurance, and other group insurance, where such groups consist of state officers and employees or employees of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority and where such insurance or plans are provided or approved by the group insurance board. 20.921(1)(a)4. 4. Other group or charitable purposes approved by the governor and the department of administration under the rules of the department of administration for state officers or employees, or by the board of directors of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority for authority employees. 20.921(1)(a)5. 5. Payment into an employee-funded reimbursement account maintained by an employee-funded reimbursement account provider under subch. VIII of ch. 40. 20.921(1)(a)6. 6. Payment into a health savings account established for that officer or employee under s. 40.515. 20.921(1)(b) (b) Except as provided in s. 111.84 (1) (f), the request under par. (a) shall be made to the state agency or to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority in the form and manner and contain the directions and information prescribed by each state agency or by the authority. The request may be withdrawn or the amount paid to the payee may be changed by notifying the state agency or the authority to that effect, but no such withdrawal or change shall affect a payroll certification already prepared. 20.921(1)(bm) (bm) Any state officer or employee or any employee of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority may request in writing that a specified part of his or her salary be deferred under a deferred compensation plan of a deferred compensation plan provider selected under s. 40.80. The request shall be made to the state agency or to the authority in the form and manner prescribed in the deferred compensation plan and may be withdrawn as prescribed in that plan. 20.921(1)(c) (c) Written requests under this subsection shall be filed with the state agency or the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority and shall constitute authority to the state agency or to the authority to make certification for each such officer or employee and for payment of the amounts so deducted or deferred. 20.921(1)(d) (d) 20.921(1)(d)1.1. For the purpose of handling savings bond purchases, each state agency not on the central payroll system and the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority shall designate an officer or employee thereof who shall serve as trustee. The trustee shall serve without compensation as such. The state agency or the authority shall furnish the trustee the necessary files, supplies and clerical and accounting assistance. Each trustee shall file with the state agency or the authority a bond in such amount as the state agency or the authority determines, with a corporation authorized to do surety business in this state as surety, which bond shall be conditioned upon the trustee's faithful execution of his or her trust. The trustee shall file another or additional bond whenever the state agency or the authority so determines. The cost of any bond required by a state agency shall be paid out of the appropriation made to the state agency for its administration. For those state agencies on the central payroll system, the trustee shall be a person designated by the secretary of administration. 20.921(1)(d)2. 2. The trustee shall make purchases of savings bonds in the name of the officer or employee, or other beneficiary named in the request, whenever the amount to their credit is sufficient for that purpose and transmit them to the person entitled thereto. If the officer or employee cancels the request for the purchase of savings bonds, or upon termination of the trust, the amount remaining to a person's credit is not sufficient to purchase a bond the trustee may purchase savings stamps and transmit them to the person entitled thereto or refund the amount. 20.921(1)(e) (e) No portion of the salary so requested to be used for the purchase of savings bonds, not exceeding 10 percent of the salary, is liable to seizure on execution or on any provisional or final process issued from any court or any proceedings in aid of that process. Section 241.09 relating to assignments shall not apply to the requests made under par. (a). 20.921(1)(f) (f) The office of the governor shall prepare a statement explaining the bond purchase plan and its purpose and transmit copies of such statement to each state agency and to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority for distribution to their officers and employees. 20.921(2) (2) Mandatory deductions. 20.921(2)(a)(a) Whenever it becomes necessary in pursuance of any federal or state law or court-ordered assignment of income under s. 46.10 (14) (e), 49.345 (14) (e), 301.12 (14) (e), 767.225 (1) (L), 767.513 (3), or 767.75 to make deductions from the salaries of state officers or employees or employees of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, the state agency or authority by which the officers or employees are employed is responsible for making those deductions and paying over the total of those deductions for the purposes provided by the laws or orders under which they were made. 20.921(2)(b) (b) The head of each state agency or the chief executive officer of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority shall deduct from the salary of any employee the amount certified under s. 7.33 (5) which is received by the employee for service as an election official while the employee is on a paid leave of absence under s. 7.33 (3). 20.921(2)(c) (c) The head of each state agency, as defined in s. 40.02 (54), shall deduct from the salary of each employee the contributions required by s. 40.05 (1) (a) as provided in s. 40.05 (1) (b). 20.921(3) (3) Procedure. 20.921(3)(a)(a) Each state agency shall indicate on its payrolls the amount to be deducted or deferred from the salary of each officer and employee, the reason for each deduction or deferral, the net amount due each officer or employee, the total amount due for each purpose for which deductions or deferrals have been made, and the person, governmental unit or private organization in each case entitled to receive the deductions or the amount deferred. The department of administration shall then issue warrants for the respective amounts due the persons listed on each payroll and the checks, share drafts and other drafts for the payments when received by the state agency shall be transmitted to the persons entitled to receive them. 20.921(3)(b) (b) All amounts deducted or retained from salaries of state officers and employees shall be paid by the department of administration from the respective funds to the person, governmental unit or private organization entitled to receive them, or for necessary adjustments to correct errors. Amounts due in payment of federal income taxes required to be deducted and withheld by any state agency shall be paid on dates required by the internal revenue code and shall be paid to qualified depositories for federal taxes designated by the secretary of administration. 20.921 History History: 1971 c. 214, 270, 336; Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 773 (1975); 1977 c. 29 s. 1649; 1977 c. 418; 1981 c. 20, 187; 1983 a. 368; 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (23) (d); 1987 a. 111, 391, 399; 1989 a. 278, 336; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 481; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 191, 237; 1999 a. 9, 32, 83; 2005 a. 443 s. 265; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 10, 32; 2013 a. 20. 20.921 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Adm 30, Wis. adm. code. /statutes/statutes/20 true statutes /statutes/statutes/20/X/917/2 Chs. 13-20, General Organization of the State, Except the Judiciary statutes/20.917(2) statutes/20.917(2) section true	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1923
__label__wiki	0.578123	0.578123	First Farm Day Ceremony چهارشنبه بیست و چهارم مهر 1398 The National Shrimp Farm Day ceremony was held in Bushehr under the title of Optimized Shrimp Farming Management \| visite: 266 \| 0 comments The National Shrimp Farm Day ceremony was held in the presence of managers, researchers, regional promoters and activists of the shrimp industry under the title of Optimized Shrimp Farming Management with the approach of transfer of knowledge and technology and sustainable development. The ceremony was held at the Shrimp Research Institute of Iran, Bushehr province. The First National Shrimp Farm Day ceremony attended by Dr. Bahmani, the director of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute, (Dr. Bahmani focused on the status of the shrimp industry, the potentials, challenges and necessities for improvement and sustainable shrimp farming) Dr. Bazargan, the deputy director of research and technology of the Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, (Dr. Bazargan emphasized the need for socio - economic studies of shrimp markets and the supply chain) Dr. Zarrin Far, the deputy director of economic affairs and resource development of the Bushehr Governorate, (Dr. Zarrinfar pointed to the important and good position of the shrimp industry and mentioned that completing and establishing the infrastructure and pursuing the health of production in the shrimp industry is one of the important programs of the province) and Mr. Zendeh Boudi, the head of the Bushehr Department of Fisheries, Mr. Abbasi, the head of the Shrimp Farmers' Union of the province, Mr. Pakari, the representative of the collaborative farmers in extension projects as well as Mr. Qodsi, the collaborative farmer in extension projects, (they addressed serious problems and concerns of producers in different fields for provincial managers and research and agricultural extension managers of the Organization of Agriculture- Jahad). Dr. Bahmani pointed to the research and extension projects in the south and north of the country, diseases and ways of disease management, processing, market and the importance of optimal management of shrimp farming as the aquaculture extension policies of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute for the sustainable development of the shrimp industry. The director of t the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute at the National Shrimp Farm Day ceremony (under the title of Optimized Shrimp Farming Management) in Bushehr said: White spot disease is one of the viral - borne diseases that caused many casualties and losses. The disease is now under control and management of shrimp farming appears to be one of the most important factors that can control the white spot disease in the shrimp industry in both larvae and shrimp broodstock. The Shrimp Research Institute of Iran has launched the first SPF Shrimp Center (Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) shrimp) in a few years, producing about 4,000 pairs of shrimp as shrimp broodstock annually which accounts for 10% of the country's needs. Between 40,000 and 50,000 pairs of shrimp as shrimp broodstock are needed annually by the shrimp farming industry, now supplied by importers. He said shrimp production has grown dramatically in recent years as 47,000 tones of shrimp were produced in the country last year, which according to preliminary estimates was worth more than 1900 billion toman. In addition to the southern provinces, which are the origin of the cultured shrimp, the shrimp farming projects are in progress in the Gomishan area of the Golestan province. One of the important things to perform in the shrimp industry is the processing and the use of by - products that are on the agenda. In this regard, although much has been done by the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute and the private sector, we must be able to bring about a new transformation to make the industry more economical in the country. Probiotics are among the compounds that are exclusively extracted from the digestive tract of shrimp and researchers from the Shrimp Research Institute of Iran have so far extracted more than two probiotics, he said. More than five tones of probiotic products have been sold to the private sector this year and the knowledge of producing this product has been provided to a knowledge - based company. Hopefully, in the near future, more proprietary probiotics will be on the agenda that can help boost shrimp growth and immune system. In relation to export destinations of the country cultured shrimp, shrimp farmers export a significant portion of their production to the countries bordering the Caspian Sea including Russia and Azerbaijan as well as some European countries. Dr. Bahmani said that much of the shrimp was exported to China and Vietnam in the past. The director of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute added: If we work on issues related to the social economy, trade and commerce of shrimp with the help of the private sector and other beneficiaries in different areas, it is possible to strengthen the country's ranking regarding shrimp export status. نظرات کاربران پیرامون این مطلب	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1925
__label__wiki	0.705051	0.705051	Tag Archives: Rivers Solomon Storm Over Campbell Award Posted on August 21, 2019 by Mike Glyer The John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer has been presented at the Worldcon since 1973, two years after Campbell’s death. The 47th winner was Jeannette Ng. Will there be a 48th? Many are responding to her acceptance remarks with a call to change the name of the award. Although voting is administered by the Worldcon, the award belongs to Dell Magazines, publisher of Analog. It was named for him because Campbell edited Astounding/Analog for 34 years and in his early years at the helm he introduced Heinlein, Asimov, and many other important sf writers, reigning over what was called by the time of his death the Golden Age of SF. That cemented his legend as a discoverer of talent (regardless that in later years he passed on submissions from any number of talented newcomers incuding Samuel R. Delany and Larry Niven). A revised version of Jeanette Ng’s acceptance remarks is posted at Medium, “John W. Campbell, for whom this award was named, was a fascist”, with the profanity removed and other corrections made. A video of the actual speech is here — Jeannette Ng’s tweets about the reaction include — I am finding the people demanding that I need to first offer sacrifice before the idol of Campbell before I can receive his blessing to be quite telling. — Jeannette Ng ??? (@jeannette_ng) August 21, 2019 The list of awful things Campbell did is long, but the one that I can't stop thinking abt is his defence of the Kent State Shooting. His arguments in that editorial are not all that far off the ppl defending Hong Kong Police's brutality against protestors right now. Annalee Newitz commented: I much preferred watching you sacrifice Campbell to the gods of future art — Annalee Newitz (@Annaleen) August 21, 2019 Rivers Solomon, another Campbell nominee, posted screenshots of the acceptance speech they would have given. Thread starts here. I did not win the Campbell! That honour goes to the incredible and deserving Jeanette Ng. Here is the speech I would’ve given had I won, though. pic.twitter.com/Dxb5vyDEB0 — Rivers Solomon (@cyborgyndroid) August 19, 2019 N.K. Jemisin explains why the term “fascist” in Ng’s speech is apposite. Thread starts here. ::rubs eyes, sighs:: White supremacy is fascism. End of day, the goal is to empower an authoritarian caste-based system of governance, in part by scapegoating black& brown "enemies of the state." For fuck's sake, people, we're living it; come on, keep up. — N. K. Jemisin (@nkjemisin) August 20, 2019 My headspace for about the last 24 hours: pic.twitter.com/zPlE7KZBfv Alec Nevala-Lee, author of Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction, says: Almost exactly one year ago, I wrote a blog post about the need for a discussion about renaming the Campbell Award. It was going to happen sooner or later, and @jeannette_ng's speech might just be the spark that sets it off. https://t.co/ql7WU2f9ZC — Alec Nevala-Lee (@nevalalee) August 20, 2019 Past Campbell Award winner (2000) Cory Doctorow supported Ng in an article at Boing Boing: “Read: Jeannette Ng’s Campbell Award acceptance speech, in which she correctly identifies Campbell as a fascist and expresses solidarity with Hong Kong protesters”. Jeannette Ng’s speech was exactly the speech our field needs to hear. And the fact that she devoted the bulk of it to solidarity with the Hong Kong protesters is especially significant, because of the growing importance of Chinese audiences and fandom in sf, which exposes writers to potential career retaliation from an important translation market. There is a group of (excellent, devoted) Chinese fans who have been making noises about a Chinese Worldcon for years, and speeches like Ng’s have to make you wonder: if that ever comes to pass, will she be able to get a visa to attend? Back when the misogynist/white supremacist wing of SF started to publicly organize to purge the field of the wrong kind of fan and the wrong kind of writer, they were talking about people like Ng. I think that this is ample evidence that she is in exactly the right place, at the right time, saying the right thing. … When Ng took the mic and told the truth about his legacy, she wasn’t downplaying his importance: she was acknowledging it. Campbell’s odious ideas matter because he was important, a giant in the field who left an enduring mark on it. No one disagrees about that. What we want to talk about today is what that mark is, and what it means. Another Campbell winner, John Scalzi, tried to see all sides in “Jeannette Ng, John W. Campbell, and What Should Be Said By Whom and When” at Whatever. … You can claim the John W. Campbell Award without revering John W. Campbell, or paying him lip service, and you can criticize him, based on what you see of his track record and your interpretation of it. The award is about the writing, not about John W. Campbell, and that is a solid fact. If a recipient of the Campbell Award can’t do these things, or we want to argue that they shouldn’t, then probably we should have a conversation about whether we should change the name of the award. It wouldn’t be the first time an award in the genre has been materially changed in the fallout of someone calling out the problems with the award’s imagery. The World Fantasy Award was changed in part because Nnedi Okorafor and Sofia Samatar were public (Samatar in her acceptance speech!) about the issue of having a grotesque of blatant racist HP Lovecraft as the trophy for the award. There was a lot of grousing and complaining and whining about political correctness then, too. And yet, the award survives, and the new trophy, for what it’s worth, is gorgeous. So, yes, if this means we have to consider whether it’s time to divorce Campbell from the award, let’s have that discussion. Now, here’s a real thing: Part of the reaction to Ng’s speech is people being genuinely hurt. There are still people in our community who knew Campbell personally, and many many others one step removed, who idolize and respect the writers Campbell took under his wing. And there are people — and once again I raise my hand — who are in the field because the way Campbell shaped it as a place where they could thrive. Many if not most of these folks know about his flaws, but even so it’s hard to see someone with no allegiance to him, either personally or professionally, point them out both forcefully and unapologetically. They see Campbell and his legacy abstractly, and also as an obstacle to be overcome. That’s deeply uncomfortable. It’s also a reality. Nearly five decades separate us today from Campbell. It’s impossible for new writers today to have the same relationship to him as their predecessors in the field did, even if the influence he had on the field works to their advantage…. Bounding Into Comics’ Spencer Baculi unexpectedly followed Doctorow’s and Scalzi’s lead, even though the site often covers the work of Jon Del Arroz and Vox Day’s Alt-Comics: “2019 John W. Campbell Award Winner Jeanette Ng Labels Influential Sci-Fi Author as a “Fascist” During Acceptance Speech”. …Ng’s assessment of Campbell is undoubtedly informed by Campbell’s personal politics and beliefs and those who have written about him. Campbell argued that African-Americans were “barbarians” deserving of police brutality during the 1965 Watts Riots, as “the “brutal” actions of police consist of punishing criminal behavior.” His unpublished story All featured such racist elements that author Robert Heinlein, who built upon Campbell’s original story for his own work titled Sixth Column, had to “reslant” the story before publishing it. In the aftermath of the Kent State massacre, when speaking of the demonstrators murdered by the Ohio National Guard, Campbell stated that “I’m not interested in victims. I’m interested in heroes.” While difficult to presume where Campbell’s beliefs would place him in modern politics, it is apparent that Campbell would disagree with many of the beliefs held by modern America. Ng’s speech unsurprisingly caused backlash and outrage among some members of the literary community, with some claiming that Ng should have withheld from insulting the man whose award she was receiving. Chris M. Barkley praised Ng’s comments in his File 770 post “So Glad You (Didn’t) Ask — Special Irish Worldcon Edition, Day Four”. …I was one of the people madly cheering this speech. I posted a meme on Facebook as she was still speaking: “Jeannette Ng is AWESOME!!!!!” Moments later, swept up in the moment, I posted another meme, “I’m just gonna say it: The Name of the John W. Campbell Award SHOULD BE F**KING CHANGED!” To clamor atop a soapbox for a moment; NO, I am not advocating that the life and work of John W. Campbell, Jr. be scrubbed from history. But neither should we turn a blind, uncritical eye to his transgressions. When the winners of such a prestigious award start getting angry because the person behind it is viewed to be so vile and reprehensible, that ought to be acknowledged as well…. Mark Blake honored a request to comment about Campbell on Facebook. For a brief period a few years ago, my byline was prominently associated with the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. This was not because I’d ever won such an award, or even appeared on the ballot (I was never a nominee), but rather because I assembled anthologies for the purpose of showcasing new writers during their two-year window of eligibility, as an exercise in public awareness of writing that, despite potential merit, might not have received sufficient reviews to garner an audience among the Worldcon membership at large. In that context, someone asked me to defend Campbell because of the acceptance speech given by this year’s recipient. This was an uncomfortable request. The more I’ve learned about Campbell over the years, the more certain I’ve become that I wouldn’t have even wanted to share an elevator with him, much less try to sell him a story… and I say that despite having learned any number of his storytelling and editing techniques by way of hand-me-down tutelage…. Amazing Stories’ Steve Davidson was mainly concerned that Ng’s remarks were bad for the brand – i.e., Ng mistakenly identified Campbell as an editor of his magazine instead of Astounding/Analog. “Emergency Editorial”. …A couple of days ago we watched and updated our post covering the 2019 Hugo Awards; we were a bit surprised at Jeannette Ng’s acceptance where she made some connections between fascism in the SF field, fascism in the US and the events taking place in Hong Kong right now. Hong Kong is Ms. Ng’s home base and we are absolutely and completely in sympathy with her and the protesters who are braving arrest, and possibly worse, as they try to maintain their freedoms. We entirely missed the misattributions of Ms. Ng’s speech; what she wanted to do was identify John W. Campbell Jr., the editor of Astounding Stories, as a fascist. She ended up naming Jospeph Campbell as the editor of Amazing Stories…. I am sure she is tired, chuffed, overwhelmed and, perhaps even a bit embarrassed over having misnamed Campbell and the magazine he was associated with in front of an audience and a community that knows this history without even thinking about it. But the internet being what it is, disrespect for facts being what they are these days, I can not allow the idea that John W. Campbell – racist, anti-semite, fascist, misogynist, whatever – was associated with Amazing Stories to go unchallenged…. Ng has issued a correction: One more correction: I wrote Amazing Stories, but I of course actually mean ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, the magazine John W Campbell edited. Apologies for any confusions and frustrations caused. For what that is worth, I wrote this on the fly, not at all expecting to use it. Swedish Fan Ahrvid Engholm today sent two fannish listservs copies of a complaint he has filed with the Dublin 2019 committee that Ng’s speech violated the convention’s Code of Conduct. …One may wonder what a Code of Conduct is worth, if it isn’t respected by those who have all eyes upon them on the big stage, during the highlight of a convention, such as the awards ceremonies witnessed by thousands. I therefore want to report, as a breach of the Code of Conduct during Dublin 2019, the intimidation and personal attacks in Jeannette Ng’s Campbell Award speech, of which the very lows are wordings like: “John W. Campbell…was a fascist” and he was “setting a tone” she claims “haunts” us as “Sterile. Male. White.” glorifying “imperialists” etc. Full text here https://twitter.com/jeannette_ng/status/1163182894908616706 Several parts of the CoC (as published in the Pocket Convention Guide, and also here https://dublin2019.com/about/code-of-conduct/) may apply, but let me point to: “Everyone involved with Dublin 2019 is expected to show respect towards…the various communities associated with the convention. …Dublin 2019 is dedicated to provide a harassment-free convention experience for all Attendees regardless of…gender…race…We do not tolerate harassment of convention attendees in any form” /which includes:/ Comments intended to belittle, offend or cause discomfort” Most if not all would find being called a “fascist” offending, surely causing discomfort. And it’s especially deplorable when the person belittled this way has passed away and thus can’t defend himself. It is reported that John W Campbell’s grandson John Campbell Harrmond was present at the convention that branded his grandfather a “fascist”. John W Campbell was the leading sf magazine editor of his era (of Astounding SF, not Amazing Stories as this far from well-founded speech said) and have many admirers who also have cause to feel offended. If you like Campbell, the claim he is a “fascist” surely splashes on you too – you’d be “fascist sympathiser”. Ms Ng continues to harass whole categories of convention Attendees, those who are “male” and “white”. They are “sterile” and the negative “tone” claimed being “set” in the sf genre. It must be noted that the CoC is explicitly against slurs regarding race and gender. (And in these circumstances “white” indicates race and “male” gender.) The CoC further says it won’t be tolerated “in any form”, which surely must also include the form of a speech from a big stage. It is too late now do do anything about this regrettable episode, but those making reports are asked to state what they would like to happen next. What I simply want is to get it confirmed that the event reported indeed IS a breach of the CoC, because that could be important for the future. –Ahrvid Engholm sf con-goer since 1976 (of Worldcons since 1979) Scott Edelman supported Ng in several comments, describing his deep unhappiness with some of Campbell’s opinions at the time the were originally published 50 years ago. He also quoted this anecdote from the autobiography of William Tenn / Phil Klass: How writer William Tenn aka Philip Klass described the reaction of John W. Campbell, Jr. at a lunch during which he described what it was like visiting a concentration camp a week after its liberation: "He made me smell the gas ovens again, he made me see the bodies again." pic.twitter.com/8IwdhPOS75 — Scott Edelman (@scottedelman) August 21, 2019 Posted in Worldcon \| Tagged Ahrvid Engholm, Alec Nevala-Lee, Annalee Newitz, Bounding Into Comics, Chris Barkley, Cory Doctorow, Dublin 2019, Jeannette Ng, John Scalzi, John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, Mike Blake, N. K. Jemisin, Rivers Solomon, Scott Edelman, Steve Davidson \| 232 Replies Pixel Scroll 1/28/19 Untitled Pixel Scroll Reboot (1) FROM BOOKER TO GENRE. This week’s New Yorker article “Why Marlon James Decided to Write an African ‘Game of Thrones’” tells about Marlon James, who won the Booker prize and then decided to write “an African Game of Thrones.” A couple of weeks before we met for coffee, I went to hear James speak on a panel about diversity in sci-fi and fantasy, at New York Comic Con, a convention that annually converts the Javits Center into a maelstrom of geekery and cosplay. The audience for the panel was a mixture of black, white, and brown faces; a few rows from me, a Harley Quinn in hijab took furious notes. After a fellow-panelist, Tochi Onyebuchi, the author of a young-adult fantasy series influenced by Nigerian myth, urged the crowd to read Jemisin’s books, James joked that Jemisin would be coming for the Booker next. (He told the crowd they should also read Nalo Hopkinson, a Jamaican-born Canadian writer whose début, “Brown Girl in the Ring,” from 1998, is a dystopian horror-fantasy story animated by the West African spirit-magic tradition of Obeah.) Even as condescension toward genre fiction has gone out of style, the universes of literary and speculative fiction remain distinct, with their own awards, their own publishers, and their own separate, albeit overlapping, communities of readers. “There are a lot of literary-fiction authors whose heads are super stuck up their asses,” James said, telling the attendees that writers ought to read widely across genres. (2) BETTER WORLDS STORY #5. The magic number! Here’s the latest Better Worlds short story from Rivers Solomon: “St. Juju”. Video by Allen Laseter. Andrew Liptak did a Q&A with the author: “Rivers Solomon on colonialism, the apocalypse, and fascinating fungus”. Rivers Solomon What was the inspiration for this story, and what about fungus attracted you to this world, in particular? Lately, I’ve been really intrigued by the idea of the end of the world — how it’s never really real, though it may feel like it is to us living in the midst of climate change as we are. Except on the scale of billions of years, according to the kind of timeline where suns birth and die and so on, worlds are quite adaptive creatures. Earth has had five or so ice ages. Dinosaurs have come and gone, many dying, others living on as birds. Mass extinction is par for the planet’s course. (3) ATWOOD MASTER CLASS. Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing is a 23-lesson video course from Masterclass. Cost, $90. Called the “Prophet of Dystopia,” Margaret Atwood is one of the most influential literary voices of our generation. In her first-ever online class, the author of The Handmaid’s Tale teaches how she crafts compelling stories—from historical to speculative fiction—that remain timeless and relevant. Explore Margaret’s creative process for developing ideas into novels with strong structures and nuanced characters. (4) PLUNK THOSE SILVER STRINGS. The Haffner Press will publish a very ambitious Manly Wade Wellman collection this year — The Complete John the Balladeer. The book will be released at the 2019 World Fantasy Convention in Los Angeles. John, whose last name is never revealed, is a wandering singer who carries a guitar strung with strings of pure silver. He is a veteran of the Korean War and served in the U.S. Army as a sharpshooter (in the novel After Dark, he mentions that his highest rank was PFC). In his travels, he frequently encounters creatures and superstitions from the folk tales and superstitions of the mountain people. Though John has no formal education, he is self-taught, highly intelligent and widely read; it is implied that his knowledge of occult and folk legendarium is of Ph.D level. This knowledge has granted him competent use of white magic, which he has used on occasion to overcome enemies or obstacles, but it is primarily his courage, wit and essential goodness that always enables him to triumph over supernatural evils (although the silver strings of his guitar and his possession of a copy of The Long Lost Friend are also powerful tools in fighting evil magic), while basic Army training allows him to physically deal with human foes. “O Ugly Bird!” “The Desrick on Yandro” “Vandy, Vandy” “One Other” “Call Me from the Valley” “The Little Black Train” “Shiver in the Pines” “Walk Like a Mountain” “On the Hills and Everywhere” “Old Devlins Was A-Waiting” “Nine Yards of Other Cloth” “Then I Wasn’t Alone” “You Know the Tale of Hoph” “The Stars Down There” “Find the Place Yourself” “I Can’t Claim That” “Who Else Could I Count On” “John’s My Name” “Why They’re Named That” “None Wiser for the Trip” “Nary Spell” “Trill Coster’s Burden” “The Spring” “Owls Hoot in the Daytime” “Can These Bones Live?” “Nobody Ever Goes There” “Where Did She Wander?” The Old Gods Waken (1979) After Dark (1980) The Lost and the Lurking (1981) The Hanging Stones (1982) The Voice of the Mountain (1984) (5) BO PEEP. Disney’s new trailer for Toy Story 4. (6) MEMORIAL. NASA Watch “Remembering” is a wrap-up of several memorials to lost astronauts and cosmonauts posted the day before the anniversary of the Challenger shuttle disaster. Mike Kennedy sent the link with a note: “In my long-time home of Huntsville AL, we name schools after these people. I live just a few blocks from Roger B. Chaffee Elementary School and maybe 2-3 miles from Virgil I. Grissom High School. The former Ed White Middle School name was sadly lost when it and another school were combined a few years ago. Those were, of course, the astronauts who died in the Apollo 1 fire. We also have Challenger Elementary/Middle school and Columbia High School. These wounds run deep around here, even after all the intervening years.” (7) TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS. [Compiled by Cat Eldridge.] Born January 28, 1929 – Parke Godwin. I’ve read a number of his novels and I fondly remember in particular Sherwood and Robin and the King. If you’ve not read his excellent Firelord series, I do recommend you do so. So who has read his Beowulf series? (Died 2013.) Born January 28, 1969 – Kathryn Morris, 50. First played in Sleepstalker, a horror I’ll be gobsmacked if any of you have heard of. She has a small role as a teenage honey (IMDb description, not mine) in A.I. Artificial Intelligence. After that she was Lara Anderton in Minority Report. She played Najara on several episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess and was in Poltergeist: The Legacy series as Laura Davis in the “Silent Partner” episode. Born January 28, 1973 – Carrie Vaughn, 46. Author of the Kitty Norville series. She’s also been writing extensively in the Wild Cards as well. And she’s she’s got a new SF series, The Bannerless Saga which has two novels so far, Bannerless and The Wild Dead. Sounds interesting. Born January 28, 1981 – Elijah Wood, 38. His first genre role was Video-Game Boy #2 in Back to the Future Part II. He next shows up as Nat Cooper in Forever Young followed by playing Leo Biederman In Deep Impact. Up next was his performance as Frodo Baggins In The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit films. Confession time: I watched the the very first of these. Wasn’t impressed. He’s done some other genre work as well including playing Todd Brotzman in the Beeb superb production of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Born January 28, 1985 – Tom Hopper, 34. His principal genre role was on the BBC Merlin series as Sir Percival. He also shows up in Doctor Who playing Jeff during the “The Eleventh Hour” episode which would be during the time of the Eleventh Doctor. He’s been cast as Luther Hargreeves in the forthcoming The Umbrella Academy which is an adaptation of the comic book series of the same name, created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. Yes I’m looking forward to seeing this! Born January 28, 1993 – Will Poulter, 26. First genre role was as Eustace Scrubb in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. He later appeared as Gally in The Maze Runner and Maze Runner: The Death Cure. He plays Colin Ritman In Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. Series wise, he’s been in The Fades, a BBC supernatural drama,playing Mac. (8) COMICS SECTION. This Get Fuzzy posits the best book ever: Harry da Vinci’s Rings. (9) FUTURE TENSE. This month’s entry in the Future Tense Fiction series is “Thoughts and Prayers” by Ken Liu, which looks at how much worse trolling could get. It was published along with a response essay by digital culture researcher Adrienne Massanari, “What’s in It for the Trolls?” Ken Liu’s “Thoughts and Prayers” shows how the cruelest of online harassers convince themselves they’re doing the right thing…. When reading Liu’s piece, I was reminded again that the terms troll and trolling are maddeningly overused in popular culture. Trolling has come to mean everything from merely derailing a conversation with a purposefully nonsensical or impolite comment to actively harassing women with death and rape threats on Twitter. It’s a kind of linguistic shield that creates an easy way for abusers and harassers to dismiss their toxic behavior as “just trolling.” (10) DOLLARS MISTER RICO, MILLIONS OF ‘EM! TVWeb says “Starship Troopers TV Show with Original Movie Cast Is Being Planned”. The Starship Troopers TV series would more than likely be pretty big, especially with the original cast and Ed Neumeier on board. One could easily see Netflix or Hulu jumping at the chance to put that out. However, it seems that they are in the early stages of talking about the project, and as Neumeier says, we don’t want to “jinx” it either. So for now, we’ll just think positive thoughts about the project actually happening. Of course, you might have thoughts of your own about it. (11) WIZARD OF OZ SETS RECORD. Cousin Judy’s film is still bringing ‘em into the theater — Variety: “Film News Roundup: ‘Wizard of Oz’ Sets Single-Day Record for Fathom”. Fathom Events’ 80th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz” took in $1.2 million at 408 North American sites on Sunday, setting a new Fathom record as the highest-grossing single-day classic film release. “The Wizard of Oz” also had the highest per-screen average of any film in wide release on Sunday. The 1939 release is part of the TCM Big Screen Classics series, which will include “My Fair Lady,” “Field of Dreams,” “Glory,” “Alien” and “Lawrence of Arabia” this year. (12) BAUM’S AWAY. Coming to Oakland in February, the California International Antiquarian Book Fair poster has an Oz theme. (13) LET’S GET ROVING. [Item by Mike Kennedy.] A trio of articles give different impressions on the fate of the Opportunity rover on Mars—silent since the planetwide dust storm several months ago—at least according to the headlines. At Futurism, they say, “NASA’s Opportunity Rover Feared Dead: ‘An Honorable Death’,” which sounds decidedly pessimistic. Over on Gizmodo, they say, “Wake Up, Oppy! NASA Sends New Commands to Mars Opportunity Rover,” a somewhat more optimistic take. Meanwhile, The Jet Propulsion Laboratory itself simply says, “Rover Team Beaming New Commands to Opportunity on Mars.” That article doubtless gives the clearest story, coming as it does straight from NASA. Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, have begun transmitting a new set of commands to the Opportunity rover in an attempt to compel the 15-year-old Martian explorer to contact Earth. The new commands, which will be beamed to the rover during the next several weeks, address low-likelihood events that could have occurred aboard Opportunity, preventing it from transmitting. […] “We have and will continue to use multiple techniques in our attempts to contact the rover,” said John Callas, project manager for Opportunity at JPL. “These new command strategies are in addition to the ‘sweep and beep’ commands we have been transmitting up to the rover since September.” With “sweep and beep,” instead of just listening for Opportunity, the project sends commands to the rover to respond back with a beep. […] “Over the past seven months we have attempted to contact Opportunity over 600 times,” said Callas. “While we have not heard back from the rover and the probability that we ever will is decreasing each day, we plan to continue to pursue every logical solution that could put us back in touch.” Time is of the essence for the Opportunity team. The “dust-clearing season” – the time of year on Mars when increased winds could clear the rover’s solar panels of dust that might be preventing it from charging its batteries – is drawing to a close. Meanwhile, Mars is heading into southern winter, which brings with it extremely low temperatures that are likely to cause irreparable harm to an unpowered rover’s batteries, internal wiring and/or computer systems. If either these additional transmission strategies or “sweep and beep” generates a response from the rover, engineers could attempt a recovery. If Opportunity does not respond, the project team would again consult with the Mars Program Office at JPL and NASA Headquarters to determine the path forward. (14) MARGOT ROBBIE. Miss me? That’s what Margo Robbie’s asks while dressed as her DC alter ego in an Instagram post. Gizmodo/io9 has that story together with a short video clip showing off costumes for Quinn and several other Birds of Prey characters (“Harley Quinn Brings Fantabulous Fashion to Birds of Prey Video Introducing Black Canary, Black Mask, Huntress & More”). While Warner Bros. upcoming Birds of Prey movie will introduce a number of DC’s formidable heroines like Huntress and Black Canary to the DCEU for the first time, it’ll also feature the return of one Harley Quinn who, judging from the film’s title, might embark upon some sort of redemptive arc. New year, new movie, new Harley—and Margot Robbie’s just revealed our first look at her. [Thanks to Mike Kennedy, JJ, Lisa Goldstein, John King Tarpinian, Joey Eschrich, Cat Eldridge, Chip Hitchcock, Martin Morse Wooster, Carl Slaughter, and Andrew Porter for some of these stories. Title credit goes to File 770 contributing editor of the day Peer.] Posted in Pixel Scroll \| Tagged Andrew Liptak, Better Worlds, California International Antiquarian Book Fair, Future Tense, Haffner Press, Harley Quinn, Ken Liu, Manly Wade Wellman, Margaret Atwood, Marlon aames, Mars Exploration Rovers, Mike Kennedy, NASA, Rivers Solomon, Starship Troopers, Stephen Haffner, Toy Story, Wizard of Oz \| 44 Replies Pixel Scroll 8/13/18 I Can’t See Me Scrolling Nobody But You, For All My File (1) SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT WORLDCON. Adam Rakunas is publicizing the availability of help for those who want it: If anyone going to Worldcon wants someone to walk with on Saturday, a group of us will be escorting members gratis. Look for the pink shirts that say “I Am Here To Help.” We will have routes that are accessible and will avoid the temper tantrum at the north entrance. pic.twitter.com/rfxCk2bT25 — Adam Rakunas (@rakdaddy) August 13, 2018 (2) NEWS CLIPPING. Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy reports that in 2019 Saga Press will publish Rivers Solomon’s novel inspired by a song from 2017 Hugo nominee Clipping,—a group that includes Tony-winner Daveed Diggs. Thread starts here. Also, to coincide with the publication of Rivers’s novel, We intend to release a physical version of “The Deep” (mostly likely on vinyl) which will contain new music by us that relates to the novel. — ???????? (@clppng) August 13, 2018 (3) BEAM UP MORE GOLD. Borys Kit, in “Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth ‘Star Trek 4’ Future In Doubt as Talks Fall Through (Exclusive)” in The Hollywood Reporter says that both Pine and Hemsworth (who was supposed to play Captain James T. Kirk’s father) have said they won’t be in Star Trek 4 because of pay issues. The deal points came down to the usual suspect: money. Pine and Hemsworth, among Hollywood’s A-list when starring in DC or Marvel movies, are said to be asking the studios to stick to existing deals. Paramount, according to insiders, contends that Star Trek is not like a Marvel or Star Wars movie and is trying to hold the line on a budget. The actors, according to sources, insist they have deals in place and that the studios are reneging on them, forcing them to take pay cuts as they try to budget a movie that is following a mediocre performer. Pine, at least, has had a deal in place for several years. The actor, now a key player in the Wonder Woman franchise, signed up for a fourth movie when he made his deal for 2016’s Star Trek Beyond. Hemsworth has been attached to Star Trek 4 since Paramount, then run by the previous regime headed by Brad Grey, announced the fourth installment in 2016, although his exact status remains murky. (4) SIGNING STORIES. Delilah S. Dawson gets a lot of great answers. Thread starts here. Hey, writers! What's the weirdest thing that's ever happened to you at a signing or book event? — Delilah S. Dawson (@DelilahSDawson) August 12, 2018 Includes a RedWombat sighting – No big deal, I go to bed. The next day, we discover that one of his fans was following my Twitter because he knew we were on tour together, checked every hotel bar in a radius around the bookstore until he found the one with the soju, then lay in wait for the poor guy. — The Wombat Resists (@UrsulaV) August 12, 2018 (5) IT’S THAT DAY. In Pogo, Walt Kelly had a running gag: “Be careful, Friday the 13th falls on a Sunday/ Monday/ Tuesday, etc. this month.” Friday the 13th falls on a Monday in August. (6) A MODERN SAGA. Brought to you by Amal El-Mohtar. Jars of Hellman's I sing, who, forced by Fate & Millenials' unrelenting hate Expell'd & exil'd, left the grocery store Graced fridges, salads, sandwiches no more pic.twitter.com/WMtcSMxlHl — Amal El-Mohtar (@tithenai) August 12, 2018 (7) THE BEST OF. James Davis Nicoll looks back at Del Rey Books’ “Best of…” series in “A Survey of Some of the Best Science Fiction Ever Published (Thanks to Judy-Lynn Del Rey)” at Tor,com, although some of the humor made me wonder if he really liked all the collections. (Which I suppose he did, otherwise why write the piece?) Like this note: John Brunner’s fiction covered a spectrum ranging from morose to intensely gloomy. Readers intrigued by this collection who want to enjoy his strengths at novel length should seek out Brunner’s thematically-related SF standalone novels: The Jagged Orbit, The Sheep Look Up, Stand on Zanzibar, and The Shockwave Rider. Each book tackles One Big Issue (racial conflict, pollution, overpopulation, and future shock, respectively). (8) HUGHART OKAY. The query about author Barry Hughart’s well-being in the August 4 Scroll (item 5) has been answered, and the news is good. Bill Schafer of Subterranean Press replied today — Dear Mr. Glyer, In response to your recent thread about Barry Hughart’s whereabouts… I am happy to report I just got off the phone with Barry Hughart, who is very much still with us. (He is terrible about responding to emails, which led me into my email archives to dig out his phone number.) Oddly enough, we’ve been doing business for ten years or more, and this is the first time we’ve spoken. (9) ROHAN OBIT. A note about the passing of Michael Scott Rohan (1951-2018) at the SF Encyclopedia. Michael Scott Rohan died in hospital in his home town of Edlnburgh on 12 August 2018; he was 67. Although his first novel Run to the Stars (1983, pictured) was a lively science-fiction adventure, his considerable reputation rests mainly on the Winter of the World fantasy sequence beginning with The Anvil of Ice (1986) and the Spiral science-fantasies beginning with Chase the Morning (1990). Speaking personally, Mike Rohan was an old and valued friend whose unexpected death leaves an aching hole in the world. — David Langford (10) TODAY IN HISTORY August 13, 1942 — Disney’s Bambi premiered in New York City. August 13, 1953 — The original War Of The Worlds was released in New York City. (11) TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS Born August 13, 1899 – Alfred Hitchcock. Let’s see… The Birds and Psycho. Y’all think anything else might be loosely be genre which I include horror in? Born August 13 – Kevin Tighe, 74. First genre role was in This Immortal series, nearly fifty years ago; appeared also in The Six Million Dollar Man, Tales from the Crypt, Escape to Witch Mountain, The Outer Limits, Star Trek: Voyager, Strange World, The 4400, Lost and Salem. Born August 13 –Danny Bonaduce, 59. First genre role was in The Ghost & Mrs. Muir; later roles included acting in Bewitched, Shazam!, Fantasy Island (original series), Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Bigfoot. Voice work includes Dr. Dolittle, Fred Flintstone and Friends and Goober and the Ghost Chasers. Born August 13 – John Slattery, 56. Howard Stark in the MCU film franchise, appeared in The Adjustment Bureau film based loosely I suspect of the Philip K. Dick short story ‘Adjustment Team’, 3rd Rock, From the Earth to the Moon miniseries and Flashpoint. Born August 13 – Michael De Luca, 53. Producer, second Suicide Squad film, Childhood’s End, Ghost Rider and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Dracula Untold, Lost in Space, Blade and Blade II, Pleasantville and Zathura: A Space Adventure which is not a complete listing. Also writer for an episode of Star Trek: Voyager, the first Dredd film (oh well), the Freddy’s Nightmares series and the Dark Justice series which though not genre was rather fun. Born August 13 – Sebastian Stan, 36. Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier in the MCU film franchise; also appeared in Once Upon a Time series, The Martian, The Apparition, Ares III, and Kings, a contemporary alternate-history series about a man who rises to become the King of his nation, based on the biblical story of King David. Born August 13 – Sara Serraiocco, 28. Currently in Counterpoint, a cross-universe Cold War thriller. That’s it. See, aliens are smarter than us — Real Life Adventures. Funeral customers among the superheroes at Mother Goose and Grimm. A comic dealing with SJW credential misconduct: Thatababy (13) MEDICAL ADVICE. At Dorkly, “Two Doctors Figured Out How To Treat A Centaur Having a Heart Attack”. I hope Rick Riordan is taking notes. Case in point: centaurs – what’s THEIR deal? Half man, half horse, and ALL anatomical mysteries. See, the way centaurs are broken down is that it’s the torso ‘n up part of a human combined with the whole body of a horse (minus the head and neck). But that presents a problem, because (anatomically-speaking) the two halves share a whole bunch of organs, namely the heart. So a doctor (@FredWuMD) took to Twitter to ask fellow medical professionals an incredibly important question – if a centaur was in the midst of a cardiac arrest, where would you presume the heart is? Where would you use defibrillator pads? (14) WHAT’S ON HIS MIND? Mike Alger says: “Weekend project: By combining a 3D scan with an MRI (don’t worry I’m fine), I can now step out of my body and legitimately look into my head at my own brain.” Thread starts here. Mlex says, “This reminded me of Ted Chiang’s story, ‘Exhalation’, in Lightspeed Magazine.” Under the skin: an MRI session can be easily exported to images. Rather than an admittedly more appropriate voxel approach that I’m afraid of, I lined up the images on quads and made a shader to adjust their opacity based on viewing angle and distance. pic.twitter.com/Yuq2kzIBaq — Mike Alger (@MikeAlgerXR) August 13, 2018 (15) COSTUMING HISTORY. The International Costumers Gallery continues its series, “Convention Costuming History: The Post WWII Years – 1946”. …The Pacificon Convention News, issue #2 promised a Costume Ball, essentially acknowledging how much a part of the convention wearing costumes had become. Hearkening back to the pre-war events, it anticipated “BEMs and MONSTERS from every solar system and dimension; famous characters from the stories you have read and loved and every kind of costume that the fertile mentalities of fen (the best fertilized minds in existence) do be able to thunk up<sic>.”(2) Whether it was actually a “ball” or just a party is not clear. Participants and costumes reported were Myrtle Douglas winning first prize for her Snake Mother dress (3)(4) and Arthur Joquel II (5) dressed as a “high priest”, winning a prize for “characterization”. Fan and fanzine writer Dale Hart’s “Gray Lensman” costume was judged “most ingenious”. (6) (16) THE GREAT WALL OF HYDROGEN. The New Horizons probe is looking for evidence of it: “NASA spotted a vast, glowing ‘hydrogen wall’ at the edge of our solar system”. There’s a “hydrogen wall” at the edge of our solar system, and NASA scientists think their New Horizons spacecraft can see it. That hydrogen wall is the outer boundary of our home system, the place where our sun’s bubble of solar wind ends and where a mass of interstellar matter too small to bust through that wind builds up, pressing inward…. What New Horizons definitely sees, the researchers reported in a paper published Aug. 7 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, is some extra ultraviolet light — the kind the researchers would expect such a wall of galactic hydrogen to produce. That replicates an ultraviolet signal the two Voyager spacecraft — NASA’s farthest-traveling probes, which launched in the late 1970s — spotted all the way back in 1992. [Images: Dust Grains from Interstellar Space] However, the researchers cautioned, that signal isn’t a sure sign that New Horizons has seen the hydrogen wall, or that Voyager did. All three probes could have actually detected the ultraviolet light from some other source, emanating from much deeper in the galaxy, the researchers wrote. (17) SEEING SPOTS. Lasers been berry berry good to me. NPR: “Growers Are Beaming Over The Success Of Lasers To Stave Off Thieving Birds”. During every berry-picking season in the Pacific Northwest, blueberry and raspberry growers fight to prevent birds from gobbling up the crop before harvest. This year, some farmers are trying something new to scare away the thieving birds: lasers…. The lasers cross over in erratic patterns. The sweeping green laser beams emanate from what look like security cameras atop metal poles. They also work during the daytime. But in sunlight, the human eye can only see green dots dancing across the berry-laden bushes. (18) SFFANZ 500. Congratulations to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand (SFFANZ) on their blog’s 500th post – “SF Writer at the Manawatu Writers Festival + 500th Post”. A heads up for SF fans about the Manawatu Writers’ Festival (Sept 7 – 11, 2018). This year they have a session with one of NZ’s longest running successful writers, Lyn Mc Conchie. Lyn McConchie is an internationally successful author, who has had 44 books published, 300+ short stories, and 150+ articles. Her work has appeared in English, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and from publishers there as well as in America, Australia, New Zealand, and the Irish Republic. Lyn isn’t in any ruts, she writes mysteries, SF/F, animal tales, post-apocalypse, YA, picture books, and humorous and scholarly non-fiction and she has no plans to stop any time soon. Lyn’s latest book, Coal & Ashes, is is one of her apocalyptic stories, set in Australia, one of a series. (19) THERAPEUTIC POOH. The LA Times profiles Christopher Robin: “With ‘Christopher Robin,’ Winnie the Pooh faces his greatest challenge yet: A marriage in crisis”. So many Disney films follow a child or young adult suddenly thrown into a grown-up world and forced to overcome all of its headaches. “Christopher Robin,” however, turns a childhood hero of those who grew up admiring A.A. Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh” tales into a depressed and overwhelmed adult — a man whose youthful imagination ultimately proved no match for the realities of war, fatherhood and a thankless job. In the film, an old and familiar pal comes to the rescue, but is Winnie the Pooh — a plump stuffed bear whose biggest bothers often involved stealing honey from a bee — ready to fix the life of a workaholic whose marriage is entering crisis mode? Or, perhaps more accurately, are Pooh fans ready to see it? Those who worked on “Christopher Robin” say the mission was to tap into the original Milne template, one that mixed comedy and complex emotions to deliver patient life lessons. The ultimate goal of the film: to dispel any notion that Winnie the Pooh is simply kid stuff. “I wouldn’t be ashamed to be a grown man going to see a ‘Winnie the Pooh’ movie in the theater with no child next to me, so let’s make sure we’re making that movie,” said Alex Ross Perry, a filmmaker with several acclaimed indies under his belt and one of three credited screenwriters on the picture. “It has to be completely logical in that Pixar sense, where adults can go see it in a roomful of kids, but it doesn’t feel like you’re seeing a kids movie.” (20) NOW YOU’RE TALKING. John Scalzi boosts a great idea — I do suspect sometime in the reasonably near future we're getting a "Disney Princesses" movie where they all involved in some amazing "Ocean's"-like heist caper. And I for one am here for it. pic.twitter.com/XpoRDMwMXt — John Scalzi (@scalzi) August 13, 2018 (21) EYE-OPENING COLLECTIBLE. Something to find a Worldcon 76 – Find me at #worldcon76 this weekend in San Jose and get your “The Book Was Better” ribbon! ? @InktoFilm @worldcon2018 .#worldcon #inktofilm #podcastinglife #lithappens #podernfamily #subscribe #adaptations #bookstagram #convention #writersofinstagram #writerslife #booklovers pic.twitter.com/igrb7y3jel — Luke Elliott @ WorldCon (@LuminousLuke) August 13, 2018 (22) THE TRAVELER. Galactic Journey’s Gideon Marcus will interrupt his daily commute to 1963 in order to appear at Worldcon 76 – Coming to #WorldCon? Don't miss Galactic Journey's "Come Time Travel with Me" panel. Blast back… to 1963! Friday at 1PM, Room 210B. pic.twitter.com/d07MOxOVUe — Galactic Journey (@journeygalactic) August 13, 2018 (23) RADIO ACTIVITY. SF Concatenation’s Jonathan Cowie tuned into BBC Radio 4 this weekend. He picked out highlights you can access online. Looks like Dan Dare is a full blown radio series consisting of a number of linked two-part adventures. Next up next Sunday will be on Radio 4 Extra and shortly after for a month on BBC i-Player linked off here. Dan Dare, The Red Moon Mystery Episode 1 of 2 4 Extra Debut. Infected by the Mekon’s virus, Dan’s crew orbit Earth until the Inter-Planet Space Force orders them to Mars. Stars Ed Stoppard Next Sunday 18:00 Also this weekend we had on BBC Radio 4 Open Book “Claire Fuller, Neil Gaiman, Iranian fiction” Claire Fuller talks to Mariella Frostrup about her new novel Bitter Orange and the appeal of the crumbling country house as a setting. Neil Gaiman explains why forgotten classic Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees deserves a wider readership. What does the combination of sanctions and censorship mean for Iran’s writers? The Guardian’s Saeed Kamali Dehghan and publisher Azadeh Parsapour discuss. And Carrie Plitt, agent at Felicity Bryan Associates recommends Sally Rooney’s Normal People for our monthly Editor’s Tip. This is available to listen to for next 4 weeks [Thanks to JJ, David Langford, Jonathan Cowie, Chip Hitchcock, Mike Kennedy, Martin Morse Wooster, Carl Slaughter, Andrew Porter, Leo Doroschenko, and Cat Eldridge for some of these stories, Title credit goes to File 770 contributing editor of the day Soon Lee.] Posted in Pixel Scroll \| Tagged Adam Rakunas, Amal El-Mohtar, Barry Hughart, Bill Schafer, centaur, Clipping, David Langford, Delilah S. Dawson, Galactic Journey, Gideon Marcus, International Costumers Guild, James Davis Nicoll, John Scalzi, masquerade, Michael Scott Rohan, New Horizons, RedWombat, Rivers Solomon, SFFANZ, Star Trek, Subterranean Press, Ursula Vernon, Winnie-the-Pooh, Worldcon 76 Pixel Scroll 8/12/18 Let My Pixels Go (1) NINE WORLDS. London’s Nine Worlds wrapped today, and the leadership has announced plans to move on: Nine Worlds is beginning a process of reconstitution. This means that the current ownership will be dissolved, and the assets, liabilities and necessary data transferred to a new entity. The purpose of this is to a) ensure that its continued existence is sustainable and rewarding for those involved in it, and b) allow me (Dan) and the other shareholders to step away from the company and our responsibilities to it…. Why is this happening, and why now? The current organising model is not sustainable for those on the organising side of it. A lot of people gain a lot from the event, but certain roles reliably cause harm to the people performing them or exploit them, and there’s a treadmill effect that leads to organisers carrying on until they burn out and / or do something that can’t be reconciled with continued involvement. I include myself in that: I’ve been working without choice and without pay for over two years now. Additionally, the mix of cultures and people involved has embedded tensions that may benefit from a more concretely agreed purpose and identity. This has been causing issues from the event’s beginning, and while the intent to create a big platform that still kept high expectations of behaviour and support was positive, I’m not sure that the event will be able to meet a standard that’s acceptable to all those who attend and take part in organising, without being clearer who it’s for, what it stands for, and what people should expect, and letting people choose whether to engage in that knowledge. And finally, I’ve invested a huge amount of time, money and my heart in Nine Worlds, but I’ve done so as a job, often working all the time for months at a time. My ’employer’ hasn’t paid me in years and imposes working conditions that would be illegal in any volunteering or employment context, and I’ve been wanting to move on for some time. The reason I’m doing it right now is that I couldn’t do it two years ago, as an attempt to change the organisation in a different way three years ago failed hard, and necessitated an intervening two years of steady steering. 2016 put Nine Worlds Ltd far enough in debt that I couldn’t guarantee the end result of any process to reconstitute. We were reliant on future sales to cover the running cost of the current convention, and failure to transition (or attempting to close down) would result in the business failing and being unable to repay the future event sales to ticket holders. I now have enough money to cover the shortfall without opening future ticket sales, and the event’s financial position has also improved, so I can start this process without trying to sell tickets for an undetermined event with unknown leadership to cover the gap. (2) SPIDER TRACKS. Worldcon 76 is running a travel blog about one of the guests of honor — “The Worldcon 76 – Bound Peregrinations of Spider Robinson.” But the first entry sounds pretty disturbing. Day 1: Victoria to Port Angeles The trip began with a 4 AM call. “Steph. I don’t think I’m gonna make it” The Worldcon 76 Guest of Honour was white as a sheet and barely able to stand. It was my job to get him from Canada to San Jose in one piece and it was looking like the trip was going to be over before it began. After six hours in the emergency room, we got the all clear and Spider finally got some needed sleep. Luckily so did I. The spirit of Fandom and SF must have been watching over us, because when he woke up he was his old self and willing to try to make the trip after all. (I on the other hand was about ready to pass out from stress and worry). (3) MCMOVIE. Ethan Alter, in the Yahoo! Entertainment story, “‘Mac and Me’ at 30: ‘Ronald McDonald’ remembers his infamous 1988 movie” notes that this is the 30th anniversary of Mac and Me, a cheesy ripoff of E.T. in which Ronald MacDonald teams up with alien “MAC” (or “Mysterious Alien Creature”.) Squire Fridell, who played Ronald MacDonald at the time, tells stories about the production and wishes that the Razzies had mailed him his award for Worst New Actor. Paul Rudd has a long-running gag on Conan where he promises an “exclusive new clip” from whatever movie he is promoting and then shows something from Mac and Me. The trailer turned out to be a bit of a bait-and-switch, and not just because it made the movie look halfway entertaining. While Ronald presents himself as an equal co-star with the titular bug-eyed alien, his actual role in the Stewart Raffill-directed movie is little more than a glorified cameo. (4) ASK THE PRIMATES. BBC profiles “Primate speech: How some species are ‘wired’ for talk” — since we don’t have soft tissues from our own ancestors, looking at evolution of speech by studying vocalization in existing species. A new study has compared different primate species’ brains. It revealed that primates with wider “vocal repertoires” had more of their brain dedicated to controlling their vocal apparatus. That suggests that our own speaking skills may have evolved as our brains gradually rewired to control that apparatus, rather than purely because we’re smarter than non-human apes. Humans and other primates have very similar vocal anatomy – in terms of their tongues and larynx. That’s the physical machinery in the throat which allows us to turn air into sound. So, as lead researcher Dr Jacob Dunn from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge explained, it remains a mystery that only human primates can actually talk. (5) SOMEHOW STILL HERE. In “Coral reefs ‘weathered dinosaur extinction'”, new studies say that corals go back 160Myrs, not just 60. Corals may have teamed up with the microscopic algae which live inside them as much as 160 million years ago, according to new research. The two organisms have a symbiotic relationship, meaning they need each other to survive. But this partnership was previously thought to have developed about 60 million years ago. The new findings suggest that reef algae may have weathered significant environmental changes over time. This includes the mass extinction that wiped out most of the dinosaurs. Algae’s resilience to temperature changes has been of concern to scientists recently, as warming events on the Great Barrier Reef have seen the coral “bleached” of its algae. (6) TALK TO THE ANIMALS. How hot was it, Johnny? “Cows allowed to visit Swedish nudist beaches in heatwave”. The government in southern Sweden have granted permission for cows to visit nudist beaches during the prolonged summer heatwave, despite complaints from locals, it’s reported. According to The Local news website, nudists have been complaining to officials in provincial Smaland about livestock visiting their beaches, saying that their presence is “unhygienic and could pose a health risk”. It says the roasting summer heat affecting much of continental Europe has led to drought throughout the country, and has meant that farmers have been struggling to feed their animals. August 12, 1939 — The Wizard of Oz receives its world premiere in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, on this day. August 12, 1941 – Premiering this day, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Spencer Tracy. August 12, 1943 – Universal’s Phantom of the Opera debuts. At one point in pre-production it was planned for Bud Abbott and Lou Costello to star. (8) TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS Born August 12, 1881. Cecil B. DeMille. Yes he did some genre work as Producer: When Worlds Collide, The Ghost Breaker (a silent horror film now lost) and the 1953 War Of The Worlds which he’s not credited for as Executive Producer. Born August 12 — William Goldman, 87. Writer and / or screenwriter of The Princess Bride, The Stepford Wives, Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Dreamcatcher (horror film) and a short video based on The Princess Bride with apparently none of the original cast. Born August 12 — Sam J. Jones, 64. Flash Gordon in the 1980 film of that name, Krebb in the later Flash Gordon series. Born August 12 — Bruce Greenwood, 62. Lead in the Nowhere Man series, the Sleepwalkers series, I, Robot, voice work in animated Class of the Titans series, Christopher Pike in Star Trek and voices Batman in Batman: Gotham by Gaslight and Young Justice. Not the same Batman mind you Born August 12 — Claudia Christian, 53. Babylon 5 of course, and genre roles also in the possibly forthcoming Space Diner Tales in which the year is 2075 and an alien race is set on conquering Earth, the Upworld detective series complete with a talking gnome, Space Rangers, Relic Hunter and Starhyke, a truly awful sounding series. (9) THE ICING ON THE CAKE. Looks kinda like an @escapepodcast escape pod in space. Only edible. #Worldcon76 pic.twitter.com/jeNUCM8xpd — Effie Seiberg (@effies) August 11, 2018 (10) NOTCONJOSE II. George R.R. Martin will be there: “Worldcon Time!” I have cut way down on the number of cons I attend, due to the press of work, but there’s no way I’d miss a worldcon, by any name. I’ve only missed one in the last thirty years. Dragoncon and San Diego Comicon and GenCon and many other cons are now much bigger, but worldcon remains the original, and the best, the heart of the fannish community. Worldcon is like a family reunion. And yes, like any large family, we have our share of drunken uncles, loony cousins, and snot-nosed kids… but still, family is family. I’ll be there for the whole con. I hope to see many of you in SanJose. Worldcon is great time for getting together with old friends and making new ones. (11) JUST ONE THING MISSING. Andrea discusses “Nexhuman by Francesco Verso” at Little Red Reviewer. #sorrynotsorry, I’m going to give you a spoiler right out of the gate: Nexhuman will offer you enough ideas and discussion topics and thought experiments to keep you busy for the next ten years. In fact, an entire Convention programming track could be built just around the questions and ideas in this book. What Nexhuman does not offer is concrete answers to any of the questions that are brought up. (12) FRESH OFF THE 1963 NEWSSTANDS. Galactic Journey’s John Boston finds a little gold-dust among the grit in the new issue of Amazing: “[August 12, 1963] WET BLANKET (the September 1963 Amazing)”. But the issue opens with Poul Anderson’s Homo Aquaticus, illustrated on the cover by a swimmer with a menacing look and a more menacing trident, next to a nicely-rendered fish, in one of artist Lloyd Birmingham’s better moments. This is one of Anderson’s atmospheric stories, its mood dominated by Anglo-Saxon monosyllables. No, not those—I mean fate, guilt, doom, that sort of thing. The story’s tone is set in the first paragraph, in which the protagonist “thought he heard the distant blowing of a horn. It would begin low, with a pulse that quickened as the notes waxed, until the snarl broke in a brazen scream and sank sobbing away.” This is rationalized as the wind in the cliffs, but we know better. The good (space)ship Golden Flyer and its crew have been sentenced to roam the galactic hinterlands after some of their number betrayed other ships of the Kith, a starfaring culture separated from planetary cultures by relativistic time dilation. Right now they’re looking at what used to be a colony planet, but all they see is ruins, until their encounter with the colony’s descendants, as given away by the title. In the end, doom and fate are tempered with rationality and mercy. Three stars, but towards the top of Anderson’s middling range. (13) LECKIE LIKES THESE. Ann Leckie recommends three books in “Some things I’ve read recently” beginning with — An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon Look, you should just read this. Rivers is nominated for the Campbell (Not a Hugo) this year on the strength of this book. It would have been an entirely worthy Best Novel finalist, quite frankly. I was late to it partly because I have lots of things to read and very little time to do it in, and also because I was aware that it would be a difficult read–as in, full of violence and death and heartbreak. That’s all true. This is a fabulous book. (14) A CONVERT. Ethan Mills of Examined Worlds says he now understands what the Stephenson hype was about: “Philoso-monks Save Some Worlds: Anathem by Neal Stephenson”. A few times while reading this book, I tried to explain the basic premise to friends. The best I could do is something like this: weird monks on an alien planet or maybe another dimension talk about philosophy, science, and math. This does not in any way do it justice, of course, but it’s really hard to explain this novel. Of course, for hard core Stephenson fans, the name on the cover is enough. And for philosophers such as myself, those weird alien philosophical monks are irresistible (which is why this novel made a lot of the lists of philosophers’ picks for best philosophical SF compiled by Eric Schwitzgebel). I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some other lovers of this book who sometimes dream about a life as a monastic entirely dedicated to intellectual pursuits, or who maybe just liked Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose. Others who might love this: people who love immersive world building and massive tomes that come with with a glossary (no maps here, but there are a few calcas – explanatory appendices for those who need even more nerdish detail). As I am at least an occasional member of all of the above groups, my love for this book is present in all nearby possible worlds. (15) SAVED. Much truth in this. When your spouse notices you're about to respond to a provocation on social media. pic.twitter.com/slfDTGF2Yk — Joe Carter (@joecarter) August 10, 2018 (16) BATWOMAN LEAVES TWITTER. Yahoo! Lifestyle reports “Ruby Rose Apparently Left Twitter Following Harassment over Her “Batwoman” Role”. Ruby Rose has apparently removed her Twitter account after continued social media harassment that centered on her upcoming role as Batwoman. As noted by SyFy, the Orange is the New Black star’s absence from Twitter was spotted by fans on August 11. Ruby also appeared to allude to a potential leave of the platform on Friday, August 10, tweeting: “Where on earth did ‘Ruby is not a lesbian therefore she can’t be Batwoman’ come from — has to be the funniest most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read. I came out at 12? And have for the past 5 years had to deal with ‘she’s too gay’ how do y’all flip it like that? I didn’t change.” Her account appears to have been removed soon after the tweet was made. Ruby’s Instagram remains active, but SyFy reports that she seems to have limited what comments appear. Her last Instagram post was shared on August 10. (17) DIOP TURNS OFF COMMENTING. Another actress facing toxic social media: “‘Titans’ Star Anna Diop Disables Instagram Comments” – ComicBook.com has the story. The first trailer for Titans brought its cast into the spotlight this week, and it looks like that has had some major effects. Anna Diop, who is set to play Koriand’r/Starfire on the DC Universe series, recently disabled comments on the vast majority of her Instagram posts. Her Instagram, which you can check out here, features only six photos that have been posted since May 11th. The latest post, where Diop announces that she has a role in Jordan Peele’s Us, is the only one that currently allows comments. While it’s unknown exactly why Diop essentially cleaned house on her Instagram, some have speculated that it is due to the negative backlash from the first Titans trailer. The trailer, which debuted on Thursday, features several brief glimpses of Starfire using her powers, which have appeared to only continue the racist and sexist remarks surrounding Diop’s casting. Earlier this year, a series of leaked set photos provided the first look at Diop and her co-stars in costume, which earned backlash for not being “comic accurate”. At the time, Diop actually used Instagram to fire back at the negativity, posting a passionate response to her followers. (18) VIDEO OF THE DAY. In The New York Public Library’s Collections of Weird Objects on Vimeo, The New Yorker shows viewers some weird things that have ended up in the library’s collections, including a paw from one of Charles Dickens’s cats! [Thanks to Chip Hitchcock, Karl-Johan Norén, John King Tarpinian, Cat Eldridge, JJ, Carl Slaughter, Martin Morse Wooster, Mike Kennedy, and Andrew Porter for some of these stories. Title credit goes to File 770 contributing editor of the day Rob Thornton.] Posted in Pixel Scroll \| Tagged Ann Leckie, Charles Dickens, Escape Artists, Escape Pod, Ethan Mills, Galactic Journey, George R. R. Martin, John Boston, Neal Stephenson, Nine Worlds, Poul Anderson, Rivers Solomon, Spider Robinson, Worldcon 76	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1936
__label__wiki	0.506564	0.506564	Reputations: Sheila Levrant de Bretteville Sheila Levrant de Bretteville ‘Diversity and inclusiveness are our only hope. It is not possible to plaster everything over with clean elegance. Dirty architecture, fuzzy theory and dirty design must also be out there.’ In 1990 Sheila Levrant de Bretteville became the new director of studies in graphic design at Yale University School of Art. Since the late 1950s, the Yale programme had been a bastion of Modernist theory, a conduit between designers in the United States and the programme in graphic design at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Basel, directed by Armin Hoffman. For more than 30 years, graduates of both programmes have profoundly influenced American design through both their professional work and their teaching. Presiding over Yale’s long and productive history was Alvin Eisenman, whose retirement in 1990 prompted a committee of faculty and design alumni to appoint a new head, a decision which will shape the programme’s direction for the decades to come. The committee selected Sheila Levrant de Bretteville, who had attended Yale in the early 1960s and has since become an influential and outspoken designer and educator. As a feminist who participated in the rebirth of the women’s movement in the 1970s and its critical refinement in the 1980s, de Bretteville believes that the values culturally associated with women are needed in public life. She wants designers to begin to listen to different voices, and to forge more attentive and open structures to provide opportunities for others to be heard. She wants to move design towards proactive practice instead of focusing on corporate services. While most faculty and alumni have supported de Bretteville’s inclusive definition of design, others have been outraged. Paul Rand, a member of the faculty since the late 1950s, resigned on principle, and encouraged his long-time colleague Armin Hofmann to do the same. In an angry manifesto published in the American Institute of Graphic Arts Journal of Graphic Design (vol. 10 no.1 1992), Rand railed against the violation of Modernism by screaming hordes of historicists, Deconstructivists, activists and other heretics. Behind each of these recent challenges to Modernism one can name a powerful woman whose voice threatens the stability of Rand’s carefully guarded ideals: behind Deconstructivism stands Katherine McCoy; and behind activism stands Sheila Levrant de Bretteville. Perhaps de Bretteville’s philosophy reflects an overall shift in the design profession, or perhaps it will be a catalyst for such a shift, just as the programme of Eisenman, Rand and Hofmann helped to redirect the currents of American design practice earlier in the century. Ellen Lupton: How is the new programme you have instituted at Yale different from what preceded it? Sheila Levrant de Bretteville: When you ask a question like that, I feel reluctant to locate the differences, because notions of ‘difference’ have been invested with so much positive thought on my part. Also, I have a great respect for Alvin Eisenman, and for the 40 years of work he did here, and for the intelligence and ecumenical spirit he brought to the endeavor. But it is important to me that this programme be person-centred. The students are encouraged to put and find themselves in their work; my agenda is to let the differences between my students be visible in everything they do. In most projects – not just in thesis work – it’s the students’ job to figure out what they want to say. Emphasising the students’ desire to communicate, and focusing on what needs to be said and to whom they want to say it – that’s what I mean by person-centredness. While they may have existed before, it is even stronger now. EL: Some faculty who were here for many years left in a spirit of protest. What resistance have you encountered from faculty or alumni or from your own students? SLB: I think you should talk to the people who are upset. I am not upset. I am delighted. When students say they chose to come here because it scared them, because it was the most unfamiliar and most challenging programme, I consider that a positive place to start from (I think that comfort is a highly overrated emotion). It means they’re beginning a journey that allows them not to become representatives of a single, unifying, totalising view that would make all their work look the same. I didn’t need to end anything that was happening here; I needed to add what I felt had been left out. There are people for whom diversity and inclusion are terrifying and inappropriate, and they have absented themselves from teaching here. I am hoping that the students who come here are attracted by the open-minded attitude and by the opportunity to frame their own way of being in the profession. EL: Do you think people are surprised by what you have done? SLB: Some people have said that I should be less visible, that I should be in the background, that I should simply and invisibly support the people who are here and whom I brought. But don’t those recommendations too closely match old female role notions? In truth, as a woman designer, no one would have known about me if I hadn’t spoken out in the 1970s with a feminist reappraisal of the design arts. Focusing on one stratum of myself – gender – provided me with other ways to look at graphic design that anticipated the 1980s Deconstructivism critique of the International Style. I feel aligned with Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown and other people who in the late 1960s and early 1970s were criticising the universalising aspects of design and the notion that there was one high, single truth that would improve the lot of everyone. ‘To be seen and not heard’ was not a good thing to be told. I was not told that by the majority, however, and I was not told that by David Pease, Dean of the Art School, who was 100 per cent supportive. The group of faculty and alumni that chose me, chose to send a signal to the design community about the kinds of changes they wanted to see at Yale. Since what I’ve done before is known, what I would do here can’t have been a total surprise. No one should be surprised that I would look at things from multiple perspectives, that I would be involved in the community or that I would care about the personal voice of the designer. EL: What do you think are the most important intellectual tools for young designers today? SLB: They need to learn about the different ways to interpret graphic design, the many different perspectives. Students should know the names and languages that go with each of these perspectives – not because jargon is useful, but because knowing about these issues enables them to participate in the debates should they choose to do so. I believe that a productive tension comes from diverse points of view, and that students should grapple with diverse points of view for any act of design. We have given students readings from various critical perspectives, including psychoanalytic, semiotic, postmodern feminist and formalist. And we encourage them to take classes at the university, from people whose daily work is thinking from perspectives. Our students take academic courses every semester; it’s now a requirement. When I was a student here 30 years ago, we didn’t have seminars with readings that allowed us to discuss different perspectives. We took courses at the university, but bringing back that material to the act of doing, and thinking about, and writing about and analysing design didn’t occur in design seminars. You asked about other kinds of tools. In order for designers to know whether the appropriate way of communicating to a particular audience is a poster, a billboard, an exhibition or an interactive hypermedia experience, they need to know what those tools can do. The choice of which format to communicate in should occur after you know whom you want to talk to, and what you want to tell them. This plays into our notion of proactivity, which is to go out into the commuity with issues that have meaning for you, find out who else is affected by these issues, what organisations already exist, what they are already doing, what needs have not been met and then look for what ways graphic design could communicate to those audiences who don’t have access to the information that’s out there for them. EL: The person focus of your programme concerns not just the designer, but the audience. The audience has a new centrality. SLB: That’s correct. Because the audience is not an audience; it’s a co-participant with you, and it’s also your client. You bring skills, they bring their own knowledge and you are both agencies of knowledge – your knowledge as a designer, their knowledge as a person in need and the community as a group of people in need. It’s a parallel construction rather than a top-down mechanism. The students here have had an experience of being alongside the client / audience / user, because they themselves are part of the group that makes up the client / audience / user. EL: How does form-making relate to these problems of addressing an audience? You talked about the format, the institutional frame of communication. How do you fill up that frame? SLB: I’m providing a variety of parallel experiences of coming to form. I personally believe in delaying form-making until you know what you need to say, to whom you need to say it and how it should be said. On the other hand, there is a hunger among our students for purely aesthetic exploration, where there is no need to communicate, where we take away the audience, where it doesn’t matter if we can understand it. We just play with the materials because we can bump into a new form of expression that we could apply where it’s appropriate. Pure aesthetic exploration of this kind is something I’m personally less comfortable with, so I invite people to teach here who are comfortable with it. EL: In your 1983 essay ‘Feminist Design’ (Space and Society 6), you describe feminist design as a set of formal, tactical moves. What is ‘feminist design’? SLB: First, what is feminism? In my understanding, feminism acknowledges the past inequality of women, and doesn’t want it to continue into the future. And the issue of equality broadens beyond women to involve the equality of all voices. Feminist design looks for graphic strategies that will enable us to listen to people who have not been heard before. Thinking about myself from a gendered perspective – even if gender is a fiction – meant separating those experiences that relate to me as a gendered figure from other aspects of myself: from being from New York, being Jewish, being skinny. For me, the processes of childbearing, parenting and reading feminist writings brought social inequalities into sharper focus. There is a prevalent notion in the professional world that only if you have eight or more uninterrupted hours per day can you do significant work. But if you respond to other human beings – if you are a relational person – you never really have eight uninterrupted hours in a row. Relational existence is not only attached to gender by history – not by genes, not be biology, not by some essential ‘femaleness’. A relational person thinks about other human beings and their needs during the day. A relational person allows notions about other people to interrupt the trajectory of thinking or designing – I used to call it ‘strudeling’, because strudel is a layered pastry. I don’t think strudeling is an exclusively female way of thinking, but I might call is a feminist way of thinking because to valorise this attitude is to separate it from gender and free it from the nineteenth-century notion that women’s culture belonged entirely to the private, domestic realm. My grandmother, my mother, my sister and I all work. In my family, private and public spheres are not separated. I could easily take on the values of the work world, since I had to work, there was no choice. The kinds of work habits that art part of this public sphere – that deny relational experience – are precisely the ones I want to challenge. Feminism has allowed me to challenge them; thinking about myself as a woman has allowed me to challenge them. When women are in the workplace, women do as the workplace demands it. Part of feminism is about bringing public, professional values closer to private, domestic values, to break the boundaries of this binary system. EL: In other conversations, you’ve used the word ‘care’ to describe feminist design. How is this relational spirit manifested in design? SLB: In the early 1980s I came upon a set of strategies which I thought manifested that care. These include asking a question without giving the answer, so that viewers feel their own thinking is a value. Another strategy is to have multiple perspectives, which creates a tension that enables critical thinking in a viewer. Having the words and images contradict one another also creates a productive tension, by asking the viewer to resolve the conflict and thus bring his or her thinking process and point of view into play. Another principle is to be there in the street of your audience, who can give you feedback on how they understand it. Once you’ve experienced this, you are transformed in your notion of who the client is. Last year a group of our students designed a pro-choice billboard for a course taught by Marlene McCarty and Donald Moffett. (Marlene and Donald work together in the design studio Bureau, and they’re members of the AIDS activist group Gran Fury.) They gave the students a newspaper and asked them to locate an issue they felt was important. A group of students who chose reproductive rights analysed US laws, looked at what local and national organizations are doing, and finally decided to provide a fact: ‘73 per cent of Americans are pro-choice’. By providing a statistical fact that most people didn’t know, they would allow viewers to think that perhaps they were being manipulated by media coverage of pro-lifers. EL: The formal language of the billboard is the expected language of mass media. It doesn’t have a ‘design’ look. SLB: That’s intentional. The students didn’t want the aesthetic position to be the primary reading. They don’t want you to think how nice it looks and wonder who designed it before receiving the information. EL: A lot of contemporary writing about design, especially writing influenced by postmodernism and contemporary literary theory, suggests that when images and messages become completely layered, a political challenge occurs, because the design forces the viewer to discover the meaning. In the situation you’ve just described, a decision was made to be clear and direct. What do you think about the aesthetics of complexity? SLB: These ideas are not mutually exclusive. On a billboard, which you have about three seconds to understand, a caring and inclusive design strategy can only be enacted in certain ways. On the other hand, when there’s more time for the audience to be in front of the design communication, then more complex strategies that provoke a thinking audience to fell and resolve the tension are appropriate. EL: A lot has happened since you studied at Yale 30 years ago – the protest movements of the 1960s, the feminist revolution of the 1970s, the theoretical research of the 1980s. How have the conditions changed that once made Modernism seem viable? SLB: I will never, never, never forget to include people of colour, people of different points of view, people of both genders, people of different sexual preferences. It’s just not possible any more to move without remembering. That is something that Modernism didn’t account for; it didn’t want to recognise regional and personal differences. People who have given their whole lives of supporting the classicising aesthetic of Modernism feel invalidated when we talk about the necessary inclusiveness, but diversity and inclusiveness are our only hope. It is not possible any more to plaster over everything with clean elegance. Dirty architecture, fuzzy theory and dirty design must be there. EL: Many younger women are afraid of the word ‘feminism’, though they might support its principles. You’ve suggested that feminism is not just for women, but that it’s an attitude for including everybody. Do you think that feminism could be a design philosophy for the 1990s, an aesthetic and ethical attitude that could help fill the void left by Modernism? SLB: I believe that gender is a cultural fiction, not a biological given. But while there have been many achievements in the last 20 years, racism and sexism are still rife. Some responses to my presence here really do come because people attach what I do to the fact that I am a woman. Those things have to become detached. But until we are able to detach gender from the ways we are in the world, it’s important for us to move towards equality. Moving towards equality is what the word feminism means. Until we’ve achieved that, we can’t give up the word. Feminist design is an effort to bring the values of the domestic sphere into the public sphere; feminist design is about letting diverse voices be heard through caring, relational strategies of working and designing. Until social and economic inequalities are changed, I am going to call good design feminist design. First published in Eye no. 8 vol. 2 1993 Eye is the world’s most beautiful and collectable graphic design journal, published quarterly for professional designers, students and anyone interested in critical, informed writing about graphic design and visual culture. It is available from all good design bookshops and online at the Eye shop, where you can buy subscriptions, back issues and single copies of the latest issue.