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The World Today with Eleanor Hall
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Dutton warns people smugglers will try to use Turnbull change to their advantage
Peta Donald reported this story on Thursday, September 24, 2015 12:30:00
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ELIZABETH JACKSON: The Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has this morning warned that people smugglers will try to use Australia's change of prime minister, to their advantage.
The new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull last night toughened-up his line on refugees, after earlier indicating there could be changes to government policy precluding refugees on Manus Island or Nauru ever being allowed to settle in Australia.
It all comes as a new asylum seeker boat was rescued off Indonesia, while trying to make its way to Australia.
From Canberra Peta Donald with this report.
PETA DONALD: While the former prime minister, Tony Abbott, always went out of his way to talk tough about stopping the boats, the man who toppled him is more moderate.
Yesterday morning on Sky, Malcolm Turnbull was questioned about around 2,000 asylum seekers who tried to come to Australia by boat, but have ended up stranded on Manus Island and Nauru.
MALCOLM TURNBULL: I have the same concerns about it, about the situation of people on Manus and Nauru as you do and as I would think almost all Australians do, as the Minister, Mr Dutton does.
REPORTER: And you're the Prime Minister?
MALCOLM TURNBULL: Exactly, but what I'm not going to do is make changes to our border protection policy sitting here with you. Our policies will change, all policies change.
PETA DONALD: That openness to change didn't last long.
By the time the new Prime Minister did his next interview, on Radio National last night, he took a harder line
MALCOLM TURNBULL: There will be no resettlement of the people on Manus and Nauru in Australia. They will never come to Australia.
Now, I know that's tough; we do have a tough border protection policy; you could say it's a harsh policy, but it has worked.
PETA DONALD: Yesterday, as it turns out, a small wooden boat was rescued off west Java, carrying 18 asylum seekers from Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. One told the ABC he'd paid people smugglers around $650 in the hope of being taken from Jakarta to Christmas Island in Australia.
This morning, the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton warned people smugglers in Indonesia will be watching the new Prime Minister closely, trying to look for any softening of Australia's position. He spoke to Macquarie Radio.
PETER DUTTON: We need to make sure that we're resolute because we do know that these people smugglers are preparing to put ventures together and we've seen in the news in the last 24 hours that they are selling this product again to people, and we need make sure that they understand that we are as resolute as we've ever been.
They will manipulate anything we do: so they've got Facebook pages; they send out social media messages; they send out text messages, these people smugglers, and they message that out and they've done the same, I suspect in relation to our announcement on Syria and they will do the same in relation to the change in prime minister.
They'll try and use that to their advantage and we just need to make sure we stare that down.
PETA DONALD: Mr Dutton reiterated, once again, that asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru will never be resettled in Australia.
PETER DUTTON: Obviously we're keen to get people out of Nauru and out of PNG, but they will never settle in Australia. So we're trying to find third country arrangements for them or send them back to their countries of origin, but they need to hear the very clear message as well that yes, we want to make sure that they can get out of Nauru, but not to come to Australia, and that's the clear message I think that the PM gave yesterday.
PETA DONALD: Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young points out that refugees on Manus and Nauru can't stay where they are forever.
SARAH HANSON-YOUNG: There are 2,000 people split roughly equally between Manus and Nauru who, the inconvenient truth is, they cannot stay in Manus or in Nauru in the medium to long term. Both of those governments have said that people are not to stay there in the longer term, so we have to come up with a plan for what we do with those people.
I really believe that there is a willingness in the Australian community for Australia to take responsibility for those people. I would urge the Prime Minister to reconsider his position over the coming months.
ELIZABETH JACKSON: That's Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, with our reporter, Peta Donald.
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From Reclamation Proposal to World Heritage Site: Some More Remarkable Progress in PR China
Nial Moores Conservation
Dr Nial Moores, Director, Birds Korea
On July 5th, the Phase 1 Proposal to list multiple key wetlands as the “Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China” World Heritage Site was formally accepted by the World Heritage Commission.
A series of Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Chinese coast are now publicly recognized as having Outstanding Universal Value. And they are going to be protected as such.
Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Rudong, Jiangsu, October 2014 © Nial Moores. While many threats and challenges remain, long-term survival of this charismatic species now seems rather more likely thanks to recent progress in PR China.
This decision marks a public long-term commitment by PR China and the global community to conserve some of the most threatened habitats and migratory species on our Flyway. It is therefore not only great for PR China and those waterbirds that depend on the Chinese coast, of course. It is also great for the Yellow Sea and for our Flyway as a whole.
On behalf of Birds Korea, long dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats in Korea and the Yellow Sea Ecoregion, our sincerest thanks therefore go out to all those who were most deeply involved in this nomination process. In addition to the Chinese authorities – including of course the hugely-inspirational Professor Lei Guangchun – we would also like to thank the RSPB’s Nicola Crockford (who recently circulated two letters encouraging the nomination process to proceed, which we feel honored to have been able to sign onto), Professor Rich Fuller and the Australian delegation. And of course, we also want to express our deepest thanks to the many thousands of people inside and outside of the Yellow Sea Ecoregion who over the years have helped create the conditions for real progress in PR China that underpin this decision – a genuine shift away from countless destructive reclamation proposals to World Heritage Site listing of bird important areas.
It is time for celebration along the Flyway, and also for some much-needed reflection here in Korea. From our side of the Yellow Sea, should we not now ask ourselves how PR China has managed to progress so rapidly in improving conservation opportunities for birds and their habitats – when many of our internationally important tidal wetlands, like Song Do and Yeongjong Do, are still being reclaimed?
Remarkably, the ROK used to be ahead of the PR China in both research on and progress towards the conservation of internationally important wetlands. The first comprehensive shorebird counts of the Nakdong Estuary were made back in the early 1980s, and the public call to conserve tidal flats at Ganghwa Island, Yeongjong, Namyang and Asan Bays was made as long ago as 1988 in recognition of their Ramsar-defined international importance for shorebirds (Long et al. 1988). A decade later, the Wetland Conservation Act had been passed, and by the end of the 1990s, all of the ROK coast had been surveyed, allowing for the development of a national shadow list of wetlands that met Ramsar waterbird criteria (Moores 1999a, 1999b). By 2001, these sites – still almost all unprotected – had even been fitted into a Yellow Sea framework as part of a WWF Yellow Sea Ecoregion project (Moores et al. 2001). In subsequent years, some of these key tidal flats have been designated as Ramsar sites (including part of the Geum Estuary, Song Do, Gomso, Muan and Suncheon Bay); and the ROK also led the way in proposing some of the nation’s tidal flats for World Heritage Listing. The initial submission was rejected, however; and the process to resubmit currently remains under way.
By way of comparison, the importance of the Chinese Yellow Sea and Bohai coast to waterbirds was first revealed (at least internationally) only in the late 1990s and early 2000s, thanks to surveys by some pioneering Chinese researchers and the Australasian Wader Studies’ Group (AWSG). It was then the AWSG’s Mark Barter who in 2002 published the hugely-influential monograph on Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea, incorporating both Chinese and Korean count data, helping to raise profound concerns in Australia and along the Flyway about the impacts that large-scale reclamation in the Yellow Sea was likely having on our shorebirds.
There were still numerous information gaps about much of the Chinese coast, however, all the way through the 2000s – the period during which we “lost” Namyang Bay and Saemangeum here in Korea. Much of the Jiangsu coast, some of which is now inscribed as World Heritage Site, was only first identified as especially important for migratory birds less than a decade ago – this because of exploratory surveys conducted by our wonderful colleagues, SBS in China. Since that discovery – and in no small part because of it – regular waterbird surveys were then initiated in more and more areas, soon allowing for priority waterbird conservation areas to be identified along the whole Chinese coast.
Even as the knowledge base was improving, and even as numerous local Chinese bird conservation organisations were starting to grow, the conservation challenge still seemed enormous: unwinnable to some. It was only back in 2012 that the IUCN Situation Analysis concluded that,
“Fisheries and vital ecological services are collapsing and ecological disasters increasing, with concomitant implications for human livelihoods…Although all sectors of the EAAF face a variety of threats, the Yellow Sea (including the Bohai Sea) emerges as the focus of greatest concern…Here, the fast pace of coastal land reclamation is the most pressing threat…Losses of such magnitude are likely the key drivers of declines in biodiversity and ecosystem services” (Mackinnon et al. 2012).
In 2013, following research in Jiangsu, we helped write an international press release with SBS in China and the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force – in which we highlighted the massive importance of the Rudong coast of Jiangsu Province to migratory shorebirds. This was still news at that time. And we congratulated local authorities in designating a small protected area for Spoon-billed Sandpipers, while fully conscious of the threat to a much larger area a little to the north: Tiaozini.
In 2014, we returned to Jiangsu, and together shifted the focus more toward conservation of what remained at Tiaozini, the offshore Dongsha and Gaoni Sandbanks. This is a vast area used by foraging shorebirds at low tide. Loss of that site to reclamation, which was imminent at the time, would very likely have resulted in the global extinction of both the Spoon-billed Sandpiper and the Nordmann’s Greenshank.
How the future looked back then: bleak. Rudong, October 2014 © Nial Moores
Since that time, happily many more people in PR China and along the Flyway have become deeply involved in wetland and bird conservation in the Chinese part of the Yellow Sea, and all the way along the coast to Hong Kong. A deep collaboration within PR China has evolved between world-class researchers and conservation scientists, NGOs (some funded properly for the first time by a growing donor culture there) and decision-makers. Progress has also been assisted greatly by the open involvement of outside bodies like the Paulson Institute (thanks initially, as I remember it, to some amazing persuasion by then EAAFP Chief Spike Millington!), international bodies like the IUCN and key figures like David Melville. In combination, this has all ensured that decision-makers – including those at the very highest level – have easy access to high-quality data and information with which to make the most-informed decisions for the benefit of their nation and of the world. And they have done so. Since the beginning of last year , PR China has been cancelling reclamation projects and initiating massive wetland restoration projects instead.
And this is the very solid foundation on which PR China could propose, and have accepted, World Heritage Site listing of 188,643 ha of coastal and tidal wetlands (with an additional buffer zone of 80,056 ha), including it seems all of the key habitat in Tiaozini .
So where are we now, here in the ROK?
The vast desert of Saemangeum continues to degrade (without any serious discussion of restoration); and many of the tidal flats at Song Do and Yeongjong Do continue to be reclaimed, even while developers bicker about who is responsible for their resultant financial problems. There are still reclamation proposals for large parts of the Geum Estuary; and efforts to buy and manage an area used by roosting shorebirds on Yubu Island have fallen through. Sites like Gomso Bay (part of the ROK World Heritage Site proposal) are still suffering from piecemeal reclamation projects and road construction plans; and even the prized Suncheon Bay is becoming increasingly built-up, to enable ever greater numbers of tourists to visit – while numbers of some tidal flat species continue their decline. Indeed, there are still no managed bird reserves anywhere (unless you count a couple of remote islands used by seabirds), and even more remarkably, apparently due to lack of funds, there is not even any coordinated national-level shorebird monitoring program – despite the many tens of billions of won that continue to be spent on the construction and maintenance of national research institutes.
Is it not reasonable and proper to ask, therefore, whether it is actually appropriate to push on with proposing World Heritage Listing of tidal flats in the ROK, when some of them are still threatened? And when substantial political support is still being given to proposals for reclamation and for construction of new airports, including within the Saemangeum reclamation area and in the outermost part of the Nakdong Estuary (as well as on Jeju Island and even on Heuksan, Ulleung and Baekryeong islands!)?
Would it not be more appropriate for the nation’s decision-makers to first rethink the development model instead? Should they not first call for the restoration of Saemangeum and a permanent end to further reclamation, in order to slow the loss of avian biodiversity, to preserve marine life and fisheries, and to help with efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions?
Would it not be more appropriate too for business and both local and national government first to invest properly in nature reserve creation and management, instead of only in construction (either of ecoparks or wetland centres)? And for those with money to provide much greater support for habitat management and in helping to build up the capacity of the NGO conservation sector?
Before thinking about World Heritage Listing, is it not time too for many more academics here in the ROK to become much more vocal and transparent in their support of conservation, and in the sharing of their data?
And should not more effort also be spent too on strengthening the Environmental Impact Assessment process and on increasing accountability, including that of decision-makers – so that the ecologically-devastating mistakes of the past 20 years (like Saemangeum and the Four Rivers project) are not repeated?
World Heritage Listing of the ROK’s tidal flats will be a wonderful, great step forward – a time for everyone here to celebrate too. But Listing should not be approached like some annoying administrative hurdle.
Instead, it first requires a sincere national commitment to conserve and to manage well all those tidal wetlands and bird-rich areas which are truly understood to be of Outstanding Universal Value.
To our great regret, this kind of sincere commitment still seems a very long way off.
But it is no longer unimaginable. To see how much brighter the future of wetland and bird conservation could be here in the ROK, we now only need to look a short distance across the Yellow Sea, to China.
Barter, M. 2002. Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea: Importance, threats and conservation status. Wetlands International Global Series 9, International Wader Studies 12, Canberra, Australia
Long, A., Poole, C., Eldridge, M., Won P-O & Lee K-S. 1988. A Survey of Coastal wetlands and Shorebirds in South Korea, Spring 1988. Asian Wetland Bureau, Kuala Lumpur.
MacKinnon, J., Verkuil, Y.I. & Murray, N. 2012. IUCN situation analysis on East and Southeast Asian intertidal habitats, with particular reference to the Yellow Sea (including the Bohai Sea). Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 47. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. ii + 70 pp.
Moores, N. 1999a. A Survey of the Distribution and Abundance of Shorebirds in South Korea during 1998-1999: Interim Summary. Stilt 34: 18-29.
Moores N., Kim S-K, Park S-B and T. Sadayoshi (Eds). 2001. Yellow Sea Ecoregion: Reconnaissance Report on Identification of Important Wetland and Marine Areas for Biodiversity. Volume 2: South Korea. Published by WBK and WWF-Japan, Busan. 142 pages (published in Korean and English-language versions).
china • Spoon-billed Sandpiper • Tiaozini • World Heritage Listing
This is Leadership: “China introduces toughest ever regulation on land reclamation”
Dr. Nial Moores, Birds Korea, January 23 2018 On January 17th 2018, Xinhua, the official press agency of the People’s Republic of China, announced that, “China has introduced its toughest regulation on land reclamation along the country’s coastline, vowing to … read more
23/01/2018 Nial Moores Conservation china • good news • Reclamation
Terry Townshend Asks: “2017 -A Turning Point For China’s Biodiversity?”
2017: A Turning Point For China’s Biodiversity? Terry Townshend, Birding Beijing, January 3rd 2018 This article has been reproduced here in full, with the author’s permission, to help reassure everyone who cares for conservation that progress really can be made… 2017 … read more
18/01/2018 Nial Moores Conservation Biodiversity Conservation • Birding Beijing • china • Terry Townshend
China Coastal Update 3: Season’s Final Update, June 19
Shorebird Research Update 3 from Jason Loghry Well, we are now in mid-June and I am back in Korea after having spent another great season of field work on the Chinese coast of the Yellow Sea. My last few weeks … read more
20/06/2017 Jason Loghry Research / 조사 연구 Bohai Bay • china • Nanpu
Dandong Yalu Jiang Estuary Wetland National Nature Reserve, China, March 18
Shorebird Research Update from Jason Loghry, working with Zhang Shoudong & Bai Qing Quan It feels great to be back on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). I’m here back again at Yalu Jiang, more formally known as the Dandong Yalu … read more
22/03/2017 Jason Loghry Research / 조사 연구 china • Shorebird Research • Yalu Jiang
Reclamation in the Yellow Sea is the main cause of the decline of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper (really)
Dr Nial Moores, Birds Korea, March 12th 2015 The Task Force News Bulletin 13 (February 2015), posted on the increasingly excellent EAAFP website, confirms that for now at least the rapid rate of decline of the charismatic and Critically Endangered … read more
13/03/2015 Nial Moores Conservation china • Jiangsu • Reclamation • Spoon-billed Sandpiper
Beautiful Postcards from China
Jason Loghry, October 13 2013 Students of Obang Elementary recently received postcards in the mail from the People’s Republic of China. They were so excited and surprised to find that other students on our flyway also care about birds – … read more
14/10/2013 Jason Loghry Projects china • Obang Elementary • postcard exchange
Market trade is fuelling killing of birds in Northern China
Nial Moores, December 12th 2012 A very good article by Feng Yongfeng on “Chinadialogue” on December 10th: http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/5465-Market-trade-is-fuelling-the-killing-of-migratory-birds-in-Northern-China While the article looks at illegal hunting and declines in bird populations due to habitat loss (including loss of intertidal wetlands in … read more
12/12/2012 Jason Loghry Conservation bird decline • china • chinadialogue • death • Market Trade
Jankowski’s Bunting conservation workshop in China
Jankowski’s/Rufous-backed Bunting Emberiza jankowskii is a highly Endangered (likely Critically Endangered) species probably now restricted to just a very small area of mixed grassland in Jilin, China. Changes in land-use brought on by intensive agriculture has pushed this close relative … read more
17/06/2012 Charlie Moores Conservation buntings • china • janowski's bunting
Highest count ever for stopover site in Rudong, China
A summary of 2011 Autumn SBS survey at Rudong by Li Jing, Tong Menxiu and Zhang Lin of Rudong Spoon-billed Sandpiper Survey Group Figure 1. Our highest count of SBS totalled 103 at Xiao Yangkou in autumn of 2011. This … read more
16/02/2012 Jason Loghry Conservation china • China Coastal Waterbird Census Team • Rudong • Rudong Spoon-billed Sandpiper Survey Group • Spoon-billed Sandpiper
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AIA: Engineered Brick + Masonry for Commercial Buildings
Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.
By C.C. Sullivan and Barbara Horwitz-Bennett
Brick and stone masonry have served as reliable and valuable elements of commercial building projects for centuries, gracing urban and rural landscapes since time immemorial. Building Teams have trusted clay brick to bring durability and sustainable qualities as well as good performance in moisture and thermal protection to their projects. More recently, brick veneers have begun to offer attractive structural potential with high strength-to-weight ratios, and masonry veneers are available in literally thousands of configurations and looks.
Building Teams have been taking advantage of both the timeless aesthetics and the modern capabilities unique to stone composites, concrete block, and manufactured stone, as well as masonry veneers. Each offers a unique look and performance benefits.
As old and new masonry choices continue to appeal to building design and construction professionals, this may be a good time to undertake an overview of the different options and their associated benefits and drawbacks.
When choosing an exterior cladding finish—whether brick veneer, marble or granite composite, precast concrete, or slate—Building Teams should consider options for each material or system based on multiple system benefits, such as greater insulation values, reduced maintenance requirements, and product enhancements that improve durability.
BEARING WITNESS TO MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS
When considering brick and masonry materials, it is important to recognize that each material possesses its own inherent characteristics that are important to evaluate for each project application. For example, brick ranks high when it comes to aesthetics and durability. With a life expectancy of 75-100 years, brick is a highly sustainable material; it is also 100% recyclable and offers what many consider a classic visual quality to the façade that is unlikely to go out of fashion.
“With hundreds of brick colors and a wide variety of textures, combinations can be from smooth hospital white walls to warm red and brown tones reminiscent of a colonial mansion,” says Brian E. Trimble, PE, LEED AP, a regional vice president in engineering services and architectural outreach with the Brick Industry Association, Reston, Va., a trade group representing brick manufacturers. And because it is laid in the field, brick—like other unit masonry products—works well with uniquely shaped structures.
After reading this article, you should be able to:
Compare materials and systems used to construct commercial masonry wall assemblies for optimal sustainability.
Understand the various kinds of backup wall assemblies and how they contribute to environmentally efficient buildings.
Describe the difference between barrier and rainscreen walls using masonry and brick veneer and their respective environmental and human health benefits.
Discuss the key detailing and specification criteria for functional and effective masonry wall systems to prevent moisture and air penetration.
Another option for Building Teams to consider: marble and granite composite panels. These are relatively costly compared to brick but may be worth considering when the project demands the inimitable look of stone. Composite panels deliver the aesthetics without the associated weight of stone, often allowing some cost savings on the structural package. The panels arrive at the job site in dimensions of up to 5x10 feet. At the same time, says Bruno P. Gubetta, president of Alpine Building Restoration, Waterbury, Vt., “There is a high energy use required to produce these panels, they are not recyclable, and there is no long-term history of use to observe performance.” However, other building professionals consulted for this article state that many composites have a long track record of performance.
Looking at natural options, granite is an extremely hard rock, very durable and resistant to weathering. By contrast, the surface of marble will eventually crystallize when exposed to the sun, which can cause warping of veneer panels. When applied as a thick veneer, however, marble is not as prone to crystallization. Marble is also easy to carve and cut, making it ideal for decorative exterior applications. Then there is slate, which is most commonly used as a roofing material due to its moisture-absorbing qualities; however, it is occasionally used on façades for decorative rainscreens.
A decidedly modern alternative to natural stone, thin precast concrete comes in a range of tinted colors and textures and is seen as a practical application for certain large low-rise buildings and industrial facilities. “Precast concrete used in a veneer curtain wall can be a beautiful material and is less expensive than granite and marble,” says Roger Hartung, AIA, NCARB, a principal with the Pittsburgh-based architecture firm IKM. “At the same time, I have found its quality can vary widely.”
Because precast concrete panels are highly engineered and created in a controlled manufacturing environment, it is reasonable to expect that they would exhibit high levels of quality assurance. However, installation errors can quickly compromise performance. To counter this, IKM always requires mockups of the exterior envelope, with careful attention to detail and installation practices during construction.
USING BACKUP WALLS EFFECTIVELY
Another quality that all these veneer types have in common is that they require a backup wall for structural integrity. When choosing between substructure options such as concrete masonry units, cast concrete, and steel, it’s important to carefully weigh the pros and cons.
Using brick veneer with a CMU backup is the Rolls-Royce of wall systems in the opinion of Alpine Building Restoration’s Gubetta, who has worked as a master mason for the past 33 years. “This combination is indestructible, easy to insulate, 100% recyclable, offers low embodied energy, and can be either load-bearing or non-load-bearing. It’s also economical, and the walls last forever.”
Largely seconding that opinion is Edward Gerns, RA, LEED AP, a principal in the Chicago office of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates. “When designed and installed properly, this system is very durable and provides excellent water management, thermal mass, and good aesthetics,” says Gerns. who specializes in façade inspection and exterior wall evaluation. He differs with Gubetta on one point—that brick-with-CMU is the most economical system. He suggests that when considered over the service life of a building, the actual expense is comparable to other systems.
When erecting a brick-over-CMU system, mortar used during construction can end up blocking air gaps, weeps, and brick vents, so it’s important to make sure that air movement is maintained within the cavity system, according to Robert M. Donaldson, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB, an architect with Bostwick Design Partnership, Cleveland.
While brick-over-precast concrete is generally a lighter system than brick-over-CMU, Gubetta notes that it is usually more difficult to insulate and more expensive to install because two trades must be involved. Brick over CMU generally requires a single subcontractor trade.
An even lighter option is brick over steel stud, which can also often be constructed in the shortest time frame. Although it’s a very common commercial wall system, it does require additional infrastructure to make it a complete wall cavity.
When working with a concrete block veneer, a concrete block backup wall is an economical option, as the materials and labor can be relegated to a single mason. However, a double-wythe concrete block wall may be limited in the height at which it is self-supporting, as it requires reinforcement for stability, according to Donaldson, who has worked on more than 100 masonry projects, including a few that have received awards from the Masonry Institute. He notes, too, that “a concrete block backup is limited in its structural capacity, not just for the concrete block veneer component, but also for the loads exerted on the block from above.”
By using a steel backup, the Building Team can open up the potential for reaching greater heights. On the other hand, steel-based systems run a higher risk of corrosion over time, and they are generally more costly.
When choosing a stone slab façade (generally defined as a 1.25-inch-thick cladding), Gubetta recommends a CMU backup wall because this provides the stone panel installer with unlimited anchoring attachment points. Gubetta also prefers CMU over cast concrete because CMU is easy to install and insulate and offers design flexibility at a good price point.
Yet another variation is using stone veneer on reinforced concrete block, which Gubetta considers to be another superior wall system. “It is the most tried-and-true system, requires only one trade, and is the best value for the dollar,” he says. According to Donaldson, the veneer joints are set with slips attached to the block, but they must be flexible and used with sealant. This way, the stone is allowed to move on the clip system without the adjacent stone panels impacting each other.
BARRIER VS. CAVITY WALLS
Once the veneer and backup wall are selected, a number of detailed construction directives must be carefully heeded to ensure a tight, high-performance wall system. For starters, specifiers must decide between a cavity wall and single-wythe barrier wall, even though the latter is seldom used.
“We rarely use a single-wythe wall anymore except on the rear walls of a strip commercial project. And even then, the details must be carefully coordinated with the structural engineer,” says Christian Rogers, AIA, LEED AP, with Blackmon Rogers Architects, Mountain Brook, Ala.
To perform properly, barrier walls must be very thick, which increases their expense, and they are hard to insulate. In addition, the single-wythe wall is much more susceptible to water penetration. Although flashing can be installed, the reinforcing used within the block often interferes, thereby making its application rather problematic.
On the other hand, the cavity wall provides several lines of defense against moisture penetration, is easy to insulate, and can act as a structural wall capable of bearing loads or shear forces, says Hartung, a 25-year veteran of the industry who has presented at the International Masonry Institute conference. Some experts feel that they offer better aesthetics, too. Made with closed joints of mortar or sealant, cavity walls are weeped at the bottom and vented at the top, while the rainscreen variation uses open joints with a waterproofing membrane behind the outer material, enabling any moisture migrating behind the open panels to evaporate and letting water drain out from the bottom.
The BIA’s Trimble, who has served the masonry industry for the past 18 years, explains the cavity wall’s layers of moisture resistance as follows: “First, there is the outer skin, usually brick, which acts as a screen to rain and often resists most of the water. But if water does get in, there are other mechanisms to redirect the moisture. The air space is the next element that keeps the water from being transmitted through the wall. Gravity forces the water down to a system of flashing and weeps that let water out. If the air space is not effective, a water-resistant layer is used as a second line of defense.”
In terms of the drainage space itself, although masonry codes generally require one inch of clear air space within the cavity wall, the Brick Industry Association recommends a two-inch space as there is always a risk of mortar droppings bridging the space. While there are products and systems on the market that can be used to prevent mortar from collecting on the flashings, Gerns cautions that they not be used as a license for the mason to allow excess mortar to block the cavity.
Flashing at the veneer base. When installing the flashing system at the base of the veneer, Donaldson instructs that it be set at not less than 8-12 inches above finish grade, with seeps above the flashing. “Beneath the flashing, the masonry needs to be grouted solid to the supporting system to form a collar joint, or formed concrete should be used. Depending on what landscaping treatment is used adjacent to the building, the through-wall flashing may or may not lap over a waterproofing membrane to maintain consistency in a water/moisture infiltration barrier system,” he says.
Gubetta prefers working with membrane flashing, which he feels is an economical product that’s relatively easy to install. Key locations to focus on flashing include the base of cavity walls, above all openings, at all sill locations and continuous shelf angle locations, under copings and parapets, and at all level changes.
Because walls often slope, it’s important that the flashing be flexible and easy to form around bends, corners, and unusual shapes. In addition, because the base flashing is the final collection point for water draining through the wall, it should extend at minimum to the outside face of the masonry; ideally, it should extend past the outside face, according to Gerns.
He explains further: “In this instance, the flashing should have a metal drip edge or, better still, a metal sill pan. The base flashing should incorporate end dams at all transitions and terminations, and where laps occur, the laps should be sealed with at least three beads of sealant or butyl tape. The flashing system above the base flashing or the weather-resistant barrier (or both) should be integrated into the base flashing, such that any water which reaches the weather-resistant barrier drains to the base flashing and is discharged to the outside through regularly spaced weeps.”
In addition to flashing, sealing the intersections between the cavity and fenestration is also important, says Trimble: “It is easy to think about sealing out water or air in the middle of a wall, but when we get to windows and doors, it becomes much trickier to make the water- and air-barrier systems work.”
Trimble, who coordinates BIA’s educational activities and oversees publication of BIA’s technical documents, recommends visualizing the building enclosure in three dimensions when designing the water-resistant membrane and air barriers to seal the window and door openings. In many cases, drawing the detail in 3D helps not only the designer, but also the contractor who has to build it.
Gerns likes to work with cavity seals at the window penetrations through the cavity wall in order to prevent humid cavity air from hitting the curtain wall framing, which can cause condensation. While the type of seal is dependent on a number of factors—including the window detailing, the depth of the cavity, and the type of weather-resistant barrier—common materials include bituminous membrane, backer rod and sealant, spray polyurethane foam, extruded silicone, compressible foam, or a combination of these products.
Insulation factors. The thermal break line needs to be consistent between the exterior and interior as it runs between the veneer, openings, and the cavity wall system. To assist with this, Bostwick Design Partnership’s Donaldson advises wrapping the openings with a waterproofing membrane and then sealing the window or door to that membrane. With this approach, a secondary barrier is created to help restrict water infiltration through the opening’s perimeter.
Furthermore, additional insulation is recommended for the wall cavity, especially in metal-stud framing systems, to extend 18-24 inches beyond the edge of the opening to restrict the potential for compromising the thermal break, adds Donaldson.
Gubetta says he prefers to stay away from continuous cavity wall insulation and instead specifies rigid insulation, particularly mineral wool, as it doesn’t gum up the masonry veneer anchors and can be installed at any temperature. Donaldson, too, prefers rigid insulation board: “In recent projects, I have moved away from using batt insulation as I’ve found the rigid insulation board joints to be held tighter. The joints may tape, or if additional continuity is desired, sealed to one another. If more than one board can be utilized, staggering the joints between the layers of the rigid insulation board improves continuity.”
However, it’s important to be aware that even if one inch of rigid insulation is installed throughout the enclosure, this will not necessarily equate to a consistently strong R-value due to the wall penetrations and studs, which can lead to thermal bridging. To assist with this, Trimble recommends an ASHRAE 90.1 table which documents R-value based upon wall thickness and how close the studs are spaced.
Note that, when analyzing R-value, it is important to avoid the trap of overlooking other important design strategies, such as thermal mass. Because thermal mass is so effective at storing and efficiently using energy, the energy codes actually require less insulation in a wall with thermal mass, as opposed to a lighter-weight wall, according to Trimble.
In fact, a recent Portland Cement Association study (www.bdcnetwork.com/pacreport) found that walls with thermal mass are 14-21% more energy efficient than walls with minimal thermal mass. “That’s why whole building energy analysis is better than just talking R-values since the energy analysis programs can take into account thermal mass,” adds Trimble.
Lateral ties. Another construction problem can result from the incorrect installation of lateral ties, which anchor to the structural backup wall. While brick veneers are mostly known for their aesthetic and weather protection, it’s important to recognize the veneer’s potential to act as a structural component. Consequently, when masonry anchoring systems are properly installed, they effectively transfer lateral loads to the backup wall system.
“It is important that lateral ties not only provide adequate strength to resist applicable outward and inward loads, but that the ties also allow for the wall system to accommodate differential movement between the inner wall and the cladding system,” explains Gerns.
IKM’s Hartung also points out that conventional brick wall cavities consist of two inches of nominal air space and two inches of rigid insulation, so pre-engineered brick ties are made for these four-inch cavity walls. However, with a greater focus on energy efficiency, wall thickness has increased to three inches of insulation, creating a five-inch cavity. Fortunately, wall tie manufacturers have responded by providing larger-sized ties.
Expansion and contraction. In any veneer wall assembly, allowing for expansion and contraction is a major aspect of design detailing and construction methods, as Gerns explains: “To accommodate all these possible movements, expansion joints or control joints must be incorporated at regular intervals, at changes in materials, at changes in building massing, and at changes in geometry. The joints are typically installed vertically to accommodate horizontal movements and horizontally to accommodate vertical movements. The joint must be sized to accommodate initial movements and cyclical movements, and a sealant must be selected that can also accommodate the movement.”
It’s also important to note that, in its most recent literature, the Brick Industry Association has reduced the recommended spacing for masonry movement joints for walls with different types of masonry materials and a number of openings. The new BIA-recommended maximum spacing in walls with openings is approximately 20 feet; for walls without openings, the BIA-recommended spacing is about 25 feet.
“We have seen several projects lately with cracking developing within months after completion, where spacing in walls with openings was more than 30 feet, and it costs a lot of money and time to repair these walls,” cautions Gubetta.
On the single side of openings, the joints should be placed six feet or less; for openings greater than six feet in width, control joints should be provided on both sides of the opening, according to Donaldson. In addition, control joints should be installed in locations of brick relieving angles, because the veneer is more likely to move.
Because projects are unique, Donaldson recommends that design professionals collaborate with a structural engineer to understand the potential for building movement and what size of expansion control is recommended. For example, concrete shrinks over time, while clay brick masonry is more prone to expansion during the first few years as it absorbs atmospheric moisture. In general, wall systems either expand or contract based upon temperature variations.
MANUFACTURED STONE: THE NATURAL LOOK
While it’s tough to beat the natural look of stone, a number of manufactured stone products are coming real close to tricking the eye. As with any new building product, however, specifiers must do their homework and be forewarned that regardless of testing and research, time is the only true indicator of a product’s durability and performance.
Although ASTM created a subcommittee for adhered manufactured-stone masonry veneer a few years ago, their specification standard is still under development, so there is currently no consensus standard. “Most manufacturers have a variety of tests that they perform on their materials to make sure they meet a minimum level of durability, but until a consensus standard is developed, using product history is the best way to determine suitability and durability,” says Trimble.
Gerns points out that longevity is a critical consideration with newer products because deterioration due to loss of strength, change in appearance, or loss of other physical properties can result in premature failure of the material or system. When researching new product offerings, Hartung looks to company websites, social media, and knowledgeable product representatives to help make informed decisions.
Another useful tactic, applicable for all masonry systems, is the construction of scale and full-size mockups to most accurately judge how suitable any materials might be for a particular project. Mockups also benefit the Building Team by involving key trades and consultants to ensure every professional agrees with the method and outcome. “Relatively speaking, a mockup is a small investment for an owner and a designer to utilize in comparison to the large investment the owner is making in a project,” says Donaldson.
EVALUATING THE SUSTAINABLITY BENEFITD OF A BRICK WALL
In addition to the performance and aesthetic benefits proffered by brick veneer, good, old-fashioned bricks happen to be quite sustainable as well.
Predominantly made from clay and shale, which are abundant natural materials, brick is commonly recycled for use as salvaged brick, chipped brick for landscaping, or crush brick for sub-base materials.
And although it does take energy to fire the brick kilns, more than 80% of brick manufacturers use natural gas or bio-based fuels such as sawdust or methane from landfills. Furthermore, because brick masonry has such a long service life—at least 100 years, according to the National Institute of Standards & Technology—the embodied energy over its life cycle is quite low.
Another area where brick shines is its thermal mass properties. Unlike other wall materials—such as vinyl, aluminum, wood, or EIFS—brick acts as an excellent medium to store heat and slowly release it, ultimately requiring less heating and cooling energy for the space.
Gerns also says that because façade systems are comprised of so many components from different manufacturers, it can be difficult to assess the details and integration of these materials and systems solely from shop drawings, or even from models. “Issues of constructability can often be identified and resolved [through the use of] mockups, and the aesthetics of the cladding system can be evaluated and modified, if deemed necessary,” he adds.
It is worth noting, however, that mockups do have their limitations as they are unable to fully simulate real-world conditions, such as areas of a wall system that may be prone to water infiltration. Consequently, field testing can be a much more accurate measure of such issues. Of course, this is an additional expense and should only be applied when necessary.
Ultimately, while it’s true that the design and installation of masonry systems requires a high level of skill, knowledge, and attention to detail, the payoff comes in the beautiful, classic look that can be achieved. BD+C
No additional reading required is required for this course. To earn 1.0 AIA/CES Discovery learning units, review the required reading and take the 10-question test posted at www.BDCnetwork.com/EngineeredBrick.
Courtesy Pixabay
January 09, 2020 | Architects | AIA
AIA selects recipients for the 2020 Regional & Urban Design Awards
The 2020 Regional & Urban Design program recognizes the best in urban design, regional and city plannin...
One of PDA’s recent projects was the design of Vibra Healthcare’s 56,000-sf rehabilitation hospital in Rancho Mirage, Calif., which features upscale hospitality in its 50 deluxe rooms. Images: HED
January 06, 2020 | Architects | John Caulfield, Senior Editor
Merger expands HED’s presence in SoCal
Puchlik Design Associates, its new addition, specializes in healthcare design.
Jin Young Song, AIA, Assistant Professor at University at Buffalo, and Founder of DIOINNO Architecture PLLC, demonstrates his SIMS (Snap-Interlock Module System) design concept, which took the $20,000 Grand Prize in the 2019 Forge Prize competition. Photo courtesy AISC
December 10, 2019 | Architects | BD+C Staff
Calling all emerging architects: Enter to win the $20,000 Forge Prize
This annual steel design competition will recognize three Finalists ($10,000 each) and one Grand Prize Winn...
Jonathan Moody (left), newly named CEO of Moody Nolan, with his father, Curt Moody, founder of the firm.
December 09, 2019 | Architects |
Jonathan Moody promoted to CEO of Moody Nolan
New four-member Executive Team also named.
Bernita Beikmann, AIA, EDAC, LSSBB, Chief Process Officer and Principal with HKS, speaking at LCI Congress 2019. Photo: courtesy LCI / Craig Huey Photography
October 29, 2019 | Architects | Bernita Beikmann, AIA, EDAC, LSSBB, Chief Process Officer, HKS
Top takeaways from the Lean Construction Institute Congress 2019
More than 1,600 Lean experts gathered in Texas this month for LCI Congress 2019. Here are key takeaways fro...
Photo: Pexels
October 11, 2019 | Architects | Amy Collins, FSMPS, CPSM, Facilities Business Line Marketing Manager, Gannett Fleming
SMPS report tracks how AEC firms are utilizing marketing technology tools
With thousands of MarTech tools and apps on the market, design and construction firms are struggling to kee...
October 03, 2019 | Architects | David Malone, Associate Editor
LEO A DALY wins Architect of the Capitol contract
The firm will help modernize some of the country’s most significant public buildings.
Compensation for architects increased, in average, about 12% nationally from early 2017 to early 2019. Charts: AIA Compensation Report
September 11, 2019 | Architects | John Caulfield, Senior Editor
Buoyed by construction activity, architect compensation continues to see healthy gains
The latest AIA report breaks down its survey data by 44 positions and 28 metros.
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August 12, 2019 | Architects | NCARB
AIA, NCARB help launch coalition to represent complex professions and licensing boards
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Architects,Brick and Masonry,Building Enclosure Systems,Building Owner,Contractors,Energy Efficiency,Engineers,Exterior Restoration,Healthcare Facilities,Higher Education,Masonry,Moisture Control/Building Envelope,Office Building Design,Sustainable Design and Construction,University Buildings,Continuing Education and Life Time Learning,Designers / Specifiers / Landscape Architects,Codes and Standards
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The Espians
Neuroscience Gallery
Greetings! This website is a showcase of neuroscientific images, from artists across the world and across time. Instead of the brain at large, the artwork you will find here is centred on the microscopic circuitry that makes up the brain.
These images are reproduced here for educational and aesthetic purposes. Most can be easily found on the web using a search engine or via the author's website. Before reproducing any of these images, please check the licence terms of the original author.
If you wish to contribute or share your work, the curator can be reached via e-mail at gallery@conncad.com. Thanks, and enjoy!
Last updated: 04 April 2019 — Hosting 107 images
Tags:Animated BrainBow Fluorescent Myelin Populations Recording and Manipulation Single Cells × Synapses ×
Zoom: 1× 2× Fit monitor
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In any way, contemplating the form of the cells was one of my most beloved pleasures. Because even from an aesthetic point of view the nervous tissue has fascinating beauty. Are there in our parks any more elegant and lush trees than the Purkinje neuron in the cerebellum or the so-called psychical cell, that is, the famous cortical pyramidal neuron? — Ramón y Cajal, 1923
Links to other galleries
[External link]
Retinal Microscopy
The retina of the eye is a complex structure, that exists with some diversity in the natural world. By juxtaposing samples of species from mammalian to amphibian, this comprehensive collection highlights their architecture and organisation in an accessible manner.
By Nicolás Cuenca at the Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Alicante, Spain
Eyewire Museum
Eyewire is a crowd-sourced science project, where many people from around the globe collaborate on reconstructing the three-dimensional morphology of neurons on the basis of a series of two-dimensional scans. The scans are made using an electron microscope, and this virtual museum exhibits the resulting detailed anatomical models. As tissue is scanned a block at a time, the method beautifully illustrates the network of all neurons that occur in each block.
By Sebastian Seung at Princeton University, USA
neuralimages.org
Animated, time-lapse image sequences exhibit the intra- and extracellular dynamics of living neurons in vitro. In addition to migration and outgrowth of new neurites, fluorescent dyes beautifully capture the dynamics of intracellular protein trafficking and organelles.
By Robert S. McNeil and Baylor College of Medicine
Copyright of images belongs to their original author.
2010–2020 ConnCAD.com
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Osteoradionecrosis of jaw: An institutional experience
Saurabh Kumar, Catherine Chandran, Rabin Chacko, JS Jesija, Arun Paul
Department of Dental and Oral Surgery, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Dr. Saurabh Kumar
Room Number 130, First Floor OPD Block, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore - 632 004, Tamil Nadu
Aims and Objectives: Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the jaw is a significant yet rare complication of radiotherapy (RT) associated with the management of head-and-neck malignancies. Recent decrease in the incidence of ORN following RT to the head and neck is being mainly attributed to refinement in RT techniques and improvement in our understanding of this morbid disease. The aim of this study is to assess the patients with ORN following head-and-neck RT to determine the various contributing risk factors involved in the development of ORN. Subjects and Methods: A retrospective data review from 2003 onward was conducted on the cases of ORN which presented to the Department of Dental and Oral Surgery, Christian Medical College, Vellore. Details of the patients with regard to the site of primary malignancy, type of treatment provided - RT alone or in combination of surgery and chemotherapy, dose of RT, presenting complaint, duration between the RT and presentation of ORN, and method of management considered were evaluated. Results: A total of 25 patients were evaluated. The average age of the 25 patients in our study was 58 years. Oropharynx (about 50%) was the leading site of primary malignancy. More than half of the patients in the study (52%) had undergone radical RT for the primary malignancy and all the patients were given >60 Gy dose of RT. About 48% of the patients in the study reported with pus discharge as their chief complaint. The average intervening time period from completion of RT to the presentation of ORN was 48 months. The mandibular alveolus was the most common site for ORN. Twelve of the 25 cases in the study were managed conservatively with only 3 patients requiring major resection. Conclusion: Due to its rare presentation, ORN still remains a challenge for the clinician in its management. Our study revealed that radical RT and concurrent chemo-RT for the oropharyngeal and base of the tongue malignancies have a higher risk of developing ORN. Patients subjected to the dose of RT above 60 Gy for head-and-neck malignancies have an increased risk of future ORN; henceforth, newer modality treatment like intensity-modulated RT regimen is recommended for such sites. Most of the patients in the study were satisfactorily managed of the symptoms with conservative modality treatment; hence, it is recommended to consider for surgical methods only in severe end-stage form of ORN.
Kumar S
Chandran C
Chacko R
Jesija J S
Paul A
Management of osteoradionecrosis of jaw
osteoradionecrosis of the jaw
preradiotherapy dental clearance
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Climate Action, Climate Policy & Planning, Culture
Climate clippings 76
June 3, 2013 Brian 34 Comments
This week I’ve concentrated on the practical side of Climate change – mitigation and adaptation and the relevant policies.
1. China to cap emissions
According to Giles Parkinson news reports from China indicate that the powerful National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has proposed a cap on emissions from 2016, from RenewEconomy, picked up at Clean Technica.
What’s more it looks as though China will cease to be an importer of coal within a few years (please note Gina, Clive et al).
Please note also, Tony Abbott and Greg Hunt. The coalition will be phasing out the carbon price just as China is phasing it in. The LNP reckoned a price on carbon was unnecessary because the rest of the world was not going there, remember?
[Update: indigo @ 8 advises that this story is based on a passing comment from a delegate of the NDRC and that no proposal has yet gone forward.]
2. Carbon markets have to take Abbott seriously!
Two weeks ago Giles Parkinson attended a day hosted by the Carbon Market Institute looking at the future of carbon markets in Australia. It seems that the audience of bankers and such had never taken the Direct Action thing seriously, they thought was just a bit of politicking. Now they are having to face the fact that Greg Hunt, former champion debater, will almost certainly be tasked to implement whatever it turns out to be.
Antony Green’s session was the best attended. The only serious question to be resolved on September 15 is whether the LNP can get the numbers in the Senate. The final numbers, Green explained, can be a lottery, with the balance of power possibly finally held by fringe candidates no-one has heard of. Still markets have to deal with the possibilities and this is how they sit:
The forward curve of the carbon market – such as it is – is pricing odds of 60 per cent that the carbon price will no longer exist by July next year, analysts say. The market odds for it to be gone by 2016 are 80 per cent.
The forward curve for contracts in the National Electricity Market is pricing the odds around the same level. Even Bloomberg New Energy Finance, which said earlier this year that there was just a 30 per cent chance of repeal, is now reviewing that assessment and is likely to lift the odds to above 50 per cent.
And yes, there is an issue of compensation, which doesn’t figure so far in LNP budgeting.
3. No more money for adaptation research
I was intrigued to find a blogger from Knoxville, Tennessee listing five policy briefs released by Australia’s National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), with seven more to come by June 30 this year. On closer investigation, I found this speech by Yvette D’Ath officially launching their research portfolio, a portfolio of more than 140 peer-reviewed research projects across 33 universities around Australia. D’Ath praised the work of the scientists and appealed to them for help in countering climate denialism.
Ironic really as the NCCARF is to be wound up by the end of June as there was no more money coming from the Government. More than 100 researchers will be affected nationally.
Instead NCCARF2 will be funded at $3 million per annum for two years as a dissemination project.
The same Knoxville blogger notes the release of the EU Strategy on Climate Change Adaptation which was produced by the Directorate-General for Climate Action, which is a program, not a project, of the European Commission. Their 2013 program of work is worth €20.75 million and the employ 160 people internally and externally.
4. Quick charging buses come to Geneva
European technology giant ABB has developed a new technology that will help power the world’s first high-capacity flash charging electric bus system, where buses will receive top up charges in 15 seconds at selected bus stops. A pilot project termed TOSA (Trolleybus Optimisation Système Alimentation) is planned in conjunction with Geneva’s public transport company.
An arm connects with an electricity outlet in the roof of the bus shelter. At the end of the run three to four minutes gives a complete charge. It’s like a trolley bus without overhead wires.
I’m wondering how electric vehicles go with heart pacemakers. I’ve just learned that you can’t use electric hand tools with a pacemaker.
This link has a video showing roughly how the bus shelter connection is made.
5. ‘Black Carbon’ flows from soil to oceans
It was thought that ‘black carbon’ created by the burning of organic matter such as grass or forests stayed in the soil for millions of years.
By examining carbon in rivers it is now thought that up to 40% of such black carbon dissolves and flows into the oceans.
6. Soil carbon farming
I gather that soil carbon farming is a different issue, but seems similarly fraught. Di Martin investigated the soil carbon conundrum.
The shorter story is that some exceptional farmers have demonstrated that soil carbon can be increased dramatically. One farmer did this by ‘pasture cropping’. Native grasses were encouraged and the crop was sown directly into the pasture, rather than plowing, harrowing etc.
Another used ‘cell grazing’, which involves high intensity and high rotation grazing, with long rest periods for pasture.
There are problems in measurement, which may be resolvable with new technology. What is not resolvable, however, is the 100-year guarantee required by international protocols if the activity is deemed to benefit the planet.
Bernard Keane, following Lenore Taylor, was rather scathing about Direct Action soil magic.
7. Renewable energy in the wars
The fossil fuel incumbents are rolling out a campaign to damage the solar industry. One nasty trick being considered in Queensland is the following:
Gross metering – a proposal made in Queensland which would force households to sell all the output from their rooftop systems to the grid operators, and buy it back at a higher price
Campbell Newman keeps saying that feed-in tariffs PV solar are “just ridiculous”.
The campaign seems to be extending to the whole Coalition policy on renewables, if there is one.
There is increasing concern in the [renewables] industry that the Opposition will pave way for the Renewable Energy Target to be diluted, under pressure from state governments, utilities and generators worried about sliding profits from their coal and gas generators, and noisy anti-renewable lobbies promoted by the likes of [Alan] Jones.
Please note the note at the end of the piece:
it seems the biggest problem the [coal] industry faces is a lack of demand. We’ve noted this before, but this week, this was reinforced by reports from China that imported coal is sitting unwanted and clogging up the country’s biggest ports.
Deutsche Bank energy analysts said this was due to “weak coal demand all over China” which had been apparent since late last year. Indeed, half the coal companies in one region of Mongolia had ceased production of thermal coal because of falling prices, and most small coal mines in Shanxi Province had also closed, Deutsche Bank reported.
8. Solar panel art
Now for something lighter: solar panel art.
Agriculture, FoodArtsblack carboncarbon priceChinaclimate adaptationClimate Clippingselectric vehiclesemissions tradingEmissions trading schemefeed-in tariffsGenevarenewable energyRenewablessoil carbonSolar powersoot (black carbon)Transport
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34 thoughts on “Climate clippings 76”
BilB says:
I will be discussing item 7 as this is very much my interest area. Any dirty tricks campaign is ultimately good news for Rooftop Solar. Very quickly despite John Davidson’s best hopes the electricity retail sector would fragment with smaller distribution operators entering the market. By maximising the harm to solar the established distributors also maximise the incentive for new competition.
“Greed Breeds Competition”.
I am actively getting ready to apply Solar Energy systems to my roof. In the so doing I will not be exporting any energy to the grid. The aim will be to use on site every thing that I generate, and if anything is left over it will be running the pool pump or heating a spa (I don’t have one of those,..yet) until I can acquire an electric vehicle to absorb the remainder.
So this is going to take some planning to get the washing machine working during the high solar period and the fridge working on the fringe to cool eutectic plates for 24 hour solar powered operation. Fran Barlow’s fridge buying need got me thinking about how to make that work fairly easily with a regular fridge.
This is all a very interesting and exciting challenge, and the outcome is all win, win, win.
The much lauded James Hansen reckons that the answer is nuclear power. This will of course be predictably pooh-poohed by noted scientific experts such as Christine Milne and Adam Bandt.
To quote:
In our paper, we provide an objective, long-term, quantitative analysis of the effects of nuclear power on human health (mortality) and the environment (climate).
It demonstrates that without nuclear power, it would have been even harder to mitigate human-caused climate change and air pollution. This is fundamentally because historical energy production data reveal that if nuclear power never existed, the energy it supplied almost certainly would have been supplied by fossil fuels instead (overwhelmingly coal), which cause much higher air pollution-related mortality and GHG emissions per unit energy produced.
Terry, a good rule of thumb, I think, you ask climate scientists about the science, but you don’t ask them about practical solutions. It’s really not their field, and that applies to James Hansen also.
Speaking of science and practicality, Brian, did you see Sean Carrol’s “big Ideas” talk on the Higgs Field on the weekend? If you didn’t and you get the chance take the time, it is brilliant.
David Irving (no relation) says:
The thing is, Terry, some people are enthusiastic about (or at least accepting of) nuclear as part of the solution (James Hansen, Barry Brookes), some, but not all, Greens are opposed to it (for a variety of reasons, some of which are certainly ideological), and some (like me) are prepared to concede that it’s safe enough but would like to see a rigorous cost-benefit analysis which includes decommissioning costs before accepting that it’s worth the effort.
Ootz says:
Interesting finding by Essential Research reported in todays Crikey:
“And as conspiracy theorists prepare to descend on Canberra for an anti-wind farm rally on June 18, led by radio entertainer Alan Jones, there’s little evidence Australians share their concerns about the alleged array of diseases caused by wind turbines. In fact, 76% of voters want to see more wind farms built, including 71% of Liberal voters and, unsurprisingly, 89% of Greens voters.
There is also speculation the Coalition will abandon the 20% Renewable Energy Target once in government: 40% of voters believe the target is not high enough; 11% believe it is too high, while 33% believe it is about right. Liberal voters are least enthusiastic — only 31% believe the RET should be higher, and 19% lower; 67% of Greens voters want the target to be higher.”
Re Nuclear energy, I am not against it, but (and I’ll say it until I am blue in the face) The recent Fukushima incident has once again highlighted that:
1. There is no adequate regulatory power to ensure appropriate safety checks, measures and controls are adhered to and enforced. The IAEA is a toothless paper tiger, national Governments act in short term self interest and contractors primarily focus on return on investment. Which leaves more then enough room for cascading catastrophic failures to reoccur in that industry.
2. The nuclear industry has no credibility what soever until it finds and implements an effective long term solution for their waste and decommissioned plants. Storing spent MOX fuel on top of critically exposed reactors and assorted dumping grounds with leaking drums is not a solution.
The economist John Quiggin has canvassed the economics of nuclear power recently and thinks that given the time involved in implementation in Australia the economics of it are not going to be a relevant option given the current trajectory of cost reductions in solar and wind. Check his blog for recent discussions on this topic.
indigo says:
The reports on China implementing a carbon cap are premature, based on a passing comment from a delegate to the National Development and Reform Commission. But no formal proposal has gone forward. The reduction in coal usage is a different issue, however.
faustusnotes says:
I think it would be great if this thread didn’t get into a stoush on nuclear, but I’ll put in my 2 yen worth anyway … I basically agree with Doug (and thus I guess JQ) that by the time nuclear gets off the ground in most nations renewable energy will already have become so cheap that it’s irrelevant. It could still have a role as baseload in countries with high industrial output (Japan, Germany, China, USA) but not somewhere like Australia, and not in time to make a meaningful difference to AGW.
As some of you know, I’m doing research on radiation exposure in Fukushima. I am quite convinced that it is possible to live in areas of high radiation exposure (like Minamisoma) without suffering elevated health risks due to radiation. The primary exposure risks are from food, and easily controlled. There are issues connected with non-communicable diseases (possibly due to lifestyle changes and stress) but we haven’t teased them out yet. But there is not really much identifiable ill health as a result of radiation exposure (i.e. not really any).
This isn’t to say that more can’t be done to improve management of nuclear, but if you look at the global burden of disease results for China, outdoor air pollution has increased as a cause of death and is now ranked as the number 4 risk factor for disability-adjusted life years lost. Almost all of that is due to fossil fuels. Nuclear is a good bet for China, even in a poor regulatory framework with occasional disasters. Coal and diesel between them are really, really bad for human health, and now that the epidemiological community is beginning to be able to quantify their effects on a global scale we are seeing just how terrible they are.
But a good mixture of renewables and a robust grid is probably much better.
Doug, I think the Quiggin post you refer to is his comment on the AEMO report on 100% renewables which we looked at here. His bottom line is:
Given that very few current-generation nuclear plants have been built, cost estimates for nuclear are speculative. The obvious inference for Australia is that we should push along with renewables, and take a “wait and see” position on nuclear, observing developments in the UK, US, France and China. If they can deliver nuclear safely and at low cost, we can add it to the mix (say, after 2030).
Quiggin thinks the AEMO report should put to bed the intermittency concern about renewables. I don’t think Hansen is up to speed on that.
BilB @ 4, I didn’t see Sean Carrol’s “big Ideas” talk on the Higgs field. I’ll have to try to catch up.
Quiggin also has this handy advive to Abbott if he is serious about his Direct Action plan:
Finally, if we take Tony Abbott at his word in wanting direct action to deal with climate change, this report provides him with a blueprint. If we want to, we can eliminate the great majority of domestic CO2 emissions simply by mandating renewable technology and electric vehicles. The cost would be substantial in dollar terms ($250 billion for the electricity component). But, over a couple of decades, it would be a barely detectable deduction from growth in national income.
indigo @ 8, I’ve changed the wording in the post at #1 to reflect exactly what Giles Parkinson said and added your information as an update. On inspection the word “announces” appears only in the title of the Clean Technica post.
Moz is supposed to be working says:
Thanks Faust@9 for the reminder that it’s not only nuclear that kills people. I’m not even slightly in favour of nukes for Australia or NZ, but for places like China they make a lot of sense. And I’m reminded of the “other” pollution every morning when I ride to work – it’s quite confronting riding out of Rookwood Cemetery onto the side of a multilane road that’s choked with traffic – the smell alone is eye-watering some days.
I’m worried that electricity/renewable price wars are going to be savagely regressive. Those who own their home can look at the numbers and put PV on their roof, even if it means battling through their strata committee, but for renters it’s not an option. As the connection fees go up they’re going to really cop it. “They” meaning me.
The renting crossover will come when you start seeing plug-in panels on apartment balconies, I think. They’re still pricey and marginally legal, but as a way of driving the power bill down they’re one of the few things renters can do.
BTW, http://www.greenrenters.org is worth a look if you are renting (they’re in Melbun). There are things you can do to make a rented place less awful.
Golly Gosh says:
In Campbell Newman right?
“The solar tariff feed-in situation is one that sees those with the financial means to pay for panels win at the expense of poorer households and disadvantaged people,” he said.
“I’m just making the point today.
“I’m not saying we have anything in particular in mind, but I’m saying firstly I want people to understand why we have high power prices.”
If he is correct then solar panels are a regressive form of middle class welfare.
ps. whatever happened to your brother, Mark? Hope he’s alright.
GG, my brothers are OK, but Mark’s not my brother, he’s my son. I’m hoping he’s OK. He’s been working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and today he flew to London, thence to Brno and Prague. They’ve had a bit of rain, so I hope it all works out!
GG on Newman and power prices, Paul Syvret had an interesting comment.
Of the $268 average increase, $9 is attributable to the carbon ‘tax’ and only $32 to PV solar.
This piece indicates that retailers get a full 44c from Energex when they purchase power from solar households. The proposal now is to reimburse them the difference between 44c and the wholesale price, which seems fair enough on the face of it.
But there are mysteries because of the equalised retail price and unknown (to us) variations in the wholesale price that retailers are presumably paying. Prices should vary considerably during the day depending on demand and the so-called ‘merit order effect’.
I don’t think anyone on the inside has yet been fair dinkum in explaining to us what’s actually going on.
Paul Norton says:
The denialists have been caught out making stuff up.
GG, Campbell Newman rarely appears to be right.
In this case, somebody answered this accusation on another thread. Solar panel subsidies aren’t supposed to be a poverty mitigation policy, they’re supposed to be a migrating-away-from-fossil-fuels policy.
But I think that in the long term, poorer people will benefit anyway:
1) Because tech is usually purchased first by early adopters with money, or the will to buy, then the bugs are ironed out and the tech gets cheaper and more stable. Look at sound systems, personal computers, just about everything really.
2) Climate mitigation policy will benefit poorer people because they are the ones that bear the brunt of climate change.
Helen, it seems that much of the solar PV installed recently in Qld has been in suburbs that are not wealthy. Campbell Newman leads a government lousy with climate deniers.
Here’s a rebuttal of the paper ascribing the cause of global warming to CFCs.
This paper has predictably enough led the denialists to bark vindication, with the silliest example being a letter in today’s OO that states ‘That recent climate history can be well explained by “CFCs conspiring with cosmic rays” is significant’ yet goes on on the next paragraph to state that ‘Whether the CFCs explanation proves to be correct is largely irrelevant’.
The EU has imposed tariffs on Chinese solar PV. Seems France and a few small countries are behind the move.
Germany opposes the move because it will suffer if the Chinese retaliate. But it can’t rustle up enough votes to reverse the decision.
Chodorov says:
[Comment content deleted (also further comments from same nym). Morphing/sockpuppeting is a breach of our comments policy. ~ mods]
Andrew Gliksen also debunks Lu.
You didn’t read Paul’s reference, did you Chodorov?
Came across the following comment on the businessspectator post on McKibben two days ago and confirmed it. Still not sure wether to laugh or cry?
The Australian Parliament recently debated Rob Oakeshott’s motion “That this House expresses full confidence in the work of Australia’s science community and confirms that it believes that man-made climate change is not a conspiracy or a con, but a real and serious threat to Australia if left unaddressed”.
It was passed unanimously.
As Oakeshott then said– “positions the deniers and the conspiracy theorists where they should be – on the fringe,”
Ambigulous says:
Chodorov @26
Get thee to a priory.
There has to be three converging lines of evidence minimum, and this to be matched up with an excellent a-priory case
You don’t know anything do you, Chodorov?
Can we bin the bird?
Brian,please look at the categories!!!
Ootz, it will be interesting to see whether that vote becomes a feature of the debate after the election. It suggests that the business council presser today saying that we should reconsider our 80% cut by 2050 in light of slow global reductions comes from realising that the other coalition is unlikely to resile from the commitment. Which is good news.
FWIW, I agree wholeheartedly with the business council on this – global emissions are rising far too fast and if other countries will not act Australia needs to step to and cut faster to compensate.
nottrampis @ 29, yes, I’ve seen, thankyou.
Jumpy says:
I stumbled across an article about a new Parliamentary Library paper about
” Countries trading greenhouse gas emissions” you may not have seen.
It’s fairly condensed and summarises each scheme.
Nothing in it you wouldn’t already know, but more of an ” easy reference ” kind of thing.
( link to the full paper in 2nd para )
The VW XL1 is getting closer. Here is the best expose to date.
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/05/volkswagen-xl1-driven/#slideid-58028
We don’t have a definitive price yet, and production will be limited for a time, but formula is certain to reshape commuter vehicles of the future.
BilB, driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back on less than three gallons of fuel, or 100 km per litre is attractive! It sounds squelchy in acceleration, but I suppose you can’t have everything!
Jumpy, thanks!
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Lady Indians positive about season
After suffering through a dismal 1-20 season, things are finally looking up for the Lady Indians varsity basketball program.
They still don’t have a junior varsity program, but the Lady Indians do head into the 2006/2007 season with improved players and additional depth — something that bodes well for a better season.
“This year we’ll be a lot more competitive, especially in the South (Henlopen Conference),” head coach Summer Chorman said. “We’ll definitely improve on last year’s record.”
“We have good scorers and have players that are willing to shoot the ball.”
Overall, the Lady Indians will be a pretty balanced team: they have numbers (15 players). height inside and ball-handlers who can penetrate for the dish-off or can shoot.
Forwards Michelle Givans and Jasmin Holden will return back to the blocks to give the Lady Indians height on the interior.
Chorman indicated that Holden has carried over her strong finish last season into this season, and she expects big things.
“She’s improved a lot from last year and continued that through to this year,” she said.
In addition, Chorman stated that freshman Brandy Buchanan and Lizzy Handy are interchangeable at both forward and guard, and have “showed a lot of potential” thus far.
Charne Rayne and Marnisha Mitchell are set to return as the Indians’ starting backcourt, which will be without last year’s leading scorer, Kiarra Graves.
Rayne noted that, without Graves, she’d most likely run the Lady Indians’ offense, so her game will have to change.
“Now it’s all on me,” Rayne said. “I used to play the two or three (guard positions) but now it’s my responsibility to make sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be.”
Both Rayne and Mitchell are active defensively, and have the skill and ability to go to the hoop when given the opportunity.
The Lady Indians also weakened Southern Conference contender Seaford when Adelia Parker decided to transfer.
The Lady Indians will start their regular season on the road versus the Smyrna Lady Eagles on Dec. 5.
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Remembering Kirk Washington Jr.
At the intersection between activism and poetry, at the intersection between community art and cultural-civic engagement, Kirk used artistic expression to foster social change. He spread his energy of collective organization whenever he blinked and completely related to people who could hardly be more different from himself.
I recall Kirk expressing an interest in a greater variety of mediums and capacities than any of us could keep track of: bookmaking, education, spoken word performances, event building, urban gardening, community development, visual art, poetry, cultural theory, musical expression, etc.
He could take negativity, fear, anger and transform it into beauty, into poetry while building power around reflection. A much needed characteristic in this world.
In particular, Kirk demonstrated to us us all the value of using great talent in poetry, spoken word and artistic expression as a way to create counter-narratives to dominant stories. He had the critical mind to see through anything which enabled him to not only open up dialogue on challenging conversations but change hearts and begin solutions.
Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership Continues to Gain National Recognition and Awards
The Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership has helped the City win milestones of national recognition even when it existed only on paper. At that time in late 2014, The White House and U.S. Department of Energy gave the City of Minneapolis a competitive “Climate Action Champion” award largely because the Partnership it established with its energy utilities was the first of its kind in the nation.
Now the Clean Energy Partnership itself is winning awards of national recognition after a full year of formally convening. On Wednesday March 9th, the Partnership won the EPA’s 2016 Climate Leadership Award in the Innovative Partnerships category for working collaboratively on leading-edge climate initiatives. The award page identified ambitious energy goals, the Partnership’s early accomplishments and the Energy Vision Advisory Committee (EVAC) providing input on the Partnership’s work plan.
Particularly successful is Minneapolis' Energy Benchmarking program as it has earned a dynamic duo of honorary acknowledgement this year.
Xcel, Centerpoint, Minneapolis give $10,000 each to EVAC’S new Community Engagement Pilot Project
The Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership has a conduit for community input on how to meet City energy goals known as the Energy Vision Advisory Committee (EVAC). Members of the EVAC have succeeded in launching a serious movement to shift energy efficiency program implementation towards an innovative community engagement rather than relying upon the marketing approach which utilities are familiar with.
Energy utilities have become accustomed to using marketing-based recruitment and retention strategies that often have passive method of soliciting participation into their home energy saving programs (as described in this blogpost). However the marketing approach has not been very effective in situations where people's main barriers to significant energy saving gains are social in nature as opposed to purely financial (as described in this blogpost).
Why the traditional passive marketing approach to energy efficiency programs has been inadequately effective
Utilities like Xcel and Centerpoint frequently include lists of energy-saving steps and ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs when they mail their bills to customers, often because they are required to do so by state law as in the case of Minnesota. In addition, utilities also stuff in information about a whole array of rebates, cash incentives or low-interest loans for energy-efficient products & home improvements. But the response rate & customer follow through has been too disappointingly low for the marketing dollars to translate into the equivalent energy savings. In reaction to modest response rates, the utility-funded energy efficiency marketing industry has doubled down offering slicker financing, refining their sales pitch, making their energy audits more convenient and increasing their rebates. Yet those doing the well-intentioned work under the usual methods still can’t seem get enough customers to be enthusiastic enough to manifest the energy savings on a scale we'd like to see. I myself have first hand experience doing energy efficiency doorknocking and getting less than 2% response rates when we simply left a flyer. For one thing, there is no substitute for direct personal contact. In order to exceed these historical modest levels of participation in energy efficiency programs among small businesses and residents, it will require some skilled community engagement and educational outreach from block leaders, energy service contractors, and community groups that goes far beyond the scope of where utility bureaucracies usually reach.
Why Community Engagement is Crucial for Multi Family Energy Efficiency
Xcel and Centerpoint have jointly created and launched a new joint multifamily energy efficiency program just this past October. As of Mid-February, 30 qualified buildings have inquired about the program which is about 1 % of Minneapolis’ 5-family plus residential units. At the February 16th EVAC meeting, a spokesperson for Centerpoint said they will only do an engaged promotion of the program once the current cue empties out. Judging by those words the program must be in a beginning test run phase at this point. The program may not have had an extensive or equitable of a reach thus far. But the mere availability of a multifamily energy efficiency program is a historically significant step because residents of Multifamily residential housing have historically been ignored or at least under-served by traditional energy efficiency programs.
Here is the reason for the mismatch: The programs and rebates utilities have traditionally offered are designed primarily to help customers overcome up-front cost financial barriers to doing energy efficiency upgrades. However, the main barriers to doing energy efficiency upgrades in the multifamily residential sector are social in nature rather than purely financial. By this very definition, Xcel and Centerpoint will have to do engaged promotion of their multifamily energy efficiency program in a way which matched this reality.
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Riyadh ends gender-segregated entrances in restaurants
Saudi musician Rola Sultan plays piano with Zaki al-Nonoi at a musical-themed cafe in the city of Khobar. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Saudi Arabia ends gender-segregated entrances for restaurants
Saudis distance themselves from U.S. naval base shooter
Rural Affairs Ministry
Istanbul consulate
Restaurants in Saudi Arabia will no longer need to maintain entrances segregated by sex, the authorities said Sunday, further eroding some of the world's strictest social rules as sweeping reforms take hold. Previously, Saudi Arabia required all restaurants to have one entrance for families and women, and another for men on their own.
Unrelated men and women have for decades been barred from mixing in public places under strict social rules once enforced by hardline religious leaders and the religious police.
A spokesman for the ministry contacted by Reuters did not specify whether segregated seating areas inside restaurants would also be eliminated. The new rules are not compulsory, meaning restaurants could still maintain separate entrances if owners chose to do so, he said.
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You are here: Home / Featured / Will the tall Wall fall? Game of Thrones S4E9 – Dork Review
Will the tall Wall fall? Game of Thrones S4E9 – Dork Review
June 10, 2014 By Nick Bryan
In previous seasons, the penultimate Game of Thrones episode of the year has been The One. The big week where something huge happens, leaving the “finale” as an epilogue for characters to react. Here we are in the second-to-last Westeros visit of season four, then, and pre-conditioned to expect the blowing of our minds.
Or could they finally change their pattern? After all, this show prides itself on swerving our silly human expectations. Spoilers, obviously.
“You know my catchphrase, Jon Snow.”
Well, depends on your point of view. This is the one where the threatened wildling attack from previous weeks happened, and the poor outnumbered Night’s Watch are caught on two fronts. In terms of action, effects and violence, this is the biggest episode of the season, if not ever. Considering they’re on a TV budget, you gotta admire the sheer scale they manage here. The Blackwater episode from season two attempted something similar, though I don’t think it seemed quite as big. Giants riding mammoths, for crying out loud. Well played.
On the other hand, in terms of exciting character climaxes, it doesn’t quite have the punch of previous penultimate episodes. Most of the fatalities are background Night’s Watch characters, the kind where you go Owch, poor guy, but don’t actually feel broken inside.
The exception, of course, is Ygritte, Jon Snow’s vengeful wildling love interest, who dies in his arms. All very sad, although would’ve hit harder if it happened a year ago before their storyline kinda trailed off a bit.
And now my watch begins, it shall not end until next week…
The whole Night’s Watch storyline this year suffered from an erratic build-up – much like last week’s Jorah/Dany scene, this dents the impact a little. Still, focusing on this one battle for the whole episode bulks out the sense of occasion. Good fast, chaotic storytelling in the middle, making things look cool whilst communicating what we need to know.
And at the end, Jon Snow goes off to… appear in season 5? Considering we still have every other plotline to tie up, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s him done for the year, and if so, that’s a bit of a weird ending. Kinda hope they go back to the North next week to finish his little wander off – after all, the good action movies start with a big fight, then scale it down to a one-on-one.
In short, yes, that was a cool battle scene. Judged by TV fantasy standards, it was stunning work, although perhaps lacked enough characters we really love to be mega-immersive. Plus it didn’t exactly feel conclusive, so hopefully they’re saving the real season-ending drama for next week’s Game of Thrones season-four finale. I don’t feel I’ve suffered enough yet, y’know?
More Game of Thrones on Dork Adore | Game of Thrones: Mockingbird – Dork Review
Nick Bryan
Nick learned to read and write at an early age. This has developed into an unhealthy need to either write stories or consume them for later dissection. He reviews film and TV on Dork Adore and The Digital Fix, lives in London and enjoys a nice white beer.
Think The Walking Dead isn’t miserable enough? Relief has arrived! S4E14 – Dork Review
Merlin: The Darkest Hour – Part 2 – Dork Review
Doctor Who: The Rebel Flesh – Dork Review
Sky Anytime+: Video-on-demand launches
Filed Under: Featured, Film + TV Tagged With: Game of Thrones, HBO, kit harrington, Sky Atlantic, TV Reviews
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We are extremely proud to have been recognised with a number of national and regional awards. These are some of the awards and accreditations we’ve recently received.
Haulier Diversity Award 2018
The Haulier Diversity award is awarded for Downton’s commendable initiatives to promote career opportunities regardless of gender, age and more in a bid to grow the industry workforce and combat the driver shortage.
Accolade Wines Supplier Awards 2017
Managing Director Andy Downton was awarded Star Performer in Support Services in the Accolade Wines Supplier Awards 2017.
Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS)
Bronze Accreditation
The Bronze accreditation confirms that an operator employs good practices and complies with the requirements laid out by the FORS Standard. This includes demonstrating dedication to driver and vehicle safety, combined with improving operating practices through effective monitoring of fuel and tyre usage.
Grow Gloucestershire Showcase Awards 2016
Outstanding Business Contribution – Winner
Run through Gloucestershire County Council, the Grow Gloucestershire Showcase Awards celebrate and recognise young people in Gloucestershire who have kick-started their careers, and the businesses or schools who have helped them.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS 2016
Large Employer of the Year (25+) – Winner
The Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Awards aim to celebrate the best and brightest apprentices in the county. Downton was crowned Employer of the Year (25+) for their strong commitment and investment in their future workforce.
MOTOR TRANSPORT AWARDS 2016
Apprenticeship of the Year – Finalist
Bringing in new blood to the transport industry has never been more important, and apprenticeships are an excellent way to recruit, train and retain young people. Downton were shortlisted for Apprenticeship of the Year by demonstrating its success in attracting and retaining high quality recruits who are making a positive contribution to the business and wider industry.
Bronze Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award (ERS)
The Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme celebrates employers who support those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces and their families. Downton was awarded the Bronze award on recognition of their commitment to employer and training ex-forces personnel. Downton actively recruits service leavers through an Armed Forces resettlement programme and any service leavers who apply for a role will be granted an interview.
GROWING BUSINESS AWARDS 2013
Company of the Year – Larger Firms – Honourable Mention
The Growing Business Awards (hosted by Real Business and the CBI) are the most respected and established recognition of high-growth, mid-sized and entrepreneurial businesses in the UK. Downton was a finalist in the ‘Company of the Year – Larger Firms’ category and received an honourable mention at the awards in October 2013 -narrowly losing out on the top prize to online property giant Zoopla.
Partnership Award – Finalist
The Motor Transport Awards is the transport industry ‘Oscars’, celebrating the achievements of the industry and recognising innovation, outstanding service, efficiency and quality. Downton narrowly missed out on winning the Partnership Award for its innovative partnership with customer UPM.
Cotswold Life Family Business Awards 2013
Fastest Growing Family Business – Winner
Business and Professional Life, a supplement published by regional magazines Cotswold Life and Oxfordshire Life, launched its inaugural Family Business Awards in 2013. Downton was proud to be named the winner of the Fastest Growing Family Business Award.
Haulier of the Year – Winner
Haulier of the Year is the most prestigious and coveted award on offer at the industry-leading Motor Transport Awards; awarded to “the outstanding road haulage or 3PL company” of that year. Downton was proud to be named Haulier of the Year at the 2012 Motor Transport Awards.
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Home > EltasZone > Danny Rose has had enough: this time football needs to agree with him | Barney Ronay
Danny Rose has had enough: this time football needs to agree with him | Barney Ronay
by el-admin - April 5, 2019 0146
You get up from your desk at work to go for a cup of coffee. On your way down the corridor the accounts payable team leap to their feet, fists banging the glass partition, and shout violent abuse about your wife and extended family. You walk past with a steely gaze, jaw clenched.
Later you will be praised for this “professional” response by one of your senior managers, who adds that sadly there’s nothing they can do about accounts payable as this is a problem in society generally.
Danny Rose ‘can’t wait to see the back’ of football because of racism
Back at your desk Steve from the post room drops off an envelope, in the process hawking a large gobbet of mucus into the back of your head. As he wanders off whistling you think briefly about complaining to your line manager. But you’ve complained before and don’t want to be seen as a troublemaker.
Later, during an in-house presentation you solve the eternal question of whether marketing can be incorporated as an arm of sales (of course not, it’s unworkable) and are warmly congratulated by the entire board of directors.
Although, looking around you’re reminded that nobody called Paul has ever made it into a senior role here and probably never will – sorry, Paul, that’s just the way it is even though nobody knows why and there’s no justification for it.
With apologies for introducing a note of levity into a toxic, draining and deadly serious subject. But at times the level of workplace tolerance required of our footballers does seem a little surreal. Just as it shouldn’t come as a surprise that both Danny Rose and the fictional you might look forward to leaving your jobs, as Rose has suggested in some widely reported comments.
No doubt those who don’t care much about his feelings will point out Rose is paid a lot of money to be a footballer, that abuse is just a corollary to the job. This is of course incorrect. Instead it is simply time to listen, as it is to Moise Kean and Raheem Sterling. And to try, this time with feeling, to do something about it.
As in many other areas of life, the problems football is experiencing with racism stem from the actions of a small group of noisy, hateful people. But also – and this is not something all of us have immediately grasped – through tolerance of them by the passive majority. It is this point that now feels increasingly urgent.
There is a well-worn paradox here. The majority of those who have a platform to frame football’s response to racism don’t suffer from it personally. This is because they are, like every person in charge of a major football body, like Leonardo Bonucci, like 82% of the UK population, white people.
It is a disjunct that has circled even the most well-meaning end of this debate, raised rather guiltily in majority-white punditry panels and radio phone-ins, shot through with phrases like, well, it’s not for me to say, and of course I can’t possibly know.
Raheem Sterling lets the Montenegro supporters know what he thinks of some of their chanting after making it 5-1 to England in the Euro qualifier. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Probably it’s time to stop being so coy. Can white people ever really understand racism in football? Yes, of course they can. For one thing, they’re always there when it happens! White people know what causes racism. They know that white people cause it. Perhaps this is the moment, as they say in uplifting lifestyle magazine articles, to “own it”.
Or at least to get on board properly with the solution. It has gone largely unremarked but there is a stark difference between the way sympathetic white observers have talked about recent incidents of racism and the way many younger black players and commentators have responded.
Among the liberal rump there remains a consensus that there is no real point in punishing clubs for racism in the stands as this penalises non-racist fans too, a line of logic that would also make it OK for nightclubs to stay open despite brawls on the dancefloor and drug-dealers in the toilets because, well, there are also “good” punters around. Gareth Southgate has suggested education is the key, and that English people should look at their own country before excommunicating the likes of Montenegro.
Which is all very sensible. But meanwhile Rose feels desolated by the abuse. Sterling says teams should be forced to play behind closed doors. Olivier Bernard thinks clubs should be docked points. There is a significant split here that could yet lead football into somewhere new.
And really, why not? Why not act on the advice of those most affected? Why wouldn’t you just listen to whatever Sterling has to say on this? Why not walk off and just refuse to carry on until it stops?
Free-talking Danny Rose worn down by racism and ready to leave the game | David Hytner
This is going to happen somewhere before long, whether it takes the formation of a black players’ union – or ideally just a union where everyone supports these ideas. The only interests that would be hurt are commercial and administrative ones and, frankly, who gives a damn.
If black players are making the most compelling case for action, it is as ever the response of the majority that will dictate how this energy is disbursed.
There is a need for support at all levels, an acceptance that racism is a problem for every member of society: a block to talent and opportunity, a sore that works away at the edge of things, that infects our most vital institutions with mediocrity.
It may come into football from the world outside. But football is a part of society too. It can be better, can lead, can represent not what happens elsewhere, but what should happen. Frankly, it is just time for everyone involved to say: enough.
Tweets of the week: Mathieu van der Poel, Connor Dunne, Katie Archibald and more
Osaka, Halep, Serena y la defensora del título Svitolina lideran la lista de inscritas de Roma
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Postgame wrap: 76ers 116, Pelicans 109
Khachanov Beats Del Potro To Reach First Slam QF; Guarantees Top 10 Spot
June 3, 2019 0152
Road Warriors: Meet the guys who go over the wall for Austin Dillon
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Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market 2018 - Industry Research Report
An enterprise portal, also known as an enterprise information portal (EIP), is a framework for integrating information, people and processes across organizational boundaries in a manner similar to the more general web portals. Enterprise portals provide a secure unified access point, often in the form of a web-based user interface, and are designed to aggregate and personalize information through application-specific portlets.
One hallmark of enterprise portals is the de-centralized content contribution and content management, which keeps the information always updated. Another distinguishing characteristic is that they cater for customers, vendors and others beyond an organization's boundaries. This contrasts with a corporate portal which is structured for roles within an organization.
The enterprise portal market is getting popular day by day owing to factors such as cost-effectiveness, user-friendly environment, and implementation. It is observed that enterprises are showing interest in adopting portal and are investing more in their portal design. The rising competition among enterprises to retain customers is further fueling the market growth.
It has been observed that North America market is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR in the global enterprise portal market. Owing to fast implementation of advanced technology, well-established trade center and the rising competition among market players. The market for enterprise portals in Asia Pacific is expected to grow with the highest CAGR. The rise in the number of manufacturing & automotive industry in the region is boosting the enterprise portal market. The presence of major technology giants in the region is the major reason boosting enterprise portal market growth.
In 2017, the global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.
This report focuses on the global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) development in United States, Europe and China.
Sumerge Software Solutions
Iflexion
Teamspace
CubeServ
Doyen Solutions
To analyze global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players.
To present the Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) development in United States, Europe and China.
In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) are as follows:
1.4.1 Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2013-2025)
1.4.2 Employee Portal
1.4.3 Customer Portal
1.4.4 Supplier Portal
1.5.1 Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Application (2013-2025)
1.5.2 BFSI
1.5.3 Government
1.5.4 Healthcare
1.5.5 Retail
1.5.6 IT & Telecommunication
2.1 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size
2.2 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Growth Trends by Regions
2.2.1 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Regions (2013-2025)
2.2.2 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Regions (2013-2018)
3.1 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Manufacturers
3.1.1 Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Revenue by Manufacturers (2013-2018)
3.1.2 Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)
3.1.3 Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)
3.2 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Key Players Head office and Area Served
3.3 Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Product/Solution/Service
3.4 Date of Enter into Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market
4.1 Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type (2013-2018)
4.2 Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application (2013-2018)
5.1 United States Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size (2013-2018)
5.2 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Key Players in United States
5.3 United States Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type
5.4 United States Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application
6.1 Europe Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size (2013-2018)
6.2 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Key Players in Europe
6.3 Europe Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type
6.4 Europe Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application
7.1 China Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size (2013-2018)
7.2 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Key Players in China
7.3 China Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type
7.4 China Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application
8.1 Japan Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size (2013-2018)
8.2 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Key Players in Japan
8.3 Japan Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type
8.4 Japan Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application
9.1 Southeast Asia Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size (2013-2018)
9.2 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Key Players in Southeast Asia
9.3 Southeast Asia Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type
9.4 Southeast Asia Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application
10.1 India Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size (2013-2018)
10.2 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Key Players in India
10.3 India Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type
10.4 India Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application
11.1 Central & South America Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size (2013-2018)
11.2 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Key Players in Central & South America
11.3 Central & South America Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type
11.4 Central & South America Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application
12.1 Red Hat
12.1.1 Red Hat Company Details
12.1.3 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Introduction
12.1.4 Red Hat Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
12.1.5 Red Hat Recent Development
12.2 IBM
12.2.1 IBM Company Details
12.2.4 IBM Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
12.2.5 IBM Recent Development
12.3 Microsoft
12.3.1 Microsoft Company Details
12.3.4 Microsoft Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
12.3.5 Microsoft Recent Development
12.4 SAP
12.4.1 SAP Company Details
12.4.4 SAP Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
12.4.5 SAP Recent Development
12.5 Unicon
12.5.1 Unicon Company Details
12.5.4 Unicon Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
12.5.5 Unicon Recent Development
12.6 Sumerge Software Solutions
12.6.1 Sumerge Software Solutions Company Details
12.6.4 Sumerge Software Solutions Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
12.6.5 Sumerge Software Solutions Recent Development
12.7 Liferay
12.7.1 Liferay Company Details
12.7.4 Liferay Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
12.7.5 Liferay Recent Development
12.8 Sitecore
12.8.1 Sitecore Company Details
12.8.4 Sitecore Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
12.8.5 Sitecore Recent Development
12.9 Iflexion
12.9.1 Iflexion Company Details
12.9.4 Iflexion Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
12.9.5 Iflexion Recent Development
12.10 Tata Consultancy Services
12.10.1 Tata Consultancy Services Company Details
12.10.3 Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Introduction
12.10.4 Tata Consultancy Services Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
12.10.5 Tata Consultancy Services Recent Development
12.11 Infosys
12.12 HCL Technologies
12.13 Accenture
12.14 Teamspace
12.15 CubeServ
12.16 Doyen Solutions
Table Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Key Market Segments
Table Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Covered
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Growth Rate by Type 2013-2025 (Million US$)
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Market Share by Type 2013-2025
Figure Employee Portal Figures
Table Key Players of Employee Portal
Figure Customer Portal Figures
Table Key Players of Customer Portal
Figure Supplier Portal Figures
Table Key Players of Supplier Portal
Figure Others Figures
Table Key Players of Others
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Growth by Application 2013-2025 (Million US$)
Figure BFSI Case Studies
Figure Government Case Studies
Figure Healthcare Case Studies
Figure Retail Case Studies
Figure IT & Telecommunication Case Studies
Figure Others Case Studies
Figure Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Report Years Considered
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size 2013-2025 (Million US$)
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size and Growth Rate 2013-2025 (Million US$)
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Regions 2013-2025 (Million US$)
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Regions 2013-2018
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Regions 2013-2018
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Regions 2018
Table Market Top Trends
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Revenue by Manufacturers (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Manufacturers in 2018
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Manufacturers Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)
Table Key Players Head office and Area Served
Table Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Product/Solution/Service
Table Date of Enter into Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Share by Type (2013-2018)
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Market Share by Type (2013-2018)
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Share by Application (2013-2018)
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Market Share by Application (2013-2018)
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Revenue Market Share by Application in 2017
Figure United States Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size 2013-2018 (Million US$)
Table United States Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Revenue (2017-2018) (Million US$)
Table United States Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share (2017-2018)
Table United States Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table United States Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Type (2013-2018)
Table United States Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table United States Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Application (2013-2018)
Figure Europe Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size 2013-2018 (Million US$)
Table Europe Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Revenue (2017-2018) (Million US$)
Table Europe Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share (2017-2018)
Table Europe Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table Europe Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Type (2013-2018)
Table Europe Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table Europe Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Application (2013-2018)
Figure China Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size 2013-2018 (Million US$)
Table China Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Revenue (2017-2018) (Million US$)
Table China Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share (2017-2018)
Table China Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table China Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Type (2013-2018)
Table China Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table China Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Application (2013-2018)
Figure Japan Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size 2013-2018 (Million US$)
Table Japan Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Revenue (2017-2018) (Million US$)
Table Japan Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share (2017-2018)
Table Japan Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table Japan Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Type (2013-2018)
Table Japan Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table Japan Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Application (2013-2018)
Figure Southeast Asia Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size 2013-2018 (Million US$)
Table Southeast Asia Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Revenue (2017-2018) (Million US$)
Table Southeast Asia Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share (2017-2018)
Table Southeast Asia Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table Southeast Asia Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Type (2013-2018)
Table Southeast Asia Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table Southeast Asia Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Application (2013-2018)
Figure India Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size 2013-2018 (Million US$)
Table India Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Revenue (2017-2018) (Million US$)
Table India Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share (2017-2018)
Table India Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table India Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Type (2013-2018)
Table India Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table India Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Application (2013-2018)
Figure Central & South America Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size 2013-2018 (Million US$)
Table Central & South America Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Revenue (2017-2018) (Million US$)
Table Central & South America Key Players Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share (2017-2018)
Table Central & South America Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Type (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table Central & South America Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Type (2013-2018)
Table Central & South America Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Table Central & South America Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Share by Application (2013-2018)
Table Red Hat Company Details
Table Red Hat Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018) (Million US$)
Figure Red Hat Revenue Growth Rate in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
Table Red Hat Recent Development
Table IBM Company Details
Table IBM Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)(Million US$)
Figure IBM Revenue Growth Rate in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
Table IBM Recent Development
Table Microsoft Company Details
Table Microsoft Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)(Million US$)
Figure Microsoft Revenue Growth Rate in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
Table Microsoft Recent Development
Table SAP Company Details
Table SAP Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)(Million US$)
Figure SAP Revenue Growth Rate in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
Table SAP Recent Development
Table Unicon Company Details
Table Unicon Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)(Million US$)
Figure Unicon Revenue Growth Rate in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
Table Unicon Recent Development
Table Sumerge Software Solutions Company Details
Table Sumerge Software Solutions Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)(Million US$)
Figure Sumerge Software Solutions Revenue Growth Rate in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
Table Sumerge Software Solutions Recent Development
Table Liferay Company Details
Table Liferay Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)(Million US$)
Figure Liferay Revenue Growth Rate in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
Table Liferay Recent Development
Table Sitecore Company Details
Table Sitecore Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)(Million US$)
Figure Sitecore Revenue Growth Rate in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
Table Sitecore Recent Development
Table Iflexion Company Details
Table Iflexion Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)(Million US$)
Figure Iflexion Revenue Growth Rate in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
Table Iflexion Recent Development
Table Tata Consultancy Services Company Details
Table Tata Consultancy Services Revenue in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)(Million US$)
Figure Tata Consultancy Services Revenue Growth Rate in Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Business (2013-2018)
Table Tata Consultancy Services Recent Development
Table Infosys Company Details
Table HCL Technologies Company Details
Table Accenture Company Details
Table Teamspace Company Details
Table CubeServ Company Details
Table Doyen Solutions Company Details
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Regions (Million US$) 2018-2025
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Share by Regions (2018-2025)
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Share by Regions in 2025
Figure United States Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Forecast (2018-2025)(Million USD)
Figure Europe Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Forecast (2018-2025)(Million USD)
Figure China Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Forecast (2018-2025)(Million USD)
Figure Japan Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Forecast (2018-2025)(Million USD)
Figure Southeast Asia Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Forecast (2018-2025)(Million USD)
Figure India Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Forecast (2018-2025)(Million USD)
Figure Central & South America Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size Forecast (2018-2025)(Million USD)
Table Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Product (2018-2025) (Million US$)
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Product (2018-2025)
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Product in 2025
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application (2018-2025)
Figure Global Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) Market Size by Application in 2025
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Frozen Range
Cooked Chicken – Bone In
Raw Chicken
Chilled Range
Raw Chicken Boneless
Cooked Chicken Boneless
Delamere Retail
Delamere Chilled Range
Delamere Frozen Range
Staff are incredibly important to us, and we are often compared to being like a family – albeit it is now rather a big one...
