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__label__cc	0.636895	0.363105	THEATRE THREAD I'm not a theatre goer... the price of a glass of wine puts me off. But I treated Tavern to tickets to see One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest with Christian Slater and his favourite actress Alex Kingston a few years back. Wow. I really should go more if thats what I'm missing out on. I absolutely loved it. Got a signed poster from that in the bar Bren'. My mate Alex was in it too. He´s in rehersal at the moment for the Batman stage show (playing Commisioner Gordon and The Penguin) Looks spectacular! falconwood_1 never thought id ever really like the theatre until i went to see my neices in billy elliot up town. absolutely blew me away. Gary, does your nieces Dad's name begin with 'T'? It doesnt mate, no. ok, my mate's daughter was in Billy Elliot in the West End. Live locally in SE9. She's also been in Eastenders..... Does her uncle's name begin with S? I was sceptical about War Horse, but thought it was brilliant. Clem_Snide Go atleast once or twice a year. Took my daughter to see Shrek the Musical at Drury Lane a few weeks back. Not really my cup of tea but would recommend it for anyone with kids around 6 or 7 years old. Nigel Harman is very funny as Lord Farquart. He does the whole two hours on his knees! Ticket prices are crazy now, thankfully we managed to get half price during the month long preview. seth plum I certainly won't specify what exactly, but even knowing what to expect in War Horse there was one particular moment that made me gasp. I am a bit of a veteran of plays, and it take a lot to impress me (for example despite being a decent show, Woman in Black didn't get to me as it did to the zillions of screamers in the audience) War Horse contained loads of excellent theatrical moments that made it very well worth while despite the slightly predictable nature of the story. The Globe is a good event, especially if you pay £5 and get in early so you're leaning on the stage. Having said that Romeo and Juliet last year wasn't all that, I inwardly cheered when Juliet died, but Macbeth earlier this year at the Globe was top notch. stonemuse Best I've ever seen at the theatre was Jerusalem ... currently on Broadway where it is again winning awards. Hope it's back in UK soon ... Mark Rylance is stunning in the lead role. The Globe is a good event .......... Agree with that Seth,The Globe is a great place to go. Went to see Million Dollar Quarter the other week, excellent, although the Elvis role was quite poor (Admittedly I am hyper critical) but the guy who played Jerry Lee Lewis stole the show, Ben Goddard, and he comes from Woolwich apparently. War horse brilliant seen it twice Saw Betrayl the Pinter play a few weeks ago which was very good If you are interested in theatre check out audience club costs £25 a year to join but they sell unsold tickets for £2.50 absolute bargain. They are off west end venues but sometimes have tickets for O2, music and comedy and west end absolute bargain Anybody been to 'see' Lullaby? http://www.whatsonstage.com/reviews/theatre/london/E8831309342090/Lullaby.html MuttleyCAFC The Globe is a good experience but you'll need to bring or hire a cushion - Jersey Boys as was said already is a great show. Well performed fantastic songs coming at you one after the other. PopIcon Saw Ghost Stories Last week. Excellent story, funny, clever, recommend. http://www.ghoststoriestheshow.co.uk//home.php War Horse is fantastic but agree with stonemouse that Mark Rylance in Jerusalem is awesome - if he does it again in the autumn (and the Guardian recently suggested he is) I hugely recommend it to everyone even if you have never been to the theatre before. Saw Emperor and Galilean at the National week before last, quite good but wouldn't recommend as such. Got Kevin Spacey as Richard III this week. stonemuse - sorry about the typo! Spacey has got fantastic reviews (though my experience of reviews is to doubt them hugely), when he is onstage you never look at anybody else! LOL ... never noticed at first Betty Blue Eyes not so good DRF Was totally unimpressed with the Gobe. Been twice (standing and sitting) and just don't rate it as a venue. Also it annoys me that there are women in it. Its the Globe, it should be the centre of tradition. And therefore, sorry but no women on stage. Also seen Shakespere performed to a higher standard elsewhere. It almost felt like as it was the globe it would sell itself and the actors / directors didn't need to bother. I went to see it but it sent me to sleep. I fully take your point. Seen some rubbish there too, and they are mindful of the tourist trade. Dunno about the women thing though. I saw Mr Tumble at the outdoor theatre at Bluewater on Sunday Saw The Cherry Orchard at the National last Monday. second row from the back, a bit too far away. Zoe Wannamaker was so so as Ranyevskaya, the women characters were standard, but the stand out performance in a lot of strong male performances was the bloke who played Lopakhin. The overall production was really good, a very high standard of work shown in loads of excellent detail. The translation was better than the Tom Stoppard one too. dabos Saw One Man, Two Guvnors a few weeks ago at the National. I know James Corden isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I was basically crying with laughter for the entire first half. Going again with another group in November. Oliver Street Last night we saw Blithe Spirit outdoors at Hever Castle - great performance and magical atmosphere and it didn't rain LenGlover Something I enjoy but do all too rarely. London is too expensive for a working bloke like me. Exorbitant congestion charges and parking or similarly expensive train, tube or taxi fares and that's before you've even bought tickets to attend the event! Last thing I saw was Oliver with Griff Rhys Jones as Fagin. Mortimerwasgod Saw Ghost the musical at the Piccadilly yesterday. Excellent, very moving, if u liked the film you will love this imho. suzisausage I'm going to see Ghost on Tuesday for my birthday. My friend is in it, heard some great things about the effects. Also going to see South Pacific at the end of August. Yes the effects are great (watch out for the train scenes), and the set changes really slick. Thought everyone was excellent so well done to ur friend! You'll have a top birthday! oh and also whilst we're at it, today I got Les Miserables special edition dvd (which I have seen the musical about 5 times) and also The Tales of Beatrix Potter with the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House on DVD. Saw it live last winter. brilliant costumes. can't wait for Tuesday. I went to dance school with the girl who's in it from 3 till 17 and she made it as a dancer, she's been in a few things (sister act amongst others) but i've never seen her since she was 17 in our dance productions. We're in the stalls, had to make a decision regarding stalls or circle because sometimes its better to be higher up to see the stage layout? Fanny Fanackapan Took 7 year old grandson to the open air theatre in Regent's Park a couple of weeks ago for a Sunday morning performance of Shakespeare's " Pericles" which I didn't know existed until I saw the publicity. The play was slightly tweaked and added to for 6+ year olds and was a great experience for the kids. Bit like an upmarket panto with some interaction for the little 'uns and with actors ( pirates) wandering around the audience before the opening scene and chatting ( in character) with the kids. At £12 pp it was a brilliant introduction to the Bard for them , in a fun way. Would recommend seeing a production there as it's a unique experience.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1225
__label__cc	0.596281	0.403719	Lootboxes Playing History - The Plague \| Steam The Playing History game series revolves around experiencing engaging and personal stories set in exhilarating points in world history. The series have won the category of ‘best learning game’ in Europe. The series puts the student in the middle of important and interesting points in history. Why play Playing History? To gain the opportunity to take part in history, within in a living breathing world. You will be able to learn about historic events that they cannot alter – instead, they witness how the historic events altered humanity as a whole. The learning process is autonomously conveyed throughout the story of the game as it progresses, this occurs through decisions and actions taken by the player throughout the course of the game. This kind of interaction is a unique learning method, which encourages the player to relate to the world and actively seek out knowledge. The Plague: Go on an exciting journey in the 14th century of Florence, an amazing city struck by a mysterious disease. The story is brimming with fascinating characters, historical events and captivating locations. Your mother has become ill and the fate of your family lies in your hands. History is yours to explore. OS: Windows XP Graphics: Intel Graphics / 512MB VRAM Go on an exciting journey in the 14th century of Florence, an amazing city struck by a mysterious disease. The story is brimming with fascinating characters, historical events and captivating locations. History is yours to explore. AdventureIndieCasual English, Danish *languages with full audio support Found in the following lootboxes Indie Box 192 Games 0.50 USD 0.30 USD Gameodds © 2019. All rights reserved Powered by Steam, a registered trademark of Valve Corporation Gameodds.gg is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Valve Corporation.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1230
__label__wiki	0.511419	0.511419	How Violent Video Games Can Be Good for You Similar to many other forms of art, gaming is a story-telling medium that reflects upon and critiques the society in which we live. Microsoft HoloLens 2 to Hit Shelves in September, Says Executive VP Harry Shum Valve Said to Fight EU Antitrust Charges, 5 Videogame Publishers to Settle Indian Air Force Game Launched, Features Wing Commander... Xbox Insider Release Notes – Beta Ring (1911.191209-1940) AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition Brings Integer... Fortnite’s Turbo Building Time Delay Change Rolled... The Best Graphics Cards You Can Buy in India at Every Price... New Nintendo Switch Now Available in India’s Grey... The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Nintendo Switch Set to Release... The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Nintendo Switch is set to release on October 15, with... PvZ: Battle for Neighborville’s First 2020 Festival is... Srinivas Mishra Jan 6, 2020 0 19 Discover the Snow Day Festival event and what’s coming up in PvZ: Battle for Neighborville.... Nintendo Switch Lite is Now Up for Pre-Orders in the UK,... Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch Lite handheld console have kicked off in the... US Video Game Spending Fell in 2019, Call of Duty: Modern... Americans spent less on video games last year as new consoles were readied for launch... The Finnish folklore that inspired Infuse Studio’s first... If you are unfamiliar with Spirit of the North, you play as an ordinary red fox... Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Live Gold Price in India Cut by 24–30... Microsoft has dropped prices for its Xbox subscription services — Xbox Game Pass... Valve Said to Fight EU Antitrust Charges, 5 Videogame Publishers... Valve plans to fight EU antitrust charges of preventing cross-border trade, unlike... This Week on Xbox: December 20, 2019 We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking... Microsoft says it has developed a technique to detect online predators who try to... Fortnite ‘Party Hub’ Mobile App Feature Enables... Fortnite is becoming more and more like a social network thanks to a new cross-platform... Cyberpunk 2077 Delayed by CD Projekt Red, Slated to Release... Xbox Support’s New Site: Smarter, Faster and All About... Realme XT Price in India Reveal, iPhone 11 Launch, Samsung...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1231
__label__wiki	0.750425	0.750425	Home » Blog » It’s Time to Talk About Arnie . . . It’s Time to Talk About Arnie . . . Freed Marcroft Steve Bochco died last month at age 74. It was big news. Bochco developed and produced some of the most influential TV shows of the last forty years — shows that set the stage for the golden age of TV we’re in the middle of right now. He produced dozens of shows but almost every article and obituary focused on one, the game changer, the show everyone talked about every Friday morning from September 1986 through May 1994: L.A. Law. It’s hard — with on-demand television and Netflix binging — to conjure up L.A. Law’s impact in the primitive days of cable television. I graduated from high school in L.A. Law’s first year and even I can barely recall what it was like to have to be in front of a television to catch the latest episode when it was “on.” L.A. Law was “appointment viewing” back when your only shot at seeing a favorite show was the night it aired – or to wait nine months for the “repeat.” L.A. Law was hugely influential. It changed people’s perception of lawyers and law firms, for good and bad (never indifferent), forever. How influential was it? Law school applications shot through the roof during and immediately after L.A. Law’s eight season run, a phenomenon much commented upon at the time. Trial attorneys routinely asked potential jurors if they watched the show. Law journals ran long, academic articles on everything from its fictional cases to the professional ethics of its characters. Legal trade publications recapped episodes as if following a Supreme Court argument. Attorneys dressed differently and changed the way they conducted courtroom examinations. Some lawyers even requested recesses for real court cases that resembled fictional cases pending on the show. As a top New York litigator and law journal editor told the New York Times in 1988, “Any lawyer who doesn’t watch L.A. Law the night before he’s going on trial is a fool.” There were a lot of great characters on L.A. Law but none bigger than the divorce attorney Arnie Becker — played so well by Corbin Bernsen that the actor was never really able to move beyond the character. He was arrogant, self-serving, womanizing, litigious, and nastily smart. I remember my mom at the time comparing a local divorce attorney known as “The Shark” to him. Arnie was never a “family” law attorney. He had no interest in family law or, indeed, families. He wanted only to litigate and win every case regardless of underlying circumstances. Depositions and settlement conferences were blood sport for Arnie and he played them that way. All-out, no compromise, scorched-earth, win at all costs. From 1986 through 1994 Arnie Becker was the most famous lawyer in the United States, the face of divorce law was as he practiced it. He put an indelible — if highly inaccurate — stamp on the public’s perception of family law. Post L.A. Law, Arnie’s legacy was perpetuated by the Ally McBeals and Boston Legals until it reached its peak with the unctuous lawyers in HBO’s Divorce. Even if folks considering divorce now do not remember Arnie and L.A. Law, their views of family law litigation were formed by him and fed by his long line of TV successors. That view is as simple as it is consistent: court is a knock-down fight with a winner and loser and it’s best not to be the loser. Somewhere, someplace, over the last twenty-four years, it’s a sure bet that a law review article labeled this the “Becker Effect.” At Freed Marcroft, we practice all three methods of divorce – mediation, collaborative, and litigation – so we can develop the best approach for our client’s goals. Sometimes, thanks to old Arnie, when we mention “litigation” to a client they recoil at the thought of the ugliness to follow. The truth about litigation in family law is really very simple and much – much – less intimidating than Arnie would ever have admitted: litigation is one of many tools in our toolbox. We use it when it’s best for our client. When we do, it’s not about winning or losing or being proven right or anything else that motivated Arnie and his clients; it’s about achieving a fair result in line with our client’s goals. Freed Marcroft guides select clients through the legal aspects of divorce and family law matters while remaining mindful of their overall wellness. To discuss our helping with your situation, contact us today either here or by phone at 860-560-8160. Share this on... Written by Freed Marcroft New Haven County Office 325 Highland Ave., Cheshire, CT 06410 Email: info@freedmarcroft.com Traditional Divorce Later-In-Life Divorce Kids' Wellness Mediation and Collaborative Law Finances & Divorce Questions and Answers on Connecticut Divorce and Family Law Questions and Answers About Connecticut Divorce and Family Law	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1234
__label__cc	0.738381	0.261619	Govt of Canada Science Health You Are Here Home Health and Fitness Sebastian Stan’s Six-Pack Is Your Summer Fitness Motivation. Here’s How He’s Training Sebastian Stan’s Six-Pack Is Your Summer Fitness Motivation. Here’s How He’s Training GetFit - August 13, 2019 at 11:07 The Winter Soldier is back. Actor Sebastian Stan is set to play the character once again in the Disney Plus TV series Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and he’s been in the gym all summer getting ready for it. How Sebastian Stan Got His Winter Soldier Arm Bionic Strong for ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ After beefing up to play Bucky Barnes in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, Stan is once again working out with trainer Don Saladino to get ripped. Stan has been working with Saladino for years, dating back to his time training for Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War. This time around, he’s teaming up with Anthony Mackie’s Falcon—a.k.a. the new Captain America—for some new adventures, and his work in the gym is already showing major results. If you needed some extra motivation to get into the gym this summer, just take a look at Stan taking a break from one of his workouts: Stan’s work with Saladino for Avengers: Infinity War included longer and tougher workouts than usual because the two knew that Stan would be shooting for long days and wouldn’t have time to train much during production. Saladino put together a detailed chest workout for Stan during that time and also started each workout with 20-30 minutes of functional movements and bodyweight exercises as a warmup. How Sebastian Stan Got Pumped Up For ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ With Stan’s character having a bionic arm, Saladino also focused on Stan’s upper body and arms by creating a Kettlebell Carry workout and an Arm Circuit workout that helped add size and muscle. “I think the way to succeed with your biceps and shoulders starts with how you are training the rest of the body,” said Saladino at the time. So next time you need some motivation to hit the gym, take a look at Stan’s Instagram and get to work. Falcon and the Winter Soldier will be out on Disney Plus in Fall 2020. Read up more on the series and the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe here: Everything You Need to Know About What Could Be Next for the Marvel Cinematic Universe Here’s a few more looks at how Stan gets things done in his training: View original article here Source Six Tips (Plus One App) to Stick to Your New Year’s Fitness Resolutions MJ5: Rob Gronkowski on Interval Training, His Favorite Gear, and Why He Loves Smoothies This Kind of Tea Can Cut Your Risk of Heart Disease by 50 Percent Here’s Why You Should Do HIIT Before You Lift 5 Self-Help Tips That Actually Work, According to Experts How to Deal With an ACL Tear, According to Experts Why getting enough vitamin D in wintertime is so important Don’t be a jerk when you see your doctor — it can affect your care. © 2020 Get Fit Winnipeg - WordPress Theme by HappyThemes	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1239
__label__cc	0.738108	0.261892	Benefits of Beans + 12 Recipes That Will Make You Love Them Emily Honeycutt · Published November 8, 2017 · The life-enhancing benefits of beans are almost a forgotten secret in today’s world. The power of beans is almost magical. The life-enhancing benefits of beans are a forgotten secret in today’s world. These tasty morsels are often joked about as the magical, musical fruit, but it’s no joke – the power of beans is almost magical. From black beans to chickpeas and from cannellini to kidney, beans and other legumes (like lentils and split peas) provide an easy and affordable way to get many of the critical nutrients you need to thrive. The Benefits of Beans Can Help You Live a Longer, Healthier Life According to research by Dan Buettner, author of “The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest,” beans are one of the foods most associated with longevity. For optimal health, Dan Buettner recommends eating a cup of beans each day. However, few people in developed nations today consume nearly this much. Beans can be one of the best sources of clean, whole food, plant-based protein. For people, such as athletes and seniors who might need to boost their protein intake, eating beans at most meals can be a great idea. Cooked soybeans, for example, contain almost 30 grams of protein per cup! And cooked split peas and lentils have approximately 16 grams of fiber per cup. To put that into perspective, many nutrition experts believe that a 150-pound person requires about 54 grams of protein and 40 grams of fiber per day. Most people in developed nations today consume an excess of protein, yet only about 10-12 grams of fiber per day. Beans provide an excellent source of protein and fiber, as well as nearly a full day’s worth of iron, plus a variety of micronutrients and phytochemicals. The consumption of beans and other legumes is also associated with a slimmer waistline and can help lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some forms of cancer. Preventing Cancer with Beans There is no guarantee against cancer, but a large percentage of cancer risk is due to dietary and lifestyle causes. Beans and legumes can help reduce the risk of many types of cancer in several ways. One way is through the fiber they contain. Beans and legumes are among the foods richest in dietary fiber. Fiber is essential to help shuttle excess hormones and carcinogens out of the body. Without adequate fiber, these waste products continue to circulate over and over again, potentially causing cancer. This process is called enterohepatic circulation. In a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, participants were put on a low-fat, high-fiber, high-fruit and vegetable diet, and researchers focused on the recurrence of colorectal adenomas (polyps) — which are a precursor to colon cancer. After adjusting for all the commonly considered variables, the one food that made the biggest difference in whether or not participants had a recurrence of adenomas was the amount of beans they consumed. Participants least likely to have a recurrence consumed 31 to 233 grams per day of beans. To put that in perspective, one can of black beans contains 172 grams of beans. These people were eating 3-4 times more beans than everyone else in the trial and a lot more beans than most people in developed countries. Beans also contain a compound called phytic acid (phytates), also known as inositol hexaphosphate or IP-6. Although phytates have gotten a bad rap in Paleo circles, many researchers believe that dietary phytates may be one of the reasons that people eating a plant-based diet rich in beans and other legumes tend to have lower rates of certain forms of cancer, including breast, prostate, and colon cancer. Beans and Heart Health In a study published by Public Health Reports, people without legumes in their diets were found to be at quadruple the risk of suffering from high blood pressure. In another study, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, researchers gave participants just a half a cup of pinto beans per day. After eight weeks, their total cholesterol dropped an average of nearly 20 points, and their LDL cholesterol levels dropped 14 points — as much as the level induced by the leading prescription drug! Beans and Weight Loss If you’re looking to lose a few pounds or just maintain a healthy weight, beans and legumes are one of the best foods you can add to your diet. A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that people who ate beans regularly had a 22% lower risk of obesity and were more likely to have a smaller waist than people who didn’t eat beans. One possible explanation for this is that beans are high in soluble fiber, which slows digestion and makes you feel full longer. Beans and Blood Sugar Beans also have an extremely low glycemic index. Adding beans to your diet moderates blood sugar. This was originally known as the Lentil Effect. But it’s now known as the Second-Meal Effect, and is the reason the consumption of beans is often recommended for people who have type 2 diabetes, as well as for those who want to prevent it. The Hispanic Paradox The Hispanic Paradox is an example of the powerful effect of beans. In comparison to national averages, Hispanic people living in the U.S. have lower access to healthcare, a higher poverty rate, and lower levels of education. But despite all this, on average, they live substantially longer than both white Americans and black Americans. They have a 24% lower risk of premature death — with typically the lowest rates of COPD and lung cancer and lower rates of bladder cancer, throat cancer, and colorectal cancer, for both men and women. Scientists have studied why this might be the case and have determined that their diet has something to do with it. Although Hispanics only represent 10% of the U.S population, they eat 1/3 of the beans consumed. So their bean consumption may be a reason they live longer because beans (and all legumes) decrease unwanted inflammation. Soy – The Controversial Bean Soy is a bean. However, many people today are convinced that they should avoid this much-maligned plant food. Let’s take a brief look at the evidence. The Okinawan centenarians – the healthiest, longest-lived people in the world eat soy foods regularly. The consumption of moderate amounts of traditional soy foods like tofu, tempeh, miso, soy sauce, and soy milk has been shown to be protective against certain forms of cancer. For example, in a study published in Cancer Causes & Control, the consumption of soy milk was shown to be associated with a 70% reduction in the risk of prostate cancer. Similarly, in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women who consumed the most soy had a 29% reduced risk of breast cancer and 36% reduced risk of recurrence. The phytoestrogens in soy have been found to be protective against cancer, and despite many claims to the contrary, they have not been found to cause the feminizing effects for which they are sometimes blamed. There are, however, high levels of actual estrogens in dairy, eggs, and meat, and these have been linked to early onset of puberty, as well as to fertility issues and cancer. Food Revolution Summit speaker Michael Greger, MD, at Nutritionfacts.org, explains it this way: “People don’t realize there are two types of estrogen receptors in the body—alpha and beta. And, unlike actual estrogen, soy phytoestrogens “preferentially bind to and activate estrogen receptor beta. This distinction is important, because the two types of receptors have different tissue distributions…and often function differently, and sometimes in opposite ways. And, this appears to be the case in the breast, where beta activation has an anti-estrogenic effect, inhibiting the growth-promoting effects of actual estrogen—something we’ve known for more than ten years.” Some people are also concerned about soy and GMOs. Most of the soybeans grown in the U.S. today are genetically modified. Most of the genetically modified soybeans are fed to livestock, but many also make their way into soy protein isolate, soy oil, and other highly processed foods. If you’re interested in saying no to GMO soy, it might be best to avoid eating meat and processed foods, and instead to opt for organic tofu, tempeh, soymilk, and other USDA-certified organic products. John Robbins has written an extensive article about soy. You can find it here. What About Lectins – and Farts? Lectins are proteins present in many plants and concentrated in beans, whole grains, and certain fruits and vegetables. Some people are concerned about lectins, referring to them as anti-nutrients or even poison. One of the lectins found in kidney beans, for example, called hemagglutinin, can make people sick if consumed raw. I don’t know anyone who’s actually in the habit of eating raw kidney beans. But some people don’t cook them properly, and this can allow a small amount of dangerous lectins to remain. For all legumes, it’s best to cook them well (in a pressure cooker if you have one) until they are fork tender. (Lectins aren’t a concern with canned beans because all canned beans are thoroughly pressure cooked.) Although bean-induced tooting is the butt of a lot of jokes, some people do have trouble digesting beans. This is one of the reasons that it’s ideal to soak beans for 24-48 hours (rinsing twice per day) before cooking them. With every rinse, you’ll be draining off oligosaccharides, which are a leading cause of flatulence. If you do this and still find your digestion less than optimal, you may want to try introducing beans to your diet slowly, starting with ¼ cup at a time and adding more every day or two to see how your body responds. Some people also find that lentils and split peas are a bit easier to adjust to than beans – while offering similar nutritional benefits. Another thing you can try is to take a digestive enzyme with your legumes. A daily probiotic can also be helpful. Affordable and Convenient – Beans are for Almost Everyone! Most people I know are looking to save some money. And we all know that grocery costs can add up. Centering meals around beans can be a simple, affordable solution. Plus, you’ll get all the benefits of beans described above. At just a couple dollars per pound for most organic dried beans, it’s easy to feed even a large family a healthy, affordable meal featuring the lovable legume. Beans are also convenient. It’s easy to keep a variety of dried and canned beans in the pantry for making many of the recipes featured below. How to Prepare Beans First, soak beans for 12-48 hours prior to cooking by placing in a pot and covering with lots of water – enough to cover by 2 inches. Discard soaking liquid, rinse, and resoak 2-3x/day, and then rinse and cook thoroughly until tender in fresh water. (Soaking is not necessary with lentils, as they cook quickly.) Cook beans using a pressure cooker. A pressure cooker is my favorite way to cook beans. They come out perfectly every time. Pressure cookers save time and energy. The pressure also penetrates the tough exterior of beans, making them easily digestible. But, if you don’t have one, don’t worry. A simple pot or slow cooker can work well, too. Add a bay leaf or a strip of dried kombu (a sea vegetable) when cooking beans. You can also add spices, such as fennel, cumin, caraway, ginger, and turmeric to make beans more digestible. 12 Delicious Recipes Featuring Beans 1. Lentil-Beet Burgers These meaty, flavorful burgers are packed with both nutrition and flavor! You’ll hardly believe how easy they are to make. They are sure to become your new favorite. Get the recipe from Katie Mae at Plantz St. 2. Caribbean Black Bean Soup This super-easy, healthy soup is a great option for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Serve with a fresh green salad and some crusty bread for a delicious, affordable, and filling meal. Get the recipe from Jessica Meyers Altman at Garden Fresh Foodie. 3. Hummus in the Blender Hummus is a classic middle eastern spread made from garbanzo beans (chickpeas), tahini, garlic, water, salt, and sometimes olive oil. Variations abound, from roasted red pepper to spinach artichoke to edamame to herbed varieties. This version is oil-free and silky smooth.Hummus is delicious as a dip for veggies and pita, spread on lavash or a tortilla for a wrap, or on bread for an Ultimate Veggie Sandwich. Get the recipe from Susan Voisin at Fat Free Vegan Kitchen. 4. Butternut Squash Vegan Buddha Bowl Bowls like this are a scrumptious and super-easy way to enjoy beans. Just steam or roast some veggies, cook some grains or potatoes, top with beans, and drizzle with a sauce. There are endless variations! Get the recipe from Amy Katz at Veggies Save the Day. 5. Healing Red Lentil Soup with Turmeric and Ginger This quick and easy soup is full of healing ingredients including turmeric, coriander, ginger, and garlic. The combination of red lentils (which turn golden when cooking) along with spinach and lemon juice provide a wealth of nutrients including protein, fiber, iron, and vitamins C and K all in one bowl! Get the recipe from Emily Honeycutt at Deliciously Green. 6. Zucchini Spaghetti with Lentil Marinara Lentils are a healthy, thrifty and quick-cooking addition to marinara sauce. Instead of sprinkling with parmesan, try making your own plant-based version with nuts and nutritional yeast, such as the one. Lentils can also be used in used in recipes wherever you might use ground beef, such as Sloppy Joes or tacos. Get the recipe from Kaylee at Lemons & Basil. 7. Ultimate Vegetarian Chili This meatless autumn classic contains a mix of beans, protein-packed seitan (wheat meat) and mushrooms, making it especially meaty and flavorful. It’s also quick and easy make. It’s perfect served on a chilly day with a green salad and freshly baked cornbread. Note: If for a gluten-free option, swap out the seitan for diced tempeh. 8. Easy Lentil Meatballs These savory little morsels are easy to make and are so versatile. You can add them to spaghetti or sandwiches! This recipe calls for cooking in an oiled cast iron skillet, but for those wanting to avoid oil, it’s easy to make them oil-free in a non-stick pan or bake them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Get the recipe from the Minimalist Baker. 9. Crispy Baked Falafel These traditional middle eastern chickpea patties are the original veggie burgers! Traditionally made from ground chickpeas and seasoned with cumin, cilantro, parsley, and garlic, they are full of flavor. Most falafels are deep fried, but it’s easy to bake these mini burgers at home. This recipe calls for cooking in a cast iron pan, then baking, but you can also make them oil-free and bake directly on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Simply follow Mark Bittman’s directions, omitting the oil. Served drizzled with tahini sauce and wrapped in whole wheat lavash or pita bread along with cucumber, lettuce, and tomato, falafel is real international comfort food. Get the recipe from Kate at Cookie + Kate. 10. Miso Tofu Shish Kebobs Throw some tofu on the bahbie. These colorful kebobs are a great way to enjoy beans and prove you don’t need meat to enjoy savory, meaty texture and tons of flavor at your next cookout. Serve with the accompanying spiralized salad for the perfect healthy summertime meal. 11. Socca Pizza The crust of this gorgeous, healthy pizza is made from chickpea flour. It’s naturally both gluten-free and vegan and is as easy to make as pancakes. Just whisk together chickpea flour, water, a little olive oil, and salt and allow to stand for at least 15 minutes or up to overnight to thicken. Then pour into a nonstick or cast-iron skillet and cook until the crust is golden. Flip the entire socca over or finish cooking in the oven for 10 minutes, then top with your favorite toppings. This recipe contains olive oil, but for those wishing to avoid added oils, it works with the oil omitted. Get the recipe from by Liz Moody. (Photo by Alison Wu) 12. Black Bean Brownies Beans in brownies? You bet! Sweets provide a fun opportunity to replace less healthy ingredients with protein and fiber-rich plant foods. You’ll find many variations of the now-classic black bean brownies online. This version omits eggs, butter, and white flour in favor of whole grain flour, pure maple syrup, and black beans. You’d never know these moist, chocolatey treats are a fat-free, cholesterol-free version of the classic. These brownies are not appropriate for those wishing to avoid all added sweeteners but are a great option when you need a conventional-tasting dessert to take to a party or special event. Beans and legumes are healthy, delicious, and affordable. They work in all kinds of recipes – from soups and salads to burgers and sandwiches to filets, nuggets, and tacos – and even desserts! There are so many exciting ways to prepare them and get all the benefits of beans. For even more recipe ideas, check out Bean by Bean, with More than 175 Recipes for Fresh Beans, Dried Beans, Cool Beans, Hot Beans, Savory Beans, Even Sweet Beans – by Crescent Dragonwagon; or The Great Vegan Bean Book: More than 100 Delicious Plant-Based Dishes Packed with the Kindest Protein in Town! – by Kathy Hester and Renee Comet. We hope we’ve given you a few new ideas to incorporate more beans and legumes into your healthy diet and lifestyle. Now it’s your turn. We want to hear from you. What are your favorite ways to prepare beans and legumes? #bean recipes#benefits of beans#healthy recipes#heart health#plant-based recipes#preventing cancer#weight loss Cancer-Killing Food Better Than Chemo & Radiation: Pomegranate Proven Health Benefits of Pumpkins + 9 Truly Healthy Pumpkin Recipes (That Taste Delicious!) Emily Honeycutt	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1243
__label__cc	0.683456	0.316544	THE GONZO BLOG DOO-DAH MAN IS The Gonzo Daily - Wednesday http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/about.html Strange Days indeed (Most peculiar Mama). And trust me, they don't get much stranger than this. And now for the news................ CRASS. Steve Ignorant on Crass. Un-Cut http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/crass-steve-ignorant-on-crass-un-cut.html David Bowie tribute Rick Wakeman & Tracey Ullman i... http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/david-bowie-tribute-rick-wakeman-tracey.html THE GONZO TRACK OF THE DAY: Shostakovich: Symphony... http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/the-gonzo-track-of-day-shostakovich.html Never-Before-Heard JUDAS PRIEST Demo Extract To Be... http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/never-before-heard-judas-priest-demo.html THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/thom-world-poet-daily-poem_26.html Gonzo Magazine #205 We have exciting news about the new Pink Fairies album together with exclusive photographs of them in rehearsal, Jon burbles on about Alan Bennett and the movie of The Lady in the Van, Doug goes to see The Specials, and Alan meets Lenny Helsing, whilst we run a book review a century and a half late. Good ‘ere innit? And there are radio shows from Strange Fruit, Mack Maloney, and Friday Night Progressive, and because last week was a full moon, Canterbury Sans Frontieres. We also have columns from all sorts of folk including Roy Weard, Mr Biffo, Neil Nixon and the irrepressible Corinna. There is also a thrilling and slightly disturbing episode of Xtul. There is also a collection of more news, reviews, views, interviews and pademelons outside zoos(OK, nothing to do with small marsupials who have escaped from captivity, but I got carried away with things that rhymed with OOOOS) than you can shake a stick at. And the best part is IT's ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! Alan Bennett, Maggie Smith, The Who, Boy George, Rolling Stones, The Last Shadow Puppets, Bob Dylan, Radiohead, Chuck Berry, John Lydon, Leonard Cohen, Bart Lancia, Alan Dearling, Clowns, Strange Fruit, Canterbury Sans Frontieres, Friday Night Progressive, Mack Maloney's Mystery Hour, Robert “Big Sonny” Edwards, William Nelson "Sonny" Sanders, Robert Bateman, Rick Wakeman, Martin Stephenson and The Daintees, Archie Fisher & Barbara Dickson, Binky Womack, Arthur Brown, Nils Lofgren, Jackie Lee, The Pink Fairies, The Specials, Lenny Helsing, Mr Biffo, Roy Weard, Hawkwind, Xtul, Little Richard, Michael Jackson, Elvis, Gizz Butt, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Martin Springett, The Gardening Club, Jules Verne, Neil Nixon, Keith Christmas Read the previous few issues of Gonzo Weekly: Issue 204 (Gas Tank) http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo204.html Issue 203 (The Gardening Club) Issue 202 (Gong) Issue 201 (Auld Man's Baccie) Issue 200 (Deep Purple) Issue 199 (Yes) Issue 198 (Steve Ignorant) Issue 197 (Gilli Smyth) Issue 196 (Paul May) Issue 195 (Dave Brock) Issue 194 (Auburn) Issue 193 (Genre Peak) Issue 192 (Rick Wakeman and Brian May) Issue 191 (Karnataka) Issue 190 (Erik Norlander) Issue 189 (Rick Wakeman at the O2) Issue 187/8 (Yer holiday special) http://www.flipsnack.com/9FE5CEE9E8C/gonzo187-8-the-summer-holiday-special.html Issue 186 (Beatles) Issue 185 (Judge Smith) Issue 184 (Mick Abrahams) * Jon Downes, the Editor of all these ventures (and several others) is an old hippy of 57 who - together with an infantile orange cat named after a song by Frank Zappa, and two small kittens, one totally coincidentally named after one of the Manson Family, purely because she squeaks, puts it all together from a converted potato shed in a tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon which he shares with various fish. He is ably assisted by his lovely wife Corinna, his bulldog/boxer Prudence, his elderly mother-in-law, and a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention the infantile orange cat, and the adventurous kittens? FORTEAN BIRD NEWS FROM THE WATCHER OF THE SKIES What has Corinna's column of Fortean bird news got to do with cryptozoology? Well, everything, actually! In an article for the first edition of Cryptozoology Bernard Heuvelmans wrote that cryptozoology is the study of 'unexpected animals' and following on from that perfectly reasonable assertion, it seems to us that whereas the study of out-of-place birds may not have the glamour of the hunt for bigfoot or lake monsters, it is still a perfectly valid area for the Fortean zoologist to be interested in. Windsurfing swans: An overlooked phenomenon What's best for birds in fire-prone landscapes? Last chance to secure protection for Britain's sea... NEWS FROM NOWHERE - Wednesday/Thursday ON THIS DAY IN - Rainforest: Roads for species conservation? Auto ‘finprinting’ identifies individual sharks as... Spider spotted chaining wild crayfish with silk be... Reindeer to be culled in Russia’s far north due to... Mice Sing Love Songs Like a Jet Engine AND TO WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK... (Music that may have some relevance to items also on this page, or may just reflect my mood on the day.)	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1245
__label__cc	0.656753	0.343247	Main Massassi Forums Back on the 18 month treadmill (anything computer hardware) Thread: Back on the 18 month treadmill (anything computer hardware) Jon`C Admiral of Awesome I'd like to open this discussion with a picture. Do you see it? No? Here, let me try again: How 'bout now? Still don't get it? Okay, I'll explain: You've probably noticed that you don't need to upgrade your computer very often anymore. Upgrades these days are still cool and all, but they're just a difference in magnitude: slightly better framerates, slightly higher graphics settings, but there's never anything groundbreaking about it. A five year old computer should be able to play any new game released today, and a good three year old computer will still be able to play new games on the highest settings. Things used to be different. Back in the 1990s and early 2000s you had to upgrade your computer every couple of years - ideally every 18 months - and it was a difference in kind. Back then it was expected that a two year old computer would struggle to play a new game. If you wanted to keep playing new, demanding games, you had to buy new hardware - frequently. What we're looking at in the above pictures is, I think, a return to that 18 month upgrade cycle. It's not going to happen today. Not all of the pieces are there yet, but they're coming, and they're coming a lot faster than I thought they were. The first round of middleware was shown off at GDC 2008 and will take some time to polish, and then we're maybe two or three AAA release cycles after that before the powderkeg explodes. Save your shekels, son: Doom 5 is going to require real-time hardware raytracing. 1.) CPUs If you aren't familiar with Threadripper: it's an enthusiast grade, high end desktop/gaming CPU with anywhere from 8 to 32 cores, each with 2 hardware threads (16 to 64 logical processors on a single socket). Threadripper chips are usually clocked slower than lower core count CPUs, trading single-core performance for ridiculous parallel instruction throughput. Threadripper is, without exaggeration, the most interesting thing to happen in the CPU space since Athlon 64. It's one of those crazy gambits you almost never see out of a big company, this wild guess that, if someone makes a CPU offering this tradeoff, someone else will find something to do with it. For a consumer part, that 'someone' will almost certainly be a game developer. And for a SISD integer part, that 'something' means gameplay (as in, revolutionary changes to). There are three major areas where modern games are more or less in the stone ages: interactivity, world mutability, and AI. All lend themselves well to CPUs and quite abysmally to GPUs, so my educated guess is that we're going to see revolutionary changes in likely all of these areas. This latter step hasn't happened yet, but the more the core wars heat up, the more likely it does happen. Speaking of core wars, it's not certain when Intel will become a part of this discussion. They come nowhere close to competing against AMD at the top of the HEDT space, and even where they do have performance competitive chips, Intel's parts are several times more expensive (or an embarrassing fraud). Not actually sure what they're thinking here - maybe their HEDT yields are so low that they actually can't be price competitive? The good news for Intel is that they've actually been working in this space for a long time: Project Larrabee and Xeon Phi. If the throughput/single thread perf tradeoff gets important enough, they'll at least have something they can bring to market... eventually. Much like their current HEDT strategy, though, Intel whiffed the Xeon Phi consumer market to focus on the crazytown overpriced server market. As usual, they'll probably have to take a protracted beat-down before they change course. 2.) GPUs Nvidia announced their next-generation workstation cards at SIGGRAPH, with the Turing-based Quadro RTX 8000 as flagship. It's a safe guess that the next-generation GeForce RTX 2080 will be based on this chip (name not officially announced, but teased heavily during the presentation). For starters: Based on the numbers presented, I estimate the RTX 2080 could be as much as twice as fast as the GTX 1080 - which is still an incredibly powerful card, more than two years after it released. That's very cool. More importantly: like the Quadro RTX, it will have hardware accelerated raytracing - Nvidia Gameworks support confirmed. The Quadro RTX 8000 will be capable of 10 billion hardware rays per second, or 60 FPS, full HD at 80 samples per pixel. This brings hardware raytracing forward from some fuzzy, noisy thing occasionally useful for occlusion queries, to something that could actually replace raster graphics entirely. (For comparison, the GTX 1080 can cast 100-125 million rays per second.) Honestly not sure what else I can say about this. They showed an Unreal Engine 4 real-time raytracing demo at this year's GDC. It involved dozens of servers each with several Quadro cards. Six months later, and we're talking about most of that horsepower on a single card. Holy moly. 3.) VR Nothing interesting. Here's the thing, though. Major movement in VR fits with my overall thesis: GPU support for foveated rendering is already there, it just needs some super high res screens and the right eye tracking tech. People are working on that, but they don't exist yet. If that eye tracking tech could also report on accommodation then, along with hardware raytracing, you have something that's just as good as a light field display - for a fraction of the cost. And with foveated rendering cutting down the quality of 99% of the display, you're gonna have an absurd ray budget to spend on the fovea. The other part is the high core count gameplay revolution. VR games starve for interactivity - static environments are almost painful to be in. Imagine having the CPU budget where you could just, like, pick up a sledgehammer and start tearing down the drywall. Or, some day, having the CPU budget to start talking to an NPC and then they talk back. Crazy, right? Today it is. If the average computer had thousands of CPU cores, maybe not. And that's the world I see coming for PC hardware. Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, we'd upgrade to get a faster clock speed or more RAM. Then for a teeny tiny little while there in the late 'naughts, it seemed like we were going to the same thing for core counts... but that never happened. I think it's finally going to happen. I think we're going to get games that gobble computer power again, CPUs competing on geometrically increasing core counts, and GPUs competing on geometrically increasing rays per second. And every 18 months, you'll have to upgrade because you don't have enough cores or enough rays. (IMO). Last edited by Jon`C; 08-15-2018 at 04:28 AM. Nikumubeki NIKVMVS-REX-TODOA Well, since I stopped playing new games at some point, I don't think I'll really ever need a new GPU-based computer anymore. In fact, my only wish is that FL Studio would get to enabling true multi-core support already, since editing tracks with all the fancy FX plugins active can't really be done when the lag is enormous (due to FL just using one core and their instructions for something reminiscent of multi-core support doesn't help much - namely, I tested it yesterday and FL's CPU "usage" went from 101% to 61%, which still isn't helpful). https://www.nikumubeki.com Tenshu Thought he was onto something. I don't game much anymore, but if costs drop to a similar price point as they have done up till now, I would really look forward to get a workout in these types of things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcheOuVwXb8&t=135s $10,000 for the RTX 8000 - anyone have any idea for how long such a card would remain out of reach for the average poor PC gamer? Five years? More? ■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■ enshu Eversor Given to fly Isn't the time it takes to make a game with bleeding edge graphics the real bottleneck to what you're talking about, where it becomes necessary to replace your hardware every 18 months? Maybe hardware will enter a phase where it improves significantly faster, but it will only take more time/money to produce games that are able to exploit those improvements. Right? Or no? I went to an old arcade the other day. 15 years ago the machines there would've been state of the art arcade machines, but now it seemed underwhelming, which is too bad, because in a good arcade, you should feel like a little kid experiencing bliss, in a sensory overload, running around with all those flashing lights. It was especially disappointing feeling underwhelmed, because being overwhelmed and feeling like there's more there than you have time to enjoy seems like it's central to the whole arcade experience! But it got me trying to imagine what a cutting edge arcade built for in 2018 would look like, and I assumed there'd be a lot of VR and physical hardware designed with specific virtual experiences in mind (with VR at home, you need hardware that can accommodate different spaces, so it need to be generalized: you need one controller that can do everything. Presumably, though, at an arcade, you could have controls that are specifically designed for individual games.) Last edited by Eversor; 08-15-2018 at 03:28 PM. Doesn't care what his title is Christmas Cardmaker Extrordinarie Fortnite is the most played game in the world and has a pretty low bar for hardware requirements. You can play it on an ipad FFS. It's not a pretty game. I wonder if this will represent a shift in the current thinking that games must be pretty to be fun (and by extension, profitable). For me, it means that for all of John`C's work for Doom and Quake, Epic Megagames still managed to win. Or, to quote Unreal Tournament: DOMINATE! gbk Look, I just want to open more browser tabs at once without seeing performance hits. And when the moment is right, I'm gonna fly a kite. Originally Posted by Tenshu Not that long. Quadros are professional workstation cards. They have a lot of memory and certified drivers for CAD. Nothing a gamer would care about, but it adds thousands of dollars to the price. The Quadro P6000 is $5500 and runs games as well as a 1080 Ti. Despite the very high price, I expect a similar relationship between the GeForce RTX 2080 and the Quadro RTX 8000: similar game and ray tracing performance, but with less memory, uncertified drivers, and the machine learning hardware disabled. Originally Posted by Eversor What I’m thinking is that we’re entering another phase where it’s trivial for game developers to do this again. From the 1990s to the early 2000s, you had this arc: fillrate (pixels per second), triangles (triangles per second), shader instructions (FLOPs). Making your game look better was basically as easy as throwing more stuff at the screen. For example, it’s actually easier to make a model with more polygons than less. Not only does it look better, it’s less labor intensive. So for a while you had this synergy between the game companies pumping out geometrically more polygons, and hardware companies making CPUs and T&L cards to render them all. Rays per second is the same story. Just like fillrate, triangles, and shader ops, using more rays will not only make your game look better, but it’ll actually be easier to use more than less. It’s an easy dial to turn and as long as the hardware exists to support it, game developers have every incentive. Originally Posted by gbk Install an ad blocker. Originally Posted by Brian But plz whitelist Massassi. We depend on the ad revenue to keep the site free. plz don't bring back the UGO ads I remember one ad showed a topless (censored) Lara Croft and had information about the long-fabled nude cheat for tomb raider. Brian had to remove it but also cited it as the most clicked ad on the site by far. saberopus Likes Kittens. Eats Fluffies I don't have much to say, but I do find this quite fascinating so please carry on if you've got more bouncing around in there. Those real time raytracing demos from GDC were p. neat, and I do remember the followup reports talking about how it'd be years before even that level of RTRT was in affordable consumer video cards. Hmm hm! ^^vv<><>BASTART This actually sounds pretty exciting. New developments in interactivity and AI would make gaming a whole new experience again. With raytracing I'm more neutral. I'm fine with games that look like Oblivion for the most part, what I really want is depth of gameplay. It's why Dwarf Fortress is still one of my favorite games of all time, despite rarely ever playing. GeForce RTX 2080 Ti announced. 10 Grays/s, same as top end Quadro What I'm trying to say here is that these new chips are going to become rapidly obsolete. I'm definitely not posting this stuff to convince people to buy Threadripper 2 and RTX 2080. You really shouldn't buy them. Right now we're in GeForce 1 or Radeon 9700 territory. New technology level, but by the time there were games that required those hardware features, they were dogs. A 1080 still has a lot of life left in it, so you should upgrade normally. Just don't be surprised if you're buying a new graphics card every couple of years after that. And do not buy the RTX 2080. Unless you're a dev, or you were going to build a new computer anyway. ECHOMAN "Has it won yet?" Good thing the mining craze is over, right? SnailIracing:n(500tpostshpereline)pants -----------------------------@% Obi_Kwiet It's Stuart, Martha Stuart I very much doubt that we'll see any real push into games with ray tracing renders until the next console generation. I'd pay the price of an RTX2080* for a thingy that would make programs that use single CPU cores to use multiple ones regardless of any other intervening factor. Last edited by Nikumubeki; 08-21-2018 at 11:55 AM. Reason: * = I probably wouldn't NoESC CAPTAIN RAINBOWS. lol instructions unclear, ordered 2x2080ti gbk is 50 probably MB IS FAT Originally Posted by Nikumubeki It’s called a superscalar CPU. You already have one. Sorry, there just aren’t that many instructions between RAW data dependencies unless the program was specifically designed for it (i.e. is multithreaded). What you’ve got today is about as good as is possible at the optimizer/instruction dispatch level. Originally Posted by Jon`C Damn, I was afraid of that! Thanks anyway Originally Posted by NoESC Will you play CS 1.3 at 320x240 with all the lowest graphical settings once you receive them? Apparently that's a thing these days (or five years ago, at any rate).. Being competitive is the only thing that matters and the way to be competitive is to run the game at 5,230 frames per second. The human eye can only see at 6 FPS 3 FPS is more cinematic tho common misconception, actually the cinematic look is provided by the vignetting, chromatic aberration, and film grain effects. these are all highly desirable which is why all modern films prominently feature them. games just don't look realistic enough without bokeh, lens flares, orbs, blooming and streaking and all of those other effects that make it look like it was filmed on a cell phone in 2002 Sorry, apparently "cinematic" is a trigger word for me. I always thought "cinematic" was just using filters to cover up low polygon count or other shoddy looking architecture. Then idiots who don't understand why those choices were made recreate them because "that's what big companies do". I played a hardcore realism shooter recently and the sun and other bright lights have lens flare. Oh, please tell me, oh wise devs, since when do your **ing eyes produce lens flair? On an unrelated note, I absolutely despise when people use "realism" to describe games. Someone used "realism" recently to justify a ty mechanic, in a game where you can bandage gunshot wounds while moving and shooting. They didn't like it when I suggested they remove those features and you should have to deploy with a combat medic to dress field wounds and drag wounded people out of combat. Games are just **ing unrealistic, and so you HAVE to make some compromises. I don't get why people don't see this. jonc where is the RTX ON button in Gorc Thrawn[numbarz] colonpee addict Originally Posted by Reid What really gets me is lens flares in fantasy games where cameras presumably haven't been invented yet. Who was lens Peelancer How is it that graphics hardware is improving so rapidly at the same time CPUs are straining for marginal performance gains? Isn't graphics hardware subject to the same physical constraints as CPUs? "it is time to get a credit card to complete my financial independance" — Tibby, Aug. 2009 Originally Posted by Freelancer They're subject to the same physical constraints, but not the same logical ones. Performance is logically limited by Read-After-Write data dependencies. Graphics workloads have very few RAW dependencies, and they happen at very well controlled times. The kinds of single-threaded programs you run on your CPU tend to have a RAW dependency every 4 instructions or so, which means even the fastest general purpose single core processor will end up retiring 4 instructions per cycle, even if it's theoretically designed to handle more. In order to increase performance beyond that limit, you need to redesign your programs to have fewer RAW dependencies. This basically turns out to be the same thing as multithreading. Edit: Back in the 90s/early 2000s Intel and HP collaborated to design a CPU that tried to be parallel the same way a modern GPU is. That chip was called Itanium. The very first Itanium could execute 6 instructions per cycle, which was pretty crazy for the time (Edit 2: latest Intel CPUs do 3, Ryzen can do 4). But the performance benefits never materialized. It's not possible to statically transform a program to reduce or eliminate RAW dependencies. If we could, we'd be able to automatically multithread programs - we wouldn't even need to bother with out of order superscalar, we could literally just throw cores at every program the way a GPU does. Roger Spruce no title at all I'm still playing new game released on the PC I built 12 years ago. On low settings of course, but still. I'm going for 20. TAKES HINTS JUST FINE, STILL DOESN'T CARE Originally Posted by Roger Spruce 12 years ago I had a Radeon x1950 Pro playing Counter-Strike: Source. Do modern games even support DirectX 9? I have, of course, upgraded my video card once. I forget what the original was but I'm still using a Radeon 5570. CPU announcement day: Intel announces Cascade Lake with up to 48 cores per package. AMD announces Zen 2 Rome with up to 64. Quick Navigation Discussion Forum Top Interactive Story Board Music Discussion and Showcase Editing Forums Jedi Knight and Mysteries of the Sith Editing Forum Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy Editing Forum -- Massassi Forest -- vB4 Default Style -- Default Mobile Style The Massassi Temple	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1251
__label__wiki	0.912248	0.912248	Clyde C. Miller football coach dies days after hit ‘n run crash Posted 10:43 pm, October 8, 2019, by Roche Madden ST. LOUIS – A young St. Louis man who touched many lives is being remembered by the high school students he coached. Derrick Mitchell Jr. was the offensive football coach at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy. He was a product of St. Louis Public Schools and played college football. His life came to an end Tuesday morning after a tragic car wreck. Mitchell was 24. On Tuesday night, high school football players returned to Clyde C. Miller Career Academy after practice. They were preparing for a big game this weekend with a big hole in their hearts. “He made people feel they was welcome. He made everybody feel welcome. You can go to him and talk about anything,” said Diontay Bell, a senior on the team. Mitchell was critically injured last Friday in a hit and run crash on North Broadway. The person police believe is responsible drove off; they’re still searching for that suspect. “He was a very caring man. He always wanted the best for us. He wanted us to become well-rounded young men,” said player Dajuan Fields. Mitchell played football at Vashon and graduated in 2013. He was recruited by the University of Iowa, where he was a running back. “It’s just a very tough thing. Way, way too young for something like that to happen and our feelings and condolences are with his entire family,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. Career Academy head coach Reginald Ferguson not only worked with Mitchell, but he also coached him at Vashon. He said Derrick worked hard at whatever he did. “He was a great athlete, phenomenal athlete. He played basketball, football, baseball; you name it, he played it,” Ferguson said. Funeral services were still pending. Career Academy player Pernell Beasley said everyone will miss him. “…He played a big part on the team,” Beasley said. Download FOX 2’s Weather App Follow the latest weather conditions anywhere you go with our FREE weather app for your smartphone. Hidden History: The brutal tackle that changed the face of football Cardinal Ritter College Prep announces new coaching staff after season suspension Aldermen, parents and players hope SLPS will reconsider Roosevelt coach termination 2019 in review: Top 10 news stories in the St. Louis region This officer donated her organ to a young stranger and then helped pay the medical bill East St. Louis celebrates Flyers’ state championship Roosevelt High School students march in St. Louis streets to support fired coach Cardinal Ritter football coach fired, school’s football program suspended for using ineligible player Balanced Tennessee pulls away from Missouri late, wins 69-59 Arby’s/Fox 2 Prep Zone – Friday, December 13, 2019	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1255
__label__cc	0.69098	0.30902	French Language Meta Does French have the English “short i” vowel? I'm wondering about the "short i" vowel that exists commonly in American English in words like "India, tick, lid". Note, this vowel seems a bit unstable in English and gets merged with others in the American South and other places. IPA represents it as ⟨ɪ⟩. It's the near-close front unrounded vowel. I have been told this vowel does not exist in French, but I swear I've heard it before. If I know it doesn't exist it will help me never accidentally say it. Edit: Thanks to input, now that I now it's the near-close front unrounded vowel, I was able to look it up on wikipedia, and it says that it does not exist in French except allophonically in Quebec French. So I believe the answer to this one is "no, it does not exist, so I should endeavor to never say it". As an American I have a fierce tendency to use it in e.g. "s'il vous plaît". prononciation oral voyelles Stéphane Gimenez BetterSenseBetterSense It only gets merged with /ɛ/ in the American South before /n/ and /m/. Stick pin and ink pen are pronounced the same, but bit and bet remain different. – Peter Shor May 27 '19 at 11:47 And it may be that for you, sill /sɪl/ is closer to the French s'il /sil/ than seal /siəl/, if you pronounce seal with a diphthong, like a lot of English dialects do. That's not a good excuse for pronouncing s'il as /sɪl/. – Peter Shor May 27 '19 at 11:53 @PeterShor I'd be interested in knowing what dialects of English you have in mind for the /siəl/ pronunciation. The only diphthong I can think of in "seal" would be a rising one, /əi/, that I would associate with a London/Cockney accent where /i:/ is realised as /əi/. – user21018 Jul 20 '19 at 7:20 @petitrien: some English speakers (I don't know which dialects) turn /l/ at the end of words like whole, feel, cool, whale into /əl/, effectively turning the vowel into a diphthong. (It just happens after diphthongs and certain long vowels). – Peter Shor Jul 20 '19 at 11:30 No, standard French does not have the vowel /ɪ/ (near-close front unrounded vowel), which is the English “short i”. The vowel which is normally written with the letter I in French is a close front unrounded vowel, API symbol /i/. Its realization [i] is fairly stable across French speakers, at least in Europe.¹ Some Canadian speakers do pronounce [ɪ] in closed syllables. The close vowel exists in English, but only as a long vowel [i:]. However, to French ears, the short, near-close vowel [ɪ] sounds so similar that many French speakers pronounce it as a short, close [i]. If French people pay attention, they'll perceive the near-close [ɪ] as between the close [i] and the close-mid [e] (and I think that's how it's taught in French schools). Conversely, English speakers might pronounce the letter I as [ɪ] (near-close) instead of [i] (close) when it's unstressed. French speakers might not even notice. Note that French does not have phonemic (i.e. meaningful) variations on stress or length: stress comes solely from the word and sentence structure, and unstressed speech sounds boring but does not hurt comprehension. So if you're trying to pronounce French natively and your native language has meaningful stress, try to separate how you pick the vowel quality from whether it's stressed. You may find the Wikipedia articles on English and French helpful. It's difficult for a layman to really understand what all these variations are, but most phonemes have an audio sample, and it at least gives a sense of what is (near-)identical or similar across languages. ¹ A small minority pronounce it in a more rounded way, sort of halfway towards [u], but this is nonstandard. Gilles 'SO nous est hostile'Gilles 'SO nous est hostile' “The unrounded vowel exists in English, but only as a long vowel [i:].” Which unrounded vowel? You mention both a “near-close” unrounded vowel and a “close front” unrounded vowel, and it’s not clear which of those two (or, perhaps, a third “unrounded vowel” with no modifiers) you mean there (at least to me, who knows extremely little about either linguistics or French). – KRyan May 23 '19 at 12:53 @KRyan Fixed, thanks. All the information is in the IPA, but [ɪ] vs [i] is hard to follow even if you have the right fonts, so I included short descriptions, but I picked the wrong adjective. – Gilles 'SO nous est hostile' May 23 '19 at 13:12 Je me rends compte qu'on ne prête qu'aux riches. :) – Lambie May 23 '19 at 14:27 Short, close, unrounded [i] does occur in English as well, though not as a phoneme – it is a very common realisation of the tense happy vowel. – Janus Bahs Jacquet May 23 '19 at 15:25 The French generally spoken in France does not have [ɪ] either phonemically or phonetically, and to my knowledge no variety of French would use it for the first vowel in « s'il vous plait » (though the /l/ often disappears, leaving a shorter first syllable). To be clear — as you've since acknowledged — the terms "short" and "long" that we learn in elementary school in English are misleading when talking about vowels since they're not really related to length. So we can avoid that red herring of a path. Canadian French1 To round out the standard answer above, some varieties of French do have this sound. The one I know best is Canadian French, in which [ɪ] is one of a series of lax realizations of the high vowels. These are the high vowels in French: /y/ : allophones [y] (only option in France) and lax [ʏ] /u/ : allophones [u] (only option in France) and lax [ʊ] /i/ : allophones [i] (only option in France) and lax [ɪ] (Note that the exact realization varies by dialect. For [ɪ], I've heard [ɨ] and even a diphthong like [ɪj].) These novel lax variants appear in closed syllables, i.e. syllables where the coda is filled by a consonant. Hence, you encounter paradigms like this: citer [siˈte] ~ cite [sɪt] lutter [lyˈte] ~ lutte [lʏt] router [ʁuˈte] ~ route [ʁʊt] According to Survenant's research in his answer, the contexts are even more limited: these lax variants only appear in closed final syllables. This isn't consonant with my own experience, but I bring it up in case I'm mistaken. Where do these lax variants come from? It's sometimes thought that [ɪ] arises in Canadian French because it occurs in English, and Canadian French is often accused of being influenced by English. This deserves a quick comment. While lexical, morphological, and syntactic borrowing across languages is common, phonetic borrowing is rare by comparison. Even heavy exposure to a non-native language rarely penetrates a person's phonetics; hence, accent often goes unmastered even by proficient learners. Moreover, the influence of English would not account for [ʏ], which is not present in English; nor the distribution of [ɪ] and [ʊ] only in closed syllables, which is not the case in English; nor the existence of parallel changes in Belgian French, as mentioned by Greg. Luckily, we have a better explanation for the appearance of these lax vowels. The pattern in which they show up actually exists in standard French. However, in standard French it only applies to the mid vowels, namely the pairs [o] ~ [ɔ], [e] ~ [ɛ], and [ø] ~ [œ]. By adding the set of high vowels, Canadian French extrapolates the pattern to new cases. This type of linguistic change is called "analogy", and it's relatively common. So this is a plausible hypothesis.2 1 A reasonable component of any answer about "French". If someone asked whether to pronounce /r/ at the end of a syllable in English, the answer would be "No in most British dialects, yes in most American dialects." If someone asked whether Christians baptize infants, the answer would be "Catholics do, most Protestants don't." Only by demoting one kind or the other could you reduce the answer to "yes" or "no", and from a descriptive linguistics point of view that's not an interesting exercise. 2 Incidentally, Canadian French is also distinguished by certain words with a final consonant absent in other varieties of French, including frette (< frais ?), litte (< lit), icitte (< ici), and toute where you'd expect tout. One could speculate about a symbiosis between this phenomenon and the extra lax vowels. If you create more contexts where a distinctive dialect feature appears, and this feature renders those contexts more salient, is that subconsciously leaning into your sociolinguistic identity? Luke SawczakLuke Sawczak Interesting - the pattern you describe for the /i/ and /u/ closed syllables can also be heard in Wallonia (Belgium) (although I think the lax variant for /y/ is rather a [ʌ] there ) – Greg May 22 '19 at 9:09 @Greg Interesting. Are you sure about [ʌ]? That would be kind of a surprising allophone -- changing all three dimensions of the vowel, height, backness, and roundedness. Thus chute and English shut would sound the same? – Luke Sawczak May 22 '19 at 10:22 No, you are right, I need to dig deeper to find the symbol for the matching sound. It is more closed than the [ʌ], halfway between [y] and [ə]. Note it is really a regional accent, the kind comedians may take for making fun of "lower-class" locals. See an example here of this accent (the young lady on the right uses this local accent but obviously exaggerates it, it is a comedy show...) . youtube.com/watch?v=ZLNHaNr7rK8 – Greg May 22 '19 at 11:21 (cont): in the Youtube clip, around 02:00, the lady on the right pronounces "en plus" almost as "en pleusse". You can also hear how she says the [ɪ] in "vitamine" around 01:00. Also a famous piece on Belgian accents here - see how the comedian describes how to pronounce "après-midi" at the end. youtube.com/watch?v=hkklIaK6efI – Greg May 22 '19 at 11:23 I read the question as not about any particular variety of French, just French. Parisian French does not have this sound, while Canadian French does. Nothing ambiguous about either observation. I didn't go into detail on the former point because it's already covered well by the other answers and comments. Besides, since that variety enjoys the reputation of being the standard one, it seemed fair to "round out" the picture, as I noted :) – Luke Sawczak May 22 '19 at 17:53 Quebec French (French: français québécois; also known as Québécois French or simply Québécois) is the predominant variety of the French language in Canada, in its formal and informal registers. (Wikipedia, Quebec French article; see also Canadian French and this answer) Tense vowels (/i, y, u/) are realized as their lax ([ɪ, ʏ, ʊ]) equivalents when the vowels are both short (not before /ʁ/, /ʒ/, /z/ and /v/, but the vowel /y/ is pronounced [ʏː] before /ʁ/) and only in closed syllables. Therefore, the masculine and feminine adjectives petit 'small' and petite ([p(ø)ti] and [p(ø)tit] in France) are [p(œ̈)t͡si] and [p(œ̈)t͡sɪt] in Quebec. In some areas, notably Beauce, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, and (to a lesser extent) Quebec City and the surrounding area, even long tense vowels may be laxed. (Wikipedia, Quebec French phonology article: listen to it.) Therefore this ⟨ɪ⟩ (near-close front unrounded vowel) exists in French for some contexts with some varieties of the French language. Whether one chooses to use it or not if of no consequence whatsoever and is irrelevant. Le français québécois, aussi appelé français du Québec ou simplement québécois, est la variété de la langue française parlée essentiellement par les francophones du Québec. (Wikipédia, article Français québécois ; voir aussi Français canadien et cette réponse.) Les voyelles /i/, /y/ et /u/ subissent la règle de relâchement ([ɪ, ʏ, ʊ]) en syllabe fermée lorsqu'elles sont en fin de mot : « mur » se prononce [mʏːʁ] mais « emmuré » se prononce [ɑ̃myʁe]), « six » se prononce [sɪs] mais « système » se prononce [sistɛm], « lune » se prononce [lʏn] mais « lunatique » se prononce [lunatɪk] et « route » se prononce [ʁʊt] mais « dérouté » se prononce [deʁute]. (Wikipédia, article Prononciation du français québécois : l'entendre.) Donc ce ⟨ɪ⟩ (voyelle pré-fermée antérieure non arrondie) existe en français dans certains contextes avec certaines variétés du français. Qu'on choisisse ou non de l'employer est absolument sans conséquence et hors propos. ho2o2hh2oho2o2hh2o certaines variétés du français?? Quelles autres, par exemple? – Lambie Jul 19 '19 at 22:43 @Lambie La variété canadienne, comme l'indique une autre réponse. Je ne sais pas si c'est le cas en français acadien aussi. Je ne sais pas pour d'autres variétés régionales. Vu que certaines variétés du français ont cette prononciation il s'ensuit que la langue française en dispose, même si c'est le fait d'une minorité. – ho2o2hh2o Jul 20 '19 at 8:56 There is no so called short i (/ɪ/) in French. The French i sound is short, of length approximately that of i in "pick", but of the very same quality of English or american double e as in "weed", or better "wheat" but shorter still than in this latter (the /i:/ sound is shorter in "wheat" than in "weed"). LPHLPH You get two points and I get a minus one?. Allow me to not that I have always thought that the participants here are very prejudiced... – Lambie Jul 19 '19 at 22:46 @Lambie You do get 2 positive votes also, one of which is due to me; the minus 1 results from 3 negative votes that I do not understand: there is a very slight error in your explanation, from my point of view and I might be too strict, but that seemed to weigh little in the light of the remainder of this answer. Strangely enough, the comment I made concerning that point of detail has disappeared and I am sure I didn't remove it (/i:/ does not really exist in French, only the shortened form (/i/)). I think also that there is some instability of the British English /ɪ/. (field 1) – LPH Jul 20 '19 at 6:57 @Lambie It is particularly prominent in the pronunciation of the y ending words (funny) but also in words such as "medium"; this has been recognized by J. C. Wells in his Pronunciation dictionary (Longman, RP and general American) in which those y's are said to have either the sound /ɪ/ or the sound /i/ (allophone of the French grapheme "i" in "petite"); there are therefore two short i's today in British English and they have been given two symbols in Mr. Well's dictionary: (field 2) – LPH Jul 20 '19 at 6:58 @Lambie /ɪ/, that you always render by the vowel in "kit" (termed "short I strong pronunciation") and /i/ that you are free to render either by /ɪ/ or by /i/ ("weak pronunciation" is the term used). (end) – LPH Jul 20 '19 at 6:58 Lambie gets a -1 from me for stating that French, the French language is also known as either international French or standard French, which is just inaccurate. The French language is the French language. One can choose to say that standard French FWIW doesn't have it but you can't state that French is merely standard French by definition, it's just wrong. Your answer is also wrong when it says "in French" but it does not try to make the point that French doesn't include varieties of the language. The top answers manage the nuances. – ho2o2hh2o Jul 20 '19 at 8:50 I have read all the answers but I would like to add something (I am a French speaker). When you read the French letter "i", indeed it´s not the same pronunciation as in english. BUT, the sound exists in certain graphic environments, for example in the word "laïc". "aï" will have the same sound as the english letter "I". ï (with umlaut) means you have to sound the first vowel (here "A"), THEN the second letter (here "i"). So at the end "aï" is pronounced the same as English I. PirouettePirouette The sound of "ï" in "aï" is not /ɪ/ , and this latter is the sound of short I in English. – LPH Jul 20 '19 at 19:47 @LPH: As an English speaker, let me say that some English dialects pronounce the sound of "i" in like as /ai/, giving laïc and like almost exactly the same pronunciation. (The diphthong is somewhat longer in French.) – Peter Shor Nov 4 '19 at 14:34 @PeterShor I'm aware of that, yes, but all the diversity of dialects is something the non specialising student ( sort to which I belong) had better keep away from; those dialectal peculiarities such as for instance the cockney h and "th" are always surprising and interesting curiosities though. – LPH Nov 4 '19 at 15:14 @LPH: Since English speakers don't really distinguish /aɪ/ from /ai/ (although they definitely distinguish /ɪ/ from /i/), I don't understand the point of your comment. – Peter Shor Nov 8 '19 at 1:39 @PeterShor It seems unbelievable: the Longman pronunciation dictionary (2000) has only /aɪ/ for the strong pronunciation of i, and /i/, as for the i in medium, in which it is an option in RP nowadays (/ɪ/ or /i/ for that i, /ɪ/ being traditional and /i/ a recent addition), is not at all mentioned as an option for the second sound of that diphthong. – LPH Nov 8 '19 at 2:16 No, French (aka international French on Wikipedia or standard French according to others) does not have the /I/ sound as in kit and bit. The French grapheme i (written letter) as in petite, is pronounced like /i:/. There are other realizations of the i grapheme as well. That's why French speakers (and Spanish and Portuguese speakers too) cannot make the difference (unless taught or have a really good ear) between the minimal pairs like ship/sheep or bit/beat/beet or chip/cheap. Whoever said French has that sound was misinformed. The /I/ sound is not "unstable" in English. Say minute, that letter i and that u are both /I/. And the /I/ sound exists in all varieties of English. "In English, both in Received Pronunciation and in General American, the IPA phonetic symbol /ɪ/ corresponds to the vowel sound in words like "kit" and "English". It is one of the two vowel sounds we use in English for unstressed syllables, the other one being /ə/.1 In some dictionaries the vowel of KIT is written /i/. There is no confusion as long as the user knows the symbol for /iː/ (the vowel of FLEECE)." English phonemes French has the vowel sound /i:/ as in petite. The letter i is pronounced ee in some words as in beet/heat. And here's the cutest guy in the world explaining it: Huito répond pil-poil à la question dans Tutos avec Huito LambieLambie Indeed you're right to point this out. The /i/-//ɪ/ distinction is such a productive one in all kinds of English that merging the two and producing French /i/ for both in a typical French accent can sometimes hamper understanding. – user21018 Jul 19 '19 at 17:22 On Wikipedia, French refers to the French language, and not to "international French on Wikipedia or standard French according to others". The answer may be about international French or standard French, but French, both the language and the site, is not merely about those and the answer is inaccurate in that respect. – ho2o2hh2o Jul 20 '19 at 9:02 Thanks for contributing an answer to French Language Stack Exchange! Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged prononciation oral voyelles or ask your own question. Is there any video or audio with accurate subtitles or transcripts? C'est quoi l'effet quand l'enchaînement crée des syllables ouvertes ? Do the people in Midi and in Normandy in fact use le passé simple in daily conversation? Is the pronunciation of “tu” “toosh?” Pronunciation of the letter sequence vowel + ill + a in the name “Guillard” « Putain », « merde » et « bordel » : sont-ils grossiers ? How do the French people typically say, 'has had its moment'? When to pronounce the letter “e” closed (/e/), and when to pronounce it open (/ɛ/)? French Language Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1257
__label__cc	0.531989	0.468011	Characters in Freddy vs. Jason, Victims of Jason Voorhees, Deceased Males, Residents of Springwood Minor antagonists Deceased villains Spoiled Brats Male victims Evil versus evil Murdered males Deceased males Chris Gauthier Shack is a minor villain of Freddy vs Jason and played by actor Chris Gauthier. He is the bully and rival of Charlie Linderman. He was killed by Jason Voorhees with his machete on fire. Shack was a teenager who lived in the town of Springwood, Ohio in the early 2000s. He was a student at Springwood High School. Shack appeared to belong to some sort of sports team, possibly football and could often be seen wearing a jersey with the number 66 on it. Shack was often seeing hanging out with his friend, who also appeared to be a teammate of his. In the wake of the brutal murder of 2 fellow students named Trey and Blake and Blake's father several students at Springwood High, including Shack, began organizing a rave to help them deal with their stress and sense of loss. Mostly however, the students were just looking for a reason to party. The party was held outside at night in a large corn field adjacent to a farm silo. Shack and his crony took pleasure in tormenting nerdy named Charlie Linderman who rode to the rave on his scooter. They tackled him to the ground, inserted a hose into his mouth and forced him to drink copious amounts of beer. Some distance away from the beer line, Shack and his friend were getting wasted drinking hard grain alcohol. Shack sputtered about how "... this Everclear is kicking my ass". Hockey-masked serial killer named Jason Voorhees emerged from the corn rows and Shack and his friend began laughing at him. Mistaking him for some hillbilly farmer, they got in his face and called him "Jethro" and told him to "go find a pig to fuck". Jason responded by grabbing Shack's friend and twisting his head around until it faced backward. Shack´s death at the hands of Jason Voorhees Shack threw the remaining Everclear onto Jason and shouted "Burn, motherfucker!" as he lit him up with a tiki torch. The alcohol caused flames to erupt all over Jason and Shack began running away in fear. Then, Jason used his flaming machete and hurled it at him, spearing Shack through the chest, killing him instantly. He is Jason's 140th confirmed murder. Notes and trivia Edit The character of Shack was created by director Ronny Yu and screenwriters Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. It is unclear if Shack is the individual's first name, last name, or merely just a nickname. Shack is the seventh actual murder victim shown in Freddy vs. Jason. He is the ninth murder victim presented in the film if you include the little girl from Freddy Krueger's flashback scene and the three camp counselors from Jason Voorhees' dream sequence. Discounting flashbacks, he is the sixth male character killed in the film, and the third minor character. Freddy vs. Jason (2003) Retrieved from "https://fridaythe13th.fandom.com/wiki/Shack?oldid=41876" Characters in Freddy vs. Jason	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1260
__label__wiki	0.84868	0.84868	Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition: Star Wars Rise Against the Empire Play Set Details Yonk Disney Interactive has just released new information and assets for Star Wars Rise Against the Empire, one of three Star Wars Play Sets to be released for Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition this year! Developed by Studio Gobo, in partnership with Avalanche Software, the game takes iconic moments inspired by the original Star Wars trilogy, Episodes IV-VI. Star Wars Rise Against the Empire will take players on galaxy-spanning missions with legendary Jedi Luke Skywalker, Rebel leader Princess Leia Organa, heroic smuggler Han Solo and his trusty co-pilot Chewbacca to help defeat Darth Vader and overthrow the evil Galactic Empire. Non-stop, action-packed adventure awaits players as they explore open world planets like Tatooine on foot or on a Bantha, take down AT-AT walkers aboard a snowspeeder on Hoth, out-maneuver stormtroopers on a speeder bike on Endor, and partake in epic space battles in an X-wing starfighter to destroy the Death Star. The Star Wars Rise Against the Empire Play Set includes Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa figures. Han Solo, Chewbacca and Darth Vader will be available and sold separately. Two additional Star Wars Play Sets will be available for Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition, including Star Wars Twilight of the Republic and Star Wars The Force Awakens. In addition, players will be able to unlock the ability for all Star Wars characters to play inside all of the Star Wars Play Sets, as well as in the newly enhanced Toy Box, along with all characters previously released for Disney Infinity. The Star Wars Twilight of the Republic Play Set is included in the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack available this August for USD$64.99, which also includes the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Base, Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker character figures, and a web code card that unlocks content for PC and mobile devices. READ ALSO: Switch's Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition Mixes It Up With Free Style Mode A Play Set based on Disney•Pixar’s upcoming film Inside Out and a Marvel Play Set featuring Hulkbuster, Ultron, and other Marvel characters will also be available. Additional Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition figures and Play Sets will be announced in the coming months. Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece. Disney disney infinity Star Wars What I want from the E3 2015 Press Conferences UNIQLO Singapore’s Star Wars UT Instagram contest – 5 to 21 June! Taika Waititi Approached For Star Wars Film Waititi is on a roll. Orange Lightsabers & Other Pre-Order Bonuses Are Now Free On Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition content is still locked away to those who bought that version, though. What could've been sounds so awesome.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1269
__label__wiki	0.561718	0.561718	Raul Sapora By Victoria Gomelsky In 1990, while Vladyslav Y. Yavorskyy was a geology student at the University of Odessa, he visited his first emerald mine, the Malysheva deposit in Russia’s Ural Mountains. “I got there and began to dig with a hammer,” he recalled. “You spend one week on a mine, you get a half pocket of emeralds. I never managed to get anything clean, to selling standard. But the color was fantastic.” Today, the Bangkok-based gem dealer and author of “Gemstones: Terra Connoisseur” is infatuated with emeralds from another, very different, locality: a two-year-old mine in southern Ethiopia, near the trading town of Shakiso. He said the color of the bright green gems from East Africa rivals that of stones from Colombia, the traditional source of top-quality emeralds. He is not alone in his assessment. There has been a lot of excitement among international gem dealers about the discovery, particularly because many of the Ethiopian stones do not require oil, a traditional form of clarity enhancement. Mr. Yavorskyy said, “The best Ethiopian stone I have is a 10-carater, and it’s like the best Malysheva emerald — so beautiful.” And, he added, “You look at the crystal and you see big money inside.” The interview was edited and condensed. When did you first hear about the Ethiopian emerald discovery? In 2016, the first material came out at the Tucson gem shows. There were bigger crystals but not clean, not good for faceting. One year later, we started to get a lot of stuff in Bangkok, the most open market on the planet. What’s your impression of the gemstones? The first stone I got over 10 carats was a spinach color, really pure green. There are a lot of lighter ones — most of the production is lighter, like any other mine — and mostly below 5 carats, but the quality of the material is exceptional. Plus, it’s natural. And you don’t pay millions. If you’re talking a 10-carat super Colombian, it’s a million-dollar stone and never available. And here, you open your palm and you put this stone in your palm, you enjoy it, and you don’t spend as much as your house cost to buy it. Posted in Color Stones, Emerald \| Tagged Columbia, EAst Africa, emeralds, Ethiopia, Gemma News Service, Raul Sapora, Spinel, Terra, Terra Connoisseur, Vladyslav Y. Yavorskyy, Vladyslav Yavorskyy \| Leave a comment Tanzanite brooch, Tiffany & Co. (Photo: Tanzanite Foundation) From: The New York Times By Melanie Abrams When Tiffany & Company introduced tanzanite in 1968, the company was sure the semiprecious stone would be successful. (“Tanzanite is the first transparent deep blue gemstone to be discovered in more than 2,000 years,” a Tiffany vice president told a Times reporter the next year.) But no one anticipated the creativity that it would still be inspiring. Named for Tanzania, where the only mine still operates, tanzanite’s allure lies in its colors, including green, red, purple and blue, “depending on which angle you look at it,” said Melvyn Kirtley, Tiffany’s chief gemologist and vice president for global category management including high jewelry. The new gemstone had an enormous effect on the house’s design style in the ’60s, Mr. Kirtley said, turning it from simple gold jewelry to colorful designs with large stones. Cases in point: Donald Claflin’s ornate 1968 diamond floral brooch with an 84-carat tanzanite and, in 1969, Jean Schlumberger’s fantastical winged-bird pin with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, a cabochon emerald and a large tanzanite as its stomach. For the stone’s 50th anniversary with Tiffany, Reed Krakoff, the house’s chief artistic officer, has showcased it in two new Paper Flower collections introduced in the United States this month and at Harrods in London on June 21, then across Britain in July. The high jewelry earrings echo the colors of an iris with tanzanites ranging from soft blue to violet and blue sapphires; in fine jewelry, tanzanites accentuate abstract blossom designs. Debuting at the Cannes Film Festival this week, Chopard’s latest Red Carpet collection includes a multistone choker with six tiers of tanzanite beads and a blue titanium-edged pink ceramic disc with a 12.4-carat pear-shaped aquamarine that “give a modern twist,” Caroline Scheufele, Chopard’s artistic director and co-president, said in an email. The color also is an important element for Alice Cicolini, a jeweler based in London, who said she played “with the idea of tanzanite as a color pop.” She placed tanzanite beads on either side of the orange lacquered sphere in her multistone Candy Kimono Nibble necklace “to bring attention to the center of the necklace.” She also added a tanzanite briolette to her blue topaz, sapphire and lapis lazuli chandelier earrings. “It adds movement between the flowers,” Ms. Cicolini said, “and that extra layer of articulation, and because the thing that is articulating has such a vibrant color, hopefully it catches the eye more.” Annoushka Ducas, creative director of her namesake brand, has included tanzanite and diamond earrings and rings in her new Imperial collection, inspired by the Russian kokoshnik headdress. “I use it quite a lot with brown diamonds as I like the not-so-bling look and the softness of the brown and the blue working together,” she said. “If you set tanzanite with brilliant white diamonds, it has a colder more ostentatious effect, whereas with brown it’s more low-key and everyday.” The Brazilian designer Yael Sonia captured a tanzanite gem in the black rhodium-plated openwork cage of her Perpetual Motion series. “The black rhodium cube makes the tanzanite edgy, and the tanzanite softens the black rhodium,” she said. More literal uses of the stone’s blue tones have been made by the Canadian jeweler Holly Dyment, who created the iris in her evil eye ringswith tanzanite. And Wendy Yue, a Hong Kong designer, adorned a snake’s head with a triangular tanzanite for her new necklace, which has a matching ring. Although tanzanites can be worn in everyday jewelry, they are not as hard as diamonds or rubies, so designers use various methods to protect the stones. After Mimi So, a New York jewelry designer, had 120 tanzanite beads threaded individually to create the tassel for a necklace, she strategically placed 18-karat gold flowers accented with diamonds or emeralds at the top of the grouping, helping them to move freely. The Taiwanese designer Anna Hu set a 102.15-carat tanzanite on her multistone pendant brooch with invisible bezel prongs — a secure yet delicate way to set the stone — so “all you can see are the vibrant colors,” she said. Wallace Chan, a Hong Kong jeweler known for his innovation, creates extra-soft tools for his work with tanzanite. They include a polishing wheel made with leather from a sheep’s belly for the 15.90-carat tanzanite adorning his multistone Bridging Dreams ring, “to buff out the micro scratches on the gemstone to perfect its finish,” he said in an email. Experts disagree on how soon the world’s supply of tanzanite will be exhausted, with some saying it is almost mined out. But some designers are still discovering the gemstone — “to keep a step ahead,” said Ana Khouri, a New York-based designer who was adding tanzanites to her ear pieces, including a new white-gold-and-diamond ear crawler with pink, green and blue tanzanites. You can read the full article here. A version of this article appears in print on May 10, 2018 , on Page S4 in The International New York Times. Posted in Color Stones, Tanzanite, Tiffany, Uncategorized \| Tagged Africa, Gemma News Service, gemstones, Raul Sapora, Tanzania, Tanzanite, Tiffany \| Leave a comment The Peace Diamond The Peace Diamond is a 709 carat rough diamond discovered by a team of five artisanal diggers near the village of Koryardu in Sierra Leone on March 13, 2017. It is the world’s 14th largest diamond. Pastor Emanuel Momoh, the manager and financial supporter of the digger team is the legal owner of the diamond and a leader in the village and community where the diamond was found. In spite of offers to smuggle the diamond, he insisted that the diamond be sold through official government channels so that the financial benefits of this diamond would be properly shared with his village, district and the people of Sierra Leone. Pastor Momoh immediately took the diamond to Paramount Chief of the Kono District Paul Ngaba Saquee V and together they personally delivered the diamond to the President of Sierra Leone Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma. The president committed to ensuring a transparent and competitive auction process and a local Sierra Leone auction for the diamond was held in May 11, 2017. Unfortunately the highest bid at the auction in Sierra Leone was only US $7.777 million and the bid was rejected. The government and Pastor Momoh then decided that the diamond should be sold in an international auction that would make the diamond available to more buyers and ensure a fair market value price for the people of Sierra Leone. The government of Sierra Leone appointed the Rapaport Group as the marketing and sales agent for the Peace diamond on October 2, 2017. Instructions were given that the diamond was to be sold in a transparent and competitive auction process that will ensure fair market value. Due to the significant benefit the Peace Diamond will bring to the people of Sierra Leone and to encourage legitimate artisanal diamond distribution channels, the Rapaport Group has agreed to provide our marketing and auction services for the Peace Diamond free of all charges. The Peace Diamond represents all that is good in the diamond industry. Over 50% of the sales value of the diamond will directly benefit the people of Sierra Leone. The Peace Diamond will make a huge difference in the lives of the poorest people in world. It will provide villages with clean water, electricity, health care, schools, vital bridges and roads. It will create opportunities for sustainable economic development and jobs. The buyer of the 709 carat rough Peace Diamond will have an opportunity to brand the resultant polished diamonds as Peace Diamonds. These diamonds are the best diamonds because they have helped create a better life for tens of thousands of people. President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma – “I thank the local chief and his people for not smuggling the diamond out of the country, and the owners should get what is due to them and it should also benefit the country as a whole. The Government remains committed to ensuring a transparent and competitive auction process that will ensure fair market value for Sierra Leone’s diamonds. We call on the worldwide diamond industry to bid generously for the Peace Diamond as it will bring vital infrastructure and benefit to thousands of Sierra Leone’s artisanal diggers.” Pastor Momoh: “The Peace Diamond will greatly improve the lives of our people as it will bring clean water, electricity, schools, medical facilities, bridges and roads to our villages and the Kono District. This diamond represents our hope for a better future as the resources of Sierra Leone fund growth, development and jobs” Martin Rapaport: “I believe in the positive energy of the Peace Diamond and the great good it will do for the people of Sierra Leone. The lucky buyers of the Peace Diamond and the resultant polished Peace Diamonds can take pride in knowing that they have created a better life for tens of thousands of people. This is a diamond that makes the world a better place. This is a diamond with spiritual sparkle.” Posted in Auctions, Diamond World, Diamonds, Ethics, rapaport, Uncategorized \| Tagged Conflict diamonds, Gemma News Service, Peace Diamond, rapaport, Raul Sapora, Sierra Leone \| Leave a comment Free RJC Webinar: Why RJC matters for your business! Join this free webinar that is open to anyone, anywhere in the world and find out how RJC certification can contribute to the corporate social responsibility efforts of your jewellery industry business, no matter how big or small! The RJC is a not-for-profit, standards setting and certification organisation for the jewellery supply chain from mine to retail. 07/05/2017 by Raul Sapora \| Link \| Leave a comment Natural Diamond Vs Synthetic Diamond by Raul Sapora From a scientific perspective, a synthetic diamond has the same chemical composition, the same crystal structure, the same optical and physical properties of a natural diamond. As synthetic diamonds are conceptually identical to natural diamonds, they need to be analyzed and spotted by a gemological laboratory. Synthetic diamond screening is nowadays a major concern of the Jewelry Industry. Unexpectedly, as far as I am concerned, Ada Diamonds[i], a synthetic diamond distributor, after discovering a few natural diamonds mixed in a synthetic diamonds melee lot, has implemented enhanced screening procedures to further inspect all parcels of melee diamonds to ensure that all diamonds sold are in fact synthetic, not mined and therefore not illicit mined diamonds. Despite it is based on the same principle (synthetic vs natural diamond screening), a whole new and extremely dangerous variable has been imported into the Diamond Trade: protecting synthetic from natural. I believe most of you who read this will smile at this – I did too at a first glance – but it is also easy to realize that a new powerful weapon has been forged and consigned to marketing experts, and if the synthetic diamond industry will have consumers perceive that synthetic diamonds are a better alternative, people will buy them. The situation is becoming more and more complex. Retailers are in a constant state of great distress: they are uncertain whether they should sell synthetic diamonds or not. On the other end, mining companies are addressing the problem with considerable delay and most probably caught inside the conceptual circle of the same marketing campaign which had decreed their triumph in the past. When Martin Rapaport in his world renowned educated reprimand[ii] to Leonardo di Caprio says that ‘false claims and misleading marketing surrounding the sale of synthetics is having an impact’, I am afraid he forgets to say that diamond itself owes its success to the unrivalled advertising slogan created by Mary Frances Gerety for De Beers in 1948 ‘a Diamond is Forever’, and that claim is disingenuous anyway. De Beers was successful in making diamonds appear rarer than they are, by aggressively restricting the supply of diamonds on the market, and moreover nothing is going to be forever, not even diamonds. I am a gemologist and Responsible Sourcing Auditor, and those who know me quite well are prepared to hear me pronounce the sentence: “The ethical nature of a gemstone has today as much to do with its social context and its environmental provenance as it has with its optical and chemical properties.” In fact, in my opinion, gemology without Responsible Sourcing is merely a scientific understanding of gemstones, and the world needs much more than this. Gemology, as a matter of fact, is evolving through ethics. Therefore, as a gemologist I have to protect truth, even if truth sometimes can be multifaceted. Diamond Foundry, a Synthetic Diamond producer who raised a capital of over $100 million from 12 billionaires[iii], including Twitter founder Evan Williams and actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio, was launched in late 2015, after two years of research and development.” A diamond is a diamond,” says Martin Roscheisen, Diamond Foundry’s founder. “Scientifically it is a tetrahedral carbon allotrope, and it is the same thing whether mined or man-made.” “Proud to invest in Diamond Foundry, a Company reducing human & environmental toll by sustainably culturing diamonds,” Leonardo di Caprio tweeted. Apparently, the arguments embraced by synthetic (or lab grown as they like to say) diamonds manufacturers are mainly ethical: to some consumers they seem to be conflict free and socially responsible. That is because synthetic diamond marketers are touting their product to be “conflict-free”, which misleadingly associates all real diamonds with conflict diamonds. Accusations of exploitation and inhumane working conditions in mines cast a dark shadow over the diamond industry. Mining is also said to be devastating to the environment, due to the amount of energy it requires, the potential for chemical leaks, and the harmful effects that removing large amounts of earth has on local ecosystems[iv]. Some of those arguments are highly deceptive: the world of diamonds, gemstones and jewellery is changing. The legislative landscape, consumer awareness of the problems in the jewellery supply chain and broader civil society groups demanding transparency and disclosure have impacted dramatically on this scenario: nowadays, thanks to Kimberley Process, Responsible Jewelry Council and other initiatives, just a very small fraction of diamonds production is being used to finance wars. Also, it is extremely important to understand that the diamond industry employs an estimated 10 million people around the world directly and indirectly, and also has become the almost entire economy of some specific, otherwise isolated locations, like Botswana and Northern Canada[v]. Another commonly repeated misconception is that diamond mining harms local ecosystems and wildlife. However, diamond mining is perhaps one of the least environmentally destructive forms of mining there is today. Diamond mining uses very few, if any, chemicals, and diamond mines leave a small footprint on local environments compared to other forms of mineral extraction. Most people are unaware of the role diamonds play in bringing real benefits to people in the countries around the world where diamonds are sourced. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa. A few facts: · An estimated 5 million people have access to appropriate healthcare globally thanks to revenues from diamonds. · Diamond revenues enable every child in Botswana to receive free education up to the age of 13. · An estimated 10 million people globally are directly or indirectly supported by the diamond industry. · The diamond mining industry generates over 40% of Namibia’s annual export earnings. · Approximately one million people are employed by the diamond industry in India. · The revenue from diamonds is instrumental in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. · An estimated 65% of the world’s diamonds come from African countries. It is quite evident that synthetic diamonds pose a firm and serious threat to this huge network, while so much has been done and is being done to eradicate unethical implications from the complex jewelry world. As I said already, reactions have been slightly late and perhaps, at least in the early stage, not commensurate to the actual danger. After almost one century and a half after diamond discovery in South Africa – happened in 1867, when fifteen year old Erasmus Stephanus Jacobs found the Eureka diamond on his father’s farm, on the south bank of the Orange River – and after the end of the De Beers monopoly, seven of the world’s leading diamond companies (De Beers, Alrosa, Dominion Diamond Corporation, Petra Diamonds, Gem Diamonds, Lucara Diamond Corporation, Rio Tinto Diamonds), founded in May 2015, the Diamond Producers Association (DPA): its mission is ‘to protect and promote the integrity and reputation of diamonds, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the diamond industry’[vi]. DPA launched an advertising campaign called “Real is Rare,” that adopts a new verbiage on diamond marketing, in which the abracadabra claim “A Diamond is Forever” has been replaced by a narrative that is totally different from the past. The Diamond Producers Association (DPA) announced at the JCK, Las Vegas a few days ago that their 2017 marketing budget will total US$ 57 million. DPA’s Chairman Stephen Lussier commented: “The Board’s decision is a major turning point for the Diamond Producers Association and the diamond industry. All Board Members are aligned behind the goals and plans of the DPA, which is now fully equipped to fulfil its mission of communicating to next generation consumers about the timeless beauty and emotional value of diamonds. We look forward to working closely with the diamond and jewellery trade and with other industry organisations to build a stronger future for our sector” [vii]. The words pronounced from Lussier sound so far away from the place and time in which De Beers was the guardian of the trade and could steadily increase the price of diamonds, thus ensuring that diamonds were a good investment over time. Is such a potentially huge advertising campaign enough to react to synthetic diamonds? In my opinion the necessary game changer in this dangerous situation are ethics and Responsible Sourcing practices. The only way is ethics, quoting Stacey Hailes’s speech at Birmingham a few weeks ago. It is of paramount importance for consumers to consider what the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds, the Responsible Jewelry Council, the Signet Responsible Sourcing Program are among others doing. Although we are all working towards the full enforcement of these practices, they already had a significant impact on illicit trade in rough diamonds. [i] As reported in ‘Is This Lab-Grown Diamond Company Trolling the Trade?’ by Rob Bates, on JCKonline (June 1, 2017) [ii] Rapaport, ‘Synthetic Diamond Scam’ April 2016 [iii] ‘Why Leonardo DiCaprio is backing man-made diamonds’ by Sophie Morlin-Yron, CNN money ( August 30, 2016) [iv] ‘A Lab-Grown Diamond Is Forever’, by Chavie Lieber (June 14, 2016) [v] ‘The History of Lab Grown Diamonds: Value Proposition’, by Ehud Arye Laniado (June 14, 2017) [vi] Diamond Producers Association mission statement (www.diamondproducers.com) [vii] DPA ups its Marketing Budget for 2017 – Allocates US$ 57 Million for the Purpose, TJM (June 6, 2017) Posted in Blood Diamonds, Diamonds, Economy, environment, Ethics, Kimberley Process, Lab Grown Diamonds, Raul Sapora, Uncategorized \| Tagged De Beers, diamond, Diamonds, Gemma News Service, Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, National Jeweler, Raul Sapora \| Leave a comment Richland Postpone First Sapphire Sale Author: Danielle Max Source: IDEXONLINE (IDEX Online News) – Gemstone miner Richland Resources has announced that it is postponing its first sale of goods from the Capricorn Sapphire project in Australia until the end of the third quarter. The move comes after consultations with its key Sightholders following lower than-expected production. According to the company, production in first weeks of the initial start-up and production commissioning phase of the Capricorn project has been lower than projected due to an electrical problem that prevented consistent levels of processing. The issue has now been fixed. Instead of a sale, the company is holding a product display and education session at the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair, which opens today. The session will be used to introduce the first Capricorn Sapphire sapphires to potential Sightholders and trade buyers, and discuss downstream branding. “We have taken the decision not to make the event a formal Sight as the quantity of gemstones is not sufficient for the type of marketing profile we wish to build with customers,” said CEO Bernard Olivier. “Whilst it is disappointing, start-up issues like this forms part of a rapid mine redevelopment process as we continue our start-up and ramp-up phase. However I believe the best way to solve these issues are to identify and rectify them while in operation.” Posted in IDEX on line, sapphire \| Tagged Raul Sapora, Richland, sapphire \| Leave a comment Diamond Cutters Approaching Era of Disruption Source: Rapaport Author: Ronen Schnidman RAPAPORT… Diamond manufacturers are entering an era of fierce competition as the looming decline in rough diamond supply is expected to place additional pressure on their already razor-thin profit margins. “A manufacturer always operates with a benchmark margin, which is the minimum he needs to make a reasonable return on equity,” explains Vishal Doshi, the executive director of the manufacturer Shrenuj & Co. “In spite of all the efficiencies, we have reached the border between the business being either sustainable or unsustainable.” Some manufacturers are already adapting their business models to cope with this problem, in ways that industry observers believe will alter how the entire diamond pipeline operates in the coming years. Differentiate or Disappear However, Dinesh Navadiya, the president of the Surat Diamond Association (SDA), notes that manufacturers have limited options to cut costs and improve margins. While they tend to expand their labor force when rough supplies grow, cutters avoid retrenchments when the profits run dry, he explains. “Employers never lay off workers,” Navadiya says. “There is a scarcity of artisans in the industry so the question of layoffs does not arise.” Even during the 2008 financial crisis, factory owners in Surat tried to avoid layoffs, preferring to retain their workers by instituting temporary salary cuts. Navadiya further dismisses the likelihood that factory owners will increase profits by absorbing smaller or weaker companies to reduce competition. He states that no notable consolidations have occurred in Surat in recent years and that he does not expect significant consolidation to occur in the future. Consequently, the only way that manufacturers will be able to contend with tightening profit margins is through product differentiation and factory closures, concludes Mike Aggett, the managing director of H. Goldie & Company, a De Beers accredited broker. Aggett notes that the diamond manufacturing sector is undergoing some consolidation, but this is occurring at a slow pace and largely through companies exiting the industry. He attributes this to the fact that the industry is predominantly made up of family-run businesses that find consolidation more difficult than would purely corporate entities. “Certainly in India a number of smaller operations have disappeared,” he says. “It will be a slow, ongoing process but the less sustainable businesses will disappear.” Aggett stresses that manufacturers who wish to remain in the industry will have to focus their efforts on design and branding as a means to improve their profit margins. Consumers are becoming increasingly price conscious, and the only way to make price secondary in their buying decisions is by presenting them with a differentiated product, he explains. Emanuel Namdar, the general manager of S.N. Asia, a diamond manufacturer, agrees with Aggett and adds that branding is essential because the jewelry marketplace is already crowded and intensely competitive even in emerging markets. “When you head out to the Far East and pass the jewelry displays on the street, you can see that every consumer interested in buying a diamond ring has hundreds to choose from within a 10-minute walk,” Namdar says. “You must add value through branding. Otherwise, the competition at the consumer level is too fierce.” Doshi notes that many diamond manufacturers are integrating downstream to achieve that added value and differentiate their product and services. “The more you can sell diamonds in jewelry, the more your gross margins will go up,” he explained in an interview with Rapaport News earlier this year. “But not everyone can execute it because it’s a different business with a different mindset and a different business model.” Declining Rough Supply Most manufacturers who spoke with Rapaport News agreed that manufacturing rough into polished alone is not sufficient to cope with high rough prices and the further forecasted increases. According to industry consultants at Bain & Company, diamond prices are expected to rise in the long term as supply is forecast to decline from 2018 onward, while demand continues to grow. De Beers expects that global rough diamond supply will peak at slightly over 160 million carats in 2018 but will plummet to 120 million carats around 2025. This constitutes a 25 percent drop from peak production in less than a decade. De Beers estimates that approximately 146 million carats were recovered in 2013. De Beers attributes this drop in production to a lack of new mining projects expected to come on stream after 2025 that have potential production volume large enough to impact the overall market. Even if new, large mines are discovered, De Beers noted in its recently published Diamond Insight Report that these would not be developed fast enough to prevent the contraction in supply. The company estimates that the latest generation of large diamond mines have taken on average 22 years to reach production from their initial discovery. Rough Financing Impacting Pipeline Bain expects that the demand-supply gap will further squeeze manufacturers’ profit margins at a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain financing for the working capital needed to reap efficiency gains. Des Kilalea, a diamond mining analyst for RBC Capital Markets, suggests that it is this lack of financing for rough purchases that will be the final nail in the coffin for smaller, family-owned manufacturing operations. Kilalea cautions that the entire diamond pipeline has entered an unhealthy situation whereby manufacturers are financing the profitability of the miners and retailers with their bank credit. He predicts that the diamond pipeline will address the problem by evolving toward simpler supply lines with fewer, larger players. “The longer-term issue is that the miners are not really going to be able to dictate any price to the market because the banks aren’t going to continue financing it,” he says. “Manufacturers will [then] become more reticent to pay high rough prices [in cash] and they will stop extending such crazy credit terms to their own buyers. Why should the guy in the middle be the bankers for the guys on the ends?” Kilalea expects that the larger manufacturers will address the finance issue by increasingly raising funding from the stock and bond markets to finance their working capital. Moreover, Kilalea forecasts that as banks reduce their credit lines for rough purchases, the mining and retail segments will be forced to ensure that their profits are not affected if manufacturers go bankrupt. “The big retailers with financial muscle want to secure the rough and ensure that there are no financial interruptions,” Kilalea says. He explains that retailers are worried that their diamond suppliers may go bankrupt and leave them in the lurch without merchandise. Moreover, the retailers have an easier time of financing their working capital, often paying lower interest rates than their own suppliers. As a result, Kilalea expects that more large-scale retailers will pursue arrangements similar to those of Tiffany & Co. The New York-based retailer has its own polishing division that procures rough through sight contracts with De Beers and ALROSA and also holds off-take agreements with junior miners Kimberley Diamonds and DiamondCorp to fulfill some of its specific rough requirements. Bain said in its 2013 industry report that the trend of retailers integrating upstream along the diamond value chain is likely to continue, creating additional pressure on manufacturers as retailers compete for rough with their own polished suppliers. Survival Not Guaranteed The consulting company therefore expects further consolidation and integration in the middle of the diamond pipeline as manufacturers seek to maximize their profit margins through efficiencies of scale and scope. Some manufacturers already predict that there will be consolidation in the cutting and polishing industry even if polished prices rise in the coming decade. Namdar expects that polished prices will rise significantly in the next decade but diamantaires will need to continually find ways to add value along the pipeline in order to survive and benefit from these higher prices. “There will be an industry and people will work hard because the ones that won’t work hard won’t be around in 10 years’ time,” he says. “I can’t even guarantee that I will be there, but I know that many good companies that are here today have a roadmap to get there.” Posted in cutting, Diamonds, Economy, Forecasts \| Tagged Diamond Cutting, Gemma News Service, rapaport, Raul Sapora \| Leave a comment	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1271
__label__cc	0.565426	0.434574	Back to Global UMD page Non-credit Travel Program and Course Search Maryland Short-term Maryland Semester Freshmen Abroad Other Approved Programs Incoming Exchanges J-1 Visa Arrival to UMD Earning Credit Abroad Identity and Affiliation Program Deadlines Login to MyEA Cost of Study Abroad Health and Safety Policies #TerpsAbroad UMD: A Globally Connected University Quick Links Login to MyEA Make an Appointment Search for a Program Program Deadlines Faculty Resources FAQs UMD Exchange: National Taiwan University (AGNR) (Taiwan) Portrait HTML Landscape HTML Portrait PDF Landscape PDF Terms offered: Year (Fall-Spring) Credit Type: Minimum GPA: Non-UMD Students Eligible to Apply: EA Advisor: Brittany Lashley Chinese,English All students accepted to an Exchange program are automatically considered for an award of $1,000! See Cost tab for more information. Founded by the Japanese in 1928, National Taiwan University (NTU) is generally considered the top-ranked university in Taiwan. The University has 11 colleges, 54 departments, 103 graduate institutes, and 4 research centers and a total population of around 33,000 students. NTU is situated in the capital of Taiwan, Taipei City. Taipei is the political, economic, and cultural center of Taiwan and a city that never sleeps. Many of the 3,000,000 inhabitants of Taipei speak English, but students interested in practicing their Mandarin will have ample opportunity to interact with the local population. The source of Taiwan's extensive public transportation system and the location of Taiwan's major airport, Taipei provides easy access to the rest of the island and to the mainland. Exchange programs are highly competitive and space in each program is limited. You must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to apply to this program: 3.0 GPA Completion of 2 semesters at UMD You must be an AGNR major Exchange programs are a good fit for students looking for immersion, personal growth, and the opportunity to strengthen qualities such as independence and adaptability. Student Visa Information A student visa is required for participation on this exchange. For more information, please visit our study abroad visa guide to view instructions for the country you will be visiting. Please note that visa information is subject to change and you are responsible for checking the embassy website for updates. Click "Apply Now" at the top of this page. You will log in with your UMD directory ID and password. Submit all application materials by the deadline listed below. This includes meeting with your EA advisor (listed at the top of this page), requesting a faculty letter of recommendation, and submitting an official transcript. After the application deadline, we will review all completed applications and nominate students for available spots in each exchange program. If you are nominated to participate in this exchange, you will work with your EA advisor (listed above) to apply directly to the host university, who will formally admit you to the exchange program. Nominated students will then work with their EA advisor (listed above) and our partner universities to coordinate all aspects of the stay at the host university such as course registration, visas and arrival. The Center for International Agricultural Education and Academic s offers courses in a wide variety of departments such as Department of Agronomy, Department of Bio-Environmental Systems Engineering, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Department of pathology and Microbiology, Department of Entomology, Department of Forestry, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Department of Agricultural Economics, Department of Horticulture, Department of Bio-industry Communication and Development, Department of Bio-Industry Mechatronics Engineering, Institute of Food Science and Technology, and Institute of Biotechnology. Courses for international students are in English and Chinese language courses are also available. Vist the NTU Office of International Affairs website for more course information. All credit you earn on this program will count as transfer credit towards your UMD degree. Most courses at National Taiwan University will be converted as follows: National Taiwan University Credit UMD Credit 1 NTU Credit 1 UMD Credit 2 OR 3 NTU credit 3 UMD Credit The credit conversion listed above was approved by the UMD Study Abroad Transfer Credit Committee on April 27, 2017 You can view how courses at this institution have previously been evaluated for UMD equivalents through the Transfer Credit Services Equivalency Database (TCEQ). If you are interested in taking a course not listed on TCEQ, you may have it evaluated for acceptability by following the UMD Registrar’s evaluation request guidelines. Undergraduates must receive a C- equivalent or better in order to be eligible for the transfer of credit. National Taiwan University Grading UMD Grading 60 C - National Taiwan University offers accomdations on and off campus. On campus housing is offered in single and double dorm suites. Visit the Office of International Affairs website on accommodation to learn more. 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Year (Fall-Spring) 2020 03/01/2020 03/11/2020 Fall 2020 03/01/2020 03/11/2020 What's New at EA 1118 H.J. Patterson Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 Phone: 301-314-7746 educationabroad@umd.edu Global UMD Newsletter Sign-up OIA Offices Office of China Affairs The Confucius Institute at Maryland © 2019 University of Maryland	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1275
__label__wiki	0.878672	0.878672	Italian ex-cellar prices falling As Italians begin muttering about abandoning the euro, news comes that the crisis in the wine sector is deepening. In May 2005, according to statistical researchers ISMEA, prices for wines at source fell 2.4%. Hennessy goes to work Hennessy Cognac is launching a series of workshops, or 'Friday Tonics', in key institutions around London in an effort to educate new consumers about Cognac. Mumm launches Grand Cru Champagne GH Mumm launched its long-awaited NV Grand Cru cuve onto the UK market at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's in London on 10 June. New head for Castel UK astel Frres has appointed Anne Burchett, the former UK head of Loire giant Vinival, to the new role of managing director for Castel UK. German Wine Bible in English Happily we have not had to wait as long for an English translation of the German Wine Bible' as John Wycliffe and his followers had to wait for an English version of the Gospel. New Sangiovese clones The newly unified Consorzio Chianti Classico released the results of its Project 2000 viticultural study last week and also launched its new logo and UK marketing campaign. Fistonich honoured George Fistonich, founder and managing director of New Zealand's Villa Maria Group, has received one of his country's highest honours by being made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. FWD conference call Rogue traders are decimating the businesses of legitimate licensed wholesalers and cash and carries, according to the chairman of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD), Rodney Hunt. Majestic posts 24% rise in profits Wine-by-the-case specialist Majestic Wine has posted another year of record pre-tax profits - up 23.9% to 13.2 million. Coyle quits Oddbins Lynne Coyle, the last member of the pioneering team of buyers who between them made Oddbins the most exciting of the multiple specialists during the nineties, has quit the retailer. PLB gets a Sicilian Sicilian producer Firriato is to be reunited with Australian flying winemaker Kym Milne MW after PLB snapped up the agency from current UK importer - and Milne's former employer - Italvini (part of WaverleyTBS). Anjou-Saumur extends from 60km west of Angers to 15km east of Saumur, from Durtal in the north to Thouars in the south. Touraine abuts Anjou-Saumur in the west and reaches Blois in the north-east, Saint-Aignan in the south-east. Together they include 39 appellations, ranging in degree of familiarity from Vouvray to Cour-Cheverny. US direct shipping shake-out In the wake of the US Supreme Court's decision on direct sales between wine producers and consumers (see Harpers, 20 May), the focus of activity has shifted to individual state legislatures. WSET confirms move date The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) begins moving to its new home, the International Wine & Spirit Centre, on 10 June. Geoffrey Roberts award helps Sri Lanka The 2005 Geoffrey Roberts Award, an annual international travel bursary worth 3,000 (US$6,000) and named after the UK's New World wine pioneer, has been won by Mary Taylor of New Zealand. Local Flavour Sardinia's wine represents a growing industry. Its producers are an interesting mingle of small, traditional growers, cooperatives and medium to large private estates. They range from the 3.5ha, 3,000-bottle estate of Giovanni Battista Columbu's Malvasia di Bosa DOC near Nuoro (featured in the documentary film Mondovino) to Sella & Mosca's industrial 650ha, seven million-bottle production. Lay & Wheeler sets up agency arm Fine wine merchant Lay & Wheeler has moved its agency portfolio into a new company, Select Vineyards Agency Company. From the heights of Mont Blanc to the depth of Inferno Italy's smallest wine-producing region, Valle d'Aosta, an autonomous Alpine province where French-style architectural features predominate, is not only the site of Europe's highest vineyards, but also home to a broad spectrum of indigenous varieties that are usually blended to produce distinctive DOC cuves. Booting up Italy was the only European country that enjoyed an increase in sales of wine to the UK in 2004 (AC Nielsen), so the mood should be upbeat as 44 leading Italian importers gather at Lord's Cricket Ground for the seventh Definitive Italian Tasting, instigated by the Italian Wines Committee of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association and organised by Hunt & Coady. Mega WOSA tasting The Cape's generic promotional body, Wines of South Africa (WOSA), has released details of plans to shake up its annual generic tasting.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1282
__label__cc	0.616835	0.383165	Newsroom With A View thoughts from one journalist Posts Tagged ‘twitter’ New hope that news audiences have more value Posted in Broadcast media, Mobile media, Online media, Print media, Social media, tagged American Press Institute, audience, brand/reputation, Chartbeat, engagement, Facebook, future, Google, mobile, Pew Research, search, twitter on March 18, 2014\| Leave a Comment » Reading about attracting news audiences and revenue for online news sites has often been depressing. Even for someone who believes in the need for meeting the audience where it is and adapting to the needs of online and mobile news consumers, at times it has felt like the future was heading toward a world dominated by Buzzfeedy listicles and clickbait and Upworthy-worthy headlines, where all advertising revenue is forever lagging and all audiences are zephyrlike transients. You can simultaneously believe that not just journalism but locally oriented journalism is necessary for society but feel overwhelmed by skepticism about how many people out there have the same belief and will actively seek it in numbers that will support some kind of sustainable revenue model. But recent weeks have brought some research to stoke your optimism. The American Press Institute reported this week on a survey by the Media Insight Project, an initiative of the American Press Institute and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, about news-consumption habits: “When asked to volunteer how they came to the news, people tend think less about the device than the news gathering source and the means of discovery (social media or search). Taken in combination, the findings suggest that people make conscious choices about where they get their news and how they get it, using whatever technology is convenient at the moment.” The survey also found that people do notice what strengths different news organizations have, for instance turning to local TV sources (TV itself or a TV station’s website) for weather, traffic, crime, and health news, and newspaper sources for news about their local town or city, for news about arts and culture, and for news about schools and education. And hasn’t that been one of the underlying hopes of traditional journalists, that our existing “brand” is more than our traditional medium or platform, that the public associates our news organization with the news we produce? That’s what this survey indicates is the case – they seek us out for news, not just, as often is said, wait for any news that really is important to find them: “Overall, for instance, social media is becoming an important tool for people across all generations to discover news — but hardly the only one, even for the youngest adults. “… People across all generations are most likely to discover news by going directly to a news organization, rather than letting the news come to them.” We can check off that part of how to survive the future. That still leaves revenue, the front that has been the bleakest, where analog dollars turn to digital dimes, if that. But Tony Haile, the CEO of data-analytics company Chartbeat, wrote in a column last week for time.com on research by his company that finds that audiences drawn to actual news may hold more value for advertisers than those on other sites because they pay attention to the page and linger longer. Why that matters: “Someone looking at the page for 20 seconds while an ad is there is 20-30% more likely to recall that ad afterwards.” And best of all, it may be that news organizations have undervalued their advertising slots that are lower on the digital page, especially below the “fold” where ads and content aren’t seen unless the viewer scrolls: “Here’s the skinny, 66% of attention on a normal media page is spent below the fold. That leaderboard at the top of the page? People scroll right past that and spend their time where the content, not the cruft, is. Yet most agency media planners will still demand that their ads run in the places where people aren’t and will ignore the places where they are.” Pair this with the results of a study by the Pew Research Journalism Project that found that “People who visit a news organization’s website directly engage with its content more than those who enter ‘sideways’” through social media and other referrels, as Andrew Beaujon wrote last week at Poynter.org. The Pew report, “Social, Search and Direct: Pathways to Digital News,” said: “In this study of U.S. internet traffic to 26 of the most popular news websites, direct visitors — those who type in the news outlet’s specific address (URL) or have the address bookmarked — spend much more time on that news site, view many more pages of content and come back far more often than visitors who arrive from a search engine or a Facebook referral. “… For news outlets operating under the traditional model of building a loyal, perhaps paying audience, obtaining referrals so that users think of the outlet as the first place to turn is critical.” This doesn’t suggest to me that all the time newsrooms spend now trying to engage audiences on Facebook, Twitter or other social sites is wasted or even that it should be cut back. It puts your news in front of audiences, including some people who are not regular readers or viewers. That exposure may be critical in building your brand in the minds of that portion of the audience. That makes it up to you to be sure that what you have lured them to is news they find worthwhile enough that they come back on their own. And that has always been the name of the game for survival in news. Legislative sound and fury, signifying nothing Posted in Broadcast media, Online media, Print media, tagged Facebook, reporting, statehouse coverage, twitter on April 5, 2013\| Leave a Comment » Here’s a little secret of the legislative process: Absolutely every time a legislative body convenes, anywhere, some of its members introduce bills that they know stand not a snowball’s chance in Hades of seeing the light of day. Why would they do that? The bill may represent a dearly held belief. Sometimes it’s just to please some folks back home. No matter the motivation, though, at some point the legislator or legislators in question knew or should have known that the measure was fatally flawed – either impractical, unpopular or flat-out illegal and/or unenforceable. Sometimes, they don’t even file a bill; all they do is stand up and make a speech that includes phrases to please certain audiences but doesn’t mean anything. In fact, North Carolina is the source for one term for this: bunk, as in “That’s a lot of bunk.” It is said that in February 1820, as Congress was debating the Missouri Compromise, U.S. Rep. Felix Walker, who was from the Asheville area, rose to speak but assured his colleagues, “I shall not be speaking to the House, but to Buncombe,” and went on to deliver a speech that had absolutely nothing to do with anything under consideration. Bumcombe became bunkum became bunk. Which brings us to the measure that made North Carolina a national punchline this week. When I was the state editor of the Winston-Salem Journal, our state capital reporter routinely reported to me on certain, well, unusual pieces of legislation. One that springs to mind would have mandated that prison inmates sleep in shifts around the clock – you could use one bed for three inmates, so each prison could house three times as many inmates as it was intended to house. My response always was to ask whether the bill in question stood a chance of getting anywhere. The reporter would check around, and almost without fail the answer was no, the people in charge knew the measure was impractical, or nuts, so it wouldn’t even get to a committee debate, it would just disappear into the archives. Back then, before Facebook and Twitter, that would have been the widespread response to House Joint Resolution 494. Introduced by Rowan County legislators, it appeared to be crafted to satisfy folks upset about an ACLU challenge of local governments starting their meetings with an overtly Christian prayer. What made it stand out, and what made it spread virally across the Internet, is that the proposal declares that the U.S. Constitution prohibition against government establishing an official religion doesn’t apply to anyone but Congress, so that “states, municipalities, or schools” would be free to do so. Imagine, if you can, the free-for-all of a United States where individual towns or even schools can declare their own official religions. Want an officially Muslim town somewhere? A mini-Israel in the mountains up North? An officially Buddhist village in the Carolina coastal plain? And then after the next election cycle the official religion could change again? This kind of idea would make it possible. It has all kinds of unintended consequences. Aside from that, though, even as the resolution itself states, the nation’s courts at every level have consistently interpreted the establishment clause as applying to everyone, not just Congress. So, passing anything to implement the idea would have zero legal effect. None. In other words, the legislators expressed support for something that on its face would be unconstitutional – violating not just the U.S. Constitution but the state constitution as well. And that is where the stuff hit the fan and splattered across Facebook, Twitter and all the tubes of the Internet. “North Carolina is going Taliban,” the commentary suggested. But here’s the other thing: Because the legislative sponsors introduced it as a resolution, they never really intended to try to make their idea the law of the state. A resolution is more like standing up on a box and declaring to the folks all around, “Here is what I think is a really good idea.” They were speaking to Buncombe. John Hood of the conservative John Locke Foundation said as much in a column Friday: “A resolution is not a bill. A bill introduced is not a bill enacted. And a bill enacted is not necessarily a major policy change that will affect the everyday lives of North Carolinians.” That’s what I kept trying to tell people when I saw them flipping out on Facebook. And on Thursday, what I expected came to pass: The House leadership declared that the measure would never even come to a vote. So ends another week in the sausage-making business. Many newspapers stink at self-promotion Posted in Print media, Social media, tagged engagement, Facebook, social, twitter on December 31, 2012\| 1 Comment » Yesterday I mentioned that I stopped taking the local paper in mid-November, and I said that “if the paper has produced anything important in the past six weeks, it was like a tree falling in the woods with no one nearby to hear it — which is a subject for another post.” This is that post. I do not watch local TV news. I listen to NPR each morning, and I’m on Twitter and Facebook pretty much daily, which both point me to news from a number of outlets. Earlier this month it occurred to me that aside from one political columnist who is on the public-radio station each Friday and a columnist with whom I’m Facebook friends, not a whiff of the newspaper’s content had managed to reach me. It reminded me that there has long been discussion in the newspaper business that although the industry relies on advertising revenue, newspapers are pretty bad about advertising themselves. The main ways that many newspapers publicize what’s in the paper each day and what big stories are coming in the days ahead are all within the newspaper itself – house ads, teasers, promos. In other words, the newspaper targets people who already are looking at the newspaper. People who do not see the newspaper, no matter the reason, will never see those efforts. This would be like a TV station running its ads and promos for its news show only during the news show. An editor told me just last year that no one had yet explained to him what the newspaper gained from being active on Facebook and Twitter. He felt that being active made those social media platforms better and built their customer base but did nothing for the newspaper other than siphon off staff time that perhaps would be better spent improving the paper. I tried to connect these dots at that time, but I don’t think I did it well. This might be clearer: There are many people in your community who do not subscribe, but almost all of them might be interested in some specific thing the newspaper does and would come for it – if only they knew it existed. Because of the growing reach of social media, you stand a chance of reaching those people – if only you are active and engaged, which teaches you how to tailor your posts and what people are likely to share. It’s true that a tree that falls in the forest creates a thunderous crash, but if no one is anywhere nearby, that tree could rot away before anyone knows it fell. A good news staff creates some pretty good rumbles now and then, but an awful lot of people are out of earshot of the forest. You have to find a way to amplify the noise to reach them. Lessons journalists can learn from Rupert Murdoch’s failure Posted in Mobile media, Online media, Print media, tagged aggregation, bad practices, curation, future, innovation, management, mobile, newsroom structure, paywalls, Rupert Murdoch, Steve Buttry, twitter on December 5, 2012\| Leave a Comment » Another week, another ruckus over paywalls. That link will take you to Steve Buttry’s angle on the issue, but he links to the rest. Suffice to say I don’t think it’s a good idea for anyone to base an argument in favor or against anything, let alone declare victory, based on trends that started in just the past few years. This ruckus erupted just ahead of news that Rupert Murdoch will pull the plug on his iPad-only, subscription-only news product, The Daily. That by itself is evidence enough not to be too eager to declare victory. In this case, it was not the launch of The Daily that I refer to; many raised questions about the wisdom of launching a new product and immediately making it unavailable to the potential audience – that it would be one thing to take a well established, highly regarded newspaper entirely behind a hard paywall, and it’s another thing entirely to launch something new behind one. What I recall also happening at the time, though, is swooning over the iPad’s implications for print publications moving to digital formats. I remember multiple company meetings where editors asked those responsible for digital initiatives when their newspaper would get its own iPad app. Everyone needed an app, so it seemed. An app! An app! My kingdom for an app. While I loved the look of things I saw on the iPad, the idea of apps never struck me as a good one. They are not cheap or easy to build, and if you recall, your phone is not only old but totally obsolete in less than two years, so how long, I wondered, would the technology in an app be likely to last before it needed to be redesigned for the next generation (two years from now) of mobile products? Part of The Daily’s problem, then, might be overeagerness to buy into the Apple iHype. But in a column about The Daily at GigaOm, Jordan Kurzweil lays out what he sees as the ways the The Daily went wrong and that he thinks still could be fixed. And I was struck while reading it that a great deal of what he said sounded like it applies to any newspaper trying to adjust to the digital world: Be more than daily. Simply put, people now expect constant news updates. It doesn’t matter whether you think that’s good business; if you don’t provide it, the customers will go elsewhere. Use technology to be bigger. I think the particulars of Kurzweil’s argument for The Daily here are different than I would put them for most newsrooms (most newsrooms having fairly limited technological capabilities), but a big part in either case is curation – or, as Jeff Jarvis says, do what you do best and link to the rest. In any community, it’s a rare news organization that is trying in any serious way to curate local blogs, competing news outlets, Twitter and whatever else is out there. One person doing that using common online tools could re-establish the newsroom as the hub of community conversation and news discovery. Be available. I used to hear this worded differently: Go where your customers are. Nowadays, that is online, and rapidly it is becoming mobile. If you are 100 percent walled off from non-subscribers – meaning not only do you require payment for reading your stories, but you do not run any kind of free, web-friendly site to offer even a taste of your work to a casual passerby – it is not likely you will gain many new customers. Why are there ever stands in the grocery store offering free samples of a particular product? Same idea. Fix the user experience. Most journalists I know give this practically no thought at all. Spend a day using nothing but your phone to keep up with the news, then think whether, if you had similar frustration when you went to a local restaurant, you would ever go back. Unfortunately, the technicalities of the user experience are largely outside your control, but you can think about the elements you are delivering to that experience, and if you are thinking about it, then when the opportunity comes to weigh in on the technology, you will have a base of knowledge from which to speak. Be frugal. Most newsrooms I’m familiar with are way past frugal, so I have to reframe this. The problem The Daily had on this count was ignoring the frequent saying in business, “Fail fast, fail cheap.” But the mindset that led to this failure is well ingrained in newsrooms. Murdoch decided the future of the newspaper was in a highly formatted online product, so he threw a massive amount of money at it and tried to build Rome in a day. Didn’t work. I have seen over and over again that when an idea for something online is presented in a newspaper newsroom, the managers don’t want to do it unless they can make it pretty close to perfect; when moving to a new CMS, they will fuss over minute details and delay the launch; even redesigning the print product, they will agonize or argue over fonts. I would translate “be frugal” here as “be good enough,” using the phrase that in the mid-2000s the Newspaper Next project beat editors over the head with. I don’t think it took. (In 2010, Steve wrote a good update on the topic.) I don’t know whether any of the above steps would have saved The Daily. But I have trouble finding a downside in the basic ideas. My ONA12 conference notes Posted in Broadcast media, Mobile media, Online media, Print media, Social media, tagged aggregation, audience, brand/reputation, curation, future, hyperlocal, KQED, ONA, paywalls, Seattle Times, twitter, Webbmedia on September 24, 2012\| Leave a Comment » Following are the notes I have passed to my colleagues on the Online News Association’s 2012 conference (and for more check the ONA Newsroom): J-Lab’s “pre-convention” sessions on Thursday produced the information I thought was most immediately useful. In one, editors from The Seattle Times and KQED talked about their efforts to create a network of community news partners. The Times’ model was low-maintenance (requiring only “1 or 2 hours a week”) and easily replicable. KQED’s was much more difficult to get going and maintain. The Times has 55 local blogs – from neighborhood blogs of the sort like the Church Hill People’s News or the West of the Boulevard News here in Richmond to single-issue blogs on things like beer or bicycling – signed up as “community news partners.” Essentially the blogs agree to let the Times aggregate their RSS feeds; the Times’ editors have a dashboard built in WordPress to let them choose what stories they think are interesting, and the headlines (ONLY the headlines) then appear on the Times’ website, with the links pointing directly to the blogs. The partners agree to give the Times exclusive access to any photos that they get (the Times’ hope is that in a giant, breaking-news situation one of the blogs will have someone there first). The Times agrees to let the blogs do the same kind of headline-linking to the Times’ site and agrees to provide any of its photos to the blogs for free upon request (with credit given). UPDATE: I forgot to mention that each Sunday the Times publishes a page of excerpts from top blog posts. The Times has gotten news stories – including A1 stories – that otherwise would have been missed (the Times includes a note with the story saying the information appeared first in X blog), and there is survey evidence that the partnerships have improved the newspaper’s image among local residents. KQED’s partnerships are much more complex because the station wanted full, content-producing (audio and video, since KQED has both a radio station and a TV station) partnerships. That meant avoiding any site that advocates policy positions (the Times has no problem as long as the blog is transparent about its advocacy) and providing training to get content that meets its broadcast standards. I think the Times model actually exposes a vulnerability that newspapers ignore at their peril. If a TV station were to seek such an extensive, low-maintenance network, it could greatly enhance its website as a community hub, build on the station’s promotional and community-engagement efforts (which already exceed what newspapers do) and effectively corner the market on community news. Assuming newspapers continue to throw up paywalls and TV stations do not, the newspaper site retreats into niche status (though the niche is elite, high-information readers), while the TV station that harnesses the blog network cements itself as the go-to place for “what’s happening now?” information. Amy Webb, Webbmedia Group’s Tech Trends (Storify coverage, and video of the session) Amy’s job is to spot trends in technology and media so she can help her clients adapt to disruption. The bulk of her talk was on the broader process for how her company does that. But for ONA she devoted a lot of attention to the issue of online video by news organizations, who she says are awful at online video. The problem we have, in her view, is that we are content-oriented people, so we focus on the content, not the online experience. That is backwards of how it should be. She says you should focus on creating an online experience, not on the content. As an example she pointed to is HuffingtonPost Live: The video is extremely forgettable at this point, but the online dashboard provides a web-native experience, geared for the multitasking that people do online. She says that the video inevitably will improve, but having the best video-exploration experience puts the site in the driver’s seat. Key quote: “Don’t replicate the TV experience.” People online don’t want to just sit and only have the video play. Near-term trends she sees for news/content: –“Atomic”-based news. That is “atomic” in the sense of news being broken into its component bits for better personalization. In other words, for any given story, there is a basic story for the casual reader, a version with more context for those with a higher level of interest, and an expert-level package. This is made possible by rapidly improving algorithms, such as are used by Google and Amazon, tracking the user’s history and interest. –Algorithm-created content. This would be the automated translation of spreadsheet-based information into full sentences and paragraphs. The algorithms are increasingly sophisticated and produce better and better results. I think something like this could be huge, cost-wise, for such things as sports and cops, so you could hire data-entry people instead of writers. (10/9 UPDATE: This is a company that sells the software.) –There’s a huge opening for verticals targeting women – but NOT “mom blogs” or “mom” anything, which is overdone and misses the majority of women. She means mainstream topics but reported with a female audience and women’s particular concerns in mind. In the bulk of news, women are an afterthought or absent, so women are hungry to see themselves reflected in the world of news and information. –Apple vs. Android: Google has a new version of Google Maps coming for Android phones (you may recall that Apple booted Google Maps from the iPhone, with poor reviews for its replacement – one tech guy I talked to in SF says his iPhone can’t even map his home address in NYC). It’s called Google Now. She thinks it will be huge for Android and tilt the field against Apple. Quote: “Google Now will make Siri look like somebody’s high school project.” –Wearable technology. She brought in a prototype of a purse that recharges your phone. You just drop the phone inside. There’s no plugging it in, no special place to put the phone. She says you probably also will see the same technology incorporated into clothes so that you will have a phone-charging pocket. Longer-term trend: –Augmented reality. You may have seen the online demonstration of Google glasses, a pair of glasses that gives the wearer a display of information about things the person looks at. She has seen similar technology in contact lenses. The opening day’s keynote speaker was José Antonio Vargas (Storify coverage, video), the former Washington Post reporter who revealed his illegal immigration status. His main point was an argument to stop using the term “illegal alien.” He made a good point, partly on the legal/semantic issue of it being a civil violation to be in the country without documentation, not a criminal one, and partly on the basis of this: “In what other context do we ever describe a person as illegal?” Someone who drives at age 14 has broken the criminal law but is described as an underage driver; someone who drives drunk has broken the criminal law but is described as a drunken driver; neither is an illegal driver. He advocates using the term “undocumented immigrant,” which is both more precise and accurate. (Poynter rounds up some of the counterarguments.) The Friday lunch “keynote” was an interview of Twitter’s CEO, Dick Costolo. Excellent interview. (Coverage, if you’re interested, or video.) One big bit of news: Twitter is developing tools to make it easier to curate event-oriented tweets. Also, pretty much all of Twitter’s development efforts are targeted at mobile users. Tweetdeck is its desktop tool and the only thing for desktops that is contemplated. (Costolo actually referred to it as something like “Twitter Pro for journalists.”) UPDATE: Jeff Sonderman at Poynter.org has a list of 12 bite-size takeaways from the conference, largely different than mine. Just because you don’t know how doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try Posted in Online media, tagged aggregation, crowdsourcing, curation, engagement, future, innovation, newsroom structure, social, twitter on June 13, 2012\| 3 Comments » I hesitate a little to dive into attempting an answer to the question from Steve Buttry and Mandy Jenkins, “How should a news curation team work?” As the comments on many of Steve’s posts the past couple of years make clear, use of terms such as “curation” invites debates that often boil down to semantics and people talking past each other, even agreeing at times on general practices but disagreeing at the edges like alien cultures trying for but not quite achieving mutual understanding. But I’ll wade in anyway. The idea of news curation has always seemed to me just the continuing evolution of what has long been standard operating procedure. In the 1990s at the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal during the summer, when a hurricane approached we usually had staff at the coast, and unless the storm was hitting point-blank where our staff was, the state editor (me) would blend staff reports with elements of several other wire stories, adding attribution where needed. As technology advanced and we all had access via the Internet to more news sources, we could blend in elements from more places. For instance, during the 2004 Democratic and Republican conventions, in addition to editing stories from Media General’s Washington reporters I supplied a one-column at-a-glance collection of highlights, a mix of my own reporting (whatever eye-catching protests were going on around the convention site), a detail or two lifted from advance copies of the night’s big speeches, and elements from wire services and the National Journal. Technology now, though, opens a vastly wider world, including live conversations. Limiting your news gathering to a few wire services or mainstream news sources may be easier, but it leaves out a huge amount of perspective. All of this information of course is available for people to find on their own, but isn’t it a logical extension of the role of a journalist to help people sort through it? It’s the role of a journalist to say, “I can help you make sense of all this and point you to the best places for more.” Automatic tools can only do so much – Tweetdeck, Twitter search, Google alerts and the like can bring you a river of information, but it can be a torrent, or a swirling jumble. Human intervention to sort it, done right, is valuable. That said, when I get to the specific questions Steve and Mandy ask – “How should we …?” – I find myself reminded of and answering instead a different question, one I saw recently on Twitter (I thought it was raised by Stijn Debrouwere, but at the moment I can’t find it – if someone out there has curated it already, please point me to it), which essentially was this: Why after years of people talking about all these ideas for remaking news is it taking so long for anyone to do much with them? As much as anything, I think it’s just the daily crush – you run around like crazy trying to keep up with everything that you already have to do, and you want to try these new things people are talking about … but you look up and suddenly you have already been at your desk nine hours or more. “Maybe this weekend,” you think. Of all the newsrooms I have visited over the past 11 years, there were only a few where suggestions for new things to try online met with resistance to the idea itself; usually it was more a matter of “where will the time come from?” There are exceptions – where the boss makes it a priority to try new things, which means being willing to drop some of the old, new things get done. Most of the time, you learn things that are truly new by doing them, and something else then occurs to you, so you try it, and on and on, not because someone showed or told you what you should do – if there were a great mass of people out there who knew all about doing this thing, it wouldn’t be new, would it? So assuming you are among the vast majority of journalists or soon-to-be-journalists who have no actual experience curating the news on the fly, and you have no concrete answers to the “How” questions, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. I believe that at some point, good curation will be a key ingredient of any successful news organization. So go ahead, answer them. Another thing about death that sucks Posted in Online media, Print media, tagged arizona republic, bad practices, future, Gail Tabor, innovation, legacy.com, McClatchy, News & Observer, obituaries, Steve Buttry, twitter on May 20, 2012\| 4 Comments » This is off the usual topics for this blog. Obituaries are completely out of the control of most newsrooms, so my intended audience — journalists — can do nothing about this complaint. But having dipped into the obituary pool Friday after my mother died, I can report with great authority that on this part of their business, this nation’s newspapers are practically lying naked across a table, eyes closed, holding a sign that says, “Whatever,” waiting for a madman with a knife to come along. If you have never made arrangements to place an obituary, let me assure you: It is messy, and it is EXPENSIVE. It is everything, in fact, that begs for someone to come along offering a simpler, easier, cheaper solution — an idea that was introduced to the news industry years ago as a job to be done. But of course no one really wants to make it cheaper, because that would reduce revenue. I remember once hearing a publisher gripe about a company-imposed mandate to simplify and beautify classified ads; the end result was a better-looking (bigger type, more photos), more enticing page that offered more options to people placing the ads, but the ads were bigger without the price going up, so revenue per ad was lower. Focusing on that is just short-term thinking — the number of classified ads has been dropping like a rock for years, driven by free online ads, so the intent of the change was to try to improve the printed ad experience and stem the decline, and maybe entice more people to come back. If you’re constantly watching your back, trying not to lose more ground, you can’t go forward. Almost two years ago, Steve Buttry pointed out the problems and opportunities in the obit business. He was right then, and he’s righter now. But it’s even worse than I knew when I read his post in 2010. I attempted to place my mother’s obituary in five newspapers — in the town where she was born, in the city where she began her journalism career, in the city where she retired, in the city where she lived for 10 years before a heart attack changed her life and mine, and in my own city. One told me that obits had to come from a funeral home, not individuals, which is a barrier because I’m not using a funeral home; my mother is being cremated by the Cremation Society of Virginia, which told me to handle the ads myself. I explained this but was told the ad had to come from a funeral home. So, one paper gets no ad. The cost at the other papers ranged from around $300 to nearly $500 (in my own city, the ad was free because I work for the company — an excellent employee benefit but one you hope never to use). In the accompanying listing for each at legacy.com (yes, each one has a separate, unlinked listing), my mother’s name appears as Anita Lucas, even though she never went by Anita — like many people, especially in the South, she went by her middle name, Gail — except for one listing: the obit placed in The News & Observer of Raleigh. The News & Observer also was the only one that had a completely web-based system for placing the ad. It was easy and seamless. Every other place had me e-mail in the information, and they called me back to get credit card information. Not bad, but not seamless. One day, probably in the not-too-distant future, someone is going to combine something like the N&O’s online obit-submission system with a cheap price, and at that point, newspapers will hear another nail pounded in the coffin of their revenue model. For instance, why not a TV station? TV has geographic market presence — which I’m not convinced is even necessary nowadays — and this is revenue TV stations don’t now get, so a low-cost, web-only model is nothing but a plus to them. Or some newspaper company, like the N&O’s McClatchy, might decide, “Hey, why don’t we roll out this web-based obit system as a national thing, like Craigslist, and not just limit ourselves to where we have a building?” When the day comes that someone actually does this, newspaper executives won’t be able to say no one saw it coming or tried to warn them. 5/21 UPDATE: Through Twitter, legacy.com noticed my complaints and addressed its end of them, so her obits now appear online as Gail Lucas, and the guest books have been combined. That Media Guy When not getting up is falling down A different neighborhood watch Need a motto? Here are some for free Man with big bus slept here New meaning to ‘all pumped up’ A1 advertising aggregation arizona republic audience bad practices berkshire hathaway brand/reputation Buckeye Balls Citizen-Journal Clay Shirky crowdsourcing curation curmudgeons database David Brooks David Carr Democrat-Gazette Digital First Media disruption Earl Wilkinson engagement Facebook future Gail Tabor Google hyperlocal INMA innovation Inside Higher Ed Jay Rosen Jeff Bezos Jeffrey Bezos John Robinson legacy.com Lockbourne Air Force Base longform journalism management McClatchy media general miscellany mobile News & Observer news of the weird newsroom structure New York Times not work NPR obituaries Ohio State ONA opinion pages Orange County Register page design paywalls photography politics public records reporting search Seattle Times small-town journalism social SPJ Star-Tribune Steve Buttry Superman Thomas Jefferson Tumblr twitter University of Virginia warren buffett Washington Post web metrics writing Adrian Holovaty All Top Journalism News Andy Dickinson Best of the Journalism Blogs Buzz Machine By Daniel Victor Content Bridges Encyclo Invisible Inkling Knight Digital Media Center Lost Remote Mastering Multimedia Media, disrupted Old Media, New Tricks Publishing 2.0 Reese Felts Digital News Project Reportr.net Rob Curley Steve Outing Suzanne Yada Terry Heaton's PoMo Blog The Buttry Diary The Evolving Newsroom Zombie Journalism Feast After Famine	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1289
__label__cc	0.549115	0.450885	Wings over Wisconsin Industry March 31, 2010 A Wisconsin Non-Profit Learns an Important Lesson in Internal Controls Presented by Serenic Software. Download our free whitepaper – “5 Key Reasons Why Great Financial Management is So Important for Your Nonprofit Now” What is in the water up in America’s Dairyland? We’ve been going on and on about the internal control failures at Koss in Milwaukee but now there’s more of it at a non-profit organization just up the road. Let’s hope everyone at UW Madison is taking notes. The latest tale of non-profit fraud stars 56 year-old Leonard V. Lauth of Beaver Dam. Wings Over Wisconsin bills itself as a conservation organization dedicated to natural resource preservation and education through youth and community involvement. Spelling errors and obvious lack of updates since 2006 on its website aside, WOW manages nearly 1,300 acres of land and provides mostly young hunter education to the future gun-toting blue-stater babes in Wisconsin. While it prides preservation of Wisconsin’s precious wetlands, internal controls do not appear to be high on WOW’s priority list. Hopefully this changes that. It’s a textbook fraud case, starting with the mounting medical bills and the poor internal controls that allowed its Treasurer to lift $16,875 since 2005. Lauth’s advanced methods of fraud include writing checks to himself labeled “office supplies” in the books and taking home banquet funds after the event insisting he’d deposit them at the bank in the morning. While typically WOW practice to require two signatures, Lauth had been with the organization for 24 years, leaving the “trust” issue totally taken care of. Opportunity, motive, what else do we need? Rationalization, of course! Lauth told Beaver Dam Police Lt. Joel Kiesow he thought he’d taken $788 from the organization in the four year period in which he executed his fraud. When informed it was more like $17,000, Lauth was shocked. I guess he didn’t realize how expensive “office supplies” can be these days. “Maybe I was robbing Peter to pay Paul on different things,” said Lauth in regards to using WOW funds to pay off family medical bills. Actually, he was robbing the little Dustins and Bobbys with their baby shotguns and wildlife of Wisconsin who counted on the funds to which he so sloppily helped himself. Shame shame. Let this be a lesson to all you non-profits: cash management and financial literacy (including fraud prevention measures) are not only best practices for public companies and private industry. If anything, non-profits need sharper internal controls – without shareholders to answer to, money can easily slip into the fraud vacuum undetected for years, as in the case of Mr Lauth and WOW. Calls to WOW left after business hours were not returned. Man accused of taking funds from non profit [Beaver Dam Daily Citizen]	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1296
__label__cc	0.520386	0.479614	Absolutely! If you are within the cancellation policy of your tee time, navigate to the Manage Booking page to modify or cancel your booking. You may communicate with us anytime using the button below or email us at [email protected] – we’re happy to help! Log In with your account Sign up for golfscape United KingdomEnglandYorkshire Golf CoursesGanton Golf Club Tee times not available here – explore, book, and play popular golf destinations around the world 7.9 · $ 64 - 179 · Free Cancellation More Golf Destinations Ganton Golf Club Station Road, Ganton, Scarborough, England YO12 4PA United Kingdom -°C Today, Forecast: - Ganton is one of the top courses in the United Kingdom. Set in the beautiful Vale of Pickering, only 7 miles inland from the North Sea with views of the North York Moors & the Yorkshire Wolds, it is a true inland links with fast running fairways & firm quick greens. Deep and prolific bunkers, savage rough and impenetrable gorse have made for a searching examination of the game's best players. Although originally designed by Tom Chisholm and Tom Dunn in 1891, Ganton has been privileged to have some of the top golf course designers from the golden age of golf course design help shape the course that the golfers are playing now; Harry Vardon, James Braid, J H Taylor, Harry Colt, Alister Mackenzie, Tom Simpson & CK Cotton. Recently some alterations have been made to tees and bunkering on the 6th, 9th, 13th and 15th holes to ensure that Ganton remains the great challenge that everyone who plays here expects. Whilst the challenge is never far away right from the 1st tee, it begins in earnest at the 15th with the last four holes consisting par 4s of 493yds, 443yds & 435yds with the last two separated by a 251yd par 3 to provide a tough but memorable finish. Ganton has a rich tournament history being one of only three courses in the world to have hosted the Ryder, Walker and Curtis Cups. This is in addition to the other top amateur and professional events held here; British & English Amateur Championships, British & English Ladies, the Brabazon, Dunlop Masters & PGA Championship. Ganton recently hosted the British Seniors Amateur championship which had a field of 144 of the world’s top senior amateur golfers. In 2016 it will host the English Amateur Championships for the 6th time. The Clubhouse contains a lot of memorabilia about the history of the Club and the events that have been played here, including a room dedicated specifically to Harry Vardon who won 3 of his Open Championships and the US Open whilst he was the professional at the Club. Ganton is proud to have been so closely linked with the story of British golf & looks forward to welcoming golfers who wish to play this great course. Club Valet Caddy / Golf Carts Club / Shoe Rental Grass Type Tom Chisholm Yorkshire Golf Weather Log In to golfscape http://glf.sc/8aab About golfscape Blog: Futuri Visio golfscape OS Tee Sheet Join Global Marketplace © 2020 golfscape. All Rights Reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1298
__label__cc	0.619916	0.380084	The Definition of An Entrepreneur It’s really common to see the “word” entrepreneur on a resume or bio. But what does it mean? What makes someone an entrepreneur? Is it… August 27, 2016 In start The Definition of An EntrepreneurIt’s really common to see the “word” entrepreneur on a resume or bio. But what does it mean? What makes someone an entrepreneur? Is it… It’s really common to see the “word” entrepreneur on a resume or bio. But what does it mean? What makes someone an entrepreneur? Is it something you can study? Is it a profession? A lifestyle? A thing? It’s a question that probably has no consensus answer. And it does not have to. Here is what the dictionary thinks: Notice: nowhere does it say that an entrepreneur has to be loud, has to tweet a lot, has to abide by a certain type of culture. I think the big thing to take away from the dictionary definition: RISK. Risk is interesting. Here is why I care about this: People spend lots of time trying to become a better entrepreneur. Schools spend a ton of resources building a better entrepreneurial environment. I’m not entirely sure what this means. To me, an entrepreneur is a business owner. (of course there are caveats). but simply put, an entrepreneur must be someone who owns or is running a business. And if you are not in that category, then what makes you an entrepreneur? How can you be interested in entrepreneurship without building a company? Maybe it’s more that one is interested in the community… I’ve struggled with this. But I think much of the community is great. But there are many aspects as well that are just pure distractions. And not part of any definition of what is necessary to be a founder. I like the term founder much better than the term entrepreneur. What does the word entrepreneur mean to you? By jordangonen on August 27, 2016. Canonical link Exported from Medium on February 17, 2018. The Future of AI Doing now Holy Shit Moments Who to Care About	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1299
__label__wiki	0.691932	0.691932	Marques fastest in 2006's last Free Practice Diamonds in 1st and 2nd It is not yet one week ago when Bruno Marques "Diamond06-Render" (Diamond Racing) became the new Formula SimRacing World Championship champion, but the Portuguese seems to be determined to finish the season 'in style', at least that's what we'd think, looking at his stunning pace from today's Free Practice session in Interlagos. Marques set the benchmark with a laptime of 1:08.298m, followed by teammate Ondrej Kuncman in 2nd with a 1:08.544m, which shows that the two Diamonds were clearly the fastest on track today. The fastest Coca-Cola Kiwi Virtual driver was David Greco in 3rd, already 4 tenths behind the leader. Roaldo Racing's John-Eric Saxén positioned himself on 4th spot with his time of 1:09.055m and was once more the fastest World Series Ace driver. 