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Ian Morris · 19 February 2014
Price when reviewed TBC
Little has changed since the D3200
Competition from Canon 1200D and CSCs
These days choosing a camera around £500 is tricky. You can pick a DSLR like the Nikon D3300, or you could go for a mirrorless Micro Four Thirds camera, or even a top-spec compact instead. That makes the selection process even harder than ever before.
Given the choice, we would always go for an interchangeable lens system, because these cameras can grow with you, and the hardware is very capable at producing amazing images. Of course, this is matter of taste, and what works for one person won't work for another.
Assuming you pick a DSLR, what does the D3300 offer? Largely, it's the very same camera as its D3200 predecessor. There are some improvements, like a boost in sensitivity and a newer images processing engine. Does that add up to enough to make this camera worth buying over others in the similar price range? We took the D3300 to some challenging locations to put it to the test.
Entry level, but plenty to offer
You could get snobby about a sensibly-priced DSLR, and of course there are some minor compromises made to achieve the price point the D3300 camera sells at. Noticeably, it's built from plastic and doesn't feel as solid or accident-proof as Nikon's pricier cameras. But that also means it's a lot lighter by comparison too.
READ: Nikon D3200 review
You can buy the D3300 with or without the kit lens, and in three different colour options. Our advice would be to get it with the lens and in black because the other two colours - the red and grey-ish options - don't appeal to us, but some might disagree. It's really worth getting the kit lens, because it's versatile and compact. We have to say, the quality of it also impressed us quite a lot.
Kit lens
The included 18-55mm kit lens has a plastic exterior, including the connecting ring that interlocks with the body to keep it in place. In practice, while these all-plastic lenses aren't ideal, they don't really cause any problems. We've been using a years-old Nikon D90 and its kit lens for years now and it's never given us any real problems.
The D3300's new kit lens is nice and light, which complements the camera body, keeping the whole thing nice and portable. To keep the size down this new lens retracts into itself and locks in place when you're not using it. When you want to take a photo you must push the round button on the barrel to unlock the lens. Once you do this the lens is obviously physically larger due to extension, but it's well weighted and easy enough to use. It's all an advantage compared to the earlier D3200 kit - Nikon has caught wind of the demand for smaller and lighter kit.
The zoom ring is a decent size, but if you opt for manual focus the ring to adjust that is much smaller and much more fiddly. This means that while you're trying to lock on to something, you might have to fiddle a bit more to find the ring, and if you have big fingers - no shame, we do - then you might find it hard to rotate too because your finger might overlap onto the barrel of the lens.
We liked the results from this lens. Its range is good, 18-55mm (27-83mm equivalent) is really useful for a lot of photography, with 18mm being wide-angle enough for landscapes, and 55mm making for ideal for portraits. In-between the range can cater for all manner of shots.
The aperture value - that is the amount of light that can enter the lens - starts at f/3.5 at the wide-angle end and dips to f/5.6 at full extension, which means this lens isn't the fastest by any stretch and you'll need to compensate exposures by adjusting other settings accordingly. Low-light photography will push the ISO higher to get blur-free results, for example.
If you do want to switch for a different lens - and there are a whole lot available - do remember that the D3300 doesn't have an internal drive motor, so lenses that use that system, such as Nikon's amazing and cheap 50mm f/1.8, won't be able to autofocus. That might not be a huge worry, though, as there are over 150 lenses available (if including third-party manufacturers) that will work no problems.
Focus speed
Autofocus using the kit lens is decent enough. More advanced lenses may produce faster, better results, so the D3300 is limited or expanded by what glass is on the front.
In auto mode, you'll get auto-servo AF or you can select manual focus - you can also do this on the lens barrel with the kit lens. You can select single point, dynamic area, 3D tracking or auto-area modes from the menu. Which of these you get on best will probably depend on the sort of photographer you are. We like centre single point, because it gives you a reliable way to lock on to what you want and you can then move the frame - within reason - to recompose for the perfect shot. The more automatic modes all give good results, albeit somewhat slowly at times, or they might lock onto the more obvious subject when you're trying to do something clever with a less obvious subject within the frame.
Dark environments are compensated for by the on-camera focus-assist light, which is a bit disruptive, but does really help with faces when the light suffers. This can be switched off if you don't like it, but will make low-light autofocus all the trickier.
Overall we think that some compact cameras and mirrorless interchangeable models can be more rapid in the autofocus department, but you can get good results from the D3300, even though it isn't the fastest out there.
Compared to a DSLR costing around £800-1000 one key difference is the amount of buttons the D3300 has to offer. In some ways simplification is to be applauded, especially if the camera will end up being used in auto mode a lot. This does, however, cause some problems if you want to attack stuff in manual modes.
The big problem we noticed was that with only one mode dial, you can't quickly adjust the shutter speed, ISO and aperture settings. It's all possible by pressing shortcut keys, but this is a bit more time-consuming. Once you're used to it and the camera is set up as best as it can be for your needs it presents no real problem though.
In terms of how the layout works though, it's actually quite smart and the buttons are easy to reach when you're shooting. Out only complaint is that some of the buttons are small, which can cause minor problems when you're in a rush.
Decent display
The D3300 has a rear LCD display that's of ample quality. In common with most cheaper DSLR cameras there's no mini LCD display on the top of the body to display the shooting settings, battery level, number of shots remaining on the SD card and so forth. Instead, this info is sent to the screen at the rear and it's nicely laid out in a graphical arrangement.
The resolution of this main LCD display is nothing special at 921k-dots - although that's around three times the resolution of earlier entry-level models - but it's good enough for reviewing images, and it does a really good job with those menus.
Live preview - the method of using the rear LCD screen to preview a shot as you would on a compact camera - has the same bundle of issues it always tends to on a DSLR though. In short: if you want to use the camera's rear screen rather than a viewfinder then a DSLR is unlikely to be for you. In the case of the D3300 the autofocus speed slows down considerably, battery consumption is made all the worse and it's a general hassle - we can't see why you'd use it when you have that optical viewfinder. On the other hand, for video capture it's essential, and here it works well enough.
One of the more significant changes from the D3200 to D3300 model is that the ISO sensitivity has been increased. This is the camera's capacity to adapt for dimmer lighting conditions by processing a correct exposure. But low light, shot at higher ISO sensitivities, also amplify digital noise in the signal that can show up as mottled flecks of colour in that image. So while the ability to use a high ISO setting can be useful, it's not something you'll want to use by default.
Nikon D3300 review - sample image at ISO 400 - click for 100 per cent JPEG crop
At the top end, the D3300 can be pushed to ISO 12,800 and even higher with Hi1 which is an artificial boost to an ISO 25,600 equivalent. Results at 12,800 are noisy, as you would expect, but they're not atrocious by any means. And while we wouldn't recommend you use it for photos you want to keep or print, if you're in a bind, and need to shoot in very low light it will suffice. It's good to have.
Results at ISO 6400 are reasonable enough but, again, there's visible image noise and the processing makes images softer too. We suspect that cameraphones mean people are a bit more used to digital noise now, so images taken at this ISO will probably be good enough for most if you're just going to share at smaller sizes.
The good news is that up to ISO 3200 things look great. Additionally, Auto ISO does a nice job of setting the camera up for use so that if you don't know the ins and outs of shooting it'll take care of that for you while allowing enough control to still be at your fingertips - if you want it. We found ourselves much less inclined to manually set the ISO than we have been on other cameras.
The big question: does this all add up to the Nikon D3300 delivering big the image quality department? The answer: yes, we certainly think it does.
The 24.2-megapixel sensor gives big images, perhaps bigger than you need, and they are pretty sharp. Zoom in to 100 per cent scale and you can see some of the softness towards the edges courtesy of the kit lens, but the image noise is well managed by the Expeed engine in most cases. For the most part, no one really needs to view at 100 per cent scale unless printing or utilising images at a large scale, or cropping in significantly. Even so, you can see from the sample images we've included that the camera does have what it takes to produce great pictures.
The natural colour balance of JPEG files is impressive too. We quite like the way Nikon balances its compression and processing. There's loads of colour in shots, but it's never overdone and the resulting pictures have an impact that will impress those upgrading from a compact camera.
We played around with manual, aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual modes and found the images the camera produced to be very good throughout. For most use though, the automatic mode was good enough to make it our first choice. The metering of the camera seems to be about right, and that makes for better results in auto than you'd expect from compact cameras - assuming the flash doesn't persist to pop up when it's not wanted or needed.
Filters aplenty
Maybe we're old-fashioned, or just plain wrong, but for us DSLR photography is about the art of taking photographs, rather than the art of applying a filter to a photograph. But even so, the D3300 comes with a few options built-in, some of which are more useful than others.
Nikon D3300 review - sample image at ISO 2800
Of the 13 filters included, you might get some use out of the panorama, which is simple to use and works reasonably well. The camera auto-detects movement, so once you've pressed the shutter button to start the process there's nothing much else to do except decide if you want to pan or tilt the camera.
There are also the less useful features like a faux tilt/shift, the usual posterization and adjustment modes and the ever-present selective colour. They might be fun for some, but they're no doubt just as easy to apply after the fact in photo editing software, and with better results.
If you're interested in this sort of thing, Nikon's offering is fairly middle-of-the-road, but with good pictures to work on it usually turns out well enough.
We wouldn't go so far as to describe £550 as a bargain, but we do really like what the D3300 offers for the price. The new collapsible kit lens is great, especially for the kind of people buying this camera. As with all kit lenses though, the speed is on the slow side, especially when autofocusing at 55mm. This will have an impact on using it in low-light levels, which will force the camera to compensate with either a high ISO, or slower shutter speed. People who get bitten by the photography bug will buy improved lenses though, and will really enjoy the upgrade this offers. But do bear in mind that it's easy to spend more than the cost of this camera on a single lens upgrade.
In terms of operation, the compact size and weight of the D3300 mean it's fantastic to take around with you. It's ideal for stashing in a bag, and its modest weight won't weigh you down. Ergonomically, it's a nice fit in the hand too, even if you've got massive spades on the end of your arms.
As with any camera the main thing that matters is what the photos look like. And it's here that we're coloured impressed by the D3300. Images are detailed, bright and well-balanced. What's more, the auto mode does a really good job, even in fairly difficult lighting, which is fitting for an entry-level model. We felt happy leaving the camera to handle all the settings.
The only thing to throw a spanner in the works is what's happening elsewhere in the market: the Canon EOS 1200D confuses things a little because it's a lot cheaper despite a similar spec; while there are all kinds of compact system cameras with interchangeable lenses and faster "live preview" modes that may suit a wider audience. But if an optical viewfinder is a must then the D3300 is an accomplished entry-level DSLR well worthy of consideration.
Sections Nikon Cameras
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Home > About us > Māori and Police > The Turning of the Tide prevention strategy > Update on The Turning of the Tide - making a difference now and for future generations
The Turning of the Tide prevention strategy
Update on The Turning of the Tide - making a difference now and for future generations
The Turning of the Tide strategy aimed at reducing the number of Māori entering and re-entering the criminal justice system and dying on the roads is making progress.
It is well known that Māori are over-represented in statistics covering law, order and deaths on the roads. Although Māori make up only 15 percent of the population, they feature disproportionally in the data.
After much work, a bold vision from the Police executive and Māori leaders was created. In 2012 an aspirational goal was set for Māori to live full and prosperous lives, free from crime and road trauma.
While it is still early days in our strategy, it is pleasing to report that Police and iwi partners are starting to make a difference. After years of monitoring seemingly unassailable statistics, the upwards trend in the proportion of first-time offenders - youth and adults - who are Māori has stabilised.
In another positive development among young people, it is heartening to see a 4 percentage point decrease in the proportion of repeat youth victims who are Māori.
The number and proportion of Māori dying every year on our roads has also dropped, without any increase in the proportion of casualties in serious crashes who are Māori.
But it is the reduction of Police (non-traffic) apprehensions of Māori youth resolved by prosecution where the greatest advancements have been recorded. These apprehensions have receded by 35 percent.
These positive trends among the young reinforces our confidence that Turning of the Tide is starting to disrupt the previously disturbing data collected on some of our most vulnerable people in Aotearoa. We congratulate Police staff and Māori leaders for influencing change.
Committed, positive and undaunted
Anyone working to make a difference in society would agree there is more work to be done.
Police are disappointed to see a 4 to 5 percentage point increase in the proportion of repeat youth and adult offenders who are Māori.
While we register our disappointment with those particular statistics, we are undaunted and remain committed to The Turning of the Tide.
By continually updating our data, we can make refinements to our strategy where necessary and build on what is working well.
Police are buoyed by the gains made through the dedication of Police staff and Māori leaders in their individual locations. We are encouraged by the developments so far.
Praise for the plan
We are further emboldened by the differences being made for individuals, whānau, and the communities we serve and live in.
Māori trust and confidence in Police is another measure we track for The Turning of the Tide. In 2014/15, 66 percent of Māori surveyed had ‘full’ or ‘quite a lot’ of trust and confidence in Police. Levels were highest among Māori aged 65 and over (76 percent) and lowest among Māori aged 25-34 (56 percent). That snapshot of the Police assessment should also be read in conjunction with the ground-breaking 2013 Statistics New Zealand survey of well-being among Māori. Te Kupenga shows Police and health are the top-rated sectors among Māori.
We are also gaining recognition and support for how the joint initiative is observed by other institutions.
In a public announcement released before Christmas, the Human Rights Commission congratulated the leadership of New Zealand Police in “acknowledging and working to address unconscious bias.”
“The fact our Police are publicly acknowledging and working to address unconscious bias is significant and something we can all be proud of,” said Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy.
“The United Nations agreed with the Commission’s view that ‘Turning the Tide’ could be applied to other areas of New Zealand’s justice system,” said Dame Susan.
“We acknowledge the leadership of iwi and the NZ Police in challenging and addressing a major human rights issue facing many New Zealanders.”
The baseline year is 2011/12
Phase 2 Targets (to end of June 2018)
Actual (year ending May 2016)
A 10% decrease in the proportion of first-time offenders who are Māori
No change for youth or adults. 44% of first-time youth offenders and 28% of first-time adult offenders are Māori.
A 20% decrease in the proportion of repeat youth and adult offenders who are Māori
A 4 to 5 percentage point increase in the proportion of repeat youth (from 55% to 60%) and adult offenders (from 41% to 45%) who are Māori.
A 20% decrease in the proportion of repeat victims who are Māori
A 4 percentage point decrease in the proportion of repeat youth victims who are Māori (down from 41% to 37%) and a 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of repeat adult victims who are Māori (up from 26% to 27%).
A 25% reduction in Police (non-traffic) apprehensions of Māori resolved by prosecution
A 35% reduction in Police (non-traffic) apprehensions of Māori youth (down from 7275 to 4708) and a 9% reduction in Police (non-traffic) apprehensions of Māori adults (down from 64709 to 58943) resolved by prosecution.
A 20% decrease in the proportion of casualties in fatal and serious crashes who are Māori
A 3 percentage point decrease in the proportion of fatal crash casualties who are Māori (down from 23% to 20%; fewer than 60 Māori dying every year on our roads). No change in the proportion of casualties in serious crashes who are Māori.
Māori satisfaction with Police services, and Māori trust and confidence in Police, will be higher than they've ever been
Māori satisfaction with Police services is currently at 78% (down from 82% in the July 2013 to June 2014 period)Trust and Confidence in Police is currently 64% (down from 66% in the July 2013 to June 2014 period). Statistics New Zealand’s Te Kupenga 2013 survey shows police and health are the top-rated institutions by Māori.
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The Obama-GOP compromise "raises taxes, it raises the death tax."
— Jim DeMint on Tuesday, December 7th, 2010 in a radio interview
Sen. Jim DeMint says proposed tax compromise includes estate tax hike
By Robert Farley on Monday, December 13th, 2010 at 6:14 p.m.
The compromise agreement on taxes proposed by President Barack Obama -- after negotiating with Republican leaders -- has critics on both ends of the political spectrum. The plan would extend all Bush-era income tax cuts for two years and extend unemployment benefits for another 13 months.
Some Democrats have criticized Obama for caving on tax cuts to the wealthy, while some Republicans have complained that the tax cuts were not made permanent. Other Republicans have criticized the lengthy extension of unemployment benefits.
On Dec. 7, 2010, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., voiced his opposition to the compromise bill on Hugh Hewitt's nationally syndicated radio show, and the plan's proposal for the estate tax was one of his biggest gripes.
"Most of us who ran this election said we were not going to vote for anything that increased the deficit," DeMint said. "This does. It raises taxes, it raises the death tax. I don’t think we needed to negotiate that aspect of this thing away."
DeMint's quote was later widely discussed by political pundits such as Keith Olbermann and Sean Hannity.
While most of the national debate has focused on the payroll tax provisions, the compromise plan also sets new policy on the estate tax (often called the "death tax" by opponents like DeMint). Specifically, the plan would impose a 35 percent estate tax rate, with an effective exemption of $5 million.
DeMint's comment that the compromise "raises the death tax" might seem like a pretty straightforward claim. It either does or it doesn't, right?
It all depends on what you use as the baseline. This year, there was no estate tax. But 2010 was an anomaly. In 2009, the rate was 45 percent on the value of estates over $3.5 million. In the years prior to that, the rate was even higher. And barring new legislation, the rate was set to revert back to 55 percent on the value of estates greater than $1 million in 2011.
A little history on the estate tax puts things into better perspective. First enacted in 1916, the estate tax rates and thresholds have fluctuated over the years. In 2001, President George W. Bush signed a plan to gradually reduce the estate tax from 55 percent to 45 percent, while at the same increasing the exemption value from $1 million in 2002 to $3.5 million in 2009.
In 2010, the Bush plan had the estate tax disappear completely. That allowed more than five billionaires this year to pass their fortunes on to heirs tax-free. The most famous beneficiary was the estate of New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who died in July. Also benefiting was the estate of Texas pipeline tycoon Dan L. Duncan, who died in March and was worth an estimated $9 billion.
The Bush plan had a 10-year window, though, because Republicans didn't have the votes at the time to permanently abolish the estate tax. It passed the Senate under budget reconciliation, which requires only a simple majority of 51 votes but which also limited it to a 10-year shelf life. So the plan reached the Republicans' ultimate goal of getting rid of the estate tax -- but only in its last year. At the time, Republicans hoped that in ensuing years they would get enough votes to do away with the estate tax permanently. In fact, they tried in 2005, but failed.
Last year, Democrats controlling Congress tried to make the 2009 estate tax rates (45 percent on the value of estates over $3.5 million) permanent. But the plan never reached a vote in the Senate.
Again, the compromise proposed by Obama last week would set the rate at 35 percent on the value of estates over $5 million.
Is that an increase in the estate tax?
"It depends on what you're comparing against," said Bob Williams of the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.
If you are comparing it to the rate this year, then yes, it would be a tax increase. But if you compare it to where the rate was set to go next year, it's actually a tax cut.
"Given that there was never any law passed to permanently make the tax disappear entirely," Williams said, "it's hard to argue that it's a tax increase relative to what otherwise would have happened."
People often weigh a tax change relative to today's reality. So in that sense, it could be considered a tax increase compared to the anomaly of 2010. But the compromise tax plan is actually considered by many a win for Republicans, because the estate tax would have automatically jumped much higher -- to 55 percent on the value of estates over $1 million -- if no deal were reached. And it's less than the 45 percent rate on the value of estates over $3.5 million in effect in 2009 and which House Democrats proposed to make permanent last year. So we rate DeMint's claim Barely True.
Editor's note: This statement was rated Barely True when it was published. On July 27, 2011, we changed the name for the rating to Mostly False.
About this statement:
Published: Monday, December 13th, 2010 at 6:14 p.m.
Researched by: Robert Farley
Edited by: Martha M. Hamilton
Subjects: Federal Budget, Taxes
Hugh Hewitt blog, "DeMint To Oppose 'the Deal,'" Transcript of DeMint interview, Dec. 7, 2010
New York Times, Inheritance and Estate Taxes, June 9, 2010
Los Angeles Times, "Obama announces compromise on extending tax cuts," by Christi Parsons and Michael Muskal, Dec. 6, 2010
New York Times, "Legacy for One Billionaire: Death, but No Taxes,"by David Kocieniewski, June 8, 2010
Tax Policy Center, Compromise Agreement on Taxes
Tax Policy Center, Tax Topics: Estate and Gift Taxes
White House website, Fact Sheet on the Framework Agreement on Middle Class Tax Cuts and Unemployment Insurance, Dec. 7, 2010
Tax Policy Center, "The Estate Tax Is Down, But Not Out," by Leonard E. Burman and William G. Gale, Dec. 1, 2001
Interview with Bob Williams of the Tax Policy Center, Dec. 13, 2010
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The Last Waltz – a Musical Celebration of The BAND – Live Matinee Saturday November 16 2019
Location: Peter's Players Muskoka
The Last Waltz – a Musical Celebration of The BAND – Live Matinee
Lance Anderson’s critically acclaimed performance of
‘The Last Waltz – a Musical Celebration of The BAND – Live’ celebrates the 43rd Anniversary of the historic concert and film in 2019.
An all-star Canadian cast of award-winning blues and roots musicians, under the direction of Juno award winning producer and musical director, Lance Anderson, will be bringing this show to Peter’s Players in Gravenhurst ON on
Friday Nov 15 and Sat. Nov. 16th . 2019. They are celebrating the 43rd Anniversary of THE BAND’s last concert in 1976. This crowd pleasing show, which has thrilled audiences at the CNE Bandshell (Toronto), Artsfest (Hamilton), the Stephen Leacock Theatre (Keswick), Peterborough, Orillia, Cobourg, Collingwood, Casino Regina and at Hugh’s Room in Toronto, will make any night and event! They have headlined the Mariposa Folk Festival , Southside Shuffle, Wasaga Beach Blues Festival, Orillia Spring and Kitchener Blues Festivals.
Peter’s Players is one of the band’s favourite places to play and this year will mark their ninth year in a row in Canada’s most intimate and funky concert room.
This is an all-star line-up, featuring Jerome Levon Avis (Levon Helm’s godson), Kitchener phenom Matt Weidinger, Toronto and Chicago bluesman Danny B. the always entertaining Johnny Max, and incredible gospel voice of Quisha Wint. The performance will recreate the atmosphere of The Band’s final concert, which was captured in Martin Scorcese’s award-winning concert film, The Last Waltz.
On the American Thanksgiving of 1976 at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom, The BAND performed what they called their “Last Waltz,” and invited many of their friends to join in the celebration. These friends included Bob Dylan, Ronnie Hawkins, Van Morrison, Neil Young and others who performed with The Band on this special night.
In this homage to The Last Waltz, Anderson’s special guests will perform the songs played and sung by these guest artists at the memorable 1976 concert.
Normally backed by a 9 piece band that includes Jerome Levon Avis on drums and vocals, Terry Blersh on guitar, Dennis Pinhorn (The Hawks) on bass, Rob Gusevs (Blood, Sweat and Tears) on organ and Anderson (Matchedash Parish) on piano and vocals, this is a group of seasoned veterans who love the music. Anderson’s band also features a stellar four-piece horn section including David Dunlop (Boss Brass) on trumpet, Simon Wallis (Lighthouse) Bari sax, Gord Meyers (Blood, Sweat and Tears) on trombone and tuba, and Chris Murphy (Maple Blues Band) on Tenor sax. An all-star band!
“What makes this performance special is the connection these musicians have to the music,” says Anderson. “They love the music and perform these tunes from the heart.”
Avis’ dad, Bill Avis was The Band’s road manager from the early days with Ronnie Hawkins through the Bob Dylan years, right up until The Last Waltz. Bill was especially close to Levon Helm and he shares a story at each performance, about times on the road with The Band. Dennis Pinhorn is an ex-Hawk, who joined Ronnie Hawkins some years after The Band left to tour with Dylan. And Anderson himself produced a piano and vocal recording, ‘Live at the Wolf’, with Garth Hudson, The Band’s mercurial genius on the organ.
Anderson’s production of The Last Waltz has experienced rave reviews at the many festivals where it has appeared over the past few years and has consistently been referred to as the “best of the festival.”
“…Saw your band last night and a few years ago in Brockville. Gave me goose bumps then and now.”
B.B. Perth, ON 2019
“Was great … goosebumps, tears and family!” -R.C. Perth ON 2019
“Lance and band – great, great show last night at the Westdale Artsfest! The Band’s songs resonate with my soul and you guys all rocked it expertly! Thank you so much for sharing all your great talent with us for a couple of very memorable hours of our lives! What a show! I will remember it for a very long time! ” -P.P. Hamilton 2019
The Band is a Canadian national treasure, with four members of the legendary roots music group originally from southern Ontario. In the 1960s, they were initially brought together as “The Hawks” by Ronnie Hawkins and later gained international recognition as Bob Dylan’s band on his groundbreaking electric tours. This two hour tribute performance of The Last Waltz includes a wide selection of fan favourites, such as The Band’s ‘The Weight’, ’The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down’, ‘Up On Cripple Creek’, ‘Life is a Carnival’, ‘The Shape I’m In’, ‘Rag Mama Rag’, ‘It Makes No Difference’, ‘Ophelia’ and many more.
Don’t miss this opportunity to join in our celebration of the music of this legendary group at Canada’s coolest concert venue, Peter’s Players, on the 43rd anniversary year of The Last Waltz.
The Last Waltz - a Musical Celebration of The BAND - Matinee
We are sorry but this show has Sold Out!
Please check back in the event someone cancels.
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Sustained-Release Drugs Could Improve Glaucoma Treatment
Laurie Toich, Assistant Editor
Most patients diagnosed with glaucoma are prescribed traditional eye drops that lower eye pressure. Lowering eye pressure is crucial for preventing damage to the optic nerve and can help prevent vision loss. The type of eye drops depends on the type and severity of glaucoma, treatment goals, and comorbidities.
While it has been well-established that these treatments are effective, there are significant improvements that can be made, according to an article published by the Glaucoma Research Foundation.
With traditional treatments, patients may experience difficulties with complex dosing regimens, irritation, redness, and medication that may be blinked away before it can reach the eyes. For these reasons, many researchers have been exploring novel ways to improve the delivery of glaucoma medication.
Sustained-release drugs allow the medication to enter the body in even doses over time. Since the treatment is administered throughout longer intervals, patients do not need to remember to take the drug daily. This can be convenient for patients and it can prevent problems that arise with poor adherence to daily drops, according to the authors.
There are currently several options for sustained-release treatments for patients with glaucoma, according to the article.
Scientists at the University of Southern California’s Roski Eye Institute created a micropump that is implanted into the eye. The pump is controlled by a wireless device and is replenished via injections into a port, making the patient’s involvement limited. The findings from initial clinical trials were positive, which led to additional studies, according to the authors.
Interestingly, investigators at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School have been developing a contact lens that corrects vision, but also delivers glaucoma medication through a drug-polymer film along the edge of the lens.
These novel devices increase the likelihood of developing more effective glaucoma treatment approaches, the authors wrote.
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Allergan also developed a biodegradable sustained-release bimatoprost implant, which uses a prefilled, single-use applicator system. When the implant is placed in the eye, it slowly releases the drug. An added benefit to this option is that the device degrades, making removal unnecessary.
In clinical testing, patients who received the bimatoprost implant saw substantial improvements in intraocular pressure. The investigators reported that more than 70% of patients with the implant did not require topical pressure-lowering medication or a second injection of bimatoprost.
These findings show that the implant can significantly reduce intraocular pressure with the added benefit of no removal necessary, according to the article.
These novel glaucoma treatment approaches will likely be available in a clinical setting and available to patients within the next few years. These new options will prevent patients from experiencing treatment burden that is associated with eye drops, the article concluded.
Daily eye drops may increase medication nonadherence in patients with glaucoma.
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Cranfield, England, United Kingdom
As the UK’s only exclusively postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships is creating leaders in technology and management globally.
Public Institution Type
The forerunner of Cranfield University was the College of Aeronautics, created in 1946 and based at the RAF station in Cranfield, Bedfordshire.
In 1967, the School of Management was founded, so 2017 marks our 50th anniversary.
The only wholly postgraduate University in the UK, our world-class programmes, unrivalled facilities, close links with business, industry and governments and an international outlook all combine to attract students and teaching staff from around the globe. The result is a long track record of creating leaders and innovators in our specialist areas of science, technology, engineering and management. Our graduates are in demand and their association with Cranfield brings benefits throughout their careers.
Cranfield University is a centre of transformational research, postgraduate education and professional development, inspiring the next generation of leaders in technology and management.
We can help you find the job you want after leaving Cranfield. While you are a student we will work with you to identify suitable opportunities and support you throughout the job application process.
We offer a range of services to support you, including:
Career information and tailored resources
Career coaching and one to one appointments
Free access to VMock - our 24/7 CV critiquing system which offers customised suggestions for CV content, assesses core competencies based on employer criteria and Cranfield CV standards
Psychometric test practice and case study interview examples
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world.
They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
As one of our students at Cranfield University, you will benefit from our stimulating and professional learning environment giving you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills to achieve a global career, as well as the chance to make worldwide friendships along the way.
At the Cranfield campus there are a wide range of accommodation options, from halls of residence to shared houses, apartments for couples and houses for families, all managed in accordance with the Universities UK/GuildHE Code of Practice for University Managed Student Accommodation.
You can search nearly 200 academic and leading commercial databases, enabling you to find current, relevant information and explore applied subjects in great depth. This will not only help you succeed at Cranfield; potential employers will value your familiarity with the specialist resources widely used within their industry as well.
We offer high speed networking and wireless connectivity, providing you with access to a wealth of online services including our virtual learning environments, library resources, secure file store and university email.
Our IT services are accessible from both on and off campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, giving you the flexibility to work whenever and wherever you prefer.
Both Cranfield and Shrivenham are fully self-contained centres of academic excellence, set in extensive grounds in classic English countryside, just short distances from towns, cities and many other places of interest.
Excellent transport links make it easy to get around and explore, with London, one of the world’s most global and cosmopolitan cities, just 50 miles from Cranfield and 80 miles from Shrivenham.
On campus, there is a true sense of community, helping you to forge friendships during your studies and leisure time, in a safe and peaceful environment. Whatever your recreational, social or sporting interests, there are many opportunities to make friends and have a great time.
Facilities at the Cranfield campus include our sports centre, which incorporates a fitness centre, playing fields, sports pitches and several tennis courts, while Shrivenham has its own golf course, outdoor heated swimming pool and riding stables.
At Cranfield, the fitness centre contains an extensive range of cardiovascular and resistance machines and free weights. The centre prides itself on offering excellent value for money, while catering for the varied needs of its members. So whether you want to lift weights or improve your general fitness, this is the place for you.
A number of our sports clubs also operate within the multi-purpose area of the gym and compete in inter-university and local leagues.
The Cranfield Student Association is run by a team of elected students and supported by a small team of staff. The aim of the CSA is to support and represent Cranfield University students, promote student welfare and organise social, cultural and sporting activities. Together with support from current students, the CSA student officers and school representatives also aim to ensure all students are provided with the support and services they need.
Cranfield is the first University in the UK to receive accreditation from the European Logistics Association.
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Preserving the riches of a unique part of the Queensland coast
To Moreton Bay’s north is the glamourous tourism destination of the Sunshine Coast. To its south is the glittering Gold Coast, and to the east is the sprawl of Brisbane city. The bay is a distinctive coastal curve that is rich in biodiversity, Indigenous history and unique species.
Moreton Bay’s virtues – that it has more visitors than the Great Barrier Reef; more coral variation than the Caribbean; that it is a unique destination for migratory birds from Siberia; and that the biodiversity is unique – mean to the Goodman family it’s place worth looking after. And they have now established a foundation to do just that.
A coincidence of factors, including the constant tread of tourists and the steady urbanisation of the area, are posing environmental challenges to the bay. The coastline and catchment of the bay can roughly be marked as South-East Queensland and is one the nation’s fastest growing urban areas. Forecasters predict the population of the area will grow to 4.4 million people by 2031.
The pressures on the bay are widespread and come from a range of sources. The massive floods in Queensland in 2011 was just one issue that has impacted on the bay’s water quality. The bay is shallow and doesn’t flush very well, particularly at the southern end, which causes a sediment problem. This has been compounded by the continuous arrival of topsoil, mostly from the farms in the Lockyer Valley, which finds its way into Moreton Bay.
And as the area grows, so do the challenges to what is a unique and diverse marine environment around the bay. The new foundation, to be launched on 30 August, intends to help address some of the issues confronting Moreton Bay and provide some protection against the potential impact of the area’s growing popularity. And it will build on the Goodman family’s pre-established commitment to raise awareness of the bay’s unique characteristics.
The Goodman Foundation has been funding research, education and advocacy for Moreton Bay for a decade now. When thinking about how they started down this path Foundation Director Meta Goodman reflected on process they went through ten years ago. “We don’t live on the bay, but there has always been a personal connection through time spent out on the water - back when we had our children at home, and now still ourselves and with our grandchildren.
“When we set up the Foundation, we started with a blank piece of paper,” Meta says. “We asked ourselves ‘What is the world’s biggest issue, and how can we make a (tiny) contribution toward it?’
“In the end we settled on ‘the environment’, and from our personal interest and connection we went from there. Once we’d scratched the surface on what was happening in Moreton Bay, we just become more and more interested.”
The Goodmans had supported research at the University of Queensland into the bay for several years. There were twice-yearly roadshows were marine science students helped reveal some of the bay’s distinct features to locals and tourists. But Meta explains that there was ‘very little information’ about Moreton Bay getting into public hands. It was discovered that there had been a forum 20 years ago to discuss potential problems affecting the bay’s future. That, in turn, triggered a recent conference on the same issue. “We found out that the problems of 20 years ago were still happening,” Meta says.
After the conference, the attending scientists drafted a communique pointing out the key issues facing Moreton Bay, and how to get started on addressing them. But for a range of reasons, scientists couldn’t sign the communique, and it was decided at that point the bay needed a voice of its own.
Meta Goodman says the Foundation’s response to these issues is not to become an ‘activist’ or agitate. “It’s a role of showing people who use the bay, the importance of having good plans in place, so that when the population increases and floods come, we have a means of dealing with the consequences,” she says.
James Goodman, Meta’s son and fellow-Foundation director, says there is no shortage of science and knowledge about the state of the bay, so the Foundation is aiming to bring the range of organisations together to have a stake in the bay’s on-going health.
“The bay is still in reasonably good shape on the eastern side,” James says. “When viewed against the huge population that sits around the bay, the glass-half-full view is that we’re fortunate the bay still has a great breadth of ecological and cultural assets remaining. Those who visit Moreton Island, for instance, invariably comment on its natural environment and beauty. The challenge for The Moreton Bay Foundation will to be custodians to these assets while trying to reverse the ravages occurred elsewhere.”
Central to that change is shift in the perception of Moreton Bay itself. Meta says the traditional view is that the typical Queensland seaside experience is south, to the beaches on the Gold Coast or north to the Sunshine Coast. “People don’t think about the beaches on the bay,” Meta says. Nonetheless, there has been more awareness of the bay’s important place in the environmental scheme of things during the past five years. The challenge is to mitigate the threats now, rather than be overrun by the threats. And that’s where the Foundation comes in.
James expects The Moreton Bay Foundation will work with a broad range of organisations, including the three tiers of government, universities, the local Indigenous land organisations, citizen scientist groups and the general population to ensure everyone has a stake in shaping a better outcome.
Philanthropists too will play a part. James says; “My take is that we’ll leave funding areas like dolphin protecting to the general public. Where we as philanthropists can add the most value is in funding those areas which aren’t so appealing on the surface.
“If we focus our resources on building consensus across a wide range of organisations from science to industry to community, we’ll have done our job,” James says. “Like many other philanthropists, we’re aiming our efforts towards places of need where others find it difficult to venture for one reason or another.”
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Dry January: How your body changes giving up alcohol for one month
2018 could be the year you finally get into shape and feel better about yourself
Miles O'LearyChief Reporter
Many of us would have woken up with sore heads this morning.
New Year's Eve is a time of celebration - but it also marks the end of a very long stretch of excess.
We binge on luxurious food - and tend to overindulge on booze.
And ultimately, the effects start to show.
That's why January is considered a time to get back on the wagon and pull back on drinking.
Some even go cold turkey for the entire duration - now commonly known as Dry January.
The annual event is backed by charity Alcohol Concern who say they want to "enable you to take control of your relationship with alcohol" and "drive a conversation" about drinking.
There have long been debates about whether or not alcohol is good for you or whether giving it up has any benefits.
Booze can leave you banned for at least a year (Image: File image)
However, it is generally accepted that drinking to excess raises the risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, stroke, liver disease, depression, dementia and cancer. And it’s full of calories and can impact sleep quality.
Penny Challenge: How to turn loose change into £667 in less than a year
So, does laying off alcohol for a month have any tangible health benefits?
As it's still a relatively recent phenomenon, there's not a huge amount of research to draw on, writes Gloucestershire Live .
But in 2013, an experiment conducted by New Scientist staff with the Institute for Liver and Digestive Health at University College London Medical School (UCLMS) showed marked differences in the condition of those who abstained from alcohol for five weeks.
Beer can quickly lead people into trouble
All the participants considered themselves to be “normal” drinkers. Before the test, the women had been drinking an average of 29 units a week, or four units a day, and the men typically drank 31 units. Both are above government guidelines, but not dramatically so (the guidelines suggest men shouldn’t regularly exceed four units a day (equivalent to a pint and a half of 4% beer) and women shouldn’t drink more than three units a day (equivalent to a 175ml glass of wine)).
Met Office issues warning for high winds and large waves in Plymouth
In the test , 10 people drank no alcohol while four continued as normal. There were no significant changes in any of the parameters measured for the four people who didn’t give up alcohol. But the changes were "dramatic and consistent" across all 10 abstainers.
They included:
Liver fat fell on average by 15 per cent, and by almost 20 per cent in some individuals. Fat accumulation on the liver is a known prelude to liver damage
Blood glucose levels dropped by 16 per cent on average
Total blood cholesterol, a risk factor for heart disease, dropped by almost 5 per cent
Ratings of sleep quality rose by just over 10 per cent
However, UCLMS's Rajiv Jalan, who conducted the study, said the experiment "gives no indication of how long the improvements persist", saying: "Whether it’s 15 days or six months, we don’t know."
Speaking about the experiment, Kevin Moore, consultant in liver health services at UCLMS, said: "What you have is a pretty average group of British people who would not consider themselves heavy drinkers, yet stopping drinking for a month alters liver fat, cholesterol and blood sugar, and helps them lose weight. If someone had a health product that did all that in one month, they would be raking it in.”
Two females drinking wine in a pub (Image: Cathal McNaughton/PA Wire)
And Nick Sheron at the University of Southampton said: "These results show that even a relatively short period of abstinence impacts on the liver." But he also said liver disease can develop over 30 years so a short period of abstinence needed to translate into long-term behaviour change.
What is 'dooring' and why is it so dangerous?
The big question now, said Professor Moore, is what the long-term effects of alcohol abstinence are. More research needs to be done to find out.
“Dry January makes you healthier, so it tells you that alcohol’s bad for you - but if you do stop drinking, are there any long-term benefits? We don’t know,” he said. “Although you can probably infer that it does have an impact. If this occurs after one month, what happens after three months? Are these effects sustained?”
Taking a month off drinking doesn't mean you can drink heavily for the rest of the year
You'd think that was fairly obvious. Professor Charles Bamforth, of the University of California, Davis, says: “You are seriously mistaken if you think having a month without drinking will protect you from the effects of excessive drinking for the rest of the year. The best advice is to drink moderately throughout the year.”
In an article published in 2016 in the British Medical Journal, Ian Hamilton, lecturer in the department of health sciences at York University, said abstinence over the entire year would be better than one-month abstinence programmes like Dry January.
"It would be better to have two alcohol free days each week all year rather than a one-month abstinence," Hamilton said.
Dramatic pictures reveal destruction of raging barn fire
But Ian Gilmore, honorary professor at University of Liverpool and president of Alcohol Concern, said a small follow-up survey of some 60 participants in Dry January showed about eight per cent decided to stop drinking altogether once February rolled around, while about two-thirds of the group had cut down on their drinking.
You should be able to get your hands on this three-litre bottle of Prosecco just in time for Christmas (Image: Aldi)
Again referring to the experiment, Prof Moore said: “This is an illustration of just how bad alcohol can be. It’s not saying that if you take a month off you can binge for the rest of the year, it’s saying this is how much healthier you are if you stop drinking.
“Some people who stop drinking haven’t even gone a week without drinking for years, and they’re quite scared about it.
“But when you do stop, the world doesn’t fall out from underneath you - you can get through the day without going into rampant alcohol withdrawal. People suddenly realise they can do it, and when they feel better - and many of them do - they then ask themselves whether a month off alcohol leads to a healthier 12 months.”
The eight new laws coming into effect in 2018
Another important question is whether people revert to their previous drinking behaviour after abstaining for a month.
“If they don’t, and it reduces their overall alcohol consumption, then that has to be a good thing,” says Professor Moore.
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Pillai, K. C. S. (14)
Khatri, C. G. (4)
Jouris, G. M. (2)
Al-Ani, S. (1)
Chang, Tseng C. (1)
Annals of Mathematical Statistics (14)
Author: K. C. S. Pillai
Publication Title: Annals of Mathematical Statistics
Some Distribution Problems in the Multivariate Complex Gaussian Case
Pillai, K. C. S. and Jouris, G. M.
The Annals of Mathematical Statistics Volume 42, Number 2 (April, 1971), 517-525.
More by K. C. S. Pillai
More by G. M. Jouris
On the Distribution of the Sphericity Test Criterion in Classical and Complex Normal Populations Having Unknown Covariance Matrices
Pillai, K. C. S. and Nagarsenker, B. N.
More by B. N. Nagarsenker
Asymptotic Expansions for Distributions of the Roots of Two Matrices from Classical and Complex Gaussian Populations
Li, Hung C., Pillai, K. C. S., and Chang, Tseng C.
The Annals of Mathematical Statistics Volume 41, Number 5 (October, 1970), 1541-1556.
More by Hung C. Li
More by Tseng C. Chang
On the Distributions of the Ratios of the Roots of a Covariance Matrix and Wilks' Criterion for Tests of Three Hypotheses
Pillai, K. C. S., Al-Ani, S., and Jouris, G. M.
The Annals of Mathematical Statistics Volume 40, Number 6 (December, 1969), 2033-2040.
More by S. Al-Ani
On the Moments of Elementary Symmetric Functions of the Roots of Two Matrices and Approximations to a Distribution
Khatri, C. G. and Pillai, K. C. S.
The Annals of Mathematical Statistics Volume 39, Number 4 (August, 1968), 1274-1281.
More by C. G. Khatri
On the Non-Central Distributions of Two Test Criteria in Multivariate Analysis of Variance
The Annals of Mathematical Statistics Volume 39, Number 1 (February, 1968), 215-226.
On the Moments of the Trace of a Matrix and Approximations to Its Non- Central Distribution
Some Results on the Non-Central Multivariate Beta Distribution and Moments of Traces of Two Matrices
On the Moments of the Trace of a Matrix and Approximations to its Distribution
Pillai, K. C. S. and Mijares, Tito A.
More by Tito A. Mijares
Some Results Useful in Multivariate Analysis
Pillai, K. C. S.
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New leadership at Thunder River
Entertainment | August 4, 2016
As the Thunder River Theatre Company prepares for its biggest fundraiser of the year, a transition is underway behind the scenes.
Complete with a professional auctioneer, DJ and dancing, dinner and dessert by Ming’s, The Yin Yang Gala takes place from 5-9:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Orchard in Carbondale. Asian flair attire is suggested. Tickets are $90 apiece and must be purchased by Aug. 6.
“It’s such an important event for us. It sets us up for the next season,” said new Executive Artistic Director Corey Simpson. “The ticket sales are important, but we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without extra support.”
Simpson officially took over the nonprofit’s top on Aug. 1 after longtime director Lon Winston decided to step down. A trained and experienced actor, Simpson has appeared in numerous local productions and directed for Thunder River Theatre in the spring. He will also direct the season opener, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” in September. Other 2016-17 productions are DiPietro’s “The Last Romance,” Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” — directed by Winston — and Stephenson’s “The Memory of Water.”
Season tickets are on sale now at the four-for-three price of $90 for adults, $60 for 20- and 30-somethings and $45 for students. For tickets, information or to donate, visit http://www.thunderrivertheatre.com.
In addition to ticket sales and financial contributions, Thunder River relies on numerous other forms of community support. Locals have donated all manner of theatrical supplies, and right now the company is on the hunt for a grand piano.
Volunteers are also an essential part of the team, with help needed at the box office, concessions and more. To volunteer, email info@thunderrivertheatre.com.
Assuming all of those pieces continue to fall into place, Simpson sees a bright future ahead.
“I am humbled by what Lon has created, by all the work the board has done, and how much the community of artists have done for this theater,” he said. “This is really not about me, it’s about trying to build something even greater for Carbondale.”
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Premier | Entertainment Arts Culture
PR & Social
Events, Stunts & Experiential
Unquestionably one of the great artists of our time, Joyce DiDonato has a passion to communicate and connect with audiences across the world. Albion Media coordinates Joyce’s worldwide PR and works with her to develop relationships that enable her to fulfil her multiple goals outside of her performing career.
Albion Media works closely with Joyce’s management team, working together to ensure that Joyce’s performances and zeal for education and various social issues are given the broadest platform possible and are carefully positioned to back up her status as a major artistic figure whose influence goes beyond the normal confines of an opera singer.
DiDonato commands international attention and Albion Media have steered the intense interest around her to ensure that all press interviews fully encapsulate her many facets. Coverage in the last few years includes Vanity Fair, Wall Street Journal, New Yorker, New York Times, Times, CNN, BBC Breakfast News and countless others.
As a pioneer among classical musicians in utilising social media to connect with fans, DiDonato has worked with Albion Media on devising and promoting various blogs and teaser campaigns for upcoming performances and album releases. These have proved immensely popular and played a significant role in securing record pre-release orders for her last album.
A mixture of traditional PR and social media campaigns have been devised and implemented by Albion Media on behalf of DiDonato on a range of activities outside of the opera or concert hall stage. Recent work includes promoting the streaming on MediciTV of DiDonato’s masterclasses from Carnegie Hall that were viewed in less than a week by over 250,000 people and DiDonato’s rendition of the American national anthem at the World Series final that had a television audience of over 40 million people worldwide.
Albion Media coordinates all of DiDonato’s international PR needs and as such works closely with the promotional teams at all the major venues that DiDonato has relationships with including Carnegie Hall, Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, La Scala, Opéra de Paris as well as halls across South America, the Middle East and Asia.
DiDonato is an exclusive recording artist with Warner Classics and Albion Media works closely with Warner’s head office and key offices around the world on both international and local PR and social media campaigns to maximise the impact DiDonato many award-winning recordings make.
Albion Media’s wide brief from DiDonato has resulted in the company making introductions that have resulted in conversations with Rolex, Hilary Clinton’s presidential campaign team and various fashion houses.
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An Interview with Terry O’Loughlin
December 14, 2017 • by Tariq Kamal
Few executives in the F&I product provider and administrator industry possess the same diversity of experience as Terrence J. “Terry” O’Loughlin, an attorney, accountant, business school graduate and former regulator with the Florida Attorney General’s office. P&A met with the director of compliance for Reynolds and Reynolds to trace his career path, discuss the industry’s role in dealer compliance, and learn why some clowns are no laughing matter.
P&A: Terry, we missed you at Industry Summit, but you had a darn good excuse. Did Hurricane Irma hit you?
O’Loughlin: It was supposed to, but then it just slowly moved west. The worst part here in Fort Lauderdale was the close-to-100-mile-per hour winds. We had a tree knocked down and some damage to the shrubbery, and the pool was a mess. The people two doors down from us had a tree fall on their house. This is the fifth or sixth hurricane I’ve been through. Hurricane Wilma, in 2005, was the worst.
P&A: Are you not a native Floridian?
O’Loughlin: No, I moved here in 1989. I went to the University of Pittsburgh and then the University of Dayton, where I completed law school and business school in one program. I graduated in 1981, then went back to Pittsburgh for more postgraduate courses in accounting.
I wound up working in public accounting for three years and then in the securities business for four years. I had a great position with a portfolio management company. We were bought by a big New York firm in ’89 and a position cropped up in Florida. I made the move, and then that company underwent a disruptive reorganization about six months after I started.
Luckily, at that time, the state attorney general’s office was looking for someone to do securities cases. I had the right background, but I never did one securities case. My first case was the Killer Clown case, and that was my introduction to the car business.
P&A: Did you say “Killer Clown”?
O’Loughlin: You may have seen the news story a couple weeks ago. They arrested a woman wanted for murder in South Florida. She was suspected of being the Killer Clown.
P&A: OK, I did see that. It was a cold case.
O’Loughlin: That’s the one. In 1990, a fellow named Michael Kenneth Warren ran a buy here, pay here store and a car rental agency. He was married to a wealthy woman. They lived in a mansion in Wellington, Fla. One evening, there was a knock on the door. The wife answered and was greeted by a large person dressed as a clown, holding balloons and a bouquet. The clown handed her the flowers and then pulled out a gun and shot her right there on the doorstep.
The police thought Michael Warren was responsible. He employed a repo lady, a great big woman, and they figured she was the murderer. We had witness testimony that said the woman had bought a clown outfit and a gun. But the trail went cold. Years later, Warren and the repo lady married and relocated, and sometime after that, the authorities reopened the murder investigation. They got a warrant, tracked the couple down, and arrested the woman in September.
Meanwhile, in the course of the original investigation in 1990, the police found that Warren was engaging in criminal activity at the dealership — rolling back odometers, among other felonies. The attorney general sent me in to run the buy here, pay here operation. I was the receiver. I handled titles and collections and learned an enormous amount about car dealers. And with that, I became the car guy. I spent 16 years handling complaints for the attorney general.
P&A: Did you enjoy working as a regulator?
O’Loughlin: I did. The cases were interesting. There was a lot of satisfaction in being able to find a remedy. In a typical scenario, a customer would send me a complaint. I would subpoena the deal jacket, analyze it, and determine whether the complaint could be verified. I would figure out the damages and send a letter to the dealer with my findings: “You can accept this as a potential settlement.” No penalty. I just asked them to pay what they overcharged. Nine times out of 10, the dealer would send me a check. I rarely had a rancorous confrontation with a car dealer.
That said, we did handle a couple of multimillion-dollar cases, and they were not that easy. In 1994, we brought a $5 million case against a large dealership group in Florida. At issue was a failure to capitalize the transaction accurately. A customer would trade in a $5,000 car and it would become pure profit. There were probably 300 cases in which cars were literally stolen from customers through the transaction.
Now, I have to give this dealer group credit, because they ultimately assisted us in creating a motor lease disclosure act. We passed it in Florida and then Indiana passed the same legislation, verbatim. A lot of other states picked up on it as well, and that led to the federal Regulation M. I was interviewed on TV a number of times — “Primetime,” “Dateline” — and I was happy to do it.
Another big case I did was a national lease case in 2004 regarding a major captive. A number of consumers had terminated their leases early in order to buy the vehicle. The captive finance company would not give the consumer their payoff amount. They had to go back to the originating dealer. And if it was $11,000, the dealer might quote $13,000 and keep the difference.
Ultimately, we got 39 states involved and our efforts led to a $7.1 million settlement. The dealers just signed on and paid the dollar amount. To track all those transactions would have been murder. The captive stepped up and wanted to resolve it.
P&A: Any other big cases?
O’Loughlin: There was one other big case, a $1.8 million settlement with a very large Florida dealer. They had an F&I manager who was presenting single-payment lease contracts to seniors. He would craft the buyer’s order — not the lease contract — to say the consumer would pay half upfront and a small amount at the end. It bore no resemblance to any lease contract.
When the customers came to the end of their lease term, they had to pay a lot more to buy the car. I got involved when the local newspaper called me. They asked, “Can we send these complaints over? Can you tell us what it’s about?” I said, “If this is typical, the dealer has a big problem.”
The dealer’s attorney said the transactions were perfect in every way. We got into a real confrontation, went back and forth for a while. We then subpoenaed their records. They then sued the attorney general’s office and me personally for slander and defamation.
That really made the front page. People saw the coverage and stopped going to that dealership. The dealer came to us, begging us to settle with him. We did. The finance manager went to jail for eight years.
P&A: In the more typical cases, for which the dealer paid a penalty amounting to the damages owed to an individual customer, did you get the sense they considered that to be the cost of doing business?
O’Loughlin: I sensed dealers recognized the risk of having a meddlesome AG look at their files. They cut their losses and moved on.
P&A: Do you believe dealers are now more inclined to root out the source of those problems?
O’Loughlin: Not to praise dealers but to state a business fact, I would say they’re doing it a lot better than they used to. I don’t think there’s nearly as much fraud and deceit going on. Many more dealers are being much more responsible as corporate citizens.
P&A: Was there a point during your career in the public sector where you felt you had found your calling?
O’Loughlin: Unfortunately, the public sector doesn’t pay as well as the private sector. I had two young kids. I was open to other opportunities. In November 2005, I was reading Automotive News, and I turned to the back section with all the ads. There was a great big ad from Reynolds and Reynolds seeking a compliance director.
I remember thinking, “I’ve been auditing them for years. Their forms are pretty good.” I sent them an email and my résumé. I didn’t hear anything for weeks. Two months later, I received an email: “You meet our profile. Please do X, Y and Z.” A month later, I received a phone call, they flew me in for an interview, and I had a new job.
I’ve been with Reynolds for 12 years. As I did at the attorney general’s office, I do at Reynolds: Advance compliance solutions for dealers. I didn’t go after dealers because I hated dealers. I saw problems and tried to solve the problems. My job is still in the compliance arena.
P&A: And you get to speak at conferences. Dealers love to hear from “The Regulator.”
O’Loughlin: It’s great fun. It gives me a chance to talk about recent cases, new developments. I’ve got to tell you, the car business is endlessly fascinating. There are so many permutations.
P&A: And it’s changing.
O’Loughlin: It is, and hopefully for the better. I think it will. Last month, I went to Digital Dealer. What a hoot. Some of these speakers are in their late 20s, talking about the car business like they’ve been in it for 20 years. They think technology is the answer to everything. That’s true to some extent. But the industry is slow to change. But those who embrace change properly will do well.
P&A: What can the provider and administrator segment do to propel dealers forward?
O’Loughlin: There is much we can do. I was at a legal conference a couple years ago. The subject was limited partnerships. There were over 20,000 limited partnerships in the Caribbean that are dealership-owned, to a great extent, for the purpose of reinsuring ancillary products. And there are over 5,000 kinds of ancillary products — that’s types of ancillary products, not number — with all their variations.
My point is that this is an enormous enterprise. There are so many organization involved. And look at those that have failed in the past — major ones, like Fidelis. Millions of dollars were lost because they were not doing the right thing. The companies that I know that are selling ancillary products, be they GAP, service contracts or anything else, they’re being quite mindful of the process.
But some of these vendors will be subject to CFPB oversight. The bureau, generally, doesn’t think these products are worth that much.
P&A: You wrote about that for this issue. You made the point that our industry is too big to ignore.
O’Loughlin: Correct. In 2010, shortly before the Federal Reserve Board transferred its oversight power to the CFPB, the Fed was coming up with a new notice for car buyers. It read, “Stop! You do not have to buy this product to get this line of credit.” Then it went further, in bold: “You may not receive any benefits even if you buy this product.” This was supposed to appear in retail lease contracts. It never did.
I point this out because it proves there is a great deal of concern. Every year, the Consumer Federation of America and the North American Consumer Protection Investigators puts together a consumer complaint survey. Every year, right at the top of the list, it’s automotive dealers. It should be weighted by size. If it were, dealers would be far lower, I’m sure.
Good vendors should welcome scrutiny. It’s a good opportunity to explain our value. Go ahead, call your vendor. Ask what they’re doing to protect you and the consumer. Any good vendor should welcome that. Here’s how we do it. Here’s how we pay for it. Here are our legal resources, our accounting resources. Here’s how we go about it.
P&A: Sounds easy enough.
O’Loughlin: If the dealer goes through these procedures, there shouldn’t be any problem. The problem arises when the F&I manager wants a disproportionate profit from the ancillary product sale and the dealer has no way to discipline that behavior. Prices vary, but in the same class, pricing should be the same or similar. Some service contracts cost more than others. But if it’s “Silver” or “Bronze,” the pricing should be similar so the finance manager will be disciplined in what he’s offering. Occasionally, you will get guys who are not as forthright as they should be. Seems to me you should get rid of them immediately.
AUL Promotes Jose Fleites to Dual Position
Hired as CIO in 2018, Fleites was instrumental in the firm’s transformational growth into a full service F&I provider.
Manheim Announces New General Managers in East and West Regions
Tom Rastelli has been named general manager of Manheim Albany, and John Duplanty takes over leadership of Manheim Portland.
KAR Global Names 25-year Legal Veteran as First Chief Privacy Officer
Michelle Bray will expand her responsibilities to include the role of chief privacy officer — the first in company history.
KAR Global Announces Board of Directors Addition
KAR Global announces Board of Directors addition with 25+ years of HR leadership at global organizations.
AFC Intensifies Customer Focus with Key Promotions
New positions leverage bench strength and customer relationships.
Penn Warranty and Prime Auto Care Announce Leadership Transition
The Penn Warranty Corporation and Prime Auto Care Inc. announced the addition of Brian Cosgrove to the Company’s executive leadership team.
An Interview with Daniel Lievrouw
P&A brings the F&I industry forward with Daniel Lievrouw, executive vice president and CIO of American Guardian Warranty Services Inc.
An Interview with Mark Nagelvoort
P&A keeps up with the needs of a demanding market with Mark Nagelvoort, president and CEO of PCMI Corp.
An Interview with Garrett Thorpe
P&A gets ahead of the F&I technology curve with Garrett Thorpe, COO of The Impact Group.
An Interview With Bill Kelly
P&A hits the road with Bill Kelly of Automotive Development Group, a division of Brown & Brown Insurance.
P&A Review
P&A eMagazine
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Doing data differently
Joanna Killian
5 Nov 19
Local authorities must raise their information game, to improve insight and better read the future for the benefit of local residents
The problem facing too many public sector organisations is not that they don’t have enough information. It’s that the information they have often turns out to be thoroughly useless.
This may be slightly harsh, but it illustrates the point that raising an organisation’s information game is about more than quantity and a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s about ensuring quality and specificity – a much harder task.
Surrey County Council is, of course, no different in this respect. Earlier this year, we asked our insight and intelligence community about what they saw as the biggest barrier to the effective use of data. A lack of data was relatively low on the list, at just 6% of respondents, with the biggest obstacles surrounding the quality of data. Nearly a third of those surveyed cited the difficulty in matching information across information silos, and 19% bemoaned the generally poor quality of data.
To take these findings a step further, we asked what was the biggest barrier to turning insight into tangible action. The answers included a lack of leadership (24%), insufficient trust in the data (14%), or not having the skills to interpret and apply findings (14%). But for 33%, the biggest barrier put forward was a reluctance to change processes or practices.
Worthwhile information-gathering and analysis is not necessarily then about increasing data in itself. It is about taking a structural approach and acknowledging that big changes are needed, that a number of old processes need to be consigned to history – and that innovation is paramount.
Councils are generally using data and information to better understand the communities they work with, and develop predictive models that allow for improved support. This means completely transforming the council’s approach and culture, and to put residents’ needs first.
At Surrey County Council, there are a number of big, and not so big, steps being taken to pursue a preventative, demand management, participatory agenda. These are designed to enhance our understanding of the people that live and work in the county, and put them at the heart of all decision-making.
With the right information, therefore, we can make intelligent decisions about the design of services and the best use of resources. We can move into a position where we use data, technology and analytics to help us plan, predict and prevent in collaboration with partners.
It is only by taking such an approach that we can ensure we continue to focus on outcomes for residents that reflect their changing needs, hopes and expectations.
Data projects should be, at their very core, people-focused. They need to be framed around, for instance, helping frontline staff in their work, providing intelligence and analysis to senior management, or shaping the services that residents rely upon. So it is crucial that these people are involved in the development of these projects.
A tactic that has given us considerable success so far has been the use of “hackathons”, where analysts and decision-makers from across a service ecosystem work together to co-produce new data visualisations. This includes an opportunity to test out risk factors and identify indicators that support the building of a preventative model.
Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Partnership, in which local health organisations and the council work together with residents and patients to improve services, utilised this approach to involve multiple partners from the integrated care system (ICS).
Funded by the Health Foundation’s Advancing Applied Analytics programme, the team ran three hackathons, which were able to identify intelligence to answer specific questions, create a clear data product and produce a defined action. Key to their success was the time spent with decision-makers, refining the questions to be answered and making sure the answers could inform ways of doing things differently.
This joint approach also meant that decision-makers were able to offer reasons for data variations, allowing for more detailed insight, while multiple perspectives from across the organisations added value to the work being produced. These interactions helped us tailor visualisations in ways that ensured that the data was useful to make decisions.
The hackathons have proven useful at facilitating the development of a network of analysts across organisations. Such opportunities will continue to aid this network, as will a shared style of working that is increasingly becoming business as usual, rather than being treated as a one-off special case.
Building on this success, the knowledge management strategy for Surrey Heartlands ICS has involved establishing a Surrey Office of Data Analytics (SODA), a virtual system-wide intelligence network that delivers joint intelligence and gathers the evidence needed to transform how care is delivered.
This use of data means Surrey Heartlands has been better able to predict demand and plan accordingly. The outcomes include: a significant reduction in delayed transfers of care from hospital; a preventative project for identifying atrial fibrillation and reducing the risk of atrial fibrillation-related strokes; and a reduction in GP referrals to outpatients across one clinical commissioning group, with the introduction of an “advice and guidance” telephone service for GPs.