The majority of our staff come from within a 15 mile radius, and often by word of mouth recommendation. We do employ some agency workers, but our goal is to have permanent loyal full time staff. We currently pay 60p above the minimum wage, for all starters, and we have a banding system in place, that is open and fair to reward hard work and focused commitment.
70% of office staff have been recruited from the shop floor, which is beneficial in reinforcing good relations between factory and admin support.
We have a strong middle and senior management team, who work very well together, and reinforce the positive message that working hard for a family concern, can be very rewarding. Our structure is flat, and from the very top we are hands on, and committed to our customers, the quality of our product and our integrity.
In 2017 we strengthened a number of our departments with external support (although we do try to promote from within where at all possible, growth had been so quick, that we required experienced people who would add value to the respective departments). We strengthened our Technical Team, HR Department, Hygiene Department and IT Department to name but a few.
Forresters recognize that to grow, it is important to have the very best of staff in positions of responsibility, and we truly believe this to be the case.
Alan Dilliway-Parry - Chairman
Alan established the business in 1972. He retired in 2005, but still takes an active interest in the Company that he founded.
Heidi Dilliway-Nickson - Director
Heidi joined FSL in 1996, shortly after the Company turned over its first million. Working closely with her father (MD), she assisted with shaping the very early foundations of what became the Technical Dept, HR Dept, etc. Heidi worked in sales for a few years, before moving to take on more project focused work, including packaging sourcing. In 2005, the MD retired, leaving Heidi to take on a more Commercial/Financial decision making role.
Angus Dilliway-Parry - R&D and Operations Director
Angus brought his engineer degree knowledge to Forresters in 2000. He has been instrumental in designing, building or sourcing all the machinery and fabrication used on site today. He has worked closely with suppliers to forge excellent relationships, and loves nothing better than inventing novel unconventional methods to make his factory and machinery work even better.
Tim Diggle - Sales Director
Tim joined Forresters in 1994. Initially working in Sales, as the Company grew he also took responsibility for buying of all raw material. As a reflection of his time within the industry, he is well know with extensive knowledge and strong relationships with customers and suppliers alike. He has a rightly deserved reputation for integrity, straight talking and fairness.
John Acornley - Finance Manager
John joined us in 2014. He has been instrumental in transforming the Finance Department through his quiet competent manner. John has also overseen the smooth implementation of software into the factory that has revolutionized our access to immediate robust traceability and costing information.
Paul Mitchell - Sales Manager
Paul started at Forresters working in the Warehouse Dept in 1997. He briefly acted as Transport manager, before finding his niche in Sales. He now manages the Sales Department, with particular emphasis in trading cooked and raw traded product to foodservice and wholesalers.
Jenny Bailey - Retail Account Manager & NPD
Jenny joined in 2011. Fresh out of college she cut her teeth learning the ropes in the Sales and Admin department. IN 2017 she was promoted to Retail Account and NPD Manager, and has flourished in the role as she concentrates on category analysis, GAP analysis etc on behalf of our retail customers.
Dwayne Chin - Head of Technical
Dwayne is our most recent recruit, arriving in 2017 from a six year stint as a BRC Auditor. He did work at Forresters 8 years previously, and we are thrilled that he has agreed to return, bringing with him a wealth of industry knowledge and best practice.
Sam Massey - Technical Manager
Sam joined Forresters in 2010, and is responsible for setting up a robust and thriving Technical department. Sam has a wealth of system knowledge, and has developed an enthusiastic team with extensive production experience too.
Nick Cooper - General Manager
Nick joined Forresters in 2009. Initially as Product Quality Assurance Manager, he very quickly demonstrated his leaderships skills, and was promoted to Production Manager shortly afterwards. He is responsible for the very positive vibe that is felt throughout the factory, and we feel very fortunate to have him on board.. He manages to “Manage” in a way that is firm but supportive, and his staff are always prepared to go the extra mile for him.
Michelle Leballeur - Human Resources Manager
Michelle joined in 2017, and was tasked with the responsibility of putting in procedures befitting a company with 250+ employees. Rose Hilditch who previously had sole responsibility for matters of Personnel now has more time to devote to payroll/attendance issues. Michelle also heads up Health & Safety and GDPR responsibilities
Olly Hill - Factory Programmer
Originally spotted by Nick on the shop floor, Olly is a true example of how easy it is to progress at Forresters if you show the right attitude and commitment. His comprehensive grasp of Forresters internal workings, as he moved up the various supervisor grades, has placed him in an excellent position to programme daily factory production.
Bev Tonks - Shop Manager
Bev joined Forresters in 2011. Her bright bubbly personality radiates from our onsite shop. Together with her friendly team (Hayley, Jane & Tiegan), they welcome the public on a daily basis.
FORRESTERS EMPLOYS
OVER 250 STAFF
A majority of staff live within a 10 mile radius. We are proud of the dedication and commitment shown by many of our staff, (over 60 staff having worked for the company in excess of 10 years). The majority of our managers and office staff have worked their way up from within the production halls, and it is our company philosophy to actively encourage internal promotions.
We use cookies to deliver you the best experience. By browsing our website you agree to our use of cookies. [bp_link url="/"]Learn More[/bp_link]
Quality & Commitment
Forrester Sales Ltd
Mill Lane
info@forresterschicken.co.uk
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Visit our facebook page to view our latest offers
© 2017 Forresters Chicken. All Rights Reserved.
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Berkeley Hawaiian Music Festival
Kawika Kahiapo, Mailani Makainai, Project Kuleana (Ho'a)
Friday, October 2, 2015, 8:00 pm (doors open at 7:00pm)
$38 adv / $42 door
Love the sound of slack key guitar? Can't get enough of the ukulele? Enjoy Hawaiian bands and hula dancers? No matter what your pleasure, you'll find it at the 4th Annual Berkeley Hawaiian Music Festival, hosted by Patrick Landeza.
Kawika Kahiapo is a legend in the making. Growing up in Kane’ohe on the windward side of Oahu, he learned slack key from the great man himself, Gabby Pahinui. In the decades since then, Kawika has contributed to more than 90 recording projects and has collaborated with Jack Johnson, Na Leo Pilimehana, and Cyril Pahinui. His 2015 release, Ku`u Aina Aloha, won two Na Hoku Hanohano awards (the Hawaiian equivalent of the Grammy), Slack Key Album of the Year and Island Music Album of the Year. Kawika currently lives in Waimanalo, Oahu, where he serves as an ordained minister, or kahu.
Mailani Makainai is one of Hawaii’s great talents, winning Na Hoku Hanohano awards for her debut album in 2001 with the pop duo Keahiwai, formed with a classmate from Maryknoll High School in Honolulu, and as Female Vocalist of the Year in 2010 following the release of her first solo album. Independent, sophisticated, modern, and timeless, Mailani conveys her love of music with every note she sings. Kumu Kaui Dalire, Miss Aloha Hula 1992, will make a special guest appearance. She and Mailani co-founded Ha Enterprises, a culturally based Hawaiian company that seeks to preserve and perpetuate the spirit of aloha, and breathe life into Hawaii's industries.
Project Kuleana is the creation of three Native Hawaiians, Sean Naleimaile, Kihei Nahale’a, and Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing, who share the belief that kuleana (responsibility) is the essence of Hawaiian music – kuleana to the ‘aina (land) and to the ancestors who developed their own powerful connection to the land. Project Kuleana uses Hawaiian music to inspire reflection and connection – what is your kuleana? Sean, Kihei, and Kamakoa call their band Ho'a. With over half a million YouTube views, their live location video recordings of Hawaiiʻs top musicians have made them a sensation. This evening, theyʻll share music, stories, and videos that honor the importance of kuleana. We welcome them to the mainland for the first time!
Freight favorite Patrick Landeza, Hawaiian slack key guitarist extraordinaire, is the first musician based on the mainland to win the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Slack Key Album of the Year. Born and raised in Berkeley to Hawaii-born parents, Patrick studied slack key from masters like George Kuo, Ray Kane, and Sonny Chillingworth. Patrick is not only one of the top slack key performers in the world, he is also a musical bridge between Hawaii and California – he plays, in his words, “traditional Hawaiian music with a Berkeley twist.”
visit the festival page for more information and 2-day passes
visit the Kawika Kahiapo website
visit the Mailani Makainai website
visit the Project Kuleana website
visit the Patrick Landeza website
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Fund My Mutual Fund
Economic Forecast / Track Record
FT.com: US Public Pensions Face $2 Trillion Deficit
Posted by Mark at 10:00 AM TweetThis
Much like we were early citing the coming fiscal disaster that are state budgets [Dec 16, 2007: California in a State of Fiscal Emergency - Coming to a Theater Near You] so will be early to the disaster that is the US public pension system. As we clearly now see, there is no political will to make hard decisions that alienate any of the potential voting public. So, much like the state (and city) budget crisis, I expect the nation to continue to kick the can, doling out pensions we cannot afford to the public worker - until we run into a wall at 180 mph. And then your grandchildren will be asked to foot the bill "in the public interest" or "to keep the system stable" or "this is what we promised". And when the bill for Medicare comes due sometime later in the decade - perhaps when it starts eating up 20%+ of all US GDP - we'll hear the same thing. At some point there will be no extra sources to borrow from, so Federal Reserve Chief Geithner? Summers? will be printing new US pesos at a rate that makes Ben Bernanke's quantitative easing look like child's play. It's all the same pattern - played over and over, just in different future liability accounts.
But for today, let us focus on the public pension issue - one of the many reasons it's in the "national interest" to make sure the stock market goes in the "right direction". We've already used up almost every accounting trick known to man to obfuscate the problem. Just this weekend in the Wall Street Journal, we have Illinois:
Illinois routinely covers those gaps with short-term measures, putting off bills and paying less than is recommended into the state's pension fund. The pension plan has unfunded liabilities of nearly $80 billion -- among the worst in the nation, with no solution in place for catching up.
I know you scoff at $80 billion now because you've become numb to large numbers after the epic bailouts of the past few years but just over a decade ago, the Federal Reserve arranged a bailout of the hedge fund Long Term Capital Management because it posed a threat to the global financial system.... for under $5 billion. That's how extraordinary these $200, $300B bailouts are - and people have become immune to the numbers. So Illinois alone (1 state) is talking $80B... and growing.
So after the accounting tricks, the next step will be for states to issue new debt to pay for these obligations (akin to paying off 1 credit card with new borrowings on a 2nd credit card) This is already happening.
Messrs. Quinn and Hynes said spending decisions by past governors left the state in a deep hole that the recession made deeper. In 2003, for example, Illinois under then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich sold $10 billion in 30-year bonds to cover two years' worth of payments to the pension fund. The proceeds from the bond sale went into an investment portfolio that included stocks; the expected profits haven't materialized, leaving Illinois far behind
And then "some day" when that charade ends, out will come the hands to the federal government (i.e. your grandchildren). This is what is currently happening for state budgets under the guise of "stimulus". It's already so obvious we can spot it years ahead of time, but as with all things American - we will stick our head firmly under the sand and "see no evil, hear no evil" is the order of the day.
That is but one state... we looked at the entire country in a story not even a year ago, and Bloomberg pegged the potential bailout at $1 Trillion. [Mar 4, 2009: Bloomberg - Hidden Pension Fiasco May Foment Another $1 Trillion Bailout] The latest FT.com story, using figures by New Jersey's pension fund chairman, says to think $2 Trillion. The states, if private corporations, would of went bankrupt long ago and shed these financial promises they simply cannot make. But since they are public entities - instead we shall go down the long and winding path outlined above. The tax obligations on the American people - which in this specific case is simply a transfer of monies from the general citizenry to the public worker so he/she can retire early with benefits available to almost no one in the private sector below C-level executive - shall be enormous. The (ahem) partial "solution" (I don't believe "new taxes" will pay for it all) will be further loss of purchasing power (living standard) when the Fed has to continuously print money to bail out the system in the coming 2 decades. As frightening as the public pension figures are - Medicare liabilities in the decade ahead will make it look like peanuts.
But for now... as good citizens of the modern Roman Empire we "party on dude". Everything is fine... Uncle Ben made all our problems go away, and our head is firmly under the sand... who has some stock for me to buy? After all the best solution to massive unfunded pension liabilities is for the government the free market to help get stock prices up! Kill a few birds with 1 Plunge Protection Team stone.
The US public pension system faces a higher-than-expected shortfall of more than $2,000bn that will increase pressure on many states’ strained finances and crimp economic growth, according to the chairman of New Jersey’s pension fund.
The estimate by Orin Kramer will fuel investors’ concerns over the deteriorating financial health of US states after the recession. “State and local governments are correctly perceived to be in serious difficulty,” Mr Kramer told the Financial Times. “If you factor in the reality of these unfunded promises, their deficits will rise exponentially.”
Estimates of aggregate funding requirement of the US pension system have ranged between $400bn and $500bn, but Mr Kramer’s analysis concluded that public funds would need to find more than $2,000bn to meet future pension obligations.
A shortfall of that size could force state governments to take unpalatable decisions such as pouring more public money into their funds or reducing pension benefits. State and local governments have already cut spending to close budget deficits.
Mr Kramer, chairman of New Jersey’s investment council and also a senior partner at the hedge fund Boston Provident, warned that outdated accounting models and unrealistic expectations of future returns had led states to underestimate their pension requirements. (something we've argued in multiple blog pieces - but remember, in America, if you are unhappy with the math, just change the accounting. The national accounting board - under political pressure - did it for the banks early in 2009 and it's been smooth sailing since then. Magically, almost all our banking problems went away once you said what is on the balance sheet is not what it used to be, but in fact something much higher in value via new accounting.)
Oh and look at this - the "mark to model" (i.e. myth) rather than "mark to market" accounting that was newly introduced to the banks in early 2009, is a hallmark of the pension funds. No wonder the obligations have been vastly understated.
Public pension funds do not use mark-to-market accounting, relying instead on actuarial numbers that average out value of assets and liabilities over a number of years – a process known as “smoothing”. Mr Kramer’s analysis used the market value of the assets and liabilities of the top 25 public pension funds at the end of the year.
In English this is the equivalent of saying my house is worth $325,000 due to the actuarial table... even if it would only fetch $190,000 if I had to sell it on the open market. So the pension funds hold the asset at $325,000 and presto magic, our assets are inflated - and shortfalls appear much smaller than reality. Remember, put your head under the sand and it all works out in the end.
“The accounting treatment of public retirement plans is the political leper colony of government accounting. It is a no-go zone,” he said.
And so the surreal life of "everything is fine, just trust us" continues. Back to the Matrix.
[Aug 11, 2009: LA Times - Amid Cost Cutting, Los Angeles City Pensions Continue to Soar]
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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine
Plastic in Paradise Part II: Microplastics
Colorful, tiny and abundant, microplastics enter the marine system as fragments, film, fiber and microbeads and may stay in the ocean for thousands of years. (Photo courtesy University of Florida IFAS Extension, Florida Microplastic Awareness Project)
It may be in the oysters we eat, the water we drink and in the air we breathe. There’s no magic way of getting rid of it. And, it seems the Gulf of Mexico’s most pervasive plastic pollutant may be literally on our backs.
By Janice Van Dyke Walden
For years, scientists have reported on the extent of plastic pollution in far-off places of the world. But a new effort is revealing just how extensive “plastic soup” is in the Gulf of Mexico. In the first citizen-scientist effort to document the extent of microplastic pollution in the Gulf of Mexico, volunteers and scientists are finding that these permanent fragments are in nearly every sample they take.
The low-level collection method of dipping one-liter water bottles and collecting sediment in one-gallon bags is also showing that microplastics are just as extensive in urban areas as they are in remote locations of the Gulf.
Plastic fibers float in a sample collected in Galveston. Photo courtesy Turtle Island Restoration Network, Galveston.
Microscopic trash
Most microplastics are created when sunlight or wave action breaks down larger pieces of plastic debris into tiny, even microscopic bits. Colorful and abundant, they enter the marine system as fragments, film, fiber and microbeads. Lifted in the air, washed from our landfills, or drained from our sinks and washing machines, they end up in our oceans for thousands of years where marine life ingest or adhere to it.
Through a microscope, Theresa Morris has observed baby shells living among microplastics and algae living in Styrofoam. As a citizen-scientist coordinator based in Galveston with the Turtle Island Restoration Network, she’s one of the scientists involved in creating a more complete picture about the extent of microplastics in the Gulf of Mexico. “The research is so new, we don’t know how bad it is,” she admits. Although Morris and volunteers have analyzed just a few samples on Galveston’s beach, she’s convinced that more investigation needs to be done with funding behind it. Each sample she’s examined contains some form of microplastic.
In the course of her PhD thesis, Caitlin Wessel has seen microplastics in hundreds of samples she’s collected, from the Texas-Mexico border to the Florida Keys. As she finishes her doctorate, Wessel works as the Gulf of Mexico Regional Coordinator for NOAA’s Marine Debris Program based in Mobile, Alabama. Her two years of degree work collecting samples from water, beach sand and coastal shelf material show just how prevalent tiny bits of plastic are, even in the most unlikely locations.
Wessel got curious about microplastics four years ago during a moment offshore Louisiana. While helping a fellow grad student off Louisiana’s uninhabited Chandeleur Islands, Wessel found herself picking bits of plastic out of seagrass cores. It’s not what she expected to find 30 miles offshore at the nation’s second oldest National Wildlife Refuge. “That got me thinking,” Wessel recalls. “This is supposed to be a pristine habitat, but there’s all this trash out here.”
Volunteers dipping one-liter bottles are finding microplastics in the most remote locations of the Gulf Coast. (Photo courtesy University of Florida IFAS Extension, Florida Microplastic Awareness Project)
Fiber, fiber everywhere
Around that same time, Dr. Maia Patterson McGuire started wondering if microbeads were present in the ecosystem she works in. Found in toothpaste and exfoliate healthcare products, the tiny beads of plastic rinse off, go down the drain and into the stream chain. Because they are so tiny, most wastewater treatment facilities pass microbeads. When McGuire, a University of Florida Marine Biologist, began her citizen-science investigation in 2015, there was no law forbidding the production of microbeads, and not very much was known about their impact on marine life. With a grant from NOAA, McGuire trained and equipped 16 partner organizations that organized 130 volunteers to collect water samples along the entire coast of Florida. McGuire was looking for the tiny microbeads. Instead, she found a different, more prevalent plastic: plasticized fiber, the kind used in synthetic clothing and other products.
“It could be nylon, it could be acrylic, it could be polyester, it could be the plant-based plastics like rayon or a polymer that is made from cellulose, but still a plasticized product,” says McGuire. Without access to more precise equipment, “we can’t tell just what kind of fiber it is,” she says. But what she does know is that the fiber is manmade, it’s widespread, and it’s not going away. “There seems to be an equal-opportunity of finding plastics in water samples regardless of where they are collected.”
Erik Sparks agrees. At Mississippi State University, he is the collection point for all the samples taken in this citizen-scientist project. Working with Morris, Wessel, McGuire and other partners along the Gulf Coast, he’s seen the results of hundreds of samples, from Corpus Christi, Texas to the Florida Keys. In the two years of data reporting, Sparks is finding that “at least 90% of the microplastics have been fibers. By far, the most abundant microplastics are microfibers that come off of polyester clothing.”
Clothe the world
With only so much land on earth to produce cotton and wool, polyester fiber is filling the gap, clothing a world population expected to exceed 9 billion people by 2050. As the population soars, so does polyester production. In the last 20 years, polyester production increased five times to 50 million tons per year. In the next 8 years, it’s expected to nearly double to an all time high.
Fibers in bivalves
That’s not good news for the Gulf of Mexico where oysters and other bivalves live and ingest the “plastic soup”. When they filter microplastic-infused water, plastic can stay lodged in bivalve tissue. No one knows for how long. Of the oysters that Caitlin Wessel found in Mobile Bay, 25% contained 3 to 5 bits of microplastic. Beyond its disturbing presence in tissue, microplastics are also known to interfere with the reproductive and offspring performance of oysters. A study published by the National Academy of Sciences in March 2016 explains that Pacific oysters exposed for two months to polystyrene microspheres (micro-PS) experienced decreases in diameter, oocyte number and sperm velocity.
And, microplastics’ adverse interaction is not limited to oysters. It appears to affect all levels of aquatic life. A 2017 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shows that in lab results dating to 1991, aquatic organisms experienced at least one impact through interaction with microplastics. The impacts range up the aquatic food chain from adherence in algae to liver toxicity in fish.
That kind of exposure may affect humans. “As plastics break down, they leach toxins that are very bad for you,” says Morris, “Like PBCs. They’re carcinogenic. They cause mutations in fetuses. They also cause a lot of physiological complications in your endocrine system. Fish eat them, and so, when you eat fish,” she explains, “you are eating meat that has had these plastic toxins leached into the meat. The research is so new; we don’t know if this is what is causing people to come down with cancer.”
Given the recent spotlight on microplastics in the media, there’s still no ceasing the trend of more people on earth. So, the demand for plastic will be there where natural resources are spare. Which means, microplastics will be in the Gulf of Mexico a long, long time. “There’s no feasible way to remove microplastics from the water without basically removing every piece of life from the water,” says McGuire. And, if that were to happen, we’d no longer have an ocean.
McGuire used her citizen-scientist investigation to form the Florida Microplastic Awareness Project. Each volunteer takes a pledge. You can, too.
Read labels on personal care products and avoid those that contain polyethylene.
Use paper or re-useable shopping bags.
Avoid using plastic drinking straws.
Bringing your own water bottle or drinking cup instead of buying single-use plastic beverage bottles.
Instead of Styrofoam, bring your own washable hot drink cup.
Use foil or a washable container as a to-go box.
Recycle as many plastic items as possible.
Instead of nylon, acrylic and polyester, choose more natural fabrics.
Find it at www.plasticaware.org.
Posted on Monday, January 1st, 2018 at 12:04 am | Category Articles, Environment | Tags: microplastic pollution, microplastic trash, plastic pollution| Comment |
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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2016;87:1127-1132 doi:10.1136/jnnp-2016-313458
Randomised clinical trial comparing melatonin 3 mg, amitriptyline 25 mg and placebo for migraine prevention
Andre Leite Gonçalves1,2, Adriana Martini Ferreira1, Reinaldo Teixeira Ribeiro2,3, Eliova Zukerman1, José Cipolla-Neto4, Mario Fernando Prieto Peres1
+ Author Affiliations:1Albert Einstein Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil ,2Department of Neurology, UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil ,3Neurology Department, FMABC, Santo Andre, Brazil ,4Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Received 2 March 2016 ,Revised 5 April 2016 ,Accepted 21 April 2016 ,Published Online First 10 May 2016
Introduction Melatonin has been studied in headache disorders. Amitriptyline is efficacious for migraine prevention, but its unfavourable side effect profile limits its use.
Methods A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out. Men and women, aged 18–65 years, with migraine with or without aura, experiencing 2–8 attacks per month, were enrolled. After a 4-week baseline phase, 196 participants were randomised to placebo, amitriptyline 25 mg or melatonin 3 mg, and 178 took a study medication and were followed for 3 months (12 weeks). The primary outcome was the number of migraine headache days per month at baseline versus last month. Secondary end points were responder rate, migraine intensity, duration and analgesic use. Tolerability was also compared between groups.
Results Mean headache frequency reduction was 2.7 migraine headache days in the melatonin group, 2.2 for amitriptyline and 1.1 for placebo. Melatonin significantly reduced headache frequency compared with placebo (p=0.009), but not to amitriptyline (p=0.19). Melatonin was superior to amitriptyline in the percentage of patients with a greater than 50% reduction in migraine frequency. Melatonin was better tolerated than amitriptyline. Weight loss was found in the melatonin group, a slight weight gain in placebo and significantly for amitriptyline users.
Conclusions Melatonin 3 mg is better than placebo for migraine prevention, more tolerable than amitriptyline and as effective as amitriptyline 25 mg.
This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Use of Plant-Based Therapies and Menopausal Symptoms - A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisOscar H. Franco, MD, PhD1; Rajiv Chowdhury, MD, PhD2; Jenna Troup, MSc1; et al Trudy Voortman, PhD1,3; Setor Kunutsor, MD, PhD2; Maryam Kavousi, MD, PhD1; Clare Oliver-Williams, PhD2; Taulant Muka, MD, PhD1,3
Article Information1Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
3Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
Copyright 2016 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use.
JAMA. 2016;315(23):2554-2563. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.8012 editorial comment icon
Importance Between 40% and 50% of women in Western countries use complementary therapies to manage menopausal symptoms.
Objective To determine the association of plant-based therapies with menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.
Data Sources The electronic databases Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central were systematically searched to identify eligible studies published before March 27, 2016. Reference lists of the included studies were searched for further identification of relevant studies.
Study Selection Randomized clinical trials that assessed plant-based therapies and the presence of hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.
Data Extraction Data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers using a predesigned data collection form.
Main Outcomes and Measures Hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.
Results In total, 62 studies were identified, including 6653 individual women. Use of phytoestrogens was associated with a decrease in the number of daily hot flashes (pooled mean difference of changes, −1.31 [95% CI, −2.02 to −0.61]) and vaginal dryness score (pooled mean difference of changes, −0.31 [95% CI, −0.52 to −0.10]) between the treatment groups but not in the number of night sweats (pooled mean difference of changes, −2.14 [95% CI, −5.57 to 1.29]). Individual phytoestrogen interventions such as dietary and supplemental soy isoflavones were associated with improvement in daily hot flashes (pooled mean difference of changes, −0.79 [−1.35 to −0.23]) and vaginal dryness score (pooled mean difference of changes, −0.26 [−0.48 to −0.04]). Several herbal remedies, but not Chinese medicinal herbs, were associated with an overall decrease in the frequency of vasomotor symptoms. There was substantial heterogeneity in quality across the available studies, and 46 (74%) of the included randomized clinical trials demonstrated a high risk of bias within 3 or more areas of study quality.
Conclusions and Relevance This meta-analysis of clinical trials suggests that composite and specific phytoestrogen supplementations were associated with modest reductions in the frequency of hot flashes and vaginal dryness but no significant reduction in night sweats. However, because of general suboptimal quality and the heterogeneous nature of the current evidence, further rigorous studies are needed to determine the association of plant-based and natural therapies with menopausal health.
Nature Genetics | Letter
Elevated basal serum tryptase identifies a multisystem disorder associated with increased TPSAB1 copy number
Jonathan J Lyons,1,Xiaomin Yu,1,Jason D Hughes,2,Quang T Le,3,Ali Jamil,1, Yun Bai,1, Nancy Ho,4, Ming Zhao,5, Yihui Liu,1, Michael P O'Connell,1, Neil N Trivedi,6, 7, ,1,
Thomas DiMaggio,1, Nina Jones,8, Helen Matthews,9, Katie L Lewis,10, Andrew J Oler,11, Ryan J Carlson,1, Peter D Arkwright,12, Celine Hong,10, Sherene Agama,1, Todd M Wilson,1, Sofie Tucker,1, Yu Zhang,13,Joshua J McElwee,2, Maryland Pao,14,
Sarah C Glover,15,Marc E Rothenberg,16,Robert J Hohman,5,Kelly D Stone,1,
George H Caughey,6, 7,Theo Heller,4,Dean D Metcalfe,1,Leslie G Biesecker,10,
Lawrence B Schwartz3,& Joshua D Milner1,et al.
Nature Genetics:Year published:(2016) DOI:
doi:10.1038/ng.3696
Received 26 July 2016 Accepted 16 September 2016 Published online 17 October 2016
Elevated basal serum tryptase levels are present in 4–6% of the general population, but the cause and relevance of such increases are unknown1, 2. Previously, we described subjects with dominantly inherited elevated basal serum tryptase levels associated with multisystem complaints including cutaneous flushing and pruritus, dysautonomia, functional gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic pain, and connective tissue abnormalities, including joint hypermobility. Here we report the identification of germline duplications and triplications in the TPSAB1 gene encoding α-tryptase that segregate with inherited increases in basal serum tryptase levels in 35 families presenting with associated multisystem complaints. Individuals harboring alleles encoding three copies of α-tryptase had higher basal serum levels of tryptase and were more symptomatic than those with alleles encoding two copies, suggesting a gene-dose effect. Further, we found in two additional cohorts (172 individuals) that elevated basal serum tryptase levels were exclusively associated with duplication of α-tryptase–encoding sequence in TPSAB1, and affected individuals reported symptom complexes seen in our initial familial cohort. Thus, our findings link duplications in TPSAB1 with irritable bowel syndrome, cutaneous complaints, connective tissue abnormalities, and dysautonomia.
Mortality In Patients With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Stephanie L. McManimen, Andrew R. Devendorf, Abigail A. Brown, Billie C. Moore, James H. Moore, & Leonard A. Jason
Center for Community Research, DePaul University
Abstract Background: There is a dearth of research examining mortality in individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Some studies suggest there is an elevated risk of suicide and earlier mortality compared to national norms. However, findings are inconsistent as other researchers have not found significant increases in all-cause mortality for patients.
Objective: This study sought to determine if patients with ME or CFS are reportedly dying earlier than the overall population from the same cause.
Methods: Family, friends, and caregivers of deceased individuals with ME or CFS were recruited through social media, patient newsletters, emails, and advocate websites. This study analyzed data including cause and age of death for 56 individuals that had ME or CFS.
Results: The findings suggest patients in this sample are at a significantly increased risk of earlier all-cause (M = 55.9 years) and cardiovascular-related (M = 58.8 years) mortality, and they had a directionally lower mean age of death for suicide (M = 41.3 years) and cancer (M =66.3 years) compared to the overall U.S. population [M = 73.5 (all-cause), 77.7 (cardiovascular), 47.4 (suicide), and 71.1 (cancer) years of age].
Conclusions: The results suggest there is an increase in risk for earlier mortality in patients with ME and CFS. Due to the small sample size, the findings should be replicated to determine if the directional differences for suicide and cancer mortality are significantly different from the overall U.S. population.
Source: http://bit.ly/2dYeqi1
Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Phase III Trial of Duloxetine Monotherapy in Japanese Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain
Shinichi Konno, MD, PhD; Natsuko Oda, MS; Toshimitsu Ochiai, MS; Levent Alev, MD
Spine. 2016;41(22):1709-1717.
Study Design. A 14-week, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled study of Japanese patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) who were randomized to either duloxetine 60 mg once daily or placebo.
Objective. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of duloxetine monotherapy in Japanese patients with CLBP.
Summary of Background Data. In Japan, duloxetine is approved for the treatment of depression, diabetic neuropathic pain, and pain associated with fibromyalgia; however, no clinical study of duloxetine has been conducted for CLBP.
Methods. The primary efficacy measure was the change in the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain score from baseline to Week 14. Secondary efficacy measures included BPI pain (worst pain, least pain, pain right now), Patient's Global Impression of Improvement, Clinical Global Impressions of Severity, and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, among other measures, and safety and tolerability.
Results. In total, 458 patients were randomized to receive either duloxetine (n = 232) or placebo (n = 226). The BPI average pain score improved significantly in the duloxetine group compared with that in the placebo group at Week 14 [-2.43 ± 0.11 vs. −1.96 ± 0.11, respectively; between-group difference (95% confidence interval), − 0.46 [-0.77 to-0.16]; P = 0.0026]. The duloxetine group showed significant improvement in many secondary measures compared with the placebo group, including BPI pain (least pain, pain right now) (between-group difference: −1.69 ± 0.10, P = 0.0009; −2.42 ± 0.12, P P = 0.0230, respectively), Patient's Global Impression of Improvement (2.46 ± 0.07, P = 0.0026), Clinical Global Impressions of Severity (-1.46 ± 0.06, P = 0.0019), and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (-3.86 ± 0.22, P = 0.0439). Adverse events occurring at a significantly higher incidence in the duloxetine group were somnolence, constipation, nausea, dizziness, and dry mouth, most of which were mild or moderate in severity and were resolved or improved.
Conclusion. Duloxetine 60 mg was effective and well tolerated in Japanese CLBP patients.
Most patients who reach disease remission following anti-TNF therapy continue to report fatigue: results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Katie L. Druce -
Musculoskeletal Research Collaboration (Epidemiology Group), Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK
Yagnaseni Bhattacharya -
Gareth T. Jones -
Gary J. Macfarlane -
Neil Basu
Rheumatology (Oxford) (2016) 55 (10): 1786-1790.
https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kew241
Published: 21 June 2016Navbar
Objectives. RA-related fatigue is common and debilitating, but does not always respond to immunotherapy. In the context of anti-TNF therapy, we aimed to examine whether patients achieving disease remission experienced remission of fatigue.
Methods. Data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for RA were used. In participants with severe baseline fatigue [36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) vitality score ⩽12.5], we identified those in disease remission [28-joint DAS (DAS28) <2.6] by 6 months. Fatigue response was evaluated according to partial (SF-36 vitality score >12.5) and complete remission (SF-36 vitality score >50) at follow-up. Demographic (e.g. sex, age), clinical (e.g. inflammation, joint erosion and co-morbidities) and psychosocial (e.g. SF-36 domains and HAQ) characteristics were compared between responder and non-responder groups.
Results. Severe baseline fatigue was reported by 2652 participants, of whom 271 (10%) achieved a DAS28 <2.6 by 6 months. In total, 225 participants (83%) reported partial remission and were distinguished from those who did not by better health status on all psychosocial domains. Far fewer [n = 101 (37.3%)] reported full fatigue remission. In addition to reporting clinically poorer health status, they were distinguished on the basis of a history of hypertension, depression and stroke as well as baseline treatment use of steroids and antidepressants.
Conclusion. Despite achieving clinical remission, many RA patients do not achieve complete remission of their fatigue. Therefore, despite being important in overall disease control, reductions in disease activity are not always sufficient to ameliorate fatigue, so other symptom-specific management approaches must be considered for those for whom fatigue does not resolve.
fatigue, disease activity, remission
Metabolic profiling indicates impaired pyruvate dehydrogenase function in myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome
Øystein Fluge,1 Olav Mella,1,2 Ove Bruland,1,3 Kristin Risa,1 Sissel E. Dyrstad,4 Kine Alme,1 Ingrid G. Rekeland,1 Dipak Sapkota,1 Gro V. Røsland,4 Alexander Fosså,5 Irini Ktoridou-Valen,1 Sigrid Lunde,1 Kari Sørland,1 Katarina Lien,6 Ingrid Herder,6 Hanne Thürmer,7 Merete E. Gotaas,8 Katarzyna A. Baranowska,8 Louis M.L.J. Bohnen,9Christoph Schäfer,9 Adrian McCann,10 Kristian Sommerfelt,11 Lars Helgeland,12 Per M. Ueland,2,10 Olav Dahl,1,2 and Karl J. Tronstad4
First published December 22, 2016 -
Myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease of unknown etiology, with hallmark symptoms including postexertional malaise and poor recovery. Metabolic dysfunction is a plausible contributing factor. We hypothesized that changes in serum amino acids may disclose specific defects in energy metabolism in ME/CFS. Analysis in 200 ME/CFS patients and 102 healthy individuals showed a specific reduction of amino acids that fuel oxidative metabolism via the TCA cycle, mainly in female ME/CFS patients. Serum 3-methylhistidine, a marker of endogenous protein catabolism, was significantly increased in male patients. The amino acid pattern suggested functional impairment of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), supported by increased mRNA expression of the inhibitory PDH kinases 1, 2, and 4; sirtuin 4; and PPARδ in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from both sexes. Myoblasts grown in presence of serum from patients with severe ME/CFS showed metabolic adaptations, including increased mitochondrial respiration and excessive lactate secretion. The amino acid changes could not be explained by symptom severity, disease duration, age, BMI, or physical activity level among patients. These findings are in agreement with the clinical disease presentation of ME/CFS, with inadequate ATP generation by oxidative phosphorylation and excessive lactate generation upon exertion.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH |Ann Intern Med. Published online March 7, 2017.
Cytokine Inhibition in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Trial
Megan E. Roerink, MD; Sebastian J.H. Bredie, MD, PhD; Michael Heijnen; Charles A. Dinarello, MD; Hans Knoop, PhD; Jos W.M. Van der Meer, MD, PhD
Interleukin-1 (IL-1), an important proinflammatory cytokine, is suspected to play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
To evaluate the effect of subcutaneous anakinra versus placebo on fatigue severity in female patients with CFS.
Randomized, placebo-controlled trial from July 2014 to May 2016. Patients, providers, and researchers were blinded to treatment assignment. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02108210) Setting:University hospital in the Netherlands.
Patients:
50 women aged 18 to 59 years with CFS and severe fatigue leading to functional impairment.
Participants were randomly assigned to daily subcutaneous anakinra, 100 mg (n = 25), or placebo (n = 25) for 4 weeks and were followed for an additional 20 weeks after treatment (n = 50).
The primary outcome was fatigue severity, measured by the Checklist Individual Strength subscale (CIS-fatigue) at 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes were level of impairment, physical and social functioning, psychological distress, and pain severity at 4 nd 24 weeks.
At 4 weeks, 8% (2 of 25) of anakinra recipients and 20% (5 of 25) of placebo recipients reached a fatigue level within the range reported by healthy persons. There were no clinically important or statistically significant differences between groups in CIS-fatigue score at 4 weeks (mean difference, 1.5 points [95% CI, −4.1 to 7.2 points]) or the end of follow-up. No statistically significant between-group differences were seen for any secondary outcome at 4 weeks or the end of follow-up. One patient in the anakinra group discontinued treatment because of an adverse event. Patients in the anakinra group had more injection site reactions (68% [17 of 25] vs. 4% [1 of 25]).
Small sample size and wide variability in symptom duration; inclusion was not limited to patients with postinfectious symptoms.
Peripheral IL-1 inhibition using anakinra for 4 weeks does not result in a clinically significant reduction in fatigue severity in women with CFS and severe fatigue.
Sex Differences in Microglia Activity within the Periaqueductal Gray of the Rat: A Potential Mechanism Driving the Dimorphic Effects of MorphineH.H. Doyle, L.N. Eidson, D.M. Sinkiewicz and A.Z. Murphy
Journal of Neuroscience 20 February 2017, 2906-16; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2906-16.2017
AbstractAlthough morphine remains the primary drug prescribed for alleviation of severe or persistent pain, both preclinical and clinical studies have shown that females require 2-3 times more morphine than males to produce comparable levels of analgesia. In addition to binding to the neuronal μ opioid receptor (MOR), morphine binds to the innate immune receptor toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) localized primarily on microglia. Morphine action at TLR4 initiates a neuroinflammatory response that directly opposes the analgesic effects of morphine. Here we test the hypothesis that the attenuated response to morphine observed in females is the result of increased microglia activation in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), a central locus mediating the antinociceptive effects of morphine. We report that while no overall sex differences in the density of microglia were noted within the PAG of male or female rats, microglia exhibited a more “activated” phenotype in females at baseline, with the degree of activation a significant predictor of morphine ED50 values. Priming microglia with LPS induced greater microglia activation in the PAG of females compared with males that was accompanied by increased transcription levels of IL-1ß and a significant rightward shift in the morphine dose response curve. Blockade of morphine binding to PAG TLR4 with (+)-naloxone significantly potentiated morphine antinociception in females such that no sex differences in ED50 were observed. These results demonstrate that PAG microglia are sexually dimorphic in both basal and LPS-induced activation, and contribute to the sexually dimorphic effects of morphine in the rat.
SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT
We demonstrate that PAG microglia contribute to the sexually dimorphic effects of morphine. Specifically, we report that increased activation of microglia in the PAG contributes to the attenuated response to morphine observed in females. Our data further implicate the innate immune receptor TLR4 as an underlying mechanism mediating these effects, and establish that TLR4 inhibition in the PAG of females reverses the sex differences in morphine responsiveness. These data suggest novel methods to improve current opioid-based pain management via inhibition of glial TLR4, and illustrate the necessity for sex-specific research and individualized treatment strategies for the management of pain in men and women.
The authors report no conflict of interest
National Institutes of Health Grant DA16272 awarded to A.Z.M. supported this work. (-)-Morphine sulfate and (+)-naloxone were kindly provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse drug supply program. The authors thank Lauren Hanus and Alyssa Bartlett for their technical assistance.
Epigenetic modifications and glucocorticoid sensitivity in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Wilfred C. de Vega,Santiago Herrera,Suzanne D. Vernon and Patrick O. McGowanBMC Medical GenomicsBMC series – open, inclusive and trusted201710:11
DOI: 10.1186/s12920-017-0248-3 © The Author(s). 2017
Received: 20 December 2016 Accepted: 18 February 2017 Pub: 23 February 2017
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating idiopathic disease characterized by unexplained fatigue that fails to resolve with sufficient rest. Diagnosis is based on a list of symptoms and exclusion of other fatigue-related health conditions. Despite a heterogeneous patient population, immune and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function differences, such as enhanced negative feedback to glucocorticoids, are recurring findings in ME/CFS studies. Epigenetic modifications, such as CpG methylation, are known to regulate long-term phenotypic differences and previous work by our group found DNA methylome differences in ME/CFS, however the relationship between DNA methylome modifications, clinical and functional characteristics associated with ME/CFS has not been examined.
We examined the DNA methylome in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of a larger cohort of female ME/CFS patients using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip Array. In parallel to the DNA methylome analysis, we investigated in vitro glucocorticoid sensitivity differences by stimulating PBMCs with phytohaemagglutinin and suppressed growth with dexamethasone. We explored DNA methylation differences using bisulfite pyrosequencing and statistical permutation. Linear regression was implemented to discover epigenomic regions associated with self-reported quality of life and network analysis of gene ontology terms to biologically contextualize results.
We detected 12,608 differentially methylated sites between ME/CFS patients and healthy controls predominantly localized to cellular metabolism genes, some of which were also related to self-reported quality of life health scores. Among ME/CFS patients, glucocorticoid sensitivity was associated with differential methylation at 13 loci.
Our results indicate DNA methylation modifications in cellular metabolism in ME/CFS despite a heterogeneous patient population, implicating these processes in immune and HPA axis dysfunction in ME/CFS. Modifications to epigenetic loci associated with differences in glucocorticoid sensitivity may be important as biomarkers for future clinical testing. Overall, these findings align with recent ME/CFS work that point towards impairment in cellular energy production in this patient population
Trial of Amitriptyline, Topiramate, and Placebo for Pediatric Migraine
Scott W. Powers, Ph.D., Christopher S. Coffey, Ph.D., Leigh A. Chamberlin, R.D., M.Ed., Dixie J. Ecklund, R.N., M.S.N., Elizabeth A. Klingner, M.S., Jon W. Yankey, M.S., Leslie L. Korbee, B.S., Linda L. Porter, Ph.D., and Andrew D. Hershey, M.D., Ph.D., for the CHAMP Investigators*
N Engl J Med 2017; 376:115-124 January 12, 2017DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1610384
Which, medication, if any, to use to prevent the headache of pediatric migraine has not been established.
We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of amitriptyline (1 mg per kilogram of body weight per day), topiramate (2 mg per kilogram per day), and placebo in children and adolescents 8 to 17 years of age with migraine. Patients were randomly assigned in a 2:2:1 ratio to receive one of the medications or placebo. The primary outcome was a relative reduction of 50% or more in the number of headache days in the comparison of the 28-day baseline period with the last 28 days of a 24-week trial. Secondary outcomes were headache-related disability, headache days, number of trial completers, and serious adverse events that emerged during treatment.
A total of 361 patients underwent randomization, and 328 were included in the primary efficacy analysis (132 in the amitriptyline group, 130 in the topiramate group, and 66 in the placebo group). The trial was concluded early for futility after a planned interim analysis. There were no significant between-group differences in the primary outcome, which occurred in 52% of the patients in the amitriptyline group, 55% of those in the topiramate group, and 61% of those in the placebo group (amitriptyline vs. placebo, P=0.26; topiramate vs. placebo, P=0.48; amitriptyline vs. topiramate, P=0.49). There were also no significant between-group differences in headache-related disability, headache days, or the percentage of patients who completed the 24-week treatment period. Patients who received amitriptyline or topiramate had higher rates of several adverse events than those receiving placebo, including fatigue (30% vs. 14%) and dry mouth (25% vs. 12%) in the amitriptyline group and paresthesia (31% vs. 8%) and weight loss (8% vs. 0%) in the topiramate group. Three patients in the amitriptyline group had serious adverse events of altered mood, and one patient in the topiramate group had a suicide attempt.
There were no significant differences in reduction in headache frequency or headache-related disability in childhood and adolescent migraine with amitriptyline, topiramate, or placebo over a period of 24 weeks. The active drugs were associated with higher rates of adverse events. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health; CHAMP ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01581281).
Vitamin D and Statin-Related Myalgia
Philip J. Gregory, PharmD
Disclosures | March 10, 2017
· Statin-Associated Side Effects
Do low vitamin D levels increase the risk for myalgia in patients who are taking statins?
Response from Philip J. Gregory, PharmD
Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice, Center for Drug Information & Evidence-Based Practice, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
About 1%-2% of patients who take hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors or statins for hyperlipidemia develop muscle pain. This myalgia can feel like the aches and pains experienced with the flu. Muscles may feel sore or stiff and be sensitive to touch.[1] In some cases, statin-related myalgia can lead to poor adherence or discontinuation of the drug.[2]
The mechanism for statin-related myalgia is not fully understood, but vitamin D has been speculated to play a role.
Vitamin D deficiency itself is associated with symptoms of myalgia that resemble those caused by statins.[1,3] There has been speculation that statins themselves might affect vitamin D levels. Because low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is a vitamin D carrier and statins reduce LDL cholesterol, it has been proposed that statins could decrease vitamin D levels. On the other hand, both vitamin D and some statins are metabolized by the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme. Owing to competitive inhibition at CYP3A4, it has been proposed that statins could increase levels of vitamin D.
Clinical trials and observational studies have produced mixed resuotlts in terms of the actual effect of statins on vitamin D levels. Overall, a meta-analysis of clinical trials found increased vitamin D levels in statin users.[4]
Several retrospective studies have shown that low vitamin D levels (measured as 25-hydroxyvitamin D) are associated with a higher risk for statin-induced myalgia. In a study by Shantha and colleagues,[5]patients with vitamin D levels in the lowest quartile had a 1.21 times increased risk for statin-induced myalgia compared with those in the highest quartile. Levels of 15 ng/mL or lower positively predicted the development of myalgia in statin users.
In a cross-sectional study, statin-treated patients with vitamin D levels of less than 15 ng/mL had a 1.9 times increased odds of myalgia compared with non-statin users; however, statin users with higher vitamin D levels did not have an increased risk for myalgia compared with non-statin users.[6]
A retrospective chart review in veterans taking statins found that levels of vitamin D were approximately 10 ng/dL lower in those who experienced statin-induced myalgia compared with those who did not.[7]
A meta-analysis of seven observational studies found that vitamin D levels were significantly lower in statin-treated patients who had symptoms of myalgia compared with those who were asymptomatic. The mean difference in vitamin D levels between the groups was approximately 9.4 ng/mL.[2]
Not all studies have found an association between low vitamin D and myalgia, especially in studies evaluating patients with symptoms confirmed to be caused by statins.[8,9] The discrepancies in findings may be because of the nonspecific nature of muscle symptoms. Some evidence shows that up to 50% of self-reported symptoms of muscle pain in statin users may not be because of statins specifically. Therefore, low vitamin D levels may contribute to muscle pain symptoms more generally, including in patients with statin-induced myalgia or nonspecific myalgia.[9]
Assessing and treating low vitamin D levels may be worth considering before starting or restarting a statin in patients who develop muscle pain while taking a statin.
A retrospective chart review found that replenishing vitamin D before a statin rechallenge in previously intolerant patients increases statin tolerability and adherence.[10]
In uncontrolled studies, some authors have used vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) supplements (from 50,000 units to 100,000 units per week) in statin-treated patients with muscle symptoms and low vitamin D levels and reported resolution of myalgia in about 90% of patients. In these studies, low vitamin D levels were considered to be less than 32 ng/mL.[11,12]
Open Access Copyright: © 2016
The PACE Trial Invalidates the Use of Cognitive Behavioral and Graded Exercise Therapy in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Review
Mark Vink* Family Physician, Soerabaja Research Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Received date: 12 Jan 2016; Accepted date: 24 Mar 2016; Published date: 30 Mar 2016.
. J Neurol Neurobiol 2(3): doi http://dx.doi.org/10.16966/2379- 7150.124 Copyright: © 2016 Vink M. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. * Corresponding author: Mark Vink, Family Physician, Soerabaja Research Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, E-mail: markvink.md@outlook.com
Introduction Following an extensive review of the literature, the American Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that “myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are serious, debilitating conditions that affect millions of people in the United States and around the world”; that it is a “medical - not a psychiatric or psychological - illness” without a “known cause or effective treatment” which “can cause significant impairment and disability” [1] rendering 25% of patients homebound or bedridden [2] yet “the term chronic fatigue syndrome can result in trivialization and stigmatization” of this “complex, multisystem, and often devastating disorder” [1] . Most doctors are unaware of the seriousness of ME or that it has been classified as a neurological disease by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1969 [3]; therefore, patients often receive “hostility from their health care provider” and are “subjected to treatment strategies that exacerbate their symptoms” (i.e., CBT and GET) [1]. ISSN 2379-7150 Abstract The main findings reported in the PACE trial were that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) were moderately effective treatments for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), and fear avoidance beliefs constituted the strongest mediator of both therapies. These findings have been challenged by patients and, more recently, a number of top scientists, after public health expert Tuller, highlighted methodological problems in the trial. As a doctor who has been bedridden with severe ME for a long period, I analyzed the PACE trial and its follow-up articles from the perspectives of a doctor and a patient. During the PACE trial the eligibility criteria, both subjective primary outcomes, and most of the recovery criteria were altered, creating an overlap of the eligibility and recovery criteria; consequently, 13% of patients were considered “recovered,” with respect to 1 or 2 primary outcomes, as soon as they entered the trial. In addition, 46% of patients reported an increase in ME/CFS symptoms, 31% reported musculoskeletal and 19% reported neurological adverse events. Therefore the proportion negatively affected by CBT and GET would be between 46% and 96%, most likely estimated at 74%, as shown in a large survey recently conducted by the ME Association. Medication with such high rates of adverse events would be withdrawn with immediate effect. There was no difference in long-term outcomes between adaptive pacing therapy, CBT, GET and specialist medical care, and none of them were effective, invalidating the biopsychosocial model and use of CBT and GET for ME/CFS. The discovery that an increase in exercise tolerance did not lead to an increase in fitness means that an underlying physical problem prevented this; validates that ME/CFS is a physical disease and that none of the treatments studied addressed this issue.
Dietary and nutrition interventions for the therapeutic
treatm ent of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic
encephalomyelitis: a systematic review
N. Campagnolo,1,2S. Johnston,1,2A. Collatz,1,2 D. Staines1.2 & S. Marshall-Gradisnik1,2
School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
National Centre for Neuroimmuno logy and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD,
J Hum Nutr Diet.
doi: 10.1111/jhn.12435
This is an open access article under the terms of
the Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits
use and distribution in any medium, provided the
original work is properly cited, the use is non-
commercial and no modifications or adaptations
are made.
Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/
ME) is characterised by unexplained fatigue for at least 6 months accompa-
nied by a diverse but consistent set of symptoms. Diet modification and
nutritional supplements could be used to improve patient outcomes, such
fatigue and quality of life. We reviewed and discussed the evidence for
nutritional interventions that may assist in alleviating symptoms of CFS/
Methods: Medline, Cinahl and Scopus were systematically searched from
1994 to May 2016. All studies on nutrition intervention were included
where CFS/ME patients modified their diet or supplemented their habitual
diet on patient-centred outcomes (fatigue, quality of life, physical activity
and/or psychological wellbeing).
Results: Seventeen studies were included that meet the inclusion criteria. Of
these, 14 different interventions were investigated on study outcomes. Many
studies did not show therapeutic benefit on CFS/ME. Improvements in fati-
gue were observed for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydride (NADH),
probiotics, high cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate, and a combination of
NADH and coenzyme Q10.
Conclusions: This review identified insufficient evidence for the use of
nutritional supplements and elimination or modified diets to relieve CFS/
ME symptoms. Studies were limited by the number of studies investigating
the interventions, small sample sizes, study duration, variety of instruments
used, and studies not reporting dietary intake method. Further research is
warranted in homogeneous CFS/ME populations.
Impaired calcium mobilization in natural killer cells from chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis patients is associated with transient receptor potential melastatin 3 ion channelsAuthors· T. Nguyen,S. Johnston,L. Clarke,P. Smith,D. Staines,S. Marshall-Gradisnik
First published: 23 November 2016Full publication history
DOI: 10.1111/cei.12882View/save citation
Cited by: 0 articles
SummaryTransient receptor potential melastatin subfamily 3 (TRPM3) ion channels play a role in calcium (Ca2+) cell signalling. Reduced TRPM3 protein expression has been identified in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) patients. However, the significance of TRPM3 and association with intracellular Ca2+ mobilization has yet to be determined. Fifteen CFS/ME patients (mean age 48·82 ± 9·83 years) and 25 healthy controls (mean age 39·2 ± 12·12 years) were examined. Isolated natural killer (NK) cells were labelled with fluorescent antibodies to determine TRPM3, CD107a and CD69 receptors on CD56dimCD16+NK cells and CD56brightCD16dim/– NK cells. Ca2+ flux and NK cytotoxicity activity was measured under various stimulants, including pregnenolone sulphate (PregS), thapsigargin (TG), 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2APB) and ionomycin. Unstimulated CD56brightCD16dim/– NK cells showed significantly reduced TRPM3 receptors in CFS/ME compared with healthy controls (HC). Ca2+ flux showed no significant difference between groups. Moreover, PregS-stimulated CD56brightCD16dim/–NK cells showed a significant increase in Ca2+ flux in CFS/ME patients compared with HC. By comparison, unstimulated CD56dimCD16+ NK cells showed no significant difference in both Ca2+ flux and TRPM3 expression. PregS-stimulated CD56dimCD16+ NK cells increased TRPM3 expression significantly in CFS/ME, but this was not associated with a significant increase in Ca2+ flux. Furthermore, TG-stimulated CD56dimCD16+ NK cells increased K562 cell lysis prior to PregS stimulation in CFS/ME patients compared with HC. Differential expression of TRPM3 and Ca2+ flux between NK cell subtypes may provide evidence for their role in the pathomechanism involving NK cell cytotoxicity activity in CFS/ME.
Fecal metagenomic profiles in subgroups of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
Dorottya Nagy-Szakal†,Brent L. Williams†,Nischay Mishra,Xiaoyu Che,Bohyun Lee,
Lucinda Bateman,Nancy G. Klimas,Anthony L. Komaroff,Susan Levine,Jose G. Montoya,
Daniel L. Peterson,Devi Ramanan,Komal Jain,Meredith L. Eddy,Mady Hornig and
W. Ian LipkinEmail authorView ORCID ID profile
Microbiome20175:44
© The Author(s). 2017
Received: 11 January 2017 Accepted: 4 April 2017 Published: 26 April 2017
AbstractBackgroundMyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is characterized by unexplained persistent fatigue, commonly accompanied by cognitive dysfunction, sleeping disturbances, orthostatic intolerance, fever, lymphadenopathy, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The extent to which the gastrointestinal microbiome and peripheral inflammation are associated with ME/CFS remains unclear. We pursued rigorous clinical characterization, fecal bacterial metagenomics, and plasma immune molecule analyses in 50 ME/CFS patients and 50 healthy controls frequency-matched for age, sex, race/ethnicity, geographic site, and season of sampling.
ResultsTopological analysis revealed associations between IBS co-morbidity, body mass index, fecal bacterial composition, and bacterial metabolic pathways but not plasma immune molecules. IBS co-morbidity was the strongest driving factor in the separation of topological networks based on bacterial profiles and metabolic pathways. Predictive selection models based on bacterial profiles supported findings from topological analyses indicating that ME/CFS subgroups, defined by IBS status, could be distinguished from control subjects with high predictive accuracy. Bacterial taxa predictive of ME/CFS patients with IBS were distinct from taxa associated with ME/CFS patients without IBS. Increased abundance of unclassified Alistipes and decreased Faecalibacterium emerged as the top biomarkers of ME/CFS with IBS; while increased unclassified Bacteroides abundance and decreased Bacteroides vulgatus were the top biomarkers of ME/CFS without IBS. Despite findings of differences in bacterial taxa and metabolic pathways defining ME/CFS subgroups, decreased metabolic pathways associated with unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and increased atrazine degradation pathways were independent of IBS co-morbidity. Increased vitamin B6 biosynthesis/salvage and pyrimidine ribonucleoside degradation were the top metabolic pathways in ME/CFS without IBS as well as in the total ME/CFS cohort. In ME/CFS subgroups, symptom severity measures including pain, fatigue, and reduced motivation were correlated with the abundance of distinct bacterial taxa and metabolic pathways.
ConclusionsIndependent of IBS, ME/CFS is associated with dysbiosis and distinct bacterial metabolic disturbances that may influence disease severity. However, our findings indicate that dysbiotic features that are uniquely ME/CFS-associated may be masked by disturbances arising from the high prevalence of IBS co-morbidity in ME/CFS. These insights may enable more accurate diagnosis and lead to insights that inform the development of specific therapeutic strategies in ME/CFS subgroups.
KeywordsMyalgic encephalomyelitis Chronic fatigue syndrome Microbiota-gut-brain axis Metagenomic Topological data analysis Irritable bowel syndrome Metabolic pathway
Modern Clinical Medicine Research, Vol. 1, No. 1, April 2017
Access to Medical Care for Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:
A Call for Centers of Excellence
Madison Sunnquist1 , Laura Nicholson1 , Leonard A. Jason1*, and Kenneth J. Friedman2 1 Center for Community Research, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, United States 2 Green Mountain College, Poultney, Vermont, United States Email: ljason@depaul.edu
Abstract. The current study sought to better understand the experience of individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in accessing care for their debilitating illness. Of 898 participants, less than half had ever seen an ME or CFS specialist, though 99% of participants were interested in specialist care. Participants cited geographic and financial barriers as most frequently precluding access to specialists. Furthermore, satisfaction with specialist care greatly exceeded satisfaction with non-specialist care. These findings suggested that individuals with ME and CFS represent a medically-underserved population, due to lack of available care. The CFS Advisory Committee and NIH Pathways to Prevention Working Group recommended the creation of ME and CFS Centers of Excellence to improve the healthcare access of patients with ME and CFS. The current study documents the need for these centers, as they would ameliorate geographic and financial barriers to quality care. Keywords: Myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, healthcare access, specialist care,
Baby thought to have been shaken has rare syndrome, family court finds
BMJ 2017; 357 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j2136 (Published 02 May 2017)Cite this as: BMJ 2017;357:j2136
Clare Dyer
A baby who was thought to have been shaken by one of her parents actually has a rare syndrome that affects her blood vessels, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV, a family court has heard.
Effie Stillwell was taken from her parents and placed with foster carers last September, after she collapsed, at nearly 3 months old, and was taken to hospital unresponsive and with difficulty breathing. Retinal haemorrhages and bleeding on the brain were identified, and police began a criminal investigation. But the medical evidence that emerged during the family court hearing persuaded Buckinghamshire County Council to drop its application for a care order.
Gluten-free diet is not recommended for people without celiac disease
Zosia Kmietowicz
Gluten is not associated with a risk of coronary heart disease in people without celiac disease—and restricting gluten may result in a low intake of whole grains, which are associated with cardiovascular benefits, a study in The BMJ has found.1
The researchers said that promoting gluten-free diets among people without celiac disease should not be encouraged.
The number of people without celiac disease who avoid gluten has increased in recent years
Long term gluten consumption in adults without celiac disease and risk of coronary heart disease: prospective cohort studyBMJ 2017; 357 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j1892 (Published 02 May 2017)Cite this as: BMJ 2017;357:j1892
Benjamin Lebwohl, assistant professor1 2, Yin Cao, instructor3 4 5, Geng Zong, postdoctoral fellow5,
Frank B Hu, professor5 6, Peter H R Green, professor1, Alfred I Neugut, Eric B Rimm, Laura Sampson, Lauren W Dougherty, Edward GiovannucciWalter, C Willett, professor5 6 7, Qi Sun, Andrew T Chan,
Correspondence to: A T Chan ACHAN@mgh.harvard.edu
Accepted 4 April 2017
AbstractObjective To examine the association of long term intake of gluten with the development of incident coronary heart disease.
Design Prospective cohort study.
Setting and participants 64 714 women in the Nurses’ Health Study and 45 303 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study without a history of coronary heart disease who completed a 131 item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire in 1986 that was updated every four years through 2010.
Exposure Consumption of gluten, estimated from food frequency questionnaires.
Main outcome measure Development of coronary heart disease (fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction).
Results During 26 years of follow-up encompassing 2 273 931 person years, 2431 women and 4098 men developed coronary heart disease. Compared with participants in the lowest fifth of gluten intake, who had a coronary heart disease incidence rate of 352 per 100 000 person years, those in the highest fifth had a rate of 277 events per 100 000 person years, leading to an unadjusted rate difference of 75 (95% confidence interval 51 to 98) fewer cases of coronary heart disease per 100 000 person years. After adjustment for known risk factors, participants in the highest fifth of estimated gluten intake had a multivariable hazard ratio for coronary heart disease of 0.95 (95% confidence interval 0.88 to 1.02; P for trend=0.29). After additional adjustment for intake of whole grains (leaving the remaining variance of gluten corresponding to refined grains), the multivariate hazard ratio was 1.00 (0.92 to 1.09; P for trend=0.77). In contrast, after additional adjustment for intake of refined grains (leaving the variance of gluten intake correlating with whole grain intake), estimated gluten consumption was associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (multivariate hazard ratio 0.85, 0.77 to 0.93; P for trend=0.002).
Conclusion Long term dietary intake of gluten was not associated with risk of coronary heart disease. However, the avoidance of gluten may result in reduced consumption of beneficial whole grains, which may affect cardiovascular risk. The promotion of gluten-free diets among people without celiac disease should not be
Abstracts supplied by Dr. Vallings
Abstracts are updated frequently
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Speyeria zerene
Other Names and/or Listed subspecies:
2 subspecies endangered: Behren's Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria zerene behrensii), Myrtle's Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria zerene myrtleae)
EN-US FWS: S. z. behrensii - December 5, 1997, S. z. myrtleae - June 14, 1976, U. a. nelsoni - June 22, 1992
Creature Profile
The Zerene Fritillary is a butterfly species found in the western portions of the United States and Canada. There are many different subspecies and two of them are endangered (both found in California): Myrtle's Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria zerene myrtleae) found in western Marin and southwestern Sonoma counties, and Behren's Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria zerene behrensii), found at Point Arena. Both are medium-sized butterflies with wingspans of 2.2 inches, and Myrtle's silverspot is slightly larger and lighter in color. Their upper wings are golden brown with many black spots and lines. The lower surfaces are brown, orange-brown, and tan with black lines and distinctive silver and black spots. Larvae (caterpillars) are dark-colored with many sharp branching spines on their backs.
The preferred habitat for the Behren's silverspot is coastal terrace prairie, and the Myrtle's silverspot can be found in coastal dune or prairie habitat. They prefer to remain in sheltered areas for protection from strong winds, and they prefer to remain within three miles of the coast. Females lay their eggs in the debris and dried stems of violets and after hatching they travel a short distance, then create silk pads to lay dormant in through the winter. When the spring comes they feed on the plant from which they were born for about two to three months. Soon after they become adult butterflies and feed on nectar from plants. Adults live for only three weeks.
The main threat to the species is habitat loss due to residential and commercial land development. Also, the introduction of exotic plants and fires effect the plants that these butterflies rely on for survival. They are also highly prized by insect collectors and are vulnerable due to their small population. Behren's silverspot was listed as endangered in 1997 and Myrtle's silverspot was listed in 1992, but very few additional conservation measures have been taken to preserve the species.
This article is only an excerpt. If it appears incomplete or if you wish to see article references, visit the rest of its contents here.
Copyright Notice: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Speyeria zerene".
Zerene Fritillary Facts Last Updated:
Glenn, C. R. 2006. "Earth's Endangered Creatures - Zerene Fritillary Facts" (Online). Accessed 1/18/2020 at http://earthsendangered.com/profile.asp?sp=559&ID=9.
Need more Zerene Fritillary facts?
Twelve Incredibly Odd Endangered Creatures
1. Solenodon
The solenodon is a mammal found primarily in Cuba and Hispanola. The species was thought to be extinct until scientists found a few still alive in 2003. Solenodons only prefer to come out at night. They eat primarily insects and they are one of the few mammal species that are venomous, delivering a very powerful toxin. Symptoms of a solenodon bite are very similar to a snake bite, including swelling and severe pain, lasting several days.
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Easyday
What difference
Video1 Absorption
Video2 Gel Absorp
Video3 Breathability
Video4 Sanitary
Many women with sensitive skin suffer from allergic reactions to the perfumes and recycled materials used today in many sanitary pads and liners.
All of Easy Day products use only 100% new materials. No recycle materials mean non-chlorine bleached. No scents or perfumes are added. As a result, Easy Day pads and liners eliminate allergic reactions such as itchiness or burning.
Other symptoms and indications of allergic reactions include redness with swelling.
Easy Day is designed to minimize and even eliminate allergic reactions for those women with sensitive skin.
Sanitary Pads that are Super Absorbent
Easy Day sanitary pads are made from cotton, non woven, and the highest quality SAP so that they are not just soft but, unlike other pads that use only cotton, they are also incredibly absorbent. Cotton is soft and non allergenic. But cotton alone cannot absorb and also remain dry. Our unique combination of cotton, non woven, and SAP eliminates this problem.
Superabsorbent polymers are primarily used as an absorbent for water and aqueous solutions for diapers, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and similar applications. Undoubtedly, in these applications, superabsorbent materials will replace traditional absorbent materials such as cloth, cotton, paper wadding, and cellulose fiber.
Commercial production of superabsorbent polymers began in Japan in 1978, for use in feminine napkins. This early superabsorbent was a crosslinked starch-g-polyacrylate. Polyacrylic acids eventually replaced earlier superabsorbents, and is the primary polymer employed for superabsorbent polymers today.1 In 1980, European countries further developed the superabsorbent polymer for use in baby diapers. This first diapers employing this technology used only a small amount of polymer, approximately 1-2 g. In 1983, a thinner diaper using 4-5 grams of polymer and less fluff was marketed in Japan.
Easy Day pads can absorb 3 times more than other leading pads and always stay dry. Easy Day pads can absorb 10 x their weight and still stay light. An Easy Day pad can absorb up to 80-90 ml and stay dry, considerably more than what is needed to manage daily needs.
FAR INFRARED RAYS (FIRA)
All Easy Day sanitary napkins and liners have a unique anion strip that emits negative ions when in contact with the human body. This strip also emits far infrared rays (FIR) , which are low intensity rays that warm muscles.
Far Infrared Rays (FIR) are a naturally occurring form of energy. We experience them most commonly when we feel the warmth of the sun on our skin. Far Infrared Rays account for over half of the energy emitted by the sun. Scientists have shown that these are some of the most beneficial energies that reach the human body.
Scientists discovered that the 5-15 micron length of Far Infrared Rays were the ones most useful for humans and animals. Attempting to mimic human touch, which hovers around 6 to 8 microns in wavelength, researchers focused on delivering these 5-15 micron sized FIR.
The Far Infrared Rays (FIR) produced by bio ceramics enhance the body's microcirculatory system, strengthen the body's metabolic system & improve body's resistance to disease. They cause a warming effect once they enter the human body by activating molecules and body cells. Different individuals will feel varying intensities of the warming sensation.
Benefits of Far Infrared Therapy:
Increases blood flow
Increases metabolism
Flushes toxins from the lymph areas
Reduces the acidity in our bodies (a more alkaline body is healthier)
Reduces hypertension (high blood pressure)
Improves the elasticity of arterial walls
Reduces pain associated with all types of Arthritis
Increases the extensibility of collagen (fibrous protein constituent of bone cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissue)
Relieves muscle spasms
Reduces joint stiffness
Reduces migraine pressures
Reduces pain during menstruation
> More info
Easy Day’s anion and FIR strip can help you enhance the body's microcirculatory system, strengthen the metabolic system & improve body's resistance to disease. Easy Day sanitary pads and liners can help minimize the pain and discomfort from cramping during menstruation. Also known as dysmenorrhea or period pains, menstrual cramps are painful sensations felt in the lower abdomen that can occur both before and during a woman's menstrual period. The pain ranges from dull and annoying to severe and extreme.
About half of women experience menstrual cramps, and about 15% describe the pain as severe. It has been shown that women who do not exercise experience more painful menstrual cramps.
Certain psychological factors such as emotional stress may also increase the likelihood of having uncomfortable menstrual cramps
What causes menstrual cramps?
During each menstrual period, if there is no sperm to fertilize the egg, the uterus contracts to expel its lining. These uterine contractions cause much of the pain felt during menstrual cramps because the contractions inhibit blood flow to the lining of the uterus.
(source:medicalnewstoday.com)
* These statement have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Despite their antibacterial qualities, Easy Day sanitary pads - are not medicine, they do not replace medical treatment. This product is not intended to prevent, treat or cure any disease.
For allergic and pregnant women medical advice is strongly indicated before use !
There's something in the air and while it may not be love, some say it's the next best thing -- negative ions..
All Easy Day products have a unique anion strip that emits negative ions when in contact with the warmth and moisture of the human body. This is a special feature of all Easy Day pads and liners.
Once in contact with the human body, the negative ions emitted help to fight off and reduce bacteria build up and thus control infections. Easy Day products work to reduce two of the most commonly occurring odour- causing bacteria,namely Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus, and a common yeast, Candida Albicans.*
What are negative ions?
As Dr. Jacob, Professor of Physiology with the Public Sanitation Institute of Harvard University, says negative ions are “Vitamins of the Air”.
Negative ions are atoms or molecules with a negative charge. They are also referred to as “anions".
Negative ions are odorless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we inhale in abundance in certain environments. In nature, negative ions are generated in abundance wherever energy is transferred into the air, for example by ultra-violet light from the sun, by lightning and thunderstorms, by friction within wind and rain, the splitting of water into droplets by waterfalls and surf, and by natural radiation in rocks and soil. Think mountains, waterfalls, and beaches.
Anions can also be produced in nature by some mineral and vulcanic rocks, such as turmalin main component of our EasyDay pads anion strip. Tourmaline, a semi-precious gemstone, is a natural source of negative oxygen ions which have extensively documented health benefits. for more…( redirectional la articol despre turmalina si beneficii)
How do they work to reduce bacteria?
The entire process of substantially reducing bacteria and viruses is based on one of the most natural and simple process: annihilation between negative ( anions) and positive ( bacteria, germs and viruses) charges.
As a result Easy Day sanitary pads and liners with their ceramic powder strip emit negative ions when in contact with the human body, ions that can :
Balance PH and hormone levels*
Protect against germs in the air*
Reduce inflammation*
Reduce bacteria build up and help control infections*
Eliminate unwanted odor*
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain when anions abound
What else do negative ions do?
We often feel energized and revitalized when we spend time outdoors in forests, near lakes, rivers, and oceans. This is where the concentrations of negative ions are highest.
As a result of a large number of research, it was shown that clean air and consequently the climate is largely determined by the proportion of negative ions, which exerts a beneficial effect on various organs, also prompting well-being and balance, a mental euphoria. Experiences have proved that negative ions regulates the functioning of the central and autonomic nervous system, endocrine system and that it normalizes.
In the presence of these ions is highly active immune system, assimilation to self-regulate, the circulation increased, while repair processes are stimulated, helping the body to find its natural equilibrium. Once they reach our bloodstream, negative ions are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our daytime energy.
Why not taking advantage of nature !
NANO SILVER
Nano-Silver is a next generation germicide that can eradicate over 650 types of microbes within minutes. Developed and produced via cutting edge methods and converted into a chip with special processing technology,
Nano-Silver acts to reduce dysmenorrhea, vaginal discharge and menstrual discomfort. It also helps dispel odour, balance the body’s pH and enhance the metabolism.
Nano Silver has the most powerful anti bacterial effect due to its strong penetration into the bacteria structure. Its bacteria killing effectiveness is hundreds of times more than normal.
Easy Day products use a special blend of materials to ensure superior breathability.
Why is breathability important?
If not properly designed and constructed, moisture will be build and create discomfort and even allow bacteria to build. It is very important that your sanitary pad allow air to flow easily to reduce moisture build up.
What makes Easy Day more breathable ?
Easy Day material contains micro openings to allow air to penetrate evenly throughout the pad or liner.
Why does liquid not escape thought these tiny openings?
This is what makes Easy Day unique. The SAP in our inner layer transforms liquid into a dry to the touch gel that is surrounded by air laid paper in layers 4 and 6. So the liquid does not escape through the openings and air flows naturally.
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Former Edgewater Alderman and Activist Marion Volini Dies At Age 83 Reviewed by Edgeville Buzz on May 22, 2018 .
The former Alderman of the Edgewater neighborhood from 1978-1987, Marion Volini, has passed away after her battle with leukemia. She is best known for officially making Edgewater Chicago’s 77th community, her human rights activism, and her work on lakeside erosion. Volini served under Chicago’s only female mayor and was a important supporter of Chicago’s first African-American […]
Former Edgewater Alderman and Activist Marion Volini Dies At Age 83
May 22, 2018 / By Edgeville Buzz
Sun-Times Photo of Volini
The former Alderman of the Edgewater neighborhood from 1978-1987, Marion Volini, has passed away after her battle with leukemia. She is best known for officially making Edgewater Chicago’s 77th community, her human rights activism, and her work on lakeside erosion.
Volini served under Chicago’s only female mayor and was a important supporter of Chicago’s first African-American Mayor Harold Washington. During Washington’s term, she helped negotiate bitter feuds between the Mayor’s camp and a group of 29 mostly white aldermen during a time that was known as the Council Wars.
She viewed everyone as being equal and sought to distribute power between the diverse groups that made up the city. She was dedicated to empower more women to run for political office and also was a leading figure in the Chicago’s Gay rights movement.
She started her journey through the church and school level, helped form the Lakewood Balmoral Residents Council and eventually became president of the Edgewater Community Council. After her great concern with mentally ill patients being released back into the community without proper ongoing support, her successful grass roots run for Alderman hit the heart of Edgewater.
Volini once said,“When people are working together for their neighborhood,
they can make things better for all and that keeps us going and growing as a community.”
Volini paved the way for Edgewater to become the official 77th community in Chicago. She focused on public safety, public housing, equal rights and lakefront erosion. She also helped revitalize Edgewater’s Clark Street corridor, the Bryn Mawr commercial area and helped establish the Broadway Armory Park as a recreational facility.
Volini is survived by her five children and ten grandchildren. Her husband Camillo Volini died in 2001.
Tags: 48th Ward, Alderman Osterman, Andersonville, Chicago, edgeville, Edgewater, Marion Volini
Andersonville Midsommerfest To Add Elevated VIP Viewing Area For Concerts May 18, 2018 / By Edgeville Buzz
Concerns Grow After 3 More Andersonville Properties Are Slated For Development May 23, 2018 / By Edgeville Buzz
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North Shore Yacht Club, Salton Sea
Located on the northeast shore of the Salton Sea in California, the aptly named North Shore Yacht Club is a place that symbolizes the area to me. On my first road trip to the Salton Sea in 2009 the Yacht Club was still an abandoned shell, however renovations had just begun. A year later I returned and toured the interior to see the amazing work that had transformed the ruin into a museum and community center. My most recent visit was just a few months ago, when I decided to photo journal this Salton Sea location in detail.
The North Shore Yacht Club originally opened in 1959 and became California's largest marina at the time. Designed by famed modernist architect Albert Frey, the building was the jewel of two million dollars worth of investment on the northeastern shore of the Salton Sea.
This was the heyday, back when the Salton Sea was considered a burgeoning playground - "like Palm Springs but on the water". Prominent members of the entertainment community docked boats here, from the Marx Brothers to the Beach Boys, and it's said that through the 50s and 60s the Salton Sea was attracting more visitors than Yosemite National Park. You would've thought that the party would've lasted longer than only a few decades. It didn't.
Vintage postcard of the North Shore Yacht Club. See more here.
A vintage promotional film of the Salton Sea showcasing the new North Shore Yacht Club.
In the 70s everything nosedived and by 1984 the Yacht Club was closed. Several major floods had destroyed the marina, and boats could no longer dock. This was in combination with the increasing salinity of the Salton Sea and massive fish die-offs each year, which quickly drove the tourists away. Other notable destinations soon became ruins. Places like the North Shore Motel and the Salton Bay Yacht Club were eventually demolished. The dream had evaporated.
In a sea of sad stories, the North Shore Yacht Club is actually a bright spot. The building was saved and restored to its former glory, opening as a community center in 2010. That's not to say there aren't still major challenges and issues. The Salton Sea has been drying up, and plans to bring back the marina are welcomed, but still a long way off.
I returned to the Yacht Club in December 2014 and met a nice woman who I spoke with for about an hour. I explained the road trip I was on, and shared the pictures I'd shot over the last few years. She gave me the keys to the Yacht Club so I could explore and photograph the interior for my series (those shots will be posted here). As a thank you I gave her my print of the earliest shot I took of the Yacht Club back in 2009.
Holding the photo I shot of the Yacht Club in 2009. The one I gave as a gift.
I'm not sure what the future holds for the Salton Sea or the North Shore Yacht Club, but I know there are a handful of dedicated people working hard to make things happen. As I expressed in person on my brief visit, I hope my images bring some attention to what a unique place this is and why it's worth saving. I love the history here, the architecture of this building, and the idea that the Salton Sea can and will be saved.
Dave and I at the Salton Sea in 2010.
Catalogue: Abandoned Places , Animals , California , Images , Others Videos , Photography , Random Videos and Edits , Remembering Dave , Roadside Attractions , Roadside California Series , Salton Sea
Location: Salton Sea, California, USA
Abandoned Places Animals California Images Others Videos Photography Random Videos and Edits Remembering Dave Roadside Attractions Roadside California Series Salton Sea
TREX Artist Workshop
Portfolio 6.0
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu: Part 1
Palm Springs Air Museum: Europe
Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles: Part 3
Surfers on the North Shore of Oahu
Bombay Beach, Salton Sea: Part 1
Exploring Los Angeles, California
Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu
2013 Bentley Continental GTC
Palm Springs Air Museum: Pacific
Earl Kitchener Home: Before & After
North Shore Yacht Club Interior
Flying to Honolulu, Hawaii
Pacific Northwest in 100 Images
Slab City, East Jesus: Part 2
Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, Hawaii
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Far Cry 4 Review (PC)
Publisher: Ubisoft Montreal
Review Context: I played Far Cry 3 in its entirety upon release, I have not played Far Cry or Far Cry 2.
Date of Playthrough: July 2015
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 760
Far Cry 4 is a first person shooter, open world, RPG, set in the stunning Himalayan mountains. It’s in a map filled with hidden caves, dangerous wildlife, fortified outposts, and jaw dropping vistas. With never a lack of things to do, weapons to buy, and new additions to mobility, like the grappling hook, Far Cry 4’s solid shooting and stealth mechanics make it a blast from start to finish. So put your wing suit on because it feels good, and let’s liberate Kyratt from the clutches of Pagan Min.
Far Cry 4 is another prefect sequel, just like Assassin’s Creed: Rogue was for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, taking the same gameplay formula and upgrading it in almost every way without losing the feel of the original. Far Cry 4‘s biggest improvement has to be the wingsuit and the grappling hook. Far Cry 3 had a wingsuit, but it was given to you very late in the game. The map was designed to be traversed by car or on foot, so the land generation tended to be rather simple. There were some mountains you had to find the right side to walk up, or certain cliffs that couldn’t be jumped down safely, but all in all, the land was very smooth and regular. This left very little opportunity to use the wingsuit effectively. In Far Cry 4, the developers wanted a more dynamic locale to play in. The vast mountains and deep valleys of Tibet make for a very interesting environment, with lots and lots of varying altitudes and sheer cliff faces. However, the world still needs to be easily traversed, otherwise it starts to become frustrating trying to get to your objective. Thus the developers gave the player the wingsuit very early on and introduced the grappling hook, which allows the player to scale vertical cliff faces at certain points. This way, the exciting and awe inspiring landscape of the Himalayan mountains was used to full effect. Nothing is better than grappling up a mountain to attack an outpost, then jumping and gliding off the mountain hundreds of feet down towards your next objective. One of the best ways to make your open world game better is to make going from point A to point B fun, and Far Cry 4 succeeds with flying colors. Climbing up the winding and treacherous mountain paths can be almost as dangerous as the wildlife, and just as exciting.
The map is filled to the brim with hidden loot chests, collectibles, crafting ingredients, and points of interest. No matter where you’re trying to get to, there is always something there to catch your eye. Never having to go far to find something to do helps get rid of downtime, time spent not having fun, and the sheer density of collectibles and points of interest add to the total amount of gameplay, which some gamers use solely to rate a game’s value. The actual main story is only about 15 hours long, but trying to accomplish that without getting sidetracked should be an achievement. With so much money to find, and ways to get EXP, there needs to be stuff to spend it on, otherwise the effort in collecting it becomes wasted. Far Cry 3 had a small problem with its economic system: If you were trying to get as many loot chests as possible you would quickly run out of things to buy. The game would give you more things to buy after you reached certain story milestones, which Far Cry 4 does as well, but there just wasn’t nearly enough to spend it on. Far Cry 4 does a much better job of giving you things to spend your hard earned cash on. With more guns, attachments, maps, upgrades, and even a homebase to improve, you almost have to pick the map clean in order to buy all of it, which is exactly how I like to play the game. However, if you are not the kind of gamer that wants to collect everything, Far Cry 4 like Far Cry 3, has it so that liberating radio towers to reveal the map makes certain weapons free in the shop. If you are tight on money, there are other ways of getting the better weapons you need to progress. So no matter how you play the game, it never feels like you are doing it wrong.
Far Cry 4”s difficulty progression is also a little more fleshed out than it was in Far Cry 3. There are more story-based milestones, which unlock new and more powerful weapons in the shop, as well as certain special weapons and abilities that are only unlocked after specific requirements are met. Also you can still hunt animals for skins in order to upgrade your max ammo, wallet size, holster size, or syringe case. This creates a good feel of progression as more and more enemies start wearing body armor, and more densely populating their strongholds. In Far Cry 3, once you reached the second island the difficulty spiked. In Far Cry 4, the game feels harder the farther north you go on the map. It doesn’t just shoot up at some point, it’s a gradual increase. This also leads to unlocking new weapons, making it feel more worthwhile. You’ll need much more powerful weapons to hold your own, as well as improving your aim and tactics. Taking the difficulty selector into account, Far Cry 4 has enough challenge for both the casual and hardcore players.
Far Cry 4 has a mission for every gameplay mechanic in the game. From hunting missions to stealth hostage missions, to vehicle races. Far Cry 4 even has new acid trip missions where the player is forcibly injected, at least at first, with a psychedelic drug, and then the player has to accomplish a task while the world constantly changes between vibrant colors while crazy things start happening. Between falling from great heights, and giant statues springing out of the ground, you never know what is going to happen. I can’t say that it sends a good message about drug abuse, but the missions certainly were fun. There are also missions in which the player assumes the role of an ancient warrior with powerful abilities, fighting demons in a religious fantasy that can really boggle the mind. With dozens of different missions and weapons being unlocked only after completing certain ones, there is plenty of reason to take a side trip and race a boat down some rapids.
As well as just generally improving the online experience, faster load times, and better matchmaking compared to Far Cry 3, the game modes were revamped to revolve around hunters versus soldiers. The hunters get bows, wingsuits, stealth, and syringes, while the soldiers get guns, explosives, and mortars. It’s a fun dynamic that is balanced surprisingly well. Though nowhere near Battlefield 4 sized maps, the maps are larger then standard Call of Duty maps. A big emphasis is placed on positioning, strategy, and teamwork, over straight gun fighting. Relying on teammates to revive each other to shorten respawn time means that a close knit team can be fearsome. There are only four game modes; outpost capturing domination, bomb planting demolition, point scoring king of the hill, and what is essentially capture the flag, but the flag barer gets special powers depending on which flag they are holding. Also added was the ability to summon NPCs and other players during the story mode to come help you. You could summon a group of people to help attack a stronghold in an epic firefight, or call a friend to help defend civilians against a pack of wild animals. No longer just the lone wolf in the jungle, you can even play the entire story mode co-op, with either your friend, or just some random people. I wish other games had that kind of co-op.