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1937
__label__cc	0.648541	0.351459	James C. Roberts & Sarah Parker ‌James C. and Sarah were married in a religious ceremony on February 14th, 1825.1 They had a son and a daughter, named Wesley and Delilah. James C. Roberts James C. was born in 1800 in Orange Co, NC.1 He died at the age of 75 in 1875 in Orange Co, NC.1 Sarah was born in 1804 in Orange Co, NC.1 Sarah is no longer alive.1 Wesley Roberts Wesley was born in 1826 in Orange Co, NC and his baptism took place in Census 1870.1 He died at the age of 44 in 1870.1 Delilah Roberts Delilah was born in 1828 in Orange Co, NC. 1 Brøderbund Software, INC, World Family Tree Vol. 15, Ed. 1 (Release date: November 20, 1997) ABBR World Family Tree Vol. 15, Ed. 1 Customer pedigree. NAME Not Given ADDR Not Given World Family Tree Vol. 15, Ed. 1	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1939
__label__wiki	0.559498	0.559498	Toru The Wayferer Returns (Sakura Steam #1) by Stephanie R. Sorensen 10:57 pm 30 October 2016 Japan isolated themselves from most of the world under the policy of sakoku, limiting its contact with foreign nations to preserve the Japanese way of life – until Americans forced the opening of Japanese ports with “gunboat diplomacy” But the Japan of Toru the Wayfarer is different – this is a Japan where Toru, a traveller, returned to Japan from the west with a warning – and guides to technology that may save Japan and keep her independent: able to say no to the inevitable arrival of foreigners While this book was advertised as a steam punk, I think it is much better termed an alternate history since, beyond a few dirigibles and dubious submarines, there’s little steampunk element This book looks at what would have happened if Japan had managed to industrialise and arm itself with modern weaponry before Commodore Perry forced the opening of Japan to trade and the end of the Sakoku isolationist policy that Japan The book contains a lot of historical references and research drawing on actual events of the time as well as actual daimyos who were present and involved in Japan at the time. It includes a lot of history of Sakoku and policies around it. We follow the story of how Toru, returning to Japan after visiting America – back when it was illegal to do so and returning from abroad carries the death penalty under the isolationist policy. He brings with him lots of information from the west including a whole lot of guidance on technology and weapons – and the warning that the Americans are coming. There is a lot of references to the Unequal Treaties and stark warnings using China as an example of how a mighty, ancient and great nation in the world can be utterly abused by predatory treaties forced on them by gunboat diplomacy. While Toru is certainly bringing in western technology and knowledge to help “save” Japan, there is a definite emphasis on the Japanese working together, working to keep themselves independent and free from brutal unequal treaties. This is not a white saviour narrative, every character in this book – except the late arriving western threat – are all Japanese and there’s even an attempt to at least make the names of the technology they’re adopting to fit Japanese pronunciation and word structure. There’s also a major point that the technology would be adapted to Japanese ways – for example, introducing sewing machines doesn’t mean that they’re going to produce western clothing – they will make yukata and hakama. To quote: “Technology serves a culture but need not define it.” In addition to Toru we have his two very good friends who do a lot to help him: Jiro, a peasant Blacksmith who had to overcome classism to be able to meaningful be involved and truly help and contribute to the movement. His skills were utterly essential to the overall success. The same applies to Lord Aya’s daughter Masuyo whose skills are just as essential to the movement succeeding who faces the full stifling pressure of the rigid gender roles expected of her. It’s good to see both of these representing different oppressions to overcome to add their essential skills to the movement Source: http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2016/10/toru-wayferer-returns-sakura-steam-1-by.html	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1940
__label__cc	0.706928	0.293072	The Great Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off by Mark ... "Divided: Dualed #2" by Elsie Chapman (Reviewed by... GUEST POST: A Game of ̶T̶h̶r̶o̶n̶e̶s̶ Death by Rob... Mini-interview with Rob J. Hayes (Interviewed by M... It Takes A Thief To Catch A Sunrise by Rob J. Haye... The Red Knight by Miles Cameron (Reviewed by Achal... GUEST POST: Fantastic Economies: A Conversation Be... “The Buried Life” by Carrie Patel (Reviewed by Cas... "Veronic Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line" by Ro... GUEST POST: Finn Fancy vs Discworld: The Humor For... Mini-interview with Rob J. Hayes (Interviewed by Mihir Wanchoo) Order It Takes A Thief To Catch A Sunrise here (US) and here (UK) Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of It Takes A Thief To Catch A Sunrise Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Heresy Within Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Colour Of Vengeance Read Fantasy Book Critic interview with Rob J. Hayes Q] Welcome back to Fantasy Book Critic, while most writers are comfortable writing in their debut milieus, you have gone against the grain and written a standalone story set in a completely different world. What was your line of reasoning behind this bold step? RJH: Thanks for having me back. I think I wanted to try something a bit different and, after spending the past five years working on the world I created in The Ties that Bind trilogy, I wanted to take a break from it. I have a few worlds swirling about in my imagination, as I would assume most fantasy authors do, and a whole host of stories taking part in those worlds. While I was writing The Price of Faith I had this idea for a short story involving the two protagonists from IT TAKES A THIEF TO CATCH A SUNRISE and after putting it onto paper I found it so charming that I wanted to take it further and adapt it into a full novel. Q] "It Takes A Thief To Catch A Sunrise" while being a heist story is also miles away from your grimdark debut with regards to characters, plot bleakness and language. Did you feel that this story needed to be different from your debut or was this just what the story required? RJH: A little bit of both really. The story itself doesn't call for much violence, sex or harsh language so I made a conscious decision that there would be as little as possible. I think the character's attitude is a reflection of the world; the world I created in The Ties that Bind is dark, hard, cruel and unforgiving and the characters that inhabit it are very much a product of that. The world I created in IT TAKES A THIEF TO CATCH A SUNRISE is full of intrigue, deceit and hope and I think, once again, the characters reflect those qualities. Q] Please tell us about how "It Takes A Thief To Catch A Sunrise" came to be? What were your inspirations for the story and what were you aiming for with it? RJH: So it started off as a short story set in a world that I've been designing for a while now to be one part steampunk-esque science, one part elemental magic and one part religious zealotry. A bit of a mash I know but I'm hoping it'll pull together in the end. :D I love heist capers. From films like Ocean's Eleven to books like The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, I love the idea of a group of thieves overcoming impossible odds and stealing something that cannot be stolen. At the same time I wanted to include the romance of Bonnie and Clyde (only without the rampant murder), with a couple whose lives revolved around the obvious and deep love they have for each other and the thrill of the steal. Q] Now with this title being re-published, there was a title and cover-art change. Could you walk us through this process? RJH: I decided I wanted to re-launch The Northern Sunrise with the possibility of sequels and with a more eye-catching cover. I had the image I wanted in my head and found an artist who could do it justice (and he really did). Then I spent about a month trying to come up with a new name for the book. Eventually my sister suggested IT TAKES A THEIF TO CATCH A SUNRISE, and I liked it right away. It gives me the scope to write a sequel (or sequels) and name them IT TAKES A THIEF... Q] Again in It Takes A Thief To Catch A Sunrise, the characters are the highlight of the story particularly Isabel & Jacques who share a very warm and loving relationship. Also dangerously fascinating were Amaury & Franseza, what's your secret for creating such intriguing & devious people? RJH: I think growing up with a psychologist for a mother probably helped. :D I try to create realistic characters wherever possible, giving them strengths and flaws, hopes and dreams, and conflicts both with other characters and also with themselves. Q] Will this be a standalone story, if yes what are you planning to write about next? Will you be returning to the world of The Ties That Bind trilogy? If not what will be your focus for the sequel ? RJH: At this point in time I do have a sequel planned but it's a ways off yet. It will be set in a different part of the world where elemental magic is a lot more prevalent and will see Jacques and Isabel coming up against some stiff competition. Next up for me, however, is BEST LAID PLANS, a follow-up series to The Ties that Bind, set in the same world with some of the same characters and a lot more pirates. Q] Thank you once again for your time, what can your fans expect in 2015 and beyond? RJH: Thanks for having me again. This year sees the re-release of The Price of Faith (Book 3 of The Ties that Bind) by Ragnarok Publications will be out in May and there's always the possibility that the first book of Best Laid Plans will arrive before the year is out.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1941
__label__cc	0.663307	0.336693	09/15/19--18:25: _First Meeting of Bó... 09/15/19--18:36: _The Canal 09/15/19--18:41: _Jeanne Dugas 09/15/19--18:44: _We Shall Never Forget 09/15/19--18:47: _Madison County War ... 09/15/19--18:49: _Manifest Destiny 09/15/19--18:50: _Garibaldi Memorial 09/15/19--18:50: _Volcanoes Along the... 09/15/19--18:53: _66 Park-In Theater 09/15/19--18:56: _Saratoga Lanes 09/15/19--19:04: _The Carter Farm 09/15/19--19:11: _This Lot 09/15/19--19:12: _Quality Hill Green 09/15/19--19:14: _Elbridge Central 09/15/19--19:14: _Elbridge 09/15/19--19:21: _Lamplighters Cart 09/15/19--19:21: _Béal na mBláth Ambu... 09/15/19--19:24: _Fayetteville 09/15/19--19:29: _Industrial Area 09/15/19--19:36: _United Empire Loyal... 09/15/19--18:25: First Meeting of Ból Chumann na hÉireann The first meeting held in Enniskeane on the 22nd Nov. 1954 'Let bowl playing flourish for future generations' (Notable Events) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--18:36: The Canal Whitehead, Nova Scotia. The Whitehead Canal is located between Whitehead Harbour and Witch Cove. Prior to its construction, fishermen had to haul their boats over a narrow beach between Whitehead and Molasses Harbour (now Port Felix) at a spot . . . (Man-Made Features • Waterways & Vessels) Includes complete text, location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--18:41: Jeanne Dugas near Cheticamp, Prince Edward Island. The life story of Jeanne Dugas illustrates the experiences of Acadíans in the second half of the 18th century. She and her family fled Ile Royale (Cape Breton Island) to escape the deportation of 1758, but were later . . . (Disasters • Settlements & Settlers • Women) Includes complete text, location, directions, 1 photo, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--18:44: We Shall Never Forget Bakersfield, California. This memorial site is erected and dedicated by the members of the Bakersfield Fire Department and our many supporting community partners, on this eleventh day of September, in the year two-thousand and sixteen A.D., on . . . (Notable Events) Includes complete text, location, directions, 6 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--18:47: Madison County War Veterans Memorial Wampsville, New York. Dedicated in grateful tribute to the madison county men and women who so unselfishly served their Country in the armed forces (Military) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--18:49: Manifest Destiny near Hagerman, Idaho. It is ... our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty." John L. O'Sullivan, columnist, New York Morning . . . (Patriots & Patriotism) Includes complete text, location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--18:50: Garibaldi Memorial Staten Island, New York. This house was the home of the Italian liberator, Giuseppe Garibaldi, who fled to America after the collapse of the republic in Italy in 1849. He came to Staten Island in 1850 and lived here with his friend, Antonio Meucci, . . . (Patriots & Patriotism • Politics) Includes complete text, location, directions, 6 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--18:50: Volcanoes Along the Snake The features before you testify to a fiery volcanic past. Distant hills, called buttes, are actually "shield" volcanoes. Named for their shape, these shield volcanoes formed when lava flowed from cracks, or vents, in the . . . (Natural Features • Natural Resources) Includes complete text, location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--18:53: 66 Park-In Theater Maplewood, Missouri. 66 Park-In Theater 1947-1994 Crestwood, MO Not just movies attracted patrons to this open-air theatre advertising "cool breezes" before the advent of air-conditioning. Pony rides, a Ferris wheel and a trained bear cub served . . . (Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles) Includes complete text, location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--18:56: Saratoga Lanes The Saratoga Billiards & Bowling Alley is the oldest of its kind west of the Mississippi. An "upstair-zer", the 8-lane bowling alley has provided fun for generations of bowlers, pool players, travelers and socialites making it a treasured landmark. (Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Sports) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--19:04: The Carter Farm Franklin, Tennessee. Just before 4:30 P.M., when the bulk of Confederate Gen. Patrick Cleburne’s Division struck this part of the main Federal line, the 100th Ohio Infantry buckled under the pressure. Although Cleburne had been killed just south . . . 09/15/19--19:11: This Lot Elbridge, New York. This lot was part of military tract of Capt. Wm. Stevens, member Mass. Society [of the] Cincinnati; First State Superintendent of Salt Industry. (Cemeteries & Burial Sites) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--19:12: Quality Hill Green near Canastota, New York. A company of horse artillery drilled here during the War of 1812 (War of 1812) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--19:14: Elbridge Central School- November 1, 1928 First central school in Onondaga County. Jordan-Elbridge Central School May 9, 1961. 09/15/19--19:14: Elbridge Congregational Church First church in area organized in 1800. Church building 1824 Elbridge Community Church 1945 09/15/19--19:21: Lamplighters Cart Chittenango, New York. The lamplighter used this cart to maintain the village streetlamps. He would use a long pole to light the lamps each evening and put them out each morning. During the day he would use the cart to carry fuel and materials to . . . 09/15/19--19:21: Béal na mBláth Ambush Site Welcome to the Ambush Site at Beal na Blath, where General Michael Collins, "Commander-in-Chief" of The Irish Army, was assassinated on 22nd August 1922. Michael Collins and his party left Cork City at approximately 6am . . . 09/15/19--19:24: Fayetteville Fayetteville, New York. First called 'Manlius Four Corners'; Settled in 1791 by Origen Eaton and Joshua Knowlton. Boyhood home of Grover Cleveland (Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 1 photo, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--19:29: Industrial Area near Elbridge, New York. Employed up to 600. Grist mill, chair factories piano player co., Dyneto Co., paper mill, distillery bicycle factory, many others (Industry & Commerce) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map. 09/15/19--19:36: United Empire Loyalists Cornwall, Ontario. English: The United Empire Loyalists played a prominent role in the development of this country. In particular, the officers and men of the Royal Highland Emigrants, the King's Royal Regiment of New York, the Loyal Rangers . . .	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1942
__label__cc	0.590792	0.409208	Public Works Services Concrete/Structures Asphalt/Paving Curbs/Approaches/Sidewalks Industrial Pits/Docks Structural/Civil Engineering Gen. Engineering Divisions Concrete/Masonry Sewers/Septic Septic Repair Stucco/Plaster Excavation/Grading Geotech Analysis Gen. Contracting Divisions Remodels/Room Additions Kitchen/Bath Remodels Hardscapes/Pools Public Works Construction Services in Palos Verdes Estates, CA Public Works Services in the Palos Verdes Estates, CA Area Prieto Engineering is a Los Angeles, CA based Engineering and Construction company specializing in small to medium public works projects and serves Palos Verdes Estates, CA and surrounding areas. Free Bid Proposal We offer a free bid proposal and/or design consultation. Please also feel free to browse our many websites and look into the myriad of services we can provide for you. Thank you for the opportunity to earn your business. As a certified General Engineer and General Contractor in the Palos Verdes Estates, CA area, Prieto Engineering serves the following areas in Palos Verdes Estates, CA and Los Angeles, CA: 90274, 90275 Agoura Hills, Agua Dulce, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Arleta, Artesia, Baldwin Hills, Bel Air, Bell Canyon, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Belmont Shore, Beverly Hills, Bixby Knolls, Brentwood, Burbank, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Century City, Chatsworth, Cheviot Hills, City of Industry, Commerce, Culver City, Downtown Los Angeles, Eagle Rock, Echo Park, El Segundo, Encino, Gardena, Glassell Park, Glendale, Granada Hills, Hancock Park, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Highland Park, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Holmby Hills, Huntington Park, Koreatown, La Cañada, La Crescenta, La Mirada, Little Tokyo, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Malibu, Malibu Lake, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Mar Vista, Mission Hills, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Montrose, Mount Washington, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Norwalk, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Palos Verdes Estates, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Paramout, Pasadena, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills Estates, San Fernando, Sanford, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Sepulveda, Sherman Oaks, Silverlake, South Pasadena, Studio City, Sunland, Sun Valley, Sylmar, Tarzana, Thousand Oaks, Toluca Lake, Topanga, Torrance, Tujunga, Universal City, USC, Van Nuys, Valencia, Venice, Venice Beach, Vernon, West Adams, Westchester, West Hills, West Hollywood, Westlake, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Whittier, Windsor Hills, Woodland Hills Copyright 2014. PrietoEngineering Admin. All rights reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1948
__label__wiki	0.580458	0.580458	Partisan Polarization on Environmental Protection and Climate Change Riley Dunlap, Regents Professor of Sociology and Laurence L. and Georgia Ina Dresser Professor Wednesday, December 14, 2016 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm 1110 Weill Hall Student Lunch: 12-1pm in 5240 Weill Talk: 4-5:30pm in 1110 Weill During the past two decades environmental issues and especially climate change have become very divisive issues in U.S. politics, both among political elites and lay persons. The presentation will track these developments with longitudinal data, paying special attention to trends in partisan polarization over climate change using Gallup Poll data from 1997 to 2016. The results will be framed in terms of recent political science research on partisan polarization, leading to pessimistic projections about the likelihood of "de-polarizing" climate change and environmental protection more generally in the foreseeable future. Bio: Riley E Dunlap is Regents Professor and Laurence L. and Georgia Ina Dresser Professor in the Department of Sociology at Oklahoma State University. One of the founders of environmental sociology, Dunlap’s recent work has focused heavily on climate change, particularly public perceptions, political polarization, and organized denial. He chaired the American Sociological Association’s Task Force on Sociology and Global Climate Change, and is senior editor of the resulting volume Climate Change and Society: Sociological Perspectives (Oxford University Press, 2015). Dunlap is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Psychological Association, and a member of the Sociological Research Association. Professor Dunlap has received a number of awards for his scholarly work, most recently the William R. Freudenburg Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences in 2012. Questions? Contact Caroline Walsh (walshce@umich.edu) This event is co-sponsorsed by: Communications Studies Dept., Graham Institute, Energy Institute, SNRE, and ERB. Event audio: Energy and environment, STPP, InSPIRE, Riley Dunlap, Climate Change, Global Warming Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program (STPP) Sign up for our public event announcements Annual Washington, DC policy event and networking reception The Ford School's annual policy event and networking... more Democratic presidential candidates’ climate change proposals may be unrealistic, says Rabe Addressing climate change tops the majority of democratic... more Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program Fosters interdisciplinary research and teaching on the politics and processes of science and technology policymaking.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1954
__label__cc	0.624068	0.375932	For Posterity's Sake A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar Lewis Herbert (Herb) Matthews Able Seaman, Radar, V50265, RCNVR Born: 19 Mar 1924, L’Etete, New Brunswick Died: 04 Jun 2011, Saint John, New Brunswick MATTHEWS, Lewis Herbert (Herb) - It is with great sorrow that the family wishes to announce the passing of a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle on June 4, 2011, at Ridgewood Veteran’s Unit, Saint John, NB. Born in L’Etete NB on March 19, 1924, he was the eldest son of the late Donald and Bertha (Wright) Matthews. He is survived by his daughter, Elaine (Terrance) Cooke, 385 Sunset Ave., Miramichi NB, granddaughter, Sharon Cooke, Quispamsis, NB and grandson, Stephen (Lissa) Cooke and great-grandson, Christopher Cooke, Miramichi, NB; two sisters, Carol Hall, St. Stephen, NB and Doreen (Carol) Lyons, Saint John, NB; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife, Rheta, parents, a sister Anna MacDonald and brother, Hollis Matthews. The family will receive friends at the St. George Funeral Home & Crematorium (755-3533) 26 Portage Street, St. George NB on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. A Masonic Tribute Service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday at 7:00 pm. The funeral service will be held from the Gary E. Waycott Memorial Chapel at the funeral home on Wednesday at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to the Ridgewood Veteran’s Unit, the Shriners Hospital, Green’s Point Light Association or to a charity of the donor’s choice. (The Telegraph Journal, Saint John, NB) AB Matthews' service biography Ships served in: RCNVR DIVISION SAINT JOHN - Enlisted 29 Oct 1942 HMCS BUCTOUCHE HMCS RIVIERE DU LOUP - Served in Riviere du Loup 21 Nov 1943 - Jan 1945. Commissioning crew HMCS RIBBLE RCNVR DIVISION SAINT JOHN - Demobilized 21 Aug 1945 Crossed the Bar Index HOME PAGE SHIP INDEX CONTACT	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1955
__label__wiki	0.746668	0.746668	Guest post: Chromosome-scale genome assembly gives African mosquito and malaria... “Predicting” the future: how genomic prediction methods anticipated technology Three GENETICS articles from 2018 recognized with Editors’ Choice Awards An ancient regulator of sex development Pointing to problems with textbook arrows Genetics Society of America honors Steven Farber and Jamie Shuda... Why publish your class activities in CourseSource? Who would be hurt by higher taxes for graduate students?... Putting active learning into practice: an interview with PALM fellow... Kimura & Crow: Infinite alleles Cristy Gelling Cristy Gelling is Communications Director at the GSA, a science writer, and a lapsed yeast geneticist. Photo of Motoo Kimura (left) and James Crow (right) is courtesy of PPGBM Museum of Genetics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. For two weeks in the summer of 1953, Motoo Kimura enjoyed a welcome respite from loneliness and the austerity of post-war Japan. Crossing the Pacific from Yokohama to Seattle to commence PhD studies at Iowa State University, Kimura played deck golf, enjoyed full service meals, and napped to the soothing vibrations of the venerable passenger liner Hikawa maru. He also sought solace in equations, writing a paper on how populations evolve when the intensity of natural selection fluctuates at random. His chronic stomach troubles, which he attributed to stress, vanished. A month later, Kimura took his fluctuating selection paper with him to a conference in Madison, Wisconsin.* Struggling with English, he managed to get lost in the corridors of the lakefront building where the meeting was held, until he was stopped by a tall American. The man, population geneticist Jim Crow, asked Kimura if he needed help finding his way. Crow would later say this chance encounter changed both of their lives. Crow would become Kimura’s mentor, in the truest sense of the word. Crow guided and challenged him. Crow connected Kimura with scientific luminaries. He focused Kimura’s intensity and mathematical talent on important biological problems. Their lifelong intellectual partnership would link their names forever—Crow and Kimura—in an iconic textbook, but also—Kimura and Crow—in a 1964 GENETICS article that paved the way for the study of evolution at the molecular level. As part of the GENETICS Centennial Classic series published throughout 2016, Warren Ewens introduces Kimura and Crow 1964 as one of the journal’s most influential papers. At their first meeting in Madison, Crow had been startled to hear Kimura’s name. Though Kimura was an obscure student, Crow had recently been forwarded some of his papers. Based on the originality and depth of the ideas, he had assumed Kimura was a distinguished professor, not an isolated student who had taught himself both population genetics and mathematics. Kimura was originally trained as a plant cytologist; he had been fascinated by plants since boyhood, and cytogenetics had been the hot field in Japan at the time. But his interest in chromosomes waned as he began yearning to “do something in genetics like what the theoretical physicists were doing in physics.” This ambition was buoyed by Kimura’s regular, hunger-fueled excursions to the house of his cousin-in-law Matsuhei Tamura, a mathematical physicist. Kimura visited almost every Sunday, partly because he was intensely interested in the quantum physicist’s stories, and partly because he needed to fill his belly during the post-war food shortages. Kimura joined the lab of Japan’s most famous cytogeneticist, Hitoshi Kihara, who recognized the quiet young man’s talent for theory and left him mostly to his own devices. So, while his friends picked apart the chromosomes of wheat and watermelon, Kimura indulged in the more abstract pleasures of population genetics. He would travel the full-day’s train journey to Tokyo to copy out by hand the papers of Sewall Wright, one of the founders of the field. Determined to understand Wright’s papers, Kimura haunted the math department, attending classes, asking questions, learning from books, until he gradually gained the sophistication to follow Wright’s arguments, and eventually, critique and extend them. But this new intellectual world was isolating. Kimura’s lab mates took a dim view of his absorption in mathematics and the situation only worsened when he took a job at the newly founded National Institute of Genetics. The facility was housed in the makeshift and uncomfortable office of a wartime aircraft factory. There was no library, no access to foreign journals, and no colleague who could understand his work. The only geneticist there who saw its value was zoologist Taku Komai, who had studied in the fly lab of genetics superstar T. H. Morgan in the United States. Komai recommended Kimura extend his training overseas and introduced him to an American scientist working for the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission. Before long Kimura had a scholarship, a Fulbright travel award, and a ticket to Seattle. Once they met, Crow immediately took Kimura under his wing. He invited Kimura over for dinner to meet his idol Sewall Wright. Crow probed Kimura about the paper he had just written on the Pacific voyage and was impressed that it neatly reduced a formidably complex equation down to a simple relationship used by physicists to describe heat conduction. He encouraged Kimura to submit the paper to GENETICS, where Crow was an editor (the paper was later effusively and uncharacteristically praised by its reviewer, Wright). James F. Crow, R. A. Fisher, and Motoo Kimura in the Crow lab in 1961. From Susman and Greenberg Temin 2012. But after this giddy start, slogging through the reality of compulsory graduate courses in Iowa was a letdown. Kimura was bored by the quantitative genetics focus of his advisor Jay Lush and longed to return to the warm and intellectually bracing atmosphere he had enjoyed during his brief visit with Crow. Nine months later, Kimura transferred to Madison to study with Crow. This turned out to be a career-making decision. Crow was famous not only for his keen insights, but also his ability to draw them out of others in his role as a generous teacher, mentor, and colleague. Daniel Hartl, Crow’s student from 1965-1968, described the atmosphere that Crow cultivated in his lab: Professor Crow ran his laboratory on the principles of bringing smart people together to pursue their passions and encouraging interaction, mutual respect and support, constructive criticism, and the free sharing of ideas and resources. There were no formal group meetings or reports, as there was so much daily interaction that group meetings would have been superfluous. He would advise, suggest, and encourage, but never direct or cajole. Kimura later judged the brief two years he spent earning his PhD under Crow as the most productive of his life. It was during this time that he developed his model of random drift and introduced an equation for modeling random dynamic processes (the Kolmogorov backward diffusion equation) to find the probability that a gene allele reaches fixation (i.e. is carried by every individual in the population). This equation would later become a standard tool in population genetics. Kimura moved back to Japan after graduation, and a few years later, in 1958, Crow wrote to him about some interesting new data on the nature of bacterial mutations from his friend Joshua Lederberg. Most of the point mutations that arose in Lederburg’s experiments were independent. In other words, nearly every mutation yielded a new allele. This result fit with the emerging molecular view of the gene as a sequence of hundreds or thousands of nucleotides, in which every nucleotide substitution or rearrangement would count as a new allele. Crow wondered how this conception would affect population genetics models. He posed a specific problem to Kimura: If you assume that every mutation generates a new allele and that a population has reached genetic equilibrium (i.e. allele frequencies are stable from generation to generation), what would be the proportion of loci in a population that are homozygous? A little over a year later, Kimura wrote back with the answer. Crow was once more impressed with the practical simplicity of Kimura’s solution, a straightforward equation based on mutation rate and the size of the population (technically speaking, the effective population size). Working together in Madison in 1962 and 1963, this tidy equation became the core of their infinite alleles model (sometimes known as the “infinitely many alleles” model). The 1964 paper began by describing a basic model under the assumption that each mutation has no net effect on the bearer’s survival and reproduction, that is, each mutation is “neutral”. The rest of the paper built on this foundation by introducing the effects of natural selection and random drift, but it was the first, introductory section that was to become most influential. The infinite alleles model was ready and waiting for the arrival of molecular data to population genetics two years later when the field was electrified by Richard Lewontin and Jack Hubby’s analysis of protein variation by gel electrophoresis (another GENETICS paper). Crow would later say that Kimura’s early work, including their collaboration on the infinite alleles model, was “preadapted” for this moment. It became a key tool in the debates that began to rage about the best interpretation of the abundant genetic diversity exposed by protein electrophoresis studies. This work was also the starting point for a series of elaborations modeling how neutral or nearly neutral alleles evolve. Crucially, it influenced Kimura’s later development of “neutral theory,” in which he argued that most variation at the molecular level is the result of random genetic drift of neutral mutations, as opposed to natural selection of beneficial ones. Although his idea was radical at the time, it is now the default starting point of molecular evolution studies. Crow described the critical importance of the theory as a kind of invisibility: Haldane once said that the highest honor a scientist can have is for his theory to be so taken for granted that his name is no longer associated with it. We no longer mention Mendel when we conduct breeding experiments or Sturtevant when we map chromosomes. Likewise, neutral assumptions permeate modern studies of molecular evolution and population genetics. In most cases Kimura is not mentioned. Crow and Kimura remained close friends and collaborators for the rest of their careers, and in 1970 they published a widely used textbook, An Introduction to Population Genetics Theory. With his share of the book earnings, Kimura built a greenhouse and bred a prize-winning orchid that he named “Paphiopedilum James Crow”. Though not an expert gardener like Kimura, Crow did know a great deal about cultivating students, providing just the right conditions to allow them to flourish and bloom. Prize-winning orchid bred by Motoo Kimura and named in honor of James Crow. The photo shows a tile painted by Kimura and given to Crow as a gift. From Susman and Greenberg Temin 2012 Warren J. Ewens (2016). Motoo Kimura and James Crow on the Infinitely Many Alleles Model. GENETICS, 202 (4), 1243-1245. DOI: 10.1534/genetics.116.188433 http://www.genetics.org/content/202/4/1243 Motoo Kimura and James F. Crow (1964). The Number of Alleles That Can Be Maintained in a Finite Population GENETICS, 49 (4), 725–738 http://www.genetics.org/content/49/4/725 Motoo Kimura (1954). Process Leading to Quasi-Fixation of Genes in Natural Populations Due to Random Fluctuation of Selection Intensities. GENETICS, 39 (3), 280-295 This Conversations in Genetics interview of Jim Crow by Dan Hartl includes several recollections of Kimura, including this account of his graduate student years: *Crow repeatedly described this as the Genetics Society of America meeting. But in 1953 the GSA annual meeting was held in conjunction with AAAS in Boston. The meeting held Sept 6-10 in the Union at Madison that year was the AIBS meeting, for which Crow was in charge of room assignments. Crow might have been confused because in the previous and following years the GSA meeting had been held at the AIBS meeting. New Faculty Profile: Jessica Feldman #TAGC16 Shorts: Gut microbes influence alcohol sensitivity Genes to Genomes: a blog from the Genetics Society of America says: […] Kimura & Crow: Infinite alleles […] What We're Reading – Rincon News says: […] Kimura & Crow: Infinite Alleles, Genes to Genomes (a blog from the Genetics Society of America), August 3, 2016 — Cristy Gelling tells the story of the partnership of Motoo Kimura and James F. Crow, leading eventually to “Kimura’s later development of ‘neutral theory,’ in which he argued that most variation at the molecular level is the result of random genetic drift of neutral mutations, as opposed to natural selection of beneficial ones.” […] What We're Reading - Democratsnewz says: 100 Years of GENETICSEvolutionGenetics JournalHistory of GeneticsPopulation Genetics	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1957
__label__wiki	0.895089	0.895089	You are here: Home / Baseball / MLB Network’s “The Third Team” documentary to air on Friday night MLB Network’s “The Third Team” documentary to air on Friday night December 11, 2014 By FreeWinningPicks As the Winter Meetings in San Diego move into our rearview mirror, our primary focus shifts away from the 2014 season that was and moves to the 2015 season ahead. With that in mind though, there’s no harm in taking a few glimpses back, paritcularly to the exciting seven-game World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals. On Friday night at 9:00 p.m. ET, MLB Network will give an opportunity to do just that, although with a unique twist. It’s the second installment of the network produced “The Third Time,” a documentary style prorgram that gives us rare access and a behind-the-scenes look at the umpires who selected to call the World Series. From the MLB Network press release: For MLB Network’s second installment of The Third Team, the 90-minute show includes highlights from more than 80 hours of footage and live audio both on and off the field, giving a glimpse at umpires’ personalities and their interactions with members of the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals, including during the outburst between Royals catcher Salvador Perez and Giants reliever Hunter Strickland in Game Two. With expanded replay used for the first time in 2014, The Third Team also gives viewers an exclusive look inside the MLB Replay Operations Center during each of the two World Series replay reviews, including the pivotal overturned call at first base during Game Seven. During the filming of The Third Team, MLB Network spent 11 straight days with the 2014 World Series umpire crew, including veteran World Series umpires Ted Barrett, Jeff Nelson and crew chief Jeff Kellogg, plus four umpires working their first World Series: Eric Cooper, Jerry Meals, Jim Reynolds and second-generation MLB umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. For the first time, MLB Network’s cameras captured exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre calling each umpire to let them know of their World Series assignment. The program will include Joe Torre’s call to Eric Cooper, who told the media in October that he nearly drove off the road when learning of his first World Series assignment. The story sounded unbelieveable, but it’s all right here, including Torre advising Cooper to put the car in park and change seats with his wife. Real moments. Real emotions. The real story of what goes into umpiring the biggest Series at the highest level will all be captured and covered in 90 minutes. Be sure to check it out or set your DVR. More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports: Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1958
__label__wiki	0.968741	0.968741	You are here: Home / Baseball / Colby Rasmus continues postseason tear with third homer in three games Colby Rasmus continues postseason tear with third homer in three games October 9, 2015 By FreeWinningPicks KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Colby Rasmus was once again a prime supplier of the Houston Astros’ playoff offense. Rasmus hit his third home run in three postseason games and also drove in a run with a double in the first inning in the Astros’ 5-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. The double, which drove in George Springer to give the Astros a 1-0 lead, meant Rasmus became the first player in MLB history to have extra-base hits in each of his first six postseason games. Rasmus played in three games with the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2009 National League Division Series. He doubled in each of those games. “I feel pretty good at the plate,” Rasmus, still the leader in the postseason party hero running, said. “What I’ve got going is working right now and I’m making adjustments to the pitches I’m throwing and it’s going in my favor.” [Related: Shirtless Colby Rasmus is our favorite postseason party dude] The home run, a solo shot in the third inning, gave the Astros a 4-1 lead. Rasmus is now just the second Astros player — along with Carlos Beltran, who hit home runs in five straight in 2004 — to hit home runs in three-straight playoff games after hitting one against the New York Yankees in the wild-card game on Tuesday and in Game 1 Thursday night. Rasmus hit a career-high 25 home runs in 2015, and credits his postseason power surge to his Little League days. No, really. “I think my youth may have something to help with that,” Rasmus said. “I played in front of 40,000 when I was 12 years old, Little League World Series, and that was what it was all about. Being ready for the big moment and just getting out there and getting after it. Not being scared to make a mistake. And I think that’s helped me. My dad, growing up, working with us and putting us in those situations, in stressful situations. I think I somewhat feed off of that.” Rasmus, a native of Phoenix City, Ala., starred in the 1999 Little League World Series. His Phoenix City team made it all the way to the finals. Rasmus, who pitched and played the outfield, was 5-for-10 in Williamsport and yes, one of those hits was a home run. His efforts ultimately came up short Friday. After walking in his third plate appearance, Rasmus made his final one in the seventh inning. The game was tied 4-4 and Rasmus, who hit his home run in Game 1 and his double in the first inning on the first pitch, got a first pitch fastball over the plate from Kelvin Herrera. He missed this time and fouled the pitch back. Five pitches later, he popped out to Eric Hosmer to end the seventh. The Royals took the lead in the bottom of the inning and evened the series. [Check it out: Yahoo Sports MLB writers make their postseason predictions] But the Astros clubhouse was not a morose sight after Game 2. Many players espoused the virtues of getting a split in Kansas City and heading back to Houston for Sunday’s Game 3, started by pitcher Dallas Keuchel, who is 15-0 at Minute Maid Park with a 1.46 ERA. It will be the first home game for the Astros since playing the Texas Rangers on Sept. 27 and with two straight wins, the Astros can clinch a berth in the American League Championship Series at home. “It’s going to feel great going back home, being able to feel good at home and enjoy that crowd that’s going to be there for us,” Game 2 starter Scott Kazmir said. “And we have Keuchel on the mound so we’re feeling very confident.” MORE MLB COVERAGE FROM YAHOO SPORTS Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @NickBromberg	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1959
__label__wiki	0.794319	0.794319	UZBEKISTAN: Continuing denials of prisoners' freedom of religion or belief Uzbekistan continues to limit the freedom of religion or belief of all prisoners, Forum 18 News Service has learned. For example relatives of imprisoned Muslim prisoners of conscience, jailed for exercising their religious freedom, told Forum 18 that prisoners "cannot openly pray, or read any Muslim literature - even the Koran". The state-controlled Islamic religious leadership, or Muslim Board, denied this to Forum 18. Mukhammadakmal Shakirov of the Muslim Board also claimed to Forum 18 that the Board's clergy have recently visited Muslims in prison. But when asked which was the last prison they visited and when this was, Shakirov refused to say. An official of an officially-recognised religious community, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of state reprisals, told Forum 18 that their clergy are not allowed by the authorities to visit or conduct religious ceremonies in prisons. Christian prisoners of conscience are also known to have suffered from bans on openly praying and reading religious literature, including the Bible. Uzbekistan is continuing to limit the freedom of religion or belief of prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, who also suffer among other things from poor nutrition and health care, Forum 18 News Service has learned. Relatives of imprisoned Muslim prisoners of conscience, jailed for exercising their freedom of religion or belief, told Forum 18 that prisoners "cannot openly pray, or read any Muslim literature - even the Koran". Uzbekistan has imprisoned and continues to imprison many people for exercising their freedom of religion or belief, but has now released its last current Jehovah's Witness prisoner of conscience. And the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has stopped visiting prisoners in Uzbekistan, stating on 12 April that "we cannot address humanitarian issues and that renders any visits pointless". All prisoners in Uzbekistan have long been denied their right to freedom of religion or belief – for example to pray visibly, to have religious literature, or to receive visits from clergy. Prison and labour camp conditions are harsh, and even the communities regarded as the main "traditional" faiths – the state-controlled Muslim Board and the Russian Orthodox Church – have had only limited access to prisoners, with those of other faiths having stated to Forum 18 that they have almost no access. Prisoners are often punished for religious activity in jails or labour camps, but officials have in the past insisted to Forum 18 that prisoners' religious freedom is respected (see F18News 17 July 2009 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1329). Can prisoners pray or read religious literature? Relatives of Muslims jailed for exercising their freedom of religion or belief, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of state reprisals, told Forum 18 in May that their imprisoned relatives "cannot openly pray, or read any Muslim literature - even the Koran". Muslims have long complained that they are banned from praying openly in jail (see F18News 2 May 2006 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=772), as was former Protestant prisoner of conscience Pastor Dmitry Shestakov (see F18News 23 March 2007 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=935). Mukhammadakmal Shakirov, Chief of the International Relations Department of the state-controlled Islamic religious leadership (the Spiritual Administration of Muslims, or Muslim Board), adamantly denied that these problems exist. He insisted to Forum 18 on 6 May that "in all Uzbekistan's prisons convicts are allowed to pray or read the Koran if they want to". Literature bans, including of sacred texts, also affect prisoners of conscience of other faiths. Andrei Serin, who is from an unregistered Baptist Church in the capital Tashkent, told Forum 18 on 17 April that Baptist prisoner of conscience Tohar Haydarov "can pray but I don't know if he has a Bible now". He added that Haydarov "had a Bible which was taken away from him at the beginning of his sentence". In March 2010 Haydarov was sentenced to 10 years in jail, after an apparently rigged trial, and attempts to overturn his sentence have failed (see F18News 21 December 2010 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1524). Visits by clergy or prisoners of consciences' relatives allowed? An official of an officially-recognised religious community, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of state reprisals, told Forum 18 on 6 May that their clergy are not allowed by the authorities to visit or conduct religious ceremonies in prisons. The official did not want to discuss the issue further. In sharp contrast, Shakirov of the Muslim Board claimed to Forum 18 that the Board's clergy have recently visited Muslims in prison. "Prisons are visited by us on an official schedule," he claimed. Asked which was the last prison they visited and when this was, Shakirov refused to say. "Please send your questions in writing," he stated, before refusing to continue the conversation. In the past officials from officially-recognised communities, including the Muslim Board, have stated that prison visits are infrequent at best (see F18News 17 July 2009 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1329). Relatives of prisoners of conscience jailed for exercising their freedom of religion or belief – such as Khayrullo Tursunov, a Muslim in pre-trial detention in Karshi – are known to have been denied visiting rights (see F18News 1 May 2013 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1829). But one relative of a Muslim imprisoned for exercising his freedom of religion or belief told Forum 18 on 16 April that they are "are allowed to visit three or four times a year, and even stay for a day within a specifically designated room in the prison". Poor food, harsh conditions A relative of a Muslim imprisoned for exercising his freedom of religion or belief told Forum 18 on 6 May that they "have to bring meat dishes and medicines because of poor health and nutrition". Their relative's health "is not too bad but could be better. Meat is served to prisoners very rarely, and convicts survive on barley and other primitive food for months." The relative said that the prisoners are allowed to receive parcels containing medicines, food and clothes up to five kilograms (11 pounds) in that particular prison. Prisoners of conscience in Uzbekistan's labour camps suffer unsanitary and dangerous living and working conditions, which cause a high level of sickness among prisoners. Guards beat them with truncheons and members of criminal gangs have a ruthless hold over other prisoners (see F18News 27 June 2007 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=982). International human rights obligations International law defends the right of prisoners to freedom of religion or belief, which Uzbekistan has the international obligation to uphold. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by Uzbekistan in 1996, states: "All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person" (Article 10, Paragraph 1). This specifically includes those held in prisons, detention camps or correctional institutions (General Comment 21 on ICCPR Article 10). Among other relevant United Nations standards is the 1955 Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which state: "Access to a qualified representative of any religion shall not be refused to any prisoner" (Rule 41, Part 3). The Standard Minimum Rules also stipulate that, "So far as practicable, every prisoner shall be allowed to satisfy the needs of his/her religious life by attending the services provided in the institution and having in his/her possession the books of religious observance and instruction of his/her denomination" (Rule 42). "In accordance with international standards"? Officials at the Interior Ministry's Chief Directorate for the Enforcement of Punishments - which has responsibility for prisons - between 3 and 6 May refused to discuss with Forum 18 freedom of religion or belief in prisons. Burkhan (who did not give his last name) stated he is Assistant to Abdukarim Shodiyev, Deputy Interior Minister and Head of the Chief Directorate for the Enforcement of Punishments, on 3 May. He claimed to Forum 18 that neither Shodiyev nor anyone else from the Chief Directorate is available to talk to Forum 18. Asked whether Forum 18 could talk to the Press Service, Burkhan referred Forum 18 to the switchboard. Employees at the switchboard between 3 and 6 May claimed when Forum 18 introduced itself that they could not hear Forum 18 well – even though the line was very clear. Uzbekistan's official delegation to its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on 24 April defended the government's record on prisoners. Delegation member Shodiyev, Deputy Interior Minister and Head of the Chief Directorate, insisted that detention conditions "are in accordance with international standards". Shodiyev claimed that all cases of torture of prisoners and complaints by prisoners are followed up by the General Prosecutor's Office and that action follows. He gave no examples of such action. Torture in Uzbekistan continues to be "routine", as the UN Committee Against Torture put it, with cases frequently being reported by victims to Forum 18 (see F18News 14 August 2012 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1732). Will Protestant prisoner of conscience be transferred to an open prison? Baptists in Uzbekistan are hoping that prisoner of conscience Haydarov will be moved to an open prison. Haydarov is at present in Shaykh-Ali Prison in Kashkadarya Region, but after one third of his prison term is complete (he was jailed for 10 years in March 2010), the law allows him to be moved to an open prison unless he is given an administrative penalty while serving his sentence. "In an open prison, the prisoners move freely in the town between the prison and the work place," fellow-Baptist Serin explained. "We are hoping that he will be moved there in mid-May." If transferred to an open prison, Haydarov will also have a chance to have visitors "almost daily, and have a chance to receive home-made food." The address of Haydarov's current prison is: UYa 64/49 otryad 13 pos. Shaikh-Ali g. Karshi, Serin told Forum 18 that Baptists had collected positive written testimonies from Haydarov's family, friends, neighbours and church members to petition the authorities to transfer Haydarov to an open prison. "It remains to be seen whether or not the authorities will do so," he said. Surprise release of jailed Jehovah's Witness Abdubannob Ahmedov was released from prison on 2 March, 22 months before his latest sentence was due to finish, his fellow-Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. Ahmedov was in prison for 4 years and 7 months from July 2008. Ahmedov was originally sentenced to four years' imprisonment in 2008 for the illegal exercise of freedom of religion or belief (see F18News 29 July 2008 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1164). But shortly before the end of his first jail sentence in July 2012 was given a further 30 months in jail for allegedly violating prison regulations (see F18News 4 July 2012 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1717). "His sentence was reduced to six months, the officials who accompanied him to his home town in Fergana [Fargona] Region informed local police," Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. Ahmedov was not given a written statement why his sentence was reduced, but was verbally told by local police that "it was the decision of the big brass". Ahmedov is at his home in Margilan with his family. "They are happy that he is finally home after four and half years of prison," Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. No other Jehovah's Witnesses are currently in jail in Uzbekistan. ICRC stops visiting prisons The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has stopped visiting prisoners in Uzbekistan, due to obstacles caused by the government, the ICRC announced on 12 April. It had suspended its visits in October 2012, but had been negotiating with the government to try to resume them. "In Uzbekistan we are unable to follow our standard working procedures when we visit detainees to assess the conditions in which they are being held and the treatment they are receiving," said Yves Daccord, ICRC's Director-General. "As a result, we cannot address humanitarian issues and that renders any visits pointless." Daccord stressed that the decision to terminate visits to places of detention is a rare occurrence, and is never taken lightly. "Visiting all detainees of ICRC concern and speaking to them in private - without witnesses - are essential preconditions for the effective protection of detainees," Daccord stated. "Visits must have a meaningful impact on detention conditions, and dialogue with the detaining authorities must be constructive. And that's not the case in Uzbekistan." (END) For a personal commentary by a Muslim scholar, advocating religious freedom for all as the best antidote to Islamic religious extremism in Uzbekistan, see http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=338. For more background, see Forum 18's Uzbekistan religious freedom survey at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1862. A printer-friendly map of Uzbekistan is available at http://education.nationalgeographic.com/mapping/outline-map/?map=Uzbekistan.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1966
__label__cc	0.738482	0.261518	Failing with Dignity: Toward a New Business Philosophy Teaching Philosophy Through Online Gaming Why Business Education needs to stop teaching the Law of the Jungle Workshop for the Humanities in Business Education – A Toolbox in the Making Rethinking Management Edu We Need to Start Respecting Informal Workers Data as a Mitigator in Slum Development Why Cities Must Plan With Inclusion In Mind Urban Informality On a Mission to Humanise the Middle East We Have Emerged The Future of China Turning Idealism into Good Business Where Are We Heading? Here We Do Something Untraditional Rethinking Management Education Why Future Business Leaders need Philosophy Anders Berg Poulsen When addressing the challenges put forth by an increasingly complex business environment, looking to traditional business models will not suffice. What is needed is an increased focus on critical reasoning to challenge the basic assumptions of business models and practices. In the wake of the financial crisis, an era of severe turbulence, rapid changes and increasing complexity has emerged. A black cloud hangs over the past decade’s economic prosperity and global consumption habits, which fundamentally challenges the purpose of business. All too often the approach to business practices has been one-dimensional, lacking in richness and depth. This goes for both the cheerleaders and the critics of the current business practices. In these times, it is important to be able to view the world in different shades – one of possibilities, rather than constraints. While the discipline of philosophy can help pave the way forward, it remains to be widely regarded as irrelevant to formal education programs in business schools. But they might think differently, if they take a closer look. “Once hired, philosophy majors advance more rapidly than their colleagues who possess only business degrees” writes Thomas Hurka, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Calgary. He strongly advises the younger generation to consider majoring in philosophy, if they want to be successful in business. This is supported by a recent study by Payscale, which shows that while starting salaries of philosophy graduates might be less than those with business degrees, by mid-career, the salaries of philosophy graduates surpasses those of marketing, communications, accounting and business management. Taking this into consideration, it appears that having the right business degree from a prestigious business school does not guarantee a successful career in business. Following this line of thought, Matthew Stewart, former management consultant of the Mitchell Madison Group tells, “If you want to succeed in business, don’t get an MBA. Study philosophy instead.” In his experience, MBA programs basically involved, “taking two years out of your life and going deeply into debt, all for the sake of learning how to keep a straight face while using phrases like “out-of-the-box thinking,” “win-win situation,” and “core competencies.” Even though this is arguably an exaggeration of the current state of business education, it is hard to neglect the verity: the concept of ‘business as usual’ in management education is swiftly becoming old-fashioned, while the socio-economic challenges of globalization only mature. In many countries, labour market conditions are deteriorating with unemployment rates worsened to an unprecedented level. For the younger generation, the prospects of employment are declining, as they are often the ‘last ones in’ and the ‘first ones out’ of a bleak job market. By Mid-Career Philosphy Majors have a higher average salary than Business Management Majors – Photo credit USC Dornsife “The world of work is currently out of sync with the world of education – meaning young people don’t have the skills needed to get jobs,” says Dominic Barton, Global Managing Director of McKinsey & Company, calling for urgent action. Instead of focusing on the lack of jobs out there, he argues that the available openings require skills that the younger generation simply do not possess. They face a distinctively new normal, as the operational capacities of business leaders are fundamentally changing. In order to successfully navigate in an uncertain, volatile and increasingly complex business environment, a supplementary approach to rational problem-solving and optimal decision-making is required. The rising demand for both creative and concrete problem-solving as well as abstract and strategic thinking indicates the necessity to broaden the reflectivity-horizon of the narrow business perspective that future business leaders will determine their decisions within. Business tends to seek one rationalised conclusion at the expense of others. This closes opportunities, rather than opens them. Philosophy, on the other hand, can through critical reasoning continually question and rethink the assumed certainties and its basic premises. In this sense, business and philosophy might seem poles apart at first glance and their interdisciplinary potential has for long been largely unrecognized on traditional business schools, but this is about to change. Rethinking Business Education In the book Rethinking Undergraduate Business Education, the renowned Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching took the lead in transforming the preparation of future business leaders. In the US, business is the most popular field of undergraduate study, reflecting the growing centrality of business in society today. According to the authors, it is therefore of uttermost importance that future business leaders function both productively and responsibly in a highly demanding and increasingly complex business environment. However, the results of the nationwide study of undergraduate business education cited in the book showed that it “is too often narrow, fails to challenge students to question assumptions, think creatively, or to understand the place of business in larger institutional contexts.” The implications of their observations suggest that business education neither guarantees success, nor prevents failures in business. So, what is to be done? In confronting the challenge, the authors argue for an integrative approach that combines the business disciplines with liberal arts and social sciences in order to help future business leaders have a better understanding of the other institutional sectors, the pluralism of values and operating logics that businesses depend on. This could prove to play a decisive role in the future business environment, when adapting to change is not enough. Following the movement, Per Holten-Andersen, President of Copenhagen Business School, took action. “The market forces are so strong that they force us to go in a direction that some of us actually don’t favour,” he says. At the 2012 Academy of Management Annual Meeting in Boston, he delivered a provocative speech to the gathering of scholars and business leaders in the management discipline. In the wake-up call, he advocates that we must be willing to constantly challenge our traditional beliefs and perceptions in order to engage in the discussion of where we are heading, and where we want to head. The call to confront our habitual mindset is not grounded in the common anti-capitalistic bias, where business is evil and cannot be trusted, but in an assessment of the long-term socio-economic impact of short-term decision-making. He explains: “I am not an anti‐capitalist. I should say that I am actually a great believer in the merits of capitalism myself. But I am certainly more in favour of democracy than the very raw capitalism that we are seeing at the moment changing Europe and also parts of America.” These thoughts might not be new, but it is certainly a remarkable statement bearing in mind his influential position and the crowd of business-enthusiasts he was addressing. Philosophy Majors are among the highest scoring graduates within Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Reading – Photo credit PLEAS AND EXCUSES Why is Philosophy useful? So what does all this have to do with philosophy? For too long, philosophy-bashing has been keen to follow the mantra of ‘too much talk, not enough action’ in the field of business. This is not, however, surprising if you approach philosophy with the same instrumentality that dominates business. Philosophy pursues questions rather than answers them. In this sense, the responsibility of philosophy is not so much to answer our questions, but to question our given answers. This raises the question: What is philosophy? Just to be clear, philosophy is not some kind of recipe or precept. You do not become a moral subject by studying Immanuel Kant or a good citizen by reading Plato’s The Republic. Nevertheless, the placement of the concept of morality or justice under an investigative lens can help us move beyond the confinements of prevailing knowledge. This is the essence of the discipline of philosophy – it teaches not what to think, but how to think. It examines the enduring fundamental questions concerning human life, society, ethics and knowledge, just to name a few. Whereas, the business discipline represents a definite ordering of the world through the fabrication of concepts, methods and models as a way to reduce complexity, philosophy explores its conceptual framework and developments. It goes without saying that Porter’s Five Forces and almost every other generic framework for problem-solving are heuristics: they can speed up the process of finding a solution, but it is at the expense of autonomous thinking. In this way, philosophy can help articulate the blind-spots of business by looking behind its assumed certainties and theoretical preconditions. By pondering the questions which are beyond the scope of business, philosophy can broaden the reflectivity-horizon of future business leaders to help them manage complexity and make sound decisions, not only in the purview of good business, but also in accordance with the needs of society. This, however, does not point to a future of philosopher-leaders, as Plato encouraged. This is because the pragmatic judgement and technical expertise of business is still very much needed to direct the philosophical reflections towards practical decisions and concrete actions. In this regard, business models, concepts and strategies are certainly still a necessity. But in order to keep improving them, philosophy demands attention. This is the interdisciplinary potential of business and philosophy. So don’t worry, there will still be plenty of need for specialized business experts, which turns us back to the initial question: Is philosophy really a passport to a successful career in business? No, but it is definitely not irrelevant. Not for business. Not for career progress. Not for society. This post is produced in partnership with GRASP Magazine and Student Reporter and part of our joint project on Humanities and the Social Sciences in Management Education, specifically covering the Carnegie Roundtable Workshop at Copenhagen Business School. As Editorial Director and co-founder of Grasp, I oversee the editorial development and general business strategy. That means I spend much of my time thinking about what types of stories will be meaningful and valuable to our readers. As a writer, I am particular interested these days in the intersection of city development, data analytics and holistic measures of well-being. Travis August 6, 2013 I am the Phil Dept chair at our university and our alumni surveys have confirmed that a philosophy major is good for careers in virtually any field: our majors are consistently in or near the top spot for wage earners among all our university alumni. Of course, this isn’t because they all become professional philosophers; the vast majority go on to professional or graduate schools in law, business, the health sciences, etc. But in whatever fields they choose, our data indicates that philsophy majors not only excel at a higher rate, but earn more money than graduates from other majors. JJ July 3, 2014 for a phil dept chair.. your agrument is terribly naive. The Rethinking Management Education project interrogates how business education can be enriched and re-conceptualized by drawing upon developments from the Humanities and the Social Sciences. An Organic Approach to City Design Yes Is More – The Philosophy of Bjarke Ingels Group It's with a heavy heart that we must announce the closure of Grasp. This has been a remarkble journey, but it's time for us to move on to new challenges. A million thanks to our fantastic editorial team and partners. (11.07.2014) Grasp Media Haderslevsgade 24 hello@graspmag.org © 2014 Grasp. All rights reserved. Design by ‘Tankeværk’ – Crafted with love. Coded with care. I read this article and found it very interesting, thought it might be something for you. The article is called Why Future Business Leaders need Philosophy and is located at http://graspmag.org/education/rethink-mgmt-edu/why-future-business-leaders-need-philosophy/.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1968
__label__cc	0.58345	0.41655	Paper Mask Online A few clips from the 1990 film Paper Mask are available online, eg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=329DevoTQps Here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wux-JfYe7G0 It's only a matter of time before some fool uploads the entire travesty. I hate this film. I hate, hate... HATE it. I feel a loathing for it that is so passionate it is almost soul-consuming. Words are simply not adequate to express the vicious and obsessive revulsion that courses through my heart at the mere thought that it once sullied a cinema screen. A brief glimpse of just a single still poisons my system with such a toxic disgust that I am almost incapacitated. As regular HPANWO-readers will know, I am a libertarian and I oppose all forms of censorship... but if I didn't oppose it, I would call for all the existing reels, digital copies and videotapes of Paper Mask to be burnt publicly in the centres of all British towns and cities, and the ashes carried by hospital bed to a grinder where they would be pulverized down to the molecular level; and then buried in a concrete vault five hundred feet underground with warning signs on the ground above in twenty languages and a symbolic non-linguistic code to alert future humans, who may not speak any modern languages, not to risk opening the contaminated chamber beneath, and to let it lie there forever, safely isolated from the environment until the half life of burnt plastic, steel and acetate has expired. I'd also round up the entire cast and crew, right down to the boy in the studio who made the tea, and lock them in the deepest dungeon in merry England until they stop knocking on the door for their bread and water. One critic described it as "underrated". Excuse me? I think it's overated and has been so since the viewer at the front of the queue at the premier passed a single penny over the box office counter. I wrote an article a while ago called Hospital Porters in the Media detailing my search for some fictional media piece which portrayed Hospital Porters in a positive light and failed, see: http://hpanwo-hpwa.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/hospital-porters-in-media.html. Paper Mask is a film hardly anybody has heard of, and I'm glad because obscurity has never been more richly deserved. It follows the story of a "lowly"... (UGH!)... Hospital Porter who steals the identity of a doctor and impersonates him. I'm am so utterly sick and tired of Hospital Porters being portrayed as frustrated doctors and nurses, walking round with their heads bowed and their shoulders slumped in shame and low self-esteem. Do I need to say it again? I am very proud to have been able to call myself a Hospital Porter. If events hadn't taken me in a different direction, I'd have been happy to have served the rest of my life in the Hospital Portering Service. If you're a Hospital Porter or ex-Hospital Porter and you've been effected by the issues raised in this film then help is available from the HPWA. Just send a private message to "Hagbard Celine" on the HPANWO Forum, see Links column; you will need to register as a member first. Don't lose hope. You are not alone. We're here to help you.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1971
__label__wiki	0.585176	0.585176	Many Young Men Putting Health at Risk to Bulk Up TUESDAY, June 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Image is everything for most teens and young adults, and 22% of young men and 5% of young women turn to potentially dangerous methods to "bulk up," a new study says. These unhealthy methods -- dubbed "disordered eating behaviors" -- include eating to gain weight and using supplements or anabolic steroids to increase muscle or body size. "Parents and teens should be aware that disordered eating behaviors are a common phenomenon, especially in young men," said study lead author Dr. Jason Nagata. He practices in the division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. "The eating disorder field has been focused on females and thinness. But over a fifth of young adult men are working toward a more muscular, more idealized body image," Nagata said. And, he said, it's not surprising, given the look of modern Hollywood celebrities. "There's 'The Rock' [Johnson] and Marvel superheroes, and these are the types of people that teens are looking up to and idealizing," Nagata said. Social media also plays a role, he added. "Young men are posting muscular pictures on Instagram and other social media sites that portray them in an idealized way. That can lead to misperceptions," Nagata explained. The study included nearly 15,000 young people across the United States. They were first interviewed when they were 11 to 18 years old, and again when they were between 18 and 24. Nearly 7% of young men told researchers they had used a supplement to gain weight or build muscle, and 3% had used steroids to build mass. Fewer than 1% of young women said they had done either. "Steroids have significant long-term and short-term side effects," Nagata warned. "Long term, steroids are linked to heart disease, kidney damage and liver damage. In the short term, they can cause irritability and aggressive behavior. And, when taken in teens, can cause delayed growth or stunting of growth." While supplements are easy to get, Nagata noted they're not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "You can be ordering one thing online and there's no guarantee that's what you're getting because there's no regulation," he said. The researchers saw several factors that increased the risk for eating issues. Boys who exercised specifically to gain weight in their teens had 142% higher odds of disordered eating. If girls exercised to bulk up in their teens, their odds of disordered eating were 248% higher, the study found. Other risk factors for engaging in troubling behaviors to change body size included: A perception of being underweight Lower body mass score Alcohol use (in boys) Depressive symptoms (in girls) Being black Participating in weightlifting, Rollerblading, roller-skating, skateboarding or bicycling. So, what should parents be watching for? "Everything in moderation. A kid who's putting whey protein on foods and getting a 30- to 60-minute workout a day is probably fine, but there would be more concern if a kid is going to the gym four to five hours a day, and it seems like that's all they do," Nagata said. Other warning signs include a highly restrictive diet that omits fats and carbohydrates; as well as compulsive weighing and checking of appearance. Dr. Alan Geller, a psychiatrist at Gracie Square Hospital in New York City, wasn't involved with the study but reviewed the findings. He said parents need to have ongoing communication with their children and teens about risks from things like supplements and steroids. "Parents need to communicate what they think is OK and what's not OK. Kids can internalize a healthy parental outlook," Geller said. He added that teachers and coaches can also play an important role in helping to spot unhealthy behaviors, such as steroid use. The study was published June 20 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders. The National Eating Disorders Association has information on promoting a positive body image. SOURCES: Jason Nagata, M.D., clinical fellow and physician, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, University of California, San Francisco; Alan Geller, M.D., psychiatrist, Gracie Square Hospital, New York City; International Journal of Eating Disorders, June 20, 2019 General Diagnostic Pediatric & Adult Medicine Family Medicine/SAC Health System Pediatrics - HSMP Pediatric Primary Care Pediatric Internal Medicine Amenorrhea in Teens 1 in 18 U.S. Teens Carries a Gun to School: Study Co-Enzyme Q10 oral dosage forms Imipramine capsules Activity Quiz	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1972
__label__wiki	0.575646	0.575646	Donate to Megadodo Publications Sangguniang Bayan This article is part of a series on the Laws and legal codes Senate President Vicente Sotto III Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano Party-list representation Local legislatures Bangsamoro Parliament President of the Philippines Vice President of the Philippines Leni Robredo Executive departments Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta Regional Trial Courts Barangay justice Associate Justice Constitutional commissions Commission on Elections Commission on Audit Commission on Human Rights Recent elections General: 2010 PDP–Laban Puroks The Sangguniáng Bayan (English: Municipal Council) is the local legislative branch of the municipal governments in the Philippines. It is responsible for passing ordinances and resolutions for the administration of a municipality. Its powers are defined by the Local Government Code, passed by Congress in 1991. 1 Composition 1.1 Presiding officer 1.2 Members 2 Term, qualification and election 2.1 Vacancy 3 Legislation The municipal vice mayor is the ex officio presiding officer of the Sangguniáng Bayan, although he has no voting privilege except in cases to break a deadlock. In the absence of the vice mayor, a temporary presiding officer is elected by the Sangguniáng Bayan councilors present at the session. All municipalities in the Philippines, with the exception of Pateros in Metro Manila, have eight regular members or councilors elected at-large.[1] In the case of Pateros, its Sangguniang Bayan is composed of twelve elected councilors, wherein six are elected from each of the two districts Pateros is divided into.[2] There are also three ex officio councilors — the municipal chapter presidents of the Liga ng mga Barangay, Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan and the IP Representative which is pursuant to the Republic Act 8371, or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997, that calls for the mandatory representation of IPs and it is formally certified by the concerned NCIP regional director, upon recommendation of the provincial or community service center head and shall serve for a period of three years from the date of assumption to office and can be re-endorsed for another term as long as he or she would not serve for more than three consecutive terms. The Local Government Code provides for an additional three sectoral representatives representing: women, laborers, and any of the urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, disabled persons or another sector that may be identified by the Sangguniang Bayan; however, this provision still has to be implemented.[3] Term, qualification and election Elected or regular members of the Sangguniang Bayan must at least be 18 years old on election day; the first-past-the-post voting system is used to elect these members. They are elected for a three-year term and may serve up to three consecutive terms. Elections are held simultaneously with the general elections held every three years since 1992. The term begins at noon of June 30 following election day, and ends at noon of June 30 of the third year. Similar to other local officials in the Philippines, recall elections may be initiated by at least 25 percent of registered voters in the municipality against any regular Sangguniang Bayan member should they lose confidence with any of them. A permanent vacancy among the regular Sagguniang Bayan members is filled in by an appointment of the governor of the province the municipality is a part of. However, such authority to appoint is restricted only to the nominee of the political party to which the member who caused the vacancy belongs; should the member be politically unaffiliated, the Sangguniang Bayan then nominates a qualified individual to fill in the vacant position. Appointees are also limited to serve only the unexpired term. In the case of vacancies among ex officio members the next ranking official of the Liga ng mga Barangay or Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan assumes the vacancy. An ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Bayan is sent to the municipal mayor for approval. Once approved, it is transmitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the province to which the municipality belongs, for compliance review. Since Pateros is not part of any province, any ordinance or measure it adopts is not subjected to any Sangguniang Panlalawigan review. On the other hand, when the mayor veto an ordinance, it is sent back to the Sangguniang Bayan to reconsider the objections; however the Sangguniang Bayan may override such veto by a two-thirds vote of all its members which renders the measure's approval. With regard to ordinances pertaining to appropriations; or resolutions for payments of money, the adoption of local development plans or public investment programs, or the creation of liabilities, the mayor may just veto particular items in it. Any veto action must be communicated with the Sangguniang Bayan within ten days otherwise the ordinance is considered approved. The Sangguniang Panlalawigans may declare an ordinance or portions of it invalid should it be found to be inconsistent with existing laws, or it goes beyond the authority the Sangguniang Bayan may actually exercise. But if no action is taken by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan within 30 days, it is presumed to be compliant and deemed valid, and thus takes effect within the concerned town. Municipalities of the Philippines ^ Batas Pambansa Blg. 51. Accessed on December 6, 2007. ^ Republic Act No. 7887. Accessed on December 6, 2007. ^ Local Sectoral Representation: A Legal Analysis. Accessed on November 26, 2009. The Local Government Code of the Philippines Legislatures in the Philippines Batasang Pambansa (1978-1986) ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly (1990–2019) Provincial Boards Municipal Councils Barangay Councils Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Councils) Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sangguniang_Bayan&oldid=910073374" Local government in the Philippines Legislatures of the Philippines Tagalog words and phrases City councils in the Philippines Philippines articles missing geocoordinate data This content was retrieved from Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangguniang_Bayan This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article "Sangguniang Bayan"; it is used under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (CC-BY-SA). You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the CC-BY-SA	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1976
__label__wiki	0.89394	0.89394	Home > Media Center > NDZs News China's free trade zones highlight sterling business environment By Ren Xiaojin China Daily Updated: 2019-07-26 Freight containers being loaded onto trucks at the Haitian terminal, a terminal located in the Fujian free trade zone, on July 11. [Photo by Mai Tian / China Daily] China has greenlighted the export of second-hand vehicles. As a result, nine cars were loaded onto a cargo ship in Nansha port in South China's Guangdong province last week, ready to sail to Cambodia. It took only three minutes for customs in Nansha to successfully clear the vehicles. Xu Lanfang, a customs manager in Guangzhou A&D Customs Services Co Ltd which is the agency responsible for getting the clearance, said the nine cars gained their quality report on July 16, and the company immediately applied for the export permit and started the customs clearance process. The very next day, July 17, the nine cars were bound for Cambodia. The high efficiency of customs in Nansha port in the Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone represents only a fraction of the country's effort to optimize the business environment in the 12 free trade zones. He Xiaorui, an official with the General Administration of Customs, said that since the free trade zones were set up, customs offices have introduced 52 measures that were avidly welcomed by companies. "In the first half of 2019, 5,010 new companies from 12 free trade zones were registered with the customs, while the total number reached 85,045," said He. "The total import and export volume (from the 12 free trade zones)has topped 1.61 trillion yuan ($234.16 billion), up 4.3 percent year-on-year, and accounts for 10.97 percent of the country's total foreign trade," the official added. The Ministry of Commerce said the free trade zones have helped the country stimulate the market and have benefited the business environment in the whole nation. By the end of 2018, the 11 free trade zones apart from Hainan have contributed to 12.25 percent of the country's foreign trade volume, said Yuan Yuan, deputy director of the department of foreign investment administration of the Ministry of Commerce. "From January to June, the 12 free trade zones attracted 69.47 billion yuan in foreign investment, up 20.1 percent year-on-year, accounting for 14.5 percent of the nation's total," she said, adding the ranking of China's business environment in the world has climbed 50 places in the past six years since the free trade zones were set up. Huo Jianguo, senior researcher of China Society for World Trade Organization Studies, said the development and expansion of the country's free trade zones has become a highlight of China's economy. "The country will put more effort in the building of free trade zones," he said. "The free trade zone will stimulate investment and trade to safeguard the country's export-oriented economy."	