Silos are one of the clearest signs of an inefficient and ineffective organisation. It leads to duplication and territorialism across teams, means that vital information is not shared and reduces dramatically the prospect of successful joined-up outcomes for residents. A similar problem exists when considering whole organisations working in isolation rather than collaborating with like-minded partners.
In some ways, as with many other local authorities, we are very much in the early stages of our silo-breaking work. Take, for instance, our moves, along with partners, towards using predictive analytics to further tackle domestic abuse. We had already identified it as a sizable, often unreported local issue, with a significant rate of repeat victimisation and high risk of serious harm. The information we had was reactive, looking at the current situation and not providing sufficient detailed insight.
Active approach
We have started to move from this “what happened?” approach to one that asks: “Why is this happening, and what will happen next?” This more active approach is designed to provide insight, influencing early intervention and guiding positive action. By understanding how domestic abuse develops and escalates, we can begin to understand more about who may be at risk, helping us predict and prevent incidents of domestic abuse before they happen.
‘The hackathons have proven useful at facilitating the development of a network of analysts across organisations’
It is, to use one example, possible to identify common characteristics among victims of abuse, such as social isolation, substance misuse, or age, and then run the model against available datasets to identify potential victims who share the same characteristics and risk factors. This allows us to design early intervention services around these insights. Crucially, this approach requires robust governance structures that protects personal information.
We are in the process of setting up extended hackathons, similar to those run through Surrey Heartlands, but with the ability to delve deeper, to expand on this knowledge base and develop specific early intervention, demand management strategies.
Before the Surrey Heartlands project started, 80% of analysts had not collaborated with those from other organisations within the Surrey Heartlands ICS. However, following the third hackathon, 93% of analysts said they felt either very or fairly well connected to colleagues from organisations outside their own. We can hope for a similar level of silo-breaking through our work on tackling domestic abuse.
An often mooted panacea of information-gathering involves establishing a “golden record”, which provides a single joined-up view of a resident, by matching records and data across silos. However, the truth is that many public sector organisations are not in a position to create these in the here and now. There is a need to start small, build the foundations, and then scale up.
Successful adoption of single-view records is about having a clear roadmap for how you are going to build the data governance, establish matching processes, ensure data legislation compliance and so on. It is often too tempting to shoot ahead to the end, leading to a situation where the starting point is to create a golden record while simultaneously establishing all these additional processes and rules. Right from the outset this becomes unwieldy and there is little scope for active learning and continual improvement.
So we have more often started small with simple technical implementation and data preparation, before outlining how we get from that to where we ultimately want to be – a single view of a resident. The stages in between are set out to provide intrinsic value and practical use in themselves – for example, through a single view for helping children with special educational needs and disabilities to transition into adult social care. However, they also allow for learning and building on the data gathered at that particular stage until we are in a position to establish a far more complex and all-encompassing golden record.
This approach allows information to be gathered in such a way that enables us to use more sophisticated analytical techniques, supports semantic consistency, and allows for more opportunities for data exploration through increased data maturity and literacy. This is not to say we are all of a sudden experts in all things information-based, although I hope much of our thinking and learning will filter through to the wider sector.
‘Silos are one of the clearest signs of an inefficient and ineffective organisation’
Indeed, many organisational silos and barriers to a potent information game are deeply entrenched and will take time to break down. That is why it is impossible to overestimate the value of bringing people, communities and organisations together to solve problems in a spirit of true collaboration and partnership.
It is vital to remember how much we can continue to learn from across the sector, as well as beyond it. We want to ensure that we exist in an environment of continual learning and improvement. If we believed we had reached an endpoint, it would mean we were no longer looking to innovate, understand our residents and communities better, or dig deeper into whether the information we had was actually of any use to us.
Which takes us back to our starting point. The information game is one we must continually rise to and refresh, to ensure the best possible outcomes for the communities we serve.
Joanna Killian is chief executive of Surrey County Council
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Showboat Branson Belle
Branson, MO - Showboat Branson Belle is a riverboat - more specifically, a showboat - on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri. The lake is landlocked by the Table Rock Dam on one side and the Beaver Lake Dam on the other side. Being a showboat, she hosts lunch and dinner shows throughout the year. - The boat was constructed at its port at White River Landing and was launched on August 12, 1994. The boat was launched into Table Rock Lake at a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) on launching rails lubricated with two tons of bananas. The bananas were used for lubrication because they were biodegradable and would not have polluted Table Rock Lake as would have grease. The boat is claimed by its owner to be the largest ship on a landlocked lake in the United States. - On December 11, 2010, due to high winds that had come up suddenly, the Showboat Branson Belle ran aground while cruising on Table Rock Lake. The incident stranded 567 passengers and 76 crew members overnight. [Wiki]
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The Ripon Forum
Volume 49, No. 4
Q&A with Mike Oxley about the career of John Boehner
By ripon_admin on December 13, 2015
Shortly after John Boehner was elected House Majority Leader in February of 2006, then-Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Mike Oxley issued a statement praising Boehner’s election to the post.
“He will bring good, sound Ohio sensibilities to this important position,” Oxley stated. “He is a leader who is true to his principles, but who has shown time and time again that he can work across the aisle to reach bipartisan agreement … John Boehner is the perfect man for the job at the exact right time.”
Oxley knew Boehner’s character and qualifications better than most. Born five years and 150 miles apart in the Buckeye State, they were elected to Congress within a decade of each other and shared a brand of common sense conservatism that puts a premium on governance and finding solutions to the problems of the day. They also shared a love of golf that helped forge a strong friendship off the House floor.
Oxley retired from the House at the end of 2006 and, among his many positions and activities, now serves as a member of The Ripon Forum’s editorial board. With Boehner stepping down as Speaker of the House earlier this fall, the Forum sat down with Oxley to ask him about the career of his good friend and colleague.
RF: Talk about your relationship with John Boehner for a moment – how and when did you first meet him, and do you recall your first impressions about him at that time?
MO: Well, I first met John when he was running for the legislature. I already had been elected to Congress. He became a freshman member of the legislature. We first met at a political event – I’m not sure if it was for him or not – but it was a golf event, of course. It was the first time I played golf with him, and it was the first time I met him. We hit it off.
We had things in common – politics, golf, some mutual friends from Columbus who were associated with Republican politics or lobbying for different groups. So we had a lot in common for a lot of reasons, and that was the beginning of a long friendship.
RF: Talk for a moment about the Congress that Boehner was elected into in 1990. Republicans had spent the past 40 years in the minority, but the political winds were starting to blow at their backs. Then, 1994 comes around, Republicans win control of Congress, and Boehner is elected Chairman of the Republican Conference – the 4th highest ranking position in the House. How did someone with only two terms under his belt rise so far, so fast? What qualities did he have that put him in that position?
MO: I think the key was that Newt Gingrich liked him and saw him as a future leader. Newt wasn’t good at some things, but he was pretty good at identifying talent. I think he recognized that John had the leadership qualities necessary for that position and really advocated for him. That’s because leading up to that historic occasion when we took the majority, John had done his homework, worked hard, helped organize the House, and didn’t appear overly eager to take charge.
“He was just a very even-keeled kind of Midwestern conservative who made people feel comfortable in his presence.”
He was just a very even-keeled kind of Midwestern conservative who made people feel comfortable in his presence and understood that he was a leader. Of course, he was part of the Gang of 7 that really shook things up and paved the way for the reforms that we made when we finally retook the majority.
RF: Flash forward three years, to 1998 – Boehner is booted out of leadership along with Newt Gingrich in what had to be one of the lowest moments of his congressional career. What was his attitude during that time, and talk about the patience, resilience and discipline that allowed him to recover and work his way back up the leadership ladder.
MO: Yeah, it’s pretty amazing, you know. First of all, he was Chairman of the House Education & Workforce Committee and did an outstanding job in that regard. He was recognized as being even-keeled and for working in a bipartisan way with George Miller, the very liberal ranking member of the committee. John bent over backwards to get legislation passed, like No Child Left Behind, where he worked with Ted Kennedy. I think that most of the members that I talked to on the Democrat side were very praiseworthy of John for being a fair Chairman.
When I became Chairman of Financial Services, I learned that working with the minority can pay dividends in getting legislation passed, and you have a much better chance of it becoming law if you treat the minority with respect. Boehner did that. But he got caught in a weird kind of situation where everybody wanted to throw everybody else out and J.C. Watts was elected in place of John. I don’t think it was so much against John.
But I do think it’s kind of funny how things turned out. Newt was gone. Armey was gone. Paxon was gone. By 2005, Delay was gone. Ten years after we won the majority, all of the top leadership from ’95 was basically gone. But Boehner was still there. I think that is a real tribute to his steadfastness and to his standing with the majority in our conference.
That says a lot right there – that he withstood these challenges, came back, and became Speaker of the House. It’s extraordinary, and probably the only time that has ever happened in that kind of a sequence.
RF: Talk for a moment about his Speakership –he led the House during a very turbulent time politically. When people look back on his Speakership one year from now, what quality – or qualities – do you think they will realize they miss?
MO: Well, I think they will find out pretty quickly that, first of all, it’s a tough job – especially in today’s climate. John was the perfect fit for that because he had a lot of positive personal relationship on both sides of the aisle. People wished him well because he treated them like they wanted to be treated and he didn’t try to push anything down. He passed virtually every piece of legislation that the conservatives wanted. I asked a conservative once whether there was ever a bill – any bill – that they wanted passed where Boehner didn’t accommodate them. And he said “no.”
“I can’t think of one individual over the past few years who could have guided the House any better than he did.”
They tried to repeal Obamacare about 30 or 40 times. The problem, of course, was the 60-vote rule in the Senate. Somehow, Boehner got blamed for doing what he could do, which was to pass legislation in the House. He had no control over the Senate. There were a lot of Senators out there who were blowing smoke about how pathetic Boehner was. How could they say that? He passed what he had to pass, and with large margins. So I think he really got a bum rap on that.
He did a lot of positive things in terms of the budget and other legislation. He didn’t get any credit for it, but down the road, I think it will look pretty good in the rear view mirror.
RF: Finally, looking back on his career – as Speaker, as Minority Leader, as Chairman of the Education & Workforce Committee, and as a freshman reformer – what do you think will be seen as his greatest achievements and lasting legacy on Capitol Hill?
MO: Legislatively, I think it was No Child Left Behind. Even though it is controversial now, he was very supportive of some needed changes in it at the time, which shows you how flexible and how common sense he was then and remains today. There were times when I felt he was the only adult in the room who would actually tell the truth.
In the end, I think providing that kind of steady hand – I can’t think of one individual over the past few years who could have guided the House any better than he did – helped him make a positive difference for the American people.
View as Online Magazine
Articles in Current Issue
Congress, Heal Thyself
Making Our Auto Safety Laws Work Better
The FCC: Obama’s Broadband Bully
Regulatory Reform That Restores Government Of, By, and For the People
How Congress Can Fix Broken Government
Pen and Phone… Meet Liberty’s Meat Axe
How Cutting Red Tape has Helped Fuel South Dakota’s Economic Success
The Cost of Overregulation: America’s Small Business Owners Speak
Fighting Government Red Tape: What the Next President Might Do
Ripon Profile of Carlos Curbelo
Regulations are the Fourth Branch of Government
NRCC hires new senior adviser amid 2020 worries
House Democrats kick off election year with head start in fundraising
House GOP campaign chief: Members ‘need to get their act together and raise more money’
Commentary: Why the American example still matters in this age of ‘America First’
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Tag Archives: polar vortex
4 Things You Didn’t Know about Why it’s So Darn Cold!
The U.S. is currently experiencing a bout of cold weather in several regions, raising the question: are we in for another polar vortex winter like the bone-chiller we had last year? And if so, why? Here are four things you might not know about the current extreme cold weather streak in the U.S.
The current cold weather isn’t quite another polar vortex in the U.S. – yet.
The polar vortex is a region of Arctic air that rotates around the North Pole in the Northern Hemisphere, trapping and containing the frigid air in its circulation. Every now and then, parts of the rotating pocket of cold air break off into smaller pockets that mobilize southward into regions like North America, bringing with them below-normal temperatures and stormy conditions.
Figure 1: General image of the Polar Vortex. Source: Accuweather.
As of now, the U.S. is not experiencing full-blown polar vortex effects; only part of the big Arctic air pocket has been displaced into the U.S., so it is more accurate to say that the country is experiencing an outbreak of Arctic air. Last year, most of the U.S. experienced exceptionally cold and snowy conditions, particularly east of the Rockies, as a result of the polar vortex. Early seasonal outlooks for this winter have indicated that this type of severe weather pattern is unlikely to repeat, though one cannot rule out more Arctic outbreaks like this one.
You can blame Super Typhoon Nuri in Japan.
Many of the world’s largep-scale climate systems and atmospheric patterns are interconnected. You may not know it, but Super Typhoon Nuri, which impacted Japan earlier this month as one of 2014’s strongest tropical cyclones, has played a key role influencing this recent cold air outbreak. Cold air from the polar vortex is separated from warm air by what’s called the polar jet stream; depending on atmospheric conditions, this jet stream can look flat or wavy. Big storms, like Nuri, can alter the jet stream’s shape, pushing parts further north (creating a “ridge”) or south (creating a “trough”) than normal.
Figure 2: Example of a jet stream’s ridges and troughs. Source: Skeptical Science
In Nuri’s case, remnants of the storm pushed part of the polar jet stream north over Alaska, creating a strong ridge. This in turn caused a deep trough to develop over much of the central U.S., making way for Arctic air associated with the polar vortex to flow into the lower 48. It is common for storms to affect the jet stream’s shape, but because Nuri was so intense, it influenced the jet stream enough to trigger a prolonged period of unseasonably chilly weather from North Dakota to New York.
Climate change could have something to do with it.
Our climate is changing, but there are differing views on how climate change affects the polar vortex. Some posit that a warming climate may lead to more frequent cold air outbreaks due to increased sea ice melting. This would allow more energy to move into the atmosphere and weaken the jet streams, thereby increasing the likelihood of cold Arctic air escaping southward into regions like North America and Europe.
©iStock.com/SeppFriedhuber
Other scientists argue that cold air outbreaks are common and part of the natural variation of the climate. They also suggest that it is extremely hard to link a massive, long-term shift in climate (for example, global warming) to individual weather events. It’s also worth noting that the U.S. takes up less than 3 percent of the Earth’s surface, so even though this region is experiencing cold air outbreaks, there are other parts of the world experiencing record heat at the same time.
Other parts of the country could be in for abnormal weather due to El Niño.
Also affecting this winter’s temperatures is the weak central El Niño being forecast; this series of climatic changes happens when the tropical Pacific Ocean, particularly the central and eastern regions, becomes warmer than average. As the ocean gets warmer with respect to its average temperature, the stronger the El Niño signal. El Niño often results in changes to precipitation and temperature patterns throughout the world, including North America, and especially in the winter.
The most common impact is wetter-than-average conditions along the Gulf Coast, warmer-than-average conditions in the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest, drier-than-average conditions in the Ohio Valley, and, to a lesser extent, wetter-than-average conditions in California and the southwestern U.S. The weak El Niño forecast means that these impacts are possible, but not likely to be extreme.
This entry was posted in Life & Health, Natural Catastrophe Risk and tagged climate change, El Nino, extreme weather, polar vortex, Super Typhoon Nuri on November 24, 2014 by Jeff Waters.
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Pigboat 39
An American Sub Goes to War
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky
" Constructed in 1923, the American submarine S39 was practically an antique when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor. With defective torpedoes, a semi-trained crew, and a primitive ventilation system (hence the nickname), she nevertheless sank two enemy vessels and eluded pursuit to fight again in the Solomons. This is the little-known story of how an unprepared navy fought with what it had until the tide could be turned. Bobette Gugliotta was one of the S-39 wives. With the technical assistance of her husband, Guy, an officer who served on three of the S-class boats during the war, she presents an accurate and absorbing account of submarine operations and warfare. No less valuable is her candid and sympathetic portrayal of the men and women whose lives were caught up in the voyage of the S-39.
Author(s): Bobette Gugliotta
Original Publish Date: Mar 11, 2014
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What I learned about John McCain during 20 years covering him
It was on that bus rolling through New Hampshire, as McCain was poised for arguably his finest moment politically, that I truly came to know him.
What I learned about John McCain during 20 years covering him It was on that bus rolling through New Hampshire, as McCain was poised for arguably his finest moment politically, that I truly came to know him. Check out this story on redding.com: https://usat.ly/2wejs30
USA Today NetworkDan Nowicki, Arizona Republic Published 2:00 a.m. PT Aug. 26, 2018 | Updated 12:36 p.m. PT Aug. 28, 2018
John Sidney McCain III: A POW in Vietnam for five years, he served as Arizona’s senator from 1987 until his death and twice ran for president. Arizona Republic
John McCain(Photo: Tom Tingle/The Republic)
The famous news media faces were gone. The swarm of reporters who followed U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., had scattered, and only a few of us remained.
By July 2007, McCain's once-impressive presidential campaign was nearly bankrupt. Senior advisers and staff were let go. And the media had written him off.
The torrent of campaign coverage turned to a trickle.
That left plenty of elbow-room on the Straight Talk Express as it rolled through scenic New Hampshire, home to the nation’s first-of-the-season presidential primary.
There still was usually an Associated Press reporter on board with the McCain campaign. Typically, a reporter from the Concord Monitor or some other New Hampshire media organization was there too. And there was me.
I was anational political reporter for The Arizona Republic, McCain's hometown newspaper. And I was on the bus because Republic editors decided to keep covering McCain, even as his campaign appeared to be in freefall.
I already knew McCain, or thought I did. I had covered him as a reporter, blogger and columnist for The Republic. Before that, I wrote about him for the East Valley Tribune in Mesa. In all, I would follow him for two decades.
But it was traveling through New Hampshire on that bus, poised for arguably his finest moment politically, that I truly came to know McCain.
By the end, I was covering a man with terminal brain cancer and telling the world he did not fear his death, which came Saturday at age 81. As a reporter who covered McCain for Arizona’s paper of record, I had become one of the journalists most closely associated with him.
I didn't plan it. Things just played out that way.
McCain as calming force
As a Tribune political reporter, I had written occasional stories about or involving McCain, including a Dec. 30, 1998, front-page story announcing that McCain was set to seek the 2000 Republican presidential nomination.
McCain would lose that race to George W. Bush, who would go on to win the White House. And I would soon be deployed to the Washington, D.C., bureau of Freedom Communications.
Freedom owned the Tribune, the Orange County (California) Register, and the Gazette of Colorado Springs.
Thanks to his 2000 presidential run, McCain was growing in clout and stature on Capitol Hill and I closely covered him.
This included his workwith Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., to reform America's campaign-finance system. Their bipartisan bill would become law in 2002, among McCain's biggest legislative achievements.
Related column: McCain wanted to 'raise hell' and leave it all on the field. Mission accomplished, Senator.
USA TODAY's Editorial Board: John McCain's death is a metaphor for the death of the old Republican Party
Susan Page: John McCain may have lost the presidency, but still became larger-than-life
On the day of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, McCain spoke to 17 reporters, according to Elizabeth Drew's 2002 book "Citizen McCain." I was one of them.
McCain was a calming force that day.
"He phoned his wife a couple of times to assure her that he was all right," Drew wrote. "He became upset when he learned that the schools in Phoenix had been closed. 'My God, they're panicking,' he said, and so in most of his calls he told people not to panic, that the president would return to Washington, that the government was functioning, and that people were secure."
It was a nervous time in the nation's capital. I lived in Arlington, Virginia, near the smoldering Pentagon. I still remember the smell of burning jet fuel and black smoke that hit me as I left my apartment building the next morning.
Then came the anthrax contamination that temporarily shuttered the Hart Senate Office Building, where McCain's Arizona colleague, U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, had his office.
A bittersweet moment came when the Arizona Diamondbacks met the New York Yankees in the 2001 World Series while America was still staggering from the 9/11 attacks.
McCain, a passionate Diamondbacks fan, attended series games with New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had become something of a national hero after 9/11.
Following the Diamondbacks' victory — spoiling the prevailing national narrative that New York needed the post-9/11 series victory to heal — I tagged along as McCain led a tour of the U.S. Capitol for the world champion D-Backs.
McCain let the players know how proud they had made Arizona by bringing home the World Series trophy.
"I hadn't had so much fun since my last interrogation in Hanoi," McCain, a celebrated former prisoner of war, cracked at a Hill reception for the team ahead of the tour, in which then-Manager Bob Brenly and 2001 standouts such as Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling and Craig Counsell soaked up the history and art of the Capitol Rotunda before heading to the White House for an East Room ceremony with Bush.
On Capitol Hill during this period, a grim Congress was focused on war — first in Afghanistan, then in Iraq.
And later came the Beltway snipers, whose murder spree gripped the greater Washington, D.C., area with fear during October 2002.
McCain as underdog
By the time McCain started to gear up for his second run for president, I had returned to Arizona and moved to The Republic. I was tapped to cover his campaign.
Along the way, I became the cable-TV news channels' go-to local reporter for all things McCain. I made appearances on PBS' "NewsHour With Jim Lehrer," CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC and C-SPAN, among others.
I was under no illusion that my rising national exposure was the product of my personality and charisma. Years later, I joked to McCain that my once-promising national television career died along with his White House ambitions in 2008.
Those ambitions would die hard. But not before McCain pulled off one of the most remarkable escape acts from a campaign that was spiraling earthward and almost certain to crash.
Many in media have tried to figure out McCain over the years. They have alternately praised the "maverick" who did things his own way, and condemned him when they saw him behave as an expedient politician.
Which was the real McCain, some wondered.
Photo gallery: John McCain: From the Navy to Arizona senator
I would argue he was a combination of the two. But I wouldn't presume to say I know, despite having written about the Senate lion and master politician in one capacity or another for practically my entire 25-year career in professional journalism.
I do, however, believe I got a glimpse of the real deal when I observed McCain up close on the presidential campaign trail that summer and fall of 2007.
This was the McCain who was out of money and with nothing to lose. The McCain who through grit and determination — a combination of fighting spirit, formidable political skill, a willingness to take chances and dark humor — achieved a comeback that took him from the depths of disaster to a better-than-expected showing in the Iowa caucuses and victories in the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries on his way to clinching the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.
McCain was under pressure to give up. Instead, he defiantly proclaimed nothing short of "contracting a fatal disease" would get him to drop out of the race before the New Hampshire primary. "It's always darkest right before it's totally black," he joked.
Even at age 71, he was a tireless campaigner.
"We're going to do the town-hall meetings, we're going to be on the bus, we're going to have the direct contact with the people," McCain told reporters after a July 2007 lunch event in Concord, New Hampshire.
McCain kept his word.
Keeping up with him on the campaign trail was a grind. He sometimes would appear at as many as six or seven events a day. Thanks to McCain, I must have visited every Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion hall in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
He conducted more than 100 town halls in New Hampshire alone. The town-hall format worked well for McCain. He enjoyed mixing it up with the crowd, particularly critics of the Iraq War that he supported.
McCain already had a connection to the Granite State. It was there that he had upset the front-running Bush in 2000.
McCain's now-shoestring operation seemed to make everything more intimate. He was more approachable and often in a good mood. A reporter on the bus observed he seemed like he was enjoying himself more. McCain said he was more relaxed because he didn't have to worry about raising money all of the time.
"Being an underdog with low expectations can be liberating and fun," McCain would write in his final memoir, 2018's "The Restless Wave."
'No Surrender'
McCain may have been at his best during his September 2007 "No Surrender Tour" of the three early presidential states that helped him get back in the race.
The tour's name had a double meaning, reflecting both McCain's passionate advocacy for U.S. victory in the unpopular Iraq War and his never-say-die attitude toward his own faltering campaign.
It also was an opportunity for McCain to remind voters of his Vietnam War record, which included getting shot down over North Vietnam and spending more than five-and-a-half years as a POW.
The first chapter of "The Restless Wave" is titled "No Surrender." In the book, he credits campaign adviser Steve Schmidt with the name.
McCain, the former Navy aviator, was joined on the bus in Iowa by two of his fellow POWs, retired Air Force Col. George "Bud" Day and Orson Swindle, a retired Marine aviator. The friends had a great time, laughing and sharing funny stories about their time in captivity in Hanoi.
John McCain: Prisoner of war
John McCain (front right) with his squadron in 1965. U.S. Navy/Library of Congress
U.S. Naval Lt. Cmdr. John S. McCain III, son of the Navy's commander-in-chief in Europe and grandson of the Navy's greatest World War II carrier commander, is shown in July 1967 in Vietnam. Associated Press
U.S. Navy pilot Lt. j.g. Denny Earl, with both legs shattered by North Vietnamese anti-aircraft fire, successfully lands his Douglas A-4E Skyhawk attack plane aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany in the Gulf of Tonkin on Oct. 20 1967. This particular aircraft, BuNo 149959, was shot down over Hanoi, North Vietnam, six days later, Oct. 26. Its pilot, Lt. Cmdr. John S. McCain, spent 5½ years as a POW in Vietnam. U.S. Navy
North Vietnamese remove Navy flier John McCain from the waters off the Vietnamese coast after McCain's plane was shot down in 1967 while on a bombing mission. McCain, now a U.S. senator, was held captive from 1967 until 1973. The photo is among those released by the Library of Congress and taken by North Vietnamese photographers during the war. Library of Congress
John McCain is tended to in a Hanoi, North Vietnam, hospital as a prisoner of war in the fall of 1967. Associated Press
This file photo taken in 1967 shows U.S. Navy Air Force Maj. John McCain lying on a bed in a Hanoi hospital as he was being given medical care for his injuries. McCain was captured in 1967 at a lake in Hanoi after his Navy warplane was downed by the Northern Vietnamese army during the Vietnam War. McCain said that upon capture he was beaten by an angry mob and bayoneted in the groin. Getty Images
This is an undated file photo of Sen. John McCain, lying injured as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. It was among 4,000 photos and documents given to a U.S. delegation by Hanoi. McCain was a U.S. Navy pilot downed in Vietnam in 1967. Associated Press
John McCain waiting for the rest of the group to leave the bus at the airport after being released as a POW in 1973. U.S. Department of Defense
John McCain is escorted by Lt. Cmdr. Jay Coupe Jr., public relations officer, March 14, 1973, to Hanoi's Gia Lam Airport after the POW was released. Associated Press
Newly freed prisoners of war celebrate as their C-141A aircraft lifts off from Hanoi, North Vietnam, on Feb. 12, 1973, during Operation Homecoming. The mission included 54 C-141 flights between Feb. 12 and April 4, 1973, returning 591 POWs to American soil. U.S. Air Force
John McCain limps down a ramp for a welcoming on arrival from Hanoi, North Vietnam, on March 14,1973. Associated Press
U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. John S. McCain, a released POW, is greeted by Air Force officers as he deplanes at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama on March 17, 1973. Associated Press
Lt. Cmdr. John McCain, a POW for over five years, waves to well-wishers on March 18, 1973, after arriving at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida. Associated Press
Adm. John S. McCain Jr. (left) and his son, Lt. Cmdr. John S. McCain III meet for the first time in Jacksonville, Florida, March 31, 1973, since the younger McCain returned from a North Vietnam prison two weeks before. Adm. McCain was chief of U.S. forces in the Pacific during part of the time his son was imprisoned. Associated Press
John McCain is greeted by President Richard Nixon in Washington, D.C., on May 25, 1973. McCain spent more than five years in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp before he was released in March 1973. Associated Press
This monument in Hanoi, Vietnam, shown on Jan. 31, 1985, marks the location where U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. John S. McCain parachuted and was captured after being shot down in 1967. Associated Press
I asked McCain if he felt like he had missed out on a lot in the United States while he was locked up as a POW.
"No, except that the miniskirt phase had come and gone," McCain quipped. "I regretted that."
Before or since, I never personally heard McCain open up that way about the details of his POW experience. I feel lucky to have witnessed it.
This was McCain immersed in his element. A scrappy political pugilist enjoying the fight and taking chances, drawing strength from old comrades from the Hanoi Hilton and energy from town-hall audiences.
The effort paid off with another big win in the New Hampshire primary. And then in South Carolina, Florida and on Super Tuesday.
Those instincts may have betrayed him during the general-election campaign against Democrat Barack Obama, such as his decision to make a risky bet on the then-unknown Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate.
For better and worse, those qualities were the essence of McCain.
They are what powered his long political career and, in turn, are why he will be remembered as one of Washington's most consequential figures.
Short temper not seen firsthand
Years later, it was a column I wrote related to McCain's POW experience that caused a rare rift in our professional relationship.
McCain and The Republic over the years often had a rocky, even hostile, relationship. But I believe he realized the newspaper had a duty to perform for its readers and his constituents.
I personally found McCain straightforward, helpful and probably more accessible to me than he needed to be.
When I started covering his presidential campaign in 2007, everybody involved was ready to leave behind the bitterness of the past and move forward, but the relationship remained icy. I remember telling McCain's nascent campaign operation that The Republic just wanted to be treated like any other news organization. They agreed, and the thaw began.
Over the years, I had countless conversations with McCain about almost every political topic under the sun. He would usually address me as "Danny." Sometimes, he would call me a "jerk," but with him, it was a term of affection.
For all the talk about McCain's alleged short fuse — he had acknowledged having a temper in one of his books, and it had been a political liability — I never saw him explode in a way that was consistent with the legends. I would get the silent treatment from McCain from time to time after writing something he didn't like, but such reactions are common among politicians.
I did once get a face-to-face dressing down for something that my Republic colleague, E.J. Montini, had written. I think McCain just wanted to vent at someone about it and I happened to have an interview with him scheduled that day.
Painful POW memories
A half-dozen years later, my decision to write a column about tapes of his POW confession became a more serious point of contention.
Not long before Arizona's Aug. 30, 2016, Senate primary, McCain critics had unearthed long-lost recordings of Radio Hanoi propaganda broadcasts featuring McCain's coerced confession of "crimes against the Vietnamese country and people." On the recording, McCain compliments the doctors who treated his injuries after he was shot down on Oct. 26, 1967. At the time, McCain's father, John S. "Jack" McCain Jr., was an admiral who commanded U.S. forces in the Pacific, and Radio Hanoi's broadcast of McCain's confession tape was no doubt hurtful to him.
McCain had long acknowledged, with regret, that he had recorded a confession after sustained beatings and torture from his North Vietnamese captors. But the recording itself had not been heard and it carried historical significance, particularly to someone like me, who had studied his Vietnam experience.
McCain made it clear through his Senate spokeswoman that he didn't agree it was newsworthy and signaled extreme displeasure with me writing about it.
I was taken aback by the force of the pushback.
Although fringe right-wing McCain foes were trying to make political hay out of the tapes, I didn't think they would have any impact on McCain's 2016 fortunes. If anything, readers would remember the tremendous ordeal that McCain underwent from 1967 to 1973.
But from that pushback, I came to a realization: I was seeing the recordings as an important historical document. But for McCain, revisiting the false confession appeared to trigger painful memories and emotions that were still raw nearly 50 years later.
The column was published over McCain's objections. The recordings did have news value, particularly since McCain's Vietnam War record had always been so central to his rise in politics.
Eventually, three of McCain's fellow POWs — Everett Alvarez, Jerry Coffee and Swindle from the 2007 "No Surrender Tour" — issued a joint statement calling the recorded confession "old news" and emphasizing that McCain "fought our captors as hard as any of us" and "did all that could be expected of him."
As I had predicted, the recordings of the McCain confession had no impact on his re-election, but that column kept me in McCain's penalty box until primary day. After that, it was forgotten.We both moved on.
Dan Nowicki covered U.S. Sen. John McCain as The Arizona Republic's national political reporter from 2007 to 2018. Nowicki is The Republic's national politics and issues editor. Follow him on Twitter, @dannowicki.
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A city for everyone: Changing what development means for Grand Rapids in 2017
By Anya Zentmeyer, Development News Editor | Thursday, January 19, 2017
The incoming Meijer store and apartments coming to Bridge and Stocking.
From a dramatically different riverfront that’s meant to transform the city into an “urban playground for all ages” to a massive downtown theater complex and city-led talks centering around affordable housing and displacement, 2017 is shaping up to be a pretty monumental year for development in Grand Rapids.
From a dramatically different riverfront that’s meant to transform the city into an “urban playground for all ages” to a massive downtown theater complex and city-led talks centering around affordable housing and displacement, 2017 is shaping up to be a pretty monumental year for development in Grand Rapids. Big and small, these projects are changing the face of our city with renovated parks, bike lanes, downtown grocery shops, and a whole lot more.
The developments bringing people together
Thanks to the approximate $3.8 million generated annually by a seven-year dedicated parks millage passed by 60 percent of Grand Rapids voters in 2013, the past few years have ushered in a truly impressive round of upgrades to most of the city's neighborhood parks, bringing repairs, rehabilitations and new improvements to the parks, pools and playgrounds that families both rely on and deserve. Planning stages for the first round of eight neighborhood park upgrades kicked off in 2014, with construction and re-openings in 2015. In 2016, neighborhoods saw the reboot of parks for which the planning process completed in 2015, including Camelot, Douglas, Mulick, Mary Waters, and Richmond parks, with upgrades that included everything from new picnic shelters and playground improvements to renovated ball fields and the installation of bike racks.
Since each park receives upgrades tailored to the specific needs of its community members, which the city identifies through multiple rounds of community meetings and public input efforts, exactly what upgrades are in store for each are yet to be seen. However, most of the neighborhoods in the final round of upgrades— including for Aberdeen, Alexander, Ball Perkins, Clemente Park, Huff, and Bike parks — are either finished with the second round of community meetings or have it on the schedule coming up in the next few months, so construction and reopening is still on track for late summer of this year.
The Lyon Square project.
In 2017, Grand Rapidians can also expect to see the first pieces of a massive riverfront redevelopment project begin along the banks of the city’s Grand River. The project is part of the mammoth GR Forward initiative, a collaborative effort between Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc., the city of Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Public School District that utilized months of community meetings, resident input, and public surveying to generate a 10-year community plan and investment strategy because, as the GR Forward executive summary puts it, “Grand Rapids is poised to become a resilient, waterfront city and an urban playground for all ages centered around a progressive and lively downtown.”
The sweeping project is slated to improve habitat, restore the river's rapids, ensure the city's riverside spaces are lively and recreational (think a robust trail system, space to listen to live music and attend other outdoor events, activities like kayaking, and a whole lot more), and ensure equitable riverside access for all of the city's residents. Much of the city's key restoration efforts are geared toward this idea of transforming downtown Grand Rapids into what GR Forward is calling an "active adventure city," centered around a very cool notion that Grand Rapids, because of how the Grand River is positioned geographically, can offer a unique connection to natural resources through activities and recreation designed to maximize the value of the river.
One of the first pieces of the projects comes thanks to efforts from Grand Rapids Whitewater, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the river that was very recently awarded $4 million in funding by the Grand Valley Metro Council to help advance its efforts in the Grand. The funding will go toward such initiatives as restoring the habitat for fish and endangered species in the Grand River throughout downtown Grand Rapids.
Though the Lyon Square project, part of the larger river restoration, probably won’t be completely in its entirety until 2018, city officials are currently preparing to issue $6 million in bond debt to the Downtown Development Authority to begin initiating financing for the redevelopment of Lyon Square — which, right now, is basically a modest amphitheater overlooking a concrete flood wall with a boardwalk along the river. New designs for the space include the installation of an impressive looking series of steps designed to create a terraced approach to the water in an effort to create a central gathering point along the Grand River. Other plans for the area include additional green space, a pathway to the river, a waterfall fountain, and a launching spot for kayaks and other recreational vehicles.
Lastly, Veterans' Monument and Memorial Park will re-open after the $3.4 million face lift to one of the city’s oldest and most triangle-shaped parks wraps up this year with a big memorial walkway down the center serving as a focal point.
The projects sharpening Grand Rapids’ competitive edge
GVSU's health expansion.
Grand Valley State University will continue construction on expansion efforts of its health sciences campus in downtown’s Belknap Lookout neighborhood with its $37.5 million, 84,000-square -foot Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall at 500 Lafayette. The five-story space will help alleviate GVSU’s overcrowded College of Health Professions and Kirkhof College of Nursing and boasts student study, organization and work spaces alongside its four classrooms, 15 teaching labs, a computer lab, and 90 faculty and staff offices and parking spaces. The university has also been eyeing the parking lot next to its existing health sciences facility with future expansion in mind.
Just down the road, on the corner of Michigan Street and Monroe Avenue, the old Grand Rapids Press building is completing its transformation into the new Michigan State University Grand Rapids Research Center, a project that is projected to create some 728 jobs and an estimated $95.6 million in economic impact to the region. The six-story, 162,800-square-foot facility includes research program spaces and five core labs with bioinformatics, flow cytometer, long-term storage, and analytical and advanced microscopy capabilities. When it opens later this year, the new building will support 260 members of MSU’s College of Human Medicine’s scientific research teams, as well as researchers from MSU’s partnering institutions
Making the city friendlier for pedestrians, bicyclists & public transit riders
Over the past year, mixed-use projects like the redevelopment of the historic Rowe Hotel and 616 Development’s lofts have been sprouting up alongside Medical Mile research centers and medical facilities in an effort to meet the housing needs of a still-growing healthcare industry centralized along the Michigan Street Corridor. As a result, city leaders have spent a lot of time talking about what Grand Rapids City Planning Director Suzanne Schulz calls “mobility on Michigan Hill,” and this year we’ll see more city-sanctioned muscle behind not only public transit accessibility, but also the walkability and bike-ability outlined in the Michigan Street Corridor Improvement Plan. Schulz says this year, the city will begin construction on Michigan Street’s Ottawa exit ramp to make it more pedestrian and bicycle friendly along with other “multi-modular” mindful improvements that are defined pretty succinctly here in the recently approved Vital Streets Plan. Schulz says the city also bulked up its braintrust with the recent hire of pedestrian and bicycle mobility expert Kristin Bennett, who will help advise on design choices and implementation as they roll out.
Grand Rapidians can also expect a slow but steady roll-out of more bike-friendly infrastructure throughout the rest of the city, as well as the city Planning Department finalizing plans to implement a more extensive system of bike lanes. Meanwhile, Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. will be working hard on developing a strategic business plan for the implementation of a citywide bike sharing system (something identified by the earlier mentioned GR Forward initiative as a top community priority) that will be the product of an extensive feasibility study still currently underway.
Transit will start using smart cards.
In public transit news, The Rapid is in the final planning stages of a new fare collection system that will use “smart cards” to give a paperless option to bus riders. Individuals using the cards can then refill and access their account information online or via mobile devices, as well as at the kiosks located outside new bus stations in the city -- making getting on and off the bus just a little bit easier for travelers in a hurry. The Rapid's Public Outreach Coordinator of Community Engagement Michael Bulthuis says his organization will likely begin beta testing in August or early September for GVSU students, with a larger public distribution slated for early 2018.
Go big or go home: Developments that are changing the downtown landscape
20 Monroe Live.
There’s been no shortage of hype surrounding some of the city’s biggest downtown development projects over the past few months, and 2017 finds eager downtown dwellers just a few weeks away from the opening of its newest main attraction: 20 Monroe Live. The 70,000-square-foot entertainment complex, which is opening in partnership with The B.O.B., is located in hub of the city’s downtown, across from Van Andel Arena, and features a movable performance stage and space for as many as 2,600 people. The new entertainment mecca announced its first line-up of shows late last November with big acts from all over the board, including names like Trombone Shorty, Umphrey’s McGee, Peter Frampton, Dropkick Murphy’s, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Slightly Stoopid, and The Flaming Lips.
Studio C.
Ground is also expected to break on the Studio C project, the $140 million movie theater, retail, and housing hybrid coming to downtown’s Arena District through a partnership between Loeks Theaters Inc. and 616 Development. The 187-unit residential space will include a public piazza in front of the theater and ground-floor retail, with plans for a 900-space on-site parking ramp that will be managed by the city of Grand Rapids. Keep an eye out on the corner of Fulton and Ionia for the Hinman Company’s new 42-story hotel and residential tower, as well as Orion Construction’s Warner Tower project at 150 Ottawa Ave., which will house a bank, a law firm, and retail space alongside more than 100 apartments units.
Hinman Tower.
Oh, and get ready for more breweries and market-rate apartments than you can shake a stick at. Renovations on the new Bridge Street taproom Jolly Pumpkin are scheduled to begin this spring, while the West Side’s first whiskey bar, One Bourbon, will hold its grand opening just next month. If the some 50-odd dedicated breweries in Grand Rapids somehow aren’t enough, 2017 ushers in more of the good stuff with beer and booze-related openings in nearly every neighborhood throughout the city, including — and certainly not limited to — The People Cider Co.’s new 539 Leonard St. taproom, 7 Monks at 740 Michigan Street, and City Built Brewing Co. on Monroe Ave. NW, to name a few.
Among the many market-rate, mixed-use residential units planned and underway in Beer City include:
A collaborative overhaul by Maplegrove Development and Bazzani Building Co. of the historic Kingsley Building’s at 1415 Lake Drive.
Plenty of mixed-use build-outs by Orion Construction Co., which recently announced plans for Heritage Place, and 84-unit residential/office space hybrid with on-site parking in Heritage Hill, while continuing work on market-rate units all the way from Fulton Street to new Riverfront apartments along Monroe Avenue.
234 Market Ave.’s transformation from the former Lady Godiva Showroom strip club to 23 market-rate multi-family units.
Developments that are (starting to) tackle accessibility & equity issues
Diamond Place.
For many families living in Grand Rapids' neighborhoods, things like reasonable access to affordable housing and grocery stores are far from a given. Though new developments that bring affordable housing solutions into the mixed-use residential/retail fold are only a drop in a very big bucket, projects like Third Coast Development’s upcoming Diamond Place at 20 E. Fulton and Rockford Construction’s “Meijer” development on Bridge and Stocking might be the first baby steps in figuring out how development can work for everybody.
Located a stone’s throw away from the New Holland Brewery Knickerbocker on the city’s West Side, Rockford Construction’s new unnamed development on Bridge Street and Stocking will not only be home to West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology’s new headquarters, but will feature both market rate and workforce housing with a proposed Meijer store that will mark the city’s first large-scale downtown grocer. While the first phase of the project is expected to kick off sometime this year, Third Coast Development’s similarly geared $42 million Diamond Place development breaks ground this month, with 165 residential units — 100 of which will be income-restricted units, three retail spaces — one of which Third Coast is hoping to make a grocery store, and a 240-car parking deck .
Rockford's continuing Bridge St. development.
City leaders are also having intensive conversations about the state of housing and business equity in Grand Rapids neighborhoods, most notably in the Southtown area and along the South Division corridor. To address increasing rents and other gentrification issues for both business owners and residents, which can push out the longtime community members who can no longer afford the area many have spent decades working and living in, the city has begun a study of the area called the South Division Equitable Development Plan to help avoid such issues as displacement. Schulz, the city's planning director, says before leaders launch into the public input phase, they’re taking the time to seek out local community advocates who can help to lead their own communities in discussions about the future of where they live.
So, what’s next?
What does development mean for Grand Rapidians in 2017? Depending on who you are and where you live, it could mean a lot of things. But whether it’s a community beginning to worry about the over-saturation of residential units and new breweries in a market where supply is beginning to outpace demand or an underserved neighborhood struggling to approach new development without losing residents’ voices along the way, one thing is clear: it’s time to have some pretty frank discussions about how we build our communities so that they work for everyone.
“The neighborhoods in Grand Rapids are going to be challenged with trying to figure out how to integrate change into what their paradigm has always been before now,” Schulz says. “Things have been going really, really well, so do we keep pushing forward, do we take a moment to hesitate? As a growing and changing city, there’s going to be a lot of debate and discussion about how we continue to grow and change while still meeting these new realities. I think that’s going to be the part that people will find themselves challenged to wrap their minds around.”
Written by Anya Zentmeyer, Development News Editor
Arts & Culture, Business Development, Community Engagement, Construction, Development, Education, Film & Video, Government, Healthcare, Jobs, Parks, Real Estate, Retail
West Grand, South Division
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Where is impact investing happening in Fort Wayne? Ambassador Enterprises is making strides
Source: Input Fort Wayne
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On Call Magazine
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Prescription for Renewal Conference 2019
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Samaritan’s Purse Surgeon Receives United Nations Award
October 4, 2018 • Switzerland
Dr. Evan Atar was recognized by the United Nations for his work serving refugees in Maban County in South Sudan.
For 20 years, Dr. Evan Atar has braved fighting in his homeland to provide lifesaving care for people who have nowhere else to go.
Dr. Evan Atar, a Samaritan’s Purse surgeon in South Sudan, has received the prestigious Nansen Refugee Award from the United Nations (UN).
Dr. Atar, second from left, received recognition from the United Nations for his medical work in war-torn areas of Sudan and South Sudan.
The UN recognized Dr. Atar at an event Monday, Oct. 1, in Geneva, Switzerland, for 20 years of providing medical services to people suffering because of war and persecution in Sudan and South Sudan. He is the medical director at the Maban County Hospital, built and supported by Samaritan’s Purse.
“Dr. Atar lives by the principles Jesus taught in the parable of the Good Samaritan,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse. “He’s been faithful to answer God’s call as he works tirelessly to save lives in South Sudan and share the hope we have in Christ.”
Dr. Atar runs the only functional hospital in the Upper Nile State of South Sudan, which has been wracked by fighting since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. Of the 200,000 people who depend on the hospital, nearly 150,000 are refugees.
Dr. Atar’s parents were illiterate herders. He did not finish primary school until he was 17, and the civil war in southern Sudan interrupted his education and forced him to move to a displacement camp near the capital of Khartoum. It was there that he finished his secondary education and won a scholarship to study medicine in Egypt.
Dr. Atar has served refugees and residents in Sudan and South Sudan for two decades.
The UN describes Dr. Atar as the latest in a long line of “ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” The Nansen Refugee Award is named for Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen, who was the UN’s first High Commissioner for Refugees.
Following his studies he returned to his homeland to practice medicine at the Kurmuk Hospital in Sudan where he persevered even under bombing raids from the Khartoum regime. In 2011 he has started practicing in Maban County.
“At first when I came to Maban, we had to do surgeries under a tree,” he said. Samaritan’s Purse helped him build a 120-bed hospital in the town of Bunj. Dr. Atar averages 58 surgeries a week.
Even as many other hospitals closed their doors amid unspeakable violence in the region, Maban County Hospital continued to serve the area’s residents and refugees.
“We are the only ones here to help them and the only witness for Christ among these people,” he said in an interview with Samaritan’s Purse as discontent grew in the Upper Nile State of South Sudan. “Jesus gave His love to us, without asking anything in return. Here, we do just a little to help, but God is with us. We can’t do anything by ourselves.”
Brand-New Smiles Reflect God’s Love in Action
A Samaritan’s Purse medical team performs life-changing cleft lip and palate surgeries... ▶
Faithful Servants
A husband and wife doctor team share the Gospel in the rugged Mexico mountains. ▶
Common ailments often go undetected in many developing countries and quickly become a matter of life or death. People who suffer major health issues such as heart defects or AIDS face the real threat of never receiving life-giving treatment. Samaritan’s Purse provides doctors, nurses, medical equipment, and other aid through World Medical Mission, our medical arm, while administering hope through the healing power of the Great Physician.
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Free PC Games •
PC Game News •
Microsoft Flight •
Grounded: Microsoft Flight Development Has Stopped
former Deputy Editor
26th July 2012 / 11:00AM
Rumours that Microsoft’s Vancouver studio had been completely shut down were swirling around the internet this morning, but in a statement to Gamespot, the company has specified that the studio will survive despite cuts. One of the projects that will cease, however, is Microsoft Flight, which means Tim Stone’s desire for “jets, smuggling, and air-sea rescues…via DLC” is likely to be forever unfulfilled, at least in this game. The free to play title seemed to have been designed as an expanding world but there will be no growth now. Our thoughts are with those whose jobs are affected, on this and other projects. Statement below.
“Microsoft Studios has decided to end development on Microsoft Flight and Project Columbia [a Kinect game]. As a result of this action, some positions within the development teams have been eliminated. Microsoft human resources is working with the affected individuals to find new roles within the company.
“Microsoft Studios is invested in British Columbia and still has several teams, both in Vancouver and Victoria, which will continue to produce the best entertainment and gaming experiences possible.”
It’s tempting to look at this as a failure of the free to play model and I’m going to at least partly give in to that temptation, although it’s also worth noting that this is the second flight simulation team to be closed by Microsoft in recent years. Maybe they just briefly forgot that they hate planes.
In terms of the model, it would be interesting to see what the average amount spent by people who played for at least a couple of hours was. There are so many questions about free to play that will only be easily answered once there have been a few successes and failures. Apart from the specifics of price points and the frequency of new content, queries must be made about how long a game should be allowed to exist in order to win over a paying audience.
How long does it take for players to start spending significantly, particularly in a non-competitive game? Even if I’m enjoying myself, I’ll often exhaust the content that’s there before spending some cash for more, which means I’m probably a bad customer for the first few months.
Of course, there might be other factors responsible for Flight’s fate, including the general health of the Vancouver development scene, but it’s hard not to think the sim didn’t really have a chance. When it’s navigable area was unveiled, the clouds parting, I assumed it would be growing and growing and growing, until planes were flying across the entire globe and even across the surface of the moon. It’s terrible to think of a game in terms of the business lessons it holds rather than the enjoyment it can bring, but with Flight seemingly not given a fighting chance, what can its short voyage teach anyone?
Tagged with free to play, Microsoft, Simulation, Microsoft Flight.
More about Microsoft Flight
Microsoft Flight Review
Wot I Think: Microsoft Flight
Up, Up And A Way To Monetise The Game
Train Sim Devs Getting Into Planes With Microsoft Tech
The Flare Path: Devoted To Dovetail
Simulation & wargame blather
The Flare Path: Tales Of The Unexpected
Temtem guide - choosing the best Temtem starter
Hafta snag the lot!
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November 29, 2019 12:33PM ET
See E.T. Return to Earth 40 Years Later in… an Advertisement
The Extra-Terrestrial reunites with beloved friend Elliott in four-minute ad for Comcast’s Xfinity based off Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film
Amy X. Wang
Senior Music Business Editor
@amyxwang Follow
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As if major companies weren’t plundering our childhood nostalgia enough these days, telecom conglomerate Comcast has released a sequel to Steven Spielberg’s cult film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in the form of a longform advertisement promoting its cable service Xfinity.
The 1982 film — whose cast included Henry Thomas, Pat Walsh, Dee Wallace and Drew Barrymore — was an instant blockbuster upon release, flying past Star Wars to claim the crown of highest-grossing film of all time. (It would hold that record until 1993 when another Spielberg film, Jurassic Park, knocked it off its throne.)
Its 2019 revival as a four-minute marketing bid from Comcast, which owns the movie studio that distributed the film 37 years ago, shows E.T. returning to Earth to see his friend Elliott, who is now a grown man with a family. The sort-of-ad-sort-of-film premiered Thursday during the annual broadcast of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Comcast’s NBC.
“The audience is going to get everything they want out of a sequel without the messy bits that could destroy the beauty of the original and the special place it has in people’s minds and hearts,” Thomas, who reprised his role as Elliot for the 2019 advertisement, said in a statement provided by Comcast. The video is slated to run in the U.S. and around the globe through January 5th.
Ads that capitalize on companies’ decades-old intellectual property are becoming increasingly common; earlier this year, for example, Joe Pesci partook in a meta Google ad to watch the company’s viral Home Alone ad for the Super Bowl. And that’s not to mention the dozens of non-ad films and television shows that major players like Disney are pushing out in a bid to capture audiences’ loyalty in an ultra-competitive streaming environment. While Comcast’s E.T. ad tries to coax viewers to “Reconnect for the holidays,” per an on-screen message, the company’s motivations can be traced back to its steadily slipping subscriber base, which has fallen 0.9% in the last quarter.
In This Article: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Steven Spielberg
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The Russian press looks at Ramzan Kadyrov’s candidacy for the President of Chechnya and Russian policy towards Iran’s nuclear programme. It also comments on the demographic crisis in Russia.
Vedomosti looks at the candidacy of Ramzan Kadyrov for the President of the Chechen Republic. The business daily writes the Kremlin didn’t put up any special conditions for Mr Kadyrov, but the future president has also given up the ambitions of his predecessors. It goes on to say Kadyrov will not insist on a power-division agreement with the federal centre and will no longer demand his government should take control over the Republic's oil industry. Ramzan Kadyrov, however, will be besieging the centre but mainly with an aim to obtain economic dividends, as the paper’s expert predicts.
Vremya Novostey claims Russia may change its loyal policy towards Iran's nuclear programme, citing the Head of the Russian Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee, Mikhail Margelov. The paper says such a change may revive strategic partnership between Russia and the U.S. The Director of Russian and Asian Programmes at the Washington Institute of World Security, Nikolay Zlobin, told the paper that the North Korean model might be shaped for Iran. That would mean Russia should back U.S. actions against Iran. The paper’s expert suggests that in return, the White House would be eager to respect Russian interests in the post-Soviet territory. The two countries will also cooperate in implementing mutual energy transportation projects and safeguarding global security.
Rossiyskaya Gazeta interviews Yuri Evdokimov, the Governor of the Murmansk Region, one of the most dynamically developing regions in Russia's North-West. He says that all Russian ports, including those on the Baltic Sea, in the Far East, in Murmansk or in Novorossiysk, should get a status of free economic zones without fail in a move planned by the Government. Yuri Evdokimov believes that will make them competitive against their foreign neighbours, who have been working in as special economic zones for a long time and have boosted their turnover many times.
Meantime, Trud interviews the Director of the Institute of Economic Forecasting at the Russian Academy of Sciences, Viktor Valter, who says that the earnings of the 10 % of Russia's rich are 23 times higher than the incomes of the poorest Russians. The income gap is similar to African and Latin American countries. Mr Valter believes the general level of wellbeing should be raised, as the growth of profits will not only improve life but will also boost economic efficiency.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta looks at Russia's demographic crisis from a different and not widely-spread angle. Its expert says that the birth rate is proportionate to the average living-space available in the country. Thus, most Russian families live in small-size flats which results in a very low birth rate compared to other countries.
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Rubber manufacturing in America: Tire makers pump billions into facilities
Bruce Meyer
An employee works on a tire at Bridgestone's manufacturing plant in Sumter, S.C.
Looking strictly at the rising import penetration of passenger and light truck tires in the U.S. replacement business, it might be easy to get the impression that tire manufacturing in the U.S. is a dying industry.
But that impression couldn't be further from the truth. Looking outside the low-cost radial and entry level tire markets—the majority of which are imported—new plants and expansion projects are popping up in various parts of the U.S., with South Carolina getting a large piece of the investment pie.
For the year ended August 2012, tire makers earmarked $2.75 billion for expansion projects in North America, and in the following 12 months announced planned expenditures of $1.8 billion. Some recent projects have included:
• Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C. opened its $500 million passenger and light truck tire facility late last year in Sumter, S.C., and has spent heavily at its other U.S. factory in Mount Vernon, Ill.;
• Bridgestone Americas Inc. is spending roughly $1.2 billion just in Aiken, S.C., building a new off-the-road tire plant and expanding capacity at its existing passenger/LT tire facility. It also has projects ongoing at a number of its other U.S. factories;
• Yokohama Tire Corp. broke ground on its $300 million truck and bus tire plant in Mississippi, as the Japanese-owned company will add its first greenfield site in the U.S. to join the tire plant it acquired in the U.S. about a quarter-century ago;
• Michelin North America Inc. christened its new OTR plant in Starr, S.C., saying the facility was built with expansion in mind, and is boosting capacity at its compounding facility on adjacent land;
• Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. continued to expand its tire production site in White, Ga.; and
• Two South Korean-owned firms are looking to add their first U.S. tire manufacturing sites, with Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. expecting to break ground this year on a PLT plant in Tennessee and Kumho Tire USA Inc. restarting a long-stalled project in Georgia.
“If you look at the tire market in North America, it's very competitive,” said Steve Shelton, Bridgestone Americas senior vice president of technology, manufacturing and procurement. “But I also think we look at tire manufacturing here in a very positive light. If you look at the last couple of years, we've probably spent $1.5 billion in capital improvements. I think that speaks well for how positive we look at tire manufacturing, especially in the U.S.”
Conti is proud of its new plant in Sumter as well as the Mount Vernon facility, according to David Johnson, the firm's manufacturing coordinator in the Americas. “We have Sumter on track for this year to produce 800,000 tires and to continue growth along the next decade or so until we get it up to 8 million tires,” he said. “At Mount Vernon, we just completed our cornfield expansion. We're ramping that up to get the tires out of there. I think it's very clear that Conti has a commitment to the two U.S. tire plants to continue growth in this area.”
Steve Shelton, Bridgestone Americas senior vice president of technology, manufacturing and procurement; and Alan Easome,Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi senior director, new plant development.
The exodus subsides
Many tire makers believe it's important to have production near the region where the tires will be sold, thus saving heavily on logistics, shipping costs and inventory needs.
“Yokohama's strategy is to employ local production for local consumption as much as possible,” said Alan Easome, senior director, new plant development, for Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi. “With growing demand in the U.S. for our products, it only makes sense for us to look toward production in the U.S.”
Others echoed those sentiments. “We have a corporate philosophy of being close to the market,” Conti's Johnson said. “It doesn't make too much sense with shipping costs to produce our tires too far afield and then bring them in here.”
Said Shelton: “It's easier to ship raw materials than it is to ship tires.”
That wasn't always the case for tire manufacturers. James Hawk, president and general manager of Toyo's manufacturing site in Georgia, remembers not too many years ago when there was a mass exodus of firms looking to locate in low-labor sites such as China, Indonesia or the Czech Republic.
“What they were chasing was labor costs,” Hawk said. “They were trying to mitigate or eliminate the legacy part of the labor costs.”
While labor and other costs may have been cheaper overseas, it forced those tire firms to carry more inventory, deal with currency fluctuations and ship products halfway around the world, he said, noting logistics costs aren't getting any cheaper.
“It recently turned around,” he said. “You see people wanting to expand and grow in the U.S. And people deep down inside still like "Made in America,' or at least "Made in North America.' They view that as higher quality.”
For Toyo's product line, it was important to establish a U.S. manufacturing presence, Hawk said. “We make lots of heavy truck tires, and they don't ship very well. Weight, density, containers and costs. It makes a whole lot of sense for us to be in America.”
Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C. recently opened this $500 million passenger and light truck tire factory in Sumter, S.C. It currently has capacity to make 800,000 tires a year, but that is projected to climb over the years to 8 million tires annually.
Where to locate
It's no surprise to Hawk that much of the domestic tire manufacturing is located in the Midwest and upper Southeast. Even if you could get a permit to build a plant in California, it's not a central location from which to ship, he said.
Yokohama weighed many factors when it decided to build in Mississippi, said Tex Murakami, president of Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia.
“At the forefront of our decision process is our social responsibility to the communities that we locate in,” he said. “We don't want to just be a new neighbor. We want to be a new neighbor that makes a positive impact on and enhances the lives of those around us.”
Shelton said Bridgestone looks at capital structure, infrastructure, good road systems and rail spurs, access to shipping lanes, the environment of labor and having a good available work force.
“We've had huge success in South Carolina with our Aiken plant,” he said. “The environment of South Carolina is good to have a manufacturing plant.”
The cost of labor is going to be a consideration when talking about manufacturing, Shelton said. “One of the things we've been able to overcome here recently is we're doing a lot of automation work. So with the automation, the efficiency just continues to improve, and as those efficiencies improve, the amount of cost relative to labor continues to go down some from what it was in years past.”
Johnson said labor costs impact production anywhere in the world—not just in the U.S. “If you talk about comparatively,” the Conti official said, “I would say the U.S. has become very competitive in recent years. It's not so much because anything has happened to reduce labor costs here, but the efficiencies in the U.S. are very high, and I think we see labor costs in other areas—particularly the more competitive areas of Asia—are climbing, and they're catching up to where we are here in the U.S.”
What challenges remain
One thing the passenger/light truck numbers don't lie about is how difficult it is—if not impossible—to make entry and low-cost lines competitively in the U.S.
“Most products can be successfully manufactured in America given the right environment,” said Yokohama's Easome. “However, higher-end product—or the "better and best' categories—are an easier fit because companies can cover their capital costs and expenses easier.”
Hawk said much of the sales for smaller tires are for older vehicles, where customers are looking for safe, but more economical products. And while the labor cost to produce the smaller tires isn't a lot different than some larger lines, the price points are significantly different. “You just can't get enough money to make those in the U.S.,” he said.
Shelton sees several challenges to manufacturing in the U.S. One of the most important, he said, is attracting skilled trades, electricians, mechanics and engineers to a grueling environment that operates continuously throughout the year. Bridgestone has ramped up its recruiting, especially at its technical center in Akron and its manufacturing locations, to get a broader spectrum of people looking to work at Bridgestone. It also is working closely with community colleges to help groom future talent.
“We have a lot of people working on making Bridgestone in the Americas a premier place to work,” he said.
Johnson doesn't see many challenges producing in the U.S., but he said the market still can't be considered a low-cost manufacturing country. Besides efficiencies, though, producing locally also brings benefits in response time, the Conti official said.
“If we're bringing tires in from overseas anywhere, there are always lead times to consider, and that means we can't often be as agile as we'd like. The bottom line is when you get ready to put the tires in the market, it makes economic sense to produce them as close as possible to that market,” Johnson said.
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THEN AND NOW: Tire firms roll on in U.S.
THEN AND NOW: Endless demand drives medical market
THEN AND NOW: A new road
THEN AND NOW: James Hawk, Toyo Tire North America Inc.
THEN AND NOW: Rich Balka, Home Rubber Co.
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Toyo Tire to sponsor Italian soccer club
Yokohama reports increased income
Continental working on informative tire technology
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The Church of the Solar Eclipse
Eclipse hunters aren’t merely astronomy geeks—they are seekers of awe and wonder.