2004 world champion Roy Kolbe's time of 1:09.073 was worth 5th spot, followed by newcomer Andreas Spengler from Twister-Racing. More Twisters were coming up on 7th and 8th, with Deniz Acarlar and Dennis Hirrle respectively. Both will race for the 2005 world champion team in the WC category on Sunday. While it will be Acarlar's debut for the team, it will be Hirrle's goodbye race. Both of them did almost identical times but were 1.2 seconds behind Marques. The top 10 were finalized with new World Series Ace champion Christian Smirnoff (Faster Than Speed) in 9th with his 1:09.846m time and Damian Woskowicz (Onlineracer.de) in 10th, just three hundreds of a second slower. Since the drivers championship in the World Series Pro category is not yet decided, everyone was waiting for the pit departs of both Faisal Niazi and Wayne White who are first and second in the standings before tomorrow's decisive race. However, neither of the two decided to put a lap down on the Brazilian asphalt. Psycho games? Who knows. What we know is, we will have one champion on Saturday night, that's for sure. For full results please have a look into FSR's 'Online Forum'. Dennis Hirrle FSR Press Article by: FSR Press, 2006-11-04 00:50:18	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1305
__label__wiki	0.88482	0.88482	Office shoe chain 'mulls CVA' as shoe retail proves tough in UK and beyond today Jul 1, 2019 Footwear chain Office is believed to be the latest retailer on the verge of filing a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) with news on Monday that it has appointed advisers. Sky News reported that the company has tasked specialist Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) with putting together a CVA plan that could mean the closure of some of its shops. Deloitte is also reportedly involved on behalf of Office’s lenders. The company currently operates 100 stores in the UK and it's unclear how many would be at risk if a CVA does happen. At the moment that's not a certainty, with sources also telling the news organisation that the business could pursue alternative restructuring options. Office is owned by publicly listed South African holding company Truworths International, which bought the chain for around £250 million four years ago. But being owned by a giant international company has not made Office immune from the problems that are besetting the wider UK fashion retail sector. Even though Office has a large online business, it still has too many physical shops to support. And the chain, which also trades from shops in Ireland and Germany, couldn't even benefit from exposure to buoyant international markets as both of those countries have their own retail challenges at present. However, Sky had no information on whether the Irish and German operations would be affected if the company launches a CVA. Office and Truworths haven’t commented and it could be several weeks before we hear more, but if a CVA is the final outcome of the current deliberations, it would make the company just one of many to have gone down that route in the last couple of years. The combined effects of Brexit-induced consumer caution and the UK being one of the leading markets for online retail have left businesses with large numbers of stores unable to generate profits. These include New Look, Arcadia, Mothercare, Debenhams and Monsoon Accessorize, among others. The Monsoon CVA is unusual in that it doesn't include store closures, but the ability to shut down underperforming shops and escape onerous lease terms is one of the key attractions of a company voluntary arrangement. As well as the problems cited above, Office also suffered from House of Fraser's administration filing as it was owed £0.7 million by the department store for trading in its concessions there. Retail analyst Kate Ormrod of GlobalData on Monday said that she believes the company also had other problems caused by general industry trends, but also some of its own making. ‘‘Office has been outshone by both multichannel and online rivals in the form of JD Sports and Asos, with range overlap the primary reason for the specialist’s difficulties, reducing its top-of-mind appeal among its core youth customer base and resulting in increased discounting,” she said. “With Footasylum now under JD Sports’ wing, the pressure will only grow. “Office has also struggled as leading sports footwear brands such as Nike and Adidas refocused on their retail operations and scaled back third party distribution on key lines. This has left its own brand offer exposed – with a need to better justify prices via investment in quality and design. With online already accounting for 33% of its global retail sales, and the channel not yet fully exploited, a leaner store estate is a must to drive its recovery.” Sankuanz, Rhude, Phipps spark off Paris Fashion Week Men’s Raf Simons preparing to drop new sneakers line Gym-to-street, yoga and sculpting boom as activewear searches surge says Lyst Liverpool ink kit supply deal with Nike Is Adidas really keen on transitioning towards more ecological manufacturing? Nike quarterly results beat, yet North America sales miss The North Face to open first Russian store Reebok unveils plant-based performance running shoe Gant promotes Patrik Söderström to CEO role Alexander Wang: collection spring-summer 2017 in New York + adidas capsule collection Adidas Original by White Mountaineering Fall-Winter 2016 Florence	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1306
__label__cc	0.667636	0.332364	A Quarter Century of Anxiety by John Haber Alfred Gescheidt: New York Art Crit New York Art Crit Still trying to quit smoking? You could morph the end of the cigarette into a combination lock-or light it with sparks from sticks of dynamite. You could die, impaled on a cigarette, or go up in a puff of smoke. You could trap yourself forever in a vending machine wanting more. You could put the cigarette on the couch to analyze its appeal, your failure, or therapy itself. Then again, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Alfred Gescheidt, at Higher Pictures through October 24, thought of all these and more back in 1964. He works seamlessly, with double exposures, overprinting, and shifting lenses. They leave the illusion laughingly obvious but the fakery impossible to tease apart. Like all his photographs, Thirty Ways to Stop Smoking is not about advice, but desire. A woman even reaches out from a billboard to offer a cigarette. Not that the man on the street, trapped in his suit and tie, can respond. Photoshop has made manipulation a way of life, and art has responded by harping on rough edges. Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol insisted on them long ago. David Salle and the “pictures generation” made the edges rougher still. As Surrealism goes, one could call it a battle between Man Ray and Max Ernst, and Ernst’s mad collage has won out. For now, in dreams begin irresponsibilities. Gescheidt’s age still dreamed deeply but trusted surfaces. Gescheidt in fact learned from modern photography’s finest artisans of the surface, in Henri Cartier-Bresson and Paul Strand. He also studied design, and his images appeared widely as commercial photography. They just peer beneath its surface. They also still feel alive. I mistook the woman’s slim offer of a cigarette pack for an iPhone. Yet Gescheidt may depart most from convention as photojournalism-as a chronicle of a quarter century of desire. His postwar America seems confused by its own optimism, like his man with a bathing beauty at his fingertips. The Cold War brings irony and dread, from a woman quite literally walking on the head of a pin to a man clinging to the side of a skyscraper. The 1960s loosen up, even as the pressures build. The white shirt and narrow tie give way to the young urban professional-stuck in his own briefcase with a slide rule, too many papers, and “creative department classics.” Political upheaval peeks out through the horseshoe snagging the Washington Monument, with another on its way through the sky. Money looms large too, like the long shadow of the words mutual funds, but the sexual revolution increasingly dominates. Frustrated desire was at the heart of Gescheidt’s special comedy and anxiety all along. The camera’s eye is always male, like the photographer himself looking back from a pair of binoculars, but then an anonymous hand grips them both. A drawbridge parts for a nude flat on her back like a barge. A man treads warily on a carpet of breasts, like walking on eggshells. Another naked man stares up in wonder at an enormous naked crotch, but there is no turning back. He is already well between her legs. Even without a cigarette, this work smokes.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1309
__label__cc	0.652236	0.347764	Why did Hindus practice untouchability? In various sub-castes, people used to practice untouchability i.e., some of the people who were considered lower castes, for example, sweepers, cleaners, etc. were ignored, and there were rules such as others were not allowed to touch them, if they did, they were ignored by the community. So why they used to do that? practice caste-system untouchability The Hungry DictatorThe Hungry Dictator On a side note: The literal Hinduism, our scriptures etc. DO NOT PROMOTE UNTOUCHABILITY IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER. This was proved in Ramayana when Lord Rama ate Shabri's ort fruits. Totally invented by some fools. Humanity... – user3459110 Jun 27 '14 at 15:03 @AwalGarg, if you believe Sri Rama ate fruits taste-tested by Shabari, see if you can answer this question: Where is it mentioned that Shabari offered to Lord Rama the fruits that she has already tasted? – sv. Jan 26 '16 at 17:32 For your question 'So why they used to do that?' : Quoting from Dr.Koenraad Elst's 1994 Essay "Caste: The view from Belgium": Untouchability originates in the belief that evil spirits surround dead and dying substances. People who work with corpses, body excretions or animal skins had an aura of danger and impurity, so they were kept away from mainstream society and from sacred learning and ritual. This often took grotesque forms: thus, an untouchable had to announce his polluting proximity with a rattle, like a leper. Untouchability seems to originated from a notion of impurity associated with certain professions. This is not unique to Hindu society as it is popularly believed. Burakumin people of Japan, Baekjeong people of Korea were considered untouchable. It seems to have arisen from basic human nature to seek safety in an age where some diseases had no cure. Hence people who had the potential to carry diseases were kept away. Untouchability is not mentioned in Vedic Samhitas. It does not have sanction in scriptures and it seems to have existed among non-Vedic Hindus too: ...the Tamils believed that any taking of life was dangerous, as it released the spirits of the things that were killed. Likewise, all who dealt with the dead or with dead substances from the body were considered to be charged with the power of death and were thought to be dangerous. Thus, long before the coming of the Aryans with their notion of varna, the Tamils had groups that were considered low and dangerous and with whom contact was closely regulated[1]. This reinforces that it was based on basic human instinct to seek safety rather than sanctioned by scriptures. So even within an untouchable caste, some sub-castes might have been considered untouchable by the members of the same caste on the notion of safety. [1] Reference BharatBharat "It does not have sanction in scriptures". What are you talking about? Numerous scriptures talk about the purification that you need to perform after touching outcastes and Chandalas. – Keshav Srinivasan♦ Feb 11 '16 at 14:32 This question has more to do with human nature than Hinduism. When people were divided into castes based upon their work, some castes declared themselves superior and called others inferior. Worshiping Gods was considered superior and noble work, so that caste became superior. Cleaning, washing etc. were considered inferior work, so that caste became inferior. I don't know which resulted in which and so on, but these feelings resulted in customs like not allowing lower caste people into temples and not allowing them to read the Vedas. Those customs further reinforced the feelings. Untouchability spread like a superstition where everybody believed in it. From this documentary India Untouched It exposes the continuation of caste practices and Untouchability in Sikhism, Christianity and Islam, and even amongst the communists in Kerala. Untouchability is prevalent in other religions too. within Dalits, sub-castes practice Untouchability on the "lower" sub-castes, and a Harijan boy refuses to drink water from a Valmiki boy. So untouchability is not just two-layered, it's multi-layered. Tejesh AlimilliTejesh Alimilli Thank u for the answer but i am here talking abt why it is happened... some castes declared themselves superior and called others inferior its not the actual answer... \ – The Hungry Dictator Jun 27 '14 at 11:59 I think the why is clear. I'll try to add some details of what I meant. But in case you are looking for the sequence of events that let to untouchability or similar, I don't know How it all started. – Tejesh Alimilli Jun 27 '14 at 13:40 It's definitely not about 'declaring' a cast as superior or inferior. – gaj Jul 31 '14 at 9:59 It has it's origin in practicing cleanliness when contagious diseases were in abundance, which had no cure. So the people having professions related to 'unclean' things like wastes, leather etc were prohibited from touching, accessing public places and common water supplies like lakes and wells. In course of time this became a custom. gajgaj Caste hierarchy and discrimination is not sanctioned by the Vedas. I mentioning an excerpt from an article by Swami Venkatraman: First, caste refers to jati, not varna. Jatis are the thousands of indigenous social- occupational groups, while varna refers to the four individualized societal functions described in many texts. Understanding this distinction is a necessary first step. The next is exploring whether the Purusha Sukta really sanctions a hierarchical and discriminatory caste system? This is not mere academic curiosity. The solution to any problem relies on a correct diagnosis and even as they acknowledge the social history of caste-based discrimination in India, it is important for Hindus, and non-Hindus, to understand the terminology and know whether the Sukta really does sanction a birth-based hierarchy. Below is a translation of the relevant verse from ‘Purusha Sukta’, which is the 90th Sukta of the 10th mandala in the Rig Veda, and it talks about the entire universe as the body of God (Purusha), and of all creation as emerging from Him. From his mouth came forth the Brahmins And of his arms were Rajanya made From his thighs came the Vaishyas And his feet gave birth to Sudras. At a literal reading, this indeed appears to define a hierarchical system of classes with the Brahmins occupying the most prestigious position and the Sudras being the most inferior as they emerge from the feet. And this has pretty much become the dominant understanding of the verse among academics. The best way to demonstrate the silliness of this interpretation of the 90th Sukta, is to actually assume it to be correct and then see where that leads us in terms of understanding the rest of the hymn. Thus, if the above verse indicates a hierarchical system, then presumably the body parts of the God (Purusha) from which everything in creation emerges, or the order in which the names are mentioned, or both, ought to be indicative of its superiority or otherwise. Let us test this understanding against translations of the next two verses from the 90th ‘Purusha Sukta’: Of his mind, the Moon is born Of his eyes, the shining Sun from his mouth, Indra and Agni, And of his life-breath, Vayu Space unfolds from his navel The sky well formed from his head From His feet, the earth and His ears the Quarters Thus they thought up all the worlds. If our assumption above were true, then the moon ought to be superior to the sun because the mind is superior to the eyes, and also because the moon is mentioned first. Moreover, based on where they emerge from, Indra (the king of the Devas) ought to be inferior to both Chandra (moon) and Surya (sun) and on par with Agni (fire), which also is illogical. A similarly absurd comparison of the space, sky, earth with the ‘four directions’ will arise from the second verse. If the earth comes from the God’s (Purusha) feet, is it then inferior to the moon which comes from the mind? There is clearly no hierarchy intended, but only symbolic meanings. This can be driven home more clearly, if one considers what the ‘Purusha Sukta’ says in its entirety. It describes the God (Purusha), as the perennial source of all creation, as having countless heads, eyes and legs, manifested everywhere beyond comprehension. All creation is but fourth a part of him and the rest is thus, ambiguous. The Sukta describes a great Yajna, or a ritual sacrifice, called `Sarvahut’, or the ‘offering of all’. It was God (Purusha) himself who is worshipped in the Yajna, which is performed by Brahma, the creative power of the Purusha. The Devas, who are the senses of the Purusha, are the priests. Thus, the beast of sacrifice, tied to the altar is the Purusha himself; all of nature is the altar; the Purusha’s heart is the fire, and the Purusha himself is sacrificed in the Yajna, which is the process of creation itself. The ‘Purusha Sukta’ does not intend to speak about human society and its organization. The translation of one of the final verses states the essence of Hinduism clearly: I know That Purusha who is glorious Bright as the sun, beyond all darkness. He who knows him thus Conquers death in this birth. I know of no other way than this. Consider the following now: In the entire Rig Veda, it is only in the ‘Purusha Sukta’ that the four varnas are mentioned. However, the ‘Purusha Sukta’ itself does not use the word ‘varna’ and wherever the word occurs elsewhere in the Rig Veda, it is to be noted that it is not used to refer to the four types of people in society. Moreover, Hindu sacred texts clearly relate ‘varnas’ to the ‘guna’ i.e., behavior and character, rather than the birth. The idea that different individuals of the same family can have different ‘varnas’ and those individuals had a choice of ‘varnas’ are present in the Rig Veda itself. “I am a reciter of hymns, my father is a healer, my mother a grinder of corn. We desire to obtain wealth through various actions”-- Rig Veda 9.112.3 “O Indra, fond of soma, would you make me the protector of people, or would you make me a ruler, or would you make me a sage who has consumed soma, or would you bestow infinite wealth on me?” --- Rig Veda 3.44.5 “The four varnas were created by me according to differences in guna and karma; although the creator of this, know me as the non-doer being immutable.” -- Bhagavad Gita 4.13 http://swarajyamag.com/culture/caste-hierarchy-and-discrimination-not-sanctioned-by-the-vedas Amit SaxenaAmit Saxena Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged practice caste-system untouchability . What happens if non-Dalit touches a Dalit? Does “untouchability” have any place in Hinduism? Caste in Hinduism What is the purpose of the caste system? How has it changed? Where is it mentioned that Shabari offered to Lord Rama the fruits that she has already tasted? Untouchability during Ramayana or Mahabharata period Why is Caste System there in Hindu religion? Is there any relationship between the caste system and kundalis/gunas matching as it relates to marriage? Are the Nishada and Rathakara castes eligible for the Vedas and Jnana? Why people are named after Shantanu? Did Adi Sankara follow untouchability? Do Sri Vaishnavas believe you should not eat food in the presence of others? What technique they used earlier to make idols stand for centuries Are there complaints in the scriptures about the iniquties of the caste system?	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1312
__label__cc	0.514014	0.485986	3106059049.8dd5717.10db4a93b14947ffb3866e119fbf46ac Hélène Belaunde Reporting and Essays on Society, Culture, Lifestyle. Plus a dash of creative non-fiction with questionably funny pictures. Jinwen University under fire as students denounce degrading hazing rituals Children's Issues, Society, Story On a weekend getaway organized by Jinwen University of Science and Technology, a group of senior students from four different faculty departments subjected over a hundred new students to degrading practices as part of a ‘welcome ceremony’ (yingxin). The events took place at a village in Miaoli County from October 7th to October 9th. Members of the trip included 43 seniors, 136 new students and a group of teachers to supervise the whole group: however, teachers were not present at all times. Students came from the Departments of Electronics, Environmental Science and Technology, Applied Foreign Languages and Marketing and Logistics. The bullying started as soon as the students were on the bus, with male and female seniors pressuring newbies into licking each other’s gums. When they protested, the seniors mocked them and noted that “[They] used to take it even further in [their] time”, “it’s really tame now”. Things escalated further in the afternoon when, following a game outdoors, new students were coerced into several degrading practices such as removing their underwear, writhing on the floor and biting different objects, and licking each other’s toes. Those who refused to comply were mocked and bullied until they caved. One female student became physically ill; another male student fled the scene and called his older sister to let her know “people [were] being hurt.” A group of students eventually managed to contact their teachers and asked for help; the trip was interrupted and the parents of all students were immediately notified of the events. The next day, Jinwen University received 25 students to hear their stories and complaints: representatives formally apologized and recognized supervising had suffered from unforgivable negligence. The case was handed over to a disciplinary committee. A number of parents have expressed the intention to sue the school if they felt the committee failed to handle the case in an appropriate manner. Meanwhile, each and every senior student was made to formally apologize to the victims, although one may legitimately doubt the sincerity of the apology. As bullies will often tell you, it’s just a bit of harmless fun. Students made to remove their underpants. (Source: Udn) There is no term in Mandarin equivalent to “hazing”, but the practice is certainly not unheard of in Taiwanese universities. The expression that is used in this case is yingxin (literally, to greet newcomers or welcome new students). Following the events, a number of college students explained that rituals of “welcoming new students” were often passed down from one generation to the next, including a handful of “corrupt practices” (louxi). Seniors want new students to experience what they have endured themselves: basically, “I had to do it, now it’s your turn” (wo dangshi jingli guo, ni ye yao). A student in Political sciences at Zhengda University recalled one such “corrupt practice” called the “Demon Mailbox” (e’mo xinxiang): students are made to write on pieces of papers the act that would disgust them the most. Papers are all put in a ballot: the students then have to pick one paper at random and perform the action described. Those who hesitate or refuse to comply are bullied and coerced until they give in. Theoretically, they are free to walk out or speak out against it: in truth, peer pressure and the desire to fit in can often make this very difficult, not to mention dangerous, as those who do so risk being subjected to further harassment. Laughing nervously and going along with it (even convincing yourself it’s indeed a bit of “harmless fun”) may feel like the easiest option. In the wake of the events, president of Yangming University’s student union Chen Jiajing (陳佳菁) has enjoined the association in charge of organizing welcoming activities for new students to reflect on the original intent of these activities, as the kind of behavior expressed at Miaoli constitutes an attack on the “fundamental worth of individuals”. Bullying is a pressing issue in Taiwan, but there seems to be a lack of data regarding the situation in universities. The first study to use a nationally representative sample to explore issues of school violence in Taiwan focuses on elementary and secondary school: results found that “Taiwan has higher rates of school violence perpetration than reports from other countries”: Although the methodologies used to measure school violence perpetration slightly differs between previous studies and the present study, it appears that there is a relatively high rate of violence perpetration among Taiwanese students compared to other countries. These findings do not support contemporary and popular theories asserting that certain Asian cultural values such as emphasizing harmony in social relationships may account for lower prevalence of school violence than Western cultures (Nisbett, 2003). Most common violent acts were “cursing, insulting, teasing and mocking.” Schoolboys were found to be more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior than their female counterparts (71,2% of boys admitted to committing at least one violent act as opposed to 48,5% of girls), suggesting bullying is very much a gendered issue. Another study confirmed the trend while suggesting former victims of school and college bullying seemed more likely to also experience harassment at work, with “instances of workplace abuse [being] more severe among females than males”. Bullying victims all exhibited higher stress levels than bullies and non-involved persons, both in college and in the workplace, and scored highest in depression. While the Ministry of Education has launched anti-bullying campaigns in the past, they have been met with some degree of skepticism, notably by commenters who pointed out the real issue underlying bullying would be institutionalized violence or the harsh competition for the highest possible grades in Taiwanese high schools, creating an informal “caste system” in which students with lower grades are treated poorly by teachers and principals, and thus by fellow students. For now, it seems the specific issue of hazing rituals in college has not yet been investigated or been the object of a nationwide prevention campaign. Tags:bullying, demon mailbox, hazing, jinwen university, Taiwan La pleine conscience, un outil oppressif ? Reframing Time as a creative force: What does 5.40am mean to you? How To Write A Winning Product Description: Peek Over My Shoulder Himanshu Sharma on How To Write A Winning Product Description: Peek Over My Shoulder vurtilopmer on Reframing Time as a creative force: What does 5.40am mean to you? Gejala Ambeien Stadium 3 on How To Write A Winning Product Description: Peek Over My Shoulder © 2020 Theme by Mauer Themes	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1326
__label__wiki	0.877108	0.877108	Front Matter From the Beginning The Goths in Spain The Moorish Conquest Who were the Moors? The Conquest Abderrahman the First Abderrahman's Successors Flora and Mary Abderrahman the Third The Great Vizier The Christians of Northern Spain The Cid Campaedor The Battle of Las Navas Seville Castile and Aragon The Moors at Granada Zahara and Alhama Border Warfare The Fall of Malaga The Fall of Granada The Last of the Moors The Condition of Spain Columbus The Discovery of America The Second Voyage The Death of Columbus The End of Ferdinand and Isabella Charles the First Hernando Cortez In the City of Mexico Cortez Driven Out of Mexico The Conquest of Mexico Pizarro The Conquest of Peru Philip the Second The Duke of Alva Don John of Austria The Knights of Malta The Moriscoes Spain Under Philip the Second Two More Philips Charles the Second Philip the Fifth Ferdinand the Sixth Charles the Third The Prince of the Peace The Old King and the New One King Joseph The French in Spain Ferdinand the Seventh The Spanish-American Colonies The Woman from Naples Isabella Spain in Our Day Child's History of Spain - John Bonner The Old King and Tile New One A.D. 1807-1808 King Charles the Fourth had a son who was born in 1784, and whose name was Ferdinand. As he grew to manhood he hated Godoy, at which you will not be surprised; but what may surprise you is that he hated his father and mother quite as bitterly. This Ferdinand wrote to Napoleon in 1807 that Spain was being ruined by Godoy, and would he be so kind as to interfere a little? Nothing could have suited the ambitious emperor better. But he was too wary to answer Ferdinand's letter, and when the Prince of the Asturias—as Ferdinand was called—wrote again to say that lie was old enough to be married, and would the emperor bestow on him the hand of some girl of his family, Napoleon nodded, smilingly, but said never a word. Ferdinand was so loose a talker that Godoy soon learned all about his letters to France, and King Charles was told by his minister that his son had plotted his death. The old king put himself at the head of his guards, marched to Ferdinand's quarters, arrested him, and locked him up in prison. Charles wrote to Napoleon that he had been saved from a terrible danger, planned against him by his own dear son and heir, and that He was afraid that it was his duty to punish the boy so as to make an example of him. Two days afterwards Ferdinand begged his father's pardon, and said he was sorry for what he had done. Whereupon the old king wrote that "where a guilty party solicits pardon, the heart of a father cannot refuse it to a son." And Charles and the Prince of the Asturias showed themselves to the people arm in arm, and embraced in public. By this time Napoleon had made up his mind what to do. He had an army in Portugal; he used it to drive out the royal family, and he bade his General Junot take command of the kingdom. This done, he turned round on Spain, and moved another army into Catalonia. He was going to interfere a little, as the Prince of the Asturias had invited him to do. But all the time he remained King Charles's best friend. On the very day when the French moved on Barcelona, Napoleon sent the Spanish king a present of twelve beautiful horses, with a letter saying that he would call on him soon. When Charles knew for certain that the French occupied Catalonia, he resolved to follow the example of the royal family of Portugal, and run away to the American colonies. His carriages drove to the palace door, and a strong body of cavalry and artillery was mustered to escort them to Seville, where he intended to take ship. But a mob gathered, surrounded the carriages, filled the air with cries and threats, cut the traces of the horses, and drove the old king back into the palace. In the crowd stood the Prince of the Asturias, cool and sneering. "Were you going to run away, too?" asked a by-stander. "Not at all," said he; "I stay with my people." Whereupon the mob declared that Ferdinand was a true Spaniard, and the very man to be king. That night Charles abdicated, and Ferdinand was proclaimed king. Charles wrote a letter in which he said that his health required rest and a milder climate, that his abdication was made of his own free will, and that his beloved son would govern wisely and well. Two days afterwards he wrote to Napoleon that he had not in the least acted of his own free will, but had been forced to abdicate, and would the emperor please set him back on the throne? On March 20th, 1808, he told the foreign ambassadors that his abdication was his own choice, and had given him much pleasure. On the following day he wrote to the foreign courts that he had abdicated in order to avoid bloodshed, and that the act was therefore null. PEASANTS IN THE MARKET-PLACE. The knavish son of this knavish father was going to be pretty roughly awakened from his fool's d ream. On the day after he became king he called on General Murat, who represented Napoleon at Madrid. Ferdinand went in great state, with a gorgeous staff and a grand escort. Murat stood erect and stern in the centre of the room. The king said he was glad to meet him as the emperor's envoy, and added other pleasant speeches. Murat never opened his mouth. The king made a few more remarks, with a rather forced smile on his lips. Murat did not answer a syllable, but stood like a man of stone, and looked straight before him gravely and frowningly. Ferdinand, after fidgeting with his sword and gloves, had no choice but to go. It was made known to Ferdinand that the emperor was coming to Madrid, and he was told that it would be but polite to go and meet him. He started forth accordingly, taking care to send word in advance to Napoleon that Spain would give hive every assistance in destroying the independence of Portugal, and making it a French province. Napoleon never answered a word. When Ferdinand reached Vittoria in old Navarre, near the French border, he was warned that he had better go no farther. Wise old Spaniards bade him beware of putting himself in the power of the emperor. But General Savary, who spoke for Napoleon, said he would let Ferdinand cut off his head if any trouble calve, that Napoleon loved Ferdinand like a brother, and better than most brothers; and the King of Spain crossed the Bidassoa. Napoleon did receive him like a brother. He threw his arms round Ferdinand's neck, kissed him, and said everything that was sweet and kind and flattering. That day the emperor sent his own carriage to bring Ferdinand to dine with him, received him at the foot of the staircase, and all through the meal paid him the most delicate attentions. Ferdinand went home in high spirits, feeling that the emperor was a true friend. He had scarcely taken his seat in his own parlor when General Savary was announced. The general entered with a severe face, and made a very short speech. "My master, the emperor," said he, "has made up his mind. You must immediately resign the throne of Spain. He proposes to put one of his own family on that throne." And afterwards he explained that if Ferdinand gave no trouble, a small throne might perhaps be found for him elsewhere. Ferdinand was dazed at first; when he collected himself, he said that he had not the least intention of giving up his throne. Then, said Napoleon, we must send for your father. You will better understand the bitter struggle which was now beginning if I give you some notes of the state of Spain from a book written at this time by the Spanish historian—Vargas Ponce. He said that Spain had generals enough to command the armies of the world, but no soldiers. There were at Madrid more churches than houses, more priests than burghers, more altars than kitchens. Wax figures of saints lay side by side with robbers and bad women. Religious processions blocked the streets. The courts of law were busy night and day, but justice was not to be had. A judge would sentence a man to death after a trial of twenty minutes, but would take ten years to decide the title to a mule. Every trade was a monopoly; the seller of oil could not sell wine, the seller of meat could not sell salt, the seller of wine could not sell oil or meat or fruit; none of them could sell oats or any article for which he did not hold a license. Nobody cared to have regular work. A true Spaniard slept so many Hours in the daytime, no matter if he had nothing to eat when he waked. He would go hungry to a bull-fight, and when he had not a coin in his pocket he would stand in the street and beg of passers-by. The proud nobility of Spain which had figured so grandly, as you remember, in the history of the old days, had passed out of notice at this time. Very few of them served in the army, and still fewer in high employments of state. It was thought to be the correct thing for grandees and dukes to wait on the king, to hand him his shirt when be dressed, and to hold his stirrup when he mounted his horse; their wives combed the queen's hair, and handed her her tooth-brush. These duties were all they cared to fulfil. Yet the property owned by the nobles was enormous. They had got much of the land which was taken from the Jesuits, and they did not know how to cultivate it. Most of it lay fallow. They were lazy, ignorant, superstitious, and perfectly contented. No matter what the king or the prime-minister did, they had no objection to make. It was this condition of Spain and the Spanish people which made Napoleon think he could easily conquer the country and annex it to France. He said to himself that an imbecile king, an ignorant and slothful people, a besotted nobility, and a rapacious Church could not defend the country against his veterans if they were directed by a mind as broad as his. Unluckily for him, and happily for Spain, there was a chord in the Spanish heart which, if touched, could still rouse the people to energy—that chord was impatience of foreign dominion. The Spaniard would starve or beg or go about in rags, but he would not be the slave of the foreigner, and especially of the Frenchman. He was ready to endure the rule of an idiot, so long as he was born a Spaniard; but he would rather die than submit to a Frenchman, however able or virtuous he might be. Napoleon was now going to find this out.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1331
__label__cc	0.54936	0.45064	About HOF About Heroes of Fitness The Origin of HOF Training Equipment & Tools Stream Schedule By: Nicole Du Cane Your Convention Survival Guide: How to Stay Healthy & Fit On The Road (and not get the Con Plague) Your Convention Survival Guide: How to Stay Healthy & Fit On The Road (and not get the Con Plague) https://heroesoffitness.com/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 Nicole Du Cane Nicole Du Cane https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3f49d98762b0b57aaa15da4508e0b641?s=96&d=mm&r=r October 25, 2018 September 18, 2019 This is an in-depth post. Here are quick links to specific sections you may be interested in jumping to: General Tips & Tricks Eating & Drinking Out Strategies (when the parties don’t stop) Supplies for the Road (supplements, snacks, travel products) Hotel Room Workout Going to conventions can be the highlight of the year. Meeting… By: Tim Spencer The ONE Tool To Rule Them All: How To Achieve Your Fitness Goals With One Piece Of Equipment The ONE Tool To Rule Them All: How To Achieve Your Fitness Goals With One Piece Of Equipment https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/heroesoffitness/20160429125654/0045_AndreaDuCane-e1461952613397-1024x440.jpg 1024 440 Tim Spencer Tim Spencer https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fa46ffc8ecf154c2d9b128f0d2aea018?s=96&d=mm&r=r April 29, 2016 October 17, 2017 “One thing to rule them all, One thing once ye find them, One thing to lift – for all, And in thine home – hoist them!” It is a truth universally acknowledged that we all want to feel good and have a body that we are proud of (with clothes on and even more so… Your Holiday Nutrition Survival Guide — And Why You Should Eat The Tasty Treats! Your Holiday Nutrition Survival Guide — And Why You Should Eat The Tasty Treats! https://heroesoffitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Blog-featured-image-holiday-nutrition.png 760 360 Tim Spencer Tim Spencer https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fa46ffc8ecf154c2d9b128f0d2aea018?s=96&d=mm&r=r December 11, 2015 March 9, 2017 The holidays. Winter. Flavor-tastes. Ah the long and slow decay of workout programs — or more specifically, willpower — as we travel through the darkest months. As a result of the holiday gorge-fest and all of the snackie-cakes tempting you at work (maybe even at home) it’s inevitable, you’ll probably fatten up a bit this… The 5 Week Holiday Kettlebell Program: How To Burn Fat & Get Strong While Doing Practically Nothing, Eating Pies & Playing Games This Holiday Season The 5 Week Holiday Kettlebell Program: How To Burn Fat & Get Strong While Doing Practically Nothing, Eating Pies & Playing Games This Holiday Season https://heroesoffitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Blog-featured-image-kb-5-week-holiday-program-copy.png 760 360 Tim Spencer Tim Spencer https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fa46ffc8ecf154c2d9b128f0d2aea018?s=96&d=mm&r=r November 26, 2015 November 27, 2015 Ahhhh the holidays. You’ll never find a more festive time of fun and gluttony. Or was it a wretched hive of scum and villainy? Certainly one of the two, depending on who you ask. You go from wearing an awesome costume around to parties to consuming a massive, gravy-soaked, turkey-carbo-load, and then before you know… “No, no, don’t get up” — How to Get a Complete Workout Without Leaving Your Chair or Couch [VIDEO inside] “No, no, don’t get up” — How to Get a Complete Workout Without Leaving Your Chair or Couch [VIDEO inside] https://heroesoffitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/YT-TN-Blog-Seated-Workout-1024x576.jpg 1024 576 Tim Spencer Tim Spencer https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fa46ffc8ecf154c2d9b128f0d2aea018?s=96&d=mm&r=r November 13, 2015 November 13, 2015 Have you ever been in the middle of sitting around playing games or watching shows and suddenly thought to yourself, “hey, I am going to get up and do a complete, full-body workout!” Mmm, yea, probably not… More than likely, you’ve been in that position and thought: “Noiice! I’ve got time for one more game… The Quest for The Perfect Game & the Philosophy of Heroes of Fitness The Quest for The Perfect Game & the Philosophy of Heroes of Fitness https://heroesoffitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Blog-featured-image-holy-grail.png 760 360 Tim Spencer Tim Spencer https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fa46ffc8ecf154c2d9b128f0d2aea018?s=96&d=mm&r=r November 7, 2015 November 10, 2015 I’m going to wax self-indulgent for a few paragraphs (you know, George R. R. Martin style. “Tell me, George, what color was his brocade vest? The buttons, were they, by chance, a polished brass or were they a burnished bronze? Were they hand-sewn on by the greatest tailor in King’s Landing? The Lannister banner the… Heroes of Fitness 1041 Grand Ave #229 support@heroesoffitness.com Copyright Heroes of Fitness, LLC © 2019. Terms and Conditions \| Privacy Policy	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1332
__label__cc	0.6844	0.3156	Early Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval Inscribed and Sculpted Stones, Places and Landscapes Hauen’s Cross? Introducing Nevern 4 (P73) Date: Aug 29, 2015Author: Prof. Howard M. R. Williams 3 Comments Nevern 4 faces A and D, 2014 Nevern 4, faces C and D, 2013 Ever since I first encountered this fabulous free-standing ring-headed cross comprised of two sculpted stones in c. 2000, I have been a fan of its striking form, ornament, patina and position. The tops of faces B (in shadow) and C of Nevern 4. Nevern 4 is not in isolation, it is situated as one of nine early medieval monuments known from Nevern (Nanhyfer) and one of four from St Brynach’s Church. Later to acquire a substantial castle, it is likely that Nevern was an early ecclesiastical centre. As such, it is a key piece of evidence for any researcher interested in early medieval stone sculpture and what it reveals about the history of the church and society in these islands. This discussion follows closely on that found on pages 396-401 of Nancy Edwards’ superb Corpus of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales Volume 2 (2007, University of Wales Press), in which she numbers it ‘Nevern 4 P73’ (Pembrokeshire 73). Her detailed appraisal is accompanied by fine black-and-white photographs of the monument far superior to my snaps here. I would recommend anyone seriously interested in this monument to acquire or loan Nancy’s book. The cross in relation to the church Nancy dates the monument to the second half of the tenth or early eleventh centuries AD (i.e. late Viking Age). The modern location of the cross is important because Nancy regards it as probably in situ. In other words this might be a rare example of an early medieval monument that has never been moved subsequent to its 10th/11th-century erection. In this regard, it is just like the Pillar of Eliseg. However, in this case it was probably situated right next to a pre-existing early Christian place of worship. This scenario is unproven and the church might have come later. However, the presence of two inscribed stones – Nevern 1 and 2 – both dated to the fifth or sixth centuries, might be taken as evidence that this was a persistent place in the early medieval landscape that accrued a church at the same time, or centuries before, the raising of the cross. If the cross really is in its original location, it might have flanked the southern side of a smaller, earlier structure in a similar fashion postulated for the Llanbadarn Fawr cross and the Bewcastle monument. The lower half of face C of Nevern 4, with the text-panel with the possible personal name ‘Hauen’ visible in roman-letter book-script Nancy provides a full and detailed description of the ornament which I shall not repeat. She notes that the ‘Viking influence’ in the interlace and fret patterns find parallels with a range of other crosses from South-West Wales, particularly Carew 1. She goes so far as to suggest that, given that some of the stone used for Carew 1 is from the same source as the Nevern 4 monument (Carn Wen, Preselis) that they were made by the same hand(s). What is striking is the striking different widths of the cross-shaft and the cross-head, neck and shoulders set into it. This difference in thickness is mediated by a projecting panel at the top of the shaft on face A. This feature further emphasises the arguments made by many that early medieval stone sculpture often emulates features found in other media, in this case contemporary ecclesiastical metalwork. Such ‘skeuomorphic’ dimensions might, however, be simultaneously alluding to multiple media, and metalwork, woodwork and manuscripts are perhaps just some of the options for interplays of designs and their execution in stone. Nevern 4, top of face C This monument is not fully ornamental however, and abstract decoration and form are not the only skeuomorphic elements. In addition to the interlace, knotwork and fretwork there are two abbreviated text panels, one half-way down each broad face and thus opposing each other. Close up of face D On the western side (face A) there is a rectangular panel enclosed by a perimeter of roll-moulding with roman-letter book-script, with some serifs ‘DNS’. This is interpreted as an abbreviation of D(omi)n(u)s (Lord). On the eastern broad side (face C) is a matching small rectangulr panel, also framed by roll-moulding with roman-letter book-script with letters and two punctus interpreted as ‘HA[U]. .E[N] but the layout is ‘enigmatic’ as Nancy notes. This is interpreted as Hauen (‘Hauen’) by Nancy, following Macalister. It is tempting to have a name to connect to this monument even if the interpretation of the text remains problematic. Was this a funerary monument to ‘Hauen’, or was he the commissioner of the monument? Beyond that speculation, what is more interesting is that the text is itself skeuomorphic; translating manuscript writing into a monumental medium rather than adapting more easily inscribed linear letter forms. In conclusion, the Nevern 4 cross is important example for demonstrating the importance of understanding the location and materiality of early medieval stone monuments. Alongside careful consideration of ornament, texts and images upon them, crosses like this, once originally brightly painted in many colours, were there to impress and become memorable through single and multiple encounters. The panel in the church about the cross early medieval stone sculptureNevernPembrokeshireWales Previous Previous post: Skulls in Stone and Brass: Inside Holt Church. Next Next post: Beowulf and Archaeology 3 thoughts on “Hauen’s Cross? Introducing Nevern 4 (P73)” Pingback: The Carew Cross (P9): Materiality, Biography, Landscape \| Archaeodeath Pingback: Embodying the Dead in Viking Age Stones \| Archaeodeath Pingback: Nevern’s Origins? The Stones of Maglocunas and Vitalianus \| Archaeodeath	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1347
__label__cc	0.588185	0.411815	Music: Blu & Exile – True & Livin’ EP Legendary hip-hop duo Blu & Exile return with a brand new EP titled True & Livin. The 3-track EP features smooth and soulful production from Exile, with Blu rapping effortlessly, flowing like butter throughout the amazing beats. The two legends are well and truly back and I couldn’t be happier. “True & Livin'” features a soulful sample looped throughout, with basslines and keys sprinkled throughout the angelic beat. “Spread Sunshine” features some incredible guitar licks and a subtle beat with a bassline that adds depth and groove to the beat. Blu brings an introspective verse that is lyrically dense and intricate in terms of wordplay and flow. “Power to the People” features Choosey, Johaz, Cashus King, Aloe Blacc, Fashawn and Blame One in a sort of cipher that brings different energies and flows over a hard-hitting boom bap beat. It’s an excellent track with incredibly talented artists, and the beat is so hard too. Overall, Blu and Exile exceed my expectations, but would have obviously loved a longer project. Listen to Blu & Exile’s True & Livin EP below via Bandcamp, and don’t forget to support! Released via Dirty Science Records. 0 comments on “Music: Blu & Exile – True & Livin’ EP”	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1351
__label__wiki	0.618077	0.618077	Ballads and Brawls for the Bard at the Folger Shakespeare Library by Michael Lodico \| Sunday, March 11, 2007 Folger Consort on Ionarts: The Elizabethan Muse: Shakespeare, Byrd, and Dowland (January 6, 2007) Greensleeves (December 22, 2006) Palestrina and Monteverdi (January 7, 2006) Corelli and Charpentier (December 23, 2005) Josquin and Isaac (October 8, 2005) The Folger Consort, with guests Mark Rimple, Jim Stimson, and the Newberry Consort of Chicago, offered the program Ballads and Brawls for the Bard at the Folger Shakespeare Library as part of the Shakespeare in Washington Festival. These consorts combined forces to form a “Broken Consort” consisting of violin, viol(s), recorder, lute, cittern, and bandora. Similarities may be observed between a “Broken Consort” and a typical bluegrass band of fiddle, upright bass, guitar(s), and banjo(s). Among the twenty-nine selections on the program that could have been used in Shakespeare’s plays, the works of Thomas Morley (c. 1557-1602) and Giovanni Coprario (né John Cooper, c. 1570-1626) shined brightest. Morley, a student of William Byrd, was a neighbor of Shakepeare’s in London. It was a lover and his lasse, a song about springtime from Twelfth Night, was sung by soprano Ellen Hargis (last reviewed in January at the National Gallery) and had a nice balance with the instruments. Though, throughout the evening Hargis did not seem to “let go” and use her full voice, which limited the clarity of her diction. Available from Amazon: Ross Duffin, Shakespeare's Songbook (W. W. Norton, 2004) Instrument-only works were nicely interspersed throughout the program. In particular, the Fantasy, and Alman; Galliard, by Coprario, were very compelling. Strong rhythm allowed the complex polyphony and counterpoint to be heard clearly. Unfortunately, in most of the other pieces in Friday’s performance, especially ones with a vocalist, the rhythm was less than strong. The absence of strong downbeat was possibly due to the rather horizontal playing of the viol and lack of a larger bass viol in the ensemble. Joan Reinthaler, The Folger's Rollicking 'Ballads and Brawls' (Washington Post, March 13) Violinist David Douglass, the director of The King’s Noyse , and Mark Rimple, of the group Trefoil, offered the evening’s most convincing music making. Douglass, while holding the violin just above his elbow, played impressive virtuosic runs in the final variations of the Kemp’s Jig medley. Rimple was confident alternating between singing countertenor and playing the lute, guitar, and the long arch-lute with over a dozen strings. The back and forth between these two musicians in Morley’s Goe from my Window was very satisfying. The evening ended with the witty ballad The Friar and the Nun from All’s Well That Ends Well, which was interspersed with a bit of wry Gregorian chanting in Latin by all of the musicians. It then finished with chanting in organum (parallel 5ths) and a hilarious “Amen.” On sale in the bookstore of the Folger Shakespeare Library is musicologist Ross Duffin’s recently released Shakespeare’s Songbook, where much of this material may be found. This program will be repeated only one more time, this afternoon at 2 pm. Filed under Concert Reviews, Early Music, Folger Consort This Week in MP3 A Helen for all Ears, if not all Eyes: Die Ägyptis... Die Ägyptische Helena - A Feast for the Ears Do You Notice the Symmetry? Baltimore's Bartered Bride BSO Explores the Golden Ratio Classical Music on the Radio Holy Week at the National Shrine DVD: La Fille du Régiment Take a Friend to the Orchestra Month Classical Month in Washington (June) Music as Propaganda in Washington and New York Auryn Quartett, Finishing Up at FAES Chantry Premieres New Edition of Allegri's "Misere... From Uchida With Love: Mozart in New York Camerata Ireland and Barry Douglas Perahia's Goldberg Variations Baltimore Symphony Premieres Danielpour's "Rocking... Klaus Florian Vogt's Splendor - Lohengrin on DVD Blasphemous Dogs, Recovering Catholics, and a Redi... What Mortier Hath Wrought Herreweghe's Penance Quinn Kelsey, Vocal Arts Society Auryn Quartett, Part 2 Kinderkonzert at the Kennedy Center Endless, the White Clouds Going Once! Auction for Free Arts NYC Review Bits: Die Ägyptische Helena Orchestral Brilliance from Leipzig at GMU More Great Violin Playing with the NSO: Julia Fisc... Medieval Paintings Discovered Near Grenoble Wagner's Ring: Tension and Delight Amor Sacro DVD: Half Nelson New Opera by Benoît Mernier in Brussels Two Parts Mozart, One Part Britten Under reconstruction at Clarice Smith Ballads and Brawls for the Bard at the Folger Shak... Too Few Witness Sibelius Greatness BSO at Strathmore, with Günther Herbig New Opera Notes Race to the Finnish: Osmo Vänskä in Sibelius Influencias, Cuarteto Casals Contemporary Music Forum, National Gallery La Dessay Aron Quartett, Library of Congress The Melancholy Pascal Dusapin This Week in MP3: It's March! Artis-Quartett Wien, Library of Congress Yundi Li Plays Liszt and Chopin	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1357
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__label__cc	0.749967	0.250033	CategoryRebuttals In Reply To Robby Soave: Why The Gillette Advertisement Is Offensive In Blog Posts, Feature, Rebuttals Reason magazine writer, and critic of political correctness Robby Soave, asks in his article () why Gillette’s recent advertisements calling upon men to “do better” have caused a strong sense of offense among men and, in particular, some commenters on the political right.… Are Nerdy Men Hated For Non-Mainstream Shopping Habits? A Response To Rachael Lefler In Feature, Rebuttals Author’s Note: This piece can also be found at A Voice For Men here: Rachael Lefler of A Voice For Men recently wrote an article which proposed an explanation for why feminists seem so hateful towards “geek” or “nerd” culture (see ).… Salon Rebuttal–White Men and Guns Matt Karlsson The Patriarchy was resoundingly smashed last month when renowned Salon.com contributor and probable human Chauncey Devega blamed genocide, slavery, murder, racism and poor table manners on straight white men with guns. The thrust of this seminal essay’s unique, penetrating insight is that white men love guns and hate everything else.… The Independent shifts the blame in Cologne to all men Sean Jacobson The Independent has recently published an article in regards to the Cologne attack in Germany during NYE in which around 1,000 men of predominantly North African and Arab descent were reported to have robbed, sexually assaulted and raped numerous women.… Did Gamergate Kill David Bowie? In Blog Posts, Genderratic, Rebuttals UPDATE: Jennifer Mendoza has indeed been confirmed as a “Poe”/satire account. Nevertheless I won’t delete this post due to its criticism of the idea that gamer culture has historically been hypermasculine and that androgyny or gender-atypicality somehow represents a threat to this culture’s values.… Men’s magazine British GQ denies the existence of men’s rights British GQ writer Rupert Myers has recently opined that Men’s Rights Activists (MRAs) are backwards cavemen who inhibit the progress of gender equality through the harassment and silencing of their targets. Mr Myers then goes on to show brilliant examples of the types of behavior perpetrated by MRAs.…	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1364
__label__cc	0.601011	0.398989	Board index General General ramblings How much gun culture is healthy to society Posts that don't fit into any other category. If it's anything to do with guns, it probably doesn't belong here! Re: How much gun culture is healthy to society Post by Vassili Zaitsev » Wed Feb 21, 2018 6:45 am Wohow...I am overwhelmed by all the comments and analysis. One of the main reason I love this forum and our forum members. 1. There have been 17 gun related incident happened in US till the date of the Florida shooting. How+Many+School+Shootings+Have+Taken+Place+So+Far+in+2018? +https://www.snopes.com/2018/02/16/how-m ... oy3JIvjkfI Breaking Out the Numbers As of Everytown’s 15 February update, the total number of school gunfire incidents in 2018 stood at 17. Using their numbers as a starting point, we’ve broken out all the known incidents between 1 January and 14 February 2018 into more detailed categories. Firearm attacks during school hours: 7 (incidents resulting in injuries or deaths: 5) 22 January: Italy High School, Italy, Texas – A 16-year-old student opened fire with a semi-automatic handgun in the school cafeteria, wounding another student. 22 January: NET Charter High School, Gentilly, Louisiana – An unknown person fired shots at students from a vehicle in the school parking lot. One person was injured (though not by gunfire). 23 January: Marshall County High School, Benton, Kentucky – A 15-year-old student opened fire with a handgun on school grounds, killing two and injuring 18. 25 January: Murphy High School, Mobile, Alabama – A student fired a handgun into the air during a fight with another student. No injuries were reported. 26 January: Dearborn High School, Dearborn, Michigan – Shots were fired during a fight in the school parking lot. No injuries were reported. 31 January: Lincoln High School, Philadelphia – A fight during a basketball game resulted in the shooting death of a 32-year-old man outside the school. 14 February: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida – A 19-year-old former student opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, killing 17 and injuring 14. Firearm attacks NOT occurring during school hours: 2 (incidents resulting in injuries or deaths: 2) 20 January: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina – A 21-year-old was shot and killed during a fight at a party on school grounds. 5 February: – Oxon Hill High School, Oxon Hill, Maryland – A student was shot and injured in the school parking lot during an attempted robbery. Shots fired during school hours, unknown reason: 2 (no injuries) 10 January: California State University, San Bernardino, California – Bullets were fired through a window, with no suspects or motive identified. 8 February: Metropolitan High School, New York, NY – A student fired a gun into the floor of a classroom. Unintentional gunfire during school hours: 3 (incidents resulting in injuries or deaths: 1) 10 January: Grayson College, Denison, Texas – A student fired a weapon belonging to an adviser, believing it wasn’t loaded. No injuries were reported. 1 February: Salvador B. Castro Middle School, Los Angeles – A semi-automatic handgun brought to school by a 12-year-old student accidentally went off. Four students were injured. 5 February: Harmony Learning Center, Maplewood, Minnesota – A third-grader pressed the trigger of a law enforcement officer’s handgun. The weapon went off but no one was injured. Suicide attempts during school hours: 1 (resulting in death) 10 January: Coronado Elementary School, Sierra Vista, Arizona – A middle school student shot himself in the bathroom of the school and was pronounced dead at the scene. Stray bullets hitting school buildings during school hours: 1 (no injuries) 4 January: New Start High School, near Seattle – Bullets fired by an unidentified shooter entered an administrative office. No injuries were reported. Stray bullets hitting school buildings NOT occurring during school hours: 1 (no injuries) 15 January: Wiley College, Marshall, Texas – Gunshots fired from a vehicle in the parking lot of a college dorm entered through a window, but did not injure residents. 2. I have been doing few basic search in internet and found this guy purchased this gun completely legally and he bought it almost an year ago. He even passed the security check and back ground verification. Cruz bought the AR-15 himself legally in Coral Springs, Fla., officials said in Feb 2017. So far, it is the only gun authorities have recovered as part of the investigation, said Peter J. Forcelli, special agent in charge of the Miami field division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The court filing Thursday said Cruz bought the gun about a year before the rampage. (Washington post) “I want more gun control,” Cameron Kasky said. “I am not trying to tear guns away from the hands of Americans. But the shooter was able to legally purchase a gun, and he was a mentally troubled 19-year-old. If he had been through just the least bit of screening, this could not have happened.” U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, said more needs to be done to protect the community from future attacks. "We've got to say, 'Enough is enough.' At some point, we, as a society, have got to come together and put a stop to this," Nelson said. "This senator grew up on a ranch. I have hunted all my life. I have had guns all my life. I still hunt with my son, but an AR-15 is not for hunting. It's for killing." I was reading another point by Ex president Ronald Reagan once said that "an AK-47 is not a sporting weapon nor needed for defence of a home "Everything that has a beginning, has an end !!!" xl_target Post by xl_target » Wed Feb 21, 2018 7:34 am Vassili Zaitsev wrote: One more tragic story from Florida. As per BBC this is 18th massacre in schools in US. How healthy is this culture where guns are easily available.. https://a.msn.com/r/2/BBJaa6U?m=en-gb So the statement that you made in your first post; "As per BBC this is the 18th massacre in schools in the US" is a patent falsehood. Counting through the post above where you listed the "massacre's", I count two actual school shootings. What is considered a "School shooting" is when a gunman enters a school (in session) and indiscriminately starts shooting people. I count exactly four that might qualify, with one not fitting the stereotype. That's a far cry from eighteen. What kind of screening would you suggest? In a free country, you are innocent until proven guilty. What could have been down to stop an eighteen year old (legally an adult in the USA) from exercizing his right, as a citizen, to purchase a firearm when he has no criminal record? In the USA, you cannot arrest and incarcerate someone because you "think" he/she might commit a crime. Now we come down to the crux of the matter. The second amendment to the US constitution says: A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The militia is composed of the people. Notice that it says nothing about hunting or protecting the home. Notice also that "shall not be infringed" at the end. Coming so soon after its independence from the Brits, I'd venture that the founding fathers made sure of its inclusion to protect against an unjust government or governments. In Caetano v. Massachusetts (2016), the Supreme Court of the United States reiterated its earlier rulings that "the Second Amendment extends, prima facie, to all instruments that constitute bearable arms, even those that were not in existence at the time of the founding" and that its protection is not limited to "only those weapons useful in warfare" The oath of office that the President of the United States takes says: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." When you join the United States Armed Forces, the oath that you take is as follows: I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed ... The oath of office that Federal Civil servants take: I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God. Notice the common refrain... Like it or not, the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land and any law that law that contravenes it is unlawful. So what many people are talking about is taking away the constitutionally granted rights of free American Citizens. We are talking about punishing the law abiding citizens of the country because of the actions of criminals. “Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense” — Winston Churchill, Oct 29, 1941 Post by shooter » Wed Feb 21, 2018 2:13 pm What I don’t understand is that why do people assume that the government can or should be able to control sale of weapons. Mr zaiyetsev is working on that premise. So the starting point itself is very different Second is the needs theory. Why does anyone need. Mr Vassily zayitsev this Ifg forum is not used for eating drinking nor breathing so why are you here? That’s how convoluted your logic sounds when you quote Ronald regan and his said use of AK 47 Even I agree it’s not a hunting rifle. So? Good that you have enough time to study school massacres. Let me also quote you another study: This is the time when full auto machine guns were available to any age without background checks. Mr sa-Ali you also pay attention- So one can mail order a machine gun. Back then they were much cheaper. And no zero nil nada background checks. Here is a breakdown of school shootings when there was really lax gun laws re full auto machine guns Florida school shootings- 0 Ny school shootings-0 Nj school shootings 0 Tx school shootings 0 Alabama school shootings 0 Kansas school shootings 0 Mississippi school shootings 0 Missouri school shootings 0 Maine school shootings 0 Vermont school shootings 0 Utah school shootings 0 Hawaii school shootings 0 Alaska school shootings 0 Dakotas school shootings 0 I’m in the process of gathering data from other states too. Anyways now will you say that everyone should have easy access to machine guns? In Switzerland till recently every house with a male fighting age had to have a full auto machine gun. School shootings? 0 So please spare us your “studies on school shootings”. As I said before I am scared of you. If anyone has chances of committing murder with guns it’s you. You want more gun control? Use both hands! God made man and God made woman, but Samuel Colt made them equal. One does not hunt in order to kill; on the contrary, one kills in order to have hunted. by Jose Gasset. Post by Woods » Wed Feb 21, 2018 3:33 pm xl_target wrote: Vassili Zaitsev wrote: The availability of guns and easy access to common men in US are the main issue what the people are saying in that country. Politics allow gun license to capture the vote bank in Amarica. Not sure how much we can allow to have free gun culture and illegal weapons sellers to shed so much of blood of innocent people. B.S! If you subscribe to the above opinions, you don't know what you are talking about. At best you are being deliberately simplistic to make a point or you actually believe what you have written. If you think that is harsh, let me go over your statements one by one. As far as your statement that "The availability of guns... ..what people are saying in that country"; it is only the press and their cohorts are who are saying this. Why is there a unanimity of opinion in the press? Because in the USA, a very small number of people own 90% of the press outlets. Remember that these are the same people who predicted a 98% chance of Hillary winning the election. This is the same press that is hinting to people that the legally elected government in the US was not legally elected. After all, their polls could not have been wrong, could they? The mainstream press in the USA today has lost touch with the vast majority of people in the USA. They mistakenly believe that only the east and west coast matter and the rest of the country is only "fly-over country". Your second statement "Politics allow gun license to capture the vote bank in Amarica"; I have to admit, I have no clue what you are actually trying to say here. Your third statement; "Not sure how much we can allow to have free gun culture and illegal weapons sellers to shed so much of blood of innocent people". You seem to be saying that permissive gun laws are what caused this tragedy. Do you think that stricter gun laws would have prevented this? Do you know that in the USA today, there are laws that make murder illegal? They also make attempted murder illegal. Then, most cities have laws against discharging firearms in city limits. There is also a law that says that you can't have a firearm within 1000 yards of a school. There is also a law in Florida that says that you cannot carry (open or concealed) a long gun unless you are legally hunting or engaged in skeet or target shooting with a club. Do you seriously think that another law would have stopped him? Your statement seems to suggest one thing and I think I know what that is but am not sure what exactly you mean by "free gun culture". I also don't know what illegal weapons sellers have to do with "shedding blood....". Guess,Amarica is paying its ultimate price for being a Gun savy country. Guns are life less objects so are the bullets it is the hand which will hold it and pulls the trigger are responsible. Do they have bag and body frisking in their high schools and colleges?. "Guess,Amarica is paying its ultimate price for being a Gun savy country" You do know that that is how America actually became a country? America gained it's independence from Britain by resisting, with their guns, what was then the army of the world's strongest nation. "Guns are life less objects so are the bullets it is the hand which will hold it and pulls the trigger are responsible". Yes. Not too hard a concept to grasp. "Do they have bag and body frisking in their high schools and colleges?" Many schools do but apparently this one did not. It look like he just walked in off the street, pulled the fire alarms to get everyone out in the hallways and then started shooting. In a truly free country, allowing free movement of the people, barriers to movement are disliked by the general populace. While these are horrific tragedies, the mainstream press in the USA seems to have one goal; the eradication of guns, all guns from private use. They will lie, cheat and steal to achieve that goal. you want to know about the oft repeated 18 school shootings since the beginning of the year? Try reading this. This is the first one that came up when I did a cursory search. If you look there are many other articles debunking that claim. However, even the BBC is overrun with liars now. Let me add something else to this discussion. America is a vast country with many different types of people living here. There are good people and bad. Here are some stats to ponder: All injury deaths Number of deaths: 199,752 Deaths per 100,000 population: 62.6 All poisoning deaths Number of deaths: 51,966 Motor vehicle traffic deaths All firearm deaths Info from here How come the press isn't clamoring for the removal for automobiles from American roads... or swimming pools from American houses. Why stop there? Ban ladders, 5 gallon pails, kitchen knives, motorcycles, bicycles, chainsaws, hammers... I could keep going on. BTW those firearm stats include accidental deaths, suicides, police shootings, gang violence deaths, etc. They are from 2014 CDC stats (published in 2016). It takes a few years for them to be sorted and published. The leading causes of death in the USA at that time were: The 15 leading causes of death in 2014 were: 1. Diseases of heart (heart disease) 2. Malignant neoplasms (cancer) 3. Chronic lower respiratory diseases 4. Accidents (unintentional injuries) 5. Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke) 6. Alzheimer’s disease 7. Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) 9. Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis (kidney disease) 10. Intentional self-harm (suicide) 11. Septicemia 12. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis 13. Essential hypertension and hypertensive renal disease (hypertension) 14. Parkinson’s disease 15. Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids Maybe we should pass laws banning high blood pressure, diabetes, pneumonia, bacteria and viruses. That will make them go away and solve the problem! Added in 43 minutes 1 second: sdb wrote: Assault rifles are too much of a threat than it is about freedom to own, a bolt action on the other hand makes more sense. If someone has the itch to shoot assault rifles do so in firing ranges earmarked for the same (which I really want to be present in india, and easily accessible but strictly monitored). This is however my opinion. Can you define an "Assault Rifle"? To quote Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride who coined the famous phrase, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means", Great reply man . Somewhere I read that more people die of ice hockey injuries than gun related . As being talked in US , the problem is not guns but a Godless society . If gun restrictions worked than how come people are dying in India by gunshot wounds . Added in 3 minutes 30 seconds: Vassili Zaitsev wrote: "The availability of guns... ..what people are saying in that country"; it is only the press and their cohorts are who are saying this. Why is there a unanimity of opinion in the press? Because in the USA, a very small number of people own 90% of the press outlets. HaHa. Epic Never seen a thin person drinking diet coke . Post by Vassili Zaitsev » Wed Feb 21, 2018 5:52 pm https://newsbroadcastnetwork.com/man-cu ... -is-viral/ There is one less. There has to be something. Someone will start no one how much we brag and show statistics but we all are internet or paper tiger. No one advocates to take away the guns but everyone wants to enjoy a safe environment with a healthy gun culture. Will you be in the same position with same opinion if you had lost your kid or any family members in such MASSACRE? Probably no. Vassili Zaitsev wrote: https://newsbroadcastnetwork.com/man-cu ... -is-viral/ People don't stop riding cars after losing loved ones in car accidents . One North-Eastern lady is opposing the very existence of a gun because her father was killed by an illegal gun . With that being said , a gun in every hand was the pinnacle of a "civilized society " consisted of very intellectual people . Libral lunacy has ruined the very foundations of contemporary society so background checks etc and collateral harassment will be reality . Dear vasilli I was in London when the tube bombings happened. I am pretty sure the parents of victims still ride the tube. I was also at ground zero NYCon the anniversary of WTC attacks. Guess how I got there. By plane. In India many people lose loved ones to terrorists. Do you say “ban Muslims” based on the actions of 0.0001%? Same logic. Re internet tiger yes you’re right. Probably. If that’s how you describe yourself then fine. I for one put in a bit of money and effort to preserve others right since mine have been lost already. Post by xl_target » Sun Feb 25, 2018 4:12 am Return to “General ramblings”	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1369
__label__cc	0.524678	0.475322	REFURB & DEVELOPER November 2019 www.developer-update.co.uk Driving sustainability â€“ Delivering excellence Also featured this issue: Form, function and fire 1st Folding Sliding Doors Ltd Bespoke Glazing Solutions We offer the installation of specialist bespoke sliding doors, bi-folding doors, glass roof structures, windows and frameless glass balustrades. We manufacture and design innovative, frameless glazing systems. We also work closely with established manufacturers, offering both UK and Offshore designed systems, with lead times as quick as one week on specific items. We have many years experience in overcoming the technical difficulties involved in designing, manufacturing, and installing, a bespoke product. Our full on-site survey ensures that we can work with the timescale required, and will assist with any technical issues your builders, architects or project manager may have. Together with this technical support, we have in place, our fully trained ‘in-house’ installers, and also, the support we offer our trade customers; this gives us the confidence to promote the best overall package available on the market today. If you require any further information, or a quotation for your project, please do not hesitate to contact us. www.1stfoldingslidingdoors.co.uk • +44 (0) 208 997 2448 • marcus@1stfoldingslidingdoors.co.uk CONTENTS 12 Refurb & Developer Update - November 2019 Editorâ€™s Choice Doors, Windows & Architectural Hardware Lifts, Stairs & Balustrades Contact Us Publication Manager Advertising Sales Exec Editor Editorial Assistant Shane Mitchell Emily Maclean Sam Andrews Tina Curtis shane@developer-update.co.uk emily@developer-update.co.uk sam@developer-update.co.uk tina@developer-update.co.uk 01843 580460 01843 580460 01843 580460 01843 580460 developer-update.co.uk 04 Industry News Planning Approved for Manchester Regeneration Manchester City Council has approved planning permission for a £79 million regeneration project. CEG submitted the planning application which is set to transform the gateway site between the High Street and Northern Quarter, and replace a predominantly vacant 1970s building, with a distinctly Mancunian building, drawing on Debenhams and Sunlight House for inspiration. David Hodgson, Head of Strategic Development at CEG, said: “This is an extremely challenging regeneration project on a constrained brownfield site. The resolution has provided the opportunity to transform this rundown building with a bold, confident and distinctly Mancunian building. We are pleased that the committee has acknowledged this and allows CEG to move forward. “CEG has managed investment into Manchester for many years, including the extensive renovation of the historic 196 Deansgate and is transforming Jackson House, now known as M33, in Sale and Altrincham Business Park. We look forward to continuing to work with the City Council to bring forward an exciting new development at High Street. The planning committee process is just the first step in the journey to deliver much-needed regeneration of this key site.” The planning application was prepared by Deloitte on behalf of CEG. Eve Grant, Director at Deloitte Real Estate, said: “With approval of the 20-36 High Street scheme, the city can look towards the delivery of a new landmark building that will create a more coherent link between Manchester’s iconic Northern Quarter and Retail core. Not only will this development positively transform the current look and feel of High Street, but it is set actively revitalise the local townscape whilst contributing to Manchester’s wider environmental, social and economic objectives.” Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, the architecture uses light ivory-white glazed ceramic tiles providing a far greater light reflectance onto the street scape than the existing dark brick. The ground floor and a double height mezzanine would offer a vibrant space for independent cafés, restaurants and shops, providing around 65 jobs with 360-homes above. The scheme also reopens the Stationer’s Court to become a tranquil public green space connecting the High Street and the Northern Quarter. L&G commits to £750m affordable homes investment Legal & General Affordable Homes has committed to invest £750m in new affordable housing projects taking its development pipeline to nearly 3,500 homes, across 41 schemes. Also the affordable homes division has recruited developer Capco’s former group planning director Anette Simpson to head developments and partnerships. Simpson will lead and coordinate the direct delivery of Legal & General’s affordable housing schemes and oversee all aspects of development to legal completion. Over the last 12 months, the affordable homes division has grown its staff from five to 55 as it strives to deliver a long-term plan to become the UK’s leading institutional registered provider. developer-update.co.uk Across its growing portfolio, it is delivering a mix of social and affordable rental homes, grant-supported shared ownership homes and Section 106 schemes. Ben Denton, managing director, L&G Affordable Homes, said: “There is an urgent need to innovate new ways to provide stable homes for the millions of households on waiting lists. “Legal & General remains committed to deploying institutional capital at scale into this sector, to deliver the volumes of social housing which society desperately needs.” Industry News 05 Solar-powered prefab home comes move-in ready a 3D-printed prefab smart home with off-grid capability has started shipping, offering buyers the chance to live anywhere. the ‘haus’ model is a fully autonomous unit with the option to run entirely on solar power. Haus.me homes are designed to retain as much heat and energy as possible. Instead of building a frame and then insulating, its creators started with the insulation. “We developed a patented composite polymer insulation that can also be 3D-printed into a construction material for building walls,” Haus.me’s CEO Max Gerbut told Dwell. The ultra-insulated structure makes it possible for solar panels—and a back-up battery—to power the entire home. By the company’s estimates, its home is 20 times more energyefficient than the average American home. Haus.me models feature a laundry list of other green features including a bioactive sewage system that helps purify black water and a purification system that cleans and recycles shower water. The design comes in three models— the mOne, a 400-square-foot single story home that starts at $199,999; the mTwo, an 800-square-foot house with two bedrooms that starts at $379,999; and the mFour, a 1,600-square-foot model with three bedrooms and two floors that starts at $1 million; it costs extra to add full off-grid capability to the homes. Each home comes fully furnished with everything from wine glasses to an automation system that helps you control the house from afar. And there’s a high-tech sheen over it all, as if it were developed in Cupertino and shipped out in a pristine white box. In fact, the company has a factory in Nevada where it’s ramping up production to start delivering its houses to customers in February 2020. Westridge to restart stalled Brighton Dome revamp Westridge Construction has been chosen to continue work on Brighton’s £21m Dome Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre refurbishment job. The project stalled this summer after original contractor R Durtnell & Sons hit financial problems and parted company with client Brighton & Hove City Council. Durtnell – which is Britain’s oldest builder – entered a Corporate Voluntary Arrangement with creditors owed more than £8m. Ahead of pre-contract discussions Westridge will undertake essential weatherproofing and drainage works to protect and conserve the historic Grade I and Grade II listed buildings. Andrew Comben, Chief Executive, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival said: “We are grateful to Brighton & Hove City Council for their commitment and swift action on procuring an interim contractor. “Westridge have an impressive track record of working on heritage building projects such as Ditchling Museum and Battle Abbey. “We are delighted they are a local company and together with project architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, we look forward to collaborating with their team on progressing the project.” Martin Buckthorpe, Managing Director, Westridge Construction said: “It is a pleasure to have been chosen as the preferred contractor to continue works on this prestigious building, reinforcing our positive ongoing relationship with Brighton & Hove City Council. “Brighton Dome Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre project retains Westridge’s presence in the city centre, following the successful completion of the Hannington Lane development earlier this year. “Brighton’s historic landmarks play a key role in the local community and we are honoured to be playing our part in their on-going restoration.” 06 Industry News Designed by Purcell, Cornwallâ€™s new archive centre, Kresen Kernow (Cornwall Centre) safeguards the historic Redruth Brewery building at the heart of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. The project brings together the worldâ€™s largest source of information and artefacts recording the people, places, history and culture of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Derelict brewery revived as archive centre for Cornwall Closed since 2004, Redruth Brewery comprised a collection of derelict industrial buildings dating back more than 200 years. Successive arson attacks in 2011 and 2013 devastated the interiors, reducing several of the structures to little more than debris-filled shells. Purcellâ€™s approach to the restoration and adaptation of the site draws influence from the strong visual appeal of the historic fabric. The design team was particularly keen to retain the remaining structures and rejuvenate the interiors in order to provide spaces for contemporary exhibition and library uses. A new, two-storey environmentally controlled archive store incorporating 23 kilometres of racking has been added to the complex. Conceived as a robust yet discrete counterpoint to the existing building, it is clad in precast concrete panels. Reaching a height of 33-metres, the tapered 1930s brick chimney has been retained at the heart of the new extension. Uplighters installed at roof level illuminate the structure, making it visible from the town and surrounding area at night. A copper-clad addition projects beyond the confines of the original building and accommodates a display area at first floor level. The structure also provides an external focal point close to the site entrance. Elsewhere, previously infilled openings have been reopened and fitted with new hardwood windows and glazed screens. A number of original cast iron columns have been salvaged from the fire-torn building and incorporated in a new steel frame that supports the first floor and roof, as well as provides lateral restraint to the historic walls. Modern render and plaster coverings have been successfully removed from the stonework, with original granite flagstones carefully lifted and re-laid within the new ground-floor exhibition space. Brick gable walls at high level have also been reinstated, based on historic records. Guo Zijian Hutong House / DL Atelier After two years of design and construction, DL Atelier has completed the renovation of a Hutong building in Beijing. In reviving the site, the design team sought to preserve the memories and history associated with it. ‘We retained the building-yard relationship and the original building scale,’ explain the architects. Meanwhile, a new concrete structure stabilizes the building and provides a contrast with the previously existing materials. The renovated design is now insulated, has advanced drainage systems, and even boasts air conditioning. To ensure privacy from the outside world, dl atelier built a new wall adjacent to the street. This wall includes an almost invisible front door that serves as the entrance to the home. At the top of the otherwise opaque façade is a horizontal window that provides natural light and ventilation. Internally, very few partitions are used — a gesture that lends the home an open and spacious quality. Throughout, raw materials and surfaces have been left exposed. ‘Looking back now, although it’s a new house, it seems to have been built for 50 years,’ concludes the design team. ‘Being familiar and strange at the same time, perhaps it’s a memory from future.’ The first role of the interior, which can be readily reconfigured, is to host a small exhibition of dl atelier’s work. Fusion21 launches £250m energy efficiency framework race Procurement body Fusion21 is on the hunt for firms to join its national Energy Efficiency Framework worth up to £250m over a four-year period. It is searching for firms with expertise in installation of domestic and non-domestic solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage and solar car parks, plus cladding replacement, electric vehicle charging points and LED lighting. Split into seven lots, the framework provides regional coverage and has been structured to enable suppliers – including SMEs and specialist contractors – to bid for works suited to their capability, experience and expertise. The new framework is targeted for use by housing associations, NHS trusts, bluelight organisations, education providers, local authorities and central government. Peter Francis, director of operation at Fusion21, said: “In response to market and member feedback, we’ve developed this flexible procurement solution to help Fusion21 members achieve energy efficiency outcomes – including reduced carbon emissions and increased cost savings. “These benefits contribute to supporting the government’s decarbonisation agenda and will also positively impact upon the carbon footprint of organisations, the wider environment and residents living in domestic properties. Interested firms have until 27 November to complete prequal documents found on the Mytenders web portal. that meet the criteria set out in the tender documentation now available on the mytenders web portal under Notice ID OCT158433 To date Fusion21 has saved more than £225m through the procurement process, created 6,500 jobs and generated more than £80m of social impact. developer-update.co.uk 08 Editor’s Choice Maxtop Quartz added to major worktop distributor’s range Kitchen and bathroom surface manufacturer, Maxtop Quartz, is now being offered by leading worktop and decorative surface distributor, Blackheath Products. Maxtop will supply the distributor from its extensive stockholding and product is available to consumers now. The partnership will allow the Birmingham-based business to achieve fast conversion of orders to its retailer network with no delay for template and fit. Ian Foster, joint managing director at Blackheath Products, says: “Maxtop Quartz’s worktops are completely unique in the surface market and we are looking forward to being able to offer our customers such an innovative product.” The unique solid quartz surface, which is characterised by its patented honeycomb interior, is available in a total of ten carefully-selected decors including two marble-effect finishes; Alba and Tundra. Stephen Moss, managing director at Maxtop Quartz, adds: “Blackheath Products presents a huge opportunity for us to expand the Maxtop product range within the UK and Ireland and we’re excited to support the company throughout the journey. “We have recently invested considerably in the manufacturing process of Maxtop Quartz and the new generation of our products have made considerable impact within the KBB sector, as this new partnership is testament to.” For more information about Maxtop please visit www.maxtopquartz.co.uk. The Department of International Trade to attend Leicester Business Festival in hope to spread opportunities about exporting This year’s Leicester Business Festival will be in full swing from the 28th October to 7th November, bringing influencers, innovators and inspiration together in a wide variety of free-to-attend business events. One of the key highlights is the attendance of the Department of International Trade (DIT) - a much-anticipated visit from this government department. This will be the first time they will have spent an entire day at the festival, during which time they will be giving their advice and conducting presentations – with the main objective of showing how they have helped UK businesses export and grow into global markets whilst also supporting overseas companies who want to locate and grow in the UK. Their services are provided in over 100 markets worldwide and they are keen to promote the scale of opportunities available for small businesses – a welcome message at a time when there’s so much focus on the doom and gloom and turmoil being caused by Brexit uncertainty. Alongside the DIT will be Ventola Projects Ltd, who has experienced first-hand, the benefits gained by working together. Ventola Projects Ltd provide specialist electrical LED lighting installations across a wide range of sectors, in which Managing Director, Mick Ventola and his team produce, ship and install orders globally, gaining particular recognition in the USA and the Middle East for the supply of specialised entertainment facility lighting. Some of which may not have been possible without DIT assistance. The US is not a market which has been traditionally easy to break into, and Ventola Projects readily acknowledge the assistance received from the DIT. developer-update.co.uk The organisers of the Leicester Business Festival invited Mick to be part of the promotion for UK export due to his role as a DIT Midlands Engine Export Champion, a role which regularly sees him deliver workshops and seminars on international sales. When asked about what he was most looking forward to he told us: “I’m excited about being able to share the positive news about exporting and the massive worldwide opportunities available for UK businesses. We would never have had the confidence to continue expanding globally if it hadn’t been for the support available from the HM DIT and that is why I am so pleased to work with them to promote their activities to others who could benefit just as we have” Mick and the DIT will be located at the DIT Mobile Hub expo based at Jubilee Square on the 6th November. As well as giving joint presentations with the DIT, he will also be showcasing Ventola Projects’ VAvR LED range – just one of the products which has been at the root of the company’s success, both here in the UK and the US. The two events that Ventola Projects Ltd will be involved with are ‘Exporting: is it for you’ and ‘Export to succeed’. To register for your free place, click here or click here. WTo find out more information on Ventola Projects Ltd visit: www.ventola.co.uk For more details on the Department for International Trade click here. To see a full schedule of events at Leicester Business Festival visit: www.leicesterbusinessfestival.com 䢢GREEN BUILDINGS 䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䢢䣊䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵䢮䢢䣈䣮䣣䣶䣵䢢䢨䢢䣯䣱䣴䣧䢢䣷䣲䢢䣶䣱䢢䢹䢢䣨䣮䣱䣱䣴䣵䢢䣖䣴䣣䣦䣫䣶䣫䣱䣰䣣䣮䢢䢨䢢䣏䣱䣦䣧䣴䣰䢢䣾䢢䣅䣣䣴䢢䣄䣣䣴䣰䣵䢢䢨䢢䣒䣧䣰䣶䣪䣱䣷䣵䣧䣵䢢䣾䢢䣔䣧䣯䣱䣦䣧䣮䢢䢨䢢䣐䣧䣹䢢䣄䣷䣫䣮䣦䢢䣾䢢䣖䣴䣷䣵䣵䣧䣵䢢䢨䢢䣅䣱䣯䣲䣱䣰䣧䣰䣶䣵䣊䣧䣮䣲䣫䣰䣩䢢䣅䣱䣰䣵䣶䣴䣷䣥䣶䣫䣱䣰䢢䣒䣴䣱䣨䣧䣵䣵䣫䣱䣰䣣䣮䣵䢢䣆䣧䣸䣧䣮䣱䣲䢢䣕䣷䣵䣶䣣䣫䣰䣣䣤䣮䣻䢢䢨䢢䣒䣴䣱䣨䣫䣶䣣䣤䣮䣻䢢䣅䣃䣎䣎䢢䣗䣕䢢䣖䣑䢢䣆䣋䣕䣅䣗䣕䣕䢢䣛䣑䣗䣔䢢䣐䣇䣚䣖䢢䣒䣑䣌䣇䣅䣖䢢䢢䣄䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䢢䣃䣖䣖䢮䢢䣅䣣䣮䣦䣫䣥䣱䣶䢮䢢䣐䣒䢴䢸䢢䢷䣒䣔䢢䣫䣰䣨䣱䣂䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭䢢䢢䣹䣹䣹䢰䣤䣧䣰䣨䣫䣧䣮䣦䣣䣶䣶䢰䣷䣭䢢䢢䢲䢳䢴䢻䢳䢢䢶䢵䢹䢢䢲䢷䢲䢢 Form, function and fire Specifying and procuring doors for refurbishment and new build, can present many challenges in today’s market conditions. With often competing and exacting criteria to contend with, it can often seem like an unsolvable problem, trying to meets the needs of modern design, fulfil practical obstacles and a safety conscious risk averse performance; all within budgetary constraints. However, the solutions are not necessarily mutually exclusive. One answer is to turn away from the traditional volume and commodity door suppliers, who’s concept of ‘modern’ owes more to the 20th century than the 21st, with old fashion moulded skin and labour intensive preparation for painting on site as their norm. Far better to look towards those who have expertise across multiple market sectors, where overcoming issues is just a natural evolution, a mind-set that drives constant innovation, and with a no compromise approach to exceeding regulatory standards. It would be fair to say that Vicaima are renown for the manufacture of on-trend and innovative interior door designs, however it is sometimes overlooked, that this prowess extends beyond simply form and function. Vicaima also stretch the perceived boundaries and market norms when it comes to the performance of risk critical products, most notably fire doors and door assemblies. Vicaima FD30 (30 minute) timber fire doors recently tested by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHCLG), achieved an astonishing 54 minutes. Tested on the most onerous side of the door, this result was exemplary and once again illustrated Vicaimaâ€™s superior fire door and doorset capabilities, at a time when well-being and personal safety has never been more closely scrutinised. Stake-holders throughout the refurb and development market will no doubt be well aware of the vital role they play in the decisions which ultimately lead to the supply of safe products. As important specifiers in the build process, they have a duty of care and therefore it is essential to have a clear understanding, that should products fail to perform as intended, they may also share responsibility for any consequences that may arise. Speculation regarding the actual safety of fire doors has been widely discussed over the last two years, following the government enquiry into the tragic events of Grenfell and related risk critical products. Perhaps this was only to be expected, given the less than robust conclusions drawn by the MHCLG into composite and GRP doors; and their failure to consistently pass a 30-minute fire door test. This result precipitated the removal of many of these products from the market and led to a call for timber fire doors themselves, to be examined independently by government. The results of which subsequently vindicating the assurance provided by a fully certified timber fire door assembly. fully finished doors. The Vicaima range of own manufactured, factory finished products presents everything from real veneer, through laminates and lacquered paint to finished foil; meaning that it is able to match vision to budget. This design flexibility does not stop there, with easy customisation such as decorative grooves, creating a simple added extra within the grasp of every specifier. A fire performance range such as that offered by Vicaima removes doubt. Rigorously tested, third party accredited and fully traceably products that meet FD30 and FD60 rating, assures that those with a duty of care are taking appropriate steps. Additionally, formal test evidence which includes more exacting requirements such as integral face grooves, over height/width dimensions, integrated eye viewers in two positions, concealed door closers and testing to both sides of a door, illustrate a comprehensive approach. Products, which offer additional Secure by Design (SBD) compliance and meet exacting mobility and acoustic criteria ensures products are fit for purpose. Lastly, but by no means least, real design choice that is truly innovative and delivers forward thinking and on-trend answers for todayâ€™s housing, means that doors are in step and reflect modern lifestyles. Vicaima designs for refurb, new build and commercial use, offer specifiers the safe choice when it really matters and in the knowledge that innovative design and functionality really can go hand in hand. Budget of course cannot be ignored, but cost considerations often focus on the product in isolation; often overlooking the contemporary labour saving benefits and cost saving whole costs afforded by DRU Maestro 60/3, 3-sided hybrid fire DRU Fires unveils new products for winter 2019 DRU Fires has unveiled a selection of new fires and stoves for the 2019/2020 winter season across all its brands, fuel types and price points New hybrid gas/electric fire The DRU Maestro 60 is a hybrid gas/electric fire with a unique ‘Summerlighting’ feature. Known as ‘the first fire for all seasons’, it can be switched effortlessly from gas fire mode in the autumn and winter to electric fire mode during spring and summer. Like all designer DRU gas fires, it is controlled by the exclusive Eco Wave app for smartphones and tablets. In addition, DRU is offering free Clear View anti-reflective glass with all Maestro and Metro front model gas fires ordered between October 1 and December 31, 2019. New Global by DRU TruFlame® series Global by DRU is a range of mid-priced gas fires. This autumn sees the launch of the new TruFlame® series, with their impressive new flame picture and choice of balanced flue, conventional flue or cavity wall fires in sizes that are compatible with standard UK chimneys. New Dik Geurts Modivar modular wood stove Dik Geurts is the brand name for the wood stoves and fires that are manufactured by DRU. Global by DRU 70XT gas fire developer-update.co.uk The new Modivar modular stove, with its selection of beautifully designed log storage compartments and plinths, is a welcome addition to the popular Ivar/ Aste stove range. Modivar is Ecodesign ready and has an A+ energy label. Spartherm Arte Xh-3S front wood fire New Spartherm built-in wood fires DRU is the UK distributor for the German produced Spartherm range of wood fires and stoves. This autumn has seen the launch of a new selection of built-in models in front, 2-sided and 3-sided versions, with their exclusive electronically controlled vertically sliding glass doors, high energy efficiency and many other unique features. All the new products from the DRU, Global by DRU, Dik Geurts and Spartherm brands can be viewed in detail at www.drufire.com Dik Geurts Modivar modular wood stove developer-update.co.uk O’Donovan Waste – Celebrating 60 years in waste management and counting…. Denis Joseph O’Donovan arrived in London in the 1950s after moving from a rural village in West Cork. Joe’s ambition and determination to succeed in business was paramount – like a lot of young men who had made the journey over from Ireland. Having previously worked on the railways and construction sites, Joe used his experience and knowledge and decided to work for himself. In 1959 he bought a Caterpillar 951 tracked shovel and secured his first demolition job. He went on to purchase a tipper and eventually moved into skip lorries, establishing a waste depot in Kings Cross (which is now the site of the British Library) where his new business thrived and began to expand. Sadly, Joe passed away suddenly in 1985 at the age of 51, leaving an extremely successful company which needed managing. His four children were thrust into the business and even though they lacked experience, they did not shy away from the challenge. They initially down-sized, recognising the need to make it more manageable and then they worked together to form O’Donovan Waste Disposal to continue their father’s legacy. Nothing has changed in the intervening years, O’Donovan is still entirely family-owned and is run by the four O’Donovan siblings with Michael as the Chairman, Caroline and Anthony the Operations Directors and Jacqueline, as Managing Director, responsible for the overall direction of the business. All of them are fiercely proud of the familyvalues and Irish heritage that have helped make O’Donovan a continued success. Today, O’Donovan is widely regarded as an industry leader and innovator with their sustained investment in staff and operational excellence alongside their commitment to safety, being the powerful force behind the firm’s quality service and continued success. A dynamic business specialising in construction and demolition waste, O’Donovan has earned an excellent reputation as a trusted partner in the supply chain, offering total waste management and recycling solutions whilst leading the way in safe, green and efficient operations. Operating in London and the South East, they run a fleet of 95 HGVs and employ 165 staff, delivering services including skip hire, roll on/off bins, waste transfer stations, tipper and grab lorry services, recycled aggregates, road sweepers and demolition services. The multi award-winning company has an array of impressive accreditations demonstrating their competent and ethical practices along with numerous accolades for operational distinction, safety and training. It is a Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Gold operator and has maintained this stringent accreditation over the last eight years as well as achieving ISO, CHAS and SafeContractor accreditations. MD Jacqueline is currently studying for her Masterâ€™s degree in Demolition Management at Wolverhampton University and will be one of the first to graduate as this program is the first of its kind in the UK. Oâ€™Donovan has invested heavily in waste processing infrastructure and operations and produces recycled materials to a British Standard quality certification for re-use in construction projects. By demonstrating huge commitment and investment to exemplar environmental practice across the sector and prioritising its responsibility to the circular economy, Oâ€™Donovan recycles 100% of all waste. www.odonovan.co.uk sales@odonovan.co.uk In safe hands with Schöck and Brooksby at Wembley Located in the heart of the vast new Wembley Park regeneration project, the two residential buildings that make up the Landsby East and Landsby West development (Danish for village) are contemporary in design, with apartment interiors that continue the Scandinavian theme. Externally there are roof terraces and first floor level podium gardens, along with 280 generous balconies that add a stylish and aesthetic feel to the exterior finish of the building. Their appearance is undoubtedly pleasing, but inevitably there were technical challenges involved in both initial installation and long term performance of the balconies that had to be addressed – among them safety, precision, reliability and thermal efficiency. It needed a collaborative approach from two of the leading companies in the business, Brooksby Projects Ltd for its balcony technology and Schöck for its loadbearing thermal insulation solutions. developer-update.co.uk Slide-on balconies were a must Wates, the main contractor on the project, were very specific in requesting cantilevered, slide-on balconies and FlightDeck® balconies from Brooksby Projects Ltd offered the ideal solution. FlightDeck® balconies do not need to be fixed from a balcony below, which reduces the on-site health and safety risks. In addition, this ability to install from the top down, means that the balcony system saves crane time and requires no scaffolding or other external access. On a large high-rise project with multiple elevations, the installation time saved is considerable when compared with traditional bolt-on balconies,. An additional challenge was that the building’s design demands required that many of the 280 balconies installed involved subtle design adaptations and in total thirteen different variations were supplied to meet the Landsby project requirements. Thermal break elements are key A key element in the structural and long–term insulation performance of the balconies was the installation 19 Brooksby For full information on the FlightDeck® balcony range and other services such as architectural metalwork and structural steelwork; contact Brooksby on 020 7731 3310 or visit the website at www.brooksby.co Schöck For a free copy of the Schöck Thermal Bridging Guide; the Schöck Specifiers Guide or to view the range of downloadable software, contact Schöck on 01865 290 890 or visit the website at www.schoeck.co.uk A balcony being fitted and the cantilever arms ready in position at the next level of Isokorb structural break units from Schöck. Early involvement was necessary to ensure that the connectors were accurately cast into the building during the mainframe construction phase and Brooksby provided installation templates to ensure the line and level of all balcony connections were precise. A Brooksby stub bracket was attached to the Isokorb units prior to the concrete being poured. The balcony cantilever support arm was then attached (same depth as the balcony) to the stub and The Isokorb with stub bracket fitted the fully pre-assembled panel glass balcony chassis slid on to the cantilever arm and locked into position. The Schöck Isokorb units are structural, but their other long-term purpose is to minimise the risk of thermal bridging. Ineffective insulation at the connection points, especially with 280 balconies involved, means local heat loss, resulting in more energy being required to maintain the internal temperature of the building. This is a major consequence of thermal bridging, but there are other issues too. Low internal surface temperatures in the area of the thermal bridge can cause condensation, which leads not only to structural integrity problems with absorbent materials such as insulation products or plasterboard, but the potentially serious occurrence of mould growth. So for any project involving balcony connectivity the prevention of thermal bridging is a critical issue. Success is about teamwork The success of this project has been very much about teamwork and this was recognised at the London Construction Supply Chain Awards in late 2018. Hosted by Wates, to acknowledge sub-contractors with whom they have worked throughout the year, Brooksby were awarded ‘Best New Supply Chain Partner’ for the Landsby project. Brooksby Managing Director, Simon Goodenough commented: “It was great to have won this award which reflects how hard the whole team worked on the project to ensure that at all stages we delivered an excellent product, backed by exceptional service”. developer-update.co.uk Why SPATEX 2020 is the Expo for YOU Now in its 24th year, SPATEX is the UK’s ONLY dedicated water leisure exhibition and is bursting with the very latest products and innovations. It offers you the potential to meet over a thousand people from the water leisure industry in one day. Held at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena Tuesday 28th to Thursday 30th January, it is free to attend, and provides developers, architects, specifiers, builders with ALL they need to know about water features, spas, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, enclosures and much more besides. Help to develop your ideas There’s few projects that can’t be enhanced with the addition of water. Whether for artistic effect or leisure, water adds another dimension, both in sound and vision. It literally brings a design to life. SPATEX 2020 promises to show you how it can best be achieved. Stay abreast of the Industry’s latest innovations - With 100 plus exhibitors, from home and abroad, all of the Industry’s major manufacturers and suppliers will be showcasing their very latest products. Get the green bug - Conscious of climate change, the depletion of the world’s natural resources and the need to reduce the Industry’s dependency on plastic, SPATEX 2020 aims to promote an awareness of the environment. Talks and demonstrations in the Show’s free-to-attend, three-day double seminar and workshop programme will, amongst many other subjects, focus on how we can all play our part in becoming more eco-aware. With over a hundred international and domestic exhibitors, there will be lots of new products, including those that support a low energy, low carbon footprint. developer-update.co.uk Learn new skills – SPATEX hosts three full days of free seminars and workshops which offer vital information such as new Standards and Guidance that affect all providers of wet leisure facilities. In Arena 1 the esteemed Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers (ISPE) is hosting a series of technical workshops and CPD points and a certificate of attendance are available for all attendees. Tap into a unique pool of free expertise for your projects - SPATEX 2020 is fortunate to count the Industry’s many esteemed associations amongst its supporting partners. There’s no better place to seek advice from an expert, and all for free! Visit www.spatex.co.uk to see SPATEX’s impressive list of exhibitors, details of the free double seminar and workshop programme and register for the Show’s regular e-newslines. SPATEX 2020 – Tuesday 28th January to Thursday 30th January. The Ericsson Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena, Coventry CV6 6GE is easy to get to - just 500 yards off the M6 and within two hours commuting time of 75 per cent of the population, it offers 2,000 free on-site car parking spaces. SPATEX represents all sectors of the wet leisure industry from pools, spas, saunas to hydrotherapy, steam rooms and play equipment, in both the domestic and commercial arena. More than just an exhibition, SPATEX is also the venue for a free to attend and unrivalled double seminar and workshop programme, hosted by industry associations ISPE, STA, PWTAG and more! FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER FOR FREE VISIT: WWW.SPATEX.CO.UK OR CALL +44 1264 358558 22 Doors, Windows & Architectural Hardware Brexit uncertainty stymies home improvement plans More than a third of home improvers have cancelled or postponed plans to either move or improve due to uncertainty surrounding Brexit over the past two years, according to new research by VELUX. The research among 2,000 homeowners with plans to carry out home improvements over the next 6 months, reveals that more than a quarter (27%) feel their plans will be impacted by the UK Government’s decision to leave the EU on 31 October, regardless of whether the UK leaves with or without a deal. For one in seven (14%) home improvers, leaving without a deal would most likely result in either postponing or cancelling plans. Conversely, for one in eight (12%) homeowners in improvement planning mode, leaving with a deal would most likely result in them pressing ahead with plans. The different impacts of Britain’s Brexit outcome on home improvement plans are even more acute when comparing different cities and demographics. For one in six (18%) home improving households in London and Edinburgh, a no-deal Brexit would likely result in cancellation or postponement of plans, a higher proportion than in any other key UK cities. The sentiment expressed by homeowners in these two cities towards a no-deal Brexit correlates with concentrations of Remain voters. developer-update.co.uk Likewise, 35 to 44 year old homeowners are twice as likely (18%) than 45 to 55 year olds (9%) to postpone or cancel plans in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Despite the undeniable impact of Brexit on home improvement intentions for a significant minority of homeowners with plans to move or improve, for almost half (49%) it’s simply business as usual, with the outcome of Brexit having no bearing on their plans to improve their homes. Grant Sneddon, product manager from VELUX, said: “The spectre of Brexit has clearly played a major factor in many households’ home improvement decisions during recent years and looks set to continue playing a key role in the decisionmaking process. “When it comes to making significant investments such as home extensions or loft conversions, it’s no surprise that some homeowners have taken a more cautious approach to improving their homes or even moving home. Concern around house prices and interest rates often impacts consumer spending plans when it comes to decisions around home improvements or moving. Doors, Windows & Architectural Hardware 23 “However, it’s pleasing to see that a large proportion of homeowners remain unaffected by wider uncertainty surrounding Brexit. For many people, the emotional benefits of improving their living spaces outweigh wider economic considerations. For them and their families, creating the ideal living space is paramount to their lifestyle aspirations.” For more information or inspiration on how to create your dream home, visit www.velux.co.uk developer-update.co.uk Fantom Magnetic Door Stop Introduced to the P C Henderson Range Leading provider of sliding door hardware systems – P C Henderson - has partnered up with Fantom to introduce a new magnetic door stop accessory to its range of products. The Fantom Magnetic Door Stop is an innovative door stop solution which uses a neodymium magnet installed into the base of the door to pull a floor pin up and stop a door in the open or closed position. The accessory has been expertly designed to offer a more discreet and concealed alternative to a traditional door stop and is set to be extremely popular across the DIY, building and construction markets. Andrew Royle, Sales and Marketing Director at P C Henderson, commented; “What’s great about Fantom is that, unlike conventional door stops, it offers a completely concealed finish meaning no trip hazard and a cleaner finish. The striker plate is fitted underneath the door and the stop sits completely flush to the floor -meaning there’s no unsightly hardware on display and all moving parts are hidden”. “We’re noticing more and more that our customers are coming to us expecting a full hardware solution - beyond our traditional sliding door hardware offering. As a result - we’ve introduced Fantom to our range and will also be offering our customers with a new, extended collection of handles and flush pulls in October 2019”. The accessory can be used with standalone swing doors, swing doors within folding systems as well as sliding doors - lending itself perfectly to a number of existing products within the P C Henderson range. “Our Roomflex folding door hardware system lends itself perfectly to the new Fantom Door Stop. With no floor channel, the system is designed to be extremely discreet and so a concealed door stop which can be used to hold the swing door closed, removing the need for a latch or lever handle, will be very well received by our customers. Fantom can also be used with the majority of our sliding door systems as a hold open solution and also to prevent movement from sloping floors and drafts”, continued Andrew. The Fantom Magnetic Door Stop can be used on a number of surfaces including carpets, tiles, concrete and wood and is available in a variety of finishes – meaning it can be used in virtually any swing or sliding door application. The product is available now from P C Henderson along with an optional 5mm packer (for larger door to floor gaps) and an optional 6 piece installation kit. Visit www.pchenderson.com for more information. PRINTED DECORATIVE GLASS STAINED GLASS GOES DIGITAL Marries traditional styles with new 3D printing techniques. Period influenced contemporary design styles including Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco to Modern Digitally printed glass is more cost-effective than using traditional stained glass methods. We can print on toughened, laminated and security-rated glass Call us for more information 01708 374534 email sales@firmanglass.com or visit www.firmanglass.com Firman Glass, 19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 0JH www.firmanglass.com Solarlux cero sliding doors add to high spec finish of luxurious £15m Berkshire home Solarlux recently designed, delivered and installed a duo of bespoke cero sliding door installations to complete the external aspects of Titlarks House, a £15m, five bedroom development in Sunningdale, one of Surrey’s premier locations. The addition of cero sliding doors to this stunning property - the first collaboration between Octagon Developments and Kebbell Homes - added to the truly luxurious finish. The sliding doors were the perfect option for the developer looking to make the most of the external aspect of the luxurious leisure suite, open planned kitchen and family room. Cero - one of Solarlux’s premier brands - is a highly versatile product with limitless design possibilities, offering ceiling-high glazing (with doors of 15m² surface area) and is the ultimate glazing option to maximise visible light transmission without compromising on ventilation or views. The fact that so few visible materials are used in the frame structure creates a stunning aesthetic in architectural window design. The frame and threshold construction disappear elegantly into the floor, making windows appear open even when closed, creating a wonderful sense of openness and opulence. Thames Valley Windows – a Solarlux Quality Partner – worked closely with Octagon Developments on the project to engineer the best glazing solution to encase the property’s envy-inducing leisure suite, with the indoor swimming pool is protected from the elements during the winter months. The design – spearheaded by Thames Valley Windows – ensures, owing to the full wall of cero sliding doors, this stunning space enjoys the most exclusive balance of indoor/outdoor living during the warmer months. Doors to both the kitchen/living area and leisure complex, with both rooms opening out onto a large rear patio. Angus McQuhae, Director at Octagon Developments, said: “Titlarks House is the epitome of modern luxury – with close to 17,000 sq ft of living space arranged over just two floors, this unique home sits in an impressive 1.4 acre south facing plot, located within one of Sunningdale’s most prestigious premier roads. Keen to show off the grounds in all their glory, we worked with Thames Valley Windows to install a full wall of Solarlux Cero Sliding “Combining grand traditional architecture with contemporary luxury living, the high quality and sleek, minimal design of these doors was integral to our decision to use them at Titlarks House, and the results speak for themselves. In the winter months, these rooms stay light, bright and warm, thanks to the thermal insulation, and, at the touch of a button, become the ultimate indoor/ outdoor space, ideal for entertaining during the warmer months.” Steve Ferrie, Managing Director at Solarlux, said: “The products installed at Titlark House are specifically designed to welcome the outside in. They are perfectly suited to this development, allowing for the glazing solutions to be as outstanding as the rest of the property.” To find out more and to explore the full Solarlux range, visit: www.solarlux.co.uk TOP BRANDS ADD VARIETY TO VELUX® REWARDS SCHEME Installers taking advantage of autumn promotion can now benefit from five new brands Installers, builders and homeowners across the UK and Ireland now have even more choice when redeeming their VELUX rewards thanks to the addition of five new brand partners to the scheme. Customers can now take advantage of the latest autumn promotion at popular UK retailers TK Maxx, H&M, Adidas, Halfords and Costa in addition to the regular partners M&S, Argos, Ticketmaster, Pizza Express, John Lewis, Currys PC World and Tesco. installers, builders and homeowners who can redeem fantastic incentives for their renovation projects. To be able to offer them even more variety when choosing what they spend their hard earned rewards on is fantastic and will no doubt encourage even more people to sign up to the programme. “Our customers have enjoyed some great benefits over the years, from seeing their favourite artists at concerts to treating their children to the latest high-tech gadgets and meals out as a family.” The current promotion offers £40/€45 worth of rewards for every VELUX white painted roof window purchased throughout October and November with the last date to claim the 13th December 2019. Launched in 2015, VELUX Rewards allow customers to earn year round incentives every time they buy a VELUX roof window, sun tunnel or selected accessories such as their smart home automatic climate control system VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO. Richard McArthur, marketing manager from VELUX said: “Our rewards programme is already hugely popular with To receive rewards from VELUX, upload your proof of purchase at www.velux.co.uk/rewards within 45 days. Homeowners reminded to keep safe & secure this season Anglian Home Improvements reveal top tips for securing your home this winter October marks the start of National Home Security Month (NHSM), and homeowners are being reminded to take a few simple steps to enhance home security this season. As the clocks go back and the cold winter nights draw in, millions of homes could be left vulnerable to opportunistic thieves. Fear not, as Anglian Home Improvements has revealed its top tips on how property owners can safeguard their home and stay protected this winter: 1. Appearance matters 3. Alert your alarm company Burglars are often opportunists and will take advantage of your home looking obviously unoccupied. If you are out and about this winter, keep up the illusion of usual routines as much as possible. Consider installing timers so lights, televisions and music systems are switched on and off in your absence. Outdoor movement activated lights also act as a deterrent, as burglars don’t like drawing attention to themselves. To ensure your alarm company can react as efficiently as possible in case of a break-in, make sure you alert them before you go away. On average, 97% of burglar alarms are false, therefore it will help to let your alarm company know before you leave to ensure it is appropriately reactive in case of an alert. 2. Up close and personal Did you know three out of ten burglaries occur without intruders needing to use force, by taking advantage of open or weak locks – and with 30% of all break-ins occurring through windows? Fitted with state of the art cylinder locks as standard, Anglian’s brand new composite doors offer a high level of security. If you are unsure about the security of any of your fittings or locks, consider replacing them immediately to ensure you can leave your home with peace of mind at all times. If you’re heading off for some much-needed winter sun, resist the temptation to shout about this on your social media channels; and always be sure to let a trusted neighbour know you’ll be away so they can keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Your Facebook photo album of your winter escape can wait until you are home! 4. Lock. Check Caroline Mills, Head of Marketing Communications for Anglian Home Improvements, said: “We know home burglaries spike during certain times of the year, which is why we’re urging people to take time to review basic home security this winter. Whilst in a lot of cases it is simply just unfortunate bad luck with their home being targeted, there are simple steps homeowners can take to deter opportunistic thieves. “For more than 50 years, Anglian Home Improvements has played an important role in helping homeowners have a cosy winter, safe in the knowledge their doors and windows won’t let them down. We realise the importance of providing peace of mind to our customers. This is why we focus on the security features of our windows and doors to prevent any unauthorised access to your home.” For more information on Anglian Home Improvements, please visit www.anglianhome.co.uk. developer-update.co.uk Market Leading Design for Modern Living WINDOWS & DOORS THE WAY THEY’RE MEANT TO BE TM Tailored To You Residence 7 windows and doors are finished to perfection, combining a modern flush appearance and unquestionable market leading design features and performance, all in a maintenance free material. Available as casement windows, shaped windows, bay and bow windows, orangeries, conservatories, single doors and French doors - R7 has all the choices for the perfect home. Your Home, Your Way Create an individual design statement for any home with a range of luxury colour finishes and hardware options, all have been carefully created, allowing you to replace the current windows and doors with a more efficient, secure and attractive system. Easy-clean rebate ‘Through Colour’ Extrusion Lock & Hinge Retention Double or Triple Glazing Up to 44mm Glazing 7 Chamber Design 14 finishes to choose from Energy Rating (WER) of A+ and a U-value of 0.8W/ (m2.K) Passivhaus standard Redefining Windows & Doors R7 is here to inspire you on your journey to create the dream home. Beautifully flush inside and out, available in a range of maintenance free finishes and a variety of styles, it is versatile without complication. R7 outperforms many other systems with a sophisticated 7 chamber design and intelligent features. Itâ€™s the ideal solution for a wide range of properties, from modern new builds to city apartments and country cottages to semi-detached houses, with everything in between. Designed and made in Britain, weâ€™ve built long-lasting partnerships with our network of highly experienced fabricators and installers who are all ready to assist you in the decision making process. So what are you waiting for? Your R7 journey starts here... Get in Touch T: 01452 300912 E: journey@residencecollection.co.uk W: www.residencecollection.co.uk Misinformation and Mistakes Continue to Hinder Productivity of UK Construction Firms New research suggests that nine in ten firms still rely on paper on-site, exacerbating preventable productivity drains Productivity in UK construction firms is being held back by the same challenges as twelve months ago, as efforts remain slow to adopt digital technology for the jobsite. According to Digital Groundwork: Closing the Productivity Gap, a new report from PlanGrid, an Autodesk Company, half of businesses say that dealing with mistakes remains the most unnecessary resource drain on the business. The survey of 251 construction professionals in the UK follows on from 2018 research by PlanGrid, exploring how firms’ efforts to improve productivity have progressed. As in 2018, issues with information-sharing on the jobsite are causing delays and wider operational challenges. Survey responses revealed three in ten firms are being hindered by a lack of accurate and timely information (28 percent), with half of professionals pointing to inefficient processes across the business (55 percent). Misinformation leads to businesses spending time and money fixing mistakes; half of the firms surveyed day that rework is the single biggest time-waster in the organisation, with errors alone costing the UK industry £21bn a year. developer-update.co.uk Construction firms are still struggling to collaborate effectively, without a source of shared and reliable information; 60 percent of businesses say that a lack of trust between contractors and subcontractors often impacts their performance. All of this comes at a time when using labour productively has never been more important, as professionals highlight that a lack of skills (40 percent) and talent shortages (39 percent) are major barriers to their organisation. These challenges reflect the slow adoption of digital technology by UK firms. The majority of construction businesses continue to use paper drawings and documentation, as only 13 percent use digital technology for three quarters of their projects or more. A fifth say all of their projects are entirely paper-based (19 percent) – a figure that remained consistent since 2018 (22 percent). There has been progress in adopting some technologies, such as file-sharing tools like Dropbox to access drawings (74 percent); however, these tools don’t appear to be making it into the hands of people on-site. “Twelve months ago, we saw that sharing key project information on paper was leading to delays, costly mistakes and even conflict at UK construction firms. Unfortunately, these issues continue to hamper productivity,” said Matt Keen, Construction Industry Strategist with Autodesk Construction Solutions (ACS). “Construction businesses are slow to adopt digital technology where the work is actually done, on live projects. At a time when talent is scarce it’s more important than ever to ensure time – and people – are used productively, not addressing issues or looking for project data.” There are even signs of a growing digital divide between those construction firms who invest strategically in technology and those who buy technology on an ad-hoc basis, if they do so at all. A quarter of businesses admit to having a complete absence of technology strategy (26 percent), while most businesses simply buy tools on an impromptu basis (36 percent). Meanwhile, only 50 percent of professionals say that improving digital skills will be a focus for the business over the next three years. “For our customers, adopting technology across their business can improve productivity on every project – but it can also improve the long-term competitiveness of each UK construction firm,” continued Keen. “Businesses can deliver thorough, as-built digital handovers with ease, improve how they work with other stakeholders and even use data in their operations to improve profitability. The global construction industry is being transformed by technology. UK firms can reap the benefits, if they look beyond short-term challenges, address their productivity gaps and lay a digital groundwork for the future.” The full Digital Groundwork report is available here. developer-update.co.uk 34 Bathrooms & Washrooms January Furniture Show gears up for 2020 with big name brands Well-known and highly regarded brands are set to get the new decade off to a flying start at January Furniture Show 2020. The 4 day trade show which runs from 19th-22nd January 2020 at Birmingham’s NEC will be bursting with new collections in living, dining, beds and bedroom furniture, home office and interior furnishings. Household names including Ercol, Duresta, G Plan, Parker Knoll and Sealy who all have long histories will be among the 500+ UK and international exhibitors and will show how they have adapted to not only stay current, but also set trends for the 21st Century creating beautifully formed and desirable furniture. Building on successful show developments from January Furniture Show 2019, the 2020 iteration will feature an extended BEDS at January Furniture Show sector with more bed companies introducing their latest beds, mattresses and sleep accessories. Major brands including Silentnight, Sealy, Highgate Beds, Highgrove Beds, MLily and Millbrook are among those showing their new models. LIGHT at January Furniture Show was another success story in 2019 and returns in association with the LIA (Lighting Industry Association). Both UK and international companies will display their extensive collections of general, task and accent lighting - with everything from small table lamps to statement chandeliers on display. Searchlight, Franklite, Girard Sudron, Impex Russell and Inspired Lighting are among the notable brands revealing their latest lighting designs. Exclusive high-end European cabinet is always a must-see at January Furniture Show and in 2020 prestigious brands from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Poland will pack a punch with new sleek styles and rich finishes. ALF, Camel Group, Hartman, Skovby, Weimann are just some of the returning brands giving visitors a treat with their inventive and cleverly engineered cabinet furniture. British cabinet brands including Baker Furniture, Bentley Designs, Carlton & Vintage Furniture, Kesterport and Rowico will show their take on 21st Century form with the use of new and mixed materials including reclaimed and repurposed woods, reclaimed metals and plastics, pushing the boundaries of design and creating practical, handsome furniture. In luxury European upholstery Ego Italiano, Italia Living, ROM, Tomasella and SITS are among those who will make a splash with their prized, up-to-the-minute sofa and chair collections - soft leathers, deluxe jacquard fabrics, comfortable linens and rich wools will abound. Upholstery made in the UK is riding high and prestigious brands including Ashley Manor, Aleaxander & James, Collins & Hayes, David Gundry, Michael Tyler, La-Z-Boy and Tetrad showing new models in classic and contemporary styles in 2020. Looking forward to the show Event Director Cleere Scamell said that he was excited about JFS 2020 saying: “We know that we are delivering the brands and products that buyers want to see - buyers will not only see the very best of what is available on the market, they will also see ingenuity, clever use of materials and manufacturers answering the demands of modern living.” Entrance is free, to register and see the full exhibitor list please go to: www.januaryfurnitureshow.com Register now at januaryfurnitureshow.com Shower trays come in all shapes, sizes and materials these days…. Square, rectangular, quadrant, offset, pentagonal…acrylic capped stone resin, steel enamel, solid stone resin, ceramic, acrylic…the choice in shower trays these days appears to be endless and can be overwhelming. Shower trays have developed slowly since their conception with the shower bath in Victorian times. But now stylish shower trays can really influence the look and feel of your bathroom. Sophisticated shapes, natural materials and ingenious designs abound in the marketplace but the choice of shower tray still depends on the size and layout of your room. A useful aid ro buying a new shower tray is the new buyers guide to shower trays from UK Bathrooms, as it explains all of the options available. Square shower trays are no longer as popular as they used to be, still great though if you want a small tray to fit into a tight corner, a perfect example is the April 45mm Square Stone Resin Shower Tray. When you have more space in your bathroom a rectangular tray is often the best choice, they can be used as part of a walk-in shower enclosure too. A quadrant shower tray used to be the most popular shower shape in the UK, whilst this is no longer the case they are still in demand because they’re often the best choice when size of room is compromising. The pentagonal shower tray also maximises space and can be more visually attractive. developer-update.co.uk As well as being available in a number of different shapes and sizes shower trays are now also available in a range of materials, the most popular at UK Bathrooms being acrylic capped stone resin shower trays, these are heavy and durable but with the same finish as an acrylic shower tray. A solid stone resin tray is also a popular choice, stone resin is very durable being a tough, composite material, they are also a great looking shower tray and can beautifully complement your walk-in shower design. Simpsons 25mm stone resin shower tray with linear waste is a great example. Acrylic shower trays have the same finish as stone resin, smooth but are very light, these shower trays work well for ground floor shower rooms where they are usually sat on a solid floor. Another option are steel enamel shower trays, these are basically made from a mix of steel and glass so the tray is solid, harder wearing and resilient. Traditionally shower trays were very deep, being some 80mm+ - due to their conception from the Victorian bath shower. This depth was required because the waste for the shower struggled to remove the water as it filled up, a deeper tray allowed the water to sit inside whilst water was removed. Modern trays have eliminated this issue and are now from 10mm upwards, almost flat some of these trays can sit into the floor for a flush finish. With todays fast flow vortex waste the water is emptied almost as soon as it hits your shower tray. From a basic acrylic tray to as stunning designer option such as Villeroy and Boch’s ViPrint, an innovative printing technique which provides numerous options for designing your bathrooms the choice in shower trays, today is vast. Bathrooms & Washrooms 37 Under British Standards (BS8300:2018), a Changing Places toilet in addition to conventional accessible facilities should be provided in buildings where the public spend time. As a minimum, the facility should be 3m x 4m (12m2), and include a peninsular WC, adult sized height adjustable changing bench, full room cover overhead track hoist, and wash basin (preferably height adjustable); the Standard notes inclusion of a wash & dry (shower/smart) toilet in place of a conventional WC further enhances users’ dignity &. Independence. Heading To The Toilets Improves Accessibility Of Harbour Facilities A radio show item about the misery thousands of disabled people face if they need a WC away from home has inspired Ullapool Harbour Trust to prove that where there’s a will, there’s a way to improve accessibility. As a result, disabled people in the local community and visitors can head to the port, knowing it has appropriate toilets: a Changing Places assisted accessible facility, designed to the highest level set out in British Standards() has been installed. Explained Chief Executive/Harbour Master Kevin Peach, “I listened with heavy heart to a radio show highlighting the daily misery that parents and carers have to face trying to find suitable toilets. We had to do what we could to improve the lot of people with profound disabilities. We wanted the best and highest specification we could provide for these very special people- hence why we chose to install a Closomat Palma Vita instead of the basic, conventional WC usually provided.” The free-to-use Changing Places toilet facility features more space than a conventional wheelchair-accessible convenience, plus additional fixtures of an overhead track hoist, adult-sized height adjustable changing bench, privacy screen and a Closomat Palma Vita wash & dry (smart) toilet, all supplied via Able Care and installed by W Munro. The Changing Places is located, alongside a community workshop, in the ground floor of a Highland Council-owned building in the heart of the Harbour. Ullapool Harbour Trust approached the Council and arranged to rent the building so it could provide the Changing Places, assisted by funding from an accessibility grant from Transport Scotland. The Government has just completed consultation on making Changing Places an obligatory requirement in new buildings or major refurbishments. Closomat has become the leader in the design, supply, installation and subsequent maintenance of Changing Places; its website www.closomat.co.uk is now the go to’ location for support information for all involved in the specification and build process, with NBS specifications, CAD blocks, white papers and guidance notes all available for free download. Closomat is also the only provider of Changing Places that has the capability, in-house, to project manage (to CDM standards) the installation, and to subsequently provide service & maintenance of the equipment it has supplied therein. Nuance Grey Paladina from Bushboard.co.uk BATHROOM BLISS Bushboard’s patented and award-winning Nuance bathroom wall panels have been a well-deserved success for the company – and now the range is even better with the addition of an exciting new Designer Collection comprising eight new decors and at the sametime, seven new stylish, glossy acrylics panels. Stand out designs include an impeccably book-matched marble. All the new designs are shown in an inspiring brochure packed with ideas.. Acrylic Nuance Marble is a time-honoured material for bathrooms. Much loved by Victorian and Edwardian sanitary pioneers, this handsome stone is beautiful but hard to work with. The fabulous marble slab designs from Nuance, in the new acrylic collection, reflect the natural beauty of authentic marble without the time-consuming cutting and installation problems. New décor highlight; Cararra Marble Slab, when panels are placed side by side, like the pages of an open book, the panels are mirror images. The contrasting veining matches to create one stunning, unbroken pattern. This offers a strong, large-scale symmetrical look which creates maximum visual impact without a high-end price tag or any offsite cutting or the time or mess of ceramic tiling. There are three new marble designs within the acrylic collection plus enticingly exotic Moroccan prints (Pictured: Nuance Casablanca Classic) and subtle Hexagon Marble and Natural Finestra. Acrylic panels are just 4mm thick and have a sleek, reflective gloss finish and like all Nuance panels they are installed without joining strips or trims. developer-update.co.uk Nuance Casablanca Classic Beautiful book-matched marble look from Bushboard Nuance collection 2019 Nuance Designer Collection About Bushboard Nuance The new Designer Collection will be a firm favourite for those who like the look of stripped brick and natural stone. There are eight designs in the range including washed brick, herringbone woods, fossil stone and washed timber. Nuance bathroom panels from Bushboard are the market-leading alternative to ceramic tiling for bathrooms. Available in a range of decors and textures, Nuance panels are postformed and 100% waterproof – there is no need for unsightly trims and as a result the finished installation is often mistaken for real stone, marble or wood. Nuance features on ArtiCad and if installed using Bushboard’s own BB Complete superior adhesive is guaranteed for a full 15 years. Bushboard also offer a trial room service for qualifying customers. Nuance is a unique patented, trim-free system. The large format panels have a post formed outer edge that means there is no need to use trims for finishing – giving a streamlined, sleek look that suits all sizes and styles of bathroom. The tongue and groove panels can be jointed using Nuance bespoke adhesive. This makes joints which are 100% watertight and virtually invisible to the eye. The new brochure is packed with design ideas on how to use the panels to create stunning and stylish bathrooms. “Nuance panels open a world of possibilities for exciting bathroom design.” comments Paul Findley, Nuance sales manager. “Sleek and upmarket, charmingly rustic, or nature inspired – whatever the look there is a Nuance design to suit. We know that this brochure and the exciting new products and designs featured in it will provide exciting inspiration for all our customers.” www.bushboard.co.uk 01933 2322422 developer-update.co.uk Demista® The®hidden Luxury Demista The Hidden Luxury The Luxury items that first catch your eye in the The Luxury firstthe catch yourraineye in the bathroom could be the gold taps, the amazing rain bathroom coulditems be thethat gold taps, amazing shower, thethe marble tiles ortiles the creative Butlighting. the shower, marble or thelighting. creative But the hidden luxury that every bathroom or Enhidden luxury that every bathroom or En- suite cannot suite cannot without the heated mirror pad. do without is thedo heated mirror is pad. The unobtrusive product from demista, ensures your bathroom mirror remains steam free at all The unobtrusive product from demista, ensures your times. bathroom mirror remains steam free at all times. Often the first choice for designers, architects, interior designers and specifiers, demista has become Oftenmust the first choice for of designers, architects, or En-suite, as the system is probably the simplest and most the have part any bathroom interior designers and specifiers, demista has adaptable item available around the world via demista’s distributors. become the must have part of any bathroom or En-suite, as the system is probably the simplest and most adaptable around the heat Since the idea ofitem theavailable demista mirror world via demista’s distributors. pad was conceived steamed up mirrors have become a thing of the past in luxury hotels, prestigious housing and apartment developments around the Since theand idea now of thebeing demistaused mirrorin heat pad was conceived steamed world, domestic new builds anduprenovation projects as a must have item mirrors have become a thing of the past in luxury hotels, prestigious because once the pad has been installed it saves timehousing and money, as you do not need to keep and apartment developments around the world, cleaning your mirror with new cleaning products. and now being used in domestic builds and renovation projects as a must have item because once the pad has been installed it saves time and With over 400 sizes available in various voltages means the heat pad can be installed anywhere in money, as you do not need to keep cleaning your the bathroom orproducts. En-suite, even on cabinet doors and vanity units. Demista has become the generic mirror with cleaning name for heated mirror pads, but to avoid imitations, look for the demista trademark on the With over 400 sizes available in various voltages product, all of demista’s heatanywhere pads are completely manufactured in the UK and carry a 10-year means the heat pad can be installed in the bathroom or En-suite, even on cabinet warranty. doors and vanity units. Demista has become the generic name for heated mirror pads, but to avoid Safety, of the installation, minimal energy consumption, quality, reliability, full technical advice and imitations,ease look for demista trademark on the product, all of demista’s heat pads are completely service are the key ingredients for our customers, with our pads fully approved for bathroom use to manufactured in the UK and carry a 10-year European and international standards, which meets all the requirements both in the UK and around warranty. www.demista.co.uk Safety, ease of installation, minimal energy consumption, quality, reliability, full technical advice and service are the key ingredients for our customers, with our Prestige projectsforsuch as The in Paris, Royal Atlantis pads fully approved bathroom use Ritz to European andThe international standards,in Dubai, The Crosby Street Hotel in which meets all the requirements both in the UK and around the world. New York, The Sky View hotel and residences in Dubai, W Hotel Ibiza, The Crown Plaza in St Petersburg, Burj Al Arab and other luxury hotels and homes in India, Australia, Egypt, Barbados and developer-update.co.uk Malaysia can be found in Demista’s portfolio. MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIVING? DON’T FORGET THE TOILET One issue not generally discussed when talking about multi-generational households is the bathroom- access to, and use of. It’s a growing problem for the households. But it provides potential increase in sales for all involved in the business of bathrooms- architects, builders, plumbers, and retailers. There has been a 46% rise in multigenerational households in less than a decade(1). It is set to continue: some 60% of people would consider living in a multi-generational household.(2) Set alongside that the fact that, on average, we go to the toilet 8 times a day. Multiply that by each resident, and you have a very busy room! But each generation has different needschildren may be young, and not very adept at wiping properly; the senior citizens may equally struggle with wiping, for different reasons- general flexibility, manual dexterity, balance to name a few- but are reticent to ask family to help. developer-update.co.uk The solution is Closomat’s range of wash/dry (shower) WCs. Looking like- and capable of being used as- a conventional WC, the Closomat has integrated douching and drying- the best performance in each on the market. Thus, if preferred, the user does not have to wipe manually. The toilet cleans them instead, to a consistent high standard, every time. Each of Closomat’s range has bespoke benefits depending on the household’s needs. The core Palma Vita- Britain’s biggest selling floor-standing wash dry toilet- is the only one that can be accessorised initially or retrospectively to accommodate changing needs. The Lima Lifter features height adjustability. This each user can electrically adjust the WC to their optimum height to get on and off; it even means that if an older person struggles to bend knees, the WC can be raised for them to sit on, get off, and lowered so their feet remain in contact with the floor whilst they ‘go’. The latest evolution, the Asana features wall-hung contemporary styling, a range of douche options for optimum wellness, and an integrated ambient light which makes it easy to locate in the dark/ at night. Full details of the Closomat range of wash/dry toilets can be found at www.closomat.co.uk alongside a raft of useful information to help choose the most appropriate WC. YOUNG 2.0 MINIMALISM AND CLEAN LINES YOUNG 2.0, With a whole host of exciting product features, such as showering height of 2000mm, through to the minimal matt black, matt silver or polished chrome profiling giving the enclosure a sleek and luxurious look. Coupled with the rise and fall door mechanism and the versatility to be installed on a shower tray or tiled floor, the Young collection gives you a multitude of showering options and fantastic value for money. Combine this with our Novosolid stone Designed shower andtray manufactured or Novellini Wetroom for the total solution. in MANTOVA Discover the Black & White video collection Contact us directly or visit our websites for more information about our products and services. info-uk@novellini.com www.novellini.co.uk www.iotti.com Designed and manufactured in MANTOVA FOLLOW US Foto Project Kitchen Oak Vintage Hoboken The ecological answer to interior design trends Exclusive to James Latham in the UK, Decospan’s inspiring collection of Querkus veneers offer architects and designers an ecological option of using Oak with a contemporary twist. •36• 45 In a unique production process, Querkus combines both FSC® certified European white Oak and reclaimed Oak timbers, which captures and enhances the beauty, colour, markings and structure of solid wood along with the many advantages of a veneered panel. A European leader in premium veneer processing, Decospan use strictly selected, slow-growing Oaks from controlled and regulated growth zones in Croatia. Timber is cut into veneers, which are glued together to produce a single, solid picture. This makes it possible to use various thicknesses of veneer, allowing flexibility and customisation for designers to select a panel that meets exactly their colour, pattern, touch and budgetary needs. Decospan Querkus Oak Vintage Using Decospan’s unique and innovative veneer matching techniques, boards are created that give designers unprecedented choice in a wood panel product. Wire brushing and patented “saw effect” scratching options impart character, texture and authenticity so that no matter how they are finished, Querkus panels look natural, adding dimension, depth and texture to any project. Panels are supplied untreated so that a wood stain or varnish can be applied according to taste and specification. Wood oil also offers optimum protection, while retaining the veneer’s natural feel and warmth. Group Veneer Product Champion for James Latham, Dan Mahoney commented, “Querkus is a sustainably designed product that combines authentic materials with engineered stability. With four eyecatching and distinctive ranges in the collection, including Oak Natural, Oak Vintage, Oak Smoked and Oak Retro, reaction from architects and designers has been really positive, and we are seeing more and more specifications coming through, particularly for high-end residential, retail, commercial and hospitality projects.” As well as Querkus, James Latham’s exclusive collection of Decospan’s added value products also includes the Shinnoki, Nørdus, and Look’likes collections. For full details, swatches and samples contact your local James Latham depot or showroom at: www.lathamtimber.co.uk Kast Oak Retro Harlem 46 Lifts, Stairs & Balustrades Platform Lift double for The Box, Fargo Village Located just to the east of Coventryâ€™s city centre lies FarGo Village, a re-purposed industrial space exclusively designed for creative, independent businesses and their customers. Over 40 businesses call this place home, including artisan food, a music studio and a designer plant pot shop! A part of this eclectic mix of businesses, is The Box, a multi-purpose venue with over 420 square metres of floorspace, hosting events such as corporate functions, fashion shows and film shoots. Accessibility for all users was a core requirement for this space, and Harrabin Construction Limited of Coventry contacted the lift experts at Ability Lifts for their advice on access. Two lifts were required for The Box. The first lift was to overcome a 765mm rise into the backstage area. Ability Lifts were able to recommend and fit their Optimum 350 low rise unit. Due to the limited width, an 800mm platform unit with an open through configuration was chosen as the perfect solution. A steel infill gate was used at the top level and a travelling barrier was specified for additional safety. A dark blue colour was specified for the lift, which worked well with the industrial aesthetic of the space. developer-update.co.uk The second lift was required for the access between the ground and first floor. The Optimum 100 platform lift was a great fit to serve just over 3 metres of travel. Glazed doors with a mid bar were chosen for lift access as the client wanted to keep as much light as possible circulating in the area. In addition, the lift was supplied with a small aluminium ramp at the lower level in leiu of the 60mm usual pit. Both lifts were supplied with 12 month service contracts for additional piece of mind Please contact the Ability Lifts team on 0845 006 8803 or email sales@abilitylifts.co.uk for further information on the Optimum 100 or 350 and the other products in the Optimum range of lifts. Platform Lifts Here at Ability Lifts, we offer solutions for many different access requirements, from platform lifts and stair platform lifts, to external lifts, access lifts and much more. We aim to offer top quality service and highly competitive prices. All of our access lifts are in compliance with the Machinery Directive MD 2006/42/EC, EN8141 and Part M, and we’re happy to advise you with any questions you may have about access requirements. The Optimum 100 - The self supporting enclosed Platform Lift Ã Glazing to all four sides if required Special colours available Uses 75% less energy than other types Footprint - 1250mm x 1560mm Platform size - 1120mm x 1480mm EN81-41 and Machinery Directive compliant Market leading warranty period Please call us for a chat, we have a range of platform lifts to suit your requirements. Tel: 0845 006 8803 Email: sales@abilitylifts.co.uk Web: www.abilitylifts.co.uk Platform Lifts Our range of platform lifts includes the MC2000 lift (right) - a high quality enclosed platform lift with a unique chain drive, and the option of glazing on all 4 shaft sides. With a fantastic guarantee, and small footprints available, this is a premier platform lift. We also offer stair platform lifts and a range of platform lifts for both internal and external use. The Platform Lift Experts Tel: 0845 4682543 Web: www.invalifts.com Lifts, Stairs & Balustrades 49 The shaft was designed to accommodate Invalift’s most popular platform lift, the MC2000, with a shaft size of 1150mm x 1560mm. There were also some tricky planning difficulties to overcome, to ensure that the shaft matched the external design of the home’s stonework. The client wanted some light to enter the shaft area at each landing and so the external shaft was designed with windows at each level. Upon completion of the external shaft, the MC2000 platform lift was fitted inside, with matching shaft glazing. The lift was supplied with automatic doors and wireless remote pushes, so that Heather could access the lift without assistance. White solid doors with vision panels were used to ensure that the lift didn’t look out of place within the home. As there wasn’t quite enough headroom height at the top level for the standard 2M door and frame, Invalifts utilised a slightly smaller 1.9M door and frame. The building company provided a sculpted ceiling in order for the door frame to be installed and allowing free movement of the door when in use. Mr and Mrs Turner were delighted with the lift and commented, “the lift has made life so much easier, we do not have to transfer from wheelchair to stairlift and back to wheelchair when just moving between floors and it has made the top floor accessible to Heather.” With a full parts and labour warranty for 12 months, and a 5 year parts warranty on the motor and gearbox plus a 10 year warranty on the drive chains, the lift will provide access for the home owners for many years. Home in Cheltenham adapted for 3 floor lift Invalifts were contacted by Heather Turner MBE, for advice on how to add a platform lift to her home in Cheltenham, as she has a disability which means she needs to use a wheelchair. After visiting the site, and finding there was no room in the house to fit a lift shaft, the experts at Invalifts worked closely with local building contractor, Tradecraft Construction and the architect to design and build a three floor external lift shaft. If you would like to know more about the MC2000 Platform Lift or other access solutions, please contact the Invalifts team on 0845 468 2543 or alternatively, email sales@invalifts.com developer-update.co.uk Panasonic Provide First CO2 Solution for Refrigerated Trailer Rental The Panasonic CO2 Cold Chain Condenser units provided the perfect mobile refrigeration solution for cooling specialists, Greencold. A reliable, efficient and eco-friendly solution to cool and freeze a mobile trailer was required and where the Panasonic CO2 units have now been installed. Simon Andrew, Director of Greencold commented “We had always wanted a large cold-room test facility in our premises to enable us to carry out product testing for our customers for both chill and freeze temperatures. However, due to limited space inside our workshop we decided that it would be a better idea to construct a mobile CO2 cooling system in a refrigerated box trailer. This could then be parked both on our premises and also taken to our customers site to test their products locally or demonstrate the technology. Panasonic worked with us to develop a perfect solution”. The Panasonic CO2 units are compact, lightweight, have low noise levels (a range of 35.5 dB(A) to 36dB(A)) and designed to fit into smaller spaces with dimensions of (HWD) 930mm x 800mm x 350mm and weighs only 67kg. developer-update.co.uk The condensing units use a natural refrigerant that has a GWP (Global Warming Potential) equal to 1 as opposed to the current refrigerant typically used such as R404A having a GWP equal to 3,800. With refrigeration legislation increasing over the coming years, HFC R404A will be out of circulation by 2020. Paul Taylor, UK Sales Manager for Panasonic UK further explains more about the benefits, “The Panasonic range has been specifically developed for small to medium capacity applications within the refrigerated retail and food service sectors. Furthermore, by combining reliability and efficiency with the natural refrigerant CO2, the range removes any risk of future costs associated with the F-Gas refrigerant phase out whilst also minimising energy use and operating costs.” 51 With the Panasonic CO2 units already having a proven track record for reliability and efficiency with a clever single two stage temperature compression condensing unit and of compact size, Simon Andrew went on to explain, “We were able to combine the Panasonic units with a suitable air cooler of sufficiently high working pressure from a cooler manufacturer, we knew we had a great solution”. Greencold have also since identified their refrigerated trailer as an educational tool where they take it out to customers and prove the ecofriendly CO2 cooling system is nothing to be frightened about. With changes to the F-Gas regulations coming into force, alongside reducing carbon emissions and energy costs becoming key drivers for change in refrigeration systems, both specifiers and end users are recognising the need to consider CO2 as a refrigerant. Greencold have also identified a further revenue stream and use for the Panasonic CO2 trailer and set up a sister company called ‘QuickFreeze’, whereby they are successfully renting out the branded trailer to a variety of customers in the food manufacturing business for events and storage logistic sectors such as smaller catering, hotels and restaurants, corporate hospitality events, weddings, pop-up stalls and emergency back-up for food and medical pharmaceutical companies with refrigeration needs. One recent use case was where QuickFreeze were contacted by a youth football club for a large team tournament event where the refrigerated trailer was required for a three-day event. The Trailer was parked in a convenient onsite location and placed next to a portacabin where food was being prepared. Chris Terry, Team Chairman of FC Aztec Youth commented, “We commissioned Quickfreeze to set up the trailer for chilled conditions which enabled us to serve the food and replenish the stocks quickly, allowing us to store all our products in the vast amount of space and all kitted out with convenient shelving. The event ran trouble free for the whole of the tournament from Friday to Saturday evening and made our life a lot easier. The CO2 branding on the trailer also caused a few heads to turn and brought attention to the visiting public and showed the importance of green refrigerant technology”. The Quickfreeze trailer is helping to avoid the logistical challenges faced when delivering refrigerated solutions Monitored within a 5°C to 27°C ambient 12-month operating period. Compared to R404A in an articulated HGV lorry, which is not always convenient for many smaller drop-off locations. The Panasonic CO2 units offer a practical and straightforward method of installation with complete design support available through the distributor network. The units are compact, lightweight and have very low noise levels. Based on Panasonic monitored data, 16% energy savings for chilled refrigeration and 25% energy savings for lower temperature freezer applications have been achieved in comparison to R404A.* Simon Andrew further added “We are happy to be collaborating with Panasonic and assisting them in spreading the word about the benefits of CO2 and demonstrating its technology”. For more information on Panasonic air source heat pumps, please visit www.aircon.panasonic.co.uk. developer-update.co.uk 52 RINNAI CPD ON CONTINUOUS FLOW HOT WATER DELIVERY ON DEMAND NOW FULLY APPROVED BY CIBSE Rinnai’s CPD courses on continuous flow hot water delivery units and systems have now been fully approved by the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE). “Demand for all of our training courses and programmes have risen steeply as the industry increasingly has to focus on energy, environment and finance efficiency in hot water delivery within a commercial context,“ says Rinnai’s Chris Goggin. CPD courses have been designed for M&E consultants and specifiers, design and build engineers and, facilities managers. These courses had already attracted praise from CIBSE. For example, it says of the Four CPDs have been approved -: • Excellence in Design of Continuous Flow Hot Water Delivery • Continuous Flow Hot Water Appreciation • The Regulatory Horizon for Hot Water Delivery • ACOP L8 ‘CONTINUOUS FLOW WATER HEATING SYSTEM SIZING AND DESIGN’ course in an appraisal: “The course delivers what it outlines and is well constructed.” Rinnai has developed and manufactures the only complete and most comprehensive range of highly efficient ErP labelled A-rated continuous flow water heaters on the market, from the smallest domestic model to industrial units. “Rinnai understands that time means money which is why we are happy to adopt an ‘any time, any place, anywhere’ approach to CPD delivery and training,” adds Mr Goggin. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.RINNAIUK.COM developer-update.co.uk REGISTER FOR FREE* Attend to discover innovations in the way we design, deliver and maintain homes in communities where people want to live From the team that brought you Industry experts confirmed to speak include: Wayne Hemingway MBE Designer, entrepreneur and broadcaster, Hemingway Design Nicola Millard Head of customer insight and futures, BT Tony Pidgley CBE Chairman, Berkeley group Lord Richard Best OBE Chairman, Affordable Housing Commission Polly Neate Tom Bloxham MBE Chief executive, Shelter Mary Parsons Co-founder and chairman, Urban Splash Manisha Patel Group director of placemaking and regeneration, Places for People Markus Weeks Senior partner, PRP Acquisition and development manager, Unite Students Lee Reevell Lead disruptor, Halton Housing Key agenda topics will cover: ASSET MANAGEMENT LAND & PLANNING Free to attend for public sector and non-profit employees, Â£165 per day for employees of private sector and for-profit organisations. FOR THE FULL AGENDA AND TO REGISTER TODAY VISIT H O M E S E V E N T. C O.U K @ H O M E S E V E N T / H O M E S - E X H I B I T I O N 54 Vectaire’s WHHR-Midi/BYs have had great success in being installed modular homes. They belong to Vectaire’s MVHR range, incorporate summer bypass and frost-stat, and provide efficient, low-energy ventilation in residential properties up to 170m2. The Midi-BY has a heat exchange efficiency of up to 94% with SFP down to 0.50 W/l/sec. They are easy to install on walls, in cupboards or lofts and models without humidistat have universal handing. They operate very quietly with very low running costs. There is variable choice of trickle, boost and purge speed at installation and commissioning is via an optional, integral or remote LCD commissioning unit. To alleviate the very real problems of noise, keeping sound and air pollution outside, Vectaire has three new models in its vertical whole house heat recovery range. The Midi, Maxi and Maxi Plus are now available with integral acoustic attenuation - lined with superior sound deadening materials for really low sound levels and tested by BRE. Sound pressure levels are down to <5.0, <5.0 and 6.9 dBA respectively. They are easy to install – nothing extra is required other than the unit itself – they are the quietest, lightest and smallest on the market. Efficiency, performance and economy remain the same as the standard models. “BY-AT” models incorporate summer bypass and frost protection, and commissioning is via an integral LCD. Windows can be kept firmly closed while these MVHRs provide energy efficient ventilation and a comfortable environment. Products are SAP PCDB Listed and manufactured in our own factory in the UK to ISO 9001. Also included in MVHR range are the EVOs. These together with the Studio and Mini are for in-line installation and are suitable for homes and offices and multi-occupancy establishments. The four models in the EVO range all have summer bypass and frost protection, and the Studio and Mini are available without those options. All are commissioned via a remote LCD commissioning unit and manufactured in our own factory. Vectaire also offers axial and centrifugal three and four speed dMEVS, single room heat recovery and positive input ventilation – a truly complete range. Vectaire can design your ventilation system ensuring the correct units are installed in the best possible way - providing efficient, effective, low energy and very economic ventilation. Vectaire can also organise installation, commissioning and maintenance of these products as well as suppling all necessary accessories. All Vectaire’s residential ventilation is detailed in the latest Low Energy Catalogue. 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__label__cc	0.519127	0.480873	Jama Punji Verify Companies About JamaPunji About SECP Approach Jamapunji Audio/Videos Glossary attachment Press Reset to try a new search. The stated value of a common share/ unit used for accounting purposes only. The face value is no indication of the current market price of a security. Face value is also referred to as the par value, par, principal amount or denomination. Family of Fund A group of mutual funds managed by the same mutual fund management company. An individual or organization placed in a position of trust, acting on behalf of another individual, responsible for holding and/or administrating the assets owned by another individual. Examples of a fiduciary include salespersons, trustees, administrators and guardians. A registered representative in a jurisdiction, who is licensed to provide investors advice on their choice of investments. See Salesperson. A professional advisor who assesses an individual's current financial situation, helps the individual identify short and long-term financial goals, and develops strategies to help the individual achieve his or her goals. The federal government's use of expenditures and taxes to influence the growth of the economy. Broadly determined by the size of the annual budgetary deficit or surplus. Assets of a long term nature such as land or buildings. Securities (usually bonds or debentures or preferred shares) which have rates that change with changes in the interest rate. The floating rate is generally based on the prime lending rate or the average treasury bill yield over a specific period. Foreign Investment Risk See Risk. An instrument, which allows the holder to make or take delivery of an asset or security at some future date and at an agreed-upon price. Also known as a forward contract. See Futures Contract. Forward Pricing The use of the next valuation date for purposes of pricing purchases and redemptions of a mutual fund. Front-end Load or Free See Sales Charge. The fund invests primarily in other closed end funds with the objective of capitalizing on the discount that the stated closed end funds are traded at. Exchange-traded contracts that obligates the buyer to buy and receive, or obligates the seller to sell and deliver, a specified amount of a commodity or asset at an agreed-upon price at a future date. Profits and losses are settled daily (mark-to-market) between the two parties rather than being settled when the contract is exercised. Also known as a future. Subscribe to JamaPunji's e-Newsletter and receive periodic updates. Jamapunji - An initiative of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. NIC Building, Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad. 44000, Pakistan. info@jamapunji.pk DISCLAIMER: Please be informed that “Jamapunji” is an investor education initiative of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. We do not sell or recommend any investment product. Jamapunji main purpose is to educate and aware public enabling them to avoid scams and frauds in financial market. Copyrights © 2018 SECP. All rights reserved. Page Views 3664850 Powered by: CyberVision International	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1383
__label__cc	0.717669	0.282331	Food-Pairing Tournament: The Sweet & Savory 16 Folks, the results are in. It was an arduous battle. These were NOT easy. We spent many hours yelling, arguing, discussing, strategizing, and crying. But science is science, and in the end, we stand by our decisions. Behold: The Sweet & Savory 16. Matchup: Chocolate & Marshmallow vs. Wine & Cheese Winner: Chocolate & Marshmallow Notes: Cheese is so good (spoiler: it appears several times in this very bracket) and wine makes you drunk so that’s nice too, but Chocolate & Marshmallow is too goddamn good. S’mores. Rocky Road. Literally just fists full of chocolate chips that you chase with gobs of Stay Puft marshmallow spread. An iconic combo that always hits the spot. Wine & cheese is for an occasional weekend out with your friends, but chocolate & marshmallow is for anytime and anywhere. Matchup: Fried Chicken & Waffles vs. Tomato & Mozzarella Winner: Tomato & Mozzarella Notes: I’ll tell you right now, my heart tells me that I am making the wrong decision. It tells me that chicken & waffles, at their best, are an all-time great food pair. And then my brain chimes in and says ,“Hey! Yeah! They are great!” But guess what bozos, the only talking organ that matters here is my tummy, and it speaks pure truth. Think about the utility of Tomato & Mozzarella. I would venture to guess that you eat fried chicken & waffles less than a dozen times a year. If that number is higher, you gotta start making healthier choices, man. Tommozzo is all around us though. Ever heard of pizza? Pasta? Caprese salads? That’s what that shit is made of, my dude. Chicken & waffles are friends, tomato & mozzarella are inseparable lovers that serve as the foundation for an entire type of food. At the end of the day, this isn’t even that close. Matchup: Root Beer & Pizza vs. Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Winner: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Notes: If this bracket were about me, root beer & pizza wins in a landslide. Root beer & pizza are one of the first things that come to mind when I think of food pairings. It brings me to a place of Pizza-Place-After-Little-League nostalgia that I can’t put properly into words. But this bracket isn’t about me, it’s about choosing the objectively best choice so I can smash Fat Wabu’s idiot face in. Grilled cheese & tomato soup is the best iteration of the already classic “sandwich and soup” food pair. Today, with a heavy heart, I say goodbye to a dear old friend. Matchup: Lox & Bagels vs. Shrimp & Grits Winner: Shrimp & Grits Notes: Here is what this comes down to. If we are talking best of the best, top shelf, I think these two are just about neck and neck. What gives shrimp & grits the edge is how well they help each other. I can enjoy a bagel without lox just as much as I can enjoy a bagel with lox, but there are no shrimp in the ocean or grits in the (insert wherever grits come from) that are as good on their own as they are when they lay down together and consummate their tasty love. Matchup: Cheese & Crackers vs. Surf & Turf Winner: Cheese & Crackers Notes: Surf & turf is idiotic. It was invented so rich shitheads could eat with the same excess that they do everything else with. Putting the best two things on the menu on the same plate is a “pair” in the same way that the NBA All-Star team is a “team”. Cheese and crackers, though, is an old reliable. If you put cheese & crackers out in a room, regardless of who is in that room, they will be eaten. Get some fancy cheese and some expensive artisanal crackers to dress them up, regular old Ritz Crackers and Cheese Whiz if you want to dress them down. Get your $50 meat tray the eff out of my bracket, thanks. Matchup: Cereal & Milk vs. Apples & Peanut Butter Winner: Cereal & Milk Notes: No reason to get cute here. Apples & peanut butter are good because apples are fine and peanut butter makes literally everything better. (it is the clear star of this team). Milk & cereal on the other hand, need each other. Dry cereal is technically edible, and will do in a pinch, but it only works with top-tier cereals. Don’t you dare try to eat Frosted Mini-Wheats without milk, lest you want a mouth full of open wounds. Milk, likewise, needs cereal. If you are the type of person that just has a glass of milk with dinner, no judgements but you are a freak of nature and should consider seeking help from a mental health professional. Apples & peanut butter are too top heavy to move on. Matchup: Milkshake & Fries vs. Steak & Potatoes Winner: Milkshake & Fries Notes: I guess, if I’m being really honest, I have never understood the the steak & potatoes thing. Big fat slab of meat with heavy starches just doesn’t seem appropriate for a modern man like myself. I understand why this hearty of a meal would be nice for the likes of a simple cave person, but the amount of chewing required to finish this is a full blown chore. Shakes & fries are a classic salty sweet combo that can be enjoyed by all, even those of you who are too much of a coward to give those fries the dunk in that shake they so desperately crave. Matchup: Chocolate & Peanut Butter vs. Corned Beef & Cabbage Winner: Chocolate & Peanut Butter Notes: With all due respect to my Irish heritage, corned beef & cabbage was a little in over its head on this list to begin with. To draw chocolate & peanut butter in round one is a kiss of death. If this was a “meal you are most likely to begrudgingly eat once a year on a holiday you probably don’t understand” bracket, corned beef & cabbage runs away with it. But it is not, so this is the end of the line. Matchup: Burger & Fries vs. Pineapple & Ham Winner: Burger & Fries Notes: This is infuriating. I love pineapple & ham. I’m one of those people you complain about all the time who loves pineapple pizza (with ham, you betta believe it). Not only that, but I love an underdog story. However, there is just no universe where I allow all this to cloud my judgement and let it defeat burger & fries. C’mon. It’s burger & fries we’re talking about. Matchup: Chocolate & Nuts vs. Fish & Chips Winner: Fish & Chips Notes: Weirdly enough this was difficult for me. I like them both, but neither of these pairings really blow my nips off. The potential for each is also pretty medium. In the end, though, nuts are a goodnotgreat type of food. They bring out the best in a lot of other things, but by themselves? They’ll do as a snack. The chocolate is doing all the work here. And a perfectly-fried golden brown piece of haddock covered in malt vinegar and paired with a big fat fry (or “chip” if you’re an idiot)? Gotta go with the latter. Matchup: Ice Cream & Pie vs. Pita & Hummus Winner: Ice Cream & Pie Notes: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA PITA & HUMMUS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Matchup: Bacon & Eggs vs. Iced Tea & Lemonade Winner: Bacon & Eggs Notes: Not really much of a contest here. I enjoy a refreshing Arnold Palmer as much as the next Jerry or Jane, but bacon & eggs are an all-time iconic duo. An important guideline of this tournament is to consider if you strongly crave one when you have the other. I won’t even consider having bacon without eggs, or vice versa. Plus, think about the fact that people put bacon on like, everything, and people STILL agree that bacon & eggs belong together. Matchup: Macaroni & Cheese vs. Chocolate & Berries Winner: Macaroni & Cheese Notes: Remember when I said I root for underdogs? I still mean it here, four paragraphs later. I happen to love chocolate & berries. It’s one of my favorite desserts. And, if it was a list of things I like better, I would go with them. BUT, I need to assemble my finest crowd-pleasing army to defeat Fart Kid and his Food Network Conference. Mac & Cheese is an absolute titan. Matchup: Spaghetti & Meatballs vs. Pb&J & Milk Winner: Spaghetti & Meatballs Notes: Let me explain what happened here. We wanted Peanut Butter & Jelly itself to be a contestant in this tournament, but according to our own rules that have no consequences if we disobey them, these things have to be regularly eaten alone. Nobody eats jelly alone, and if you do please send me your address so I can come kill you. The ceiling on spaghetti and meatballs is seemingly limitless. Can you imagine what those doofs over in Italy do with that shit? I bet it’s good. I’ve never been. I’ve heard it’s nice. Send me some money for a plane ticket please. Matchup: Pulled Pork & Coleslaw vs. Cookies & Milk Winner: Pulled Pork & Coleslaw Notes: This was my hardest matchup by a landslide. I’m still not even sure I’m making the right decision. I’m a regular Kris Kringle the way I can harf down some cookies and milk (you morons ever had those little Trader Joe’s cookies? They’re unreal). However, when I look inside myself I know pulled pork has a lot more potential, and same with coleslaw. Though cookies are a different story, I know milk can only be SO good. The best milk could not matchup with the best coleslaw or pulled pork. Matchup: Coffee & Donuts vs. Peas & Carrots Winner: Coffee & Donuts Notes: As you can plainly see, we needed one more pairing to make this even and we finally settled on peas & carrots. When was the last time you ate peas & carrots? In your shepherd’s pie? When was the last time you had shepherd’s pie? Do you live in some fairytale Game of Thrones castle? The one on the island with all the unlimited deus ex machina weaponry? Nobody in that castle’s history noticed they were sitting on a “mountain” of something? Not one person? Who built that castle? They must have known, right? What I’m trying to say is coffee & donuts wins. Food-Pairing Tournament: The ElEAT 8 The Definitive NBA Nickname Ranking Anonymous July 31, 2017 — 5:21 pm Jeepers Creepers what a couple princes. Somebody should pay you for all of this idiotic work you’re doing! Wilder July 31, 2017 — 6:47 pm Agreed, passing glancer! Rick Shaw August 1, 2017 — 5:17 am I’m going to take the word of a guy named McGrath when it comes to bagels & lox? I don’t think so. Clearly, the other guy is sweetophobic but, admittedly, some tough match-ups. Looking forward to the Sweet & Savory 16. Rick Shaw August 1, 2017 — 8:51 pm I’d also like to submit names for your upcoming brackets after the Loaf of 32 and the Sweet & Savory 16 – The Edible Eight (or the Plate of Eight), the Foodie Four and the Chompianship Game. I don’t usually traffic in puns but these seem appropriate.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1392
__label__cc	0.684426	0.315574	Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a frequent cause of dyspnea in the short telomere disorders Amany I. Gorgy, Naudia L. Jonassaint, Susan E. Stanley, Ayman Koteish, Amy Dezern, Jolan E. Walter, Sabrina C. Sopha, James Hamilton, Julie E Hoover Fong, Allen R Chen, Robert A Anders, Ihab R Kamel, Mary Armanios Background: Telomere syndromes have their most common manifestation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. The short telomere defect in these patients may manifest systemically as bone marrow failure and liver disease. We sought to understand the causes of dyspnea in telomerase and telomere gene mutation carriers who have no parenchymal lung disease. Methods: Clinical and pathologic data were reviewed as part of a Johns Hopkins -based natural history study of short telomere syndromes including dyskeratosis congenita. Results: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) was diagnosed in nine of 42 cases (21 %). Their age at presentation was significantly younger than that of cases initially presenting with pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (median, 25 years vs 55 years; P <.001). Cases had evidence of intra- and extrapulmonary arteriovascular malformations that caused shunt physiology. Nodular regenerative hyperplasia was the most frequent histopathologic abnormality, and it was seen in the absence of cirrhosis. Dyspnea and portal hypertension were progressive, and the median time to death or liver transplantation was 6 years (range, 4-10 years; n = 6). In cases that underwent liver transplantation, dyspnea and hypoxia improved, but pulmonary fibrosis subsequently developed. Conclusions: This report identifies HPS as a frequent cause of dyspnea in telomerase and telomere gene mutation carriers. While it usually precedes the development of parenchymal lung disease, HPS may also co-occur with pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. Recognizing this genetic diagnosis is critical for management, especially in the lung and liver transplantation setting. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.15-0825 Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Dyskeratosis Congenita Bone Marrow Diseases Liver Diseases Gorgy, A. I., Jonassaint, N. L., Stanley, S. E., Koteish, A., Dezern, A., Walter, J. E., ... Armanios, M. (2015). Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a frequent cause of dyspnea in the short telomere disorders. Chest, 148(4), 1019-1026. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.15-0825 Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a frequent cause of dyspnea in the short telomere disorders. / Gorgy, Amany I.; Jonassaint, Naudia L.; Stanley, Susan E.; Koteish, Ayman; Dezern, Amy; Walter, Jolan E.; Sopha, Sabrina C.; Hamilton, James; Hoover Fong, Julie E; Chen, Allen R; Anders, Robert A; Kamel, Ihab R; Armanios, Mary. In: Chest, Vol. 148, No. 4, 01.10.2015, p. 1019-1026. Gorgy, AI, Jonassaint, NL, Stanley, SE, Koteish, A, Dezern, A, Walter, JE, Sopha, SC, Hamilton, J, Hoover Fong, JE, Chen, AR, Anders, RA, Kamel, IR & Armanios, M 2015, 'Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a frequent cause of dyspnea in the short telomere disorders', Chest, vol. 148, no. 4, pp. 1019-1026. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.15-0825 Gorgy AI, Jonassaint NL, Stanley SE, Koteish A, Dezern A, Walter JE et al. Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a frequent cause of dyspnea in the short telomere disorders. Chest. 2015 Oct 1;148(4):1019-1026. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.15-0825 Gorgy, Amany I. ; Jonassaint, Naudia L. ; Stanley, Susan E. ; Koteish, Ayman ; Dezern, Amy ; Walter, Jolan E. ; Sopha, Sabrina C. ; Hamilton, James ; Hoover Fong, Julie E ; Chen, Allen R ; Anders, Robert A ; Kamel, Ihab R ; Armanios, Mary. / Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a frequent cause of dyspnea in the short telomere disorders. In: Chest. 2015 ; Vol. 148, No. 4. pp. 1019-1026. @article{e0007003b0794edba2f58da4b0eb5e16, title = "Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a frequent cause of dyspnea in the short telomere disorders", abstract = "Background: Telomere syndromes have their most common manifestation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. The short telomere defect in these patients may manifest systemically as bone marrow failure and liver disease. We sought to understand the causes of dyspnea in telomerase and telomere gene mutation carriers who have no parenchymal lung disease. Methods: Clinical and pathologic data were reviewed as part of a Johns Hopkins -based natural history study of short telomere syndromes including dyskeratosis congenita. Results: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) was diagnosed in nine of 42 cases (21 {\%}). Their age at presentation was significantly younger than that of cases initially presenting with pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (median, 25 years vs 55 years; P <.001). Cases had evidence of intra- and extrapulmonary arteriovascular malformations that caused shunt physiology. Nodular regenerative hyperplasia was the most frequent histopathologic abnormality, and it was seen in the absence of cirrhosis. Dyspnea and portal hypertension were progressive, and the median time to death or liver transplantation was 6 years (range, 4-10 years; n = 6). In cases that underwent liver transplantation, dyspnea and hypoxia improved, but pulmonary fibrosis subsequently developed. Conclusions: This report identifies HPS as a frequent cause of dyspnea in telomerase and telomere gene mutation carriers. While it usually precedes the development of parenchymal lung disease, HPS may also co-occur with pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. Recognizing this genetic diagnosis is critical for management, especially in the lung and liver transplantation setting.", author = "Gorgy, {Amany I.} and Jonassaint, {Naudia L.} and Stanley, {Susan E.} and Ayman Koteish and Amy Dezern and Walter, {Jolan E.} and Sopha, {Sabrina C.} and James Hamilton and {Hoover Fong}, {Julie E} and Chen, {Allen R} and Anders, {Robert A} and Kamel, {Ihab R} and Mary Armanios", doi = "10.1378/chest.15-0825", journal = "Chest", publisher = "American College of Chest Physicians", T1 - Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a frequent cause of dyspnea in the short telomere disorders AU - Gorgy, Amany I. AU - Jonassaint, Naudia L. AU - Stanley, Susan E. AU - Koteish, Ayman AU - Dezern, Amy AU - Walter, Jolan E. AU - Sopha, Sabrina C. AU - Hamilton, James AU - Hoover Fong, Julie E AU - Chen, Allen R AU - Anders, Robert A AU - Kamel, Ihab R AU - Armanios, Mary N2 - Background: Telomere syndromes have their most common manifestation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. The short telomere defect in these patients may manifest systemically as bone marrow failure and liver disease. We sought to understand the causes of dyspnea in telomerase and telomere gene mutation carriers who have no parenchymal lung disease. Methods: Clinical and pathologic data were reviewed as part of a Johns Hopkins -based natural history study of short telomere syndromes including dyskeratosis congenita. Results: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) was diagnosed in nine of 42 cases (21 %). Their age at presentation was significantly younger than that of cases initially presenting with pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (median, 25 years vs 55 years; P <.001). Cases had evidence of intra- and extrapulmonary arteriovascular malformations that caused shunt physiology. Nodular regenerative hyperplasia was the most frequent histopathologic abnormality, and it was seen in the absence of cirrhosis. Dyspnea and portal hypertension were progressive, and the median time to death or liver transplantation was 6 years (range, 4-10 years; n = 6). In cases that underwent liver transplantation, dyspnea and hypoxia improved, but pulmonary fibrosis subsequently developed. Conclusions: This report identifies HPS as a frequent cause of dyspnea in telomerase and telomere gene mutation carriers. While it usually precedes the development of parenchymal lung disease, HPS may also co-occur with pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. Recognizing this genetic diagnosis is critical for management, especially in the lung and liver transplantation setting. AB - Background: Telomere syndromes have their most common manifestation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. The short telomere defect in these patients may manifest systemically as bone marrow failure and liver disease. We sought to understand the causes of dyspnea in telomerase and telomere gene mutation carriers who have no parenchymal lung disease. Methods: Clinical and pathologic data were reviewed as part of a Johns Hopkins -based natural history study of short telomere syndromes including dyskeratosis congenita. Results: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) was diagnosed in nine of 42 cases (21 %). Their age at presentation was significantly younger than that of cases initially presenting with pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (median, 25 years vs 55 years; P <.001). Cases had evidence of intra- and extrapulmonary arteriovascular malformations that caused shunt physiology. Nodular regenerative hyperplasia was the most frequent histopathologic abnormality, and it was seen in the absence of cirrhosis. Dyspnea and portal hypertension were progressive, and the median time to death or liver transplantation was 6 years (range, 4-10 years; n = 6). In cases that underwent liver transplantation, dyspnea and hypoxia improved, but pulmonary fibrosis subsequently developed. Conclusions: This report identifies HPS as a frequent cause of dyspnea in telomerase and telomere gene mutation carriers. While it usually precedes the development of parenchymal lung disease, HPS may also co-occur with pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. Recognizing this genetic diagnosis is critical for management, especially in the lung and liver transplantation setting. U2 - 10.1378/chest.15-0825 DO - 10.1378/chest.15-0825 JO - Chest JF - Chest 10.1378/chest.15-0825	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1396
__label__cc	0.723076	0.276924	236 Jobs in zürich gefunden Internship in Community Building and Eventsmanagement (m/f/d) Stiftung Bluelion Zürich Zürich, Schweiz Who we are Bluelion Incubator is a foundation, focusing on supporting pre-seed and early stage startups: Our mission is to bring entrepreneurs from zero to one. We specialise in incubation support, corporate innovation, and coworking. We currently have three locations in Zurich, and are planning on opening a fourth one, our biggest one yet in Summer 2020. Our team is small, but mighty, and we’re growing fast! Our community is built on honesty, respect for each other, inclusiveness, and a passion for supporting startups. Who we’re looking for To support and expand our Community Building efforts, we’re looking for an intern, starting in February 2020. Are you passionate about supporting startups? Are you driven, detail-oriented, and outgoing? Do you already have some experience engaging communities, online or in real life? And are you interested in continuously expanding your horizons? Do you speak German and English fluently? Then we’re excited to hear from you! What we offer We offer a paid full-time internship (100%), for 12 months. Your main place of work is in the center of Zurich, a 2 minute-walk from Limmatplatz. The role is ideal for a self-starter, someone with a cheerful personality, who communicates clearly and with intention. This is a position that offers a lot of room for growth, and for your own projects and initiatives. You’ll get full access to our network, and will have plenty of opportunity to take on responsibility. Interested in working with us? Send Silja an email with a short explanation of why you’re interested in this job, and your CV. Eine Stellenanzeige der Gründerszene Jobbörse Internship Startup Innovation Manager (m/f/d) Who we are Bluelion Incubator is a foundation, focusing on supporting pre-seed and early stage startups: Our mission is to bring entrepreneurs from zero to one. We specialise in incubation support, corporate innovation, and coworking. We currently have three locations in Zurich, and are planning on opening a fourth one, our biggest one yet in Summer 2020. Our team is small, but mighty, and we’re growing fast! In 2020 we have a lot of exciting projects coming up: Opening a new flagship co-working space, planing and conducting two new acceleration-programs for startups and bringing our corporate innovation activities to the next level. Who we’re looking for To support and expand our incubation efforts, we’re looking for an intern, starting in March 2020. Are you passionate about supporting startups? Are you driven, out of the box thinking, and creative? You have no problem handling uncertainties, you practice a self-organized and structures way of working and you like being around and working with people? Your german is fluent and you have a good knowledge of english? Then we’re excited to hear from you! What you can expect You will work closely together with the whole Bluelion team. Mainly, you will be engaged with our two upcoming acceleration-programs. The job brings a lot of freedom and fun but also demands self-responsibility and dealing with many hot plates at the same time. In your role as an intern you will: Developing and organizing incubation-activities together with the co-creation and innovation manager Organizing and conducting of different startup events Maintaining and expanding our partner network Taking over and managing smaller projects Handling customer needs on an ad hoc basis What we offer We offer a paid full-time internship (100%), for 12 months. Your main place of work is in the center of Zurich, a 2 minute-walk from Limmatplatz. The internship is ideal for a university graduate who thinks out of the box but has a hands-on personality at the same time. Fair entry opportunity, with the full support of the Bluelion Team You can take on responsibility and get a lot of creative freedom Steep learning curve and opportunity to actively contribute your own skills and ideas Access to exciting personalities and a nationwide innovation network Cooperation with a young and highly motivated team Central workplace at Sihlquai 125 in Zurich Interested in working with us? Send Miro an email with a short explanation of why you’re interested in this job, and your CV. Eine Stellenanzeige der Gründerszene Jobbörse Internship Startup Support (m/f/d)	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1399
__label__wiki	0.797031	0.797031	Kansas Fights, Falls in Late-Night Battle with No. 5 Texas, 7-5 No. 5 Texas 7, Kansas 5 Arrocha Ballpark // Lawrence, Kan. Freshman Alicia Pille threw her 13th complete game of the season, surrendering just six hits to the Longhorns. UT 3 1 0 0 0 3 0 7 6 3 KU 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 5 9 2 M. Hull 4 1 2 0 0 0 N. Taylor 2 2 2 2 1 1 L. Bennett 3 2 2 2 1 2 A. Pille (L, 13-7) 7.0 6 7 4 3 4 R. Fox 3.0 6 3 3 3 3 K. Bruins (W, 7-3) 4.0 3 0 0 0 1 LAWRENCE, Kan. An hour-long weather delay did not deter the Kansas softball team from outhitting No. 5 Texas, but couldn’t stop the Longhorns from scoring three go-ahead runs in the sixth to win the nightcap at Arrocha Ballpark Friday night. Already more than an hour behind due to a nearly three-hour ordeal in the series opener, the second game started at 8:15 p.m. and made it through the first two innings before lightning caused both teams to seek shelter. One hour and one minute later, play resumed and a battle unfolded that saw Kansas turn a 4-0 deficit into a 5-4 lead before ultimately succumbing to the top-five Longhorns in a three-and-a-half hour matchup. No. 5 Texas (34-5, 8-3) picked up where it left off in game one as the offense came out red hot for a three-run first inning. Third baseman Nadia Taylor connected on her third home run of the day to cap the Longhorns’ big opening frame. A triple combined with a suicide squeeze handed Texas the 4-0 lead by the top of the second. Unfazed, Kansas (26-14, 3-11) also came out ready. Junior shortstop Mariah Montgomery cut the lead in half with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second. Her team-best seventh homer of the season slammed off of the scaffolding beyond the centerfield fence for her 36th and 37th RBIs of the year. She finished the night 2-for-4 with two RBIs. She wasn’t the only Jayhawk to have success on Friday as Kansas posted nine hits in game two compared to UT’s six. Junior left fielder Maggie Hull and freshman first baseman Maddie Stein collected two hits apiece in the nightcap, making the second time on Friday Hull posted multiple hits. The captain also unleashed her team-leading 11th double on the season during a late Jayhawk rally. In the circle, freshman Alicia Pille (13-7) played the role of the ace. In her 13th complete game of the year, Pille scattered just seven hits and struck out four. Although she was charged with seven runs, only four were earned in an uncharacteristic defensive night for Kansas. As they did in the series opener, seniors Nadia Taylor and Lexy Bennett set the tone for the Longhorn offense. Bennett cranked out two homers, while Taylor hit one to combine for four RBIs. A clutch two-out, two-RBI single by catcher Mandy Ogle proved to be the winning runs in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Rachel Fox made the start for the Longhorns, but was forced out of the game while Kansas held the lead, surrendering five runs off of six hits. Her replacement, junior Kim Bruins (7-3) was solid in relief, throwing four scoreless innings for the win. Minutes after Montgomery’s long ball, lightning interrupted play. Both teams were called off the field for a one hour, one minute delay. The long break had zero effect on the Jayhawks’ patience. They drew three walks in their first at bat following the delay, including Rosie Hull drawing one with the bases loaded. Her discipline at the plate cut the Longhorn lead to one, 4-3. Unrelenting, the Kansas offense got after again in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore second baseman Ashley Newman beat out an errant throw and was joined seconds later by Maggie Hull, who legged out an infield single. Selflessly, Naudin – the team’s hottest hitter as of late – put down a sac bunt to move the duo to second and third with one away. A passed ball and a bad throw combined on the same play, allowing Newman and Hull to score. No matter how unorthodox, the Jayhawks had taken their first lead of the night. Meanwhile, Pille was sharp in the circle, keeping the Longhorns off the board for three innings heading into the top of the sixth. Bennett’s second solo homer of the night kicked off the sixth and tied the game, 5-5. Pille followed that with a pair of walks, including an intentional pass to Taylor. A diving grab by Stein to cut off a sac bunt attempt and a Pille strikeout looked to end the inning in a tie ballgame. Ogle came up with the clutch two-out single, but a misplay in the outfield allowed both runners on base to score to give UT the two-run advantage. Montgomery led off the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle, but Bruins kept the Jayhawks from rallying any further. Kansas and Texas will face off in the series finale Saturday at 2 p.m.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1413
__label__cc	0.703692	0.296308	New useful articles / Hobby / Making knives at home Making knives at home How to make a knife at home The idea to make a knife at home came toto me after I saw products of Chinese manufacture sold in our shops. Looking at first glance, quite bearable, with beautifully decorated handles, kitchen knives turned out to be completely unusable. Not only that the materials from which these knives are made, were of a very dubious quality, so the whole set of knives eventually had to be thrown away, since all its components simply broke. Moreover, in the process of exploitation, very unpleasant thoughts arose when the peeling paint was seen on the knife handles, because all this rubbish could easily get into the products, and its origin was unknown. Here I decided to try making knivesown hands. But this is only easy to say, making knives at home is not an easy matter, and materials are needed. At first I used the blade left by the Chinese knife, which had become unusable, because its handle, made of some suspicious plastic, did not quite fit, became an unpleasant sight, and then fell off. Therefore, the manufacture of knives at home, I started with a knife, which has only a pen from its own production. Having found a suitable piece of beech, I gave it the right shape with a hacksaw and file, processed it properly with a sandpaper (first large, then shallow) until the surface was perfectly smooth. My pen was made of two halves, between which was located the grip part of the blade. Accurately, with the help of a drill, drilled in both halves of the hole for fastening, padded the blade between them and fastened the entire handle with the help of rivets. And that between the halves of the handle there was no gap, on the inner part of it previously made grooves for the thickness and width of the blade to hide it with a pen. Honestly, this knife looked verysoundly, the only difficulty was to get the material, it is not always easy to find hardwoods of wood, although, on the other hand, there is nothing impossible in it. Next, I planned to make a knife completely, including the blade. For this, I bought in the store a piece of stainless steel, half a millimeter thick. Then, not without difficulty, with the help of a drill and a hacksaw for metal, cut out the workpiece of the right size, trying to give the future blade the necessary shape. Honestly, to handle such a file by file - the occupation is very time-consuming, so I used electric emery. The grinding of the knife was done immediately, and also polished it with a special circle. Drilled holes for fixing the handle, but then everything happened already described in the above way. The exception was only the material of the knife - now I used a plastic blank, its processing was less laborious than that of wood, but the appearance of the finished handle was, unfortunately, no longer as pleasant as a knife with a wooden handle. Still, the natural material is always more valuableartificial. In general, the making of knives at home was a very exciting activity, useful both for the household and for their own development. Having bought a kit from a familiar locksmith for the minting of markings, I, additionally, was able to apply engraving on the blade of the knife. I do not know how to whom, but I liked to improve, bring the manufacture of knives at home to quality, and did not dream of those products that are sold in hardware stores. In addition, the set of tools needed for such production is not so great, and at first only the most common tools can be completely handled. Forging a knife at home Pastilla from apples at home: recipe for cooking in the sun and in the oven Making cider at home. Secrets of connoisseurs Preparation of cheese at home. Making tomato juice at home for a long time will provide you with a tasty and useful drink Sharpener for knives - an indispensable tool in every kitchen Production of cinder blocks: is it possible at home? How to make handles for knives with your own hands Knife sharpener: types and description Want to learn how to make a bow at home? Manufacture of printed circuit boards in the home: the features of the process Kinds of knives - for war or for kitchen	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1416
__label__cc	0.706594	0.293406	“It Is Not the Function of Our Government to Keep the Citizen from Falling into Error” Posted by jrbenjamin in Political Philosophy American Communications Association v. Douds, American History, American Law, First Amendment, Free Speech, Freedom, Freedom of Speech, Jurisprudence, justice, Law, Legal History, Robert Jackson, Supreme Court, Supreme Court Decision, The Constitution “Progress generally begins in skepticism about accepted truths. Intellectual freedom means the right to reexamine much that has been long taken for granted. A free man must be a reasoning man, and he must dare to doubt what a legislative or electoral majority may most passionately assert. The danger that citizens will think wrongly is serious, but less dangerous than atrophy from not thinking at all… The priceless heritage of our society is the unrestricted constitutional right of each member to think as he will. Thought control is a copyright of totalitarianism, and we have no claim to it. It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error. We could justify any censorship only when the censors are better shielded against error than the censored. […] I think that, under our system, it is time enough for the law to lay hold of the citizen when he acts illegally, or in some rare circumstances when his thoughts are given illegal utterance. I think we must let his mind alone.” A section from Justice Robert Jackson’s decision in American Communications Association v. Douds (1950). Robert Jackson, who in addition to serving as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court also oversaw the Nuremberg Tribunal, never earned his Juris Doctor. Incredibly, he dropped out of Albany law school after only two semesters. More from the Court: Robert Jackson’s solemn, powerful opening to the Nuremberg tribunals Justice Louis Brandeis explains why a government’s contempt for law is contagious Brandeis describes the resilience of the American founders Above: Jackson opens Nuremberg, November, 1945. 2 thoughts on ““It Is Not the Function of Our Government to Keep the Citizen from Falling into Error”” grotmanharry said: Yeah Baby, Yeah! Pingback: What Is a ‘State’? \| The Bully Pulpit	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1424
__label__cc	0.585376	0.414624	← Goodbye Ann Perkins, We Hardly Knew Ye AKA What Do You Do With a Problem Like Rashida? R.I.P.I.E STYLE: GoodPie to Rodney Henry → Don’t Drink the Water, There’s Blood vs. Water – New ‘Survivor’ Cast Revealed Well, folks, with less than month to go until Survivor: Blood vs. Water premieres (assuming that CBS and Time Warner resolve their who-is-more-horrible-and-greedy-and-out-of-touch-and-only-serving-to-destroy-their-own industry-off), the much-anticipated cast list, featuring returning favorites with their loved ones, has been revealed! And we have to say, as opposed to last season’s casting missteps (The Devil’s Brandon Hantz, Shamar, Sandra Bullock), this is a pretty solid roster with only a few complaints. If Survivor: Caramoan – Fans vs. Favorites 2 Legit 2 Quit was successful despite its bevy of either unbearable or barely there players, then we have high hopes for Blood vs. Water: No Matter Who Wins, We Also Win. Let’s dig a little deeper (in bullet form!) First, let’s start at the beginning, just like Survivor did in bringing back first season player and Borneo legend Gervase. Many latter-day Survivor fans were probably saying, “who?” while we were saying “woo!” It’s a nice nod to the history of the game, especially after casting seemed far too focused on the latter half of the franchise in populating Fans vs. Favorites 2. The big question: has Gervase learned to swim? Probably not, which is why we imagine he’ll petition Jeff from the get-go to be placed on Team Blood. Also, feel free to go ahead and call Gervase a liar: Surprised to see Rupert back for a fourth time but also totally not surprised at all. In his first go-round in the Pearl Islands he was Survivor’s all-American hero/professional wrestler, playing with honesty, integrity and the right amount of looking like a cross between Jerry Garcia and a pirate, a total package that made Sandra Diaz-Twine’s (first!) million dollar win so hard to take. But after feeling like Rupert was robbed that season, he scuffled in the first All-Stars (his shoreline shelter being his main undoing and current legacy) , and he revealed a more selfish, abrasive and unlikable side in Heroes vs. Villains, willing to work with (or at least tolerate) Rob and Russell while whining about a broken toe and generally acting like a bull in a Samoa shop. Even though he previously won a million dollars as a Fan Favorite (something that he loudly campaigned for in a way that was a serious turn-off), this maybe his Redemption Island. Tina’s back too! That’s pretty cool. Please don’t let her win again (unless Colby really needs another motorcycle). It’s nice to see Survivor playing homage to its roots (although, if we’re going to go all the way back to Outback we’d rather see Rodger and his Great-Great-Grandson). We must admit, we don’t know who Laura is. And we don’t know who is the mom and who is the daughter here. No surprise that Survivor’s most racist, least likable player, conservative gay man Colton is back. He’s the only person who can make Paula Deen’s non-apology seem decent and genuine. Is it possible for someone to get appendicitis twice? Monica Culpepper was a very logical choice to return. Good to see those two again. And her husband as well. Here’s how little we know or care about Candice: we don’t remember her on Heroes vs. Villains and, more surprising, we don’t recall her surname being Woodcock. Anyway, if she sticks around longer this time, you can rest assured that we’ll be getting a lot of mileage out of that. Aras and his brother Vytas, the new Team Bro! Our early money is on Vytas to take it all because the other players won’t even want to attempt to spell his name. Finally, if we had to predict one Survivor who was going to return with a loved one, without a doubt it would have been One World’s Kat, the original peach hoodie. However, we would have bet the farm(ville) that she would be accompanied by her cousin/BFF/roommate/oxygen-sharer/lover(?) Robby. So how shocking it was to learn that she will be back, but with new boyfriend and Big Brother winner Hayden Moss (we’re pretending like we know who that is). What gives, Kat? How could you do this to Robby? You crawled on your hands and knees for him, and now this? That’s cold. Things are going to get pretty weird if there’s a loved ones reward challenge and Robby comes back through those trees. A loved-ones triangle? So, all and all, we’re pretty pleased with the cast. Our only complaint? One real travesty: No Dan and his son. This season was made for them. But, then again, what they have is thicker than blood. Filed under Analysis, Century 21 Reality, Tribal Council Tagged as Aras, Blood vs. Water, Borneo, Candice Woodcock, Colton, Dan, Dave Matthews, David Letterman, Dude Love, Gervase, Jerry Garcia, Kat, Monica Culpepper, Paula Deen, Rodger, Rupert, Survivor, Tina	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1426
__label__cc	0.738883	0.261117	Tag Archives: Print Media F1, Formula 1, Formula One, Lotus F1 Team, Motorsport, Social Media Formula One: Writing yourself out of a job October 9, 2016 Jon Wilde - @jonnywilde Leave a comment The British written press within Formula One have worked themselves up into somewhat of an unnecessary frenzy at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, and have left many followers of the sport asking if they have become surplus to requirements. Following the drivers press conference on Thursday in which Lewis Hamilton spent a proportion of the session engaging with his followers on Snapchat, members of the British media took to social media to challenge the behaviour of the driver. This questioning of respect shown to them from Lewis latterly became the centre piece for many journalist’s preview for the race weekend. Following the negative response from elements of the media Lewis Hamilton responded over social media explaining he did not intend to cause offence and that he was simply looking to refresh an element of the Grand Prix weekend. Today was meant to be fun, not at all disrespectful. Some people take themselves to seriously. I had a blast, highlight of my day! — Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) October 6, 2016 Lastly, Japan is 1 of my favourite places. I admire their culture & values as people. Please visit if you can, there’s no place like it🇯🇵🙏🏾 This explanation drew further criticism from journalists who suggested the purpose of the session was not to entertain fans but to give print media the chance to pose questions to drivers. They went on to suggest Lewis’ behaviour was a deliberate attempt to avoid challenging questions around his ability to challenge for the 2016 World Championship. It is fair to say there may have been an element of this in Lewis’ actions, but this suggestion was met with public observation that the quality of questions asked within these sessions is so poor, they rarely generate headline news either way. Journalists then went to explain, again through social media, that the reason for poor/ no questions being asked in these sessions was because they are televised and by the time they had opportunity to document anything from the session the news would already be available through other outlets. This justification calls into question not only the format of driver press conferences but the rationale for print media attending race events in person at all. Journalists suggesting driver briefing sessions are of no value to them because others get the news out before they can suggest their delivery method is outdated. They, along with their publishers should be looking inwardly at ways in which to present content in formats that reflect consumption models, rather than criticizing something that is out of their control. British Newspapers coverage of a Formula One weekend typically will take the form of a race report with driver quotes. If Journalists are no longer prepared to ask questions to drivers because other outlets will publish the responses, they, and their employers would be better placed producing race reports based on TV coverage. Investigative journalism within motorsport has long been the reserve of online only outlets such as Motorsport.com. The actions of select members of the British print media have prompted a response from Lewis which will further reduce their access and further call into question their value in being in the paddock. With the announcement that the Motorsport Network have taken control of Autosport and Haymarket Motorsport interests, many motorsport journalists will be feeling anxious around future employment security, biting the hand that feeds you may have been the worst possible response. F1Formula 1Formula OneLewis HamiltonMediaPrint MediaSnapchatSocial Media	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1429
__label__cc	0.727759	0.272241	About Lovely Curses BlaPoWriMo #ThrowbackThursday Fiction: Murky Waters October 26, 2017 October 25, 2017 ~ Nortina S. ~ 2 Comments On this last Throwback Thursday of the haunted month of October, I’m giving you arguably one of the scariest stories I’ve ever written. “Murky Waters” was originally featured on Latashia Figueroa’s blog for Halloween 2015. Check it out here. Ever thought about what makes a great ghost story? Well, I think it all starts with a visually haunting image and a very distinct setting. This story takes place in Burgaw, North Carolina, by Burgaw Creek, which often spits up more than just water whenever it rains . . . Murky Waters Uncle Macon had been dead a year when Aunt Bessie saw bodies rise from Burgaw Creek. Her ankles rolled as she turned to run, and she fainted behind the house. Bedsheets clipped to the clothesline sailed in the wind gusts, sheltered her from the drizzling rain. Or so, that was what she had told us. Mama and I drove three hours to Burgaw to check on her. When we arrived, the toilet was backed-up, the water shut off. “We had a really bad storm come through last night. You know Burgaw Creek floods every time it rains,” Aunt Bessie said. I squirmed in my chair at the kitchen table, squeezing my inner thighs together as warm urine bled through my jeans. “How have you been using the bathroom?” Mama asked. “I been makin’ do,” Aunt Bessie said, which meant she hadn’t been flushing. Two days of Aunt Bessie’s waste clogging the commode with what was buried in Burgaw Creek—natural or supernatural—caused the bile to rise at the back of my throat. I feared that if I sat to pee, a hand would reach up from the feces and mud, pull me under. There was no place outside for me to relieve myself. The backyard was flooded from the creek. The treeless front yard faced highway 53, where peeping Tom truck drivers could catch a passing glimpse of me naked from the waist down as I squatted in the overgrown grass. Before the highway was built, the area had been farmland. Uncle Macon’s father grew corn, green beans, okra, snap peas, turnips, and potatoes. He also had a few animals—chicken, cows, pigs. He didn’t budge when the government came to buy his land. He refused to sale the home he had built with his own hands. However, the pressure and money was too great for his poor family, and the government eventually plowed the road down the center, dividing the farm, separating the animals and crops. It was difficult to tend to the other side with a two lane highway standing as barrier. The weeds grew up over the front porch of the old farmhouse, concealing the lost rural era from mass consumerism. We checked into a hotel in Wilmington, and Mama called the plumber, who promised to pump the septic tank the following afternoon. I was thrilled that we didn’t have to stay at Aunt Bessie’s. Burgaw was hot. It was only a thirty-minute drive from Wilmington, but the temperature differential was easily fifteen degrees. Wilmington had the breeze from the ocean, but Burgaw was situated in a pocket of humidity. With the backed-up sewage in Aunt Bessie’s yard, it made for a sweltering stay. “How are you doing, Aunt Bessie,” Mama asked after we had settled into the room, turned the television to channel three so Aunt Bessie could watch Eyewitness News. “I been alright,” she said, dragging out her vowels with her nasal voice. “Wish you’d come see me more often.” “You know I have to work. And Cassandra’s still in school.” “You ain’t graduate yet?” Aunt Bessie asked looking in my direction. “In May,” I said. “Gotta study for exams so I can pass.” I sat in the armchair by the window, reading Toni Morison’s Paradise. I had reached the haunting final chapter after the elder men of Ruby lay siege on the Convent, gunning down all of the women, only to discover their bodies vanished hours later. Aunt Bessie pulled a slim red photo album with black trimming from her oversized pocketbook. “I finally got the pictures from Macon’s funeral developed,” she said, flipping through the pages. “They did really good with the flowers.” She turned the album to Mama, pointed to a picture of Uncle Macon in the casket. “That’s his favorite suit. I made sure to have it dry cleaned before the wake.” Aunt Bessie brought her fist to her mouth, coughed into the tissue to camouflage her voice cracking as she spoke of her deceased husband. Mama jerked her head away. She pressed her lips together into a thin line, pinched her eyes closed, a single tear gliding down each cheek. “What can you tell me about the people you saw in the creek?” Mama asked, switching to a different, though no less disturbing subject. “I saw them through the sheets, just standing there. You know, Macon used to see people around the house. I just thought it was his sickness, but now I see them too.” “Did they look scary?” I asked. “No, just lonely.” She didn’t say anything else, and we didn’t badger her for more details. After Uncle Macon died, Aunt Bessie shocked everyone when she asked to be taken home instead of spending the next few days at a friend or family member’s house. She’d said that she had to get used to living by herself; that if she left, she wouldn’t be able to come back. The heat hadn’t yet arrived when we returned to Burgaw late the next morning, the dew still on the grass in the front lawn. “Who cuts your grass, Aunt Bessie?” Mama asked, looking at the tall blades. “I have someone come and do it,” Aunt Bessie answered. “Well, whoever that is, you need to call them. You don’t want to worry about snakes.” We waited in the kitchen while the plumber worked on the septic tank. Aunt Bessie stood in front of the window overlooking the backyard and Burgaw Creek. “I hope it don’t come up a thunder cloud,” she said. I straightened in my chair, looked up over her shoulders through the window, seeing nothing but blue sky. Mama touched her at her shoulders, guided her to the kitchen table. “Why don’t you sit,” she said softly. “I’ll check on the plumber.” She eased Aunt Bessie down into her chair and left out of the back door. The kitchen was silent save for the ticking of the clock on the wall. Aunt Bessie sniffled, wiped her dry nose with her knuckle. “Sometimes Macon comes to visit me.” Unsure if she was recounting pleasant memories of Uncle Macon alive or if she had actually seen his spirit, I asked, “What do you mean?” “Sometimes I would be in the den watching TV, and I’d hear him coming down the hall.” The wooden floorboards creaked behind me. The sound of boot heels approached the kitchen from the front bedroom, echoing through the hall. “He’d come to the door and say, ‘It’s gettin’ late, Bess. Cut off that TV and come on to bed.’ ” She smiled and looked at something over my head. The hairs on my neck pricked up. I sat frozen in my seat, afraid to turn around and see who or what stood behind me. I nearly wet myself to the sudden slam of the screen door as Mama reentered from the backyard. “Girl, why you so jumpy?” she asked. I swallowed air, my throat dry as if dust had been poured into my mouth. “Is the plumber done yet? I have to pee.” “Yea,” Mama answered. “It cost me 300 bucks.” I ignored her rant and scrambled to the bathroom, ripping off my pants and falling onto the toilet, nearly tipping it forward, prying it from the mildewed tile floor. To my left, the white lace curtains on the window ruffled in the air flowing up from the vent below. I never liked windows in bathrooms. They denied me privacy. I felt I was being watched in my most vulnerable moments. In the distance, I heard a low rumble. I stood, holding the zipper of my pants at my knees, and looked out the window. The grayish-blue clouds had accumulated. The wind had picked up. The bedsheets hanging on the clothesline flapped furiously. I watched the creek just behind them, half-expecting to see a person, maybe Uncle Macon, emerge from its murky waters. I licked my dry lips, the movement of my tongue tickling the back of my throat. If I were to see a head, or a hand, or a soggy bedroom slipper, would Mama dismiss me as we had Aunt Bessie, and she Uncle Macon? What were the odds that three people would hallucinate the imprint of a face—eyes, nose, an open mouth—through the thin bedsheets along the banks of Burgaw Creek? —Nortina #ThrowbackThursday Fiction: Harvest Wedding October 12, 2017 October 13, 2017 ~ Nortina S. ~ Leave a comment Happy Throwback Thursday! This story, originally published October 8, 2014, started as journal assignment for a fiction writing course in college. The prompt was, “When I first heard the song . . . ” At the time, the song I constantly had on repeat was Trey Songz’s “Almost Lose It,” which is about a wedding. Unfortunately, this wedding turned horribly sour. If you ever read or seen the Spanish play, Bodas de sangre, you can guess what happens. Actually, the original title for this story, when I turned it in for class, was “Blood Wedding.” Saturday afternoon in mid October. The leaves were just beginning to change colors. Beautiful reds, and oranges. With the right wind, they would break from their branches and swirl through the air until they found the right beautiful woman’s head to adorn. I was that woman, and I was walking down the aisle at Mt. Zion AME, about to start a new life with the man of my dreams, Prince Rossario. He truely was a prince; dressed in a crisp, black tux with the burgandy of his vest peeking above his jacket. Our colors were orange and Merlot red, the same as the fall leaves. The perfect harvest wedding. As I stepped closer to my future husband, I saw the tears in his eyes sparkle. There was a gravitational pull in his gaze and I let it take over my muscular functions and pull me closer to him. I was gliding, not walking, down the aisle. Everything was as it should be until someone came bursting through the doors behind me. Instantly, everything and everyone froze. Even the wedding song had abruptly stopped with a scratch just as it was reaching its climax. Prince’s glowing face immediately darkened into a look of dread and fear as his eyes grew wide, tore away from mine and moved past me to the dark figure standing behind me. A loud gasp came from the throat of the best man, Johnny, as he turned a disbelieving look in Prince’s direction; his bottom lip quivering. My heart stopped and my tears that were tears of joy only seconds prior, quickly turned cold and anxious as they sliced a path down my cheeks. I slowly turned around to face the creature that had deliberately stolen the attention of every one of my guests in that sanctuary. To my astonishment, I came to face Constance Applewood, an old friend—really acquaintance—from college who had dated Prince before I came into the picture. She obviously wasn’t invited. I made sure of that. What bride wants her fiancé’s ex-girlfriend at her wedding, slouching in the front row, patiently waiting for her moment to object to the marriage and invoke chaos throughout the church as she pounces on the innocent woman in white, clawing her nails into her flesh, not quite sure if she wants to kill her rival or just scare her away, but indisputably willing to do anything to get her man back? Prince thought I was being overly dramatic to think that Constance would go through such lengths. He assured me that his and Constance’s relationship wasn’t even a relationship; just two good friends who spent a lot of time together and occasionally had sex once or twice or three times; a faux-relationship that ended once he met me. Of course I had to remind him that less than a week after we started dating, I found “HOMEWRECKER” keyed into the side of my black Toyota Camry. Seeing Constance stand before me confirmed that I was right not to invite her. Unfortunately, the absence of an invitation didn’t stop her from crashing my wedding. It wasn’t her presence that had shocked me and everyone else in the sanctuary. What inflicted horror into the eyes of the guests, myself, and the wedding party was a wedding dress identical to mine. From the rhinestones that trimmed the bodice to the ruffles of the gown to the design of the lace on the veil to the length of the train behind her, it was all the exact duplicate of mine. The only difference, an unmistakably huge difference, was that here dress was black. Even the bouquet she held in her hands was composed of drooping, brown flowers and weeds. The tears pouring from her eyes caused the murky mascara to run dark veins down her face. She began to shake as her screeching voice wailed, “This wedding is over!” She dropped her bouquet to reveal the shimmering, sharpened blade of a butcher knife. “Oh, God!” someone screamed from the crown, and suddenly, chaos erupted throughout the church. Everyone swarmed toward the exit doors, unsure of the terror to follow but certain that they weren’t staying behind to find out. Guests were bouncing off of one another, trying to elbow their way through to freedom. Babies could be heard squealing in the background as they were being torn from their mothers’ arms in the midst of the mayhem. Young children were being trampled under the combination of high heels and penny loafers. In the center of all the running, tripping, falling, jumping, flailing of arms, tossing of clutch purses, scratching of pew legs across the floor, tumbling and crashing of flower vases, the epicenter of all the screams and shrieks stood Constance. Her obscure eyes pierced into my soul and it was as if she were pointing the knife right at my heart. It was reminiscent of the cheesy dramatics of a C rated action film, except there were no cameras rolling and no director to scream “CUT!” so that my stunt double could take my place. Oh, how I wished it were that way. When the pandemonium finally subsided and all that was left in the church were those still frozen at the altar, and Constance and myself—more like yin and yang—standing in the middle aisle, silence engulfed the church once again. The tension in that sanctuary was so thick it could be cut with a knife. Unfortunately, tension was not Constance’s intended target. I dropped my bouquet and ran to the altar to stand next to my groom. Prince wrapped me in his arms and spoke up to the menacing woman in black. “Constance, have you lost your–” “Shut up!” she interrupted him. “You don’t get to speak.” She took a few steps closer and everyone scattered to opposite corners of the church. Johnny inched to the door behind Constance, hoping to escape unnoticed. Three of my bridesmaids created a barricade of pews in the far left corner. My parents and future in-laws hugged each other while trembling underneath the organ. Prince and I crouched behind the podium with the reverend. It wasn’t the best place to hide because no sooner than peeking over the edges of the podium did I find Constance hovering over us with the blinding blade in her hand. Prince held up his hands in surrender. “Constance,” he started. “I get it. You’re upset.” “I’m upset?” she blurted, in shock of Prince’s little words to her. Reverend Jacobs stood up and approached Constance. “Sweetheart, give me the knife. We can resolve this in a peaceful manner.” “Stay back!” she demanded, pointing the knife to his chest. She turned to Prince. “What does she have that I don’t, huh? Is, is her hair prettier than mine? Is she skinnier than me? Does, does she please you better in the bedroom?” I wanted to correct her by saying that I was a virgin, but images of her carving me with the knife reminded me of the importance of silence. “What is it?” she continued. “Constance.” “What is it!” I melted when he spoke those words. I wanted to jump into his arms, kiss him passionately, and profess how much I loved him too. Constance could not succeed in breaking us up or this wedding. I was confident of that. Her behavior, no matter how irrational, would not force him to change his feelings for me. He knew the day he met me—Super Bowl party at Johnny’s house. I was wearing a Richard Sherman jersey and held a hot wing in one hand and an open Bud Light Platinum in the other. He walked right into me and promised me that I would be disappointed and that Peyton Manning would expose Sherman for the mediocre cornerback that he was. By halftime, he was begging me for my number. “But you don’t love me.” Constance’s voice had softened. She begin to lower the knife. “Constance, we were never that serious. You gotta know that. When I started dating Alicia, you told me you were fine with it.” Prince held out his hand for the knife. I rose to my feet as gracefully as I could without stepping on my train and inadvertently stumbling into the butcher knife that separated me and Constance. I stood behind Prince, wrapped my arms around his waist and looked at Constance over his shoulder. “I didn’t think you were gonna marry her!” she said. “I thought . . . I thought . . .” She turned her back to us. “I guess it doesn’t matter now,” she whispered, shrugging her shoulders. Prince started toward her, but I pulled him back, squeezing his torso with the little strength I had. He turned to the reverend, who stepped to Constance and touched her shoulder. “Sister,” he began. Constance didn’t turn around. She raised the knife above her head, and before the reverend could snatch it away from her, plunged it into her chest, right into her broken heart. I screamed. My parents and in-laws hidden underneath the organ screamed. My bridesmaids behind the barricade of pews screamed. Johnny has already exited the sanctuary. Constance’s body collapsed to the floor. The reverend dropped to his knees. His hands hovered over the end of the knife in her chest, debating if pulling it out would help save her life, or just accelerate her inevitable death. He bowed his head to pray, his hands still hovering over the knife. Prince broke free of my grasp and ran to the opposite side of Constance. He cupped the back of her head in his palm and repeatedly slapped her check, screaming, “Why? Why would you do this?” When he looked up at me, I could see the tears in his eyes. They didn’t sparkle. They didn’t tug at my heart, draw me to want to be closer to him and his bleeding ex-girlfriend. I backed away, let the weight of my wedding gown press me down to the floor. I heaved loud sobs, and when I saw the first teardrop land on my left hand, void of a wedding band, I knew we had missed our harvest. Protected: #ThrowbackThursday Fiction: Kansas September 28, 2017 April 12, 2018 ~ Nortina S. #ThrowbackThursday Fiction: Reunion August 24, 2017 August 25, 2017 ~ Nortina S. ~ Leave a comment It’s Throwback Thursday! You know what that means . . . Time for another blast from the past. I absolutely love this story, “Reunion.” It’s probably one of my favorite stories I’ve written on this blog. Originally published January 20, 2015, you could call it a fictionalized autobiography. I still feel this way around teenagers. It’s the main reason why I would suck as a teacher—at least a high school teacher. Hell, sometimes even middle school students scare me. I’ll stick with the babies and toddlers for now. Speaking of reunions, my high school reunion is coming up in three years. I’m not all that excited about it. I doubt if I would even go, but if I do, I would really like some accomplishments ticked off my list, so those bratty popular girls who made my life hell won’t think I’ve done nothing for the last ten years. Those accomplishments would be to finally get a full time job, have all my student loans paid off, have my book published, and be moved out of my mama’s house . . . or married, whichever comes first. But to meet a guy, date him for a while, fall in love, and get married all in three years sounds a bit illogical. Then again, I have a coworker who did just that. Got hired full time, started dating a girl who like guns and dogs and snowboarding just as much as he did, had a baby, bought a house, and now they’re getting married next month. All this happened in a span of two years! So, at this rate, hell, anything is possible. But I’m not holding my breath, so let’s get on with the story . . . It’s been ten years since I graduated from high school, and they’re still doing the same old, tired cheers. “I don’t see one white girl,” my older sister, Anita, whispers to me. “Basketball cheerleading squads are predominantly black. They’re like step teams. Even at some of the white schools, unless they’re those rich white schools. The white girls cheer during football season.” I wonder if I assume this is true because of my Sociology degree, or if it only applies to my small, North Carolina hometown. We are seated in the small gymnasium of Ben L. Smith High School to watch my nephew Domenic play in the final game of the season before playoffs. He’s a freshman playing on the varsity team, and is one of the leading scorers. The game is deep in the third quarter and the opposing Page Pirates have just come back from a fifteen point deficit at the half to take the lead, but I can’t seem to take my eyes off the cheerleaders. They are sitting in the first three rows of the middle section of the bleachers. There are nine or ten of them, all black. When they say their cheers, slapping their thighs and stomping so loud, the bleachers shake, their voices are so deep and gruff, it’s as if they were yelling at the players instead of cheering them on. An occassional high-pitched chirp exists the mouth of one of the girls, though I still can’t pin point which one it is. Maybe it’s one of the skinnier girls on the end, with the long black weave—the AKA in training. Their green uniforms are tight—too tight for underaged high school girls. They don’t have to bend over too far for anyone to see their butts. The two biggest girls on the squad look to be wrapped in seaweed. Their stomachs poke through their waist high skirts like the pouch of an older woman who has had at least four kids. When they step onto the court to do toe touches for made free throw shots, I cry for the strained seams. At least they’re sitting down for most of their cheers, though. The girls on the dance team moving with the marching band on the other end of the gymnasium are only wearing tights and t-shits, and they’ve been romp shaking and dropping it like it’s hot since halftime. Were we that raunchy in high school? I can’t remember. Maybe the kids in my class were just as grown as these girls are. I wasn’t among them, though. I was always that mousey girl who faded into the background and observed everyone else having fun around her. I still am. The boys are just as intimidating—and they’re tall. Why are they so tall? I feel as if I’ve reverted back into my awkward teenage years, hunched under a bookbag twice my size and hiding behind a book to avoid all eye contact with anyone who may feel invited to tease me. A boy wearing a snapback, sagging skinny jeans, and a gray t-shirt sits in front of me. He reminds me of the guy I lost my virginity to junior year. Wayne Allred was his name. Wayne had the reputation of turning all the good girls out, and junior year he had his eyes set for me. I would say the sex was consensual, but I didn’t have much of a choice. He had a reputation to keep, and whether we did it or not, he was still going to brag about it in the locker room to the guys. So I let him lead me to the balcony of the auditorium after school while the theatre students rehearsed Hamlet on the stage below. It wasn’t pleasant at all—nothing like the movies. He was rough. He covered my mouth with his sweaty t-shirt to muffle my yelps. A week later my guidance counselor called me into her office to talk about a boy I’d been hanging out with after school. She hinted that she knew more than she was letting on, but she wanted me to tell her myself. I didn’t say a word. The rest of the year I went straight home when the final bell rang. “I’m gonna get some nachos,” I say to Anita. I walk along the sidelines, ducking just as a blocked ball comes hurling my way. Despite not getting hit, the students in the bleachers burst into laughter, and I feel all eyes on me. I scurry out of the gym to the concession stand in the lobby. “Nachos with cheese,” I tell the PTA member behind the counter. I slide her a wrinkled five dollar bill. She puts the money in the register, gets the last nacho tray from the rack behind her, and hands it to me. I pick up one nacho—the hot, melted cheese dripping from the chip—and sticking out my tongue, I put it in my mouth and chew slowly, savoring the saltiness from the nacho and the smoothness from the cheese. When I look up, two teenage boys are staring at me. “What’s up, girl,” one says. He pulls up his oversized pants and licks his lips. “Hello,” I say. I lower my head and turn towards the gym, but he grabs my arm. “Wait. What you in a hurry for? You got a name?” “Ok, Raquel.” He rubs his chin, as if he had a beard to finger through. “My homie wanna holla at you.” He points to his silent friend next to him wearing a faded Robert Griffin III Washington Redskins jersey. “I’m too old for you.” “Oooh,” Oversized Jeans says, teasing his friend. “Man, whatever. I don’t want her ass,” Jersey Boy says, waving me off as he walks away. “All you had to say was that you wanted me,” Oversized Jeans says to me. “So, what’s good?” He holds out his arms, inviting me in. “I’m too old for you,” I repeat, though I really don’t feel like I am. I feel as though I’m shrinking into a younger, more timid self. This boy’s hold on my arm makes me nervous. His grip is tight like Wayne Allred’s when he lead me up the stairs to my shameful deflowering. “What’s too old?” he asks. “You ain’t no damn 28,” the friend says, returning to the conversation. I look at the Student Resource Officer standing next to the door to the gym. He intentionally doesn’t look our way. What’s the point in having police in schools if they don’t bother to intervene when someone’s getting harassed? “Let go of my arm,” I whine. “You really 28?” Oversized Jeans asks. “You don’t look it.” I guess I wouldn’t when half of the girls at this school look and dress older than I do. While in the gym, I saw a girl wearing jeans with large cutouts at the thighs, revealing fishnet stockings underneath. Another had a baby on her hip. A part of me hoped the child was just a younger sibling, but I knew better. Anita herself had Domenic young, but at least she was out of high school. I snatch my arm from the boy’s grip and start towards the gym. I can feel them walking behind me, their eyes examining me. I know they’re going to follow me to my seat, sit directly behind me. They’ll talk and joke about the way I look loud enough so that I can hear. They’ll debate about what sexual positions I like, and what new things I might have learned since graduating high school—territory they haven’t yet discovered. They’ll dare each other to make a move on me. Oversized Jeans will stay behind after the game, and on Monday, brag to Jersey Boy, that I let him hit after everyone left. They’ll compare my 28-year-old vagina to that of the girls they’ve had sex with or imagined having sex with. Ten years later, and I’m still the subject of teenage male sexual exploration. I turn away from the gym and instead walk out of the front doors to the parking lot. Anita will just have to text me the score and how many points Domenic made later. I’ve had enough of high school. #1MinFiction: Fireweed When I saw the seeds in the tramway gift shop, I had to buy them. They said no food, plants, or natural products off the ship, but nothing about what we could bring back on. Safely tucked away in a hidden pocket of my purse through customs, when I get home I plant them in the red clay and sparse grass of my backyard. I never knew how fast this stuff could grow. Monday’s One-Minute Fiction challenges you to write a story in one minute, no more, no less, based on the prompt provided. For the next several weeks our prompts will be Alaska themed. Check out this week’s one-word prompt is fireweed, which is EVERYWHERE in Alaska! #1MinFiction: Ice River It’s hard to believe that glaciers are massive rivers of ice, that you can trace the current in how they curve around the mountainside. “About 300 feet melted off last year, so it’s a rapidly retreating glacier,” the tour guide is saying. I nudge Jon with the end of my paddle, “Still think global warming is a hoax?” He only rolls his eyes. “We’re on vacation.” Monday’s One-Minute Fiction challenges you to write a story in one minute, no more, no less, based on the prompt provided. For the next serval weeks our prompts will be Alaska themed. Check out this week’s photo prompt of the Davidson Glacier in Haines, Alaska (not too far from Skagway)! June 27, 2017 June 28, 2017 ~ Nortina S. ~ 1 Comment He glanced back again, surely more times than was necessary. They had lost his trail and were no longer following him, at least he prayed they weren’t. Anita said they were being tracked, and it was becoming glaringly obvious why. When he walked through the front door, the first thing he spotted was it lying on her chest, nibbling at her breast, sucking the milk that was never meant for it. He could only refer to it as it. Humanizing it would create an attachment, and he needed a clear and focused mind if they were ever going to escape for a third time. He tossed Anita the dufflebag by the door, prepacked with the essentials—three pairs of clean underwear, jeans, a t-shirt, tennis shoes, a grand in cash, hair dye, colored contacts, prosthetic teeth to create new identities again (he knew a guy in Juno who made fake IDs; they’d visit him first), a bag of mixed nuts and chopped fruit for sustenance, bottles for the baby (they couldn’t risk stopping to breast feed while on the run). “Sirens are close,” he said. “We gotta split.” “Just a minute. He hasn’t eaten all day.” Dammit, woman, he wanted to scream. The baby wasn’t even theirs. And could he even call it a baby? It looked nearly three, but apparently its mother never weened it, and so Anita cradled him against her raw nipples, pressed its head down to latch on, as if it were an infant, an infant like the one they lost at the hospital when her body ejected him from her womb five months too soon. His son. Not this source of all their troubles, lying there, drinking the drugs still circulating in her system that killed his precious baby boy. That grew into an even bigger burden the closer the police came to finding them. He peeked out the window. Flashing blue lights reflected on the apartment building across the street. If they climbed down the fire escape, they might still make it, but Anita would have to leave the boy. He sighed and folded on the floor. It was pointless. From the day she scooped it up from the playground sandbox, Anita would never let it leave her side. Written for Monday’s Muse Writing Prompt, hosted by Candice Coates over at I came for the soup… The objective is to create a story in 20 minutes using the above line in bold and the picture provided. #1MinFiction: A Bride At Last June 26, 2017 August 18, 2017 ~ Nortina S. ~ Leave a comment That I wasn’t his first choice humbled me. But when he kissed me, delicate lips caressing mine, after we exchanged vows, and planted the lotus blossom in my hair, and that night, fitted his hips between my legs and filled me till I overflowed, soaking my bangs with the sweat of his brow… I prayed my sister, three months dead, would not be jealous. For a new flash fiction challenge: Monday’s One-Minute Fiction—write a story in one minute, no more, no less, based on the prompt provided. This week’s prompt is a photo. Click the link to join in! #1MinFiction: Lawn Work “It won’t chase you if you don’t run!” “And let it sting me? No way!” I duck under a bush next to the fence and hear the low buzz by my ear. No need to shear the hedges today. My frantic swatting has taken care of the overgrown leaves. Ever hear a bee buzz by your ear and totally spaz out like you have Tourette syndrome? The one thing I dislike about summer… For a new flash fiction challenge: Monday’s One-Minute Fiction—write a story in one minute, no more, no less, based on the prompt provided. This week’s prompt is about nature’s asshole: wasp. Click the link to join in! Friday Fictioneers: Brief Reprieve June 16, 2017 ~ Nortina S. ~ 19 Comments I pretend I don’t hear gun shots afar off. Fourth of July’s in three weeks. It’s just fireworks. Drunk frat brothers shooting off exploding rockets for practice. But I back inside just to be safe, close the sliding glass door to the balcony and lock it. Money and privilege doesn’t mean a thing these days. You can be a United States congressman and still be targeted. How many presidents absorbed the bullet? How many of them lived? I’m only here for the weekend though. Be back in Chi-Town by Monday, where I recognize the gang bangers who shoot me. PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson Friday Fictioneers challenges you to write a story in 100 words or less using the provided photo prompt as inspiration. Click the froggy icon to read other stories and add your own. Let’s Be Friendly . . . But From A Distance Follow Lovely Curses on WordPress.com Follow Lovely Curses via Email Enter your email address to get new storytellings delivered right to your inbox. #ThrowbackThursday Fiction: Watermelon Season I’ve Found My Soulmate! #ThrowbackThursday Poetry: No Weapon Sweet Heat © Nortina Simmons and Lovely Curses, 2014-2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nortina Simmons and Lovely Curses with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1439
__label__wiki	0.870313	0.870313	HOUSE RETIREMENT AND INDEPENDENT ENTITIES STANDING COMMITTEE Room 20, House Building Members Present: Rep. Kraig Powell, Chair Rep. Rich Cunningham, Vice Chair Rep. Sophia DiCaro Rep. Susan Duckworth Rep. Brad Last Rep. Justin Miller Rep. Marie Poulson Rep. John Westwood Members Absent: Rep. Steve Eliason Staff Present: Mr. Benjamin N. Christensen, Policy Analyst Ms. Kathy Gessel, Committee Secretary Note: A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes. Vice Chair Cunningham called the meeting to order at 12:38 p.m. MOTION: Rep. Duckworth moved to approve the minutes of the February 13, 2015 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Last absent for the vote. H.B. 115 Public Safety Retirement for Dispatchers (Rep. K. Powell) Rep. Powell explained the bill to the committee. Spoke to the bill: Dee Larsen, Legal Council, Utah Retirement Systems Spoke for the bill: Jeff Winterton, Wasatch County Sheriff's Office Vaughn Howard, Fraternal Order of Police Donna Walters, Bountiful Police Department Karl Kuehn, Layton Police Department Kimi Mayo, citizen Terry Shaw, Valley Emergency Communications Center Melanie Crittenden, Summit County Sheriff's Office MOTION: Rep. Westwood moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Last absent for the vote. S.B. 41 Utah Science Center Authority Amendments (Sen. T. Weiler) Sen. Weiler explained the bill to the committee. MOTION: Rep. Poulson moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Last absent for the vote. MOTION: Rep. Miller moved to place S.B. 41 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously. H.B. 288 Line-of-duty Death Benefits for Peace Officers and Firefighters (Rep. P. Ray) Rep. Ray explained the bill to the committee. Spoke for the bill: Nanette Wride, citizen Shante Johnson, citizen Todd Losser, Utah Public Employees' Association Gary Hill, Utah League of Cities and Towns Micheal Milllard, Salt Lake Police Association Todd Richardson, Davis County Sheriff's Department MOTION: Rep. Miller moved to amend the bill as follows: 1. Page 3, Lines 76 through 83: 76 (a) If the death is classified by the office as a line-of-duty death, the spouse at the time 77of death shall receive : (i) a lump sum [of $1,500] equal to six months of the active member's final 78average salary ; and (ii) an allowance equal to 37.5% of the member's final average monthly salary. 