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Klingons, Klingon military personnel, Deep Space 9 personnel, Klingon government officials
Gowron
Klingon High Council
Chancellor of the Klingon High Council
Leader of the Klingon Empire
Deceased (killed in duel with Worf) (2375)
M'Rel
Robert O'Reilly
"I decide what can and cannot be done."
– Gowron, 2375 ("Tacking Into the Wind")
Gowron, son of M'Rel, was Chancellor of the Klingon High Council in the late 24th century. He ruled during the Klingon Civil War, Klingon-Cardassian War, and Dominion War. He was killed by Worf in 2375.
Early career Edit
Before 2367, Gowron was a political outsider, who often challenged the decisions of the Klingon High Council. After the death of Chancellor K'mpec, Gowron and Duras, son of Ja'rod, became the two leading candidates for leadership of the council. It was suspected that Gowron had in fact poisoned K'mpec to advance his career, though many believe that K'mpec was indeed poisoned by Duras.
Gowron traveled on the IKS Buruk to undergo the Rite of Succession in the Gamma Arigulon system, where K'mpec had gone to rendezvous with Captain Jean-Luc Picard, who would serve as Arbiter of Succession. Gowron, like a typical Klingon, was skeptical of an outsider's ability to function as Arbiter, and was frustrated with his choice of undergoing the ja'chuq, but still went along with little argument. Once Duras was killed by Worf through the Right of Vengeance, Gowron's election as chancellor was complete. (TNG: "Reunion")
Klingon Civil War Edit
Following Gowron's election, Duras' sisters, Lursa and B'Etor, challenged Gowron's office. They appealed to the High Council to install Toral, the illegitimate son of Duras, as chancellor. The resulting division of loyalty in the council quickly sparked the Klingon Civil War in late 2367. (TNG: "Redemption") After a few weeks, Gowron's forces emerged victorious. With the help of the Federation, ties that the Duras family had with the Romulan Star Empire were exposed. In addition, Gowron reinstated the House of Mogh in recognition of the actions of Worf and his brother Kurn coming to his aid in the conflict. (TNG: "Redemption II")
Later career Edit
In the aftermath of the war, Gowron found it was best to avoid calling attention to the Federation's support during the war. He ordered that all official accounts of the events omit the Federation's involvement in the conflict and emphasize his own courage and strategic genius. (TNG: "Unification I")
When a clone of Kahless the Unforgettable was created in 2369, Gowron dismissed his right to rule the Klingon Empire, though he soon became worried that the clone's existence would plunge the empire into another civil war. In order to keep the peace, he agreed to support Kahless as the spiritual leader of his people, agreeing to support his succession as "Emperor" (the title having been defunct for generations), while Gowron would remain leader of the Council. (TNG: "Rightful Heir")
In 2371, a Klingon named Kozak was killed in an accident at Quark's on Deep Space 9. D'Ghor, posing as Kozak's brother, made a claim before Gowron and the Council to the House of Kozak, but Gowron temporarily transferred leadership of the House of Kozak to Quark, who had secretly married Kozak's widow, Grilka. Together, they proved to Gowron that D'Ghor had dishonored himself by trying to financially ruin Kozak for years instead of openly fighting him. D'Ghor challenged Quark to personal combat, but Quark refused to fight. D'Ghor was about to kill the unarmed Ferengi when Gowron intervened and discommended D'Ghor for his dishonorable attempt to kill an unarmed opponent who was not even attempting to fight back. Furthermore, Gowron proclaimed that the House of Kozak would become the House of Grilka and commended the Ferengi for his uncommon bravery. (DS9: "The House of Quark", "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places")
Later that year, Commander Sisko hypothesized that Gowron had sent the Klingon Intelligence agents Atul, Bo'rak and Morka to Deep Space 9 to spy on a Romulan delegation. (DS9: "Visionary")
"This we do not forgive... or forget."
As the cold war between the Dominion and the Alpha Quadrant escalated during the 2370s, Gowron took prominent Klingon General Martok as his military adviser. Martok had secretly been replaced by a Changeling, and used his position to influence Gowron's military decisions. (DS9: "Apocalypse Rising") When a civilian revolution took place on Cardassia Prime in 2372, Martok spread misinformation that the Cardassian uprising had been supported by the Dominion. This view gained some credence as it fit the Founders' modus operandi, since they regularly made use of infiltrators to weaken their enemies. Martok led Gowron to believe that the civilian-led Detapa Council had been replaced by Changelings. Seeking to protect the Empire, Gowron ordered the invasion of the Cardassian Union. The move was condemned by the Federation Council, and Gowron withdrew from the Khitomer Accords, ending the decades-long alliance with the Federation. When Captain Sisko took the Detapa Council under his protection, Gowron led an unsuccessful assault on Deep Space Nine, ultimately withdrawing after conceding that it was not in the Empire's interest to fight a war with the Cardassian Union and the Federation at the same time. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior", "Rules of Engagement")
The Klingons conquered a number of Cardassian colonies but failed to take Cardassia Prime. Gowron declared victory anyway, in order to avoid assassination attempts. He fortified his positions in Cardassian space and continued expanding the borders of the Empire. He also ordered several attacks on Romulan targets on the Klingon-Romulan border. (DS9: "Hippocratic Oath")
In late 2372, Gowron demanded that the Federation withdraw from the Archanis sector, in particular Archanis IV. During this time, the Dominion planted false information in Starfleet through Odo that Gowron, not Martok, was a Changeling spy. (DS9: "Broken Link") Starfleet sent a team to Klingon military headquarters on Ty'Gokor to expose Gowron. Eventually, they discovered that Martok was, in fact, the Changeling agent, and Gowron's men swiftly killed the impostor. (DS9: "Apocalypse Rising")
After the Cardassians joined the Dominion in 2373, the Klingon forces were driven from Cardassian space. Facing the combined forces of the Dominion and Cardassia, Gowron reinstated the Khitomer Accords and posted a permanent contingent of Klingon officers on the Cardassian border at station Deep Space 9, commanded, ironically, by the real Martok. (DS9: "By Inferno's Light")
The Dominion War Edit
In early 2374, Gowron was reluctant to involve the Empire in Operation Return. However, he was later persuaded to assist Captain Sisko's forces by Martok and Worf. The late arrival of the Klingon fleet proved critical in the battle, throwing the Dominion lines into disarray, and allowed the Defiant to break through. (DS9: "Favor the Bold", "Sacrifice of Angels")
Several months later, the Dominion and the Orion Syndicate used Gowron's feud with the Klingon ambassador to Farius Prime in an attempt to bring down the Treaty of Alliance. Gelnon and Raimus hoped that, by having Liam Bilby, Krole and Flith assassinate the ambassador with Klingon weapons, it would look like Gowron had ordered the pro-Dominion ambassador's execution. (DS9: "Honor Among Thieves")
Gowron played a role, albeit unknowingly, in bringing the Romulan Star Empire into the war against the Dominion. In late 2374, Captain Sisko contacted Gowron and asked him to issue a formal pardon to Grathon Tolar, who was needed by Sisko and Elim Garak to forge a holo-recording. (DS9: "In the Pale Moonlight")
Gowron fights Worf to the death in 2375
Early in 2375, both Worf and Martok planned to speak to Gowron to see if he could find Kor a fitting assignment on Qo'noS. (DS9: "Once More Unto the Breach")
Martok's actions during the war had made him a prominent figure throughout the Empire, such that he was regarded by the Klingon people as their savior. Feeling threatened by Martok's growing political influence, Gowron took direct control of the Klingon Defense Force in 2375. He began trying to undermine Martok's military standing, repeatedly sending him against impossible odds so that he would be forced to retreat. (DS9: "When It Rains...") Martok refused to challenge Gowron even after such dishonorable actions, believing it would be tantamount to turning against the Empire.
Instead, Gowron was challenged by a member of Martok's house, Worf. Worf, who had been subtly directed by Captain Sisko to have Gowron removed as Chancellor, defeated Gowron in one-on-one combat, killing him, and passed the leadership of the High Council to Martok. Despite his disapproval of Gowron's actions, Worf still performed the Klingon death ritual for him, acknowledging the former Chancellor as a Klingon warrior. (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind")
Before leaving Deep Space 9 to take up his post as Martok's Federation ambassador, Worf recalled having fought Gowron for the leadership of the Empire. (DS9: "What You Leave Behind")
"You will die slowly, Duras."
- (TNG: "Reunion")
"K'mpec was also stubborn. He, too, refused to listen. Now... he is gone. You need not make the same mistake."
- to K'Ehleyr (TNG: "Reunion")
"The grasp of Duras reaches up from the grave!"
- (TNG: "Redemption")
"Are you blind to what they represent? Then go... your blood will paint the way to the future."
"What are you, Worf? Do you tremble and quake with fear at the approach of combat, hoping to talk your way out of a fight like a Human? Or do you hear the cry of the warrior, calling you to battle, calling you to glory like a Klingon?"
"You have made many enemies, Worf. Fortunately, I am not one of them!"
- (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")
" What kind of fools do you have working for you, Picard?"
- (TNG: "Rightful Heir")
"What was his name? If you were really there, you should be able to tell us the name of the man who stood outside the walls. Describe him to us. How tall was he? What was he wearing?!? What color... were his eyes?!"
"Kahless has been dead for a thousand years; but the idea of Kahless is still alive. Have you ever fought an idea, Picard? It has no weapon to destroy, no body to kill. The idea of Kahless' return must be stopped here and now – or it will travel through the Empire like a wave, and leave nothing but destruction behind."
"You should have killed me when you had the chance. I promise you will not get another."
- (DS9: "Apocalypse Rising")
"It's time for me to take a more active role in this war. As of today, I'm assuming direct command of our forces."
- to Worf (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind")
"I should've known better than to trust you again. If you were a true Klingon, I would kill you where you stand! Fortunately for you, that child's uniform shields you from your rightful fate."
"The Klingon Empire will remember what has happened here. You have sided against us in battle. And this we do not forgive... or forget!"
"You will not have this... day..."
- His last words (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind")
"Think of it. Five years ago, no one had ever heard of Bajor or Deep Space 9. Now all our hopes rest here. Where the tides of fortune take us, no man can know."
- (DS9: "By Inferno's Light")
Leaders of the Klingon Empire
Emperors: Kahless I • Reclaw I • Reclaw II • Sompek • Mur'Eq • Kahless II
Chancellors: 2151 Chancellor • 2153 Chancellor • M'Rek • L'Rell • Mow'ga • Gorkon • Azetbur • K'mpec • Gowron • Worf • Martok
TNG:
"Reunion"
"Redemption"
"Redemption II"
"Rightful Heir"
DS9:
"The House of Quark"
"The Way of the Warrior"
"Broken Link"
"Apocalypse Rising"
"By Inferno's Light"
"When It Rains..."
"Tacking Into the Wind"
Gowron was played by actor Robert O'Reilly. He believed he was cast in the role by "Reunion" director Jonathan Frakes partly because of "that crazy loon eyeball thing, but he saw also a sense of humor, and he has one of the great senses of humor of all time. I think that created a curiosity in him and he wanted to see more of me."
O'Reilly had been cast as Gowron after performing as Edmund in a production of King Lear, and this influenced his approach to the character. "I thought it absolutely fit. Remember, the way Gowron came in is not the way he went out. He went out as this bad, terrible Klingon, which I disagreed with strongly, but that's fine. But the earlier part of Gowron's arc, he was the outsider, the only one with honor, and he was sort of a crazed warrior who did not want to be anywhere near 'hew-mons.' So it started off very, very differently. If you take the point of view of Edmund, he's the outsider. He's the 'bastard', just out there and not part of the group, and then he decides to defeat everybody and become head of the group." [1]
The Enhanced First Contact expansion of the Star Trek Customizable Card Game shows a card where, in an alternate universe, Gowron, not Picard (known as Locutus of Borg in his assimilated form), was assimilated by the Borg. His name was simply "Gowron of Borg".
Gowron also appeared (in character) in a 1994 Hallmark Keepsake ornament commercial filmed to promote a Klingon Bird-of-Prey ornament. Gowron also features heavily in the video games Star Trek: Klingon and Star Trek: The Next Generation - Klingon Honor Guard, with O'Reilly reprising his role in both games.
His mirror universe counterpart is mentioned as being a colonel in the service of the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance in the novella The Mirror-Scaled Serpent. A firm opponent of inter-species breeding, he sent a Terran slave to assassinate B'Elanna, the half-Klingon, half-Terran Supervisor of Ardana. The slave was unsuccessful and was killed, himself, by B'Elanna's personal aide Kate Janeway. He later appeared in the short story "For Want of a Nail", contained in the anthology Shards and Shadows, in which he was killed by Duras.
Gowron at StarTrek.com, the official Star Trek website
Gowron, son of M'Rel at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Gowron at Wikipedia
Retrieved from "https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Gowron?oldid=2442791"
Klingon military personnel
Deep Space 9 personnel
Klingon government officials
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The Weinstein Co. Dancing with ‘Dirty Step Stomp’
The Weinstein Co. Dancing with Dirty Step Stomp
— February 6, 2007
in Casting News
The Weinstein Co. has picked up the rights on the comedy dance spoof, Dirty Step Stomp written by Steve Basilone and Annie Mebane; BenderSpink will produce.
The movie will take on recent dance films as Stomp the Yard, Step Up and Save the Last Dance, as well as the 1980s classics Footloose and Dirty Dancing. The Hollywood Reporter says the idea of the movie originated in one of Benderspink's weekly idea meetings, where everyone from the company is encouraged to come forward with ideas and opinions pertaining to articles, books, specs, pitches and the like. A month ago, TV coordinator Amber DeFrancis threw out the idea of a dance spoof movie, noting that the genre was ripe for a takedown. Andrew Mallett, the assistant to Benderspink partner Jill McElroy, suggested that a couple of his writer friends could pen the spec. Over the next couple of weeks, DeFrancis and Mallett and writers Basilone and Mebane developed the script under Novick's guidance.
There's no production schedule set for Dirty Step Stomp.
Rocky Johnson Dies, WWE Hall of Famer and The Rock's Dad Was 75
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Makarova
Wimbledon 2018, Manic Monday Preview #1: Goerges vs. Vekic, Pliskova vs. Bertens
Manic Monday is arguably the most exciting day on the tennis calendar as all of the last 16 matches come together for a tennis bonanza. It’s equally a frustrating day as so many tantalising match-ups are pitted against each other at the same time. This preview post focuses on the four matches from the bottom…
July 7, 2018 in Bertens, Giorgi, Goerges, Ka. Pliskova, Makarova, Rodina, Serena, Vekic, Wimbledon, WTA.
Wimbledon 2018, Day 3 Preview: Pliskova vs. Azarenka, Radwanska vs. Safarova
Second round matches will dominate the order of play on day 3 of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships. There are some great matches and big names involved such as Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Madison Keys. My three favourite second round matches were pretty clear cut for the bottom half and i’m hoping to see at…
July 3, 2018 in Azarenka, Ka. Pliskova, Makarova, Radwanska, Safarova, Wimbledon, Wozniacki, WTA.
Wimbledon 2018, Day 1 Preview: Buzarnescu vs. Sabalenka, Stephens vs. Vekic
It’s my favourite time of the year as the start of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships is drawing closer! The draw was announced on Friday morning and we know that the bottom half will kick things off on Monday. This preview showcases my three favourite first round matches set for Monday. I’ll be off work Monday…
June 30, 2018 in Buzarnescu, Makarova, Martic, Sabalenka, Stephens, Vekic, Wimbledon, WTA.
WTA Cincinnati, R2 Match Review: Makarova d. Kerber in a third set tiebreak thriller
Saving a match point and converting on her eighth match point, Ekaterina Makarova beat Angelique Kerber, 6-4 1-6 7-6(11), coming through in a quite astonishing third set tiebreak that I don’t think will be matched for drama all year. I’m still trying to get my head around the end of that match, which was truly…
August 17, 2017 in Kerber, Makarova, Match Review, WTA.
Australian Open 2017, 4th Round Preview for Monday: Johanna Konta v Ekaterina Makarova
In a repeat fourth round match from last year’s Australian Open, Johanna Konta will take on Ekaterina Makarova for a place in the quarter-finals. In 2016, Makarova was the higher ranked player but a lot has changed in the last year… Konta was dealt one of the toughest possible draws but she has handled it so,…
January 21, 2017 in Australian Open, Konta, Makarova, WTA.
US Open 2016, 1st Round Previews: S.Williams v Makarova, Safarova v Gavrilova
This post previews two first round matches at the 2016 US Open including Serena Williams v Ekaterina Makarova and Lucie Safarova v Daria Gavrilova. Just before take-off, I managed to catch a few snippets of the draw via Twitter so it gave me something to do (aside from rewatch Bake Off again!) to write a…
August 27, 2016 in Gavrilova, Makarova, Safarova, Serena, US Open, WTA.
Women’s Wimbledon 2016, 4th Round Previews: Best of the rest
Magic Monday at Wimbledon will see all 16 singles matches played across both the women’s and men’s draws. Finally, the tournament is back on track after play on Middle Sunday took place for the first time since 2004. For previews of V.Williams v Suárez Navarro click HERE, Radwanska v Cibulkova click HERE and Halep v…
July 3, 2016 in Doi, Kerber, Kuznetsova, Makarova, Pavlyuchenkova, Safarova, Serena, Shvedova, Vandeweghe, Vesnina, Wimbledon, WTA.
WTA Indian Wells, 3rd Round Previews for Sunday: Halep v Makarova, Jankovic v Vandeweghe
This post covers two third round matches set for Sunday’s schedule at the 2016 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells; an all-seeded match-up between Simona Halep and Ekaterina Makarova, and the number 19 seed, Jelena Jankovic up against CoCo Vandeweghe. For a full round-up of what happened in the top half of the women’s draw…
March 12, 2016 in Halep, Indian Wells, Jankovic, Makarova, Vandeweghe, WTA.
WTA Doha, First Round Previews: Pliskova v Gasparyan, Makarova v Petkovic
Tennis, why can’t you slow down? Dubai is barely in the books (Match Points coming soon!) and yet Doha is already on our doorstep with main draw action starting on SUNDAY. At least on this occasion, all the qualifiers have been placed so we know the entire draw. This post covers two first round matches…
February 20, 2016 in Doha, Gasparyan, Ka. Pliskova, Makarova, Petkovic, WTA.
Women’s Australian Open, R4 Previews for Monday: Makarova v Konta, Keys v Zhang
The bottom half of the women’s draw will take centre stage on Monday with the final four fourth round matches to be played. This post covers the two matches from the fourth quarter of the draw including Ekaterina Makarova against Johanna Konta and Madison Keys playing Shuai Zhang. 1. Ekaterina Makarova v Johanna Konta (AO, R4) And the Bourne-GOAT lives on… Ekaterina Makarova…
January 24, 2016 in Australian Open, Keys, Konta, Makarova, WTA, Zhang.
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Politics Tue, 16 Oct 2018
Akwapims hail Bagbin’s brilliant speech at Odwira festival
Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament has called for lasting measures that would thwart the high drug abuse among the youth, especially in the use of tramadol and marijuana amongst them.
According to him, the older generations had played their part and would soon handover the future to the youth, but a tramadol and marijuana dependent youth would be a disgrace to itself, and therefore advised that the country’s youth stayed off drugs to concentrate on their education.
Mr Bagbin made this when he addressed this year’s Ohum/Odwira festival at Akwapim Mampong on the theme; “The Youth and National Development,” where he won the hearts of the Chiefs and people of Akuapem as they hailed him for his speech.
The leading NDC flagbearer hopeful warned that the current trend of tramadol abuse was a path to damnation that only the youth themselves could back-pedal from.
On the sidelines of the festival, Mr Bagbin told journalists that the mockery that education was no longer the key to life, claiming the politicians had changed the padlock, was dangerous.
“Education remains the key, and in this critical time that our youth are being misled, it is even the padlock as well. Because education, be it formal or informal, is the only way for a human being to better himself or herself.”
He added that the use of knowledge was still power and since knowledge was only acquired through education, it remained the only key and advised that a national fund be set up to support the youth.
“Akuapems are very good people and I admire them a lot” Mr Bagbin said.
Mr Daniel Awere, a prominent citizen of Akropong Akwapem, crowned Mr Bagbin as the Solomon of his time.
“If you see the way his advice on tramadol shook the youth there, you will realise that the man is brilliant. All that he meant was that, the future is in the hands of the youth and only the youth can make it beautiful, but it was compelling because of the imagery he used to convey those thoughts” Mr. Awere said on the sidelines of the festival.
Earlier, Mr. Awere was one of the several NDC Constituency executives that accompanied Mr Bagbin to formally greet and announce his arrival to his hosts, the chiefs and people of Mampong Akuapem.
The longest serving Legislator in the Fourth Republic was mobbed by townsfolk and Constituency Executives of the opposition NDC alike at a durbar at Akuapem Mampong.
He was specially invited to grace the occasion as special Guest of Honour, and took the shine away from everybody at the main durbar of the chiefs and people of the area amidst mobs from the enthusiastic townsfolk who kept cat-calling him Ghana’s incoming President.
At the same time NDC party executives from the area who had accompanied him to attend the durbar also kept singing songs that were specially composed for him.
It all started when Mr Bagbin, upon reaching Mampong Akwapem, decided to touch base with the NDC constituency executives there.
A visit that was meant to be a brief formality was nearly turned into a fully blown rally by the executives who demanded a speech in his capacity as the incoming Flagbearer of the NDC.
The Nadowli/Kaleo MP obliged and gave the speech, reiterating his promise that under his leadership, the party’s executives would co-lead the party together and affirmed his promise never to repeat the abandonment that the executives suffered under the past leadership of the party.
It was only after that that the executives accompanied him to the durbar grounds of the Ohum/Odwira festival at Mampong, amidst singing and dancing.
The security managed to disentangle Mr Bagbin from the clutches of the crowd and led him to the high table for his seat, after a longtime of mobs from the crowd.
After the greeting ceremonies, Lawyer Philip Addison of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) who is a prominent native of the area, officially introduced him to wild applause.
Amazingly, a fan of Mr Bagbin, who gave her name as Ama Mavis from Akuapem area told journalists that she followed the Nadowli Kaleo MP to the festival just to hear him speak. “I became his fan after the stance that he took against a suggestion by another MP that galamsey people to be shot,” After his brilliant speech on the floor of parliament in March 2018, I was one of the many Ghanaians who hailed him for his brilliant speech on the floor of parliament, so I am not surprised that he has delivered a brilliant speech at this festival,
Infact Mr Bagbin is an intelligent MP who is more than qualified to rule this nation because his level of competence is very high”.
The Chiefs and people including; school children from the 17 communities in Akuapem, who annually come together to celebrate the Ohum/Odwira festival, demonstrated genuine love for the respected Second deputy speaker.
In attendance were high profile politicians including; Mrs. Jemilatu Ibrahim, former parliamentary candidate for Sisala East, Mr. Sammy Awuku, Mr. Stephen Ashitey Adjei alias Moshake and Ministers of State.
Why Spio-Garbrah says NDC may have built over 1,000 factories
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Korley Klottey reaffirms support for Zanetor
NDC writes to President Akufo-Addo on botched referendum
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Terahertz ellipsometry using electron-beam based sources
T. Hofmann, C. M. Herzinger, U. Schade, M. Mross, J. A. Woollam, M. Schubert
The precise determination of materials' optical constants in the THz frequency domain is an important new challenge in basic research and is crucial for novel technological applications. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is known as a vital tool for the determination of the materials' dielectric function including its anisotropy. However, ellipsomethc measurements at very long wavelengths are difficult due to the lack of reliable sources of sufficient intensity and brilliance. Here we report on our recent advances to use ellipsometry in combination with different electron beam based sources in order to in investigate condensed matter samples in the frequency range from 0.1 to 8 THz. We successfully employ terahertz radiation emitted from two different tunable desktop sources (Smith-Purcell-effect source and a backward wave oscillator) in a polarizer-sample-analyzer ellipsometer scheme. We discuss and present THz range physical material properties due to bound and unbound charge resonances in semiconducting materials. This research will provide important understanding of optical properties for novel materials, inspire new designs, and accelerate development of optical Terahertz devices.
Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings - Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices
Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: Nov 30 2008 → Dec 3 2008
Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings
Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices
11/30/08 → 12/3/08
Optical constants
backward waves
ellipsometers
frequency ranges
Hofmann, T., Herzinger, C. M., Schade, U., Mross, M., Woollam, J. A., & Schubert, M. (2009). Terahertz ellipsometry using electron-beam based sources. In Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings - Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices (pp. 85-90). (Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings; Vol. 1108).
Terahertz ellipsometry using electron-beam based sources. / Hofmann, T.; Herzinger, C. M.; Schade, U.; Mross, M.; Woollam, J. A.; Schubert, M.
Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings - Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices. 2009. p. 85-90 (Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings; Vol. 1108).
Hofmann, T, Herzinger, CM, Schade, U, Mross, M, Woollam, JA & Schubert, M 2009, Terahertz ellipsometry using electron-beam based sources. in Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings - Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, vol. 1108, pp. 85-90, Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices, Boston, MA, United States, 11/30/08.
Hofmann T, Herzinger CM, Schade U, Mross M, Woollam JA, Schubert M. Terahertz ellipsometry using electron-beam based sources. In Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings - Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices. 2009. p. 85-90. (Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings).
Hofmann, T. ; Herzinger, C. M. ; Schade, U. ; Mross, M. ; Woollam, J. A. ; Schubert, M. / Terahertz ellipsometry using electron-beam based sources. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings - Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices. 2009. pp. 85-90 (Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings).
@inproceedings{e692cd22890f4518bfa743760eb2ad3a,
title = "Terahertz ellipsometry using electron-beam based sources",
abstract = "The precise determination of materials' optical constants in the THz frequency domain is an important new challenge in basic research and is crucial for novel technological applications. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is known as a vital tool for the determination of the materials' dielectric function including its anisotropy. However, ellipsomethc measurements at very long wavelengths are difficult due to the lack of reliable sources of sufficient intensity and brilliance. Here we report on our recent advances to use ellipsometry in combination with different electron beam based sources in order to in investigate condensed matter samples in the frequency range from 0.1 to 8 THz. We successfully employ terahertz radiation emitted from two different tunable desktop sources (Smith-Purcell-effect source and a backward wave oscillator) in a polarizer-sample-analyzer ellipsometer scheme. We discuss and present THz range physical material properties due to bound and unbound charge resonances in semiconducting materials. This research will provide important understanding of optical properties for novel materials, inspire new designs, and accelerate development of optical Terahertz devices.",
author = "T. Hofmann and Herzinger, {C. M.} and U. Schade and M. Mross and Woollam, {J. A.} and M. Schubert",
series = "Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings",
booktitle = "Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings - Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices",
T1 - Terahertz ellipsometry using electron-beam based sources
AU - Hofmann, T.
AU - Herzinger, C. M.
AU - Schade, U.
AU - Mross, M.
AU - Woollam, J. A.
AU - Schubert, M.
N2 - The precise determination of materials' optical constants in the THz frequency domain is an important new challenge in basic research and is crucial for novel technological applications. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is known as a vital tool for the determination of the materials' dielectric function including its anisotropy. However, ellipsomethc measurements at very long wavelengths are difficult due to the lack of reliable sources of sufficient intensity and brilliance. Here we report on our recent advances to use ellipsometry in combination with different electron beam based sources in order to in investigate condensed matter samples in the frequency range from 0.1 to 8 THz. We successfully employ terahertz radiation emitted from two different tunable desktop sources (Smith-Purcell-effect source and a backward wave oscillator) in a polarizer-sample-analyzer ellipsometer scheme. We discuss and present THz range physical material properties due to bound and unbound charge resonances in semiconducting materials. This research will provide important understanding of optical properties for novel materials, inspire new designs, and accelerate development of optical Terahertz devices.
AB - The precise determination of materials' optical constants in the THz frequency domain is an important new challenge in basic research and is crucial for novel technological applications. Spectroscopic ellipsometry is known as a vital tool for the determination of the materials' dielectric function including its anisotropy. However, ellipsomethc measurements at very long wavelengths are difficult due to the lack of reliable sources of sufficient intensity and brilliance. Here we report on our recent advances to use ellipsometry in combination with different electron beam based sources in order to in investigate condensed matter samples in the frequency range from 0.1 to 8 THz. We successfully employ terahertz radiation emitted from two different tunable desktop sources (Smith-Purcell-effect source and a backward wave oscillator) in a polarizer-sample-analyzer ellipsometer scheme. We discuss and present THz range physical material properties due to bound and unbound charge resonances in semiconducting materials. This research will provide important understanding of optical properties for novel materials, inspire new designs, and accelerate development of optical Terahertz devices.
T3 - Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings
BT - Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings - Performance and Reliability of Semiconductor Devices
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HomeIslam
Michigan: Dearborn Schools Follow Sharia Law and Now Serve Only Halal Meat
October 9, 2019 Gateway Pundit 1
All meat served at public schools in Dearborn, Michigan, now is Halal, which is compliant with Sharia law. Halal food adheres to Sharia law because of the way in which animals are slaughtered. According to the 2010 census, Dearborn has the largest Muslim population in the United States.
Video of Danish School Children Chanting Allahu Akbar Triggers Debate. Integration Or Indoctrination?
July 2, 2019 RT 2
Mainstream Media Ignores the Mass Murder of Christians Who Are Viewed As Obstacles to “Progress” in the US
March 21, 2019 ZeroHedge 3
The mass murder of Christians is being censored by Western media, because those who control mainstream media consider Christians to be an obstacle to “progress”. As a result, most Americans do not know that 4,136 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons last year.
UK Authorities and Media Cover Up Motive of Islamic Stabbing Suspect Who Yelled “Allahu Akbar” and ‘Long Live the Caliphate”
January 2, 2019 Paul Joseph Watson 0
Sky News reported on the stabbing without mentioning what eyewitnesses heard and what the terrorist himself is heard saying on camera. The Muslim Council of Britain says the motive was ‘unclear’. Police agreed and said they were keeping ‘an open mind’ about the motive.
European Court Upholds Imprisonment of Woman for Calling Mohammed a Pedophile
October 28, 2018 Gateway Pundit 1
Aisha is said to have been six or seven years old when she married the prophet Mohammed and nine or ten years old at the time of consummation, which fits the Western definition of pedophilia. So what, says the EU court.
Turkish President Erdogan Urges Ethnic Turks in Europe to Expand Their Political Influence
April 12, 2018 Faz 0
Turkish President Erdogan is urging ethnic Turks living in Europe to become involved in the local politics in Europe, and to suppress the Kurds. He urged them to remain loyal to Islam and their country of origin. He is organizing a foreign population inside European borders to act in the interest of Turkey and Islam, which may contradict the interests of the European host country. This is a soft coup through demographics.
Another Brutal Murder That Could Have Been Prevented If FBI Had Done Its Job
March 15, 2018 WPBF News 0
Palm Beach, Florida: Corey Johnson, a 17-year-old Florida youth who converted to Islam, confessed to killing a 13-year-old boy at a sleepover and attacking the host family – in the name of Islam. For more than a year prior to the stabbing, the FBI had known that Johnson was posting violent threats online to a Catholic school in England. The FBI says it planned to arrest Johnson, but just didn’t get around to it.
Muslim Man Shoots Cop in The Name of Islam but Mayor Says Attack Unrelated to Islam
January 30, 2018 6 Action News 0
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Edward Archer, a Muslim, ambushed and shot a cop in the arm. After he was apprehended, he said that he did it in the name of Islam and that he is loyal to ISIS. That made no difference to Democrat Mayor Jim Kenney who said the shooting had nothing to do with Islam. Then he said that, In America, Muslims are forced to defend themselves against hatred.
Outrage in Turkey as State Agency OK’s Marriage for Girls as Young as 9 Years Old
January 8, 2018 Breitbart 0
Turkey’s state agency for religious affairs came under fire for declaring that girls as young as nine years may marry under Islamic law. They also endorsed marriage for boys as young as 12 years old. Child marriages are common in Turkey.
Saudi Princess Reveals Elites Participate in Sex and Sex Slavery with Underage Girls
January 2, 2018 Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka 0
Saudi Princess Aidan,confided to French newspaper, LeMonde, that the ruling House of Saud secretly engages in sexual slavery, in addition to buying or renting children for sex from impoverished areas in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Djibouti, Somalia, Nigeria, Romania, and Bulgaria. Princess Aidan is the ex-wife of the Saudi Prince, Al Waleed bin Talal, who recently was arrested in the anti-corruption purges in the country. She said those who accuse others of corruption and money laundering are in fact highly corrupted themselves.
France Deploys 91,000 Troops to Protect Against Muslim Terrorism over Christmas
December 25, 2017 The Local 0
The French government has confirmed that 91,000 police, military police, and soldiers will be on duty over the Christmas weekend, guarding churches against jihad attacks. Some churches will have volunteer security guards who will search people and keep watch over suspicious vehicles. The mayor of the town of Cannes has decided to bring in armed security guards to patrol at churches over the Christmas period.
Man Receives 15-Year Prison Term for Leaving Bacon at Mosque and Breaking Windows
December 11, 2017 UK Independent 0
Titusville, Florida: Michael Wolfe, 37, smashed windows and lights with a machete before leaving bacon by the front door of the Islamic Society of Central Florida Masjid Al-Munin Mosque in January 2016. The vandalism was recorded on CCTV. He plead guilty to vandalizing the mosque itself with ‘hate’ motives, making it a felony. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
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Seance on a Wet Afternoon [BLU-RAY]
Kim Stanley and Richard Attenborough give outstanding performances in this classy British thriller, with Attenborough winning a BAFTA for Best British Actor and Stanley scoring an Oscar nomination. Written and directed by Bryan Forbes – who also won a Writers Guild award, an Edgar and a BAFTA nomination – Seance on a Wet Afternoon is presented here as a brand-new High Definition remaster from original film elements in its original theatrical aspect ratio.
Myra Savage, a highly-strung spiritual medium, convinces her weak-willed husband to fake a child kidnapping so she can offer her services to the parents when all seems lost. Though horrified at the prospect, he reluctantly goes along with the plan – but becomes more convinced than ever that Myra is losing her grip on reality.
[] Memories on a Wet Afternoon – an interview with Bryan Forbes
[] Theatrical trailer
[] Image gallery
[] Booklet by Simon Ward
Kim Stanley, Richard Attenborough, Nanette Newman, Mark Eden, Gerald Sim, Patrick Magee
1080p HD 1.66:1
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b-2Cool’s U.S. Strategy Extinguishes Fires to Reshape Native Type II Collagen Market
ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 27, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bioiberica’s entry into the U.S. market for its native (undenatured) type II collagen, b-2Cool, through exclusive distributer Berg Nutrition, was initially met with attack; a story that parallels the problem this branded ingredient solves, teaching the body not to attack its own collagen.
“Since we launched b-2Cool in the U.S. two years ago, we’ve unfortunately had to spend most of our time defending ourselves against attacks questioning the legal and regulatory status of b-2Cool despite external legal consultants confirming the legal patent and regulatory position of b-2Cool,” said Cai Berg, founder and president of Berg Nutrition. “b-2Cool is reshaping the native type II collagen category by providing an option for companies that is more cost effective and has a strong supply chain with no capacity issues.”
The Barcelona-based biotechnology company, Bioiberica, has been true to its branded ingredient name, b-2Cool, says Berg and has not taken an attack-back approach. With decades of experience in producing efficacious joint health ingredients of animal origin, Bioiberica has developed a new, proprietary process to manufacture b-2Cool while investing in its own clinical research on the ingredient. A unique feature of b-2Cool is that it delivers a minimum of 4% native collagen type II without any potassium.
“The real issue is that supplement brands have only had one native type II collagen option in the past, forcing them to accept certain terms and supply or stay out of the market entirely,” said Berg. “Now that we have spent the past two years extinguishing unwarranted legal fires, we can finally spend more time educating companies on what this ingredient can do for their joint health products.”
Neutralizing the destructive attacks on joints is exactly what b-2Cool does in order to help the joint stay healthy. Multiple causes can lead to degenerative changes in joint cartilage causing structural damage and exposing collagen to the surrounding environment. This damage is exacerbated because the immune system misinterprets the degraded joint cartilage as a foreign substance rather than endogenous tissue. This triggers an attack to neutralize the perceived threat, causing more cartilage destruction, reduced function and increased pain.
Native type II collagen, b-2Cool, sourced from chicken sternum obtained from USDA-approved facilities, works with the body’s immune system to teach it to modulate its response over time to exposed type II collagen. This non-threatening, “teaching approach” eventually leads to fewer attacks on the joint. Since b-2Cool acts through signaling, only small doses are necessary (40 mg/daily). By introducing this low-dose, triple-helix that mimics that of the joint cartilage, the immune system learns to recognize the body’s own collagen as endogenous, thereby reducing the attack on the cartilage and allowing the body to get on with the business of repairing the degraded joint.
Berg says he is also ready to get on with the business of getting b-2Cool in the hands of companies looking for a smarter and more cost-effective solution for joint health products. For more than 40 years, Bioiberica has been the international leader in joint care. Human clinical trials published in The Eurasian Journal of Medicine show b-2Cool significantly improves knee discomfort and function. Other studies published in Osteoporosis International show b-2Cool reduces joint discomfort. The branded ingredient has been proven to be safe and well-tolerated as type II collagen is a molecule that is naturally present in the body’s own tissues. For more information visit: www.bergnutrition.com.
Amy Summers
212-757-3419 or amy@pitchpublicitynyc.com
Pitch Publicity
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Fire after tugboat hits gas pipeline in Gulf
A tugboat pushing a barge loaded with crude oil struck a natural gas line Tuesday evening off the Louisiana coast, causing an explosion and fire in the Gulf of Mexico, officials said.
Deano Bonano, an aide to the council chairman in nearby Jefferson Parish, said two crew members from the tugboat were hospitalized.
Post by: CNN's Joe Sutton
Filed under: Gulf Coast Oil Spill • Louisiana
L.A. archdiocese settles with 4 abuse victims
Four California men allegedly molested as boys by a priest have settled their lawsuit against the Los Angeles Archdiocese and Cardinal Roger Mahony for almost $10 million, their attorneys said Tuesday.
The priest, no longer in the clergy, abused the boys on several occasions dating back to the 1970s, including during overnight trips to San Diego and Riverside counties, the attorneys said.
The archdiocese's attorney, J. Michael Hennigan, confirmed the $9.9 million settlement with the four men.
Post by: CNN's Michael Martinez
Filed under: California • Catholic Church • Church Abuse • Los Angeles
FAA OKs plan to fix Dreamliner battery woes
The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday approved a proposed remedy for problems that triggered battery fires and led to the grounding of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, but the company must still demonstrate its approach will ensure safety before those planes can fly again.
The agency said it had signed off on a certification plan by the world's biggest aircraft manufacturer to redesign the wide body's lithium-ion battery system.
Post by: CNN's Aaron Cooper
Filed under: Air travel • FAA
No new pope on conclave's first day
[Updated at 2:47 p.m. ET] In a not-so-surprising result, there will be no new pope tonight.
Black smoke has risen from a chimney over the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, indicating that no one collected enough votes Tuesday to be elected the successor to the retired Pope Benedict XVI. The Roman Catholic Church's cardinals held their first vote in the chapel today.
The cardinals will vote again tomorrow.
[Updated at 12:46 p.m. ET] The process of selecting a new pope of the Roman Catholic church has begun.
The 115 cardinal-electors have gathered in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, and the doors to the chapel have closed, marking the beginning of today's election session.
This session is scheduled to last two hours, assuming no pope is chosen before then. The cardinals would then go at it again tomorrow.
[Updated at 7:43 a.m. ET] The wait is nearly over: It's time for the cardinals to get down to the business of choosing a pope.
The Catholic Church's cardinals are set to begin their secret election, or conclave, in Vatican City on Tuesday. The process to choose a successor to the retired Benedict XVI could take days.
We have a number of features to inform you about the process. Our full story on Tuesday's activities can be found here. But also check out:
How a pope is chosen
Video: Papal conclave 101
Cover-up claims disturb conclave
Post by: CNN's Dan Rivers, CNN's Jason Hanna, CNN's Laura Smith-Spark, CNN's Richard Allen Greene
Filed under: Catholic Church • Christian • Religion • The Vatican
Jury convicts New York cop in cannibal plot
New York police officer Gilberto Valle conspired to kidnap women, who prosecutors argued he planned to rape, torture, cook and eat, a federal jury decided Tuesday.
Valle's lawyers argued the former police officer's e-mails and online postings were just "fantasy role-play" and"dark improv theater," but prosecutors said he was "deadly serious."
Valle faces life in prison for the kidnap conspiracy conviction. He was also found guilty of illegally accessing a federal law enforcement database.
Post by: CNN's Alan Duke
Filed under: Courts • Crime • Justice • New York
Lawyers not ready to enter plea for Holmes
[Posted at 12:59 p.m. ET] A judge on Tuesday entered a standard plea of not guilty for James Holmes, the man suspected in a mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater, after he and his attorneys said they were not ready to enter a plea.
Holmes' attorneys had suggested in court documents that they might enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity for the shooting rampage at the theater that left 12 people dead and 58 injured on July 20, 2012.
[Posted at 1:11 a.m. ET] James Holmes, the man accused of killing 12 people in a Colorado movie theater last summer, is expected to enter a plea Tuesday.
On Monday, a judge ruled that if Holmes pleads guilty by reason of insanity, he will have to waive all medical confidentiality and turn over the name of any doctor or psychologist who may have treated him.
Judge William Sylvester also said Holmes will have to agree to a state psychiatric exam and to be drugged by doctors to assess his condition.
Post by: CNN's Lateef Mungin
Filed under: Colorado • Crime
Possible leak of politicians' info probed
Did sensitive information about Vice President Joe Biden and other high-profile politicians and celebrities get published to the Internet? And if so, how?
Federal investigators said Tuesday they're trying to find out.
A U.S. Secret Service spokesman said the agency was investigating how sensitive information that could be about Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and first lady Michelle Obama ended up on the Internet.
Post by: CNN staff
Filed under: Crime • Hillary Clinton • Joe Biden • Michelle Obama • Politics
Dow sets another record, then dips
After making a brief appearance in record territory Tuesday morning, the Dow Jones industrial average might be cooling off a bit.
The Dow rose 5 points at the open to set an all-time intraday high - about 14,452. But then it dipped a little into the red, taking a pause in the absence of fresh catalysts to extend a recent record-setting run.
The Dow has ended at a record for five straight days. But analysts say a pullback at this stage wouldn't come as much of a surprise and should be considered healthy.
Post by: CNNMoney
Filed under: Economy
Cars drive in Tuesday morning traffic on the N118 road around Paris during a heavy snow storm on France.
Heavy snow snarls travel in northern Europe
Today isn't the easiest day for travel in northern Europe.
Swaths of the region are in the grip of snow, ice and high winds Tuesday, causing serious disruption to road, rail and air travelers.
High-speed train operator Eurostar, which runs services linking Paris, Brussels and London, among other destinations, warned of serious disruption and urged passengers to stay at home.
Post by: CNN's Alexander Felton, CNN's Laura Smith-Spark, CNN's Stephanie Halasz
Filed under: Belgium • Europe • France • Germany • United Kingdom
Jimmy Savile sports his Order of the British Empire medal after his 1972 investiture at Buckingham Palace in London.
Report: Police made mistakes in Savile probe
British police made mistakes over decades in their investigation of sex abuse allegations against late BBC TV presenter Jimmy Savile, a report released Tuesday said.
The report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary said not only did police around the country fail to "join the dots," but policies made it difficult for victims to come forward to report the crimes.
Savile, who hosted popular children's TV programs including "Jim'll Fix It" and "Top of the Pops," was a household name in Britain for decades. He was also well known for his charitable work, having raised millions of pounds, and was awarded a knighthood. He died in October 2011 at age 84.
Filed under: Crime • United Kingdom
U.N. panel: Syrians running out of havens
Syrian civilians are running out of places to take cover as indiscriminate shelling and aerial bombings destroy more neighborhoods, an independent U.N. panel said.
In addition, both government and rebel fighters have reportedly recruited boys to join their forces and are accused of violating international humanitarian law, the group said.
Post by: CNN's Holly Yan
Filed under: Syria • United Nations
5 teens die in fiery collision in Texas
At the intersection of the two country roads, charred debris lies strewn haphazardly. The earth around it is scorched for yards around.
It is here, in this corner of Dumas, Texas, that a sports utility vehicle slammed into a gas tanker Sunday afternoon. The tanker's flammable cargo sent both vehicles up in flames, seriously injuring the truck driver and killing all five passengers in the Chevy SUV.
All of those who perished were teenagers.
The crash, coupled with another tragic one in Warren, Ohio, the same day, highlighted yet again how motor vehicle wrecks continue to be the number one killer of youths in the United States.
Post by: CNN's Ben Brumfield
Filed under: Accidents • Ohio • Texas
5 dead in Afghanistan helicopter crash
Five coalition service members died after a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan on Monday, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said.
The chopper went down in the Daman district of southern Kandahar during a rain storm, said Jawid Faisal, a government spokesman for the province.
There was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident, ISAF said. It has not released the nationalities of the service members.
Post by: CNN's Ben Brumfield, CNN's Masoud Popalzai
Filed under: Accidents • Afghanistan • Military • NATO • Uncategorized • War • World • World Update
The Byron, Maine, official who proposed the measure said she wants to reintroduce it after it gets reworked.
Gun in every house? Maine town votes 'no'
Voters in Byron, Maine, have unanimously rejected a proposed law that would have required each household in the 140-person town to own a firearm and ammunition.
Even the official who proposed the requirement - Selectwoman Anne Simmons-Edmunds - voted against the article, saying she did so to have it reworked and reintroduced.
Post by: CNN's Brittany Brady
Filed under: Maine
South Korea keeping close watch on North
South Korea is keeping a close watch on North Korean moves "as there are possibilities that these activities could lead to provocations," South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-suk said Tuesday.
The South is also making sure its combined forces with the United States are prepared in case of such provocation, in which "we will respond in a more resolute and destructively manner," the spokesman said.
Filed under: North Korea • South Korea
Taiwan's Foxconn is best known for crafting iPhones for Apple. Now, it wants to team up with Fiat Chrysler to devel�twitter.com/i/web/status/1…yP
Greg Page, the original lead singer of popular Australian children's music group The Wiggles, was rushed to hospita�twitter.com/i/web/status/1…ay
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America's #1 Seller of Mortgage Protection Insurance
NAA - National Agents Alliance
Profiles of Success
Sales Blog
National Agents Alliance expects more than 500 at event in Dallas, Texas
BURLINGTON, N.C. – National Agents Alliance will host the second of four “Key To Tomorrow” Spring Forward events when the Dallas, Texas event begins Friday at the Hyatt Regency at 1 p.m.
More than 500 agents are expected from all over the United States for the three-day event (March 23-25), which will bring an injection into the Dallas economy.
National Agents Alliance will also hold events in Atlanta, Ga. and Baltimore, Md. (April 27-29). The events are part of the company’s new theme, “Key To Tomorrow,” which was announced during NAA’s “Be Your Own Rock Star” National Convention in Raleigh, N.C. in January. More than 2,500 people attended and the company holds more than 60 weekly training meetings in major cities across the country.
NAA President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Albright said the events have had a positive financial impact in the host cities, with hundreds of people filling hotel rooms, flocking to restaurants and filling convention ballrooms at each event.
“Every time our team hits the road we are greeted with smiles and thanks from people working in these cities because they appreciate that in this financial climate we are still growing,” Albright said. “It’s a big deal for some businesses to have us in town because we are providing that little spark so many folks need right now. I can’t wait to get to Dallas and see our team come together.”
The top agency managers and leaders with National Agents Alliance will be speaking at each event, as dozens of the company’s leaders fly all over the country later this week. Andy Albright and Tim Goad, an author and motivational speaker, will be the featured speakers in Dallas.
For more information on this event and future events, visit Key To Tomorrow.
ABOUT NATIONAL AGENTS ALLIANCE
National Agents Alliance is an innovative lead generation and marketing organization that sells life insurance, annuities, and other financial services products through more than 7,000 active independent sales representatives in 50 states. Focused on serving middle-income families, National Agents Alliance is the No. 1 United States provider of mortgage protection insurance and offers a broad array of other affordable products from highly regarded companies such as Mutual of Omaha, Foresters, ING, etc. Since its inception in 2002, National Agents Alliance has helped more than 800,000 families successfully apply for more than $87 billion in life insurance coverage.
For more information about National Agents Alliance, visit http://www.nationalagentsalliance.com/contact-us or call 1-866-752-1163.
For additional information on this topic, please call Mac Heffner at 336.227.3319 x1189 or email Mac at mheffner@naaleads.com.
Author: The Alliance
Note: All comments are subject to moderation. Please see our commenting policy for more details.
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Regina Daniels Husband, Ned Nwoko Flags Off Malaria-free Africa Campaign In Antarctica
Posted By:- Evidee Date:- January 11, 2020 Under:- Celebrity News
Nwoko vowed to awaken Africa and the world as a whole about the dangers posed by the malaria pandemic.
Renowned billionaire, entrepreneur, public health environmentalist, and Chairman, Ned Nwoko Foundation, Dr Ned Nwoko, has landed in Antarctica for the symbolic flag-off of his multi-billion naira malaria eradication in Africa project.
Nwoko, a former member of the House of Representatives and the first Nigerian to explore Antarctica, is using the expedition to draw global attention to the scourge of malaria in Africa.
He is being accompanied on the expedition by a team of scientists from Russia, India, China, the USA, and the UK.
Nwoko who posted the development on his Instagram page wrote: “Today, I finally made it to the coolest place on earth, the lowest point of the earth and the largest wilderness on the planet. We are living in Antarctica!!! I will be meeting with the various research stations to see how we can partner on the Eradication of Malaria in Africa.
“Join me as I embark on the much-awaited expedition to Antarctica in pursuit of anti-malaria vaccine and eradication of malaria in Africa.
Agency reports indicate that the historic expedition began from Abuja en route Cape Town, South Africa on Sunday 5th January 2020.
His two-pronged approach involves fumigation of Africa and funding research endowments for a malaria vaccine in five universities across Africa to the tune of $750,000. It was gathered that each university will receive a research grant of $150,000.
Preparatory to his departure from South Africa, Nwoko who went through a safety briefing on the trip, was spotted with Captain Hamish Harding and a teenager, Giles Harding, the youngest human ever to visit Antarctica.
His words: “Malaria is a majorly African problem. If you understand that, then you will comprehend why there is no concerted effort to find a permanent cure to it.
“There is no family in Nigeria that has been spared. No family that has not lost some loved relatives,” he asserted.
Further, Nwoko who was irked that many often forget that malaria is the biggest killer disease in Africa vowed to awaken Africa and the world as a whole about the dangers posed by the pandemic.
He remarked that it is the need to draw global attention to the monumental health challenge and the imperative of finding a permanent solution to it (malaria) that nudged him to embark on the audacious expedition to Antarctica to formally launch the malaria eradication campaign.
Nwoko explained that the journey towards a malaria-free Nigeria and Africa is not just worthwhile but realistic.
“In the project, the Ned Nwoko Foundation will work with national and multilateral organisations to realise its goal of ridding Africa of mosquito and malaria.
“We will equally collaborate with governments, private organizations and civil society towards achieving our core objective of extending malaria intervention programmes beyond the threshold of control and palliatives.
“We have our eyes fixed on a permanent solution to the age-long scourge,” he stated as he left Africa for Antarctica.
Statistics from the World Malaria Report 2019 published by the World Health Organization, WHO shows that six countries accounted for more than half of all malaria cases worldwide are Nigeria (25 percent), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12 percent), Uganda (5 percent), and Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Niger (4 percent each).
In 2018, according to the WHO, Nigeria accounted for almost 24 percent of all global malaria deaths, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (11 percent), the United Republic of Tanzania (5 percent), and Angola, Mozambique, and Niger (4 percent each).
Children are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria.
Davido And Chioma Kiss Ahead Of His 27th Birthday (Photos)
Burna Boy Signs New Deal With Universal Music Group (Photos)
AMVCA 2018: Mercy Aigbe Congratulates Lilian Afegbai For Win
More Photos Of Tonto Dikeh’s Ex-Boyfriend, The Enjoyment Minister Aka Mr Coolwater
Actress Ireti Doyle’s Granddaughter Is So Cute
MURIC Backs Down From Suing Falz Over ‘This Is Nigeria’ Video
‘99.9% Men I Dated Couldn’t Satisfy Me” – Curvy Actress Shyngle Flaunts Her Love Machine
Akpororo Blasts INEC Over Delay In Announcing Presidential Election Results
First Photo Of Funke Akindele, Her Hubby And Their Twin Boys
“Our Own Kim K”: BBNaija Star, Cee-C Slays In Yellow Jumpsuit
Regina Daniels Shuts Down Children’s Day Concert As Ned Nwoko Gives N20M
Singer Banky W Pictured With His Pet Goat
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Home Business News Access Bank reacts to fraud charges against its CEO, others
Wigwe teaches what a good networking is all about.
Access Bank reacts to fraud charges against its CEO, others
Adaobi Nnadiukwu
The management of Access Bank Plc, yesterday, reacted to a recent story about its CEO, Mr Herbert Wigwe, and three others being dragged before an Ogun State High Court by the Police Special Fraud Unit.
The bank tried to clarify – In a statement issued to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the tier-1 bank tried to clarify the issue. It said it has now been compelled to publicly explain the circumstances that resulted in the legal dispute.
It dates back to 2015 – In 2015, the bank made financial provision for a customer — Metal Steel Products Limited — to import billets and other machinery used for the expansion of the customers’ factory. But following the arrival of the imported goods, the company, (i.e, the customer), went ahead to clear imports without first making some necessary payments.
Access Bank was first to involve the PSFU – Consequently, Access Bank Plc reported the development to the Police Special Fraud Unit, which obtained a court order for Access Bank to takeover Metal Steel Products Limited’s business operations.
Why a receiver was appointed – Meanwhile, a receiver/manager was appointed, who took over the company’s business and was eventually able to make the payment that had been the bone of contention. The receiver/manager also obtained a court order from a Federal High Court to sell the billets.
Metal Steel Products Limited institutes legal action – Following the selloff of the billets, Metal Steel Products Limited instituted a legal action claiming ownership of the goods. This resulted in a failed attempt to settle the matter between the company and the receiver/manager, thereby reigniting the legal dispute.
The media report – Hence, the media report about Mr Wigwe and other defendants — Alawode Oluseye, Bayo Adesina, and even Access Bank Plc — being charged. The defendants were charged with 21 counts of conspiracy and fraudulent disposal of trust property, fraudulent conversion, stealing and false representation.
Conspiracy to steal? – The petitioner had claimed that the defendants conspired and stole 23,754.413 metric tonnes of steel billets valued at ₦2.5 billion.
Access Bank Plc News
Alawode Oluseye
Bayo Adesina
BCME Bank International Plc
Herbert Wigwe
Justice N.I. Agbelu
Metal Africa Steel Products Limited
Olumide Akindiya
Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU)
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Nigeria, five other West African countries reject ‘Eco’ as region’s single currency
Home Business News Seplat seeks more investment in safety as it reduces flares by 95%
Seplat Petroleum
Seplat seeks more investment in safety as it reduces flares by 95%
Fakoyejo Olalekan
The public and private sectors have been advised to double their investments in research and development. Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc made this suggestion, while advising that these investments should be tailored in line with safety promotion.
According to Seplat Petroleum, such research investment should not be limited to the oil and gas sector. Instead, it should be spread across all sectors critical to the growth of Nigeria’s economy.
Seplat Petroleum‘s Operations Director, Effiong Okon, pointed out the importance of such investment during the Nigeria Professional Development Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.
The event was organised by the Nigerian Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). The theme of the event was ‘Sustainable safety for National Development.’
In his address, Okon said the company only executes projects that do not affect the safety of the environment. He added that Seplat Petroleum has employed measures that have reduced its gas flaring by 95 percent.
“We approach safety, using the people, environment, asset, and reputation model incorporated in our ‘safety first’ policy. We only execute projects that promote continuous reduction of environmental impact in our operations.
“We track offshoots from our operations and strive to reduce adverse effects from our facilities. Our internal use of gas flared reduced by over 95 per cent between 2011 and 2017.
“Seplat has incorporated key programmes across all its facilities to achieve flares out by 2020 in line with keeping the environment safe. We comply with all regulatory requirements and benchmark our performance with international standards.”
Okon said the measures taken has also reduced incidents over the years. He, however, stated that the company’s commitment to ensuring safety is a long-term objective.
Seplat Petroleum record decline in FY 2018 profit
According to the Seplat Petroleum‘s recently disclosed financial statements, revenue increased from N138 billion in 2017 to N228 billion in 2018. Profit before tax also jumped from N13.4 billion in 2017 to N80.6 billion in 2018. However, profit after tax fell sharply from N81 billion in 2017 to N44.8 billion in 2018.
The company declared a final dividend of $0.05 per share.
The company’s share price is currently trading at N590 on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Industrial flares
Seplat Petroleum Development Company
Olalekan is a certified media practitioner from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ). In the era of media convergence, Olalekan is a valuable asset, with ability to curate and broadcast news. His zeal to write was developed out of passion to shape people’s thought and opinion; serving as a guideline for their daily lives. Contact for tips: fakoyejo.olalekan@nairametrics.com.
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Nancy Valko, RN ALNC
Women for Faith and Family 1988-2014
Home2016February
2009 Mercatornet: Have death panels already arrived?
February 3, 2016 nancyvalko abortion, disability, end-of-life, futility, medical ethics, medical rationing, Uncategorized
Have death panels already arrived?
The case against: an experienced nurse worries that Obamacare will entrench an existing quality-of-life ethic.
Nancy Valko | Nov 12 2009 | comment
Medical ethics are concerned with care for a patient’s welfare, something huge institutions are not very good at. The controversy about “death panels” in proposed health care reform legislation is to be expected. As a nurse, despite all the soothing noises from the Obama administration, I do believe there is cause for serious concern.
For example, Compassion and Choices (the name of the pro-euthanasia Hemlock Society after its merger with another “right to die” group) boasted that it “has worked tirelessly with supportive members of Congress to include in proposed reform legislation a provision requiring Medicare to cover patient consultation with their doctors about end-of-life choice.”
“End-of-life choice” might have been an innocent term a generation ago, but now in three American states “end-of-life choice” includes legal assisted suicide. No wonder people were worried when they read these words in HR 3962 (also known as the Pelosi bill). It even includes a whole section on “Dissemination of Advance Care Planning Information” that is problematic and misleading.
In addition, although the idea of health care rationing was originally dismissed as a myth, ethicists and the mainstream media admit that health care rationing is necessary. Government committees have been proposed to set rules for health care services.
Is ethical health care reform needed? Of course. In 2003, I was privileged to serve on a Catholic Medical Association task force on health care reform. Many good ideas, such as health-savings accounts, ways to help the uninsured poor, and strong conscience-rights protections, were discussed. The results were published in a 2004 report entitled “Health Care in America: A Catholic Proposal for Renewal”. The Obama Administration has rejected most of these proposals.
Ethics and health care reform
Since I first started writing about medical ethics and serving on hospital ethics committees, I have seen ethics discussions evolve from “what is right?” to “what is legal?” to “how can we tweak the rules to get the result we think is best?” This attitude is not very reassuring when we are considering a massive overhaul of the US health care system.
Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been ridiculed for coining the term “death panels”. But it resonated with me. In 1983 my daughter Karen was born with Down syndrome and a severe heart defect. Even though Karen’s father and I were told that her chances for survival were 80 to 90 percent after open heart surgery, we were also told that the doctors would support us if we refused surgery and “let” Karen die. We refused to allow such medical discrimination against our daughter.
Later on we were shocked to learn that one doctor had written a “do not resuscitate” order without our knowledge. Apparently he thought I “was too emotionally involved with that retarded baby”.
In later years, I was asked if I was going to feed my mother with Alzheimer’s. And then, after my oldest daughter died from an apparently deliberate drug overdose, I was told that it is usually a waste of time to save suicide attempters.
Did evil people say these things? No. These doctors and nurses were otherwise compassionate, caring, health care professionals. But they are just as vulnerable as the general public to the seductive myth that choosing death is better than living with terminal illness, serious disability or poor “quality of life”.
When government committees and accountants take over health care, will things get better?
Common sense and ethics
Health care does not occur in a vacuum. Real people — patients, families and health care providers alike — are affected when economics and new ethical rationales trump basic needs. The Good Samaritan did not ask whether the man lying on the road had health insurance. The Hippocratic Oath established a sacred covenant between doctor and patient, not health care rationing protocols. I strongly disagree with ethicists who contend that new technologies and economics demand new ethics.
I am tired of hearing some of my medical colleagues talk about patients who “need to die”. I am saddened to hear many of my elderly, frail patients fret about being an emotional and financial burden on their families. I am outraged when I read editorials arguing that those of us who refuse to participate in abortion or premature death should find another line of work.
I recently attended a 40th anniversary nursing school reunion. We remarked on how much has changed. Some things are better — uniforms, equipment and technologies, for example. But some things are worse, especially ethics.
People are often surprised that even back in the late 1960s, we had do-not-resuscitate orders and spoke to families about forgoing aggressive medical treatment when patients seemed to be on the terminal trajectory to death.
But, unlike today, we did not immediately ask them whether we could withdraw food, water and antibiotics to get the death over with as soon as possible. Back then, we were often surprised and humbled when some patients recovered. Today, too many patients don’t even get a chance. Doctors and nurses are too quick to give up hope.
Back then, ethics was easily understood. We didn’t ever cause or hasten death. We protected our patients’ privacy and rights. We were prohibited from lying or covering up mistakes. We assumed that everyone had “quality of life”; our mission was to improve it, not judge it.
Medical treatment was withdrawn when it became futile or excessively burdensome for the patient — not for society. Food and water was never referred to as “artificial” even when it was delivered through a tube. Doctor and nurses knew that removing food and water from a non-dying person was as much euthanasia as a lethal injection.
“Vegetable” was a pejorative term that was never used in front of patients or their families. And suicide was a tragedy to be prevented, not an alleged constitutional right to be assisted by doctor and nurses.
Today we have ethics committees developing futility guidelines to overrule patients and/or their families even when they want treatment continued. We have three states with legal assisted suicide. We have even non-brain dead organ donation policies (called non-heartbeating organ donation or donation after cardiac death). Some ethicists even argue that we should drop the dead donor rule.
We see living wills and other advance directives with check-offs for even basic medical care and for incapacitated conditions like being unable to regularly recognize relatives. We are willing to sacrifice living human beings at the earliest stages of development to fund research for cures for conditions like Parkinson’s rather than promote research on ethical and effective adult stem cell therapies.
We are inspired by the Special Olympics but support abortion for birth defects. We now talk about a newborn child as another carbon footprint instead of as a blessing and sacred responsibility.
I could go on and on but I think you get the idea.
Death panels are not the overwrought fantasy of right-wing nut cases. Real “death panels” are already at work. They have been created by apathy, misplaced sympathy, a skewed view of tolerance and an inordinate fear of a less than perfect life. Death panels? In the famous words of the comic strip character Pogo, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
Nancy Valko is president of Missouri Nurses for Life and a spokeswoman for the National Association of Pro-life Nurses.
Categories Select Category abortion adoption advance directives assisted suicide bereavement BRAIN DEATH brain injury conscience rights contraception disability end-of-life euthanasia faith food and water futility law medical discrimination medical ethics medical rationing natural family planning organ donation prenatal testing sex education stem cells terminal sedation Uncategorized
View Nancy Valko’s profile on Facebook
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Sleepwalking To Dictatorship
I am pleased to see that I am not the only person in this country who worries that we are sleepwalking to dictatorship.
Deputy chief constable of Hampshire, Ian Readhead, recently told the BBC's "Politics Show" that Britain could become a surveillance society with cameras on every street corner.
Mr Redhead said that CCTV was being used in small towns and villages where crime rates were low.
He also expressed concerns about the retention of some DNA evidence and the use of speed cameras.
"I'm really concerned about what happens
to the product of these cameras,
and what comes next?
If it's in our villages,
are we really moving towards an Orwellian
situation where cameras are at every street corner?
And I really don't think that's
the kind of country that I want to live in."
He has hit the nail on the head. Nanny often says that if you are doing nothing wrong, then you have nothing to fear. However, she fails to address the issue as to what happens with the surveillance footage of innocent law abiding people?
The more you are watched, the more you will modify your actions. You only have to see the effect of that pile of shite "Big Brother", on the retards that enter the Big Brother house, to know that people change their behaviour when being watched.
CCTV intrudes into our lives and affects us negatively.
There are up to 4.2 million CCTV cameras in Britain - about one for every 14 people.
The UK also has the world's biggest DNA database, with 3.6 million DNA samples on file.
Scary isn't it?
Why do we need to be so closely monitored?
Labels: big brother, cctv, nanny knows best, speed cameras
Nanny Doesn't Ban Cheese
Further to my earlier article about Nanny banning cheese adverts, I am pleased to say that it would seem that she has been overruled on another cheese related matter.
Namely, the cheese rolling contest of Cooper's Hill in Brockworth.
The cheese rolling contest takes place annually, and involves rolling an 8lb Double Gloucester (shaped like a wheel) down Cooper's Hill. The competitors chase the cheese.
This Monday Bank Holiday, around 3,000 spectators gathered in the rain to cheer the cheese chasers, who stumble and tumble 200m down Cooper's Hill (which has a 1 in 3 gradient).
Jason Crowther from Pembrokeshire, won the first of the five races and is now the proud owner of a large cheese.
"There's no training you can do for this.
You have just got to go for it.
It was a bit slippery and I heard something crack,
which I think was my knee.
But there aren't any tactics involved
as you can probably see."
The winners keep the cheese, runners-up get £10 and £5 for finishing third.
Twenty people were treated for minor injuries, paramedics said, down from 34 last year.
The event is thought to have its roots in a heathen festival to celebrate the return of spring.
Congratulations to the good people of Cooper's Hill, for ignoring Nanny and her minions. As Richard Jeffries, the event organiser, said:
"There are various people who would like to
see it stopped but it's a British tradition."
Long may they continue to stick two fingers up to Nanny!
Labels: adverts, cheers, cheese, health and safety, nanny knows best, risk
Nanny Bans Hobbies
Nanny claims that she only has our best interests at heart, and that the rules that she imposes on us are for our own protection.
To some extent, as adults, we only have ourselves to blame for Nanny's interference in our lives. We can, after all, vote her out of orifice or stick two fingers up at her "advice" (eg "don't drink when pregnant") and get on with our lives.
However, it becomes more difficult to do that when you are a child trapped by Nanny's bony fingered clutch.
Nanny is paranoid about paedophiles, to such an extent that she and her chums in the media have caused something akin to hysteria in the rest of the population. The hysteria becomes a vicious circle; as Nanny is pushed by the media to impose even more bureaucratic rules and checks on people, who may come into contact with children.
As such, according to the Manifesto group, it is now the case that several hobby clubs have closed their doors to under-18s; and teenagers have been turned away from clubs, if their parents do not accompany them.
In short, adults have become afraid of helping and mixing with young people, with some coaches refusing to coach children.
John Bridgett, Retford Model Flying Club, is quoted as saying:
"I think the sport will die -
so many people now say that they don't
want to get anywhere near youngsters."
Nanny has succeeded in widening the gulf between children and adults, and has made adults and children afraid of mixing with each other.
Without adult role models in the community, how are children expected to grow up into well rounded mature adults?
By wrapping children in cotton wool, Nanny is stunting their natural social and mental development; making it impossible for them to interact in a meaningful, and satisfying, level in the adult world.
Isn't that child abuse?
Labels: Nanny is Mother Nanny is Father, pregnant, sport
Nanny Bans Cheese
It is reassuring to know that given all the possible threats to children's well being (eg drugs, alcohol abuse, lousy education, Big Brother, celebrity morons etc) Nanny has highlighted the gravest threat yet.
Yes, that's right, cheese!
Nanny's poodles in Ofcom, the broadcast regulator, have recently adopted a nutrient profiling model to ban "junk food" promotions to children.
So far so stupid, now here's where it becomes particularly stupid.
Under the formula, devised by Nanny's Food Standards Agency, cheese is deemed to be a food high in fat and salt and therefore cannot be advertised during teatime programmes or on Saturday morning TV.
Cheese promotions are also banned during programmes such as Hollyoaks and Friends, popular viewing among early teenagers.
Not surprisingly cheesemakers are a bit pissed off at the "demonisation" of their product.
One industry insider said:
"Without a central coordinated approach to food education,
the Government – and the current architecture of government
– allows for renegade agencies to dictate policy
without portfolio and send out messages that
are ill-conceived and potentially devastating."
In other words, Nanny allows knobheads to dictate policy.
I assume butter, milk and eggs are now also banned from being advertised during children's' TV?
Labels: butter, cash, cheese, eggs, fat, food, government, knobheads, salt, stupidity
Cheney Organising Coup
Sorry folks, totally off topic and not at all satirical today.
However, I read this piece (see below) - yes..I am even going to link directly on this - with horror.
It would seem, that in all but name, Cheney is attempting to organise a coup against Bush and start his own private little war.
Maybe Bliar, in his last few weeks in orifice could "tip W the wink" on this?
"Cheney believes that Bush can not be counted on to make the "right decision" when it comes to dealing with Iran and thus Cheney believes that he must tie the President's hands.
On Tuesday evening, I spoke with a former top national intelligence official in this Bush administration who told me that what I was investigating and planned to report on regarding Cheney and the commentary of his aide was 'potentially criminal insubordination' against the President."
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/002145.php
Labels: bliary poppins, cheney, Iran
In Nanny's world, we are all equal; apart from those who are not.
She is now seeking to ensure that those whom she regards as being "different" are treated differently. Rather odd that, given her anti discrimination "beliefs", wouldn't you say?
Nanny's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) recently confirmed that it is discussing a new exam, that will take account of the different fluency levels among ethnic minorities.
In some parts of Britain, as many as 75% of pupils have a mother tongue that is not English. Therefore Nanny seeks to "redress" the "imbalance" in the system that would clearly "favour" native English speakers, by having an exam for non native speakers.
That, to my humble view, is discrimination is it not?
How does that help them integrate?
All Nanny will end up doing is to create a second class examination system, that marks down those that take it as being second class.
An impressive career begins with strong training. If you've ever wanted to work
for a surety company start your training search here. And imagine what the future can hold.
Labels: educashun, exams, languages, minorities
Nanny Exposed
It is somewhat ironic that Nanny, who has imposed upon us the highest number of CCTV cameras per head of the population in the world, is a wee bit miffed when the cameras are turned on the consequences of her work.
However, maybe that is not so surprising, as Nanny is a tad hypocritical.
Anyhoo, Angela Mason, a former supply teacher from Swiss Cottage found this out to her cost; when she went undercover to expose unruly behaviour in schools in North London, for the Channel 5 documentary Classroom Chaos.
Mrs Mason ended up at a hearing in Birmingham recently, accused of unacceptable professional conduct by the General Teaching Council - the professional body which regulates teachers.
Ms Mason said:
"Teaching is not my profession -
I left it 30 years ago but I still feel
strongly about it. I believe there is a major
public policy issue to do with pupils in
classrooms and poor behaviour.
I'm standing up for the supply teachers and
other teachers who have to endure this every day."
The dispute has its roots way back in 2004, when Mrs Mason took the footage using a hidden camera.
When the programme was aired in 2005, many viewers including teachers and politicians were outraged at the levels of indiscipline in the country's schools.
Needless to say, that most forward "thinking" and "selfless" body of teachers- The National Union of Teachers (NUT...how appropriate!)- didn't like it. They said it was 'underhand', because the film was made without the school's permission.
My partner, Eva, used to work as a supply teacher in the UK; she tells me that because OFSTED inspectors et al had to warn schools of inspections, special arrnagments were made. Seemingly, unruly and troublesome children were kept out of school on inspection days and extra supply teachers were drafted in so as to make the school look vaguely professional.
What was it Bliar said in 1997?
-Educashun!
Clive Rawlings, appearing on behalf of Mrs Mason, said:
"Angela Mason is merely the messenger
and we submit that you should not shoot the messenger."
The hearing is now adjourned until 18 June.
Nanny likes to watch but doesn't like us to watch.
Labels: big brother, Birmingham, bmi, cctv, educashun, London, ofsted, schools, unions
Nanny's Gestapo State
I have often opined on this site as to what exactly is the point of a local council, what do they actually do with all of the money that they take from us?
Well folks, now we know!
Nanny has decreed that council, doctors and social workers will now act as spies on the local community. They will be forced to report "potential" criminals to the police.
A leaked Home Office proposal shows that Nanny will soon require that GPs, charity staff and public sector workers will have to tip off the police about any customer or patient that they fear may commit a violent crime.
The move means that innocent people would be presumed guilty, and put under watch without any firm evidence.
Quite how you can be reported for something that you have not yet done, based purely on the speculation of a third party, is beyond me.
New crimes on Nanny's "thought crime" list include:
-Looking at me in a funny manner
-Looking guilty
-Wearing a hoodie etc
The state should fear the people, not the people fear the state!
We are sleepwalking towards dictatorship, whereby the state rules by fear, as we wonder which one of our neighbours is a state spy.
The principle of law that this country's legal system and democracy is based upon is:
"Presumed innocent until proven guilty"
Nanny, by this proposal, seeks to invert that to:
"Presumed guilty until proven innocent".
Labels: big brother, charity, councils, doctors, gestapo, spies
Nanny Bans Rescue
The good old boys in Nanny's health and safety Gestapo have been up to their old tricks again.
This time they have decreed that a trained rescue professional (a fireman to be precise) should not have attempted to rescue someone from drowning, because it was too dangerous!!!
Tam Brown, a professional fireman (trained to rescue people), has found himself on the wrong end of Nanny's sticky pole (a lousy metaphor, I know...but it's Monday morning...give me a break!) and is now subject to an internal investigation by Tayside Fire and Rescue because he breached safety rules during the rescue in the River Tay in Perth.
Mr Brown spent eight minutes in the cold water, as he dragged a 20 year old woman to safety. Unfortunately, Nanny believes that he had acted improperly by risking his life.
Mr Brown has 15 years' experience as a fireman, and quite rightly was hailed as a hero by the woman's family. However, Tayside Fire and Rescue said that he had broken the brigade's "standing instructions" on safety procedures.
Kind of odd that isn't it?
I thought that those who joined the fire service did so because they wanted to help save lives.
Mr Brown said:
"I was expected to watch that young girl die in front of me.
As a father and a caring human being,
I couldn't live with myself if I'd had to do that."
"We had seconds to act. The girl was losing consciousness.
We had one harness, so I put that on and went
down 20ft on a safety line, grabbed her and held
her out of the water. My colleagues tried to pull
us towards steps, but the current was so bad and
the rope was pulled so hard it snapped.
My own life hung in the balance as I swam
for the steps with her in my arms.
But we got there and were pulled out.
I was in the water for eight minutes and it
was heart-stoppingly cold, but we saved her."
Unfortunately the rules say that fire crew should instead have tried to haul the woman out using poles and ropes.
Aha...there is one fly in Nanny's oinkment here.
Can you guess what that is?
Yes, that's right, Stephen Hunter, chief fire officer of Tayside Fire and Rescue, admitted that fire engines in Perth were not equipped with the correct poles and ropes!
However, let us not be deterred by facts and reality, Nanny insists that Mr Brown should have used the non existent pole.
Therefore, Mr Brown must be punished for his lamentable action.
As Stephen Hunter so "eloquently" put it:
"Firefighter safety is of paramount importance to us.
Although our duties include rescues from flooding,
there is no statutory obligation to carry out
rescues from moving water.
We know they broke procedure because
we know he went into the water.
We are investigating exactly what happened,
and once that is concluded we will consider
what action is necessary.
That could include disciplinary action."
Steve Hill, chairman of the Perth branch of the Fire Brigades Union, is not too impressed with Nanny:
"Not one senior officer has congratulated Tam
or the other officers who attended that night.
They should be elated they saved a life but are
traumatised that they face disciplinary action instead.
Contradicting an order can lead to dismissal.
If Tam hadn't gone in, the public might have
tried to save her and we could have ended up
with several dead."
Nanny claims that she wishes to minimise (or eliminate) risk, in reality all she cares about is having her petty and odious rules followed.
Labels: gestapo, health and safety, hero, rescue, risk, unions, water
Nanny Bans Clock Winding
I think one's only reaction when reading this piece of Nanny nonsense is to ejaculate (no, I didn't mean like that!)...the phrase...
"For Fark's Sake!"
It seems that the health and safety Gestapo have been up to their old tricks again, this time focusing their efforts on the Old Town Hall clock in Torquay.
Despite being ticking away merrily for the last 145 years or so, the clock is now deemed to be a health and safety hazard to those who wind it up.
Therefore Nanny has banned the winding of the clock.
The clock has been wound every week by a volunteer since 1862.
However, following a council "risk assessment" (whenever I hear that phrase I instinctively reach for my revolver) the 60ft clock tower was deemed unsafe and closed.
As said...
For Fark's Sake!
Labels: clock, councils, gestapo, health and safety, risk, torquay
Sunderland Rules by Diktat
Nanny's obsession with expunging smoking knows no bounds. One of her ever "popular" and well "respected" local councils, Sunderland, now rules by diktat.
Sunderland has issued a diktat ordering workers who smoke in any public place, even outdoors, not to wear Sunderland council clothing.
The diktat will come into force in Sunderland on June 1. The council says that its measures are an important step in protecting the health of employees and visitors.
What a load of bollocks!
The employees have the right to smoke outside, and wear what the hell they like; they are adults, not school children.
Labels: bollocks, councils, schools, smoking, Sunderland
Nanny Bans Welsh
I couldn't but help snigger when I read about Nanny banning the speaking of Welsh by telephone operators. Given that majority of people who live in Wales can't speak Welsh, it always seems to me an absurd waste of time and money that Nanny insists on dual language road signs and speakers in government offices etc.
Anyhoo, Nanny has decided that the speaking of Welsh could damage the vocal chords. Therefore union officials have succeeded in persuading the Vale of Glamorgan council to ban the traditional greetings "bore da" - meaning "good morning" - and "prynhawn da" - meaning "good afternoon".
The argument runs along the lines that as the workers first language is English, they could harm themselves trying to pronounce the phrases. They added the ban was in keeping with Health and Safety Executive's recommendation that call centre workers limit their phone time to preserve their vocal chords.
How can anyone take these people seriously if they waste their time and energy on such an absurd issue?
Needless to say, the local Plaid Cymru Councillor Steffan Williams was up in arms.
"I can't see how saying 'bore da'
will do people in a call centre any harm."
He then shot his credibility in the gonads by claiming that it was an infringement of human rights...bollocks!
Labels: bollocks, councils, government, gum, health and safety, phones, unions, welsh
Nanny Bans Ties
Full marks to John Peckham, head teacher of Bramhall School Greater Manchester, for being a bit of a sissy girl when it comes to health and safety.
He has decided that the wearing of real ties by his pupils is way too dangerous, so he has banned his pupils from wearing knotted ties because he says they could pose a safety risk.
Clip-on ties, like those worn by police officers, are now the order of that day at Bramhall High School in Stockport.
Precisely how many thousands of children die each year because their tie strangles them?
Pillock!
Learning to tie your own tie is one of life's great benchmarks, taking you from dribbling infant to fully fledged sprog.
Labels: educashun, gestapo, Greater Manchester Police, health and safety, schools, stockport, ties
Congratulations to Gordon Brown's beloved HMRC, who have proven themselves yet again to be totally useless.
The other week they sent my Dad a tax form to complete, nothing wrong with that you might say.
Errmmmm...one small fly in their oinkment though.
Dad died in January of this year, and we informed HMRC in writing about it within a fortnight of his death.
This week my Mum received a letter from the good old boys at the HMRC commiserating with her on her loss, and asking for some details re my late father.
Well done lads, it took a mere 14 weeks for the HMRC to acknowledge and process one letter.
Useless!
No wonder the tax system is falling apart.
Thanks Gordon, this shambles is very much down to you; a fitting legacy.
Labels: Dad, gordon brown, HMRC, tax
Those of you who live in Birmingham, and who have forgotten that on 1st July 2007 Nanny's anti smoking rule comes into force, need not fear.
The much "respected" and "service minded" local council has an excellent plan to help you to remember not to smoke in public.
They will be unleashing 100 "enforcement officers" onto the streets of Birmingham.
Neil Eustace, chairman of the city council public protection committee (an Orwellian concept if ever I heard one), is quoted as saying:
"On July 1, our officers will be out in force.
We are very confident that the ban will be self enforcing,
but there will be a level of force from the start."
Am I imagining it, or is this "servant of the people" threatening the people?
It strikes me that he and Nanny's lackeys in this most unloved of councils have got ideas above their station in life.
Eustace's profile says that he is a Liberal Democrat, isn't it funny how that party always produces the sort of people who tend to act like mini Gestapo officers?
By the way, try clicking the link on Eustace's page to find out about the Public Protection Committee...funny that, nothing there?
Why is that then???
Here is what Birmingham City Council's website website says that they will do:
"After 1st July high profile enforcement activity will commence immediately and our Enforcement Officers will target any premises subject to complaint. There will be a national and local hotline (numbers to be announced – watch this space) as well as e-mail and text systems available for reporting non-compliance."
Nice to see that they will encourage people to spy and report on each other!
The state should fear the people, not the people fear the state.
In case you are worried about the cost of these "enforcement officers", have no fear, Nanny has given Birmingham £600K to pay for them.
Oh, wait a minute, that would be £600K of our money...errmmm...collected in part by taxes on fags, yes?
Nanny's Gestapo will be empowered to photograph and film smokers, then issue them with a £50 on the spot fine.
Isn't it illegal to take photos of someone without their consent?
Now the question arises, when smoking has been eradicated in Birmingham will these "enforcers" be out of a job?
I guarantee that they will remain employed, and will be used by the council to spy on people for other "misdemeanours".
The Gestapo state has arrived, on the back of a fag packet!
Feel free tow rite to Nanny's lackeys at Birmingham council, and vent your spleens:
-smokefree@birmingham.gov.uk
-Neil.Eustace@birmingham.gov.uk
Labels: Birmingham, councils, fags, gestapo, liberal democrat, smoking, spies
Plus Ca Change
There we have it ladies and gentlemen, it is now official, both Bliary Poppins and the Smooth Talking Bar Steward are leaving office.
The end of an era?
The end of the Nanny state?
The design team here at Nanny Knows Best are already working hard on the new logo for the site, to take account of of Smiler Brown's ascendancy to orifice.
In the meantime I would like to remind you that classic editions of Nanny Knows Best and Bollocks To The Bar Steward products (T shirts, thongs, coffee cups, pillows, hoodies etc) are still available for sale.
They will doubtless become collectors' items, get them before they are banned!
- Nanny Knows Best Shop
- Bollocks To The Bar Steward Shop
Labels: bliary poppins, bollocks, coffee, logo, smooth talking bar steward
A barking mad acolyte of Nanny's, Alan McMurdo - head of the Thomas Deacon city academy in Peterborough, has decreed that pupils at his new £46M "super school" will have no break and no playground because he does not agree with the concepts.
McMurdo says that learning would improve, if pupils had to concentrate on lessons throughout the day.
"I want the teachers teaching and
the children learning at the school.
If children are enjoying lessons,
then there will be no need to go
and run off steam outside.”
Is he mad?
Has he ever been near children before?
Labels: educashun, schools
Happy Happy, Joy Joy
Smile and the whole world smiles with you!
That at least is the view according to Nanny. She has decided that if we all smile inanely, just as our soon to be departed leader does, then the world will be a much better place and we will forget all our troubles.
Therefore, in keeping with the "smile all the while" policy, Nanny intends to introduce "happiness" lessons in schools.
Yes, that's right, Nanny intends to teach children to be happy; so that the rise in cases of depression being reported is contained and pushed back.
Nanny's new "feely touchy" lessons will include subjects such as; how to manage feelings, attitudes to work and money, channelling negative emotions and how to take a critical view of the media.
This master plan has been devised by Lord Richard Layard, a Labour peer and professor of economics at the London School of Economics.
He wants school pupils to receive tuition in "how to be happy", up to the age of 18, and their progress in the subject should feature in university applications.
Does this mean then that universities won't take applications from miserable bastards?
That would have been a bit of a blow to wee Gordon Smiler Brown, back in his days as a student.
Lord Layard, the director of the wellbeing programme at the LSE's Centre for Economic Performance, said that his theory works something like this:
"Learning hard things takes an enormous amount of practise.
To play the violin well takes 10,000 hours of practise.
How can we expect people to learn to be happy without
massive amounts of practise and repetition?
I believe it can only be done by the schools.
Parents of course are crucial.
But if we want to change the culture,
the main organised institutions we have
under social control are the schools."
Errmmm...a few points m'lud:
1 You cannot learn to be happy from a formal lesson
2 You are either a happy person by nature, or you are a miserable git
3 It is the role of the parents to teach children to appreciate what they have, and as such give them some contentment in their lives
4 Learning to play the violin is totally different to being happy. Indeed, creativity often comes from a very tortured and troubled soul. Van Gogh could hardly be called a "happy" person could he?
5 M'lud just about manages to include parents in his "grand plan". However, it is clear that he doesn't really think that they have much of a role. Nanny hates biological parents (must have been something that happened to her in her childhood)
6 M'lud wants to "change the culture", why? Doesn't this sound rather sinister?
Frank Furedi, a sociology professor at Kent University and author of Therapy Culture, thinks that it is a load of bollocks.
"In pushing emotional literacy, what some teachers are
really doing is abandoning teaching.
They are giving up and talking about emotions instead,
so that children value all this non-discipline-led
activity more than maths, English or science.
What is amazing about this is that time and time again,
research says that it does not work."
People are "unhappy" because they are dissatisfied with their lives.
They are dissatisfied with their lives because they are constantly told that they should achieve "X, Y and Z" (wrt love, health, money etc).
They do not achieve "X, Y and Z" because the targets are often unattainable; and the quality of the education system leaves many falling far short in the basic standards of reading, writing and social/cognitive skills that would enable them to at least have a sporting chance of achieving "X, Y and Z".
The children who "endure" Nanny's education system know full well that the system is failing them, hence they are depressed (as they see that they will never achieve what they are told that they should be achieving).
Here's a radical thought, how about teaching children to read and write first? Then, later, they can be challenged with "finding their feelings".
Labels: bastards, bollocks, educashun, gordon brown, London, schools, science
There have been such a slurry of "Prats of The Week" that I have got rather behind myself on this award, can I get behind myself???
Anyhoo, this week's prestigious and coveted "Prat of The Week" Award goes to Trevor Phillips the chairman of the Commission for Equalities and Human Rights.
He recently got rather hot under the collar over the ethnic make up of the workforce of local supermarkets, and has suggested that they should be forced to recruit more ethnic minorities by positive discrimination.
Phillips said that retailers should have new powers making it is easier to attract employees, to reflect the make-up of their local communities.
Phillips wants new powers for his organ (The Commission for Equalities and Human Rights) to permit positive discrimination to prevent jobseekers from migrant communities being disadvantaged.
He claimed that firms, such as Tesco and Sainsbury, wanted greater flexibility to hire staff.
This is of course where it all came unstuck, for you see Tesco immediately said that he was talking bollocks. They noted that his comments were 'unfair and discriminatory'.
Surely, as Chairman of Commission for Equalities and Human Rights, he can't be unfair or discriminatory?????
The British Retail Consortium, which represents thousands of shops, noted the obvious flaw in Phillips' argument:
"Because shop staff tend to work relatively near
where they live they are already likely to reflect
their local communities but retailers will continue
to recruit on ability to do the job not on race.
Trevor Phillips seems to be calling for retailers
to be allowed to discriminate in favour of particular groups.
That means discriminating against others.
We believe retailers will reject this sort of
unfairness and go on recruiting on merit alone."
Exactly, given the low paid nature of supermarket work, the people who work in supermarkets tend to live locally. It would hardly be cost effective for them to commute several hours a day to go to work would it?
Congratulations on your award Trevor!
Labels: bollocks, equality, gum, prats of the week, sainsburys, supermarkets, Tesco
Nanny's approach to child "discipline" has always been a tad schizophrenic. On the one hand she is a strong advocate of ASBO's etc for all manner of offences (ranging from vandalism, to simply kicking a football around in the street), yet on the other hand she strongly disapproves of parents or teachers administering anything resembling a cuff round the back of the head etc.
It is hardly surprising then that children grow up confused and aggressive, they have no boundaries and are given the impression that the teachers/parents are a soft touch.
Nanny has recently added to this confusion, by issuing new guidance on school discipline. This "guidance" advises teachers against repeatedly praising only "the same good pupils", er isn't that called encouragement?.
Nanny has a "brilliant solution" to this evil encouragement of good pupils, she suggests that rewards also be given to persistent miscreants who show an improvement in behaviour...no matter how small.
Coming soon, "good news" postcards:
"Little Johnny did not swear at teacher today...hoorah!"
According to Nanny:
"This can help improve relations with parents
who have become tired of receiving letters
and phone calls when things go wrong."
What about the teachers who are "tired" of being on the receiving end of all of that shit?
By the way folks, teachers are now expected to take account of race/culture when giving a telling off. Seemingly, if you come from a "loud" culture, then it's alright to be a loud git.
Th concept of integration (where people integrate into the British culture) hasn't quite reached Nanny yet, has it? It seems that the British culture must adapt to others.
Nanny emphasises that teachers should understand the importance of showing respect to children from racial or religious backgrounds, for whom public humiliation is seen as particularly shameful.
Errmmm again, this shows a remarkable misunderstanding of how children function. Humiliation is the most effective means of controlling badly behaved children, by forcing them to act within limits set by the cultural/social norms of their peer groups and society.
Nanny's guidance is, without a doubt, a recipe for disaster.
Labels: ASBO's, educashun, football, phones, schools
The Roast Beef of Olde England II
You may recall that last October I wrote of my horror at discovering that Simpson's had started to serve its beef sans fat.
I wrote to Simpson's at the time, pointing them to my article, in the hope that they would take remedial action.
This Friday I revisited Simpson's, with an old chum from my days in KPMG, and am happy to report that the fat is back! I would also note that, as it should be, it was a nice dark yellow (not pale white); thus indicating that the meat had been hung for at least 3 weeks.
Remember folks, like oil in a car engine, the blood needs fat in it to help it circulate!
Well done Simpson's. My chum and I had an excellent meal and evening.
I was going to write about this yesterday. However, owing to the heroic quantities of booze consumed (lager, gin, vodka, wine, 3 Irish coffees and 3 Cointreaus) I couldn't.
Labels: cars, coffee, fat, food, gin, meat, Simpson's
Trouble At Gestapo HQ
My sympathy to the good people of our much respected Health and Safety Gestapo. It seems that they are having a few health and safety issues at their own HQ.
According to data recently released to The Times, under the Freedom of Information Act, there were over 500 accidents and injuries in a 3½ year period at Gestapo HQ. That, by the way, works out at on accident every two working days.
There were 154 slips, trips or falls. One fall, that resulted in a strained groin...ouch...was caused by a wet tea-room floor...don't they use those dinky little plastic cones that warn of wetness?
Another employee slipped on a plastic bag and pulled a hamstring. One hapless member of staff slipped on a raisin!!!???
Someone else bruised her eye, when a lavatory-roll dispenser fell from the wall.
Inspectors were also physically or verbally assaulted nine times.
The accident rate at Gestapo HQ shows a rate of 4,143 per 100,000 people over 2005-06, compared with 2,143 per 100,000 across all companies in the process, plant and machine operatives sector, widely considered one of the most dangerous sectors.
An HSE spokesman said:
"We endeavour to be an exemplar
and as such HSE's level of reporting
is very high.
When compared against averages for
companies with our type of risk the
incident rates and rates for reportable
injuries are low."
Other mishaps included:
-Tried to step over spill on floor but slipped in the process
-Walked into warning sign — laceration to skull and damage to spectacles
-Accidentally touched bulb while switching lamp off — small burn to thumb
-Jarred wrist and arm trying to open door, which was stiffer than usual
These are the people who impose rules on us, to "help" us avoid accidents!
Physician heal thyself.
Labels: accident, cones, gestapo, health and safety, tea, warning sign
Congratulations to Nanny's state police force, for once again demonstrating how effectively (I am sorry, I meant to say "ineffectively") they prioritise their work.
Derbyshire police, who I believe we have featured on this site before, have clearly solved all their mainstream criminal investigations (eg assault, muggings and robbery); as they have found the time and resources to arrest a grandmother, for stealing a £60 football which landed in her back garden.
Angela Hickling, 56, from Heanor, was arrested on suspicion of theft over the lost ball.
It seems that her neighbour Christopher Salisbury reported her to the police, when he claimed that his sons had kicked the ball into her garden and she refused to return it.
Mrs Hickling told the BBC police arrived at her home in August, and she told officers she had looked for the ball but could not find it.
The police then took time to search her home!
Can you believe this?????
It's a football for fark's sake!!!!
She was then taken into custody, where she underwent a 15 minute interview and had her fingerprints and DNA sample taken.
I assume that Derbyshire has no other crime whatsoever then????
Needless to say, the Crown Prosecution Service has said it is not pursuing the case.
Derbyshire Police said that the complaint, by Mrs Hickling and her husband John, was being investigated and until that inquiry had been completed they would not comment further.
Well done lads.
Labels: Derbyshire Police, fingerprints, football, plod, police
Nanny Bans Photos
In Nanny's world we are all equal.
However, owing to Nanny's dislike of what she perceives to be "unfair" advantages (eg sex, age, looks, race, religion, class, education etc), Nanny tries to skew the rules in order to ensure that some are more equal than others.