Katharine Gammon / 18 Aug 2017
Extreme eclipse chasers travel the world roughly every 18 months to witness a total solar eclipse from inside the path of totality. Murray Anderson-Clemence/Getty Images
Katharine Gammon is a freelance science writer based in Santa Monica, California.
Glenn Schneider remembers the moment his addiction started in March of 1970. He was 14 years old, and he took a bus trip from New York to North Carolina to watch an eclipse. He had been reading about eclipses for years (since he caught a partial eclipse in 1963) and practicing with his camera to make sure he would be able to capture the moment on film.
But when the moon completely covered the sun—known as totality—Schneider realized just how unprepared he was for the moment. “It completely overwhelmed me,” he says. “There were no words; I was immobilized. I stood there for almost three minutes, staring up at something I had read about for years.” He recalls the darkness bearing down into his soul.
“That’s decoupled from the physical understanding of what is going on,” recalls Schneider, who is an astronomer at the University of Arizona. (He doesn’t study eclipses professionally.) It was so visceral and emotional that he took no pictures and didn’t use his telescope at all as he was enveloped in the phenomenon. “I was shaking, and it changed my life, forever, in a moment. I became an eclipse chaser.”
Astronomer and “umbraphile” Glenn Schneider has experienced 33 eclipses. Glenn Schneider
Schneider’s goal in 1970 was to never miss an eclipse—and he so far has not, with the exception of one in the 1980s. He has witnessed 33 eclipses (making him tied with astronomer Jay Pasachoff for the most eclipses seen in the world), and he’s only been clouded out three times.
There is a community of people who consider themselves “umbraphiles”—Latin for shadow lovers—and they will go to any length to get in the path of darkness during an eclipse. They will be turning their eyes to the sky once more on August 21, when a total solar eclipse sweeps across the U.S.—the first total solar eclipse to cross the contiguous U.S. in a band since 1918. Schneider will be traveling to Madras, Oregon—a town of about 6,000 that is expecting 100,000 people for the big celestial event. It’s statistically one of the best viewing spots in the country, based on information gleaned from historical maps of cloud cover for late August.
Total solar eclipses happen somewhere in the world about once every 18 months, and that gives the hunters an intermittent reward, says Anthony Aveni, an anthropologist and astronomer at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.
Aveni says that part of eclipse chasing is the desire to belong to something larger than oneself. He compares eclipse enthusiasts to people who pursue storms, because they have their own T-shirts, meetings, and lingo. “When you chase an eclipse, you’re really after a dazzling phenomenon—something off-setting—produced by nature,” says Aveni, author of In the Shadow of the Moon: The Science, Magic, and Mystery of Solar Eclipses. “You want to seek it out for the thrill.”
Although eclipse chasing is generally safer than storm chasing (though one chaser trying to get into the path of totality in Svalbard did get mauled by a polar bear), it still involves a sense of moving as close to an edge as possible. When it comes to eclipses, this means setting up in a location to get the best view possible and avoid cloud cover.
Eclipse chasers like Schneider consult maps and cloud cover estimates to find the best places to witness an eclipse. Getting clouded out is pretty much the worst outcome, he says.
Modern societies aren’t the only ones who have been eclipse obsessed. Eclipses have been recorded by almost every literate culture throughout history.
Schneider studies exoplanetary environments, but when he watches an eclipse, the primal experience is decoupled from his scientific career. Aveni agrees. “I’ve been on enough of these to know that it’s all about being dazzled by nature, even though you know what causes it,” he says. “It still makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It’s still unexpected.” Aveni recalls a young woman who made her way over to him after seeing her first eclipse. He could see tears sliding down her face from behind her eclipse glasses. “She said, ‘You explained what was happening, but it’s a miracle to me,’” Aveni recalls.
“Even in this time of scientifically explaining all the myths about nature, when you see an eclipse, it takes you back to the time when people were experiencing something sublime,” Aveni says. After all, the Romantic poets used the word “sublime” to mean simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.
Modern societies aren’t the only ones who have been eclipse obsessed. Eclipses have been recorded by almost every literate culture throughout history. Early Babylonians kept systematic chronicles on clay tablets. In late prehistoric China, astrologers were tasked with advising the emperor on cosmic matters and reputedly could be hanged for failing to anticipate a solar eclipse.
For the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, scientific knowledge of eclipses may have reached new heights. Aveni writes that the Dresden Codex, one of the few surviving documents of pre-Columbian Maya civilization, contains hieroglyphs representing a serpent eating the sun, and numeric inscriptions that seem to indicate a knowledge of the repeating cycle of solar eclipses. Researchers even found an astronomical calendar from the 11th or 12th century that accurately predicted a solar eclipse in 1991 within a day of its occurrence.Modern societies aren’t the only ones who have been eclipse obsessed. Eclipses have been recorded by almost every literate culture throughout history. Early Babylonians kept systematic chronicles on clay tablets. In late prehistoric China, astrologers were tasked with advising the emperor on cosmic matters and reputedly could be hanged for failing to anticipate a solar eclipse.
The unusual lifestyle of eclipse hunting brings with it some ritual behaviors. One chaser had a flag made in 1973 after the eclipse off the coast of eastern Africa, and the flag has accompanied chasers ever since. And strangely enough, no group carrying the flag has ever been clouded out, according to Schneider. “That flag has always seen clear skies, even while we work hard to try to get into where it is clear,” he says. “It’s just an amazing low-probability event.”
After a successful eclipse viewing, the drink of choice is an egg cream—a concoction of seltzer water, chocolate syrup, and milk. (This tradition is traced back to some New Yorkers, eclipse chasers say.)
Cristine Legare, a cognitive scientist who studies cultural learning at the University of Texas at Austin, isn’t surprised to hear about the rituals of eclipse chasers. “This is just one really cool example of a much bigger phenomenon,” she says.
Seeing a total solar eclipse is said to be both unsettling and awe-inspiring. Damien Deltenre/Penn State/Flickr
Legare explains that when there’s a high level of uncertainty—as in trying to see an eclipse—humans tend to use superstitious practices to gain the illusion of exerting control over the world. “It’s not a rejection of the scientific explanation of eclipses,” she says. Viewers are “just fully aware they have no control over it at all.”
These ritualistic practices exist across socioeconomic status and political borders. Legare has found such customs in her research on simpatias—ritualistic cures for common problems like unemployment or infidelity—in Brazil. The more uncertain the outcome, the more common the rituals are—for any situation. “Rituals are part of our psychology because they resonate with our causal reasoning,” Legare says.
In addition, the awe and wonder in nature that eclipse chasers search for and report finding might be a kind of replacement for the spiritual experience that some seek inside organized religion, says Legare. She points out that in many secular countries, there is a high level of New Age spirituality—for example, the Czech Republic has a low level of religiousness but a majority of people believe in fate or the soul. “People are still trying to find some higher meaning and have control over the world. It’s all part of the same psychology.”
The August 21st eclipse is expected to be the most tweeted, shared, and photographed event in human history, according to at least one astronomer. But eclipse chasers will be the first to say that it’s never the same—not even close—to see the sun disappear behind the moon on a screen. You have to be in the path of totality to understand the sublime experience of a total solar eclipse.
Schneider still thinks about the one eclipse he missed since he caught the bug back in 1970. The year was 1985, and he had been doing research at the South Pole. The eclipse’s path was a giant horseshoe around Antarctica, just barely grazing land. He had asked around to see if he could get a ride on a C-130 Hercules transport plane with skis on the bottom, but the conditions were too precarious. “It turned out to be a logistical nightmare,” he says. “That was the one that escaped.”
This year he’ll be in Oregon along with the lucky flag, waiting for his two minutes of awe.
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How Did Humans Get So Good at Politics?
We often make friends today who turn into foes tomorrow. It’s all part of the way we’ve evolved as cooperative and competitive animals.
Lee Cronk and Beth L. Leech / 20 Sep 2017
Then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, hugs his son Donald Trump Jr. during a rally at Ohio University Eastern Campus in St. Clairsville, Ohio, in June 2016. Patrick Semansky/Associated Press
Lee Cronk is a professor of anthropology at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Beth L. Leech is a professor of political science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
In July of this year, Donald Trump Jr. came under widespread criticism for having met in 2016 with a Russian lawyer who claimed to have dirt on the Democratic nominee for U.S. president, Hillary Clinton. In response, President Donald Trump tweeted: “Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don jr attended in order to get info on an opponent. That’s politics!”
Is he correct? Were the actions of the Trump campaign simply politics as usual? In order to answer that question, we need to consider what exactly makes humans such political animals.
The old adage that “politics makes strange bedfellows” has perhaps never been more apt than it is today. Not only professional politicians but also average citizens form and re-form coalitions as circumstances change. The 2016 U.S. presidential election provides good evidence of this in the form of voters who had supported incumbent President Barack Obama in 2012 but voted for Donald Trump in 2016. According to The Washington Post, more than 200 counties in the U.S. supported Obama in 2012 but went for Trump in the most recent election. Although such radical flip-flops may aggravate political activists and inspire a wide variety of after-the-fact explanations from political commentators, this kind of flexibility in how humans form and dissolve alliances is a key to our success as a cooperative and, more to the point, political species.
The political process exemplifies our ability to create and dismantle bonds with various groups. liz west/Flickr
This is what we call “flexible coalitional psychology”—the ability to form strong bonds with various social groups but also to break those bonds and move on to other groups when we will benefit from doing so. This ability is a result of evolution. When individuals compete with one another, they often do so as part of groups that are defined in terms of shared culture traits, such as ideology, language, religious beliefs, or ways of dressing. Competition among culturally defined groups leads to what is known as cultural group selection, with some groups outcompeting others. This happens with everything from competing religions and nation-states to sports teams and small businesses. Because the welfare of individuals is often closely tied to that of the groups to which they belong, this puts pressure on individuals to identify successful groups and commit themselves to them.
However, because these groups are defined in terms of culture, they are often porous, with people coming and going from them as times change. For example, when people convert from one religion to another or change political party affiliations, they move from one culturally defined group to another. The permeability of culturally defined groups thus leads to another selective force on human psychology: At the same time that it is beneficial to ally oneself with successful groups, it is also a good idea to be open to the possibility that a better group might come along.
We approach this topic from two complementary perspectives. One of us, Lee Cronk, is an evolutionary anthropologist who is interested in how humans came to be so remarkably cooperative, particularly when compared to our closest nonhuman relatives. Beth Leech is a political scientist who studies how cooperation works in specific real-world contexts, particularly among the often competing but sometimes cooperative interests at work in Washington, D.C. As we discuss in detail in our book Meeting at Grand Central: Understanding the Social and Evolutionary Roots of Cooperation and in a recent article in Cognitive Systems Research, it is our species’ flexible coalitional psychology that makes politics as we know it—complete with flip-flops, realignments, and strange bedfellows—possible.
In order to fully understand this idea, we need to take a step back and look at the concept we based it on—coalitional psychology. Social psychology research has shown time and again that the human mind is predisposed to seek out coalitions. In a classic study that might have trouble getting past a present-day ethics panel, a group of social psychologists working in the early 1950s studied boys living in two widely separated cabins at a Boy Scout camp in Oklahoma. The researchers’ choices about which boys went into which group were arbitrary. Despite the random nature of group membership, when the two groups became aware of each other’s existence they quickly formed strong coalitions, labeling their groups the “Eagles” and the “Rattlers.” They also became rivalrous and competitive, with their mutual enmity at several points deteriorating into fistfights.
Other studies have shown that it is also surprisingly easy to get people to form strong coalitions in more controlled settings. For example, in the 1970s, the pioneering social psychologist Henri Tajfel and his colleagues had people rate paintings by Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky, and then they divided the participants into two groups based ostensibly (but not actually) on their preferences. Subjects who then had to divide a sum of money between members of their own group and the other group gave more to members of their own group. Cronk replicates this experiment every year in a class he teaches on cooperation, and it always works like a charm.
More recently, social psychologists in England focused on the coalitional psychology of soccer fans, in particular fans of Manchester United (MU). Participants who already had been identified as fans of Manchester United were given a series of questionnaires to heighten their sense of identification with the team and with their fellow fans. They were then asked to walk to a different building on campus for the second part of the study. As they were walking, a person playing the role of a jogger fell down and shouted as if in pain. The jogger wore one of three shirts: a Manchester United shirt, a plain shirt, or a shirt branded with the logo of MU’s bitter rival, the Liverpool Football Club (FC). All but one of the participants who saw a fellow Manchester fan fall down came to his aid, but only a third of the participants who saw a person in a plain shirt fall down came to his aid, and even fewer of them helped the Liverpool fan.
So far, the only thing this demonstrates is the strength of our psychological tendency to form coalitions. But phase two of the study showed how flexible the human mind can be in defining the groups to which we belong. In this case, the researchers again recruited Manchester United fans, but they gave them questionnaires that primed their sense of being football fans in general rather than Manchester fans in particular. This time both the Manchester United and Liverpool FC shirts elicited high rates of assistance compared to the plain shirt, demonstrating the ease with which people’s group identifications can be manipulated.
Manchester United soccer fans wear shirts that identify their allegiance to their favorite team—but researchers have shown that the meaning and significance of such an identification can be swayed. Paul/Flickr
Anthropologists have also documented our flexibility in forming coalitions. In the early 1990s, professor John Q. Patton, from California State University, Fullerton, studied coalitions in the village of Conambo in the Ecuadorian Amazon, a setting where small-scale warfare is still common. Because there are no named lineages or chiefs, the political situation in Conambo is continually shifting in unpredictable ways. In such a setting, coalitions among males are both important and subject to frequent renegotiation. In many other societies, membership in a male coalition would be determined largely by kinship ties. However, because newlyweds in Conambo usually move in with the wife’s family rather than the husband’s, adult men in the community are typically unrelated or only distantly related.
In Conambo in the early 1990s, there were two distinct ethnic groups: Achuar and Quichua. Surprisingly, however, these ethnic identities did not determine all coalitional ties. Instead of creating alliances according to kinship or ethnicity, men in Conambo relied upon reciprocity to help them form their groups: You helped me recently, so, if things turn violent, I’ll side with you. As a result, two large coalitions composed the village—one contained 12 households and the other had 13 households. Although each coalition was dominated by one ethnic group, each of them was comprised of people representing both ethnicities.
According to Patton, a lot has changed in Conambo since he conducted this study. As he told us in an email, “there has been much political realignment … and the current coalitions in Conambo are less ethnically mixed” than they were in the early 1990s. Thus, just like schoolboys in Oklahoma, soccer fans in England, and everyone else on Earth, the people of Conambo are adept at forming and reforming coalitions as circumstances change.
Such findings from both social psychology and anthropology can help us understand the results of the 2016 election and many other things about our political behavior. The kinds of voting shifts that we saw in 2016 and that we have seen repeatedly throughout American history represent not an aberration but rather an adaptation. Our ability to shift political allegiances—and to shift back again if the change was not helpful—is made possible by our ability to be psychologically flexible when deciding who our allies are.
What light can this research shed on certain actions of some members of the Trump campaign? Perhaps President Trump has made a valid point: Teaming up with erstwhile enemies to accomplish one’s more immediate political objectives is part of normal politics.
Free and fair elections are a necessary part of ensuring that democracies are strong enough to maintain themselves in a competitive world. Maryland GovPics/Flickr
The problem is that the immediate political objective in this case concerned the U.S. presidential election. What the Trump campaign seems not to have realized is that it and the Clinton campaign were both members of a larger coalition: the United States’ democratic system of government. That system includes elections so that the U.S. can survive in a world filled with competing systems—including the decidedly undemocratic apparatus of the Russian Federation—not so that one group can use any means at its disposal to win. By meeting with the Russians, Trump’s representatives risked undermining the stability and well-being of the larger coalition in which they were operating—and upon which they depended—in an effort to further the interests of their own more specific coalition. Perhaps Trump and his staff should take a lesson from fans of Manchester United: When what is at stake is only the rivalry with Liverpool FC, it is fine to take sides accordingly. But when it’s a question of soccer fans versus fans of other sports (cricket, anyone?), it’s time to recognize that even Liverpool fans can be one’s allies.
If the Trump campaign had been thinking more in the style of Manchester United fans, they would have recognized that their greater loyalty had to be to the United States as a whole, as much as they might have wanted to win the election. Nearly 50 years ago, another political candidate, Hubert Humphrey, did understand this. When Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin offered to help his campaign financially, he refused. As reported in The Washington Post, Dobrynin wrote in his memoir, “Humphrey, I must say, was not only a very intelligent but also a very clever man. He knew at once what was going on.”
In the short run, the Trump campaign’s strategy seems to have worked: Although he lost the popular vote, he won in the Electoral College, and he has now been president for eight months. It remains unclear how much Russia’s interference in the election helped the Trump cause, but it does seem clear that the Trump campaign’s disregard for political norms served his team well, particularly among its core supporters.
How does this behavior look through the lens of cultural group selection? Trump and his coalition seem to have operated only with regard to the narrow context of the struggle between political campaigns. What they appear to have ignored is the fact that they were also operating in the much broader context of global competition among different political systems. At that broader level, the Washington establishment tends to push back against such innovations as government-by-tweetstorm, snubbing longstanding allies, and cozying up to nations that have long track records of open hostility to the U.S. system of governance.
The struggle between the Trump campaign’s unprecedented approaches and the norms of the established system may eventually end up in the courts or before Congress. At the moment, however, the main arena for this competition is in the court of public opinion. In that regard, polls show that Trump is doing poorly, with the lowest approval ratings and the highest disapproval ratings that any president in the history of modern polling has ever had at this point in his tenure. Whether this pattern will hold through the 2018 and 2020 election cycles is anyone’s guess, and the findings of Robert Mueller—the special counsel appointed to investigate the Russian government’s possible meddling the 2016 U.S. presidential election—will not necessarily decide the outcome. Given the flexible nature of coalitional psychology, much will depend on whether the majority of voters in future elections identify more strongly as partisans or as Americans.
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Welcome to Graceland
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (L) does an Elvis Presley imitation during a visit to Graceland, on June 30, 2006. From L-R are: Koizumi, Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, and President Bush. (Photo: Reuters/Larry Downing)
One President, One Prime Minister, One King."
This was the phrase of the day last Friday, when President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Memphis, Tennessee. The pair became the first sitting world leaders to tour Graceland, the home of rock 'n' roll king Elvis Presley. The music legend died in 1977.
The trip marked the end of the Japanese leader's visit. Koizumi, who will step down from his position in September, is a serious fan of "the King." It was President Bush who suggested a visit to Graceland with the Prime Minister, whose birthday—January 8—is the same as Elvis's.
The flight to Memphis aboard Air Force One was pure Elvis, from the music to the movies and the menu, which featured Elvis's favorite snack—a grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich.
As a member of the press pool—the group of reporters covering the event—I got a firsthand look at the action of the day. Crowds lined the streets, shouting to the leaders, as President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi proceeded to Graceland.
"It's like a dream," said Koizumi.
When President Bush mentioned the Prime Minister's singing voice, a member of the press shouted, "Sing us something!"
Instantly, Koizumi launched into a medley of Elvis songs, including the classic "Love Me Tender." Then, Bush and Koizumi took off for a tour, led by Elvis's widow, Priscilla Presley, and his daughter, Lisa Marie. One hour later, the two world leaders came out and spoke with the press about their experience in Graceland.
"I knew he loved Elvis," said President Bush. "I didn't realize how much he loved Elvis."
Next on the schedule was lunch at Rendezvous, a popular barbecue restaurant. Before reaching the restaurant, though, the motorcade made a surprise stop at the National Civil Rights Museum. Civil rights leader Benjamin L. Hooks, who led the tour, was at the dentist when he got a call from the White House. The tour included a visit to the place (next to the museum) where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed.
After the surprise detour, we made our way to the restaurant, where President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi had lunch with prominent businessmen and other officials. Afterward, President Bush left on Air Force One. Prime Minister Koizumi, however, stayed behind a little while longer before saying goodbye to Memphis.
Teacher's Helper
Have your students read today's news story, and then have them answer the following questions.
Critical Thinking Questions:
Welcome to Graceland (July 5, 2006)
Why was the trip to Graceland special for Prime Minister Koizumi?
Where did the group go just before lunch?
All About Elvis
Learn more about the king of rock 'n' roll at this Web site. Play games and check out the jukebox to hear some of the songs that made Elvis "the King."
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HomeBooksSociety
The Anarchist Expropriators: Buenaventura Durruti and Argentina's Working-Class Robin Hoods
by Osvaldo Bayer
A great translation of an exciting book. A series of Robin Hood-like tales of daring heists and high-minded ideals, that at the same time uncovers unexplored aspects of anarchist and Argentine history.
It includes the story of famed Spanish revolutionary Buenaventura Durruti's time in Argentina as an expropriator, before his return home to fight in the Spanish Civil War.
Mike Davis has agreed to blurb it.
Publisher: AK PressReleased: Dec 21, 2015ISBN: 9781849352246Format: book
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The Anarchist Expropriators - Osvaldo Bayer
The Anarchist Expropriators
Buenaventura Durruti and Argentina’s Working-Class Robin Hoods
Osvaldo Bayer
It’s a chastening thought that Osvaldo Bayer wrote this book nearly forty years ago and his work still challenges us, as anarchists, with ideas, arguments, and problems that are still as relevant today as they were in 1975 or, indeed, as when the actions of this narrative were originally carried out.
Much of Bayer’s work belongs to the first wave of modern anarchist historiography that was, and still is, concerned with excavating anarchism’s stories; research that began to challenge our ideas as to what anarchism is and had been. Some of those early pioneering works include those by James J. Martin (1953) and Voline (first English translations in 1954 and 1955) as well as the works of Antonio Tellez (1974 in English), Bill Fishman (1975), Hal Sears (1977), and Paul Avrich (1978).¹ These authors, together with Bayer and others, made the 1970s an exciting time for anarchist research. The Anarchist Expropriators was first published in 1975 as Los Anarquistas Expropriados y otros ensyos and is here published in its first English translation. It appeared shortly after what we consider to be Bayer’s greatest work, the four volume La Patagonia Rebelde (1972–1975), soon to be published in one volume as Rebellion in Patagonia by AK Press. A later work, Simon Radowitzky and the People’s Justice (1991), was recently published by Elephant Editions. Bayer and some of the other writers mentioned here were lucky enough to know some of the relatives and comrades of those who feature in their work, and this knowledge informs their narratives with a richness and immediacy that later histories often lack.
The Anarchist Expropriators is a companion piece to Bayer’s earlier work Severino Di Giovanni idealists de la violencia (1970), which was translated into English as Anarchism and Violence by Elephant Editions in 1985. The main protagonist of that work, Severino Di Giovanni, is glimpsed only occasionally in this volume, which in essence concentrates on other groups of anarchists carrying out acts of expropriation and revenge both alongside Di Giovanni and his comrades and after Di Giovanni’s execution on February 1, 1931. It presents us with additional information on the Argentinian anarchist expropriation movement that peaked during the twenties and thirties. Vicious infighting between anarchists, ruthless state opposition, bad luck, and its own ineptness destroyed this complex, challenging, and provocative movement, and Bayer attempts to show how that happened. Like Anarchism and Violence, the book is short on analysis but long on action. Events hurtle along at breathtaking speed and, by the final page, we are left breathless (and a little confused as to what has just happened!).
It is best not to read this book as a portrayal of the romantic outsiders who cannot fit into society and take a principled stand against all the everyday hypocrisies they see in anarchists and the rest of the world—the Stirnerite individualists going out guns blazing, proudly proclaiming their identity in a world that constantly attempts to suffocate them. Undoubtedly there are traces of that, but the people here are a little different from Di Giovanni and others who featured in Bayer’s earlier work. You won’t find in these pages the heightened language, the passionate hyperbole, the tragic hero set against the world. Men such as Miguel Arcangel Roscigna and Juan Antonio Moran seem much more hardheaded and pragmatic. In different circumstances, they could have been the 1936 version of Durruti who survived his own expropriation career and, during the period covered by this volume, was no different from these men. Indeed Durruti thought so highly of Roscigna and his activities that he wanted him to come to Spain and help with the anarchist struggle there.
Argentinian anarchism in the twenties and thirties was a product of brutal state repression against a movement that, in the early part of the twentieth century, was a force to be reckoned with.² This repression, exemplified by the events of 1st May 1909, the Social Defense Law of 1910, and the Tragic Week of 1919, together with a constant, brutal day-to-day treatment at the hands of the police and other agencies, reflected the concern anarchism engendered in the authorities. Reacting to these and other factors, such as the popularity of syndicalism among the working class, some anarchists began to analyze and reflect on what they believed and where they thought these beliefs should take the movement. Spurred on by the events of the Russian revolution, writers such as Lopez Arango and Abad de Santillan, for instance, were teasing out the relationship between syndicalism and anarchism in the labor movement, discussing the nature of trade unions, and the intricacies of class as the lodestar of anarchism as they attempted to rebuild a movement that would bring about the world they desired. The primary vehicle for this discussion was La Protesta, the paper they edited.
All this is well and good, but there were still profound differences in the movement and, as is so often the case, this slice of anarchist history reverberates with internecine quarrels—quarrels that became bitter and bloody but, in themselves, are reminiscent of similar quarrels in other countries and at other times. In essence, they revolved around those constant and exhausting questions of what anarchism is and the best way to practice it and bring about anarchy. Bayer is careful to try to delineate the complexities of these differences and provides us with a useful guide to understanding them.
But there is still a little more that we may need to consider. Personality clashes and questions of ownership of resources had a deleterious effect on theory and practice. The execution of one of La Protesta’s editors, Lopez Arango, probably by Di Giovanni, in October 1929 is chilling. This though was not the first time that violence had occurred within Argentinian anarchism. We should remember that, in August 1924, gunmen from La Protesta raided the anarchist paper Pampa Libre leaving one dead and three wounded. These were not simply intellectual and practical differences between comrades, but ones that were visceral, deeply felt, and with deadly consequences. Such tensions brought about some kind of fractured dialectic between the realities of the world outside the movement and the antagonisms within it. The results were not edifying.
Understanding the development of these tensions is not easy from this distance. One senses that much of the antagonism on the part of those around La Antorcha (presented in this volume as essentially La Protesta’s most constant critic) who had broken away from La Protesta in 1921, consisted of a number of factors. A major concern was the printing press and resources that La Protesta owned: who gave the present editors the right to own them and why weren’t these resources shared across the movement? Secondly, and just as importantly, was the fact that La Protesta saw itself as THE paper of the Argentinian anarchist movement (with the backing of the FORA) while La Antorcha saw itself as ONE of the papers of a much more diverse anarchist movement than the one with which those around La Protesta identified. The editors of La Antorcha certainly did not offer whole-hearted support to the expropriators, but it did support expropriator anarchists who were imprisoned (unlike La Protesta who saw them as anarcho-bandits ). It also condemned La Protesta’s habit of naming or slandering those who had committed expropriations (La Protesta, for instance, described Di Giovanni as a fascist agent ), calling the editors police informers. Hence the question of violence may not have been quite as central as Bayer suggests in driving the antagonism between the two papers. All this, remember, occurred between groups of people, many of whom had worked together in previous years, and indeed would in future ones.
A feature of the Argentinian movement was its internationalism. Italian, German, Spanish, and Russian anarchists regularly traveled in and out of the country, providing the movement with both a richness of ideas and strategies, as well as all the practical realities that internationalism actually meant—not so much a theory, more a way of life. The French anarchist Gaston Leval was associated with La Antorcha, while Abad de Santillan, one of the editors of La Protesta, was in Berlin between 1922 and 1926 working with the International Workingmen’s Association (IWMA) as the Argentine Regional Workers’ Federation (FORA) delegate, and this is reflected in the pages of the various newspapers. La Protesta regularly sent assistance back to Italian anarchists both before and after the rise of Italian fascism, while many articles from the strong Italian anarchist community in Argentina were aimed at those anarchists trapped in Italy or in exile, as well as attacking Italian fascists in Argentina. Meanwhile, La Antorcha published writings on the situation for anarchists in Russia as well as in Italy and other countries.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the struggle against fascism resonated within the Argentinian anarchist movement. The struggle against the death sentence placed on Sacco and Vanzetti was equally important and influential. Di Giovanni and others were in regular contact with the American, Italian-language paper L’Adunata dei Refrattari throughout the campaign and, after the executions, Sacco’s companion wrote to Di Giovanni thanking him and his comrades for their efforts on behalf of the two men; efforts that had included bombings as well as other more sedate propaganda activities.
This internationalism took an interesting turn in early August 1925 with the arrival of members of the Spanish Los Solidarios group, who were on the run from Europe and fresh from robbing a bank in Santiago, Chile. By October 1925 they had commenced activities in Buenos Aires and, by January 1926, had help and support from Argentinian comrades there. The Los Solidarios members (Ascaso, Durruti, and Jover) were robbing banks, metro stations, and tram depots to raise funds to support revolutionary activity in Spain—and quite probably in Argentina too. During their time in the country, they became close to Roscigna and others who would be active in the fight to prevent the deportation of the three Spaniards from France to Argentina (they had left the country in spring 1926), where they were wanted for killing a policeman and a bank employee during the course of their robberies. It was a fight that La Protesta described as not qualifying for the description of anarchist. It was a statement that only added to the tension between the various anarchist tendencies.
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Home > Technology > State of the Art: Why Jeff Bezos Should Push for Nobody to Get as Rich as Jeff Bezos
State of the Art: Why Jeff Bezos Should Push for Nobody to Get as Rich as Jeff Bezos
admin September 21, 2018 Technology
“We have technology that has allowed us to create vastly more wealth for society,” said Erik Brynjolfsson, director of the M.I.T. Initiative on the Digital Economy. “But there’s no economic law that says that these benefits will be distributed evenly — and it’s worked out that some people have gotten most of the benefits and a lot of other people have been left behind.”
But economics isn’t destiny, he said.
“Technology has led to some of this concentration, but since it makes the pie bigger, you could make everyone better off simultaneously — you could make the poor better off and the rich better off — and whether we do that is a matter of policy,” he said.
As Annie Lowrey pointed out in The Atlantic last month, economic policy is currently tilted toward benefiting people like Mr. Bezos far more than the hundreds of thousands of people who work in his warehouses. Among other policies, Amazon has capitalized on a weakened union movement and a low minimum wage, which has allowed it to expand by hiring an army of workers for its warehouses.
Amazon said that on average, its full-time warehouse workers made $15 an hour, including wages and other compensation; the company also said it provided full benefits, including tuition for career skills, to those workers. A $15 wage is higher than at some other retailers, but it is lower than estimates for what a family in the United States needs to meet its basic needs, known as a living wage.
“They’re not providing the sort of high-wage, middle-class jobs to a broad swath of individuals that we used to associate with corporate success,” Lawrence Katz, an economist at Harvard, said of Amazon and other high-flying tech firms. “What we’re seeing is not the sharing of the productivity benefits that we used to see in the past. And that may be even more galling than the concentration of wealth.”
How could Mr. Bezos address these issues through philanthropy? Mr. Giridharadas suggested several liberal economic policy ideas, among them efforts to strengthen unions, equalize how we pay for education, increase minimum-wage laws and push for a more progressive tax system. Both Mr. Gates and Warren Buffett — the second- and third-wealthiest people in the world — have said they should pay higher taxes.
Those ideas strike me as unlikely; Mr. Bezos is a far-thinking innovator, but he has expressed little interest in near-term political questions.
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What's On - 9 November 2011
Exhibition: Pride of the nation
Friday 8 July 2011 - Sunday 27 November 2011
In 2011 we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy. Drawing extensively from the Naval Heritage Collection this exhibition follows the formation and endurance of Australia’s oldest service over 100 years. Sometimes referred to as the ‘silent service’ the exhibition brings recognition to the notable achievements and sacrifices of those who have served at sea The RAN entered the First World War (1914-18) in its infancy. Through trial by fire it emerged as an efficient and effective sea-going navy and a professional fighting service. It has since expanded its role in diplomacy and maritime security in addition to peacekeeping and disaster relief efforts. Read More
In 2011 we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy. Drawing extensively from the Naval Heritage Collection this exhibition follows the formation and endurance of Australia’s oldest service over 100 years. Sometimes referred to as the ‘silent service’ the exhibition brings recognition to the notable achievements and sacrifices of those who have served at sea. The Royal Australian Navy entered the First World War (1914-18) in its infancy. Through trial by fire it emerged as an efficient and effective sea-going navy and a professional fighting service. It has since expanded its role in diplomacy and maritime security in addition to peacekeeping and disaster relief efforts.
Exhibition: Greece, Crete and Syria
Friday 30 September 2011 - Sunday 19 February 2012
In April and May 1941, the 6th Australian Division fought valiant but ultimately unsuccessful campaigns in Greece and Crete. In June and July the same year, the 7th Australian Division fought an unexpectedly vicious and politically embarrassing campaign against men who had once been allies, the Vichy French, in Syria. This exhibition, incorporating contemporary portraits by Peter Wegner, celebrates the exploits of these brave Australians. Read More
In April and May 1941, the 6th Australian Division fought valiant but ultimately unsuccessful campaigns in Greece and Crete. In June and July the same year, the 7th Australian Division fought an unexpectedly vicious and politically embarrassing campaign against men who had once been allies, the Vichy French, in Syria. This exhibition, incorporating contemporary portraits by Peter Wegner, celebrates the exploits of these brave Australians.
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Home/Private Practice/Season 6/Episode 2/News/Page 1
News for Episode 2: Mourning Sickness
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'Private Practice' 100th Episode: 'It's very colorful,' says Kate Walsh
Oct 3, 2012 | By Zap2It | 0
What can viewers expect from "Private Practice's" sixth season? "Brilliance and fireworks," says Brian Benben. But according to Benben, the 100th episode will contain "even more fireworks."Zap2it caught up with the cast and creative team of the show during filming of the season's second episode -- a.k.a. the lucky 100th -- over the summer. It airs Tuesday (Oct. 2).Mum's the word on the details, but Kate Walsh informs us, "It's very colorful, and I can predict that you will laugh and cry."Though "colorful" could mean a number of things, creator Shonda Rhimes tells us, "I think we're going to see the characters doing things that we've never seen them do before. We're trying to do very different episodes this season, and I think this episode is very different from our usual way of telling story."There's a little bit that takes place at the practice, but most of it takes place outside the practice, which... //blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/10/private-practice-100th-episode-its-very-colorful-says-kate-walsh.html
Private Practice Season 6 Episode 2 “Mourning Sickness”
Private Practice "Mourning Sickness" Season 6 episode 2 airs TUESDAY, Oct 2, 2012 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Episode Synopsis: he doctors join together for a celebration at Addison’s house and to reminisce about the past. Meanwhile, Sheldon counsels a suicidal patient who comes forward with a shocking confession, on the 100th episode of "Private Practice," TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Read More... //www.tvequals.com/2012/10/02/private-practice-season-6-episode-2-mourning-sickness/
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Petaluma duck farm stormed by hundreds of animal rights activists, 98 arrested
Local // Crime
Kurtis Alexander June 3, 2019
Protestors with the group Direct Action Everywhere chained themselves to one another at the entrance to Reichardt in Petaluma.
Photo: Direct Action Everywhere
Nearly 100 animal rights activists were arrested Monday after busloads of demonstrators stormed a duck farm in Petaluma, protesting what they said are cruel conditions for the birds.
The demonstration began around 10 a.m. with hundreds from Direct Action Everywhere gathering at the Reichardt Duck Farm, authorities said. Many of the group’s members chained themselves together at the entrance while others entered the property and came back with what they reported were dead, mistreated birds.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, with help from neighboring law enforcement agencies, initially detained 10 protestors for trespassing, deputies said. But after hours of monitoring the demonstration and providing crowd control, another 88 activists were taken into custody after refusing to leave the site.
The chains of some of the demonstrators had to be cut by firefighters before their arrest.
A total of 98 people were booked into the Sonoma County Jail, deputies said.
The Sheriff’s Office said the group has a history of trespassing and stealing animals in the Petaluma area. In September, dozens were arrested at a nearby poultry farm.
Members of Direct Action Everywhere said they targeted Reichardt Duck Farm because of reports that the company subjects its livestock to cruel practices, citing gaping wounds on many birds.
The farm, according to its website, provides fresh duck meat to restaurants across the Bay Area. The site says the birds are raised and processed in a “humane environment.”
Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
Kurtis Alexander
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Kurtis Alexander is a general assignment reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle, frequently writing about water, wildfire, climate and the American West. His recent work has focused on the impacts of drought, the widening rural-urban divide and state and federal environmental policy.
Before joining the Chronicle, Alexander worked as a freelance writer and as a staff reporter for several media organizations, including The Fresno Bee and Bay Area News Group, writing about government, politics and the environment.
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Home - Shell Development Oman LLC
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Shell Development Oman showcases capabilities and social investment activities at Oil and Gas West Asia exhibition
Muscat: Shell Development Oman, will showcase their energy transition capabilities and social investment projects at the Oil and Gas West Asia (OGWA) exhibition and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Conference. The exhibition will be held at Oman’s Convention and Exhibition Center from March 26th to 28th and Shell will be among 300 companies from 19 different countries to present a range of initiatives to key industry players. Shell’s ‘Solar into Schools’ project and ‘Shell Eco-marathon’ will be on full display at a dedicated exhibit. Guests will be treated to an interactive round of virtual golf and a fun energy transition quiz.
As part of maintaining their lead role as the Sultanate’s energy partner of choice, Shell experts are chairpersons at the organising committee of the SPE Conference. Shell experts will also participate at the conference where they will be involved in panel discussions, training sessions and workshops. The panelists from Shell will participate in five panel discussions focusing on technology breakthroughs, maximising recovery factors and the successes made in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Additionally, there will be a Women’s Workshop titled “Women to Excel: Network, Diversity and Inspire”.
Muna Al Shukaili, Shell Development Oman’s External Relations General Manager said, “Participating in events such as the OGWA exhibition are crucial to discover and share new technologies and advances towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. For us, this has meant shifting our focus to in-country value and social investments to achieve social and economic development as viable solutions. This is also a great opportunity to present our social investment project, ‘Solar into Schools’ and highlight how it is making an impact on Oman’s development in areas including entrepreneurship, youth development, employment and Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) procedures. Our social investment and business choices embody Shell’s commitment to a lower-carbon future delivered through long-term sustainable programmes.”
Now in its 11th edition, the OGWA Exhibition and Conference has grown to become one of the most important and recognised oil and gas events in the region. It has become a hub for local and international oil and gas corporations to discuss the latest developments and future of the industry and serves as a platform for trade and business opportunities.
About Shell in Oman
Shell is active in Oman across the oil and gas industry and is involved in joint venture and independent activities ranging from research and development, exploration and production to trading and retail. Shell also implements extensive social investment programs that contribute to the sustainable development of the country. For more information about Shell in Oman, visit http://www.shell.com.om
For media enquiries contact:
Mr. Nureddin Wefati
Head of Media Relations for Middle East & North Africa
Shell EP International
Cell: +971 56 216 2409
Nureddin.Wefati@Shell.com
Mr. Hassan Almarashi
Spokesperson Middle East & North Africa
Shell EP International Ltd
Cell: +971 56 226 0924Hassan.Almarashi@Shell.com
Cautionary note
The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release “Shell”, “Shell group” and “Royal Dutch Shell” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this release refer to companies over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to “joint ventures” and “joint operations” respectively. Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as “associates”. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest.
This release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘could’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘goals’’, ‘‘intend’’, ‘‘may’’, ‘‘objectives’’, ‘‘outlook’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘probably’’, ‘‘project’’, ‘‘risks’’, “schedule”, ‘‘seek’’, ‘‘should’’, ‘‘target’’, ‘‘will’’ and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell’s 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this release and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this release, March 22, 2018. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this release.
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Taking security: some key differences between Scotland and England & Wales
Both lenders and borrowers, familiar with the position in England and Wales, often find the legal position on security over assets in Scotland confusing. One of the most striking differences is that there is no concept of equity in Scotland and there is no identifiable equivalent to equitable security under Scots law as the concept applies in England & Wales. While this is the most significant difference, there are others.
Debenture
In England and Wales, it is commonplace for a company to grant a debenture in security for its liabilities to a lender. A debenture can conveniently create security over all of the assets and undertaking of a chargor, using a mix of fixed and floating charges. The notions of a charge being ‘fixed’ or ‘floating’ apply equally in both jurisdictions). To the surprise of those more familiar with operating in England and Wales, a debenture is not competent under Scots law to the extent that it purports to create fixed security over Scottish assets (though these can be captured by the floating charge). The more common forms of security, therefore, to be taken in a finance transaction involving Scottish assets and/or a Scottish chargor company, are a standalone floating charge, standard security and (more rarely due to the practical and technical issues raised below) a share pledge.
Floating charge
In Scotland, floating charges have a statutory basis and are created as standalone security agreements. The general concept of a floating charge remains broadly the same in both jurisdictions. However key differences relate to enforcement, with the Scots floating charge only attaching to specific assets upon the appointment of a receiver or administrator, or upon the commencement of winding-up proceedings. This differs from the position in England and Wales in which the floating charge can crystallise much earlier. In Scotland there is no ability for a floating charge over Scottish assets to convert into a fixed charge automatically, or by ‘notice’, unlike in England. In Scotland, the document will frequently be referred to as a ‘bond and floating charge’. The ‘bond’ refers simply to the chargor’s undertaking to pay the underlying debt.
Legal charge / Standard security
With a statutory basis, the Scottish standard security is the method for creating fixed security over “heritable” (real) property (including long leasehold) in Scotland. This differs significantly from the position in England and Wales where a lender has the option of securing property under a debenture, legal mortgage or legal charge, creating legal or equitable security over the property in question. The standard security is comparable to, but not the same as, a legal mortgage (the most secure and comprehensive security interest over land in England and Wales). As the Law of Property Act 1925 does not extend to Scotland, LPA receivers are also unique to England and Wales, and there is no equivalent in Scotland. In 2018, the Scottish Law Commission commenced a review of heritable security in Scotland and the findings of the Commission should inform a report and draft bill in due course.
Share pledge
It is quite common in corporate lending transactions in England and Wales for a Lender to take security from the shareholder/parent over the shares in the borrowing entity and, relying on the law of equity, it is standard practice for the lender simply to hold the share certificates alongside signed but undated stock transfer forms to be completed only in the event of enforcement action being taken. Recalling that it is not possible to create equitable security under Scots law, to take effective security in Scotland over moveable property (such as shares) it is more likely that a pledge will be granted. A pledge in Scotland requires the property in question (be it shares or other moveable property/chattels) to be delivered or transferred to the pledgee. Physical property needs to be delivered to the pledgee (or its nominee/trustee/warehouse). In the case of shares, an unperfected Scottish share pledge (where there is no transfer registered to the pledgee/ its nominee) provides no actual security to the lender and has the status of a contract to transfer the shares. That contract would be vulnerable like any other on insolvency.
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has also confirmed its view that a lender taking security over shares in a Scottish company would be required to be listed on the company’s People with significant control (PSC) register. This, as well as the requirement for the pledgee (or its nominee/security trustee) to be registered as the holder of the shares for any security right to exist at all, is often the cause of concerns all round. As a result, some lenders in Scotland are taking a more cautious approach when requesting a share pledge in their security pack and seek alternative forms of security.
This article has provided only a brief introduction to some of the common differences between security law in Scotland and England and Wales and the security options available to a lender in a corporate finance transaction. It should be noted that there are appreciable differences between the jurisdictions when it comes to giving or taking security Similarly, this article has not covered the execution requirements, perfection and security enforcement options which also differ between the respective jurisdictions. Expert legal advice should be sought from the outset when contemplating cross-jurisdiction security.
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WNBA Champion Minnesota Lynx Still Hungry
by Stephen Litel May 09, 2012
by Stephen Litel / @stephenlitel
The defending WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx are back in town. After a remarkable run throughout both the regular season and the playoffs last summer that culminated in hoisting the championship trophy in the air, they have returned and are ready for more.
“It’s really refreshing when we step off that plane to get back to Minnesota to start our new season as the defending champs,” said Maya Moore. “Just to see the trophy again, it brings back so many good memories and feelings and it just re-motivates us to get back to work and do whatever we need to do to make sure we get another one.”
After a season that featured many firsts for the franchise, they still find themselves in the midst of even more firsts. The summer of 2012 will be the first time they take the court as the defending champions, yet believe they will be capable of handling the pressure because individual players on the roster have gone through this in the past.
“It’s my first time going through it,” said Lindsay Whalen. “I know some other people on the team have been on teams where they’ve won it the year before, so we’ll lean on them a lot for their knowledge and experience. If we just take it each day, one day at a time and not try to get too overwhelmed, I think you do those things and remember it’s fun. We had a lot of fun last year and that was a big key. Of course, you’re going to work hard and there’s going to be ups and downs, but if you kind of stay in the moment, stay together and have fun with it, good things can happen.”
While memories of last year are fun, in order to have the right mindset, the Minnesota Lynx are doing all they can to place their championship run last year where it belongs, which is in the past. The present may bring similar expectations, but they have a long journey ahead to fulfill their hopeful designs.
“I think everybody forgot about last year, as far as being so excited about it, at 11:59 on December 31 of 2011,” said Seimone Augustus. “Once January 1 hit, we were all focused. We kind of talked to each other about what we needed to do. We know that it’s going to be a lot harder with teams making moves—LA made great moves this off-season, Chicago made great moves—and this year, we start off with the bulls-eye on our back. We’re the defending champions and everyone wants a piece of us, so we understand that it’s going to be a lot harder.”
However, it will be difficult to keep the past in the rear-view mirror because of the team’s makeup. They may very well be a better team than last year, making fans and media alike unable to think of any but the possibility of becoming a repeat champion, something not done in the WNBA for a decade.
“I understand why people are bugging us,” said Candice Wiggins. “I mean, repeat, repeat, repeat…that’s on everybody’s mind. That’s on our mind. I think that it’s a day at a time, so sometimes it gets a little bit overwhelming because we’re thinking we want to repeat, but the road to repeat is not about talking about it. It’s actually in doing stuff. There’s actually a reason why we won the championship, so we’re really focused on that. I mean, it hasn’t been done in, like, ten years, so it’s a huge task ahead of us. Let’s not kid ourselves. I mean, I would talk about it every day too because it’s on my mind every day.”
Although there is not a slice of concern in this area, their head coach, Cheryl Reeve, along with assistant coaches Jim Petersen and Shelley Patterson will not allow this team to become complacent. The Minnesota Lynx had an amazing season in 2011, but they didn’t achieve perfection in both on-court play and in their record. There are always areas where teams can improve and create goals for themselves.
“This team can always get better,” said Augustus. “We weren’t the top offensive team last year. We were second in offensive production and defensively, I think we were the top team in defense and we want to continue to build on that. We talk about our bench a lot. We want to be able to play those bench players and play them a lot of minutes to try to give the starters a little bit of rest and, not just that, but to give them some experience on the court because we’re going to need them at tough times in the games, depending on situations.”
Minnesota’s bench players came into training camp with the confidence gained of being WNBA champions and, led by Candice Wiggins coined the term “Bench Mob.” As a sign of unity and desire to keep the level of play the same when they sub into the games, the Lynx expect that any lineup of players they can put on the court together will provide winning basketball.
“Last year, looking at our roster, we were really excited and people were really excited to see the talent that we have, but it takes more than that,” said Moore. “It takes coming together, being able to work well together and I think that’s something our second team does. I feel just as comfortable playing with them as I do our first five for the most part and it’s really exciting to know that when you go to practice, you’re competing against the other five, who are really going to push you, challenge you and really make you step up. Their mindset going into last season was really good and now that we were successful that way, I think it’s going to be even more dynamic.”
Opponents gave Minnesota their best shot collectively last season, giving everything they had to beat them, as the Lynx became the WNBA darlings early on with solid play. Of course, an already-talented team adding a rookie of the caliber of Maya Moore upped the ante there as well, but this team knows the quest to knock off the defending champs is going to be a running theme throughout the summer of 2012.
“I think that we have a huge target on our back,” said Wiggins. “I think everyone is so sick of the Lynx and I think the other teams are completely just like, ‘I’m so sick of hearing about Minnesota.’ I think they’re going to have that focus, but the good thing is that we have such great leadership, we have such a great sense of identity, we have such a great leader in our coach and our coaching staff, everyone knows their part and their roles on the team that we’re going to be really, really hard to beat…even for the people that are absolutely sick and want our heads cut off.”
Make no mistake about it though, the Minnesota Lynx are preparing for all comers. They are confident in themselves and truly believe no team in the WNBA can knock them off their championship throne because only the injury bug they avoided last year as a whole could do that.
“When you have a group as special as this one, I would hope people would get excited and we can just feel it in the room,” said Moore. “We can just feel the excitement as people have been coming in for training camp, we can feel it. Just driving back in the car from the airport, everybody is just really excited and even more invested into what we have because we know how good it can be and we want it to be even better.”
The Minnesota Lynx have served notice to the rest of the WNBA. They know you are coming and they will be ready after raising their championship banner to the rafters on May 20.
photo by Matthew Fleegel
Candice Wiggins Lindsay Whalen Maya Moore Minnesota Lynx Seimone Augustus WNBA
Maya Moore To Skip Second Straight WNBA Season
Kobe Bryant: Some WNBA Players Could Play in the NBA ‘Right Now’
Mystics’ Elena Delle Donne Wins WNBA MVP
No More Waiting: Give the WNBA Its Own Signature Sneakers
Napheesa Collier To Be Named WNBA Rookie Of The Year
Lynx Guard Seimone Augustus Sidelined Indefinitely
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Kennametal completes closures, continues restructuring
Pittsburgh-headquartered Kennametal Inc. recently completed the full closures of its manufacturing facilities in Lichtenau, Germany and Irwin, Pennsylvania, and consolidated those operations into other Kennametal facilities. These actions are part of the company’s ongoing simplification/modernization initiatives to enable a leaner structure and optimize its operations globally, including footprint rationalization and consolidation.
Additionally, Kennametal completed negotiations with the employee representatives of the Neunkirchen, Germany, distribution center. Distribution activities have been transitioned to a third-party logistics provider.
As expected, these actions will begin to reduce structural costs beginning in the second half of fiscal 2020. The closures and corresponding savings are part of the previously announced FY20 restructuring actions that are expected to result in annualized savings of $35 million to $40 million with pre-tax-charges of $55 million to $65 million.
For fiscal year 2021, the company also expects to deliver estimated annualized savings of $25 million to $30 million, but with lower estimated pre-tax charges of approximately $55 million to $65 million, down from the originally estimated $60 million to $75 million.
Following negotiations with local employee representatives, Kennametal has agreed to downsize its Essen, Germany facility instead of the previously proposed closure. The facility will be substantially smaller with considerably lower operating costs. Additionally, a significant reduction in labor will take place as products are moved to other lower-cost Kennametal facilities.
The agreement between Kennametal and the Essen employee representatives is effective through June 30, 2022. The company is also evaluating the acceleration of other facility closures as part of these restructuring activities.
“Our decision to maintain a much smaller presence in Essen was the result of a compelling proposal offered by the local employee representatives,” President and CEO Christopher Rossi said, in a statement. “The facility will be more competitive globally with improved productivity from increased work hours, lower costs and a smaller, but more profitable, product portfolio.”
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Home » Y v Bradford Council
Y v Bradford Council
13th June 2019 29th May 2006 by Allan Tyrer
Last updated 29th May 2006.
An employer adjusted the recruitment process for a person with a severe stammer by allowing written responses to pre-set interview questions, and a written equivalent of a presentation exercise. However, there was held to be a breach of the reasonable adjustment duty. The claimant had not been given enough time for the written presentation. Also he had not been told how long he had to write the interview answers.
Employment Tribunal, Case No. 1803090/05, 2006.
Table of page contents
Discussing adjustments for interview questions
Discussing adjustments for presentation
At the interview
Tribunal decision
General issues on reasonable adjustments
Failure to allow enough time for presentation exercise
Failure to give advance information
Lower marking
Reasonable adjustments that should have been made
Time allowed for answering interview questions
What ratio for writing versus speech?
Getting clear in advance
Further consequences of not giving advance information
Lack of opportunity to interact with panel
Adjustment may not be sufficient even if agreed by claimant
Adjustments are responsibility of employer
Whether oral presentation could have been required
Claimant prefering email to meeting
Each case depending on facts
Claimant’s comments
A person with a severe stammer applied for a job as Performance and Information Officer with the Council. The Council and the tribunal accepted that the stammer was a disability within the DDA.
The Council made adjustments to the recruitment process by allowing him to do a written equivalent of a short notice presentation exercise, and to give written answers to pre-set interview questions.
However the employment tribunal held that these adjustments were not sufficient. Firstly not enough time had been allowed for the written presentation exercise. Secondly the claimant should have been given details in advance of how the selection process would be run, and in particular should have been told how long he had to give written answers to the interview questions, so that he could manage his time.
The tribunal rejected an argument that he should have been allowed longer to write answers to the interview questions.
The tribunal considered the claimant would not have got the job anyway, but awarded £1000 compensation for injury to feelings.
The claimant applied for a post as a Performance and Information Officer with the Council. In part, the post involved providing training to Council staff on new collection processes when required, providing training and guidance to front-line staff on performance issues, and presenting management information in the form of reports and graphs using applications such as Powerpoint.
The claimant had a severe stammer. The Council and the tribunal accepted that this was a ‘disability’ within the DDA, and that the Council knew about it and was under a duty to make reasonable adjustments.
The claimant said on his application that he was disabled and there were arrangements he would like if he were interviewed. The Council seems not to have noted this. The letter inviting the claimant for an interview mentioned that before the formal interview there would be a short exercise lasting about half an hour.
The claimant accepted the interview offer and pointed out again that he had a disability due to stammering and needed adjustments to the recruitment process. “He pointed out that interview environments are tense and that tension increases the severity of stammering.” He referred the Council to three websites with information and advice on adjustments, including the British Stammering Association website. He also mentioned as a possible adjustment allowing a comparable written assesment as part of, or an alternative to, the oral interview.
The Council replied inviting the claimant to let them know of any special arrangements he would like, and offered a meeting to discuss this. The claimant replied by email, pointing out that since he did not know the design of the selection process it was difficult for him to suggest what adjustments would be appropriate. However, he suggested that if there were pre-set interview questions these could be asked him as part of a written assessment before an oral interview. He suggested he could be allocated three times the time allocated to other applicants, on the basis of an average person speaking around 150 words per minute and average typing speed being about 50 wpm. He suggested by way of example that if applicants were given eight questions, then assuming they would take about 3 minutes for each question he should be allocated 72 minutes (8x3x3), or about an hour. In a subsequent oral interview he could then answer questions following up or seeking clarification of his answers. He asked to be informed if changes to the interview arrangements were to be made. The tribunal noted that the claimant’s typing speed was actually 30 wpm.
The Council emailed back saying they intended to ask candidates to give a 10 minute presentation on a topic to be given to them when they arrived, with 30 minutes preparation time. The panel would then ask about nine questions. The Council said the presentation was because the job entailed providing training to front-line staff and managers, and regularly presenting performance information etc at meetings. The Council said they thought they could provide the additional time and equipment the claimant needed to respond to the questions, and proposed he arrived 90 minutes before the time previously set and they could give him a copy of the questions. The Council added that they would welcome any suggestions on how to approach the short notice presentaton.
The Council had allowed the 90 minutes as generally more time for the selection process for the claimant, and assumed his interview would consist only of the written responses. It subsequently decided not to ask follow-up questions of any of the other candidates either, to avoid disadvantaging the claimant. The claimant on the other hand understood the change to mean he would have 90 minutes to provide the written responses (based on his suggested calculation for nine questions), and he would then answer follow-up questions from the panel orally.
The claimant emailed back saying Text-to-Speech (TTS) software could be used in making a presentation, though only if the text was pre-prepared. He queried why only 30 minutes preparation was allowed, since in the job one would have advance notice of training sessions and meetings. He also queried whether an oral presentation should be required, as the personnel specification for job did not refer to them.
The Council replied by email that the short notice presentation was relevant because the post required communicating clearly in a range of situations, including training and management meetings. It suggested the claimant have an extra 15 minutes (total 45 minutes) to prepare a written response to this exercise and pass it to the panel. The claimant emailed back saying he accepted this.
At the interview, the claimant’s written response to the presentation exercise was collected after 45 minutes. The tribunal did not accept that the claimant had told the employer he had not finished, but said the employer must have noticed that his answer to the last of the three questions was incomplete.
The claimant was then given the written interview questions, and the employer came to collect them after 45 minutes. The claimant said he had not completed them and the employer agreed another 10 minutes. At the end of that time the claimant had still not completed them and the employer gave him another 5 minutes, totalling about an hour. The claimant pointed out that the questions were divided into sub-parts, totalling 21 if one treated each as a question, rather than the nine he expected. The claimant also said he thought he should have been given more time for the presentation. The claimant was then taken to meet the other two members of the selection panel where he was able to ask questions about the post – this was not part of the selection process.
The panel marked the candidates against two matricies, one for the presentation and one for the interiew. There were four posts available and the claimant ranked ninth, and so was not selected.
By way of general points, the tribunal considered:
It was reasonable for the Council to minimise the oral input the claimant had to make to the selection process, to minimise the disadvantage caused by the stammer. This was one suggestion on the BSA website and reflected in the claimant’s own emails.
The Council was reasonable in basing time adjustments on the 3 to 1 ratio suggested by the claimant. It was not practicable to use a 5 to 1 ratio based on the claimant’s actual typing speed, because the Council did not know and could not reasonably have been expected to know that the ratio suggested by the claimant did not reflect his own speed.
The tribunal accepted that oral presentation skills were necessary for the job and needed to be tested in the recruitment process. It would not have been reasonable to have all candidates give the presentation in writing to avoid disadvantage to the claimant.
The tribunal considered indeed that the Council could reasonably have required the claimant to do an oral presentation
“although the Council would then have had to consider whether it would be reasonable to make an adjustment by dropping the short notice element of the presentation. If [the claimant] had been given advance notice of the question, he could have prepared his presentation with TTS software. Whether such an adjustment would have been reasonable would in part have depended on whether presentations on short notice were in fact part of the job duties and, if they were, whether an adjustment to remove the short notice element of the recruitment process would have been reasonable.”
However the tribunal did not explore this as the claimant’s representative did not challenge the use of a short notice presentation, only how it was required to be delivered, and also the evidence given did not cover the issue.
As it was, the Council had allowed the presentation to be in writing. The tribunal held that the 45 minutes the claimant had been allowed for this was not sufficient reasonable adjustment. The other applicants were told they had 30 minutes preparation and 10 minutes to give the presentation, totalling 40 minutes. The claimant should have been given the same 30 minutes preparation time, but then 3 times 10 minutes (30 minutes) to write the presentation, applying the 3 to 1 ratio for writing versus speech. The employer said he had based the time on a previous exercise where applicants had taken 5-6 minutes on average to make their presentations. However the tribunal said that allowing the claimant only 5 minutes more than the candidates presenting orally was not enough.
This was so even though the employer reasonably believed in the light of the email exchange that the claimant had agreed the timing.
“It is the employer’s responsibility to decide upon and take whatever adjustment would be reasonable, and if it fails to do so it cannot avoid liability by saying that the disabled person agreed to the course of action.”
The claimant did not have time to complete his answers to the written presentation, and if he had had more time his answer to the last question would have been fuller and his score higher.
The tribunal rejected the claimant’s argument that the 60 minutes allowed to give the written responses was not enough by way of reasonable adjustment. The tribunal said that other candidates took an average of 20 minutes for their responses, so 60 minutes was reasonable applying the 3 to 1 ratio. However the claimant should have been told in advance that 60 minutes would be allowed – see below.
The tribunal also rejected the argument that the Council had failed to make a reasonable adjustment by giving the claimant a time limit for responding, whereas other candidates did not have a time limit. The tribunal said it was not practicable to set no time limit at all. Also there was no disabililty-related discrimination as other candidates were under an implied time pressure, in that they would have known that they had to respond promptly to the questions they were posed at the interview.
Though the tribunal found the issue difficult to decide, it also rejected the claimant’s argument that he had been treated less favourably by being denied the opportunity to interact personally with the interview panel during the selection process. The tribunal accepted the lack of this opportunity could in principle be less favourable treatment as personal interaction can be a significant part of interviewers’ assessment of a candidate, however standardised the questions. Also, in his emails the claimant had suggested an oral element. However, bearing in mind none of the candidates were asked follow-up questions, the tribunal considered that the claimant’s lack of opportunity to interact was part and parcel of a reasonable adjustment to translate the interview process into written form.
The tribunal considered that the Council should have made a reasonable adjustment by way of giving the claimant full details in advance of the way in which the selection process would be run. He could have managed his time more effectively when responding to the interview questions if he had known that he had 60 minutes, rather than the employer returning twice and allocating more time. Thus the Council was in breach of its reasonable adjustment duty in this respect, though there was no disability-related discrimination because the other candidates had less information on the process than the claimant did.
The tribunal accepted that difficulty in operating under time constraints because of his disability was at least part of the reason why the claimant’s answers to the final question in the presentation exercise and to some of the interview questions were of poorer quality than those of other candidates, and were therefore marked lower. To the extent that the impact of the time constraints could have been eased by the Council making the reasonable adjustments which the tribunal had held it should have made, the lower marks could not be justified and were disabilty-related discrimination.
The tribunal made some general comments which it hoped would be helpful to both parties in avoiding future claims:
It was clear the Council and managers involved were committed in principle to making reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates. Substantial adjustments were made for the claimant – arguably more substantial than could reasonably be expected as regards not requiring an oral presentation. However the Council failed to translate its commitment into practice “by not analysing the adjustments to the process, including timings, sufficiently thoroughly and then communicating them clearly to [the claimant].”