Wrapping it all together, it’s an engaging story about the liberation of Kyratt from the intimidating, yet enigmatic, Pagan Min. Among other very interesting characters, Pagan Min is the thought provoking Vaas Montenegro from Far Cry 3; the icing on the cake that gives the whole experience a meaningful and grandiose feeling. Pagan is so intriguing that the game makes you want to talk to him as much as you want to murder him, creating a true emotional connection that some video game stories fail to elicit entirely.
Far Cry 4′s controls are tight and clean. With the use of several quick select wheels, not only is everything you might need in the heat of battle one press and swipe away, but this leaves enough buttons available to make sure you have full control in the fight. I can switch weapons, pick a grenade, and use a syringe all in a matter of seconds. I prefer to play FPS games on mouse and keyboard, and had no trouble configuring it to a scheme I like. My only problem is that for some reason you can’t bind the ‘activate wingsuit’ button, because it is permanently tied to the sprint button; which has often lead to me running and jumping to land on and stab to death an enemy, only to find myself plummeting head first into the wall with my wingsuit. Though this tends to only happen when I’m panicking and moving quickly, it does happen. This is a disappointing flaw for otherwise tight controls, as this often results in immediate death.
Far Cry 4 is a rather stunning game: The impressive geography of the Himalayan mountains is brought to life with brilliant clarity, despite me with my current setup only being able to utilize about half of the game’s possible graphical capability. Beautiful plant life, bright colors, and effective rendering distances, combined with breathtaking geography make Far Cry 4 a joy to see, and with NVIDIA’s GeForce Experience software, setup was a breeze. The sound design, however, though not a negative by any means, is rather ordinary. Nothing special or extra, but it gets the job done.
In the end, Far Cry 4 does what it set out to do and then some… It’s a fun and exciting ride from start to finish, with plenty of reasons to come back for more. With replayability being the name of the game these days, Far Cry 4′ s unique multiplayer and co-op capabilities will make sure it is a long time favorite. Far Cry 4 is the one true competitor to the upcoming Fallout 4, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the Far Cry franchise in the future.
Fallout 3 (PC)
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (PS3)
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This fruit is the main ingredient in the sauce served over peach melba
Yael Laura Jack
Show #978 - Wednesday, November 30, 1988
Yael Sofaer game 5.
Jack Lechner, a freelance writer originally from Arlington, Virginia
Laura Winters, a teacher from Northridge, California
Yael Sofaer, a programmer & analyst originally from Israel (4-day champion whose cash winnings total $47,401)
MUSICAL JONESES
"Sweet Thursday" was his sequel to "Cannery Row"
This joint is the juncture of the femur, tibia & patella
Teddy Roosevelt said, "In life, as in" this sport, "the principle to follow is: hit the line hard"
He guesses he's had about 5,000 room keys thrown his way during performances
In a TV interview she apologized to Vietnam vets for any hurt her anti-war activities caused them
The only place in the U.S. where you can use its stamps for postage is at its post office in New York City
Robert Louis Stevenson's unfinished masterpiece "Weir of Hermiston" was set in this, his native country
Almost all oxygen needed by the body is carried by the hemoglobin in these cells
State in which the Preakness is run
Rickie Lee Jones' only Top 10 hit told us "Chuck E.'s in" this
Raisa Gorbachev reportedly carries this credit card, even though we know who she is
MoMA sells cookie cutters shaped like the Sears Tower, the Guggenheim Museum & this Sydney landmark
This book is so long some people quit reading it before Pierre marries Natasha
This tube connects the back of the throat to the middle ear
This former Laker guard is second only to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in NBA playoff scoring
He wrote the theme songs for "The Bill Cosby Show", "Roots" & "Sanford and Son"
Recently L. Minnelli joined this famous, formerly all male club, but they haven't roasted her yet
2 of the 4 signs of the Zodiac which aren't mammals
Anna Sewell's only book, it was published just months before her death
An axon is the extended fiber of this type of cell
Manager who won more World Series games than any other
"Relative" moniker of Louis Marshall Jones, longtime favorite on "Hee Haw"
A group led by Madalyn Murray O'Hair wants to get these words removed from U.S. currency
A presidential candidate in 1948, this 85-year-old senator has represented South Carolina for over 33 years
His novel "The Third Man" was written originally as a screenplay
This secretion from the liver passes on to the gall bladder then to the small intestine
In soccer, this starts play at the beginning of a period or after a goal
Dubbed "The Dietrich of the New Decade", this provocative Jamaican has stunned crowds worldwide
She resigned as Screen Actors Guild president to produce a movie based on her autobiography
Encyclopedia Americana calls it the 1st real lighthouse; World Book calls it the tallest
$600 $300 $3,400
$2,800 $400 $3,900
(Alex: That's always popular on "Jeopardy!".)
"G.R."
1st animal alphabetically, its Afrikaans name comes from Dutch for "earth" & "little pig"
The reason this country gave for expansion was "lebensraum", or "living space" for a crowded populace
The 1815 Treaty of Vienna guaranteed this policy which Switzerland had adopted some time before
This traditional Christmas dish contains suet, currants & raisins but no plums
In 1983 she published "Hey, Get Back to Work", the autobiography of Roseanne Roseannadanna
The Indus, the chief river of Pakistan, gave its name to this Indian religion
During his U.S. visit in 1959, Khrushchev visited her at Hyde Park
Much of the milk produced in Switzerland is used to make emmentaler, which is this popular export
The 3 major types of this are sulphured, unsulphured & blackstrap
This dancer said of break dancing, "You can't dance on your head...it's like flying a plane on the ground"
The word "short" in shortbread is a shortened form of this word
The 1st commercial phone call sent via 1 of these was placed by LBJ to west European leaders in 1965
Its east entrance was guarded by cherubim
Switzerland's international airline, it's one of the few in Europe that's privately owned
It was a song title by itself, followed "My boy..." & was paired with roses
A player with fewer than 10 points in unmatched cards can lay down his hand in this game
Slip-on shoe with a rope sole, its name comes from spartum, a rope-producing plant
On August 24, 1939 "Lepke" Buchalter, "president" of this criminal org., surrendered to Walter Winchell
This false god was fashioned out of old jewelry
These 2 major rivers whose names differ by only 1 letter both rise in Switzerland
The name of this custard dessert with a caramel glaze is French for "burnt cream"
"If I've done anything, I've brought passion to television news," said this controversial talk show host
In Latin, it referred to a child in school or reflected in someone's eye
It's not known if the 1948 death of this country's foreign minister, Jan Masaryk, was murder or suicide
The 1st time Moses went up Mt. Sinai to take down God's word, he spent this much time there
This Latin name for Switzerland appears on Swiss postage stamps
DD: $5 11
Group that had its last Top 10 hit with the following:
Surveyor general of India from 1830-43, in 1865 a mountain was renamed in his honor
3rd place: DIA leather chair 2nd place: Jenn-Air grill-range & Maytag Jetclean dishwasher New champion: $9,000
(including 2 DDs) 9 R,
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North & East
MoBay entertainer 'Changa Changa' returns to court next month
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Robert Lee Young, otherwise called “Changa Changa” is to return to court on Friday, September 27 to answer to charges of resisting arrest and indecent language.
Young, a St James-based novelty entertainer, was charged following a July 12 incident in which he reportedly refused to comply with the instructions of a policeman, whose suspicion was said to be aroused by Young's behaviour, whilst on duty along Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in Montego Bay, St James.
It is reported that after being asked to allow the policeman to search a bag that he was carrying, Young refused and then shoved the policeman while uttering indecent language.
His case was mentioned in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday, July 31, where it was transferred to the Petty Sessions Court.
Young, a Rastafarian, who resides in the inner-city community of Flanker, has however denied all the allegations.
Meanwhile, the Coral Gardens Benevolent Society (CGBS) has called for all charges against Young to be dropped.
“Targeting, searching, arresting, and detaining Rastafari individuals must stop; the police must stop regarding and portraying members of the Rastafari community as criminals,” the CGBS said in a statement.
“The action of the police in this case is a stark reminder of the human abuses that were meted out to members of the Rastafari community during the State-sponsored atrocities of 1963. The Coral Gardens Benevolent Society has been at the forefront advocating for such atrocities to stop and that the constitutional rights of members of the Rastafari community be respected by agents of the State.”
The Jamaica Constabulary Force said in the meantime that it is committed to respecting the fundamental rights and practices of all groups within the society.
It is reminding members of the public that several pieces of legislation to include the Constabulary Force Act, the Road Traffic Act and the Town and Communities Act, confer the powers of search upon the police on the basis of reasonable suspicion, and as such, requests should be complied with. “Moreover, the law requires that members of the public comply with the requests of the police generally in all circumstances and refrain from behaviour that obstructs them from carrying out their duties,” the JCF said.
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PHOTO: MANCHESTER'S FIRST BORN IN 2020
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Root expects England revival as Paine looks forward to 'special' Lord's
London , United Kingdom (AFP) — England captain Joe Root is adamant his side will “come back strong” as they look to draw level in the Ashes.
Root's men head into the second Test at Lord's, starting today, 1-0 down in a five-match series — following a 251-run hammering by Australia at Edgbaston last week, and knowing another defeat would leave their hopes of regaining the Ashes hanging by a thread.
“Last week will have hurt everyone,” Root told reporters at Lord's yesterday. “Everyone will be absolutely desperate to go and win this week and I expect nothing less.
“We really back ourselves to perform and to come back strong. We've proven that we do that time and time again when we've been defeated, especially at home — and I'm expecting a big response from the boys.”
The Yorkshire batsman also said that England will have to think again about how to dismiss Australian batsman Steve Smith, who virtually won the first Test single-handedly with innings of 144 and 142.
“In the second innings we tried to chase things a little bit,” Root said.
“We maybe tried to be slightly too aggressive early on to him, let him get in. So I think we'll go about things slightly differently.”
'Great honour'
Today's match will see Smith and Tim Paine, who took over as Australia captain after the former was stripped of the leadership following the South Africa ball-tampering affair in 2018, back at the ground where they both made their Test debuts against Pakistan in 2010.
For Paine it has been a nine-year wait to return to the “home of cricket”.
“I'm rapt to be playing international cricket again and to have a second opportunity,” said the 34-year-old wicketkeeper.
“To have the captaincy is a great honour as well. It's certainly one I didn't want or expect, but doing the job now, I'm thoroughly enjoying it.”
Almost a decade on, Paine does not recall much from a Test debut that Australia won by 150 runs.
“I remember a lot of nerves. I don't remember a huge amount from the day...Ricky Ponting giving me my cap, and Steve (Smith), but I can't remember a word he said.
“Having made my Test debut here, that ground is always going to be special. But for it to be here, it's a special ground for all cricketers,” he added.
“We're rapt to be here; we love playing cricket at Lord's.”
Australia have a fine record at Lord's, having won 17 — including that win over Pakistan and another over South Africa in 1912 — and lost only seven of the 38 Tests they have played there since 1884.
An 18th win will all but ensure that Paine's Australians retain the Ashes.
Magic end Lakers' win streak, Sixers and Heat enjoy home cooking
I felt the love, says returning Bravo
Semi-finalists decided in ISSA Western Boys Basketball Champs
Three-year-olds to provide some Classic answers
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The biggest derby in the world
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Portmore, Waterhouse to fly Jamaica's flag in Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship
Coach urges budding athletes to strike balance between sports and academics
Pollard urges attention to detail ahead of St Kitts double-header
Longer jumper Gayle, sprinter Fraser-Pryce front-runners for top sports awards
Photo: Diving pains
Diving pains
Burrowes, Knibbs have rough opening day at Latin America Amateur Golf Champs
Jamaica could spring surprises in Rugby League World Cup, says coach
Volcanoes exhibit strong batting display against Scorpions
Horse of the Year 2019
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Year : 2016 | Volume : 3 | Issue : 3 | Page : 96--98
A Case of Large Carotid Body Tumor: Surgical Challenge
Amitabh Jena1, Gajjala Venkata Sivanath Reddy1, Vinay Kadiyala2, K Brinda2, Rashmi Patnayak3, Amit Kumar Chowhan3,
1 Department of Surgical Oncology, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
2 Department of Anesthesia, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
3 Department of Pathology, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
Dr. Amitabh Jena
Department of Surgical Oncology, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare benign tumors, but they do have a chance of turning into malignant tumors. Hence, the earliest mode of treatment is surgical resection. The high vascularity of the tumors poses a surgical and anesthetic challenge. Hereby, we present a successfully resected case of large CBT measuring 7 cm × 6 cm. In contrast-computed tomography angiogram of the neck, the hyperdense mass was noted in the left carotid space splaying the left internal carotid artery and external carotid artery. Conventional general anesthesia with controlled ventilation technique was used in the resection of this tumor. The final histopathology report was paraganglioma. She had an uneventful perioperative period and was doing well after 18 months of follow-up.
Jena A, Reddy GV, Kadiyala V, Brinda K, Patnayak R, Chowhan AK. A Case of Large Carotid Body Tumor: Surgical Challenge.Indian J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2016;3:96-98
Jena A, Reddy GV, Kadiyala V, Brinda K, Patnayak R, Chowhan AK. A Case of Large Carotid Body Tumor: Surgical Challenge. Indian J Vasc Endovasc Surg [serial online] 2016 [cited 2020 Jan 18 ];3:96-98
Available from: http://www.indjvascsurg.org/text.asp?2016/3/3/96/186726
Carotid body tumors (CBTs) or chemodectomas are rare, nonchromaffin paraganglioma. Their reported incidence is 1–2 per 100,000.[1],[2],[3] They take origin from chemoreceptor cells at the carotid artery bifurcation.[1],[2] The carotid body has autonomic control over the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Paraganglionic cells constitute carotid body sense pH, pO2, and pCO2 changes in the blood.[3] von Haller first described carotid body in the year 1743.[3] CBTs are painless, slow-growing and can invade or exert pressure on adjacent neurovascular structures.[3],[4] These tumors can present at any age and are seen in both genders with equal frequency.[3],[5] These tumor are benign and have a tendency to turn into malignant tumors [3]. Therefore, surgical excision is the earliest treatment of choice to avoid the local spread and metastasis.[6] Surgical resection remains a challenge as these neoplasms are highly vascular.
A 49-year-old woman presented with a swelling at the left side of neck of 1-year duration and pain for 1 week. There was no history of fever, loss of weight, or loss of appetite. She did not give any history of hypertension, tuberculosis, or diabetes. General physical examination showed no lymphadenopathy. On examination of the neck, a swelling of 7 cm × 6 cm was present on the left upper part [Figure 1]a and [Figure 1]b. It was soft in consistency, nonpulsatile, mobile horizontally, but mobility was restricted in vertical direction (Fontaine sign) with a bruit on auscultation.{Figure 1}
Ultrasonography of the neck showed a heterogeneous lesion with numerous vascular channels in the left paratracheal region with splaying of internal carotid artery (ICA) and external carotid artery (ECA); furthermore, the left internal jugular vein (IJV) was compressed. There were no enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Contrast-computed tomography angiogram of the neck showed intense hyperdense mass lesion measuring 8.3 cm × 5.6 cm in the left carotid space splaying the left ICA and ECA. A few enhancing areas suggestive of necrosis were noted within the mass. The lesion was supplied by ECA and its branches while the venous drainage of the lesion was into left IJV. Right carotid arteries were normal. Impression given was left CBT [Figure 2]a and [Figure 2]b.{Figure 2}
Conventional general anesthesia with controlled ventilation technique was administered. Intraoperative-induced hypotension was achieved with infusion of nitroglycerine 0.5 mcg/kg/min and clonidine 1 mcg/kg/h and adjusted to maintain the mean arterial blood pressure 80–90 mmHg and pulse rate 70–80 beats/min. Modified Schobinger incision given on the left side of neck and subplatysmal skin flaps raised. Firm irregular mass of size 8 cm × 6 cm was seen extending from 2 cm below carotid bifurcation up to the angle of mandible. It was encasing common carotid artery and proximal parts of both ICA and ECA. IJV was displaced laterally and was adherent to the mass. Left sternomastoid muscle was divided in the middle to get a better access to the tumor. The mass was separated from IJV using sharp dissection. Furthermore, it was dissected off from carotid arteries using sharp and blunt dissection and was excised in toto [Figure 3]a and [Figure 3]b. At the time of tumor dissection, there was an episode of bradycardia that was treated with intravenous administration of 0.6 mg atropine.{Figure 3}
Rest of the perioperative period was uneventful. The patient was kept under observation in the intensive care unit, and low molecular weight heparin was continued for 3 days. She was discharged on the sixth postoperative day. Her histopathology report was paraganglioma. It showed the characteristic organoid or Zellballen pattern with increased vascularity [Figure 4]. She was closely observed and is currently asymptomatic without local recurrence after a follow-up period of 18 months.{Figure 4}
CBTs are rare, slow-growing, painless, and benign tumors.[1],[2] However, complete surgical resection is recommended because of the tendency to turn into malignant tumors. The different modality of investigation for diagnosis of CBT is ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging. However, the gold standard for diagnosis is digital subtraction angiography.[3]
In our patient, initially, ultrasonogram was done as a routine investigation which gave the important clue about CBT. CT of the neck done in our case with contrast and angiogram clearly demonstrated the vascular nature of the tumor and feeding vessels which was from the ECA. Venous drainage of the lesion was into left IJV.
Some of the tumors such as medullary thyroid carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma, middle ear adenoma, meningioma, and schwannoma are considered in the differential diagnosis of CBT.[3]
In 1971, Shamblin et al. introduced a classification system to determine the resectability of CBT based on the proportion of carotid encirclement. Type I tumor had no encirclement; Type II had partial encirclement and were therefore more difficult to resect; Type III were associated with total encirclement and were the most dangerous type to attempt resection.[7] As these tumors grow, even benign CBT require resection to prevent compression of the carotid and surrounding structure.[7]
There has been controversy concerning the usefulness of preoperative embolization. According to some authors, a routine preoperative embolization can reduce blood flow and decrease tumor size, thereby facilitating and simplifying tumor excision with less blood loss, particularly in larger tumors (Shamblin Type II and III) but does not decrease rates of cranial nerve injury. Most of the cranial nerve injuries are transient.[8],[9],[10] Sen et al. observed higher rate of neurological complications with tumors of higher Shamblin groups. They also opined that preoperative embolization was not effective in reducing neurological complications.[11] We have operated this patient without embolization. Due to intraoperative hypotension (mean arterial blood pressure 80–90 mmHg) and pulse rate 70–80 beats/min and mild hypothermia (body temperature 34–35°C), tumor dissection was facilitated.
Careful neurological examination may reveal deficits of cranial nerves VII, IX, X, XI, or XII as cranial nerve involvement has been estimated as 20%.[8] This may cause symptoms such as dysphagia, odynophagia, and hoarseness because of the anatomical neighborhood mainly the vagus (X) and hypoglossal (XII) nerves and the carotid vessels.[12] Hypoglossal nerve and vagus nerve appeared to be most vulnerable due to handling during surgery. In our case, we had to dissect the tumor off carotid vessels, preserving the cranial nerves.
Biopsy is contraindicated in such patients for diagnostic method because of its vascular nature.[12] Surgery remains the primary treatment modality. Radiotherapy is indicated for very large size and recurrent tumors. It is also indicated for malignant transformation with metastasis to the regional lymph nodes.[13]
This case is reported because of its large size, highlighting difficulty in surgical and anesthetic management. However, despite the difficulties faced, the patient had a good outcome and was currently doing well.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
1 Sevilla García MA, Llorente Pendás JL, Rodrigo Tapia JP, García Rostán G, Suárez Fente V, Coca Pelaz A, et al. Head and neck paragangliomas: Revision of 89 cases in 73 patients. Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp 2007;58:94-100.
2 Jagtap SR, Bakhshi RG, Khatavkar SS, Phadtare SJ, Mohite SN. Carotid body tumour excision: Anaesthetic challenges and review of literature. Indian J Anaesth 2013;57:76-8.
3 Karigar SL, Kunakeri S, Shetti AN. Anesthetic management of carotid body tumor excision: A case report and brief review. Anesth Essays Res 2014;8:259-62.
4 van den Berg R. Imaging and management of head and neck paragangliomas. Eur Radiol 2005;15:1310-8.
5 Pacheco-Ojeda L. Malignant carotid body tumors: Report of three cases. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2001;110:36-40.
6 Luna-Ortiz K, Rascon-Ortiz M, Villavicencio-Valencia V, Granados-Garcia M, Herrera-Gomez A. Carotid body tumors: Review of a 20-year experience. Oral Oncol 2005;41:56-61.
7 Shamblin WR, ReMine WH, Sheps SG, Harrison EG Jr. Carotid body tumor (chemodectoma). Clinicopathologic analysis of ninety cases. Am J Surg 1971;122:732-9.
8 Lim JY, Kim J, Kim SH, Lee S, Lim YC, Kim JW, et al. Surgical treatment of carotid body paragangliomas: Outcomes and complications according to the shamblin classification. Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol 2010;3:91-5.
9 Power AH, Bower TC, Kasperbauer J, Link MJ, Oderich G, Cloft H, et al. Impact of preoperative embolization on outcomes of carotid body tumor resections. J Vasc Surg 2012;56:979-89.
10 David AW, Edwin S, Sadhu D, Agarwal S. Surgical management of carotid body tumors: A 15-year review. Indian J Surg 2006;68:257-61.
11 Sen I, Stephen E, Malepathi K, Agarwal S, Shyamkumar NK, Mammen S. Neurological complications in carotid body tumors: A 6-year single-center experience. J Vasc Surg 2013;57 2 Suppl: 64S-8S.
12 Sanli A, Oz K, Ayduran E, Aydin S, Altin G, Eken M. Carotid body tumors and our surgical approaches. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2012;64:158-61.
13 Naik SM, Shenoy AM, Nanjundappa, Halkud R, Chavan P, Sidappa K, et al. Paragangliomas of the carotid body: Current management protocols and review of literature. Indian J Surg Oncol 2013;4:305-12.
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Well, not bad…
England’s 3-0 victory against a pretty lame Estonia side was the minimum expectation. I said we should have scored six and we could have. Joe Cole’s opener was a goal to grace any international stage. And there was plenty of promise too but what must be worrying is that much of it was provided by David Beckham. I’m delighted to see him back in the England side. He should never have been dropped in the first place. But he cannot go on forever. His move to LA Galaxy might take the edge off certain of his abilities. Pace at a higher level might start to surprise him for instance. But his crossing, surely peerless in the world game to date, is something that comes from innate talent and perfected on a training ground. He will never lose it until he retires.
Beckham is so dangerous for any opposition because he is so unfailingly accurate. And from any distance you care to name. Sad to note that we would not be worried about Euro qualification had he remained in the team. Sadder that altrhough we have some fine potential in Lennon and Wright-Phillips, we do not have anyone who can hold a candle to DB in terms of accuracy and sheer reliability. It’s all very well running past defenders but if your crosses end up in Row H, you aren’t a whole lot of use. Beckham never bothered going past people. Why, when you can land the ball at your striker’s feet from fifty yards away?
Long may he play. But what will we do when he hangs up his boots?
3 Responses to “Well, not bad…”
Disagree slightly mate… I think MacLaren was right to give Terry a couple of Beckham-less games at the start in order to settle in to the captaincy without undue comparisons being drawn, but then after that, once we struggled to beat Macedonia 1-0, and then drew 0-0 away the alarm bells should have rung loud and long, and Beckham should have been brought back for Croatia onwards…
OK, well let’s agree that he shouldn’t have been dropped from the squad. I think Terry’s a big enough personality not to be undermined by DB. And I think England could/can ill-afford to worry about such things anyway given we actually don’t have a replacement in terms of ability, only in potential.
Hear, hear – stripped of captaincy (well, he’d already stepped down) but he should have remained in the squad, not necessarily playing every game, to give the youngsters a run around but as soon as the alarm bells started ringing (or the fans started booing), then ole Golden Balls should started warming up on the sidelines.
When he retires, England will really struggle until someone even close to his ability can be discovered.
Or they sort out the Stevie G / Fat Frank dilemma!
• June 7th, 2007 • Posted in Football • Comments: 3 •
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J Edu Health Promot 2019, 8:167
The effectiveness of an intervention program -barton intervention program- on reading fluency of Iranian students with dyslexia
Akbar Azizifar1, Majid Salamati2, Fathola Mohamadian3, Yousef Veisani4, Fariba Cheraghi4, Mostafa Alirahmi5, Sehat Aibod4
1 Department of Psycholinguistics, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, IR, Iran
2 Department of Surgery, Emam Khomini Hospital, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, IR, Iran
3 Department of Psychology, Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, IR, Iran
4 Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, IR, Iran
5 Department of Psychology , Mostafa Khomini Hospital, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, IR, Iran
Date of Submission 26-Jan-2019
Date of Acceptance 27-Apr-2019
Mr. Sehat Aibod
Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, P. O. Box: 69391.77143, Ilam, IR
DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_28_19
BACKGROUND: Difficulty with reading fluency has been increasingly acknowledged as a significant aspect of reading disabilities which is called dyslexia. To investigate this important issue, this research aims to examine the impact of an intervention program on reading fluency of dyslexic students.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research is an experimental one. The population of the study included all the second- and third-grade male and female students in the city of Ilam, Iran, among whom 68 students were recognized to be dyslexic using a screening inventory reading test (IRT) developed by Shafiei et al., in 2009, they were selected using purposeful sampling method. The students were equally divided and assigned into a control and an experimental group. The experimental group received the Barton intervention program for 10 weeks. The reading fluency test was administered for the measurement of reading fluency in pre- and post-tests. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and paired t-test.
RESULTS: The analysis of the finding through t-test found a statistically significant difference between the control and experimental groups after the intervention program at P < 0.01.
CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that the students who received the intervention program of the experimental group were improved in terms of their reading fluency.
Keywords: Intervention, reading disability, reading fluency
Azizifar A, Salamati M, Mohamadian F, Veisani Y, Cheraghi F, Alirahmi M, Aibod S. The effectiveness of an intervention program -barton intervention program- on reading fluency of Iranian students with dyslexia. J Edu Health Promot 2019;8:167
Azizifar A, Salamati M, Mohamadian F, Veisani Y, Cheraghi F, Alirahmi M, Aibod S. The effectiveness of an intervention program -barton intervention program- on reading fluency of Iranian students with dyslexia. J Edu Health Promot [serial online] 2019 [cited 2020 Jan 18];8:167. Available from: http://www.jehp.net/text.asp?2019/8/1/167/268103
Dyslexia as a type of learning disability was identified >100 years ago and before the term dyslexia came to prominence, this learning disability used to be known as word blindness.[1] Dyslexia can affect any part of the reading process, including difficulty with accurate or fluent word recognition, or both, word decoding, reading rate, prosody (oral reading with expression), and reading comprehension.[2]
According to Rose “Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory, and verbal processing speed”.[3]
It is believed that “Children and adults with dyslexia simply have a neurological disorder that causes their brains to process and interpret information differently.”[4] Dyslexic students read at a level well below the expected level for the age of the student, they have difficulty in the comprehension of rapid instructions and in following more than one command at a time and also in seeing and sometimes in hearing similarities and differences in letters and words, and they show inability to sound out the pronunciation of an unfamiliar word, of course, these are common in young children but may be more pronounced in children with dyslexia.[5]
Some experts believed that dyslexia arises from a phonological deficit affecting the processing of speech sounds in words.[6] Based on Snowling et al., early manifestations are difficulties with the development of phonological awareness and perhaps more so problems of phonological learning.[7] Van den Broeck and Geudens believed that problems with word recognition ensue together with phonological decoding deficits, seen most clearly when attempting to read novel words.[8] It is recognized that dyslexia co-occurs with other disorders; in particular, many children with dyslexia have language impairments,[9] symptoms of inattention,[10] attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,[11] and problems of motor coordination.[12]
According to Norton and Wolf, students with learning disability are most at risk in presenting difficulty in fluency.[13] Stevens et al. claimed that some students with learning disability can be characterized as having a specific deficit in naming speed, and this distinguishes them from students with learning disability that stem from phonological processing deficits.[14]
Reading fluency is most often defined as the ability to read text quickly, accurately, and with appropriate expression.[15] Children who read less because of their dysfluency may not improve their skills at the same rate as their more fluent peers.[16] Difficulty with reading fluency has been increasingly acknowledged as a significant aspect of reading disabilities. Recent conceptualizations by the International Dyslexia Association[17] also include reading fluency as an area of difficulty for individuals with dyslexia. One of the most important changes to the definition of dyslexia is the recognition that “what characterizes dyslexic individuals, particularly dyslexic adolescents and adults, is the inability to read fluently.”[17] Lopes believed that this definition refers to the fact that many adult dyslexics experience difficulties with reading fluency even after becoming accurate word readers.[18]
The prevalence of dyslexia in Iranian context is an important issue deserves to be scientifically investigated and since dyslexia seems to be underestimated in Iranian schools while we have a prevalence of dyslexia, no systematic study to date characterized the clinical presentation of dyslexia in Persian-speaking children. For this reason, we designed a study using a method to detect dyslexia among primary school students.
This is an experimental research. The population of the study included all the second- and third-grade male and female students in the city of Ilam among whom 68 students were recognized to be dyslexic using a screening inventory reading test (IRT) developed by Shafiei et al. in 2009, they were selected using purposeful sampling method. Their age ranged from 8 to 9 years. The students were equally divided and assigned into a control and an experimental group. The experimental group received the Barton intervention program for 10 weeks. The reading fluency test was administered for the measurement of reading fluency in pre- and post-tests. The reliability of the reading fluency test was found to be satisfactory. The validity of the test was investigated using the judgment of six psychology experts.
A reading fluency test was conducted in both groups as pretests. The intervention was applied in the experimental group, whereas the traditional method was applied in the control group. The reading fluency test was conducted in both groups as posttests.
In this study, a screening IRT developed by Shafiei et al., in 2009, was used to identify the second- and third-grade students with dyslexia. Two 120-word passages with 10 comprehension questions from the students' book were selected and were assigned to the students to read. By examining the students score on reading, the researcher found that students with dyslexia were lower than that of students without dyslexia. To examine their IQ, Raven's test was performed, and the students with an average IQ higher than 90 made up the population of this research. “Reading fluency” tests were conducted on both groups. The children were given verbal instructions on how to complete the reading fluency scale.[19] The researcher read the items aloud and was observing the students' understanding of the instrument.
For the collection of the data, a reading fluency test and a dyslexia screening instrument (DSI) were used.
Reading fluency test
The reading fluency test measures a person's ability to read simple sentences quickly, decide whether the statement is true or false, and then circle yes or no in the subject response booklet. The difficulty of the sentences gradually increases to a moderate level. The individual attempts to complete as many items as possible within a 3-min time limit. In the study of Joshi, Tao, Aaron, and Quiroz, the reading fluency test has median reliability of 0.90 in the age range of 6–19 and 0.90 in the adult age range. This test is a measure of reading speed, rate, and fluency. The test necessitates the ability to read and comprehend simple sentences quickly. Low performance on the reading fluency test may be a function of limited basic reading skills, comprehension difficulties, and or an inability to sustain concentration.[19] For this study, Cronbach's alpha reliability of the scale is 0.85 and the test–retest reliability for the reading fluency scale is 0.84. The validity of the test was investigated using the judgment of six psychology experts.
Dyslexia Screening Instrument
DSI consists of checklists of basic neuropsychological skills designed by Lemasters in 2004. This instrument is a rating scale designed to describe the cluster characteristics associated with dyslexia and to discriminate between students who display the cluster characteristics and students who do not. It is designed to measure “entire populations of students who exhibit reading, spelling, writing, or language-processing difficulties.”[20] The DSI is designed to be used with students in Grade 1 through 12 (age 6–21). The internal consistency reliability coefficient is 0.99 for elementary students, which was determined by Cronbach's coefficient alpha; and inter-rater reliability of the DSI for elementary students is 0.86 that was assessed by determining the homogeneity of the statements and the consistency of ratings across examiners. The teacher needs to complete the DSI form based on the questionnaire's five-point scale: never exhibits, seldom exhibits, sometimes exhibits, often exhibits, and always exhibits. In this study, Cronbach's alpha reliability for the DSI scale is 0.86.
Reading test
The reading tests were developed based on the content of second- and third-grade texts. The developed test was based on the amount of the content taught in the treatment. The tests were evaluated by the second- and third-grade teachers and they evaluated it as convenient. The test included a story of 120 related words followed by 10 questions to check the students' level of understanding. The students were required to read out the tests aloud and answer the questions. To determine the reliability, Cronbach's coefficient was employed. The reliability coefficients for the second- and third-grade reading tests are 0.85 and 0.87, respectively.
The Barton Intervention Program
The Barton intervention program[21] was used in this study. The Barton reading and spelling system includes 10 levels. Each level is broken into lessons and each lesson into procedures.[21] In this study, levels one and two were taught with some adjustments. The treatment lasted for 10 weeks 2 times a week.
Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation [SD]) and paired t-test and SPSS Inc. version 22, Chicago, III., USA.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an intervention program – Barton Intervention Program – on reading fluency of Iranian students with dyslexia. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 19.0. The pre-test and posttest results using reading fluency standardized tests are presented in [Table 1] and [Table 2]. The research question investigated whether Barton's intervention program improves the dyslexic children's reading fluency.
Table 1: Mean (standard deviation) difference of participants' scores in both experimental and control groups
Table 2: Mean (standard deviation) difference of participants' scores in each of experimental and control groups
The participants' mean and SD scores in both experimental and control groups are shown in [Table 1]. This table is an indication of the students' performance on both pre- and post-test. As shown in table, there is no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the pretest, but on posttest, there is a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001).{Table 1}
[Table 2] shows the mean and SD score of each group before and after the treatment. As shown in table, there is a statistically significant difference between the participants' mean (SD) score on pre- and post-test in the experimental group (P < 0.001), but in the control group, no difference is seen.{Table 2}
Tables show that after the intervention program, the mean for the experimental group is higher than that of the control group. The result from the t-test shows that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and the control group in reading fluency. This difference indicated that using intervention programs – here Barton intervention program – may have a positive effect on reading fluency of Iranian students with dyslexia.
To determine if there was a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-tests of reading fluency for the experimental group, tables show that there was a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-tests of reading fluency.
Dyslexia is a language processing disability that is to say those who have dyslexia have a weakness in one or more area of languages such as decoding, encoding, phonological awareness, word retrieval, and syntax. The problems of students with dyslexia in reading fluency were of the present study focus.
Research has not been able to identify one type of intervention as better than another for teaching at risk or dyslexic readers, although all methods seem to work for some learners. However, it has been found that early intervention, designed to improve the specific needs of the individual, reduces the prevalence of dyslexia compared to individuals who did not receive intervention or support. Students who had early intervention show better performance in reading fluency. It is also easier for them to catch up with their peers.[22],[23]
The results of the research show that the Barton intervention program has a positive effect on the reading fluency of students with dyslexia. Students who received the intervention program–the experimental group were improved in terms of their reading fluency, but for the control group, the results revealed that they had problems with reading fluency. There is a statistically significant difference in reading fluency between the control and experimental groups of students with dyslexia. It is statistically significant at P< 0.023.
The findings of this study showed that standardized intervention programs can improve the reading speed and also the fluency of the experimental group who received an intervention program – here Barton intervention program – as their treatment. Many researchers have argued that fluency is enhanced when reading addresses the meaning of the text.[24] In any case, for struggling readers and students with dyslexia, a fluency intervention and a comprehension intervention were both associated with gains in fluency and comprehension.[25] Intervention research on fluency development for students with dyslexia has been dominated by research on repeated reading. Reading fluency occurs phase by phase. After systematic learning of words and their sounds, the children employ it for the analysis of words.[18]
The better performance of the experimental group shows the importance of reading fluency in dyslexic students reading. It can be suggested that the Barton intervention program is a good alternative for the traditional methods. Since the result of this study has been based on limited sample care should be taken in overgeneralizing these results. For future research, it is suggested that this study be carried out on a wider scope and applied to students with other disabilities.
There are some limitations in this study. First, the scope of the study is limited to the city of Ilam only, and hence, the findings of this study cannot be generalized to the Iranian context safely so it is good to be done with a larger context which includes all the provinces of Iran. The study is limited just to the second- and third-grade students, it is suggested that first- and fourth-grade students be included.
This article was a part of M.A thesis in Islamic Azad University, Ilam branch with the code number of 63920312921009. For the collection of data, the researchers explained the purpose of research for participants to obtain informed consent. The researchers promised the participants that their data will be considered as confidential. We appreciate all of the honorable teachers of primary schools in Ilam and those who patiently participated and contributed in the present research, as well as those who cooperated with us in conducting this research.
The study was financially supported by Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Nourbakhsh S. The efficacy of multisensory method and cognitive skills training on perceptual performance and reading ability in learning and non-learning based tests of male dyslexic students in Tehran Iran. Asian J Soc Sci Hum 2014;3:1-22.
Sedaghati L, Foroughi R, Shafiei B, Maracy MR. Prevalence of dyslexia in first to fifth grade elementary students Isfahan, Iran. Audiology 2010;19:94-101.
Sumner E, Connelly V, Barnett AL. Children with dyslexia are slow writers because they pause more often and not because they are slow at handwriting execution. Reading Writing 2013;26:991-1008.
Palfiova M, Dankulincova Veselska Z, Bobakova D, Holubcikova J, Cermak I, Madarasova Geckova A, et al. Is risk-taking behaviour more prevalent among adolescents with learning disabilities? Eur J Public Health 2017;27:501-6.
Sánchez-Morán M, Hernández JA, Duñabeitia JA, Estévez A, Bárcena L, González-Lahera A, et al. Genetic association study of dyslexia and ADHD candidate genes in a Spanish cohort: Implications of comorbid samples. PLoS One 2018;13:e0206431.
Landerl K, Ramus F, Moll K, Lyytinen H, Leppänen PH, Lohvansuu K, et al. Predictors of developmental dyslexia in European orthographies with varying complexity. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2013;54:686-94.
Snowling MJ, Lervåg A, Nash HM, Hulme C. Longitudinal relationships between speech perception, phonological skills and reading in children at high-risk of dyslexia. Dev Sci 2019;22:e12723.
Van den Broeck W, Geudens A. Old and new ways to study characteristics of reading disability: The case of the nonword-reading deficit. Cogn Psychol 2012;65:414-56.
Ramus F, Marshall CR, Rosen S, van der Lely HK. Phonological deficits in specific language impairment and developmental dyslexia: Towards a multidimensional model. Brain 2013;136:630-45.
Snowling MJ, Hulme C. Annual research review: The nature and classification of reading disorders – A commentary on proposals for DSM-5. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2012;53:593-607.
McGrath LM, Pennington BF, Shanahan MA, Santerre-Lemmon LE, Barnard HD, Willcutt EG, et al. A multiple deficit model of reading disability and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Searching for shared cognitive deficits. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2011;52:547-57.
Snowling MJ, Melby-Lervåg M. Oral language deficits in familial dyslexia: A meta-analysis and review. Psychol Bull 2016;142:498-545.
Norton ES, Wolf M. Rapid automatized naming (RAN) and reading fluency: Implications for understanding and treatment of reading disabilities. Annu Rev Psychol 2012;63:427-52.
Stevens EA, Walker MA, Vaughn S. The effects of reading fluency interventions on the reading fluency and reading comprehension performance of elementary students with learning disabilities: A synthesis of the research from 2001 to 2014. J Learn Disabil 2017;50:576-90.
Nowicki EA, Brown JD. “A kid way”: Strategies for including classmates with learning or intellectual disabilities. Intellect Dev Disabil 2013;51:253-62.
da Costa BG, da Silva KS, George AM, de Assis MA. Sedentary behavior during school-time: Sociodemographic, weight status, physical education class, and school performance correlates in Brazilian schoolchildren. J Sci Med Sport 2017;20:70-4.
Mascheretti S, De Luca A, Trezzi V, Peruzzo D, Nordio A, Marino C, et al. Neurogenetics of developmental dyslexia: From genes to behavior through brain neuroimaging and cognitive and sensorial mechanisms. Transl Psychiatry 2017;7:e987.
Lopes J. Biologising reading problems: The specific case of dyslexia. Contemp Soc Sci 2012;7:215-29.
Joshi RM, Tao S, Aaron PG, Quiroz B. Cognitive component of componential model of reading applied to different orthographies. J Learn Disabil 2012;45:480-6.
Lemasters SJ. The Comparative Analysis of the Dyslexia Screening Instrument and the Dyslexia Screening Tool; 2004.
Barton S. The Barton Reading and Spelling System©. San Jose, CA: Bright Solutions for Dyslexia; 2000.
Slavin RE, Lake C, Davis S, Madden NA. Effective programs for struggling readers: A best-evidence synthesis. Educ Res Rev 2011;6:1-26.
van der Niet AG, Smith J, Scherder EJ, Oosterlaan J, Hartman E, Visscher C. Associations between daily physical activity and executive functioning in primary school-aged children. J Sci Med Sport 2015;18:673-7.
Mihandoost Z, Elias H, Nor S, Mahmud R. The effectiveness of the intervention program on reading fluency and reading motivation of students with dyslexia. Asian Soc Sci 2011;7:187.
Klingner JK, Vaughn S, Boardman A. Teaching Reading Comprehension to Students with Learning Difficulties. 2nd ed. Guilford Publications; 2015.
[Table 1], [Table 2]
Azizifar A
Salamati M
Mohamadian F
Veisani Y
Cheraghi F
Alirahmi M
Aibod S
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What is Khilafah?
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Serving the Ummah since 1996
Social System
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PART 3: The alternative to the Jizyah
written by Sheikh Muhammad Haykal
We have taken up this issue for the purpose of presenting the point of view of Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Abi Zahrah (Rahimahullah) in regards to generalising or extending the Fareedah (obligation) of Az-Zakaah upon non-Muslims in the same way that it is obligatory upon Muslims. This is as a substitute for the Jizyah that is obligatory upon them.
Ash-Sheikh Abu Zahrah states the following in the paper drafting the law of Zakaah which was presented to the Egyptian House of Representatives in the year 1367 Hijri (1947):
“Zakaah in origin is not obligatory except upon the Muslim and it is not obligatory upon any non-Muslim except with some of the Shi’ah. However, it is necessary for the Islamic States to meet the need of those in need from amongst the non-Muslims. So the Islamic social solidarity is spread and not restricted to one faction and not another because it is a mercy from Allah and the Rahmah (mercy) covers all… And ‘Umar (ra) used to spend upon the non-Muslims from the Jizyah revenues.
And now the Jizyah is not obliged and so nothing remains except for the Zakaah to be obliged upon them in accordance with the law of equality. That which is taken from them returns to them and above that the Zakaah is a general Sharee’ah in respect to all the revealed religions and our non-Muslim neighbours are from those who belong to a revealed religion” (The contract of Adh-Dhimmah in the Islamic legislation, Muhammad ‘Abdul Haadi Al-Maturdiy, p230).
I say: Irrespective of the ways mentioned by Ash-Sheikh Abu Zahrah to support his suggestion of extending the Fard of Az-Zakaah to cover non-Muslims from amongst the Islamic subjects, the question that concerns here is: Is it permissible for the Islamic State if it views that there exists a Maslahah (interest/benefit) to contract the Dhimmah with a people from amongst the different non-Islamic peoples upon the basis of obliging the Zakaah upon them in equality with the Muslims whilst considering it as a replacement for the obliged Jizyah and if its naming was changed from Jizyah to Zakaah or Sadaqah?
The answer to this question is: That the majority of the Fuqahaa have permitted that for the Imaam (leader) when the Maslahah calls for that although there are differences in the details of this Mas’alah and it does not fall within the scope of our presentation to delve into them.
It was mentioned in ‘Fat’h-ul-Qadeer’ of the Hanafi Fiqh, in relation to the discussion about the Jizyah that is put upon the Ahlu-dh-Dhimmah by way of treaty or agreement that: “Jizyah is laid down by mutual consent/agreement and by treaty upon it, so it is evaluated according to what is agreed and it is not added to keep it from excuse. Its origin (i.e. this kind of Jizyah) is the Sulh (treaty) of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم with the people of Najraan upon the payment of 200 Hullah (an amount) annually and they were Christians residing close to Yemen.
Abu Daawood recorded from ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbaas (ra) that he said: ‘The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم made a treaty with the people of Najraan upon them paying 2000 Hullah, half of it in the month of Safar and the other half in Rajab’ (Abu Daawood 3041, 227/3, refer to: ‘Jaami’ Al-Usool, 636-637/2). And ‘Umar (ra) made a treaty with the Christians of Bani Taghlib upon the basis of taking from every one of them double of what is taken from the Muslims from the obligatory property/wealth (Maal), and so he committed to that… (Fat’h ul-Qadeer: 44/6, refer to the report of Bani Taghlib in Kitaab Al-Kharaaj of Abi Yousuf 129-130 and in ‘Kitaab ul-Amwaal’ of Abi ‘Ubaid, p20).
Note: In the Haashiyah of Ibn ‘Aabideen: 432/3: “Taghlib Bin Waa’il Bin Rabee’ah: A people who became Christian in the time of Jaahiliyah and they lived close to the Roman lands. They abstained from paying the Jizyah so ‘Umar made a treaty upon the basis of double our Zakaah. So although it is Jizyah in meaning it is not observed by its conditions but rather the conditions of Az-Zakaah and its conditions…”
The Hanabalah have concurred with the Ahnaaf in regards to that and so the Zakaah is taken from the Dhimmi person for example based on what has been said… Refer to Al-Mughni of Ibn Qudaamah, 591-592/10. As for the Shaafi’iyah then they said: And if the Jizyah is taken with the naming of the Zakaah and measurement of Zakaah it is observed according to the conditions of the Jizyah so it is not taken from the Maal (property) of a person or from a boy for example… Refer to: Al-Mughni Al-Muhtaaj 202/4).
In regards to this I say: When the agreement proceeds upon the basis of what is contracted upon in the Dhimmah is taken like (for example) the amount that is taken from the Muslims in Zakaah, not more and not less. Then this is permitted due to the Hukm (ruling) that the Jizyah of the type that is contracted by way of mutual consent and treaty is only observed in accordance to that which has been agreed upon.
Ibn Rushd discussed this type of Jizyah and stated: “It is that which is donated so that they are refrained from (i.e. fighting). And this does not have a timing (i.e. defined limitation) in regards to the Waajib (obligatory), or who it is obligatory upon and when it necessary to be paid. Rather all of this is referred back to the agreement that has occurred between the Muslims and the people of treaty” (Bidaayat-ul-Mujtahid, Ibn Rushd 101/6 and refer to Zaaad Al-Ma’aad of Ibn ul-Qayyim: 643/3).
I say that this is Al-Jizyah As-Sulhiyyah (Jizyah of treaty) as well based on these words, when the agreement is completed on the premise that runs according to the basis of the rules of the Shar’i Zakaah that applies to the Muslims. Therefore this is a legal/legitimate matter.
It was stated in ‘Al-Muhadh’dhab’ from the Shaafi’iy Fiqh: “If a people abstain from giving the Jizyah with the name of Jizyah and say: We will give it with the name of Sadaqah (i.e. Zakaah) and the Imaam viewed that it (Jizyah) can be taken with the naming of Sadaqah, this is permissible because the Arab Christians said to ‘Umar (ra) that: We will not give what the non-Arabs give but rather take from us with the naming of Sadaqah like the naming given to that which is taken from the Arabs! So ‘Umar (ra) refused this and said: I do not approve except the Jizyah for you. So they said: Take from us double that which is taken from the Muslims. So he refused this from them (as well). They wanted to be attached to the Daar ul-Harb (land of war) so Zur’ah Bin Nu’maan or Nu’maan Bin Zur’ah said to ‘Umar: Bani Taghlib are Arabs and they possess force so take from them (these Christians) like what they (Bani Taghlib) have given and don’t let them join with your enemy. So ‘Umar made a treaty with them upon double the amount of the Zakaah..” (Al-Muhadh’dhab, Ash-Sheeraaziy: 250251/2).
It was stated in Al-Mughni Al-Muhtaaj in relation to this: “And he took the Jizyah using the name of Sadaqah and none of the Sahaabah objected to him (i.e, ‘Umar) and so it was and Ijmaa’ (consensus) and a permanent Dhimmah was contracted for them… And the most correct view is that there is no difference in regards to this between the Arabs and non-Arabs… He then said: And its doubling is not specified…” (Mughni Al-Muhtaaj: 251-252/4).
The following was stated in Ibn Qudaamah’s Al-Mughni of the Hanbali fiqh: “Banu Taghliba Bin Waa’il are from the Arabs by way of Rabee’ah Bin Nizaar. In the times of Jaahilliyah (pre-Islaam) they became Christians so ‘Umar invited them to give the Jizyah but they refused and were adamant about it! They said: We are Arabs! Take from us like you take from amongst yourselves with the naming of Sadaqah. So ‘Umar said: I will not take Sadaqah from a Mushrik. So some of them aligned themselves with the Romans. Then Nu’maan Bin Zur’ah said: O Ameer Al-Mu’mineen these people possess a strength and power and they are Arabs and resist the Jizyah so don’t let your enemy be aided (strengthened) by them. Take the Jizyah from them with the naming of Sadaqah. So ‘Umar looked into their demands and agreed to make it double upon them. So this became settled by ‘Umar and none of the Sahaabah opposed him and as such it became an Ijmaa’ (consensus). And the Fuqahaa after the Sahaabah held this view and they included: Ibn Abi Laylaa, Al-Hasan Bin Saalih, Abu Haneefah, Abu Yousuf, Ash-Shaafi’iy….” (Al-Mughni. Ibn Qudaamah, 590/591/10).
So the above illustrates what the State can do when observing different circumstances and sensitivities whilst it carries Islaam and invites foreign nations and people to enter into it and under its rule so as to experience the great qualities of Islaam which in time will lead them to desire Islaam and to enter into it.
It is an obvious fact that it is not from the legitimate ideals to cause harm to the Ahlu-dh-Dhimmah whether this is by a word or an act. Indeed the Fuqahaa have written in respect to the Dhimmi: “It is prohibited (Haraam) to backbite the Dhimmi like a Muslim because he has been contracted with the Dhimmah, he has obligatory rights that which we have so as it is prohibited to backbite a Muslim it is likewise prohibited to backbite him. Indeed they said: The oppression of the Dhimmi is worse!” (Haashiyah, Ibn ‘Aabideen, 386/3).
Just as they mentioned that the Muslim is prevented from saying to the Dhimmiy: O Kaafir! (Disbeliever) or O Enemy of Allah! So as to cause harm or offense to him by use of these expressions and the Muslim deserves a discretionary punishment (Ta’zeer) upon doing this (Haashiyah, Ibn ‘Aabideen, 418/3).
The warning in respect to causing abuse to the Ahlu-dh-Dhimmah in a general manner falls under the forbiddance of the Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم in regards to oppressing them or lessening from them in an absolute manner. This is according to his صلى الله عليه وسلم’s statement:
“Indeed, verily whoever oppresses a person under covenant, lessens from him, burdens him above his capabilities or takes something from him without sincere motivations then I will be his opponent (bringing proof against him) on the Day of Judgment!” (Sunan Abu Daawood 3052 related from a number of the companions of the Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم and Al-Albaani verified it as Saheeh in his book).
Upon this understanding if the Islamic State views that non-Muslims have the desire to enter into the Dhimmah of the Muslims on the basis that it is not with the wording of ‘Al-Jizyah’ due to them finding in it and the money that is committed to it as something that belittles them or lessens them in a manner degrading their right or what they deserve. Then I say: When the Islamic State views this situation then there is no harm in accordance to the Maslahah (benefit/interest) to replace the word ‘Jizyah’ with the wording of ‘Zakaah’ built upon the wishes of the non-Muslims themselves and to apply equally upon them and the Muslims the rulings of Zakaah equally even if the consideration of this commitment differs between the two parties in respect to the Zakaah.
The Muslims commit to the Zakaah on the basis that it is an indispensable ‘Ibaadah (act of worship) from amongst the acts of worship.
Whilst the non-Muslims commit to it upon the basis that it is a Dareebah (tax) from amongst the taxes that are necessary to be given.
Additionally, the Ijmaa’ of the Sahaabah in relation to replacing the Jizyah with Zakaah in regards to Bani Taghlib, is the best Daleel (evidence) for the legality of this course of action. (Note: In the year 89 Hijri in the time of Al-Waleed Bin Abdul-Maalik a contract of Dhimmah was made with non-Arabs called ‘Al-Jaraajimah’ (In Shaam/near Lebanon) upon conditions and in relation to what relates to our discussion the following was mentioned in the contract: “That they will be taken from in regards to their trade and property in the same way as the Muslims are taken from”… and the conditions also stated: “That they can settle anyway that they wish to within Ash-Shaam…and that they have to wear the clothing of the Muslims…!” Futooh Al-Buldaan, Al-Baladhariy p165-166).
The above is a draft translation from the book: ‘Al-Jihad wa’l Qital fi as-Siyasa ash-Shar’iyya’ by Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Khayr Haykal.
Filed under: Non-Muslims
Previous PostPART 2: Which non-Muslims can become dhimmi and what are the conditions of the Jizya?
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2014 WJC Video: Leon Draisaitl, Germany
By Chapin Landvogt
Photo: Prince Albert Raiders forward and 2014 prospect Leon Draisaitl scored at a point-per-game pace during the 2014 World Juniors despite missing time due to penalties and suspensions (courtesy of Chapin Landvogt/HF)
While the goal may have been modest, Germany's 2014 World Junior Championship entry managed to maintain their place among hockey's top countries at the U20 level by virtue of their winning a best-of-three, relegation round series over a tough Norway squad. By virtue of their win, Germany will take part in the 2015 WJC that will be held in Toronto, ON and Montreal, QC a year from now, while Norway once again drops down to the Division 1A WJC.
The Germans didn't start the series particularly well, dropping a 3-0 decision to the Norwegians in the opening game. And after two periods of the second game, it looked like Norway just might pull off the upset as they were leading Germany, 3-2, heading into the final stanza. But the Germans, led by talented power forward Leon Draisaitl, came back to win that game 4-3, then secured their place at next year's U20 WJC with a 3-1 win on medal day at the 2014 WJC.
For Draisaitl, this tournament was a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, he played well when he was in the lineup. But staying in the lineup was the problem for the big German, who plays for the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders. Draisaitl received game misconducts twice and was suspended once over the course of this tournament, depriving him of valuable ice time and his team of its best player.
Overall, Draisaitl, who is a top prospect for the 2014 NHL Draft, netted two goals and added four assists in six games. He finished second on the team in scoring behind linemate, Dominik Kahun.
Draisaitl spoke with Hockey's Future following the clinching win over Norway, a conversation that is captured in this HF video.
Follow Chapin Landvogt on Twitter via @Csomichapin
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Dr. Lucinda P. Lawson, Ph.D. - Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation Biologist
National Geographic Tanzanian blog
EVST1012
National Geographic expeditions to Tanzanian montane grasslands 2017-2019
Conservation of Mountain Apex Grasslands and associated ecotones: Biological surveys of overlooked but critical habitats of Udzungwa and Uluguru Mountains
The challenge of new species
Hyperolius cf. pusillus
One of the most exciting parts of working in biologically diverse and understudied areas such at the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania is finding new species! However, it can often be a very confusing process to decide if something is truly new. In reality, we often end up listing these as "cf. somethingsomething" which comes from the Latin word "conferre" meaning “compare to” or “confer.” For instance, this little guy is currently listed as Hyperolius cf. pusillus. While these frogs look something like H. pusillus, their call is different and they are found in the wrong habitat and in the wrong region of the country - thus we think they aren't really H. pusillus at all! Now begins the long hard work of describing a new species.
The first step of describing a new species is figuring out what it ISN'T. Figuring out what it isn't requires us to compare this frog to other similar frogs to determine if we can rule them out. In modern herpetology, we employ a wide variety of techniques to characterize a species and sample a number of individuals in order to understand within-species variation in relation to between-species variation. We take morphological measurements of every aspect of these little frogs, we document coloration and variation (some species are hyper-variable even within a single clutch of eggs), we record calls, we sample DNA, and we document habitat type and distribution. Finally, we take all of this information into account and compare to all other similar species - noting ways in which they are similar and ways in which the differ.
Hyperolius howelli
Hyperolius frogs are a particularly difficult genus to work in because the ways in which they vary between species change a lot throughout their phylogenetic tree. In some groups of Hyperolius, many different species of frogs look incredibly similar and thus multiple lines of evidence are necessary to understand which are different species and which aren't (e.g., Hyperolius nasutus/acuticeps complex - preliminary clarification in Channing et al. 2013). See the picture on the left of H. howelli, a member of this complex named after one of the modern giants of East African Herpetology Dr. Kim Howell from the University of Dar es Salaam.
Variation within Hyperolius substriatus.
Other species have incredible variation within single populations and throughout their ranges, such as Hyperolius substriatus found throughout mid-elevation forests in East Africa (right). Though challenging when doing biodiversity surveys, new species are incredibly exciting and incredibly valuable for conservation planning. When formulating a plan for conservation, if scientists can clarify that three species with small ranges exist instead of one broadly distributed species, for instance, then conservation biologists can create more targeted action plans for these vulnerable species.
-Lucinda Lawson
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It is interesting to see a new species being discovered. In the past, I thought that we had no other species to find out about, and I am glad that I was wrong. As a scientist, I always want to make new discoveries. I mean, the world is a huge place, every time we unravel something new, it feels like we get close to unlocking the secrets of the Earth. I hope that we found more new stuff to discover.
Dr. Lucinda Lawson
Dr. Simon Loader
Dr. Michele Menegon
Dr. Christoph Leidke
John Lyakurwa, MS
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The lightweight YZF-R3 is an ideal entry point for supersport riders and a seamless solution for YZF-R15 or other small capacity owners who are looking to move up.
Its powerful new 321cc twin cylinder engine and lightweight chassis benefit from the most advanced technology you'll find in the class. Which means that every time you get on your new R3, you just know it's going to be like nothing else.
The YZF-R3 is a stylish and practical performance model that’s ready to open up the world of R-series to a new generation of riders who are looking for cutting edge design combined with exciting performance and excellent value.
*Images are shown for reference only, product specifications and data are subject to change without notice.
The new YZF-R3 engine has been designed using cutting-edge technology that has already helped to establish the R1 and R6 as two of the most respected supersport models available today. The result is that this new inline 321cc DOHC 4-valve engine has a sporty free-revving character with strong performance across the range.
The R3 is equipped with a newly designed steel diamond-type tubular frame that has been developed using the latest structural analysis technology. Its main tubes are 35mm diameter steel pipe, and the compact 321cc engine acts as a stressed member and features three rigid mounts and one rubber mount.
The R3 is equipped with front forks using sturdy 41mm diameter tubes, the largest in the class, and is fitted with an aluminium handlebar crown and under bracket. Offering 130mm of front wheel movement, these forks are designed to deliver smooth action combined with a good feeling of rigidity that helps to ensure confident and predictable handling.
The YZF-R3’s fairing features twin headlights with a reverse slant design that gives this new supersport bike a distinctive image that, while clearly part of the R-series family, has its own unique look. Between the lights is a centrally located air duct reminiscent of the YZR-M1 and YZF-R6, further strengthening the family ties.
The 10-spoke lightweight wheels are complemented with a large diameter 298mm floating front disc with a two-pot caliper, and a 220mm rear disc with single pot caliper that give smooth, strong and progressive braking performance. ABS is fitted as standard equipment.
More R-series styling influence is evident in the R3’s short 2-into-1 muffler that has a distinctive R6 style about it. This compact muffler is positioned close to the machine’s centre of gravity to give improved mass centralisation, thereby contributing towards the bike’s agile handling character. Equipped with a triple expansion chamber and oxygen sensor, this stylish muffler emits a sporty exhaust note to complement the R3’s performance-focused character.
The multi-function instrument panel includes an analogue tachometer and digital speedometer – and to underline its strong R-series heritage the R3’s instruments feature a shift timing indicator lamp similar to the design used on the YZF-R1. There’s also a gear position indicator, fuel gauge, water temperature gauge as well as fuel economy information, clock, tripmeters and more.
Yamaha Blue
Vivid White
Liquid cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve
68.0 × 44.1 mm
Final Transmission
Constant mesh 6-speed
Wet Weight
169 kg with 14 litres of fuel
Telescopic fork, 130mm travel
Swingarm, 125mm travel
Hydraulic disc, 298mm with ABS
110/70-17M/C 54H(Tubeless)
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Origins of Cold as Balls and Cold as a Witch’s Tit
February 13, 2016 November 9, 2019 Mr. Local History
Someone asked the question “Where did the term cold as balls come from and why do they say it?” That got us to thinking about another saying, Cold as a Witch’s tit. We had our mission.
It’s a dying term, but people still asked….
Man It’s Cold as Balls!
The term Cold as Balls is not what you think. It’s an interesting tale.
Cold as balls is an interesting term. My daughter even says it! You hear it all the time but most guys then respond with; “My balls aren’t cold, so what the heck does cold as balls mean?” Cold as balls as it’s referred to in the urban dictionary suggests that Cold as Balls is; “Describing something that is so cold it makes your balls shrivel”. Some say it’s just a new version of Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.
Additional references indicate that back in the day there were brass triangles that supported stacks of iron cannon-balls on sailing ships that were called monkeys. In cold weather the metal contracted, causing the balls to fall off the triangle. That makes too much sense. And how about the opposite Hot as Balls. Most men can relate to that one so we’re not going to go there right now.
The only consensus to the explanation of this expression is that there is no consensus.
Cold as a Witch’s Tit
The term cold as a witches tit goes back to the days of the Salem Witches
Back to Urban Dictionary. Now for those fans of American Horror Story, witches are nothing like they were described back in Salem, Massachusetts. They were hot babes. Nonetheless, witches typically are categorized more as the Halloween like hags of night brewing cauldrons of neut with a high pitched shreaky voice.
Back in Salem during the 1600’s, Witch’s were protrayed as old hags with wrinkly skin and icy blood. So the phrase “…colder than a witch’s tit…” was used during very cold weather because of the reference to their cold blood and skin.
A few sources quote that a witch’s tit (or witch’s teat) supposedly left a marking that witch hunters and courts would look for on the body of an accused witch. Supposedly, witches would suckle their familiars, and sometimes the Devil himself, from this “unholy” body part. To find these marks, as well as insensitive spots on the skin called devil’s marks–caused by the Devil’s claws or teeth–the suspects were stripped, shaven, then closely examined for any blemishes, moles, or even scars that could be labeled as diabolical.
To find marks invisible to the eye, the examiner would poke the victim inch by inch with a blunt needle (called a bodkin) until they found a spot that didn’t feel pain or bled. Discovery of these marks or spots–one supposes they would be considered cold since they were a sign of communion with the Devil–would be “proof” of the person’s dealings with Scratch, so they would be shown in full court before the execution.
Who Told You?
What were you told?
Are there any other phrases that identify weather (hot or cold)?
Grab Bag, History, Holiday, Vol 1 Issue 4 - HolidayCold as a witches tit, Cold as Balls
Best Crumb Cake in New Jersey – Discuss Now
Michael Lewis – Characters of The Big Short
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EDIT GALLERY BLOCK
Developing public relations and name recognition for your business
Developing employee leadership skills
Improving employee morale and corporate citizenship
Improving your understanding of the public schools
Receiving tax deductions for donations of materials
MSD seeks partnerships for:
Family and community outreach
Crisis assistance and prevention
Management and government
Student and family support
We work with many great community partners to provide programs and resources that benefit students, families and staff.
OPPORTUNITY EXPO
The Expo is a dynamic college, career, and preparedness for life event for over 1,100 high school students.
As a partner in the education and leadership development for high school students, and to help them plan for and prepare for life after graduation, we invite you to join us at Opportunity Expo 2019
This year’s Expo promises to be even bigger and more interactive. We encourage college, career, tech and trade, businesses, service organizations, and programs seeking volunteers to consider bringing interactive displays, hands on activities, or handouts to engage students. Colleges and universities are encouraged to have their school’s mascot accompany them to the event.
Expo Brochure | Student Passport | Student Planner (fillable form for planning)
My Achievers Program (MAP)
Diversifying Pathways
A dynamic program designed to motivate and support youth of all backgrounds to achieve higher education and career goals. Students participate in weekly sessions at their school or a the Y for academic help, as well as monthly field trips to colleges, career opportunities, and community service. Limited after school transportation is available.
Marysville Pilchuck High School | Tuesdays | 2:30-5:30 pm
Marysville YDC | Thursdays | 3-5:30 pm
The Diversifying Pathways Program is a partnership between Everett Public Schools, University of Washington Bothell, Everett Community College, and Marysville School District. The goal of this collaborate work is to develop and sustain cross-institutional partnerships that support seamless academic student pathways for North Puget Sound residents from under-represented communities into teaching and healthcare careers.
Video: English || Spanish
Girls of Promise
Marysville Together Coalition
Girls of Promise® is a program created to encourage girls to continue pursuing higher-level science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses past eighth grade, with goals towards careers in these fields. We meet at Totem Middle School and Cedarcrest Middle School during lunch period.
Watch videos to learn more: WE || Walk for Water The Marysville Together Coalition is a group of volunteers from across the community who work together to improve the lives of youth and families in the Marysville and Tulalip community. The survey assesses risky behaviors in youth including drug and alcohol use and student safety.
Watch videos to learn more: Mental Health Panel
Everett Community College
Everett Community College collaborates with Marysville School District in a variety of ways including but not limited to: Diversifying Pathways Project, Students of Color Conference, Running Start, and College in the High School. Washington State University collaborates with Marysville School District in a variety of ways.
University of Washington Bothell
UW Bothell Collaborates with Marysville School District in a variety of ways namely to develop and sustain cross-institutional partnerships that support seamless academic student pathways for North Puget Sound residents from under-represented communities into teaching and healthcare careers.
YMCA Naval Station Everett
The Marysville YMCA collaborates with Marysville School District in a variety of ways. Marysville School District is proud to serve our Naval Families.
Tulalip Tribes Rotary
Tulalip Tribes collaborates with Marysville School District in a variety of ways to insure quality education for students. The Rotary Student of the Month and Rotary Service Award are two of examples of the partnership between the Rotary Club of Marysville and Marysville School District.
Marysville School District Foundation City of Marysville
The Marysville School District Foundation awards scholarships to children of Marysville School District employees to high school seniors and high school graduates who are within 5 years of having graduated high school and have not previously received this scholarship.
Under a partnership between the city and the Marysville School District, Marysville police have a school resource officer (SRO) program that puts police in middle and high schools within the city limits of Marysville to create a safer learning environment. SROs primarily deal with law enforcement and student safety.
Marysville Library
INSPIRE AND PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO SUCCEED
JA's volunteer-delivered, kindergarten-12th grade programs foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, and use experiential learning to inspire students to dream big and reach their potential.
Did you know? The Marysville Public Library is a great local resource for families and is a great partner in the education of youth in our community. Part of the Sno-Isle Library Systems, the library provides homework help, classes for parents, and of course is a great place to check out books and participate in other activities for children, teens, and adults. Learn more at https://www.sno-isle.org/locations/marysville
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Year : 2018 | Volume : 15 | Issue : 4 | Page : 320--325
Impact of elevated red cell distribution width on patients with acute myocardial infarction
Sami R Al-Katib1, Mohammed S Abdul-Zahra2, Basim A Abd3,
1 Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq
2 Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq
3 Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Babylon University, Hilla, Iraq
Basim A Abd
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Babylon University, Hilla
Background: Red cell distribution width�(RDW) is an important parameter that has a critical impact on the severity of coronary artery disease, especially on that of acute myocardial infarction�(AMI). Objective: This study was aimed to determine the effect of elevated RDW on the outcome of AMI. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective, case–control study conducted on two groups of participants; the first group�(cases) comprised 87�patients suffering from AMI, while the second one�(controls) comprised an equal number of patients having stable angina. Matching of controls to patients was done according to age�(within 5�years) and gender. The study extended from the beginning of October 2017 to the end of March 2018. Participants in both groups were collected from Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital and Merjan Medical City at Iraqi Najaf and Babylon Governorates, respectively. RDW values were determined by the use of hematological auto-analyzer. Results: Statistically significant differences found between the study groups regarding RDW�(P =�0.0001, odds ratio�[OR] = 9.481, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.127–17.535) and cardiac troponin I�(cTnI)�(P =�0.0001, OR�=�1.325, 95% CI�=�1.109–1.584). Strong positive correlation was found between RDW and cTnI�(r =�0.272, P =�0.0001). Other measured parameters which are age, gender, history of hypertension, diabetes and smoking, body mass index, hemoglobin�(Hb), packed cell volume, mean cell volume, and mean cell Hb concentration all showed no significant differences between the study groups regarding them. Conclusion: RDW owns substantial diagnostic and prognostic value that can aid in the management of AMI patients.
Al-Katib SR, Abdul-Zahra MS, Abd BA. Impact of elevated red cell distribution width on patients with acute myocardial infarction.Med J Babylon 2018;15:320-325
Al-Katib SR, Abdul-Zahra MS, Abd BA. Impact of elevated red cell distribution width on patients with acute myocardial infarction. Med J Babylon [serial online] 2018 [cited 2020 Jan 18 ];15:320-325
Available from: http://www.medjbabylon.org/text.asp?2018/15/4/320/248035
Acute myocardial infarction�(AMI) is a disease condition that can be manifested by clinical characteristics, including electrocardiographic changes, elevated levels of biochemical indicators of myocardial necrosis, also by imaging, or may be defined by pathological changes. It is a major cause of decease and disability around the world. Myocardial infarction may be the first feature of coronary artery disease�(CAD), or it may have repeated occurrence, in patients with the well-known disease.[1]
Elevated red cell distribution width�(RDW) values are independent predictors of prognosis in patients with different Ml types; it has also been noted that elevated levels of RDW are associated with the presence and severity of AMI.[2]
The correlation between RDW and AMI, heart failure, and stroke had been mentioned in some studies. High RDW values are linked to the unfavorable outcomes in patients with MI and heart failure.[3] The relation between RDW and adverse outcomes in those patients is not fully understood. Inflammation, neurohormonal, and adrenergic system activation may lead to changes in red cell maturation by distressing the red blood cell�(RBC) membrane, and hence leading to increased RDW values. An association between RDW and inflammatory markers had also been stated.[4]
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of elevated RDW on the outcome of AMI in a sample of the Iraqi population.
This is a retrospective, case–control study conducted on two groups of participants; the first group�(cases) comprised 87�patients suffering from AMI, while the second one (controls) comprised an equal number of patients having stable angina. Matching of controls to patients was done according to age (within 5�years) and gender. The study extended from the beginning of October 2017 to the end of March 2018. Participants in both groups were collected from Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital and Merjan Medical City at Iraqi Najaf and Babylon Governorates, respectively. The cases were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria listed below in addition to the decision of their attendant physician. Accordingly, 17�cases were excluded. All the cases were incident, and some of them had a prior attack of MI. All the controls agreed to participate in the study, and there were no nonrespondents [Figure 1]. A�clear and valid, written and verbal informed consent from each participant in the study was achieved before their inclusion.{Figure 1}
The definition of AMI is established by occurrence of typical chest pain�(more than 20�min in duration, new onset, continuous, diffuse one that is not localized or positional and it may be associated with sweating, nausea, or fainting) in addition to elevated cardiac enzymes�(above the 99th�percentile upper reference limit) with or without electrocardiographic changes suggestive of myocardial ischemia�(ST elevation, T inversion, and pathological Q wave). Angina is an indication of myocardial ischemia that is recognized in clinical practice by its character and site. Angina is referred to as stable if it is not a new symptom and when there is no worsening in its frequency of occurrence, severity or duration of the attacks of the chest pain.[1]
Renal diseaseClinical evidence of active infectionActive cancerPregnancyHistory of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease andHyperlipidemia.
Short history notes were obtained from each participant in the study, including the name, age, gender, clinical history of hypertension�(HT), diabetes and smoking, and finally, the weight and height were addressed to determine body mass index�(BMI) as follows:
BMI�=�Weight�(kg)/height�(m2)
Blood collection and serum preparation
Three milliliter of fresh blood were drawn at 9:00 am from both groups of participants. Two types of labeled tubes were used; the first one contains ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as an anticoagulant to prevent clotting of blood to be used for molecular studies; the second type of tubes was without anticoagulant as gel tubes, for preparing sera by putting blood in the tubes and allowing it to clot for 15–30�min, then separating it by centrifugation for 10�min at 3000 round per minute to be used in the subsequent biochemical tests.[5] Each sample was labeled and given a serial number together with the participant's name. Blood and serum samples were kept frozen at�−20°C for subsequent molecular and biochemical analyses.
Hematological parameters
RDW, hemoglobin�(Hb), packed cell volume�(PCV), mean cell volume�(MCV), and mean cell Hb concentration�(MCHC) were all done by the use of an automated auto-analyzer�(Orphée, Switzerland).
Biochemical parameters
Cardiac TnI was measured by the use of human cardiac troponin I�(cTnI) ELISA kit and was done according to the company�(Abcam, UK) instructions.
Continuous variables were reported as mean�±�standard deviation (SD), while the other categorical variables were reported as percentages�(no.�[%]). The two groups of participants were compared using independent-samples t-test for the continuous variables and Chi-square test for the categorical variables. The strength of association between the exposure and the outcome in respect to each variable was estimated by the calculation of odds ratio�(OR) with 95% confidence interval�(95% CI). OR was calculated by the use of Chi-square test for categorical variables and multinominal logistic regression analysis for continuous variables. In addition to that, correlation analyses were done between all the continuous variables to report the strength of the relationship between them. All analyses were done by the use of a Statistical Package of Social Science�(SPSS) version�18.0 software�(SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.[6]
[Table�1] demonstrates the age distribution for patients and control groups of the study�(AMI and stable angina patients). The ages of patients range between 45 and 85�years and the range for controls were 47–85�years. No statistically significant difference was present between the two groups of participants regarding age�(P =�0.136, OR�=�1.027; 95% CI�=�0.992–1.063).{Table�1}
[Table�2] shows the gender distribution for the study groups. Fifty-two males and 35�females were present in the patients' group, while in the control group, there were 50�males and 37�females. No significant difference present between the two groups regarding gender distribution�(P =�0.758, OR�=�1.099, 95% CI�=�0.601–2.010).{Table�2}
The distributions of clinical history parameters�(HT, diabetes mellitus [DM], and smoking) are shown in [Table 3], [Table 4], [Table 5], respectively. For all of them, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of the study (P�values are: 0.875 for HT, 0.756 for DM and 0.497 for smoking. ORs are: 0.951 for HT, 0.908 for DM, and 1.259 for smoking. 95% CIs are: 0.513–1.955 for HT, 0.494–1.670 for DM and 0.647–2.453 for smoking).{Table 3}{Table 4}{Table 5}
[Table�6] presents the values of BMI for the patients and control group. No statistically significant difference was there between the two groups�(P =�0.074, OR�=�1.046, 95% CI�=�0.995–1.100).{Table�6}
Values of RDW, Hb, PCV, MCV and MCHC are presented in [Table�7]. A�statistically significant difference was found between patients and controls regarding RDW only�(P =�0.0001, OR�=�9.481, 95% CI�=�5.127–17.535). On the other hand, no significant differences were present in respect to Hb, PCV, MCV, and MCHC�(P values are 0.137, 0.112, 0.327, and 0.927, respectively. ORs are 1.021, 0.898, 0.966, and 1.033, respectively. 95% CIs are 0.637–1.638, 0.773–1.043, 0.879–1.062, and 0.712–1.499, respectively).{Table�7}
[Figure�2] shows the relationship between RDW and cTnI, demonstrating a positive correlation between them regarding the group of patients�(r =�0.272, P =�0.0001).{Figure�2}
As represented in [Table�1], age distribution showed no significant difference between patients and controls, their mean ages were close, and both of them were lying in the sixth decade of life, reflecting the fact that the participants in both groups were old. Moreover, controls, when selected, were matched by age and gender with cases, so logically, no significant difference will be seen between them.
CAD is strongly associated with age and is the leading cause of death in the US. Unprecedented growth in the 65�years of age and older population is expected over the coming decades. This growth will result in a substantial increase in CAD incidence, prevalence, mortality, and cost.[7]
The distribution of males and females of the study was demonstrated in [Table�2] with no obvious significant difference between patients and controls in this respect. This may be attributed to the fact that in this study, there is no gender-specific affection by atherosclerosis and CAD and that these conditions affect both males and females almost evenly, which is probably linked to the difference in the distribution of risk factors among men and women between different societies. Added to the effect of matching mentioned in the previous section.
In the US, for example, evidence that gender-related variables may help in explaining health-related sex differences includes the higher prevalence of CAD in men than in women. The reason why men are at an increased risk may partly be explained by their gender-based propensity to engage in risk-taking behaviors such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.[8]
The clinical history parameters�(HT, diabetes, and smoking) and BMI listed in [Table 3], [Table 4], [Table 5], [Table 6] showed nonsignificant differences between the study members. These findings may be attributed to the fact that all of them are risk factors and comorbidities for atherosclerosis and CAD that affect most of the study participants up to a certain extent.
Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease. The impact of traditional risk factors such as age, sex, elevated blood pressure, and smoking on CAD risk has long been demonstrated beyond any doubt. In addition, epidemiological studies have shown that patients with DM and glucose intolerance are at increased risk for CAD. Atherosclerosis accounts for 80% of all diabetic mortality rates.[9]
Obesity is related to multiple risk factors of CAD such as HT, Type�2 DM and increased level of inflammation, while also likely to be an independent risk factor for CAD and is associated with reduced overall survival.[10]
The values of RDW for patients and controls were presented in [Table 7], revealing an extremely significant difference between them. This finding exhibits the role of RDW as an important and essential factor that is associated with a more severe form of CAD which is AMI.
RDW is a novel and universal predictor for cardiovascular disease and mortality and reflects multiple physiological impairments related to atherosclerosis and CAD. It is an important marker for both diagnostic and prognostic purposes in various clinical cardiovascular settings.[11]
Sharma et�al.[12] conducted a research that aimed to assess the correlation between RDW and left ventricular ejection fraction in patients presenting with AMI. They came out with a finding that increased RDW and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction were linked together with a statistically significant relation between them, so RDW can be used to assess severity and outcome in patients of acute myocardial infarction, especially at peripheral health center on their initial presentation, where echocardiography is not available routinely.
Bekler et�al.[13] hypothesized in their investigation that RDW level on admission would be predictive of adverse outcomes in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome�(NST-ACS), and concluded that high RDW level on admission is associated with increased long-term mortality and major adverse cardiac events in patients with NST-ACS. RDW levels are available through routine applications using simple and inexpensive methods for evaluating patients with ACS. In addition, elevated RDW levels may be helpful in identifying high-risk patients and determining appropriate treatment strategies.
Earlier studies in the general population identified the existence of an interesting association between RDW and carotid atherosclerosis. Cemin et�al.[14] found in their study that RDW was a significant predictor of AMI. Zalawadiya et�al.[15] studied 7556 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999–2006, and observed that an increased RDW value was a powerful and independent risk factor for CAD.
Hb, PCV, MCV, and MCHC values that were listed in [Table�7], all showed no significant difference between the two groups of the study, reflecting the fact that those parameters probably had no notable impact on CAD and AMI.
These results were consistent with the findings that came out from some studies. Khode et�al.[16] tested the hypothesis that hematocrit and other RBC indices are associated with CAD; and, after they completed their work, concluded that there was no association between hematocrit and other RBC indices with AMI and stable CAD.
Madjid and Fatemi[17] demonstrated in their review that several factors related to RBCs are associated with CAD, including Hb levels and the hematocrit; however, there are not enough data to suggest an association between the RBC-related factors and cardiovascular disease. Several studies have shown a relationship between the hematocrit and incident cardiovascular events in patients who have had an MI. However, results of some studies do not show a significant relationship between hematocrit and CAD risk. In fact, while most studies of different patient populations do show an association between increased hematocrit and increased risk of CAD, the observed risk ratios are generally low; and therefore, the clinical usefulness of hematocrit is unclear.
As shown in [Figure�2], a positive correlation was present between RDW and cTnI. cTnI is the preferred biomarker for predicting not only short-term�(30�days) but also long-term�(1�year and beyond) outcomes with respect to MI and death. Elevated troponin levels are associated with increased risk and are additive to other risk factors, such as markers of inflammatory activity.[18]
Tenekecioglu et�al.[19] conducted a study to assess the relationship between RDW values and cTnI levels in patients admitted with NST-ACS. A�positive correlation was present between them, and as a result, they concluded that a greater baseline RDW value was associated with myocardial injury and elevated cTnI levels in NST-ACS. Therefore, RDW could be considered as a significant predictor of increased cTnI levels and can be also used for risk stratification of ACS patients admitted to emergency departments.
In a study by Lippi et�al.,[20] researchers investigated the role of the RDW in patients with chest pain suggestive of ACS. These researchers reported that the combined measurement of cTnI and the RDW at admission increased the already impressive sensitivity of cTnI from 94% to 99% in diagnosing ACS.
RDW is a simple and available test in routine laboratory work that has relatively good diagnostic accuracy. High RDW level on admission can predict more severe outcome in patients with CAD.
1 Thygesen�K, Alpert�JS, Jaffe�AS, Simoons�ML, Chaitman�BR, White�HD, et�al. Third universal definition of myocardial infarction. J�Am Coll Cardiol 2012;60:1581-98.
2 Akin�F, Köse N, Ayça B, Katkat�F, Duran�M, Uysal�OK, et�al. Relation between red cell distribution width and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Angiology 2013;64:592-6.
3 Uyarel�H, Ergelen�M, Cicek�G, Kaya�MG, Ayhan�E, Turkkan�C. Red cell distribution width as a novel prognostic marker in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. Coron Artery Dis 2011;22:138-44.
4 Lippi�G, Targher�G, Montagnana�M, Salvagno�GL, Zoppini�G, Guidi�GC. Relation between red blood cell distribution width and inflammatory biomarkers in a large cohort of unselected outpatients. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2009;133:628-32.
5 Bishop�M, Fody�E, Schoeff�L. Clinical Chemistry: Principle and Correlation, Procedures. 10th�ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2000. p.�180-220.
6 Daniel�W. Biostatistics: A�Foundation for Analysis in Health Science. 7th�ed. Philadelphia: John Wiley; 2009. p.�55.
7 Martini�EM, Garrett�N, Lindquist�T, Isham�GJ. The boomers are coming: A�total cost of care model of the impact of population aging on health care costs in the United States by major practice category. Health Serv Res 2007;42:201-18.
8 Izadnegahdar�M, Singer�J, Lee�MK, Gao�M, Thompson�CR, Kopec�J, et�al. Do younger women fare worse? Sex differences in acute myocardial infarction hospitalization and early mortality rates over ten years. J�Womens Health�(Larchmt) 2014;23:10-7.
9 Fruchart�JC, Nierman�MC, Stroes�ES, Kastelein�JJ, Duriez�P. New risk factors for atherosclerosis and patient risk assessment. Circulation 2004;109:III15-9.
10 Dorresteijn�J, Visseren�F, Spiering�W. Mechanisms linking obesity to hypertension. J�Int Assoc Obes 2012;13:17-26.
11 Söderholm M, Borné Y, Hedblad�B, Persson�M, Engström G. Red cell distribution width in relation to incidence of stroke and carotid atherosclerosis: A�population-based cohort study. PLoS One 2015;10:e0124957.
12 Sharma�R, Mohammed�A, Shrivastava�M, Mathur�A. To study the correlation between red cell distribution width and left ventricular ejection fraction in patients of acute myocardial infraction. Int J Res Med Sci 2016;4:1974-7.
13 Bekler�A, Tenekecioğlu E, Erbağ G, Temiz�A, Altun�B, Barutçu A, et�al. Relationship between red cell distribution width and long-term mortality in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome. Anatol J Cardiol 2015;15:634-9.
14 Cemin�R, Donazzan�L, Lippi�G, Clari�F, Daves�M. Blood cells characteristics as determinants of acute myocardial infarction. Clin Chem Lab Med 2011;49:1231-6.
15 Zalawadiya�SK, Veeranna�V, Niraj�A, Pradhan�J, Afonso�L. Red cell distribution width and risk of coronary heart disease events. Am J Cardiol 2010;106:988-93.
16 Khode�V, Sindhur�J, Kanabur�D, Ruikar�K, Nallulwar�S. Association of hematocrit and other RBC indices with coronary artery disease: A�case control study. Niger J Cardiol 2014;11:88-91.
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18 James�SK, Lindahl�B, Siegbahn�A, Stridsberg�M, Venge�P, Armstrong�P, et�al. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and other risk markers for the separate prediction of mortality and subsequent myocardial infarction in patients with unstable coronary artery disease: A�global utilization of strategies to open occluded arteries�(GUSTO)-IV substudy. Circulation 2003;108:275-81.
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Brieviews 49
Naut - Raise The Lights
post punk / new wave / goth rock
Raise the Lights by NAUT
Heading from Bristol, Naut decided to ignore all current trends and to look back to the dark eighties. Now, this five-piece comes with a baffling debut EP, containing five pitch black goth rock tunes. Influences from bands like Sisters Of Mercy and Killing Joke run rampant and come with the overwhelming energy of post punk acts like The Jesus and Mary Chain. Song like opener 'Disintegration' and 'I'm Here' are destined to fill dark dancefloors everywhere. My personal favorite here is closer 'XVI'. It makes me curious and hungry for more, but for now I'm sure that this EP will be an excellent addition to every post punk / goth rock collection.
Kurokuma - Dope Rider
Dope Rider by Kurokuma
Sheffield doom mongers Kurokuma return with a two track EP, based on the Dope Rider strip from High Times in the 70s. The artwork comes from Paul Kirchner, the creator of the strip. The music is another slab of severe psychotic sludge doom, five and eight minutes long. Part 1 also showcases something industrial, reflected by repetitive, almost methodical drums. Part 2 simply continues to slow but brutal pummeling. Fans of bands like Conan, Dopethrone and Yob can easily trust Kurokuma to deliver the monolithic riffs and fierce vocals they crave so much. So if you want your sludge metal as destructive as a wrecking ball, this EP should do.
An Evening With Knives - Fade Out
post-metal / doom / alternative rock
Several months after the release of 'Serrated', Dutch heavy rockers An Evening With Knives unleash three songs that did not make the album because of the limited space on the vinyl. Yet, these songs were to important for the band to be ignored. Opener and title track 'Fade Out' deals with the death of Marco’s father due to Alzheimer disease. It's a long, heavy and cathartic lamentation, showcasing the darkest side of this band. The other two songs follow that example, be it a bit shorter. They all walk a similar path as the songs on 'Serrated', and thus would also fit perfectly into every sludge, doom and grunge collection. These guys are growing steadily, that's for sure.