Rather Orwellian wouldn't you say?
This habit of Nanny's, to try to distort (sorry "level") the playing field, ignores a fundamental principle of genetic and social evolution; namely, we are all different and gifted with our own specific sets of good/bad attributes which affect the way that we interact with others and how others perceive us.
That's life, get over it!
Anyhoo, Nanny takes her rule bending to some extraordinarily silly lengths at times; I wonder if she ever stops to think how ridiculous she appears?
No, of course she doesn't.
However, I digress, one recent example of Nanny's obsession with the unattainable goal of "equality" was aptly demonstrated by her lackeys in the University and College Union (UCU).
UCU recently held an election, for the UCU general secretary, members of its board of trustees and special committees. However, the officials of UCU became worried that voters may be influenced by a candidate's looks (for good or bad).
Can you guess what happened next?
Yes, that's right, UCU banned the 100 candidates from including their photos with the official details of their policies etc.
Kate Heasman, UCU equality officer (why do we need jobs such as this?), said:
"Photos are a distraction and we should
not be basing decisions on how people look."
Herein lies the problem, Nanny doesn't get that there is a world of difference between what we "should do" and the real world where what we "actually do" rules.
Needless to say some members believe that this policy is utter bollocks.
Fawzi Ibrahim, a lecturer at the College of North London, said that UCU is "out of touch with reality".
Much like the Neo Cons in the US, Nanny lives in a make believe world where her view of the world and her rules dominate; conveniently ignoring the actuality of human interaction (for good or bad).
Labels: bollocks, equality, London, photos, unions
Prats of The Week
Well folks, it's that time again...time to award my coveted "Prat of The Week" award.
This time the award goes to the Trading Standards team of Dorset County Council (ah how refreshing, yet another local council making a fool of itself!).
So, what have they done to deserve this award?
Well the good old boys from the Trading Standards team were examining the Sgt Bub Bakery in Weymouth, which has been run by Val Temple for the last 30 years or so. The team unearthed a horrifying discovery, concerning the ingredients of some of Val's cakes.
What was that then Ken?
Did they contain poison?
Were they made with GM products?
No! (and who gives a stuff anyway?)
Was the bakery dirty?
It turns out that Vals' Paradise Slice didn't come from paradise, her Pig Tarts contained no pork and her Robin Tarts didn't contain any robins.
Yes, that's right, Val was accused of mislabelling the products and has to change the names of them.
So, let us be absolutely clear, the good old boys in Trading Standards were worried that people would be buying the products under the mistaken belief that they contained pigs, robins and a little bit of paradise.
How stupid do they think that we are?
What about Swiss rolls, shepherd's pies or baby's head puddings (the correct name for steak and kidney pudding) then?
Val is needless to say totally unimpressed with this.
"It's a joke. It's an insult to the public.
Of course my cakes don't contain pig,
robin or come from paradise.
Where is paradise anyway?
It's absolutely ridiculous.
What's next - Shepherd's Pie?
Where will it all end?
You could apply it to everything.
It's so silly."
The Paradise Slice is made from a 120-year-old recipe and includes almonds, sultanas and cherries. The fact that people have eaten this slice for 120 years without any problems is of course irrelevant to Nanny's Trading Standards, the slice will now be called an "almond, fruit and nut" slice.
Val noted:
"The Trading Standards have been coming here
for the last 26 years and only this year
have they made this decision.
A woman officer came in and said they were
acting on a complaint over my labelling."
At this point I have to ask, what sad loser made the complaint in the first place? What kind of person has such an empty life that they make an effort to raise such a complaint?
Why did Dorset County Council waste tax payers' money on this fools errand?
A customer, James Marper, wryly observed:
"It's complete madness.
What are they going to ban next - spotted dick?
Who do these officials think they are?
Val should bake a "nutty as a fruitcake"
to mock the small-minded people who have
had the nerve to enforce these rules.
Tax payers are shelling out so much money
and to see it being paid to these
interfering idiots is extremely disheartening."
That is the reality of living in the Nanny state, small minded zealots are allowed to wield power over those of us who are capable of exercising common sense and who take responsibility for our own actions.
Ivan Hancock, Dorset County Council's Trading Standards manager, said:
"The fact is that food needs to be properly described
so that the consumer can tell what it is.
There is nothing wrong with using other names
but it must be accompanied by the true name of the food.
Consumers have the right to know what is in food."
The customer could of course just ask Val what is in the cake, surely???
Dorset County Council Trading Standards team, well deserving of the Prats of The Week award.
Feel free to drop them a note here tradingstandards@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Whilst we are on the subject, are there any other products that would upset the Trading Standards team (eg Spitfire Ale contains no spitfires)?
Labels: cake, councils, dirt, dorsetshire, food, fruit, pies, prats of the week, stupidity, tax
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As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ But if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight. Christian Gifts
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This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. ... Christian Canvas Art
Glory of ChristChrist AtoningThe Effect Of The Word Of GodChrist's Own GloryimagepersonalityThe Beauty Of NatureGod On HighRight Hand Of GodRadiancyGod Sustaining CreationPower Of Christ, ShownHand Of GodGod, Living And Self sustainingRight SidesSalvation, Nature OfKnowledge, Of Jesus ChristCreatorGod's Glory In Jesus ChristMediatorGod, Power OfGod, Glory Of Share Your Faith Products
He measured the length of the building along the front of the separate area behind it, with a gallery on each side, a hundred cubits; he also measured the inner nave and the porches of the court. The thresholds, the latticed windows and the galleries round about their three stories, opposite the threshold, were paneled with wood all around, and from the ground to the windows (but the windows were covered), over the entrance, and to the inner house, and on the outside, and on all the wall all around inside and outside, by measurement.read more.
The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father. Bible Scripture Art
"You shall have no other gods before Me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,read more. Christian Gifts
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Solomon made all the furniture which was in the house of the LORD: the golden altar and the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence; and the lampstands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary, of pure gold; and the flowers and the lamps and the tongs, of gold; and the cups and the snuffers and the bowls and the spoons and the firepans, of pure gold; and the hinges both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, that is, of the nave, of gold. Bible Scripture Art
While I may be a “leader,” I certainly don’t fit the mold. I’m soft spoken, introverted, and don’t exactly share a physique with the superheroes we know and love. But when I started crafting designs featuring my favorite verses and quotes and sharing them, I began to see an unexpected impact. I received emails from team leaders who let me know how the prints had been motivating their employees. Teachers, who had been hanging them in their classrooms. And caring people who had gifted the artwork to friends battling cancer. Christian Canvas Art
"If you happen to come upon a bird's nest along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; you shall certainly let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, in order that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days. Christian Gifts
Solomon made all the furniture which was in the house of the LORD: the golden altar and the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence; and the lampstands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary, of pure gold; and the flowers and the lamps and the tongs, of gold; and the cups and the snuffers and the bowls and the spoons and the firepans, of pure gold; and the hinges both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, that is, of the nave, of gold. Christian Gifts
Glory of ChristChrist AtoningThe Effect Of The Word Of GodChrist's Own GloryimagepersonalityThe Beauty Of NatureGod On HighRight Hand Of GodRadiancyGod Sustaining CreationPower Of Christ, ShownHand Of GodGod, Living And Self sustainingRight SidesSalvation, Nature OfKnowledge, Of Jesus ChristCreatorGod's Glory In Jesus ChristMediatorGod, Power OfGod, Glory Of Christian Canvas Art
It was carved with cherubim and palm trees; and a palm tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces, a man's face toward the palm tree on one side and a young lion's face toward the palm tree on the other side; they were carved on all the house all around. From the ground to above the entrance cherubim and palm trees were carved, as well as on the wall of the nave. The doorposts of the nave were square; as for the front of the sanctuary, the appearance of one doorpost was like that of the other. The altar was of wood, three cubits high and its length two cubits; its corners, its base and its sides were of wood And he said to me, "This is the table that is before the LORD." The nave and the sanctuary each had a double door. Each of the doors had two leaves, two swinging leaves; two leaves for one door and two leaves for the other. Also there were carved on them, on the doors of the nave, cherubim and palm trees like those carved on the walls; and there was a threshold of wood on the front of the porch outside. There were latticed windows and palm trees on one side and on the other, on the sides of the porch; thus were the side chambers of the house and the thresholds. Bible Scripture Art
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.
He made 300 shields of beaten gold, using three minas of gold on each shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with refined gold. There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its rear, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms. Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom. All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.
Solomon made all the furniture which was in the house of the LORD: the golden altar and the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence; and the lampstands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary, of pure gold; and the flowers and the lamps and the tongs, of gold; and the cups and the snuffers and the bowls and the spoons and the firepans, of pure gold; and the hinges both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, that is, of the nave, of gold.
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Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” They also asked them this: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it. ... Share Your Faith Products
Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do. Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day.” Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; ... Christian Gifts
The Bible is full of encouraging scriptures that are such a blessing to read and memorize. Here are ten of my favorite scripture quotes for encouragement. Feel free to share these with others as these encouraging Bible verses will brighten anyone’s day. The Scriptures used are filled with hope, comfort and inspiration. These famous Bible quotes are from the Old and New Testament. Share Your Faith Products
The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ...
Glory of ChristOther BlindingChrist's Own GloryAgeControlling Your ThoughtsUnbelieversPerfection, DivineCommitment, to the worldChrist, Names ForSatan, Kingdom OfSatan, Titles ForThe Light Of ChristDarkness, As A Symbol Of SinCultsRevelation, In Ntevil, origins ofSpiritual Warfare, Causes OfHeart, Fallen And RedeemedBlindingSpiritual Blindness, Results Of Sin
“Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.” And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” ... Share Your Faith Products
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. Publication date: May 9, 2019. Publisher: OpenBible.info.
“You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. A cubit shall be its length, and a cubit its breadth. It shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And you shall make a molding of gold around it. And you shall make two golden rings for it. Under its molding on two opposite sides of it you shall make them, and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it. You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. ... Christian Gifts
“Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests. They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. ... Share Your Faith Products
He also made two capitals of molten bronze to set on the tops of the pillars; the height of the one capital was five cubits and the height of the other capital was five cubits. There were nets of network and twisted threads of chainwork for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital and seven for the other capital. So he made the pillars, and two rows around on the one network to cover the capitals which were on the top of the pomegranates; and so he did for the other capital. The capitals which were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily design, four cubits. There were capitals on the two pillars, even above and close to the rounded projection which was beside the network; and the pomegranates numbered two hundred in rows around both capitals. Thus he set up the pillars at the porch of the nave; and he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin, and he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz. On the top of the pillars was lily design. So the work of the pillars was finished.
While I may be a “leader,” I certainly don’t fit the mold. I’m soft spoken, introverted, and don’t exactly share a physique with the superheroes we know and love. But when I started crafting designs featuring my favorite verses and quotes and sharing them, I began to see an unexpected impact. I received emails from team leaders who let me know how the prints had been motivating their employees. Teachers, who had been hanging them in their classrooms. And caring people who had gifted the artwork to friends battling cancer.
The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. Share Your Faith Products
“You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Bible Scripture Art
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North East Social Media Ltd
North East Social Media Ltd provides training in the efficient and effective use of Social Media Platforms to North East business, via hands-on workshops, 121 training and bespoke in-house training
North East Businesses – be confident!
We want our North East Business learners to be confident in their use of Social Media. Once you truly understand Social Media, and how each of the platforms work, you will know exactly how to use the platforms confidently. We can even work with you on content – teaching you how, when and what to post on your Social Media platforms.
If you had any doubt as to whether or not you, as a North East business owner, should be using Social Media, perhaps these recent statistics will help you decide.
Facebook has 2.45 billion monthly active users
31.4% of the world’s total population uses Facebook
Over 60 million businesses use Facebook Pages
Every minute 510,000 comments, 293,000 statuses and 136,000 photos are uploaded to Facebook by users
There are 1.74 billion mobile active users on Facebook
More than 2 million advertisers use Facebook advertising to market their businesses
Twitter has 330 million monthly active users
There are more than 500 million tweets sent each day on Twitter
An average Twitter user follows at least 5 businesses
Total ad engagements on Twitter were up 91%
40% of users say they have bought products and services because of Twitter
Images or videos are 394% more likely to be retweeted on Twitter than plain text posts
80% of Twitter users have mentioned a brand in their own tweets
85% of Twitter users look for customer service support on Twitter
‘Tears of joy’ is the most Tweeted emoji, with 14.5 billion Tweets
Instagram has more than 1 billion active monthly users, with 500 million active daily
71% of Instagram users are between 18-35
Users spend an average of 28 minutes a day on Instagram
Brand Instagram stories have a completion rate of over 85%
Engagement with brands on Instagram is 10x higher than the next best, Facebook
Over 100 million photos are uploaded each day to Instagram
100 million job applications are posted on LinkedIn each month
630 million professionals are on LinkedIn
LinkedIn users are signing up at a rate of 2 new members every second
92% of B2B marketers prefer LinkedIn
Users conduct 1 billion searches on LinkedIn daily
LinkedIn posts with images have a 98% better comment rate
Posts with links out have a 200% higher engagement rate on LinkedIn
122 Million people have received an Interview from their LinkedIn profile
260 million LinkedIn users are active every month month
Up to 40% of monthly active users log in to LinkedIn every day
YOUR COMPETITORS ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA
YOUR POTENTIAL CLIENTS ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA
North East Businesses - Learn how to use Social Media now Efficiently, Effectively and Confidently
Award Winning North East Social Media Consultant, Social Media Trainer and Social Media Speaker - Amanda Dixon
Amanda Dixon is an Award Winning Social Media Consultant and has been working with North East businesses for over 10 years, She has trained over 4000 businesses in the use of Social Media for business, through 121 training sessions, hands-on workshops, bespoke in-house training and seminars.
For 6 years Amanda ran a Social Media Management Agency and in 2016 changed direction and launched North East Social Media Ltd to concentrate on the education side of Social Media. Teaching North East Businesses how to use Social Media with the maximum effect
North East Social Media Ltd believe that Social Media is far more effective when created and managed in-house, that way the posts are more current, images more creative, more fun and spontaneous. However, if a client really does not have the time or the inclination to manage their own accounts, North East Social Media will do this for them – we do offer a full Social Media Management Service here in the North East of England.
With training, we believe that North East businesses will really understand how amazing these Social Media platforms can be and will be able to improve their marketing, raise their profiles and interact with their target audience. With excellent training you will feel confident in your Social Media marketing and will greatly reap the benefits.
We can work with individuals, companies, teams – we can teach everything from basic set up of accounts all the way through to advanced advertising, teach you how to create engaging content, teach you what to post, how to post and when to post.
Have a look at our Workshops they are a great place to start or alternatively call Amanda on 07929 626512 and she’ll be happy to talk to you and guide you in the right direction.
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Canned PMA cadet’s family goes to SC
By: Jeannette I. Andrade - Reporter / @jiandradeINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 06:01 AM March 25, 2014
The family of dismissed Philippine Military Academy cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Saying that their son, former Cadet First class Aldrin Jeff Cudia, could not move on because he had been placed on indefinite leave by the Philippine Military Academcy (PMA), father Renato Cudia and mother Filipina plan to file Tuesday another petition in the Supreme Court seeking to have Aldrin honorably discharged from the PMA and given his diploma.
The entire Cudia family surfaced at a press conference on Monday at the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) to break their week-long silence on the younger Cudia’s dismissal from the PMA and his subsequent appeal.
The elder Cudia said it was impossible for his son to “move on” without an honorable dismissal or a diploma as he had completed all the academic requirements, so their only recourse was to seek the high tribunal’s intervention in the matter.
An honorable discharge is given to members of the military service who have met or exceeded the required standards of duty performance and personal conduct, or have completed their tours of duty.
Given a chance
“We gave (President Aquino) a chance. We were silent for a week. He asked for one week to find a solution and address our concern but nothing happened. Up to now we are still waiting,” the older Cudia said.
PAO lawyer Howard Areza said the agency would assist Filipina Cudia in filing a petition for intervention on behalf of her son after it had obtained new evidence, particularly sworn statements, that would attest to the absence of due process in the cadet’s dismissal from the PMA.
Stop implementation
Areza told reporters that Filipina’s petition was intended to be merged with her husband’s request on March 10 that asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order and stop the implementation of the PMA dismissal.
The petition also sought the ex-cadet’s inclusion in the PMA Siklab Diwa Class and asked that he be commissioned as an ensign in the Philippine Navy, in effect nullifying the PMA Honor Committee’s decision declaring him guilty of violating the Honor Code. The petition described the verdict as an exercise of grave abuse and discretion as well.
Areza said that Filipina Cudia’s petition was intended to “challenge the PMA decision to dismiss her son from the academy” and to ask the Supreme Court to order that benefits and privileges lawfully due a PMA graduate be conferred on the young Cudia.
“We are seeking the intervention of the Supreme Court for justice, preserving the honor and dignity of Cadet First Class Cudia and seeking redress for the baseless pronouncement of his guilt by the honor committee,” the PAO lawyer said.
Gariguez: Enlist in the housing program
Sarah Geronimo’s ‘Tala’ enters Billboard’s world digital song sales chart
TAGS: Aldrin Jeff Cudia, Filipina Cudia, honor code, Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Renato Cudia, Supreme Court
DILG orders Catanduanes gov to vacate post due to illegal reinstatement
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NYC Family Sues Facebook Over Image Of Daughter’s Corpse
Parents Of Caroline Wimmer Disgusted By Social Site's ImmunityBy John Slattery March 28, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Filed Under:Calvin Lawson, Caroline Wimmer, Communications Decency Act, Facebook, John Slattery, Mark Musarella
Mark Musarella, Caroline Wimmer/SIlive.com
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The outraged family of a local murder victim is taking on Facebook.
It was a paramedic who took the crime scene photos, and posted them on the site, but is Facebook, itself, to blame?
It’s a case of what the family is calling “disrespecting the dead,” reports CBS 2’s John Slattery.
Martha and Ronald Wimmer think that the photographing and posting of their daughter’s brutalized body is just more than they can stand.
“This is on the second anniversary of our daughter’s death. I just want to get by, day by day,” Martha Wimmer said.
Her daughter, 26-year-old Caroline Wimmer, was strangled with an electric cord. The convicted killer, Calvin Lawson, got 25 to life. One of the first on the scene, former emergency medical technician Mark Musarella, used his cell phone camera to snap a grisly photo of the corpse, which he then uploaded to Facebook. He pleaded guilty to official misconduct and lost his job.
A civil suit now names Musarella and Facebook.
“I found my daughter. I seen what she looked like. She was horrible. And I know that people at night are looking at it,” Ronald Wimmer said.
Because Facebook is a not-for-profit community bulletin board, it’s protected by a 1996 law, The Communications Decency Act, that gives the social networking giant immunity. The Wimmers’ attorney said what Facebook did was wrong.
“Just like a jewelry store cannot resell stolen property, neither can Facebook,” attorney Ravi Batra said.
The victim’s older sister was equally upset.
“Of the pictures on Facebook … for anyone to see, it kills me,” Christina Criscitiello said.
Later this week a bill is expected to be introduced in Albany that will attempt to reign in the broad immunity Facebook currently enjoys.
A spokesperson from Facebook said, “We haven’t been served or seen the complaint so we have no comment at this time.”
Do you think Facebook should be held liable? Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below.
Nancy Luna says:
VERY DISRESPECTFUL OF HIM…
JAKE KEE says:
OF COURSE FACEBOOK IS LIABLE. I HOPE THE FAMILY GETS AN AWARD BIG ENOUGH TO BREAK THE BACK OF THIS OUTFIT. THEY BETTER HOPE I’MNOT ON THE JURY!
That’s just plain ridiculous. You are an idiot.
Hp Loveshaft says:
“OF COURSE FACEBOOK IS LIABLE.”
That statement is completely and utterly asinine. That’s like saying Johannes Gutenberg is responsible for anyone who has ever committed libel using the medium of the printed page.
The dirtbag who took the photos and posted them is the one who is legally and morally liable. Facebook is only named in the suit because of their deep pockets (yet, this story refers to Facebook as “non-profit”…really?!?).
C Pace Lattin says:
No, its not a non-profit
Facebook didn’t do anything you idiots. Talk about just trying to get a payday. Sue the guy who did it. Oh what, he doesn’t have billions of dollars like Facebook?
nee says:
What would be reason to post those pictures,that is totallly disrespect to the family. Does Facebook have any rules of what can and cannot be posted ? What the hell was the paramedic thinks of. Would he like one of his family members display on social site like that.
Rowdy Boots says:
Let me get this straight:
If a creep murders someone in a restaurant, the restaurant is liable?
Is Facebook responsible for everything on its site?
IN THAT CASE I WILL SUE IT TOO…FOR WHAT MY SO-CALLED FRIENDS AND FAMILY POST ON THERE!
When a “Cracka Nation” page was created on Facebook, they took it down immediately. SOmeone posted it again, they took it down again. When some one created a Draw Muhammad page, they took it down immediately, and so on; however, they left up a F#*k the Troops page Facebook did nothing, and now this. What the article does not say is whether the photos and the page were taken down, and if they were, when.
If Facebook refused to take donw the page, yes, i believe there is a case; but if they took down the page upon learning of the photos, than I don’t think they have anything.
Let George Do It says:
The word is “Grisly”, grizzly is the name of a bear….jesus.
Lee Yarbrough says:
This suit I hate to say is about money. FaceBook did not publish the photo. I am sure once they where notified they even removed it.
Sue the people responsible. The law will be on the side of FaceBook on this case and you are wasting their time and yours. It is all about getting press for you and your attorney by filling this suit. Your attorney either does know or should know he has no case with FaceBook. The attorney should be sanctioned for his actions.
I feel sorry for what happen to your daughter but don’t lash out like this and make yourself look like a money grubbing fool.
Make up your mind: is it about money or publicity? I guess reading one article on the case qualifies you as an expert on the case. Hold your tongue, fool.
Vienna Joe says:
Why is the story referring to N.Y.P.D. Emergency Service Unit Police Officer Mark Musarella (pictured in his E.S.U. uniform) as an “E.M.T.” or a “Paramedic”? He may have had those certifications, but he is a police officer.
AmericanPatriot1970 says:
You are an idiot. You probably have no friends of your own, and spend all day in your Mom’s basement trolling the internet to make comments like you just posted. I use Facebook; I am NOT a child molester. I have a life, I have friends, I have a good job. Most in my family use Facebook as well; but I guess my sister is a child molester, so is my Dad, so is my boss at work, so are all of my friends, right?
Honestly, the only LOSER here is you; you obviously have no life. In fact, it is probably YOU that is more likely to be a child molester, since you are so quick to try and deflect the light so it will ‘shine’ on someone else….
facebook should be no more culpible for what its users post than comcast for transmitting the bits
John Blankenship says:
That’s silly. Seriously, if you feel it’s an invasion of privacy, sue the person who violated your rights, not the company that allowed him to do so. That’s like suing the Department of Transportation because someone committed a crime on THEIR roads.
But props to the EMT for promoting transparency. Perhaps Facebook was not the proper venue, but that kind of gruesome gore should be available for all to see. It helps cut down some of the media glorification of violence, and I think it sends a more realistic message to kids than television or movies.
Melissa Todd says:
The EMT has no money but Facebook that is another story.
David Kern says:
This is off topic but i played rugby in Doylestown Pa. with a John Blankenship in the late 80’s. Wouldn’t happen to be you would it?
MikeMNYC says:
David, check on Facebook!
rider237 says:
i fail to see how facebook is to blame? they provide a place for people to post stuff. people post stuff. do they have a policy to police all the stuff that is posted? i understand that they will take down some things that are reported as offensive. that seems fair enough. is it their job to search for, and then make a determination on, offensive material? seems like it would restrict material unnecessarily.
i understand the pain of the family, but this feels like a deep pockets move….
Bruce Ferguson says:
The paramedic should find another line of work. Obviously, he enjoys the gruesome side of his work a little too much . . . at the expense of greiving family and friends.
Facebook can’t be responsible for content that is uploaded. However, once they are notified of something like this after the fact, yes … I do think they should do the right thing and remove this.
No more lawyers! We have 10X the amount as Japan! Go produce something!
Facebook needs to pay millions for it’s vicious and heartless behavior. The facebook operatives cannot hide behind their positions, in fact they should be sued separately and additionally for their callus behavior, and for their trying to hide behind facebook’s fake position of irresponsibility. Just as everything is always somewhere, even if we cannot find it, responsibility is always there even if facebook and Hollywood seek to evade their responsibilities.
Alex Smelgus says:
Ahahahahaha, Need more trolls like you sir, quite the laugh 🙂
I was unaware that FB was a nonprofit company….
Cha-ching!!! Just as disgusting as publsihing the photo is tha parent’s trying to profit from it…Disgusting!
lawyer for a day says:
right on!!
Logical Lola says:
I don’t think the family is trying to profit from this as much as trying to force Facebook to have some standards so that some other family doesn’t have to suffer the same fate. I certainly wouldn’t want a photo like that published if it were my family member.
Gremlin5 says:
I couldn’t agree more, and I would be very outspoken about how Facebook’s right to do this should be protected.
I would then make sure everyone possible knew that Facebook gloried death with their God given freedom placing “placed advertising ads” on the internet.
And Facebook’s paid for placement ads suck so you would naturally only place with sites that are relevant.
Poor commercia performance combined with a ghoulishly matter of fact attitude about a young lady who was most likely a Facebook fan or user is not the kind of service advertisers want to do business with. Unless they eat puppies. then all bets are off.
Michael Hilton says:
With all due respect (definitely ALL) you’re making use right now of an option much like you’re denigrating. I have NO sympathy for the jerk who posted the photos, but yours is nothing but a cheap shot.
beatrix says:
I think CBS New York should learn to spell. I) It’s “grisly,” not “grizzly,” when you’re talking about blood rather than bears. 2) It’s not “reign in,” it’s “rein in,” as in slowing down a horse by pulling in its reins.
TheMadKing says:
beatrix, It’s the a) decline of Western civilization, b) the decline of the American education system. Or c) both. If the person who wrote this is a college graduate, that does not bode well.
Kudos to you!
uh, it is not proper to place a period at the end of a dependent clauses. Ghastly errors from braggadocios bore me.
“at the end of a dependent clauses. Ghastly errors from braggadocios bore me.”
That would be “a dependent clause”.
Money makes the world go round, the world go round, the world go round……….
Puzzled says:
How is Facebook a “not for profit” site if it’s owner made a vast fortune – off of Facebook? He obviously profited somehow. I
Ben Dover Plains says:
And they also have advertising and make revenue from it.
This is truly an extreme example of disgusting and unprofessional conduct from the paramedic.
He personally should face any penalty the law allows.
Facebook however is not libel in my opinion.
Facebook was created for 2 purposes.
1 generate a profit, as all business’s do
2 provide an exceptional service, Evidenced by the bazillions of users
It is what it is, one big bulletin board. Lets be careful not to condemn a truely remarkable social media based on the small percentage of less than honorable users.
My thoughts and prayers go out to that girls father, I would be inconsolable.
If once can raise case about disrespecting the dead, Westboro Baptist Church ought be on the receiving end of a class-action lawsuit.
sharon barnes says:
joebob says:
yes, and they can post child pornography, gay sex, anything else, so why not Dead bodies.
Well done there Zuckerberg.
IDIOTS Facebook Does provide a venue,and thus is…. liable.
Read the Communications Decency Act… you are wrong. Facebook is not responsible for what others publish on their website.
“no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.” 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(1)
Bloomyz&ass says:
WHy is the cop’s photo posted, I thought that I read that it was an EMS worker that posted the photos.
Jeff Rosen says:
I was wondering about that also. If he was convicted of official misconduct there is no way he could have been hired by the NYPD.
He’s retired NYPD–old photo.
Daniel A Hunt says:
That is a paramedic. DUH
Just to add to my below post (as I clicked submit too fast) I’ve seen pictures of corpses just as bad published in the press. If the EMT was arrested how about newspaper photographers and editors??
“I’ve seen pictures of corpses just as bad published in the press”
Just today in the murder victims bodies in the Afghanistan civilian slaughter for example
But Rolling Stone is an activist magazine that has a clear cut mission path… to make our troops look terrible so it is to be expected
Facebook is a social outlet that is free to use.
This guy is obviously a sociopath.
Could I walk around downtown with an A frame sign with big pictures of a dead girl horribly brutalized?
Is that free speech? Since when is this guy a member of the press exposing something awful?
That’s like playing with squirrel guts at the family reunion picnic.
There is no way Facebook can screen all of the millions of photos every day. I also can’t see how the EMT was arrested. What he did was extreme bad taste but not a crime. I could see him get fired if this was against job regulations but a crime??
As a medical professional,an EMS worker is bound by LAW to keep patient information confidential. Even if the patient is dead and/or dies
Big Bear says:
They are only suing Facebook because of the potential for money.
xschild says:
This happens everywhere. Before parents or family memebers are notified of the demise of loved ones, insensitive people snap and post pictures. It is a big complaint in our area. The local law inforcement say they cannot properly and by law notify families because it is already posted on facebook. Especially horrific automobile wrecks.
way to try and profit off your daughters death
David Cearley says:
I’m sure Facebook pulled the pic as soon as they knew about it, so what is the family sueing for?
B P says:
Turn off the internet. I think the switch is on the wall over there…
InBus F Good says:
FB a non profit community bulletin board. Now I’ve heard everything.
Paul G. Newton says:
i agree… not for profit… yeah and Donald Trump doesn’t want to make a scene.
Zero Tolerance says:
Photos taken by a guy named Mozzarela would certainly end in a big pizza! I think these parents found a way to try to make money out of the corpse. Americans are lawsuit addicted these days…
SCB says:
he made a conscious decision to put the photo on facebook, facebook is not to blame.
Emlee says:
Amazes me that some people are so clueless that they think Facebook knows what is in every photo posted….
peteny says:
We need to shut down the internet for all intents and purposes. Email should be administered by the USPS but only with positive ID and a small fee. Gov domains could remain but no others. My heart goes out to this family and the countless others whose lives have been ruined by Facebook. Facebook kills.
Yeah…GREAT idea….eliminate constitutionally protected free speech. You DO realise that you wouldnt be able to read or post to this story if the internet was shut off. Seems I heard of a certian president that wants to do the same thing…you didnt vote for the Kenyan-in-chief did you?
You can shut down your own internet. Thankfully in the United States of America, at least for now, I can choose when, how, and with whom I communicate.
Commie Pig says:
Big Brother !! Cool idea but it’ll never happen.
LOL says:
Ambulance chasing lawyer hard at work!
David Shyster says:
This is not a personal injury case, the ambulance chasing metaphor doesn’t apply.
Sandy Underpants says:
Does anyone have a link to the pic?
Facebook is to blame. If they can catch and edit something in the story listed below then they could have caught this.
http://m.aol.com/popeater/default/article.do?artUrl=http://www.popeater.com/2011/03/16/nikki-sixx-facebook-censorship/
Fauge says:
These were taken down because someone saw them and reported them. Facebook has a link to do this, if this photo was reported as inappropriate it would be removed. There is no possible way any company could review each of the millions of photos posted daily.
Chris @ Austin says:
Yes sue Facebook. They should also sue the Internet for allowing this material to be posted to the World Wide Web. Since Al Gore created the internet he should be the one who gets sued. They could also sue portals to the internet, Microsoft Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. My comment is absurd as this lawsuit.
samuel9 says:
Facebook is not responsible for content thats put on by someone. They have no control over it .
commenter says:
If Facebook does not wish to set guidelines as to what is appropriate for people to post then perhaps they should be forced to set a minimum age of 18 and display a notice upon entering the site of the possibility of encountering inappropriate, maybe even graphic, photos.
Rocco says:
What? How is facebook liable? What exactly did they do? Then if all pictures are subject to approval before posting, you will sue them for violating freedom of speech. Sue, sue, sue.
morag says:
First off the isn’t a freedom of speech issue since the government isn’t forcing Facebook to remove pictures. As far as Facebook being non profit that is nice but it’s still valued in excess of 30 million. I would agree that Facebook should be sues only if they failed to remove pictures immediately after notification of those graphic photos. To repeat, Facebook is a private entity so they can restrict whatever content they wish.
Facebook is a for-profit corporation.
There is no way FB could control what people post unless they disable the photo feature completely. The EMT made a horrid decision to post the photo. The EMT, therefore, should reap the punishment.
Absolutely NOT. Facebook cannot control (nor should they) everything that gets posted. This action was perpetrated by one man and he has been punished. Justice served. The scene would have been shown trial. My sincere condolences to the family. Truly callous behavior by EMT.
decalman says:
yes facebook should share the punishment,the person who posted the pictures is an idiot,I mean what was he thinking?,Facebook should set guidelines and rules on what is an appropriate post,there are young children using Facebook they see everything an adult sees.I use Facebook on occasion because it seems like one of the only ways to keep in touch with family,personally I don’t need it, I think it’s a complete waste of time.And I’m glad I didn’t see the photo.My deepest sympathy goes out to Carolines family,it’s just a horrible thing.
disco says:
your an idiot…how is facebook going to monitor every picture posted? If they refused to take it down once they were notified, totally different story, but as soon as they were made aware, they removed it. If you have a method on how they can screen the millions of photos posted per day, I’m, sure they would be more than happy to hear it.
Authorized User says:
“A bill will be introduced in Albany later this week, attempting to reign in the broad immunity Facebook currently enjoys.”
What?? Broad immunity? What the heck does that mean? Facebook committed no crime. No crime. Zero crime. The analogy to the jewelry store is idiotic. Yes, it’s terrible that the paramedic did this, but how is it Facebook’s fault? I’m sure they removed the image once they were made aware.
What’s next? Close down Smith and Wesson because someone got murdered using one of their guns? Shut down GM if someone gets hit by a car and dies?
Seriously. Get real. The paramedic was fired. Punishment served.
karen s says:
facebook should never have posted the pictures. there should have been more of a punishment the the ex-emt, a disgrace to his profession, and well his colleagues are to be rid of him. there was no redeeming value to the crime scene photo of a murder victim to going viral. spare me any remote reference to freedom of speech/expression. tho it’s hard to prove in some jurisdictions, emotional distress comes to mind as one way to go after facebook and musarella. this is not one of those “right to know” events. justice for the deceased and her family!
Yeah Facebook only has 2 or 3 comments to check out total systemwide and stuff so they should have been on top of this
Klaus Cook says:
Facebook did not post the pic, the EMT did, he got his punishment, case closed.
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Johnny Boychuk
Lee’s lead-by-example captaincy garners results for Islanders
By Scott CharlesOct 29, 2019, 10:30 AM EDT
The New York Islanders could have played it safe a year ago when John Tavares bolted for Toronto.
But head coach Barry Trotz recognized an obvious candidate to fill a leadership role and didn’t hesitate to follow his instincts.
Anders Lee was in position to leave the organization as he headed toward unrestricted free agency and could have been the second captain in as many seasons to walk out the door.
But that didn’t stop Trotz from announcing Lee as the 15th captain in franchise history and the team is benefiting today from that important decision last season.
Lee changed the direction of the game with a critical goal in the early part of the first period in the Islanders’ 5-3 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers Sunday. The team’s seven-game winning streak is the longest (in a single season) since they won nine straight in the 1989-90 season per team statistician Eric Hornick.
The 29-year-old power forward won a race to the corner to help the Islanders establish possession in the offensive zone, then beat Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim to the back post to even the score at 3:17 of the first period.
”He’s our leader,” fourth-line center Casey Cizikas said. ”When you see him and he plays like that, getting to pucks, taking the body, fight in those dirty areas, you want to follow him. That’s what you want in your captain and he has done a tremendous job at leading us.”
The Islanders followed in Lee’s footsteps, scoring four of the next five goals as the team climbed to second place in the Metropolitan Division on the back of a seven-game winning streak following a 1-3-0 start to the season.
“You always look to your leadership and they’re going to set the tone,” Trotz said. “His (Lee) goal was a great example of leadership. Leadership is, you don’t have a license to do less, you have a responsibility to do more. He knew it was a big game, and he did more.”
The culture surrounding the Islanders has changed radically since Lou Lamoriello and Trotz arrived on Long Island. The Islanders have posted a 55-30-7 record and won a round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for only the second time since the 1992-93 season.
[RELATED: In-depth look at Isles’ winning streak | Isles on the rise in Power Rankings]
The Islanders have established an identity over that time as a defensively sound team that frustrates opponents. But their mental toughness has been the team’s attribute that has seen the most significant improvement.
Take Sunday for example. Flyers forward Jakub Voracek scored 1:07 into the game and the Islanders didn’t blink.
”It didn’t affect us.” Trotz said of the early deficit. ”I thought our minds were in the right place. I don’t think it even fazed us.”
One of Lee’s most impressive traits is that he does a tremendous job creating a familial atmosphere that translates to success on and off the ice.
“We play for each other, it’s been a lot of fun,” said Derick Brassard.
Trotz and Lamoriello have played a large part in helping the Islanders form a new identity, but that message gets lost in the shuffle if a group of players is not able to relay the same information to their peers. Veterans Johnny Boychuk, Josh Bailey, Cal Clutterbuck have been able to assist, but they are clearly following in the footsteps of Lee.
The organization took a gamble naming Lee captain at the start of last season, a risk that is paying huge dividends today.
Scott Charles is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @ScottMCharles.
Tags: Anders Lee, Barry Trotz, Cal Clutterbuck, Casey Cizikas, Derick Brassard, Johnny Boychuk, Josh Bailey, Lou Lamoriello, New York Islanders, Anders Lee, Cal Clutterbuck, Casey Cizikas, Derick Brassard, Jakub Voracek, John Tavares, Johnny Boychuk, Josh Bailey, Travis Sanheim
The Buzzer: Hurricanes remain unbeaten; Sabres overcome late rally vs. Panthers
By Scott CharlesOct 11, 2019, 11:05 PM EDT
1. Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes. Rod Brind’Amour has allowed his defenseman to play up in the zone and not be afraid to take chances. Hamilton registered an assist on the opening goal of the Hurricanes’ 5-2 win against the Islanders when he delivered a beautiful cross-ice pass to set up Teuvo Teravainen. Then, added a goal of his own when he launched a one-timer from the point. Carolina has wins in five consecutive games and are out to prove that last year was not a fluke.
2. Dallas Eakins, Anaheim Ducks coach. He waited a long time for another opportunity in the NHL and through the early going of the season, he has pressed the right buttons as Anaheim skated to a 2-1 victory against Columbus. The Ducks have started the season 4-1, including a road trip that had three games in four nights. Eakins has had his team ready to play every night and is looking to take advantage of a wide-open Pacific Division. Ryan Miller added 26 saves in his season debut, which always helps the coach look good.
3. Mike Hoffman, Florida Panthers. The sniper knotted the game against Buffalo with a sneaky wrist shot late in the third period against Buffalo. Ultimately, the Panthers fell in a shootout after Vincent Trocheck and Aleksander Barkov failed to score. Hoffman is off to a terrific start with five goals in four games and is poised to benefit greatly from Joel Quenneville taking over behind the bench. Florida is expected to create some chaos in the Atlantic Division, and Hoffman playing like this can only help.
Hamilton had no qualms about taking the puck from his own blueline and generating an odd-man rush opportunity. Then, he led Teravianen perfectly to help the Hurricanes open the scoring on Friday.
Dougie feeds Turbo for a 1-0 @Canes lead. pic.twitter.com/QxtPDR0dCJ
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) October 11, 2019
Casey Mittelstadt went to the backhand to beat Sergei Bobrovsky in the shootout and clinch the victory for the Sabres.
Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk netted his first goal of the season when he hammered a slap shot past Petr Mrazek. But the highlight came when he took off his glove and aimed it right between the pipes. Former teammate Robin Lehner also got a kick out of the celebration.
? @joboych pic.twitter.com/ivYYlGBVsJ
That @joboych celly?
— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) October 12, 2019
Ryan Getzlaf becomes the Ducks franchise leader in games played with 989, passing Corey Perry.
Ducks have allowed one goal or fewer in four of their first five games for the first time in franchise history [Sportsnet Stats]
Hamilton’s seven points through Carolina’s first five games is tied for most by a defenseman in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history [NHL PR]
The Sabres extended their season-opening point streak to five games (4-0-1), their longest such run since 2009-10. [NHL PR]
Jeff Skinner‘s goal tonight gives him at least a point in three straight games (3G, 1A) and eight points (5G, 3A) in five games against the Panthers since he joined the Sabres. [Sabres PR]
Anaheim Ducks 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
Buffalo Sabres 3, Florida Panthers 2 (SO)
Carolina Hurricanes 5, New York Islanders 2
Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dougie Hamilton, Florida Panthers, Johnny Boychuk, Mike Hoffman, New York Islanders, The Buzzer, Aleksander Barkov, Casey Mittelstadt, Corey Perry, Dougie Hamilton, Jeff Skinner, Johnny Boychuk, Mike Hoffman, Petr Mrazek, Robin Lehner, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Miller, Sergei Bobrovsky, Teuvo Teravainen, Vincent Trocheck
Islanders looking forward, not taking series lead vs. Penguins for granted
By Sean LeahyApr 12, 2019, 11:53 PM EDT
UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Barry Trotz is very familiar with the situation the Pittsburgh Penguins face being down 0-2 in their Round 1 series against the New York Islanders.
During opening round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Trotz’ Washington Capitals dropped the first two games of their series with the Columbus Blue Jackets before rebounding to win the next four to advance. The Islanders have a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven matchup with the Penguins following Friday’s 3-1 victory, but as the series shifts to Pittsburgh for Sunday’s Game 3 (12 p.m. ET; NBC), things can quickly take a dramatic shift.
“We understand that we won a couple of games here but you have to win four,” Trotz said after Game 2. “You can’t take anything for granted.”
Defenseman Johnny Boychuk has played 99 NHL playoff games, second-most on the Islanders behind Valtteri Filppula’s 160. He’s played in two Stanley Cup Finals and has been through many roller coaster series. His message to his teammates right now is pretty simple.
“Forget about the last two games,” he said. “They’re going to be coming hard in their building and we have to be ready for them because they’re a good team and have very good forwards and ‘D’. We have to be ready.”
[NBC 2019 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HUB]
Through his vast NHL experience, Trotz will have them ready because his team will be facing a Penguins roster desperate to get back into the series and avoid an 0-3 hole. Like Wednesday night, Game 2 was a tight game, but the Islanders, after getting away from their aggressive forechecking style during portions of Game 1, got back to their successful formula in Game 2, forcing Pittsburgh into a sloppy, turnover-filled night.
“We kind of learned a little bit of a lesson, that first one,” said Islanders captain Anders Lee. “We got away from our game a little bit in that second period and we knew tonight that we can maintain our game plan for as long as possible and put ourselves in a good position.”
Even after a surprising 103-point regular season, some figured the Penguins’ star power would be too much to overcome in the series. Through two games, the script has been flipped. There’s still so much hockey left to play, but the Islanders are hitting the road taking the confidence and chemistry that’s brought them success this season with them.
“This room is a strong room, close room, one that sticks together,” said Lee. “I think we’re showing it there on the ice.”
MORE: Bailey, Eberle help Islanders take commanding 2-0 series lead
Tags: 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Anders Lee, Barry Trotz, Johnny Boychuk, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anders Lee, Johnny Boychuk, Valtteri Filppula
Flyers’ Voracek to appeal two-game suspension
By Sean LeahyMar 11, 2019, 4:45 PM EDT
Jakub Voracek’s feelings on being suspended two games by the NHL for his hit on New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk Saturday night were summed up in five simple emojis:
— Jakub Voracek (@jachobe) March 10, 2019
Voracek was assessed a major for interference. Boycuk did not return to the game and has been ruled out of the Islanders’ game on Monday against Columbus.
The Philadelphia Flyers forward is taking his displeasure with the Department of Player Safety one step forward by appealing the two-game ban, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. Voracek will travel to the NHL’s offices in New York City on Tuesday afternoon in hopes of having the suspension reduced to one game or wiped out entirely.
“He’s pointing at me like it’s WrestleMania or something,” Voracek said after the game. “Come on, it’s a hockey game. This is a guy who was sucker-punching 19-year-old Nolan Patrick last year at the end of the game, and he’s going to do that. Give me a break.”
“I don’t think Jake has any wrong intentions there. He’s trying to protect himself,” said Flyers interim head coach Scott Gordon. “The guy is sprinting in on him hard. It’s not like it was a 50/50 puck, where he’s waiting for him to come to him and step into him. He clearly sees that the guy coming and he’s trying to brace himself.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will hear Voracek’s appeal. The process will stop after Bettman’s decision as only suspensions of six games or more allow the player to appeal to a neutral arbitrator.
Voracek will remain out through the duration of the two-game suspension as he appeals.
Sean Leahy is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy
Tags: Jakub Voracek, Johnny Boychuk, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Jakub Voracek, Johnny Boychuk, Nolan Patrick
Sabres’ Eichel, Flyers’ Voracek facing hearings after Saturday hits
By Scott BilleckMar 10, 2019, 12:09 PM EDT
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety will be busy on Sunday.
Forwards Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres and Jakub Voracek of the Philadelphia Flyers will be asked to explain their actions in their respective games on Saturday after two massive hits.
Eichel’s came in the second period of a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. He and Carl Soderberg were chasing down a loss puck in the neutral zone when Eichel took his shoulder and laid it square into Soderberg’s chin, forcing the latter to leave the game temporarily.
Eichel was given a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head on the play, which can be seen here around the one-minute mark:
Eichel had enough, he admitted after the game.
Nikita Zadorov drilled him in the first period (a hit you can see from the beginning of the above video) after an offside whistle had already been blown.
“He hits me after they (bleeping), excuse my language, blow the whistle,” Eichel told the Buffalo News following in the game. “That’s whatever.
“I thought he was just reaching. I don’t know. I’d have to look at it, to be honest with you. I’m trying to protect myself. It’s a physical game. I think he’s going to deliver a hit to me.
“It seems like they were taking runs a little bit at times. If I’m going to be at the forefront of it, I might as well push back a little bit. I’ve got to protect myself.”
Eichel has never been suspended.
Meanwhile, Voracek will have to answer for this bit of interference he threw on New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk in their game on Saturday.
In a 5-1 game for the Flyers, Boychuk was pinching in to try and snag a loose puck heading Voracek’s way. Instead, Voracek saw Boychuk coming and dropped him with hit, forcing Boychuk from the game and resulting in a five-minute major for interference.
You can be the judge here:
Voracek was far from pleased with the call following the game.
“The explanation I got was if I hit him in the head, it would be a game [misconduct],” he told NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I don’t know why I got five. I try to protect myself, to be honest, maybe the puck was a little further than I thought — I thought the puck was close to me.
“It’s a tough hit. You know, he’s getting off the ice, he’s pointing at me like it’s a WrestleMania or something. Pointing at me like it’s a WrestleMania. Come on, it’s a hockey game. … He’s the guy that was sucker-punching 19-year-old Nolan Patrick last year in the end of a game. He’s going to do that? Give me a break.”
Voracek, like Eichel, has no history.
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck
Tags: Buffalo Sabres, Carl Soderberg, Colorado Avalanche, Jack Eichel, Jakub Voracek, Johnny Boychuk, New York Islanders, NHL Department of Player Safety, Philadelphia Flyers, Carl Soderberg, Jack Eichel, Jakub Voracek, Johnny Boychuk, Nikita Zadorov, Nolan Patrick
Lee’s lead-by-example captaincy garners results for Islanders October 29, 2019 10:30 am EDT The Buzzer: Hurricanes remain unbeaten; Sabres overcome late rally vs. Panthers October 11, 2019 11:05 pm EDT Islanders looking forward, not taking series lead vs. Penguins for granted April 12, 2019 11:53 pm EDT Flyers’ Voracek to appeal two-game suspension March 11, 2019 4:45 pm EDT Sabres’ Eichel, Flyers’ Voracek facing hearings after Saturday hits March 10, 2019 12:09 pm EDT Islanders’ Boychuk vows retribution on Flyers’ Voracek after hit March 9, 2019 10:14 pm EST Islanders’ Boychuk personifies commitment, blocks shot with face January 12, 2019 4:01 pm EST New York Islanders ’15-16 Outlook August 24, 2015 5:00 pm EDT Islanders’ biggest question: Will they finally make a deep run? August 24, 2015 2:18 pm EDT Bruins’ biggest question: Is the blue line good enough? August 13, 2015 1:42 pm EDT Poll: Has the Bruins’ Stanley Cup window closed? August 13, 2015 11:59 am EDT B’s among five or six teams in on Franson, who’s ‘sick of doing one-year deals’ July 21, 2015 6:13 pm EDT With cap ‘flexibility,’ Bruins not ‘closing the books’ on adding players July 15, 2015 11:59 am EDT Devils sign ’14 first-rounder Quenneville to ELC July 13, 2015 8:20 pm EDT Report: Isles, Hickey closing in three-year pact around $6.5M June 30, 2015 10:24 am EDT Julien ‘pretty impressed’ with Sweeney’s moves June 27, 2015 10:06 am EDT Lubo won’t go: Visnovsky is ‘definitely’ playing next season June 24, 2015 9:15 am EDT Report: Bruins trying to keep McQuaid June 19, 2015 4:28 pm EDT UFA of the Day: Johnny Oduya June 19, 2015 12:47 pm EDT Julien agrees with Sweeney, says ‘adjustments’ required for Bruins’ ‘transition game’ June 10, 2015 12:12 pm EDT McQuaid camp ‘holding out hope’ to re-sign with Bruins May 27, 2015 4:16 pm EDT Deadline approaching for Jackets to sign prospect Peter Quenneville May 23, 2015 9:43 am EDT Sweeney vows to return ‘aggressiveness’ to Bruins May 20, 2015 3:09 pm EDT Hamonic suffered torn MCL on Scuderi hit, no surgery required April 28, 2015 2:16 pm EDT Bettman projects 2015-16 cap will be $71.5 million April 26, 2015 11:01 pm EDT Caps prep for ‘biggest game of the year’ tonight at Nassau April 21, 2015 2:17 pm EDT Bruins fire Chiarelli after missing playoffs April 15, 2015 10:57 am EDT Bulletin-board material: Why your team won’t win the Stanley Cup April 15, 2015 10:35 am EDT Isles say ‘no timetable’ for injured Hamonic (undisclosed) April 14, 2015 11:15 am EDT Bruins don’t want to ‘rely on the last game’ to make the playoffs April 8, 2015 3:43 pm EDT Slumping Islanders welcome Leddy back to the lineup March 21, 2015 12:30 pm EDT Habs ride brilliant Price performance to win vs. Isles March 14, 2015 10:18 pm EDT Snow praises Boychuk’s ‘immeasurable’ influence on Isles March 12, 2015 4:28 pm EDT Johnny Be Rich: Isles sign Boychuk to seven-year, $42M extension March 12, 2015 2:58 pm EDT One NHL GM thinks it’s ‘ridiculous’ how much ‘heat’ Chiarelli is taking March 6, 2015 2:19 pm EST Isles sign Leddy to seven-year, $38.5M extension February 24, 2015 12:12 pm EST Chiarelli understands scrutiny on GM and coach, but says, ‘It’s unfortunate that we’re under review for one year’ February 20, 2015 4:42 pm EST Agent: No extension talks between Isles and Visnovsky, who wants to continue NHL career February 19, 2015 2:39 pm EST Bruins’ second D pair of Seidenberg-McQuaid is an issue February 5, 2015 12:18 pm EST Tavares: ‘Special teams are killing us right now’ February 5, 2015 10:13 am EST
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Tag Archives: halted
Detained Pakistani Christian Released – But Two Others Held
Christian falsely accused of ‘blasphemy’ taken into custody, released – and detained again.
LAHORE, Pakistan, April 18 (CDN) — A Christian illegally detained in Faisalabad on false blasphemy charges was freed last night, while two other Christians in Gujranwala arrested on similar charges on Friday (April 15) were also released – until pressure from irate mullahs led police to detain them anew, sources said.
Masih and his family have relocated to a safe area, but just 10 days after he was falsely accused of desecrating the Quran in Faisalabad district of Punjab Province on April 5, in Gujranwala Mushtaq Gill and his son Farrukh Mushtaq were taken into “protective custody” on charges that the younger man had desecrated Islam’s holy book and blasphemed the religion’s prophet, Muhammad. A police official told Compass the charges were false.
Gill, an administrative employee of the Christian Technical Training Centre (CTTC) in Gujranwala in his late 60s, was resting when a Muslim mob gathered outside his home in Aziz Colony, Jinnah Road, Gujranwala, and began shouting slogans against the family. They accused his son, a business graduate working in the National Bank of Pakistan as a welfare officer and father of a little girl, of desecrating the Quran and blaspheming Muhammad.
The purported evidence against Farrukh were some burnt pages of the Quran and a handwritten note, allegedly in Farrukh’s handwriting, claiming that he had desecrated Islam’s holy book and used derogatory language against Muhammad. A Muslim youth allegedly found the pages and note outside the Gills’ residence.
Inspector Muhammad Nadeem Maalik, station house officer of the Jinnah Road police station, admitted that the charges against the accused were baseless.
“The initial investigation of the incident shows Mr. Gill and his son Farrukh are innocent,” he told Compass.
The two were kept at a safe-house, instead of the police station, out of fear that Islamist extremists might attack them; their subsequent release led to Islamic protests that compelled police to detain them anew today, sources said.
Despite police admitting that the two Christians were not guilty, a First Information Report (No. 171/2011) was registered against them under Sections 295-B and C in Jinnah Road Police Station early on Saturday (April 16).
“Yes, we have registered an FIR of the incident, yet we have sealed it until the completion of the investigation,” Inspector Maalik said, adding that the police had yet to formally arrest Gill and his son. “We registered the FIR for their own safety, otherwise the mob would have become extremely violent and things could have gone out of control.”
The police official said that after the Muslim youth made the accusation, he gathered area Muslims together.
“It seems to be a well thought-out scheme, because the perpetrators chose the time of the Friday prayers for carrying out their plan,” Maalik said. “They were sure that this news would spread quickly, and within no time people would come out of the mosques and react to the situation.”
He added that police were now inquiring of the Gills why they might suspect anyone of wanting to harm them.
“We are also looking for any signs of jealousy or old enmity,” Maalik said.
Soon after the Muslim youth found the alleged pages, announcements blared from the area’s mosques informing Muslims about the incident and asking them to gather at the “crime scene,” sources said.
There are about 300 Christian families residing in Aziz Colony, and news of the alleged desecration spread like jungle fire. Announcements from mosques sparked fear in the already shaken Christian families, and they started packing their things to leave the area, fearing the kind of carnage that ravaged Gojra on Aug. 1, 2009, killing at least seven Christians.
“It’s true…the news of the accusations against Gill and his son and the announcements being made from the mosque calling on Muslims to avenge the desecration sent shivers down our spines,” said Pastor Philip Dutt, who has known the Gill family for several years and lives in the same neighborhood. “The charges are completely baseless. I’m sure no person in his right frame of mind would even think of committing such a vile act. Someone has clearly conspired against the Gill family.”
He added that most of the area’s Christians had left their homes overnight, fearing an attack by Muslims.
Dutt said that a large police contingent arrived in time and took Gill and his son into custody after assuring the enraged mob that a case under the blasphemy laws would be registered against the two men. Police remained stationed in the area to provide protection to area Christians, but the atmosphere was tense.
According to some reports, a group of angry Muslims wanted to torch Gill’s house, but timely police intervention thwarted their plan.
At the same time, a group of Muslim extremists stormed into the house of Anwar Masih, a Christian factory owner in Aziz Colony, and started beating him and his son, sources said. The family managed to save themselves by calling the police and now they too are in “protective custody.”
The Rev. Arif Siraj, moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, which also oversees the functioning of the Christian Technical Training Centre in Gujranwala, said the accusations against Farrukh were yet another example of how the country’s blasphemy laws are misused against innocent people.
“We have been engaged with the police and local Muslim leaders throughout the day to resolve this issue amicably,” Siraj said. “An eight-member committee comprising six Muslims and two Christian pastors has been formed to probe the incident, and they will make a report on Friday.”
The names of the Christians of the eight-member committee are Pastor Sharif Alam of Presbyterian Church Ghakarmandi and the Rev. Joseph Julius.
A large number of Muslims, including members of religious parties and banned outfits, came out to the roads of Gujranwala on Saturday (April 16) to protest the alleged desecration of the Quran and pressure police to take action against Gill and his son. The protestors reportedly gelled into one large demonstration on Church Road and headed towards the CTTC. Siraj said that some participants threw stones at a church on the road, but that Muslim elders immediately halted the stone-throwing.
“The district administration and Muslim leaders have now assured us that no one will target Christian churches and institutions,” he said, adding that both communities were now waiting for the committee’s report.
Sohail Johnson of Sharing Life Ministry expressed concern over the accusations.
“This case is a classic example of how Christians and Muslims continue to be charged with blasphemy on false accusations,” he said. “Isn’t it ridiculous that the accuser is claiming that Farrukh has confessed to burning the Quran in his note and thrown the burnt pages in front of his house – what sane person would even think of saying anything against prophet Muhammad in a country where passions run so deep?”
Arif Masih, the falsely accused Christian released last night, has reportedly been relocated along with this family to a safe location.
The original blasphemy law, introduced in British India in 1860, imposed a prison term of up to two years for any damage to a place of worship or sacred object carried out “with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as an insult to their religion…”
The current provision in the Pakistan Penal Code, as amended in 1986, introduces both the death penalty for insulting Muhammad and drops the concept of intent. According to Section 295-C of the Penal Code, “Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life and shall also
be liable to fine.”
The laws have drawn condemnation across the world, and two senior government officials – Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer, a liberal Muslim, and Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian, have been assassinated this year for demanding a review of the legislation.
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Despite Court Victories, Church Building in Indonesia Blocked
Islamists attack, issue threats to halt construction of worship center in West Java.
JAKARTA, Indonesia, September 22 (CDN) — A year after a church in West Java won a court battle over whether it could erect a worship building, Islamic extremists have blocked construction through attacks and intimidation tactics, church leaders said.
A mob of 50 Muslim extremists on Sept. 12 attacked construction workers at the Batak Christian Protestant Church (Huria Kristen Batak Protestan, or HKBP) site in Cinere village, near Depok City, in Limo district, eyewitnesses said; the 24 workers, who were on break, fled from the attackers, who chased them brandishing wooden boards studded with nails. Cinere village police arrived to restore order, but the mob left behind seven banners opposing the construction.
Three days later, Islamic groups demonstrated near the construction site on Puri Pesanggarahan IV St., demanding that all Christian activities in the area cease. About 70 Muslims participated in the demonstration, trying to approach the construction site until hundreds of police repelled them. Police have continued guarding the site.
The church won a case in West Java State Administrative Court on Sept. 17, 2009, rescinding a local order that had revoked the church’s building permit. The Supreme Court later upheld the Bandung court’s ruling, but threats have kept the church from proceeding.
Betty Sitompul, vice-chair of the church building committee, said she has received many intimidating text messages from a group opposed to the construction.
“They demanded that the church construction be halted,” she told Compass.
Sitompul added that some of the messages were intensely angry, and that all were aimed at stopping construction.
She said she an official of the Depok municipal government contacted her requesting that construction be delayed two months in order to discuss it with area residents. With a Supreme Court decision backing their case, church leaders declined and continued building.
Sitompul said she never yielded to threat or intimidation because the church construction project has a firm legal basis in the Supreme Court decision.
“There was no need to worry any longer,” she said. “I felt the problem was solved. It is normal for some to be dissatisfied.”
The Muslim Defenders’ Front (Front Pembela Islam, or FPI) reportedly participated in the Sept. 15 demonstration, but the FPI leader for Depok City, Habib Idrus Al Gadhri, denied opposing the area HKBP church.
“The rejection is from the Cinere Islam Solidarity Forum [FSUM] not from the FPI,” Al Gadhri told Compass.
He said that the HKBP church in Cinere is not facing opposition from the FPI but from the entire Muslim community.
“If FPI members are involved, I’m not responsible,” Al Gadhri said. “My advice is for the entire Muslim community in Cinere to sit down together and not demonstrate.”
The church had originally been granted a building permit in 1998. Applications for church permits are often fraught with difficulty in Indonesia, leaving many congregations no choice but to worship in private homes, hotels or rented conference facilities. Such gatherings leave churches open to threats and intimidation from activist groups such as the FPI, which in recent years has been responsible for the closure of many unregistered churches.
Congregational Concern
Despite having the law on their side, church leaders said many in the congregation are haunted with dread amid outbreaks of Islamic ire at the presence of churches in West Java, such as the Sept. 12 attack on the HKBP church in Ciketing, Bekasi, in which an elder was seriously wounded and a pastor injured.
Peter Tobing, head of the Cinere HKBP church building committee, said that some in the congregation and building committee feared that the outbreaks of Islamic opposition will lead to chaos.
The church is planning to sue the Depok municipality based on the allegation that its actions were illegal and caused deterioration at the site. When Depok Mayor Nur Mahmudi Ismail revoked the building permit for a multipurpose building and house of worship on March 27, 2009, it led to losses for the church as the congregation had to leave it unattended for a year, according to Tobing.
“Because of this, construction began with the clearing of weeds and building materials [such as paint] that had degraded,” Tobing said.
Sitompul said the bases for the lawsuit are the court decisions declaring the Depok mayor’s revocation of the building permit to be illegal.
“The Depok municipal government must take responsibility for the losses incurred when the building permit was revoked,” she said.
The lawsuit will seek compensation for damages incurred over the last two years, she said.
“We are going to submit all the data to the Depok government,” Sitompul said. “Then we will file our suit in the Depok Municipal Court.”
The church plans to construct its multipurpose building on a 5,000-square meter lot. Construction was halted in the initial stages, with the bottom floor 30 percent completed. The church had spent some 600 million rupiahs (US$66,000), with total costs projected at 2 billion rupiahs (US$220,000).
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Construction of Two Churches Stopped in Indonesia
Posted on April 4, 2010 by particularkev
Government unduly seals shut one church building, Islamic mob forces halt to another.
JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 25 (CDN) — An Islamic mob stopped construction of Santa Maria Immaculata Catholic Church in Citra Garden, West Jakarta earlier this month even as government officials in Yasmin Park, Bogor, West Java halted work on an Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) building.
On March 12, the same day GKI faced closure from government officials, protestors led by the United Islam Forum (FUIB) blockaded the entrance to Citra Garden, demanding that construction of the Catholic church building there cease. They based their demand on the claim that it did not have the approval of the local citizens, but the church had official permission and therefore has been under construction for several weeks.
The building permit was posted in plain view, but the Islamic protestors said they felt that not all citizens had agreed to allow the building.
The Rev. Peter Kurniawan Subagyo of Santa Maria Immaculata said the church belonged to the parochial district of Cengkareng, but that the district became so large (20,000 people) that a separate parish needed to be established. The church had found an 8,000-square- meter lot in Citra Garden.
The building permit was processed normally, and all necessary citizen signatures were secured, he said. The Jakarta provincial government approved the permit, which was formally published in state-owned media on Jan. 18.
Shortly after approval of the building permit, the church building committee went to work. Construction had been under way for only a few weeks before Islamic crowds began demonstrating in the name of the local citizens.
Church leader Albertus Suriata said the congregation never has had problems with local people.
“We have had good relations,” Suriata told Compass. “I don’t think that anyone near the church had objections. We suspect outsiders.”
He said that the church had attempted to resolve the problems posed by the protestors through a number of informal channels.
“We had just begun to build,” he said. “Do we have to stop just because of demonstrations? Besides, we have official permission from the government.”
SealedIn West Java, Bogor city police on March 12 sealed the construction site of the Yasmin Park Indonesian Christian Church. Previously the Bogor city government had revoked the church building permit, claiming that the congregation created “uneasiness” among local people.
Sources said the permit revocation and closure were the direct result of pressure from organizations such as the Muslim Communication Forum of Indonesia (FORKAMI), Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, and the Muslim Lawyers’ Team (TPM), which had repeatedly called for a halt to church construction.
Chief Abdul Rahman of the Bogor police said he sealed the building site on instructions from Area Secretary Bambang Gunawan.
“We followed the instructions of the Bogor Area Secretary and sealed the church,” Rahman told Compass.
The Bogor city government’s claim that the church caused “uneasiness” among the local people is false, said a source who requested anonymity. The source said the Bogor city government came under pressure from several Muslim organizations to revoke the building permit, and that in fact Yasmin Park residents had no objection to a church in their midst.
“Relations between the church and the residents were always good,” the source said.
Ayu Augustina, leader of Muslim Communication Forum of Indonesia in Bogor, was resolute in his opposition.
“We intend to continue meeting – we will pursue this matter to the end,” he told Compass. “The church must be sealed.”
GKI spokesperson Ujang Sujai said that the church is working to arrange a meeting between the Area Secretary Gunawan and Yasmin Park residents said to be opposed to the building.
Posted in Christianity, Indonesia, Islam | Tagged Abdul Rahman, agreed, Albertus Suriata, allow, anonymity, approval, approved, area secretary, arrange, attempted, Ayu Augustina, Bambang Gunawan, based, began, belonged, blockaded, Bogor, build, building, building permit, called, cease, Cengkareng, channels, chief, Christian, Christianity, Christians, church, churches, citizens, Citra Garden, city, claim, claiming, closure, committee, congregation, construction, continue, created, crowds, demand, demanding, demonstrating, direct, district, entrance, established, faced, false, felt, followed, forces, FORKAMI, formally, found, FUIB, GKI, good, government, halt, halted, Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, Indonesia, Indonesian Christian Church, informal, instructions, intend, Islam, Islamic, Jakarta, large, leader, led, local, lot, matter, media, meeting, midst, mob, Muslim, Muslim Communication Forum of Indonesia, Muslim Lawyers' Team, muslims, name, necessary, needed, normally, objections, official, officials, opposed, opposition, organizations, outsiders, parish, parochial, people, permission, permit, Persecution, Peter Kurniawan Subagyo, plain, police, posed, posted, pressure, problems, processed, protestors, provincial, pursure, relations, repeatedly, requested, residents, resolute, resolve, result, Rev, revocation, revoked, Roman Catholic, Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholics, Santa Maria Immaculata Catholic Church, seals, secured, separate, shut, signatures, site, spokesperson, state-owned, stopped, suspect, TPM, Ujang Sujai, unduly, uneasiness, United Islam Forum, view, West Jakarta, West Java, work, working, Yasmin Park | Leave a comment
Church Wins Legal Battle to Worship in Building
Posted on October 9, 2009 by particularkev
Court in West Java rescinds mayor’s order revoking permit.
JAKARTA, Indonesia, September 29 (CDN) — Christians have won a court battle restoring the right to worship in their building in Depok City, West Java.
Depok Mayor Nur Mahmudi Ismail on March 27 had revoked the building permit for a multipurpose building and house of worship for Gereja Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) church following protests by Muslims. A court in Bandung on Sept. 17 rescinded the order that revoked the church building permit, paving the way for congregants to resume worship there.
Head Judge A. Syaifullah read the decision of the three-judge panel, which found the mayor’s reasoning for canceling the building permit inadequate. The mayor had said that most people living near the church objected to its building in Jalan Pesanggrahan IV, Cinere Area of Depok City.
“These objections by the local residents should have been raised when the building permit was going through the approval process, not protesting afterwards,” said Syaifullah.
Syaifullah added that the mayor also should have taken the views of church members into consideration.
“In this case, the revocation of the building permit was based upon the objections of one group in the community without considering those from the church,” he said.
Construction of the church building had begun in 1998, shortly after the permit was issued, but halted soon afterward due to a lack of funds.
When the project began anew in 2007, members of a Muslim group from the Cinere Area of Depok City and neighboring villages damaged the boundary hedge and posted protest banners on the walls of the building. Most of the protestors were not local residents.
The court determined that lawyers for the church successfully demonstrated that church leaders had followed all Depok City procedures for the building permit. Betty Sitompul, vice-chair of the HKBP church building committee, stated that the church court win was a victory for all Christians.
“We won because we had followed all the procedures and had completed all the required documents,” she said.
In early June the church had filed suit against the mayor’s action in a provincial court in Bandung, with church lawyer Junimart Girsang arguing that the mayor’s revocation of the permit was wrong.
Girsang said that the court had finally sided with justice for all Indonesians.
“The judges made the right decision and had no choice, because all of the papers for the permit were done properly,” he said.
The church had been meeting in a naval facility located about five kilometers (nearly three miles) from the church building since the permit was revoked, causing great inconvenience for church members, many of whom did not have their own transportation.
In South Sumatra Province, another HKBP church outside the provincial capital city of Palembang is trying to overcome objections by Muslim protestors in order to complete construction of its building in Plaju.
Church leaders acknowledge they had not finished the application process for a permit before beginning construction. They said they went forward because after they applied to the mayor of Palembang, he told them to talk with the governor of South Sumatra. After talking with Gov. Alex Noerdin and securing his approval on Feb. 10, church leaders began construction on a donated plot of 1,500 square meters only to face a demonstration by members of several Muslim organizations on June 27.
The South Sumatra Muslim Forum (FUI Sumsel) organized the demonstration. Carrying a copy of a mayoral decree dated May 2009 ordering a halt to construction, the protestors gathered outside the building site, listened to speeches and then destroyed a bridge leading to it before demanding that the government ban the building project.
Applications for church permits are often fraught with difficulty in Indonesia, leaving many congregations no choice but to worship in private homes, hotels or rented conference facilities. Such gatherings leave churches open to threats and intimidation from activist groups such as the Front Pembela Islam (Islamic Defenders Front), in recent years responsible for the closure of many unregistered churches.
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INDONESIA: CHURCH, BIBLE STUDENTS FIGHT DISCRIMINATION
Village congregation goes to court over loss of permit; SETIA students demonstrate for new campus.
JAKARTA, July 7 (Compass Direct News) – Christians have stood up for their rights in two key cases the last few weeks in heavily Muslim Indonesia.
Members of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan Church (HKBP) in Cinere village, Depok, West Java appeared in court on June 29 to contest the mayor’s revocation of their building permit in March, while students of the shuttered Arastamar School of Theology (SETIA) demonstrated in Jakarta on June 15, asking officials to honor promises to provide them with a new campus.
HKBP church leaders filed suit against the decision in the state court in Bandung, West Java. Two court sessions have been held so far, on June 2 and June 29, with Depok Mayor Nur Mahmudi Ismail represented by Syafrizal, the head of the Depok legal department and who goes by the single name, and political associate Jhon Sinton Nainggolan.
Mahmudi issued a decree on March 27 cancelling a building permit that was initially granted to the HKBP church in Cinere on June 13, 1998, allowing it to establish a place of worship.
The mayor said he had acted in response to complaints from residents. Contrary to Indonesian law, however, Mahmudi did not consult the church before revoking the permit.
Nainggolan, arguing for Mahmudi, claimed the revocation was legal because it was based on a request from local citizens and would encourage religious harmony in Cinere. But Betty Sitompul, manager of the building project, strongly disputed this claim.
“Our immediate neighbors have no objection,” she told Compass. “A small minority who don’t think this way have influenced people from outside the immediate neighborhood to make this complaint.”
Sitompul added that the church had been meeting in a naval facility located about five kilometers (nearly three miles) from the church building since the permit was revoked, causing great inconvenience for church members, many of whom did not have their own transportation.
According to Kasno, who heads the People’s Coalition for National Unity in Depok and is known only by a single name, the mayor had clearly violated procedures set forth in a Joint Ministerial Decree, issued in 1969 and revised in 2006, regulating places of worship.
Legal advocate Junimart Girsang, representing the church, confirmed that under the revised decree, conflicts must not be solved unilaterally but through consultation and consensus with the parties involved. He also said it was against normal practice to revoke a building permit.
Construction of the church building began in 1998, shortly after the permit was issued, but halted soon afterward due to a lack of funds. When the project recommenced in 2007, members of a Muslim group from Cinere and neighboring villages damaged the boundary hedge and posted protest banners on the walls of the building. Most of the protestors were not local residents, Sitompul said.
By that stage the building was almost completed and church members were using it for worship services. (See “Mayor Revokes Church Permit,” May 5.)
SETIA Protest
In Jakarta, hundreds of SETIA students demonstrated in front of the presidential palace on June 15, calling on officials to honor promises made in March to provide them with a new campus. (See “New Building Site Found for Bible College,” May 11.)
At least 1,400 staff and students remain in three separate locations in sub-standard facilities, causing great disruption to their studies, according to the students. The original campus in Kampung Pulo, East Jakarta, closed after neighbors attacked students with machetes in July 2008 and remains cordoned off by police.
In negotiations with SETIA director Matheus Mangentang in May, Jakarta officials again promised to assist the school in finding a new site, and promised to work with neighbors to secure approval for a building permit.
Joko Prabowo, the school’s general secretary, said he believes officials have now reneged on these promises. When school officials recently requested relocation to Cipayung, East Jakarta, the governor’s office rejected their proposal, citing community resistance.
Deputy Gov. Prijanto, who has only a single name, had initially suggested Cikarang in West Java as a new location, but SETIA staff rejected this offer, saying the site was outside Jakarta provincial limits and a move would be prohibitively expensive.
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VIETNAM UNEXPECTEDLY RESPOND TO CHURCH PROPERTY CLAIMS
Posted on May 12, 2009 by particularkev
In an unexpected turn of events, Communist authorities in Hanoi have responded to protests and halted construction on a piece of land that a Catholic church claims to have owned since 1928, International Christian Concern reports.
Vietnamese Roman Catholics had held several protests against the construction on land claimed by the Tai Ha Redemptorist parish, including a prayer vigil observed by one thousand people.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung announced the decision of the Hanoi People’s Committee on Tuesday, according to AFP. The committee had told agencies to “stop the implementation of the project and construction works on the land of the Ba Giang lake,” he said.
AFP said that a school has already been constructed on the property, and another building as well as a residential block are also planned.
Vietnam’s Communist government has given mixed signals to Vietnamese Christians in recent months. Last month, it allowed unregistered house church groups and 15,000 people to hold a large, public Easter-related service at Tao Dan Stadium. It had only allowed such an event on one other occasion, at Christmastime in 2007.
On March 11, however, the government abruptly destroyed an historic church building in the Banmethuot om area. It had confiscated the building from the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South), or ECVN(S), in 1975.
The ECVN(S) passed a resolution stating that its “Executive Council…is extremely upset and in deep sympathy with the 135,000 believers in Dak Lak province.”
Eight percent of the Vietnamese population is Christian. Of these, 6.46 percent are Catholic, and .89 percent are Protestant.
Posted in Christianity, Communism, Roman Catholicism, Vietnam | Tagged 2007, ;province, agencies, allowed, announced, area, authorities, Ba Giang lake, Banmethuot, believers, building, Christian, Christianity, Christians, Christmas, church, claimed, claims, committee, Communism, communist, communists, confiscated, construction, contructed, Dak Lak, decision, deep, destroyed, Easter, ECVN(S), Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South), executive council, extremely, Foreign Ministry, government, groups, halted, Hanoi, Hanoi People's Committee, historic, house church, implementation, land, large, Le Dung, mixed signals, occasion, parish, Persecution, planned, prayer, project, property, proprty, Protestant, protests, public, related, residential, resolution, respond, Roman Catholic, Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholics, school, service, spokesman, sympathy, Tai Ha Redemptorist, Tao Dan Stadium, unexpectedly, unregistered, upset, Vietnam, Vietnamese, vigil, works | Leave a comment
INDIA: NEWS BRIEFS
Recent Incidents of Persecution
Karnataka, December 19 (Compass Direct News) – Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal on Dec. 14 attacked a Christmas program of Christian social organization Helping Hands and accused the director of forcible conversion in Bangarapet, Kolar. The intolerant Hindus disrupted the program of the organization, which helps rural women and children, and accused Samuel Moses of trying to forcibly convert women and children, reported the Evangelical Fellowship of India. The extremists burned gospel literature and took Moses and his accountant to the Bangarapet police station. The Christians were detained in the police station for about nine hours, with the incident publicized on local broadcast and print media. The Christians were later released without charges. Police Inspector Chinnana Swami told Compass that the Christians were detained for questioning but police found no forcible conversion and the case has been closed.
Karnataka – Hindu extremists allegedly belonging to the Hindu extremist Rakshane Vedike on Dec. 8 attacked a pastor, accusing him of forceful conversion in Ibrahim Pura, Bellary. The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that at 5 p.m Assembly of God pastor N. Satyam and another Christian were on their way home from a prayer meeting organized by convert Krishna Veni when a mob of about 25 extremists led by Sidesh Mallesh and Mahendra Bhatt dragged the Christians from an auto-rickshaw, cursed them in foul language, beat them and falsely accused the pastor of forceful conversion. The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) reported that police arrived and took the Christians to the police station, where about 100 Christians later protested against the violence. The Christians were released without charges at 11:30 p.m., and the matter was settled peacefully between the two parties, EFI reported.
Andhra Pradesh – Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) extremists from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Dec. 7 beat a pastor in Bhainsa Mandal, Adilabad district. The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that at about 7 p.m. Bethel Church pastor Prabhu Das and church members identified only as Mark and Raju were on their way back from a prayer meeting when nearly 25 Hindu extremists armed with wooden batons surrounded them and angrily questioned them about their reason for coming to the village. The extremists repeatedly slapped Das and Mark and snatched Raju’s bag, which contained a Bible, and the latter fled. A local pastor told Compass that on identifying Das as pastor, the extremists falsely accused him of forcible conversion and beat him up with their batons on his hands and legs. Raju phoned a Christian who came with a vehicle and took Das to a private nursing home for treatment for a fracture in his left hand. Later he was admitted to the Adilabad Government Hospital. Das has declined to file a First Information Report, saying he has forgiven his attackers. A local pastor told Compass that on Dec. 12, the Pastors’ Fellowship of Adilabad presented a memorandum to the superintendent of police requesting security for pastors of the district.
Madhya Pradesh – Nearly 20 Hindu extremists from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Dec. 5 beat pastors Pangala Bhai and Limba Bhai in Palasapara village in Meghasah Tehsil. The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) reported that at about 3 p.m. extremists surrounded Pangala and Lima of Indian Evangelical Team as they were returning home from a prayer meeting. Using foul, abusive language, the extremists falsely accused them of forceful conversion, beat them and robbed a mobile phone and cash. The village council chief took the injured pastors to a private hospital. The pastors have not filed a case against the attackers, saying they have decided to forgive them, EFI reported.
Punjab – Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal on Dec. 2 attacked two Operation Mobilization (OM) workers in Sangur. The Evangelical Fellowship of India reported that the extremists attacked Pani Garhi and Kiran Bhai as they were distributing gospel tracts in the area. OM men’s team leader Imocha Naorem told Compass that the extremists took the Christians to the police station after verbally abusing and slapping them. Police refused to file a complaint but gave a stern warning to the extremists not to disturb the Christians again.
Karnataka – Hindu extremists on Nov. 26 accused pastor Vantakesh Nayak of forceful conversion and beat him along with four other Christians in Davanagere. The All India Christian Council reported that the Christians had gone to a nearby village to open up a new shop with prayer when the extremists stormed in and assaulted them, tearing their shirts. The intolerant Hindus filed a police complaint of forceful conversion against the pastor in Honnalli police station. Investigating Officer Jai Laxman told Compass that the Christians were detained only as a preventative measure, that they have been released and that the case is closed.
Andhra Pradesh – Hindu extremists on Nov. 25 attacked a pastor, accused him of forceful conversion and vandalized his vehicle in Devarakonda, Telangana. The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that pastor Srinivas Naik and two Christians, K. Raju and one identified only as Naresh, were screening the Jesus film at DNT government hostel with prior permission of the hostel warden. As the Christian team was about to leave the extremists surrounded them and pulled them down from their vehicle. The police arrived at the scene and managed to stop the extremists from burning the vehicle. The team members were arrested under Section 295(A) of the Indian penal code for “hurting religious feelings” and were later released on bail.
Madhya Pradesh – Hindu extremists on Nov. 24 attacked and abducted a pastor in Mandla district. Gospel for Asia (GFA) missionary pastor Nandiram Chauhan had gone to conduct a prayer service in the morning when 10 Hindu extremists on bikes began harassing him, a GFA representative told Compass. They snatched the pastor’s bicycle from him, as well as his mobile phone and gospel tracts, forced him onto one of their bikes and headed towards a forest where about 150 extremists waited. They locked him in the room of a structure there. At 8 p.m. about 20 Hindu extremists entered his room and assaulted him, and he was dragged to a waiting jeep. After asking permission to relieve himself, he fled, managing to escape to a Christian’s home in a nearby village with the attackers in hot pursuit. Christians escorted him to his village. A GFA representative told Compass that a police complaint has been filed, and officers assured the Christians that stringent action would be taken against the culprits. At press time, no arrests had been made.
Orissa – Orissa police on Nov. 22 arrested three Christians on false charges of “attempting to rape and murder” in Guntaput, Koraput district. The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) reported that the coordinator of Good Shepherd Community Church (GSCC), the Rev. Abiram Singh, said that a worker from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh identified only as Nanda filed a police complaint against three believers from GSCC, Rajat Kuldip, Saliman Kondhpan and Gokul Kondhpan, for “attempting to rape and murder” a tribal woman. The woman, Radha Pangi, told Rev. Singh she had not been attacked and had no idea why the Christians were accused. The Christians were released on bail on Nov. 28. Police are now searching for another three Christians from the GSCC for questioning, according to EFI.
Karnataka – Police disrupted a Sunday worship service on Nov. 2 in Bagalkot, halted it and warned a pastor not to conduct future services, according to the Christian Legal Association. Officers told pastor Basappa Adapur of Shalom Full Gospel Association not to conduct another worship meeting without obtaining prior permission from the Deputy Commissioner. Hindu nationalists in the area have been known to harm Christians who did not inform police that they were meeting for worship, according to police, so for their own security Christians must get permission to meet. Police also collected information on the 25 Christians attending the church.
Posted in Assemblies of God, Christianity, India | Tagged abducted, Abiram Singh, abusive, accountant, accused, action, Adilabad, Adilabad Government Hospital, admitted, All India Christian Council, allegedly, Andhra Pradesh, angrily, armed, arrest, assaulted, Assembly of God, assured, attacked, attackers, attempting, attending, auto-rickshaw, bag, Bagalkot, bail, Bajrang Dal, Bangarapet, Basappa Adapur, batons, believers, Bellary, belonging, Bethel Church, Bhainsa Mandal, Bible, bikes, briefs, broadcast, burned, burning, case, cash, charges, chief, children, Chinnana Swami, Christian, Christian Legal Association, Christianity, Christians, Christmas, church, complaint, conduct, contained, conversion, convert, coordinator, council, culprits, cursed, Davanagere, declined, Deputy Commissioner, detained, Devarakonda, director, disrupted, distributing, district, disturb, dragged, EFI, entered, escape, escorted, Evangelical Fellowship of India, extremists, falsely, file, filed, First Information Report, fled, forcible, forcibly, forest, forgive, forgiven, foul language, fracture, future, GFA, Global Council of Indian Christians, Good Shepherd Community Church, gospel, Gospel for Asia, gospel tracts, GSCC, Guntaput, halted, hands, harassing, harm, Helping Hands, helps, Hindu, Hinduism, Hindus, Hindutva, home, Honnalli, hostel, hurting religious feelings, Ibrahim Pura, identified, Imocha Naorem, incident, incidents, India, Indian, Indian Evangelical Team, information, intolerant, investigating, Jai Laxman, jeep, Jesus, K. Raju, Karnataka, Kiran Bhai, Kolar, Koraput, Krishna Veni, language, left hand, legs, Limba Bhai, literature, local, Madhya Pradesh, Mahendra Bhatt, managed, Mandla, mark, measure, media, meeting, Meghasah Tehsil, members, memorandum, missionary, mob, mobile phone, murder, N. Satyam, Nanda, Nandiram Chauhan, Naresh, nationalists, news, nursing home, obtaining, officer, OM, Operation Mobilization, organization, organized, Orissa, Palasapara, Pangala Bhai, Pani Garhi, parties, Pastor, Pastor's Fellowship of Adilabad, peacefully, penal code, permission, Persecution, phoned, police, Police Inspector, police station, Prabhu Das, prayer, prayer meeting, presented, press time, preventative, print, prior, private, program, protested, publicized, Punjab, pursuit, questioning, Radha Pangi, Rajat Kuldip, Raju, Rakshane Vedike, rape, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, reason, recent, released, repeatedly, reported, representative, requesting, robbed, room, rural, Saliman Kondhpan, Samuel Moses, Sangur, scene, screening, searching, security, service, settled, Shalom Full Gospel Association, shirts, shop, Sidesh Mallesh, slapped, snatched, social, Srinivas Naik, state, stormed, stringent, structure, superintendent of police, surrounded, team, tearing, Telangana, tracts, treatment, tribal, vandalized, Vantakesh Nayak, vehicle, village, violence, waited, warden, woman, women, wooden, worker, worship, Worship service | 1 Comment
VIETNAM: ATTACK ON CATHOLIC CHAPEL SHOWS AUTHORITIES’ FEAR OF RELIGION
Posted on November 22, 2008 by particularkev
On same day, Mennonite denomination receives legal recognition; pastors wary.
LOS ANGELES, November 20 (Compass Direct News) – At a chapel on the remaining patch of Thai Ha Redemptorist property in Hanoi that the Vietnamese government had yet to confiscate, at 10 p.m. on Saturday night (Nov. 15) an official came to summon the priests to an “urgent meeting.” According to Vietcatholic.net website and other church sources, it proved to be a ruse to draw them away from the property while government-inspired gangs attacked St. Gerardo Chapel.
As the gangs ravaged the chapel, Father Joseph Dinh told Independent Catholic News, some people at the church began ringing the church bells to signal for help while others sent urgent e-mail and text messages asking Catholics to defend it.
Hundreds of police with stun guns tried to keep the arriving faithful from entering the chapel to stop the destruction. The hundreds of Catholics who arrived eventually overwhelmed officers, going past police to scare off the attackers. Witnesses reportedly said that government, police and security officials had stood by doing nothing to protect the chapel.
They also said that fleeing gang members shouted obscenities threatening to kill the priests and the faithful, as well as the archbishop.
“It is significant that the government attack against the monastery came on the eve of the celebration of the Feast of Vietnamese Martyrs,” a local priest told Vietcatholic.net. “This attack reminds people that since the outset, the seed of faith in Vietnam’s soil was mixed with the abundant blood of Catholic martyrs from all walks of life – from courageous missionaries to local clergy and the Christian faithful.”
The priest concluded by decrying the deterioration of conditions for Vietnamese Catholics.
A government spokesman later denied that the Vietnamese forces or authorities were involved in the attack.
As the government had achieved its objective of taking over the contested land, the well-coordinated attack came as a surprise to many. In September, Vietnam had resorted to force to answer months of growing but peaceful prayer vigils over long-confiscated Catholic properties in Hanoi, reneging on a promise to negotiate a settlement. Unilaterally, the government quickly turned the papal nunciature and the rest of the Thai Ha Redemptorist property into public parks.
The solidarity demonstrated by Catholics throughout the country appeared to have alarmed authorities. They reverted to classic attacks of disinformation and slander against Catholic leaders, and even after they had halted the prayer vigils, taken the contested land and allowed previous gangs to ransack the Redemptorist chapel, authorities demanded the removal of the archbishop of Hanoi, Ngo Quang Kiet, whom they accused of inciting riots against the state.
A Protestant pastor in Hanoi said the government’s recent conflict with Catholics has had a ripple affect on other churches and religions.
“Though it is the Catholics who are being most lambasted in the state media, Protestants are also maligned along with Catholics by government propaganda,” he said. “Secondly, all religious leaders are again subject to closer surveillance.”
Mennonite Church Recognized
Ironically, only a few hours earlier on the same day the chapel was attacked, the Vietnam Mennonite Church was allowed to hold its organizing general assembly in Ho Chi Minh City, becoming the fifth smaller church body to receive full legal recognition in 2008.
While registration can mark an improvement in the way the government treats a church, it is not to be confused with full religious freedom, church leaders said, as it is sometimes used as a means of control. The dubious benefits of registration have led many Protestant groups to simply quit seeking it.
Other Protestant groups to receive legal recognition in 2008 were the Grace Baptist Church, the Vietnam Presbyterian Church, the Vietnam Baptist Church, and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. This brought the total number of fully recognized Protestant denominations to eight. Two of the eight bodies, the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South) and the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North), received legal recognition before the new religion legislation initiated in late 2004.
None of the 24 house church organizations of the Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship (VEF), however, has received even the lower-level “national registration to carry out religious activity.” Only one in seven of its congregations even have permission to operate locally.
Of the total 2,148 VEF congregations, 1,498 have applied for local permission to carry out religious activity, but only 334 have received it. Another house church organization has had 80 congregations apply for local permission to operate and has received only refusals or no answer at all. Other groups report a similar experience.
A hint of the government’s attitude toward registered churches, pastors said, was evident in its official news release on the Vietnam Mennonite Church general assembly. The Vietnam News Agency release of Nov. 15 enjoining the church to “serve both God and the nation” and to “unite with other people in the course of national reconstruction” struck some church leaders as an expectation that their congregations will serve political ends.
Christian leaders detected government fear of churches’ international connections in the official claim that, “For more than three decades, the Vietnam Mennonite Church has operated independently from foreign Mennonite churches.”
As is customary, the ceremony included an address by a representative of the Bureau of Religious Affairs. Nguyen Thanh Xuan said he expects the Mennonite Church “to bring into full play good characteristics of Protestantism, uphold the tradition of charity, and join hands with other religious and non-religious people to build a country of stability and prosperity.”
The heavy-handed treatment of Catholics over the disputed property and the offering of legal registration to more Protestant groups does not present the contrast it may first appear, said one long-time observer.
“Catholics outnumber Protestants about five to one and are a much more formidable and unified organization than Vietnam’s fractured Protestants,” he said. “Alarmed at the largest countrywide Catholic solidarity ever demonstrated, nonplussed security authorities ordered a classic, harsh crackdown and incited ‘punishment’ disguised as citizens’ outrage.”
Protestants, he said, are less numerous, more divided and rarely capable of joint action, so they do not pose a serious threat.
“For example, the oft-repeated requests and ultimatums by the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South) on their 265 confiscated properties are simply ignored,” he said. “And don’t forget that the majority of Protestants are ethnic minorities in remote areas who remain closely watched by the government.”
Posted in Christianity, Mennonite, Roman Catholicism, Vietnam | Tagged abundant, achieved, action, address, alarmed, allowed, answer, applied, Archbishop, arriving, attack, attacked, attackers, attitude, authorities, bells, benefits, blood, Bureau of Religious Affairs, capable, celebration, ceremony, chapel, characteristics, charity, Christian, Christianity, Christians, church, churches, citizens, clergy, concluded, conditions, confiscate, conflict, confused, congregations, connections, contested, control, country, countrywide, courageous, crackdown, customary, decrying, defend, demonstrated, denied, denomination, denominations, destruction, detected, deterioration, disguised, disinformation, disputed, dubious, e-mail, entering, ethnic, Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North), Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South), evident, expectation, experience, faith, faithful, Father, fear, Feast of Vietnamese Martyrs, fleeing, forces, foreign, formidable, fractured, gangs, General Assembly, God, government, Grace Baptist Church, groups, growing, halted, Hanoi, help, hint, Ho Chi Minh City, ignored, improvement, inciting, included, Independent Catholic News, inspired, international, involved, Joseph Dinh, kill, lambasted, land, leaders, legal, legislation, local, maligned, Martyrs, media, meeting, members, Mennonite, minorites, missionaries, monastry, nation, national, negotiate, news release, Ngo Quang Kiet, Nguyen Thanh Xuan, nunciature, objective, obscenities, observer, officers, official, operate, outrage, overwhelmed, papal, parks, pastors, peaceful, people, persceution, police, political, prayer vigils, priests, promise, propaganda, property, prosperity, protect, Protestant, Protestantism, proved, public, ransack, ravaged, receives, recognition, reconstruction, Redemptorist, refusals, registration, religion, religions, religious, religious freedom, remaining, remote, removal, reneging, representative, ringing, riots, Roman Catholic, Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholics, ruse, scare, security, serious, settlement, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, shouted, signal, significant, slander, solidarity, spokesman, St. Gerardo Chapel, stability, state, stun guns, summon, surprise, surveillance, text messages, Thai Ha Redemptorist, threat, threatening, tradition, treatment, ultimatums, unite, urgent, VEF, Vietnam, Vietnam Baptist Church, Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship, Vietnam Mennonite Church, Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam Presbyterian Church, Vietnamese, wary, watched, witnesses | Leave a comment
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← Field set for 2019 Tim Hortons Brier in Brandon (Curling Canada)
PEI’s Suzanne Birt returns to Scotties for tenth appearance (Curling Canada) →
Kim Aylward rink wins come-from-behind PEI Senior Women’s Final on a measure (updated with team pictures)
Posted on February 11, 2019 by adminFebruary 11, 2019
It not only came down to the last rock, but they had to measure to determine the winner, as the Kim Aylward rink from the host Silver Fox Curling Club in Summerside, trailing 5-2 after six ends this afternoon, scored a triple in end seven and stole a single in the final end to edge the Shelley Ebbett team from the Cornwall Curling Club by a 6-5 score to win the PEI Senior Women’s title, and a trip to the 2019 Everest Canadian Senior Curling Championships, Mar. 23-28 at the new Chilliwack Curling Centre in Chilliwack BC.
Winning team (L-R): Donna Whelan, Debbie Caissy, Shelley MacFadyen, Kim Aylward, Curl PEI Past President Andrew Robinson
Aylward, who had a 6-2 win-loss record in the modified triple knockout event, advanced to the final against Ebbett by eliminating defending champion Shirley Berry and her Cornwall rink with a 9-5 victory in the morning semi-final. Each of the three teams involved in the championship round had won one triple knockout section, but Ebbett had received a bye to the final game by virtue of playing in all three qualifier games.