Reasonable adjustments may be needed to all parts of the recruitment process, including the application itself or job duties forming the basis of the personnel specification. It is advisable for an employer to take up the issue of adjustments with a disabled applicant as soon as it becomes aware they may be required. If the employer leaves it to a short-listed candidate to flag up the need for adjustments, it may already have failed to meet its duty.
An employer must bear in mind that it is its responsibility to decide what it needs to do to comply with its reasonable adjustment duty.
“It will not necessarily be sufficient to make a particular adjustment just because it has been agreed with the job applicant, if a more substantial adjustment would in fact have been reasonable. A job applicant is in a vulnerable position, and may agree an adjustment that he or she knows is not adequate in order not to alienate the employer. Consultation with the applicant is, of course essential, as it is important not to make assumptions about what adjustment would or would not be effective. Ultimately, however, it is the employer’s responsibility to decide what adjustment should be made.”
A sensible employer will design the selection process to test whether applicants meet the personnel specification.
“However, where it becomes clear that a disabled applicant will be disadvantaged by some aspect of that process, this should prompt the employer to track back from the process to the personnel specification and the job description on which it is based, to consider whether or not it would be reasonable to make adjustments to that job description, and hence the personnel specification and selection process, to accommodate the disabled applicant.”
The claimant had preferred to correspond by email rather than meet the employer to discuss possible adjustments, saying email was his normal method of communication, and would leave a clear trail of correspondence to which he could refer back if necessary. The tribunal commented that while a job applicant with experience of discrimination may prefer to have a record of discussions so evidence is available if it is later necessary to challenge the process as discriminatory, in practical terms such a guarded approach, while understandable, my prove counter-constructive to the applicant, if the employer is genuinely commited to meeting his duty to make adjustments. “It may hinder clear and open communication and so reduce the opportunity to identify the adjustments that would be most effective and appropriate.”
The tribunal considered that had the claimant been given more time for the presentation and advance information on the process, he would have scored higher but would still not have been appointed to one of the four posts available. One factor it took into account was that the typing speed on which the timings were based was in fact faster than the claimant’s own typing speed, inevitably putting him under a time pressure of his own making.
However the claimant was awarded £1000 for injury to feelings. The tribunal also recommended that the Council write to him apologising for the discrimination, and assuring him that in any future job applications it would deal with him objectively and with due to regard to its DDA obligations.
In summary, the tribunal held that
the claimant should have been given more time to do the written equivalent of the presentation exercise, and
the claimant should have been given advance details of how the selection process would be run. In particular, as regards giving written anwers to interview questions, the applicant should have been told in advance how long he had.
However, the tribunal did not agree that the claimant should have been given more than 60 minutes to write answers for the interview questions. It said that other candidates took an average of 20 minutes for their oral reponses. Applying the 3 to 1 ratio for writing versus speech, it therefore agreed with the 60 minutes allowed.
This part of the tribunal’s decision seems to me difficult to justify. Bear in mind that future employment tribunals do not have to follow it.
Firstly, if the average time taken was 20 minutes, evidently some candidates took longer than 20 minutes. Very importantly, those who took 20 minutes or less did so because they chose to. Those who wanted more than the 20 minutes seem to have been allowed it. Only the claimant was given the equivalent of 20 minutes as a maximum time allowed. He was thus put at a disadvantage.
Further, the average time taken by other candidates will not be known until after all their interviews. It is therefore not a feasible way for an employer to determine in advance what time should be allowed a person who stammers answering questions in writing.
If there does need to be a maximum time for written answers (this is perhaps open to debate if there is none for oral interviews) a more appropriate criterion might be the maximum time interviews are expected to last. Eg if that was 30 minutes in this case and the ratio is 3 to 1 (but see below on ratio), it would correspond to 90 minutes written time. There should possibly be a small reduction in the 90 minutes, because the ratio should perhaps not be applied to the time taken to ask/read questions.
The tribunal seems to imply that had the claimant told the employer his actual typing speed, it may well have been reasonable for that to form the basis of the time limits, giving a 5 to 1 ratio in this case. Also since the idea of reasonable adjustments is, where possible, to eliminate the disadavantage, it seems appropriate that the person’s actual writing/typing speed should be used.
The lesson for people who stammer wishing to give answers in writing seems to be to give their actual typing (or writing) speed, so they have a better chance of an adjustment being made that genuinely gives them enough time to write what they need to. Say this resulted in a period of 2 hours 30 minutes, based on a ratio of 5 to 1 in the light of actual typing speed. This would admittedly be quite a long time and what is reasonable will depend in the circumstances, but it seems to me that a tribunal may well consider this kind of time as reasonable in an appropriate case if it is what is needed to put the applicant who stammers on a ‘level playing field’ with others. Perhaps a short tea break should be allowed if the time is that long. Also the time is only a maximum – as with oral interviewees the applicant need not use it all.
Presumbly it would also be reasonable (if there has to be a time limit) for those with a faster than average typing speed to have less time.
Although it was the Council’s responsibility to give the claimant fuller advance information, a person who stammers may find it helpful to try and ensure that he clarifies in advance so far as possible what the whole process will be and what adjustments will be made, including any time limits. This case does illustrate possible difficulties of this though, such as being told you are getting nine questions where there are actually 21 sub-parts.
The tribunal perhaps should have considered more wide-ranging consequences of the claimant not being given advance information on how his selection process would run. Had the claimant been told he would have 60 minutes to answer 21 questions with no opportunity in front of the panel for follow-up, then particularly given his actual typing to speech ratio of 5 to 1 he would very likely have concluded that 60 minutes was insufficient time and sought a change.
The tribunal accepted that lack of opportunity to interact personally with the interview panel as part of the selection process could in principle be less favourable treatment. Personal interaction could be a significant part of interviewers’ assessment of a candidate, however standardised the questions. However, the tribunal decided this was not less favourable treatment, as the claimant’s lack of opportunity to interact was part and parcel of a reasonable adjustment to translate the interview process into written form.
In my view it may well have been a more appropriate reasonable adjustment, avoiding this disadvantage to the claimant, to follow the claimant’s own suggestion and give the panel the opportunity to ask him follow-up questions face-to-face. The employer would have to think though about seeking to put the applicant who stammers on an equal footing with other applicants as regards these follow-ups, through such things as extra time, and perhaps being allowed to subsequently add in writing to his oral answers.
It is welcome that tribunal confirmed that an adjustment may not be substantial enough even if the claimant has agreed it.
As in Y v Calderdale Council, the tribunal correctly pointed out that adjustments are the responsibility of the employer, though of course there should be consultation with the applicant.
Assuming the employer is aware of the disability, the duty is not subject to the applicant suggesting a reasonable adjustment. The tribunal could perhaps have made more of the fact that the Council were not exactly pro-active in pursuing adjustments, leaving it down to the applicant to raise the issue more than once and to make all the suggestions.
The discussion on whether the Council could reasonably have refused to allow the presentation exercise to be done in writing is interesting. It seems appropriate that the tribunal focussed on what would be required for the job (though there is the puzzling issue of whether the personnel specification adequately reflected this). Also there was an acknowledgement that it might be appropriate to make reasonable adjustments to presentations in the job, such as using text-to-speech software if practicable, which it might then be reasonable to reflect in the exercise on recruitment. Also the example at para 7.25 of the 2004 Employment Code of Practice is relevant:
“An employer sets candidates a short oral test. An applicant is disabled by a severe stammer, but only under stress. It is likely to be a reasonable adjustment to allow her more time to complete the test. Alternatively, it may be a reasonable adjustment to give the test in written form instead – though not if excellent oral communication skills are necessary for the job and assessing those skills was the purpose of the test.”
Code of Practice: Employment and Occupation, 2004. Para. 7.25
As regards the tribunal’s comment on this, it should be stressed that the tribunal’s findings criticised the Council’s failure to communicate rather than the claimant’s. Also, while I would not want to dissuade people from meetings, the tribunal perhaps did not appreciate how email may be a much easier way of communicating than speech for a person with a severe stammer. Finally, it is by no means clear that a meeting would have reached a less ambiguous result.
Clearly each case depends on the facts. What adjustments are reasonable will depend on the situation, and for example some people who stammer will prefer not to give written answers but to have an oral job interview, where it may be appropriate to allow longer and perhaps make other adjustments.
See Comments by claimant in Y v Bradford Council.
The claimant argues, for example, that he was put under time pressure to which other candidates were not subjected, and gives a somewhat different account of what happened at the interview from what one might assume reading the Tribunal decision.
Examples of reasonable adjustments: Recruitment
Reasonable adjustment rules: Employment
Y v Calderdale Council – a previous case on reasonable adjustments for stammering
Categories Cases, Cases on employment, Cases on stammering Post navigation
Carden v Pickerings Europe Ltd
Y v Bradford Council: claimant’s comments
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Alfred DEHODENCQ (Paris, 1822 - Paris, 1882)
The French Orientalist painter Edme Alexis Alfred Dehodencq was a pupil of Léon Cogniet, entering the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1839. He made his Salon debut five years later. In 1849 he travelled to Spain, where he spent five years, producing paintings and drawings of scenes from Spanish life. In 1854 Dehodencq visited Morocco for the first time. He became the first Western artist to work extensively in the country, and divided his time between Cadiz and Tangiers until his return to France in 1863. A number of his genre scenes, depicting life in the Arab and Jewish communities of Morocco, were sent to Paris for exhibition at the Salons. After his early successes, however, Dehodencq died in obscurity. He left a large group of drawings, many of which are now in the Louvre and the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lille, while others are in the collection of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
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Mike Ellsworth SNS, Uncategorized
StratVantage Consulting, LLC — Mike’s Take on the News 07/16/01
From Evernote:
Clipped from: http://www.stratvantage.com/news/071601.htm
The News – 07/16/01
How Not to Be an Online Grocer
In the wake of Webvan’s recent closing, another online grocer, HomeRuns, serving Boston and D.C. has also abruptly shut down. The company was founded in 1996 by grocery retailer Hannaford Brothers but simply was allowed to run out of money.
Unlike HomeRuns, WebVan tried to go it alone, buying rival HomeGrocer for $1.2 billion in stock, and ultimately building $30 million warehouses in San Francisco, Atlanta and other cities. Last Monday, Webvan folded after burning through $830 million, closing operations serving 750,000 customers in seven markets: San Francisco; Los Angeles; Orange County, Calif.; San Diego; Seattle; Chicago; and Portland, Ore. WebHouse Club, Priceline’s grocery (and gasoline???) affiliate, burned through $390 million before calling it quits. Other dotcom grocers who cratered include Streamline, Shoplink, and PDQuick (acquired by WhyRunOut.com). Trailblazing grocery service Peapod, although still hanging in there, was forced to pull out of San Francisco.
It’s gotten so ugly for online grocers that the analysts are even backpedaling. Once upon a bubble, Jupiter Media Metrix predicted that Net grocers would rack up $6 billion in sales in 2002. Recently, the analyst firm lowered that estimate to $1.3 billion and even declared that “grocery delivery is economically unviable for the foreseeable future.” This may be true. Cyber Dialogue found that although 24 million American adults seek information about supermarket categories online, only 34 percent actually purchase them online.
So is Simon Delivers, a local Minneapolis area online grocer, crazy? Maybe, but their approach to the business could just work. I am a happy Simon Delivers customer. Aside from a few glitches (purchased items that did not show up), I am very happy to have groceries show up at my door once a week. They even deliver water softener salt. Simon Delivers doesn’t charge a delivery fee for orders over $75, they accept manufacturer coupons, and they even run specials just like a real store. But Webvan proved that great customer service and high customer satisfaction isn’t enough in this business where a 3 percent profit margin is the norm.
The main difference in Simon Delivers’ approach is their attitude toward growth. Rather than swinging for the fences and burning through cash building an infrastructure to serve millions, the company is deliberately widening their service area a little at a time. In fact, we had to wait when they expanded into our area before they’d take us as a customer. Simon Delivers now has 43,000 customers, and expects 2001 sales of $55 million (the recently defunct HomeRuns had $30 million in sales last year in two markets). The company forecasts becoming profitable, on a net income basis, in the next year.
Rather than burning investors’ cash building their brand and an expensive infrastructure, Simon Delivers’ method is likely to be more successful in the post-crash consumer eRetailing environment. But one thing has always puzzled me about online groceries. Why haven’t more food retailers followed Hannaford’s lead and gotten into online retailing?
Turns out they are. Global grocery giant Royal Ahold bought a controlling stake and has made an offer for the rest of the shares of the original online grocer, Peapod. The company is said to be retooling Peapod to serve its established chains, such as Giant Foods and Stop & Shop. Ahold claims to have successful online shopping operations with annual sales of 250 million Euros in The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Argentina and Guatemala.
In fact, Ahold’s been doing it online in Argentina since 1997. Disco, one of the country’s largest supermarket chains at 237 stores, has become the country’s leading e-commerce player. Its online sales have grown to $40 million, which ain’t hay when you consider eCommerce in Argentina is estimated by Accenture to be only $150 million. Online grocering was merely an extension of Disco’s decades-old home delivery service, which last year delivered a quarter of the company’s sales.
Obviously home delivery can work, and the combination of the warehousing infrastructure of established grocery players with slick online stores might be the key to success. Jupiter thinks that a hybrid model, where consumers order online, then visit the store to complete their shopping and find the groceries already bagged and waiting, may succeed. Gartner, while admitting that established grocers could make it online, wonders why they’d bother, since there’s no established model for success.
So, how do you not succeed in online grocery? Raise too much money, grow way too fast, and try to build everything yourself. Sounds like a good prescription for failure for any online retailing business. The prescription for success, however, is still being written.
Shameless Self-Promotion Department: We’ve recently re-ranked the trends in the TrendSpot, adding a new trend: the Post-PC World.
The TrendSpot
Wireless Stumble: Goodbye Ricochet? Metricom, provider of the Ricochet wireless service, has filed for bankruptcy. The service is expensive at $80 a month and will eventually be eclipsed by 3G wireless networks (but don’t hold your breath).
More Disposable Tech: Since the last newsletter, another prepaid disposable phone has come to our attention from, who else, prepaiddisposable.com . Parent TelAmerica appears to be a pyramid, er, multilevel, er, network marketing scheme in which consumers become distributors of the $40 phone. The 5-ounce digital/analog phone comes with 100 minutes of nationwide airtime. The company claims to have received an order for 10 million of the phones from a major corporation.
TelAmerica
Thumb Envy? Seiko Instruments Austin Inc. (SIAS) has introduced
the Thumboard™ TB5000, which it calls the first integrated and mobile mini-keyboard solution. The device is basically a small, thumb-enabled keyboard for the Palm™ V series. So if you have thumb envy from watching Blackberry users thump out emails, this gadget’s for you. It slips directly onto the handheld, fully covering the graffiti area and interfacing with the serial port. Thumboard also includes Hot keys (Calendar, To Do, etc.) and text editing capabilities by way of the Command function key.
TwoMobile
Can’t Get Enough of ME?
In the unlikely event that you want more of my opinions, I’ve started a Weblog. It’s the fashionable thing for pundits to do, and I’m doing it too. A Weblog is a datestamped collection of somewhat random thoughts and ideas assembled on a Web page. If you’d like to subject the world to your thoughts, as I do, you can create your own Weblog. You need to have a Web site that allows you FTP access, and the free software from www.blogger.com . This allows you to right click on a Web page and append your pithy thoughts to your Weblog.
I’ve dubbed my Weblog entries “Stratlets”, and they are available at www.stratvantage.com/stratlets/ . Let me know what you think. Also check out the TrendSpot for ranking of the latest emerging trends.
Return to Mike’s Take
Security Problems Plague All Operating Systems
Alert SNS Reader Larry Kuhn (speaking for himself and not his employer) points out that Microsoft is not the only operating system maker plagued by security problems. This is certainly true, and is a point I have made repeatedly in the past. However, it can’t be stressed enough that just because you follow my advice and don’t expose Microsoft OSes to the Internet, you can’t be complacent. As I always say, if you’re not terrified about security, you’re not paying attention.
Larry sent along a link to an article written by TechRepublic and published by ZDNet Australia that compares the raw number of bugs for various operating systems tracked through the Security Focus Bugtraq system. Bugtraq is a commonly used repository for reports and questions about security bugs. The TechRepublic article appears to have counted the bug reports for major OSes so far in 2001 and placed the results in this table:
The article makes the point that Microsoft Windows 2000 at number 7 is far from the most-buggy OS, and this appears to be true from this analysis. What’s especially comforting for Microsofties is that last year, Windows NT 4.0 was the bug champ, with Windows 2000 taking fifth place. Two factors have probably influenced this better showing: Lots of companies have replaced Windows NT with Windows 2000, and both platforms have benefited from fixing previously reported bugs. Windows 2000, for example, is already on Service Pack 2. (A Service Pack is a compilation of bug fixes that users download and install over an existing installation. SP-2 is 101MB in size; hardly a quick download.)
Now I’m a little skeptical of the numbers, and wonder, as did a responder to the article in TechRepublic’s talkback forum, if a raw bug count is really all that relevant. Of more importance is the amount of time for the vulnerability to get fixed, the severity of the vulnerability (is it in the wild, or theoretical?), and the source of the bug report (was it found through a code review or because it has been actively used to circumvent security?). The poster asserts that closed source vulnerabilities (like Microsoft’s) are almost always found because someone has compromised the service, since there is no independent review of the code as there is in Open Source Software.
Nonetheless, the results underscore Larry’s point: “People shouldn’t feel safer only because they’re using a non-MS OS. I think that’s the only meaningful conclusion that can be drawn from this article. IMHO, there are non-technical folks at the CxO level who read stuff like the Gartner recommendation to ditch IIS and mistakenly come to believe that the same type of risks aren’t possible in the alternative environments.” I couldn’t agree more. Just because you locked the front door doesn’t mean burglars can’t get in the windows (no pun intended! ö¿ð ).
Incidentally, front page news at Security Focus is a report that a hacker named Beale Screamer has cracked Microsoft’s Digital Rights Management (DRM) copyright protection scheme which is planned for use in securing audio files. Another front page article reports that hackers can get users’ passwords from Cayman Systems’ popular 3220-H DSL router. Both these items underscore the need to not be complaisant or to feel that securing your computer OS is all you need to worry about.
Larry continues, once again making a lot of sense: “Security (or the lack of it) is a multifacted problem – People, Processes and Technology. Any Technologically secure system can be compromised by an untrained person (someone who sets the "sa" password to blank), or by well-trained people who don’t follow processes (like stickies on the monitor with passwords written on them, or by not applying security patches as they become available) that ensure the security of the system.”
Larry points to an online tool you can use to assess the security of your system, the Microsoft Personal Security Advisor , written by folks right here in the Twin Cities, Shavlik Technologies , who make an enterprise version of the tool. The PSA will check the strength of your passwords and see if you’ve applied all the relevant security patches on your system. I think everyone in your enterprise should run it and act on its recommendations.
The bottom line is, as much as I malign Microsoft, they’re by no means the only folks with security problems. Being the world’s most popular operating system means there are a lot more crackers out there trying to break their stuff, and that means their problems are ballyhooed in the press. But, hey, who said being a monopoly had to be fun? There are advantages to adopting Open Source Software for your Internet-exposed Web systems. Such systems are supported by fanatical, and I mean really fanatical, software zealots who consider it a point of pride to find and eradicate all bugs as quickly as possible. Even if Microsoft, or, heck, even Sun, for that matter, gets really serious about security, they will be hard pressed to match the dedication of OSS supporters. If you must use Microsoft software on the Internet, then you must accept as part of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) the responsibility to constantly update the software with the latest patches and to be eternally vigilant. In larger enterprises, this obligation can translate into dedicating one or more employees to the task.
If you’re not terrified about security, you’re not paying attention.
ZDNet Australia
Shameless Self-Promotion Dept.: I’ve added a security news ticker to the StratVantage Security Web page. It scrolls up to date information about viruses, worms, hoaxes and other items of interest regarding computer security. Check it out.
StratVantage Security Resources
Are You Ready for CRM? I’ve had a problem with the area known as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for some time. It’s a catch-all category for everything from contact management and sales force automation to call center management, database marketing, and data mining. Talk to one person about CRM, and they think you’re talking about contact management software like ACT! or GoldMine. Talk to another and they think about email marketing. A third person thinks about call center management. It’s too confusing to lump all these customer touch areas under one acronym. Often businesses need help in sorting it all out. Taylor Harkins Group publishes a newsletter that helps companies make sense of the various issues in CRM, and in their latest issue they list questions you should ask yourself to assess organizational readiness before considering a CRM system:
Do you know why your customers buy from you? Can you find prospective customers just like your current customers?
Can you match your key products and services against products and services of your competitors? What are the strengths and weaknesses? Are you selling against them?
Who are future purchasers of your products and services? What do they look like?
Do you know why your customers are not buying from your competitors?
Will changes in the economy have and influence your customer’s ability to purchase your products and services? How?
Will changing demographics have an impact on your business? How?
If your product or service is regulated will pending changes in legislation affect your profitability? How?
Taylor Harkins Group
Wireless Videoconferencing: Tandberg of Norway has announced one of the first videoconferencing products capable of running on an 802.11b Wireless LAN (WLAN). The Tandberg 1000 consists of an LCD screen with multiple network interfaces including IP, ISDN, and WLAN. In wireless mode, you only need to plug the power cord in the wall, and off you go. Of course, you’ll have to have a compatible wireless LAN running in your home or office first. The company envisions folks just grabbing it and toting it from office to office as the need for videoconferencing hits. The unit requires a PC/PCMCIA card that fits into the slot at the top and interfaces with your WLAN. Pricing starts at $5,490.
And completely off the subject, who else thinks that looks like Ross Perot in the picture to the left?
Life in Prison for Hacking? A new bill being considered in Congress calls for life in prison without a possibility of parole for people who engage in computer trespass, also known as hackers. The Anti-Terrorism Act , AKA the ‘‘Uniting and Strengthening America Act’’ or the ‘‘USA Act of 2001’’ has lots of folks up in arms about this provision. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has publicly condemned the bill for treating low-level computer intrusion against the government, already a crime under existing laws, as an act of terrorism. Let’s keep it together, people!
East Carolinian
Record Industry Profiteering: As if upping the penalties for hacking wasn’t enough, our friends at Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) tried to glue a self-serving hacking-authorization amendment onto the Mom & Apple Pie, er, Uniting and Strengthening America Act. The amendment , authored by RIAA lobbyists, would have exempted any actions the RIAA would take to preserve their copyright from the anti-hacking provision. This means the RIAA would have carte blanche to attack anyone who tried to circumvent their copyright or Digital Rights Management (DRM) schemes. That’s pretty extreme, and we can be thankful the amendment was dropped.
Cracking Attacks on Pace to Double: According to Carnegie Mellon University’s Computer Emergency Response Team/Coordination Center (CERT/CC), attacks on Internet computers should easily double the last year’s reported number. Already, the number of security incidents reported has reached 34,754, a 60% increase over the 21,756 incidents logged last year. We’re on a pace to see more than 46,000 reported security attacks, more than twice last year’s number.
The Sky Is Falling: The FBI appeared to put their foot in it when they named the file containing the press release warning that Americans should expect additional terrorist attacks. The two-sentence press release on FBI.gov said there “may be additional terrorist attacks within the United States and against U.S. interests overseas over the next several days.” That’s bad enough, and contributed to the mixed message we’re all hearing these days: Be aware and worried; act normal or the terrorists will win. Even more worrisome, however, was the name the FBI chose to give the file that contained the Web version press release: http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel01/skyfall.htm. Skyfall? As in Chicken Little? Or as in the novel Skyfall from the ‘70s? Or as in the name of a Transformer, Skyfall the Action Master (pictured)? The FBI could answer none of these questions, and eventually retitled the file. Things that make you go “Hmmmmmm.”
A Sound Link: US Robotics has released a cool gadget that sets up a wireless connection of up to 1,000 feet between your computer and stereo. So if you’re tired of listening to your MP3s (lawfully ripped from your own, fully licenced CDs, of course) on your dinky computer speakers, this $100 toy’s for you.
Someone to Watch Over Us
In the wake of the terrorist attacks, many people have wondered if one of the new battlefronts will be cyberspace. In fact, in a previous SNS, I reported the cracking of a German Islamic extremist Web site and the posting of subscribers’ names on a Swiss server. How well are we prepared for infowar? And who will fight it?
One of the forces that will fight to protect US networks is InfraGard , a cooperative undertaking between the FBI and an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants. InfraGard’s mission is to ensure the security of critical US infrastructures such as energy, banking and finance, water systems, government operations, emergency services, telecommunications and the Internet. To do so, they work with the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC), a governmental organization that is dedicated, in part, to “detect, deter, assess, warn, respond, and investigate unlawful acts involving computer and information technologies and unlawful acts, both physical and cyber, that threaten or target our critical infrastructures.”
The NIPC and the InfraGard are responding to the requirements of Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) –63, which President Clinton created on May 22, 1998. The directive orders the strengthening of the nation’s defenses against emerging unconventional threats to the United States to include those involving terrorist acts, weapons of mass destruction, assaults on our critical infrastructures, and cyber-based attacks. PDD-63 calls for a national-level effort to assure the security of the increasingly vulnerable and interconnected infrastructures of the United States.
While the FBI has called for managers of physical infrastructure to go to a high alert status, it may be even more important for networking and computer professionals to be on alert. This is because many physical infrastructure resources are controlled by computers, and the security of these computers has been compromised in the past. For example, several times this past spring, crackers attempted to gain access to the servers at California’s Independent System Operators (Cal-ISO), the agency that manages the state’s electrical supply and decides when rolling blackouts will occur. The crackers apparently got close to disrupting the flow of power in California during the rolling blackouts that occurred in May.
Many pieces of critical infrastructure today are controlled by Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, which are basically networked computer systems. Like any networked computer system, SCADA systems can be vulnerable to attacks. Some of these systems, like GE SmallWorld’s PowerOn ™ electrical distribution system or Encorps Virtual Power Plant power dispatching system, are based on Microsoft Windows products, and many have Internet-enabled features (using Microsoft’s Internet Information Server (IIS)) for convenience.
Regular readers may remember I am not a fan of Microsoft products being exposed to the Internet. Well, I’m obviously not alone. Industry analyst GartnerGroup agrees:
IIS security vulnerabilities are not even newsworthy anymore as they are discovered almost weekly . . . As Gartner warned in 1999, pulling complex application software into operating system software represents a substantial security risk . . . Microsoft has discussed its Secure Windows Initiative, which details a well-thought-out program for improving Microsoft’s development processes to avoid repeating the same security mistakes that led to vulnerabilities in Windows NT and Windows 2000. However, the same old buffer overflow problems appearing in beta Windows XP code raises doubts over whether the security assurance tools Microsoft has implemented will effectively reduce the number of well-known security bugs that continue to show up in Microsoft products. For Microsoft’s vision of .NET and Web services to succeed, Windows XP will have to be significantly more secure than Windows 2000 has proven to be; otherwise, Microsoft risks losing some enterprise business to more-secure implementations of Web services.
To reduce their vulnerability, Windows-based SCADA systems may be hardened and protected by third party software, such as that available from Visual Automation . But the fact remains that many critical infrastructure systems are run by software from a vendor that has, to date, had serious problems with security vulnerabilities. And that makes me, for one, more than a little worried. It’s one thing for Web sites to be hacked. Even if the companies attacked lose millions, it’s only money. It’s yet another thing for critical infrastructure systems to be attacked, by joyriding script kiddies or by terrorists; the result could be disastrous. Here’s hoping the newly created Homeland Security Agency will act to bolster groups like InfraGard and will issue strong new guidelines for the use and protection of the software that controls vital services.
In the spirit of acting locally, here are some steps, courtesy of InfraGard, that you can take to improve your personal and company security:
Use strong passwords. Choose passwords that are difficult or impossible to guess. Give different passwords to all accounts.
Make regular backups of critical data. Backups must be made at least once each day. Larger organizations should perform a full backup weekly and incremental backups every day. At least once a month the backup media should be verified.
Use virus protection software. That means three things: having it on your computer in the first place, checking daily for new virus signature updates, and then actually scanning all the files on your computer periodically.
Use a firewall as a gatekeeper between your computer and the Internet. Firewalls are usually software products. They are essential for those who keep their computers online through the popular DSL and cable modem connections but they are also valuable for those who still dial in. [Editor’s note: I prefer ZoneAlarm , which is free for personal
use.]
Do not keep computers online when not in use. Either shut them off or physically disconnect them from Internet connection.
Do not open email attachments from strangers, regardless of how enticing the Subject Line or attachment may be. Be suspicious of any unexpected email attachment from someone you do know because it may have been sent without that person’s knowledge from an infected machine.
Regularly download security patches from your software vendors.
You can also learn more about computer security at the StratVantage Security page. If these measures fail, and your company is a victim of a cyber break-in, it’s important to preserve the evidence so the perpetrators can be located. ZDNet recommends you take the following steps:
Record every action you take. Include the date and time.
Preserve evidence, no matter how small.
Think prosecution–every action you take should help build a possible court case against the perpetrators.
Notify key personnel immediately.
Limit the scope of the attack as quickly as possible.
Preserve all audits (disable any system log purges or overwrites).
Implement additional security, if necessary or available.
Review the incident response plan in light of the recent event and revise accordingly. Remember that any response plan is just a “work in progress.“
You may be wondering whether you’ll be able to prosecute even if you catch the criminals. The National Security Institute maintains a list of computer crime laws by state.
And hey, hey, hey! Let’s be careful out there!
InfraGard at Iwar.org
Shameless Self-Promotion Dept.: I’ve added a new directory to the Directories section of the StratVantage Web site: Email Newsletters. After conducting a fruitless search for a central place listing interesting email newsletters, I decided to establish one myself. I’ve seeded it with newsletters I receive and find useful. If you’ve got a favorite, send it along and I’ll add it.
StratVantage Directories
Advertising Has Changed: Stan Hustad, a performance coach with PTM Group, quoted a discussion with advertising executives John Partilla and Mike Campbell in his recent newsletter. The pair discussed how advertising will change in the post Tragedy world: “Cynicism will go by the wayside. It’s just not cool anymore. Relevance will be really important in terms of how you try [to] tie in what’s happened. I see every piece of work that goes out of the agency, [to see] if it has humor in it, if there is humanity in it, a humility that feels appropriate. You don’t need big focus groups [to
determine what people want]. You can see it in the faces of people on the street. People are really tender right now. They don’t want to be presented with advertising that is too in-your-face.” Words to remember if you’re planning an advertising campaign. Stan’s newsletter, The Coaching Connection, offers tips on self-improvement and performance optimization as well as business and marketing tips. I heartily recommend it.
PTM Group
Toshiba Rolls Out Handheld: Last week, Toshiba became the latest vendor to embrace Microsoft’s Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) Pocket PC platform. Microsoft also announced its latest revision of the system, dubbed Pocket PC 2002, available now. This is the first year-named product that Microsoft has released ahead of the year, as far as I can remember. Toshiba, on the other hand, doesn’t even mention their new product on their US Web site. Now that’s a great way to roll out a brand new product! While many industry analysts predict Microsoft will continue to take share from Palm, the price and still-poor usability will slow their momentum. The Palm platform got a boost recently when Samsung rolled out a new color PDA/cell phone for use on Sprint’s cellular network. The unit uses the Palm operating system, comes with 8MB of memory and supports Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), HTML and i-mode’s cHTML.
First US GPRS Network Expands: AT&T, which established the first General Packet Radio System (GPRS) cellular network in Seattle a few months ago, is expanding the network to three more cities: Las Vegas, Phoenix and Portland. Unlike the Seattle area, coverage in these new cities seems to be fairly extensive. GPRS offers voice and data, with data speeds as high as 144 Kbps. Typical performance, however, is likely to be 56Kbps, the speed of today’s wireline modems. The company said it’ll roll out Detroit in the next few weeks, serve about 40 percent of current customers with GPRS by the end of the year, and serve all its markets by the end of 2002.
AllNetDevices
Are U Ready 4 a New Buzzword? Let’s see. We’ve had eBusiness and e-Tail (stupid buzzword alert), eCommerce and m-Commerce (mobile commerce). Next, we’ll start hearing about u-Commerce, or ubiquitous, universal commerce. In the future, according to Accenture’s think tank, Accenture Institute for Strategic Change, you can wirelessly buy anything from anyone anywhere in the world. (Lest we get too starry-eyed, we need to realize there are places in the world where livestock is the only going currency.) The company predicts 630 percent growth worldwide for net-connected wireless devices over the next four years. Despite its breathlessness, I more or less agree with this forecast. As I’ve predicted in the TrendSpot , I fully expect ubiquitous computing, where computing becomes not a place you go, but a service you get from your environment, to arrive by the end of the decade. Local area networking schemes like 802.11b (or successors) and Bluetooth are starting to make this happen today. Will this new acronym stick? Well, a casual perusal of the Web using Google turns up some supporters: Visa (who apparently coined the buzzword), the Association for Computing Machinery , and South Africa’s McCarthy Online .
How Can You Be In Two Places At Once, When You’re Not Anywhere At All? A company called Teleportec has the coolest technology I’ve seen in a long while. Using three ISDN lines (roughly 384Kbps), a person using their
$70,000 Teleportec Podium can project his or her image from the waist up to a remote location and appear lifesized and in 3D. Only one of the men in the picture to the left is really there; the other is hundreds of miles away. The company has tried it out with several businesses. It also makes a large Teleportec Theatre that is 20 feet across with an 11 foot wide “teleportation zone” designed for panel discussions or telemeetings. Given the recent events, all kinds of virtual meeting technology will likely be given a boost (witness WebEx’s 30 percent stock rise on the first day of trading after the terrorist attacks). If Teleportec’s technology is as good as they say it is, look for them to put the others in the shade quicker than you can say, “Help me, Obie-Wan!” The applications aren’t limited to distance learning and business conferencing, however, as illustrated by the Digie award given Teleportec by Realcomm, a realty eCommerce conference.
Teleportec
Encryption a Threat? Alert SNS Reader Jeff Ellsworth sends along this article regarding the role encryption may have played in the recent tragedy. There is evidence that terrorists have used commonly available Public Key Encryption techniques as well as the more sophisticated steganography methods in their communications. Steganography is the embedding of secret messages in binary files such as image files or music files. The sender changes a few bits in the file and the result is invisible when viewed or listened to. There have been claims that the terrorists regularly used pornography files to communicate. Now Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) has proposed making it mandatory that software developers give government security agents the “keys” to encryption programs when they are created. The government tried this once before, in 1993 with a technology called the Clipper Chip . The idea was everyone would use the government’s encryption scheme, which had a “law enforcement back door.” This scheme was roundly criticized as unworkable by pretty much every knowledgeable security expert. Three main criticisms illustrate the folly of the Clipper Chip:1) Because the government would keep the Clipper methodology secret, the security community couldn’t point out any deficiencies
2) Crackers would inevitably find ways to use the back door to their advantage
3) Nobody in their right minds outside of the US would ever use this technology if the US government could eavesdrop on them, thus it would be useless in protecting us from foreign terrorists
I really hope we don’t need to go down the Clipper path yet again. Phil Zimmermann, the creator of Pretty Good Privacy, a popular encryption technology, believes human footwork will be more useful in catching terrorists than more surveillance technologies: “It’s not practical to frisk everyone on the planet to find the one person with a box cutter.”
WashTech.com
Unsafe At Any Speed? Alert SNS Reader Bill Lehnertz sent along a pointer to a McKinsey Quarterly article, How Fast is Too Fast? It’s a nice analysis of the “Internet time” mania that gripped many of the dot-coms. The authors studied 80 Internet companies, including business-to-consumer (B2C) companies, business-to-business (B2B) companies, and infrastructure providers. They tried to determine the speed with which each built its business—and the outcome. One of the companies examined is my favorite dot-com/exchange success story: Altra Energy.
McKinsey Quarterly (registration required)
StratVantage Consulting, LLC — StratVantage News Summary 10/02/01
Wireless Almost Usable
User interface guru Jakob Nielsen has been a curmudgeon about wireless devices ever since they started sprouting interactive features. He’s an advocate of the plain and simple, and of intuitive interfaces. So there’s no wonder he hated the phones that make you press the “7” key four times to type an “S”. After his visit to the recent DEMOmobile conference in La Jolla, California, however, Nielsen’s changing his tune, at least somewhat.
First off, he found a number of interesting wireless developments at the conference:
iPaq is now the mobile device of choice and was the platform for almost all new services. I’ve noted this trend myself, and that has led to a re-ranking of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) technology in the TrendSpot this month. According to Nielsen, last year, most start-ups based their systems on Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) phones, which is now widely viewed as a limited and wounded technology. At the conference, virtually all presenters now see WAP as doomed. Nielsen, a strong WAP opponent, agrees: “Think of the hundreds of millions of dollars that could have been saved last year if the VCs had bothered running a WAP usability study .”
Palm is still around, but used by dramatically fewer services at this year’s conference than last year. Palm’s inability to capitalize on its command lead in PDA sales by offering a decent development environment may have led to its loss of market share. Its primary advantages nowadays are its ubiquity and its smaller size. Plus, it may have been a blunder to offer a proprietary device plug in standard, unlike the iPaq and other Pocket PC PDAs, which use standard PC Cards. Sony may yet be able to morph the Palm into a consumer device, but the ease of programming and porting existing applications onto the Pocket PC platform could well spell the end of Palm’s dominance.
The PC is emerging as a personal server that supports a user’s mobile devices, often through its wired Internet connection. This is an interesting new trend, an extension of the PC’s role in synching contact and calendar information. For example, SimpleDevices downloads music to the PC and transmits the audio files wirelessly to the user’s car when it is within range. How cool is that? Nielsen notes that although SimpleDevices can’t support real-time news, it does offer a virtual broadband connection to the car.
Cheap humans add value to the network. (Editorial Aside: One of the problems of this world is that there are cheap humans, IMHO). “Copytalk and Webhelp both presented ingenious ways of injecting full intelligence into a mobile system,” Nielsen said. “Users simply speak their information request; the system then compresses the audio recording into a data file and transmits it through the Internet, to locations where highly qualified labor is virtually free.” This makes possible all kinds of services, such as a human-powered AskJeeves -like service. According to Nielsen, a human expert at web searching could research the user’s question and transmit the answer back for less than a dollar. Once the answer arrives, it can be converted to speech using text-to-speech synthesis and played for the user.
802.11 is now the wireless connectivity of choice and, according to Nielsen, was used by almost everybody at the conference. This is a big change from last year, when Bluetooth was on the rise. This year, Bluetoon was almost gone, Nielsen said. Followers of the TrendSpot know that I have downgraded Bluetooth consistently over the last three months, and this month is no different. But now there’s a growing feeling that 802.11b, the short range wireless network technology, combined with Voice over IP (VoIP), a technology that routes phone calls over the Internet, could threaten cell phone networks as well. This has given 802.11b a boost in the TrendSpot rankings this month.
Although Nielsen was generally positive about one new device that debuted at the show, Danger Research’s Hiptop (OK, that’s a stupid name alert times two!), he had some criticisms of its user interface. The Hiptop, which people at the show were calling the Danger Device, is a 6-ounce Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and a cell phone device with a a small but readable grayscale screen. The device has a thumbwheel control and a few visible buttons, leaving most of the room for the screen. You can browse the Web (with full graphics), send and receive e-mail and instant messages, or use it as a phone. The Hiptop also lets you take pictures, and play video games and other Java programs. What’s really nice, however, is the teeny thumb keyboard that you can expose by twisting the device.
The bummer for US wireless users, however, is that the Hiptop is a GSM phone, which means only Cingular and Voicestream will be able to sell it here, for about $200. Since GSM networks in the US are just getting started, that means accepting less-than-optimal coverage for the privilege of having the coolest wireless device on the block.
Nielsen is not convinced that tiny keyboards are the solution for mobile devices, putting his bets on improved handwriting recognition (it would have to improve a lot to read mine) and voice recognition. He also doesn’t like trackwheels, calling them unnatural (but then so was the mouse the first time you used it, yes?).
Whether the Danger device becomes the next big thing here will depend a lot on the progress of GSM and its successor, GPRS, in the US. With the first GPRS networks launched recently in China, England, and, incredibly, Seattle , the pervasiveness of this particular device will depend a lot on how quickly wireless network providers build out their networks.
UseIt.com
Nokia Covering Its Bets: As reported in issues of SNS (here and here ), Nokia is very interested in m-commerce (mobile eCommerce). In addition to its joint SmartCover effort with Sodexho and its dual chip test with Visa, Nokia is collaborating with IBM, Luottokunta and Radiolinja to pilot secure credit card payments using a mobile phone wallet application. The participants hope to demonstrate using the wallet for transferring payments and loyalty program information, and WIM (Wireless Identity Module) for making non-repudiated transactions. The parties are in the process of choosing suitable merchants for the pilot, which will start in the fourth quarter of 2001 in Finland.
Java on the Phone – Your Desktop Phone: By now my prediction last spring that it would be a while before we saw Java on mobile phones seems pretty ludicrous. Not long after I made the prediction, Korea’s LG Telecom introduced a Java-enabled cell phone in July, Nextel announced a Java cell phone, and Nokia smart phones, available outside the United States, began using Java applications. Now Kada™ Systems has announced that Cisco will build their Java technology into its Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) non-mobile desktop phones. Sometimes the magic works, and sometimes it doesn’t.
Kada Systems
Single Sign-On = Liberty? Nokia, Cisco, Dun & Bradstreet, Sony, Sun and many other companies have announced that they will co-found the Liberty Alliance Project “to create an open, standards-based solution for network identity and authentication to provide single sign-on to the internet and to the mobile Internet.” They propose to do this through a technique they’re calling federated identity. “In a federated view of the world, a person’s online identity, their personal profile, personalized online configurations, buying habits and history, and shopping preferences are administered by users, yet securely shared with the organizations of their choosing. A federated identity model will enable every business or user to manage their own data, and ensure that the use of critical personal information is managed and distributed by the appropriate parties, rather than a central authority.”
Notably missing from the roster of founding members is Microsoft, which wants the world to adopt its proprietary Passport technology. About the name Liberty Project, though: I squirm a bit when I see projects named in this manner. What’s next? The Mom & Apple Pie Project? Nevertheless, it’s way too early to say whether this project will enhance our online freedom or detract from it.
Project Liberty
Too Many Clues: Was I the only one who thought the abundance of clues left by the terrorist hijackers was a little fishy? Apparently not, as an article on Stratfor indicates. The article states that the terrorists, “practiced near-perfect operational planning, coordination and execution before their mission but left behind obvious evidence leading to other operatives who may have supported the hijackings. This begs the question of whether these evidence trails were intentionally left in order to distract U.S. law enforcement from other terrorists.” The article is well worth reading.
DoCoMo Starts First 3G Service: With no fanfare, Japan’s DoCoMo has started selling 3G phones that feature video services. The company thus met the timeline it announced late last year. I was among the skeptics that thought they’d never make it. Although the rollout is limited to a 30-mile radius of Tokyo, it soon will spread to other Japanese cities. The service, dubbed FOMA, (Freedom of Mobile multimedia Access), offers download speeds as high as 384Kbps. One of the phones the company is selling has a built-in camera for wireless videoconferencing. DoCoMo sold 4,000 phones the first day.
Sprint Stops Whining; Debuts E911 Phone: You never heard such a bunch of whining as the din put up by US wireless carriers about having to meet the FCC’s E911 mandate by this month. Verizon led the pack with detailed whines about how it couldn’t comply. VoiceStream got a waiver. But Sprint has amazed us all by offering an E911-compatible phone right on time. E911 is an FCC rule requiring cell phone network operators to be able to locate a phone within 100 meters. Although Sprint is offering the phone, Samsung’s SPH-N300 GPS-enabled phone, it is not yet supporting it with network services. Nonetheless, way to go!
Commitment to Make a Difference: Karen Holtzblatt, a principal of design services consultancy InContext, made the following commitment after the recent tragedy. Many other business people have made the same pledge:
When the NYSE re-opened, we bought and will buy stock in a company we believe in (and which gave generously to recovery and victim relief).
We will commit people and money to a development project that improves people’s lives.
We will fly and attend conferences and business meetings.
We will collaborate with colleagues–and competitors–to improve what we make and how we work.
We will watch our spending but not make frivolous cuts that hamper productivity.
We will invest in helping others secure a livelihood.
We will affirm our safety, security, and joy in living by spending on something fun.
We will work to help the triumph of openness, tolerance, and understanding over fear, hatred, and violence.
InContext
Microsoft’s .NET Could Be Virus-Prone: Eric Chien, chief researcher for antivirus firm Symantec, has identified a number of areas in which .NET, Microsoft’s next generation Web services platform, could be even more vulnerable to security threats than existing Microsoft operating systems. Chien said: “There are a number of new threats here, most of which are dependent on how users set their permissions and other security settings.” Another vulnerability is .NET’s ability to run programs in a variety of different languages, many of which currently have no antivirus products available. Chien’s primary worry, though, is that users won’t know how to use the various security resources within .NET to protect themselves. Sounds like good news for Chien’s employer, though.
Silicon.com
National ID Cards As A Solution?
Oracle boss Larry Ellison recently called for the establishment of national ID cards as a curb to terrorist attacks. He’s also put his money where his (rather large ) mouth is by offering to donate the Oracle software to implement the scheme.
If you’ve been following SNS recently, you can probably guess I don’t think much of this idea. The terrorists had ID cards, after all. The Boston Globe reported that five of the hijackers had recently obtained Florida licenses. Ellison proposes that Americans be fingerprinted and that the information be placed on a database used by airport security officials to verify identities of travelers at airplane gates. He brushes aside civil libertarians’ concerns about the possible use of such a system to infringe on the privacy and other civil rights of law-abiding citizens. Echoing Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy’s famous “get over it” pronouncement , Ellison said: “Well, this privacy you’re concerned about is largely an illusion. All you have to give up is your illusions, not any of your privacy. Right now, you can go onto the Internet and get a credit report about your neighbor and find out where your neighbor works, how much they earn and if they had a late mortgage payment and tons of other information.”
Doesn’t that make you feel better? I wonder how easy it would be to get Larry Ellison’s credit report and other private information.
Anyway, the business effect of Ellison’s offer could be chilling to not only the database industry Oracle competes in, but also the employee identification and airport security industries. If the government gets into the business of assuring identity, many companies in these industries will go the way of the airport skycaps.
Shameless Self-Promotion Dept.: I’ve added a new directory to the Directories section of the StratVantage Web site: Email Newsletters. After conducting a fruitless search for a central place listing various email newsletters, I decided to establish one myself. I’ve seeded it with newsletters I receive and find useful. If you’ve got a favorite, send it along and I’ll add it.
Random Web Usage Tip: eMazing has a nice tip of the day service you can subscribe to. Even a Web junkie like myself can learn a thing or two from their service. Their latest tip about Internet Explorer is a good example: “When a page is taking forever to download all of its graphics, press the Spacebar to stop the graphics and allow you to read the text. Another trick is to click Stop and then click Refresh. Sometimes starting over will get you a faster download.” I knew the second tip, but not the first, which is very useful when some huge gratuitous image file is downloading and preventing me from getting on with it.
eMazing
Expanded Wiretap Authority Analyzed: Alert SNS Reader Jeff Ellsworth sends along a pointer to an article written by Georgetown University law professor and former Clinton chief of staff John Podesta. It’s a very easy to read consideration of the problems facing law enforcement in the digital age and the threats to freedom that could be involved if we help them do their job better.
YAMV (Yet Another Microsoft Virus) Report: I’m thinking of making this a regular feature. A new Visual Basic script-based worm, dubbed Vote, is a mass mailer which sends itself to e-mail addresses harvested from the Windows address book of infected systems. It is an email file with the subject line “Peace between America and Islam,” and it not only sends large amounts of e-mail, but also overwrites HTML (Web) files on the infected computer and can delete the system’s Windows directory and reformat the hard drive when the machine is restarted. The e-mail includes an attachment document called WTC.exe, which, when double-clicked, infects the computer. This makes Vote unlike the Nimda worm, which can infect without double-clicking, and thus experts consider the virus low risk. Nonetheless, businesses should make sure all employees know not to double-click attachments from unknown emailers. In addition, businesses should make sure antivirus protection is up to date on all computers.
The Standard (Australia)
Unmanned Aircraft May Be Key: In this war unlike any other, automated flying drones may be essential to gathering intelligence in mountainous Afghanistan. One possible problem: These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are largely untested. The Predator UAV has been flying reconnaissance missions over Iraq, and the military has other tactical UAVs including the Global Hawk, Pioneer and Hunter. Chances are good that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA, the fathers of the Internet) will step up production of the “micro-UAVs” that are currently on the drawing board. Deploying untested, leading edge battletech has a precedent. The military first deployed an experimental airborne battlefield-management system, the Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System, in the Gulf War. The bad news is control stations for UAVs would need to be close to the front lines, probably in Pakistan.
Background Check Business Booming: Many companies are benefiting from the recent tragedy, including those that specialize in performing pre-employment background checks. The company behind Pre-employ.com and MyBackgroundCheck.Com reports they are fielding 2,000 queries a day, double the normal number, since September 11.
Nokia and Visa Piloting Dual Chip Mobile Payment Service: One of the dreams of mobile commerce is the ability to quickly and wirelessly pay for goods and services using a mobile device. Nokia and Visa took a step closer to realizing the dream recently when they announced a pilot in Finland of Nordea’s Open Plaform chip card. Nordea’s card will be installed in 150 Nokia phones to be distributed to customers in Helsinki. These customers can only buy groceries and movie theater tickets, so the pilot is quite limited. Nonetheless, it will offer good data on the use of the dual chip concept, which relies on a chip card issued by a bank and a separate chip running the Wireless Identity Module (WIM) application in a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) cell phone. If the pilot is successful, look to see the technique rolled out in Northern Europe and the rest of Europe before it arrives in the US. But be careful: Don’t lose your phone!
Visualization As Decision Support: Sun and Landmark Graphics have combined to offer a data visualization solution for Unocal, which will use it to help improve departmental-level collaboration and decision-making in oil and gas exploration and production. Oil companies use massive amounts of seismic information to find pockets of oil and gas. Unocal will use Landmark’s 2003 versions of Earthcube™ and OpenVision™ graphics applications to visually inspect the data and detect telltale patterns. Up to now, such data visualization techniques involved very expensive installations. Sun and Landmark’s solution promises to bring such high-end capabilities within reach of smaller companies.
Inventor of Popular Crypto Program Clarifies: Phil Zimmerman invented a cryptographic program called PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) in 1991. The program allows its users to take emails or other documents and transform them into a virtually unbreakable set of codes that only the intended recipient can decode. In this way, users can communicate with others without law enforcement officials being able to understand the communication. Zimmerman was widely quoted – he now says misquoted – recently as being full of remorse due to the likelihood his program was used by the terrorists. After the article was published, Zimmerman clarified his statement on the Cypherpunks discussion list for cryptographers:The journalist slightly misinterpreted my remarks, and missed the shades of grey in some of what I said. I did *not* say that I was overwhelmed with guilt over PGP. I told her about my crying, just as everyone else I knew had cried over what had happened. I also told her about the hate mail, and that I “felt bad” that the terrorists may have used PGP. Indeed I do feel bad about that. But feeling bad about them using it is not the same as feeling that PGP was a mistake, or that I have changed my principles about human rights and crypto. I thought I had also made it clear that I had no regrets about developing PGP. She did not report any individual facts incorrectly in her article. But I think she connected the dots in a slightly different way, and seemed to conclude that I was wallowing in guilt over PGP. I’m sure she meant no harm. I am still very much aware that PGP was a good thing, and that strong crypto helps more than hurts. I have been saying that to the press all week. I just said it again in two more interviews I had before breakfast this morning, and will continue to say it. It seems I have to say it more forcefully. I will prepare a statement on this later today. In the meantime, feel free to let our colleagues know that I have not gone soft on civil liberties.
To stop terror, you must stop terrorists, not abridge the rights of the rest of us.
Guns On Planes As A Solution?
What’s Wrong With This Picture? I don’t know about you, but I worry about recent statements recommending that Federal marshals with guns be stationed on airplanes. I always assumed that the risk of catastrophic decompression or other really bad outcome due to discharging a firearm on a plane was quite high.
According to the site, KeepAndBearArms.com (now, let’s consider the source here), it ain’t necessarily so. First of all, you could use pre-fragmented “safety slugs” designed not to penetrate walls or ricochet from hard surfaces. Great. But even if you put a hole or two in the side of the fuselage, you could plug it with an airplane pillow, according to the site, which quotes a couple of self-identified aircraft engineers on the subject. They say the risk of a single bullet causing massive structural failure of these “bulldozers in the sky” is very slim. Of course, they don’t worry too much about what would happen if the bullet happened to shoot out a window or penetrate the fuel tanks in the wings. One of the “engineers” says that he “read someplace” that a 747 could keep flying with four windows blown out. Of course, several passengers might get “extruded” in the process, but I guess you should learn to accept that kind of collateral damage. Anyway, the site seems to be advocating that normal folks be able to fly while armed, arguing, “Concealed carry permit holders are among the most lawful people in our society.” OK, now I’m really scared.
Let’s not take leave of our senses here, folks. It’s OK with me if you’re a gun advocate. But get a clue: Arming all air passengers would arm the stinking bad guys, too! Hello? All a terrorist has to do in this scenario is get a conceal carry permit, perhaps with stolen credentials. The idea of arming passengers is looney, and typical of the type of knee jerk overreaction we’ve heard a lot of since the disaster. Never one to be outdone in the knee jerk category, our Congress has proposed a bill named H.R. 2896 — Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 that would allow pilots to be armed. Now I feel safer. Let’s see. Who was it that brought down EgyptAir 990 into Long Island Sound? Could it have been the pilot?
Don’t get me wrong. I’d much rather have pilots armed than passengers, but, let’s face it: Pilots are not immune to mental illness, marital problems, depression, bigotry, hatred, or other antisocial behaviors. Some have even flown drunk . Nevertheless, we do entrust them with our lives, and the vast majority of the time they come through. I’m not saying pilots shouldn’t have the ability to respond to a hijacking situation, but placing a very dangerous weapon in their hands (one that can be stolen and used against them) while they are dealing with flying the plane and keeping the crew and passengers calm may not be the smartest thing. Has anyone ever heard of sub-lethal weapons , for crying out loud? Please write Republican Representative Ron Paul of Texas, who sponsored the bill, and express your feelings. I’d like to suggest that it be amended to allow the carrying of sub-lethal weapons designed to protect against a terrorist attack.
While we’re on the subject of preventing skyjacking, wouldn’t it make more sense if, instead of the primitive tech of a bullet, we used the modern technology called fly-by-wire (FBW)? Modern passenger jets such as the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 777 (as well as many modern fighter jets) utilize FBW technology. What it means is the plane’s controls are not mechanically connected to the control surfaces of the plane, and all pilot actions can be modified by computers. In the case of the Airbus , hard limits are placed on what the pilot can ask the plane to do. If the pilot tries to take an action that would make the plane stall or crash into a building, for example, computers override the action and attempt to carry it out within acceptable limits of control. Boeing allows the pilot to override the computer, believing that the human has a better grasp on the situation. Well, what if there was a ground override that would enable airline officials to cause the plane to land and not respond to cockpit inputs? Or perhaps just programming a building avoidance routine would do the trick. Wouldn’t that take care of the hijacking problem?
Of course, such as system would need to be completely hacker-proof or it could be neutralized or co-opted by terrorists or antisocial script kiddies. Despite my misgivings about the security of secure systems, I for one would feel much more comfortable with such a system than with guns on board. Of course, having said that, the folks at KeepAndBearArms.com might want to put my picture in their rogues’ gallery of gun opponents, right next to Stalin and Hitler.
KeepAndBearArms.com
Shameless Self-Promotion Dept.: CFO Magazine quoted me for a story they ran on the SirCam worm and peer-to-peer networks. Like most media contacts, I said a great many brilliant, insightful, impactful things, but they only used two quotes. It’s online now, but I don’t think it gets into print until next month.
Vigilante Crackers Warned: A loose knit-group of hackers known as the “Dispatchers” vowed shortly following last week’s terrorist attacks to damage and destroy Internet service providers, Web sites and networks operated by terrorist organizations. The Dispatchers said that they would target ISPs in Palestine, Afghanistan and other countries that support terrorism. The FBI doesn’t think this is such a good idea. “There is the opportunity for significant collateral damage to any computer network and telecommunications infrastructure that does not have current countermeasures in place,” the FBI’s National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) said. “The Dispatchers claim to have over 1,000 machines under their control for the attacks. It is likely that the attackers will mask their operations by using the (Internet protocol) addresses and pirated systems of uninvolved third parties.” This type of attack might work against a country, but is likely to be a mere annoyance to terrorist groups, who can switch providers or adopt alternative means of access. Unless hackers take down all ISPs in the target countries, very little good is likely to come from such an exploit.
NationsAtWar
Taleban.com Cracked: A cracker with the handle RyDen defaced the Afghan Taleban Mission to the UN website, taleban.com. The site is now down, but as of last Sunday it read: “Own3d by RyDen.” The site was apparently first defaced in March and this is the third time in six months that RyDen has attacked the Taleban site.
Web Services On the Radar Screen
According to a July InfoWorld survey of 500 readers involved with technology strategy and technology buying, although only 6.4 percent are extremely familiar with Web services, 75 percent of them rank Web services as a moderate-to-critical IT priority for the next two years, and 66 percent will develop a Web services strategy within a year. These findings seem to indicate that Web services are more buzz than substance: Few of those surveyed really knew what they were talking about, but most were ready to make plans.
The Web services concept is still ill defined, but in general it refers to the ability to assemble applications from component services that are available over the Web. Web services are the glue that can integrate a legacy system, for example, with new capabilities. Suppose you want to set up an intranet service to let employees find out how much vacation time they’ve accrued. If the information is on a mainframe, you can employ a Web service to interact with the mainframe database, and another to format the data as a Web page. If later you want to add an application to calculate sick days, you can reuse one or both components. And if you decide to jazz up the service by adding a stock ticker, you just plug in the appropriate Web service. Sounds great, but there’s much to be done before application development is that easy.
The biggest problem with Web services involves a lack of standards and a generally fuzziness of the concept. For example, 30 percent of the respondents in InfoWorld’s survey claim to have already reaped the benefits of Web services. This is odd, because only 6.4 percent are extremely familiar with them. The various competing standards form a confusing alphabet soup: XML (eXtensible Markup Language), DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model), RMI (Remote Method Invocation), SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), WSFL (Web Services Flow Language), ONE (Open Net Environment), UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration – see the TrendSpot for more info), WSDL (Web Services Description Language), and CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture). There are other problems as well, most notably the question of security and enforcement of business rules.
Perhaps the biggest problem with Web services is the hype. The concept is being sold as a new way to create applications rather than an easy way to integrate some valuable services into an application. So far with Web services, there’s really no groundbreaking going on in the way an application is built. Currently, Web services are unlikely to be interchangeable Legos you can use to snap together an application. You still need to do hard stuff like understand what the problem is, what the users want, and how your system will flow and hang together.
The list of existing Web services at XMethods.com serves to prove this point. You might be underwhelmed by the array of services offered. Among the stupidest services are those that translate inches to millimeters or Fahrenheit to Celsius. If you’re a programmer, and you’re too lazy to look up the formulas for such simple transformations, I guess you’d be stupid enough to solve the problem by making an inefficient Web request to get the answer. Other Web services simply automate the retrieval of readily available information, like stock quotes, newsgroup postings, or zip codes. Still others seem to offer a little value, like a nucleotide sequence lookup or a credit card validator. But there aren’t services that really provide snappable application parts, like: Accept user’s login and password; Validate against corporate LDAP database; Establish Virtual Private Network and session credentials; and open a session log. That Web service might be useful, at least more useful than one that “Provides Internet Time (ITime ), as defined by Swatch.” (Oh, don’t ask. If you don’t already know what ITime is, you really won’t care to know.)
So, while Web services are getting a lot of ink, it’ll probably be a while before the reality lives up to the hype. Businesses should be wary of anyone selling this snake oil as a panacea. Developing applications remains hard work, best left to professionals. Web services can be a part of an application development effort, and may even bring real value, but we’ve been around this block before with other reusable code schemes. It remains to be seen if Web services can truly accelerate the development process.
Manufacturers Move to Protect Critical Infrastructures: The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) and the National Infrastructure Protection Center InfraGard Program have established the first InfraGard Industry Association. I wrote about InfraGard in the last SNS. The new association, called the InfraGard Manufacturing Industry Association (IMIA), aims to provide manufacturers and their supply chain partners with communications, education, and collaborative project services to help assure the security of critical business information and manufacturing infrastructures.
NCMS
Microsoft Finally Serious About Security? I’ve got to give our buddies in Redmond credit. After thousands of bugs and hundreds of virus attacks, they finally appear to understand that security is important. However, their marketing spin makes it seem like they’ve recently uncovered serious security threats: “Internet security and the increased threat from computer viruses are serious and growing issues that impact businesses around the globe, regardless of platform.” Very true, and in the spirit of helping address these threats and to benefit humanity, Microsoft announced the Strategic Technology Protection Program, “to help customers get secure and stay secure.” “Part of the company’s ongoing security commitment, this program marks an unprecedented mobilization of Microsoft’s people and resources to proactively assist customers of any size to secure their computing environments.” No, no, silly person, they’re not paying to convert people to Linux! They’re going to help people get current and stay current with the bewildering array of security bug fixes they issue each month. Hey, it’s a start!