79 (b) If the death is not classified by the office as a line-of-duty death, benefits are 80payable as follows: 81 (i) If the member has accrued two or more years of public safety service credit at the 82time of death, the death is considered a line-of-duty death and the { benefit shall be paid } spouse at the time of death shall receive: (A) a lump sum of $1,500; and (B) an allowance as 83provided under Subsection (1)(a) (ii) . 2. Page 5, Line 147 through Page 6, Line 152: 147 (a) If the death is classified by the office as a line-of-duty death, the spouse at the time 148of death shall receive : 149average salary ; and 150 (b) If the death is not classified by the office as a line-of-duty death, and the member 151has accrued two or more years of public safety service credit at the time of death, the death is 152considered line-of-duty and the { benefit shall be paid } spouse at the time of death shall receive: (i) a lump sum of $1,500; and (ii) an allowance as provided under Subsection (1)(a) (ii) . 3. Page 8, Lines 217 through 229: 217 (i) If the member has accrued less than 20 years of firefighter service credit, the spouse 218at the time of death shall receive : (A) a lump sum [of $1,500] equal to six months of the active 219member's final average salary ; and (B) an allowance equal to 37.5% of the member's final average 220monthly salary. 221 (ii) If the member has accrued 20 or more years of firefighter service credit, the 222member shall be considered to have retired with an allowance calculated under Section 22349-16-402 and the spouse at the time of death shall receive the death benefit payable to a 224spouse under Section 49-16-504. 225 (b) If the death is not classified by the office as a line-of-duty death, the benefits are 226payable as follows: 227 (i) If the member has accrued five or more years of firefighter service credit, the death 228is considered line-of-duty and the { same benefits are payable } spouse at time of death shall receive: (B) an allowance as established under Subsection 229(1)(a) (i)(B) . 4. Page 11, Lines 326 through 329: 326 (1) An employer shall notify the governor's office of the line-of-duty death of an active member. (2) The governor's office shall ensure that the spouse, at the time of death of the active member, or 327the beneficiary are provided assistance to understand and apply for any death benefit for which 328the surviving spouse or beneficiaries may be eligible under this chapter, other Utah law, federal 329law, or local policy or ordinance. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Last absent for the vote. MOTION: Rep. Miller moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Last absent for the vote. MOTION: Rep. Powell moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Last absent for the vote. Vice Chair Cunningham adjourned the meeting at 1:45 p.m. Rep. Kraig Powell, Chair	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1446
__label__wiki	0.523858	0.523858	Show Related Q&As Trauma Surgeon Residency and Training Programs What is Required to Become a Plastic Surgeon? What is a Scrub Nurse? Orthopedic Surgeon Degree Programs Brain Surgeon: Salary, Schooling & Job Outlook If you're interested in the medical field, you might consider a career as a brain surgeon. Learn about the educational and licensure requirements, potential salary, and job growth to see if this is the professional option for you. Schools offering Surgical Technology degrees can also be found in these popular choices. Career Information at a Glance Brain surgeons are physicians who do the delicate work of operating on the human brain and central nervous system, usually to remove growths, cure infections and help patients with degenerative neurological disorders. Neurosurgeons, as they are often called, go through nearly a decade of schooling and internships before being licensed. Refer to the table below for more information on a career as a brain surgeon. Degree Required Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) Education Field of Study Medicine Training Required 1-year internship, 5-7 years of residency Key Skills Patience, dexterity, organization Licensure Required State medical license Job Growth (2018-2028) 1% (for all surgeons)* Median Salary (2018) $255,110 (for all surgeons)* Source: *Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) What is a Brain Surgeon? Brain surgeons are physicians who concentrate their skills on disorders of the brain, spinal cord and the entire central nervous system. Brain surgeons diagnose a wide range of ailments, from strokes and tumors to head trauma and illnesses of the spine. Once diagnosed, a brain surgeon might work with other medical professionals to devise a plan for treatment. If that treatment involves surgery, the brain surgeon will perform the tricky, fragile work of fixing it under the knife or with lasers. How Much Do Brain Surgeons Make? Because of the expertise the job demands (and the years of schooling), surgeons are relatively well-compensated. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, surgeons enjoy some of the highest salaries in the country. The BLS reports that the median annual salary for all surgeons was $255,110 in May 2018. What Degree Do You Need to Become a Brain Surgeon? The educational path for brain surgeons is a long one. They go to undergraduate school for four years and then go to medical school for four years. At the end of that, they hold a medical MD (Doctor of Medicine) or a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). After graduation, brain surgeons do a year-long internship and another five to seven years of residency in a neurosurgery program. What License Do You Need? After medical school, surgeons must pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) in order to get a medical license. After the internship and residency, doctors can apply to their state medical board to obtain a license for neurosurgery. In order to become board-certified, graduates from accredited programs must adhere to a rigorous set of standards set forth by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS). What's the Job Outlook for Brain Surgeons? Due to new technologies, the medical field of surgery, including brain surgery, is quickly evolving and expanding. The BLS compiles employment data and does extensive analysis to determine the change in employment for a given profession. A specific prediction for brain surgeons isn't offered, but a 1% rise in employment for all surgeons is projected between 2018 and 2028. Allied Health Teaching and Leadership What Courses Are Needed to Become a Surgeon? What Education is Required to be a Plastic Surgeon? Oral Surgeon Training Programs and Schools MS in Management - Healthcare The George Washington University responds quickly to information requests through this website. Popular programs at The George Washington University: MSHS Medical Laboratory Sciences MSHS in Immunohematology and Biotechnology MSHS in Molecular Diagnostic Sciences MSHS in Translational Microbiology Associate of Sciences - Medical Assistant Herzing University Herzing University responds quickly to information requests through this website. Popular programs at Herzing University: Master - Business Administration Dual Concentration: Healthcare Mgmt & Public Safety Leadership Master - Business Administration Dual Concentration: Healthcare Mgmt & Project Mgmt Bachelor of Science in Nursing: RN-to-BSN Fortis College responds quickly to information requests through this website. Popular programs at Fortis College: Cardiovascular Technology Campus Locations: Tennessee: Nashville New England Institute of Technology Rhode Island: Warwick California: Chula Vista Montana: Missoula Select a Specific Subject Alternative Medical Treatments Bio and Medical Ethics Chiropractic Treatments Clinical Nutritional Services Dental Health and Fitness Education Health and Medical Services Preparatory Health Diagnostic and Treatment Services Medical and Health Administration Medical Assisting Services Medical Informatics Medical Laboratory Professions Medical Residency Training Mental Health Professions Nursing Services Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Professions Osteopathy - DO Pharmaceutical Administration Podiatric Medicine Public Safety and Health Rehabilitation Therapy Speech Pathology and Communication Disorders Therapeutic Bodywork Services Veterinary Sciences and Medicine Select a Very Specific Subject Athletic and Fitness Training Cardiovascular Technology Diagnostic Sonography and Ultrasound Technology Electrocardiograph Technology Electroneurodiagnostic Technology Gene Therapy Industrial Radiologic Tech. Medical Radiation Therapy Nuclear Medicine Technology Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician Perfusion Technology Physician's Assistant Radiation Protection Technician Radiographer Technology and Radiologic Science Respiratory Therapy Surgical Technologies 2. The George Washington University 4. Keiser University Select One... High School Junior High School Senior High School Graduate/GED Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree No_HS_Diploma/No_GED 5. Herzing University Select One... High School Home Schooled GED/HSED Some College/CEGEP College Diploma Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Graduate Degree No HS Diploma or GED 7. Fortis College Select One... High School Diploma GED Some College Associate's Degree Bachelor's Degree Master's Degree Doctorate No High School Degree/GED 8. New England Institute of Technology Steps to Becoming a Brain Surgeon: Requirements & Job Description Find out the important facts for becoming a brain surgeon. This advanced profession will be... Best Medical Schools to Become a Plastic Surgeon in the U.S. Read about the qualifications you need to become a plastic surgeon. Get to know more about the... How to Become a Surgeon in 5 Steps Surgeons treat illnesses, deformities, and injuries by using a variety of instruments to operate... What Are the Requirements to be a Pediatric Surgeon? Pediatric surgeons are specialized surgeons who perform operations on children, from infancy into... What Are the Education Requirements to be an Orthopedic Surgeon? Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and non-surgical methods to treat ailments of the skeleton,... Cardiothoracic Surgeon Education Requirements Cardiothoracic surgeons have specialized training in operating on organs within the human chest... Trauma Surgeon Residency and Training Programs What is Required to Become a Plastic Surgeon? What is a Scrub Nurse? Orthopedic Surgeon Degree Programs General Surgeon Education Requirements Surgeon: Career Definition, Employment Outlook, and Education Requirements How Do I Become a Surgeon? - Video What Does a Medical Aesthetician Do? - Video Health Professions and Medical Services Health Diagnostic and Treatment Services Athletic and Fitness Training Diagnostic Sonography and Ultrasound Technology Electrocardiograph Technology Electroneurodiagnostic Technology Gene Therapy Studies Industrial Radiologic Tech. Medical Radiation Therapy Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician Perfusion Technology Degrees Physician's Assistant Radiation Protection Technician Radiographer Technology and Radiologic Science How Can I Become a High School Counselor? Most Affordable Online Master's in School Counseling Programs Business Analyst: Job Duties, Career Outlook, and Education Prerequisites Careers in Personal Training Master's in Quality Assurance: Salary and Career Facts College Counseling Degree Programs What Colleges Offer Web Development Courses in Minneapolis, MN? What Are the Requirements to Become a Diplomat? Where Can I Find Art Therapy Classes Online? Certified Records Manager (CRM): Salary and Career Facts How to Become a Surgical Assistant in 5 Steps	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1447
__label__wiki	0.973712	0.973712	Morrison, Volker undercut claims of ‘quid pro quo,’ ‘bribery’ and ‘cover-up’ in pivotal day of testimony Posted by LTP Support \| Nov 20, 2019 \| More News, Political, Uncategorized \| By Gregg Re, Alex Pappas \| Fox News Ambassador Kurt Volker, left, former special envoy to Ukraine, and Tim Morrison, a former official at the National Security Council are sworn in to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, during a public impeachment hearing of President Donald Trump’s efforts to tie U.S. aid for Ukraine to investigations of his political opponents.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Republicans sounded a celebratory note as House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry wrapped up another day of public hearings Tuesday evening, saying the day’s witnesses had served only to highlight fundamental problems in the case against President Trump. “Did anyone ever ask you to bribe or extort anyone at any time during your time in the White House?” House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Devin Nunes, R-Calif., asked at one point in Tuesday’s afternoon hearing. Former National Security Council (NSC) aide Tim Morrison: “No.” Former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker: “No.” Later, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., covered similar ground in asking the witnesses about Trump’s fateful July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: “Mr. Morrison, you were on that call, and there was no quid pro quo, correct? No bribery? No extortion?” “Correct,” Morrison replied in response to each question. “And, Ambassador Volker, I presume you got a readout of the call. … Was there any reference to withholding aid? Any reference to bribery? Any reference to quid pro quo? Any reference to extortion?” “No, there was not,” Volker replied, again and again. The answers underscored a problem facing House Democrats as their impeachment inquiry continued into its second week of public hearings: With more witnesses testifying, more soundbites have emerged that may help Republicans and the Trump campaign argue that the proceedings were politically motivated theater, long in the works and foreshadowed openly by Democrats for months, if not years. Morrison, in another key moment, testified Tuesday afternoon that he understood the transcript of Trump’s call with Ukraine’s leader wound up on a highly secured and classified computer system due to an “administrative error” — not, as Democrats have alleged, because the president wanted to hide his conversation. And, Volker testified repeatedly that he never received any indications at all that there was an improper quid pro quo with Ukraine, in which the Trump administration allegedly sought a probe of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter in exchange for military aid. As the hearing concluded, President Trump tweeted, “A great day for Republicans, a great day for our Country!” Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan told Fox News, “This was a very good day for Republicans, for our president.” “Kind of hard to prove a corrupt quid pro quo theory when the key U.S. policy people, plus the Ukrainians, were never aware of such an arrangement,” Texas GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw added late Tuesday, noting that Ukraine’s president has said he felt no pressure from Trump to open any probes. “Can we go back to governing now, that’d be great thanks.” Morrison and Volker’s testimony was sought by the GOP, and the two undercut Democrats’ poll-tested claims of White House “bribery” and a cover-up. But, they also raised new questions concerning the administration’s use of the little-discussed codeword-level system that ordinarily held sensitive national-security information. Back in September, a senior Trump administration official acknowledged that White House lawyers directed moving the transcript of the call to the secure system, noting that several of Trump’s previous phone calls with foreign leaders had leaked to the media. Morrison previously testified behind closed doors that senior NSC lawyer John Eisenberg had relayed to him that his secretary accidentally put the transcript in the classified system. Morrison said Eisenberg wanted to “restrict access” to the transcript, but maintained that the secretary had apparently misinterpreted that instruction. “It was represented to me that it was a mistake,” Morrison testified Tuesday, saying he tried to “pull up the package in our system” but was prevented from doing so. When he asked why the transcript was unavailable, he testified that he was “informed it had been moved to the higher classification system” at Eisenberg’s direction. Then, Eisenberg told Morrison that he “gave no such direction” and that it was an “administrative error,” according to Morrison. Morrison said to the best of his knowledge, there was no “malicious intent” in the decision to move the transcript to the compartmentalized system, and all essential personnel retained access to the transcript even after it was moved. Later in the day, Volker made clear he had not seen anything to support Democrats’ contention that Trump improperly withheld foreign aid to Ukraine as a means of forcing an investigation into the Bidens’ dealings in the country. Instead, Volker suggested — in a moment that the Trump campaign reposted on social media — that Trump’s general hesitation to provide foreign aid, especially to corrupt countries, was the prevailing justification for holding up aid to Ukraine temporarily. Asked again whether he saw any evidence that Trump had committed “bribery” — the term Democrats have taken to using, after focus groups indicated that it would help them sell impeachment to voters — Volker was unequivocal that he had not. In fact, Volker said, Trump never linked any probe of Burisma or the Bidens to any military aid. Hunter Biden sat on Burisma’s board while his father spearheaded Ukraine policy as vice president. “I have only seen an allegation of bribery in the last week,” Volker said. “I was never involved in anything that I considered to be bribery at all, or extortion.” In one remarkable moment, Volker contradicted a media headline; asked about a Daily Mail story claiming he had “walked back” his testimony and had “now learned” there was a link between U.S. aid and Biden probe, Volker refuted the website outright. Volker also said he didn’t initially realize the connection between a Trump-sought investigation of Burisma and the Bidens, given that Burisma was seen as a symbol of Ukraine’s endemic corruption problem. Hunter Biden was a board member of the Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma Holdings, which had been under investigation before then-Vice President Joe Biden pressured Ukraine to fire the prosecutor in charge. In his call with Zelensky, Trump suggested the Ukrainians look into the circumstances of the prosecutor’s termination, including Joe Biden’s boast that he had the prosecutor fired by threatening to withhold $1 billion in critical aid. “Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution, so if you can look into it…It sounds horrible to me,” Trump said. In a lengthy opening statement, Volker said he didn’t have any problem with pushing Ukraine to open an investigation into Burisma or corruption. “It has long been U.S. policy under multiple administrations to urge Ukraine to investigate and fight internal corruption,” Volker said. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent similarly testified behind closed doors last month that he had qualms about Hunter Biden’s lucrative role on the board of Burisma. However, Volker said he felt a discussion of investigations was “inappropriate” in a July meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. officials at the White House. Volker confirmed others’ testimony that Trump’s European Union ambassador, Gordon Sondland, raised the investigations “in a generic way,” and that then-national security adviser John Bolton immediately ended the meeting. The meeting happened two weeks before Trump’s momentous summer phone call with Zelensky. Volker, who resigned in September after becoming embroiled in the scandal, added that he didn’t “understand” at the time that an investigation of Burisma “was tantamount to investigating Vice President Biden.” “I saw them as very different – the former being appropriate and unremarkable, the latter being unacceptable,” Volker said. “In retrospect, I should have seen that connection differently, and had I done so, I would have raised my own objections.” Volker added: “The allegations against Vice President Biden are self-serving and non-credible.” Volker went on to say that during a September dinner with top Ukrainian official Andriy Yermak, he’d discouraged Ukraine from trying to prosecute the country’s previous president. Volker says he warned it would sow deep societal divisions. Volker said Yermak quipped in response, “You mean like asking us to investigate Clinton and Biden?” Volker claimed he didn’t “quite understand” the head-turning remark and was “kind of puzzled” by it. Both Volker and Morrison previously gave closed-door interviews to the inquiry: Volker provided investigators with a package of text messages with Sondland and William Taylor, the U.S. chargé d’affaires for Ukraine, who said he grew alarmed at the possible linkage of the investigations to the aid. For his part, Morrison, who served as the NSC’s senior director of European and Russian affairs, told lawmakers Trump didn’t want tax dollars funding Ukrainian corruption and remarked that he wasn’t concerned Trump’s calls with Ukraine’s leader were tied to his political interests. Morrison resigned from the NSC last month. In his testimony Tuesday, he said he left on his “own volition” and made the decision “before I decided to testify.” The testimony from Volker and Morrison followed five hours of testimony earlier in the day with the NSC’s Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and Vice President Pence aide Jennifer Williams, who were each critical of Trump’s conversation with Zelensky. In a particularly remarkable moment, Vindman testified that he was asked to serve as Ukraine’s defense minister three times — but repeatedly denied the offers — when he traveled to Kiev for the inauguration of Ukraine’s president. Oleksander Danylyuk, the former Chairman of the National Security and Defence Council in Ukraine, reportedly said on Tuesday the offer was “clearly a joke.” Among the biggest revelations Tuesday morning came when Vindman acknowledged communications with an unnamed intelligence official — during an at-times tense exchange with Republicans, immediately raising apparent questions over whether he could have been a source of information for the anonymous whistleblower who reported the call. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., interjected to express concern that Republicans were trying to out the whistleblower through the questioning. After consulting his attorney, Vindman said, “Per the advice of my counsel, I’ve been advised not to answer the specific questions about members of the intelligence community.” Still, Vindman told lawmakers, “I do not know who the whistleblower is.” That claim didn’t hold water with Republicans, and prompted Donald Trump Jr. to accuse Vindman of perjury. “I’d like them to be treated like I would be if I lied to Congress,” he told Fox News late Tuesday. On the whole, Vindman was largely critical of Trump’s call with Zelensky, describing the investigation “demand” as “improper.” At one point, Vindman described his reaction to Trump’s call as one of “shock.” “Frankly, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” he testified. “In certain regards, my worst fear of how our Ukraine policy could play out was playing out.” However, Vindman was caught in an apparent contradiction late in the day by Republican Ohio Rep. Brad Wenstrup. Vindman testified earlier in the day that he did not discuss his concerns about Trump’s July phone call with Morrison, his superior, because he was unavailable. But, under questioning from Wenstrup, Morrison confirmed that Vindman had given him edits of the transcript of the call, on the same day that Vindman testified Morrison was unreachable. “Frankly, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.” — NSC’s Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, concerning Trump’s July call with Ukraine’s leader Arizona GOP Rep. Paul Gosar offered a blunt assessment of Vindman’s testimony, tweeting: “I think people need a reminder: the democrats said they would impeach starting in December 2016–before @realDonaldTrump was even sworn in. This is a hearing looking for a reason. It’s corrupt and immoral. The dude in the uniform is a seditionist.” Morrison, meanwhile, also said he had heard others express concern that Vindman was a leaker, and could not be trusted with key information. Asked about that allegation, Vindman read from a glowing performance review that described him as an exemplary officer. Lt. Col. Vindman testified earlier today that he didn’t take his concerns to Mr. Morrison because he wasn’t available, but that same day he took his edits to the transcript to Mr. Morrison. The other morning witness, Williams, also expressed concern about Trump’s call with Zelensky, saying, “I found the July 25th phone call unusual because, in contrast to other presidential calls I had observed, it involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter.” Until Tuesday, none of the witnesses who have testified at the public hearings had first-hand knowledge of the president’s thinking, which Republicans have used to cast doubt on Democrats’ allegations, but Vindman, Williams, and Morrison all listened in on Trump’s July 25 phone call with Zelensky. Morrison said his understanding was that Trump generally was skeptical of foreign aid, and wanted to make sure that taxpayers were “getting their money’s worth.” “The president was concerned that the United States seemed to bear the exclusive brunt of security assistance to Ukraine,” Morrison said. “He wanted to see the Europeans step up and contribute more security assistance.” The impeachment inquiry has focused on a possible link between military aid to Ukraine and investigations sought by Trump pertaining to the Bidens and Democrats. The questions arose after the July 25 phone call led to a whistleblower complaint alleging that Trump was trying to pressure Ukraine into helping him. “As we have heard from other witnesses, when Joe Biden was considering whether to enter the race for the presidency in 2020, the president’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, began a campaign to weaken Vice President Biden’s candidacy by pushing Ukraine to investigate him and his son,” Schiff said in his opening statement. Nunes opened his remarks by welcoming people to “Act Two of today’s circus,” dismissing the inquiry as a partisan exercise. “It’s an ambitious attack to deprive the American people of their right to elect a president that the Democrats don’t like,” Nunes said. “The chairman of this committee claims that democracy is under threat. If that’s true, it’s not the president who poses the danger.” Morrison, though, suggested the impeachment brouhaha was predictable partisan politics as usual. “I feared at the time of the call on July 25th how its disclosure would play in Washington’s political climate,” Morrison said in his opening statement. “My fears have been realized.” Fox News’ Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Gregg Re is a lawyer and editor based in Los Angeles. Follow him on Twitter @gregg_re or email him at gregory.re@foxnews.com. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ex-ukraine-envoy-nsc-official-testify-in-second-round-of-impeachment-testimony PreviousAdam Schiff declares Elise Stephanik out of order for the rest of her life NextFrosty The Snow Job- Vindman The Kamala Harris Example Britain’s ambassador to Iran, was arrested on Saturday in Tehran, briefly detained, and then released. SIGNOR MARCONI’S TRIUMPH [Full edition of the NY Tribune for Sunday 12-15-1901) Woman drives 3 hours to tell Beto, Hell No! History Tells of our Past, But HIS Story is our Future--Join Our Black Future Movement! Join our Black Future Movement mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. Make sure to join as a member of LTP. Black Future Month is a movement, set for March to memorialize Harriet Tubman and her leadership. It took free people to free oppressed people.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1448
__label__wiki	0.676839	0.676839	Rules for Signature Stamps Reviewed by: Michelle Seidel, B.Sc., LL.B., MBA By: Sylvia Cochran Rules for Stamped Signatures on Checks ••• simarik/iStock/GettyImages How to Properly Sign a Power of Attorney Document for Someone How to Notarize a Statement How to Check if a Notary Stamp is Legal? Rather than manually affixing a signature to sundry pieces of paper, government officials – and those in positions of the kind of authority that requires the frequent signing of similar or identical documents – streamline the process with the help of stamps. There are various rules governing the use of signature stamps to avoid the approval of documents that would not actually pass the review process by the authorized signer. These regulations cover not only the person whose name appears on the signature stamp but also those authorized to use the stamp. What Can be Stamped? Depending on the jurisdiction, judges and commissioners define the scope of documents to which clerks and support staff may affix a stamped signature without piece-by-piece approval. A good example is the Utah Court System, which allows clerks – who have received a judge’s or commissioner’s preapproval – to signature-stamp some bail bonds, bench warrants, uncontested civil orders for dismissal, orders to show cause, orders to take a defendant into custody, summonses and selected other orders. Frequently, judges or commissioners direct support staff on a case-by-case basis when they wish to extend the rules for signature stamp use to other often-used documents as well. Who Is Accountable for the Stamp's Use? A clerk who receives permission to use a signature stamp on behalf of a person in authority must account for the proper usage of the instrument. To this end, various jurisdictions require a clerk of court to personally sign off underneath a signature stamp to prove who placed it there. If a document falls outside the generally acceptable use of a signature stamp, but the clerk nevertheless stamps it, she must sign her name beneath the stamp and also indicate that she affixed the stamped signature with prior authorization. In some business settings, written rules for signature stamp usage protect authorized officials from legal ramifications associated with fraud committed by a dishonest clerk. While the business entity may still be liable civilly, the official will likely not have to face a criminal prosecution. What are the Limitations on Use? Some professions may not use signature stamps because each document an official signs requires a personal review. A good example is the Utah real estate appraiser who may not allow clerks to sign appraisal reports with a signature stamp. It is noteworthy that an appraiser does have the right to delegate the signing of a document to another person, but even in this instance the clerk must sign the report by hand and indicate that his signature functions in lieu of the official appraiser. Moreover, a notice underneath the clerk’s handwritten signature must explain that the signatory has official approval to validate the document. Are Signature Stamps Falling Out of Use? Signature stamps may be falling out of use due to the rise of electronic signatures. Security is a real concern with signature stamps, since the crime of embezzlement becomes very easy when someone is permitted to legally bind a company to a document without a physical signature. Showing commitment with an e-signature is a lot more secure. The process can be set up to ensure that only an authorized person can enter a PIN and e-sign the document. This means the signature is kept trackable and tamper-proof, so the authenticity of the signature is easier to prove. Utah State Courts: Signature Stamp Use DocuSign: US Electronic Signature Laws and History Connecticut Judicial Branch Grievance Committee: Fairfield JD Grievance Panel Versus John J. Evans Based in the Los Angeles area, Sylvia Cochran is a seasoned freelance writer focusing on home and garden, travel and parenting articles. Her work has appeared in "Families Online Magazine" and assorted print and Internet publications.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1449
__label__wiki	0.503224	0.503224	Now that we know only 6 people enrolled in Obamacare on Day 1, interviews from last month seem hysterical By Renee Nal November 1, 2013 January 8, 2014 On the first day of open enrollment in Obamacare, only six people were able to successfully enroll for health insurance on the embattled Healthcare.gov website, as revealed by the incomparable Sharyl Attkisson of CBS News yesterday. In light of this embarrassment, it makes perfect sense why the Obama administration stonewalled the press when they asked for numbers of enrollees. One particularly hysterical example comes from an interview between Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Fox News’ Chris Wallace, as reported at the Examiner last month. At the time, yours truly noted that Wallace asked Lew six times how many people enrolled so far, and Lew dodged the question with skills that would make White House press secretary Jay Carney proud, as he also dodged the question, as reported at the Washington Free Beacon. RealClearPolitics posted the video and transcript of the exchange with Jack Lew, which reads in part [emphasis added]: CHRIS WALLACE: I want to ask you about ObamaCare. You brought it up, that’s what — what a lot of this is about. The public exchanges in ObamaCare opened this week. And I think it’s fair to say that the government Web site was a mess. In fact — and you can look at it right here — the page to sign up to enroll for ObamaCare has been taken down for repairs during off-peak hours this weekend. A question, sir. You have had three years to prepare for this week. If I already had doubts — somebody already had doubts about the government’s ability to oversee a sixth of the economy, shouldn’t this just add to my doubts? JACK LEW, SECRETARY OF TREASURY: You know, Chris, the — I actually think that is not what’s happened this week. What happened this week is we saw seven million people rush to go onto the Web page to find out what are their choices in this new marketplace to buy affordable health care. WALLACE: How many actually signed up, sir? LEW: You know, they have six months to sign up. This is a big decision. We never expected — WALLACE: How many signed up? LEW: — I — I don’t have the exact number. But the question isn’t — WALLACE: Do you have any number — LEW: The question — WALLACE: — because the government has refused to — LEW: — it’s the wrong question. WALLACE: — tell us how many. LEW: It’s the wrong question. WALLACE: No, it isn’t. LEW: (INAUDIBLE). WALLACE: In the end, looking — LEW: The right question – WALLACE: — I can look and I may have no interest and, in fact — WALLACE: — I’m not going to need ObamaCare — LEW: We know — WALLACE: — the question is, how many — LEW: Chris, we – WALLACE: — people have — LEW: — we know — WALLACE: — actually signed up? LEW: We know that people take time to make important decisions like this. They go on. They compare their options. The fact that so many millions of people rushed to get information is a very good sign. And then to your question about the Web site, I don’t know about you, but, um, you know, I sign on and I get updates on my software and I often get corrections that I have to re, uh, re-update my — my software from major companies. It is not unique that when you have a very large new software program come out, that people work to clean it up. I usually wait until it’s .3 or .4 before I sign up. So many millions of people rushed to get in, because that shows how much interest there is in — in getting health care. WALLACE: I’m going to ask one last time, because, forgive me, sir, you haven’t answered it. Do you not know how many people have signed up? Which should seem to indicate another major software glitch? Or is it that the number is embarrassingly small? LEW: Chris, I — our metric for this week was could people get online, get the information they need… WALLACE: The answer is they couldn’t — LEW: — to make an enforce — and informed decision. They have been getting that information. We are confident that they’re going to make the decision as we expected. They have six months to make the decision. WALLACE: So you don’t — the — do they — do you not know or is it that the number is small? LEW: Well, it’s obviously not my primary area of responsibility, so my knowing or not knowing is not — is not going to be indicative… WALLACE: But then nobody — WALLACE: — in the government — LEW: — the — the important issue — the important issue here is that millions of Americans want to get affordable health care. They came online. They’re getting the information. And do you know what they’re learning? They’re learning they can get affordable health care, they can save money, they can avoid having a situation where they have pre-existing conditions but no health care or they have children who have no health care. This is a very important development. WALLACE: They just can’t sign up for it at this point? LEW: Well, I think they are going to be signing up. Follow Renee Nal on Twitter @ReneeNal and Facebook Check out her news and political commentary on Tavern Keepers, Gather and the Examiner for news you won’t find in the mainstream media. Renee is also a guest blogger for the Shire Blog. Posted in: Law and Government, Politics, Social IssuesTagged: Obamacare Renee Nal is a co-founder of TavernKeepers.com, a news and political commentary site founded by former Glenn Beck interns. She is also the National Conservative Examiner. Renee is an associate producer for Trevor Loudon's political documentary, 'The Enemies Within.' GOP Rep. Stockman seeks special prosecutors for Obama Was National Geographic’s ‘American Blackout’ reflective of what would happen in society?	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1450
__label__wiki	0.679613	0.679613	VideoLifehacker Originals Everything You Need to Know About OS X Mountain Lion in Five Minutes Adam Dachis Filed to:watch this OS X Mountain Lion is here, and there are quite a few new features to learn all about. In this video, we take a look at the most important stuff and how to use it. Watch the video above to get your five minute explanation of the things you need to know about OS X Mountain Lion. If you like to read, you'll find a screenshot tour of all the features demonstrated in the video below. Notification Center gathers all the alerts and messages popping up in OS X and saves them into a handy bar on the side of your computer. You can access your notification history by clicking the list icon all the way in the top right corner of the OS X menubar. If you want to edit your notification center settings, you can do so in the Notifications section of System Preferences. You'll be able to decide what kind of notifications individual apps provide, or turn them off entirely. iCloud (and Documents in the Cloud) iCloud is not a new feature, but it's been upgraded significantly in Mountain Lion. You'll find the settings in the iCloud section of System Preferences just like you can in Lion. This is where you'll sign into your iCloud account, manage your storage, and decide what parts of your computer you want to sync. If you turn on "Documents & Data" your documents (including versions of them) will be synced with iCloud, making them available on other iCloud-enabled devices. Notes and Reminders Just like on iOS, OS X Mountain Lion offers a Notes and Reminders app. The Notes app lets you save and organize text and images. Reminders allows you to create reminders so you don't forget to do things. Both are pretty self-explanatory, and both sync with iCloud. Dictation is a pretty great, welcome feature in Mountain Lion. Basically, if an app can accept text input via the keyboard it can accept input via Dictation. To start dictating, just press the function (fn) key twice. When you're done dictating, you can click the "done" button or press the function (fn) key twice again. OS X will take a moment and then provide you with the transcribed text. In addition to just offering words, you can say things like "period" or "comma" for punctuation and "new line" to make a new line. Messages is the iMessage of OS X. It's been around in beta since Lion and hasn't changed much in Mountain Lion. You can add your iCloud account to sync messages with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, but you still can't receive your iPhone's text messages on your computer. You can set up various instant messaging accounts, however, so Messages on the Mac is a little bit more functional than it is on iOS. That's because it replaces iChat. Share Sheets Share Sheets makes sharing easy in virtually any app. Not every app has it yet, but many apps will be adding it to allow you to share content easily. In the meantime, Safari is one app that makes sharing sites easy to Messages, Twitter, and Email. You can also share directly from the Finder. If you click an image and then the sharing icon in a window's toolbar, you'll be able to share it on Twitter or Flickr. You'll find other options for other file types as well. If you want to set up sharing accounts, visit the Mail, Contacts, & Calendars section of System Preferences. AirPlay Mirroring AirPlay support on your Mac just got a boost if you have an Apple TV. You can now mirror your display on an Apple TV (2nd or 3rd generation) with AirPlay if you enable it in Displays section of System Preferences. Down at the bottom there's a checkbox beside "Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available." Check it and you'll be able to send your display to any detected Apple TV via the menu item in your menubar. Security and Privacy Settings While the new security and privacy settings in OS X aren't the most flashy or exciting features, there are some important and interesting things worth noting. If you visit the Security & Privacy section of System Preferences you'll find one significant change under the General tab. Under the "Allow applications downloaded from" you'll like find "Mac App Store and identified developers" selected. This will prevent apps that aren't signed through Apple's developer center or downloaded through the Mac App Store from running. If you want to prevent even more apps from running, you can set only Mac App Store apps to be allowed. Alternative, you can allow everything so you're not restricted at all. This is the setting you're probably going to want if you're tech savvy and tend not to download anything in the malware department. Over in the Privacy tab you'll find some nice new privacy settings. This is where you can approve or deny an app's permission to access certain things like your contacts, location, Twitter account, and more. It's a good idea to audit this section now and again to make sure certain apps don't have access to data you don't want them to see. Want to learn more? Check out Apple's overview of Mountain Lion's 200+ new features.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1459
__label__cc	0.666744	0.333256	2020 Candidates – Erika Kolenich The following is a list of individuals that have announced their intent to seek nomination to be on the 2020 General Election Ballot for the Libertarian Party in West Virginia. These candidates will be seeking nomination at the 2020 LPWV State Convention. Erika Kolenich Office Level https://kolenichforwv.com/ ( Main ) https://www.facebook.com/kolenich4WV/ ( Facebook ) Campaign Email Campaign Phone If you would like to seek nomination as a 2020 Libertarian Candidate in West Virginia, please submit your intent through the contact form or leave a voice message at 1-800-969-LPWV (5798) and a member of the LPWV Executive Committee will contact you with details. Like Peace Prosperity and Freedom? Join Libertarians in West Virginia Chip In The Libertarian Party is committed to America’s heritage of freedom: individual liberty and personal responsibility, a free-market economy of abundance and prosperity, a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace and free trade. Party Organization Copyright © 2019 Libertarian Party of West Virginia \| PO BOX 135 Jane Lew, WV 26378	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1466
__label__wiki	0.722798	0.722798	I sit and stew during obscenity at Padres game My real problem was Meathead By Matthew Lickona, Nov. 25, 1998 I love baseball. I grew up watching the Yankees suffer through the misery of the '80s -- despite having Mattingly and Winfield and Guidry -- on WPIX Channel 11, listening to Phil Rizzuto exclaim, "Holy cow!" whenever a Yankee hit a home run. I remember watching Mookie Wilson's ground ball roll through the legs of the hobbled Bill Buckner and the twinge of being so happy with someone's failure. My dad has lost what was once a passionate interest, out of disgust with what he sees as the ascendance of greed as the motivating principle in professional athletics. But I still watch. During my first months in San Diego, I lived at La Pensione hotel in Little Italy. My dinnertime ritual involved turning on a ball game, boiling water and cooking spaghetti in my electric skillet, heating one-half cup of Trader Joe's tomato-basil sauce in the microwave, and sitting down to eat in front of the tube. The game kept me company and kept me from talking to myself too much. I watch less now – enjoying baseball on television requires a meditative spirit, one that wife and child frequently impinge on, and rightly so – but I haven't lost interest. So when my friend Ernie called and asked whether I wanted to go see Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, I said yes. I had just returned from out of town, and I knew my wife Deirdre wanted to spend some time with me, so I told Ernie to get a ticket for her, too. The cheapest seats ran $30 a pop, so those were what we got -- way up in the nosebleed section in deep right field, the seats that hang out over the parking lot, with nothing, but nothing beneath. I got my first warning from the music -- chest-rattling rock 'n' roll that sought to generate head-banging, adrenaline-rush excitement before anything had happened. This here was a Party, and people were Getting Down and Getting Ready to Get It On. My son Fin loved it, shaking his head back and forth with wild abandon, grinning like a madman. On the big TV screen, the Swinging Friar -- this was a priest, mind you, the sort of person who reminds you to Keep the Faith -- was humping the air, pumping his pelvis in time with the music. Yeah, baby. But hey, this was for the pennant, and people were feeling good. My real problem was with the guy sitting behind us, a guy I will affectionately refer to as Meathead. As soon as he sat down, a stream of fck, fckin', motherfcker, sht ("Fck that sht" -- an amazing notion) and so on began to drop from his mouth like manure from a horse's hinder. If my Deirdre and Finian were not seated next to me, and right in front of him, I might not have minded so much. I try to avoid obscenity -- it betrays a lack of regard for others and vocabulary -- but I especially avoid it around women and children. Perhaps Meathead would regard this as an antiquated notion. Perhaps he would speak this way in the presence of his own wife and child -- I don't know. At the Clairemont Mesa In-N-Out, I once overheard a guy telling his buddies about taking his kid to Dirty Dan's Pure Platinum topless club, so I guess anything's possible. When Meathead wasn't obscene, he was loud, the sort of loud that actually causes headaches. Over and over, without letup and without reason, he screamed, "Padres! Padres! Padres!" lingering on the a until you could hear his voice giving out, and beyond. I half expected to feel small chunks of his vocal cords raining down on my back. I'm not a prig. I'll whoop and cheer with the best of them, and I know that crowd noise can inspire a team, but the incessant quality of Meathead's enthusiasm made me wonder if it he wasn't getting psyched for the sake of getting psyched, taking the occasion of a baseball game to work himself into a frenzy. Showman that he was, he saved the crowning moment for last. As we began the slow, defeated ant-march down the stairs and toward the exits, with Green Day serenading us on our way, hoping we had "the time of our lives," I wondered -- if I wasn't certain that Green Day was tickled pink with the green they received for letting the Padres use the song -- how they felt about their attempt at a poignant lamentation of the fleeting quality of life being used to make folks glad they just spent half a day getting to, watching, and getting home from a baseball game. Probably the same way the band Queen felt when their songs "We Will Rock You" and "We are the Champions" became the all-time anthems of macho jocks everywhere -- a scuffle broke out below us. Each combatant bore the emblem of the team he loved, one Brave, one Padre. Upon noticing the altercation, Meathead screamed, with all the force his last unsnapped vocal cord could muster, "Kick his ass, Padres!" The Padres, of course, were in the locker room by this point. Our man had something grander in mind. It was as if the two fans were knights, bearing the colors of their kings, whose honor they were sworn to uphold in combat. "Kick his ass, Padres!" was akin to "Onward, England, for crown and country!" Less patriotic parties intervened, and the fight ended before it got started. I still don't know if I should have said something. Meathead was a big guy and had some beers warming his belly. He seemed like the sort of person who might be prone to violence, something I would rather avoid under any circumstances but especially in the precariously steep environment of the Qualcomm nosebleed section. Besides, if a guy doesn't realize that you ought not to insert some form of "fuck" between every third word of your conversation when in the presence of a small boy and his mother, I question my ability to convince him of it. But it galled me, and still galls me, perhaps because I know my own dad would have said something, and probably would have gotten results. I grew up in a college town, and over the years, several of the houses on my street were converted to student housing, much to my parents' dismay. Cortland State was once rated the number 11 party school in the nation by Playboy, and while that doesn't come close to SDSU, it's still good enough to ensure plenty of drunken hooting in the wee small hours. I don't know how many times Dad has put on a bathrobe and trudged down the street in his pajamas, so that he could talk to the hooters, remind them that this was a neighborhood, that people were trying to sleep. He didn't shout "SHUT UP!" from the window, he didn't go down there with attitude or threats -- he sought to make the partiers aware that they were not alone in the universe, even in the midst of their revelry. Mom was never pleased with his forays -- Dad is not an especially big guy, and C-State gets a lot of phys-ed majors. But Dad has never gotten punched, and sometimes, his attempt to quiet things down without calling the cops has worked. Me, I just sat and stewed in my resentment, wanting to be angry with the boob behind me, knowing that anger wouldn't solve anything, and despairing of a more civil approach. The standard reply to an objection to objectionable behavior is, "If you don't like it, don't look at/ listen to/ go near it." But it seems wrong to me that avoiding that kind of crude yahooism should mean avoiding taking my son to ball games. When I was 11 or so, my Dad took me down to New York City to see the Yankees play, and while a bunch of guys in the next section were shouting and pouring beer on each other, I don't recall hearing anything like the carefree obscenity I heard this October, and I don't recall Yankee fans booing the opposition -- the better the player, the louder the boos. It's a little disconcerting to be able to look back on the good old days when you're only 25. More stories by Matthew Lickona Guardian Angel — May 10, 2007 Rosa Jurjevics in Boston — March 16, 2006 Lion King — June 2, 2005 Ketching Up with Dad — Feb. 17, 2005 Jody Gravett, orphan, Vietnam vet, in trouble — Feb. 5, 1998	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1468
__label__wiki	0.92171	0.92171	The slow end of the Kalasho regime 85 percent voted for Gary Kendrick. 15 percent voted for Kalasho. By Eric Bartl, Nov. 9, 2018 "These politicians are playing Checkers while I’m out here playing Chess." (from Kalasho Instagram post) Tuesday’s votes have been tallied and the race with the largest margin of defeat in San Diego County was for El Cajon’s first district city council representative. Gary Kendrick got 85% of vote Previously elected to citywide council positions, Ben Kalasho and Gary Kendrick were pitted against each other in El Cajon’s first by-district election since the city was divided into districts last year. 85 percent of voters from the western section of El Cajon voted for Kendrick. 15 percent voted for Kalasho. The councilman with a fascination for monarchical rule received a democratic paddling. James Elia: “It hurts me to see fellow Chaldeans spiral like this." On social media Kalasho frequently comments about building a House Kalasho empire and often refers to Zoltan, his German Shepherd, as “the king.” His Facebook friends return the favor, calling Kalasho himself the king and rooting for him to be governor one day. Ben Kalasho doesn't do interviews with the Reader. Wearing a mask with devilish horns, Kalasho appeared in a promotional video for the Royals Masquerade Ball fundraising event in September. Kalasho lipped the words “rule the world” along with the song “Everybody wants to rule the world” the video was set to. And Kalasho reportedly told the girls who competed in his 2017 Miss Middle East beauty pageant to call him god. According to several civil cases against him, Kalasho has treated others as if he were a monarch and they his worthless subjects. Kalasho announced he will be launching a show on YouTube – Politics and Cigars with Ben Kalasho. In December 2015 Reva Elia filed a request for restraining order against Kalasho. She stated she was cyber-bullied just for asking a question about a Kalasho social media post about women with a certain hair color. But it didn’t stop there. Kalasho made humiliating posts about her. Then people started showing up at her workplace threatening her. Lina Charry says after winning a legal dispute with Kalasho he created a fake social media profile in her name, began making false and humiliating public comments about her (related to sex) and created a fake poll that named her the worst attorney in San Diego. Paris Kargar was a contestant in the Kalashos’ Miss Middle East beauty pageant in 2016. She said as the women came on stage Kalasho made rude comments about their bodies. Privately, Kalasho offered her the pageant crown if she spent the night with him at the hotel. She refused. Charry and Kargar joined Zhala Tawfiq’s May 2017 lawsuit against Kalasho. Tawfiq won the Miss Middle East pageant in 2016. She was surprised when Kalasho demanded access to her social media profiles. Later when she changed her Facebook password to stop Kalasho from doing as he pleased with it, she says he retaliated by publicly posting images of her face edited into nude photos of other women. There are numerous other allegations of fraud and retaliation against Kalasho. For over a year public comments at city council meetings and media reports have confronted Kalasho for the way he treats people who don’t bow to his will. In a mailer to voters Kendrick’s campaign highlighted excerpts from several of those reports. At one recent city council meeting Cajon Valley school board member Jill Barto held a sign calling on Kalasho to resign. Kalasho and his Facebook friends cyber-bullied her, called her derogatory names and insulted her Christian faith. Recently Ben Kalasho posted a picture on social media of himself at Prescott Promenade Park with the caption, "These politicians are playing Checkers while I’m out here playing Chess." It appears Kendrick has checkmated Kalasho and sent him on his way out of the city council. Kalasho still has two years left of his citywide council seat he won two years ago. James Elia, a fellow Chaldean who lost his challenge Tuesday to Randy Voepel for east county’s 71st state assembly seat, says plans are in the works for a recall campaign against Kalasho to stop him from finishing his current term. Elia says there is even more to Kalasho’s history than the media has reported. "My history with Kalasho goes back like 10 years. I went to war with him over his female victims. I know of at least six other women Ben has terrorized over the years. I've been trying to get them to come forward but they won't budge. They are terrified of him." Elia says of the thousands of Chaldeans in El Cajon only about 50 are friendly with Kalasho. At a city council meeting in September Elia spoke publicly to Kalasho: “Ben, you need help. It hurts me to see fellow Chaldeans spiral like this. It might be best if you step down. Work on yourself. Work on your family. And come back later on and do something else like a reality show or something.” A couple weeks later, on October 5, Kalasho announced he will be launching a show on YouTube – Politics and Cigars with Ben Kalasho. He scheduled his first show for November 20 at 7 pm. Kalasho previously stated he doesn't do interviews with the Reader and referred me to his Facebook page for statements. More stories by Eric Bartl Reporter accuses Ben Kalasho of assaulting him with dog — July 17, 2018 Councilman Kalasho's complaint — Feb. 4, 2018 El Cajon councilman sued over Miss Middle East pageant — Aug. 2, 2017 Beauty pageant run by El Cajon councilmember under attack — June 5, 2017 Chaldean businessman considers El Cajon mayorship — Nov. 1, 2013 Cassander Nov. 9, 2018 @ 10:30 a.m. For someone who claims to be such a political mastermind, Kalasho ignores Machiavelli's most important advice to rulers: never believe your own hype. If the YouTube thing doesn't work out, perhaps he can get a job in the current president's administration? It's a perfect fit for incompetence and arrogance. jabra1 Nov. 9, 2018 @ 4:01 p.m. A political neophyte who routinely gets but one single like on his Twitter posts (probably his wife) but believes he has an audience for a YouTube show? Just how arrogant and clueless could one man be? JustWondering Two years left in his current office. YIKES. Heaven help the taxpaying citizens of El Cajon. I’m just wondering of those who elected him to that office, how many have voter’s remorse? danfogel I would wonder if those that were dumb enough to vote him into office in the first place are smart enough to see what is going and do they even give a rat's a$$. AlexClarke Nov. 11, 2018 @ 6:31 a.m. 15% vote for him so there is your proof that there is no limit to human stupidity. I think you have already provided ample proof of that. Nov. 10, 2018 @ 12:23 p.m. Kalasho is truly a legend in his own mind. Visduh Nov. 11, 2018 @ 7:45 p.m. It comes across as if the local, co-religionists of the Chaldeans are doing some self-policing and telling him to go away. If they want to be accepted, that's the best way to do it. I'm as mystified as anyone about him being elected in El Cajon. Although there are some critics who see the city taken over by these mostly refugees, they don't have the whole city yet, and may never get there. Kalasho has been successful at getting attention, but as far as doing anything for the Chaldeans, I'd guess he's been a negative. JeffreyHollister This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1469
__label__cc	0.739007	0.260993	IDWASHIN August 2001 ----- 2020 ----- January 2020 ----- 2019 ----- November 2019 March 2019 ----- 2017 ----- July 2017 ----- 2014 ----- September 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 ----- 2013 ----- September 2013 August 2013 March 2013 ----- 2012 ----- November 2012 October 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 ----- 2011 ----- December 2011 October 2011 July 2011 May 2011 April 2011 ----- 2010 ----- November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 May 2010 January 2010 ----- 2009 ----- December 2009 October 2009 July 2009 June 2009 April 2009 February 2009 ----- 2008 ----- September 2008 August 2008 June 2008 April 2008 February 2008 January 2008 ----- 2007 ----- October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 ----- 2006 ----- September 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 ----- 2005 ----- December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 ----- 2004 ----- December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 February 2004 January 2004 ----- 2003 ----- December 2003 November 2003 September 2003 August 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 ----- 2002 ----- November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 February 2002 January 2002 ----- 2001 ----- November 2001 October 2001 September 2001 August 2001 June 2001 April 2001 March 2001 January 2001 ----- 2000 ----- December 2000 November 2000 August 2000 July 2000 June 2000 May 2000 March 2000 February 2000 ----- 1999 ----- December 1999 October 1999 idwashin@rootsweb.com Walker Cemetery This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Harvill, Walker, Lane Classification: Queries Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Tg.2ADE/28 Message Board Post: Arche Harvill was killed in a trucking accident in 1935 near Cambridge, ID. He is said to be buried in the Walker Cemetery, Midvale, Washington Co., ID. I am looking for information on him and on any of his descendants. His wife, Luvilla Walker(?) Harvill remarried a gentleman named Ed Lane. Thank you for any help that you can offer. Links for Primitive Baptist Churches in Rupert and Pocatello, Idaho by Robert L Webb http://www.carthage.lib.il.us/community/churches/primbap/HistIdaho.html http://www.carthage.lib.il.us/community/churches/primbap/FamHist-Oregon.h tml http://www.carthage.lib.il.us/community/churches/primbap/pbl.html Feel free to write a note on our guestbooks and examine the hundreds of church history pages on our extensive website. We are entering surnames of members with sketch histories of our churches through the northern states. Elder Robert Webb The Primitive Baptist Library Carthage, IL ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. BOYD, Jay Clinton or Clinton Jay Boyd b. 1883 in MN> Midvale, ID Clinton may have gone by Jay---Boyd was a farmer and living in Midvale as of 1959 per family records. Would love to connect with descendants to share family stories and photos. Welcome to the IDWASHIN mailing list!! PLEASE SAVE THIS INFORMATION so you have it for future reference. PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE of your fellow list members. Some folks are beginners at computers and some to genealogy. The world is a better place when we are all patient with each other. Personal attacks, criticism, or flaming are never permitted. HOW DO YOU POST? Send an email to idwashin@rootsweb.com WHAT SHOULD YOU POST? 1. Questions about your ancestors. Give as much detail as you can. 2. Interesting history that is relevant to the list. 3. Genealogy and family history conferences, even if they charge for admission. 4. Genealogy societies should feel free to post about their society and their websites. 5. Book reviews of genealogy books are reasonable to post. A list of books is not, but sharing a good genealogy book you've found is a good idea. 6. Links to personal blogs that are about genealogy. They can be your blog or another. Even if the blog has ads, that is not a problem. 7. New collections on various genealogy sites that are relevant. We don't want advertisements, but if you find an interesting collection on Ancestry, FamilySearch, Library of Congress, or some other site that has relevance to the list, let people know. WHAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR POST? 1. An informative but concise subject line. 2. When replying to a previous message, be sure to check that the intended recipient's address is showing in the Send To box of your email BEFORE clicking on SEND. 3. Proofread and be sure you want your post public. All posts go in the archives! WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE? Send an email to idwashin-leave@rootsweb.com and put unsubscribe in the subject and body and nothing else.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1471
__label__cc	0.700081	0.299919	Smith cleared of child assault charges Seven charges against Jason Smith of East Machias have been dismissed and he has pled no contest to aggravated assault, for which he will be on probation for three years. Smith spent 125 days in the Washington County Jail after being charged with gross sexual assault, unlawful sexual conduct and assault, visual aggression against a child, solicitation of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child. The charges dated to an alleged incident in June, 2017. DylanJan 15,2019 DECH brings a smidgen of Potter Dec. 10 Machias airport receives $270k for new terminal, road reconstruction WA senior Farnsworth awarded MPA award	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1480
__label__cc	0.718219	0.281781	resorcinal adhesive Weldwood Plastic Resin Glue - DAP Weldwood ® Plastic Resin Glue is a powdered, ureaformaldehyde wood glue activated by mixing with water. Forms a bond stronger than the wood itself. Mets Fed. Spec. A-A-3052. Low VOC. CASCOPHEN \| Aircraft Spruce A Resorcinol Formaldehyde Adhesive capable of curing at room temperature and providing strong, durable, waterproof bonds. Comes in two parts, a liquid resin (part A) and a powered catalyst (part B). the liquid resin is an alcohol-water solution of a partially condensed resorcinol-formaldehyde resin containing a suitable reinforcing cellulosic filler. Propeller Carver's Store - resorcinol glue, books Books. Propeller Making for the Amateur - By Eric Clutton. The author is a technical studies (industrial arts) teacher, and maintains that making propellers is as much an art as an exact science, since there … TimbaTech Products - TimbaTech Pty Ltd TimbaTech Products . Polyurethane Adhesive Cartridge Polyurethane Adhesive Cartridge Express Polyurethane Adhesive Sausage Resorcinol glue - WoodenBoat Mar 06, 2010· So Resorcinol the daddy of all adhesives is the second cheapest, beaten only by Aerolite. Resorcinol glue line is much thinner so less adhesive will be used in any glue job than epoxy increasing cost savings. It can be wiped off with a wet sponge before cured unlike epoxy. Most epoxy smells and can lead to sensitisation, resorcinol much less so. Resorcinol \| Article about Resorcinol by The Free Dictionary (also resorcin, m-dihydroxybenzene), colorless crystals with a sweetish taste that are readily soluble in water, alcohol, and ether.Resorcinol has a melting point of 110.8°C and a boiling point of 280.8°C. … Home -Phenol-Resorcinol-Formaldehyde adhesives - Wood . AkzoNobel Phenol-Resorcinol-Formaldehyde systems are used in load-bearing constructions and in other applications where there is demand for high water resistance. Phenol-Resorcinol-formaldehyde adhesives are mainly used in the structural application area. The dark glue line is strong and resistant to both weather and water. Epoxy or Resorcinol-based glue \| Boat Design Net Aug 12, 2009· Fiberglass cloth intended for composite production has a textile 'finish' of either Volan or Silane. Without getting too deep into what these are and why you need them in the first place, just … Resorcinol \| C6H6O2 - PubChem Resorcinol \| C6H6O2 \| CID 5054 - structure, chemical names, physical and chemical properties, classification, patents, literature, biological activities, safety . Aerodux Resorcinol Resin Kit - 1 Quart - amazon Nov 15, 2015· Aerodux Resorcinol Resin Kit - 1 Quart . Use Aerodux 185 liquid phenol-resorcinol resin adhesive mixed with a powder hardener provides cold-setting weatherproof and gap-filling adhesives especially suited to the manufacture of exterior high hazard structural components as defined in BS 5268 : … Resorcinol glue - Wikipedia Resorcinol glue, also known as resorcinol-formaldahyde, is an adhesive combination of resin and hardener that withstands long-term water immersion and has high resistance to ultraviolet light. The adhesive, introduced in 1943, has been popular in aircraft and boat construction. Until the invention of epoxy resin, resorcinol was one of the most common marine glues. Resorcinol - definition of resorcinol by The Free Dictionary a white, needlelike, water-soluble solid, C 6 H 6 O 2, used chiefly in making dyes, as a reagent, in tanning, in the synthesis of certain resins, and as a skin medication. resorcinal glue Archives - Hansen Buildings It is a high performance, two component adhesive which is designed to provide the strongest, most durable bonds in severe service applications. After curing, Resorcinol is unaffected by either salt or fresh water, and other typically corrosive aquatic conditions, as well as outdoor exposure and temperatures ranging from tropical to subzero. BORDEN RESORCINOL ADHESIVES - Hallmark Fraulo Limited Borden Resorcinol adhesives are basically assembly glues, but sometimes they are used for the manufacture of special plywood. For such applications, the glue spread should be reduced to 1.5 to 2.5 kg per 10 m2 depending upon the moisture content and the surface condition of the veneer. Is Weldwood Plastic glue the same as resorcinol Jan 27, 2016· Weldwood is not the same as, nor really similar to, resorcinol. It's my favorite glue for a lot of things, but not for laminating the frames of a serious boat. Resorcinol Resin adhesive mixture is applied to the timber surface before it is too cured to form a bond. The closed assembly time is the maximum time after applying the adhesive mixture to the timber and closing the … Glue / Adhesive Types - glued-laminated-timber Various adhesives may be used for glulam. The polycondensation adhesives such as, melamin-resine and phenol-resorcinal resin adhesives harden through the separation of water and are referred to as glues. The polyurethane adhesives belong to the group of polyaddition adhesives. Resorcinol/Formaldehyde Resins—Adhesives for Wood, and . Abstract. This chapter reviews and presents a perspective of the special qualities of the resorcinol/formaldehyde resins as adhesives for wood and in a variety of other, commercial or potential uses, with the exception of their use as reinforcing resins and bonding agents in vulcanizable rubber compounds which was dealt with separately in Chapter 4. DAP - DAP Looking for premium caulks, sealants, adhesives, or general patch and repair items? DAP manufactures products for all your home improvement needs. A Brief Survey of Wood Adhesives - Purdue Extension adhesive may be much weaker than the materials joined together, but it is developed as the adhesive interacts with the adherends under certain conditions of temperature and pressure. Knowledge and use of adhesives is not new. The anci ent Egyptians . A Brief Survey of Wood Adhesives . Resorcinol adhesive \| Article about resorcinol adhesive by . Looking for resorcinol adhesive? Find out information about resorcinol adhesive. An adhesive which is water-soluble for a period of 2 to 4 hr, and then insoluble and chemically resistant Explanation of resorcinol adhesive Resorcinol test \| definition of resorcinol test by Medical . resorcinol test: a test for fructosuria; fresh urine treated with resorcinol in acid gives a red precipitate in the presence of fructose; the precipitate should form a red solution in ethanol. Synonym(s): Selivanoff … Resorcinol - Wikipedia Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Q & A About Adhesives and Formaldehyde Emissions In the adhesive manufacturing process, formaldehyde is reacted with other chemicals to form a liquid resin, which is either used alone or in combination with other substances as the adhesive in engineered wood products. In Weyerhaeuser manufacturing facilities, the adhesive is … RFL Adhesives (Resorcinol Formaldehyde Latex) :: Warwick Mills RFL in Textile Bonding RFL adhesives (RFLs) are used to treat textiles to make them bondable to rubber. RFL stands for Resorcinol Formaldehyde Latex.RFLs are chemically combined to make a very strong, heat resistant, highly flexible adhesive that is ideally suited for rubber-to-fabric textile bonding. Phenol-Resorcinol adhesives The phenol-resorcinol polymer penetrates very well into wood and makes this polymer particularly suited as wood adhesive for a wide range of wood species. The … Resorcinal's \| G & A Adhesives Ltd No items added yet for this category. © Copyright G&A Adhesives 2018. Terms and Conditions; Register; Credit Application; Disclaimer Edhesive Edhesive provides fully sequenced and paced digital curriculum, teacher resources, professional development, and 7-day per week live support. Why STUDENTS Love Edhesive. High Caliber Content. Courses were developed with the best high school and college educators in the country. BambooRodmaking Tips - Tips Area - Glues - Resorcinal . Cascamite was the adhesive used by the old rodbuilders e.g Hardy, Allcocks etc. during the late 50's and sixties. The problem with this being over the years the adhesive crystallizes and breaks down leading to a gradual delamination. resorcinal adhesive, MATERIAL SAFET Product Name: WELDWOOD WATERPROOF RESORCINOL GLUE(LIQUID RESIN) Revision Date: 12/30/1999 Page 3 \|-----\| \| SECTION 4 - FIRST AID MEASURES \| Pre:shantou chenghai district agar glue factory Next:zinc oxide powder for sale »resorcinol adhesive glue advantages and disadvantages »tmq pencil manufacturers »how liters of water should i mix with sodium benzoate »chinese manufacturer of potassium sorbate »manufacturing of propylene glycol »where can i buy agar agar powder in mabalaca »cbs rubber accelerator »toy house factory thf 03 dynastron »1 naphthalenamine n phenyl »where to buy agar powder in general santos city »zinc oxide nanoparticles dispersion buying »dose irish gold snail has hydroqunor chemical »antioxidant d »glucose syrup supplier »desmodur re suppliers in uae »soft gel capsule manufacturers »can acetic acid be produced in the manufacture of calcium proprionate »zn oxide nanoparticles size particle 10 30 nm purity 99 price »bht usp manufacturers »diatomaceous earth supplier	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1494
__label__wiki	0.660309	0.660309	Marina da Gama Live the Marina lifestyle Marina Property of the Month New culvert on the cards Editor Community November 1, 2017 November 1, 2017 0 Comment From Constantiaberg Bulletin Work on replacing the culvert on the Westlake River in Lakeside has begun. The City of Cape Town said the old 3m-wide Westlake River culvert was very old and had created a dip in the riding surface of the Main Road. A new culvert with a width of approximately 6m would be constructed to replace the existing problematic culvert. Mayoral committee member for area south, Eddie Andrews, said during building operations the City would maintain two-way traffic flow. He said the contract would initially have a slow start with the relocation of electrical, fibre-optic, and telephone cables alongside the road, and the relocation of a large water main. The construction of the new culvert would commence thereafter. “Although residents will see some activity on the site, the physical construction of the culvert will commence only within the next five weeks or so. “The work will be done in phases to ensure that two lanes remain open to traffic at all times. However, the right-turn lane from Main Road into Chenel Way will be closed during the construction of the new culvert,” he said. “The first phase will entail the widening of the culvert on both ends while traffic is accommodated on the central portion of the existing culvert. Once completed, traffic will be diverted onto the new portions while the central portion of the new culvert is being constructed,” said Mr Andrews. Temporary traffic signs and delineators will be in place to guide traffic where the road is deviated. Flagmen will be utilised when necessary to assist with the control of the traffic. The R20 million job will take about 12 months to complete, if all goes as planned. “Once completed, the investment in the new culvert will contribute to the general safety of the road and the longevity of the infrastructure. I want to thank residents in advance for their patience and cooperation,” said Mr Andrews. SLR Consulting has been appointed to provide the environmental control officer services for the duration of the construction period and they will be undertaking monthly site visits. The position of the site office has not yet been finalised. This Post is sponsored by Chas Everitt Cape Town South ← Notice of immediate implementation of water rationing across Cape Town Save Water – Stop Eating Meat! → Subscribe to Marina Da Gama Enter your email address to subscribe to the Marina Da Gama blog. Leeann Poggenpoel Get a service driven agent to help you with your Marina da Gama buying and selling needs. Leeann Poggenpoel is an agent you'd recommend to a friend! Call her on: Cell Number 083 662 6484 Office Number 021 712 5029 Copyright © 2020 Marina da Gama. Powered by WordPress. Theme: Accelerate by ThemeGrill.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1495
__label__cc	0.59946	0.40054	David Kenny Signs LEAD Network CEO Pledge To Advance Women At Nielsen PRNewswire March 11, 2019, 3:22 pm March 11, 2019 Nielsen CEO pledges to increase representation of women in senior leadership positions. Nielsen CEO David Kenny committed to advancing the careers of women at Nielsen around the world by signing on to the LEAD (Leading Executives Advancing Diversity) Network CEO Pledge. The pledge emphasizes Nielsen’s commitment to increase women in senior leadership roles globally. Kenny signed the pledge in concurrence with International Women’s Day, which was also celebrated by thousands of Nielsen associates around the world. The company plans to adhere to the pledge by implementing a gender parity & inclusion plan includes the following specific actions: Engaging in courageous conversations about ways to truly create inclusive cultures where everyone can thrive. Educating employees about the negative impact of bias on retention, development and advancement of women. Continuing to coach and mentor female & diverse employees, while also increasing senior leader sponsorship of these associates. Assessing current recruiting strategies and ensuring there are intentional efforts to hire, promote and pay equitably female & diverse employees. Continuing to mandate a diverse slate hiring process committed to always selecting the best talent, and requiring 100% of those considered to be diverse. Articulating goals, using data to track progress and holding leaders accountable for actions. Leveraging employee resource groups for women to gain exposure and visibility through broader networks. Marketing Technology News: video intelligence Announces New Editorial Features for Contextual Video “Our entire organization is united in the pursuit of bigger, bolder outcomes,” said Kenny. “The pledge is a firm commitment that we will hire, retain and promote women. When we fulfill that commitment, the outcome is not just greater representation of women in our organization; it also will lead to better business results for us and for our clients.” The European chapter of the Women in Nielsen (WIN) employee resource group leads Nielsen’s engagement with LEAD Network. Several of Nielsen’s global leaders have engaged directly with LEAD by conducting webinars, appearing in their newsletters and speaking at their conferences. Many CEOs of LEAD Network member companies have signed the pledge. Nielsen is a founding partner of LEAD Network, and will continue to dialogue with the other member organizations to increase opportunities and parity for women throughout the world. Marketing Technology News: AdTheorent Bolsters Executive Team with Appointment of Bill Todd as CRO, Formerly with Conversant “The power of our organization is our people,” said Nancy Phillips, Chief Human Resources Officer for Nielsen. “David’s signature on the LEAD Network pledge sends a visible message that we’re committed and serious about accelerating gender parity and inclusion. This is important for many reasons, but in my mind, one very important reason is that with gender parity, we’ll have the critical skills and perspectives that women bring to help us effectively address current and future business challenges.” Nielsen’s efforts to increase the representation of women in senior leadership will build upon existing gender inclusion policies and practices that were recently recognized on the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index and — for the third year in a row — by the Working Mother Institute and AVTAR, on their annual list of the best companies for women in India. The pledge exemplifies Nielsen’s global inclusion policies, which have been recognized by numerous organizations including the Human Rights Campaign in the US and Mexico. Marketing Technology News: SiriusXM Creates First Content Team at Pandora Media David KennyInternational Women’s DayLEAD NetworkMarketing Technology NewsNewsNielsen Previous ArticleDaniel Graff-Radford Joins Allbound as Chief Executive OfficerNext ArticleDiscovery Platform Raleigh & Drake Acquires Social Network and Travel Tool MARBL	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1500
__label__wiki	0.603006	0.603006	The Legal Examiner logo The Legal Examiner Mark The Legal Examiner Mark The Legal Examiner Mark search twitter facebook feed linkedin instagram google-plus avvo phone envelope checkmark mail-reply spinner error close The Legal Examiner Brought to you by Milestone Consulting, LLC The Legal Examiner Defective & Dangerous Products FDA & Prescription Drugs Medical Devices & Implants Medicare Set Asides Uncategorized 1 min read Army-Navy to play in NJ in 2021- Philadelphia 4 more times John Bair Aug 22, 2017 Share story on Facebook Share story on Twitter Share story on LinkedIn Share story via email Getting on a bus at 5am might have been the best experience to see a football game. The trip to Veterans memorial stadium took about 6 hours. As freshman or plebes, we wore our uniform on the bus, watched the game after march on and then rode the bus back to West Point. The rivalry between Army and Navy still feels good today. I’m glad to see this game stay in Philly, but am also glad to see that we will be playing what some refer to as the football game of the year in NJ, in 2021. The 20th year since the September 11th attacks. That game will be special. What is amazing about this game, is that our service members throughout the world, as best they can, pause and unite as Americans, and celebrate our history and traditions. I love watching the videos of Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Soldiers in various parts of the world, keeping us safe while we sleep, cheering for their favorite team. Let’s enjoy the next 5 years. https://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2017-08-22/army-navy-to-play-in-nj-in-2021-philadelphia-4-more-times A West Point graduate where he served as captain and military aviator, John Bair continues his commitment to our country through his efforts within the settlement planning industry. He has represented families of victims lost in the Flight 3407 crash, offered pro bono services to the families of 9/11 victims and drafted the first consumer protection bill for plaintiffs (H.R. 3699). FMCSA to Delay Trucking Rule Updating Entry-Level Driver Training Requirements by as Much as Two Years Until recently, the compliance date for the upcoming “Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators” was set for Feb. 7, 2020. The Entry-Level… Florence J. Murray How tort victims who need income can fix the structured settlement industry How can tort victims with purchasing power fix the structured settlement industry? They can be buyers of structured contracts or structured settlement annuities that are bought and sold every day. To join or not to join AAJ? It’s one of the most important questions for your legal career. AAJ is an unbeatable tool for any trial lawyer’s marketing toolbox. By getting involved in the organization, attorneys benefit from a network of contacts from all over the country, which, at the end of the day, translates to two things: more annual revenue, and lifelong professional relationships. About The Legal Examiner © 2002–2020 All rights reserved. Claris Marketing	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1509
__label__wiki	0.943039	0.943039	Mills Publishing Inc. Your Audience Awaits… Arts Groups University Sports Programs Outdoor Sports Guide View Arts Publications Online View Trade Publications Online Salt Lake REALTOR Utah Physician View Sports Publications Online Utah Utes Basketball – Game Day Program #4 Starts: January 23 Utah vs. Washington* January 23, 2020 Utah vs. Washington State* January 25, 2020 Pac-12 conference game The Runnin’ Utes enter the 2019-20 season after winning at least 20 games and advancing to postseason play five of the last six years. Utah is the only team in the Pac-12 to have finished in the top four in the league five consecutive years. Utah will welcome another impressive slate of Pac-12 and non-conference opponents to the Huntsman Center this season as the… Starts: February 6 Utah vs Stanford February 6, 2020 Utah vs California* February 8, 2020 Pac-12 Conference Games The Runnin’ Utes enter the 2019-20 season after winning at least 20 games and advancing to postseason play five of the last six years. Utah is the only team in the Pac-12 to have finished in the top four in the league five consecutive years. Utah will welcome another impressive slate of Pac-12 and non-conference opponents to the Huntsman Center this season as the iconic… Starts: February 20 Utah vs. UCLA February 20, 2020 Utah vs. USC* February 22, 2020 Pac-12 Conference Games The Runnin’ Utes enter the 2019-20 season after winning at least 20 games and advancing to postseason play five of the last six years. Utah is the only team in the Pac-12 to have finished in the top four in the league five consecutive years. Utah will welcome another impressive slate of Pac-12 and non-conference opponents to the Huntsman Center this season as the iconic… Starts: March 7 Utah vs. Colorado March 7, 2020 *Pac-12 Conference Games The Runnin’ Utes enter the 2019-20 season after winning at least 20 games and advancing to postseason play five of the last six years. Utah is the only team in the Pac-12 to have finished in the top four in the league five consecutive years. Utah will welcome another impressive slate of Pac-12 and non-conference opponents to the Huntsman Center this season as the iconic venue celebrates its 50th anniversary. Over… 3300 South 772 East \| Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 \| 801-467-9419 © 2020 Mills Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1510
__label__cc	0.735652	0.264348	Archive for the tag “Injuries” Opinion: If Guardiola is a tactical mastermind, he should manage with 3 substitutes! Now that the Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola is having his first real test as a professional manager, he wants to revamp the system. So that it can with ease fit his protocol and tactical, mastermind of tactics are struggling with “only” having 3 substitutes in the Premier League. Since he doesn’t have Arjen Robben or Lionel Messi; he has Sergio Agüero and Kevin De Bruyne. Seems, like they are not up-to his level or his standard of football, he is not winning with ease as Guardiola did in Barcelona and Bayern Munich. With History in Mind: “On 21 August 1965 Charlton’s Keith Peacock ensured his place in football history by coming on as substitute for injured goalkeeper Mike Rose at Bolton. The Football League had decided to allow substitutes from the start of the 1965-66 season, although only to replace an injured player. There had been many calls for such a change over the previous decade and the issue achieved prominence after a series of FA Cup finals had seen teams depleted by injury, often with decisive influence on the result” (Bateman, 2016). What Guardiola was saying: “’It’s not just English football, it’s all around the world. We’re going to kill the players,’ Guardiola said” (…) “‘For that reason we have to have huge squads, more money for the clubs to spend. Just three substitutions right now… why can’t you make four, five or six? ‘That [would] mean all the players are involved more than they were before. The coaches can use different tactics, where you can change four or five players’. ‘It’s [then] a more open game, not always the same. Less injuries. Everything would be better. I think UEFA and FIFA have another opinion about that.’” (Gaughan, 2016). So to be able to change a forward, midfield and defence isn’t enough as he has loaned away Joe Hart to Torino, not thought much of many of the other former big-players under Roberto Manchini, Guardiola are now wanting to revolutionize the Substitutions system in the Premier League. This is the same kind of whining we heard similar fashion when Jose Mourinho started his first period in Chelsea. That there we’re to many matches in the Christmas and around New Years, as the Premier League and cup matches happens nearly every 3 day with no Christmas break as in other European leagues. So now Guardiola, the tactical genius, the mastermind of football cannot manage to change 3 out 11 players on the pitch, as he cannot see this fitting the time schedule with Champions League and other cups. That sounds weak, as Alex Ferguson managed well for a decade with that in Manchester United. He has not been proclaimed the FOOTBALL mastermind and the one who could make water into wine. The new-wine is to be able to substitute half of the team as the strength of modern players are lacking, the ease of heavy training make them more fragile as their salaries has surged and the level of tattoo’s are more common than on seamen back-in-the-day. That Guardiola has to and wants to change half his team says more about his lacking consideration and wish to have bigger squads. Because if they can substitute 6 players, the bench shouldn’t be 7 players with 6 players eligible to play on the field and one keeper! Than the number of substitutes should be 12 players and 11 eligible players to play on the field. That means that the squad of a team would be 23 players not the 18 players that it’s now. That together with the maximum squads registered into UEFA Champions League and Football Association (FA) for Premier League. Something that will make the richest and powerful teams grab more of the talent and more of skilled players without needing farmer-clubs to keep the level of world-class professional players elsewhere. Guardiola just want it easy and make the changes as he sees certain players without form or without character on the field playing Burnley instead of intelligence of how to use those three to change the game. This isn’t what I expected of Guardiola, I thought he would cope with the Premier League and not bitches like this. The Arrogance of wanting to revamp an old system because he has a hard time isn’t wisdom. It’s the easy fix out. Just like I felt with Mourinho when he was nagging on the amounts of matches in the Christmas and New Year’s period! Man-up Guardiola! You who are supposed to be a mastermind, a tactician use the system and hit it hard. You have a club with fortunes to spend; you got workmates from Barcelona to help you out in the corners of Football Academy and the scouting after talent on the continent. You Guardiola have a grand opportunity to prove your skills. I feel the same way to ranting Mourinho who said this in 2013: “We go into the Christmas period and the accumulation of matches is so high, we don’t do it as a normal thing, we do it as a special group with a special mentality, enjoying the situation, forgetting we don’t have a Christmas break like the Spanish, Italian and German players. We don’t have that” (…) “But we have the pleasure of playing a period that’s only for the braves. I like that very, very much.” (…) “”I enjoyed it when I was in England before and I missed it when I was in Spain and Italy. Now I’m back I want to enjoy it, I want the players to enjoy it, and we need a special mentality to cope with that situation” (…) “Nine matches and one of them is the match against Steaua. That’s our motivation for tomorrow, to try to kill the situation in the group phase and give us a little bit of space in December; instead of having nine real, competitive matches, we only have eight” (HGH Magic – ‘Mourinho: Christmas fixtures only for the braves!’ (26.11.2013) link: http://www.chelsea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=538783#ixzz4SZILKQJi). It’s time for Pep to cope with the Premier League, to play with the cards that are dealt and the cards on the table. He cannot think that his stature and his former accolades will give him way to fix the FA. Pep is not the first or last former successful manager trying himself in the Premier League. There aren’t many leagues with more substitutes over 3 + one extra if the goalkeeper is injured in the overtime. This is something that Pep should be able to fix it! PEP, time to man-up eats the pupping-pop and figure out possible ways of using the players, the club and the league. Not complaining and wanting a revolution because you cannot handle the pressure. Time to think through your skill-set, talk with your fellow compatriots and club apparatus in Manchester City; they should help you and give you advice so you can manage 3 substitutes as it has been for decades. Peace. Bateman, Jason – ‘Fifty years of substitutions in football: from necessary novelties to tactical tools’ (18.09.2016) link: https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2015/sep/18/fifty-years-substitutions-football-sport Gaughan, Jack – ‘Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola urges football authorities to allow managers to use more than three subs’ (10.11.2016) Link:: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4018792/Manchester-City-boss-Pep-Guardiola-urges-football-authorities-allow-managers-use-three-subs.html#ixzz4SZ8BtdBN Posted in Discussion, Europe, Football, Leadership and tagged Alex Ferguson, Arjen Robben, Barclays Premier League, Bolton, Champions League, Charlton, Different Tactics, English Football, European Leagues, FA, FIFA, Football Association, Football Rules, Football Squads, German, Guardiola, Injured Player, Injuries, Italy, Jose Mourinho, Keith Peacock, Kevin De Bruyne, Lionel Messi, Manchester City, Mastermind, Mike Rose, Pep Guardiola, Premier League, Roberto Manchini, Sergio Agüero, Spain, Squad, Substitution, Tactical Mastermind, Tactician, Team, UEFA, UEFA Champions League \| Leave a comment The Police say the Boycott from “FDC is Illegal!” The Police use their holy grail POMA, and that some actually stay home in solidarity with Besigye today; Actual shop-keepers get arrested for closing their store in Rukungiri today! Today it is first Thursday when many people stay home in solidarity to Dr. Kizza Besigye’s house arrest and the stealing of the votes on 18th Feburary 2016. The Police can’t handle that people are staying home and not talking. They can’t gather evidence and find out who really is opposition to harass. Therefore the CP of the Police said this to the media! And he had to use Public Order Management Act (POMA) the bill who is more used in Uganda then the Constitution to give the Police right to whatever they want. “These demonstrations are deemed illegal because they are not authorized by Police as required under the Public Order Management Act, due to the potential of culminating into riots across the city; including arson, looting of properties, destruction and vandalism, and violent clashes between Police and rock throwing protesters. It is on record during the last such unlawful protests that several businesses reported damage, buildings destroyed, vehicles vandalized and injuries sustained,” says Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson” (Afunah, 2016). That not going to work is illegal and not authorized from the Police is amazing. That the Police can state that you are making arson and potentially destroying property by not going to work is flamboyant at best. Take look here: Eyewitness: “Time check. 9:00 am I am at home i mean staying at home. The thought rung in my mind..go out and access the situation and find out the public response towards call for stay at home. Here i took a 5 minute walk to Kitintale taxi stage. This is one of the busiest stages in Kampala” And if the police has issues with black or blue t-shirts while walking to work, it proves their partisanship and really, really foolish to demolish this way of showing their agony in public. The Police might not gotten a petition or form filled in with the planned demonstration, but the issue is that if they had filled it in, they would not been accepted. They have themselves aggressively preventative arrests of FDC and GO-Forward activists/officials/agents. Therefore the initial activities from the Police is not giving justice, but securing the Presidency and the elite of NRM. Not caring about democratic actions as they have sieged the home of Dr. Kizza Besigye since before the Election Day, the way the Police has attacked the Najjankumbi Headquarter have been raided twice. So if the Police expected that the FDC would comply with their rules now, it would be strange as they themselves has no regards for laws or regulations as they attack the FDC and Go-Forward by any means since the 18th of February. The Demonstration of the FDC and their supporters is peaceful defiance and defying the institutions and businesses that supply funding to the NRM-Regime. They do not say that people should stay home if they fear of losing their job! It is a demonstration of character as they will defy the regime by peaceful means. The destruction and vandalism is more the way of the Police and Army as they hurt and kill. While the FDC want to wear a shirt and stop using MTN. If that is hard for Police to understand, I understand that as they have shown that they only understand violence, as they create it or harass the public. The Police cannot harass the public if they stay in their own home. They are allowed not to listen to Bebe Cool or Dr. Jose Chameleone or anybody else who supported President Museveni during his campaigning. They can listen to Bobi Wine or Lucky Dube if they want to, with that should cause tension. As much as staying home is a way of showing disaffection, if you couldn’t do that; than the public could do that through clothing as a sign of defying the regime; both of them are is soft and peaceful ways of demonstrations, not making the violence and creating vandalism. So Uganda Police I do not know what you do in your homes if that is violent or vandalism, but that is up to you, and if the public is wearing something dangerous by wearing blue or black. Than you should start to wear that yourself since the Police are often the most dangerous, as you throw tear-gas, live-bullets and other aggressive behavior towards the people. And telling people that they are breaking the “Public Order” by staying home or even wearing some other clothing is just unserious, even if the FDC and the FDC NEC didn’t send a form displaying the articles and decisions to demonstrate peacefully in the country. The actions of Rukungiri where shops have been closed in solidarity of the FDC and “Free My vote” campaign; the shop owners are now being arrested and detained by the Police; So the Police have now lawful power to tell if the stores can be open and closed. By the assumption of the public display arresting Mr. Batuma and Mr. Sonko of Sonko Electronics in Rukungiri who has been arrested today after their store been closed. The FDC has been informed that UPF is looking out for business-owners that closed their businesses voluntarily. Is this the proud state of Police and NRM-Regime that you order businesses to be open or be detained by government forces? Is that parts of President Museveni’s pledges and speaking of peace during the pre-election period. As nobody could create violence or unrest in the country as long as he was President, the old man with hat and his security organizations has gone to far, when they take the men who lay down the work in solidarity for a cause and then detaining them, while looking for the other ones. The people do this without creating any of the violence and vandalism. Even if a government car got burnt by the Electoral Commission offices in Kampala, compared to the violence you created when Dr. Kizza Besigye was crossing town to go to the Makerere rally on the 15th February 2016, this here has been nothing. I am sure the Police will blame it on the opposition, even if it was the Police themselves blazing the car, even if it was just a disgruntled employee of the Electoral Commission, who hadn’t gotten his/hers pay-check. So if the Police struggle with the sit-home demonstrations and the clothing to show allegiance with opposition, with boycotting NRM and showing public disobedience. That should be allowed and not be questioned. Peace. Afunah, Badru – ‘Police Warns As FDC’s Protests Begin’ (10.03.2016) link: http://news.ugo.co.ug/police-warns-fdcs-protests-begin/ Posted in Africa, Army, Business, Civil Service, Development, Economic Measures, Economy, Election, Ethics, Governance, Government, Law, Leadership, Politics, Tax, Trade and tagged 2016 General Election, 2016 General Election Uganda, Aggressive Actions, Aggressive Behavior, Arson, Bebe Cool, Black T-Shirts, Bobi Wine, Boycott, CP Fred Enanga, Demonstration, Detaining, Disaffection, Disobidience, Dr. Jose Chameleone, Dr. Kizza Besigye, Dr. Warren Smith Kizza Besigye Kifefe, East Africa, Edward Kale Kayihura, Enaga, FDC, FDC Headquarters Najjanankumbi, FDC HQ in Najjankumbi, FDC NEC, FDC Rukungiri, Forum for Democratic Change, Fred Enaga, Free My vote, Freedom, Gen. Kale Kayihura, GoU, Government of Uganda, H. E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, H.E. Yoweri Museveni, IGP Gen Kale Kayihura, IGP Kale Kayihura, Injuries, Kale Kayihura, Kampala, Kitintale Taxi Stage, Kizza Besigye, Kizza Besigye Kifefe, Lawful Power, Liberty, Looting, Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni., Lucky Dube, Mr. Batuma, Mr. Sonko, National Resistance Movement, No Work Thursday, NRM, NRM Regime, Police, POMA, President Museveni, Presidential Election 2016 Uganda, Public Display, Public ORder, Public Order Management Act, Riots, Rukungiri, Solidarity, Sonko Electronics, Uganda, Uganda General Election 2016, Uganda Police Force, Uganda Presidential Election 2016, Unlawful Protest, Unrest, Unserious, UPF, Vandalism, Violence, Voluntarily, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Yoweri Museveni \| Leave a comment	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1511
__label__cc	0.715533	0.284467	Is it acceptable to post answers in Swift on iOS/OS X questions marked with the Objective-C tag and vice versa? Since the unveiling of Swift, I've noticed a lot of iOS/OS X questions (both new and old) marked with the Objective-C tag receiving answers in Swift. I've also seen in many cases users commenting on these answers or even downvoting because the question was marked as Objective-C. My take on this is that an answer in Swift should still be acceptable (as long as the question is not too language dependent) because the APIs and development environment are still pretty much the same, it just means that people will have to take some time to convert the code (which shouldn't take much time anyway if you actually understand the logic behind the code). It also helps future readers who have the same question and want the code in swift for convenience. You can typically find both languages used in the answers anyway on hot/popular questions. Now questions specifically about the Objective-C or Swift language should obviously be answered in their respective language. But when answering questions in general on iOS/OS X development I think as long as the answer answers the question, it should be acceptable, regardless of the language. It may not be the ideal answer the asker was looking for. But I don't see any harm in having both Objective-c and Swift answers on a question. Perhaps in such cases we should edit the question tag to include both Swift and Objective-C? Or just don't include either when the language is not significant? This is just my opinion of course. I would like to see what others think of this question because I am still unsure. discussion answers AstroCB Epic ByteEpic Byte A related, and perhaps more involved question: should questions asking for a way to solve something, tagged as Swift, be closed as duplicates of questions that have answers for how to do that in Objective-C? See the debate around this question: stackoverflow.com/questions/28263403/… as an example. Do we want the older Objective-C iOS and Mac development questions to be re-asked in Swift? – Brad Larson♦ Feb 3 '15 at 18:17 I have downvoted many such answers, but only where the question is truely about Objective-C. Such a question would be of the "I have a problem when I try to do X" variety. I doubt anyone is going to rewrite their 10k line program into Swift so they can use an answer from SO. But there are other questions such as "How do you use API Y?" that would benefit from answers in both languages. – JasonMArcher Feb 3 '15 at 18:47 On the other hand, @BradLarson, we wouldn't mark a question about doing something with a third-party Android/Java SDK as a duplicate of the same task for the iOS/ObjC version of the SDK, even though (as you say) "what's important here is the API, not [the language]". I'm sort of split on this question. You're right that e.g., "How do I store an NSColor in NSUserDefaults... in Swift?" is probably not going to produce a substantially different answer than the ObjC version. But I also really don't think that replying in Swift to a question whose code is ObjC (or v.v.) is particularly helpful. – jscs Feb 3 '15 at 19:29 Of course, the basic competency of the asker is a part of this issue, too. Swift is a C-like language, whose syntax is even in part based on ObjC. For simple tasks -- like the two-line solution to the question @Brad linked -- it's not entirely unreasonable to expect the poster to be able to do the translation. But then again, as time moves on, there are likely to be developers who start with Swift, never really learning ObjC. What should we expect of them; is there any reason not to have Swift-specific artifacts on SO for them? – jscs Feb 3 '15 at 19:34 @JoshCaswell - The interesting aspect is that the APIs were defined in Objective-C, with Swift built in part to provide backwards compatibility to this, and we've grown a large knowledge base around Objective-C. For questions where the Swift implementation would deviate significantly from Objective-C (due to language features or things like pointer handling), I can definitely see these standing on their own. We might see a larger number of "translate this for me" questions as developers are brought up in a Swift-first environment, and I'm genuinely curious as to how we should handle these. – Brad Larson♦ Feb 3 '15 at 19:44 would posting answers in Groovy, Scala, Python, or JavaScript to a question tagged Java be appropriate just because the JVM can execute those languages as well? – user177800 Feb 4 '15 at 16:43 @JarrodRoberson But the question wouldn't be about the language, but rather how to use the APIs. So that analogy doesn't really work. – Epic Byte Feb 4 '15 at 16:50 and do not go adding language tags if someone has already added one or the other, if a question is in C# and you want to provide a VB.net answer you do not get to just add the VB.net language tag unilaterally, that would be a harmful edit. – user177800 Feb 4 '15 at 16:51 how is a question with the language tag java not about the java language? would a question tagged regex that was about parsing get a yacc/bison/antlr answer as a valid answer? No, it would not. Would someone be out of line adding those tags just so they could answer in that context? Yes they would. This is a ridiculous circular argument you are making about implied overly broad semantics. By your skewed logic, every thing can be answered in any language because it is all about programming or algorithms right? – user177800 Feb 4 '15 at 16:53 @JarrodRoberson The problem is the Objective-C tag is often used in questions that are not about the language but about the APIs. People either use that tag accidentally, or maybe they use it because that is the language they are working with and want their response in. – Epic Byte Feb 4 '15 at 17:07 Are you a mind reader? if they tagged Obj-C then who are you to second guess that they do not expect an answer in Obj-C? If someone asks about doing something in Spring and adds the Scala language tag then they are expecting an answer in Scala not Groovy or Java or whatever. And changing, removing or adding a language tag unilaterally is vandalism. A question about finding if a Point lies inside a Polygon tagged with C would expect an answer in C and not in C++ or any other language. – user177800 Feb 4 '15 at 17:07 @EpicByte If I'm following you correctly, I don't think I'd mind a swift answer to my Objective-C question (if it's broad enough, as you say, and not a specific to Objective-C problem), but as soon as someone comes along and posts your exact code translated to Objective-C, I would select their answer instead. I might even write my own answer of your Swift code translated to Obj-C and select it over yours. In other words, I'd say "You are being helpful, but your answer cannot be correct, fundamentally" – Patrick Feb 4 '15 at 17:08 This looks very similar to .NET VB/C#. It's kind of rude to answer in C# when someone asked a question about VB.NET, but if the question is about the framework in general then it doesn't mater. – the_lotus Feb 5 '15 at 20:28 @BradLarson Beleive it or not, there already are iOS developers who have learned only Swift: stackoverflow.com/questions/28357177/… – nhgrif Feb 6 '15 at 1:53 @nhgrif - Sure, I sit on an advisory board for a local college and watched them migrate their entire Mac / iOS degree program over to Swift last summer. That's the language their new students are learning, but they are still making sure these students can at least read Objective-C. There are far too many resources (like questions here) in Objective-C that without this literacy these students would be at a disadvantage. They may not be able to develop in Objective-C, but they at least can read and translate it to Swift. – Brad Larson♦ Feb 6 '15 at 16:54 The problem here is that Objective-C is a programming language that many people confuse with the standard framework (Cocoa and Cocoa Touch depending on the target platform). The result is that many questions that really regard the frameworks are (mis)tagged objective-c when they should be tagged cocoa or cocoa-touch. Had they been tagged with the proper tags from the beginning, then nobody would find it strange that answers provide examples in Objective-C, Swift, Python, AppleScript, etc. If a question is clearly about the frameworks (a tableview and its relation to the data source and delegate, for instance), then I see nothing wrong with a an answer that uses Swift (or any other language) to show how to do it - along with an explanation that the issue is about the framework and not the programming language used to access it. Let the votes determine if the answer is good. MonoloMonolo Very good point! This confusion between Objective-C, Foundation and Cocoa has always been a problem on SO. – idmean Feb 4 '15 at 15:44 And someone should re-tag the question appropriately. – OrangeDog Feb 4 '15 at 16:49 But what if they use that tag because that is the language they are working with and want to let readers know what language to answer in? – Epic Byte Feb 4 '15 at 17:09 @EpicByte If it is really necessary for the OP to get an answer with example code in Objective-C, someone else can provide such an answer. Then the OP can upvote and accept it and everybody is happy. SO will even have a question with two useful answers. Of course all this requires that people can move mentally between the framework and the related APIs for different languages - and some will have to learn that. – Monolo Feb 4 '15 at 18:06 Absolutely agreed. The objc tag excerpt in fact includes exactly this guidance: "don't use the tag if the language isn't essential to the post or its answers", but there's too many posts; as a practical matter it's unenforceable. I do what I can when I'm around, though. – jscs Feb 4 '15 at 21:48 @JoshCaswell So in the case where the objc tag is not used properly, a swift answer should be acceptable? – Epic Byte Feb 4 '15 at 22:15 Yeah, I don't see why not, @EpicByte, though a) I'd want to see the tag removed, not just ignored, and b) that does open the door to stuff like "here's an answer in Python using PyObjC/here's an answer in RubyCocoa/here's the MonoTouch answer/here's an answer in Nu!", which seems to be sliding slowly down a gradient of helpfulness. But that's probably a bit of a stretch, and those answers will be few enough that they can be dealt with individually. – jscs Feb 5 '15 at 20:34 @EpicByte In the case where the objc tag is not used properly, the objc tag should be removed. – nhgrif Feb 6 '15 at 1:48 If the question is tagged objective-c, you should do your best to answer it in Objective-C. It's the same throughout the website; Java questions typically don't get answered in Scala. Robert HarveyRobert Harvey Would you say that the reverse holds as well? What do you think of the situation that Brad linked to above? – jscs Feb 3 '15 at 19:36 @EpicByte: In what way is my example not precisely like Objective C and Swift? You can still use Java libraries in Scala; that's kind of the whole point. – Robert Harvey Feb 3 '15 at 21:01 I'm arguing that answering in either Swift or Obj-C makes more sense for iOS/OS X development. It is less about the language, and more about the APIs. Also you didn't really answer the question explicitly. The question is whether Swift can be an acceptable answer. You simply said, try to write in Obj-C when the Obj-C tag is present. Are you implying that code in swift is not acceptable when the Obj-C tag is present? – Epic Byte Feb 3 '15 at 21:20 Perhaps the bigger question is. Should the Obj-C or Swift tag be included on a development question in the first place. Let's say the Obj-C tag was included on a question about aligning a UILabel. Does that mean all answers should be in Obj-C? And that an answer written in Swift is unacceptable? If so, does that mean a new question should be created for Swift? Should instead the question be edited to include the Swift tag? Should the Obj-C tag simply be removed from the question? These are the problems with language specific tags on general iOS/OS X development questions. – Epic Byte Feb 3 '15 at 21:35 ...whether Swift can be an acceptable answer -- Generally, no, unless the OP has tagged with Swift. or there are no language tags at all. – Robert Harvey Feb 3 '15 at 21:55 Should the Obj-C or Swift tag be included on a development question in the first place. -- Yes, if you expect to get an answer involving code. In what universe do you need answers that require code in both Objective C and Swift? If you need that, then just ask for it. – Robert Harvey Feb 3 '15 at 21:56 Questions and answers are not just for the asker, but the community as a whole. The asker might use a code tag because that is the language he/she prefers the answer in, but why should it be unacceptable for someone to also provide an answer in Swift for convenience for those using Swift? I don't think we should separate the two if the question itself is not language dependent. The way I see it, if someone is asking a iOS/OS X development question, it shouldn't matter which language I use to answer in as long as the question isn't about a specific language. – Epic Byte Feb 3 '15 at 22:35 Do your best to answer in Objective-C, and if you're going to provide Swift then make sure it's done in the context of "you can also do it this way using Swift", after providing the Objective-C version. – aroth Feb 4 '15 at 3:54 answers in any other language than the one tagged should get your answer down-voted at best and flagged not an answer or both at worst. – user177800 Feb 4 '15 at 16:47 @aroth Maybe you should make your comment into an answer to this question. I think you have a good point. – Epic Byte Feb 4 '15 at 16:52 Answering on Objective-C it's the way to do it, but contributing on helping the iOS ecosystem moving forward to a new way of doing things as it's Swift should be Ok too. – axierjhtjz Feb 4 '15 at 16:57 No. Incorrect tag usage and incorrect answering based on the tag being used incorrectly does not a correct situation make. The tags should be fixed to reflect the asker's intent, and then the question should be answered based on the correct tag usage. – Robert Harvey Feb 4 '15 at 22:28 Aren't you over-thinking this a bit? Just use your common sense. I personally would ask which language they want the example to be in, and then add that tag to their question. – Robert Harvey Feb 4 '15 at 23:00 All you need to know is already in my answer. – Robert Harvey Feb 4 '15 at 23:10 @axierjhtjz Not sure I agree. Moving the iOS ecosystem to 'a new way of doing things' is Apple's agenda, and it's not our responsibility to further it. If the ecosystem does move, it should happen organically because it's what iOS developers want to happen. And in that case the questions will naturally trend towards asking for Swift more than Objective-C, without any deliberate action on the community's part. – aroth Feb 5 '15 at 0:49 Below is opinion of a n00b. Answers should, first and foremost, answer the question posed by the asker. If someone posts a question asking for help on their Objective-C code -- and you give a response of how to achieve the result in Swift then you are not answering the question asked (although your contribution may well be useful for others). Many (most?) questions will only get a single answer. People look at questions, and if they already see an answer with up-votes (or that doesn't look like complete crap) they're less likely to post their own. If you post an answer that doesn't help the user, which is the first answer, you're almost denying that user the help they seek. For this reason, I think that -- unless there is already a good answer for the user in the asked-about language -- you should refrain from posting an answer. You could, however, comment and ask if the asker would be able to use Swift over Objective-C. TZHXTZHX The iOS / Mac framework is typically more central to the question than the specific language. For questions that relate primarily to iOS or OS X development ("Why aren't my auto-layout constraints working?") answers that cover both languages should be acceptable because the alternative is a slew of nearly-duplicate questions that can't get marked as duplicates. For example, rather than posting a separate Swift question to "Adjusting letter spacing in iOS 7", I added a Swift example to my existing answer. For questions actually about the language ("What's a tuple?"), only answers about that language are acceptable. Aaron BragerAaron Brager This, of course, raises the issues initially brought up at "Congratulations Eric Lippert for finally winning the C#-language badge" -- is the language tag for questions about the language, or just those that use the language? I'd like to see the former, but the latter dominates in everyday usage. – jscs Aug 24 '15 at 17:48 I think that most would agree that ideal answer should be in the tagged language or, failing that, the language used or specified in the question. I believe community members should endeavour to first provide such an answer if they can do so. This seems an uncontentious assertion. In order to determine the appropriateness of an answer in an untagged language, whether in place of or in addition to one in the tagged language, consideration must be given to the context in which the language tag is being employed. The best way to make this determination is to consider the question not from the perspective of the one answering, nor from the perspective of community moderation, but from the perspectives of both the questioner and the broader community. As someone asking a question, I may apply a number of tags to a question. To supply a real example, I recently asked a question about difficulties with [OpenGL ES2.0] [shaders] on [Android] using [OpenTK]. I specified the language as [C#] because that was the language in which I was working, the language of the code I supplied, and the language in which I would need to implement a solution. However, I would very much prefer an answer in an incorrect language to no answer whatsoever. It is probable that I could decipher an answer in another language which may address the core of the issue. Failing that, an answer in another language may be translated by another community member. In this example, the question primarily focuses on problems which are not language-specific, and multiple other tags are provided. It seems reasonable to provide an answer that checks 4/5 boxes in the absence of one that checks all five. Obviously discretion is required when determining whether the question demands a language-specific answer, and the clue is often in the accompanying tags. From the perspective of the broader community, answering questions in an untagged language adds to the value of the question. Such answers provide solutions for others with similar problems in other languages, and provide a framework off which language-specific answers can be built. I think it may be unreasonable to expect an answer in the wrong language to be expected, even if it is highly insightful. However, I think it would be foolish to deem it universally unacceptable. Nathan RungeNathan Runge For new questions, I think it's best to go with whatever is tagged. If it's a Swift question about an iOS concept that has already been covered in Objective-C in another question, it's probably best to close it as a duplicate of that question, as conversion in most cases is fairly straightforward (if we're going by the same principle that we're here to help as many people as possible rather than just the one asking the question), but it wouldn't hurt to add a Swift version on that question if appropriate. I have come across a few old Objective-C questions that I felt I could answer since the introduction of Swift, so for those I prefer a dual approach; why not just give both if you have the time and the ability to do so? I honestly don't think it's a problem to answer old questions with only Swift (if you must), but answering new Objective-C questions with Swift should probably be avoided, as that particular asker is making a conscious decision of which language s/he would like to use, and not all askers know both languages (contradictory point to what I said about the conversion, I know, but I don't think duplicating questions based around the same concept that was covered with Obj-C in Swift is a good idea). From what I've found during my brief travels in iOS development is that it is heavily conceptual, and the language that you decide to use is often unimportant compared to the other things you have to worry about (interface design, licensing, distribution, etc.) and is often just the tool you decide to use. However, I think we owe it to the asker to respect the tool s/he has chosen. AstroCBAstroCB Some companies see Swift as unproven as of yet, and they aren't adopting it quite yet. I don't think this should keep you from posting an answer in Swift, though - it will be helpful for future people finding the question on Google that do use Swift. Of course, you can't expect that your Swift answer on an Objective-C question will be accepted, and it will probably be downvoted. In principle, though, I don't see anything wrong with posting Swift answers to Obj-C questions. Undo♦Undo What about companies that have reviewed Swift, concluded that for all the hype it's not actually worth adopting, and have decided to stick with Objective-C? Do they get thrown under the bus for having a different opinion and different requirements? – aroth Feb 4 '15 at 3:52 @aroth No, but if someone wishes to contribute an answer and wants to do it in Swift, there is nothing keeping that company from translating it. Of course, if the question is of any significance there will probably be someone else that posts an answer in Obj-C. I don't see a reason to reject Swift contributions just because some people don't use it. – Undo♦ Feb 4 '15 at 3:54 Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged discussion answers . Should an old question be edited to use a newer programming language (Objective-C replaced by Swift)? Answers that use a different technology than what is asked Are new Swift answers on old Objective-C questions beneficial? Why do Swift questions on Stack Overflow get marked as duplicates of Objective-C questions? Are the only tags allowed those that the author “could have intended”? Is it acceptable to copy old Objective-C answers just to rewrite them in Swift? Answer edited by a “fan” to include more code How should we handle answers in a programming language other than what the OP requested? Answer for a different version of language than the version used by the OP Is it a good practice to translate Objective-C answers to Swift? How to handle cross language questions? What is the cause of so many Swift questions getting tagged with Objective-C? Should [swift] and [objective-c] tags never be used together?	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1514
__label__wiki	0.57371	0.57371	Clinical Spectrum and Laboratory Characteristics Associated With Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid Cathal E. O'Sullivan, Allen Jr. Aksamit, Jeffrey R. Harrington, W. Scott Harmsen, P. Shawn Mitchell, Robin Patel Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Objective: To determine the clinical, neurologic, and laboratory characteristics of patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1) or HSV type 2 (HSV-2) DNA detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with use of polymerase chain reaction. Patients and Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and demographic data were determined from 249 CSF specimens (collected from 247 patients >10 years of age) that tested positive for HSV-1 or HSV-2 DNA at the Mayo Clinic from January 1999 to August 2000. Results: The median age of the 200 patients whose age was available was 70 years vs 40 years for those with HSV-1 or HSV-2 DNA in CSF, respectively. Detailed data were available for 39 and 78 patients with positive polymerase chain reaction results for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively. Of those with HSV-1 DNA detected in CSF, 89% had encephalitis, whereas most patients with HSV-2 DNA detected in CSF had findings compatible with meningitis. Only 5 (7%) of 69 patients in whom HSV-2 was detected in CSF had genital lesions at presentation, and none of the assessable patients with HSV-2 who had recurrent meningitis had active genital lesions at presentation. Conclusion: The vast majority (82%) of patients with HSV-2 detected in CSF had no history of genital herpes and no lesions at the time of presentation. Polymerase chain reaction assays designed to detect HSV in CSF should detect HSV-1 and HSV-2 and differentiate between HSV-1 and HSV-2. Human Herpesvirus 2 Simplexvirus Cerebrospinal Fluid O'Sullivan, C. E., Aksamit, A. J., Harrington, J. R., Harmsen, W. S., Mitchell, P. S., & Patel, R. (2003). Clinical Spectrum and Laboratory Characteristics Associated With Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 78(11), 1347-1352. Clinical Spectrum and Laboratory Characteristics Associated With Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid. / O'Sullivan, Cathal E.; Aksamit, Allen Jr.; Harrington, Jeffrey R.; Harmsen, W. Scott; Mitchell, P. Shawn; Patel, Robin. In: Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Vol. 78, No. 11, 2003, p. 1347-1352. O'Sullivan, CE, Aksamit, AJ, Harrington, JR, Harmsen, WS, Mitchell, PS & Patel, R 2003, 'Clinical Spectrum and Laboratory Characteristics Associated With Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid', Mayo Clinic Proceedings, vol. 78, no. 11, pp. 1347-1352. O'Sullivan CE, Aksamit AJ, Harrington JR, Harmsen WS, Mitchell PS, Patel R. Clinical Spectrum and Laboratory Characteristics Associated With Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2003;78(11):1347-1352. O'Sullivan, Cathal E. ; Aksamit, Allen Jr. ; Harrington, Jeffrey R. ; Harmsen, W. Scott ; Mitchell, P. Shawn ; Patel, Robin. / Clinical Spectrum and Laboratory Characteristics Associated With Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid. In: Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2003 ; Vol. 78, No. 11. pp. 1347-1352. @article{b0a45b2865ef4a87ae82d13f9716c03a, title = "Clinical Spectrum and Laboratory Characteristics Associated With Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid", abstract = "Objective: To determine the clinical, neurologic, and laboratory characteristics of patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1) or HSV type 2 (HSV-2) DNA detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with use of polymerase chain reaction. Patients and Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and demographic data were determined from 249 CSF specimens (collected from 247 patients >10 years of age) that tested positive for HSV-1 or HSV-2 DNA at the Mayo Clinic from January 1999 to August 2000. Results: The median age of the 200 patients whose age was available was 70 years vs 40 years for those with HSV-1 or HSV-2 DNA in CSF, respectively. Detailed data were available for 39 and 78 patients with positive polymerase chain reaction results for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively. Of those with HSV-1 DNA detected in CSF, 89{\%} had encephalitis, whereas most patients with HSV-2 DNA detected in CSF had findings compatible with meningitis. Only 5 (7{\%}) of 69 patients in whom HSV-2 was detected in CSF had genital lesions at presentation, and none of the assessable patients with HSV-2 who had recurrent meningitis had active genital lesions at presentation. Conclusion: The vast majority (82{\%}) of patients with HSV-2 detected in CSF had no history of genital herpes and no lesions at the time of presentation. Polymerase chain reaction assays designed to detect HSV in CSF should detect HSV-1 and HSV-2 and differentiate between HSV-1 and HSV-2.", author = "O'Sullivan, {Cathal E.} and Aksamit, {Allen Jr.} and Harrington, {Jeffrey R.} and Harmsen, {W. Scott} and Mitchell, {P. Shawn} and Robin Patel", journal = "Mayo Clinic Proceedings", publisher = "Elsevier Science", T1 - Clinical Spectrum and Laboratory Characteristics Associated With Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid AU - O'Sullivan, Cathal E. AU - Aksamit, Allen Jr. AU - Harrington, Jeffrey R. AU - Harmsen, W. Scott AU - Mitchell, P. Shawn AU - Patel, Robin N2 - Objective: To determine the clinical, neurologic, and laboratory characteristics of patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1) or HSV type 2 (HSV-2) DNA detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with use of polymerase chain reaction. Patients and Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and demographic data were determined from 249 CSF specimens (collected from 247 patients >10 years of age) that tested positive for HSV-1 or HSV-2 DNA at the Mayo Clinic from January 1999 to August 2000. Results: The median age of the 200 patients whose age was available was 70 years vs 40 years for those with HSV-1 or HSV-2 DNA in CSF, respectively. Detailed data were available for 39 and 78 patients with positive polymerase chain reaction results for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively. Of those with HSV-1 DNA detected in CSF, 89% had encephalitis, whereas most patients with HSV-2 DNA detected in CSF had findings compatible with meningitis. Only 5 (7%) of 69 patients in whom HSV-2 was detected in CSF had genital lesions at presentation, and none of the assessable patients with HSV-2 who had recurrent meningitis had active genital lesions at presentation. Conclusion: The vast majority (82%) of patients with HSV-2 detected in CSF had no history of genital herpes and no lesions at the time of presentation. Polymerase chain reaction assays designed to detect HSV in CSF should detect HSV-1 and HSV-2 and differentiate between HSV-1 and HSV-2. AB - Objective: To determine the clinical, neurologic, and laboratory characteristics of patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1) or HSV type 2 (HSV-2) DNA detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with use of polymerase chain reaction. Patients and Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and demographic data were determined from 249 CSF specimens (collected from 247 patients >10 years of age) that tested positive for HSV-1 or HSV-2 DNA at the Mayo Clinic from January 1999 to August 2000. Results: The median age of the 200 patients whose age was available was 70 years vs 40 years for those with HSV-1 or HSV-2 DNA in CSF, respectively. Detailed data were available for 39 and 78 patients with positive polymerase chain reaction results for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively. Of those with HSV-1 DNA detected in CSF, 89% had encephalitis, whereas most patients with HSV-2 DNA detected in CSF had findings compatible with meningitis. Only 5 (7%) of 69 patients in whom HSV-2 was detected in CSF had genital lesions at presentation, and none of the assessable patients with HSV-2 who had recurrent meningitis had active genital lesions at presentation. Conclusion: The vast majority (82%) of patients with HSV-2 detected in CSF had no history of genital herpes and no lesions at the time of presentation. Polymerase chain reaction assays designed to detect HSV in CSF should detect HSV-1 and HSV-2 and differentiate between HSV-1 and HSV-2. JO - Mayo Clinic Proceedings JF - Mayo Clinic Proceedings	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1532
__label__cc	0.738722	0.261278	Category Archives: Retail October 18, 2019 RetailGadgetell Curator Walmart has launched a new service that will deliver groceries and put them away in your fridge, CNBC reported . The service, called InHome grocery delivery , is a membership program that has an introductory priceRead More… Dive Brief: Authentic Brands Group (ABG) has teamed with financial firm B. Riley to buy Barneys’ assets for approximately $271.4 million in cash , according to a filing with the United States Bankruptcy Court in theRead More… Dive Brief: Macy’s on Friday unveiled a 14,500-square-foot menswear destination on the main floor of its Herald Square flagship in New York City, with a rotating, curated space within it dubbed “The Park.” The department storeRead More… PUMA opened the doors to its first-ever North American flagship store recently, located on Fifth Avenue in New York City. With a focus on cutting-edge technology and innovative products, the store showcases an immersive PUMA brandRead More… Podcast: Digital, Amazon Driving Evolution of Grocery Retail March 25, 2019 RetailGadgetell Curator In episode 187 of Total Retail Talks, Total Retail Executive Editor Joe Keenan is joined by Steve Pinder, managing director of Kurt Salmon, part of Accenture Strategy. Listen in as they discuss the increasing influence of digital inRead More… How Retailers Can Strike the Balance Between Man and Machine March 25, 2019 Ecommerce, RetailGadgetell Curator Brands across industries are eager to wow customers with new technology — and rightly so. In the age of heightened convenience, more personalized experiences and innovative shopping options like Amazon Alexa, consumers won’t tolerate brands thatRead More… 3 Ways to Maximize Global E-Commerce Revenue March 25, 2019 Retail, UncategorizedGadgetell Curator E-commerce sales are expected to surpass $530 billion by 2020. The obvious benefit of running an e-commerce business is you’re not restricted by geographic location. Even better, you’re not limited to regular store hours and can be processingRead More… The Value in Having a Digital Supply Chain November 20, 2018 RetailGadgetell Curator Credit: Getty Images by yoh4nn The modern retail supply chain has been placed under immense pressure from the digitally empowered consumer. Consumers have the reach through super computers masquerading as phones, the voice via social mediaRead More… Top 100 Fastest-Growing Retailers: #61 American Eagle Outfitters Credit: American Eagle Outfitters As part of our coverage of Total Retail’s recently released Top 100 Fastest-Growing Retailers report , which ranks publicly traded retailers on year-over-year net sales growth, we’ve chosen select companies on thisRead More… Survey: 2018 Holiday Shoppers Say They’re Ready to Spend, But On Their Terms Judging by consumer responses, retailers need to address the challenges that characterized the 2017 holiday shopping season by addressing issues such as long lines and out-of-stock complaints. Both human and technology/operational fixes can be brought toRead More…	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1537
__label__wiki	0.94827	0.94827	Saturday Aircheck: NYC Radio June 1984 Z 100 Morning Zoo, Harry Harrison WCBS FM, and clips from WQXR, WHN, WRKS, WYNY, WSKQ, & WNEW FM. from June 1984. NBC News Chief Steve Capus Is Out Steve Capus Steve Capus, the president of NBC News for the last eight years, said Friday that he is leaving the network news division in the coming weeks, according to Brian Stelter at Media Decoder. “It has been a privilege to have spent two decades here, but it is now time to head in a new direction,” Mr. Capus wrote in an internal memo on Friday afternoon. “I have informed Pat Fili-Krushel that I will be leaving NBC News in the coming weeks.” Media Decoder reports Capus’s exit has been rumored at the network ever since Comcast put Ms. Fili-Krushel in charge of all of NBC’s news assets six months ago. Mr. Capus made no secret of his unhappiness with the restructuring, which meant that he no longer reported directly to the NBCUniversal chief executive, Steve Burke. His contract had a clause that allowed him to leave in the event that he no longer reported to Mr. Burke, according to two people with direct knowledge of the arrangement at NBC. DJ Mo Apologizes, Suspended For Bullying Woman WDJQ (in Alliance, OH) Q92 DJ Mo has publicly apologized to the woman he bullied on-air while also announcing he's been suspended from the radio station, according to newsnet5.com On Thursday, Mo apologized for making fun of the woman he thought was a prank caller "and played along with it." That caller was Kellie Baker, a woman with Down syndrome who accidentally dialed the radio station on Jan. 21 looking to talk with her friend. Instead of Mo explaining to Baker she had the wrong number, he said "obviously you have some sort of a speech impediment" and made fun of her voice for the next three hours. (See original posting, Click Here) At 2 p.m. Thursday, Mo said on-air that he was sorry for his actions and wants to take responsibility. LISTEN TO APOLOGY AUDIO, Click Here. "Beginning today, I will take a suspension and be off the air. The station and I are committed to raising awareness in any way we can in an effort to make this right with the family, and to any and all who have, or know someone with, developmental disabilities." Additionally, Q92 is participating in a coordinated collaboration with the Stark and Tuscarawas County’s Boards of Developmental Disabilities for a formal and on-going awareness campaign to focus on the abilities, strengths, and talents of people who are developmentally disabled. Read MoreNow. R.I.P.: NYC Mayor Ed Koch Was Also Radio/TV Personality Ed Koch, the brash former New York City mayor who typically greeted constituents with a "How'm I doin'?" died Friday at the age of 88, according to CNN. Koch died of congestive heart failure, spokesman George Arzt said. The former mayor felt very tired Thursday morning and was admitted to the intensive care unit, Artz said. Koch lost consciousness that afternoon and ultimately passed away around 2 a.m. Friday. The lawyer-turned-public servant was a U.S. congressman from 1968 until he ran for mayor of the city in 1977 He served three terms until David Dinkins defeated him in a Democratic primary. Among his post mayoral years, Koch was a judge on TV’s The People’s Court for two years in the late ‘90s and had a talk show on WABC radio and for Bloomberg. Andy Fisher, former newsman for CNBC, NBC Radio and WNEW 1130 AM, posted: “We lost a giant this morning. Former mayor Ed Koch certainly had a face for radio, and from soundbite to talk show, he was always entertaining on the air. He presided over New York City's financial and psychological comeback from chaos in the late 1970s, so he was a pretty good mayor by anyone's standards, although for a long time, as someone pointed out this morning, he did seem to have a "tin ear" when it came to the subject of race relations.” Fisher recalls interviewing Koch during Liberty Weekend July 4, 1986, when President Reagan came to town to re-dedicate the renovated Statue of Liberty. “I was a radio correspondent for NBC News, and Mayor Koch came to the press compound on the landfill for Battery Park City. I needled him about Liberty Island really being in New Jersey, and about his own origins in Newark, and, of course, he gave as good as he got. I tend to judge people by their senses of humor, and on that basis, I regard Ed Koch as the greatest New York mayor I can remember. I can't conceive of Michael Bloomberg standing on the Brooklyn Bridge asking, "How'm I doing?" I can remember John Lindsay getting huffy when he was reminded about calling New York "Fun City." You wouldn't dare try to have fun with Rudy Giuliani. Ed Koch was a gift to radio, to politics, and, most of all, to New York.” R.I.P.: Bay Area Radio Personality Lee Rodgers Lee Rodgers, SF Chronicle photo Former San Francisco talk radio personality Lee Rodgers has died. Rodger, hosted morning on KSFO 560 AM from the mid-90s until 2010. He also made stops in Chicago and Seattle. He had been troubled by heart issues and according to reports died on an operation table early Friday morning. His wife Susan wrote on his blog: Some of you may have heard that Lee has been dealing with some health issues of late. Unfortunately the rumors are true. After extensive heroic surgery performed by seven wonderful surgeons and 13 hours, Lee decided to leave the bounds of earth and soar with the eagles. At 12:32 a.m. on January 31, Lee died. However, he died like he lived. He was brave to take the chances of a risky surgery and thanked his surgeons prior to beginning to try to find a way to extend his "used-by" date. I loved this man with all my heart and it has been a privilege to share 35 years with him. He had integrity, he was responsible and he was honest to the core. Years ago, Rodgers and co-host Melanie Morgan interviewed a ‘turkey tugger” and some listeners consider the bit one of the hilarious moments ever captured on AM radio. For the longest time, KSFO-AM played this segment every year around Thanksgiving. Posted 10:48:00 AM 1 comment: No Charges To Be Filed Against 2DayFM Hoaxers Greig, Christian The Australian DJs who made a prank call to the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge will not be prosecuted. No charges will be brought against Mel Greig and Michael Christian over the hoax, Sky News reports quoting the Crown Prosecution Service. Details of the Duchess' rare form of morning sickness were revealed on air on December 4, 2012, when the pair made the prank call to King Edward VII's Hospital in central London, posing as the Queen and Prince Charles. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha transferred them to a colleague, who then described Kate Middleton's condition in detail. Ms Saldanha, a mother of two, was found hanged three days later in her living quarters at the hospital, sparking a backlash against the 2Day FM DJs. Malcolm McHaffie, from the CPS, said there was no evidence to support a manslaughter charge and any potential prosecution would not be in the public interest. Scotland Yard provided the CPS with a file of evidence on December 19 and asked advice on whether a prosecution should be brought. Mr McHaffie said the CPS had taken into account, among other matters, that it is not possible to extradite people from Australia on the potential offences in question. He also said it considered that "however misguided, the telephone call was intended as a harmless prank". "The consequences in this case were very sad. We send our sincere condolences to Jacintha Saldanha's family," he added. John Lofthouse, chief executive at King Edward VII's Hospital, said it would not be commenting on the matter. Letterman's Top 10 Changes At CNN Beyonce Shows Off All-Girl Bowl Band After all these awesome rehearsal sneak peeks, this year's Super Bowl should be called the Beyonce Bowl! Queen B released even more behind-the-scenes shots from New Orleans, proving that on her stage, girls do run the world. The footage shows Beyonce, 31, rehearsing with an all-girl band and all-female backup singers. This video release comes after Beyonce put her lip-synching presidential inauguration reports to rest when she sang the national anthem live at her Super Bowl press conference. Todd Schnitt Invites Media To Radio Studio Radio personality Todd "MJ" Schnitt invited the bay area media into the WFLA studios Thursday afternoon to answer questions about his defamation lawsuit loss to Bubba the Love Sponge Clem. ABC Action News reports, Schnitt began with a defiant monologue on Wednesday's verdict. "I've had better days. I was disappointed," he said. "I respect the jury's verdict. But, I'm still allowed to disagree with the verdict, and I do." Todd Schnitt MTP On His Radio show A day after losing his defamation lawsuit, Todd "MJ" Schnitt was back on 970 WFLA Tampa during the first hour of his show, which is also synidcated across the country. He fielded questions from members of the news media, including WTSP 10News reporter Melanie Michael. On Wednesday, a jury of six sided with the rival radio DJ Bubba the Sponge Clem, agreeing he did not defame Schnitt and his wife Michelle. Schnitt, 10 News Interview Gets Heated WTSP 10News reporter Melanie Michael describes heated moments with Todd 'MJ' Schnitt. According to a story at tampabay.com, Schnitt tangled most visibly with Melanie Michael, a reporter/anchor from WTSP — who Clem had thanked for her coverage on his Twitter feed earlier Thursday, urging his fans to follow her on the social media site. Michael peppered Schnitt with questions about why he didn't consider his wife a public figure despite her appearances on his show, whether he planned to sue the jurors, or if he might leave town. After the broadcast, Schnitt asked, half-jokingly, "Melanie, are you working for (Clem)?" Michael replied that she asked tough questions of both men. Ready More Now. TWC Ranks Top Weather Prognosticating Groundhogs Saturday, as America awaits one of the biggest weather decisions of the year, turn to The Weather Channel for uninterrupted coverage of “Decision 2013: Phil’s Forecast” live from Punxsutawney and TWC headquarters in Atlanta. Stick with The Weather Channel on Groundhog Day across all screens – TV, online, mobile and tablet – for the latest updates on celebrations, prognostications and commentary of America’s most popular weather-related holiday. A true celebration of weather, Groundhog Day predicts the arrival of spring. According to folklore, if it’s cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, then spring will come early. If it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks. In honor of Groundhog Day, The Weather Channel has compiled a list of the “Top 11 Groundhogs in the Weather Prediction Business” based on accuracy and popularity. Check out the list of the Top 11 Groundhogs – and the rationale behind the rankings – on weather.com: 1. Punxsutawney Phil (Punxsutawney, PA) 2. Staten Island Chuck (Staten Island, NY, and official groundhog meteorologist of New York City) 3. General Beauregard Lee (Lilburn, Georgia) 4. Dunkirk Dave (Dunkirk, NY) 5. Chattanooga Chuck (Chattanooga, TN) 6. Buckeye Chuck (Marion, OH) 7. Sir Walter Walley (Raleigh, NC) 8. Jimmy the Groundhog (Sun Prairie, WI) 9. Malverne Mel (Malverne, NY) 10. Holtsville Hal (Holtsville, NY) 11. Woody (Howell, MI) To agree or disagree with these rankings visit Facebook.com/TheWeatherChannel to cast your vote for America’s most trusted groundhog. R.I.P.: WBZ’s Joe Morgan Was 67 Former WBZ Radio traffic reporter Joe Morgan died Wednesday after a long illness, the radio station reported on its website. Morgan, who was 67, worked for more than 30 years in Boston radio before he retired two years ago. During his career, Morgan also worked for WCOP, WRKO and WHDH radio. Former WBZ news anchor Ed Walsh worked with Morgan for years at WRKO and WBZ and said he had an incredible voice. "Joe and I sort of had an informal contest every morning on who could project the deeper, more authoritative baritone and Joe won every single day," Walsh told WBZ. "He was quite a guy, and he loved what he did. He will be terribly missed." Chelsea Handler to Piers Morgan: “Suck My A!” To mark the second anniversary of Piers' show for CNN, the Brit TV star joined Chelsea on her hit programme Chelsea Lately last night (January 30). Despite being on the other side for once it was clear Piers still wanted to be the star! The former newspaper editor spent his entire slot insulting his rival host, who eventually ended up losing her cool and telling him: "You can suck my a." Piers' digs included the charming "Either you've had plastic surgery or a makeover as you look really hot today." Clearly not impressed with his cheeky comment, the 37-year-old comedienne replied: "You are so annoying, you are so obnoxious and you wonder why everyone hates you. I specifically covered up so you couldn't look at me and undress me with your molester eyes." Katherine Webb Tells Ryan Seacrest She Wanted To Do DWTS Miss Alabama Katherine Webb, better known as 73-year-old ESPN announcer Brent Musburger‘s crush during the BCS Bowl, revealed to “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” although she’s set to take a dive on ABC’s upcoming Splash, she totally would have done Dancing With the Stars. Oh, and sorry fellas, but Katherine could soon be Mrs. AJ McCarron! When asked about the DWTS rejection rumors, Katherine shared: “If I were to do any show it would have been Dancing With the Stars just because I love dancing…I don’t know the technicalities on that, but I know that I was on the list I think, but I had a secured spot for celebrity diving so I went ahead with diving.” So why did the gorgeous beauty queen choose Splash? “It’s something I never imagined myself doing and at the same time, you know, it’s such like out of the norm idea that people will have to watch it.” On another note, is Katherine Webb ready to become Mrs. AJ McCarron?! Orlando Radio: Brooke Hogan Defends Hulk Over Leg Photo Brooke Hogan is ready to put a piledriver on anyone who dares criticize her famous wrestler dad. The 24-year-old daughter of Hulk Hogan leapt to the defense of her father after he got some heat in the Twitterverse for posting a photo of her lounging in a chair with the caption, “Brooke’s legs.” According to the nydailynews.com, some critics were quick to call out the 59-year-old former WWE icon as “creepy” and “perv.” A dad can't even be proud of his daughter without sickos makin it something it's not. Really?? Go back to your farm animals. #ignorant — Brooke Hogan (@MizzHogan) January 28, 2013 In an exclusive interview with The Buckethead Show on WTKS Real Radio 104.,1 FM Orlando, Brooke Hogan defended controversial photos of herself, including the 'leg photo' and the 'suntan lotion on her backside' photo. (About 3:50 in) Bubba Talks To Juror During Show Bubba the Love Sponge Clem pounded his chest in victory on WHPT 102.5 The Bone on Thursday, spending most of his morning show on the Bubba Radio Network talking about the civil defamation trial he's spent five years fighting. On Wednesday, a jury of six sided with the Bubba, agreeing he did not defame the characters of his radio rival Todd "MJ" Schnitt and Schnitt's wife. Bubba hailed it as a victory, not just for himself, but the First Amendment. Tampa Jury Rules Schnitts Were Not Defamed A jury has sided with Bubba the Love Sponge Clem in the defamation trial between two Tampa-based radio shock jocks. WTSP 10News reports jurors found comments Clem made on-air about his radio rival Todd "MJ" Schnitt and Schnitt's wife Michelle did not defame them and no financial damages were awarded. Attorneys for Schnitt told jurors Wednesday that Clem defamed Schnitt "out of sheer hatred." Clem's lawyer countered by saying that "context is everything." The jury deliberated for about three hours on whether Clem's on-air statements about Schnitt and his wife, Michelle, were injurious before coming back with a not guilty verdict on all 24 counts. Schnitt filed the suit, claiming Clem and his Bubba Radio Network defamed the Schnitts and incited Clem's fans, known as the "Bubba Army," to harass the family. Schnitt didn't speak with reporters after the verdict, but did write on his Twitter page: "My wife & I were protecting our reputations & also standing up for so many others who have been defamed, but didn't have the means to fight." My wife & I were protecting our reputations & also standing up for so many others who have been defamed, but didn't have the means to fight. — Todd Schnitt (@toddschnitt) January 30, 2013 Bubba Vows ‘MJ Funeral In The Streets” Todd MJ Schnitt was seeking damages of $18,000. He said he paid for a security system of that amount after the egging incident. But the jury declined to award him a single cent. An alternate juror -- excused from deliberations and free to talk -- told FOX 13 that she thought MJ's team failed to make much of a case. In fact, Alana Wilshire said the trial had been "absolutely" a waste of time and expense. "I think anybody that runs and cries and hides in their house because someone called them a name kind of needs to grow up," she said. "Develop a thicker skin. Especially if you're in the public eye." After the verdict Wednesday, Clem apologized for what a "great waste of taxpayer dollars" that he characterized as a "name-calling, fifth-grade bully-fest." But he didn't miss the opportunity to take one more jab at his rival. "I can tell you this," he vowed, "we're going to have an MJ funeral in the streets soon, I'll tell you that." Bubba Could Go After MJ For Attorney Fees Bubba hugs attorney after verdict Now that the defamation trial against radio shock jock Bubba "The Love Sponge" Clem is over, resulting in a not guilty verdict, his attorneys say they are now looking into going after Todd "MJ Kelli" Schnitt for attorney fees. "We'll have to tabulate all our hours and figure out what the bills are," Clem attorney Joseph Diaco Jr. told WTSP 10News. He made the statement moments after the jury found that Bubba did not maliciously defame "MJ" during a radio rivalry that played out over the airwaves for years. "None of it was malice ... none of it was intended to hurt. It was classic radio war," said Clem outside the courtroom after the Wednesday afternoon verdict. Schnitt was seeking $18,000 in damages, money used to pay for a security system at his home after it was egged and a note was found attributing the attack to a member of the "Bubba Army." Meet 'Only Person Working Full Time At Programming HD” Radio Rich St. Louis radio listeners wondering what happened to "Radio Rich" Dalton, who had been running the 10-2 midday shift at KHTS FM-96 (KIHT), he still is working at Emmis Communications. He's just programming for the future — which he hopes will sound like the past. Dalton has been asked by station management to work full-time on running KSHE's HD radio operation, known as KSHE II. "It's been operating for six years, since December 2006," Dalton tells Joe Holleman at stltoday.com. "But now, I may be the only person in the U.S. working full-time at programming HD radio." Dalton started his jock career in 1971 with KADI, which rivaled KSHE in the revered "album-oriented rock" format of the late 1960s and 1970s — the days when FM rock stations operated without market studies and computer-generated playlists, when disc jockeys picked their own selections. Dalton's old shift at K-HITS is now manned by Todd Morgan. Jamaica Supports Controversial Pre-Super Bowl Ad Jamaica has come out in support of an online, pre-game Super Bowl ad for Volkswagen that's taken some flak for showing a white office worker from the Midwest feigning a Jamaican accent to show a cheerful, upbeat outlook. Some critics have charged that the ad, which debuted Monday (January 28th), is offensive and culturally insensitive, portraying it as referencing segregation-era "blackface" depictions of white people posing as happy-go-lucky blacks. But in Jamaica, which is predominantly black, but also has white, Asian, Middle Eastern and mixed-race minorities, they've been puzzled by the reaction. The Jamaican government has endorsed the commercial, which shows the office worker trying to cheer up his colleagues, including by paraphrasing Bob Marley lyrics by saying, "No worries, mon. Everything will be all right." Jamaica's tourism minister called the ad, quote, "a very creative commercial which truly taps into the tremendous appeal that brand Jamaica and its hospitable people have globally." Volkswagen has no plans to pull the spot. WKMG Local6 reporter Jessica Sanchez effectively uses wit with a walk-in, live-shot crasher in New Orleans. Sanchez was doing a live report for the Orlando station covering Super Bowl activities. KMVQ Super Bowl Song Soars Hands down, the most requested song on San Francisco's 99.7-FM KMVQ (NOW!) is the station's own ode to the 49ers -- "Win the Bowl (Go Niners Go)." "It's No. 1," "Jazzy" Jim Archer, the assistant program and music director for KMVQ tells Jim Harrington at mercurynews.com. The idea for the track was hatched right after the 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 20, thus earning the team's sixth trip to the Super Bowl on Sunday. Shan Clark, the assistant producer for the station's morning show, organized the recording, even adding her own vocals to the mix. The result is a poppy rap/sung diddy with such playful lyrics as "Forget about Tebow, we out here Kaepernicking..." And the chorus? "We gonna win the bowl Only got one more game to go Yes, we all cravin' For us to beat the Ravens Go, Niners, Go." Jury Rules In Favor Of Bubba, Schnitt Loses Case Todd Clem wins The jury reached their verdict in about three hours. The jury, mostly women, ruled in favor of Todd 'Bubba The Love Sponge' Clem. They agreed with Bubba's attorny, no defamation took place. The verdict mean noo financial damages were to be awarded. Alt. Juror To Schnitt: ‘Put Your Big Girl Panties On!’ During jury deliberations, a dismissed alternate juror talked with reporters. Alana Wilshire spoke at length with the media. "I think MJ should put on his big girl panties and get over it," she told WTSP 10 News. "This is a waste of taxpayer money. I would rule in favor of Bubba. I wouldn't give MJ a dime!" Alana, along with other jurors, are prohibited from speaking to one another about the case as it's happening. When we asked her if other jurors felt the same she said, "I don't know. We can't talk about it. I've been dying to voice my opinion." Alana said this case has been a waste of time and pointed out that even she has been called names in the past. "MJ should get over it. When Bubba called MJ's wife a whore, it wasn't meant about Michelle, it was a way to get back at MJ. It was aimed at him." Attorneys Finish Closing Arguments Highlights of Closing Arguments In Defamation Trial Report: Todd Schnitt Has Sued A Rival Previously Schnitt Called 'Spoiled Little Boy' Long before his radio fight with Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, Todd "MJ" Schnitt sparred over the airwaves with a rival radio personality in Virginia Beach. In 1988, MJ worked nights at WNVZ-FM Z104 while Roy Jaynes, known on the air as "D.B. Cooper," worked nearby at WGH-FM 97-Star. See Also: Both sides rest their case in MJ vs. Bubba trial Eventually MJ filed a $3 million slander suit, claiming Jaynes called him names on the air. Howard Stern Voices Support for Bubba Howard Stern voiced his support for Bubba the Love Sponge on Monday morning, after a caller brought up the Tampa based radio host's current defamation trial, according to examiner.com. Bubba, who was featured on Howard Stern's secondary Sirius XM channel Howard 101 for years, is being sued by fellow Tampa radio host MJ Schnitt. In addition to calling Schnitt's wife Michelle a "wh**e" on air, MJ claims that Bubba's statements incited his fan club known as "Bubba Army" to harass them in both public and private settings. Stern said that he has been attempting to follow the case, but the crux of the case is still eluding him. "I have gone online and read about it," said Stern. "But I don’t even understand what I’m reading…It seems like one DJ’s upset because Bubba made fun of him...I didn’t hear the broadcast, but it sounds like a lot of nonsense. It sounds like a free speech issue...Listen: I’m biased towards Bubba. He’s a friend of mine. I like him very much. I don’t know this other DJ, but things can get heated in these radio wars. It’s sort of not a big deal. I think it sounds like the type of thing that on free speech you can get away with and I think Bubba will be OK and I’m hoping Bubba comes out all right. I’m a Bubba guy. So what am I supposed to do?” CCM+E Wins MLB Indians Broadcast Rights Games To Air On Iconic WMMS FM The Cleveland Indians and Clear Channel have reached an agreement on a five-year contract that will allow the long-time flagship station of the team to carry games through 2017. Newsradio WTAM 1100 will continue to be your home for the Cleveland Indians for at least the next five years. However WMMS 100.7 FM— the flagship station of the Cleveland Browns — will reportedly simulcast 144 games over the course of each season, leaving any mid-day broadcasts to air solely on AM station. As recent as this past October, Clear Channel was in a bidding war for the Indians’ broadcast rights as CBS’ upstart sports talk station 92.3 The Fan was reportedly making a hard push. Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus will remain as announcers. This will be Hamilton’s 24th season with the team. Mindy McCready Denies Shooting Boyfriend The past few years haven't been easy for Mindy McCready; the country singer has dealt with drug addiction and jail, plus a protracted custody battle over her son with Billy McKnight. But Jan. 13, the day her boyfriend David Wilson died of a gunshot wound, was likely her lowest point in recent memory, as she told NBC's Andrea Canning on ‘Today’ Tuesday. CNN Shuffles Chairs Many of CNN’s top talents were being moved around like chess pieces Tuesday. After new CNN honcho Jeff Zucker hired Chris Cuomo from ABC, he dismissed pundits James Carville, Mary Matalin and Bill Bennett. CNN managing editor Mark Whitaker resigned, and Anderson Cooper learned his show will no longer be repeated in prime time. Cuomo is expected to be joined by Erin Burnett on a new morning show. The NYPost’s Page Six reported Dec. 10 that Zucker wanted to move Burnett from her prime-time slot “to revive the cabler’s moribund morning ratings.” She is, however, contracted to prime time, and a source says, “They’ll have to throw a bucket of money at her to go to the morning.” And Soledad O’Brien has been promised a role in prime time. Zucker has been taking an active role in all departments of CNN, not just human resources. “He is all over everyone at the network,” said one source. “He is e-mailing everyone, around the clock, the anchors, the control rooms, he has inserted himself into everything. It is great for the network.” Personality Accused Of Mocking Woman With Disability Q92's Mo The family of Kellie Baker of Strasburg, Ohio hopes to raise awareness of bullying of people with disabilities after she was mocked by the host of a show on an Alliance radio station. On Jan. 21, Baker, who has Down’s syndrome was trying to call a friend whom she hadn’t seen for a while. The 30-year-old said she found a piece of paper with a telephone number on it, so she dialed it, thinking it was her friend’s number. Instead, she dialed the number of Q92 in Alliance. The host of “The Mo Show” answered the phone. “She thought she was speaking with her friend’s dad,” the woman's mother explained. The radio host kept Baker on the phone for several minutes, and then played a recording of their conversation on the air. Near the end, Mo asked her if she knew who he was. Baker answered, “No.” “OK, so I can laugh at you and you won’t know who to call and say you’re offended,” Mo said, and then laughed. “Very good.” Contacted Tuesday by Jon Baker with timesreporter.com, the radio station issued a statement through its attorney, Amanda M. Paar Conroy of Tzangas, Plakas and Mannos of Canton: “Q92 and ‘The Mo Show’ would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm its support of efforts to raise awareness regarding the challenges faced by those with developmental disabilities. Specifically, the station wishes to sincerely apologize again for any actions or comments that could be construed as making light of the challenges faced by persons that are developmentally disabled or casting those persons in any humorous light. The station’s policy is to treat our callers and listeners with the utmost respect, professionalism, and sensitivity.” This isn’t the first time Q92 has come under fire for ridiculing individuals with disabilities. In 2006, numerous area advocacy groups, including The Arc of Ohio, urged the radio station to stop airing a bit dubbed “Name that Tune with Mongoloid Mike.” The bit invited listeners to “name that tune” after a character voiced lyrics to a popular song as if sung by a person with a disability. Facebook Provides Accurate NFL Fandom Map Facebook's Data Science team has combed the more than 35 million users who have "liked" a team's fan page, and put it into graphic form, down to the county level. Barry Petchesky at deadspin.com writes Click the overall fandom map above to enlarge. Tampa Trial: Testimony Ends, Jury Gets Case Wednesday Radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge Clem's attorneys rested their case late Tuesday morning. Clem is fighting a defamation lawsuit brought by Clem's former radio rival, Todd "MJ" Schnitt, who is asserting Clem has made "false, highly offensive and defamatory statements" about him and his wife. Tampabay.com is reporting Circuit Judge James Arnold denied the defense's motion Tuesday afternoon that the judge throw out the remaining defamation charges. Arnold also denied the plaintiff's motion for a directed verdict. Court adjourned at about 2:30 p.m., and the decision will likely be in the jury's hands Wednesday, after closing statements. Huge Bear Wanders Onto TV Commercial Set Check out this "cool" video. On an advertising shoot for washing machines in Canada to show off the cold wash performance, the Samsung crew are surprised when a bear wanders into the shoot location. Thunder Rumbles Again In Tampa Bay Clear Channel’s simulcast of N/T WFLA 970 AM on two translators has ended with the relaunching of Classic Rocker Thunder in the Tampa market. W290BJ 105.9FM 60dBu Coverage Map Two translators, W290BJ 105.9 FM in West Tampa on the Tampa side of the bay and W233AV 94.5 FM in Gulfport on west wide of the bay, are rebroadcasting WMTX-HD2 at 100.7 FM. Both were simulcasting N/T WFLA. W233AV 94.5 FM 60dBu Coverage Map Tampa Bay’s Thunder last aired under the WTBT call letters and was Jacor’s classic rock Thunder 105.5 when it went on the air in 1995. Clear Channel bought out Jacor in 1999 and WTBT moved to 103.5 in a frequency swap with Bradenton’s WDUV. It also upgraded power from 3,000 watts to 100,000 watts and moved its tower, which changed the city of license to Gulfport. Thunder was the #1 station 25-54 in the Tampa market in 2001. However, in 2005 Clear Channel traded WTBT’s rock’n’roll shoes for a pair of country boots and flipped the station to WFUS West Florida’s US 103.5, setting up a showdown with Infinity’s heritage WQYK. ThunderTampaBay.com has been registered by Clear Channel, but is now redirecting to iHeart Radio. Posted 1:43:00 PM 2 comments: Testimony Concludes In ‘MJ’ vs. Bubba Defamation Trial Kim 'Jabberjaw' Collelo With witness testimony apparently complete, Bubba the Love Sponge Clem's attorneys asked a judge again to throw out a defamation lawsuit filed by radio rival Todd "MJ" Schnitt. The request came today after the jury was dismissed for lunch, according to tbo.com. Before that, they heard testimony from Kimberly Collelo, known as "Jabberjaw" on air when working as a producer, first for Schnitt and later Clem. She now works for a law firm. Closing statements could come next in the high-profile trial. In the suit, Schnitt claims Clem defamed Schnitt and his wife in a ratings battle and incited Clem's fans, known as "Bubba's Army," to harass the Schnitts. Today, Clem's attorney, Greg Hearing, argued that other parts of the suit should not go to the jury, based on testimony given during trial. Five of the defamation counts were dismissed Monday. The judge did not rule on the request before attorneys were sent out for lunch. Collelo worked for Schnitt's show in the mid-2000s. She also did babysitting work for the Schnitts during that time. She later worked for Clem's show about 2½ years, until 2011. In an on-air 2008 conversation with Clem, Collelo said a "reliable source" accused Schnitt of fixing ratings books. She also accused Schnitt of receiving "plug-ola" money for personal sponsorships. "There's no doubt in mind," she said in the recording playedin court. Under cross-examination, Collelo denied having direct knowledge of either allegation. Tempers Flare in Bubba vs. MJ Trial Monday was an emotional day in court for both sides in the MJ vs. Bubba trial as it entered week three. In fact, this is the first day the jury was brought back into the courtroom since last Wednesday. According to WTSP10News, the day began with Bubba's team asking for a mistrial, saying that the intense media coverage would not allow their client to get a fair shot. In addition, there was the soap opera saga from last week, where MJ's attorney, Phil Campbell, was arrested for DUI after drinking at Malio's with a pretty legal assistant from the same law firm representing Bubba. He then reportedly left his all-important briefcase behind, with legal documents inside. Was that flirty encounter a setup? Could it be grounds for a mistrial? RADIO DISCUSSIONS MESSAGE BOARD, Click Here. Tempers flared from attorneys on both sides Monday. The tension was visible by legal counsel from each team. Atlanta Radio Cumulus Taps Perry As Newser WYAY PD Former WGST 640 AM anchor Jennifer Perry has been named program director at eight-month-old WYAY All News 106.7 FM, according to Rodney Ho at ajc.com. She takes over for Marshall Adams, who left last fall after just five months on the job. Perry, according to her LinkedIn page, worked as an anchor and reporter at what was N/T WGST from 2004 until the station's demise in September, 2012. The station is now EPSN Hispanic sports talk. She was also Rusty Humphries' news sidekick for his local afternoon show, which died along with the format last fall. All News has drawn relatively modest ratings, averaging a 1.3 share the past few months. Arbitron: Younger Men Respond To Sports Talk On FM From Jenny Tsoa, Arbitron, Programming & OperationsManager: Spoken-word formats moving to FM is one of the major storylines recently in the radio industry. It seems that every week we open the trades to find another broadcaster launching an FM simulcast or replacing an underperforming music format with news, talk, or sports programming. Today I’ll share with you some interesting stats I discovered in the upcoming 2012 report about sports on FM: Between Fall 2010 and Fall 2011 (which compose Radio Today 2012), the All-Sports format added 15 new stations, going from 693 stations to 708. That may not seem like a big number, until you consider that 14 of the 15 were FM. There were119 FM sports stations in Fall 2010 and 133 in Fall 2011. Moving spoken-word programming and sports broadcasts onto the FM band has many upsides such as better signal coverage and more potential audience. But does it fundamentally change the way listeners consume the station? Does it lead to more tune-ins and improved P1 engagement or a higher percentage of female audience? To answer these questions, I recently dug into the PPM markets and examined 45 sports formats, splitting them into two groups: AM stations and FM standalone or FM simulcast stations. The data come from the first quarter of 2012 (Jan-Feb-Mar average) using a Monday-Friday 6AM-7PM daypart. NYC Radio: Yankees, Kay Extend Deal Kay Twitter FishbowlNY notes Yankees fans will be hearing a lot more “See Ya!”