Finalist team (L-R): Colleen Soltermann, Kim Pippy, Paulette Richard, Shelley Ebbett
Other members of the Pat Aylward-coached winning team are third Debbie Caissy, second stone Shelley MacFadyen, and lead Donna Whelan. Rounding out the Ebbett finalist team are third stone Kim Pippy, second Paulette Richard, and lead Colleen Soltermann.
On Monday morning, the Philip Gorveatt rink from the Charlottetown Curling Complex and the Montague Curling Rink won the Senior Men’s title, after edging the Dale Cannon team from the host Silver Fox Curling Club in Summerside by a 4-3 score in a closely-fought game, with neither team taking more than a single point in an end. The Gorveatt rink, which includes third Kevin Champion, second stone Larry Richards, and lead Mike Dillon, had won two of the three sections of the modified triple knockout draw, giving them two chances to win the championship, but the second game was not needed.
Six men’s and six women’s teams took part in this provincial championship, with men’s and women’s divisions for curlers age 50 and over.
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Three Candidates You Should Avoid Voting for on Nov. 6: San Diego County’s Bottom of the Political Barrel
by Doug Porter on October 9, 2018 · 4 comments
in San Diego
Pre-modified image: Pixabay
Mail-by-vote ballots will be arriving at homes in California next week and, after posting more than three dozen articles about candidates and issue since the June primary, it’s time to wrap up this phase of our election coverage. There were lots of contests I wanted to cover, but couldn’t for lack of time.
My parting shot in this series involves a short-but-sweet essay warning folks about some people NOT to vote for. There are people running for office who you shouldn’t vote for, and then there are candidates are so bad you should consider crossing the street to avoid them if you see them coming your way.
Very soon, we’ll be posting the San Diego Free Press Progressive Voter Guide. The editorial board met last week to consider endorsements; those will be announced in the guide. We endorsed 14 ballot measures and 37 candidates. Three candidates were so bad they deserved special mention.
Office: Judge of the Superior Court
Every voter in San Diego County will be asked to vote on “Judge of the Superior Court Office No. 37.”
It’s the box right above the Superintendent of Public Instruction* and at the end of all the judicial contests on my sample ballot.
(*Another critical race. Make sure you vote for Tony Thurmond.)
Here are your choices for this ‘non-partisan’ office:
Matt Brower
Deputy District Attorney, County of San Diego
Sample Endorsements: San Diego County Democratic Party, San Diego County Deputy District Attorneys Association, San Diego City Attorneys Association, Lawyers Club of San Diego, Tom Homann LGBT Law Association, The Sierra Club, Service Employees International Union Local 221, Barrio Carlsbad Community Advocates
Note: I researched over 200 candidates for the general elections, and without a doubt, Matt Brower has the most endorsements of anybody running for local office.
Gary Kreep
Incumbent Judge in Office 37
Sample Endorsements: The San Diego Republican Party, East County California Republican Assembly, East County Tea Party, Patriots Union.
In this contest, it’s not a case of partisan politics, even though that’s how it might appear at first glance. (The local GOP has no shame.)
Judge Gary Kreep is an example of what happens when voters aren’t paying attention. He’s drawn national attention to San Diego Superior Courts from, among others: TPM Muckraker, Politico, Maddow Blog, FactCheck.org, OC Weekly and KPBS.
City Beat–and Dave Maass specifically– have covered him since day one.
Here’s a couple of paragraphs from 2012 that are still relevant to understanding Judge Kreep.
In 1979, Kreep founded the United States Justice Foundation to serve as the right wing’s answer to the American Civil Liberties Union. Through the nonprofit, he’s inserted himself into some of the greatest political and constitutional controversies in American history. The group, which rents office space in a building that Kreep owns in Ramona, has represented the gamut of right-wing clients, from defending members of the nativist Minutemen Civil Defense Force to writing briefs in support of Texas’ sodomy laws for the Pro-Family Law Center. He petitioned the U.S. Senate in 1989 to reopen its investigation of the so-called “Chappaquiddick incident,” in which Sen. Ted Kennedy had been involved in a fatal car accident. In 2005, he launched the Hillary Clinton Accountability Project and filed a lawsuit against Clinton, alleging campaign-finance fraud. In recent years, Kreep has gained notoriety for mounting legal challenges to President Barack Obama’s eligibility for the presidency, claiming he was born in Kenya. The press has dubbed it the “Birther” movement due to Kreep and his followers’ fixation on Obama’s birth certificate. Through an assortment of political committees, Kreep has also supported the election of Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Allen West, Herman Cain and Gov. Sarah Palin.
Throughout the 2012 election cycle, Kreep has walked a thin line in terms of permissible political activity for judicial candidates, as proscribed by the California Code of Judicial Ethics. Kreep and his Tea Party colleagues have also exploited loopholes in federal and state campaign-finance regulations to escape filing deadlines and disclosure requirements.
Kreep was censured by the nonpartisan California Commission on Judicial Performance for campaign violations in 2012, and for bias, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority (among other things) in office. He is currently rated as “lacking qualifications” by the San Diego Bar Association.
Don’t take my word for his unsuitability for office. Check out these stories:
Washington Post – ‘Birther’ judge Gary Kreep accused of making crude and racist comments is still on the bench. For now.
San Diego Union-Tribune– Disciplined judge Gary Kreep often absent from courtroom
Virtually the entire legal community has banded together to support Matt Brower against Gary Kreep. Don’t pass up your opportunity to vote in this contest.
Voters in El Cajon should take the opportunity to NOT vote for Ben Kalasho, who’s running for re-election to the City Council. You can read about his shenanigans here, here, here, and here.
And wouldn’t you know it, just as I’m getting prepared to write this article, the Union-Tribune drops another story about his malfeasance in office.
The El Cajon councilman has, once again, been caught using the city’s official seal/logo for campaign purposes. His second warning on this subject from the city comes in response to citizen complaints about a campaign mailer on city letterhead critical of Kalasho’s opponent in the upcoming election. At the bottom of the mailer, there’s a blue box titled “Who is really fighting for El Cajon?” with a link to his campaign website.
The city manager warned Kalasho that further use of the city’s logo or seal “may require the city to seek a court injunction or to take other measures.”
Kalasho has been under fire since being elected in 2016. Among charges against him are claims against him and his wife, Jessica, by contestants of a beauty pageant run by a for-profit chamber of commerce that Kalasho runs out of his Fletcher Hills home.
One contestant accused Kalasho of offering her the crown if she slept with him; the other said Kalasho or his wife posted her face on photos of naked women on the internet following a dispute over the prize money.
A San Diego lawyer and a group of restaurant owners have also accused the couple of creating fake social-media profiles to disparage their businesses.
At one time Kalasho was a Democrat. Recently, he attempted to re-register as a Federalist, a right-wing resurrection of an early 19th-century party not recognized by the State of California.
Whatever. He’s a crappy candidate.
Last, but not least, here’s a shout out to National City’s Ron Morrison.
Since he’s termed out as Mayor and couldn’t get voters to buy into his ballot measure extending his term of office, Morrison is now running for city council.
From circumventing popular resolutions to the political labeling of water bottles intended for schools with poor-quality water to removing seats from the City Council chambers as a means of stifling protest, Morrison has what it takes to make this short list.
Please, National City voters, send this clown packing.
I’d like to apologize to all the other unworthy candidates out there for excluding you from this list. You just weren’t sleazy enough. Better luck next time.
From San Diego Free Press
NOT DUMANIS October 10, 2018 at 10:23 am
Perhaps weasel Bonnie Dumanis is not as much a pariah as she once was, but certainly the old battle-ax should have made your “Ones to Avoid” list for nostalgia reasons. Many citizens have fought long and hard against this tool of the good ole boys and now that she stands at the edge of political defeat at the BOS thanks to Nathan Fletcher, it would be an honor to see the Rag and friends help push her out that door to permanent pasture. Just because pot is legal now doesn’t mean that Dirty Dumanis gets a pass for all her previous misdeeds. I am offended that she was overlooked and hope this oversight will be rectified by you before election day. NOT DUMANIS!
Frank Gormlie October 10, 2018 at 12:31 pm
See our new “Progressive Voters Guide” published today.
Jabra1 October 16, 2018 at 8:33 pm
The above is a staggeringly obvious and failed attempt to gloss over Bessmon Kalasho’s long history of participation and membership in the Democratic Party. To say, “At one time Kalasho was a Democrat” was highly misleading and a clear attempt to distort the facts. Kalasho is a long time Democrat and was a Democrat when he committed every offense listed on this page.
When he threatened East County Magazine and the UT with lawsuits, he was a Democrat.
When he lost the non-profit status of his chamber and his pageant, he was a Democrat.
When he committed the fraud to which he pled guilty and for which he remains on probation to this day, Kalasho was a Democrat.
When he committed all the acts found true by Judge Timothy Taylor like posting faked nude photos of a pageant contestant who dared complain when he failed to award her the promised prize money for her win, Kalasho was a Democrat.
When he libeled an innocent restaurant owner who denied his request to post a campaign sign in his restaurant window, Kalasho was a Democrat.
When he offered to trade sex for a pageant crown in the pageant he ran, Kalasho was a Democrat.
And when he threatened a reporter with his trained attack dog, Kalasho was a registered Democrat.
He left the party only when he received condemnation for his unlawful actions from Democratic quarters. And while he may no longer be registered as a Democrat, he remains a liberal progressive and one who will likely continue to vote for Democratic Party candidates who best represent his progressive political ideology.
Geoff Page October 17, 2018 at 11:01 am
So what is your point Jabra 1? All Democrats are crooks? I would no more say that Duncan Hunter represents all Republicans than I would say Kalasho represents all Democrats. I think Mr. Porter’s article did a good job informing about this guy.
Older Article: UN Climate Report Warns of Grim Consequences, Shrinking Time Frame for Action
Newer Article: Was There a Near-Fukushima Event on the Atlantic During Hurricane Florence?
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Santafreude!
By Sara Vilkomerson • 12/11/06 12:00am
Syndicate Public Relations, Dec. 20, La Esquina, 203 Lafayette Street
The boutique public-relations firm that has snatched up clients from all over the city celebrates in style with dinner at last year’s party spot (and client) La Esquina, followed by drinks at the Rose Bar at (client) Gramercy Park Hotel. “It’s a well-worn path for numerous employees,” said one party veteran. Co-founder Nathan Ellis said, “To sum up our holiday office-party attitude, I’d say we take our work very seriously, but not ourselves.” Case in point: last year’s shenanigans in the red room of (client) Marquee, where drunken nicknames were bestowed—Mr. Ellis was dubbed “ODB.” Expect clients to be in attendance, including Ian Schrager, Mark Seliger, Fabiola Beracasa and Stellan Holm.
State Democrat Party, Dec. 14, Sheraton Hotel, 811 Seventh Avenue
The mood around the ballroom should be nothing short of jubilant while revelers try to wrap their heads around that unfamiliar feeling of winning. Chatter among insiders will no doubt be about the still-undecided fate of State Comptroller Alan Hevesi and whether Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver will try to screw things up for his fellow Democrat, Governor Eliot Spitzer.
Proskauer Rose, Dec. 13 , Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway
One of the largest law firms in the city with some of the biggest clients, Proskauer Rose also has a rep for partying! The entire office—600 with alumni—tend to show up for an annual holiday party that is big on themes. This year’s theme is “Castaway Island Adventure,” a variation on a popular theme from earlier years, “Proskauer Island.” Said Michelle Chaffin, the firm’s special-events manager, it’s “sort of like Gilligan’s Island, but you’re going to be shipwrecked on Proskauer Island.” This year, partygoers can expect to enter the hotel through a sand-filled entranceway and be met by an “eccentric cruise director” (uh-oh). The featured cocktail is a Midori Margarita, and there will Caribbean-themed food, including Jamaican beef patties, conch fritters and blood-orange red snapper. After eating, attendees can get a henna tattoo or their picture taken in front of a tropical backdrop. But be warned, all you Proskauer Rose wannabe gangstas: The D.J. is prohibited from playing rap with profanity.
The New Yorker, Dec. 12, Lure Fishbar, 142 Mercer Street
Last year the staff braved the meatpacking district and packed themselves into Pastis, where, one partygoer remembered with amazement, “It was actually … enjoyable. It was nicer than some of our other parties—it had a really good vibe.” After the obligatory grope fest between the camisole-clad “fiction writers” and the men who edit them, the younger members of the staff may continue on to an after-party, like last year’s crawl to the Hog Pit. A copy of Ved Mehta’s memoirs to the first one who spots Malcolm Gladwell at Milady’s!
Condé Nast Portfolio, Dec. 13, Brandy Library, 25 N. Moore Street
It seems like we’ve been hearing about Portfolio magazine, the newest and shiniest bauble at 4 Times Square, forever, and our first sight of the magazine won’t come until next spring. But that hasn’t stopped editor in chief Joanne Lipman from swooping through the media world with a big glittery butterfly net, picking up talent and keeping them byline-free for over a year. However, tonight they put all anxiety away as they gather at a hoity-toity drinking spot in Tribeca, Brandy Library. There, staffers can peruse the menu of over 900 different types of liquors—hey, why not try the 1914 Pierre Ferrand? It’s all getting charged to Si, right? We’re guessing that staffers will huddle in corners over “figs and pigs” (prosciutto-wrapped figs with port reduction and mint) and try to guess whose name will actually make it into the magazine come launch day. Watch for the mag’s star hire, Deb Schoeneman, to pop from a cake!
Gawker Media, Dec. 14, venue T.B.D.
Ever wonder what a night out with Nick Denton’s merry bunch o’ bloggers is like? Said one of the revelers from last year’s party in Chelsea, “It was with stupid BlackBook and it was overcrowded, and no one at Gawker was happy that Nick did a joint party. I remember Malcolm Gladwell was there, and the Christmas lights gave the ’fro a very angelic back-glow.” Also, apparently last year the drug of choice being passed around was Adderall. Wheeeeee! Here’s hoping this year the kids go back to good old-fashioned crank.
Vogue, Men’s Vogue and Teen Vogue, Dec. 11, the Grand, 41 East 58th Street
If the sight of all the pretty Vogue-lites celebrating the holidays together doesn’t warm your cold olive pit of a New York heart, then nothing will! Last year, kid sister Teen Vogue had to console themselves that at least they made it out of the building (the year before it was chips and salsa in the hallway) and into what was universally declared as the “hot spot” La Esquina (Vogue and Men’s Vogue followed suit a couple of days later). To be honest, the idea of Anna Wintour picking her way around a glorified taco stand kinda of bothered us, so we’re happy to see that the best-dressed Nasties will be on East 58th Street, where they belong, at new lounge the Grand. Bringing sig others is apparently verboten. Said one insider, “It’ll probably be one of those things where editors and high-ups only stay for a bit and then leave—at which point the real party will begin and people will get a little naughty.” Aha—binge snacking!
NBC/G.E., Dec. 6, Studio 8H in Rockefeller Plaza
Will they be talking about Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip or 30 Rock? Sure to be gliding through the NBC holiday party—held, appropriately enough, where Saturday Night Live (hey, is that show still on?) is filmed—will be Brian Williams, who seems unable to resist a corporate function, and G.E. president Bob Wright.
Wenner Media (Rolling Stone, Us Weekly, Men’s Journal), Dec. 19, Ultra, 37 West 26th Street
Things are humming along nicely for the worker bees at Wenner Media. Us Weekly has become the gossip rag to read on the L train, while Rolling Stone clunkers along gathering moss and the (downright hot) Men’s Journal guys pretend they’re spelunking in Oregon. Last year, the party held at NA was attended by all the Wenner media brass, including Bonnie Fuller–liberated Janice Minn and a reportedly “incredibly upbeat” Jann Wenner. In fact, as the stories go, Mr. Wenner got hold of a camera and started snapping shots of the festivities (much to boozy workers’ horror—first he’s cleaning off their desks, now this?). No word if Mr. W will bring his latest enterprise, his 3[1/2]-month-old son, Noah, to this year’s festivities, held at the new swank lounge Ultra. The Flatiron space apparently boasts a scent machine, snow machine and an honest-to-God treehouse. Here’s hoping Austin Scaggs will help reunite the Wenner band (and Jann-fronted) Rack of Lamb!
Alfred A. Knopf, Dec. 16, King’s Carriage House, 251 East 82nd Street
For the most erudite of the Random House imprints, the beloved Sonny Mehta and his soft Belgian slippers hold court over a gaggle of neurotic-sexy women and nervous fellas. Per tradition, expect Mr. Mehta to make a speech about the group’s best-sellers and award-winners and to give out gifts to employees celebrating appropriate anniversaries. Ah, but to remember just a few years back, when the tweedy crew headed to a restaurant on the Lower East Side, where formality was tossed aside and famous editors and assistants shook their money-makers with abandon. But be warned: Past attendees have noted that the more stuffy the venue, the more sedate the affair. So enjoy the dry white wine and carrot sticks!
CBS/Viacom, Dec. 11, fifth floor of Black Rock, 51 West 52nd Street
The brassy bigwigs of CBS—Leslie Moonves, wife Julie Chen and all-around silly-man publicist Gil Schwartz—will all be on glad-handing duty. But the real question is: Will perky evening-news gal Katie Couric dig into the canapés that (as the invite noted) have made the holiday party famous since Eisenhower was in office? And will anyone dare mention her abysmal ratings? Saucisson en croute all around!
The Corcoran Group, Feb. 1, venue T.B.D.
Last year the Corcoran Group went nuts in the post-holiday season with a “Gods and Goddesses” bash with a Roman theme—we’re talking torches, harp players and boozed-up real-estate agents in togas. How to top that? This year the brokerage behemoth has deemed its theme “Oscars.” Whoo, boy.
Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Dec. 14, the Rainbow Room, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th floor
The Rainbow Room seems right for this white-shoe firm, despite the revolving dance floor. Last year’s party had a station with a guy slicing meat and a caricature artist! The big mystery is what the gift’s going to be: Last year it was a Swatch-like plastic watch, and the previous year it was a blue garment bag—both duly emblazoned with the firm’s name. Hot.
The Morning News, Dec. 14, Brass Monkey, 55 Little West 12th Street
Last year, The Morning News—the daily Web paper published out of Brooklyn—held their holiday party at Thady Con’s bar in midtown, a fine Irish bar at Second Avenue and 48th Street. The artist Danny Gregory left his backpack there, with volume 46 of his journal and his pens and some Venetian ink, and so he came back the next morning to retrieve it. (He—shockingly—blogged the story on his eponymous Web site.) He was about to stumble into the bar, iPod on full volume, and suddenly realized he was surrounded by yellow tape and screaming people and fire engines. Apparently, the staff had just realized that construction on a nearby building had just opened a giant crack in the kitchen floor. A fireman went in and retrieved his backpack, but the bar has apparently never reopened. Consider yourself warned, Brass Monkey!
New York magazine, Dec. 14, the Back Room, 102 Norfolk Street
New York editor in chief Adam Moss apparently doesn’t get drunk at these parties (yaaaaaawn), but that didn’t stop the gang last year from gamely going all karaoke in a bar covered with Guns N’ Roses and Mötley Crüe posters. This year, party planners are clearly going for hip rather than ironic, and have booked the Tim Robbins–owned Back Room on the Lower East Side. There, staffers will drink libations out of teacups and nervously try to impress the boss man. Good luck!
Fox Searchlight, Dec. 14, Brasserie Ruhlmann, 45 Rockfeller Plaza
The Fox Searchlight crew tends to boast surprisingly chipper employees—and why not? The smaller branch of the Fox arm gets to break off from the News Corp. monster and host its very own shindig, so fun that even celebrities from that year’s slate show up to show the love. With movies like Little Miss Sunshine, The Last King of Scotland and Notes on a Scandal all in good Oscar shape, the party should be good times indeed.
Gourmet magazine: Dec. 14, Ruth Reichl’s apartment, Upper West Side
It’s gotta be nice to work at Gourmet—aside from the food, there never seems to be too much drama coming out of this Nastie book, and can you imagine Linda Wells inviting her Allure staff over to her house for some food and music? Last year it was a “chorino ensemble” salsa band; this year will feature a “folk music group, including a famous woman fiddler, and three other musicians.” Uh-oh …. On this year’s menu: smoke-salted pretzels stuffed with smoked Vermont cheddar, individual caviar pies, panko-fried mac-and-cheese bites and—hooray!—pigs in blankets. The publishing side of things has to make do the day before at the renewed Russian Tea Room.
BlackBook, Dec. 4, the Beatrice Inn, 285 West 12th Street
It’s a whole new BlackBook and a whole new holiday party! Held this year at hipster haunt Beatrice Inn, new editor in chief Steve Garbarino was apparently looking rather outré in a tight black suit and a Russian fur hat for a party packed to the smoky gills with wannabe media types (continually asked to put out their cigarettes, to no avail). In attendance was what one called “the entire Radar staff,” and ousted Postie Jared Paul Stern in full three-piece-suit regalia. “I just talked to a director about optioning my book,” he told a spy. Who? “Well, he’s here, but it’s a little premature to talk about.” Ya think?
The Nation, Dec. 14, Telephone Bar & Grill, 149 Second Avenue
Who knows why The Nation continues to hunker down at the festively red East Village Telephone Bar, but this year the fragrance-strip-hating staff will be celebrating the turnabout of the midterm elections. Expect the talk to be all about ’08, with lots of “Obama” and “Clintons” thrown in.
Salon, Dec. 18, CamaJe, 85 MacDougal Street
Last year the Salon-ites celebrated their 10th-year anniversary with a massive blowout at the unexpected venue choice, Crobar. Jann Wenner was inexplicably a co-host, and much fuss was made over party guest Camille Paglia. (Huh?!) This year a more sedate affair is the plan, with a dinner at CamaJe Bistro on MacDougal—an island of crepes and hanger steaks—in a sea of white-baseball-hat-wearing N.Y.U. students.
Star magazine, Dec. 18, Dirty Disco, 248 West 14th Street
You have to sort of admire a magazine that puts the wacked-out Janice Dickinson in a Santa hat on their party invitation, but that’s just the sort of publication Star is. The staffers—who no doubt suffer terribly under much-maligned editor in chief Joe Dolce—will gamely try to hoof it up at the Dirty Disco, which somehow just sounds so B&T.
ABC, Nov. 30, Good Morning America studio, 1500 Broadway
They may have come for the mini-tacos, but they stayed for the extra-strong drinks from Jake the bartender! At last week’s post-Thanksgiving shindig, Disney entertainment president Anne Sweeney was in the Mouse House, as was ABC News president David Westin. Barbara Walters, in a reportedly “heavenly” pea-colored skirt suit, regaled guests with stories of her recent interview with Jay-Z for her annual “Ten Most Interesting People” special. “You’ll never believe this,” Ms. Walters said. “I asked Jay if he found Beyoncé bodalicious.” After the interview rapped, Ms. Walter’s producer Bill Geddie corrected her pronunciation to the correct “bootylicious.” And then, unsurprisingly, they re-filmed. “You know it’s a problem when I’m the hippest one in the room,” Mr. Geddie said. Uh, yeah.
Vanity Fair, January, P.J. Clarke’s, 915 Third Avenue
You didn’t think that the silver fox and his shiny acolytes would do something as bourgeois as having a holiday party around the holidays, did you? Away from the grimy masses, the editorial staff will celebrate at a favorite hangout—no, not the small and smoky Graydon Carter–owned Waverly Inn, but at their other favorite haunt, P.J. Clarke’s upstairs at the Sidecar. The publishing side will celebrate more traditionally on Dec. 15 at the Gramercy Park Hotel.
Domino, Dec. 20, Deborah Needleman’s loft, Tribeca
Taking a page from Gourmet’s cookbook, Domino magazine—which has propelled itself into the top tier of Condé publications in the last year—celebrates itself and the holidays at editor in chief’s Deborah Needleman’s loft in Tribeca. These are the folks who know how to gift-wrap, O.K.! Adam Moss, are you getting any ideas yet?
Prudential Douglas Elliman, Dec. 13, Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 East 42nd Street
The housing market was wonderful in 2005 for some of us (cough, cough), wasn’t it? And who was more joyful last holiday season than the brokers at Manhattan’s biggest real-estate firm, Prudential Douglas Elliman? Last year, guests were at the Four Seasons during a boozy, crunchy, crowded affair reminiscent of a poorly planned collegiate kegger—but with incessant bragging about commissions. And there’s more to come! Expect doomsday chatter to be about the 2006 housing slump.
Radar, Thanksgiving Party, Il Buco, 47 Bond Street
The hard-to-squash Radar (like a well-dressed cockroach!) got into the holiday sauce waaay early at a Yusef Jackson–hosted private dinner in the wine cellar of Il Buco. It was “straight out of a Meatloaf video,” according to one staffer. Not content to rest on their laurels, there’s talk still of a small “keepin’ it real” dinner at editor in chief Maer Roshan’s crib.
Christie’s auction house, Dec. 15, Studio 450, 450 West 31st Street
The co-premier auction house likes to party it up just like the rest of us. “We have themes to our parties—they like to keep it a surprise!” said a staffer. Intriguing! What will they have? A source said they expected a buffet dinner and a band—and “alcohol.” Madness!
Hearst publications, Dec. 11, Hearst Tower, 300 West 57th Street
The poor, twinkly Tavern on the Green must be feeling so lonely this holiday season! The annual Hearst 1,100-person fête is being held in their new death-star tower instead, much to employee dismay—and grumbling. Will dearly departed Atoosa Rubenstein show up anyway in a reindeer sweater?
Ken Sunshine Media Consultants Holiday Party, Dec. 11, Room Service, 35 East 21st Street
It’s been a good year for the Ken Sunshine Media Consultant Group, and happily they’ll party within a stone’s throw of their office! In past years, loyal and famous clients have shown up—fingers crossed that this year, golden boy (destined for another golden boy) Leonardo DiCaprio puts in some face time.
Allure magazine, Dec. 12, the Double Seven, 418 West 14th Street
Linda Wells’ well-moisturized, -waxed and -glossed bunch eschew the Lower East Side digs they’ve been slumming in for the last couple of years and pick their stilettos over cobblestone streets, uncomfortably close to where the Village Idiot used to be. Chatter will no doubt revolve around the firing of assistant editor Molly Friedman, who sold beauty products over eBay (a major no-no). Meanwhile, the managing editor will helpfully remind the ladies just how many calories there are in their gin gimlet. Watch out for the boys from GQ to iron their best jeans and follow suit in the same space a couple of nights later.
Cushman & Wakefield, Dec. 14, Gotham Hall, 1356 Broadway
Partying beside Corinthian columns at the epically sized Gotham Hall, brokers at Cushman & Wakefield will toast to the additional two and a half million of commercial square feet that came under their control in 2006. If you listen closely enough, you might hear Bruce Mosler and Joseph Harbert devising new ways to stave off future raids from Mary Ann Tighe. Then, after a few cocktails, don’t be surprised if you hear brokers gossiping about Mitsubishi’s bigger plans and whether next year’s holiday party will serve ham, antipasto and anisette and become, well, just a little more Italian.
The Village Voice, Dec. 6, S.O.B.’s, 204 Varick Street
Watch the quickly diminishing staff of The Village Voice nervously drink with one eye on the door. It’s been quite a year for the independent weekly, hasn’t it? How many publications can boast of an editor in chief who couldn’t even make it through a full work day? Don’t worry, at least they’ve gone back to their old S.O.B.’s haunt, and perennial favorite Michael Musto will be spreading his own special cheer—he’s got a book coming out—and will no doubt remind guests of the beauty of a La Dolce Musto stocking stuffer.
Halstead Property, Dec. 20, Guastavino’s, 409 East 59th Street
Halstead will return to the site of its rebranding party, which took place on April 5. That little soirée drew more than 700 people to the 25,000-square-foot space (real-estate folk love to talk square footage!). Here’s hoping they’ll be able to spill out to the garden!
MTV Networks, Dec. 7, Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th Street
To sum out the fate of the more recent MTV parties of late: no star power, no cell reception and no penguins—oh, how the mighty have fallen! To think that just a few years back, this was the party to crash—and now workers can expect to crowd in with the 4,000 other employees while the executives stick near the exits. “You can’t wear nice shoes,” warned one partygoer. “People spill drinks and it’s sludgy on the floor.”
Artforum/Bookforum, Dec. 19, Pravda, 281 Lafayette Street
Much like their friends over at The Nation, the Artforum crew has found their spot—that late-90’s fave, the cavernous Pravda bar—and they’re sticking to it! Anyone who has ever been at all associated with either publication gets an invite, so expect the bar to be packed—but remember to watch out for those candles!
Out/The Advocate/Planet Out, Dec. 6, One, 1 Little West 12th Street
You got to love when a holiday invitation goes out with a subject line reading “Holi-gay Soiree.” What else do you need to get in the spirit of things?
Matador Records, Dec. 7, Turks & Frogs Tribeca, 458 Greenwich Street
The indie punk-alt-pop-etc. label does not, surprisingly, have a MisShapes-style blowout—just a civilized staff dinner, followed by drinks with guests and, of course, oodles of musicians. This year, the gang will be lathering themselves in holiday cheer at Turks & Frogs Tribeca. But there’ll be no Cat Power, a.k.a. Chan Marshall, this year: “Chan, unfortunately, will be performing in Rennes, France, that night,” said a Matadorian. Fight the power!
The Daily News, Dec. 18, Copacabana, 560 West 34th Street
Why does the Daily News continue to go to Copacabana year after year? Music and fashion hasn’t been the passion there in quite some time. But, said one staffer, “the entertainment generally comes from staffers who have had too much to drink and suddenly feel Latin, regardless of their birthplace, and really embarrass themselves.” At the Copa ….
Stonewall Democratic Club, Dec. 7, LGBT Center, 208 West 13th Street
Where else would you expect the Stonewall Democratic Club to celebrate than near the site of the famed 1969 riot? Expect power tops—and bottoms—to flock to the LGBT Center tonight (the Monster is just round the corner).
Darren Sukenik, Dec. 14, West Village
Mr. Sukenik, who has anointed himself the No. 1 broker at Prudential Douglas Elliman, participates in the company-wide bash, but also likes to throw his own more private affair. “It’s my signature holiday party,” he said. Mr. Sukenik said the guest list is “A-list clients” and neighbors too: “Everybody that touches my life I consider family.”
News Corp., Dec. 15, Hilton New York, 1335 Avenue of Americas
Last year Rupert Murdoch’s vast empire—New York Post, Fox Broadcasting, TV Guide, etc.—trooped the couple of blocks down to the Hilton for a “Future of Fun” party. This year’s theme is the worrisome-sounding invite that instructs partygoers to “prepare to take a trip around the News Corp. world without leaving New York City” (uh-oh). “It’s on a Friday, which means even less people are going to go,” said one staffer. “Who throws a party on a fucking Friday night?” Cheers!
Paramount Vantage, Nov. 30, Hotel Gansevoort Rooftop Loft, 18 Ninth Avenue
Paramount Vantage, a more art-housey division inside of Paramount (who is busy with their monster, Dreamgirls, at the moment), celebrated their brand-spanking-new division at a dignified fête at the Gansevoort Rooftop Lounge. In attendance was the director from the film that launched Paramount Vantage, Babel’s Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu. Sadly, there was no sign of Brad Pitt.
Harrison & Shriftman, Dec. 20, Hawaiian Tropic Zone, 729 Seventh Avenue
What’s more terrifying than a bunch of boozy flacks? Having ’em do karaoke at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone. So many elements coming together in a perfect storm of terror that it probably means it will be rip-roaring fun for the wunderkinds over at Harrison & Shriftman.
—additional reporting by the Observer staff
Filed Under: Home, Lifestyle, news corp, The Observatory, Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Jann Wenner, Proskauer Rose LLP
SEE ALSO: After Midterms, Times Gets in Leak Stream
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observer of times
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Interview with a good old-fashioned troublemaker →
Where do atheist writers go when they die?
Posted on July 9, 2017 by observeroftimes
I first met Michael Alan (his pen name) in 2007 on a British Arts Council–funded writers’ site when his work was randomly assigned to me for review. In those days YouWriteOn attracted real talent; writers of high calibre along with clueless wannabes. Some went on to score deals with major publishers. Others had already been published or won short-story awards.
Both amateurs and professionals would often respond to my feedback with questions, thanks and/or justifications. But Alan wanted to pick my brains because he’d begun to devise a better and fairer writers’ website. Alan was a creator of worlds, some fictional, some virtual. Like the hacker narrator of his novel, The Lorelei Effect, which won third prize in the YouWriteOn Book of the Year Award 2007, he’d been designing software since the ’60s. He’d gazed out at the Brooklyn Bridge from his 31st-floor corner office on Wall Street while I was still reading Beatrix Potter.
Yet as our correspondence continued, I marvelled at his innocence. He’d never tried illicit drugs, alternative therapies, meditation, communal living or open relationships. The only ’70s revolution he’d joined was interactive computing. He’d married young, moved to the suburbs and had two sons, in contrast to my frequent changes of partner, address and job. Yet neither of us felt we belonged. Misfits observing life on Earth like interstellar visitors, we’d both had surgery for physical deformities. Our fathers had both fought in the Second World War, worked for a quarter century in car factories, been good with their hands, and died of bad hearts. And we both abhorred the widespread mindless conformity that allows a few control freaks to seize too much power.
Over the next decade, though he never built that ideal website, Alan and I shared our writing, compared notes on publishing, and debated topics like the Earth’s fate, the use of higher education, and the nature of consciousness and its opposite. Free from any religious or spiritual conviction, he’d often joke about God as if daring Him/Her/them to contradict him. No deity was barred from his creative imagination. He was one of the most original thinkers I’ve ever known, seeking through the medium of sci-fi to warn readers and explore how self-sufficient, well-organised human communities might combat global corporate dominance and birth a better and fairer world. Sharing a New Hampshire mountainside farmhouse with his partner and their family of furred and feathered pets, working for a friend and fellow writer, he believed dreams can be achieved when like minds come together, even as he acknowledged we’d already been superseded by ‘Corpo Sapiens’, the next evolutionary stage (a given if you’ve been following Silicon Valley developments in virtual reality and artificial intelligence). Technology had begun to reprogram the minds of its users, compelling dependency, distracting us from what we stood to lose.
But fiction can’t save the world, I argued, it’s preaching to the converted. People read popular novels to escape, not to burst their bubbles. Yet as Alan grew increasingly preoccupied with his mortality, he tired of rejections from publishers and, like countless authors who lack his brilliance, used free online tools to produce stillborn thrillers. And he’d start yet another self-marketing blog while feeling inspired then lose momentum when it didn’t go viral. I began to fear ill health had impinged on his thinking. When tests showed tumours riddling his liver and kidneys, he had to face the prospect of oblivion as an atheist unconsoled by faith, his mission to rally readers unrealised, his life’s work trailing loose ends. Soon he couldn’t even email friends. Ten days before his death on the solstice, I received one last message headed ‘still kicking’, to say that his computer had crashed, not him. Technology, like his body, had ceased to make sense.
Towards the end of our extensive and often hilarious correspondence, I asked Alan whether he’d mind my sharing a piece or two of his writing. So what follows is the original version of his short story ‘Thursday’. Though not all readers got the punch line, his second version isn’t as funny. And I think this first one makes a fitting epitaph.
Okay. So I was feeling really lazy for the last couple of weeks. I noticed that my pee was coming out a kind of orange color and I doubled up on iron pills because that usually means some bleeding going on inside. It’s not the first time it’s happened. In any case, I went to bed at about 8:00 and I woke up the next morning dead.
I know what you’re thinking. “How could you be dead and still write this story?” I could try to make up some baloney about zombies or something but the truth is I just don’t know. I do know that I woke up dead.
If you don’t believe me you can stop reading right here.
Okay. You’re still reading. So you’re probably asking, “What’s it like?”
Well, it wasn’t at all what I expected. Forget about following a light and harps and wings. The first thing I knew I was in a giant line like security at a big airport. The people just went on forever. I stood behind these rope barriers that snaked back and forth and kids and old people and whole families moved along in front of me at a pretty good clip.
So I was getting ready to empty my pockets and take off my shoes when I realized I didn’t have any pockets or any shoes. I was completely naked. So was everyone else.
Most of the people were old. They had droopy chests and hair coming out of their ears and you really wanted to look somewhere else. But as the line turned back on itself I kept passing a gal with a pretty face and a great body. All the guys in line were staring at her. She was a walking Viagra pill. I was starting to feel a little embarrassed but then I remembered. I was dead. My crotch was hardwired to my eyeballs by somebody else. Sue me.
In any case I wanted to see what happened when we got to the front of the line. Were we getting shipped somewhere, was there some kind of a test to see if we made it into heaven, was there really a purgatory, a hell?
We must have walked a mile zigzagging back and forth when I finally saw where we were headed. At the front of the line was a bunch of moving walkways with signs over them and people were picking which walkway they wanted to get on.
Adonism, Advaita Vedanta, Agnosticism, Ahl-e Quran, Ahmadiyya, Akhbari, Alawites, Alevi, Ananda Marga, Anishinaabe, Anito, Anthroposophy, Arya Samaj, Asatru, Ash’ari, Ashtanga, Ayyavazhi, Azali, Azraqi. And those were just the A’s. There had to be three or four hundred signs, each in a dozen languages, and each leading to its own moving walkway.
There was a sign for Catholicism and Buddhism and Scientology and Judaism and Hinduism and Muslim and Wicca and Unitarianism and a couple of dozen Protestant sects. But there were also signs for Secular Humanism and Celtic Neopaganism and Invisible Pink Unicornism. No, really. Invisible Pink Unicornism. And Chaos Magic and Last Thursdayism and Tantric Yoga and Vailala Madness.
Standing under each sign was a recruiter extolling the virtues of whatever afterlife that particular religion promised.
The barker under the Catholic sign was offering a limited time special – six millennia off purgatory. I was baptized Catholic but it didn’t take. I never went to confession, never went to mass, never recited a single Hail Mary. I didn’t want to spend eternity playing Bingo in some smoke filled hall so I moved on.
The fellow under the Islam Martyrs sign alternated between English and Arabic. He kept repeating, “Six dozen black-eyed virgins. ستة عشر سوداء العينين العذارى.”
I never studied Islam and certainly didn’t martyr myself. But I had to admit that six-dozen virgins sounded like a pretty good deal. Until then I’d only been friendly with one virgin and even that was a maybe. Six dozen. By the time I said hello to the last one I might not remember the first one and it would seem as if I had an endless supply.
I started to walk toward the Martyrs’ line and the Last Thursdayism recruiter said, “Don’t do it.”
I said, “Six dozen. Sounds pretty good.”
“There’s a reason they’re still virgins. Don’t do it.”
I asked him what Thursdayism was about. He said, “We believe you created the universe last Thursday looking as if it was billions of years old and that the universe will expire next Thursday.”
“I created it last Thursday?”
“At 3:00 in the afternoon you created the universe as a test for yourself. Everyone but you was pre-programmed as part of your test environment. Everyone but you knows this.”
“But I can remember having supper last Wednesday.”
“Last Thursday at 3:00 you came into existence complete with memories of a history that never really happened. Before 3:00 none of this existed.”
“Ahh. You’re making fun of Creationists.”
“Not at all. You created them at 3:00 on Thursday along with everything else as part of your test.”
“Would you mind if I ask others about your theory?”
I turned behind me. “Do any of you remember me creating you? Are you just here for a test I made up?”
Most ignored me but a few looked up and said, “No.”
I turned back to the Thursdayism guy. “Nobody seems to think they’re just here for my test.”
“What do you expect? That’s what you told them to say.”
“If I’m the creator of all this and everyone else is just a prop you must not have many Last Thursdayism members.”
“Everyone here is a member. They just keep it quiet.”
“Why are they going to other religion lines?”
“Wouldn’t it be suspicious if they all came here?”
He had me there. “So what kind of eternity do you offer?”
“You will be rewarded or punished based on how well you did with your test.”
“Who grades it?”
“You do.”
So I’m writing this just to let everybody know that I know you’re all just here as part of my test and you can stop being such assholes and start being nice any time you want. It’s 2:59 in the afternoon on a sunny Thursday and I thi
© Michael Alan, 2012
This entry was posted in the life of the writer and tagged atheism, creative writing, Last Thursdayism, Michael Alan, popular fiction, religion, sci-fi, short stories, spirituality, technology, The Lorelei Effect, thrillers, YouWriteOn. Bookmark the permalink.
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Thank you…yes…a little crazy is the only way to be.
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HomeReMixesShadow of the Beast "89 Is the New 19"
ReMix: Shadow of the Beast "89 Is the New 19" 5:16
By Sir_NutS, Stephen Kelly
Sir_NutS Twitter
Stephen Kelly Twitter
dance disco synthwave electronic synth vocals-male energetic lyrics-original timesig-4-4 vocoder
Arranging the music of one song...
"The Forests"
Primary Game: Shadow of the Beast (Psygnosis, 1989, AMIGA), music by David Whittaker
Posted 2019-12-30, evaluated by the judges panel
Our final featured ReMix of 2019 is a Moroder-inspired EDM/disco jam from Sir_NutS (Paul Michael Molina), arranging David Whittaker's soundtrack to groundbreaking Amiga platformer Shadow of the Beast, in celebration of the game's 30th anniversary:
"Get comfy, folks, I have a lot to say.
Shadow of the Beast is kind of an obscure game in most places (Me, remixing an obscure game? No way!), but back in the days it was a big deal for the European micro computer scene. There was simply nothing like it when it comes to graphics and sound, it was sort of the Crysis of 1989, at least for home computers. The detailed graphics paired with an art style between Roger Dean and H.R. Giger, amazing special effects like the endless parallax scrolling featured on the first level, and, finally, the excellent, brooding soundtrack by David Whittaker, made Shadow of the Beast a game that pushed past the Amiga's limitations.
The game launched in 1989. I've done some research for the exact date, but I came up empty. Even documentaries on the game don't have an exact date, so I'm just releasing this on this year to coincide with the game's 30th anniversary.
Now, this track is a double tribute, as I've taken cues from some of my favorite songs from Giorgio Moroder ("The Chase," "74 Is the New 24," "Racer") and let it influence my style, so this is half my usual retro style mixed with Moroder's catchy sense for writing and tropes. He's had a lot of influence on how my music has evolved in the past years, so it was only a matter of time before I paid him some tribute in one of my mixes. The mix's title is a reference to him and one of his tracks, as well as the game and its anniversary.
There are no ostentatious synth brass chords to be found here, I switched those for a lot of filtered synth lines and a driving bassline. For the vocal clips, I brought in the always-reliable Stephen Kelly. This song is long compared to my recent submissions, and also slightly on the repetitive side, but that's by design in order to get the feel I was going for. This also marks my comeback to using Reason devices thanks to Reason 11's rack device which I can now load in Bitwig, and which I took advantage of to create some of the synth leads you hear here. I hope you guys enjoy it."
He DID have a lot to say! I was happy to see Reason function as a plugin, too - there's a TON of great synths & effects that are now "opened up" for use in other DAWs, in ways that Rewire always made a little too kludgy for my tastes. Bravo to Reason Studios & Matthias for making that happen, and bravo to Mike on this mix - it absolutely strikes a Moroder tone, with shades of italo-disco, as a comfortable synth bass & meaty beat provide a rock solid foundation for some catchy melodic hooks. It's fortunate that Shadow of the Beast had great tunes, because it was so damn hard you really ended up hearing them. A lot. I'm not entirely sure I ever got past the first stage, but I DO remember trying. prophetik music writes:
"the original melody is obvious throughout, the style is superbly done, and there's a lot of fun things done to keep it interesting throughout over five minutes of music. i particularly liked the breakdown at 2:08, which did a nice job balancing a driving momentum in your synths with lowered dynamics and altered instrumentation. the pitch shifting at 2:33 was delightfully unexpected. i really liked that you took so long to really get back to the melody - nearly two minutes of B section was just what the doctor ordered, and prevented the (repetitious) A melody from getting annoying. this was a great fun listen that deserves the front page."
Rexy adds:
"With all this fun and attention on the arrangement and production, I can see it on the front page. I'm also shocked that OCR hasn't received a new submission for this game in 19 years, so consider it a refresher on that part too. Good work!"
In the site's first FULL year of operation (2000) we saw not one but two mixes of the game, and then.... 19 years of silence, which Mike has thankfully interrupted with this substantial, well-produced, and FUN mix; I found myself humming the main melody throughout the day after listening through just once. Excellent, addictive stuff from Sir_NutS; 2019 has been a fantastic year, we'll be celebrating our 20th anniversary all year long in 2020, and I think this is a perfect callback to the early days of OCR & a great way to close out the decade!
― djpretzel
Latest 4 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Mr. Hu
I only "discovered" Moroder in 2019, but this is a cool tribute! I also just found out about Bitwig; they have a holiday sale until Jan. 7th so I'm taking the plunge, methinks. I'm excited!
evktalo
An enjoyable ride! Cool to see Shadow of the Beast return to OCR and it's always great to see microcomputers on the front page.
predcon
Lately I've had RAF/Laura Branigan's "Self Control" on my mind, and this scratches all of that itch. Top job!
Liontamer
What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.
Sources Arranged (1 Song)
Primary Game:
Shadow of the Beast (Psygnosis, 1989, AMIGA)
Music by David Whittaker
Dance, Disco, Synthwave
Electronic, Synth, Vocals: Male
Effects > Vocoder
Lyrics > Lyrics: Original
Time > 4/4 Time Signature
Shadow_of_the_Beast_89_Is_the_New_19_OC_ReMix.mp3
cedbfe920e95296c0debedbdb5746a59
Bitrate:
Running from the past
His enemies will never cease
Taking lives to honor one
Size: 9,531,837 bytes
MD5 Checksum: cedbfe920e95296c0debedbdb5746a59
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Home / Bible Commentaries / The Expositor's Greek Testament/ Luke
The Expositor's Greek Testament
Luke Luke 11
Lightfoot's Commentary
Fourfold Gospel
Wells of Living Water
MacLaren's Expositions
Luke 10:1. μετὰ ταῦτα, after what has been narrated in Luke 9:51-62, but not necessarily implying close sequence.— ἀνέδειξεν ( ἀναδείκνυμι). The verb means (1) to lift up so as to show, cf. the noun in Luke 1:80; (2) to proclaim as elected, cf. Acts 1:24; (3) to elect, appoint, as here = designavit, Vulgate.— ὁ κύριος, the Lord, Jesus, here, as often in Lk. applied to Him in narrative.— ἑτέρους, others, the reference being not to ἀγγέλους, Luke 9:52 (Meyer), but to τοὺς δώδεκα, Luke 9:1 = others besides the Twelve.— ἑβδομήκοντα, seventy (seventy-two in (97)), representing the nations of the earth, the number consciously fixed by the evangelist to symbolise Christian universalism—according to Dr. Baur and the Tübingen School; representing in the mind of Jesus the seventy Sanhedrists, as the Twelve were meant to represent the tribes of Israel, the seventy disciples having for their vocation to do what the Sanhedrists had failed to do—prepare the people for the appearance of the Christ—according to Hahn.
Luke 10:1-12. The Seventy sent forth, peculiar to Lk. Many questions have been raised as to this narrative, e.g., as to its historicity, as to the connection between the instructions to the new missionaries and those to the Twelve, and as to the time and place of their election, and the sphere of their mission. On these points only the briefest hints can be given here. As to the first, the saying about the paucity of labourers, found also in Mt. (Matthew 9:38), implies that Jesus was constantly on the outlook for competent assistants, and that He would use such as were available. The cases mentioned in the closing section of last chapter confirm this inference. Whether He would send them out simultaneously in large numbers, twelve, or seventy, or piecemeal, one or more pairs now, and another small group then, is a matter on which it is precarious to dogmatise, as is done by W. Grimm when he says (Das Proemium des Lucas-Evang.) that Jesus did not send out twelve all at once, but two and two now and then, and besides the Twelve others of the second order, and that these piecemeal missions consolidated in the tradition into two large ones of twelve and seventy. As to the instructions: there would be such in every instance, and they would be substantially the same whether given once, twice, or twenty times, summed up in a few compact sentences, so racy and memorable as to be easily preservable even by oral tradition. It is, however, quite probable that versions of these instructions were to be found in documents, say in Mk. and in Mt.’s Logia; and Lk., as Weiss suggests, may have taken the instructions to the Twelve from the former, and those to the Seventy from the latter. Finally, as to time, place, and sphere, nothing certain can be determined, and there is room for various conjectures. Hahn, e.g., suggests, as the place of the appointment, Jerusalem; the time, the feast of tabernacles, mentioned in John 7:2; and the sphere of the mission, the towns and villages of Judaea or southern Palestine. There was certainly need for a mission there. The mission of the Twelve was in Galilee.
Luke 10:2. ὁ μὲν θερισμὸς: preliminary statement as to the need of men fit to take part in the work of preaching the kingdom, as in Matthew 9:38, vide notes there; a true logion of Jesus, whensoever spoken.
Luke 10:2-12. The instructions.
Luke 10:3. ὑπάγετε, go, whither? Mt.’s version of the instructions to the Twelve says: not to Samaria, but to the lost sheep of Israel only; this omitted by Lk. with the one word, “go,” retained.— ὡς ἄρνας, etc., as lambs among wolves; sheep ( πρόβατα) in Matthew 10:16; pathetic hint as to the helplessness of the agents and the risks they run; not imaginary, as the recent experience at the Samaritan village shows.
Luke 10:4. βαλάντιον, a purse, in Lk. only, in N. T.; often in classics, spelt there, as in MSS. of N. T., variously with one or two λς.— μηδένα ἀσπάσησθε: salute no one, to be taken in the spirit rather than in the letter; hyperbolical for: be exclusively intent on your business: “negotio quod imposui vobis incumbite, praeterhabitis vel brevissimis obstaculis et moramentis,” Pricaeus. Weiss (Mt.-Evangel.) thinks the prohibition is directed against carrying on their mission on the way. It was to be exclusively a house-mission (vide Matthew 10:12, where ἀσπάσασθε occurs).
Luke 10:5. πρῶτον λέγετε: the first word to be spoken, peace, speech on the things of the kingdom to be prepared for by courteous, kindly salutations. A sympathetic heart is the best guide in pastoral visitation. The first word should not be: how is it with your soul?
Luke 10:6. ἐπαναπαήσεται ((98) (99)), a form of the 2nd fut. ind. passive, probably belonging to the spoken Greek of the period. Again in Revelation 14:13.— ἀνακάμψει: in any case the good wish will not be lost. If there be no “son of peace” in the house to receive it, it will come back with a blessing to the man who uttered it.
Luke 10:7. ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ οἰκίᾳ: verbally distinct from ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ, etc., but really meaning the same thing = “in that same house,” R. V(100)— τὰ παρʼ αὐτῶν, eating and drinking the meat and drink which belong to them, as if they were your own: libere et velut vestro jure, Grotius.— ἄξιος γὰρ assigns the reason: your food is your hire; it belongs to you of right as wages for work done.
Luke 10:8. ἐσθίετε τὰ παρατιθέμενα: not a repetition. It means, be contented with your fare: contenti este quamvis frugali apparatu, Bengel. Holtz. (H. C.) thinks Lk. has in view heathen houses, and that the meaning is: put aside Jewish scruples.
Luke 10:9. The functions of the missionaries briefly indicated = heal the sick, and announce that the kingdom is at their doors ( ἤγγικεν).
Verse 10-11
Luke 10:10-11. Direction how to act in case of churlish treatment.— ἐξελθόντες εἰς τὰς πλατείας α. Lk. expresses the action so as to make it vivid for Gentile readers to whom the symbolic significance of the act was not familiar = go out of the inhospitable houses into the streets, and then solemnly wipe off the dust that has been taken up by your feet since you entered the town; wiping off ( ἀπομασσόμεθα) is more expressive than shaking off ( ἐκτινάξετε, Matthew 10:14, Luke 9:5), it means more thorough work, removing every speck of dust.— πλὴν, for the rest. The solemn symbolic act is to wind up with the equally solemn declaration that the Kingdom of God has come to them with its blessings, and that it is their own fault if it has come in vain.
Luke 10:13-16. Woe to thee, Chorasin (Matthew 11:21-24).—While the terms in which the woes on the cities of Galilee are reported are nearly identical in Mt. and Lk., the connections in which they are given are different. In Mt. the connection is very general. The woes simply find a place in a collection of moral criticisms by Jesus on His time: on John, on the Pharisees, and on the Galilean towns. Here they form part of Christ’s address to the Seventy, when sending them forth on their mission. Whether they properly come in here has been disputed. Wendt (L. J., p. 89) thinks they do, inasmuch as they indicate that the punishment for rejecting the disciples will be the same as that of the cities which were unreceptive to the ministry of the Master. J. Weiss (in Meyer), on the other hand, thinks the woes have been inserted here from a purely external point of view, noting in proof the close connection between Luke 10:12 and Luke 10:16. It is impossible to be quite sure when the words were spoken, but also impossible to doubt that they were spoken by Jesus, probably towards or after the close of His Galilean ministry.— καθήμενοι, after σποδῷ, is an addition of Lk.’s, explanatory or pictorial.
Luke 10:16 = Matthew 10:40-41, only Mt. emphasises and expands the positive side, while Lk. with the positive presents, and with special emphasis, the negative ( ὁ ἀθετῶν ὑμᾶς, etc.).
Luke 10:17. καὶ τὰ δαιμόνια, even the demons, subject to our power; more than they had expected or been promised, hence their exultation ( μετὰ χαρᾶς).
Luke 10:17-20. Return of the Seventy. No such report of the doings of the Twelve, and of their Master’s congratulations, is given in any of the Gospels (cf. Mark 6:30-31). It seems as if Lk. attached more importance to the later mission, as Baur accused him of doing under the influence of theological tendency (Pauline universalism). But probably this report was one of the fruits of his careful research for memorabilia of Jesus: “a highly valuable tradition arising on Jewish-Christian soil, and just on account of its strangeness trustworthy” (J. Weiss in Meyer). Similarly Feine, and Resch, Agrapha, p. 414, note.
Luke 10:18. ἐθεώρουν: their report was no news to Jesus. While they were working He saw Satan falling. There has been much discussion as to what is meant by this fall, and why it is referred to. It has been identified with the fall of the angels at the beginning of the world, with the Incarnation, with the temptation of Jesus, in both of which Satan sustained defeat. The Fathers adopted the first of these alternatives, and found the motive of the reference in a desire to warn the disciples. The devil fell through pride; take care you fall not from the same cause (Luke 10:20).— ὡς ἀστραπὴν, like lightning; the precise point of the comparison has been variously conceived: momentary brightness, quick, sudden movement, inevitableness of the descent—down it must come to the earth, etc.— πεσόντα, aorist after the imperfect ( ἐθεώρουν), fallen, a fact accomplished. Pricaeus refers to Acts 19:20 as a historical exemplification of the fall—Satan’s kingdom destroyed by the rapid spread of Christianity.
Luke 10:19 reminds one of Mark 16:18.— τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, the enemy, Satan.— οὐδὲν, may be either nominative or accusative = either, “nothing shall in any wise hurt you,” R. V(101), or “in no respect shall he (the enemy) hurt you”.
Luke 10:20. πλὴν has adversative force here = yet, nevertheless. The joy of the Seventy was in danger of becoming overjoy, running into self-importance; hence the warning word, which is best understood in the light of St. Paul’s doctrine of the Holy Spirit, which laid much more stress on the ethical than on the charismatical results of His influence = rejoice not so much in possessing remarkable spiritual gifts as in being spiritual men. This text may be put beside Matthew 7:21-23 as bearing on the separability of gifts and graces ( χαρίσματα and χάρις).
Luke 10:21 is almost verbatim, as in Matthew 11:25, only that Lk. has ἀπέκρυψας for Mt.’s ἔκρυψας.
Luke 10:21-24. The exultation of Jesus (Matthew 11:25-27).—The setting in Mt. gives to this great devotional utterance of Jesus a tone of resignation in connection with the apparent failure of His ministry. Here, connected with the fall of Satan, it has a tone of triumph ( ἠγαλλιάσατο).— ἐν τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἁγίῳ: it was an inspired utterance, “a kind of glossolaly,” J. Weiss (Meyer).
Luke 10:22. This part of the devotional utterance, setting forth Christ’s faith in the purpose of His Father and the intimate fellowship subsisting between Father and Son, appears in some texts of Lk. as a declaration made to the disciples ( στραφεὶς πρὸς τ. μ. α., T. R.). The gesture implies that a solemn statement is to be made.— τίς ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς, ὁ πατήρ: to know who the Son or the Father is = knowing the Son and the Father. The idea in Lk. is the same as in Mt., though the expression is different.
Luke 10:23. στραφεὶς: a second impressive gesture, if that in Luke 10:22 be retained, implying that Jesus now more directly addresses the disciples. But the first στραφεὶς is altogether doubtful.— εἶπε: the word, spoken κατʼ ἰδίαν to the disciples, is substantially = Matthew 13:16, there referring to the happiness conferred on the disciples in being privileged to hear their Master’s parabolic teaching.— βασιλεῖς: in place of Mt.’s δίκαιοι, which expresses an idea more intelligible to Jews than to Gentiles.
Luke 10:25. ἀνέστη, stood up; from this expression and the present tense of ἀναγινώσκεις, how readest thou now? it has been conjectured that the scene may have been a synagogue.— τί ποιήσας: the νομικός, like the ἄρχων of Luke 18:18, is professedly in quest of eternal life.
Luke 10:25-37. The lawyer’s question, and the parable of the good Samaritan. Many critics (even Weiss, Mk.-Evang., p. 400) think that Lk. or his source has got the theme of this section from Matthew 22:35 ff., Mark 12:28 ff., and simply enriched it with the parable of the good Samaritan, peculiar to him. Leaving this critical question on one side, it may be remarked that this story seems to be introduced on the principle of contrast, the νομικός representing the σοφοὶ καὶ συνετοὶ, to whom the things of the kingdom are hidden as opposed to the νήπιοι, to whom they are revealed, i.e., the disciples whom Jesus had just congratulated on their felicity. Similarly in the case of the anecdote of the woman in Simon’s house, Luke 7:36, vide notes there. J. Weiss remarks that this story and the following one about Martha and Mary form a pair, setting forth in the sense of the Epistle of James (Luke 2:8; Luke 2:13-14) the two main requirements of Christianity, love to one’s neighbour and faith (vide in Meyer, ad loc).
Luke 10:26. τί γέγραπ., πῶς ἀναγιν., how stands it written? how readest thou? double question with a certain empressement.
Luke 10:27. Lk. here puts into the mouth of the lawyer an answer combining as co-ordinate the religious and the ethical, which in the later incident reported in Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34, is ascribed to Jesus. The unity of these interests is, as Holtz. (H. C.) remarks, the achievement and characteristic of Christianity, and one may legitimately doubt whether a man belonging to the clerical class in our Lord’s time had attained such insight. Divorce of religion from morality was a cardinal vice of the righteousness of the time, and we see it exemplified in the following parable: priest and Levite religious but inhuman. In Lk.’s time the conception of religion and morality as one and inseparable had become a Christian commonplace, and he might have been unable to realise that there was a time when men thought otherwise, and so without any sense of incongruity made the lawyer answer as he does. But, on the other hand, it has to be borne in mind that even in our Lord’s time there were some in the legal schools who emphasised the ethical, and Mk. makes the scribe (Luke 12:32-33) one of this type.— ἀγαπήσεις, etc.: Deuteronomy 6:5 is here given, as in Mark 12:31, with a fourfold analysis of the inner man: heart, soul, strength, mind.
Luke 10:29. δικαιῶσαι ἑ., to keep up his character as a righteous man, concerned in all things to do his duty. Hence his desire for a definition of “neighbour,” which was an elastic term. Whether Lk. thinks of him as guilty of evasion and chicanery is doubtful. It was not his way to put the worst construction on the conduct even of scribes and Pharisees.— πλησίον, without article, is properly an adverb = who is near me? But the meaning is the same as if ὁ had been there.
Luke 10:30-37. The story of the good Samaritan, commonly called a parable, but really not such in the strict sense of natural things used as vehicle of spiritual truth; an example rather than a symbol; the first of several “parables” of this sort in Lk.— ἄνθρωπός τις: probably a Jew, but intentionally not so called, simply a human being, so at once striking the keynote of universal ethics.— κατέβαινεν, was descending; it was a descent indeed.— λ. περιέπεσεν, “fell among” robbers, A. and R. VV.; better perhaps “fell in with,” encountered, so Field (Ot. Nor.). The verb is often joined with a noun singular ( περιέπεσε χειμῶνι). Raphel cites from Polybius an instance in which robbers “fall in with” the party robbed: τούτους (legatos) λῃσταί τινες περιπεσόντες ἐν τῷ πελάγει διέφθειραν (Reliquiae, lib. xxiv. 11).— ἡμιθανῆ, half dead, semivivo relicto, Vulgate, here only in N. T.; he will soon be whole dead unless some one come to his help: cannot help himself or move from the spot.
Luke 10:31. κατὰ συγκυρίαν ( συγκυρία, from συνκυρέω), rare, late Greek = κατὰ συντυχίαν (Hesychius, συγκυρία, συντυχία), by chance; the probabilities against succour being at hand just when sorely wanted; still more improbable that three possibilities of succour should meet just there and then. But the supposition, duly apologised for, is allowable, as the story must go on.— ἱερεύς: Schanz infers from κατὰ συγ. that Jericho was not a sacerdotal city, as, since Lightfoot, has been usually taken for granted. But the phrase has its full meaning independently of this inference, vide above.— ἀντιπαρῆλθεν, variously rendered either = passed by simply, or = passed the opposite way (going up), Grotius; or passed with the wounded man in full view, staring him in the face, a sight fit to awaken compassion in any one (Hahn); or passed by on the other side of the road.
Luke 10:32. ὁμοίως λευίτης ἀντιπ., likewise a Levite … passed by, the repetition of ἀντιπαρῆλθεν has a rhetorical monotony suggestive of the idea: such the way of the world—to pass by, “in nine cases out of ten that is what you may expect” (The Parabolic Teaching of Christ, p. 348).
Luke 10:33. σαμαρείτης, a Samaritan: will he a fortiori pass by? No, he does not, that the surprise and the point of the story. The unexpected happens.— ὁδεύων, here only in N. T., making a journey, presumably longer than from Jerusalem to Jericho, fully equipped for a long journey (Hahn), and so in possession of means for help, if he have the will.— ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, was touched with pity. That sacred feeling will keep him from passing by, though tempted by his own affairs to go on and avoid trouble and loss of time, as ships may pass by other ships in distress, so deserving ever after to have branded on them αντιπαρηλθεν.
Luke 10:34. κατέδησε, ἐπιχέων: both technical terms in medicine.— ἔλαιον καὶ οἶνον: not separately, but mixed; in use among Greeks and Romans as well as Jews (Wetstein).— κτῆνος = κτῆμα from κτάομαι, generally a property, and specially a domestic animal: one’s beast.— πανδοχεῖον (in classics πανδοκ.), a place for receiving all comers, an inn having a host, not merely a khan or caravanserai like κατάλυμα in Luke 2:7.
Luke 10:35. ἐκβαλὼν, casting out (of his girdle or purse).— δύο δην., two “pence,” small sum, but enough for the present; will pay whatever more is needed; known in the inn, and known as a trusty man to the innkeeper ( τῷ πανδοκεῖ).— ὅτι ἂν, etc.: the speech of a man who in turn trusts the host, and has no fear of being overcharged in the bill for the wounded man.— ἐγὼ: with a slight emphasis which means: you know me.— ἐπανέρχεσθαι: he expects to return to the place on his business, a regular customer at that inn. This verb, as well as προσδαπανάω, is used here only in N. T.
Luke 10:36. Application of the story.— γεγονέναι: which of the three seems to you to have become neighbour by neighbourly action? neighbour is who neighbour does.
Luke 10:37. ὁ ποιήσας, etc. If the lawyer was captious to begin with he is captious no longer. He might have been, for his question had not been directly (though very radically) answered. But the moral pathos of the “parable” has appealed to his better nature, and he quibbles no longer. But the prejudice of his class tacitly finds expression by avoidance of the word “Samaritan,” and the use instead of the phrase ὁ ποιήσας τὸ ἔλεος μετʼ αὐτοῦ. Yet perhaps we do him injustice here, for the phrase really expresses the essence of neighbourhood, and so indicates not only who is neighbour but why. For the same phrase vide Luke 1:58; Luke 1:72. This story teaches the whole doctrine of neighbourhood: first and directly, what it is to be a neighbour, viz., to give succour when and where needed; next, indirectly but by obvious consequence, who is a neighbour, viz., any one who needs help and whom I have opportunity and power to help, no matter what his rank, race, or religion may be: neighbourhood coextensive with humanity.
Luke 10:38. ἐν τῷ πορεύεσθαι, in continuation of the wandering whose beginning is noted at Luke 9:52; when, where, not indicated.— εἰς κώμην τινά: either not known, or the name deemed of no importance. When it is stated that He ( αὐτὸς) (Jesus) came to this village it is not implied that He was alone, though no mention is made of disciples in the narrative.— ΄άρθα = mistress, feminine of מָר.
Luke 10:38-42. Martha and Mary.
Luke 10:39. ΄αρία, socially subordinate (inferrible from the manner of reference), though the spiritual heroine of the tale.— ἣ καὶ: the force of the καὶ is not clear, and has been variously explained. Grotius regards it as simply an otiose addition to the relative. Bornemann takes it = adeo = to such an extent did Mary disregard the customary duty of women, that of serving guests, “quem morem adeo non observat M. ut docenti Jesu auscultet”. Perhaps it has something of the force of δή = who, observe! serving to counterbalance the social subordination of Mary; the less important person in the house, but the more important in the Kingdom of God.— παρακαθεσθεῖσα, first aorist passive participle, from παρακαθέζομαι, late Greek form = sitting at the feet of Jesus. Posture noted as significant of a receptive mind and devoted spirit.— τοῦ κυρίου, the Lord, once more for Jesus in narrative ( ἰησοῦ in T. R.).— ἤκουε τὸν λόγον α., continued hearing His word, a conventional expression as in Luke 8:21.
Luke 10:40. ἡ δὲ ΄άρ., but Martha, δὲ as if μὲν had gone before where καὶ is = Mary on the one hand sat, etc., Martha on the other, etc.— περιεσπᾶτο, was distracted, over-occupied, as if the visit had been unexpected, and the guests numerous. In use from Xenophon down. In Polybius with τῇ διανοίᾳ added. Holtzmann (H. C.) points out the correspondence between the contrasted picture of the two sisters and the antithesis between the married and unmarried woman in 1 Corinthians 7:34-35. The married woman caring for the world like Martha ( μεριμνᾷς, Luke 10:41); the unmarried virgin: εὐπάρεδρον τ. κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως.— ἐπιστᾶσα, coming up to and placing herself beside Jesus and Mary: in no placid mood, looking on her sister as simply an idle woman. A bustled worthy housewife will speak her mind in such a case, even though a Jesus be present and come in for a share of the blame.— συναντιλάβηται, bid her take a hand along with me in the work (cf. Romans 8:26).
Luke 10:41. θορυβάζῃ (from θόρυβος, an uproar; τυρβάζῃ T. R., from τύρβη, similar in meaning, neither form again in N. T.), thou art bustled, gently spoken and with a touch of pity.— περὶ πολλά: a great day in that house. Every effort made to entertain Jesus worthily of Him and to the credit of the house.
Luke 10:42. ὀλίγων δέ ἐστιν χρεία ἢ ἑνός. With this reading the sense is: there is need of few things (material); then, with a pause—or rather of one thing (spiritual). Thus Jesus passes, as was His wont, easily and swiftly from the natural to the spiritual. The notion that it was beneath the dignity of Jesus to refer to dishes, even as a stepping stone to higher things, is the child of conventional reverence.— τὴν ἀγαθὴν μερίδα, the good portion, conceived of as a share in a banquet (Genesis 43:34). Mary, having chosen this good portion, may not be blamed ( γὰρ), and cannot be deprived of it, shall not with my sanction, in deference to the demands of a lower vocation.
Nicol, W. Robertson, M.A., L.L.D. "Commentary on Luke 10:4". The Expositor's Greek Testament. http://odl.studylight.org/commentaries/egt/luke-10.html. 1897-1910.
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Share 6 Book Recommendations from “Queer Eye” Chef Antoni Porowski
6 Book Recommendations from “Queer Eye” Chef Antoni Porowski
By LARA BLACKMAN
Lara Blackman is an assistant editor at Touchstone. She graduated from New York University and shares her favorite books on Instagram at @larabee_reads.
Every episode of Netflix’s Queer Eye reboot features exceptional fashion advice and enviable wardrobe makeovers, but one particular article of clothing caught my attention: chef Antoni Porowski’s t-shirt that says “Jude & JB & Willem & Malcolm.” For those of you who don’t know, these are the central characters of Hanya Yanagihara’s beloved novel A LITTLE LIFE. Could it be that the Fab Five’s food and wine expert has as great an eye for books as he does for Instagram-worthy dinners? We did a little research to find six books off Porowski’s shelf—check these out while you wait for Queer Eye’s second season!
by Hanya Yanagihara
After being seen in the Yanagihara t-shirt on the show, Porowski discussed A LITTLE LIFE in a few interviews, not only praising the quality of the writing but pointing out the significance of the narrative in his own life. “At the end of the day, it’s a story about showing up for somebody who doesn’t even believe in themselves, which is exactly what we do on the show,” he said in a Vulture interview. This evocative novel follows four college classmates after moving to New York City, one of which is haunted by extremely dark events of his past.
Read the full review of A LITTLE LIFE.
A post shared by Antoni Porowski (@antoni) on Nov 24, 2016 at 12:20pm PST
I’m not exaggerating at all when I say I cried for 700 pages of this 832-page masterpiece. I have never loved a character more deeply than I love Jude, the main character in this ode to male friendship, who is scarred and broken from an unspeakable trauma. Reading about Jude’s ever-changing relationships with his three best friends from college was one of the best experiences I’ve had as a reader—and certainly as a crier.
Read the review of A LITTLE LIFE.
11 Books We’re Thankful to Have on Our Shelves
By Lara Blackman | April 10, 2018
A Peek Behind Stu’s Shelf
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By Off the Shelf Staff | January 5, 2018
The 13 Books You Need to Read to Understand Modern Relationships
By Julianna Haubner | November 9, 2017
My Struggle: Book 1
by Karl Ove Knausgaard
A friend of Porowski’s recommended A LITTLE LIFE because he said he’d been reading (and loving) Karl Knausgaard, who, like Yanagihara, is known for his unflinching treatment of dark subjects. Originally published in Norway to huge commercial and critical acclaim, MY STRUGGLE is a six-book series of “autobiographical novels”: these books are labeled as fiction, but the author is the protagonist and doesn’t change the names of many of his relatives. The New Republic notes that reading these books ire like “opening someone else's diary and finding your own secrets."
Karl Ove Knausgaard
Comprised of six novels, My Struggle is a semi-autobiographical chronicle of the author’s experiences from childhood to the present day. Whether describing a fight with his father or a quotidian trip to the grocery story, Knausgaard finds a surprising rhythm and beauty in life’s struggles that makes this series a hypnotic read.
10 Books You Should Read if You Love the TV Show “Younger”
By Julianna Haubner | June 5, 2018
Who’s Your Daddy? 15 Powerful Stories About Fathers
By Julianna Haubner | June 14, 2016
11 Binge-Worthy Literary Series
By Emma Volk | August 27, 2015
The Velvet Rage
by Alan Downs
While psychologist Alan Downs argues that “gay men are the worldwide experts on style, fashion, etiquette, bodybuilding, art, and design,” Porowski points out that cooking doesn’t make the list (“Challenge accepted, Dr. Downs!”). In THE VELVET RAGE, the author draws from both research and personal experience to examine how internalized shame effects the emotional well-being of gay men. The title refers to a very specific anger he finds in his gay patients—a byproduct, he says, of “growing up gay in a straight man’s world.”
A post shared by Antoni Porowski (@antoni) on Jan 19, 2018 at 7:09am PST
Alan Downs
by André Aciman
The film adaptation of Andre Aciman’s debut novel hit the big screen in the fall of 2017, going on to win the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. But on Twitter, Porowski calls it “one of my fav ‘17 summer books,” meaning, unsurprisingly, that he knew about it before it was cool. Set in Italy in the 1980s, the book follows a powerful summer romance between a teenage boy and a 24-year-old guest at his parents’ villa—an experience that affects them both deeply. Porowski's praise has reaffirmed that I need to read this one before seeing the movie.
Read the full review of CALL ME BY YOUR NAME.
Our Gift to You: 13 of Off the Shelf’s Favorite Book Recommendations
Staff’s Choice: 12 Recently Shelved Books from the Off the Shelf Team
The 5 Best Books I’ve Read This Month
By Meagan Harris | November 8, 2017
Readers’ Choice: October’s 10 Most Shelved Books on Off the Shelf
By Off the Shelf Staff | October 27, 2017
The Undeniable Love Story You’ll Want to Read Before You See the Movie
By Rakesh Satyal | October 12, 2017
by Ted Allen
Former Chopped host Ted Allen was the food expert on the original Queer Eye series, and when he published his cookbook, Porowski attended his Brooklyn book signing. “We found out that we lived literally across the street from one another, and then eventually I started working for him and cooking for him,” Porowski told Grub Street. IN MY KITCHEN features more than 100 recipes for all occasions, like bourbon squash soup and Thai-grilled beef skewers. These seem a little advanced for the guys Porowski’s mentoring on Queer Eye, but a perfect next step once they graduate from guacamole and grilled cheese.
by Alan Hollinghurst
Porowski posted this one to his Instagram story, thanking A LITTLE LIFE author Hanya Yanagihara herself for the recommendation. Alan Hollinghurst, award-winning author of THE LINE OF BEAUTY, returns with this sweeping family saga, following a group of men from 1940s Oxford to present day London. The book is not only a deeply emotional character study, but an exploration of changing views and experiences of homosexuality in the UK over the last century.
Alan Hollinghurst
Readers’ Choice: The Top 10 Most Shelved Books in July
In Memoriam: 13 Beloved Books by Literary Luminaries We Lost This Year
Why I Think Reading Is The Ultimate Luxury
BY Santa Montefiore
A Burning, Brilliant, and Brutal Novel
BY Molly Prentiss
13 Oceanfront Books to Tide You Over Until Your Next Beach Vacation
BY Erin Madison
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Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Management Strategies for Patients with Solitary Pulmonary Nodules
Michael K. Gould, Gillian D. Sanders, Paul G. Barnett, Chara Rydzak, Courtney C. Maclean, Mark B. McClellan, Douglas K. Owens
Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a potentially useful but expensive test to diagnose solitary pulmonary nodules. Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of strategies for pulmonary nodule diagnosis and to specifically compare strategies that did and did not include FDG-PET. Design: Decision model. Data Sources: Accuracy and complications of diagnostic tests were estimated by using meta-analysis and literature review. Modeled survival was based on data from a large tumor registry. Cost estimates were derived from Medicare reimbursement and other sources. Target Population: All adult patients with a new, noncalcified pulmonary nodule seen on chest radiograph. Time Horizon: Patient lifetime. Perspective: Societal. Intervention: 40 clinically plausible combinations of 5 diagnostic interventions, including computed tomography, FDG-PET, transthoracic needle biopsy, surgery, and watchful waiting. Outcome Measures: Costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results of Base-Case Analysis: The cost-effectiveness of strategies depended critically on the pretest probability of malignancy. For patients with low pretest probability (26%), strategies that used FDG-PET selectively when computed tomography results were possibly malignant cost as little as $20 000 per QALY gained. For patients with high pretest probability (79%), strategies that used FDG-PET selectively when computed tomography results were benign cost as little as $16 000 per QALY gained. For patients with intermediate pretest probability (55%), FDG-PET strategies cost more than $220 000 per QALY gained because they were more costly but only marginally more effective than computed tomography-based strategies. Results of Sensitivity Analysis: The choice of strategy also depended on the risk for surgical complications, the probability of nondiagnostic needle biopsy, the sensitivity of computed tomography, and patient preferences for time spent in watchful waiting. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, FDG-PET strategies were cost saving or cost less than $100 000 per QALY gained in 76.7%, 24.4%, and 99.9% of computer simulations for patients with low, intermediate, and high pretest probability, respectively. Conclusions: FDG-PET should be used selectively when pretest probability and computed tomography findings are discordant or in patients with intermediate pretest probability who are at high risk for surgical complications. In most other circumstances, computed tomography-based strategies result in similar quality-adjusted life-years and lower costs.
https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-138-9-200305060-00009
Published - May 6 2003
Solitary Pulmonary Nodule
Quality-Adjusted Life Years
Needle Biopsy
Health Services Needs and Demand
Routine Diagnostic Tests
Gould, M. K., Sanders, G. D., Barnett, P. G., Rydzak, C., Maclean, C. C., McClellan, M. B., & Owens, D. K. (2003). Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Management Strategies for Patients with Solitary Pulmonary Nodules. Annals of internal medicine, 138(9), 724-735. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-138-9-200305060-00009
Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Management Strategies for Patients with Solitary Pulmonary Nodules. / Gould, Michael K.; Sanders, Gillian D.; Barnett, Paul G.; Rydzak, Chara; Maclean, Courtney C.; McClellan, Mark B.; Owens, Douglas K.
In: Annals of internal medicine, Vol. 138, No. 9, 06.05.2003, p. 724-735.
Gould, MK, Sanders, GD, Barnett, PG, Rydzak, C, Maclean, CC, McClellan, MB & Owens, DK 2003, 'Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Management Strategies for Patients with Solitary Pulmonary Nodules', Annals of internal medicine, vol. 138, no. 9, pp. 724-735. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-138-9-200305060-00009
Gould MK, Sanders GD, Barnett PG, Rydzak C, Maclean CC, McClellan MB et al. Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Management Strategies for Patients with Solitary Pulmonary Nodules. Annals of internal medicine. 2003 May 6;138(9):724-735. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-138-9-200305060-00009
Gould, Michael K. ; Sanders, Gillian D. ; Barnett, Paul G. ; Rydzak, Chara ; Maclean, Courtney C. ; McClellan, Mark B. ; Owens, Douglas K. / Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Management Strategies for Patients with Solitary Pulmonary Nodules. In: Annals of internal medicine. 2003 ; Vol. 138, No. 9. pp. 724-735.
@article{3aedb282bbdf4487b6e8d13075aae3cf,
title = "Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Management Strategies for Patients with Solitary Pulmonary Nodules",
abstract = "Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a potentially useful but expensive test to diagnose solitary pulmonary nodules. Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of strategies for pulmonary nodule diagnosis and to specifically compare strategies that did and did not include FDG-PET. Design: Decision model. Data Sources: Accuracy and complications of diagnostic tests were estimated by using meta-analysis and literature review. Modeled survival was based on data from a large tumor registry. Cost estimates were derived from Medicare reimbursement and other sources. Target Population: All adult patients with a new, noncalcified pulmonary nodule seen on chest radiograph. Time Horizon: Patient lifetime. Perspective: Societal. Intervention: 40 clinically plausible combinations of 5 diagnostic interventions, including computed tomography, FDG-PET, transthoracic needle biopsy, surgery, and watchful waiting. Outcome Measures: Costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results of Base-Case Analysis: The cost-effectiveness of strategies depended critically on the pretest probability of malignancy. For patients with low pretest probability (26{\%}), strategies that used FDG-PET selectively when computed tomography results were possibly malignant cost as little as $20 000 per QALY gained. For patients with high pretest probability (79{\%}), strategies that used FDG-PET selectively when computed tomography results were benign cost as little as $16 000 per QALY gained. For patients with intermediate pretest probability (55{\%}), FDG-PET strategies cost more than $220 000 per QALY gained because they were more costly but only marginally more effective than computed tomography-based strategies. Results of Sensitivity Analysis: The choice of strategy also depended on the risk for surgical complications, the probability of nondiagnostic needle biopsy, the sensitivity of computed tomography, and patient preferences for time spent in watchful waiting. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, FDG-PET strategies were cost saving or cost less than $100 000 per QALY gained in 76.7{\%}, 24.4{\%}, and 99.9{\%} of computer simulations for patients with low, intermediate, and high pretest probability, respectively. Conclusions: FDG-PET should be used selectively when pretest probability and computed tomography findings are discordant or in patients with intermediate pretest probability who are at high risk for surgical complications. In most other circumstances, computed tomography-based strategies result in similar quality-adjusted life-years and lower costs.",
author = "Gould, {Michael K.} and Sanders, {Gillian D.} and Barnett, {Paul G.} and Chara Rydzak and Maclean, {Courtney C.} and McClellan, {Mark B.} and Owens, {Douglas K.}",
doi = "10.7326/0003-4819-138-9-200305060-00009",
journal = "Annals of Internal Medicine",
publisher = "American College of Physicians",
T1 - Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Management Strategies for Patients with Solitary Pulmonary Nodules
AU - Gould, Michael K.
AU - Sanders, Gillian D.
AU - Barnett, Paul G.
AU - Rydzak, Chara
AU - Maclean, Courtney C.
AU - McClellan, Mark B.
AU - Owens, Douglas K.
N2 - Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a potentially useful but expensive test to diagnose solitary pulmonary nodules. Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of strategies for pulmonary nodule diagnosis and to specifically compare strategies that did and did not include FDG-PET. Design: Decision model. Data Sources: Accuracy and complications of diagnostic tests were estimated by using meta-analysis and literature review. Modeled survival was based on data from a large tumor registry. Cost estimates were derived from Medicare reimbursement and other sources. Target Population: All adult patients with a new, noncalcified pulmonary nodule seen on chest radiograph. Time Horizon: Patient lifetime. Perspective: Societal. Intervention: 40 clinically plausible combinations of 5 diagnostic interventions, including computed tomography, FDG-PET, transthoracic needle biopsy, surgery, and watchful waiting. Outcome Measures: Costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results of Base-Case Analysis: The cost-effectiveness of strategies depended critically on the pretest probability of malignancy. For patients with low pretest probability (26%), strategies that used FDG-PET selectively when computed tomography results were possibly malignant cost as little as $20 000 per QALY gained. For patients with high pretest probability (79%), strategies that used FDG-PET selectively when computed tomography results were benign cost as little as $16 000 per QALY gained. For patients with intermediate pretest probability (55%), FDG-PET strategies cost more than $220 000 per QALY gained because they were more costly but only marginally more effective than computed tomography-based strategies. Results of Sensitivity Analysis: The choice of strategy also depended on the risk for surgical complications, the probability of nondiagnostic needle biopsy, the sensitivity of computed tomography, and patient preferences for time spent in watchful waiting. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, FDG-PET strategies were cost saving or cost less than $100 000 per QALY gained in 76.7%, 24.4%, and 99.9% of computer simulations for patients with low, intermediate, and high pretest probability, respectively. Conclusions: FDG-PET should be used selectively when pretest probability and computed tomography findings are discordant or in patients with intermediate pretest probability who are at high risk for surgical complications. In most other circumstances, computed tomography-based strategies result in similar quality-adjusted life-years and lower costs.
AB - Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a potentially useful but expensive test to diagnose solitary pulmonary nodules. Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of strategies for pulmonary nodule diagnosis and to specifically compare strategies that did and did not include FDG-PET. Design: Decision model. Data Sources: Accuracy and complications of diagnostic tests were estimated by using meta-analysis and literature review. Modeled survival was based on data from a large tumor registry. Cost estimates were derived from Medicare reimbursement and other sources. Target Population: All adult patients with a new, noncalcified pulmonary nodule seen on chest radiograph. Time Horizon: Patient lifetime. Perspective: Societal. Intervention: 40 clinically plausible combinations of 5 diagnostic interventions, including computed tomography, FDG-PET, transthoracic needle biopsy, surgery, and watchful waiting. Outcome Measures: Costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results of Base-Case Analysis: The cost-effectiveness of strategies depended critically on the pretest probability of malignancy. For patients with low pretest probability (26%), strategies that used FDG-PET selectively when computed tomography results were possibly malignant cost as little as $20 000 per QALY gained. For patients with high pretest probability (79%), strategies that used FDG-PET selectively when computed tomography results were benign cost as little as $16 000 per QALY gained. For patients with intermediate pretest probability (55%), FDG-PET strategies cost more than $220 000 per QALY gained because they were more costly but only marginally more effective than computed tomography-based strategies. Results of Sensitivity Analysis: The choice of strategy also depended on the risk for surgical complications, the probability of nondiagnostic needle biopsy, the sensitivity of computed tomography, and patient preferences for time spent in watchful waiting. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, FDG-PET strategies were cost saving or cost less than $100 000 per QALY gained in 76.7%, 24.4%, and 99.9% of computer simulations for patients with low, intermediate, and high pretest probability, respectively. Conclusions: FDG-PET should be used selectively when pretest probability and computed tomography findings are discordant or in patients with intermediate pretest probability who are at high risk for surgical complications. In most other circumstances, computed tomography-based strategies result in similar quality-adjusted life-years and lower costs.
U2 - 10.7326/0003-4819-138-9-200305060-00009
DO - 10.7326/0003-4819-138-9-200305060-00009
JO - Annals of Internal Medicine
JF - Annals of Internal Medicine
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Indiana Chamber Blogs
The Business Blog of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Economic Stabilization Bill Passes House, Bush to Sign
Posted on October 3, 2008 by Matt L. Ottinger
The U.S. House of Representatives just passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 by a tally of 263 to 171.
Republicans who said they would switch their votes from "no" to "yes" included Rep. Howard Cobble, R-N.C., and Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C. In a statement, Myrick said, "We’re on the cusp of a complete catastrophic credit meltdown. There is no liquidity in the market. We are out of time. Either you believe that fact, or you don’t. I do."
Indiana’s Congressmen voted as follows:
Andre Carson (D)
Joe Donnelly (D)
Brad Ellsworth (D)
Mark Souder (R)
Dan Burton (R)
Steve Buyer (R)
Mike Pence (R)
Baron Hill (D)
Pete Visclosky (D)
Both Indiana Senators Richard Lugar (R) and Evan Bayh (D) voted for the bill in the Senate, where it passed 74-25.
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., cast a reluctant “yes” vote.
“As distasteful as it is for Congress to take this action, doing nothing would likely make things much worse,” he said in a statement. “Once we have dealt with the present crisis, we must channel our anger into making sure this never, ever happens again.”
Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., also voted for the bill.
“Failure to pass (this) legislation would lead to massive unemployment and failure of small business and farming operations in Indiana,” he said in a statement. “That is unacceptable.”
This entry was posted in Business News and tagged andre carson, bailout, cnn, dan burton, democrats, donnelly, economic stabilization, ellsworth, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, hill, indiana, mike pence, republicans, rescue, souder, steve buyer, visclosky by Matt L. Ottinger. Bookmark the permalink.
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'The look' of Father's Day
Tony Ahern
Comparing parenting styles and why this year might be when 'the look' is retired for good
With Father's Day approaching, I can't help but think of my dad and his style of raising kids. He had eight. His first few grew up in the '50s and '60s, when he had youthful energy and seemingly less to lose. The last three were more '70s kids, and he was in the 40s, exhausted from long hours and the stress of owning and running his own business.
My dad was a busy dad, with a big family and big responsibilities to it. And he wasn't one of those dads who gave his kids much individual attention. I never expected any, and I doubt my siblings did either.
I always told myself, like probably most do, that when I became a parent, I'd be much different.
Sure enough, the times alone make most of us different than our parents were.
Today's parents stress over every detail of their children's lives. We bounce between being Helicopter Parents (hovering over our kids so they don't make a mistake) to being Lawn Mower Parents (who go before their kids, clearing a path, so they couldn't possibly make a mistake or suffer a heartache).
No wonder our pre-teens just want to play videos on their Chrome books or steal our phones (if they haven't conned us into buying them one of their own yet). They may not want us out of their lives yet, but how about out of their faces?
My parents were the epitome of NOT being Helicopter or Lawn Mower parents — as I'm sure most of yours were, too ... at least those of you still reading this in paper form (God luv ya). We all survived countless bike wrecks with nary a helmet, trans-state station wagon trips without seat belts; and hours of sunscreenless summertime play interrupted only by long slugs of water straight from that worm house of a garden hose.
My dad didn't involve himself much with the details of my life, and wasn't much of a talker (to me anyway) of anything except often-told stories of his Oklahoma youth. He wasn't a corporal punishment guy (my 120-pound mom was the spanking brute). No, he "punished" with a stern, tight-faced glare, nearly a snarl. Those looks hurt worse than any paddling could. He'd follow it with some professional-quality ignoring.
But by the time I graduated high school, then college, got a job, then got a job back in the ol' hometown, my dad was completely different. Maybe all dads mellow, and moms get a little more edge, when they age. The only thing that seemed to bring that stern, clinched face in his later years was when he couldn't find a game on that damned, confusing, 180-channel cable TV. Nearly always in his later years, a satisfied smile marked his face.
Sure, I promised myself I would be different as a parent. I wouldn't give that crushing, mean look to my kid, I'd be a talker and hugger and give them more love and support than they could possibly need — an ace pilot in the Helicopter Parent Corps.
But there are days, many days, that I'm reminded how similar I am in style to him.
My dad was older than most fathers when I was born, 38. He was ancient in my eyes as I grew up. But there I was, 44, when my daughter was born. (So there, you ageist jerk.) Like he did when I was a kid, I too often come home from work tired, don't always say much, not much care or energy to do anything that might be related to fun.
When the kid says or does something not so wonderful, she'll more than likely get that same stern, near-snarl that I used to get. Recently, when I've thrown it her way, I can sense my dad, like he's telling me to stop it, as if he now knows how much I hated it, and he's trying to convince me to go ahead and jump to that mellow stage he rode for about 25 years.
We'll all think of our dads on Sunday. For me, I'll probably go visit mine up there at the memorial park, where he rests next to my mom. I'll thank him for all he did for me and for his family, think of some of the many, many happy times he provided. And I think I'll tell him that I'm going to try and retire that heart-ripping, mean glare of ours.
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Personalized Therapies
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PANACEUTICS NAMES TOP SPECIALTY PHARMACY EXECUTIVE MARK MONTGOMERY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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Partnership to plan studies of personalized, combinatorial cardiovascular therapies with Florida Hospital’s Cardiovascular Institute ORLANDO, Fla. – MAY 24, 2017 – Florida Hospital’s Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) today announced that they are partnering with...
PANACEUTICS CEO TO SPEAK AT PRECISION MEDICINE WORLD CONFERENCE
Topic to explore potential impact of data driven personalization and robotics on Rx costs DURHAM, NC – MAY 24 2017 –Panaceutics Inc., a personalized medicine and clinical nutrition company, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Edison Hudson will present...
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OSI Board Evolution
Submitted by webmink on Tue, 2019-05-14 07:42
I spent last week in New York at the annual new-inductees face-to-face Board meeting of the Open Source Initiative Board (pictured here – Christine Hall is also a member but was unable to join us). Having spent the last 11 years working on refactoring OSI for a new generation, I had advised the Board in advance that I intended to step down as President to make way for fresh blood. The Board elected Molly de Blanc as the new President and Josh Simmons as Vice President, with Hong Phuc Dang bravely volunteering to be CFO. I agreed to serve as Board Secretary until someone else feels ready to play that role – no later than next April when my term ends.
Simon Phipps, Elana Hashman, Pamela Chestek, Molly de Blanc, Faidon Liambotis, Chris Lamb, Hong Phuc Dang, Patrick Masson, Carol Smith (kneeling) Josh Simmons (kneeling)
The OSI I’m handing over to the new Board is very different to the one I first attended in 2008 (as an observer - I only joined the Board on leaving Sun in 2010). It is now elected rather than selected (albeit via an indirect mechanism to make California regulation easier to manage). The electors are over 60 affiliate organisations representing the majority of the world’s core open source developers and an ever growing community of individual members. OSI now has a viable income arising largely from a diverse range of around 30 sponsors. It now has a staff, including a full-time General Manager, Patrick Masson. It now has maintained systems for managing donations, lists and outreach. And there’s more been achieved – those are just stand-outs.
All together that means OSI has a proven foundation for the new Board to build upon. Already built on that foundation there are a postgraduate curriculum, a programme to advocate open source in the world of standards, a programme to equip schools with recycled PCs, working relationships with peer organisations like FSF and FSFE and more. There are many people responsible for all this change, too many to name here, and I thank them all.
People always look forward rather than back and there are still plenty of issues to deal with which are the new Board’s focus. We are already working to improve the license review process, for example. But I’m really pleased with what we have all achieved over the last decade at OSI (and how it matches my 2010 manifesto!) and am thrilled that there’s an energetic, more diverse and younger crew taking over.
webmink's blog
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Chinese Slave Who Smuggled Note in Halloween Product Has Been Found
Source Care2
By Piper Hoffman
Your Halloween decorations may have been made by Chinese slaves. Oregonian Julie Keith learned this from a horrifying letter a slave laborer had slipped between two Styrofoam tombstones in a “Totally Ghoul” holiday kit she bought at Kmart. Care2 Causes told her story last December in “Chinese Labor Camp Inmate Smuggles Out Plea for Help In Kmart Product.” Since then, the letter writer has apparently been identified.
The letter described conditions in the Masanjia Labor Camp. Thousands of inmates worked 15 hours a day, seven days a week, on pain of beatings and torture, the whistleblower wrote. These were not convicts: they were presumed guilty, usually of political crimes or subscribing to a banned religion, and imprisoned without trials.