Spears Hoax: Pranksters are getting cleverer and cleverer. Tim Fries, a Saginaw, Mich.-based online comic strip artist used a trick to make it look like CNN.com had a scoop: Singer Britney Spears Killed in Car Accident. Fries claimed he was conducting research as to how far and fast misleading information travels on the Web. “With the recent terrorist attacks and such an increasing reliance on the Internet as a trusted news source, misinformation could prove to be a powerful weapon,” said Fries. The cartoonist used a quirk in the way Web browsers handle URLs to direct users to mock-up of a CNN.com Web page at an external site. Incredibly, the distribution of the special URL to just three users of AOL’s Instant Messenger chat software resulted in more than 150,000 hits to the fake site. The URL began with the characters http://www.cnn.com, followed by "@" and the IP address of the fake site Web site. Since browsers ignore anything to the left of an "@" in a Web address, users were taken to the phony article but assumed they were going to CNN.com. In this time of ever more outrageous sounding real news, the ability of just one joker to spread disinformation could move from merely annoying to incitement to riot.
Please, before forwarding any incredible news, check the source, and check the Urban Legends Reference pages at www.snopes.com . And no, blue envelopes are not contaminated, and no mysterious Arab ex-boyfriend forecast September 11 and a mall attack on Halloween. Let’s keep it together, people.
Security News Portal
Gartner Says Ditch IIS or Face Risk: GartnerGroup has taken a very strong position against using Microsoft’s Web server, Internet Information Server (IIS), either on the Internet or even inside the enterprise. The analyst firm has faced the fact that using the buggy, security hole-riddled IIS instead of readily available and free alternatives increases the cost of ownership.
Code Red also showed how easy it is to attack IIS Web servers. Thus, using Internet-exposed IIS Web servers securely has a high cost of ownership. Enterprises using Microsoft’s IIS Web server software have to update every IIS server with every Microsoft security patch that comes out—almost weekly. However, Nimda (and to a lesser degree, Code Blue) has again shown the high risk of using IIS and the effort involved in keeping up with Microsoft’s frequent security patches. Gartner recommends that enterprises hit by both Code Red and Nimda immediately investigate alternatives to IIS, including moving Web applications from other vendors to Web server software, such as iPlanet and Apache. Although these Web servers have required some security patches, they have much better security records than IIS and are not under active attack by the vast number of virus and worm writers.
Sun has taken advantage of these recommendations to announce a “trade up” program to help businesses transition off IIS and onto its iPlanet Web server. It even offers free software that allows programs written to IIS’ Active Server Pages (ASP) API to run on Sun equipment. Sun has knocked $500 off its normal iPlanet pricing as an incentive. As reported in a previous SNS, even the insurance industry has taken notice of the problems with IIS, with one insurer charging higher premiums for disaster insurance to businesses using IIS.
Making Copies to Ensure Availability: Sun Microsystems and Stanford University said recently that the LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) program – designed to protect the integrity of valuable electronic content – is performing well in large-scale tests at 47 global locations. The LOCKSS system is an open-source, Java-based, distributed content mirroring system, designed to run on low-cost computers without central administration. Computers continually monitor files on their hard disks at random intervals. If files have been corrupted or altered, an automatic caching system replaces them with intact copies derived from redundant copies on other machines. This enables content providers to maintain access to critical information.
Too Much Sun? At the risk of overloading you on news from our buddies at Sun Microsystems, I have to let you know about their collaborative effort with Lucent to deliver unified communications via a mobile portal. Unified communications has been the next big thing for a couple of years now. It promises to allow you to access all your communications in whatever form you want. For example, you can get your email, voicemail, and faxes all via the telephone. The new service will allow users to browse the Web, check and send voice and e-mail messages, initiate calls from their address book via voice command, hear faxes, and attach e-mail to voicemail messages (and vice versa) all via their cell phones. Messages can also be bookmarked by voice command so users can easily jump back to them later. Sounds pretty cool. Let’s see if it can fly in real life. (Disclaimer: I do indeed own stock in Sun and would love to see it come up from under water.)
I Want This Phone: Nokia has come out with another cool phone. The Nokia 5510 is a music player, FM radio, messaging machine, games platform and phone. It includes (of course) an Internet browser as well as 64 MB memory to store up to 2 hours of music, the ability to answer and end phone calls with the stereo headset while listening to music, voice dial for 8 names, and 5 built-in games. The game controller-like form factor will certainly attract the kids, while business people will like the full keyboard (for two-fisted typing) and the ability to send longer messages. Unfortunately, the phone won’t be available in the US. Drat. (Pet Peeve, part XXIII: I’ve complained before about Nokia’s Web site. Now wouldn’t you think when they announce a new phone you could use their search capability, type in the model number, and find the appropriate page? Nope.)
Stupid Quote Alert: I get eMazing’s Stupid Quote of the Day email service, and most of the quotes aren’t real winners. But last Wednesday’s brought a smile to my face:
"The department takes very seriously its responsibility to protect the privacy interests of Americans who have been the subject of investigative scrutiny."
– Justice Dept spokeswoman Susan Dryden, explaining that the Justice Department invading your privacy and other people invading your privacy are two completely different things.
Can Freedom and Security Coexist?
My heart, like every American’s, is broken due to the horrific acts of a few fanatics a week ago. Commentators are fond of saying nothing will ever be the same again, but I hope that’s not true. Nonetheless, there are elements in the government that are trying to make some pretty important things change. Things like freedom. Attorney General John Ashcroft wants sweeping new wiretap powers that would essentially allow the government to eavesdrop on any conversation anywhere as long as they have a “reasonable” expectation that a suspected criminal is involved in the conversation. Rather than wiretaps being associated with a particular telephone, Ashcroft wants them to be associated with the suspect. While I agree police need more freedom to intercept communications in this age of disposable cell phones, I worry that the Feds will end up listening to a lot of conversations that don’t involve the suspects in question. What happens if they turn up evidence of other wrongdoing as a result?
Personally, I’m sick to death of the usual response I get when I bring up potential threats to freedom like this. The average person responds, “I’ve got nothing to hide, so I don’t care if the authorities can [wiretap my house, search it without a
warrant, confiscate my nail clippers at the airport, read all my email, know
whenever I travel on the tollway, and so on]. My usual response is to point out that the listener is not a criminal, yet. Until recently, it wasn’t a crime to post a link on your Web page to a site that hosted software to break copy protection schemes. Today it is a crime. So you’re not a criminal now, but in the future you could be criminalized.
One company that stands to make a lot of money over the hysteria over airport security is Visionics , a maker of face-recognition equipment and other security products that use biometrics
The Right to Privacy?
Recently, in a discussion group I participate in, someone asked, “What happened to our right to privacy?” He was appalled at a recent judicial decision that, he claimed, stated “that phone calls you place and take in your own home cannot be considered private.”
While I certainly agree with the sentiment, I must point out that there’s nothing in the Constitution that guarantees privacy. The 4th Amendment guarantees citizens’ security of “persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,” but doesn’t guarantee privacy. In fact, the word doesn’t appear anywhere in the Constitution or the amendments.
There are some laws on the books regarding privacy, however, but most only concern the federal government. In 1998 the White House issued a memorandum on Privacy and Personal Information in Federal Records, saying: “Privacy is a cherished American value, closely linked to our concepts of personal freedom and well-being. At the same time, fundamental principles such as those underlying the First Amendment, perhaps the most important hallmark of American democracy, protect the free flow of information in our society.” The memorandum directs Federal agency heads to “assure that their use of new information technologies sustain, and do not erode, the protections provided in all statutes relating to agency use, collection, and disclosure of personal information,” and that they follow the Privacy Act of 1974. One wonders why it was necessary to direct government agencies to obey the law!
There is one bill, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act , enacted in late 1999 with a compliance date of July of this year, that does regulate what financial institutions can do with non-public information about you. It’s because of this law that you’ve been receiving the privacy policies of the various financial institutions in your life. These institutions must, “Provide an opt-out notice, with the initial notice or separately, prior to a financial institution sharing nonpublic personal information with nonaffiliated third parties.” So now’s your chance to opt out.
Also this year, the privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 became effective, with a compliance date of April 14, 2003. The original 1996 law gave Congress until August 21, 1999, to pass comprehensive health privacy legislation. When Congress did not enact such legislation after three years, the law required the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to craft such protections by regulation. The regulations basically protect your health information from being disclosed without your consent. However, since medical establishments share information all the time in the process of caring for you, this gets a bit sticky. The rules are expected to cost $17.6 billion over 10 years to implement, while generating significant offsetting savings.
Despite some recent advances, and despite the cherished nature of privacy, there are few rules is binding on non-financial or non-health institutions. Private citizens really have no right to privacy in other arenas. Sure there’s a lot of talk about privacy, and about the EU privacy rules, but, as you can see from Congress’ HIPAA foot dragging, our government really has little interest in proactively enacting laws to protect our privacy from non-governmental entities. The FTC has created the elements of fair information practices (notice, choice, access, security, and contact), but there’s no enforcement mechanism. There’s a lot of interest in trading in online information (failed dot-coms trying to sell client lists), but these challenges tend to stand on the concept of the contractual nature of a site’s voluntary privacy policy.
Sun CEO Scott McNealy said a couple of years ago, “You have no privacy. Get over it.” Is this our fate? Must we stand by while private companies amass tremendous databases of information (don’t get me started on Microsoft’s Passport!) on us? Or should we make our elected representatives aware that we’d just as soon keep our private matters private? Will it take being turned down for a job because you have a genetic predisposition to cancer to bring the point home? And while we’re at it, as marketers, what is our responsibility to refrain from infringing on privacy? We need answers to these questions soon, IMHO. I’m interested in your thoughts on these matters. Send them in and I’ll publish them in a future SNS.
Privacy Backgrounder
Shameless Self-Promotion Dept.: I’ve added some functionality to the Marketing section of the StratVantage Web site. Among other things, you can now track airline flights. I’m planning on making this page a dumping ground, er, demonstration area for the best (and some of the worst) of the online marketing techniques around. After all, any traffic to your Web site is good traffic, right? Wrong, spam-breath! If you have a hosting company that throttles your Web site if you have too many visitors (like I do), you don’t need lots of lookie-Lou’s. And speaking of Web site throttling, my hosting company has finally admitted that they’ve been turning away users of the StratVantage Web site erroneously, due to a bug in their traffic monitoring software. Consequently, they’re moving the site to their new UNIX servers, and that will solve the problem (yeah it will!). So if you can’t get to my site over the weekend or early next week, that’s what’s happening.
StratVantage Marketing
Web Site Liability: Alert SNS Reader Andrew Hargreave sends along this item: According to Margaret Jane Radin, director of Stanford’s Program on Law, Science and Technology, the owners of a hacked Web site could be liable for whatever problems arise from the malfunction or downtime of the site. Radin concludes that “there is a ‘significant risk’ that in the near future targeted Web sites will be held liable to their customers for harm arising from distributed denial-of-service attacks.” Since most Web hosters have some sort of Service Level Agreement (SLA), make sure they don’t wiggle out of their share of responsibility for downtime.
NWFusion
Get ‘Em While They’re Young: The state of Arizona is planning on delivering more than 7,000 software titles to 850,000 students in all 1,200 of its schools statewide using an Application Service Provider (ASP) approach. Access to the applications will cost $8.16 per student per year. The ASP deal involves an unprecedented agreement concerning the use of Microsoft Office: Students can use the both in school and at home on a round-the-clock basis. “Typically, if you want to use [Office] in two places, they want to charge you for that privilege,” according to Gartner analyst Neil MacDonald. As great an idea as this is, it will be difficult to run applications like Excel or Word over 56Kbps dialup connections. Enter Cox Business Services, which plans to push high-speed cable modem service to the home to provide students with the required bandwidth. Alert SNS Reader Andrew Hargreave also sent this item.
A Sneaky Way to Increase Wireless Revenue: Australian telecom Telstra sent voice messages to millions of its mobile phone customers promoting a new service. Innovative marketing, you say? Well, perhaps, but the company charged its customers to retrieve the message. Any time you can get your customers to pay for your marketing efforts, that’s a good thing, right? Wrong again, direct marketing breath! This sort of thing is not unprecedented, however, as many dialup Internet users have to pay to receive spam email, a fact that has spawned many different bills in Congress aiming to clean up spam. I guess our representatives better worry about voice spam as well.
Signs You Live in the Year 2001: Here’s a bit of a giggle. I particularly like reason number 11: “Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t have the first 20 or 30 years of your life, is cause for panic and turning around to go get it.” I’ve been there.
New Times, New Art: I don’t know if the Surveillance Camera Players are still a going concern, but I just love the concept: a troupe of players who put on little dramas in front of surveillance cameras. Talk about narrowcasting! This is performance art at its finest. Unfortunately, all the links to movies of their performances, such as Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, performed at the Astor Place subway station, Manhattan, don’t appear to work. But their Web site was updated at the end of August, so perhaps we can hope that the troupe is still out there keeping it real.NotBored
Loudcloud Makin’ Some Noise: Qwest Communications and Loudcloud inked a five year preferred partner deal to co-market and sell each other’s services. Loudcloud will host in Qwest CyberCenters and use Qwest’s network. Qwest expects the alliance to generate about $260 million of service sales during the next five years. As I have said in the past , I don’t think telecoms will succeed in the ASP space without a lot of help. Despite their considerable potential and many relevant capabilities, telecoms lack several key assets, like customer service and an understanding of business applications other than voice. Qwest is one of the most clueful Baby Bells, having been an entrepreneurial long distance competitor before taking the baffling step of acquiring one of the most clueless RBOCs, USWest. Loudcloud makes a good match, and I think they’re feeling the heat of sky-high expectations (founded by Marc Andreesen) and diminished accomplishments (after debuting at $6, Loudcloud is now trading under two bucks). It remains to be seen whether this alliance will succeed, but it looks like a smooth move for Qwest.
InternetWeek
VoiceXML 2 held up for intellectual property issues: The more than 500 Voice XML Forum members need to work out some way to cross license the technology. The forum was started by AT&T, IBM, Lucent and Motorola two and a half years ago to create a common specification for writing applications that respond to voice control.
Report from Burning Man: Alert SNS Reader Andy Stevko took the plunge and visited the Burning Man festival, a bustling temporary city of some 25,000+ people in the middle of the Black Rock Desert in Nevada that has become the techies’ pilgrimage/Disneyland/end of summer bacchanal. Just like the bikers return to Sturgis each year, so do techies, artists, and fellow travelers return to the stinking alkali desert to be “part of an experimental community, which challenges its members to express themselves and rely on themselves to a degree that is not normally encountered in one’s day-to-day life.” The result is temporarily Black Rock City, home to the Burning Man event. Frankly, the experience can’t really be described, although Bruce Sterling took a great stab at it, but Andy’s got pictures, at the link below.
Hotu-Matua
Cybersquatting Is Legal – For Some
There’s nothing like a monopoly. You get to make your own rules and wield power however you want. So I guess it’s not surprising that, when ICANN gave monopolies to the registrars for the seven new top level domains (.biz, .name, .pro, .museum, .info, .aero, and .coop), there’d be opportunities for abuse. Turns out abuse is practically mandated in the new domain operators’ contracts, which entitles them to register up to 10,000 domains for themselves before allowing anyone else access. This means that 10,000 of the most valuable, juiciest domain names are likely to not be available to all comers. Names like business.biz, museum.museum and the like could be controlled by the domain registrar, who could auction them to the highest bidders. Afilias, a consortium of 18 companies and domain registrar for the .info domain, has registered search.info, for example. ICANN argues that a registry operator will need a wide range of addresses on that registry in order to work effectively. Here’s a list of names reserved by NeuLevel, the administrator of the .biz gTLD (generic Top Level Domain).
As if that’s not bad enough, other registrants have taken many desirable domain names in the early registration period, which is supposed to be available only to trademark owners. So if you had your heart set on getting sports.info, computer.info, bank.info, or finance.info, you can forget it. All have been snapped up by registrants who did not hold legitimate trademarks. Afilias says they’ll take action in December, after their review of the early registration period ends. One study found that of 11,000 .info registrations, between 15 and 25 percent were bogus. My personal favorite bogus registration was for bible.info, which claimed its trademark number was “1”. Not according to the USPTO, it’s not. With all this potential cybersquatting, Afilias has its work cut out for it if it hopes to clear it all up by yearend.
Domain registrar NeuLevel, which was awarded the .biz monopoly, has been accused by Amazon of running an illegal lottery, and has filed suit to defend itself. At issue is the pre-registration period NeuLevel established in which applicants pay a small fee to reserve the rights to a name. On September 17, the company will randomly award contested names. I don’t know about you, but that sounds an awful lot like a lottery to me. However, I don’t really know how else a registrar can resolve multiple claims for a single name, unless there’s trademark or other intellectual property rights at stake (like in cocacola.biz). Amazon supposedly has said in a letter to the company, “NeuLevel is deriving enhanced revenues by selling chances to register or to challenge registration of domain names that incorporate famous trademarks such as AMAZON.COM.” NeuLevel counters with a reasonable-sounding point: other firms, such as Amazon Imaging Inc., might reasonably stake a claim to the address www.amazon.biz. “Because amazon.com and amazon.biz exist in different top-level domains, they resolve to different and unique Internet addresses and thus can function and coexist without collision,” the suit says. Where’s Solomon when we need him?
The bottom line on all of this is, as I’ve said before , the new domain names will not provide any relief to the overcrowding of the .com top level domain. In a random check of .info registrations, the usual suspects held the domains coke.info, pepsi.info, nike.info, and nbc.info. How exactly is this better? If Amazon is insisting on getting Amazon.biz, even though they are by far not the only Amazon in the world, what can we expect of names like “Excel,” which are applied to various businesses in various industries. Trademark law allows this because a trademark only applies to a class of trade. The new gTLDs are not industry-specific, and so chaos will again reign, and the big companies will scoop up all the good names.
That being said, businesses need to evaluate the need for representation in the new gTLDs. Do you want your competition to register your name? Most businesses have no choice other than registering in all the gTLDs possible. It’s a shame ICANN has not come up with a better solution. Heck, at this point, we may not ever see a better solution.
IT Analysis
Shameless Self-Promotion Dept.: StratVantage’s P2P4B2B – Peer to Peer for Business Directory was featured in the July 16th issue of Network World File Sharing newsletter, along with some nice mentions of white papers I’ve done. Even more impressive is the fact that a search for “StratVantage” on Google now gets you two pages of hits! Hoohoo!
New Wireless SIG: Geneer has created the Midwest Wireless Application Developers Special Interest Group (SIG) a non-commercial group designed to promote discussion of wireless developer tips and tools. The first meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2001, and features Guest Presenter Rod Massie of Motient Corp., provider of eLinkSM and BlackBerry™ by Motient wireless email services. Rod’s topic is Developers’ Tips & Secrets for Motient’s Terrestrial Network and Motorola’s DataTAC Technology. The free meeting runs from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Marriott Suites, 8535 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, Illinois.
SIG Signup
I Want This Gadget: In the Cool Tools Department this issue is the Clever Cam 360, a digital camera, Webcam and camcorder combination that is the size of a pen. The device captures 45 seconds of streaming video and can store up to 360 digital stills. Plus, with its USB interface, you can attach it to your laptop and send the family a live video stream from your lonely hotel room. Plus, kids, it’s under $90!
TechnoScout
Fighting Back Against Code Red: Alert SNS Reader Andrew points out that there are more benign ways to fight back against the Code Red worm. Some server administrators use a script that “simply exploits the ability to run an executable to fire up the NT command ‘net send’ to send a pop-up message box on every machine in that domain with the text ‘Your Webserver is infected with the Code Red Virus! Please remove it from the Internet and apply the Microsoft Hot Fixes to correct this!’ This is not nearly as bad as rebooting some other person’s server randomly. Rebooting a CodeRed II infected server does no good as the worm installs a backdoor allowing a cracker to come in at any time.” This is indeed a more benign solution, but it still involves running a program on a server without authorization. However, it could be argued that this solution is no more invasive than sending an email. Your opinion?
The URL listed below this item takes you to a page of possible FightBack responses that also includes the log of attacks on just one Web server. Two things are notable about this log. First, it represents more than 7,000 attacks since July 19th from more than 2,500 hosts. That’s amazing. Second, many, if not most, of these attacks are coming from people with cable modems. In fact, Cox Cable, Las Vegas, represented more than 4,000 of the attacks compared with roughly 700 for Excite@Home and 500 for RoadRunner. What makes this interesting is the fact that most cable modem and DSL companies forbid their users from running any kind of server.
One very confusing aspect about all the Code Red coverage involves whether or not Microsoft’s Personal Web Server is vulnerable. Microsoft requires you to install PWS when you install FrontPage, their Web authoring tool. Many FrontPage users probably did the install back when they were still learning about the Web and have forgotten that they are running a Web server on their computers. However, neither Microsoft nor CERT nor Information Warfare thinks PWS is vulnerable. Some reports claim PWS is vulnerable to Code Red when run on Windows NT or 2000, but Information Warfare says it doesn’t even run on 2000, and indeed I couldn’t install it on my Windows 2000 machine. PWS does run on Windows NT Workstation, according to the site. Whatever the real deal is, it just may be possible that some of these attacks are coming from people who do not know they are running PWS or Internet Information Server (IIS). However, your machine is not vulnerable unless you are running Windows NT or 2000.
Regardless of the possible Code Red vulnerability, you should probably not be unintentionally running a Web server, as they can expose you to threats without your knowledge. You can check to see if PWS or IIS is running on your machine. One easy way is to see if you have either of the following directories: C:/Webshare/Wwwroot or C:/InetPub/Wwwroot. These are the default root directories of various versions of PWS and IIS. Another way is to go to Control Panel and see if you have a Personal Web Server icon. If you are running PWS, I recommend uninstalling it just to be safe. If you are running IIS, a patch is available on Microsoft’s Code Red page . By the way, it is important to note that the Microsoft patch that fixes the vulnerability only prevents future infections. If you are infected, you need to remove the file /inetpub/scripts/root.exe in order to disable the backdoor installed by Code Red.
Finally, system administrators can get a scanning tool to identify vulnerable computers from eEye . And Microsoft has released Personal Security Advisor , which takes a look at your NT or 2000 system and finds common misconfiguration problems.
FightBack Script
Insurer Charges Premium for Using Microsoft: Insurance broker J.S. Wurzler Underwriting Managers has started charging up to 15 percent more in hacker insurance premiums to clients that use Microsoft’s Internet Information Server software. Oddly, they made this decision before Code Red caused an estimated $2 billion in damage. They based their action on Wurzler their finding that system administrators working on open source systems tend to be better trained and stay with their employers longer than those at firms using Windows software. Thus bug patches are more likely to be applied.
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Posted on August 21, 2015 by solutionsadmin
Author: Alice Yick Flanagan, Ph.D.
When conducting research with other cultural groups and those from racial and ethnic minority groups, it is important for researchers to take into account how culture impacts conducting ethical research. The definition of the term “culture” is complex because it is multilayered and not necessarily static but dynamic. Culture can be defined as the group’s value systems which comprises of the sanctioned behaviors and rules of conduct (Gordon, 1964; Lum, 1999). It also involves language, ways of thinking, worldviews, attitudes and religious, social, institutional, community, and familial beliefs that are passed from generation to generation within a group (Hodge, Struckerman & Trust, 1975; Sue, 1981).
In this blog, we will focus on the how culture can color the issue of autonomy and how it applies to informed consent. The Belmont Report identifies three main principles to guide ethical research. Let us focus on the first principle which is respect for persons. According to the Belmont Report, “respect for persons incorporates at least two ethical premises: first, individuals should be treated as autonomous agents, and second, that persons with diminished autonomy are entitled to protection.” When conducting ethical research, this translates to the principle that the individual can exercise self-determination and make decisions whether he/she wants to participate. The individual should not in any way feel he/she was coerced into participation. Therefore, the informed consent form is meant to communicate all the information for the research participant to make an informed decision about his/her participation in the study. For those who are not able make such decisions, mechanisms must be in place to protect these individuals.
In Western societies such as the United States, self-determination and autonomy are held paramount. That is because Western societies emphasize first-order autonomy, which promotes self-determination (Hanssen, 2004). However, there is another category of autonomy: second order autonomy, where decision-making is group oriented. Typically, this will apply to more collectivistic cultures, and the decision-maker is designated by the group (Hanssen, 2004). For example, often times, with research that involves Native Indian tribal groups or indigenous groups, the community leader, elders, grandparents and/or other relatives have to provide the consent versus the individual (Ruiz-Casares, 2014). In Asian immigrant groups where they adhere to traditional and patriarchal norms, there may be a male designated family member who needs to be consulted when making major decisions (Chittem & Butow, 2015).
The informed consent form might have different cultural meanings. In some cultures, for example, putting a signature on a piece of paper implies that the activity is associated with a major life circumstance or legal matter (Rashad, MacVane & Haith-Cooper, 2004). Requiring research participants in certain cultural groups to put a signature on a consent form may also implicitly convey a lack of trust especially if they feel that a verbal consent is adequate (Lloyd, Johnson, Mughal, Sturt, et. al., 2008; Rashad et. al., 2004). Sometimes, asking immigrants to sign a consent form may be off putting to them because they are afraid that the signature can be traced to the fact that they are illegal residing in the country, fearing deportation (Piamjariyakul, Myers, Werkowitch & Smith, 2014).
How do these concepts apply to researchers aiming to conduct ethical and culturally sensitive research? Here are some thoughts:
Consult with cultural brokers who can provide you with culturally relevant information to inform your decisions about specific sampling and data collection procedures.
Are there specific gatekeepers in the community that you need to identify and obtain permission to conduct the study? Do they serve as the person who provides consent for the entire group?
Does it make sense to request a waiver of a signature for the consent form from your IRB? If so, make sure you provide the IRB information about the cultural context and the reasons why you are requesting this waiver.
Does it make sense for you to request a waiver for consent given the local cultural context? If so, make sure you provide the IRB information about the cultural context and the reasons why you are requesting this waiver.
Avoid as much technical jargon in the consent forms as possible so that it does not sound like a legal document. As much as possible, make it reader friendly.
Chittem, M. & Butow, P. (2015). Responding to family requests for nondisclosure: The impact of oncologists’ cultural background. Journal of Cancer Research & Therapeutics, 11(1), 174-180.
Gordon, M.M. (1964). Assimilation in American life. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Hanssen, I. (2004). An intercultural nursing perspective on autonomy. Nursing Ethics, 11(1), 28-41.
Hodge, J.L.; Struckmann, D.K. & Trost, L.D. (1975)/ Cultural bases of racism and group oppression. Berkeley, CA: Two Riders Press.
Lum, D. (1999). Culturally competence practice. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Piamjariyakul, U; Myers, S; Werkowitch, M. & Smith C.E. (2014). End-of-life preferences and presence of advance directives among ethnic populations with severe chronic cardiovascular illnesses. Journal of the Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing of the European Society of Cardiology, 13(2), 185-189.
Ruiz-Casares, M. (2014). Research ethics in global mental health: Advancing culturally responsive mental health research. Transcultural Psychiatry, 51(6), 790-805.
Sue, D.W. (1981). Counseling the culturally different: Theory and practice. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
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Copyright 2019 - St. Paul's Carnival Association
King Christian LXXXV
Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Raul "Roy" Gamez
Lieutenant Colonel Raul “Roy” Gamez (Retired), a 12 year resident of Pass Christian, is dedicated to serving his church and community. He hails from San Antonio, Texas where he graduated from Trinity University with a degree in Education. He retired from anaccomplished career with the U.S. Federal Department of Education,Office for Civil Rights.
A highly decorated U.S. Army veteran, Roy received two Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat, two Bronze Stars (one for valor for heroic actions in Quang Tri, Vietnam), the Combat Infantry Badge, and numerous other military awards. Roy is an active member of Holy Family Catholic Church. A devotedmember of the Knights of Columbus, He has served as Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator and currently serves as a District Deputy Knights of Columbus for the State of Mississippi.
Roy is a life member of the VFW, the Purple Heart Society and the Retired Military Officers Association. Roy has also been inducted to the National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame.
Married 44 years to his high school sweetheart, the former Betty Ann Calonge, they are blessed with twin sons who are Lieutenant Colonels in the U.S. Army serving in Germany and Virginia. They have five grandchildren, all of whom hold a special place in his heart. Roy enjoys life, loves people and never meets a stranger!
Queen Christiana 2015
Shae Hilton
Shae Hilton is a member of Our Lady of Fatima parish and St. Paul Carnival Association. She is a graduate of Biloxi High School and studied accounting at Delaware State University. She is an active parent at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School where she has served for the last two years as T-Shirt Chairperson onthe Boogie on the Beach Committee, classroom coordinator, and organizes and submits the Labels for Education and Community Coffee programs all directly benefiting the School.
Shae is also active in her local community. She has served as a Girl Scout leader and was a member of the Junior League of the Emerald Coast, and a member of the Junior League of San Francisco, both of which are charitable organizations focusing on raising funds for the less fortunate.
Married for 15 years to Kevin Hilton, they have two children, Ashley and Evan, who attend St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School.
Serving Catholic Education Since 1930
Carnival Association, Inc.
About SPCA
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China to need more than 6,000 new planes by 2033: Boeing
This picture taken on Sept 3, 2014 shows an Air China Boeing 747 preparing to land at Beijing Capital International airport. China will need more than 6,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years, US manufacturer Boeing forecast Thursday - an increase of almost 500 on its equivalent prediction last year. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Sep 4, 2014, 6:05 pm SGT
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BEIJING (AFP) - China will need more than 6,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years, US manufacturer Boeing forecast Thursday - an increase of almost 500 on its equivalent prediction last year.
Flight demand in the world's most populous country and second-largest economy is increasing and diversifying, Boeing said in its new Current Market Outlook for the country.
Chinese new aircraft demand will reach 6,020 planes worth US$870 billion (S$1.08 trillion) during the 2014-2033 period, it said, compared to last year's 20-year demand forecast of 5,580 planes.
Underscoring the dramatic increase in passenger demand, Boeing said that a total of 6,930 passenger aircraft will be plying China's skies in 2033, three times the current 2,310.
"China's domestic market has been strong and resilient for many years, and continues to be strong," Mr Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, told reporters in Beijing.
During the 20-year period Chinese carriers will take delivery of 16 per cent of the world's airplane production, the company said.
Boeing, maker of the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner, competes with Europe's Airbus for global dominance in the aircraft market.
The US firm says it made more than half the current Chinese commercial fleet, while Airbus says it has an almost-50 per cent share.
"The market is changing, evolving," Mr Tinseth told reporters in Beijing, saying demand for more direct flights to more destinations was being driven by factors including low-cost carriers.
"It's good for passengers, and ultimately it will be good for the aviation market here." Only 1,400 of China's new aircraft in the next 20 years will replace existing airplanes, Boeing said, while 4,620, or 77 per cent, will be additions to the fleet.
In July, Boeing raised its forecast for global aircraft demand by 4.2 per cent from last year's projection, saying it expected 36,770 planes to be delivered over the next two decades in deals worth US$5.2 trillion.
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Find grace with middle knowledge in the holiday season | Faith
While the holiday season is one filled with activity and joy for many, it can be a very difficult time for those who are experiencing grief.
Find grace with middle knowledge in the holiday season | Faith While the holiday season is one filled with activity and joy for many, it can be a very difficult time for those who are experiencing grief. Check out this story on tallahassee.com: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/faith/2019/12/13/find-grace-middle-knowledge-holiday-season/4413595002/
Rev. Candace McKibben, Guest columnist Published 12:39 p.m. ET Dec. 13, 2019
Rev. Candace McKibben (Photo: Candace McKibben)
When the speaker at the National Institute for Jewish Hospice Certification Conference spoke of the concept, I knew intuitively what he was naming. Dr. Ken Doka, a Lutheran minister and expert in grief, recalled a little boy who had asked for him in the middle of the night.
As the on-call chaplain, he rushed to the hospital where the child shared that he knew he had leukemia and that he had only a few years at best to live. It was an important conversation and the young chaplain was honored to be present with the boy as he processed his feelings.
The next morning, Doka said he made it a point to go by and see the youth to continue the conversation they had shared during the night. Instead, he said the boy told him as he entered the room, “I have decided I want to be a lawyer when I grow up.”
The boy was demonstrating what Harvard psychiatrist and researcher, Dr. Avery Weisman, called “middle knowledge.” Weisman says that denial is not a sign of unhealthy coping but rather a tool for patients to safely and slowly integrate the reality of death over time. Like a pendulum swinging in and out of awareness, this coping allows for a healthy-paced integration of information that might feel overwhelming if processed all at once.
It seems like a protective psychological mechanism not only for those who are dealing with a difficult diagnosis, but for any of us who are processing information that is overwhelming. Doka was grateful that as new as he was in his ministry, he somehow realized it was important to allow the little boy to discuss what mattered most to him in the moment, and so turned his attention to the child’s legal aspirations.
While the holiday season is one filled with activity and joy for many, it can be a very difficult time for those who are experiencing grief over the loss of someone they love, who are dealing with relational cut-offs from persons who matter, and who are burdened with the cares of the world, the cares of those they love, and their own inner cares.
Rather than an unhealthy coping process, the denial we employ to live with the hurts we may feel during this season can give us the emotional safety net we need. Realizing that like the little boy, we will have the awareness of reality balanced by the hope of miracle as the pendulum swing helps us to move forward, however slowly.
And like the chaplain who visited the boy, it is important for us to give ourselves the grace to discuss what matters most to us in the moment, whether it is the reality of the situation or the denial of it.
In a recent conversation with my wise and compassionate counselor, I told him that I did not feel as desperate about a particular circumstance as I once had. It was not, I explained, that the situation did not matter, it was that somehow I had come to a place where I was not as anguished about it.
“Perhaps you have accepted things as they are,” he offered in a moment both revolutionary and obvious. It is where the swinging pendulum finally comes to rest between what I wish would be true and what is true: acceptance without resignation and with hope. I believe it is both the most difficult and the most relieving place to land.
During this season of Advent, celebrated by many Christians the world over, the themes vacillate between the harsh realities of life and the hope, joy, and love of meaningful relationships with each other and with God.
The good news proclaimed is that we are loved and valued and find true meaning in loving and valuing others; a place of acceptance with hope.
As you navigate the middle knowledge of whatever you are dealing with during this holiday season, I pray for you the support of family and friends and a deep awareness of your value as one who is loved. It is a gift we can give each other.
The Rev. Candace McKibben is an ordained minister who serves as the director of faith outreach at Big Bend Hospice and as pastor of Tallahassee Fellowship.
Read or Share this story: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/faith/2019/12/13/find-grace-middle-knowledge-holiday-season/4413595002/
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Eileen Mohan stands near a photograph of her and her son Christopher.
‘Why me? Why Christopher?’
Eileen Mohan continues to grieve, while courts impose further delays in the trial of the man facing charges related to her son's murder
Kevin Diakiw
Eileen Mohan agonizes over yet another delay in the trial of the man accused of killing her son.
Since her son’s murder in 2007, her life has been “turned inside out,” she says, and often wonders how she will continue.
She has just learned she will have to wait two more years before a man charged in connection with his murder will face trial, and that there’s a possibility he may go free because of the delays.
“I always look to the heavens and say `Why me? Why Christopher?” Mohan said Monday. “We were good people, and we were doing really good things in life… sometimes I don’t understand how fate has played its hand.
“I don’t know how I live, but I do.”
Jamie Bacon (shown left) is one of the people arrested and charged with murder in relation to the killing of six people in suite 1505 of the Balmoral Tower in North Surrey, including Christopher Mohan and Ed Schellenberg, two innocent bystanders.
Last week, the trial of Jamie Bacon was postponed until March, 2018, making it nine years he will have been waiting for due process.
Justice Branch spokesman Dan McLaughlin confirmed Monday that the Bacon matter had been put off.
Part of that reason is that his defense is crafting an application for a stay of proceedings.
If successful, Bacon would be set free.
“It’s realistic that he might be granted a stay, and that’s something I don’t want to happen,” Mohan said.
McLaughlin told The Leader it’s a complicated case, and Crown is doing what it can to move things along.
“We’re always concerned that we proceed to trial in a timely fashion,” McLaughlin said Monday. “And we’re taking steps to ensure that occurs.”
The trial itself is expected to last for six to nine months.
To this point, four people have been convicted or have pleaded guilty, to a role in the murders of Corey Lal, his brother Michael, associates Ryan Bartolomeo and Eddie Narong, as well as Schellenberg and Mohan.
In December 2014, Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston were sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of six counts of first degree murder and one count of conspiracy.
They are appealing that conviction.
Michael Le pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to 12 years.
One person, who can only be identified as Person X by court order, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for three of the murders and was sentenced to life with no parole for 15 years.
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Slow Wave Sleep is a surreal world based on the exploration of new musical frontiers in pop music. It started in 2015 as a literary project of the Italian musician Emilio Larocca Conte: a diary in which he used to transcribe dreams and thoughts in order to control pain and to project reality into a fictitious world. When he started studying electronic music production the whole concept with stories and characters flowed into music. After a period of instrumental demos, the official debut L’Ultimo Uomo has been produced in a single room in Berlin and published on 23rd January 2018, where the background of Emilio is fused into an eclectic style of music with lyrics in Italian. The album is accompanied by video clips by Parresìa and Ragnarök, both filmed on his return to Italy. Few months later the second album Chroma is out, together with the music video of Elogio della Follia produced thanks to a crowdfunding campaign.
Meanwhile, Emilio forms a band to bring slow-wave sleep to life, starting to get noticed in clubs, festivals and competitions throughout Italy. Emilio, Gilberto, Stella and Gabriele entered the studio in February 2019, helped by Mimmo Crudo (OndAnomala, Il Parto delle Nuvole Pesanti), to record the new live recording, currently in the mix, that will be accompanied by two music videos (one of them interactive) and the live perfomance of Valzer Nero.
SWS aims to tell stories through a “liquid” style of music because sounds, like water, adapt the idea to any container and generate life. Although each release is a concept album, the songs have no explicit reference to the whole concept. SWS can go also beyond music and so far has been led into short films (“Sgamos vs Fates“), books (“Spettro“) and contaminations (“Project Vena” and “Hypnagogic Vol.1“), with the help of other artists interested in the project.
#thedreamteam:
Emilio Larocca Conte – vocals and guitars
Stella Canonico – bass and backing vocals
Gilberto Ongaro – keyboards, synths and backing vocals
Gabriele Larocca Conte – drums, percussions and samples
Andrea Cascini – guitars and synths (guest)
Filippo Cresci – guitars (guest)
SWS’s Manifesto
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7 reasons why Luna Lovegood is our favorite Ravenclaw in Harry Potter
Lisa Granshaw
@LisaGranshaw
Tag: Luna Lovegood
Tag: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Tag: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Only a few characters in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series have the honor of their names being a chapter title in one of the seven books. It's no surprise to us that Luna Lovegood is among that select number.
We first meet Luna on the Hogwarts Express in Chapter 10 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The chapter, named after the character, sees our familiar group of Harry, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and friends boarding a crowded train with nowhere to sit except with Luna. While Neville Longbottom hesitates to sit with her, Ginny Weasley proclaims that "Loony Lovegood" is all right. Our Gryffindors decide to sit with the strange Ravenclaw girl.
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From the moment we meet Luna, she stands out from anyone readers had previously met in the Potter universe. She's described as having "an aura of distinct dottiness" while reading The Quibbler magazine upside down, wearing a Butterbeer cap necklace, and sporting her wand behind her left ear "for safekeeping."
While Harry, Ron, and Hermione might not know what to make of Luna at first, she soon becomes a dear friend as they get to know her. As they and readers learn, Luna is more than what she initially seems and, in our opinion, one of the best characters in the franchise.
February 13, 2018 marks Luna's 37th birthday, and what better way to mark the occasion than by reflecting on what we love about our favorite Ravenclaw? There are a lot of ways you can describe Luna, from smart and loyal to brave and kind to weird and curious, but let's take a closer look at why we love Luna.
Video of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Luna Lovegood's Lost Possessions
Her Optimism
If Luna were more pessimistic about life, I wouldn't really blame her. She lost her mother at a young age, is made fun of by her fellow students for being herself, and doesn't really have any friends. Yet, despite reasons that might make others have a more negative outlook on life, Luna is often optimistic and hopeful. When things get rough, she doesn't give up or give in to despair — she often tries to help others see the brighter side of things, as well.
When Harry sees the Thestrals for the first time in Order of the Phoenix and starts to worry why his friends can't see them, Luna reassures the then-stranger that she can see them too. He shouldn't be concerned; he's just as sane as she is! At the end of the book, when Luna tells Harry about her mother's death, Luna admits it was horrible, but she doesn't seem to hold on to grief. Instead, she acknowledges it and admits it makes her sad, but says she has her father and that it's not as though she'll never see her mother again.
Even when others are being cruel to her, Luna doesn't hate them or even feel bad for herself. She believes everything will work out in the end. When Harry can't find Luna at the feast at the end of Order of the Phoenix, he goes searching for her. It turns out she's hanging up flyers asking for her possessions back, which have all been hidden by the other students. Luna understands that people treat her this way because they think she's odd. After all, they do call her "Loony." Harry feels bad for her and offers to help, but she declines and actually ends up skipping towards the feast soon after because she believes her items will all eventually come back. Her optimism and approach to life are refreshing and inspiring!
Video of Luna Lovegood - "You're just as sane as I am" (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
Her Belief
Luna has a wonderful willingness to believe in the impossible when others don't. It doesn’t matter if everyone tells her some things aren’t real, she chooses to accept that there are more incredible things out there than others believe.
Throughout the books, Luna's mentioned so many fantastic creatures that they can be hard to keep track of. Newt Scamander would likely be proud of her. There are Wrackspurts, which are invisible and "float in through your ears and make your brain go fuzzy," mistletoe infested with Nargles, the Crumple-Horned Snorkack, and the Blibbering Humdinger. She also holds some beliefs that are perhaps slightly more questionable, such as Cornelius Fudge having an army of heliopaths, Rufus Scrimgeour being a vampire, and the Aurors being part of the Rotfang Conspiracy, but just because a few things she believes might be proven false doesn’t mean it's wrong for her to believe in the others. After all, maybe everyone else just isn't willing to believe what's been in front of them all along!
Video of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Battle of the Department of Mysteries
Her Determination
Luna is right there with the rest of Harry's friends and supporters in the middle of the battle against Voldemort in the three books and four films she's in. Through it all, she never gives up and has the resolve to see the battles through. She joins Dumbledore's Army in Order of the Phoenix and believes Harry about Voldemort's return.
Luna even goes with Harry to the Department of Mysteries and, at one point, is the only member of the group to escape without injury. Things look dire and when they meet up with Harry again and have to escape, Luna helps an injured Ginny — "sticking her wand behind her ear for safekeeping" — and keeps moving to get the job done. When Harry and the others worry Luna is a prisoner in Azkaban during Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry insists she's all right, telling the others that Luna is "much tougher than you'd think" and most likely "teaching all the inmates about Wrackspurts and Nargles." During the Battle of Hogwarts, Luna even duels one of the world's most dangerous witches, Bellatrix Lestrange, alongside Ginny and Hermione. No matter the danger and risk, Luna sticks by her friends and is willing to stand up to evil.
Her Style
Ever since that first meeting on the Hogwarts Express, we've known Luna has a great fashion sense! We see her, again and again, wearing exactly what she wants no matter what anyone thinks. Her colorful look is a perfect match for her distinctive personality. Not only has she worn a necklace of Butterbeer caps, but she's donned orange radish earrings, a Butterbeer cork necklace, spangled silver robes, Spectrespecs, a "hat shaped like a life-size lion head" that actually roared, and, more than once, her wand behind her left ear. Some students may make fun of her for what she wears, but none of them come close to matching her impeccable style.
Video of Luna Lovegood to the Rescue | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Her Sense of Friendship
Despite how others — including some of her supposed friends — treat her, Luna is never mean or dismissive of people. Once Luna counts you among her friends, she is there for you no matter what. Making friends is not something that comes easily to Luna because of what others think of her and it seems she doesn't even believe sometimes that she has friends. While discussing the disbanded Dumbledore's Army in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, she says she enjoyed the meetings because "it was like having friends" and later on states that people expect Harry to have cooler friends than her and Neville, though Harry replies that they are cool. She's also thrilled when Harry invites her to Slughorn's party as a friend and the two end up having a good time together.
In the Half-Blood Prince movie, there's a slight difference. She helps Harry on the Hogwarts Express and they end up walking to the school together. She states that the walk was like being with a friend and Harry insists they are.
Luna values her friends highly, perhaps because she has had so few over the course of her life. In Deathly Hallows, Harry discovers that she's painted her ceiling to depict him, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny along with the repeated word "friends." When her friends need her most, she is there and knows what to do. For example, at the Battle of Hogwarts when a group of Dementors approaches Harry, Ron, and Hermione, they're struggling to produce Patronuses and Harry just can't think of anything happy. Luna, Seamus, and Ernie arrive to help and Luna encourages the trio, staying calm and telling Harry to think of something happy. When he can't, she whispers that "we're still here. We're still fighting. Come on, now." It's enough to remind Harry that all is not lost and allows him to produce a Patronus.
Then, after the battle, Luna is there for her friend again and knows what he needs. Harry and Luna sit on a bench once Voldemort is finally dead, and she understands that he wants some peace and quiet after everything. Once he puts on his Invisibility Cloak, she offers a distraction by starting to exclaim about a Blibbering Humdinger, allowing him to get away. What else could you want in a friend?
Video of Thestrals - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [HD]
Her Wisdom and Kindness
This was touched on in the friendship section above, but Luna's kindness and wisdom deserve a section of their own, too. Despite what some people might think due to Luna's demeanor, she's much wiser than many might expect. Yes, she's in Ravenclaw so she's clearly smart, but it's more than knowledge or what’s in books that makes her worthy of the Rowena Ravenclaw's house.
Looking back at the moment in Order of the Phoenix when she's lost her things and is talking to Harry, Luna mentions seeing her mother again; it's not just a great example of her optimism but also shows she knows what Harry needs to hear at that moment after losing Sirius. Their loved ones aren't gone forever since they both heard whispers behind the veil in the Department of Mysteries, right? It's just enough to make Harry feel like "the terrible weight in his stomach" had lessened. When Dobby rescues Luna and the others in Deathly Hallows, she shows the elf respect and calls him "sir" in the movie, which he likes. When Dobby dies, she closes his eyes and, in the book, even says a few words when they bury him because someone ought to; her words are honest and kind, a perfect send-off for the elf. Her speech captures what everyone else, including Harry, wanted to say.
Luna's very insightful, even if she's dreamy and people think her head is always in the clouds. You can see this in her honesty about her friends, whether in how they treat her or others, like when she observes that Ron can be "a bit unkind" to people. Harry often observes that she speaks "uncomfortable truths." She also shows others the truth when they can't see it, such as in the Order of the Phoenix movie when Luna and Harry are with the Thestrals. She tells Harry she believes him about Voldemort and also that if she were Voldemort, she would want Harry to feel alone. It's an astute and quite true observation that clearly Harry hadn't considered before.
Luna also doesn't let others ignore her when she has something important to say. During the final battle, even Harry starts to get dismissive of her when she tries to talk to him, which forces her to yell at him to pay attention to her. She knows what he needs to find and who to ask to find it, ultimately putting them on the path to defeating Voldemort.
Her Uniqueness
All of these things combined create the final aspect we love about Luna: her uniqueness.
Luna doesn't change who she is for others. She continues wearing what she wants, believing in what she wants, and being there for others no matter what others think of that, too. She's not afraid to be herself, even if it means only a handful of people can see her wonderful uniqueness as the gift it truly is.
What do you love about Luna Lovegood? Tell us in the comments!
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For Samori, learning French—knowing another language—opens up opportunities to explore the world.
“Personally, I wanted to learn French partly because my dad started and I was really interested in it. But also because, as I started to learn it, I realized that this is my way to not just have to live in this country, but I can go almost anywhere in the world knowing another language.
“The first day was a little awkward. Everybody was like, okay, so now it's French and for a little bit, it was just the people who spoke French really well we’re only speaking to each other, and the people who didn't really speak French were really silent. But now, everybody speaks and we're all a community and it's just, generally, it's a great time.
“When I signed the Language Pledge®, I was a little surprised. I was like, there's no turning back, you know, this is it. This is my last few moments of speaking English. I was a little nervous, but I'm glad I did it and it was definitely worth it, and I know it's going to be worth it in the long run.
“I'm always with French kids. We're always speaking French together. When we play soccer, we speak French. When we're just hanging out in the dorms, we speak French. When we watch the World Cup, we speak French. So it's like French all the time.
“I have no connection to anybody who is speaking English. I didn't think it would be as helpful as it is, and I'm speaking a lot more French than I would at home.
“The activities here, there's swimming, you can go play soccer, you can sit in the dorm and read, and play ping pong. There's a variety of activities. There's cultural exploration, such as cooking, sociology, sports. My favorite is soccer because I'm a soccer player. I love soccer. It's like one of the most important things to me. It makes me happy that they offer it here, and that I'm in an environment where I'm not the only person who cares about soccer.
“I wanted to learn French ever since I saw my dad learn French. He is at the Middlebury Academy at the actual college, and he's learning French now also. I saw him yesterday actually, and it was nice to just speak French to him only. It was like he was a different person. So being with my dad, it was different to speak to him in French, but it felt like it was something that we shared and that no one else had, and that it was just me and him who spoke French to each other. I feel like it brought us closer, and I really think I have the Middlebury Language Academy to thank for that.”
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H. Wayne Huizenga's Fort Lauderdale estate goes on market for $26.95 million
By David Lyons
Dubbed Tarpon Pointe, the estate boasts 60,000 square feet of land and a standout 18,000-square-foot home that is a mix of Mediterranean and French architectural styles. It has a pagoda at one of its swimming pools.
The sprawling riverfront estate that belonged to the late Fort Lauderdale billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga is now up for sale and is listed for $26.95 million.
Dubbed Tarpon Pointe, the estate boasts 60,000 square feet of land and a standout 18,000-square-foot home that is a mix of Mediterranean and French architectural styles. It has a pagoda overlooking a swimming pool.
South Florida residents knew Huizenga for his multiple corporate successes. They also knew both the corporate titan and his wife, Marti, for their philanthropy. He is credited as being the only entrepreneur to launch three Fortune 500 companies: Waste Management, Blockbuster Entertainment and AutoNation. And he was known for his ownership of the Florida Marlins, Florida Panthers and the Miami Dolphins.
The house went to market just four months after Huizenga’s death in March, when he died at 80 after a long battle with cancer.
Veteran Fort Lauderdale real estate agent Kelly Drum, of Drum Realty, said the property has already attracted expressions of interest from corporate executives and entrepreneurs, though he did not name them.
Timeline: Key events in H. Wayne Huizenga's life
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“It’s like buying a piece of artwork,” he said. “It’s really at the epicenter of Fort Lauderdale real estate — certainly one of the largest estates in town.”
Huizenga acquired the home in 2005 from Michael Egan, a friend and business associate who founded and chaired Alamo Rent A Car.
Located in the upscale Rio Vista neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, the home has eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms and separate wings for family, guests and staff.
“In addition to luxury, functionality is at the core of the estate's design,” according to a website pitch. “The family wing is complete with offices, bedrooms, a private kitchen and family room. The central portion of the house can accommodate a party of virtually any size. The guest wing and staff quarters permit the enjoyment of the home by others while not disturbing the primary residents.”
According to a 2005 Sun Sentinel report, the home was once the site of a house belonging to rancher and Deputy Sheriff Robert L. Clark. He and his brother, Walter, were figures in a U.S. Senate probe of organized crime and gambling in South Florida in the 1950s.
At the time Egan sold the property to Huizenga, the estate, which is situated on a bend in the New River, was on the market for $15.8 million, the Sun Sentinel reported.
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The 1.5-acre estate is a popular talking point for sightseeing companies that ferry tourists along the river.
There’s 600 feet of waterfront and a dock can host vessels ranging up to 140 feet in length, Drum said.
“Most people in town know the property,” Drum said. “It’s very well-recognized from a boating standpoint, and most people know the ownership. Of all of the real estate we’ve sold over the course of 65 years, it is the most unique place.”
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TERENCE SHINE Staff WriterSUN-SENTINEL
When magician Johnnie Jonn pulled a raccoon out of a tin can, half the class at Boca Raton Elementary School leaped forward.
"It's not real," said Danielle Darby, 8, as she reached out to touch the furry creature. "Wait, it is real. No, it's not. It's ..."
It's magic. And as several students yelled "I know how you did that," Jonn only smiled. "That's the idea," he said.
This isn't a magic show. It's a training class for future magicians.
"He's giving away the secrets, but he makes everyone take an oath that they can't reveal them to anyone else," said Rachelle Klein, president of The All Stars of South Florida Inc.
The private company, which also offers classes in dance, baton twirling and karate, has begun offering its services to public schools as an alternative to the usual after-school programs.
"In regular after-school all you do is talk," said Erica Collins, 10. "Making stuff disappear is much better."
After a successful start last year at Addison Mizner Elementary, the Boca Raton-based company has now expanded to Boca Raton and Whispering Pines elementary schools.
"So far there's been a good turnout. We're happy with it," said Joan Walsh, director of after-school care at Whispering Pines. "We're always looking for new things to expand our program."
All Stars charges a fee for their services, but out of the 20 students participating in the class at Boca Elementary on Wednesday only about five were paying customers.
"Just as long as we have enough to pay the magician and cover basic expenses, we don't like to turn away any of the children who want to participate," Klein said. "It's still early in the year."
In October, they will hold a special magic class at Omni Middle for children in the at-risk program. "So far, about 60 have signed up," Klein said.
The hardest part is finding good instructors for the classes, Klein said. "You have to be careful. You want a skilled magician, but also someone who has patience with the children and is willing to share their knowledge."
Jonn, president of the Fort Lauderdale Magic Society, has entertained and taught magic for more than 20 years. "They learn a lot of tricks, but it also helps their confidence and self-esteem to get up and perform in front of people," Jonn said.
Erica couldn't wait to get home and try out a card trick on her big sister and grandmother. "I can fool everybody but my mom," she said.
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Sunrise Early Childhood Program is a place of respite for parents and children where tender seedlings may grow strong roots.
Deborah Carrington, Ph.D. Co-Founder and Co-Director
Deborah Carrington, “Ms. Deborah” has a B.A. from Longwood College, and a M.Ed. and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. Her specialties include early & elementary curriculum & instruction; arts education & creativity; instructional design & technology; comparative & international education, and the Social Foundations of Education. She has 33 years of combined teaching experience in public and private PreK-8 schools and in three teacher preparation programs: University of Maine, Longwood University, and James Madison University. Her practice and research are also informed by 10 years of classroom teaching using progressive, research-based educational approaches: Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, Montessori and High Scope. She serves as Main Teacher for the lead class, currently the Grade 1-2 class.
Chapman Hood Frazier, Ph.D. Co-Founder and Co-Director
Hood Frazier, “Mr. Hood” has B.A. in English and M.A.in English from West Virginia University, an M.S. in Reading from Longwood College, and a Ph.D. in English Education from The University of Virginia. He has over 35 years of teaching experience at both the middle/secondary level and as a university professor teaching middle-secondary teacher education and English Education, including five years with at-risk adolescents at Murray High School, a William Glasser School in Albemarle County, VA. There, he also received formal training in peer mediation and conflict resolution. He has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Charlottesville Waldorf School, Chair of the Mountain Springs Farm and Heritage Center, as a member of The Prince Edward County School Board. He is currently a Professor in Residence in Prince Edward County for JMU and is the SLC’s co-founder and co-director of daily operations, outreach and public relations.
Dr. Carrington and Dr. Frazier offer educational consulting services and have consulted with other programs at the local, national, and international levels about innovative approaches to educating children. Their research travels have taken them to preschools in Italy, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Iceland & the Republic of Ireland. Future research trips include Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. They both continue to teach on-line graduate level courses, currently for Longwood University.
Sunrise Learning Center
Located in the Parish House of Johns
Memorial Episcopal Church, ground floor
Corner of Buffalo, St. George & High Streets
sunriselearningc@gmail.com
Sunrise Learning Center is a private, independent, non-sectarian and non-profit school. SLC admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of color, race, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other school administered programs.
Education for the Whole Child
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Mike Prickett suffers decompression accident to save diver
March 22, 2012 | Surfing
Mike Prickett, the underwater cinematographer who captured stunning footage for "Riding Giants" and "Step Into Liquid", has suffered a severe diving accident when he was filming a commercial video in Rangiora, Tahiti.
The 47-year-old Hawaiian filmmaker dove down 220 feet to save another diver who was sinking. Prickett shared air with the man and then had to go straight to the surface without decompressing.
"He used up all my air. I'm glad I was able to rescue him and he could walk away from the incident. I want to thank my family and friends for their prayers", Mike Prickett told KITV News.
The surf movie director has been undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy in order to recover. The accident left Prickett paralyzed from the chest down.
Prickett has already regained some sensation in his legs, but it is too early to make a definitive prognosis. In the next days, Mike will do decompression chamber sessions in order to ease the pain.
The underwater hero had already survived a serious car accident, in 1984.
How to duck dive big waves
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University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music
https%3A//www.teenlife.com/college/university-of-cincinnati-college-conservatory-of-music/
The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the leading conservatories of the performing arts and electronic media. CCM offers the benefit of aprofessional trainingconservatory in the setting of a public university.
Nationally ranked and internationally renowned, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is a preeminent institution for the performing and media arts.
CCM provides life-changing experiences within a highly creative and multidisciplinary artistic environment.
The synergy created by housing CCM within a comprehensive public university gives the college its unique character and defines its objective: to educate and inspire the whole artist and scholar for positions on the world's stage.
CCM's educational roots date back to 1867, and a solid, visionary instruction has been at our core since that time.
CCM's faculty and staff and its state-of-the-art facilities make possible the professional training and exceptional education on which CCM believes the future of the arts relies. The school's roster of eminent faculty regularly receives distinguished honors for creative and scholarly work, and its alumni have achieved notable success in the performing and media arts. More than 150 internationally recognized faculty members work with students from around the world
4 Year + Graduate
Want More Information about University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music?
Your request will be sent directly to University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music.
By submitting this form I confirm that I am at least 13 years of age and give my consent to be contacted by University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music by email as well as by phone and/or mail (if provided).
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These three suicide prevention tips can save a life | Opinion
Statistics show that 80 percent of suicides can be prevented when each of us is equipped with the necessary tools to help those in need.
These three suicide prevention tips can save a life | Opinion Statistics show that 80 percent of suicides can be prevented when each of us is equipped with the necessary tools to help those in need. Check out this story on Tennessean.com: https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2019/09/04/these-three-suicide-prevention-tips-can-save-life/2203495001/
Bob Forster, Guest columnist Published 9:00 a.m. CT Sept. 4, 2019
Trish Merelo says the barrier on the Natchez Trace Bridge — where her son took his own life by jumping — is "precariously low." "This we can change," she said. Nashville Tennessean
Bob Forster is the owner and CEO of Star129 and Diamond Outlet, diamond businesses based in Nashville. He is also a volunteer QPR trainer for the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network.
It’s time to remove the stigma associated with suicide once and for all. And what better way to start than with World Suicide Prevention Day on Tuesday, Sept. 10, or participate in one of the many activities that are part of Suicide Awareness Month in Tennessee?
Suicide remains a significant public health issue in Tennessee and our country. The number of people who died by suicide in the U.S. increased 23% from 2001 to 2017, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Each year, more than 1,000 Tennesseans take their lives, making it the ninth leading cause of death (based on 2017 data) in our state.
Few people are immune to the lasting effects of suicide. A 2016 study published in Public Health Report estimated that 115 people are directly affected when someone dies by suicide. Of those 115 people, researchers found that one in five said the experience “had a devastating impact or caused a major-life disruption.”
After multiple suicide attempts, mental health professionals tell her th...
Laurin Clements, left and Courteney Vidal stand on the Double Arch Bridge where Laurin attempted suicide earlier this year in Franklin, Tenn., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean
Lauren Clements left messages on the Double Arch Bridge where Laurin attempted suicide earlier this year in hopes to help others, in Franklin, Tenn., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean
Lauren Clements stands on the Double Arch Bridge where she attempted suicide earlier this year. At 24, the Franklin woman has attempted suicide 13 times. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean
Courteney Vidal stand on the Double Arch Bridge next to where she and friend Lauren left messages in hopes to help others from attempting suicide in Franklin, Tenn., Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean
Posters touting inspirational phrases like "You got this" and "You are so worth loving" fill Lauren Clements' room. Clements' mental health issues began nearly a decade ago, and she's been hospitalized 18 times. She sees a therapist but says she doesn't think hospitalization works for her anymore. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean
Lauren Clements, right cuddles with her dog Roan as she listens to her mother Shelley talk at their home in Franklin, Tenn., Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean
Touched by suicide
I am one of those five. My life was turned upside down 10 years ago when my brother Paul took his life, leaving behind his wife and seven children. It affected me again several years later when a very good friend of mine died by suicide on his 50th birthday.
When looking back at my upbringing, I know now that I was a prime candidate for suicide. I grew up in a difficult family environment. My father was a strict disciplinarian, very distant and an alcoholic. He was incredibly tough and demanding with my brother and me. There wasn’t a day that went by in high school where I didn’t doubt my self-worth. And yes, I contemplated suicide on many occasions.
Bob Forster (Photo: Submitted)
In my senior year in high school, football became my primary focus and ultimately saved my life. I was blessed to have Hall of Fame careers at Father Ryan High School and Brown University and be drafted by the Detroit Lions.
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The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network
Not everyone is as blessed as me. And as my way of paying it forward, I recently became a certified QPR trainer with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network. QPR – which stands for Question, Persuade and Refer – is a training protocol created by the QPR Institute. Statistics show that 80 percent of suicides can be prevented – and it’s something I firmly believe – when each of us is equipped with the necessary tools to help those in need.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Photo: USA TODAY Network - Tennessee)
Here’s how you can help:
1. Become more educated about suicide prevention.
At the conclusion of almost every suicide prevention training session I teach, someone will ask if I can speak with them in private because of concern about a family member, loved one or friend. My response is always the same: I let them know they’ve taken the most important step forward by wanting to learn more about this issue.