Soho Rezanejad - World Breathes People
electronic / ambient / experimental
World Breathes People by Soho Rezanejad
Silicone Records
An alienating two track EP that will leave you confused and entangled, that is what Soho Rezanejad delivers. Subtle electronics, minimalist drones, gloomy soundscapes and her vocals come together in two lengthy modern day folk songs. I can't help but think about a mix between Zola Jesus and Diamanda Galas, be it a bit less creepy than the latter. Yet, there is emotion, there is fear, mourning, wonder and hope in these two tracks. There is a mystifying atmosphere, one that borrows elements from dark ambient. Yet, above all perhaps, this is a unique piece of work, reminding me of an act like Dark Ensemble. Recommended only for eternally wandering souls.
The Man Within - The Man Within
post rock / post metal / stoner / sludge
The Man Within by The Man Within
In today's post rock scene, new bands pop up like mushrooms. Würzburg residents The Man Within are one of those newcomers. Mostly, that first effort comes with a low production and a careful introduction in what the band really is capable of. Yet, here that results in a full-blown post metal album with seven outstanding tracks. Most of them, including 'Mount Santo', my favorite 'Institution' (that rolling bass is hot!!!) and the massive 'Limitless' can easily entertain audiences far and wide. Although firmly rooted in the post-scene, elements from sludge metal, psychedelic rock and stoner rock are never far away. A great introduction, now let's hope they can confirm this in the near future.
EITR - Hädanfärden
The new brainchild of Nachtzeit, the man behind ambient dark metal project Lustre, comes up with an interesting dark ambient album. Although playful at time, this album takes us back to the mysterious and dark age of the Norse gods. Early in 'Drömmarna' acts like Mortiis (on Cold Meat Industry) and Wongraven come to mind. Synths, soundscapes and dreamy melodies guide the listening on a musical tour of medieval Europe, so it seems, highlighting in 'Löftet' and 'Tårarn'. Strangely, the title track 'Hädanfärden' has an X-Files OST feeling about it, which isn't bad, on the contrary. Fans of old school medieval dark ambient can easily appreciate this album.
Breakfast At Midnight - Breakfast At Midnight
alternative rock / hard rock / grunge
Belgian hard rock duo Breakfast At Midnight proves that two is enough to create heaps of noise. On this debut EP they blast seven tracks through our speakers, beginning with the heavy rocking 'Kidi Coke'. From then on, the rock doesn't seem to stop. Inspired by anything between Tool, Queens Of The Stone Age and Stone Temple Pilots, these two feed an everlasting fire. Most tracks drive on sheer energy but in 'What I'm To Say' and in '1813', the band delves deeply into the Pearl Jam version of grunge rock. Here, the vocals are excellent and clean while the other tunes contain heaps of aggressive screams. Not that I mind, this is pure rock 'n roll: raw, rough and heavy.
Goat Sperm - Voice in the Womb
black metal / death metal
Voice in the Womb by Goat Sperm
Inferna Profundus
Grab onto something now because Ukrainian trio Goatsperm is about to unload a hellish, chaotic and vulgar EP, loaded with orthodox black/death metal. 'Voice In The Womb' contains three tracks, each one being a pummeling piece of extreme metal, as dark as Satan's butthole but with an ambient breather here and there. Somehow, this trio manages to combine atmospheric passages with sheer metallic terror, something that might indeed make a lot of banging heads turn their way in the near future. Besides, 'Into The Deep Waters Of Catacombs' is one of the fiercest black metal tunes I've heard this year. If you're a self-respecting extremist, you need this.
Teksti-TV 666 - Aidattu Tulevaisuus
krautrock / shoegaze / punk
What would have happened if Ramones used My Bloody Valentine's guitar effects? What would a punk rock cover album of Neu! songs sound like? Well, Finnish six piece Teksti-TV 666 might have a decent answer for you. 'Aidattu Tulevaisuus' delivers six high-octane krautrock tunes with the raw energy of punk and the immersive nature of shoegaze. I admit, it is something different from the usual slabs of rock 'n roll that appear here but 'Turbo-Mondeo' and 'Aidattu tulevaisuus' can easily get your behind shaking. My favorite here is the somewhat slower 'Rauhankone', which might be described as a down-to-earth space rock track. Recommended? Hell yeah!
Vitor Joaquim - Impermanence
ambient / electronic / experimental
Impermanence by Vitor Joaquim
Hailing from Porto, Vitor Joaquim is a sound sculptor and visual artist, active around the strange borders between soothing ambient and otherworldly noise. This new album, 'Impermanence' contains seven tracks, revolving around repetitive soundscapes, almost subconscious loops and immersive musical textures. Here and there vocals samples have been added to increase the narrative nature of the music. That, along with the minimal soundscapes, makes the title track my favorite here but I'm sure that every fan of decent ambient music can appreciate these sounds. Obviously, this comes highly recommended.
Han - Tuning the Invisible
ambient / drone / experimental / noise
Tuning the Invisible by HAN
An even more noisy and experimental variation on ambient sounds comes from Han, a project by Vitor Joaquim and Emidio Buchinho. This album revolves around live improvisation and real time processing, which results in something severely unusual and highly experimental. Yet, behind the gritty freestyle on the guitar, beautiful ambient loops lurk. These seven tracks are weird, immersive in one way, yet restrained and peculiar. Somehow this album feels like the early days of drone experimentation, when artists were exploring the other possibilities of their instruments. In all, this is an interesting release to dive into, but only for experienced avant gardists...
Rock'N'Brawl - Full Throttle Baby
punk / hard rock
Rock'N'Brawl by FULL THROTTLE BABY
Well, they couldn't have made this any clearer, could they? With a band name like this and a highly promising title, these French guys appear to be prepared for a heavy rocking battle that will eventually end up in a dental hospital. Are they? We'll see.
Rock 'n' Brawl appeared on the French rock scene in 2013. That scene appears to be overloaded with hard rocking bands already but nobody seems to mind, especially not these guys. With a high energy mix of hardcore punk and hard rock they blast the competition off stage.
Looking at their facebook profile, I see that the band is influenced by Danko Jones, The Bronx and AC/DC. However, when I listen to some of the tracks here, I can't help but think that hardcore punk bands like Agnostic Front and Hatebreed also had their influence on Rock 'n' Brawl. 'Can't Stop The Fight' and 'Unbreakable' are fierce punk tracks that will undoubtedly cause crowd surfers and moshpits, with the inevitable broken teeth as a result.
However, sometimes the tempo goes down a bit, resulting in sweet hard rock tracks like 'Coughing To Death' and 'Loud Punch'. With 'Lack & Wounds' there is even a ballad on the album, be it a raunchy, gritty one. In fact, that's my favorite track here. It might sound weird but I really love this tune. Obviously it adds variation, but it also serves as a calm spot in a raging ocean of hardcore punk rock. So who to recommend it to? Hard core punk rockers, of course. They should really check out this thing.
The Vale - Autumn in the Valley
doom / rock
Autumn in the Valley by The Vale
In the early days of Merchants Of Air I reviewed an album by Finnish band Ovenizer. Now they return with a new name and a new EP but the recipe seems to remain rather similar. Once again, this trio comes up with melodic yet heavy rock music, blending influences from doom, psychedelic rock, stoner rock, alternative rock and post-metal. The result is an EP with five highly enjoyable rock songs, highlighting in 'Dead Features', a fast punky rock tune that Lemmy would have liked. 'Ghost Ship' is another favorite of mine, a pummeling heavy rock tune. In all, this is an excellent EP which makes me curious for more.
Empress - Reminiscence
sludge / doom
Reminiscence by Empress
This Canadian sludge metal monster was born after two of its members attended an Elder show. Inspired by the massive wall of sound and the psychedelic madness the two enlisted a third member and crawled into the rehearsal studio. Now, they are almost ready to unleash their firstborn, named 'Reminiscence'. What to expect? Well, five brutal and intense pieces of sludge doom in the vein of bands like Dopethrone, Yob, Elder and so on. In 'Immer', my personal favorite here, you can also find some blackened influences. Great EP, definitely a must have for sludge doomers.
Heligoland - Coriallo
shoegaze / dreampop
Coriallo by Heligoland
Produced and mixed by Cocteau Twins' Robin Guthrie, this EP by Heligoland promises over twenty minutes of pure dreampop bliss. These five songs are beautiful, inspired by acts like Slowdive, Cocteau Twins and Portishead. Ambient soundscapes and post rock guitars deliver an emotional sound on which the fragile voice of Karen Vogt thrives. It's hard to pick out a favorite here but the uptempo 'Orion' and the breathtaking 'Three' will undoubtedly appear in my day-to-day playlist regularly from now on. If you're a fan of dreampop, this EP is an absolute must-have, no doubt about that.
Duran Duran - Girls on Film - 1979 Demo
Girls on Film - 1979 Demo by Duran Duran
Here is a surprise, four previously unreleased demo tracks by legendary band Duran Duran. These songs were recorded in UB40's studio back in 1979. That's right, before Simon Le Bon joined the band. On vocals you will hear Andy Wickett. The sound is very reminiscent of that early eighties UK new wave sound. Of course, the demo version of the smash hit 'Girls On Film' really stands out on this EP but I suggest you take a good listen to tracks like opener 'See Me, Repeat Me' (which later became 'Rio') and 'Reincarnation'. You have never heard these tunes like this before. I urge all Duran Duran fans to check this out.
Luke Fox - Sugarloaf
Australian singer-songwriter Luke Fox delivers five sweet, warm and enjoyable pop rock tracks, seemingly inspired by indie rock and country. Yet, this is not a one-man act armed with guitar and voice. For this EP Sox got a little help from his friends. Together, they turned these tunes into full blown soft pop ballads. Perhaps for most Merchants Of Air readers, this EP is a bit too nice and gentle but I would recommend checking it out anyway. This is warm music, perfectly suited for starlit nights on warm beaches. Favorite tune: 'Fly In The Champagne', a joyful tune that somehow reminds me of Ween. Not bad!
My Deathbed - My Deathbed
My Deathbed by My Deathbed
Another one-man project but residing on a completely different edge of the musical spectrum, My Deathbed comes up with a primitive, intense and haunting depressive black metal album. In four tracks My Deathbed guides the listener along feelings of solitude, abandonment and fear. Opener and title track 'My Deathbed' is a 25 minutes lasting anthem of despair, coming with howling vocals and a cold, bleak but rather slow black metal sound. 'Nails Deep In Wounds' is my favorite here. A harsh, relentless and chaotic piece of black metal. My advice? It might definitely be worth to check this out.
Versus The Ghost - We Don't Belong Here
We Don't Belong Here (Single) by Versus The Ghost
In May of last year, Wagner reviewed the debut album by English post rock band Versus The Ghost (read). Now they return with a brand new single, a sixteen minutes lasting post rock anthem named 'We Don't Belong Here'. Well, I just want to say that Versus The Ghost definitely belong here, here in the ever expanding and mesmerizing world of post rock. This track is a beauty, one that certainly promises great things for the future of this young band. In sixteen minutes, these guys manage to showcase the full spectrum of their view on post rock, from ambient passages to immersive instrumentalism. Must-have!!!
(D)juret - Sök Din Sekt
punk / crust
Sök din sekt - ep by (D)juret
Cramada
What would happen if bands like Tyr or Heidevolk jump on the punk train? Well, the answer might be something like this Swedish quartet. Somehow (D)juret have managed to combine punk rock with folk metal while still showcasing some crust punk and blackened hardcore. On this three-track EP they blast some weird but brutal, some unusual but fierce punk into your eardrums and you will have absolutely no other option than to love the shit out of it. Just when I thought punk music lost all its originality, this band comes into my life. Oh well, buy this and shut up.
Concrete Eden - Left
NRT Records
Hailing from Graz, Austria, Concrete Eden aims to be a big part of the nu metal revival and I must say, they do a pretty good job at it too. With a blend of metal, hardcore and rap they manage to come up with a convincing sound. Bands that come to mind include Limp Bizkit, Clawfinger, Korn and at times even Fear Factory. Plus, there are some pounding anthems to be found here, including the brilliant 'Communication Fails'. Nu metal fans will definitely love this stuff. Some of the riffs might sound familiar but I guess that is just a genre-thing. In all, I think this is a splendid release and a welcome addition to your nu-collection.
Aidan Baker & Gareth Davis - Invisible Cities
drone / jazz
Invisible Cities by Aidan Baker & Gareth Davis
Time to calm down after all that heavy stuff and what better way to do that than with the minimal guitar drones of mister Aidan Baker. For this release he collaborated with Gareth Davis who plays the bass clarinet. The result is an awe-inspiring marriage between drone ambient and dark jazz, thus probably one of my favorite releases in 2018. The album contains four long tracks, each one a gloomy and immersive piece of "jazz noir". Think Dale Cooper, think Bohren, think Radare, but most of all, know that this is a brilliant collaboration between two immensely skilled and experienced artists.
This is already the 30th edition of Brieviews, the review series where we throw an array of short reviews in your faces. I started these in an effort to promote more bands in a shorter amount of time, because time is something none of us have enough of.
That being said, we're still struggling to check out all the stuff that comes in, let alone being able to publish reviews for everything. So, I'd like to use this opening paragraph to do another call for writers. If you'd like to your our awesome team, click here.
Ihä - Esperanza
drone / ambient
Hailing from Chile, and founded in 2011, Ihä delivers three long, gentle and minimal ambient drone pieces. Minimalism certainly is a keyword here, as the music only shows minute variations. While some might find such a thing boring, ambient aficionados will definitely appreciate these lingering soundscapes. In that aspect, the track 'Un salto dichoso hacia la eternidad' might be a surprise. Here we have a melodic and highly immersive piece of ambient music. Stratosphere comes to mind but also Eno, Fripp and so on. In all, this certainly is a nice addition to your ever growing ambient collection, no doubt about that.
Parsons Rocket Project - Parsons Rocket Project
shoegaze / ambient rock
parsons rocket project by Parsons Rocket Project
Atlanta-based Parsons Rocket Project worked on their debut EP for two years, and the result is stunning. They launch you into space and take you to planets Noise Rock, New Wave, Shoegaze, Psychedelic, Dream Pop and Post-Rock. Short as the tracks may be, they blend these genres in a wonderful way. The vocals add to the dreamy atmosphere of the whole. I'm reminded mostly of Slowdive, Archive and 65daysofstatic and I'm looking forward to hearing more from these guys and girl.
(review by Eline)
The Mayhem Lecture Series - Structures And Behaviors EPv1
ambient / experimental
Structures And Behaviors EPv1 by The Mayhem Lecture Series
More ambient music some from a different perspective. The Mayhem Lecture Series is a project by Dave Wesley, a dub techno and ambient producer. On this EP, he comes up with crackling, rhythmic but beatless music, field recordings and several spoken word samples. The result is something between Autechre and Cordell Klier or Squarepusher and Biosphere. While opener 'Intrepid' is still my favorite, the whole EP can easily satisfy my weird-ambient-needs, and believe me, I have a lot of those. So if you like a stroll into the strange and odd, this is your chance and it comes highly recommended.
Jupiter Zeus - Eyes on the Prize
Eyes on the Prize by Jupiter Zeus
Australian quartet Jupiter Zeus come up with a bunch of groovy heavy metal songs, inspired by the good old days of doom and hard rock. I sense some influences from bands like Black Sabbath, Iced Earth and Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, plus a shitload of other metal bands. Yet, Jupiter Zeus easily managed to create their own sound, which give this EP a coherent sound. It's a rather doomish sound, even if the tempo goes up, and it quite often does. For real, this things is pleasantly entertaining and solid enough to become a strong mid carter on festival bills. Check it out, bang your head, go nuts!
Haema - Insurrection
industrial metal / alternative metal
Sliptrick
Hailing from Northamptonshire, UK, Haema does something interesting with industrial and alternative metal. Influenced by acts like Fear Factory and American Head Charge, this band can easily entertain fans from everything between Limp Bizkit and Machine Head. Yet, using similar vocals, Haema can also add a bit of variation to the metalcore scene. One way or another, these guys seem to constantly cross the lines between nu-metal, industrial metal and everything core-related. The result is a fascinating piece of work, one that grooves your arse and rocks your sock off. Yeah, you'll be naked after two songs...
H2SO4 - British Bangla Testament
British Bangla Testament by H2SO4
The chemistry nerds amongst will have immediately found out where the name from this Bangladeshi band stands for: sulphuric acid. Perhaps in a way, their music is that too, as it is harsh, corrosive and biting. In fact, what we are dealing with here is a fierce blast of old school thrash metal, influenced by the lords of thrash, including Slayer, Testament, Kreator, Exodus and so on. The result is an ep that will scratch your eyes out and do something Cannibal Corpse cover-ish to your festering body. You have been warned. For brutal metallic beatdowns, look no further.
Asylum 8 - Repressed
Deliverance by Asylum 8
If you are one of those people who think melodic death metal and techno synths do not mix, you might want to check out this debut by Finnish sextet Asylum 8. One of the members is a synth wizard while the others stay loyal to the Scandinavian melodic death metal scene. That cooperation results in something fresh, something incredibly enjoyable. You can brutally band your head or just dance your butt off to this music. Bands that come to mind include Pain and Waltari, who have also done interesting things with the combination between these two arch enemies. No, for real, this is a great album, certainly an original one.
Jinthra - Transitæon
Transitæon by Jinthra
One half of one of my favorite contemporary dark ambient acts Druhá Smrt comes up with a solo effort, and it's already one for the ages. With gloomy and introvert soundscapes, eerie whispers and angsty percussion, Jinthra immediately showcases his skills and talent. This is a ritual ambient performance at a very high ànd a deeply personal level. There are four tracks to be found here, and it's hard to pick a favorite. Opener 'Oath Of The Edge' is brilliant and the others seem to build on that, sometimes tending towards the noise scene. Fans of everything between Raison D'Etre and MZ412 really should check this out.
Insanity Cult / Isolert - Towards the Great Dissolution
Towards the Great Dissolution by Insanity Cult/Isolert
facebook Isolert
facebook Insanity Cult
Back to the extreme corners of the metal scene where we find this harsh and relentless split by Isolert and Insanity Cult. Each band delivered two gnawing tracks with Insanity Cult showcasing some of the most intense blackened vocals I've heard in awhile. Isolert follows a similar path of old school black metal. Here, the vocals seem less prominent and screeching. Yet, that does not affect the intensity of the whole thing. In fact, 'Dreams Of Emptiness' is my favorite track on this split, a fierce true black metal blaster that will haunt your dreams. In all, this is an excellent split to add to your obscure collection.
Akoustik Timbre Frekuency - Thee Essence Of Existence
Thee Essence Of Existence by Akoustik Timbre Frekuency
For his seventeenth (!) release, dark ambient ritualist Akoustik Timbre Frekuency delivered one massive drone piece, created with singing bowls, gongs, bells and synthesised sounds. I could say that this is a great album, and I wouldn't even be lying about it, but it's more than that. This release invites you to calm down, to step away from the hectic and performance-oriented society for a while. Sit down, comfortably. Close your eyes and just listen. Ignore all other stimuli. Meditate. Focus on your breathing. This is one of those albums that can help you relax and set your mind at ease. Believe me, it works.
The Reed Effect - A Strange Curiosity
stoner rock / grunge
It's nice to see how the psychedelic stoner rock scene openly invites the world of grunge to join its ranks. Take this EP by Ontario, Canada rockers The Reed Effect for example. In six tracks they remind me of everything between Stone Temple Pilots, Kyuss, Soundgarden and Colour Haze, just to name a few. Obviously, the groove is big in this one as the thick riffs flow out of my speakers like a massive pile of green, smokey mud. I like it that way, and I'm quite sure that an entire Desert-scene is waiting for some pounding rock tunes like 'Down In Here' and 'No Way Outta Here'. Neat stuff...
Fotocrime - Always Night
post punk / dark wave
Always Night by Fotocrime
Golden Antenna
And suddenly my living room reeks of the dark eighties, where creatures dressed in black danced to Sisters Of Mercy, Bauhaus, Killing Joke and many others. R. Pattern (ex-Coliseum) clearly shares the dark visions of that era. With his new band, Fotocrime, he digs deep into the world of gothic rock, EBM and darkwave. The result is a remarkable EP with a bunch of dark dancefloor fillers. Some rock, some bring out the beats and synths, but all of them are massively convincing examples of their respective genres. My favorite is 'Always Hell', a brilliant goth rock tune. Now, this is a retro-trend I would like to see a lot more of in the near future...
Disco-Nected - Vision Division
Hailing from Paris, France, this power trio comes up with five damned infectious metal songs. This is sheer energy, dressed in groovy basslines, ripping riffing and pounding drums. That, ànd these guys know a thing or two about the melodic aspect in the metal scene. Opener 'Here To Stay' is an absolute blast. My favorite track is 'Unity', an uptempo rocker that somehow reminds me of acts like Therapy? or Foo Fighters. Other bands that come to mind include Channel Zero, Incubus and Biffy Clyro. I don't think that is a bad set of names to be compared with. So yeah, this surely is one for a good headbanging session.
Morphine Social Club - Monolithic Gospel
stoner rock / psychedelic rock
Monolithic Gospel by Morphine Social Club
On to Greece where we find a band named Morphine Social Club. They call their music "monolithic rock 'n' roll" and I'm perfectly fine with that. On this EP they deliver four groovy tracks with heaps of psychedelic riffs and solos. Opener 'Your Sun Is So Toxic' is a highly danceable track, one where even krautrock is welcome. 'Chaos Lover' nudges towards the punk scene and comes with a nice array of noise. I also love the industrial touch of the drums on this one. 'Swansong' seems to go a bit more post-punk/shoegaze on our asses and the closer 'Starship Of Perception' is a fuzzed-out psych tune. Wow, I'd say.
Jenn Vix - Unlocked
alternative rock / post punk
Unlocked by Jenn Vix
And back to the eighties and the gloomy sound of that era's pop music. Jenn Vix has worked with members from The Cure, Psychedelic Furs, De Veldt, with the guitarist for Bowie and with Dirk Ivens. On this EP she showcases her experience with five highly enjoyable pop songs. There is a bit of post punk, some synth pop and the touch of the alternative rock by Garbage. There is a nice sense of minimalism here too. None of these songs are too complex or over-dramatized. They're just nice tunes to listen to. In all, this is another excellent invitation to the dark dancefloors, one which I will obviously recommend.
Pylon Reenactment Society - Part Time Punks Session
punk / alternative rock
Part Time Punks Session by Pylon Reenactment Society
Chunklet
Athens, Georgia based alternative rockers Pylon Reenactment Society crawled out of the ashes of Pylon in 2014. With the raw power of early punk and the in-your-face vocals of Vanessa Briscoe Hay, the band is on an interesting and infectious course. It's like a harsher version of B52's. There are Blondie references, Bikini Kill comes to mind. Yet, most of all, I think this is a band that clearly enjoys making music together. They seem to have fun and they easily manage to pass that fun to their audience. Undoubtedly, they have the right attitude, the right sound and the right playfulness to entertain you. Check it out.
Dreamgrave - Monuments
Monuments by Dreamgrave
This EP by Hungarian progressive rock act Dreamgrave is one from a stunningly high level. Opener 'Drop The Curtain' is an epic piece of work which fans of Within Temptation or Nightwish will certainly appreciate. From there, things take on a more progressive approach, more progressive than metal actually. 'Monuments' is a complex and bombastic piece of music that will shock and awe you multiple times. These people know how to play, that's for sure. Closer 'The Passing Faith in Others' is my favorite, a huge whirlpool of musical ingenuity. If you like your music complex, technical, narrative and masterfully played, you need this EP.
Mortum - Eheieh Chaos
Eheieh Chaos by Mortum
Time to throw a vile and putrid slab of primitive black metal through the speakers. For such an occasion, American du Mortum seems to be a perfect candidate. Lo-fi production, the aggression of a rhino stampede and the ice cold atmosphere of old school black metal, those are the elements. Plus, somehow Mortum managed to push a sense of melody into the whole thing, not too much. With seven fierce tracks, Mortum delivers an excellent album which quite often goes to hyperspeed but also contains highly immersive mid tempo passages. If you want old school, this one comes highly recommended.
Pink Mass - Necrosexual
punk / grindcore / crust
First, a little background on the band name. A "Pink Mass" is a Satanic ritual performed after death that turns the deceased's heterosexual spirit into a homosexual one. It's an actual thing and has been performed, for example, on the grave of Westboro Baptist church (of the anti-gay picketings at funerals and tragedies in the US) founder Fred Phelps' mother. Who, according to the ritual is now lesbian in the afterlife. Now, as a devout atheist, I have no beliefs in the supernatural or spiritual or religious but as a firm believer in blasphemy I think this is hysterically funny. Especially because I am 666% pro-LGBTQ rights.
It's pretty safe to assume then that in a genre filled with über-manly theatrics, interests and poses, Pink Mass is one of the, if not THE most forward thinking bands with their brand of pro-gay crust grind. Needless to say, I love this to bits. They released an album last year called 'Slvt Kvlt' which I am definitely going to check out, but first this one: the wonderfully named 'Necrosexual'. With an album title like that it's pretty obvious that this is pure sexual debauchery transformed into sound. Blasphemy, sodomy, necrophilia, BDSM, you name it, it's all fair game (or should I say 'bear' game *badum tss*) for Pink Mass.
What all this aural debauchery amounts to is dirty, disgusting crusty grindcore. Filthy, raw, full of dirty riffs, d-beats, guttural growls, high pitched screams, blast beats, some old-school deathmetal, some hardcore punk, some blackmetal. It's a wonderful mix for everybody who likes their metal disgusting, decidedly unsophisticated and naaaaaasty. That's not to say there isn't some really great musicianship behind it, because there is, especially in the sparse guitarsolos and the basslines. And for something this dirty, the production sounds unexpectedly clear. Nasty it may be, but all the individual parts of nastiness can be heard clearly. It's not just a muddled mess. Bonuspoints all around!
A wonderful release for everyone who craves for something nasty. Just not with all the clichéd nasty grindcore tropes. Even more bonuspoints for the final track 'FOAD NSBM' because, you know, fuck national socialism! Do yourself a favor and check them out. And if you're up to it, look them up on YouTube as well..
Ester Poly - Pique Dame
psychedelic rock / experimental / electronic
Ikarus Records
In 1890 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky premiered his opera 'The Queen Of Spades', with Nikolay and Medeya Figner, who sang the roles of Herman and Liza. In French speaking countries, the opera is known as 'Pique Dame'. For the record, 'Pique Dame' is also an operetta in two acts by Franz von Suppé, premiered in 1864.
In October, another 'Pique Dame' will be revealed upon the world. This time, it had very little to do with opera, operetta or classical music as a whole. This time, it's an album by two women from Swiss, one on e-bass and one on drums. But now it gets complicated.
THe album opens with a song called 'Slutwalk' which is mainly based on bass and percussion. Is it rock music? Is is punk? I don't know. All I know is that I'm suddenly thinking about acts like Chicks On Speed and The Breeders. 'Slutwalk' is actually a pretty energetic piece of basement punk rock and I like it. But, like I said, it gets complicated from now on. 'Be Loud' comes up with sludge and doom metal riffs, just not as heavy and pulverising. Instead, this turns out to become something rather psychedelic.
'72 Vierges' suddenly drags us into the world of electronics, where bands like Suicide and Crash Course To Science come to mind. Yeah, weird, isn't it? But again, I like. There is something highly infectious about this act, infectious and unique. Then, there is 'Forgotten Responsibility' which flirts with soundscapes and dark ambient. What? Yeah, I know. We're only four songs into this album and I'm already checking out if it is not a compilation. Turns out it's not, it's just incredibly versatile.
Right, what else do we have? 'Big Bang' is a piece of space rock inspired jam rock. Nice. 'La Vie En Rose' suddenly turns into a highly danceable piece of music. Neat! 'Dienstag' is another jam piece and title track 'Pique Dame' goes from eerie avant garde towards post punk. 'The Rise Of The Witches' is almost horror doom and by the end we get an industrial/future pop remix of 'Slutwalk'. Varied enough for you? Oh well, this is simply a surprising and immersive album which indeed comes highly recommended.
Altarmang - Void
Void by ALTARMANG
The debut album of a new dark ambient entity by Pär Boström (Kammarheit) and Kenneth Hansson is a great gloomy piece of work, consisting of four lengthy tracks. With tape loops and analog equipment, Altarmang recorded some excellent and immersive hypnotic soundscapes, perfectly suited for everyone who feels at home in today's drone and ambient scene. I can only recommend this album since it has everything an ambient aficionado could possibly want. My advice is to purchase the album, play it loud and allow yourself to be cleansed by this music. You won't be disappointed...
Skognatt - Ancient Wisdom
Ancient Wisdom by Skognatt
Atmospheric one man black metal project Skognatt returns with another two track EP, after 'The Landscapes Of Ice'. Once again, the artist focuses on mostly slow and depressive black metal, laced with keyboards and symphonic arrangements. There is even an acoustic "Spanish" guitar solo, which I can appreciate a lot. I like this EP, both songs are great, but perhaps it's time to turn this act into a performing one. This music is way too good to only be enjoyed in the living room. I'm sure that this will blast on stage and I hope I'll ever get to witness that. So yes, highly recommended EP for atmospheric black metal fans.
Meteors the Entire Night - Descend Towards the Earth
Descend Towards the Earth by Meteors the Entire Night
Based in Coventry and formed last year, Meteors The Entire night do something interesting with screamo, hardcore and post-rock. On this debut EP, they showcase four songs (and a short breather), each pretty much as brutal and intense as the previous one. Bands like Poison The Well, Envy and Oceans Ate Alaska come to mind but I think there is a bit more work to be done. Although this is a pretty decent debut, I miss the dynamics and energy of a live performance. Obviously, those aren't easy to put on tape, only a good producer can do that. Still, I see more and bigger gigs in these guys' future. Post-hardcore fans, keep an ear open.
Urs Wild - Drones
drone / dark ambient
Drones by Urs Wild
Swiss dark ambient project Urs Wild returns with a new EP, simply named 'Drones'. Well, "EP" might not be the correct word as the whole thing clocks off at around an hour. In that time, you will be fed six minimal but immersive dark ambient tracks from a very high quality. For fans of the genre, this is a must-have, a solid and excellently executed barrage of drones and soundscapes. Personally, I love how simple Urs Wild made it all look and sound. Making dark ambient is not a complicated task, but making excellent dark ambient like this, demands talent and Urs Wild is talented, that's for sure.
Wyatt E. - Exile to Beyn Neharot
doom / post rock
Exile to Beyn Neharot by Wyatt E.
Two years ago, Belgian doomers Wyatt E. pleasantly surprised me with their debut EP. Apparently, my review for that EP got them on that year's edition of Dunk! Festival. Now, the band is back with another two track EP and I'm excited from the very beginning. With elements from drone, ambient, doom and post rock, plus Eastern influences, Wyatt E. have created two more lengthy tracks, each one a sonic adventure on its own. Think Sunn O))), think Master Musicians Of Bukkake. Fact is, this is a massively talented band that deserves bigger stages. This is one of the best things in Belgium today.
Kemerov - FMKD
death metal / punk
FMKD by Kemerov
Greek death groove combo Kemerov feels like the perfect wedding between Entombed and Turbonegro. With the energy of punk rock and the brutality of death metal, this band eleven irresistible party tunes. Uptempo, raging, intense and groovy, Lemmy would be proud of these guys. The songs are as complex as a stone brick to the face but also just as effective. My personal favorites are 'Plague Of Nations' and 'Slay Your Son' but I can easily recommend every old school death metal fan to get their hands on this gem. Death 'n roll pur sang, dangerous for the neck but definitely worth it.
Thera Roya - Masterful Universe
Brooklyn based act Thera Roya take things to another level. With a blend of doom, sludge metal and noise, this EP is a solid assault on your sanity. In fact, I have rarely heard a better musical reference for insanity and madness than these two tracks present to me. They're haunting, intriguing and intense. And that's just the MP3's, which makes me wonder how a live performance by this chaotic herd feels like. I wouldn't be surprise if concert goers end up being driven of in white vans after the gig. Sick stuff, for real.
One Life All-In - The A7 Session
hardcore / metal
The A7 Session by ONE LIFE ALL-IN
Wow, this feels like the nineties are coming back, but then again, what would you expect from a band with members from The Spudmonsters, Seekers of the Truth and Benighted. Dog Eat Dog, Sick Of It All and Anthrax come to mind when I hear to these six old school tunes. As heavy as melodic and as intense as immersive, this breed of hardcore punk can easily get the party started at festivals. Besides, there is an interesting metal edge to be found here, at first listen perhaps a bit too melodic for hardcore fans but very welcome indeed. See, some genres never die...
AVSA - Parallels
experimental / ambient / noise
AVSA || Parallels by Sergio Albano | Anacleto Vitolo
Avsa - not to be confused with Asva, is an Italian experimental project by Anacleto Vitolo and Sergio Albano. The music on this strange album seemingly balances on the thin edge between ambient and noise. Soundscapes, drones, crackles and unidentifiable noises make up otherworldly tunes which are haunting and hypnotic at the same time. I don't think this music is a pleasant dinner companion but it's perfectly suited for gloomy meditations and dark seances. Obviously, I recommend this album to all fans of the strange, obscure and odd. This is an epic piece of work.
Mesmur - S
S by Mesmur
Hailing from North Carolina, Mesmur are well on their way to become one of my favorite doom metal bands. Of course, I'm a sucker for funeral doom which makes it easier for them, but there is also something else. Unlike their colleagues in Mar De Grises, Evoken and Esoteric, Mesmur laces their funeral doom with dissonant guitars and soundscapes, giving the whole thing an extra eerie touch. The four long tracks on this album are great, epic pieces of work, melodic, intense and accompagnied by a haunting growl. All funeral doom fans should get their hands on a copy of this album, honestly.
Valle Crucis - Valle Crucis
Valle Crucis EP by Valle Crucis
American black metal duo Valle Crucis sound so old school and raw that I initially thought that this was a Norwegian thing from the nineties, found in some old basement. Their breed of black metal obviously reaches back to the harsh, nihilistic and aggressive nature from that glorious era, which in a way makes this EP a glorious one too. Influenced by the pioneers, such as Gorgoroth, Marduk, God Dethroned and Dark Funeral, Valle Crucis uncontrollably blast their fierce and violent music through my speakers. For fans of those old days, this is a solid grasp of hope and nostalgia. Truly recommended stuff.
Goat War - Warwolf
speed metal / black metal
Warwolf by GOAT WAR
Speaking about old school, this one feels like it comes directly from the first wave of black metal, or at least a parody of that genre. With a mix of speed metal, power metal and black metal, Goat War delivers four chaotic songs about battle, glory and whatnot, complete with brutal vocals and thrash metal shrieks, but not in a good way. I don't think this EP is meant to be taken seriously. It's best to be enjoyed while also completely wasted on cheap alcohol. Sniffing glue might help too. But if you're into obscure and often laughable clichés, you absolutely can't go wrong with this EP.
Ditheist - Eternity of Nothingness
death metal / grindcore
Eternity of Nothingness by Ditheist
Ok, one more old school sounding album before I go to something else. American band Ditheist does a pretty good job with this one. It's brutal as fuck and intense enough to rip out your eardrums but it also contains something experimental, something that makes this sound a bit different from their colleagues. At times, old Sepultura comes to mind, along with some other death metal originators. For death metal fans, this is definitely something worth checking out. Favorite songs: the title track 'Eternity Of Nothingness' is a blast and closer 'Crippling Vexation' is a murderer.
X-Coast – Transformations EP
techno / rave / house
What? I said that I was going to check out something different for a change so I almost automatically end up in the dance and techno scene. On the other hand, here we're also dealing with old school stuff. This EP seems to come directly from some mid nineties rave parties, flavored with some funky house music. This EP is the first in a new series called UNDERTHESEA. If the whole series is as old school inspired as these three track (plus remix), the dance scene might indeed become a lot more interesting to me. So check it out, maybe you'll find a new favorite dance tune.
Tripeo - Eighth Trip
soundcloud
And finally, we'll go for an hypnotic, techno induced trip with Darko Esser's Tripeo project. These two tunes mark his first record since 2015 and somewhat sound like gloomy acid tunes from the earlier nineties with beats and electronic noises. Obviously, that makes them guaranteed dancefloor fillers at your upcoming raves. Personally, I'm a bit more fond of the second track, which is somewhat more relaxed. The opener is an obtrusive techno tune that will drag you to the dancefloor. Together, they make up for solid assshaking workout, something I can always recommend.
Odd Nosdam - Lif
LIF by Odd Nosdam
Sound In Silence
The new ambient album by Anticon founder Odd Nosdam is a strange, otherworldly experience through electronic sequences, tape loops and gloomy soundscapes. According to the biography, the album was recorded during a period of constant rainfall. In a way, you can hear that on these (mostly) short but immersive pieces of music. There is a certain feeling of isolation, not being able to enjoy being outside. The overall sound is cold, metallic and rather harsh, so this is not a gentle, relaxing ambient album. Then again, it is a interesting record to listen to. This ambient grabs your attention and won't let go. Of course it's a recommended one...
Crisopa - Transhumante
ambient / electronic / downtempo
Transhumante by Crisopa
Somewhere between classical music, ambient, post rock, shoegaze, trip hop and intelligent dance music we find Crisopa and his latest effort, 'Transhumante'. The tracks on this album are elaborate electronic anthems, laced with soundscapes, percussion and bass lines. Boards Of Canada come to mind, but also The Eye Of Time, Miwon, Autechre and Blackfilm. My favorite tracks are 'I Am The Lord Of These Ruins' and 'Fast Dive' but I can definitely recommend this album to every downtempo electronic music fan out there. This is an exciting album which never lets you down.
Menin - Lord of Pain
doom / sludge metal
Lord of Pain by Menin
It's not often that a stoner rock, doom and sludge band reminds me of death metal but while listening to title track 'Lord Of Pain' Dismember suddenly came to mind. Ministry too, and Godflesh, and Yob, and Conan. Needless to say that I immediately loved the shit out of this tune. Does the term "death sludge" exist yet? 'Logrus' is another brilliant piece of sludge doom, spiced with hints of industrial and a total disregard towards your eardrums. This thing just keeps getting better and better. Hypnotic, intense, immersive and crushing, this one has everything a self respecting doom fans could possibly want.
Ed Carlsen - Elusive Frames
ambient / classical
Elusive Frames by Ed Carlsen
Moderna Records
I was going to write this review earlier but somehow this EP inspired me to write a passage for my next book instead. It's a book about depression and burnout, so don't expect a very jolly EP. Yet, Ed Carlsen managed to create something beautiful, something inspirational. Based around the piano, Carlsen produces melodic emotions. I can feel a sense of loneliness, solitude and melancholy. Here and there cello, violin, viola and soundscapes appear, perfectly aligned with the majestic piano. I think this EP will accompany me a lot in future writing processes. Highly recommended beauty...
American Anymen - Flag Burner
punk / antifolk
Flag Burner by American Anymen
Straight from the NYC "antifolk" scene and carrying a credibility similar to the English punk scene, American Anymen come up with three acoustic anti Trump songs. Acoustic, yes, but they still rock and they showcase a fierce hardcore punk attitude. I like that, it feels genuine and real. So in a way, this EP is more punk than punk rock, more alternative than alternative rock and more hardcore than hardcore. My favorite track is the opener 'Flag Burner' but I'm sure all three of these tunes will often appear in my day-to-day playlists. I suggest you do the same. Besides, the lyrics are awesome...
Stömb - Duality
Duality by [STÖMB]
For me, instrumental music is always more favorable than music with vocals. Most of my favorite bands are either instrumental or fronted by a vocalist who knows to shut up once in a while. So it's no surprise that I absolutely love this EP by French progressive metallers Stömb. With six complex and immersive pieces of music, they have certainly convinced me of their know-how. My favorite is the gnawing and screaming 'The Red Way', which is a world class progressive metal track, but undoubtedly, this whole six-track comes highly recommended to every progressive metalhead out there.
Crejuvent - Time
death metal / industrial
Time EP by Crejuvent
Solo projects are excellent if you have material that other bandmembers think it's just too weird or "out of their style". That certainly counts for Crejuvent, producer, writer and vocalist for bands such as Novacrow, Kryocell, Exhumation and others. On this EP, he showcases his rotten inspiration in a unique and interesting way. Technical, melodic, industrial and brutal, those seem to be the keywords here. Apart from the instrumentation, nothing on this EP is usual or normal, not even in the world of metal. On the other hand, it blasts, it surprises and it's one of the most captivating extreme metal releases I've heard this year.
Haze of Summer - Znoi
Znoi by Haze of Summer
I know, the cover picture doesn't really scream "black metal", neither does the band name and neither do their photos on facebook. Then again, the music goes heavy on the drums, fierce on the guitars and brutal on the vocals. I hear a lot of nineties influences, somewhere between Children Of Bodom and Falkenbach but the current post-black metal scene is also represented as the main influence seems to be Deafheaven. Although easily categorizable as black metal, the music explores and destroys the boundaries of the genre, which in my opinion makes this an absolute highflyer. So yeah, I urge you to check this out, especially if you're into unique stuff.
The Great Russian Empire - Low Ends
shoegaze / alternative rock / dark rock
Speaking about unusual music, here is The Great Russian Empire and their astounding debut EP. Rooted in eighties new wave but just as much influenced by the alternative rock scene of the nineties and today's drone folk genre, this double bass act comes up with surprising songs. Although they are genre-bending, constantly jumping from one style to another, the dark rock foundation always stands. Type O Negative meets Nick Cave meets Ween meets Joy Division, something like. Something pretty damn contagious too, I can guarantee you that.
One Arc Degree - Ashore
Ashore by One Arc Degree
Back to the softer, calmer side of the music spectrum then, where we find One Arc Degree and their immersive new EP 'Ashore'. This beauty is a must-have for all fans of glacial ambient, lingering soundscapes and deep downtempo percussion. The four tracks on this EP take you on a gloomy trip through the arctic and its barren, snow filled landscapes. I can't pick a favorite. Initially, that would be the opener 'Emotional Machinery' but each track seems to grow on the listener. At first, the beats in 'The Circus In The Stars' but once when the music is well on its way, you'll be dancing or at least nodding your head. Great EP, makes me hungry for more.
Audioboyz - The Rise of Gqom
electronic / techno / experimental
Hypermedium
Perhaps I should explain what "Gqom" exactly is, since this genre is not often featured on Merchants Of Air. Gqom is a dark, deviant and experimental spinoff, rising from underground techno scene of South Africa. The music is repetitive but doesn't answer to traditional techno arrangements and beats. Instead, you get an hypnotic amalgamation of percussion, noises and drones that will quite often surprise you. In fact, for most techno fans, this might be a bit too off the hook but European IDM fans might as well absolutely adore this sound. It's nervous but different and that's almost always good.
Nabaath - Firestorm Bringer
Firestorm Bringer by Nabaath
Ukrainian (once Russian) black metal act Nabaath throws a new EP/single into the mix and it's a smasher. In two tracks (and an eerie, droning outro) Nabaath blasts all that is holy and pure. This is old school black metal in all its grim and powerful glory. There is not much else to be said about this EP, I think, except for the fact that it's a certain must have for fans of the most obscure and evil music on this planet.
Hellstorm Of Flaming Nothingness - The Universe Is An Abyss Of Suffering
drone / ambient / minimal
The universe is an abyss of suffering EP by Hellstorm Of Flaming Nothingness
Belgian minimal drone act Hellstorm Of Flaming Nothingness returns with a new EP and with "minimal drone" I mean "extremely minimal drone". The four tracks on this EP are dark, gloomy soundscapes. No percussion, no soothing ambient passages, no surprising electronics, just mow tuned nihilistic drones, impending and desolate. "You Contain The Soul Memory Of A Million Dead Stars" is my favorite here, a track that sounds like The Blob is coming for you. That being said, yes, these are awesome titles. But apart from that, this EP comes highly recommended if you want music to scare you.
Pask - Psychogenic excoriation
Psychogenic excoriation by Pask
From the same mind as Hellstorm Of Flaming Nothingness but just as user friendly as a rectal exam, Pask represents the harsh, chaotic side of Björn. This five track EP is a grinding noise assault on your eardrums and your sanity. In five tracks, Björn seems to exorcise a few demons and phobias. His motto is "True Belgian Fucked-Up Noise" and that's exactly what you get on this thing. Unless you're a hardcore Merzbow fan, chances are small that you will like this EP but I don't think Pask minds. I don't even think he'll hear you over all this noise.
Henning Baer - 32-bit EP
Minimal techno with a somewhat lazy, or laid back, attitude, that's what you can find on this EP by DJ and beats creator Henning Baer, a common name in the Berlin scene. This certainly is something for the house music aficionados among us, those who are into electronic beats, minimal soundscapes and gloomy atmospheres. These tracks are produced for late night adventures on the dancefloor with 'Protect' being my favorite one. In a way, this repetitive tunes remind me of the old days of techno, right before the acid kicked in. The acid house that is.
Chalk Hands - Burrows & Other Hideouts
Burrows & Other Hideouts EP by Chalk Hands
Hailing from Brighton, UK, Chalk Hands deliver two epic pieces of modern day extreme music. Pianos Become The Teeth, Caspian, Isis and Envy seem to be their main influences, judging from the energetic blast of post hardcore I'm listening to right now. Yet, beyond the sheer brutality, there is still some room for melodic passages and immersive instrumentalism. I like that, it gives the whole thing some welcome variation. Perhaps, if all goes well, Chalk Hands are on their way to the main stages of many post hardcore events. With this kind of energy and enthusiasm, they truly deserve that.
Volker - Dead Doll
death rock / punk / hard rock
Overpowered Records
Bordeaux, France, to most people probably known as one of the world's greatest wine regions. But if you thought the Bordeaux was a place of vineyards, cheese and tranquility, you're wrong. Bordeaux is also the birthplace of Volker, a dark rock entity that makes a lot of noise and defies genre classification.
Fronted by an energetic Jen Nyx, Volker effortlessly blends todays heavy scene with those of the eighties and nineties. Yet, before you expect something grungy or glamrocky, Volker seems to prefer the darker things in life and thus also in music.
The result is a massively varied dark rock album where death rock, gothic doom, hardcore punk and hard rock meet. I can hear flashes from The Misfits, Ramones, Moonspell, Christian Death, Guns 'n Roses and even some bands in today's metalcore scene. Metalcore fans will adore 'Yell', a vein cutting ballad, while deathrock aficionados will undoubtedly fill the dancefloors whenever 'Freaky' starts to play. There is truly something for everyone in the dark music scene.
The majority of the music on this album aims for either the mosh pits of the dark dance floor and in that aspect the horror punk smasher 'Voodoo Baby' is my favorite track. Jen Nyx goes pretty damn wild here, as she often does, which places this excellent old school punk rocker into a modern day metalcore thing that even I can appreciate. Needless to say perhaps, but this album rocks and obviously that's a good thing. So yes, dark rock fans of around the world, check it out, this would make an excellent addition to your collection.
Jabba - Vice
noise rock / punk / metal
Loyal Blood Records
Commonly known as "the only rock band in Tromsø", this noisy duo has been jamming and working for ten years before this debut album was released upon the world. They hail from the rural town of Sørreisa, probably a place where a lot of noise can be made without anyone really complaining about it.
The album contains eight tracks, all created with a distorted bass guitars, pummeling drums and brutal hardcore vocals. No wonder that some people call them "the bastard sons of Motorhead and The Melvins". This stuff is intense, punkish, raunchy and highly destructive.
I think the best way to describe this music is by simply calling it "noise rock", as they remind me of bands like Unsane, Vandal X and Today Is The Day. Of course, punk and sludge metal have been massively influential for this Norwegian duo, just listen to blasting tunes like 'Final Form' and 'Mathlete' (or anything else on this album for that matter), but the whole thing comes with such intensity and grittiness that it becomes irresistible for noise rock fans.
I don't think there's much left to say about this album, except maybe that it might need some time to grow on you. Rome wasn't built in a day and your eardrums won't be destroyed in one listen either. I'd certainly suggest giving it a try.
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Archive > 07 October 2009
NPB Bullet Points: Moves & Rumors
Patrick » 07 October 2009 » In Uncategorized » 4 Comments
Only Japanese articles this morning:
Aarom Baldiris has become expendable to the Hanshin Tigers, and the team is considering using him in a trade. Baldiris tore up ni-gun but failed to make an impact at the top level during his time with the Tigers. He did endear himself to Hanshin’s fans with his sharp defense and hustle.
Former Braves farmhand and current Kansai Leaguer Masayoshi Tokuda has passed a tryout with the Hiroshima Carp, which I take to mean that the team will draft him later this month. The linked article says that Tokuda signed a three-year minor league contract with the Braves after college, but I couldn’t find any stats from his minor league career.
Colby Lewis wants to stay in Hiroshima, stating after his most recent win: “of course I want to return to Hiroshima next year. I want talk contract for the next two months. I want to keep myself in shape.” Hiroshima has lost guys like Andy Sheets and Greg LaRocca to other teams in Japan, so there is some concern of Lewis following suit. Lewis has been outstanding in his two years with Hiroshima and will attract some MLB interest as well.
Reports persist that Hanshin has White Sox reliever Matt Thornton on their list of acquisition targets for this offseason. The story broke in September, and back then I found it too far-fetched to comment on, and it won’t happen, but it’s still out there. Hanshin figures to be busy this offseason, and is reportedly considering Korean slugger Tae-Kyun Kim as well as Hideki Matsui and now Akinori Iwamura.
Bobby Valentine has managed his last game in Chiba.
Former Taiyo Whale Jim Tracy has led his Colorado Rockies to another playoff experience. Prior to taking over for Clint Hurdle, he was considered a candidate for the manager’s seat in Yokohama.
Tuffy Rhodes will be back for another year with Orix in 2010. He’ll enter the season with a good shot at 2000 careers MLB-NPB hits.
Tags: Aarom Baldiris, Akinori Iwamura, Andy Sheets, Bobby Valentine, Clint Hurdle, Colby Lewis, Greg LaRocca, Hideki Matsui, Jim Tracy, Masayoshi Tokuda, Matt Thornton, Tae Kyun Kim, Tuffy Rhodes
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Tag Archive > Shohei Ohtani
NPB Bullet Points: A Few Articles I Read
Patrick » 09 May 2014 » In npb » Comments Off
Every article linked here is written in English:
Writing for One World Sports, John Gibson urges observers to be patient with phenom Shohei Ohtani.
Steve Novosel and Craig Roberts wrote up Lotte’s May 2-4 series with Seibu, which included Takayuki Kishi’s no-hitter.
Wily Mo Pena hit a home run off the roof of Kyocera Osaka Dome on May 6, which I had never seen anyone do before. Gen Sueyoshi has details and a video clip.
Jason Coskrey writes that the upstart Orix Buffaloes performance at the gate is lagging behind their performance in the win column.
John Sickels looks back at the career of Chad Tracy, who spent a season in Japan with the Hiroshima Carp. Tracy recently retired.
As a bonus I’ll throw in this highlight of Yuki Nishi spearing a hard line drive that was on a course for his head.
Tags: Chad Tracy, Orix Buffaloes, Shohei Ohtani, Takayuki Kishi, Wily Mo Pena, Yuki Nishi
Who’s Next?
Patrick » 15 February 2014 » In mlb prospects, nichibei » 15 Comments
Within minutes of Masahiro Tanaka signing with the Yankees, I started getting questions on Twitter about the next star out of Japan.
The short answer is that there’s no one of Tanaka’s caliber that we’ll see in MLB in the next few years.The longer answer is that there are a number of interesting pitchers currently active in Japan who could eventually wind up in North America. Here are the ones I’m watching most closely.
Kenta Maeda RHP starter, Hiroshima Carp: Maeda is Tanaka’s heir apparent as Japan’s best pitcher, but he grades well below Ma-Kun as an MLB prospect, both on pure stuff and statistical dominance. On this list, he compares most closely to Kenshin Kawakami, but with the advantages of youth and health. A reasonable expectation is that he’ll be a viable mid/back rotation starter for someone. Maeda is expected to be posted following the 2014 season, so we should see him in MLB in 2015.
Chihiro Kaneko RHP starter, Orix Buffaloes: Kaneko is pretty good, but for whatever reason, frequently overlooked in discussions about Japan’s best pitchers. He’s a bit less consistent than Maeda, but has more breaking stuff and generates a few more whiffs. Kaneko is eligible for domestic, NPB-only free agency after the 2014 season, and there are already rumors that Yomiuri is going to go after him. If he wants to play in MLB it likely wouldn’t be until 2016 at the soonest.
Seung-Hwan Oh RHP closer, Hanshin Tigers: 2014 will be Oh’s first year in NPB, having spent his career to this point in Korea. He was expected to move to MLB this past offseason, but wound up signing a two-year deal with Hanshin instead. The thought is that he could move on to MLB at the conclusion of his contract, so that would be 2016. I haven’t seen Oh yet so I haven’t formed an opinion of him as a prospect.
Hideaki Wakui, RHP starter, Chiba Lotte Marines: A few years ago, Wakui would have ranked among Japan’s better MLB prospects, but now he’s a bit of a question mark. He hit his peak in 2009, winning the Sawamura Award, but overuse, a contentious relationship with his team, girl trouble, and possible conditioning problems has resulted in several steps backward. I’ve been hearing for years that Wakui wants to move to MLB; he signed a two-year contract with Lotte this offseason where he could rebuild value.
Takuya Asao, RHP reliever, Chunichi Dragons: Asao was so dominant in 2011 that won the 2011 Central League MVP Award, despite pitching in middle relief. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been the same since, suffering from shoulder discomfort and pitching 30 and 30.2 in 2012 and 2013 respectively. If he’s healthy, there’s no doubt his stuff — mid-90s fastball, hard splitter, funky palmball — is good enough for MLB. He’s a few years away from free agency so we’ll see what happens.
Yusei Kikuchi, LHP starter, Seibu Lions: Kikuchi made waves in 2009 for considering forgoing NPB to sign with an MLB club. He ultimately remained in Japan, and was drafted by Seibu. In 2013, Kikuchi was in the midst of making good on the potential that made him such a hot commodity as a high school prospect when he was stricken with shoulder inflammation and lost for the season. It obviously remains to be seen how he’ll fare when he returns, but so far he’s at least show that he can turn his ability in to results. Kikuchi is at least six years away from free agency.
Shohei Ohtani RHP starter/OF, Nippon Ham Fighters: Here’s where it gets interesting. Like Kikuchi, Ohtani also showed an interest in jumping right to MLB out of high school. Unlike Kikuchi, he seemed intent on actually doing it, but Nippon Ham drafted him anyway and eventually convinced him to sign. Despite flashing 100mph heat in high school, Ohtani opened the 2013 season as Nippon Ham’s starting right fielder. A few months later, he made his ichi-gun debut on the mound, and pitched 61.2 innings, becoming the first nitouryu (double-bladed) player since Yozo Nagabuchi in 1968. Ohtani’s offseason training centered on pitching, but he’ll reportedly continue to play both positions this season. Nippon Ham has been publicly supportive of sending Ohtani to MLB after a few years of seasoning, but of course that was before this posting system nonsense took place.
Shintaro Fujinami RHP starter, Hanshin Tigers: Ohtani’s 2013 rookie brethren Fujinami might not be as flashy, but he’s a lot more polished. Fujinami opened the 2013 as Hanshin’s third starter, and essentially stuck in the rotation for the duration of the season, an impressive feat for an 18 year-old. At this point, Fujinami probably has the best potential of any pitcher on this list. He already shows polish and pitchability, and he’s extremely lanky 6’7. As he fills out and adds strength, it’s reasonable to expect that he could develop a bit more fastball velocity, and handle more innings pitched. At age 19 he’s a long way away from free agency and MLB, but if 2013 is any indication fans on both sides of the Pacific have a lot to look forward to.
Tomohiro Anraku RHP starter Saibi High School: Anraku’s still a high school student, but he’s an interesting prospect. Clearly the top player in last year’s spring Koshien Sembatsu tournament, he was famously pitched into the ground by his manager. The bodily wear he sustained from the effort led to worse performances later in the year, and his stock as an NPB draft prospect has dropped. We don’t know what 2014 holds, but it’s conceivable that he could follow in Kikuchi and Ohtani’s footsteps as a player who tests the MLB waters out of high school.
Tags: Chihiro Kaneko, Hideaki Wakui, Kenta Maeda, Masahiro Tanaka, Seung-Hwan Oh, Shintaro Fujinami, Shohei Ohtani, Takuya Asao, Tomohiro Anraku, Yozo Nagabuchi, Yusei Kikuchi
Time To Start Writing Again
Patrick » 02 April 2013 » In npb draft » 7 Comments
Well, it’s been a while. Life has kept me hectically busy, but every once in a while I get the urge to express myself creatively by way of printed word again, so I’ve decided to attempt to begin again.
The change this time around is that what I post will probably be less straight translation of news events, and more commentary and writing writing. I hope I turn out to be good at it.
Here’s what I have in mind for the next couple months:
The influx of rookies into NPB and the true changing the guard it signifies.
Tomohiro Anraku and the cautionary tales of Koshiens passed.
How Nippon Ham persuaded Shohei Ohtani to remain in Japan and whether it will work or not.
How to become a consumer of Japanese baseball without speaking a word of Japanese.
The pending internationalization of NPB.
The Major League futures of Masahiro Tanaka and Yoshio Itoi.
More Yakyu Nihongo lessons.
Finally follow up on this post from 2009.
Some reflection on my baseball “expertise”.
Some reflection on my experience writing and developing a following.
(Baseball) stuff I find on various 2ch/matome sites, which I have become fascinated by.
How not to suck at programming. Or, at least, sucking less at programming.
We’ll see how it goes.
Tags: Masahiro Tanaka, Shohei Ohtani, Tomohiro Anraku, Yoshio Itoi
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Home > Business > VCs invest $1.6 bn in healthcare IT firms globally in April-June
VCs invest $1.6 bn in healthcare IT firms globally in April-June
Venture capital firms invested $1.6 billion through 140 deals in Healthcare IT companies worldwide during the April-June quarter this year, up 33 per cent year-on-year, says a Mercom Capital Group report.
Of these, 12 Indian Healthcare IT companies received VC funding this quarter, which was saw highest VC investments since 2010. While nine domestic firms got over $26 million, the deal size of the three was not disclosed. In the first quarter, they had invested $1.4 billion through 146 deals in the sector.
For the first half of this year, close to $3 billion was raised through 286 deals, marking a 50 per cent rise, compared with nearly $2 billion in the year-ago period.
"The big reason for the jump in VC funding was record fund raising by Chinese companies. This is the first time since 2010 that Health IT companies in the US have been outraised by other countries," Mercom Capital Group CEO and Co-Founder Raj Prabhu said.
This was the largest VC funding quarter for Healthcare IT companies since Mercom began tracking in 2010.
"This quarter is likely an outlier, but it is also a sign that investors and companies should pay close attention to digital health markets around the world," Prabhu said.
Notable Indian transactions in April-June quarter of this year include, 1mg Technologies (previously HealthKartPlus) which raised $16 million in funding from Maverick Capital Ventures, Sequoia India and Omidiyar Network, the report said.
Among other noted Indian deals Bangalore-based developer of a health and fitness mobile app HealthifyMe raised $6 million from IDG Ventures India, Inventus Capital and Blume Ventures.
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Villagers retake land from gold mining company
By Aung Ko Oo
About 300 local people and their supporters took back their land from Myanmar Sithu Gold Mining Company at Yayhtwet village, Chaunggyi village-tracts, Thapeikyin Township, Pyinoolwin district, Mandalay Region on 3 January.
They were supported by people from Patheingyi, Madaya and Singu townships.
They said that they had to retake their land after gold mining companies began mining there. Gold mining companies doing business around their village were Myanmar Sithu, Letpanpyant Regional Development Company and Wai Lin Htike Company.
A local villager May Lwin said, “No land is left for our people for our own business. All lands are for them. The land they are mining now is the land discovered by our ancestors. We have been doing business in these lands on a small scale. These lands were taken from us and these companies bully us. These lands are our village lands so we came and retook our lands today.”
Villagers have repeatedly lodged complaints against gold mining companies in the area to the Mining Ministry and Mandalay Region government since 2012, but the authorities did not reply or settle the dispute. In fact, local people were accused of trespassing on company land and stealing gold resulting in charges brought against them,the villagers said.
Abbot Nandaw Bartha from Yayhtwet village monastery said, “People have lost patience and now they have retaken their land by force. The government did not settle their dispute on lands which are village lands listed in the Home Ministry gazette. The regional government transferred these lands to mining companies knowingly and have intentionally created conflict with local people. As far as we know these mining companies are doing their mining business illegally here.”
Villager Zaw Naing said, “About 40-50 people are standing here with swords in their hands. In previous days, there were only about 20 people working here regularly. Today it is different. And I heard that the fences are now electrified. I see the situation at close range. As a local, I will fight back if they hit our people. I have no fear.”
Despite rumours being circulated about electrified fences, no one was injured and the company did not attempt to block villagers from entering their premises.
Myanmar Sithu Gold Mining Company Manager Myo Htut said, “We cannot do business here without permission given by the State. The authorities concerned will come and settle this dispute. We do not have anything to say.”
Toe Gyi who led the villagers said, “We have retaken our land by placing flags on the boundaries of it. Starting from tomorrow, we will begin our gold mining work together while we are awaiting settlement of the dispute by the government.”
Thapeikkyin Township Administrator Ko Ko Hlaing said, “We have to take action against those who violate the law. We have not yet received any complaints from anyone.”
Thapeikkyin police station did not reply when contacted.
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Letshwiti admits Premier League blunder
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"Arguments for lifting the ban are unsound"
CORRESPONDENT Friday, July 06, 2018
Dr Mike Chase collaring an elephant in the CKGR PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES
On June 21, 2018, some of Botswana's Members of Parliament adopted a motion to lift the elephant hunting ban.
They cited the following reasons for this decision:
1. An increase in Botswana’s elephant population
2. Human Elephant Conflict
3. Less benefits from tourism
To effectively minimise human-elephant conflict (HEC), it is necessary to understand a suite of issues, including: elephant behaviour, biology and population dynamics; human attitudes and reactions; and the efficacy of management strategies. I am a Motswana elephant biologist, with 20 years’ experience studying elephant ecology throughout Africa, and in 2001 founded an NGO called Elephants Without Borders. I lean on my experience and published data by our research team in peer-reviewed journals to provide objective information. Issues of elephant management are complex and controversial, involving not only data and expert opinion, but also values, ethics and emotions of stakeholders all over the world.
1. Contrary to popular belief Botswana’s elephant population is not increasing. Many people assume that an increase in the number of conflicts between elephants and humans is automatically due to an increasing elephant population.
Increases in human-elephant conflict outside the ‘traditional elephant range’ are more closely associated with increases in human population densities than elephant population growth.
The last two elephant surveys (2010 and 2014) by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and Elephants Without Borders (EWB) revealed an estimate of 130, 000 elephants in northern Botswana. Looking at 20 years of data, our demographic modelling, shows the elephant population has been stable for the past 15 years.
These results lend further support to the notion that the increase in complaints and human-elephant conflict over the last decade are due to elephant redistribution across the landscape coupled with an increase in human population densities and not an increase in the number of elephants.
Our aerial surveys and satellite movement studies reveal elephants have expanded their range by 35%. Between 2001 and 2017. Elephants are repopulating historical ranges in Botswana, occurring in areas where they have not been seen in the past 50 years, regions which are much more heavily populated and developed. People incorrectly conclude that this range expansion is a result of increased numbers.
Against a backdrop of poaching throughout Africa which has reduced elephants by 30%, or 144, 000 animals over a period of seven years, the recovery of Botswana’s elephant population must be heralded for what it is; one of the greatest conservation success stories in Africa. This is something we should all be proud of, and our conservation legacy is emblematic of the values Batswana strive for; peace, coexistence and Botho.
2. Members of Parliament are on record stating that resuming hunting will reduce human-elephant conflict implying hunting is the silver bullet to addressing the problem.
As a response, let me start by looking at the reasons elephants have expanded their ranges in Botswana.
i. Density dependent dispersal – search for food,
ii. Failure of the Kavango-Zambezi TFCA. Poaching and habitat constriction in southern Angola, Zambia and along Botswana’s borders have restricted elephants to remain in the safety of Botswana,
iii. Water availability in the form of artificial water and recent flooding events in
previously dry rivers have enticed elephant to move further south, and
iv. Vet fences are effective barriers to elephant movements, but many of them have not been maintained and long stretches are broken giving elephants access to new areas.
In all likelihood, the reintroduction of trophy hunting will have no impact on any of these factors as they are unrelated to the ban on trophy hunting in 2014.
In addition, there is
no evidence to support claims that within the traditional elephant range human- elephant conflict has increased. At a national level, complaints have increased largely because elephants now occur over a much larger area. DWNP problem animal control statistics reveal that in the Chobe Enclave for example, human-elephant conflict incidents now are the same as when hunting was permitted.
Hunting occurs in the dry season and targets large bulls, while elephant crop raiding coincides with the rainy season and the perpetrators tend to be young bulls or family herds.
The variation in the timing, space use, age and sex of problem elephants suggest hunting will have a limited effect on solving human-elephant conflict.
This does not mean that EWB or Government does not take the HEC incidents that do occur seriously.
They do, and all concerns raised by communities are absolutely valid. However, we have a new set of factors as outlined above, and DWNP, as the agent tasked with responding to HEC incidents, now need to respond accordingly and effectively to the anguish of communities.
The research EWB has done suggests that reducing HEC will require a range of interventions, including Government programmes, policies and incentives as an essential element of successful coexistence initiatives.
Amongst these, education and awareness around elephants, recognising elephant migration corridors, rapid response to conflicts, the allocation of agricultural plots in appropriate areas and the further promotion of localised ecotourism businesses can all play significant roles.
We don’t need more management plans and meetings! In the end, it is important to recognise that humans are a root cause of many of these issues, and that focusing on elephants as a threat or as an economic nuisance is largely counterproductive. To solve these problems, the central focus needs to be human behaviour.
3. The assertions that elephant hunting is a mainstay and that without it, communities get no benefit at all lacks evidential support. In fact, the impressive growth of the wider ecotourism industry over the last 20 years indicates the opposite.
Botswana is globally known as the ‘land of the giants’ a safe refuge for the world’s largest elephant population.
This has become a feature attraction to the thriving photographic ecotourism industry, the most significant employer and economic sector in northern Botswana.
In addition, without trophy hunting, Botswana has a comparative advantage as a safari destination over all its regional neighbours.
Tourists, who are increasingly seeking destinations offering responsible and ethical activities, can choose Botswana over countries offering hunting.
Some argue that a reintroduction of elephant hunting will cause Botswana’s brand irreparable harm overseas and a drop-off in tourism arrivals and thus in-turn either job losses or no growth in job creation.
A new emphasis in conservation in Botswana is needed, where we try to manage human-elephant conflict, and find ways in which preserving wildlife that is otherwise dangerous can benefit rural communities.
We must now harness our global position as a leader in wildlife tourism and ensure that our national elephant herd improves the quality of life for all Batswana.
DR MIKE CHASE
*Botswana born, Mike Chase, (PhD), has been studying the ecology of elephants since 2001 and was the first Motswana to receive his doctorate specifically in elephant ecology. Chase is the founder of Elephants without Borders and in 2015 was bestowed the Presidential Order of Meritorious Service Award by former President, Seretse Khama Ian Khama for exceptional service to the country and conservation efforts
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Strata project
Rivers of Communication
St. Olof’s church
Every now and then art gets the urge to resume its never-ending dialogue with science, sociology and the philosophy of life. This usually happens when art finds itself in crisis, which is when its power of expansion - through a particular movement, a particular wave, or a particular style - is endangered. Normally, art is quite content in its solitude, especially when it is economically well provided for by a sound, capitalistic expansion. The well-known brothel owner Xaviera Hollander used to say "when stocks are up the cocks are up", indicating in her homespun, philosophical manner that when everything is running smoothly, people do other thing than think.
At his happiest, man is an animal of pure action, ceaselessly expanding his external realm through exploitation of all imaginable kinds. It is only after this exploitation has led him up to a blind alley of impending catastrophe that he sinks into a reflecting is most often identified with what is negative and stagnated. This has probably always been so, but never has thought been more on the defensive than as in the era which began with Michelangelos David, and now culminates in the international advertising figure, Marlboro Man. Every attempt in modern history to develop in mankind a more solid, inner strength has immediately been countered by a glorification of exaggerated models of pure, extrinsic physicality.
The Strata exhibition is a timely reminder of art's possibilities as an instigator of broad reflection on life and society. As Heidegger replied to Sartre, when the latter expressed doubts about the utility of reflection, and demanded immediate action instead: "To think is to take action." Strata engages the spectator in active reflection on the Earth and its prospects, without inculcating any naive ideology, or high hopes of a happy solution. Lothar Baumgarten, Guillaume Bijl, Agnes Denes, Felix Droese, Nancy Holt, Jan Håfström, Pieter Laurens mol and Alan Sonfist are undogmatic in their appeal, but they are firm in their conviction that time is ripe for more reflection and less exploitation.
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Shari’ah Board
Interim Financial Statements
Al Rowad Program
Private Banking & Wealth Management
Qatar First Bank held AGM & EGM
Qatar First Bank L.L.C. (Public) “QFB” held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) yesterday to discuss the bank’s performance and future initiatives after releasing its financials for the year ended 31 December 2018 at QFB Lounge premises in Doha – Qatar.
QFB’s Board of Directors, chaired by chairman Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Ghorab Al Marri, along with shareholders and attendees of the AGM & EGM, discussed and approved, the bank’s audited financial results and the performance of the 2018 full year of operation.
Ten board members were elected by the shareholders through the cumulative voting process in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations. The result of voting was QFB new BoD consists of the following winners: Sheikh Faisal Thani Al Thani, Mr. Abdulla Fahad Ghorab Al Marri, Dr. Mohammed Nasser Mohammed Al Qahtani, Mr. Abdel Latif Mohammed Al Sada, Mr. Salman Abdulghani, Mr. Ibrahim Jaidah, Mr. Mohammed Reslan Al Khayat, Mr. Mohammed Yousef Al Mana and Mr. Salem Al Marri and Mohammed Al Hajiri. The Bank will now seek to fulfill the necessary regulatory and legal arrangements to incorporate the changes of membership in its Board of Directors. Following the Bank’s AGM, the EGM took place at the same venue and passed key resolutions.
Bank’s EGM through shareholders’ approval, adopted a special resolution to approve QFB’s Board of Directors share capital reduction recommendation in accordance with regulatory requirements by the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA), QFC rules and others applicable laws. The Bank will now seek to fulfill the necessary regulatory and legal arrangements to effect the capital reduction recommendation. Another special resolution was passed approving certain alterations to the articles of association in accordance with the new corporate governance regulations issued by QFMA.
Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Ghorab Al Marri, QFB’s Chairman, said:
“At QFB we were not immune to the prevailing macro-economic conditions. Record such net loss was mainly driven by global and regional headwinds resulting from prevailing market uncertainties that affected the performance of the bank’s alternative investments portfolio.
We will seek to obtain the required approvals on the proposed capital reduction plan that will play a significant role in our growth. Our outlook is very firm and optimistic. The launch of revised strategy and appointment of new Board of Directors and management team will definitely boost our performance and accelerate momentum of coming back into the green.”
Financial year 2018 being the most challenging year for the bank reporting a net loss of QAR 482 million along with a disposal loss and loss on fair value remeasurement of equity investments of QAR 331 million during the year”
Total income (excluding disposal loss and loss on fair value remeasurement of equity investments) showed a growth momentum with an increase of 24.1% at QAR 222 million, as compared to QAR 178 million of previous year. This was mainly driven by the fee income from the structured products and a reduction of 26% in returns to unrestricted investment account holders (the cost of funding) due to the better management of its loan to deposit ratio.
In 2018, Treasury and Investment Management arm focused more on strengthening product capabilities. Key focus areas included organic growth of the bank’s customer base of high net worth Individuals, institutional investors and government related entities. Furthermore, the team directly acquired several yielding real estate properties in the US and UK while structuring several capital protected structured products.
To achieve sustainable business growth and to turn around financial and business performance, the bank new board and senior management adopting a timely strategy that focuses on shifting the bank’s operating model from asset management to fee income on structured product.
Qatar First Bank LLC (Public) is authorized by QFCRA
under license No. 00091 and listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange
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Tag: UDBA
Archive Referendum Results: Nothing To Be Happy About, Regardless
A few takeaways on yesterday’s archive referendum results. The turnout was a dismal 11.68 percent, with 67.32% against and 32.68% in favor of the new archive law. Since the quorum of 20% of all eligible voters against the law was not reached, the law stands as passed by the parliament.
Referendum results (source: dvk-rs.si, graphics via ChartGo)
Now, the response of the petitioning party (that be Janez Janša‘s SDS) was pathetically predictable: that at least they won “a moral victory“. That the “forces of UDBa are still at work”. That the people don’t appreciate the referendum as they should (clearly a case of pot calling the kettle black).
On the other hand, the government hailed “a referendum victory” with minister Uroš Grilc adding that Slovenia finally has a modern archive legislation. Incidentally, the last law to have survived voters’ scrutiny (albeit under the old rules) was 2005 referendum on the law on state radio and television RTVSLO. And that law, too, fell under the purview of Ministry of culture. Just so you know 😉
Now, while the bit about a modern piece of legislation might very well be true, everything else is pure bullshit-meter-breaking material. This is not a victory for the government. It is, at best, a defeat avoided. The feeling of “victory” is relative only to the ginormous foot the Party had just inserted in its own mouth. Namely, the SDS supported changes to the referendum legislation, instituting the “quorum against” which now worked heavily against them.
Bonus points in the fuckwit category go for Milan Zver MEP who tweeted that two-thirds of Slovenians slapped the government in the face (this by extension meaning that only people who cast their vote on Sunday are true Slovenians). That the turnout on a referendum they campaigned heavily for is comparable to the 2008 fiasco with referendums on regions only adds insult to injury. As does the fact that back then Janez Janša claimed victory as well.
Dve tretjini Slovencev dalo še eno nazaupnico levi vladi! Oni pa slavijo že s tretjinsko podporo na eferendumu! Stvar samopodibe pač!
— Milan Zver (@MilanZver) June 8, 2014
But the biggest loser here are the people. Not because the law is now enacted (that, at least, is good) but because the SDS continues, even with the “new and improved” referendum restrictions, to abuse what is left of this crucial institute of direct democracy. This was the pattern for the better part of the past two decades and due to no small fault of the Party the word “referendum” is now tarnished beyond repair.
Under the new rules it is almost impossible for a group of concerned citizens or an NGO to challenge a piece of legislation unless they have access to a well-developed political party network which (by definition) makes them more of an astroturf group rather than a grass-roots movement. With continued abuse, the “almost impossible” will without a doubt become simply “impossible”, as ignoring referendum votes will become not only acceptable, but indeed desirable. The ultimate goal of making voters indifferent to public matters is thus well within reach. Case in point being the general approval the people met with the new referendum rules.
Citizens’ oversight is a scarce commodity as it is. Abuse of referendum legislation, such as witnessed Sunday last, only depletes it further. Pretty soon, there will be none left.
Posted on June 9, 2014 June 9, 2014 Categories SloveniaTags archives, Referendum, SDS, UDBA, Uroš Grilc2 Comments on Archive Referendum Results: Nothing To Be Happy About, Regardless
Expressing How Dumb That Was In Words Just Doesn’t Work
(original image: Blaž Samec/Delo)
After a failed attempt to fight off accusations of forgery, Slovene Democratic Party of Janez Janša issued an “Apology and clarification to visitors of our website” where it stated that “upon revising the entire procedure of collecting the archive documents a year ago, we cannot claim that all documents were sent to all addressees [as implied by the published document]“.
The party goes on to state that it now “allows for the possibility that due to (dis)organisation of the SZDL archives in the Archive of Slovenia, the particular archive included documents which were not part of the letter of July 2 1980. Should this really be the case, it was an error on our part because we did not check the document thoroughly enough and in that case we apologize to our readers“.
However, the party explicitly refuses to apologize to President Danilo Türk, and now says that the president “was member of the highest circle of Slovenian leadership at the time and was informed about the Velikovec case. Those documents, which were without a doubt addressed to him, report on trial of UDBa [general moniker for SDV secret service] operatives. He was privy to the background unknown to ordinary citizens. He knew the background in 1980 and he knew them in 2010 when he gave a medal to protagonist of the bombing Tomaž Ertl“. SDS concludes that the whole thing is only one more reason for the secret archives to be declassified.
Wow. No, seriously. Wow! Cornelious said it best in his comment yesterday: this really is a non-apology. Something along the lines of “oops, we fucked up, but we proved our point regardless”.
Well, SDS didn’t prove their point. Far from it. The party and its president only proved that they are willing to take unfathomable liberties with publicly accessible archive material. Bob knows what they would do with classified documents. And even if those documents were declassified (the government keeps them secret invoking interests of the national security), SDS lost any and all justification to interpret them. Not only are they playing dumb. They’re taking everyone else for dumb as well. I mean, the documents were in their possession for a year. A year! And it is only now that they discover a “mistake”? What other “mistakes” did they make in the past?
All Janša and SDS had to do to win the 2012 elections is to sit back, look pretty and keep their mouth shut for the next eighteen months. Instead they’ve proven beyond any reasonable doubt that there is no limit to what they’re willing to do to regain control of this country.
Expressing how dumb that was in words just doesn’t work, hence: facepalm.
Posted on February 24, 2011 February 24, 2011 Categories SloveniaTags Archive, Danilo Türk, Janez Janša, SDV, Slovenia, UDBA, Velikovec12 Comments on Expressing How Dumb That Was In Words Just Doesn’t Work
Documents Sexed-Up For Dramatic Puroposes
As luck would have it, pengovsky is way busy co-handling The Offspring™ which sort of explains the blogging no-show of the past few days (still, you got the skin and meat :)) But that does not mean things were quiet this side of the Alps. Oh, no… What we had here in the past ten-or-so days was almost worthy of an Austin Powers adventure. Guess who plays Dr. Evil…
Janez Janša and Danilo Türk as Dr. Evil and Austin Powers. Shall we shag now or shag later? (photoshop by yours truly)
Remember Operation North? When twenty years after the deed President Danilo Türk awarded a medal to the last socialist interior minister Tomaž Ertl for preventing a Milošević-induced mass rally in Ljubljana in 1989 aimed at overthrowing the reform Communist leadership and installing a pro-Serb hard-liners at the helm of the country? Slightly more than a year ago giving a medal to Ertl (who was, among other things, head of the state secret police) made Janez Janša‘s SDS go apeshit and move to impeach president Türk on the grounds of supporting human rights violations. Janša’s move failed spectacularly but in the whirlwind of half-truths, accusations and conjectures that were the “impeachment case”, a set of questions stood out like a sore thumb: “What was Türk’s connection to Ertl and what did the President know of Ertl’s involvement in acts of international terrorism”
Shaggadelic, baby, yeah!
Fast forward eleven months and SDS starts making noises about how archives of the Slovene branch of SDV (Yugoslav secret service) still remain inaccessible and how this is most unacceptable, undemocratic and (oy vey!) unlawful. It goes on to say that SOVA, the current Slovene secret service, still prevents access to archives of former SDV and by that prevents parliamentary and public oversight of the intelligence services (the pretext being that Igor Omeza, a man of colourful past and high-profile past was denied access to the archives when supposedly researching a story). This apparently pained Janša so much, that he discussed the issue even in a debate on WikiLeaks, where he – in the presence of the new US Ambassador to Slovenia Joseph A. Mussomeli – made a quick argument against releasing the US State Departament cables but then went on a long tirade on why classified SDV archives must be made public in all their ignomy.
And then, a year almost to the day after Türk awarded Ertl with that infamous medal, SDS spectacularly “discovers” documents which supposedly prove that President Türk had detailed knowledge of the 1979 Velikovec (Völkermarkt) bombing in Austrian Carynthia in which three people were injured and which today is widely accepted to have been orchestrated by Slovene branch of SDV or at the very least cooked up by more rabid elements within the service. SDS claimed this directly linked Türk to acts of international terrorism as well as put him firmly in the circle of communist intelligence services. And what worse than an (albeit indirect) accusation that an incumbent president collaborated with communist secrecy service, by extension making either a spy or a snitch.
Enter Exhibit A
President Türk denied any prior or detailed knowledge of the Velikovec bombing. In what was an unusally strong-worded denial (Slovenian only) he bluntly accused Janša’s SDS of manipulation and deceit. Namely, the core of SDS’ case was a diplomatic cable from Yugoslav embassy in Vienna dated almost ten months after the bombing which was a compilation of official an unofficial Austrian responses as well as clippings from Austrian media in relation to the bombing. Recipients of the document included top Party brass and heads of other relevant institutions and committees, including one Danilo Türk, president of the SZDL committee for issues of minorities and diaspora.
At this point it should be noted that in 1979 Danilo Türk was a 26-year-old freshly minted law school graduate who just returned from serving in the army and landed his first job at SZDL (Socialist Union of Working People). The latter was a sort of all-encompassing umbrella organisation for groups and activities which were not strictly sanctioned by the Party, but were needed to be a part of the system to a) maintain the illusion of plurality and b) for the party to keep tabs on them. SZDL was designed to be the intermediary between the Party and the people and as a result, people working with or for SZDL could get away with a whole lot more than those working for the Party. Just to prove my point: the documents which started the JBTZ affair and ultimately began the final push for Slovenian independce were “acquired” by Igor Bavčar (today of Istrabenz infamy) in 1988 while he was working for that same SZDL.
Enter Exibit B
Anyways. Türk denies it and SDS immediately shoots back saying that not only is the President lying but also that it has in its possession a document which proves that Danilo Türk and SDV chief Tomaž Ertl (the one with the medal) go way back and did not meet face-to-face only last year as Türk had claimed during the impeachment proceedings. To back up their claim, they produced another document, a letter by interior secretary Tomaž Ertl from 1982 in which the latter informs the former that the Interior Secretariat is replacing its member of the Türk’s committee.
SDS of course failed to prove either one of their claims. Rather than proving that Türk was a member of the inner circle of the Party/SDV circles, the first set documents proves only that Türk was “privy” to diplomatic cables on the issue of Velikovec ten months after the attack and that information in that particular cable was stale, to say the least. Even more. The list of recipients of the said cable include not only the top Party officials, but people across the institutional spectrum of the socialist system (the Assembly, the SZDL, various committees) which points to the fact that the cable is a cleaned-up “civilian” version of intelligence collected (if there ever was any). In other words, it’s harmless. Secondly, claiming that Türk and Ertl go back thirty years (and again by conjecture trying to establish a link between the President and the inner circles of the SDV) by means of producing a bureaucratic notification is akin to fans claiming to be buddies with Bono of U2 on account of having his autograph. An exaggeration of biblical proportions, that is.
However, things got even more interesting. First it transpired that SDV documents were sealed by the government of Janez Janša. It turned out to be a classic. First, Janša’s right-wing coalition passed a law transferring all SDV documents to the state archives and aimed at declassifying them. Only then did a special committee take a look at the archives and apparently discovered that some of them are smoking hot. As a result SOVA (Slovene secret service) reclassified parts of documents and Janša’s government set a new release date for them, forty years from now. So, rather than whining about how this government is unlawfully hiding the archives (and at the same time condemning Wikileaks for releasing some other archives), Janša and his party would be better off keeping their mouth shut.
However, this is obviously too much to ask. Releasing supposedly damaging documents has been Janša’s modus operandi for the past 25 years. Indeed, he was sent to prison by the federal army in 1988 for being in possession of a secret army document and after a glorious period during the war of independence in 1991 things only got worse. In 1994, during an attempted coup d’etat, army intelligence service loyal to Janša tried to plant forged documents and use them as pretext to topple the government. The plan backfired and the whole thing ended with Janša’s dismissal as defence minister. After that he made a career of sifting through old archives and publishing them in volumes on end, each and every time claiming to have shed new light on the role of key players of Slovenian independence. Although the documents were either declassified or have at the very least been in the public domain for a very long time, Janša always interpreted them in a way that extolled his role in achieving the independence and portrayed him as a victim of SDV, at the same time diminishing role of others key players, depending on who was his primary enemy at any given time. This time around this appears to be President Türk, who admittedly has little or no direct involvement in achieving the independence but is apparently enough of a problem for Janša to be discredited at all costs. Even if the released documents are forgeries.
Yes. It turns out that the first set of documents wasn’t actually a single set of documents but rather two different batches, sent to two different lists of addressees at two different dates. Indeed, one set (with more details in it) was not addressed to Türk but rather to his predecessor in the SZDL committee. So, in order to implicate Türk in a spy-ring-scandal, SDS published forgeries. If you want to be really lenient, you can call it a document that was “sexed-up for dramatic purposes”. At any rate, the documents thus became irrelevant, while Janša was once again caught lying.
This fuck-up-uncovered might also explain Türk’s strong reaction to Janša’s initial claims. Rumours were circulating for the past few days that Janša’s people took liberties in interpreting what they found in the archives, but few knew just how liberal-an-interpretation they cooked up. Türk apparently knew and it would seem logical for his office to have made inquiries into what exactly were Janša’s people looking for. So, why would the largest opposition party sex documents up in order to substantiate their claims against the president, when they’ve got so much going for them? I mean, SDS is leading the polls, economy is still going down the drain, most people see Janša as the next PM and all he has to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.
Part of it most likely has to do with the fact that Janša will not accept defeat. Danilo Türk’s victory in presidential elections in 2007 was the harbinger of Janša’s electoral defeat a year later. Several of Türk’s moves (not in the least giving a medal to Ertl) were like throwing a gauntlet in Janša’s face. And Türk also stole some much wanted limelight during Slovenian EU presidency, having much more diplomatic clout than Janša and his foreign minister Rupel combined.
Secondly, it has to do with destabilising the country. The largest opposition party seems to have made it its mission to oppose almost every government move and actively try to block and derail any measure which could – even by a long shot – break the current social and economic status quo. This includes calling for referendums virtually on a monthly basis, prolonging the legislative process beyond any acceptable means.
And thirdly, it has to do with creating an atmosphere of distrust, deceit and paralysing fear, where no-one dares do anything for fear of what Janša and his people might dig out on any given person. It is an environment of paranoia Janša thrives in but which is ultimately destructive both to him and the country he wants to lead yet again.
Looks like someone lost their mojo
In short, what was meant to be a sort of political black-ops campaign turned out to be amateur night by people who keep feeding us the same shit over and over again, as if they’re caught in some sort of political Ground-hog day, constantly reliving the same idea over and over, always seeing ghosts and wanting to prove that there is some sort of secret clan of die-hard Communists who run the country, refusing to realise that the entire country is sick and tired of their stale tricks and wants to move forwards. If that is still possible at all.
BTW: As of recent the SDS has a lovely new site in English. It is definitely worth your time every once in a while. The more observant of readers will find in there literary gems by none other than former foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel, but even if that’s not your thing, you can still check the crap pengovsky posts against the sharp and deep analysis of the largest opposition party in Slovenia 😀
Posted on February 20, 2011 February 21, 2011 Categories Slovenia, Sunday SpecialTags Austin Powers, Borut Pahor, Danilo Türk, Igor Bavčar, Janez Janša, Slovenia, terrorism, UDBA, Velikovec, WikiLeaks5 Comments on Documents Sexed-Up For Dramatic Puroposes
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Perfumenary
Your Perfume Dictionary
Cumarin
A compound known for being an ingredient in the overwhelming majority of all perfumes made. The popularity and widespread usage is down to the versatility and malleability of the compound — imparting its value easily, readily, and in any fragrance that requires it. It is found in crystal form; naturally occurring on a multitude of plants like the tonka bean. The aroma is spicy, sweet, herbaceous, and fresh; akin to a blend of almonds and vanilla, with hints of aged plant materials. It is often added to compositions to give a sense of creeping sweetness that rises as the scent wafts. The scent also lasts much longer than other scents; a characteristic that it can inject into the compositions it is added to. This makes the compound extremely valuable in the world of perfumery, and is the reason for its widespread appeal.