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1979
__label__cc	0.581315	0.418685	Explained: China's IPR protection Nearly one third of the value of manufactured products sold around the world, or some $5.9 trillion in 2014 alone, comes from “intangible capital,” such as branding, design and technology, according to a WIPO study. That’s why intellectual property is so important and should be protected. It’s widely recognized around the world that China has made big strides in this regard, with its deliberate policies to protect IPR and foster innovation, which according to WIPO director general Francis Gurry “have transformed the geography of innovation.” Let’s take a closer look. It’s the fourth episode of our series on China’s business environment. Find the previous episodes below and stay tuned for the series finale. Explained: China's new Foreign Investment Law Explained: How China's Negative List works Explained: How to register a company in China	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1980
__label__cc	0.573882	0.426118	Home > Specials > Interviews with Foreign Diplomats in China > Latest New law will attract more Sri Lankan investors: diplomat chinadaily.com.cn Updated: 2019-07-30 Alexi Gunasekara, Minister-Counselor at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in China, talked with China Daily recently about China's development, business environment and the Belt and Road Initiative. Gunasekara said that compared to ten years ago, a lot more Sri Lankans are doing business in China and some of them have opened offices here in cities from the capital Beijing to Kunming in the southwestern border province of Yunnan. Speaking of the newly adopted Foreign Investment Law, the diplomat believes it will improve China's business environment and attract more investment from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka was one of the earliest supporters and is a major beneficiary of the BRI. Gunasekara mentioned the Sri Lankan projects constructed under the BRI: the Colombo port and Lotus Tower. The former is the largest single foreign direct investment in a project of Sri Lanka; the Colombo port project involved sea reclamation covering an area of 269 hectares that has changed the map of Sri Lanka; and the Lotus Tower, the tallest telecom tower in South Asia, is being built by a Chinese company and is expected to be completed soon. Having visited more than 20 provinces in China, Gunasekara is impressed by the country's great change. "I cannot believe the development that has taken place over the ten years," he said.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1981
__label__wiki	0.734199	0.734199	Find nærmeste Behandlinger i byen Oplev Byen Oplev landet The Philadelphia Zoo denmark, denmark, Denmark The Zoo 150th Birthday The Philadelphia Zoo celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2009. So stop by and celebrate this major achievement at America´s first zoo! McNeil Avian Center On May 30, 2009 the 17.5-million McNeil Avian Center opened to the public. This new aviary incorporates lush, walk-through habitats where visitors can discover more than 100 spectacular birds from around the world, many of them rare and endangered. And in the multi-sensory 4-D Migration Theater, viewers can follow Otis the Oriole on his first migration south from where he hatched in Fairmount Park. The Experience at the Zoo One of the best laid-out and most animal-packed zoos in the country is set among a charming 42-acre Victorian garden with tree-lined walks, formal shrubbery, ornate iron cages and animal sculptures. The zoo has garnered many “firsts” in addition to being the first zoo charted in the United States (1859). The first orangutan and chimp births in a U.S. zoo (1928), world´s first Children´s Zoo (1957), and the first U.S. exhibit of white lions (1993), among others. In addition to its animals, the zoo is known for its historic architecture, which includes the country home of William Penn´s grandson, its botanical collections of over 500 plant species, its groundbreaking research and its fine veterinary facilities. Big Cat Falls The highly anticipated pride of the Philadelphia Zoo, Bank of America Big Cat Falls, home to felines from around the world, opened in 2006. The lush new exhibition features waterfalls, pools, authentic plantings and a simulated research station for aspiring zoologists. Lions, leopards, jaguars, pumas, tigers and seven new cubs are the star attractions. Open daily, year-round. Parking can be tight so public transit is a great option. Check out the Zoo´s trolley shuttle, available through October, making hourly stops at the Independence Visitor Center and 30th Street Station. Service is available starting at 10 a.m. seven days a week through August 31, 2008, with weekends-only service in September and October. SEPTA Routes 15 and 32 Buses stop within blocks of the zoo. Find specific stops and schedules here. The nation´s oldest zoo was chartered in 1859, but the impending Civil War delayed its opening until 1874. In addition to its animals, the zoo is known for its historic architecture, which includes the country home of William Penn´s grandson; its botanical collections of over 500 plant species; its groundbreaking research and its fine veterinary facilities. The Primate Reserve, Carnivore Kingdom, and Rare Animal Conservation Center, with its tree kangaroos and blue-eyed lemurs, are brand new, but there´s still fun to be had in the historic, old-style bird, pachyderm and carnivore houses. In the Treehouse, kids can investigate the world from an animal´s perspective; outdoors, the Zoo Balloon lifts passengers 400 feet into the air for a bird´s-eye view of the zoo. Unlike the other squa Read more [...] The Liberty Bell Center The Experience The Li Read more [...] Audacious Freedom Audacious Freedom, th Read more [...] Museum Without Walls The Experience Museum Read more [...] Sadsbury Woods Preserve A more than 500-acre Read more [...] Category: Oplevelser Address: 3, Rådhuspladsen Time: Open today until 11.30 a.m., Sunday 11 am to 7 pm Buddakan The Experience A towering gilded statue of the Buddha generates elegant calm in this 175-seat, Pan Asian restaurant with sleek, modern decor. Immensely popular, Buddakan is a restaurant that is great for both large parties and intimate dinners. Located in the heart of the bustling Old City neighborhood, Buddakan features two full bars as well read more Stephen Starr creative Japanese restaurant has garnered all kinds of national and international attention since opening a few years back. Located a block from Independence Hall on Chestnut Street, Morimoto has an interior – awash in glass and colors – that is both striking and serene in its design. The restaurant´s namesake and head chef, read more Chef and charismatic television star Michael Schulson returns to Philadelphia with the opening of Sampan, a modern Asian restaurant where he serves the acclaimed cuisine that has made him one of the country´s highly sought-after culinary talents. Schulson returns to Philadelphia after having opened Buddakan in New York City for Stephen Starr and Izakaya at read more Lacroix at The Rittenhouse A deluxe hotel like The Rittenhouse deserves a deluxe restaurant, a fitting description for Lacroix, named “Restaurant of the Year” in 2003 by Esquire magazine. Located on the second floor of the Rittenhouse Hotel, Lacroix features elegant décor and a broad view of Rittenhouse Square, which combine to make the ambiance at Lacroix as enjoyable read more	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1989
__label__cc	0.50847	0.49153	Oscar Contenders: Greta Gerwig’s Coming-of-Age Opus ‘Lady Bird’ Targets Gold \| December 13, 2017 \| By Brian Delpozo Source: YouTube/A24 With Hollywood’s awards season upon us, we’re examining the oddsmakers’ favorites to nab coveted trophies at the upcoming 90th Academy Awards. Christopher Nolan’s World War II epic Dunkirk will be a top contender at the Oscars. Another of the year’s potential big winners is writer/director Greta Gerwig’s dramedy Lady Bird. The film, set in the early 2000s, is centered around teenager Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson’s (Saoirse Ronan) senior year of high school. The coming-of-age story depicts her changing relationships with friends, her first sexual encounter, her college application process, and her somewhat dysfunctional relationship with her mother, Marion (Laurie Metcalf). Lady Bird began garnering critical acclaim almost immediately. In fact, the film’s very first screening at the Toronto Film Festival ended with a standing ovation. As more reviews came in, they remained sparkling, so much so that Lady Bird set a record by maintaining a 100 percent rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes through 195 professional reviews. Currently, the film sits at 99 percent after 197 reviews on the site. Time, the National Board of Review, and the American Film Institute all put the film on their year-end Top 10 lists, and it’s won or been nominated for numerous critics association awards. Boosting its Oscar chances even further, the film was nominated for four Golden Globe Awards (Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actress – Musical or Comedy for Ronan, Best Supporting Actress for Metcalf, and Best Screenplay for Gerwig) when the nominations were announced in early December. Be sure to SHARE this with any cinema lovers in your life, and let us know if you think Lady Bird is Oscar worthy. You Won’t Believe These Shocking ‘Gone With the Wind’ Facts Regarded by many as the greatest cinematic achievement in film history, Gone with the Wind is a nearly-four-hour-long masterpiece that changed the face of filmmaking forever. The highest-grossing movie of all-time ...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1993
__label__wiki	0.717627	0.717627	Review of "The Grand Budapest Hotel" A really enjoyable romp of a film, with great sets and scenery, super cast, lots of good verbal and visual jokes...what's not to like? There is a somewhat complex nested narrative structure. It starts with a girl by the grave of a fictional famous writer. She is reading his book. Most of the story is then the story of the book, told by a younger version of the writer; but it's told to him by a now-old man who is himself, as a boy, one of the main characters of the story. From time to time we drop back to the old man telling the story to the young writer, but mainly it stays in the entirely fictional 1930s, in two entirely fictional central European countries. Neither of them are Germany or Poland, oh no, definitely not. Lots of brilliant visual details, in prison scenes, bakery scenes, etc. I loved the decor of the hotel and the writer's apartment in what must be the Communist era - just the right combination of artless cheer and drab. Curiously the closing credits say it's based on the stories of Stephan Zweig, but if like me you are not a big Zweig fan don't let that put you off - it's much funnier than anything he wrote. I am a bit of a Zweig fan, and would love to know which of the stories the movie is based on. I was also surprised to see that in the end credits, because, I agree, the movie is funnier than I would associate with Zweig. Very wacky and enjoyable. Review of The Past Review of Sunshine on Leith Review of The Zero Theorem Review of Copenhagen performed by students at King... Review of "Dog Hell: Pitbull in Ramraid Horror!" Barcelona February 2014 Review of 'Cloud Atlas' Review of "A Field in England" Review of "Her"	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1994
__label__cc	0.547678	0.452322	WORKS / FOREIGN POLICY / Azerbaijan - International organizations The speech of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev at press conference after the meeting with high-level delegation of the Council of Europe - Presidential Palace, July 13, 1996 Dear representatives of press! We have already met with you because you took part at the beginning of our meeting with the delegation coming from the Council of Europe to Azerbaijan. Therefore, there is no need to make a special statement. Briefly, I can say that the visit of the high-level and wide delegation of the Council of Europe to our republic already shows the beginning of our cooperation after Azerbaijan got the status of special guest. I want to express my great satisfaction with the meeting and negotiations we carried out today. I think there is a mutual understanding between us. We know the duties that stand in front of us for being the full member of the Council of Europe well. I assure the delegation of the Council of Europe once again that Azerbaijan Republic will strive to be full member of the Council of Europe by practical work. I am sure that we will achieve it. I give the floor to the heads of the delegation, and I am ready to answer your questions. Question: My question is to Mr. Secretary General. Mr. Secretary General, Armenia is one of the countries which addressed to become a member of the Council of Europe. Respect to human rights, protection of cultural values stand in the first place in the declarations and programs of the Council of Europe. Two thousand Azerbaijani citizens underwent tortures as captives in different prisons in the Armenian territory. Cultural monuments in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan have been razed to the ground by Armenian troops, about one million refugees live in very hard conditions, will these problems be taken into account while accepting the Armenian Republic to the Council of Europe? Answer: I am sure that this conflict will be completely taken into account by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. I want to state that organization playing the decisive part to accept the countries to the Council of Europe is the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is against the violation of the human rights wherever it happens. Undoubtedly, we came across with a number of such tragic cases in Europe, some places were occupied and they remain under occupation. Europe itself has a great number of refugees. It is such a problem that Council of Europe always pays attention to it. The Council has special commissions, committees that they are seriously engaged in the problems of refugees and immigrants. I do not doubt that when Azerbaijan and Armenia apply for full member slip of the Council of Europe, the issues we noted will be taken into consideration. Question: Mr. President, how do you see the solution of Nagorno- Karabakh problem? Heydar Aliyev: The solution of this problem is very exact and clear. We have said this repeatedly. The Armenian armed forces must abandon 20 percent of the occupied Azerbaijani territories, more than one million citizens of Azerbaijan driven out from those territories must return to their native places, territorial integrity of our country and inviolability of its borders must be maintained, safety of the Armenian population of Nagorno- Karabakh must be assured, and Nagorno- Karabakh must be given the highest status of autonomy within Azerbaijan Republic. These are clear and just conditions. We offer this. If Armenian side agreed, problem could be solved a long time ago. Unfortunately, Armenian side strives to exert pressure upon Azerbaijan using some privileges regarding the occupied Azerbaijani lands and tries Nagorno- Karabakh to be given the status of state independence. Of course, we can not agree with this. We can not let the part of the Azerbaijani territory be seized. Norms of international law do not let it either. These are the norms of international law accepted by all international organizations. We are faithful to these principles about our country and about other states. Solution of the problem depends on the Armenian side. Question: My question is to the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. President of Azerbaijan repeatedly noted that difficulties of the transitional period and aggression of Armenia created such a situation that our country cannot solve this problem without help of the international organizations. How can the Council of Europe help our country in the resolution of these problems? Siym Kallas: As you know the Council of Europe is one of international organizations forming the political environment in this world. Each of these international organizations has a specific feature. Basic duty of the Council of Europe is the advancement of democracy, protection of human rights and establishment of democracy and dynamic states. From this point of view, to help create judicial base to develop democracy in countries and protect human rights is one of the most important areas of cooperation of the Council of Europe with these countries. I want to inform you that experience we had during the cooperation of Estonia with the Council of Europe was very productive. Answering your question I state that the Council of Europe offers multisided cooperation both to member states and to the states that aspire to become a member of this Council, and eventually helps and tries to support them in the issues I mentioned above. But as for the conflicts between the states, we prefer other organizations of the world to solve them. For instance, we appreciate the role of the OSCE in solving this conflict and we always support its Minsk process. In its turn Council of Europe can supply the countries with the information about the ways of solving the problems of autonomous groups formed in different regions of the world. The question of providing such assistance by the Council of Europe was discussed at numerous meetings held today. If Azerbaijan expresses wish to benefit from this experience, then the Council of Europe will help your republic with pleasure. Question: Mr. President, the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan finished a year ago. How does it influence the economic life of your country? Heydar Aliyev: The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan has not finished. It was ceased two years ago, in May of 1994, with the cease-fire agreement, but there is no complete peace yet. During the last two years first of all we strived toward the peaceful settlement of the problem using the help of the Minsk group of the OSCE. Of course, I must note that the cease-fire has influenced the life in Azerbaijan, and by the way, in Armenia positively. Of course if there is no war, if operations are not carried out, if blood does not spill, people live more quietly. People, society, state get an opportunity for engaging in socio-economic problems more actively. We used and continue to use this opportunity very actively. Namely, during this period we adopted laws and we began to carry out great economic reforms, including program of privatization and reforms in the agricultural sphere. Notably in this condition we could prepare the first democratic constitution of Azerbaijan and adopted it, we could hold the first democratic elections to the Parliament of Azerbaijan. We could liquidate some negative cases which complicated internal, political life in our country. Unfortunately, unlike European countries and Estonia, along with the military conflict with Armenia, internal political situation used to be complicated in Azerbaijan during a few years. It was connected with confrontation of the different armed groups which fought for acquisition of power. Along with the war with Armenia, civil war began in Azerbaijan in summer 1993. We were able to survive. Considerably, it was possible due to the fact that we could assure cease-fire. Foreign investors have begun to show more active interest to Azerbaijan, collaborate with us. We have signed great contracts on oil production in Azerbaijan with the biggest oil companies of Europe and the U.S. Cessation of hostilities, stability of socio-political life in Azerbaijan results in more active investments to our republic. Rich natural resources and great economic, intellectual potential of Azerbaijan involve attention of the companies of many countries of the world and we cooperate with them actively. All of these considerably connected with the condition after we achieved the cease-fire. But we strive for sustainable peace, establishment of peaceful and neighborly relations with Armenia, and for the establishment of peace in all Caucasian region. Question: Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, my question is to both of you. Mr. Secretary General, the idea of "a big family of European countries" sounded in the meeting, after Azerbaijan, you will go to Georgia and Armenia who also want to enter this family. It is evident that no one wants the members of his family fight, wage war. What concrete steps are you going to take in order to prevent them to fight during their nominations for the membership of the Council of Europe? Heydar Aliyev: Azerbaijan will continue peaceful policy and will strive for the solution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and for the establishment of sustainable peace in the region. Daniel Tashis: European Council takes measures for easing of the tension in Europe. We try to convince member states of the Council of Europe and all European countries that countries with strong political pluralism, democracy and human rights protection are more stable and prosperous than nondemocratic countries with dictator regimes. Development is guaranteed in those countries where the rule of law is ensured. Besides all of these we work out a number of general values. All member of the Council of Europe must be faithful to these values and must fulfill these commitments. We do our best to liquidate tortures, hatred of foreigners and others to each other. For this purpose we use the youth movement which is widely extended in Europe at present. We incite European states to learn history of each other. We cooperate in the sphere of education in preparation of history textbooks without any ideology and chauvinistic spirit. We have legal offers to protect the rights of the minorities. We offer different mechanisms to expand and show the ways of open and transparent cooperation among countries. We advocate the idea that there is no need to change boundaries in Europe again, it is necessary to open these boundaries and expand cooperation. Change of borders brought about conflicts from which millions of people suffered. Our purpose is to create such an environment in Europe that all people belong to this continent share the community spirit. All I mentioned are points to prevent such phenomena during the conflicts. I also add that techniques and rules of solution of such conflicts are known to us. This work is especially implemented by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Coming back to what the chairman said, I want to emphasize that we prefer such conflicts to be solved by other organizations in Europe, especially by the OSCE. Question: My question is to the President Heydar Aliyev. Last parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan were criticized. What do you plan to implement for holding just elections in future? Heydar Aliyev: I do not agree with your opinion. I do not consider that parliamentary elections were unfair in Azerbaijan. Elections were completely free. These elections were held on the basis of multi-party system, transparence and political pluralism. All those who initiated candidates freely used the information agencies, including radio and television. Over 30 parties have been registered and are functioning in Azerbaijan. Over 500 newspapers are published. Numerous opposition newspapers are published and distributed in Azerbaijan. Each person in our republic has an opportunity to express his opinion as he likes. All of these were reflected in the parliamentary elections. Eight parties are represented in the present Parliament of Azerbaijan. Opposition parties have representatives in the Parliament. All these demonstrate that the first parliamentary elections in the independent Azerbaijan were held in a democratic way. You should take into consideration that government has changed three times in our republic after Azerbaijan achieved independence. I mentioned, in summer 1993 the civil war broke out in Azerbaijan. Opposition parties had armed groups. In 1994 and 1996 there were some efforts to seize authority in Azerbaijan, a few terror acts were carried out, several attempts of terrorist attacks were made against the president and they were failed. Recently, in 1995 and 1996, internal social and political stability was established in Azerbaijan. If you came to Azerbaijan two years ago, you could see different illegal armed groups in the streets of Baku. Unfortunately, most of them belonged to opposition parties and groups. Moping up Azerbaijan from these criminal groups during a short period, giving opportunity to people to live freely, and holding parliamentary elections prove that democracy has been established in Azerbaijan. Therefore, I appreciate the first parliamentary elections as the first step made towards democracy in the independent Azerbaijan, and I am sure that these democratic processes will develop year by year and the next parliamentary elections will be held in higher level. "Heydar Aliyev: Our independence is forever" (speeches, declarations, interviews, letters, appeals, decrees) Azerbaijan Publishing House, Baku, 1998. p.98-104. Azerbaijan - Council of Europe Azerbaijan - International organizations	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line1995
__label__wiki	0.596459	0.596459	Pierre de Reeder - The Way That It Was Available on iTunes: listen: myspace THE WAY THAT IT WAS is the debut solo release from PIERRE DE REEDER, founding member of the venerable Los Angeles indie-pop quartet RILO KILEY. Likened to singer-songwriters such as Harry Nilsson, de Reeder evokes an intimate relationship with the listener... seemingly the result of the vocal-centric nature of his wide, heartfelt subject matter, and his penchant for strong melodic structure. And while the record itself features notable guest performances, many songs see much or all of the instrumentation being played by de Reeder. Recorded in no particular hurry over a period of about two years, the record took shape in various locations including Pierre's home and the Kingsize studios in Eagle Rock, where he found collaboration with producer Dave Trumfio (Built to Spill, Wilco, Grandaddy). With a genre lying somewhere between classic pop, rock, and folk, these songs fall into a wonderfully indefinable category of both familiar and nothing you've heard before. 01. Shame on love 02. I'll be around 03. Sophia's song 04. That's the way that it was 05. Where I'm coming from 06. This foolish heart 07. Young and old 08. Never thought 09. All these words 10. The long conversation 11. Not how I believe	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2004
__label__cc	0.698266	0.301734	Good morning, everyone! Welcome to our live blog. I am down at the Supreme Court's press room, where we are waiting on orders from last week's conference at 9:30 and then opinions at 10 am. Here in the press room we're talking about whether the Court will finally act on the federal government's petition to vacate the D.C. Circuit's decision that cleared the way for an undocumented pregnant teen to have an abortion (and to have the teen's lawyers sanctioned). That case has been sitting on the court's docket for several months now. Monday liveblogs! by oxwof 5/14/2018 1:27:38 PM Headed in to wait for orders now. Back momentarily. We have two grants. First is BNSF Railway Co. v. Loos, the second is Air and Liquid Systems v. Devries. Figured Loos would be a grant. What's Air and Liquid Systems about? by JusticeWhittaker 5/14/2018 1:32:37 PM BNSF Railway Co. v. Loos is a case involving an IRS regulation that interprets taxable “compensation” under the RRTA to include pay for time lost. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit rejected that interpretation, ruling that payments for time lost from work are not taxable. Now the Court will weigh in on that question. Still no action on Azar v. Garza. In Air and Liquid Systems, the justices will review a ruling by the Third Circuit that, under maritime law, a manufacturer of a product that does not contain asbestos can still be held liable for injuries caused by asbestos in another product if the manufacturer should reasonably foresee that its conduct would lead to the injuries – for example, if the manufacturer knew that its product would be used with a part that contained asbestos. The first part of today's order list contains many, many cases that are sent back to the lower courts for further consideration in light of Sessions v. Dimaya, the court's recent opinion ruling that the definition of "violent felony" for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act is unconstitutionally vague. There is also a call for the view of the solicitor general, in Osage Wind v. Osage Minerals Council. What happens in the Courtroom when they hand out orders? Do the Justices assemble and start an official session like with opinions? Or does a clerk just come out with a box of copies and hand them out to people in the press room. by Ben 5/14/2018 1:37:20 PM Suppose this may be a silly question, but is the general assumption that the Court will issue more opinions than usual today? It seems to me that sooner or later they will need to have a larger than normal release day in order to get all the opinions out before the end of the term. by AP 5/14/2018 1:38:52 PM It looks like there were some denials among the mass of Dimaya GVRs, do those denials seem to share something in common? by Shashakiro 5/14/2018 1:40:18 PM For those of you who are just joining us, we are expecting the justices to take the bench at 10 am to issue opinions in argued cases. They issued orders from last week's conference at 9:30 this morning, but those are announcements (for the most part) about which cases they will or will not hear on the merits. So nothing yet on, among other things, Murphy v. NCAA (the case formerly known as Christie v. NCAA). We don't know what cases we are going to get today -- the conventional wisdom here in the press room is that, if we get a "big" case today, it's likely to be either Epic Systems v. Lewis or Murphy. Is Royal v Murphy on the list somewhere? I'm getting nauseated with no news of a grant and the possibility the Court would allow a large metropolitan area to suddenly be an Indian reservation without any additional review. by Jared 5/14/2018 1:44:49 PM Does the fact that Kennedy had the majority opinion in Jesner v. Arab Bank tell us anything about whether he will have the majority opinion in Masterpiece Cake Shop? How many more opinion days are there until June 26? by Matt 5/14/2018 1:45:15 PM There are others, Tejinder - 16-6259, 16-6392, 16-7373, and 16-9318, at least by CJ 5/14/2018 1:46:31 PM Have they made any indication about whether they might release opinions on other days this week, besides today? by Michael 5/14/2018 1:47:17 PM How many boxes? by No1LyleFan 5/14/2018 1:48:19 PM What's the common thinking on Sause v. Bauer? I think this makes 9 relists. Per curiam? Dissent from denial? by Amanda 5/14/2018 1:48:59 PM What are the chances we get Epic or Husted today? Epic has been sitting a long time and I wouldn’t rank it as controversial as Masterpiece and Gill are. Evans v Mississippi is now at a whopping number of relists. Breyer must be writing an epic dissent by Freeman 5/14/2018 1:52:46 PM Is Janus likely to be released today? by Mike 5/14/2018 1:54:02 PM How many people at the court are loving the documentary RBG? She is clearly the Justice who exercises the most unless you count Breyer’s bike riding as exercise vs political statement. What's the normal amount of times that a case is rescheduled before being considered in conference? Asking specifically about rowan county v. Lund, if it being rescheduled 10 times is unusual or if that means anything. by Tom 5/14/2018 1:55:32 PM did I miss the link to today's orders? by Theo Shaw 5/14/2018 1:56:04 PM Three boxes today, apparently. Whee!!! @Jonathan Epic might not be especially controversial for most people. But for employment lawyers of all stripes, not to mention employers and employees, it will be tremendously consequential no matter what the result. Just joining. Have I missed any opinions? by Don 5/14/2018 1:57:44 PM Headed in to wait for decisions. Type to you soon! About a million of you have asked whether the sports betting case will be decided today. The answer is that we don't know--but we are about to find out in the next few minutes! Stay tuned! @Tejinder Pretty sure you're supposed to say that you're taking bets on it... by nomadwolf 5/14/2018 1:59:41 PM We have Murphy v. NCAA, from Alito. The decision of the Third Circuit is reversed. Six justices sign on to the majority in full, Breyer joins as to most. Ginsburg dissents, joined by Sotomayor and in part by Breyer. Court says that legalization "of sports gambling is a controversial subject" that "requires an important policy choice, but the choice is not ours to make." "Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each State is free to act on its own. Our job is to interpret the law Congress has enacted and decide whether it is consistent with the Constitution. PASPA is not." Here is a link to the decision in Murphy v. NCAA. Amy will have our analysis. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-476_dbfi.pdf PASPA is the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. So if I’m understating this correctly the net effect of Murphy is a win for gambling and a win for states rights? Next case is Dahda v. United States, by Breyer. It is 8-0; Gorsuch did not participate. The decisions of the Tenth Circuit are affirmed. At issue in the case is a federal statute allowing judges to issue wiretap orders authorizing the interception of communications. Judges need to find probable cause, and the statute also provides for the suppression of the contents of a communication intercepted by wiretaps if the communication was unlawfully intercepted the order was insufficient on its face, or the interception did not conform with the order. The Court holds that the challenged orders in this case were not insufficient on their face. This is even though investigation was in Kansas and communications were intercepted from a listening post outside Kansas, because orders also contained a sentence purporting to authorize interception outside Kansas.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2005
__label__wiki	0.548556	0.548556	Published daily by the Lowy Institute Why governments criticise China and then sign deals with Beijing Roshni Kapur Despite anxiety about China’s growing footprint in South Asia and Africa, countries see a chance to balance past ties. Photo: See-ming Lee/ Flickr Published 14 Jan 2019 06:00 0 Comments There is growing anxiety about the increased Chinese footprint in South Asia and Africa within the strategic community in the West and India. Chinese projects have raised concerns about the lack of transparency, sustainable development, and being politically motivated. This has led to pushback against the Asian giant. The poor understanding of regional dynamics, concerns, and priorities has resulted in traditional powers losing their sphere of influence. Yet in many countries where political parties have swept to power on an anti-China card, these same parties in government have ended up signing new deals with Beijing. This can be seen in Sri Lanka where the regime change after the 2015 general elections did not see a full-fledged pro-India and anti-China swing. The new government has continued engaging with China, not only by leasing out the Hambantota and Colombo ports but also signing a string of other projects. In April 2018, state-run China Railway Beijing Engineering Group Co Ltd received a contract to build 40,000 houses in Jaffna province. Although the project is stalled due to infrastructural issues and India has stepped in, Sri Lanka may consider China to help build the remaining housing projects. A similar experience unfolded in Africa where countries that witnessed an anti-China wave ended up signing new deals with China. During Zambia’s 2011 elections, for example, presidential hopeful Michael Sata campaigned with warnings about China’s “profiteers”, which helped him to defeat then president Rupiah Banda. A few years later, China continues to be a lead financier of major infrastructural projects such as the building of roads and hydropower generation plants in Zambia. There are several reasons for new governments to continue engaging with China. First, Chinese projects are too attractive to refuse. Large-scale Chinese projects provide many opportunities, especially in infrastructure development. The Jaffna project in Sri Lanka was first given to a Chinese company since it offered to rebuild the damaged infrastructure at a lower price in a shorter time period than offered by other countries. The housing project was not exclusive. The new government has rewarded many projects to China ranging from new hospitals in Polonnaruwa to renovation of Superior Courts Complex to housing development for low-income groups. Contrary to popular belief, many of these Chinese projects are given as grants instead of high-interest loans. Pakistan, under the new government of Imran Khan, said in October 2018 that it wants to renegotiate some of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. There is skepticism about whether any of these projects will be successfully renegotiated and that new contracts will no longer be rewarded to China. Second, China is viewed as a counterweight to other major powers in their respective regions. Western cultural hegemony in Africa through its education, mass media, culture, and ideology brings back bad memories of colonisation. There is now a strong resistance to the continuation of Western cultural imperialism. Similarly, India’s clout in the South Asian region through cultural hegemony, big brother attitude and interventionist policies have resulted in resentment and unhappiness in neighbouring countries. The poor understanding of regional dynamics, concerns, and priorities has resulted in traditional powers losing their sphere of influence. These countries want to be seen as sovereign states with their own agency. Hence China is viewed as a balancer to the regional primacy by the West and India in Africa and South Asia respectively. Third, despite China’s substantial progress in its domestic development, it is able to relate to developing countries. The West is perceived as too isolated to relate to the problems experienced in poorer nations, such as poverty, inequality, and corruption. As Jonathan Holslag argues, Beijing has worked closely with African nations to advocate a different set of political-economic values from the West. It has made their voices heard in the multilateral system. Fourth, Chinese “soft power” has been a useful tool of diplomacy. Some have estimated that China spends around US$10 billion a year towards its soft power campaign. There are over 30 Confucius Institutes in African alone where classes on Mandarin, calligraphy and Chinese cooking are taught. The Chinese government has also scholarship schemes for African students to study in China. Chinese soft power has been felt in South Asia as well. Beijing recently started giving visa on arrival for Bangladeshi nationals travelling to the country. China is also making a concerted effort on conflict resolution by having multiple rounds of talks with the Afghan Taliban. Not everything is running Beijing’s way. The resentment against Chinese engagement in both South Asia and Africa is aplenty. There is general criticism that the Chinese do not employ domestic workers but bring thousands of workers from China. The locals who are hired have to work for long hours with poor working conditions and low wages. In other circumstances, China has been criticised for ignoring human rights abuses, rule of law and good governance in the countries it is dealing with such as Sudan and Congo. As a result, attacks against Chinese workers by nationalists and terrorist groups do not come as a surprise. Yet despite the resentment and suspicion, new governments will continue to engage with China. These regions will continue to witness great power contestation. Chinese investments and projects may come with a precondition but even critics have to acknowledge that some of these projects have been beneficial to the host country. China is well aware that it has the key to act as a balancer against regional domination by one power. Deterrence under the dragon’s shadow: Vietnam’s military modernisation North Korea’s “selective détente” Morrison in Vanuatu and Fiji: broadening, not deepening Aarti Betigeri 15 Oct 2019 14:30 Plogging along: India-China struggle to find momentum Little of substance appeared to come from weekend talks between Modi and Xi – and maybe that’s the point. Elliot Brennan 12 Apr 2017 14:47 Electioneering in Cambodia: War debt and China’s favour Tough talk with the US on war debt and the budding new relationship with China are indicative of an unpopular leader steeling for elections. Wenyuan Wu 30 Oct 2019 06:30 How Africa is breaking China’s neo-colonial shackles Beijing is fending off African resentment over debt and for importing workers – and facing extra competition, too. Stay informed with the latest commentary and analysis on international events from experts at the Lowy Institute and around the world. The Interpreter features in-depth analysis & expert commentary on the latest international events, published daily by the Lowy Institute © Copyright 2019 Lowy Institute	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2009
__label__wiki	0.737348	0.737348	The two basic versions of the Deluge were not in full contrast: they were just two different ways of expressing the same mathematical facts. A conflict emerged only when in post-exilic times the Pentateuch became a text to be read in the service of the synagogue, a text that had to be expounded and even translated (targum), to congregations who no longer understood Hebrew. The third version of the Deluge chronology was a modification of the second one at the hand of interpreters who were interested in working out to the ultimate possible detail the arithmetic of the second version. If one accepts the principles of the documentary hypothesis, the authors of the third version could be identified with the P writers, because of their preoccupation with exactness of numerical detail. It could be that the introduction of the solar calendar into the chronology of the Deluge was the result merely of speculation by interpreters. Somebody may have inferred that the reference to periods of 150 days implied a reckoning by a solar calendar with 12 months of 30 days plus 5 epagomenal days at the end of the year. This calendar is usually referred to as the Egyptian calendar, but it has been used in several cultures of the world, including pre-Columbian America. It is one of the calendars advocated by modern champions of calendar reforms. Hence, the third hand made this point by adding verse 8:4 to the effect that the water stopped rising on the 17th of month VII, that is, after 5 months of 30 days. Following the same style of reckoning the same hand added also the similar following verse 8:5, a verse that I shall explain later. These were minor additions to the body of the narrative, but the solar chronology required drastic alterations at the end of the narrative. If the reckoning is by a solar calendar, the year has 365 days. In order to keep the date of Noah's exit from the Ark on the first day of the second year, the period of 7 days that followed the ebbing of the water up to the opening of the Ark -- the period of 150 + 150 days -- had to be increased to 18 days, since in a solar year there are 11 more days than there are in a lunar year of 354 dates. Therefore the episode of the flight of the birds had to be stretched over a longer period than before. The story of the flight of the birds -- the period after the 40 days of rain up to the opening of the Ark -- is incoherent in our text of Genesis. First Noah sent out the raven which could not find a place to rest. Then he sent out a dove, which also could not find a place to rest; this seems to be a repetition of the preceding event. The date of the first flight of the dove is not mentioned. The two additional flights of the dove are presented this way: "He waited another seven days and sent out the dove" (8:10); the dove came back with an olive leaf. The return with the olive leaf should mean that now the earth was at peace and dry. And in fact the text continues with the words, "Noah knew that the waters had fallen away from the ground," but then adds, "He waited another seven days, and released the dove; and it did not return" (8:12). After the words "it did not return" there is a discontinuity in the narrative. The words are followed by the date of the first day of the second year, which made clear that the episode of the flight of the birds had taken 18 days altogether. These statements are so awkward that the Greek Septuagint version, in order to make the text more consequential added the words "waited for seven days" before the first sending of the dove. But a total of 21 days dedicated to the flights of the dove is impossible, because in such a case the last flight would be after the 1st day of the second year. It is true that the word "another" in the sentence "He waited another seven days" in 8:10, does not have an antecedent, but the antecedent must have been a statement in 8:5 that the door was opened on the 7th day, a statement that was eliminated from the text when the flight of the dove was multiplied to three. Section C becomes perfectly clear if one recognizes that the last verse (8:12) is a later addition. I mean the verse that reads "He waited another seven days, and sent forth the dove; and it did not return to him any more." The hand that added this verse also added the word "another" in the preceding vs. 8:10. If the last verse and the related preceding word "another" are eliminated, this section can be read as follows: Noah sent out a raven and a dove; the raven did not come back, but the dove came back. Originally the period after the 40 days mentioned by 8:6 must have lasted 7 days. The number of the flights of the dove was multiplied to three in order to add two periods of 7 days each. There is an extrabiblical Jewish tradition that explains why the flight of the dove was multiplied to three. According to this tradition the raven was sent out three times. The third time the raven found some carrion to eat and did not come back; the Septuagint, the Syriac translation, and the Vulgate echo this tradition by adding to the biblical text of the flight of the raven the words "and he did not come back." I have explained that in the original version the water rose for 40 days and the land emerged in 7 days. When the version according to which the water rose for 150 days and ebbed for 150, was inserted into the biblical text the period of 7 days was preserved in order to reach the end of the lunar year (47+300+7=354); but in the third version, which calculated by a solar year of 365 days, the seven days no longer have any function: 18 days were needed to reach the end of the year. Hence, an interpreter thought of filling up this period of 18 days with three flights of the raven and three flights of the dove, each on a separate day. This explains the chronology of the present text, the purpose of which is to arrive at the total of 18 days. It started with a chronology of 3 flights by the raven and 3 flights by the dove which made a total of 6 days, and inserted 6 days between each flight of the dove. The resulting timetable was the following: 1 First flight of raven 2 Second flight of raven 3 Third flight of raven 4 First flight of dove 11 Second flight of the dove 18 Third flight of dove This is the basis of the chronology of our text, except that this text preserved the original version of the flight of the raven, making it a single one. In the Epic of Gilgamesh the 7 days of the flood are followed by 7 days in which the Ark clings to Mount Nisir. On the 14th day there were sent out successively a dove, a swallow, and a raven. The first two came back but the raven went away, and when it saw that the waters had receded, it ate, wallowed in the mud, cawed, and did not return. It is easy to understand why in the biblical version the birds are only two and the dove is given pre-eminence over the raven. The dove represents the clean animals and the raven the unclean ones. The distinction between clean and unclean animals dates from Deuteronomy, which specifically lists the raven among the unclean birds. (14:4). The distinction between the raven and the dove becomes clear when one keeps in mind that they are homing birds. In the case of homing birds the most important item to be considered is where they are trained to fly. The raven was trained to fly to a geodetic point which was not the Ark. But this point was submerged, so that the raven up to the end kept flying "to an fro" in relation to the Ark. Thereby the raven performed a function because by this flying he kept informing Noah about his position. The dove was trained to fly back to the Ark. This is made clear by the phrase from him in vs. 8:8. "Then he sent a dove from him." Noah was expecting the dove to come back, but wanted to know whether she could find a place to rest. The Moslem tradition makes this point clear by stating that on the final flight the dove came back with mud on her feet. The gesture of Noah is typical of a person who handles returning birds. It is quite clear that the text started with a version similar to that of the Epic of Gilgamesh in which in a single day, the seventh, there are sent out successively a dove, a swallow, and a raven. It seems to me that in the original biblical version the entire period from the stopping of the rain to the opening of the Ark must have occupied 7 days. An editor, in order to multiply this period of 7 days, multiplied the flights of the doves to three, with the result that the flight of the raven came to hang on as an incongruous detail. Probably the original version of the biblical account placed the flight of the raven on the first day after the end of the rain and the one sending of the dove on the 7th day. As the text now reads, the interval of 7 days between the several flights of the dove is a purely arbitrary one. The substance of the original biblical version is preserved by Muslim tradition according to which Noah sent out the raven which, having found some carrion, did not come back, and then sent out the dove which brought back an olive leaf in its beak and mud on its feet. The original biblical version must have mentioned the sending out of the raven on the morning of the last day, because in this case the statement that the raven "went to and fro until the water dried up," becomes comprehensible. Fundamentalists have been forced to resort to strange gyrations in order to explain why the flight in which the dove returned with the olive leaf was not the last one. But even some of the critical interpreters have concocted strange theories. August Dillmann is an authoritative critical commentator, but he is a strict follower of the documentary theory of the composition of the Pentateuch. However, since the theory is of little help in sorting out the elements of the Deluge account, he follows in the footsteps of fundamentalist explanations, taking lmberties with the evidence. He declares: But the raven, a wild bird, which is said to forget to return to its nest, went, i.e, flew away and then returned, i.e., to and fro, therefore sometimes away from the Ark, sometimes back to its neighborhood again or upon it, but not again into the Ark itself. He found floating dead bodies to feed upon. In this way the raven proved itself useless for the purpose intended. The notion that Noah would send out a bird useless for the intended purpose is ludicrous. Furthermore, it is not factually true that the raven cannot be expected to return to its nest; the Epic of Gilgamesh mentioned a dove, a swallow, and a raven because they are homing birds. Pliny reports that the swallow was used to carrying messages and quotes striking instances of the well-known fact that ravens can be domesticated (N.H. ). Noah waited seven days and sent the dove out again. She came back "in the evening"; this means that she had found a place to rest. In the original text the second flight of the dove must have been the only one. The detail "in the evening" preserved in the text reveals this. The dove came back with an olive leaf. The text specifies that the olive leaf was taraph, "ripped off," in order to make it clear that the olive leaf had come from a tree and had not been found floating. The Biblical text continues: "so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth." Commentators have not seen the logical connection between this conclusion of Noah and the preceding reference to the olive leaf; they usually indulge in speculations about the symbolic meaning of the olive branch or olive tree. The olive branch is mentioned as a symbol of peace not only in Greek and Roman literature, but also in 2 Macc. 14:4. The olive leaf indicated not only that the earth was dry but also that the earth was at rest after the geophysical convulsion. It is evident that the flight at the end of which the dove returned with the olive leaf must have been the conclusive one. Dillmann, who for the stated reasons has to follow fundamentalist explanations, imagines that the olive tree was under water. He goes to the trouble of quoting the authority of Theophrastos (History of Plants, IV. 8) and Pliny (N. H., XIII 50) to the effect that the olive tree "puts out green shoots under water." But ancient Mediterranean people, for whom the cultivation of the olive tree was a most important element of their culture, were well aware that one of the characteristics of the oil olive tree is that it does not grow much above sea level. This fact is mentioned by Theophrastos. It is obvious that the return of the dove with the olive leaf implies that the earth was dry, but scholars have refused to accept this evident fact because of the bonds of tradition. This conflict between the accepted interpretation and the clear meaning of the text is so strident that a serious and responsible scholar like Dillmann tried to resolve it by committing the most grievous offense of which a philologist can be guilty, namely, to misquote deliberately an ancient text. What Theophrastos actually states in the passage quoted by Dillmann is that there is an area of the Red Sea coast of Egypt where, because of the lack of rain, there was no vegetation except for some trees that grow in tidal water; among these there is one called locally olive because its leaves and fruits resembled those of the olive tree. According to the commentaries on Theophrastos written by botanists, the tree in question is the white mangrove (Avicenna officinalis). Pliny provides the same information in a concise form. In dealing with submarine vegetation he relates: "whereas in the Red Sea there are flourishing forests, mostly of laurel and olive." what Pliny meant is made clear by a more explicit statement of Strabo (XVI,3,766): "Along the entire coast of the Red Sea, down in the deep, grow trees similar to the laurel and the olive, which at low tide are wholly visible, whereas at high tide they are sometimes fully covered. This fact appears even more amazing because in the land above sealevel there is no vegetation." Theophrastos, Pliny, and Strabo were drawing on the same source of information, which probably is an account of the campaigns of Alexander the Great. What is relevant to the present inquiry, is that this information has nothing to do with the olive tree. It would have been more to the point if Dillmann had quoted Theophrastos' statement that the olive tree does not grow much above sea level. The blatant mystification the Dillmann allowed himself to concoct helps in underscoring that the flight of the dove that returned with the olive leaf, the second in our text, was originally the last one, and that verse 8:12 is an addition.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2012
__label__wiki	0.722768	0.722768	The Archaic Didymaion by Jan Sammer Tradition ascribes the founding of the oracular temple of Apollo at Didyma to a young Milesian goatherd named Branchus, who used to pasture his flock in the rolling hills south of the city of Miletus. The boy was of such exceptional beauty that Apollo himself became enamoured of him, met him by a spring and kissed him tenderly. To mark the spot of their encounter, the god planted a bough of bay in the ground and as a token of his affection placed on the boy’s head a crown of bay leaves. This divine gift bestowed on the boy the power of prophecy. His mother then recalled an odd vision she had seen in a dream many years earlier, when she was pregnant with the boy: it seemed to her as if the sun entered her mouth and emerged from her womb. Branchus' mother, the daughter of a prominent citizen of Miletos, was married to Smikros, a Delphian by birth, brought to Miletos by his father Democlos at the tender age of thirteen at the command of an oracle. Separated from his father by a stroke of ill fortune, he was found, weeping and disconsolate by the son of the goatherd Epitharses. Hearing the boy’s tale of misfortune, Epitharses took him under his roof and raised him as his own son. One day, as the the two boys pastured their goats, they saw a beautiful white swan, which they chased down and captured by throwing a cloak over it. As they argued which one of them should bring it as a gift to their father, their argument turned into a fight. At length, exhausted by the struggle, they removed the cloak, but instead of a swan, they found a woman. Overtaken by fear the boys began to flee, but she called them back, revealing herself as Leucothea, the White Goddess. The fight she had witnessed had pleased her, she told them; now they were to go and tell the Milesians to institute a regular athletic contests of boys in her honor. The encounter with Leucothea brought immense prestige to Smikros, and the honor of marrying the into one of the leading families of Miletus. When his wife was pregnant with their first child, she had the dream vision described earlier, which indicated a great destiny for Branchus, her firstborn. Branchus established a shrine to Apollo at the sacred spot of his encounter with the god; the bough that the god had planted here next to the spring grew into a sacred grove a bay trees. When Apollo later became wroth with the Ionians and sent a plague against them, only Branchus was able to purify them: sprinkling the multitude with boughs of bay, he bade them chant a magical hymn to Apollo and his sister Artemis. As the renown of Branchus’ prophetic shrine spread throughout Ionia, Leodamas, the last king of Miletus, dedicated to it a tithe of the spoils from his triumphal campaign against Carystus. These included a woman from Carystus with an infant at her breast, whom Branchus took as his wife, adopting the child as his own son. As the boy grew in a miraculous way and exhibited an intelligence beyond his years, Branchus made him a herald of the prophetic responses, naming him Evangelos. When Evangelos grew into manhood, he inherited the oracle of Branchus, and since then the oracular powers were passed on through the generations from father to son. The Archaic Didymaion was an octastyle Ionic temple; hence, if it was to be eustylos according to Vitruvius's definition (111.3.7) its front had to be divided into 24.5 parts, or modules. Calculating in demi-modules (a demi-module being equal to the radius of a column at its base), there were 49 of these on each front. In laying out the ground plan for the stylobate, the most difficult task facing the surveyor was to achieve perfect right angles, since even a small error in angular measurements would result in serious deviations in a structure as large as the archaic Didymaion. The architects solved this problem for the surveyors by making use of Pythagoras’ theorem, which defines the relationship of the diagonal of a rectangular figure to its sides. In order to avoid irrational numbers, they did not use squares, but rather near-squares. The near-square is a rectangular figure whose diagonal and sides are whole numbers or rational fractions of whole numbers. In the case of the Archaic Didymaion, it seems that two near-squares measuring 50 x 52.5 demi-modules were laid out, using the formula (202 +212)-2=29, with a multiple of 2.5. The diagonal of each of these two squares is 72.5 demi-modules. The original ground plan was thus 50 x 105 demi-modules. Once this ground plan was laid out, the width was reduced by one demi-module to 49, in order to achieve the ideal eustylos proportions of Ionic octastyle temples. Measuring along sides already laid out was an easy task. The following table gives the reported dimensions of the stylobate and shows the result of dividing these values by the theoretical number of demi-modules. The resulting theoretical value of the demi-module is in a very narrow range indeed. in mm size in demi-modules first approximation of the value of demi-module in mm. stylobate width stylobate length The proximity of the two empirically-derived values of the demi-module validates the argument thus far. However, a complication arises when we try to apply to this value of the demi-module a corresponding foot. The best fit is the trimmed lesser foot of 277.4489 mm, since 3 of these feet amount to 832.3467 mm. If this was the value of the demi-module, the resulting stylobate would be somewhat smaller than the reported value; it would have required a proportional adjustment on both the width and the length, as is shown in the following table: size in trimmed lesser feet theoretical size, unadjusted theoretical size, adjusted 3/8 of tlf 15/16 of tlf Until a convincing explanation is found for the proposed adjustment, the type of foot used must be regarded as an open question; however, as regards the use of the demi-module and the near-square, the argument is simple and conclusive.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2013
__label__wiki	0.90253	0.90253	Skip to Page Level NavigationSkip to Page Content The Farmer School of Business at Miami University is Pleased to Announce Dinesh C. Paliwal, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Harman International Corp. as its 2017 Divisional Recognition Ceremony Speaker Dinesh C. Paliwal, President and Chief Executive Officer of Harman International, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2017 Farmer School Divisional Recognition Ceremony on May 14. Mr. Paliwal holds a master’s degree in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology. He also earned master’s degrees in applied science and engineering and in business administration from Miami University. Mr. Paliwal has worked and lived in six countries on four continents, including the United States, China, Switzerland, Singapore, Australia and India. Prior to joining HARMAN, he spent 22 years with ABB Group where he last held the dual role of President of ABB Group with responsibility for the company’s global P&L, and Chairman and CEO of ABB North America. In 2014, he was named to Fortune magazine’s “Business Person of the Year” list and the following year, Yahoo! Finance included him on a short list of 5-star CEOs. In 2015, The T.J. Martell Foundation honored him with its music innovation award, and in 2016, he was honored by Breakthrough, a global nonprofit, for his contributions to advancing women’s causes. In addition to the HARMAN Board, Paliwal serves on the boards of Bristol-Myers Squibb and Raytheon Company. He is a member of the CEO Business Roundtable and the U.S.-India CEO Forum, and serves on the corporate boards of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and The Wilson Center. He also serves on the board of directors of the U.S.-India Business Council and the Business Advisory Council of the Farmer School of Business. The Farmer School of Business is a premier undergraduate business school supporting nine majors and 15 minors. The School places emphasis on experiential learning, international study and leadership development to prepare students to become leaders in the workplace and the community. Skip to Page ContentSkip to Contact Information	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2014
__label__cc	0.749432	0.250568	The Composer’s Craft, Part 1 (of many) April 13, 2014 Mr. Gilliard Working my way through Blake Henson and Gerald Custer’s book The Composer’s Craft. So far, much of what’s happening in the beginning of the book is philosophical and aesthetic – it’s tackling the root issues of why people like me sit and decide to write music in the first place. The reader is encouraged to journal about his/her composition process along the way. Many questions are tossed in at the end of each chapter for the user to reflect upon (most likely through journaling). So….here’s what I’m writing about now. Why do you compose ? For whom do you compose – yourself, others, or both ? If you have yet to write your first work (and don’t worry, that’s coming), to whom do you imagine your first musical words being directed ? If you could say the things you have always wanted to say, but never managed to find the voice, who would be listening ? Finally, is securing a performance the end of the compositional process, or just part of it ? How much does being performed matter ? Why ? Future end-of-chapter assignments include compositional exercises involving composing things discussed in the chapter. I look forward to them. For now, the first reflection begins. Why do I compose music ? Long story. You need the background information first. I’ll try to summarize as much as possible…but it will be a little long. I’ve always been fascinated and inspired by people like Mozart and Prince, who, in large part, wrote music for themselves without regard to public opinion. I spent a large block of time with Prince in my ears while I created websites and did graphic design for a home business in the late 90’s. I found my own creativity was jarred by the musical ‘stuff’ put out by the purple one. I still love his music now. The significance of this might become more obvious as I go on typing. I tried my hand at composition for wind band for the first time in 1986 while a freshman at Baltimore School for the Arts. Shannon, an Oboe player (10th or 11th grade I believe at the time) said “it sounds like something from a method book”. I think I tried to write an additional piece sometime later that year, but never followed through. I toyed with some additional ideas over the years afterward, though. I spent time arranging music through my next few years of high school (there were 5 of them…I failed 9th grade due to immaturity), training my ear up to hear everything. I began to listen for the ‘details of the music’, as I called it. Melvin Miles Jr. was heavily influential in this area, as I got to see/hear Morgan State University’s Magnificent Marching Machine repeatedly throughout my high school years after leaving/being kicked out of the BSoA. My four years at Walbrook High School (did I mention I repeated 9th grade after being kicked out of the BSoA ?) gave me plenty of writing opportunities. Jacob Saulsbury was very generous with allowing me time in front of the band for every and any arrangement that came to mind based off some song I heard on the radio that was currently popular. I remember making a decision in 10th grade, choosing between being a professional arranger (I liked it and was wondering what I needed to do to get picked up by Hal Leonard…) and becoming a band director eventually. I chose the latter and worked toward it gradually. Meanwhile, Gloria Street, my piano teacher, started me fresh in my 9th grade year at Walbrook and made a successful (moderately) pianist out of me by my senior year. Michael Jackson once said that melodies are ‘eternal’ and ‘out there in the air’. Our job as composers was to pull those melodies out of the air and put them on paper. Somewhere between 1989 and 1990, maybe earlier, I began hearing those melodies pass overhead and started pulling them out of the air. One such song was Storm and Shadows, composed in 1991 for the NAACP’s ACT-SO competition that year. I won third place in music composition locally (an utter shock to me, since I didn’t expect anyone to pay the song much attention). While little composing was done during the ensuing decade (1991-2000), I did a lot of arranging for band. At Bowie State University, I became the de facto head arranger from 91-95, teaching myself to also create drills for marching band in the process (with a bit of help from Mr. Sanders Milligan, former director at Bowie State and Winston-Salem State Universities). I’d developed my ear more. Every arrangement was treated as an original composition – I was leaving a piece of my soul in the band room, in the stands and on the field. Those who played the music I’d arranged – my music (though I was not the composer) – gave me life. Like Will Smith’s character in Hancock near the end of the film where he found himself gradually being able to jump higher and higher until with one leap he finally took flight, my arranging has been my release of many of the things in me that I’ve been unable to express and share verbally. Without realizing it, I’ve been composing all along. Every time an arranger takes the work of another and prepares it for an ensemble, that person is engaged being both creative (choosing voicing, instrumentation) and re-creative (adapting something already in existence to fit a current ensemble situation). How do I make 40-55 instruments sound good ? Unlike FAMU (during that era), I didn’t have 128 woodwinds on the field..in fact, I barely had 28! What was the best use of them ? I had to create ways of purposing them to fulfill what I needed in order to have heard what I thought needed to be heard. Fast-forward a few years. I took time off from college, stagnated trying new things and went back to college to complete my music education degree (I am presently, the last music education major to graduate from Bowie State University). I got the job I wanted (teaching high school band….with choir thrown in for extra and unexpected flavor). My church choir directing background combined with other choir experiences prepared me for this somewhat. I arranged for both groups feverishly and regularly. My understanding of the role of different instruments and voices grew. My understanding of a what a good ‘ensemble’ sound should be continued to develop more over time (thanks in large part to the influence of Anthony Townes, Director of VPA Bands at Northwestern High School in Prince Georges’ County….and a graduate of Morgan State under Melvin Miles). I even managed to get the school decent band festival adjudication scores during my last year there (2004-2005 – first decent scores in 20+ years at that time). My next nine years (to the present) have involved understanding the origins of sound and where the journey to high school band (and choir) begins. As a middle school band director, I’ve had the honor of starting many students on various instruments and seeing them continue playing many years later (even a few of my piano students from the general music classes continued to play). Teaching students to play is also an exercise in pedagogical training for the teacher. In the past nine years, while starting students, I’ve come to understand better the fundamentals of how instruments work, what type of sounds they should and should NOT be producing and how best to help the student achieve these sounds. These have also been lessons for me, as I’ve found myself demonstrating frequently. In the quest for musical perfection as a director, I’ve found myself studying more and more of the works of those whose music I chose for my students to play. As I exposed myself to more, that part of my brain that did arranging began hearing new melodies, motifs and themes. As such, I began to write them down or record them (in my somewhat poor singing voice) on my iPhone. I need to insert an important break here. Something tremendously pertinent to the issue at hand is my theological/religious background. My musical development did not occur in a vacuum. I am a Christian who holds to reformed theology (Calvinist, Covenantal, Trinitarian, Presuppositionalist for those whom these terms mean anything to….) – as such, I lean toward most things being ‘black and white’ – a trait common to the craft of music at its’ fundamental levels (a note is either ‘correct’ or ‘incorrect’ – it cannot be both. A and Ab are not the same note.). Music, while having quite a bit of diversity, still, at its’ core, has many absolute truths. One cannot be in-tune playing A438 when the rest of the ensemble is tuned to A440. The second space of the treble clef is A. Not B. Not G – A. I seek to adhere to things which correspond to the reality we live in and not simply a possible reality. I, therefore, could not be an atheist, since pure naturalism has a million gaping holes when it comes to discussing the issues of morality, presuppositions, metaphysics and even abstract concepts like beauty and love which go way beyond simple chemical reactions in the brain. I cannot be an agnostic because there’s too much evidence on the side of intelligent and purposeful design to say ‘maybe’ or ‘maybe not’, which amounts to a practical atheism. The fundamental premise of agnosticism is ‘we can’t be sure’, which is, in itself, a denial of what scripture says on the issue (we can be sure, as there is ample evidence all around us). Any honest ‘agnostic’ cannot remain agnostic. I cannot be a Deist, since they too engage in practical atheism….and the fruit of atheism is not beauty, but despair. Not love, but selfishness. Not mission, but ultimate purposelessness. If all we are are cosmic accidents, why study music ? Why seek to solve academic and scientific problems ? Why grow beyond what we currently know ? If it doesn’t ultimately (not just personally) matter, why invest time in it ? What are you truly accomplishing ? But deep inside, everyone knows that God exists. The beauty of a symphony is proof of this. The sense of justice needing to be served at the sight of some wrongdoing nags at all of us and we long to see the scales balanced. As musicians, order and organization matter. These did not randomly come to be. They are evidence – God’s fingerprints, if you will – that the universe and all that is in it are intelligently and purposely designed. Second, I believe that we, human beings, were created with this diversity to demonstrate the glory of God in all that we do. Psalm 19 says that the “heavens declare the glory of God and the sky His handiwork” and that there is “no place on earth where their voice is not heard” (vv. 1, 3, 4). Beauty, creation, purpose, organization (see Psalm 104) and order are part of God’s revelation of Himself to humanity. All things were created and exist the way they are to convey to us something about the God who made them. Different plants, different animals, different elements, different human beings with their own individual physical characteristics, DNA and more. Scripture declares human beings, unlike animals, to be created in the image and likeness of God. Indeed, in all of creation, you don’t see bears growing an advanced society and seeking to build/create better bear-habitats. You don’t see monkeys marching for further primate-American rights. Creation, advanced order and organization, morality and a few other things capture some of the ‘image’ of God spoken of in scripture, unlike the rest of things or animals in existence. Now to tie all of these things together and answer the question (yes, I’m long-winded in person as well). I compose for myself. The act of composition is me bringing to life something stuck inside of my head, heart or emotions. Something ephemeral passing me by the in the air that I just happened to pull down from the sky and commit to paper. A part of me bubbling inside like an overflowing rice pot and now has spilled onto the stove of staff paper (how’s that for an image). Before each piece of music that bears my name as composer or arranger is performed or rehearsed for the first time, I silently pray in the moments before the baton reaches ictus “Please, Lord, don’t let this sound bad.” Music I write, therefore, must be good. My soul is not filled with poor things. Therefore, what is poured out on paper to be performed must not be poor quality. Prince has at least 50 fully recorded videos, dozens of songs and a few full albums recorded and stashed away in his ‘vault’ at Paisley Park Studios. They cover decades. Prince hasn’t released them all (some have snuck out of the vault as bootlegs, others have only only been performed live, some made their way onto albums like Crystal Ball. They are, reportedly, songs he wrote for himself that he likes. That’s it. Art for the sake of personal aesthetic pleasure. I grew to understand this a little about myself during the mid-90’s when I also DJed. I made it a habit (much to the consternation of older, more experienced DJs) to buy music I liked and spin that at parties versus some of the things I considered garbage. Thankfully (for me), my tastes were shared by those around me and those I serviced as a DJ. I compose for others. Music is a universal language which brings people who’d otherwise kill or maim each other, into the same environment to enjoy a thing of beauty and sometimes become participants in that same thing. Those who play music I write are, to an extent, co-creators with me in the labor of music. No two performances are identical, therefore each performance is a new creation to be shared with the world. The digital age has given us the ability to archive and share again and again that experience (although nothing compares to a live performance). As I sit and listen to the Dallas Wind Symphony, North Texas Wind Symphony and the Keystone Winds all play Holst’s Second Suite in F with varying ranges of expression and interpretation, I hear something new every time I listen. Why did Jerry Junkin choose to play this passage this way ? Why did Jack Stamp choose to slow down the March compared to Junkin and Corporon ? Why does each conductor choose the particular phrasing style for the last movement that they chose ? Somewhere, there are thousands if not millions of people asking the same questions and listening intently with every rewind of the music to hear something new. Somewhere there is someone else with their eyes closed, headphones on, placing themselves in a time and place far and away from their present worries and cares. I want to be the person who brings them there….or at least provides the gas for another driver to get them there. Finally, I compose because in doing so, I demonstrate a small part of God’s awesomeness. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Cor. 10:31, ESV. The implications of this passage are simple: whatever you do – from the mundane things like eating and drinking (see parallel passage in Col. 3:17) to the important (like running a country), all of these things are to be done as though they are being done directly to and for God (and they are). As a Christian, my talent, while mine, is ultimately a gift from God. It was not given to me for the purpose of bringing glory to myself, but to Him. It is He who designated this place, this time, these influences and these circumstances and experiences so that I would be moved to write what I write. I had no choice over my parents, where I was born, where I would grow up and whom I would encounter along the way, but all of these things have shaped me into the individual I am and provided me a unique vantage point from which to write. God did this. As such, I seek to communicate His perfections and diversity accurately by doing good work. Composition and performance are, as it were, an act of worship. I cannot write trite material simply to fulfill a contract and get a paycheck. Where would God be seen in such a thing ? A friend of mine once said that bad art lies about God. I believe this is true. I can skip the second question, since I have published my first work and had it performed (May 21, 2013) with myself as conductor. Who was my first official public musical statement spoken to ? Quite a few people. On the earthly side of things, this was an accomplishment for me. A huge one. There was a certain impact and achievement level that comes with turning 40 that I was seeking to accomplish and part of that involved getting these wonderful ideas out on paper and into the air for others to hear. This was something of a ‘first’ for me. Could I actually do this ? The answer is yes. Resoundingly, yes. Have I gained the respect of my peers ? Yes. It was a statement to them as well. Have I had my students be a part of the creative process ? Yes. It was dedicated to them (I even took comments and suggestions from them for revising some parts of the song). And being performed….it matters. If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound if no one is around to hear it ? Yes. Does space have a sound ? Yes. A composition unperformed is akin to stopping ten feet below the summit of the mountain, two inches from the finish line of a twenty six mile marathon or only saying “I” and not “do” at the altar. Garritan sounds are not life. They are artificial. Macbook Pros and GarageBands sounds don’t breathe. They have no heartbeats. I need people to perform and enjoy the music I write for band. Another facet of me: I rap. I’ve been doing rap and hip-hop production for 20+ years…..and I also DJ (I mentioned that already). In my brain, I find myself writing a method book on DJing along the lines of Standard of Excellence Book 1 (in fact, there are already dozens of DJ tutorial videos online that teach in the exact same fashion that books like SoE, AoA and others are set up). In practice, I see other DJs taking sound clips and things and using them in the same fashion that a pianist takes short motifs from other composers and artists and uses them to create his/her own music. I see them practicing for hours on end on one technique the same way I see myself or my students practicing a technical exercise or difficult passage for hours on end. These ‘two sides’ of the musical coin make a lot of sense to me. With all of these things going on, I have a lot of ‘sound’ going through my head at any given time. Organizing it into something coherent and individually beautiful takes time and focus. But the end product is always something that brings my soul joy. So I sit down, fill myself with caffeine, launch Finale 2012 and begin. Alternate Band Assignment Post	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2015
__label__cc	0.643575	0.356425	Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes UK tour 2019 Ok, a couple of little stories for ya from Shepherd’s Bush Empire. First one’s from 2010. Backstage at a Jukes soundcheck, I was loitering waiting for Southside Johnny to arrive for an interview and trying pretty unsuccessfully to pretend I wasn’t nervous. I mean why would I be, this guy had only been a hero of mine for over thirty years and this was my first interview with him. Think about something else, listen to what’s happening down on the stage at the end of the soundcheck. So I did and it was unusual; it was Jeff Kazee singing something I had never heard at a Jukes show. Jeff had missed the European mainland leg of the tour because of a family bereavement and was doing his first gig in London. Fast forward about four hours and that little bit of distraction comes back to hit me like a sledgehammer as Jeff lets out his feelings in the most public way with a heart-rending, tear-jerking version of “Many Rivers to Cross”. If you wanted a definition of catharsis, this was it; it would have melted a heart of stone. Did I cry? And then some, and I wasn’t on my own. It was the most moving thing I’ve ever experienced at a gig, and that’s a lot of gigs. Skip forward just a year to October 21 2011. The Reverend Harold Camping had predicted (for the second time) that the world would end on that day. On stage at the Empire, it was beginning to look like he might be right. From the start of the set, there were complaints from the band about the monitor mix and just as the crew got that sorted out, another gremlin raised its head in the shape of Glenn Alexander’s guitar amp; it wasn’t amplifying. You’re on stage, the set’s just catching fire and suddenly your equipment blindsides you. Take losing your wi-fi for an hour and multiply it by a hundred; you’re getting close to the level of frustration on stage left that night. Long story short, it took three amps before the glitch was solved; the only problem now was to get the gig back on track, so what would the mainman do. The mainman called a Sonny Boy Williamson tune, “Help Me”, throwing the spotlight back at Glenn to harness his frustration and kickstart the show; which it did, with a vengeance. That’s a great band and bandleader in action right there. And, honestly, it’s not for everyone. If your thing is a setlist that’s been rehearsed to within an inch of its life, absolutely note-perfect and with a synched lighting plot (and I’m honestly not knocking that) this isn’t the gig for you. However, if you want a set that’s unpredictable, packed with powerful vocal and instrumental performances and great tunes, this definitely is for you. And I haven’t even mentioned my favourite combination yet. Cheese and onion, sweet and sour, trouble and strife don’t even come close – it’s horns and Hammond, Hammond and horns (see, it’s even alliterative). The recipe’s pretty simple; get seven of the best live musicians you can find, make sure they know all of (ok, most of) the songs and give them plenty of opportunities to express themselves. When those guys are Jeff Kazee (keys), Glenn Alexander (guitar), John Conte (bass), Tom Seguso (drums), John Isley (sax), Chris Anderson (trumpet) and Neal Pawley (trombone) each performance will be special and different. Now, that I will go see and hear any time. So why am I telling you all of this now? Easy, there’s a couple of those increasingly rare opportunities to see Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes in the UK on a mini tour in March 2019. The band’s playing Glasgow (St Luke’s) on March 19th, London (Shepherd’s Bush Empire) on March 22nd and Holmfirth (Picturedrome) on March 23rd and 24th. Why two gigs at The Picturedrome? Because the first one sold out – obviously the North of England knows about good music. These UK gigs are precious because it ain’t cheap to bring an eight-piece across the Atlantic and you never know how long it is until the next tour. So get yourself some tickets for one of the remaining shows and treat yourself to one of the best live bands in the business. What will they play? I don’t know and, most likely they don’t know, but it will be special and it won’t be anything like the set they played the previous night. See you at The Bush. Posted by mckaya on Monday, February 4, 2019 at 7:57 pm Filed under Featured, Features · Tagged with Allan McKay, Chris Anderson, Glenn Alexander, Holmfirth Picturedrome, Jeff Kazee, John Conte, John Isley, Neal Pawley, shepherds bush empire, Sonny Boy Williamson, Southisde Johnny, the asbury jukes, tom seguso	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2016
__label__cc	0.607619	0.392381	Ultherapy®. As Seen In Harper’s Bazaar. THE ULTRASOUND BEAUTY SECRET ARE HIGH-FREQUENCY WAVES THE TRICK TO A YOUNGER FACE, SHINY HAIR, AND A BETTER BODY? Emily Dudding investigates. For a (far) more extreme version of the sonic facial, there’s Ultherapy® (price: $2,000- $6,000). The in-office treatment uses focused ultrasound waves to heat deep layers of skin tissue, stimulating collagen production while bypassing the skin’s surface. The result is a subtle but visible tightening (no one would mistake it for a surgical face-lift) with no downtime. (Yes, there was a bit of redness for a few hours, but nothing I couldn’t pass off as a post-workout glow.) The procedure, which allows a doctor to look at the target area on a screen while aiming the waves, was cleared by the FDA for lifting the brow area in 2009, and recently got the go-ahead for the neck and chin. “It is the best non-invasive tightening device available,” says dermatologist Fredric Brandt, a pioneer in the field. Because it takes time for new collagen to develop, results can take two to three months to see. Robert Anolik, a dermatologist who uses Ultherapy® at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, recommends it for women with mild-to-moderate skin laxity. “It can put off the need for surgery or even eradicate it in some cases,” Anolik says. A word of warning: Even with a mega-numbing cream and hospital-grade painkillers, the procedure isn’t for the faint of heart. The sensation as the hand piece moved over my face was, frankly, way beyond mere pinpricks. Nevertheless, the results were terrific, and, as in childbirth, the pain is quickly forgotten in the afterglow. *This is an excerpt from a feature article in the November 2013 issue of Harper’s Bazaar. Mentions of indications not currently approved as part of the Ultherapy® treatment have been removed. The view of the author and statements from the physicians quoted are that of each individual. Refer to the Ulthera® System Indications for Use for the FDA-cleared indications at Ultherapy.com®/IFU. seven − 2 =	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2018
__label__wiki	0.701005	0.701005	City of Newport – Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update Kick-Off Meeting, October 13th October 5, 2015 October 5, 2015 by NewportAlliance http://cityofnewport.com/departments/planning-development/comprehensive-land-use-plan WHEN: Tuesday October 13th 6:30-8:30pm WHERE: Pell School \| 35 Dexter St., Newport RI The City of Newport and the Planning Board are in process of updating the Newport Comprehensive Land Use Plan. This update includes only the updating of data and statistics to keep the document that was adopted in 2004 in compliance with current State requirements. The State of Rhode Island has issued new requirements for municipalities to include in their next Comprehensive Plan. After the data revisions are complete and adopted, Newport will begin the process of reviewing and revising the entire document to bring it in compliance with the new State regulations that go into effect as of June 1st, 2016. The following links contain the 2004 Comprehensive Land Use Plan as adopted in 2004 by the City Council. This document forms the legal basis for all land use decisions made by the City as well as Zoning Ordinances and Land Development – Subdivision Regulations. All Zoning and Land Development Amendments enacted must be in compliance with the adopted Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Title Page – Table of Contents Element 1 – Executive Summary Element 2 – Land Use Element 2 – Appendices Element 3 – Housing Element 4 – Economic Development Element 5 – Natural & Cultural Resources Element 6 – Community Facilities & Services Element 7 – Open Space & Recreation Element 8 – Circulation Categories 5 Focus Areas - Categories Updates, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY, SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION Leave a comment Newport North End and Broadway residents should Apply Now! $15.00 per hour August 3, 2015 by NewportAlliance Resident Consultant Job Description (click to download) http://newporthealthequity.com/ We are seeking energetic residents from the North End and Broadway neighborhoods in Newport that would love to get involved! Once hired, each applicant will be assigned to one of the six working groups. Applicants will be interviewed in August, 2015. Additionally, there will be one mandatory day of training in early September, 2015 April, 2015 the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) became one of eleven organizations within the state of R.I. to receive a Health Equity Zone (HEZ) grant from the R.I. Department of Health. The Newport Health Equity Zone project is a place-based initiative focusing on the North End and Broadway neighborhoods. The WRC was awarded $235,000 for year one of this project. Funding could be awarded for up to four years. The goal of this project is to not only mitigate current health disparities present in these communities, but also to empower residents with the skills needed to create community change. The Newport-HEZ project is focused on six main areas that impact health: transportation, arts and culture, open space, physical and emotional health, education innovation and economic opportunities and food access. The project will have six working groups that will each concentrate on one of the six focus areas. A working group will comprise of one lead organization, numerous support agencies, and two residents from the North End and Broadway neighborhoods. The role of the resident consultant is to:  Ensure that all Newport-HEZ initiatives contain community input  Actively participate in all working group conversations  Assist all members of the HEZ collaborative with organizing community events and soliciting community input  Assist with the design and implementation of a needs assessment In order to be considered for this position, all applicants are required to live in either the Broadway or North End communities in Newport. Those who live outside of these communities will not be considered. Other skills that are needed include:  A strong pulse on the needs, challenges, triumphs and assets present in Broadway and/or North End Communities  Experience interacting with community residents  The ability to follow through on immediate tasks and long term projects  Strong interpersonal skills  Comfort working with diverse communities  An intrinsic desire to improve the health of communities  Enthusiasm! $15.00 per hour for approximately 70 hours over 7 months. Please note that the exact hours spent per month will fluctuate depending on the project’s needs and the resident consultant’s availability. Further information regarding monthly time commitments will be provided during the applicant interview. If you would like to be a part of this exciting project, please contact Olivia Kachingwe, HEZ Project Coordinator at the Women’s Resource Center at 401-236-8344 or okachingwe@wrcnbc.org We are seeking energetic residents from the North End and Broadway neighborhoods in Newport that would love to get involved! Once hired, each applicant will be assigned to one of the six working groups. Applicants will be interviewed in August, 2015. Additionally, there will be one mandatory day of training in early September, 2015. Categories 5 Focus Areas - Categories Updates, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY Leave a comment Newport Yachting Center withdraws NOISE variance request! November 12, 2013 by NewportAlliance Click here if you can’t see the image. Dear Newport Yachting Center Guests, We want to thank all of our concert guests and supporters who sent letters, made phone-calls and cleared their schedules to attend tomorrow night’s City Council meeting in support of the Sunset Music Series. It is gratifying to hear how important the Sunset Music Series is to all of you. It is clear that our unique waterfront venue has become a part of the fabric of Newport over the last 16 years. However, based on feedback from the City Council, we are making the decision to pull the variance request from tomorrow night’s City Council docket. The reality is that we need to take a step back and allow the City to hold public workshops, during which we will have an opportunity to explain the facts of the variance request and our plans for noise abatement. There is much misinformation circulating right now and it is important that we be able to present the correct information to the residents of Newport. We will need your support in the future; we will call on you again when the time is right to bring this matter before the City Council. We will keep you informed as the political process unfolds and public workshops are scheduled.We look forward to seeing you on the waterfront during the 2014 Sunset Music Series season. Please feel free to reach out to me with questions at any time. I can be reached atmmaker@newportyachtingcenter.com. With appreciation for your support, Michele Maker Palmieri Newport Harbor Corporation Categories GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY Tags Alliance for a Livable Newport, Business and Economy, City council, City Manager, Newport, Newport Rhode Island, Newport Yachting Center Leave a comment 2 Important new websites – Engage Newport + Mind Mixer are live! What does this mean for Newport? October 29, 2013 by NewportAlliance http://engagenewport.com/ Engage Newport Engage Newport is an evolving forum for opinions and ideas about our city’s major initiatives. Alongside elected representatives, local media and community organizations, Engage Newport is another channel of communication between city government and the people of Newport. http://opinionnewport.mindmixer.com/ Opinion Newport is home to an ongoing series of surveys about major city issues and initiatives affecting Newport’s future. Starting with community resilience in the face of rising sea levels, you are invited to join the conversation about what matters to you. http://engagenewport.com/issues-and-initiatives This section shares select information and opinion from a City government perspective. Be sure to visit the city’s home page at www.cityofnewport.com to navigate the full spectrum of city services, city calendars and more. http://engagenewport.com/get-involved This series of articles will highlight and explain opportunities for public engagement in shaping the future of our community. Learn more about your elected representatives , boards and commissions , & community organizations engageNewport@cityofnewport.com Engage Newport – SEA Aware-Public Event on Rising Sea Level – Thursday, October 24, 2013 from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. October 30th @ 6pm – Public Forum – Proposed Goat Island Hyatt Hotel Marina Needed: wise Newport citizens willing to serve on Newport Zoning Board of Review FREE Public Forum about City of Newport Commissions October 2nd, 6pm Newport Library Categories GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY, Recent Updates, SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION Tags Alliance for a Livable Newport, City council, City Manager, city of newport, Current sea level rise, Engage newport, Local government, Newport, Newport Rhode Island, Nonprofit organization, Quality of life, rhode island Leave a comment Notice for a Public Event through the Engage Newport-SEA Aware initiative. The event will provide information on projects researching Sea Level Rise and is scheduled for Thursday, October 24, 2013 from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at the Gateway Center. Categories NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY Tags Newport, Newport City Council, Newport Rhode Island, sea level, sea level rise, United States 1 Comment September 25, 2013 by NewportAlliance WHO: All Newport residents WHAT: Public Forum about City of Newport Commissions \| Bring you questions! Featuring – Cliff Walk Commission, Easton’s Beach Commission, and Waterfront Commission WHERE: Newport Public Library – 300 Spring St., Newport, RI (401) 847-8720 TIME: 6pm until 8pm COST: FREE! (Donations Appreciated!) DONATE NOW! CATCH UP ON WHAT’S HAPPENING AT CLIFF WALK, EASTON’S BEACH AND NEWPORT’S HARBOR FRONT The first in a series of Newport Commissions Forums to be held October 2 at 6pm Newport Public Library Programs Room In its ongoing efforts to keep citizens aware of and involved with issues affecting the quality of life in Newport, the Alliance of Livable Newport will be holding a series of Public Forums featuring the Chairpersons of various City Commissions and Boards. “Newporter’s are generally aware of City Council meetings but often are unaware that33 boards and commissions have been ordained to support and report to the city council. Their members provide countless volunteer hours in monitoring, investigating, reviewing, reporting on and recommending actions that affect the daily quality of life in Newport” said John Hirschboeck, Vice President of the Alliance. All commissions meetings are open to the public and their agendas and minutes are posted on the city’s website, along with applications for those who might wish to serve. The first of the ALN forums will feature reports from the Cliff Walk Commission, Easton’s Beach Commission, and Waterfront Commission and will take place at6pm at the Newport Public Library on Wednesday, October 2, with brief presentations from the commissions and an opportunity for a Q&A afterwards. City Councilwoman Jeanne-Marie Napolitano will introduce the Commissioners. “After a busy summer on the water, we felt these 3 commissions in particular would be a great way to launch our series,” said Hirschboeck. “The majority of our tourists have visited the walk, the beach and our waterfront. How these waterfront infrastructures are maintained and supported is critically important to all.” For a complete list of all the Newport City Commissions, go to www.cityofnewport.com/city-council/boards-commissions/index.cfm. For more information on the Alliance for a Livable Newport and how you can help make Newport more livable, go to www.NewportAlliance.org John Hirschboeck, Vice President info@newportalliance.org This email was sent to info@newportalliance.org by info@newportalliance.org \| Alliance for a Livable Newport \| P.O. Box 2636 \| Newport \| RI \| 02840 Categories GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY Tags Alliance for a Livable Newport, City council, City Manager, city of newport, Easton's Beach, forum, Library, Newport, Newport Public Library, Newport Rhode Island 2 Comments POLL: #1 Newport: RI’s Best Communities 2013 June 24, 2013 by NewportAlliance Surrounded by a sprawling waterfront, Newport was fittingly titled the “Birthplace of the Navy.” Since its establishment as a city, this highly visited community has enjoyed a history of progress and success. In fact, Newport has more standing buildings built before 1830 than any other American community. It offers cruises, excursion boats, city tours, golf, and fishing among other things for visitors making it one of the most desired tourist destinations in the country. http://www.golocalprov.com/news/1-newport-ris-best-communities-2013/ Newport by the numbers Median housing price: $352,500 2013 Best Communities rankings Overall ranking: 1 Affordability ranking: 38 Education ranking: 35 Economic Condition ranking: 17 Safety ranking: 35 Arts & Culture ranking: 1 Benedict Arnold, (governor) of Rhode Island William Coddington, governor of Rhode Island John Clarke, Baptist minister and drafter of the Royal Charter Nicholas Easton, governor of Rhode Island George Berkeley, philosopher Louis Alexandre Berthier, French Army officer, later Marshal of France and Napoleon’s chief of staff William Ellery, signer of the Declaration of Independence Robert Feke, portrait painter Peter Harrison, architect Samuel Hopkins (clergyman), Congregational minister, Calvinist theologian and pioneer leader for abolition of the slave trade Aaron Lopez, prominent merchant Louis-Marie, vicomte de Noailles, French army officer Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, French general Charles Theodore Pachelbel, first organist of Newport’s Trinity Church and son of Johann Pachelbel William Selby, organist (Trinity Church) and composer John Smybert, artist Ezra Stiles, minister, diarist, and President of Yale Gilbert Stuart, portrait painter Isaac Touro, hazzan at Synagogue Judah Touro, prominent merchant and philanthropist Vice-Admiral Sir Jahleel Brenton, Royal Navy William Ellery Channing, one of the foremost Unitarian preachers of the 19th century George Bancroft, historian, Secretary of the Navy, diplomat, and summer resident August Belmont, financier Ambrose Burnside, Army officer stationed at Fort Adams, later a Civil War general, governor, and senator Julia Ward Howe, author and summer resident Henry James, author William James, Harvard professor John Kensett, artist Clement C. Moore, summer resident and author of ‘Twas the Night before Christmas Levi P. Morton, summer resident and donor of Morton Park, later Vice President of the United States Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of the War of 1812 William Trost Richards, artist Milton H. Sanford, textile magnate and thoroughbred racehorse owner Richard Upjohn, architect Louis Agaziz, scientist and adventurer Caroline Webster Schermerhorn Astor, socialite Alva Belmont, socialite and leader of women’s rights movement Charles D. Barney, socialite, banker, founder of Smith Barney Brokerage Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, socialite, builder of Belcourt Castle James Gordon Bennett, Jr. newspaper publisher and yachtsman Ogden Codman, designer Richard Morris Hunt, architect William Morris Hunt, artist John LaFarge, artist Pierre Lorillard, tobacco manufacturer Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce, founder, Naval War College Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, naval historian and strategist Ward McAllister, flamboyant raconteur of high society, coined the term ‘the 400’ for the New York social elite Charles McKim, architect H.H. Ricardson, architect Edith B. Price, writer and illustrator Horace Trumbauer, architect Alva Vanderbilt Wife of William K. Vanderbilt, early feminist and active in the women’s suffrage movement Consuelo Vanderbilt, daughter of W.K. and Alva Vanderbilt; Duchess of Marlborough Cornelius Vanderbilt II heir to Vanderbilt fortune, Chairman of New York Central Railroad William Kissam Vanderbilt heir to Vanderbilt fortune, noted yachtsman Edith Wharton, author Edward Malbone, artist and miniaturist Caleb Gardner, captain and counsul of the French Empire Thomas Harper Ince, actor Ida Lewis, lighthouse keeper credited with saving 18 lives in Newport Harbor throughout the nineteenth century; she received national attention and numerous honors. A United States Coast Guard buoy tender bears her name Matthew C. Perry, Commodore of the U.S. Navy who forced the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854, under the threat of military force Harry Anderson, actor and comedian Nadia Bjorlin, soap opera actress (Days of our Lives) Frank Corridon, who pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals and is known for inventing the now illegal pitch, the spitball Tanya Donelly, musician, vocalist for Rhode Island-based bands Belly and Throwing Muses, as well as guitarist for the band The Breeders Leon Wilkeson, bass guitarist Charlie Fern, White House speechwriter, journalist. Van Johnson, actor, known best for “all-American” roles in MGM films during World War II. Mena Suvari, actress, known best for her role as the vampish cheerleader with whom Kevin Spacey’s character is obsessed in the 1999 film American Beauty. Laura Jane Barney socialite, philanthropist, Smith Barney Brokerage heiress Champ Soleil Mansion on Belleveue Ave Admiral Jeremy Michael Boorda, 25th Chief of Naval Operations John Nicholas Brown, socialite, yachtsman and philanthropist The Cowsills, a popular 1960s pop/flower power band that had a #2 hit with The Rain, The Park, And Other Things in 1967 Doris Duke, tobacco heiress and philanthropist President Dwight D. Eisenhower, located his summer White House at Newport Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr. Paul L. Gaines, first African-American to be elected mayor of a New England city Kristin Hersh, musician, vocalist for Rhode Island-based band Throwing Muses, 50 Foot Wave and solo artist. Fleet Admiral Ernest King, Chief of Naval Operations, 1941–1945 MacGillivray Milne, 27th Governor of American Samoa, 1936–1938 Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 1942–1945; Chief of Naval Operations Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, summer resident and First Lady Claiborne Pell, socialite and U.S. Senator Admiral William Sims, commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe 1917–1919 Admiral Raymond Spruance, the victor of Midway and later President, Naval War College Harold Vanderbilt, yachtsman and bridge player (inventor of contract bridge) Paul Gordon – keyboardist and guitarist with Goo Goo Dolls, New Radicals, Lisa Marie Presley and currently The B-52’s Joanna Going, Actress Richard Hatch, first winner of the realty television show Survivor Richard Saul Wurman, architect, graphic designer and founder of the TED Conferences Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator Categories GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY, Recent Updates, SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION Tags Alliance for a Livable Newport, Business and Economy, Chamber of commerce, Newport Rhode Island, Quality of life Leave a comment Newport’s civic groups seeking a larger role May 12, 2013 by NewportAlliance http://www.newportri.com/newportdailynews/news/newport-s-civic-groups-seeking-a-larger-role/article_da94f827-1289-5b06-becb-d180e815c354.html Posted: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 12:08 am \| Updated: 1:56 pm, Wed May 8, 2013. By Sean Flynn l Newport Daily News \| 0 comments Leaders of seven active neighborhood associations in Newport said Tuesday night they feel ignored by city and elected officials and will be seeking acknowledgement that they represent the interests of local residents. “My big goal is building cooperation and a sense of trust with the city,” said Beth Cullen, president of the Point Association. Among the changes she would like to see is an “Office of Neighborhoods” in city government, as found in many cities across the country, including Charleston, S.C. Cullen also would like the city’s website to provide links to the web pages of the various neighborhood associations. Besides the Point Association, representatives of the Off-Broadway, the Historic Hill, the Bellevue Avenue-Ochre Point, the Castle Hill and the Top of the Hill neighborhood associations, as well as the new North End Neighborhood Association, met at the St. John the Evangelist Parish House on Poplar Street. Representatives of the citywide Alliance for a Livable Newport, which has had more success getting attention from city officials, also were present. Almost everyone among the two dozen people at the meeting has been active in community affairs in one role or another. When asked who had served on one or more city boards or commissions, they all raised a hand. They said the city administration and the City Council largely ignore the work, reports and recommendations of those boards and commissions. Lauren Carson, who represents the Point on the Alliance for a Livable Newport’s board of directors, moderated the meeting. “The city has no mechanism for dealing with us; they don’t know us,” said Jack McVicker, president of the Off-Broadway Neighborhood Association. “They denied us a meeting with the city manager, mayor and police chief.” The neighborhood west of Broadway is roughly bounded on the south by Marlborough Street, on the west by Farewell Street, on the north by Van Zandt Avenue and Malbone Road, and on the east by Broadway. Within this area have been multiple assaults and a murder within the last year, and public safety and nuisance houses are major concerns of neighbors, McVicker said. Organized as an association about 10 years ago, the group has been unsuccessful in getting responsive action from the city, he said. “After 10 years of never having had a victory with the city, we want at least one,” McVicker said. The association asked the City Council 16 months ago to pass an ordinance regulating how to deal with nuisance houses. But, he said, “nothing has happened. We’d like to change the way the city deals with us.” Cullen said the Point Association, founded in 1955 and currently with 450 members, is the “grandmother of neighborhood associations.” She asked the city to interact with the neighbors in order to protect and preserve the historic character of the neighborhood. When the city repaired the Van Zandt Bridge not long ago, it put up Jersey barriers along one side of the bridge, where they remain, she said. Recently, the city ripped up a bluestone and cobblestone crosswalk, likely from the Colonial era, at the top of the Willow Street driftway and replaced it with black asphalt, she said. “We are not going to take that anymore,” Cullen said. “It’s all about communication. I would love the city to acknowledge neighborhood associations more. If we could realize that goal, Newport would be a healthier, safer and more attractive place.” Federico Santi, representing the Historic Hill Association, agreed. “Our city fails to understand the importance of historic streetscapes,” he said. In the past, the city paid Brian Pelletier to maintain the gas lamps on Historic Hill, but he was let go, Santi said. “Now the gas lamps are deteriorating because of a lack of maintenance,” he said. “They are letting the gaslights fail to justify removing them.” Santi said the encroachment of bar patrons into the Historic Hill neighborhood still is a major problem for residents, especially when bars in the Thames Street area close at 1 a.m. Jim Moore, co-chairman of the Bellevue Avenue-Ochre Point Neighborhood Association with Robert Beaver, said his group is different from other associations. “We arose out of war,” Moore said. The group organized years ago in response to a plan by Salve Regina University to build an athletic facility “roughly the size of Fenway Park,” Moore said. That plan was successfully blocked, he said. English: Salve Regina University (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The association continues to deal with plans by Salve and the Preservation Society of Newport County, he said. Currently, members are concerned about plans by the Preservation Society to construct a welcome center on the grounds of The Breakers, he said, although the board has not taken a formal stand. Members also are concerned that planned repairs by the state to the Cliff Walk have been held up and will not be undertaken until the fall at the earliest, Moore said. Surfers and environmentalists objected to the original plan to address the damage caused by superstorm Sandy. “We now will wait for repairs through another hurricane season,” he said. Glenn Whisler, representing the Castle Hill Association, said his group was formed 38 years ago. Members were concerned two years ago about increasing activities at Brenton Point State Park, but meetings with state Department of Environmental Management officials apparently have resolved that, at least for now, he said. DEM patrols picked up, and last summer was quiet, he said. John Hirschboeck, representing the Top of Hill Neighborhood Association, said members are concerned about the reduction of Memorial Boulevard westbound from two lanes to one lane from the Middletown line to about Red Cross Avenue in the upcoming summer months. He said the change so far has been benign, but that could change when there is heavier traffic around Easton’s Beach. Bellevue Avenue and Kay Street roughly bound the Top of the Hill neighborhood on the west and north, Eustis Avenue on the east, and Memorial Boulevard on the south. Chip Leakas, representing the North End Neighborhood Association, talked about drawing membership from the approximately 2,200 households in the wide area north of Van Zandt Avenue to the Middletown border, from the bay on the west to Kay Street on the east. McVicker said he is seeking outside help to help kickstart initiatives in Newport. He met recently with staff at the Providence office of the Local Initiatives Support Corp., a national organization founded in 1980 with help from the Ford Foundation and other major sponsors. “Out of frustration, we’ve asked them to get involved with us,” McVicker said. Members of the different neighborhood associations said they want their new cooperative effort to continue. They scheduled the next meeting for Tuesday, July 16, beginning at 7 p.m. at Café 200 on Broadway. Categories GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY, SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION Tags Alliance for a Livable Newport, Brenton Point State Park, City Manager, Neighborhood association, Newport, Newport Rhode Island, Preservation Society of Newport County, Public safety, Quality of life, Salve Regina University 1 Comment Open House Sheds Light, Reveals Rifts http://www.newport-now.com/news/open-house-sheds-light%2C-reveals-rifts/ By Tom Shevlin, April 19, 2013 Newport This Week (Newport-Now.com) NEWPORT – School lunches, budgets, the search for a new superintendent, what to do about excess elementary schools, a push for a new parking garage, the redevelopment of the North End, a proposal to require Newport residents to pay as they throw, and the seemingly ever present issue of trust between the city’s top two elected bodies. They were all topics of conversation on Tuesday when the Alliance for a Livable Newport hosted what it called an open house to discuss citywide issues with members of the School Committee and City Council. The roughly hour-long session, which drew about two dozen members of the public to the downstairs meeting room of the Newport Public Library, began with a series of questions related to the city’s public schools. Taking primacy were two lines of questioning: the first seeking clarification regarding the search for a new superintendent, and a second addressing the continued struggles of Rogers High School students on the New England Common Assessment Program, or NECAP, test. Representing the School Committee were Chairman Dr. Charles Shoemaker and Vice Chair Jo Eva Gaines. According to Gaines, in finding the city’s next superintendent, a search committee made up of 9-11 parents, students, public officials, members of the school support staff, teachers, and administrators will soon be constituted and a total of five focus groups will be convened. The aim, she said, is to be as inclusive as possible and reach out into the community to gauge their top priorities. The search is set to begin in earnest next month, and those interested in participating in the process should look for further updates in the weeks to come. As for the department’s efforts to boost the city’s flailing test scores, Shoemaker acknowledged that there is room for improvement. Gaines agreed. Especially as it relates to the high school level where under 30 percent of students tested proficient in math skills, she said that there is room for improvement. “Math is a problem,” Shoemaker said. “There’s no question about it. It’s not just Newport. It’s across the whole state, and it’s true in a number of other public schools across the country. Lots of people have lots of theories about why that’s occurring. Yes, we have a problem with the kids in 11th grade, as does every other school across the state,” he said. “The good news is that if you look at the 8th graders, they’ve really made some significant gains and I anticipate that those kids who are graduating from the 8th grade will have a much better head start than those kids in high school.” Gaines agreed. “The state, the commissioner, is very much interested in growth,” Gaines said, adding that so long as those students who did not test proficient in math or reading show improvement in their senior year, they will be issued diplomas. But, she noted, many will still not be proficient. “And that’s sad,” she said. Also unfortunate is the persistent friction that seems to exist between the School Committee and their counterparts on the City Council. When asked if they were open to school’s finance department being absorbed by City Hall, both Gaines and Shoemaker were wary. “If the city can get the federal government and the state government to give figures in a way that we can’t, then I would welcome them taking it over,” said Gaines in explaining why the committee has in recent years failed to provide a concrete number prior to the city adopting its own fiscal year budget. “We don’t get the information from the federal government, therefore we can’t do anything with it.” Shoemaker reiterated that point, noting that while two months ago, the department was anticipating running a surplus, today, he said, “We think that we’re in a slight deficit situation.” That seemed to take Newport Mayor Henry F. Winthrop, who was representing the council along with Vice Mayor Naomi Neville, off-guard. Saying that while he has the “utmost respect” for Gaines and Shoemaker, he added, “I don’t have that same respect for the development of the budget process through your administration.” According to Winthrop, “Budgets are nothing but a series of forecasts about where you’re going to be either at the beginning or the end of the year. And a good accountant will know, not exactly, what it’s going to take to run that department.” Still, relying on three sources of funding – state, federal, and local –Shoemaker said that there are simply too many unknowns for the committee to provide the city with an accurate forecast in advance of the city’s annual budget process. Winthrop, however, persisted. “The fact of the matter is, from an accounting standpoint, we as a council have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure to the taxpayers that we fund you adequately but that we do not over fund you. Without your budget forecast we have no idea how much to allocate.” As a result, the council has opted to simply level-fund the department – a point of contention which has drawn protest from members of the School Committee in recent years. Adding that he currently has a proposed budget from Middletown’s School Committee on his desk at City Hall, Winthrop concluded his remarks by suggesting that the city not stop at absorbing the school department’s finance office. “I don’t think that’s the only thing we should take over,” he said. “I also think that we should take over HR administration and we should also take over the maintenance of the buildings and grounds, and let the School Committee focus on what they were elected to do: and that’s educational excellence.” He continued, “We have a professional staff. We do it, I think, much better than the School Department and we should be allowed to do that for the whole town. I would estimate – and this is just a Harry Winthrop number – that we could save a half a million dollars or more if we were allowed to take over those functions.” Gaines responded with a familiar, yet broader concern. “At the bottom of all of this is the big word of trust,” she said. “There is hardly any trust between the School Committee and the City Council. And I say that with all do respect to the council… But as a body, it’s very hard to trust that they’re going to do what’s right for the kids.” She added, “If we are taken over by the City Council, what is the priority of education in Newport. Are we going to be…second in consideration if a street has to be paved?” For the past couple of years, School Committee member Sandra Flowers has attended the monthly meetings of the School Committee-City Council Liaison Subcommittee. “It seems that the agenda never has to be rewritten,” she said. From combining simple functions such as maintenance and groundskeeping operations to restructuring the finance department, the proposals haven’t changed much. Especially as it relates to groundskeeping, she noted, “That’s been talked about for a couple of years now.” Why, she wondered, couldn’t the city just “jump in and do it.” There were no answers readily presented during the meeting except for an acknowledgement that the relationship between the two bodies needs to be improved. That seemed to be underscored when the topic turned toward the proposed establishment of a new charter school in town. Winthrop, in voicing his support for the concept, noted that he would not be opposed to spending more if it meant that Newport’s school children received a better education. Shifting to more concrete matters, both Winthrop and Neville expressed their enthusiasm for efforts underway to redevelop the city’s North End. Long a source of public interest, improving the area north of the Pell Bridge has been a frequent topic of discussion over the years. But as Winthrop noted, there seems to be some real momentum behind recent efforts. In the coming weeks, a new North End Redevelopment commission will begin their work to determine how best to bring about change to the area. “There have been a lot of plans that have been developed,” over the years, Winthrop said. And over the coming months, “many of those will be pulled out, dusted off, and looked over and see if they’re still applicable today.” Citing a number of factors including the state’s commitment to reconfigure the Pell Bridge interchange as well as the ongoing efforts led by the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission to secure the former Navy Hospital property, Winthrop said that he sees reason for optimism when it comes to the North End. Meanwhile, Councilwoman Neville noted that movement is also being seen in the city’s efforts to redevelop the former Navy Hospital property through the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, with a final report on its potential best uses expected back on the property within the next few months. Also on the city side, attention was briefly paid to the prospect of the council adopting a pay as you throw trash system, which is currently being examined by city staff. Winthrop was straightforward in his response. “The proposal before us is really just that today, a proposal,” he said. “Until I can be convinced that it’s a good thing, I am opposed to pay-as-you-throw. I don’t think it fits in Newport, even if economically it works. It doesn’t fit in Newport because of the transient population we have – especially in the summer.” Neville held a slightly different view. “At this point, I’d say that I’m more neutral to the idea,” she said, noting that she’s willing to reserve her final assessment until after the various proposals are brought before the council. Further discussion was also held related to the possibility of constructing a downtown parking garage to help ease the city’s perpetual parking pinch. While Winthrop didn’t necessarily seem keen on looking at developing a new garage structure in town, he was eager to see plans developed that would relocate the Gateway Center out of the downtown area and in tandem develop a new multi-modal transportation center that would provide parking and public transit for visitors coming to downtown. As for repurposing the city’s soon-to-be-vacant elementary schools, Gaines said that she’s ready willing and able to do whatever needs to be done to get those schools into the city’s hands and on the market. But when it comes to what to do with the proceeds from the buildings, a divide was again revealed, as Shoemaker said that he believes the money should go toward maintaining existing school facilities, while Winthrop countered by saying that the funds should be directed to the city’s general fund and allocated to the school department as needed. The meeting ended with a brief exchange with audience and School Committee member Robert Leary, who suggested that the city be proactive in bargaining with its municipal and school retirees to restructure their post employment benefit plans. As Leary noted, in recent weeks, both Providence and Cranston have done just that, and achieved significant savings that have helped shore up their long-term finances. Leary proposed the idea of engaging retirees on the school side last year, but was rebuffed. Winthrop said that he thinks such a strategy could be a good idea. Response to” Ace” Obviously as I stated previously, all public school teachers are in the state’s retirement system. The only thing the city or town is responsible for to its teacher retirees is the OPEC, that would be health care, etc. This varies greatly from town to town.Oh , by the way Newport was, to my knowledge,the only one to give Life Blue Cross in 1998 . In fact, I believe, we may be the only one or at least one of the very few cities or towns that gave it’s teachers Life Blue Cross. When I spoke of Cranston and Providence I spoke mainly of the cities employees. Providence was in over $100,000,000 deficit and the current mayor involved them and did other things to stay afloat. What happened in Central Falls was on the door step. However, you might want to check with them on any OPEC savings from the teachers. I believe, the Newport City Council and the Newport School Committee should invite the retirees to the table together. Lets involving them in the conversation. Providence and Cranston had success with this. The Newport School Committee pays almost $4,000,000 for retirees health care. That is almost $1,500,000 more than active employees. The unfunded liability payment the City of Newport makes varies from year to year. This year they are requesting $1,900,000 for retirees .That is almost a 3% tax raise just for retirees.At some point the city can’t afford this payment and get anything else done then you going have do something. Lets involve the retirees in the solution, lets not wait until to late. Robert J Leary 8 days ago \| reply Response to Mr. Leary’s comment It took a while but I finally contacted the leadership of Cranston and Providence retired teachers. Under no circumstances did EITHER group have discussions that led to ANY change in their retirement. How Mr. Leary can state that both communities have had success involving its retirees is obviously incorrect. I challenge Mr. Leary to provide the evidence that would substantiate the fact that the present retired teachers from Providence and/or Cranston gave up anything in their retirement benefits. They both lost their COLA’s—as did Newport and all other participants in the ERSRI—but that was NOT due to talks between the respective committees and the local retirees. Put up—-or shut up! Ace 10 days ago \| reply response to question posed Let me answer the questions posed. What 120 of the 200 teachers means is simply that,120 teachers have Life Blue Cross out of the 200 teachers in Newport. Providence , Cranston, and other cities have talked to retirees and I would assume there retirees didn’t want changes, but they made them. However, cities can longer afford these benefits as they are constructed. As far as my pension is concerned , all public school teachers are in the state retirement plan. Oh by the way the state passed major changes to its retirees. RI could no longer afford the way it was structured. Robert J Leary 18 days ago \| reply ZfHuMJIGnTUrxnJ I’m out of laeuge here. Too much brain power on display! Jayne 19 days ago \| reply Your pension Bob how much of your pension have you donated back to the West Warwick school system ?????? Jack 19 days ago \| reply Response to Mr. Leary’s suggestion Mr. Leary—-your suggestion that the retired teachers should talk to the School Committee smacks of politics. You were on the School Committee when the last contract with TAN was negotiated. Whether you voted for or against the present 2011-2014 contract is immaterial. I assumed you voted against it—-but you must have read it in order to cast your vote. Page 25, Section K, 4th paragraph reads ” Any medical benefit cost share and above agreed-upon contractual benefits shall not be changed for employees after the date of retirement.” Any retiree who is willing to talk to you or the School Committee about restructuring their post retirement benefits most likely does not represent a vast majority of the retirees——especially if they are aware of the above agreed upon language in their contract. You should forget about the talk—and walk the walk. Deal with the present and upcoming contracts. Accept the past agreed upon contractual language. Can someone translate Mr. Leary’s post? The word salad is nearly incomprehensible. For example: “The teachers only 120 of its 200 members have it.” Is this how the school committee organizes its thoughts? In an obfuscating stream of consciousness? Concerned Taxpayer 20 days ago \| reply I do not like to give numbers out without being on target. You can check the unfunded liability, and the money they are recommending to put in this in fy 2014 budget numbers on the city’s web site. The $675,000 is close to the target for a 1% tax raise. As far as Life Blue Cross in the school department, you can verify my numbers and who continues to have Life Blue Cross through the school department or on the schools web site under contracts. Bobby are any of these numbers real numbers? I have seen you on video making numbers up, changing data points right during a meeting, can we be sure you are not doing so right now? Are you willing to vote to support the idea of putting thanks to the citizens of Newport on Jack’s plaque? Newporter 21 days ago \| reply Bargaining with retirees The Newport School Committee as well as the Newport City Council should talk to the retirees. Newport’s unfunded liability payment this year is $1,900,000 considering that around $675,000 is a 1% tax increase. That is almost a 3% tax increase. Providence and recently Cranston have had success with involving its retirees. Newport School Committee has made great strides with reducing its unfunded liability . In the last contract the school department retiree benefits has decreased from $73,200,000 to $48,900,000.You can’t ignore that! What happened to the money? The money is in a trust fund The total dollar amount is less $3,500,000 As you can see that will not cover the districts cost for post employment retirement benefits. As I was told by a former school committee member they acted on what information was given to them. Life Blue Cross was given when the administration told the school committee they would save $1,000,000 by switching from Classic Blue Cross to Coast to Coast Blue Cross. It saved $50,000 ! Since around 2005 there isn’t any Life Blue Cross for our new employees none of them..The last contract with Council 94 members 75% of its membership gave up its Life Blue Cross. All of our administration has given it up. The teachers only 120 of its 200 members have it. That needs to be reduced with each contract. Robert J. Leary 22 days ago \| reply I’d say it is all about who gets their name on the Pell building. How do we ask the committee to thank the citizens on that plaque we all know jack wants his name on? Yes, it is all about trust Ms. Gaines If there’s anyone we should trust less than the City Council to “…do what’s right for the kids,” it’s the School Committee. Why would any fair person be in favor of Mr. Leary’s idea of restructuring retiree(s) post employment benefit plans? Everyone knows that restructuring means giving up some thing(s) that the retiree(s) earned as part of their retirement package. If Mr. Leary or anyone else is unhappy with the present terms that future retiree(s) will earn upon their retirement then the school committee should negotiate with the present teachers about their future retirement package. Changing terms of retirement AFTER individuals have already retired is unfair and most likely illegal. What happened to the monies that retirees paid to fund their future retiree costs? Where is that 3% monies that was supposed to go into an escrow account to help defray future costs? Former school committee members were responsible for the present retiree(s) benefit package. Years ago during negotiations with the teachers the school committee broached the subject of life time benefits in exchange for a 0% increase in salaries. Both parties agreed to the terms. Is the school committee going to offer to said retiree teachers compensation for the 0% they agreed to as part of the restructuring of their post employment plan? One would assume at least a 3% salary increase compounded over the many years that the retiree(s) were no longer employed—-PLUS—-the 3% escrow payments that somehow no one wants to remember. Sounds like a real mess!! Open Town Hall Meeting April 16th 6:30pm-8pm Newport Public Library Categories GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY Tags Alliance for a Livable Newport, Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, City council, city of newport, High school, NECAP, New England Common Assessment Program, Newport, Newport City Council, Newport Public Library, Newport School District, North End Redevelopment commission, school committee, Tom Shevlin Leave a comment MARCH 23 9:30 AM – 11: 00 AM Free Forum – League of Women Voters March 18, 2013 by NewportAlliance THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS® OF NEWPORT COUNTY, RHODE ISLAND FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SPONSORING NEWPORT COUNTY LEGISLATORS FORUM MARCH 23 from 9:30 AM – 11: 00 AM For the first time since the Assembly began its 2013 session, Newport County’s State House delegation will meet as a group with the citizens of Newport The meeting, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Newport County, will take place Saturday, March 23 from 9:30 – 11:00 am at the Potter League for Animals, 87 Oliphant Lane in Middletown. To date legislators attending are: Sen. Louis DiPalma, Sen. Christopher Ottiano, Sen. Teresa Paiva Weed,Rep. Marvin Abney, Rep.Canario, Rep. John Edwards, Rep. Linda Finn and Rep. Peter Martin. League member Patty MacLeish will moderate the forum. Legislators will open the program with a brief statement about their priorities for this legislative session. There will be questions prepared by the League on issues such as ethics, education, gun control, as well as questions from the audience. In the past, these events have offered lively conversation and a valuable exchange of ideas between legislators and their constituents. For more information contact Susan Wells, 846-9537. Categories GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY Tags ethics, gun control, League of Women Voters, Legislators, Newport County State House, Potter League, Rep. John Edwards, Rep. Linda Finn, Rep. Marvin Abney, Rep. Peter Martin., Rep.Canario, Sen. Christopher Ottiano, Sen. Louis DiPalma, Sen. Teresa Paiva Weed Leave a comment	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2019
__label__wiki	0.812045	0.812045	The bucket list for involved citizens: 76 things you can do to boost civic engagement November 26, 2019 November 26, 2019 by NewportAlliance Rebecca Winthrop and Meg Heubeck Tuesday, November 12, 2019 Civic engagement is the glue that holds self-government together. Yet civic participation and engagement has been on the decline for several decades. Therefore, each and every one of us must be as active and involved in our community and country as possible. Self-government is hard work and requires effort. Action is essential to maintaining the foundations of our democracy, no matter which political party happens to be in power. To be a truly involved citizen, we must reconnect with our founding documents. We must learn and practice the skills of civic participation beginning with voting and moving onto legislating, speaking out, and building coalitions to solve problems on the local, state, and federal levels. THE “DEMOCRACY 76” CHECKLIST 1. Read and subscribe to daily local, regional, or national newspapers. Check out Allsides.com for news from conservative, liberal, and centrist points of view. 2. Facts matter: Is your news source trustworthy? Check out these non-partisan, nonprofits: factcheck.org and University of Virginia’s Center for Politics’ Youth Leadership Initiative’s media literacy tips. 3. Fill your pocket with democracy. Pick up pocket-sized constitutions for as little as $1. 4. Get the facts on any politician or political candidate at the nonpartisan Votesmart.org. 5. Talk with someone who doesn’t share your political views. BetterAngels.org is helping people do this all across the country. 6. Attend a discussion or event in your community or school about an issue you want to know more about. 7. Shadow a public servant for the day to learn how our institutions work. 8. Visit a museum. Learn about local, regional, and national history, and about those who have taken civic action in the past. 9. Visit a library. Librarians can point you to important books on our American democracy. 10. Deep dive into the constitution. The National Constitution Center has an interactive line-by-line breakdown. 11. Use a highlighter when reading news articles to note points of interest, subjects that you agree/disagree with, or questions that you would like to know more about. 12. Vote: Local, state, and national elections matter! Find out when elections are happening from U.S. Vote Foundation. 13. Make sure you’re registered to vote at Vote.gov or use Turbovote.org for quick and easy registration. 14. Make a voting pact with your friends or family. Collectively commit to register and vote. Remind each other regularly. Make a plan to go to the polls together! 15. Volunteer to register voters. League of Women Voters in your area is a great resource for running voter registration drives. 16. If you are a boss, give your employees time off to vote. If you are an employee, ask your boss to consider this. 17. Volunteer to work at a polling place. To find out how, go to the Election Assistance Commission’s website or contact your local registrar. 18. Offer to drive elderly voters or those without transportation to the polls. 19. If you own a business, offer discounts to people who provide proof of voting on election days. If you work at a business, ask your boss to consider this. 20. Prepare to vote by checking ahead of time what is on the ballot, your polling place, and what you need to bring. Many states require identification such as a license or passport. 21. If you are voting by absentee ballot, pay attention to deadlines and follow all the steps in the instructions. 22. Mark the date when voter registration ends on the calendar along with the dates for each election. Leave time in the day for getting to the polls. 23. Communicate with your elected officials to share your views on issues you care about. A letter, phone call, or visit are still the best ways to contact them. 24. Write an op-ed or letter to an editor. 25. Attend a city council or community board meeting. The National League of Cities can help describe its function. 26. Advocate for civic education in schools. Not all states require it, and you can join the CivXNow campaign to push for it. 27. Join a political campaign. Volunteer for your preferred candidate. 28. Become an ambassador supporting digital citizenship education by signing up with DigCitConnect. 29. Join the Parent-Teacher Association at your local school. 30. Get involved with the local school board. The National School Boards Association has good tips on how to engage. 31. Join a political party. Here is a list of all the political parties, what they stand for, and how to get involved. 32. Run for office. If you don’t like the candidates you are choosing from, put on your shoes and run for office. 33. Identify a problem in your community and work with your neighbors to fix it. Neighborhood street sweeps and playground refurbishment are just two examples. 34. Plant a tree or garden in your community. 35. Share the #WeThePurple Teacher Toolkit with teachers in your community for good ideas on civic engagement activities for young people. 36. Volunteer to serve as an officer or member of a group in your community. Volunteer Match can help you connect to groups in your area. 37. Visit someone else’s place of worship. 38. Keep watch on children who play in your neighborhood. 39. Paint a mural in a public space (with permission). 40. Pick up trash in your or someone else’s neighborhood. 41. Start a book club and invite your neighbors to participate. 42. Serve as a juror. If you are called for duty, remember our judicial system can’t work without citizen jurors. 43. Collect food for those in need. 44. Visit a nursing home or hospital. 45. Donate blood or plasma. 46. Take a first aid class. The American Red Cross can help prepare you to help those in need. 47. Clean up the local park. 48. Clean up a local river or lake. 49. Start a bowling league or another activity that you enjoy that might bring people together. 50. Help others in an emergency. 51. If you own a gun, participate in a gun safety course. 52. Host or be an exchange student. Rotary Youth Exchange is a good place to begin. 53. Shop local and support small businesses. 54. Contribute financially to a cause, even $5 can help. Charity Watch is a good place to start if you need help identifying organizations to support. 55. Support the teachers at your local school. Ask how you can help and consider starting with supporting classroom projects through DonorsChoose.org. 56. Volunteer at a museum. 57. Volunteer at a public library. 58. Volunteer at a pantry, soup kitchen, or food bank. 59. Volunteer at a community garden. 60. Volunteer to coach a youth sports team. 61. Volunteer to lead a youth group. 62. Volunteer at a community center. 63. Volunteer to help veterans. The USO is a good place to start. 64. Volunteer to help teachers. Chaperone school trips to the local city hall and share your experiences engaging with your community and government. 65. Do a year of service. Serviceyear.org can help you connect to thousands of opportunities to develop real-world skills while giving back to your community. 66. Choose to work at a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping others. 67. Become a substitute teacher. 68. Host or attend a debate watch party in your community or university. 69. Host a Purple Conversation with family, friends, or in your school or community to discuss ways to foster civic engagement. Use the tips on facilitating open dialogue from Living Room Conversations. 70. Follow and like #WeThePurple across social media. 71. Host a picnic or block party in your neighborhood and (respectfully) talk about your views. 72. Use your consumer power to support companies whose values you believe in. 73. Go out and talk to people, use your hands, and your time. 74. Invite friends and neighbors to watch a documentary on a topic affecting your community. 75. Use your social media accounts to post uplifting information relevant to making our society more civil. The University of Virginia has a helpful guide on civil discourse when talking about politics. 76. Recruit a friend and start checking off items in the “Democracy 76” checklist together! Read More Here: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2019/11/12/the-bucket-list-for-involved-citizens-76-things-you-can-do-to-boost-civic-engagement/ Categories 5 Focus Areas - Categories Updates Tags ALN, Newport Rhode Island Leave a comment Letter To The Editor: Newport needs this moratorium September 30, 2019 September 30, 2019 by NewportAlliance At the September 25 meeting of the Newport City Council, an ordinance was approved on first reading for a six-month moratorium on development in the north end of the City. Alliance for A Livable Newport (ALN) highly commends the Council’s action. As many pointed out, there is need for coordination of the multitude of building projects, infrastructure projects, traffic/transportation plans and projects, either in process or being considered for the future. Without a “pause,” decisions would be made in a silo, with consideration only for the immediate project. There is a desperate need for oversight to assure that decisions made regarding one project do not adversely impact other anticipated projects, the City as a whole and, most important, the quality of life in the neighborhoods surrounding the project. While the moratorium applies specifically to the north end of Newport, the same considerations apply to development throughout the City. Development decision making and changes to ordinances in Newport should be made to benefit the entire city.- Advertisement – Examples abound. The decisions regarding the Pell Bridge offramps will not only impact the traffic flow in and through the immediate area but also will impact future development in the surrounding Innovation District, critical access to and from Newport’s downtown area and the quality of life in our North End and The Point neighborhoods. Decisions regarding the building of additional hotels, stores, restaurants and residential housing will impact traffic flow, parking, energy, water and sewage usage, aesthetics (a harmonious streetscape, harbor views), waterfront access and the environment. Name any major project and it does not take much thought to realize the off-site impacts of that project. Our City planners need to view future development holistically, rather than fragmented. The City now has a new City Planner and a new Director of Planning and Economic Development. The talented individuals filling those positions need time to become familiar with the intricate interconnected considerations affecting development and improvement projects in Newport. Numerous past studies, including the Open Space Plan, will help guide their effort. They need to develop procedures to assure ALL the impacts of projects are taken into consideration. They need to work with City’s staff, elected and appointed officials and board and commission members to assure that the City’s planning and zoning ordinances are up to date, provide the tools needed to properly monitor and control development, and are formulated to encourage future development in Newport by reducing the need of developers to seek variances. Importantly, the moratorium is not offered to discourage development in Newport. Rather it is offered to maximize the value of current and future development, benefiting both developers and also Newport’s current residents and businesses. The results of proper, visionary planning, in harmony with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, will make Newport a more attractive City for residents and businesses alike. ALN sincerely hopes the moratorium is used effectively to lead to a more prosperous future and an improved quality of life for Newport. ALN Co-Presidents Ron Becker Isabel Griffith John Hirschboeck Read More Here: https://whatsupnewp.com/2019/09/letter-to-the-editor-newport-needs-this-moratorium/ Categories 5 Focus Areas - Categories Updates Leave a comment 7/29/19 \| The Future of our Newport Public Schools (update) July 29, 2019 July 29, 2019 by NewportAlliance The Newport City Council has called for a workshop with the School Committee and School Administration to explore the issues regarding new school design, composition, construction, and location. We will alert you to time and location when officially announced. (For more on the result of last week’s discussions, read the 7/25 article from Newport This Week – below). Prior to and during that workshop, the ALN Executive Committee asks that the following issues be examined and addressed before proceeding with the Stage One submission to the RI Department of Education: 1. Secure a more definitive cost for renovating Coggeshall to accommodate PreK-1st (the early learning center) and explore other north side options for a new ELC, including adjacencies to the current Pell school or CCRI. Bussing/driving PreK children, the majority who live north of Memorial, all the way south to the current Rogers site seems imprudent. 2. Determine what a minimal “band-aid solution” for current Rogers would cost, one that would take the school through the next 5-8 years until north end land is freed up. This also allows the door to possible Middletown unification be left open for the next few years. 3. Determine exactly why a new HS (or ELC) couldn’t be located on CCRI adjacent, city-owned land. What commitments does the City have that would preclude this opportunity? 4. Determine what the fall-back position is should a $100 million + bond not be approved. This would include addressing what would happen to Newport’s HS students should that be the case. 5. Explore the possibility of bonding and proceeding with construction of the ELC (site other than at Wickham Rd.) and budgeting for remedial efforts only at Thompson, Pell and Rogers. Unlike current plans, such a bond: – Falls within the “tolerance” level of Newport voters (est.+/- $40MM rather than $100MM plus) – Postpones the building of a costly all-new Newport only H.S. until absolutely necessary – Leaves open the possibility of future HS unification with Middletown – Allows the City to consider the use of available land, freed-up by RIDOT’s bridge realignment project. – Locates future school construction projects where the majority of students live. Respectfully, ALN 7/25/19 Newport This Week Decision Time for Newport Schools \| By Andy Long While public attention has been focused on Newport’s efforts to build a regional high school, the process of planning and designing a new Rogers High School, along with space for pre-k and kindergarten classes, continues. The School Building Committee met on July 16 to discuss two significant decisions that were ultimately made at the July 23 meeting. First, the committee needed to recommend which grades will be at which schools. Secondly, it had to settle upon a construction format for a new high school, whether to build an entirely new high school or blend existing elements with new construction. The School Building Committee should not be confused with the School Committee’s Ad Hoc Facilities Subcommittee, which has been discussing issues beyond building new facilities for over a year. The creation of this new committee was mandated by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and is part of the process when any community applies to the state for financial assistance in the building of new schools. It is composed of city officials, school administrators and members of the community. The School Building Committee only recommends to the School Committee and the City Council possible solutions to Newport’s need for a new high school, as well as an answer to the problem of finding places for pre-k and kindergarten classes. “We need to know what we’re building. It’s a very difficult decision, but it’s one you need to make [soon],” said Kate Jessup, a consultant with StudioJAED, which is assisting Newport in its efforts to create new educational facilities. The members met for the first time on July 16 and afterward elected School Committee members Louisa Boatwright and Rebecca Bolan co-chairs. At that meeting, the committee first discussed grade configuration, the term for which classes should be placed where. Currently, Newport has pre-k classes in leased space in Middletown; Pell Elementary School has kindergarten through fourth grade; Thompson Middle School houses grades five through eight; and Rogers has nine to 12. Jessup presented three options, all constrained by the fact that Thompson will have space for only three grades by the mid-2020s, according to a demographer hired by the district. Two plans had pre-k and kindergarten together, with one in a separate facility and the other housing both on a new Rogers campus. One proposal for a new Early Learning Center (ELC), heard publicly for the first time at the July 16 meeting, is to build a facility at the site of the vacant Coggeshall School at an estimated cost of $20 million, with the attraction of it being close to the North End, where many students live. “Some educators love the idea of the pre-k [at the new high school] so you could facilitate Early Childhood Education, which is an always growing field,” Jessup said. School Committee members proposed another configuration, which would house first grade in the same building as pre-k and kindergarten, allowing Pell to hold grades two through five only, freeing up space for music and art classrooms. Also, Thompson would have to house only grades six through eight. Adding first grade to an ELC will add $10 million to $20 million to the cost of construction. It was this option that the building committee voted to recommend while making no decision on where to place the ELC. The second decision regarded the manner of building a new high school. The options discussed by the committee were building an entirely new facility on the sports fields at Rogers at a cost of $153 million. The other was to build in stages, moving classes as each part of the facility is finished. However, proceeding this way would cost $168 million, as part of this approach would include some renovation work, which is more expensive than new construction. The committee voted to recommend building a new high school, for cost reasons. There has been pushback from City Council members and city administrators on the cost of a new high school. At the July 23 meeting, City Manager Joe Nicholson said, “Those figures [for a new high school] are not even in the ballpark.” At a February 2019 workshop, Laura Sitrin, director of finance, pointed out that Newport can have, by state law, no more than $205 million in bonded indebtedness, with about $35 million of bonds already outstanding. At least two council members have also expressed reservations with the $153 million figure. At a liaison meeting of the City Council and the School Committee on July 18, Councilor Justin McLaughlin cautioned, “It’s not what Newport needs or wants, it’s what Newport will tolerate.” His colleague Kate Leonard said, at the meeting on July 24, “Everyone I’m talking to is asking me, ’Where is Plan B? What is Plan B?’ The amount requested is so huge.” Nicholson said that with the city needing to replace its North Halsey Street facilities at a cost of at least $20 million, it will be impossible to borrow enough to build $170 million of new school facilities. Jessup responded that the new high school costing $153 million, with 250,000 square feet of space, is only a proposal, and it includes all the educational amenities that Newport’s teachers and administrators have asked for. It wouldn’t be a final plan; it would be a starting point for discussion with the community, to decide what is necessary and what can be cut, she said. Mayor Jamie Bova proposed, first at the July 23 School Building Committee and then at the City Council meeting on the 24th, that a joint workshop of the School Committee and the council be held to determine an upper limit on what could, realistically, be asked of the city’s taxpayers in funding a new high school. “What are the fiscal restraints on this project?” she asked. The City Council voted unanimously to hold the workshop and City Manager Joseph J. Nicholson Jr. said it would be scheduled as soon as possible. https://mailchi.mp/0cae81c20707/the-future-of-our-newport-public-schools-update-july-29_2019?e=395177c496 Categories 5 Focus Areas - Categories Updates Tags newport public schools, schools Leave a comment Legislators Talk Bills With ALN – April 8th, 2019 April 13, 2019 April 13, 2019 by NewportAlliance The Alliance for a Livable Newport (ALN) held its annual meeting on April 8, with the emphasis on “livable.” By ohtadmin \| on April 11, 2019By James Merolla Mayor Jamie Bova, City Councilors Justin McLaughlin and Angela McCalla, School Committee member Louisa Boatwright, Sen. Dawn Euer (D-District 13 Jamestown/ Newport), Rep. Lauren Carlson (D-District 75/Newport) and Rep. Marvin Abney (D-District 73) spoke of their priorities and what they might mean for the city. Topics ranged from short-term rentals to long-term economic school solutions. Although there were few real answers, some bills are coming to the fore on Smith Hill that may make a difference locally. Carlson said she was introducing a bill on April 9 to regulate Airbnb, the site that lists short-term rentals nationally. “The first step in requiring registration of Airbnb municipalities is recognizing them,” she said. “Then, once they are delineated, you can regulate them, tackling issues like parking, zoning, legality, and then taxing them appropriately.” Of the other major issues facing Newport, she mentioned bridge realignment and Rogers High. Euer said she is working on legislation that would create regional school districts. “How do we bring Middletown to the table?” she asked. Her bill would essentially create a county-based school district, but it needs to be fully worked out, citing difficulties that faced Chariho and Bristol-Warren. She is revisiting the funding formula for schools and how to make sure it is equitable, “across the state.” She is also championing a student loan regulation bill, rolled out two weeks ago. “It’s a huge financial crisis in our country,” she said. “Students are left with a bill that they have no hope in paying off. This is an effort to allow us to really regulate this at a state level.” She is also investigating the possible remapping of state flood zones, affected by climate change. “There’s only one bill that I would be concerned with and that’s the state budget,” Abney said. “If a bill is passed, and there’s a cost tied to it, it is my responsibility to make sure it fits into the tax breakdown of this [budget]. “Right now, we are trying to work our way out of a $150 million-plus deficit,” he said. “We can’t continue to borrow money into the future. I have to take a keen interest in what the taxpayers have to say. What do Rhode Islanders really want? What will you tolerate?” Boatwright asked how the legislature can help raise money for school bonds with limited Newport options like property tax revenue. Carlson said she once introduced legislation “to raise our hotel and our meal tax.” “The City Council did this, I introduced it, but it never happened,” she said. “They don’t want to see a higher meal tax in Newport, as they do in Middletown. They want a steady meal tax. This is basically where our money is coming from. People who are paying the meals tax are probably not from Newport. We should pursue that aggressively. Let them pay $1 on a $100 meal. I don’t see a big problem with that.” Euer said Jamestown considers its schools, “a community project, [but] in Newport not so much.” She added, “I do see our schools as a community project.” “It’s all about leadership,” said Abney. “At the state level, all the way down to the superintendent. If you don’t have good leadership, every other year, someone new is going to change the direction of the education system. Massachusetts chose their direction years ago and stuck to it. You have to have a plan and follow it through for a number of years. You can’t turn it around in a year.” Carlson is introducing a bill to expand training for planning and zoning boards. She said she had HDCS in the original draft of the bill, but took it out, calling it too much at this time. “We need to standardize how Historic District Commissions operate so they can understand the consequences of their decisions,” she said. https://www.newportthisweek.com/articles/legislators-talk-bills-with-aln/ Categories GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY Tags ALN, dawn euer, Lauren Carson, Legislators, marvin abney, rhode island Leave a comment State of the City: Officials discuss upcoming projects March 31, 2019 March 31, 2019 by NewportAlliance By Sean Flynn Newport Daily News staff writer \| Posted Mar 30, 2019 at 6:19 PM > Updated Mar 30, 2019 at 6:19 PM (Link to story) Left to Right – City Manager Joe Nicholson, Mayor Jamie Bova, and Council Vice President Susan Taylor – March 28, 2019 – Photo Credit – Chip Leakas At an event held at City Hall, topics covered included the Pell Bridge ramps redesign, the former Newport Grand property and the Naval Hospital land. NEWPORT — Major projects pending in the city’s near future — from the redesign of the Pell Bridge ramps to free up land for an Innovation District, to the redevelopment of Newport Grand, to the creation of a new use at the Naval Hospital property and a new waterfront park there — were the focus of the State of the City discussion this past week. Mayor Jamie Bova and City Council Vice Chairwoman Susan Taylor, assisted by City Manager Joseph J. Nicholson Jr., led the presentations at the event sponsored by the Alliance for a Livable Newport, a neighborhood advocacy group, at City Hall Thursday night. The state Department of Transportation has completed an environmental assessment that details the purposes of the Pell Bridge ramp project, the alternatives analyzed and the project’s impacts. Taylor said she was in contact with Jody Richards, the state Department of Transportation’s project manager, as recently as Thursday afternoon. Richards told Taylor that the Federal Highway Administration is reviewing the assessment and seven alternative design plans. “RIDOT has a favorite plan, but they are keeping it close to the vest,” Taylor said. Of the total budget for the project, 80 percent will be funded by the federal government and 20 percent by the state, so the federal agency has a lot of say in the matter. Once the Federal Highway Administration approves the assessment and a plan, there will be another public process and review of the targeted plan before RIDOT engineers begin the final design, Taylor said. “They are planning to go out for bids in the fall of 2020,” she said. “When it’s done, we will have space to continue building a new economy and make it so that it is good for our residents in the neighborhood,” Bova said. Taylor pointed out the city is within an arc formed by marine science research centers at the University of Rhode Island and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Rising seas and other effects of climate change will be at the forefront of research at these and other institutions, and marine-related technologies and necessary changes in infrastructure will be developed by commercial firms as a result of this research. City officials want Newport to be able to tap into this. “We have incredible resources in this region,” Taylor said. Nicholson has been calling it the “blue economy,” she said, and the city will be exploring possibilities that could be developed in the freed-up acreage near the bridge. Bova said Innovate Newport, the new technology center in the reconstructed Sheffield School, “will be a beacon for the North End Innovation District.” The center, after some delays, is scheduled for a public opening in May, she said. Before the Pell Bridge project begins, though, the state is planning to do some reconstruction and repaving of Connell Highway, the city officials said. “I think anyone who has driven down the highway in the past few months knows it is in serious need of work,” Nicholson said. RIDOT will go out for bids on that work this fall and begin construction in 2020, the officials said. Plans for the Newport Grand property will be coming soon, Kelly MacArthur Coates, president and chief operating officer of the Carpionato Group of Johnston, told The Daily News in a telephone call on Saturday. During the State of the City discussion, Nicholson noted the “For Lease” sign out front of the property and the apparent test pits. “I would think the residents of Newport should be concerned if we did not have a ‘For Lease’ sign out front,” Coates said. “We are, of course, looking for tenants unless Amazon were moving there and that is not happening.” He said both test pits and test borings have been made on the 23-acre property. “We want to know the geological makeup of the site, the capacity of the soil for bearing loads and everything else,” Coates said. “We are doing traffic studies, engineering studies, drainage studies, marketing studies and whatever other investigative work is required. Any project requires a lot of advance work.” He was asked if the former Newport Grand building would be coming down. “I think that is the right thing for the site,” Coates said. “But this project will require multiple permits and approvals, so we will be working with the city.” Asked about the plans for site, Coates said, “Look at our portfolio, what we have done in the past.” The company has specialized in retail complexes, hotels, offices and mixed-use developments. “That’s a good description of it,” Coates said. Adjacent to the Newport Grand property is the city’s waste transfer station and public works yard and offices, along Halsey Street. That is a challenge for development, Coates said. The city has talked about using future bond money to relocate the public services yard, which will be difficult. “Nobody wants it next to them,” Coates said. The city’s planned purchase of the abandoned Navy Hospital on Third Street continues to be on hold but remains a city priority, said Nicholson. “Here’s the deal,” Nicholson said early on when the topic came up. “Lead testing will begin in late March, weather permitting, BRAC told me. It has not begun yet.” BRAC stands for Base Realignment and Closure and is the congressionally authorized process for disposing of surplus military properties. The federal Environmental Protection Agency informed the Navy in late 2017 that it could not sell the hospital property to the city until it cleaned up the lead contamination on the site, Nicholson said. That could be a two- to three-year process, he was told. That caught city officials by surprise because the city believed the Navy’s final environmental impact statement was completed and hired an appraisal firm earlier in 2017 to set a value on the hospital property. Since the Navy declared the hospital site surplus property in February 2010, the city has eyed the parcel for economic development purposes, but it looks like the wait will continue for awhile. Nicholson said he walked the Navy Hospital land last week and he talked about the beauty of the waterfront section as a future park. “It will be magnificent when we get our hands on the property,” he said. https://www.newportri.com/news/20190330/state-of-city-officials-discuss-upcoming-projects Categories 5 Focus Areas - Categories Updates Tags city government, Mayor, Newport, Newport City Council Leave a comment 2019 Upcoming Events 1) ALN Forum, State of the City of Newport Date: Thursday, March 28th – Time: 6 – 8PM, Location: City Council Chambers Mayor Jamie Bova, City Manager Joe Nicholson, Council Vice Chair Susan Taylor will present comments about how our city is doing, followed by a Q & A session. 