Knowledge is one of the most powerful tools we have in suicide prevention because it will help you act decisively if someone is in trouble. Think of suicide prevention like CPR or the steps you take when someone is choking. It can save a life.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Photo: USA Today)
2. Look for warning signs.
While depression is the most common underlying disorder associated with suicide, there is no one single cause. There are clues to look for, however, if you believe someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts. Listen for verbal signals (such as “You’re better off without me” or “I can’t go on like this anymore”) and non-verbal signs (withdrawal and isolation, neglect of health or appearance, significant changes in work or school performance or giving away prized possessions). Never in my wildest imagination did I think my good friend was suicidal. In hindsight, however, many of the warning signs were right before my eyes: depression, withdrawal, anxiety and financial challenges.
Survivors of suicide loss Trish Merelo, Steven Hinesley, and Sarah Elmer stand together on Natchez Trace Bridge where their family members died by suicide through jumping off the bridge. They have formed a coalition called the Natchez Trace Bridge Barrier Coalition, a group created by survivors of suicide loss working to obtain bridge barriers to prevent the further loss of life. The group is asking the National Park Service and lawmakers to raise the railing in the bridge. (Photo: Shelley Mays /Tennessean)
3. Know how and where to get help.
Again, statistics show -- and I am a firm believer -- that 80% of suicides can be prevented. Act now if you believe someone may be considering suicide. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Start by having a conversation with that person. Be compassionate and empathic and help them connect with a healthcare professional, therapist or family or church member.
Walter Marques of Shepherd's Men ran 22 kilometers and wore a 22 pound vest, representing the 22 suicide deaths that occur among U.S. veterans per day, according to the Shepherd's Men website. Nashville Tennessean
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services lists several amazing suicide prevention organizations in Nashville that can provide you with the assistance you need. The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network also has regional offices around the state. Do yourself – and a loved one – a favor and reach out to one of the agencies today.
Everyone encounters bumps in the road – sometimes even dangerous curbs – during his or her life. By learning more about suicide prevention you can help avert a fatality and save someone’s life.
September political cartoons from the USA TODAY network
The cartoonist's homepage, https://www.courier-journal.com/ Marc Murphy, (Louisville, Ky.) Courier Journal
https://www.courier-journal.com/ Marc Murphy, (Louisville, Ky.) Courier Journal
The cartoonist's homepage: https://www.tallahassee.com/opinion/ Nate Archer, Tallahassee Democrat
Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2019/09/04/these-three-suicide-prevention-tips-can-save-life/2203495001/
Nick Sutton saved my life; Gov. Lee should save his
Impeachment trial must have witness testimonies
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Anti-LGBTQ adoption law not moral
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Children deserve to be adopted into a home with a mother and a father | Opinion
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Norwood Trial
Critical Evidence
DNA testing of a blue bandana exonerated Michael Morton. Could the small square of cloth also be the linchpin that seals Mark Alan Norwood's fate?
https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/critical-evidence/
Mark Norwood is wheeled into the Tom Green County Courthouse in San Angelo, Texas, Wednesday March 20, 2013 for the second day of his murder trial. Recent DNA evidence was used to charge Norwood in the 1986 killing of Christine Morton in Williamson County
AP Photo | San Angelo Standard-Times, Patrick Dove
To careful observers of Michael Morton’s long search for justice, one of the biggest revelations of Mark Alan Norwood’s capital murder trial came late in the day Wednesday, when a Williamson County employee named Jennifer Smith took the stand. For much of the day, testimony had centered on the bloody blue bandana that had been found behind the Morton home in 1986 and was finally subjected to DNA testing in 2011. (The results exonerated Michael, who had been wrongly convicted of murdering his wife, Christine, and brought about the indictment of Norwood, whose DNA was found intermingled with her blood.) As readers of my series on Michael’s case may remember, that DNA testing had taken place over the heated objections of then-Williamson County D.A. John Bradley. Michael’s attorneys had filed their first motion for DNA testing back in 2005, and Bradley had fought them for the next five years until an appellate court stepped in and issued an order that the testing be performed.
The battle over DNA testing has not been discussed in front of the jury in the Norwood case. (Nor have any of the details of Michael’s wrongful conviction, due to a court order that bars any testimony about it during Norwood’s trial.) But Williamson County’s longstanding resistance to having the bandana tested was very much on my mind when Smith—who supervises the county’s evidence room—testified that no one had been able to locate the bandana until it was finally discovered on May 25, 2010. (This date, not coincidentally, follows closely on the heels of a judge’s order instructing the county to submit the bandana for DNA testing.) It was on that day, Smith said, that she was visited by a prosecutor and an investigator from the D.A.’s office who instructed her to open every single sealed envelope in the Morton evidence file. Eventually, after carefully opening and re-sealing each envelope, she was able to locate the bandana. “It wasn’t labeled properly, so we didn’t know it was there,” Smith told the jury.
In fairness to Smith, she seemed diligent and eager to modernize the poorly-organized evidence room that she had inherited. She testified that after more digging, she eventually managed to locate the strand of hair that had been found with the bandana in 1986. (The hair was hidden, as if it were a Russian nesting doll, inside a succession of mislabeled manila envelopes.) Then, and only then, was the evidence ready to be submitted for testing. In other words, throughout the five years that Williamson County had staged a pitched battle in state and federal court to block DNA testing of the bandana and the strand of hair, no one actually knew their whereabouts.
Much of Wednesday’s testimony highlighted the capriciousness of Williamson County justice, and testimony from John Kirkpatrick, Christine’s older brother, emphasized local law enforcement’s seeming indifference to aggressively investigating the case. Kirkpatrick’s lingering exasperation was evident as he described arriving at the Morton home the morning after the murder. “I didn’t see any police,” he told the jury. “I was frustrated by the total lack of investigation. I felt like so many things should have been happening for such a recent event.” Frantic to take action before leads went cold, he said he made phone calls around town, trying to see if anyone could conduct a search of the surrounding area with tracking dogs, which he hoped could pick up the scent of his sister’s killer. “As far as I was concerned, this was an outside intruder that had come in and killed my sister,” he testified. “It seemed so obvious.”
Out of desperation he decided to try to re-trace the killer’s footsteps. He started at the spot where he felt certain that the intruder had entered the Morton home: the sliding glass door at the rear of the house, which had been unlocked on the morning of the murder. From there, he walked across the backyard to the inside perimeter of the privacy fence, where he said he noticed one, or maybe two, impressions in the ground that appeared to be where someone had landed after jumping the fence. Then he walked around behind the fence and looked back at the Morton home. “You could see through the fence,” he said. “There were gaps in the boards where you could see Michael’s comings and goings, and when Chrissy was gone. This was how someone had cased it out.”
He told the jury that he explored the densely wooded lot behind the privacy fence until he reached a nearby construction site. It was there, by the curb, that he spotted the bandana. “The moment I saw it, I knew it was important,” he said. “I carefully picked it up and looked at it.” He remembered noting that portions of the bandana were discolored. “I’m not going to say I knew it was blood, but it looked abnormal,” Kirkpatrick told the jury. He picked up the bandana by the corner, being as careful as possible not to contaminate it. Then he walked back into the Morton home, placed it in a Ziploc bag, and called the sheriff’s department. Kirkpatrick stated that he was never questioned by law enforcement about the bandana, and he never heard about it again.
Kirkpatrick said he left Texas after his sister’s funeral. “I put this as far out of my mind for so long,” he testified. He went on to explain that he and his wife had only recently informed their grown children—who are 28 and 30—that Christine had been murdered.
A normally taciturn marine biologist, Kirkpatrick was overcome with emotion several times as he recounted memories of his baby sister. He told the jury of attending her 1979 wedding to Michael, at which she aimed her bouquet right at him, striking him in the chest. When he let the bouquet fall to the ground, she picked it up and forced it into his hands. Three months later, he told the jury, he met his future wife, Dianne. Kirkpatrick also recalled the day that he learned Christine had been murdered. His father, John, called and said, “I’m going to tell you the worst news you’re ever going to hear in your life.”
The other witnesses who took the stand Wednesday included two former law enforcement officers, a crime lab technician, and a crime scene photographer.
Former Williamson County patrol deputy John Chandler testified about a report he had written that I had never heard of before. Chandler stated that he wrote the report after speaking with one of the Mortons’ neighbors, who said they saw a black van just a few doors down from the Morton home at 7:21 a.m. on the morning that Christine was killed. (Christine is believed to have been killed shortly after Michael left for work early that morning.) Chandler’s report—which Michael’s legal team never saw—seems potentially related to other neighbors’ accounts of a green van that was seen behind the Morton home around the time of the murder. These leads were never followed up on or passed along to Morton’s defense team.
Chandler also testified about another important clue that should have tipped investigators off to the fact that Christine was killed by an unknown intruder. He stated that a burglar alarm sounded at a house that just was a block away from the Mortons’ home—roughly a half block from where John Kirkpatrick found the bloody bandana—at 7:33 a.m. that same morning. (Chandler put this information in a report, but Michael’s defense team was never of its existence.) Because the home’s owners were out of town at the time and no one appeared to have actually entered the house, Williamson County sheriff’s deputies failed to investigate further.
As I listened to Chandler testify, I was stunned. How might the course of the investigation have gone differently if someone had followed up on these seemingly obvious leads? If fingerprints had been lifted from the exterior of that house, or if casts had been made of those footprints, would that have helped identify Christine’s killer? We’ll never know.
Testimony in the Norwood trial resumes on Thursday morning.
Tags: Crime, Criminal Justice, Michael Morton, Mark Alan Norwood, Wrongful convictions
The savage beating death of a woman in her home.
The psychic damage of losing your mother, and believing your father had been the murderer.
The loss of a man’s freedom and the hell of prison for 25 years, knowing that you are innocent but also knowing that your son believes you are guilty.
The suppression of the truth.
Actively opposing the daylight into your crimes through an appointment to a station which allows you to hide your own crimes.
Mind-bending.
Feel the flames getting a bit hotter, Mr. Anderson?
burn. in. hell.
uncle jed
These so “crime fighters” should be held accountable . There was no justice in this case. Only multiple crimes . Evil lazy self serving “public servants .
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By Michael Hardy
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Naked man tased after attempting indecency with a child
Posted: Oct 25, 2019 / 07:27 AM CDT / Updated: Oct 25, 2019 / 07:28 AM CDT
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A naked man who was tased by police after he told them he was going next door to have sex with a little girl, is sentenced but has already served most of it in jail.
Thomas Allison received three years in prison for indecency with a child.
He has more than 1,200 days jail time, though, that will count toward the sentence.
Police arrested Thomas Allison Jr. in June of 2016 on Glasgow.
When they arrived, they said Allison’s wife was outside and told them her husband had taken all his clothes off and left, telling her quote, “I’m going to have sex with the little girl next door.”
She said he tried to get into that house but couldn’t, but police say the girl saw him.
Police found him inside his home, still naked, and say he told them “I’m a pervert and I’m going next door and having sex with that little girl.”
Officers say when they tried to stop him, he resisted and they had to tase him.
LAWTON (KFDX/KJTL) — On Wednesday at approximately 8:20 a.m. officers with the Lawton Police Department responded to a suspicious death that occurred in the 2500 block of SW C Avenue.
According to LPD, officers responded and found a deceased female inside the residence. It is unknown what took place at this time.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — On February 18, at 6:00 p.m., members of the Rotary Club of Southwest Wichita Falls and representatives from a number of local non-profits will gather at the MPEC for a night of celebration.
During the event, the club will present financial awards to each organization to help further their respective missions.
Steps to watch Super Bowl LIV despite Dish frustrations
Local News / 8 mins ago
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U-Thong and Ayutthaya Styles
In 1350 a prince of U-Thong founded the city of Ayutthaya. The new Kingdom rapidly developed into the most powerful and the wealthiest state in South-East Asia. About 1430 its army, after repeated raids into the Khmer Kingdom, destroyed the city of Angkor. A few years later Sukhothai, which had long been subject to it, was incorporated into the state of Ayutthaya. Until the 13th century U-Thong, like Lopburi, had been a centre of Khmer culture, and its art bears the stamp of the Khmer tradition. After the conquest of Sukhothai the influence of the Sukhothai style predominated, until a new style characteristic of Ayutthaya developed The rulers of Ayutthaya considered themselves heirs of both, the Thai tradition of Sukhothai and the Khmer tradition of Angkor. Though they were Theravada Buddhists they adopted the Hindu ceremonial of the Cambodian court. The cities were adorned with magnificent buildings and the arts flourished at the splendour loving court. But in 1767, after protracted struggles, the Burmese attacked Ayutthaya, plundered its treasures and burned the city, which was totally destroyed.
A characteristic feature of the architecture of the Ayutthaya period is the Thai prang. Its model was the temple tower of the Khmers, representing the sacred Mount Meru. In recent years secret chambers have been found in the substructures of several of these prangs, which were adorned with frescoes. The influence of Khmer architecture is obvious in Wat Chai Wattanaram, built by King Prasad Thong (1630 – 1655). The tradition of Sukhothai was continued in the bell-shaped chedis, one of the favourite types had a square ground-plan. The principal buildings of the temples show the ancient style. In the wiharn the slit windows are gradually replaced by rectangular ones, often with decorative gables. There was a further development and exaggeration of the tiered “telescope roofs”.
Of the famous palaces of Ayutthaya none survived the great fire that destroyed the city. They were built of wood, and thus quickly perished. In Lopburi a wiharn, of Wat Sao Thong preserves the appearance of the Ayutthaya period. This building, called `Khurasan”, was originally erected for the Persian ambassadors at the court of King Narai. We know from reports of European travellers that the temples and palaces must have closely resembled the wats in present day Bangkok.
The sculpture of U-Thong was based on the Khmer style, but without slavish imitation. The figures produce a powerful and solemn effect: there is a sharp contrast between the erect body and the horizontal position of the legs in the seated figures. The faces are almost cubical, the hair being indicated by very small curls. The line of hair on the face is clearly marked. In early specimens the protuberance on the head ends in a conical form, in later ones in a sphere or a lotus-bud. At about the middle of the 15th century the U-Thong style, under the influence of Sukhothai, begins to change into the Ayutthaya or “national” style. The fully-developed Ayutthaya style is best seen in the standing figures. The face is longish, crowned by a broad diadem, and on top of the head a cone of flat rings bears the traditional lotus bud. The ear lobes are adorned with earrings, and the clothing falls from the shoulders so as to stand away from the legs, giving the figures a bell shaped outline.
The magnificence of the Ayutthaya court found expression in a new type of Buddha figure, the “Buddha in princely attire”. Late specimens of this type degenerate into formless masses covered with ornaments. In the final years of its 300 years’ history the Ayutthaya style is completely decadent. At the end of the 17th century the Thai passion for decoration reached its peak. Lacquer work, niello silver, plaster ornamentation, wood carving and ceramics are all of extraordinary splendour.
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Long-awaited restaurant now open in Lafayette
A Baton Rouge area restaurant with several locations recently opened its first franchise location in Lafayette.
Long-awaited restaurant now open in Lafayette A Baton Rouge area restaurant with several locations recently opened its first franchise location in Lafayette. Check out this story on theadvertiser.com: https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/entertainment/food/grubcity/2016/03/14/popular-baton-rouge-restaurant-opening-lafayette/71705514/
Megan Wyatt, mbwyatt@theadvertiser.com Published 12:47 p.m. CT Sept. 4, 2015 | Updated 8:09 a.m. CT March 31, 2016
The Jambalaya Shoppe recently opened a Lafayette location. (Photo: Submitted photo)
After a successful soft opening over the weekend, The Jambalaya Shoppe is now open for business at 4150 W. Congress St. in the former Krystal Burger.
The restaurant's first location opened about 25 years ago in Gonzales, and now there are seven Baton Rouge-area restaurants, a Houma restaurant and the first franchise location in Lafayette.
"The restaurant is just a good, simple concept for Lafayette," local investor Michael Topham said. "First and foremost, there really is no place in town that has jambalaya on a daily basis. And really, this is just a great, fast-casual place with good, wholesome, home-cooked food."
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And where else will you find a plate that features jambalaya, crawfish pie and filé gumbo?
Those three dishes, which are the subjects of a Hank WIlliams' song, are combo No. 1 on The Jambalaya Shoppe's menu.
The Jambalaya Shoppe, of course, is known for its jambalaya, but you'll also find pastalaya (a jambalaya made with pasta instead of rice), gumbo, boudin, crawfish pies, side items and daily lunch specials on the menu.
The Jambalaya Shoppe is now open in Lafayette. (Photo: Developing Lafayette)
Even after all these years, the restaurant's founder Cheryl Fontenot never gets tired of eating the restaurant's jambalaya.
"My favorite item on the menu would be the jambalaya," Fontenot says. "I like jambalaya the right way, the real way. I can eat it every day."
What is the right, or real, way?
A brown jambalaya made with rice, onions, water, salt, pepper and house-smoked sausage.
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Topham, a certified public accountant with a restaurant background, first contacted Fontenot to learn more about franchising opportunities last summer.
Although there are eight locations of The Jambalaya Shoppe, the Lafayette location is the first franchise restaurant.
"This location will be the first that's owned outside of family and friends," Fontenot said. "It's a new thing. We've only known the owners of this franchise for (a few months), but they're good people. They're Cajun people, and we like that. They're family now."
MORE CAJUN GOODNESS: 3 boiled crawfish spots worth the crazy wait times
Fontenot never planned on opening a jambalaya shop.
She and her husband were struggling to feed their five sons during the oil field downturn in the late 1980s. Both lost their finance jobs, and she had to resort to cleaning houses.
One day, she found herself lost while driving and became overwhelmed. She prayed, asking for a better way to support her family.
That's when the concept for her restaurant was born. The original location of The Jambalaya Shoppe is still open in Gonzales, which is designated as the Jambalaya Capital of the World.
At her restaurant, Fontenot focused on preparing home-cooked meals that could be ordered and eaten quickly for working parents who didn't have time to cook every evening for their families.
Customers can order individual, family or catering sizes at the restaurants, which offer dine-in, takeout and drive-thru services.
Topham hopes to open more locations in Acadiana. In addition to locations in the central and south sides of Lafayette, Topham is planning to open restaurants in Youngsville, Broussard and Carencro.
"Our game plan right now is to have five stores in the Lafayette area in the next 2-and-a-half years," he said.
The Jambalaya Shoppe is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 4150 W. Congress St. Learn more about the restaurant by visiting thejambalayashoppe.com or by calling 337-534-4140.
New coffee, ice cream concept coming to Lafayette
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Home/Rod Dreher/Del Noce & The Left’s Dead End
Del Noce & The Left’s Dead End
Now more than ever! (Thierry Ehrmann/Flickr)
Our own frequent commenter Carlo Lancellotti, translator of the late Italian philosopher Augusto del Noce (see The Crisis of Modernity and The Age of Secularization) has written a terrific article for Commonweal, titled “The Dead End Of The Left? Augusto Del Noce’s Critique Of Modern Politics.”
Lancellotti begins by talking about politics of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the Left began to abandon its traditional base in economic theory, and embraced cultural politics. The Italian philosopher Del Noce was a part of the debate among Catholic intellectuals at the time. Del Noce had himself, as a young man, briefly been part of the anti-fascist alliance between Italian Catholics and Italian Marxists, but he became uneasy over the willingness of Marxists to justify anything, even violence, for the sake of the Revolution. He began to read Marx systematically in an attempt to confront his misgivings. Lancellotti:
Contra the “Catholic Left,” which tended to regard Marx’s atheism as accidental, and tried to rescue his socio-political analysis from his religious views, Del Noce concluded that what Marx proposed was not just a new theory of history or a new program of political economy, but a new anthropology, one completely different from the Christian tradition. (Louis Dupré had made a similar argument in the pages of Commonweal; see “Marx and Religion: An Impossible Marriage,” April 26, 1968.) Marx viewed humans as “social beings” entirely determined by historical and material circumstances rather than by their relationship with God. He viewed human reason as purely instrumental—a tool of production and social organization rather than the capacity to contemplate the truth and participate in the divine wisdom. Finally, Marx viewed liberation as the fruit of political action, not as a personal process of conversion aided by grace. Marxist politics was not guided by fixed and absolute ethical principles, because ethics, along with philosophy, was absorbed into politics. Del Noce concluded that there was no way to rescue Marx’s politics from his atheism, which had as much to do with his view of man as with his view of God.
In the postwar period, Del Noce observed that Marxist ideas became much more popular. But then a strange thing happened: as cultural Marxism moved from triumph to triumph, economic Marxism failed. Consumer capitalism was popular, and growing ever more so. This violated Marx’s prediction that capitalism would inevitably yield to socialism. What if Marx was wrong? What if the Revolution was not going to come? Lancellotti again:
In that case, Del Noce realized, Marxist historical materialism would degenerate into a form of radical relativism—into the idea that philosophical and moral concepts are just reflections of historical and economic circumstances and have no permanent validity. This would have to include the concept of injustice, without which a critique of capitalism would be hard, if not impossible, to uphold. A post-Marxist culture—one that kept Marx’s radical materialism and denial of religious transcendence, while dispensing with his confident predictions about the self-destruction of capitalism—would naturally tend to be radically bourgeois. By that, Del Noce meant a society that views “everything as an object of trade” and “as an instrument” to be used in the pursuit of individualized “well-being.” Such bourgeois society would be highly individualistic, because it could not recognize any cultural or religious “common good.” In the Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels described the power of the bourgeois worldview to dissolve all cultural and religious allegiances into a universal market. Now, ironically, Marxist ideas (which Del Noce viewed as a much larger and more influential phenomenon than political Marxism in a strict sense) had helped bring that process to completion. At a conference in Rome in 1968, Del Noce looked back at recent history and concluded that the post-Marxist culture would be “a society that accepts all of Marxism’s negations against contemplative thought, religion, and metaphysics; that accepts, therefore, the Marxist reduction of ideas to instruments of production. But which, on the other hand, rejects the revolutionary-messianic aspects of Marxism, and thus all the religious elements that remain within the revolutionary idea. In this regard, it truly represents the bourgeois spirit in its pure state, the bourgeois spirit triumphant over its two traditional adversaries, transcendent religion and revolutionary thought.”
What is especially insightful in Del Noce’s analysis is his awareness that the West — yes, the anti-communist West — had unknowingly accepted Marx’s materialist analysis of meaning:
Under close inspection, the affluent Western consumer of the 1960s looked suspiciously like Marx’s homo economicus. The main difference was that the Marxist dream of a revolutionary catharsis had transmogrified into a bourgeois utopia of liberation from sexual repression and the shackles of traditional morality.
Del Noce also reflected deeply on the political repercussions of the advent of such “post-Marxist bourgeois society.” He believed that, ironically, the enduring influence of Marxist ideas would leave the left ill-equipped to correct the excesses of capitalism. If values like justice and human dignity do not have an objective reality rooted in a metaphysical order knowable by reason, then social criticism becomes purely negative. It can unmask the hypocrisy and contradictions of ideals like religion, family, and country, but there is no conceptual ground for new ideals. Secondly, Del Noce thought that the left itself was doomed to become “bourgeoisified,” by losing its ties to the working classes and becoming focused on causes broadly linked with sexuality. By doing so it would end up embracing an essentially individualistic and secular idea of happiness, which French sociologist Jacques Ellul had called the bourgeois trait par excellence. Conversely, politics would no longer be the expression of a fabric of social life organized around families, churches, ethnic neighborhoods, trade unions, etc., because all of them were being undermined by the individualism of the new culture.
And here we are today. Read the whole thing. It’s important to do so to understand our times. Lancellotti goes on to talk about the “dead end” of the Left coming from its refusal to admit that man has a religious dimension, and that this dimension has to inform politics. “To Del Noce,” writes Lancellotti, “the religious dimension meant that human beings are not reducible to sociological, economic, and biological factors.”
This is not, by the way, a simplistic “Republican Party at prayer” prescription. Lancellotti’s article is written for a liberal Catholic audience, but it’s very clear that Del Noce’s analysis applies to the failures of right-wing political thought too. Generally speaking, our side mobilized a popular Moralistic Therapeutic Deist version of Christianity as the religious auxiliary for consumer capitalism. I hope Lancellotti will write an essay critiquing the contemporary Right from a Del Nocian point of view. It seems to me that the Indiana RFRA debacle (when Big Business forced the GOP-governed state to abandon its mild religious liberty law) was the Great Unmasking of American political conservatism: the moment when the materialism that dominates the Republican Party manifested as an undeniably anti-religious force, a force that exists to dismantle tradition. Just like Marx said it was.
We on the Right have not yet faced the “cultural Marxism” that has been thoroughly absorbed by our own political and religious institutions (e.g., the churches that celebrate capitalism uncritically). I wonder if we even can. Contemporary Americans have been thoroughly catechized by a culture that teaches that the desiring individual is the center of our politics, and of all reality. The only institution that might have stood up to that is the Church, but it has failed to do so. Alas, the Right has also reached a dead end, it seems to me, though maybe it will be easier for us to find a way out of it, because at least in theory (as distinct from practice), we don’t deny the religious dimension.
[Readers, it’s Orthodox Good Friday. I am not going to be posting here today, though I scheduled this post to go up in advance. I will approve comments tonight. Until then, please be patient.]
Rod Dreher is a senior editor at The American Conservative. He has written and edited for the New York Post, The Dallas Morning News, National Review, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Washington Times, and the Baton Rouge Advocate. Rod’s commentary has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Commentary, the Weekly Standard, Beliefnet, and Real Simple, among other publications, and he has appeared on NPR, ABC News, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and the BBC. He lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with his wife Julie and their three children. He has also written four books, The Little Way of Ruthie Leming, Crunchy Cons, How Dante Can Save Your Life, and The Benedict Option.
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Lost Moments: The Arab Peace Initiative, 10 Years Later
What Israel can learn today from a missed opportunity in 2002.
Zvika Krieger
Saudi King Abdullah at the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative / AP
Ten years ago this week, the 22 members of the Arab League endorsed the Arab Peace Initiative (API). "We believe in taking up arms in self-defence and to deter aggression," said then-Saudi Crown Prince (and current King) Abdullah, the proposal's sponsor, in a speech to the Arab League that week. "But we also believe in peace when it is based on justice and equity, and when it brings an end to conflict."
The proposal, as Abdullah outlined, offered "normal relations and security for Israel in exchange for full withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories, recognition of an independent Palestinian state." It was a bold change of Arab League policy toward Israel, which since 1967 had been defined by the "three No's" adopted in its Khartoum Resolution: no peace deals, no diplomatic recognitions, and no negotiations.
It was far from perfect; Israelis expressed legitimate concerns about its demands on borders, Jerusalem, and refugees. But the offer certainly provided an opening for unprecedented relations between Israel and its neighbors, and Israel's refusal to engage with it was a tremendous missed opportunity.
The proposal has been re-affirmed at subsequent Arab League meetings. But as former Jordanian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher, a key framer of the API, argued in the The Atlantic a few months ago, the offer will not stay on the table forever, especially in light of recent developments in the region:
Arab publics, who have caused the overthrow of three Arab leaders so far, are increasingly disparaging of an Israeli occupation that has become, just like the status quo in the Arab world, unsustainable.
It is a huge mistake to assume that, because Arab protestors did not raise anti-Israel slogans in their protests against the low level of governance in their countries, they have stopped caring about the issue. The recent storming of the Israeli embassy in Cairo is but one rejoinder to the contrary. As new Arab governments emerge in Egypt, Tunisia, and elsewhere, they will be more responsive to public mood and will not be hesitant in voicing their rejection of an occupation that has become seemingly endless.
While I do not believe the Egyptian-Israeli or Jordanian-Israeli peace treaties are in jeopardy, it will be impossible to forge new ones in the current context. Israel's concern that a more hostile neighborhood is emerging will become a self-fulfilling prophecy if it does not try to find a timely end to the occupation and a serious resolution to the conflict. The initiative's main allure -- an agreement with all Arab states -- is becoming increasingly unlikely under the present circumstances.
Even though the initiative's primary sponsor, Saudi Arabia, seems largely unaffected by the Arab Spring, it cannot avoid the tolls of biology:
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is the last Arab leader of the stature required to protect the Arab Peace Initiative and the principles behind it. As someone who was intimately involved in the development of the Arab Peace Initiative and who attended the Beirut Arab Summit where it was signed and launched in March 2002, I can attest that King Abdullah played a critical role in circumventing possible dissent by some Arab countries and ensuring that the initiative was passed unanimously. But he is now 87 years old and once he leaves the scene, the initiative might very well tear apart at the seams.
Even in the short months since Muasher's piece, the situation has becoming even more dire, with the Muslim Brotherhood taking over the Egyptian parliament (and now possibly the presidency) and threatening to overturn the country's treaty with Israel, and the situation in Syria escalating with no clear end in sight. Some Israelis are arguing that, in light of the Arab Spring, the regional situation is too unpredictable to make the compromises necessary for peace with the Palestinians. The tenuous lifespan of the Arab Peace Initiative provides a compelling argument to the contrary.
Zvika Krieger is a former editor and writer at The New Republic and a former correspondent for Newsweek based in Egypt and Lebanon, covering most of the Arab world.
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The Unanswered Questions About America's Escalating Fight in Yemen
Micah Zenko
U.S. drone strikes against suspected terrorists could risk worsening violence there.
Tribal militants man a checkpoint on a road linking the Yemeni capital Sanaa with the oil-rich province of Marib. (Reuters)
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America's Third War is escalating quickly in the skies over Yemen. Despite previous rebuffs from the White House, last month the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and the CIA--which both run parallel drone campaigns in Yemen--were granted broad authority to conduct "signature strikes" against anonymous suspected militants, who are determined to support al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) based on the observed "patterns of suspicious behavior" from multiple intelligence sources.
A senior Obama administration official described the enlarged scope of targets as "broadening the aperture" for JSOC and CIA drones. By one estimate, there have been more drone strikes in the past month (seventeen, including two on Saturday) than in the preceding nine years, since the first strike on November 3, 2002. Meanwhile, there have been between ten and fifty other U.S. attacks on militants in Yemen using manned aircraft or naval platforms.
It is difficult to understand the scope of the campaign, as Yemeni officials claim to conduct the vast majority of the strikes. This is highly unlikely, however, given that many its pilots have been intermittently on strike since January, and Yemen's Air Force capabilities are dismal--despite receiving $326 million in (overt) U.S. security assistance between 2007 and 2011, when a large chunk of military aid was suspended in response to the government's violent crackdown against unarmed civilian protestors. As Air Force General Ali Abdullah Saleh Al Haymi told journalist Sharon Weinberger in March, "U.S. assistance was used to kill Yemeni people, not to kill al-Qaeda."
Several smart pieces were recently published warning of the increased likelihood of blowback, as AQAP will undoubtedly redouble recruiting efforts in response to the expanded air campaign. A few additional points to consider:
First, it is not clear who are the targets of these airstrikes. Three months ago, Eric Schmitt wrote that the Obama administration's "two-pronged strategy calls for the United States and Yemen to work together to kill or capture about two dozen of al-Qaeda's most dangerous operatives, who are focused on attacking America and its interests." Less than two months later, John Brennan, the senior White House counterterrorism adviser, stated that AQAP has "more than a thousand members"--a big leap from the aforementioned twenty-four. He continued by framing the U.S. mission and goal: "We're not going to rest until Al Qaida the organization is destroyed and is eliminated from areas in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Africa and other areas."
This statement--among others--raises a few red flags. If the goal is to kill or capture (let's be honest, to kill) only twenty-four AQAP militants, shouldn't the JSOC and CIA campaigns be nearly finished? There are over 950 more suspected militants to target and kill--assuming there are no additional recruits--if we are to destroy and eliminate AQAP, to borrow Brennan's words.
Second, there are several tribal groups fighting to capture substantive autonomy from the central government of President Abd Rabuh Mansur Hadi, who has been in power for less than three months. At the same time, elements of AQAP are engaged in brutal insurgent attacks against the Hadi regime. According to U.S. officials, there is no daylight between armed militants seeking to overthrow Hadi, and terrorists working to strike the American homeland: "AQAP's antigovernment insurgency and its terrorist plotting against the West are two sides of the same coin." Excellent reporting by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad from southern Yemen finds that secessionist rebels are divided between receiving weapons from Iran with strings attached, and aligning with AQAP against the regime. One Yemeni activist tells Abdul-Ahad: "If young men lose hope in our cause they will be looking for an alternative. And our hopeless young men are joining al-Qaida."
The likelihood that U.S. air power will target only those (anonymous) individuals who aspire to attack the United States, while sparing Yemeni rebels, is low. Perhaps more importantly, drone strikes could ultimately unite these disparate groups behind a common banner that opposes both the Hadi regime and its partner in crime, the United States. It would be easy for the U.S. military and CIA to become a Yemeni counterinsurgency air force for the Hadi regime.
Third, the average Yemeni will eventually come to resent a foreign military that repeatedly attacks its territory. If there is one lesson to be learned from the three hundred CIA drone strikes in Pakistan, it is that the fervent and impassioned opposition to drones is more pronounced where the strikes do not occur. One distinction between Pakistan and Yemen is that, in the latter, U.S. drone strikes are geographically distributed throughout the country. This poses a particular difficult problem for the Obama administration, which, until two weeks ago, claimed that drone strikes were "covert," and thus failed to counter the myths and misinformation proliferating in Pakistan.
Fourth, the United States has collected intelligence and targeted individuals in Yemen since April 10, 2002 (at least), when the country was officially designated a combat zone. Among the suite of manned and unmanned surveillance aircraft, National Security Agency listening facilities, and Yemeni government and tribal officials on the CIA payroll, there should have been some early warning of AQAP's increasing strength, as well as a platform for in-country policies to prevent and mitigate AQAP's reach.
Given the marked increase in AQAP's size, scope, and influence, the steady accretion of U.S. intelligence collection and strike capabilities have failed to reduce the threat of terrorist plots from Yemen. The current eliminationist, uncompromising counterterrorism mission in Yemen is not delivering results, but it is unlikely that the Obama administration, in alliance with the Hadi regime, will change course anytime soon. In the words of President Hadi, the "hunting of terrorists is irreversible."
This article originally appeared at CFR.org, an Atlantic partner site.
Micah Zenko is a fellow in the Center for Preventive Action at the Council on Foreign Relations and the author of Between Threats and War: U.S. Discrete Military Operations in the Post-Cold War World. He writes regularly at Politics, Power, and Preventative Action.
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Rand Paul and Chris Christie Clash on NSA Spying
The rivals for the GOP nomination have starkly different opinions about the protections of the Fourth Amendment.
Brian Snyder / Reuters
One of the biggest clashes in the Republican debate Thursday night came after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was asked about his past attacks on Senator Rand Paul. The two men disagree about an NSA program that spied on tens of millions of innocent Americans by logging all phone calls they dialed and received. Paul, a leading critic of the phone dragnet, has argued that it flagrantly violates the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Christie has said that if America is hit by another terrorist attack, Paul should be called before Congress to answer for his efforts to constrain the NSA’s domestic spying.
“Do you really believe you can assign blame to Senator Paul just for opposing the bulk collection of people's phone records in the event of a terrorist attack?” a moderator asked Thursday. The ensuing exchange highlighted stark differences in how the rival candidates would govern and their respective understandings of the Constitution.
Christie stood by his attack.
“Yes, I do,” he said. “And I'll tell you why: because I'm the only person on this stage who's actually filed applications under the Patriot Act, who has gone before the Foreign Intelligence Service court, who has prosecuted, investigated, and jailed terrorists in this country after September 11th. I was appointed U.S. attorney by President Bush on September 10th, 2001, and the world changed enormously the next day. That happened in my state. This is not theoretical to me. I went to the funerals. We lost friends of ours in the Trade Center that day. My own wife was two blocks away, at her office, having gone through it that morning.”
A GOP debate stage hasn’t witnessed such naked exploitation of the emotions surrounding 9/11 since Rudy Giuliani used the same manipulative tactic in 2008. Then, as now, there are plenty of people who stood every bit as close to the Twin Towers as they fell and drew opposite conclusions about how to fight the war on terror. Invoking physical proximity to the attacks is an irrational appeal made to avoid the need for a more substantive analysis. Saying “the world changed that day” does not justify all possible responses.
“When you actually have to be responsible for doing this,” Christie continued, “you can do it, and we did it, for seven years in my office, respecting civil liberties and protecting the homeland. And I will make no apologies, ever, for protecting the lives and safety of the American people. We have to give more tools to our folks to be able to do that, not fewer, and then trust those people and oversee them to do it the right way.” In fact, the phone dragnet has never stopped a single terrorist attack, during Chris Christie’s tenure as a U.S. attorney or at any other time.
For that reason, advocates of the phone dragnet wouldn’t be apologizing for protecting our lives and safety––they would be apologizing for abrogating our civil liberties with a surveillance program that didn’t even make us any safer in the bargain.
More generally, the torture of prisoners, the invasion of Iraq, the worst abuses of J. Edgar Hoover, and all the illegal behavior uncovered by the Church Committee were carried out by a lot of people who had the intent of protecting the lives of Americans. That intent does not excuse imprudent or unlawful acts––and as a federal court has ruled, the provision of the Patriot Act that the NSA and the Obama Administration have used to justify the phone dragnet does not, in fact, even authorize it.
Over the centuries, adhering to the Fourth Amendment and the rule of law has done far more to protect the lives and safety of Americans than any domestic spying effort. But Christie’s bad heuristics leave him unable to appreciate the lessons of history.
Paul responded to Thursday’s attack by expressing his preference for targeted surveillance rather than an expansive dragnet that sweeps up everyone’s metadata. “I want to collect more records from terrorists, but less records from innocent Americans,” he said. “The Fourth Amendment was what we fought the Revolution over! John Adams said it was the spark that led to our war for independence. I'm proud of standing for the Bill of Rights. I will continue to stand for the Bill of Rights.”
Christie was ready with a retort.
“You know, that's a completely ridiculous answer: ‘I want to collect more records from terrorists, but less records from other people.’ How are you supposed to know?” Like Keith Alexander, Christie seemed to be arguing that the government needs to intrude on everyone’s private communications to identify terrorists. It’s the logic of general warrants. How can the police know who is keeping an illegal gun in their home without searching the contents of everyone’s home? Republicans uncomfortable with that logic should avoid voting for phone dragnet supporters.
“Get a warrant!” Paul said. “Get a judge to sign the warrant!”
Christie did not engage on warrants.
“Listen, Senator, you know, when you're sitting in a subcommittee, just blowing hot air about this, you can say things like that,” he said. “When you're responsible for protecting the lives of the American people, then what you need to do is to make sure––to make sure that you use the system the way that it’s supposed to work.”
In fact, “get a judge to sign a warrant” is a rather succinct description of how “the system” is “supposed to work,” if we define “the system” as the Constitution rather than national-security officials following their gut instincts. It’s hardly “blowing hot air” for a senator to call on the executive branch to follow the law.
“Here's the problem, governor,” Paul said. “You fundamentally misunderstand the Bill of Rights. Every time you did a case, you got a warrant from a judge. I'm talking about searches without warrants, indiscriminately, of all Americans' records, and that's what I fought to end. I don't trust President Obama with our records. I know you gave him a big hug, and if you want to give him a big hug again, go right ahead.”
Rather than articulate why he believes individualized warrants are neither lawfully required nor prudent, Christie chose to address the “hugging Obama” part of the argument. “And you know—you know, Senator Paul? Senator Paul, you know, the hugs that I remember are the hugs that I gave to the families who lost their people on September 11,” he said. “Those are the hugs I remember, and those had nothing to do with politics, unlike what you're doing by cutting speeches on the floor of the Senate, then putting them on the Internet within half an hour to raise money for your campaign, and while still putting our country at risk.”
That might be the strangest part of Christie’s answer. There he was, standing on a stage full of candidates who spend much of their time begging rich people for campaign cash. And yet, the single fundraising tactic that Christie chose to disparage was the comparatively pristine, democratic tactic of putting one’s senate speeches online in the hope that regular citizens will like what they say enough to donate money.
Isn’t that how campaign finance ought to work?
On Fox News after the debate, a couple of commentators suggested that Christie won his exchange with Paul. I cannot comment on the style preferences of a GOP voter base that presently prefers Donald Trump to all other candidates. But on substance, Paul easily bested Christie in this exchange. Granted, I already agreed with his opposition to the phone dragnet. But even apart from that, when one candidate says policy x violates part y of the Constitution and a rival responds that he saw the Twin Towers fall and has hugged lots of survivors, identifying the more rational man isn’t hard.
Christie seems oblivious to the basic logic of the Bill of Rights. The constraints it places on government are not suspended in the aftermath of a terrorist attack––they are, in fact, most important precisely when a polity is panicked and officials are unusually able to seize excessive power without criticism. His praise for leaders unapologetically jettisoning such constraints in the name of protecting us is more dangerous than any terrorist plot in U.S. history.
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Blog Style in Film – Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Style in Film – Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Chris Watt April 27, 2015 Uncategorized 0 Comments
Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in Bonnie and Clyde
(1967, Arthur Penn)
Cinema can accomplish many things. It provides escapism, it moves us to tears and laughter. It seeps into pop culture in ways that other artforms can only dream of. As purely visual experiences, cinema provides a place for a huge array of styles and trends, and sometimes a single film can become iconic, even timeless.
In 1967, the world needed “Bonnie & Clyde”.
To paraphrase Monty Python; “People weren’t wearing enough hats.”
Not just a testament to the enduring power of cinema, “Bonnie and Clyde” has a style that places it firmly in the iconic lexicon. There are few films as sylistically keen as Arthur Penn’s film, from Faye Dunaway’s tight sweaters and pencil skirts, to Warren Beatty’s chalk-stripe suits, cut within an inch of their lives. Costume design becomes a character all of it’s own, announcing the film’s intentions before one bullet flies through the air.
Not just a testament to the enduring power of cinema, “Bonnie and Clyde” has a style that places it firmly in the iconic lexicon.
And this film has a lot of bullets.
Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde
The costumes were desinged by Theodora Van Runkle, who received an Oscar nomination for her trouble and wears it’s inspirations on it’s immaculatley tailored sleeves. Influenced by what was happening in the French New Wave at the time, as, ironically, the French New Wave was influenced by gangster pictures of the 20’s and 30’s. It’s a circular trend feeding off itself, like a snake digesting it’s own tail, the sort of analogy that Clyde Barrow himself might have made. Directors like Godard were more interested in aesthetic than plot, style over content. Think of the hoodlums dancing in the cafe in “Bande A Part”, or of Jean-Paul Belmondo, trying to perfect his Bogart, in “Breathless”. Here were films interested in the iconic. The cut of a good suit, or the sharp edges of a hair design.
Film Noir plays it’s part too, but unlike that genre’s cliches, Clyde Barrow is no sap, in the mould of many a film noir hero, down on their luck, in ill-fitting suit, and twisted round the finger of a femme fatale. Nor is Bonnie a femme fatale. She owns her character, her postures, her thoughts on those she destroys. She is behind her man every step of the way, supportive and helpful. They’d be the perfect couple, were it not for the psychosis.
And yet, as influential as Noir and the French New Wave are, none of them endure in quite the same way as Penn’s picture.
Fashion has it’s part to play in this. Often it’s a matter of right time, right place, and yet the look and design of “Bonnie and Clyde” resonates pure wish fulfilment. You want to look like them. To have Clyde’s swagger, or Bonnie’s sex appeal. That air of freedom that comes from fearlessness. That punch of confidence from not only feeling sexy, but knowing you’re sexy.
Interestingly, the recent TV remake of the story, seemed to lose something in translation. It looked right, but re-inforced a big truth about pop culture, that the casting was just as vital to the effectiveness of the look. Say what you will about Warren Beatty, the man could wear a suit. And Dunaway? No one could make a beret look better . The remake cast younger, and suffered the consequences of coming across as a Bugsy Malone–style romp.
Dunaway would later star in another iconic style piece, working opposite Jack Nicholson in “Chinatown” in 1974, a picture that probably wouldn’t have been made were it not for the wave of cool that had broken with Penn’s vision.
Penn’s film inspired a huge throwback to 30’s trends. Indeed, Dunaway would later star in another iconic style piece, working opposite Jack Nicholson in “Chinatown” in 1974, a picture that probably wouldn’t have been made were it not for the wave of cool that had broken with Penn’s vision.
The inspiration continues to this very day. Open any fashion magazine and you find a photo spread that name checks our anti-heroes. Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” stole many of the postures, but brought none of the tone. Even Beyonce and Jay-Z used the film’s fashions in promo videos for a recent tour.
Trends come and go, but the aesthetic of “Bonnie and Clyde” endures, partly because of it’s connection to the myth of the outlaw, but mainly because there is nothing quite as cool as a man in a suit and fedora, or a woman who owns her sexuality and body image through something as simple as where you place the cigarette in the mouth.
The film’s style is all the more fascinating when you consider the real Bonnie and Clyde, who looked, well, a little less iconic. They looked like thugs, not as well dressed or sexy as their cinematic portrayals, they were a product of depression-era America, a product of their times, a couple that couldn’t have existed were it not for the circumstances under which they lived.
The real Bonnie and Clyde
In short, less Hollywood and, therefore, harder to sell.
The film has no such problems. It ends in gunfire and bloodshed, slow motion allowing us to pore over every inch of the bullet riddled bodies. And while we may still be shocked by such on screen carnage, one thought haunts me more than most:
They look better dead than I’ve ever looked alive.
Chris Watt
Chris Watt is a novelist, screenwriter and film critic. A graduate of the University of Northumbria, his first novel, "Peer Pressure", was published in 2012. He has written film reviews and articles for "Show The Shark" and "Death By Movies" and is currently the Senior Film Critic for "Watch This Space Film Magazine". His screenplay, "Even God Gets Mad In The Temple", was shortlisted for the Shore Scripts Award in 2014, while his screenplay for the film "Manifest" is currently in production. A life-long cinephile, his favourite films range from "Jaws" to "Pan's Labyrinth" via "Dumbo".
1967beretbonnie and clydedepression erafashionfedorafilmpencil skirtsstyle
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The Hatred of Poetry: An Interview with Ben Lerner
By Michael Clune
What do we want from poetry? To read a poem is, on some level, to loathe it—both poem and poet aspire to fulfill a set of impossible expectations from the culture. In his new book, The Hatred of Poetry, Ben Lerner argues that a disdain for poetry is inextricable from the art form itself. Earlier this month, Michael Clune spoke to Lerner at Greenlight Books, in Brooklyn. The exchange below is an edited version of that conversation. —Ed.
One of the most striking things you do in The Hatred of Poetry is to reorient our sense of value. Your canon is “the terrible poets, the great poets, and the silent poets,” as opposed to the merely good or the mediocre. You write about the worst poet in history, McGonagall, and his horrific masterpiece, or antimasterpiece, “The Tay Bridge Disaster”:
Beautiful railway bridge of the silv’ry Tay
Alas! I am very sorry to say
That ninety lives have been taken away
On the last sabbath day of 1879
Which will be remembered for a very long
Wikipedia says that he’s widely considered the worst poet ever.
You do this great reading of McGonagall, line by line, showing the way the virtual poem gets projected by the failure of the actual verse. I wanted to ask how you think about value. There’s two kinds of hatred of poetry, right? One comes from the inability of the poem to be what it wants to be, and the other comes from a genuine hatred of actually good poems.
I think there are a lot of good and great poems that manage to do what they want to do. But part of the persistent sense that poems are always failing to live up to the expectation of the historical moment has to do with how “poetry” less denotes a stable set of practices than it does a set of impossible demands. I’m not saying this is true for everyone or for all time, but I think it’s an interesting structure of feeling worth thinking through. The main demand associated with lyric poetry is that an individual poet can or must produce both a song that’s irreducibly individual—it’s the expression of their specific humanity, because it’s this intense, internal experience—and that is also shareable by everyone, because it can be intelligible to all social persons, so it can unite a community in its difference. And that demand, I think, is impossible. It wants a poem to do something that only a revolution could do—to eradicate different kinds of inequality and social differences and violence. A lot of great poetry gets written because it wanders away from that pressure in some strategic way. It manages to work with the assumptions gathered by that fundamental lyric ambition and then to strategically disappoint them. It’s a tactical failure that a lot of the poems I love the most manage to achieve. Really, really bad poems, like McGonagall’s, also achieve it, because the radicalism of the failure lets you intuit the importance of the ambition. But this way of talking doesn’t have much to say about good poems in all their diversity. That’s not my subject here.
I think some people I know hate what I consider actually good poems because they are really anxious about intelligibility. Many people feel threatened by exclusion from poems in a different way than they feel threatened by exclusion from other kinds of artworks. There are versions of it—in modern art, like, My kid could have painted that, or, Why is this in a museum?—but many people are more upset by difficult poetry than they are by, say, atonal music. I think that has to do with an early fact of education—this connection between poetry and personhood. You’re taught from a young age, at least I was, that you write poems by virtue of being human. You have an intense internal experience, and if you have those feelings and express them in language, they’ll be intelligible to others. You’re a poet and you don’t even know it, that’s the saying. But what happens is that a lot of people stop reading poetry or stop writing poetry, and they only really encounter it at weddings, or they encounter it if someone is foolish enough to claim to be a poet. Again, I’m not saying this is the case for everyone—there are all kinds of poetic practices in all kinds of communities that are alive and well. I talk in the book about seeing a dentist, and he’s like, What do you do?, and I’m like, I’m a poet. That’s never the right answer. Part of the awkwardness of the exchange is that the nonpoet is still haunted by the idea that you’re a poet by virtue of being human, but the nonpoet feels excluded, like they’ve fallen away—and so has this fund of resentment. To say you’re a poet is to say you’re more human than they are. You never grew up and took a job and you plan on being accommodated because you’re still in the space of the abstract potential of language or whatever. That can produce a lot of species of resentment, even if the encounter is a good one.
When I was on the airplane coming here, The Economist had this article on the Swiss voting for a minimum yearly salary. And The Economist, of course, was attacking this idea. The cartoon above the article showed this cheesy version of utopia—there’s a guy loafing and he’s holding this thing that says Book of Verse. That’s what Switzerland is trying to create—a world where anyone can write a book of verse. And we need to stop that.
“Loafing” is the key word. That’s Whitman’s word. The weird contradiction in Whitman is that he’s always claiming to be doing, on the one hand, the most important work that can be done, which is to produce this secular Bible for the United States. It’s what’s going to actualize America in the future. And then on the other hand, he’s always under a flowering tree, taking his ease, watching people bathe. That labor/leisure divide—in the history of defenses and denunciations of poetry, that’s a big deal. The poet is doing work that’s more important than the work he might do in the mundane economy, but it’s also indistinguishable from leisure. You’re just taking dictation from spirits. People can get offended if you think poetry is work. But part of that is this idealistic vision of a kind of labor that transcends the labor/leisure divide, and that’s everywhere in Whitman. The same discourse surrounds any political, insurgent movement. It’s a labor/leisure problem—a refusal of the available models of work, a demand for new language about what counted as labor and leisure.
I was reading Robert Musil’s The Man Without Qualities. The main character, Ulrich, says, “Realization always attracts me less than non-realization.” For Musil, this is the problem of modern life—we have this split between the actual, where you don’t expect anything to happen, and this virtual or unrealized or impossible space, where we put all of our dreams and hopes and desires. It impoverishes the possibility of making things matter in this world and this space. I saw it as a challenge, as someone who’s completely attracted to nonrealization, to have this Austrian guy a hundred years ago saying this is the malady of modernity.
Ulrich is a former mathematician. He lost his belief in the richness of the discourse of scientific objectivity, but he’s also critical of the available metaphysical vocabularies. His indecision has to do with feeling that the language of science or the other available languages of value aren’t worthwhile. This is too grand a statement to be right, but I think that art can insist on a domain of the imagination or of negative space that’s prior to action. And that’s an important space—that’s what we go to art for. Maybe it’s what Robert Kaufman has called a “protopolitical” domain, a space where you’re reminded that alternatives to the merely real exist. Valorizing that space in art is to valorize the way that literature can refresh a capacity to imagine alternatives. But valorizing that space in life is different—saying that, as a general rule, you should not tarry with the actual is a different thing. You should actually be a good father, or a good citizen. It’s not an argument against the power of concrete historical action to say that art is valuable as the domain of the imagination that’s prior or adjacent to action.
Your book is very influenced by the work of Alan Grossman—this idea of the opposition of the virtual and actual in poetry is something Grossman wrote a great deal about. Reading your book, I thought about religion—Grossman has a very complex relationship to Judaism in particular, but also to religion in general. A nonpolitical way of putting this dissatisfaction with the actual would be something like the iconoclastic tradition, right? Where no image of the divine could ever be remotely adequate, and one actually expresses one’s relationship to the divine by breaking the image.
I went to synagogue in Topeka, Kansas, and we were told a story where there’s a child who’s just reciting the Hebrew alphabet when he’s supposed to be praying, and he’s just saying the alphabet, and the rabbi comes up and says, Why are you just saying the alphabet? And he says, I’m giving the alphabet to God so God can make a prayer worthy of God. In other words, anything I could actually write with the available letters would be insufficient. I think that’s part of Grossman’s idea—a negative theology or prayer where you sacrifice the actual artifact on the altar of the virtual. There are these hilarious passages of Grossman where people try to give him examples of successful poets—What about Sharon Olds? What about Ashbery?—and he’s always like, No, they failed. The point is that it’s not difficult, it’s impossible. It’s a structural thing.
That’s not what drew me to the story, though. I actually approach it more out of a history of left-poetics. We all know we can’t do anything that isn’t shot through with capital, but we also want to figure the outside—you can make works that can negatively figure what they can’t actualize.
You give this great reading of Claudia Rankine’s Citizen in which you say—how do you put it?—lyric is felt as loss. There’s this ghostly sense of what the lyric could do that’s not available, in her case because of racism. But I thought, as a counterexample, about Grossman’s essay on Hart Crane. For Crane, it’s not so much that the virtual refers to an ideal—it’s rather that the commitment to the virtual, to the impossible, is a force that disfigures the poetry. It’s not something outside the poem, but something inside the poem. This commitment to the impossible warps poetic language. Like with Crane, in his impossible effort to fuse completely incommensurable images.
Grossman has interesting things to say about how Whitman was a Civil War nurse—that he could get close to history, that he could tend to the wounded of both sides but he couldn’t enter history, because taking sides would compromise his claim to universality. And there’s a way that Whitman is disfigured by that decision. In his notebooks, Whitman says, I’m the poet of both master and the slave, which is the contradiction he can’t ever deal with. He can’t even put it in the poem. It’s the idea that you could suspend racial difference without fixing it in history, which is what I think really disfigures his work. His work is a response to pressure to not take sides.
Whitman gives this very evacuated, general set of perceptions that anyone could share. In Citizen, there’s a fundamentally Whitmanian idea, this idea of representative poetry—I want to write a poetry that will represent my experience and your experience, white male experience and African American female experience and so forth. That impossible ambition is something that Rankine is incredibly attuned to. In the Whitman model, the poet wants to write a poem that will account for the way your experience already is before you’ve encountered the poem. But I’m wondering if that’s the only model. There’s this other kind of virtuality, in which the encounter with the poem itself will transform your experience—we may not be the same before we enter into a relationship with a poem, but there’s this prospect of communion on the other side.
Claudia powerfully debunks a certain universalism that lurks in the tradition of poetic ambition. I think that universalism is always corrupt. But there’s still a possibility of enlargement, or a testing of what kind of consciousness is shareable, through the technology of the poem. It doesn’t have to be as absolute as universalism. Poetry’s denunciations and defenses tend to participate in universalism, and that’s what I’m responding to, but no, it’s not at all the only model. The reason I wrote this book is because there was an essay in Harper’s that Mark Edmundson wrote. He asked, “Where are all the poets that could unite us? Now poets only write out of their own experience.” And all of his examples of poets who spoke for everyone were white men writing in traditional forms. There’s even this part where he says, And Sylvia Plath was great, and then he excerpts “Daddy” or something and says, This poem taught a lot of women to rethink their relationships with their fathers. And there’s this bizarre misreading of a Baraka poem. Now, there are lots of other powerful ways to respond to Edmundson and those kinds of denunciations—by pointing out all the great poets working now in various modes.
There’s a nostalgic fantasy that is often recycled by critics that implies the Whitmanic poetic vision was realized in the past. It’s the bad universalism that keeps resurfacing. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t all kinds of ways to test what’s potentially social in literary practice. And people are doing that work.
Michael Clune’s most recent book is Gamelife.
Alan Grossman
Claudia Rankine
Harper's
loafing
Michael Clune
protopolitical domain
scientific discourse
The Hatred of Poetry
The Man without Qualities
The Tay Bridge Disaster
William McGonagall
The Distance Up Close
By Molly Peacock
Grace Paley’s Most Shocking Story
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Will MS lawyer swing for trial defence catastrophe?
And read to the bottom for a squabble on why nobody wants Bill...
By Graham Lea 22 Jun 1999 at 10:19
MS on Trial Microsoft will know who to blame for the inadequacy of its legal defence. Sullivan & Cromwell, its main trial law firm, has made some epic errors of judgement. It may be that orders as to how the case should be conducted came from Microsoft via head lawyer Bill Neukom, whom we tip for an early bath. In any event, it was a high risk strategy to call AOL svp David Colburn again as a hostile witness when it should have been clear that he knew very little of value to the defence. It seems probable that the pressure for this came from John Warden, and was an attempt to redeem his earlier inadequate cross-examination of Colburn. As a result, Microsoft did not discover that the AOL-Netscape merger was about to happen. Colburn's constant refrain was that "I'm not the technical guy" and "I'm only a deal guy". Warden foolishly tried to lambast Colburn for not pointing out in his deposition that embedding the Netscape browser had become relatively unimportant as a result of the pending deal, but of course Warden had not asked the right questions. Warden volunteered that MSN was "a tiny fraction" of AOL, something not entirely welcome to Microsoft as it tries yet again to launch its lead balloon. He was also concerned that "by gaining ownership of the Netscape client, AOL would gain a strong base to claim increasing amounts of the user's desktop time, especially in business and education markets." He was expressing the unbridled fear that Microsoft's dominance of user time might decline. Earlier in the trial, Microsoft had detected some concern on the part of Judge Jackson about the AOL-Netscape-Sun deal, so it conducted an intensive examination of the documentation of the merger in the search for anything that might help Microsoft's failing defence. No stone was left unturned in the search for dirt, but it didn't work. In the event, it became clear that there was nothing in the agreements to cause concern. What was unfair was that Microsoft had gained sight of highly sensitive documents about the merger. Warden' performance was flawed not just by the gross error of examining the wrong witness, but by many procedural errors. It was not good to refer to Colburn as the defendant, for example, but the slip was indicative of how Microsoft's lawyers have come to regard anybody opposing the bully. When Colburn had nothing to offer in response to a question, Warden editorialised by saying he wished to "draw the court's attention" to some propaganda point or other. Judge Jackson became increasingly frustrated at the inappropriateness of Colburn as a witness. In a second bench conference that he called, he let forth: Judge Jackson: Mr Warden, I confess, I'm not sure where you're going here. I think you had long since exhausted this witness's personal knowledge, and the examination that you are conducting right now is more of a dialogue than anything else, "Do you agree with this, do you agree with that?" My suggestion would be that if you got some more free-floating documents here as to which he has no personal knowledge but which otherwise has a provenance which would permit them to come into evidence, just offer them into evidence and let this guy go. Warden: I'm trying to show that the browser client part of the deal was an important part of the deal to Netscape and AOL. Judge Jackson: Well, he isn't going to agree to that, and he hasn't. Warden: I think he has. He says the browser is important to the portal because there is traffic there, and I'm coming back to the fact in a minute. Judge Jackson: He said he that a half a dozen times... I want to make sure that I know what your point is, what you're driving at... He says he's a deal maker, that he's an ops man, and that insofar as corporate strategy is concerned, he simply does what they tell him... I'm going to suggest that you exhaust his personal knowledge, put the free-floating documents in, and let's get him off the stand today... I'm rather surprised at the lack of personal knowledge he has about the things you're asking him, but he's demonstrated it. The best person to call you don't want to call [meaning Gates]. And I don't blame you. Warden: The government can call him. Judge Jackson: They don't want him, either. Mention of the glaringly obvious fact by the judge that Gates should have appeared in person to defend Microsoft was bad news for the monopolist. Nor did it help that Warden sought to enter into evidence a self-serving statement from Gates to his executives, dated 1 December 1998, and on which he could not be cross-examined. It was very strange that the memo should have found its way to AOL, by whom it was marked "highly confidential", and from whom it was "discovered" by Microsoft. To add mystery, there was a phone number handwritten on the document that Colburn did not recognise when asked by Warden. It was inconceivable that Microsoft did not know whose number it was. Colburn knew nothing about it. The most likely explanation was that it was deliberately leaked to AOL by Microsoft so that it could be offered in evidence. Boies objected to its use, and the judge sustained his request. Warden was given a basic lesson in examining witnesses and offering exhibits by the judge: "Without some testimony to give it some context, it doesn't prove anything to me... You have got to have a witness that can give it some context who have some knowledge about it, before it becomes probative evidence. Just a free-floating document doesn't prove anything to me." Warden ended up as the court fool, but there was no humour in his performance. He had groped his way forward, stumbling as he went. Microsoft's defence crumbled even further. ® Complete Register Trial coverage
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Trump Doesn't Really Understand What Success Means
Monique Judge
Filed to:Donald Trump
Photo: Win McNamee (Getty Images)
As people in the Carolinas prepare themselves for the onslaught of Hurricane Florence, Donald Trump proved that he doesn’t know what the word “success” means when he praised his administration’s response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year—where an estimated 3,000 people died as a result of the storm.