It also makes the foundation for the fragrance family of fougère. In perfumery, it is rarely an organic material of which the cumarin compound has been derived for usage.
Musc Ravageur from the Edition de Parfums Frédéric Malle contains Cumarin for example.
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Welcome to Cyprus
The captivating island of Cyprus provides you with the ideal location for your home, receded by an environment of contrast and harmony
An island nestled inside the depths of the Mediterranean Sea and at veritable crossroads with three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa. Cyprus it the largest island in the eastern Mediterranean yet the third smallest country in the EU; it is a premier starting point for the discovery of neighboring exotic locales such as the Greek Islands and the Middle East. In fact, around 800 ‘mini-cruises’ set off daily for these destinations from Limassol, one of the leading cruise and maritime activity ports in the region. But as close as Cyprus may be to the world’s epicenter, it remains a very distinct habitat that feels blissfully apart from it all.
The captivating island of Cyprus provides you with the ideal location for your home, receded by an environment of contrast and harmony. Cyprus has the picture-perfect Mediterranean climate, with warm breezy summers and sunshine brimming winters, complemented by its diverse landscape and intricate culture, Cyprus welcomes you to lounge in its sunshine and bathe in its waters. The lively cosmopolitan city of Limassol, where your home will be based, delivers a fusion of ecstasy and tranquility. Enjoy its buzzing nightlife and relax on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, on an island blessed with a strong cultural legacy, both past and present.
A historic island that trails past 10,00 years, has seen civilizations come and go, where the likes of Alexander the Great and Cleopatra of Egypt have staked claim- but then again, people do tend to get possessed when faced with such natural beauty. An island of myths that basks all year under the warm Mediterranean sun. Statistically, Cyprus enjoys 300-plus sunny days per year; something very few can resist.
Legend has it that even Aphrodite made here home here, and travelers throughout antiquity visited the island just to pay their goddess tribute. Nowadays, sun worshippers make detours off the Limassol-Pafos route, for a picnic and dive at Petra tou Romiou, a boulder that marks the spot where Aphrodite emerged from the sea foam. In the Akamas region, hikers exploring the area’s rich flora can cool off at the grotto where the love goddess bathed after her amorous interludes.
Today, Cyprus is a modern country that has effortlessly married with European culture, whilst maintaining its ageless enchantment. On the island, one discovers an abundance of alluring beaches and fragrant mountain peaks, vineyards sprinkled with olive trees and ancient relics that stir the imagination, citrus groves and old stone villages where sweet wine flows as freely as conversations at the local café. A peaceful place where a sense of timelessness is magnified by the openness of the natives.
Cyprus’ charisma is as much a product of its mystical beauty as it is of periods under globally competing empires, all unable to contest the island’s strategic allure. The very name of Cyprus shimmers with an ages-old quality that stretches from the time of the Copper Age. Abundant copper reserves put minute Cyprus on the map. In fact, Cyprus (Kypros in Greek) gave copper its Latin name, ‘cuprum’. In the late Bronze Age, Mycenaean Greeks settled in Cyprus and established trade links with Egypt and the Aegean Islands. This marked the period when ceramic art first flourished.
As centuries drifted by, the island came variously under Persian, Assyrian, Egyptian and Roman rule. It was the latter era that Marc Anthony, enthralled by the island’s sweet vines, gave Cyprus as a gift to his matchless Cleopatra. After a long period of Byzantine domination; European awareness of Cyprus surged with the Crusaders. In 1191, a fierce storm led Richard the Lionheart’s ship on to the port at Lemesos, Limassol, where he claimed the island his own. From 1489 to 1571 the flag of Venice was raised in Cyprus, until the Ottoman Turks moved in. That era ended in 1878, when Cyprus became part of the British Empire.
The Republic of Cyprus achieved independence from the British in 1960. Nonetheless, local turbulence in 1974, over unification of Cyprus with Greece, had invited hostility from Turkey who invaded and divided the island into two parts. Hereafter only the ‘free’ and legitimate Republic of Cyprus is internationally recognized under sovereign government control. In 2004, Cyprus qualified in joining the European Union and became a fully established member of the Eurozone in 2008.
Observing Cyprus from a third party’s perspective; and despite its stormy past, or perhaps because of it, Cypriots themselves are extremely resilient people. They have always remained distinct in culture – different even from their closes relatives, the Greeks - and have preserved their unique character.
Evidently, history and hedonism are comfortably intertwined on the island. Ravishing five-star resorts, within walking distance to well-preserved Greek and Roman ruins, offer every amenity modern travellers come to expect and more. From impressive pools, magnificent gardens and absorbing beach fronts, to state of the art thalassotherapy spas. World-class beach resorts alternate with settings untouched since ancient times. Travel along the sun kissed coastline from Agia Napa in the east, to southern Limassol’s graphical seafront, and Pafos’ pebbled shorelines in the west. One of the most impressive archaeological sites, the ancient city-kingdom of Kourion in Limassol, overlooks a magnificent stretch of sandy beaches and glistening blue seas.
Venture away form the sybaritic shore to the old wine-producing villages with their atmospheric winding streets and terraced vineyards. Gift your loved ones a night’s stay, for a song at the local tavern, in cosy renovated traditional homes and enjoy our deep-routed agro-tourism. Explore Greek Orthodox churches burrowed within hills, whose walls conceal ornamental Byzantine paintings. Several of which are found amongst the pine-covered peaks of Troodos mountains, graced with sublime serenity and dissolving all sense of time. There are crusader fortresses framed by tall cypress trees, Greco-Roman theatres carved out of cliffs, and Byzantine monasteries perched improbably on mountaintops.
Sophisticated cities successfully balance our ancient past and modern refinement. The capital, Lefkosia, Nicosia, is surrounded by Venetian walls with heart-shaped bastions; Larnaca, base of the major international airport, is home to St. Lazarus Church where lies the crypt of the eponymous saint resurrected by Christ. Near the animated harbour of Pafos lie the Roman floor mosaics of the Houses of Aion, Achilles and Dionysus, whose depictions of mythological extracts stand remarkably well preserved.
From independent travelers to honeymooners, archaeology aficionados to friends of nature, every visitor to Cyprus finds layer upon layer of discovery. Food lovers delight in farm-fresh halloumi cheese and mouth-watering meze dishes - the local specialty appetizers that mix Western ingredients with Eastern zest. Travelers on business appreciate the fine conference facilities and kind professional service at each of our 64 hotels and resorts, most of which are in close proximity to the beachfront. Add it all up, and you have an ideally-situated island that truly measures up to its mystique.
Follow the electronic guides in the official websites at Heart Cyprus and Cyprus Tourism Organisation, in order to unravel attractions and truly experience the island.
Market Highlights and the Cyprus Real Estate Sector
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Political lessons from 1910
1910 has a good claim to be the most underrated year in modern British political history.
It is never ranked with 1906, 1945, 1979 or 1997 as one of the most significant election years in modern British politics. Even within the deep constitutional crisis of 1909-1914, it is usually overshadowed by the better-known landmarks of the People's Budget of 1909 and the Parliament Act of 1911. Yet 1910 was a particularly meaty part of that sandwich.
It might properly thought of as the decisive year in settling the rather important and very hard fought question of whether and how Britain would become a modern democratic polity.
1910 was one of only two years in which Britain had two General Elections, in an atmosphere of tumult which considerably outstripped that of 1974. Throw in the death of the King at the very moment when the Monarchy was deeply entangled in a heated partisan battle which touched uncomfortably on the hereditary principle itself and you have the closest British politics has ever come to the claustrophobic fictional thrillers of Michael Dobbs or Chris Mullin.
Yet less attention is paid to the period than it merits, perhaps because the crisis profoundly challenges many deeply cherished myths about Britain's evolutionary political development. Government and Opposition were more profoundly divided than at any time in the past three centuries not just over substantial national questions but in a deeper clash over the rules to settle such disputes, and whether they could be resolved politically at all.
Both Kings turned out to take a rather more expansive view of the powers of consitutional monarchy than those set out in Bagehot's theory. So the Liberals of 1910 were forced not only to dissolve their greatest landslide but to beat the Tories a third time before they could, like pulling teeth, extract the right of the elected government to govern at all.
The 1910 elections (results of January and December) divided the (incomplete) political nation down the middle - the Tories won more votes than the Liberals on the limited franchise and tied them in a dead heat for seats. But the balance of power in the hung Parliament was held by the Labour and Irish MPs, to the deep fury of a rather incoherent Tory Unionism, which rejected any devolution of power yet seemed to think that counting Irish votes or seats at Westminster was treacherous.
Yet this battle for democracy was not settled even by the two elections of 1910. While everybody knows that the first world war split the Liberal Party, yet how many are aware of how fortuitous its timing was for the Conservative Party, in saving it from self-destruction and the very brink of treason through a decisive rejection of political democracy?
So let me warn that mine will be something of a victors' history, in viewing this as an argument between a progressive Lib-Lab alliance of Democracy and Reform against the wrong-headed forces of Conservative Reaction.
But here is my new year challenge to the modern right: can anybody be found who would now speak seriously for the cause of the vanquished?
With the benefit of hindsight, surely almost everybody on the modern democratic right must now agree that their reactionary forebears got pretty much every big question of 1910 profoundly wrong.
The Tory fear of Democracy was heartfelt and apocalyptic. The explicitly stated fear was that the Tyranny of the Commons and the People would lead inexorably to the destruction of Property, the unravelling of Empire and the end of Order.
They were certainly wrong about the land taxes in Lloyd George's 1909 People's Budget, which levied half a million pounds in their first year, with Edward Carson's hysterical claim that they were "the beginning of the end of all rights of property" being not atypical.
The 1910 Tories were tragically wrong about Ireland. Across a full half century, between 1868 and 1916, the supposed heirs of Burke could barely understand the notion that they had any interest in seeking to accomodate the clear and settled Irish will for some substantial measure of Home Rule within the Union.
And, ironically, how wrong the Tory reactionaries of 1910 were about democracy, with many sharing the deep pessimism of former premier Lord Salisbury over this dangerous creed in which 'two day labourers shall outvote Baron Rothschild'. How astonished, with hindsight, might they have been at their party's political dominance in democratic politics between 1918 and 1989.
But what was really at stake in 1910 was power - and the demand for a permanent Tory veto over what democracy might otherwise decide.
That was Lloyd George's claim in describing the Lords as Mr Balfour's poodle. If that sounds like partisan exaggeration, you could take it from the owner's mouth. Balfour had explicitly declared his doctrine that "the Unionist party should still control, whether in power or in opposition, the destinies of this great Empire". This was to be achieved via the theory that the Lords should have a 'referendal power', as a sort of citizens' jury made up entirely of the hereditary peerage (or 'five hundred men, accidentally chosen from the ranks of the unemployed' in Lloyd George's memorable populism) with the particular detachment to decide which of the elected government's policies truly reflected the democratic will of the nation. No special status whatsoever was given (as it would be in the later Salisbury doctrine) to proposals which had formed part of the previous election manifesto. It was for an elected government to fight another General Election if it wished to challenge the Lords, so allowing the Conservatives a shot at regaining power.
Though the Tory use of the Lords as a wrecking chamber was nakedly partisan, it is worth recalling that the 1910 Tories were absolutely sincere in their belief that they were motivated only by the lofty need to protect eternal national verities, while their opponents were driven by base partisanship and narrow class interests. Their conflation of the interests of the land and aristocracy, the Tory party and the nation seemed so natural and axiomatic, that they could not see why anybody else could possibly object. Indeed, any challenge was surely to invoke the ugly spectre of 'class war' from below.
Yet even by their own lights, the 1910 Tories were baffling in their tactics and lack of strategy, perhaps largely on the assumption that the Liberals were bluffing and the Monarchy would block the demand for new peers, however many electoral mandates were won for them. They were offered so much more than their obduracy merited in the long, and ultimately futile, constitutional conference between June and October 1910. This almost agreed the composition and powers of a reformed Lords, yet failed over Lord Lansdowne's insistence on reserving an absolute veto over Irish Home Rule, even with an Ulster exclusion. Lloyd George even conjured up a Grand Coalition in a surprise summer memorandum. Balfour's deputy Austen Chamberlain was tempted, and yet could shortly be found as the most prominent of the 'ditchers' who wanted the Lords to die with their boots on in 1911.
But the capitulation of the Peers did not end the story. The 1910 elections and the 1911 Act finally paved the way for Irish Home Rule. The Tory response was to reject entirely the idea of Parliamentary Sovereignty and political democracy. Balfour's successor Andrew Bonar Law was to state, in 1914, that “"There are things stronger than Parliamentary majorities" and that "I can imagine no lengths of resistance to which Ulster can go in which I would not be prepared to support her.”
This was no idle boast. The Tory leader and his supporters were prepared to pay for and ship the guns needed for an armed revolt. As Iain McLean recounts
A coalition including the king, the leaders of the Opposition, the House of Lords and a group of contingently mutinous army officers vetoed the policies of the elected government. What happened in spring 1914 was no less than a successful coup d'etat. It would have made a civil war in Ireland almost inevitable had it not been providentially overtaken by the First World War
'What's Wrong with the British Constitution?' (Introduction, available here from OUP as an online preview):
Five contemporary lessons from 1910
Is this simply ancient political history? Well, it is a stirring tale at least, even if we are all supposedly on the same side now. Political campaigning can and should take inspiration from the past. And much credit to William Wilberforce, there is a much richer reservoir of 'progressive' history on the centre-left than is to be found in the selective handful of pick and mix soundbites which our progressive Conservative friends can occasionally muster.
And there are also a surprising number of very contemporary resonances in the politics of a century ago.
The Lords and the Constitution: Next year's centenary of the 1911 Parliament Act - a supposedly temporary expedient - will pass before the question of the second chamber has been settled. Shouldn't that prove a moment for a major campaign to complete the democratisation of British politics? Ian McLean's book, as Stuart White has noted here on Next Left, makes a powerful argument that a democratic second chamber must form part of a broader constitutional settlement rooted in popular sovereignty.
And because British history is often a very gradual affair, the politics of 1910 may be about to return with a surprising twist.
Only after New Labour's removal of most hereditary peers from the legislature would a future Tory government would finally experience for the very first time what every single non-Tory government in history has always faced: a House of Lords in which it does not have a partisan majority. Conservatives are already worrying about the difficulty of carrying their proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act.
"Some of them are talking of creating Conservative peers to get repeal through. This would be 1832 and 1911 all over again", writes McLean in an OurKingdom commentary. So will the next 'peers against the people' cry go up from the populist right, with Chris Grayling donning the mantle of Lloyd George? (Or might that depend on a TV mini-series being commissioned in time).
The Union: Their Irish policy has a good claim to be the most costly political mistake the Conservatives ever made. Yet very few Conservatives could by 1997 see that, after Thatcherism and the Scottish Constitutional Convention, devolution was necessary to save the Union. If that is now accepted, yet the challenge of creating a more pluralist and accomodative Unionism capable of sustaining the Union remains, if this is to disappoint fears (or hope) that a future Tory-SNP clash could end the British project once and for all.
The politics of class: Anybody suffering from the delusion that 'class war' has broken out in British politics might benefit from re-reading the Parliamentary debates of 1909-11. That Liberal-Conservative battle certainly saw a more heated rhetorical argument over privilege, democracy and class than anything achieved since the principal political battle became that between the Conservatives and Labour. And certainly the accusation of 'class war' was made more prominently 'from above' in an attempt to define what was legitimate and illegitimate in democratic politics.
Progressive Conservatism: The politics of 1910 is an important reminder of how to get a 'progressive Conservatism' is to defeat them politically, so that they have a new status quo to adapt to and conserve. That was the principal route to the progressive Conservatism of Baldwin in the 1920s, Churchill and Macmillan in the 1950s, and perhaps (to a lesser extent) Heath in the 1970s. David Cameron's half-progressivism is captured in the ambiguity of whether and how far he must accomodate the New Labour changes of the last decade, or whether he can, like the Conservatives of the 1930s and 1980s use an age of austerity strike out on his own Tory course.
Lib-Labbery: 1910 was a triumph for Liberalism. But it was a triumph made possible by a progressive Lib-Lab alliance. The Tories had a plurality of the popular vote in both 1910 elections, and were tied for seats. The (third) Labour party did not ask which party had most votes or seats, but chose its alliances in that hung Parliament on values and principles. That alliance achieved a historic democratic breakthrough on which the later legislative achievements of Labour governments also depended.
The relationship between the Labour and Liberal parties has never been an easy one. Demos Director Richard Reeves recently suggested at an Open Left thinkathon that the 1893 Fabian manifesto 'To your tents O Israel' was the great historic missed opportunity of British progressive history, as the Fabians attacked the Liberal government, moved away from 'permeation' and advocated the creation of the Labour Party.
But that seems to me to misread the history of the 20th century, in which almost all of the great if brief flurries of progressive advance in British politics have been the direct product of Labour and Liberal cooperation.
The Labour party entered Parliament in 1906 through the (secret) Lib-Lab pact of 1903, and helped to achieve the Liberal democratic breakthrough of 1910-11.
The great welfare settlement of the Attlee governments after 1945 enshrined the ideas of Beveridge and Keynes, and so set the contours of British politics for three decades.
The social liberalisation of the 1960s was led by the great liberal icon Roy Jenkins as a Labour Home Secretary, while the abortion bill was introduced by David Steel and carried with much Labour backbench support.
The post-1997 constitutional reforms, the most significant changes to British polity since 1911, were achieved by the educative force of the liberal pressure group Charter 88 on Labour opinion, and by Lab-Lib cooperation in opposition and briefly in Cabinet committee during Labour's first term.
At other times - in dealing with the unemployment of 1920s and '30s, or facing the Thatcher challenge of the '80s, - these progressive forces have been scattered and divided, resulting in Tory dominance.
It remains odds against that this important lesson of 1910 will have a decisive impact on the politics of 2010. But that history of progressive cooperation is far from over.
Labels: Conservatives, constitutional reform, history, Liberal Democrats, Lloyd George, monarchy
Elect the Lords!
Asquith was pretty steadfast in 1910 and I'm quite sure he would be a supporter of that reform by now.
(Jenkins permitted the Abse & Steel bills, he didn't lead the social revolution of the '60s. Fascinatingly Thatcher voted for Homosexual Law Reform, against Divorce and for the ban on Hare Coursing - almost as liberal as Heath at that time)
Mark Pack said...
By coincidence I've just been writing an article about campaign techniques in 1910 and 2010 for the Journal of Liberal History. The slogan on one poster I came across is rather appropriate:
"Give the LAST WORD in legislation to The House of Commons which you YOURSELVES elect."
Ironically, when it comes to detail at the moment, it is often the Lords which settles the matters and does a rather good job at it because the lack of one overall party majority forces people to persuade rather than cajole.
A reformed Lords that simply ends up with comfortable one party majorities 99% of the time would lose that silver lining of the current unelected version.
The current Lords may not have a formal Tory majority BUT it has something close to an informal one.
I recall that it has recently gone against British Constitutional practice by rejecting the same HMG measure FOUR times.
Why wait for another 2010 when the ruling class/wannabe plutocracy Really wants to dig their heels in?
Elect the Lords, use some form of PR - some of the 'constituencies' might not be geographically based - and, after a few years practice put such constitutional matters, including the Monarchy, to a referendum.
Frugal Dougal said...
Hi, thank you for an erudite and well-argued post.
You ask who on the modern right can "be found who would now speak seriously for the cause of the vanquished". I'm not sure which vanquished you mean, there are so many: people from Judaeo-Christian faith traditions, folk who believe in ways of educating their children and protecting them from sexualisation that worked, members of groups that are ignored because they aren't "alternative" enough (for example single fathers); the list goes on and on...
I had an interesting conversation with friends the other day who were taking down George Osborne because he went to a private school - St Paul's. When I remarked that it had been a good enough school for Harriet Harman (one of 60 Labour MPs who were privately educated), suddenly it wasn't such a posh school after all! Thus do definitions of victors and vanquished, aspirations and privelege, find themselves on a sliding scale.
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Home » Nigeria » ELECTRICITY: Reps pass bill criminalising estimated billing
ELECTRICITY: Reps pass bill criminalising estimated billing
January 23, 2019 Unknown 0 Nigeria
The house of representatives has passed a bill seeking to criminalise estimated billing in the country, among other things.
The lower legislative chamber passed the bill on Tuesday after considering the report of its committee on power sector.
The report was adopted unanimously after Yusuf Lasun, deputy speaker of the house, put it to a voice vote.
The bill aims to criminalise estimated billing and make the installation of prepaid meters compulsory for all power consumers in Nigeria.
Bill estimation is a standard practice used by power providers when an actual meter reading is not available for billing purposes.
Femi Gbajabiamila, sponsor of the bill and majority leader of the house, had said it was not justifiable to continuously charge consumers for power not consumed.
OPPOSITION AGAINST THE BILL
Stakeholders in the power sector kicked against the bill at a recent public hearing.
Babatunde Fashola, minister of power, works and housing, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) had opposed the bill.
According to the stakeholders, the bill will worsen the electricity situation in the country.
Fashola had said the bill could crumble the electricity sector, noting that the financial challenges of metering must first be addressed.
The minister had said: “I take it that we all know what is core mandate. Their(DisCos) core mandate is to supply energy. My view is that let new players be licensed to have the supply of meters as their core mandate to take the load off the DisCos.
“Energy theft and meter bypass must be addressed too by prescribing heavy penalties against offenders.”
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Loco Pilots on Thiruvananthapuram Division opt for Voluntary Retirement Scheme, Railways in Crisis
9 Oct 2017 in Category(ies): Author railPosted on 09/10/2017 08/10/2017 Categories All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) and Indian Railway Loco Running Men's Organization (IRLRO), SR-Thiruvananthapuram Division, Trade Unions & Associations
Thiruvananthapuram: An increasing number of locopilots are opting for voluntary retirement or requesting for deployment in other departments on medical grounds after they are forced to work without “rest days” as the Thiruvananthapuram division is facing an acute shortage of personnel. The latest instance was the voluntary retirement opted by two locopilots of Kollam depot the other day– Joseph Sebastian and Santosh Philip– despite having nearly six years of service left. “Though the retirement age is 60, many are opting for the scheme “very early.” Now there are several other VRS requests pending with the authorities. In the last five years, over 20 among us have requested to be relieved from the duty on medical grounds,” said Mr L. Mony, central president, All-India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA).
He alleged that the refusal of the authorities to fill up vacancies had “overburdened” the existing lot. “However, the authorities are trying to implement a new duty roster for loco-pilots as a desperate measure to tide over the personnel shortage issue– nearly 15 per cent vacancies– instead of conducting recruitment and training of new candidates,” he said. When contacted, a senior railway officer said the new duty roster would ensure that each of the 101 loco-pilots in the division could be deployed strategically and their services would be availed of to the maximum. “Now onwards, the loco-pilots cannot do ‘adjustment’ duties and have to complete the target kilometers,” he said.
“We’re not being given rest day like that provided to the rest of the staff. Many could return to the ‘original’ station only on the third day after logging in,” said another loco-pilot on the condition of anonymity. Currently, there are 37 vacancies of locopilots remaining vacant in the division, which has added new trains like Palaruvi Express and weekly long-haul ones that required services of an additional seven set crew on a war-footing.
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STOS Chapter 52
Hello readers! Jun here with your weekly translation of second summon. I just noticed the name of the character Brad could actually be Vlad or something. I mean, I see a lot of his abilities are related to blood. What do you say, should I change this one? Both are written exactly the same in japanese.
Isekai shoukan wa nidome desu Chapter 52
52 Intensifying war
You are reading a translation of scarletmadness.org. Please read this chapter on the original site if you wish to show support to us.
Brad who was advancing in order to avoid the battlefield stopped walking.
Yuuhi who was walking behind him also stopped by that.
“This magic power……an extremely reliable group seems to have come for us.”
“Ah, it’s miss Elka and the others.”
On the other end of their gazes, Elka and her group had been fighting in that direction, though they were too far and hadn’t yet entered their field of vision.
Brad who did not consider that Yuuhi knew them was surprised to being responded to the contents he tended to mutter in soliloquy.
“You are acquaintances to Elka Versoe and her group?”
“Yup, the one who trained me was miss Elka after all.”
Hearing that, Brad understood Yuuhi’s behavior.
Elka, Glain and Tia were the gang of three who once visited the demon continent together with Setsu.
Never mind the five demon generals at the time, even the demon king Desastre was surprised to the extraordinary fighting power of the three humans.
(It was strength I could understand considering the fact they’ve been spending time together with that monster(Setsu), but……if this woman is raised by such group then I can comprehend her attitude and strength I suppose.)
“? What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s noth――――――gh!”
“What? You’ve been sinking into silence and making a grim since a while ago……”
Even while being looked at with a quizzical look, Brad was unable to restore his stiffened expression.
“Yo- you! Can you not see this hideous magic power!?”
“It’s in the direction of Elka’s group!”
Yuuhi guessed it wasn’t a trivial matter, seeing him disturbed who she had a cool impression of and she concentrated her sense towards said direction.
“……Not good, my sensing ability is too lacking so I don’t get it.”
“Someone possessing hideous magic power is heading towards them!”
From the start, Yuuhi had specialized training in fighting power and thus she was taught the minimum detection skills.
The minimum means the degree to not get suddenly stabbed in a dungeon or a free for all fight, it’s not a high level skill where they could grasp the location of a being separated from her by several kilometers.
And conversely if one were to ask why Brad knew, then it is because the horn grown on his head is executing its role of a high performance magic power sensor.
The reason he is in the position of the five demon generals is because of his magic power, martial arts, search ability and his diverse support skills rather than his combat skills.
“Hideous magic power?”
“It gives off this impression as if the magic powers of several races are mixed together……if I have to give an example, it’s close to a chimaera created from parts of every animal.”
It’s a name close to irrelevant to Yuuhi who didn’t really have much to do with amusements called manga or anime during the time she had been living in Japan.
She thought she had seen such name once when she borrowed a fantasy novel in Setsu’s room, but she didn’t remember the details.
“It’s suspicious……I can’t let them do as they please.”
“If it’s miss Elka’s group then isn’t it fine?”
“I’m not worried about them, but……If I don’t ascertain it, then it may put lady Desastre in danger.”
“Eh!? You’re actually going!?”
Yuuhi stopped Brad in a panic who unexpectedly walked towards that direction.
She ought to have been thinking about currying favors to the demon army in order to not become enemies with Setsu, but if she were to be left behind by him then she would end up in a situation where both armies would turn into her enemies.
In order to prevent that from happening, it was necessary for her to have Brad lead her to the demon headquarters.
“I didn’t say I will leave you behind did I? However I somehow feel ill at ease taking you, who still hasn’t established any of our trust, with me to fight.”
“……you still don’t trust me do you?”
“These so-called humans are quite the crafters after all. Your actions until now could likely be part of your tactics to destroy all of the demons from the inside.”
“I frankly don’t want a joint struggle. If you want some level of trust from me, then……right, there is a little something I’d like you to do for me.”
Brad turned around and pointed towards the direction they were coming from right now.
As usual Yuuhi’s detection ability wasn’t high, so she didn’t know anything just by being shown that direction.
“It appears they are your former comrades you see? You have brought along an extremely troublesome group of people with you.”
“……Ugh geez……They’ve already found Jirou-kun”
Her expectations that they will be a little later in discovering her because the place she left was quite separated from the stronghold was entirely overturned.
“They are quite far away, but unlike us who are proceeding discreetly in order to not get unnecessarily inquired about, the group seems to be directly cutting through the battlefield. They will immediately catch up with us, you see?”
“……I get it, so you’re telling me to confine them, right?”
“No, not confine. Render them unable to fight.”
“I am not telling you to kill them. Either way it appears you didn’t kill the man a while ago either; even you have compassion have you not?”
It’s fine not to kill them――――――is what she was told, but his nuance told her to knock them about until they’re half killed.
She should have resistance in killing her former companions as one would have expected, so Yuuhi would refuse if she, for argument’s sake, was told to kill them.
Even if he won’t end up trusting her, then she will think about a different way at that time.
Her mind was not a scene of carnage yet.
The chains called compassion was restricting Yuuhi.
While she depended on it, she thought adversely to that at the same time.
(I’m embarrassing myself feeling hesitant to this……I won’t be able to catch up to Yuki-kun like this)
Yuuhi felt angry towards herself.
Towards herself who could not reach the target Elka presented, not even a single step.
Towards herself who felt hesitation.
“――――――Okay. I’ll do it.”
“……I see. I’ll call the soldiers here on the way. Allow me to hear your way of fighting from them.”
“I am counting on you.”
Brad turned his back towards Yuuhi and started running.
Already her gaze were pointed towards her past comrades, the chains of her heart.
“Okay then――――――I’ll go and lightly burn ‘em.”
Yuuhi lightly muttered so, but those eyes of hers were very serious and for some reason housed Setsu’s face.
The war intensified and sooner or later even this place should be wrapped up in violent flames of war.
The war was finally approaching the final scene.
“Haa……haa……damn it!”
“Huh? Is that all?”
“Quite dissatisfying. Being a let down is also his strong point with this.”
That man, Kagerou was on his knees breathing roughly.
There were no large injuries on his body, but there were countless tiny wounds and in contrast with that, the two of the five great demon generals did not make even a single rough breathing.
“How could……not a clone, but the real me be overwhelmed……!? You bastards never had this kind of strength before!”
“You know that’s……because even we weren’t real at that time, you see.”
Upon saying so, Ides and Lily showed a fist and a staff respectively.
On the gloves put on Ides’s fists, a complex magic circle rose on the surface and on Lily’s staff was inserted a magic power reinforcement magic stone which was strong because of its simplicity.
“I see……so those are the weapons of you bastards then.”
“That time was also the wedding ceremony and so we didn’t have it with us so you wouldn’t get wary of us.”
“It’s been a while since I had gone all out, my <Me Ricansack> is also overjoyed.”
The demon king Desastre personally created and granted them, the five great demon generals, weapons specialized to make the most each of their special abilities.
For Brad a red knife, <Blood Clot Knife>.
For Lily a white staff, <Staff of White Conjunction>.
For Ides a glove incorporated with protrusions and magic circles, <Me Ricansack>. (メ・リケンサック; me rikensakku: according to wikipedia, merikensakku is a different word for a brass knuckle or knuckleduster, they either wanted to go with american sack or ‘Murican sack)
Each and every one of them were national treasure class articles and one which ingredients Desastre personally had gone and gathered.
Those who wear this and fight were literally on a different rank compared to their barehanded counterpart.
“Now then, we too do not have the free time, it’s about time we settle this.”
Ides unleashed his fists aimed at Kagerou.
An invisible shock ran through the air as if befitting the expression of “rupturing the atmosphere”.
Kagerou jumped.
And at the same time, Lily released magic from her staff.
“<Flame Lance – Gatling>!”
Countless magic circles manifested instantly and from those even more <Flame Lance> was released in turbulent force.
<Flame Lance> is not a weak magic.
In addition to that, <Gatling> was originally an application magic that is appended to basic magic like <Fireball>.
Her magic which is the combination of those two was something even the king would be amazed at.
“Damn! <Shadow Wall>!”
Kagerou who just dodged Ides’ attack, gave up on dodging the lances and grew a pitch black wall from his own shadow.
Appearing to be a rather strong wall, the struck <Flame Lance> immediately dispersed.
However to his regret……it was a large quantity.
“Take this and this! There’s more of where that came from!”
So the tyranny of numbers is this.
The rain of lances struck the wall without an end.
And as for the wall, its surface was gradually shaved off and before long it opened a hole.
“Tch!”
Finally one flame lance penetrated the wall.
Seeing the lance stop in front of his eyes and sensing the collapse of his wall, Kagerou ran off towards the back.
Somehow finishing the exchange of magic, he thought about getting out of her range.
However――――――
“Turning your back away and running off……If you’re a man then meet your enemy directly!”
“W-!?”
Ides who went around and cut him in, thrusted his fist towards Kagerou.
Although he instantly twisted his body and avoided a direct hit, his body was easily blown away just from being touched a little.
“Welcoome”
“Oh shi――――――”
Being blown off, Kagerou once again entered the range of the flame lances.
Due to the damage from getting hit and his posture being broken, he could not get out of the way.
The <Flame Lance> made a direct hit and a thunderous roar resounded.
Lily grasped a positive response.
“Gah……haa……haa……I see……to think they have gone this far.”
Kagerou put both of his arms on the ground and looked down on his body full of burns.
The damage was great and intense pain ate into his body.
“Now then……You must hate suffering any more than this. We will end this soon.”
“Haa……haa……You’re right. I have to……end this soon.”
The damage on him was great, even standing up was difficult――――――however, there was still confidence in victory in his eyes.
The two reflexively stood ready to that expression of his.
They who were convinced in their victory altered their thinking and turned vigilant to the max against Kagerou.
“What are you saying? Are you giving up?”
“Yeah……I give up. Killing you bastards like this that is……Honestly I didn’t think I would have this hard fight so far, but……that I would have to use this.”
Said Kagerou and he pulled out the sword on his back.
And then Ides and Lily became surprised.
The were supposed to have the advantage.
Despite that……Seeing that jet-black sword blade, their instinct feared it
“――――――<Limit Break>”
This moment, the visions of victory within them crumbled completely.
<< | TOC | >>
Posted on August 2, 2018 by Jun in A Second Time for an Otherworld Summoning, Isekai shoukan wa nidome desu, translation.
14 thoughts on “STOS Chapter 52”
Nematoda says:
yandere!!
NekoKal says:
On another note, it’s eating away at my sanity by reading the war chapters one per week…
GM_Rusaku (@ narou-tl.com) says:
∧＿∧ ／
+ ( n ´ ∀ ` n NEPUUUUU~~~♪
/ ノ ＼
+(_＿)＿)+
hayka says:
Hmmm…I’m looking forward to the students scene.
Cliff keeps hanging around.
DigimasterHiro says:
How tall is this mountain that it has so many cliffs!?
Dicky Satria says:
yay another cliff XD
Marauder808 says:
How many more chapters until Setsu arrives on the battlefield?
He shows up in chapter 55. So in 3 chapters.
Kuzuma says:
Damn Im still worrying to what will happen to that poor Alize. Seriously that antagonist is such a massive ****. Seriously just burn him in a fire that’s hotter than the hottest know star in the universe.
#saltisreal
OhMarioWV says:
Yeah… things never go as expected.
NLGS says:
Ahhh, finally I catched up the novel to this point. U guys have a new member in dis family, I’ll be accompanying you guys from now on…
Anyways, thx so much 4 chapter and all the hard work!
I’m happy to have you on board! I hope you enjoyed the novel as much as I do.
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Tenebre (Octoberfest Horrorthon)
Malleus Rock Art Lab
Octoberfest Horrorthon: Day 13
Dario Argento double feature: part 2 – Tenebre (1982)
I think that, technically speaking, Tenebre might be the best film I've seen from Dario Argento so far.
It's certainly his most self-aware and self-reflexive. The protagonist is a clear stand-in for Argento, a famous writer of what appear to be giallo novels in the same vein as Argento's giallo films. Peter Neal (Anthony Franciosa) is also criticized for his purportedly sexist subject matter: "Tenebre is a sexist novel! Why do you hate women so much?" But that's not where the connections end. The murderer, who keeps killing fans of Neal's work, has a penchant for photographing his victims. In the duality between writer and photographer, here we have the two most common aspects of a director's work brought to life. Each half of the whole embodies different aspects of Argento's idea of himself and of directors in general. And insofar as the author and the killer are doubled representations of the director, Argento is here literally killing his own fans.
From a technical standpoint, Tenebre is also Argento's most impressive work. His collaboration with cinematographer Luciano Tovoli (the pair also worked together on Suspiria, which I still can't shut up about) is nothing short of masterful. There's an incredibly long crane shot (NSFW) which feels like a combination of Touch of Evil and Enter the Void. It showcases not only the choreography of the actors within the house but also the directors use of suspense as it brings the set to life and forces us to wonder what's going on in the parts of the house we can't see. There are also smaller touches, like the continuing use of demonizing POV shots and the ever-evolving methods of hiding the killer's identity until the denouement. There's also this great moment where the protagonist runs away from the killer and the camera initially follows him but ends up slowly panning back towards the killer, as if magnetically drawn toward him. I could talk about this stuff all day.
The film still showcases Argento's strange predilection for distractingly obvious dubbing and slightly simplistic dialogue, which I can't quite wrap my head around. But the central theme song inspired Justice's "Phantom", so it's really hard to find anything wrong with the film when the insanely perfect score kicks in. It doesn't quite rise to the level of Suspiria in terms of my personal interest in it, but Tenebre might just be a more impressive film in its technical construction (writing, shooting, etc.) despite not playing specifically to my tastes the way Suspiria does.
Despite watching four Argento films in under two weeks I still haven't managed to tire of his work. Looks like all I need to do to maintain my ideal image of him is to stay away from his newer films.
Octoberfest Horrorthon | Dario Argento | Metacinema
Tracking 2014: New Discoveries | All Together
analysis cinematography Dario Argento dialogue film Halloween horror marathon metacinema metanarrative movie October review score soundtrack Tenebrae Tenebre
Unpacking Jodorowsky's Climb Up The Holy Mountain
"The skill of the spectator determines the machine's ability to reach a climax."
The Holy Mountain is truly unlike anything I've ever seen. It asks a lot of the audience both in terms of doing their own interpretative work and putting up with a lot of grotesque imagery in hopes of a payoff that may never come. That said, it's clear Jodorowsky put more work into it than most viewers ever will: every scene is meticulously constructed on a massive scale.
James Bond Marathon: Casino Royale
"This may be too much for a blunt instrument to understand, but arrogance and self awareness seldom go hand-in-hand."
Chronology & Stats
James Bond #21
Star: Daniel Craig #1 (my favorite of his)
Director: Martin Campbell #2 (my favorite of his)
My Ranking #1
For me, this is the one. After my long journey through the Bond franchise, I can finally say with certainty that this is my favorite James Bond movie.
James Bond Marathon: Quantum of Solace
"They say you're judged by the strength of your enemies."
Star: Daniel Craig #2
Director: Marc Forster #1 (his only one)
My Ranking #15
Ironic quote considering the film has one of the most forgettable enemies of the series.
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Iron Mad
Millwall capture experienced midfielder
Last updated : 30 January 2007 By Daniel Elwes
The 31-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half year contract at the New Den after falling out of favour at the Potters.
"Dave has been a great servant to this club and it goes without saying that he goes to Millwall with our best wishes," said Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes.
Football.co.uk
© 2004 - 2020 www.scunthorpeunited-mad.co.uk
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INVESTIGOO
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Footage appears to show moment of attack on base
Tehran has list of 13 retaliation options for Suleimani killing
War in Middle East: Iran missiles hit US troops
Military leader vows ‘tough, strong, decisive’ revenge
The 27 US bases that are closest to Iran’s border are already on high alert; they know that the response is likely to include medium-range & long-range missiles
Iranian military forces have said they are prepared to use medium- to long-range missiles to attack US bases in the Middle East, in revenge for the assassination of the country’s most senior general, Qassem Suleimani. According to a report by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has prepared 13 scenarios for retaliation, and the secretary of Iran’s national security council said that even the most limited of the options would be a “historic nightmare” for the US.
Ali Shamkhani told the news agency: “The 27 US bases that are closest to Iran’s border are already on high alert; they know that the response is likely to include medium-range & long-range missiles.”
Observers said that the escalating military rhetoric may leave Iranian leaders with little option but to attempt a major counterattack, or else face an extraordinary loss of face. The warnings have led US bases in Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to be placed on maximum alert status.
Members of the so-called Resistance axis, including pro-Iranian militias from Iraq, will meet in Tehran in the next 48 hours to discuss tactics, it was reported. The leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, Maj Gen Hossein Salami, warned on Tuesday that Iran would “set ablaze the places Americans love”.
Speaking to a crowd of thousands of mourners in Suleimani’s home town, Kerman, Salami said: “We will take revenge – a revenge that will be tough, strong, decisive and finishing and will make them regret.”
Other military figures speaking at the funeral said any base of US naval assets within 2,000 miles of Iran was a possible target. The Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, insisted the Iranian response to US state terrorism would be proportionate, and not conducted by surrogate forces.
“This is an act of aggression against Iran, and it amounts to an armed attack against Iran, and we will respond. But we will respond proportionately – not disproportionately … We are not lawless like President Trump.”
He said the attack would occur at the time of Iran’s choosing. He added “Unlike the United States, we do not take cowardly terrorist acts ... when we do it, we will declare it.”
Such a move would mark a change of tactics for Iran which has traditionally depended on surrogate forces to carry out attacks on its behalf. In a lengthy speech to the Tehran Dialogue Forum, Zarif claimed that the US attack will have doomed the US to end its presence in the Middle East, but he argued that this would require closer cooperation between states that have been at loggerheads for decades.
After Suleimani’s death on Thursday, Iraq’s acting prime minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, said that he had been due to meet the general, who he said was bringing a message from Iran intended to reduce tensions with its regional rival Saudi Arabia. Speaking in Washington on Tuesday, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, rejected the suggestion that Suleimani was on a diplomatic mission.
“Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order Qassem Suleimani had traveled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission?” he asked reporters derisively.
“We not only know the history, we know in that moment that was not true. Zarif is a propagandist of the first order.”
The Pentagon has sent six B-52 strategic bombers to the military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, which is beyond the range of Iran’s ballistic missiles, to prepare to hit Tehran if given the order. The Iranian parliament on Tuesday voted for a motion, dubbed the “Harsh Revenge Motion”, which designates the Pentagon and those involved in the assassination of Suleimani as terrorists.
The MPs also voted to allocate €200m ($225m) to the Revolutionary Guards Corps’ al-Quds force within the next two months. The parliamentarians wrote in a letter: “If this harsh revenge is proportionate, direct and military, and is taken promptly, America’s factious grandeur will be destroyed and US officials will truly understand that the era of hitting and running is over.
“Furthermore, it is necessary to concentrate on the issue of American military forces’ withdrawal from the West Asian region so that this aim will be achieved with the help of the Resistance Axis.”
War in Middle East
· Iran threatens to attack Dubai and Haifa if country is bombed: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in its Telegram channel that, in the event Iranian soil is bombed, it will target the cities of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Haifa, Israel, in the third wave of operations.
· Iran threatens to attack inside America if US responds to missile attacks: In its Telegram channel, Iranian Revolutionary Guard says the “Pentagon reports that the US will respond to Iran’s attacks.” IRGC then says in a footnote, “This time we will respond to you in America”
· Security has been increased around the grounds of the White House tonight in light of the current tensions with Iran, a law enforcement official said. A US Secret Service official declined to comment, passing along a statement released by the agency, saying it "continually assesses the threat environment surrounding all protectees." USSS officers with assault rifles were spotted at checkpoints near the White House.
A dozen missiles fired
The Pentagon confirmed that Iran launched missiles at US military and coalition forces in Iraq. The Pentagon said Iran fired more than a dozen missiles.
"It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and coalition personnel at Al-Assad and Irbil," Jonathan Hoffman, assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, said in a statement.
"We are working on initial battle damage assessments," he added.
The bases, he said, have been on high alert "due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region."
"As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the region," the Pentagon said.
How a war starts
Iran’s state-run news Press TV reports the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) targeted the US airbase of Ain al-Asad in Anbar province in western Iraq. The attack comes after a vow to retaliate "the US assassination of top Iranian anti-terror commander, Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani."
"Tens of surface-to-surface missiles" were fired at the strategic air base. The attack was later confirmed by the White House, the report said.
The IRGC added that it would release more details about the strike.
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“I’ve told so many people that [Restaurant Guys Radio] is basically Car Talk for Food, and I mean that in the most positive way. I don’t know how often you guys listen to Car Talk but that’s quite a compliment.” >> Listen: hi | lo
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Dr. Peter Whybrow
Mark and Francis take aim at those who protest Montana's Bison Hunt, where it seems all sides of the controversy are a little bit ridiculous. Bison, once near extinction have made a miraculous come back. Allowing Bison to be harvested for meat has helped restore the population to the point where they have been removed from the endangered species list.
Peter Whybrow is Director of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior (previously known as the Neuropsychiatric Institute) at UCLA and the Executive Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine. He is an expert on the brain and human behavior and author of 5 books, including American Mania, When More Is Not Enough. Peter's book is a fascinating read on the culture of consumption in America and it deals in a particularly interesting way with food consumption, dining and dining rituals.
Dr. Whybrow points out how, by virtue of being a country of immigrants, we are unique. Only about 2% of the world's population leave their home to move to an entire new place. Those who do are optimistic, risk takers that are more assertive and aggressive than others. Our entire culture is built on this type of outlook. Physiologically, man is designed to handle poverty. In previous era, Man had to run for his dinner. If he didn't catch it, he didn't eat. While well equipped to deal with scarcity, humans are less well-equipped deal with abundance.
MP3 Available: Click here to listen, right click to download.
Podcast Date: 11/21/2005
Who Are The Restaurant Guys? Every week, Francis Schott and Mark Pascal host the Restaurant Guys, a show that's as informative as it is fun. Francis and Mark own Stage Left Restaurant in the heart of New Brunswick's theatre district, and, along with their expertise in a wide range of fine dining and wine matters, they bring to the table humor and intelligent conversation, perfect for the midday listener. The show includes discussions and interviews with famous chefs, restaurateurs, wine and food writers, critics; and the Guys even give stuff away occasionally.
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Club Information/Resources
How To Join Rotherham Metro
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FIRST CLUB RECORD OF 2020 GOES TO MOLLIE FISHER
***TWO MORE CLUB RECORDS FOR MOLLIE***
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***CLUB RECORDS UPDATE***
Links to Local Clubs
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CLUB RECORD – LUKE BOOTH – 50m Breast
*** NEW CLUB RECORD ***
Luke Booth
50m Breaststroke
Junior Boys (u15) – Short Course
Yorkshire Championships 19th October 2019
Club records can be viewed here: Club Records Master v115 October 2019 PDF
by Steven Empson on October 21, 2019 • Permalink
Posted in News Archive
Posted by Steven Empson on October 21, 2019
http://www.rotherhammetro.org/news-archive/club-record-luke-booth-50m-breast/
Check Out Some News Stories From Our Old Site
Barnsley and Bradford Christmas Meets 2005
On Saturday December 3rd fifty-two swimmers from Rotherham Metro competed in the Barnsley Christmas B and C Grade Meet held at Pond’s Forge. All of the races were over a distance of 50m.
In the nine year old age group trophies were won by Emily Shone ( third in breaststroke and butterfly, sixth in freestyle), Rachael Grainger (second in backstroke and third in freestyle), Matthew Sotheran ( first in freestyle and backstroke, second in breaststroke and fourth in butterfly), Nathan Self (first in breaststroke and butterfly, fourth in backstroke).
Winning trophies in the ten year old age group were; Josh Whitehurst (first in freestyle and breaststroke, fourth in backstroke), Lauren Hobson (first in backstroke),Alex Pepper (fourth in breaststroke) and Kimberley Bush (fifth in freestyle).
In the eleven and twelve year age group Ashleigh Reasbeck came fourth in the backstroke, Nicholas Grainger was also fourth in the backstroke, Joseph Yu came second in the backstroke and fifth in breaststroke, Matthew Sargent came third in breaststroke, Josh Massey came second in freestyle and fifth in backstroke, whilst Elliot Smales came sixth in the backstroke
Trophy winners in the thirteen and fourteen year age group were Shauna Benson (first in breaststroke, sixth in backstroke and butterfly), Nicole Clayton (third in backstroke), Philippa Benton (sixth in butterfly), Rachel Taylor (second in butterfly and fourth in backstroke), Lauren Rowe (fourth in butterfly), Thomas Nelson (second in backstroke, fourth in butterfly and sixth in breaststroke)
In the fifteen and over age group Kelly Pagdin came first in the breaststroke and second in the backstroke, whilst Sophie Patchett came first in the freestyle and Megan Litchfield came fifth in the butterfly.
Many of the swimmers received speeding tickets for swimming faster than the set times – Alex Pepper, William Bailey, Richard Lee, Ashleigh Reasbeck, Charlotte Pearson, Kimberley Frodsham, Nicholas Grainger, Elliot Smales, Matthew Sargent, Josh Massey, Joseph Yu, Scott Mason, Alex Graves, Nicole Clayton, Rachel Taylor, Emma Whaling, Hannah Lewis, Shauna Benson, Simon Worne, Thomas Nelson, Michael Stewart, Amy Ruddleston and Megan Litchfield.
Other competitors taking part were Kelsey Longden, Loren Taylor, Rebecca Worne, Nicole Clarke, Sophie Wilson, Sarah Lewis, James Newton, Bethany White, William Finnie, Victoria Faley, Melissa Shaw, Jessica Finnie, Alex Kemp, Damien McDonagh, Emily Blank, Joseph Horton, James Whaling and Abigail Smith.
Also competing this weekend were fourteen Rotherham Metro swimmers who travelled to Bradford for their annual Christmas Meet.
Three of our swimmers reached the finals of the competition – Laura Whittaker came 4th in the 100m Freestyle and fifth in the 100m Backstroke for the 14 year age group. In the 13 year age group Paige Jepson came 4th in the 100m Backstroke and Madison Elliott achieved 5th place in the 100m Backstroke in the 10/11 year age group.
Other swimmers taking part were Andrea Whaling, Emily-may Roebuck, Louise Rourke, Charlotte Bailey, James Pepper,Dale Waterhouse, Sam Chambers, Frances McGrother, Kate Jackson, Aimee Jepson and Aaron Waterhouse.
Medals for Metro Masters at National Champs 2006
Rotherham Metro swimmers gained medal places in the prestigious ASA National Masters Swimming Championships held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. This event, held annually in Sheffield, is the main event in the GB Masters swimming calendar in which over 1000 swimmers, aged 18 to 90+, compete for National honours in their respective age groups.
Outstanding for Metro were Alistair Crawford (19/24 years age group), Eric Millican (65/69 yrs) and Keith Cooke (75/79 yrs) who all gained medal places. Alistair won silver medals in the 50m freestyle (time: 23.45) and 50m butterfly (25.44) events. Eric won silver medals in the 800m (14:36.95) and 1500m (27:45.59) freestyle events and Keith won silver in the 800m (21:45.42) and bronze in the 1500m (41:19.42) freestyle events.
Other Rotherham Metro results:
Roy Millican, 65/69 yrs: 800m freestyle, 4th, 16:17.87.
Karen Holden, 35/39 yrs: 200m backstroke, 4th, 2:44.53.
Sarah Dawes, 18/24 yrs: 50m freestyle, 20th, 30.68; 50m butterfly, 8th, 32.65; 100m individual medley, 16th, 1:18.18.
Peter Ingham, 60/64 yrs: 400m freestyle, 11th, 7:03.09; 800m freestyle, 7th, 14:12.96; 1500m freestyle, 6th, 28:12.08; 200m breaststroke, 5th, 3:49.52.
Michael Dawes, 45/49yrs: 50m freestyle, 18th, 30.03; 50m breaststroke, 11th, 37.78; 100m breaststroke, 11th, 1:25.05.
Michael Pepper, 40/44 yrs: 50m breaststroke, 12th, 38.90; 100m butterfly, 11th, 1:12.52.
Metro Level 3 A and B Grade Meet July 19th and 20th 2008
The above meet was held at Ponds Forge on the weekend of July 19th and 20th. It is a popular event and there were 25 clubs competing from all over the UK. It’s quite a mammoth task organising these events, there are volunteers on all levels but everything ran well with excellent performances from all the competitors. Speeding tickets were awarded to Matthew Sotheran, Emily Shone, Tom Moxon, Dale Waterhouse, Charlotte Pearson, Tom Nelson, James Pepper and, Simon Worne. Here are the rest of the A/B Grades winners plus those from the youngest group.
A Grade B Grade
Aaron Waterhouse Victoria Faley Devon Stead
Sam Chambers Aaron Clare James Newton
Ben Bainbridge George Russell Nicole Benson
Fran Mcgrother Sophie May Jones Maisie Elliott
Nicole Clarke Rachel Frost Bethany Woodcock
Josh Whitehurst Michael Stewart Kelsey Longden
Kelsey Longden Rebecca Britten Scott Mason
Simon Worne Kimberley Bush Bethany White
Charlotte Pearson Alice Frost Josh Hillman
Adam Parkes Lucy Bennett
Tom Nelson Charlotte Bailey 9 years and over winners
Dale Waterhouse Josh Whitehurst Holly Sotheran
Claire Short Shay Holden Yvonne Graves
James Shiel William Bailey Robert Pearson
Emily Shone Scott Mason Alicia Hartley
Abbie Hull Lorna Baines
Matthew Sotheran Jessica McGann
Scott Mason Eleanor Coleman
Josh Hillman Shannon Eades
Doncaster Dartes SwimalongaSanta 2008
A team from Rotherham Metro travelled to Beverley to take part in Doncaster Dartes Swim along A Santa B and C graded gala that took place on the 7 December. They were definitely on top form for as well as winning top club, they also won top 9 year old boy (Robert Kirk), top 12 old boy (Sam Pearson),top 13 year old boy (Sam Hull) and top 13 year old girl was (Alice Frost).
First place medals were given to
Robert Kirk, Owen Lawrence, James Newton, Sam Hull, Robert Pearson, William Bailey, Jack Belcher, Adam Blackwell, Eleanor Coleman, Abbie Hull, Chelsea Jade-Smith, Jessica Mcgann, Alice Frost, Rachel Frost, Jessica Bushby, Georgia Naughton, Rebecca Worne, Byrony Dawson
Second Place medals were given to
Ben Cliff, James Newton, Sam Hull, Sam Pearson, Robert Pearson, William Bailey, Eleanor Coleman, Abbie Hull, Jessica Mcgann, Chelsea Jade-Smith, Bethany Woodcock, Rachel Frost, Katie Pollard, Lois Vardy, Emily Noon, Rebecca Worne, Jessica Bushby, Alice Bailey, Georgie Naughton, Rachel Howard and Rebecca Britten
Third place medals were awarded to
James Newton, Sam Hull, Robert Pearson, Adam Blackwell, Abbie Hull, Jessica Mcgann, Alice Frost, Jessica Bushby and Georgia Naughton.
Bradford Xmas Gala 2008
A team from Rotherham Metro A Squad travelled to the above weekend gala that took place on the 6th and 7th of December. This is a tough gala as all the top clubs attend but it is very entertaining. On the last day fancy dress is worn by the coaches, stewards and some of the swimmers. All proceeds from this are donated to the Breast cancer charity.
The girls team in the 10/12 years age group came third in the 200 Freestyle and the 200 IM, swimming were Emily Shone, Nicole Clarke, Kelsey Longden and Laura Gillott .The boys team in the 13/14 years age group also came third in the 200m Free and 200IM. In this team were Matthew Sotheran, Josh Whitehurst, Tom Gibbons and James Shiel. The Mens open 200m Freestyle team came fourth and this consisted of Tom Nelson, Dale Waterhouse, Simon Worne and Sam Chambers. In the individual events those appearing in the top 5 were:
Adam Parkes who came 5th in the 100m Back
Dale Waterhouse came 5th in the 200 Free, 5th in the 200 Breast, and 3rd in the 50 Back
Matthew Southeran came 4th in the 100 Breast, and 2nd in the 100 Back
Kelsey Longden came 5th in the 100 Fly
Josh Whitehurst came 3rd in the 100 Breast
Yorkshire Senior/Juniors 2009
Local student Dale Waterhouse who has swam for Rotherham Metro for 10 years achieved brilliant results in the Yorkshire Senior/Junior event at the John Charles Pool in Leeds on the 7th and 8th of February.
Dale, aged 17, won a silver medal in the 100 metre Breaststroke with a time of 1.11.16 and silver in the 200 metres Breast with a time of 2.37.77. He also achieved a national time of 25.48 in the 50 metres Freestyle, narrowly missing his 100 Freestyle national time. His brother Aaron aged 15 was the Junior Bronze winner of the 50 metres Fly with a time of 29.85. Alistair Crawford, aged 23, won gold in the 50 metres Fly in a time of 25.62 and a further gold in the 50 metres Freestyle with a time of 23.95. All the club’s swimmers performed well despite their training being disrupted, due to the bad weather in the previous week. The Mens 200 freestyle team came 2nd with a time of 1.40.96, taking part were Dale, Alistair, Andy Butterfield and Steve Millican. The team also came 2nd in the 200 IM team with a time of 1.54.23, with Simon Worne replacing Steve Millican.
Other finalists were Simon Worne, Daniel Mclean, Andy Butterfield, Ben Bainbridge, Tom Nelson, Claire Short and Charlotte Pearson.
Success at the Robin Hood Open – Oct 2009
Rotherham Metro attended the Robin Hood Level 1 Gala on the 3rd and 4th October at Ponds Forge and finished in 3rd place. A record number of National times were also accomplished by Dale Waterhouse; in the 50 metres Freestyle (24.92 seconds), 100 Freestyle (53.82), 100 Breast (1.09.77), 200 Free (1.59.37), 200 Breast (2.35.85) and 200 IM (2.15.02). Daniel Mclean got his national time in the 100 Freestyle (54.48), Holly Sotheran, 10 years old, also achieved another top girl award. This is a remarkable achievement for all the swimmers at Rotherham Metro, as some of the clubs taking part came from as far away as the Isle of Man and this is only just the beginning of the season.
Gold medals were awarded to Holly Sotheran in the 100, 200 and 400 metres Freestyle, 200 Backstroke and 50 metres Fly. Charlotte Pearson and Aaron Waterhouse in the 50 metres Fly and Dale Waterhouse in the 50 metres and 100 metres Freestyle.
Silver medals were awarded to Alice Aucott in 100 Free, 100 and 200 Breast. Emily Shone in 100 Back, Charlotte Pearson in 100 Fly, Matthew Sotheran in 100 Fly and 400 Free, Adam Parkes in 200 Back, Simon Worne in 100 Fly, Robert Kirk in 50 Fly, Shannon Eades in 50 Back, Holly Sotheran in 50 Free and 100 Back, Dale Waterhouse in 200 Free, 200 IM and 100 Breast.
Bronze medals were awarded to Holly Sotheran in 50 Back, 100 Fly and 200 IM, Shannon Eades in 100 Back, Emily Shone in 200 Back and 100 Breast, Charlotte Pearson in 50 Free, Dale Waterhouse in 200 Breast, Aaron Waterhouse in 200 Free, Daniel Mclean in 100 Back, 100 Free and 50 Free, Matthew Sotheran in 100 Fly and Josh Whitehurst in 50 Breast.
No Knots in Rotherham Metro – Nov 2009
A small team of swimmers from Rotherham Metro took part in the Barnsley Minors gala, held in Knottingley on the 7 November. The Barnsley Minors Gala’s are usually held for young and new swimmers to gain experience in swimming competitions but still abiding by the rules and regulations set by the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA). The Team did extremely well with most of the swimmers being in the finals, so here are their placings.
Connor Neal in the 50 metres Breast
Silver Medals
Ben Cliff in the 50 metres Fly
Robert Kirk in the 50 metres Breast
Shannon Eades in the 50 metres Fly and 50 metres Free
Bronze Medals
Connor Neal in the 50 metres Free
Hannah Dannatt in the 50 metres Back
Jessica Bushby in the 50 metres Fly
George Russell in the 50 metres Fly
Fourth Places
Rebecca Finnie in the 50 metres Free and 50 metres Back
Hannah Dannatt in the 50 metres Breast
Jessica Bushby in the 50 metres Back
NER BAGCATS November 2009
Rotherham Metro took a small squad of swimmers to the BAGCAT Championships at Sunderland on the 28 and 29th of November. Brother and sister duo Matthew (13) and Holly Sotheran (10) made the biggest splash with an excellent performance in practically every race. Holly gained a gold medal in the 400 IM and 200 Free, Silver in the 400 Free, 200 IM, 200 Fly and Bronze in the 100 Fly, 200 Breast and 100 Fly. She also came 4th in the 200 Back and 100 Free and then 5th in the 100 Backstroke. Matthew won a Silver medal in the 1500 metres Free and 800 Free, Bronze in the 400 Free and 100 Fly. He also finished 4th in the 100 Free, 100 Back and 200 IM and then 6th in the 400 IM. Robert Kirk also won a Gold medal in the 100 metres Fly and came 4th in the 100 Free and 200 Free, then 10th in 200 Breast. Emily Shone won a Bronze medal in the 100 Back, came 5th in the 200 Back and 6th in the 200 Breast and 100 Breast.
Congratulations also goes to those who finished in the top ten who were James Shiel, Josh Whitehurst and Alice Aucott.
Coach Alan Kirton, said “the club has accomplished some outstanding group results over the past 4 years but, this year we have made an outstanding improvement. We have gained 26 top positions including 3 gold, 5 silver and 6 Bronze.
Yorkshire Senior/Junior 2010
Charlotte Pearson aged 15 from Rotherham Metro managed to secure her national time in the 100 metres Fly when she attended the British Gas Senior and Junior swimming Championships on the 6thand 7th of February at the John Charles centre in Leeds. Her winning time of 1.07.39 secured her 3rd place in the Junior’s category. Charlotte also came first in the 50 metres Fly with a time of 30.05.
There were also other successful finalists, Adam Parkes won a gold medal in the 50 metres Back Junior level. In the men’s open events, Dale Waterhouse won a Silver medal in the 50 and 100 metres Freestyle and a Bronze in the 100 metres Breast. He also came 4th in the 200 metres IM, 5th in the 200 metres Breast, 7th in the 50 metres Breast and 10th in the 100 metres Back.
Daniel Mclean finished 4th in the 100 metres Back and 50 Back, 6th in the 100 metres Free and then 8th in the 50 metres Fly. Thomas Nelson in the final event of the weekend finished 7th in the 200 metres Back.
The team’s were also very successful despite their being tough competition from the top clubs such as Sheffield and Leeds. Rotherham finished second in the 400 metres Medley team and 3rd in the 400 metres Freestyle team. The team members were Dale, Tom, Daniel and Aaron Waterhouse. Head coach Alan Kirton was immensely pleased with the teams performance he said ‘due to the opening of the new pool being delayed at Maltby, our training over the past month has been disrupted, for the team to perform like this is unbelievable’.
COSSS Premier Meet – March 2010
A number of Rotherham Metro swimmers competed recently at City of Sheffield’s Premier Meet held at Ponds Forge. This competition is a level one meet which means that many of the country’s top swimmers were competing including a large contingent of swimmers from the prestigious Loughborough University Swimming Club. Despite the high standard, many Rotherham swimmers gained new personal best times with some winning age group medals and making the finals of their events.
Matthew Sotheran had another good weekend gaining four more National Qualifying Times in the 1500 Free, 400 IM, 200 Fly and 100 Fly. As well as getting these NQT’s, 13 year old Matthew won age group gold medals in the 100 and 200 Fly, silver medals in the 1500 and 200 Free and bronze medals in the 400 Free and 400IM. Matthew also reached the 14 years and under final in the 200 Fly where he finished in 6th place.
Dale Waterhouse reached four Senior finals, with his best finish coming in the 200 Individual Medley where he won the bronze medal. Dale also made the final of the 100 Free and 100 Breast when he finished 6th in each, and the final of the 50 Free finishing in 10th position.
17 year old Ben Bainbridge had an excellent swim in the Senior final of the 200 Fly, swimming into 6th place in a new personal best time which was close to his National Qualifying Time for the event. Emily Shone had a good weekend as she swam to 6th place in the 13 years and under finals of both the 100 and 200 Back. Josh Whitehurst, aged 14, swam well to finish 7th in the 14 years and under final of the 100 Free event, whilst Simon Worne and Charlotte Pearson both finished 7th in their finals, Simon in the Senior 50 Breast and Charlotte in the Senior 50 Fly. Daniel McLean made the Senior final of the 100 Back finishing in 9th position.
Other Rotherham swimmers competing over the weekend were Alice Aucott, Shannon Eades, Thomas Gibbons, Laura Gillott, Kelsey Longden, Scott Mason, Frances McGrother, Thomas Nelson, James Newton, James Shiel, Aaron Waterhouse and Bethany Woodcock.
City of Leeds National Qualifying Event-April 2010
Rotherham Metro swimmers have had another fantastic weekend of swimming this time at the National Qualifying meet Championships held at Leeds from 9th April to 11th April. Many swimmers came away with PB’s, North East times and Matthew Sotheran achieved two more National Qualifying times.
On Friday a total of 10 swimmers competed in the 400 Freestyle and 2 swimmers competed in the 400 IM with 5 reaching their respective finals. In the Freestyle finals leading the way was Matthew Sotheran (13) who once again produced another outstanding performance by leading from start to finish to claim Gold and also achieving his National Qualifying time. Next up was Nicole Clarke (13) who in a very competitive race managed to finish 7th. Finally in the 400 Freestyle finals, Kelsey Longden (14) who took the bronze medal and set the tone for the rest of the weekend.
In the 400 IM finals Josh Hillman (11) and George Russell (12) both finished 5th in their respective finals.
Saturday saw even more swimmers competing and reaching many finals in an extremely competitive and high standard meet. Once again Matthew Sotheran (13) was at the forefront of medals gained by securing, Gold in the 100M Freestyle and silver in the 200m Backstroke. Kelsey Longden (14) reached 3 finals taking 6th place in the 200m Freestyle followed by 4th place in the 100m Fly. Finally it was the 200IM where Kelsey had qualified in 6th position, and going into the final 50 metres in 4th place she raised her game to secure the bronze medal. Josh Whitehurst (14) and George Russell (12) both reached 2 finals, with Josh finishing 8th in the 100M Breaststroke and 4th in the 100M Freestyle while George finished 8th in the 200M Back and 7th in the 200M Fly. Josh Hillman (11) came 7th in the 200M Backstroke final.
On Sunday the final day of swimming still more swimmers reached their individual finals. True to form Matthew Sotheran (13) took gold in the 100M Fly final and in the 200M Freestyle final where he timed his swim to perfection to not only win the gold but to also achieve another National Qualifying time. Kelsey Longden (14) continued her fantastic form by reaching two more finals. In the 100M Freestyle final she was also joined by Kimberley Bush (14), with Kelsey finishing 6th and Kimberley finishing 7th. In the 200M Fly Kelsey swam to a well-deserved 3rd gaining another bronze medal. In the final of the 11 year olds 100M Backstroke there was two finalists from Rotherham competing with Josh Hillman taking 4th and Robert Pearson 5th place. George Russell once again reached the 100M Fly final where he finished 5th.
Other swimmers taking part and producing many PB’s and North East qualifying times were, Robert Kirk (11), Connor Neal (11), Rebecca Britten (12), Jessica Bushby (13), Shannon Eades (13), Laura Gilliott (13), Bethany Woodcock (13), James Newton (13), Sam Pearson (13) and James Shiel (14).
Matthew Excels at Excel!
Over the Easter bank holiday weekend a team of Rotherham Metro swimmers competed at the prestigious Derventio Excel meeting at Ponds Forge. This gala attracted over sixty clubs from as far afield as the Isle of Man and Dubai.
The high standard of this gala produced National Qualifying times, North Eastern times and numerous PB’s for many swimmers. Matthew Sotheran and Dale Waterhouse each gained two National Qualifying Times, Matthew in the 400IM and 100 Fly and Dale in the 50 and 100 Free which will allow both of them to go on and compete in the National Age Group Championships later this year.
Once again thirteen year old Matthew Sotheran led the way with an impressive medal haul consisting of Gold in the 100 Fly, Silvers in the 100 Free and 400 IM and also Bronze Medals in the 200 and 400 Free and also 200 Back. Other competitors gaining medals were Dale Waterhouse (18) who achieved a bronze in the 50 Free and Charlotte Pearson (15) who achieved Bronze in the 50 Fly.
The following swimmers attained Top ten finishes, Emily Shone ( 4th 100 Back, 5th 200 Back, 7th 200 IM and 9th 100 Breast), Laura Gillott ( 8th 50 Back, 8th 400 Free and 9th 200 Back), Shannon Eades ( 6th 50 Back, 9th 100 Back and 10th 200 IM ), Kelsey Longdon ( 4th 200 Fly, 7th 50 Fly and 10th 200IM ), Nicole Clarke ( 7th 400 Free), James Newton ( 6th 50 Breast ), Josh Whitehurst ( 7th100 Free), Dale Waterhouse ( 4th 100 Free, 9th 200 Free and 10th 100 Back), Dan McLean ( 9th 100 Back ), Thomas Nelson ( 8th 50 Back and 10th 200 Back ), Ben Bainbridge ( 7th 200 Fly ), Matthew Sotheran ( 5th 50 Back ), Charlotte Pearson ( 9th 100 Fly ), Robert Kirk ( 10th 400 IM ), George Russell ( 6th 200 Fly ) and Josh Hillman ( 5th 200 Back and 6th 400 IM ).
Speeding Tickets Galore! 2010
On the weekend of 17th and 18th July Rotherham Metro held their level 3 short course open meet that attracted many swimmers from all over the UK. Swimmers had to achieve entry times to qualify for the meet, resulting in three categories being awarded, A grade, B grade and a speeding ticket (for swimming faster than the cut off time).
Boys Competition
Thirteen Year-old Matthew Sotheran once again proved what an exceptional talent he has by securing speeding tickets in all eight events that he entered which were 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 50,100 and 200 Free, 50 Back, 100 Back and the 100 IM. Matthew will be taking part in the National Age Group championships at Ponds Forge this week. Hot on Matthews heels in the speeding ticket stakes were eighteen year–old Thomas Nelson and seventeen year-olds Simon Worne and Daniel McLean all who gained an impressive six speeding tickets each with Simon also winning Gold’s in the A grade 50 Back and 100 Fly. Simon and Daniel will be taking part in the National Championships along with Dale Waterhouse in August at Ponds Forge.
Adam Parkes, sixteen, won five speeding tickets in the 50,100,200 back, 50 Free, 100 IM and Silver in the A grade 100 Free. Fourteen year-old James Shiel kept up the tally of speeding tickets by gaining four in the 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 100 IM and 100 Free as well as Gold’s in the A grade 100 Breast and 200 Free. Benjamin Bainbridge seventeen gained three speeding tickets in the 100 Fly, 200 Fly and 200 IM as well as A grade Gold in the 200 Breast and A Grade Silver in the 50 Fly. Ten year-old Jack McGann scored an hat trick of speeding tickets in the 50 Free, 200 Free and 100 IM, and Silver in the A grade 50 Breast followed by Bronze in the 200 Breast. Eleven year-old Robert Pearson had a magnificent meet gaining two speeding tickets in the 50 Back and 100 IM and this was accompanied with eight A grade medals which were, Gold’s in the 50 breast, 50 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Back, 200 Free, 200 Back and Silver in the 100 Free and finally Bronze in the 200 IM. Josh Whitehurst fifteen won A grade Gold’s in the 50 Free and 200 IM as well as Bronze in the 100 Fly, also fifteen Thomas Gibbons won A grade Gold in the 200 Free followed by A grade Bronze’s in the 50 Free and 200 Back. Eleven year-old Robert Kirk won Gold in the A grade 50 Fly, Silver’s in the A grade 100 and 200 Fly and finished with Bronze in the A grade 50 Free. Scott Mason fifteen won A grade Silver in the 200 Breast and A grade Bronze in the 100 Breast followed by B grade Gold in the 100 Free. Thirteen year-old George Russell Won A grade Gold in the 200 Fly and A Grade Bronze in the 200 IM. Samuel Pearson fourteen won six B grade medals these were: Gold in the 50 Breast, Silvers in the 100 IM, 100 and 200 Free followed by Bronze in the 100 Breast and Back. Twelve year-old Joel Mitchell won B grade Silver in the 200 Back and B grade Bronze in the 100 Free, Devin Kellet and Ben Cliff both eleven Won B grade Silver in the 100 Breast and 100 Back respectively and finally James Newton 14 won B grade Bronze in the 200 IM.
Girls Competition
Leading the way in the girl’s competition was Charlotte Pearson who gained five speeding tickets out of five events which were 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 50 Free, 100 Free and 200 Free, Charlotte will be taking part in the National championships at Ponds Forge in Early August. Ten year-old Rebecca Finnie swam outstandingly to gain a total of six speeding tickets in the 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 IM and also Gold’s in the A grade 50 Fly and 50 Back. Kelsey Longden won five speeding tickets in an extremely competitive fourteen year-old age group competition; these were 50 Fly, 50 Free, 100 IM, 200IM and 200 Free. Kelsey Also won two Gold’s in the A grade 100 and 200 Fly and Silver in the 100 Free. Eleven year-olds Holly Sotheran and Alice Aucott were also in fine form gaining five speeding tickets each and even dead heating for first place in the A grade 100 Free thus both taking the Gold. Holly won speeding tickets in the 50 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 IM, 50 Free, 200 Free and Gold in the A grade 100 Fly followed by Bronze’s in the A grade 100 IM and 200 Back. Alice won Speeding tickets in the 50 Breast, 200 Breast, 200 IM, 200 Free and 100 IM, A grade Silver in the 50 Free and A grade bronze in the 50 Fly. Thirteen year-old Emily Shone won four speeding tickets in the 50, 100 and 200 Back and 100 IM, she also won A grade Gold’s in the 100 Free and 200 IM followed by A grade Silver in the 200 Breast. In the fifteen and above age group Frances McGrother was awarded a Speeding ticket in the 200 IM and won A Grade Gold’s in the 100 Breast and 200 Free. Ten year-old Abbie Ackroyd gained a speeding ticket in the 200 Breast, Gold in the A grade 50 Breast, Silver in the A Grade 100 Breast and Gold in the B grade 50 Free. Thirteen year-old Jess Bushby won A grade Gold in both the 50 and 100 Fly and Bronze in the A grade 200 Free and 200 Back, another thirteen year old Nicole Clarke won A grade Gold in the 200 Free and A grade Silvers in the 50 and 100 Free. Twelve year-old Abbie Hull won Silvers in the A Grade 100 and 200 Back, also in the twelve year-old category Rebbeca Britten won A grade Silver in the 50 Back and A Grade Bronze’s in the 100 and 200 Back. Fourteen year-old Kimberley Bush gained Silver in the A grade 50 Fly and Bronze in the A grade 100 IM, also fourteen Ruth Brown won Gold in the B grade 50 Free. Ten year-old Rebecca Durn was in fine form winning A grade silver in the 100 Back, A grade Bronze in the 100 IM and Gold in the B Grade 50 Fly, Eleven year-old Alicia Hartley also won A grade Silver in the 200 Back and Bronze in the 50 Breast followed by Gold in the B grade 50 Fly. Twelve year-old Bethany Woodcock swam to a very impressive A grade Bronze in the 100 Free, also twelve Chloe Rooker gained Bronze medals in the A grade 50 Fly and Free. Katie Pollard eleven won Gold in the B grade 50 Breast, Silver in the B grade 50 Free and Bronze in the B grade 100 Breast, thirteen year-old Lucy Bennett won Gold in the B grade 100 IM and Silver in the B grade 200 IM, also winning Gold’s in the B Grade were thirteen year-old Shannon Eades in the 50 Breast and fifteen year-old Chloe Pollard in the 50 Free. Other B grade medal winners were eleven year-old Lucy Handley who won Silver in the 200 Breast and B grade Bronze medal winners were Lyn Shackshaft in the 200 IM and Shauney Brewster in the 100 Back.
Other swimmers competing were:
Sophie Jones, Robyn Hartley, Rebecca Bamber, Shannon Rickett, Danielle Marsh, Fiona Connell, Shannon Sutton, Chloe Burditt, Jack Whitehurst, Thomas Hesling, William Bailey, Samuel Hull, Andrew Bishop, Kenyon Kellett, Kayley Britten, Owen Lawrence, Laura Gillott, Hannah Dannatt and Josh Hillman
Matthew wins Bronze at the National Championships 2010
From the 28th July to the 1st of August Rotherham Metro swimmer Matthew Sotheran competed in the National Age Group swimming championships meet at Ponds Forge. Matthew was Rotherham’s lone representative in this championship and he had qualified for several events, which is an outstanding achievement.
On day one of the championships Matthew finished eighth in the 100M backstroke heats thus gaining a place in the final to take place that evening. In the final Matthew managed to gain a PB and move up a place to 7th in a time of 01:05.06. On day two of the championships Matthew competed in three events, finishing 9th in the 200M Butterfly, 3rd in the 100M Freestyle and 7th in the 200IM gaining him a final spot in each event that evening. Three finals in one evening was a big ask and Matthew decided to pull out of the 200M Butterfly final and concentrate on the 100M Freestyle and 200IM final. In the 100 Freestyle final Matthew’s tactics paid off when he smashed his PB on the way to taking a well-deserved bronze medal in a time of 56.80. Matthew then competed in the final of the 200IM where he also swam to a new PB in a time of 02:24.47 finishing 8th after a very exhausting day.
On Day three of the championships after a very exciting and exhausting previous evening Matthew started with the 400M Freestyle finishing in 13th. Next up for Matthew was the 200M Backstroke where he once again produced another PB of 02:24.58 finishing 18th.
Day four saw Matthew competing in the 200M Free and he finished in a very credible 16th position, this was followed by the 100M Butterfly where he once again produced yet another PB to finish 15th in a time of 01:04.97.
On the final day of the championships Matthew was in the 400IM where he finished 16th, so overall he had an eventful and fruitful championships gaining many final spots and winning a national bronze medal.
British Gas ASA National Youth Championships 2010
A small squad of elite Rotherham Metro swimmers attended the British Gas ASA National Youth Championships held at Ponds Forge from the 3rd to 7th of August.
All the top youth swimmers from the UK and abroad who have gained national qualifying times enter this competition, so for Metro to have four swimmers taking part is a fantastic achievement within itself.
Eighteen year-old Dale Waterhouse had the mammoth task of competing in six events over the five-day championship and Daniel McLean, Simon Worne and Charlotte Pearson, who had all qualified for one event each, joined him.
On day one of the championships Dale was the sole representative from Metro and he competed in the 200M Breaststroke finishing in a time of 02:36.80.
Day two saw Dale Joined by seventeen year-old Daniel McLean in the 100M Freestyle with Dale finishing in a time of 53.97 and Daniel finishing in a time of 56.13. Dale then went on to compete in the 200M individual medley finishing in a time of 02:15.52
Day three saw Rotherham’s only female competitor sixteen year-old Charlotte Pearson in the 100M Butterfly where she smashed her own PB and set a new Metro record in a time of 01:05.48 and wasn’t far off gaining a semi final place.
Day four saw Dale in the 200M Freestyle finishing in a time of 02:00.02 where he was then joined by Seventeen year-old Simon Worne in the 100M Breaststroke were Dale broke his own PB and a new Metro record finishing in a time of 01:08.93 and Simon finishing in a time of 01:12.18.
On the final day of the championships Dale finished off with a time of 25.07 in the 50m Freestyle to end an exciting and outstanding five days of swimming by the Rotherham Metro swimmers.
Robin Hood Meet 2010 – Oct 2010
Rotherham Metro sent a small band of merry boys and girls to compete in the Robin Hood open meet held at Ponds forge over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of October and they came back with lots of plunder consisting of gold silver and bronze. There were sixty one clubs competing from all over Britain with very sizable squads however Metro with a contingent of just over twenty swimmers managed to finish in third position overall.
Robin Hoods (Boys)
In the boys competition fourteen year-old Matthew Sotheran came away with seven medals, which consisted of Gold in the 400M Freestyle, Silvers in the 100M Backstroke and 50M Freestyle followed by Bronze’s in the 100M, 200M, Freestyle, 200IM and 200M Breaststroke. Jack McGann (10) was in outstanding form claiming Gold in the 100M Freestyle followed by Silvers in the 200M Freestyle and 50M Fly with a Bronze to round it all off in style the 50M Freestyle. In the sixteen and over age group Thomas Nelson had a very eventful meet were he claimed Silver in the 200M Backstroke followed by Bronze in the 400M Freestyle. Thomas also reached the final of the Skins where the top ten fastest swimmers compete in different 50M events with swimmers being eliminated until there are only three to contest the final. Thomas was eliminated after winning round five however when the judges realised their mistake he was reinstated and he then went on to win the Bronze medal. . James Shiel (15) produced outstanding swims to claim Silver medals in the 50M and 100M Fly, also in the 100M Fly George Russell (13) claimed the silver medal with a superlative performance while Josh Whitehurst (15) showed what a versatile swimmer he is by coming away with three Bronze medals in the 200M Breaststroke, 200IM and 50M Freestyle.
Maid Marion’s (Girls)
In the girls competition Charlotte Pearson (16) kept up her early season form by claiming Gold medals in the 50M and 100M Fly followed by Bronze in the 50M Freestyle. Eleven year-olds Alice Aucott and Holly Sotheran had a fantastic meet with Alice claiming Gold and Bronze in the 50M and 100M Breaststroke respectively. Holly went on to win six medals over the weekend consisting of two Silvers in the 100M Fly and 400M Freestyle followed by four Bronze medals in the 50M Freestyle, 200M Freestyle, 200M IM and 50M Fly. In the girls thirteen year-old age group Nicole Clarke won Bronze medals in the 400M Freestyle and 200M Breaststroke with Bethany Woodcock taking the Silver medal in the 100M Freestyle and Jessica Busby claiming the silver medal in a very tight 50M Fly competition. In the 50M Fly competitions Kelsey Longden (15) swam magnificently to claim the Bronze medal.
Other swimmers taking part were:
Ben Cliff, Connor Neal, Robert Kirk, Hannah Dannat, Rebecca Finnie, Alicia Hartley, Josh Hillman, Rebecca Britten, Abbie Hull, Shannon Eades, Laura Gillott, Emily Shone, Kimberley Bush, Thomas Gibbons Adam Parkes, Daniel McLean.
British Gas Northern Zonal Meet 2011
The inaugural British Gas Northern Zonal meet took place at Ponds Forge over the weekend of January 29th and 30th this involves all qualifying swimmers from the North East and North West of the country and is second only to the National championships. Rotherham Metro took a small team of ten qualifiers’ consisting of six boys and four girls with everyone looking to gain their national time.
Charlotte Pearson (16) gained her national time with a scintillating performance in the 100 Butterfly competition thus gaining a final position in the girls 15 and over final where she once again attained the national time on her way to finishing in six position. In the 14 and under category Rachel Grainger was once again in stunning form gaining entry into the finals of both events she entered and finishing 8th in the 100 Freestyle and 10th in the 400 Freestyle. Emily Shone (14) competed in three events the 100 Breaststroke and 100 Backstroke where she narrowly missed out on a final position and finally the 200 Backstroke. Holly Sotheran (12) was the unluckiest of swimmers by just missing out on the National Time in the 200 Butterfly by 15 hundredths of a second in what can only be described as a awesome performance.
Matthew Sotheran (14) was entered for seven events on the day in the 16 and under age category, which were the 50,100, 200 and 400 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke and Butterfly and 200IM. Considering that Matthew is only fourteen he swam outstandingly to reach two finals where he finished 10th in the 50 Freestyle and 10th in the 100 Freestyle where Matthew was the youngest competitor. Josh Whitehurst (16) took part in a total of six events, which were 50, 100, 200 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke and Butterfly and the 200IM and produced some very good performances. In the 200 Butterfly competition Metro had two representatives who were George Russell (13) and James Shiel (15) both producing exceptional performances, finally seventeen year-old Aaron Waterhouse put in a solid performance in a highly competitive 400 Freestyle race
Sheffield and District Championships 2011
This years Sheffield & District Gala was held at Ponds Forge International venue on the 6th February and was attended by all the clubs within and around the Sheffield area. The vast majority of Rotherham swimmers who attended the meet were rewarded with medals of all colours and many personal best times were achieved. For many of the younger swimmers it was their first gala and to be swimming it at an International pool just added to their excitement. All events are age group except the 200 and 400 events, which are open.
Fourteen year-old Jessica Busby gained five Gold medals in the 100 Fly, Freestyle, and Backstroke, 200 Fly and Backstroke and also Silver in the 200 Freestyle and Bronze in the 400 Freestyle. Rachel Grainger fourteen won a hat trick of Gold medals in the open section, which was the 400 Freestyle, 400, IM and 200 Freestyle. Twelve year-old Chloe Rooker was in top form gaining Gold medals in the 100 Fly, 50, 100 Freestyle plus Silver’s in the 50 Fly and 50 Backstroke. Alicia Hartley (12) won a brace of Gold’s in the 50 Backstroke and 50 Breaststroke were she has maintained her stranglehold on the title for the 4th consecutive year; she also won a Silver medal in the 100 Breaststroke and Bronze in the 100 Backstroke. Fiona Connell (13) won Gold in the 100 Fly, Silver in the 50 Fly and Bronzes in the 50 and 100 Freestyle. Ten year-old Rebecca Durn claimed Gold in the 100 Backstroke a Silver in the 50 Fly and Backstroke and Bronzes in the 50 Breaststroke and 50 Freestyle, also ten Abbie Ackroud claimed Gold in the 50 Breaststroke with Lyn Shackshaft also taking Gold in the fourteen year-old Category. Eleven year-old Rebecca Finnie claimed a total of four Silver medals in the 100 Backstroke, Freestyle and 50 Freestyle and Fly. Kelsy Longden (15) won Silver medals in the 400 IM and Freestyle with Shannon Eades (14) taking the Bronze in the 400 IM and Bronzes in the 200 Freestyle. Abbie Hull (13) claimed the Silver Medal in the 100 Fly with Katie Pollard (11) the Silver medal in the 100 Breaststroke. Kenyon Kellett (9) won Bronze Medals in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke, also nine Kayley Britten claimed Bronze in the 50 Backstroke with older sister Rebecca (13) claiming Bronze in the 100 Backstroke. Eight Year-old Abigail Kennett was in outstanding form considering it was the first time she had ever swum in a long course pool taking Bronze medals in the 100 Freestyle and Breaststroke. Thirteen year-old Georgia Naughton claimed a Bronze medal in the 50 Breaststroke and Zoe Thomson (15) claimed Bronze in the 50 Fly with Molly Simpson taking Bronze in the 100 Breaststroke. Two outstanding performances for very different reasons were Harriet Esberger (12) who’s goggles came down at the beginning of the race but she still managed to claim a Bronze medal in the 50 Free, also Rebecca Bamber despite only being eleven swimming the 200 Fly open and taking the Bronze Medal.