Keith sought help. Human rights organizations didn’t respond, and U.S. customs officials said there was nothing they could do besides put her report in a folder, though they now call the allegations an “investigative priority.” Ignored by authorities, Keith posted the letter on Facebook. Journalists picked up the story. One outlet, CNN, launched a search for the letter’s author, and remarkably, it seems that they found him.
Speaking under the alias Mr. Zhang, the self-proclaimed writer, who had since been released from Masanjia, told CNN, “the first thing they do is to take your human dignity away and humiliate you.” Zhang said the prison used beatings, sleep deprivation and torture to control inmates. Another former inmate, Liu Hua, has said the camp was “hell on earth.” She described guards ordering other prisoners to beat her and losing consciousness during one such assault; when she awoke, she was forced back to work.
A third former inmate said guards chained detainees up and sexually abused them. Chen Shenchun, who received a two-year sentence for continuing a petition campaign to recover unpaid wages from a state-owned factory, told of electric batons left on her skin so long she could smell burning flesh, and of being dragged by her hair.
China arrested Zhang a few months before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, apparently because he was a follower of Falun Gong, which China considers a cult and has outlawed. Falun Gong is a spiritual movement that claims to be based on Buddhism. Zhang and others say that Masanjia’s guards were particularly rough on Falun Gong members, who may have constituted about half the camp’s population. A report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom found that the Falun Gong are subject to arbitrary arrest, long detentions and torture, which has resulted in 3,500 deaths. They make up two-thirds of the alleged torture victims whose cases make it to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture.
Other inmates were relegated to labor camps for criticizing the government or for petty crimes.
Zhang wrote 20 letters over two years about the plight of the prison camp’s inmates and packaged them in Halloween decoration kits, which was no small feat. He had to procure paper and a pen, neither of which prisoners were allowed to have. The only time he could write was during the already inadequate sleeping period, but even then the lights were kept on and guards watched every move. Zhang had to lay on his side with his back to the guard and prop the paper on his pillow, painstakingly spelling out the English he learned in college, then smuggle the missives into boxes that looked like they were headed for English-speaking countries.
His bravery and hard work, along with Keith’s determination to help, shone a light on Chinese “Ideological Education Schools.” China’s Communist party claims that it will stop using forced labor by the end of 2013. Masanjia has closed down, but it is only one of more than 300 Chinese labor camps, according to Amnesty International. A China researcher at the organization, Corinna-Barbara Francis, says closing the camps would be hard to do because they make money, and not just from the inmates’ labor. Prison guards collect bribes to ease up on particular detainees or even release them early. “Given the serious money being made in these places, the economic incentive to keep the system going is really powerful,” Francis said.
While Zhang is free, thousands of others continue to suffer in reeducation camps that treat inmates as slaves, while calling them “students.” This is one more reason not to buy products made in China.
the worlds most emergent
technocracy,
mired in cruelty,
and bureaucracy.
you have no sense
but many dollars.
we want human
and animal rights
how long do we have
to HOLLAR!
from → Children's Rights, Human Rights
← Something To Keep In Mind Next Time You’re Thinking About Ordering Crab Or Lobster
Taiwanese Government: Cancel plans to expose unvaccinated beagle puppies to the rabies virus now →
UFOHUNTERORGUK permalink
Reblogged this on Ufohunterorguk.com.
Thank you, UFO.
Coming soon to a town near you ! And now china is going to join the U.N Human right council LOL LOL LOL ,
Seriously? Seems a bit ironic. 😦
Oh yes it’s absolutely true!
Perfect! Thank you, hon.
You are welcome and thank you
So very sad! Will slavery ever ‘really’ be abolished?
Dominique Osh permalink
Easier to understand how they have a regime of NO respect for an individual’s life.
HeartBound permalink
What a terrible story…I can’t believe what people are forced to endure in this world – just for the power and profit of a few.
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NJ LGBT Events
Community Web Links
Out In Jersey
Home Content Commentary Hoping for safe places of worship with Trump’s help
Hoping for safe places of worship with Trump’s help
Irene Monroe
Rev. Irene Monroe
The high holy holidays of Passover and Easter are fast approaching, and Ramadan is in May. Attacks, however, on places of worship are becoming too frequent in this global climate of intolerance. As a worshiper, I need our president to make us safe.
Read more commentary at Out In Jersey from Rev. Irene Monroe
The Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue mass shooting occurred in October 2018. The shooter injured seven and killed eleven people. It was the deadliest anti-Semitic attack on the Jewish community in the country.
Last month, the Christchurch mosque shootings occured in New Zealand. The two consecutive terrorist attacks, injured over fifty, and killed fifty people. The gunman, a self-described eco-fascist and ethno nationalist, live-streamed his first attack on Facebook Live.
When news broke that three historically African American Baptist churches have burned within ten days in rural Louisiana’s St. Landry Parish, sadly, the horror was all too familiar. The only good news in these recent incidents is that there were no casualties.
Before the assailant was apprehended, none of the church burnings had been labeled as hate crimes. That suggested because the churches are over 100 years-old that perhaps accidental ignition due to old and crumbling infrastructures, faulty wiring, or thunderstorms that can cause power outages, and occasional fires might be the culprit. Holden Matthews, the son of St. Landry Parish sheriff deputy, was the arsonist, igniting a wave of panic throughout its black community. Matthew, 21, is white. While Matthews’s behavior is undoubtedly disturbing to all its residents —his actions are not new.
The link between white supremacy and attacks on African American churches in this country have been both historically documented (see “list of attacks against African-American churches — Wikipedia”) and well-known.
In the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama four little African American girls were killed. And, it is one of the iconic images of white supremacist domestic terrorism. Massachusetts, however, which is known as the bluest of blue states proved that church burnings are not the sole province of the South. The burning of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ in Springfield was just hours after Obama was elected that historic night of November 2008 as our country’s first African American president.
In 2015, African American church burnings occurred suspiciously in rapid succession following the Charleston black church massacre. It left nine dead — including its senior pastor. The day before the church massacre, precisely 197 years prior, “Mother” Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church was burned to the ground due to the racial violence of a mob of white slave owners.
Church burnings were one more persistent reminder why during antebellum America, hush harbors were places where my enslaved ancestors gathered in secret to worship. These recent fires remind me how African Americans’ desire for safe and sacred spaces — especially places of worship — continue to be challenged with acts violence.
However, African Americans are not the only ones confronted with this challenge
The roots of the Tree of Life massacre were white supremacy and anti-Semitism. When the gunman was apprehended by a SWAT officer he allegedly told him, “He wanted all Jews to die, and that Jews were committing genocide against his people.”
The roots of the Christchurch massacre were white supremacy and Islamophobia. The gunman praised President Trump in his 74-page manifesto posted online. He lauded Trump as a symbol “of renewed white identity and common purpose.” This attack has our Muslim brothers and sisters on edge. The mosque in Cambridge Massachusetts, just blocks from me, was on 24-hour surveillance for fear of a copycat incident.
The roots of St. Landry’s church burnings were white supremacy and racism. Matthews influenced by “black metal” music, a subgenre of heavy metal is known for its anti-Christian and demagogic rhetoric, like promoting neo-Nazism.
During a press conference, Trump was asked if he “see(s) today that white nationalism is a rising threat around the world” in the wake of mosques attacks in New Zealand. “I don’t really. I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very, serious problems, I guess,” sadly Trump replied.
Trump’s statements keep white supremacist terrorism alive
Trump’s statement reminded me of his repugnant “blame on both sides” comment about the Charlottesville mayhem that took place the summer of 2017. By condemning counter protesters similarly as white supremacists and swastika-wielding neo-Nazis at the rally, Trump suggested both groups were at fault, and one was equally in the wrong as the other.
It is these types of statements that keep white supremacist terrorism alive, here and abroad.
Places of worship are sanctuaries of safe spaces. Freedom of religion is guaranteed in our constitution, and it’s a freedom that should be upheld globally. With many of us approaching the high holy holidays these coming days and weeks ahead, nothing would be more comforting than knowing our places of worship are safe.
Mr. President, can you help us?!
Rev. Irene Monroe can be reached via Twitter at: twitter.com/revimonroe
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Qatar’s maritime transport sector bucks global slowdown
QatarTransport
Qatar’s maritime transport sector has taken advantage of the country’s infrastructure boom and economic diversification plans to weather a slowdown in global shipping.
Meanwhile, looking ahead, fleet composition and integrated supply chains will be key to the continued growth of Qatar’s shipping and logistics companies.
Changing market dynamics
Last year the global shipping industry, particularly the dry bulk segment, was adversely affected by declining Chinese imports of coal and other raw materials.
This contraction, combined with the supply of new vessels coming onto the market, saw the Baltic Dry Index reach an all-time low of 498 points in November.
For most of last year, the revenues of the majority of dry bulk vessels did not exceed their operating expenses, forcing many companies to pull ships from active service. This resulted in an increase in scrapping during the first half of 2015, according to international shipping association BIMCO.
The container segment also saw a decline on the back of slowing global economic growth and oversupply. Indeed, container supply in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) rose by an estimated 8% in 2015 – a four-year high – while demand-side growth reached the lowest level in three years.
Conversely, although lower energy prices have adversely affected the offshore servicing segment, the oil tanker market has benefitted greatly from falling hydrocarbons prices. Strong refinery margins have kept demand for these vessels high, with countries around the world racing to fill their storage facilities while low prices prevail.
Tankers have also been pressed into service as floating storage platforms in places where onshore tank farms have reached capacity. As of November last year, some 100m barrels of crude oil and heavy fuels were being kept at sea.
Given these changing dynamics, the fortunes of shipping companies have become intimately tied to their fleet’s composition, to the benefit of Qatar’s shipping companies.
Fleet diversification as a key advantage
Diversification has been the key to success for Qatar-based maritime and logistics company, Milaha, which operates a fleet of 10 container vessels, five product and crude tankers, two liquefied natural gas carriers, two ammonia/liquefied petroleum gas carriers, almost 40 offshore service vessels, a Supramax bulk vessel and over 20 harbour craft.
Lower oil and gas prices have seen a decline in demand for offshore service vessels, though there has been an uptick in demand for crude carriers and product tankers, according to Abdulrahman Essa Al Mannai, president and CEO of Milaha.
“Commercial shipping is driven primarily by economic activity in non-energy sectors, which remains strong and is supported by government spending on infrastructure projects,” Al Mannai told OBG. “Qatar’s economic diversification away from oil and gas has acted as a natural hedge.”
Despite cutting back on new infrastructure spending in recent months, the government’s commitment to maintain existing projects by running a deficit provides a continued source of demand for imported materials.
As a result, Milaha’s maritime and logistics segment reported a 26% increase in operating revenues last year to QR1.17bn ($321.5m), while net profits rose by 133% to QR279.5m ($76.8m), demonstrating the benefits of a diversified fleet.
Rising demand for high-quality storage
With Qatar’s boom in infrastructure requiring highly integrated supply chains to handle the increased import volumes, companies have been investing in temperature-controlled, environmentally friendly warehousing to satisfy demand for more modern storage facilities.
Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC) is another major player in Qatar’s transport and logistics sector, with over 2m sq metres of warehousing, distribution centres, and open and container yards.
“Warehousing has become a major profit centre, and GWC continues to bid on and enter into new logistics projects, such as our Bu Sulba Warehousing Park, a self-contained facility on 517,376 sq metres, with 194 warehouses expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2017,” Sheikh Abdullah bin Fahad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, chairman of GWC, told OBG. “This is in addition to expanding our present assets, including the Ras Laffan Industrial City site and the Logistics Village Qatar Phase 5 expansion.”
Last year the company reported a 20% increase in operating revenues, which totalled QR787.9m ($216.5m), and a 32% jump in net profits to QR185.2m ($50.9m).
Companies that can provide an integrated supply chain – bringing a diversified maritime portfolio together with efficient and modern onshore facilities – are well placed to profit from the continued pace of construction in Qatar, helping to hedge against the negative impacts of lower energy prices in international shipping.
The year ahead will likely see this trend continue, as Qatar pushes forward with its current infrastructure and diversification projects, signifying busy times ahead for Doha Port and the soon-to-be fully operational Hamad Port.
Register for free Economic News Updates on Qatar
The Report: Qatar 2019
Read our Qatar 2019 Economic Report and Investment Analysis online or purchase from our online store
Featured Sectors in Qatar:
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Premium Content: Qatar and Transport
Chapter | Transport from The Report: Qatar 2019
Overview | Moving along: New investments and continued development of older projects keep the sector’s wheels turning from The Report: Qatar 2019
Analysis | Smooth sailing: Development at Hamad Port enters its second phase from The Report: Qatar 2019
Interview | On the right track: Abdulla Nasser Turki Al Subaey, President, Civil Aviation Authority, on adapting local regulations to meet global standards from The Report: Qatar 2019
Interview | Moving forward: Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality and Environment; and CEO and Managing Director, Qatar Rail, on advancing the public transport system from The Report: Qatar 2019
Analysis | Upwards flight path: The state has allocated funds to expand the international airport in order to meet the demands of increased traffic from The Report: Qatar 2019
Overview | Skybound: Rapid expansion of global aviation industry propels investment from The Report: Qatar 2019
In Qatar
Launch of new free zones to boost Qatar’s foreign investment and...
Qatar is ramping up efforts to increase foreign investment and incentivise activity in a range of different industries, unveiling plans to launch two new free trade zones.
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20 Podcasts Like Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis
20 Podcasts Like Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis public [dynamic 0]
Can't get enough of Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis? Then we think you'll love these podcasts too. Here are twenty of the very best podcasts similar to Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis you can binge on right now. Do let us know if we missed one! (updated January 2020)
Can't get enough of Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis? Then we think you'll love these podcasts too. Here are twenty of the very best podcasts similar to Bill O’Reilly’s No Spin News and Analysis you can binge on right now. Do let us know if we missed one!
Updated January 2020
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Join millions of Player FM users today to get news and insights whenever you like, even when you're offline. Podcast smarter with the free podcast app that refuses to compromise. Let's play!
Join the world's best podcast app to manage your favorite shows online and play them offline on our Android and iOS apps. It's free and easy!
The Savage Nation Podcast
Join Dr. Michael Savage, host of The Savage Nation® Radio show, National Radio Hall of Fame Inductee, and New York Times Bestselling Author for a bold perspective on American ideals, the truth about liberalism and national security, and what is really happening with today's politics.
The Glenn Beck Program
Watch The Glenn Beck Radio Program, Monday through Friday, 9am - 12pm ET on BlazeTV. www.BlazeTV.com/Glenn
The Michael Knowles Show
Come for the conversation. Stay for the covfefe. The Michael Knowles Show goes beyond the headline, analyzing the top cultural and political issues of the day. Monday through Thursday.
Mark Levin Podcast
Mark Levin is one of the hottest properties in Talk radio today. He is also one of the leading authors in the conservative political arena. Mark's radio show on WABC in New York City skyrocketed to Number 1 on the AM dial in his first 18 months on the air in the competitive 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM time slot. Mark's latest book, "Unfreedom of the Press," is out now. When your books are endorsed by Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, you know you have a winner on your hands. In a short period of time, M ...
The Andrew Klavan Show
End of Western Civilization got you down? All is tickety-boo on The Andrew Klavan Show as Andrew laughs his way though Armageddon with political satire, cultural commentary, interviews and relentless mockery of racial pieties, sexual perversities, and feminist absurdities. Monday thru Thursday.
The Dan Bongino Show
He’s a former Secret Service Agent, former NYPD officer, and New York Times best-selling author. Join Dan Bongino each weekday as he tackles the hottest political issues, debunking both liberal and Republican establishment rhetoric.
Rush Limbaugh Morning Update
What’s happened since Rush Limbaugh signed off yesterday afternoon? Download this and find out what’s on Rush Limbaugh’s mind before the full program starts today. Here these original thoughts from El Rushbo. Download it and have it ready to listen to before you tune in on the radio later today.
Tired of the lies? Tired of the spin? Are you ready to hear the hard-hitting truth in comprehensive, conservative, principled fashion? The Ben Shapiro Show brings you all the news you need to know in the most fast moving daily program in America. Ben brutally breaks down the culture and never gives an inch! Monday thru Friday.
Care about free speech? Tired of political correctness? Join Dave Rubin for real conversations, real news, and one-on-one interviews with some of the most intriguing names in America today as they break down politics and current events.
Sean Hannity is a multimedia superstar, spending four hours a day every day reaching out to millions of Americans on radio, television and the Internet.
American Conservative University Podcast
All free!! All educational. All entertaining. All professionally recorded. No empty rhetoric here. Just entertaining learning. Choose from many different topics from the best talent around the world. Visit us at americanconservativeuniversity.com
The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer: The command center for breaking news, politics and extraordinary reports from around the world. The Situation Room airs weekdays 5p-7p eastern on CNN. In this podcast you will get the 6p-7p hour Monday through Friday. CNN.com/TheSituationRoom
Louder With Crowder
Steven Crowder brings you news, entertainment and politics with the most politically incorrect show on the web. Guests, rants, sketches, your calls ... it's whatever.
The latest news from the fastest growing radio news network, FOX News Radio. Listen to the power of FOX News on radio! Updated hourly!
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Join intellectual phenomenon Dr. Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila for enlightening discourse that will change the way you think. This podcast breaks down the dichotomy of life through interviews and lectures that explain how individuals and culture are shaped by values, music, religion, and beyond. It will give you a new perspective and a modern understanding of your creativity, competence, and personality.
The Best of Coast to Coast AM
The Best of Coast to Coast AM podcast, hosted by George Noory. A media phenomenon, Coast to Coast AM deals with UFOs, strange occurrences, life after death, and other unexplained (and often inexplicable) phenomena.
The podcast of Comedian Joe Rogan..
UK Column Podcasts
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1A is home to the national conversation. The show frames the best debates with great guests in ways to make you think, share and engage.
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The series of videos in this collection were produced by post-graduate students on the PhD Programme in Media and Arts Technology. The films are about two subjects; either arts practitioners or the use of technology in relation to arts and culture.
Media and Arts Technology Documentaries - Sound and Music Computing Queen Mary University of London
© Queen Mary, University of London 2012
Top-podcasts in Technologie
Cryptocast | BNR
BNR Nieuwsradio
De Technoloog | BNR
Meer van Queen Mary University of London
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Today's Neuroscience, Tomorrow's History - Professor Richard Gregory
Professor Richard Gregory
Today's Neuroscience, Tomorrow's History - Professor Sir Michael Rutter
Professor Sir Michael Rutter
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Prop Store - Ultimate Movie Collectables - London - Los Angeles
Entertainment Memorabilia Auction 2017 (#78) 09/26/2017 12:00 PM GMT+1 CLOSED!
View full catalog for Entertainment Memorabilia Auction 2017
Lot 472 of 600:
STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) - Darth Vader Promotional Tour Helmet
Lot closed - Winning bid:£60,000
Lot #: 472 Ω
Darth Vader Promotional Tour Helmet
STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
A Darth Vader helmet from promotional touring appearances during the release of Irvin Kershner's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Lucasfilm commissioned a number of studio-quality Darth Vader costumes for use in publicity and marketing of the film including public and press appearances. The helmet was likely also used for Star Wars: Return of the Jedi-era promotional events.
Cast from original production moulds, this two-piece helmet is made of fibreglass and is painted black and grey. The mask consists of a faceplate and a dome, which attaches to the top of the faceplate and forms the back of the helmet. Inside the mask are acrylic lenses which are screwed in place, with foam pads at the cheeks, forehead, and scalp for actor comfort. The mask includes adjustable nylon straps to secure to the head. Written inside the mask is the number '5' in yellow paint and '15' in red paint. The piece shows minor wear due to use on tour and age, with small breaks in the fibreglass and scratches to the paint. Dimensions (faceplate): 22 cm x 23 cm x 36 cm (8 1/2'' x 9'' x 14''); (dome): 35 cm x 38 cm x 30 cm (13 3/4'' x 15'' x 12''); (case): 66 cm x 58 cm x 53 cm (26'' x 23'' x 21'')
£30,000 - 50,000
This item comes with a Prop Store Certificate of Authenticity.
If you have any questions on this lot please email us here.
Auction Format
The auction is being held live in London on September 26th at 12pm BST. Bidding can be done in person, via Prop Store’s online auction platform, or telephone.
The following are suggested bid increments for the Auction. Please be advised that they are suggested increments only, are not intended to be and shall not be binding, and the Auctioneer retains the sole and absolute discretion, at the time of the Auction, to change, modify, or vary the bid increments at any time.
• £10 - £50 by £10
• £50 - £500 by £25
• £500 - £2,000 by £100
• £2,000 - £5,000 by £250
• £5,000 - £10,000 by £500
• £10,000 - £20,000 by £1,000
• £50,000 - £100,000 by £5,000
• £100,000+ by Auctioneer's discretion
Payment can be made by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, cash (to a limit) and bank transfer.
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[†] These lots are sold under standard VAT rules. For buyers within the EEC, 20% VAT will be due on the hammer price; 20% VAT will also be due on the Buyer’s premium (as well as Credit Card Fee if applicable). If EEC based buyer is a business outside of the UK who has provided their VAT number, no VAT will be due. When lots are exported outside the EEC (proof of export required or shipped by Prop Store or through Prop Store’s authorised shipper), no VAT will be due on the hammer price; 20% VAT will be due on the Buyer’s premium only (as well as Credit Card Fee if applicable); unless items are exported to a registered business outside the EEC, in which case no VAT is due.
[Ω] These lots have been temporarily imported from outside the EEC for sale at auction in London. For buyers within the EEC (private individuals or registered businesses), 5% VAT will be due on the hammer price; 20% VAT will also be due on the Buyer’s premium (as well as Credit Card Fee if applicable). When lots are exported outside the EEC (proof of export required or shipped by Prop Store or through Prop Store’s authorised shipper), no VAT will be due.
[M] These lots are sold under the margin scheme. For buyers within the EEC (private individuals or registered businesses), no VAT will be due on the hammer price; 20% VAT will be due on the Buyer’s premium (as well as Credit Card Fee if applicable). When lots are exported outside the EEC (proof of export required or shipped by Prop Store or through Prop Store’s authorised shipper), no VAT is due.
[US] These lots are currently located in Prop Store’s Los Angeles facility and will ship directly to the buyer from the Los Angeles facility. For buyers within the EEC (private individuals or registered businesses), no VAT will be charged by Prop Store on the hammer price; 20% VAT will be due on the Buyer’s premium (as well as Credit Card Fee if applicable.) For buyers outside the EEC, no VAT will be charged by Prop Store.
Payment plans over a maximum of 3 months are available for all lots.
Payment plans require an immediate 20% non-refundable down payment. The balance can be paid off in equal installments over the agreed months. All funds are non-refundable. No cancellations, transfers, or exchanges will be accepted. Your piece will be safely set aside for you and will ship once the balance is settled in full.
The Buyer is solely responsible for all shipping, handling, and delivery costs. Prop Store can help you arrange packing and shipping through FedEx for smaller items or Precision Cargo for larger items or you can use your own licensed carrier, approved by Prop Store. Customers are strongly advised to request a shipping quote prior to bidding. Email here and we will aim to provide you with a comprehensive shipping quote within 1 working day, though freight quotes for oversized items may take longer. Please be advised that certain Lots are highly fragile and should be handled with caution. Prop Store recommends that the Buyer collect such Lots locally from Prop Store if possible.
By participating in this auction you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions. The full terms and conditions can be found below.
We strongly advise all bidders to request a shipping quote prior to bidding.
Buyer pays all shipping costs. The buyer is responsible for all fees including duties, taxes, VAT, customs and other charges for items shipped. All property must be shipped at the buyer's expense. It is each buyer's sole obligation and responsibility to be aware of, to comply with, and to bear all relevant import duties, taxes, VAT, customs and other fees charged by buyer's local government and/or tax authority. Prop Store will ship all packages with the full value of the goods declared. Buyer understands and agrees that Prop Store shall have no obligation or responsibility for any import duties, taxes, VAT, customs, shipping or other charges for the items shipped.
It is the Buyer's responsibility to ensure that any property purchased from Prop Store enters the shipping location lawfully, that all duties and taxes have been paid and that all required export procedures, regulations, and laws were properly complied with. Buyer understands and agrees that Prop Store shall have no obligation or responsibility for complying with any export procedures, regulations, or laws applicable to the property.
In the event that a customer refuses to accept a shipment due to import duty charges, and the item is returned to Prop Store, the customer shall be subject to a charge of 20% of the purchase price of the returned item, plus all shipping charges incurred in the shipment and return shipment of the item. The balance of the price paid for the item will be issued only as a store credit to be used against future purchases. Store credits are proprietary to each office of Prop Store, and may not be transferred to another office.
A buyer's premium of 22% will be applied to all purchases.
These Terms and Conditions of Sale ("Conditions") set out the legal relationship between the Bidder/Buyer and Prop Store and the Seller. By registering to bid and participate in a Prop Store Auction, you will be deemed to have read and agreed to be bound by these Conditions and the accompanying Buyer's Guide, as set forth in the catalogue for the Auction and online at www.propstore.com.
These Conditions shall include the terms set out in the Prop Store Live Auction Buyer's Guide, a copy of which has been made available to the Bidder. In the event of any conflict between these Conditions and the Buyer's Guide, these Conditions shall take precedence.
2.1. When the following words are used in these Conditions, they mean:
AuctionA live sale by auction hosted by Prop Store
BidderAny person, properly registered and approved by Prop Store to participate in the Auction who makes or considers making a bid to buy a Lot at Auction
BuyerThe person or organisation making the highest bid or offer for a Lot accepted by the auctioneer, including a principal bidding as agent
Buyer's PremiumA commission of 22% (plus VAT if applicable) of the Hammer Price for a Lot, payable by the Buyer to Prop Store
Conditions of SaleProp Store's terms and conditions of sale at auction, from time to time as may be amended
Credit Card FeeAn additional 2% (plus VAT if applicable) of the aggregate amount of the Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium plus any relevant VAT, charged to the Buyer, if the Purchase Price is paid by credit card
Gaurantee of AttributionProp Store's limited guarantee relating to the provenance of each Lot, given to the extent set out in Condition 10 of these Conditions
Hammer PriceThe highest bid for a Lot accepted by the auctioneer at the Auction or the post-Auction sale price of that Lot
LotEach item or group of items consigned by the Seller to Prop Store to be made available for sale at an Auction, as detailed in the catalogue
Prop StoreProp Store Limited (company number 08622002) of Great House Farm, Chenies, Rickmansworth, WD3 6EP
Purchase PriceThe Hammer Price plus Buyer's Premium (plus VAT if applicable)
Reserve Price(where applicable) the minimum price at which the Seller has authorised Prop Store to sell a Lot
SellerThe person or organisation offering the Lot for sale, including their agents or personal representatives
3. Prop Store as agent
3.1. Unless expressly agreed otherwise, Prop Store acts as agent for the Seller. The contract for the sale of the Lot is made between the Seller and the Buyer.
4. Catalogue descriptions and condition of Lots
4.1. All Lots are sold subject to their condition at the date of the Auction. The nature and age of the Lots means they are often unique and are likely to have wear and tear, damage and other imperfections and may have been totally or partially restored or repaired. By making a bid, the Bidder accepts the actual condition of the Lot and acknowledges that if a bid is successful, the Buyer will buy the Lot 'as is'.
4.2. Prop Store's staff are not professional restorers so descriptions of Lots, images and statements of condition in Prop Store's brochure or on its website are for illustrative purposes only. Prop Store cannot guarantee that colours are properly shown. Save for Prop Store Terms of Guarantee of Attribution all Lots are sold 'as is'. Bidders are encouraged to inspect Lots and satisfying themselves as to condition before bidding, taking independent professional advice where required.
4.3. Condition reports are available for each report upon request
4.4. Film posters in the sale include condition abbreviations: M = mint; EX = excellent; VG = very good; G = good; F = fair
4.5. Lots are sold only as collectibles and unless stated expressly to the contrary, Prop Store makes no representation or warranty that any Lot is fit for any other purpose.
4.6. Mannequins, display stands, scale measures and other display equipment are not included with the Lots unless expressly stated in the Lot description in the catalogue.
4.7. Estimates are simply a guide and should not be relied upon as to advice on value or the ultimate Purchase Price, which could be significantly higher.
5. Before the Auction
5.1. Every Bidder must register with Prop Store (including providing evidence of identity) in accordance with the Buyer's Guide. Personal information shall be used only in accordance with Condition 8 below.
5.2. From time to time, Prop Store may offer a Lot which it owns in whole or in part or in which it has a financial interest and any such Lot will be identified in the catalogue with the symbol Δ next to its Lot number.
5.3. Bidders are aware that, due to the one-of-a-kind nature of the materials, Prop Store only guarantees the provenance of Lots to the extent set out in the Terms of Guarantee of Attribution, and Prop Store will not accept returns of any material and will not issue refunds, credits or exchanges except as provided for in the Guarantee of Attribution.
5.4. As a courtesy to Buyers, Prop Store offers interest free payment plans on all auction Lots (see Condition 7.3 of the Conditions of Sale).
6. At the Auction
6.1. Prop Store reserves the right to refuse admission and/or participation at the Auction and to reject any bid. Bids may not be accepted from unregistered bidders and all Bidders must be 18 or over.
6.2. All bids must be made in GBP Sterling. The auctioneer has the right to exercise reasonable discretion in refusing any bid, advancing the bidding in such a manner as he may decide, withdrawing or dividing any Lot, combining any two or more Lots and, in the case of error or dispute, and whether during or after the sale, determining the successful Bidder, continuing the bidding, cancelling the sale or reoffering and reselling the Lot in dispute. If any dispute arises after the sale, then, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary the sale record maintained by the auctioneer will be conclusive.
6.3. Unless otherwise indicated, all Lots are offered subject to a Reserve Price. The Reserve Price will not exceed the low estimate printed in the catalogue. The Reserve Price will not be more than the lowest estimate given by Prop Store. Prop Store may disclose or keep confidential the Reserve Price at its entire discretion.
6.4. The auctioneer may open the bidding on any Lot below the Reserve Price by placing a bid on behalf of the Seller. The auctioneer may continue to bid on behalf of the Seller up to the amount of the Reserve Price, either by placing consecutive bids or by placing bids in response to other Bidders.
6.5. When making a bid, every Bidder acknowledges that such bid is a binding offer to buy the Lot at that price (plus the Buyer's Premium, Credit Card Fee (if applicable), all applicable taxes and any and all shipping charges, storage and other costs). A successful Bidder will be deemed to be the Buyer unless it has been explicitly agreed in writing with Prop Store before the start of the Auction that the Bidder is acting as agent on behalf of an identified third party acceptable to Prop Store (and registered with Prop Store), and only then will Prop Store regard that third party as the Buyer. In such circumstances, the Bidder acting as agent confirms that he is authorised to bind the third party and that the Buyer has been made aware of and accepts these Conditions.
6.6. Prop Store will use reasonable efforts to execute written bids delivered before the Auction for Bidders unable to attend the auction in person, by an agent or by telephone or online. All such written bids must be made on Prop Store's Absentee Bids Form (in the catalogue).
6.7. If Prop Store receives written bids on a particular Lot for identical amounts, and at the auction these are the highest bids on the Lot, it will be sold to the person whose written bid was received and accepted first.
6.8. Online bidding at Prop Store Auctions is made available via third party service providers and use of their services and all online bidding is subject to their respective terms of use.
6.9. The Auction will be tracked on a video or digital screen, which may display, among other things, a photograph of the Lot offered for sale and the then-current bid. Bidders understand and agree that errors may occur in its operation and, except as expressly stated in the Buyer's Guide or these Conditions, Prop Store shall have no liability arising out of or related to any errors or omission in respect thereto.
6.10. By participating in and/or attending the Auction and signing the registration form, each person consents to be filmed and/or photographed and agrees and authorises Prop Store to use and publish such film and/or photographs, name and likeness for use in (1) providing online access to the Auction, (2) recording the results of the Auction, (3) print, digital, online and all other media for marketing purposes (including without limitation, on Prop Store's website, YouTube and other online platforms) and (3) in any other Prop Store publications of whatever nature. The participant releases Prop Store and holds it harmless from any reasonable expectation of confidentiality or privacy associated with such images and releases Prop Store and any third parties involved in the making, creation or publication of the images or any marketing or other materials from all and any liability for claims made in respect of such publication. Publication of the images in whatever format confers no right of ownership on the individual or right to royalties or payment.
6.11. Subject to the auctioneer's reasonable discretion, the Bidder placing the highest bid accepted by the auctioneer will be the Buyer and the striking of his hammer marks the acceptance of the highest bid and the conclusion of a contract for sale between the Seller and the Buyer. Risk and responsibility for the Lot (including frames or glass where relevant) passes to the Buyer on the date seven calendar days from the date of the sale or on collection by the Buyer if earlier and the Buyer should arrange insurance cover for the Lot if required.
7. After the Auction
7.1. Prop Store will notify successful Bidders and send (by email unless requested otherwise) a payment invoice setting out the Purchase Price and itemising the Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium plus any applicable VAT within 7 working days of the end of the Auction.
7.2. Unless a payment plan (as set out in condition 7.3 below) has been agreed by Prop Store, payment is due within 7 working days from receipt of invoice and must be made by the Buyer. Payments from any other source will not be accepted and shall be returned by Prop Store.
7.3. Payment plans will be available in 1, 2, or 3 month increments. Bidders wishing to utilise the payment plan service, if approved by Prop Store, will be responsible for paying a 20% deposit on their Lots within 7 calendar days of receiving their invoice. The balance will then be split over 1, 2 or 3 months per the Buyer's selection. If the 1 month option is selected, the remaining balance on the Lot will be due 30 days after the deposit date. If the 2 month option is selected, half of the remaining balance will be due 30 days after the deposit date and the remaining half 30 days after that, and so on.
7.4. Prop Store offers no grace period on payment plan deadlines. If the Buyer does not adhere to payment deadline as agreed under the terms of the payment plan, the Buyer will have defaulted. In the event of default all funds already paid to Prop Store will be forfeited by the Buyer, and title of the Lot will not transfer to Buyer. Prop Store and the Seller shall also be entitled to all remedies for non-payment as described below and at law.
7.5. Title in the Lot will pass to Buyer and the Lot will be made available for collection by the Buyer only when Prop Store is completely satisfied that all monies owing have been paid in full.
7.6. Payment must be in Pounds Sterling and may be made by electronic transfer, debit card, credit card (up to a maximum of £25,000), bankers draft or cash (up to a maximum of £5,000). Please note that the Credit Card Fee will be charged and payable in addition to the Purchase Price on any amounts paid by credit card. Please quote the Lot number, invoice number and Bidder registration number when making payment to ensure it can be processed as efficiently as possible.
7.7. Credit card payments are only acceptable on the express understanding that the Lot is not returnable, refundable nor exchangeable and no charge card credit or refund of the Credit Card Fee may be issued in the event of any such return. If payment is made by credit card, Buyer will not undertake any action or effort to stop payment, seek a refund, or attempt a charge back of such amounts – or any Credit Card Fee assessed thereon – by the issuer of the credit card.
7.8. [†] These lots are sold under standard VAT rules. For buyers within the EEC, 20% VAT will be due on the hammer price; 20% VAT will also be due on the Buyer's premium (as well as Credit Card Fee if applicable). If EEC based buyer is a business outside of the U.K. who has provided their VAT number, no VAT will be due. When lots are exported outside the EEC (proof of export required or shipped by Prop Store or through Prop Store's authorised shipper), no VAT will be due on the hammer price; 20% VAT will be due on the Buyer's premium only (as well as Credit Card Fee if applicable); unless items are exported to a registered business outside the EEC, in which case no VAT is due.
[Ω] These lots have been temporarily imported from outside the EEC for sale at auction in London. For buyers within the EEC (private individuals or registered businesses), 5% VAT will be due on the hammer price; 20% VAT will also be due on the Buyer's premium (as well as Credit Card Fee if applicable). When lots are exported outside the EEC (proof of export required or shipped by Prop Store or through Prop Store's authorised shipper), no VAT will be due.
[Ϻ] These lots are sold under the margin scheme. For buyers within the EEC (private individuals or registered businesses), no VAT will be due on the hammer price; 20% VAT will be due on the Buyer's premium (as well as Credit Card Fee if applicable). When lots are exported outside the EEC (proof of export required or shipped by Prop Store or through Prop Store's authorised shipper), no VAT is due.
[US] These lots are currently located in Prop Store's Los Angeles facility and will ship directly to the buyer from the Los Angeles facility. For buyers within the EEC (private individuals or registered businesses), no VAT will be charged by Prop Store on the hammer price; 20% VAT will be due on the Buyer's premium (as well as Credit Card Fee if applicable.) For buyers outside the EEC, no VAT will be charged by Prop Store.
If the item is imported to the EEC, VAT will be due on the hammer price at the appropriate rate when the item is imported into the EEC as it would on any international shipment. The specific VAT rate charged will depend on the country of importation. It may be possible for the Buyer to import the purchased items as collector's items in order to ensure a lower rate of VAT (and nil duty). However, as necessary, the Buyer should consider taking advice in order to confirm the position and ensure the correct import procedure is followed. Importation to non-EEC countries outside of the US may also incur import duties.
It is the Buyer's sold obligation and responsibility to be aware of, to comply with, and to pay for all relevant import duties, taxes, VAT, customs and other fees charged in the Buyer's local jurisdiction.
7.9. The Buyer will not acquire title to the Lot until all amounts due to the Seller and Prop Store from the Buyer have been received by Prop Store in cleared funds even in circumstances where Prop Store has released the Lot to the Buyer.
7.10. By registering for this auction the Buyer authorises Prop Store to charge the credit card provided at registration for all Lots purchased at the auction, and any future auction a Bidder may participate in, if not paid in full within 7 calendar days after the auction close.
7.11. If the Buyer does not make any payment due to Prop Store by the due date for payment, Prop Store may charge interest on the overdue amount at the rate of 5% a year above the base lending rate of LloydsTSB Bank plc from time to time. This interest shall accrue on a daily basis from the due date until the date of actual payment of the overdue amount, whether before or after judgment. The Buyer must pay Prop Store interest together with any overdue amount.
7.12. In addition to its rights in condition 7.11 and at law, in the event of default by the Buyer, Prop Store may take one or more of the following actions:
7.12.1. hold the Buyer liable for the total amount due and commence legal proceedings for its recovery together with interest, legal fees and costs to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law;
7.12.2. cancel the sale;
7.12.3. resell the Lot publicly or privately on such terms as Prop Store shall think fit;
7.12.4. pay the Seller an amount up to the net proceeds payable in respect of the Hammer Price;
7.12.5. set off against any amounts which Prop Store may owe to the Buyer in any other transactions, some or all of the outstanding amount remaining unpaid by the Buyer;
7.12.6. apply any amount paid to discharge any amount owed in respect of any particular transaction, whether or not the Buyer so directs;
7.12.7. reject at any future auction any bids made by or on behalf of the Buyer or to require a deposit from the Buyer before accepting any further bids;
7.12.8. exercise all the rights and remedies of a person holding security over any Lot in Prop Store's possession owned by the Buyer, whether by way of pledge, security interest or in any other way, to the fullest extent permitted by the law of the place where such Lot is located. The Buyer will be deemed to have granted such security to Prop Store and it may retain such Lot as collateral security for such Buyer's obligations;
7.12.9. take such other action as Prop Store deems necessary or appropriate. If Prop Store resells the Lot under condition 7.12.3 above, the Buyer shall be liable for payment of any deficiency between the total amount originally due to Prop Store and the amount received upon resale as well as all reasonable costs, expenses, damages, legal fees and commissions and premiums of whatever kind associated with both sales or otherwise arising from the default. If Prop Store pays any amount to the Seller under condition 7.12.4 above, the Buyer acknowledges that Prop Store shall have all of the rights of the Seller, however arising, to pursue the Buyer for such amount.
7.13. Prop Store shall be entitled to retain Lots sold until all amounts due have been received in full in good cleared funds or until the Buyer has performed any other outstanding obligations as Prop Store shall reasonably require. Subject to this, the Buyer shall collect, or have shipped or collected for shipment, purchased Lots within 7 calendar days from the date of the sale unless otherwise agreed between Prop Store and the Buyer. Lots can be collected in person by appointment only.
7.14. Each Lot will require a custom packing service and by bidding on a Lot a Bidder agrees to pay all relevant shipping costs. Prop Store's carrier of choice is FedEx, although some Lots will require special freight service. Potential shipping estimates can be obtained by emailing support@propstore.com detailing the Lot number of interest and the shipping address prior to the auction.
7.15. Prop Store recommends working with its preferred third-party independent freight agent Precision Cargo on any questions regarding importing and exporting Lots.
7.16. Although Prop Store shall use reasonable efforts to take care when selecting third parties for these purposes, the Buyer will contract directly with such third party and Prop Store accepts no liability or responsibility for the acts or omissions of any such third parties. Similarly, where Prop Store suggests other handlers, packers or carriers, its suggestions are made on the basis of its general experience of such parties in the past and Prop Store is not responsible to any person to whom it has made a recommendation for the acts or omissions of the third party concerned.
7.17. It is the Buyer's sole obligation and responsibility to be aware of, to comply with, and to pay for all relevant import duties, taxes, VAT, customs and other fees charged in the Buyer's local jurisdiction. Prop Store will ship all packages with the full value of the Lot declared. Buyer understands and agrees that Prop Store shall have no obligation or responsibility for any import duties, taxes, VAT, customs, shipping or other charges for the Lots shipped. Failure by the Buyer to pay all necessary amounts may result in the relevant authorities returning the Lot to Prop Store and in those circumstances the Buyer will be charged and will pay storage cost and Prop Store's additional reasonable costs and expenses.
7.18. It is the Buyer's responsibility to ensure that any Lot purchased from Prop Store enters the shipping location lawfully, that all duties and taxes have been paid and that all required export procedures, regulations, and laws were properly complied with. Buyer understands and agrees that Prop Store shall have no obligation or responsibility for complying with any export procedures, regulations, or laws applicable to the Lot.
7.19. Unless otherwise agreed by Prop Store in writing, the fact that the Buyer wishes to apply for an export licence does not affect or postpone the Buyer's obligation to make payment in accordance with Prop Store's payment terms nor Prop Store's right to charge interest or storage charges on late payment. If the Buyer requests Prop Store to apply for an export licence on his or her behalf, Prop Store shall be entitled to make a charge and be paid for this service. Prop Store shall not be obliged to rescind or cancel a sale nor to refund any monies paid by the Buyer to Prop Store as a result of or related to the Buyer's failure or inability to obtain an export license.
7.20. Where Lots are not collected within 14 calendar days from the due date of payment, whether or not payment has been made, a storage fee of 3% of the Hammer Price per month shall be charged to the Buyer. If the Buyer has failed to pay the Purchase Price and the cost of shipping and handling, Prop Store, at its option may cancel the sale.
8. Use of information
8.1. Prop Store will hold all personal information provided by the Bidder at registration and the Bidder agrees and consents to such information being used by Prop Store to:
8.1.1. make available each Lot for shipping to the Buyer;
8.1.2. process the Buyer's payment;
8.1.3. contact credit reference agencies and keep records of any searches carried out on Prop Store's behalf;
8.1.4. inform the Bidder about other auctions, products and services provided by Prop Store and its affiliates (please contact Prop Store by email at enquiries@propstore.com or by phone +44 (0)1494 766485 if you wish to stop receiving these).
9.1. If Prop Store fails to comply with these Conditions it is responsible for loss or damage a Buyer suffers that is a foreseeable result of Prop Store's breach or its negligence. Prop Store is not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable. Loss or damage is foreseeable if an obvious consequence of Prop Store's breach or if contemplated by the Buyer and Prop Store at the time the hammer falls on the Lot at the Auction.
9.2. Subject to condition 9.3, Prop Store's liability shall be limited to the amount actually paid for the Lot by the Buyer. Save to the extent required by law, in no event shall Prop Store be liable for incidental or consequential damages of any kind.
9.3. Prop Store does not exclude or limit its liability for:
9.3.1. death or personal liability caused by its negligence or the negligence of its employees, agents or subcontractors;
9.3.2. fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; and
9.3.3. breach of the terms implied by sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (title, description, quality and fitness for purpose) save to the fullest extent permissible at law.
10. Terms of Guarantee of Attribution
10.1. Prop Store warrants that the provenance of each Lot is the film production stated in the title block of that Lot in the Auction catalogue, subject to any revisions (which may be given in writing or online before or during the Auction at which the Lot is purchased by the Buyer); this is Prop Store's Guarantee of Attribution. Buyers should be aware that multiple examples of props and costumes are frequently used during production and it is often impossible to determine whether a specific prop has been used on-camera. Any specific on-camera usage known to Prop Store will be noted within the description, but no warranties are given by Prop Store on that description.
10.2. If a Buyer demonstrates, to Prop Store's reasonable satisfaction, that the Guarantee of Attribution is materially incorrect, the sale will be rescinded if the Lot is returned to Prop Store in the same condition in which it was at the time of sale. In order to satisfy Prop Store that the Guarantee of Attribution is materially incorrect, Prop Store reserves the right to require the Buyer to obtain, at the Buyer's expense, the opinion of two experts in the field, mutually acceptable to Prop Store and the Buyer.
10.3. In the event a sale is rescinded in accordance with condition 10.2, Prop Store shall repay to the Buyer the Purchase Price. Repayment of the Purchase Price shall be the Buyer's sole remedy, to the exclusion of all other remedies to the extent permissible at law. it is specifically understood that this will be considered the sole remedy.
10.4. The Buyer expressly agrees that Prop Store shall not be liable in whole or in part, for, and the Buyer shall not be entitled to recover, any special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages including loss of profits or value of investment or opportunity cost.
10.5. Bidders are aware that description revisions may occur on some Lots, and should inquire before the Auction whether any description revisions have occurred on a given Lot and/or examine a lot before bidding on it. Prop Store will make all reasonable efforts to make description revisions readily available during the Auction.
10.6. Except as expressly provided in these Conditions Prop Store shall have no liability to the Buyer in respect of a Lot and all and any implied warranties and conditions are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
11.1. The copyright in all images, illustrations and written material produced by or for Prop Store relating to a Lot (including the contents of the Auction catalogue), is and shall remain at all times the property of Prop Store and shall not be used by the Buyer, nor by anyone else, without Prop Store's written consent. Prop Store and the Seller make no representation or warranty that the Buyer of a Lot will acquire any copyright or other reproduction rights in it.
11.2. In the catalogue descriptions, Prop Store takes steps to identify and provide provenance for Lots offered at auction. In many cases, the Lots offered were used in or in conjunction with motion pictures or other programmes and information is furnished in order to fully identify and describe the Lot offered at Auction, including photographs and illustrations. Prop Store in no way claims any connection to or relationship with the producers of the motion picture or other programme. In all cases, the use of the titles or other elements of a motion picture or other programme is for informational purposes only.
Prop Store will not be liable or responsible for any failure to perform, or delay in performance of, any of its obligations under these Conditions that is caused by an event outside its control, that being any act or event beyond Prop Store's reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, lock-outs or other industrial action by third parties, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack, war (whether declared or not) or threat or preparation for war, fire, explosion, storm, flood, earthquake, subsidence, epidemic or other natural disaster, or failure of public or private telecommunications networks. Prop Store's obligations shall be suspended and time for performance extended until such time as the event outside it's control is over, following which a new collection or shipping date can be agreed.
13.1. If any part of these Conditions is found by any court to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that part shall be discounted and the rest of the Conditions shall continue to be valid to the fullest extent permitted by law.
13.2. The contract is between the Seller, Buyer and Prop Store and no other person shall have any rights to enforce any of its terms.
13.3. If Prop Store fails to insist on performance of any of a Buyer's obligations under these Conditions, or if it delays in doing so, that will not mean that Prop Store has waived its rights against the Buyer and does not mean the Buyer no longer has to comply with those obligations.
13.4. These Conditions are governed by English law. Prop Store and the Bidder/Buyer both agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
13.5. By registering for this auction, the supplied card will automatically have a sum of £0.01 held and subsequently returned within 30 working days to verify the validity of the card.
13.6 The buyer is solely responsible for ascertaining that each lot sold with copyright is otherwise cleared for publication including but not limited to satisfying any publicity right that persons appearing in an image may have under any statute or common law. Neither the consignor nor Prop Store Ltd makes any representation or warranty as to any matters that need to be cleared prior to publication. No representation or warranty is made regarding copyright outside of the United Kingdom. All publication issues should be referred to the buyer’s own professional advisors. All representations or warranties as to copyright or rights to publish are solely made by the consignor and not Prop Store Ltd; the buyer agrees that Prop Store Ltd. will not be liable to Buyer in any respect for alleged breach of any such representation or warranty.
This Buyers' Guide contains a brief overview of Prop Store's auction process and the terms under which Lots are made available for sale at auction. A more detailed statement of our Terms and Conditions of Sale follows after this Buyer's Guide. Please read the Buyer's Guide and the Terms and Conditions of Sale carefully. By registering to bid and participate in a Prop Store auction, you will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by them.
2.1. When the following words are used in this Buyers' Guide, they mean:
Conditions of SaleProp Store's terms and conditions of sale at auction, from time to time as may be amended, a copy of which appears in the Buyer's Guide
Guarantee of AttributionProp Store's limited guarantee relating to the provenance of each Lot, given to the extent set out in Condition 10 of the Terms and Conditions of Sale
3.1. Bidder Registration
3.1.1. Every person or organisation wishing to make a bid is required to register with Prop Store before participating at an Auction.
3.1.2. To register, the registration form (available in this Buyer's Guide or online at www.propstore.com) must be completed in full and Prop Store provided with valid Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit card details to be held on file; and
3.1.2.1. an individual must provide Prop Store with up to date, valid government-issued photo identification (e.g. passport, national identity card) and proof of current address (such as a utility bill or bank statement dated within the last three months);
3.1.2.2. an organisation must provide a certified copy or original certificate of incorporation, or, in the case of unregistered entities, other evidence satisfactory to Prop Store – contact Prop Store on +44 (0)1494 766485 for confirmation of what will be acceptable;
3.1.2.3. a person registering as an agent to bid on behalf of a third party must bring the appropriate identification documents as set out above for themselves and for the third party on whose behalf they are authorised to make a bid and provide to Prop Store a signed authorisation from the third party confirming their authority to participate at the Auction on that third party's behalf.
3.2. Pre-Auction Viewing
3.2.1. Over 250 of the Lots can be previewed at the public exhibition held at ODEON BFI IMAX, 1 Charlie Chaplin Walk, Waterloo, London SE1 8XR. Please inquire if the lot you are interested in is included in the exhibition.
3.2.2. During the Pre-Auction Viewing period, as set forth in the Auction catalogue, any Bidder may preview Lots not present in the public exhibition free of charge by appointment with Prop Store.
3.3. Delivery costs
3.3.1. Without any liability, Prop Store can provide shipping estimates before the Auction; a Bidder requiring this information should email support@propstore.com including the Lot number and shipping address at least 3 days before the start of the Auction.
3.4. Bidders outside the U.K.
3.4.1. If the Bidder is based outside the United Kingdom, the Bidder should ensure in advance of the Auction that the Lot can be exported from the U.K. and imported into the country of destination. No sale will be cancelled because the Lot may not be imported into the country of destination.
3.4.2. Prop Store's recommended third-party independent freight agent, Precision Cargo, can advise Bidders on relevant export licensing regulations and may submit export licence applications upon request. Neither Prop Store nor its freight agents can guarantee that any licences, permits or consents will be granted.
4.1. Estimates
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Other lots in this sale:
STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) - High Speed ‘Empireflex' Camera Designed and Built by ILM
STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) - Sprocket Systems KEM 35mm Film Editing Table
STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) - Bespin Guard Jacket
STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) - Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) Puppet
Studio Promotions
Prop Store Collection
Prop Store Brochure
Prop Store Articles
Crew / Promo
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И опять, к вопросу о "репрессированной науке": Кое-что об авторитарности, интриге и коррупции
В Институте психологии РГГУ в знак протеста против авторитарности :), интриганства :)) и коррупции :))) руководства этого научно-учебного заведения подали заявления на увольнение сотрудники:
1. Кравцова, Е.Е.
2. Кравцов, Г.Г.
3. Кравцов, Л.Г.
4. Кравцов, О.Г.
Продолжите ряд :)).
Вестник Коммунистической Академии, 1922-1931
Journal of the Communist Academy
Вестник Коммунистической академии
Вестник Социалистической академии
Scanned issues of Vestnik Kommunisticheskoj Akademii for 1922–31, with a translated index for issues nr. 1–36 (1922–29).
OCR pdf-files (for the translated index see below):
https://libcom.org/library/journal-communist-academy
Vladimir Bekhterev (Bekhterew W., Bechterew W., Bechterev V.) in German and French
Here is what we have in terms of Bekhterev's (Bekhterew) lifetime publications in German and French, according to AbeBooks search engine, as of now [source: http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=Bekhterew&sts=t ], -- but to be continued, shortly:
* Les voies de conduction du cerveau et de la moelle
Bekhterew, W. v.
Published by Stork, Paris (1900)
Used Hardcover
From: Rulon-Miller Books (ABAA / ILAB) (St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.)
Bookseller Rating: 4-star rating
Add Book to Shopping Basket
Price: US$ 312.50
Shipping: US$ 27.00
From U.S.A. to Canada
Item Description: Stork, Paris, 1900. Large 8vo, pp. [4], x, 856, [32] (ads); 3 color plates, one folding; in original paper wrappers and glassine dust jacket; chip at top of spine, jacket with shallow tears at edges, endpapers foxed. With a cancel slip for the editor A. Maloine pasted over the publishing information on cover and title. This edition was translated from the second German edition, and is scarce in either language. A contemporary and critic of Pavlov, Bekhterew is known as the father of objective psychology and made a number of important discoveries on the functions of the cerebellum, medulla, and midbrain, amid other contributions. His sudden death after diganosing Stalin with paranoia lead many to suspect foul play. Bookseller Inventory # 47775
* Les fonctions nerveuses. Les fonctions bulbo-médullaires. 2 Vols.
BECHTEREW, W. [BEKHTEREV, Vladimir]
Published by Paris: Octave Doin, 1909-10. (1909)
Used Hardcover First Edition
From: Scientia Books, ABAA (Arlington, MA, U.S.A.)
Item Description: Paris: Octave Doin, 1909-10., 1909. ads., 2 leaves, 372 pp, 14 figs., ads; ads, 2 leaves, 603 pp, 42 figs., ads. Original cloth. Marginal browning in text. Very Good. First Edition in French. Bookseller Inventory # 8917
* Bewusstsein und Hirnlokalisation : Rede, gehalten auf der allgemeinen Versammlung des VI. Kongresses russischer Aerzte zur Erinnerung an N. J. Pirogoff / von W. v. Bechterew. Translation of O lokalizatsii soznatel'noi deiatel'nosti u zhivotnykh i cheloveka.
Bekhterev ( Bekhterew Bechterew Bechterev) Vladimir Mikhailovich
Used Softcover First Edition
From: Antiquariaat Theo de Boer (Zalk, Netherlands)
From Netherlands to Canada
Item Description: Leipzig, Arthur Georgi, 1898. 50pp. original printed wrappers. Fine condition. Translation of O lokalizatsii soznatel'noi deiatel'nosti u zhivotnykh i cheloveka Translator R. Weineberg. Very scarce first German edition. Bookseller Inventory # 83974
* Die Funktionen der Nervencentra.
Bechterev [Bekhterev], Vladimir M
Published by Fischer 1908-1911, Jena (1908)
From: Jeremy Norman's historyofscience (Novato, CA, U.S.A.)
Item Description: Fischer 1908-1911, Jena, 1908. Bechterev, Vladimir Michailovic (1857-1927). Die Funktionen der Nervencentra. Erstes Heft: Einleitung, Untersuchungsmethoden, Rückenmark und verlängertes Mark. [Zweites Heft: Kleinhirn, Mittelhirn, Zwischenhirn und subkorticale Ganglien. Drittes Heft: Hemisphären des Grosshirns.] Translated from the Russian by Richard Weinberg. 3 volumes. ix, 691; viii, 693-1336; x, 1337-2047pp. Text illustrations. Jena: Gustav Fischer, 1908-11. 248 x 167 mm. Library buckram, light wear, hinges cracked. Very good set, from the library of American neurologist Smith Ely Jelliffe (1866-1945), with his bookplate and signature in each volume. Embossed stamp of the Hartford Retreat Medical Library on each title; library call numbers on spines. First Edition in German of Bechterev’s Osnovy uchenia o funktsiakh mozga [Fundamentals of Brain Function] (1903-7). Bechterev was one of the most prominent neuroscientists of his era, playing a crucial role in the study of the development of the brain’s organization, neurophysiology, neuropathology and experimental psychology. In his Fundamentals of Brain Function, first published in Russian in seven volumes between 1903 and 1907, Bechterev included a summary of his extensive observations of the functions of the frontal lobes, confirming that extirpation of the frontal lobes destroys the capacity for goal-directed behavior. Animals deprived of their frontal lobes "do not evaluate the results of their actions as they should, cannot correlate new external impressions with past experience, and do not direct their movements and actions to their own advantage" (quoted in Luria, p. 251). The German edition of Bechterev’s book contains one of the first uses of the term "extrapyramidal" to describe neural structures. This copy is from the library of Smith Ely Jelliffe, author of Diseases of the Nervous System (1915; Garrison-Morton [online] 4599), founder of The Psychoanalytic Review and one of the first American book collectors in neuroscience, psychiatry and psychoanalysis. Bookseller Inventory # 43612
* Die Persönlichkeit : und die Bedingungen ihrer Entwicklung und Gesundheit
Bekhterev, Vladimir Mikhaĭlovich, 1857-1927.
Wiesbaden : J.F. Bergmann, 1906.
vi, 38 p. ; 26 cm.
Grenzfragen des Nerven- und Seelenlebens ; Heft 45
http://www.idref.fr/085860654
ШКОЛА В.М. БЕХТЕРЕВА: ОТ ПСИХОНЕВРОЛОГИИ К БИОПСИХОСОЦИАЛЬНОЙ ПАРАДИГМЕ
http://www.bekhterev.ru/bekhterev/index.php
http://elib.gnpbu.ru/sections/0100/bexterev/
How to study the history of а scientific conference: A paragon
Pretty cool stuff that, regardless of its topic and time period, demonstrates how research on scientific conferences should be done. Besides, from the standpoint of the historiography of psychology in the interbellum period this is a very informative piece, indeed. All texts are open access publication:
Ответственный редактор:
Д. В. Арзютов, С. С. Алымов, Д. Дж. Андерсон
МАЭ РАН
Библиографическая информация:
От классиков к марксизму: совещание этнографов Москвы и Ленинграда (5–11 апреля 1929 г.) = From classics to marxism: the meeting of ethnographers from Moscow and Leningrad (5–11 April 1929) / Рос. акад. наук, Музей антропологии и этнографии им. Петра Великого (Кунсткамера), Абердинский университет (Шотландия, Великобритания); [под ред. Д. В. Арзютова, С. С. Алымова, Д. Дж. Андерсона]. — Санкт-Петербург: МАЭ РАН, 2014. — 511 с. — (Кунсткамера — Архив; т. 7).
http://www.kunstkamera.ru/lib/rubrikator/08/08_02/978-5-88431-266-1/
Another exemplary piece, but in English, is Krementsov's exploration of the several twists and turns of the plot of the history of the genetics International Congress that was to be held in late 1930s in Moscow:
International Science Between the World Wars: The Case of Genetics
Preview here, but an electronic copy of the whole book is also available: https://books.google.ca/books?id=HEF00F-_nVAC
Among the studies on the history of Russian psychology and its involvement in international congresses of psychology (and allied sciences) there some relatively recent text available authored by Bogdanchikov, Yasnitsky, Stoyukhina & Mazilov, and, possibly, some other guys, but all these are quite far from the 'gold standard' established in the first two publications mentioned here. Way to go, guys! ;)
"Stalin model of science" in psychology as a discipline and social practice in Russia
The materials of the discussion of the "Stalin model of science" in psychology as a scientific discipline, social practice and the set of shared values and attitudes of scientific community--from historical standpoint and in contemporary Russian Federation. The materials are presented here in logical and chronological sequence:
(1) Ясницкий А. СТАЛИНСКАЯ МОДЕЛЬ НАУКИ: ИСТОРИЯ И СОВРЕМЕННОСТЬ РОССИЙСКОЙ ПСИХОЛОГИИ // PEM: Psychology. Educology. Medicine. – 2015. – № 3-4 (part I);
URL: pem.esrae.ru/8-74 (дата обращения: 16.01.2016).
(2) Ясницкий А. ПРИГЛАШЕНИЕ К ДИСКУССИИ: ИСТОРИЯ СОВЕТСКОЙ И РОССИЙСКОЙ ПСИХОЛОГИИ // PEM: Psychology. Educology. Medicine. – 2015. – № 3-4 (part II);
(3) Чупров Л. Ф., Костригин А. А., Мироненко И. А. ДИСКУССИЯ ПО СТАТЬЕ А. ЯСНИЦКОГО «СТАЛИНСКАЯ МОДЕЛЬ НАУКИ: ИСТОРИЯ И СОВРЕМЕННОСТЬ РОССИЙСКОЙ ПСИХОЛОГИИ» // PEM: Psychology. Educology. Medicine. – 2015. – № 3-4 (part II);
Presumably, to be continued.
КОНТАКТЫ ДЛЯ АВТОРОВ:
* lchpr@rambler.ru (главный редактор журнала),
* OtvetSec@ya.ru (ответственный секретарь журнала).
The story of the "Vygotsky boom", aka "Vygotsky cult', dates back to late 1970s and has its logic of development. Jerome Bruner on a number of occasions in 1960s-1970s prophesied the "boom" to come, but all in vain. The turning point is 1978 and the publication of the fake, the quasi-Vygotsky's "Mind in Society" by Michael Cole and his collaborators, who appear to have expected the blow to their reputations not to mention fiscal losses the book would cause. The reasons why Vygotsky got so popular in the West thereafter are not of entirely clear nature, but a combination of factors could have been in play. They include the disappointment with Piaget (whose ideas were perceived as too "natalist" and "biological deterministic") and the need in another authority who could serve in support of educational optimism of the environmentalist, interventionist, and teacher-centered approach to learning and instruction. This one was termed "social constructivism". The publication of Toulmin's "The Mozart of psychology" essay might have played its role, too, but given that the main message of the paper -- the idea of the inseparable unity of the Vygotsky-Luria project of the "historical materialist" psychology -- apparently remained virtually totally unnoticed, the impact of this particular publication seems to have been minimal and chiefly propagandist. Since then, the star of Vygotsky -- exemplified by Michael Cole's "Mind in Society" has always been rising. In fact, it was rising until quite recently.
Indeed, if only Google Scholar is a trustworthy instrument in such matters, we clearly see that the number of references to the notorious "Mind in Society" has been continuously rising from 1979 until 2013. Yet, 2014 appears to be the break point: this was the first year when the number of quotes to this source slightly declined. Curiously, the number of quotes to another "Vygotskian star" -- cumulative quotes to the publications actually authored by Michael Cole -- also started its decline. This might suggest that what we experiencing now is the transition from the "Vygotsky boom" to the phase of the "Vygotsky bubble" that has already started shrinking and continues do so right at this very point.
Curiously, the disappointment with the "Vygotsky cult" has been explicitly expressed a lot of times from early 1980s up to now, and the phrase seems to have been first pronounced as early as 1991 (the credits go to Sheldon White). Yet, it took another "revolution" to be first openly stated in a publication of 2012 along with a series of critical studies of 2010s for the dramatic change to really take place. These studies were summarized in a most recent book project: Yasnitsky, A. & van der Veer, R. (Eds.) (2015/2016). Revisionist Revolution in Vygotsky Studies. London and New York: Routledge, -- followed by another one: Yasnitsky, A., van der Veer, R., Aguilar, E. & García, L.N. (Eds.) (in press, 2016). Vygotski revisitado: una historia crítica de su contexto y legado. Buenos Aires: Miño y Dávila Editores (in Spanish). It is not clear yet what other factors were in play, but the impact of the consolidated "Revisionist revolution" in the start of the collapse of the "Vygotsky bubble" seems to be very probable.
Yet, chances are that the trend might still reverse, which makes the whole game of guessing the future even more exciting and breath-taking. So, the bets are still accepted, and the question is: Will this year of 2015 continue the declining trend in the number of quotes to "Mind in Society" (whoever actually wrote it) and, by extension, the references to the cumulative published output by Michael Cole, in which his :) "Mind in Society" consistently comprises more than a half, if Google Scholar is to be trusted.
For the sake of curiosity, Google Scholar quote numbers will be monitored, recorded here, and updated on a regular basis. Only the decade of 2010s will be indicated in the table, below. Yet, the sources for the measurements are all online.
"Mind in Society": https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=djqLs50AAAAJ&citation_for_view=djqLs50AAAAJ:umqufdRvDiIC
Michael Cole: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=djqLs50AAAAJ&hl=en
So, this is what we have as of today, [update:]November 3, 10, 20, 30, December 10, 20, 31, 2015; January 10, 20, 31; February 10, 20, 29, March 10, 20, 31, April, 10, 20, 30, May, 10, 20, 31, June 10, 20, 30, July 10, 20, 31, August 10, 20, 31, September 10, 20, 30, October 10, 20, 31, November 10, 20, 30 December 10, 20, 31, 2016:
"Mind in Society":
Date/Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
31.12.2016 4424 4801 5227 5542 5585 5681 4582
10.04.2016 4286 4606 4937 5284 5206 5085 911
31.12.2015 4207 4520 4807 5228 5170 4294 --
Michael Cole (including "Mind in Society" references, for comparison see the table above):
31.12.2016 7634 8406 9224 9924 10095 10623 9057
31.10.2016 7600 8368 9117 9857 9997 10449 7398
So, the question is: is there a new trend -- or not?
We will see that pretty soon :).
[Update of November 20, 2015] Besides, it is truly exciting to observe the amazing dynamics of GoogleScholar citing rate changes. Yet another piece of data to consider from the perspective of the question as to what extent GoogleScholar is useful and usable as a research tool in the studies of the kind...[/Update]
[Update of January 11, 2017] The update of the tables has been discontinued as of now and here. For the continued data update and statistics for the 2017 see a newer post at http://psyanimajournal.livejournal.com/15748.html
Revisionist Revolution in Vygotsky Studies: Look inside
https://www.book2look.com/embed/9781317500414
Revisionist Revolution in Vygotsky Studies
‘Lev Vygotsky is one of those titans of psychology who have been grossly and unfairly misperceived. A subtly cultural and deeply politicized author, Vygotsky creatively combined Freudian and Trotskyite, developmental and linguist influences. This book gives a thorough revision of Vygotsky’s heritage, which is indispensable for everyone who reads and follows Vygotsky the psychologist’. - Alexander Etkind, European University at Florence, Italy
‘An indispensable volume for the intellectual project of coming to terms with Vygotsky’s theory and adapting it to current problems in new contexts’. – Peter Smagorinsky, The University of Georgia, USA
‘Yasnitsky and van der Veer offer a sharp polemic with ‘cultism’ in Vygotsky Studies, rooting their revisionist arguments in an original historical reconstruction and deconstruction of the Vygotskian legacy in the Soviet Union, post-Soviet Russia and the wider world. This collection of studies sheds new light on the history of the reception and promotion of Vygotsky and his ‘school’’. - Andy Byford, Durham University, UK
Revisioninst Revolution in German (in progress)
Texts available and in progress (virtually, in press):
· Kurt Koffka: „Die Usbeken haben doch Illusionen!“
· Die Aufzeichnung der psychologischen Veröffentlichungen Vygotskijs.
· Dekonstruktion der Legende von Vygotskys Viktimisierung: Eine Überprüfung der „Stalinistischen Unterdrückung“ der Theorie Vygotsky’s.
· [LSV]. Der nackte Kaiser
· Vygotskij Übersetzungen: Probleme einer transnationalen Vygotskij-Wissenschaft
· Der Vygotsky-Kreis als ein persönliches Netzwerk von Wissenschaftlern.
· [KaZa]. Tagebücher, Notizen, wissenschaftliche Manuskripte von L.S. Vygotsky (1912-1934) : Ergebnisse einer Arbeit im Familienarchiv. (translation not finished until now)
· Der Archetyp der sowjetischen Psychologie als wissenschaftliche Disziplin und soziale Praktik. (translation not finished until now)
"Vygotsky in His, Our and Future Times": History of the Human Sciences special issue
History of the Human Sciences
April 2015; 28 (2)
http://hhs.sagepub.com/content/28/2.toc
Vygotsky in His, Our and Future Times
Guest editor: Gordana Jovanović
Gordana Jovanović
History of the Human Sciences April 2015 28: 3-7, doi:10.1177/0952695115577691
INTRODUCTORY REFLECTIONS
Jerome Bruner
The uneasy relation of culture and mind
Vicissitudes of history in Vygotsky’s cultural-historical theory
History of the Human Sciences April 2015 28: 10-33, doi:10.1177/0952695115577227
Harry Daniels
Mediation: An expansion of the socio-cultural gaze
Vladimir P. Zinchenko
Should the ‘postulate of directness’ be overcome?
Carlos Cornejo
Searching for the microcosm: A glimpse into the roots of Vygotsky’s holism
Jaan Valsiner
The place for synthesis: Vygotsky’s analysis of affective generalization
History of the Human Sciences April 2015 28: 93-102, doi:10.1177/0952695114559530
René van der Veer
Vygotsky, the theater critic: 1922–3
History of the Human Sciences April 2015 28: 103-110, doi:10.1177/0952695114559531
Kirill Maslov
‘Neither class, nor party’: Paradoxes and transformations of the Russian and Soviet scientific intelligentsia
Jennifer Fraser and Anton Yasnitsky
Deconstructing Vygotsky’s victimization narrative: A re-examination of the ‘Stalinist suppression’ of Vygotskian theory
Alexandre Métraux
Lev Vygotsky as seen by someone who acted as a go-between between eastern and western Europe
Luciano Mecacci
Vygotsky’s reception in the West: The Italian case between Marxism and communism
восток-запад/Est-Ouest/East-West, гештальт-психология/Gestalttheorie, новый выпуск/new journal issue, провинция/peripheral localities, транснациональная наука/transnationalism
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Klingon, Damm
Romani – Lovara
Romani – Arli
Sámegielat – Åarjelsaemien gïele
Sámegielat – Julevsámegiella
Sámegielat – Davvisámegiella
Bild 1 av 6 Foto: Okänd
Artist: fredrik wretman Tags: Permanent art
Alfred Nobels allé 7, 141 89, Huddinge
Eva Rosengren
Public art is often, all to often, the last thing to be added when erecting a new building of a certain status; a hospital or a library for example. Either there is art because somebody feels an obligation, because that is what has been decided. Or the art is added in order to create a final, creative je ne sais quoi; whatever it is that artist can be so good at.
That is how things often are. Though no one actually wants this state of affairs. At least not really. Because it is not good. It cannot be good. For it confirms all the prejudices that one may have about strange production processes, about builders and architects – not to speak of art and of everybody’s bad conscience.
One of many special characteristics of Fredrik Wretman’s (b. 1953) art in the new library at Södertörns högskola (Södertörns University College) is that it breaks with this tradition. Radically. The artist was involved at an early stage of the process. And this is evident. Fredrik Wretman has not contributed what artists usually contribute. He has not produced sculptures that amuse of paintings that stretch the mind; work added afterwards, so to speak. True, the pool by the entrance can be viewed as a work of art by most people. After all it has been cast in bronze even though it has been sunk into the ground below floor-level.
But the silent reading room? Little booths for studying in isolation. Really very functional. Booths in which one can read without being disturbed by the other people, where one can concentrate. And chairs like aeroplane seats? Chairs in which one can relax just as in a favourite armchair at home. Is this art?
Well it really depends. Let us, for a moment, drop the issue of art or not art and concentrate instead on the situation and the context. We are in a library. This is not any library. We are in the entrance and in the silent reading room of the new library at the new university college at Södertörn, a college designed to place Swedish higher education solidly in the global future. These are rooms with pretentions. Rooms for creative silnce, for knowledge, for thinking and for new ideas. That’s can’t e bad!
What does it sound like? Like an art room, a gallery room, a museum room – the rooms that, more than any other in our secular society, have taken over the role that churches used to fill. And this means something really exciting in this context: the art room and the library appear to have a lot in common denominators.
It is for this reason that the choice of Fredrik Wretman as the artist for the library at Södertörn was extraordinarily smart. For since the mid 1980s, more than any other Swedish artist, Fredrik Wretman has pointed to art’s room as being the spiritual room for our time. Though he has not done this as high priest.
Fredrik Wretman has succeeded in showing us art’s room in a borderland where he has pulled the pants off that pretentious art that makes installations out of nothing at all-water on a floor-at the same time that people quiver from the profundity of the experience. In this way he has created opportunities for new ideas and for contemplation. Art is not an isolated phenomenon; not something “higher”. But it can be effective for the person using it by concerning itself with its own existence and the ways in which it can find expression.
Fredrik Wretman continues in the same spirit at Södertörn. The pool by the entrance is not some abstract amoeba-like form. It is a cast of a sculpture that portrays Fredrik Wretman himself, as, dare I say, Buddha. Thus it can be seen as the very symbol for the eradication of the ego that is lying there in the room and is reflected by the mirror of the water. Though blasphemically clothed in attributes of his own artistic ego. That Wretman certainly does not seem shy.
Fredrik Wretman always works with all and nothing rather than with all or nothing. He takes over rooms and symbols, plays with them and their values and then presents them in some context that reminds us that we are walking on a slack rope. A rope that insists-alas and alack-that we think for ourselves.
So I do not think that it was a mere accident that he called his reading booths in the silent reading room “Klingons”. The name is borrowed from one of the enemy peoples who threatened Captain Kirk and his men on the Star Trek mother ship. The dangerous outside that threatened the secure inside.
Fredrik Wretman once claimed that airports are the spiritual centres of our age. They are places where we come and go. Places in limbo somewhere between being welcomings and leave-takings. But where we also need a moment of rest of calm and peace before the great trek.
The same can be said of the silent reading room at Södertörn in Fredrik Wretman’s version. We can sit there in an aeroplane seat, expectant of what awaits us in the great world outside. >Students and scholars who read there are not seen as ilotaed existences but become part of a metaphoric dialogue with the world around. We can find peace and concentration in a Klingon – in the external threat.
The world outside is also present in the promised land of books and of knowledge.
Silence is on the attack!
Jan Åman
Permanent art
An imagined city
P.ULL
Layers of Colour and Light
Mehr Licht!
Hudiksvallsgatan 2
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PV Solar Report
Freedom Solar snags SolarCity leader to open new Dallas branch
NV Energy Proposes Net Metering in New Application
Tesla Completes its First Solar Roof Installations
New Homes in South Miami Now Require Solar
States Can Keep the Rooftop Solar Market Growing
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How Much Does North Carolina Love Solar? As Much as the Rest of U.S., Says Poll
A new poll from the NC Sustainable Energy Association shows that North Carolina voters of all political persuasions overwhelmingly support solar and other renewables. A majority of respondents think state leaders should seek more renewable energy sources to provide the state with affordable electricity.
The solar polls keep rolling in, and they consistently bring good news about solar’s popularity. Some of the results? American consumers are viewing solar more favorably; American homeowners overwhelmingly support solar power; and, well, Americans basically love solar!
State-by-state polls show the same results: from Maine to Hawaii, Americans are crazy about solar power.
A new poll from nonprofit nonpartisan advocacy organization NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) confirms that North Carolina is no different in this regard.
The fourth annual North Carolina Statewide Survey was just released. Fallon Research polled 803 registered North Carolina voters from March 23 to 27, 2014.
Ready not to be surprised? That’s right: North Carolina voters of all political stripes overwhelmingly support the increased use of diverse clean energy sources.
According to the poll, 83% of respondents think state leaders and elected officials should seek more renewable energy sources to provide consumers and businesses with affordable electricity.
Solar is especially popular with North Carolina votes: 90% of respondents support the use of solar energy.
Driven largely by the state’s market-based clean energy policies, North Carolina has become one of the fastest-growing markets for clean energy solutions. The state was given #3 position in the Solar Energy Industries Association’s list of Top Solar States.
“Support for clean energy can be a winning message for our state’s leaders regardless of political affiliation. North Carolina is leading in these technologies, voters are noticing and they are asking for more,” said Paul Shumaker, leading political strategist, President of Capitol Communications, in a statement.
In 2007, North Carolina became the first state in the Southeast to adopt the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) law. According to the poll, 71% of North Carolinians support the law.
Other notable survey results:
86% of Democrats, 84% of Independents, and 77% of Republicans say state leaders should seek more alternative or renewable energy sources.
74% of respondents felt power and electricity prices had increased over the last two years, with more than half thinking the increase was due to power companies increasing their profits or inflation and the economy, and only 5% thinking it was due to renewable energy mandates.
94% of voters under the age of 30 and 86% of voters ages 30-44 said state leaders and elected officials in North Carolina should seek more alternative or renewable energy sources in order to provide consumers and businesses with electricity.
“Now in our fourth year of polling, these results are consistently telling us that energy policy is important to North Carolinians. What’s more, constituents are making note of their rising electricity bills and are looking to our leaders in the state legislature to adopt common-sense changes,” NCSEA executive director Ivan Urlaub said of the survey results.
“This polling lays a foundation for lawmakers to devise a clean energy future with their voters in mind,” said Betsy McCorkle, NCSEA’s Director of Government Affairs. “These results prove that there’s an appetite to invest in a diverse set of sustainable energy solutions, which serve as the foundation to our economic prosperity — and offer a significant value for businesses and the community.”
The results also provide further confirmation that Americans all around the country, of all political leanings, are in favor of harnessing the power of the sun.
NC Sustainable Energy Association
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drones, Flying Taxis, Maharashtra
Maharashtra prepares for flying taxis: all you need to know
The Central government released this policy after receiving advise from Uber, and the policy will govern the operations of drone taxis in the country.
By Elton Gomes
Maharashtra could soon become the first Indian state to get flying taxi’s, as the state government has approved the Centre’s plans for a drone taxi service for Mumbai, though it comes with a few additional ground rules.
According to a report in the Hindu, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu delivered a presentation to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in August. During the presentation, Prabhu elaborated on the drone taxi policy and asked Fadnavis’ government to submit a report.
What has the state government asked for
Responding to Prabhu, the Maharashtra government has asked that more space be given. It has also asked for details with respect to height, high-rises, and charging stations for the battery-operated drone taxis. The state government approved all other aspects including passenger, cargo, and medical services within the drone.
The Central government released this policy after receiving advise from Uber, and the policy will govern the operations of drone taxis in the country. The government hopes that these flying taxis will help in resolving traffic woes in cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi, as per the report by the Hindu.
According to the newly created Development Plan 2034, any building that breaches the 200 metre mark in height will be allowed to have a helipad or landing facilities. On the other hand, the smaller buildings will be allowed to accommodate the smaller two-seater drones.
India shortlisted for Uber’s flying taxi service
Earlier in August, Uber said that it had shortlisted India to launch its flying taxi service. After evaluating countries across the globe, Uber Elevate — Uber’s aerial taxi arm — announced that it had shortlisted Japan, India, Australia, Brazil, and France.
Uber proposed to launch a demonstration of these flying taxis in several cities by 2020. It said that paid flying taxis could begin by 2023. Last year, Uber named Dallas and Los Angeles as its first two launch cities.
“Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru are some of the most congested cities in the world, where travelling even a few kilometers can take over an hour. Uber Air offers tremendous potential to help create a transportation option that goes over congestion, instead of adding to it,” Uber said in a statement, IANS reported.
“We see much potential in flying cars, and we anticipate that flying cars can be used not only to help solve traffic congestion in urban areas, but it will also help with increase mobility between city centres and remote islands and mountainous areas, promote tourism in Japan as well as enhance disaster relief operations,” Daisaku Hiraki, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan, said, as per IANS.
Uber said further, “The Uber Elevate team is now inviting conversations with stakeholders across major cities in these countries, and will announce the chosen Uber Air international city within the next six months,” according to IANS.
India could soon have Make in India flying taxis
Amidst news of the launch of flying taxis in India, IIT-Kanpur has been busy developing its own drone taxis. In May 2018, IIT-Kanpur signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) worth Rs 15 crore with VTOL Aviation India Pvt Ltd, an Indian private aviation company.
As per the MoU, IIT-Kanpur will be building operational prototypes, which could be used as flying taxis. More than 100 researchers from the varsity will be working towards developing a fully-functional prototype, and the project is estimated to be ready by 2023.
Under the deal, researchers will initially conduct a feasibility test to identify key technological areas where they would work, while the remaining project would be completed in the next five years.
“We will establish proof of concept and identify the key technology areas. There will be over a 100 students working on this in the coming years,” the Print quoted Ajoy Ghosh, the head of the Aerospace Engineering and the Flight Lab at IIT-Kanpur, as saying.
Elton Gomes is a staff writer at Qrius
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People’s Party Website
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Roseanne DVD Series Complete Box Set
Includes every episode from the entire TV Series!
This item is in regular DVD format
Experience a true slice of reality, hysterical banter, honesty and mirthful comedy in a complete package of 27 disc collection. It’s a milestone in the television history that showed the struggles of blue-color life with the most warm-hearted genuinity and laughter. Roseanne and Dan Connor’s unconventional parenting not only entertained the audiences but also displayed their struggle to deal with the disparate personalities of their two sons and daughter. All the characters are believable and loveable even with their flaws. This quick-witted comedy also garnered several acclaimed awards, including the celebrated Emmy award.
Audio Language: English
Subtitles: None
Format: Anamorphic Widescreen (No black bars on the top/bottom)
rosanne complete series rosanne complete series dvd roseanne complete series dvd roseanne complete series dvd set roseanne the complete series dvd roseanne series dvd set
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You don't need to take our word for it. Watch this video to see what these parents think about their daughter's Prodigy Finance loan to attend an MS Engineering programme in the US.
What this MBA did with corporate sponsors when he wanted a new job
Prodigy Finance - August 28, 2019
Ghassan Kara is everything you’d expect from a Wharton MBA: talented, motivated, hard-working, dedicated and committed to making a difference in the world. He also leaves himself open to the...
Refinance your international student loan with a company that understands you
Ignacio Vidal, originally from Madrid, felt the impact of his higher interest rate even as he headed to the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. He’d accepted his initial...
The value of refinancing an international currency loan
Prodigy Finance - June 21, 2019
It’s all about saving money. And, in his own words, Chandu Yerragopu, an MS Data Science graduate from Texas Tech University, “Prodigy Finance is definitely an option to save money.''After he began...
Which engineering master's should you do?
Studying a STEM master's in the US
Applying to MBA programmes abroad
How to get a F-1 visa to study in the US
Is work experience important for an MS Engineering degree?
Prodigy Finance awards 2018 scholarships to international masters students
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© Prodigy Finance Limited 2007 - 2019. All Rights Reserved. Prodigy Finance Limited is incorporated in the United Kingdom (Company Number 05912562) with its registered address at Palladium House 1-4 Argyll Street, London, W1F 7LD and registered with the Office of the Information Commissioner (Reg. No. Z9851854). Prodigy Finance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm registration number 709641) for certain consumer credit activities and for investment activities for investors who have agreed to its terms. Prodigy Finance loans are offered to eligible borrowers and these loans are governed by English law.
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for Home & Office
peTE CoMAN Joins rAVe [PUBS] to Cover CES, ISE, InfoComm and Other Shows
Administrator 11/01/2020
Pete Coman, commonly known as TEC MAN, joins rAVe [PUBS] to expand rAVe’s presence at CES (and a dozen other AV shows in 2020) with up-to-the-minute, live, onsite news and videos. Pete’s passion for innovation first brought him to CES five years ago. He still recalls the mind-blowing experience as he walked every aisle with utter excitement. Now, as we move through CES 2020, Pete shares his thoughts on the biggest trends coming off the show floor.
“CES is the show of tomorrow,” said Pete. “Shows like ISE and InfoComm are the shows of today, and still very much relevant, but CES is a preview of what’s to come. There’s always a trend focus at CES; you don’t think it’s relevant right now, but within 12 months it’ll be on the market and the hottest gadget on everyone’s radar. Machine learning and artificial intelligence, especially in a practical use, will be the star of CES 2020.”
“Today, we’re being influenced by consumer technology,” noted Pete. “A decade ago, it was reversed — our commercial technology was influencing the future of consumer technology. I have commercial clients requesting the latest consumer technology from the floor of CES for their offices and collaboration spaces. It will continue to be relevant for systems designers to follow the latest in consumer technology trends in order to stay ahead of the curve.”
Pete, who’s based in New York City, will highlight the newest trends at our industry’s largest conferences, including CES, ISE, InfoComm, Integrate Australia, as well as at local tech shows held in New York. He will join the rAVe Squad, an exclusive group of thought leaders sharing their insights as industry influencers. Pete will spearhead a new offering of rAVe [PUBS] that includes product reviews, product unboxings and more. His detailed technical knowledge and in-depth technical design skills, combined with his passion for technology and the latest innovations, will create a unique approach to rAVe’s reviewing platform.
Pete is an award-winning designer whose career spans 30+ years in technology and includes more than 16 industry qualifications — including BICSI RCDD, AVIXA CTS, Crestron DMC-E, QSC Q-SYS and Extron XTP certifications. His award recognitions include the 2018 BICSI Design Award, 2017 InAVation Award, 2015 AVIA Award and 2014 Crestron Project of the Year. In addition to system design, Pete has also designed a range of unique, patented products. He currently serves on AVIXA’s Australia Advisory Board.
Find the latest news from Pete Coman reporting from CES 2020 and other shows on rAVe [PUBS] here.
Rants and rAVes — Episode 924: Brian Rhatigan Details New Zoom Room Kits from Almo ProAV
Definitive Technology adds three new speakers to its Demand Series at CES 2020
Copyright © 2020 Audio Video System Integrators. All Rights Reserved.
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Facebook's Libra Cryptocurrency Project: 7 Key Things Investors Should Know
Facebook put a lot of work into laying the foundations for its Libra cryptocurrency project. However, its strategy for monetizing Libra is a very long-term one.
By ERIC JHONSA
Jun 18, 2019 | 04:52 PM EDT
Stocks quotes in this article: FB, V, MA, PYPL
Though only time will tell how much the Libra cryptocurrency disrupts the payments industry's status quo, no one can accuse Facebook (FB) of not taking the development of Libra seriously.
As you likely know by now, Libra, a cryptocurrency that will launch in 2020 and whose value will be tied to a basket of existing currencies, was unveiled to much fanfare on Tuesday morning. Also unveiled: The Libra Association, a non-profit governing organization for the cryptocurrency, and Calibra, a Facebook subsidiary that will provide financial services relying on Libra, starting with a digital wallet service that will be available both through a standalone app and via Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.
Facebook's shares, which had rallied in recent days as fresh media reports about Libra arrived, fell 0.3% in Tuesday trading amid a 1.4% gain for the Nasdaq. Payments incumbents Visa (V) , Mastercard (MA) and PayPal (PYPL) , all of which are among the 28 firms that are initially part of the Libra Association, were flat to down slightly.
Though some additional details still need to be shared about Libra and its backers, Facebook and the Libra Association did disclose quite a lot about their project. Here are some things that investors and would-be Libra users should keep in mind about the cryptocurrency.
1. Facebook Won't Control Libra
No member of the Libra Association will have more than a 1% voting share. Since both Facebook proper and Calibra will be members, Mark Zuckerberg's firm could technically have a 2% voting share, but no more than that.
And though some media reports had suggested this was a possibility, Facebook says it won't have access to Libra transaction data for purposes such as ad targeting. Transaction data will only be shared for activities such as fraud prevention and anonymized research into Libra usage.
In addition, while users will need to provide a government-issued photo ID to set up a Libra account, they won't need a Facebook account. Also, third parties will be free to create Libra wallet services that compete against Calibra's.
2. Transaction Fees Will Be Very Limited
Kevin Weil, Calibra's VP of product, told The Verge that his firm doesn't plan to charge fees for peer-to-peer (P2P) payments. He adds that "there may be low fees for merchant payments" to cover things such as fraud and chargebacks, but also says these fees are expected to be "an order of magnitude lower" than what existing payments services charge.
Such a fee structure could of course make Libra a competitive threat to the likes of Visa, Mastercard and PayPal, if it's widely adopted. It could also help drive the use of Libra for international money transfers, and also for digital content and advertising microtransactions that can't be cost-effectively handled by credit cards.
At the same time, Libra's supporters could face an uphill battle convincing credit card owners to use it instead of credit cards for traditional online transactions, given that loyalty/rewards programs remain a major incentive for credit card usage. One possible tactic for driving Libra usage: Merchants could provide a small discount on orders paid for with Libra instead of a credit card, on account of its lower transaction fees.
3. Facebook Is Taking a Long-Term Approach to Monetizing Libra
Given that it won't be profiting from Libra usage via purchase data or (for all intents) transaction fees, how does Facebook plan to benefit from supporting the cryptocurrency? Facebook blockchain chief David Marcus has suggested that his firm's ad sales will indirectly benefit if Libra drives additional commerce on Facebook's platforms -- here, Libra's ability to service consumers and small businesses lacking bank accounts or credit cards could help it out, as could its potential support for microtransactions.
Facebook also suggests it will eventually offer Libra-based credit services via Calibra. And one has to assume that the company is also betting that Calibra's wallet service will drive greater usage of Messenger and WhatsApp.
4. Libra Will Rely on Interest Payments and 'Incentives' to Compensate its Initial Backers
According to crypto news site TheBlock, in order to be a "Founding Member" of the Libra Association, a company has to make an initial $10 million investment in Libra tokens, meet certain business and technical criteria and run a "validator node" that will help secure and confirm transactions. In return, the companies will receive incentive payments when they drive Libra sign-ups and usage, as well as (after backing out the Libra Association's operating expenses) interest payments on funds within a Libra Reserve that are invested in "low-risk assets."
"Because the assets in the reserve are low risk and low yield, returns for early investors will only materialize if the network is successful and the reserve grows substantially in size," the Association writes. It also notes that regular users won't receive interest payments on their Libra funds.
5. On Paper At Least, Libra Has a Strong Set of Supporters
In addition to Facebook, Visa, Mastercard and PayPal, the 28 initial Libra Association members include Booking.com, Spotify, Uber, Lyft, eBay, Stripe, Coinbase, Vodafone and several other well-known tech, telecom and financial services firms (tech giants Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon.com are notable no-shows). Ultimately, the Association wants to have 100 "geographically diverse" members act as validator nodes.
However, as Wired points out, not all of these initial 28 backers have committed yet to paying $10 million to act as validator nodes. And whether or not the payments giants contribute $10 million (a small sum for them), one has to wonder to what degree they will support a platform that could disrupt their existing businesses. As I wrote last week, the initial support being given to Libra by these firms could be a case of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.
6. Libra Could Be Subject to Some Currency Volatility
Libra won't be pegged to the U.S. dollar alone, but also to the euro, pound and yen. The Libra Association says it's structuring the Libra Reserve to minimize volatility, but given its planned makeup, U.S. owners of Libra funds could see the value of their assets drop when the dollar rises against foreign currencies, and vice versa.
7. Libra Isn't Really a Rival to Bitcoin
It isn't hard to see that there are some massive differences between Libra and a truly decentralized cryptocurrency such as bitcoin. Given that it will be pegged to existing currencies and will be governed by an organization that in turn is set to feature many publicly-traded companies as voting members, Libra is unlikely to appeal to many of those who are investing in bitcoin for capital appreciation, who like its status as a store of value that's independent of established currencies (and thus a hedge against currency devaluation) and/or who view it as a means of protecting their assets from potential government seizure.
On the other hand, given its corporate backing, as well as how it stands to be much less volatile than bitcoin and have much lower transaction fees, Libra could be adopted for commercial transactions on a scale that bitcoin has thus far failed to reach.