The Washington Post reports that while making remarks in the Oval Office Tuesday, Trump stated that Puerto Rico had virtually no electricity before the storm began (this is false, but it illustrates the way he categorizing Puerto Rico—an actual U.S. territory) and that his administration’s response to the storm was “an incredible, unsung success.”
His remarks were in response to reporters’ questions after he received a briefing on Hurricane Florence. He told them the administration’s response to Hurricane Maria was “one of the best jobs that’s ever been done with respect to what this is all about.”
It’s almost as if Trump lives in an alternate universe where his every failure is a success. He is completely blind to the widespread criticism of his administration’s seemingly slow and ineffective response to the storm.
As Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in response to his comments on Tuesday, “Nearly 3,000 people died. That is not a ‘success.’ That is a tragedy and a disgrace.”
Trump also claims that the U.S. government is “absolutely, totally prepared” for the arrival of Hurricane Florence—which is expected to bring with it devastating winds and catastrophic flooding.
“We’re ready. FEMA [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] is ready. Everybody is ready,” Trump said.
“We have everybody standing by. We hope for the best,” he said. “There’s a chance it could be a very bad one, as you’ve probably heard. . . . But we are absolutely, totally prepared.”
In Trump speak, that could mean anything.
Later again in the Oval Office, Trump reiterated that his administration was as ready as anybody has ever been” and then warned that Florence would be “tremendously big and tremendously wet — tremendous amount of water.”
Thank you, Mr. President. You explained it to me just the way my 5-year-old nephew would. I feel better already knowing the people in North and South Carolina can depend on you at this important time.
“The safety of the American people is my absolute highest priority. We are sparing no expense,” Trump said.
Hopefully he truly understands the meaning of “safety” and “highest priority.”
News Editor for The Root. I said what I said. Period.
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Last Male Sumatran Rhino in Malaysia Dies
The future of the critically endangered Sumatran rhino has been struck a blow, with the death of Malaysia's last male.
The rhino once roamed across much of Asia, but has now almost disappeared from the wild, with fewer than one hundred animals believed to exist.
The death of Tam, who lived at a wildlife reserve on the island of Borneo, was announced on Monday.
A female called Iman is now the only remaining member of the species in Malaysia.
After decades of deforestation and poaching, it's now thought only 30 to 100 Sumatran rhinos remain in the wild, most on the nearby island of Sumatra.
Tam was aged 30 or more and had been living at a reserve in the Malaysian state of Sabah since being discovered wandering in a palm oil plantation in 2008.
Efforts to breed him with two captured females proved unsuccessful.
Facts about the Sumatran rhino
Five rhino species can be found today, two in Africa and three in Asia
The Asian species include the Sumatran rhino, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, which is the smallest living rhino species
The animal is closely related to the woolly rhinoceros, which became extinct about 10,000 years ago
No more than 100 Sumatran rhinos remain in the wild (some estimates put the number as low as 30), scattered on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
Announcing his death, Malaysian officials said Tam was believed to have died of old age, although more would be known following a post mortem.
Cathy Dean, CEO of the London-based charity, Save the Rhino International, said despite the death of Tam, there was still hope that the species could be saved from extinction.
Sumatran rhinos have been hard hit by poaching and habitat loss, but the biggest threat facing the species today is the fragmented nature of their populations.
"Sumatran rhinos have really suffered from the fragmentation of their habitat," said Cathy Dean. "With logging, with roads for development, the patches of forest available are shrinking. Frankly it's hard for them to find each other to mate and breed successfully."
Hopes rest on a last-ditch attempt to bring together male and female rhinos, which are naturally solitary animals, for breeding purposes.
Experts believe that as few as 20 unrelated individuals could provide enough genetic diversity to save the species from extinction.
"There are a few animals in captivity in the Sumatran rhino sanctuary, and we're trying to get those to breed as fast as we can," she said.
Shrinking habitat
The Sumatran rhino once roamed from the foothills of the Himalayas in Bhutan and north-eastern India, through southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and the Malay Peninsula, and onto the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia.
The species is now confined mainly to Sumatra and is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature - IUCN.
The IUCN says over-hunting for its horn and other medicinal products has driven the animal to the brink of extinction.
There are a handful of Sumatran rhinos in captivity, mostly in Indonesia and Malaysia.
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HSBC warns of writedown, job cuts as profit misses estimates
By Harry WilsonBloomberg
Alfred Liu
Mon., Oct. 28, 2019timer4 min. read
HSBC Holdings embarked on its biggest overhaul in years after profit missed estimates, warning that it will pare back underperforming operations in the face of slowing economic growth and geopolitical uncertainty.
The bank, which makes almost 90 per cent of its profit in Asia and employs 240,000 people, walked away from a key profitability target and said write-offs are likely for some of its European business and technology spending. For acting Chief Executive Officer Noel Quinn, who took over in August following the ouster of John Flint, the review is his chance to put his stamp on the sprawling lender. Cuts at the investment bank have already begun.
The cutbacks underscore a reversal of the expansion made during Flint’s tenure, when the bank said it would spend about $17 billion updating its technology platforms and expanding its business in mainland China. The writedowns will stem from winding down technology from businesses that will be closed, goodwill charges from parts of its European business and severance costs. The shares slid as much as 4.8 per cent in London; a closing price at that level would result in the biggest drop in more than 2.5 years.
“Our previous plans are no longer sufficient to improve performance” in the U.S., continental Europe and British investment banking, given “the softer outlook for revenue growth,” Quinn said in a statement Monday. “We are therefore accelerating plans to remodel them, and move capital into higher growth and return opportunities.”
HSBC’s pretax profit fell 12 per cent to $5.3 billion for the third quarter. It dumped its target for return on tangible equity, a key measure of profitability, of more than 11 per cent in 2020. Retail banking and wealth management saw a 18 per cent drop to $1.69 billion.
“You are likely to see us needing to revisit a few things,” Chief Financial Officer Ewen Stevenson said on a call with Bloomberg. “We are carrying a decent amount of goodwill against parts of the European business in particular.” The bank plans to maintain its dividend, Stevenson said on a conference call.
Global banking and markets, which houses HSBC’s investment bank, posted a 30%-per-cent decline in pretax profit for the quarter to $1.24 billion, and that may be bad news for bonuses. While the bank’s total costs rose year-on-year, HSBC said it had cut performance-related pay by $200 million. It didn’t say what division’s staff was taking the largest hit, but traditionally its investment banking unit represents the largest single chunk of variable pay.
“The good news is that this performance looks set to finally goad the management into taking some of the actions to address under-performing businesses that we have been awaiting,” wrote Edward Firth, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.
Quinn, who’s signalled he wants the top job on a permanent basis, has been developing plans for a series of retrenchments. The bank may partially exit stock trading in some developed Western markets, and will attempt to sell its French retail bank, a move that could remove as many as 8,000 staff from the payroll, people familiar with the matter have said.
“Having a strong presence in both continental Europe and the U.S. is important to our bank, and we will retain a presence in both of those markets — but we need to reshape that presence,” Quinn said in an interview with Bloomberg. He declined to provide details.
“The one bright spot is that the bank intends to sustain the dividend,” said Eric Moore, a portfolio manager at Miton Group in London. “But with HSBC still trying to identify its proper footprint, 10 long years after the credit crunch, there is little else to savour. Shareholders should brace themselves for further heavy restructuring charges.”
HSBC’s third-quarter adjusted profit trailed a company-compiled analyst consensus of $5.7 billion. Here are some other highlights from its results:
- Third-quarter adjusted revenue fell 2 per cent to $13.3 billion.
- Annualized tangible return on equity of 6.4 per cent for the quarter.
- ‘Positive jaws’ of 2.2 per cent over nine months, meaning revenue outpaced costs.
- Third-quarter adjusted expected credit losses jumped to $883 million from $545 million in the previous three months.
HSBC credited its operations in Asia with holding up despite challenges in the region. More than four months of street protests in Hong Kong have unnerved some customers, while a confidence-sapping trade war with the U.S. has dragged on China’s economic growth. Few global companies have tied their fortunes as much to Hong Kong as HSBC, which wants to capitalize on closer economic ties with mainland China.
In Hong Kong, adjusted pretax profit inched up 1 per cent in the quarter to $3 billion. However, the bank also flagged a credit charge of $90 million to reflect a deteriorating outlook in the city, where small- and medium-sized businesses are suffering the most. Quinn also said some ultra-high-net-worth clients are opening accounts outside Hong Kong as a contingency plan, though there hasn’t yet been a significant outflow of funds.
Hsbc, Hong Kong
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Employment after immigration in Atlantic Canada: What you said, and what we learned
Published: Mar 29, 2019 at midnight
Updated: Nov 25, 2019 at 12:55 p.m.
A sober reminder
Tareq Hadhad’s is newcomer success story.
Tareq Hadhad
The support and welcoming he and his loved ones experienced are leading to great things — for his family, the community and the economy.
Peace By Chocolate is an example of what’s possible.
For more such success stories to happen, and for a brighter future in Atlantic Canada, the community at large needs to appreciate and embrace the value newcomers can bring.
While compiling this Deep Dive on Hiring Immigrants, we had a sober reminder that anti-immigration and hate are very real.
The March 15 massacre of 50 people at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, was committed by extremists who were anti-immigration and anti-Muslim.
These sentiments, this hate, have no place in Atlantic Canada, or anywhere else.
As economists, policy makers and pundits tell us, if this region is going to survive and prosper, immigration is essential.
Hopefully, this series has enlightened some who doubt that.
— Steve Bartlett, senior managing editor
How do we learn more? One question at a time.
We asked our journalists what they learned as they dug into immigration in Atlantic Canada to uncover new information and find solutions.
What’s the biggest gap you see in terms of the challenge and solution?
Sam McNeish: From the conversations I had with employers and groups representing immigrants and refugees, I think the biggest problem is society itself. In some places, there is acceptance of new people seeking to make a new life for themselves. And then there is the old school who want things to stay the same. The broad thinkers are the ones who will help make any of these programs work … and our society grow to the levels it needs to be at — as we are now a global community. The people I talked to have that vision, but there are also a host of trolls out there who like to comment, many of them nameless, and chastise these initiatives.
Andrea Gunn: It seems to me like there’s no one real cohesive idea about challenges and solutions in attracting and retaining newcomers - because immigration is such a varied and complex area it’s difficult to pin down one or even a few particular areas. Instead, the issues (and associated solutions) vary from person to person and community to community. But as shown by my sources, that doesn’t mean we can’t identify areas where we are lacking - whether those areas are policy based, or larger societal shortcomings - work towards doing better.
What’s the one piece of research you expected to find, but didn’t exist?
AG: It wasn’t so much research but I found a lot of the people I interviewed, though quite well versed in the topic as a whole, focused a lot on anecdotal evidence and broad topics/ideas. As a political reporter and someone who thinks rather analytically I like looking at specific policies and their implications, especially since that was the initial aim of my story. I was hoping more of my sources would be able to say “this subsection of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is problematic because of X, Y or Z and these are the changes we need to make to fix it.” I think what that shows is that the issues facing attracting and retaining immigrants, a large and complex topic, are more big-picture in nature and less focused on a particular policy or law.
What’s the most surprising thing you learned? What sticks with you after you hit submit?
SM: I can’t believe that with all the kind and caring information and nurturing that is abundant around the globe, that we as human beings wouldn’t want human beings to be kinder, nicer, gentler and of course more accepting of all races and cultures. As individuals, we are taught right and wrong, likely before we hit the age of 10, and then we make smart and intelligent choices. Why in this situation does that teaching go out the window?
Who did you try to interview, but didn't get to?
AG: The one type of person I really wanted to interview was an immigration lawyer, one in particular but anyone who was really well versed in the particular challenges that exist in Atlantic Canada would have been great. A lawyer would have been a good addition to the immigration story as they could really shed light on very specific issues with immigration law that cause roadblocks for those that want to make Atlantic Canada home. I had an interview set up with one very highly regarded immigration lawyer but we kept having to reschedule, and other calls I put out to other lawyers were not returned.
Who or what is a standout success in this series?
SM: The people who standout in this series for me are the ones who have taken the time to help educate and employ immigrants, to help them get a fresh start in life. People like Jason Aspen of Aspin Kemp and Associates and Russ Mallard, president, Atlantic Beef Products, the fine folks at Rabbittown Learners Program, and those who are with the Immigration Services Association of Nova Scotia and the Association of New Canadians in St. John’s, and Deirdre Ayer of Other Ocean Group Canada Ltd. in St. John’s and P.E.I., were all valuable assets in explaining the plethora of issues these immigrants and refugees face not on a daily basis, but sometimes minute to minute. And those are just the ones I have spoken with. Those who were featured in the additional pieces of this series, the immigrants themselves, the educators, the experts; all painted a vivid image for me of what needs to be done to exact change.
Heard around the web
Anthony Spencer: A million immigrants come to Canada every few years but how many have chosen to settle (or remain) in Atlantic Canada? Why do they go elsewhere? Perhaps more concern should have been shown for creating the sort of environment and opportunities which would have encouraged more people to stay in CB in the first place. And I will never apologize for my belief that unemployed Canadians should be trained and put to work before looking for talent abroad.
Wallace Ryan We need a lot more immigrants in Newfoundland & Labrador if we're going to survive and prosper!!! We can't make it on a population of aging white folks.
Canada needs to give us a much bigger quota of New Canadians!!! It's Newfoundland & Labrador's best hope for a real future.
Email us your thoughts at deepdives@saltwire.com.
DEEP DIVE: Employment after immigration in Atlantic Canada
Employing immigrants - how can we get businesses on board?
Attracting, hiring newcomers: who's making a difference in Atlantic Canada?
What needs to change to attract, hire and retain more immigrants in Atlantic Canada?
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Nissan says it plans to sell 1.6 million cars in China this year
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Win free tickets to enjoy Royal Bath & West Show in Somerset
PUBLISHED: 14:58 10 May 2019 | UPDATED: 13:14 11 May 2019
Sam Frost
Bath & West Show 4
A Gorman Photography
'A true celebration of Great British agriculture, entertainment, food and drink' will be held in Somerset once again this summer, promising to deliver a hugely entertaining day out.
The Royal Bath & West Show will be held at Shepton Mallet's showground, off the A371, from May 29 to June 1 at 7.30am - and the Mercury has free tickets to give away to lucky readers.
The hugely popular event draws thousands of people to the small Somerset town each year to celebrate the county's heritage, with a huge range of family-friendly entertainment on show.
Among the attractions on offer will be motorcross stunt shows, 4x4 off-road driving challenges, daring performances from the Dorset Axemen and an enchanting model railway.
There will also be lots of live music performances and traditional livestock and equine competitions to keep revellers entertained, and the best of the county's food and drink produce will be served up.
A wide selection of children's activities are also planned, including a fun farm zone, bouncy castles and a tractor driving school.
Head of show Alan Lyons said: "The Royal Bath & West Show is a true celebration of Great British agriculture, entertainment, food and drink, and we look forward to welcoming all of our visitors and exhibitors later this year."
Tickets, priced £22, are available from 08447 766777 or online by logging on to www.bathandwest.com
Tickets for children aged 15 and younger are free of charge.
The Mercury has teamed up with The Royal Bath & West Show to offer two lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to attend the show on a day of your choice.
To enter the competition, simply answer the following question by 10am on May 16.
Usual Archant rules apply and the editor's decision is final.
By entering this competition, you agree to be contacted by Archant and show organisers.
Competition closed
Thanks for your interest but this competition has now closed
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Culture, Tourism NEWS
Heritage Routes cross Chile’s human geography
Along with the resumption of the historic “Valdiviano” and the expansion of the “Traces of Pablo Neruda” route, there are over 60 heritage routes throughout the country.
Friday 29 January, 2016 | Culture, Tourism
Sur Actual
Versión en Español Rutas patrimoniales recorren la geografía humana de Chile
As of January 31 the departures of the “Valdiviano” will be resumed, a historic train that during the 30s and 50s ran through the 30 km stretch between the town of Antilhue and Valdivia, in Los Rios Region. Pulled by a centennial locomotive, the train will tour the Calle-Calle landscapes in three departures distributed during this summer. It is expected that after this limited return, the national Heritage Corporation will keep the route the rest of the year.
Another addition to this recent news is the inclusion of the childhood home of Pablo Neruda in Temuco to the “Traces of Pablo Neruda” route, which was acquired by the Ministry of National Assets. The route consists of five areas including 18 milestones related to the life and work of the poet, and is part of the Plan of Infrastructure and Regional Development for the Araucania Region.
Together with them, you can travel more than 60 heritage routes along Chile, created for visitors to learn in depth the different regions, their customs and traditions. The circuits are classified into four categories: Natural, Cultural, Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights, distributed around the 15 Regions.
Natural routes are developed in the natural environment and landscapes, covering its attributes from the perspective of its flora and fauna, and physical geography. Cultural Heritage tours keep the history of Chile alive, aiming to support the local cultural identity and the preservation of traditions. Indigenous Peoples Routes point to the preservation of the heritage of our peoples, while Human Rights Routes focus on places marked by the military dictatorship and their collective memory.
On the official site of the Heritage Routes of the National Assets Ministry a complete guide by region can be found, with the option of downloading the circuits of interest.
This post is also available in Spanish
A Tour through New Heritage Routes of Chile
City of Valparaíso – World Heritage Site
Central Andes – Olivares River – Gran Salto
Chilean to Preside over Inter-American Human Rights Commission
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Home » News & blog » Blog
Mortgage interest relief to be phased out in April
Residential landlords have had a rough time of it over the last few years and their ability to claim mortgage interest relief will end in April. Before April 2017, borrowing money through a buy-to-let mortgage was a tax-efficient method for residential landlords....
Off-payroll working in the private sector
Large and medium-sized businesses that use contractors have been gearing up for off-payroll working rules extending to the private sector next spring. From 6 April 2020, private firms are set to assume responsibility for deciding if a contractor supplies a service as...
Tax-efficient profit extraction tactics for directors
Extracting profits from a limited company has traditionally been done using a combination of salary and dividends. A director would pay themselves slightly less than the tax-free personal allowance and take the rest in dividends. Big tax savings were available for...
Capital gains tax: likely changes for 2020/21
Three potential changes to capital gains tax could have a significant impact on people who make profits from selling homes in 2020/21. This triple whammy will affect those who have a main residence and let it out, perhaps while working away or going through separation...
Requirement to correct offshore income and assets
It’s almost a year to the day since HMRC published a set of rules on income generated from overseas assets. The requirement to correct legislation required UK taxpayers to declare any foreign income or assets to the Revenue before 30 September 2018. From that point...
First MTD for VAT deadline goes without a hitch
The first main submission deadline for filing VAT returns through Making Tax Digital (MTD) came and went on 7 August 2019. It affected around 490,000 of the UK’s 1.2 million VAT-registered businesses with annual taxable turnover of more than £85,000. But, according to...
Self-assessment: sources of taxable income
It may seem like a long time until January with the summer holidays in full swing, but our thoughts are already turning towards self-assessment. The next batch of tax returns relate to the 2018/19 tax year, which ended on 5 April 2019, and are due for submission by...
Residence for tax purposes UK
A number of our clients swap the UK for warmer climes, but their domestic tax liabilities do not end there. While it is accurate to say calculating tax affairs for these individuals is more complex, our residency service covers all the bases. If you are unsure of your...
Corporation tax in Scotland
Companies in Scotland pay one of the lowest rates of corporation tax in the world. The 2019/20 main rate remains at 19% throughout the UK, aside from the Isle of Man and Guernsey, At 19%, Scotland - and the UK as a whole - have the lowest corporation tax rate of any...
Auto-enrolment for employers
Auto-enrolment is in the news this month, after the final rise in minimum contributions kicked in for both employees and employers on 6 April 2019. It marks the end of the line for the first phase of auto-enrolment, which has seen more than 10 million people saving...
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Marcus Garvey and His Radical Views
Important Figures
The Black Freedom Struggle
Major Figures and Events
Slavery & Abolition
Segregation and Jim Crow
MPI / GettyImages
by Lisa Vox
Lisa Vox, Ph.D. is a History professor, lecturing at several universities. Her work focuses on African American history, including the Civil Rights Movement.
No Marcus Garvey biography would be complete without defining the radical views that made him a threat to the status quo. The life story of the Jamaican-born activist starts well before he came to the United States following World War I when Harlem was an exciting place for African-American culture. Poets like Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen, as well as novelists like Nella Larsen and Zora Neale Hurston, created a vibrant literature that captured the black experience. Musicians such as Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday, playing and singing in Harlem nightclubs, invented what has been called "America's classical music"—jazz.
In the midst of this renaissance of African-American culture in New York (known as the Harlem Renaissance), Garvey seized the attention of both white and black Americans with his powerful oratory and ideas about separatism. During the 1920s, the UNIA, the foundation of Garvey's movement, became what historian Lawrence Levine has called "the broadest mass movement" in African-American history.
Garvey was born in Jamaica in 1887, which was then part of the British West Indies. As a teenager, Garvey moved from his small coastal village to Kingston, where political speakers and preachers entranced him with their public speaking skills. He began studying oratory and practicing on his own.
Entrance into Politics
Garvey became a foreman for a large printing business, but a strike in 1907 during which he sided with the workers instead of management, derailed his career. The realization that politics was his true passion prompted Garvey to begin organizing and writing on behalf of workers. He traveled to Central and South America, where he spoke out on behalf of West Indian expatriate workers.
The UNIA
Garvey went to London in 1912 where he met a group of black intellectuals who gathered to discuss ideas like anti-colonialism and African unity. Returning to Jamaica in 1914, Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association or UNIA. Among the UNIA's goals were the founding of colleges for general and vocational education, the promotion of business ownership and the encouragement of a sense of brotherhood among the African diaspora.
Garvey's Trip to America
Garvey encountered difficulties organizing Jamaicans; the more affluent tended to oppose his teachings as a threat to their position. In 1916, Garvey decided to travel to the United States to learn more about America's black population. He discovered the time was ripe for the UNIA in the United States. As African-American soldiers began serving in World War I, there was widespread belief that being loyal and performing their duty for the United States would result in white Americans addressing the terrible racial inequalities that existed in the nation. In reality, African-American soldiers, after having experienced a more tolerant culture in France, returned home after the war to find racism as deeply entrenched as ever. Garvey's teachings spoke to those who had been so disappointed to discover the status quo still in place after the war.
Garvey's Teachings
Garvey established a branch of the UNIA in New York City, where he held meetings, putting into practice the oratorical style he had honed in Jamaica. He preached racial pride, for instance, encouraging parents to give their daughters black dolls to play with. He told African-Americans they had the same opportunities and potential as any other group of people in the world. "Up, you mighty race," he exhorted the attendees. Garvey aimed his message at all African-Americans. To that end, he not only established the newspaper Negro World but also held parades in which he marched, wearing a lively dark suit with gold stripes and sporting a white hat with a plume.
Relationship with W.E.B. Du Bois
Garvey clashed with prominent African-American leaders of the day, including W.E.B. Du Bois. Among his criticisms, Du Bois denounced Garvey for meeting with Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members in Atlanta. At this meeting, Garvey told the KKK that their goals were compatible. Like the KKK, Garvey said, he rejected miscegenation and the idea of social equality. Blacks in America needed to forge their own destiny, according to Garvey. Ideas like these horrified Du Bois, who called Garvey "the most dangerous enemy of the Negro Race in America and in the world" in a May 1924 issue of The Crisis.
Garvey is sometimes said to have headed a "back-to-Africa" movement. He did not call for a widespread exodus of blacks out of the Americas and into Africa but did see the continent as a source of heritage, culture, and pride. Garvey believed in founding a nation to serve as a central homeland, as Palestine was for Jews. In 1919, Garvey and the UNIA established the Black Star Line for the dual purposes of carrying blacks to Africa and promoting the idea of black enterprise.
The Black Star Line
The Black Star Line was poorly managed and fell victim to unscrupulous businessmen who sold damaged ships to the shipping line. Garvey also chose poor associates to go into business with, some of whom apparently stole money from the business. Garvey and the UNIA sold stock in the business by mail, and the inability of the company to deliver on its promises resulted in the federal government prosecuting Garvey and four others for mail fraud.
Though Garvey was only guilty of inexperience and bad choices, he was convicted in 1923. He spent two years in jail; President Calvin Coolidge ended his sentence early, but Garvey was deported in 1927. He continued to work for the UNIA's goals after his exile from the United States, but he was never able to return. The UNIA struggled on but never reached the heights it had under Garvey.
Levine, Lawrence W. "Marcus Garvey and the Politics of Revitalization." In The Unpredictable Past: Explorations in American Cultural History. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.
Lewis, David L. W.E.B. Du Bois: The Fight for Equality and the American Century, 1919-1963. New York: Macmillan, 2001.
5 Influential Leaders of the Harlem Renaissance Movement
4 Pan-African Leaders You Should Know
A Guide to the Development and Spread of Pan-Africanism
How Did Arturo Schomburg Preserve African-American History?
African American Women Dreaming in Color: The Harlem Renaissance
How the Harlem Hellfighters Became World War I Heroes
All About Mary White Ovington, a Founding Leader of the NAACP
Biography of Langston Hughes, Poet, Key Figure in Harlem Renaissance
Highlights of the Harlem Renaissance and the Roaring '20s
Biography of W.E.B. Du Bois, Activist and Scholar
How did African-American fight racial injustice from 1910 to 1919?
21 Literary Achievements of the Harlem Renaissance
12 Major Achievements of the NAACP
6 Revealing Autobiographies by African-American Thinkers
How the Definition of African-American History Has Evolved
In Celebration of Renowned Sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois
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MAN Truck Yemen
Long-haul transport Building site & heavy-duty Distribution transport Services MAN World Used trucks
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MAN in Yemen
To press overview
2016-03-11 · Truck | Bus
MAN Group creates basis for successful growth
Future growth program at MAN Truck & Bus strengthens competitiveness and profitability in the long term // MAN Truck & Bus Middle East posts steady performance within a challenging market environment
The MAN Group looks back at a challenging fiscal year in 2015: While the European commercial vehicles market recovered, the situation in other regions — especially Brazil — and in the Power Engineering business area remains tense. Although the global economy recorded moderate growth, economic momentum in many emerging economies slowed further over the course of the year. Russia and Brazil continue to be of great concern. MAN Truck & Bus was able to maintain its position in the key commercial vehicles markets in Europe and to increase its sales revenue and sales. MAN Truck & Bus has launched a future growth program designed to increase long-term competitiveness.
In the Middle East region, MAN Truck & Bus saw a steady business performance in 2015 with sustained growth in customer demand and customer satisfaction. The positive performance comes on the back of a strong brand perception, excellent customer services and solid growth for the transport sector. The strong presence of MAN Truck & Bus through an extensive network of long term committed partners across the region gives MAN a clear edge moving into 2016.
According to Franz Freiherr von Redwitz, Managing Director of MAN Truck & Bus Middle East “Despite the year 2015 being challenging for all the sectors of the economy due to the oil prices which are the barometer of growth and development, we performed at a steady level. We have maintained and improved our overall position in the Middle East region in 2015. This sets up a good platform for us and we will continue to provide our customers with innovative and reliable products and the excellent support from our valued distributors to be their preferred partner of choice in 2016.”
2015 Global Results
At €14.4 billion, the MAN Group’s order intake in fiscal 2015 was down 6% year-on-year. In the Commercial Vehicles business area, it amounted to €11.0 billion, 4% lower than the previous year’s figure. MAN Truck & Bus received 9% more orders, while order intake at MAN Latin America declined by more than half.
At €13.7 billion, the MAN Group’s sales revenue in fiscal 2015 was 4% lower year-on-year. The Commercial Vehicles business area recorded sales revenue of €10.0 billion. MAN Truck & Bus generated year-on-year growth of 7%; sales revenue amounted to €9.0 billion. Unit sales increased by 8% to 79,222 vehicles. MAN Latin America’s sales revenue declined to €1.0 billion; unit sales almost halved to 24,472 vehicles.
The MAN Group’s operating profit after restructuring expenses was €92 million in fiscal 2015. Operating profit at the Commercial Vehicles business area dropped to €–101 million. MAN Truck & Bus recorded an operating profit before special items of €205 million — a significant increase compared with the prior-year period. Special items weighing on operating profit related to restructuring expenses of €185 million for the future growth program. This reduced MAN Truck & Bus’s operating profit to €20 million. MAN Latin America recorded an operating loss of €120 million because of the lower volumes in Brazil and introduced a large number of measures to counteract this trend. The MAN Group’s operating return on sales declined to 0.7% in 2015 against the backdrop of special items from restructuring expenses and the extremely difficult economic environment in Brazil.
“We have initiated or stepped up measures to increase profitability in all divisions. Our goal is to deliver significant results from optimized products and components, as well as procurement. Additionally, capital expenditures are being reviewed and workflows are being examined and enhanced. The most important new measure is the future growth program to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of MAN Truck & Bus. It includes reorganizing truck production and streamlining administration. The changes introduced in the bus production network in 2014 have now largely been implemented. As MAN SE’s Executive Board, we are convinced that it was and remains the right decision to initiate pivotal measures to safeguard the Company’s future growth even in economically difficult times,” says Joachim Drees, Chief Executive Officer of MAN SE.
In May 2015, Volkswagen AG’s Supervisory Board approved the creation of Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH, a commercial vehicles holding. As part of this, MAN Truck & Bus, MAN Latin America, and Scania are collaborating more closely while retaining their identities and full operational responsibility. The new group aims to generate potential additional long-term operating profit synergies averaging at least €650 million a year. In light of the long product lifecycles in the commercial vehicles business, it will take ten to 15 years before these have been fully realized. For example, leveraged synergies in the areas of procurement and development are expected.
MAN Truck & Bus in Middle East
Since 2006, MAN Truck & Bus Middle East has been the regional representative of MAN Truck & Bus AG which is headquartered in Munich, Germany and the largest company of MAN Group. It is a leading provider of commercial vehicles and buses that are renowned for their robustness, reliability and adherence to high standards of driver and passenger comfort and safety.
MAN Truck & Bus Middle East operates through an extensive network of private capital dealers and importers in 14 countries namely Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The local coordination office is located in the UAE, Dubai Airport Free Zone and guarantees for efficient sales and after sales support in the Middle Eastern region.
Accommodating for the demanding operating conditions in the Middle East, MAN Truck & Bus Middle East provides full-fledged turn-key solutions for both goods and passenger transportation by road through its light (TGL) , medium (TGM) and heavy-duty (TGS WW) ranges of trucks, and MAN and NEOPLAN buses & coaches that provide basic to VIP luxury transport and travel requirements.
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Alton, Giada, Rachael: Before They Were Food Network Stars
Hey, you’ve gotta start somewhere
Since its humble beginnings more than 20 years ago, Food Network has become a cultural juggernaut. Every day, millions of viewers tune in to watch chefs and cooks that have become household names prepare dishes and travel the country seeking out great food. But where did these hosts start out? From Alton Brown to Geoffrey Zakarian, their backgrounds prove that with enough hard work, you can make it to the top.
Lagasse worked in a Portuguese bakery in Massachusetts as a teenager before attending Johnson & Wales University. In 1982, he took over for Paul Prudhomme as head chef at New Orleans’ Commander’s Palace, which won him plenty of local renown and an invitation to guest-host a couple episodes of the Food Network show How to Boil Water. That led to him getting his own show, The Essence of Emeril, and the rest is history. Bam!
After dropping out of high school, Bobby Flay took a job making salads at New York City’s Theater District standby Joe Allen. Allen took a shine to him and paid his tuition to the French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Center), and Flay ended up working his way up the culinary ladder, for a time under the wing of Jonathan Waxman. He then became executive chef at New York City’s Mesa Grill, where he caught the eye of Food Network executives who offered him a gig as host of his first show, Hot Off the Grill With Bobby Flay.
Ray moved to New York in 1995 and worked at the candy counter at Macy’s as well as specialty food store Agata & Valentina before becoming a buyer for a gourmet shop in Albany. While there, she taught a class on how to cook meals in fewer than 30 minutes, which led to a weekly segment on a local newscast, radio appearances, and a book. Food Network executives took notice, and she signed her first contract with the network in 2001.
The Georgia native actually began his career as a cinematographer, working on music videos including REM’s The One I Love. He was unhappy with the current state of cooking shows, so he simply set out to make his own. He put himself through cooking school and made the pilot for Good Eats himself, which he sent around. Thankfully, it was noticed by an eager Food Network staffer who convinced his superiors to pick up the show.
De Laurentiis was born in Rome and spent a lot of time in her youth in the restaurant owned by her grandfather, producer Dino De Laurentiis. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and after graduating worked in several high-profile Los Angeles restaurants, including Spago. In 2002, her photo was featured in an issue of Food & Wine Magazine alongside some of her food styling, which caught the attention of the network. The next year, Everyday Italian premiered.
Garten always had a love of cooking but was never formally trained. She was actually a budget analyst for the Office of Management and Budget during the Ford and Carter administrations, and in her spare time she cooked for friends and “flipped” D.C. houses, turning a tidy profit. She left her government job in 1978 to purchase a specialty food store (which happened to be called Barefoot Contessa) that became incredibly successful. In 1985, she moved it to the Hamptons, and it attracted a client roster that included many celebrities. After the shop closed in 2004, Garten turned to writing cookbooks, which led to guest appearances on Martha Stewart’s cooking show and then led to the network offering her a show of her own.
Fieri’s keen eye for food and business began in his early childhood when he set up a lucrative pretzel cart. He fell in love with food while studying in France, and after graduating college he managed several restaurants before opening his own in 1996, Johnny Garlic’s in Santa Rosa, California. Three more locations followed, along with two locations of a second restaurant, Tex Wasabi’s. Fieri had previously submitted a grilling show pilot to Food Network that didn’t make the cut, but as soon as the network saw his audition tape for season two of The Next Food Network Star, they knew they had a keeper on their hands.
Irvine enlisted in the Royal Navy at age 15 and received enough culinary training while there to score a job cooking aboard Her Majesty's royal yacht Britannia, which lasted 10 years. He then served as a restaurant consultant in Asia before becoming executive chef for several cruise ships. In 2007, he published his first cookbook, Mission: Cook!, and later that year his first show, Dinner: Impossible, was picked up by Food Network after shooting a pilot with Marc Summers’ production company.
Sunny Anderson
This New Orleans native grew up as an army brat, which gave her the opportunity to sample food from all over the world. She was in the Air Force from 1993 to 1997, and until 2001 she hosted radio shows in several markets. In 2003, she launched her own catering company, Sunny's Delicious Dishes, and a 2005 guest spot on Emeril Live led to her very own show.
Tyler Florence
Florence began working in restaurants at his native Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 15, and he graduated from Johnson & Wales University in 1991. He then moved to New York City, where he got a job working in kitchens including Charlie Palmer’s Aureole, and in 1998, he struck out on his own, becoming head chef at Cibo before opening Cafeteria in Chelsea. Their success led to appearances on the network’s How to Boil Water, and the following year he got his own show, Food 911.
This Worcester, Massachusetts, native got his start after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, and apprenticing under chef Daniel Boulud at New York’s legendary Le Cirque, where he served as chef de cuisine from 1982 to 1987. During the 1990s, he served as executive chef at lauded New York restaurants including 44 and Patroon, and in the 2000s, after a brief stint at Alain Passard’s renowned Arpege in Paris, he opened two new restaurants, Town and Country. Today he runs six restaurants, including Georgie in Los Angeles, The Lambs Club and The National in New York City, and a second location of The National in Greenwich, Connecticut, and appears on Food Network as a judge on Chopped and as co-host of The Kitchen and the new Cooks vs. Cons.
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Greeley/Evans seek voters' help to fund schools
Posted: 5:58 PM, Apr 06, 2016
By: Brendaliss Gonzalez
The Greeley/Evans School District plans to ask for something they’ve never had -- more money through property taxes.
On Wednesday, the administrators met with parents and community members at Martinez Elementary school for several community meetings to get feedback regarding whether to put a mill levy up for a vote this November.
“The needs have gone as high as $25 million a year that we’re no longer getting from the state of Colorado,” said Dierdre Pilch, Superintendent for the district.
Pilch said the district so far has done well despite being one of only two of the large districts in the state to not have a mil levy. “Our kids are excelling,” she said.
However, she said they could do more, with more things like computers, faster broadband speeds and more updated textbooks. Some of Things their current budget can’t afford.
“Our students deserve to have more here,” she said.
This isn’t the first time the district asks the community for money through a property tax.
A similar proposal failed among voters in 2009.
Pilch thinks this year is different and their odds will be better among voters.
“It’s a much different climate now than what we had in 2009 where folks felt like too much was being spent on education,” she said.
A Citizen’s Advisory Committee began working on the issue earlier this month.
The group, which includes parents such as Kenneth Watts, will get input from the community and provide feedback for members of the School Board, who will decide on whether to put the mill levy up for a public vote.
“When I see the budget that the state gives us to operate on it’s almost criminal,” he said, “We definitely need this.”
According to a survey conducted by the district, around 51 percent of voters said “too little” is spent on education.
Pilch thinks a mill levy will put the district at a better advantage, helping them provide staff with a more competitive salary compared to other districts.
With their current budget, Pilch has had to eliminate 11 administrative positions for next year.
She hopes voters will have the chance to decide on whether they want to help prevent more cuts and provide more opportunities for students.
“This is our community and this will be an investment in our children,” she said.
The district will hold two more in-person forums:
Wednesday, April 13, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Evans Community Center, 1100 37th St., Evans (Spanish interpreters will be available)
Tuesday, April 19, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., Greeley (Spanish interpreters will be available)
They plan to hold a telephone town hall on Sunday, April 10 from 5-6 p.m.
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Byzantine-Era Pottery Kilns Revealed During Works in Kozani
By ANA June 23, 2019
(Photo by ANA)
Two well-preserved kilns of the Byzantine era were discovered in the area Gratsani in Kozani, northern Greece, during works for the construction of a sub-station at the West Askio wind farm. The archaeologists that made the discovery believe that the kilns, along with the ancient warehouses found on the site, belong to a Byzantine-era pottery workshop.
According the head of the Kozani Antiquities Ephorate Areti Hondrogianni, “one of the two kilns is in a very good condition, with an area of 10 square metres and a rack that has almost 200 apertures and is supported on 10 arched pillars.” The archaeologists observed that all the apertures in the kilns were very carefully blocked with stones and tiles, while both its entrances were sealed. They came to the conclusion that the owners had temporarily closed the workshop with the prospect of using it again in the future. The workshop appears to belong to a nearby settlement that has not yet surfaced, on which there is no further information.
The archaeologist responsible for the excavation, Sofia Eleftheriadou, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency that “the two kilns are the first unearthed in the region of Kozani and constitute a very important find, not only for the dating but also because their firing rack is solid, something that is rarely preserved throughout the years.”
A few kilometres away, the works for the transfer of electricity from the wind farm revealed a 30 square metre building that dates back to the Bronze Age (1600-1100 BC). The building appears to be similar with other buildings of the same era that have been unearthed in the regions of Florina and Kastoria. Next to the building was a grave, probably belonging to a woman.
Hondrogianni said that the Ephorate is in close cooperation with the company responsible for the wind farm’s construction in order for “a closed roof to be constructed, at the company’s expense, not only to protect but also to make the site accessible to visitors.”
Pastor’s Fight against KKK Becomes Movie that may Aid Battle
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Five young researchers funded millions
Five UiB scientists will receive over 100 million NOK from Bergen Research Foundation and the University of Bergen, who aim to lay the groundwork for world class research.
KICK START FOR YOUNG RESEARCHERS: Bergen Research Foundation aims to create world class research by supporting young researchers. Here from the ceremony in the University Aula with recipients of the young researchers recruiting grant: Charalampos Tzoulis, Lilya Budaghyan, Yvette Peters, Andreas Born and Steffen Leth Jørgensen.
Paul Sigve Amundsen for the University of Bergen
By Jens Helleland ÅdnanesPublished: 29.11.2016
“I am absolutely thrilled to receive the BFS grant. I am so very happy that I can now actually do what I find so important to do. Now, I can make real advances with my research, and I can make a true contribution,” says Yvette Peters, postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Comparative Politics.
Peters is one of five researchers to receive funds from the Bergen Research Foundation (BFS). A total of 103 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK, approximately 11.3 million Euros) is being awarded to this year’s five grant recipients.
BFS supports young researchers at the University of Bergen (UiB) through their Recruitment Programme. The goal is for the researchers to build and lead outstanding research environments at the university. Applicants may apply for up to 20 million NOK over a four year period, and UiB and the academic environments contribute a similar sum.
Making democracy better
In her project, Peters aims to study representation and political inequality in Europe, where many countries experience political conflicts that are becoming increasingly polarised.
“Many of these problems are related to a problem with representation; with the translations of what people want into what they get, in a democratically responsible way. At the same time, there are many economic and gender inequalities within society, which have shown to lead to an inequality in representation”, she explains.
She says the funding will make it possible for her to build a team, collecting data from the DIGSSCORE facility at UiB, and making great steps in learning more about how representation works.
“This opens up possibilities that were otherwise simply not possible. While we can learn from the data that currently exists, it also has limitations. By collecting information that is specifically tailored to address the questions that I ask, we will have the ability to learn a lot about the functioning of democracy – and how we can make this work better,” Peters says.
A cure for Parkinson’s disease
Charalampos Tzoulis is a Consultant Neurologist and Research Group Leader at Haukeland University Hospital and the Department of Clinical Medicine. He leads a research group dedicated to the study of human aging and in particular Parkinson’s disease. His mission and long-term aim is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related neurodegenerative disease and to design novel therapies.
“I am absolutely delighted and honoured to receive the BFS grant. I am also very excited about the unique possibilities this gives me and my group to conduct cutting-edge, world-class research in neurodegenerative diseases at the University of Bergen,” says Tzoulis.
He will use the BFS grant to uncover how genes and environment interact to cause Parkinson’s disease.
“Moreover, I will dissect these interactions at the molecular level and exploit them with the ultimate goal of developing a cure for Parkinson’s disease” he says.
More secure communication systems
Lilya Budaghyan, researcher at the Department of Informatics, plans to use the funding from BFS as a means of extending her research team working on interdisciplinary problems of mathematics and information theory related to construction of optimal Boolean functions. She says that the research involved in the project will have both theoretical and practical significance.
“Solutions of these problems may improve the reliability and security of modern communication systems and could make a big impact to many branches of mathematics. I am very excited about this opportunity,” Budhagyan says.
The funding will also help her organize international conferences and workshops.
“This will strengthen the position of our group as one of the world's leading teams in the domain of Boolean functions and their applications,” the researcher explains.
Improved estimates of sea level rise
Climate researcher Andreas Born will use the funding to establish a new research group at the Department of Earth Science on the topic of ice sheet and climate dynamics.
“This department is internationally renowned for its expertise in climate and glacier reconstructions and advanced observational and laboratory techniques. My group will complement this with our use of numerical models for the climate system and polar ice sheets,” Born says.
The BFS funding enables the development of a novel type of ice sheet model that takes advantage of high-quality reconstructions from the Greenland ice sheet while at the same time being consistent with the physics of ice flow.
“This interdisciplinary approach is unique in the world and will result in considerably improved estimates of past and future sea level rise,” says the researcher.
Grants long time perpectives
Steffen Leth Jørgensen, Chief Engineer at the Centre for Geobiology (CGB) feels privileged and grateful for the opportunity given to him.
“The money from BFS will be used to support a small group of researchers and a part-time technician position for four years. In addition, it will ensure the funding for developing and establishing laboratory facilities needed to conduct my research,” says Jørgensen.
Previously, he has participated with a group of scientists who discovered a new microbe in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Greenland and Norway, which represents a missing link in the evolution of complex life.
“The four years of funding enables me to establish my own group and gives a long term perspective to my research. This is in turn allows planning for more ambitious objectives and not at least the means to pursuit these objectives,” he says.
BFS Recruitment Programme
The programme is open to all departments and faculties at the University of Bergen.
The programme aims to contribute to the recruitment and development of world-class leaders in various fields of research at UiB.
UiB and the academic environments contribute a similar sum as BFS.
Read more on BRS' web pages.
post@ka.uib.no+47 55 58 69 00 University of Bergen Postboks 7800, N-5020 Bergen
Nygårdsgaten 5, 2. et. View campus map
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World's Most Extreme
These are the top 10 most extreme airports on the planet, connecting the world from Hong Kong to Alaska, Nepal to the South Pole. An Ice airport rebuilt every year, runways squeezed between skyscrapers and carved into mountains, vital lifelines and launch pads for thrill-seekers. The Princess Juliana airport on the Caribbean island of St Maarten. The planes fly in forty feet over the heads of unsuspecting holidaymakers. You can't get closer than this, and the footage is astounding. Next up we travel with scientist John Cassano to the most remote airport at the bottom of the world - the Sea Ice Runway serving the Antarctic scientific station of McMurdo. It is rebuilt every year and incredibly is capable of receiving 450,000 pound aircraft. But the planes need to turn around quick - stay too long and the ice could start to crack. Next up the roughest airport - Talcha in Nepal. A remote area of the Himalayas, days from the nearest town and accessible only by the roughest of tracks. That is until 2000 when Talcha airport opened. It's a sheer sided ledge carved into the mountainside, with a gravel runway and a wooden control tower. We land with veteran pilot Negendra Battharai and witness a sick man being flown to safety - thanks to this extreme runway in the clouds. Now to Alaska, where we visit the busiest seaplane base on earth - Lake Hood in Anchorage. For most of the year planes land on water. We see footage of the times where that hasn't gone to plan. Come winter, the lake freezes, and we join Michael Laughlin as he prepares to land his plane not on water, but on the ice... In Abu Dhabi we visit a truly unique airport. The Red Bull Air Race is the fastest motorsport on earth, and it demands an extreme runway. For one weekend of the year, a busy cargo port is turned into a temporary runway. This is a mammoth logistical challenge, which allows for some of the most breath-taking footage you will ever see. On the sunny Portuguese island of Madeira is the notorious Funchal Airport - our gustiest. Winds here can literally blow planes off the runway, and we see some terrifying footage last minute go-arounds, testament to the pilot's skill and nerve. For decades Hong Kong's airports have had to fight with buildings for every inch of runway. The legendary Kai Tak airport forced pilots to make a forty seven degree turn surrounded by the city's skycrapers. This was the Kai Tak Heart Attack or the dreaded Hong Kong Turn. But now Hong Kong has a new airport, a phenomenal structure that involved the flattening of two small islands and the creation of three thousand acres of new land. It is now one of the world's busiest airports. Next up is a truly unique landing strip. Barra in Scotland is home to an airport that disappears with every tide, because here the beach doubles as a runway for the two daily flights. We spend a day with Joe Gillies, whose work at the airport sees him take on the role of ATC, baggage handler, weatherman and even fireman. Back in the Himalayas, we visit Lukla airport - the gateway to Everest. This airport with altitude is a force to be reckoned with for even the most hardened pilots. With four crashes in the last five years, it is truly extreme. Veteran Lukla pilot Vijay Lama knows the risks of this landing, and he talks us through the approach, as Rajesh Srestha brings us through the clouds and prepares to land... Finally, Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan - the world's most extreme airport. Under constant threat of attack and tasked with managing hundreds of thousands of civilian and military aircraft movements every year, this is an extraordinary place. Operations commander Lt. Col. Scott Hoffman talks us through what it takes to keep a place like this running.
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Delbert W. Shager
It is with great sadness that the family of Delbert W. Shager announces his passing on Friday, August 9, 2019 at the age of 89. Delbert was born on August 8, 1930 to William & Alma (Erickson) Shager. Delbert graduated from South Wayne High School in 1949 and attended the UW- Madison, Agricultural Short Course. On September 25, 1955, Delbert and Gayle “Jean” Edwards were united in marriage at East Wiota Lutheran Church. Their devotion to each other was evident to everyone who knew them during their nearly 64 years of marriage. Delbert was a dedicated farmer. With Jean by his side, together they built up an outstanding dairy herd, with each cow honored with her own name. In 1989 “Shagerland Dairy” had the top producing herd in Lafayette County. They also hosted a Holstein Twilight Event. Delbert was a long-standing member of Wiota Lutheran Church. A man of faith, his dedication was regularly utilized by countless church committees and councils. With his retirement to Monroe, he and Jean then joined St. John’s United Church of Christ. Delbert’s sense of community service was strong. He served on the Lafayette County Farm Bureau Board, FMHA, and the Wiota Fire Department. He enjoyed working in the fireman’s “Food Shack” each year over the 4th of July. Starting as a supervisor, Delbert served 16 years with the Wiota Township Board, of which 14 years he was town chairman. Sports were an important and enjoyable part of Delbert’s life. Playing baseball, slow pitch, bowling in men’s and couple’s leagues, and golfing. He especially liked playing cards with family and friends, and he loved to dance. Delbert enjoyed watching the Packers, Badgers, and Brewers, but his heart and pride belonged to the Black Hawk Warriors. Delbert could be regularly spotted at their events, cheering for the team. Delbert will be remembered as a friend and neighbor always willing to lend a helping hand. His greatest joy came from his family, and he loved them dearly. Left to always remember and celebrate Delbert’s life is his cherished wife Jean and beloved children Craig (Amy) Shager and Lana (Werner) Pulver. All the treasured grandchildren: Chad (Tammy) Hartwig, Shane (Tonya) Hartwig, Cody Shager, Kristin (Scott Kline) Shager and Kendra (Casey Bellard) Shager. Step Grandchildren: Kelly Hendrickson and Todd Pulver. Great-Grandchildren: Trevor Hartwig, Azaria Hartwig, Jaxton and Silas Kline. Step-Great-Grandchild: Jessika Pulver. Brothers: Willard (Mavis) Shager and Donald (Margaret) Shager. Some special friends, including some no longer with us: Sherman and Helen Anderson, Jerry and Kay Dwyer, Kenny and Ramona DeNure, David and Margie Edwards, David and Mary Jane Eisele, Scott and Debbie Fisher, Karen and Greg Hauser, Arleigh and Mary Lou Hanson, Dean & Chris Jorgenson, David and Peggy Meier, Harold & Heddy Shager, Roger and Donna Stoll, Roger and Janeen Trame, and many more. Delbert was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister-in-law Charles and Luann Shager, father-in-law Cecil Edwards, mother-in-law and step-father-in-law Blanche and Norman Schemehorn, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lois and Fritz Schultz. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 Private family services will be held. The Erickson Funeral Home is assisting the family. Condolences may be expressed to Jean Shager at Pleasant View Nursing Home, Monroe Wi. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com
August 8, 1930 - August 9, 201908/08/193008/09/2019
Recommend Delbert's obituary to your friends.
It is with great sadness that the family of Delbert W. Shager announces his passing on Friday, August 9, 2019 at the age of 89. Delbert was born on August 8, 1930 to William & Alma (Erickson) Shager. Delbert graduated from South Wayne High School in 1949 and attended the UW- Madison, Agricultural Short Course.On September 25, 1955, Delbert and Gayle “Jean” Edwards were united in marriage at East Wiota Lutheran Church. Their devotion to each other was evident to everyone who knew them duri...
There are no events scheduled for Delbert W. Shager.
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Premiere: 2004 -
Network: Syfy
A re-imagining of the original series in which a "rag-tag fugitive fleet" of the last remnants of mankind flees pursuing aliens while simultaneously searching for their true home, Earth.
Last Episode, 20 March 2009: Season 4, Episode 21: Daybreak: Part 3
As conflicts reach a climax, Cylons and humans face a stark choice.
Battlestar Galactica Episodes
14 January 2005 Season 1, Episode 1: 33
14 January 2005 Season 1, Episode 2: Water
28 January 2005 Season 1, Episode 3: Bastille Day
28 January 2005 Season 1, Episode 4: Act of Contrition
04 February 2005 Season 1, Episode 5: You Can't Go Home Again
11 February 2005 Season 1, Episode 6: Litmus
18 February 2005 Season 1, Episode 7: Six Degrees of Separation
25 February 2005 Season 1, Episode 8: Flesh and Bone
04 March 2005 Season 1, Episode 9: Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down
11 March 2005 Season 1, Episode 10: The Hand of God
18 March 2005 Season 1, Episode 11: Colonial Day
25 March 2005 Season 1, Episode 12: Kobol's Last Gleaming (1)
01 April 2005 Season 1, Episode 13: Kobol's Last Gleaming (2)
15 July 2005 Season 2, Episode 1: Scattered
22 July 2005 Season 2, Episode 2: Valley of Darkness
29 July 2005 Season 2, Episode 3: Fragged
05 August 2005 Season 2, Episode 4: Resistance
12 August 2005 Season 2, Episode 5: The Farm
19 August 2005 Season 2, Episode 6: Home (1)
09 September 2005 Season 2, Episode 8: Final Cut
16 September 2005 Season 2, Episode 9: Flight of the Phoenix
23 September 2005 Season 2, Episode 10: Pegasus
06 January 2006 Season 2, Episode 11: Resurrection Ship (1)
20 January 2006 Season 2, Episode 13: Epiphanies
27 January 2006 Season 2, Episode 14: Black Market
03 February 2006 Season 2, Episode 15: Scar
10 February 2006 Season 2, Episode 16: Sacrifice
17 February 2006 Season 2, Episode 17: The Captain’s Hand
24 February 2006 Season 2, Episode 18: Downloaded
03 March 2006 Season 2, Episode 19: Lay Down Your Burdens (1)
06 October 2006 Season 3, Episode 1: Occupation (1)
06 October 2006 Season 3, Episode 2: Precipice (2)
13 October 2006 Season 3, Episode 3: Exodus (1)
27 October 2006 Season 3, Episode 5: Collaborators
03 November 2006 Season 3, Episode 6: Torn (1)
10 November 2006 Season 3, Episode 7: A Measure of Salvation (2)
17 November 2006 Season 3, Episode 8: Hero
01 December 2006 Season 3, Episode 9: Unfinished Business
08 December 2006 Season 3, Episode 10: The Passage
15 December 2006 Season 3, Episode 11: The Eye of Jupiter (1)
21 January 2007 Season 3, Episode 12: Rapture (2)
28 January 2007 Season 3, Episode 13: Taking a Break from All Your Worries
11 February 2007 Season 3, Episode 14: The Woman King
18 February 2007 Season 3, Episode 15: A Day in the Life
25 February 2007 Season 3, Episode 16: Dirty Hands
04 March 2007 Season 3, Episode 17: Maelstrom
11 March 2007 Season 3, Episode 18: The Son Also Rises
18 March 2007 Season 3, Episode 19: Crossroads (1)
04 April 2008 Season 4, Episode 1: He That Believeth In Me (1)
11 April 2008 Season 4, Episode 2: Six of One (2)
18 April 2008 Season 4, Episode 3: The Ties That Bind
25 April 2008 Season 4, Episode 4: Escape Velocity
02 May 2008 Season 4, Episode 5: The Road Less Traveled (1)
09 May 2008 Season 4, Episode 6: Faith (2)
16 May 2008 Season 4, Episode 7: Guess What's Coming to Dinner?
30 May 2008 Season 4, Episode 8: Sine Qua Non
06 June 2008 Season 4, Episode 9: The Hub
13 June 2008 Season 4, Episode 10: Revelations
16 January 2009 Season 4, Episode 11: Sometimes a Great Notion
23 January 2009 Season 4, Episode 12: A Disquiet Follows My Soul
30 January 2009 Season 4, Episode 13: The Oath (1)
06 February 2009 Season 4, Episode 14: Blood on the Scales (2)
13 February 2009 Season 4, Episode 15: No Exit
20 February 2009 Season 4, Episode 16: Deadlock
27 February 2009 Season 4, Episode 17: Someone to Watch Over Me
06 March 2009 Season 4, Episode 18: Islanded in a Stream of Stars
13 March 2009 Season 4, Episode 19: Daybreak (1)
20 March 2009 Season 4, Episode 21: Daybreak: Part 3
The Adventures of Champion
Bellbird
Watch Battlestar Galactica Online - Buy, Rent
Battlestar Galactica is available to watch on Syfy. You can also buy, rent full episodes of Battlestar Galactica on VUDU.
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UCL Philosophy
Watling Archive
Unpublished: 'Problems in the Philosophy of Sci...
UCL Philosophy Department archive of Johnny Watling's published and unpublished writings.
" "Johnny Watling retired from the Philosophy Department at UCL in 1985. He enjoyed a long, happy, and philosophically active retirement until his sad death in 2004. At Johnny's funeral a group of his former students formed the plan of putting together a collection of Johnny's published and unpublished writings, including chapters from the work on the philosophy of science on which he had been working for many years. This website is the result. We hope you enjoy it."
Professor Jonathan Wolff
UCL Department of Philosophy
Sketch of John Watling created during a lecture in the late 1970s (artist unknown)
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Prostate Cancer Dream Team Gets $10 Million Grant to Tackle Advanced Disease
Project to Identify Causes of Resistance, Deliver Personalized Medicine
By Elizabeth Fernandez
Many men survive prostate cancer, but thousands of others — whose cancer spreads — inevitably develop resistance to even the most promising treatments, leaving them with few medical options and a dwindling span of life.
Eric J. Small, MD
Now, armed with a new $10 million grant, a multi-center “dream team’’ of scientists, led by UCSF, is embarking on a groundbreaking undertaking into personalized medicine. The goal: to overcome therapeutic resistance in the disease and revolutionize treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
“I am incredibly excited about this project. It has the potential to completely transform the way we take care of our patients with advanced prostate cancer,’’ said Eric J. Small, MD, a UCSF professor and deputy director of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is the principal investigator of the project.
“Despite a number of new drugs that have been approved for this disease, some of which we helped develop at UCSF, many of our patients still develop resistance to these agents and die from progressive disease,’’ Small said. “This work will help identify the causes of resistance in an individual patient, and help us tailor therapy for that patient.’’
Partnering on this West Coast project are four campuses from the University of California (UCSF, UCLA, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz), the Oregon Health & Sciences University and the University of British Columbia.
The co-leader of the project is Owen Witte, MD, a professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics and director of the Broad Stem Cell Research Center at UCLA.
Resistance to therapeutic approaches to cancer has become a core, baffling challenge for cancer scientists. Treatment of patients with hormone-dependent prostate cancer generally includes chemical or surgical castration, using drugs or surgery to reduce androgen hormones such as testosterone. But, as with most hormone-dependent tumors, the cancerous tumors often become resistant to treatment.
The dream team scientists will focus on identifying the causes of resistance in some 500 patients with advanced prostate cancer and tailoring therapy for them. Through this approach, known as precision or personalized medicine, the researchers hope that more effective therapies will be developed, and in the process, patients will be spared unnecessary treatment.
“So often when we start to use a new drug, the patient feels well and he responds well therapeutically — you have a moment of hope,’’ said Phillip G. Febbo, MD, a professor of medicine and urology, and co-director of the prostate cancer program at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Febbo was the architect of the dream team, helping to design the proposal and to bring together the various participants and institutions.
“But all too soon, the hope fades,’’ Febbo said. “The benefits of therapy become short-lived, the cancer figures out how to adapt to the therapy, and it begins to grow again. It is incredibly frustrating for the physician, and deeply disturbing to the patient and his family. This project centers on determining how the cancer so quickly learns how to outsmart our therapy.’’
Prostate Cancer Second Leading Cause of Death in Men
In the United States, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men after lung cancer. A new case is diagnosed every 2.4 minutes, and one man dies every 18 minutes from it, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Altogether, more than 2 million men in the U.S. have been diagnosed with the disease.
In about a third of cases, patients require no treatment because the cancer does not spread. In another third of cases, patients are treated and cured. But for the remaining patients, the cancer recurs after treatment or it spreads to the bones, lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
The dream team project, involving more than 30 investigators at the six institutions, consists of three components:
Biopsies and blood samples of some 500 patients with advanced prostate will be obtained;
The samples will undergo a comprehensive molecular assessment and pathway-based analysis — the scientists will search for biomarker predictors of sensitivity to specific therapies, along with predictors of resistance to the therapies;
Treatment approaches will be developed for each patient based on his individual genetic information.
Davide Ruggero, PhD, a UCSF associate professor of urology and the Helen Diller Family Endowed Chair of Basic Research in Urologic Cancer, will lead the development of genetically engineered mouse models to determine the pathways of therapeutic resistance.
“Once we discover the mechanisms of resistance, we can develop new therapies,’’ Ruggero said. “This is a very big problem and with this project, we are hoping to make a leap forward.’’
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz will develop a novel application called MedBook to connect patients, doctors and researchers. Inspired by social media, MedBook is the brainchild of UCSC graduate student and former Apple executive Ted Goldstein, who describes it as a “Facebook for cancer.’’
MedBook will support information exchange and discussion, connecting researchers in a way that will help them work collaboratively to discover new models of disease and match patients with targeted treatments. This information will be instrumental to the team’s clinical working group for recruiting patients to specific trials.
The grant, which will provide up to $10 million over three years, is funded by the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). The American Association for Cancer Research — the scientific partner of SU2C — oversees the selection and grant administration process, and provides scientific oversight during the research phases.
From UCSF, other key dream team participants are Allan Balmain, PhD, co-leader of the Cancer Genetics Program and director of the Genome Analysis Core Facility at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center; Robert Blelloch, MD, PhD, associate professor of urology; James Marks, MD, PhD, professor in the departments of anesthesia and pharmaceutical chemistry; Pamela Paris, PhD, associate professor of urology; Charles Ryan, MD associate professor of clinical medicine; Kevan Shokat, PhD, professor of cellular and molecular pharmacology; and Jack Youngren, PhD, associate adjunct professor of medicine at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Who Will Benefit From Precision Medicine?
UCSF Launches Benioff Initiative for Prostate Cancer Research
Prostate Cancer Disparities Greatest in Low-Risk Disease
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Reports & Multimedia / Explainer
Benefits of Renewable Energy Use
Published Jul 14, 2008 Updated Dec 20, 2017
Photo: Diliff/Wikimedia Commons
Wind turbines and solar panels are an increasingly common sight. But why? What are the benefits of renewable energies—and how do they improve our health, environment, and economy?