Top boy on the day was 9 year-old Jack Whitehurst who gained a hatful of medals which consisted of Gold’s in the 50 and 100 Breaststroke, 100 Freestyle followed by Silver’s in the 50, 100 Backstroke and Freestyle. Connor Neal (11) continued his fine form by taking a hat trick of Gold medals in the 100 Breaststroke, Freestyle and 50 Fly. Also scoring a hat trick of Gold medals was Thomas Nelson (19) who led from start to finish in extremely measured swims in the 100 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke and 400 Freestyle. George Russell (13) gained 5 medals all in the open section which were Gold’s in the 400 IM and 200 Fly with Silvers in the 200IM, 200 Freestyle and Bronze in the 400 Freestyle. Sixteen year-old Adam Parkes came away with gold medals in the 200 and 400 open freestyle events, also gaining a magnificent seven medals was fourteen year-old James Newton who gained a Gold in the 50 Breaststroke with Silvers in the 50 Freestyle, Backstroke and 100 Breaststroke and finally Bronze medals in the 100 Freestyle and 200 Breaststroke and 50 Fly. Devin Kellett (12) gained Gold in the 50 Backstroke and Silvers in the 50 and 100 Breaststroke, also twelve Josh Hillman gained Gold in the 100 Backstroke and Bronze medals in the open section for the 200 Backstroke and Fly. Another twelve year-old Robert Pearson gained Gold in the 100 Freestyle and Silver in the 100 Backstroke, also taking Silver in the 100 Freestyle was fourteen year-old Sam Pearson. In the eleven year-old category Jack McGann claimed Silver medals in the 50 Fly and 100 Freestyle, also eleven Ben Cliff gained Silver in the 50 Backstroke and Bronzes in the 50 Fly and 100 Freestyle. Connor Wood (11) won Silver in the50 Free and Bronze in the 50 Breaststroke also eleven Ehren Beresford claimed Silver in the 100 Fly despite his goggles coming down which was another outstanding feat. Luke Hamstead (12) won Bronzes in the 100 Breaststroke and 50 Backstroke also taking two Bronze medals was Adam Blackwell in the 50 Backstroke and the long plunge event. The battle royal on the day was between eight year-old twins Oliver and Alex Naughton with Oliver taking Silver in the 100 Breaststroke and Alex Bronze, this result was then reversed in the 100 Freestyle with Alex taking Silver and Oliver Bronze and to round the day off Oliver gained a Bronze in the 50 Fly.
Also competing:
Robyn Hartley, Amelia Kurley, Brodie Benson, Thomas Hesling, Holly Empson, Isabelle Stewart, Hannah Burgess, Megan Dobson, Dylan Bohm, Liam Blackwell, Elliot Smales, Ceri Thorman, Courtney Cutler, Lucy Handley, Alex Forth, Ellisa Dawson, Megan Lowe,Caitlin Binns, Lois Vardy, Thomas Charnock, Jacob Parkes, Grace Esberger, Becky Richmond, Laura Gillott, Eleanor Coleman and Alexander Machen who was the youngest competitor as it was his 8th birthday.
Stocksbridge Sprints – A Tonne of Medals! 2011
Recently a team of Rotherham swimmers competed in the Stockbridge sprints. The event is split into age groups with some competing in the morning and the others in the afternoon; all events are over 50 metres with the top six in each age group contesting the final. Rotherham swimmers came away with a magnificent haul of 101 medals of varying colours and also taking the top boy and girl awards in all sessions.
FINALISTS Morning Session
Fourteen year-old Mathew Sotheran was once again in outstanding form coming away with Gold medals in all four events and also set two meet records as well has winning the top boy for the morning session. In the 9-year-old girls section latest swimming sensation Debbie Cocking came away with Gold medals in the Fly, Breaststroke and Backstroke and in doing so also set new meet records in all these 3 events and followed this up with a 5th position in the Freestyle. Fourteen year-old Emily Shone scored a hat-trick of Gold’s in the Fly, Breaststroke and Backstroke and was just piped into the Silver position in the Freestyle, Emily also came away with the top girl trophy for the morning session. In the 12-year-old girls section Holly Sotheran also gained 3 Gold medals in the Freestyle, Backstroke and Fly where she also set a new meet record, Holly was also placed 4th in the Breaststroke. Jack Whitehirst (9) was once again on the medal trail coming away with Gold’s in the Backstroke and Freestyle and was just touched out in both the Fly and Breaststroke final thus gaining Silver medal’s in both these events. Alice Aucott (12) gained Silver medal’s in the Freestyle and Fly with a Bronze in the Backstroke and was involved once again in a titanic battle in the Breaststroke where she managed to outsprint Rotherham’s other Breaststroke specialist Alicia Hartley taking Gold with Alicia taking the Silver medal to go with her 5th position in the Backstroke. Twelve year-old Robert Pearson set a new meet record in the heats of the Backstroke and went on to win Gold in the Fly and Silvers in the Freestyle and Backstroke, also twelve Josh Hillman came away with Silver in the Backstroke and Bronzes in the Fly and Freestyle with 6th position in the Breaststroke. Also putting in a very good performance was Connor Neal (12) who was placed 4th in the Breaststroke and Backstroke with 5th in the Freestyle and 6th in the Fly where Owen Lawrence (12) finished in 4th as well as 5th in the Backstroke. Another very busy girl on the day was Shannon Eades (14) who reached all four finals gaining Silver in the Backstroke and Bronze medals in the Fly and Freestyle with 4th position in the Breaststroke. Kayley Britten (10) reached 3 finals in a very competitive age group were she gained Silver in the Fly followed by 4th and 5thposition in the Backstroke and Freestyle respectively. One of the outstanding performances of the morning session involved Ellisha Dawson who was the slowest qualifier going into the final of the ten year-old girls Breaststroke, she almost managed to snatch the Gold medal however was just piped and came away with the Silver in a tremendous race. Fourteen year-olds Sam Pearson and James Newton had a very successful meet with James winning Bronze in the Fly and also finishing 5th in the freestyle event with Sam finishing 4th in the Freestyle and Backstroke and 6th in the Breaststroke. Bethany Woodcock (14) finished 5th in both the Freestyle and Backstroke having just competed earlier in the morning at Ponds Forge and finally nine year-old winning Isobel Stewart put in a solid performance to take 5th place in the Breaststroke competition.
FINALISTS Afternoon Session
Two boys of vast age difference Benjamin Cliffe (11) and Dale Waterhouse (19) both achieved a full house of Gold medals in the afternoon session in two very competitive age categories with both also claiming top boy awards. Charlotte Pearson sixteen claimed Gold medals in the Fly, Backstroke and Freestyle as well as Silver in the Breaststroke thus gaining the top girl award for the afternoon session. Also scoring another hat-trick off Gold medals was George Russell (13) in the Fly, Freestyle and Backstroke and Silver in the Breaststroke. Eleven year-old Rebecca Finnie gained a speeding ticket in the Fly and Gold in the Freestyle and Backstroke with a 4th place finish in the Breaststroke. Pushing Rebecca all the way in the 11 year-old age group was Rebecca Bamber who claimed Silver in the Fly and Backstroke with a Bronze in the Freestyle and a 5th place in the Breaststroke. In the open section category Simon Worne (18) claimed Silver in the Breaststroke, Bronze in the Fly and Freestyle and 4th place in the Backstroke, also in the open category Aaron Waterhouse (18) won Silver in the Freestyle with 4th places in the Fly and Breaststroke with 5th position in the Backstroke. Eleven year-old Jack McGann was in fine form claiming Silver in the Freestyle, Bronze in the Fly with 4th and 5th place in the Backstroke and Breaststroke respectively. In the open section nineteen year-old Thomas Nelson claimed Silver in the Backstroke with 5th place in the Fly and 6th place in the Freestyle, also in the open section Adam Parkes (16) claimed Bronze in the Backstroke. In the girls 13 year-old section Chloe Rooker won Silver in the Freestyle and 5th position in the Fly where Fiona Connell also 13 took the Bronze medal, also in this age group Rebecca Britten claimed a well earned Bronze in the Backstroke with Abbie Hull taking 5th position. In the girls open section Kelsey Longden (15) took 4thplaces in the Fly and Backstroke with Kimberley Bush taking 5th place in the Freestyle, also taking 5th position’s in an extremely competitive 11 year-old age category was Rebbeca Durn in the Fly and Backstroke.
Also competing were:
Molly Gervis, Brodie Brewster, Holly Empson, Hannah Burgess, Megan Lowe, Jacob Parkes, Adam Hedge, Caitlan Wallis, Luke Hamstead, Thomas Hesling, Madeline Jones, Sophie Jones, Scott Mason, Ben Bainbridge, James Shiel and William Bailey.
Derventio Excel Meet
Over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd of April a small team of Rotherham Metro swimmers competed at the Derventio Excel meet held at Ponds Forge. This gala attracted over sixty clubs from all over the UK as well as Dubai.
The standard of this gala produced many North Eastern times for Metro swimmers and numerous PB’s. Thirteen year-old George Russell was in outstanding form gaining a Silver medal in the 50 Fly and a Bronze Medal in the 200 Fly with top ten finishes in the 100, 400 Freestyle and 200IM. Matthew Sotheran (14) claimed a Silver medal in the 100 Fly with top ten finishes in the 100,200 and 400 Freestyle and 200 IM. Holly Sotheran (12) had top ten finishes in the 200, 400 IM and also the 50 and 200 Fly, Emily Shone (14) gained top ten finishes in the 200 Back and Breaststroke. In the open section Dale Waterhouse gained top ten finishes in the 100 freestyle and 200 IM with younger brother Aaron finishing in the top ten for the 400 Freestyle. Sixteen year-old Charlotte Pearson claimed a top ten finish in the 50 Fly, also claiming a top ten finish was Nicole Clarke (14) in the 400 Freestyle and Josh Hillman (12) in the 50 Backstroke.
Also competing was: Simon Worne, Josh Whitehurst, Thomas Nelson, James Shiel, Abbie Hull, Shannon Eades, Alice Aucott, Kelsy Longden, Laura Gillott, Kimberley Bush and Bethany Woodcock.
July Bonanza! 2011
In the boys competition brothers Aaron and Dale Waterhouse scored a perfect 100% in the speeding ticket stakes with Aaron (17) collecting nine out of nine in the events he entered and Dale (19) doing likewise collecting eight out of eight in the events he entered. Eighteen year-old Simon Worne managed seven speeding tickets and a grade A bronze in the 50 Fly, Robert Pearson (12) gained a magnificent five speeding tickets and Gold in the A grade 50 breaststroke. Seventeen year-old Adam Parkes claimed four speeding tickets followed by three A grade bronze medals in the 50 Freestyle and breaststroke and 100 Breaststroke. Fourteen year-old George Russell claimed a Hat-trick of speeding tickets and a gold A grade in the 100 backstroke, also fourteen Matthew Sotheran claimed two speeding tickets and a gold in the A grade 100 breaststroke. Jack Mcgann was in outstanding form claiming 1 speeding ticket and 6 Gold A grade medals in the 100 and 200 IM, 100 freestyle, breaststroke and 50 freestyle and fly and followed this up with a bronze A grade in the 50 backstroke. James Shiel (15) was in scintillating form claiming gold in the A grade 100 fly and IM with A grade silver in the 100 breaststroke and a bronze in the 200 freestyle. Sixteen year-old Scott Mason claimed gold in the A grade 200 breaststroke and bronze in the A grade100IM, also sixteen Josh Whitehirst claimed 2 A grade silver medals in the 100IM and 100 freestyle. Josh Hillman scored a magnificent seven medals with Bronze A grade’s in the 100 and 200 backstroke and 100 freestyle and a hat-trick of golds in the B grade 100 fly and 200 fly and backstroke with finally a B grade bronze in the 100 breaststroke. William Bailey (15) put in a tremendous swim to claim the B grade gold in the 100 freestyle, also in outstanding form was Devin Kellet (12) who claimed B grade silver medals in the 100IM and 50 freestyle. Sam Pearson (15) once again put in solid performances claiming the B grade silver in the 50 backstroke and B grade bronzes in the 100 backstroke and 100IM.
Leading the way in the girl’s competition was Elven year-old Rebecca Finnie who claimed 5 speeding tickets followed by silvers in the A grade 200 IM and backstroke with a B grade silver in the 100 fly. Up and coming future Metro star Debbie Cocking (10) also achieved 5 speeding tickets plus silver in the A grade 200 breaststroke. The very versatile Emily Shone (14) scored ten out of ten with 4 speeding tickets and 5 A grade gold’s in the 100 IM and breaststroke, 50 freestyle and backstroke and 200Im and finally wrapped it up with a bronze in the A grade 100 fly. Jessica Bushby (14) continued in her fine form by claiming an hat -trick of speeding tickets and gold in the A grade 100 fly followed by bronze medals in the A grade 100Im and freestyle. Charlotte Pearson (16) claimed a speeding ticket in the 50 fly followed by A grade gold’s in the 50 backstroke and freestyle. Holly Sotheran (12) claimed a speeding ticket in the 100IM and 50 fly, Rebecca Bamber (11) yet another future Metro star claimed a speeding ticket in the 100IM with A grade gold in the 100 breaststroke and a hat-trick of A grade bronze medals in the 200 backstroke, breaststroke and 100 freestyle. Thirteen year-old Rebecca Britten was in outstanding form claiming a speeding ticket in the 50 freestyle followed by gold in the A grade 50 backstroke and silvers in the 100IM and freestyle and finally wrapping it all up with a B grade gold and bronze in the 100 backstroke and fly respectively. Swimming exceptionally well was 14 year-old Shannon Eades who claimed an hat-trick of gold A grade medals in the 100IM, 100 freestyle and 50 backstroke and in top form also was Abbie Hull (13) who had a fantastic haul of 8 medals which were double gold in the A grade 100 and 200 backstroke with A grade silver in the 50 backstroke and 5 A grade bronze medals in the 100 IM, freestyle and fly ,200 IM and freestyle. Bethany Woodcock (14) won gold in the A grade 100 freestyle, silver in the A grade 100IM, bronze in the A Grade 200 freestyle and finally silver B grade in the 100 breaststroke. Chloe Rooker (13) claimed A grade gold in the 50 freestyle with a bronze in the A grade 50 fly and 2 bronze medals in the B grade100 breaststroke and 200 freestyle. Alicia Hartley managed a Grade A gold, silver and bronze in the 50 breaststroke, 50 backstroke and 200 Freestyle, also 12 Alice Aucott claimed A grade gold in the 50 fly and silver in the 100 fly. Eleven year-old Abbie Ackroyd claimed the A grade gold in the 100 breaststroke in a very tightly contested race. Ten year-old Kayley Britten was in splendid form claiming a hat-trick of medals which consisted of A grade bronze in the 50 fly followed by a B grade silver in the100 fly and a bronze in the B grade 50 freestyle. In the 15 and over section Frances McGrother a bronze in the A grade 100IM, also in the 15 and over section Kelsey Longden claimed B grade gold in the 200 breaststroke. Staying in the 15 and over section Kimberly Bush claimed double gold in the B grade 100 freestyle and 50 breaststroke and also taking a B grade silver in the 50 fyl. Eleven year-old Rebecca Durn claimed gold and silver in the B grade 50 freestyle and fly, also eleven Ceri Thorman put in two fantastic swims to claim B grade silver in the 200 backstroke and bronze in the 50 fly. Lyn Shackshaft (14) claimed B grade gold in the 100 breaststroke and B grade bronze in the 50 freestyle, also 14 Fiona Connell claimed gold in the B grade 100IM. Kenyon Kellett took double B grade silver medals in the 50 breaststroke and 200 freestyle with Heather Wellings (13) taking a B grade bronze in the 50 freestyle and 14 year-old Nicole Clarke taking a B grade bronze medal in the 100IM.
James Newton, Katie Pollard, Laura Gillott, Ruth Brown, Holly Fenwick, Hannah Dannatt and Lucy Fenwick
British Gas ASA National Championships 2011
Five swimmers from Rotherham Metro competed in the National Age group and Youth finals which were held at Ponds Forge International pool between July 21st and July 25th for the Age groups and 27th July to 31st July for the Youth championships.
All five swimmers managed to gain PB’s with three reaching their respective finals. George Russell who had only just turned 14 swam superbly to reach the final of the 200 Fly, finishing in 7th position, also reaching the final of the 200 Fly in the twelve year-old age group was Holly Sotheran who produced a truly magnificent swim to knock 6 seconds off her PB and finish in 8th position. Robert Pearson (12) defied all the odds to gatecrash the 100 Backstroke final where yet again he produced another PB to finish in 9th position, Robert also competed in the 200 Backstroke just missing out on a final spot. Matthew Sotheran (14) contested the 100 Backstroke, 100 and 200 Butterfly and 100 Freestyle where he produced some outstanding performances and PB’s. Charlotte Pearson (16) was once again in the 100 Fly Youth Championships where she produced another PB in a scintillating swim.
Pictured with head coach Alan Kirton are: L to R back row George Russell, Charlotte Pearson, Matthew Sotheran . Front row Holly Sotheran and Robert Pearson who is coached by Gemma Roper A2 squad.
Zonal Meet 2012, George Gains National Time
The British Gas Northern Zonal meet took place at Ponds Forge over the weekend of January 28th and 29th this involves all qualifying swimmers from the North East and North West of the country and is second only to the National championships. Rotherham Metro took a team of eleven individual qualifiers’ consisting of six boys and five girls as well as two relay teams.
George Russell (14) put in a superb performance in the 200 fly to gain his national time and also gaining a final position in the boys 16 and under age group where he once again attained the national time on his way to finishing in seventh position. George also put in tremendous performances in the 400IM, 200IM and 100 fly. Matthew Sotheran (15) was a very busy young man in fine form claiming a final spot in the 50 freestyle were he finished a credible seventh in a very tight final, Matthew also put in solid performances in the 100 freestyle, 200 fly, 100, 200 backstroke, 200IM and 100 breaststroke. Aaron Waterhouse (18) was in fine form putting in a solid performance in the 200 and 400 freestyle races, also producing a fine performance wash Josh Whitehurst (17) in the 100 breaststroke. Robert Pearson in the 100 and 200 backstroke and Josh Hillman in the 200 fly both thirteen put in excellent performances to acquit themselves very well at their first Zonal meet. In the youth relay events metro managed a very good seventh position in both the freestyle and individual medley event, the teams consisted of: James Shiel, Aaron Waterhouse, Matthew Sotheran, Josh Whitehurst and Thomas Gibbons.
Charlotte Pearson (18) once again reached the final of the 100 fly in a highly competitive race finishing in tenth position. Emily Shone (15) had a hat-triick of events and she put in fine displays in all of them which consisted of the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 100 breaststroke. Another girl who had a very busy schedule was Holly Sotheran (13) who produced a trio of stunnibg performances in the 200, fly 100 fly and 400 freestyle. Two young girls making their debuts at the Zonal meet were Alice Aucott and Abbie Hull both thirteen and both gaining big PB’s in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke respectively by producing exceptional swims.
Yorkshire Championships 2012 Weekend 1
On the first weekend of the Yorkshire championships held at the Leeds aquatic centre Rotherham Metro swimmers acquitted themselves very well. Rotherham Metro had a smaller than usual squad competing due to many attending a overseas training camp however they came away with three medals and lots of top ten finishes. The first medal winner of the meet was Josh Hillman (13) who despite being ranked 16th managed to claim the bronze medal in the 100 breaststroke. The next medal winner was George Russell who had only just returned from the training camp the previous night however this did not deter him and he claimed the gold in the 100 fly with a dominant performance. The final medal winner of the first weekend was Rebecca Finnie (12) who in an extremely fast 100 freestyle managed to grab the bonze medal with an outstanding performance.
All finalist were,
Charlotte Pearson (17) 200IM (7th), 100 Fly (4th), 200 Fly (4th), Robert Pearson (13) 100 Breaststroke (7th)
Rebecca Finnie (12) 800 Freestyle (8th), 100 Backstroke (5th), 200 Backstroke (9th), 400 Freestyle (7th)
Debbie Cocking (10) 200 Backstroke (8th), Jack Whitehirst (10) 400 Freestyle (6th) , 200IM 9th, Connor Neal (12) 200 Freestyle (8th), Josh Hillman (13) 200IM (8th).
Also competing was: Benjamin Cliff, Jack McGann, Abbie Hull, Rebecca Britten, Fiona Connell, Dayna Towns, Rebecca Bamber, Rebecca Durn, Alicia Hartley, Chloe Rooker, Shannon Eades, Bethany Woodcock, Nicole Clarke and Jessica Bushby.
City of Sheffield Premier Meet – March 2012
Over the weekend of 30th March/1st April, swimmers from Rotherham Metro competed at the City of Sheffield’s Premier Meet held at Ponds Forge. This competition attracts many of Britain’s top swimmers as well as swimmers that are competing at the London Olympics. Two swimmers in outstanding form were Matthew Sotheran (15) and Dale Waterhouse (20) who both attained their respective national times in the 50 metre freestyle competition, and Matthew also finished 7th in the 200 backstroke. George Russell (14) was once again in scantling form claiming the gold medal in the 200 fly with an outstanding last 50 metres and also claiming the bronze medal in the 100 fly. Simone worne (19) put in a fantastic performance to finish 5th in the 50 breaststroke.
Bethany Woodcock, Nicole Clarke, Kelsey Longden, Kimberley Bush, Shannon Eades, Holly Sotheran, Alice Aucott, Rebecca Finnie, Charlotte Pearson, Emily Shone, Abbie Hull, Josh Hillman, Jack McGann, James Shiel and Aaron Waterhouse
City of Leeds National Qualifying Meet – april 2012
The City of Leeds swimming club held their National Qualifying meet Championships on the weekend of 14th and 15th April. The event is contested in heats and the top 10 in each age group go through to the finals.
George Russell (14) was once again the star of the show gaining an impressive hat-trick of gold medals in the 400 IM, 400 Freestyle and 100 fly and followed this up with a silver medal in the 200 freestyle. Jack McGann (12) claimed gold in the 100 breaststroke and followed this up finishing 6th in the 400 freestyle and 9th in the 200 freestyle. Robert Pearson (13) was in outstanding form winning a brace of silvers in the 100 breaststroke and 200IM and followed this up with a bronze medal in the 200 backstroke. Josh Hillman (13) claimed bronze medals in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and finished 4th in the 400IM, 6th in the 200IM and 6th in the 200 freestyle. The only metro girl to win a medal was Holly Sotheran (13) in the 200 fly with an extremely measured swim claimed the bronze medal and also finished 7th in the 100 fly. Eleven year-old Kayley Britten reached a very impressive five finals finishing 7th in the 400 freestyle and 100 backstroke, 8th in the 200 backstroke and 9th in the 100 and 200 freestyle and all this considering she had only just returned from her holiday the day before.
Also reaching five finals was Abbie Hull (14) who finished 4th in the 100 backstroke, 5th in the 200 IM and backstroke, 6th in the 400 freestyle and finally 9th in the 100 freestyle. Another young girl being kept very busy at the weekend was Alice Aucott (13) who reached 4 finals finishing 5th in the 200 freestyle and breaststroke and 8th in the 100 and 400 freestyle. Rebecca Britten (14) who like her younger sister had only just returned from holiday put in some fine performances reaching 4 finals and finishing 5th in the 100 backstroke, 8th in the 100 freestyle, 9th in the 400 freestyle and 10th in the 200 backstroke. Alicia Hartley (13) was yet another youngster who reached 4 finals in an extremely competitive age group where she finished 6th in the 200 backstroke, 7th in the 200 breaststroke, 9th in the 100 backstroke and 10th in the 200IM. Connor Neal (13) put in an exceptional performance to finish 8th in the 100 freestyle considering he had only just become 13 a few weeks earlier.
Other swimmers competing and acquitting themselves very well were Ceri Thorman (12), Jack Whitehurst (11) and Abbie Ackroyd (12).
Stocksbridge Sprints 2012
A team of Rotherham Metro’s swimmers competed at the Stocksbridge Sprints meet on the 22nd April and came away with the a sack full of medals, and numerous PB’s. the competition is 50 metre sprints with the top six reaching the final and medals were awarded for each finalist in each age category.
Thirteen year-old Robert Pearson was in outstanding form claiming the top boy award by winning all four Gold medals in the competition as well as setting a new meet record in the backstroke final. George Russell (14) also set a meet record in the fly and claimed a hat trick of gold medals and silver in the breaststroke. In the 15 and over section Aaron Waterhouse claimed gold’s in the fly and breaststroke and silver in the freestyle and backstroke. Also in the 15 and over section Matthew Sotheran claimed double gold in the backstroke and freestyle with silver in the fly and 4th place in the breaststroke. Josh Hillman (13) and Benjamin Cliffe (12) both scored a hat trick of silver medals and 5th place in the breaststroke in their respective age groups. James Sheil claimed bronze in the fly, 5th in the backstroke and breaststroke and 6th in the freestyle in the 15 and over age group. Reaching all 4 finals was ten year-old Jack Anderson who claimed bronze in the freestyle, 5th in the fly and breaststroke and 6th in the backstroke. In the nine year old section there was a fantastic tussle between five boys with Benjamin Gavelle claiming a bronze in the fly and 4th in the freestyle, Jack Steele also won bronze in the breaststroke and 5th in the fly. Oliver Naughton reached 3 finals claiming 4th in the backstroke, 5th in the fly and breastroke with his twin Alex taking 4th in the breaststroke and finally Alexander Machin claiming a hat trick of 6th positions in the backstroke, freestyle and breaststroke. Twelve year-olds Jack McGann and Jack Neil both reached all four finals with Jack neil taking silver in the breaststroke, bronze in the freestyle and backstroke and 4th in the fly and Jack McGann taking bronze in the breaststroke and fly with 4th in the freestyle and 5th in the backstroke. Ten year-old Daniel Lyon-Smith put in a fantastic performance to claim 4th position in the backstroke with Joshua Turver (11) putting in a very fine swim to claim 5th in the fly.
Fourteen year-old Rebecca Britten was in scintillating form coming away with golds in the backstroke, fly and freestyle and a 5th place in the breaststroke. In the 15 and over age group Charlotte Pearson was in fine form claiming gold’s in the fly and freestyle, silver in the backstroke and bronze in the breaststroke. Also claiming a double gold was Alice Aucott (13) in the breaststroke and freestyle with a bronze medal in the fly, claiming gold, silver and bronze was Holly Sotheran (13) in the fly, backstroke and breaststroke respectively. Also claiming a gold, silver and bronze was Rebecca Finnie (12) in the freestyle, backstroke and fly and pushing her all the way was Dayna Towns and Abbie Ackroyd with Abbie taking gold in the breaststroke, 4th in the backstroke and 6th in the freestyle, with Dayna taking silvers in the fly and breaststroke and bronze medals in the backstroke and freestyle. In the 15 and over age group Emily Shone claimed a well deserved gold in the breaststroke with bronze in the backstroke and 6th position in the freestyle. Kayley Britten (11) put in some solid performance to claim bronze in the backstroke and 5th position in the fly, also putting in a very measured swim was Elissa Dawson (11) who powered her way to claim the bronze in the breaststroke. Alicia Hartley (13) claimed bronze in a very tight finish in the breaststroke. Harriet Esberger (13) was in fine form claiming 5th in the backstroke and 6th in the fly, also putting in a measured swim was Rebecca Durn (12) who claimed 5th place in the backstroke. In the 15 and over age group Jess Bushby and Kelsey Longden fought out their own duel in the fly with Jess finishing 4th and Kelsey 5th. Rotherham youngest girl medal winner of the meet was nine year-old Abigail Kennet who swam magnificently to gain 4th position in the freestyle.
Other swimmers competing were; Georgia McCormack, Abigail Martin, Brodie Brewster, Holly Empson, Lana Doneo, Owen Mason, Reiss Chambers, Dylan Bohm, Alex White, Ceri Thorman, Alex Forth, Jack Fox, Ryan Coyle, Brandon Jackson, Liam Blackwell, Grace Esberger, Hannah Burgess, Lucy Fenwick, Isla Doneo, Adam Hedge, Brodie Benson, Connor Neal, Luke Hamstead, Thomas Hesling, Shannon Eades, Lynne Shackshaft, Nicole Clarke, Bethany Woodcock, Molly Simpson and Ruth Brown,
City of Sheffield Snow Frills 2012
A small number of Rotherham Metro’s younger swimmers competed recently at City of Sheffield’s Snow Frills Gala at Ponds Forge from the 1st to 2nd December. There were some fantastic performances with many medals and many PB’s were being gained by numerous swimmers.
Medal winners and top ten finishes:
Dayna Towns (13) was once again in outstanding form claiming four gold medals in the 50 and 100 freestyle, 50 fly and 200IM and she followed this up with double silver in the 50 and 100 fly, and top ten finishes in the 50,100,200 backstroke and 200 breaststroke. Also thirteen Rebecca Bamber claimed gold in the 50 backstroke and double bronze in the 100 backstroke and 50 fly with top ten finishes in the 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle and 200 backstroke. Brodie Benson (13) was in scintillating form claiming gold in the 200 fly and bronze in the 200 freestyle with top ten finishes in the 200Im, 50,100 and 200 freestyle, 50,and 100 fly and finally the 200 backstroke. Twelve year-old Ehren Beresford had a busy weekend claiming silver in the 50 fly with top ten finishes in the 50,100 and 200 backstroke, 100 fly and breaststroke. Devin Kellett (14) was in fine form claiming the silver medal in the 50 fly with top ten finishes in the 50,100 and 200 backstroke, 50 and 200 breaststroke, 100 fly and 50 freestyle. Connor Wood (13) claimed silver in the 50 freestyle and finished 6th in the 100 freestyle.
Other top ten finishes were:
Joshua Turver (12) 50 fly, Jack Whitehirst (12) 50, 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle. Connor Neal (13) 50,100 breaststroke, 50 fly and 100 backstroke. Kenyon Kellett (11) 50, 100 fly, 50, 200 backstroke, 50 freestyle and breaststroke. Alicia Hartley (14) 50, 200 breaststroke, 100 and 200 backstroke. Luke Hamstead (14) 50 breaststroke and fly. Daniel Lyon-Smith (10) 50 backstroke, 50 and 100 freestyle. Benjamin Cliff (13) 200 fly with finally Jack Mcgann (13) 50 fly and 200 breaststroke.
Other Rotherham swimmers competing and putting in many fine performances were: Hannah Dannatt, Hannah Burgess, Holly Empson, Isla Doneo, Alex White and Harri Thorman.
The North East Region Age Group and Youth/Senior Championships 2012
Rotherham metro swimmers recently competed in the North East Region Age Group and Youth/Senior Championships (25m) held at the Aquatics Centre, Sunderland over the weekend of 1st and 2nd of December with everyone putting in fantastic performances.
In the Youth/Senior category fifteen year-old George Russell was in tremendous form claiming the gold medal in the 100 fly and silver medal in the 50 fly. Shannon Eades (16) put in a extremely measured swim to claim the silver medal in the open 800 freestyle. Mathew Sotheran (16) was in fine form reaching 3 individual finals were he finished 7th in the 100 backstroke and 6th in the 50 freestyle and 100 fly.
Abbie Hull and Jess Bushby 800 freestyle, men’s 400 medley team 9th, women’s 400 freestyle A team 9th B team, men’s 800 freestyle team 6th, women’s 400 medley 7th, men’s 400 freestyle team 5th.
Also competing and putting in many fine performances were:
Rebecca Britten, Alice Aucott, Chloe Rooker, Beth Woodcock, Emily Shone, James Shiel, Thomas Gibbons and Aaron Waterhouse.
In the age group category Debbie Cocking (11) swam a truly magnificent race to claim the silver medal in the 200 IM and followed this up with numerous top ten finishes. Also finishing in the top ten were Jack Anderson (10), Robert Pearson (14), Josh Hillman(14), Rebecca Durn (12) and Connor Wood (13).
Also competing and putting in many fine performances were: Abbie Ackroyd, Rebecca Finnie, Ceri Thorman and Kayley Britten.
On the 3rd February 2013 Rotherham Metro swimmers from all squads attended the annual Sheffield and District Championships at Ponds Forge and produced some fantastic performances.
Second to none and outstanding in the girls section was Dayna Towns(13) who produced 8 gold medals from 8 events the 50m freestyle, backstroke ,butterfly and breaststroke and 100m in all four disciplines which earned her the Owen Murfin trophy for Top Girl in the competition. Also in inspiring form was Debbie Cocking (11) gaining 5 Gold medals in the 100m fly, back, free, breast and 200 I.M plus Bronze in the 200m breast and back. Abi Ackroyd(12) took 7 medals, Gold 50m breast, 50m back and 100m breast, Silver 100m back, 50m free and bronze 100m free and 50m fly .Rebecca Finnie(13) took Silver in the 100m fly, 200m free and bronze in the 100m back, 50m free, 400m free, 50m back and 100m free. Rebecca Durn(12) took gold in the 100m back, silver in 200 back and bronze in the 50m back. Rebecca Brittan(15) claimed 3 gold medals in the 200m, 400m free and 200m backstroke. Chloe Rooker(14) bagged 4 gold medals in 50m, 100m free, 100m, 200m fly, siver in 50m fly and bronze in the 400m I.M. Alicia Hartley(14) took gold for the the 6th year in a row in the 50m breaststroke followed up with silver in the 100m backstroke. Four more silver medals came Metros way with Kaci Smallwood(10) in the 50m breaststroke, Rebecca Bamber(13) 50m,100m backstroke and Kenyon Kellett(11) in the 100m breaststroke.
Devin Kellett(14) was in superb form and the pick of the boys section taking 4 Gold medals in the 400m I.M, 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, Silver in 200m breaststroke and Bronze in 50m breaststroke. Jack Whitehurst also took 2 Gold medals in 50m,100m freestyle and Silver in 100m backstroke. Connor Wood took a hat-trick of Golds in 50m, 100m freestyle, 100 fly and Bronze in the 50m backstroke and breaststroke. Brodie Benson(13) claimed a brace of Silvers and Bronze in the 100m, 200m fly and 400 I.M and 400m freestyle respectfully. Josh Turver(12) took 4 medals with Gold in 100m freestyle, Silver 50 fly, 100 backstroke and Bronze in 50m freestyle. Daniel Lyon-Smith(11) took Gold in the 50m backstroke with an excellent swim. Claiming Gold also was Robert Pearson(14) in the 200m Freestyle. Jack Neill(13) picked up a brace of Silver medals in 50m breaststroke and 50m fly together with a bronze in 100m breaststroke. Benjamin Gavelle(10) collected a Silver medal for 100m fly with an excellent performance as did Jack Steele(10) claiming Bronze in the 50m breaststroke. Owen Lawrence(14) took 2 Bronze medals in the 100m fly and 100m breaststroke. Adam Hamstead(9) produced a strong performance to claim Bronze in th 50m freestyle. Jack Anderson(10) finished with a Siver and a Bronze in the 50m and 100m freestyle as did Harri Thorman(9) in the 50m backstroke and butterfly. Thomas Hesling(14) took second place in the annual lunchtime Long Plunge competition beating his Dad Mark Hesling(43) into 8th place.
Other Metro swimmers on the day producing strong performances were Ben Cliff, Luke Hamstead, Alexander Roberts, Thomas Blank, Luke Monks, Jack MaGann, Harold Cocking, Brandon Murillo, Alex White, Ceri Thorman, Megan Lowe, Carys Neal, Mary-Kate Gent, Kate Hartle, Freya Longstaff, Lana Doneo, Holly Epson, Isabelle Baily, Georgia McCormac, Kayley Brittan, Grace Russell, Hannah Burgess, Courtney Cutler, Abigail Martin and Megan Dobson.
Rotherham Metro Level 3 July 2013
Rotherham Metro held their level 3 short course open meet that attracted many swimmers from all over the UK. Swimmers had to achieve entry times to qualify for the meet, resulting in three categories being awarded, A grade, B grade and a speeding ticket (for swimming faster than the cut off time). Not only did Metro swimmers come away with a huge haul of medals, Alice Aucott also claimed the Top Girl Award.
Alice Aucott claimed seven A grade Gold medals and an A grade silver to take the Top Girl award. Debbie Cocking was in cracking form with ten speeding tickets two A grade golds and Two A grade silvers, Rebecca Bamber won an A grade gold, bronze and B grade gold and silver, Rebecca Durn claimed an A grade bronze, Alicia Hartley took seven medals A grade silver, two B grade golds, one silver and three bronze. Lynne Shackshaft claimed a gold B grade, Dayna Towns won three A grade golds and two speeding tickets, Kayley Britten took two A grade golds and an A grade bronze, Kenyon Kellett won A grade silver, Rebecca Finnie an A grade gold, two A grade silvers, an A grade bronze and a speeding ticket, Hannah Dannatt claimed three B grade gold medals, Emily Shone won an A grade gold and three A grade silvers, Abbie Hull took an A grade gold silver and bronze and a B grade gold, Rebecca Britten took A grade bronze and B grade silver medals, Abigail Martin won A grade silver, Shannon Eades took A grade gold silver and bronze and a speeding ticket, Jess Bushby took two A grade golds and two silvers, Chloe Rooker claimed A grade bronze and B grade gold and silver medals, Beth Woodcock took two B grade golds and a silver, Kimberley Bush took A grade silver and two B grade bronze medals, Abigail Jackson took two golds, a silver and three bronze medals, Courtney Cutler took a B grade bronze, Saoirse Behan took a bronze medal, Holly Empson took a B grade bronze medal, Ceri Thorman took an A grade silver, three B grade golds and a B silver.
Devin Kellett was in fine form claiming four A grade golds, two silvers and two bronze medals, Harold Cocking took three silvers and two bronze medals, Jack Anderson won two A grade silvers and a bronze, Jack Whithurst claimed three B grade golds a silver and a bronze, Connor Neal took two A grade bronze medals, Reiss Chambers won two B grade bronze medals, Robert Pearson claimed two speeding tickets, Harri Thorman took an A grade gold, three B grade silvers and a bronze, Benjamin Gavelle won two B grade bronze medals, Luke Monks took a B grade silver, Alexander Roberts claimed two B grade golds, Owen Mason a gold, silver and a bronze in B grade, John Norris took two golds and a silver in B grade, Jack Fox won three B grade silvers and a bronze medal, Joshua Turver took three B grade golds and a silver, Jack Neill won an A grade bronze, Jack McGann took an A grade gold, three silvers and a bronze medal, Ehren Beresford claimed B grade gold, a silver and two bronze medals, Connor Wood an A grade Gold, two silver two bronze and a speeding ticket. Owen Lawrence won A grade silver and bronze, two B grade silver and a bronze medal, Brodie Benson took two A grade bronze medals and a gold, silver and bronze in B grade, Benjamin Cliff took three B grade golds and a silver, Luke Hamstead took a B grade gold two silvers and a bronze medal, William Bailey claimed a B grade bronze, George Russell took an A grade gold and two speeding tickets, Josh Hillman claimed a B grade gold medal, James Sheil took four A grade golds, Matthew Sotheran claimed five speeding tickets.
Also competing, Isabelle Baily, Grace Russell, Hannah Burgess, Chloe Jones, Ruth Brown, Antonio Mars, Jack Steele, Abbeygail Wrennall, Georgina Macormac, Thomas Blank, Adam Hamstead, Bradley Wallis, Carys Neal and Kaci Smallwood.
by Steve Russell on May 2, 2016 • Permalink
Posted by Steve Russell on May 2, 2016
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New York/
Jewish Silk Road Tours™: Bukharian Community Tour in Rego Park partner of Yiddish NY 2019
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We are grateful to be an official partner of Yiddish NY 2019!We are pleased to invite you to join and embark on a walking tour of several fascinating neighborhoods in Queens, NY; also known as Registan Park (Rego Park) and Bukharian ...... Read More
Broadway (Forest Hills).Learn about the Jewish community that has lived along the Silk Road for over 2000 years. Look at periods of Jewish emigration from Central Asia, and visit the one and only Bukharian Jewish Museum to understand the essence of the Bukharian Jewish culture.Together we will attempt to recreate the atmosphere of the time, and learn about the everyday life of Bukharian immigrants, their hardships, and hopes, their failures, and achievements.The tour will conclude with a traditional lunch and a mini-concert. Tour will include:
Visit to the Bukharian Jewish Museum
Walking tour of the neighborhood
Visit to synagogue
Lunch at the Bukharian Restaurant (Glatt Kosher -VHQ)
Live Musical Performance
This Walking Tour is in English and/or Russian.Tickets: $62 per person includes a meal, entertainment, and tour. Space is Limited!When: Sunday, December 15th, 2019 at 11 AM!Location: 10616 70th Ave, Forest Hills, NY 11375please call 914-364-2572Check out more pictures on FacebookCheck us out on TV
This project is brought to you by Jewish Silk Road Tours Inc. in partnership with Bukharian Jewish Congress of USA and Canada, Center for Traditional Music and Dance, with the generous support of COJECO.(This project was piloted as part of the Center for Traditional Music and Dance’s Central Asian Community Cultural Initiative during Yiddish NY 2017)
Dec 15 2019 at 11:00 AM - Dec 15 2019 at 02:00 PM
Bukharian Jewish Community Center, 10616 70th Avenue, Queens, NY, 11375 (view map)
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Национальные кухни: немецкий бар/ресторан
Heidelberg Restaurant, 1648 2nd Avenue, New York, NY, 10028
Winter Singles Party
The Atwood, 986 2nd Ave, (Between E 52nd St & E 53rd St), New York, ny, 10022
Continue learning Russian
Kaffe 1668, 275 Greenwich Street, New York, NY, 10007
Breathe to Happiness
Art of Living, 1684 E18th street, 2 floor, Brooklyn, ny, 11229
EuroCircle's Winter Wonderland Mixer
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Seth Drinks America
Where should we drink today?
Social Still Rises from the Rust
By SethJ May 25, 2017
Billy Joel's song "Allentown" can be misleading. The closing of steel mills and subsequent generalized despair are very true (and supposedly got our current president elected) but he is singing about Bethlehem, not neighboring Allentown. I guess not much rhymes with "Bethlehem."
My entry into town is fairly dramatic. The storm clouds have just begun to part as I round a corner on the freeway into town. The first thing I notice are the hulking skeletons of the furnace stacks. I don't need to get closer to know they are the no-color of filthy water. But I do get closer, and the reality on the ground begins to shift. There are signs of a city coming back to life. Some of the ancient brick walls have freshly painted signs: vintage stores, a "pet resort," and the obligatory brewery or two.
I pull up to Social Still before it's open. This gives me time to wander around the gardens of the Museum of Industrial History across the street (reclaimed from part of the Bethlehem Steel plant). It's peppered with salvaged pieces of equipment so big, I don't even know what I'm looking at. Why do the teeth on an enormous gear automatically make me think about the limbs or lives that must have gotten crushed in them? I don't go into the museum, but can be sure they don't have a section exploring the innumerable industrial accidents over the years.
Social Still is inarguably part of Bethlehem's resurgence. It is many things at once: bar, restaurant, distillery. At the risk of sounding cheesy, it is the type of space that a city like Bethlehem needs the most. Not because the average out-of-work steel miller can afford to eat or drink there; but the flooding of a city with redevelopment money has to start with a trickle. In 2014, Adam Flatt and his partner in life and business, Kate, bought and renovated an old bank. It's a great space for this kind of project: two stories-worth of loft ceiling, allowing Adam to show off his towering column still in all its glory, enclosed in glass behind the bar. A couple of former vaults prove to be perfect rooms for barrel aging and grain storage.
Adam has been a part of the area's craft beverage scene for almost his whole life. At first, it was inadvertently. His mom opened a winery in 1981. He now co-owns Franklin Hill Vineyards with her. That gave him the background necessary to undertake opening a bar, restaurant and distillery simultaneously. As I speak with him, Adam has some very strong opinions about Pennsylvania's craft distillery laws - and rightfully so. He has wrestled up-close with a generous share of bureaucracy in trying to open his definition-defining establishment.
If that wasn't tiring enough, Adam took it upon himself and distiller, Maria, to devise around fourteen types of spirits. I tried their bourbon, rye, barrel-aged gin, absinthe, unaged rum and vodka.
The bourbon is 86 proof, distilled from a 70% corn, 20% rye and 10% malted barley mash and aged for one year in new charred American oak barrels. You would think the malted barley, not to mention the corn, would give it some delicious chocolatey sweetness. But I find the rye spiciness to still be prevalent in the nose. The palate is pickley tart, with some more rye spice coming though on the finish, with very minimal burn.
Next up is the rye. It's very straightforward, with 80% rye and 20% malted barley. It is 82 proof and aged for six months in new oak barrels. Upfront on the nose, I get a pleasant vanilla and melon. For only six months in the barrel it has substantial wood, grain and oak on the palate, with the slightest fruit finish.
Social Still makes a vodka distilled completely from corn that they mash and ferment on site. It gets distilled about eight times through the column still and charcoal filtered before bottling. I find it incredibly smooth and easy to drink, with no discernible flavor, in keeping with the vodka definition.
Social Still's barrel aged gin is quite interesting. It starts off as the vodka. On the last of several runs through the column still, the vapors pass through a basket of nine botanicals. Where most distilleries would be happy to leave that finished product as their sole gin, Adam has chosen used rye casks for this gin to rest in for four months. It gets bottled at 90 proof. The nose is an equal mix of juniper and wood. I would not go as far as Social Still's tasting notes on its website, which claims the spirit "[r]esembles a whiskey more than a gin." As long as there is detectible juniper in there -and there has to be, in order for a spirit to be classified as a gin- I would say the closest a gin could hope to resemble a whiskey is in color. (And I'll point out once again how odd it is, in the first place, to strive to craft a spirit that resembles another. Could you imagine a distiller trying to make a whiskey that resembles a gin and what that atrocity would taste like?)
This aged gin does take on some rye spice from its time in the barrel. But I'm not sure how nicely the citrus notes (since this is a "New World" style gin, it is heavy on citrus zest) plays with the grassy sharpness of rye. If you're a fan of sniffing Christmas potpourris while sipping your morning OJ, this may be the gin for you.
Absinthe retains a certain mystique, probably because it was illegal for so long. It was believed that one of the main ingredients, specifically wormwood, could cause hallucinations, insanity and a resulting life in ruins (or worse, becoming a perpetual Republican presidential candidate). Of course, this is the line on most drugs by lawmakers who have never tried them, regardless of party affiliation. In reality, wormwood's only crime is that its floral bitterness requires a whole heap load of anise to cover up. Add some more star players in there -like fennel, hyssop, angelica and others- and you have absinthe's drunken party in the herb garden.
Social Still's absinthe is at the relatively low proof of 90, for a spirit that usually hovers around 130. It sticks with tradition, however, with a bomb of perfume notes in the nose. It drinks very floral with hints of citrus. The bitterness of herbs follows up closely on the finish. Adam tells me he makes very little of the absinthe and he only uses it at the bar for mixed drinks. Why you would want to ruin a perfectly good drink with this kind of herbaceous supernova is beyond me.
Lastly, I try an unaged rum at 80 proof. It gets distilled from a 50/50 mix of Caribbean molasses and cane sugar. The nose is pleasantly sweet, like a dark candy, with just a hint of yeast. The palate too drinks like an earthy candy.
I'm impressed by both the range and inventiveness of Adam and his distillers. Even if the spirits don't always hit their intended mark, I know from my time spent with Adam that there will always be plenty of novel attempts in the works. After all, if this man can make a hundred year-old bank look like the spankingest-new bar on theVegas strip, he can turn this rusty corner of Bethlehem into a craft spirits destination, no sweat.
Reactions: Location: Bethlehem, PA, USA
Side Note on Misadventure Vodka; or, I fucking love these guys!
By SethJ March 25, 2017
First of all, let me just say: if you don't think what these three dudes are doing with unsold bread is stupid amazing, something is seriously wrong with you.
Allow me to set the scene: tiny manufacturing space in the middle of nowhere North San Diego Country aka San Marcos. Purpose of my visit is to check out The California Spirits Company. I step immediately onto a production floor where Casey the proprietor is behind the wheel of a fork lift (Raising a barrel drum on a palette to about twenty feet in the air, because "gravity works just as well as a pump." I can't tell if he's kidding). This place is so small, the five other people in there make it seem jam-packed.
Casey jumps down and introduces himself. Only a few words are exchanged -why I'm there, where I had come from, Casey basically making sure I'm not a spy out to steal his potions- before he's back work. Casey not only distills his own rum and (excellent) liqueurs, but he also rents his f…
Milk Street Distillery, or Two Brothers Making Rum in a Barn
By SethJ April 30, 2017
You can tell right away that Gordon and Mike, of Milk Street Distillery in Branchville, NJ, are brothers. It's not so much in how they look as how they flip each other off when I ask them to pose for a picture. (Thankfully, they strike a hands-in-pockets pose soon after). Even if they weren't related, these guys would have to love each other, for the amount of time they spend together.
Before deciding to devote their lives to making delicious spirits, the two were contractors for twenty-three years. The slowdown in housing construction, and a single article about a change to New Jersey's craft spirits laws, sent them on their journey. A quick restoration of a nineteenth century barn later, Milk Street Distillery is now the life of Branchville.
I show up 10am on a Tuesday, when things are a bit sleepier. The drive out to Branchville takes me through scenic forests, valleys and farmland. I don't have to stop and read the historic markers dotting the highway to know th…
John Granata Jumped Out of the Sopranos and Straight into Jersey Spirits Distillery
John Granata of Jersey Spirits Distillery, in Fairfield, NJ, is a very likable man. As one talks with him, you get a sense of familiarity. Then it will dawn on you: oh yeah, he's in that episode of The Sopranos, where Christopher cuts in line at the bakery or the fried chicken joint or wherever. John was Pissed Off Customer #5. Ok, maybe not literally, but John is that type of Jersey every-guy you see at pizza parlors up and down the Garden State Parkway - just waitin' on his slice of cheese!
What I like about John so much is not just his openness -about himself, his business, about making booze- but his patience with my novice questions. In fact, there are several points during my visit where he'll pause mid-sentence and rewind to an earlier point in the conversation, worried he didn't explain it adequately the first time. You have to love that.
John tells me about his varied background, which touches on TV production, home-brewing and learning from his dad, a chemis…
Who knew you had to go to Upstate New York to find some heat?
Ballston Spa, NY is a tiny, though apparently up-and-coming, town that has a strange association for me. I visited here unwittingly about sixteen years ago, when my car broke down on the Thruway. I was on a road trip from DC to Montreal, in a time before cell phones. After standing on the side of the highway for a couple minutes, the steam still rising from the car's radiator, a state trooper pulled over and radioed us a tow. The closest town happened to be Ballston Spa. It was also the Friday of Easter Weekend. The tow truck dropped me, my friend and my car in front of an autobody shop that wouldn't open for another fort- four hours. We got to know the not-ironically retro motel and Chinese take-out place very well that weekend.
I'm happy to report that my visit to Ballston Spa this time around is of my own choosing and much more eventful. I visit Jake Hewson at High Rock Distillery. He and his business partner, Peter, opened the distillery in 2014. They are fittingly, …
Balcones Distilling: Modern Technology Creating Old-School Flavor
It's going to be hard to focus this post, because Balcones Distilling, in Waco, TX, has a lot going on. Maybe it will be best to start with Zack Pilgrim, one of their masterful distillers.
I've used my brains this time and called ahead. That's how I find myself waiting in a lobby, chatting with Laurel the receptionist (and, as I will learn later, Zack's wife). She tells me she's been working there six months. I should have suspected something right away, because she seems to know a lot of the distillery's innermost workings for having been there a relatively short time.
Zack arrives through a double door to the side, in all his bearded glory. If you look at pictures of other Balcones employees, you will conclude that a beard that normally would qualify a dude for lumberjack status in the real-world, is mere training fluff here. I'd say Zack, on the day I meet him, is somewhere in between.
I'm excited that Zack seems excited to show me around. There ar…
I went to a hoedown and a distillery broke out
Only by chance did I pick the perfect day and time to visit Rebecca Creek Distillery in San Antonio, TX. You wouldn't think Wednesday around 11am would be a particularly exciting time. But on this day, the country duo Smithfield are performing, promoting a reality show they're in the process of filming. There's also a camera crew for a syndicated network show called "Best Of." The show is about to name Rebecca Creek the best Texas craft distillery for 2017, so they are capturing footage. Local TV news and a country music station have joined in as well. Add a decent bbq food truck (I'm sorry I was surprised by how good they were) and a tasting bar run by lovely Helena, and you've got yourself a party.
Because this is a big event for Rebecca Creek, I get to meet quite a few of their folk.
At the top of the totem pole there's founder Steve Ison. He tells me how once he conceived the idea of Rebecca Creek, he knew he would need the business acumen of fr…
Kristofer Kwant puts thought into everything at Triple Sun Spirits
Let me start at the end: I leaveTriple Sun Spiritsin Emmaus, PA mentally exhausted. It's been a very rewarding hour and a half getting schooled by owner-distiller Kris Kwant. This man is meticulous in everything, and our conversation weaves across numerous topics: Pennsylvania's excise tax laws, how a spirit's coloring will effect its hydrometer readings and tons of molecular chemistry as it relates to flavoring and alcohol.
Looks are deceiving and we -yes, I'm including all of us- unfortunately try to do our best with the most superficial of information. For instance, I show up at the Triple Sun facility and think "here's a hobby distiller renting out the back of a brewery, for his experiments and whatnot." Wrong. Well, Kris isn't even there when I arrive. The doors are unlocked because some folks are in the attached, though unrelated, brewery, so I make myself at home at the bar on the distillery side.
It's a spartan space. Or maybe the room is t…
What do you get with a chemist who loves to drink? Alamo Premium Distillery
I park where my genius phone tells me Alamo Premium Distillery should be, but I'm sure I have the wrong place. All I see is this young man out in the parking lot, chopping wood. Keep in mind, I'm not out in the sticks somewhere. This is a shout from San Antonio International Airport. Hell, I see planes landing at the end of the street.
"Hi, I'm Patrick," he comes over with outstretched hand, once he looks up and has spotted me. Patrick is twenty-four and an apprentice for Noel, the owner, who I soon meet once we head inside.
I don't say this as a knock against Alamo Premium Distillery, just setting the context: it is housed in a garage not meant for visitors. I squeeze my way through loaded up pallets. A woman sits at a table off to the side, sticking these little test tube-looking bottles into parcels. Noel explains that a couple of businesses are run from the distillery, including a spirits of the month club. I think that's a great idea and want to sig…
Hill Country Distillers: They're doing WHAT with cacti?
Hill Country Distillers' cactus-based spirits have a lot going for them, just don't call it Moonshine!
This directive, delivered to me as soon as I meet Cayce Kovacs, co-owner along with her husband John, is confusing because "Moonshine" is slapped across all of their labels. John will explain all when we sit down for a cocktail at the end of the day, on the lovely grounds at the distillery in Comfort, TX.
For now, I'm handed off to Sean, their part-time bartender and tour guide. You couldn't ask for a better brand representative than him. That's because Sean has been around since the beginning of Hill Country Distillers. He is the son of distiller James, and went to a "moonshine school" in Kentucky with Kaycee and John before the distillery opened. He has been known to lend his two cents when the spirits need a skillful nudge.
Since John will be leading a tour in a little bit, Sean sets me up for a tasting at the front bar.
The prickly pear spi…
SethJ
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tv DW News - News Deutsche Welle April 24, 2018 1:00pm-1:16pm CEST
this is the tell the news coming to you live from berlin toronto police questioning the suspect in monday's deadly gun attack ten people were killed after a twenty five year old man drew brees vehicle into pedestrians on a busy street the motive is not clear but the kaji says they have found no links to terrorist groups so far also coming out helping the victims of war torn syria as the conflict enters its eighth year an international fundraising drive kicks off in brussels today but can it make any difference. and present donald trump whosis
past ever state visit of french president in london mccrone feels french people in washington will be expecting the two leaders of wrong to vote. hello and welcome i wanted to achieve. a man who plowed a van into pedestrians in toronto canada is due to appear in court later on tuesday ten people were killed in a busy street in the city center at least sixteen others were injured the suspect fled the scene but was arrested a short while later after a standoff with police to run to police are earning praise for their restraint and professionalism in not firing a shot. stood next to a battered rental van and appearing to point a weapon and the suspects in the terrans have attack place closed in on him within
half an hour of the incident this tense exchange was captured by a possible by. the officer was praised for his bravery and for not shooting when others might have pulled the trigger now police will be able to question the suspect named as twenty five year old alec massey an authority say his act was deliberate but his motive unclear they sought to play down terrorism links on the basis of all of the lobel information at the present time there would appear to be no national security connection to this particular incident but the attack happened just after lunchtime in toronto with many people out enjoying some afternoon sun police said the van was used to plow along a two kilometer stretch of sidewalk with no calf or who or watch was targeted it.
just went on the sidewalk you just started dating everybody man here every single person on the sidewalk anybody in israel you would hit the bus stop everything i shouted there's a lady in there that i saw i just stopped and i looked annoyed when after to general this is crumbling up one by one one by one within hours of the attack a vigil was held near the scene people here are struggling to make sense of the seemingly sense unless. they have happened it's happening in tron a very safe and peaceful place and that's why i was struck but yet again a vehicle has been weaponized in the crudest and most indiscriminate way selling panic on a city street to run tell you the latest to be added to a tragic list. the me let me now bring you up to date with some other stories making news around the was convicted war criminal. is back in court today for an
appeal hearing against his multiple convictions for genocide and other atrocities the former bosnian serb leader has insisted his forces acted in self defense he's asking that his forty year prison term be overturned by the u.n. war crimes tribunals. and the baby then guessing game is on royal watchers are placing their bets on what the duchess of cambridge and her husband prince william we named their new baby boy all of her and james on leading the bookmakers favorites the new prince is fifth in the line to the throne. to the conflict in syria now on its in its eighth to stick in a heavy toll on the people of the country and although it's difficult to get exact numbers the london based syrian observatory for human rights estimates more than half a million civilians rebels and government soldiers have been killed since the start
of the conflict around nineteen thousand of those killed were children as is often the case in war zones it's the youngest who pay the highest price more than eleven million syrians have been forced to flee their homes just over six million internally displaced within syria and five and a half million have sought refuge in other countries the finding ways to help these people is the task of a donor conference that's just opened in brussels the european union and the united nations are co-hosting the event they are hoping to improve on last year's pledge of five and a half billion euros tensions have escalated after a suspected chemical weapons attack in duma earlier this month western states blamed damascus and responded with air strikes syria denies the attack took place and claims the incident was staged the e.u. estimates some thirteen million people are in desperate need of aid. yes says a recent director for the middle east. is a decision doing
a conference in brussels i asked him what is expected of the meeting ah well the conference today we have mainly representatives of the syrian civil society discussing their perspective what the situation is inside syria but also in the neighboring countries where millions of syrians have found refuge to morrow it's up to the political leaders so five countries looking on how the international community will continue being generous in order to support those millions of syrians who are suffering from more perspective very clearly the seventy years of war in syria is a war on children today over eight million syrian children are suffering have
a lack of access to health the lack of access to nutritious food even drinking water is a problem for them they have talked about political leaders that the aims of this conference is to give momentum to peace efforts the u.n. sponsored peace efforts on syria how hopeful are you that this something will come of this. well i asked quite often this question then my answer to that is twofold if i look how political leaders inside syria how political leaders with influence over the fighting forces forces are behaving and nowadays i am not very hopeful however when i talk to syrian children who have suffered tremendously. when i talk to them i'm extremely hopeful and therefore from a unicef perspective once again a strong belief to the fighting forces that any one given through one's put
children at the center of your negotiations and then that is a future that is a bright future for syria right a good cover for unicef's a recent director for the middle east thank you very much for talking to from brussels thank you. the french president on a micro is in washington for talks with president donald trump this is the first time president trump is hosting hosting a foreign leader as an official state visit and he's pulled out the stops for a lavish welcome both leaders have shaken up the political systems in their countries and withdrawal has become trying to close this contact in europe but tough topics on the agenda put that relationship to the test. so what are the key issues up for discussion cruel and other european leaders urging trump to stay in the two thousand and fifteen iran nuclear agreement which trump has scored one. iran has threatened to restart its nuclear program should trump. there's also the
pressing issue of trade not trying to announce hefty tout of imported steel and aluminum an exemption for europe is set to expire next week macross says the levees could spark a trade war the war in syria is another divisive issue not trump as hinted at pulling out u.s. troops out of the country but mccall says washington is a key ally in fighting terrorism the need to underscore is fun and clear richardson is in washington she asked a friend residence there what they want from his meeting with have a listen. washington d.c. turns to kinds of red white and blue when the president of france comes to town donald trump is hosting his first state visit pulling out all the stops for his french counterpart. their relationship has been called everything from a bromance to a marriage of convenience but no matter which way you look at it french president emanuel micron and u.s. president donald trump seem like an unlikely pair one is
a young globalist the other a seventy one year old with nationalist instincts so how did the to form such a close personal relationship. some experts say it comes down to their common backgrounds in business and as outsiders so it's paradoxical that they get along so well given how different they are on the surface but at the same time they. self-made political men you know that come from outside the establishment that were elected when nobody expected that and you know they really shared this experience but how did the french feel about having a president who has been called the trump whisperer. these d.c. locals want to see them work to get there. i think it's a presenter as for him for the u.s. and for everybody to get something out of the really really feel have to bend over a little bit president trump knows that france is going to be you. know we've the u.s. and europe in general and i think prism. what else did they expect to see from
trump during the two leaders rendezvous in d.c. . probably to. get my current award is well it's not easy to to have those so we'll see if we get fireworks or if we get another cherry blossom. we'll have to wait and see whether his charm offensive can reap rewards. so talk about this visit to have with me a friendship welcome look let's analyze some of the issues at stake that first afford lot of pomp and political pageantry on this state visit explains macross special relationship with the president donald trump. on your microphone try basically to take the empty seats of the special relationship between europe and country in the u.s. donald trump and the reason may not good starts state visits for the notrump in the
u.k. is on hold germany was not the favorite leader you're a leader for the trumps so when you're at home try to take this empty space and to reverse the privilege contact mr obama had resigned america to what paris ok so you're saying he's filling in a vacuum with the special relationship is concerned despite all this choreography that the a scene and all of these kind of atmospherics and good atmospherics and boom what they have a serious issues which divides the two leaders how do you see that shaping up that's their one billion dollar question indeed they are very clear the opposite views on you. like global warming or trades or iran and it's up to my trying to and also reproduced you show donald trump there is no american interest to be part of the game and not to step aside and how does success what do you think you blitz take say a lot of the issues in iran which donald trump would like to scrap the deal
described. evah how do you see how effectively mccombe in getting him to change his mind and that the staff is not very optimistic on this issue to say we are here to deliver messages we don't broker a deal or new agreements but maybe they have been some confidence building measures with the strikes in syria through out you show them from the cain do something together on the global stage and so maybe they will. try to arguments to argue we can do it together but not from sade's to resist voters will tear down these agreements so it's quite a difficult issue and what about trade is that also as difficult an issue because the deadline is the first of may on create out of sun europe in steel and aluminum do you think mccall will be able to get donald trump to give vevo as that you would like on these metals maybe that's the question is at what cost donald from.
european countries raise the military expenses and a lot of scholars say say the links and so the european can maybe put more money into military to please do not trump but some say are both they don't want or you pronounce you only money in the military but buying u.s. equipment so that's maybe the cost of an agreement on trade in washington that mcroy is described as a trump with spit out let's see what comes out of this meeting look i'm to thank you very much feel analysis. he was in need of news still to come bungle this she gone would make us still working at their own peril five yards off the deadly collapse of the drawn out glass on garment factory many workers in bangladesh says they've been abandoned this and more coming up shortly. and don't forget you can always get didn't use it on the go just download the app from google all from the apple store that will give you access to all the latest news from around the world
as well as push justification for any breaking news you can also use the do after some disposal to use them videos which are by you which you think might be of interest to us. to stay with us now because crystal is coming up with you and he has all your business news shortly. that's essentially shed some light. on the truly. stunning time in the field. how can you get out. with code always serious. shipped this week on d w. philosopher and pop star do you come to spar just calling mark's on account.
DW News - News
Deutsche Welle April 24, 2018 1:00pm-1:16pm CEST
Captioning provided by Automated Speech Recognition, not the broadcaster
Syria 11, Donald Trump 8, Washington 6, U.s. 6, Europe 4, Brussels 4, Iran 4, Trump 3, Mccall 2, U.n. 2, London 2, Unicef 2, French 2, France 2, Middle East 2, James 1, Kaji 1, Mark 1, William 1, Trump Whisperer 1
Channel Channel 85
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Undoubtedly, Ron Jeremy is an archetype for discernibly decadent and superlatively sleazy porn star swine, with virtually his entire reputation riding on the fact that he is a fat swarthy slob who gets to fuck quasi-hot chicks, which is something of a dream that the majority of American males dream as lard asses themselves. Of course, while always a repugnant pig with a less than handsome appearance, Jeremy was not always a chunky turd who resembled a sort of slimy and scuzzy Super Mario, with his against-type role as a bourgeois psychiatrist in the cult blue movie Scoundrels (1982) directed by ‘great’ auteur-pornographer Cecil Howard (Snake Eyes, The Last X-rated Movie) and written by the director’s longtime collaborator Anne Wolff (Foxtrot, Firestorm). Carefully crafted by the man responsible for the phantasmagoric surrealist porn masterpiece Neon Nights (1981), Scoundrels is certainly a cream of the cum crop work in terms of both a porn work and a Cecil Howard flick as a dark yet sardonic botched celluloid wet dream marinated in internal misery, middle class misanthropy, and hatred, albeit executed in a rather humorous, if not unintentionally, fashion that laughs in the face of intricate extramarital affairs and ruined upper-middle class lives. A playfully perverse psychosexual psychodrama that seems like it was specially tailored for the most wayward of quack psychoanalysts, Scoundrels tells the semi-surreal tale of psychiatrist who finds himself dually cuckolded by both his wife, who is carrying on an affair with his best friend, and his degenerate daughter, who is screwing said best friend’s nephew and has just started a curious career as a high-class call girl. The very first film to win both ‘Best Film’ and ‘Best Director’ at the very first AVN Awards in 1984, Scoundrels is best appreciated today as a whacked-out pseudo-artistic cult film with both intentional and unintentional frolicsome humor and a strikingly mean-spirited ending that is bound to ruin any porn addict’s orgasm. Indeed, featuring Ron Jeremy being fingered in the kosher cornhole by a high-class call girl and Robert ‘Cannibal Holocaust’ Kerman defiling an underage gal that reminds him of his daughter, Scoundrels is an unhinged Freudian nightmare starring a cast of sicko Semites that seem like archetypical perverted Hebrews taken out of National Socialist propagandist Julius Streicher’s naughty Nazi tabloid Der Stürmer.
Beginning with a surreal dream-sequence of psychotherapist Simon (Ron Jeremy) wearing white pancake makeup as a French mime who stares blankly next to his equally mannequin-like wife Linda (Lisa Be) and daughter Francie (Tigr), Scoundrels immediately establishes a feeling of foreboding unease in the viewer. Indeed, Simon is a successful doctor with a prosperous family that lives in relative comfort, but he is also on the verge of suffering a midlife crisis, which is only further compounded by the fact that he believes his old lady Linda is carrying on a lurid love affair with his best friend Harper (George Payne), not to mention the fact that his little girl Francie has become a little whore who, while pretending to study for exams, is having bisexual orgies with her equally debauched friends Cheryl (Marilyn Gee aka Marissa Constantine) and Jack (Sean Elliot). On top of that, Jack is Harper’s nephew and like his equally swarthy uncle, he is also carrying on an affair with Simon’s wanton wife Linda. While rather disconcerted and depressed about the fact that his wife is probably cheating on him, Simon is carrying on an affair with his secretary Vivian (Copper Penny), but Harper also manages to get in her panties as well after the psychiatrist become increasingly impotent and withdrawn. Of course, the most degenerate sexual deviants of Scoundrels are Simon’s patients, especially a sleazy photographer named Mr. Wallace (Robert Kerman aka ‘R. Bolla’) who managed to deflower an underage teen bimbo named Emerald (Tiffany Clark) during a less than fruitful photo shoot. While proclaiming how he feels guilty about popping the cherry of a teen that was “so innocent,” Wallace reveals the true nature of his mind when he confesses to Simon, “Geez Doc, I feel awfully guilty,” yet proceeds to laugh in a sinister fashion that puts to shame the eponymous race defiler of Veit Harlan’s infamous National Socialist melodrama Jew Süss (1940). Undoubtedly, Simon’s most depraved patient is a bisexual bitch named Mrs. Katz (Anna Turner), who attempts to seek revenge against her unloving businessman hubby (Ron Hudd) by seducing his secretary Mary Lou (Sharon Mitchell). To get his obsessive-compulsive mind over the fact that his best friend is screwing virtually every single important woman in his life, Simon routinely visits a convenience store to buy cigarettes from the hot store clerk ‘Rainbow’ (Ariel) and frequents a health club with a built-in whorehouse where he patrons a less than pretty prostitute named ‘Kitten’ (Tammy Lamb). Meanwhile, daughter Francie becomes a prostitute at the same bordello that her father frequents and sexually services a marine in the service named Frank (David Ambrose) who, after having his man-cherry popped, declares to his bought-lover, “I’d like my $50 dollars back now. It’s just not right! I’d like to marry you. I don’t want anyone else touching you.” Presumably the result of his progressive emasculation, Simon rather enjoys it when Kitten penetrates his rectum with her rubber-glove-adorned fingers. In the end, Simon seems to have the last laugh when he throws a pie in the face of a prying cop, but fate ultimately has the last laugh as the psychiatrist and his new teen lover Rainbow, who was hiding in the backseat of the car when the police officer pulled him over, get in a disastrous car wreck, with the viewer never knowing whether the doctor and/or teen dream were found DOA. Either way, Scoundrels is certainly a porn flick that concludes with an explosive climax.
Personally, I cannot fathom how or why a porn flick like Scoundrels ever got made because, aside from not featuring a single character that rises above the level of being average-looking (indeed, most of the ‘performers’ are downright homely, if not repulsive), Scoundrels features an innately nihilistic storyline with an innately unhappy ending that must have let down a large amount of lumpenproles who were expecting a movie they could jerk off too while seeing it in theaters when it was first released in the early-1980s. Indeed, many of the performers featured in the film were no less degenerate in real-life, as lady-lickers Sharon Mitchell and Tigr’s heroin-fueled lesbian relationship would later be depicted in all of its unlovely glory in the documentary Kamikaze Hearts (1986). As one reviewer noted regarding the film, Scoundrels has Bergman-esque pretensions in its downright strange attempt to mix sullen melodrama with what is ultimately anti-erotic pornography. Of course, Scoundrels stands out more nowadays due to its aesthetic and thematic idiosyncrasy as opposed to its ostensible arthouse cred. Not surprisingly, it seems that star Ron Jeremy had no clue about what sort of blue movie he starred in as he would compare Scoundrel director Cecil Howard to Hollywood hack James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar) in a somewhat recent interview with hotmovies.com, as if being compared to a soulless non-auteur who makes bombastic blockbusters is a good thing. Of course, Jeremy did know enough to realize that Howard was more than just your average talentless pornographer, stating of Scoundrels, “It’s great. Abstract, esoteric, avant-garde. Scoundrels is really a very, very classy, well-made movie. Everything Cecil Howard ever did was classy.” Indeed, I never thought I would ever torture myself by watching a film featuring Jeremy, but when I discovered Scoundrels, I would not allow my innate revulsion for the porn star to stop me from watching what is indubitably one of the greatest and most singular, if not unintentionally eccentric and exceedingly anti-erotic, porn flicks ever made. For anyone that ever wondered what Woody Allen’s life might have been like had he been a quasi-heterosexual psychiatrist as opposed to a patently perverted Bergman-wannabe with a flare for Judaic comedy, check out Scoundrels and wallow in the wild and crazy bourgeois life of a cuckolded Hebraic head-shrink.
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MYSTORY Summit kicks-off
Pōwhiri opens the MYSTORY Summit.
The MYSTORY Youth Summit kicked-off today at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Mangere. With a focus on the theme ‘Born to make an impact’, about 100 Pacific young people are taking part in conversations on issues that matter most to them.
The two-day programme was designed and delivered by young people.
The Summit is a platform for stories and personal narrative from young people and those in roles which support young people to mobilise the community to create positive change.
Here’s some of the first day action!
Te Whanau Heikura delivered a heart-warming pōwhiri
Welcome by Dr Teuila Percival ,who spoke about the importance of family, her passion for her job and the love for her kids
Vicky Baise, member of the MYSTORY Youth Advisory Group and the MYSTORY Internship programme spoke about being born and raised in Otara, and growing-up in the Samoa Assembly of God Church. Vicky is the 6th child of 12 children who graduated from Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in 2017 and she is currently studying at Manukau Institute of Technology with the hope of becoming a nurse
Introduction of the fabulous illustrators capturing key thoughts and quotes in a visual form
Jane Zintl, Chief Executive of Ara Taiohi told her story from the heart and spoke about the current landscape of Youth Workers in Aotearoa
Kelsey Brown and Peter Faoese from the Strategy, Rights and Advice team in the Children’s Commissioner branch wowed the audience with the research findings from the Child Wellbeing Project
Associate Minister of Education Hon. Jenny Salesa told her story about her immigration, family hardship and how she started from cleaning jobs to dish washing to pursuing her dreams, with encouraging messages to the youth and young people
MYSTORY World Café where participants had the opportunity to embed their story into policy using the MYSTORY framework
Children’s Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft related stories of children and young people, his work in the community and especially in South Auckland
Resharing of all four themes from the day on Education, Wellbeing, Culture and Employment.
Each block of sessions has its own unique themes. The themes helped participants understand the context of each session in relation to how stories lay the foundation for different areas such as creating a call to action, seeing experiences reflected in government policy and strategy in mobilising communities to create positive change.
MYSTORY is a youth curated Summit facilitated by SouthSeas Healthcare and sponsored by the Ministry of Education with support from the Ministry of Youth Development, Social Development and Office of the Children’s Commissioner.
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Home Gadgets Mobile Carphone Warehouse: Meet BlackBerry Priv and pre-order it
Carphone Warehouse: Meet BlackBerry Priv and pre-order it
BlackBerry Priv has been available for pre-order in the UK ahead of North America by Carphone Warehouse – a move that shows that the Canadian smartphone maker is banking on its loyal customer base in the UK.
Exclusively available through Carphone Warehouse the smartphone has been priced at £579.99 SIM-free or £49 per month if you don’t mind binding yourself to a contract for 24 months. Though the price of the phone is on the higher end of the spectrum, it marks quite a few firsts – first Android smartphone from the BlackBerry; the first Android smartphone from a big brand with QWERTY keypad; and the first Android smartphone to pack BlackBerry’s DTEK. The £49 per month contract for 24 months gets you the handset and unlimited texts and minutes and 2GB of monthly 4G data.
The pre-order page on Carphone Warehouse also reveals almost all specifications of the Android smartphone. Featuring a 5.4-inch ‘dual curved’ Quad HD display, the BlackBerry Priv is has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chip under the hood alongside 3GB RAM, a powerful 3,140mAh battery, 32GB internal storage and an 18-megapixel Schneider-Kreuznach certified camera.
While the smartphone runs Android, BlackBerry reveals that the phone comes preloaded with its enhanced security and privacy suite dubbed DTEK.
BlackBerry Leap UK SIM-Free Smartphone
BlackBerry Priv could be the last handset from Canadian company
BlackBerry may fold as far as smartphone business is concerned company’s CEO, John Chen, has hinted while giving an interview last week.
“Sometime next year we have to make our device business profitable, otherwise I have to rethink what I do there,” Chen said at the Code Mobile conference in California last week. “My job is to make sure the value of the company is protected and increases … Even if I’m not in the handset business, getting into providing security for Android lets us provide solutions via software.”
This is not the first time BlackBerry has revealed its intentions of abandoning its smartphone dreams. Last year Chen told Reuters that if the company can’t make money on handsets, it won’t remain in the handset business.
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Reverend started a thread Apple may have to abandon Lightning connector cable in Tech News
Apple could be forced to abandon its Lightning connector cable if European lawmakers get their way. The cable is used to charge and sync many...
Reverend started a thread Microsoft to Go 'Carbon Negative' by 2030 to Combat Climate Change in Tech News
Microsoft is tackling global warming by pledging to remove more carbon out of the air than it generates by 2030. The ambitious plan to go "carbon...
Reverend started a thread Facebook backs off plan to plaster ads all over WhatsApp in Tech News
Facebook is “backing away” from earlier plans to sell ads for placement inside its enormously popular WhatsApp messaging service. According to The...
Reverend started a thread Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool v5.79 in System Security
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool helps remove malicious software from computers running Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2,...
Reverend started a thread Slim Browser 12.0.0.0 in Alternative Browsers/Email
Slim Browser is a tabbed multiple-site browser. It incorporates a large collection of powerful features like built-in popup killer, skinned window...
Reverend started a thread AnyDVD HD 8.4.4.0 in Tech News
AnyDVD HD works in the background to automatically and transparently enable read access of the contents of a movie DVD or Blu-ray as soon as it's...
Reverend started a thread Mozilla Firefox 72.0.1 in Alternative Browsers/Email
Firefox is a free, open-source and cross-platform web browser. :download: English (US): Windows 32-bit | Windows 64-bit | Linux | Mac OS X ...
Reverend started a thread Mozilla Thunderbird 68.4.1 in Alternative Browsers/Email
Thunderbird is a free, open-source and cross-platform mail client. It is based on the Mozilla codebase. :download: Windows | Linux | Mac OS X ...
Reverend started a thread Mozilla says a new Firefox security bug is under active attack in Tech News
Mozilla has warned Firefox users to update their browser to the latest version after security researchers found a vulnerability that hackers were...
Reverend started a thread NVIDIA GeForce 441.87 WHQL Drivers in Drivers
This driver package supports GeForce 600, 700, 900, 1000, TITAN and RTX series GPUs. (64-bit) Discontinued Support: 32-bit Operating Systems -...
Reverend started a thread Freeview television goes down across Britain because of 'unusual weather' in Tech News
Thousands of people across the UK are unable to watch Freeview television because of high pressure weather conditions. Customers have taken to...
Reverend started a thread WhatsApp ends support for Windows Phone and older versions of Android and iOS in Tech News
WhatsApp runs on a huge range of operating systems, but even the ubiquitous messaging app doesn't think it's worth supporting Windows Phone any more....
Reverend started a thread Over 267 million Facebook users reportedly had data exposed online in Tech News
More than 267 million Facebook users allegedly had their user IDs, phone numbers and names exposed online, according to a report from Comparitech and...
Reverend started a thread Facebook is working on its own OS that could reduce its reliance on Android in Tech News
Facebook is developing its own operating system that could one day reduce the company’s reliance on Google’s Android, according to a new report by...
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Media Center wasn't the first with Changer Support
Nakamichi AKA NEC 7 Disc CD Changers
With all of this talk of 200 disc DVD/CD changers with Media Center Edition and DRM associated with modern media, I started thinking about CD ripping and why the original iPod was successful. It was a winner because it supported seven different audio formats. Sony allowed just one, their ATRAC. Apple opened up the gates and let you put many types of music within. Going forward, their iPod with Video is cool with H.264 movie support, but mine is primarily going to be a music device since I am frequently driving and don't need another distraction while on the road. Plus, it does take a while to get movies onto the thing. CD ripping is not only LEGAL, but relatively quick and easy.
Back in the early 2000 time frame, I used many PC's to simultaneously rip a handful of CDs to MP3 format, so the process didn't take long during evenings that I was home. Five years later, the new Sony X1 Media Center PC and associated VGP-XL1B 200 DVD/CD changer supports a Media Center plug-in to rip 200 CD's at a time, but at a cost of over $2200, it's an expensive proposition. Trying to do this on the cheap, I dug around my house and found some old SCSI NEC 2Xc 7 disc CD changers (just like the Nakamichi's) and went about finding software that supported them. Turns out that iTunes shows the two of them as 14 disc drives, and grabs the CDDB information associated with each disc, but doesn't allow you to rip sequentially.
The solution? Enter the Riptastic! MP3 CD Ripper with multi disc changer support. This thing will even sequentially rip between two single disc players in your PC if you don't have a changer! It grabs the CDDB information and rips along at 1.1x for my SCSI NEC's and faster with some of my other drives. The best thing about this solution is that I no longer have to babysit my computer. I just load up my discs then head about my business. You can pick your compression and bitrate and also the file naming convention. It will also encode simultaneously while ripping, but my 1GHz test machine could stand to be a bit more stout for the encoding process. Does anyone need a hundred or more discs ripped? My hardware is ready, but my music is already on hard drives...
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Books 563842942
Review: 'Edison,' by Edmund Morris
Nonfiction: Beginning at the end of his life and ending at the beginning, "Edison" is a structurally inventive biography.
By Amy Brady Special to the Star Tribune
November 1, 2019 — 7:44am
The late Edmund Morris, who wrote biographies of Ronald Reagan, Ludwig van Beethoven and Theodore Roosevelt — winning a Pulitzer Prize for the latter — approached his subjects with meticulous research and diamond-sharp prose. With his final, posthumous work, “Edison,” he successfully excavated once again a life-size figure from an outsized legend.
Just as a scientist begins with observed phenomena and works backward to explain it, Morris begins “Edison” at the end of the inventor’s life, concluding with the man in his 20s struggling to balance the demands of newfound celebrity with a need for solitude. This isn’t the first time Morris experimented with structure. He drew criticism by inserting himself as a fictional narrator in his biography of Reagan. But here the book’s unusual shape makes good plotting sense and builds anticipation: As Thomas Edison grows younger, readers grow closer to the moment he creates his most famous invention, the incandescent light bulb.
Morris portrays the months leading up to this moment with cinematic power, giving equal weight to the intriguing details of Edison’s experiments and to his emotional state as he emerged, at last, from an abyss of failures.
Edison is presented not only as a brilliant inventor but as an iconoclastic thinker who inspired the men who worked for him. Morris cites a speech given by an employee who at first resisted but then saw logic in Edison’s ideas about electricity, ideas that countered the prevailing thinking of the day: “How simple the result often is when the darkness of ignorance is lighted by the genius of one man.”
But “Edison” is not hagiography. On the contrary, he’s depicted as having had few friendships, two strained marriages, and estranged relationships with his three eldest children. He was closest, we learn, to his son Charles, who helped run his father’s conglomerate of enterprises, but even their relationship was marred by mistrust and irreconcilable business strategies. Edison, it seems, was terrible with money, nearly bankrupting his labs on more than one occasion.
Morris emphasizes the emotional toll the inventor’s volatility had on his family by quoting from wife Mina’s letters to her children. She often felt “utter uselessness” in her role as wife, abandoned by a husband who spent most nights in his laboratory. Excerpts from Edison’s journals suggest he was all but completely indifferent to her unhappiness: “Ask me nothing about women — I don’t understand them.”
Mariana Cook.
Edmund Morris
Here and throughout the book, Morris wields archival materials like an expert storyteller. Instead of weighing down the plot, they elevate it by setting scenes and shedding light on the interior lives of those who knew Edison best. Pages from Edison’s journals are reproduced throughout so we can see his handwriting — as well as his drawings. One particularly amusing highlight is his “Magritte-like” rendering of Mina as “an airborne clock.”
Exhaustive in scope but paced like a novel, “Edison” is a definitive biography by one of the finest practitioners of the craft.
Amy Brady is the editor-in-chief of the Chicago Review of Books.
By: Edmund Morris.
Publisher: Random House, 783 pages, $38.
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Larvae of zebra mussels found in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota DNR says
The Minnesota DNR added the Minnesota portion of the lake to the state's zebra mussel infested waters list.
By Pam Louwagie Star Tribune
November 8, 2019 — 10:36pm
Zebra mussel larvae have spread to one of Minnesota’s biggest, best-known walleye lakes.
The nearly million-acre Lake of the Woods, which straddles the Canadian border, had a “substantial” amount of the aquatic invasive species larvae in one of three sites where water was sampled, the state Department of Natural Resources announced Friday. The DNR has added Minnesota’s side of the lake to its list of waters infested by the mussels.
The news is a setback to anglers and others who regularly visit the giant lake on Minnesota’s Northwest Angle, but officials emphasized that no juvenile or adult mussels were found. They are hopeful that the lake’s natural features, including its low calcium levels and robust sturgeon population, will prevent the mussels from taking hold. “With so much traffic coming up to Lake of the Woods … certainly there was a chance those things could be spread,” said Joe Henry, executive director of the Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau. “We are hoping that ... [they] don’t make it to maturity.”
Zebra mussels have been spreading throughout the state and continent.
They can change a lake’s food supply as the tiny, sharp-shelled mollusks multiply, filter out nutrients and make the water more clear and less habitable to aquatic plants. They can cut swimmers’ feet, attach to boat motors and damage water pipes.
Listing Lake of the Woods as an infested body of water will mean tighter regulations on some activities such as harvesting bait and using lake water for other purposes.
Minnesota law requires boaters and anglers to clean and drain all water from boats and trailers and dump unwanted bait in the trash.
Since invasive species can be small and difficult to see, boaters are urged to spray their vessels with high-pressure water and rinse with very hot water or dry them for at least five days before moving to another waterway.
It’s not known how the mussel larvae got to the 70-mile-long Lake of the Woods, the sixth largest freshwater lake in — or partially in — the United States. In addition to being transported by people, invasive species can sometimes be introduced from a connected water or tributary.
At this point, Lake of the Woods’ population of walleye and sauger is “extremely healthy,” Henry said, and he and others say that walleye populations haven’t suffered greatly from zebra mussels in some other large lakes, including Lake Erie.
DNR officials said they will monitor the lake closely, hoping that its water chemistry and existing fish will help fight off a mussel invasion.
“There is information out there that says lakes that have low calcium, for example, may not have as severe or may not have as bad an infestation,” said Phil Talmage, the DNR’s Area Fisheries Supervisor in Baudette.
“Lake of the Woods has a very robust lake sturgeon population. There’s a chance they may prey on the zebra mussels. That’s been documented in other systems as well.”
Nick Painovich, longtime co-owner of the Zippel Bay Resort on the lake’s south shore, said he’s been talking to biologists, including his son, about the potential for zebra mussels in the lake that has been his livelihood for 40 years.
He and others hope that the mussels will find it difficult to attach themselves on the sediment-bottomed south shore.
If the lake’s brown water becomes more clear, he said, it may change how anglers approach fishing.
“I don’t think it’ll destroy our walleye fishery,” Painovich said. “We’ll see if it changes where we find fish and how we fish them, I guess.”
Pam Louwagie is a regional reporter and Duluth Bureau Chief for the Star Tribune. She previously covered courts and legal affairs and was on the newspaper's investigative team. She now writes frequently about a variety of topics in northeast Minnesota and around the state and region.
pam.louwagie@startribune.com 612-673-7102 pamlouwagie
Madison group starts weekend food bag program for students
Each Friday morning, people at Westminster Presbyterian Church take turns filling 50 green bags with food and juice boxes and bring them down the street to Thoreau Elementary School.
Minnesota DNR secures dumpsters for deer carcasses
How the zebra mussels scourge spread across Minnesota
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Agnete Hoy cup and saucer (mark)
Agnete Hoy cup and saucer
This item is not for sale, but you will
find many that are in our
Hoy, Agnete
Agnete Hoy (sometimes called Anita) was born in 1914. She studied at Copenhagen College of Arts and Crafts from 1933 to 1936. In 1939 she came to the United Kingdom for a holiday, but due to the outbreak of World War II, was unable to return. She remained in Britain until her death.
Much of her work was as a designer/potter for companies such as Bullers and Doulton.
Bullers
Bullers Ltd operated from 1937 to the mid-1950s near Hanley, Staffordshire.
They chiefly manufactured industrial pottery, but also decorative wares. Anne Potts, James Rushton and Agnete Hoy were among their designers.