TAGS: Investing | Technology |
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Editing Making Your First Recording
<languages/> <translate> = Making Your First Recording = <!--T:1--> You may be saying to yourself, “I just want to record a song already. How do I do it?” The following article should get you started. It is assumed that you have Reaper and Osara installed. It is also assumed that you have installed your audio interface. OK! Let’s reap! === Creating tracks === <!--T:2--> <!--T:3--> When you first open reaper, after escaping out of the splash screen, you are in the track view of a new Reaper session. Arrow up and down and you should hear Osara report “no tracks.” So, you must first create tracks. <!--T:4--> Press CTRL/t to create a track. You will be placed in an edit box where you can type a name for your track, then press enter. You are now back in the track view. You don't need to type in a track name if you don't want to. You can simply press Control+T and then press enter. This will create an unnamed track. You can name the track later simply by pressing F2 on that track, typing a name and pressing enter. === Assigning an Input for Recording === <!--T:5--> <!--T:6--> By Default, your track will record from Input 1 of your Audio Interface. The default recording path for new tracks can be changed in preferences, under Track/Send Defaults. You can assign a different input for your track at any point as well. ==== Assigning Record Input on Windows ==== <!--T:7--> <!--T:8--> For now we'll assume that your source is mono. Select your track by pressing up or down arrow. [[Special:MyLanguage/Useful Links and Resources#numpad emulation and applications key script|Press your applications key,]] and arrow up to where you hear “input mono.” Hit enter, or right arrow, and using your arrows, select the appropriate input from your interface which coincides with the source you are recording. ==== Assigning Record Input on Mac ==== <!--T:9--> <!--T:10--> Use Voice Over to Navigate to the track number of the track you are recording on. Note, at this point you are navigating the native UI of Reaper with Voice Over, not using the Up or Down arrow with Osara to select the track. VO+Left Arrow once from the track number and you will find a button that states Record input: Input 1, where input 1 is telling you the current input source. VO+Space on this button and you will have a popup menu from which you can choose a different input channel. === Arming and Monitoring A Track === <!--T:11--> <!--T:12--> When you are ready to record, you will first need to arm your track. Arming basically means that you are telling reaper which tracks you would like to record on when you start recording. <!--T:13--> Pressing f7 arms and unarms the track. You will hear your screen reader announce whether the track is armed or unarmed. You can check which tracks are armed by pressing control+shift+F7. You can unarm all tracks with control+F7. <!--T:14--> Pressing f8 lets you choose your monitoring settings. The three monitoring settings are, “normal” (which means you will hear the audio coming into any armed track), “record monitor off” (where you won't hear the sound coming into your armed tracks) and “not when playing” (which is where you hear the audio coming into any arm track, unless the project is playing, in which case you will just hear the playback). Take care to have your monitor speakers, or your headphones at a low level so as not to create feedback if you will be using a live mic to record. === Monitoring Levels === <!--T:15--> <!--T:16--> Press ctrl/shift/w to open the peak watcher. This dialogue allows you to specify two tracks to “watch” for levels. By tabbing through the dialogue, You can tell Osara which two tracks to watch. I suggest that your first track be set to “current track” and your second track be set to “master.” The rest of the dialogue contains other advanced settings which will be [[Special:MyLanguage/Monitoring levels when you can't see the meters|covered in another article]]. You don't have to set two tracks. You can just select current track, and monitor the levels of the currently focused track. <!--T:17--> Now, tab or shift/tab back to the ok button, press enter and you’ll be back in the track view. <!--T:18--> With your track armed, play your instrument or sing or speak in to your microphone. Be sure to play at the same level and with the same intensity that you’ll be playing or singing during your recording. You want to make sure that you're not going over 0DB, which will distort your audio and spoil your recording. <!--T:19--> Stop playing, and press alt/f9 to hear Osara report the highest peak, in DB, which the meter reached. Pressing alt/f10 will give you the level of the second channel of that same track. If you are recording a mono source such as a mono microphone, then these levels should be the same. You can reset the peak watcher by pressing alt/f8 so that you can recheck the level. A peak of around -9 DB is a safe place to be. You can adjust your input level with your audio interface or your instrument. ===setting the Metronome === <!--T:20--> <!--T:21--> If you are recording music, you may wish to set your metronome before recording the first note. This will allow you to move through the song accurately by measures and beats, also it will allow you to manipulate your recording later with more precision. <!--T:22--> Turn the metronome on by pressing ctrl+shift+m. You will hear Osara say “metronome on”. You can also turn the metronome off with the same keyboard shortcut: control+shift+M. Take a moment to rehearse your song and fix the tempo in your mind. Now, place your finger on the “h” key and tap out the tempo. Then press space to start playing. You will now hear the metronome. Play along with the click to make sure it’s at the right tempo. Press space to stop. Press w or Control+Home to make sure you’re at the beginning of the timeline. We’re ready to record. === Recording === <!--T:23--> <!--T:24--> Make sure your track is armed by pressing f7 and that you can hear your source through your monitor by pressing f8. <!--T:25--> When you’re ready, press “r” You will hear the click start, and Reaper is immediately recording. Count in an appropriate amount of measures and start playing. When you’re finished, press space to stop the recording. Reaper will ask you to confirm the saving of files. Press enter and then you’ll be back in the track view. <!--T:26--> You’ll notice now that your track will say, one item.” This means you’ve recorded one audio item. <!--T:27--> Press w to make sure you’re at the beginning of your track and press space to listen. === Final thoughts === <!--T:28--> <!--T:29--> Reaper is rich with features. There are often several paths to the same ends in Reaper. Each of the processes described in this article have options which are further explored in other articles. In addition, many of the procedures and features used in this article have configurable settings which can customize Reaper to your preferred work flow. But, as promised, this article outlines a fast way to record your first track. Happy Reaping! </translate>
Please note that all contributions to Reaper Accessibility Wiki are considered to be released under the Creative Commons Attribution (see Wiki:Copyrights for details). If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, then do not submit it here.
Retrieved from "https://reaperaccessibility.com/index.php/Making_Your_First_Recording"
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The NEW Coffee Technician’s Guild
November 3, 2016 was an amazing day. It was on this day that 52 coffee technicians descended on a small business in Kansas City, Missouri to make history.
For the first time, a guild was created by and for coffee technicians, and the first event— The Coffee Technicians Guild Inaugural Planning Summit — kicked off. The Coffee Technicians Guild (CTG) is a newly formed guild of the SCAA with the mission of promoting excellence in equipment service and developing qualified technicians through advocacy, education, and networking. The monumental undertaking of this Summit was to answer the question: What is a coffee technician? We also wanted to provide an opportunity for attendees to identify and network with other coffee technicians. And, of course, we wanted to eat some great Kansas City BBQ. I am happy to report that on all counts, the mission was accomplished.
Coffee Technician’s Guild Executive Council
What is the Coffee Technicians Guild?
The Coffee Technicians Guild (CTG) is an official trade guild of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) dedicated to supporting the coffee industry through the development of professional technicians. The CTG strives to be the voice of technicians within the coffee community. Founded in 2016, the guild is now welcoming its first members and hopes to create a community of technicians who can provide mutual support and knowledge, as well as provide opportunities to develop skills and learn best practices.
Why do we need a Coffee Technicians Guild?
We are just talking about maintaining and repairing coffee equipment, right? In fact, this is a critical piece in the puzzle at the coffee retail level and—as of now—there is no definition for what a coffee technician is, nor are there any standards for what they do. This is an opportunity for Coffee Technicians to work with SCAA to create this definition, develop standards, build an accreditation program, provide training and resources, as well as foster communication within the industry. Although this industry that has been around for well over three decades, we are now at the dawn of a new era for coffee technicians.
CTG Founding Sponsors
Interested in getting involved?
If you are enthusiastic and dedicated to the coffee community, you will find that you are among friends in the Coffee Technicians Guild. Regardless of whether you’ve been a technician for 20 years or are just getting started in the industry, participation in the guild will undoubtedly aid in your success and inspiration throughout your career.
See www.coffeetechniciansguild.org for more information.
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** From now until March 1st, 5% of all Pesado sales will be donated to the Australian Red Cross to support bushfire relief efforts. **
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On September 19, 2012, the Overland Trail Tour was led by Wayne Sundberg and started with a 2-mile round-trip hike to Signature Rock on the Roberts Ranch, and then onto the Roberts Ranch and Buffalo jump, followed by the Virginia Dale site, and ended at the Ten-Mile/Stonewall/Cherokee Station site.
The first site is at Rhoebe Rock Shelter (locally known as Signature Rock) located on the Roberts Ranch, a landmark known for historic and recent inscriptions etched into the sandstone. For more history go to www.over-land.com.
Wayne Sundberg explaining the Overland trail history.
Tour Participants looking at Signature Rock at the Roberts Ranch.
Close-up view of Signature Rock at the Roberts Ranch.
Next the tour went on a side trip to the Roberts Ranch and historic buffalo jump. More history about the Roberts Ranch can be found in Among These Hills, A History of Livermore, Colorado by the Livermore Woman’s Club. Visit the Livermore Woman’s Club for more information on this book.
DL Roberts telling the tour group the history of the Roberts Ranch and buffalo jump on the property.
Buffalo Jump Location at Roberts Ranch
The tour then visited Virgina Dale. This is the legendary Virginia Dale Stage Station. This is probably the most noted stage station in this part of the country. Read more history about Virginia Dale at www.virginiadalecommunityclub.org.
Virginia Dale Stage Station
The station is still standing and is 10 miles north of the Cherokee Station. This was the first division point north of Denver. It was established in June 1862, and was named for Jack Slade’s wife “Virginia” and “Dale” is the small valley where it is located. Slade made this station famous from coast to coast.
Virginia Dale, Colorado
Historical Presentation at the Virginia Dale Stage Station
The tour ended with a visit to the Ten-Mile/Stonewall/Cherokee Station site and marker. This station was located on Stonewall Creek near Steamboat Rock. Old timers say the station was at one time burned by the Indians. The old trail came down a wash directly southeast of the station site. At the bottom of the Devils Washboard is the foundation of an old Saloon and blacksmith shop. This station was 12 miles north of Bonner Springs (on the way to Virginia Dale) and was a swing station.
Ten-Mile/Stonewall/Cherokee Station marker
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"The Shining" Hotel Location
Judi Brown
Inside The Shining Hotel
Danny Torrance inside the Overlook Hotel | Source
If you have ever read the Stephen King book "The Shining" or watched Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation, you will know that it is a particularly disturbing story. Whether you view it as a good old fashioned ghost story or a tense study of one man's psychological disintegration, it is frighteningly good.
The story revolves around the Torrance family and their stay at the Overlook Hotel. The family are alone in the Hotel, Jack Torrance having taken a job as winter caretaker during the off season. Jack has a drink problem whilst his young son Danny has a psychic ability ("the shining"). They both fall under the spell of the villain of the story; the Hotel.
The Overlook Hotel is the brooding presence pervading every scene of the story. It is the Hotel that wants to absorb Danny's ability and does its best to possess him by driving Jack mad in order to use him to kill his son. The Hotel's isolation is in itself foreboding, but the apparently sentient building gradually cranks up the pressure by conjuring an ever increasing quantity of ghosts and terrifying visions, from scary ghost twins to torrents of blood, until Jack cracks and pursues his wife and child in a murderous rampage.
Sadly, the Overlook Hotel doesn't actually exist; it is instead an amalgam of several different places. Here are the locations that make up "The Shining" Hotel.
The Inspiration for the Shining: The Stanley Hotel
The Stanley Hotel, inspiration for "The Shining" | Source
The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
Stephen King was inspired to write "The Shining" following a short visit to The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. King and his wife drove to the Hotel without making a reservation and were nearly turned away; the Hotel was closing for the season the next day and the Kings were the only two guests. The couple dined alone in a vast dining room listening to a taped orchestra and made their way back to Room 217 along long dark corridors. King was unable to sleep and found his way to the bar where he was entertained by the bartender, Grady. By the next morning, King had his story.
King is by no means the first celebrity to stay at the Stanley Hotel. The neo-Georgian hotel opened in 1909 and has played host to a string of rich and famous guests, including Theodore Roosevelt, Emperor Hirohito of Japan, Cary Grant and Bob Dylan. Both the building and the surrounding land are listed on the US Register of Historic Places.
It should come as no surprise that the Stanley Hotel is reputedly haunted. Many guests have reported ghosts in their rooms and hotel employees have heard the sounds of a party and a piano playing in the ballroom, though it is found to be empty on investigation. Should you wish to check in, try Room 418, it's said to be the most haunted. If you do stay, don't forget to tune your television into Channel 42 - "The Shining" is shown on a continuous loop!
The management of the Stanley Hotel isn't shy of the connection to Stephen King or of the reputed hauntings. Indeed, they now run tours of the hotel for those interested in these aspects of the hotel.
Where to Find the Stanley Hotel
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333 East Wonderview Avenue Estes Park, CO CO 80517:
333 E Wonderview Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, USA
The Timberline Hotel, Used for Exterior Shots
The Timberline Hotel provided external shots for "The Shining" | Source
The Timberline Lodge, Mount Hood, Oregon
Whilst the cast and first crew stayed in England to shoot the film, Kubrick dispatched a second unit to Oregon to get some outside shots. If you visit The Timberline Lodge you will be disappointed to find that in reality there is no maze. Although a famous scene takes place outside the Overlook Hotel in a hedge maze, it doesn't actually exist. The management of the Lodge also made their own change to the story. In the book, the most sinister room at the Overlook Hotel is Room 217. As there is a Room 217 at the Timberline Lodge, they asked that the number be changed so that people didn't avoid the room. In Kubrick's film it is Room 237 that the family are told to avoid.
The Timberline Lodge was built in the 1930s as a government sponsored project during the Depression. "The Shining" isn't the only film to have featured the Lodge. "Jingle Bells", "Bend of the River", "All the Young Men" and "Lost Horizon" have all used it as a location. In 1981 director Boris Sagal was killed at the hotel when he strayed under the blades of a helicopter landing in the parking lot.
The Timberline Lodge doesn't trade on its connection to "The Shining". It has a fine reputation as a ski lodge, and is set in an area of outstanding natural scenery. Like the Stanley Hotel, the Timberline is listed on the US Register of Historic Places and it's a US National Historic Landmark.
The Timberline Hotel's Location
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Timberline Lodge, Mount Hood, Oregon:
Timberline Lodge Post Office, Mt. Hood National Forest, Mt Hood Parkdale, OR 97041, USA
The Ahwahnee Hotel's Great Lounge
The Great Lounge at the Ahwahnee Hotel was featured in "The Shining" - with a few modifications. | Source
The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, California
The Ahwahnee Hotel was built to take advantage of its natural surroundings. It is positioned near the Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and Glacier Point. Stanley Kubrick wasn't interested in its exterior though, he was inspired by its interior. In particular he was impressed by the Hotel's Great Lounge, although he made some modifications on his set. The Hotel also has some very distinctive red and black framed elevator doors. These were reproduced in the film.
The Hotel opened in 1927 and was designed to sit harmoniously in its stunning surroundings. Since it opened it has been steadily modernised and is now a popular tourist destination.
The Overlook Hotel was Actually at Elstree Studios
The "real" home of the Overlook Hotel | Source
The Overlook Hotel, EMI Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, UK
The cast of "The Shining" didn't actually visit any of the hotels mentioned above during filming. Stanley Kubrick had an enormous set built at Elstree Studios which included the whole exterior of the Overlook Hotel. At the time, this set was the largest ever built. So, sadly, the Overlook Hotel no longer exists, other than on paper or film. Whilst you can't tour the studios at Elstree, you can book in for parties or events at various venues around the site.
The Overlook Hotel in Misery
The Overlook Hotel doesn't just appear in "The Shining". King's novel "Misery" also has a brief mention of The Overlook Hotel, and the fate of Jack Torrance. Annie Wilkes, the deranged nurse who takes writer Paul Sheldon hostage, makes reference to the hotel. She says that the hotel is now ruined and that a man (not mentioned by name, but referring to Torrance) went mad there. Wilkes says that these events happened ten years before.
"The Shining" Movie Trivia
Jack Nicholson played Jack Torrance, but other actors considered for the part included:
Jon Voigt
Shelley Duvall and Stanley Kubrick didn't get on. The stress caused Ms Duvall to lose her hair during filming.
Duvall and Kubrick were both nominated for "Razzies" for Worst Actress and Worst Director.
The Shining Quiz
Which do you prefer? King's Book or Kubrick's Film?
Stephen King's Book
Stanley Kubrick's Film
Impossible to Overlook: Set Design in 'The Shining'
by Andy Sciambarella1
5 Eccentric Owners From Gordon Ramsay's "Hotel Hell"
by Jan Michael Ong0
Room 237: Symbolism in The Shining
by Rachael Lefler3
'Doctor Sleep' (2019) A Shining Movie Review
by John Plocar0
11 Brutal Horror Movies Like Wrong Turn That Will Give You Nightmares
by Rahul Parashar37
Top 9 Movies Like 'A Quiet Place' No One Should Miss Out On
'The Final Wish' (2019) Movie Review
Hi Colin - the book seems to get most people's vote! Nonetheless, it's a great movie. Thanks for your comments, I appreciate them.
Very interesting - being a SK and Kubrick fan, I thought I knew quite a bit about both the book and the movie, but turns out I didn't! Still prefer the book, though. Great Hub.
Hi Kristina - I missed that one! Sounds fun (as usual) Thanks for reading and commenting
Kristina Pitts
5 years ago from Greenville, SC, USA
I remember the simpsons Halloween parody of this when Homer went crazy. No beer and no tv make homer go crazy.
Hi Hackslap - thanks for the comment and the vote - I appreciate it!
5 years ago from Sydney, Australia
I'm a massive fan of the movie and yes I do believe its one of the scariest movies made ..(from an atmospheric perspective ) .. I certainly didn't know much about the actual hotel on which the location was based ...very interesting and informative...voted up!
Hi klidstone1970 - "Redrum" has to be one of the scariest "words" ever! Thanks for taking the time to comment - don't have nightmares :)
இڿڰۣ-- кιмвєяℓєу
6 years ago from Niagara Region, Canada
I remember reading an old tattered paperback of The Shining as a pre-teen and spooking myself out!! Redrum!!!!
Hi gsurvivor - it's a shame that Stephen King didn't like the movie, but I can understand his feelings. Thanks very much for the vote - enjoy the film again (and maybe the book too!)
gsurvivor
Didn't expect that the people would prefer the movie over the book, but can't deny the film's quality either. :) Some interesting info you have here, definitely made me want to see the movie again, maybe even read the book all over again. :) And that deserves a vote up!
Hi lorddraven2000 - I would love to visit one of these hotels - must be great to work at a building like these too. Thanks very much for your comments, I appreciate them.
Sam Little
6 years ago from Wheelwright KY
Very interesting. My best friends step dad worked here for several years and said the place was always spooky.
Hi Lillee McLoflin - thanks to you too! Glad you enjoyed this hub, thank you for commenting, I appreciate it.
Lillee McLoflin
Great Hub! Scary movie. Thanks!
Hi Mr Deltoid - I've seen some of the photos - wish I could find some that are OK to use. You're right, Kubrick's vision was huge!
Thanks for your comments, much appreciated.
6 years ago from New Jersey
Nice hub, the maze was a set too, there are a lot of behind the scenes photos floating around the net, that are pretty fantastic. they give you an idea of the vast sets, Kubrick had built for the movie.......The guy knew how to make a movie.
Hi JeremyBentham - I enjoyed the film too (I've not seen the TV movie). It must be difficult as an author to see someone else's vision of your book, I guess (hope I have the chance to put it to the test one day!)
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it.
JeremyBentham
6 years ago from Missouri
I'm a fan of both the movie and the book and I think King is wrong in his opinion of the Kubrick film. Arguably maybe I'd feel different if it was my book, but the film is one of my favorites. The TV movie is cold vomit. Yuck.
"Come and play with us Danny"
Hi nuffsaidstan - never, ever thought of it from a Hong Kong Fooey perspective :D That's going to put a whole new spin on it for me!
Thanks very much for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it.
nuffsaidstan
Always preferred the book, the fright value of the film was negated for me by them having Scatman Crowthers in the movie, who could be afraid when you have Hong Kong Fooey there to protect you! Great hub enjoyed it.
Hi The Black Alpaca - you're probably very sensible! My mother used to get very irritated with horror movies when the place people turned up at was obviously spooky - she would say that no one sane would stay there - so, you're clearly sane!
Thanks very much for commenting, I appreciate it.
THE BLACK ALPACA
Great hub but personally I wouldn't want to stay at any of them :)
Hi shiningirisheyes - thanks! I think the movie was fine, but it's always difficult to adjust to a film adaptation if you've read the book first.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it.
Shining Irish Eyes
7 years ago from Upstate, New York
Hi Judi Bee
Great hub. I was always fascinated with the backstory about this movie. I always prefer the book. In this case the movie held it's own and was a stellar adaption.
Very interesting subject.
Hi justgrace1776 - I wish!
justgrace1776
Now, it is time for you to visit those hotels! :)
Hi gail641 - it's a shame, but like all great fictional characters we all have our own ideas about what the Overlook Hotel is like.
Thanks for your comments, always great to hear from you.
Gail Louise Stevenson
7 years ago from Mason City
Great hub. Its fascinating to read about "The Shining", and the hotels. Too bad that the "The Overlook Hotel" doesn't exist. Very interesting.
Hi jellygator - it's surprising what you can find out about stuff (both by writing it and reading it!) on HubPages. This has been one of my favourite hubs to research and write - glad you enjoyed it.
Great to hear from you, thanks for commenting.
jellygator
Interesting! I knew the Timberline Hotel was used, but not that there were others, nor that the cast didn't actually visit a hotel to make the movie.
Hi A K Turner- aw, don't feel like that! The film's great too and glad you enjoyed the hub.
Many thanks for your comments, much appreciated.
Joseph A K Turner
7 years ago from West Yorkshire
awesome hub, I feel like I have almost betrayed king, by not reading his book, he is the king of horror!
Hi charlesxavier04 - it is a scary movie, that's for sure! Glad to have been able to share some new information with you.
Many thanks for your comments, much appreciated :-)
charlesxavier04
7 years ago from London
Very interesting hub. I really liked the movie - one of the scariest I've ever seen - but I didn't know any of this. Thank you, it's always nice to learn new things!
Hi audraleigh - thanks very much! It is such an iconic movie and the hotel is definitely the villain of the piece.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it :-)
iamaudraleigh
Great hub on a very intense and scary movie! Nicholson was fantastic! I have not read the book though.
Voted up!
Hi Marissa - I think that "Redrum ...", along with "here's Jonny!" must be two of the most memorable lines from the film. Glad you enjoyed the hub!
Always great to hear from you, thanks for taking the time to comment :-)
All that popped in my head while reading this was "Redrum...redrum...". Oy! This hub is great. I didn't know the hotel was based on real locations. Voted up, awesome and interesting!
Justin W Price
7 years ago from Juneau, Alaska
you're welcome, judi. The western US is one of the most beautiful places in the world, IMHO
Hi truthfornow - I am so jealous of all you people who have been around these locations! Even if you didn't get to see the hotels, the scenery is so beautiful. And you are right about Shelley Duval in the film, she is odd!
Thanks for your comments, I appreciate them :-)
Hi Deborah - it's incredible how much there is "behind the scenes" of films. I bet it took them months to scout the locations too.
Thanks for your comments, great to hear from you :-)
Hi PDX - lucky you, the Timberline Lodge and its surroundings are stunning, maybe one day I shall get to visit too.
Thanks for your comments, appreciated as always!
Hi amberld - I think that maybe if you read the book first you prefer the book, but if you see the film you prefer the film.
I would love to visit any of these hotels - haunted or not, they look fabulous.
Thanks for your comments, much appreciated :-)
Hi Jeannieinabottle - it is a gripping movie, I love it too.
Thanks for your kind comments, great to hear from you!
Marie Hurt
7 years ago from New Orleans, LA
I didn't know the hotel was in Estes Park. I have actually been to Estes Park a number of times, but wish I had stayed at the Stanley Hotel. I read the book before watching the film. The wife is creepy in the film and not how you imagine her from the book. However, Jack is great.
Interesting hub! I had no idea all these different hotels played a role in the movie.
judi, i love the the shining and I only live about an hour from Timberline Lodge. Been there a few times. Good hub!
Amber Dahnke
7 years ago from New Glarus, WI
This was the first Stephen King book I ever read at age 12, which hooked me for good. I absolutely love the movie too, I think it was the first movie I ever saw on a VCR, Beta, believe it or not. I had a hard time voting for which I liked better, they are both so classic. I did vote for preferring the book though because I love the history in it and the process Jack went through as he went mad. Both are crazy good. Thanks for the great hub, I hope to visit the Stanley Hotel one of these days.
Jeannie Marie
7 years ago from Baltimore, MD
What a great hub! I love the original "The Shining." Even if the remake was more like the book, I just love watching Jack Nicholson slowly go crazy. Voted up and shared!
Hi Debbie - I agree that sometimes a film can ruin a good book. In this case, the film is pretty scary stuff, but I know that Stephen King wasn't entirely happy with the screen adaptation.
Debbie Roberts
7 years ago from Greece
My Dad bought The Shining for me many years ago when I was a teenager. It got me hooked on Stephen Kings books. I've never seen the film, but sometimes I find that films don't always do the books justice.
Your hub is very knowledgeable. I've made a mental note not to be booking into room 418 in the Stanley Hotel or 217 at the Timberline Lodge!..
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Hi Ishwaryaa - thank you very much for your kind comment. The Shining is a classic film and worth seeing - hope you get to see it soon.
Thanks for taking the time to comment :-)
Ishwaryaa Dhandapani
7 years ago from Chennai, India
Very Knowledgeable Hub! I heard a lot about this film but i have not seen the film yet i still want to see it. I saw other Stephen King's film adaptions of his books such as Carrie, Pet Sematary and Thinner; and Stanley kubrick's film-Lolitha. Your hub has made me want to see The Shining soon. Interesting. Vote up.
@Wesman - no, thank you!
Hi aslaught - lucky you - "celebrity" status aside, it looks like a beautiful place to visit. Pleased to hear that you enjoyed this hub :-)
aslaught
8 years ago from Alabama
Very interesting hub. In 2000 spent one night in Estes Park and saw The Stanley Hotel, although we didn't go inside. That was before I read Stephen King's semi- autobiography, On Writing, and he mentions that he loosely based the hotel in, The Shining, on that hotel. I wished I had gone inside after reading that. I enjoyed this hub!
Hey THANK YOU! I'm proud to have helped, and I absolutely know for certain that that was good advice, and of course I got that advice myself from more experienced persons in these same forums!
BTW, I only lasted one week! I'd worked at the Magnolia Hotel...
Hi Seeker7 - Shelley Duvall isn't my favourite actress either, she always seems a bit drippy - she might possibly drive me to murder.
Hi Wesman - you have actually had a direct influence on this hub. Earlier today I saw a comment you made in a forum thread about people not labelling their images and maps, an oversight of which I was guilty. Now put right though - thanks!
I too worked in a hotel, I lasted one morning!
Thanks to both of you for taking the time to comment :-)
I have to admit that The Shining is one of the very, very few times in which a film, to me, was better than the book.
Of course I read the book.
I worked for just a short while in a large luxury hotel...but this one was in downtown Dallas, Texas...and used to belong to the Rockefeller family...you could easily say and believe that that building was full of evil on account of association with bankers and oil barons.
I certainly do!
Helen Murphy Howell
8 years ago from Fife, Scotland
An awesome hub and like Kitty I loved the film but I think the book was awesome! I think I would have maybe preferred the movie but the actress who played Jack Nicholson's wife always put me right off, I honestly think she was terrible in the movie.
I didn't realise that so many different hotels were used for the filming - they are all very interesting places and it's great to know that they are all haunted!! LOL!
Great hub + voted up awesome!
Hi Kitty - the film certainly has some memorable moments and great lines. I really enjoyed researching this hub and I am glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for your comments :-)
Kitty Fields
8 years ago from Summerland
Love this movie! "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". Never read the book, but I'm sure it's marvelous, too! I love the history on the making of the book and movie, thanks for sharing. Voted up and awesome.
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Passchendaele centenary
Earlier this year the Commonwealth War Graves Commission stated that it would hold a commemoration ceremony at Tyne Cot military cemetery in Flanders on the 31st July 2017 to remember the battle Passchendaele, (the 3rd battle of Ypres). There would be a ballot for those who would like to attend restricted to 4000 tickets. Those who had relatives who had fought and died in the battle could apply.
My second cousin 3610 Private Francis Harold Souter (Harry), 48th Battalion Australian Imperial Force was the son of a doctor from Adelaide, South Australia. enlisted in the Australian Army on 24th August 1915. In July 1917 he found himself in the Ypres Salient awaiting the big battle to come, as part of the II ANZAC Corps.
On the 12th October the Australians where to spearhead an attack on the well fortified German positions on Passchendaele Ridge. At dawn the attack began, soon after torrential rain began to fall, adding to the already sodden ground over which the battle was to be fought. There was to be a creeping artillery barrage to dislodge the Germans, behind which the infantry were to advance. Due to the rain and mud the artillery became bogged down , the barrage was from the start sporadic and nor very effective, the shells exploding harmlessly in the mud, , and finally it was non -existent Poor communications and inadequate intelligence meant that the infantry advance continued with massive casualties. The attack was a complete failure. The 48th suffered more than 50% casualties, and at the end of the action my cousin Harry was posted as missing. A subsequent enquiry pronounced him “killed in action”. His remains were never found.
Passchendaele was eventually captured on the 10th November.
My wife and I were successful in CWGC ballot and duly attended the ceremony at Tyne Cot. Which was attended by members of both the British and Belgian royal families and ministers from the two governments, together with representatives from all the Commonwealth countries whose troops had participated in the battle. The ceremony itself was extremely emotional. and moving, I found the reading, by the relatives,. of the names and letters from deceased soldiers to their friends and family at home particularly poignant. The whole commemoration was in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion, and entirely appropriate.
The following day my wife and I visited the site of the battle of Polygon Wood, (where the ANZACs were involved in another costly battle). it has it’s own war cemetery, and the Australian Forces memorial. It is a place of peaceful contemplation now, far removed from the appalling carnage of 100 years ago. finally we visited Menin Gate where Harry’s name amongst many thousands of others , is inscribed as having no known grave.
God bless you Harry. The cousin I never knew.
You did your duty.
- by Bob Blundell
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Category: creative nonfiction
Polite Supremacy: The (White) Women’s Club
Featured janice williamsonLeave a comment
Strange City, Day Six: a surprise invitation during a month-long visit.
In this whitest of American cities, the women are friendly and warm to me and I’m told I have a Canadian accent. I am white enough in a room full of white women and enmeshed in a naturalized pallet: “Whiteness …scans as invisible, default, a form of racelessness. ‘Color blindness,’the argument that race shouldn’t matter, prevents us from grappling with how it does.”
The leader of Saturday’s historical architecture tour kindly writes to invite me to attend his noontime talk at a private women’s club in a 1920s building that is on the US National Registry. Designed by architect Folger Johnson, the impressive structure, now almost a century old, is filled with carved ceilings and elegant rooms, handsome wooden engravings and fantastical wallpaper. The website promises “a women’s private club where friendships are nourished, dignity and graciousness are expected and beauty has been preserved.”
Grace.
What is repressed?
Continue reading “Polite Supremacy: The (White) Women’s Club” →
Posted in aging, Alberta, anti-racism, Canada, colonialism, creative nonfiction, feminism, Indigeneity, politics, United States, whiteness, women, writing, yelling
“any step in the right direction is not a loss”
March 9, 2017 March 12, 2017 janice williamsonLeave a comment
for my daughter and my mother
On International Women’s Day –
I read my daughter’s words
any step in the right direction is not a loss.
Witness the beauty of her precise economy
her spirit of generosity, her incisive analysis
her ethics of care, her understanding
of this flawed present, her anticipation
of a possible future.
Continue reading ““any step in the right direction is not a loss”” →
Posted in Aboriginal Issues, aging, Alberta, creative nonfiction, feminism, intersectionality, memoir, mothering, UncategorizedTagged education, human rights, law, social justice, violence, women
the wear and tear of this beautiful difficult sassy knowledge
April 29, 2016 May 1, 2016 janice williamsonLeave a comment
While writing my dissertation during the 1980s, I worked on Sounding Differences, my collection of interviews with Canadian women writers. I called them “oral essays” to indicate the way this generative exploration project worked to empower a chorus of voices – a notion . While infused with differentiated power relations, the collectivity of women I interviewed revised the canon beyond the distinguished female triumvirate of Margaret (Atwood), Margaret (Laurence) and Alice (Munroe).
My thinking was not original – but shaped by this earlier second-wave notion of difference as generative of “difficult conversations that can be life-saving” in Sara Salem’s words.
I was inspired by feminist film critic and art critic friends who introduced me to Trinh T. Minh-ha whose theoretical and cinematic work remains an inspiration. In Woman, Native Other (1989), she wrote:
“you and I are close, we intertwine; you may stand on the other side of the hill once in awhile, but you may also be me while remaining what you are and what I am not.”
I may be on another hill further away. But this distant nearness of our “intertwine” is an implication acknowledging the interior diss-identification of an origami fold. A cutting, a grafting that takes.
Mothering, interracial, adoptive,
reaffirms
an origami fold,
occasionally torn,
sometimes shorn,
of our undying days,
live-long years together,
daughtering,
mothering,
this rapport between
a 65-year-old mother and
an 18-year-old daughter unfolds.
the wear and tear of
an acknowledgement
in our bones
of how
are lived
unevenly
On a rip-tide Mexican beach at a sunny Spanish colonial resort
thinking of boredom of deluxe indulgence
of the first tourist t-shirt
glimpsed on arrival –
GUNS OUT
(without the punctuation)
turquoise pools meander between
clipped fuschia & chartreuse
bougainvillea hedge funds
a watery lipless horizon
acres of white empty plates
groan stainless steel and
porcelain bowls of luscious
ceviche, salsa, guacamole,
chipolte-reddened fish
chocolate chicken mole
delicately tied tamales
steamed to perfection
ice creamed bins, farting
triple layer cheesecake
artful bamboo hidden Japanese sushi rolls
black tureened lobster bisque
careening carnivals of carved fruit
secret fish today, a sea bird tomorrow,
all day every day rainbow hilled
chopped pineapple, papaya, mango, melon
before bed an 8:30pm performance of Michael Jackson lip-syncing,
Aztec psychedelia and swirling moebius looped Mexican skirts
late night drunken songs of weddings
sand between their ears
and everywhere top heavy chef hats working
alongside friendly name-tags of aproned maids
anonymously shy
wandering smiles of mojito-laden waiters
all for tips, given or taken away
generous with their time
in conversation, the give and take of
my stilted Spanish the limit case of
what gracias
we know and not
meanwhile from our fake 1%er perch
atop a white wrought iron fenced stone wall
a man in a bathing suit motions to the air along the shore
and white cotton-suited men women on the beach
offer brilliant enamelled bowls, striped multi-coloured
hand-woven blankets, t-shirts that name this place
for almost nothing.
Thinking this in response to our few mother/daughter days together in bliss and in irritation, the back and forth of our closeness, as we lie on a rip-tide Mexican beach at a sunny Spanish colonial resort.
Where a young man drowned today of a seizure or a heart attack.
The American couple at the next table, shocked by their loss, tell us the story of his last words in the ocean. On the way back to the boat. About feeling unwell.
The shocked couple at the next table tell us about the guilt of the young male survivors, all friends, the fruitless attempt to return for him.
His lifeless body. His friends who could have done nothing to save him.
The story unfolds as though it cannot not be told.
Over and over and over and over again.
The couple at the next table tell us they are in plumbing and heating. They travel here to this resort annually. In the company of forty of their employees.
They tell us over again and then apologize. And we squeeze their hands. And they tell us again of the telephone call to the forty-year old deceased man’s parents.
That impossible conversation about drowning.
And we listen and talk in this fragility of being here now.
To sit together straining between tables at dinner talking of loss and death and love and compassion….
All tonight’s writing started with this reading thanks to a colleague. The text made me think about the necessary and irritating and incommensurable inconsolable chasms of misunderstanding and pain that are occasioned in the gaps between us.
Sara Salem blogs this on April 22, 2016:
“This generation is told that diversity is a good thing, it shows that we don’t need radical politics anymore because equality is near. Ultimately it has acted as a very depoliticizing tool. Through certain institutions and people, including the university, the idea of difference was de-radicalized, sanitized, and turned into the neoliberal-friendly idea of diversity. Many feminists have written about the problems with diversity as a concept, including the amazing Sara Ahmed. Diversity can never be a radical notion, or even a political one. But I had never noticed this particular genealogy: that those using the idea of diversity in feminism probably drew directly from these feminists of colour in the 1960s, 70s and 80s who spoke of difference.
But when these women spoke of difference, they spoke of it at two levels: the differences between women of colour and white women, which are, as Minh-ha, writes, awkward, difficult, fraught with tension. And then there are the differences among women of colour, or women of colour in the West and Third World women, or lesbian women and heterosexual women, and so on. In other words, there is a binary at play here that distinguishes different levels of difference. Not all differences are equally valuable. And not all differences should be treated in the same way. Differences between women of colour are very real, but these can act as a source of energy and inspiration. These are the types of differences that propel movements forward, that lead to difficult conversations that can be life-saving. In other words, these differences are very valuable.
This is not to say that differences between women of colour and white women are invaluable, or only cause harm. I have always believed that these differences are also important to discuss, interrogate, try to unpack. But this must be done while bearing in mind that there is a specific hierarchy always there, and not necessarily in the background. And when it is a material and ideological hierarchy, rather than simply vertical divisions, it can be difficult to unite and struggle together for the same causes.
The point is that they saw difference in a very positive light because they understood difference differently than we do today, where the term has been repackaged. Differences between women had to be acknowledged, because they were responding to first and second wave feminism that insisted on universal sisterhood. Difference was therefore something productive, a way of uniting to create a different type of society. This was never framed as something easy, or based on simplistic notions of quotas or tokenism. It was always based on radical political struggle and change. Today we have learned to assume that difference is accepted, and that it is not political. But it seems to me that returning to this more radical understanding of differences could act as a very important source of energy for critical, radical, decolonial and postcolonial feminists today.”
Posted in aging, childcare, colonialism, creative nonfiction, death, feminism, food, intersectionality, memoir, Mexico, mothering, tourism
Janet Malcolm: The Paris Review interview on The Art of Nonfiction No. 4
June 15, 2011 June 17, 2011 janice williamsonLeave a comment
[Janice Williamson writes….] Like many others, I’ve long been a fan of American writer Janet Malcolm’s writing: her excellent nonfiction essays were often published in The New Yorker or The New York Review of Books before shapeshifting into book form. Her elegant style, fierceness of spirit and her interest in psychoanalysis attracted me as a reader and a writer. Malcolm has much to teach us about the genre.
In The New York Review of Books, Malcolm writes about the ethics of quotation in nonfiction writing:
the invention of the tape recorder surprisingly revealed—our actual utterances are usually couched in a language that urgently requires translation into English when it is transferred from oral to written speech. As we listen to each other speak, we make the translation automatically and thus think we are hearing English, but, as tape transcripts demonstrate, we are not. As we speak, we seem to be making constant stabs at saying what we mean—thus the redundancy, hesitancy, fragmentation that surround the occasional complete grammatical sentence we form and the occasional mot we get off. To publish a person’s tape-recorded speech verbatim is a little like publishing a writer’s rough drafts.
You can find more links here, and archives of her essays at the New York Review of Books and The New Yorker. Her books are wonderful. Try The Silent Woman about Sylvia Plath. Or read her fascinating explorations in the Freud Archives….
Katie Roiphe writes this introduction to her Paris Review interview with Janet Malcolm: Continue reading “Janet Malcolm: The Paris Review interview on The Art of Nonfiction No. 4” →
Posted in creative nonfiction, nonfiction writing, writingTagged Freud, janet malcolm, jeffrey masson, journalism, Katie Riophe, new yorker, psychoanalysis, Sylvia Plath
the pomegranate: a story
June 4, 2011 June 5, 2011 janice williamsonLeave a comment
Why the pomegranate, strange fruit?
Why the glistening luminescent pomegranate red seeds? Why the three-chambered pomegranate that morphs through time and space?
In Persia, it means fecundity.
In Greece, the fruit is smashed on special occasions.
In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the myth of Demeter and Persephone pivots on the seven pomegranate seeds that bind the kidnapped daughter to Hades’ underworld for six months of the year.
For poet Evan Boland, the myth of “The Pomegranate” mutates through time as the reader enters the words as daughter, then mother, or — not mother.
The only legend I have ever loved is
the story of a daughter lost in hell.
And found and rescued there.
Love and blackmail are the gist of it.
Ceres and Persephone the names.
And the best thing about the legend is
I can enter it anywhere. And have.
The poet ends the poem muses on the inevitable separation from the maturing daughter and reflects
If I defer the grief I will diminish the gift.
The legend will be hers as well as mine.
She will enter it. As I have.
She will wake up. She will hold
the papery flushed skin in her hand.
And to her lips. I will say nothing.
I first encountered Persephone in Ovid’s Metamorphosis, a book I read in a Greek mythology class with Jay Macpherson, Governor-General Award-winning poet and specialist in Romantic literature and classical mythology. The other half of the class featured the renowned critic Northrop Frye teaching about The Bible, a series of lectures that would become The Great Code.
In a small gallery across from the AGO in Toronto, I found a small engraving of a girl asleep in an underground cave and she became an image I carried with me, a reminder of what it takes to come up from under in order to make your voice heard.
I write this four decades later from another place. In Ovid’s story, Demeter’s grief-stricken journey to search for her daughter Persephone is interrupted by an encounter with an older woman named Baubo. Without introduction, Baubo lifts up her skirts and laughs out loud. Demeter laughs too.
At twenty or so years of age, I didn’t get the joke. At almost sixty I clown along with Baubo’s laughter, taking pleasure in her ribald buffoonery in the face of Demeter’s loss and despair.
Posted in creative nonfiction, writingTagged age, humour, myth
Janice Williamson writes “the turquoise sea”: a personal essay on suicide and survivors
May 16, 2011 January 28, 2019 janice williamson2 Comments
(First published in AlbertaViews Jan/Feb 2010, this won a Silver Medal in the 2011 National Magazine Awards and was a finalist for the Jon Whyte Memorial Essay Prize in Alberta. This is a slightly revised version of the original publication.)
The Turquoise Sea
What are we whole or beautiful or good for
but to be absolutely broken.
As though nostalgic for his Manitoba boyhood, my father points to his beloved hunting rifle. Transforming his fingers into a silent trigger, he touches his temple and says, “Sometimes I want to take that gun off the wall and blow my brains out.”
My father’s eyes are hooded and dark as he shows me how the skin peels off the back of his hands. “Stress,” he explains modestly, his face lined with sleepless fatigue. I feel awkward in an unfamiliar living room. On this my first visit to the suburban house where my father lives with his new love and her two children, I enter his new domestic life like a visitor to a foreign country. Lost in the limbo of in-between, my father is caught in a long look back. It has been two years since my parents’ separation after decades of intermittent misery. Confused and ambivalent, he refuses to grant my mother a divorce.
Later he’ll call to tell me he loves me, but this morning he’s enmeshed in what ails him. New American owners have bought out the Quebec manufacturer that supplies snowmobiles to his Ontario distribution company. He predicts this change will shut down his business since local distributors become redundant when ownership is transferred south of the border. My father doesn’t tell me he has become a useless middleman. But I’ve studied political economy and know he’s another statistic in branch-plant Canada. Continue reading “Janice Williamson writes “the turquoise sea”: a personal essay on suicide and survivors” →
Posted in aging, Canada, creative nonfiction, culture, death, motheringTagged depression, economy, Edmonton, Janice Williamson, mental health, Phyllis Webb, suicide
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‘Fridays For Future’ Movement Takes To Swiss Streets
By Telesur English.
‘Fridays For Future’ Movement Takes To Swiss Streets2019-08-112019-08-11https://popularresistance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2017/12/popres-shorter.pngPopularResistance.Orghttps://popularresistance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/08/2-1.jpg200px200px
Above photo: People take part at the ‘Fridays for Future’ demonstration in Lausanne, Switzerland August 9, 2019. | Photo: Reuters
Environmental scientists and activists warn about the urgent need to transform the world’s agri-food systems in comprehensive report on climate change.
Thousands of environmental activists from 38 European countries brought their “Fridays for Future” movement to the Swiss city of Lausanne, calling for swift action from politicians and businesses to reduce emissions linked to global warming.
“We are all united coming from different countries and, despite the fact it’s holidays, we are ready to sacrifice our time to have politics change, to raise awareness about what’s happening but also about what is not happening,” 29-year-old French woman, Lise Tourneboeuf, said.
Let’s display “our will to change this system which is not functioning. We want to show there are people of all ages, of all nationalities, and even on holidays the crisis continues. We expect action from politicians.”
The Laussane demonstrations happened a few hours after the release of the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a multilateral institution which brings together leading scientists from various disciplines around the world to periodically monitor global ecological transformations.
In its state-of-the-art comprehensive research, the IPCC warned that a profound transformation of agri-food systems is required to keep global warming below 2°C in the coming years, an objective that could affect powerful business interests.
Every child has a right to clean air. #FridaysForFuture #ClimateStrike Uganda. @GretaThunberg @howey_ou @350 pic.twitter.com/zSk4iKqAfp
— Bob Matovu (@matovu_bob) August 9, 2019
“The land that is already being cultivated could feed the population in a context of climate change and be a source of biomass that provides renewable energy. However, powerful early initiatives that simultaneously affect various fields must be adopted, ”the IPCC president Hoesung Lee explained.
Coordinated initiatives could simultaneously improve the state of soils, food security and nutrition, which will also contribute to combating poverty and hunger.
“The IPCC report highlights that climate change is affecting the four pillars of food security: availability (yield and production), access (prices and capacity to obtain food), utilization (nutrition and food preparation) and stability (changes in availability),” the Friends of the Earth emphasized.
The IPCC report was prepared over the past few years by over 100 scientists, some of whom came from Brazil where governments have been very active in protecting agro-industrial interests.
Since January 2019, when President Jair Bolsonaro was inaugurated, this South American country has raised a lot of concern among environmental activists and human rights defenders. The former national military captain enthusiastically supports opening up protected areas in the Amazon — the world’s largest tropical rainforest — to facilitate agriculture and mining.
On July 6, Brazil’s National Institute of Space Research (INPE) warned that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon had reached 2,254.8 square kilometers, an area 278 percent larger than the surface affected by the phenomenon during the same month last year.
After the release of these data, the far-right Brazilian president fired the head of the space agency.
Agriculture climate crisis Ecosocialism Fridays for Future
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Intuitive Grab & Shoot™ technology makes Reflex Protect™ both highly accurate and extremely easy to use. Just thumb the safety up, aim for the assailant’s face, and pull the trigger.
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Tag Archives: Maximum Sound
Frenchie persuaded Captain Sinbad back into the studio
Captain Sinbad in Jamaica where his new album was recorded.
Captain Sinbad’s debut album The Seven Voyages of Captain Sinbad from 1982 is one of my favorite early deejay dancehall albums. And despite its greatness and eye-catching cover sleeve, Captain Sinbad is rather unknown in the reggae music business compared to some of his contemporaries.
He recorded another two albums and a number of singles in the 80’s and then went on to producing and being an important figure behind the scenes.
His new album Reggae Music Will Mad Unu! is his first after being away from the limelight for a very long time. To do another album, or to record again for that matter, Frenchie of Maximum Sound had to persuade him back into the studio. His initial new singles Jamaica 50, Worldwide Rebellion and Capital Offence went down really well among the record buyers.
I had the opportunity to have a chat with Captain Sinbad when he was in Jamaica “having fun in the sun” as he described it. He’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever interviewed and we talked about the new album, the early dancehall scene and his respect for Frenchie. Check the full story over at United Reggae.
Filed under Interviews
Tagged as Captain Sinbad, Dancehall, Frenchie, Maximum Sound, Reggae, Reggae Music Will Mad Unu!, The Seven Voyages of Captain Sinbad
Captain Sinbad is back with a bang
About ten years ago I stumbled upon an LP with a wicked cover sleeve in a record shop. I knew the label, Greensleeves, and the producer, Henry “Junjo” Lawes, but I had never heard of the artist – Captain Sinbad.
Judging by the cover, the producer and the label I bought the album. And I was blown away. Completely. Apart from The Seven Voyages of Captain Sinbad I haven’t found any of this deejay’s scarce output. The man also retired from the limelight about 20 years ago. Fortunately enough Frenchie of Maximum Sound has persuaded him back into the public eye.
His first recording after these 20 years was the lethal Worldwide Rebellion on the Skateland Killer riddim released two years back. And last year he dropped the equally lethal Capital Offence and Jamaica 50.
These three eminent tracks are now followed by an album – Reggae Music Will Mad Unu! – for Frenchie’s Maximum Sound imprint. It collects eleven fresh and original tunes, of which five are vocal cuts, five are dub versions and one is a vocal and dub in one.
Just like Captain Sinbad’s debut album it has magnificent cover art and the music is, again, just as great. Frenchie has taken hip-hop, roots and early dancehall and made one hell of an album. It’s crisp and clear and sounds like Henry Lawes would have resurrected from the dead and started to produce again. It’s vintage, but never nostalgic. This is how contemporary reggae and dancehall should sound.
Reggae Music Will Mad Unu! is available on vinyl. The album will also soon be made available on digital platforms, but that edition has a different track listing and doesn’t include the dub versions, versions that are crucial to say the least.
Tagged as Captain Sinbad, Frenchie, Maximum Sound, Reggae Music Will Mad Unu!
50 best reggae songs in 2012
So it’s that time of the year again. December means best-of-the-year-lists, and first out is the best songs put out in 2012.
This year I decided to make a huge list covering no less than 50 tracks, mainly for two reasons – it has been a great year for both reggae and dancehall and I also wanted to present a list showcasing several different styles – dancehall, dubstep, one drop and UK steppers are all included on the list.
Just as previous years the list features mostly artists from Jamaica, while the producers hail from Europe, the U.S. and Jamaica. What makes this year’s list a bit different though is the inclusion of lots of dancehall. This year has been fruitful for electronic, bouncy and playful dancehall.
When browsing the list you’ll probably notice that Tarrus Riley is still the artist running the show. On the production side Frenchie from Maximum Sound is perhaps the most reliable and consistent producer and all of his riddims from 2012 are included in the list.
Female singers are few and far between. It’s a pity, but it’s sadly how the reggae industry looks like. A one riddim album usually has about ten tracks, and of these one, or at most two, are by female artists. This has been the case for years, and nothing indicates a change in the near future.
The tracks are presented in no particular order and I’ve only selected tracks released as singles, from one riddim albums or from compilations, i.e. no one artist albums.
If you’re curious about the music you can check a playlist I’ve made on Spotify by clicking here. This list doesn’t however cover all tracks, and lethal gems such as General Levy’s Dub Murda on Irie Ites’ Stop That Sound riddim or Loyal Flames’ Keep Focus. The latter is currently only available as 7” and the former is available on other digital platforms, for example iTunes.
Song title – artist (label – riddim)
Capital Offence – Captain Sinbad (Maximum Sound – Rudebwoy be Nice)
Selecta – Rayvon (Ranch Ent. – Kingston 13)
Final Move – Cornadoor & Kabaka Pyramid (Weedy G Soundforce)
Original Dancehall Days – Starkey Banton (Mafia & Fluxy – Bun n’ Cheese)
We Run It –Tarrus Riley (Charlie Pro)
Go Down – Machel Montano (Mixpak – Loudspeaker)
It’s a Party – Elephant Man & Tarrus Riley (Romeich – Stinking Link)
Shots – Voicemail (Akom – Full Swing)
No Barbershop – Conkarah (Lifeline – Rock Fort Rock)
Badmind a Kill Dem – Popcaan (UPT 007 – Juicy)
Trod in the Valley – Lorenzo (Irie Ites – Borderline RMX)
Chill Spot – Chris Martin (Chimney – Chill Spot)
Independent Ladies – Gaza Slim (TJ – Summer Wave)
Chant Rastafari – Tarrus Riley (Maximum Sound – Most Royal)
Blood Thirsty – Jah Mali (Necessary Mayhem – Possessed)
Fire Fire – Capleton (Dynasty – Kush Morning)
Perilous Times – Luciano (Maximum Sound – Dance Ruler)
Start A Fyah – Chronixx (Jungle Josh – Game Theory)
Cyaan Tek Di System – Burro Banton (Weedy G Soundforce – Roadster)
Make It Bun Dem – Skrillex & Damian Marley (Big Beat)
Kingston Town Remix – Busy Signal & Damian Marley (VP)
Addicted – Conkarah & Denyque (Lifeline)
Irie Collie – The Tamlins (Irie Ites – Jah Jah Man)
Nuh Rate Dem – Capleton (DJ Frass – Cross Fire)
Sorry Is A Sorry Word – Tarrus Riley (TJ – Live In Love)
OK – Sizzla & Neïman (Union World – Melodical Fyah)
Jump + Rock + Move – Wrongtom & Deemas J (Tru Thoughts)
Blaze & Rum – Etzia & Fambo (Jugglerz – Kickdown)
Let Jah Lead The Way – Iba Mahr (Notice Productions – Digital Love)
Badmind Dem A Pree – I Octane & Bounty Killer (Markus)
Wild Bubble – Voicemail (Cr203/ZJ Chrome – Wild Bubble)
We Nah Bow – Sizzla (Boom Shak – We Nah Bow)
Obeah Man – Turbulence & I Shenko (Riddim Wise – Downtown)
Kingston Be Wise – Protoje (Don Corleon)
Upgrade – Ce’Cile (21st Hapilos – Corner Shop)
Dub Murda – General Levy (Irie Ites – Stop That Sound)
Them See Me As A Threat – Lutan Fyah (Adde Instrumentals/RR345 Muzik – Sweet Sounds)
Again And Again – Stein (Cashflow – Sun Tan)
Mama – Christopher Martin (DZL – Perfect Key)
Party – Top Cat (Weedy G Soundforce – Jump Up!)
R.A.S.T.A.F.A.R.I. – Professa Natti (Scoops)
Sound System Culture – Digitaldubs & YT (Scotch Bonnet)
Words Of My Mouth – Earl Sixteen (The Bombist – Words Of My Mouth)
How Do You Like My Music – Terry Linen (TeTe)
Keep Focus – Loyal Flames (Vikings – Focus)
I’m A Survivor – Peetah Morgan (Special Delivery – Feel Good)
The Streets of London – Soothsayers (Red Earth)
Every Single Thought – Christopher Martin (Jugglerz – Street Soul)
Badda Dan Dem – Beenie Man (Radio Active)
Jamaica 50 – Captain Sinbad (Maximum Sound – Leggo Di Riddim)
Filed under Columns
Tagged as Best of 2012, Best reggae 2012, Best reggae songs 2012, Damian Marley, Maximum Sound, Sizzla, Spotify, Tarrus Riley
27 October 2012 · 9:55
Raggasonic’s back with a bang
Legendary French deejay and singer duo Raggasonic is back after a ten year hiatus, where Big Red and Daddy Mory wanted to focus on their solo careers. Reputedly “everyone” has over the years asked them when they would link again, and apparently the pressure to record together became too hard.
Raggasonic 3 is their highly anticipated third album and it picks up just where Raggasonic 2 left off 15 years ago, and the new album is a natural follow-up and happily enough it offers more of the same good old Raggasonic.
It might have to do with world-renowned French producer Frenchie, who has been instrumental in shaping Raggasonic’s sound. He’s fortunately onboard again, but he’s not sole producer, and DJ Vadim, Animal Son, Central Massive and Young Veterans have also contributed with material to the album.
All riddims are brand new, except for Dans La Rue, backed by Frenchie’s Eek-A-Mouse-inspired Skateland Killer riddim, and offers a variety of styles and directions, including hip-hop, roots reggae, dancehall and electronica.
Raggasonic has never shied away from tough lyrical content, and on Raggasonic 3 the duo sings about the tough realities facing many people today, especially the younger generation. And they do it with passion and burning intensity.
This is an urban and contemporary effort, and even though it might not sell double gold, as the debut album did, but Raggasonic will hopefully appeal to a much wider audience today than 15 years ago. Don’t let the language be a barrier, and check out this solid album.
Tagged as Big Red, daddy Mory, France, Frenchie, Maximum Sound, Raggasonic, Raggasonic 3, Reggae
Crucial as usual from Frenchie
In November 2010 Maximum Sound producer and owner Frenchie launched a new label called Calabash for roots and steppers, a different branch compared to his usual output.
Its first four first 10”s were lethal remixes of Jah Mason, Alborosie, Luciano and Yami Bolo conducted by Russ Disciples.
Another four 10”s were put out recently. This time it’s Russ Disciples together with Dougie Wardrop that have given Frenchie’s Dunza 2010, The Session and Matches Lane riddims the steppers treatment.
The riddims comes with dub versions and are of course heavy as lead with pulsating bass lines and nightmare-infused echoes and effects.
The 10”s are released as limited edition so be quick and grab your copy, because these are on fire.
Tagged as Calabash, Frenchie, Maximum Sound, Reggae, Russ Disciples
Reggaemani’s best tunes 2011
December is one of my favorite months. Not because of the cold Swedish winter. Nor the short days and long nights up here in northern Europe. I like the Christmas holidays though. But that’s not why December is a great month.
The reason is the making of lists. I love structuring the year and go through all the music I have received during the past twelve months. And it’s a tough job sorting it all out.
This year Reggaemani will publish three lists – the best tunes in 2011, the best albums in 2011 and overall highlights in 2011.
As you might already have figured out this list is focusing on my favorite tunes this year.
The main criteria for making the list is of course being a great song. But I’ve also only picked tunes that have been released as singles or being part of a riddim compilation. No album tunes so to speak.
I’ve also tried to make the list as diverse as possible. I hope there is a little something for everyone – lovers rock, dancehall, roots reggae and hip-hop infused one drop.
One thing that became apparent when I made this list is that the year mainly belonged to one artist – Tarrus Riley. He has made a number of excellent tunes in 2011 and I could easily have done a top ten with just his output without feeling embarrassed.
The list includes 21 tunes. An odd number you might say. The reason is because when I had made the list I was exposed to a huge tune released in December. I didn’t want to change my initial list and decided to just add another title.
Apart from the list I’ve also added some space for the tunes that are bubbling and hanging out just outside the main list. It’s nothing wrong with these little creatures, so check them out as well.
Most of the tunes are easily available on digital platforms or streaming services. If you use Spotify you can download a list with most of the tunes here.
Artist – Title (Riddim)
1. Captain Sinbad – World Wide Rebellion (Skateland Killer)
Producer Frenchie’s longtime friend chats old school style over this lethal Star Daily News or Gleaner inspired one drop. The Eek A Mouse sample is pure genius.
2. Burro Banton & Joe Lickshot – Sound Exterminator (Sound Exterminata)
The man with the rockstone voice in a sound boy murder style.
3. Queen Ifrica – Pot Still Haffi Bubble (Pursue)
An infectious repetitive chorus alongside anthemic flag waving verses.
4. Romain Virgo – I’m Rich in Love
Uptempo modern lovers rock produced by Donovan Germain.
5. Jah Mason – Mr. Government (Sensimillionaire)
Jah Mason flows effortlessly over this pounding riddim.
6. Protoje & Don Corleone – Our Time Now
Didn’t make it onto Protoje’s debut album due to legal issues, but it leaked and made into this list.
7. Luciano – Identity (Fairground)
Luciano continues his conscious style lyrics and comments on skin bleaching and vanity.
8. Fantan Mojah – Rasta Got Soul (Think Twice)
A James Brown styled Fantan Mojah sings and pays tribute to legendary reggae artists – “If me no call your name, please catch me inna di next song, cause the list a di name a to long.”
9. Carl Meeks – Jah is Alive (Speaker)
80’s singer Carl Meeks has a unique singing style that suits this bouncy riddim very well.
10. Tarrus Riley – Chaka Zulu Pickney (The Nyabinghi)
An always inspired Tarrus Riley sings about historical black leaders.
11. D Major – That’s What Love’s About (Heart and Soul)
The first one drop riddim from the Further Notice camp is all about smoothness and sweet harmonies.
12. Ward 21 – Take a Wif (Jah Army)
A relick of Black Uhuru’s General Penitentiary and just about every cut on this riddim is worth having, and this is particularly devastating.
13. Ky-Mani Marley – Brave Ones (Message)
Producer Don Corleone has a great feel for pop melodies, and this one is no exception.
14. Yami Bolo – Babylon System (Bellyfull)
Weeping and wailing waterhouse style from Yami Bolo. The hip-hop inspired relick of The Gladiator’s Bellyfull is a real gem, and the Albert Griffith’s vocal sample makes all the difference.
15. Chino & Denyque – Driving Me Insane
Chino & Denyque in a modern version of Shabba Ranks’ Mr. Loverman.
16. Jah Sun & Gentleman – Tear Drops (Alive)
Europe meets the U.S. in fine style.
17. Tarrus Riley – Lala Warriors (Gorilla)
Curtis Lynch has produced yet another hefty riddim with a contagious chorus.
18. I-Octane – Cyan Do Wi Nuttn
Raspy voiced I-Octane has had a successful 2011, and his best effort was this Russian-produced dancehall tune.
19. Assassin & Bounty Killer – Ghetto State of Mind (Ghetto State)
Both Assassin and Bounty Killer must have been bread on gravel and small stones. Their rockstone voices suit this hip-hop-tinged one drop scorcher very well.
20. Turbulence – Jah is Love (Royalty)
Xterminator made their return in 2011. And what a return. Turbulence sounds as good as he did in the early 2000’s.
21. Mavado – Final Destination (Summer Fling)
Can’t help myself on this one. It’s hard not to sing along in the beautiful chorus.
Just outside the list: Tarrus Riley – Rebel, Busy Signal – Worldwide Love, Maxi Priest & Tippa Irie – Like This, Ricardo Clarke – Only Got Love, Vybz Kartel – Summertime, Stylo G – Call Me A Yardie and Sizzla – Murder Star.
Tagged as Best tunes 2011, Captain Sinbad, Lists, Maximum Sound, Reggae
01 September 2011 · 7:10
The mechanics of the new record industry
The music business is changing fast and as a label you need to be on your toes to reach the customers and make them pay for songs and albums. Reggaemani has dug deep into the mechanics of the reggae music industry and found some interesting things when interviewing Olivier Chastan, Frenchie and Adrian Sherwood.
The music business has had many rough years, and the reggae industry is no exception.
The list of small, independent labels that have folded contains well-known brands such as Blood and Fire and Makasound. Both were praised and loved by music aficionados and record collectors all over the world. But unfortunately, they didn’t make it.
Greensleeves saved
Legendary label Greensleeves was also on the verge of bankruptcy when reggae giant VP stepped in and acquired it in 2008.
Olivier Chastan is President of Greensleeves and Vice President of VP International
“Greensleeves was in really bad shape and was fast running out of cash,” says Olivier Chastan, President of Greensleeves and Vice President of VP International, and continues:
“It was our biggest competitor, and it made sense to acquire them. Greensleeves was a large music publisher and had hit songs by Shaggy and Sean Paul in their catalogue. They also had a better presence in Europe than we did.”
Olivier Chastan has been at VP since 2005 and knows reggae and the music industry.
“Now the label is doing well. We’ve fixed the financial side. The music publishing is very active with artists such as Etana and Busy Signal,” explains Olivier Chastan.
Fewer record stores and declining sales
Even though Greensleeves’ financial issues are straightened out, there are things in the music business to be concerned about – fewer record stores and declining sales are two key issues.
Adrian Sherwood – founder of several labels, producer and musician – says that running a label is thankless.
Adrian Sherwood is a veteran in the music business
“I mean, you cannot win. You have to maintain visibility and do the best you can,” he believes, and gives an example of why it is so hard today:
“There are not many record shops around anymore, which does not make it easier. Few today actually sell physical records.”
For many years the revenues from record sales have been declining, even though statistics from Nielsen SoundScan show a 1 percent increase in overall album sales in the U.S. for the first half-year 2011.
This does not, however, mean that the rise in units sold will translate into revenue growth.
Recipe for success
For Olivier Chastan the recipe for success is simple, and contains three main ingredients – good control of your finances, embracing new promotional tools and having hit songs.
“You need to keep your costs down and find new platforms. There’s not a platform we don’t touch. Piracy is not a big deal. It’s been going on since 2000 and you have to accept it. We take down illegal links from blogs and such, but don’t spend our day on it,” explains Olivier Chastan, and continues:
“In the U.S. sales of CD and digital download is about 50-50. In Europe it’s much lower. The only difference with digital is that you have no returns. Otherwise, it’s the same job – you still have to do your artwork and mastering. iTunes is just like any other store for me. The real change is in digital promotion, with the declining power of TV and radio. How do you reach your customers today? No one has understood how to do it perfectly yet.”
“Move with what is going on”
New promotional tools are something Frenchie, producer at Maximum Sound, also has started to look further into. This year the label has begun using Twitter and YouTube. But an even bigger change is putting out their catalogue on iTunes.
“We have to move with what is going on. The 7 inch and CD sales are in decline. The licensing of tracks to other labels as well. So we have to try something else, as the digital format is the one of the future. If we want to keep on putting out music we have to go in that direction and embrace new formats to release our music,” explains Frenchie, and continues:
“You have to take the rough with the smooth. It’s too early to tell, but business wise it is definitely not what it was. Only time will tell if we will still be doing this in ten years.”
That hit song
The third ingredient is often the base for labels, producers, writers and artists around the globe – that one hit song or hit album.
“We need a massive, massive hit,” says Olivier Chastan, and continues:
“The scene is stagnant and making music for a core Jamaican market that is smaller and smaller every day. Why try to imitate T-Pain or whatever else is the flavor of the moment?”
Frenchie fills in:
“The industry is going through changes as more and more people just do things themselves and are going directly to iTunes to release their music and are not depending on bigger record labels to market their stuff. It’s a new strategy for a lot of small producers and artists. Only time will tell if it is a sound one.”
A shake-up is needed
VP had a smash hit last year with Gyptian’s crossover tune Hold Yuh, which peaked at number 77 on Billboard’s Hot 100. But Olivier Chastan believes that more needs to be done.
“The reggae business needs a shake-up,” he stresses, and continues:
“It’s too much RnB and hip-hop. There is no sense of direction. There are still producers that are doing the Jamaican-Jamaican sound. But where is it supposed to go next?” he asks, and concludes:
“Interest in reggae music outside of Jamaica has declined. It’s low temperature.”
Follow your vision
Adrian Sherwood’s recipe for success, on the other hand, is to not be reliant on hit songs.
“Labels that are doing well do not rely on hit records. Just look at Rough Trade and Island. They had to sell to stay in business. You have to follow your vision and have courage,” says Adrian Sherwood.
But he is on the same track as Olivier Chastan on financials, and illustrates his point with an example.
“Pressure Sounds is not doing lots of stuff, but they have low overheads. It is basically only Pete Holdsworth. You have to be a specialist. That is the way of surviving,” Adrian Sherwood believes, and adds:
“It is almost impossible. Today it has to be part of something bigger, like merchandise, clothing and stuff. You have to be insane to start a label today. Just look at the business model. No one would start a label today,” he concludes.
Careful of the money you spend
Keeping track of costs is essential to Frenchie as well.
“You have to be careful of the money you spend on a project as it is very easy not to make it back. And you also have to understand the different markets in reggae today, what sort of music sells on mp3 or CD format and what sells on vinyl. A lot of labels and production houses have gone into management and are doing more and more live sound system shows with artists as well. We are thinking of going in that direction too,” says Frenchie, and stresses:
“Be critical with yourself and what you do. Don’t take what you do or yourself too seriously.”
“The problem is not in the music”
The decline in sales of CDs is also something VP and other labels need to cope with.
“The decline of CDs is going to accelerate, but CD will always be there. Vinyl sales are way up, but from a very small starting point. It’s not going to do anything for the industry as a whole. I mean if it’s growing from two to four, it’s a 100 percent increase. It’s great for music fans and a great format, but people are not going to run out and by turntables again,” says Olivier Chastan, and continues:
“The problem is not in the music. It’s about managing decline. CDs are still about 40 percent of our total revenue. But we have to embrace digital. If somebody starts a new platform tomorrow – we’re there.”
And that seems like a well-thought strategy since sales of digital tracks and digital albums rose 11 and 19 percent respectively in the first six months of 2011 according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Key issues ahead
Olivier Chastan points out two key issues in the coming year.
“To keep promoting and to diversify,” he says.
Frenchie will focus on downloads and maybe launch a live road show or a sound system.
Adrian Sherwood earlier pointed to the fact that a label today needs to be a part of something bigger, and VP is going in that direction. The label now has a clothing line, booking agency, concert promotion and publishing.
Olivier Chastan explains the development.
“You need to be able to manage multiple activities and to think outside the box,” he says, and adds:
“The Jerk Festival that we just put together in New York is a good example. It was not a big stretch from our booking and promotional activites,” he explains, and concludes:
“You can’t stay static. Sales are not going to improve in the next two years. Die or move. Pick your choice.”
Tagged as Adrian Sherwood, Frenchie, Greensleeves Records, Maximum Sound, Olivier Chastan, Reggae record sales, VP Records
23 August 2011 · 18:38
Killer compilation from Maximum Sound
UK-based label Maximum Sound, lead by producer Frenchie, went digital last week. The first step was to offer the back catalogue on iTunes, and the other day saw the release of the iTunes exclusive compilation Maximum Sound 2011.
This set assembles 18 dancehall and one drop tunes from 2009 to 2011. And as usual with Maximum Sound there are no fillers here, only killers from the crème de la crème of Jamaican singers and deejays.
I mean, you hardly go wrong with Sizzla, Bounty Killer, Mr. Vegas, Tarrus Riley and Alborosie on well-produced and inspired riddims such as Praise Jahovia (a relick of the Billie Jean aka Get A Lick riddim), Ghetto State (which incorporates elements from Half Pint’s One Big Ghetto) or the most recent addition, Fairground.
Maximum Sound 2011 collects several tunes previously only available as 7” or 12”, but it also includes exclusive titles, such as Who You Love from Ce’Cile.
This compilation is without a doubt an essential purchase that will enhance any record collection.
Tagged as Alborosie, Bounty Killer, Frenchie, Itunes, Maximum Sound, Maximum Sound 2011, Reggae, Sizzla
Maximum Sound steps into the digital age with a bang
UK-based label Maximum Sound, lead by producer Frenchie, steps into the digital age and releases an exclusive iTunes compilation titled Maximum Sound 2011.
The new compilation holds 17 killer tunes from artists such as Sizzla, Tarrus Riley and Busy Signal on a variety of different dancehall and one drop riddims, including Skateland Killer, Ghetto State and Praise Jahovia.
Several of the tunes haven’t been available on digital platforms until now, which makes it an essential purchase for non-vinyl buyers. Keep an eye out on August 21st,when it hits the streets.
Maximum Sound has also fortunately enough decided to release their new Fairground riddim as well as the back catalogue on iTunes. And this is a real treat. If you don’t own riddims such as I Know My Herbs, Jah Powers and Blackboard already you should definitely head over to iTunes.
Tagged as Frenchie, Itunes, Maximum Sound, Maximum Sound 2011
20 July 2011 · 9:00
New riddim from Maximum Sound
The always reliable producer Frenchie has dropped another great riddim, this one is called Fairground, and is a nice piece of energetic modern roots reggae.
It’s voiced by I-Octane, Konshens, Luciano and Fantan Mojah, and is now available as 7” in all good record stores. In late July it will also be made available as digital download on iTunes.
Maximum Sound has had some great releases in 2011. In April the label dropped the acclaimed riddims Sound Exterminata, Ghetto State, with elements from Half Pint’s One Big Ghetto, and Skateland Killer, based on Eek-A-Mouse’s Star, Daily News and Gleaner.
If you’re curious on how Fairground riddim sounds you can visit Maximum Sound’s new YouTube channel here and listen to the megamix, which also includes cuts from Chris Martin, Cecile and Zinc Fence featuring Stylo G.
Tagged as Fairground riddim, Frenchie, Konshens, Luciano, Maximum Sound, Reggae, Youtube
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Tag Archives: The Laboratory
Sparkling chemistry in Da Professor’s laboratory
Professor is a popular title in the reggae industry. You have Mad Professor and Professor Grizzly. But also three artists with just the title. Or almost anyway.
Groundation’s lead vocalist Harrison Stafford has an alter ego called Professor and in the 70’s and 80’s there was an Jamaican engineer who also went by the name. The latest addition is Da Professor, who was born and raised in Kingston, but has also spent time in Florida and New York.
His debut album The Laboratory is produced by Don Corleon – one of Jamaica’s most prominent contemporary producers, and well-known for his slick, polished and stylish productions, usually with a tasty feel for pop melodies and memorable hooks.
And Da Professor’s debut set is no exception. It’s smooth journey into Don Corleon’s blend of one drop reggae, dancehall and R&B.
His production is spiced up by Da Professor’s interesting vocal style, or styles. He can switch from soul-styled singing to gritty deejaying in a jiffy.
Even though the album boasts three duets – J Boog, Ken Boothe and Protoje – you can easily be fooled that it’s one more singer on board on several songs. When I listened to tunes such as By My Side or the upbeat Party Non Stop I could swear that another one singer handled the chorus and another the verses. But no. It is Da Professor all along.
It must have been a great chemistry in the studio when this album was recorded, because The Laboratory is yet another strong effort from the Don Corleon camp.
Tagged as Da Professor, Dancehall, Don Corleon, Protoje, Reggae, The Laboratory
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Nuclear Workers Care
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Learn about compensation and benefits for sick workers.
The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant sits 3 miles south of the Ohio River and 12 miles West of Paducah, Kentucky. It was opened by the government in 1952 to enrich uranium for later use in nuclear weapons. The site produced low-enriched uranium to be sent to the K-25 Reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee for further enrichment.
Mission Change
In the 1960s, the Paducah Plant’s mission shifted from defense to energy production. The site began enriching Uranium for use in the nuclear power industry. Today, the plant is operated by United States Enrichment Corp. and stands as the only operating uranium enrichment facility in the United States. The Paducah site will be decommissioned in the coming years due to obsolete technology and contamination issues.
Compensation for Sick Workers
Sick Paducah Plant workers are eligible to file EEOICPA claims as part of the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). SEC is a designation given to specific work sites or groups of workers that allow them to be compensated for their illness without having to prove a link between their work exposure and diagnosis. Those who qualify for SEC have a much better chance of a fast and successful claim.
To qualify for SEC one must have:
Worked at the gaseous diffusion plant in Paducah, Kentucky for a total of at least 250 days before February 1, 1992, and were monitored for radiation exposure with dosimetry badges or had jobs with similar exposures to those monitored.
Been diagnosed with one of 22 specified forms of cancer
**Even if you do not meet these requirements or worked elsewhere on the Oak Ridge Site you still may be eligible for compensation. Please contact your local Resource Center to learn more about eligibility.
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Energy Workers’ Home Care
Get No-Cost Home Health Care!
Need in-home medical assistance? Remain at Home is a proud to serve nuclear workers under EEOICP. Call us today at (800) 718-5658 or use the form below!
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“…the feedback that I have received from our patients has been overwhelmingly appreciative for the quality of care and compassion your staff has provided… Keep it up!”
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Brian Carrigan is founder and CEO of Remain At Home Health Care. He frequently writes and speaks on senior related issues.
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Keystone Bank signs on Funke (Jenifa) Akindele as Brand Ambassador
Home / Keystone Bank signs on Funke (Jenifa) Akindele as Brand Ambassador
Keystone Bank Limited, Africa’s best customer service provider recently signed up popular Nollywood actress, writer and producer, Funke Akindele Bello popularly known as ‘Jenifa’ as its official brand ambassador.
By virtue of this partnership, the multiple award-winning screen diva, Funke Akindele, will prominently represent the Keystone Bank brand and feature heavily in the lender’s marketing campaigns and consumer-focused strategies, while leveraging her large followership and popularity that cuts across socio-economic classes and age groups to further deepen the brand’s growing impression in the market.
Speaking during the contract signing ceremony at the bank’s head office in Lagos, on Friday August 17, 2018, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Keystone Bank Limited, Dr. Obeahon Ohiwerei said “the bank will explore every good platform to deepen it’s strength in the retail and youth segment. He reiterated that “The Nigerian entertainment industry is driven largely by SMEs and is growing exponentially, positioning the nation globally and positively impacting our GDP.
L-R: Mrs. Funke Akindele Bello, Keystone Bank Brand Ambassador, Dr. Obeahon Ohiwerei, GMD/CEO, Keystone Bank Limited, and General Counsel, Keystone Bank Limited, Dr. Michael Agamah during the contract signing of Funke Akindele Bello as Keystone Bank Brand Ambassador, at Keystone Bank Head Office in Lagos recently.
We are extremely pleased to partner with a hardworking entrepreneur like Jenifa who is also a role model to a wide spectrum of youths and people from all walks of life. This partnership aligns with our corporate objective of supporting SMEs and empowering enterprising women, through our PINK account and network.”
Commenting on the development, Akindele revealed her excitement at being the Bank’s choice which according to her, is a great institution that Is fast making it’s marks in the sector. “I am delighted to be signed on as a brand ambassador for Keystone Bank. It is a privilege to be associated with one of the fastest growing financial institutions in the country today, We will certainly put the Bank on the World Map together” Akindele said.
Funke Akindele plays the lead character in the ongoing hit TV show ‘Jenifa’s Diary’, a spin-off from the movie titled ‘Jenifa’. Akindele has over 100 movies to her credit.
Since its recent acquisition by Sigma Golf – Riverbank consortium, Keystone Bank Limited, a technology and service-driven commercial bank, offering tailor-made convenient and reliable solutions to customer’s needs has been on upward swing.
TW Magazine Special: Obeahon Ohiwerei GMD/CEO Keystone Bank bares his mind on Women Empowerment & Financial Inclusion.Events
Keystone (Pink Network) & Enterprise Development Centre partner for women entrepreneurs during #GEW2018Events
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Topic Cloud computing
The lines between cloud computing models are blurring
Cloud computing models are converging. Many roads are leading to PaaS, and some vendors are building an IaaS-SaaS-PaaS triple threat.
The three dominant cloud computing models -- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) -- are changing fast, as cloud providers reach up and down the stack to offer as close to a one-stop shop as possible.
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To understand how these cloud computing models are evolving and converging, it helps to know the history, said Jeffrey Kaplan, managing director of ThinkStrategies Inc., a consultancy in Wellesley, Mass. For one thing, he says, SaaS was first.
By 2006, Salesforce.com Inc.'s strategy to appeal to end users of its customer relationship management (CRM) SaaS -- as opposed to the IT staff -- had taken off, to the point where other software makers decided to mimic its subscription-style, usage-billed, pay-as-you-go pricing. This created a shadow process whereby business managers began to buy their own software solutions, as opposed to getting them from IT.
"Then Amazon asked, 'Why can't we do that with compute power?' and the concept of IaaS was born," Kaplan said. “[Previous attempts at] utility computing didn't take off because it was complex. Amazon commoditized compute power, allowing users to buy it literally by the hour or by MIPS."
Not long afterward, Salesforce.com realized that some customers wanted to customize its software, and thought, “Maybe we should give them a developer's environment," Kaplan said. And thus came PaaS.
IaaS gets automation
In 2011, a big trend in IaaS is the move to automation -- a converged infrastructure with automated scripting, according to Joe Onisick, technology solutions architect at World Wide Technology Inc., a systems integrator in St. Louis. The IaaS might not have orchestration abilities from a portal, but it can rapidly provision services, he said.
For instance, when an application developer requests servers with a particular processing capacity and memory, IT would use automation tools to deploy the virtual or physical resources required from the underlying converged infrastructure.
The difference between automation and orchestration is that if true "orchestration" was in place, the developer could submit the request in a portal; and all approval, change management and infrastructure deployment would be handled without IT intervention, Onisick said.
Another trend is the blend of IaaS and SaaS, such as Hewlett-Packard Co.'s Enterprise Cloud Services (ECS), announced last week. The ECS run on Hewlett-Packard's Converged Infrastructure architectural model, to match clients' IaaS resources with their demand for business applications. HP securely hosts the workloads to provide something the Palo Alto company calls Computing as a Service.
Meanwhile, such traditional hosting companies as Savvis Inc. and NaviSite Inc. are transforming their server farms into virtual private clouds, Kaplan says; and IaaS provider Rackspace U.S. Inc.has added management services to its cloud servers, including monitoring and technical guidance.
SaaS is here to stay
Enterprises battered by the recession are not as interested as they once were in investing time and money in software development or software maintenance. Moreover, software licensing continues to be a headache in a virtualized environment. For both reasons, software subscription cloud computing models are expected to stick around, and business software companies are paying heed, according to Kevin Dobbs, managing partner of Montclair Advisors LLC in San Francisco.
Vendors like Oracle Corp. and SAP AG will get on board with this shift, delivering subscription models of their software that include cloud-like features, such as self-service and usage billing, according to industry analysts. IBM, which already has a SaaS, last month announced new partnerships and greater adoption of its LotusLive public cloud services. Those provide integrated email, social networking and collaboration services through the IBM cloud.
"This shift [to SaaS] is massive, and is going to take at least 10 years," Dobbs said. "We are probably only in the second year, post recession."
The subscription model is detrimental to the end user. Vendors parcel off pieces, charge you for components. … Backup and replication are sold separately. It is about finding new revenue streams.
Henry Mayorga, director of network technologies, Baron Capital Inc.
This isn't necessarily a good development, said Henry Mayorga, director of network technologies at Baron Capital Inc. in New York. "The subscription model is detrimental to the end user. [Vendors] parcel off pieces, charge you for components. Let's say I want to upgrade vSphere -- the first thing I have to upgrade is vSphere management," he said. "[Vendors] have shifted the control components to separate products for which they can charge. Backup and replication are sold separately. It is about finding new revenue streams."
Analysts at Forrester Research Inc., however, said SaaS will be a disruptive technology in only a quarter of the areas served by the global software market. Andrew Bartels and Liz Herbert, analysts at the Cambridge, Mass. firm, project that SaaS will grow from 7% of total software spending in 2010 to 17% in 2013.
The CIO of a high-end acoustic electronics maker, who asked to remain anonymous, said he uses SaaS for a corporate training and learning management system -- one of the areas in which SaaS will disrupt the status quo, according to Bartels and Herbert. In addition to human resource management, many companies are using SaaS for CRM, IT management and security, they said.
Even the original SaaS model is blurring. Last week, NetSuite Inc., a San Mateo, Calif., provider of enterprise resource planning software suites delivered as SaaS, announced a partnership with Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP, an accounting and advisory firm in Chicago, to establish a professional service, or "cloud computing consulting practice," for accountants.
He has seen the future, and it is PaaS
"I see PaaS as the true end-goal for cloud computing," World Wide Technology's Onisick said. "Developing SaaS or private software offerings on a common portable platform removes the tie to the infrastructure as a whole, and makes the application more portable, robust and scalable."
Several companies are partnering to create cloud computing services where developers can build applications directly on a platform without worrying about the underlying infrastructure or operating system. Microsoft and Google Inc. with their Azure and Google Engine, respectively are getting involved, according to Kaplan. "Some people call Amazon [a] PaaS, but it does not provide the development environment," he said.
Microsoft's Azure cloud will support applications developed in the PHP scripting language and Java, as well as in its own .NET. Salesforce.com, likewise, expanded its Force.com development platform by purchasing Ruby on Rails provider Heroku in December. Many other PaaS offerings are here today and coming in 2011, according to Montclair Advisors' Dobbs. Those include products from Apprenda Inc., Corent Technology Inc., Engine Yard Inc., Facebook Inc., Intalio Inc. and Nimbula Inc. Also available now or soon are Adobe Systems Inc.'s Flex, Intuit Inc.'s IPP, NetSuite's SuiteCloud, Oracle Corp.'s Fusion, Relational Networks Inc.'s LongJump and Wolf Frameworks' Wolf.
"As these offerings start to become more portable and standardized between cloud providers, this model will increase in popularity," Onisick said.
To that end, the OpenStack project founded by NASA and Rackspace has lured about 50 companies, including most recently, Cisco Systems Inc.
IaaS-SaaS-PaaS triple threats?
And then there are those who would become triple threats, providing all three service models. IBM is doing it with IaaS in its data centers, LotusLive SaaS and its middleware stack as a PaaS, Kaplan said. Hewlett-Packard has hardware for IaaS and wants to convert its systems management into SaaS, but is not in the PaaS game, he said. Dell Inc. is in the running, having bought several SaaS providers last year, and having an IaaS product through its acquisition of Perot Systems.
"What these changes will do to business has yet to be fully fathomed," said Geoff Woollacott, engagement manager and senior analyst at Technology Business Research Inc. in Hampton, N.H. He is working to come up with simple, standard definitions for IT services that are provisioned like a utility.
"If you buy the 'IT as electric current' concept," Woollacott said, "what is happening is that discrete businesses are realizing it is cheaper and less of a headache to sign up for Con Edison than to build and operate their own power plant."
The trick for IT executives is determining who the Con Edison of cloud computing will be.
Let us know what you think about the story; email Laura Smith, Features Writer.
CW+: Study: The economic benefits of cloud to business and the economy –ComputerWeekly.com
Cloud Computing for Business –ComputerWeekly.com
Private Cloud Computing E-Zine Volume 1: Private cloud computing as a business ... –SearchDataCenter.com
E-Guide: How to Identify Which Applications are Right for Public Cloud Computing –SearchDataCenter.com
Dig Deeper on Cloud computing for business
Understand limitations when monitoring cloud performance
By: Andrew Froehlich
Top five expert tips on AWS Educate, Elastic Beanstalk and more
By: David Carty
Private PaaS offerings: Benefits, challenges, best practices and more
PaaS adoption upswing predicted for 2014; will it last?
Controlling the Uncontrollable End User –Citrix
New cloud analytics and BI services to use big data – SearchCloudComputing
Choosing a PaaS: Questions to ask PaaS vendors – SearchCloudComputing
Pump the brakes on cloud adoption, except SaaS – SearchCloudComputing
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Finalists Cash In on Clutch Performances
Posted Thursday, June 14, 2018
By Tom Markowski
EAST LANSING – Oli Carmody had been in pressure situations before, but nothing compared to what confronted the sophomore from Stevensville Lakeshore on Thursday.
With one out in a scoreless game, Carmody relieved Logan Morrow with runners on first and second base in the bottom of the ninth inning. Carmody went to 3-0 on Orchard Lake St. Mary’s leadoff hitter before retiring him on a fly to center. He got the next batter on a fly out to end the inning, and then singled in Lakeshore’s first run of a three-run 10th as the Lancers held on to defeat St. Mary’s 3-0 in a Division 2 Semifinal at Michigan State’s McLane Stadium.
Back in November, Carmody – playing his first season as goalkeeper on the soccer team – made a diving stop of a penalty kick to give Lakeshore a 2-1 victory over Plainwell in a Division 2 Regional Semifinal.
When asked which game held more importance, Carmody gave a quick response.
“It’s not even close,” he said. “Baseball is my life. This was the greatest experience of my life.
“I’ll admit that I was a little nervous (pitching in relief). When I saw I was missing high, I made adjustments. Once I got that first strike over, I got my confidence right there.”
Lakeshore (26-14) will attempt to repeat as Division 2 baseball champion when it faces Saginaw Swan Valley at 9 a.m. Saturday. Lakeshore also won Class B in 1990.
Thursday’s starting pitchers Connor Brawley of Lakeshore and Logan Wood of St. Mary’s were outstanding. Brawley allowed six hits, one walk and struck out seven in his 7 1/3 innings, and Wood went 8 2/3 and allowed two hits, three walks and struck out nine.
“It was crazy,” Brawley said. “The game flies by. I felt good out there. It was so hard (to come out). Our offense, we just compete. It’s been that way all season.”
Carmody went 1 2/3 innings to notch the victory, allowing no hits and one walk.
Catcher Bray Plomb and Cam Dalrymple started the 10th inning for Lakeshore with singles. A wild pitch put runners on second and third. Carmody singled to score the first run, and the second run scored on a wild pitch. Joel Brawley, Connor’s cousin, knocked in the third run with a bunt single.
St. Mary’s (28-13), the champion in 2015, had good chances to win the game in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. The Eaglets had two runners in the seventh, but Connor Brawley recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
In the eighth, St. Mary’s loaded the bases and Alex Mooney lined out to right field to end the inning. In the ninth Carmody worked out of the jam to end the Eaglets’ last serious threat.
“There were many times we were against the ropes,” Lakeshore coach Mark Nate said. “They score, they win. We grinded it out.”
St. Mary’s is a young team, but coach Matt Petry gave no excuses. The Eaglets started four freshmen and four sophomores last season, so even though they have only four seniors on the roster, two of whom start, Petry said his players have been in a number of big games.
“We made the Catholic League final this year,” he said. “These guys have played in Comerica Park. We expected to make a good run in the tournament. We’re excited for the future. but today stinks. We hit the ball hard. We had runners in scoring position.”
VIDEO: The only run Stevensville Lakeshore would need came on this bloop single by Oli Carmody, which drove in Ryan Soper.
Saginaw Swan Valley 3, DeWitt 1
Swan Valley scored three runs in the first inning, and that’s all the Vikings needed to earn their first championship game appearance since 2001, when they defeated Wyoming Park, 4-1, for the Division 2 title.
In the first frame, Swan Valley (33-8-3) loaded the bases with one out, and Easton Goldensoph was hit by a pitch to force in the first run Logan Pietz drove in the next with a single, and the third run scored on a wild pitch.
DeWitt (27-7) scored its run in the top of the sixth inning on a Jace Preston single.
Goldensoph’s brother, Avery, a freshman, went the distance for the victory. He allowed six hits, walked two and struck out five.
“We’re excited to be back,” Swan Valley first-year coach Craig Leddy said. “These kids are young. They don’t know what pressure is. They drive me crazy, they’re so loose.”
Nolan Knauf allowed just two hits in going all six innings for DeWitt. The one bad inning did him in.
“Nothing’s promised,” DeWitt coach Alan Shankel said. “Credit goes to Swan Valley. They made the plays. We were knocking on the door all game.”
VIDEO: Swan Valley scored all of its runs in the first inning; Easton Goldensoph is hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the first run, and then Logan Pietz delivered an RBI single.
PHOTOS: (Top) Stevensville Lakeshore’s Logan Morrow makes his move toward the plate in Thursday’s first Division 2 Semifinal. (Middle) Swan Valley’s Avery Goldensoph drives a pitch during the second Semifinal at McLane Stadium.
St Mary's Completes Championship Climb By Paul Costanzo Special for Second Half EAST LANSING – By the time the final weekend of the baseball season came around, Orchard Lake St. Mar...
GRCC, St Mary's Soak in D2 Success By Matt Schoch Special for Second Half EAST LANSING – Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Brenden Leonard said Thursday that teammate Joe Collins ...
Preview: Right Place, Right Time By Geoff Kimmerly Second Half editor While it’s an obvious statement this spring’s 16 MHSAA baseball semifinalists have peaked at the ri...
Still 'Loose' Swan Valley Loaded Again As Well By Paul Costanzo Special for Second Half Mitch Jebb and his teammates on the Saginaw Swan Valley baseball team had plenty of fun a year ago as they ...
Ace Paces Richard's Championship Triumph By Jason Schmitt Special for Second Half EAST LANSING – He’d seen a dropped third strike 100 times before Saturday’s championship ...
DeWitt, Stevensville Lakeshore, Saginaw Swan Valley, Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 2017-18 Finals
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Rowan Diagnostic Clinic, PA | 611 Mocksville Ave, Salisbury, NC 28144
PCMH (Patient Centered Medical Home)
Guys, Avoid 'Rhino' Sexual Enhancement Products, FDA Says
It's Safe to Eat Romaine Lettuce Again, But Check Labels: FDA
Sugary Drinks: A Big Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
HealthDay
Public Health Information/Food and Drug Administration News
TUESDAY, Nov. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning men that “Rhino” products promising better sex may pose serious health risks.
Since 2007, the FDA has identified more than 25 products marketed with variations of the name Rhino that contained hidden drug ingredients, the agency reported Tuesday.
The FDA has received reports of chest pain, severe headaches and prolonged erections after taking a Rhino male enhancement product. Some men have been hospitalized due to extreme drops in blood pressure.
“Over the past few years, the FDA has been combating the retail sale of male enhancement drug products that are frequently misrepresented as dietary supplements and that contain hidden and potentially harmful active drug ingredients,” said Donald Ashley in an agency news release. He’s the compliance director in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
The unapproved products are sold at gas stations and convenience stores, on websites such as eBay and Amazon, and have been found in international mail shipments to the United States.
They are marketed under names such as Platinum Rhino 25000, Krazzy Rhino 25000 and Gold Rhino 25000, and are often sold in single-serving package sizes.
The FDA said Rhino products contain undeclared ingredients that are the same as or structurally similar to active ingredients in prescription drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.
For example, some contain sildenafil and/or tadalafil, the active ingredients in the prescription drugs Viagra and Cialis, respectively. These undeclared ingredients are phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, which can pose significant health risks, the agency said.
When these ingredients interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, they can cause dangerously low blood pressure. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease often take nitrates.
“Distributing unapproved drugs, disguised as supplements, places the U.S. public health at risk,” Ashley noted.
If you use any product marketed as a dietary supplement, talk to your health care practitioner about possible interactions with medications or other supplements you take, the FDA advised.
Product claims that sound too good to be true likely are. Search for information about a product on noncommercial sites instead of relying on information provided by sellers, the agency recommended.
The FDA has more on unapproved male sexual enhancement products.
Meet your provider – Frederick Goss, MD
Mammogram Bus Dates for 2020
Raffle for a Cause – Support Free Mammograms for Women in Need in Rowan County
Rowan Diagnostic Clinic, PA
611 Mocksville Ave
Monday – Thursday 7AM–6PM
Saturday 8AM–12PM
Rowan Diagnostic Clinic
Digestive Health Associates
1809 Brenner Ave
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00am-5:00pm, Friday 8:00am-2:30pm
Faith Internal Medicine
1000 Brown Street
Faith, NC 28041
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00am-12:30pm and 1:30-5pm, Friday 8:30am-12:30pm
© , Rowan Diagnostic Clinic. All Rights Reserved.
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Professor, Optometry
Optometry & Vision Science Research Group (OVSRG)
Centre for Vision and Hearing Research
+Psychometric evaluation of the MacDQoL individualised measure of the impact of macular degeneration on quality of life
Mitchell, J., Wolffsohn, J. S. W., Woodcock, A., Anderson, S. J., McMillan, C. V., Ffytche, T., Rubinstein, M., Amoaku, W. & Bradley, C., 14 Apr 2005, In : Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 3, 25, 25.
Binocular Vision
A longitudinal study of visual evoked responses to tritan stimuli in human infants
Suttle, C. M., Anderson, S. J. & Harding, G. F., Sep 1997, In : Optometry and Vision Science. 74, 9, p. 717-725 9 p.
Visual Evoked Potentials
Longitudinal Studies
Attentional changes in pre-stimulus oscillatory activity within early visual cortex are predictive of human visual performance
Yamagishi, N., Callan, D. E., Anderson, S. J. & Kawato, M., 4 Mar 2008, In : Brain Research. 1197, p. 115-122 8 p.