2) ALN Annual Membership meeting Date: Monday, April 8th – Time: 5:30 – 7:30pm, Location: Upstairs at the Salvation Cafe. Rhode Island State Legislators, Lauren Carson, Dawn Euer and Marvin Abney will present comments and answer questions. Refreshments from 5:30; Panel discussion begins at 6:00. Newport City Council – Ward 1 and Ward 2 Candidates Engage in Final Forum October 27, 2018 October 27, 2018 by NewportAlliance Credits \| 2018-10-25 \| Front Page \| Newport This Week \|By James Merolla http://www.newportthisweek.com/news/2018-10 25/Front_Page/Candidates_Engage_in_Final_Forum.html The last of three public candidate forums was held in the City Council chambers on Oct. 23, where one incumbent and three newcomers explained their positions on key issues to an audience of about 70 people. James Dring and Angela McCalla are vying for one position in the Ward 1 race, as incumbent Susan Taylor is running as an At-Large candidate. In Ward 2, Valerie Larkin is squaring off against incumbent Lynn Ceglie. The forum was sponsored by the Alliance for a Livable Newport (ALN). It came on the heels of forums involving At-Large candidates on Oct. 18 and School Committee candidates on Oct. 16. Ron Becker of ALN hosted, with Jill Kassis of the League of Women’s Voters of Newport County serving as moderator. The forum opened with candidates being asked if they would pledge to oppose any Pell Bridge realignment detrimental to the well-being of the abutting neighborhood. “Absolutely. Frankly, I’d rather have traffic back up on the bridge than in our neighborhoods,” Dring said. McCalla said that the community should have a say in how the ramps are realigned. The candidates were then asked about balancing the Pell Bridge realignment, the advent of the city’s prospective Innovation Hub, the expanded Naval hospital, the empty casino property and a satellite parking center, which are all considered potential threats that could have a negative impact on their respective neighborhoods. “We need more transparency on what kinds of plans are coming through on development,” McCalla said. Dring labeled the downtown redevelopment a “disaster,” saying, “I don’t want to see that happen again. I want to see that all these new developments are done right.” Ward 2 candidates were asked how they would respond to planning and zoning considerations, the growth and development of businesses catering to tourism north to Broadway, and to sur- rounding neighborhoods voicing concerns over traffic, noise and the potential increase in crime. “We need to look at all of these development projects, and take a holistic approach in how we develop our downtown, with minimal detrimental effect in our neighborhoods,” Larkin said. Ceglie, who called Broadway “Sort of the shining light in our city now,” said, “Development on Broadway was actually a very positive thing for the city.” On a question concerning handling safety and other liabilities on a limited annual budget, Dring said the city needed to invest in infrastructure because “Our schools are falling down,” while McCalla prioritized housing affordability. Ceglie cited a survey two years ago, where roads, sidewalks and schools were marked as high priority. Said Larkin, “Our sidewalks, streets really need to be improved. We need to look at everything together.” Newport’s aging population was cited by several candidates. “We can keep our tax rates low so we don’t tax people out of their houses, [and] make facilities ADA compliant,” Dring said. McCalla supported maintaining a balance between summer rentals and year-round residency. “We need to make more room for working families,” she said. Larkin said, “Our population is both aging and decreasing and that is a concern. We have to do two things at once, address issues of aging population, and we need to make the city more accessible to them.” Ceglie agreed that the decrease in the younger population is a concern. “That is the reason why the Sheffield property is so important to the city,” she said. “Cranston Calvert might possibly be workforce housing, housing that would be appealing to young people. We are trying to change that demographic.” The rising costs of housing was addressed by all the candidates. “The council cannot control the housing market,” Ceglie said. “Housing prices have skyrocketed. But what we can control are the short-term rentals, which are affecting housing prices.” “One thing that we can control… taxes,” Dring said. McCalla said the city needed to reach out to state and federal officials to bring resources to address housing. “I don’t think any of us want to see people priced out of Newport,” Larkin said. “We need to do everything we can to make sure they can afford to remain.” In a series of “yes” and “no” questions, Larkin and McCalla were in favor of term limits on the council, with Dring and Ceglie opposed. Larkin, Dring and Ceglie said they would support a Homestead Tax Exemption. All four were opposed to having the mayor chosen by voters, rather than by the board. Mc- Calla and Dring were opposed to building a new Rogers High in the North End, while Larkin was undecided and Ceglie did not vote. “I would be in favor if there was a place to put it,” Dring said. At the Oct. 18 At-Large Candidate Forum, candidates were asked a series of questions about the city’s Strategic Plan, Open Space Plan, summer traffic woes, parking problems, school financial difficulties, transfer taxes assessed on purchased property, recent hotel projects, the city’s rapid growth, short-term rentals and aging population. The answers can be heard on the ALN website. City Council ward candidates face off By Sean Flynn \|Daily News staff writer \| The Newport Daily News \| Page A01 \| Thursday, 25 October 2018 NEWPORT – The two candidates for the Ward 1 seat and the two candidates for the Ward 2 seat on the City Council discussed local issues Tuesday night in a candidates forum at City Hall before an audience of about 75 people. James Dring, a local Realtor, and Angela McCalla, a foster care recruiter and trainer for Child & Family, are running for the Ward 1 seat, while Valerie Larkin, a technology transfer manager at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, is challenging incumbent Ward 2 Councilwoman LynnUnderwood Ceglie, who has held the seat since 2014. Ward 3 Councilwoman Kathryn Leonard is unchallenged in her run for re-election. The other four members on the City Council hold at-large seats. The seven candidates for those four seats were featured in a forum last Thursday. Tuesday night’s forum was the third and final organized by the Alliance for a Livable Newport, a neighborhood advocacy group. Questions were posed by Jill Kassis, first vice president of the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island. Among the issues Ward 1 candidates talked about was the state project to redesign the Pell Bridge approach and exit ramps. The project, now in its design phase, is expected to free up close to 40 acres of land in the North End of the city, within Ward 1, for economic development. “The state says they are doing it because the traffic backs up on the Pell Bridge,” said Dring, a former chairman of the city Planning Board. “I’d rather have it back up on the bridge than have an adverse impact on our neighborhoods. I’m in favor of the proposal that is the least disruptive.” The state Department of Transportation has developed four major alternatives for the new bridge ramp design. One of those alternatives has three variations and another alternative has two variations, so the process of coming up with a final design is still very much in flux. The Alliance for a Livable Newport sponsored a public forum Tuesday night at City Hall for Newport Ward 1 and Ward 2 City Council candidates. From left are Ward 1 candidates James Dring and Angela McCalla, and Ward 2 candidates Valerie Larkin and Lynn Underwood Ceglie. [PETER SILVIA PHOTO] “There has to be more transparency in the plans and we need to hear from our constituents about what they want,” McCalla said. “The community needs to come together to make a decision. It is the community that should have the final say.” Dring called the Pell ramp project “the biggest redevelopment project in the city since the late 1960s and 1970s,” when many buildings were torn down to make way for America’s Cup Avenue, Brick Market Place and Long Wharf Mall. “That in my opinion was a disaster, putting a fourlane highway through the downtown and cutting off sections of the city from each other,” he said. “I don’t want that to happen again.” “We are a city of neighborhoods,” McCalla said. “We must stay that way.” On making streets safer The Ward 2 candidates addressed the pending pedestrian and other safety improvements the state is planning for Memorial Boulevard, since much of the thoroughfare is within their ward. “The addition of bicycle lanes along part of Memorial Boulevard was a positive step, but we do have a traffic problem that is dangerous for people crossing the street,” Larkin said. “We are a colonial city with narrow streets. We need to find ways to keep traffic out of the city.” Ceglie said she has been working with the DOT and residents on the plans to make Memorial Boulevard safer. “I am particularly concerned about the crossing used by many elderly residents of Chapel Terrace and Donovan Manor,” she said. The Ward 2 candidates also were asked about commercial development of Broadway, which seems to be expanding north. “When you have a vibrant downtown business zone, that is one of the consequences,” Larkin said. “We need to look at the Cranston-Calvert [former school] development. We need a holistic approach and we need more engagement by the community.” “I see the development of Broadway as a positive,” Ceglie said. “While on the council, I have addressed problems of parking, speeding and not stopping at stop signs, which we see in many of our neighborhoods. But Broadway is a shining light in our city now. We see that in the annual Broadway Street Fair.” “The younger population count in the city is going down, which is why the Cranston-Calvert project is so important,” Ceglie said. “It would become workforce housing that is not subsidized, but is appealing to younger people.” Moderator Kassis asked five questions with the request that the candidates answer with a “yes” or “no.” The candidates were given a chance at the end of the series to briefly explain their answers. On term limits, Rogers High School The two candidates who would be new to city government – McCalla and Larkin – said they would favor term limits for city councilors. That would ensure fresh faces periodically join the council, they said. The two candidates with experience in city government – Ceglie, who has also served on the city’s Zoning Board of Review, and Dring – opposed term limits. They said the position already has a two-year term limit, when the voters decide whether incumbents should be returned to the council. Veteran council members with experience and institutional knowledge are important contributors to council deliberations, Ceglie said. McCalla was the only candidate to answer “yes” when asked whether she “would support moving Rogers High School to the North End, closer to where two-thirds of the students reside.” It is an important goal to explore, McCalla said. Dring, Ceglie and Larkin all abstained from the Rogers vote. They said afterward that they would support having a high school in the North End if possible, but they believe there is no available large parcel of land in that section of the city where a high school could be built. If that changed, they would be on board with a North End high school, they said. When asked whether they would support a citywide survey of residents’ concerns and priorities, such as took place in 2005 and 2015, Ceglie and Dring answered “no.” They said such surveys are expensive. If a third-party organization or individuals were willing to carry those costs, they would support the survey, they said. McCalla and Larkin said they would support such a survey, but Larkin qualified her answer afterward by saying a high-cost survey could be a deterrent. Dring, Ceglie and Larkin said they would support a homestead property-tax exemption for permanent residents of Newport, while McCalla abstained. She said she would like to research the impact of such an exemption before committing to it. The candidates were unanimous on only one of the five questions. They all rejected the idea of having the voters of the city popularly elect a mayor. They all supported the current City Council-city manager form of government that has council members choose a mayor, who also serves as council chairperson, and a city manager who serves as the city’s chief administrative officer. sflynn@newportri.com The audience listens during Tuesday night’s forum for Newport Ward 1 and Ward 2 City Council candidates, sponsored by Alliance for a Livable Newport at City Hall. The red flag indicates the allotted time is up for responding to a question. [PETER SILVIA PHOTO] Categories GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, Recent Updates Tags 2018 Elections, Newport City Council, Newport Rhode Island Leave a comment ALN is All-In to Improve Life in Newport By James Merolla \| 2018-10-18 / Around Town http://www.newportthisweek.com/news/2018-10-18/Around_Town/ALN_is_AllIn_to_Improve_Life_in_Newport.html The Alliance for a Livable Newport (ALN)’s mission statement is “improving the quality of life in Newport by being an unbiased resource for information on the issues of importance to the community.” ALN monitors the pulse of the city, its officials and candidates, seeking to improve school education, infrastructure, public health and safety, the environment and government accountability. To that end, the organization is hosting three School Committee and City Council candidate forums in October to educate prospective voters. Their website provides detailed answers from candidates to dozens of important issues. ALN has two co-presidents, John Hirschboeck and Ron Becker. Hirschboeck, who moved to Newport from California in 2009, joined ALN in 2011, taking on a leadership role in 2013. Becker, a part-time resident for 17 years before moving here full time in 2005, joined in 2006, taking on a leadership role in 2008. Why is ALN important to you? Hirschboeck: Having moved from Orange County, California, where the population was comparable to all of Rhode Island, I loved the fact that residents could be so close to and familiar with their city government, and have a real impact in helping to improve quality of life. Becker: It gives me a sense of using my skills to help improve the community in which I live. Why is ALN important to the community? Hirschboeck: First-person interchanges with our forum speakers allows residents to make informed decisions and to hold local government accountable. ALN is the only non-partisan, unbiased grassroots organization representing our various neighborhoods that serves this purpose. [It’s] a useful conduit of information to and from elected city officials and staff and our community. Becker: Communities can only progress and improve if they have the information needed to make educated decisions regarding key issues. For this upcoming series of forums, how many questions were submitted for each forum? Becker: Questions from members/ subscribers totaled approximately 70 to 80 for both City Council and School Committee. These were used to draft questions for the three forums and the two online questionnaires. What do you think is the most important question being asked of the School Committeecandidates? Hirschboeck: Will you address the importance of early childhood education? Becker: What is their vision of the future of Newport’s schools and how might that vision be realized? What other important questions did the candidates answer online at newportalliance.org? What efforts will you initiate and support to make the School’s Strategic Plan, One Newport, a true working document? Upon which of the strategic initiatives in particular will you focus your efforts and what will those efforts include? Within the next two years, Newport residents will have an opportunity to vote on a local bond issue to fund school construction as a proposed remedy for overcrowding at the Pell School and unacceptable structural conditions at Rogers High School. What basic solutions to both problems will you support? Once the School Committee has approved plans for Pell and Rogers, what will you do to assure voters are well acquainted with the facts of the bond issue? What do you think is the most important question being asked of the City Council candidates? Hirschboeck: What steps will you take to ensure the Open Space Plan, Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Council’s Strategic Plan become more than words, but actionable items against which major decisions are measured? Becker: What is their vision of the future of Newport and how might that vision be realized? In addition to community forums, what other initiatives would you like ALN to accomplish? Becker: We have evolved into a source of unbiased information on local issues through our forums. That is all the activity our limited manpower allows. Hirschboeck: I can’t leave without commenting on how ALN and its board have been such tremendous supporters of beautifying Newport with daffodils, serving as the non-profit, fiscal agent for Daffodillion. This fall we’ll finally reach our goal, planting the one millionth daffodil in Newport. The At Large city council candidate forum will be Oct. 18, and the 1st and 2nd Ward forum will be Oct. 23. Both will be held at City Hall from 6 to 7:30. Founding members: George “Herk” Herchenroether, Jack McVicker, Mike Cullen, Dave Wixted, Burt Hoffman, Mark Colburn and Coles Mallory Website subscribers: 600 Dues: $25 newportalliance.org At-large candidates face off – Seven City Council hopefuls share views on new hotels, short-term rentals By Sean Flynn \| Daily News staff writer \| The Newport Daily News \| Page A01 \| Saturday, 20 October 2018 The seven candidates for the four at-large seats on the City Council faced off Thursday night in a candidates’ forum in the council chamber of City Hall before an audience of more than 60 people. Of the seven candidates, only Richard “Wick” Rudd, a member of the city Zoning Board of Review for the past year and former member of the Planning Board for five years, is making his first run for elected office. Hugo J. DeAscentis, a former member of the School Committee for 15 years, is making his first run for the council, while Justin McLaughlin is seeking to return to the council. He served on the council for 10 years, from 2006 to 2016, when he lost his bid for a sixth term. Current Ward 1 Councilwoman Susan Taylor, first elected in 2016, is running for an at-large in this election. Current at-large council members Jamie Bova, Marco Camacho and Jeanne-Marie Napolitano are running for re-election to the council. The fourth current at-large council member, Mayor Harry Winthrop, is not running for re-election. The forum was the second of three organized by the Alliance for a Livable Newport, a neighborhood advocacy group. Questions were posed by Kristine Hendrickson, associate vice president for Salve Regina University relations and Salve’s chief communications officer. See ELECTION, A10 At-large candidates for Newport City Council, from left, Susan Taylor, Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, Marco Camacho, Hugo DeAscentis, Justin McLaughlin, Jamie Bova and Richard “Wick” Rudd take part in a forum Thursday night at City Hall. The forum was sponsored by the Alliance for a Livable Newport. [PETER SILVIA PHOTO] From Page A1 There were no striking differences between the candidates on policy issues, and they all seemed to agree that short-term rentals through hosting platforms such as Airbnb represent a growing challenge for the city. Even when questions focused on matters such as the three new hotels approved for upcoming construction in the city, the increasing cost of home purchases or apartment rentals, or the changing demographics of the city, the discussion seemed to come back to the disruptive effects of the online hosting platforms. Napolitano said properties that are being used for profitable short-term rentals should perhaps be taxed at the commercial tax rate of $14.98 per $1,000 valuation instead of the lower residential tax rate of $9.99 per $1,000 valuation. She and other candidates argued the use of properties for short-term rentals is forcing up the values of all properties and leading to higher rents for people who live in the city year-round. “Our property values and rents are way too high for young people and young families,” Napolitano said. Camacho said there are currently about 500 homes and apartments in Newport listed on the Airbnb website. “They make tens of thousands of dollars for the owners and are not vetted like hotels and inns,” he said. He agreed these properties should be taxed at the commercial rate. Both Camacho and Napolitano pointed out that Airbnb provides the city with checks to cover room and sales taxes, but offers no breakdown on which properties had paid and how much. “We don’t have a spreadsheet,” Camacho said. Rudd pointed out that the Planning Board now has a task force subcommittee looking into short-term rentals and how to regulate them. “It got way ahead of the city,” he said. “Owners of short-term rentals are getting $300 to $400 a night. It needs to be regulated.” McLaughlin called for ordinances regulating shortterm rentals to be reviewed, changed where needed, and enforced. “We need to change ordinances to protect the neighborhoods we have,” Bova said. “We want people who live here year-round to be in vibrant neighborhoods, not surrounded by nonowner occupied homes.” Rudd welcomed the upcoming construction of new hotels on Hammetts Wharf where the yachting center was formerly located, at Long Wharf and America’s Cup Avenue, and on Broadway at the Fifth Element. “We need about 1,000 new hotel rooms in the city or Airbnbs will explode,” he said. Bova and Taylor expressed concerns though that new hotels cut city residents off from the waterfront, both physically and visually. They called for a review of city ordinances to make sure they are in compliance with the city’s land-use plan. Taylor pointed out the planned Long Wharf hotel will be raised, with parking on the ground level. “That affects the streetscape,” she said. Rudd pointed out that the population of the city is expected to decline by 25 percent by the year 2036. One of the questions noted was that by the end of the upcoming decade, in 2030, 50 percent of Newport’s population is expected to be over the age of 60. “We need young families to move into the city,” DeAscentis said. During the baby-boom years after World War II, the city was building and opening new schools, he said. In more recent years, as the population has decreased and aged, the city has been closing and consolidating schools, he said. DeAscentis said it was possible to turn around that cycle. He and other candidates said the schools have to be high-quality and high-performing in order to attract new families. Bova noted, though, that the city needs “aging in place” policies to allow older residents to stay in their homes and get around when they can no longer drive. The candidates were asked what they would do to address traffic problems, especially in the summer season, a question that often comes up during election season. Rudd, with a bow to Mark Twain, said: “Everybody in Newport likes to talk about the traffic, but no one does anything about it.” He said he would like to return to the possibility of constructing a parking garage where the Mary Street parking lot is now, and long-term possibly moving the Gateway visitors center to a new satellite parking lot that could be created on land freed up by a redesign of the Pell Bridge ramps. Taylor said she would favor a parking facility on that freed-up land in the north end of the city that would be larger than is now being talked about. She said the parking facility should hold more than 600 vehicles and later perhaps up to 1,000. She said people would be able to go into the city on a rail shuttle or shuttle trolleys. None of the other candidates disagreed with that vision, and some had similar ideas. The ongoing disagreements that the City Council and School Committee have when it comes to setting a budget for the School Department also was discussed. Bova said the full City Council and full School Committee come together only once a year to discuss the school budget. “We should meet more often,” she said. “Our goals intersect. When the schools benefit, the city benefits.” Napolitano focused on the current school budget deficit, for which the council will take up a financing plan next week. “We need more checks and balances,” she said. “I have been very supportive of the schools, but if we continue to have overspending of the school budget, it could affect the bond rating of the city.” “There is a lack of transparency in school accounting,” McLaughlin said. “We need to have the city keep track of school finances.” The third and final ALN forum, for the two candidates running for the Ward 1 seat and the two candidates running for the Ward 2 seat on the City Council, takes place Tuesday beginning at 6 p.m. in the council chamber of City Hall. The Ward 3 seat is uncontested. Audience members listen as Newport City Council at-large candidates take part in a forum Thursday at City Hall sponsored by the Alliance for a Livable Newport. [PETER SILVIA PHOTO] Categories 5 Focus Areas - Categories Updates Tags 2018 Elections, elections, Newport City Council, Newport Rhode Island Leave a comment	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2020
__label__cc	0.639944	0.360056	Travel, War Tuesday, 10 September 2013 coupdefoudre Leave a comment Motorbiking Around the World Jeffrey Polnaja stopping on his international Ride for Peace at Sipapu, New Mexico for the BMW annual Bavarian Mountain Rally I rode my BMW R1200RT to the New Mexico annual BMW motorcycle rally last weekend and had the privilege of meeting Jeffrey Polnaja. Jeffrey, from Java, Indonesia, has been riding his GS BMW motorcycle around the world on a Ride for Peace. He is into his 78th country and 52nd riding month and has, he figures, around 24 months more to go to cover the rest of the western U.S., Central and South America, New Zealand and Australia. He has only taken a break once — when his bike was stolen (with all his possessions) in Amsterdam in a plaza in front of a police station. To replace it he had to buy another in Indonesia where the customs duty doubles the price of the bike to around US$45,000. He got a break and only had to pay $30,000. He also used the waiting time to write a book about the southern Asia, North Africa and Western Europe part of his journey. He hopes the book will one day be translated into English. Since he began his journey Jeffrey has learned how to repair the elemental mechanics of the bike, learned how to use his small helmet and chest-mounted cameras as well as a large Nikon, gotten really good in making slide shows and movies with his laptop computer and, incredibly, learned how to speak passable English. The impetus for this huge undertaking began when he and his family were watching the awful events of September 11, 2001 on Indonesian television. His young son asked him why someone, someone who was Muslim as Jeffrey and his family are, would do this terrible thing. After trying to explain to his son the nature of evil his son asked him why he did not do something to stop such evil. Like most of us, Jeffrey asked his son what could he, a simple small businessman in Bandung Province with no special skills, do? His son asked why he couldn’t ride around the world taking the message of Peace. Unlike most of us, Jeffrey decided to do just that. He sold his business (rubber parts for motorcycles) and in April 2006 began his international journey. “I am just a rider, but I hope to see peace in the world. I hope (politicians) will make peace part of their policy.” Jeffrey’s ready smile, gentle spirit and iron-tough will (he would add his belief in god) have kept him in the saddle though events that would stop many, maybe most, riders. I think just the official international border paperwork and petty theft would rob most of us of our sense that we can make a difference. He has been shot at in South Asia and hit by a drunk driver in Baluchistan. The hit-and-run collision damaged his bike, destroyed his navigation system and cracked his right wrist (he has a great photo of buzzards flying overhead after this accident when he awoke the next morning lost in the roadless desert). He had to negotiate to be allowed to cross the Khyber Pass into war-torn Afghanistan and required armed escort for part of his ride there. He had motorcycle mounted, heavily armed, gendarmeries flank him across Algeria and was charged only $30 for a $3000 per night hotel room in Dubai. He was hit by a truck driver in Kazakhstan with crushing wounds to his left leg. The doctors said he would need a month in bed before putting weight on it. Jeffrey decided to try the healing meditations monks in Tibet had taught him. After eight days he thought his leg felt better and asked the doctors if he could go. They checked his leg and the fracture had healed — he was released to continue his ride. Here’s hoping his ride has an impact on as many people, in as many places, as possible. Ride Safe, Jeffrey. Previous PostWriters LifeguardNext PostZZ Top	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2021
__label__wiki	0.900392	0.900392	On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Helpful information and advice from America's favorite workplace columnist How to Lead Like Abraham Lincoln I don't profess to be an expert on Abraham Lincoln, but what I have read about his life has been inspiring. He was the focus on a recent column I did for Gannett/USA Today.... As Steven Spielberg's Lincoln brings audiences into theaters to learn of the 16th president's astute leadership and President Obama vows to work with opposing lawmakers in his second term, it's a good time to consider how compromise can be gained in the workplace on a day-to-day basis. First, it's not easy. Second, many leaders attempt it and bungle it so badly they forever damage work relationships and hurt the bottom line with their ineptness. Still, it's not impossible and historical figures like President Abraham Lincoln prove it can be done even in the most difficult of circumstances, says John Baldoni, a leadership coach. For example, when faced with a group of people who disagree with a course of action, leaders can't immediately dictate "it's my way or the highway" or they will drive valuable employees away, Baldoni says. "What you want is a win-win solution," he says. "To achieve compromise, the first thing you've got to look at is what is our unifying purpose? What is the one thing we all want?" In Lincoln's case, it was preserving the Union. "We are not enemies, but friends," he said in his first inaugural address in 1861. "We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection." In a company today, leaders may be fighting to keep not a country united, but a company. Baldoni says a leader can use the same tactic as Lincoln, pointing out the "greater good" that will be achieved through compromise and teamwork, such as saving jobs. Still, once that compromise is achieved it's important not to muck it up by gloating about victory or ignoring a former rival, Baldoni says. It's a lesson, he notes, that Lincoln never forgot. "You've got to reach across the aisle to rivals and tell them that you still want them around, you still value them," Baldoni says. But what about when that rival continues to sow seeds of discontent? "A leader's job is to make sure there is alignment and everyone is united in a purpose," Baldoni says. "So if you as a leader find out someone is going behind your back, then you've got to call people on the carpet. You've got to hold them accountable." Baldoni says that once compromise is reached and a team direction is established, anyone found deviating from that in order to pursue his or her own best interest should be advised to stop such action or face termination by the leader. While that may seem harsh, "a leader's job is to lead the team," he says, "and you cannot tolerate anything else." Baldoni says that while the political atmosphere in America today is often divisive, it's fortunate that American workplaces don't experience such widespread strife and dysfunction. "In the workplace, you have to live with these people. You have to engage, cooperate and coordinate with them every day to get things done," he says. "Compromise in the corporate sector is not perceived as a negative. People don't like that 'my way or the highway' attitude." In his new book, The Leader's Pocket Guide: 101 Indispensable Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Any Situation (Amazon, $19.95), Baldoni offers other leadership tips that can help lead to forming a consensus with the most contentious groups: > How others perceive a leader is critical. The leader's reputation "is essential to creating trust, and in turn getting people to work together to achieve mutually beneficial aims," he writes. > Learn to listen. "Listening to others has seldom been as important and seldom been as neglected," Baldoni writes. > Be optimistic. "People want to believe in their leaders, if only for the simple fact that it makes life easier. People want to believe what they do matters," he writes. "It falls to the leaders to provide that assurance." Or, in the words of Lincoln: "Determine the thing that can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way." Posted by Anita at 8:50 AM http://onthejob.45things.com/ 5 Etiquette Lessons for the Workplace How To Handle the Mean Girls at Work Why You're Never Too Old to Launch Your Dream CIA Officers Share Tips on How to Detect A Lie	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2023
__label__wiki	0.827624	0.827624	The Skirball Cultural Center and the J. Paul Getty Trust Collaborate on Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture An Exhibition on View at the Skirball Cultural Center April 4-July 25, 2000 LOS ANGELES--Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture, a major exhibition examining the life and work of one of this century's most remarkable and influential figures, will be on view at the Skirball Cultural Center April 4 through July 25, 2000. With funding for its Los Angeles run provided by the J. Paul Getty Trust, Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture will underscore Freud’s key ideas and show how notions of the self—identity, memory, childhood, repression and sexuality—have been shaped in relation to his work. The exhibition will include vintage photographs, prints, and manuscript letters, as well as commercial film and television clips that illustrate Freud's contested legacies and influence on popular culture. Heralded by the New York Times as "cleverly designed" and by the New Yorker as "revelatory," Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture attracted a flurry of controversy in its planning stages and a storm of critical praise as an exhibition that points the way for exhibiting vital subjects in cultural history. It has sparked the popular imagination, attracting large audiences to showings at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (October 15, 1998 - January 16, 1999) and The Jewish Museum, New York (April 18 - September 9, 1999). The exhibition will travel to the Austrian National Library, Vienna (October 21, 1999 - February 6, 2000) before opening at the Skirball Cultural Center for its only West Coast exhibition. Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture was organized by the Library of Congress in cooperation with the Sigmund Freud-Museum in Vienna and the Freud Museum, London and curated by Michael S. Roth, Associate Director, The Getty Research Institute. In conjunction with the Freud exhibition, the Skirball Cultural Center and the Getty Center will host a variety of programs including lectures, films, discussions, concerts, educational classes and family activities. The Skirball Cultural Center and the Getty Center are located one freeway exit away from each other off the 405 freeway in West Los Angeles. The Skirball Cultural Center opened in April 1996; the Getty Center opened in December 1997. The two institutions have had a strong relationship and have engaged in professional exchanges since the 1980s, including the sharing of scholarly expertise in object handling and conservation. The Skirball also has received various grants from the Getty, including a capital construction gift in the mid-1980s and funding for the electronic cataloging of the Skirball collection in 1998. Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture marks the first collaboration between the Skirball and the Getty for an exhibition and public programs. The Skirball’s mission emphasizes the experience of Jews during the nearly four centuries that Jewish life has flourished on American shores, influencing and being influenced by the larger society. "We are really grateful to the Getty for many acts of friendship and encouragement. Now we’ve been offered a new opportunity to bring the West Coast important cultural vistas. Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture, by exploring the legacy of one of the greatest minds of the 20th century and his wide ranging impact on American culture, exemplifies the spirit of the Skirball's dedication to probing American life and the American Jewish experience," says Skirball Cultural Center President Uri D. Herscher. President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust Barry Munitz comments, "We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Skirball to bring important cultural experiences to new audiences. The Freud exhibition has galvanized public and intellectual debate and drawn fascinated visitors to each of its previous venues. We know Los Angeles will find the exhibition particularly compelling. This is just the start of more joint projects of this scope between our two institutions." Special tours of Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture will be offered for high school history, literature, and psychology classes. Teachers can call 310-440-4647 for reservations and information. Private docent-led group tours (10 or more people required) are also currently being booked. For reservations and information, the public can call 310-440-4564. General funding for the exhibition has been provided by Discovery Communications, Inc.; City of Vienna; Austrian Cultural Institute, New York; Alfred A. Knopf, James Madison Council of the Library of Congress; Mary S. Sigourney Award Trust, New York; Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Altshuler, The Charles A. Dana Foundation, New York; Ministry of Science and Transport, Austria; American Psychoanalytic Foundation; Lotte Köhler Foundation; Austrian Airlines; Österreichische Lotterien, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.; O.S. Wyatt, Jr., Houston; American Psychoanalytic Association, Embassy of Austria; New-Land Foundation,New York; Peter Sobolak, Vienna; and other generous private contributors. The Skirball Cultural Center seeks to interpret the Jewish experience and to strengthen American society through a range of cultural programs-including museum exhibitions, concerts, lectures, performances, readings, symposia, film and video screenings, and educational offerings for adults and children of all ages and backgrounds. Designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the Skirball is located off the 405 Freeway; exit Skirball Center Drive. The Center is open to the public Tuesday - Saturday 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; closed Monday. Admission is $8.00 (general), $6.00 (seniors 65+ and students) and free (children under 12 years and members). For information, the public may call (310) 440-4500 or visit our Web site at www.skirball.com.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2025
__label__wiki	0.694478	0.694478	Paul Soupiset [SOUP • a • ZAY] is an artist, graphic designer, illustrator, poet, editor, typophile, songwriter, liturgist, armchair theologian. Paul and his wife Amy have four awesome kids and make their home in San Antonio where Paul was born in 1969. Paul is the creative director at The H. E. Butt Family Foundation and the owner of Soupiset Design, having previously served as the creative director and lead designer at Toolbox since its inception in 1996. Soupiset’s illustration work has appeared in magazines, books, album covers and websites; his design work has been featured in the pages of Communication Arts, Graphis, Print Magazine, How Magazine, Step Magazine and Creativity design annuals. His design awards also include National ADDY® awards, an IABC International Gold Quill, nods from the CASSA Golden Jalapeños, and a nomination in Nashville’s Dove Awards. Soupiset has received recognition from juried competitions across the state of Texas, including The Dallas Show, The Houston Art Directors’ Club, and South by Southwest Interactive. His design work has been recognized in leading national design competitions and his work has received local, regional and national ADDY awards, including multiple local Best of Show awards. In 1991, Soupiset graduated Baylor University with a degree in journalism and studio art. His personal work also includes songwriting, poetry, and photography. Drawing Close // Documentary on Illustrator Paul Soupiset from Isenhower Productions on Vimeo. Photo by Courtney Perry	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2027
__label__wiki	0.955059	0.955059	newswire article reposts global 18.Aug.2004 17:38 alternative media \| human & civil rights \| media criticism Nepali Maoists Execute Reporter author: lasjkdfhoi Thap was kidnapped in Dailekh (500 km west of Kathmandu) by Maoist troops who accused him of spying for the government. Among 10 charges against him was one of helping to organise a ceremony to honour King Gyanendra in April. The leaflet, signed by "Comrade Ranajeet," the local party secretary, said he was executed after being found guilty of spying. Journalist executed by Maoists Reporters Without Borders expressed shock and outrage today at the murder of reporter Dekendra Raj Thapa, of the pro-government Radio Nepal, who the pro-Maoist Communist Party of Nepal said it had executed on 11 August, according to a 16 August party leaflet. He had been kidnapped on 26 June and is the second journalist to be killed in Nepal this year. "We are revolted by this barbaric murder," it said, noting that the party's leader, Pushpan Kamal Dahal (better known as "Comrade Prachanda"), had been put on the Reporters Without Borders worldwide list of 37 "predators of press freedom." Thap was a keen rights activist and had been an adviser to the independent Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES). The news of his execution came the day after the Maoists released another journalist, Durga Thapa, in the western district of Surkhet, who had also been accused of spying. Since a ceasefire broke down in August last year, the rebels have plunged the country into new violence, reviving their "people's war" against the monarchy and feudalism and seizing control of more half the country. Last year they killed at least three journalists. Nepalese journalists are caught between the army and the rebels. Padma Raj Devkota, editor of the fortnightly Bhurichula, was killed by army troops in the western district of Jumla in February. homepage: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=11170	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2031
__label__cc	0.743618	0.256382	A big evolution Version 0.1k; November 10, 2016. This work is in its utter infancy, more metaphysics and speculation than proper science. It is largely a collection of thoughts I've had on this topic until I can organise it more coherently. I'm working on software to model universes (or parts thereof) as described below at multiple scales, some of which is published peer reviewed scientific research. Retrodictions Self replication, emergence, evolution, self evolution, and sentience It's a small molecule world after all We present a comprehensive and consistent meta theory of universes (or theory of meta universes aka "the Universe"). The Universe is an infinitely expanding and dynamic information theoretic bitstring encoding its own grammar and parser that progresses undergoing evolutionary operations going through a step function in a recursive fashion. The Big Evolution Theory (TBET) posits similar principles identified in biological evolution such as mutation and natural selection, but applied universally and extended beyond biological objects and entities to abiotic objects, abstractions, and, ultimately, information. Universes or universal bitstrings (and portions thereof) may thus be evaluated in terms of homology and analogy. These universes exist as a dynamic equilibrium of interacting particles (bits of information) contained in a universe as specified by chaos theory [1]. The laws of complexity thus followed the laws of physics. A universe is a quantum relative universal computing device that evolved to encode its own grammar and parser described by the basic recursive equation: U(s) = U(s) + U(s++) U is the recursive step function that operates on itself to generate its corresponding component universe bitstrings and s represents a step in its evolution (initialised to 0). Recursion is thus postulated to be the fundamental process by which things happen in nature. As U recurses on itself, it causes an evolutionary expansion like a balloon inflating except at each step there's also an evolutionary process of variation of selection happening at the same time. The goal here is to model the organisation of information that occurs by this process, rather than deal with its material aspects. In more formal terms, a universe is a digital computing device encoded in the form of a bitstring that includes both a grammar used to generate it and an interpreter to compile and execute it. Our Universe is a Universal Turing Machine encoding a grammar that describes quantum and relativistic physics interpreted (compiled and executed) by a corresponding automaton (in the case of context-free grammars, it is a push down automaton). Summing and concatenation are interchangeable operations in and by bitstrings universes where a given universe variable (opcode) consisting of i bits (the bitindex) is represented by the number 2^i and its value is equal to the bitstring encoded by i-1 bits. This model is a superset of all string theories including M-theory and loop quantum gravity. (It is left as an exercise to the reader to figure out why and how this is the case. :) It follows logically that a theory of everything would not only explain and unified quantum mechanics and relativity but also would be completely self contained, consistent, and explain itself. As with string theories including M-theory this model does not make new predictions that lend themselves to falsification (in general, any theory of everything has this problem). In terms of mathematical logic, all the string theories and any other theory that unifies quantum mechanics and relativity are equivalent. The bitstring theory or model says that a digital computing device encoding a push down automaton is provably equivalent to a universal Turing computing machine. The model implies that our Universe can be simulated in a digital computing device with the von Neumann architecture, which is consistent with the development of modern computers from quantum mechanics. The model also indicates that the mechanics of quantum objects illustrates the limits of Gödel's Incompleteness Theorems. Most importantly, the bitstring model indicates that all objects and problems in nature are recursively enumerable substrings that can be interpreted (compiled and executed) by a push down automaton encoded by the universal Turing machine or digital computing device. This statement is made accepting the fractal-based nature of the universe and by understanding that if our universe could be simulated using computing devices of the type used currently, then it (the statement) becomes a tautology. If we think of the universe as akin to computing devices, then the issue of hardware vs. software becomes a matter of state. When a modern computing device is constructed and an operating system and associated software run on it (which is essentially one big program) to achieve a specific outcome, we cannot say the outcome is achieved by one or the other alone. When trying to model universes, the distinction becomes meaningless as it does in formal computing science (i.e., the universal Turing machine is an abstract machine that can run any type of a program, including one that specifies a modern computing device's operating system). The hardware and software are viewed as being the same in the bitstring model: the hardware represents the abstract bit object and the software specifies the information content (or arrangement and interactions) of the bits. A bit is an abbreviation for binary digit with the values of 0 and 1. A period (.) refers to one bit; b refers to a string of bits of arbitrary length; and B refers to the bitstring representing our Universe. A bitstring b may be thought of as a quantum relative (QR) object (QRO) denoted by o and O. Our Universe is an uppercase U and correspondingly when referring the evolution of our Universe specifically, we will refer to it as the/our Big Evolution) and the bistring representing U is referred to as B. Any given universe is referred to with a lowercase u. <=> is used to denote equivalence of nonintegers. Thus b <=> o <=> u and B <=> O <=> U. length(b) is abbreviated as l(b) and corresponds to the number of steps taken by/in a QRO/universe. We then note by convention that l(b) = l(o) = l(u) = l. l(B) = l(O) = l(U) = L. A conceptual framework for creating and manipulating bitstring universes is now presented. If the description of this framework is not clear, then reading how it is implemented may help with clarity. Information theoretic component Assume that a universe is a giant bitstring representing pure information; our Universe is the ultimate Bitstring and all substrings represent mini universes. A universe is composed of objects that are encoded by bitstrings each of which is a universe in its own right generated by the recursive relation above. Every object has a duality corresponding to bit states of 0 or 1. Duality is an integral feature of any universe that allows for the creation of something (-x, +x corresponding to states 0 and 1 respectively) from nothing (-x+x=0). When you say "that's nothing", you are creating something, even if it is the empty set. Duality is not a necessary condition, it's just how it has played out in our Universe (and perhaps others as well, it seems to be convenient), but you can imagine a universe comprised of only one bitstate and just the number of bits being used to map to a Gödel numbering. This would be tedious but it is possible. Initial universes may well have started out this way. This duality can be conceptualised in any arbitrary manner provided it is pairwise since the states possible are 0 and 1. Some examples: 1 \| 0 (state bit) on \| off (state bit) positive \| negative (state/direction bit) up \| down (direction bit) clockwise \| counterclockwise (direction bit) opcode \| operand (pair bit) variable \| value (pair bit) integer \| real (pair bit) exponent \| mantissa (pair bit) h \| c (pair bit) energy \| mass (state bit) start \| end (state bit) time \| space (direction bit) frequency \| amplitude (direction bit) wave \| particle (energy/mass pair bit) motion \| rest (time/space pair bit) discrete \| continuous (h/c pair bit) quantum \| relative (h/c pair bit) small \| large (h/c pair bit) Dualities and associated objects are interconvertible to one another without additional cost in a (local) universe and arise due to the complex nature of the Universe. This subsequently means that one bitstring universe may be transformed into another via one or more steps, acquiring any arbitrary set of dualities. In our (global) Universe the cost of changing one bit is equal to the sum of changes required to carry out the appropriate pop and push operations. Conceptually, mathematically, and physically, all these transitions are equivalent: act of changing one bit, or shifting an entire substring representing a universe within our larger Universe, and popping and pushing an arbitrary number of bits on the tape/stack. A bit represents a discrete quantum of evolutionary information. Thus the cost of shifting the entire string by a bit at any location in our global Universe is free provided it is accomplished by incrementing the value of the entire string (which corresponds to the time variable). An increment to the value of any other variable requires changing all the relevant bits which can be accomplished by popping the bits in stack up to the appropriate location, changing the bit in question (which has a unit cost of one Planck), and then pushing the bits back onto the stack. For example, if the number of steps in the universe is 8, then the bitstring for that object with no other property is 1000 (1 * 2^3 + 0 * 2^2 + 0 * 2^1 + 02^0). If another universe has also undergone 8 steps, and the two universes are added, then the total number of steps in the new universe is 16, and will be represented by the bitstring 10000. All bitstrings/objects/universes are components of our Bitstring/Object/Universe. That is, our Universe is made up of the concatenation of smaller universes/objects/bitstrings. Thus the quantum universe can be thought of as a quantised discrete digital world and encoded in the stack is the set of instructions to implement the push down automaton that can interpret itself. A QR field (QRF) is active for an object from the moment the object is created. In our universe, this (analogue) field corresponds to t discrete steps where t is a constant that is proportional to the s peed of light and each discrete step operates on the Planck scale. If the quantum object is only composed of time, then it would be a value that corresponds to Planck time. Likewise for Planck energy, Planck mass, and Planck length. Every object has its own internal clock that represents its number of steps 2^t where t = l(o) = l(u). This internal clock represents the time bit and when this bit is set, the value encoded by bits to the right of the time bit is the number of steps or the time elapsed since the creation of the universe. This is a feature of the model, not something we assume in creating it. The time bit thus can be thought of as representing the Gödel numbering of all the QR objects and their physical properties. Since all integers can be factored into primes, and since we're dealing with binary digits, the primary numbers of interest are 0, 1, 2, and 3 (which correspond to the space and time dimensions in our universe), which are representable by two bits. This is a feature (consequence) of the model, not an assumption. It however shows why M-theory consists of 11 dimensions. If you have one time bit and you want to use up at least three space dimensions, then the minimal object/universe you can create will be represented by the string 1011 (one-zero-one-one), which is 2^3+2^1+2^0 = 11 (eleven). In other words, 11 (eleven) is the location of stack pointer (and also its Gödel number) for the minimal quantum object/universe creatable under M-theory which consists of creating any object in 3 space dimensions and 1 time dimension. The above rationale suggests that one can think of the bits in the bitstring as representing dimensions. The first dimension in our universe is likely time and the default addition of bits to the universal bitstring (i.e., incrementing the G&odel number the bitstring universe represents) is in units of time. In theory any substring may be incremented, thereby incrementing the univeral bitstring by performing the appropriate number of shift operations as explained further below. While I refer to the first bit as the time bit, in actuality it is the entire bitstring changing that represents our concept of time. The first bit only indicates that the universe is in motion or changing. Unlike M-theory and other string theories, it is possible for an object in this model to have anywhere from 0 to an arbitrarily large number of dimensions. Most of the language we use for conversions between objections are dimensionality reductions with an associated moment. This moment represents the first dimension, not just as in "space is a moment in time", but as in direction, which makes me wonder about the origins of these words since the first dimension in our model is time and the baby universe consisting of one bit capable of having values 0 and 1, representing the binary existence of this universe. It may be tempting to think of this baby universe with the single bitstring "0" as equivalent to "no universe" but that would be incorrect---this is the equivalent of an empty universe. Immediately if another bitstring is added to this universe (through any process, but by default I assume we assume it is random) then further dimensions come into play. But we start stripping any universe bare of its bits ("bitstripping"?), we will ultimately reduce everything back down to the first bits, in our case mass, energy, space, time, and then nothing (see implementation). It is a semantic issue as to whether or not the first dimension is really a zeroth dimension and/or the first/zeroth dimension is a dimension itself (a binary bitstring for existence itself implies dimensionality). All values must thus interconvert with another quantity unless they assume values corresponding to the left of the bitstring or are able to shift the entire bitstring to the right. This can just be thought of as adding and subtracting from the value encoded by the bitstring. The Universe's G"odel Number thus corresponds to the age of our Universe which can be calculated by looking at terms of number of steps taken by the oldest quantum object/universe calculated using the speed of light). The bitstring can thus "grow" (by adding time) or can change (by modifying the bitstring or combining bitstrings with a universe). All bitstrings within our Universe operate according to the rules created by its bitstring which have to mainly do with adding time and transforming bitstring by addition or opcode changes with the associated probability. This is the feature of the bitstring representation and not an assumption in the model. The physical component Even though infinity is generally conceived as being something that is long, large, big, etc. the humble circle drawn in two dimensions also represents infinity: you can go around it forever in one of the dimensions (its circumference). I don't believe it's mere coincidence that the symbol for zero is represented by a circle. Likewise, the less humble Moebius strip in three dimensions illustrates how can go keep going for an infinitely long time on a two dimensional surface (the edge of a Moebium strip is homemorphic to a circle). A Klein bottle similarly allows us to visualise the same concept in four dimensions if one is travelling in the three dimensional space within the bottle. An important point I want to make here that even though these are finite objects when considered holistically, there is an infinite component to them depending on the axes being traversed. I like to think of our physical universe as a balloon that is constantly inflated (a balloon that is naturally specifiable by a set of bits) that creates these sorts of infinite universal substructures on its surface and that the meta Universe is a colllection of universes upon universes upon universes, ad infinitum. The creation of our universe involved the creation of time first (which is automatic as the universe evolves---the time bit is just tracking the number of steps taken), followed by energy (light), then mass (corresponding to energy/2x), and then dimension. It is also possible . There's a reason for stating this. The fact that this Universe fits the equation E=mc^2 is how we came up with this concept but I am not using relativity to justify this. Right now it fits the relation E=mx^2. The creation of all universes also proceed in a similar manner. In a general sense, x is a constant that is only a function of the age of a given universe, which in the bitstring model depends on how easy it is to the shift an entire set of bits. In our Universe, the value of x is fixed to the speed of light in vaccuum (c). The next series of events (time steps) will represent what we know about our current Universe and represents the first (and perhaps only) real assumption in the model. The assumption is that the creation of the next opcode, which we'll say is frequency, occurs after the equivalent number steps in time that can store the value of c (299,792,458), which is the speed of light. That is, the bitstring representing a universe where its Gödel number is equal to c will be the first QR object created. In information theoretic terms, since the speed of light being a constant is the only information needed for a minimal quantum object, a bit in this bitstring model can be thought of as the container of that information (again, this emphasises that we are referring to information theoretic bits). This Gödel number should also correspond to the number for the "god particle" or so called Higgs boson and should contain the bitstring of 1011. In other words, for the creation of our universe, we see that the first quantum object had properties that is proportional to c when its field became applicable. The creation of a quantum object in our current universe must also have the same Gödel number. The minimum number of bits required to store this number alone in a simple fashion is 28. At 28 bits, the value of 2^28+2^27+2^26+2^25+2^24+2^23+2^22+2^21+2^20+2^19+2^18+2^17+2^16+2^15+2^14+2^13+2^12+2^11+2^10+2^9+2^8+2^7+2^6+2^5+2^4+2^3+2^2+2^1+2^0 is 536,870,911 This is using a primitive method to store a value that can be stored more efficiently using a much smaller number of bits. But the main issue that matters is the concept, that we step through the number of bits required to store the speed of light. At this point it should be obvious that the choice of t, e, m, and initially is rather arbitrary. What now matters is relativistic effects will start to become apparent and will apply, and will always end up being proportional to number of bits left in relation to the time + speed of the light. Thus what the model is proposing is that each quantum object, including atoms and so on, are universes in their own right. What we have when have an atom is the creation by conversion of a small universe. Our current Universe is one that has grown in a collection of universes. Including the four bits above, our baby universe consisting of just a photon is now at least 32 bits long. This universe contains/encodes the information (number of bits) that will satisfy the E=mc^2 equation as well as the Planck-Einstein equation E = hf where h is Planck's constant (6.626069 57(29) * 10^-34 J/s or 4.1356675 16(91) * 10^−15 eV/s). In otherq words, if a bitstring corresponding to a quantum object can store the value of c, as well as contain the first opcodes, then it can also store the value of c^2 or hf. Reserving 32 bits automagically results in the creation of the first constant c, created after going through the number of steps which corresponds to the bitstring the can hold the speed of light. There's a reason this is chosen thus. Because we know the speed of light is the limit in this Universe. It is the limit in the quantum world as well as in the relativistic world for a reason which is given by the model above. Creation of this constant should automatically enable the creation of the values corresponding to Planck's constant or the Boltzmann constant. All these constants should be containable in the bitstring used to contain c (even though that is the only information used). Readers familiar with quantum mechanics should realise that this universe is now alleged to bring in Planck's law, Rayleigh-Jean's law (at low frequencies or large wavelengths), while in the limit of high frequencies (i.e. small wavelengths) it tends to the Wien's law. The final opcode is thus set to be a number and we'll call it frequency, which is a count of how things happen relative to the time advanced which causes a fraction. (Not that from frequency and speed you can get wavelength and vice versa.) At this point, spontaneity gets very hard since we just introduced a bunch of bits into our universe (a primitive universe at zero time will then be about 32 bits long at least). The probability of a spontaneous event occurring then will be 1/2^lob where lob is the string length of the current universe's bitstring. However, different universes can merge to create bigger universes and universes can also break (which is how the quantum revolution was begun bench wise) provided the large Universe can absorb the change in the bitstring. The model says that a given position (or other quantity) can interchange with respect to time (or any quantity; but it just means adding bits the local universe bitstring OR shifting bits between other quantities). Thus in the local universe, an object of mass 1 or greater will have an energy that is equal to the corresponding to the number of steps in time times the speed of light. If the time steps is 0, and the object has an energy of 1, then its mass will 1/c^2. It is also possible to have an object that has an energy of m * c^2 = h (or Planck's constant) with the frequency opcode. Stepping through the bitstring is what corresponds to the energy (or any other quantity) quanta observed as Planck's constant. We've now thus explained the photon (see implementation, the most basic quantum object with a resting mass of zero and a resting energy corresponding to the speed of light which is simply the number of steps the quantum mechanical relativistic computer has recursed through. We can also start to have the creation of quantum objects all the way through atoms and beyond with whatever properties we desire but they should match what we observe in the quantum world. These objects can have a number of properties which depends on the bitstring that is encoding them at this point. An object can have a mass of 0 and energy of 0, and its time will correspond to the number of steps taken in the universe thus far. An object can have a mass of 1, in which case it can have an maximum energy that corresponds to c^2. If it has a lower energy, then the number of remaining bits can be used to encode other information such as position/dimension and so on. Thus the smallest particles are likely to fly closer to the speed of light; the smaller they get, i.e., the closer the mass to zero, the more closer they will get to the speed of light. Again, the maximum or minimum value possible for any arbitrary quantity for an arbitrary universe corresponds as to the remaining bits left in the opcode times the maximum value to the right of the bitstring. The maximum or minimum value possible for any arbitrary quantity for our Universe thus far is likewise the same except that we can already say that energy and mass are related by power of two and that the maximum number of spatial dimensions is 3 (if you include time it is 4). Quantum physics is discrete math and calculus with the delta set to quanta measured in Planck units. Relativistic physics is discrete math and calculus with the delta set to c, the speed of light. It is one thing to specify a conceptual model, but it is another to say how it will be implemented. We don't know how it is implemented in nature, though we can guess. Since we're working in a digital computer, and since I'm writing this out in English on the Web, for simplicity's sake there are some implementation details that I'll specify. This just means that these issues are separate from the model itself and should not be confused. I've already referred to the universe as a computer. I've also specified a recursive function. This results in the universe being a giant stack that operates very much like a modern computer would. A modern computer is called a push down automata for a good reason. Basically there is a stack, a stack pointer, and operations to push and pop stuff off the stack. Instructions are given as opcode-operand pairs where opcode specifies the command (in this case, a variable or quantity type) and the operand specifies the value. Simply put, the bitstring for a given universe is represented by a stack, a stack pointer, and push and pop operations. The probability of bitstring conversion happening spontaneously to another bitstring b is 1/2^l(b). All information is in the stack + stack pointer; push operations don't cost anything (corresponds to time) and pops don't occur within a universe in an absolute sense; thus the substacks of our Universe can be just thought of as shifting between states. The environment it is doing it in can be thought of as a field. This is why we have the second law of thermodynamics. Entropy is time. We'll assume that like in a machine, opcodes and operands follow each other in pairs. As mentioned above, opcodes can be specified by itself. In terms of actual implementation and detail and writing it out, if you just have a string of bits, it gets confusing (to us) as to what really is an opcode operand pair. We'll thus assume that these pairs when they are specified are separated by a bit that says whether we have only the opcode (0) or a full pair (1). If we have only the opcode specified then the bit determines whether the operand value of the opcode is 0 (which is the same as not specifying the opcode) or whether the operand value of the opcode is the maximum. In nature, within the bitstring of our Universe, there's no need for this sort of separation since we're dealing with physical objects. An unused opcode operand pair is how to specify a constant, the number of bits in the opcode specifies the exponent (as power of 2), and the operand is used to specify the mantissa. Thus the expanded specification for a photon at rest would be: 4.b-3.3-2.0-1.b-0.299792458 - This means that the object at rest has a frequency which is represented by the value that follows 4 (separated by a .) stored in the bits up to the next opcode/operand pair (separated by a -) , a dimension of 3, a mass of 0, an energy that corresponds to a number stored in B and the amount of time elapsed is equal to 299792458, the speed of light (c). This is one of the most basic quantum objects that can be created though an object with just time or just time and energy is possible. The two b together just need to equal Planck's constant (h) divided by the wavelength which can be stored as an exponent/mantissa pair. This is the full representation given for clarification. If we are parsimonious, then we can drop the mass the opcode/operand pair (2.0) entirely (which would mean the object has a mass of 0), we could drop the time opcode, and we could just specify the dimension opcode. Thus the reduced representation will have: 4.b-3-1-299792458 If we drop the frequency and dimension, we can just get 1-299792458 which can also be used to specify c^2 (this would mean that the frequency * wavelength = c). Thus shifting the bitstrings around allows us to go between Planck's constant times the frequency (gives E), and c^2 (gives E), and frequency * wavelength (equal to c). Once we fill the position ocode/operand pair in 4D timespace at the number of steps where the light starts to curve away from the source, all the constants start to get defined. As an example, these could be the first opcodes and their corresponding bit strings representing primordial baby universes. t = 000 = 0 or time e = 001 = 1 or energy (or <= 0 time) m = 010 = 2 or mass (or <= 0,1 time or E/2) d = 011 = 3 or dimension/position (or <= 0,1,2 time, energy, mass) x = 100 = 4 or position x (fill at number of steps (address) where speed of light is a constant in our universe) y = 100 = 5 or position y z = 101 = 6 or position z f = 111 = 7 or count of steps (i.e., gives frequency/wavelength) relative to position (or <= 0,1,2,3 time, energy, mass, dimension) The number of steps in a given universe is the universe's Gödel number. If it is hard to imagine how a one dimensional (1D) string can give rise to two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) structures: Imagine a flat (2D) piece of paper that has nothing written on it on both of its surfaces. By definition it is empty or contains nothing. Then imagine a small dent made on the surface on one side which then shows up as a bump on the other. When this dent/bump occurs, the overall shape of the paper changes ever so slightly especially when you consider that this paper is expanding/inflating at the speed of light. Now imagine this process occurring over billions of years and in parallel, with the odds of any point on the paper becoming a bump or a dent constantly changing as more of them appear. Neighbouring bumps and dents will start to interact and form higher dimensional structures on the two surfaces. Where once the 2D surface was flat and empty, containing nothing, it now has 3D structure that is constantly in motion due to the inflation/expansion. The dents/bumps are the fundamental particles that comprise the universe, i.e., the bits, and TBET posits that they are interacting according to principles we observe in biological evolution. The dualism which is not present when the paper is flat and empty arises the moment the first bump is created. Regardless of the dimensional space one starts with, if this kind of big evolutionary process takes hold, then you will ultimately end up in a position where one not only has matter, but also life and sentience. Interestingly, the inherent property of any individual bit or bitstring to seek the lowest energy state thereby enabling evolutionary action on a system of such bits/bitstrings, could be thought of as a form of fundamental intelligence or sentience. A 1D string in this model is a collection of bits, as is a 2D sheet of paper, or 3D (or even higher dimensional) construct. That is, the first string arose by the joining of a number of bits, and a 2D paper is a collection of strings In the above imaginary scenario involving the 2D surfaces, we assume there exists some of a medium (like the aether of yore) where bumps/dents can occur. This may be true but it may also be that the surface is being created on the fly and what we are calling expansion/inflation is simply the addition of bits around the edges to make the universe bigger. Either way, the outcome of a growing and evolving universe remains the same. Perhaps the most aesthetic aspect of this model is that it proposes how to create something from nothing. Rather than assuming a Universe where there was a "big bang" (there may have well been, corresponding to an energy that is twice the speed of light squared), we assume a Big Evolution. It is stepping through time equal to the age of our current Universe that we have evolved to this point, to ask the question of how our Universe was created. Dualities are more simply and readily explained by Ram Samudrala by invoking the process of recursion to explain all fundamental objects, events, and forces in nature. If the universe was built from the ground up by adding to existing universes or objects (similar to how natural numbers arise from set theory), then duality is a natural consequence that signifies at an information theoretic level whether or not a universe with a particular configuration exists. time, energy, mass, and dimension are likely to be the first four basic quantities (types) or opcodes. These corresponds to what we call physical properties. This is a consequence (feature) of the bitstring representation. time is the most basic variable quantity corresponding to an opcode of 0 and is the only variable capable of being truly infinite with arbitrary probability. This is because it is the step function of this Universe and the probability of a time stepping through is infinity (inverse of 0). Thus time always keeps advancing. In our Universe, energy and mass can interconvert, but is related by the power of 2. Three dimensions (3D) can reduce to two dimensions (2D) only by changes in mass and/or energy. The probability of a given event occurring spontaneously is equal to 1/2^length(U) where U is the length of the universal bitstring to the right. Within our Universe which has the Higgs Field, we can have spontaneous conversion of bitstrings that represent quantum objects and I'm proposing this is happening all the time. Keep in mind that all bitstrings within our universe have to be created and destroyed within our Universe's bitstring. The Higgs Field is why we have to have the small energy quanta that is proportional to the speed of light. It requires changes or shifts in the local bitstring that is our Universe. This doesn't mean that we have spontaneous creation in an absolutely sense though it may appear that way due to conversion. We can only move the bitstrings around locally so much before we bump into the limits of our Universe which has that huge time bitstring attached to it and even locally it around gets complex pretty darn fast. Thus at any level other than the quantum level, our Universe is effectively fixed. In order for quantum effects to occur, it makes sense for the bitstring representing quantum objects should be as small as possible though this isn't a necessary rule as the rules for the interconversions will not change; it just makes the likelihood of interconversions slightly better. Our Universe is stepping through time, so anything with respect to time is a freebie. By this mean if a quantum object is at rest, time in the large Universe is still stepping through so it will always change. It may require shifting energy or mass around a bit, but it can and will happen spontaneously and will not stop until some other subbitstring gets in the way. This thus gives rise the laws of motion. The change in a given opcode/quantity to another of equal value (i.e., occupying an equal number of bits, all other things being equal) is possible spontaneously and it is equal to the probability of changing one opcode to another. For example, changing energy to mass is possible with a probability related to the power of 2. Motion is just incrementing (moving along) this bitstring (i.e., motion in our 3D space is modifying a four bit string; i.e., motion in space is time and vice versa). Motion of an object with mass is a function of the neighbouring bitstring in the local universe (within the light cone). This is related to the laws of motion. I've already gotten everything I need to get for the equation E = mc^2. Again, I am not using any of the information in the above model explicitly. It just falls out. To make it very clear, right now in a given universe, all you can have are interconventions with an appropriate constant which is 0, 1, or 2. Time cannot interconvert (since it cannot interconvert to anything other than itself; this is why time is relative). Energy and mass can interconvert spontaneously with a probability correspond to the bitstring on the right. Space, energy and mass can interconvert. If mass = 1, then the only interconversion possible is to energy. If energy = 1, then the only interconversion possible is to time. Thus there is a universal law of conservation at play here already. I'm not using that in the above model but I could make it explicit at this point to avoid shifting bits constantly. Shifting the entire bitwise string corresponding to our Universe for anything other than time is close to impossible. The uncertainty principle also falls out of the above model. It basically says that a shift in the bitstring is not measurable by the amount of the shift since the shift has already occurred. It is a tautology since it just corresponds to the length of the bitstring. Constants in the Universe occur because the maximum value of an opcode has been reached. This is when an opcode is equal to its operand which can correspond to anything in theory but aside from time requires an interconvention to something, at least time. This means that the Universe once created can't be changed beyond the maximum value short of shifting the entire Universe (what is within its "light cone"). The values or operands for the time, energy, and mass quantities are capable of being infinite but not zero. This is because they can be added to the bitstring at the very end. No other quantity is capable of being infinite in our Universe all other things being equation since it would require a entire shift of the universal bitstring. Energy and mass are capable of zero. but not infinite (requires shift of bitstring). Dimension is an opcode with a fixed value (operand) of 3 in 3D space but not when the quantum object is created. At that time, if dimension is 1, then you have an opcode-operand pair that is free for the universe to use. Speed is the next quantity and is the first quantity to be defined in terms of time and position and falls out of the bitstring automagically. Speed is defined as change in position relative to time is theoretically capable of achieving any value. Speed of anything we observe in our universe cannot exceed the speed of light. You could argue this information is contained in my model, but it is not explicitly at least at this point. All this means that everything we know that happens in our Universe needs to happen and (occurs) by the time corresponding to the bitstring that can hold the speed of light. Energy, mass, and speed are interconvertible using the equation E=mc^2 (or E=mcc) where c is the speed of light. The first four "quantities" that came about are time, energy, mass, and speed; yet using the simple bitwise string model above and assuming only the speed of light, I'm able to reproduce Einstein's famous equation. Now you may think I've thought of Einstein's equation and came up with the model, which I did but all I am assuming is the value of c in the model itself. I'm going to go ahead and show it retrodictively will predict what we know about QM also. Assuming only like to like conversions (aside from time to time, which means time is just incrementing) in the rest of a universe, then the likelihood of a given interconversion occurring within the universe from one opcode to another is proportional to a power of two (shift of bits required to change one opcode to another). This is again the universal law of conservation. You can create a object with tiny, even zero, mass (QM) or you can create an object with tiny, zero energy, but not both simultaneously (in the local universe). Overall, regardless of the shape a given universe adopts (circle, sphere, Moebius strip, Klein bottles, etc.), it is a coherent system that exhibits nonlinear dynamics that also loops back on itself. It is expanding (i.e, adding bits) and this expansion is what we call time which also gives it a direction (time's arrow). Objects exist on the surface of this structure and because of the expansion we have the concepts of a past, present (surface), and future. The surface configuration of objects in the universe is transient, so the past no longer exists. One way to imagine this is as though we are dwelling on the surface of an ever expanding balloon and even though we can go back to the same point in space, due to the expansion it is different (i.e., at a different time). Black holes and white holes are tears on this balloon possibly resulting in other (postive and negative) universes. The bits and bitstrings (substrings) are interconnected and influence each other's states/behaviors simply by the virtue of being in an interacting system. An analogy is ripples in a pond caused by dropping two stones. The ripples will intersect when the two stones are dropped at the same time, but if the second stone is dropped just a bit later than the first, then the ripples from the first will be influenced by the ripples from the second, even though it came later (future affects the past). This is the result of spatial and temporal separation in 4D spacetime but a similar thing happens at the bitstring level (bitsepartion, which could simply be the positional differences but could also involve the composition). Similarly, a metabitstring universe (metauniverse) could contain substrings that are universes (subuniverses), all of which have undergone big evolutions at different rates (big metaevolution) and possessing different physical characteristics/laws. Closed subuniverses may present themselves as dark matter and energy to observers in a metauniverse that contains them, which itself may be a subuniverse contained within some other metauniverse. This is analogous to the multiscale organisation of biological ecosystems. The model agrees with what we know about quantum mechanics, relativity, and indeed, all of what physics which can be rightly termed "laws" (i.e., they are unlikely to be wrong, in our universe at least). That is, it makes retrospection predictions. If a universe is created within a Universe, the laws applying to the top level Universe must hold. The is known as the correspondence principle and is well known. But this is just because changing the laws for anything other than something that is very tiny is not possible without shifting the larger Universe in its entirety. When mass is small, energy is small. When energy = 0 and mass = 0, and time just increments. When energy = 1, mass = 1/c^2. When energy = 1/c^2, mass = 1. The energy to create and dislodge a photon in a pure universe with a mass of 0 is 0. This not only occurred to create this Universe but the model predicts that it is happening spontaneously all the time. Spontaneous conversions between opcodes/quantities/states are also possible provided the universal/Universal bitcode is preserved or there are only shifts with regards to the time axis after the first four opcodes are defined. This is why quantum particles seem to have entangled phases. Entangled phases are just correlations from different particles (bitstrings) or arise due to shifting bitstrings or particles that are created with the same opcode arrangement but with different values for particular opcodes. In other words, entangled states share one bit in common. It is easy to imagine new universes being created many ways under this pardigm. But let's say initially all there was was a (the?) void, nothingness, and bitstring universes started to crop up, two bitstring universes could collide/intersect somehow and either blew themselves up or smoothly integrate with each other. The Big Bang, if it really happened, may have been been the result of baby? universes colliding with each other (or perhaps even representing a chain reaction of such universe collisions to create the universe as we know it). Or it could all be a Big Evolution, everything that has happened is all out of a growth like process and we're just getting started. (I understand that this prediction and the one above it contradict each other, but not if you consider that the bitstring model described above is for multiverses, not just for a single universe. In any event, hypotheses may be contradictory and may be disproved or supported by observational evidence using well controlled studies.) If both hypotheses are correct in the multiverse, but not necessarily for any given universe, then perhaps there is a limit at which baby universes can smoothly merge to form a bigger universe. Nonetheless, if a universe is created by merging, it is a Big Evolution and if it is created by colliding, then it is a Big Bang. In a computing simulation of this model, if you blow up a balloon (made up of the bit objects that comprise the universe) and drop an object with mass on it, will it spin (as predicted by Relativity)? And if you drop two objects, will they interact as two objects do in spac? This results in the concept of angular momentum, i.e., where does it come from? Like with the current explanation of why angular momentum exists in material objects, the interactions of bits within an object will result in that object possessing a certain angular momentum which gives rise to the gravitational force. In the Big Bang scenario the bits were all compressed and expanded out at about the same time giving rise to the universe we have now, including the four fundamental forces. In the Big Evolution scenario the bits were already there and started to coalesce in an evolutionary context. In other words, the fundamental forces is really one force which depends on mass and energy of the objects involved which are interchangeable bitstring operations. The bits themselves represent the structure of the universe and the relationships between bits (and sets thereof) is where the emergent information is present (i.e., the network is where synergy occurs). The evolutionary trajectory actually taken and possibly taken also represent a set of relationships from which emergent information may be derived. These trajectories are also a form of memory. Chaos/complexity Anything that involves a duality can be thought of as a related metaphor. In general, all dualities can be mathematically shown to be equal to one another by the means of the Gödel bitstring numbering. This applies to various theoretical, natural, life, and applied sciences such as mathematics, chemistry, biology, medicine; as well as fiction in the form of movies and music. Indeed, in terms of philosophy, metaphysics, and epistemology, the Gödel equivalences set up the way described above, the distinction between concepts like "real" and "imaginary" becomes as irrelevant as the distinction between space and time. Thus the concept of choice itself is an illusion. Delving into mythology just a bit, the concepts of good and evil, god and the devil, the fundamental elements of fire (radiation), earth (matter), wind (currents), water, are related metaphors. Dualities occur as a result of recursion which represents the 0 (off) or 1 (on) states. Recursing on 0 gives you 1 == {0}. Recursing on 1 gives you 2 =={10}. Recursing on 2 gives you 4 {11}. Reading this right to left gives you the strings "42" and "420". In fact, there's a self consistent feedback loop/pattern being established here and one can see a Gödel mapping everything. This makes sense since a theory of everything should not only be able to predict itself but it should also predict why it took us the time it did to get there. This is why transparency and openness is illuminating". Even an extremely loaded metaphysical/epistemological statement like that within the quotes relates/maps to statements about quantum physics and optics can be written down as a bitstring. Heck, it actually already is if you're reading this online. The Gödel number for it is 9223372036854775807. This is the same way Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem was proven, by encoding a self-referential statement in number theory/mathematics. The encoding process lets you give meaning to a statement, in this case understanding its paradoxical nature (only within the system). This is what meaning is, after all, providing a context ofr a frame of reference. As an exercise, think about the plaque that was engraded on the Voyager spacecraft destined for outer space---how would you make aliens understand who we are? With this model, Platonic space could be thought of as metaphors that have a Gödel mapping between them. Quantum physics and relativitistic physics are essentially isomorphous groups. This doesn't mean humans can't be stupid. Stupidity and ignorance are states in a system. mathematics \| physics information \| entropy life \| death new \| old good \| bad light \| dark genius \| stupidy happiness \| sadness freedom \| slavery bound \| unbound real \| illusion causal \| coincidental choice \| no choice Number theory is a branch of pure mathematics dealing with the study of integers. All integers are factors of prime numbers and in a similar fashion give rise to rational numbers. In 1931, Kurt Gödel proved a statement of the form that consistent axiomatic formulations of number theory includes undecidable propositions. Corollarywise, such formulations cannot prove their own self consistency. In other words, sufficiently powerful axiomatic formulations of number theory cannot be both consistent and complete. (This gives us yet another dualism.) How could he do this? The beauty of Gödel's Incompleteness Theorems, as they are known, lies not just in the theorems, but rather the method used in the proof. Gödel's proof consists of encoding a Gödel statement (G) of the form "G cannot be proved in formulation F" using the mapping of symbols (which have a semantic meaning associated with them) to integers (the Gödel mapping or numbering) in a number theoretic formulation F. By performing arithmetic operations on these integers, a given statement can be proved. Thus the Incompleteness Theorem is proven by contradiction. What proof indicates is that if you have a powerful enough symbolic representation of a system, an inconsistent statement within that system can be arrived at by an appropriate mapping of the symbols. This mapping can be thought of as existing in a higher (or meta) level. Research into theories of quantum gravity considering spacetime as a fluid and an emergent property of fundamental particles is more along the lines I'm thinking of. Thus Quantum information theory is very relevant to what is talked about here. In general the bits I'm talking about may be thought of as qubits, but these qubits themselves represent an information theoretic bitstring, and no-cloning and no-teleportation (no complete measurement) would apply; perhaps interactions with the universal bitstring which is inescapable is what causes this phenomenon. Perhaps chaos/complexity theory offers the best visual representations of the kind of evolution I'm talking about, that links what Hofstadter talks about, to chaos theory, to quantum chaos, to quantum consciousness, to poised realm. This image of a strange attractor is what I see a bitstring initially evolving to, before and after the Big Bang (or as part of the Big Evolution). This also indicates a higher dimensional space that we are embedded in to create this strange attractor that is our universe. The description of the strange attractor feedback loops are related to the higher dimensional mappings used to prove Göodel's Incompleteness Theorem. If all of nature (physics) is scale free then it follows that the results of nature (evolution) are also scale free. Sentience is one subnetwork or subsystem within a larger system that is capable of creating a model of itself. In computational neuroscience, metastable collections of neurons are believed to interact together to perform certain tasks in a dynamic fashion: the mind perhaps works in this manner. More generally, bitstring universes tend to map to other subuniverses within them. See the mapping to medicine for actual research we're doing in this area. Our CANDO drug discovery project as well a lot of the research we do exploits this bitstring universe model. The songs Particle Man and My Evil Twin by They Might be Giants, and the albums Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall by Pink Floyd are related metaphors. A lot of the music by my solo project, TWISTED HELICES, including songs like Renaissance: Art, Philosophy, and Science which has extensive mappings and a recursive structure and the Proteomusic which converts protein structure to music are artistic examples of the same recursive bitstring themes being proposed here. The movies The Matrix , The One , and Dark City to name just a few, are related metaphors. I have been using the bitstring model to recursively enumerate problem spaces in biology and then using knowledge based scoring functions to pick the most promising solutions. I came up with generalising this completely to quantum mechanics and relativity using nothing but binary digits and progression of strings via a step function that represents time. This happened while I driving down to the local grocery store with my daughters and my neighbour's daughter. It just struck me that I could just recurse on the most basic quantities using a binary representation and obtain everything we know about quantum mechanics and general relativity. Indeed, I realised that this model covers everything we know about physics and mathematics. I spent the next few days discussing this with my group who provide a great intellectual foil and working out minor kinks. Every time I ended up seemingly stuck, staying true to the model ultimately resolves it. And why wouldn't it? The universal recursive function is the definition of a digital computing device. The above model presented is just that, a speculative theory that makes no new testable predictions at this time. I assert that I've followed this bitstring model throughout my entire life and scientific career and it is the reason why the tools developed by us work to the extent that they do. So the only shred of evidence that they eventually may end up being correct is the value our research has on this world. If the research we do improves human health and quality of life, then I'd say following the model has paid off. Also, the above model is a bit of a cop out, since anything we talk about can be thought of using concepts from information theory, so there could be something further underlying the bits (and this might go on infinitely or even recurse back to everything, i.e., 0 and 1 are intimately connected). Again, I refer to auantum information theory and potential mappings to physics. If I had to write a story about how everything came about (and this is probably the best way to describe what I am thinking of), it would be go like this: "Nothing created the universe. Nothing was bored and wanted something to happen, and then lo behold, to nothing's surprise, there was something..." We could rephrase it in whatever way that makes one comfortable (for example, replace "no one" instead of "nothing") but read what I'm writing carefully. Am I or am I not attributing conscious action to nothing? What does it mean when I do the above? I think and feel that the answer to what happened with the universe lies with what happens with any conscious object or entity (primarily humans for us, since we can't really evaluate what dolphins and elephants think and feel). When you are conceived, are you conscious? How about when you are born? When you are two years old? Three? Is it the same for all humans? Do YOU remember when you gained consciousness? How far is your earliest memory? When/if we achieve the singularity, we'll know whether the above is possible or not. Even then, we can also speculate as to what actually happened short of going back in time to when our universe was created. Pseudointellectual ramblings \|\| Ram Samudrala \|\| me@ram.org	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2035
__label__wiki	0.581506	0.581506	Madeline writes about running in New Jersey and beyond. Her running columns have been published in The Daily Record , The Jersey Journal, The Home News Tribune, the National Masters News and Running Times. Madeline has been running since the late 1970s when she set out to lose some weight and get in shape. Her first running partner was her quarterhorse, Missy. She would slip off Missy’s back and jog alongside the horse on the abandoned railroad bed in the Black River Wildlife Management Area that still serves as her favorite running course. In 1982 Madeline entered the MidlandRun three-mile race. Running in the 15K was unthinkable to her then. She was soon competing in many local road races including a half marathon. At that time she was in her early forties and was routinely running a 10K, the predominant distance at that time, in under 44 minutes. Madeline won several road races outright and was always an age division winner. Because of her late start in racing, Madeline can only wonder how she might have run in her prime years. She set most of her personal bests about ten years after starting racing and by that time she was in her fifties. Around 1988 Madeline began to compete in Masters Track and Field and counts as her greatest accomplishments her performances at age 51, at the World Masters T&F Championship in Turku Finland in 1991 where she set personal best times of 2:42 for 800 meters and 5:24 for 1500 meters. At this meet, after only five months of training, Madeline won the Gold Medal in the Pole Vault. She set the W50 world record at that meet and reset it just a few weeks later at a US meet. Madeline has competed in numerous national and world meets, including meets in South Africa, Australia, Great Briton, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2036
__label__wiki	0.750806	0.750806	SpainUnited StatesRussiaBrazilFranceUnited KingdomHong KongItalyGermanyPortugalChinaCanadaPolandMexicoGreeceNetherlandsBelgiumArgentinaPhilippinesColombiaSouth AfricaIndiaSwitzerlandSloveniaAustraliaTurkeySouth KoreaIrelandNew ZealandHungarySwedenIndonesiaAustriaDenmarkChileUruguayJapanRomaniaVenezuelaUkraineGeorgiaKenyaKazakhstanBangladeshCzechiaBulgariaLatviaTaiwanSlovakiaNorwayMalaysiaIcelandMaltaPeruIsraelLebanonEcuadorSerbiaMozambiqueVietnamDominican RepublicPalestinian TerritoryTunisiaUgandaNigeriaCyprusPanamaMonacoMoroccoZimbabweUnited Arab EmiratesHondurasAzerbaijanJamaicaLuxembourgEgyptFinlandCosta RicaThailandEl Salvador Australia Population: 23,470,145 Prehistoric settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia at least 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession of the east coast in the name of Great Britain (all of Australia was claimed as British territory in 1829 with the creation of the colony of Western Australia). Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the Allied effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has become an internationally competitive, advanced market economy due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s and its location in one of the fastest growing regions of the world economy. Long-term concerns include an aging population, pressure on infrastructure, and environmental issues such as floods, droughts, and bushfires. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth, making it particularly vulnerable to the challenges of climate change. Australia is home to 10% of the world's biodiversity, and a great number of its flora and fauna exist nowhere else in the world. World's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; the largest country in Oceania, the largest country entirely in the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest country without land borders; the only continent without glaciers; the invigorating sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast and is one of the most consistent winds in the world the Great Dividing Range that runs along eastern Australia is that continent’s longest mountain range and the third-longest land-based range in the world; the term "Great Dividing Range" refers to the fact that the mountains form a watershed crest from which all of the rivers of eastern Australia flow – east, west, north, and south Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island Size comparison: slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast Natural resources: alumina, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum; note - Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports permanent crops: 0.09% (2016 est.) permanent pasture: 88.4% (2016 est.) forest: 16.2% (2016 est.) Natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires volcanism: volcanic activity on Heard and McDonald Islands Current Environment Issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, deforestation, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; limited natural freshwater resources; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; drought, desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; disruption of the fragile ecosystem has resulted in significant floral extinctions; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; overfishing, pollution, and invasive species are also problems International Environment Agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling Nationality: noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian Ethnic groups: English 25.9%, Australian 25.4%, Irish 7.5%, Scottish 6.4%, Italian 3.3%, German 3.2%, Chinese 3.1%, Indian 1.4%, Greek 1.4%, Dutch 1.2%, other 15.8% (includes Australian aboriginal .5%), unspecified 5.4% (2011 est.) note: data represent self-identified ancestry, over a third of respondents reported two ancestries Languages: English 72.7%, Mandarin 2.5%, Arabic 1.4%, Cantonese 1.2%, Vietnamese 1.2%, Italian 1.2%, Greek 1%, other 14.8%, unspecified 6.5% (2016 est.) note: data represent language spoken at home Religions: Protestant 23.1% (Anglican 13.3%, Uniting Church 3.7%, Presbyterian and Reformed 2.3%, Baptist 1.5%, Pentecostal 1.1%, Lutheran .7%, other Protestant .5%), Roman Catholic 22.6%, other Christian 4.2%, Muslim 2.6%, Buddhist 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3% (Eastern Orthodox 2.1%, Oriental Orthodox .2%), Hindu 1.9%, other 1.3%, none 30.1%, unspecified 9.6% (2016 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 86% of total population (2018) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) note: data include Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island Major urban areas - population: 4.792 million Sydney 4.771 million Melbourne 2.338 million Brisbane 1.991 million Perth 1.32 million Adelaide 423,000 CANBERRA (capital) (2018) Contraceptive prevalence rate: 66.9% (2015/16) note: percent of women aged 18-45 urban: 100% of population (2015 est.) rural: 100% of population (2015 est.) total: 100% of population (2015 est.) urban: 0% of population (2015 est.) Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 29% (2016) Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia conventional short form: Australia etymology: the name Australia derives from the Latin "australis" meaning "southern"; the Australian landmass was long referred to as "Terra Australis" or the Southern Land Government type: parliamentary democracy (Federal Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm Capital: name: Canberra time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April etymolgy: the name is claimed to derive from either Kambera or Camberry, which are names corrupted from the original native designation for the area "Nganbra" or "Nganbira" note: Australia has four time zones, including Lord Howe Island (UTC+10:30) Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories; Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island Independence: 1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies) National holiday: Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915) Constitution: history: approved in a series of referenda 1898 through 1900, became law 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires approval of a referendum bill by absolute majority vote in both houses of Parliament, approval in a referendum by a majority of voters in at least four states and in the territories, and Royal Assent; proposals that would reduce a state’s representation in either house or change a state’s boundaries require that state’s approval prior to Royal Assent; amended several times, last in 1977 (2017) Legal system: common law system based on the English model Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Scott MORRISON (since 24 August 2018) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and sworn in by the governor general elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general Legislative branch: description: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of: Senate (76 seats; 12 members from each of the 6 states and 2 each from the 2 mainland territories; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of state membership renewed every 3 years and territory membership renewed every 3 years) House of Representatives (151 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority preferential vote; members serve terms of up to 3 years) elections: Senate - last held on 18 May 2019 (next to be held in 2022) House of Representatives - last held on 18 May 2019 (next to be held in 2022) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - Liberal/National coalition 37.99%, ALP 28.79%, The Greens 10.19%, One Nation 5.4%, Centre Alliance .19%, Lambie Network .21%, other 17.23%; seats by party - Liberal/National coalition 35, ALP 26, The Greens 9, One Nation 2, Centre Alliance 2, Lambie Network 1, independents 1 House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Liberal/National coalition 41.4%, ALP 33.3%, The Greens 10.4%, Katter's Australian Party .49%, Centre Alliance .33%, independents 3.37%, other 10.63%; seats by party - Liberal/National Coalition 77, ALP 68, The Greens 1, Katter's Australian Party 1, Centre Alliance 1, independent 3 Judicial branch: highest courts: High Court of Australia (consists of 7 justices, including the chief justice); note - each of the 6 states, 2 territories, and Norfolk Island has a Supreme Court; the High Court is the final appellate court beyond the state and territory supreme courts judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general in council for life with mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: subordinate courts: subordinate courts at the federal level: Federal Court; Federal Magistrates' Courts of Australia; Family Court; subordinate courts at the state and territory level: Local Court - New South Wales; Magistrates' Courts – Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory; District Courts – New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia; County Court – Victoria; Family Court – Western Australia; Court of Petty Sessions – Norfolk Island Political parties and leaders: Australian Greens Party [Richard DI NATALE] Australian Labor Party or ALP [Anthony ALBANESE] Country Liberal Party or CLP [Gary HIGGINS] Liberal National Party of Queensland or LNP [Deborah FRECKLINGTON] Liberal Party of Australia [Scott MORRISON] The Nationals [Michael MCCORMACK] Centre Alliance [Nick XENOPHON] Pauline Hanson’s One Nation [Pauline HANSON] International organization participation: ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC National symbol(s): Commonwealth Star (seven-pointed Star of Federation), golden wattle tree (Acacia pycnantha Benth), kangaroo, emu; national colors: green, gold National anthem: name: Advance Australia Fair lyrics/music: Peter Dodds McCORMICK note: adopted 1984; although originally written in the late 19th century, the anthem was not used for all official occasions until 1984; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom) Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph Benedict HOCKEY (since 28 January 2016) consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arthur B. CULVAHOUSE (since 19 February 2019) embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 mailing address: APO AP 96549 consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney Australia is an open market with minimal restrictions on imports of goods and services. The process of opening up has increased productivity, stimulated growth, and made the economy more flexible and dynamic. Australia plays an active role in the WTO, APEC, the G20, and other trade forums. Australia’s free trade agreement (FTA) with China entered into force in 2015, adding to existing FTAs with the Republic of Korea, Japan, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and the US, and a regional FTA with ASEAN and New Zealand. Australia continues to negotiate bilateral agreements with Indonesia, as well as larger agreements with its Pacific neighbors and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and an Asia-wide Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership that includes the 10 ASEAN countries and China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and India. Australia is a significant exporter of natural resources, energy, and food. Australia's abundant and diverse natural resources attract high levels of foreign investment and include extensive reserves of coal, iron, copper, gold, natural gas, uranium, and renewable energy sources. A series of major investments, such as the US$40 billion Gorgon Liquid Natural Gas Project, will significantly expand the resources sector. For nearly two decades up till 2017, Australia had benefited from a dramatic surge in its terms of trade. As export prices increased faster than import prices, the economy experienced continuous growth, low unemployment, contained inflation, very low public debt, and a strong and stable financial system. Australia entered 2018 facing a range of growth constraints, principally driven by the sharp fall in global prices of key export commodities. Demand for resources and energy from Asia and especially China is growing at a slower pace and sharp drops in export prices have impacted growth. GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.248 trillion (2017 est.) $1.221 trillion (2016 est.) $1.19 trillion (2015 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $1.38 trillion (2017 est.) Gross national saving: 21% of GDP (2017 est.) 20.5% of GDP (2016 est.) 21.5% of GDP (2015 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 56.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 21.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -21% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3.6% (2017 est.) industry: 25.3% (2017 est.) services: 71.2% (2017 est.) Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel Labor force: 12.91 million (2017 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2% Budget: revenues: 490 billion (2017 est.) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (2017 est.) 1.3% (2016 est.) Exports - commodities: iron ore, coal, gold, natural gas, beef, aluminum ores and conc, wheat, meat (excluding beef), wool, alumina, alcohol Exports - partners: China 33.5%, Japan 14.6%, South Korea 6.6%, India 5%, Hong Kong 4% (2017) Imports: $221 billion (2017 est.) $198.7 billion (2016 est.) Imports - commodities: motor vehicles, refined petroleum, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude petroleum, medicaments, goods vehicles, gold, computers Imports - partners: China 22.9%, US 10.8%, Japan 7.5%, Thailand 5.1%, Germany 4.9%, South Korea 4.5% (2017) Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $66.58 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $55.07 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Debt - external: $1.714 trillion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.547 trillion (31 December 2016 est.) Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: $509.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $441.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.) Exchange rates: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.311 (2017 est.) 1.3442 (2016 est.) 1.3442 (2015 est.) 1.3291 (2014 est.) 1.1094 (2013 est.) Electricity - production: 243 billion kWh (2016 est.) Natural gas - production: 105.2 billion cu m (2017 est.) Natural gas - imports: 5.776 billion cu m (2017 est.) Cellular Phones in use: total subscriptions: 27.553 million Telephone system: general assessment: excellent domestic and international service; domestic satellite system; significant use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile telephones; 5G technologies in preparation and anticipation for 2020 (2018) domestic: more subscribers to mobile services than there are people; 90% of all mobile device sales are now smartphones, growth in mobile traffic brisk; 36 per 100 fixed-line, 119 per 100 mobile-cellular (2018) international: country code - 61; landing points for more than 20 submarine cables including: the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the INDIGO-Central, INDIGO West and ASC, North West Cable System, Australia-Papua New Guinea cable, CSCS, PPC-1, Gondwana-1, SCCN, Hawaiki, TGA, Basslink, Bass Strait-1, Bass Strait-2, JGA-S, with links to other Australian cities, New Zealand and many countries in southeast Asia, US and Europe; the H2 Cable, AJC, Telstra Endeavor, Southern Cross NEXT with links to Japan, Hong Kong, and other Pacific Ocean countries as well as the US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat, 2 Globalstar, 5 other (2019) Broadcast media: the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) runs multiple national and local radio networks and TV stations, as well as Australia Network, a TV service that broadcasts throughout the Asia-Pacific region and is the main public broadcaster; Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), a second large public broadcaster, operates radio and TV networks broadcasting in multiple languages; several large national commercial TV networks, a large number of local commercial TV stations, and hundreds of commercial radio stations are accessible; cable and satellite systems are available Internet country code: .au 1,524 to 2,437 m: 155 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 155 (2017) Pipelines: 637 km condensate/gas, 30054 km gas, 240 km liquid petroleum gas, 3609 km oil, 110 km oil/gas/water, 72 km refined products (2013) (2015) standard gauge: 17,446 km 1.435-m gauge (650 km electrified) (2015) narrow gauge: 12,318 km 1.067-m gauge (2,075.5 km electrified) (2015) broad gauge: 3,247 km 1.600-m gauge (372 km electrified) (2015) (2015) urban: 145,928 km (2015) non-urban: 727,645 km (2015) Waterways: 2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling River systems) (2011) by type: bulk carrier 4, general cargo 84, oil tanker 7, other 468 (2018) Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Fremantle, Geelong, Gladstone, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Adelaide, Port Kembla, Sydney container port(s) (TEUs): Melbourne (2,806,436), Sydney (2,530,122) (2017) LNG terminal(s) (export): Darwin, Karratha, Burrup, Curtis Island dry bulk cargo port(s): Dampier (iron ore), Dalrymple Bay (coal), Hay Point (coal), Port Hedland (iron ore), Port Walcott (iron ore) Military branches: Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army (includes Special Operations Command), Royal Australian Navy (includes Naval Aviation Force), Royal Australian Air Force, Joint Operations Command (JOC) (2016) Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in most combat roles (2018) Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2016) 1.98% of GDP (2015) 1.8% of GDP (2014) 1.68% of GDP (2013) 1.7% of GDP (2012) Disputes - International: In 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste agreed to a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing arrangement and deferred a maritime boundary; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica; Australia's 2004 submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf extends its continental margins over 3.37 million square kilometers, expanding its seabed roughly 30 percent beyond its claimed EEZ; all borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and EEZ boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 11,932 (Afghanistan), 10,702 (Iran), 5,061 (Pakistan) (2018) Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines SpainUnited StatesRussiaBrazilFranceUnited KingdomHong KongItalyGermanyPortugalChinaCanadaPolandMexicoGreeceNetherlandsBelgiumArgentinaPhilippinesColombiaSouth AfricaIndiaSwitzerlandSloveniaAustraliaTurkeySouth KoreaIrelandNew ZealandHungarySwedenIndonesiaAustriaDenmarkChileUruguayJapanRomaniaVenezuelaUkraineGeorgiaKenyaKazakhstanBangladeshCzechiaBulgariaLatviaTaiwanSlovakiaNorwayMalaysiaIcelandMaltaPeruIsraelLebanonEcuadorSerbiaMozambiqueVietnamDominican RepublicPalestinian TerritoryTunisiaUgandaNigeriaCyprusPanamaMonacoMoroccoZimbabweUnited Arab EmiratesHondurasAzerbaijanJamaicaLuxembourgEgyptFinlandCosta RicaThailandEl Salvador « Previous Country \| Next Country » Back to Flag Counter Overview	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2038
__label__wiki	0.581366	0.581366	This was originally compiled by the Reverend James W. Koons in 1997 and updated in 2004 and 2012. Submitted by Donna Brooke. In 1886, a small brick building on Calhoun Street near Williams was rented to serve as a parochial school for children who lived “south of the tracks” in an area known as “Irish Town”. When this was outgrown, the Owen home on Fairfield Avenue was taken over by Bishop Dwenger to provide four rooms for the increased number of pupils. In 1891, while the church was under construction, Father Delaney built the first real parochial school at the corner of Webster and DeWald streets. The Lyceum construction began in 1910 and this building included an 800-seat auditorium, a gymnasium, bowling alleys, and kitchen and music rooms. It was a place for many decades for shows, dances, plays, meeting and annual reunions and is still in use today. More than 600 pupils were enrolled in the school in 1915 and Father Delaney was able to obtain four lots facing on Butler Street behind the Lyceum building. Construction of a magnificent new school was begun in 1917 and completed in September , 1918, with sixteen classrooms. There were 639 students in grades one through eight that year.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2040
__label__wiki	0.709561	0.709561	21 Times Exiting Rep. Luis Gutierrez Touted Open-Borders November 28, 2017 in News by RBN Staff Source: Breitbart \| JOHN BINDER As Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) is reportedly set to exit Congress, Breitbart News revisits 21 reports showing the pro-amnesty Congressman at his most extreme, unhinged open-borders moments. 1. That time when Luis Gutierrez Said His “Only One Loyalty” Was to Immigrants, Not Americans Gutierrez has worked tirelessly to expand immigration levels and open America’s borders up to the rest of the world. As Gutierrez once declared, “I have only one loyalty…and that’s to the immigrant community.” 2. When Luis Gutierrez Came Unhinged on an Immigration Expert During a Congressional Hearing Gutierrez accused [the Center for Immigration Studies’ Jessica] Vaughan of “exploiting” Steinle’s death by pointing out that defiant local authorities refused to cooperate with immigration law enforcement, and that Gutierrez himself scoffed at her murder. Gutierrez, always audacious, adopted Steinle’s murder as a way to plug his own political career. “Apparently,” Gutierrez said as he removed his glasses and gathered himself up in a fury, “people have decided to besmirch people’s reputation, and take their words, and exploit the death of a beautiful young American woman. And I will not simply stand here and remain silent while that happens. You may not believe that we should have, Mrs. Vaughan, a fixing of our broken immigration system. But don’t exploit a young woman’s death in order to receive a paycheck to put food on your table.” That Americans have lost beloved family members to illegal aliens made no impression on Gutierrez. He demanded Vaughan stop talking about immigration altogether. “You should find a more decent and practical way about going about your living,” he shouted. 3. When Luis Gutierrez Supported Rep. Paul Ryan for House Speaker So He Could Push His Open Borders Agenda Rep. Luis Gutierrez’s endorsement of Paul Ryan for Speaker of the House has drawn new attention to Ryan’s two-decade history of pushing for open borders immigration policies. A previously little noticed 2013 video of Ryan and Gutierrez stumping for Sen. Marco Rubio’s amnesty bill—in which the two make a candid pitch for unlimited immigration—shows just how far Ryan is willing to go to push for open borders policies. In the wide-ranging 53-minute video, which took place in Chicago, both Gutierrez and Ryan outline their shared plan for adopting open borders: that is, a national policy of allowing companies to bring in and hire as many foreign workers as they would like. This “free movement” of people across national boundaries is the centerpiece of the open borders ideology to which Ryan has devoted much of his career. 4. When Luis Gutierrez Pushed for Amnesty in Order to ‘Punish’ Americans Who Are Against Illegal Immigration Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) believes Hispanics should get amnesty and citizenship to punish Americans who are against illegal immigration. After he told the La Raza conference in Los Angeles that President Barack Obama gave the Latino community a “down payment” with his temporary amnesty program that halted the deportations “of our people,” Gutierrez urged Hispanics to seek retribution at the ballot box. 5. When Luis Gutierrez Said “Every Institution in America” Should Ignore Federal Immigration Laws Until Amnesty is Passed Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) suggested that until Congress passes sweeping amnesty legislation, “every institution in America” should find ways to ignore or work around federal immigration laws. He also said that President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action program was the first step in implementing more amnesty programs. Testifying before a Senate Subcommittee hearing in Chicago on “Immigrant Enlistment” that Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired, Gutierrez said that “every institution in America, including our military, must work around the inability of our federal government and the U.S. House of Representatives to fix our immigration system.” 6. When Luis Gutierrez Compared Fighting for Open Borders to the Civil Rights Movement Ahead of the Martin Luther King holiday, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) compared the fight for amnesty for illegal immigrants to the march for voting rights in Selma, Alabama during a New Jersey stop on his nationwide executive amnesty tour. Gutierrez reportedly held a press conference in New Jersey with Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) at the “Comunidad Cristiana Church in Elizabeth” in which claimed that today’s pro-amnesty movement is the “civil rights movement of our time.” 7. When Luis Gutierrez Said He Sees His “Own Daughter” in Illegal Aliens Flooding Across U.S.-Mexico Border During this weekend’s Political Capital, Hunt asked Gutierrez whether “some racism” was involved in the opposition to illegal immigrants. “When I see those children, I see my own daughter. I can’t help but see that,” Gutierrez, who was born in Chicago, answered. “I see my nieces and nephews.” Gutierrez continued, “I just wonder, don’t you see your children and other children in the same? Because that’s really what this is about.” 8. When Luis Gutierrez Demanded the Parents of Young Illegal Aliens Be “Freed” From Deportation Speaking at the National Council of La Raza conference in Los Angeles, Gutierrez said that Obama assured him during a White House meeting with Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus last week that he would be as “generous and broad” as he can to “stop the deportation of our people each and every day.” “You gave us a down payment when you freed 600,000 DREAMers from deportation,” Gutierrez said. “Now it is time for the president in the United States… [to] free the Mom and Dads of the DREAMers. And to go further. Be broad and expansive and generous.” 9. When Luis Gutierrez Said If GOP Didn’t Pass Amnesty, President George W. Bush Would Be Last Republican President https://youtu.be/3HYdpxdDCOI 10. When Luis Gutierrez Said Breitbart News is Too Harsh on Illegal Immigration Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) whined about Breitbart News’ coverage of illegal immigrants and Muslim refugees during his recent commencement address at Cambridge College. “Breitbart and Fox News didn’t invent their opinions on Mexicans and Central Americans or Muslims,” he claimed the day after the London Bridge terror attacks. “They’re just recycling them.” 11. When Luis Gutierrez Teamed Up With Paul Ryan to Sell Open Borders to Americans “We want to have an immigration system that… has gates open to the people who are coming in pursuit of their version of the American dream,” Ryan told the crowd. Ryan made the case for dissolving borders—declaring unabashedly that the United States “is more than [its] borders.” “America is more than just a country,” Ryan said. “It’s more than Chicago, or Wisconsin. It’s more than our borders. America is an idea. It’s a very precious idea.” 12. When Luis Gutierrez Tried to Guilt Americans into Supporting Amnesty for Illegal Aliens In his address, Gutierrez made a craven attempt to tweak the audience’s sense of class guilt, suggesting that they owed citizenship to the people who mow their lawns, babysit their kids, and pour their white wine: Who are they? You know who they are. They pour the water in your glass when you go to dinner. And they wash the dishes before and after they pour that water in your glass. You know that. You can’t wash your car in the city of Chicago without coming across them. You know when you see that freshly-made bed and you see Maria walking out of the room as you–you don’t ask about her documentation. Does she bring any fear? No, you’re happy she made your bed and has it ready for you at the end of the day. Every day in Chicago, I see–I’ve seen this hundreds of different times. Undocumented women coming early in the morning to care [for] and to nurture the children of American citizens. You give them your most precious asset, your own children, to care for. And when they’re sick, they heal them. And when they’re hungry, they feed them. We know that they’re caring for American citizens’ children. And everybody that’s been on a golf course has seen them. And when José comes to mow your lawn–now, do you ever say, “Whoa! I’m scared,” in the presence of these people? “They are somehow menacing to me”? No. You drink the water, you drink the Chardonnay, right? You eat the fruit, and the salad, and you let them take care of your kids and mow your lawn. And now it is time, at the end of the day, after they sweat and they toil that they can receive the same satisfaction in being a citizen of the United States of America just like you. 13. When Luis Gutierrez Started Handing Out “Do Not Deport Me” Toolkits to Illegal Aliens Chicago Congressman Luis Gutierrez has launched a new effort to aide illegal aliens to resist deportation with a “toolkit” that contains a “get out of deportation” card. Gutierrez is handing out what he is calling the Family Defender Toolkit contained in a pamphlet that includes an “emergency” card that informs illegal immigrants how to avoid deportation. 14. When Luis Gutierrez Promoted Jeb Bush’s Pro-Amnesty Presidential Campaign On Tuesday, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) said former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is the GOP 2016 contender who has the best positions on amnesty for illegal immigrants. At the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, Gutierrez was asked which GOP presidential candidate he “would be able to work with best” on immigration issues. “We have to stay with the Bush family,” Gutierrez responded while praising George W. Bush for trying twice to get comprehensive amnesty legislation last decade. 15. When Luis Gutierrez Sanctuary Cities Protecting Criminal Illegal Aliens Were “Fourth Amendment Cities” https://twitter.com/NewDay/status/847064964452024320 16. When Luis Gutierrez Compared Executive Amnesty to Desegregating the U.S. Military On Tuesday, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) compared President Barack Obama’s forthcoming executive amnesty to the desegregation of the U.S. military. Gutierrez, who has been one of the most vocal pro-amnesty advocates, said on the House floor that President Harry Truman unilaterally desegregated the military because he “knew that legislation mandating desegregation would not pass through the U.S. Congress, which was dominated by Southern segregationists whom, it is worth remembering, were just like Truman–Democrats.” 17. When Luis Gutierrez Said Trump’s Pro-American Immigration Agenda is “Absolutely” Racist Gutiérrez said, “I think this is absolutely a racist proposal. There is no doubt in my mind. If you take diversity visas, Alex. everyone knows 90 percent of the diversity visas go to who? Black people who live in Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa or the Caribbean. And you just eliminate it? Senator Rubio’s parents wouldn’t have made it through this. My parents wouldn’t have made it through it. They didn’t have a college education. They couldn’t speak English and, yet, Rubio went on to the Senate, and I went on to the House of Representatives.” 18. When Luis Gutierrez Suggested That Conservatives “Hate All Our Children” for Wanting to Stop Illegal Immigration at The Border The often outspoken Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), blasted Republicans for their efforts to address the border crisis, saying that they had reached the “least common denominator of hatefulness.” Gutierrez made his comments during a press conference with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. 19. When Luis Gutierrez Refused to Attend Trump’s Inauguration Over His “America First” Immigration Agenda “I’ve been to, let me see, two Clinton inaugurations,” Gutiérrez said. “I’ve been to two of them for Bush. I’ve been to two of them for Obama. I’m not going to this inauguration. I can’t go to this inauguration because he continues to spew hatred, bigotry and prejudice. Even after, he said he was going to bring us all together. He was going to unify us, but he’s not. He continues to spew this kind of hatred. So I’m not going to be there.” 20. When Luis Gutierrez Said Illegal Immigration Was a “Human Rights” Issue According to Gutierrez, illegal immigration is “really an issue of human rights” for the immigrants to come into the country. He also said U.S. laws allow immigrants to seek refuge and asylum. “This is really an issue of human rights and the rights of these people to come here. I know as the American public looks at them, remember they didn’t come here illegally. We have laws on our books that allow people to come and seek refuge and asylum in the United States of America, so they are using the laws of the United States of America.” 21. When Luis Gutierrez Got Himself Arrested While Protesting in Support for Open Borders Gutierrez, who sat in front of a sign that read “Stop Separating Our Families” with a line of protesters, refused to leave when asked by the police. Gutierrez was in attendance at a rally urging President Obama to do more to stop the deportation of illegal immigrants. MRCTV’s Joe Schoffstall caught up with Gutierrez before he was arrested in which he said, “I think (President Obama) should use the broad discretionary power that the laws have conferred upon him and make decisions, smart decisions” in regards to deportation. The arrest occurred around 4:40 pm. Tags: Amnesty, Big Government, Congress, Democrats, gutierrez, Illegal Aliens, Illegal Immigration, Immigration, legal immigration, Luis Gutierrez, mass immigration, Open Borders, President Trump, Republicans, Trump Comments Off on 21 Times Exiting Rep. Luis Gutierrez Touted Open-Borders ← Russian bishop’s claim that Jews killed the czar draws fury THIS is Who was REMOVED from JFK File Release 2017 – Truth is Stranger than Fiction →	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2041
__label__wiki	0.698395	0.698395	Curated by John Nicholas Brown Center Although technically a village within the town of Little Compton, Adamsville has been a vibrant, independent community since its founding in the 1600s. Its location at the head of a river and along an overland route connecting New Bedford to Newport made it an important center for commerce and trade. Over the years, dozens of small stores have come and gone from the community, selling dry goods, clothing, even moonshine. They served not just as stores, but as post offices, men’s hangouts, and even taverns. Adamsville's large mill pond, which provided power to the local mills, is also an important part of the community's economic history. Today, the village is redefining itself in the twenty first century, serving as a home to both year-round and summer residents as well as continuing to be the business center of the community. Adamsville Wayside Library Adamsville had its very own library in the early 1920s. It was housed in the north room of Hattie and Eugene Shurtleff's house at the corner of Colebrook and Stone Church Roads. The Shurtleff's daughter Venetta (Nettie) ran the library.… Original Adamsville Border The Plymouth Court established Adamsville as part of "Sakonnet" in the seventeenth century. The settlement adopted the name "Little Compton" in 1683 (check). Although Adamsville village had no official name at that time, many… The Border Today The border between Adamsville and Westport was changed in 1747 from the west bank of the Westport River (which is just to the East of Brayton's Garage) to this location in the middle of the mill pond. The new border cut though established lots… The Spite Tower Built in 1905, the Spite Tower’s history is clouded by legend. Dr. John Hathaway and his second wife, Claudia Church, built this unique structure for reasons that have been debated for decades. Late in the eighteenth century, the Church… The Rhode Island Red Monument Imagine a stereotypical small farm with a few chickens pecking around the yard, the sun shining on their bright red feathers. This image is close to the reality in Little Compton today, but for a few decades the town was the center of an… Adamsville Hill: A Rum Runner's Hideout “Young man, if you don’t get out you’re going to end up with a little round hole in the middle of your forehead.” The words were polite and calm, but ominous, spoken to a youthful group of summer people during a late night visit to Briggs Beach… Adamsville Odd Fellows: Electra Lodge Little Compton was once full of Odd Fellows. That’s no insult. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a fraternal and philanthropic organization established in seventeenth-century England. It arrived on American shores in 1819, and in 1875,… Old Stone Baptist Church There was a time when, if a bride wanted to walk up the aisle at the Old Stone Baptist Church, she had to hoist herself, gown and all, through one of the church’s back windows. Most churches place the pulpit and the main entrance at opposite ends… Number Six School and Adamsville Church In the early 1800s local Baptists established the Christian Baptist Church here at the top of Adamsville Hill; after the church closed, the building was later used as a school. Today, the buried foundation is all that remains of the building that… Manchester's Store Ebenezer Church built the original general store in 1820 and sold it to his partner Philip Manchester in 1864. Philip’s son Abraham slept every night at the store from the time he was six years old, taking over its operation as an adult. He was known… Wheeler Field: A Gift to the Children of Adamsville Deborah Manchester gave Wheeler Ball Field to the town for “the children of Adamsville” in honor of her nephew, Philip Manchester Wheeler, and great-nephew, Stafford Manchester Wheeler who was killed in World War II. Miss Debbie worked for many years… Gray's Grist Mill Adamsville’s first mill was established by Philip Taber prior to 1700. Most early mills in the Little Compton area were wind-powered, but in order to saw wood, it was necessary to have water power. The Adamsville mill pond provided power for both a… Gray's Store Designated the “Oldest Continuously Operating Store in the United States” in 2007 by Rhode Island officials, Gray’s Store was forced to close after the unexpected death of its owner Grayton Waite in 2012. The store was first established by Samuel… Adamsville Mill Pond This pond and its link to the West Branch of the Westport River are the primary reasons for Adamsville's existence. These natural resources created an ideal spot for both a gristmill and a sawmill. Early settlers were quick to realize the area’s…	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2043
__label__cc	0.522443	0.477557	ANGRY IDEOLOGUES vs. THE STATISTS Filed under: Politics, conservative reform — Rick Moran @ 11:40 am This is another installment in my award winning series of blog posts on “What Ails Conservatism?” (Note: The awards have been of the “RINO of the Day” and “Squish of the Month” variety). The purpose of this series has been to clarify my own thinking about modern conservatism and it’s relevance in a 21st century industrialized democracy of 300 million people. Conor Friedersdorf, writing at Andrew Sullivan’s The Daily Dish, has a thoughtful critique of Mark Levin’s huge bestseller Liberty and Tyranny. It caught my eye because I finished the book last week and was as impressed as Conor with some of Levin’s arguments, especially how he constructed a logical, and coherent framework for applying traditional conservatism to problems associated with modern America. It was a brave attempt to marry philosophy with politics and Mr. Levin should be congratulated for going beyond the usual cotton candy conservatism we get from the Hannity’s and Becks of the right. However, like Conor, I was troubled by what might be termed, Levin’s problem with “enemy identification: As I reflect on Liberty and Tyranny’s final pages, however, I find myself unable to respond without addressing a larger feature of the book that I regard as its most consequential flaw: Its every section, including the Epilogue, references few if any concepts as often as “Statism.” The United States that he comments on isn’t one that pits Republicans against Democrats, or conservatives against liberals, or the center right against the center left, or where citizens of complicated political persuasions — mixing ideology, pragmatism and ignorance — do some combination of participating in politics and ignoring it. Instead Mark Levin’s America is one where the conservatives are pitted against the Statists, or to put things as he would, where liberty is pitted against tyranny. Freidersdorf never gives us his definition of “statism” so it is impossible to discover why he believes the label is so mis-applied in Levin’s book. Conor quotes Levin’s thesis: The Modern Liberal believes in the supremacy of the state, thereby rejecting the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the order of the civil society, in whole or in part. For the Modern Liberal, the individual’s imperfection and personal pursuits impede the objective of a utopian state. In this, Modern Liberalism promotes what French historian Alexis de Tocqueville described as a soft tyranny, which becomes increasingly more oppressive, potentially leading to a hard tyranny (some form of totalitarianism). As the word “liberal” is, in its classical meaning, the opposite of authoritarian, it is more accurate, therefore, to characterize the Modern Liberal as a statist. Do “modern liberals” desire to create a “Utopia?” That is an exaggeration. Liberals are no more enamored of Utopia than conservatives. Both political philosophies seek to create societies that emphasize different virtues; self reliance vs. community; moral order vs. fairness; personal responsibility vs. the collective good. It is also mis-leading (though not entirely inaccurate) to say that liberals favor the “supremacy of the state.” It is more accurate to say that the modern left favors promoting “the collective good” at the expense of “selfish” individuality. They do not dismiss individual rights. They simply believe that in some instances - more than is healthy for liberty’s sake - those rights should be trumped by what is best for all. This flies in the face of Kirk’s “voluntary community” but is a far cry of worshiping at the altar of “statism.” And Conor nails it when he takes Levin to task for generalizing and ultimately, mis-identifying the enemy: Terrible as he sounds, The Statist that Mr. Levin describes—his ill deeds keep growing as the book winds down–would at least play a clarifying role in American politics if he actually existed. Imagine how useful a blueprint Mr. Levin’s book would prove if the primary opponents of conservatives were actually cunning Statists with malign motives and hatred of liberty in their hearts. But re-read all the attributes that describe the Statist. Does anyone in American politics fit that description, let alone a plurality sizable enough to enact their agenda? In fact, the main antagonists that the American conservative vies with in politics are the independent, the liberal, the center left Democrat, the progressive, even some among the apolitical. The average people who support “Statist” President Obama’s domestic agenda are apolitical African American women who work in cubicles, law firm associates who earn six figure salaries, and working parents who fret about being uninsured—not utopian radicals bent on advancing a counterrevolution that destroys the freedom won by the Founding generation. Levin obviously has in mind Democrats and liberals who support the agenda of President Obama - an agenda full of “solutions” to problems like health care, climate change, education, the home mortgage crisis, and our economic woes. Is this a “statist” manifesto or an attempt by a political party to curry favor with voters by offering to address their real life concerns? I have resisted using terms like “socialist” and especially “communist” to describe the Democrat’s ideology because by strict definition, they are not trying to destroy the free market, repeal individual rights (as always, making an exception for 2nd amendment guarantees), set up a dictatorship, or impose “tyranny - soft or hard - on the American people. Sllippery slope arguments are unconvincing, if only because the logical fallacy involved in the “boiling frog” scenario where we all just sit back and allow the government to descend into a kind of fascism, is belied by the stink being made by conservatives over some of Obama’s more anti-free market actions today. Can you imagine if Obama really tried to take control of the economy? I daresay we wouldn’t need Glenn Beck, weeping on live television about how bad things are with Obama as president to activate conservatives. And we wouldn’t be alone. Moderates, libertarians, classical liberals, and others would be standing with us, side by side, to strenuously oppose any move to socialize the entire economy. But I too, have been guilty of using the word “statist” to describe what Obama and the Democrats have been doing. My definition is a little more benign than Levin’s in that the agenda being promoted by the left would not lead to tyranny, but rather a highly constricted free market of the sort that is practiced in many European social democracies; over-regulated markets that stifle inventiveness, innovation, and entrepreneurship. With such regulation necessarily comes higher taxes on all: reason enough to oppose the Democrats and thwart their plans for “fairness, transparency, and accountability” in the free market. But I see Friedersdorf’s point. There may be a small clique on the left that would love to see an America that they could “guide” in a paternalistic sort of way. George Soros and his billionaire buddies come to mind. But in order to kill the free market, enslave the American people, gain control of the media, and destroy liberty, those ordinary folk Conor mentioned would have to be convinced that all of this would make their lives better - a tall order, that. This problem with mis-identification that Conor writes about as well as the wrong headed definitions of where Obama and the Democrats are trying to take the country, feed what has become a perceived paranoia among many conservatives that is driving people away from the movement rather than rallying them to our standard. At bottom is the argument I’ve been trying to advance in this series; that the excessive ideology fueling the rage that manifests itself in paranoid rantings on the internet against imagined socialism, the purging of perceived apostates, the obsession with ideological purity, and more recently, shouted down speakers at health care town halls - all of this damages conservatism in the eyes of people who might be inclined to support our cause. It also makes it extraordinarily easy for the opposition to paint conservatives as too emotional to trust with running the government. Bruce Bartlett has some similar thoughts: I think the party got seriously on the wrong track during the George W. Bush years, as I explained in my Impostor book. In my opinion, it no longer bears any resemblance to the party of Ronald Reagan. I still consider myself to be a Reaganite. But I don’t see any others anywhere in the GOP these days, which is why I consider myself to be an independent. Mindless partisanship has replaced principled conservatism. What passes for principle in the party these days is “what can we do to screw the Democrats today.” How else can you explain things like that insane op-ed Michael Steele had in the Washington Post on Monday? I am not alone. When I talk to old timers from the Reagan years, many express the same concerns I have. But they all work for Republican-oriented think tanks like AEI and Hoover and don’t wish to be fired like I was from NCPA . Or they just don’t want to be bothered or lose friends. As a free agent I am able to say what they can’t or won’t say publicly. I think the Republican Party is in the same boat the Democrats were in in the early eighties — dominated by extremists unable to see how badly their party was alienating moderates and independents. I don’t think you can accuse Bartlett, Friedersorf, or I for that matter, of lacking principles. I have made the argument that pragmatists are as principled as any ideologue. Where the extremists and I part company is in the application of those principles to real world politics. Not hating your opponent should not disqualify you from being a conservative, nor should dismissing the notion that Obama is a socialist be cause enough to question one’s conservative bona fides. Principled opposition in a republic must be based on the golden rule; respect others as you yourself would like to be respected. No, I don’t always live up to that credo. But I would like to think that I never question the good intentions of my foes. Wrong, not evil. And on a related note, I would argue with Mark Levin that liberty does not exist in a vacuum, nor can free people exist apart from the community that bred them. There are responsibilities that go along with enjoying liberty that includes the recognition that we are not islands unto ourselves, and that government, however imperfect it can be, is nevertheless not the implacable enemy of liberty some conservatives believe. A danger at times? Yes. But if conservatism is to triumph again, we must demonstrate that conservative principles can be applied to running government better than the those of the opposition. That is the essence of politics and we would do well to remember it. TRENDS FOR 2010 BEGINNING TO WORRY DEMOCRATS Filed under: Decision 2010, Decision 2012, Politics — Rick Moran @ 8:34 am Yes, it’s way too early to make any predictions, but then, pollsters and pundits wouldn’t have anything to write about which means they’d be out of a job for a year or so. Actually, the value of predictions today is relevant to the current political debate over health care. Leading analysts who gauge the mood of the public on a month to month, even week to week basis, see outliers that may - or may not - be indicative of trends. Trends represent long term outlooks rather than the “snapshot” that polls generally give us. Get enough snapshots of how people are thinking, and you can trace how people are feeling about an issue on a graph. That’s the essence of strategic polling and politicians - even this far out from the 2010 election - ignore the information at their own peril. So when several of the best analysts in the industry examine the trendlines, as well as the 50-60 congressional districts where vulnerable members from both parties are fighting to remain in office, they put two and two together and come up with scenarios for the election based on science, their own experience, and hunches born out of their insights gleaned over many years of watching politics. What these pollsters are seeing does not bode well for the Democrats as explained by Josh Kraushaar of Politico: After an August recess marked by raucous town halls, troubling polling data and widespread anecdotal evidence of a volatile electorate, the small universe of political analysts who closely follow House races is predicting moderate to heavy Democratic losses in 2010. Some of the most prominent and respected handicappers can now envision an election in which Democrats suffer double-digit losses in the House - not enough to provide the 40 seats necessary to return the GOP to power but enough to put them within striking distance. Nate Silver, an unconventional but deadly accurate pollster who runs the must read site 538.com - and a Democratic consultant - managed to scare the beejeebees out of liberals at the recently concluded Netroots convention: At the mid-August Netroots Nation convention, Nate Silver, a Democratic analyst whose uncannily accurate, stat-driven predictions have made his website 538.com a must read among political junkies, predicted that Republicans will win between 20 and 50 seats next year. He further alarmed an audience of progressive activists by arguing that the GOP has between a 25 and 33 percent chance of winning back control of the House. “A lot of Democratic freshmen and sophomores will be running in a much tougher environment than in 2006 and 2008 and some will adapt to it, but a lot of others will inevitably freak out and end up losing,” Silver told POLITICO. “Complacency is another factor: We have volunteers who worked really hard in 2006 and in 2008 for Obama but it’s less compelling [for them] to preserve the majority.” Is Silver being an alarmist or is there really a 1 in 4 or 1 in 3 chance that the GOP can pull off a shocker? If history is any guide, Nate may have something there. Opposition gains in off year elections are a tradition in American politics with the party out of power winning back seats in 10 of the last 12 such elections. (The average gain has been about 13 seats). But realistically, there would have to be a huge backlash - even bigger than 1994 - for Republicans to regain control of the House. The re-election rate for modern gerrymandered congressional districts tops 98% and the GOP would have to knock that percentage down to 90% in order to gain back the House. A tall order, that. But the Democrats did it in 2006. And given the volatility of the current political climate, it is not beyond imagining, although Silver’s estimate of Republican chances to regain control is not shared by other seasoned pros. I think that Nate is being deliberately provocative. The stars would have to align just right for a GOP takeover of the House to materialize. A perfect storm of failed health care reform, a double dip recession, and perhaps higher than expected inflation could combine to cause the kind of collapse in the political fortunes of Democrats that would give the GOP control of the House. I would place the chances of this occurring somewhere between “Impossible” and “Highly Improbable” - say, from zero to 5%. If the economy improves faster and better than expected, that would alter the trends and Democratic losses may be held to a minimum. There are a lot of variables there as well, but I would put the chances of that happening slightly higher than a GOP takeover; say, 5-10%. But most analysts - even Democratic ones - see the possibility 14 months from election day, that Republican gains could top the average of 13 seats by as much as a factor of 2. That seems reasonable to me - especially given the number of very vulnerable Democrats who won in 2006 and 2008 in districts normally carried by Republican presidential candidates. Another factor that is an unknown will be congressional retirements. The GOP had 29 members leave office more or less voluntarily in 2006 (4 members declined to run because of ethics problems), and the Democrats captured all of them. We’ll have a better idea of who might be leaving after the first of the year. As for the senate, I would say GOP chances of a takeover are even less than the House; say, between a “Cosmic Impossibility” and “When Hell Freezes Over.” And that’s being optimistic. Seriously, the Republicans have too many seats to defend and not enough vulnerable Democrats to have a chance for an upset. Even if the Perfect Storm Scenario laid out above plays out, winning 11 seats is just too steep a hill to climb. If the GOP can gain 3-4 seats - still a tall order - they could consider the election a success. But if the current trends showing double digit gains for Republicans in the House and those modest gains in the Senate play out, it would put the GOP in position to make a realistic run for control in 2012 when a winning president’s coattails can make the difference. It would still be a long shot - I’m thinking that the first real chance for the GOP to regain control is in 2014 if Obama is re-elected and 2016 if a Republican wins in 2012 - but given the eye-popping deficits Obama will be running, anything is possible. A PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON TORTURE WOULD SATISFY NO ONE Filed under: Blogging, Ethics, Government, Politics — Rick Moran @ 12:46 pm As my regular readers know, I have written in the past that I believe the actions of the Bush Administration in authorizing torture broke American and international law and some accounting is necessary in order for us to confront what the government did in our name. I will not rehash the arguments for and against torture. Suffice it to say, I reject the notion that the ends justifies the means for a variety of reasons, and that I believe those who are sincere in their support of Dick Cheney’s rationale for “enhanced interrogation techniques” have lost sight of one of the things that makes us an exceptional nation; our respect and reverence for the rule of law. That said, I have also rejected the idea of torture prosecutions - not because I believe the guilty should get off scott free but because any reasonable and fair minded person looking at the matter knows that the administration believed they were acting in the best interests of the nation, and that they honestly believed they had finessed the treaties and statutes by their stretched, and ultimately legally incorrect justifications for torture. Was it wrong for the Bushies to try to extend a fig leaf of legality over what turned out to be serious violations of domestic law and international agreements? I believe they felt they had little choice. To my mind, that doesn’t make it right, nor am I convinced (nor are interrogation experts) that non-torture techniques couldn’t have elicited the same information. Yes, torture was probably responsible for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed spilling some secrets. But what we’ll never know is if the professional interrogators would have been able to break him down using legal methods. Rejecting the “ticking bomb scenario” as unrealistic, I and many others - including many in the military and intelligence communities who interrogate for a living - have come to the conclusion that the plots broken up because of our waterboarding KSM would probably have been foiled using perfectly legal means of interrogation. But this doesn’t answer the question about prosecuting or not prosecuting offenders - including high level officials who ordered underlings to break the law. Fred Hiatt, writing in WaPo today, has a thoughtful, but ultimately flawed analysis and recommendation: On the one hand, this is a nation of laws. If torture violates U.S. law — and it does — and if Americans engaged in torture — and they did — that cannot be ignored, forgotten, swept away. When other nations violate human rights, the United States objects and insists on some accounting. It can’t ask less of itself. Yet this is also a nation where two political parties compete civilly and alternate power peacefully. Regimes do not seek vengeance, through the courts or otherwise, as they succeed each other. Were Obama to criminally investigate his predecessor for what George W. Bush believed to be decisions made in the national interest, it could trigger a debilitating, unending cycle. By attempting to navigate between these two principles, Obama has satisfied neither. Last week his administration took another step down a path of investigation and recrimination, without coming any closer to truth-telling or justice as most Americans would understand it. Even with the best of intentions - and I do not grant the Obama administration that desire based on the rank partisanship they have demonstrated from top to bottom - any prosecution would necessarily be perceived as being politically motivated. The same holds true for any congressional hearings. The idea that the Democrats could conduct anything approaching non-partisan, or at least fair hearings on this issue, involving the Bushies, is laughable. The pressure on Democrats in Congress to turn the hearings into an inquisition from their rabid, partisan base would be overwhelming. Hiatt suggests a presidential commission: There is a better, though not perfect, solution, one that the administration reportedly considered, rejected and should consider again: a high-level, respected commission to examine the choices made in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, and their consequences. Such a commission would investigate not just the Bush administration but the government, including Congress. It would give former vice president Dick Cheney a forum to make his case on the necessity of “enhanced interrogation techniques.” It would examine the efficacy of such techniques, if any, and the question of whether, even if they work, waterboarding and other methods long considered torture ever can be justified. Some on the left would object because the goal would not be prosecution and punishment; as in South Africa, amnesty might be promised in exchange for truth-telling. Some on the right, and some in government now, would worry about damaging national security with public airing and rehashing of past misdeeds. Hiatt bases the idea for this commission on what he believes is a pre-requisite for such a body to be effectve: that “the two political parties compete civilly…” I don’t know where Mr. Hiatt has been spending his days these last couple of decades but it certainly hasn’t been in Washington if he truly believes what he wrote. There is no civility between the parties. It is all out partisan warefare on any and every issue of consequence - and usually on trivialities as well. Both sides blame the other for this state of affairs, which would be amusing in any other context. The parties are locked in a death grip, driven to hold on with bulldog tenacity by their rabid, uncompromising, unforgiving bases of support whose influence is all out of proportion to their numbers. But these hysterical party men are also their most reliable voters, as well as being a significant source of volunteer campaign help, and a wellspring of donations for the member’s re-election. It doesn’t take much for the base to turn against a member and given how organized they have become, can turn out a primary candidate to challenge the member on a whim. For civility to return to politics, there must be a basic recognition by both sides that the other side has the best interests of America at heart. This does not seem possible when the leadership of both parties toss around epithets like “evil mongers” or “culture of death” to describe the other side. A presidential commission of the kind suggested by Hiatt might succeed in gathering relatively non-partisan members, but couldn’t help being caught up in the vortex of partisan wrangling. Every finding, every witness, every statement made would be filtered through the unique prism found in the base of both parties. It would be marginally different than a select congressional committee and much better than prosecutions. But it would ultimately fail to satisfy either side because it’s mandate would not be to score political points but to find some elusive “truth.” Rather than serve to illuminate what happened and heal the nation, such a commission would eventually be seen by both sides as favoring the opposition. We live in a different country than existed at the time of the 9/11 Commission. The undisguised hatred of President Bush and the virulent reaction of his supporters to defend him by trashing the opposition over the last 8 years has made the atmosphere in Washington worse than it was in 2002. It may be that Hiatt’s idea will turn out to be the best option in a universe of bad choices. But it is not a solution as long as neither side trusts each other enough to put aside the massive distrust each holds for the other and see the wisdom of trying to come to grips with this unique, and to my mind, tragic interlude in our nation’s history. MEN AND WOMEN AND PORN: A LOVE STORY Filed under: History, Manzine — Rick Moran @ 11:41 am It was 10 years ago that I decided to write a piece on “Mainstreaming Pornography.” I had recently gotten out of a relationship with a woman who liked porn, was turned on by porn, and was turned on even more when we watched it together. Believing this was something of an oddity, I researched the subject and discovered to my surprise that there were millions of women who were porn consumers, and that many more actually found certain types of pornography sexually stimulating in the lab. Unfortunately, I never sold the piece. Perhaps I was ahead of my time because today, the fastest growing segment of porn consumers are females - single, married, involved - and the younger the woman, the more likely they are to have their own porn collection stashed away at home. There is still a stigma attached to porn viewing by women (”nice girls don’t do it”) but mores in America are changing fast and if you haven’t noticed, porn sellers are making it a point to market all kinds of adult products to women. Several chain stores like Starship and Good Vibrations report almost half their walk in business comes from women. But what of the porn industry itself? Industry analysts say that more than 70% of all adult films made still cater to the tastes of men. And while those “tastes” may not have changed much since the first guy figured out that a woman has three orifices, and that it feels good sampling all of them, there has been a decided shift in what is considered “mainstream” today as opposed to 30 years ago. Yes, real men like anal sex according to today’s standards. This survey from 2006 revealed changes in attitude toward the act that, according to my unscientific observations, mirror the rise in popularity of anal sex porn in the 1990’s: The survey, released last year, showed that 38.2 percent of men between 20 and 39 and 32.6 percent of women ages 18 to 44 engage in heterosexual anal sex. Compare that with the CDC’s 1992 National Health and Social Life survey, which found that only 25.6 percent of men 18 to 59 and 20.4 percent of women 18 to 59 indulged in it. Here we have a classic case study of media influence; did the rise in interest in anal sex drive the porn industry to make more films in that genre or did the explosion of films portraying anal sex in the 1980’s and 90’s drive the curiosity seekers to try it in their own lives? This leads to a further question; what influence does pornography have on sexual practices in America? Modern pornography - dating to the Victorian era where the camera was first employed to take risque pictures - has never been much of a mystery for men. If you’ve viewed any classic porn, you know that much if it is rather vanilla in nature. Classic woman alone, one or two women with one or two (or more) men, two women — all catering to common males fantasies and are still staples of the porn industry today. Of course, there were examples of homosexual porn as well as rare fetish porn, but by and large, the market catered to men with “ordinary” tastes in sex. This held true through the 1970’s after the breakthrough films Deep Throat, and Behind the Green Door made it hip to take your date to the local “art house.” But the invention of the VCR changed the porn industry forever. Now, because porn consumerism exploded, even fetish and gay videos could find a niche in the market and make big money. Today on the internet, I challenge you to invent a fetish and not already find dozens of porn titles that cater to it. Everything from head to toe, hair to ankle worship, and all the bodily functions in between now has its own sub-genre on streaming porn sites. I suppose this is progress but since I’m pretty much of a vanilla sort of fellow myself, I have refrained from investigating. Most of these fetish films cater to men. But interestingly, women seem to get aroused watching just about any kind of pornography: Even more compelling were the results of a 2004 study at Northwestern University that also assessed the effect of porn on genital arousal. Mind you, a copy of “Buffy the Vampire Layer” and a lubed-up feedback device isn’t most girls’ idea of a hot night in. But when the researchers showed gay, lesbian, and straight porn to heterosexual and homosexual women and men, they found that while the men responded more intensely to porn that mirrored their particular gender orientation, the women tended to like it all. Or at least their bodies did. Today’s internet porn recognizes the surging female audience in a variety of ways. The two biggest pay-per-minute sites — HotMovies.com and AEBN.com — feature a “For Women” genre that streams movies with more of a storyline, as well as films that realize specific female fantasies. HotMovies has a genre with movies directed by women, another fast growing facet of the adult film business. No stats are available from the two streaming video sites regarding female viewership, but Hustler’s Theresa Flynt reports that 56% of their DVD sales are made to women. The cultural earthquake being caused by the widespread acceptance of pornography by both sexes has yet to be measured. How does it affect our attitudes toward partner sex? Toward women? Men? Seeing that porn is an estimated $57 billion dollar industry world wide ($10-14 billion in the US), the social scientists will probably have enough data to keep them busy for years. WHAT ABOUT THAT MEMO SHOWING KENNEDY WORKING AGAINST AMERICAN INTERESTS? Filed under: History, Politics — Rick Moran @ 9:14 am Some would go farther and say that the memorandum from Victor Chebrikov, the top man at the KGB that was addressed to Yuri Andropov, the top man in the entire USSR, outlining a secret proposal made by Senator Ted Kennedy to the Soviets to help them “understand Reagan” in return for their help in making him president, constitutes treason. It’s not a word to throw around lightly and the reason I refrain from using it is because I am unsure Kennedy’s actions meet the definition. Kennedy was not in direct contact with Andropov, using his good friend John Tunney, former senator from California, as a messenger boy to deliver the proposal to the Soviets. And he wasn’t proposing to betray any secrets. At the time this memo was first released (1992), it was completely ignored by the American press. But I vividly recall reading about it when Paul Kengor published his book The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism. There was a brief firestorm on the internet with Kennedy supporters pointing out that it was possible that Tunney - a notorious loose cannon - could have concocted the whole thing without Kennedy’s knowledge. Kennedy office issued a statement saying that the interpretation of the memo was “way off the mark,” but didn’t deny its authenticity. This Peter Robinson piece in Forbes details what Kennedy was asking: Kennedy’s message was simple. He proposed an unabashed quid pro quo. Kennedy would lend Andropov a hand in dealing with President Reagan. In return, the Soviet leader would lend the Democratic Party a hand in challenging Reagan in the 1984 presidential election. “The only real potential threats to Reagan are problems of war and peace and Soviet-American relations,” the memorandum stated. “These issues, according to the senator, will without a doubt become the most important of the election campaign.” Kennedy made Andropov a couple of specific offers. First he offered to visit Moscow. “The main purpose of the meeting, according to the senator, would be to arm Soviet officials with explanations regarding problems of nuclear disarmament so they may be better prepared and more convincing during appearances in the USA.” Kennedy would help the Soviets deal with Reagan by telling them how to brush up their propaganda. Then he offered to make it possible for Andropov to sit down for a few interviews on American television. “A direct appeal … to the American people will, without a doubt, attract a great deal of attention and interest in the country. … If the proposal is recognized as worthy, then Kennedy and his friends will bring about suitable steps to have representatives of the largest television companies in the USA contact Y.V. Andropov for an invitation to Moscow for the interviews. … And then there is this tidbit about Teddy wanting to run for president in 1988 and wanting Soviet help in boosting his campaign: Kennedy’s motives? “Like other rational people,” the memorandum explained, “[Kennedy] is very troubled by the current state of Soviet-American relations.” But that high-minded concern represented only one of Kennedy’s motives. “Tunney remarked that the senator wants to run for president in 1988,” the memorandum continued. “Kennedy does not discount that during the 1984 campaign, the Democratic Party may officially turn to him to lead the fight against the Republicans and elect their candidate president.” This is one area of the memo that makes the interpretation of Tunney’s remarks suspect. Kennedy had determined by 1982 that the presidency was out of reach - according to numerous friends and family members - and that he had set his mind to making a good career in the senate. This sounds like Tunney wishful thinking. As a Kennedy insider, he and the rest were desperate to “get back” to the White House. But Kennedy always kept his own counsel about his presidential ambitions and it is unlikely Tunney would have been privy to them. The memo, while compelling, is a single source document. And while it is believable, it would never stand up in court, and the rigorous standards of evidence applied in treason cases. It is also well to remember that the KGB was sometimes overly enthusiastic in reporting that some Americans were willing to work with them. Also contained in that million page document dump after the fall of communism were memos that “proved” that FDR’s closest advisor, Harry Hopkins, was a soviet agent and that Marilyn Monroe worked for the commies too. The KGB routinely lied to their leaders in this manner and it is impossible without corroborating evidence to determine if the interpretation of the KGB chief of Tunney’s overture is accurate. There were supposedly other memos about Tunney-Kennedy from 1978 and 1980 that Izvestia ferreted out. But no one has ever seen those memos and their provenance is impossible to determine. That said, no major media outlet ever pursued the story which is significant in and of itself. Obviously, they were afraid of what they might find if they dug too deeply. Or they found it easy to dismiss because of the reasons I mention above. It is also significant that not one major media obituary on Kennedy even mentioned it. Protecting the reputation - even after death - of a liberal icon appears to have trumped honest journalism once again. YEAH…BUT I STILL DON’T GET TWITTER Filed under: Blogging, General — Rick Moran @ 11:58 am After feeling SO left out of the Twitter revolution because it all looked so…so…geeky, I found myself with some time on my hands this morning (I am on vacation from my PJ Media job), and decided to gird my tech loins and enter the dank, overpopulated, incomprehensible Twitter Universe. I had signed up for Twitter back in April but contented myself with using the social networking button on my blog to update all 170 or so of my followers about my brilliant blog posts. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing of course. I just discovered today that a few people actually responded to these whispers in the Twitter wilderness, which REALLY made me feel like an idiot. A dozen or so Twitterers actually took the time to Tweet back about what I had posted. For those of you who so kindly tweeted me these last few months only to have that response summarily ignored by a technological pea brain, I apologize. I plan on using the Krell mind expander a little later just so I can figure out how to get back to you. For these last months, I was using the handle “roddy mcorley” instead of my name because when I signed up, the computer told me that someone else was using my name (imagine the gall!) and that I had to come up with another one. It never penetrated my vacuous skull that I could use a variation of my name and people would then be able to recognize my tweets. (It should tell you something that I thought there was only one other “rickmoran” in the Twitter world and that I actually believed I might be able to buy the guy off and take my rightful place in Twitterdom, proudly using my real name. Today, using a simple search, you can imagine my surprise when I discovered about 50 “Rick Moran”s, most using variations of my name, all tweeting away happily, secure in the knowledge that people knew who they were.) Who was roddymcorley? Roddy McCorley was an Irish patriot, who fought during the rebellion of 1798, and was later captured by the British and hung. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem recorded a ballad about McCorley that was written at the turn of the 20th century, and is not only one of their more well known selections, but has also been a staple at Moran family gatherings for more than 40 years of campfire/living room songfests. The song is both tragic and uplifting - as only the Irish can do it: Up the narrow streets he stepped Smiling proud and young About the hemp rope on his neck The golden ringlets clung There is never a tear in his blue eyes For glad and bright are they As young Roddy McCorely goes to die On the bridge of Toome today Today, I killed off Roddy McCorley as my handle and adopted “rickmoran_rwnh.” In exploring the Twitter site, I accidentally found out how you can change your username. Imagine my sheer delight when I discovered I could use my real name so that my legions of blog fans can now follow me on Twitter. Maybe sometime this weekend I will peruse the instructions (also discovered by accident today) so that I can actually get in on the conversation. No promises though. If it is any more complex than pointing and clicking, faggetaboutit. Maybe I should just give it up. Readers of this site are probably giggling at the thought that I can say anything meaningful using 140 characters. Or 140 words for that matter. I am well aware of my propensity to babble, to digress, to wax poetic when simple declarative sentences will do. But then, how would you get to sleep at night without my somnolent scribblings to make your eyes glaze over and get heavy with sleep? I am better than Sominex and cheaper than Halcion, and I challenge anyone to a “sleep-off” to see which blogger - Andrew Sullivan or me - is a better sleep aid. I will bet $50 dollars that I can put you to sleep faster than Andrew. Yeah…I still don’t get Twitter. And probably never will. KOPECHNE AS MARTYR TO KENNEDY’S FAILED AMBITION Filed under: Ethics, Politics — Rick Moran @ 9:05 am Maybe she phrased it wrong. Maybe liberal blogger Melissa Lafsky writing in Huffpo this morning had a brain cramp and wrote something she didn’t want to. Maybe aliens made her do it. Somehow, some explanation must be given for this kind of incredible, tone deaf, idiocy: We don’t know how much Kennedy was affected by her death, or what she’d have thought about arguably being a catalyst for the most successful Senate career in history. What we don’t know, as always, could fill a Metrodome. Still, ignorance doesn’t preclude a right to wonder. So it doesn’t automatically make someone (aka, me) a Limbaugh-loving, aerial-wolf-hunting NRA troll for asking what Mary Jo Kopechne would have had to say about Ted’s death, and what she’d have thought of the life and career that are being (rightfully) heralded. Who knows — maybe she’d feel it was worth it. I’m sure the 29 year old woman was comforted by the fact as she was gasping out her last breaths in that air pocket that formed when the drunken sot of a senator steered his car into the tidal pool and left her to die a terrifying death, that her passing would launch “the most successful senate career in history.” Kopechne was, after all, a good liberal - civil rights worker, RFK volunteer, and the kind of dedicated young person who would gladly sacrifice their life for the cause. Except that liberals (despite what some of my righty colleagues may think) are people too. I’m going to take a wild guess here and say that Mary Jo Kopechne, when she realized that no help would arrive in time to save her, was, if she was thinking about anything except the dwindling supply of oxygen and screaming and shaking and crying as her lungs began to burn from the excess CO2 in that tiny space, may have cursed the living daylights out of Kennedy for being responsible for her impending death. And if, by some miracle granted by God, she had been able to see the future, what would have been her reaction to Kennedy’s story of what happened that night? The attempts to get his cousin Joe Gargan to lie for him and back his bogus claim that Kopechne was alone in the car? What would she have thought about the fact that after extricating himself, he went back to the party he had just left? What would she have thought of Kennedy going back to his hotel, complaining to the manager that he couldn’t sleep because of a noisy party, and then having the balls to say at the inquest, “I almost tossed and turned and walked around that room…?” Almost describes everything Kennedy did that night - except he was mostly drunk and tried to concoct a plan that would have absolved him of any responsibility for Kopechne’s death. I think it much more appropriate to ask what Mary Jo Kopechne would have thought about that, rather than her views on Senator Kennedy’s glorious senate career. I don’t know about you, but I sure would rather be alive and kicking than being the “catalyst” for the notion that Kennedy could never be president because of my death and this was somehow a good thing because of all the good my killer did during the rest of his life, being forced to abandon his presidential aspirations and serve in the senate. Mary Jo Kopechne - Martyr to Kennedy’s failed ambition. Of all the millions of words, tens of thousands of articles, blog posts, and other scribblings by liberals over the death of Ted Kennedy, this may be the most amazingly shallow, myopic, and ultimately self centered sentence that has been written. To write, to hint that Kopechne would have somehow preferred to be dead rather than alive in any circumstance, for any cause, or for any person in her life at that time is ghoulish, and bespeaks an extraordinary callousness toward life that calls to mind the absolute worst that ideologues of either the left or right are capable. I do not wish to generalize, and indeed, I know there are many liberals who are shocked by this as well. But it does highlight the mindset of some liberals quite well, don’t you think? To left wing fanatics like Lafsky, human life does not belong to the individual, but to the higher cause of the collective good. For Lafsky, of course Kopechne would, if she had a crystal ball and been able to see the future, have sacrificed herself on the altar of social “progress” rather than live a full life filled with friends, family, kids, and a fulfilling career. What a despicable thing to write. WHAT IF ‘OBAMACARE’ MORPHS INTO KENNEDYKARE? Filed under: Blogging, Ethics, History, Media, Politics, The Rick Moran Show, health care reform — Rick Moran @ 9:23 am Liberals are licking their chops at the prospect of using the death of Ted Kennedy to unite the party and get a health care reform bill passed. Is exploiting the death of Kennedy a rotten, shameless, despicable thing to do? In politics, nothing is rotten or shameless - unless you’re on the other side taking advantage of an obvious political gambit. The only consideration is if something works or not. And baby, the Dems are going to milk the death of Kennedy until they wring every last ounce of political capital they can manage from his rotund carcass. They are going to bend every effort to tie the emotional attachment with the late senator sincerely felt by the vast majority of Democrats directly to the health care bill with the hope that it will give some of the Blue Dogs, and liberals the cover they need to come to an agreement. In short, using the memory of Kennedy and good feelings elicited when appealing to his ghost, the Democratic leadership hopes it makes party members more willing to compromise to achieve the goal of creating KennedyKare. I would fully expect the Republicans to do the exact same thing in similar circumstances. Of course, that would be an impossibility at the moment since no Republican living, dead, or in between has that kind of pull with the party, nor is there an issue that Republicans could rally around even if such a mythical beast existed. The appeals to Reagan’s memory may engender fond feelings of nostalgia, but the wellspring of actual political power that the Ghost of the Gipper can wield is just about dry. So the question isn’t should the Democrats exploit Kennedy’s death, but rather what is the best way to go about doing it to achieve success? Renaming the bill in honor of Kennedy won’t do much. Nice symbolism but hardly enough to break, what most media reports have said, is a titanic log jam of proposals on reform where several committees and individuals are working at cross purposes. Getting a bill out of this mish mash is going to take a lot more than simply calling the monstrosity something else. In order to rally the Congress, more substantive and public demonstrations of both real and manufactured emotionalism will have to be employed for the gambit to work. Kennedy is going to have to first be beautified, and then named as a civic saint - a party icon that can be invoked with such reverence that “What would Teddy want?” becomes a rallying cry for reform leaders. It starts today with a “carefully orchestrated” procession from the Kennedy’s beloved Hyannis Port, through the streets of Boston where the political and emotional symbolism will fairly drip from old imitation gas streetlights in the city’s historic North End: A procession will leave Hyannis Port at 1 p.m. today, accompanying Kennedy’s body to Boston for a final journey through a city indelibly marked by his family. At about 2:15, the procession is expected to wind its way through downtown, first passing through the North End, where his mother was born, then crossing the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway on its way to the State House, and ultimately passing the Bowdoin Street residence of President Kennedy when he first ran for Congress and the federal building that bears his name. Crowds are encouraged to gather on Hanover Street along the Greenway, on City Hall Plaza, and on the Boston Common in front of the State House. The procession will end at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, where Kennedy will lie in repose and visitors will be invited to pay their respects today and tomorrow. There will be a massive outpouring of people who will want to view the remains, reminding members of Kennedy’s enormous popularity not only in the party, but with the average working American as well. TV images of the procession passing these Democratic touchstones will also serve to connect Ted to his martyred brothers thus making a direct appeal to generations of Democrats. This is powerful stuff, and the news nets will milk coverage was well, seeing that events such as these will bring millions of eyeballs to their broadcasts who might not normally be watching. Same thing happened when Reagan died, and for the same reasons. National tragedy is the honey that attracts millions of extra viewers and there’s no reason to complain about it. There will apparently be no less than 3 memorial services; an invitation only event tomorrow night at the library (no word on whether it will be televised, although I can’t imagine it not). Then, the actual funeral mass at a Basilica on Mission Hill. Here, there will be “limited press access” which is probably short hand for pool reporting. From there, more symbolism will be used as another procession will form, taking the casket to Logan Airport for the trip to Washington and a late afternoon burial at Arlington Cemetery. President Obama is scheduled to give the eulogy on Saturday and will no doubt give it his usual best effort. How hard will he hit the meme of passing health care reform in Kennedy’s name? Hopefully, the guy isn’t completely tone deaf and will refrain from hammering the world wide audience over the head with references to it. However, it would be perfectly legitimate for Obama to specifically tout reform since Kennedy himself is quoted as saying the issue was central to his public life. Republicans will complain no matter what but the president must still strike a solemn balance between honoring Kennedy and taking care of politics. A couple of interesting side notes. First, why no lying in state in the rotunda of the Capitol? It could be because they would then have to move the funeral mass to Washington, D.C. as protocol would dictate that any lying in state be conducted before the funeral rites. Plus, the funeral would have to be moved to a Sunday which, while permissible, is atypical in the Catholic church. Secondly, there has been no announced Wellstone-style Congressional memorial service. It may not have been planned yet. Or, Democrats might be a little hesitant considering the grief they got following the tribute to Wellstone after his death from a plane crash in 2002. Surely Al Franken is being disingenuous at best when he writes in HuffPo about that Wellstone tribute: A pained Limbaugh asked his audience the day after the memorial: “Where was the grief? Where were the tears? Where was the memorial service? There wasn’t any of this!” This was a lie. I was there. Along with everyone else, I cried, I laughed, I cheered. It was, to my mind, a beautiful four-hour memorial. I didn’t boo. Neither did 22,800 of the some 23,000 people there. This has been a much discussed, much lied about aspect of the memorial. A number of Republicans, like Peggy Noonan and Weekly Standard writer Chris Caldwell claimed that 20,000 people had booed Trent Lott. (Caldwell claimed that 20,000 people booed a whole litany of people who weren’t booed at all.) We’ll never get an actual count - but I’d say about two hundred people booed Trent Lott when his face came on the Jumbotron. This was about a minute after 23,000 people cheered for Bill Clinton when his face appeared on the Jumbotron. How does that square with an account from someone a little less partisan, William Saletan of Slate? But the solemnity of death and the grace of Midwestern humor are overshadowed tonight by the angry piety of populism. Most of the event feels like a rally. The touching recollections are followed by sharply political speeches urging Wellstone’s supporters to channel their grief into electoral victory. The crowd repeatedly stands, stomps, and whoops. The roars escalate each time Walter Mondale, the former vice president who will replace Wellstone on the ballot, appears on the giant screens suspended above the stage. “Fritz! Fritz!” the assembly chants. “Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning,” Wellstone declares in a videotaped speech shown on the overhead screens. “Politics is about improving people’s lives.” But as the evening’s speakers proceed, it becomes clear that to them, honoring Wellstone’s legacy is all about winning the election. Repeating the words of Wellstone’s son, the assembly shouts, “We will win! We will win!” Rick Kahn, a friend of Wellstone’s, urges everyone to “set aside the partisan bickering,” but in the next breath he challenges several Republican senators in attendance to “honor your friend” by helping to “win this election for Paul Wellstone.” What can he be thinking? Franken is right. I watched the entire memorial service (I admired and liked Paul Wellstone even though I vehemently disagreed with him on almost everything he stood for.) It is true that 20,000 people did not boo Trent Lott. But unless those 200 phantom booers mentioned by Franken were right next to a microphone and had their numbers seem inflated, my guess would be more like 5,000 booed Lott, with even louder boos for Jesse Ventura, then governor. I seem to recall Denny Hastert also receiving a healthy round of boos but am not sure he was even there. At any rate, Saletan’s description of the “Memorial Service” is spot on. Numerous speakers trashed Republicans - not just the two he mentioned. It could very well be that Franken - as rabid a partisan who has ever served in the senate - has an entirely different idea what partisan speechmaking is all about than normal people like you and me. Whether it was planned to be a pep rally is not the point. That’s what it became and Democrats would do well to recall the reaction to press reports - including those bastions of right wing lying, the New York Times, and Time Magazine that led to at least a mini-backlash that could have cost Mondale the election. But such an event might be a topper to what Democrats obviously hope will be an emotional outpouring in memory of Senator Kennedy which might translate into the political muscle necessary to ram through KennedyKare. In fact, one might expect the Democrats to try and stampede the issue into passing once Congress is back from their recess after Labor Day. Would it work? The stampede, probably not. But I don’t see how the death of Ted Kennedy and the Democrat’s exploiting the emotional context of remembrance and history that will be on display, can do anything except help President Obama and the Congressional leadership realize some kind of health care bill before Thanksgiving. NO DOUBTING TED KENNEDY’S IMPACT ON HISTORY Filed under: Liberal Congress, Politics — Rick Moran @ 9:19 am We will let the New York Times and liberal blogs lionize the man. I assure you there will be enough of that for anyone’s tastes. Here, I will try to give the unvarnished truth about a person who was indeed, the “liberal lion of the Senate” (take from that what you will), as well as representing the absolute worst of wealth and privilege in the United States. Ted Kennedy, the rogue son of a rogue family has died of brain cancer at age 77. Oftentimes, liberals like to compare the Kennedy family to that other famous political family that featured presidents, and legislators of note; the Adams family. Pardon me if my outrage can’t quite be held in check. The man who fought longer and harder for American independence than anyone of his time - John Adams - had it all over Teddy as far as personal moral behavior and principled, pragmatic leadership. His son, John Quincy Adams, took stands against slavery that made any “political courage” shown by Kennedy to be minuscule by comparison. Suffice it to say, that the difference between the two families couldn’t be more pronounced and referring to the Kennedy’s in the same breath as the Adams’s is a travesty. No doubt Kennedy the man was a despicable cad, a notorious roue, and, until late in life, a certified drunk. As most conservative blogs are reporting this morning, “Mary Jo Kopechne could not be reached for comment.” ‘Nuff said about Kennedy the man. But history is a relentless bitch of a mistress, holding us to standards of truth and accuracy so that even one so vile as Kennedy must be examined not only in the context of his personal peccadilloes but also for his contributions to his times. And those contributions were awesome. There is no doubt that the average Joe working American lives a better life today because of Teddy Kennedy. He is safer on the job, his wages are higher (even non-union workers), his children have more educational opportunities, he is healthier, and wealthier than any working American of any other generation in history. We can certainly criticize liberal excesses in much of the legislation that this master parliamentarian guided through the labyrinthine maze of Congress. But no honest appraisal of Kennedy’s career would be complete without referring to the gigantic impact he had on ordinary, blue collar America. He was at the center of every major legislative initiative that created much of the welfare state, as well as shepherding through Congress important legislation regarding voting rights, health care, labor law, and education. Conservatives like Barry Goldwater and Orrin Hatch found him not only to be a tough enemy but also someone with whom they could negotiate their concerns. He earned the respect of his opponents by having the issues associated with any legislation he was pushing down absolutely stone cold. And his mastery of Roberts Rules of Order made him a formidable presence in any senate debate. Even historians not enamored of his far left liberalism — a liberalism that seemed to get farther left the older he got — compare him to Henry Clay or John C. Calhoun as far as his impact on the senate. That may be unfair to Clay who sacrificed his chance at the presidency to bring about compromises on the slavery issue. I did not sense such self abnegation in Teddy Kennedy, who viewed his senate seat as something of a patrimony from God. The wealth and privilege he enjoyed that allowed him to escape justice in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, and his family to get out of scrape after scrape with the law highlighted the fact that this was a family not above the law but beyond it. Their money, power, and influence had far too much impact on our national life than is healthy in a republic. And perhaps that’s the key to Kennedy’s psyche. I believe the guilt of possessing great wealth drove him to compensate for his privileged position by pushing legislation that he believed exonerated him of his family sins. This is not unusual in American history, with industry titans from Astor to Rockefeller giving away much of their fortune prior to their death. But what drove Kennedy was also perhaps the nagging belief that he really wasn’t up to the Kennedy mystique, that he was a fraud compared to his martyred brothers. The truth is, John Kennedy was no liberal at all (just ask Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.), and Robert Kennedy’s liberalism was far more muscular and more out of the classic school of left wing thought than the New Left activists who tried to adopt him in 1968. Robert’s liberalism was informed by both his Catholicism, and his own personal demons of trying to live up to the heroic image he carried of his brother John. It took Ted a few years after Robert’s death to be convinced that “carrying on the legacy” of RFK actually meant going beyond his brother’s concerns that welfare was creating a permanent underclass to embracing the welfare state and the left wing agenda that went with it. Perhaps he saw this as the quickest way to the White House, not even able to fathom the damage done to his presidential aspirations by being responsible for Mary Jo Kopechne’s death. Or perhaps, it was indeed guilt that drove him on. Historians will have a field day with his motivations, that’s for sure. The last of the “original” Kennedy brothers is dead. An age has now passed into history where for “one, brief, shining moment” one American family stood at the apex of power, largely bought for them by their immensely wealthy father. His two brothers who preceded him in death were known for what “might have been,” having been cut down before they could make any lasting impact on the country. Not so the third Kennedy brother. His legacy will live on in the lives he made better, the lives he made worse - and the life he was responsible for ending. THE RICK MORAN SHOW: THE CIA”S WAR WITH THE WHITE HOUSE Filed under: CIA VS. THE WHITE HOUSE, The Rick Moran Show, health care reform — Rick Moran @ 4:25 pm You won’t want to miss tonight’s Rick Moran Show, one of the most popular conservative talk shows on Blog Talk Radio. Tonight, my special guests are Dr. Melissa Clouthier and Andrew Ian Dodge. We’ll look at the war that has broken out between the CIA and the White House as well as the latest on health care reform. The show will air from 7:00 - 8:00 PM Central time. You can access the live stream here. A podcast will be available for streaming or download shortly after the end of the broadcast. Click on the stream below and join in on what one wag called a “Wayne’s World for adults.” The Chat Room will open around 15 minutes before the show opens, Also, if you’d like to call in and put your two cents in, you can dial (718) 664-9764.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2044
__label__wiki	0.967107	0.967107	Home MLB Baseball Was Unequipped To Handle Dr. King’s Assassination in 1968 Baseball Was Unequipped To Handle Dr. King’s Assassination in 1968 By Evan Weiner - Baseball officials were lost in the aftermath. Fifty years ago today, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was gunned down in Memphis, Tennessee. The assassination was a major part of the turbulent year of 1968 and it caused a problem for Major League Baseball although that paled in comparison to what was happening in the streets of America. The Pittsburgh Pirates Roberto Clemente did not want to play baseball on April 9, 1968 the day that the slain civil rights leader was going to be buried. The Pirates opener was scheduled for April 8 and it was not an appropriate time to play baseball. Clemente somehow was able to convince his Pirates teammates to not play on April 8 or 9, and the Pirates-Astros game was rescheduled for April 10. Major League Baseball frankly did not know what to do in the days following the King assassination. In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt instructed Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis to proceed as normal during World War II. But there was no official directive and team ownerships were left to decide what to do. Players like Bob Gibson also decided not to play until after the burial. Eventually Major League Baseball would postpone opening day until April 10 for all 20 teams. The Washington Senators ownership canceled the April 8, 1968 Presidential opener because of rioting in the city. Every team that was scheduled to play the home opener on April 9 decided to postpone the game except Walter O’Malley and his Los Angeles Dodgers, an odd decision because it was the Dodgers organization that hired Jackie Robinson in 1946. Los Angeles opponent on April 9 was the Philadelphia Phillies. O’Malley’s refusal to go along with the rest of baseball could have had extremely embarrassing consequences as Phillies players decided not to play which would have resulted in a forfeit. Eventually O’Malley backed down. No games were played on April 9. The players had spoken. The King assassination brought baseball to a halt. Bob Gibson Kennesaw Mountain Landis Presidential opener Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Walter O'Malley Evan Weiner It Is Never Too Early To Look For A New Stadium Daytona Speed Month: Kyle Busch has 2 NASCAR titles and an eye on at least 5 more With Spring Training less than three weeks away baseball gets set for the fallout from the Astros scandal Florida resident and Yankees great Derek Jeter 1 vote shy of unanimous, Walker also elected to Hall Australian Open 2020: Sarasota star Sharapova can’t say what’s next after opening round loss	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2052
__label__cc	0.580116	0.419884	Home About the Author Commentaries Articles Books Read Our Bill of Rights Dr. Robert Abele holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Marquette University and M.A. degrees in Theology and Divinity. He is the recipient of numerous scholarships and fellowships, including the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship to the U.S. Naval Academy for the study of war and morality (2004), the United States Federal Government Title IV Fellowship for International Studies for the study of Islam (2004), and the Illinois Council of Humanities Scholarship, for his work on the issues of freedom and democracy (2003). Dr. Abele is a professor of philosophy at Diablo Valley College, in the San Francisco Bay area. The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive. -- Thomas Jefferson Dr. Abele is a weekly contributor to "The Daily Censored", Home \| Contact Me \| Terms of Use \| Privacy \| Administration	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2053
__label__cc	0.722489	0.277511	Ruth Spring Scale -2nd magnitude Scenery -excellent How Pristine? -utterly wild and pristine Swimming -no Protection -unknown Crowds -none Access -arduous Facilities -none at spring, excellent at nearby campground Safety -fair to poor Scuba -no Cost -$1.50 to park at campground, extra to rent canoe From intersection of U.S. 19 and U.S. 98, go west on Highway 480, a.k.a. Miss Maggie's Drive. Follow 1.7 miles to the end, passing small homes and the Chassahowitzka River Lodge on the right. Turn right at signs for the Chassahowitzka River Campground and follow to headwaters. From the boat ramp, go downriver about two miles, passing the three tree-covered islands and the remains of an old railroad trestle that once crossed the river. The creek is over 300 feet wide at this point, and estuary-like. After the trestle, move to the right (north) side of the river and go perhaps another 800-1,000 feet to mouth of Potter Creek. Paddle (or pole/plow in low tide) up the creek about ¾ mile to the spring at the creek’s headwaters at Potter Spring. The water gets somewhat deeper in the run. The bottom becomes shallow and rocky near Potter Spring. Look for the mouth of the Ruth Spring run at the back, right (NE) end of the Potter Spring basin. Paddle in as far as possible and then walk in the run or overland to the spring, an estimated 400 feet. xThe spring is set in dense subtropical canopied floodplain forest. The narrow (8-12 feet) and winding run is clear and sandy near Potter Spring but soon becomes muddy. The depth of the run is generally about one foot, but has numerous deep spots that can be either muddy or with sharp rocks on the bottom. On date of visit, the authors portaged several times before having to get out and walk at a spot a few hundred feet in the run where a fallen palm, other obstructions, and hairpin turns rendered the further upstream passage extremely difficult. At this point the authors (and JF’s then 8-year-old daughter) almost turned back but resolved to continue around two more bends of the run. At the second of the bends is the first two of three spring vents. Two small holes lie on either side of a widening in the run, with a large tree in the middle. The vent on the right is a clear crevice about five feet deep. The vent on the left is more subtle and not inviting. The bottom is mucky and RB sank to his chest and was unable to go further. JF took a different route and was able to see and photograph the main pool which is few feet further and around the corner. The pool is about 40 feet long and 14 feet across and has a deep area from which the water emanates. The depth of the main pool could not be determined, and the only way to get into it was by swimming—something neither author was willing to do. It is this pool that is described by Champion and Starks as a "vent formed by a large fracture in the limestone approximately 10 feet deep and 2-3 feet wide" (May 2001, p. 72). As the authors were not properly attired or equipped for a spring reconnaissance of this difficulty (they were wearing swim trunks and beach shoes/sandals and had no first aid kit or provisions), locating Ruth Spring was the an exceptional challenge. In retrospect, it was very unwise to have brought along JF’s young daughter, but everyone got caught up in locating the spring and were fortunate to have not suffered any mishap. Walking on the muddy land looked like it would be even more difficult and is not recommended without boots, long pants, and snakebite protection. The nearby Chassahowitzka River Campground includes primitive and modern camping, a camp store, boat rentals, a telephone, and restrooms. Canoes can be rented for a reasonable fee. The Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge begins 2 miles below this spring. It is accessible only by boat, and is closed to human visitors from October 15-February 15 each year to protect wildlife. The refuge provides sanctuary for 250 species of birds, over 40 types of reptiles and amphibians, and more than 25 types of mammals ("Chass. National Wildlife Refuge," U.S.F.W.S., n.d.). Personal Impressions Those willing and able to undergo the difficulty of visiting Ruth Spring (or any of probably 10 other deep woods/swamp springs at the Chassahowitzka) will, if they make it, be rewarded by the feeling that they are one of very few people to have seen this place. Other Chassahowitzka River springs (Chassahowitzka Main Spring, Crab Creek Springs, Lettuce Spring, Houseboat Spring, Salt Springs, Potter Spring, Solution Holes, The Crack, Beteejay Spring, Blue Run Spring) Fort Cooper State Park Crystal River State Archeological Site Rainbow Springs State Park Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2054
__label__wiki	0.611256	0.611256	Tabor H. Parcher Papers The collection contains letters and letter fragments written by Tabor Parcher to his wife Sarah. It also includes a partial loose leaf diary. Parcher wrote about the daily activities in camp, the availability of food and liquor, the interactions between soldiers and civilians, and military engagements of the regiment. In addition to frequent salacious remarks to his wife, Parcher made occasional comments about the sexual activity of soldiers and civilians. Some of the letters were written in the line of battle, or shortly after battles, specifically of Orange Grove, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor. He also gave an account of the Tenth Vermont’s role in the pursuit of Lee’s army after the battle of Gettysburg. The diary gives brief summaries of daily activities from January through March 1864. The diary has been transcribed. One letter is dated January 18, 1864 written to Parcher from his brother in law, Private Ezra W. Conant (also in Company B of the Tenth Vermont Infantry) of Waterbury, Vermont, while Ezra was in a military hospital. A few letters written in early 1864 are addressed to "Ned" and brother. An unsigned letter, probably written by Ezra, dated September 25, 1864 is addressed to "Sister Sarah" and mentions Eddy [her son] and Tabor. A small amount of post-war correspondence appears to represent extended family members; one such letter from 1880 is addressed to Eddy Parcher in Moretown [Vermont] and signed Alma Conant. Some letters appear to be addressed to "Sada" or "Sadia" while others clearly read Sarah or wife; however, this may be a quirk of his handwriting. Not all the letters are signed by their author; of those that are, Tabor or Tabe is commonly how he identifies himself. Parcher, Tabor H. (Creator, Person) All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts. Tabor Hiram Parcher was the son of Hiram Parcher (1807-1877) and Ruth (Smith) Parcher (1813-1880); they were married in 1833. Hiram worked as a farmer. Some records give Tabor's name as Hiram T. Parcher. He was born in Waterbury Center, Vermont in 1838 and raised there with siblings Orpah (b. 1835), Sarah (b. 1849), Jane (about 1835-1868), and Henry Josephus (1851-1927). Not much information is available about his sisters. Henry J. Parcher became a deputy sheriff and gamekeeper in the area, thus contemporary newspaper accounts cite him with some frequency. Between 1850 and 1860, Tabor married Sarah E. Conant. She was born in about 1837, the daughter of Dr. Benjamin Conant and Eliza (Warner) Conant. Tabor enlisted as a Private in Company B of the 10th Vermont Infantry on July 14, 1862. He was promoted to Corporal in July 5, 1864 and mustered out on May 5, 1865. Sarah's brother Ezra W. Conant (1843-1923) was a Private in the same company, enlisting on the same day as Tabor. He mustered out on September 1, 1862 and was recorded wounded on November 27, 1863, likely at the Battle of Orange Grove. He was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in June of 1864 and discharged wounded that October. Another of Sarah's brothers, Joseph B. Conant, was a Private in Company B of the 15th. He was born in about 1841, enlisted in September of 1862, and died of disease in 1863 while still serving in the army. In 1863, Tabor and Sarah had one son, named Tabor E., "Eddie," or Ezra (records vary, see Processing Information Note). Sarah died at the age of 29 in 1867. Tabor remarried Lovina S. Ellis (1843-1920), likely between 1870 and 1873. They had two children, John W. (1873-1960) and Fannie S. (1875-1963). Tabor died March 24, 1880 and his mother Ruth died that April. 0.2 Linear Feet (1 box) Collection contains several letters of Civil War soldier, Tabor H. Parcher of the 10th VT Regiment, to his wife Sarah, as well as Parcher's diary. Some information loss has resulted from failure of ink or pencil, wet conditions (previous to acquisition), incomplete letters, and illegible writing. Extended family members and Waterbury area neighbors of the Parchers, the Demeritt family is represented in the Lanpher and Demeritt Family Papers, also at University of Vermont Special Collections. The two families are connected thus: a brother of Ruth Smith Parcher (circa 1813-1880), named Valentine (d. 1880) married Elizabeth Bridges. Their daughter (Ruth's niece) Louisa Smith (born in Waterbury in 1832) married Lucius Demeritt in 1853. Lucius Demeritt was appointed administrator of the will of Hiram Parcher (1807-1877) in 1877. Names have been spelled in varying ways. For example, his grave marker (and birth and death records) reads Taber H. Parcher but the letters in this collection and other official records (ex. Vermont Volunteers roster, marriage record, pension application) give Tabor. His second wife Lovina (as on the grave marker and census records from 1910 and 1920) is also recorded as Lavina (ex. death record, 1880 census, 1900 census). Tabor's son appears to have been recorded in the 1870 census with his paternal grandparents under the name Ezra (age is a match). He seems to have lived with his stepmother in 1880 and is recorded under the name Eddie. A birth record matching his data gives his name as Tabor E. Parcher. According to Lovina's obituary, she was raised by the Phelps family. This may help explain the details on Fannie's 1893 marriage record which gives her father's name as Tabe Parcher, deceased, and mother as Selina S. Phelps of Waterbury, Vermont. Benjamin Conant was married four times. More information is available about the Smith family in the Gazetteer of Washington County, Vt., 1783-1889 edited by William Adams (p. 502-504). Soldiers -- Correspondence -- 1845-1875 -- Vermont Soldiers -- Diaries -- 1864-1865 -- Vermont United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 United States -- History -- Personal narratives -- Civil War, 1861-1865 United States. Army. Vermont Infantry Regiment, 10th (1862-1865). Vermont -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 Guide to the Tabor H. Parcher Papers [Identification of item] Tabor H. Parcher Papers, Special Collections, University of Vermont Libraries. http://scfindingaids.uvm.edu//repositories/2/resources/729 Accessed January 22, 2020.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2058
__label__wiki	0.912928	0.912928	100 Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums appears on: Now 67 Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 And Beyond compilation Grammy Nominees 2008 Live 8 DVD MEMBERS: Adam Levine ~ Jesse Carmichael ~ Mickey Madden ~ James Valentine ~ Matt Flynn (joined in 2006) ~ Ryan Dusick (left in 2006) BIGGEST POP SINGLE: "Girls Like You" (2018) BIGGEST LP: Songs About Jane (2002) GRAMMY AWARDS: 3 BILLBOARD: '100 Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists': 44 Maroon 5 consists of Adam Levine on vocals and guitar, James Valentine on guitar, Jesse Carmichael on keyboards, Mickey Madden on bass, and Ryan Dusick on drums. Based in Los Angeles, it took a few years of live performances for the band to reach the mainstream music world with their single "Harder To Breathe." Originally the band began as 'Kara's Flowers' with members Levine, Carmichael and Madden - but their debut The Fourth World failed to bring much success. By 2001, the band renamed themselves Maroon 5 and added a few members while modifying and fine-tuning their sound to infuse R&B into their rock sound. June 25: Maroon 5 released Songs About Jane. # 34 Singles Artist of the Year July 19: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Harder To Breathe." September 13: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "Harder To Breathe." October 17: Songs About Jane was certified gold. # 2 Singles Artist of the Year (# 1 Group/Duo of the Year) January 24: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "This Love." February 12: Songs About Jane was certified platinum. February 21: Maroon 5 performed "This Love" and "Harder To Breathe" on Saturday Night Live. February 28: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "This Love." March 13: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Digital Tracks chart for 4 weeks with "This Love." April 17: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart for 13 weeks with "This Love." April 24: Maroon 5 hit #1 for 4 weeks on the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "This Love." May 8: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart for 3 weeks with "This Love." June 22: Maroon 5 released a collection of live and acoustic tracks - 1.22.03.Acoustic. June 30:Maroon 5 could be heard on the soundtrack for Spider-Man 2 with "Woman." July 3: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "She Will Be Loved." August 7: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "She Will Be Loved." August 13: Songs About Jane was certified 2x platinum. August 14: Maroon topped the Billboard Digital Tracks chart for 5 weeks with "She Will Be Loved." August 22: Maroon 5 topped the UK LP chart for 1 week with Songs About Jane. August 29: The video for "This Love" won a MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist and was also nominated for Best Group Video. September 4: Maroon 5 hit #1 for 5 weeks on the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "She Will Be Loved." September 25: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Top 40 Tracks chart for 13 weeks with "She Will Be Loved." October 2: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart for 4 weeks with "She Will Be Loved." October 6: Songs About Jane was certified 3x platinum. November 14: Maroon 5 were nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Breakthrough Artist. November 27: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Sunday Morning." December 7: 1.22.03.Acoustic was certified gold. December 31: Songs About Jane was the 7th biggest-selling LP in the US for year with sales during the year topping 2.7 million. December 31: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Year-End Charts as the Top Hot Digital Track Artist, Top Hot Adult Top 40 Artist, and with the Top Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks ("This Love"). # 182 on the Top Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years chart. January 15: Maroon 5 performed as part of the benefit show Tsunami Aid: A Concert Of Hope on NBC. January 22: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "Sunday Morning." February 13: Maroon 5 won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist and were nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("She Will Be Loved"). June 23: Songs About Jane was certified 4x platinum. July 2: Maroon 5 performed in Philadelphia as part of the worldwide Live 8 concerts. The mission of the concerts was to raise awareness of the on-going poverty in Africa and to pressure the G8 leaders to take action by doubling aid, canceling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa. September 10: Maroon 5 performed on ReAct Now: Music & Relief - a benefit program shown on music video channels to raise money for those affected by Hurricane Katrina. September 20: Maroon 5 released Live Friday The 13th. October 11: Levine could be heard dueting on Alicia Key's LP MTV Unplugged with "Wild Horses." November 22: Maroon 5 was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist. February 8: Maroon 5 won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("This Love" from Live Friday The 13th). September: Dusick left the band and was replaced by Matt Flynn. April 7: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Makes Me Wonder." May 12: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 3 weeks, Digital Songs chart for 4 weeks, Digital Tracks chart for 4 weeks, and Pop 100 chart for 4 weeks with "Makes Me Wonder." May 19: Maroon 5 performed "Makes Me Wonder" and "Won't Go Home Without You" on Saturday Night Live. May 22: Maroon 5 released their next LP It Won't Be Soon Before Long. May 27: Maroon 5 topped the UK LP chart for 1 week with It Won't Be Soon Before Long. June 9: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard 200 LP chart for 1 week and Digital Albums chart for 3 weeks with It Won't Be Soon Before Long. The LP sold over 429,000 copies its first week of release in the US. June 25: It Won't Be Soon Before Long was certified platinum. August 4: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Dance Club Play chart for 1 week with "Makes Me Wonder." August 4: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Wake Up Call." August 11: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Dance Airplay chart for 2 weeks with "Makes Me Wonder." September: Maroon 5 appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone. September 9: Maroon 5 was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Group. October 20: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "Wake Up Call." November 18: Maroon 5 was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group. December 8: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Won't Go Home Without You." December 18: Maroon 5 released the The B-Side Collection. December 31: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Year-End Charts as the Top Digital Album Artist and with the Top Digital Album (It Won't Be Soon Before Long) and Top Hot Adult Top 40 Song ("Makes Me Wonder"). February 10: Maroon 5 won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Makes Me Wonder") and were nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album (It Won't Be Soon Before Long). March 25: Maroon 5 released the digital EP Live From Soho - recorded in New York. May 31: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with Rihanna with "If I Never See Your Face Again." August 8: It Won't Be Soon Before Long was certified 2x platinum. September 20: Maroon 5 released the digital live set Live From Le Cabaret. The set was from a 2007 performance. December 9: Maroon 5 released Call And Response: The Remix Album. February 8: Maroon 5 were nominated for 2 Grammy Awards including Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Won't Go Home Without You"), and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals ("If I Never See Your Face Again" with Rihanna). July 3: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Misery." September 4: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "Misery." September 21: Maroon 5 released Hands All Over. October 2: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart for 4 weeks with "Misery." October 9: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Digital Albums chart for 1 week with Hands All Over. November 24: Hands All Over was certified gold. November 27: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Give A Little More." Maroon 5: # 24 Singles Artist of the Year Adam Levine: # 62 Singles Artist of the Year February 8: Maroon 5 released the digital EP iTunes Session. February 13: Maroon 5 were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Misery"). April 21: Levine began appearing as a judge on the NBC talent show The Voice. May 21: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Never Gonna Leave This Bed." July 23: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with Christina Aguilera with "Moves Like Jagger" July 23: Levine hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 helping out Gym Class Heroes with "Stereo Hearts." August 27: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with Christina Aguilera with "Moves Like Jagger." August 27: Maroon 5 topped the Digital Tracks chart for 5 weeks and Digital Songs chart for 5 weeks with Christina Aguilera with "Moves Like Jagger." September 10: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 4 weeks with Christina Aguilera with "Moves Like Jagger." September 17: Maroon 5 hit #1 for 5 weeks on the ARC Weekly Top 40 with Christina Aguilera with "Moves Like Jagger." September 24: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Pop Digital Songs chart for 4 weeks with Christina Aguilera with "Moves Like Jagger." October 1: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Radio Songs chart for 7 weeks and Pop Songs chart for 6 weeks with Christina Aguilera with "Moves Like Jagger." October 8: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart for 2 weeks with Christina Aguilera with "Moves Like Jagger." November 5: Maroon 5 performed "Moves Like Jagger" and "Stereo Hearts" on Saturday Night Live. November 12: Levine topped the Billboard Pop chart for 3 weeks helping Gym Class Heroes with "Stereo Hearts." November 19: Levine hit #1 for 1 week on the ARC Weekly Top 40 helping Gym Class Heroes with "Stereo Hearts." November 20: Maroon 5 won an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group. # 5 Singles Artist of the Year (# 1 Group/Duo of the Year January 9: Hands All Over was certified platinum. February 12: Maroon 5 was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance ("Moves Like Jagger"). March 20: Maroon 5 could be heard on the soundtrack for Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 And Beyond with "Come Away To The Water." April 28: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with help from Wiz Khalifa with "Payphone." May 5: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Digital Songs chart for 1 week with help from Wiz Khalifa with "Payphone." May 19: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with help from Wiz Khalifa with "Payphone." June 26: Maroon 5 released their next LP Overexposed. June 30: Maroon 5 topped the UK singles chart for 2 weeks with help from Wiz Khalifa with "Payphone." July 7: Maroon 5 hit #1 for 3 weeks on the ARC Weekly Top 40 with help from Wiz Khalifa with "Payphone." July 14: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Digital Album chart for 1 week with Overexposed. July 14: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Pop chart for 4 weeks, Radio chart for 6 weeks, and Adult Top 40 chart for 6 weeks with help from Wiz Khalifa with "Payphone." July 28: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "One More Night." September 6: The video for "Payphone" with Wiz Khalifa was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video. September 8: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "One More Night." September 29: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 8 weeks with "One More Night." October 6: Maroon 5 hit #1 for 7 weeks on the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "One More Night." October 13: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Pop Songs chart for 8 weeks with "One More Night." October 20: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Radio Songs chart for 8 weeks with "One More Night." October 27: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart for 8 weeks with "One More Night." November 17: Maroon 5 performed "One More Night" and "Daylight" on Saturday Night Live. November 18: Maroon 5 won an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group, and were nominated for Artist of the Year and Favorite Pop/Rock Album (Overexposed). December 8: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Daylight." December 31: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard 2012 Year-End Chart-Toppers chart as the Top Pop Artist - Duo/Group and Top Pop Hot 100 Artist - Duo/Group. # 7 Singles Artist of the Year January 12: Levine hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 helping out 50 Cent and Eminem with "My Life." January 17: Overexposed was certified platinum. January 26: Levine hosted Saturday Night Live. February 2: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "Daylight." February 10: Maroon 5 were nominated for 2 Grammy Awards including Best Pop Duo/Group Performance ("Payphone") and Best Pop Vocal Album (Overexposed). March 23: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart for 4 weeks with "Daylight." April 6: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Pop Songs chart for 1 week with "Daylight." June 1: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Love Somebody." July 20: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "Love Somebody." August 3: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart for 3 weeks with "Love Somebody." November 24: Maroon 5 won an American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist. December 31: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard 2013 Year-End Chart-Toppers as the Top Adult Contemporary Artist and Top Adult Pop Songs Artist. June 28: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Maps." July 12: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "Maps." September 2: Maroon 5 released V. September 20: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart for 3 weeks with "Maps." September 20: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard 200 LP chart for 1 week, Internet Albums chart for 1 week, and Digital Albums chart for 1 week with V. October 4: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Animals." October 5: Maroon 5 performed "Animals" and "Maps" on Saturday Night Live. October 25: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "Animals." November 22: Maroon 5 hit #1 for 3 weeks on the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Animals." November 29: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Pop Songs chart for 4 weeks and Radio Songs chart for 4 weeks with "Animals." December 6: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart for 4 weeks with "Animals." Maroon 5: # 6 Singles Artist of the Year (# 1 Group/Duo of the Year) January 24: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Sugar." February 14: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "Sugar." February 14: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for 1 week with "Maps." April 11: Maroon 5 hit #1 for 2 weeks on the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Sugar." April 18: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Pop Songs chart for 2 weeks with "Sugar." April 25: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart for 3 weeks with "Sugar." May 23: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "This Summer's Gonna Hurt Like A...." June 20: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "This Summer's Gonna Hurt Like A...." August 1: Levine hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 helping out R. City with "Locked Away." from the R. City LP What Dreams Are Made Of ARC chart run: 39 - 23 - 15 - 11 - 10 - 7 - 5 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 5 - 6 - 9 - 15 - 18 - 24 - 31 - off Year-End Chart Position: # 29 available for download at iTunes and Amazon.mp3 August 29: Levine hit the Top 10 helping out R. City with "Locked Away." August 30: The video for "Sugar" was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video. September 12: Levine topped the Billboard Digital Songs chart helping out R. City with "Locked Away." September 29: V was certified platinum. October 3: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Feelings." October 3: Levine hit #1 for 2 weeks on the ARC Weekly Top 40 helping out R. City with "Locked Away." RIAA Certification: Gold October 10: Levine hit topped the Billboard Pop Songs chart helping out R. City with "Locked Away." November 22: Maroon 5 were nominated for 2 American Music Awards including Artist of the Year and Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group. December 31: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard 2015 Year-End Chart Toppers as the Top Pop Billboard 200 Album Artist - Duo/Group and Top Pop Hot 100 Artists - Duo/Group. February 15: Maroon 5 were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance ("Sugar"). October 22: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with help from Kendrick Lamar with "Don't Wanna Know." November 12: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with help from Kendrick Lamar with "Don't Wanna Know." December 31: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Radio Songs chart and Adult Pop Songs chart with help from Kendrick Lamar with "Don't Wanna Know." January 7: Maroon 5 hit #1 for 3 weeks on the ARC Weekly Top 40 with help from Kendrick Lamar with "Don't Wanna Know." January 28: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Pop Songs chart with help from Kendrick Lamar with "Don't Wanna Know." February 25: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with help from Future with "Cold." March 18: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with help from Kendrick Lamar with "Don't Wanna Know." May 13: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with help from Future with "Cold." September 9: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with help from SZA with "What Lovers Do." September 30: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with help from SZA with "What Lovers Do." November 3: Maroon 5 released Red Pill Blues. November 14: Red Pill Blues was certified gold. November 19: Maroon 5 were nominated for an American Music Award for Collaboration of the Year ("Don't Wanna Know" with Kendrick Lamar). December 31: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard 2017 Year-End Chart Toppers with the Top Adult Contemporary Song (""Don't Wanna Know" with Kendrick Lamar). January 27: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Wait." April 5: V was certified 3x platinum. April 7: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "Wait." May 17: Red Pill Blues was certified platinum. June 16: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with help from Cardi B with "Girls Like You." June 16: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Digital Songs chart with help from Cardi B with "Girls Like You." June 30: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with help from Cardi B with "Girls Like You." August 4: Maroon 5 hit #1 for 5 weeks on the ARC Weekly Top 40 with help from Cardi B with "Girls Like You." August 4: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Pop Songs chart and Radio Songs chart with help from Cardi B with "Girls Like You." August 20: The video for "Wait" was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects. September 29: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart with help from Cardi B with "Girls Like You." November 10: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with help from Cardi B with "Girls Like You." February 3: Maroon 5 were the headline performers at the Super Bowl LIII Halftime show after many other artists turned down the gig and refused to appear with the group in protest of unfair treatment toward Colin Kapernick. February 10: Maroon 5 were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance ("'Girls Like You" with Cardi B). May: Levine quit The Voice after 2 seasons of having no one on his team in the finals and questioning the changes made in the last season. September 25: Maroon 5 hit the ARC Weekly Top 40 with "Memories." October 5: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Digital Song Sales chart with "Memories." October 26: Maroon 5 hit the Top 10 with "Memories." November 24: Maroon 5 were nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist. December 7: Maroon 5 topped the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart with "Memories." LP DISCOGRAPHY Songs About Jane US: 4x Platinum Billboard Top 200 LPs peak: # 6 Tracks: "Harder To Breathe" - "This Love" - "Shiver" - "She Will Be Loved" - "Tangled" - "The Sun" - "Must Get Out" - "Sunday Morning" - "Secret" - "Through With You" - "Not Coming Home" (live) - "Sweetest Goodbye" 1.22.03.Acoustic US: Gold Billboard Top 200 LPs peak: # 42 Live Tracks: "This Love" - "Sunday Morning" - "She Will Be Loved" - "Harder To Breathe" - "The Sun" - "If I Fell In Love With You" - "Highway to Hell" - "Ragdoll" Live Friday The 13th Live Tracks: "Shiver" - "Through With You" - "Harder To Breathe" - "The Sun" - "Wasted Years" - "Secret" - "Not Coming Home" - "This Love" - "Must Get Out" - "Sunday Morning" - "Sweetest Goodbye" - "Hello" - "She Will Be Loved" It Won't Be Soon Before Long Billboard Top 200 LPs peak: # 1 (for 1 week) Billboard # 1: Digital Albums Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Vocal Album Rolling Stone: - Entertainment Weekly: B Tracks: "If I Never See Your Face Again" - "Makes Me Wonder" - "Little Of Your Time" - "Wake Up Call" - "Won't Go Home Without You" - "Nothing Lasts Forever" - "Can't Stop" - "Goodnight Goodnight" - "Not Falling Apart" - "Kiwi" - "Better That We Break" - "Back At Your Door" The B-Side Collection Released: December 18, 2007 Tracks: "Story" - "Miss You Love You" - "Until You're Over Me" - "Losing My Mind" - "The Way I Was" - "Figure It Out" - "Infatuation" Live From Soho (EP) Live Tracks: "If I Never See Your Face Again" - "Makes Me Wonder" - "Little Of Your Time" - "Wake Up Call" - "Won't Go Home Without You" - "Nothing Lasts Forever" Live From Le Cabaret Billboard Top 200 LPs peak: # 117 Live Tracks: "If I Never See Your Face Again" - "Makes Me Wonder" - "Harder To Breathe" - "The Sun" - "Secret" - "Shiver" - "Won't Go Home Without You" - "Sunday Morning" - "Little Of Your Time" - "Sweetest Goodbye" - "She Will Be Loved" - "This Love" Call And Response: The Remix Album Released: December 9, 2008 Rolling Stone: - Entertainment Weekly: B+ Tracks: "If I Never See Your Face Again" - "Wake Up Call" (featuring Mary J. Blige) - "Sunday Morning" - "Makes Me Wonder" - "This Love" - "She Will Be Loved" - "Shiver" - "Wake Up Call" (featuring David Banner) - "Harder To Breathe" (featuring The Cool Kids) - "Little Of Your Time" - "Little Of Your Time" - "Goodnight Goodnight" - "Not Falling Apart" - "Better That We Break" - "Secret" - "Woman" - "This Love" - "If I Never See Your Face Again" (featuring Rihanna) Hands All Over US: Platinum Tracks: "Misery" - "Give A Little More" - "Stutter" - "Don't Know Nothing" - "Never Gonna Leave This Bed" - "I Can't Lie" - "Hands All Over" - "How" - "Get Back In My Life" - "Just A Feeling" - "Runaway" - "Out Of Goodbyes" iTunes Session (EP) Released: February 8, 2011 Live Tracks: "Never Gonna Leave This Bed" - "Misery" - "Better That We Break" - "She Will Be Loved" - "Secret" - "Little Of Your Time" Tracks: "One More Night" - "Payphone" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) - "Daylight" - "Lucky Strike" - "The Man Who Never Lied" - "Love Somebody" - "Ladykiller" - "Fortune Teller" - "Sad" - "Tickets" - "Doin' Dirt" - "Beautiful Goodbye" Released: September 2, 2014 Billboard # 1: Digital Albums, Internet Albums Tracks: "Maps" - "Animals" - "It Was Always You" - "Unkiss Me" - "Sugar" - "Leaving California" - "In Your Pocket" - "New Love" - "Coming Back For You" - "Feelings" - "My Heart Is Open" (featuring Gwen Stefani) - "Shoot Love" - "Sex And Candy" - "Lost Stars" Red Pill Blues Tracks: "Best 4 U" - "What Lovers Do" (featuring SZA) - "Wait" - "Lips On You" - "Bet My Heart" - "Help Me Out" (with Julia Michaels) - "Whom I Am" (featuring LunchMoney Lewis) - "Whiskey" (featuring ASAP Rocky) - "Girls Like You" - "Closure" - "Denim Jacket" - "Visions" - "Plastic Rose" - "Don't Wanna Know" (featuring Kendrick Lamar) - "Cold" (featuring Future) POP SINGLES DISCOGRAPHY [based on RockOnTheNet's The ARC Weekly Top 40 1 "Girls Like You" [Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B] from the LP Red Pill Blues ARC chart run: 21 - 14 - 9 - 6 - 5 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 8 - 11 - 19 - 26 - off Year-End Chart Position: # 3 RIAA Certification: Platinum Billboard # 1: Hot 100, Pop Songs, Radio Songs, Digital Songs, Adult Contemporary, Adult Pop Songs Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance 1(5) 2018 2 "This Love" from the LP Songs About Jane ARC chart run: 40 - 33 - 26 - 19 - 13 - 10 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 4 - 5 - 7 - 7 - 12 - 16 - 21 - 25 - 34 - off RIAA Certification: 2x Platinum Billboard # 1: Top 40 Mainstream, Digital Tracks, Adult Top 40 Grammy Winner: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance MTV VMA Nominee: Best Group Video 1(4) 26 2004 3 "One More Night" from the LP Overexposed ARC chart run: 37 - 27 - 20 - 17 - 15 - 12 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 4 - 8 - 12 - 15 - 18 - 24 - off Billboard # 1: Hot 100, Pop Songs, Radio Songs, Adult Top 40 Tracks 1(7) 24 2012 4 Moves Like Jagger [Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera] from the LP Hands All Over ARC chart run: 35 - 26 - 18 - 15 - 12 - 10 - 8 - 5 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 6 - 8 - 9 - 11 - 14 - 20 - 23 - 29 - 34 - off Billboard # 1: Hot 100, Radio Songs, Pop Songs, Digital Songs, Digital Tracks, Pop Digital Songs, Adult Top 40 Tracks Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance 1(5) 26 2011 5 She Will Be Loved ARC chart run: 40 - 31 - 25 - 18 - 12 - 9 - 7 - 5 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 7 - 10 - 12 - 15 - 21 - 27 - 34 - off Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group 1(5) 23 2004 6 Makes Me Wonder from the LP It Won't Be Soon Before Long ARC chart run: 40 - 29 - 21 - 16 - 11 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 5 - 8 - 9 - 9 - 11 - 16 - 19 - 22 - 35 - off Billboard # 1: Hot 100, Pop 100, Digital Songs, Digital Tracks, Dance Club Play, Dance Airplay Grammy Winner: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance 2 24 2007 7 Payphone [Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa] ARC chart run: 24 - 14 - 11 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 8 - 13 - 17 - 24 - off Billboard # 1: Radio Songs, Pop Songs, Digital Songs, Adult Top 40 Tracks Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance MTV VMA Nominee: Best Pop Video 1(3) 21 2012 8 Don't Wanna Know [Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamar] Billboard # 1: Radio Songs, Pop Songs, Adult Pop Songs, Adult Contemporary 1(3) 21 2017 9 Sugar from the LP V ARC chart run: 30 - 18 - 11 - 7 - 7 - 7 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 8 - 10 - 27 - 32 - off Billboard # 1: Pop Songs, Adult Pop Songs 10 Daylight ARC chart run: 39 - 31 - 27 - 23 - 20 - 20 - 16 - 14 - 10 - 10 - 8 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9 - 13 - 19 - 31 - off Billboard # 1: Pop Songs, Adult Top 40 Tracks 3 23 2013 ARC chart run: 26 - 20 - 11 - 9 - 6 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 6 - 9 - 12 - 15 - 21 - 27 - 32 - off Billboard # 1: Radio Songs, Pop Songs, Adult Pop Songs 1(3) 20 2014 12 What Lovers Do [Maroon 5 featuring SZA] ARC chart run: 27 - 18 - 15 - 10 - 8 - 7 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 5 - 7 - 11 - 13 - 16 - 26 - 35 - off RIAA Certification: 2x Platinum 4 21 2017 13 Wait ARC chart run: 36 - 23 - 20 - 18 - 17 - 16 - 14 - 12 - 12 - 12 - 9 - 8 - 8 - 9 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 10 - 8 - 6 - 7 - 11 - 35 - off MTV VMA Nominee: Best Visual Effects 6 23 2018 ARC chart run: 20 - 12 - 9 - 8 - 8 - 6 - 6 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 5 - 12 - 19 - 23 - 27 - 31 - 36 - off Billboard # 1: Adult Contemporary 3 20 2014 15 Harder To Breathe ARC chart run: 39 - 35 - 31 - 27 - 22 - 16 - 14 - 12 - 9 - 8 - 6 - 6 - 4 - 3 - 3 - 4 - 10 - 12 - 16 - 22 - 29 - 39 - off RIAA Certification: Platinum 3 22 2003 16 Love Somebody ARC chart run: 31 - 26 - 21 - 17 - 17 - 13 - 12 - 10 - 9 - 6 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 5 - 8 - 12 - 20 - 23 - off Billboard # 1: Adult Top 40 Tracks 3 19 2013 17 Wake Up Call ARC chart run: 38 - 36 - 32 - 30 - 28 - 24 - 21 - 19 - 13 - 12 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 7 - 9 - 15 - 18 - 22 - 26 - 26 - off 18 Misery ARC chart run: 40 - 30 - 24 - 20 - 18 - 15 - 12 - 12 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 8 - 11 - 13 - 16 - 20 - 25 - 33 - 36 - off Billboard # 1: Adult Pop Songs Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group 8 19 2010 19 Sunday Morning ARC chart run: 36 - 29 - 25 - 23 - 20 - 15 - 12 - 11 - 9 - 9 - 9 - 8 - 10 - 17 - 23 - 32 - 37 - off RIAA Certification: Gold 8 17 2005 20 Cold [Maroon 5 featuring Future] ARC chart run: 31 - 20 - 12 - 11 - 13 - 15 - 15 - 13 - 12 - 12 - 11 - 10 - 11 - 17 - 20 - 26 - 39 - off Year-End Chart Position: # 50 10 17 2017 21 This Summer's Gonna Hurt Like A... from the LP V (re-issue) ARC chart run: 35 - 22 - 14 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 9 - 12 - 16 - 25 - 36 - off 22 Won't Go Home Without You ARC chart run: 39 - 35 - 32 - 31 - 30 - 29 - 29 - 28 - 26 - 25 - 26 - 35 - off Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group 25 12 2008 23 Never Gonna Leave This Bed RIAA Certification: Platinum 24 12 2011 24 If I Never See Your Face Again [Maroon 5 featuring Rihanna] from the LP Call And Response: The Remix Album ARC chart run: 37 - 33 - 30 - 27 - 30 - 34 - off Year-End Chart Position: # 117 Grammy Nominee: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals 27 6 2008 25 Feelings ARC chart run: 38 - 32 - 30 - 29 - 33 - off Year-End Chart Position: # 135 29 5 2015 26 Give A Little More ARC chart run: 39 - 35 - 34 - off Not Falling Apart from the LP It Won't Be Soon Before Long 2009 -- current single -- Billboard # 1: Digital Songs, Adult Pop Songs ** 2020 Note: Song title and position links lead you to the song's ARC Weekly Top 40 chart run, LP links take you to Amazon.com for that LP's info (often including track listings and track samples), and single cover art takes you to Amazon.com for that CD single (if available). Songs charting prior to 1980 have information from Billboard magazine.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2059
__label__wiki	0.592973	0.592973	Round Goby Neogobius melanostomus Family: Gobiidae Photographer: Peter van der Sluijs Source: commons.wikimedia.org Copyright: (CC BY-SA 3.0) The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is a small and soft bodied fish that is native to central Eurasia. Round gobies are 4 to 10 inches long, have a gray body, and a distinctive black spot on the anterior most dorsal fin. Juvenile round gobies are cloudy gray and become darker with maturation. Round gobies have large eyes and well developed sense that enable them to detect changes in water movement. This trait provides the round goby with an advantage of hunting in the dark when most other fish species rely on eyesight. Round gobies are aggressive fish that defend their spawning territory ruthlessly, preventing native fish species from having access to the best spawning areas. The round goby is able to hunt in the dark providing an advantage for feeding above native fish species that can only hunt during daylight hours and in the photic zone of lakes. With reduced food availability and less than preferred spawning sites, native fish species become quickly threatened when round goby populations become established. The round goby is also a known host for several parasites, some of which are transmittable to humans. The most prevalent parasite carried by the round goby are nematodes from the family Heterophyidae. Some of the known trematodes found in the round goby are Cryptocotyle concavum, C. lingua, and Pygidiopsis genata. Cryptocotyle lingua and Pygidiopsis genata are capable of transferring to human hosts. The round goby is also a host for epizootic nematodes Tetrameres fissispina and Streptocara crassicauda, which utilize ducklings as hosts rather than humans. Of further concern, the round goby is a common carrier of the invasive nematode parasite Anguillicoloides crassus, which has also been discovered in the invasive European eel. This invasive nematode threatens to further reduce dwindling populations of native American eels. Within the Great Lakes, the parasite load of the round goby has remained relatively low in comparison to their native habitat. However, infection by the cestode Proteocephalus sp. and the trematode Neochasmus umbellus remains common in the U.S. habitat. Spawning occurs during the summer months. Round gobies are able to reproduce and become established quickly in a new area because of their high fecundity and defense of spawning territory. Female round gobies will spawn repeatedly over the summer months and produce egg clutches of up to 5,000. Following spawning, the male round goby dies. The round goby was first introduced to the United States in 1990 in the Saint Clair River. The first recorded discovery in the Great Lakes was in 1995 at the Duluth Harbor area in Lake Superior. It was likely released accidentally via ship ballast water from the ocean that was discharged. Black Sea and Caspian Sea U.S. Present: The Great Lakes U.S. Habitat: The round goby is a bottom dwelling euryhaline (salt tolerant) fish that can live in freshwater or saltwater. In the United States the round goby is found in the Great Lakes and known to feed on insect larvae, clams, mussels, fish eggs, large invertebrates, and the zebra mussel (another invasive species). The Department of Natural Resources and other wildlife officials are working to contain the spread and establishment of the round goby in the United States with the use of electrical barriers and piscicides. Further spread of the round goby can be prevented by taking precautions when fishing. Dispose of left over bait in trash cans and not in lakes. Do not empty a bucket of water or bait into a different body of water. If you believe you have seen a round goby in a new body of water, notify the Department of Natural Resources immediately. Camp J. W., L. M. Blaney, D. K. Barnes. 1999. Helminths of the round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Perciformes: Gobiidae), from Southern Lake Michigan, Indiana. Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington 66: 70–72. Jude D. J., R. H. Reider, G. R. Smith. 1992. Establishment of Gobiidae in the Great Lakes basin. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 49: 416—421. Kvach Y., V. Zamorov. 2001. Feeding preferences of the round goby Neogobius melanostomus and mushroom goby Neogobius cephalarges in the Odessa Bay. Oceanological Studies 30(3-4): 91-101. Kvach Y. 2004. The Far-Eastern nematode Anguillicola crassus – new parasite of the invasive round goby Neogobius melanostomus in the Baltic Sea. Vestnik Zoologii 38(2): 38. Kvach Y., K. E. Skóra. 2007. Metazoa parasites of the invasive round goby Apollonia melanostoma (Neogobius melanostomus) (Pallas) (Gobiidae: Osteichthyes) in the Gulf of Gdańsk, Baltic Sea, Poland: a comparison with the Black Sea. Parasitology Research 100(4): 767–774. Kvach Y., C. A. Stepien. 2008. The invasive round goby Apollonia melanostoma (Actinopterygii: Gobiidae) – a new intermediate host of the trematode Neochasmus umbellus (Trematoda: Cryptogonimidae) in Lake Erie, Ohio, USA. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 24: 103-105 Lydersen, Karl. 2011. "The Round Goby, an Uninvited Resident of the Great Lakes, Is Doing Some Good". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/us/27cncgoby.html. Muzzall P. M., C. R. Peebles, M. V. Thomas. 1995. Parasites of the round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, and tubenose goby, Proterorhinus marmoratus (Perciformes: Gobiidae), from the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair, Michigan. Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington 62(2): 226–228. Round Goby Fact Sheet 065. J.E. Marsden, Illinois Natural Historic Survey and David J. Jude, University of Michigan. 1995. Information provided by the Ohio Sea Grant College Program. (http://www.sg.ohio-state.edu/publications/nuisances/gobies/fs-065.html). http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu http://www.anstaskforce.gov http://www.protectyourwaters.net	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2064
__label__wiki	0.544755	0.544755	Term planning for Irish – and other languages Úna Bhreathnach Term planning is the way in which terms develop or are developed, are made available and are put into use in a language community. When, in 2005, I became editorial manager of a new project to develop a National Terminology Database for Irish, Focal.ie1 (www.focal.ie), I developed a practical interest in the way terminology work is planned (or, often, just allowed to develop) for a language. The importance of addressing all aspects of terminology planning – and not just the provision of lists of terms, in the hope that they will be accepted and used – became especially clear to me. It cannot be assumed that, without strategic thought and planning, terminology will be developed and accepted into use in a way which is beneficial and which contributes strategically to the development of a language. It also became clear to me that there was surprisingly little published research on this subject, and certainly no go-to manual for the new editor of a terminology project. Most of the resources on which terminologists rely are internal working documents, not easily accessible to the external researcher. Further, many terminology policies are not explicitly formulated, much less written down. This is problematic as it indicates limited sharing of expertise (Budin 2001). It appears that relatively few sets of highly developed guidelines for term planning are made available publicly – those that are available are often, like Suonuuti (2001) or Bowman et al. (1997), extremely short. In the case of the Irish language in particular, a language facing both extensive and rapid domain loss in traditional usage and a paradoxical parallel domain gain in official usage, terminology planning needed discussion and consideration. Although the terminology situation for Irish has many strengths, there are also significant problems, such as with the timely provision of terms, with strategic planning and coordination, and with consistency in terminology, as well as with the dissemination and use of terms. I felt that research into a best practice model for term planning, although not specifically directed at the Irish situation, might be a useful contribution to the debate on these issues. In my thesis, I developed a general model for term planning which could be adapted to suit many language situations. A standardised model for term planning has potential value in several ways. Although the situations are different, the objectives of term planning organisations are generally similar, as are most of the working methods. Each organisation has to go through the same process of trial and error with regard to all the basic aspects of terminology. A ready-made model of what has worked well in other cases might be useful for fledgling organisations. It could also be useful as a reference point for more established organisations, as a way to identify and justify improvements, to attract funding and to evaluate processes. This article gives a brief outline of the PhD research I carried out on terminology planning for Irish, Swedish and Catalan. It sets out some interesting results, which might be of interest to other terminologists. Terminology and the Irish language Irish is unusual among lesser-used languages in that many of its daily users are not native speakers. Since the foundation of the State in 1922, generations of Irish people have learned Irish (mainly through the education system) but few live in Irish-speaking areas. Some thousands of daily speakers use Irish in a variety of high-level domains, principally education, media, public administration and law. The Official Languages Act (2005) requires the stationery, signage, advertisements and publications of some 650 public bodies to be made available in Irish or in English and Irish. The Irish language was granted official language status in the European Union in 2005 after a public campaign; this status came into effect on January 1, 2007 (although the amount of translation done is limited by derogation). Translation is now one of the major language-related industries; the bulk of translation work is commissioned to comply with legislative requirements. As a result of this situation, there is a strong need for in vitro term creation and dissemination, and a large number of professional language users rely heavily on resources such as Focal. In order to investigate the gaps in the term planning literature and to develop a model, I carried out a detailed investigation in 2009–2010 of practice in three term planning situations: TERMCAT (the term planning organisation for Catalan), Terminologicentrum TNC (the term planning organisation for Swedish) and the Irish-language term planning organisations, principally the Terminology Committee (Foras na Gaeilge) and Fiontar, Dublin City University. This research was carried out through a series of 26 in-depth interviews with key actors, which were then coded, analysed and compiled into reports. A model for term planning was then proposed, consisting of eight stages: preparation/planning, research, standardisation, dissemination, implantation, evaluation, modernisation/maintenance and training. A word of warning, however: the model (illustrated in Figure 1) is based on a limited data set. No claims can therefore be made about its universal usefulness. Assumptions are made for the purposes of the model about levels of financing, resources, staff, user and staff education and the state of development of the language itself, which are, of course, not valid in all term planning situations. There are considerable differences between the three cases studied from a sociolinguistic perspective. In all three cases, however, the languages are well developed and fully codified with well-established grammars, orthography and lexicons. Figure 1: Aspects of term planning Terms in use: implantation A sociolinguistic approach is taken here and this implies a focus on the social use of terms, the view of language for special purposes and language for general purposes as a continuum rather than two separate categories, and the emphasis on de-terminologisation and popularisation as important factors in term use and diffusion. These are all highly relevant to many language situations, in which subject specialists may not create or use terms themselves, terms are often borrowed unchanged from English and other languages, and terminology is needed for ‘popularisation’ activities such as translation, journalism and education. If terms are to be ‘liked, learned and used’ (Fishman 1991), and if domain gain is to take place, then the social and linguistic situation must be carefully studied. Because term planning is approached from a language planning point of view, term implantation (getting terms into use) is considered the critical factor and measure of success. Examination of the literature and of the cases themselves shows that implantation is a passive stage, however, and not something the term planning organisation can actively ‘do’, although actions taken by the term planning organisation do influence likely term implantation. Influencing factors include the active participation by representatives of the target audience in the research and decision-making processes; the quality of the terms themselves, including conciseness, absence of competing terms, derivative form capability and compliance with the rules of the language; and the timely provision of terms in easily accessible formats. Less easily controlled factors could include acceptance by the media, which is in turn influenced by their involvement in term creation and dissemination; and public attitude to the language and to the discussion of specialised subjects in that language, which may be influenced by the awareness-raising work of the term-planning organisation. It seems clear, therefore, that implantation is affected by the planning, research, dissemination (publication and marketing) and training aspects of term planning work, as well as by the quality of the overall strategic planning. Implantation, if carefully evaluated, is a good measure of the term planning organisation’s work as a whole, and it is therefore vital that it is assessed. A few interesting findings The case research corroborated the literature in some instances; other aspects repeatedly discussed in the literature appear less important in the cases. Interviewees in the cases acknowledged taking a pragmatic, case-based approach to the implementation of ISO standards, for example, and much terminology work – because it was done on an ad hoc basis, or because the projects were too big – did not suit the ISO approach. Although terminology work should, it was agreed, be based on standardised principles and methods, and based on scientific theory, this was not always the case in practice. The most interesting finding from the case research, however, was the importance of aspects of term planning which are hardly mentioned in the literature. This is particularly so with methods of dissemination, in the sense both of publication, and of marketing and awareness-raising about term resources. Although these are essential for term implantation, they are hardly discussed in the literature. (Similarly, there is little discussion in the literature of ad hoc term research, although this is just as important as project-based research in certain instances.) Dissemination covers a broad field in terminology, including at least the following aspects: publication of term resources; publication of information about terminology; drawing the attention of users to resources; and creating debate about, interest in, and appreciation of terminology work. All this work is vital if term resources are to be used and implanted. The term planning process is more effective, the more people are involved and interested in it; in fact, participation in the research process may be one of the best ways of guaranteeing term use. As with all language matters, a sense of ownership and involvement is important. Getting more language users and specialists involved is also useful for the terminologist, as it means a broader spread of information sources. It is also a way of bridging the gap between in vivo and in vitro term creation. There is a particular need for close coordination with the media as an important user group. As well as being consumers of terminology, journalistic choices largely determine what terms language users will encounter, and, as a consequence, what terms will be implanted. They are the main mediators between term creators and end users. This is particularly the case for terms linked to current events. The media will have particular needs – and speed of response to ad hoc requests is very important. An example of media contact is TERMCAT’s Antena de Terminologia, which is a distribution list comprising a broad membership of the media, used to spread information about new terms but also to gather information about in vivo term use and terminology needs. Term planning is a difficult process and there are many influencing factors; the eight-stage model developed in my research (and shown in Figure 1) illustrates the complexity of the task and the way in which the stages interact. Term implantation is the main measure of success, and this can be influenced by the term planners, although this influence is limited by outside factors. In the Irish case, considerable effort is now given to developing sophisticated, user-friendly term resources and tools, and making them as visible as possible to target users. We hope that this will have benefits for term use, not just in translation but among the language community at large. 1 Foras na Gaeilge is the statutory entity primarily responsible for term planning for Irish, and it appoints the national expert committee for term planning, An Coiste Téarmaíochta, the Terminology Committee. Since 2004, Foras na Gaeilge has supported research contracts with Fiontar, the Irish-medium unit within Dublin City University, to carry out terminology work on its behalf. This work has included the creation, development and management of Focal.ie. Focal.ie is the major source for terminology for Irish, with more than 160,000 term records and up to 1 million searches per month. Bhreathnach, Úna,2011. A Best-Practice Model for Term Planning. PhD thesis presented at Fiontar, Dublin City University: Ireland. Available at http://doras.dcu.ie/16548/. Bowman, Catherine, Diane Michaud & Heidi Suonuuti, 1997. "Do's and Don'ts of Terminology Management". In Sue Ellen Wright & Gerhard Budin (eds.). Handbook of Terminology Management. Volume 1: Basic Aspects of Terminology Management. Pp. 215—217. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Budin, Gerhard, 2001. "A critical evaluation of the state-of-the-art of terminology theory". In Terminology Science and Research 12 (1—2). Pp. 7—23. Fishman, Joshua A., 1991. Reversing Language Shift. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. Suonuuti, Heidi, 2001. Guide to Terminology. 2nd edn. Helsinki: Tekniikan Sanastokeskus. Úna Bhreathnach is editorial manager of several Irish-language terminology and digital humanities projects in Fiontar, Dublin City University, including the National Terminology Database for Irish, focal.ie, and the Placenames Database of Ireland, logainm.ie, as well as term research for the EU IATE database and a new dictionary of the Arts. Her PhD thesis, A Best-Practice Model for Term Planning, was awarded the the International Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theoretical/Fundamental Research in the Field of Terminology at the EAFT summit in October 2012. ‹ Kuntasanastoa laatimassa: kompromisseja ja valintoja Euroopan komission vierailevana kääntäjänä Suomessa ›	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2066
__label__wiki	0.809221	0.809221	Professor in the History of International Relations, University of Cambridge Brendan Peter Simms is an Irish historian and Professor of the History of International Relations in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge. Simms studied at Trinity College Dublin, where he was elected a scholar in history in 1986, before completing his doctoral dissertation, Anglo-Prussian relations, 1804-1806: The Napoleonic Threat, at Cambridge under the supervision of Professor Tim Blanning in 1993. A Fellow of Peterhouse, he lectures and leads seminars on international history since 1945. Simms's research focuses on the history of European foreign policy. He has written a variety of books and articles on this subject, including Unfinest Hour: Britain and the Destruction of Bosnia (2001) and Three Victories and a Defeat: The Rise and Fall of the First British Empire, 1714-1783 (2007). His overarching book, Europe: The Struggle for Supremacy, 1453 to the Present, was favorably reviewed by The Telegraph and the New Statesman. His latest book is Britain’s Europe: A Thousand Years of Conflict and Cooperation (2016). In addition to his academic work, he also serves as the president of The Henry Jackson Society, which advocates the view that supporting and promoting liberal democracy and liberal interventionism should be an integral part of Western foreign policy. He is President of the Project for Democratic Union, a Munich-based student-organised think tank. Joined June 20, 2016	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2069
__label__cc	0.577555	0.422445	TALANTALAN Yevgeny Tsyganov and Chulpan Khamatova got married On November 26, viewers will see Yevgeny Tsyganov in a new film directed by Alexander Proshkin "Rayskie Kushchi", where his partner was unmatched Chulpan Khamatova. While fans relish details stormy personal life Yevgeny Tsyganov, he continues to ignore the hype surrounding his person and on a daily basis is removed - and in several projects simultaneously. In late November, the audience will see the actor in a new film directed by Alexander Proshkina "Rayskie Kushchi", where his partner was unmatched Chulpan Khamatova. According to the scenario Eugene - creative and witty cynic, womanizer (fans already looked a trailer, jokingly notes, "everything in life"). Hero name is Victor Tsyganov Zilov it a web designer, and he has it all: career took off and revive passion in a relationship with a wonderful, intelligent, beautiful wife, a new apartment in a luxury quarter, "booths" of local provincial paradise. With beautiful Galya (Chulpan Khamatova) he has lived for six years. Heroes of Eugene and Chulpan convenient and comfortable to live together, but the character Tsyganov always have time for intrigues on the side. How will the history of uneasy relations and betrayal - we will know when the "Garden of Eden" will be released on the big screen at the end of November. Traler for "Rayskie Kushchi" can be found at "7Dney.ru"	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2070
__label__cc	0.689169	0.310831	University of Cambridge > Talks.cam > Centre for Research in Children's Literature at Cambridge > The Language of Julia Donaldson: Rhetoric, style and cognition The Language of Julia Donaldson: Rhetoric, style and cognition Michael Burke , Utrecht University Thursday 23 May 2019, 17:00-18:30 MAB 104, Mary Allan Building, Homerton College, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8PQ. If you have a question about this talk, please contact Ann Waterman. Julia Donaldson has been a highly successful children’s author over the past twenty-five years. She has published more than 100 books and many of her works have been translated from English into other languages. In 2011 she received an MBE for services to literature and she was the Children’s Laureate from 2011-2013. She has received honorary degrees from Bristol University in 2011 and from Glasgow University in 2012. In addition to being a writer of children’s books, Donaldson is also a playwright and a performer. She has worked closely over the years on many of her stories with children’s book illustrator Axel Scheffler. The number of books they have sold together runs into the millions. A pertinent question therefore that this study will address is just what it is that young listeners (and perhaps readers) are drawn to in the stories of Julia Donaldson? Is it just the plotlines, the characters and the illustrations or might something else also play an important role, for example, the style, the rhythm and rhyme, the narrative and the rhetorical arrangement in general. Moreover, might the embodied cognition that underpins these literary and linguistic phenomena, triggered by both text and images – also tell us something about what might draw young listeners (and perhaps readers) to the works of Julia Donaldson? This question is what this study sets out to investigate by means of rhetorical, stylistic and cognitive poetic analysis. Michael Burke is Professor of Rhetoric at Utrecht University where he is currently also the Dean of the Honour College. He also teaches modules in classical rhetoric, argumentation analysis, literary stylistics and cognitive poetics at University College Roosevelt in Middelburg, a liberal arts and sciences honours college of Utrecht University. His publications include Literary Reading This talk is part of the Centre for Research in Children's Literature at Cambridge series. All Faculty of Education Seminars Cambridge Forum of Science and Humanities Cambridge Language Sciences Centre for Research in Children's Literature at Cambridge FERSA - All Events Faculty of Education Seminars MAB 104, Mary Allan Building, Homerton College, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8PQ Pedagogy, Language, Arts & Culture in Education (PLACE) Group Seminars LfL Supper Seminar Chutes and Ladders: Supports and Challenges to Teacher Leadership Development nlip seminar Hinsley Lecture Series Flow Cytometry rust-vmm: Building the Virtualization Stack of the Future Human Origins Worldline Instantons for Magnetic Monopoles in Heavy-Ion Collisions Reinhart Koselleck Symposium Atomistically inspired origami	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2071
__label__cc	0.646091	0.353909	Ministry’s Removal of Difficulty Order- Clarifies the position w.r.t appointment of auditors 1.0 Under the Companies Act, 2013 ('Act, 2013'), the provisions w.r.t. appointment of auditors had undergone a paradigm shift in comparison with the erstwhile provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. One of the major changes which was introduced w.r.t. auditors was the bar on re-appointment of auditors in certain class of companies specified under Section 139(2) of the Act, 2013, if he had already held: (a) one term of 5 years in case of an individual; or (b) two consecutive terms of 5 years in case of a firm. Once the bar on reappointment applies, there is a mandatory cooling-off period of 5 years. To comply with the above provision, transition period of 3 years was provided from the date of the commencement of the Act, 2013, i.e., companies shall appoint another auditor till April 01, 2017 which at the first blush would mean that at the upcoming AGM for the FY ended 2016, new auditor needs to be appointed. However, the auditors are appointed at the AGM of the company and hold office till the conclusion of the next AGM. Therefore, to comply with the 3 years provision, the new auditor must have been appointed in the AGM for FY ended 2017. Hence, there was chaos among the corporates and auditors regarding the contradictory provisions in relation to effective date for appointment of new auditor. In order to clarify this position which was subject to interpretation, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has issued a Companies (Removal of Difficulties) Third Order, 2016, dated June 30, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as "Order"). Non-resident not having PAN get a breather Permanent AccountNumber (PAN) is an India tax identification number. Over the years, revenue authorities have been using PAN to track high value transactions, curb tax evasion, and thereby increase the tax base. In line with this objective section 206AA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (Act) was introduced in Finance Act, 2009 with effect from 1 April 2010, which provides that if PAN is not furnished by the payee, the withholding tax would be applicable at the rate specified in the relevant provision of the Act or rate in force or 20%, whichever is higher. India has tax treaties with various countries which provides for reduced rate of withholding tax for various sources of income like interest, royalties, fees for technical services. With the introduction of section 206AA, a non-resident payee not having a PAN was caught in the rigour of these provisions and the reduced tax treaty rate got increased to 20% under section 206AA. This was so because section 206AA starts with a non-obstante clause viz. "notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act,..". Considering the wordings of section 206AA of the Act there was a view that it may override the beneficial provisions of the tax treaty. Concerns were raised whether the provisions of section 206AA overrides the treaty provisions, and whether the non-resident payee will not be eligible to avail benefit of lower rate prescribed under the tax treaty if PAN is not furnished. The Income Declaration Scheme, 2016: Certain Aspects 1. Last year, it was a one-time compliance window under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 ('the BM Act') to report the undisclosed offshore assets. Now it is an IncomeDeclaration Scheme, 2016 ('IDS, 2016') to declare undisclosed income from a domestic source. The former scheme received lukewarm response in terms of tax yield, given the high tax rate (60% incl. tax and penalty) and the concept of fair market value for valuing the asset for computing the tax liability. Similar doubts are being raised regarding the latter scheme as it has both these features, i.e., high tax rate (45% incl. tax, surcharge, and penalty) and the fair market value concept to value the asset if the undisclosed income is in the form of investment in any asset. A key argument is often presented that a voluntary disclosure scheme with more generous terms (such as lower tax rate, immunities from various laws) is needed to encourage delinquent taxpayers to pay their due taxes which can be utilised to improve the much-needed infrastructure in the country. In that case, presumably, the counter argument is that such a scheme would be discriminatory against the law-abiding taxpayer (in fact, the VDIS, 1997 could have been struck down by the Supreme Court but for the Government assuring the Court that henceforth they would not come out with such schemes). Thus, the introduction of any such scheme often involves economic efficiency, morality, and constitutionality issues. This article, however, is restricted to certain issues arising from the IDS, 2016. No garnishee proceedings against service recipient if it didn't owe anything to service provider: HC a. Petitioner, Food Corporation of India (FCI), engaged Kailash Enterprises (KE) for handling wheat cargo. Services provided by KE were exempt from service tax being services in relation to agricultural produce. However, FCI paid service tax under mistaken belief which was not deposited by KE to Government. b. There were multiple disputes between FCI and KE because of deficiency in service. Therefore, FCI recovered amount of Rs.3.5 crore by invoking bank guarantee. In the meanwhile, department issued notice against KE for recovery of service tax being collected by KE from FCI. It also issued notices under section 87 for recovery of amount due against FCI. The petitioner challenged garnishee proceedings before High Court. Ministry’s Removal of Difficulty Order- Clarifies ... The Income Declaration Scheme, 2016: Certain Aspec... No garnishee proceedings against service recipient...