You can buy this book on line
Experience Clay by Maureen Mackey
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The Higher Immorality
The Power Elite
by C.Wright Mills
Oxford Press, 1956
The higher immorality can neither be narrowed to the political sphere nor understood as primarily a matter of corrupt men in fundamentally sound institutions. Political corruption is one aspect of a more general immorality; the level of moral sensibility that now prevails is not merely a matter of corrupt men. The higher immorality is a systematic feature of the American elite; its general acceptance is an essential feature of the mass society.
Of course, there may be corrupt men in sound institutions, but when institutions are corrupting, many of the men who live and work in them are necessarily corrupted. In the corporate era, economic relations become impersonal-and the executive feels less personal responsibility. Within the corporate worlds of business, war-making and politics, the private conscience is attenuated-and the higher immorality is institutionalized. It is not merely a question of a corrupt administration in corporation, army, or state; it is a feature of the corporate rich, as a capitalist stratum, deeply intertwined with the politics of the military state.
There is still one old American value that has not markedly declined: the value of money and of the things money can buy-these, even in inflated times, seem as solid and enduring as stainless steel. 'I've been rich and I've been poor,' Sophie Tucker has said, 'and believe me, rich is best.' As many other values are weakened, the question for Americans becomes not Is there anything that money, used with intelligence, will not buy?' but, 'How many of the things that money will not buy are valued and desired more than what money will buy?' Money is the one unambiguous criterion of success, and such success is still the sovereign American value.
Whenever the standards of the moneyed life prevail, the man with money, no matter how he got it, will eventually be respected. A million dollars, it is said, covers a multitude of sins. It is not only that men want money; it is that their very standards are pecuniary. In a society in which the money-maker has had no serious rival for repute and honor, the word 'practical' comes to mean useful for private gain, and 'common sense,' the sense to get ahead financially. The pursuit of the moneyed life is the commanding value, in relation to which the influence of other values has declined, so men easily become morally ruthless in the pursuit of easy money and fast estate-building.
A great deal of corruption is simply a part of the old effort to get rich and then to become richer. But today the context in which the old drive must operate has changed. When both economic and political institutions were small and scattered-as in the simpler models of classical economics and Jeffersonian democracy-no man had it in his power to bestow or to receive great favors. But when political institutions and economic opportunities are at once concentrated and linked, then public office can be used for private gain.
Governmental agencies contain no more of the higher immorality than do business corporations. Political men can grant financial favors only when there are economic men ready and willing to take them. And economic men can seek political favors only when there are political agents who can bestow such favors. The publicity spotlight, of course, shines brighter upon the transactions of the men in government, for which there is good reason. Expectations being higher, publics are more easily disappointed by public officials. Businessmen are supposed to be out for themselves, and if they successfully skate on legally thin ice, Americans generally honor them for having gotten away with it. But in a civilization so thoroughly business-penetrated as America, the rules of business are carried over into government-especially when so many businessmen have gone into government. How many executives would really fight for a law requiring a careful and public accounting of all executive contracts and 'expense accounts'? High income taxes have resulted in a network of collusion between big firm and higher employee. There are many ingenious ways to cheat the spirit of the tax laws, as we have seen, and the standards of consumption of many high-priced men are determined more by complicated expense accounts than by simple take-home pay. Like prohibition, the laws of income taxes and the regulations of wartime exist without the support of firm business convention. It is merely illegal to cheat them, but it is smart to get away with it. Laws without supporting moral conventions invite crime, but much more importantly, they spur the growth of an expedient, amoral attitude.
A society that is in its higher circles and on its middle levels widely believed to be a network of smart rackets does not produce men with an inner moral sense; a society that is merely expedient does not produce men of conscience. A society that narrows the meaning of 'success' to the big money and in its terms condemns failure as the chief vice, raising money to the plane of absolute value, will produce the sharp operator and the shady deal. Blessed are the cynical, for only they have what it takes to succeed.
It is the proud claim of the higher circles in America that their members are entirely self-made. That is their self-image and their well-publicized myth. Popular proof of this is based on anecdotes its scholarly proof is supposed to rest upon statistical rituals whereby it is shown that varying proportions of the men at the top are sons of men of lower rank. We have already seen the proportions of given elite circles composed of the men who have risen. But what is more important than the proportions of the sons of wage workers among these higher circles is the criteria of admission to them, and the question of who applies these criteria. We cannot from upward mobility infer higher merit. Even if the rough figures that now generally hold were reversed, and 90 per cent of the elite were sons of wage workers-but the criteria of co-optation by the elite remained what they now are-we could not from that mobility necessarily infer merit. Only if the criteria of the top positions were meritorious, and only if they were self-applied, as in a purely entrepreneurial manner, could we smuggle merit into such statistics-from any statistics-of mobility. The idea that the self-made man is somehow 'good' and that the family-made man is not good makes moral sense only when the career is independent, when one is on one's own as an entrepreneur. It would also make sense in a strict bureaucracy where examinations control advancement. It makes little sense in the system of corporate co-optation.
There is, in psychological fact, no such thing as a self-made man. No man makes himself, least of all the members of the American elite. In a world of corporate hierarchies, men are selected by those above them in the hierarchy in accordance with whatever criteria they use. In connection with the corporations of America, we have seen the current criteria. Men shape themselves to fit them, and are thus made by the criteria, the social premiums that prevail. If there is no such thing as a self-made man, there is such a thing as a self-used man, and there are many such men among the American elite.
Under such conditions of success, there is no virtue in starting out poor and becoming rich. Only where the ways of becoming rich are such as to require virtue or to lead to virtue does personal enrichment imply virtue. In a system of co-optation from above, whether you began rich or poor seems less relevant in revealing what kind of man you are when you have arrived than in revealing the principles of those in charge of selecting the ones who succeed.
All this is sensed by enough people below the higher circles to lead to cynical views of the lack of connection between merit and mobility, between virtue and success. It is a sense of the immorality of accomplishment, and it is revealed in the prevalence of such views as: 'it's all just another racket,' and 'it's not what you know but who you know.' Considerable numbers of people now accept the immorality of accomplishment as a going fact
Moral distrust of the American elite-as well as the fact of organized irresponsibility-rests upon the higher immorality, but also upon vague feelings about the higher ignorance. Once upon a time in the United States, men of affairs were also men of sensibility: to a considerable extent the elite of power and the elite of culture coincided, and where they did not coincide they often overlapped as circles. Within the compass of a knowledgeable and effective public, knowledge and power were in effective touch; and more than that, this public decided much that was decided.
'Nothing is more revealing,' James Reston has written, 'than to read the debate in the House of Representatives in the Eighteen Thirties on Greece's fight with Turkey for independence and the Greek-Turkish debate in the Congress in 1947. The first is dignified and eloquent, the argument marching from principle through illustration to conclusion; the second is a dreary garble of debating points, full of irrelevancies and bad history. George Washington in 1783 relaxed with Voltaire's 'letters' and Locke's 'On Human Understanding'; Eisenhower read cowboy tales and detective stories. For such men as now typically arrive in the higher political, economic and military circles, the briefing and the memorandum seem to have pretty well replaced not only the serious book, but the newspaper as well. Given the immorality of accomplishment, this is perhaps as it must be, but what is somewhat disconcerting about it is that they are below the level on which they might feel a little bit ashamed of the uncultivated style of their relaxation and of their mental fare, and that no self-cultivated public is in a position by its reactions to educate them to such uneasiness.
By the middle of the twentieth century, the American elite have become an entirely different breed of men from those who could on any reasonable grounds be considered a cultural elite, or even for that matter cultivated men of sensibility. Knowledge and power are not truly united inside the ruling circles; and when men of knowledge do come in contact with the circles of powerful men, they come not as peers but as hired men. The elite of power, wealth, and celebrity do not have even a passing acquaintance with the elite of culture, knowledge and sensibility; they are not in touch with them-although the ostentatious fringes of the two worlds sometimes overlap in the world of the celebrity.
Most men are encouraged to assume that, in general, the most powerful and the wealthiest are also the most knowledgeable or, as they might say, 'the smartest.' Such ideas are propped up by many little slogans about those who 'teach because they can't do,' and about 'if you're so smart, why aren't you rich?' But all that such wisecracks mean is that those who use them assume that power and wealth are sovereign values for all men and especially for men 'who are smart.' They assume also that knowledge always pays off in such ways, or surely ought to, and that the test of genuine knowledge is just such pay-offs. The powerful and the wealthy must be the men of most knowledge, otherwise how could they be where they are? But to say that those who succeed to power must be 'smart,' is to say that power is knowledge. To say that those who succeed to wealth must be smart, is to say that wealth is knowledge.
The prevalence of such assumptions does reveal something that is true: that ordinary men, even today, are prone to explain and to justify power and wealth in terms of knowledge or ability. Such assumptions also reveal something of what has happened to the kind of experience that knowledge has come to be. Knowledge is t no longer widely felt as an ideal; it is seen as an instrument. In a society of power and wealth, knowledge is valued as an instrument of power and wealth, and also, of course, as an ornament in conversation.
The American elite is not composed of representative men whose conduct and character constitute models for American imitation and aspiration. There is no set of men with whom members of the mass public can rightfully and gladly identify. In this fundamental sense, America is indeed without leaders. Yet such is the nature of the mass public's morally cynical and politically unspecified distrust that it is readily drained off without real political effect. That this is so, after the men and events of the last thirty years, is further proof of the extreme difficulty of finding and of using in America today the political means of sanity for morally sane objectives.
America - a conservative country without any conservative ideology-appears now before the world a naked and arbitrary power, as, in the name of realism, its men of decision enforce their often crackpot definitions upon world reality. The second-rate mind is in command of the ponderously spoken platitude. In the liberal rhetoric, vagueness, and in the conservative mood, irrationality, are raised to principle. Public relations and the official secret, the trivializing campaign and the terrible fact clumsily accomplished, are replacing the reasoned debate of political ideas in the privately incorporated economy, the military ascendancy, and the political vacuum of modern America.
The men of the higher circles are not representative men; their high position is not a result of moral virtue; their fabulous success is not firmly connected with meritorious ability. Those who sit in the seats of the high and the mighty are selected and formed by the means of power, the sources of wealth, the mechanics of celebrity, which prevail in their society. They are not men selected and formed by a civil service that is linked with the world of knowledge and sensibility. They are not men shaped by nationally responsible parties that debate openly and clearly the issues this nation now so unintelligently confronts. They are not men held in responsible check by a plurality of voluntary associations which connect debating publics with the pinnacles of decision. Commanders of power unequaled in human history, they have succeeded within the American system of organized irresponsibility.
Power Elite
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The long and complex history of sangría
Sangría made with rosé, red wine and champagne. / R. C.
The name of this iconic Spanish drink actually comes from the British Antilles
ANA VEGA PÉREZ DE ARLUCEA | MALAGA
8 June 201812:37
If you thought that sangría, paella and the siesta after lunch were a Spanish invention, then think again. The “refreshing drink which combines wine and water with sugar and lemon and other complements”, as it is defined in the Real Academia Española (RAE), is British. Well, the name is anyway. And before you start tearing your hair out and cursing Perfidious Albion, take a deep breath, it's not as bad as it sounds.
The British sangría has been known about since 1987 when the philologist Francisco Marcos Álvarez, divulged to the Spanish Language History Congress (Cáceres) that the word sangría comes from 'sangaree', a drink enjoyed by the British residents of the British West Indies and some other North American colonies back in the seventeenth century. When British expats are demanding sangría on the terrace of a local bar they are unwittingly using an Anglicism.
Sangaree, back in 1694 on the island of Martinique, was made with “Madeira wine mixed in a jug with sugar, juice from a lemon, a little cinnamon and powdered clove, plenty of nutmeg and a crust of toast”. This drink was described by the Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Labat in his book 'Nouveau voyage aux isles de l'Amérique' (1722), who tasted the concoction on his trip to the British Antilles and declared that, once strained and chilled, it was delicious and refreshing.
This 'sangaree', made with wine from Madeira, Porto or the Canary Islands (sometimes also with rum), was a very popular drink in the colonies of Barbados, Bahamas and Virginia throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. From the English 'sangaree', Labat understood 'sang-gris', a term that passed via Chinese whispers to Spanish as 'grey blood' thanks to Esteban Terreros and his 'Diccionario castellano con las voces de ciencias y artes' (1788). He defined it as “a beverage that the English invented and is often drunk in the English and French colonies of America: the English say that it refreshes because it contains some lemon juice or citron [...] but that it goes quickly to the head proves that this drink contains a lot of spirit and a lot of fire”.
In 1803, the RAE would veto 'grey blood' and would choose to include a new meaning for the word sangría: “a drink that is composed of water, lemon and red wine”. This meaning stood for decades in Mexico and other Spanish-American countries, probably due to the Caribbean influence, but strangely in Spain, there is no previous mention to 1800, except for “sangrías de vino tinto” served at the Cadiz Carnival in 1770.
Is it that wine and lemon maybe didn't appeal to Spaniards? Of course it did, but until the beginning of the 19th century that mixture was known here as lemonade. Descendant of the medicinal and spicy wines of the Middle Ages, wine lemonade was one of the most popular drinks of the Golden Age.
Whether served as a soft drink or as a medicine, it was used to treat fever, vomiting and as an anticoagulant measure before bloodletting.
However by the mid-nineteenth century, Spain fervently adopted the term 'sangría' and the old 'lemonade' was abandoned.
'Lemonade' is still alive in Holy Week in León and lemonade txakoli is typical of Orozko (Vizcaya). The zurra or zurracapote are also similar drinks made with white or red wine, fruit and sugar.
In Menorca, the sengri menorquin, without a doubt comes from the English 'sangaree'. The British occupation of the island during the seventeenth century left, among other things, this hot drink made from red wine, sugar, orange, cinnamon, anise, nutmeg and bread, extraordinarily similar to that concoction that over 300 years ago Labat tried in sunny Martinique.
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Swami Narayan Tirtha's Siddhayoga & Tirtha Lineages
Siddhayoga Shaktipat Lineage
His Holiness 108 Sri Swami Gangadha Tirthaji Maharaj
His Holiness 108 Sri Swami Narayan Dev Tirthaji Maharaj
His Holiness 108 Sri Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirthaji Maharaj
His Holiness 1008 Sri Sri Srimat Swami Narayan Tirthaji Maharaj
Listed under Shankarachayra Lineage Sri Adi Shankaracharya
His Holiness Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Bharati Krishna Tirtha Maharaja
Shankaracharya Lineage
Adi Shankaracharya- and his four main disciples
Lord Narayana to Brahma to Vasishtha to Shakti to Parashara to Veda Vyasa to Shuka. (The lineages was passed on from father to son). From Shuka it was passed on from guru to shishya; this began the tradition of wandering monks. From Shuka to Patanjali to Gaudapada to Govinda to Chandra Sharma to Adi Shankara. Vyasa told Govinda of the advent of the incarnation of Shiva as Adi Shankara and to meet and give him sanyas diksha, Shankara's purpose in incarnating was to comment on the Brahma Sutras. Several birth dates are suggested, however, astrologically and historically it seems most likely that he was born in 509BC just after 12 noon, on the fifth day of the new Moon under the sign of Cancer (karkataka) in the month of Vaishaka in the last quarter of punarvasu naxatra. [reference: Sri Bhagavatpada Shankaracharya. By a. Kuppuswami. Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series, Varanasi, India, 1972].
Sri Shankara choose his birth where religion was properly observed, in Kerala at Kaldi. He received his sacred thread ceremony (upanayana) at age 5 and moved to his guru's ashram and commenced studying the Vedas with his guru. By age 8 he had mastered the Vedas and Shastras and thus returned home. During his absence his father had expired. Shankara thought, 'we have not come here to live in a household. We have come to serve the world.' Thus his mind was set on entering the life of a sanyas. However he needed his mother's blessings, and she was not of a mind to let her only child leave. as it happened one day while Shankara was bathing in the river a crocodile grabbed hold of his leg. He thought if I at least take mental sanyas now it is like taking another birth, then destiny may also change and spare his life. If not, he will achieve moksha. Shankara called out to his mother for her consent to become a sanyas. She had to agree at this point. as he vowed a life a sanyas the crocodile changed into the form of a celestial musician who was thus released from a curse placed on him. Shankara's life was spared and so, at the tender age of 8, went off to seek out his sanyas guru.
He met Govindapada (disciple of Gaudapada) and accepted sanyas with the instruction to move to the holy city of Kashi (Varanasi) and write the commentary to the Brahma Sutras, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita. By age 16 he completed this task. While Shankara was visiting the holy village of Uttarkashi in the Himalayas he was visited by Sage Veda Vyasa (author of the Vedas). Citing his completion of the commentary, Shankara asked to be allowed to be released from his body. However Vyasa said that Shankara still needed to teach the philosophy of advaita (nondulistic) vedanta and to travel the country. Religion was in decay at the time and people were worshiping idols and involved in black magic. For the next 16 years Shankara walked across India spreading the truth of advaita vedanta and re-establishing sanatana dharma (the eternal truth). His mission nearing an end, Shankaracharya set up four religious seats in the north, south, east and west of India to act as a lighthouse to guide religious seekers towards the truth for the millennia to come. at each seat he assigned a sanyas as its head. additionally, Shankaracharya set up 10 monastic orders.
1) Tirtha, 2) Ashrama, 3) Vana, 4) Aranya, 5) Giri, 6) Parvata, 7) Sagara, 8) Saraswati, 9) Bharati, 10) Puri
Shankara had four main disciples who carried on his work:
Padmapada- is perhaps best known for the time he was washing Shankara's clothes on one side of the river while Shankara was on the other side. Shankara called to him to come quickly. Padmapada instantly responded and walked across the water. as he did, lotus petals appeared below his feet and supported him crossing the river. So devoted to Shankara was he that his only thought was to obey his master and come attend to him. Thus he was known thereafter as Padmapada (lotus-footed).
Hastamalaka was brought to Shankara when he was a young boy. His parents told Shankara that the boy has never spoken a word. Shankara asked the boy who he was. Miraculously the boy answered, 'I am not the earth, ether, woman or man, I am pure consciousness.' amazed, the parents brought the boy home only to find he became dumb again. Shankara suggested the boy stay with him thereafter. Because the boy was able to explain deep philosophical truths as clear as an amalaki fruit in one's hand, he was named Hastamalaka.
Totakacharya is the essence of pure devotion, devoid of intellectual capacities. He never could understand the deep intellectual discourses Shankara conducted with the other disciples. Yet one day while washing his masters clothes in the river, Shankara would not begin the discussion until Totakacharya was present. The other disciples could not understand why as Totakacharya would not benefit from these talks anyway. Suddenly from the river bank they heard Totakacharya chanting self-composed poetry about his love for Shankara, reflecting the wisdom shared by the intellectual disciples. Self-realization is not only for the intellectual but for all devotees of God.
Vartikakara was a great intellectual of the time but his ideas were not strictly in accord with sanatana dharma that Shankara was re-establishing. a great debate was held between these two men that lasted for many days. Finally Shankara won the debate and Vartikakara became his disciple.
Completing his mission, Shankara traveled to Kedara a holy land of Shiva and left his mortal body at the age of 32.
[Reference: Adi Shankaracharya; His Life and Times. By His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Chandra Shekharendra Saraswati, Sri Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Pith. Bharitya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay, India, 1980] From here the lineage of Shankaracharyas was passed down until His Holiness Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Bharati Krishna Tirtha Maharaja"
His Holiness Sri Shankaracharya Jagadguru Bharati Krishna Tirtha Maharaj
The word Jagadguru means world teacher. It is given to those rare individuals who are asked to fill the seat of the Shankaracharya. His Holiness was the spiritual head of the Shankaracharya seat at Gobardhan Math in Puri , India. He was born into a highly learned and religious family in March of 1884. During his years as a student he won many awards and graduated with Ba and Ma at the top of his class. He was highly skilled in the subjects he studies; Sanskrit, public speaking, mathematics, philosophy, English, history and science.
Jagadguruji was was initiated into the holy order of Sanyas in Banaras (Varanasi), India by His Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Trivikrama Tirthaji Maharaj of Sharadapitha on 14 July 1919. after only two years he was installed as Shankaracharya of Sharadapitha in Dwaraka on 27 February 1921. Guruji was a strong proponent of dharma, and the balance of spiritual and worldly duties. Jagadguruji was equally learned in ayurveda and Jyotish astrology and Chandas Shastra. He was also an ardent speaker for the cause of Hindu-Muslim unity.
In 1925 the Shankaracharya of Puri became seriously ill. Jagadguruji was asked to take over as Shankaracharya of Puri. For the remainder of his life, over the next 35 years he presided in this capacity. He was also the founder-president of the World Reconstruction association (Vishwa Punarnirmana Sangha) in Nagpur India. The aim of this association was to propagate world peace and universal brotherhood.
In 1958 Sri Paramhansa Yogananda, founder of the Self-Realization Fellowship, brought Sri Jagadguruji to America. It was the first time in the 1,000 year-old monastic Shankaracharya history that a Shankaracharya visited america. His Holiness also had rare mathematical skills and shared the unique mathematical laws of nature that he discovered through sadhana and reAding the Vedas at many American universities. In april 1958 Newsweek Magazine reported on this historic visit. During His three-month visit to America He left his disciple, His Holiness Sri Srimat Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirthaji Maharaj to preside over the Shankaracharya seat.
Sri Jagadguruji was loved and respected by the religious leaders from all religions, by people of many nations, by the learned, rich and poor. Crowds gathered daily just to catch a glimpse of Him; the milk of human kindness flowed from His heart. On 2 February 1960 Jagadguruji attained mahasamadhi (shed his earthly body) at Mumbai.
His Holiness 1008 Sri Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirtha Maharaj
His Holiness was born in 1889 in the Vikramapar division of Dacca district which belonged to the Bengal province of undivided India. He was originally called Rohini Kumar Chattopadhaya. His father was a highly devoted orthodox brahmin. Even as a child he was drawn to the spiritual path of yoga; the path of love. after His student years, at age 18 He joined the freedom movement, but always found time to worship the great saint Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa in His heart. However meditation developed a building spiritual urge, and a lessening of interest in fighting.
One day while worshiping before a picture of Sri Ramakrishnaji He earnestly beseeched Ramakrishna's blessings to find a competent guru who would be friend, philosopher and spiritual guide on his path to achieve moksha, the ultimate destination of one's spiritual journey. Suddenly the figure of Ramakrishna transformed into a new ascetic whom He had never seen before. His desire to find a guru became so paramount that He was always in a state of agony and torment. One day a friend invited Him to a nearby village where, to his great astonishment, he saw the very ascetic from the picture.
The saint's name was Sri Narayan Dev Tirtha. The yogin also behaved as if they already knew each other. They spent the night in meditation with other followers and in no time, He was submerged in an ocean of spiritual ecstasy and inexplicable joy and happiness. He realized that he had found his guru. He spent the next eight years as a brahmachari. Expressing to Narayan Dev Tirtha His interest in becoming a Dundar Swami (traditional), He was sent to meet Jagadguruji, Sri Swami Bharati Krishna Tirtha Maharaja where he was initiated into sanyas (order of renunciates).
During Jagadguruji's visit to america He was asked to maintain the Shankaracharya seat. after a few years He chose a more monastic lifestyle and moved to Uttarkashi where the king (raja) of that area, appreciative of the help he received from Swamiji, built an ashram for him called Shankar Math. In this ashram Swamiji wrote Guru Bani: 100 Ways to Attain Peace. The only way to reach the ashram in those days was a seven-day walk from Rishikesh. Disciples asked that He open a more accessible ashram, so the Siddhayogashram in Varanasi was constructed. There He wrote Jap Sadhana (available in Hindi and Bengali) and Yoga Vani: Instructions for the Attainment of Siddhayoga (available in Bengali, Hindi and English). Later, His Holiness installed Swami Narayan Tirtha as the head of the Siddhayogashram. His Holiness Sri Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirthaji Maharaj left his mortal body in 1958 at Calcutta.
His Holiness Sri Sri Srimat 1008 Swami Narayan Tirtha Maharaj
Called Baba or Guruji by his disciples, Swami Narayan Tirtha first embarked upon His path of renunciation in 1939 (at the beginning of World War II). He left his home and headed directly to Puri where He met Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirtha. after spending five or six days there, they both came to Varanasi. He was initiated into sanyas in 1950. Later, Swami Narayan Tirtha was left in charge of the Siddhayogashram and Shankar Math by His guru, Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirtha.
Sri Swami Narayan Tirtha traveled widely on pilgrimage covering almost all the reputed religious places & temples. He was the great religious leader in Siddhayogashram, Varanasi & Shankar Math at Uttarkashi. Besides religious deliberation he carried out various social/educational duties to redress the distress of suffering humanity. One of the many rare qualities found in Guruji was that he was quite accessible - his door was open to all who required his darshan. Further, through the power of his silence only, he made great things be accomplished through his shishyas efforts – events that no ordinary person could achieve on their own.
In last decade of his life, Baba loved to spend most of the year in Shankar Math, Uttarkashi, leaving his disciple, Swami Atmananda Tirthaji to run Siddhayogashram. In 1988 Baba gave His blessings to one of his disciples, Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha to open an ashram in his name in America (Swami Narayan Tirtha Math).
Year of Mahasamadhi
On 2nd March, 2001 our master, Shri Shri Shrimat 1008 Guru Dev, Swami Narayan Tirtha Maharaj, took Mahasamadhi at His Siddhayogashram in Varanasi. He left Swami atmanandaji in charge of the ashrams in India.
His Holiness Sri Swami Atmananda Tirtha Maharaj
Swami Atmananda Tirtha
current head of the ashrams in India
He may be contacted at:
Siddhayogashram
D60/23 Choti Gaibi
Varanasi UP 221010; India
Shankar Math
Uttarkashi 249193; India
His Holiness Sri Swami Sadashiva Tirtha Maharaj
With his Guruji's blessings, Swamiji founded the Swami Narayan Tirtha Math in 1989 in the USA. Swamiji says the ashram is a state of consciousness, and since he travels and lives around the world, the ashram is where he is living at any given time.
Swamiji published two books by Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirtha, Yoga Vani: Instructions for the Attainment of Siddhayoga, and Guru Bani: 100 Ways to Attain Inner Peace.
Later, he wrote the popular Ayurveda Encyclopedia (25,000 copies in print), and a commentary on the Gita, Bhagavad Gita for Modern Times. Both are available in paperback and e-book formats (AE BGFMT).
In addition to his monastic life, Swamiji spent 30 years preserving, disseminating and teaching Ayurveda, Jyotish astrology, Vastu Shastra, and offering an Ayurveda Certification program. He earned a Doctor of Science in Ayurvedic Research. Swamiji has spoken about Ayurveda at the White House Commission on Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Policy, John Hopkins University, and various other universities. He is on the board of directors of Light on Ayurveda Journal published by Dartmouth College.
As the world began to shift towards the 2012 phenomenon, Swamiji was called to shift his ashram upstate NY and also travelled to the Amazon Rainforest where he was recognized as a shaman and a healer. Since then Swamiji has been developing energy healing methods to affect physical, emotional, and spiritual healing in a matter of minutes instead of days, weeks and months. He has realized his unique healing gift that he calls 'Heart Healing'. Additionally Swamiji is blending modern healing technology with inner energy healing and uses EEG brainwaves & Laser healings as well.
Swamiji currently is living part of the year in Tobago where he continues his meditations as well as develop spiritual ideas for the new Golden Age that has dawned in 2013. He has created numerous websites that are listed below.
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MB Roland Distillery is a ‘grain to glass’ distillery and a stop on Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour.
Round Table Readings and Literary Awards Ceremony
Celebrate literary achievements at the Round Table Readings and Literary Awards Ceremony! The annual event will be held in Hopkinsville Community College’s Round Table Literary Park at noon on Thursday, April 23, 2020. During the event, selected contributors to the journal will read from their work. Also, the 54th edition of The Round Table will be unveiled, along with the announcement of the 2020 Round Table Literary Awards and the Roger Selvidge Memorial Art Awards.
The Round Table is Hopkinsville Community College’s literary journal, founded upon the idea that all voices deserve representation. The literary journal was first published in 1966 by a retired HCC instructor and honor students.
Hopkinsville Community College
literary journal
Saturday with Scrooge – at Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library
Come on out to the Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library for Saturday with Scrooge! Mr. Scrooge will read a story at 2:00 pm and will be available for photos after. They’ll have crafts and activities appropriate for ages 5 and under.
Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library
Mr. Scrooge
Saturday with Scrooge
Native American Heritage Month at Trail of Tears Park and Heritage Center
Make your way over to the Trail of Tears Park and Heritage Center each Saturday in November to help celebrate National Native American Heritage Month! The Heritage Center will celebrate this historic month each Saturday at 12:00 noon with “Story Time Saturday”, a collection of children’s fables and stories as told by Kristina Scott, the center’s tour guide.
Kristina will be dressed in a Native American Tear Dress, much like a woman would wear back in the 1800’s. Guests are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to enjoy while hearing stories. And new this year–children’s crafts!
Be sure to also ask about supporting Volunteers for Cherokee Children, an organization that collects donations for Cherokee children of all ages who are in need.
Granny Tell Me a Story
Trail of Tears Commemorative Park
Trail of Tears Park and Heritage Center
Story Time with the Trail of Tears Commission
Kristina, the historian for the Trail of Tears Commission, will be the Library’s special guest for Story Time to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. She’ll be telling Cherokee stories and wearing traditional dress. After the stories, the kids will be making their own dance fans.
Torchlight Tales 2019 at Jeffers Bend
Join the community for an evening of crisp fall weather, tasteful cider, crackling bonfire and the chilling tale of the Bell Witch by everyone’s favorite storyteller William Turner. (Please bring own lawn chair.)
fall event
Jeffers Bend Environmental Center
Legend of the Bell Witch
Torchlight Tales
Our Town Hoptown: African American Voices – at Hopkinsville Community College
This program celebrates the influence of Ted Poston and the short stories he wrote about growing up here. Local voices will share their own childhood stories and experiences.
For more information on the Big Read Hopkinsville 2019, visit https://www.facebook.com/thebigreadhopkinsville .
Our Town Hoptown: African American Voices
Pennyroyal Arts Council
Ted Poston
The Big Read-Hopkinsville
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Home » Health » Physical Health » Health Threats » If Your Heart Drops Pick It Up and Brush It Off Then Maybe Tell the Transplant Patient
If Your Heart Drops Pick It Up and Brush It Off Then Maybe Tell the Transplant Patient
Join To Wack
It's one of those things that makes hearts drop: Donor organs don't come easy but one was pitched after a 280 mile trip to the hospital--via three vehicles. It wasn't air or ground transport responsible for dropping the organ slated for transplant. Two left feet were apparently involved, when a medic literally tripped to chuck a donor's heart streetside on pavement. The vital organ that hit the ground still made it into a hair stylist's chest. Maybe someone should tell her.
The young hair stylist who received the organ in what became a very successful heart transplant surgery, crazily enough, is unaware of the 'trip' involved with the organ. She's got a new heart that was literally dropped on pavement. Perhaps the docs don't want to upset their new patient too much at this point. They're leaving it up to family to tell her.
The organ was slated to go the distance: The donor heart was transported all the way from Guanajuato state to Mexico city, in a trip involving about 280 miles that included far more than a plane, train and automobile for transit. The heart got rapid transit via ambulance, plane -- and even a helicopter. And all went smoothly.
That is, until literally the final leg of the journey that actually involved legs -- and apparently two left feet on behalf of at least one medic. Similarly to the theory that car accidents tend to occur close to home, the heart took a leap -- from its cooler -- within steps of the medical facility holding the awaiting organ recipient. The dropped heart may not have made it into the news at all, had it all not been on video. Footage showed rushing medics trying to shove the heart back into the cooler before continuing onward.
Ironically, before the fiasco, Mexico City police had described the slated trip for organ delivery as a "rapid, precision maneuver." It may have been rapid but those last steps proved to be lacking some precision.
It all happened two weeks before the surgery -- and all is still well. After the heart hit the street, doctors in Mexico had confirmed the organ transplant had still been completed -- but added the docs or hospital wanted to wait, for any confirmation as to whether the operation had been deemed successful. It's an odd statement since lack of 'success' is rather obvious.
And if hospitals or physicians are typically responsible for clarifying any potential medical issues to their own patients, apparently that isn't the case in at least one Mexican facility: Mexico City patient Erika Hernandez isn't yet aware that at lease one medic, who encountered some agility issues, managed to toss her soon-to-be inserted, (and thankfully) plastic-wrapped heart on the ground. The organ somehow got pitched out of its cooler in transit, while two medics were responsible for its wheeling.
The 28-year-old heart recipient talked with the media briefly enough to express extreme gratitude for the organ, the woman needing a heart transplant after suffering from a life-threatening and congenital heart defect. Hernandez says: "I have no words to express what I'm feeling right now." She may have had at least a few words to express feelings had the heart -- received from a donor in a traffic accident fatality -- been a goner, all because of a medic misstep or two.
And -- considering the idea that doctors may not know exactly whether the organ could have experienced some unknown damage in the fall -- she may still have a few words.
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Why The Corner Booth?
Southeast Michigan Adult D-Community
Indy Adult D-Community
Fearing The Worst
I was beyond nervous.
Freaking out, scared in a way that I hadn't been in a long time.
The fear of possible diabetes complications, the kind you've been dreading all of your life, will do that to you.
In our office visit last week, he made a comment about not understanding an apparent blip in my blood work that he noticed. Maybe a sign of a potential complication, or something else going wrong. And then as I left his office and headed for more comprehensive follow-up labs, I noticed on the paperwork a medical term that I'd not seen before.
Being curious, I did the worst thing you could probably do in that situation -- looked it up on Google. And my brain exploded from there. My thought: Kidney failure. OMG... IT'S HAPPENING!!!!
And then all the horror stories ran through my mind, of worst case scenarios...
Luckily, a weekend email from my endo put most of my fear and frantic over-reacting to rest.
Aside from some protein in the urine, something I've had going back several years, nothing else appeared to be amiss with my complete urinalysis and blood work. What I was afraid of may have been a fluke in my bloodwork from earlier in the week, or a symptom of a lingering common cold... whatever the exact cause, it was gone for the time being.
In the words of my endo:
"All else appears fine."
And the fact that he emailed me over the weekend, responding to my somewhat-frantic email a day earlier, that's even more priceless and reason to smile.
Combined with the fact that an entire community of people offered support and well-wishes.... there's a lot to feel good about even in the face of not-so-good news. All I know to say to my wife, family, the Diabetes Online Community and endo is:
When it comes to diabetes complications, we can sometimes resort to unreasonable fits of panic. Especially when those feelings have been boiling for a while beneath the surface. We don't like talking about these feelings all the time, because they can be consuming and no matter how irrational it may be, you blame yourself even if there was nothing you could've done about it.
With my endo's calm reassurance, it seems I'm not heading down that road right now.
Some uneasiness still remains, because I'm not 100% golden. There's still a handful of issues to focus on as I improve my diabetes management and get back to a place that's confortable. One that health pros like to deem "compliant" and "controlled." We aren't there yet, but I'm doing my best.
And while there is still some worry about what's ahead, I at least am reassured for now that the worst hasn't yet arrived. It may never.
But even if that time comes, I see there's hope on the horizon no matter how dark it may seem when you're standing in the storm.
Posted by Mike Hoskins at 6:12 AM 10 comments:
This Isn't Shawshank
This one sucks. Sorry about that, but there's no way around it.
That's how diabetes works sometimes.
For me, it feels as if there's dark clouds overhead and tornadoes and thunder moving in, and there's just no way to avoid the storms -- not even by hiding inside those storm shelters of in-range blood sugars and community inspiration.
I'm caught up in the suckage of suspense, waiting for an answer that might help tell me what the fuck's going on, but dreading that answer as much as I'm anticipating it. So right now, I just need to get this out of my system with a little keyboard-fingertip tapping...
An endo visit where all seemed OK, except for the expected "keep on pluggin" message that was obvious before I even walked into the clinic that morning.
Nothing else out of the ordinary, except an off-hand comment about potential complications and an unfamiliar medical term written on the lab-work order.
Curiosity leads to the evil Dr. Google. A stupid move, but the only way to feel like I'm actually "doing something" when there's nothing else to do at the moment but wait. And even before the blood's sucked out of the fussy vein on top of my hand, it's already clear in my head that something's amiss. Self-defeating behavior, at it's best... or worse.
Panic, fear, dread. Self-blame, regret. Sobbing by myself in my car, before even leaving the hospital lab parking lot.
Everything erupts, flooding my brain. Thirty years of pent up emotion bubbles to the surface, boiling over and spilling everywhere. An emotional earthquake, fueling itself off its own tremors.
More regret, about what could have been. There was never any guarantee that this would happen, or that everything would be OK. But even now as these prison walls close in, there's no guarantee of what's ahead. Yet, the prison walls keep closing in.
I've become institutionalized to these prison walls of diabetes, and this world I've known since age 5 is now becoming unfamiliar, more scary, a maximum-security prison with solitary confinement instead of the county jail holding tank it seemed to feel like lately.
And my only reflex is to blame myself, to fear for the future in the present moment like never before, and just sob until my mind goes numb. And the conversation plays out in my head, a version of what a talented script-writer and actor once communicated so brilliantly to the masses:
But instead of Red to the prison committee guy, it's me talking to my endo about how I wish I could fire-up my flux-capacitor and travel back to when I was a teenager.
"Michael William Hoskins, your files say you've served 30 years of a life sentence. Do you feel you're compliant now?"
Compliant? Well, now let me see. You know, I don't have any idea what that means.
"Well, it means that you're ready to rejoin the ranks of controlled diabetes..."
I know what you think it means, Doc. To me, it's just a made up word. A politician's word, so endos like yourself can wear a white coat and tie, and have a job. What do you really want to know? Am I sorry for what I did?
"Well, are you?"
There's not a day goes by I don't feel regret. Not because I'm here with possible complications, or because you think I should. I look back on the way I was then: a young, stupid kid who committed that terrible crime (of diabetes apathy). Of not testing my blood sugar. Letting my A1Cs get into the teens. I want to talk to him. I want to try to talk some sense to him, tell him the way things are. But I can't. That kid's long gone, and this old man is all that's left. I gotta live with that. Compliant?! It's just a bullshit word. So you go on and stamp your form, Doc, and stop wasting my time. Because to tell you the truth, I don't give a shit."
Except I do give a shit, I am scared and it does matter. And it feels like there's nothing I can do about it, because I've been behind these glucose-saturated bars for 30 years and it's too late to take back those years.
Compliant? Hell, no. I haven't been, far too often during the past three decades. It's my fault, even if it isn't, and no matter what I do now it doesn't take back the past. Whether I'm "compliant" now or not, the possibility of scary complications makes it feel like these prison walls are closing in tight. And even with good behavior, there's no way out without taking a shiv to the gut.
This isn't Shawshank, and there is no redemption.
At least not now, until those lab results come in and the endo's office calls me back...
Posted by Mike Hoskins at 12:59 PM 35 comments:
Thirty Years Strong with Type 1 Diabetes: A Diaversary Tribute
My broken pancreas is now 30 years old.
Yep, this past week brought the official start of my third decade with type 1 diabetes, a diagnosis that came back in 1984 when I was five years old. To be honest, the specific date and month of diagnosis has been lost to time, but we know it was in March or April that year. And after a new insulin pump arrived on my doorstep a few years ago on March 10, I declared that date as my official diaversary day.
No, I don't exactly "celebrate" the day. Rather, it's just recognition that another year has passed, and I've been able to continue living as well as I can with type 1 -- the notion that at least for one more year, diabetes hasn't bested me. Or as my friend and fellow type 1 Kim Vlasnik likes to say: Diabetes Won't Stop Me.
Looking back, I'd have to guess that probably a good decade of my life with diabetes -- A FULL THIRD OF THAT TIME -- was probably spent in the regretfully scary vicinity of "completely batshit out-of-whack." Blame the "Why Bother?" attitude that hit in the middle of my three decades. But fortunately, through a variety of factors that include growing up, facing my own mortality, the support of my wife and family and Diabetes Community, things started changing about a decade ago...
And now, here I stand as a diabetes advocate (best I can), D-writer, and generally pretty happy person with a darn good life. Now THAT is something to celebrate!
This past weekend, I opted to mark my big 30-year diaversary with seven D-peeps here in the Indy area at the annual Beta Cell Bash -- and together we have 174 years of type 1 experience under our belts! The Bash is an annual fundraising event for the JDRF Indiana Cure Chasers bicycling team, and it's been a blast attending since it got restarted (after a few year's break) in 2012.
At one point, Michael (who was sporting his "Diabadass" T-shirt while serving as MC) announced that all type 1s in the house who were celebrating diaversaries should head up to the stage... and five us made our way up there.
Pictured above: Neal Hoffman, dx'd 20 years ago this month; Amy VanDeWielle, dx'd 26 years ago; Daniel Bartholomew dx'd 20 years ago on March 15; ME, 30 years ago; and Michael K. Schwab, 41 years ago this month. That photo includes 136 years of type 1 on stage, and we know there were at least two other PWDs present who added another 8 and 30 years to the total tally -- to hit that 174-year overall total!
It was a fun time, but one that also brought some reflection on my part, about how much I appreciate advances in D-Management and technology over the years, but just as important, how meaningful peer support has been in my life -- especially for the better part of the past decade with the Diabetes Online Community. It's been invaluable and life-changing, both personally and professionally, and my DOC family has been an incredible addition to the support from actual family, my "real-life" friends, and my "Type Awesome" girlfriend-turned-wife, and of course those who've been on my D-Care team of health pros.
Thanking My Original HCPs
First off, I thought I'd take a moment to thank three individuals who were there in the very beginning: my very first endocrinologists and educator. For blogging purposes, we'll just refer to them as Dr. Friendly, Nurse Kathy, and the unforgettable Dr. Strict.
Dr. Friendly: You were my first endo, who diagnosed me with type 1 way back in 1984. Since I was so young, I don't have many actual memories of my diagnosis like so many do. Except that it was quickly recognized thanks to my mom's longtime experience with type 1, and so after we saw the initial signs of extreme thirst and urination we headed right to the doctor. My mom tells me I only hit the 200s, so there wasn't any near-DKA experience like so many go through.
We came to see you at Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. Although the details are fuzzy, my mom and I both remember generally that you were very nice and really cared. Unlike other docs through the years, you were very good at dealing with kids and didn't try to treat them like little adults, meaning you didn't have expectations that I'd follow rules and routines like older patients might.
A few months ago, I found you on Facebook and it's been great to connect some online! It's almost like coming full circle. But now, I want to thank you publicly for being one of the people who helped me get to this point three decades later.
(Side note: I'm not the only DOC'er to come full circle in finding some of the original cast members of D-Care Teams of the past - both Kim V and Kelly Kunik have shared their stories of re-connecting, too!)
Nurse Kathy: You were the face of my Diabetes Care Team, the person that I always looked forward to seeing and working with when I came into the office. I understood that you were "overseeing" all aspects of my day-to-day D-management, and our family could reach out to you at any time. You wrote a touching letter for me about four years ago when I was applying (belatedly) for my 25-year recognition certificates from Lilly and Joslin, and I think that quoting that letter here would be the best way to illustrate how much impact you've had in my D-Life:
I have known Michael Hoskins since March of 1984, when he was diagnosed with insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes at the age of 5. I recall specifically that Michael was 5 when diagnosed, as that was the same age his mother had told me she herself was diagnosed with diabetes. I continued to work with both Michael and his parents through our outpatient clinic, until I left my position at Children's Hospital when Michael was 17 years old.
It is with great pleasure that I write this letter, and I smile even now when I recall the image of 5-year-old Michael for two reasons:
1. Michael had a stuffed animal, "Froggy" that he held and dragged around with him (as seen to the right, in a pre-dx'd pic with my mom's parents).
2. He always lit up with a smile when 'Nurse Kathy' came to see him.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins were in regular contact with me through the years I worked at Children's Hospital, and I recall providing helpful hints to his mother when he was getting ready to start school and continued with regular contact on the phone as well as at clinic visits as Mike grew and developed. I remember that both of his parents highly respected our advice in regard to handling Mike's teenage years, and I was always proud that the love and limit-setting they provided helped him (and them) make it through his growing up period without any obvious physical or emotional scars.*
Since 1996, I've continued to maintain contact with Michael and his family as a friend and at times a consultant. I have seen Michael grow from a brave little boy who did not complain about taking insulin injections or having to follow a diet, to a mildly rebellious teenager and now to a responsible young man who is married, working with the newspaper in Indianapolis and taking charge of his diabetes control.
*See? A health professional attests that I have no scars -- all good!
Nurse Kathy, thank you so much for all you've done for me through the years. You now have your own private health edu cation and consulting practice and it looks like you're doing great. The advice and diabetes care you gave me when growing up helped empower me, and that's been invaluable. Now, as you know, I've moved on from general and legal news reporting to diabetes journalism here at the 'Mine, and in connecting with many more CDEs through the years, I can now appreciate even more how much you did for me early on. Also, so you know: Froggy still sleeps with me each night, as he's still my special "Frog Before Diabetes." There aren't many memories or items that have stuck with me from those very early days, but an image of your face always did -- and still does now -- bring a smile to mine. All I can say now, once again, is Thank You!
Dr. Strict: You teamed up with Dr. Friendly a few years into my diagnosis, and we were together through the time I was about 18. While I remember you knowing your diabetes management of the 80s and 90s, we didn't see eye-to-eye on how to communicate. You were very tough and liked to use scare tactics to convince me why D-Management was so important. What you didn't realize was that your attitude and judgement made me rebel even more. I heard those horror stories all the time, and didn't need your reminders at every visit! Of course, my double-digit A1Cs were bad news... but the support and two-way discussion I needed wasn't your strong suit. Now of course I regret not taking my diabetes more seriously back then, as you were just trying to make me understand. One memory stands out among the rest: You looking into my eyes after seeing my 15% A1C, and telling me that I was killing myself and would be dead by 21 if that continued. Yes, that was harsh but it was a truth -- and it set me straight for a time. So that particular scare tactic worked briefly, but it didn't inspire long-term change. That didn't happen until many years later when I found hope, a purpose in my life, and peer-support that truly gave me the empowerment and motivation needed.
And that's what I have to say to this trio.
To give proper credit to these first three and to others I've worked with over the years, I bought some Blue Cupcake cards to send to my past and present D-Care and Support Teams. These cards are the brainchild of D-peep Allison Nimlos, a former team member here at the 'Mine, and are definitely worth checking out; they even have "Happy Diaversary" cards! But they don't yet offer endo or CDE-specific Thank You's, so I got creative and used the "Thank You for Supporting My Ride" (with diabetes) versions. :)
Just Keep Living
I know 30 years seems like a long time, but it's all relative -- really, it's a drop in the bucket compared to others who are at their 40th, 50th, 75th or even 80th mark of living with type 1. While I still do worry about how long I can last before complications enter my life, I'm also more optimistic than pessimistic these days because of all the inspiration coming my way (#DOC).
Lord knows that I have struggled, but I've also succeeded and made the most of diabetes. And where I once felt diabetes was a curse and a burden (all the time), I now more often see it as a blessing that has helped me improve my life in many ways. Not every day, obviously. There are times when I just hate on diabetes, and times when I cringe thinking back on how rebellious I used to be and how bleak the future can feel when roller-coastering between highs and lows, dreading complications and so on.
But we can't live our lives in regret and dwelling on the past, and we can't be paralyzed by the fear of what may never come to pass. So I keep on strivin' to look forward with hope. There's a lot to be thankful for and continue to hope for, and I'm eager to see where the next years -- however many there may be -- take all of us.
This post was originally published by Mike Hoskins on DiabetesMien in March 2014.
Posted by Mike Hoskins at 12:54 PM No comments:
Diaversaries and 174 Years of Diabetes at the Beta Cell Bash
Today marks my 30th year of living with type 1 diabetes.
If you remember, I actually don't know the exact month or day of when I was diagnosed. But we know it happened just after my 5th birthday on Feb. 1, 1984 and a couple months before the family vacation to DisneyLand in California that spring. Not to mention that it was still cold in southeast Michigan. So, March is typically what we've gone with... and about four years ago when I received a new insulin pump on March 10, that became my self-designated diaversary from then on.
With the marking of my third decade, I opted to officially commemorate my diaversary with a few D-peeps here in the Indy area at the annual Beta Cell Bash this past weekend.
Remember that? A yearly gathering is a fundraising event for the local JDRF Indiana Cure Chasers bicycling team, which I first wrote about in 2011 when introducing you to Bash Founder Michael K. Schwab who's a fellow type 1 here in Indy? Mike started the Beta Cell Bash a decade ago, but it only lasted a couple years before taking a breather. And it returned in 2012.
So this was the third consecutive Bash since then, even more special because of the whole diaversary element.
As it turns out, I'm not the only one of the Indy area D-peeps recognizing a diabetes anniversary this month -- there were actually three others, too! Mike's also marking his 41th year with type 1 this month, while two other type 1s are hitting their 20th and 19th years this month.
In total, there were seven of us at the Beta Cell Bash with a total of 174 years of type 1 experience between us. under our belts! Mike wore his "Dia-Badass" shirt while serving as MC, and at one point he announced that all Type 1s in the house should head up to the stage...
Here's a photo that was taken, with five of us PWDs standing there on stage:
Neal Hoffman, dx'd 20 years ago this month
Amy VanDeWielle, dx'd 26 years ago
Daniel Bartholomew dx'd 20 years ago on March 15
ME, diagnosed 30 years ago
Mr. Mike Schwab, diagnosed 41 years ago in March 1973.
That photo includes 136 years of type 1 on stage, and we know there was at least two other type 1s at the Beta Cell Bash who weren't up there with us that added another 8 and 30 years to the total tally -- so really, there was 174 years overall!
Yes, there was beer and a few of us exchanged some "diaversary rounds" while sharing some good laughs and enjoying the Beta Cell Bash, which had a Johnny Cash theme this year. Though it was tough to talk much, we shared some tidbits about life with diabetes over the years, insulin pumping and support we've seen, along with talk about the importance of the Adult D-Community.
I know 30 years feels like a long time to me, but it's all relative -- really, it's a drop in the bucket compared to others who are at their 40th, 50th, 75th or even 80th years of living with type 1. While I still do worry about how long I can last before complications start weaving their way into my life and impacting my daily life, I'm also more optimistic than I am pessimistic these days because of all the inspiration that's out there.
Yes, I have started seeing complications -- retinopathy and neuropathy mainly, and fortunately they haven't progressed to the point where I've needed to do anything really different than just "keeping my blood sugars under control." Uh huh, right. Those are scary, and I do worry about what other damage diabetes has done to my body during these past three decades -- especially as a result of my rebellious teenage years, when my A1Cs hit the mid-teens.
Looking back, I'd have to guess that probably a good decade of my D-Life -- A THIRD OVERALL - was probably in the regrettfully scary vicinity of completely batshit out-of-whack. Blame the "Why Bother?" attitude that hit in the middle of the three decades. But fortunately, through a variety of factors that include growing up, facing my own mortality, the support of my wife and family and Diabetes Community, things started changing about a decade ago.
I've struggled, but have also succeeded and made the most of diabetes. And where I once felt diabetes was a curse and a burden (all the time), I more often see it as a blessing that has helped me improve my life in many ways. Not every day, obviously. There are times I hate diabetes in the moment, where I cringe at how rebellious I used to be and how bleak the future feels when surrounded by Highs and Lows, complications and so on.
But we can't live our lives in regret and dwelling on the past, and we can't be paralyzed by the fear of what may never come to pass. So I've been able to move on most of the time and look forward. There's a lot to be thankful for and continue to hope for, and I'm eager to see where the next years -- however many there may be -- take all of us.
Posted by Mike Hoskins at 11:05 AM 2 comments:
Ten Years A Hoosier (An Ode to Linda's Place & the Corner Booth)
I've now been living in the Indianapolis area for a decade.
Hard to believe so much time has passed... (since the actual 10-year anniversary on Jan. 9, 2014)
Three journalism jobs, two houses in the same city, and many different diabetes advocacy legs through those years.
Looking through some old papers recently, I came across a handwritten letter from a close friend written just before I left Michigan for Indiana. I remember how it was written at our last visit there before my move, and it was written to those who'd follow us, sitting in that corner booth we'd learned to love. To the countless hours just enjoying coffee and conversation, learning and finding ourselves.
Given the anniversary, I thought it was worth sharing now.
Finding the Bottom to a Bottomless Pot
To: Michael "Indiana Jones" Hoskins
A cheese little greeting for those of us who take to seating
In the famous Corner Booth.
Thanking God these walls cannot talk
For the endless hours we've sat here
To dream and scheme,
And over-analyze and gawk.
Heaven only knows when the first time really was
That we claimed our original cast
And heaven only knows, this time today
Surely won't be our last.
So here we are finding the bottom
To a bottomless coffee pot.
We sure did talk, we talked a lot.
May whomever falls here next
Be smart enough to document in text
May they be as blessed as we both were
To fall in live with politico news,
And friendhip so fine.
May they remember, that we will be back
And then and always, this little corner booth will be
Yours and mine.
From: Kari "Nonetheless Navarra" Woycik, 12/16/03.
We did journey back a few times through the years, as well as to another location outside of the hometown of St. Clair Shores that shares the same name but just doesn't have the same atmosphere (or memories).
Photo Credit: Ava East of the Lakeview Husky
And so, with all this in mind, I was shocked and saddened last fall to learn that Linda's Place, the home of
our beloved Corner Booth, had been hit with a fire and was closing down -- at least temporarily. To date, several months later, it's yet to re-open.
Recently, I came across a post in the high school newspaper where I once served as editor-in-chief nearly 20 years ago. Honestly, it was an emotional read: http://www.thelakeviewhusky.com/2014/02/25/lindas-place-keeps-its-place-in-our-hearts/
Here's the first two grafs from the Lakeview Husky story, that I found myself nodding to when reading:
Linda’s Place, located on the northeast corner of Nine Mile and Harper, is known as the ritualistic hangout place by many of St. Clair Shores’ youth, catering especially to both Lakeview and Southlake students all through the day and night. It had the vibe of a truck-stop diner mixed with your little ol’ Grandma’s curio-enriched kitchen. People either love it or hate it, but regardless of one’s own opinion, it had a good 17-year-long run up until 2013, closing it’s doors temporarily. It has been stated that it will reopen in May of 2014 if all things go accordingly in regards to a property dispute.
To some, Linda’s was just a mark on the map, but to others, it was a second home; thus, its closing was met with great dismay. From habitual visitors to irregular customers, it was the place to be on a warm summer night or in the cool autumn twilight in the Shores, and believe me when I say that the size of the place was just a fraction compared to the memories made there.
Here's to hoping Linda's can reclaim its glory and re-open there for future generations. But even if that's not destined to happen, here's to the memories so many have had at Linda's Place through the years.
Posted by Mike Hoskins at 10:59 AM No comments:
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Mike Hoskins
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The Impact Programme
What is impact investment?
Phase One Investments
Open up sources of finance
Improve impact measurement
Build fund manager capacity
Bridge information gaps
Support deal flow
Bridge information gaps and increase market linkages
Phase One Investments ›
In order to bridge information gaps and increase market linkages the Impact Programme will work with partners that offer structures with credible information, including analyses of fund economics in DFID target markets, to investors, Fund Managers and enterprises. It will also support the development of mechanisms which identify (quickly and easily) investors, enterprises and appropriate quality service providers.
ImpactBase, Basic Services Programming Track, Regional Liaisons, Annual Impact Survey and Clean Energy Access
Partner: GIIN
The Impact Programme is supporting GIIN in the development of five core elements of their programming: ImpactBase; Research; the Basic Services Programming Track; Regional Liaisons; and Clean Energy Access. These elements aim to bridge information gaps and increase connectivity in the impact investment market.
DFID is helping to meet the costs of:
• ImpactBase: developing and optimising ImpactBase (an online database of impact investment funds and vehicles) to become a more widely used platform that decreases fragmentation between investors and fund managers.
• Research: developing a research agenda that seeks to increase transparency and information and reduce information asymmetries, with the ultimate aim of improving the practice of impact investing in line with tackling key issues.
• Basic Services Programming Track: a member-only forum that enables impact investors interested in financing access to basic services among the poor in emerging markets to connect with and learn from each other, share lessons learned and identify opportunities for collaboration and co-investment.
• Regional Liaisons: undertaking awareness and relationship-building campaigns led by a Global Liaison with support from the New York headquarters.
• Clean Energy: providing investors who are actively investing or considering investment in clean energy access with the tools and resources necessary to increase capital flow towards investments in clean energy access across the world.
Intended impact
Basic Services will strengthen the practice of Impact Investing in Basic Services in Sub – Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Impact Base will decrease fragmentation and inefficiencies in the Impact Investing Market and between Fund Managers and Investors particularly those working in Sub- Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Regional Liaisons will build awareness in the Impact Investing among Fund Managers, Investors and other stakeholders in Sub – Saharan Africa and South Asia and to increase access to impact investing resources; and promote the development for these markets in impact investing.
GIIN Annual Impact Investor Survey will allow collaboration and sharing of investor insights and perceptions on a number of key market variables and explore how investments continue to be made across different geographies, a range of sectors, and multiple asset classes, signalling continued market growth and an increasing interest in impact investing opportunities.
Clean Energy Access will enable the increased flow of capital into the clean energy access sector, which has significant potential to improve health and productivity outcomes for people and to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the planet.
Strengthening the UK’s role in International Development Finance
Partner: The UK National Advisory Board on Impact Investing
The Impact Programme is supporting the UK National Advisory Board on Impact Investing (“UK NAB”) to organise two events in London to bring together representatives from international and domestic impact investing communities, to facilitate greater collaboration.
The UK NAB’s International Development Working Group is developing a strategy to increase the number of actors and the amount of capital deployed in emerging markets.
The UK NAB will:
• Organise two events in London and networking sessions for the City of London, impact investors, asset owners, Foundations, NGOs, Development Finance Institutions and the Government on impact investing, aiming to break down silos between different communities of interest and stimulate greater capital commitment to achieving the SDGs in emerging markets.
• Scope a mechanism to collect data to develop a baseline for current investment in the SDGs, against which future progress can be measured. After establishing a baseline, the UK NAB will track and facilitate the deployment of capital towards achieving the SDGs in emerging markets.
The purpose of the International Development working group is to establish a core community of UK-based actors who are willing and able to drive the shared agenda forward. The UK NAB envisage this community emerging as a group of committed investors and investment professionals who will lead by example to encourage others to adopt a more deliberate approach to investment for positive international development results.
Financial benchmarking
Partner: Council of Smallholder Agriculture Finance (CSAF) and Global Development Incubator (GDI)
CSAF and GDI are partnering with DFID to conduct the second phase of benchmarking analysis.
The Impact Programme is supporting the CSAF and GDI with a quantitative and qualitative analysis to provide insights into the loan economics of financiers serving Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture sector across East Africa. The exercise will analyse data from local commercial banks and non-bank financial institutions, as well as global social impact financiers.
CSAF and GDI will:
• Collect and analyse quantitative and qualitative data on lending to agri-SMEs in East Africa
• Compute the economics for agricultural loans made by the different archetypes of financiers
• Compare loan economics of local financiers with those of global social lenders
• Provide a high level perspective of the current agri-financing landscape and the ‘missing middle’ for agri-SMEs across East Africa
Benchmarking results will provide sectorial stakeholders with a clearer overview of the current agri-finance landscape, opportunities, and challenges to grow the market to inform decision-making on interventions in the sector. Benchmarking data will also enlighten the design of Prosper Africa, a multi-stakeholder initiative that will incentivise financiers to increase their lending to agri-SMEs across East Africa. This will lead to increased private sector investment from a wide range of financiers meeting the diverse financing needs of the agri-SME sector in East Africa.
Bringing together leaders from the worlds of finance, business and philanthropy
Partner: The Global Steering Group (GSG)
The Impact Programme are working with the GSG to achieve measurable impact embraced as a deliberate driver in every investment and business decision. The GSG is an independent global steering group catalysing impact investment and entrepreneurship to benefit people and the planet. The GSG currently has 21-member countries plus the EU. Chaired by Sir Ronald Cohen, the GSG brings together leaders from the worlds of finance, business and philanthropy.
The GSG will:
• Foster the development of the global impact investment ecosystem, especially by supporting the establishment of National Advisory Boards (NAB) in Kenya and Ghana to develop enabling environments for impact investment. The GSG works with key stakeholders from across the national ecosystem, from entrepreneurs, to investors, to policy makers, providing them with technical and strategic assistance.
• Unlock supply and attract new capital: New players are compelled to committing capital to new or existing impact investment funds or instruments. For example, the GSG has committed to support the establishment of at least one $1 billion Impact Fund, as a flagship initiative seeking to showcase the impact of outcomes-based finance at scale.
• Share knowledge and build capacity: Through meetings and new knowledge assets, the GSG acts as curator and facilitator of knowledge between countries. As a results, these activities raise awareness about impact investing, attract new players to the field and improve connectivity between supply, demand, intermediaries, policy makers and ecosystem builders within countries and across countries.
This initiative is intended to create a shared and detailed understanding of the state of the impact investment sector in Kenya and Ghana, including from a policy angle, enabling leading organisations and individuals in each country, to commit to the establishment of a NAB in their country. In the long term, this will lead to increased capacity in Africa to develop the impact investment market.
Supporting gender smart investing
Partner: International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)
The Impact Programme is supporting components of the forthcoming ICRW Gender-Smart Investing Resource Suite, which will enable users – primarily impact investors and development finance institutions – to be gender-smart in investing processes, thereby making better, more informed and ultimately smarter investments. More specifically, the tools can be used in: (i) due diligence processes for potential investees; and/or (ii) assessing gaps and areas for technical assistance of current investees.
The ICRW supports work in four sectors – agriculture, off-grid energy, power infrastructure and healthcare – and includes:
A briefing on the state of gender in the particular sector;
Case studies illustrating examples of leading companies that have integrated gender into their operations, and highlighting the resulting social and business impacts;
A Gender Opportunities Explorer, which allows investors to learn more about ways gender can be integrated in different business domains for companies in the sector;
A Gender Scoring Tool, allowing investors to rapidly assess assess companies to get a “gender score”. Investors (or companies themselves) can use the scores to benchmark performance, identify new gender opportunities with high likelihood of material impact, and develop priority areas for corporate action;
A Gender Materiality Map, collating evidence on the financial materiality of integrating gender in these domains; and
A Social ImpactVisual maps causal pathways of social impact.
The objective of this project is to advance the next generation of gender-smart investing tools with sector-specific technical instruments for learning and decision-making. By creating powerful resources to educate investors and assess companies, the project contributes to the ultimate goal of catalyzing investments that are “gender-smart”, and supporting companies to be “gender-smart”.
Interested? Get in touch.
If you are interested in The Impact Programme and would like to find out more information, please feel free to send any questions or queries using our enquiries form.
The Impact Programme © 2020
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New play heading to Tyneside looks at what it's like to be broke
By David Whetstone
Personal and national debt are never out of the news. David Whetstone looks at a play which shows how it hits real lives
©Richard Davenport
A scene from Broke by The Paper Birds theatre company
A play called Broke is coming our way and will strike a chord with all who have struggled to make ends meet – provided they can afford a ticket to see it.
Broke was devised by Leeds theatre company The Paper Birds who describe it as a “verbatim show that shares the real-life stories from the front line of poverty and debt in the UK”.
In the current climate of cutbacks and austerity, it could hardly be more topical.
Artistic director Jemma McDonnell, who founded the company with Kylie Walsh, says Broke is the first play in a planned trilogy about class.
“We wanted to talk about class because we think it’s still something that exists,” she tells me.
“We were particularly interested in the way a lot of blame seems to be put on people who are at the bottom and struggling the most.
“There has been a lot in the papers about food banks and we wondered why so many people were using them in this day and age in such a rich country.”
As part of their research, The Paper Birds people spent part of last year travelling around Yorkshire to interview real food bank users.
Jemma says they set out, as ever, with an open mind, not quite knowing what to expect. “But the people we did meet, who were at the bottom and struggling, seemed to be trying really hard to get out of their situation.
“This is not a play about people complaining or trying to get things for free – it’s more about people who are stuck.”
The Paper Birds also produced an online questionnaire which asked people to be honest about how much they earned and what they spent their money on.
“At least 250 people contributed and we got over 100 responses in a day-and-a-half,” reports Jemma. “People do have strong opinions about subjects around money and class.”
Watch this video again
I wonder about the link between class and being broke because plenty of middle and upper class people complain about lacking pennies to rub together.
“You get some people who’ll say they can’t afford as many holidays as they’d like but that’s a completely different experience to someone saying they can’t afford to feed their family,” says Jemma.
The play, she says, focuses on a character called Sally and it is set in her son’s bedroom. Through her predicament, and using the responses of the real-life interviewees, the human cost of debt is examined.
Some of Jemma’s own experiences are incoporated. “I talk in the show about my mum and dad coming from a really big Irish family and me and my sisters being told about the importance of saving.
“I didn’t get pocket money but I got my first job at 11. As an artist with very little money I’ve coped really well but I think that’s because it was drummed into us that you don’t spend what you don’t have.”
Broke was premiered on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and has been touring the country, even to places where you might imagine money is not in short supply.
“We performed at an arts centre in Cheltenham and there was a group there from Cheltenham Ladies’ College,” says Jemma.
“The teacher said it was so important for the girls to see this show because a lot of them came from privileged backgrounds.
“They were really emotional about the show and asked lots of questions.
“In Greenwich, because it’s one of our supporting theatres, they gave some free tickets away to people on benefits so we got quite a different crowd in there.
“It has been really nice to perform to such varied audiences.”
Jemma hopes there will be a second tour of small rural venues with the second play in the trilogy due in 2016.
See Broke at Live Theatre, Newcastle, on February 10 and 11 (www.live.org.uk) and at Arts Centre Washington (www.artscentrewashington.co.uk) on March 12.
Audiences have changed - playwrights have to change with them
Journal columnist and Newcastle headteacher Bernard Trafford on why there's still much to enjoy at the theatre
Cast announced for new Live Theatre play Day of the Flymo
Review: Broke, Live Theatre, Newcastle
Newcastle Hindu healer reignites fight for funeral pyres five years on
Babaji Davender Ghai fought for years to legalise open-air cremations and, five years on from a landmark court ruling, his vision is in full sight
Contracts worth more than £20m secured by growing Newcastle tech start-up Omlis
Barristers & Co launch in Newcastle and aim to steal direct access market
Culture Awards
Culture Awards Alumni Gallery: Class of 2014
Culture Awards Alumni: The Class of 2006
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The war in Gaza escalates. Civilian and aid worker casualties on the rise. Words "Crimes Against Humanity" coming up.
Today Israel dropped bombs and leaflets on Gaza, pounding suspected rocket sites and tunnels used by Hamas militants and warning of a wider offensive despite frantic diplomacy to end the bloodshed. It is clear this conflict is nowhere near to the end (Full)
Rejecting Friday's UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate and durable cease-fire, Israel and Hamas continued to fight. Israeli jets and troops attacked Hamas targets in Gaza, and Palestinian militants fired about 30 rockets into southern Israel. (Full)
Meanwhile, the international community is building up criticism on Israel's indiscriminate targeting of civilians and aid workers:
ICRC (the International Committee of the Red Cross) stated Israel has violated its obligations under international humanitarian law by refusing to assist civilians wounded in its attacks on the Gaza Strip. In the Zaytun neighborhood of Gaza City, ICRC workers found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses. They were too weak to stand up on their own. One man was also found alive, too weak to stand up. ICRC stated "The Israeli military must have been aware of the situation but did not assist the wounded." (Full)
On December 30, several Israeli gunboats intercepted a ship with aid supplies, the SS Dignity, in international waters. The ship carried international medical aid workers and three tonnes of medical supplies. One Israeli gunboat is believed to have rammed the boat on the port bow side, heavily damaging her. (Full)
On Friday night, an Israeli drone missile hit a car from the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), an international NGO. NPA stated the car was clearly marked with the NPA logo, and that it was impossible not to recognize that this was a humanitarian vehicle. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the incident as a clear violation of international law. (Full)
Earlier this week, an ambulance belonging to an Oxfam partner organisation was hit by an Israeli shell, killing one aidworker, and injuring two others. (Full)
A CARE aidworker was killed on January 6th in an aerial bombing. Mohammed Ibrahim Samouni, a father of six, was killed and his son was critically injured. (Full)
Also last week, an Israeli tank shelled a clearly marked UN school, leaving 43 Palestinians civilian dead and almost 150 injured. 1,600 people were taking shelter in the school, according to the UN, who confirmed there were only civilians in the school, which was clearly marked with a UN flag and its GPS location was duely reported to the Israeli authorities. (Full)
Human Rights Watch accused Israel of using white-phosphorus munitions during its offensive in the Gaza Strip and warned of the risk to Palestinian civilians who live near the fighting. The use of white-phosphorus in densely populated areas of Gaza violates international humanitarian law (Full)
On Thursday a aidworker was killed after a UN relief agency convoy came under fire from Israeli forces. The attack took place as the lorries travelled to the Erez border crossing to pick up supplies. The incident happened during an Israel approved three hour seize fire aimed at allowing humanitarian aid to move into Gaza. This eventually caused UNRWA, the main UN agency providing aid to the Palestinians, to suspend all food aid. (Full)
Israeli forces shelled a house in which they had moved around 110 Palestinians into 24 hours earlier. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) called it "one of the gravest incidents" since the beginning of the offensive. 30 people were killed. (Full)
Similar incidents were singled out by Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She called for independent investigations into possible war crimes committed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. "I am concerned with violations of international law. Incidents such as this must be investigated because they display elements of what could constitute war crimes," Pillay told the press. (Full)
As many as 257 children have been killed and 1,080 wounded (a third of the total casualties since Dec. 27) according to U.N. figures released on Thursday. (Full)
The UN humanitarian situation report on Gaza of Jan 9th summarizes the numbers: 800 dead, 3,300 injured and over 21,000 people displaced within Gaza.
Picture courtesy Mohammed Salem (ABCNews)
Tony Benn: "People in Gaza would die because of th...
Keeping track of sad statistics - aid worker fatal...
Picks of the week: Microfinancing, monitoring aid ...
The power of the Internet
Picture of the Day: The American School in Gaza
Ever heard of the "Peter Principle"?
The last Bush act: banning French cheese
Who said the UN is only taking sides against Israe...
How about the HUMAN rescue plan?
Amnesty International accuses Israel
Aidworker in Chad: When things get hot
Did we forget these humanitarian crisis?
A UN disgrace
Generalizations, misconceptions or plain ignorance...
It is not reaching the destination that counts
Making the most of life
Googling via SMS
Dark news from Afghanistan
BBC: No ads for Gaza aid appeal
Waste of flight capacity
Humanitarians: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Gaza: Did Israel want a human(itarian) crisis?
The after-Bush-math: UN to prosecute the Bush adm...
The happiest countries in the world
Undoing the wrongs...
Picture of the Day: Gaza - the day after
The 2008 balance: 34 UN staff killed.
Bye Bye Bush
To Collapse or Not to Collapse
The 2009 Human Rights Watch Report is out.
Sunset this evening
Protests in support of Gaza in Rome
Micro-financing, the snowball effect
Gaza: How "collateral" is the collateral damage?
Gaza: UN aid headquarters shelled
Therapeutic Soup: zuppa di zucca
Flies on webcam fuel renewed hostilities in Gaza
Gaza: the face of war.
The Road- Kiva project 12: Quirudis Altagracia
Do you want to be my second wife?
The Road to the Horizon, two years later.
The war in Gaza escalates. Civilian and aid worker...
11 million people on the run in Central and East A...
An update on our micro-finance project
Living in Italy - Part 6: When you enter a shop
Tips & Tricks: You might not recognize your blog
Live webcams of the Israel/Gaza border crossing
Two colleagues killed in Somalia this week.
Development Crisis Follows Economic Crisis
Picks of the week: DoSomething, volunteering and D...
The 2008 World Balance Sheet is out: the MDG progr...
Aidworkers - life as it is
Do you wear the right T-shirt to board a plane?
Gaza: the wrongs and rights of killing civilians.
Song of the day: Vaporous
What really causes American deaths?
Mapping the war in Gaza
Why do things always break when I am at home?
UN official on the Gaza conflict: "The extremists ...
To keep you company during sleepless nights...
Dubai: End of "sex on the beach" saga.
Tips & Tricks: Changing the favicon on your blog
Interested in sponsoring my blogs?
How to contact me?
Humanitarian news feed
Click and make a difference!
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Holocaust Memorial Day.
Site's map
Analytics and Interview
Igor Kaliapin: «For us to work with the status of ‘foreign agent’ is unacceptable and insulting»
On 16 January 2015 late in the evening the website of the Ministry of Justice published a statement that the NGO Committee Against Torture had been added to the register of non-profit organizations designated as ‘foreign agents’.
Tanya Lokshina: Don't ignore what's happening inside Russia
Tanya Lokshina is the Russia program director at Human Rights Watch and Honorary Participant of International Youth Human Rights Movement: As the crisis in Ukraine escalated this spring, the Kremlin’s vicious crackdown on civil society also escalated. Space for independent civic activity in Russia is shrinking dramatically, but international policymakers and the media have been understandably too distracted to do much about it. Since early spring, it seems as though every week brings a new pernicious law or legislative proposal.
We have nothing to celebrate at the moment
Earlier this year, the correspondent of Youth Human Rights Movement from Germany Jakob Stürmann interviewed Konstantin Baranov, member of the Coordination Council of the International Youth Human Rights Movement. They discussed so called “law against homosexual propaganda” and the overall situation of LGBT in Russia.
All publications →
CIVIL NEWS
Take part in action days of solidarity with “The Crimean Hostages”
Oleg Sentsov, Olexander Kolchenko, Hennadiy Afanasiev and Oleksiy Chyrniy have been held in Russian jails for two years already under fabricated charges of ‘terrorism’. We consider it being necessary to express solidarity with those who are persecuted due to their pro-Ukrainian views, civic stand and desire for freedom in Russia-annexed Crimea.
Human Rights in Armenia 2014 Report
Helsinki Committee of Armenia has published “Human Rights in Armenia 2014” Annual Report. The report reflects on the Right to Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association, Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, Political Persecutions, Freedom of Conscience and Religion, The Rights of the Child, Protection of Labor Rights.
Crimea Is Clamping Down on Human Rights
«We have a few questions for you,» a border guard told Sinaver Kadyrov, a Crimean Tatar activist, at the Armyansk checkpoint in northern Crimea on Jan. 23. Kadyrov was on his way to Kherson, in southern Ukraine, to fly to Turkey for medical treatment. It was the beginning of an ordeal that ended with a local court expelling him from Crimea, his home of almost 25 years.
All news →
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority It is time to sit back and reflect.
Ukraine – Human rights defender Konstantin Reutski assaulted by police
On 29 January 2015, human rights defender Mr Konstantin Reutski was beaten by road police officers at the check point Pisochin in the Kharkiv region. Konstantin Reutski is chairman of the Human Rights Centre "Postup" (Path), and a journalist with online media outlet informator.lg.ua and with Gromadske TV. He routinely covers events in the area concerned by Ukraine's anti-terrorist operation (ATO) and documents human rights violations in the region.
On 29 January 2015, at approximatively 10pm, the car of Konstantin Reutski was stopped by road police officers while entering Kharkiv crossing a checkpoint near Pisochin. Police officers asked Konstantin Reutski and journalists Ms Anastasia Stanko and Mr Paweł Pieniążek, who were in the car with him, to exit the vehicle, and proceeded with a search of the car. The alleged reason for the search was that the vehicle carried a license plate from Luhansk (newly proclaimed separatist republic). Konstantin Reutski and the journalists explained the reason of their presence in the ATO area, and that Konstantin Reutski is accredited in the ATO press centre.
The police officers refused to identify themselves, and Konstantin Reutski demanded that they respect applicable legal procedures. As a verbal confrontation ensued, the human rights defender started to film the search. The officers reportedly grabbed his camera and hit Konstantin Reutski repeatedly. They confiscated the camera, which contained materials from Debaltsevo, Popasnaya and Mariupol, where fighting has taken place in recent days. The journalists accompanying Konstantin Reutski called the police. Officers from the Lubotyn police department arrived a hour later and the human rights defender lodged a complaint about the incident and the confiscation of the video camera. The camera was later found without the memory card.
The following day, 30 January, the Department of the Ministry of Interior for the Kharkiv region published a statement on the events. According to the statement: «the driver [Konstantin Reutski] attempted to take something from his pocket, to which police officers quickly reacted by blocking his movements. The man considered the move as a possible attack against him, so he fell on the ground, and police officers tried to help him to get up and to offer necessary assistance». The statement went on to say that the police officers involved in the incident had been suspended until the end of the investigation.
Front Line Defenders is concerned at the attack against Konstantin Reutski, which appears to be directly linked to the journalistic and human rights work he carries out in the ATO region.
Source: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/28006
yhrm.org, 2001-2020 г. E-mail: admin@yhrm.org
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Venture Mòr
News for July 2018
18th July, 2018 | Fundraising | News | Participant stories
Chance to Succeed: Venture Trust awarded lottery funding
Venture Trust has been awarded an £18,000 grant from the Scottish Children’s Lottery to support its work with young people.
The grant from the Scottish Children’s Lottery will help fund the Inspiring Young Futures programme, which targets young people in West Lothian, Edinburgh, East Lothian, Dundee, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire, who are living in complex and chaotic situations.
Through one-to-one support, the programme helps young people reflect on the changes they would like to make to their lives, and helps unlock their confidence, motivation and life skills.
Amelia Morgan, chief executive at Venture Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful for the funding from the Scottish Children’s Lottery, which will be used to support 140 young people in Scotland.
"The grant will allow us to reach those who are struggling with chaotic life circumstances such as homelessness, abuse, isolation, substance misuse and involvement in the criminal justice system.
"Our experienced team of staff will assist them to gain life skills, work-readiness, a sense of purpose and to work towards making positive life changes.”
The Scottish Children’s Lottery was launched in October 2016 to raise money for children in Scotland, with proceeds helping to improve the lives of children right across the country and make a real difference to those who need it most.
Trustee Alan Eccles represents Chance to Succeed, which operates as a society lottery under the Scottish Children’s Lottery. Chance to Succeed supports projects that focus on employability and employment skills, helping to deliver a productive future for our young people.
Alan Eccles said: “Chance to Succeed believes that every young person in Scotland deserves a chance to be seen, prove themselves and forge a successful career for themselves.
"By supporting Venture Trust we hope to help deliver a productive future for our young people.
"Thank you to those who play the Scottish Children’s Lottery; you are helping to support the great work that our charities undertake.”
If you want to know more about what we do and who we work with at Venture Trust visit our website.
9th July, 2018 | News
Venture Trust wins prize for innovation by removing technology at Spirit of the Community Awards
Venture Trust is pleased to announce that it won not one but two awards at Clydesdale Bank’s Spirit of the Community Awards 2018 for its CashBack Change Cycle employability programme.
Venture Trust was one of five organisations to win a prize in the ‘help people into employment’ category through its CashBack Change Cycle programme. It also won the first B Innovation award for demonstrating innovation in its CashBack Change Cycle programme. Awards for innovation are usually reserved for the latest technology or something digital, but Venture Trust won for a programme where technology is removed, and phones are definitely not allowed!
CashBack Change Cycle is an employability programme supporting disadvantaged young people to develop the life skills required to gain sustainable employment. Along with partners, Bike for Good and The Bike Station Edinburgh, the programme centres around building and maintaining a bike, combining one-to-one support and group mentoring, outdoor activity and classroom work, developing confidence, responsibility, and job readiness.
The Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank Foundation, the organisation behind the Spirit of the Community Awards, has a strong tradition of supporting communities by providing funds to help registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, community and other voluntary organisations make life safer, healthier and better for those around them.
The awards support projects that help people have a healthy relationship with money, help people into employment and help people improve their local environment.
CashBack Change Cycle takes disadvantaged young people out of their normal environment, away from technology, away from peer pressure, and digital media, and gives them the space and peace to see themselves differently. Individuals are supported to learn skills that most people take for granted: working as a team, following instructions, dealing with confrontation, and building self-worth. Young people learn practical skills of building a bike, bike maintenance, and gain certificates in Health & Safety, First Aid, and Tech City and Guilds. Time is spent in the classroom developing employability skills such as CV writing, interview techniques, and setting and achieving goals, and valuable time is spent in the outdoors developing bike skills and building confidence. Once completed, the individuals are supported to achieve their goals and gain sustainable employment, along with having their own bike to travel economically to their place of work.
Amelia Morgan, Chief Executive Officer for Venture Trust comments, “We are delighted to have received both awards at the Spirit of the Community Awards. The prizes total £10,000 which is invaluable in ensuring that we continue to run the CashBack Change Cycle programme, along with our main funder, CashBack for Communities. This is a fantastic programme that really supports young people with complex issues who have for some reason found themselves on the margins of society. Innovation doesn’t always mean high technology – it can also mean seeing things differently and that is what we have done with our CashBack Change Cycle programme.”
For more information about CashBack Change Cycle programme, please visit our programmes page.
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About Venture Trust
Our programmes are a catalyst for change. We inspire, support and encourage our participants to achieve more positive futures.
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The Venture Trust is a registered charity in Scotland (Number SC038932) and in England & Wales (Number 285891)
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Christian Szczesniak/
JUNO Win for Ryan Hemsworth
Rock Steady congratulates our very own Ryan Hemsworth who was awarded Electronic Album of the Year for his Last Gang Records’ release Guilt Trips during the March 30th telecast of the 43rd Annual JUNO Awards held in Winnipeg, MB. Released on Last Gang Record (10-22-13), Guilt Trips is the first solo album from the Canadian
KaiL Baxley on NPR’s World Café
In this installment of World Café with David Dye, KaiL Baxley discusses how a trip to County Wicklow in Ireland led to the songs on his full-length debut, Heatstroke / The Wind and the War. Baxley and his band also play tunes from the album and discuss the inspiration behind his song “The Rebel.”
Tags: Forty Below Records KaiL Baxley NPR World Café
Agnes Obel in the ABC Music Lounge
Agnes graces the ABC Music Lounge as Artist of the Week (09-26-11) with her song “Avenue” (featured in ABC’s Revenge.) The song is being offered as a free 24-hour download on 09-28-11. Special thanks to our friends at ABC.
Tags: ABC Music Lounge Agnes Obel Internet [PIAS]
The KickDrums in the ABC Music Lounge
The KickDrums grace the ABC Music Lounge as Artist of the Week (05-23-11), with their song “Meet Your Ghost” (featured in ABC’s Cougar Town.) The song is being offered as a free download on 05-25-11.
Tags: ABC Music Lounge Internet KickDrums Last Gang Records
LISTEN UP ROCKERS!
© 2015 Autonomous Media. All rights reserved.
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‘Fabregas Is The Victim Of A Witch Hunt’ – Arsene Wenger
3rd, February 2011
By Chris Wright
“F**k you, you f**king f**k-faced f**ker!”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that his captain, Cesc Fabregas, has been made the subject of a witch hunt over the ‘unrepeatable comments’ he may or may not have made to the match officials at half-time during the Gunners’ 2-1 win over Everton at the Emirates on Tuesday evening.
Quite the nasty little bugger when he wants to be, is our Cesc.
Any road up, speaking at a media conference – when asked if he though Fabregas had been subjected to a ‘witch hunt’, Wenger replied:
“Yes. We are long enough in the job to know that somebody picks on you for a while, and you are in the heat of the moment but, for me, what is most important is that the player himself behaves well.
“When Cesc is on the pitch, he tries to play football – I cannot say everybody who plays against him tries to do that.
“For example, some people reproach him for not exchanging shirts with a player after the game – but I hope he will not exchange shirts with players who try to kick him for 90 minutes and them come to say ‘please can I get your shirt’ – I think that is a normal and natural reaction.”
Wenger continued, berating his Everton counterpart David Moyes (who very much didn’t get sacked yesterday) for flagging up Fabregas’ conduct during his post-match interview:
“I believe that it is wrong for Moyes to come out on what he pretends to have heard in the tunnel. If I come out with what I have heard in the tunnel is the last 10 years, you would be amazed.
“I think there is a rule in our job to never come out with what is said in the heat of the moment. That usually is respected by everybody.
“Cesc has not been charged, so this story for me is over.”
The Frenchman also confirmed that ‘keeper Lukasz Fabianksi will fly to Germany for surgery on his dislocated shoulder today, thus bringing a premature end to his season.
Posted in Arsenal, Everton
What did or didn’t he say?
The Sun reckon Cesc asked the ref how much Everton paid him before calling him a ‘cheat’ – other than that, it’s still (and will probably remain) unconfirmed.
Ah, The Sun. Case closed. Nothing happened.
syndex says:
yes the goal was off side but how bad does an arsenal play act to get sent off at the emerates apparently calling the ref bent won’t do it so who here paid the ref off ?
@ Syndex – what did any Arsenal player do to get himself sent off?
A fuss is only being made because Cesc aint English.
We have to watch John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand etc scream obscenities into the refs face anytime a freekick doesnt go their way week in, week out, but there doesnt seem to be masses of press coverage about it. Instead, the Sun will have you believe this is merely a show of passion blah blah blah….
Absoulte bollocks from the media yet again. As for Moyes, why doesnt he stick to answering questions about his teams poor form instead of making up breeze about what apparently happened in the tunnel at half time.
I guess the cocksucker referee didn’t offend at all
Agree with Anon – it does seem to reek of xenophobia. I wonder if he’s the focus for his “bad behavior” because he’s not blokey enough. Maybe if he were out with the prossies more or arranging Caligula parties he could get away with being “quite the nasty little bugger”.
goonerdan says:
How can Moyes say he doesn’t even want to repeat what Cesc apparently said, he’s scottish so swearing was in his vocab since 6, and has seen his team have shit performances this seasonso I wonder what’s said in the changing room at half time – definately gonna be swearing to the highest amount, so what the fuck is that cunt on about?
Nobody seemed to care when Carrick full on shoved the ref during the 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford earlier in the year. When Gary Neville has a go at the ref, they chalk it up to passion and his “bristling attidute.” Typical Xenophobia, we saw this with Eduardo and should no longer be surprised.
The English media might be the most caustic, cheap and detrimental thing to the sport in the country. I’d rather deal with skinheads, frankly. At least they don’t pretend to be something they’re not.
stoichkov's left says:
The English media just may be the most caustic, cheap, and detrimental thing to the sport in this country. I’d rather deal with skinheads, frankly. At lease they don’t pretend to be something they’re not.
If that referee didnt f@ck it up completely in the first place, Cesc wouldn’t have to (verbally) smack him around. Serves Mason right, he had it coming and he should be better at his job. Also he should bake Cesc a cake, have dinner on the table at 6 pm, and know his place.
Rooney and Terry do this every match, and it is called “passion”. It works too, Man U especially get every decision because the referees are afraid of them. Cesc just saw that this technique worked, and adjusted accordingly.
Hard Hitter says:
fabregas is a fucking maricon and should be kicked out of the premierleague! fabregas YOU LITTLE FUCKING ARSEHOLE, YOU SHIT KICKING HORSEMANURE SNIFFING MOTHER FUCKER YOU!