Magnetoencephalography
Power (Psychology)
Attentional modulation of oscillatory activity in human visual cortex
Yamagishi, N., Callan, D. E., Goda, N., Anderson, S. J., Yoshida, Y. & Kawato, M., Sep 2003, In : Neuroimage. 20, 1, p. 98-113 16 p.
Occipital Lobe
Attentional processes link perception and action
Anderson, S. J., Yamagishi, N. & Karavia, V., 22 Jun 2002, In : Proceeding of the Royal Society: Series B. 269, 1497, p. 1225-1232 8 p.
Attentional shifts towards an expected visual target alter the level of alpha-band oscillatory activity in the human calcarine cortex
Yamagishi, N., Goda, N., Callan, D. E., Anderson, S. J. & Kawato, M., Dec 2005, In : Cognitive Brain Research. 25, 3, p. 799-809 11 p.
Alpha Rhythm
Cascaded Bayesian processes: an account of bias in orientation perception
Langley, K., Lefebvre, V. & Anderson, S. J., 15 Oct 2009, In : Vision Research. 49, 20, p. 2453-2474 22 p.
Social Adjustment
Spatial Orientation
Colour and luminance interactions in the visual perception of motion
Willis, A. & Anderson, S. J., 22 May 2002, In : Proceeding of the Royal Society: Series B. 269, 1495, p. 1011-1016 6 p.
Computational simulation of Haidinger's brushes
Misson, G. P., Temple, S. E. & Anderson, S. J., 11 May 2018, In : Journal of the Optical Society of America A. 35, 6, p. 946-952 7 p.
Light polarization
Computational simulation of human perception of spatially-dependent patterns modulated by degree and angle of linear polarization
Misson, G., Temple, S. E. & Anderson, S. J., 22 Feb 2019, In : Journal of the Optical Society of America A. 36, 4, p. B65-B70
linear polarization
Cortical oscillatory activity associated with the perception of illusory and real visual contours
Kinsey, K., Anderson, S. J., Hadjipapas, A., Nevado, A., Hillebrand, A. & Holliday, I. E., Sep 2009, In : International Journal of Psychophysiology. 73, 3, p. 265-272 8 p.
Magnetometry
Wavelet Analysis
Effect of age related macular degeneration on the Eger macular stressometer photostress recovery time
Wolffsohn, J. S. W., Anderson, S. J., Mitchell, J., Woodcock, A., Rubinstein, M., Ffytche, T., Browning, A., Willbond, K., Amoaku, W. M. & Bradley, C., Apr 2006, In : British Journal of Ophthalmology. 90, 4, p. 432-434 3 p.
Contrast Sensitivity
Effect of dopamine and acetylcholine on the visual evoked potential
Daniels, R., Harding, G. F. A. & Anderson, S. J., 1994, In : International Journal of Psychophysiology. 16, 2-3, p. 251-261 11 p.
Enhanced text spacing improves reading performance in individuals with macular disease
Blackmore-Wright, S., Georgeson, M. A. & Anderson, S. J., 11 Nov 2013, In : PLoS ONE. 8, 11, 12 p., e80325.
Evidence for dissociation between the perceptual and visuomotor systems in humans
Yamagishi, N., Anderson, S. J. & Ashida, H., 7 May 2001, In : Proceeding of the Royal Society: Series B. 268, 1470, p. 973-977 5 p.
visual cue
Direction compound
Increased word spacing improves performance for reading scrolling text with central vision loss
Harvey, H., Anderson, S. J. & Walker, R., 1 Aug 2019, In : Optometry and Vision Science. 96, 8, p. 609-616 8 p.
Audiovisual Aids
Scotoma
Localization and functional analysis of human cortical area V5 using magneto-encephalography
Anderson, S. J., Holliday, I. E., Singh, K. D. & Harding, G. F., 22 Apr 1996, In : Proceeding of the Royal Society: Series B. 263, 1369, p. 423-31 9 p.
functional response
dynamic response
Magnetoencephalographic evidence for non-geniculostriate visual input to human cortical area V5
Holliday, I. E., Anderson, S. J. & Harding, G. F., 8 Aug 1997, In : Neuropsychologia. 35, 8, p. 1139-1146 8 p.
Visual Pathways
Magnetoencephalographic investigation of human cortical area V1 using color stimuli
Fylan, F., Holliday, I. E., Singh, K. D., Anderson, S. J. & Harding, G. F. A., 1 Jul 1997, In : Neuroimage. 6, 1, p. 47-57 11 p.
MEG responses to the perception of global structure within glass patterns
Swettenham, J. B., Anderson, S. J. & Thai-Goodson, N., 5 Nov 2010, In : PLoS ONE. 5, 11, 9 p., e13865.
Form Perception
Motion sensitivity and spatial undersampling in amblyopia
Hess, R. F. & Anderson, S. J., May 1993, In : Vision Research. 33, 7, p. 881-96 16 p.
Articular Range of Motion
Discrimination (Psychology)
Neuroimaging in human amblyopia
Anderson, S. J. & Swettenham, J. B., 1 Apr 2006, In : Strabismus. 14, 1, p. 21-35 15 p.
Night driving: effects of glare from vehicle headlights on motion perception
Anderson, S. J. & Holliday, I. E., 1995, In : Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics. 15, 6, p. 545-551 7 p.
Motion Perception
Perceived quality of health care in macular disease: A survey of members of the Macular Disease Society
Mitchell, J., Bradley, P., Anderson, S. J., Ffytche, T. & Bradley, C., 11 Jul 2002, In : British Journal of Ophthalmology. 86, 7, p. 777-781 5 p.
Quality of Health Care
Polarization perception in humans: on the origin of and relationship between Maxwell’s spot and Haidinger’s brushes
Misson, G. P., Temple, S. E. & Anderson, S. J., 10 Jan 2020, In : Scientific Reports. 10, 1, 108.
Entoptic Vision
Macular Pigment
Post-receptoral undersampling in normal human peripheral vision
Anderson, S. J. & Hess, R. F., 1990, In : Vision Research. 30, 10, p. 1507-1515 9 p.
Reading without central vision
Anderson, S. J., Jan 2007, In : Digest : Journal of the Macular Disease Society. p. 76-79 4 p.
Separate colour-opponent mechanisms underlie the detection and discrimination of moving chromatic targets
Willis, A. & Anderson, S. J., 22 Dec 1998, In : Proceeding of the Royal Society: Series B. 265, 1413, p. 2435-41 7 p.
Spatial and temporal selectivity of the human motion detection system
Anderson, S. J. & Burr, D. C., 1985, In : Vision Research. 25, 8, p. 1147-1154 8 p.
Spiral mechanisms are required to account for summation of complex motion components
Meese, T. S. & Anderson, S. J., 9 May 2002, In : Vision Research. 42, 9, p. 1073-1080 8 p.
Subtractive and divisive adaptation in visual motion computations
Langley, K. & Anderson, S. J., Mar 2007, In : Vision Research. 47, 5, p. 673-686 14 p.
The effect of mood state on visual search times for detecting a target in noise: An application of smartphone technology
Maekawa, T., Anderson, S. J., De Brecht, M. & Yamagishi, N., 17 Apr 2018, In : PLoS ONE. 13, 4, e0195865.
The effects of severe myopia on the properties of sampling units in peripheral retina
Nagra, M., Gilmartin, B., Logan, N. S. & Anderson, S. J., 1 Apr 2018, In : Optometry and Vision Science. 95, 4, p. 99–404
Linear Models
The MacDQoL individualized measure of the impact of macular degeneration on quality of life: reliability and responsiveness
Mitchell, J., Wolffsohn, J., Woodcock, A., Anderson, S. J., Ffytche, T., Rubinstein, M., Amoaku, W. & Bradley, C., Sep 2008, In : American Journal of Ophthalmology. 146, 3, p. 447-454 8 p.
Reproducibility of Results
Vision Disorders
The observant mind: self-awareness of attentional status
Yamagishi, N., Anderson, S. J. & Kawato, M., 22 Nov 2010, In : Proceeding of the Royal Society: Series B. 277, 1699, p. 3421-3426 6 p.
Normal Distribution
Gaussian distribution
The relationship between self-awareness of attentional status, behavioral performance and oscillatory brain rhythms
Yamagishi, N. & Anderson, S., 17 Sep 2013, In : PLoS ONE. 8, 9, 12 p., e74962.
Gyrus Cinguli
Motor Cortex
The relative contributions of colour and luminance signals towards the visuomotor localisation of targets in human peripheral vision
Ashida, H., Yamagishi, N. & Anderson, S. J., Dec 2007, In : Experimental Brain Research. 183, 4, p. 425-434 10 p.
Neural Pathways
Sensory Feedback
The Riesz transform and simultaneous representations of phase, energy and orientation in spatial vision
Langley, K. & Anderson, S. J., 6 Aug 2010, In : Vision Research. 50, 17, p. 1748-1765 18 p.
Visual Pattern Recognition
Perceptual Distortion
The role of oscillatory brain activity in object processing and figure-ground segmentation in human vision
Kinsey, K., Anderson, S. J., Hadjipapas, A. & Holliday, I. E., Mar 2011, In : International Journal of Psychophysiology. 79, 3, p. 392-400 9 p.
Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome
The spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of brain regions activated during the perception of object and non-object patterns
Maratos, F. A., Anderson, S. J., Hillebrand, A., Singh, K. D. & Barnes, G. R., 1 Jan 2007, In : Neuroimage. 34, 1, p. 371-383 13 p.
The spectral, spatial and contrast sensitivity of human polarization pattern perception
Misson, G. P. & Anderson, S. J., 29 Nov 2017, In : Scientific Reports. 7, 1, 10 p., 16571.
The value of tablets as reading aids for individuals with central visual field loss: an evaluation of eccentric reading with static and scrolling text
Walker, R., Bryan, L., Harvey, H., Riazi, A. & Anderson, S. J., 1 Jul 2016, In : Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics. 36, 4, p. 459-464 6 p.
Topographic mapping of the pattern onset evoked magnetic response to stimulation of different portions of the visual field
Harding, G. F. A., Degg, C., Anderson, S. J., Holliday, I., Fylan, F., Barnes, G. & Bedford, J., 1994, In : International Journal of Psychophysiology. 16, 2-3, p. 175-183 9 p.
Visual processing delays alter the perceived spatial form of moving gratings
Anderson, S. J., Dec 1993, In : Vision Research. 33, 18, p. 2733-46 14 p.
Architectural Accessibility
Spatial Processing
Word Mode: a crowding-free reading protocol for individuals with macular disease
Wallis, S., Yang, Y. & Anderson, S. J., 19 Jan 2018, In : Scientific Reports. 8, 1
Contact Stephen Anderson
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SELLING POINTS: Fairstead acquires Chocolate Factory Lofts
by REW November 6, 2019 November 7, 2019 02516
● CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
Ashkenazy acquires shopping center
Ashkenazy Acquisition has added Vernon Hills Shopping Center in Eastchester to its portfolio.
Cushman & Wakefield announced the New York City-based investment firm purchased the five-building Westchester County asset at a cost exceeding $125 million from Vernon Hills Shopping Center LLC.
The 380,000 s/f property is located five miles from the White Plains CBD at 700 White Plains Roadand features a mix of retail, medical and professional credit tenants.
Retailers include Starbucks, New York Sports Club and West Elm with medical tenants including Lawrence Hospital along with its affiliated NY Presbyterian and Columbia Medical practices.
Cushman & Wakefield’s East Rutherford, NJ-based capital markets team represented the seller and procured the buyer with Andrew Merin, David Bernhaut, Gary Gabriel, Brian Whitmer, Frank DiTommaso and Kyle Schmidt leading the assignment.
Matt Lisk and Al Mirin of the cfirm’s Stamford, Conn., office, also worked the deal while John Alascio, Gideon Gil, Sridhar Vankayala, TJ Sullivan and Maya Steinberger represented Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp in arranging acquisition financing.
The loan was provided by Peoples United Bank, as lead lender, with Amerant Bank, Iberia Bank and Westchester Bank as lending participants.
● MARCUS & MILLICHAP
Olnick buys Harlem rental for $19M
Marcus & Millichap announced the sale of Perch Harlem, a seven-story market rate rental property at 542 West 153rd Street in Hamilton Heights,
The 29,442 s/f Passive House property containts 34-unit market-rate units. The sale price was $19 million.
Eric M. Anton, Justin M. Natalizio and Christopher Warner handled both ends of the deal.
The seller was a joint venture between Taurus Investment Holding, a global real estate private equity firm, and Synapse Development Group, a local developer.
The buyer was the Olnick Organization, an owner-operator and long-established real estate family that has not been active in the market for six years.
Perch Harlem meets Passive House standards requiring very little energy to achieve a comfortable temperature year round, making conventional heating and air conditioning systems obsolete.It has been named one of New York City’s m ost energy efficient buildings, ensuring that tenants pay lower energy bills in a place with low impact on the environment.
Queens waterfront site hits market
Cushman & Wakefield has been retained to market for sale 30-55 Vernon Boulevard, a rare mixed-use waterfront development site located in Astoria, Queens.
Stephen R. Preuss and Andreas Efthymiou are representing the seller, Eastone Real Estate, in all marketing efforts.
30-55 Vernon Boulevard is an assemblage of four tax lots on a corner that wrap around Vernon Boulevard and 30th Road. The site currently features a single-story warehouse and vacant parking lot.
The neighborhood is undergoing massive development with the entire block across the street being developed into a large mixed-use residential property.
The site sits in a C1-3 / R7A / R5B zoning area and has combined mixed-use buildable square footage of more than 89,000 s/f and approximately 121,428 s/f with inclusionary housing and community bonus.
The property can be delivered with approved plans in place.
● LEE & ASSOCIATES
Hotel to rise on Hell’s Kitchen site
Hotel developer Sam Chang is planning a new Hells Kitchen project after purchasing a site at 777 Eighth Avenue for $24.5 million.
Peter Carillo, of HKS Real Estate Advisors, and Ben Tapper, of Lee & Associates NYC, announced they negotiated a 99-year leasehold with the developer on behalf of the property owner.
Joseph Genovese, of Lee Odell Real Estate, represented the Chang, who plans to erect a 200-key hotel.
at the site located between West 47th and West 48th Streets.
● JLL
Simon Baron selling Greenpoint site
Simon Baron Development has tapped JLL Capital Markets experts to sell 12 Franklin Street, a development site located in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn.
The 27,963 s/f site is approved for a 167,995 s/f mixed-use commercial building, featuring waterfront views and below grade parking.
The proposed building has been designed by FXCollaborative and includes 23,000 s/f of manufacturing space and 134,000 s/f of office and retail space.
The development will offer rooftop amenity space, 15-foot ceilings, two lobbies, outdoor terraces on each floor, a shared conference room, bicycle valet, storage for 85 bikes and underground parking.
“This manufacturing-zoned pocket of Greenpoint and Williamsburg is currently transforming and there is an influx of office, hotel and retail developments,” said Brendan Maddigan, who is leading a JLL marketing team that includes Stephen Palmese, Winfield Clifford, Michael Mazzara, Ethan Stanton and Patrick Madigan.
“In addition, 10,000 new residences in the pipeline along Greenpoint/Williamsburg will further contribute to growing foot traffic and sustained demand for new amenities, workspace and convenient retail,” added Stanton.
The site is a few blocks from both the Nassau and Greenpoint Avenue G Line subway stations and the East River Ferry dock at North 6th Street.
● HODGES WARD ELLIOT
Fairstead acquires Chocolate Factory Lofts
Fairstead and Meadow Partners announced the acquisition of The Chocolate Factory Lofts, a 125-unit converted factory at 275 Park Avenue in Brooklyn, for $67.25 million.
The former Tootsie Roll factory spans the entire southern-facing side of Park Avenue and sits one block from the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the new Wegmans flagship location.
Daniel Parker, Paul Gillen and Kyle van Buitenen of Hodges Ward Elliott represented the seller.
Fire Island Flynns calling time
A team from Cushman & Wakefield is marketing Flynn’s Fire Island restaurant and marina for sale.
Located at 1 Cayuga Street in the Ocean Bay Park neighborhood of the resort community, the 176,000 s/f property has been owned and operated by the Flynn family for five generations and is hitting the market for the first time since it was established in 1937.
Hunter Moss, Michael Gembecki, Brad Jones, Alessandra Faglione and Austin Fabel will lead the marketing efforts on behalf of the sellers, Tim and Mike Flynn.
“Considering this is the first time Flynn’s has come to market since opening in 1937, this property presents a rare waterfront investment opportunity,” said Moss.
“As one of the premier New York metropolitan destinations, Fire Island provides a perfect backdrop for investors, users and developers to further accentuate the Flynn’s legendary brand.”
Flynns has a full-service bar and restaurant, outdoor deck, dining room, standalone liquor store and an enclosed marina with 50 boat slips. It encompasses a section of undeveloped land and revenue sources from marina docking and cruises.
● B6 REAL ESTATE ADVISORS
Offers sought for country estate
B6 Real Estate Advisors, Special Situations Team has been retained to sell at auction 170 acres of scenic land, featuring an entire reservoir, in Hyde Park, NY.
The property, seven miles from Rhineback in Dutchess County, was originally planned for a self-sustaining recreational learning center and may also be used as a private retreat, small development or an outdoor sportsman’s personal playground.
Located near the historic Vanderbilt and Roosevelt Mansions, the Culinary Institute of America, the Poughkeepsie Metro North Station, the town of Rhinebeck and only 90 miles from Manhattan, the property offers Catskill Mountains and Hudson River views and wildlife including deer, fox, bobcat, bear and coyote, as well as bass, sunfish and crappies in the 13-acre reservoir.
Auction gives buyers a chance to bid their price; Sealed Bids are due on October 22nd
Jeff Hubbard, James Cote, Katherine DeCoste and Christian Koulichkov, all of B6 Real Estate Advisors, are representing the seller, Marshall Drive Estates, LLC.
NJ infill site for sale
An 86-acre infill development site in eastern Morris County is being marketed for sale by Cushman & Wakefield.
Located at 85 Whippany Road in Whippany, the property is part of a 194-acre former Alcatel-Lucent site that has undergone redevelopment; the balance of the campus today houses Bayer’s North American headquarters and MetLife Investments’ global headquarters.
Cushman’s New Jersey capital markets team is marketing the opportunity on behalf of Bayer, the seller.
“This land parcel disposition represents the rare opportunity to acquire a large development site in one of New Jersey’s premier infill locations, and we’re already seeing strong interest from potential owner/occupiers and investors alike,” noted David Bernhaut, who is heading the assignment with Brian Whitmer and Mark Phillips, with additional support from Morristown’s Joshua Cohen.
Cushman & Wakefieldhodges ward elliottJLLlee & associatesmarcus & millichapShare0
Chetrits buy Rudins’ One Whitehall St. for $181.5 million
REBNY to honor Jodi Pulice with lifetime achievement award
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DCCC Backing NY Congressional Candidate With Ill-Informed Anti-Choice Positions (Updated)
2020 Democrats on Board With Federal ‘Pre-Clearance’ of State Abortion Laws: Campaign Week in Review
Apr 28, 2018, 1:10pm Ally Boguhn
Juanita Perez Williams’ claims about abortion perpetuate widely debunked anti-choice propaganda.
In a Facebook post, Perez Williams said she had attended the anti-choice March for Life. She did not dispute the authenticity of the posts to the Intercept.
YouTube/ Juanita For Mayor
UPDATE, May 7, 10:30 a.m.: The New York Board of Elections ruled last week that Juanita Perez Williams qualifies for the Democratic primary ballot.
In February, Democratic leaders in New York’s 24th Congressional District chose Dana Balter—a visiting professor and a PhD candidate at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University—as their candidate for U.S. Congress. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) apparently had other ideas: The DCCC recently stepped in to support another candidate who entered the race at the last minute, whose campaign website includes no formal positions on critical issues, and who has promoted erroneous anti-choice propaganda.
As the Intercept reported Saturday, Juanita Perez Williams, a former prosecutor and candidate running for the U.S. House of Representatives, described her personal anti-choice views in a series of private posts to Facebook. “My heart has also been changed for life from the many women I know, both young and old like me, who have suffered greatly from abortion,” she wrote two years ago in a post, according to the publication.
“It is a choice that leaves many with years of suffering,” she claimed. “It is a choice that leaves one with depression, and sadness, and often hurts relationships. I mention this because there is nothing in my pro-life advocacy that even suggests judging or condemnation. I hate that crap! Women suffer with pregnancy and often feel hopeless. This I know! Be good!”
Perez Williams’ claims about abortion perpetuate widely debunked anti-choice falsehoods.
In another post, Perez Williams said she had attended the anti-choice March for Life. She did not dispute the authenticity of the posts to the Intercept.
In a statement also provided to Rewire.News, Perez Williams vowed that if elected she would protect reproductive rights and claimed her “personal opinions are far more nuanced.”
“I believe 100 percent in a women’s [sic] right to choose and will always defend and protect that right. I further believe that women should have access, funding, and education with regard to their reproductive health and therefore I will advocate for and defend organizations like Planned Parenthood,” she said. “Like many women, my personal beliefs on the issue of choice have been shaped by my life experiences, both as a Hispanic and a Catholic and as a mother and a grandmother. My own personal opinions are far more nuanced then [sic] some people would like you to believe. I will always vote to support the choice of all women.”
Balter is the favorite of voters in the district and won the Democratic designation for Oswego, Cayuga and Wayne counties earlier this year. She was the presumptive nominee until Perez Williams jumped into the race.
Balter’s campaign site highlights health care as “a fundamental human right,” and promotes Medicare-for-All. Her platform includes calls to “guarantee coverage for essential health services that protect our families like maternity care, hospital services, and mental health care” and to “safeguard women’s access to reproductive health care.” She has the support of the Indivisible Project and Zephyr Teachout, who launched a progressive challenge to Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) in 2014.
In a statement to Rewire.News, Balter said that Perez Williams’ statements were “disturbing.”
“How can we consider electing a Democrat who describes herself as a pro-life advocate? How can we trust that she will stand firmly with choice when she attends Pro-Life rallies, rallies designed to persuade Congress to ban abortion,” said Balter. “Women’s access to abortion is under attack across the country, we need candidates who will unequivocally stand with choice,” she continued. “I am absolutely pro-choice and believe that abortion is a personal decision between a woman, her family, her faith, and her doctor.”
Perez Williams’ campaign site does not include her platform or her positions on various issues. Despite anti-choice claims on her private Facebook page, EMILY’s List, which ostensibly works to elect pro-choice women, endorsed her during her 2017 Syracuse mayoral race. She also attended the EMILY’s List annual gala in Washington, D.C. this week. EMILY’s List did not respond to a request from Rewire.News for comment on Perez Williams’ position by the time of publication.
But an EMILY’s List spokesperson told the Intercept it was “taking a close look at this race.” “Although we do not discuss our internal endorsement process, we do reexamine every candidate with fresh eyes when she pursues a new office and evaluate every race on a case-by-case basis.”
Mark English, chair of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee—the same county from which Perez Williams had run for mayor—told Rewire.News he had “not heard anything about her position” on reproductive rights.
English, speaking before Perez Williams’ social media posts came to light, said reproductive rights “will always be an issue that matters” to voters in his district.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) supported Perez Williams in her 2017 mayoral bid. DNC Chair Tom Perez called Perez Williams the “embodiment of the American dream.” She lost that election by a landslide. Despite this and the fact that Balter is favored by voters in the district, the DCCC is backing Perez Williams.
Local party officials were dismayed when the DCCC—the arm of the Democratic Party that looks to elect members to the U.S. House of Representatives— jumped into the race in her support.
“The recent DCCC actions in NY24 are unfortunately just the latest example (see PA-7, TX-7, PA-16 & a half dozen others) of not taking into account the work happening at the grassroots this year,” the chairs of the Onondaga, Cayuga, Oswego and Wayne County democratic committees said this month in a joint statement. “From people engaged for the very first time this year, to party and elected officials we stand united behind our designated nominee Dana Balter and against the DC meddling that has hampered far too many races thus far.”
The race made headlines this week when a complaint was filed with the state’s Board of Elections alleging that some signatures collected to get Perez Williams on the ballot were invalid. After she launched her last-minute campaign, she gathered more than 3,200 signatures with help from the DCCC, as the Auburn Citizen reported. Only 1,250 valid signatures are needed to qualify for the ballot. The Board of Elections is reportedly set to decide on the matter on May 3.
The DCCC doubled down on its support of Perez Williams last week, officially adding the candidate to their “Red to Blue” program, which “arms top-tier candidates with organizational and fundraising support.”
The Democratic Party has been embroiled in a visible debate over its values since last spring when high-ranking party members were slated to appear at a rally alongside Heath Mello, a Democratic mayoral candidate with an anti-choice voting record. But Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), who chairs the DCCC, has said support for abortion rights will not be used as a litmus test for its support.
The Democratic primary will be held on June 26. The winner will face Republican U.S. Rep. John Katko in the general election.
This is a developing story. Rewire.News will continue to report as more information emerges.
2018 Elections, Abortion, anti-choice Democrats, Candidates views, Dana Balter, DCCC, Democrats, Democrats, Emily's List, New York, NY 24, Perez Williams, State elections
Nov 27, 9:11am Dennis Carter
Campaign Week in Review: Pete Buttigieg Opposes the Anti-Choice Helms Amendment
Nov 15, 9:12am Ally Boguhn
Culture & Conversation Politics
‘People Are Hurting’: Why Cori Bush Is Making Another Congressional Run
Nov 14, 4:57pm Ally Boguhn
Campaign Week in Review: ‘Reproductive Freedom Has Won’ in Tuesday’s Elections
Nov 8, 8:33am Ally Boguhn
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Pairwise co-existence of Bismarck and Solomon landbird species
Questions: Can the difference between chance and pattern be determined by the composition of species across islands in an archipelago? In particular, will one find 'checkerboards' - a pattern of mutual exclusivity that is the simplest pattern that might occur under competitive exclusion? Organisms: 150 and 141 species of land birds inhabiting 41 and 142 islands of the Bismarck and the Solomon Archipelagos, respectively. (See http://evolutionary-ecology.com/data/ 2447-Supplement.pdf) Analytical methods: For each pair of species within each archipelago, the observed number of co-occurrences is compared to the distribution of the number of co-occurrences derived from a collection of 106 representative unique random, or null, communities. Those species pairs actually co-occurring less often than they do in 5% of those nulls are 'unusually negative' pairs; those co-occurring more often than they do in 95% of those nulls are 'unusually positive' pairs. Islands are ranked from those with the smallest number of species to the largest. A species incidence is the span from the smallest to the largest number of species on islands on which it is found. Results: In each archipelago, proportionately more congeneric species pairs than non-congeneric species pairs are unusually negative pairs. This holds even for species pairs that overlap in their incidences. Among congeneric species pairs found in both archipelagos, a pair that is unusual in one archipelago generally proves to be unusual in the other archipelago as well and to belong to a genus segregating ecologically by means of spatial niche differences. Conclusions: Diamond (1975) suggested that island bird communities were structured by assembly rules that could be deduced by observation of which species did or did not co-occur on particular islands. Critics countered with analyses arguing that co-occurrence patterns in several ecological communities did not differ from random expectations. We conclude that the difference between chance and pattern can be unequivocally determined. © 2009 Stuart L. Pimm.
Pimm, Stuart L.
Sanderson, JG; Diamond, JM; Pimm, SL
Evolutionary Ecology Research
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The Curious Case of Cleveland vs The Cubs
Written by : Marielle Brinda
Published on : October 29, 2016
First off, I’m not going to rub our latest win into the faces of Chicago Cubs Fans. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. Not after their first home World Series game in 71 years. Not after all they’ve been through… Years of turmoil, lost games, Steve Bartmans, Old Style, and goats. The year-round sold out games, the tradition, the rotating cast of Bros that frequent Clark Street bars belting out Living on a Prayer night after night! That horrible deep dish pizza! Talk about constipation! No, but really, as a born and raised Cleveland Indians fan, I have no hatred for Chicago Cubs fans.
I’ve only really lived in three cities: Cleveland (Elyria and Lakewood), Chicago (Wrigleyville and South Loop), and Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks and East Hollywood). So, at one point I did consider Chicago a home (But not home home of course). And my two years living in Wrigleyville were filled with great times. I can’t deny that I loved hearing the crowd from my front porch, scalping tickets in the fourth inning to see part of a neighborhood game, drinking that cheap special of Old Style with a shot of Canadian Mist (or what I like to call – the Addison Whore), dancing on the piano at Sluggers, taste-testing deep dish pizza at D’Agostino’s, Giordano’s, and Pisano’s, and inhaling cigars at Around the World Tobacco on Belmont. Chicago holds a special place in my heart and in my lungs. But doesn’t that say something? No matter how many years went by without a World Series or even a postseason, people from near and far love to go watch the Cubs. Cubs culture is just cool. And it didn’t hurt that John Hughes featured Chicago and his teams in most of my favorite childhood movies.
But let’s get to the facts, to the true love, to the devotion, to the sweet, sweet RBI that Coco Crisp whisked to Wrigley right field and got the Cleveland Indians their one and only run to ultimately win Game 3 of the 2016 World Series. Or that smooth criminal pitching from Josh Tomlin. And the eleven lucky and very wealthy Cleveland Indians fans that were able to get tickets at Wrigley and cheer on our guys. As I watched the game and listened to my dad’s post-game show, it was clear how important, how special this moment was to everyone. Every mistake, every victory was amplified by one thousand. It was an event that fans on both sides had waited a lifetime to witness – a World Series in itself for Cubs fans and a series between two of the most deserving, and two of the most ill-fated teams in baseball.
They both have arrived to face off after a one-hundred and eight year (Cubs) and sixty-eight year (Indians) World Series victory stretch. And they both want it bad. Sure, the Cubs are the national favorites, the beloved and notorious underdogs, but Cleveland….Cleveland has somethin’ crazy going on this year! We have broken our championship curse which means, why not win a World Series? And the Cubs have never been closer to breaking their own. To top it off, both teams have f**king awesome pitching (But The Indians may have the upper hand at the moment). Only time will tell who will win, but let me go on record to say I’m #All In with the Windians. And so is Tom Hanks, Stephen King, Drew Carey, LeBron James, and our devoted fanbase.
I did have the very fortunate chance to attend Game 1 of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field this past Tuesday – the same night that the Cleveland Cavaliers also accepted their Championship rings and started the NBA season. The same night that Kenny Lofton of the 1995 Cleveland Indians threw out the first pitch. A day like that will probably not come around again for quite some time. And to share it with my city, my dad and brother, and surprisingly with Cubs fans was kind of perfect. There was a brisk October breeze coming off the lake, but it was still very comfortable. The clouds were casting amazing shadows over the newly revealed statues of Cleveland baseball legends. The smell of bratwurst and hot dogs was in the air. And Cubs and Indians fans were chit-chatting like old friends as they waited for the gates to open.
Now, this was before the game started mind you, but I did have my first lady drink of the afternoon on the tab of a visiting Chicagoan who wanted to prove to me that Cubs fans weren’t all that bad. And I love free booze, so I accepted and in turn was immediately disarmed. I thought to myself, could two fanbases really get along during the championship series? Everyone claimed to be grateful to have made it to this point, and to be playing another Midwestern team with a substantial losing streak. It almost seemed too good to be true. But maybe that was because all of the Chicago fans that came to see the game in Cleveland were also the fans that couldn’t afford the tickets at Wrigley (Not to say that Progressive Field tickets weren’t hard to get or expensive, but they weren’t as unattainable…and we luckily had some connections).
Maybe these Cubs fans were the working class, blue-collar folk that many Cleveland sports fans relate with. Then I found out how much they were paying for seats alongside us in the upper deck, and realized they had shelled out some major cash for those tickets as well. That all being said, even with the blow-out that went down the first night, I never witnessed any fists thrown, name-calling, or poor sportsmanship – just a good old fashion ass-whooping. To which was reciprocated in Game 2. But boy did I relish in our win that night. The rallying on full-counts, the delicious concessions, our cheer-happy section, and the fact that my brother no longer thought of me as a contributor to the curse – because yes, I was in attendance for a win this time unlike Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Plus it put my dad (@sirfranksnbacon) in a very good mood.
Now that we are up one and just two wins away from a World Series victory, a position my father has been in just two other instances of his life, and I as well, we can temporarily enjoy this moment of hope and relief together. After all, according to those stats nerds out there, we have a sixty-five percent chance of winning the series now. But will it be enough against those pesky Cubbies? We shall see. Just know, us Clevelanders are all very optimistic. Go Tribe!
AL, Baseball, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Cubbies, Cubs, Indians, MLB, MLB Playoffs, NL, Progressive Field, Tribe, World Series, Wrigley, Wrigley Field, Wrigleyville
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SGS@40
Not currently a member? Join!
For all makers and lovers of glass.
Jeff Zimmer
Professional member Edinburgh
I am fascinated by exploring areas between certainty and doubt, and provoking a sensual experience of light.
In a polarized political and social atmosphere I view ambiguous subject matter and visual presentation as political acts. By creating enigmatic works, I intend to seduce the viewer into being comfortable with ambiguity.
I am very interested in conveying a sense of the volume of space. The images are built through multiple firings of enamels on many layers of glass, allowing a depth of space within which objects ‘move’ as the viewer moves around the piece as imagery on each layer shifts in relation to the others and to the light.
Jeff is an award-winning glass artist. He holds a Masters in Glass and Architectural Glass from Edinburgh College of Art, where he currently teaches glass for the Office of Lifelong Learning.
In addition, he has been a professional stained glass designer and restorer in Edinburgh since 2006, with experience in designing and repairing windows for domestic, commercial and ecclesiastical clients.
Jeff has been selected for the 2012 European Prize for Applied Arts in Mons, Belgium, on exhibit from 14th July – 9th September, 2012.
He will also be part of the Scottish Glass Society’s 2012 exhibition, ‘Cultural Exchange‘ at North Lands Creative Glass, 9 – 18 September, 2012.
Jeff helped represent Scotland at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, 10 – 13 November 2011, organised by craftScotland.
He was also selected for the ‘Studio Glass in Great Britain’ exhibition at the European Museum for Modern Glass near Coburg, Germany.
His work has featured in New Glass Review 30 & 31 (2009 & 2010), Neues Glas/New Glass (Autumn 2009), Glass Quarterly (Fall 2003) among others, and is part of the permanent collection of North Lands Creative Glass and the Glasmuseet Ebeltoft in Denmark.
In addition, he has taught a Masterclass at Bild-Werk Frauenau in Bavaria where he has also assisted Scott Chaseling, as well as assistingCappy Thompson at North Lands Creative Glass, in Caithness. 2012 will see him returning to Bild-Werk Frauenau to assist Scott Chaseling,Ursula Huth and Barbara Idzikowska and to North Lands to assistSusan Stinsmuehlen-Amend.
jeffzimmerglass.com
Copyright © 2020 Scottish Glass Society
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Sports Women's Sports
Springfield Field Hockey Loses 2 in a Row, Drops to 5-7
By SC Student Media October 15, 2015 December 3, 2018
Leave a Comment on Springfield Field Hockey Loses 2 in a Row, Drops to 5-7
@VinGallo731
Photo courtesy of Sam Leventhal
Springfield College’s field hockey team was hit with two consecutive losses this week. The Pride have opened another losing streak after defusing a four game drought to begin the month. Springfield, now 5-7, began the week with a loss at home on Oct. 10, as they dropped a defensive contest to Mount Holyoke, 1-0. Goalkeeper Timarie Villa finished with seven saves, but the offensive sticks of the Pride were thwarted again, as Holyoke limited their attack with six shots for the game. Springfield hosted Trinity of Connecticut on Tuesday, a matchup in which they lost 4-3.
The Pride reignited their offensive power that was present against Wheaton for their game against Trinity. Kristina Krull opened the contest with her fifth goal of the year, with 23:48 remaining in the first half, giving Springfield a 1-0 lead. Trinity would go on to score three unanswered goals, but Katie Gill took control in the second half, reviving Springfield from the 3-1 deficit. Gill netted two goals within three minutes (43:54-47:05 into the game) to even the score at three. Gill now leads the team in goals with seven on the year. Maggie Kennedy was responsible for all three Springfield assists on the night and now has five for the season.
The offensive effort would not add up to a win however, as Trinity’s Elizabeth Caporale scored the deciding goal with 16:00 remaining in the game, which handed Springfield the 4-3 loss.
The Pride will wrap up their home stand against NEWMAC titan Wellesley (4-1, 10-2) on Oct. 17. They will embark on a short road trip following Saturday’s game, where they will face Clark University on Oct. 20, and travel to Johnson & Wales on Oct. 22.
The Pride will again attempt to claw their way back to the .500 mark. Springfield is tied with Clark for sixth place in the NEWMAC. Their conference record stands at 1-3.
Tags: field hockey Springfield Springfield College
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Category Archives: Vicky Nguyen Journalist/Reporter
SamTrans is not waiting for the recount. Full steam ahead.
San Mateo County Sheriff Deputy Heinz Puschendorf is calling for a recount and they know it.They don’t mention the $650,000 of taxpayer money used against the taxpayers for Measure W. The measure only passed by about 500 votes. lets wait for the recount to be completed. That will give Mark Church time to explain where the additional 18,259 ballots came from. Mark Simon wrote a great piece in the Climate rwc and he stated that at the Absolute Deadline for receiving Ballots which was November 9, 2018, the ballots received by the elections office was 271,704.
Media Contact: Tasha Bartholomew, 650-508-7927
Measure W Passes, Will Provide $2.4 Billion for County Transportation Improvements
Today, the San Mateo County Elections Office released an updated report showing that San Mateo County voters have approved Measure W, which will create approximately $80 million per year in new investment to relieve traffic congestion and provide expanded mobility options for County residents. The results show that 66.87 percent of county voters supported the 30-year measure putting it above the required two-thirds threshold.
“We, with our partners, are grateful for this opportunity and we are prepared for the challenge of putting these funds to work to create transportation and traffic solutions for everyone who lives and works in San Mateo County,” said San Mateo County Transit District General Manager/CEO Jim Hartnett. “Getting to this point was a tremendous team effort, and we are incredibly thankful to everyone who helped make it happen. We were able to put Measure W on the ballot thanks to an extraordinary partnership with Assembly Member Kevin Mullin and the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, and it was successful thanks to tremendous efforts from the business community, transportation advocates, and residents, families, and workers throughout the County that committed such invaluable support.”
“Voters have spoken loud and clear a truth we’ve known for some time; that transportation and transit need substantial investment in order for us to solve our traffic problems,” said Transit District Board Chair Charles Stone. “There are projects and programs ready to go, from express buses to microtransit to reducing chokepoints at our highway interchanges. The funding provided by Measure W will help to make them a reality. My sincerest thanks go out to the people of San Mateo County for making their voices heard.”
The distribution of the funds will be shaped by the Congestion Relief Plan, which was a product of this community feedback and was developed to reflect how residents think transportation funding should be invested. The Plan includes five investment categories designed to focus on advancing these priorities, while also addressing other important transportation needs:
* 22.5 percent toward Countywide Highway Congestion Improvements to improve throughput and travel times on highway facilities in San Mateo County.
* 12.5 percent toward Local Safety, Pothole and Congestion Relief Improvements for investment in local transportation priorities including efforts to separate the rail corridor from local roads, improve bicycle and pedestrian connections, incentivize transit options, and improve traffic flow in key congested areas.
* 5 percent toward Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements that safely connect communities and neighborhoods with schools, transit and employment centers countywide.
* 10 percent toward Regional Transit Connections to better connect residents traveling from San Mateo County to neighboring counties with new and enhanced transit options.
* 50 percent toward County Public Transportation System Investments to maintain and enhance bus, paratransit, rail and other countywide mobility services.
Investments in these five categories will be guided by 11 Core Principles that were developed in consultation with a group of more than 100 local transportation experts, advocates and community stakeholders. The Core Principles include:
* Relieve traffic congestion countywide
* Invest in a financially sustainable public transportation system that increases ridership, provides quality transit options for everyone, and embraces innovation to create more transportation choices and improves travel experience
* Prioritize environmentally-sustainable transportation solutions
* Promote economic vitality and economic development
* Maximize opportunities to leverage investment and services from public and private partners
* Enhance safety and public health
* Invest in repair and maintenance of existing and future infrastructure
* Facilitate the reduction of vehicle miles traveled, travel times and greenhouse gas emissions
* Incorporate the inclusion and implementation of policies that encourage safe accommodation of all people using the roads, regardless of mode of travel
* Incentivize transit, bicycle, pedestrian, carpooling and other shared-ride options over driving alone
* Maximize traffic reduction potential associated with the creation of new housing opportunities in high-quality transit corridors
To ensure that the Plan is implemented in a way that reflects these Core Principles, the Plan also includes a new citizen oversight protocol. The protocol requires the appointment of a 15-member independent citizen oversight committee that would meet regularly to monitor decision-making, ensure accountability, and provide assurance that the plan is implemented in a way that stresses public transparency.
The tax is scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2019.
About the San Mateo County Transit District: The San Mateo County Transit District operates 70 SamTrans routes throughout San Mateo County. Funded in part by a half-cent sales tax, the San Mateo County Transit District also provides administrative support for Caltrain and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. The San Mateo County Transit District has provided bus service to San Mateo County customers since 1976.
Filed under #SanMateo, #SanMateoCountyNews, #SMCJUSTICE, Bill Silverfarb, Charles Stone, Chris Hunter, Citizens Oversight Committee, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, Don Horsley, electioneering, Felony misappropriation of public money., Hanson Bridgett LLP, Heinz Puschendorf, Jim Hartnett, Kevin Mullins, Mark Church, Mark Olbert, Mark Simon, Marshall Wilson, Michael G. Stogner, Mike Callagy, Organized Crime, RICO, Sabrina Brennan, SAMCEDA, SamTrans, SMC, SMC Measure W 2018, TBWB, Thomas Weissmiller, Those Who Matter, Vicky Nguyen Journalist/Reporter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum, Whistleblowers
Recount Measure W, Simple questions go unanswered. There is a Deadline, they know it.
San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy
Recount of Measure W. Sheriff Deputy Heinz Puschendorf to file.
Good Morning San Mateo County Leaders,
I’m requesting you to step in and supply the public with the following information. The reason I am asking you is simple Mark Church has failed to answer these questions.
How much will it cost for the recount of Measure W?
What is the deadline for filing? Where to file?
As the Supervisors know I have said many times they should use taxpayer money from the general fund to pay this expense, reason being they invested $350,000 of taxpayer money to be used against the taxpayers.
The Measure W recount is a perfect example of transparency and it will demonstrate how SMC’s current system works or doesn’t work. I think we all knew a recount was going to happen on Measure we just didn’t know which side was going to demand it, now we do.
I think we can all agree for Mr. Church to withhold this critical information from the public is a bad idea.
Michael G. Stogner
Private Victim’s Advocate
Co-owner San Mateo County News.com
Filed under #CarlosBolanos, #MeToo, #SanMateo, #SanMateoCountyNews, #SMCJUSTICE, Bill Silverfarb, Carlos G. Bolanos, Carole Groom, Charles Stone, Chris Hunter, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, Don Horsley, electioneering, Felony misappropriation of public money., Governor of California, Hanson Bridgett LLP, Heinz Puschendorf, Jim Hartnett, Mark Church, Mark Simon, Marshall Wilson, Michael G. Stogner, Michelle Durand, Mike Callagy, MTC, Rosanne Faust, SAMCEDA, SamTrans, San Mateo County Clerk to Supervisors, Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos, Silicon Valley, SMC, SMC Measure W 2018, Tax Payer's Advocate, TBWB, Thomas Weissmiller, Vicky Nguyen Journalist/Reporter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum, Whistleblowers, Yes on Measure A 2012
SMCSO Deputy Heinz Puschendorf is filing for recount of Measure W.
San Mateo County Sheriff Deputy Heinz Puschendorf will be filing for a RECOUNT of all the ballots for Measure W in the November 6, 2018 election.
San Carlos Councilman Mark Olbert was the first Elected official to call for a complete Audit of the Elections Office.
Mark Simon the self proclaimed “genesis” of Measure W and a personal friend of Kevin Mullin and now a contributor for the Climate RWC stated clearly 271,704 was the number of ballots received by the absolute deadline.
Tonight the number has grown to 286,247.
Did Measure W pass using the 271,704 ballots.
It looks like Heinz Puschendorf is going to find out, a recount was going to happen no matter who won, I think this will be a much more transparent process for the average taxpayer who might have just got obligated with the Supervisors and SamTrans using $650,000 of taxpayer money against the taxpayers to pass Measure W.
Next step recount
By Michael G. Stogner
Filed under #SanMateo, #SanMateoCounty, #SanMateoCountyNews, #SMCJUSTICE, Bill Silverfarb, Brent Turner, Carole Groom, Charles Stone, Chris Hunter, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, Don Horsley, electioneering, Felony misappropriation of public money., Hanson Bridgett LLP, Heinz Puschendorf, Jim Hartnett, Mark Church, Mark Olbert, Mark Simon, Marshall Wilson, Michael G. Stogner, Michelle Durand, Mike Callagy, Rosanne Faust, SAMCEDA, Senator Jerry Hill, Silicon Valley, SMC, SMC Measure W 2018, Tax Payer's Advocate, Vicky Nguyen Journalist/Reporter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum
Mark Simon promoting patience.
I prefer simple math. 286,247 vs. 271,704
Did Measure W win in the 271,704 Ballots? Mr. Simon does not acknowledge he was the genesis of Measure W. A sales tax producing $85M per year income for 30 years neg. impacting the poorest families.
He forgot this article
Mark says, “First, a lot of people voted in this election. As of 10 p.m. last Friday, the absolute deadline, a total of 271,704 ballots had been received by the county Elections office.
Political Climate with Mark Simon: Why it takes so long to count election ballots
Published on November 14, 2018 in Featured/Headline/PoliticalClimate by Mark Simon
We’ve become people who stand in front of a microwave oven, muttering, “Hurry up.”
Not an ideal mindset for an electoral process that requires patience.
Patience. What a concept. It comes in handy when you’re waiting in traffic or standing in line at Disneyland or, say, counting ballots.
Such as counting ballots in San Mateo County’s November 6 election, which is taking much longer than some people seem to think it should.
In a world of instant gratification, elections often are neither instant nor gratifying, although often not for the same reasons.
And for the sake of the permanent record, I want to state unequivocally that they should take their time and make sure to count all the ballots, even if it means waiting for the final outcome.
Yes, we’re used to election results on election night, but it’s not like that. Not this time. Not anymore.
COUNTING THE REASONS: There are a number of reasons why the count for this election is taking a while, most of them valid, some of them worthy of further question.
First, a lot of people voted in this election. As of 10 p.m. last Friday, the absolute deadline, a total of 271,704 ballots had been received by the county Elections office.
That’s a voter turnout of nearly 68 percent, higher than the 65 percent projection from Elections officials. That’s more than 20 points higher than the turnout in 2014, the last gubernatorial election. That’s higher than the 65.3 percent turnout in 2010, when 226,000 voters cast ballots.
That’s also more than 20 points higher than the statewide turnout. When all the votes are counted, San Mateo County will be among the highest-turnout counties in the state, and among the top five highest in urban counties.
As of yesterday’s 4:30 p.m. update, Elections staff already had counted 144,000, nearly as many as the total number of votes cast in 2014 – and they still have another 127,000 ballots to count.
In other words, there was a huge turnout. The more ballots, the longer it takes to count them.
We are used to knowing the results right away. And why not? The run-up to the election took months of ads and mail pieces and all kinds of conversations. Why should we have to wait to know what happened?
And the answer is that this isn’t sports – we don’t always know the outcome the instant the clock runs out. To quote Yogi Berra, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
And there’s another reason – it’s not just a huge turnout, but many of the local races are close.
Back in the days of all-machine voting, under the most normal of circumstances, some of these races were so close that we didn’t know the outcome until the end of November.
And these are hardly the most normal of circumstances.
AND BY THE WAY, WE DON’T DO THAT ANYMORE: The county has been shifting steadily away from voting by machine to voting by mail, or what used to be called absentee voting.
Then, we switched to this election’s all-mail balloting experiment.
Far from a great leap forward technologically, in reality, we went to a technology that more closely resembles voting in the 19th century, when voters made a mark on a paper ballot and stuffed it in a box.
In other words, we went from voting by machine to voting by hand.
When we voted at our local fire station, we slid our ballot into the machine and it was counted – right there, on the spot. We signed a book and no one checked the signature to make sure we were us. At the end of the evening, someone hit a button and the totals were instantly available.
Now, we vote by hand in our homes, sign and seal the envelope and deliver it, by mail or in person, to the Elections officials and we can mail it on Election Day.
Then, the mail has to be delivered, and someone has to open the envelope, cross-check the signature, and then manually slip the ballot into a machine that counts it.
It’s not quite that laborious – a lot of it is done by machines and scanners. But someone has to do the work we all used to do ourselves when we went to our precinct voting place.
It takes time to do it right.
THE BIG TRADE-OFF: The trade-off is more and better voting.
The evidence is plain, a huge number of voters turned out this year in the June and November elections. By any measure, that’s more voting and the assumption in elections is that more is better. Period.
Better voting comes in the form of a better-informed electorate.
Even with the shortened window of time during which the ballots were available in this election, voters had time to go over the ballot, research the often-confusing measures, find out a little more about the candidates and make deliberate, unhurried decisions.
If the cost is that it takes longer to tally all the ballots, it’s a trade-off worth making.
WE CAN DO BETTER: Still, there are some lingering questions about whether the San Mateo County Elections Department was prepared for the onslaught of ballots.
Interestingly, on the Peninsula TV election night show, Chief Elections Deputy Jim Irizarry brought some slides for his interview and one of them shows staffing levels in the Elections offices of the nine Bay Area counties.
San Mateo County is eighth, ahead only of Solano County.
There has been a lot of turnover in the Elections Department. Let’s be generous and assume it has been due to retirements.
I know from talking to people who have worked in the department that it takes two or three election cycles before a newcomer really has a handle on how it all works.
I don’t know if Elections Chief Mark Church failed to make a pitch to the Board of Supervisors, which includes his predecessor, Warren Slocum, for more funding for the Elections Department.
I don’t know if the Board failed to fund the department sufficiently, either at Church’s request or on its own initiative.
And I don’t care.
Moving forward, the department can do better and it needs to have adequate funds to hire the right number of people and to bring on board people with a level of experience that our elections system demands.
Contact Mark Simon at mark.simon24@yahoo.com.
Photo courtesy of San Mateo County Elections Division
*The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Climate Online.
Filed under #SanMateo, #SanMateoCountyNews, #SMCJUSTICE, Bill Silverfarb, Caltrain, Carlos G. Bolanos, Carole Groom, Chief Deputy District Attorney Al Serrato, Chris Hunter, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, David Silberman, Don Horsley, Hanson Bridgett LLP, Jim Hartnett, John Beiers, Mark Church, Mark Olbert, Mark Simon, Marshall Wilson, Michael G. Stogner, Michelle Durand, Mike Callagy, Rosanne Faust, SAMCEDA, SamTrans, San Mateo County Clerk to Supervisors, Silicon Valley, SMC, SMC Measure W 2018, Tax Payer's Advocate, Thomas Weissmiller, Those Who Matter, Vicky Nguyen Journalist/Reporter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum, Whistleblowers
SamTrans, Fraud, Retaliation against Whistleblower Accountants, Mark Simon, Al Serrato, Steve Wagstaffe, Abuse of Authority, Corruption, Conflict of Interest, Service League, Carole Groom, Hanson Bridgett LLP, Lies.
These are just a few of the topics and names I think about when I think of SamTrans.
SamTrans spent $300,000 of Taxpayer money for “Education” Measure W 2018. I think Jim Hartnett and the Board should pay that back. The public never asked to be educated. Same goes for the Supervisors who spent $350,000 of Taxpayers money.
Yes on W San Mateo County Neighbors for Congestion Relief raised $882,369.74 through 10/20/2018. That is all private funding and that is fine.
Here are the Neighbors that donated
The No on W raised about $5,700. The measure is failing at this moment.
SMC Grand Jury Warned Residents of Elected Officials misleading the Voters
Citizens stand for Whistleblowers
Filed under #SanMateo, #SanMateoCountyNews, Board of Supervisors, Carole Groom, Citizens Access TV, Citizens Oversight Committee, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, David Silberman, DDA Albert Serrato, Don Horsley, electioneering, Felony misappropriation of public money., Grand Jury, Hanson Bridgett LLP, Jim Hartnett, John Ullom, Mark Simon, Matt Grocott, Michael G. Stogner, Michelle Durand, Mike Callagy, MTC, Organized Crime, Prosecutorial Misconduct, SAMCEDA, SamTrans, San Mateo County District Attorney Office, San Mateo County Grand Jury, SMC Measure W 2018, Steve Wagstaffe, Tax Payer's Advocate, Vicky Nguyen Journalist/Reporter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum, Whistleblowers
Measure W Failing. Great news for the taxpayers of San Mateo County.
Update 11/9/2018 Without knowing how many ballots were mailed it is impossible to have confidence in this election. As of 9:00AM there are at least 146, 378 ballots to be tallied.
The elections office has just posted it’s official update at 4:30PM today. Mark Church is still refusing to say how many ballots were mailed out. He is only saying that he has received 215,480 and counted/tallied only 111,637 that leaves 103,843 ballots remaining to be tallied.
Total Yes Votes 69,132 = 65.65%
Total No Votes 36,173 = 34.35%
The Yes on Measure W Campaign with total reported funding of $1,500,000 of that $650,000 of Taxpayer money used against the Taxpayers.
The No on Measure W Campaign with a reported total funding of $5,700
Thank You to Jack Hickey for warning the public.
Jack Hickey
More than $1,500,000 of taxpayer money was spent on a campaign run by TBWB Strategies. See: http://www.tbwb.com/approach. The campaign phase of their strategy was step 4 in their strategy. This is “electioneering” and should be a felony misappropriation of public money.
Vote NO on “W”
The Elections Office should be Audited.
SMC Grand Jury 2012 warned the residents about the elected officials misleading the voters.
Filed under #SanMateo, #SanMateoCountyNews, Adrienne Tissier, Angela Hernandez, Attorney Generals Office, Board of Supervisors, Carole Groom, Chief Deputy District Attorney Al Serrato, Dave Canepa, Dave Pine, David Burruto, David Silberman, Don Horsley, electioneering, Felony misappropriation of public money., Grand Jury, Hanson Bridgett LLP, Jim Hartnett, John Beiers, John Maltbie, Locol Control, Mark Church, Mark Olbert, Mark Simon, Michael G. Stogner, Michelle Durand, Mike Callagy, Organized Crime, RICO, SamTrans, San Mateo County District Attorney Office, San Mateo County Grand Jury, San Mateo County Supervisors, Senator Jerry Hill, Silicon Valley, SMC, Steve Wagstaffe, Tax Payer's Advocate, TBWB, Those Who Matter, Vicky Nguyen Journalist/Reporter, Victim's Advocate, Warren Slocum, Will Holsinger
Judge, Sheriff Deputies & Public Space
You would think Judges, and Sheriff Deputies would know the law. Why would Judges care that the public is outside in a public area. This is just one of the reasons I support videos of all court cases. Why would the SCC Sheriff Deputies even go out and communicate to Vicky Nguyen a very well known and respected Journalist/Reporter.
The First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
What is the name of the person who contacted the SCCSO? That is a story.
Filed under #Blacklivesmatter, #MeToo, #SanMateoCountyNews, Body Camera Video, California Bar Association, California State Bar, Citizens Access TV, Jeff Rosen, Judges, Michael G. Stogner, Parental Alienation, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, Santa Clara County Superior Court, Vicky Nguyen Journalist/Reporter, Victim's Advocate
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Santé Bon Viveur
[Sonn-Tay Bonn Vee-Ver] Healthy Good Living: a blog about food, travel and nutrition science.
Rock & Pop in Pictures
From Bean-To-Bar & Beyond: 6. What’s New in Chocolate: Craft Chocolate Bars Containing Alternative Milks And Sweeteners
When I started researching what’s new in chocolate for this blog miniseries, I was astounded at just how many craft chocolate bars containing alternative milks and sweeteners are around now. And the types of milk and sweetener used are going to make a big difference to the taste of a craft chocolate bar whose only other ingredient is cocoa beans.
If you’re lactose/cows’ milk intolerant; avoiding over-processed sugars in your diet; or just fancy trying something quirky and new; then you might want to look out for some of the craft chocolate bars containing alternative milks and sweeteners that I talk about here.
NB: As always when referring to companies, I make it crystal clear if any views are theirs and not my own.
Craft Chocolate Bars Containing Alternative Milks And Sweeteners
The three basic ingredients in chocolate are cocoa beans, milk and sugar. Other ingredients may be used, but these three are all you need. And of course you don’t even need milk if you’re making dark chocolate.
But I’ve been fascinated to discover so many new craft chocolate bars containing alternative milks and sweeteners as substitutes for traditional cows’ milk and cane sugar. So this is a roundup of just a few of the more unusual ones I’ve come across.
By the way, manufacturers make nutritional and health claims for some of these milks and sweeteners. I’ve reproduced some of these here, but I’m making clear that they’re what the companies say on their websites. Whether or not they’re accurate, the companies have given no independent sources for their information, and I’ve only had time to fact-check some of them before posting. It’s no disrespect to the companies, but I never quote nutrition and health claims as fact unless and until I’ve been able to verify them from an independent source.
Artisan du Chocolat is one company that’s been doing lot of experimentation with craft chocolate bars containing alternative milk and sweeteners.
In 2015 – to mark the Chinese year of the goat – Artisan du Chocolat introduced a goats’ milk chocolate bar. It’s made with dried full cream goats’ milk.
And as Artisan du Chocolat say on their website, goats’ milk has smaller, more easily digestible, fat molecules than cows’ milk.
They also say it contains less lactose sugar, more calcium, more vitamin B6, more vitamin A and more than twice the potassium of regular cows’ milk. But as at March 2018, I haven’t yet fact-checked all these detailed nutritional composition statements with an independent source. However, according to a scientific paper by Lille University Faculty of Medicine in 2013, goats’ milk has no clear nutritional advantage over cows’ milk.
Lille University also suggest that goats’ milk is not less allergenic than cows’, as Artisan du Chocolat’s website states tends to be the case. But it does seem there’s been some scientific debate about this, as earlier science papers, like this one from 2004, do suggest that goats’ milk is indeed less allergenic. Unfortunately Artisan du Chocolate haven’t stated the source of their information to enable me to compare it, but I’ll ask them and update this once I have.
I’m very fond of savoury goat products like cheese. To date, I’ve never got on personally with goats’ milk as an ingredient in sweet dishes though. But I consider Artisan du Chocolat to be a great chocolatier, and I’m generally a fan of their products. I used to live near their shop in Chelsea and often made a purchase there. So I’m very intrigued to try this bar to see how it tastes, and whether it has a ‘goatey’ flavour. Next time I’m near one of their shops in London I’ll pick one up and report back here on what it’s like
40% Goat Milk. Photo Credit: Artisan du Chocolat
Having said that I want to try the 40% goats’ milk bar, it’s also true that I don’t usually tend to eat much milk chocolate. Or chocolate that’s as low as 40% cocoa, for that matter. That’s partly as I have a personal preference for the heavier chocolate flavour that comes with more cocoa and no milk. And it’s also partly because I’m often trying to eat low-carb. So a lot of the time I’m trying to avoid and reduce cane sugar and milk sugars (lactose).
But for that same low-carb reason, I do tend to use a lot of unsweetened almond milk. I’m not lactose intolerant, but having no lactose milk sugar means almond milk is very low-carb. So I was intrigued to see that Artisan du Chocolat are also selling a 40% bar including almond milk, instead of cows’ milk. (What it actually contains is ‘partially defatted instant almonds’).
Artisan du Chocolat did indeed create their almond milk bar as they wanted to offer a milk bar that doesn’t contain lactose. Apparently they conducted many trials with soya and rice milks, before settling for almond milk, because it leaves subtle almond flavour notes on its finish. Again, I’ll pick up a bar next time I’m near one of their shops and report back here on what it tastes like.
L Artisan du Chocolat 40% Almond Milk Bar. Photo credit: Artisan du Chocolat
Many companies are now including different types of novel natural and ‘healthier’ sweeteners in their chocolate. Of course, this is against a backdrop of people increasingly trying to reduce processed foods, and sugar overall, in their diets.
Take Artisan du Chocolat’s 61% Panela Dark bar, for instance. It’s sweetened with panela – a Colombian raw sugar made naturally from dried (evaporated) sugar cane juice. Artisan du Chocolate say that, unlike sugar, panela apparently retains its natural flavour, vitamins and minerals. I’ll take a subsequent look at those nutrition claims about panela. But for now, this is another bar I’m intrigued to try next time I’m near one of their shops.
Artisan du Chocolat 61% dark chocolate bar sweetened with panela. Photo credit: Artisan du Chocolat
Raw chocolate makers Forever Cacao are another company that’s been experimenting with craft chocolate bars containing alternative milk and sweeteners. For instance, they’re selling a 65% Lucuma and Vanilla bar.
Forever Cacao describe this as ‘the closest thing to milk chocolate without the milk’, although lucuma is actually a natural sugar substitute. It’s a subtropical fruit native to the Peruvian Andes which Forever Cacao say is often called ‘Inca’s Gold’ because the Incas relied on lucuma as a natural sugar source.
According to Forever Cacao’s website, lucuma contains vitamins B1, B2, B3 and B5 and beta carotene. They also say it contains iron, potassium, calcium and phosphorous and is low GI. (As at March 2018, I haven’t fact-checked all of these detailed nutritional composition statements with an independent source. I’ll update this once I’ve done so).
Forever Cacao say that lucuma gives the bar a rich, creamy, caramel flavour. It’s another one I’m going to be seeking out to try in the near future and I’ll update this post when I do.
Forever Cacao Lucuma & Vanilla 65% raw chocolate bar. Photo credit: Forever Cacao
In their other experimentations with raw craft chocolate bars containing alternative milks and sweeteners, Forever Cacao include coconut palm sugar in place of cane sugar in all their bars.
And another raw bar maker, the IQ company, sweeten theirs with coconut blossom sugar.
IQ say on their website that coconut sugar is high in potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron, and a source of vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and C. They say it’s also ‘very rich in other minerals and enzymes which aid in the slow absorption into the bloodstream’ and that it’s low GI. (As at March 2018, I haven’t yet fact-checked all of these nutrition composition statements with an independent source).
I’ve got a MASSIVE thing about good dark chocolate and mint. So my favourite of IQ’s bars is their very lovely 72% Plush Peppermint, including real peppermint oil, as it should do. I’ve always got one of these bars in the house in case of emergencies!
IQ Chocolate’s range of raw chocolate bars sweetened with coconut blossom sugar. Photo Credit: IQ Chocolate
Yacón Root
Raaka’s Virgin (raw) chocolate bar sweetened with yacón root instead of sugar. Photo credit: Raaka Chocolate
Raaka sweeten one of their virgin (unroasted, otherwise known as raw) chocolate bars – a high cocoa 79% bar -with yacón root instead of sugar.
Yacón is a Peruvian tuber which looks like a sweet potato and apparently tastes a bit similar to pear. Raaka say the bar has ‘an intense cacao flavor with a hint of tang’. Sadly I won’t be able to try this – although I’m dying to! – as Raaka don’t ship to the UK. If you’ve tried it, please do let us know in the comments what you thought of it!
Yacón, a tuber from South America. Photo credit: Able & Cole
Conner, owner of Mayhawk Chocolate, told me that one of the biggest influencers of difference in how chocolate tastes is which sweetener is used.
He makes his own maple sugar in-house from Grade A maple syrup from sustainable Canadian forests. The syrup, he says, contains B vitamins and antioxidants, which Conner believes makes its high cost well worth it. He says it also has medium-carb content compared to processed cane sugar. (As at March 2018, I haven’t had time to fact-check all of these nutritional statements with an independent source. I’ll update this once I’ve done so).
Mayhawk’s 73% Dark Maple Bar, made with single-estate Trinidadian cocoa beans, is one of their bars sweetened with maple – instead of cane – sugar. I’ve had a bar myself and it really is amazing. When appreciated properly by letting one square of the chocolate melt in the mouth slowly, it’s got beautiful notes of maple and treacle coming through, after the initial chocolate taste subsides. And as with all Mayhawk’s bars, it’s exquisitely hand-packaged.
Mayhawk 73% Maple Sugar Bar. Photo Credit: Mayhawk Chocolate
I’ve noticed malt being used increasingly as a sweetening ingredient in craft chocolate bars. I haven’t yet come across a bar where it’s been used as a sweetener on its own. But it adds to the sweetness in chocolate overall, so in principle, less sugar needs to be used.
Mayhawk told me that their 60% Vanilla and Dark Malt bar uses the least sugar of almost any of their other bars. Less sugar is necessary because of the sweetness of the malt, combined with vanilla. I’ve yet to look into the health implications of dark malt, but will update this when I have done so.
I love malted milk flavours. I was reminded of that very recently when I stayed at Tom Kerridge’s Hand and Flowers on New Years Eve and to my delight found a flask of homemade malted milk in a hamper on my bed when I returned from dinner!
So malted milk has been firmly in my mind since then, and that led me to ordering online a bar of Mayhawk’s Vanilla and Dark Malt. And when it arrived I found it to be seriously addictive! Unusually for me I couldn’t stop myself eating the whole bar in one afternoon while I was tapping away at my computer. It has the most gorgeous, silky subtly sweet malt flavours, like a nostalgic mug of Ovaltine from my childhood. And it also happens to be made with one of my favourite fruity cocoa beans – Criollo from Madagascar.
Mayhawk’s hugely moreish Vanilla & Dark Malt Chocolate. The dark malt adds sweetness so less sugar needs to be used. Photo credit: Mayhawk Chocolate
Malt combined with longer roasting
And here’s another example of a bar made with malt which I haven’t yet tried. The Land company are an award-winning bean-to-bar company in Bethnal Green, London. Demarquette Fine Chocolates mentioned them as a company they rated when I attended their Chocolate Curiosities workshop at Abergavenny Food Festival last year.
Land’s 65% Malt Dark bar contains malt barley grain from the nearby Pressure Drop Brewery to add sweetness alongside organic cane sugar.
And here’s a thing also about this bar for anyone who’s read my article about raw chocolate and the desire to achieve interesting flavours by using unroasted cocoa beans. For in this particular bar Land practically do the opposite to achieve new flavours. They use Honduran cocoa beans that they have intentionally roasted for slightly longer than usual.
Land say that this gives more intense flavour, while simultaneously creating a dark chocolate bar that tastes milder than many others. Apparently longer roasting gives the chocolate underlying coffee aromas which Land say perfectly balances the sweetness of the malt barley. So it’s yet another one of these craft chocolate bars containing alternative milks and sweeteners that sounds gorgeous, and that’s on my list to order and try sometime soon and report back here!
Land Chocolate’s 65% Malt Dark Bar made with extra long roasted cocoa beans from Honduras. Photo credit: Land Chocolate
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Posted on 10 March 2018 22 July 2018 By Santé Bon ViveurPosted in ChocolateTagged almond milk, Alternative milks, alternative sweeteners, Chocolate, coconut sugar, From Bean-to-Bar & Beyond, goats milk, malt, panela.
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Merry Christmas! 24 December 2018
Rock & Pop in Pictures: Psychic TV at Heaven, London, Nov 2018 10 December 2018
4-Ingredients Low-Carb Smoked Salmon Pâté 21 November 2018
Rock & Pop in Pictures – Tainted – A New Musical 7 November 2018
Low-Carb Rustic Pumpkin Pie 28 October 2018
Rock & Pop in Pictures: Soft Cell: One Night, One Final Time, The O2, London, 30 September 2018 5 October 2018
Rock & Pop in Pictures: Marc Almond, The Water Rats, London, January 2016 24 September 2018
Say Hello Wave Goodbye: Attending the Soft Cell Beer (& Box Set) Launch! 8 September 2018
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sevendoorsofcinema
Snake Eater (1989)
Posted by Wednesday's Child in action
Larry Csonka, Lorenzo Lamas, My Year of VHS, Ron Palillo, Ronnie Hawkins, Snake Eater
This action series starring Lorenzo Lamas begins with Lamas’s character, a former marine known as Soldier, screwing up an undercover drug bust on his first day by booby trapping the crack house where he’s waiting for death merchants to sell him some drugs. When he gets thieves instead, he makes the floor flip over so that nails go through their feet. This really pisses off his boss, who happens to be Larry Csonka. That’s never a good idea! The new rookie gets fired even though booby traps are a pretty neat trick. Soon Lamas is off doing what he does best: looking vaguely confused while riding a motorcycle.
Meanwhile, in another movie, an older couple and their teenage daughter are set upon by sadistic rednecks while cruising on the river in their houseboat. Let me just say, since I like to vent all my neuroses here on this seemingly neutral movie blog, that I hate home invasions in film, even houseboat invasions. And I am aware that Snake Eater ain’t no Cape Fear, yet this whole section of the film bugs me. Vampires, zombies, ghosts, even slashers are probably not going to happen to me, but a break-in could. The idea of assholes breaking into your house for no reason, boiling your wife’s head, kidnapping your daughter, and then knocking you out and leaving you to die as your boat explodes just doesn’t entertain me. The old man looks so defeated waiting to die in his cute little ball cap that says “Captain” on it, knowing he couldn’t protect his family, that I forget this is not to be taken seriously.
And by the way, the victimized family is of course Soldier’s parents and sister, as we find out the next day while he’s being beaten up by bikers in a bar somewhere. In this particular bar everyone indeed knows his name, but his friends all decide to step back and let him take care of the bikers. He is known so well that the police know to look for him there to deliver the bad news about his family, even if no one likes him enough to help him fight off bikers.
“Nothing about this film is as dangerous as Deliverance.” – Ned Beatty
Soon our hero is off to catch the Wyatt family and rescue his sister, but first he’s got to meet Ronnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, who I didn’t know was an actor because I’ve only seen him playing music in The Last Waltz with The Band. Hawkins plays a marina owner named King who rented the houseboat to Soldier’s family, and he also has a hot daughter of his own, luckily, since she saves Soldier from getting his ass kicked again by the River Bottom Nightmare Band. Then while he’s passed out from his latest beating, she decides to put him in her bed and go take a shower, which gives him the perfect opportunity to leer at her naked when he wakes up.
While Soldier was sleeping off his concussion, Ronnie Hawkins has made his Harley into a jet ski, so now he sets off down the river to kill all the hicks. At some point I lose interest in this movie every time I watch it (nothing personal, cause most bad movies have me checking the clock in the last half hour) so I couldn’t tell you if he uses any cool booby traps in the final showdown. It really doesn’t matter to me because I see Snake Eater as just a setup to one of my favorite good-bad movies of all time, Snake Eater 2: The Drug Buster. Suffice it to say that here in Snake Eater land the good guy wins, more or less, and then there’s an epilogue starring Ron Palillo as an arsonist who Soldier has to catch. To be fair, this isn’t even the weirdest movie I’ve ever seen featuring that guy. That would be the South African head scratcher Hellgate which also came out in 1989, and which features a talking head in a fridge.
But let’s talk about Lorenzo Lamas again. Ron Palillo is also in Snake Eater 2, so maybe they were friends? Maybe they met through John Travolta during the making of Grease. More importantly, why does Mr. Lamas look so awkward and uncomfortable in every low budget action film he churned out? (And for that matter why were they all made in Canada? I totally have an agent but you wouldn’t know her because she lives in Canada?) I have never seen such an attractive person look so ill-at-ease on camera, so for that reason he fascinates me. Forget about Are You Hot?, he should have been a judge on Are You Nervous?! The only time he looks like he can act is when he’s getting his ass kicked, which happens a lot to him here for someone who’s supposed to be a dangerous special forces dude. If you don’t know what I’m referring to, watch this goofy slow motion running action that ensues after they find the love interest’s dead dad. I think if I was Sandy I might pick Danny Zuko over him too, because at least Zuko could dance. Lorenzo does a good job making smart remarks, and he would appear to have the physique of an action hero, but I think he might have been more comfortable in comedies.
My copy of Snake Eater has logos from both Media Entertainment and Video Treasures, which means the title was probably owned by Media but Video Treasures had the rights to put out cheapo EP copies. I could probably find a better quality tape, but like I said, this one is not one of my favorites. If you’re going to set up a horrible murder, make the revenge worthwhile, not forgettable. The best thing this movie has going for it is that there is a theme song that references the plot of the film with lyrics like “Solder, where’s your sister.” More movies should include theme songs that reference the movie’s plot. But if you like B-action movies you should not miss Soldier in part 2, where he gets himself checked into a mental hospital to escape prosecution for his bad police work and all sorts of sophomoric high jinks occur. It’s actually pretty funny, which is what works for Lamas. Anyway, my favorite part about my copy of Snake Eater is that it’s an autographed copy! Not by any of the cast, but by the previous owner! This is what you kids today are missing out on by not learning to write in cursive. Juanita Jones, wherever you are, your handwriting is hot!
10 thoughts on “Snake Eater (1989)”
deathstalker2 said:
I remember this trilogy being big in just about every video store back in the day. I never watched any of them until a few years ago when I caught this one on cable. “BREED THE GIRL”, lmao.
I’m a bit surprised it was on the Video Treasures label. I had a Texas Chain Saw Massacre tape from Video Treasures, and Nightmare on Elm St parts 1 & 3. Their tapes were cheap in both price and quality. They all fell apart rather quickly.
Wednesday's Child said:
Video Treasures did put out some of the worst tapes. They and companies like Goodtimes are the reason I buy ex-rentals when I can….those were made to play hundreds of times, and were priced accordingly back in the day!
LMAO just noticed you called them “The Wyatt Family”, hahaha it’s been a while since I watched. Were they really The Wyatt Family or is that a wrestling reference toward the Eater of Worlds and current WWE Champion?
Just a wrestling reference. My husband is a wrestling fan, which pretty much makes me one, to paraphrase the vegetarian comment from Jules in Pulp Fiction.
Bray Wyatt is amazing.
I like him okay, but I hate that he uses an Atlantic coastal southern accent. He sounds like a bad imitation of my hoity toity step grandmother, or anyone from Savannah or Charleston. A real filthy backwoods preacher would do a Florida cracker accent. I’m nitpicking, I know.
He actually is from FL!
I know! So he should know better than to have a hard-shell preacher character talking like a member of the garden club.
The Telltale Mind said:
Man, I have not seen this in years and years. You have some great and eclectic taste. 🙂
Eclectic, for sure! lol
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January 2009 Press Club board minutes
18 January 2009 October 11, 2017 San Francisco Press ClubLeave a comment
Jan. 14, 2009 — Board Room, San Mateo Daily Journal. Meeting was called to order at 6:42 p.m.
Present: Jon Mays, Peter Cleaveland, Marshall Wilson, Ed Remitz, Jamie Casini, Micki Carter and Darryl Compton
Absent: Jay Thorwaldson, Jack Russell, Dave Price
Minutes were approved as read.
Treasurer report was approved. Darryl noted that Hannah Hoffman’s scholarship check of $1,500 was returned by UC Berkeley since she opted for delayed enrollment. That will be held in suspension.
Open board seat: The board discussed possible people to take the open seat on the board. We will mention the open seat in the newsletter and invite potentials to board meetings.
Awards contest: Darryl led the group through the Call for Entries for the 32nd Annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards Competition. The board approved merging Divisions A and B so that there would be only one division for daily newspapers. The Ad Design category was also deleted and the category Overall Excellence was added to the Public Relations division. The board also added an Entry Rule: “Entries should be made in the name of the creator of the work to be judged.”
June 6 is the first choice for a date for the Evening of Excellence Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City.
High School Journalism Project: Bettylu Smith and Pat Gemma from the Sequoia High School District are interested in talking to the board about their high school journalism programs. They will be invited to the February meeting of the board.
Request for Assistance; Hillsdale High School’s journalism program has requested money for students to attended the national JEA Convention in Arizona. Jon will talk to the advisor and tell him that we have $500 for their program but they may want to consider the best use of that money. He will encourage them to look into the high school journalism organization in Northern California that could offer help at a much lower cost. Marshall moved that the club set aside up to $500 per Peninsula high school for similar assistance. The motion passed.
Town Hall Meeting: For the February meeting Marshall volunteered to work on a plan for a town hall meeting the club will sponsor on the topic of high-speed rail.
The meeting adjourned in memory of former Mercury News reporter Dan Reed and Oakland Tribune reporter Leeanne McLaughlin.
Respectfully submitted, Micki Carter, Secretary
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Films, Musings, SMFS
Film Review: Laskar Pelangi
May 26, 2009 sharmeeeFilms, laskar pelangi, Singapore Malay Film Society, SMFS Leave a comment
I’ve been wanting to watch this film since forever, but unfortunately, our local cinemas decided not to screen it over a longer period of time. So when I was shopping at Geylang (Joo Chiat) two weeks ago, I was quite surprised to see the VCD at Muzika Records! I grabbed one copy, took out a 10 dollar note and immediately paid without any second thoughts.
A small school in the countryside is on the verge of being shut down when enrollment falls due to the emergence of a rival school in the area. Without a complete class of ten students, the school would have to face its fate. Fortunately, the last student arrives at the eleventh hour, hence allowing the school to continue operations.
Nevertheless, the school faces all sorts of problems as time goes on. The students live in poverty, making use of whatever nature allows them to study. When the school faces a shortage of funds and students insist on participating in the local carnival, the class puts up a performance in a way arts critics would applaud.
What I like about Laskar Pelangi is the subtlties and impactful dialogues that will forever be etched in your mind. When asked why she does not want to accept a marriage proposal from a rich businessman, Ibu Muslimah simply said, “Mimpiku bukan untuk menjadi isteri saudagar, mimpiku ialah untuk menjadi guru!” The English translation would simply mean “My dream is not to be a businessman’s wife, my dream is to be an educator!”
Apart from that, the class has a plethora of characters just like any class would have. I couldn’t quite catch the character’s names though. One boy has a superb ability of mental calculations and knows a lot about world events because he saves his daily pocket money to purchase newspapers to read. Another goes around the neighbourhood with a broken down radio that needs to be shaken up before used. He loves singing and dancing and anything related to the arts. And of course, there’s the misfit – a boy who’s stuck in the middle and just goes with the flow of his peers.
This is a truly inspiring film – because it has made think about my current status of being a substitute teacher. Perhaps, when I’ve gotten bored of filmmaking in the future, I’d probably come back to teaching. As for now, I’m happy where I am.
SMFS: Interview with SIFF Short Film Finalist – Hafidz Senor
May 17, 2009 sharmeeehafidz senor, siff, Singapore Malay Film Society, SMFS 1 Comment
Last Sunday, I managed to catch the re-run of the Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF) Short Film Finalists at the Substation. Remember when I said I’d catch a few films from April’s SIFF? They ran out of tickets. So I was fortunate to be informed by BK from the Substation about the re-run!
I caught up with one of the finalists, Hafidz Senor, 23 years old, the director of SHINGAPORU MONOGATARI. He enjoys water sports, hanging out with family and friends, as well as going to rock concerts.
1. When your film was screened, there was an eerie air of silence. Why did you decide on a silent film?
When I was editing my film I felt that it would be better for my film to be silent. If I added my grandfather’s voice and ambient sounds I felt it would be too overbearing for the audience. As the black and white images are already strong itself, I guess the less-is-more approach would be better. When the film is silent, I believe people will be more focused reading the subtitles.
Yeah you’re right about this eerie air of silence. It’s kinda strange too for me watching it. War means terror and suffering, to think about past wars I guess its eerie and sad.
2. The visuals you portrayed are a stark contrast to the story. From I can see, it was done in a way such that the modernity of Singapore contradicts the narrative of the story. Why?
The film was for a school assignment. I only had to three weeks to finish it. And I did not have access to archive war footage of Singapore during the war. So I planned the visuals in a way that it would parallel what my grandfather mentioned. Some of the images are the exact locations of where this events happened. Places like City Hall, Fort Siloso, Changi Beach and YMCA.
Its a different effect when you juxtapose an old narrative to images of present day Singapore. You feel the transformation, the nostalgia of how fast things change, things improve. I would say that my film falls under the genre of documentary/film essay technique. In the similar vein like Werner Herzog’s documentaries or Godfrey Reggio’s Koyaanisqatsi.
3. Did you face any difficulty while making the montage of visuals?
Not really. I had planned the visuals/locations before I went out shooting. I guess the difficulty comes when I walked around City Hall.
And climbing Fort Siloso in Sentosa. I’m very happy with the film I made. Being selected for the Singapore International Film Festival itself is an honour and a beautiful surprise.
4. I understand the subject of SHINGAPORU MONOGATARI was your grandfather. How was it for him, recalling stories of the war?
It was exciting hearing his stories. he remembers so much. Maybe everything he experienced. He was 14 when the occupation began – I think its an important age in any human being’s life. He had big dreams of being an ustaz (religious teacher) as a student at Madrasah Al-Arabiah.
He said it was somewhere near the present day Masjid Haji Yusoff at Kovan. There was nothing he could do. So he worked for the Japanese doing labour work and cleaning machinery. If he went against the Japanese, he wouldn’t be here today.
The film is for me to remember my grandfather. And to remember our Singaporean ancestors who fought and build our country to what it is today. When I see the changes to Singapore’s natural and urban landscapes, I begin to realize that suffering brings out the best in us. Out of darkness and despair, comes new hopes and new dreams. The film fills a hole in my heart. Partially answers the questions I sometimes ask myself about our heritage and history. If you look at Singapore’s history or the history we study at school.
It starts with Stamford Raffles in 1819. It is based alot on the colonial or the authorities’ point of view. What happened before 1819, history about Malay civilisation has been conveniently left out. The film is very much a personal narrative, from the viewpoint of a survivor. Its important for us to document war survivors, people who went through it all. I don’t know, I guess the film is part of my life journey, my life’s questions. It’s hard to explain why I like art or why I create art but I hope this quote helps.
There’s a lot of searching in life. Just as John Berger says, “Art is the provocation for talking about enigma and the search for sense in human life.”
5. Any advice for aspiring filmmakers?
Hmm. I don’t make a lot of films either. My advice would be to make a film that you feel strongly about. For me, I want the audience to remember my film. So its important I make a good one. Take your time to write a script. Watch a lot of films of different genres. Everyone is inspired by different things so we got to go out and enjoy. Experience different forms of art like theatre, painting or music, it helps. I like the collaborative aspect of filmmaking. I hope to make more films in the future with Singapore filmmakers.
SMFS: 48 Hour Film Project
May 14, 2009 sharmeee 2 Comments
Over the May Day weekend two weeks ago, the Singapore Malay Film Society (SMFS) took part in the second 48 Hour Film Project held in our sunny island Singapore. We sent in two teams, Al-Bajet led by Suffian and MatD led by Isnor. Prior to the competition, we had a hard time splitting the already scarce manpower into two teams, but we had to. So here I am, blogging to you about my experience being part of Al-Bajet.
Tisch Asia School of the Arts – Kick Off Event
Shahril was kind enough to drive Suffian, Linda and myself to Tisch, which to my surprise, located at some isolated part of Singapore. Looking back, Tisch is far more inaccessible than NTU. I wonder why the organisers decided to make Tisch their headquarters. So upon reaching Tisch, we registered, paid the registration fee and waited anxiously for the organisers to release the competition details. Each team was required to draw the genre for their short film, and all teams are to use the given character, prop and line of dialogue in the most creative manner possible.
The team insisted I picked the genre though Linda is the one with the magic fingers. I picked a piece of paper from Mike’s (the organiser) cap and read the genre written. You can imagine how surprised I was when it read ‘Detective/Cop’. I was expecting a simpler genre like drama or comedy.
So basically, we were given the following details to craft our short film:
Genre: Detective/Cop
Prop: Scissors
Character: Amy/Andy Yeo, Journalist
Line of Dialogue: Is it supposed to look like that?
Then came the journey to look for an inspiration…
These, my friends, are the faces of thinkers like Leonardo Da Vinci.
Golden Landmark Hotel and Shopping Centre, ModKebaya
We proceeded to Rezza’s dad’s office to discuss our film at Golden Landmark Hotel. It was getting late and we were sort of stuck when it came to finding an inspiration. Then out of the blue, Linda said that till today, life’s greatest mystery has yet to be solved…
Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?
We are all familiar with this nursery rhyme, especially those who grew up with Barney. And thus, we decided to let our story evolve around cookies. More on that later.
Discussing the plot and story.
The Comfort of My Bedroom
Upon reaching home, I did the script. After a can of Redbull and a cup of Vietnamese coffee, I finished the script at 4.30 am. I went to bed just when my mum woke up for Subuh. Nice.
The cast and crew dropped by my lovely home for rehearsal as well as to survey the location for filming later at night. We met some new faces; Dayang, Kelly, Ilyas and Jas who made up our cast. Shaffira made a cameo appearance in our film as well.
After a few rehearsals and a brief briefing by our Director, Suffian, we headed to a multi storey carpark to shoot our first scene.
Rehearsing at my house.
Feeling-feeling make up artist!
Tampines Street 72 Carpark
So we shot the first scene, and I must say this is the first time I was working with other people for a film. My previous projects have been pretty much individual ones so working with others was quite an experience. Rezza and Suffian may not have the same style as myself, but when we combine ideas, it works perfectly.
Rezza playing around with the angles that work best.
DIY dolly track courtesy of Suffian’s brother in law!
Dayang’s piercing scream!
Ignore the minah sitting like an apek, the focus is on the sound man!
Linda and I having fun with the dolly track. Heh.
Badoque Restaurant, Simpang Bedok
We spent a tad too much time at the carpark, but we still managed to shoot at the coolest hang out place ever, Badoque! It was not packed and the staff were really helpful and friendly. They made sure we had everything we need so that shooting would on smoothly.
Bird’s eye view of how the place was set up.
Rezza doing his thing – being the Director of Photography!
Rehearsing before the first take.
Suffian as director!
Back at my place
Finally, we went back to my place, or HQ, for the final scene – probably the scariest and most suspenseful scene ever. We had fun shooting till 3am on Sunday morning, as well as the rain that made my house sound haunted according to Linda. Oh and the dolly track came for a visit as well!
This is what happens when your talents have too much talent and too little sleep – Ponyo Ponyo dance.
DOLLY DOLLY DOLLY!!!! I’m in love with that track!
FULL FORCE! From left – Me, Keynah, Kelly, Linda, Lina, Shaffira, Rezza, Ilyas, Jas and Suffian!
Tisch Asia School of the Arts
Yups, we submitted the film 3 minutes late. But fret not, there’s always a silver lining somewhere. Hence, I present to you, the trailer of ALIAS | ILYAS.
Musings, SMFS
A Date with A Visual Effects Artist: Effandi Mohamed
May 8, 2009 sharmeeedneg, effandi mohamed, Singapore Malay Film Society, SMFS, visual effects 3 Comments
When I was asked to interview a visual effects artist, I was more than glad to do it.
When I was asked to interview a visual effects artist who does effects for Hollywood movies, I was thrilled.
But when I was asked to interview a visual effects artist who did effects for The Dark Knight, my hands were shaking in excitement.
Everyone, meet Effandi Mohamed, a visual effects artist at Double Negatives (Dneg for short).
As I crafted my questions for the interview, my head started to go blank. I certainly could interview an actor, writer, musician, or even a director. Yet, I had no idea what to ask a visual effects artist! This is a sign that Singapore needs more people in the visual effects industry so journalists can interview. Thankfully, Effandi was able to understand that.
Our interview took place at Starbucks Tampines (they had a major makeover and I AM THRILLED!), even though I was reluctant fearing that it was too casual an atmosphere for an interview. Effandi assured me that Starbucks was a good venue, “Chill ahh… We’re in the creative industry! We have to be relaxed and casual!” That being said, I dumped my bag on the sofa and immediately queued for a Caramel Macchiato.
The 29-year-old visual effects artist who enjoys football, traveling and photography is someone whom we can call a role model. Despite having worked on mega Hollywood blockbusters, Effandi stayed calm and humble through out the interview session. I asked Effandi on the prospects of Singapore’s role in the visual effects industry as well as the future of local films incorporating visual effects.
How did you land a job in the visual effects industry?
I was studying at CG Protégé and Dneg staffs dropped by to visit the school and informing us they are recruiting talents from Singapore for their London office. They like what they see from our works and requested us to submit our showreels if we’re keen on working with them. Back in 2004-2006, the 3D industry was slowly picking up its pace in Singapore, considering it is a multi billion dollar industry. It was a very competitive market in Singapore at that time and therefore I decided to try my luck with Dneg. Few weeks later I was interviewed by Dneg’s HR Manager and 2D VFX Supervisor and I was very nervous during the interview. A week later, I got an email from the HR Manager that I was accepted and they are flying me off to London soon.
Have you always considered a career in the media industry specializing in visual effects? What were some of the difficulty faced?
It has been a dream of mine since I watched Armageddon, Matrix and some other VFX movies and to have my name in the credits of a Hollywood blockbuster. When I graduated from LaSalle in 2001 majoring in multi-media art, there was not much demand for 3D works in Singapore and therefore jobs in the 3D industry were limited to those lucky few. Nevertheless, I still took the risk of studying what I love, not knowing much about where my future was headed, really.
Without hardship, there is no success. It took me ten years to get to where I am now. I had to make do with a job as a videographer and video editor at the Singapore Police Force for five years while I waited patiently for the 3D industry to boom. Perhaps if I didn’t get an F9 for English during my O Levels, I would probably have had a better job upon graduation. I guess everything happens for a reason – I’m happy where I am now.
What do you like most about doing visual effects in Hollywood movies?
A visual effects artist has to be meticulous and really pay attention to detail. Mistakes can be seen obviously and the precise technicalities challenge me to do my best and that’s what I like about doing visual effects. Of course, end of the day our name will be credit and been seen around the globe which I find it really cool.
What were some of the movies you have worked on?
Angels & Demons, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Quantum of Solace, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Hellboy II: The Golden Army and The Dark Knight.
How did you feel when you found out you were working on the Dark Knight – the biggest Hollywood blockbuster since Titanic?
Actually, I had no idea it would turn out to be a box office hit. In fact, I belief neither did any of us at Dneg when we’re working on it! We knew we had to be very precise with out work since it’s in IMAX format. It be nice if The Dark Knight could smash Titanic all time record.
So do you think Singapore is ready for post-production work like visual effects?
Seriously speaking, the visual effects industry in Singapore is still an infant industry. Give it a few more years; coupled with government support, trainings in schools and public awareness, the industry will certainly grow. Singapore government needs to give all the support it can give to the industry because a lot of things are involved to create stunning visual effects like special effects, building miniatures sets, props etc.
Comparing Singapore and Hollywood, how different are the two film industries?
Huge differences, man! Hollywood uses loads of big trucks full of actors, camera crew, make up crew artists and whole lots of equipments etc just to shoot one scene! Imagine the scale of production compared to Singapore! Besides, they are able to have bigger budgets and therefore they can use it for visual and special effects. They have proper filming studios when we ourselves do not.
What do you hope to see in the filming industry in Singapore?
We need more filmmakers who are willing to take the risk and integrate visual effects in their films. This is the only way for this industry to succeed in Singapore.
What do you hope to see in Singapore’s visual effects industry?
Strong government backing with financial support – in large amounts, of course! *wink * This financial backing will of coz help to improve in all aspects to build this industry from education, luring companies and creating more jobs for fellow Singaporeans.
Hopefully we’ll see more established CG companies setting up studios here in our little island, and perhaps more Malays will get involved in this industry. We can’t be sitting at our office desks being contented with whatever we have. We need to be chasing our dreams; even if takes us a long time to achieve it.
And yes, we need more ladies in the industry (chuckles).
What is your advice for potential visual artists and wannabes?
Work hard – it’s not just the creativity but also the technical know-hows and artistic value of your work. With both elements, you can be the best visual artist if you really want to.
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This page is for the folks who may not be Jewish, but would sure like to know what all those Hebrew phrases (and some English jargon) mean without having to go search the Web for them. So, here’s what I’ve used so far and what they mean. More will be added as necessary. If I’m missing one, let me know and I’ll add.
Aliyah: This has two meanings. The first is being asked to say a prayer in synagogue services. The second is the right of all Jews to go to Israel.
Ark: The ornamental cabinet which holds the Torah scrolls in a temple or synagogue.
Ashkenazi: Jews who originally settled in Eastern Europe after the original Diaspora from the Holy Land.
Baal teshuva: A person who was born a secular Jew and has since taken up Judaism as a religious practice.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah: Literally, a son or daughter of the commandments. A Jewish person is bar/bat mitzvah on their 13th birthday. The celebration that is often called a “bar mitzvah” or a “bat mitzvah” is a misnomer; it refers to the person, not the celebration. Plural: b’nei mitzvah. This is the initial age of religious adulthood in Judaism.
Bimah: The stage where the rabbi, cantor, and any other speakers stand to conduct services in a synagogue.
Bracha (plural: brachot): Blessings, typically over meals. See also: Hagafen, Ha-adamah, Ha-eitz, Hamotzi, and Shehakol.
Challah: A braided bread used on Shabbat and at other holidays and festivals.
Chametz or hametz: Leavened bread products made of any one or a combination of the five grains of wheat, oats, spelt, barley and rye. Homes should be chametz-free during Pesach. See also: matzah.
Cantor: The person who leads the congregation in singing prayers during services.
Daven: to pray. Specifically, praying using the rocking motion that is used to express deep emotion during prayer.
Diaspora: The spreading of Jews around the world after the various persecutions and pogroms, and those Jews who still live outside of Israel today.