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2074
__label__wiki	0.820176	0.820176	=======Artist: Bobby BeauSoleil with The Freedom Orchestra and The Magick Powerhouse Of Oz======= BOBBY BEAUSOLEIL WITH THE FREEDOM ORCHESTRA AND THE MAGICK POWERHOUSE OF OZ The Lucifer Rising Suite (Ajna Offensive) 4xCD $25.50 (Out-of-stock) (Ajna Offensive) 4xLP $60.00 (Out-of-stock) At the age of 16, BeauSoleil played guitar for several garage acts, including a brief stint with Arthur Lee and The Grass Roots. (As would prove to be the case throughout his life, BeauSoleil's brief impression was lasting and Lee soon re-christened his band Love, reputedly a winking homage to the young runaway's romantic proclivities.) Bandless but unbroken, BeauSoleil landed in Haight-Ashbury just prior to his 18th birthday. Marching into the thriving psychedelic street revolution, he formed artrock band The Orkustra and began gigging regularly at Be-In events throughout the city. During this time, just months before the onset of the Summer of Love, underground filmmaker Kenneth Anger discovered him during a psychedelic arts festival called The Invisible Circus. He immediately cast the handsome musician as the lead man and fallen angel archetype in his latest celluloid ritual, Lucifer Rising. With typical melodramatic pomp, Anger approached him in a parking lot after the festival, declaring, “You are Lucifer!” He agreed to play the part under the condition that he would also compose the film's soundtrack. Caged first in San Quentin and later in Tracy State Prison, BeauSoleil's creative impulses could not be squelched despite his repressive surroundings. With diligence he was able to set up an inmate music program at the latter institution in the early 1970s. Now, for the first time, all the music composed for the soundtrack has been compiled into a single public release. The Lucifer Rising Suite begins with the 1967 version of the soundtrack and continues through a logical sequence of the recordings made in the years spanning 1976-79. With respect to the latter, the original master tapes were mined for music that had not been heard by anyone in nearly three decades. The newly unearthed recordings were then restored, cleaned up and combined with those previously released to make the anthology as complete as possible. With lots of artwork inserts, posters, essay.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2077
__label__cc	0.529166	0.470834	The Citadel: Address: Stronghold Hill The first information recorded in documents about the fortress on the Stronghold Hill (Martinsberg, Schlossberg), located between the suburbs „Blumăna” and „Brașovul Vechi”, dates back from 1529, when the town was preparing to reject an attack guided by the troops of the Moldavian voivode Petru Rareş. At the middle of the XVIth century, after the installation of the military control of the Habsburgic Empire’s troops in Transylvania, the Citadel acquires an increasingly important role within the defensive system of the town. Between the years 1553-1554, the works coordinated by the count of Arco, the subordinate of Austrian troops’ commander in Transylvania, Giovanni Battista Castaldo, develops the older nucleus, against which he builds artillery towers. The defensive settings up of the first construction phases, such as the shooting windows with splayed embrasures, have been shattered by the subsequent interventions, with however the conservation the wooden defence galleries of the internal courtyard. In 1630, during the judge mayor Cristel Hirscher’s administration, it was completed the construction of the external bastion-shaped stronghold in bricks. At the middle of south-eastern curtain it has been set up the gate tower, endowed with black oil orifices and shooting windows in form of reversed keyhole in the upper part. At the beginning of the XVIIIth century, the entire assembly is surrounded by ditched and embankments, new expansion works took place after 1773, when is added the hexagonal tower and the two-levels building’s aisle, which encompasses partially the constructions of the „castle” in the middle of the assembly. During the following centuries, the Citadel functioned as prison; after 1851 it was used concurrently as military barrack. The Citadel was visited by the Emperor Joseph the IInd, in 1773 and 1783, and also by the imperial couple Francis I and Carolina, in 1817. Between 1955 and 1975 it functioned as warehouse of the State Archives, and starting from 1981, after a consistent restoration, it became a touristic complex with medieval peculiarity. Robert @ 12/02/2016, 12:47 If inmfroation were soccer, this would be a goooooal! ady campeanu @ 07/11/2013, 18:13 Am locuit 2 ani in Brasov dar nu mi-am facut timp sa urc pana aici... pacat	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2078
__label__cc	0.690765	0.309235	Sus amigos en el Caribe EnPlRuPTEs The Republic of Haiti is a country situated in the western part of Haiti island (Caribbean sea) and its offshore islands. The eastern part of the island is occupied by Dominican Republic. It's bounded by the Atlantic Ocean from the north and by the Caribbean Sea from south. The country is traversed by mountain ranges from east to west. Average altitude is 1000 m, the highest peak is Pic la Selle (2680 m). Most of the country rivers are pretty small. There are two large lakes in Haiti: freshwater Lac de Peligre and saltwater Saumatre. TravelService West Indies, SRL	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2080
__label__cc	0.570218	0.429782	Catechetical Corner Grief Ministries Submit News Information Dialog in Print The Dialog Home Uncategorized Look it up: Mother Teresa on abortion Look it up: Mother Teresa on abortion The woman known to the world as Mother Teresa originally came to India to teach the children of the privileged. She eventually heard the call of the Lord to leave the security of the convent to serve the least of all, people thrown away by society, left to die in the streets. Pope Francis has approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, paving the way for her canonization in 2016. This Dec. 12, 1979, photo shows Mother Teresa in Oslo, Norway, after receiving the Nobel Peace Price. (CNS/EPA) But her humble and quiet work among these poorest of the poor could not remain hidden for long. Eventually she was acclaimed by the elite of the world, who invited her to address them at various VIP events. So in the last decade of her life, Mother Teresa spoke at international conferences, congressional prayer breakfasts and the United Nations. She even traveled to Oslo, Norway, to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. In her addresses to the powerful of the earth, there were several recurring themes. She often spoke about obstacles to peace and solutions to poverty. Repeatedly, however, she identified the evil that she saw to be the epitome of violence and poverty in the world — abortion. For Mother Teresa, the second greatest poverty in the world is the experience of being rejected and cast off by society. The greatest poverty is the spiritual emptiness that causes people to discard other human beings as useless objects. Mother Teresa also identified abortion as the greatest threat to peace in the world. For abortion is not simply a matter of the abandonment and indifference suffered by the poor dying in the streets of Kolkata. It is an act of intentional violence, of direct killing as a means to an end. In her acceptance speech of the Nobel Peace Prize, she told her distinguished audience: “Millions are dying deliberately by the will of the mother. And this is what is the greatest destroyer of peace today. Because if a mother can kill her own child — what is left but for me to kill you and you kill me?” When she spoke before U.S. government officials, many of whom had campaigned in favor of abortion, she said: “By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. … Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.” In her strong, unambiguous denunciation of abortion, Mother Teresa is a model of prophetic courage. But to her condemnation she added other words that show us what an integrated, consistent pro-life position truly looks like. At the 1994 International Conference on Population in Cairo, she said, “If there is a child that you don’t want or can’t feed or educate, give that child to me. I will not refuse any child. I will give a home or find loving parents for him or for her.” Authentic pro-life witness must not simply condemn the crime, but welcome the child. By Marcellino D’Ambrosio D’Ambrosio is co-founder of Crossroads Productions, an apostolate of Catholic renewal and evangelization. on abortion Previous articleMother Teresa and the ‘dark night of the soul’ Next articlePriest finds hope amid violence that has killed millions in Congo High school sports schedules return to normal following Christmas break USCCB president Archbishop Jose H. Gomez: ‘Violence in the name of God is blasphemy’ Pope accepts resignation of Bishop Richard B. Higgins from military archdiocese When will Catholic taxpayers get their fair share of education dollars, asks Louis P.... Louis De Angelo, Ph.D. - 21 January 2020, 11:41 St. Francis Life Center client Sara Fleetwood of Wilmington feted on her 100th birthday Mike Lang, Dialog Reporter - 16 January 2020, 14:47 Contact us: news@thedialog.org © 2018 THE DIALOG ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2082
__label__wiki	0.952544	0.952544	Fat Trel -- POSTPONED [RESCHEDULED DATE TBA] DMV Life Mixtape Release Show Rescheduled from 9/10 show date. All tickets for original show will be honored. Tickets $17.50 in advance, $22.50 day of show Premium Valet Parking Self Parking (Lot A) Packages & Discounts for Large Groups of 10 or more Washington DC native Fat Trel, is a hip hop recording artist who is currently signed to Rick Ross's label Maybach Music Group and Atlantic Records. Fat Trel recently released his latest project, entitled Georgetown in June, which has garnered more than 15,000,000 views and plays worldwide in less than two months. Fat Trel began his music career with his debut mixtape in 2009 called Noska Musik. In early 2010 he released his sophomore project accompanied by his crew members The Slutty Boyz entitled Youngest Runnin’ The City and later that year he released another project entitled No Secrets. In 2011 FatTrel released his first local hit record “Respect with the Teck” produced by Lex Luger; a song off of his fourth mixtape, April Foolz, which has been viewed and played almost 2,000,000 times on YouTube. Since then Fat Trel has released three additional projects, Nightmare on E Street, SDMG and Gleesh. With more than 30,000,000 million views and plays worldwide online in total without a major hit radio record, Fat Trel has proved that he has an audience and is a young force to be reckoned with. FatTrel has worked with label mates Rick Ross, Wale, Rockie Fresh, Tracy T, Stalley and many other artists such as Fetty Wap, Chief Keef, Big Krit, YG, DJ Mustard, Gucci Man, E-40, Red Café and many more. Fat Trel has been exceptionally focused and dedicated to giving back to his fans. He accompanied Wale during the two-month, 30-plus stop Simply Nothing Tour presented by Boost Mobile. This tour included stops at Irving Plaza in New York, House of Blues venues in Cleveland, Chicago, LasVegas, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston and New Orleans. The tour preceded the release of Wale’s forth studio album, The Album About Nothing, which later went on to become the number one album in the country according to Billboard. Fat Trel's creative wordplay, organic delivery, and no holds approach, gives him a universal appeal that will undoubtedly make him a fan favorite and household name before you know it. Stay tuned..... Fat Trel » Fat Trel @ Facebook » Fat Trel @ Twitter » Standing Room Show - Limited Seating Available • Full Dinner Menu Available • Parking Tickets Available on Ticketmaster.com	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2085
__label__wiki	0.825717	0.825717	Lifestyle Arts Taiwanese celebrity Ming Dao forced to postpone military duty due to family's... Taiwanese celebrity Ming Dao forced to postpone military duty due to family’s financial woes Ming has been trying to alleviate his family's woes brought on by his elder brother's debts as a result of taking loans from illegal money lenders Ming Dao helped out his family with their finances. Picture: Instagram Popular Taiwanese actor, singer and model, Ming Dao has delayed reporting for military duty in the past. The reason for this is because he was taking time off to settle his family’s financial problems. It was revealed that Ming had tried to alleviate his family’s woes brought on by his elder brother’s debts as a result of taking loans from illegal money lenders. Ming had been accused of trying to escape his responsibility. Lin, Ming’s brother was found yesterday afternoon with his wife and son in a forested area beside a temple in Neihu District, Taipei. Lin was found hanging from a tree while his 40-year-old wife and their 12-year-old son were found dead with strangulation marks on their necks. This led to believed that Lin had killed his own wife and son in a murder-suicide. Ming (his real name Lin Chaozhang) was raised in a poor family and he helped run his family’s stall. Malay Mail quoted Sin Chew Daily as saying that there was a later stall that both he and his brother ran. Ming Dao delayed joining the military due to family financial issues. Picture: Instagram Ming, 39 rose to stardom after acting in The Prince Who Turns into a Frog. He only joined the army at the age of 32. The actor has expanded his popularity to China, earning an annual income speculated to be in the tune of billions. However, Ming still has no qualms helping his mother sell potatoes. Ming was seen on camera shielding his mother from the rain while selling sweet potatoes by the road in 2016. Ming’s mother reportedly said that all she needed to do was tell Ming that she has run out of money and her son would immediately direct debit money into her account. She said she was selling sweet potatoes to earn her own pocket money. The actor’s brother had been previously exposed for using Ming’s popularity to borrow money. His brother used Ming’s driving licence and account book in 2013 to borrow money — avoiding Ming until creditors showed up during a premiere of Ming’s Beauties of the Emperor drama. The actor had then tried to explain the situation to the creditors but was pulled away by studio personnel. Ming described his elder sibling as a ticking time bomb but maintained that he was a good man. Ming Dao	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2086
__label__wiki	0.748256	0.748256	Brian Skerry is a photojournalist specializing in underwater and marine-related subjects and stories. Since 1998 Skerry has been a contributing photographer for National Geographic magazine, covering a wide range of subjects and stories. Website: BrianSkerry.com Commercial Representation: Alice Keating: akeating@ngs.org 202 857 7237 An award-winning photographer, Brian is praised worldwide for aesthetic sense as well as his journalistic drive for relevance. His uniquely-creative images tell stories that not only celebrate the mystery and beauty of the sea, but also help bring attention to the large number of issues that endanger our oceans and its inhabitants. His nearly year-round assignment schedule frequently finds him in environments of extreme contrast from tropical coral reefs to diving beneath polar ice. While on assignment, he has lived on the bottom of the sea, spent months aboard fishing boats and traveled in everything from snowmobiles to canoes to the Goodyear Blimp to get the picture. He has spent more than 10,000 hours underwater over the last thirty-five years. For NGM, Brian has covered stories ranging from the harp seal’s struggle to survive in frozen waters to the alarming decrease in the world’s fisheries, both cover stories. Other features have focused on subjects such as the planet’s last remaining pristine coral reefs, the plight of the right whale, sharks of the Bahamas, marine reserves, sea turtles and squid. He is currently at work on his 20th story for NGM. Brian has also worked on assignment for or had images featured in publications such as Sports Illustrated, US News and World Report, BBC Wildlife, GEO, Smithsonian, Esquire, Audubon and Men’s Journal. His latest monograph Ocean Soul, released in November, has received worldwide acclaim. Brian frequently lectures on photography, exploration and conservation issues having presented at venues such as TED Talks, The National Press Club in Washington, DC and the Royal Geographical Society in London. He is also a regular guest on programs such as NBC’s TODAY Show, CBS Sunday Morning and ABC’s Good Morning America. He is also the Explorer-In-Residence for the New England Aquarium. In 2010 National Geographic magazine named one of Brian’s images among their 50 Greatest Photographs Of All Time. In 2011 he had print exhibits at Visa Pour l’Image in Perpignan, France, The G2 Gallery in Los Angeles and at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2087
__label__wiki	0.917693	0.917693	Ubisoft Montreal[a] Alexandre Amancio Martin Schelling Alexandre Breault Alexandre Begnoche Raphaël Lacoste Darby McDevitt Lorne Balfe Jesper Kyd WW: November 15, 2011 NA: November 29, 2011 AU: December 1, 2011 EU: December 2, 2011 PlayStation 4, Xbox One Action-adventure, stealth Single-player, multiplayer Assassin's Creed: Revelations is a 2011 action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the fourth major installment in the Assassin's Creed series, a direct sequel to 2010's Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. The game was released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows in November and December 2011. The plot is set in a fictional history of real-world events and follows the centuries-old struggle between the Assassins, who fight for peace with free will, and the Templars, who desire peace through control. The framing story is set in the 21st century and features the series protagonist Desmond Miles who, with the aid of a machine known as the Animus, relives the memories of his ancestors to find a way to avert the 2012 apocalypse. Revelations features two other returning protagonists: Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad in 12th and 13th century Masyaf, and Ezio Auditore da Firenze in 16th century Constantinople.[1][2] The main story follows the Assassin Ezio's journey to unlock the secret of Altaïr's vault in Masyaf using disc-like artifacts containing Altaïr's memories. Assassin's Creed: Revelations is set in an open world and presented from the third-person perspective with a primary focus on using Ezio's, Desmond's, and Altaïr's combat and stealth abilities to eliminate targets and explore the environment. One of the protagonists (Ezio) is free to explore the Assassin Base in the city of Constantinople and the city itself to complete side missions away from the primary storyline. Critical response towards the game was generally positive, with praise directed at the detailed environments, well-written protagonists, pacing and satisfying ending of the plot, although some reviewers noted that the gameplay of the series was getting overly familiar and the newly introduced features felt lacking in comparison to the ones introduced in previous titles of the series. The game was a large commercial success, outperforming the sales of its predecessors. The game was followed by Assassin's Creed III in October 2012, a direct sequel that continued the story of Desmond Miles and introduced a new 18th-century playable character and set in the New World. A remastered version, along with its predecessors Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 15, 2016 as part of The Ezio Collection. 1.1 Multiplayer 2.1 Setting 2.2 Single-player plot 2.3 Multiplayer plot 4 Marketing and release 4.1 Retail editions 5 Downloadable content 5.1 Uplay content 5.2 Ancestors Character Pack 5.3 Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack 5.4 The Lost Archive Main article: Gameplay in the Assassin's Creed series The main protagonist, Ezio, can use the hookblade to access ziplines across the environments. The hookblade is one of the new features introduced in Revelations. The game follows the series' standard open world gameplay in the Ezio and Altaïr Sequences, where the game's main story takes place. New gameplay additions include an item called the "hookblade", which can be used to zipline across the city or grab enemies to yank them in for a combo attack. The hookblade reportedly speeds up navigation by around 30 percent and serves as a replacement to the traditional dual Hidden Blade.[3] Along with the hookblade, Ezio also has around 15 different bomb variations at his disposal, which are to be crafted.[4] The game features new Desmond Sequences known as "Desmond's Journey", five "Dalí-esque" first-person platforming missions in a radical departure for the series.[5] Each sequence of "Desmond's Journey" can only be unlocked by collecting a certain amount of Data Fragments hidden throughout Constantinople, or by purchasing The Lost Archive DLC. Data Fragments are a new type of collectible in Revelations, replacing the flags of previous games in the series. Also added and expanded are seizing districts of the city from the Templars. While capturing a district is very similar to Brotherhood, the Templars will send reinforcements to recapture districts, which Ezio must defend using a "tower defense" minigame called den defense, where he controls a group of Assassins from rooftops against several waves of Templar soldiers and siege equipment. Similar to Brotherhood, initiates can be sent on missions to other regions, eventually wresting control from the Templars, and then using the city to produce a stream of income and new Assassin recruits. The game is playable in full 3D across three platforms: PlayStation 3, PC, and Xbox 360, with the console versions supporting both stereoscopic 3D mode for 3D HDTVs and for 2D HDTVs. All Revelations gameplay and cinematics have S3D support.[6] Locations in the game included Rhodes, Masyaf,[7] Constantinople and Cappadocia.[8] Inside Constantinople the game will be split in the four districts Constantin, Beyazid, Imperial, and Galata.[9] Multiplayer gameplay also makes a return in Revelations. The mode expands the basics of online modes from Brotherhood with new characters and locations. Players are able to customize their characters' appearance. Matchmaking and game interface are also improved. Ubisoft says that although this component is returning, the narrative, which is considered more important to the franchise, is an area of greater focus.[10] As players level up in the multiplayer game, they move up in their Abstergo Templar rank and gain access to more information about the company. New multiplayer modes are added to the already existing modes, including "story-oriented quests", as well as a much-requested Capture the Flag mode. Some multiplayer maps are based in the island of Rhodes.[11] Among the new additions is a new multiplayer mode — Deathmatch — which differs from the previous multiplayer gameplay in that there is no compass pointing toward your assigned target, rather, there is a box in the top right of the screen where your current target is displayed, which glows blue when you enter the line of sight of your target. There is also Simple Deathmatch, which also removes the abilities and perks from the players. The multiplayer function is protected by the Uplay Passport system on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360,[12] which requires a code for access. Codes are included in all new copies of the game, but are tied to a single Uplay account. This means that players who purchased their copy second hand will need to purchase a new code to access the multiplayer. Uplay players can buy a new Passport code online or activate a free trial.[13] Players who preordered the game with specific editions received the Ottoman Jester, the Crusader, and the Ottoman Doctor. Those who played the Assassin's Creed Brotherhood multiplayer received the courtesan, a character who also appeared in the multiplayer for Brotherhood. DLC packs for new characters have been released. Revelations features all three of the series' major characters: Desmond Miles, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and Ezio Auditore da Firenze.[14] The main part of the story takes Ezio to Constantinople, present day Istanbul, in 1511 AD, consisting of four districts: Constantine, Bayezid, Imperial, and Galata; Cappadocia during the rise of the Ottoman Empire, part of which is a completely underground city populated solely by Templars;[15][16] and Masyaf, where the old Assassins' stronghold is located (featured in the first Assassin's Creed game), to which Ezio travels at the beginning of the game.[16] He discovers Altaïr has sealed within the fortress an ancient artifact that is said to be a powerful weapon which could end the Templar-Assassin War forever, and had the keys hidden in Constantinople. Ezio uses these relics of the "First Civilization" that hold memories of Altaïr to relive Altaïr's experiences, during which players control Altaïr.[11] The game continues Desmond's story in the present day, following the events of Brotherhood, where he is trapped in the Animus 2.0, in a comatose state,[17] in which he has found a safe mode known as "the Black Room". Here, Desmond must find a "synch nexus", a key memory that links him with Altaïr and Ezio, to reintegrate his splintered subconscious and awaken from his coma.[15] While in game, Ezio meets a variety of historical characters, including: Manuel Palaiologos, an heir to the now-lost Byzantine Empire; Byzantine Templars lurking in the shadows of Constantinople;[18] Prince Suleiman, a man who will one day become one of the Ottoman Empire's greatest Sultans;[19] and his uncle, Prince Ahmet.[20] Other historical figures includes Piri Reis,[21] Niccolo and Maffeo Polo,[22] Ishak Pasha,[23] Yusuf Tazim,[24] Al Mualim,[25] Bayezid II,[26] Selim I,[27] Shahkulu,[28] and Tarik Barleti.[29] Sofia Sartor is based on Portrait of a Young Venetian Woman by Albrecht Durer.[30] Single-player plot Following the ending of Brotherhood, present-day protagonist Desmond Miles has fallen into a coma due to the combined stress of being forced to kill Lucy Stillman and being controlled by Juno, the hologram attached to the Apple of Eden. While Shaun Hastings stays behind in Rome to attend Lucy's funeral, Rebecca Crane takes Desmond to New York City and meets with his father, William Miles. In an effort to save Desmond's mind, the duo places him back in the Animus, though this time in the machine's safe mode, known as the "Black Room". Upon awakening on Animus Island, the original Animus testing program located within the Black Room, Desmond meets the preserved consciousness of Clay Kaczmarek (Subject 16), who occupied Abstergo's Animus before him. Clay explains that Desmond's mind is broken, and the only way for him to repair it is by reliving his ancestors' memories until there is nothing left for them to show Desmond, at which point the Animus can separate Desmond from Ezio and Altaïr, and awaken Desmond from his coma. Desmond enters the Animus Island's memory portal, which places him back in the perspective of Ezio Auditore. Four years after ending the life of Cesare Borgia, Ezio has traveled to the former Assassins' fortress in Masyaf to discover secrets Altaïr had previously discovered, and find the true purpose of the Assassins. Upon arriving, he finds Masyaf taken by the Templars, who mark him for death. Ezio escapes to the bowels of the castle, where he discovers the entrance to Altaïr's library. He learns that five disc-like "keys" are required to unlock the door. He also learns that the Templars have discovered one underneath the Ottoman Sultan's palace. The rest lie hidden in Constantinople, the capital city of the Ottoman Empire. He travels there and is greeted by Yusuf Tazim, leader of the Turkish Assassin Order, and befriends a young student named Suleiman. Ezio learns that the keys were hidden in the city by Niccolò Polo. While searching for the old Polo trading post, Ezio encounters and befriends Sofia Sartor, a young Italian traveler and book collector, and eventually falls in love with her. Ezio discovers the locations of the remaining keys with Sofia's help, all the while keeping his intentions, growing feelings and position a secret from her. Meanwhile, Constantinople is in chaos due to conflicts between Prince Ahmet and his brother Selim, who are quarreling over who will inherit the Sultanate. Caught in the middle of the conflict, Suleiman reveals to Ezio that he is an Ottoman prince (Selim's son) and that he suspects the Templars are behind the feud. Ezio uncovers evidence that Manuel Palaiologos, with Templar support, is attempting to raise an army to overthrow the Ottomans and re-establish the Byzantine Empire. Ezio kills Manuel and recovers the final key, only to discover that Ahmet is the true mastermind of the Templar plot to open Altaïr's library. During these events, Ezio uses the keys in his possession to witness Altaïr's life after the events depicted in the first game. After killing Al-Mualim, Altaïr took possession of the Apple of Eden and assumed leadership of the Assassins. One of the Assassins, Abbas, did not support Altaïr due to past events, and for killing Al Mualim. When Altaïr and his wife Maria left Masyaf for 10 years to fight off the Mongol invasion, Abbas staged a coup d'etat, seizing control of the Assassins and executing Altaïr's youngest son Sef. Altaïr sought revenge; but as Maria tried to stop him, another Assassin stabbed Maria in the back. Altaïr was forced to flee with his elder son, Darim, and went into self-imposed exile for 20 years. Altaïr eventually returned to Masyaf, killed Abbas, and took his rightful place as the leader of the Assassins. In the process, Altaïr told the dying Abbas the truth of the latter's father's death. Years later, Altaïr encodes his memories on the five keys Ezio would find, entrusting them to Niccolò. Returning to Constantinople, Ezio discovers that Ahmet has killed Yusuf and kidnapped Sofia, demanding the keys in exchange for her life. Ezio agrees but immediately gives chase upon ensuring Sofia's safety. He recovers the keys, but before he can deal with Ahmet, Selim arrives with his armies and executes Ahmet himself, stating that their father "made his choice". Due to his son Suleiman's endorsement, Selim spares Ezio but tells him to leave Constantinople and never return. After completing this memory, the Animus begins to delete excess data—including Animus Island. Clay imprints his genetic memories onto Desmond before sacrificing himself to prevent Desmond from being deleted by the Animus. Ezio and Sofia return to Masyaf, where Ezio uses the keys to unlock Altaïr's library. He finds it empty except for Altaïr's skeleton and a sixth key. He discovers that the library was not meant to hold books—rather, it was a vault meant to house Altaïr's Apple of Eden. Through the key, Ezio learns that Altaïr had sealed himself inside to preserve its secret from the Templars. Ezio leaves this Apple in the library, stating that he had seen enough for one life. He then begins talking directly to Desmond, not knowing exactly who (or where) he is, but knowing that he is watching. While talking he discards his weapons, signifying his retirement as an Assassin. He tells Desmond that he realizes that he is a conduit for a message, and expresses hope that Desmond will be able to find answers to the questions he and Altaïr had worked so hard to uncover. Suddenly, Desmond is approached by Jupiter, a member of the First Civilization. He explains that the First Civilization had built numerous vaults to study methods to save the planet from destruction. All of the data collected was transmitted to a central vault, where the data was tested. None of the methods were effective, however, and they failed to stop the solar flare from destroying their civilization. Jupiter shows Desmond the location of the central vault, which from the map is located somewhere in New York, and tells him that he must save the planet from an impending second solar flare. Upon hearing Jupiter's words, Desmond awakens from his coma and finds Rebecca and William standing with him, along with Shaun, who has returned from Rome. Desmond states that he knows what they must now do; meanwhile, the central vault activates underground. Multiplayer plot The multiplayer aspect has its own plot from the Templar perspective. After impressing Warren Vidic in the first stage of Abstergo's Animus Training Program, the player is selected to participate in the second stage of the program for further training. Upon being promoted to the rank of Master Templar, the player is allowed into the inner sanctum of the Templar Order and is implanted with a tracker to ensure his/her trustworthiness. After reaching level 50, the player is dubbed an active agent, and assigned the task of retrieving the current Mentor of the Assassin Order, William Miles.[31] Assassin's Creed: Revelations was initially conceived as a Nintendo 3DS game called Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy about Ezio traveling east to the Assassins' former city of Masyaf, where he would have discovered the origins of the Assassin Order.[32] It was first announced during Nintendo's E3 2010 press conference.[33] It was quietly cancelled and its main concept was developed into Assassin's Creed: Revelations.[34] In November 2010, Ubisoft's CEO Yves Guillemot teased "something Assassin's related" in 2011, despite an earlier statement by Ubisoft Montreal's Jean-Francois Boivin that no Assassin's Creed game will be released in 2011.[35] Geoffroy Sardin of Ubisoft later confirmed that there will be a "big" Assassin's Creed game in 2011.[36] Guillemot also explained that ultimate goal for Ubisoft is to release new games in the franchise annually along with Ubisoft's most popular other franchises.[35] In February 2011, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed that the next Assassin's Creed game would be released during its next fiscal year, which starts on April 1, 2011, and ends on March 31, 2012.[37] On April 29, 2011 the game's name was released on the official Assassin's Creed Facebook page, with a link which led to a flash file.[38] The teaser clip included the words, "Altaïr Ibn La-Ahad, Son of no one" in Arabic which hints that Altaïr, the main protagonist of the first game, may once again be the main protagonist of the game.[38] A third teaser clip for the game showed the city of Constantinople, which hints at it being the setting for the game.[39] In the E3 rumor section of its April 2011 issue, Xbox World 360 said Assassin's Creed: Revelations is not Assassin's Creed III, but suggests that game is also secretly in the works. Revelations was likely to be "another slimline Brotherhood-style offering", Xbox World 360 stated.[40] On May 5, Game Informer released details of the game,[1] and the game was "officially" announced by Ubisoft at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011.[41] The game was developed primarily by Ubisoft Montreal in Canada. Production was aided in part by five other Ubisoft developers: Annecy, Massive, Quebec, Singapore, and Bucharest. Lead writer Darby McDevitt said that Revelations would not answer all the burning questions clouding the series, stating "Well, we won't answer everything because Desmond's story continues. But fans will definitely know most of the important details of Ezio and Altair's lives, and how they fit into the grand scheme."[42] McDevitt also stated that 85 percent of Assassin's Creed's overarching plot is already "mapped out". McDevitt claimed original Creed protagonist Altaïr had his story arc written for two years, and that Ezio's ultimate fate was planned during the development of Brotherhood.[43] Voice of Desmond Miles, Nolan North, urged Ubisoft to adopt motion capture methods similar to Naughty Dog's Uncharted. Speaking in an interview, North admitted there is a "disconnect" in the Ubisoft game's current setup, which has voice actors provide voice facial animation separately from body motion capture, which is recorded by different actors. "I wish it wasn't done separately," North said. "Don't get me wrong, the mo-cap actors do a great job, but there will always be somewhat of a disconnect when it's done this way. After my experiences on the Uncharted franchise, where the actors do both performance and voice, I can honestly say there is absolutely a difference."[44] The PC version of Assassin's Creed: Revelations does not force players to always be online to work like its predecessors, despite Ubisoft's recent claims that its policy is a success, insisting it has seen "a clear reduction in piracy of our titles which required a persistent online connection". Even then, the always-online DRM was permanently removed from all single-player games. It does, however, require a one-time-only online activation the very first time the player plays the game, which will permanently bind the activation code to the player's account, and thus, it does not need to be activated again on the same account if the game is reinstalled for some reason. This also applies to reinstalling on another computer. Following that, the player can permanently play the game in offline mode.[45] Marketing and release Ubisoft announced a PlayStation Network timed exclusive multiplayer beta for Assassin's Creed Revelations on August 10, 2011. The beta began on September 3, 2011, and finished September 17, 2011, exclusively for PlayStation Plus and Uplay members on PlayStation 3. On September 8, the multiplayer beta opened to everyone with a PSN account. The beta offered access to nine characters (The Sentinel, The Vanguard, The Guardian, The Vizier, The Thespian, The Deacon, The Bombardier, The Trickster, The Champion – all boasting different abilities), three maps (Knight's Hospital, Antioch, Galata) and four playable modes (the previously seen Wanted and Manhunt options joined by new Deathmatch and Artifact Assault variants).[46][47] Media Molecule announced on November 15, 2011 that a new Ezio costume for Sackboy will be made available in LittleBigPlanet 2 to promote the launch of Assassin's Creed: Revelations.[48] Those who pre-ordered through Best Buy got an exclusive multiplayer character.[49] All day one copies of Revelations for the PlayStation 3 had the first Assassin's Creed bundled as part of the disc, which launched in 2007. Ubisoft called the announcement a "special partnership" between itself and Sony Computer Entertainment America, and that the deal only applies in Europe.[50] Additionally, Ubisoft released an Assassin's Creed: Revelations Avatar collection Xbox 360, which includes a Codex prop, Desmond's black hoodie, and a pet eagle. Also, the following outfits will be available: Ezio, Bombardier, Guardian, Sentinel, and Vanguard (female only).[49] Retail editions (consoles & PC) Animus Edition (consoles & PC)[51][52][53] (PC Download)[51][52][53] Ultimate Bundle (consoles & PC)[54] Ottoman Edition Game disc Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No, (Download) Yes Yes Exclusive packaging No Yes (Animus box packaging) Yes (Special Collector's Edition packaging) Yes (standard box with exclusive artwork) Yes (Black and white variant of standard box art) No Yes (Black, fold-out cardboard box) Yes In-depth encyclopedia No Yes No No No No No No 50-page art book No No Yes No No No No No The original game's soundtrack No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Assassin's Creed Embers Movie DVD No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No Exclusive single-player mission No Yes (Vlad the Impaler Prison) Yes (Vlad the Impaler Prison) No Yes (Vlad the Impaler Prison) Yes (Vlad the Impaler Prison) Yes (Vlad the Impaler Prison) Yes (Vlad the Impaler Prison) The Lost Archive DLC No No No No No Yes No Yes Exclusive multiplayer character No Yes (The Crusader and Ottoman Jester) Yes (The Crusader and Ottoman Jester) Yes (The Crusader and Ottoman Doctor) Yes (Ottoman Jester) Yes (The Crusader, Ottoman Jester and Ottoman Doctor) Yes (Ottoman Jester) Yes (The Crusader, Ottoman Jester and Ottoman Doctor) Exclusive armor for Ezio No Yes (Armor of Brutus) Yes (Turkish Armor and Armor of Brutus) Yes (Turkish Armor) No Yes (Turkish Armor and Armor of Brutus) No Yes (Turkish Armor and Armor of Brutus) Altaïr Skin/Ezio in Altaïr's Robes No Yes (as a pre-order bonus from EB Games Australia) Yes (as a pre-order bonus from Play UK) No No Yes No Yes Capacity upgrades No Yes (For hidden gun bullets, bombs & crossbow arrows) Yes (For hidden gun bullets, bombs & crossbow arrows) No Yes (For hidden gun bullets, bombs & crossbow arrows) Yes (For hidden gun bullets, bombs & crossbow arrows) Yes (For hidden gun bullets, bombs & crossbow arrows) Yes (For hidden gun bullets, bombs & crossbow arrows) Leonardo da Vinci's flying machine 6"-7" scale replica No No No No No No Yes No Ezio 7-inch action figure No No No No No No Yes No There are several different limited editions of Assassin's Creed Revelations. The Animus, Collector's and Special editions were available on all platforms and only in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, while the Signature Edition was only available in North America through GameStop for all platforms.[49][51][52][53] Those who pre-ordered Assassin's Creed: Revelations through GameStop automatically upgraded to the Signature Edition of the game at no extra cost. The Signature Edition features exclusive packaging, a bonus single-player mission (Vlad the Impaler Prison), an exclusive multiplayer character (Ottoman Jester), weapons capacity upgrades, an animated short film (Assassin's Creed Embers Movie) and the original game's soundtrack.[49][56] The "PS3-Only edition" includes the standard game contents plus a complete version of the Assassin's Creed original game included in the game disc. This edition is only available to those who bought the game when it first released or pre-ordered it.[57] The Animus Edition features an Animus box, an in-depth encyclopedia, an animated short film (Assassin's Creed Embers Movie) and the original game's soundtrack. In-game content included is an exclusive mission (Vlad the Impaler Prison), an armor from Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Armor of Brutus) in single-player, weapons capacity upgrades, and two additional multiplayer characters (The Crusader and Ottoman Jester).[51][52][53] The Gold Edition is digitally exclusive to the PC. It is available on Uplay and Steam and it contains all the downloadable and redeemable content available on Uplay. Uplay content Ubisoft's Uplay system enables further in-game enhancements which can be redeemed by points that are given when playing the game. The available awards are a Revelations theme or wallpaper for PC and PlayStation 3, Solo Pack, Mediterranean Exclusive Missions, and Multiplayer Pack which unlocks the Knight. Ancestors Character Pack On the day of the game's launch, Ubisoft announced that it was working on various downloadable Content (DLC) for the game. The first one announced was a character pack, which was released in December 2011.[needs update] The character pack included four new multiplayer characters which include the Privateer, Corsair, Brigand, and Gladiator. Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack The second DLC pack announced was the Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack, which was released on January 24, 2012. The contents of the pack include six new multiplayer maps, three of which return from Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.[58] The Lost Archive During his time in the Black Room, Desmond Miles relived the memories passed to him by a virtual construct of Clay Kaczmarek, his predecessor in the Animus Project. The memories related to Clay becoming a member of the Assassins, being assigned to infiltrate Abstergo Industries' Animus Project laboratory in Italy and discovering what Warren Vidic hoped to achieve by exploring the genetic memories of various Assassin figures. Lucy Stillman, an Assassin herself, had been placed within the facility to rescue Clay when his mission was complete. In his memories, Clay recalled his father's disregard for his career goals, demanding that Clay should instead become an engineer to provide for his family. Clay believed that his father's focus on wealth pushed his mother away from the family. Clay eventually realized that Vidic was using these genetic memories to discover the locations of the Pieces of Eden in the modern era. In particular, Vidic focused on locating an Apple of Eden, which was meant to be launched aboard a satellite to control the minds of humanity across the Earth. Clay also discovered Lucy discussing her true loyalty to the Templars with Vidic, and revealed her actual motives, which were to remove Desmond from the Abstergo facility and transport him to a more comfortable environment, where she would use the Assassins' resources to allow Desmond to discover the location of the Apple and recover it for the Templars. Lucy, having sworn to protect Clay, wiped the security feed showing that he had seen their discussion, but did not let him leave the facility, to prevent her true allegiances from being discovered. The memories continued in a loop until Desmond collected the scattered memory fragments, which revealed Clay emailing his father and telling him not to worry about his disappearance, because he had found a greater purpose to serve, foreshadowing his suicide. This DLC pack is available for purchase separately and bundled with the Ottoman and Gold Edition. Aggregate score Metacritic (PS3) 80/100[59] (X360) 80/100[60] (PC) 80/100[61] 1UP.com B+[62] Destructoid 7.5/10[63] Edge 7/10[64] Eurogamer 7/10[65] Game Informer 8.75/10[72] GamePro 7/10[71] GameSpot 8.0/10[69] GamesRadar+ 8/10[66] GameTrailers 8.8/10[68] IGN 8.5/10[67] Joystiq [73] OPM (UK) 9/10[75] OXM (US) 8.5/10[74] VideoGamer.com 7/10[70] Assassin's Creed: Revelations received generally positive reviews from critics upon release. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the PlayStation 3 version 80.05% and 80/100,[76][59] the Xbox 360 version 79.37% and 80/100,[77][60] and the PC version 74.67% and 80/100 respectively.[78][61] IGN gave the game a rating of 8.5 out of 10, stating "This is the best Assassin's Creed yet, even if that victory is claimed by an inch and not a mile. If you've been following the lives of Altair and Ezio this long, you owe it to yourself to see their last adventure."[67] 1UP gave the game a rating of B+, stating "While Revelations lacks that one supreme improvement or standout mechanic that defined AC2 and Brotherhood each, it's still a damn fine sendoff for Altair and Ezio."[62] Edge gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, saying that "unlike the elegant lead, who's grey-haired but unbowed by the end of the adventure, Assassin's Creed has been quietly compromised by age".[64] Eurogamer also gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, writing "where Brotherhood enhanced the thrill of being Ezio Auditore, Revelations distracts from it. Ezio may look old, but it's the series itself that really shows its age."[65] VideoGamer gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, stating "So, for the first time, a new Assassin's Creed game is worse than its predecessor, the first time the short development period has had a noticeable impact on the game's quality. It's a game of nearlies and might-have-beens: summed up by the hookblade, a supposedly key new feature which in practice merely extends Ezio's reach slightly, and allows him to glide down the occasional zipline."[70] GamePro also gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, saying that "at its core, this is the Assassin's Creed we've grown to love in recent years, and it still serves as a pretty good time sink – plus, it's a necessary bridge to next year's already-announced follow-up. But obligation shouldn't be the primary reason to play something, and sadly, that's too often the case in this humdrum campaign."[71] Game Informer gave the game a rating of 8.75 out of 10, writing "a number of new features have been attempted to make Revelations feel new and different from its predecessors. In that quest for broader variety and a unique identity from the earlier games, Revelations makes some missteps that are hard to ignore. However, the game offers more of what has been great about the franchise, and that should be enough to bring most fans to the table, even if it is a poor starting point for new players."[72] GameTrailers also gave the game a rating of 8.8 out of 10, saying that "the engine is a bit long in the tooth and some of the content isn't entirely worth exploring, but if you're looking for an unforgettable top shelf action/adventure, heed the creed".[68] Official Xbox Magazine gave the game a rating of 8.5 out of 10, stating "What's available here remains as ridiculously appealing as ever. It's still a thrill unique to the series to be perched six stories high, looking out across miles of meticulously rendered game world — even if that dazzling, danger-filled world has grown overly familiar, having traded what was once revolution for iterative evolution."[74] UK Official PlayStation Magazine gave the game a rating of 9 out of 10, stating "As a conclusion for Ezio's chapter, Revelations proves an utterly brilliant swansong."[75] In December 2015, Game Informer ranked the game as the seventh best game in the Assassin's Creed series to date.[79] Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot announced during an earnings call on November 8, 2011, that pre-orders for Assassin's Creed: Revelations were "significantly higher" than figures for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, yet the firm is still expecting a "double digit decline" in sales for Revelations compared to the other title.[80] According to NPD Group, Revelations was the fourth-best selling game in the U.S. in November 2011. Ubisoft announced sales of Revelations were up 10 percent year-on-year on 2010s Brotherhood. That puts Revelations' first month total at around 1.26 million.[81] Revelations debuted at second place in the UK video game sales chart in its first week. Its week one numbers were better than those of its predecessor Brotherhood by four percent in unit terms and eight percent in revenue, making it the best performing title both in the series and in Ubisoft's history to date. 61 percent of the game's sales occurred in the first 24 hours.[82] As of February 15, 2012, the game has shipped 7 million copies worldwide.[83] ^ Additional work by Ubisoft Annecy, Ubisoft Bucharest, Massive Entertainment, Ubisoft Quebec and Ubisoft Singapore. Ported to Microsoft Windows by Ubisoft Kiev and Ubisoft Bucharest. ^ a b Matt Miller (May 5, 2011). "June Cover Revealed: Assassin's Creed Revelations". Game Informer. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. 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"Assassin's Creed: Revelations locations". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019. ^ Game Central (May 24, 2011). "Assassin's Creed: Revelations locations named". Metro. Associated Newspapers Limited. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019. ^ "Game Informer detailed Assassins Creed Revelations information". scrawlfx.com. June 5, 2011. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2016. ^ a b "Assassin's Creed Revelations". Game Informer (218). June 2011. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019. ^ "Uplay Passport FAQ". ubi.com. October 18, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2011. [dead link] ^ "Assassin's Creed: Revelations Online Pass Details". Eurogamer. November 15, 2011. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011. ^ Jenkins, David (May 9, 2011). "Assassin's Creed Revelations: 50 year old Ezio and the return of Altaïr". Metro. 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Assassin's Creed: Revelations on IMDb Assassin's Creed: Revelations at MobyGames	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2096
__label__wiki	0.879245	0.879245	Shaft (2019 film) Alex Barnow by Ernest Tidyman Larry Blanford Conrad Buff IV Netflix Original Films June 14, 2019 (2019-06-14) (United States)[1] 112 minutes[2] $30–35 million[3][4] $21.4 million[2] Shaft is a 2019 American action comedy film directed by Tim Story and written by Kenya Barris and Alex Barnow. The film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher, and Richard Roundtree. It is the fifth film in the Shaft series and a direct sequel to the 2000 film with the same title. The film was released theatrically in the United States on June 14, 2019 by Warner Bros. Pictures, and digitally in international markets on June 28, 2019 by Netflix. It received mixed reviews from critics and underperformed at the box office. 5.2 Critical response In 1989, John Shaft II, his wife Maya Babanikos, and his infant son John "JJ" Shaft Jr. survive an assassination attempt by drug lord Pierro "Gordito" Carrera. Concerned that Shaft II's lifestyle will put them in danger, Maya leaves him and raises JJ on her own. 25 years later, JJ is an FBI agent[5] and a cybersecurity expert with a degree from MIT.[6] After his childhood friend Karim is said to have died because of a heroin overdose, JJ concludes he must have been murdered. JJ travels to Harlem to investigate Manuel, the drug dealer who runs the neighborhood and sold the heroin that allegedly killed Karim, but is violently ejected from his property. While being treated for a minor injury in the hospital by JJ's other childhood friend and his own crush Sasha, he shows her Karim's toxicology report. She notes that the amount of heroin in Karim's system would have killed him long before he could have taken that much by himself, suggesting that he was indeed murdered. With no other recourse, JJ turns to Shaft II for aid. Shaft II agrees to help after realizing that JJ's case may lead him to Gordito. The two begin investigating together, but JJ's progressive white collar outlook on life clashes with Shaft II's old-school street ways. After confronting Manuel again, the Shafts investigate "Brothers Watching Brothers", the drug rehab clinic Karim was a part of. There they learn that Karim stopped going to rehab in favor of attending services at a mosque currently under suspicion by the FBI for terrorism. The next day, Sasha accompanies JJ and Shaft II to investigate the mosque, where they are removed from the premises after the imam notices JJ's FBI badge. Shaft II convinces JJ and Sasha to have a romantic dinner together, and the Shafts next investigate a convenience store owned by a woman named Bennie Rodriguez who donated $500,000 to the mosque. Maya calls JJ to inform him that she is coming to New York to meet a man for a date; she is overheard and followed by Shaft II. The Shafts, each on his own date, survive two separate assassination attempts orchestrated by Bennie, and Maya forces Shaft II to kick JJ out of the investigation for his own safety. JJ turns over the evidence they have gathered to the FBI, who arrest the mosque's imam. However, the media accuses the FBI of islamophobia, and JJ's boss Vietti fires him. JJ returns to Shaft II and overhears a conversation about Gordito, leading him to believe that his father was stringing him along the entire time. While Shaft II visits and reconciles with Maya, JJ and Sasha track down Bennie to an abandoned warehouse and learn that "Brothers Watching Brothers" is a front for a drug smuggling ring; Karim was killed when he threatened to blow the whistle on their operation. JJ gets discovered by the smugglers; Sasha is captured while JJ is rescued by Shaft II. The two visit JJ’s grandfather, John Shaft Sr., to acquire more firepower, and Shaft Sr. decides to accompany them in an assault on Gordito's penthouse. The Shafts kill the drug smugglers while JJ has an intense fight with Cutty and kills him, avenging Karim's death. He rescues Sasha before being confronted at gunpoint by Gordito. Gordito attempts to shoot JJ to spite Shaft II, but Shaft II takes the bullet and shoots Gordito multiple times, causing him to crash through a window and fall to his death, before collapsing himself. In the aftermath, Shaft II recovers at the hospital. JJ and Sasha kiss and begin a relationship. Vietti offers JJ his job back, but JJ turns it down in favor of joining his father and grandfather in their PI business and they walk together in the same shaft suit you see in the poster. Samuel L. Jackson as John Shaft, a detective turned private investigator, father of JJ and son[a] of the original John Shaft. Jessie T. Usher as John "JJ" Shaft Jr., an FBI agent, estranged son of the younger Shaft and grandson of the original Shaft. Richard Roundtree as John Shaft, Sr., legendary private investigator, father[a] of Jackson's Shaft. Alexandra Shipp as Sasha Arias, JJ's childhood friend and love interest. Regina Hall as Maya Babanikos, Shaft II's ex-wife and JJ's mother Matt Lauria as Major Gary Cutworth Titus Welliver as Special Agent Vietti Method Man as Freddie P Isaach de Bankolé as Pierro 'Gordito' Carrera Avan Jogia as Karim Hassan, JJ's childhood friend who is a recovering addict. Robbie Jones as Sergeant Keith Williams Adrienne C. Moore as Ms. Pepper Lauren Vélez as Bennie Rodriguez Leland L. Jones as Ron On February 18, 2015, it was announced that New Line Cinema had acquired the rights to the Shaft franchise, featuring detective character John Shaft, and would develop a new film within the series, along with producer John Davis of Davis Entertainment.[7] On July 28, 2015, it was reported that Kenya Barris and Alex Barnow would write the script for the new film, which would also be produced by Ira Napoliello,[8] and on January 20, 2017, the studio hired Tim Story to direct.[9] On August 18, 2017, Jessie T. Usher was cast to play the film's new lead, the son of Samuel L. Jackson's John Shaft II from the 2000 film, while Richard Roundtree and Jackson were set to reprise their previous franchise roles.[5] In October 2017, Netflix signed a deal with New Line Cinema to cover more than half of the film's $30 million budget in exchange for the rights, which allowed Netflix to release the film on its platform outside of the United States two weeks after the theatrical release in the U.S.[10] Filming began in February 2018.[11] The film wrapped up production in the early part of the year, and the cast went back to re-shoot a few scenes in Atlanta in August 2018.[12] Shaft was theatrically released in the United States on June 14, 2019, by Warner Bros.[13] Netflix released it internationally on June 28, 2019.[10] In the United States and Canada, Shaft was released alongside Men in Black: International, as well as the wide expansion of Late Night, and was initially projected to gross $17–20 million from 2,950 theaters in its opening weekend.[4][3] However, after the film made $2.7 million on its first day, including $600,000 from Thursday night previews, projections were lowered to $7 million. The film went on to debut to $8.3 million, finishing sixth at the box office.[14] It grossed $3.6 million in its second weekend, dropping 60% to 11th.[15] On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 32% based on 120 reviews, with an average rating of 4.6/10. The user score contrasts strongly with the critical response.[16] The website's critical consensus reads: "Decades removed from the original, this multi-generational Shaft struggles to keep its characters interesting -- or anything other than uncomfortably outdated."[17] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 40 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[18] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it an average 4 out of 5 stars and a 51% "definite recommend."[14] Writing for The A.V. Club, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky gave the film a C, writing, "With its groaner jokes and TV-pilot production values, the new film makes the last attempt at updating the character to contemporary action-hero tastes (in 2000's Shaft, directed by the late John Singleton) look downright old-school. And its identity crises go a lot deeper than the title it confusingly shares with two earlier films."[19] ^ a b The 2000 film presented Jackson's Shaft as the original John Shaft's nephew; this film retcons him into being his son, mentioning that they had been pretending an uncle/nephew relationship. Official promotional material refers to Jackson's character as John Shaft and to his son as JJ aka John Shaft Jr. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 29, 2017). "Warner Bros. Moves 'Tag' Up, Sets 2019 Release For 'Shaft' & 'The Goldfinch'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 28, 2018. ^ a b "Shaft (2019)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved August 11, 2019. ^ a b Fuster, Jeremy (June 11, 2019). "Can 'Men in Black: International' Bring in Moviegoers Without Will Smith?". TheWrap. Retrieved June 12, 2019. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony; Tartaglione, Nancy (June 12, 2019). "Can 'Men In Black: International' Travel To $100M+ Worldwide Opening?". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 12, 2019. ^ a b Fleming Jr, Mike (August 18, 2017). "Jessie T. Usher Tapped As Son Of Shaft; Samuel L. Jackson, Richard Roundtree Reprise". Deadline. Retrieved August 19, 2017. ^ Butler, Karen (January 20, 2018). "Samuel L. Jackson and Jessie T. Usher back to work on 'Shaft'". UPI. Retrieved 2018-11-07. ^ Sneider, Jeff (February 18, 2015). "'Shaft' Reboot in the Works at New Line With 'Predator' Producer (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved August 19, 2017. ^ Kit, Borys (July 28, 2015). "'Shaft' Getting Remake from 'Black-ish' Creator (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 19, 2017. ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (January 20, 2017). "Tim Story To Direct New Version Of 'Shaft' For New Line". Deadline. Retrieved August 19, 2017. ^ a b Fleming Jr, Mike (October 2, 2017). "Netflix Makes 'Shaft' Reboot Deal That Could Change The Model For Urban-Themed Films". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 28, 2018. ^ Burwick, Kevin (February 2, 2018). "3 Generations of Shaft Unite as Son of Shaft Begins Shooting". MovieWeb. ^ "Casting Call! Shaft returns for re-shoots!". WXIA. Retrieved 2018-11-07. ^ McNary, Dave (November 29, 2017). "'Shaft' Sequel and Ansel Elgort's 'Goldfinch' Get 2019 Release Dates". Variety. Retrieved February 26, 2018. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 16, 2019). "'Men In Black: International' Domestic Passport Revoked With $26M Opening, 'Shaft' Drops His Gun With $7M+: Summer Sequelitis, Here We Go Again". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 16, 2019. ^ Anthony D'Alessandro (June 23, 2019). "'Toy Story 4' Eyeing 3rd Best Animated Pic Opening Of All-Time With $123M+, But Did Disney Leave Money On The Table?". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 23, 2019. ^ "Surprise? The New Shaft Is Getting Very High Scores From Fans". ^ "Shaft (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 23, 2019. ^ "Shaft Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 21, 2019. ^ Vishnevetsky, Ignatiy (June 12, 2019). "We Can't Dig This Shaft". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 12, 2019. Shaft on IMDb	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2097
__label__wiki	0.80216	0.80216	Key Problems Trump Needs to Address on the Iran Nuclear Deal By Amir Basiri Iran’s recent ballistic missile test was the latest manifestation of its enmity toward the international community and its disrespect for its commitments under UN resolutions and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the nuclear deal forged between Tehran and world powers in 2015 is formally known. Fearful of what U.S. President Donald Trump will do with the nuclear accord, proponents of the agreement have tried to frame it as a certifiable success and a historic achievement that prevented open warfare with one of the longest-standing foes of the international community and the U.S. However, the Iranian regime continues to dismay them with its openly hostile behavior. But while apologists of the appeasement policy toward Tehran tout the achievements of the JCPOA, they fail to mention any of the shortcomings and failures that have earned deal the title of “the worst deal ever negotiated.” And on that front, handsome much can be said. The new round of sanctions against Iranian regime individuals and entities is a positive step toward curbing Iran’s evil machinations. But there’s a lot more that needs to be done. Here’s are the key facts that make the JCPOA a weak agreement—if not a failed one—and need to be addressed. Uranium enrichment Backers of the Iran deal maintain that the accord has put caps on Iran’s nuclear program by limiting its enriched uranium stockpile, level of enrichment and number of functional centrifuges. But all of those limits are predicated on hoping that the Iranian regime will keep its word, which is not saying much. And the mere fact that an extremist regime and the leading state sponsor of terrorism is allowed to enrich uranium is in itself a failure. What’s interesting is that, before capitulating to Tehran, it was the Obama Administration’s stated position that Iran has no right to enrich uranium. Iran could have perfectly achieved a peaceful nuclear energy program by purchasing fuel from the international market, and it would have even cost less than maintaining a domestic enrichment program. Tehran’s insistence on its “inalienable right to enrichment” further betrays its true intentions. Having a nuclear threshold state in the Middle East will only exacerbate tensions in the neighborhood and possibly drive other nations to pursue their own nuclear program to protect themselves in case Iran does away with its commitments and breaks away toward nuclear weapons. The JCPOA provisions a sunset clause, which sets expiration dates on the limits imposed on Iran’s nuclear program. This gives Iran the green light to extend its centrifuges beyond the current 6,000 limit after 10 years, and after 15 years it’ll be free to grow its nuclear stockpile beyond the current 300-kilogram cap as well as create heavy water reactors, which can generate weapons-grade plutonium. Even Obama admits that in years 13, 14 and 15 of the deal, Iran’s breakout time “would have shrunk almost down to zero,” which means if Iran decides to dash for the bomb, it would have it in no time. Proponents of the deal are hopeful that, by then, the Iranian regime will lose heart for pursuing nuclear bombs. However, statements by high Iranian authorities only prove that Tehran continues to entertain thoughts of restoring its nuclear program to its previous state—and beyond. If the past four decades are any indication, nothing short of regime change will deter the mullahs ruling Iran from their nuclear ambitions or other evil intentions meant to preserve their power. Non-transparent inspections Following the forging of the pact, Obama stressed that the JCPOA does not rely on trust but on verification. The White House declared that under the new nuclear deal, “Iran has committed to extraordinary and robust monitoring, verification and inspection.” But Iran’s written commitment, the mechanisms put in place to verify Iran’s compliance to the terms of the deal, are very weak. Under the accord, the task of policing Iran’s nuclear activities will fall to a small band of IAEA inspectors who are supposed to have real-time access to Iran’s declared nuclear sites. However, Iran strictly limited access to its long-suspected Parchin facility, and proceeded with providing its own environmental samples of the site without inspectors physically present, the result of an alleged side deal between Washington and Tehran. Moreover, should inspectors desire to investigate a new suspicious site, Iran can stall the process for up to 54 days, enough time to sanitize its sites and remove evidence. Case in point: The IAEA’s first and second quarterly reports on Iran’s implementation of the nuclear deal provide less information on the regime’s nuclear activities than the reports preceding the agreement, a fact that caused worry among U.S. Senators who originally supported the deal. And let’s not forget that Iran never officially ratified its adherence to the Additional Protocol, giving it yet another loophole to renege on its obligations at its whim. Given Iran’s history at concealing its nuclear program, contrary to what Obama said, the current inspections regime puts too much trust in the Iranian regime. Coming clean on past activities The JCPOA never addressed in earnest the Possible Military Dimensions (PMD) of Iran’s nuclear program. While the IAEA did release a report in which it stated clearly that Iran was involved in research and development of nuclear bombs, the fact was never acknowledged by Iranian officials, who continue to claim Tehran’s nuclear program is of a peaceful nature. The international community nonetheless decided to close the investigation and let Iran off the hook, and in defense of its position, the Obama Administration claimed it was unrealistic to expect Iran to come clean on its past military nuclear program. Neither did the administration acknowledge it was wrong to trust in a Fatwa (edict) issued by the Iranian regime’s supreme leader supposedly banning nuclear weapons development activity. Not holding Iran to account for its past violations or its lying to the international community will set a bad precedent and pave the way for future duplicity and evasion of inspections. Iran’s other illicit activities While the Iran deal provided Tehran access to billions of dollars in unfrozen assets and lifted sanctions, the international community didn’t put necessary safeguards in place to guarantee Iran would not use the bonanza to fuel its other nefarious activities, namely its support of terrorism or its ballistic missile program. Again, Obama put too much trust in Iran, as he clearly stated in his press conference on the morrow of the deal’s signing, expressing hope that “building on this deal, we can continue to have conversations with Iran that incentivize them to behave differently in the region, to be less aggressive, less hostile, more cooperative, to operate the way we expect nations in the international community to behave.” Yet a year after the deal’s implementation, Iran has used the windfall cash from the nuclear deal to not restore its bankrupt economy, but to fill the coffers of the Revolutionary Guards and push forth its meddling in Syria, and its violent agenda in Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon. Iran has continued to develop and test ballistic missiles, make the waters of the Persian Gulf unsafe, take foreign nationals as hostages, and carry out other activities defiant of the spirit of the deal. Facing the truth Before and after signing the JCPOA, the Iranian regime has proven that it will not be a peaceful member of the international community. The ballistic missile test was just the latest episode and another wakeup call. Whether Trump was earnest in his promise to scrap the Iran deal, or to renegotiate it, or to strictly monitor its implementation is yet to be seen. But when he said that it was a bad deal, he spoke truly, and we should disillusion ourselves about the realities of a deal that is based on putting too much confidence in the promises of a regime that has time and again betrayed the trust of the international community. Addressing these key failures and taking a tougher stance against the Iranian regime and its acts of mischief can put us on the path to a safer Middle East, and by extension, a more peaceful world.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2103
__label__cc	0.68854	0.31146	Adi Schwartz Journalist, Author & Editor language: HE \| EN \| FR \| ES \| IT Investigations & Interviews Jewish-Catholic Relationships Anti-Semitism and Holocaust Media Bias educational video I participated in an educational video made by Honest Reporting, on the issue of media bias in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Among other things, I talked about the use of biased sources and fixers, and said that the most problematic aspect of the coverage is the high level of emotional attachment of many journalists with the Palestinians. The War Isn’t Over Yet Anyone who wants to understand why the conflict between the Zionist movement and the Palestinian Arabs has been going on for over 100 years won’t find the answer in learned discussions of the question as to whether a quarter, a third or half of the Arabs were expelled during the 1948 War of Independence. Anyone who wants to understand how only as a result of that conflict there are millions of people today claiming to be refugees from a war that ended decades ago, (more…) "right of return" (4) Jewish State (3) jews from arab countries (1) narratives (4) © 2009, Adi Schwartz	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2106
__label__wiki	0.71678	0.71678	Real Good: Supporting Families Living with Mental Illness In our Real Good series, we go beyond the job description to look at the good work Antenna consultants and employees do in their communities after hours. Today, we’re highlighting Antenna consultant Donna. Antenna consultant Donna Balitz is an experienced project manager, but it’s her work after hours that’s most impressive. In recent years, Donna and her family have faced tough diagnoses. One of her twin sons has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, while the other has generalized anxiety disorder. To learn more about how to advocate for her sons, she got involved with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota, a national organization whose mission is to advocate for the mentally ill. She’s now a Family-to-Family instructor with the organization. Working as a consultant gives her the flexibility to help other families who are living with mental illness. “If sharing my story and taking time to teach the class has helped even one person, then I’ve done something good. I’ve in some way helped them to find the resources they need,” she says. How She Gives Back Donna got involved with the Family-to-Family course to help continually educate herself, as the amount of information about mental illness can feel overwhelming. The 12-week course takes two and a half hours per week and is designed for family members or close friends of people living with a mental illness. Donna and her daughter first took the class in 2012. “We took the class because it was very apparent to us that living in isolation with two sons and brothers living with mental illness wasn’t doing us any good,” she says. The free class is not meant to be a support group, but an educational course that can provide resources to get through different situations with their loved ones. “The class runs the gamut from ‘this is what mental illness is’ to symptoms, to what the loved one is feeling when affected by symptoms, medications and side effects, how medications help over time, and how to find a doctor,” she says. In an effort to retain that knowledge and help others, Donna and her daughter decided to teach the class together. At the time, Donna’s daughter applied to be on the state advisory council on mental health. She was appointed by the governor to the council after college and is now chair. Donna has taught the class twice and is planning on leading it again a third time. In addition, she’s organized a team the past four years to raise funds in support of NAMI’s programs through the NAMI Walks event each September. What She’s Learned The class helped Donna and her family better understand what was going on in her son’s brain. “Living with someone who’s bipolar, when their behaviors change, you don’t know whether to attribute it to their mental health or an external factor,” she says. In addition, the class provided direction on where and how to get help, such as a support group for herself and a therapist or psychiatrist for her son. Everyone who attends the class has had different experiences and tips on how to find help and support. “It’s informative, and while it’s primarily meant to instruct, there’s no way in 12 weeks you can keep out the support group influence,” Donna says. “We all get to know each other’s stories and some stay in touch after the course is done.” It’s an experience that builds connections. “Volunteering does as much for me as it does for the people I help,” Donna says. “The class helps people know they’re not living in a vacuum. There are others out there who can relate.” How Consulting Makes Good Work Possible Donna was previously an employee for a large corporation, and made the switch to consulting several years ago. Now, she’s an Antenna consultant on assignment back at the same company, and she says the difference between working as an employee and working as a consultant is fairly distinct. “I have a commitment to doing the best job and completing projects I’ve been assigned, but I feel as though I have additional time,” she says. She’s allotted a certain number of hours a week, but has some flexibility around how she spends those hours, as long as she completes her projects. “I know every company does their ‘volunteer thing,’” she says, “but Antenna really leads by example and encourages people to be good citizens.” For more information on the NAMI Family-to-Family program, click here. If you or anyone you know would like immediate support with mental illness, please contact the National Suicide Prevention LifeLine at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). If you're in Minnesota you can find more local resources on the NAMI Crisis Resources page. Subscribe to our blog to get the latest post delivered to your inbox weekly. Stay connected with Antenna. Follow @Antenna for our take on marketing trends, corporate culture, and current events. ABOUT ANTENNA Antenna is a leader in delivering top marketing professionals to corporations of all sizes for project-based consulting, interim leadership assignments, and contract staffing engagements. With headquarters in Minneapolis, Antenna draws from its private community of experienced marketing talent to help clients balance the flexibility and expertise modern marketing organizations demand. Newer2017 Year in Review OlderAsk the Marketing Career Coach: How to Stay Positive in a Negative Work Environment Real Good	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2107
__label__wiki	0.780805	0.780805	Negotiations of Religious Space in Yishun, Singapore April 09, 2014 USP3506: Religious Discourse In The Contemporary World 4 Comments Singapore is a small, metropolitan island that is faced with the challenge of maximizing its scarce land space. As such, various government bodies have to mediate between competing uses for the limited space. Two statutory boards, the URA and HDB, dictate land use in Singapore, including that for religious sites. The government has the legal clout to appropriate land through compulsory purchase. According to the Land Acquisition Act (2012), a piece of land may be acquired if it is needed: a) For any public purpose b) By any person, corporation or statutory board, for any work or an undertaking which, in the opinion of the Minister, is of public benefit or of public utility or in public interest c) For any residential, commercial or industrial purposes This broadly phrased Act essentially grants the government the authority to forcibly acquire land that religious places of worship are located on. The uncertainty of having a physical space for communal worship, religious activities and consecration of deities is further aggravated by the 30 year land lease which religious groups have to compete and tender for in an open market.Compounding this insecurity is a lack of clarity as to what the criteria and quantum are for the extension of the land lease after its expiration (Lee and Long, 2010). One case study in the negotiation of space is the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea’s experience in securing its land space. According to Kong (1993), the church was premised on Sembawang Road, on a yearly land lease from the HDB. In November 1987, the church was ordered to vacate its premises. Its two requests for a relocation site to be offered at market price, as well as for compensation, were turned down for the church had not been compulsorily acquired; its lease had simply not been extended. The church, therefore, had to tender for a site in Yishun reserved for any Christian group. It was, thankfully, the sole bidder. However, the church was not entirely happy with the site’s conditions. The plot was small, as only 35 percent of the land could be built up, and construction could not exceed 10.8 meters high. The church’s appeal against the building limitations went unanswered. An employee of the church mentioned that it typically costs S$30 million to build a church, which averages to be about S$1 million of depreciation per year of the lease. This does not include other operating and maintenance expenses. Having their land appropriated will prove financially and physically straining on religious groups. Numerous religious sites in Singapore are relocated, and sometimes merged, when the land they reside on is claimed for redevelopment. Devotees of different religions have varying thoughts on such relocation and mergers. According to a Kerala devotee from the Sree Maha Mariamman Temple, religious sites in India are highly esteemed spaces and will be prioritized over competing land uses. He expresses his disbelief when told that there is a Land Acquisition Act in Singapore, commenting that, in India, “developments occur around temples; temples don’t move.” Another Thai Buddhist maintains that there are religious complexes in Thailand that are many centuries old, and they do not even need to be well-known. Take, for example, a village temple in Supanburi – a rural district slightly outside Bangkok – which has existed in its current position since it was first constructed in the 14th century. In these deeply religious countries, sociopolitical priorities may come and go, but religious spaces remain. Unlike these nations, Singapore faces land limitations and has a different set of priorities. It needs to balance competition for land use, as well as the different interests that multiple religious groups bring to bear. As such, the future of religious sites in Singapore is uncertain, particularly for those deemed historically unimportant. Unfortunately, these places of worship face the twin specters of having their land compulsorily acquired or their leases not extended. Such appropriation of physical spaces can lead to numerous problems. Firstly, a religious group may incur significant financial costs to bid for lease in a competitive open market. Next, there is no opportunity for socio-spatial history tied to a particular place to be accrued. Thirdly, should the religious group be forced to relocate, there is likely to be a loss in laity. Finally, tensions could invariably arise between the religious group which has won the tender and the rest who have lost. Despite varying views on the problems of relocating religious sites, a study of the Yishun United Temple reveals that appropriation of land may in fact bring about unexpected benefits. This combined temple was established in 1986 after three separate temples had their land claimed for redevelopment. All three groups shared the cost for the piece of land that they currently occupy in Yishun, on a 30-year lease similar to other religious sites. Combining three separate temples has fostered strong friendships between the elderly volunteers and devotees from each religious group. Over the past three decades, the three temples have co-existed peacefully with minimal tension. The different sects hold events and festivities such as the Lunar New Year celebrations in collaboration with one another. This allows Yishun United Temple to increase their volunteer bank and participation rate through reaching out to devotees from each constituent temple. The common Taoist practices, traditions, and beliefs that run through all three temples have solidified their harmonious co-existence. This case study highlights that appropriation of land does not necessarily lead to negative effects. Despite relocation and mergers which are beyond their control, these religious groups manage to adapt to changing circumstances. Mergers may be facilitated if the involved sites share the same religion, which would allow common beliefs and practices to thread through any differences that may exist. The Yishun United Temple’s 30-year lease is set to expire by 2014. Interviews conducted with some elderly volunteers reveal that the temple intends to renew their lease, which has since tripled. The lease renewal would be paid with donations accumulated from devotees and donors over the years. Another factor to consider is that the competitive forces in an open bidding market may price minority religious groups, with fewer devotees and less financial resources, out of having a physical space for worship. However, a representative from Gurdwara Sahib Yishun expressed his confidence in having the temple’s lease renewed. This Sikh temple was allocated its current site due to the intervention of some first generation political leaders after a Christian group, with far greater financial clout, outbid it for another site. Although the current government reserves the right to exercise the Land Acquisition Act, there is calibration on its part. State policies are tempered by the need to maintain the multi-religious fabric of the country through special provisions for minority religious groups unable to tender for space in an open market. However, solely depending on the patronage of influential political figures may not guarantee protection of physical worship spaces for minority religions. Perhaps the way forward for these religious groups is to offer a counter-narrative to the dominant economic-centric story; to strategically situate themselves – their histories, beliefs and practices – amid local, national and international heritage so that their physical existence can be assured. Doing theology sounds very religious and it will basically strengthen your belief in god. I was also researching on it with a man who wants to be a church loans lender so that he can help churches. Artxy October 23, 2016 at 12:07 PM I agree with you and would like to add that theology can be loosely tied to philosophy and it helps to situate our existence within the varied/variable cosmos! Mark Roberts May 13, 2018 at 1:26 AM In response to a fundamentalist view of religion, supporters of non religious spirituality tend to argue that everything bad lies with religion while everything good can be found in spirituality. https://www.eyeofthepsychic.com/ XY September 22, 2018 at 10:06 AM yes, i agree with you. it's not easy to critique arguments based on spirituality, though, because criticism can easily be constructed as a weapon of rationality and everything just degenerate into spirituality vs rationality.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0066.json.gz/line2108

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