Leave a Reply to Anonymous
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Feature: The Anatomy of 'Angels 888' (ft. Cub Sport) with Oh Boy
Photo by Lulu @piesnpeaches
Sydney producer Oh Boy joined forces with Cub Sport for the utterly beautiful 'Angels 888'. It's been a busy year for Oh Boy, who this year also shared Brentwood Heights, which is an EP spanning six mesmerising tracks. To celebrate the release of the music video for 'Angel 888' (starring Tim Nelson of Cub Sport), Oh Boy dives into the story behind the single below.
We wrote ‘Angels 888'... Cub Sport and I wrote 'Angels 888' because we wanted to contribute to the rise of our planet’s global consciousness. It’s a song about transcendence, opening your mind and being confident in yourself and your own spiritual journey.
The story behind ‘Angels 888' is… Beautiful. I had written 'Angels 888' originally just to be the intro track for the Brentwood Heights EP. I hadn’t really ever intended to have a top line or any sort of recognisable lyrics because I knew the words and feelings I felt for the song but I couldn’t figure out how to convey that lyrically. Instead, I decided I wanted someone to do a few runs or an angelic beautiful hum to layer with chords and pretty synths. I felt as though Tim’s voice was the perfect match for me to be able to get that so I sent him the instrumental and asked if he liked it and would be interested. I’ll never forget getting the demo sent back to me. I was in Los Angeles at the time (in Brentwood Heights actually) and Tim had let me know he was going to record a few things so we agreed on sending each other love, energy and all things positive telepathically through the universe and whatever would come from that would be the song. I was sitting on my bed a few hours later and he sent back the demo and as soon as I heard it I started crying because it was perfect. I didn’t expect an entire top line at all, let alone one as perfect as that. He captured every thought, word and feeling I had about the song exactly and we turned that into 'Angels 888'.
My favourite lyric is… I have two :) “I’m not looking for a limelight, I just want to Free Your Mind," and “Let’s turn this revelation to a revolution, it’s a revolution.”
It was made… Through divine connection.
Our main inspiration was… Love, spirituality, altered states of consciousness, finding one's self, nature, flowers, birds, trees, pineal glands.
It sounds best when… When you have warm sunlight shining on you, outside in nature, on a cold morning.
Check out 'Angels 888' (ft. Cub Sport) by Oh Boy below:
Follow Oh Boy:
You can catch Oh Boy live at Gladstone's Goodspace Gallery on Saturday, June 15th (free entry).
anatomy, anatomy of, cub sport, feature, features, local, oh boy
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Warren Hoselton
Phil Graham
Professor Pricklethorn
Alison Morrison
Joanna Nakeff
Phil Graham
Greetings from beautiful British Columbia, and welcome to my STIHL Tour des Trees 2019 Fundraising site.
This August 30 - September 3- 300-mile route will mark my 15th tour to support Tree Research and Education. In 2003 I planned to ride once and then cross it off my bucket list. BOY WAS I WRONG. After one Tour I was hooked on the riding, the camaraderie, and most of all the opportunity to keep raising money to support TREE Research through the Canadian TREE Fund. As a practicing utility arborist, and past-president of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture I see the benefits of research almost daily. And everyone sees the benefit daily in healthier, safer trees, and in a vibrant urban forest.
Please support me in my efforts to raise more than ever before for TREE Research. Funds raised are granted out annually by the Canadian TREE Fund to support worthy projects coast to coast, and in partnership with the International TREE Fund to support The International Jack Kimmel Grant that impacts tree research around the world. All pledges over $25 are followed up with registered charitable tax receipts. To further acknowledge you and others who contribute to the fund we will be including your donor information in a multi-levelled formal program involving Canadian TREE Fund newsletter publications and websites.
A great big THANK YOU for your support, Phil.
Make a donation to Phil's 2020 campaign
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Carriage History
Trevi welcomes you to tour our virtual court of royal carriages' replicas. We specialize in reproduction of 17-19 centuries royal carriages and creating a new style fairy tale luxurious models for our contemporary life style. All models are equipped with modern days' features allowing you to experience beauty and romantics of the 17-19 centuries travel with contemporary comfort. All carriages we design, per our customers order, can be completed with options of your choice.
Our artisans, jewelers and master craftsmen possess unique expertise enabling us to reproduce exact copies of royal riding equipment employing ancient art of carriages manufacturing.
Trevi's latest models "Cinderella", "Ekaterina" and "Victoria - Diana" widely popular among our customers. They are unique in design, craftsmanship, extremely universal and are specially created for all seasons. Ride in these carriages is very enjoyable and takes you for a luxury trip of the last century.
Also, Trevi developed a product line for those who loves pony. These smaller carriages attract children and parents. Special place belongs to sleighs for children, they make every kid happy and busy for a whole winter.
Our design concepts and manufacturing culture take their roots from in depth study of an almost forgotten art of royal carriages fabrication. We meticulously maintain and perfect old traditions and techniques of carriage building. Riding equipment for imperial processions has been connected to the royal regalia. The European and Russian imperial courts considered these ceremonies to be very important. This led to the establishment of the Office of Stables, which was responsible for the manufacturing and servicing of the gala carriages and harnesses as well as the organization of ceremonial pageants.
The Office of Stables employed first-rate artisans, including the silversmiths and jewelers who made costly harnesses, saddles, stirrups, bridles, and other riding equipment, as well as the horse blankets and caparisons. An abundance of such equipment was required, for a hundred or more horses in gala array, which were harnessed in front of the Tsar's carriage during a procession.
The breathtaking opulence of the gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls was intended to emphasize the significance of the processions. The honor of leading the court horses fell exclusively to the highest nobility. Thousands of silver bells and chains of bells created a backdrop of sound eminently suited to the colorful, enchanting show for the Tsar's obedient, enthusiastic subjects.
The latest project Trevi is working on is reproduction of carriage once belonging to Queen Ekaterina II and presented to her by personal friend - Prince Orloff. This royal carriage kept in Moscow Kremlin was manufactured in England in middle of 1870 by special order of Prince. It is one of a kind in the whole world!
This carriage was certainly a technical masterpiece - a Lamborghini of its time. It was favored by Ekaterina II and her successors throughout the 19 century.
History of Royal Carriages
Trevi accepts orders to manufacture in real size museum quality replicas of this unique carriage.
Please, call 1-312-324-0203 for details.
© 2010 Trevimedia Inc. Terms of use | Privacy Policy | Site Map | Harnesses Shaft Bow | Villager Sleigh Carriage
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Jake Gyllenhaal Nightcrawler
Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal (common: /ˈdʒɪlənhɔːl/, correct: [ˇjʏlːɛnˌhɑːl]; born December 19, 1980) is an American actor and film producer. Born into the Gyllenhaal family, he is the son of director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner. He began acting as a child, making his acting debut in City Slickers (1991), followed by roles in his father's films A Dangerous Woman (1993) and Homegrown (1998). His breakthrough performances were as Homer Hickam in October Sky (1999) and as a psychologically troubled teenager in Donnie Darko (2001). His most widely seen film to that point came with the disaster film The Day After Tomorrow (2004).
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Ferrari and Carpool Karaoke
2001 Ferrari Engine
in Ferrari
Contact: Jonathan (770) 895-5826 ext. 770
Ariana Grande Carpool Karaoke
in Humor, Celebrities and Their Cars, Carpool Karaoke
Uploaded on November 24, 2018
James and Ariana Grande give each other a lift across Los Angeles, singing songs off her new album "Sweetener," channeling some Celine Dion and settling the score on whether Ariana is physically carried wherever she goes (she isn't). More Late Late Show: Subscribe: http://bit.ly/CordenYouTube Watch Full Episodes: http://bit.ly/1ENyPw4 Facebook: http://on.fb.me/19PIHLC Twitter: http://bit.ly/1Iv0q6k Instagram: http://bit.ly/latelategram Watch The Late Late Show with James Corden weeknights at 12:35 AM ET/11:35 PM CT. Only on CBS. Get new episodes of shows you love across devices the next day, stream live TV, and watch full seasons of CBS fan favorites anytime, anywhere with CBS All Access. Try it free! http://bit.ly/1OQA29B --- Each week night, THE LATE LATE SHOW with JAMES CORDEN throws the ultimate late night after party with a mix of celebrity guests, edgy musical acts, games and sketches. Corden differentiates his show by offering viewers a peek behind-the-scenes into the green room, bringing all of his guests out at once and lending his musical and acting talents to various sketches. Additionally, bandleader Reggie Watts and the house band provide original, improvised music throughout the show. Since Corden took the reigns as host in March 2015, he has quickly become known for generating buzzworthy viral videos, such as Carpool Karaoke."... See full Video
Carpool Karaoke: The Series — Will Smith and James Corden — Apple Music
in Carpool Karaoke
Uploaded on September 03, 2017
Watch the first six minutes of the premiere episode of Carpool Karaoke: The Series on Apple Music, featuring Will Smith and James Corden. Sign up for Apple Music and watch the entire episode now at http://applemusic.com/carpoolkaraoke.... See full Video
Ed Sheeran Carpool Karaoke: First Look - Late Late in London
The Late Late Show is heading to London for three incredible shows, starting with Ed Sheeran Carpool Karaoke on Tuesday, and visits from Tom Cruise, David Beckham, Jennifer Hudson, Harry Styles & so many more.... See full Video
Bruno Mars Carpool Karaoke
James Corden and Bruno Mars drive through Los Angeles singing his hits, including tracks from the new album "24K Magic," and chat about everything from Elvis to poker. Get Bruno Mars' new album '24K Magic' out now: https://brunom.rs/24kMagic Stream ’24K Magic’ Spotify: https://brunom.rs/24kMagicStream Apple Music: https://brunom.rs/24kmagicAM Download ’24K Magic’ iTunes: https://brunom.rs/24kMagic Amazon: https://brunom.rs/24kmagicamazon Google Play: https://brunom.rs/24kmagicGP Connect with Bruno: http://www.brunomars.com http://www.instagram.com/brunomars http://www.twitter.com/brunomars http://www.facebook.com/brunomars "Subscribe To ""The Late Late Show"" Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/CordenYouTube Watch Full Episodes of ""The Late Late Show"" HERE: http://bit.ly/1ENyPw4 Like ""The Late Late Show"" on Facebook HERE: http://on.fb.me/19PIHLC Follow ""The Late Late Show"" on Twitter HERE: http://bit.ly/1Iv0q6k Follow ""The Late Late Show"" on Google+ HERE: http://bit.ly/1N8a4OU Watch The Late Late Show with James Corden weeknights at 12:35 AM ET/11:35 PM CT. Only on CBS. Get the CBS app for iPhone & iPad! Click HERE: http://bit.ly/12rLxge Get new episodes of shows you love across devices the next day, stream live TV, and watch full seasons of CBS fan favorites anytime, anywhere with CBS All Access. Try it free! http://bit.ly/1OQA29B --- Each week night, THE LATE LATE SHOW with JAMES CORDEN throws the ultimate late night after party with a mix of celebrity guests, edgy musical acts, games and sketches. Corden differentiates his show by offering viewers a peek behind-the-scenes into the green room, bringing all of his guests out at once and lending his musical and acting talents to various sketches. Additionally, bandleader Reggie Watts and the house band provide original, improvised music throughout the show. Since Corden took the reigns as host in March 2015, he has quickly become known for generating buzzworthy viral videos, such as Carpool Karaoke."... See full Video
BILLY IDOL MONY MONY CARPOOL KARAOKE
Booch and Shap sing Mony Mony by Billy Idol while driving the streets of Atlanta. Granted the singing is horrible but they did their best.... See full Video
SMASH MOUTH ALL STAR CARPOOL KARAOKE
Booch sings Smash Mouth All Star with his buddies Elvis Dolinski and Zach Scott.... See full Video
Usher Carpool Karaoke
James and Usher hit the road to work, singing Usher's classics like "OMG" and "Caught Up" before the two work on James's club entrance and help a group of guys with some car trouble. More Late Late Show: Subscribe: http://bit.ly/CordenYouTube Watch Full Episodes: http://bit.ly/1ENyPw4 Facebook: http://on.fb.me/19PIHLC Twitter: http://bit.ly/1Iv0q6k Instagram: http://bit.ly/latelategram Watch The Late Late Show with James Corden weeknights at 12:35 AM ET/11:35 PM CT. Only on CBS. Get new episodes of shows you love across devices the next day, stream live TV, and watch full seasons of CBS fan favorites anytime, anywhere with CBS All Access. Try it free! http://bit.ly/1OQA29B --- Each week night, THE LATE LATE SHOW with JAMES CORDEN throws the ultimate late night after party with a mix of celebrity guests, edgy musical acts, games and sketches. Corden differentiates his show by offering viewers a peek behind-the-scenes into the green room, bringing all of his guests out at once and lending his musical and acting talents to various sketches. Additionally, bandleader Reggie Watts and the house band provide original, improvised music throughout the show. Since Corden took the reigns as host in March 2015, he has quickly become known for generating buzzworthy viral videos, such as Carpool Karaoke."... See full Video
80s Moms Had It Made
Uploaded on August 13, 2017
It's back to the future this week! We're letting 80's moms know just how outrageous mom life is in 2017. Subscribe to Cat & Nat by clicking here: http://bit.ly/1MgVHuk Sign up to the Cat & Nat's Social Common Newsletter: http://socialcommon.ca/newsletter Follow Cat & Nat on: - Facebook: http://facebook.com/catandnat - Instagram: http://instagram.com/catandnat - Twitter: http://twitter.com/catandnat - Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/catandnat - YouTube: http://youtube.com/catandnatyt... See full Video
Teen Films Dad Singing In The Car, But Millions Are Stunned By What She Captures
|Teen Films Dad Singing In The Car, But Millions Are Stunned By What She Captures| |To ring in the New Year 2017, YouTube user Daylafulla decided to reveal to the world just how talented her doting dad truly is.| |Kris Jones was sitting in the car with his daughter in their neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas when she turned on her cell phone camera and asked him to sing his rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey| |The George Jones song was recently made popular again by country crooner Chris Stapleton. It’s already a beautiful song with gorgeous lyrics… but I certainly did not expect Kris to sing it like this!| |Teen Films Dad Singing In The Car, But Millions Are Stunned By What She Captures| |He has such an amazing voice, and it looks like the world agrees. After his teen daughter posted the video to YouTube, it quickly went viral. It now has over six million of views!| |Viewers gunning for this talented dad to be on Ellen: “Can’t wait to see him on Ellen getting a lifetime supply of Tennessee Whiskey.”| |I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of him in the near future.|... See full Video
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March 31, 2017 February 6, 2018 krisrhim
Some high school football players tone down celebrations to align with NFL, NCAA
By Kristian Rhim
A new wave of players in the National Football League have been changing the sport — not with their play, but with their celebrations.
The NFL, which some have dubbed “the No Fun League,” has always been strict when it comes to regulating player celebrations. However, during the 2016 season, the league clamped down even more.
Fining players thousands of dollars every week seemed to be the norm last season.
The league lowered the boom with regularity throughout the season for excessive celebrations. In Week 1, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and New York Giants wide receivers Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz each were fined $12,154 for celebrations with teammates.
With such hefty fines and penalties, players are thinking twice about end zone dances and gyrations.
In college football, the NCAA hands out a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebrations. And if the celebration is considered unsportsmanlike conduct, the player is ejected.
As celebrations go, there is also a trickle-down effect to the high school level.
High school players are being affected by these fines and changes. Many high school coaches are no longer allowing their players to celebrate after scoring touchdowns, and some players don’t even think about celebrating.
“You celebrate with your teammates,” said Central High School coach Richard Drayton. “No individual antics. You get penalized for the individual stuff. When I played, you could get away with almost anything.”
More high school players now seem to avoid celebrating, which may be a result of how the PIAA views celebrations.
“I don’t celebrate when I score,” said Conwell-Egan Catholic High school wide receiver Victor Nyanway. “I don’t because my coaches tell me scoring should be done in a humble manner and you should act as if you’ve been there before.”
Central lineman George Jallah said he celebrates after scores or big plays because “it makes the game more fun.” Photo by Kristian Rhim.
For some players, celebrating is as important as it is spontaneous.
That’s especially true for players on the defensive side of the ball, where scoring is rare. They tend to celebrate big plays rather than touchdowns.
Central lineman George Jallah is one such player. He likes to express himself on the field by celebrating.
His celebrations are usually inspired by NFL players such as Beckham and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
“I absolutely celebrate after every score or a big play from me or my teammates,” Jallah said. “It makes the game more fun.”
Published by krisrhim
View all posts by krisrhim
Previous Trump and Sanders’ common appeal for young voters seeking change
Next Generation Z jumping into politics earlier
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A spin-off's injectable implant takes top honors at Seed Night
Amélie Béduer, CEO de Volumina Medical remporte la Start-up Champions Seed Night © 2019 Murielle Gerber
Yesterday evening, Volumina Medical walked away victorious at the Start-up Champion Seed Night. CEO Amélie Béduer, along with 21 other entrepreneurs from all over Switzerland, had just 90 seconds to pitch the crowd of alumni and investors who had gathered at the Rolex Learning Center.
Short and sweet. Last night, 22 entrepreneurs were given just 90 seconds each to pitch their projects to an audience of over 250 alumni and investors. Amélie Béduer, the CEO of Volumina Medical, won over the spectators and the jury with her company’s injectable implant. This biomaterial is designed to reconstruct soft tissue, following breast cancer surgery for example. It is injected with a syringe and represents a potential alternative to existing, more invasive, treatments. The product is currently in preclinical testing.
For these entrepreneurs, who are all in search of funding for their companies, the visibility they gained from their pitch last night was capital. The aim of this annual event, which is put together by EPFL Alumni, Innogrants (EPFL’s startup support fund) and Venturelab, is to forge ties between the School’s graduates and up-and-coming firms. It’s a networking initiative that keeps gaining momentum, based on the fact that graduates and successful entrepreneurs are investing more and more in the next generation of companies.
Both current and future entrepreneurs in attendance Thursday night drew inspiration from the keynote speakers. Steve Anavi, an EPFL graduate, described how he went from being an engineer to a serial entrepreneur. And Madiha Derouazi explained how she created her cancer-vaccine startup in 2012 and grew it into a company with some 15 employees – while raising 37 million francs along the way. “If you want to start a business, you need strength, endurance and boundless enthusiasm,” she said.
Following the pitches, the audience shortlisted four companies: Wakeit, Resistell, Volumina Medical and SwissDeCode. The four finalists were then asked the following question: “What keeps you awake at night?” Amélie Béduer clinched victory with her response; the jury particularly appreciated her “sense of duty and responsibility.” Steve Anavi added: “What’s more, the product she is developing builds on something that exists already – and that will facilitate buy-in among users.”
For Béduer, this was the first time she presented her work to such a large group of people. But she has faced tougher challenges as an entrepreneur: “Time pressure is much greater in business than in academic research. In order to start bringing in money, you need to develop your product quickly and make the right decisions. There’s no margin for error. It’s also important to choose your outside partners wisely, making sure they click with your team.” Thanks to Amélie Béduer’s focus and drive, Volumina Medical is certainly on the right track.
Author: Cécilia Carron
Seed Night
Volumina Medical
engineeringICresearchRolex Learning Centerspin-offstart-upSTI
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No-stress travel: How to get where you're going without the headache this Thanksgiving
By Rachel Schwartz
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year as families make their way to see aunts, cousins and grandparents for the holiday weekend.
According to AAA, 46.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday,the most since 2007. While most people will be traveling by car to their Thanksgiving destination, 3.6 million Americans will be taking to the skies to get where they're going. While there's not much to be done about the number of people on roadways and in airports, there are some tips to keep in mind to help you get to your destination with as little stress as possible.
Flying to your destination may not be optional, but often when you fly or what airport you fly out of are. There may be fewer people traveling on the actual day of the holiday since most people have already arrived at their destination and KAYAK spokesperson Dave Solomito told ABC in 2014 that flying on days like Thanksgiving and Christmas can be a money saver too.
It's also worth seeing if there's a less busy airport you can fly through that will still get you to your destination. Los Angeles, Chicago O'Hare, and San Francisco international airports top Orbitz's 2015 list of the busiest airports for Thanksgiving travel. Planning a trip to Omaha? You're in luck; Eppley Airfield tops the list for the least busy airports.
Get to the airport early
With millions travelers expected in airports on Wednesday alone, making sure you have enough time is no joke.
"Between the traffic on the roads and the traffic in the parking lots, and the ticket line, the suggestion to get to the airport two hours before your flight is no laughing matter," TSA spokesperson Nico Melendez said.
Travel journalist Tim Jue agrees. He takes 5-6 flights each month and has traveled to more than three dozen countries on almost every continent and says whether you're flying international or domestic, it's easier to just arrive early than stress about getting through security and to your gate on time.
Pack smart
Now that most carriers are charging passengers for checked bags, more people are opting to carry on their luggage. Jue says that he avoids checking bags whenever possible, both to save money and to save time at the airport.
"Checking bags is expensive and there's never a guarantee that your bag will get there, especially when making tight connections at a busy airport," Jue told ABC.
To make the most of the limited space in his bag, Jue focuses on packing pieces he can wear more than once on a trip.
"Pack diligently," Jue told ABC. "Look for items, shirts, pants, shoes, that you can wear more than once. If it gets dirty, there's always laundry facilities at your destination."
Check out the video below to see how to maximize the space in your bag when packing.
Be ready for your security screening
The holidays present some unique situations as people are more likely to be traveling with food and gifts. Pies are usually OK to carry on (be prepared to have inspectors swab the pie tin for additional testing), but items like cranberry sauces and gravies are subject to the liquid restrictions. Additionally, the TSA recommends leaving gifts unwrapped until you get to your destination.
Children under the age of 12 and adults over the age of 70 do not need to take off their shoes to go through security.
Most travelers are aware of the TSA rules about liquids, but it's also important to keep that bag handy so you're not holding up the security line as you dig through your suitcase to find your bag of shampoo and face wash.
Melendez recommends stopping before getting into the security line and taking a few moments to go through your pockets and check for loose change and place items like your wallet, cellphone and keys into your purse or briefcase. Similarly, Jue recommends carrying an extra plastic bag to hold those items while moving through the screening.
You can find more specific information about what items can be taken through security checkpoints at tsa.gov or by downloading the MyTSA smartphone app and using the "What Can I Bring" feature.
"Be prepared before you head to the airport so you're not learning the rules as you go," Jue said.
Carry snacks
Jue likes to carry an empty water bottle with him when he travels so he can fill it up once he gets through security.
Being hungry can make anyone grumpy, whether you're a kid or and adult. Bringing snacks will both save you money since you won't have to shell out for that slice of airport pizza and hold you over when those complimentary peanuts just don't quite cut it.
Don't forget to pack your patience
There are going to be a lot of people traveling in the coming weeks so lines and traffic are going to be unavoidable. Stay calm and try to remember that everyone is just trying to get where they're going.
travelholidaythanksgivingchristmastsaairport security
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Browse: Home / 2014 / September
Archives for September 2014.
Russian QueerFest: Success despite attacks, threats
admin76crimes / September 30, 2014
The organizers of QueerFest in St. Petersburg, Russia, say the 10-day event was a success, despite interference and…
Ugandan viewpoint: ‘a dead activist is not a good activist’
Perseverance. Fear. Difficulties. Threats. Tolerance. Leadership. Those are some of the themes of an interview with Clare Byarugaba,…
Canon Ogle on the move; ‘lot of work to do’ on LGBTI rights
The St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, which supports local LGBTI rights groups in many countries with anti-gay…
Indonesian region OKs whipping for gay sex, adultery
The Indonesian province of Aceh on Sept. 27 approved a bill that converts strict Islamic Sharia rules on…
$64 fine settles 1st court case citing Burundi’s anti-gay law
A Vietnamese telecommunications worker has been released after paying a fine to settle changes that he engaged in…
Ugandan straight ally: ‘Drastic fallout’ remains from anti-gay bill
In an interview, Roman Catholic health and human rights activist Maxensia Nakibuuka of Uganda tells what life has…
Supporters chip in to save sight of battered trans Ugandan
With support from a group of friends, activists and journalists, a Ugandan trans woman is scheduled for surgery…
U.N. keeps focus on anti-LGBTI violence; Africa divided
The U.N. Human Rights Council today passed a resolution opposing violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and…
New in Burundi: An arrest for ‘homosexual practices’
A Vietnamese telecommunications worker was arrested Sept. 16 in northern Burundi on charges of “homosexual practices,” according to…
Russian police, anti-gay activists seek to stop QueerFest
Polina Andrianova of the Russian LGBT group Coming Out reports on the increased harassment that LGBTI people are…
UN promises one-on-one attention to Kenya refugees – Erasing 76 Crimes – Gay News Blog on U.N. promises one-on-one attention to Kenya refugees
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ROCK'S VIDEO: New Sam Smith "How Do You Sleep?"
(Photo by Santiago Bluguermann/Getty Images) After announcing a few days ago that he would be releasing new music, Sam Smith has released “How Do You Sleep?” along with a music video. “This year, both personally and musically, I feel so free,” Sam said about the song. “More than ever I have had so...
New Music from DUA LIPA
Check out new music from Dua Lipa , Diplo and Mark Ronson – together known as Silk City. They've teamed up for a new track called “Electricity,” which debuted at midnight. “It’s one of the first things that we wrote when me and Diplo got together last summer,” Mark explained. Video of Silk City,...
Khalid Teases New Song With Halsey & Ed Sheeran From Producer Benny Blanco
Khalid and producer Benny Blanco just teased a brand new track that includes Halsey and even Ed Sheeran.
Lil Uzi Vert + BlocBoy JB Tease Collab With New Video
Lil Uzi Vert just teased a new collaboration with Memphis rapper BlocBoy JB. Check it!
Adele Is Reportedly Working on a New Album
Adele is reportedly working on a new album right now!
BET Awards: Watch YG, Nicki Minaj, + Big Sean Perform "Big Bank"
Precipitating from the clouds of greatness just hours before the start of the highly anticipated 2018 BET Awards, YG dropped his just-as-anticipated music video for his latest track "Big Bank" with 2 Chainz, Nicki Minaj, and Big Sean.
LISTEN: Ariana Grande + Nicki Minaj Flick On "The Light Is Coming"
If you remember the last track Ariana and Nicki did together, their latest collaboration together is almost sure to become a hit!
LISTEN: Kygo + Imagine Dragons Collab on 'Born To Be Yours'
Just days after EDM superstar Kygo announced his summer residency on the island of Ibiza, Spain, he released this picture on his Instagram OFFICIALLY CONFIRMING a collab between him and Imagine Dragons titled “Born To Be Yours”.
WATCH: Maroon 5 & Cardi B’s “Girls Like You” Music Video Is a Star-Studded Dance Party!
So, like, is there anyone that Adam Levine and Maroon 5 didn’t call on to star in their latest music video? The music video for Maroon 5’s Cardi B collaboration, titled “Girls Like You,” features a bunch of our favorite female stars. Yeah, you just saw Jennifer Lopez , Tiffany Haddish , Camila...
Shawn Mendes: The Album Is Here & We Love It!
Shawn Mendes’ self-titled album dropped today, and once again, we were reminded just how much we love the 19-year-old superstar.
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AARP VA-Scam Jam: A Special Fraud Fighting Event-Woodbridge-10/26/19
Every day, hundreds of local residents lose their hard-earned money to a variety of fraud schemes. In fact, every 2 seconds, a con artist steals someone's identity!
To strike back against scammers, AARP Virginia and Prince William Area Agency on Aging are bringing together top experts and law enforcement officials to present a free informational Scam Jam and Shredfest.
The presenters will discuss scams targeting Virginians, such as fake solicitor schemes, bogus investment deals, lottery scams, email fraud, a grandparent ruse, and the latest identity theft shams.
Keynote Speaker: Susan Hogan
Susan Hogan is the consumer reporter for News4, continuing NBC4’s decades-long mission of providing important and impactful information to people in the Washington region.
Bring Your Documents to Shred
We will have a shred truck on-site from 8:00 a.m. until 12 p.m. or until the shred truck fills up so come early!
Search for Unclaimed Property
Virginia Treasury's Unclaimed Property Program will be on-site returning money, stocks, bonds, dividends, utility deposits, insurance proceeds, tangible property and more to the rightful owners.
Ferlazzo Building
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Woodbridge, Virginia 22191
AARP Virginia
AARP Homepage
AARP Privacy Policy
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.
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Home › Introduce yourself!
The Unstable Catalyst of Hype Becomes Prospect!
ForsakenM
September 2017 in Introduce yourself!
Wassup guys! ForsakenM, The Forever Hype Man is here!
...and most of you guys won't know me, because I'm not very popular, I don't know why I continue doing these kinds of introductions...
But yeah, how's everyone doing?
So I wish I had known about this game much early than I did: Absolver is amazing in so many ways. The way I describe it to friends is it's like Sloclap took notes on For Honor, had a meeting with From Software, and then sat down and watched Ip Man and said "Eureka! I think we've got it!"
No game is perfect however, and I noticed a lot of issues, but this is not the section to do that: this is about introducing myself and how I found Absolver!
Well, I myself have been gaming since I can remember picking up a controller, and I have loved fighting games ever since I was young. I believe my first fighting game experience was with Killer Instinct, and since then only party games and silly fantasy sports games (Mario Tennis, NBA Street Vol 2, etc) have been able to try to measure up to my love of punching the every living crap out of my friends on a TV screen. Just for an idea of how obsessed I am with duking it out on screen, I have a shelf filled with roughly one-hundred and forty fighting games.
As for Absolver, funny thing, YouTube actually did me a service with it's ads for once. Was watching some footage for Dragon Ball FighterZ and the ad popped up below. At first I went to close it ("Stupid annoying ads, you never advertise anything I'd like YouTube!") but I saw the masked peeps and the name 'Absolver' stuck with me: I had never heard that word before. Absolve means to set or declare a person free of any guilt or blame, like to absolve someone of their crimes, kinda like a pardon...so I was like "What is this about, I hope it's not a mobile game, cuz this looks cool." After watching the 'Should You Buy...Absolver' vid by Downward Thrust, I was sold and immediately hit up my buddy who like fighting games almost as much as I do.
I picked up the game I think on the 1st, so I've only had it for a couple days, but I've been pretty much only thinking about playing it when I'm not playing it. Like, I'm having trouble MAKING THIS POST because it's up on my PS4 and I just wanna play it! I've beaten the main story (at least unless we get more later) and my bro and I did that the night we bought it, and after watching many videos and learning a lot of things, I can only say that I think I keep loving this game more and more!
Once I feel like I'm ready to just jump into PvP with anyone, I can't wait to take you guys on in honorable battles of strength, speed and skill! Maybe I'll be a masta of Stagger (Swagger?) Style when that happens.
See you all out there!
33 Official News
5 Upcoming Features
1 Rules of the Forums
495 Player Lobby
139 Introduce yourself!
320 General Discussions
36 PVP Requests
1.1K Gameplay
221 General Gameplay
190 [[!SPOILERS!]]
690 Suggestions?
153 Community-Built
120 Combat Decks / Builds
33 Fan Art
350 General Support
65 Français (French)
56 русский (Russian)
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Leagues & CupsLeagues & Cups
FIFA opens disciplinary case vs. Shaqiri, Xhaka
2yESPN
Sources: Man Utd hire help to fight online abuse
Sources: Bailly signs Man United extension
1mESPN
FIFA opens disciplinary case over Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka celebrations
FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Switzerland players Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, looking into their goal celebrations during Friday's 2-1 win over Serbia at the World Cup.
Both players, who are ethnic Albanians and of Kosovar heritage, celebrated after scoring with a gesture which appeared to imitate the eagle displayed on Albania's flag.
Serbia does not recognise the independence of its former province Kosovo, which broke away 10 years ago and whose 1.8 million people are mostly ethnic Albanians.
The players denied that their celebration was political, though Xhaka acknowledged thinking about his heritage.
"For me, it was a really special day," said Xhaka. "This is a victory for my family, for Switzerland, Albania, Kosovo. The gesture was for everyone who has supported me; it was not aimed at our opponents. It was a really emotional game."
Shaqiri, who also wore the image of a Kosovo flag on his boot, said: "It's nothing to do with politics, it's about football."
Two Swiss government ministers backed the players' actions on Sunday.
"Anyone who experiences the electric atmosphere of the game can appreciate more the performance of our national team and can understand the emotions which overcome a player," Defence, Civil Protection and Sports minister Guy Parmelin told the Neue Zurcher Zeitung (NZZ).
Swiss Foreign minister Ignazio Cassis was also sympathetic.
"I have no doubt that you can feel patriotic emotions for the land which has taken you in without forgetting your roots," he said.
FIFA's disciplinary regulations state that players found guilty of provoking the public face a two-match suspension and Swiss Football Federation president Peter Gillieron said he was hopeful that the pair would be absolved.
"It would be a hammerblow if they were to be suspended," he said.
FIFA said it had also opened proceedings against the Serbian FA for crowd disturbance and the display of political and offensive messages by Serbian fans. A preliminary FIFA investigation had been opened against Serbian coach Mladen Krstajic for "alleged statements made in the aftermath of the match," added the governing body.
Reports quoted Krstajic as telling Serbian reporters that German referee Felix Brych -- who denied his team a penalty when two defenders wrestled down striker Aleksandar Mitrovic -- should be put on trial in The Hague, home of the United Nations' war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Xherdan Shaqiri's last-gasp winner for Switzerland over Serbia has thrown Group E wide open. Clive Rose/Getty Images
It was thought that Shaqiri and Xhaka's celebrations could incite Balkan political tensions, but the day afterward many Serbs appeared angrier at the referee than the Swiss players.
"The Swiss Provocation," wrote Serb nationalist daily newspaper Vecernje Novosti alongside photographs of the gestures and a picture of Shaqiri's boots. However, Serbian newspapers gave more space to the VAR spat than to the nationalist gestures.
Serbian Football Association chief Slavisa Kokeza told the BBC that he was sending a protest to FIFA over the Mitrovic incident and complained that a German referee was assigned to a game featuring their neighbours Switzerland.
"I do not think this is only about VAR, but that the whole thing was directed by the people who appoint referees," Kokeza said. "We all know too well that more than half of Switzerland's population is German.
"Technical staff, players, people in Serbia, they are all disappointed and frustrated because of injustice some people at FIFA came up with."
Thousands of Kosovo Albanians trekked across Europe in the 1990s, fleeing rising ethnic tensions that culminated in a bloody 1998-99 war of independence between ethnic Albanians and Serb forces that left about 10,000 people dead. Many settled in Switzerland, but still have strong feelings for their homeland -- Xhaka's brother plays for the Albanian national team.
In the Kosovo capital, Pristina, fans set off flares when the Swiss players scored . Fans in the Albanian capital, Tirana, cheered as they watched the match on outdoor screens.
Kosovo's president Hashim Thaci wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations to goal scorers Xhaka, Shaqiri and entire #Switzerland on a well deserved win! Proud of you.'' He finished his tweet: "Kosova ju don!" -- an Albanian phrase meaning "Kosovo loves you!"
Thaci is due to meet his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels on Sunday for European Union-brokered talks on their countries' strained relationship.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama posted on his Facebook page photos of Shaqiri and Xhaka with their hands crossed in the two-headed eagle symbol and wrote: "Photo of the day."
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this report.
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European Manhunt for Anis Amri, Tunisian Involved in Berlin Massacre: Wake Up Call For Merkel
Posted by Mish | December 21, 2016 11:34:39 | Economics
In what should be a wake up call to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a search is on for Anis Amri, a Tunisian who was denied asylum but stayed in Germany anyway.
Germany tried to deport Amri, but no country would take him.
Germany issues a Europe-wide police alert for Tunisian suspect Anis Amri, believed to be responsible for the Berlin Christmas massacre.
German authorities had attempted to deport a Tunisian man who is being sought in connection with Monday’s deadly attack on a Berlin Christmas market, but were unable to do so because Tunisia refused to recognise him as a citizen.
Ralf Jäger, interior minister for the German region of North Rhine Westphalia, said the man, whose documents were found in the cab of the truck that was used in Monday’s assault, had earlier been investigated by the authorities in Berlin on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack. But the probe had been closed, he said.
German authorities issued a Europe-wide police alert naming 23-year-old Anis Amri as a suspect in the case, describing him as “dangerous and armed” and offering a €100,000 reward for infomation leading to his arrest.
His story illustrates the problems Germany has encountered in trying to deport refugees whose asylum applications are unsuccessful. It is also indicative of the broader security challenge posed by the massive influx of refugees into Germany over the last two years, many of them from Muslim countries in the Middle East.
Mr Jäger said German authorities had rejected the Tunisian man’s application for asylum in June, but he could not be deported because he did not have a valid passport.
Germany asked the Tunisian authorities to issue him with the necessary papers, but they initially refused, saying he was not Tunisian. “The papers were not issued for a long time. They arrived today. I do not want to comment further on this fact,” Mr Jäger said.
He added that Mr Amri, who arrived in Germany in July 2015, was on the radar of several German security agencies because of apparent links to Islamic extremists. He said prosecutors in Berlin had investigated him on suspicion that he was planning a “serious state-endangering crime”.
The Sueddeutsche Zeitung said the Tunisian man had been in contact with Abu Walaa, a suspected militant ringleader. German prosecutors said last month that they had arrested Abu Walaa and broken up his network, which they claimed had been been recruiting people to fight with Isis in Syria.
Hello Chancellor, have you learned anything about your “We can do this” policy?
How many other extremists who were denied asylum are running around on the loose?
50 thoughts on “European Manhunt for Anis Amri, Tunisian Involved in Berlin Massacre: Wake Up Call For Merkel”
pyrrhus said:
December 21, 2016 11:37:14 at 11:37 AM
Answer. 1. NO!
2. Who knows?
madashellowell said:
People busily creating a New World that has never before existed, accept that some collateral damage might occur…eggs, omelets and such. Each failure only informs them that they have not yet done enough. The clash of cultures can only be resolved through further clashes, relying on force and fear to engender peaceful cohabitation. Think about how Saddam managed to keep all of his disparate cultures at peace….through absolute and brutal force. His lesson is not wasted upon these folks. It will only get worse as it must, for them to be able to endow themselves with the power justification to IMPOSE their utopia view….as they have already begun.
December 21, 2016 1:29:50 at 1:29 PM
It’s the same people that said a common currency must occur by ‘x’ date.
Now it’s a common culture by ‘y’ date.
Both disastrous. It is a fundamental basis of the EU doctrine. Flag, legal, military, currency and remove all identification with culture, race, religion, native country.
Nothing is happening by accident.
Dissension will be outlawed soon, just give it little time. Anyone criticising the EU will immediately be under suspicion.
Merkel is just one example of the type executing in the plan.
People must develop common values…or at least respect for one another’s values before yo can have any kind of cohesive society. We can assume that globalists believe that they can “create” this common value system by force or dictate, but there is every chance that they simply seek control through chaos, seeing a divided and constantly embattled society far easier to obtain control. Both aspects of this ideology serve each other in pursuit of their agenda.
A self sufficient and secure society has little need of an all-powerful government.
Bill Jones said:
December 23, 2016 9:17:12 at 9:17 AM
The idea that the US and Europe can be turned into comfortable retirement homes staffed and paid for by pleasant and obeisant, productive and well-assimilated pig ignorant violent fleeing peasants is astonishing, yet that’s what we are asked to believe.
Societies succeed because they’ve built up, usually over centuries, a widely accepted and practiced set of behaviors; social capital built up of predictable actions and attitudes and beliefs: The core of the culture.
Immigrants; who do not have that ingrained culture are likely to be destructive of social capital and destructive to the host society. Despite the gibberish of the lunatic left most people recognize this and quite rightly reject the attempt to destroy their society in pursuit of a crazed political fantasy.
packysite said:
December 21, 2016 12:31:19 at 12:31 PM
Guess I’m wondering why Angie doesn’t call in z Luftwaffe set these bandits up with Prachutes that automatically open when you push them out of the plane? Make sure they fly them high and then have Squadron of planes , jets preferably fly under the drop off plane and cut through all of their parchutes at about 10,000 feet!! Ok maybe I’m thinking to much. What if they took these criminals cut their guts out and roast their stomachs over one of the many ovens Germany has mothballed!!
Too much?
You could simply stick them in the ovens close the sealed door and stop by a couple days later, just to vcheck up on them. See how they are doing.
And they can move freely in Europe with no checks. Wake-up EU.
painlord2k said:
It is not a problem with checks at the frontiers.
It is a problem of getting ridden of them when we get them.
A few days ago a 12 years old boys tried twice to blow up a market with a nail bomb.
Guess his religion and nationality.
In the UE they can not deport the family because of the boy need a family to take care of him (even if he is in a “family home” for youngs).
And they deport him out because he is too young to be judged.
And think of his rights.
And they have the Muslims facing the police and telling the police can no do anything to them because of the laws.
katsaus said:
3. How many extremists were GIVEN asylum through the loose, lax and inefficient asylum process mandated by EU-commission, stupid EU-directives and the originally swedish developed asylum processing guidelines made europe wide through EASO?
European countries have most likely over 100,000 islamist extremists who have been given asylum and after a few years citizenship based on just a story full of lies how they were “threatened” back home and had to flee.
There is ABSOLUTELY NO VETTING taking place in EU countries for these asylum seekers.
Their lies and fairytales are believed as is without any active process to catch cheaters and liars because EU-directives demand quick processing and EASO modules originally developed in Crazy-Sweden have been made Europe wide and the modules instruct to believe the lies as is.
The whole of europe has been made an islamic terrorist timebomb by EU-commission, by EASO, By Germany and Sweden and all the other governments where politicians run for cover from any responsibility to do their jobs and just concentrate on hoping that if they say yes to every demand they will not be called “racist” by either asylum seekers, immigrants who have not integrated and do not wish to integrate and leftist immigrant rights organizations lobbying for even looser policies.
peppe said:
All muslms are extremists
Just being Muslim is enough to qualiy
just goling to a Mosque is enough to qualify
jusgt donating funds is enough
Wake up they are all ticking time bombs
John Smith said:
If this guy is a Tunisian, why couldn’t they send him back to Tunisia if he was denied asylum?
Because German authorities are incompetent and do NOT do their jobs.
The reason is that some countries including Tunisia, Iraq, Afganistan and Somalia REFUSE to take back their own citizens if they are deported forcefully so that the deported themselves do NOT want to go to their home countries.
The leftists have so corrupted laws and authorities through lobbying by their immigrants rights organizations that the political elite is hysterically worried about being called “racists” so the policy has become that if a tunisian arsonist refuses to return to Tunisia and Tunisia shows the middle finger to whole of Europe and tells that they will not take him back if he does not want to come then the political elite does NOTHING because they want to be “humane” and they are afraid that leftist human rights organizations will call them “racists” if they try to do something.
All countries which refuse to take back their own citizens should be BOYCOTTED and all trade with them should be STOPPED and all visa issuance to that country’s elite should be stopped.
When tunisian politicians and businessmen could no longer party in Paris they would make sure Tunisia takes back it’s citizens within the next 48 hours.
All people who are ordered to be deported should be in PERMANENT DETENTION until their removal to their home country succeeds.
Merkel and German government LET this terrorist attack happen through their incompetence and failure to do their jobs.
Just overfly the Sahara and parachute him down.
pcnot said:
Why waste a perfectly good parachute?
G. Scott said:
The problem is much wider as nearly all the media I see have guests spouting on how good the migrant influx is condemning anyone with an alternative view as racist, which is nonsense and seem to take the view that migrants are a benefit not a problem stating the western countries need them due to falling birth rates.
It would seem to me most of the migrants from the middle east are probably uneducated if not illiterate and will be of no positive benefit at all. Then when one considers their belief system and values it is a no brainer.
The narrative is completely false as there are plenty of Europeans who are unemployed in France, Italy, Portugal and Spain that could be imported into Germany and other European countries if that was the case.
The argument they will not work for low wages or do the type of work they deem not to their liking is easily solved by removing state benefits if they refuse work offered.
We know Muslims had NOTHING to do with this. It is obvious that it was simply a disgruntled German Christmas shopper who could find no decent close-in parking for his big rig packed full of gifts, and simply lost it….likely a Nazi at heart. The Religion of Peace would have nothing to do with such an atrocity…especially at Christmas!
It is convenient (and obviously deliberate) that history books used in American Schools omit the time period from the fall of the Roman Empire until the crusades. After all, nothing of significance happened during that time period, and certainly nothing that might be relevant today.
There is plan to remove national identities and religious affiliations. This is just one part of it. It’s not just Germany. This is signed up to by the EU elite.
It won’t change. Nothing will change.
Anyone highlighting the errors is immediately branded and/or taken to.court.
It is planned. Nothing has happened by accident.
Germany DOES need immigrants in order to keep growing, hence staying world class. Unemployed Frenchies and Italians are already free to emigrate to Germany. But very few want to, and they can avoid it, due to unemployment insurance and other transfer payments in EU countries. Increasingly paid for by German taxpayers, of course…..
Now; neither Germany, nor anyone else, is able to determine which 1-5% of those arriving from abroad are neither fleeing immediate execution nor wishing to integrate into the German economy. But rather wishes to blow the whole place to smithereens. And, with 1 million arrivals, 1-5% is 10,000 to 50,000 guys who may be cruising around looking for an opportunity to blow stuff up…….
But still: Germany, along with the rest of Europe and the West, is caught between a rock and a hard place: Go extinct Japanese style, or be blown up. That’s the reward one reaps for encouraging Angela Merkel and her sisters to try becoming “leaders,” instead of raising leaders. A mistake the muzzies, despite screwing up a lot of other stuff, did not commit.
For Syria there was the option of refugee camps lose to Syria from which people are interviewed to allow transfer the the EU.
Dumbass lefty types didn’t engage brain as they can’t organise much outside of spending other peoples money and regulating everything else.
This whole mess is down to poor political class out of touch with the electorate or their concerns.
Anyone closer to the electorate or their concerns is labelled ‘populist’ rather than the pitical elite listening and doing something about it.
Populists don’t stand a chance when governments listen and act.
There is more than enough unemployed youths in Europe so that Europe does NOT need anymore immigrants.
The unemployment numbers for 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants in France are through the roof and same phenomenon is happening also in Germany with the turkish population.
In Sweden and Finland and Denmark the unemployment of immigrants that came through the asylum seeker process and through family re-unifications is over 50% after over 10 years in the country so this kind of immigration DESTROYS the welfare state.
99% of those coming have NO legitimate reason to come and they only come because european policies have been made lax,loose and ineffective by stupid EU-directives regarding asylum process and regarding family re-unifications and the swedish model of deciding asylum applications has been made Europe wide by EU-commission through EASO (European Asylum Support Office) which is a complete failure and further loosened the process and made more liars to be able to get through.
Syrians were already SAFE when they reached Turkey.
Iraqis, Afganistanis and Somalians are SAFE in their home countries peaceful areas.
Eritreans are SAFE in Eritrea they just need to serve 18 moths in the eritrean army doing army practices.
Those guys already have no restrictions on moving to Germany, or elsewhere, in search of a job. Yet they’re not. Hence plan B.
Besides, those guys are “responsible enough” not to have kids until “they can afford raising them.” So, one more generation out, things look even more bleak if one insists on relying on native born populations.
The “rock and the hard place” were BOTH created by globalists. Do you not question the fact that western developed nations have been indoctrinated for decades to the notion that we should NOT reproduce, YET we find,
Massive public support for low income people in our own countries to have children.
Spend billions of dollars in third world (over populated) countries to save lives.
And demand we open OUR borders and pockets to uneducated third world people (many who hate us) because we need warm bodies to support our social welfare systems and add “cultural diversity” to our gene pool.
Indoctrinate our own citizens to believe that WE are the perpetrators of evil in the world and as such should defer, sacrifice, surrender and submit to all of the loser cultures of the world.
It’s almost like “they” don’t like us.
Of course it was created by globalists. Or, more accurately, progressives. And of course, the whole charade will be ran over and smashed to pieces (and deservedly so) by those sensible enough to still pray to some form of proper God, in some form of proper Temple; rather than to some self promoter in a voting booth.
James Greenberg said:
1. Enter a country illegally
2. Imvestigated for potential terrorism
3. Deportation proceedings
4. Home country refuses repatriation
5. RELEASE???
How about an alternate #5? Like Gitmo or equivalent?
German authorities are weak and ineffective and they have been destroyed by political correctness and leftist immigrant rights organizations lobbying for soft touch for asylum seekers and other immigrants including criminals.
German authorities DID NOT DO THEIR JOBS¨to get that tunisian out of germany once he was marked for deportation.
German interior minister should RESIGN immediately or He should throw Merkel under the bus and ask Merkel to resign because Merkel is the one demanding soft touch from German authorities and always taking the side of leftist immigrant organizations demanding “humanity” from authorities which means in practice letting criminals commit crimes without any control.
The craziness Merkel did during 2015 was partially influenced by the fact that a palestinian girl who was a student and whose family had come to germany seeking asylum cried to her how she just wanted to stay in Germany and how the bad authorities wanted her family to leave.
Merkel should have been committed to an insane asylum immediately after she said that there is NO LIMIT on how many asylum seekers Germany takes in the summer of 2015 and later when she said that Dublin treaty does not matter that Germany will take anybody even those who registered as asylum seekers in other EU countries and told everyone to come to Germany.
Instead of demanding that Merkel should resign the spineless politicians at CDU/CSU voted her for another term and did not even present an internal challenger to Merkel and instead clapped for Merkel like communists clapped during Soviet Union for the leader of the communist party in Soviet Union.
The blood is in Merkels hands and it is in the hands of EVERY POLITICIAN in CDU/CSU for not demanding publicly that Merkel must resign after her insane policies.
CzarChasm Reigns said:
Exactly. I thought everyone was on the same page: relinquish all personal rights in the fight against terrorism, hold any potential terrorists indefinitely, pledge blind allegiance to your motherland, and expand the war so all can participate.
And now there is even a plan to fix the global economy by getting rid of those non-productive people that are mucking up the system:
“To suppress opposition among the poor and working class, the military proposes to either bulldoze the slums or to give criminal gangs free rein to rape, kidnap, kill, extort, and sell into slavery the most impoverished and defenseless section of the population.”
Selected quote from “US Army document on urban warfare advances strategy for ‘contemporary Stalingrads'” http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/12/21/city-d21.html
The future is so (radioactively) bright I gotta wear shades.
European national leaders no longer believe their job is to represent their citizens, but to direct them, correct them, improve them and to oppress them if necessary.
Germans cannot speak out or push back against their government’s actions for fear. FEAR or retribution, of being called NAZIS, just as we see in our own country where anyone (Trump) who speaks out against immigrants flooding into their country, traditional cultures and values discarded is a RACIST. At least in America, it’s largely still just name calling, but can still have serious consequences even for non public people. In Germany, being called a Nazi has even more serious consequences and goes a long way towards preventing public discussion or debate. The standard refrain for all progressives is to claim a consensus exists and the debate is over.
Atossa said:
The irony is… there is no such thing as a “Nazi.”
Hitler’s National Socialists did not call themselves, “Nazis.”
“Nazi” was a fake smear word used by the Allies.
It’s even more ironic when the fake word, “Nazi”, is used in official government “anti-Nazi” legislation.
sufganiyah said:
What exactly was she supposed to learn, Mish? This was all expected. We are supposed to get used to regular terrorist attacks, remember?
This is all part of a bigger plan. The bad white males will be all gone soon. It’s all just vibrancy and diversity from now on. Don’t worry…
If a country refuses to take back their citizens then Germany and EU and ALL EU countries should STOP all trade with that country and NEVER give visas to that country’s elite such as leading politicians, businessmen or students to travel to any european country.
BOYCOTT TUNISIA!!!
From now on weak and ineffective and incompetent Merkel must either RESIGN for her multiple failures OR take a hard line such as DETENTION for 18 months for everybody who comes to seek asylum like EU law allows, completely CLOSED borders between Greece and Italy and the rest of Europe so welfareseekers know there will be NO way to welfare europe from Greece and Italy so they do not come in the first place, UNLIMITED DETENTION for everyone who has been marked for deportation so they either leave voluntarily or stay in DETENTION until their deportation succeeds.
Countries that refuse to receive deportations of their own citizens should be treated like North Korea!
Meanwhile, over here in bizarro world…
Gersh Kuntzman, a leftist columnist for New York Daily News is justifying the Russian ambassador assassination comparing him to Hitler’s ambassador to France whose 1938 assassination led to Kristallnacht.
” Assassination of Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov was not terrorism, but retribution for Vladimir Putin’s war crimes ”
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/don-cry-russia-slain-envoy-putin-lackey-article-1.2917281
Here is a response blog article:
” Daily News’ Kuntzman Praises Murder of Andrey Karlov – Lovingly Compares it to Event That Provided Pretext for Kristallnacht and the Holocaust ”
https://willyloman.wordpress.com/2016/12/21/daily-news-kuntzman-praises-murder-of-andrey-karlov-lovingly-compares-it-to-event-that-provided-pretext-for-kristallnacht-and-the-holocaust/
Don’t be naïve.
This same tactic is common in your own backyard.
There are thousands of undesirable illegal foreigners who have done prison time for serious violent felonies who live in your neighborhoods because their native countries refuse to comply with US deportation orders and repatriate the undesirables on home soil. And your US government officials tolerate it and allow the criminal foreign undesirables to remain in the US since their countries of origin reject them.
It’s just another method used by foreign governments to relieve themselves of the burden of undesirables citizens who add no value to their communities. Instead they pan them off on the taxpayers of other nations who are stupid enough to take them.
Who do you think Mexico sends to the US? Their intelligentsia and productive educated citizens who offer value to the Mexican economy or the dregs of their society that contribute to overpopulation and economic burdens?
It’s been reported that the Mexican government has actually provided their underclass with pamphlets explaining the safest illegal routes into the US and where to go for assistance once they arrive. lol.
And we still give Mexico over half a billion annually in foreign aid. Go figure.
But I was told that all of the “deplorables” voted for Trump.
Have the borders been closed to prevent the next terrorist from entering Germany?
NO!!!
Austria and Slovenia closed their borders which forced Croatia, Serbia and Macedonia also to close their borders so the route from Greece to welfare paying europe was CLOSED.
Bulgaria and Albania already control their borders with Greece so when Macedonia closed their borders the movement through Greece stopped.
Merkel was against this and demanded that borders must stay open!
There is currently NO way for asylum seekers to travel from Greece to Welfare paying europe themselves but EU commission and Merkel “rammed” through a “voluntary” burden sharing mechanism in 2015 where 160,000 asylum seekers are to be given lifts from Greece and Italy to welfare paying Europe so currently EU-commission is luring people to come to Greece and Italy by giving rides to welfare paying europe from there.
Most EU countries have not followed through on this burden sharing so only under 10,000 people have been burden shared of the 160,000 but three beyond stupid countries are taking these burden sharing asylum seekers quickly and thereby worsening the situation and luring more people to come to Greece and Italy and these countries are France, Netherlands and Finland all of whom have incompetent governments.
Italy is receiving lots of people through Libya (because Italy gives sea-taxi rides from Libyan coast to Italy to “prevent drownings”) but France has controlled their border with Italy since summer of 2015 and Switzerland and Austria and Slovenia also now have increased controls on their borders with Italy so the flow from Italy to welfare paying europe is less than it was previously but many people still get through.
Borders with Italy should be closed completely so less people would come to italy in the first place.
If there would be NO WAY from Italy and Greece to welfare paying europe NOBODY would come.
“Revealed: Tunisian asylum seeker wanted for Berlin massacre was jailed for four years in Italy for burning down a school and arrested three times in Germany before police lost him
Terror suspect Anis Amri, 23, from Tunisa served four years in an Italian prison for an arson attack on a school
His ID was found in the footwell of the truck used in Monday’s attack which claimed 12 lives and injured 48
German security officials had Amri under close surveillance between March and September this year
He was suspected of dealing drugs and planning robberies to finanance the purchase of assault rifles
Amri allegedly arrested for GBH and having fake passport but vanished in December before the attack ”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4054140/How-German-police-bungled-hunt-Europe-s-wanted-man-Asylum-seeker-23-wrongly-blamed-Christmas-market-massacre-jumping-red-light.html
P Souch said:
Inline image 1
Time to start locking up a few leaders that fail.
Don’t dare stand up for the masses else you will be labelled ‘populist’.
The masses are lambs for the slaughter don’t deserve protection.
Scew up in leadership and get gold plated pension, a bit of bad press but Swan off into the night made for life. That has to stop so those in charge begin to engage brain.
It is time some anger was expressed at the ballot box.
silvermitt said:
Who could have foreseen that country of origin wouldn’t want these scumbag extremists back? Who could have foreseen the absolute chaos and destruction bringing in millions of people without similar ethics, values, and beliefs and throwing them in next to the citizens of western culture?
Anyone with a functioning brain in their heads. Too bad so many with the clout to stop this madness didn’t have their brains where they belonged and, of course, had their heads so far stuck up a dark place they were well and truly blind to the repercussions.
No surprise, though sad for the legal citizens of Germany.
It’s not just Merkel. There is a whole generation of these people and Brussells is full of them.
The people of the EU have no idea what is in store for them and will only realise when they have lost all control, compass, identity.
To stop it the EU (set-up to prevent country vs country conflict) will create governed vs government conflict instead or culture vs culture.
A few have said they need crises in order to further their aims. Expect more.
Western societies are indoctrinated with guilt and crave annihilation. We simply fail to recognize WHO it is that is doing this and because of its lack of attribution deny its possibility, because we believe that our own government, our own PEOPLE, would NEVER deliberately do that to us. We do not understand that THEY do not SEE themselves as OUR people.
So Merkel has allowed in so many criminals and extremists that she can’t tell a Pakistani from a Tunisian?
The easy way to solve this is not to allow illegal immigrants, or Angela Merkel, into Germany. Put the whole lot onto buses and ship them (with military escort as needed) into Brussels and put the “temporary” immigrants into housing inside the EU headquarters.
Alternatively, Europe could wait for the AfD to put immigrants into concentration camps and start goose stepping through Brussels. History repeats for people who don’t learn, so don’t laugh about this.
The first option would be a lot easier for everyone — and all it would take would be to vote a different CDU / SPD leader into Merkel’s office. The opportunity for German’s to take back their own neighborhoods is months away at most (and they could vote no confidence and push Merkel out early).
I doubt anything big happens between now and New Years, unless there is another attack. But come January, the CDU and SPD parties will be in a huge hurry to find someone acceptable (even if flawed) — Merkel is no longer acceptable.
tiller said:
Aaaand of cause, he left his the password in the cab.
Is this good practice nowadays, or why does this happen at every such a event?
Most of the comments here reflect the situation from last year when over a million unknown streamed into Germany – although even that number was reported to be on the high side due to double counting. Since then it has become much tougher to get to the land of free flowing milk & honey LOL, just try yourself to get from eg. Syria to Germany. Most likely you will die by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Quietly Frau Bundeskanzlerin Merkel has tightening her string purse for the newcomers and has send them back to their homelands. Even Afghanistan is now declared a ‘secure’ area and some 10,000 Afghanistan have been sent back to Kabul this year
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2016/12/16/germany-begins-sending-back-afghan-refugees
Only 900,000 more people to send back home…
ALL afganistanis, ALL iraqis, ALL somalis were SAFE in their home countries SAFE areas so they should all be sent back.
ALL syrians were SAFE when they reached Turkey so there was NO reason to continue to Greece and from there to western Europe.
The only reason was Germany and Sweden giving 100% acceptance, free welfare money, free apartments and family re-unifications on welfare.
sounds like BS ,he left his papers in the truck,,the real one merkel let go,,,no??
Henrik Kramer said:
A number of eur. countries are now entangled in an asymmetrical war.
More than a century of scandalous / stupid “interventions” in the moslim world, a deep crisis within islam, porous borders of the EU, generous welfare-arrangements in countries like GB, Fr, D, NL and Sweden and all kinds of guilt-feelings have led to the establishment there of large disgrunteled muslim communities, that – in a daily web of digital communication – are in a dangereuses state of ultra-reactionairy mindset and of alienation…..a fertile breeding-ground for this 21century kind of war.
The outcome is uncertain, but will surely be unpleasant.
Merkel should take the Tunisian Ambassador aside and say “I’m not going to bother with visa, travel or export restrictions, either you change your policy or on January 1st or we will destroy your economy and turn your country into Venezuela”
Should take about a month to do.
I’m sure Trump would be delighted to cancel the loan guarantees the US extended under Barry the Kenyan.
transrp said:
Wait — I thought that this was a false flag attack run by the CIA and the international Jewish conspiracy. Or is that Fake news?
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Senator Durbin’s Credibility Problem
The Washington Times recently printed an opinion piece discussing the threat nutritional supplements are facing from the FDA and Sen. Durbin’s bill. The senator’s response makes one wonder if he has read his own bill. A follow-up to our Action Alert.
Durbin says he introduced the bill in response to “a product on the market now that is escaping regulation as an adulterated food by marketing itself as a ‘dietary supplement.’” This refers to the melatonin-laced brownies sold as Lazy Cakes we’ve been telling you about (melatonin is a natural hormone that puts us to sleep). But the FDA has in fact moved against Lazy Cakes and quite appropriately shut them down. The agency could have done this from the start. It always had the authority to do so, as Durbin surely knows. Why did it wait so long? Perhaps to support Durbin’s bill, or to avoid revealing how misleading the senator’s arguments are?
Note also that of the bill’s eight pages, only two sentences address food companies like the one that made Lazy Cakes. Almost all of the bill is aimed at nutritional supplements.
The senator’s credibility problem doesn’t stop there. He says that his bill is designed to stop “mislabeling products and making health claims that have no scientific basis” and “marketing supplements with impure or incorrectly identified ingredients.” If that’s the case, he would be pleased to know that all those things are already against the law! That’s right: everything he mentioned is already prohibited under current law. Of course, the senator knows that perfectly well.
Since the purpose of this bill is clearly not the one stated, what is the purpose? It would seem to be an attempt to move us one step closer to a full FDA approval system for supplements. That, of course, would just make supplements insanely expensive, like drugs, if you could get them at all. If supplements are not yanked from the market, or turned into drugs, the high prices would kill demand and drive supplement companies out of business. The drug industry would be waiting, ready to pick up the pieces and make their current monopoly position even tighter. That’s why our Action Alert is so important—if you haven’t already done so, please take action now!
Under Durbin’s bill, the FDA would not be the sole evaluator of supplements. It would be assisted by the government’s Institute of Medicine. Perhaps this is supposed to satisfy critics of the FDA. But it doesn’t make the proposal any better. This is the same Institute of Medicine whose recent reevaluation of vitamin D doses has been ridiculed by scientists actually expert about vitamin D. Even conventional medical societies such as the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists criticized the Institute’s work.
Here’s an example of the IOM’s logic. It recommended 600 IU of D for a pregnant woman. It then said that the moment the baby is born, it should have 400 IU while the mother continues to need 600 IU. On the face of it, this makes no sense at all. The IOM committee was also apparently about to restate the safe upper intake level of D well above the previous 2,000 IU per day. Then just before publication and for no apparent reason—certainly no reason based on science—it reversed course and pulled a meager 4,000 IU out of thin air as the new upper limit. Scientists such as John Cannell, MD, who have really studied D, suggest that 4,000 IU would be a more reasonable recommended daily allowance, not an upper limit.
Don’t forget that the FDA in 1972 tried to ban any supplement dose higher than 400 IU unless taken under a doctor’s prescription. What both the FDA and the Institute of Medicine have in common is that both agencies know very little about supplements but are nevertheless deeply biased against them. In the FDA’s case, this may be because of all the fees that the agency gets from drug companies. Or because many of the agency’s outside panelists are paid by drug companies. In the IOM’s case, many of its experts of course also receive fees from drug companies. Yet these are the people whom Senator Durbin wants to give completely arbitrary power over supplements!
For example, under the senator’s bill, the FDA could require warnings on supplement labels of any length that would say anything the government wants, no matter how unreasonable. It would create lists of “bad” ingredients or “bad” dosages based on completely arbitrary or nonexistent standards. Whatever the FDA says would go. And once an ingredient or supplement is singled out for this treatment, there is no process to challenge the determination, not even if new or contradictory evidence comes to light. This is really bad legislation.
Assuming that Sen. Durbin is sincere—and we assume he is, despite his misleading arguments—he should create a new federal agency to be in charge of supplements. That would at least begin to make possible sensible federal oversight of the supplement industry.
Michelle Minton, who works at the prestigious Competitive Enterprise Institute, got it exactly right in her July 28 article, “The Coming War on Vitamins.” Sen. Durbin’s Dietary Supplement Labeling Act (S. 1310) is part of a one-two punch aimed at eventually pulling supplements into the current and completely dysfunctional drug approval regime.
The second part of this one-two punch is the equally insidious proposed FDA New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) guidance, which applies to supplements created after 1994. Was it a coincidence that the bill and the proposed new standards rolled out at the same moment? Was the idea that if one was shot down, the other might get through? We don’t know. We do know that the American people need to know what is actually in the bill and the guidance, both of which are cloaked in obscure bureaucratic legalese intended to mask their true purposes.
It is past time for a return to honesty and openness in American politics. Sen. Durbin could start by abandoning the falsehood that his bill has anything to do with tainted brownies that have already been removed from the market.
If you have not already done so, please write to your senators and representatives immediately and ask them to oppose Sen. Durbin’s Dietary Supplement Labeling Act. Please take action now!
26 responses to “Senator Durbin’s Credibility Problem”
ronnie j. garner says:
Sen. Durbin is a good example of “Stupid is as stupid does”
I couldn’t have said it better.
David Myhre says:
The federal gvernment already has regulatory laws to safeguard Americans from every substantive risk posed by nutrients and nutriceuticals. Sen Durbin’s bill is totally unecessary. Please instruct the FDA to use its enforcement tools to keep unsafe products off the market and kill Sen Durbin’s bill which REALLY is intended to classify all nutrients as drugs so the drug companies can make even more obscene profits than they already do and make Americans pay more.
Please stop “protecting” us from imaginary risks, and stop handing profits to the perps that fund your campaigns. That is corruption. We are sick of it.
CON gress, the opposite of PROgress.
T Rao says:
You must be out of your mind! “create a new federal agency”? Why is it that so many people look to this government to validate everything for them? Let’s make government bigger!! That’s your suggestion?? Idiotic!!
Also, let’s call the FDA exactly what it is. Monsanto’s governmental military arm of their public company. That statement is accurate.
I’d rather see a campaign to end the FDA, er, excuse me, end Monsanto’s strangle-hold on what the world can do with their own bodies.
I singed your letter to my State Reps because we should attack this at every angle but to advocate yet another government agency that will no-doubt be run by yet another appointed sycophant of the US puppet rulers is ludicrous
by the way, I don’t donate to any company that I cannot contact directly. I found no contact information within.
Matthew Smola says:
Big pharmaceutical lobbyists are on their way to getting this Durbin bill passed. I believe the only way to get the attention of any of our lawmakers is to tell them directly that you will not vote for them again and campaign against them if they vote yes on this bill. We all need to start taking personal responsibility stand up against this tyranny. We also need to push our will on to our politicians that are looking out for their best interest, which always seems to have something to do with money!, If it’s for family, friends, or any other interests our politicians may have.
dave h says:
this one of the worst bills ever sen durbin should be voted out of office if this bill passes so should everyone who votes for this fraud of a bill
tekwyzrd says:
I wish they’d go after the bad prescription drugs that were approved based on fraudulent, edited, or faulty studies. They kill many more people than dietary supplements.
Patrice Wells says:
Leave nutritional supplements alone- allow us to use nutritional supplements,. vitamins and minerals.
fallingman says:
Durbin is sincere…right. Kinda like Mussolini was sincere.
A new federal agency in charge of supplements. There’s a splendid idea…NOT.
How about we pester the livin’ bejezus out of Congress and insist that they keep the FDA’s bloodstained fingers off our supplements now and forever? How about we form a human ring around the FDA’s headquarters and refuse to leave even if they beat us about the head and shoulders and arrest us? How about we all put bumper stickers on our cars that say Stop The Federal Death Administration? How about we just move to another country and simply acknowledge that the fascists have us under their thumbs and it’s too late to do very much about it?
Just some ideas. Take your pick.
Geraldine Wadia says:
Kinly oppose sen. Durbin’s Dietary Supplement Labeling Act.
AZgirl7 says:
PLEASE don’t make me shiver by suggesting the inept and thoroughly corrupt government create a new agency to regulate supplements!!! We all know full well that everything is just fine as it is!! The government needs NO MORE CONTROL over our choices and lives. It’s the mislabeling of their own legislation, laws, and intentions that need to be regulated!!! I find it very coincidental that with each new draconian bill that comes up for a vote seems to be preceeded by a tainted food event! Let’s have them compare the death and damage stats from supplements, vs.the illness, pain and death caused by Big Pharma prescriptions and factory farmed, mass produced foods. They just need to get OFF OUR BACKS!! PERIOD!
I CAN’T write to my own “Reps” since it was John McCain’s disgusting attempt, S 3002, to take supplements away (it flopped) that was probably handed off to Durbin with a few little changes, albiet with the same end result. They just won’t stop, will they? Honest to God fellow citizens….are you ready yet, to be rid of these traitors of the American people?? Why don’t they just resign and go work for the pharmacuetical companies directly?
Jill Hissom says:
Animals don’t need to be drugged!
This bill must be stopped. Americans are smart enough to know what products are good for them and what are not. Stop treating us like children.
Elizabeth Butler says:
The big pharma companies want to shut down the supplements that keep us healthy so we don’t need their overpriced killer pills. Then they want to sell those same supplements to us at greatly inflated prices. One must wonder if Sen. Durbin gets any campaign contributions from big pharma companies.
Karen Williams says:
Durbin’s bill appears to me to be a distraction & just “busy work” rather than Congress actually putting their heads together to deal with our country’s REAL problems, like the debt! Just what we need — more government interference! The FDA already has the authority to do virtually anything it wants to (not necessarily all to our benefit); it doesn’t need another bill to restate it — & design with a specific purpose. Kill this bill!
1776Again says:
You are being too gracioous concerning Durbin’s motves. Don’t forget that he’s from the home of the Daley Machine, you pay to play. Just like the S510 Farm Safety Farce, he will be paid an enormous sum to get it passed by Big PHARMA’S lobbyists; so would have John McCain if his version of the supplement bill had been passed. He needed the money, got paid but bill was passed on to three more versions before this one. This is all about getting Codex directives put through by FDA !
Whoa, back up!
ANH, I agreed with every word you wrote, before this paragraph. But I have to react with raised eyebrows to the above statement.
HUH? The Feds should create another agency to —you said it very well—-“be in charge of supplements” ?
Be in charge….that’s right. This is a dictatorship, not a free country. Let’s face it. Haven’t we seen that written all over the wall? What’s this business —-business—-of granting corporations the voice of indiividuals? What about the FDA’s crackdowns on the supplement industry—-to favor bigger, fatter and more selfish ones? At cost to human wellbeing and freedom of choice?
Why on earth would another government entity be any more effective than the FDA? (I do not support the FDA’s involvement in the food and supplement regulation business, not even one bit. I repeat the word: Business).
What we need, ANH, is less regulation and not more of it. To play musical chairs is only to play one more game of charades.
Can you please explain your thinking to us in your above statement? This strikes me as being at odds with all that, up until this very moment, I have always perceived you to be. Thank you for your open-book response and for your clarification. Sometimes impressions can be wrong, and when they are, they need to be corrected. I will look forward to your posted response, here. Thank you for all that you do, I have been following (and forwarding) your articles, with keen interest and appreciation for your brave and ethical work.
The Government Of the Corporations, By The Corporations, and For the Corporations was never penned into law by our founding fathers.
Please tell your Senators and Representatives, and post this statement to blogs everywhere! Thanks.
One more ps:
I think we will gain much more mileage if we….
Take matters into our own hands and write to the newspaper editors, post to blogs, etc the researched facts, comparing deaths and illnesses from tainted food to that of Big Pharma and its so-called “side effects”.
We need to tell our Congress members that we pay them. Remind them, in public, in writing that is openly read by all!
Remind them that they took an oath of office to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution. This has nothing,,,zero…..to do with The Government Of the Corporations, By the Corporations and For the Corporations. Instead, it has everything to do with protecting, defending and upholding the Government Of the People, By the People and For the People.
Therefore, we ourselves are remiss in asking our Reps and Senators what *their* position is about any given matter.
Instead, we should be reminding them that they are duty-bound to represent and implement the will of Us, the People.
If not, then they need to be fired.
We can use our pens to peacefullly and legally help to get them unseated from public office. And we can ask others to do the same. Further, we can support new Candidates and get good people voted in.
Gene Semon says:
Thanks ANH-USA for a job well done on this critical issue.
If the worst does come to pass, I intend to say goodbye to America.
Meanwhile we keep swinging …
Linda Cooley says:
Why are we becoming so communistic in the USA! Us Americans Deserve to have some rights!!Your making the world abusive,anxiety,corrupt!!! Let us have some little enjoyment please!Where would you be without us?Your spending on vacations with no Conscious.Have empathy ethics compassion out of this equation? Pissed off! People want to leave the USA and go to foreign places just to get the hell out of here!!Than what happens??
A. Werewulff says:
It would be good to see the thumbs up or down count, however it doesn’t seem to work here… just sayin’.. what say you ANH?
“Some say to survive you need to be as mad as a hatter… which luckily, I am.” ~Johnny Depp. Tim Burton’s Alice in wonderland. The Mad Hatter.
Richard Warren says:
I have been cured of heart disease and my heart doctor is amazed. The supplement was Cardio plus from Health Alert that uses Standard Process Supplement. I have also bee cured of Eczema using sesame oil and Betafood made by Standard Process. My skin specialist did not have a clue about the disease and kept giving me different steroid salves that only contained the itching. If this bill goes through, I hope that I will not died to the lack of proper holistic treatment.
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Jun 14, 2011 153
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Major League Sports Pushes to End Supplement Freedom
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How Does Counter Shading Help a Frog?
By Alexis Rohlin | Updated November 01, 2017
frog on a hand - black-eyed tree frog sitting on a hand image by Christophe Fouquin from Fotolia.com
Counter shading is a type of camouflage used by frogs, salamanders and turtles. Species that have counter shading have lighter colors on their stomachs and darker colors on their backs. This difference in color on a frog's body helps him hide from predators on land, birds in the air, and fish and other aquatic predators.
The color or pigmentation of a frog's skin can allow him to hide by blending in with surrounding colors in the environment. Many types of frogs can make their skin color brighter, but they cannot change into a different color, as some lizards can. This change occurs gradually and is often used to regulate body temperature during sunny, hot seasons. Frogs come in a variety of colors, from bright red and brilliant jade green to mottled brown. They can be black and white, and even have several different marbled shades of brown on their skin. Some frogs use bright colors to warn predators that they are poisonous, or to mimic other types of poisonous frogs that are the same color.
About Camouflage
Camouflage is a type of animal defense mechanism. By having skin colors that match the environment, it allows a frog to conceal himself in plain sight. It is an adaptation that relies on a form of visual deception that allows a frog to hide from potential predators and to also hide from prey. Many frogs will sit still and wait for insects or other prey to pass by and catch them with their sticky tongues. Frogs do not typically go out and hunt for food, but wait for it to come to them and rely on camouflage to remain undetected. This increases the frog's chances of catching food.
Counter Shading
Counter shading is a type of camouflage called crypsis, which is an animal's ability to avoid being seen by other animals. Counter shaded animals have a lighter color on the bottom of their bodies and a darker color on the top. The lighter colored underside protects them from animals that live in water. When looking up for potential prey, the light color blends in with the sunlight that is filtering down through the water, and the frog is not noticed by the predator.
Top Shading
Depending on where the frog lives, counter shaded frogs can have a top color that is bright green, faded brown or gray. Bright green-topped frogs live in areas where there is a lot of foliage, such as a rain forest, where birds and other animals that live in the trees will not see them, because they blend in with their surroundings. Frogs that live in murky waters or around areas covered by dead leaves will have a faded brown or grey top color that allows them to hide on the forest floor.
Teacher Vision: Reptile and Amphibian Defense Systems
Frogs: A Chorus of Colors; John L. Behler, et al.
Alexis Rohlin is a professional writer for various websites. She has produced works for Red Anvil Publishing and was one of the top 10 finalists in the 2007 Midnight Hour Short Story Contest for OnceWritten.com. Rohlin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in English from Madonna University.
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Annotation Nation
Annotations of the writers, by the writers, for the writers…
May 17, 2011 May 17, 2011 / annotationnation / 4 Comments
book by Cormac McCarthy
annotation by Lee Stoops
“As for me my only hope is for eternal nothingness and I hope it with all my heart.”
~ Cormac McCarthy, The Road (57)
Chilling. Dark. Cold. Hopeless. And yet, The Road is full of love, regardless; both McCarthy’s love of a real story told well and the love a father and son share, even in the face of nothingness. The landscape is America, though the time is epitomic post-apocalyptic. Nothing remains but ash, broken, Spartan roads, and a few, hungry, desperate, withered people. Winter – and it’s not clear if it’s seasonal or nuclear – sets in and color long ago left the world. McCarthy paints a bleak, grim environment and ravages his characters with it. Yet, they never give up. They sustain each other entirely. And that sustenance is the point. Days without food or water, weeks on the road, sleepless and cold and knowing that the only other people alive are eating each other, and moving toward a goal simply for the sake of having a goal – none of these keep the story moving or give it its poignancy. Its strength, its very meaning, exists in the bond of love the father and his son share.
McCarthy’s intentions with the story are clear. He so much as eliminates visual, typeset elements of the page so that everything makes way for the truth of the prose. None of the dialogue is quoted, and only some the time is it tagged. The characters (the boy and his father) remain nameless for the entire story. No states are labeled, no nomenclature of town or geographic shows. Titles and places, even extra ink on the page for apostrophes or quotations, are unnecessary distractions in McCarthy’s vision.
“At the top of the hill he turned and studied the town. Darkness coming fast. Darkness and cold. He put two of the coats over the boy’s shoulders, swallowing him up parka and all.
I’m really hungry, Papa.
Will we be able to find our stuff?
Yes. I know where it is.
What if somebody finds it?
They wont find it.
I hope they dont.
They wont. Come on.
What was that?
I didnt hear anything.
I dont hear anything.
They listened. Then in the distance he heard a dog bark. He turned and looked toward the darkening town. It’s a dog, he said.
A dog?
We’re not going to kill it, are we Papa?
No. We’re not going to kill it.
He looked down at the boy. Shivering in his coats. He bent over and kissed him on his gritty brow. We wont hurt the dog, he said. I promise” (81-82).
McCarthy’s characters engage is continual dialogue, and the speech patterns and choices are masterful. Part of the story’s brilliance lies in the boy’s true form; he is a young boy, witness to a world devastated and lonely, but remaining a young boy. The father recognizes and pities his son’s innocence and forced loss, and he struggles to balance survivalism, reality, and compassion in a world that doesn’t care whether they live or die. McCarthy’s approach to developing the boy’s character through reflection and interaction with his “Papa” is one of the indicators that not a single element of The Road is accidental.
Devoid of chapter breaks, or even long scenes, the story reads like a close observer’s journal accounting of the pair’s journey. Most scenes, sequences, or flashbacks are only pieces on the pages, some spanning two or even several. The technique, if described, sounds choppy, like a series of false starts or gapped prose. However, in the case of The Road, it might not work any other way. The reader is trusted to intuit time, place, emotion, and pace. The story may jump from the man holding his son, protecting him while he sleeps, to a flashback to a time when the boy’s mother was still alive, to the next morning or even several days later. Despite the technique and things left unsaid, the disjointed style, rather than create a disjunct narrative, gives even more truth the story, to their lives, and to the experience as a whole.
“He was a long time going to sleep. After a while he turned and looked at the man. His face in the small light streaked with black from the rain like some old world thespian. Can I ask you something? he said.
Are we going to die?
Sometime. Not now.
And we’re still going south.
So we’ll be warm.
Okay what?
Nothing. Just okay.
Go to sleep.
I’m going to blow out the lamp. Is that okay?
Yes. That’s okay.
And then later in the darkness: Can I ask you something?
Yes. Of course you can.
What would you do if I died?
If you died I would want to die too.
So you could be with me?
Yes. So I could be with you.
Okay” (10-11).
And, that’s what The Road is – an experience in life at its most uncertain, most hopeless, most true. As a reader, I read rapt. As a writer, I couldn’t put the book down, even though I needed a hand free to make notes – recording everything he was doing right, when and how he was doing it, and why it worked everywhere it did. The story is spare, made rich by authentic characters and some of the strongest contemporary prose available. I closed the book, inspired and terrified, thinking, “This is what a story can do? This is what I can do with a story?” If Cormac ever reads this: Thank you.
May 7, 2011 / annotationnation / 1 Comment
book by T.C. Boyle
annotation by Tina Rubin
My rendezvous with this novel, which was on a sale table at Borders, was too coincidental to ignore. I’ve always loved the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, and I always meant to read something by T. C. Boyle. When the two forces coalesced, I was helpless. Of course, this novel is about Wright’s messy relationships with the four women he loved, not his work—but through them and the narrator, we do get a sense of the complete man.
It’s fascinating to learn about each of the women and see how the architect, a classic narcissist, interacted with them and others in his world. But Boyle takes us beyond fascination. There are many elements of interest to writers here.
If I were contemplating writing this novel, the first question I would ponder is who should narrate it. Each of the four women and Wright himself—five narrators? Have Wright tell his own story? Use an omniscient narrator?
Boyle did none of the above. He created a completely fictional narrator, 25-year-old Sato Tadashi, a Japanese national whose father has paid steep tuition for him to join the Taliesin Fellowship and work directly with Wright. Intelligent, likable Tadashi was a smart choice for the book. Readers not only see the characters through Tadashi’s cultural bias, which makes this version of Wright’s life unique, but also get a look at the treatment of Japanese in midwestern America during the 1930s and 40s—including a poignant section in which Tadashi is sent away for internment. Bravo to Boyle for finding a way to lobby for social justice.
Tadashi tells his own story in a chapter prefacing each part of the three-part book, then comments in footnotes in the chapters that follow. He narrates those chapters in close third, capturing the voice of the dominant character: Olgivanna (wife three), Miriam (wife two), Mamah (mistress), Kitty (wife one), Frank, or the Barbadian servant, Julian Carleton, who murdered Mamah and seven others and set Taliesin on fire.
Tadashi comes to Taliesin late in Wright’s story (accurately, in terms of the establishment of the Fellowship), when the architect is married to his last wife. Fictional Tadashi relies on opinions from a fictional translator, his Caucasian grandson-in-law, who helps him get at the truth of Frank Lloyd Wright. The device is a bit muddy; Boyle could have carried on without this layer of complication.
However, Boyle does a terrific, fun job of expressing the character of Miriam, Frank’s morphine-addicted, flamboyant second wife (whom he married when Kitty granted him a divorce after Mamah’s murder). The chapters involving the psychotic servant, Carleton, also sing. A caveat: Boyle gives an island dialect to Carleton’s peasant wife, Gertrude. It serves a purpose—to contrast his education with her lack of it—but it made me, as a reader, slow way down to pronounce the words in my mind. Use dialect sparingly, if you have to use it at all. You don’t want the reader drifting out of the story. The Carelton chapters were the climax of the novel, so at least Boyle had timing on his side.
Another choice Boyle had to make was how to structure the story. The logical choice would be to do it chronologically, but that wouldn’t have been the dramatic choice. He introduces Tadashi and then Olgivanna. From there he works backwards, with overlaps. (The overlaps were actually a gift of Wright himself; that’s how the man lived. When one wife refused to grant him a divorce, he simply carried on with a mistress, completely disregarding society’s mores.) At first I was thrown by Boyle’s reverse structure, which (obviously) didn’t move the story forward or build much tension from chapter to chapter, but his reasoning became clear in the end. He closes with Mamah’s murder. High drama. But was it a great structural choice? If the novel hadn’t been about Frank Lloyd Wright, I might not have made it to the end.
Creating enduring characters may be the biggest job a writer faces. The fact that most of the characters in The Women were real made the job easier for Boyle, but he did a good job breathing his own energy into them. Here is passage from Miriam, when she receives Wright’s divorce summons while staying at the home of her friend Leora in Los Angeles:
Yes, she’d left him. Of course she had. Anyone would have. A saint—even the martyrs in their hair shirts and bloody rags. He was impossible, the single most infuriating human being she’d ever met, what with his God complex and his perfectionism, fussing over every last detail as if the world depended on it, his snoring, his musical evenings, the utter soul-crushing desolation of rural Wisconsin where he all but kept her prisoner and every overfed housewife and goggling rube staring at her as if she had the letter A sewed to the front of her dress. Of course she’d left him. But that didn’t mean she didn’t love him still.
In the end, The Women: A Novel is an intriguing, high-energy story with good pacing and some lovely language and imagery. And if one of your characters is a narcissist, as one of mine is, this is the book for you. There’s no better model for it than Frank Lloyd Wright.
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Amano No.8ARCHITECTURESPACES
LOS OFICIOS Studio-Gallery / EL BUEN OFICIO DE LOS OFICIOS
By / Por Adriana Pi José A. Arias Bedoya Photos / Fotos Jolanta Bugajski
The restoration carried out in 1994 of the current Los Oficios Gallery – studio-gallery of renowned artist Nelson Domínguez – represents a tribute to Cuban colonial building traditions. Located in the vicinity of Plaza de San Francisco de Asís, this 18th-century building was part of the first growth of the city around its system of squares, true urban landmarks.
The well-chosen spot for the gallery on the ground floor, adjacent to the main entrance, makes it an attraction for passersby, while the studio on the second floor enjoys the privacy that any creative process requires. The spaciousness of the premises allows the artist to display the versatility of the different formats he uses, without limiting himself to two-dimensionality.
Building codes representative of traditional Havana architecture were maintained in the restoration of the building, which was undertaken by the Office of the City Historian. Such elements include the small tiled roof in the main facade and the arcades over openings and stained glass windows. Thanks to the bold, brilliant colors of the latter, the filtered light creates a rich, suggestive ambiance across the rooms.
The brick arches have been exposed intentionally, which, supported by the lighting design, are emphasized as aesthetic elements beyond their structural function.
One of the most attractive components is the common rafter frame roof, which gives the rooms a feeling of amplitude and is distinct from the ground floor, whose ceiling is a mezzanine made of beams and planks. Both are significantly well preserved. The color palette contributes to the coherence of the project and matches the color range of the colonial era, especially the so-called “Havana blue” of the woodwork, an allusion to historical referents.
The marble veneer flooring on the second level is also an interesting element. Although marble has been traditionally used for this purpose, here it has been reinterpreted and given a more contemporary approach, thanks to the shape and arrangement of the slabs.
This intervention is a positive example of the rescue of colonial architecture, by harmoniously combining traditional typologies with current treatments. The successful refunctionalization of a building that is representative of domestic architecture—it was the residence of Presbyter Pedro Benedicto Hourrutinier—into a studio-gallery is due, to a large extent, to the proper use of each space and a respectful attitude towards heritage values. This is why this space for creation and exhibition at Oficios Street No. 166, between Amargura and Teniente Rey streets, Old Havana, is as worthy to be admired as the art of Nelson Domínguez.
colonial architecturecuban artold Havanarestauration
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Miguel Díaz Corbo propone una “alternativa”
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