Drash: Short for “midrash,” it means commentary on some part of the Hebrew scriptures. See also d’var Torah.
D’var Torah: Literally, “word of Torah.” Usually refers to explication of something in the Torah in more detail than it’s expressed in the Torah itself. See also drash.
Frum: Orthodox.
Gabbai: The person who organizes the temple for services.
Gemilut chasadim: Acts of loving-kindness.
Ger: Stranger. Used to refer to converts before they have finished conversion. Plural: gerim.
Gentile: Non-Jew.
Goy: Non-Jew. The plural, goyim, means “Nations.” It is not intended as a slur towards non-Jews.
Ha-adamah: Prayer over vegetables and “fruit of the ground” during mealtimes. This includes potatoes, berries, and watermelon.
Ha-eitz: Prayer over most fruit – as long as it grew from a tree and has a stem.
Haftarah: The part of the Tanakh that is not the Torah.
Hagafen: Prayer over wine.
Hagah: Meditation or contemplation. I am using this word for some of my entries that are aimed at sorting out what I believe about Judaism.
Haggadah: The order of prayers used at a Passover seder.
Halacha/Halakha: Jewish law.
Hamotzi: Prayer over bread made from the five grains during Shabbat and other ceremonial mealtimes.
Haredi: The ultra-Orthodox who currently control religious practices in Israel.
HaShem: “The Name.” One of the terms used to refer to G-d.
Kaddish: Prayer said for the dead.
Kashrut: Hebrew for “kosher,” meaning adherence to the Jewish dietary laws.
Kavanah: Spontaneity, the feeling of being spirit-filled. The opposite of keva.
Keva: The expected routine of knowing and saying the set prayers in the siddur and other works. The opposite of kavanah.
Kiddush: Prayer said over wine, at Shabbat and other ceremonial meals. Normally there is a special cup reserved for saying Kiddush, called (naturally) a Kiddush cup.
Kippah (plural: kippot): The Hebrew term for the small, round cap that many Jewish men (and some women) wear. The Yiddish term for it is yarmulke.
Kodesh: Holy or sanctified.
Kol Yisrael: The Jewish people.
L’chayim!: “To life!” A toast to good fortune.
Ladino: A creole of Spanish and Hebrew spoken by Diaspora Sephardim.
Lashon hara: Literally, “The bad/evil tongue.” Gossip, or saying things about someone when it would be better not to, even if they’re true.
Nu?: Yiddish for “Right?” or sometimes “Why?”
Matzah (plural: matzo): The unleavened bread eaten during the eight days of Pesach.
Mazel tov!: Literally, “Good luck,” but usually used to mean “Congratulations.”
Mezuzah: A small case containing a few verses of the Torah, which is placed on the doorposts of many Jewish homes.
Mikveh: The ceremonial pool used for conversion ceremonies and for women who follow Orthodox practices regarding menstruation.
Minhag: A long-standing custom or tradition. Compare to mitzvah.
Minyan: Ten adult Jews (in Orthodox Judaism, ten male Jews); required for saying certain prayers at Shabbat services.
Mishegaas: Yiddish for “nonsense.”
Mitzvah (plural: mitzvot): Alternately understood as either “commandment” or “good deed.” The Torah lists 613 of these, many of which can no longer be achieved because the Jerusalem Temple is destroyed and they relate directly to Temple practice. Compare to minhag.
Mogen David: Also known as the “star of David.”
Neshama: Spirit or soul.
Oneg: After-Shabbat get-together/social hour involving a bit of food and drink.
Parshah: Portion. A reference to the Torah reading of the liturgical week. Torah parshot are named, and usually consist of two to four chapters of the Torah.
Pesach: Passover, which celebrates the release of Jews from slavery in Egypt. Very important holiday.
Pikuach nefesh: The doctrine that says that all laws and mitzvot (except three) may be put in abeyance to preserve life and health. (The three that can’t are murder, rape, or idolatry – which includes denying the existence of G-d.)
Rabbi: Literally, “teacher.” Usually the head of a synagogue.
Rosh Chodesh: “The head of the month.” A greeting used by Jews to greet a new month/new moon, such as “Rosh Chodesh Sivan!”
Seder: Any celebratory meal, but most commonly used for the ceremonial meal that is held during Pesach.
Sephardic/Sephardim: Jews that lived in the Iberian peninsula and North Africa, who were expelled from Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition. Some of these ended up in Ireland and Scotland; others ended up in South America.
Shabbat: Sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, local time. A day of rest. On Shabbat, Jews are not supposed to do work. What “work” means varies depending on the Jewish movement interpretation of halacha.
Shalom: Peace. A common greeting in Hebrew.
Shavuot: Jewish celebration of the receipt of the Torah from G-d at Sinai, celebrated on the 6th of Sivan every year.
Shehakol: Prayer over any food that isn’t included in the other four brachot.
Shehecheyanu: A prayer typically said for “firsts,” both the first-ever and the first thing each year. For example, I said the shehecheyanu when I put on my Mogen David and my kippah for the first time. Also said for other important firsts and occasions such as the birth or bris of a child, anniversaries, birthdays, etc.
Shomer Shabbat: A reference to the Orthodox method of observing Shabbat.
Siddur: Prayer book. Some siddurim have English translations and Hebrew transliterations, and some are entirely in Hebrew.
Simcha: Celebration, normally with food and drink, held after life-cycle events.
Siyachot: Conversations. I’m using this section of my blog to answer questions or discuss conversations that I’m having with people in venues other than my blog (for example, on message boards or in social media like Facebook).
Synagogue (also shul and temple): The building where Jews meet for prayer. The use of the term tends to depend on which movement you are part of: Orthodox Jews tend to say shul, while Conservative Jews say synagogue and Reform Jews say temple.
Tefillin: Either “prayers,” or the leather boxes and straps that Jews wear to say morning prayers.
Tallit (plural: tallitot). The prayer shawl that many Jews wear during prayer services and private prayer.
Tallit katan: A simple shirt that has the tzitzit on it, normally worn under an overshirt so that the tzitzit show below the hem of the overshirt.
Talmud: When used without a descriptor, it refers to the Babylonian Talmud, a collection of sections of rabbinic writings (called tractates) about the Torah and Tanakh that compose most of Jewish law. The other Talmud is the Jerusalem Talmud.
Tanakh: The Hebrew Bible. Tanakh is a transliteration of the first Hebrew letter of the three groups of books: Torah (Teaching), Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings).
Teshuva: To return.
Tikkun leil Shavuot: The practice of staying up all night on the first night of Shavuot to have a Torah study session.
Tikkun olam: The Jewish doctrine of “heal/repair the world,” normally achieved by carrying out mitzvot.
Torah: The first five books of what non-Jews call the “Old Testament.”
Tzitzit: “Fringes,” which are tied in a specific way on the corners of tallitot.
Yasher koach: “Good for you.”
Yarzheit: The anniversary of a loved one’s death, normally observed by saying the Mourner’s Kaddish and lighting a memorial candle.
Yiddishe: Jewish.
Yiddish: A creole of Hebrew and German that is often used by Ashkenazi Jews.
Yiddishkeit: Jewishness.
Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement. One of the most solemn days of the Hebrew calendar, and the last of the ten Days of Awe in the fall.
As far as months, they do not correspond exactly to the Gregorian calendar, because the Hebrew calendar is lunar, so I’m not going to translate those, okay? I’m just going to use them.
Finally, here’s a bit of commentary on the slightly-misleading names of the different movements of Judaism:
Reconstructionist Jews are on the very left side of liberalism.
Reform Jews might be termed progressive or liberal.
Conservative Jews are actually more like moderate liberals.
Modern Orthodox Jews are conservative, and slow to change.
Orthodox/Haredi/Chasidic Jews are generally extremely resistant to any change at all, and are sometimes referred to as “ultra-Orthodox.”
4 responses to “Glossary”
ndongo2015
Have you discovered klezmer music? I thought of it because it is sung in Yiddish, a language that is incomprehensible to me except when it isn’t.
(Now that I speak Dutch also, every so often in a Yiddish song, for one line or part of one line, it is obvious to me what they’re singing; but most often, I have no idea.)
Try the Klezmatics. You can find them on Youtube.
I’ve heard a bit of it; so far I really like Eric Komar’s “Ein Kamocha” (which, sadly, has its filename swapped with his “Dayenu” on Spotify). It’s definitely klezmer-influenced. But the main singers I’m listening to right now are the Maccabeats, Six13, Josh Nelson, and Elana Jagoda. If you’re on Spotify, I can send you the current playlist.
This is the original version. If you can, find the version where the Klezmatics perform with Itzakh Perlman, because Perlman really adds something to the song with his violin.
I’ll find you the Yiddish text with English interpretation in a minute.
Here’s the first verse:
“Kinder, mir hobn simkhas toyre; simkhas toyre oyf de ganzer velt.
Toyre is de beste skhoyre, azoy hoi de rebbe met uns geknelt.”
(Children, we have Simchat Torah; Simchat Torah over all the world.
Torah is the best treasure, or so the rabbis tells us.)
The Dutch version (by me) sounds similar to the Yiddish:
“Kinderen! Wij hebben simkhas torah, simkhas torah over de hele werld.
Torah is de beste schat, nou, of tenminste zo de rabbi heeft ons verteld.”
http://www.lyrics.com/simkhes-toyre-lyrics-the-klezmatics.html
Yiddish followed by English.
Only a small handful of words could I understand without the translation.
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Paid Sick Leave for Nearly All NJ Workers — What it Means for You
Dino Flammia
Gov. Phil Murphy signs the paid sick leave law. (Michael Symons/Townsquare Media NJ)
Nearly every person employed in New Jersey is guaranteed paid sick leave later this month, when a law signed in May actually takes effect.
The New Jersey Paid Sick Leave Act, which officially launches on October 29, grants workers — even part-timers — one hour of leave for every 30 hours worked.
Workers can earn up to 40 hours in one year, and employers, depending on their paid-time-off method, must offer payment for unused time or allow unused time to be carried over to the next year.
New Jersey is one of 10 states mandating that employers provide their workers with paid sick leave.
Adam Gersh, a labor and employment attorney with Flaster Greenberg in Cherry Hill, said while many private employers already offer leave to workers, part-time employees are typically not part of the equation.
"Most employers are going to have to make some sort of modification to their current PTO plan," Gersh said.
The law firm is seeing so much interest, and so many questions, from employers that it's hosting a complimentary seminar on October 18 to provide legal advice.
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has posted proposed rules that would implement the new law. It serves as a blueprint for employers on how to comply, and for employees on their rights under the law.
As part of a 60-day comment period, a public hearing on the rule proposal is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 13, in the Labor Department's auditorium (1 John Fitch Plaza, Trenton, NJ)
"Having access to paid sick days means that New Jersey workers no longer have to lose a day's pay to stay home sick or to care for a sick child or parent," said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo.
It's estimated that about 1.2 million New Jersey workers currently don't have the benefit of paid sick days. This law, which overrides any local ordinances, also permits victims of domestic violence to use their leave in order to obtain treatment and counseling.
Contact reporter Dino Flammia at dino.flammia@townsquaremedia.com.
Source: Paid Sick Leave for Nearly All NJ Workers — What it Means for You
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The Truth Hurts
LatestCongressElectionsFeaturesWhite HouseTrump AdministrationThe Future of Labor
Trump AdministrationHomeland Security
It's Looking Like Trump Wasn't Bluffing
These Waffle-Weave Towels Are Like Giant, Soft Sponges
Chelsea Stone
The 10 Best Deals of October 9, 2019
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Photo: Lynne Sladky (AP)
President Donald Trump may have preempted the Department of Homeland Security when he abruptly announced last night that ICE would begin arresting “millions of illegal aliens” sometime “next week,” but despite his well-documented history of lies and empty threats, it so far seems like he’s not bluffing.
Although details on the full scope and nature of the president’s promised arrests have not been made public, a number of administration officials confirmed to multiple news outlets that ICE will indeed be stepping up its immigration sweeps in the near future, with one senior official describing the plans as being on a “different scale” than the agency’s current actions.
Speaking with CNN’s Jim Acosta, an administration figure suggested the raids would target undocumented families as a unit as part of “a broad section of things” the Department of Homeland Security has planned.
Another official claimed to Fox News that the sweeps would also target undocumented immigrants who have already received final deportation orders.
“Countless illegal aliens not only violate our borders but then break the law all over again by skipping their court hearings and absconding from federal proceedings. These runaway aliens lodge phony asylum claims only to be no-shows at court and are ordered removed in absentia,” the official said.
“These judicial removal orders were secured at great time and expense, and yet illegal aliens not only refuse to appear in court, they often obtain fraudulent identities, collect federal welfare, and illegally work in the United States,” they continued. “Enforcing these final judicial orders is a top priority for Immigration and Customs Enforcement”
Other officials cast doubt on the imminence—but not the reality—of the president’s threat.
Speaking with multiple outlets, administration figures expressed surprise at the president’s announcement, saying they were given no warning that Trump planned to broadcast their plans for an operation many claimed was not, as the president insisted, scheduled for “next week.”
It also remains an open question as to whether DHS has the operational capacity to imminently deport “millions” of undocumented immigrants, as Trump threatened on Twitter. As the Washington Post noted, the sort of sweeping nationwide raids and deportation proceedings described by the president would require a staggering amount of manpower and planning for an department already stretched thin by Trump’s build up of troops along the U.S.-Mexico border.
More from Splinter
Trump Waves Around Piece of Paper as Proof of Super-Secret Agreement With Mexico
Trump Threatens Mass ICE Arrests of Millions of Immigrants in Terrifying Tweet
Mexico Publicly Releases Trump’s ‘Secret’ Deal on Migration
Senior writer. When in doubt he'll have the soup.
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← #Slackest100
Neo-Nazi Blair Cottrell fails in court →
On Troll Hunting (Ginger Gorman)
Posted on February 16, 2019 by @ndy
Troll Hunting by Australian journalist Ginger Gorman is a new book which examines the world of online hate and its human fallout. Along with interviews with a small number of trolls and general reflections upon this hateful world, Gorman’s book includes a number of case studies of trolling, some of which are relatively well-known while others not: all make for disturbing reading. While it’s of general relevance, many of the characters and events which populate this world would be especially familiar to (Australian) readers, or at least those who take an interest in such matters: on the one hand, ‘GamerGate’, convicted terrorist Joshua Goldberg, Andrew Auernheimer (AKA ‘weev’) and GNAA; on the other hand, those subject to what Gorman calls ‘predator trolling’, including writer Van Badham and lawyers Josh Bornstein and Mariam Veiszadeh (among others). Gorman’s book is well-written and engaging, and weaves together the author’s own experience of being ‘trolled’ with those of others, along with some examples of ‘troll hunting’ and ‘troll hunters’, the latter category including journalist and lawyer Luke McMahon. As well as being of general interest, the text is of particular interest to me because of the ways in which the ‘world of online hate’ has been ‘weaponized’ by elements of the far right, a theme explored in more detail in the anthology Cyber Racism and Community Resilience: Strategies for Combating Online Race Hate (Palgrave, 2017). At a little over 250 pages long, the text includes endnotes, which are useful, but — rather annoyingly — no index.
Gorman’s book is divided into three parts: ‘Trolls’, ‘Targets’ and ‘Troll hunting’. The first part examines the evolution of online trolling, the emergence of ‘predator trolls’ in particular — which Gorman defines (p.18) as those who set out to do real-life harm — and details the author’s lengthy conversations and interactions with several of its enthusiastic practitioners. In the second part, Gorman provides case studies of predator trolling and investigates the ways in which law enforcement has responded, or more precisely failed to respond, to these activities. Gorman also explores how social media giants like Facebook and Twitter have dealt with trolling and cyberhate generally — which is argued to be less-than-adequate. The third and final part of the book explores how some trolls, including Goldberg, came unstuck. Throughout the text, Gorman reflects upon her journey into this ‘world of online hate’, and how her interactions with the creatures which inhabit it change her understanding of them, their world, and its relationship to broader social and technological trends, especially racism and misogyny and the central place of social media in everyday life.
‘Trolling’ IRL
While the second part reveals varying degrees of incompetency and indifference on the part of tech companies, after documenting the systemic failure of law enforcement to address cyberbullying, Gorman does detect a more hopeful sign (pp.119–120):
Some stories are emerging of more appropriate, and effective, responses to cyberbullying complaints. Take comedian and writer Catherine Deveny. After making controversial comments on Twitter and Facebook about Anzac Day in 2018 — describing it as ‘Bogan Halloween’ and a ‘fetishisation of war and violence’ — she was doxed multiple times. Her home address was posted all over the internet and she received an avalanche of credible rape and death threats. She was the focus of several facebook hate groups. One night, five men in a ute turned up to her house. One of them knocked on her door and videoed himself doing it.
Within forty-eight hours of Deveny’s original comments being posted — and the resultant blow-up of public vitriol — Victorian counter-terrorism police reached out to her. They got her statement and started investigating. Police patrolled outside her house and work events. An investigator from the Office of the Federal eSafety Commissioner also got in touch. In contrast to many who’d gone before her, Deveny received significant and appropriate support. After hearing so many dire stories, it’s great to hear one like this. Wouldn’t it be amazing if all predator-trolling victims could rely on getting this kind of assistance?
For what it’s worth, I remember when this incident took place, and at the time made brief reference to it on the blog. In which context, a few things. First, those responsible for paying Deveny a nocturnal visit included right-wing activists Julian de Ross (AKA ‘Hugh Pearson’), Rino ‘Bluebeard’ Grgurovic and Ricky Turner. Secondly, whatever became of the intervention by Victorian counter-terrorism police and the Office of the Federal eSafety Commissioner, the boys carried on as before. Thus one month later, members of the same crew — on this occasion consisting of Paul Exley and Danny Peanna/Parkinson from Sydney, together with the Melbourne-based Grgurovic, Logan Spalding, and their ringleader Neil Erikson — filmed themselves disrupting a church service in Gosford; in June, Erikson, Turner and several others paid another nocturnal visit to a private address, on this occasion that of rival right-wing entrepreneur Dave Pellowe. While it’s unclear if those responsible for attending Deveny’s and Pellowe’s address faced any legal repercussions (it seems not), for his part in the disruption of the church service Erikson at least was later charged under an obscure law making it an offence to ‘obstruct a member of the clergy in the discharge of his or her duties’.
It’s possible, I suppose, to characterise this behaviour as ‘IRL trolling’ — but there’s certainly other interpretations. One critical difference is that, while it may be performed for teh lulz, unlike almost all of the examples of ‘trolling’ Gorman provides in her book, such actions are not really all that anonymous. In fact, while there’s occasionally some effort made to disguise the identities of those responsible, for the most part it’s very public — and by public I mean ‘filmed and then published by/on Facebook’. When de Ross, Grgurovic, Turner & Co. visited Deveny’s home; Exley, Peanna, Grgurovic, Spalding and Erikson disrupted a church service; and Erikson, Turner & Co. visited Pellowe’s home; these actions were undertaken precisely in order to be documented and distributed via Facebook. So too, the numerous other occasions upon which Erikson in particular has undertaken the role of a serial pest, from disrupting council meetings and various left and ‘multicultural’ events to stalking and abusing various public figures he happens to dislike. (Note that Grgurovic is due in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 26 over assault charges; Erikson, along with his kameraden Ricky Turner and Richard Whelan, have a date on May 13 over similar.)
All of these acts have been performed publicly and for the benefit of his Facebook audience, the corporation having granted Erikson permission to do so for at least the last four years. Thus, it was only in the space of the last few days that Facebook, for unknown reasons, banned a number of Erikson’s accounts. (It’s possible that the pest may have come unstuck upon announcing the re-launch of the ‘United Patriots Front’ by creating an event page for a February 16 rally at Federation Square — the UPF collapsed after Facebook banned its page in May 2017.) Still, there are hundreds if not thousands of very similar pages on the site, and it remains the critical tool for far-right organising in Australia and elsewhere. (See, for example, Fraser Anning’s Neo-Nazi connections (The White Rose Society, January 11, 2019) and Facebook Fueled Anti-Refugee Attacks in Germany, New Research Suggests (Amanda Taub and Max Fisher, The New York Times, August 21, 2018) for two among innumerable other instances.)
More broadly, while Gorman makes fairly short work of the corporate pablum spewed by Facebook and Twitter concerning their commitment to combating trolling and ‘hate speech’, if Facebook in particular is understood as being a massive private data-collection agency — one which derives a substantial proportion of its profits from selling this information to advertisers (and whoever else can pay for it) — it’s possible to cut through this nonsense fairly easily. Further, like corporations generally, Facebook is able to use the enormous financial and political power at its disposal to ensure the forms of regulation which might inhibit its continued growth and profitability are kept at bay. And while YouTube/Google doesn’t feature in Gorman’s account, its role in promoting racist and fascist propaganda, along with anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, rivals that of Facebook, and has long been understood as a key node in the distribution and promotion of race-hate and other forms of hate speech (see, for example, ‘Fiction is outperforming reality’: how YouTube’s algorithm distorts truth, Paul Lewis, The Guardian, February 2, 2018 and ‘Alternative Influence: Broadcasting the Reactionary Right on YouTube’, Rebecca Lewis, Data & Society, September 9, 2018).
In any case, to return to Goldberg and Veiszadeh (pp.218–219):
Towards the end of 2014, [Veiszadeh] publicly voiced her outrage that a Woolworths supermarket in Cairns was selling singlets printed with the Australian flag alongside the tagline,’If you don’t love it, LEAVE’.
Three months after her tweet, the far right anti-Islam group The Australian Defence League posted her tweet to their Facebook page. From there, it was picked up by the alt-right Daily Stormer website. Chillingly, The Daily Stormer post about Veiszadeh, written under the byline Michael Slay, demanded of its thousands of followers: ‘Stormer Troll Army … assemble!’ ‘We need to flood this towelhead subhuman vermin with as much racial and religious abuse as we possibly can,” the spite-filled post reads …’
(Note that a few weeks ago the former ‘President’ of the ADL, Ralph Cerminara, was found ‘guilty of two counts of intimidation and one count of common assault’ after attacking his neighbour in Sydney.)
In addition to being attacked on The Daily Stormer, Veiszadeh’s tweet also triggered a Queensland woman, Jay-Leighsha Bauman, to send Veiszadeh messages calling her a “whore”, a “rag-head” and [telling] her to return to her own “sand dune country” — Bauman was later sentenced to 180 hours of community service for the crime. A few months later, an Ordinary Mum™ and Reclaim Australia supporter was charged with threatening to slit Veiszadeh’s throat. On these and other occasions, it seems the chief fault of those charged was not bothering to anonymise their threats; the fact that Bauman’s threats were reported on by both the BBC and CNN may also have prompted authorities to take a closer look. That said:
Later in 2015, Luke McMahon and Elise Potaka reported in Fairfax newspapers that Michael Slay turned out to be not one person, but two. One of those two men was Joshua Goldberg, whose main trolling preoccupation was preserving freedom of speech. As the troll hunter explained earlier, this was how he ended up choosing targets such as Josh Bornstein.
Nathaniel Jacob Sassoon Sykes
The ‘other’ Michael Slay was of course Jewish neo-Nazi and toy-doll enthusiast Nathaniel Jacob Sassoon Sykes, who was exposed by McMahon in April 2017. Like Goldberg, Sykes contributed scores of articles to The Daily Stormer, inter alia attacking Veiszadeh along with Badham, Bornstein, Dr Tim Soutphommasane and yours truly. Currently, Sykes is the chief writer for the ‘United Nationalists of Australia’ blog, the online shitsheet of the ‘Australia First Party’. In that capacity, Sykes attacks the various enemies of the AFP on the left as well as the right. Sometimes, this creates legal difficulties. Hence, after publishing an article in June 2017 by party leader Dr Jim Saleam which detailed alleged crimes committed by members of rival fascist groupuscule ‘Klub Nation’, in May 2018 legal action against Saleam and the blog was apparently taken by various persons associated with KN. (Member of this radical right-wing network are also implicated in an attempt to infiltrate the Young Nationals in NSW last year.) Beyond this, members of the neo-Nazi ‘Lads Society’ and, more recently, a man called Michael Freshwater, have also been attacked by Sykes on the UNA blog. While Sykes was dismissed by ex-UPF and Lads Society organiser Tom Sewell as a ‘divisive little Jew’, Freshwater, it’s alleged, has been part of a conspiracy to undermine AFP, embracing elements of the Liberal Party as well as neo-Nazis like Mark McDonald, the leader of the Lads Society in Sydney and former leader of neo-Nazi groupuscule ‘Squadron 88’.
• Joshua Goldberg (as ‘Moon Metropolis’) published a statement on Medium on December 28, 2018 which provides a defence of sorts to his actions: ‘It was always my intention to infiltrate online jihadist spheres so that I could eventually become either a journalist, an FBI agent, or both.’ The statement also refers to … when I got Milo Yiannopoulos to publish that “expose” on Shaun King, I did it purely to see the shitstorm that I knew it would create, not because I actually care in the least about anything involving either Shaun King or Milo Yiannopoulos (both of those people are complete and utter clowns as far as I’m concerned). The article, ‘Did Black Lives Matter Organizer Shaun King Mislead Oprah Winfrey By Pretending To Be Biracial?’ (Breitbart, August 19, 2015), is dissected in this blogpost on Internet Famous Angry Men. Yiannopoulos is of course a very well-known troll who for several years was able to translate his trolling activities into sponsorship by wealthy right-wing reactionaries and sought to acquire more filthy lucre by conducting (semi-)lucrative tours. In fact, Yiannopoulos, along with Gavin McInnes and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, are supposedly being brought to Australia by Penthouse Australia publisher Damien Costas next month (March 9–14) for a speaking tour. For his part, Costas is currently embroiled in a legal battle with publicist Max Markson regarding alleged unpaid debts; there’s also allegedly been some fisticuffs. See also : Here’s How Breitbart And Milo Smuggled White Nationalism Into The Mainstream, Joseph Bernstein, BuzzFeed, October 5, 2017 (A cache of documents obtained by BuzzFeed News reveals the truth about Steve Bannon’s alt-right “killing machine.”).
• Gorman makes reference (pp.199-200) to a category of trolling known as ‘media fuckery’, and cites US academic Whitney Phillips who defines it as ‘the ability to turn the media against itself … by either amplifying or outright inventing a news item too sensational for media outlets to pass up’. This brought to mind two things. First, a recent example of ‘media fuckery’ in which a fake Facebook page titled ‘Melbourne Antifa’ applauded the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. This later featured in an article in The Daily Mail by Stephen Johnson (‘Melbourne Antifa extremists praise Las Vegas shooter’, October 2, 2017), was fact-checked by FactCheck.Org and Snopes and in May 2018 also triggered a bizarre interaction between myself and a right-wing blogger in the US. Secondly, the phrase immediately brought to mind similar terms such as ‘culture-jamming’ and ‘subvertising’, political practices which pre-date both ‘media fuckery’ and teh intarwebs as a whole. See : How To Make Trouble And Influence People.
• Gorman also makes reference (p.47) to local neo-Nazi activist Blair Cottrell in the context of a discussion regarding ‘hate leaching into the mainstream’ and Cottrell’s appearance as a very special guest on Adam Giles’ show on Sky News in August last year. As noted elsewhere, Cottrell – following an appearance on Sky News – told his 25,000 Twitter followers he might as well have raped presenter Laura Jayes on air because “not only would she have been happier with that but the reaction would’ve been the same”. In which context, a few things: first, while Facebook has banned the UPF and Cottrell, such commentary is considered acceptable by Twitter (to which platform Cotrell shifted after being kicked off Facebook). Secondly, his kamerad Neil Erikson made a similar remark directed at another female journalist, Jodi Lee, in November last year: ‘Jodie [sic] Lee acted like I had raped her on live TV….. She wishes!’ Thirdly, Cottrell has an extensive criminal record, mostly revolving around his stalking of an ex-girlfriend. Finally, Cotrell, Erikson and fellow white nationalist Chris Shortis were convicted in September 2017 of inciting hatred for Muslims; Cottrell is appealing the conviction on the grounds that the Victorian Act under which he was convicted (The Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001) is in fact un-Constitutional, and will be appearing in the County Court in Victoria on February 19.
• While Gorman devotes relatively little space to d0xing, it’s relevant in several instances. In her chapter on weev, ‘A Professional Racist’, for example, Gorman notes (p.232) that weev appeared on a neo-Nazi podcast with Mike Enoch and Christopher ‘Crying Nazi’ Cantwell. Later in the chapter (p.236), Gorman also refers to ‘Azzmador’, who along with Daily Stormer publisher Andrew Anglin wrote a post for the site encouraging their fellow neo-Nazis to attend the murderous ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville in August 2017. As it happens, Mike Enoch is in fact Mike Peinovich, who got d0xxed in January 2017, while ‘Azzmador’ is Robert Warren Ray. (According to a November 2018 report, Ray is currently a fugitive after being charged with a felony allegedly committed at the rally.) As for Cantwell, late last year he voiced an audio version of local neo-Nazi Ryan Fletcher’s tract ‘From HEMP to Hitler’, which has been promoted on David Hiscox’s AltRight website XYZ. See also : The far right, the “White Replacement” myth and the “Race War” brewing, Julie Nathan, ABC (Religion & Ethics), February 12, 2019:
The potential for violence which such online posts portend was graphically demonstrated in the United States in October 2018 by Robert Bowers, who wrote on Gab, a Twitter-like platform which is a haven for extremists and racists, “Screw your optics, I’m going in.” Shortly afterwards, he entered the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and murdered eleven Jews. Afterwards, Bowers told police that he was motivated by his belief that “the Jews” were “committing genocide to my people.”
Chillingly, these words were echoed by another Gab user, an Australian named Ryan Fletcher, who wrote, “I think its [sic] about time to say ‘f*** your optics I’m going in’.” Fletcher has a dark history of calling for the murder of Jews in Australia and worldwide, and of posting images of Jews being killed, on his Gab account. Fletcher subscribes to the myth: “#White gentiles are waking up to the agenda of #ZOG (which is #WhiteGenocide).” “ZOG” stands for “Zionist Occupied Government,” a term used to insinuate that “the Jews” control the United States and other Western governments. Fletcher also writes articles for XYZ.
• Speaking of neo-Nazis, Gorman notes that inre her own experience of being trolled in 2013 (pp.10–11), Six days after Newton was sentenced in 2013 came the second frightening moment. Don found a photo of our family on the fascist social network Iron March. The now-defunct website carried the slogan ‘Gas the kikes’ on its homepage. Iron March was of course the birthplace of Australian neo-Nazi groupuscule ‘Antipodean Resistance’. Its British cousins, National Action, have been proscribed as a terrorist organisation (see : See Graham Macklin, ”Only Bullets will Stop Us!’: The banning of National Action’, Perspectives on Terrorism, Vol.12, No.6 (2018) [PDF]). See also : Extreme neo-Nazi ‘death cults’ drawing in children as young as 13, report warns, Lizzie Dearden, The Independent, February 17, 2019 (‘Exclusive: Children as young as 13 being drawn into ideologies ‘harder, darker and more committed than ever before’’).
Below : Nathaniel Jacob Sassoon Sykes (Australia First Party/United Nationalists (of) Australia; Jacob Hersant (Antipodean Resistance/The Lads Society):
See also : Online abuse of women in the media, Justine Landis-Hanley, The Saturday Paper, February 16, 2019 | Meet The Woman Giving A New Face To Troll Hunting, Jamila Rizvi, Future Women, February 2019 | The ‘Canary In The Coalmine’ Link Between Terrorism And Trolling, Alex Bruce-Smith, Ten Daily, February 5, 2019 | Internet trolls are not who I thought — they’re even scarier, Ginger Gorman, ABC, February 2, 2019 | Troll hunting: a journey to the dark side, Karen Hardy, The Canberra Times, February 2, 2019 | Twitter, the barbarian country, or how I learned to love the block button, Van Badham, The Guardian, January 31, 2019 | Troll Hunting review: Ginger Gorman goes in search of the online bullies, Jonathan Green, The Sydney Morning Herald, January 18, 2019 | Staring down the trolls: Mute, block or resort to ‘digilantism’?, Ginger Gorman, The Sydney Morning Herald, June 16, 2017 | Cyberhate With Tara Moss, ABC, 2017 | Misogyny Online: A Short (and Brutish) History, Emma A Jane, SAGE (2017) | Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Many Faces of Anonymous, Gabriella Coleman, Verso (2014). As well as providing some further detail regarding weev’s activities prior to his going full nazi as an editor for The Daily Stormer, Coleman’s book also contains important background on the various (sub-)cultural contexts from which the ‘predator troll’ emerged. (Note also that, in conversation with weev in August 2010, Coleman writes (p.22): ‘His denunciation of “the repulsive order of the financiers” had the ring of truth, given the recent financial mess their recklessness has engendered, so I found myself, only minutes into my first bona fide conversation with a world famous troll, in agreement with him.’ LOL.)
This entry was posted in !nataS, Anti-fascism, Broken Windows, Cats, Death, History, Media, Sex & Sexuality, That's Capitalism!, War on Terror and tagged Andrew Anglin, Andrew Auernheimer, Anglican Parish of Gosford, Antipodean Resistance, Australia First Party, Australian Defence League, Azzmador, Blair Cottrell, Catherine Deveny, Chris Shortis, Christopher ‘Crying Nazi’ Cantwell, Christopher Cantwell, Christopher Shortis, culture-jamming, Daily Stormer, Danny Parkinson, Danny Peanna, Dave Pellowe, David Hiscox, Dr James Saleam, Dr Jim Saleam, Elise Potaka, Facebook, Filthy Gorgeous Productions Pty Ltd, Fraser Anning, Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party, From HEMP to Hitler, GamerGate, Ginger Gorman, GNAA, Hugh Pearson, Iron March, ironmarch.org, Jacob Hersant, James Saleam, Jay-Leighsha Bauman, Jim Saleam, Jodi Lee, Josh Bornstein, Joshua Goldberg, Julian de Ross, Klub Nation, Klub National, Klub Naziya, Lachlan Spalding, Lads Society, Laura Jayes, Logan Spalding, Luke McMahon, Mariam Veiszadeh, Mark McDonald, Max Markson, media fuckery, Melbourne Antifa, Michael Freshwater, Michael Peinovich, Michael Slay, Mike 'The Right Stuff' Enoch, Mike 'The Right Stuff' Peinovich, Mike Enoch, Mike Peinovich, Milo Yiannopoulos, Nathan Sykes, Nathaniel J.S. Sykes, Nathaniel Jacob Sassoon Sykes, Nathaniel Sykes, National Action, Neil Erikson, Paul Exley, Penthouse, Penthouse Australia, Ralph Cerminara, Reclaim Australia, Richard Whelan, Rick Turner, Ricky Turner, Rikki Turner, Rino 'Bluebeard' Grgurovic, Rino Grgurovic, Robert Ray, Robert Warren Ray, Ryan Fletcher, Shaun King, Squadron 88, subvertising, The Daily Stormer, The Lads Society, The White Rose Society, TheDingoes.xyz, Thomas Sewell, Tim Soutphommasane, Tom Sewell, Troll Hunting, United Nationalists Australia, United Nationalists of Australia, United Patriots Front, Van Badham, weev, White Rose Society, XYZ, xyz.net.au. Bookmark the permalink.
9 Responses to On Troll Hunting (Ginger Gorman)
Troll Hunting by Ginger Gorman, Net Loss by Sebastian Smee
In 2010, journalist Ginger Gorman, then working for the ABC in Queensland, interviewed Mark Newton and Peter Truong, a gay couple with a five-year-old son born to a Russian surrogate mother.
The interview was framed as part of a series on discrimination and its effect on the LGBTI community, and in the course of it Gorman asked the men if they believed Australian authorities were suspicious of their efforts to bring their son to Australia because of their sexuality. Newton was unequivocal: ‘‘Absolutely. I’m sure that was completely the concern.’’
Three years later, Newton and Truong were sentenced to, respectively, 40 and 30 years in prison for conspiring to sexually exploit a child. A joint investigation by the US Postal Inspection Service and Queensland Police Service had exposed the pair as members of a global pedophile ring, to which their son (now ‘‘Boy 1’’) had been trafficked.
Gorman, whose photograph of the convicted men would become a sort of visual shorthand for the story (they are sitting either side of their victim, whose face is now obscured with an ominous black disc), was profoundly distressed by the news.
But she was in for another shock.
Shortly after the sentencing, she began to receive scores of angry tweets from people who had read her 2010 article. Some suggested she should have known better, implying her liberal politics had blinded her to the real situation.
Others were deeply menacing. (‘‘Your life is over,’’ read one.) A photograph of Gorman and her family found its way on to a fascist website. The journalist began to worry that she may be in danger of physical violence.
This episode is the starting point for Gorman’s book Troll Hunting, an exploration of how the internet in general, and social media in particular, has facilitated (and possibly catalysed) the ‘‘spectrum of behaviours’’ known as trolling.
As Gorman suggests, that spectrum is a broad one. At the lighter end of the scale we find pranks such as ‘‘rickrolling’’, where internet users are tricked into viewing a video of Rick Astley singing Never Gonna Give You Up, while at the other extreme we find an open sewer of white supremacy, cyber-bullying, ‘‘RIP trolling’’ and graphic misogyny.
Overwhelmingly, and for obvious reasons, Troll Hunting is concerned with this nastier milieu, though ‘‘milieu’’ is perhaps too gregarious a word to describe the gallery of cranks and loners Gorman calls ‘‘predator trolls’’.
One of Gorman’s aims is to take on some of the ‘‘myths’’ about trolling: the idea, for example, that trolls are just losers, too frightened to face the real world, or that trolls can’t hurt you if you simply ignore them.
To that end, she talks to a number of trolls, including the notorious “weev’’ (aka Andrew Auernheimer), and the more conciliatory Meepsheep, an energetic Wikipedia vandal. She also talks to some prominent Australians — in particular journalist Van Badham and high-profile lawyer Josh Bernstein — whose experiences at the hands of trolls put paid to yet another myth: that only the unduly sensitive are affected by their attentions.
On the contrary, Gorman shows, the capacity of trolls to ruin lives is limitless.
There are some interesting things in Troll Hunting. The account of how journalists Elise Potaka and Luke McMahon (aka ‘‘the troll hunter’’) were able to establish the true identity of the infamous troll Australi Witness is well told and illuminating, and there are also interesting details about trolls and their modi operandi.
But the book is undermined by Gorman’s decision to frame it as a personal narrative. The countless references to her own state of mind become overwhelming, while her prose, in trying to enact her emotions — through verbless sentences, sudden switches of tense and passages of italicised text — becomes irritating.
Gorman’s subtitle promises to take us ‘‘inside the world of online hate’’ and anatomise ‘‘its human fallout’’. But the fallout has spread back over the analysis in a way that isn’t helpful to it.
Accordingly, the author’s conclusions are rather weak, amounting to little more than some thoughts on the importance of diligent parenting and some observations to the effect that the police need to raise their game and social media companies take more responsibility for the bile spread using their platforms.
The idea that the popularity of trolling might mark a more general sociopolitical turn, as Irish writer Angela Nagle argues in her book Kill All Normies, is not explored.
Concentrating largely on the alt-Right and its periphery, Nagle set the irony and transgression implicit to trolling in the context of the culture wars, suggesting that those performative values have migrated from the Left to the Right as liberalism has become the dominant creed, one enforced, as often as not, through forms of social media shaming.
A liberal herself, Gorman misses (I think) this broader ideological dynamic, and thus misses out as well on an opportunity to connect these behaviours to the broader political situation. (What is US President Donald Trump doing, after all, if not trolling ‘‘official’’ liberalism, to the delight of those it has left behind?)
While Troll Hunting sets out to analyse one aspect of online behaviour, Net Loss: The Inner Life in the Digital Age, by art critic Sebastian Smee, assays the effect the internet is having on the human personality in general.
Like Gorman, Smee is concerned about the ugliness ventilated on social media, but he is also alive to the ways in which those platforms engender a preference for performance and superficiality over introspection and emotional honesty.
Such platforms, he argues, are quite bad at representing our ‘‘inner’’ lives. Their algorithms can aggregate our personal data, but cannot reproduce the human personality in its most intimate aspects.
But habituation to social media, with its open and ongoing invitation to curate our lives for the consumption of others, has changed our subjectivities. The face has grown to fit the mask. ‘‘[S]tare long enough at something that claims to represent you,’’ Smee writes, “and it can come to stand in for that more inchoate, cumbersome reality.’’
Notions of the ‘‘inner life’’ are liable to attract either impenetrable philosophers or self-help gurus with wraparound microphones, and Smee is wise, I think, to keep his distance from both of these constituencies.
Declaring himself ‘‘agnostic’’ on the question of whether the self is a material entity or one with its own ‘‘existential coherence’’ (a ‘‘soul’’ in old money), he neither accepts nor rejects the view that ‘‘inner being’’ is a ‘‘leftover of an exhausted and tattered humanism’’.
But that our sense of ourselves, and indeed of each other, is changing rapidly as a consequence of social media strikes me as undeniable, and so the question of whether it is changing for the better is a sane and urgent one to ask.
Though he notes that it can be therapeutic to indulge in the limited realities afforded by the new technology, Smee concludes (as per his title) that we have suffered a ‘‘net loss’’ in this regard.
The conclusion is a personal one, born of a mind steeped in art and literature but afflicted as well by the ‘‘passivity and inertia’’ of life on social media. Indeed, one of the pleasures of Net Loss is to witness (and to share in) the excitement of the author as he re-engages with favourite passages from Anton Chekov, Saul Bellow and Iris Murdoch, writing that dramatises the feeling of being at once a social and a private self and thus serves as a sort of counterpoint to the flattened selves of Facebook and Instagram.
Another pleasure (a more predictable one, for those who know and enjoy Smee’s work) is the way the visual arts are used to illustrate the analysis. The section on US video artists Ryan Trecartin and Lizzie Fitch is particularly fascinating.
In Smee’s reading, Trecartin and Fitch’s work explores how the human personality is reconfigured — inverted even — in the age of online performativity. As he puts it: ‘‘Their characters are like literal incarnations of the avatars and clones of internet culture, the ‘selves’ who spew vitriol, humour and random assertion, and unspool across YouTube comment threads and social media.’’
Even many habitual users of social media recognise intuitively that greater connectivity in the digital sphere has engendered disconnection in the human one, and Net Loss is a smart and magnanimous exploration of this inescapable modern theme.
It is beautifully written and, although its conclusions are tentative, its contemplative, careful approach to the subject is also a sort of tonic to it. It’s an intelligent look, in other words, at a frequently shallow phenomenon. I’d tweet about it, but I need to read some Chekov.
Futilitarian says:
It’s true that some people are just arseholes, and there are no two ways about it.
It’s also true that there are online groups who enjoy slumbering in the comfort of the ideological tropes that are peculiar to their particular herd. When someone comes along and upsets their somnolence with some cogently argued criticisms many are apt to cry, “Troll!” It’s easier than coming up with a counter-argument.
Penthouse editor allegedly assaulted at Darlinghurst cafe
Brenden Hills
The Sunday Telegraph
It’s usually the contents of his magazine that raises eyebrows, but Penthouse editor Damien Costas was the one turning heads when he was on the wrong end of an alleged punch-up at a Darlinghurst cafe.
Costas copped a blow to the face that knocked his glasses off and an elbow to the ear that left him bleeding during the incident.
The alleged attacker was a former business associate who claims the porn magazine editor left him in significant financial hardship following a business loan.
The man who allegedly landed the blows is Dean Steven Tate who appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and larceny.
In court, Mr Tate’s lawyer Omar Juweinat accused Mr Costas of lying to police and said: “It seems another deliberate attempt to avoid the payment of a long standing debt owed to the accused.”
Mr Costas did not return calls.
We’re told the pair are in arrears for a debt they both owe to another company. But police will say Mr Tate is now in a worse financial position than Mr Costas and that emotions spilt over at the Stop Valve Cafe on Riley St at 9.30am on Monday. Mr Costas attends the cafe every day and when he saw Mr Tate he waved him over because their relationship was still amicable.
After waiting 15 minutes for Mr Costas to finish a phone call, Mr Tate demanded repayment of $3000 because he was being “pressured by certain individuals”, police documents allege.
Mr Costas declined and Mr Tate said, “You won’t see it coming, they’ll smack you around the head”, the documents said. Mr Tate then picked up the Penthouse boss’ mobile phone and bag containing his laptop and walked away.
When Mr Costas grabbed the bag back police allege Mr Tate struck the magazine editor in the face, knocking his glasses off.
Mr Tate allegedly tried to stomp on the glasses, but missed, before elbowing Mr Costas in the ear when he picked up the eyewear. Mr Tate handed the goods to Kings Cross Police at 6.10pm and was charged.
He will return to court on January 30.
Predator trolls driven by Psychopathy and sadism
Ginger Gorman
The word “troll” — what does it mean these days? We use it so broadly, in online and offline life, it almost ceases to have any solid meaning. The only thing we can safely say is that it probably refers to someone needling another person. Yet the truth is that even powerful trolls themselves don’t agree on this (and I’ve spoken to many of them).
Through a long and strange process, I’ve become a cyber-hate expert. Differences of opinion or winding another person up are not the circumstances that targets of sustained online harassment describe to me. Instead, they talk about the wholesale destruction of their lives: threats so extreme they’ve had to move house; being fired from their job or multiple jobs as a result of cyber-hate; becoming unemployable after having their reputation wrecked online; taking their perpetrators to court at great cost; hiring security guards and installing alarm systems in their homes; being stalked online and offline; considering or attempting suicide; needing medication and therapy for PTSD.
Journalist Sherele Moody, founder of the Red Heart Campaign, is a constant target for hordes of trolls because of her campaign against gender-based violence.
She pays a steep price. In 2017, someone gave her dog acid. He barely survived. Last year Moody received an anonymous message threatening her horse, which was found dead in a nearby paddock. (Incidentally, research from British think tank Demos shows women in the media are attacked three times more than their male counterparts.)
We need to be clear here. The block and mute buttons will not stop this problem.
It’s ignorant to think they will. These dangers do not stay online. One way or another, the physical, psychological and economic harms against victims stack up.
This is why, in my book Troll Hunting, I define “predator trolling” or “cyber-hate” as “repeated, sustained threats or attacks on an individual through the use of electronic devices that result in real-life harm to the target.
These harms may be physical and/or psychological. The attacks may be perpetrated by one or more individuals.
People who choose to speak out about their experiences of being attacked online — such as Moody — are commonly labelled “snowflakes”. The implication is that the impacts on you, as an individual, aren’t serious. And instead of whining about people being “mean” you, the victim, should toughen up.
The implication is so wrong. And I set out to prove it. I commissioned The Australia Institute to do nationally representative polling mapping the incidence and cost of cyber-hate. TAI’s survey last year of 1557 people found 44 per cent of women and 34 per cent of men have experienced one or more forms of online harassment. That’s 8.8 million Australians.
Perhaps even more alarming is the financial cost to the community. Taking into account medical costs and loss of income, the institute estimates cyber-hate has cost Australians $3.7 billion, not including the burden on courts and policing costs. Or the expenses for victims who must move or take additional security measures.
But why do trolls do it? What motivates them?
I’ve spent years talking to trolls and have formed strange and enduring relationships with them. But there are no easy answers.
No two trolls I met and developed relationships with were the same. Some had political or social aims. Others just wanted to hurt other people and took pleasure in this. Research from the University of British Columbia and the University of Manitoba has found that internet trolling correlates strongly with three of the four so-called “dark” personality traits: psychopathy, Machiavellianism and sadism.
Sadism, deriving pleasure from inflicting pain and humiliation on others, has the strongest link. This means predator trolls set out to hurt you and enjoy it when they succeed.
The predator troll I’ve met who most strongly fits this bill is “Mark”, a vicious and committed online harasser. He’s a member of an international online syndicate that tries to harm other people and wreck their lives. They document all their exploits on a wiki. At one stage he told me about predator-trolling rape victims and the families of people who had died by suicide. He says trolling gives him “Entertainment. Not pleasure.”
When we first spoke a few years ago, Mark spent up to 14 hours a week trolling people. Two years later he tells me it’s more like 30. He says he is a psychopath and that his psychopathic tendencies are getting worse as he gets older.
While all this can seem terrifying and hopeless, it’s not.
Yes, this is a complex issue and it needs a multi-pronged approach, but let’s start with expecting a whole lot more from law enforcement and social media companies. The internet is a public space and, like all town squares, we need to be safe there.
Having said that, it’s not the internet that’s the problem. It’s the people. Misogyny, racism, homophobia and hatred didn’t start online. If these attitudes didn’t exist in the community, they wouldn’t proliferate online.
Trolls weren’t born that way. They are products of our community. Frequently, these kids are from damaged, violent and neglectful homes. They are left alone on the internet from a young age, consuming torrents of hate and bigotry in chat rooms. As you’d expect, they then grow up to be angry young men who want to hurt others. Had they been raised with love and care, the story would be very different.
Fake Facebook sites spreading political lies
Claire Bickers
news dot com dot au
Fake news is already infecting the 2019 election cycle with reports a man was “lynched” and “bashed” on Australia Day for wearing the Australian flag going viral.
Controversial senator Fraser Anning shared claims a man had been attacked on Facebook to his 83,500 followers in an “authorised” post this week as it spread through a network of far right groups on social media.
It comes as experts predict the federal election will be Australia’s biggest fake news election ever and Labor urges Facebook to take responsibility for misinformation spread on its site.
The claim about an Australia Day attack was based on a clash between change-the-date protesters and so-called “patriot” Ricky Turner at the Invasion Day march in Melbourne.
Mr Turner was asked to leave the area by police when a fight broke out between him and a small group of activists. No one was charged.
A video focusing on the moment of the clash posted by fellow far right agitator Neil Erikson, the self proclaimed “biggest troll in Australia” who confronted former Labor senator Sam Dastyari in a pub last year, has already been seen more than 290,000 times on Facebook.
That’s about the same audience Channel 7’s Sunrise program gets on an average weekday morning from five capital cities.
News Corp understands Labor is urging Facebook to establish a dedicated rapid response team to tackle complaints about fake news during this year’s campaign.
Shadow Communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland did not comment on specifics but, following Facebook’s confirmation that it would be rolling out “additional protections” for Nigeria, India and the European Union for elections this year, she told News Corp: “Fake news is a significant threat to the health of our democracy and we all must be vigilant.”
“We expect major digital platforms to be doing all they can to combat misinformation.”
News Corp also understands the Australian Electoral Commission is in talks with Facebook about strengthening political advertising transparency for Australia ahead of the election.
Special Minister of State Alex Hawke said the deputy electoral commissioner had held talks with social media companies in January on a trip to Canada and the US.
It follows talks with the Australia and New Zealand arms of Facebook, Twitter and Google in 2018.
University of Canberra researcher Dr Mike Jensen told News Corp this year’s campaign would be a “playground” for groups seeking to sway voters with fake news.
“It’s the first election to come after the 2016 US election and a lot of groups around the world were watching what happened there. Basically, Russia created a playbook which other actors can pick up readily,” he said.
“I would expect to see this as a playground for both domestic and foreign actors to see what extent they can appropriate and adapt these tactics to the Australian context.”
Australian National University political marketing expert Andrew Hughes also predicted the May election would be a “tipping point” for fake news in Australia, adding that the “lynching” claim was a clear case of fake new which showed just how quickly it could spread.
“Lynching in most people’s minds is being strung up on a poll [sic] somewhere or a tree with a rope around your neck. I can’t recall that happening and I’d be horrified if it did happen in Australia,” he said.
Dr Hughes added that such blatant misinformation wouldn’t cut through to mainstream audiences but other, harder to identify, fake news could slip through as influence groups sought to sow distrust in major parties and democratic institutions.
Senator Anning, who has billed taxpayers thousands to attend far right rallies since entering parliament, declined to comment on the post or the Australia Day incident.
There is no law to regulate truth in electoral communications.
Meanwhile, an analysis by social intelligence and news agency Storyful Australia has identified Facebook pages like “Fair Suck Of The Sav, Mate”, “Australia — ‘Love it, or Leave”, “Save Australia” or right wing “news” site The Unshackled as “fertile ground” for fake news during the election.
The analysis by Storyful, which monitors about 180 political pages and fringe groups on Facebook, also reveals Senator Anning’s popularity has skyrocketed with his page receiving triple the number of “interactions” from punters than One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in January.
A 2018 digital news report by the University of Canberra found one in four Australians had already experienced fake news online and 67 per cent were concerned about it.
Mr Hawke said the government had updated electoral laws last year to boost political advertising transparency.
ASIO meets with Facebook and Google over upcoming election
Lanai Scarr
Exclusive: Facebook and Google have been called to Canberra for urgent meetings with the nation’s top spy agency on how to deal with foreign interference and tackle fake news during the upcoming federal election campaign.
News Corp Australia has confirmed the social media and tech giants met with officials from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation over the past two weeks to discuss the looming federal poll.
The organisations also met with the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australian Electoral Commission among others.
The government was interested to know how best to deal with any foreign interference during the election cycle, particularly following a cyber attack on parliament’s computer network last week.
China was suspected to have been behind the attack.
Google was understood to be proactively in Canberra offering training to government agencies.
Twitter said it had met with all the major parties, but not ASIO.
Twitter representatives also briefed parliamentarians offices from both Labor and the Coalition this week on Twitter’s plan for the upcoming election including the development of a handbook on how to best use the platform during the election cycle.
It follows speculation Facebook may set up a “war room” to deal with fake news and foreign interference similar to what it did in the US during last year’s November midterms.
ASIO would not comment when approached by News Corp Australia today.
The Department of Home Affairs and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton also went to ground, with Mr Dutton’s office refusing to answer calls.
The Australian Electoral Commission said it regularly met with representatives from the social media platforms, but that it was aware meetings had recently occurred with other agencies.
“We are aware of meetings with social media companies occurring across a number of agencies,” assistant director of media at the AEC, Evan Ekin-Smyth said.
“Electoral integrity and security is a specific area of focus and a range of security measures will be implemented for the 2019 federal election.”
A Facebook spokesman said they regularly had meetings with government to brief them on updates or special projects for the platform but would not confirm or deny the meetings with ASIO.
Labor’s communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland urged social media companies to take strong action to retain the integrity of the upcoming election.
“Labor acknowledges the focus major digital platforms have had in addressing fake news and we urge them to redouble their efforts to combat misinformation around elections,” Ms Rowland said.
Deputy director of Deakin University’s Cyber Security Research Centre Matthew Warren said fake news and foreign interference was one of the biggest issues leading into the election campaign and urged the government to fund a public awareness campaign on the issue.
“Once people are aware of how to spot it and start to question the sources of their information fake news loses its power,” Professor Warren said.
During the 2016 US election, Russia was accused of employing a variety of tactics to sway the election result, particularly using social media.
The foreign power set up hundreds of fake social media accounts to promote Donald Trump and ridicule Hillary Clinton and spread distrust in the political system in general.
“Fake news” stories were also promoted on social media platforms, with many saying the interference led to Donald Trump’s victory.
News of the meetings between the tech giants and ASIO comes after Scott Morrison faced a horror first sitting week in parliament, losing a key vote on the floor of the House of Representatives relating to the transfer of asylum seekers from Nauru and Manus Island to Australia for medical treatment.
It was the first time since 1941 the sitting government lost a vote on the floor of the parliament and prompted calls for the Coalition to go to an early election.
However, Mr Morrison remained steadfast the election would be in May, following a budget in April.
Pingback: antifa notes (march 20, 2019) : From Christchurch to Canberra | slackbastard
Michael Freshwater says:
Who’s Michael Freshwater? Nazi? Antifa? Liberal stooge?
Patrick Heath says:
I’m definitely confused You go on about “trolls” But surely you are the biggest troll of all , spending your entire life sitting in a room typing away on your computer slandering abusing and defaming hundreds of folk I don’t get it , you ran with the Nathan Sykes story like it was the biggest ducking thing on earth , the hypocrisy is striking , you even goaded the ANTIFA tools in the area of the Court proceedings to turn up and cause crap , doesn’t that make you a troll of the highest order And as you know not one of your ANTIFA heroes showed , only took a few discreet words and messages Anyway enjoy ya trolling
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The XX Factor
Sean Hannity Suggests Replacing Health Insurance With Health Insurance
By Amanda Marcotte
Jan 28, 201411:42 AM
Sean Hannity’s brilliant plan to get contraception to women: How about creating an insurance program to cover it?
Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for WSB Radio
While the smartest move, politically speaking, would be for conservatives to throw Mike Huckabee under the bus after his recent remarks (he implied that believing a woman has contraception needs is the exact same thing as believing she is sexually incontinent), it appears conservative pundits are choosing to try to defend him instead. So it was that Sean Hannity found himself getting aggressive with a woman who called into his show to support the Department of Health and Human Services mandate requiring insurance plans to cover contraception as preventive care.
Hannity griped, “Why are people accused of waging a war on women if they don’t want to pay for their birth control, which is inexpensive?” When his caller tried to point out that not everyone has that kind of money, he started to holler, “But why don’t women like yourself, then, maybe then have an ‘adopt-a-woman’ birth control program? In other words, why should the government be doing it?”
You may think I’m going to try to argue Sean Hannity down, but in fact, I think he’s onto something here. Perhaps there could be a program where everyone who needs health care, including contraception, pays into a common pool that we can draw out of. You could pay monthly into it—let’s call that payment a “premium”—and when you need things like drugs or doctor’s visits, you could show a membership card instead of writing a check. Some employers might elect to save money by buying group plans instead of having their employees buy individually. We’d need some anti-discrimination rules to make it fair, so things like contraception should be covered regardless of your personal hang-ups about female sexuality. You can call it an “adopt-a-woman” program, I guess, but I think a simpler term that would both be more comprehensive and male-inclusive would be “health insurance.”
Oh wait. That would actually be the very program called “Obamacare” that Hannity hates so much. Maybe he should reconsider this brilliant plan of his.
All jokes aside, Hannity’s boo-boo here was the result of a larger lie, perpetuated by Mike Huckabee and the folks at Fox News and other right wing media outlets: That the contraception mandate is about the “government” or “Uncle Sugar” buying women’s birth control. In reality, the contraception mandate is closer to a consumer protection law. It’s really part of a larger program in the Affordable Care Act to set minimum standards about what your insurance plan must cover. It’s really no different than a law requiring a car to have four wheels and two headlights to be considered a street legal vehicle. It’s telling that Sean Hannity, Mike Huckabee, Bill O’Reilly, and company feel the need to simply lie about this and claim that there’s some kind of taxpayer program directly providing free birth control to women (ironically, they largely ignore actual, long-standing, politically popular programs that do this), because objecting to the real program—women buy insurance, that insurance covers contraception—sounds an awful lot like you are unduly obsessed with what other people get up to in bed.
Health Care Women
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Video: Heather Brooke’s tips on investigating, and using the FOI and Data Protection Acts
The following 3 videos first appeared on the Help Me Investigate blog, Help Me Investigate: Health and Help Me Investigate: Welfare. I thought I’d collect them together here too. As always, these are published under a Creative Commons licence, so you are welcome to re-use, edit and combine with other video, with attribution (and a link!).
First, Heather Brooke’s tips for starting to investigate public bodies:
Her advice on investigating health, welfare and crime:
And on using the Data Protection Act:
Tags: data journalism Data Protection Act foi Health heather brooke help me investigate investigative journalism video welfare
2 guest posts: 2012 predictions and “Social media and the evolution of the fourth estate”
I’ve written a couple of guest posts for Nieman Journalism Lab and the tech news site Memeburn. The Nieman post is part of a series looking forward to 2012. I’m never a fan of futurology so I’ve cheated a little and talked about developments already in progress: new interface conventions in news websites; the rise of collaboration; and the skilling up of journalists in data.
Memeburn asked me a few months ago to write about social media’s impact on journalism’s role as the Fourth Estate, and it took me until this month to find the time to do so. Here’s the salient passage:
“But the power of the former audience is a power that needs to be held to account too, and the rise of liveblogging is teaching reporters how to do that: reacting not just to events on the ground, but the reporting of those events by the people taking part: demonstrators and police, parents and politicians all publishing their own version of events — leaving journalists to go beyond documenting what is happening, and instead confirming or debunking the rumours surrounding that.
“So the role of journalist is moving away from that of gatekeeper and — as Axel Bruns argues — towards that of gatewatcher: amplifying the voices that need to be heard, factchecking the MPs whose blogs are 70% fiction or the Facebook users scaremongering about paedophiles.
“But while we are still adapting to this power shift, we should also recognise that that power is still being fiercely fought-over. Old laws are being used in new ways; new laws are being proposed to reaffirm previous relationships. Some of these may benefit journalists — but ultimately not journalism, nor its fourth estate role. The journalists most keenly aware of this — Heather Brooke in her pursuit of freedom of information; Charles Arthur in his campaign to ‘Free Our Data’ — recognise that journalists’ biggest role as part of the fourth estate may well be to ensure that everyone has access to information that is of public interest, that we are free to discuss it and what it means, and that — in the words of Eric S. Raymond — “Given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow“.”
Comments, as always, very welcome.
Tags: data journalism 2012 axel bruns Charles Arthur eric s raymond fourth estate freedom of information futurology gatekeeping gatewatching heather brooke memeburn nieman journalism lab
When information is power, these are the questions we should be asking
Various commentators over the past year have made the observation that “Data is the new oil“. If that’s the case, journalists should be following the money. But they’re not.
Instead it’s falling to the likes of Tony Hirst (an Open University academic), Dan Herbert (an Oxford Brookes academic) and Chris Taggart (a developer who used to be a magazine publisher) to fill the scrutiny gap. Recently all three have shone a light into the move towards transparency and open data which anyone with an interest in information would be advised to read.
Hirst wrote a particularly detailed post breaking down the results of a consultation about higher education data.
Herbert wrote about the publication of the first Whole of Government Accounts for the UK.
And Taggart made one of the best presentations I’ve seen on the relationship between information and democracy.
What all three highlight is how control of information still represents the exercise of power, and how shifts in that control as a result of the transparency/open data/linked data agenda are open to abuse, gaming, or spin.
Control, Cost, Confusion
Hirst, for example, identifies the potential for data about higher education to be monopolised by one organisation – UCAS, or HEFCE – at extra cost to universities, resulting in less detailed information for students and parents.
His translation of the outcomes of a HEFCE consultation brings to mind the situation that existed for years around Ordnance Survey data: taxpayers were paying for the information up to 8 times over, and the prohibitive cost of accessing that data ended up inspiring the Free Our Data campaign. As Hirst writes:
“The data burden is on the universities?! But the aggregation – where the value is locked up – is under the control of the centre? … So how much do we think the third party software vendors are going to claim for to make the changes to their systems? And hands up who thinks that those changes will also be antagonistic to developers who might be minded to open up the data via APIs. After all, if you can get data out of your commercially licensed enterprise software via a programmable API, there’s less requirement to stump up the cash to pay for maintenance and the implementation of “additional” features…”
Meanwhile Dan Herbert analyses another approach to data publication: the arrival of commercial-style accounting reports for the public sector. On the surface this all sounds transparent, but it may be just the opposite:
“There is absolutely no empiric evidence that shows that anyone actually uses the accounts produced by public bodies to make any decision. There is no group of principals analogous to investors. There are many lists of potential users of the accounts. The Treasury, CIPFA (the UK public sector accounting body) and others have said that users might include the public, taxpayers, regulators and oversight bodies. I would be prepared to put up a reward for anyone who could prove to me that any of these people have ever made a decision based on the financial reports of a public body. If there are no users of the information then there is no point in making the reports better. If there are no users more technically correct reports do nothing to improve the understanding of public finances. In effect all that better reports do is legitimise the role of professional accountants in the accountability process.
Like Hirst, he argues that the raw data – and the ability to interrogate that – should instead be made available because (quoting Anthony Hopwood): “Those with the power to determine what enters into organisational accounts have the means to articulate and diffuse their values and concerns, and subsequently to monitor, observe and regulate the actions of those that are now accounted for.”
This is a characteristic of the transparency initiative that we need to be sharper around as journalists. The Manchester Evening News discovered this when they wanted to look at spending cuts. What they found was a dataset that had been ‘spun’ to make it harder to see the story hidden within, and to answer their question they first had to unspin it – or, in data journalism parlance, clean it. Likewise, having granular data – ideally from more than one source – allows us to better judge the quality of the information itself.
Chris Taggart meanwhile looks at the big picture: friction, he says, underpins society as we know it. Businesses such as real estate are based on it; privacy exists because of it; and democracies depend on it. As friction is removed through access to information, we get problems such as “jurisdiction failure” (corporate lawyers having “hacked” local laws to international advantage), but also issues around the democratic accountability of ad hoc communities and how we deal with different conceptions of privacy across borders.
Questions to ask of ‘transparency’
The point isn’t about the answers to the questions that Taggart, Herbert and Hirst raise – it’s the questions themselves, and the fact that journalists are, too often, not asking them when we are presented with yet another ‘transparency initiative‘.
If data is the new oil those three posts and a presentation provide a useful introduction to following the money.
(By the way, for a great example of a journalist asking all the right questions of one such initiative, however, see The Telegraph’s Conrad Quilty-Harper on the launch of Police.uk)
Data is not just some opaque term; something for geeks: it’s information: the raw material we deal in as journalists. Knowledge. Power. The site of a struggle for control. And considering it’s a site that journalists have always fought over, it’s surprisingly placid as we enter one of the most important ages in the history of information control.
As Heather Brooke writes today of the hacking scandal:
“Journalism in Britain is a patronage system – just like politics. It is rare to get good, timely information through merit (eg by trawling through public records); instead it’s about knowing the right people, exchanging favours. In America reporters are not allowed to accept any hospitality. In Britain, taking people out to lunch is de rigueur. It’s where information is traded. But in this setting, information comes at a price.
“This is why there is collusion between the elites of the police, politicians and the press. It is a cartel of information. The press only get information by playing the game. There is a reason none of the main political reporters investigated MPs’ expenses – because to do so would have meant falling out with those who control access to important civic information. The press – like the public – have little statutory right to information with no strings attached. Inside parliament the lobby system is an exercise in client journalism that serves primarily the interests of the powerful. Freedom of information laws bust open the cartel.”
But laws come with loopholes and exemptions, red tape and ignorance. And they need to be fought over.
One bill to extend the FOI law to “remove provisions permitting Ministers to overrule decisions of the Information Commissioner and Information Tribunal; to limit the time allowed for public authorities to respond to requests involving consideration of the public interest; to amend the definition of public authorities” and more, for example, was recently put on indefinite hold. How many publishers and journalists are lobbying to un-pause this?
So let’s simplify things. And in doing so, there’s no better place to start than David Eaves’ 3 laws of government data.
This is summed up as the need to be able to “Find, Play and Share” information. For the purposes of journalism, however, I’ll rephrase them as 3 questions to ask of any transparency initiative:
If information is to be published in a database behind a form, then it’s hidden in plain sight. It cannot be easily found by a journalist, and only simple questions will be answered.
If information is to be published in PDFs or JPEGs, or some format that you need proprietary software to see, then it cannot be easily be questioned by a journalist
If you will have to pass a test to use the information, then obstacles will be placed between the journalist and that information
The next time an organisation claims that they are opening up their information, tick those questions off. (If you want more, see Gurstein’s list of 7 elements that are needed to make effective use of open data).
At the moment, the history of information is being written without journalists.
Tags: data journalism regulation, law and ethics chris taggart Dan Herbert heather brooke linked data open data tony hirst transparency
#newsrw: Heather Brooke – ‘How do any journalists in the UK do their job?’
The main difficulty for data journalist in the UK is gaining access to meaningful data, Heather Brooke said in her keynote speech at news:rewired.
Brooke, a journalist, author and freedom-of-information campaigner, who is best known for her role in bringing the MPs expenses to light and who went on to work with the Guardian on the WikiLeaks cables, compared the difficulty in accessing data in the UK compared with the US, where she trained and worked as a political journalist and a crime reporter.
When working in the US, Brook explained how she was “heavily reliant on public records” and said the “underpinning of my journalism was state records”. As a crime reporter she used a police scanner, likening it to those familiar with US series ‘tThe Wire’.
“As a journalist I would decide what the story was,” she said, based on the data from public records. She was able to note patterns in the incident reports and able to notice a spate in domestic violence, for example.
Brooke told of how many UK police forces limit the release of their data to media messages left on a voice bank.
Public bodies in the UK “control the data, they control the public perception of the story,” she said.
“How do any journalists in the UK do their job?” she asked. And it was that problematic question that led her to becoming an FOI campaigner.
When she asked for receipts for US politicians’ expense claims in the States, she had them within a couple of days.
It was a different story in the UK. It took her five years and several court cases, including taking the case to the High Court which led to the release of second home allowance for 10 MPs.
The House of Commons “sticking their feet on the ground” refused to release further data, which had been scanned in by the fees office.
A CD of the data which was touted round Fleet Street and sold for £110,000.
The Telegraph, rather than Brooke, then had the data and had to verify and cross check it.
What is purpose as journalists in the digital age?
Brooke’s answer to that question is that “we need to change an unhelpful attitude” of public records being withheld.
“The information exists as if they own it”, she said.
“They don’t want negative information to come out” and they want to try and manage their reputation, she said in what she described as “the take over of public relations”.
“We need to be campaigning for these sets of data” and gave the examples of courts and the release of files.
“We make the FOI request and that should open the whole trench of data so any other journalist can go back and use it for their reporting.”
She said data journalism is “not just about learning how to use Excel spreadsheets but you have to have something to put in those spreadsheets”.
Brooke made a “rallying cry” as to why professional journalists, particularly those who practice investigative journalism, are vital.
The “one unique selling point, why people would come to a professional news organisation” is the training and experience journalists have in “sifting through for what is important and what is true”.
Brooke said as people have more and more information, a journalist’s role is distilling and signposting the information.
The second key point she made is journalists must establish “what is true”.
When a politician claims that crime has gone down, a journalist must be able to verify it and “test the truthfulness” of it, she said.
She explained that journalists need to know how that data was collected and, ideally, have access the data itself.
Brooke told how she tried to pitch stories on MPs expenses on an almost daily basis before they came to light. She said editors thought it was a non-story and “almost took the word of parliament” and had the perception that the public was not interested. But they were.
“It’s a symptom of the public not having meaninful information and are not able to take action. That’s our role as professional journaists.”
Tags: Event news Featured Posts data journalism freedom of information Heather Brooke MPs expenses the guardian wikileaks
LIVE: Keynote with Heather Brooke
We have Matthew Caines and Ben Whitelaw from Wannabe Hacks liveblogging for us at news:rewired all day. Follow individual posts on the news:rewired blog for up to date information on all our sessions. Blogging over the course of the day are Sarah Marshall and Joseph Stashko.
Heather Brooke is best known for her role in bringing MPs expenses – one of the biggest stories of 2009 – to light after a tireless five-year freedom-of-information campaign.
As well as an author of two books – Your Right to Know and The Silent State – Brooke is an honorary visiting fellow at City University London’s journalism department, where her teaching covers computer-assisted reporting and the effective use of public records and databases.
Tags: Event news Heather Brooke
Let us record what happens in our courts – comment call
Heather Brooke is calling for a campaign to allow recording in UK courts. I agree. In the comments below, let’s talk strategy.
Meanwhile, here’s some of the background from Brooke’s related blog post:
“The simple answer is to allow tape recorders for all: no party is disadvantaged and an ‘official’ recording is there for checking. This is how it works in other countries. But this is to ignore the root objection of the courts: that they are losing control of how court proceedings are presented to the public.”
“You might like to know whether the builder you’re going to give your keys to has any convictions for theft or if the company you’re about to do business with has a report for fraud. Tough. This information is not a click of a button away. Instead you’ll have to know the details of the case before you can call up any records – even though it’s the existence of cases that you’re trying to find in the first place. It’s Catch-22. If you do know the details of the case you’re then forced to undergo a tortuous and tedious process which involves battling a raft of petty officials across a number of court offices all for the simple purpose of accessing information that is supposedly public.”
And what:
“There are three main things that would make the courts useful to the general public:
knowing by name who is using them (the court list);
why (the particulars of claim);
the result (the verdict, sentence or settlement).
“Yet trying to get any, let alone all, of these is fraught with difficulty.”
So: strategy. To kick things off, I’ll give you 3 starters:
the much-mocked Your Freedom website inviting suggestions for laws to get rid of (how seriously is this being taken in government?)
the Number 10 petitions site (likewise)
Contact your MP.
Come up with some better ideas than that, and we’re somewhere.
Meanwhile, to spread awareness of this, why not tweet about this with the hashtag #opencourts?
Tags: Uncategorized #opencourts courts heather brooke law recording UK
Are you on the j-list? The leading innovators in journalism and media in 2010
Recent industry lists ranking the great and good in journalism and the media fell a bit short of the mark for Journalism.co.uk. Where were the online innovators? Where were the journalists on the ground outside of the executives’ offices?
So we’ve compiled our own rundown listing those people we think are helping to build the future of journalism and the news media.
Some important points to note:
There are no rankings to this list – those included are from such varied areas of work it seemed pointless;
We will have missed some people out – let us know in the comments below who you are working with that should be included;
We’ve listed groups as well as individuals – with individuals we hope you’ll see them as representing a wider team of people, who have worked together on something great;
And it’s not limited to 50 or 100 – we’ll see where it takes us…
So here’s the first batch. There’s a Twitter list of those included so far at this link and more will be added in the coming weeks.
Click on the ‘more’ link after these five to to see the full list.
Iain Overton
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism is both a return to supporting classic, investigative journalism and an experiment in collaborative working and new business models for heavyweight reporting. Overseen by managing editor Iain Overton, the bureau is working with news organisations across a range of media and investing efforts in data mining and new business models.
Will Perrin/TalkAboutLocal
Will Perrin and his team at Talk About Local are changing the local media landscape one website at a time. Through training workshops and community groups, TAL is helping citizens have a voice online – but also encouraging new growth in hyperlocal news. It all began with Kings Cross Environment, the local site that Perrin set up himself.
James Hatts, SE1
There’s a lot of hype about hyperlocal as a future model for local news – and in James Hatts’ case it’s justified. Hatts was still a student when London SE1, which covers London’s Bermondsey and Southwark areas, started. It’s now more than 10 years old and is a great example of quality news and information for the community with an innovative approach to making money to support that goal.
Marc Reeves
The former Birmingham Post editor makes our list because of his straight-talking, forward-thinking attitude to business journalism. Having recently helped launched a new edition of successful online business news network TheBusinessDesk.com for the West Midlands, Reeves views on niche news and the role of editorial in the commercial life of a news organisation are not to be missed.
Stewart Kirkpatrick
The former editor of Scotsman.com, Kirkpatrick launched a new newspaper for Scotland in January this year. With 200,000 unique users in its first month, you wouldn’t bet against the Caledonian Mercury and Kirkpatrick’s innovative approach to creating a truly complimentary print and online newspaper with a strong and independent identity.
Martin Moore
As director of the Media Standards Trust, Martin Moore has many responsibilities and aims – but near the top of that list is more transparency for public data online and for the metadata associated with news. His work on the hNews project with the Associated Press in particular is something to keep an eye on.
Charlie Beckett
As director of journalism and society think tank POLIS and a former broadcast journalist, Charlie Beckett is a leading exponent of networked journalism: the idea that journalists can work together across organisations, media and with non-journalists to produced news. His research and writings on this model for journalism show a new way of thinking about the role of the journalist and reader in the production and distribution of news.
Paul Egglestone
Egglestone is digital director at the School of Journalism Media and Communication at the University of Central Lancashire. He’s been instrumental in the innovative Meld and Bespoke schemes that run projects from multimedia training for freelance journalists to work aimed at improving local community relationships and living spaces through hyperlocal news, mapping and social media projects. Image courtesy of Andy Dickinson
Pierre Haski
The former Liberation journalist and colleagues from the title are busy carving out a model for successful, heavyweight and independent journalism online with Rue89. The site is not afraid to innovate when it comes to revenue models and crucially not afraid to kill off parts of its network if they’re not working. A new print offshoot has just been launched and with or without this new source of revenue Haski expects the venture to move into profit next year.
Jason Mawer/Oxbury Media
Taking something traditional – the parish newsletter – and seeing the potential of community-interest publications when combined with cutting edge technology – Fwix – is Oxbury Media‘s game. The agency is focused on getting hyperlocal and community media networked, particularly in terms of advertising. Currently involved with more than 10,000 titles, Oxbury Media has the opportunity to create a hyperlocal powerhouse.
Andrew Sparrow
Senior political correspondent for Guardian.co.uk, Andrew Sparrow showed us how liveblogging was done during the 2010 UK election campaigns: on a typical day the blog got between 100,000 and 150,000 page views, rising to two million on election night. Sparrow’s ability to report, summarise and aggregate material for the site made it a must-read and has rewritten the rulebook for online political coverage.
Alison Gow
Alison is executive editor for digital at the Liverpool Daily Post and Liverpool Echo. Gow makes the list not only for her work with those titles but also for her openness to new ideas, technologies and experimentation with journalism on the web. Her personal blog Headlines and Deadlines shares her thoughts on these developments and offers important insights into the changing role of local media and its relationship with a community online and offline.
The author of Bad Science and esteemed science writer is as influential for his loyal following – you should see the traffic spikes when he links to anything on Journalism.co.uk – as he is for his views on science journalism and transparency online. As a doctor and health professional his views on journalism come from a different perspective and can offer a necessary antidote to the “media bubble”. Image courtesy of psd on Flickr
Jo Wadsworth
Web editor for the Brighton Argus, Jo Wadsworth is a digital journalist who remembers the importance of offline as well as online networking. Her work on building a team of community correspondents for the paper and her efforts to help with training and mentoring for non-journalist readers wanting to get involved with the website amongst other things show the scope and rewards that a local newspaper website can bring.
Alberto Nardelli/Tweetminster
Alberto Nardelli knows a thing or two about Twitter and social networks – and he’s willing to share it with media and non-media partners to create a better service for users of his site Tweetminster. His and the Tweetminster team’s work shows the power of tracking real-time, social media information, while doing the filtering dirty work for us. It’s a tool for journalists and an example of how new ideas in the digital media world can take hold.
Sarah Hartley/Guardian Local
It’s early days for the Guardian’s venture into hyperlocal ‘beatblogging’ and its architect Sarah Hartley, but the signs are positive. The three existing sites offer a model for how ‘big media’ can do local, making use of third-party websites and dedicated to the online and offline audiences for their patch.
David Cohn/Spot.Us
David Cohn is the founder of Spot.Us, a model for ‘crowdfunded’, investigative journalism. Cohn has carefully built the pitching and funding model, as well as relationships with news media to create partnerships for distributing the finished articles. Spot.Us has grown out of its San Francisco base with a new venture in Los Angeles and even a project built to its model in Australia. Image courtesy of Inju on Flickr
Tom Steinberg/mySociety
Director and founder of non-profit, open source organisation mySociety, Tom Steinberg works to improve the public’s understanding of politics, government and democracy. From campaign literature site the Straight Choice – to FOI request site WhatDoTheyKnow, Steinberg helps create tools for journalists and ways for them to play a part in making a better society. Image courtesy of Tom Steinberg on Flickr
From her Freedom of Information rights campaigning to her work on MPs’ expenses, no list of journalism innovators would be complete without Heather Brooke. She’s both a classic investigative journalist with the nose and determination to get a story and someone who knows the best tools to challenge the data and information restrictions that can affect her line of work.
Juan Senor/Innovation Media Consulting
A fantastic speaker on news and magazines, in particular the notions of design and newsroom structure, Senor’s work with Innovation Media Consulting is perhaps best seen through Portuguese microformat newspaper i, a visually stunning and innovative take on what a newspaper or news magazine should look like.
Founder of the Online Journalism Blog Paul Bradshaw will soon be leaving his online journalism teaching post at Birmingham City University – but that doesn’t mean he’ll be resting on his laurels. Through his teaching, blogging, books and Help Me Investigate site, Paul’s research and insight into new opportunities for journalists, whether that’s tools, collaborations or entrepreneurship, are not to be missed.
A.k.a. David Allen Green. A shining example of specialist writing for the web and why bloggers shouldn’t all be tarred with the hobbyist “in their pyjamas” brush. Green’s dedication to his subject matter, his ability to distill often complex or jargon-riddled legal concepts into plain English and give the issues context should be a lesson to all specialist journalists.
James Fryer and Michelle Byrne/SoGlos.com
Online entertainment and arts magazine for Gloucestershire SoGlos.com prides itself on high standards editorially and innovation commercially. The site has embraced a start-up mentality for the news business and is quick to react to new business opportunities sparked by its editorial quality. What’s more the site is developing its model as a potential franchise for elsewhere in the UK, licensing for which would go back into supporting SoGlos.com.
Matt McAlister/Guardian’s Open Platform
Matt McAlister is head of the Guardian’s Developer Network and the driving force behind the Guardian’s Open Platform initiative, which allows third-party developers to build applications using the Guardian’s content and data. The platform has now launched commercially – a revenue stream for journalism from a truly digital age. Image courtesy of pigsaw on Flickr
Aron Pilhofer and his team at the New York Times are pioneers in data journalism – both creating interactives and visualisations to accompany NYTimes content and opening up the title’s own data to third parties. Image courtesy of Institutt for journalistikk on Flickr
The man involved with most, if not all, things with a social and digital media twist at Reed Business Information, Adam Tinworth is pushing innovation in multimedia journalism and distribution within a big publishing house. He documents his work to help other journalists learn from his experiences – whether that’s reviewing equipment or explaining a common problem – and his liveblogging abilities are something to behold!
Joanna Geary
As part of the Times’ web development team, Joanna Geary is part of one of the biggest experiments in UK journalism. But she’s also a journalist clearly thinking about the future of journalism and news as a business and profession – whether that’s through her own use of new communication tools and technology or in setting up Ruby in the Pub, a meet-up for journalists and programmers.
AOP: RBI takes four prizes at Digital Publishing Awards 2008
Next Generation Journalist: how to make hyperlocal work
Datablog: What data releases by the UK government could mean for journalists
Hyperlocal sites downplayed by MPs and mainstream – signs of progress?
WAN Amsterdam: How a regional newspaper in Austria hopes to make half its revenue from digital by 2011
Tags: Iain Overton Aron Pilhofer Jo Wadsworth jack of kent Matt McAlister James Fryer Michelle Byrne Sarah Hartley Jason Mawer Online Journalism Ben Goldacre Journalism Paul Egglestone Pierre Haski Martin Moore will perrin Juan Senor James Hatts Alberto Nardelli Paul Bradshaw Marc Reeves David Allen Green j-list Alison Gow David Cohn Tom Steinberg Stewart Kirkpatrick heather brooke Andrew Sparrow SoGlos Adam Tinworth Charlie Beckett
Review: Heather Brooke – The Silent State
In the week that a general election is called, Heather Brooke’s latest book couldn’t have been better timed. The Silent State is a staggeringly ambitious piece of work that pierces through the fog of the UK’s bureaucracies of power to show how they work, what is being hidden, and the inconsistencies underlying the way public money is spent.
Like her previous book, Your Right To Know, Brooke structures the book into chapters looking at different parts of the power system in the UK – making it a particularly usable reference work when you want to get your head around a particular aspect of our political systems.
Chapter 1 lists the various databases that have been created to maintain information on citizens - paying particular focus to the little-publicised rack of databases holding subjective data on children. The story of how an old unpopular policy was rebranded to ride into existence on the back of the Victoria Climbie bandwagon is particularly illustrative of government’s hunger for data for data’s sake.
Picking up that thread further, Chapter 2 explores how much public money is spent on PR and how public servants are increasingly prevented from speaking directly to the media. It’s this trend which made The Times’ outing of police blogger Nightjack particularly loathsome and why we need to ensure we fight hard to protect those who provide an insight into their work on the ground.
Chapter 3 looks at how the misuse of statistics led to the independence of the head of the Office of National Statistics – but not the staff that he manages – and how the statistics given to the media can differ quite significantly to those provided when requested by a Select Committee (the lesson being that these can be useful sources to check). It’s a key chapter for anyone interested in the future of public data and data journalism.
Bureaucracy itself is the subject of the fourth chapter. Most of this is a plea for good bureaucracy and the end of unnamed sources, but there is still space for illustrative and useful anecdotes about acquiring information from the Ministry of Defence.
And in Chapter 5 we get a potted history of MySociety’s struggle to make politicians accountable for their votes, and an overview of how data gathered with public money – from The Royal Mail’s postcodes to Ordnance Survey – is sold back to the public at a monopolistic premium.
The justice system and the police are scrutinised in the 6th and 7th chapters – from the twisted logic that decreed audio recordings are more unreliable than written records to the criminalisation of complaint.
Then finally we end with a personal story in Chapter 8: a reflection on the MPs’ expenses saga that Brooke is best known for. You can understand the publishers – and indeed, many readers – wanting to read the story first-hand, but it’s also the least informative of all the chapters for journalists (which is a credit to all that Brooke has achieved on that front in wider society).
With a final ‘manifesto’ section Brooke summarises the main demands running across the book and leaves you ready to storm every institution in this country demanding change. It’s an experience reminiscent of finishing Franz Kafka’s The Trial – we have just been taken on a tour through the faceless, logic-deprived halls of power. And it’s a disconcerting, disorientating feeling.
Journalism 2.0
But this is not fiction. It is great journalism. And the victims caught in expensive paper trails and logical dead ends are real people.
Because although the book is designed to be dipped in as a reference work, it is also written as an eminently readable page-turner – indeed, the page-turning gets faster as the reader gets angrier. Throughout, Brooke illustrates her findings with anecdotes that not only put a human face on the victims of bureaucracy, but also pass on the valuable experience of those who have managed to get results.
For that reason, the book is not a pessimistic or sensationalist piece of writing. There is hope – and the likes of Brooke, and MySociety, and others in this book are testament to the fact that this can be changed.
The Silent State is journalism 2.0 at its best – not just exposing injustice and waste, but providing a platform for others to hold power to account. It’s not content for content’s sake, but a tool. I strongly recommend not just buying it – but using it. Because there’s some serious work to be done.
Tags: online journalism book foi heather brooke ministry of justice mps expenses MySociety police pr review statistics the silent state
Heather Brooke: ‘PR is infecting public institutions and destroying our democracy’
In the latest extract of Heather Brooke’s book, ‘The Silent State’, published in the Mail on Sunday yesterday, the investigative journalist looks at the effect of PR in public institutions.
On council-run newspapers:
My prediction is this: the more officials take over the news the more our money will be wasted. Scrutiny by the public keeps the powerful honest.
And on trying to reach officials:
PR people have manoeuvred themselves to the top of the political pole. Even senior managers have to get clearance from the Press office to speak to the public.
Full post at this link…
data.gov.uk launches in public beta
Press Gazette: Conde Nast appoints three editorial managers across 12 websites
China Media Project: ‘Should journalists be tried for official bribery in China?’
The Washington Post and the cancelled lobbyist event
Yahoo and Politico to offer inside view of Democrat and Republican conventions
Tags: Newspapers Journalism PR Editors' pick heather brooke council newspapers
Heather Brooke: ‘Transparency keeps those in power honest’
In case you missed reading an extract of Heather Brooke’s new book, ‘The Silent State’, in the Mail on Sunday, here’s a link…
A second excerpt will be published next Sunday. Last weekend’s extract focused on expenses.
An early reporting experience in America taught her ” that transparency keeps those in power honest: more than any regulator, any bureaucracy or set of rules,” she writes.
On being scooped, she says:
The Telegraph did a phenomenal job presenting the data, and I don’t begrudge them anything, even if they did take away my scoop.
Brooke collected the judge’s award at last night’s British Press Awards for her campaigning over MPs’ expenses.
British Press Awards – the winners
MediaGuardian: British Press Awards results
British Press Award winners 2009
Guardian wins top sports award with multimedia coverage
Heather Brooke and Telegraph named in PSA Awards
Tags: mail on sunday telegraph Journalism MPs expenses Editors' pick Press freedom and ethics heather brooke
The Guardian has the full results from last night’s British Press Awards: the Telegraph took the big one, for newspaper of the year, while the Guardian’s Paul Lewis walked away with reporter of the year. Overall, the Telegraph won six prizes for its expenses story, including journalist of the year for its editor Will Lewis.
Heather Brooke got acknowledgement for her role in the expenses exposé, with a judge’s award. The Guardian reports:
The judges’s award went to freelance journalist and freedom of information campaigner Heather Brooke whose tireless campaigning did so much to keep the story in the public eye. She praised the Telegraph for doing a brilliant job but appealed to Fleet Street to be more co-operative on major stories.
“I don’t begrudge the Telegraph and I hope they don’t begrudge me. The fact is I’m fucking proud,” she said.
Full story at this link…
There’s a Guardian Twitter liveblog too, if you want to catch up with it as it happened.
BBC iPlayer: On Expenses
#FollowJourn: @newsbrooke/investigative journalist
Small victory for Heather Brooke in ongoing fight for transparency
Tags: Events Multimedia Journalism Editors' pick British Press Awards bpa heather brooke
Missed last night’s BBC Four drama about American journalist Heather Brooke’s fight for the disclosure of MPs’ expenses?
Catch up here: BBC iPlayer at this link.
Jon Slattery praised the show on his blog, saying it showed how much the public owed freelance journalist Brooke, for expenses exposure.
Brooke told Journalism.co.uk she hoped the film would help people understand the importance of investigative journalism and the role they play in holding political leaders to account: “If we don’t want corruption then we each have some responsibility, if only to care about where our taxes are going.”
NOTW’s reporting on Max Mosley was out of context and unethical, says undercover reporter
John Stonborough: From investigative journalism to PR
Tags: Broadcasting Newspapers Journalism MPs expenses Editors' pick Jon Slattery heather brooke
Heather Brooke on how British journalists avoid accountability by not naming sources
British journalism was under attack from two fronts this week. Satoshi Kanazawa, evolutionary psychologist at the London school of Economics accused the UK press of making things up. And on Charlie Brooker’s satirical TV show Newswipe Heather Brooke, investigative journalist and freedom of information campaigner, lambasts UK journalists for not always attributing official sources and therefore avoiding accountability. [Update: watch the video and read Brooke's comment to understand the difference between protecting confidential sources and not naming official spokespeople...]
YourRightToKnow: Heather Brooke responds to MP Alan Keen’s questions
Journalism in Africa: Kenyan government seeks guidelines on anonymous sources
Tags: Newspapers Journalism London school of Economics Charlie Brooker Press freedom and ethics Satoshi Kanazawa heather brooke investigative journalism Freedom of Information Act
Reporting on the MPs’ expenses scandal was recognised yesterday with awards for both the Telegraph and investigative journalist Heather Brooke.
Brooke took the ‘Influencing the Political Agenda’ prize at the Political Studies Association (PSA) Awards for her ‘tireless and inspiring’ campaign to uncover details of MPs’ expenses.
The Daily Telegraph was named as best political publication of the year for its investigation into MPs’ expenses; while the BBC’s Newsnight and business editor Robert Peston also received prizes.
The full list of PSA Awards winners is available at this link.
Telegraph wins top AOP award; Guardian wins three others
PTC calls for entries to New Journalist of the Year Awards 2009
Awards round-up: Index on Censorship winners; Mind Journalism Awards; Paul Foot nominations call
Tags: Events telegraph political journalism MPs expenses heather brooke Robert Peston
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News from PaneraTech
Home » News » Announcements » SmartMelter® introduces new videos for furnace health management
PaneraTech is known for their SmartMelter® technology that monitors furnace health; however the company’s latest project involves digital media. After listening closely to prospects and customers for over a year, a new SmartMelter® website has been released that addresses the most pressing questions in video and print, with detailed images of 3-D reporting in XSight software.
Since the release of SmartMelter® Monitoring in 2017, the company found that the glass industry was excited yet full of questions. People wanted to know how the technology works, but they were also unclear about the business model. Is this a product or a service? Would they have to purchase equipment? What do the reporting results look like? PaneraTech listened closely to these questions, and developed content that explains the SmartMelter® Monitoring Program in detail.
The new content also addresses the various applications of SmartMelter® technology for different types of furnaces at various stages of campaign life. PaneraTech began to study the various inquiries that they receive, and found that most fall into one of three categories: managing risk on a critical stage furnace, planning maintenance schedules and budgets, and making data-driven decisions, such as whether a furnace is a good match for a certain product mix. Various staff members stepped in front of the camera to talk about each of these applications in a new set of videos.
“Our entire team was involved in this project to make sure were delivering a high-quality presentation to customers that leaves them satisfied with the information they received,” said Yakup, Bayram, CEO of PaneraTech.He continued, “Most of our staff is more comfortable in a factory than a recording studio, but we enjoyed the opportunity to speak directly to our visitors about what we do.”
The new SmartMelter® website can be viewed at smartmelter.com.