This page explores the many positive impacts of clean energy, including the benefits of wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and biomass. For more information on their negative impacts—including effective solutions to avoid, minimize, or mitigate—see our page on The Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies.
Less global warming
Human activity is overloading our atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other global warming emissions. These gases act like a blanket, trapping heat. The result is a web of significant and harmful impacts, from stronger, more frequent storms, to drought, sea level rise, and extinction.
In the United States, about 29 percent of global warming emissions come from our electricity sector. Most of those emissions come from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas [1, 2].
What is CO2e?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most prevalent greenhouse gas, but other air pollutants—such as methane—also cause global warming. Different energy sources produce different amounts of these pollutants. To make comparisons easier, we use a carbon dioxide equivalent, or CO2e—the amount of carbon dioxide required to produce an equivalent amount of warming.
In contrast, most renewable energy sources produce little to no global warming emissions. Even when including “life cycle” emissions of clean energy (ie, the emissions from each stage of a technology’s life—manufacturing, installation, operation, decommissioning), the global warming emissions associated with renewable energy are minimal [3].
The comparison becomes clear when you look at the numbers. Burning natural gas for electricity releases between 0.6 and 2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour (CO2E/kWh); coal emits between 1.4 and 3.6 pounds of CO2E/kWh. Wind, on the other hand, is responsible for only 0.02 to 0.04 pounds of CO2E/kWh on a life-cycle basis; solar 0.07 to 0.2; geothermal 0.1 to 0.2; and hydroelectric between 0.1 and 0.5.
Renewable electricity generation from biomass can have a wide range of global warming emissions depending on the resource and whether or not it is sustainably sourced and harvested.
Increasing the supply of renewable energy would allow us to replace carbon-intensive energy sources and significantly reduce US global warming emissions.
For example, a 2009 UCS analysis found that a 25 percent by 2025 national renewable electricity standard would lower power plant CO2 emissions 277 million metric tons annually by 2025—the equivalent of the annual output from 70 typical (600 MW) new coal plants [4].
In addition, a ground-breaking study by the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) explored the feasibility of generating 80 percent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2050. They found that renewable energy could help reduce the electricity sector’s emissions by approximately 81 percent [5].
Improved public health
The air and water pollution emitted by coal and natural gas plants is linked with breathing problems, neurological damage, heart attacks, cancer, premature death, and a host of other serious problems. The pollution affects everyone: one Harvard University study estimated the life cycle costs and public health effects of coal to be an estimated $74.6 billion every year. That’s equivalent to 4.36 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced—about one-third of the average electricity rate for a typical US home [6].
Most of these negative health impacts come from air and water pollution that clean energy technologies simply don’t produce. Wind, solar, and hydroelectric systems generate electricity with no associated air pollution emissions. Geothermal and biomass systems emit some air pollutants, though total air emissions are generally much lower than those of coal- and natural gas-fired power plants.
In addition, wind and solar energy require essentially no water to operate and thus do not pollute water resources or strain supplies by competing with agriculture, drinking water, or other important water needs. In contrast, fossil fuels can have a significant impact on water resources: both coal mining and natural gas drilling can pollute sources of drinking water, and all thermal power plants, including those powered by coal, gas, and oil, withdraw and consume water for cooling.
Biomass and geothermal power plants, like coal- and natural gas-fired power plants, may require water for cooling. Hydroelectric power plants can disrupt river ecosystems both upstream and downstream from the dam. However, NREL's 80-percent-by-2050 renewable energy study, which included biomass and geothermal, found that total water consumption and withdrawal would decrease significantly in a future with high renewables [7].
Inexhaustible energy
Strong winds, sunny skies, abundant plant matter, heat from the earth, and fast-moving water can each provide a vast and constantly replenished supply of energy. A relatively small fraction of US electricity currently comes from these sources, but that could change: studies have repeatedly shown that renewable energy can provide a significant share of future electricity needs, even after accounting for potential constraints [9].
In fact, a major government-sponsored study found that clean energy could contribute somewhere between three and 80 times its 2013 levels, depending on assumptions [8]. And the previously mentioned NREL study found that renewable energy could comfortably provide up to 80 percent of US electricity by 2050.
Getting Excited About Energy: Expanding Renewables in the US
Energy expert Paula Garcia talks about the growth of renewable energy across the globe and in the United States.
Jobs and other economic benefits
Compared with fossil fuel technologies, which are typically mechanized and capital intensive, the renewable energy industry is more labor intensive. Solar panels need humans to install them; wind farms need technicians for maintenance.
This means that, on average, more jobs are created for each unit of electricity generated from renewable sources than from fossil fuels.
Renewable energy already supports thousands of jobs in the United States. In 2016, the wind energy industry directly employed over 100,000 full-time-equivalent employees in a variety of capacities, including manufacturing, project development, construction and turbine installation, operations and maintenance, transportation and logistics, and financial, legal, and consulting services [10]. More than 500 factories in the United States manufacture parts for wind turbines, and wind power project installations in 2016 alone represented $13.0 billion in investments [11].
Other renewable energy technologies employ even more workers. In 2016, the solar industry employed more than 260,000 people, including jobs in solar installation, manufacturing, and sales, a 25% increase over 2015 [12]. The hydroelectric power industry employed approximately 66,000 people in 2017 [13]; the geothermal industry employed 5,800 people [14].
Increased support for renewable energy could create even more jobs. The 2009 Union of Concerned Scientists study of a 25-percent-by-2025 renewable energy standard found that such a policy would create more than three times as many jobs (more than 200,000) as producing an equivalent amount of electricity from fossil fuels [15].
In contrast, the entire coal industry employed 160,000 people in 2016 [26].
In addition to the jobs directly created in the renewable energy industry, growth in clean energy can create positive economic “ripple” effects. For example, industries in the renewable energy supply chain will benefit, and unrelated local businesses will benefit from increased household and business incomes [16].
Local governments also benefit from clean energy, most often in the form of property and income taxes and other payments from renewable energy project owners. Owners of the land on which wind projects are built often receive lease payments ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 per megawatt of installed capacity, as well as payments for power line easements and road rights-of-way. They may also earn royalties based on the project’s annual revenues. Farmers and rural landowners can generate new sources of supplemental income by producing feedstocks for biomass power facilities.
UCS analysis found that a 25-by-2025 national renewable electricity standard would stimulate $263.4 billion in new capital investment for renewable energy technologies, $13.5 billion in new landowner income from? biomass production and/or wind land lease payments, and $11.5 billion in new property tax revenue for local communities [17].
Stable energy prices
Renewable energy is providing affordable electricity across the country right now, and can help stabilize energy prices in the future.
Although renewable facilities require upfront investments to build, they can then operate at very low cost (for most clean energy technologies, the “fuel” is free). As a result, renewable energy prices can be very stable over time.
Moreover, the costs of renewable energy technologies have declined steadily, and are projected to drop even more. For example, the average price to install solar dropped more than 70 percent between 2010 and 2017 [20]. The cost of generating electricity from wind dropped 66 percent between 2009 and 2016 [21]. Costs will likely decline even further as markets mature and companies increasingly take advantage of economies of scale.
In contrast, fossil fuel prices can vary dramatically and are prone to substantial price swings. For example, there was a rapid increase in US coal prices due to rising global demand before 2008, then a rapid fall after 2008 when global demands declined [23]. Likewise, natural gas prices have fluctuated greatly since 2000 [25].
Using more renewable energy can lower the prices of and demand for natural gas and coal by increasing competition and diversifying our energy supplies. And an increased reliance on renewable energy can help protect consumers when fossil fuel prices spike.
Barriers to Renewable Energy Technologies
Renewables face major obstacles. Some are inherent with all new technologies; others are the result of a skewed regulatory framework and marketplace.
Reliability and resilience
Wind and solar are less prone to large-scale failure because they are distributed and modular. Distributed systems are spread out over a large geographical area, so a severe weather event in one location will not cut off power to an entire region. Modular systems are composed of numerous individual wind turbines or solar arrays. Even if some of the equipment in the system is damaged, the rest can typically continue to operate.
For example, Hurricane Sandy damaged fossil fuel-dominated electric generation and distribution systems in New York and New Jersey and left millions of people without power. In contrast, renewable energy projects in the Northeast weathered Hurricane Sandy with minimal damage or disruption [25].
Water scarcity is another risk for non-renewable power plants. Coal, nuclear, and many natural gas plants depend on having sufficient water for cooling, which means that severe droughts and heat waves can put electricity generation at risk. Wind and solar photovoltaic systems do not require water to generate electricity and can operate reliably in conditions that may otherwise require closing a fossil fuel-powered plant. (For more information, see How it Works: Water for Electricity.)
The risk of disruptive events will also increase in the future as droughts, heat waves, more intense storms, and increasingly severe wildfires become more frequent due to global warming—increasing the need for resilient, clean technologies.
[1] Environmental Protection Agency. 2017. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2015.
[2] Energy Information Agency (EIA). 2017. How much of the U.S. carbon dioxide emissions are associated with electricity generation?
[3] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2011. IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation. Prepared by Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [O. Edenhofer, R. Pichs-Madruga, Y. Sokona, K. Seyboth, P. Matschoss, S. Kadner, T. Zwickel, P. Eickemeier, G. Hansen, S. Schlömer, C. von Stechow (eds)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 1075 pp. (Chapter 9).
[4] Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). 2009. Clean Power Green Jobs.
[5] National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). 2012. Renewable Electricity Futures Study. Volume 1, pg. 210.
[6] Epstein, P.R.,J. J. Buonocore, K. Eckerle, M. Hendryx, B. M. Stout III, R. Heinberg, R. W. Clapp, B. May, N. L. Reinhart, M. M. Ahern, S. K. Doshi, and L. Glustrom. 2011. Full cost accounting for the life cycle of coal in “Ecological Economics Reviews.” Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1219: 73–98.
[7] Renewable Electricity Futures Study. 2012.
[8] NREL. 2016. Estimating Renewable Energy Economic Potential in the United States: Methodology and Initial Results.
IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation. Prepared by Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2011.
UCS. 2009. Climate 2030: A national blueprint for a clean energy economy.
[10] American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). 2017. AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report: Year Ending 2016. Washington, D.C.: American Wind Energy Association.
[11] Wiser, Ryan, and Mark Bolinger. 2017. 2016 Wind Technologies Market Report. U.S. Department of Energy.
[12] The Solar Foundation. 2017. National Solar Jobs Census 2016.
[13] Navigant Consulting. 2009. Job Creation Opportunities in Hydropower.
[14] Geothermal Energy Association. 2010. Green Jobs through Geothermal Energy.
[15] UCS. 2009. Clean Power Green Jobs.
[16] Environmental Protection Agency. 2010. Assessing the Multiple Benefits of Clean Energy: A Resource for States. Chapter 5.
[18] Deyette, J., and B. Freese. 2010. Burning coal, burning cash: Ranking the states that import the most coal. Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists.
[20] SEIA. 2017. Solar Market Insight Report 2017 Q2.
[21] AWEA. 2017. AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report: Year Ending 2016. Washington, D.C.: American Wind Energy Association.
[23] UCS. 2011. A Risky Proposition: The financial hazards of new investments in coal plants.
[24] EIA. 2013. U.S. Natural Gas Wellhead Price.
[25] Unger, David J. 2012. Are renewables stormproof? Hurricane Sandy tests solar, wind. The Christian Science Monitor. November 19.
[26] Department of Energy. 2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report
Help fund the fight for a cleaner energy future—and more.
Flexible Demand Opportunity
Flexible, planned electricity use can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
Coal Plants, Turn the Power Off and You’ll Make More Money
Energy analyst Joe Daniel explains why seasonal shutdowns can save utilities, and customers, money.
Equitable Energy Storage
Recommendations for designing equitable energy storage policies.
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Pistons name John Kuester head coach
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 9 (UPI) -- John Kuester was hired Thursday to be the next head coach of the NBA's Detroit Pistons, succeeding the fired Michael Curry.
Kuester, 54, signed a multiyear contract, but no terms were disclosed.
He was an assistant with the Pistons in 2004, helping guide them to the NBA Finals, and also has worked for five other NBA teams since 1995, most recently with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2007-2009).
"We are pleased to name John Kuester as the head coach of the Detroit Pistons," Detroit president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said. "John brings a wealth of NBA knowledge as a longtime assistant coach. I feel he has the teaching ability to allow our younger players to grow and develop."
The UNC product was head coach at George Washington University from 1985-1990.
Curry was fired last week after just one season which ended when Detroit was swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs by the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
Remembering the career of NBA legend Kobe Bryant
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Urban Animation is working with Argyll Estates to deliver a master planned development at Inveraray. The town was originally planned and constructed in the mid 18th Century and is widely considered to be the jewel in the crown of the Scottish planned villages. It is certainly one of the most photogenic towns in Scotland, set dramatically at the edge of Loch Fyne and Loch Shira. As the major landowner at Inveraray, Argyll Estates wishes to play a more active role in facilitating future development at the town.
Much of Inveraray’s historic urban form remains intact. However, the town has expanded significantly and suburbanisation has undermined its fringes and setting. There is an opportunity to establish a fully considered long term framework for development in and around Inveraray and to put in place design guidance which can ensure that in future, expansion of the town achieves a lasting quality. As a stepping stone to mid-Argyll and the Kintyre peninsula, Inveraray is well placed to spread wider benefits which may arise from a successful development.
The Master Plan proposes significant new development over a long term period, uniting the historic and modern parts of the town to form a coherent whole. The architecture and layout of streets will be designed to sit comfortably with the original village but will also meet contemporary needs and aspirations.
The development is housing led, providing a full mix of house types and sizes, including affordable options for sale and rent. Opportunities will also be provided for commercial, business, leisure, community and recreation uses, enabling the town to accommodate new services and facilities locally.
A first phase of 12 affordable homes was completed in 2016 and is now fully occupied. A second phase of affordable housing is planned, providing ten homes. A Co-op store has also been constructed adjacent to the Avenue car park and is proving popular with local people and visitors..
Further housing and commercial developments are planned at the Inveraray Project site. Planning permission has also been granted for a development of 9 houses at the south of Inveraray.
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Let’s review to see what America has learned nearly two decades after Saudi Arabian hijackers flew planes into buildings in New York and Washington, DC, murdering 3,000 of our fellow citizens in the process. 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi Arabian nationals who were inside the US to receive flight training. Since 9/11, apparently we’ve learned nothing.
A Saudi Arabian pilot trainee just murdered a bunch of American sailors at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. The shooter was killed in the attack, after he murdered three Americans and wounded a dozen others. Oh, and the FBI has arrested the shooter’s fan club, which we are told consisted of six other Saudi Arabian nationals, several of which filmed the shooting at the air base.
As usual, the deceased and wounded servicemen were victims of political correctness and being in the most bizarre gun-free zone imaginable: An American military base.
No one in the direct vicinity of the shooter, Second Lieutenant Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, had a firearm in their possession. Two brave Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies who were nearby had to drive on base to shoot the guy, because everyone else was a sitting duck.
We’ve now had seven deadly mass shootings on military bases since 9/11. Four of those shootings happened just this year, including this latest one.
At what point does the military begin to think that, A) maybe it’s time to allow for a few more MPs and officers on base to at least carry a sidearm, or B), maybe it’s not a great idea to allow Saudi nationals to receive flight training here in America?
It’s now easier for a person to get a concealed carry permit in California, Illinois, New York or Massachusetts than it is for a member of the US military. Here’s the process for getting a “concealed carry” permit at the Naval Air Station where a foreign Muslim just walked on base with a gun and shot a bunch of people.
First, the sailor has to get permission from the base commander or their commanding officer. Once that permission has been granted, the sailor is issued a card showing they have permission to carry the firearm.
However, there are a few caveats to this. The gun must be unloaded and must have a trigger lock on it, in order for the sailor to “carry” it. In addition, the ammunition must be stored in a place that is nowhere near said firearm.
Preferably, if the sailor could store his or her ammunition on the moon or place it in a crate and sink it to the bottom of the ocean, that would be best for our wizened military policy makers.
Once the sailor has effectively secured his or her firearm in this responsible manner, he is allowed to “carry” it on base. And by “carry,” I mean he can carry it in his vehicle from the entrance to the base, all the way to the base armory, where he or she is required to surrender the firearm for safekeeping.
Meanwhile, Second Lieutenant Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani was able to skirt the rules by carrying a gun in his backpack, all the way to the classroom where he carried out his mass shooting.
When Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez (no relation) shot up a recruiting station and the Naval Air Station in Chattanooga, TN in 2015, one sailor at the recruiting station shot back at him with his personal firearm.
The shooter then made his way to air station where it was easier pickings (no one was armed there), so he could kill one sailor and four Marines.
The sailor who shot at Abdulazeez was nearly court martialed by the Obama administration for a carrying his concealed weapon – which he had a permit for – in the recruiting station. Public backlash was the only thing that saved the sailor’s career.
Then-FBI Director James Comey solemnly declared that we may never fully know or understand the Chattanooga shooter’s motivations. He really said that. Out loud. Publicly.
I’ll bet I can guess what his motivation was! And I’m also betting that it was the exact same motivation held by the Saudi national who just murdered three Americans and wounded a dozen more in Pensacola.
After Nidal Hassan committed the Fort Hood massacre in 2009, General George Casey uttered the statement that will probably be America’s epitaph, since we are now a people that refuses to learn anything: “As horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that’s worse.”
Hedge Fund Kingmaker Has Accurately Picked Dem Nominees for 43 Years
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Organizational Offices
Strategic Information Technology Plan for FY 2018-2022
CIO guest post on improving our enterprise IT infrastructure on the USPTO blog
Jamie Holcombe
The chief information officer (CIO) is the principal advisor to the under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the application and transformation of information technology (IT) for the USPTO’s business. The CIO also serves as the USPTO's chief privacy officer. As an advisor, the CIO:
Develops and implements strategic and operational IT plans and operating budgets
Leads the transformation of IT at the USPTO, developing next-generation technology and tools for the patent and trademark systems while maintaining the agency’s legacy systems
Operates the USPTO's computer facilities, equipment, and telecommunications network
Develops, maintains, and disseminates patent and trademark information to the public
Serves as the USPTO's senior information resources management (IRM) official
Provides technical direction for the re-engineering of USPTO's business processes
Provides administrative policy direction to the organizational elements reporting to the CIO.
The Office of the CIO consists of the following offices:
Deputy Chief Information Officer
The Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) provides day-to-day management and oversight of a workforce spanning application & system development, UX design & development...
Office of the Chief Technology Officer
The Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) oversees the enterprise IT architecture; evaluates emerging technologies and applies these emerging technologies to...
Office of Organizational Policy and Governance
The Office of Organizational Policy and Governance (OPG) provides the management and oversight of enterprise Information Technology (IT) strategies, guidance, policies,...
Office of Program Administration Organization
The Office of Program Administration Organization (PAO) is responsible for the management of the overall USPTO IT program. The Office provides the major points of contact...
Office of Application Engineering and Development
The Office of Application Engineering and Development (AED) is responsible for the full life cycle management of the USPTO's automated information systems, consistent...
Office of Infrastructure Engineering and Operations
The Office of Infrastructure Engineering and Operations (IEO) provides day-to-day operational support for the USPTO automated information systems. The Office maintains...
Office of Information Management Services
The Office of Information Management Services (IMS) delivers quality information products and services to meet USPTO, public, and intellectual property community needs...
This page is owned by Office of the Chief Information Officer. Published on: Jan 24, 2018 02:26 PM EST Last Modified: Sep 6, 2019 12:47 PM EDT
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The Veterans of Foreign Wars of United States again called for an end to the government shutdown this morning alongside other veteran and military service organizations at a press conference at the National World War II Memorial. It was the first time the veteran and military service organization community had united with one voice to demand that Congress and the White House stop their bickering and to pass a budget.
Speaking alongside VFW Legislative Director Ray Kelley were representatives from the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and The Military Coalition, which includes the VFW and 32 other veteran and military service organizations who represent more than 5.5 million veterans, service members and families.
“The lack of a budget for the Veterans Benefits Administration means more than 4 million disabled veterans and widows will not receive their disability or survivor benefits checks at the beginning of November. No budget means hundreds of thousands of student-veterans will have their college tuitions go unpaid, and the VA claims backlog will only worsen because more than 7,000 VA employees are on furlough,” said Kelley, an Iraq War veteran. “And no budget means our nation’s security will continue to be threatened because the lack of a 2014 authorization, plus the mandatory sequester, is having a tremendously damaging impact on military training and readiness.
“Congress has an obligation to provide sufficient, timely and predictable funding for veterans’ programs and the Defense Department,” he continued. “Under no circumstances should the veterans’ or military communities consider piecemeal Continuing Resolutions as acceptable ways to best serve our nation’s veterans or our men and women in uniform and their families.”
(Photo courtesy of Craig Roberts)
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Failed Budget Agreement Weakens National Defense
The new national commander of America’s oldest and largest combat veterans’ organization says Congress’ failure to reach a budget agreement has forced the Department of Defense to actively plan to power down in size, capability and scope. “We downsize our military after every war, but at least we used to wait until the war e...
VFW Departments Donate to NMS at National Convention
At the 114th VFW National Convention in Louisville, Ky., VFW National Military Services (NMS) received over $20,000 in total contributions from 12 VFW Departments and five VFW Posts. Departments and Posts raise money throughout the year from generous VFW members, VFW supporters and fundraising events to present their checks at convention that will ...
VA Mobile Health
It seems like just about everything has gone mobile. You can change the TV channel, buy a cup of coffee or get a game score alert for your favorite sports team, all from the convenience of your phone or tablet. Today, innovative mobile technologies are helping improve the health and care of our nation’s Veterans. The Department of Veterans A...
Navy Veteran Elected to Lead the VFW
Members of the nation’s largest organization of combat veterans have elected U.S. Navy and Vietnam veteran, William A. “Bill” Thien to lead the 1.6 million member organization. William A. “Bill” Thien, a resident of Georgetown, Ind., was elected VFW National Commander on July 24, 2013, in Louisville, Ky., during the...
VFW Pays Tribute to Korean War Vets
In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War armistice on July 27, VFW pays homage to veterans of “the forgotten victory.” Now available in limited release, VFW magazine’s special 64-page booklet is a 60th-anniversary tribute on the war’s end and to GIs who made so many sacrifices in that faraway land. It brims with little-known battl...
Hagel Warns Against Budget Cuts
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel explained to attendees the need to balance military readiness with mandated cuts to the Pentagon’s budget, also known as sequestration. He outlined his department’s four main objectives going forward: prioritizing core mission capabilities, maximizing combat power, strengthening military readiness, and honoring servi...
Three ‘Rs’ the Essense of a Memorial Service
Bishop Walter A. Jones, Jr., of the Baptized Pentecostal Church of Holiness in Louisville, delivered the memorial address today. The former chief of Chaplain Service at the Louisville VA Medical Center honored the Gold Star families in attendance: “We look to you, thanking God for your presence.” Jones delivered a sermon with a three-pa...
114th VFW National Convention Rolls Into Louisville
More than 10,000 members of the nation’s oldest and largest major combat veterans’ organization are rolling into the Blue Grass State this weekend to elect new leadership and to approve national resolutions that will guide its advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and its veteran and military support programs across the country. “O...
Unmet Needs Program Helps Family After Tornado
When tornadoes ripped through Moore, Okla., on May 20, Daniel Dashiell and his family lost their home, cars and all of their possessions. He was out of town when the tornado hit, but quickly made his way home after hearing on the radio that the tornado had touched down in his family’s hometown. Upon arrival, he was devastated to see the destr...
Building Job Opportunities for Veterans
Statement of Ryan M. Gallucci, deputy director, National Veterans Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States before the Joint Economic Committee United States Congress with respect to Building Job Opportunities for Veterans.
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ARIODANTE, Vienna State Opera , 11 November 2019 - 18:30
Category: Operas Event: ARIODANTE Date/Time: 11 November 2019 - 18:30 Venue: Vienna State Opera Address: Opernring 2, 1010 Wien / Vienna (Map)
C Sold OUT
F Sold OUT
G Sold OUT
A tale of jealousy and intrigue, conflict and betrayal: Ariodante, Handel's first work for the then brand-new Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. At this time, the composer was highly caught up in rivalry, bankrupt and stricken by disease. However, rejuvenated by a retreat, he wrote a work based on Ariosts Epos' Orlando furioso. And he succeeded in creating a richly varied and colourful score - including the intimate Aria "Scherza infida" - still regarded today as a particular gem amongst Handel's compositions. Ariodante has, as yet, never been performed at the Wiener Staatsoper and joins Alcina as the second of Handel's operas in the repertoire.
It is a work charged with jealousy and intrigue, with struggles and betrayal: Ariodante, Handel’s first work for the then brand new Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. At that time, the composer was faced with fierce competition, was financially stricken and on the rocks. However, he plucked up his courage while taking the waters and wrote the opera, basing it on Ariosto’s epic poem Orlando furioso. And he composed varied, colourful music, including the intimate aria “Scherza infida”, which is considered one of the special highlights of Handel’s oeuvre to this day. Ariodante has never been heard at the Wiener Staatsoper – but is now the second opera by the composer in the house’s repertoire, alongside Alcina.
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Varsity Coaching Staff
Bob Doty
This will be Bob Doty’s 9th year as the Head Baseball Coach for Viera High School. He has led the Hawks to an 150-71 record in eight seasons. In 2019 Doty led his Viera club to a 21-9 record, adding another 20-win season to his resume. Doty's 2019 Hawks finished Runner-Up in District Tournament, but advanced through the State Playoffs by picking up a Regional Quarterfinal win verses Pine Ridge and a dramatic eight inning 2-1 Regional Semi-Final victory against in town rival Melbourne. Viera finished the 2019 campaign losing to Leto (Tampa) in Regional Final 2-3. 2018 Doty managed his Hawks squad to a 20-8 mark; Doty's fourth 20-win season in 7 years. Viera claimed its 3rd District Title in a row in 2018; the program's 4th Title in Doty's tenure. The Hawk's post-season presence was felt yet again advancing to its 4th Regional Semifinal Round appearance in seven seasons. In 2017 Doty led his Hawks to their third 20-win season going 20-9 along with Viera's 3rd District Title and it's 3rd Regional Quarterfinal Tournament win along with Viera's first ever Regional Semifinal win advancing the Regional Finals. In 2016 Doty led his Hawks going 23-5 along with the Hawks 2nd District Championship and 2nd Regional Quarterfinal Tournament win. In 2013 Doty's Hawks went 20-8, winning the Sarasota Baseball Classic Spring Break Championship, & the Hawks 1st ever District Championship. Bob served as the Assistant Varsity Coach for the Hawks for three years prior to becoming the head man on staff.
Bob's previous coaching experience includes both high school and college. His college coaching highlights include six years as an Assistant Coach at Indiana State University located in Terre Haute, Indiana which participated in the College World Series in 1986. Doty coached one season as an Assistant at Lincoln Trail Junior College in Robinson, Illinois in 1987. His high school experience includes coaching two seasons from 1993-1994 as the Head Coach at Terre Haute North High School in Terre Haute, Indiana. Doty lead the Patriots to a 40-20-1 record in that span along with a sectional title. Doty also was the Head Softball Coach for Sullivan High School in Sullivan, Indiana in 1991-1992. Doty lead the Lady Golden Arrows to a record of 43-19 along with two sectional titles and one regional title. In 1985 Doty’s AAU team won the Junior Olympic Gold Medal. Doty graduated high school from Sullivan High School in 1977 and graduated from Indiana State University in 1982. He and his wife, LeAnne, have four sons, Brock, Kenny, Jake and Joe.
Brock Doty
Assitant Coach
This will be Brock's 13th year on the Hawks baseball staff. Brock is the 3rd Base Coach along with coordinating the offensive and defensive coaching responsibilities. In 2017 & 2016 Brock was the Hawks Pitching Coach. His staff pitched their way to an earned run average of 2.02 and 43 wins over two seasons. Prior to becoming the pitching coach Doty led the Hawks Junior Varsity program from 2008-2015. Brock led the Hawks JV Program to a record of 71-28-1 over that span. He was previously the Head JV Coach at Satellite High School from 2005 – 2007.
Brock was a four-year letter man in high school. He graduated from Sullivan High School in Sullivan, Indiana in 2003. He earned a college baseball scholarship to Lincoln Trail Junior College in Robinson, Illinois. Brock ended his playing career playing in the fall season for Brevard Community College in 2004. Brock and his wife Kelly have a four-year-old daughter Jade Ann and a two-year-old son Beau Robert.
Edwin Jimenez
Assistant/Strength & Conditioning Coach
Biography Comming Soon...
Junior Varsity Coaching Staff
Bob Caruso
This will be Bob Caruso’s 4th year as the Head Junior Varsity Baseball Coach at Viera High School. Coach Bobby was an Assistant JV Coach for the two years prior. His job is focused on developing young talent while helping to grow the Viera baseball program for the future.
Baseball has always been Bobby's passion. He played high school baseball at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware. He started coaching in little league after he graduated college and has had his hand in coaching for over 30 years now. Bobby retired from the IBM corporation and the State of Connecticut. He continues to teach psychology at EFSC in Melbourne. He resides with his wife Katie and son Robbie.
Caruso said "I am thrilled to continue coaching with Coach Doty at Viera. His knowledge of the game and years of experience is invaluable".
Damon Minor
Anthony Martinez
Biography Comming Soon...
© 2020 Baseball
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Fed Funds Rate: The Fed Follows The Market, AGAIN!
Posted By: Elliott Wave International Dec 2, 2018, 2:22 pm
..Most economists and financial analysts believe that central banks set funds rate. For more than two decades, Elliott Wave International has tracked the relationship between interest rates set by the marketplace and interest rates set by the U.S. Federal Reserve and found that it’s actually the other way around—the market leads, and the Fed follows.
The latest Federal Reserve rate decision on December 19 brought the usual breathless anticipation. Confusion reigned as the U.S. president as well as a former Fed board member publicly urged the U.S. central bank not to raise rates and many wondered if the Fed would “rescue” investors with a surprise decision to leave them unchanged. The Fed, however, did what it almost always does: it brought its rate in line with market rates.
[REITs]
The Fed increased its Funds Rate rate a quarter-point from 2.25% to 2.50%. As shown by the dashed line in Figure 1, the Fed’s move followed a rise in the six-month U.S. Treasury bill yield from 2.36% to 2.56% and an increase in the three-month U.S. Treasury bill yield from 2.18% to 2.42% since the prior Fed rate hike on September 26. So, market rates remain nearly undefeated when it comes to predicting what the Fed’s actions will be.
Figure 2, a longer term version of the same relationship, is from The Socionomic Theory of Finance by Robert Prechter. It shows the Fed Funds Rate as set by the Fed and the market-set three-month U.S. Treasury bill yield back to early 2000. This history shows that the T-bill market moves first and the Fed’s interest-rate changes follow. As a result, no one monitoring the Fed’s decisions can predict when T-bill rates will change, but anyone monitoring the T-bill rate can predict when the Fed’s rates will change. We demonstrated this ability in August 2007 by predicting that the Fed was on the cusp of lowering its Fed Funds Rate dramatically. Figure 2 shows the timing and its aftermath.
Over the years, Fed leaders have indicated that they’re in the dark. On September 17, 2007, a CNBC interviewer asked former chairman Alan Greenspan, “Did you keep interest rates too low for too long in 2002-2003?” Greenspan instantly responded, “The market did.” In a November speech this year, current chairman Jerome H. Powell likened the Fed’s situation to walking through a living room when the lights suddenly go out. He said, “What do you do? You slow down and you maybe go a little bit less quickly, and you feel your way more. So under uncertainty of this kind, you be careful.” The Fed has recently racked up $66.5 billion in paper losses in its bond portfolio, far exceeding its $39.1 billion in capital. Would you trust an institution that lost so much money in the bond market that it sank to a net worth of negative $27.4 billion to tell you where interest rates were headed? The Fed continually follows the market because it lacks any other useful guide.
The same principle holds in Europe, the U.K. and Australia. See chapter 3 of The Socionomic Theory of Finance for the full story of markets’ global dominance of “interest rate policy.”
Article By Peter Kendall & Steven Hochberg
About Peter Kendall
Peter Kendall co-edits Elliott Wave International’s Elliott Wave Financial Forecast with Steven Hochberg.
About Steven Hochberg
Steven Hochberg co-edits Elliott Wave International’s Elliott Wave Financial Forecast with Peter Kendall, writes the Short Term Update thrice weekly, and provides commentary on the U.S. stock market, interest rates and precious metals for Global Market Perspective
About Elliott Wave International
Elliott Wave International is the largest independent technical analysis firm in the world
Elliott Wave International is the largest independent technical analysis firm in the world. Its award-winning publications provide useful insights and engaging commentary on all major financial asset classes and indexes around the globe. EWI’s unique perspective on market behaviour and cultural trends sets it apart from other financial publications.
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon on the problems with socialism
Let’s keep an eye on the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet
A bull market fueled by low interest rates and pension plans
How To Get Business Financing For Your Company: In-depth Guide
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Fire along Twisp River Road in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest in 2018. Courtesy photo
Last year, Department of Natural Resources responded to record number of wildfires.
by Aaron Kunkler
Thursday, December 5, 2019 8:52am
NewsNorthwest
Two forest health plans are expected to help address the rising risk of wildfires across Washington state and guide funding priorities.
Statewide, some 2.2 million homes are exposed to wildfire. Last year, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) responded to more than 1,800 wildfires, a record high. The two forest management plans cover 10-year and 20-year horizons and were developed by the DNR. Fighting wildfires cost the DNR $146 million to fight in 2016.
Guided by the statewide 10-year wildland fire protection strategic plan, state legislators will be introducing a wildfire prevention and preparedness account this session which, when funded, will account for $126 million each biennium. It’s designed to ensure fire crews have resources to keep fires small, and will also provide funding to restore forest health.
“Wildfire poses a clear and present danger to the health of Washington’s people, environment and economy,” DNR commissioner Hilary Franz said in a press release. “As the leader of our state’s wildfire fighting force, I know we must continue to be proactive, not reactive.”
Several immediate funding targets were guided by the 10-year plan. These include $8.4 million for 42 full-time firefighters, $5.2 million for 15 fire engine leaders and fire trucks, and $25.6 million for a new helicopter. Some $15 million would be allocated to protect communities near wildland, $7.5 million to help property owners and small forest owners protect their property, and $1.9 million to train volunteer firefighters at local fire authorities.
On top of that funding, an additional $26.25 million will be used to accelerate the 20-year plan, which includes restoring 1.25 million acres of forest through selective thinning and prescribed burns. In 2015, it was estimated that nearly 2.7 million acres of forestland in Eastern Washington needed to be treated to increase resilience against insects, diseases and wildfires.
The funding is proposed to come from an increase of a few cents on property and insurance premiums. The DNR estimates it will cost the average household around $1 per month.
The state Legislature during the 2019 session approved $50 million to be put toward fighting wildfires and managing forest health. Two new aircraft were purchased and will be ready for service next year, as will 30 new firefighters to help maintain forest healing during the off-season.
Hospital District commissioners meet for first time
Snapdragon Bakery & Café listed for sale
Islanders want new community council
A committee to form a new Vashon-Maury Island Community Council held its first meeting last week.
Park district weary of illegal dumping
The Vashon Park District has had to pay more attention to waste in recent years than ever before.
Event will consider end of life options
Volunteers of the Seattle-based nonprofit End of Life Washington will present.
Clinic will be open again on Saturdays beginning Feb. 1.
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.
Event held last week at Vashon Youth and Family Services’ Family Place honored civil rights leader.
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The Titchfield Peninsula
The Ticthfield Peninsula, together with Navy Island, separates the East and West Harbours in the parish of Portland. Its colourful history dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, telling tales of forts, celebrities, grand hotels and sweet bananas.
The first British settlers settled on the peninsula in the 17th century, and later established Fort George on the peninsula in 1729, as the British troops in war with the Windward Maroons requested additional soldiers as reinforcement. The fort was shaped like an arrow with walls seven feet thick and five feet high. Three mounted canons original to the property are still present, and were restored by the Portland Parish Council in 1967. Today the Titchfield High School occupies what was once the fort's barracks.
Port Antonio became the mecca for banana production in the late 1900's with the establishment of the banana industry in the town, and the route of trade from Jamaica to the eastern seaboard of the United States, by Captain Lorenzo Dow Baker. With the development of the industry came the need for accommodations as Port Antonio saw increasing numbers of overseas visitors. In 1895 Captain Baker built the original Titchfield Hotel atop the Titchfield Peninsula, a modest property with a main house and cottages. In 1905 however Baker demolished the original and rebuilt the Titchfield Hotel to what later became international acclaim, as one of the grandest hotels in the Western Hemisphere at that time. The hotel boasted over 400 rooms, 600 ft. of piazza and modern conveniences rarely found in hotels at that time. The genesis of tourism in Jamaica is attributed not only to the town of Port Antonio but also to the significant appeal created by the Titchfield Hotel.
Later in the 1930's, the devastating effects of the Panama disease on the crop caused the banana industry to decline and with it, went tourism as well. Port Antonio's charm was rediscovered with the arrival of the flamboyant Errol Flynn, who purchased the Titchfield Hotel and Navy Island in the 1950's. The resort area quickly became a hideaway for celebrities, as Flynn entertained friends like Marilyn Munroe, Katherine Hepburn, Tony Curtis, Lou Costello among many others.
Sadly in 1969 the Titchfield Hotel was destroyed by fire. Today all that remains are ruins of the property, reminders of the grandeur of the one of the world's finest hotels.
Local Flavour:
Located on the Titchfield Peninsula are outstanding examples of the architectural styles prevalent during the various periods of development of the town of Port Antonio. Take a look around and make note of the Victorian New England, Jamaican Georgian, and Victorian style gingerbread houses throughout the area.
Famous For:
Errol Flynn, the handsome Australian born Hollywood star, fell in love with Jamaica, and is said to have described the island as more beautiful than any woman he had ever known.
The Errol Flynn Marina on the Titchfield Peninsula houses 32 fixed dockage births and is primarily called on by yachts. The marina has several shops, restaurants and a beach and is a regular hangout spot for both locals and visitors.
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7,000 jobs in #750m plan for Corus site
MORE than 7,000 jobs are to be created in the biggest redevelopment of a redundant site since Cardiff Bay.
Steelmaker Corus yesterday announced the sale of half of its 1,200 acres at Llanwern, Newport, to a consortium for housing, light industry, shops and leisure activities.
Last night, Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies heralded the scheme as a shot in the arm for the Welsh economy. "This is not just important for the Newport area, this is important for the Welsh economy as a whole," he said.
The #750m programme, spread over 10 years, is being trumpeted as the biggest regeneration scheme since Cardiff Bay in the late 1980s.
The consortium is led by Chepstow-based property developers, Broadhall Hampton.
Mike David, director of Broadhall Hampton, said yesterday, "This is a rare regeneration project of huge proportions. Here is a classic example of location, location, location.
"We want to create a quality eastern suburb for Newport with a development that will act as a showcase for South Wales."
Welsh Development Agency executive Graham Moore said last night, "It is rare that such a site comes to the market place and Broadhall has a good track record of development.
"It's pleasing to see that plans are afoot for redevelopment at such an early stage of the steelworks closure.
"Given its location so close to the M4 it's of huge importance, not just to Newport but the whole region."
Access to the site will be provided by a dual carriageway linking junction 23 of the M4 at Magor with a new Newport southern distributor road.
The first planning application is expected to be submitted in late October by Barratt Homes South Wales and AWG Development, which are part of the consortium.
Initially hundreds of homes are expected to be built on uncontaminated sport fields, followed by light industrial units, a shopping centre, cinemas and restaurants. Eventually up to 4,000 houses could be built.
Work on clearing up contaminated land has already begun and bulldozers could move in as early as January.
Mark Carr, managing director of Corus Strip Products UK, said, "Our intention has always been to ensure that the land being vacated by Corus was put to the best possible use."
Newport East MP Paul Flynn gave a cautious welcome, but hoped the natural beauty of the area would be exploited. "It shouldn't just be another development with a compulsory Ikea," he added.
Meanwhile, Friends of the Earth Cymru warned that a huge amount of work would be needed to clear up the contamination. "This has to be done properly and not on the cheap," said spokesman Julian Rosser.
Corus said that it was expected to take at least three years to clear the entire site, although that would not prevent construction work starting in January on the eastern part of the land, which had already been cleared.
Wales Office Minister Don Touhig said that the redevelopment reflected confidence in the Welsh economy.
Have your say on News Messageboard
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ANALYST COVERAGE OF WANDISCO
KEY COMPANY ADVISORS
investor.relations@wandisco.com
US+1 925 380 1728
via FTI consulting+44 (0) 20 3727 1000
DAVID RICHARDS Chairman, President, CEO and Co-founder
Since co-founding the Company in Silicon Valley in 2005, David has led WANdisco on a course for rapid international expansion, opening offices in the UK, Japan and China. David spearheaded WANdisco to a hugely successful listing on the London Stock Exchange (WAND:LSE) and, shortly after, the acquisition of AltoStor, which accelerated the development of WANdisco’s first products for the Big Data market.
A passionate advocate of entrepreneurship, David has established and successfully exited several highly successful Silicon Valley technology companies. David was the founder and CEO of Librados, an application integration software provider, and led the company’s acquisition by NASDAQ-listed NetManage, Inc. in 2005. David is a frequent commentator on a range of business and technology issues, appearing regularly on Bloomberg and CNBC. David holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Huddersfield.
After Paul Walker, the former Chairman, stepped down from the Board in October 2016, David took the role of Chairman. In 2017 David was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Sheffield Hallam University in recognition of him being a champion of British technology and a passionate advocate of entrepreneurship.
David and his wife Jane founded the David & Jane Richards Family Foundation with the purpose to educate, empower and improve the lives of children through hands-on programmes and targeted assistance. They aim to encourage children to fulfil their potential and make a positive impact on the world around them. The first programmes commenced in 2018 in some state schools in the UK, where they will use new methods to teach computing skills and install beehives as part of a wider teaching curriculum.
BOB COREY Vice Chairman and Senior Non-executive Director
Bob brings more than 30 years of executive and financial management experience in public and private companies in Silicon Valley with software and hardware companies.
Bob is highly experienced in managing the financial aspects of public companies; he has a strong history with Wall Street, and extensive mergers and acquisitions experience. He also has deep corporate governance acumen and has served on numerous boards in Silicon Valley as Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Audit Committee, and a member on Compensation and Nomination and Governance Committees.
Formerly Bob was Chief Financial Officer of Callidus Software, a $2.4bn acquisition by SAP in April 2018. Until September 2017, he sat on the Board and chaired the Audit Committee for Apigee, a $625m acquisition by Google. He has also served as the Chief Financial Officer of FrontRange Solutions USA Inc., an enterprise software company. Prior to FrontRange, Bob was a member of the Board of Directors at Extreme Networks, Inc., an ethernet solutions company, ultimately serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Bob has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for AmberPoint, Interwoven, Live Ops and Veraz Networks.
Bob began his career at Arthur Andersen, is a California CPA (not current), and has a Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting from California State University at Fullerton. Bob is a Veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served as an Air Traffic Controller.
ERIK MILLER Chief Financial Officer
Erik was the Chief Financial Officer of Envivio, Inc., a NASDAQ-listed provider of video transcoding software from February 2010 to January 2016, following its acquisition by Ericsson AB. From January 2008 to July 2009, Erik served as Chief Financial Officer at SigNav Pty. Ltd., a component supplier to the wireless industry, where he was responsible for finance and administration functions. From March 2006 to January 2008, he served as Chief Financial Officer at Tangler Pty. Ltd., a social networking company, where he was responsible for finance and administrative functions. Erik received a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley.
DR. YETURU AAHLAD Chief Data Scientist, Inventor and Co-founder
Dr Aahlad is a recognised worldwide authority on distributed computing. He is named in 35 WANdisco patents, including US and international patents, continuations and divisionals. It was Dr Aahlad’s vision and years of persistence that led to the invention of technology that many thought was impossible – that of Active-Active replication (WANdisco’s patented DConE technology). Prior to WANdisco, Dr Aahlad served as the distributed systems architect for iPlanet (Sun/Netscape Alliance) Application Server. At Netscape, Dr Aahlad joined the elite team in charge of creating a new server platform based on the CORBA distributed object framework.
Prior to Sun/Netscape Dr Aahlad worked on incorporating the CORBA security service into Fujitsu’s Object Request Broker. Dr Aahlad designed and implemented the CORBA event services while working on Sun’s first CORBA initiative. Earlier in his career, Dr Aahlad worked on a distributed programming language at IBM’s Palo Alto Scientific Center.
Dr Aahlad has a PhD in Distributed Computing from the University of Texas, Austin, and a BSc in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras.
GRANT DOLLENS Non-executive Director
Prior to founding Global Frontier Investments, LLC, Grant was an investment analyst and member of the Investment Committee for Ayer Capital, a long/short equity healthcare fund, where he was focused on medical devices, diagnostics, healthcare services, biotechnology and pharmaceutical investments. Prior to Ayer, Grant was an associate in the healthcare group at BA Venture Partners (now Scale Ventures), where he sourced, evaluated and invested in private medical device, biotechnology, specialty pharmaceutical and healthcare service companies. Before BA Venture Partners, Grant was an investment banking analyst in corporate finance at Deutsche Bank Alex. Brown focused on the technology sector.
Grant received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, with majors in Analytical Finance, Management and Strategy, and Accounting. He received his BSc in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University.
KARL MONAGHAN Non-executive Director
Karl brings a wealth of capital markets and board experience. Prior to founding Ashling Capital, Karl has worked in corporate finance for Robert W. Baird, Credit Lyonnais Securities, Bank of Ireland, Johnson Fry and BDO Stoy Hayward. Additionally, he trained as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in Dublin and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin.
Board Responsibilities and Committees
The Board comprises three Executive Directors (including the Chairman) and three Non-executive Directors, two of which are independent (Bob Corey and Karl Monaghan).
The Board is responsible for the long-term success of the Group. It sets the Group’s values, standards and strategic aims and oversees implementation within a framework of prudent and effective controls, ensuring only acceptable risks are taken. It provides leadership and direction and is also responsible for corporate governance and the overall financial performance of the Group.
The Board has agreed the schedule of matters reserved for its decision, which includes ensuring that the necessary financial and human resources are in place to meet its obligations to its shareholders and others. It also approves acquisitions and disposals of businesses, major capital expenditure and annual financial budgets, and sets dividend policy.
An Executive Committee supports the Board in implementing strategy and reports relevant matters to the Board for its consideration and approval. This Executive Committee comprises three Executive Directors and nine members of senior management.
All the Directors have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary, who is responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable rules, regulations and Board procedures.
Directors have the right to request that any concerns they have are recorded in the appropriate Committee or Board minutes.
To assist the Board in carrying out its functions and to ensure that there is independent oversight of internal controls and risk management, the Board delegates certain responsibilities to its three principal Committees as shown in the governance framework diagram below
Members: Bob Corey (Chair), Karl Monaghan, Grant Dollens
Committee responsibilities
The Audit Committee ("the Committee") is established by and is responsible to the Board. It has written terms of reference, which are available for review at www.wandisco.com. Its main responsibilities are:
to monitor and be satisfied with the truth and fairness of the Group’s financial statements before submission to the Board for approval, ensuring their compliance with the appropriate accounting standards, the law and the AIM Rules;
to monitor and review the effectiveness of the Group’s system of internal control;
to make recommendations to the Board in relation to the appointment of the external auditor and its remuneration, following appointment by the shareholders in general meeting, and to review and be satisfied with the auditor’s independence, objectivity and effectiveness on an ongoing basis; and
to implement the policy relating to any non-audit services performed by the external auditor.
The Committee is authorised by the Board to seek and obtain any information it requires from any officer or employee of the Group and to obtain external legal or other independent professional advice as is deemed necessary by it.
There were two meetings of the Committee during the year scheduled to coincide with the review of the scope of the external audit and observations arising from its work in relation to internal control, and to review the financial statements. The external auditor attended all of these meetings. Since the end of the financial year, the Committee has met once (in March 2019) to consider, amongst other matters, this Annual Report, with the external auditor being present at this meeting. The Committee also met with the external auditor, without the Executive Directors being present, once during the year.
View our Audit Committee Terms of Reference
Members: Karl Monaghan (Chair), Bob Corey, Grant Dollens
The Remuneration Committee’s primary purposes are to assist the Board in determining the Company’s remuneration policies, review the performance of the Executive Directors and make recommendations to the Board on matters relating to their remuneration and terms of service, the granting of share options, and other equity incentives.
The Remuneration Committee met four times in the year, with the other Board members in attendance as appropriate.
View our Remuneration Committee Terms of Reference
Members: David Richards (Chair), Bob Corey, Grant Dollens, Erik Miller, Karl Monaghan
The Nomination Committee has responsibility for: reviewing the structure, size and composition of the Board and recommending to the Board any changes required; succession planning; and identifying and nominating for approval Board candidates to fill vacancies as and when they arise. The Committee is also responsible for reviewing the results of any Board performance evaluation process and making recommendations to the Board concerning the Board’s Committees and the re-election of Directors at the AGM.
The membership of the Nomination Committee comprises the three Non-executive Directors, David Richards and Erik Miller. The Nomination Committee is required to meet not less than twice a year and at such other times as required.
The Nomination Committee met three times in the year, with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer in attendance.
The Board has considered diversity in broader terms than just gender and believes it is also important to have the correct balance of skills, experience, independence and knowledge on the Board. All Board appointments will be made on merit and with the aim of achieving a correct balance. The Group has formal policies in place to promote equality of opportunity across the whole organisation and training is provided to assist this.
Currently, there are no women on the Board. As opportunities arise, the Board will seek to increase the presence of women on the Board consistent with the above policy and the terms of reference of the Nomination Committee.
View our Nomination Committee Terms of Reference.
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Landscape Architect in the Wild: Michael Popiwny
Michael Popiwny trained as a landscape architect and managed the siting and design of Brightwater Treatment Plant, which earned the 2005 ASLA planning award. He shares his journey in landscape architecture, his passion for large-scale master planning, and how he assists in training emerging professionals in his office.
Last Spring, I attended the APA conference session at Brightwater, an award-winning planning project slash education facility slash salmon restoration habitat slash community park slash odorless wastewater treatment plant in Woodinville. Michael Popiwny hosted the workshop and explained his leadership of the meticulous planning and mitigation process which included heaps of public meetings that shaped the design of the plant. He was in charge of the community input, as well as orchestrating all of the designers, engineers, artists, and contractors involved in creating the project. After the workshop, I was curious about his path from landscape architecture to managing such a large and expensive public project. I asked him to meet for an interview, and a few weeks later he and I sat down in Zeitgeist coffee in Pioneer Square to have a conversation about his work.
After reading Ian McHarg’s “Design with Nature,” Popiwny began his path in landscape architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. There he studied under McHarg for three years, in a program with highly-devoted students, learning landscape architecture and large-scale master planning. He says of his experience at UPenn that not only was having a rich education important, and that students should attend the school they believe is the very best, but also being immersed in a program with like-minded and dedicated students that pushed each other was motivating and influential.
Post-graduation, he worked at Wallace Roberts & Todd before moving to Washington. After relocating west, Popiwny was hired by a private firm and then the Port of Seattle working on large-scale projects, two of the largest being the West Point Treatment Facility and the Bell street Pier as the Development Manager. He was essentially a design project manager for West Point, and that is what led him to apply for the job as project manager for Brightwater. The application process was rigorous, and the lengthy interview procedure included sitting down with his competing applicants and having a conversation, which was then analyzed for effective working behaviors by an independent review firm. After undergoing that process and ultimately being hired by King County, it was no surprise that he was able to handle the many challenges presented to him with managing the giant $1.9 billion Brightwater siting and design project.
Popiwny says he uses his training as a landscape architect “everyday.” His skills in landscape architecture help him with “analysis and understanding of a problem and working towards a solution.” He adds that he gained experience working for a firm that allowed him to do multi-disciplinary work and practice negotiating. He also has more sympathy for designers and fostered creative skills that help him to “do more with an allotted budget”.
For emerging project managers, he says “do the best project you can do.” He is always trying to inspire and motivate his team for success by maintaining an on-going positive attitude, and encourages those of every position to do the same. He purposefully cultivates and grows a talented staff, and listens to those around him, asking the positives and negatives so that they can rationally look at problems to figure out the best solution. He consults with experts who have a deep technical knowledge, and acts as a balance between those experts.
He advises those looking to progress to look at their strengths and weaknesses and know their limitations. What are you best at? Pursue that. He encourages his interns to interact with the community directly on their projects. That way they can develop those crucial communication, negotiation and management skills that are not taught in school, but come with experience. Those, he says, will be crucial in helping them advance in the future. After a certain point management of staff and a “sales mentality” to get projects built, in addition to technical training in landscape architecture, become your day-to-day work.
He also says that, “if you can do a small project well, you can do a big project well,” and that “projects are scalable;” skills developed on small projects are directly applicable to large projects. He also points out that if you’re working under someone, it is ok to speak up about something that you find wrong or incorrect, and it may be helpful to “walk away to talk to your lead afterwards,” in private. It is important to be confident about your abilities and to be assertive.
When asked how he measures success on a day-to-day basis, and how he knows if he is doing his job well and serving the public well, he states, “any project is just these small increments, and you’re always working to get that one step done so that it leads to the next… for me it’s those small successes along the way.” He mentions that success is that feeling that everything is ok, whether it’s putting a schedule together that feels like it works or having a community feel less suspicious of your ability to deliver your project. He states that you have to be motivational and inspirational for your team. He elaborates, “Sometimes you have to be the one believing in some aspect of a project that you think is really important, and continue to fight for it. And sometimes, with these big projects, you’re fighting for that for years, trying to figure out ways to gain support for it, to continue to show progress, to sell it, to add value, and sometimes you have to do that over and over again…. motivation, attitude, persistence can really make somebody successful.”
-Stephanie Stroud
Back to June Newsletter
© Copyright 2017 | Washington Chapter
American Society of Landscape Architects
120 State Ave NE #303
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Historical Center
West Fargo Historical Center
Genealogist Jackie Marler is available Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. to help with your projects and answer your questions. The West Fargo Historical Center is also open Tuesday 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., Thursday 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., and by appointment. You may bring your own laptop or use one of the library's computers when working in the Historical Center.
The West Fargo Historical Center has information on many facets of West Fargo and the surrounding community, along with its citizens. Special attention to the following information is provided:
City information and City Commission minutes on West Fargo (with additional information on Riverside, which merged with West Fargo in 1989)
The West Fargo Pioneer (the local newspaper) is available in print (1967 to current) and on microfilm (June 1967 to 2015)
Fargo Forum (newspaper) is available on microfilm (November 17, 1891 to December 12, 1955; November 25, 1956 to December 31, 2006)
Fargo-Moorhead City Directories (which include the City of West Fargo)
West Fargo High School Yearbooks (1946 to 1950; 1953 to 1954; 1960 to 1969; 1971 to 1972; 1982 to 1983; 1985 to 1989; 1991 to present)
Berger Middle School Yearbooks (1975 to 1986)
West Fargo Middle School Yearbooks (1998 to 2001; 2004)
Bonanzaville USA
The Sheyenne River Flood Control Project
Family histories and obituaries of West Fargo residents (or former residents)
Older editions of the Atlas of Cass County (1934 to 1935; 1951; 1975; 1996; 2002)
Materials either written by residents or former residents of the area
Materials may not leave the Historical Center/Library premises.
Desktop Computer (Software: Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Large Format Scanner (Documents, photographs, and slides)
Microfilm Machine
Printing (10 cents per page)
Online Genealogy Resources
Ancestry: Search census records, military records, passenger lists and more. Inside library access only.
HeritageQuest Online: Comprehensive source for family history research. Available from Inside the Library or From Home.
Universal Class: Free online classes for career and personal development, including an introductory class on conducting genealogy research.
View a list of some of our recommended genealogy resources, ranging from the North Dakota Division of Vital Records to the National Archives of Norway.
Please consider donating West Fargo High School yearbooks to the West Fargo Historical Center.
West Fargo Historical Center Mission Statement
To collect, preserve and present the history of West Fargo and the West Fargo School District. To entertain and instruct the public. To support research of both local and family history.
215 Third St. E.
215 Third St. E. First Floor West Fargo ND 58078
History of West Fargo
& Teens
West Fargo Public Library
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend
ND State Library
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2018 may be the year we finally find signs of alien life
Astrophysicist Michel Mayor discovered the first exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star. He is speaking at the Starmus IV festival in June in Trondheim, Norway
An artist's impression of 51 Pegasi b orbiting its star
In 1995, Michel Mayor discovered the first planet outside of our solar system orbiting a star like our Sun. 51 Pegasi b, or Dimidium as it came to be known, started an intense period of planet hunting, and exoplanets have continued to wow and wonder astronomers ever since. Only last week, Nasa announced, to much fanfare, it had found seven exoplanets in the nearby TRAPPIST-1 system.
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At the time of the original discovery, Mayor, a Swiss astrophysicist working with colleague Didier Queloz, used a complex technique Nasa calls the "wobble method" . Measurements of the tiny wobbles from the gravitational force of 51 Pegasi b as it orbited its star were used to confirm its existence 50 light-years away.
Now, Mayor is preparing to discuss this discovery as well as his views on the future of space travel at 2017's Starmus IV Festival in Norway in June. Having hosted three successful festivals in the Canary Islands, Starmus founder Garik Israelian has relocated to Norway to "expand Starmus and reach even greater heights.”
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Across the six-day festival, the world's leading academics, cosmonauts, astronauts and an award-winning composer will present to audiences of more than 10,000 people and, in addition to Mayor, highlights include Professor Stephen Hawking, Martin Rees, Alexei Leonov, Alan Stern, Jill Tarter, Walt Cunningham and Susumu Tonegawa. Last year, Stephen Hawking used the event to discuss his 'eureka' moment in the hunt for black holes and why it's a glorious time to be alive.
Speaking ahead of this year's event, Observatory of Geneva professor emeritus Mayor told WIRED his team found 51 Pegasi b by developing a spectrograph sensitive enough to measure small changes in velocity and monitoring the planet's star "night after night for several months.
"What we were using in 1995 was an indirect technique – the direct technique of having an image of the planet was not possible at the time.
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"After [obtaining the data] you can detect the orbit of the star – not the planet – due to the influence of the planet," he explained. By making calculations based around the star it was then possible to detect the existence of 51 Pegasi b.
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Since 1995, the technology to detect exoplanets has vastly advanced. Mayor's work in the intervening decades has seen him involved in the discovery of more than 200 exoplanets; including Gliese 581 c, the first exoplanet in a star's habitable zone, and Gliese 581 e, the lightest exoplanet discovered.
At the core of many of these discoveries are advanced telescopes that are able to accurately detect exoplanets deep in space. In one announcement, Nasa's Kepler telescope was deemed to have found 1,284 exoplanets – with almost half of these being in the habitable zones of their stars. Mayor says the James Webb Space Telescope, which is due to launch in October 2018, and the PLATO space observatory, due to be launched in 2024, will allow for more detailed studies of exoplanets.
Being able to peer into the data returned from the telescopes will let scientists unlock the physics of the atmospheres. And by studying the types of gas in an atmosphere it is possible to predict whether they were created by existing life, or from a planet's natural composition.
"You can measure the content of water, carbon dioxide and many other components in the atmosphere," Mayor explained. "It is the interplay between the theory of the atmosphere and observation done from this technique".
Giving Stephen Hawking a voice
Last week, Nasa announced its biggest haul of exoplanets similar to Earth orbiting one star. Around the TRAPPIST-1 star is a collection of seven Earth-sized exoplanets, which could unlock some of the universe's biggest secrets.
"The Trappist-1 system is not too far away and it is a good system to carry out this kind of follow-up measurements," the astrophysicist says.
"Imagine that the James Webb observes TRAPPIST-1 and by observing the atmosphere will be able to see a really clear chemical signature of some components in the atmosphere – oxygen maybe – it will be an indication that life exists," Mayor suggests.
"It is evident that if in the first system we are really observing we see signatures of life, there's a strong argument life could be existing in many places across the Universe."
Starmus IV, hosted by NTNU, runs from June 18 to June 23 in Trondheim, Norway, tickets available from www.starmus.com
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Photo by: Brian Dressler
Alicia Neaves
TEAM-BIOS
Author: WLTX Staff
Published: 3:28 PM EST January 4, 2018
Alicia Neaves is a multi-skilled journalist for WLTX-TV in Columbia, SC who anchors the station's weekend evening broadcasts and does general assignment reporting.
The San Antonio native came to Columbia from her hometown’s CBS affiliate KENS 5, where she served as a reporter for two years. Alicia covered breaking news stories throughout South Texas, extending east to Houston during Hurricane Harvey and New Orleans, LA during Hurricane Nate.
Alicia discovered her passion for the television industry in college at the University of Evansville in Indiana. She interned at WEHT-TV in Henderson, Kentucky with the ABC affiliate’s sports department and with the university’s radio station WUEV. She graduated in 2011 with a double-major in Communications and Spanish.
After college, Alicia worked two years in production at San Antonio’s NBC affiliate WOAI-TV where she helped build computer graphics and presented daily web news segments.
Subsequently, she landed her first reporting job in Midland, Texas at the NBC/Telemundo station where she reported and anchored in English and Spanish. Her coverage extended across the West Texas border into Ojinaga, Mexico. In 2015, she earned her second reporting job in San Antonio.
Alicia has one younger brother, Isaac, and a Blue Heeler/Shepherd mix named Lucy. She thanks her mom, Elsa, and daddy Roland for her love of adventure, and she credits her mentors throughout the years for her love of storytelling.
You can contact Alicia by email at aneaves@wltx.com, or you can follow her on Twitter at @AliciaWLTX or on her Facebook page.
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