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A Day Off! A Collection of Holidays!
by Charlie Griffin
© Copyright - Charlie Griffin / Classic Artists Records (190394064426)
“A DAY OFF! A Collection of Holidays!” features many federal holidays and a few that are just observed because they are the fun holidays. New Years Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mothers/ Fathers Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve. The 20 song CD collection features some new material but standards as well. From the memorable Etta James song AT LAST or HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY to HE LIVES, THE FIRST STEP, RING THE BELLS OF FREEDOM/ GOD BLESS AMERICA, WORKING ON A BUILDING, JINGLE BELLS. New songs STREETS OF GALILEE, IT’S A NEW DAY, THANK MY GOD, HELP SOMEBODY and so many more are sure to please the avid gospel music fan. Music production has been directed by Christopher Sutton, Art Bain and Stephen Sanders. From the rich full orchestration to bubbly brass and the signature guitar picking of David Johnson, each song has been arranged for a unique listening experience. First Voices along with special music friends Vicki Clayton Harv
Genre: Spiritual: Inspirational
2. At Last
3. Have I Told You Lately
4. When the Saints Go Marching In
5. First Step to Heaven
6. He Lives
7. Streets of Galilee
8. Love Them While You Can
9. I'm On the Battlefield
10. Ring the Bells of Freedom / God Bless America
11. Working On a Building
12. It's Not a Grave
13. Thank You Lord for Your Blessings On Me
14. Thank My God
15. Your Season
16. Go Tell It
17. Oh Beautiful Star
18. Jingle Bells
19. Help Somebody
20. Making a New Start
Over the last few months, long hours, thought and debate laid the foundation for this new audio project. The CD concept and song material have finally been chosen. Classic Artists Records producer Christopher Sutton shares, “At first we wanted a Christmas cd and Charlie was not fully on board with recording one. So after a many conversations, the idea came to take the most of the recognized federal holidays and work a cd around them.” Charlie says, “Most people get A DAY OFF when there is a federal holiday. So why not choose song material that best reflects those days. We celebrate with family and friends on those days and with others from our churches.”
“A DAY OFF! A Collection of Holidays!” features many federal holidays and a few that are just observed because they are the fun holidays. New Years Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mothers/ Fathers Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve. The 20 song CD collection features some new material but standards as well. From the memorable Etta James song AT LAST or HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY to HE LIVES, THE FIRST STEP, RING THE BELLS OF FREEDOM/ GOD BLESS AMERICA, WORKING ON A BUILDING, JINGLE BELLS. New songs STREETS OF GALILEE, IT’S A NEW DAY, THANK MY GOD, HELP SOMEBODY and so many more are sure to please the avid gospel music fan.
Music production has been directed by Christopher Sutton, Art Bain and Stephen Sanders. From the rich full orchestration to bubbly brass and the signature guitar picking of David Johnson, each song has been arranged for a unique listening experience. First Voices along with special music friends Vicki Clayton Harvell and Cheri Bradshaw McKinney fill the background and harmonies for this long awaited production. YES, there are still a few surprises for music fans.
Classic Artists Records has chosen a new song; IT’S A NEW DAY as the first single. The up tempo song is filled with a positive message that drives home, “Every day is a new day when you meet Jesus!” Already in concerts the song has proven to be a crowd favorite. Griffin states, “I love singing songs that are fun, up-beat and encouraging. IT’S A NEW DAY!- just really gets everyone involved.”
According to MusictoRadio.com the song is already in high demand, placing in the April Top Ten. DJs have a FREE download at http://musictoradio.com/Charlie_Griffin/audio.php. Specializing in southern gospel music, MusicToRadio.com is a leader in music downloads allowing music programmers from conventional, satelitte, internet and pay on demand music sources to have access to the latest christian music. All programmers can register a free account 24/7 at MusicToRadio.com.
For more information on Charlie Griffin, visit www.CharlieGriffin.Net for the comings and goings of the tour schedule, product orders and news. Email Charlie@CharlieGriffin.Net or phone 704-374-5910.
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Kentucky’s Cauley-Stein knew nothing of Christian Laettner and his turn-around jumper
Kyle Ringo
The Dagger: College Basketball Blog November 12, 2012, 9:55 PM UTC
There you are cruising through your Monday. Everything is going well. You haven't spent a second thinking about how you're two decades removed from your glory days or how much weight you've put on since you were rockin' the plaid shirts and going to Pearl Jam shows.
Then someone emails you a clip of Kentucky freshman Willie Cauley-Stein saying he's never heard of Christian Laettner or the former Duke forward's famous shot to beat UK in overtime in the 1992 East Regional final.
Suddenly you're worried about the gray hair creeping in, the retirement account, your kids' college funds and if you will ever actually make that trip to Fiji.
"That's before me," Cauley-Stein said in the video posted by the Louisville Courier-Journal. "I don't know. I don't keep up with it."
[More NCAA basketball: Viewer's guide to Tuesday's 24-hour college basketball marathon]
Thanks for making some of us feel old, Willie.
Kids these days.
Laettner's shot is an obvious topic anytime Kentucky and Duke play as they are schedule to Tuesday night (9:30 ET) in Atlanta as part of ESPN's 24-hour college hoops marathon. Both teams are 1-0.
Sure, Laettner's shot ripped out the hearts of Wildcats fans a year before Cauley-Stein was even born, but it's perhaps the signature moment of all time when it comes to March Madness. It's right up there with North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano running around the court at The Pit in New Mexico in 1983 after Lorenzo Charles ripped the national title away from Akeem Olajuwon and Phi Slamma Jamma with a last-second dunk of all things.
Next thing you know, some kid is going to say "who?" when asked about the Fab Five.
Kyle Ringo covers Colorado and the Pac-12 Conference for the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder. Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleRingo
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Tag Archives: MLS
Chicago Fire Drops Opening Day Match To NYC FC
March 6, 2016 Matthew Dixon Leave a comment
Chicago was unable overcome a 3-1 halftime deficit as they lost opening day to New York City FC (Photo courtesy of Chicago Fire’s Twitter account.)
An exciting opening day MLS match between the Chicago Fire and New York City FC saw City hold on for a 4-3 victory. All seven goals in the game were scored by different players and there was no shortage of opportunities for even more goals.
The Fire had an early chance in the second minute as Kennedy Igboananike put a nice pass through to Gilberto, but his shot was blocked after a cut back and the attack petered out. It was not long before City had their first good chance about a minute later as a blocked shot in the box fell to David Villa, but his shot was right at Matt Lampson.
David Accam used his speed in the sixth minute to beat his man, but his shot was saved by City’s Josh Saunders and Arturo Alvarez’s follow up was well over the bar. City opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Thomas McNamara picked up the ball outside the box and hit a wonderful goal to the top right corner off the post as there was no chance for Lampson to make the save.
Gilberto had another chance to score just a few minutes later after getting behind the defense. There was contact in the box and Gilberto went to ground, but no penalty was given by referee Armando Villarreal. The 17th minute saw Khiry Shelton get a shot off, but Lampson was there to prevent the deficit from doubling with a relatively easy save.
Razvan Cocis leveled the game in the 19th minute with a beautiful run from midfield while Alvarez delivered wonderful ball over the defense and it was easy for him to bury the goal in the bottom right. Cosis tired to make it a 2-1 lead for the Fire in the 23rd minute after a City turnover in their final third, but his attempted chip was not nigh enough and easily caught by Saunders.
City made it 2-1 in the 29th minute thanks to a blunder in the box by two Fire defenders. Joao Meira and Michael Harrington both went to clear the ball, but collided and it fell for Taylor to slot it home. Meira hit Harrington in the forehead with his boot and caused a laceration, but Harrington came back on the field after getting patched up.
City made it 3-1 in the 36th minute after Shelton was able to burst past his defender and also dribbled past a caught out Lampson while he maintained his balance to but the ball in the back of the net. Gilberto had another chance in the 41st minute, but his shot was blocked by Saunders again while Saunders came up big again in the 42nd minute getting his boot to Accam’s chance. Accam had one final chance before halftime, but once again the ball was saved by Saunders.
The Fire started the second half with Jonathan Campbell coming on for an injured Gilberto, who had a very good first half performance. Gilberto’s absence led to David Accam being moved up top.
The Fire were able to get right back in the game thanks to Accam’s pressure on City defender Ethan White. Accam got the ball away from him, forced Saunders to commit to him, and set up an easy goal for Igboananike in the 49th minute.
Accam had a chance to level the score a short time later after getting behind the City defense, but could not keep his feet as he was unable to even got a shot away. In the 60th minute, Alvarez put in a nice cross to Accam, but his shot was not strong enough and the post was covered well by Saunders. City were able to restore their two goal lead with McNamara hitting a cross in the box that found Mix Diskerud and he blasted his volley to the lower right corner.
Accam nearly made it a one goal deficit again with a free run in the 67th minute, but Saunders came up with yet another big stop and the ensuing corner led to nothing for the Fire. The Fire were awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute thanks to a hand ball by Shelton in the box off a corner kick. Accam took the penalty kick and sent Saunders the wrong way to make it 4-3.
City nearly put the game beyond doubt in the fifth minute of stoppage time. David Villa was one on one with goalkeeper, but Lampson stopped his shot and the game remained 4-3 to City. That is how the game would finish as the Fire could not mount one final attack.
Notes and Analysis
Both managers were coaching their first MLS game with Patrick Vieira coming out on top ahead of Veljko Paunovic.
Frank Lampard was not in the lineup for City as he missed the match due to injury.
The Fire had 12 corners to just one for City.
City played a high line with their back four and it led to 7 offsides for the Fire. It also caused problems for City as the David Accam was able to use his speed to get past the back four defenders.
Full game stats can be found here via MLS’ website.
Jonathan Campbell made his MLS debut to start the second half when he subbed in for Gilberto.
Joey Calistri also made his MLS debut when he came on in the 81st minute for Razvan Cocis.
Chicago faces Orlando City on the road Friday night while City faces Toronto FC in their home opener on Sunday afternoon.
Armando VillarrealArturo AlvarezChicago FireDavid AccamDavid VillaEthan WhiteGilbertoJoao MeiraJoey CalistriJonathan CampbellJosh SaundersKennedy IgboananikeKhiry SheltonMajor League SoccerMatt LampsonMichael HarringtonMix DiskerudMLSNew York CityNew York City FCNYCFCPatrick VieiraRazvan CosisVeljko Paunovic
U.S. Soccer Federation And MLS Do Not Get It
June 19, 2015 Matthew Dixon Leave a comment
Clint Dempsey gets a red card for his actions on Tuesday against Portland in the U.S. Open Cup (Jennifer Buchanan/USA TODAY Sports)
Seattle Sounder’s Clint Dempsey has been suspended three games for his obnoxious and reprehensible actions against Portland in Tuesday’s game in the U.S. Open Cup. Dempsey was also fined.
Dempsey was facing up to three months suspension from all competitions had the United States Soccer Federation found him guilty of assault. Instead, the USSF let the disciplinary actions fall to Major League Soccer on Friday. Below is a statement from MLS.
“We do not tolerate conduct of this nature from any of our players,” MLS Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott said in a statement. “No matter how passionate our players are or what happens in the ‘heat of the moment,’ they must always respect all aspects of the game, especially the referees. In light of Clint’s actions and our past precedents, we felt that a significant suspension was appropriate.”
Dempsey will now face only a ban in MLS games instead of missing time in the Gold Cup. This leads to only one conclusion: both the U.S. Soccer Federation and MLS do not get it. What is it? It is integrity.
The USSF’s handling of the Hope Solo investigation (was it even a real investigation?) was the first yellow card. ESPN documented some of the rather serious inconsistencies by the USSF. Solo was ultimately suspended for 30 days earlier this year, missing only 2 international friendlies. The USSF had a chance to make a stand on a serious issue and given what happened with Ray Rice and the NFL, it seemed like a great opportunity to show their teeth.
Instead, we saw nothing.
Fast forward to this past Tuesday when Dempsey decided he had enough of the referee and ripped up his booking card. There is ZERO defense for actions like that and he was properly sent off immediately. For the second time, U.S. Soccer had a chance to show their teeth.
Instead, they kicked the can down the road to Major League Soccer and MLS showed they have as much teeth as U.S. Soccer. Another yellow card. For those counting that is a second yellow card, which results in a red card.
It is clear that the stars are bigger than the sport of soccer. Both Solo and Dempsey are stars for club and country. More importantly, they are also role models to young people. What is the message being sent by USSF and MLS?
Your transgressions, both on and off the field, are of little concern to us. As long as we can continue to bring in revenue, we will be more than willing to look past these “minor” infractions.
Quite frankly, this kind of “discipline” is pathetic. In Solo’s case, it came on the heels of the Ray Rice incident in which the NFL and Roger Goodell botched his discipline.
For Dempsey, there is not a recent comparable case, but the rules are pretty clear about touching the referee and his property. None of that matters because stars are given their own set of rules.
Shame on Major League Soccer for letting Dempsey off with a putrid 3 game ban. Soccer still has not learned from the failures of the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL, which will only impede its progress to become one of the top 4.
Clint DempseyHope SoloMLSPortland TimbersSeattle SoundersU.S. Soccer FederationUSSF
Thoughts on MLS Addition of Orlando SC
November 22, 2013 Matthew Dixon Leave a comment
On Tuesday, November 19, Major League Soccer (MLS) announced that Orlando SC will become the 21st Franchise beginning with the 2015 Season. Orlando SC currently competes in the USL Pro Division, which is on the third tier of the United States Soccer Pyramid. This will be the first team in the state of Florida since 2001, when both the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion.
It is worth noting that both the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion folded after the 2001 season due to financial issues. At the time for MLS, financial woes were rampant throughout the league. This Forbes article by Chris Smith does an excellent job illustrating the early problems for MLS. Also in the article, he talks about the current value of each MLS team as well as providing a chart to show the profitability of each team.
In my opinion, the main concern for any new franchise in the Southeastern United States is the competition it will face. The Southeast is football crazy and is treated like a religion down there. That does not mean Orlando SC will fail, but it will take time for them to get near the backing of some recent MLS Expansion teams (e.g.: Portland, Seattle, Vancouver).
Another concern is the complete lack of any other regional teams. Orlando SC’s nearest competitor will be the Houston Dynamo to the west and DC United to the North. Orlando to Houston is approximately 963 miles according to Google, while Orlando to Washington D.C. is approximately 847 miles per Google. The lack of regional competition may hamper the ability for Orlando SC to flourish. This could be less of an issue if the rumored Miami Franchise comes to fruition.
One further thought on the lack of regional competition is noted by the fierce rivalries that have developed between Seattle, Vancouver, and Portland. These three franchises have thrived due in part to the Cascadia Cup that they contest each year. Do not discount the lack of a regional rival as an obstacle.
One final note, with Orlando SC becoming the 21st team it will almost certainly mean another unbalanced schedule in 2015. Adding another team will alleviate this problem, but at this time, it appears that will not happen until 2016 at the earliest.
Overall I think the addition of Orlando SC will help MLS in the long run, but there are some issues they will have to contend with early on. If Orlando SC can build a passionate and devoted fan base as well as be competitive within the football crazy South, they will be just fine.
Major League SoccerMLSOrlando SCSoccerUS Soccer
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WYD Panamá 2019
Synod on Young People
The Ignatian Qualities of the Petrine Ministry of Pope Francis
by Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation 31 July 2018 21 1 889(~15 min read)
On the feast day of St. Ignatius Loyola, Basilian priest, Fr Thomas Rosica, reflects on St Ignatius and his impact on Pope Francis.
Today on the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, I offer you the following reflections about this great saint and how his vision for the Church and for Christians has found a home in the life and witness of Pope Francis. One of the main themes permeating the thought of St. Ignatius of Loyola is his exhortation “Sentire cum ecclesia” or “think with the Church.” “Sentire cum ecclesia” also means to feel with the Church and to love the Church. It is necessary to cultivate this communion of shared devotion, affection and purpose in a very disciplined way, for not all aspects of the Church are lovable, just as we are not always lovable as individuals. The structures of the Church cannot exist without human mediation, with all its gifts and defects of the persons present in the Church. Such thoughts are vitally important, especially in the midst of current crises facing the Church, Catholics and Christians around the world.
Ignatius of Loyola founded the society after being wounded in battle and experiencing a religious conversion. He composed the Spiritual Exercises to help others follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. In 1534, Ignatius and six other young men, including Francis Xavier and Peter Faber, gathered and professed vows of poverty, chastity, and later obedience, including a special vow of obedience to the Pope in matters of mission direction and assignment. Ignatius' plan of the order's organisation was approved by Pope Paul III in 1540 by a bull containing the “Formula of the Institute”.
The Society of Jesus is present today in education, schools, colleges, universities and seminaries, intellectual research, and cultural pursuits. Jesuits also give retreats, minister in hospitals, parishes, university chaplaincies and promote social justice and ecumenical dialogue. One of them with a longstanding Jesuit identity happens to be leading the Catholic Church at this moment in history. Francis of Argentina is the first pope from the Society of Jesus – this religious congregation whose worldly, wise intellectuals are as famous as its missionaries and martyrs. It's this all-encompassing personal and professional Jesuit identity and definition that the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio brought with him from Buenos Aires to Rome, and one that continues to shape almost everything he does as Pope Francis. From his passion for social justice and his missionary zeal to his focus on engaging the wider world and his preference for collaboration over immediate action without reflection, Pope Francis is a Jesuit through and through.
What kind of a Jesuit is Francis?
Jorge Mario Bergoglio fully embraced the Jesuits' radical turn to championing the poor, though he was seen as an enemy of liberation theology by many Jesuits, others in the order were devoted to him. He turned away from devotional traditionalism but was viewed by others as still far too orthodox. Critics labeled him a collaborator with the Argentine military junta even though biographies now clearly show that he worked carefully and clandestinely to save many lives. None of that ended the intrigue against Bergoglio within the Jesuits, and in the early 1990s, he was effectively exiled from Buenos Aires to an outlying city, “a time of great interior crisis,” as he himself described it. As a good, obedient Jesuit, Bergoglio complied with the society's demands and sought to find God's will in it all. His virtual estrangement from the Jesuits encouraged then-Cardinal Antonio Quarracino of Buenos Aires to appoint Bergoglio as auxiliary bishop in 1992.
In 1998, Bergoglio succeeded Quarracino as Archbishop. In 2001, John Paul II made Bergoglio a cardinal, one of only two Jesuits in the 120-member College of Cardinals at that moment in history. The other Jesuit cardinal was Carlo Maria Martini of Milan.
The Pope among his brother Jesuits
On Monday, October 24, 2016, Pope Francis went to the General Congregation of the Jesuits – their general chapter underway in Rome – with a message. His whole address was characterised by an openness to what lies ahead, a call to go further, a support for caminar, the way of journeying that allows Jesuits to go toward others and to walk with them on their own journey.
Francis began his address to his Jesuit confrères quoting St. Ignatius reminding them that a Jesuit is called to converse and thereby to bring life to birth “in every part of the world where a greater service of God and help for souls is expected.”Precisely for this reason, the Jesuits must go forward, taking advantage of the situations in which they find themselves, always to serve more and better. This implies a way of doing things that aims for harmony in the contexts of tension that are normal in a world with diverse persons and missions. The Pope mentioned explicitly the tensions between contemplation and action, between faith and justice, between charism and institution, between community and mission.
The Holy Father detailed three areas of the Society’s path, yet these areas are not only for his religious family, but for the universal Church. The first is to “ask insistently for consolation.” It is proper to the Society of Jesus to know how to console, to bring consolation and real joy; Jesuits must put themselves at the service of joy, for the Good News cannot be announced in sadness. Then, departing from his text, he insisted that joy “must always be accompanied by humour,” and with a big smile on his face, he remarked, “as I see it, the human attitude that is closest to divine grace is a sense of humour.”
Next, Francis invited the Society to “allow yourselves to be moved by the Lord on the cross.” The Jesuits must get close to the vast majority of men and women who suffer, and, in this context, it must offer various services of mercy in various forms. The Pope underlined certain elements that he had already had occasion to present throughout the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Those who have been touched by mercy must feel themselves sent to present this same mercy in an effective way.
Finally, the Holy Father invited the Society to go forward under the influence of the “good spirit.” This implies always discerning, which is more than simply reflecting, how to act in communion with the Church. The Jesuits must be not “clerical” but “ecclesial.” They are “men for others” who live in the midst of all peoples, trying to touch the heart of each person, contributing in this way to establishing a Church in which all have their place, in which the Gospel is inculturated, and in which each culture is evangelised.
These three key words of the Pope’s address are graces for which each Jesuit and the whole Society must always ask: consolation, compassion, and discernment. But Francis has not only reminded his own religious family of these three important gifts that are at the core of Jesuit spirituality, he has also offered them to the universal Church, especially through the recent Synods of Bishops on the Family. As Pope Francis goes about his daily work, and slowly implements the reform that he was commissioned to being about in the Church by his brother Cardinals, it has become clear that his aim is to make the Church the Church of Jesus Christ, welcoming to all, and appealing and attractive because it shows its care for all people.
Over the past five years, Pope Francis has stressed that quintessential quality of Ignatius of Loyola: discernment. Discernment is a constant effort to be open to the Word of God that can illuminate the concrete reality of everyday life. A clear example of this discernment emerged at the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the Family and in the Synod’s Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia. It was a very Ignatian principle that illustrates the Church’s great respect for the consciences of the faithful as well as the necessity of formation of consciences:
“We have long thought that simply by stressing doctrinal, bioethical and moral issues, without encouraging openness to grace, we were providing sufficient support to families, strengthening the marriage bond and giving meaning to marital life. We find it difficult to present marriage more as a dynamic path to personal development and fulfilment than as a lifelong burden. We also find it hard to make room for the consciences of the faithful, who very often respond as best they can to the Gospel amid their limitations, and are capable of carrying out their own discernment in complex situations. We have been called to form consciences, not to replace them.” (AL #37)
The Church does not exist to take over people's conscience but to stand in humility before faithful men and women who have discerned prayerfully and often painfully before God the reality of their lives and situations. Discernment and the formation of conscience can never be separated from the Gospel demands of truth and the search for charity and truth, and the tradition of the Church.
In keeping with his own Jesuit formation, Pope Francis is a man of discernment, and, at times, that discernment results in freeing him from the confinement of doing something in a certain way because it was ever thus. In paragraph 33 of his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. Francis writes:
“Pastoral ministry in a missionary key seeks to abandon the complacent attitude that says: “We have always done it this way”. I invite everyone to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelization in their respective communities. A proposal of goals without an adequate communal search for the means of achieving them will inevitably prove illusory.”
The first Jesuits were “a holiness movement,” inviting everyone to lead a holy life. Francis of Assisi was committed to a literal imitation of the poor Christ. Ignatius was inspired by that poverty and originally planned that Jesuits would follow the same route. But as the renowned American Jesuit historian Fr. John O’Malley has indicated, just as Ignatius learned to set aside his early austerities to make himself more approachable, he later moderated the Society’s poverty to make it possible to evangelise more people especially through educational institutions. Even evangelical poverty was a relative value in relation to the good of souls and their progress in holiness. That same apostolic reasoning is found Pope Francis’ instructions to priests around the world about their ministries.
An inclusive, listening Church
The spirit of openness is foundational to the Jesuit way of proceeding. Jesuit parishes are known for their inclusiveness and Jesuit confessors for their understanding and compassion. Ignatius insisted in favour of the goodness of everyone we encounter, and a prescription for a style of encounter that makes condemnation of those in error a last resort. Early in his Pontificate when Pope Francis made his controversial statement about even atheists having a chance to get into heaven, he was following the teaching of Vatican II, but he was also following a very Ignatian approach to the good of souls.
Care of those most in need
Ignatius of Loyola’s recommended style of ministry anticipates the positive pastoral approach Pope Francis has taken to evangelization. Pope Francis’ attention to refugees, the abandoned elderly and unemployed youth exhibit the same concern as the first Jesuits for the lowliest and most needy people in society. Ignatius’ twin criteria for choice of ministries were serving those in greatest need and advancing the more universal good. The Jesuit Refugee Service and creative Jesuit projects in education, like the Nativity and Cristo Rey schools, are contemporary embodiments of the same spirit of evangelical care for the neediest. These apostolates are part of the post-conciliar renewal of the Society of Jesus, but they have deep, formative roots in Jesuit history and spirituality as well. In the mind and heart of Pope Francis, even elite Jesuit institutions can combine the intellectual apostolate with service to the poor in the spirit of Ignatius.
Humility and clerical reform
Pope Francis’ humility has impressed many people around the entire world. His style has truly become substance. It is the most radically evangelical aspect of his spiritual reform of the papacy, and he has invited all Catholics, but especially the clergy, to reject success, wealth and power. Humility is a key virtue in the Spiritual Exercises. One of its key meditations focuses on the Three Degrees of Humility. In Ignatius’ eyes, humility is the virtue that brings us closest to Christ, and Pope Francis appears to be guiding the church and educating the clergy in that fundamental truth. Reform through spiritual renewal begins with the rejection of wealth, honours and power, and it reaches its summit in the willingness to suffer humiliation with Christ. Humility is the most difficult part of the Ignatian papal reform, but it is essential for the church’s purification from clericalism, the source of so many ills in the contemporary church.
How can we characterise Francis’ leadership and how is that leadership “Ignatian”?
Ignatius did not use the word “leadership” as we commonly do today. Jesuit or Ignatian spirituality and Jesuit traditions lend themselves well to manifesting leadership in one’s life and work. Someone whose style of leadership is inspired by the Ignatian tradition will particularly emphasize certain habits or priorities as a leader, in ways that distinguish him/her from the way leadership is generally taught and practiced. Those habits or priorities include the importance of formation – not just learning to do technical tasks (like strategic planning) but also commitment to lifelong self-development; the importance of deep self-awareness (of coming to know oneself, for example, as happens in the Spiritual Exercises); becoming a skilled decision-maker, as happens through the discernment tools of the Exercises; committing oneself to purposes bigger than self, to a mission of ultimate meaning Jesuits often refer to this commitment by the expression of “magis”; deep respect for others, “finding God in all things.” Yet the difference between the worldly style of leadership and that traced by Ignatius is that the Jesuit style of leadership always points to God, the ultimate source of meaning. Great Jesuit figures like Peter Faber, Francis Xavier, Matteo Ricci or Alberto Hurtado were able to accomplish the feats they did not simply because they had some good leadership skills but because they were inspired by love of God.
What does a Jesuit pope mean for the church?
The Jesuit Pope is well versed in the Spiritual Exercises, so able to spread the knowledge and practice of this counterfeit way of conversion – a way that does not use the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to simply convict his hearers of sin, righteousness and the judgment to come, but invites people to experience Jesus, his mercy, his love, his goodness and his invitation to sinners to draw closer to him. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises invites people to imagine the gory details of hell, the warm embrace of the prodigal father, and the presence of Jesus walking with people on the highways and byways of life. Ignatius learned this way of meditation from his reading of the lives of the saints and mystics, but it is not necessarily the way of Scripture that can at times be devoid of imagination. Pope Francis follows Ignatius’ imaginative method in a remarkable and vivid way. He reminds us day in and day out that Jesuit spirituality is not only mystical, but it is ethical and can help us in our daily living.
The whole concept of setting up committees, consulting widely, convening smart people around you is how Jesuit superiors usually function. Then they make the decision. This sort of discernment – listening to all and contemplating everything before acting – is a cardinal virtue of the Ignatian spirituality that is at the core of Francis' being and his commitment to a “conversion” of the papacy as well as the entire church. It’s hard to predict what will come next. Francis is shrewd, and he has repeatedly praised the Jesuit trait of “holy cunning” – that Christians should be “wise as serpents but innocent as doves,” as Jesus put it. The pope's openness, however, also a signature of his Jesuit training and development, means that not even he is sure where the spirit will lead. He has said: “I don't have all the answers. I don't even have all the questions. I always think of new questions, and there are always new questions coming forward.”
Pope Francis breaks Catholic traditions whenever he wants, because he is “free from disordered attachments.” Our Church has indeed entered a new phase: with the advent of this first Jesuit pope, it is openly ruled by an individual rather than by the authority of Scripture alone or even its own dictates of tradition plus Scripture. Pope Francis has brought to the Petrine office a Jesuit intellectualism. By choosing the name Francis, he is also affirming the power of humility and simplicity. Pope Francis, the Argentine Jesuit, is not simply attesting to the complementarity of the Ignatian and Franciscan paths. He is pointing each day to how the mind and heart meet in the love of God and the love of neighbour. And most of all, he reminds us each day how much we need Jesus, and also how much we need one another along the journey.
This post was originally published by Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation.
* The opinions expressed here by Spotlight.Africa contributors and editors are their own and not official statements of the Society of Jesus in South Africa or of the Catholic Church unless explicitly stated.
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<p class=""><em><strong>On the feast day of St. Ignatius Loyola, Basilian priest, <a href="http://saltandlighttv.org/b/?aid=28&an=Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB&language=en">Fr Thomas Rosica</a>, reflects on St Ignatius and his impact on Pope Francis.</strong></em></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Today on the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, I offer you the following reflections about this great saint and how his vision for the Church and for Christians has found a home in the life and witness of Pope Francis. One of the main themes permeating the thought of St. Ignatius of Loyola is his exhortation <em>“Sentire cum ecclesia” </em>or<em> </em>“think with the Church.” <em>“Sentire cum ecclesia” </em>also means to feel with the Church and to love the Church. It is necessary to cultivate this communion of shared devotion, affection and purpose in a very disciplined way, for not all aspects of the Church are lovable, just as we are not always lovable as individuals. The structures of the Church cannot exist without human mediation, with all its gifts and defects of the persons present in the Church. Such thoughts are vitally important, especially in the midst of current crises facing the Church, Catholics and Christians around the world.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>The Ignatian Qualities of the Petrine Ministry of Pope Francis</em></strong></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Ignatius of Loyola founded the society after being wounded in battle and experiencing a religious conversion. He composed the Spiritual Exercises to help others follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. In 1534, Ignatius and six other young men, including Francis Xavier and Peter Faber, gathered and professed vows of poverty, chastity, and later obedience, including a special vow of obedience to the Pope in matters of mission direction and assignment. Ignatius' plan of the order's organisation was approved by Pope Paul III in 1540 by a bull containing the "Formula of the Institute".</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">The Society of Jesus is present today in education, schools, colleges, universities and seminaries, intellectual research, and cultural pursuits. Jesuits also give retreats, minister in hospitals, parishes, university chaplaincies and promote social justice and ecumenical dialogue. One of them with a longstanding Jesuit identity happens to be leading the Catholic Church at this moment in history. Francis of Argentina is the first pope from the Society of Jesus – this religious congregation whose worldly, wise intellectuals are as famous as its missionaries and martyrs. It's this all-encompassing personal and professional Jesuit identity and definition that the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio brought with him from Buenos Aires to Rome, and one that continues to shape almost everything he does as Pope Francis. From his passion for social justice and his missionary zeal to his focus on engaging the wider world and his preference for collaboration over immediate action without reflection, Pope Francis is a Jesuit through and through.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>What kind of a Jesuit is Francis?</em></strong></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Jorge Mario Bergoglio fully embraced the Jesuits' radical turn to championing the poor, though he was seen as an enemy of liberation theology by many Jesuits, others in the order were devoted to him. He turned away from devotional traditionalism but was viewed by others as still far too orthodox. Critics labeled him a collaborator with the Argentine military junta even though biographies now clearly show that he worked carefully and clandestinely to save many lives. None of that ended the intrigue against Bergoglio within the Jesuits, and in the early 1990s, he was effectively exiled from Buenos Aires to an outlying city, “a time of great interior crisis,” as he himself described it. As a good, obedient Jesuit, Bergoglio complied with the society's demands and sought to find God's will in it all. His virtual estrangement from the Jesuits encouraged then-Cardinal Antonio Quarracino of Buenos Aires to appoint Bergoglio as auxiliary bishop in 1992.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">In 1998, Bergoglio succeeded Quarracino as Archbishop. In 2001, John Paul II made Bergoglio a cardinal, one of only two Jesuits in the 120-member College of Cardinals at that moment in history. The other Jesuit cardinal was Carlo Maria Martini of Milan.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>The Pope among his brother Jesuits</em></strong></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">On Monday, October 24, 2016, Pope Francis went to the General Congregation of the Jesuits – their general chapter underway in Rome – with a message. His whole address was characterised by an openness to what lies ahead, a call to go further, a support for <em>caminar,</em> the way of journeying that allows Jesuits to go toward others and to walk with them on their own journey.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Francis began his address to his Jesuit confrères quoting St. Ignatius reminding them that a Jesuit is called to converse and thereby to bring life to birth <em>“in every part of the world where a greater service of God and help for souls is expected.”</em>Precisely for this reason, the Jesuits must go forward, taking advantage of the situations in which they find themselves, always to serve more and better. This implies a way of doing things that aims for harmony in the contexts of tension that are normal in a world with diverse persons and missions. The Pope mentioned explicitly the tensions between contemplation and action, between faith and justice, between charism and institution, between community and mission.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">The Holy Father detailed three areas of the Society’s path, yet these areas are not only for his religious family, but for the universal Church. The first is to “ask insistently for consolation.” It is proper to the Society of Jesus to know how to console, to bring consolation and real joy; Jesuits must put themselves at the service of joy, for the Good News cannot be announced in sadness. Then, departing from his text, he insisted that joy <em>“must always be accompanied by humour,”</em> and with a big smile on his face, he remarked, <em>“as I see it, the human attitude that is closest to divine grace is a sense of humour.”</em></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Next, Francis invited the Society to “allow yourselves to be moved by the Lord on the cross.” The Jesuits must get close to the vast majority of men and women who suffer, and, in this context, it must offer various services of mercy in various forms. The Pope underlined certain elements that he had already had occasion to present throughout the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Those who have been touched by mercy must feel themselves sent to present this same mercy in an effective way.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, the Holy Father invited the Society to go forward under the influence of the “good spirit.” This implies always discerning, which is more than simply reflecting, how to act in communion with the Church. The Jesuits must be not “clerical” but “ecclesial.” They are “men for others” who live in the midst of all peoples, trying to touch the heart of each person, contributing in this way to establishing a Church in which all have their place, in which the Gospel is inculturated, and in which each culture is evangelised.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">These three key words of the Pope’s address are graces for which each Jesuit and the whole Society must always ask: <strong>consolation, compassion, and discernment. </strong>But Francis has not only reminded his own religious family of these three important gifts that are at the core of Jesuit spirituality, he has also offered them to the universal Church, especially through the recent Synods of Bishops on the Family. As Pope Francis goes about his daily work, and slowly implements the reform that he was commissioned to being about in the Church by his brother Cardinals, it has become clear that his aim is to make the Church the Church of Jesus Christ, welcoming to all, and appealing and attractive because it shows its care for all people.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>Discernment</em></strong></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Over the past five years, Pope Francis has stressed that quintessential quality of Ignatius of Loyola: discernment. Discernment is a constant effort to be open to the Word of God that can illuminate the concrete reality of everyday life. A clear example of this discernment emerged at the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the Family and in the Synod’s Apostolic Exhortation, <a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20160319_amoris-laetitia.html"><em>Amoris Laetitia</em></a>. It was a very Ignatian principle that illustrates the Church’s great respect for the consciences of the faithful as well as the necessity of formation of consciences:</p><blockquote> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>“We have long thought that simply by stressing doctrinal, bioethical and moral issues, without encouraging openness to grace, we were providing sufficient support to families, strengthening the marriage bond and giving meaning to marital life. We find it difficult to present marriage more as a dynamic path to personal development and fulfilment than as a lifelong burden. We also find it hard to make room for the consciences of the faithful, who very often respond as best they can to the Gospel amid their limitations, and are capable of carrying out their own discernment in complex situations. <strong>We have been called to form consciences, not to replace them.”</strong> (AL #37)</em></p> </blockquote><p style="font-weight: 400;">The Church does not exist to take over people's conscience but to stand in humility before faithful men and women who have discerned prayerfully and often painfully before God the reality of their lives and situations. Discernment and the formation of conscience can never be separated from the Gospel demands of truth and the search for charity and truth, and the tradition of the Church.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">In keeping with his own Jesuit formation, Pope Francis is a man of discernment, and, at times, that discernment results in freeing him from the confinement of doing something in a certain way because it was ever thus. In paragraph 33 of his Apostolic Exhortation <em><a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html">Evangelii Gaudium</a>. </em>Francis writes:</p><blockquote> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>“Pastoral ministry in a missionary key seeks to abandon the complacent attitude that says: “We have always done it this way”. I invite everyone to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelization in their respective communities. A proposal of goals without an adequate communal search for the means of achieving them will inevitably prove illusory.”</em></p> </blockquote><p style="font-weight: 400;">The first Jesuits were “a holiness movement,” inviting everyone to lead a holy life. Francis of Assisi was committed to a literal imitation of the poor Christ. Ignatius was inspired by that poverty and originally planned that Jesuits would follow the same route. But as the renowned American Jesuit historian Fr. John O’Malley has indicated, just as Ignatius learned to set aside his early austerities to make himself more approachable, he later moderated the Society’s poverty to make it possible to evangelise more people especially through educational institutions. Even evangelical poverty was a relative value in relation to the good of souls and their progress in holiness. That same apostolic reasoning is found Pope Francis’ instructions to priests around the world about their ministries.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>An inclusive, listening Church</em></strong></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">The spirit of openness is foundational to the Jesuit way of proceeding. Jesuit parishes are known for their inclusiveness and Jesuit confessors for their understanding and compassion. Ignatius insisted in favour of the goodness of everyone we encounter, and a prescription for a style of encounter that makes condemnation of those in error a last resort. Early in his Pontificate when Pope Francis made his controversial statement about even atheists having a chance to get into heaven, he was following the teaching of Vatican II, but he was also following a very Ignatian approach to the good of souls.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>Care of those most in need</em></strong><em> </em></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Ignatius of Loyola’s recommended style of ministry anticipates the positive pastoral approach Pope Francis has taken to evangelization. Pope Francis’ attention to refugees, the abandoned elderly and unemployed youth exhibit the same concern as the first Jesuits for the lowliest and most needy people in society. Ignatius’ twin criteria for choice of ministries were serving those in greatest need and advancing the more universal good. The Jesuit Refugee Service and creative Jesuit projects in education, like the Nativity and Cristo Rey schools, are contemporary embodiments of the same spirit of evangelical care for the neediest. These apostolates are part of the post-conciliar renewal of the Society of Jesus, but they have deep, formative roots in Jesuit history and spirituality as well. In the mind and heart of Pope Francis, even elite Jesuit institutions can combine the intellectual apostolate with service to the poor in the spirit of Ignatius.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>Humility and clerical reform</em></strong></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Pope Francis’ humility has impressed many people around the entire world. His style has truly become substance. It is the most radically evangelical aspect of his spiritual reform of the papacy, and he has invited all Catholics, but especially the clergy, to reject success, wealth and power. Humility is a key virtue in the Spiritual Exercises. One of its key meditations focuses on the Three Degrees of Humility. In Ignatius’ eyes, humility is the virtue that brings us closest to Christ, and Pope Francis appears to be guiding the church and educating the clergy in that fundamental truth. Reform through spiritual renewal begins with the rejection of wealth, honours and power, and it reaches its summit in the willingness to suffer humiliation with Christ. Humility is the most difficult part of the Ignatian papal reform, but it is essential for the church’s purification from clericalism, the source of so many ills in the contemporary church.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>How can we characterise Francis’ leadership and how is that leadership “Ignatian”?</em></strong></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Ignatius did not use the word “leadership” as we commonly do today. Jesuit or Ignatian spirituality and Jesuit traditions lend themselves well to manifesting leadership in one’s life and work. Someone whose style of leadership is inspired by the Ignatian tradition will particularly emphasize certain habits or priorities as a leader, in ways that distinguish him/her from the way leadership is generally taught and practiced. Those habits or priorities include the importance of formation – not just learning to do technical tasks (like strategic planning) but also commitment to lifelong self-development; the importance of deep self-awareness (of coming to know oneself, for example, as happens in the Spiritual Exercises); becoming a skilled decision-maker, as happens through the discernment tools of the Exercises; committing oneself to purposes bigger than self, to a mission of ultimate meaning Jesuits often refer to this commitment by the expression of <em>“magis”;</em> deep respect for others, “finding God in all things.” Yet the difference between the worldly style of leadership and that traced by Ignatius is that the Jesuit style of leadership always points to God, the ultimate source of meaning. Great Jesuit figures like Peter Faber, Francis Xavier, Matteo Ricci or Alberto Hurtado were able to accomplish the feats they did not simply because they had some good leadership skills but because they were inspired by love of God.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong><em>What does a Jesuit pope mean for the church?</em></strong></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">The Jesuit Pope is well versed in the Spiritual Exercises, so able to spread the knowledge and practice of this counterfeit way of conversion – a way that does not use the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to simply convict his hearers of sin, righteousness and the judgment to come, but invites people to experience Jesus, his mercy, his love, his goodness and his invitation to sinners to draw closer to him. Ignatius’ <em>Spiritual Exercises</em> invites people to imagine the gory details of hell, the warm embrace of the prodigal father, and the presence of Jesus walking with people on the highways and byways of life. Ignatius learned this way of meditation from his reading of the lives of the saints and mystics, but it is not necessarily the way of Scripture that can at times be devoid of imagination. Pope Francis follows Ignatius’ imaginative method in a remarkable and vivid way. He reminds us day in and day out that Jesuit spirituality is not only mystical, but it is ethical and can help us in our daily living.</p><p style="font-weight: 400;">The whole concept of setting up committees, consulting widely, convening smart people around you is how Jesuit superiors usually function. Then they make the decision. This sort of discernment – listening to all and contemplating everything before acting – is a cardinal virtue of the Ignatian spirituality that is at the core of Francis' being and his commitment to a "conversion" of the papacy as well as the entire church. It’s hard to predict what will come next. Francis is shrewd, and he has repeatedly praised the Jesuit trait of "holy cunning" – that Christians should be "wise as serpents but innocent as doves," as Jesus put it. The pope's openness, however, also a signature of his Jesuit training and development, means that not even he is sure where the spirit will lead. He has said: <em>"I don't have all the answers. I don't even have all the questions. I always think of new questions, and there are always new questions coming forward."</em></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">Pope Francis breaks Catholic traditions whenever he wants, because he is “free from disordered attachments.” Our Church has indeed entered a new phase: with the advent of this first Jesuit pope, it is openly ruled by an individual rather than by the authority of Scripture alone or even its own dictates of tradition plus Scripture. Pope Francis has brought to the Petrine office a Jesuit intellectualism. By choosing the name Francis, he is also affirming the power of humility and simplicity. Pope Francis, the Argentine Jesuit, is not simply attesting to the complementarity of the Ignatian and Franciscan paths. He is pointing each day to how the mind and heart meet in the love of God and the love of neighbour. And most of all, he reminds us each day how much we need Jesus, and also how much we need one another along the journey.</p><p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p><p><em>This post was originally published by <a href="http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/fr-thomas-rosica/the-ignatian-qualities-of-the-petrine-ministry-of-pope-francis">Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation</a>.</em></p>
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From Surviving the Aftermath Wiki
This article may contain outdated information that is inaccurate for the current version of the game. It was last updated for 1.0.
Surviving the Aftermath is a game about pushing through the odds in a horrible situation. The world as we know it is gone, and it's your task to pick up the pieces and rebuild. The game starts small from just a handful of survivors and resources, finally expanding to automated factories and (VERY relatively) comfortable living.
1 Pregame
2 Basic survival
3 Out into the world
4 Powering up
5 In to the future
Pregame[edit]
The first steps in the game are about tailoring the experience to your liking. Pregame setup allows you to alter the amount of initial resources, tweak the challenge level and customise your Colony's name and flag. You can also enable or disable the Tutorial, which explains the game's basic concepts from building to scavenging and exploring.
Basic survival[edit]
Once the game starts, you're tasked with taking care of the very basic needs of the Colonists. First, make sure you have enough Water for everyone, as dehydration is a deadly condition. Next, provide them with a sufficient amount of houses to live in. Different shelters have different costs and benefits, so spend your initial building materials wisely. Once that's done, it's time to top up that Food Storage. There are several different options to gather edibles ranging from picking nearby Berries to Fishing, Trapping and rudimentary agriculture. All have their pros and cons, so take your time checking each one out to decide what to do first and keep expanding the production as the colony grows.
Task list:
Secure Water sources
Build shelters
Start Food production
Scavenge basic resources
Build the Gate
Out into the world[edit]
Once you've satisfied the basic needs of your people, it's time to peer onward beyond the confines of your Colony. To do this, you must build The Gate. It acts not only as a defence against aggressors but as a beacon of sorts, signalling protection, salvation and security to other survivors of the wasteland. It also unlocks the World Map. These survivor groups will be the main source of new colonists for you, so be prepared to welcome them if you can support them. With survivor groups come Specialists - your wasteland survival and exploration experts. This colourful group of traders, fighter and scientists is responsible for taking advantage of the World Map. The map's divided into sectors you must scout first to uncover the usually abandoned locations within. These locations still hold resources valuable to your colony as building materials, medicine, scientific advancement and more. Without exploring the map, your Colony is doomed to live in the stone age.
Take in survivors
Enlist Specialists
Scout sectors
Scavenge world map locations
Find Research locations and unlock new tech
Survive the catastrophes
Powering up[edit]
While exploring the map, you're sure to come across Components. These highly valuable parts are the backbone of Energy production, which in turn will create more efficient and secure ways to produce food, materials and so on. You'll transition from Planks to Metal, and your Colony should be growing in size, too. Specialists haul valuable goods back to base and combat occasional bandits for their loot. By now you've grown accustomed to various Catastrophes and disasters and know how to cope with them. Power Plants are costly, but provide the Energy for advanced buildings like pollution-clearing Environmental Stations, fallout-proof Greenhouses and efficient Bore Wells. You're climbing the Tech Tree branch by branch on your way to the top. Basic material production is secured and not reliant on just scavenging.
Find Components to build Power Plants
Increase Colony population
Endure Catastrophes
Unlock new technologies
Secure long-term Food, Water and resource production
In to the future[edit]
Once the Colony is brimming with energy and the food storages are filled up, it's time to look past the present. What that future holds, will be revealed in the upcoming updates to Surviving the Aftermath...
Play the game, check new updates and enjoy!
Retrieved from "https://sta.paradoxwikis.com/index.php?title=Beginner%27s_guide&oldid=1738"
Potentially outdated
About Surviving the Aftermath Wiki
Surviving The Aftermath Wiki
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Welcome to our new presidents
by Caroline Butterwick / Thursday, 28 November 2019 / Published in News
We are delighted to welcome our three new presidents! Each of them will be under 40 years of age when they take up office, a first in the Chambers’ history.
New Staffordshire Chambers president, Matt Hubbard, is well known to many, having joined the Chamber in 2004 as a recent graduate of Staffordshire University with a BA in Film Production. Matt and a group of fellow graduates set up film production company, Reels in Motion, and as the company grew, so did Matt’s confidence. He became chair of Future Finest in 2011 and deputy president of the Chamber in 2017.
By coincidence, the new presidents of Stafford and Staffordshire Moorlands Chambers are both architects. Carl Croft is returning for his second stint as president, whilst the youngest president of the trio, Natalie Hewitt, is relatively new to the Chamber, having only joined in 2016.
We asked each of the new presidents what their aims are in post:
Matt Hubbard, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce: “To continue the excellent work done to date in repositioning the Chamber and its value to members. To improve engagement so that members get real value. To ensure that the Chamber is the go-to business support body in what is a very challenging period.”
Natalie Hewitt, Staffordshire Moorlands: “To give smaller SME companies in the Moorlands a bigger voice. To make sure our support reaches all parts of the district including Uttoxeter which comes under our wing and to build the great work of my predecessor Suzanne Davy who has worked tirelessly to increase membership and engagement.”
Carl Croft, Stafford: “I would like to carry on the great work of my predecessor, Phil Osman, to see the Chambers’ grow and for the Staffordshire economy to be in the best possible shape. Specifically, Stafford Chamber will be representing the members on issues such as HS2 – to get the very best rail service and economic benefits, new and forthcoming developments including digital and other infrastructure as well as promotion of the future of our town centres.”
We hope you join us in welcoming Matt, Natalie and Carl and wishing them every success in post.
Upcoming International Trade Webinars
Appeal to business community to change children’s lives in 2020
Commerce House
Festival Park
ST1 5BE
e: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
© Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce 2019
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Category: Socialism
Sanitized Socialism’s New Generation in America
by Stand Up For The Truth | Nov 4, 2019 | American History, Christianity, Liberalism, Podcast, Politics and Faith, Socialism | 0 |
Most of us have heard about the recent polls suggesting more Americans, and particularly those under 30, are softening to socialism. We hear the principles of socialism and so-called ‘income inequality’ being proclaimed by major Democrat presidential candidates. But where do Americans stand on this important topic and do people really know the true history about socialism?
Is the nation really shifting? Is there anything Christian about socialism? We discuss this today.
Millennials Say Yes to Socialism in New Poll
by David Fiorazo | Oct 30, 2019 | Education, Government, Politics and Faith, Socialism | 0 |
According to a new poll, seventy percent of Millennials now plan on voting for socialists and Democrats. And thirty-six percent support communism. For those keeping score at home, that’s one in three youngsters – brought up in the modern, atheistic, secular-progressive education system in America.
Not surprisingly, with the help of today’s media and Hollywood, these same Millennials believe President Donald Trump is a bigger threat to world peace than North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
The “Forbidden” Topics of Religion and Politics
by Stand Up For The Truth | Aug 26, 2019 | American Church, American History, Apologetics, Apostacy, Catholic, Christianity, Globalism, Government, Liberalism, One world religion, Podcast, Progressive Christianity, Prophecy, Religious Freedom, Socialism | 2 |
Play Episode...
The Spiritual Side of Radical Liberalism
by Stand Up For The Truth | Jul 25, 2019 | American Church, Apologetics, Christianity, Culture & Morality, Discrimination, False Teaching, Government, Higher Education, Islam, Israel, Liberalism, Middle East, One world religion, Podcast, Politics and Faith, Religious Freedom, Socialism, Universalism | 0 |
It would be a tragic mistake to think that the seismic lurch to the far left by radical politic leaders in our nation is either temporary, isolated or without spiritual motivation. Rather than a political movement, radical Liberalism is part of a movement bent on uniting the world around global humanism, turning our backs on God. And the Word of God warns us of this tragedy as Jesus prepares to return to judge the nations.
Gary Kah of Hope For the World joins Mike and Crash today to discuss how the radical liberal movement in the U.S. is tied to godless globalism, and how Christianity is its number one threat and target.
Growing Acceptance of Marxism in Churches
by Stand Up For The Truth | Jun 26, 2019 | American Church, Beliefs, Christianity, Church Leadership, Culture & Morality, Donald Trump, Emergent Church, False Teaching, gender confusion, Government, Humanism, LGBTQ, Liberalism, Podcast, Politics and Faith, Progressive Christianity, Social Justice, Socialism | 0 |
As American Christianity generally bends over backwards to be seen as “loving” to the world, we have seen secular culture extend its influence within the church. From the social justice movement to the powerful LGBTQ lobby, we see more and more churches accommodating things of this world directly contradictory to the Bible. And now, with another presidential election on the horizon we are seeing an enhanced push for the church to embrace something that is directly opposed to the Bible: Marxist Socialism.
Mike and David look at the growth of socialist ideals within professing Christianity and why this is ominous and dangerous to the church.
Big Challenges Facing Christianity in America
by Stand Up For The Truth | May 29, 2019 | Abortion, American History, Apologetics, Christian Church, Christianity, Church Leadership, Culture & Morality, Discrimination, Education, Evangelism, False Teaching, gender confusion, Globalism, Government, LGBTQ, Liberalism, Persecution, Podcast, Politics and Faith, Progressive Christianity, Religious Freedom, Socialism | 0 |
John Loeffler of Steel on Steel Radio has witnessed and addressed the attacks on both our churches and our nation by radical ideologies and movements, and joins Mike and David to discuss the many challenges our nation and Christian Churches face today.
We start with a promise from Jesus: the gates of hell will not prevail against His true church. But there has been compromise and complacency as well as enormous challenges facing the professing church in America. We’re seeing a decline in many denominations and church attendance, the growing influence of secular humanism within many churches, and the increasing threat of discrimination and eventual persecution.
Paul says in Romans 8:37 that we are more than conquerors through Jesus, but we seem to be raising the white flag of spiritual and cultural surrender. Could that be because we are conforming to this world and changing the eternal message of the gospel to fit our human understanding and prejudices?
The Allure and Danger of Socialism
by Stand Up For The Truth | Apr 4, 2019 | Abortion, American History, Biblical Social Justice, Christianity, Church Leadership, Culture & Morality, Education, False Teaching, gender confusion, Globalism, Government, Podcast, Politics and Faith, Progressive Christianity, Socialism | 0 |
Studies show a majority of younger people now approve of socialism, and one reason is the public education and liberal media portray it as something good. How else do you explain its modern popularity? Instead of the human utopia it is presented as, it is actually godless government control leading to communism. Socialism is used to imprison the very people who call for it, and force worship of government above God. Curtis Bowers has produced eye-opening, award winning documentaries on how socialism and “social justice” have even crept into the philosophies of the American church. He joins Mike and David in segment 2. In our first segment, Julaine Appling of Wisconsin Family Council joins us to look at the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election and its possible impact on abortion and religious freedom.
Are American Christian Churches at a Crossroad?
by Stand Up For The Truth | Jan 29, 2019 | Abortion, Beliefs, Catholic, Christian Church, Church Leadership, Culture & Morality, Discrimination, Government, Liberalism, Persecution, Podcast, Religious Freedom, Socialism | 1 |
In Mike’s latest book, “American Christianity’s Slide Toward Apostasy: What We Must Do Before It’s Too Late”, he details Satan’s five step plan to bring forth persecution to Bible-believing Christians in America. Spoiler alert: Satan has already accomplished four of the five steps, and step five is knocking at our doors!
We can see how this unfolds when looking at Communist China, where there is a state-sponsored Christianity that is forced to worship government instead of God, and an underground church that is being persecuted frantically. This morning, Mike and Crash contrast two stories from China: The Vatican selling out to Communist government officials and secondly, an underground Christian Church pastor whose home was just ransacked with him being hauled away to prison.
And we continue to look at how Christianity in America is being set up for a similar crossroad. Which churches or denominations will sell out to government and submit to it, and which will be driven underground and persecuted?
Will America Experience Another Civil War?
by Stand Up For The Truth | Nov 20, 2018 | Abortion, American History, Christianity, Culture & Morality, Education, gender confusion, Globalism, Government, Homosexual Agenda, Leadership, Podcast, Politics and Faith, Religious Freedom, Socialism | 0 |
In our final segments we cover a story of a Christian pastor who kicked a person dressed in drag out of his church in the middle of the service, and the backlash he is receiving on social media.
In our lead story we look at the political polarization of America, which has never been greater. In the past both parties agreed on what needed to be done while sometimes disagreeing on how to implement the vision, but today the gulf of ideas between Conservative and Liberal values is so great many feel they are irreconcilable. Some believe we are headed toward another Civil War.
We look at an article by Selwyn Duke of “The American Thinker” that paints a grim picture, giving evidence and warning to a coming political Civil War that will change America permanently. If our nation is indeed headed to a Civil War between Conservative and Liberal ideas what will be the outcome and how will it affect Christianity in America?
The Church in Constant Need of Reforming
by Stand Up For The Truth | Aug 16, 2018 | Biblical Social Justice, Christian Church, Christianity, Liberalism, Middle East, Podcast, Prophecy, Socialism, Theology | 0 |
Mike and David welcome back Pastor Andy Woods and discuss his latest book, Ever Reforming: Dispensational Theology and the Completion of the Protestant Reformation.
We briefly review some past church history and why a reformation was necessary, as well as the fact that even the reformers were not perfect. But God completes the work He begins in His true church.
We touch on what Dr. Woods refers to as the Middle East Meltdown and identify the players in the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy. The prophet Ezekiel foresaw these things 2,600 years ago in a vision along the Chebar River in Babylon. How important is the role of Turkey in the end times as well as world history?
Mike and David also talk about the absolute economic collapse of Venezuela’s economy and society due to the massive failures of socialism.
Supreme Court, Israel, Spiritual Warfare, and Hating Trump
by Stand Up For The Truth | Jul 2, 2018 | Abortion, Government, Israel, Podcast, President Trump, Pro-Life, Prophecy, Socialism | 0 |
We tackle several key issues today and do our best to look at everything through the lens of Scripture. With the political debates intensifying, Christians conforming to the world, and the liberal media fanning the flames of division, what do you think will happen with the process of President Trump’s Supreme Court nomination? Does spiritual warfare play into this at all or is it just politics? And what about the alliance between the United States and Israel?
Pastor Carl Gallups is back with us today to comment on some of the most prophetic times in world history – including borders, immigration, Israel, and America. What does the Old Testament teach about Jerusalem and the holy land? Also, how many of the policies of the Trump administration get favorable reviews of informed Christians? This and more on today’s podcast.
Risking Your Life and Family for the Gospel
by Stand Up For The Truth | Jun 13, 2018 | Beliefs, Christianity, Culture & Morality, Evangelism, FB, Globalism, Gospel, Islam, Liberalism, Media Bias, Persecution, Podcast, Religious Freedom, Socialism, SocialMedia | 0 |
Have you ever thought about how you would react if suddenly you or your family were threatened, demanding you to deny your allegiance to Jesus Christ? And if you’re thinking to yourself, “I would never do that, no matter what,” remember the Apostle Peter said the same thing – and then cowered.
Today, Mike and David talk with a man who was confronted with that horror. Bishop Pervaiz Joseph, a Christian leader from Pakistan who had a good relationship with government leaders there. He was able to share the gospel freely until he was falsely accused of a crime, kidnapped, tortured, and his family was forced to flee to Sri Lanka and eventually to the U.S. His story became known by Voice of the Martyrs.
He started Bishop Joseph Ministries International in December 2016, a non-profit organization, working with people around the globe uplifting communities and spreading a message of Hope, Peace and Love. Joseph, along with his family moved to the United States of America after facing religious persecution in his homeland and stayed in exile for a little over four years. They now run a local Church in affiliation with the Foursquare Missions and connect, build and uplift communities around the world by organizing mission trips, conferences and seminars within various states and worldwide.
In our final segment, we look at a chilling commentary on how youth are being brainwashed and indoctrinated into socialism and atheism by social media giants like Google, Facebook and Twitter.
Current News & Views from a Biblical Perspective
by Stand Up For The Truth | Jan 16, 2020 | Abortion, American Church, Culture & Morality, In the News, Podcast, Pro-Life | 0 |
There’s so much happening in our world, country, and culture today it’s hard to know where to start. We cannot possibly tackle all the tough, controversial issues, but we sure can address some of the most recent news stories that affect our lives, our children, or churches.
David and Crash go through a few dozen news items of interest and strive to offer a balanced, Christian perspective to what’s going on today. As always, trust the Lord Jesus, make the Word of God your solid foundation, be discerning and understand the dark days we find ourselves in.
Jay Seegert: What on Earth are You Doing?
by Stand Up For The Truth | Jan 14, 2020 | Apologetics, Christian Church, Discipleship, Gospel, Podcast, Salvation, the Gospel | 0 |
“A firefighter rescuing people from a burning building may be fearful and prefer to be home with his family, but he ignores his fears and denies himself. Like him, our thoughts are not on ourselves but on the fate of the perishing.” Evangelist, Ray Comfort, Living Waters Ministry
Today’s topic is evangelism, sharing our faith, and the gospel. We discuss reasons to share the gospel as well as why most of us don’t do it. How much of it comes down to our obedience and trusting the Lord? Today’s guest is Jay Seegert of The Starting Point Project
Tina Marie Griffin: Christian Parents, Please Protect Your Kids!
by Stand Up For The Truth | Jan 13, 2020 | Christianity, Culture & Morality, Education, Hollywood, LGBTQ, Podcast, Public Schools, Witchcraft | 0 |
Most of us know and understand the fact that too much screen time can affect our lives. Some would say screens are frying our brains, but we won’t go that far. Media affects us emotionally as well, to the point some people simply have to unplug for a while. Kids need to do this even more so as they are forming life habits – including a worldview – and social media and technology does affect their young minds and behavior.
For Christian parents, the importance of protecting your children from all the dangers, seductions, and perversions on social media cannot be overstated. All parents must go the extra mile and take this very seriously. We catch up with Counter Culture Mom, Tina Marie Griffin to talk about the dangers of social media and today’s ‘accepted’ forms of entertainment.
Dave Wager: Clearing Up Our Confusion
by Stand Up For The Truth | Jan 7, 2020 | Beliefs, Christianity, Church Leadership, Podcast | 0 |
Julaine Appling: Free, Fair Elections from WI to D.C.
by Stand Up For The Truth | Jan 3, 2020 | Christianity, Culture & Morality, Government, President Trump, Progressive Christianity, Religious Freedom | 0 |
We kick off another year with a church and country that are divided over so many issues. Religion and politics continue to be lightening rods of debate across the nation, but to say Christians should keep our faith behind closed doors or out of politics is both naive and misguided.
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Do dogs make people healthier?
Can the UK provide a blueprint for Australia’s health?
Black Lives Matter movement wins Sydney Peace Prize
Model to mentor medico
Dingoes could fight feral fox and cat problem
Home / News & opinion / News / May / Black Lives Matter movement wins Sydney Peace Prize
2020: all news
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Prize jury awards 'powerful movement for racial equality'
Black Lives Matter founders Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi will receive the 2017 Sydney Peace Prize at a ceremony in Sydney in November.
Patrisse Cullors (above), Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi will receive the Sydney Peace Prize in November.
The Black Lives Matter Global Network (BLM) has been announced as the recipient of the 2017 Sydney Peace Prize.
Black Lives Matter emerged as a global phenomenon in 2014, when the uprising in Ferguson, Missouri catalysed #BlackLivesMatter into a rallying cry for a new generation of US civil rights activists and organisers in streets and communities across the United States.
The 2017 Sydney Peace Prize Jury’s citation reads: “For building a powerful movement for racial equality, courageously reigniting a global conversation around state violence and racism. And for harnessing the potential of new platforms and power of people to inspire a bold movement for change at a time when peace is threatened by growing inequality and injustice.”
Founded by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, who created the social media hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, BLM is a dedicated web of 39 chapter organisations, that give communities the tools, hope and courage to come together and demand justice, dignity and respect.
“It is a tremendous honour to receive this recognition,” Patrisse Cullors said. “It comes at a time when this movement is more important than ever – with an administration in office that is so openly racist, homophobic, anti-women, anti-children, anti-labour anti-immigrant. Black Lives Matter is our call to action, it is a tool to reimagine a world where black people are free to exist, free to live, and a tool for our allies to show up for us.”
Sydney Peace Prize winners: Black Lives Matter founders Opal Tometi, Patrisse Marie Cullors, and Alicia Garza.
The Sydney Peace Prize is Australia’s international prize for peace, awarded by the Sydney Peace Foundation at the University of Sydney. The Award will be presented on Thursday, 2 November at Sydney Town Hall.
The Prize recognises leading global voices that promote peace, justice and nonviolence. Past winners include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mary Robinson, Arundhati Roy, Senator Patrick Dodson, Professor Noam Chomsky, and Naomi Klein.
This is the first time that a movement and not a person has been awarded the Peace Prize. The Jury commended Black Lives Matter for capturing public consciousness, and compelling societies all over the world – from everyday people to lawmakers and political leaders – to question how it devalues Black lives and reimagine what equality and justice for all can, and should, look like.
“Black Lives Matter offers bold and visionary solutions to build societies where black people, and by extension all people, are free to live safe and dignified lives,” said Archie Law, Chair of the Sydney Peace Foundation.
“This vision of love, hope, and resistance that resonates around the globe and particularly in Australia where the struggle with racism towards our First Peoples, people seeking asylum, and other excluded communities scars our country and tarnishes our international reputation.”
“We have become inured to the high incarceration rates and deaths in custody of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - it’s as if their lives do not matter,” said Senator Patrick Dodson, 2008 Sydney Peace Prize recipient.
“When there is ignorance, hostility, discrimination or racism, and they are allowed to reign unchecked, then we are all diminished. As human beings, we are capable of being better. We are capable of concern, solidarity, inclusiveness and respect. Black Lives Matter reminds us that this is not only possible, but essential for our common humanity.
"Black Lives Matter is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression,” Cullors said.
“By combating and countering acts of violence and creating space for Black imagination and innovation, BLM is building power and winning immediate improvements for Black communities every day.”
Purchase tickets for the City of Sydney Peace Prize Lecture at Sydney Town Hall on Thursday 2 November and the celebratory Gala Dinner on Friday 3 November here, by email or by calling (02) 9351 4468.
Nominate next year's winner
Nominations close on 30 June.
Donate to Sydney Peace Foundation
Lisa Fennis
Sydney Peace Foundation
peace.foundation@sydney.edu.au
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Nandan Nilekani joins battle to chart India's post-cash future
Nilekani and his committee are meeting to work out how to get more Indians to adopt digital payments, via everything from smartphones to point-of-sale machines.Bloomberg | December 08, 2016, 16:58 IST
By Saritha Rai
Faced with chaos after eliminating India’s highest value rupee notes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has roped in a billionaire from the ranks of his adversaries to help.
Nandan Nilekani, a high-profile member of the opposition Indian National Congress party, has joined a committee to map a path to digital payments. India is trying to end its reliance on cash, especially in rural areas where almost every transaction is done in hard currency.
It’s not the first time the former head of outsourcing giant Infosys has tackled a national project -- he spearheaded the country’s biometrics-based Aadhaar unique identity program.
Designed to eliminate corruption, Modi outlawed existing 500 rupee ($7.40) and 1,000 rupee notes on Nov. 8, which wiped out more than four-fifths of the nation’s currency and caused pain for millions, from street hawkers in the south to diamond cutters in the west.
The government is trying a Plan B to salvage a situation that Credit Suisse Group AG and Deutsche Bank AG estimate will slow expansion by about 1 percentage point in the year through March.
Nilekani and his 13-person committee are meeting to work out how to get more Indians to adopt digital payments, via everything from their own smartphones to point-of-sale machines in local villages. While the nation has already rolled out its United Payments Interface, with hundreds of millions lacking phones or web access, a multi-pronged approach is needed to wean the nation of its dependence on cash.
“India has the underlying digital financial architecture in place to get this going,” Nilekani said in an interview after the committee’s first meeting. “How quickly the government can reach everyone is a question of execution and speed.”
As presses run all day to crank out new 500 and 2,000 rupee notes, the committee featuring chief ministers of prominent Indian states as well as the India head of Boston Consulting Group met for the first time last week.
As startups like Paytm, MobiKwik and Freecharge push their digital wallets to a slice of smartphone users, the committee is focusing on two key avenues: getting more merchants to accept the United Payments Interface and procuring more point-of-sale devices.
The interface, rolled out by major banks in April, makes transferring money as easy as sending a text message. With the system already in place, Nilekani says boosting acceptance of the payments interface is achievable in weeks. Getting the estimated one million new POS devices, which would almost double the number in use as of August, would take longer because of the need for a tender.
Rural Impact
“Breaking down the problem into digestible chunks is the first step to solving it,” said Nilekani, who lost a battle for a parliamentary seat in the 2014 election to a key member of Modi’s cabinet.
India has also made it easier to make digital payments, with the central bank this week doing away with the two-step authentication process for transactions of less than 2,000 rupees.
The impact of the money ban, known as demonetization, has been felt the most in the countryside, where cash is preferred for everything from buying clothes and selling produce to paying for weddings. The lack of cash notes has slammed the brakes on business in some areas.
“There is no economic activity, transactions are at a standstill,” said Srikanth Nadhamuni, chief executive officer of incubator Khosla Labs which has funded electronic payments startup Novopay. The startup has 40,000 microATMs – no more than a smartphone with a fingerprint scanner attached and sometimes a printer - at small street-corner retail outlets called kirana stores.
Adapting Technology
The committee is expected to meet again this week to look at how to approach those with limited access to technology. While India has 250 million smartphone users, there are about 350 million who only have feature phones while another 350 million don’t have a phone at all, Nilekani said.
For feature phone users, the committee recommends India’s existing retail e-payments app be adapted to technology that could be rolled out within weeks. That will be helped by lower charges, with the telecommunications regulator slashing the charges for transactions from 1.50 rupees to 0.50 rupees.
“Each category has to have a different strategy” said Nilekani.
‘Big Target’
Before demonetization, digital payments had already been projected to surge. Google and Boston Consulting Group projected India’s digital payments industry to grow to $500 billion and cover half the population only by 2020.
A financial inclusion panel hosted earlier this year by the country’s software products think tank, iSpirt laid out a four-year plan to go cashless.
“It is a big target for four years but government support can shorten the time,” said Sharad Sharma, co-founder of iSpirt and a member of the government-appointed committee. “While it cannot happen in the next few months, it will happen within this decade.”
The real challenge is the 350 million people w‘ithout phones, many of whom are economically-challenged. The plan is to draw those enrolled in Aadhaar, and quickly enlist the remaining, toward microATMs promoted by large Indian lenders such as IDFC Bank and startups like Novopay which already have a presence in 130,000 village retail outlets or kirana stores.
“There is a sense of urgency,” said Nilekani. “All the strategies have to be deployed at the same time to aim for universal coverage.”
Tags : Internet, Narendra Modi, Nandan Nilekani, Digital Payments
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The 10 Most Promising Xbox One Games of 2014 So Far
Ten upcoming titles to keep your eye on.
By Matt Peckham @mattpeckhamFeb. 12, 2014
Like Sony’s PlayStation 4, Microsoft’s Xbox One is taking mostly multi-platform swings at 2014’s opening half, presumably saving its best and brightest — Titanfall notwithstanding — for promotion at E3 2014 and the holidays to follow.
So consider this a more pragmatic look at 2014’s first six months: stuff you can play in the near (or nearer) term, selected, as in our companion PlayStation 4 lineup, by focusing on games with firm timeframes.
Next Strider
Xbox One Games 1H2014
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare
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Book Review - Tasha Alexander's Uneasy Lies the Cr...
Story Review - Tasha Alexander's Amid the Winter's...
Book Review - Tasha Alexander's Death in St. Peter...
Book Review - Tasha Alexander's A Terrible Beauty
Story Review - Tasha Alexander's That Silent Night...
Metting Tasha: The Second Time
Book Review - Tasha Alexander's The Adventuress
Story Review - Tasha Alexander's Star of the East
Book Review - Tasha Alexander's The Counterfeit He...
Book Review - Tasha Alexander's Behind the Shatter...
A Terrible Beauty by Tasha Alexander
First there was the letter addressed to The Viscountess Ashton. Then there was someone calling Philip's name at the zoo. Then there was Philip's journal placed on her desk. A man on the boat to Greece looked just like Philip. At the Acropolis someone in the dark called out té kallisté, something only Philip would do. By the time she arrived at the villa in Santorini Emily was well prepared for the impossible, the return of her first husband Philip, the Viscount Ashton. Never mind that he died over a decade ago, she would recognize those piercing blue eyes anywhere, though his nose does look a little different. Emily had concocted this trip to Greece as a way to distract her dearest friend Jeremy from the heartbreak and attempted murder at the hands of his fiance, Amity Wells. Little did she know it would prove such a distraction with her first husband back from the dead! Jeremy takes it in stride, it's just another blow to him ever winning Emily, before he had just the one husband to contend with, now there are two! As for Emily's second husband Colin, he is almost more shell-shocked than she. Here is his dearest friend in all the world returned to him and he has betrayed him by marrying Emily, the love of both of their lives. There are so many ramifications. Is Colin and Emily's marriage valid? What about the legitimacy of their two children? Is the villa even Emily's? And the guilt! But none of that matters because Philip has arrived with a shadow looming over him.
Philip insists that after learning of Emily and Colin being happily married that he vowed he would never intrude on their new life together. He has in fact built a new life for himself. Without the largess that came with his title he has had to earn a living and has become a rather decent archeologist. A job he has come to love. In fact he's been working on a site on Santorini for the past few years. He says that his not coming to Emily sooner, despite their proximity, proves his honorable intentions. The only reason he has appeared now is that his fellow archeologist was injured during a storm the night before Emily's arrival and the only place he could think to take him to get medical attention was the villa. Sadly his friend died and Philip's secret has been revealed. Though the inhabitants of the villa soon learn that it is not the only secret Philip has. There are some shady men following Philip and soon he reveals a story that is almost more incredible then his survival in Africa after everyone presumed him dead. Years earlier at a dig near the remains of Troy he found what he believes to be part of Achilles's helmet. The local working with Philip stole it and turned up dead the next day. Ever since then a crooked dealer in antiquities, Demir, has been following and harassing Philip. Demir and his Turkish henchmen have arrived on the island and Philip's life is in danger. Only Emily isn't sure she buys the story. If this is Philip he would never have let anything connected to Achilles out of his sight... Is it possible to put her guilt aside and find out the truth?
A Terrible Beauty is almost like a reset on the Lady Emily series. We're going back to the beginning, back to And Only to Deceive and seeing everything from a different angle. This isn't just "Philip's" story and his perspective on events but also another side to the world of antiquities. Emily reading Philip's journals after his death led to her becoming not just a Greek scholar but a lover of the antiquities that her late husband collected. This is the cornerstone to Emily's journey of discovering and the life and collection she builds over the years. Yet for all her love of antiquities we the readers have only seen certain aspects of this one word that encompasses so much. Antiquities covers the history, the excavation, the cataloging, the restoring, the purchasing, the forging, the collecting, the exhibiting, so many things under one banner. For all her talk of ruins and walking the remains of Troy this is the first book in which Emily's story takes us truly beyond the confines of the museum and the country houses and we get to see an excavation. Oh, and the archaeological sites we see through "Philip's" journey, I felt that at times I was reading an Elizabeth Peters novel about the exploits of Amelia Peabody. But what I found fascinating is that the archaeological work makes sense in regards to Philip's personality. He always relished the hunt, be it on safari or dealing with antiquities brokers, and here he is digging through the very earth in search of buried treasure.
This is why I wanted to be an archeologist for about a hot minute, the buried treasure. But my true love was in making art and no matter how many art history or anthropology courses I took this would never change. Though to truly understand art you need to understand it's history, which is why I took so many art history courses. A Terrible Beauty, besides throwing us back to the beginning of Emily's story took me on a bit of a time warp as well. I was having all these feelings about my first semester in college. SO many things combined to make me oddly nostalgic. One of my friends decided to go back to school and hearing her talk about midterms and finals is giving me all the feels. And with Thanksgiving I was dwelling on how I used that small respite from going to class to catch up on school work, even going so far as to be the odd one out at family gatherings sitting in a corner with flashcards drilling dates for the upcoming finals. Also this fall has been exceedingly cold and one thing that stuck with me from undergrad is that I was always constantly cold. No matter how many layers I put on the Wisconsin weather would defy it. It was twenty-one years ago that I took my first art history course that covered the ancient to medieval world, therefore covering both Greece and Rome. So when Emily was at the Acropolis I was giddy because I knew this! I somehow STILL knew this! It was locked away in the fog of time and cold and flashcards and yet it came back in an instant.
So A Terrible Beauty ended up not being just about Emily dealing with all these emotions and her past but in me going through the same experience on an entirely different level. This book became very personal to me and had me thinking about days gone by. In thinking about your own past, if you're one to overthink things, you start to think about the greater world, and as we're dealing with Emily, the history of ancient civilizations. What I'm getting at is specifically about the art we have left over from these civilizations. The gorgeous white marble statues and ruins that still thankfully stand. Yet in a bizarre coincidence The New Yorker just published an article on the fact that the art we look at and admire is nothing like what those in ancient Greece or Rome admired. Because all statuary, buildings, what-have-you, they were fully painted. Emily actually makes a reference to this when talking to Jeremy at the Acropolis and I was all, I JUST READ AN ARTICLE ON THAT! Yes, I know Emily and Jeremy couldn't hear me, but I just found it such a random coincidence that I couldn't not comment to fictional characters in a book who can't hear me. If you click on the link to the article you'll see what some of the most famous sculptures might have looked like and it's jarring. We are so used to "The Myth of Whiteness in Classical Sculpture" that to see marble covered in kind of cartoony paint makes you realize that sometimes an unfinished look has much more elegance. And now I'm thinking about naked cakes. Thanks Great British Bake Off.
With all this dwelling on the past I find it interesting that all those years ago and even just this past spring when I re-read And Only to Deceive I was 100% firmly in the camp of wanting Philip to somehow be alive. Yes, there would be problems to solve, so many problems, and perhaps Emily would no longer be the wife he had married, but I was sure they would work it out if only he wasn't dead. And here he is! Not dead! And while I would have given anything for Philip to return ten books ago now I was all go away foul demon back to the hell which spawned you! I am under no circumstance going to address the is he/isn't he actually Philip here because, spoilers people, but I am totally going to talk about how his reappearance made me feel, and that was not good. It's interesting how one changes over time. I have been on a long journey with Emily and Colin, going through all their ups and downs and heartbreaks. I've seen them fall in love, fight, make up, get married, and have children. I've witnessed how they have found a balance to working together, relying on each others skills and instincts, knowing when to step aside and knowing when to step in. They have this life they have built together and one person could bring it crashing down. This isn't like now when a divorce and re-marriage could solve things, there's the fact that women were viewed as property and a legitimate heir was needed. Therefore I say this once again, Philip begone!
My not feeling good about Philip's reappearance is nothing to how Emily and Colin feel! Not just the fact that their lives are crashing down around them, but the fact that they feel their guilt anew. During their courtship I don't think I'd ever really thought about how their falling in love must feel. They have always been perfect for each other so after Philip shuffled off this mortal coil it was only natural that they would be thrown together. They are, in my mind, relationship goals. They perfectly compliment each other and are so in love. Yet their love came at a cost; Philip's life. Philip being dead meant they and I didn't over-analyze the fact that Colin was Philip's best friend and Emily was his wife. They both cared for him but in the end his death lead to their happily ever after. Yet in A Terrible Beauty they have to face this fact all over again. And they aren't dealing with nebulous ideas of what Philip would think from beyond the grave, here he is at their villa staring them down across the sitting room and they feel instant shame. How could they have done this to Philip's memory? How could they find love and happiness out of his demise? How could they have not known he was alive all these years living a harsh life while they lived in connubial bliss? This guilt and shame hang over Emily and Colin like a dark cloud. The fact that to their faces Philip is being so magnanimous makes it even worse. How can they be forgiven? Or will the guilt stay long after Philip is gone from their lives one way or another? Perhaps the answer lies in Death in St. Petersburg!
Labels: A Terrible Beauty, Achilles, Acropolis, Alexander Autumn, Amelia Peabody, And Only to Deceive, Antiquities, Archeology, Art History, Elizabeth Peters, GBBO, Greece, Guilt, Santorini, Tasha Alexander, Viscount Ashton
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Austin Bay's Latest Book
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Unrestricted Warfare
PDF version of Unrestricted Warfare
On Point: Kim Jong Un, Choose Your Future
by Austin Bay
Christmas came and went, and North Korea failed to deliver an unspecified but ominous "Christmas gift" to the U.S. As I finish this column, New Year's Day looms. Kim Jong Un's slimy regime still has enough holiday season to ignite a ballistic missile or nuclear firework display.
Alas, if Kim reverts to Little Rocket Man, he must live (perhaps die) with the consequences of his decision to end his missile- and nuclear-testing moratorium. Punitive confrontations with the Trump administration -- ever-tighter economic sanctions being the least of these harsh measures -- will darken Kim's new year and subsequent desperate years.
For the moment, North Korean brink-breaching detonations are speculation. Indeed, at the latest North Korean communist party conclave, Kim mouthed tough-guy phrases like taking "positive and offensive measures" that usually signal confrontation with Washington and Seoul.
Yet Trump administration officials suggest that Kim has reconsidered his violent gift-giving. If Kim has had second thoughts, why, prospective condos on the beach and South Korean K-pop girl bands playing Pyongyang gigs definitely have more diplomatic and psychological impact than the wildest optimists imagined.
We will see, but let's concentrate on what is. Serious, factual events matter, and several verifiable events in December 2019 demonstrate that thoughtful U.S. and allied North Korean denuclearization diplomacy continues, as do efforts to address a global task with which de-nuking North Korea entwines: strategic defense measures to counter enemy ballistic missiles.
Start by following the money. On Dec. 20, President Donald Trump signed Fiscal Year 2020's National Defense Authorization Act. The Pentagon budget gave the Missile Defense Agency $10.4 billion and specific guidance to accelerate development of systems to intercept hypersonic weapons. In case you missed it, Russia, via its leader, Vladimir Putin, is touting its hypersonic missiles. The bill accelerated development of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, a space-based missile-tracking sensor system and the next-generation interceptor to defend the United States homeland.
Kim is improving his threat tech? Sure. Well, the U.S. and its allies are improving both defensive and offensive strategic systems. Review my first-paragraph wisecrack "perhaps die."
The U.S. defense budget is a diplomatic signal to North Korea draped in economic and military power clothing.
Also on Dec. 20, China's foreign ministry revealed that senior Chinese officials had met with U.S. special representative to North Korea Stephen Biegun and informed him that China wants America and North Korea to "resume dialogue," with both parties making concessions.
China gave no specifics, but Beijing repeated a pro-North Korea joint Chinese and Russian proposal at the U.N. that asked America to ease economic sanctions.
No dice. The economic chains remain, and odds are they will tighten.
On Dec. 24, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Of course they smiled, but the deep subject was U.S.-supplied missile defense on the Korean peninsula.
According to Reuters, Moon informed Xi that South Korea fully supports American missile defenses. Reuters noted that during his 2017 presidential campaign, Moon had supported delaying the deployment of the U.S. Army's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system, or THAAD. As president he reversed course. Why? THAAD can intercept North Korean short, medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles. This gives Kim Jong Un second thoughts (surprise attack might not work!) and thus protects 50 million South Koreans from North Korean missile attack.
A THAAD battery is now positioned in southern South Korea. If Kim gets feisty, it may be reinforced with additional launchers.
That is what military types call an operational response to threat.
Look, dictators break deals, and when they do, unfortunately, war may erupt.
Let's hope that doesn't happen and Kim focuses on beachfront condos. He should contemplate a terrifying alternative: U.S. Air Force B-52s, B-1Bs, a variety of U.S. Navy and U.S. Army missile systems, South Korean F-15 Strike Eagles, Japanese aircraft-delivered missiles and an impressive suite of sneaky drone aircraft-delivered weapons wreaking hell on North Korea.
It's a new year. Kim Jong Un, choose your future.
Read Austin Bay's Latest Book
To find out more about Austin Bay and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2001 - 2020CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.
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Connected London
We need to improve digital connectivity to drive the next wave of innovation and growth in London. By using our unique position and assets to create ambitious telecoms services, we can ensure that London remains the place where the world wants to work, live, study and visit.
"Introducing 4G and, in the future, 5G will help Londoners and visitors keep in touch and get the latest travel information while on the go. London is the best place to live, visit and work - and projects like this will help make it even better"
We are partnering with the telecoms industry to create this vision of a Connected London, and to generate revenue to reinvest in the transport network.
We will create:
A public cellular network
We will add mobile coverage in Tube stations and tunnels so commuters can enjoy seamless connectivity. With our industry partner, we will make available a new commercial 4G network underground and offer commercial services to other operators.
We have significant assets and the operational and engineering expertise to support the building of the new network.
A new fibre backbone for London
Fibre optic internet is becoming a standard, rather than a luxury. The capital's future digital connectivity will be built on fibre.
Our roll-out of underground mobile services has seen hundreds of kilometres of fibre laid in tunnels, creating a new fibre backbone for London. We also own the surface assets to support 'last mile' connectivity.
Enhanced 4G networks and the coming of 5G
The next generation of mobile networks - expected to be rolled out in the coming decade - will help address data consumption demand from the mobile market. To bring super-fast connections to mobile devices, many more cell sites will be needed, especially in high footfall areas.
We have many assets on streets, such as lighting columns, that the partnership can use to provide unparalleled 5G and improved 4G coverage above ground and 4G underground.
Connected London brochure
Tendering exercise for Connected London
In summer 2018, we asked interested parties to return a Standard Selection Questionnaire (SSQ). These have now been evaluated and shortlisted suppliers with suitable financial and technical capability will be invited to tender in the coming weeks.
Check back here for updates on this process.
Jubilee line pilot, coming March 2020
The eastern half of the Jubilee line will get full mobile connectivity within station platforms and tunnels for the first time from March 2020. The trial section, which will cover the platforms and tunnels between Westminster and Canning Town, will allow customers to check for the latest travel information, catch up on social media and read their emails or the latest news uninterrupted as part of their journey.
Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at TfL said: "The London Underground network is an incredibly challenging environment in which to deliver technological improvements, but we are now well on the path to delivering mobile connectivity within our stations and tunnels. We have begun the complex work to allow our customers to be able to get phone reception within our tunnels from March 2020, with more stations and lines coming online during the coming years."
The trialling of 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services along this section of the London Underground network will allow TfL and the mobile operators to gain valuable experience of delivering mobile services on the Underground ahead of awarding a concession to deliver mobile coverage across the whole Underground network.
The service will also cover ticket halls and corridors within stations along this section of the Jubilee line, with the exception of London Bridge and Waterloo stations which, subject to final approvals, will be added later during 2020.
Find out more in the press release about the pilot.
Waterloo & City line trial
Prior to the Jubilee line trial in summer 2017, we worked with mobile network operators on a trial of mobile coverage during non-passenger hours in the stations and deep-level tunnels of the Waterloo & City line.
See our summary report of the trial in the document below.
Waterloo & City line connectivity trial - summary report
Current Wi-Fi services
We have installed Wi-Fi across more than 260 Tube stations and 79 London Overground stations. Wi-Fi is available in the ticket halls, passenger corridors and platforms of these Tube stations and in the ticket halls and passages of the Overground stations.
We will extend Wi-Fi to the new Elizabeth Line stations at Farringdon, Tottenham Court Road, Woolwich, Canary Wharf, Paddington, Whitechapel, Custom House, Bond Street, Liverpool Street and Abbey Wood in time for the opening of each station.
Public Wi-Fi will still be available to customers as part of Connected London.
See more about our current Wi-Fi service on the Station Wi-Fi page.
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✈ Free Domestic Shipping within the USA | Free Worldwide Shipping for orders above $99
bluMe HD
You have the option of receiving a refund for the full amount of the original purchase price or exchanging the item(s) for warranty issues. Auris, Inc. does not have an upgrade policy and cannot exchange for another product. Refunds on returned items will be issued in the matching payment form as tendered at the time of purchase, excluding freight charges. If payment was made by credit card, once we receive the product we will credit your account. Please allow 7-10 business days for a credit to appear on your credit card statement. If payment was made by check, the refund check will be issued after 10 business days from the date of purchase.
To return an item you'll need to fill out the Return Material Authorization (RMA) Form and email it to support@theauris.com to obtain an RMA number from Auris, Inc. customer support. Auris, Inc. will not accept returns without prior authorization and an RMA number. If you have problems or questions, contact us at support@theauris.com
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Please be aware for all orders outside the US, there may be applicable taxes and shipping/handling/duty charges for which Auris, Inc. is not responsible.
Non-functioning (NF) Product: Failure Out of the Box
An auris-branded hardware product is considered NF if it shows symptoms of a hardware failure, preventing basic operability, when you first use it after opening the box. If you believe that your product is NF, please contact us at support@theauris.com within 10 calendar days of the invoice date. Auris, Inc. Technical Support will determine whether the product is NF and offer you the following options:
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NF Policy
This NF policy applies only to auris-branded hardware products currently offered at the auris Online Store. As new products are offered, Auris, Inc. reserves the right to determine whether or not this policy applies.
If you're an APO/FPO customer and you're outside the domestic delivery area, the standard Auris, Inc. Return and Refund Policy applies - with the exception that you're responsible for shipping the product back to a state-side return address, plus handling, customs, and inventory liability. Since you're responsible for the safe delivery of any product you're returning to Auris, Inc., we recommend that you insure it against loss.
auris - Branded Products
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23 Aug 2016 Ben Drone
FAA May Hijack Drone Flown Near an Airport
The news around town is that the FAA to take down drones: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently examining military-grade technology to keep both personal and commercial drones from moving near airports and airspace sensitive areas.
FAA Examines Military-Grade Tech
According to Michael Whitaker, FAA’s deputy administrator, the organization is seeking the help of CACI International, a federal IT, intelligence agency, and military contractor, to examine the “technology that identifies unmanned aircraft near airports.”
The House Transportation Committee’s subcommittee on aviation expressed their dissatisfaction at the growing number of drones that fly around by commercial pilots. This prompted them to call the attention of the FAA, demanding for immediate action to forestall a potentially harmful collision between an airliner and a drone.
FAA to take down Drones
Whitaker said the FAA receives an average of 100 reports a month all involving drones near airports and airplanes.
The FAA’s partnership with CACI is the most recent in a series of stepping up moves to keeping drones from gaining access to airspace restricted areas. The FAA’s least intrusive scheme is an education campaign. Through programs like Know Before You Fly and No-Drone Zones, the agency aims to raise awareness about where commercial and hobbyists drone operators are not permitted to go.
Some members of Congress have forced the FAA to take down drones and to go further in restricting admittance to certain airspace, driving them to create compulsory geo-fences that would keep drones away from areas where they shouldn’t be flown. Sen. Chuck Schumer intends to introduce legislation to set up virtual barriers around sensitive areas. Software parched into drones would prevent them from entering the barricaded areas. But Schumer’s plan, which is supported by Rep. Adam Schiff in the House, is far from foolproof, because geo-fencing software in drones can easily be disabled and modified by someone who has deep knowledge of drone’s tactics and operations.
The FAA is now examining a new CACI technology, which has different capabilities the agency believes make it even better than the geo-fencing software in general. This newly developed technology can “passively detect, identify, and track UAS or aerial drones and their ground-based operators,” John MenGucci, COO and president of US operations for CACI said.
The agency sees it as a useful tool for them to complete their tasks and getting done what Whitaker says is one of their biggest challenges—locating the operators who fly drones where they should not be.
Rep. Peter DeFazio added that this technology can even be used in more ways than just detecting and tracking drones.
“It’s been used in military applications. As they explained it to me, they can pinpoint the operator—that’s good. They can do numerous things: They can force the drone to land, they can force it to go back to the operator, or, in the case of hostiles, they deliver something to the operator,” DeFazio said.
“You wouldn’t want to necessarily disable them and have them drop out of the sky, but they can also direct them to another place, and if we had designated safe sites around airports or critical airspace and we used this technology, we could direct the drones there and say, ‘Oh, come get your drone, we’ll be waiting,’” said the Oregon Democrat De Fazio.
The media tried to get a word from a CACI representative but to no avail. Lawmakers on the House panel exert pressure on Whitaker for other ways for the FAA to take down drones and to make an increasingly crowded national airspace safer.
Watch the videos below
Or read about our GPS tracking system for drones to learn more.
The Missing Children of W...
What Happens to Missing P...
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Home/Bartlett
Bartlettpears-admin2016-10-31T21:19:31+00:00
IDENTIFYING BARTLETT
The Bartlett carries a true pyriform “pear shape:” a rounded bell on the bottom half of the fruit, then a definitive shoulder with a smaller neck or stem end. Bartletts are extremely aromatic pears, and have that definitive “pear flavor.” Often, the Bartletts found in grocery stores are green, and then they change to yellow as they ripen at home when left at room temperature. Red Bartletts are another variety to choose, and they are usually located in produce departments right next to the Yellow Bartletts. Aside from color, there are only slight differences in flavor between the two Bartlett pears. Consider Red Bartletts as a second color alternative for displays in fruit baskets and bowls. Together in a beautiful fruit bowl, Red & Green Bartletts make a striking table-top centerpiece.
The first choice available for those waiting for the new pear season to begin, Northwest-grown Red and Yellow Bartletts are harvested in late August to early September and usually remain available through January or February. Careful harvesting methods and modern fruit packing facilities in the Northwest ensure high quality when these beauties arrive in grocery produce departments.
USA Pear Bartletts are harvested when fully mature, but before they become ripe. Pears are a unique fruit, in that if allowed to ripen on-tree, natural deposits of lignin and cellulose will develop in the flesh, causing a “gritty” texture. Because Northwest grown pears are allowed to ripen after harvest, you can expect a smoother texture with sweeter flavor.
RIPENING
The Bartlett pear is a unique pear in that its skin color brightens as it ripens, unlike other varieties of pears that show little color change as they ripen. So, how do you prefer your Bartlett pear? Do you crave it crunchy and tart? Go for it when the skin is green! How about moist and mildly sweet? Yellow-green would be for you. Do you desire a burst of super sweet juice? Then let your pear ripen until it reaches a golden yellow hue. Remember, all pears need to ripen at room temperature!
A CANNING TRADITION
Bartletts are traditionally known as the canning pear, and you’ll find several suggestions for “putting up” Bartletts in the recipes listed on this page. Because Bartletts have a definitive flavor and sweetness, they are a good all-around choice for many forms of processing. Consider them in preserves, syrups, chutneys, and more. They also make excellent dried pears.
Bartletts are much more than just a canning pear, and besides eating them fresh, you can also enjoy their wonderful flavor and smooth texture in a range of dishes. Try a sliced Bartlett atop a garden green salad with your favorite dressing. Or, simply serve freshly sliced Bartlett wedges with cheese for an appetizing snack. Always remember that any recipe calling for apples can be made using fresh pears… and Northwest Bartlett pears are an excellent choice!
THE HISTORY OF THE BARTLETT
Bartlett or Williams? The Bartlett Pear we know today in North America is the same variety that is called the “Williams” in many other parts of the world. Discovered originally in 1765 by a schoolmaster in England named Mr. Stair, the Bartlett was first referred to as Stair’s Pear. A nurseryman named Williams later acquired the variety, and after introducing it to the rest of England, the pear became known as the Williams Pear. Its full name, however, is Williams’ Bon Chretien, which translates to “Williams’ good Christian.”
Around 1799, Mr. James Carter imported several Williams trees to the United States, and they were planted on the grounds of Thomas Brewer in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Later, Enoch Bartlett of Dorchester, Massachusetts acquired the Brewer estate. Not knowing the identity of the trees, Bartlett propagated and introduced the variety to the United States under his own name. It was not until 1828, when new trees arrived from Europe, that it was realized that Bartlett and Williams pears were one in the same. By then it was too late… the variety had become widely popular in the U.S. under its adopted name: the Bartlett.
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