. Michael Kay has signed a multi-year extension to remain the Yankees lead broadcaster on the YES Network. Kay is an afternoon radio personality on WEPN ESPN 98.7 FM. In December, Radio Ink magazine named his the second-most influential local sports talk show in America. “I could not be happier,” Kay says. “Continuing to live a childhood dream as the TV voice of the Yankees while working with the best group of people in the business on the country’s best regional sports network is as good as it gets. I can’t wait to start another season.” Thrilled to announce I have extended my contract at YES. Here is the release: yesnet.me/MKYES — Michael Kay (@RealMichaelKay) January 28, 2013 “We are pleased that Michael will continue to play a vital role here at YES,” John Filippelli, president of production and programming at the YES Network, says. “For the past decade on YES, Michael has been the voice of the Yankees deftly capturing the drama, intensity, and passion associated with the greatest franchise in sports. He is one of the pre-eminent play-by-play announcers in baseball and is a first-rate interviewer as well, as evidenced by his stellar CenterStage.” Chicago Radio: WLS-AM Adds Sports Talk Hour Lou Canellis, top sports anchor at Fox32 in Chicago, has signed as a permanent contributor to the WLS-AM 890 afternoon show hosted by Conn and Richard Roeper. Starting this week, Canellis joins Roe & Roeper for a full hour of sports talk at 5pm Monday through Friday on the Cumulus Media news/talk station. In announcing the change to his listeners Friday, Conn called the new feature “a mix of sports and entertainment — a different way of looking at the world.” The show’s signature Top 5 at 5 feature, a rundown of the day’s top five news stories, will move to 5:36pm and become “sports themed.” “Driven by the explosion of sports stories and by the appetite our listeners have for them, we are excited to launch the 89 WLS Sports Pregame Show on Monday at 5pm,” Tracy Slutzkin, program director of WLS, said in a statement. “It’s a natural expansion of our brand of timely, exciting, talk about the biggest stories on 89 WLS. We are thrilled to have Fox 32’s Lou Canellis join Roe and Roeper every day.” Robert Feder at timeoutchicago, com notes Canellis, a native of south suburban Oak Lawn, first gained widespread notice in the '90s as part of the Bulls broadcast team, delivering memorable courtside interviews with Michael Jordan. He also has worked for a variety of local broadcast outlets and served as a regular contributor to 190 North, the weekly magazine show on ABC 7. He was promoted to main sports anchor at Fox 32 in 2010. R.I.P.: NYC Mayor Ed Koch Was Also Radio/TV Person... Katherine Webb Tells Ryan Seacrest She Wanted To D... Orlando Radio: Brooke Hogan Defends Hulk Over Leg ... Meet 'Only Person Working Full Time At Programming... Alt. Juror To Schnitt: ‘Put Your Big Girl Panties ... Highlights of Closing Arguments In Defamation Tria... Personality Accused Of Mocking Woman With Disabili... Tampa Trial: Testimony Ends, Jury Gets Case Wednes... Testimony Concludes In ‘MJ’ vs. Bubba Defamation T... Atlanta Radio Cumulus Taps Perry As Newser WYAY PD... Arbitron: Younger Men Respond To Sports Talk On FM... NBC Sports Radio Adds Donovan McNabb WFAN’s Mike Francesa Denies Police Escort To The S... All CableTV Viewers Pay to Keep Sports Fans Happy Bloomberg Security Hassles Radio Reporter NBC Airs Ann Curry On Tape Kroft: CBS Doesn’t Do ‘Gotcha’ With Obama Chicago Radio: WBEZ-FM To Ask Listeners To 'Go Mak... LIVE: Testimony Resumes Tuesday In MJ vs. Bubba Tr... Randy Michaels Testifies At Schnitt/Bubba Trial Judge Denies Bubba's Request for Mistrial R.I.P.: Ohio Players Frontman Leroy Bonner Was 69 NYC Radio: Fox5 Tours NashFM 94-7 Studios Report: Schnitt vs. Bubba Trial A ‘Circus’ Report: WFAN Simulcast Could End Sooner Than Later... ‘Dish Nation’ Set For Season 2 Green Light Report: Dr. Phil Lands Interview With Fake Girlfri... Cincy Reds Rebuilding Their Radio Brand Opinion: Rush Limbaugh “Gets It” 2DAY-FM Cancels Show, Hosts Still Employed Suburban Chicago-Based WCKG Radio Amps Up Local Fo... Texting Radio Personality Falls Into Canal R.I.P.: Philly TV Icon Sally Starr Dies at 90 R.I.P.: Orlando Iconic Personality Rock Robinson W...	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1538
__label__cc	0.595362	0.404638	Money Minute Monday 9 December: a big week for central banks Today's Money Minute looks ahead to some big decisions from the US and European central banks, plus business conditions in Japan. by: moneyweek It's a big week for central banks.On Wednesday, we get the latest move from the Federal Reserve. The US central bank is expected to keep rates where they are for now.Then on Thursday, we get the first rate decision from the European Central Bank since Christine Lagarde took over as governor.She is conducting a wide-ranging review into the role of the central bank. Elsewhere, on Friday, we get the latest quarterly Tankan surveys from Japan.These look at business conditions across both the manufacturing and the services sectors.They are likely to show that Japanese business activity slowed during the fourth quarter.However, more recent monthly data has hinted at an upturn in global manufacturing, so as research consultancy Capital Economics suggests, this quarter could mark the trough for Japanese business confidence before a recovery in 2020. Visit/519858/how-long-can-the-good-times-roll How long can the good times roll? Despite all the doom and gloom that has dominated our headlines for most of 2019, Britain and most of the rest of the developing world is currently en… Visit/economy/600633/welcome-to-moneyweeks-new-website Welcome to MoneyWeek's new website MoneyWeek's executive editor John Stepek welcomes you to the revamped website, and explains what's changed. Visit/520598/money-minute-thursday-16-january-a-batch-of-company-results Money Minute Thursday 16 January: a batch of company results Today's Money Minute looks ahead to results from a host of UK companies, plus the latest unemployment figures from the US.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1540
__label__wiki	0.725623	0.725623	Difference between revisions of "Alexander Rodchenko" (→‎Writings) Revision as of 07:32, 15 September 2017 (edit) (undo) (→‎Catalogues) * ''Rodchenko and His Circle: Constructing the Future Through Photography'', ed. John Milner, London: Art Sensus, 2011, 118 pp. On the occasion of an exhibition at Art Sensus, 20 Jan-19 Mar 2011. {{en}} * ''[http://media.wix.com/ugd//23892f_d0e3678f112f589c3cd50fa1473ef753.pdf Rabochiy klub]'' [Рабочий клуб], Moscow: Tretyakov Gallery, 2011, [10] pp. {{ru}} * ''[https://www.kunstmuseum.li/bilder/5685.pdf Alexander Rodchenko. Photography and Design]'', ed. Denise Rigaud, Vaduz: Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, 2015, [17] pp. Exh. booklet. {{en}} ==Literature== with Varvara Stepanova, 1920s. December 5, 1891(1891-12-05) St Petersburg, Russian Empire December 3, 1956(1956-12-03) (aged 64) Moscow, Soviet Union Costakis, Costakis, MoMA, Tretyakov, Van Abbemuseum, RGALI Aleksander Mikhailovich Rodchenko (Александр Михайлович Родченко; 1891–1956) was a Russian artist, sculptor, photographer and graphic designer. He was one of the founders of constructivism and Russian design. He was married to the artist Varvara Stepanova. 2.1 Drawings, paintings 2.2 Spatial Constructions 2.3 Collages 2.4 Exhibition design 2.5 Photographs 3 Writings 4 Catalogues This chronology is sourced from the website of MoMA, 1998. Dates before 1 Feb 1918 follow the Old Style/Julian calendar (lagging 13 days behind the New Style/Gregorian calendar). Entries for most years start with a list of exhibitions in Russia (and several significant ones abroad) in which Rodchenko's work was included; not included are the five or six photographic salons outside Russia in which, on average, Rodchenko exhibited each year from 1926 through the early 1940s. November 23 (December 5 New Style): Aleksandr Mikhailovich Rodchenko born in Saint Petersburg. Father, Mikhail Mikhailovich Rodchenko (born 1852), is a prop man in the theater; mother, Ol'ga Evdokimovna Paltusova (born 1865), is a washerwoman. By this year, family has moved to Kazan. August 20: Receives a certificate of elementary education from the Kazan school board. Father dies. Begins two years of apprenticeship as a dental technician. September: Enrolls in the department of figurative arts in the Kazan School of Fine Arts (Kazanskaia khudozhestvennaia shkola). Gives drawing lessons. Writes poems and tries to have them published, without much success. 2nd Periodic Exhibition of Painting (2aia periodicheskaia vystavka kartin), Kazan. Organized by the Kazan School of Fine Arts. 3rd Periodic Exhibition of Painting (3aia periodicheskaia vystavka kartin), Kazan. Organized by the Kazan School of Fine Arts. 5th Painting Exhibition (5aia vystavka kartin), Perm. Organized by the Perm Society of Friends of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture (Permskii obshchestvo liubitelei zhivopisi, vaianiia i zodchestva). Meets [[Stepanova\|Varvara Fedorovna Stepanova]] (born 1894), also a student at the Kazan School of Fine Arts. February 20: Attends lecture and performance presented in Kazan by Russian Futurists David Burliuk, Vasilii Kamenskii, and Mayakovsky. Becomes an adherent of Futurism (which in Russia designates a wide range of avant-garde experiment). Purchases a photograph of Mayakovsky. June 7: Although his lack of formal secondary education prevents him from receiving a diploma, obtains a certificate stating that he has completed the course of painting and drawing at the Kazan School of Fine Arts. October: This month or shortly thereafter moves to Moscow and enrolls in the Graphic Section of the Stroganov School of Applied Art (Stroganovskoe khudozhestvenno-promyshlennoe uchilishche). The Store (Magazin), Moscow. March. Modern Painting (Sovremennaia zhivopis'), Moscow. March: Opening of The Store (Magazin), Moscow. Organized by Tatlin in a rented shop at 17 Petrovka Street, the exhibition includes Rodchenko's compass-and-ruler drawings. Other exhibitors are Ivan Bruni, Exter, Kliun, Malevich, Vera Prestel', Popova, Udaltsova, Maria Vasil'eva, and Tatlin himself. Spring-Summer: Departs for military service as operations manager of a hospital train. Exhibition of Works by Rodchenko 1910-1917 (Vystavka tvorchestva Rodchenko 1910-1917), Moscow. March or May. Summer: Rodchenko is a founder of Profsoiuz (Professional'nyi soiuz khudozhnikov-zhivopistsev, Professional Union of Artist-Painters) and becomes the secretary of its "left" or avant-garde division, the Young Federation (Molodaia federatsiia). Although relatively small, this "left" federation is assertive enough to get four of its members (Mayakovsky, Altman, Punin, and Meyerhold) on the union's organizing committee. Fall: With Tatlin and others, assists Georgii Yakulov in designing the Café Pittoresque on Kuznetskii Most in Moscow. Rodchenko designs lamps and makes large-scale working drawings from Yakulov's rough sketches. The café will open on January 30, 1918. December: Rodchenko is discharged from military service. 1st Exhibition of Painting (1aia vystavka kartin), Moscow. Organized by Profsoiuz. 5th State Exhibition: "From Impressionism to Non-Objective Art" (5aia gosudarstvennaia vystavka: "Ot Impressionizma do bespredmetnogo iskusstva"), Moscow. Organized under the auspices of IZO Narkompros. 5 Years of Work (5 let raboty), club of the Young Federation for New Art (Molodaia federatsiia novogo iskusstva), Moscow. Untitled group exhibition, club of the Young Federation for New Art, Moscow. Becomes a member of the presidium of the soviet of Profsoiuz. January 29: Establishment of IZO (Otdel izobrazitel'nykh iskusstv, the Section of Visual Arts), a department of Narkompros. Painter David Shterenberg is appointed head of the Petrograd section, which includes Mayakovsky, Brik, and Altman. Tatlin is head of the Moscow section, which includes Malevich, Kandinsky, Rodchenko, and others. Rodchenko will assist Rozanova, head of the Art and Production Subsection (Khudozhestvenno-promyshlennyi podotdel) of IZO, in visiting workshops and studios and raising money to revive craft production. He will be named head of the Museum Bureau (Muzeinoe biuro) of IZO, and of its Moscow centerpiece, the Museum of Painterly Culture (Muzei zhivopisnoi kul'tury), and will be assisted in these positions by Stepanova. Over the next three years, the Museum Bureau will acquire 1,926 works of modern and contemporary art by 415 artists and will organize thirty provincial museums, to which it will distribute 1,211 works. February: A Moscow branch of Proletkul't is established. Rodchenko will teach a course on the theory of painting here. Spring: Rodchenko publishes in the anarchist magazine Anarkhiia. Second half of the year: Works for the first time in abstract sculpture, producing a series of spatial constructions that he calls "white sculptures." 10th State Exhibition: Non-Objective Creation and Suprematism (10aia gosudarstvennaia vystavka: Bespredmetnoe tvorchestvo i Suprematizm), Moscow. Organized by IZO Narkompros. April. 11th State Exhibition (11aia gosudarstvennaia vystavka), Moscow. Organized by IZO Narkompros. 3rd Exhibition of Painting (III vystavka kartin), Ryazan. Organized by the public-education department of the Ryazan regional government. 1st State Painting Exhibition of Local and Moscow Artists (1aia gosudarstvennaia vystavka kartin mestnykh i moskovskikh khudozhnikov), Vitebsk. Organized by the fine-arts section of the education department of the Vitebsk regional government. Produces a series of linocuts; executes his first collages using printed materials; starts work on a series of architectural drawings, and also on a series of spatial constructions that can be stored flat and then opened up into three-dimensional hanging forms. Joins the Collective of Painterly, Sculptural, and Architectural Synthesis (Zhivskul'ptarkh, the Kollektiv zhivopisno-skul'pturno-arkhitekturnogo sinteza). Wins first prize in a competition, organized by the collective, to design a newspaper kiosk. Aleksandr Drevin, Popova, Rodchenko, Stepanova, Aleksandr Vesnin, and Udaltsova form Asskranov (Assotsiatsiia krainikh novatorov, Association of Radical Innovators), in opposition to Malevich's Suprematism. April 27: Opening of the 10th State Exhibition: Non-Objective Creation and Suprematism (10aia gosudarstvennaia vystavka: Bespredmetnoe tvorchestvo i Suprematizm). Rodchenko shows his "Black on Black" (Chernoe na chernom)series, in response to Kazimir Malevich's "White on White" (Beloe na belom) canvases. September 15: With Stepanova, moves into Kandinsky's apartment at 8 Dolgii Lane (now Burdenko Street). December: Proletkul't becomes an autonomous body within Narkompros. Exhibition of the Four Painters Kandinsky, Rodchenko, Sinezubov, Stepanova (Vystavka chetyrekh khudozhnikov Kandinskii, Rodchenko, Sinezubov, Stepanova), Moscow. State Exhibition "Zhivskul'ptarkh" (Gosudarstvennaia vystavka "Zhivskul'ptarkh"), Moscow. Exhibition to the Third Congress of the Komintern (Vystavka k III kongressu kominterna), Moscow. 1st State Exhibition of Art and Science (1aia gosudarstvennaia vystavka iskusstva i nauki), Kazan. 2nd Art Exhibition (2aia khudozhestvennaia vystavka), Sovetsk. Organized by the Subsection of the Department of Museums and Conservation of Monuments and Antiquities (Podotdel po delam museev i okhrany pamiatnikov iskusstva i stariny). 1st Kosmodem'iansk Exhibition for the Third Anniversary of the Great October Revolution (1aia kozmodem'ianskaia vystavka k 3ei godovshchine velikoi oktiabr'skoi revolutsii), Kosmodem'iansk. Organized by IZO. 19th State Exhibition (19aia gosudarstvennaia vystavka), Moscow. Organized under the auspices of IZO Narkompros. October. Organizes, designs, and participates in Exhibition to the Third Congress of the Komintern (Vystavka k III kongressu kominterna). May: Formal establishment of Inkhuk (Institut khudozhestvennoi kul'tury, the Institute of Artistic Culture) under the auspices of IZO Narkompros. It has grown out of meetings among Kandinsky, Rodchenko, Stepanova, Vladimir Franketti, Viktor Shestakov, and others. Its initial program is formulated by Kandinsky. For the 19th State Exhibition (19aia gosudarstvennaia vystavka), organized under the auspices of IZO Narkompros, Rodchenko prepares two essays, "Everything is Experiment" (Vse-opyty), which is displayed in the exhibition next to his work, and "The Line" (Liniia), which announces a new cycle of work. The exhibition opens on October 20, and here Rodchenko meets Mayakovsky. October 24: With Stepanova, moves out of Kandinsky's apartment. November: Becomes a professor at Vkhutemas, where he will teach "Construction," a mandatory course, and give the lectures "Initiative" and "Graphic Construction of a Plane" for one year. November 5: With Stepanova, moves into an apartment in the building of the Museum Bureau, at 14 Volkhonka Street. November 14: Gan invites him to design for Gan's play We (My). November 23: Formation of the General Working Group of Objective Analysis (Obshchaia rabochaia gruppa ob'ektivnogo analiza) within Inkhuk. Including Aleksei Babichev, Rodchenko, Stepanova, and others, it coheres in opposition to Kandinsky's program and leadership. Babichev would later write, "The psychological approach of Kandinsky sharply diverged from the views of those who considered the material, self-contained 'object' to be the substance of creation." 3rd Touring Fine Art Exhibition of the Regional Subsection of the Central Museum of Sovetsk (3aia peredvizhnaia khudozhestvennaia vystavka sovetskogo raionnogo podotdela glavmuzeia), Sovetsk. Second Spring Obmokhu Exhibition (Vtoraia vesenniaia vystavka Obmokhu), held in the former Mikhailova Salon, Moscow. May-June. 5x5=25 exhibition held at the Club of the All-Russian Union of Poets (Klub vserossiskogo soiuza poetov), Moscow. Part one September, part two October. Wins first prize in a competition to design union insignia. February: Teaches drawing for one term at the Ceramics Faculty (Keramicheskii fakul'tet) of Vkhutemas. March 18: Forms the First Working Group of Constructivists (Pervaia rabochaia gruppa konstruktivistov) with Gan, Karl Ioganson, Konstantin Medunetskii, Stepanova, and Georgii and Vladimir Stenberg. May 22: Opening of the second Obmokhu exhibition--called the Second Spring Obmokhu Exhibition (Vtoraia vesenniaia vystavka Obmokhu)--in Moscow. Ioganson, Medunetsky, the Stenberg brothers, and others exhibit, and Rodchenko shows spatial constructions. September-October: With Exter, Popova, Stepanova, and Alexander Vesnin, presents work in 5x5=25, a two-part exhibition held at the Club of the All-Russian Union of Poets (Klub vserossiskogo soiuza poetov). Each artist shows five works in each part. The first part opens in September and features works especially produced for the occasion; Rodchenko exhibits Line (Liniia, 1920), Grid (Kletka, 1921), and the three monochrome paintings Pure Red Color (Chistyi krasnyi tsvet), Pure Yellow Color (Chistyi zheltyi tsvet), and Pure Blue Color (Chistyi sinii tsvet, all 1921), which are often referred to as a triptych. The second part of the show, in October, is dedicated to works on paper. November 26: Rodchenko reads his essay "The Line" (Liniia) at an Inkhuk meeting. Rodchenko works on free-standing sculptures made of identically sized wooden elements. First Russian Art Exhibition (Erste russische Kunstausstellung), Galerie van Diemen, Berlin. October-December. February: Becomes the dean of the metalworking faculty (Metalloobrabatyvaiushchii fakul'tet, or Metfak) at Vkhutemas. Is replaced as the head of IZO's Museum Bureau. February 22: Rodchenko and Stepanova are allocated an apartment at 21 Miasnitskaia Street, where they will live for the rest of their lives. The building is across the courtyard from Vkhutemas. August: First issue of the magazine Kino-Fot (Cine-Photo). Editor Gan invites Rodchenko to design its covers. Through Gan, Rodchenko meets Vertov. October 15: Opening of the First Russian Art Exhibition (Erste russische Kunstausstellung), at the Galerie van Diemen, 21 Unter den Linden, Berlin. The exhibition, which includes work by Rodchenko, is Western Europe's first comprehensive overview of Russian modernist art. It will later travel to the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam. November: At Vertov's invitation, Rodchenko designs intertitles for Kino-Pravda numbers 13 and 14. Exhibition of Moscow Stage Design 1918-1923 (Vystavka teatral'no-dekorativnogo iskusstva Moskvy 1918-1923), Moscow. Acquires a 13-by-18-cm. view camera to make copies, enlargements, and reductions for his photocollage work. Begins to design advertisements and insignia for the state airline Dobrolet. This work soon leads to regular collaborations with Mayakovsky (who writes the slogans) on advertisements for the state grocery-concern Mossel'prom, the state candy-maker Krasnyi Oktiabr', the state department-store gum, the state rubber-trust Rezinotrest, the state tea-producer Chaiupravlenie, and the state publishing-house Gosizdat. Receives graphic design commissions, mainly for book covers and posters, from Gosizdat, Komakademiia (Communist academy), Krug (Circle), Molodaia gvardiia (Young Guard), and Transpechat' (Transport Press), and from the magazines Krasnaia Nov' (Red Soil) and Molodaia Gvardiia. Shows costume designs for Gan's play We in the Exhibition of Moscow Stage Design 1918-1923 (Vystavka teatral'no-dekorativnogo iskusstva Moskvy 1918-1923). His Metfak students at Vkhutemas exhibit furniture designs based on his principles of efficiency and multiple applications, including a bed that can double as an armchair, by N. Sobolev; a collapsible bookstand, by Zakhar Bykov; and a folding bed, by Peter Galaktionov. March: Manifesto of the Lef group (signed by Aseev, Arvatov, Brik, Kushner, Mayakovsky, Tretyakov, and Chuzhak) appears in the first issue of the group's magazine Lef, published with support from Narkompros. The press run of this first issue is 5,000; over the course of Lef 's seven issues (through January 1925) it will decline to 2,000. The first issue includes Rodchenko's drawings for "cinema cars," a mobile system of film projection that he has designed for the All-Russian Agricultural Exhibition (Vserossiiskaia vystavka sel'sko-khoziaistva), Moscow, but that are never produced. Rodchenko will design all the covers of Lef, and will become the Lef group's principal visual artist. Filmmakers Eisenstein and Vertov, stage director Meyerhold, and literary theorist Shklovsky will also become associated with the group. April 21: Completes photocollage maquettes as the cover and illustrations for About This (Pro eto), a poem by Mayakovsky, which the poet has completed on February 11. June 5: Publication of Pro eto. July 1: The newspaper Izvestiia publishes a full-page advertisement for the department store gum (Gosudarstvennyi universalnyi magazin, the State universal store) designed by Rodchenko with text by Mayakovsky, their first advertising collaboration. December 18: Moholy-Nagy, professor at the Bauhaus, writes to Rodchenko at Vkhutemas, inviting him to write a brochure on Constructivism for a series to be published by the Bauhaus. The brochure will never appear. Winter of 1923-24: Makes a small number of photographs independent of his collage work. Rodchenko stops working for Inkhuk. April: In his apartment on Miasnitskaia Street, using a 9-by-12-cm. plate camera, makes a series of six portraits of Mayakovsky, his first lasting work in photography. Soon begins to photograph family and friends. October 31: Release of Vertov's film Cine-Eye (Kino glaz), for which Rodchenko designs the poster. 3rd Art Exhibition of Painting by Kaluga and Moscow Artists (3aia khudozhestvennaia vystavka kartin kaluzhskikh i moskovskikh khudozhnikov), Kaluga. First Exhibition of Film Posters (Pervaia vystavka kino-plakat), Moscow. Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, Paris. Rodchenko publishes photo-reportage in the magazines Ogonek [The Little Flame], Tridtsat' Dnei [Thirty Days], and Ekran Rabochei Gazety [Screen of the Worker's Newspaper]. A mural that Rodchenko has designed for the side of the Mossel'prom building in Moscow is completed by this month, when he photographs it in its finished state. January 14: A daughter, Varvara Alexandrovna Rodchenko, is born to Stepanova and Rodchenko. January 18: Release of Eisenstein's film Bronenosets Potemkin [The Battleship Potemkin], for which Rodchenko designs the poster. March 23: Arrives in Paris by train, via Riga (March 19) and Berlin (March 20), as part of the delegation, headed by David Shterenberg, that will mount the Soviet exhibitions at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. These exhibitions include six rooms in the Grand Palais, containing a model village reading room and a theater, as well as exhibits of crafts, works created at Vkhutemas, graphic design, advertising, and architecture; and also the Soviet Pavilion, designed by Melnikov, and, at the Invalides, a model workers' club (Rabochii klub), designed by Rodchenko, who also executes its installation and that of the other exhibitions. In Paris, visits the Salon des Indépendants, which he finds mediocre, and meets Theo van Doesburg, Fernand Léger, and other artists, in meetings limited by the lack of a common language. Writes almost daily to Stepanova of his impressions of Paris: considers the advertising weak; admires Charlie Chaplin's The Kid. Also buys a 4-by-6.5-cm. Ica plate camera and a 35-mm. Sept (a movie camera that can also make still frames). Buys a second Sept for Vertov. June 4: Soviet exhibitions open in the Grand Palais. Rodchenko wins silver medals in each of the four categories he has entered: book design, outdoor advertising, theater design, and furniture design. June 18: Leaves Paris for Moscow, by train. Fall: Shooting from both above and below, makes "The Building on Miasnitskaia Street" (Dom na Miasnitskoi), a series of photographs of his apartment building. 2nd Exhibition of Film Posters (2aia vystavka kino-plakat), Moscow. Organized by the publishing house Teakinopechat' (Press for theater and cinema). The magazine Sovremennaya arkhitektura (Contemporary Architecture)goes into publication, edited by Gan. Rodchenko and Stepanova contribute to the first issues. Begins to photograph regularly and to design costumes and sets for theater and film. Commissioned by the Museum of the Revolution (Muzei revolutsii) and Komakademiia to create "The History of the VKP(b) (All-Russian Communist Party [Bolshevik]) in Posters" (Istoria VKP(b) v plakatakh), a series of twenty-five posters illustrating the history of the Communist Party. February: Joins the Association of Photo-Reporters (Assotsiatsiia fotoreporterov) but does not participate in its first exhibition, at the Press-House (Dom pechati). March: The magazine Sovetskoe Kino (Soviet Cinema) includes photographs from Rodchenko's "Building on Miasnitskaia Street" series of 1925. He will contribute photographs to the magazine regularly. April: First issue of Sovetskoe Foto (Soviet Photography), a monthly addressed primarily to amateur photographers, published under the auspices of IZO Narkompros. Rodchenko is a member of the editorial board. All-Union Exhibition of Graphic Design (Vsesoiuznaia poligraficheskaia vystavka), Leningrad. 10 Years of Russian Xylography (Russkaia ksilografiia za 10 let), State Russian Museum (Gosudarstvennyi russkii muzei), Leningrad. Exhibition organized by OSDK, Moscow. Rodchenko collaborates on Moscow in October (Moskva v Oktiabre) by Boris Barnet, one of three films commissioned to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution. Listed as "Artist" (Khudozhnik) in the film's credits, he selects locations and designates camera viewpoints and angles, many of them from above or below. In connection with the film, he photographs extensively in Moscow and makes a series of photographs of the Brianskii railway station, site of the film's opening scene. The film is released in November of this year. Designs the sets, notably the hero's apartment, conceived as an exemplar of modern functional design, for the film The Journalist (Zhurnalistka), by Lev Kuleshov (released in October of this year). Also designs sets for the film Al'bidum, by Leonid Obolenskii. Rodchenko's poster series "The History of the VKP(b) in Posters," of 1926, is published in the newspapers Izvestiia and Pravda. January: First issue of the magazine Novyi Lef. Twenty-two monthly numbers (including one double number) will appear through December 1928, in editions ranging from 2,400 to 3,500. Rodchenko will design all of the covers and will contribute regularly to the contents. Designs advertising poster for Novyi Lef, composed of portraits of Aseev, Brik, Eisenstein, Semen Kirsanov, Kushner, Anton Lavinskii, Mayakovsky, P. Nezmanov, Pasternak, Viktor Perstov, Rodchenko, Shklovsky, Stepanova, Tretyakov, Vertov, and Vitalii Zhemchuzhnyi. February: Novyi Lef number 2 publishes excerpts from Rodchenko's letters to Stepanova from Paris in 1925. Summer: Exhibits photographs for the first time, in a Moscow exhibition organized by Odsk (Obshchestvo druzei sovetskogo kino, the Society of the Friends of Soviet Cinema). 10 Years of Soviet Photography (Sovetskaia fotografiia za 10 let), Moscow and Leningrad. Organized by the State Academy of Artistic Sciences. Russian Drawing in the 10 Years after the October Revolution (Russkii risunok za 10 let Oktiabr'skoi revoliutsii), State Tretyakov Gallery (Gosudarstvennaia Tretiakovskaia galereia), Moscow. In the exhibition 10 Years of Soviet Photography (Sovetskaia fotografiia za 10 let), in Moscow, Rodchenko's pictures are shown in the photo-reportage section, not the "artistic photography" section. Following the exhibition, Voks establishes a photographic section. Rodchenko sits on the section's committee. Through the wide-ranging contacts of VOKS, he will send photographs to an average of five or six foreign exhibitions, many of them Pictorialist salons, each year through 1941. Designs sets for the film The Doll with Millions (Kukla s millionami), by Sergei Komarov (released in December of this year). Over the next four years, will publish photo-reportage in the magazines Kniga i Revoliutsiia (Book and Revolution),Kommunisticheskii Internatsional Molodezhi (Communist International of Youth),Krasnoe Studenchestvo (Red Student Days), Pioner (Pioneer), Prozhektor (Projector), Sovetskoe Foto, Radioslushatel' (Radio Listener), Smena (Change), and Zhurnalist (Journalist). January 3: Alfred H. Barr, Jr., future founding director of The Museum of Modern Art, New York, visits Rodchenko and Stepanova at their apartment in Moscow. April: Sovetskoe Foto no. 4 of 1928 publishes an anonymous illustrated letter to the editor insinuating that Rodchenko has plagiarized his photographic style from Western "imperialist" photographers. October 3: L. Averbakh of Rapp attacks Rodchenko's photograph of a pioneer as "monstrous." November: Maks Tereshkovich, director of the Theater of the Revolution (Teatr revoliutsii), invites Rodchenko to design sets for the play Inga, by Anatolii Glebov. Explaining his participation in the production in his essay "A Discussion of the New Clothing and Furniture--A Task of Design," Rodchenko will emphasize the notion of rationality, the use of fold-out (rather than multiple-application) furniture (the better to suit everyday living conditions), and his preference for an "abundantly available" material, wood. November 14: Delivers an illustrated lecture, "On the New Photography or Photo-Lef," at GaKhn (Gosudarstvennaia akademiia khudozhestvennykh nauk, the State Academy of Artistic Sciences). November 25: Stepanova's diary records Rodchenko's purchase of a Leica for 350 rubles. December 9: Lissitzky, charged with assembling the Russian section of the forthcoming Film und Foto exhibition in Stuttgart, visits Rodchenko to select photographs for the exhibition. December 26: With Stepanova, Rodchenko completes the maquette for a book of photographs of his that have appeared in Sovetskoe Foto, Sovetskoe Kino, and Novyi Lef. Brik is to write an introduction. The book is to be published under the auspices of Narkompros, but never appears. 1st Exhibition of the Association of the Moscow Stage Designers (1aia vystavka Moskovskoi assotsiatsii khudozhnikov-dekoratov), Moscow. Soviet Drawing (Sovetskii risunok), Kuibyshev. Internationale Ausstellung des Deutschen Werkbunds Film und Foto, Stuttgart. May 18-July 17. Rodchenko joins the interior design section of October. January 2: Mayakovsky invites Rodchenko to work on his play Bedbug (Klop), at the Meyerhold Theater (Teatr im. Vs. Meierkhol'da). Rodchenko will work on the project from January 14 to February 13. His designs are for the second half of the play, which is set in 1979, fifty years in the future. Designs for the first half of the play, set in the present day of 1929, are by the Kukrinskii brothers. Once Rodchenko has finished his work for Bedbug, he returns to designing modular furniture for Glebov's play Inga, to open later in the spring. April: First issue of the magazine Daesh' (Give Your All), closely associated with October. Daesh' will survive for fourteen issues, the last of them published in December of this year. Principal photographers for the magazine are Rodchenko and Boris Ignatovich. Summer: After the Film und Foto exhibition in Stuttgart, enters into correspondence with co-organizer Jan Tschichold. First October exhibition, Gorky Park, Moscow. Opens March 27. 20 Years of the Work of Mayakovsky (20 let raboty Maiakovskogo), Writers' Club (Klub pisatelei), Moscow. Exhibition of Drawings (Vystavka risunkov), Perm. Revolutionary and Socialist Themes (Revoliutsionnaia i sotsialisticheskaia tematika), State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Rodchenko lectures on photography to heads of photographic clubs at the Institute of Graphic Design (Poligraficheskii institut) and the Association of Photo-Reporters. February: A photographic section of the October group is organized. Rodchenko is head of the section and writes its program. Other members include Dmitrii Debabov; Boris, Ol'ga, and Elizaveta Ignatovich; Vladimir Griuntal'; Roman Kamen; Eleazar Langman; Moriakin; Abram Shterenberg; and Vitalii Zhemchuzhnyi. March 27: First general October exhibition opens at Gorky Park (Park kul'tury i otdykha im. Gorkogo, or Park of culture and rest named after Gorky), Moscow. The photography section, organized by Rodchenko and Stepanova, includes the magazine Radioslushatel', designed by Stepanova and illustrated with photographs by Griuntal', Boris Ignatovich, and Rodchenko. July: First issue of the magazine Za Rubezhom (Abroad). Rodchenko will design many of its covers. August-November: With the film director Leon Letkar, travels to Vakhtan to shoot the documentary Chemical Treatment of the Forest (Khimizatsiia lesa). The film will never be released. During the trip makes a series of photographs at a lumber mill. Exhibition of the photographers' section of October at the Press-House, Moscow. May. October exhibition of photomontage in Gorky Park, Moscow. June. Designs the costumes and sets for the revue Sixth Part of the World (Shestaia chast' mira), by Aleksandr Zharov, and directed by Nikolai Gorchakov, at the Music-Hall Theater. Set designer for the film What Will You Be? (Kem byt'?), directed by Vitalii Zhemchuzhnyi and based on a children's book by Mayakovsky. Begins lecturing on photography at the Soiuzfoto agency. May: The October photographers' section opens an exhibition at the Press-House. Rodchenko shows his photographs from Vakhtan. October 10: Tschichold writes asking Rodchenko to send about sixty photographs for a prospective monograph in a series of books he is preparing with Franz Roh. The book will never appear. Exhibition dedicated to the work of Mayakovsky, Moscow. Organized by the Museum of Literature (Muzei literatury). Rodchenko designs the sets and costumes for the play The Army of the World (Armiia mira), by Lev Nikulin, directed by Iurii Zavadskii at the Zavadskii Theater. Teaches a course on photography at the Institute of Graphic Design. Makes photo-vitrines for the Dynamo (Dinamo) stadium. January: This month's Proletarskoe Foto includes attacks on the October group. On January 25, Rodchenko is expelled from October for resistance to the "practical reconstruction of the group." February: Proletarskoe Foto publishes workers' criticisms of photographs by members of October, notably Rodchenko's pictures of pioneers. It also publishes an open letter signed by eighteen members of October, including Rodchenko (not yet expelled when the letter was written), apologizing for the group's mistakes. April 15: Signs a one-year contract to supply photographs to Izogiz (the State Publishing House for Art). The contract calls for Rodchenko to supply a minimum of forty photographs per month at ten rubles each, for a monthly salary of 400 rubles. Additional photographs will earn from ten to twelve rubles each, depending on quality. The contract leads to, among other things, the publication of a series of approximately forty postcards of Moscow scenes, published in editions ranging from 10,000 to 25,000, and to the preparation of Dve Moskvy (Two Moscows), a book documenting Moscow before the Revolution (through drawings) and after it (through Rodchenko's photographs). The book will never appear. Rodchenko's work is, however, included in the photo-album From Capitalist Moscow to Socialist Moscow (Ot Moskvy kupecheskoi k Moskve sotsialisticheskoi). 15 Years of Artists of the RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic) (Khudozhniki RSFSR [Rossiiskaia Sovetskaia Federativnaia Sotsialisticheskaia Respublika] za 15 let), Moscow. A law requiring a permit to photograph openly in Moscow henceforth restricts Rodchenko's photographic work to official parades and sporting events, the circus, the theater, commissions outside Moscow, and private pictures. Rodchenko joins Mosskh. February: Commissioned by Izogiz to travel to Karelia to photograph the construction of the White Sea (Belomorsk) Canal, which connects the White Sea and the Baltic. Spends two weeks at the canal. March 13: Departs on a second trip to the White Sea Canal. Summer: Third and final trip to the canal to photograph its inauguration. On the three trips together, has made a total of some 4,000 negatives. July 18: Rodchenko's mother dies in Moscow while he is photographing at the White Sea Canal. December: SSSR na Stroike publishes a special issue on the White Sea Canal, designed by Rodchenko and largely illustrated with his photographs. Over the next eight years Rodchenko and Stepanova will work regularly on SSSR na Stroike. Travels to the Crimea and the Donets Basin on photographic assignments from Izogiz. With Stepanova, designs 10 Years of Soviet Uzbekistan (10 let sovetskogo Uzbekistana), an album of photographs. 17 Years of Artists of the Soviet Theater (Khudozhniki sovetskogo teatra za 17 let), Moscow. Organized by Narkompros. Exhibition of the Work of the Masters of Soviet Photography (Vystavka rabot masterov sovetskogo foto-iskusstva), Moscow. With Stepanova, designs issues on Kazakhstan and parachuting for SSSR na Stroike and the photograph albums First Cavalry (Pervaia konnaia)and Soviet Cinema. Begins to photograph the gymnastic and military parades on Red Square. A permit is required for each event. Wins second prize for his photograph Girls with Scarves (Devushki s platkami)at a Moscow competition organized by the Soiuzfoto agency and the newspaper Rabochaia Moskva(Worker's Moscow). Starts painting again. Works on a series on the theme of the circus, in both painting and photography. Retires from the photography exhibition committee of VOKS. April 24-May 7: Exhibition of the Work of the Masters of Soviet Photography (Vystavka rabot masterov sovetskogo foto-iskusstva), organized by the newly formed Professional Union of Photo-Cine Workers (Profsoiuz kinofotorabotnikov), which Rodchenko joins. This is a juried exhibition to which each potential exhibitor is permitted to submit up to twenty photographs. Rodchenko is one of the nine jurors (who include both former members of ROPF and former members of the October group). He participates in the installation of the exhibition, which takes place in the exhibition hall on Kuznetskii Most (once the site of the Café Pittoresque, which Rodchenko had helped to design in 1917). The exhibition, and the critical reaction to it, temporarily restore Rodchenko's reputation, and he rejoins the editorial committee of Sovetskoe Foto and contributes articles to the magazine, including a series on "Young Masters," the first of which is devoted to Jakob Khalip. With Stepanova, Rodchenko designs an issue on timber exports for SSSR na Stroike. Publishes an apologia, "Reconstruction of an Artist," in Sovetskoe Foto no. 5-6 of 1936. First All-Union Exhibition of Photography (Pervaia vsesoiuznaia vystavka fotoiskusstva), Moscow and Leningrad. 20 Years of Soviet Photography (20 let sovetskogo fotografii), Moscow. Opens November 26. With Stepanova, Rodchenko designs an issue on gold for SSSR na Stroike. Wins an award for his photographs of gymnastic parades and events in the First All-Union Exhibition of Photography (Pervaia vsesoiuznaia vystavka fotoiskusstva), Moscow. Resigns from the editorial board of Sovetskoe Foto. Exhibition of Soviet Photographic Art (Vystavka sovetskogo fotoiskusstva), held at the Museum of Culture named after Vitautas, Kaunas, Lithuania. Exhibition of the work of Mayakovsky, Sochi. Exhibition of artistic photography, Writers' Club, Moscow. With Stepanova, Rodchenko designs issues on the Moscow-Volga Canal, elections in the Supreme Soviet, and Kiev for SSSR na Stroike. With Stepanova, designs the photograph album Red Army (Krasnaia armiia). In Honor of the 18th Party Congress (V podarok XVIII sezdu partii), Moscow. March. With Stepanova, Rodchenko designs issues on the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition (Vsesoiuznaia sel'skokhoziaistvennaia vystavka) and the kolkhoz for SSSR na Stroike, and the photograph albums Soviet Aviation, Procession of the Youth, and others for the New York World's Fair. May 2-June 3: On a commission from the State Mayakovsky Museum (Gosudarstvennyi muzei Maiakovskogo), Moscow, writes a memoir on his collaboration with Mayakovsky, "Working with Mayakovsky" (Rabota s Maiakovskim). It will appear in Smena no. 3 of 1940. With Stepanova, designs an issue on Mayakovsky for SSSR na Stroike. With Georgii Petrusov, makes photographs for an issue of SSSR na Stroike on the circus. Because of the war, the issue never appears. Works on a series of drawings inspired by the music of Sergei Prokofiev. With Stepanova, designs an issue on the history of GOELRO, the agency for the electrification of Russia, for SSSR na Stroike. August: With Stepanova and daughter Varvara, Rodchenko is evacuated to Molotov in the province of Perm, about 1,000 miles from Moscow. October: Moves to the village of Ocher, 100 miles from Molotov. Designs advertisements and signboards for the local cinema and newspaper. January: Rodchenko returns to Molotov. Marriage of Rodchenko and Stepanova. April-May: Works as a photographer for the newspaper Travel with Stalin (Stalinskaia putevka), published by the provincial railway of Perm. September: Returns to Moscow. Works on the design of photographic exhibitions for the Soviet Bureau of Information (Sovinformbiuro). Works on a series of paintings, "Decorative Composition" (Dekorativnaia kompozitsiia), and on a series of drawings on the theme of the circus. October-November: Designs the exhibition History of the VKP(b) (Istoriia VKP[b]) at the Museum of the Revolution. December: Starts work as artistic director of the House of Technology (Dom tekhniki), earning 3,000 rubles a month. With Stepanova, designs the photograph albums Cinematographic Art of Our Country (Kinoiskusstvo nashei rodiny) and 5 Years of Work Reserves (5 let trudovykh rezervov). May: Concludes work at the House of Technology. Moscow Exhibition of Professional Photographers (Moskovskaia vystavka professionalnykh fotografov). With Stepanova, designs the photograph album 25 Years of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan (25 let Kazakhstan SSR). With daughter Varvara, begins designing the book 10 Years of Soviet Literature (10 let sovetskoi literatury). The book will never appear. First Exhibition of Book Artists (Pervaia vystavka khudozhnikov knigi), Moscow. Organized by the Moscow Association of Artists (Moskovskii soiuz sovetskikh khudozhnikov). Jury member for the exhibition The Great Patriotic War in Artistic Photography(Velikaia otechestvennaia voina v khudozhestvennoi fotografii; "Great Patriotic War" is the Russian name for World War II). With Stepanova, designs a series of posters about Mayakovsky. Begins to design costumes for the ballet Sleeping Beauty (Spiashchaia krasavitsa), for a competition at the Bolshoi Theater, but a serious illness forces him to abandon the project. Book Exhibition at the Academy of Arts (Knizhnaia vystavka v akademii khudozhestv), Moscow. Organized by Glavpoligrafizdat (Glavnoe poligraficheskoe izdatel'stvo, Central Graphic Design Publisher). November: Expelled from membership in the graphic arts section of Mosskh. January: Restored to membership in Mosskh. With Stepanova, begins design on the album 300 Years of the Reunification of Ukraine to Russia (300-letie vossoedineniia Ukrainy s Rossiei), finishing it the following year. Exhibition of Artistic Photography (Vystavka khudozhestvennoi fotografii), Moscow. Organized by the Central House of Journalists (Tsentralnyi dom zhurnalista). Begins work on illustrations for Mayakovsky's poem Well! (Khorosho). Finished the following year, this will be his last work. December 3: Dies in Moscow. First Posthumous Exhibition (Pervaia posmertnaia vystavka), Central House of Journalists, Moscow. May 20: Stepanova dies. Drawings, paintings Non-Objective Composition, 1917-18. Line no. 92 on Green, 1919. Two Circles, 1920. Linear Construction, 1920, pen and ink. Construction No 108, 1920. Nineteenth State Exhibition, Bolshaia Dmitrovka, Moscow, 1920. Spatial Constructions First series ("белая скульптура"), 1918 Spatial Construction No. 5, 1918. Costakis (photograph). Spatial Construction No. 5, 1918, reconstruction. Painted aluminum, 47,5x37,5x21 cm. Spatial Construction No. 6, 1918. Reproduced in Kino-fot 5, 1922. Costakis (photograph). Second series ("по принципу одинаковых форм"), 1920-21 Spatial Construction [square], 1920. Reproduced in Kino-Fot 2, 1922. Spatial Construction [circle], 1921. Spatial Construction [ellipse], 1920-21. Plywood, open construction partially painted with aluminum paint, and wire. 61 x 83.7 x 47 cm. MoMA. Spatial Construction [hexagon], 1921. Reproduced in Kino-Fot 4, 1922. Rodchenko dressed in his prozodezhda standing in front of his folded spatial constructions, c1924. Photograph by Mikhail Kaufman. Costakis. Untitled, c1921. Third series (пространственная конструкция из стандартных элементов), 1921 Spatial Constructions (third series), 1921. Photographed 1924. Maquette for Crisis, 1923. 21x14 cm. [1] [2] Worker's Club, 1925. One of the Soviet exhibits at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. [3] Popova's Studio, 1924, photograph. Maquette for a handbill announcing the film Potemkin, 1925, gelatin silver print and ink on paper. Lyubov Popova, n.d. Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky Osip Brik, 1924. Assembling for a Demonstration, 1928-30. Girl with a Leica, c. 1934. Opyty dlia budushchego: dnevniki, stati, pisma, zapiski [Опыты для будущего. Дневники. Статьи. Письма. Записки], Moscow: Grant [Грантъ], 1996, 415 pp. (Russian) Aleksandr Rodchenko: Experiments for the Future: Diaries, Essays, Letters, and Other Writings, ed. & pref. Alexander N. Lavrentiev, trans. & annot. Jamey Gambrell, intro. John E. Bowlt, New York: Museum of Modern Art, 2005, 439 pp. TOC. Review: Railing (Art Book 2009). (English) Aleksandr Rodchenko, 1998, PDF. Aleksandr Rodchenko, eds. Magdalena Dabrowski, Leah Dickerman and Peter Galassi, New York: Museum of Modern Art, and London: Thames & Hudson, 1998, 336 pp. Review: Railing (Art Book 2000). (English) Rodchenko: Constructing the Future, Barcelona: Caixa Catalunya, 2008, 287 pp. On the occasion of an exhibition curated by Jean-Claude Marcadé and Evgeniya Petrova at La Pedrera, Barcelona, 13 Oct 2008-5 Jan 2009. Review: Railing (Art Book 2009). (English) Rodchenko and Popova: Defining Constructivism, ed. Margarita Tupitsyn, London: Tate, 2009, 190 pp. On the occasion of an exhibition at Tate Modern, 12 Feb-17 May 2009. Review: Railing (Art Book 2009). (English) Rodchenko and His Circle: Constructing the Future Through Photography, ed. John Milner, London: Art Sensus, 2011, 118 pp. On the occasion of an exhibition at Art Sensus, 20 Jan-19 Mar 2011. (English) Rabochiy klub [Рабочий клуб], Moscow: Tretyakov Gallery, 2011, [10] pp. (Russian) Alexander Rodchenko. Photography and Design, ed. Denise Rigaud, Vaduz: Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, 2015, [17] pp. Exh. booklet. (English) David Elliott (ed.), Alexander Rodchenko, 1979, Log. David Elliott (ed.), Alexander Rodchenko, Oxford: Museum of Modern Art, 1979, 136 pp. (English) Christina Lodder, "Aleksandr Rodchenko", in Lodder, Russian Constructivism, Yale University Press, 1983, pp 22-29. (English) Hubertus Gaßner, Alexander Rodschenko. Konstruktion 1920 oder die Kunst, das Leben zu organisieren, Frankfurt am Main: Fischer, 1984. (German) Selim O. Khan-Magomedov, Rodchenko: The Complete Work, ed. Vieri Quilici, MIT Press, 1986, 303 pp. Reviews: Margolin (SEEJ 1987), Lodder (OAJ 1987), Elliott (RR 1989). (English) Christina Kiaer, "Rodchenko in Paris", October 75 (Winter 1996), pp 3-35. (English) Christina Lodder, "Promoting Constructivism: Kino-fot and Rodchenko's Move Into Photography", History of Photography 24:4 (2000), pp 292-299. (English) Brandon Taylor, "Aleksandr Rodchenko’s Lines of Force", Tate Papers, 2009. (English) Renée-Claude Landry, Revolution by Design: Photography & Graphic Applications Mobilized by Constructivist Aleksandr Rodchenko in the 1920's Soviet Journal "Novy Lef", Montréal: Université du Québec, 2013. Dissertation. (English) Varvara Stepanova Central and Eastern Europe#Constructivists, Futurists Central and Eastern Europe#Photography Aleksandr Rodchenko at MoMA.org http://konstruktivizm.com/category/alexander-rodchenko Rodchenko & Popova exhibition in Tate London, 2009 http://artblart.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/exhibition-alexander-rodchenko-revolution-in-photography-at-fotomuseum-winterthur-zurich/ http://masters-of-photography.com/R/rodchenko/rodchenko.html http://calitreview.com/2842 http://www.e-flux.com/journal/view/132 http://www.chtodelat.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=558%3Aproductionism-art-of-the-revolution-or-design-for-the-proletariat&catid=204%3A01-25-what-is-the-use-of-art&Itemid=455&lang=en http://leb.nlr.ru/search/?scope=docs&query=Родченко Rodchenko's photographs http://www.togdazine.ru/tag/rodchenko Rodchenko on Wikipedia Retrieved from "https://monoskop.org/index.php?title=Alexander_Rodchenko&oldid=81479" Productivism	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1541
__label__cc	0.513159	0.486841	Homepage > In the Public Interest > Party-Party Party-Party The Democratic Party-Party Convention is over and its singular memory will be its predictable banality and the commercialism that mostly financed it. Historically, conventions were newsworthy because there was a struggle over who would receive the nomination and what the Parties would stand for in their platforms. Today there is a coronation for the nominee and inquiries about what would be on the menus of the 250 parties that corporations and their smooth-tongued lobbyists were throwing for their favorably-positioned congressional bigwigs. Inside the festooned Convention Center there were dozens of speeches all pre-viewed, sanitized and edited down to the last minute on teleprompters by the standby Kerry censors. When Al Sharpton departed from the script for a couple of minutes, you would have thought their wedding cake was burning. Fifteen thousand reporters spent five days looking for stories-any stories- that qualified as news or soft features from the Party, its 4000 plus delegates and the swarm of corporate backslappers. It was not difficult to describe the wine, whiskey, music and obvious temptations, in return for the implicit political favors, that the drug, insurance, banking, chemical, oil, media and computer companies presented to the attending politicians. For this business bacchanalia the taxpayers were required to pay the Democratic party thirteen million dollars (and later the same amount for the Republican Party Convention). A few years ago Congress- namely the two Parties- decided that these political Conventions were “educational” in nature and worthy of your tax dollars. Around, over and under the Convention premises hovered a security army of police, detectives, troops and armed, airborne and land-based technology worthy of a Marine division. Thwarting a possible terrorist attack was one reason for over tens of millions of dollars spent- the other objective was to keep the people from protesting anywhere near the Fleet Center Convention. The people- voters, taxpayers, workers- were detained in a “free speech zone” (catch the irony) that looked like an ad hoc concentration camp encirclement. The intimidating zone was distant enough not to be convenient to the electronic media placements. In a phrase, the Democratic Party did what it does so regularly in Washington- it shut out the people who resigned themselves to social justice gatherings elsewhere in Boston. But the “people” should have been smarter. They should have had contrasting parties held by dispossessed workers, defrauded consumers, medical malpractice victims, fleeced taxpayers, small farmers, and polluted communities with open invitations for the politicians to attend. The media likes contrasts, especially when very few of these Congressional delegates would have left their lavish business bashes to greet the Americans they court and flatter only at election time from distant stages and 30 second television ads. The Democratic Convention did have its amusing moments. Bill Clinton didn’t charge his $200,000 per speech fee for his speech to the convention and the viewing public. The National Association of Broadcasters-representing those television stations who use your public airwaves free and decide 24 hours a day what is allowed to air on our property- held a huge party for Congressman Ed Markey. Mr. Markey started his congressional career as a major outspoken critic of the broadcasting industry. He has been much quieter in recent years.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1557
__label__wiki	0.831658	0.831658	What is NeuConnect? The delivery of the NeuConnect project will create over £1bn / €1bn of contract opportunities and in April 2019, the major procurement of Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts was launched covering: Converter Stations: Two converter stations and AC connection works in the UK and Germany, including a single maintenance and emergency repair contract covering both UK and Germany converters for an initial term of 10 years HVDC Cabling: 720km of HVDC Cables, including a single maintenance and emergency repair contract for the entire cable length for an initial term of 10 years. Following strong market interest, the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage was launched in December 2019 with a series of pre-qualified tenderers invited to make detailed submissions. Further information Further updates on NeuConnect’s procurement process and details about other contract opportunities will be posted on this page in future A news story about the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage of NeuConnect’s procurement activities is here NeuConnect’s Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts were publicly tendered via the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) website here For further information about NeuConnect procurement, contact: procurement@neuconnect.eu The source language (English) in which the original website text is published is the official and authorised version. Translations are included for better understanding but only the original language version is legally valid. Therefore, please compare translations with the original language version. © NeuConnect Interconnector 2019. © NeuConnect Interconnector 2020. site by BECG	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1560
__label__wiki	0.748969	0.748969	Researchers Convert Human Skin Cells into Sensory Neurons Neuroscience News November 24, 2014 A team led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has found a simple method to convert human skin cells into the specialized neurons that detect pain, itch, touch and other bodily sensations. These neurons are also affected by spinal cord injury and involved in Friedreich’s ataxia, a devastating and currently incurable neurodegenerative disease that largely strikes children. The discovery allows this broad class of human neurons and their sensory mechanisms to be studied relatively easily in the laboratory. The “induced sensory neurons” generated by this method should also be useful in the testing of potential new therapies for pain, itch and related conditions. “Following on the work of TSRI Professor Ardem Patapoutian, who has identified many of the genes that endow these neurons with selective responses to temperature, pain and pressure, we have found a way to produce induced sensory neurons from humans where these genes can be expressed in their ‘normal’ cellular environment,” said Associate Professor Kristin K. Baldwin, an investigator in TSRI’s Dorris Neuroscience Center. “This method is rapid, robust and scalable. Therefore we hope that these induced sensory neurons will allow our group and others to identify new compounds that block pain and itch and to better understand and treat neurodegenerative disease and spinal cord injury.” The report by Baldwin’s team appears as an advance online publication in Nature Neuroscience on November 24, 2014. In Search of a Better Model The neurons that can be made with the new technique normally reside in clusters called dorsal root ganglia (DRG) along the outer spine. DRG sensory neurons extend their nerve fibers into the skin, muscle and joints all over the body, where they variously detect gentle touch, painful touch, heat, cold, wounds and inflammation, itch-inducing substances, chemical irritants, vibrations, the fullness of the bladder and colon, and even information about how the body and its limbs are positioned. Recently these neurons have also been linked to aging and to autoimmune disease. Because of the difficulties involved in harvesting and culturing adult human neurons, most research on DRG neurons has been done in mice. But mice are of limited use in understanding the human version of this broad “somatosensory” system. “Mouse models don’t represent the full diversity of the human response,” said Joel W. Blanchard, a PhD candidate in the Baldwin laboratory who was co-lead author of the study with Research Associate Kevin T. Eade. A New Identity For the new study, the team used a cell-reprogramming technique (similar to those used to reprogram skin cells into stem cells) to generate human DRG-type sensory neurons from ordinary skin cells called fibroblasts. To start, the scientists examined previous experiments and identified several transcription factors—managerial proteins that switch on the activity of large sets of genes—that seemed crucial to the ability of immature neurons to develop into adult sensory neurons. They found that the combination of the transcription factors Brn3a plus Ngn1, or Brn3a plus Ngn2, reprogrammed a significant percentage of the embryonic mouse fibroblasts into what looked—and acted—like mature DRG-type sensory neurons. “We added compounds including capsaicin, which activates pain receptors on DRG neurons, and menthol, which activates cold receptors, and saw subsets of our induced neurons light up with activity just as real DRG neurons would,” said Eade. The neurons that can be made with the new technique normally reside in the dorsal root ganglia along the outer spine. This image is for illustrative purposes only. Credit OpenStax College. Remarkably, although mouse studies had indicated that different transcription factors were differently important for generating pain and itch sensing neurons versus pressure and limb position neurons, in the dish these factors produced equal numbers of each of the three main subtypes. A Step Toward ‘Personalized Medicine’ Using the same recipes of transcription factors, the team was able to convert adult human fibroblasts, which are harder to reprogram, into DRG neurons. The conversion rate was lower, but the induced neurons seemed just as much like their natural counterparts as those produced from embryonic mouse fibroblasts. “We can definitely scale up of the numbers of these induced neurons as needed,” Blanchard said. The feat means that scientists now can relatively easily study DRG sensory neurons derived from many different people, to better understand the diversity of human sensory responses and sensory disorders and advance a “personalized medicine” approach. “We can start to understand how individuals respond uniquely to pain, cold, itch and so on,” said Blanchard. About this genetics research Other co-authors of the study, “Selective conversion of fibroblasts into peripheral sensory neurons,” were Valentina Lo Sardo, Rachel K. Tsunemoto, Daniel Williams, and Pietro Paolo Sanna, all of TSRI; and Attila Szűcs of the University of California San Diego, who performed many of the electrical tests on the induced neurons. Support for the research came from the Dorris Neuroscience Center, the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, the Baxter Family Foundation, the Del Webb Foundation, The Norris Foundation, Las Patronas, the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Drug Abuse [DA031566], National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders [DC012592] and National Institute of Mental Health [MH102698]), the National Science Foundation and the Andrea Elizabeth Vogt Memorial Award. Contact: Office of Communications – Scripps Research Institute Source: Scripps Research Institute press release Image Source: The image is credited to OpenStax College and is licensed Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Original Research: Abstract for “Selective conversion of fibroblasts into peripheral sensory neurons” by Joel W Blanchard, Kevin T Eade, Attila Szűcs, Valentina Lo Sardo, Rachel K Tsunemoto, Daniel Williams, Pietro Paolo Sanna and Kristin K Baldwin in Nature Neuroscience. Published online November 24 2014 doi:10.1038/nn.3887 Share this Neuroscience News Brn3adorsal root gangliaDRGfibroblastsFriedreich’s ataxiaGeneticsNeuroscienceNgn1Ngn2sensory neuronssomatosensory system	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1561
__label__wiki	0.652351	0.652351	Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine / 2016 / Article AbstractIntroductionMethods and MaterialsResultsConclusionAcknowledgmentsSupplementary MaterialsReferencesCopyright Volume 2016 \|Article ID 8250323 \| 7 pages \| https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8250323 ITPI: Initial Transcription Process-Based Identification Method of Bioactive Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Baixia Zhang,1 Yanwen Li,2 Yanling Zhang,1 Zhiyong Li ,3 Tian Bi,3 Yusu He,1 Kuokui Song,3 and Yun Wang 1 1School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100102, China 2Institute of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine of China, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China 3China Minority Traditional Medical Center, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China Academic Editor: Kuzhuvelil B. Harikumar Received25 Aug 2015 Revised09 Feb 2016 Published29 Feb 2016 Identification of bioactive components is an important area of research in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. The reported identification methods only consider the interaction between the components and the target proteins, which is not sufficient to explain the influence of TCM on the gene expression. Here, we propose the Initial Transcription Process-based Identification (ITPI) method for the discovery of bioactive components that influence transcription factors (TFs). In this method, genome-wide chip detection technology was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The TFs of DEGs were derived from GeneCards. The components influencing the TFs were derived from STITCH. The bioactive components in the formula were identified by evaluating the molecular similarity between the components in formula and the components that influence the TF of DEGs. Using the formula of Tian-Zhu-San (TZS) as an example, the reliability and limitation of ITPI were examined and 16 bioactive components that influence TFs were identified. Identification of the bioactive components present in a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula using computational method not only is fast and efficient, but also has the prospect of explaining the mechanism of action. The main identification methods reported to date are computer virtual screening technology [1], network pharmacology [2], directed TCM grammar systems (dTGS) [3], system pharmacology [4], and so forth. These methods mainly consider the effect of the components that are present in a TCM formula on the expressed proteins and do not sufficiently explain why a TCM formula affects the expression of a number of proteins. Here, we propose a new method, the Initial Transcription Process-based Identification (ITPI) method, to characterize the bioactive components present in a TCM formula. This method identifies the bioactive components by considering the potential interaction between the components and the transcription factors (TFs) of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). When used in combination with the previously reported methods, the ITPI method can not only help explain the mechanism of action, but also enable a more comprehensive discovery of the bioactive components that are present in a formula. 2. Methods and Materials 2.1. Principle of ITPI Previous studies have shown that TCM formulas can influence gene expression [5, 6]. However, the reported methods only consider the influence of the TCM on expressed proteins and fail to explain the role of the TCM on gene expression. Transcription is an important event during gene expression. TFs are key players in the transcription and are also drug targets [7, 8], but they are usually ignored. TFs may be the targets of a given TCM formula, and the interactions of the formula with TFs may be an important mechanism by which the TCM formula exerts its biological effect. Therefore, the present study established the ITPI method to characterize the bioactive components present in a TCM formula. Here, we also discuss each step of the ITPI method (Figure 1) in detail. The workflow of ITPI. The expression level of each gene in the medication and model groups is detected by the genome-wide chip detection technology. The normalized data are expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD). Comparisons between the medication and model groups are then performed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Student’s -test. Values of is considered statistically significant, and genes with significant expression levels are regarded to be DEGs. With the development of bioinformatics and chemoinformatics, many TF databases [9, 10] and the component-protein interaction databases [11] have been established. Most of these databases contain the data on various organisms, including human, rat, and mouse. Therefore, care should be taken in choosing an organism with regard to the specific purpose of the investigation. In the ITPI method, the most relevant TFs of DEGs are derived from GeneCards (http://www.genecards.org/), and the potential components that can interact with the TF are derived from the STITCH (http://stitch.embl.de/). In STITCH, the potential components that can interact with TFs are identified by name or SMILES string. The required confidence is higher than 0.400, and the active prediction methods include gene fusion, cooccurrence, coexpression, experiments, databases, neighborhood, predictions, and text mining. To date, many studies on the components of TCM formulas have been carried out and a large number of components have been separated and identified. The known components of a given TCM formula can be derived from the literature, which is included in China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), PubMed (1979~2015), and the traditional Chinese medicines database (TCMD) [12]. The name, structure, and the SMILES of the known components should be recorded. Finally, repetition of the name of the components, both in the literature and in TCMD, is eliminated. When the component exists as a synonym, the repeated component name is identified by structure, and these instances are eliminated. Molecular similarity is an important theme in chemoinformatics [13]. Its use is based on the principle that compounds with similar structures exhibit similar chemical properties and biological activities [14]. Although molecular similarity can also be calculated using molecular properties, such as and molecular weight, it is mostly defined as a distance measure in a structural or physicochemical descriptor space. There are many different distance measures available. These measures include Tanimoto, Dice, Cosine, and Soergel [15]. Concerning the fingerprint properties, the most popular similarity measure used for comparing the chemical structures represented by fingerprints is the Tanimoto (or Jaccard) coefficient [15]. Therefore, the Tanimoto coefficient was selected for the determination of molecular similarity. Two structures are usually considered to be similar if . After the similarity calculation, the components that potentially interact with TFs can be determined. The Tanimoto coefficient is defined as follows:where SA is the number of AND bits (bits present in both the target component and the reference component); SB is the number of bits present in the target component, but not in the reference component; and SC is the number of bits present in the reference component, but not in the target component. Using this method, the bioactive components that are present in the TCM formula that can interact with TFs can be identified, indicating which bioactive components influence the expression of DEGs. The reported identification methods consider the interaction between the components and proteins expressed by DEGs, whereas ITPI identifies the bioactive components from the initial transcription process and regards TFs as drug targets. Combining other methods with ITPI, the bioactive components can be comprehensively discovered along the overall regulation process of TCM formula. 2.2. Application of ITPI on TZS Tian-Zhu-San (TZS), which consists of two Chinese medicinal herbs, Gastrodiae Rhizoma and Trillium, is mainly used for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in the Tujia ethnic minority [16]. Gastrodiae Rhizoma is the tuber of Gastrodia elata BL. (Orchidaceae) and Trillium is the rhizome of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. (Liliaceae). Although many studies have attempted to identify the bioactive components that are present in TZS [17–20], the component that acts against neurodegenerative diseases remains unknown. TZS can influence gene expression and likely interacts with TFs. 2.2.1. Preparation of TZS Superfines Gastrodiae Rhizoma and Trillium were purchased from the Anguo (Hebei Province). Dr. Yanwen Li of the Institute of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine of China performed the identification and authentication of the samples. The dried herbs were ground into superfine powder (grain diameter ≤ 15 μm) using an Ultra-Micro Pulverizer. The superfine powder was dissolved in distilled water and stored at 4°C before its administration to rats. 2.2.2. Animals Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing within 190~219 g (Beijing Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Co. Ltd.) were used for in vivo experiments. The animals were housed at °C under a 12-hour light/12-hour dark cycle (lights on at 07:00), were allowed to acclimatize, and were provided free access to water and food for extra week. All animal care and experimental procedures were performed in accordance with the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The procedures were approved by the Committee on Animal Care of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. All efforts were made to minimize animals suffering and to reduce the number of animals used in the experiments. 2.2.3. Model Preparation of Vascular Dementia Induced by Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion and Drug Delivery All procedures were performed according to the reported methods [21]. The animals were injected with 10% chloral hydrate (0.35 gKg−1) intraperitoneally. After administration of anesthesia, the animals were placed in a supine position and a median incision of approximately 1.5 to 2 cm was made on the neck. The bilateral common carotid arteries were isolated and ligated, and the incision was sutured. The animals were fed with the same diet for 60 days under the same conditions (Statement: our laboratory has established a stable method to duplicate the model of vascular dementia induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Based on the research purposes, this study omitted the neurobehavioral evaluation section). The surviving rats were randomly divided into model and medication groups. After 24 hours, 625 mgKg−1 superfine powder of TZS (the effective dose was calculated by the method of body weight) was administered to the medication group, and the blank and model groups were administered distilled water. This intragastric administration was continued for 60 days in all groups. 2.2.4. The Genome-Wide Chip Detection The hippocampal tissues of the medication and model group rats were taken and stored in liquid nitrogen. Total RNA was extracted by the Trizol method and then purificated. The RNA quality of RNA was assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Then, using the purified total RNA, double stranded cDNA was synthesized, which was then fragmented and fluorescently labeled. Fragmented cDNA and the reference reagents were then mixed, and the hybridization solution was prepared. The hybridization solution was poured onto an Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Gene 2.0ST Array. After 16 hours of hybridization, the chip was removed from the Hybridization Oven 645. With the adding of eluent and staining fluid, the wash and staining were completed in fluidics station 450. The microarray results were scanned using a GeneChip Scanner 3000, and the original data were read using the Command ConsoleSoftware 3.1. After normalizing the data, the signal strength of the medication group and model groups was compared. If the ratio was >2, the gene was considered to be the significantly upregulated expression gene, and if the ratio was <0.5, the gene was considered to be significantly downregulated expression gene. 2.2.5. Discover the Bioactive Components of TZS for Antivascular Dementia Analyses of the gene expression data, the TFs of the DEGs, the components that can interact with the TFs of the DEGs, the components of the TCM formula, and the molecular similarity were all carried out according to the principles of ITPI. It should be noted that when components existed as synonyms, we deleted the repeated component names, using the “ChemBioFinder for Office 12.0.” Molecular similarity was calculated using the “Find Similar Molecules by Fingerprints” module of the Discovery Studio 4.0 [22]. 2.3. Validation of Identification Results To demonstrate the rationality of ITPI, we performed the following: verifying the relationship between the pharmacological action of the bioactive components and vascular dementia by looking up literature and the other was verifying whether the DEGs which were regulated by bioactive components related to vascular dementia by gene set enrichment analysis [23]. Gene-GO term enrichment analysis was performed to highlight the most relevant biological pathways associated with a given gene list. DAVID 6.7 Functional Annotation Clustering was used for this purpose. indicated significantly enriched biological pathways. 3. Results and Discussions 3.1. Bioactive Components of TZS for Antivascular Dementia After normalizing the results from genome-wide chip detection, we compared the medication group and model groups (Supplemental Information 1 in Supplementary Material available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8250323) and found 229 DEGs, which included 219 upregulated genes (>2) and 10 downregulated genes (<0.5) (Supplemental Information 2). The TFs of the DEGs (Supplemental Information 3) and the components that interacted with the TFs (Supplemental Information 4) are listed in the Supplementary Material. A total of 52 components (Supplemental Information 5) of TZS were used to calculate the molecular similarity. The results of the molecular similarity calculations revealed that there are 16 components whose Tanimoto coefficients were greater than 0.85 and involved 13 TFs and 30 DEGs (Table 1). TCM TZS components The CID of component that interacts with TF Tanimoto coefficient TF Differential expression genes Gastrodia elata BL. 4,4′-Dihydroxydiphenyl methane 6623 0.877023 ER-alpha F5/Hba-a2/Rnase111 β-Sitosterol 2371 0.915282 Sp1 Rnase4/F5/Slc19a3 2524 0.896709 Egr-1 Ifitm7 Citric acid 311 1 Olf-1 Cyp2a2/Cyp2j4 3-Hydroxy-3-methoxycarbonylpentanedioic acid 311 0.8 Olf-1 Cyp2a2/Cyp2j4 Daucosterol 2371 0.879428 Sp1 Rnase4/F5/Slc19a3 Margaric acid 985 0.994764 Sp1 Rnase4/F5/Slc19a3 2506 0.941581 Sp1 Rnase4/F5/Slc19a3 148177 0.875424 Sp1 Rnase4/F5/Slc19a3 Bis(4-Hydroxybenzyl)ether 6623 0.850932 ER-alpha F5/Hba-a2/Rnasel11 Vitamin A 5538 0.970093 c-Fos Dusp12/Gpatch4/Ngf/Nts/Hba-a2/RGD1564469 1744 0.856672 CHOP-10 Ttr/Kcnj13 Palmitic acid 985 1 Sp1 Rnase4/F5/Slc19a3 Palmitoyl glycerol 2506 0.96445 Sp1 Rnase4/F5/Slc19a3 985 0.94697 Sp1 Rnase4/F5/Slc19a3 2499 0.852916 STAT5B Clic6 Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. Pennogenin 2524 0.890232 Egr-1 Ifitm7 54454 0.863784 ATF-2 Cyp2j4/Rasl11a/Slc16a13 Linoleic acid 1424 0.932432 RelA Cyp2j4/RT1-T24-4/Nqo2 1444 0.860317 STAT3 Clic6/Hbb/Krt18/Fpr-rs3/Ifitm7/RGD1564126/Zfp467 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid 44540357 0.8679 c-Jun Dusp12/Gpatch4/Ngf/Fpr-rs3/Hba-a2/RGD1564469/S100vp 3-O--L-Rhamnopyranosyl (13) sterylglucoside 2371 0.879428 Sp1 Rnase4/F5/Slc19a3 26-Chloro-26-deoxycryptogenin 2371 0.886708 Sp1 Rnase4/F5/Slc19a3 146898 0.862239 STAT2 Clic6/Naip5/Cyp11b3 400769 0.853801 STAT3 Clic6/Hbb/Krt18/Fpr-rs3/Ifitm7/RGD1564126/Zfp467 5753 0.853659 FOXO3 Fpr-rs3/RGD1559708 Diosgenin 2371 0.885714 Sp1 Rnase4/F5/Slc19a3 2524 0.881 Egr-1 Ifitm7 The Tanimoto coefficient of these components was greater than 0.85; this table shows the corresponding relationship between the bioactive components, TFs and DEGs. Sixteen bioactive components and their regulated TFs and DEGs. These results showed that one component can regulate several TFs or genes; different components can regulate the same gene on account of their interaction with the same TF; that is to say, one gene or TF can be affected by multiple components. This indicates that multiple bioactive components of TZS interplay with multiple genes or TFs and produce the antivascular dementia effect. 30 DEGs were used for the enrichment analysis, and 10 DEGs were significantly enriched in 7 clusters (Table 2). The pathogenesis of vascular dementia mainly involves the cholinergic system, inflammatory processes, oxygen free radicals, and the transport of NO, among others [24–26]. These enriched biopathways, such as blood circulation [27], oxidation reduction [28], hormone metabolic process [29], and oxygen transport [30], were all found to be closely related to vascular dementia. That is to say, the DEGs of Hba-a2, F5, Nts, Cyp11b3, Cyp2j4, Cyp2a2, Nqo2, Ttr, Ngf, and Hbb were also found to be closely related to vascular dementia. GO ID Term Count P value Genes GO:0003013 Circulatory system process 4 0.001231 Hba-a2/F5/Nts/Cyp11b3 GO:0008015 Blood circulation 4 0.001231 Hba-a2/F5/Nts/Cyp11b3 GO:0055114 Oxidation reduction 5 0.009123 Cyp2j4/F5/Cyp11b3/Cyp2a2/Nqo2 GO:0042445 Hormone metabolic process 3 0.010025 Ttr/Cyp11b3/Ngf GO:0015671 Oxygen transport 2 0.016748 Hba-a2/Hbb GO:0010817 Regulation of hormone levels 3 0.020049 Ttr/Cyp11b3/Ngf GO:0015669 Gas transport 2 0.025023 Hba-a2/Hbb Values of P 0.05 were considered as significantly enriched biopathways. The significantly enriched biopathways. The results of enrichment analysis showed that 10 of the 30 DEGs were closely related to vascular dementia. These 10 DEGs were found to be regulated by 16 components. This indicated that 16 components were indeed effective against vascular dementia and that TZS acts against antivascular dementia mainly by regulating these 10 DEGs (Table 1). Gene set enrichment analysis that is based on the DEGs is a commonly used method. The enrichment analysis, which was based on the 30 DEGs regulated by the bioactive components, was more focused and specific. A literature search can be used to identify some of the vascular dementia-related pharmacological effects of the components. For example, it has reported that bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)ether exerts a neuroprotective effect in an ischemic model [31], β-sitosterol protects neural stem cells from neurodegenerative diseases [32], diosgenin has an anti-inflammatory effect and acts against oxidative during the monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats [33, 34], and daucosterol induces a protective Th1 immune response against disseminated Candidiasis in mice [35]. Although there is no direct proof of the interaction between the components and the respective TFs or genes, the studies described above are indicative of the rationality of using ITPI for the identification of bioactive components to some extent. Using the newly developed ITPI method, we identified 16 components of TZS and 10 DEGs that are closely related to vascular dementia. The results demonstrated the utilizing of ITPI in the identification of bioactive components and its rationality. The ITPI method focuses on the overall components of a given TCM formula and genes of treatment objects, along with the initial transcription process of “all of the components of TCM formula-TFs-DEGs.” Compared with the reported methods, such as computer virtual screening technology and network pharmacology, ITPI could not only identify the bioactive components but also help explain why a given TCM formula influences the gene expression. The ITPI method also identifies the targeted TFs and genes of the bioactive components by combining the methods of technology of bioinformatics and cheminformatics. Meanwhile, the results suggest that a TCM formula exerts its therapeutic effect by regulating multiple TFs through the action of multiple components. The ITPI method still has some limitations. Gene expression is controlled at multiple levels, including transcription, and TFs can regulate the initial process of transcription. Interaction with TFs may be only one of the many ways in which TCM exerts its biological effect, but its small impact could produce a huge change just because initial transcription process was the upstream of the biological pathway. Because the results were based on existing data included in databases, the genes in the similarity calculation only accounted for a portion of the total amount of DEGs; the data of TFs regulated DEGs remains to be perfect. Further studies on the TCM formula components, and the related TFs and genes, along with improved databases, will enable a more comprehensive analysis and detailed characterization of the bioactive components. The correlation coefficient and the action mode of the interplay between the components and the TFs were not considered in the present study. In addition, the way that compounds affect TFs is indirect or direct but unclear. Therefore, we could not describe the potency and the action mode of the TZS components that interplay with TFs and DEGs. ITPI identifies bioactive components based on the TFs that they influence. The results will be more comprehensive if ITPI is used in tandem with other methods. In this study, we discovered that TZS cured vascular dementia by affecting blood circulation and oxygen transport and by regulating hormone levels. 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__label__cc	0.685079	0.314921	newballpark.org "If your stadium search is old enough to have its bar mitzvah, it's gone on too long." – Bill Shaikin by Marine Layer Quan touts regulatory-sidestepping Howard Terminal vision UPDATE 12/16 12:00 AM – Matier and Ross finally have their column on Howard Terminal. The retention of the shipping cranes is a nice touch, even though they would be largely ornamental. Judging from the rendering, the right field fence would be 150-200 feet from the waterfront. Howard Terminal ballpark on west end of property What’s missing? Any explanation about how the City/Port could get around the BCDC and CEQA. There are some days when you feel your work is validated. This is one of those days. Oakland Mayor Jean Quan appeared at Save Oakland Sports’ year-end event last night, talking up a plan that, according to East Bay Citizen, “allows it to skip some regulatory hurdles.” Quan repeated something we heard from the summer, that Howard Terminal was zoned for a convention center. The only citations I can find from the City’s archives mention a possibility of a convention center from the 50’s, well before CEQA and modern land use initiatives. Currently Howard Terminal is zoned for industrial and maritime uses. While a zoning change is normally a simple City Council resolution item, the fact is that the Port itself identified numerous obstacles to making that change, namely the issue of maintaining maritime use at the site. To that end, the Port of Oakland received three proposals for ongoing Port use at Howard Terminal. Two involve local concerns: Phil Tagami’s plan to use the site temporarily for either bulk or break bulk cargo, and Schnitzer Steel’s expansion plan, which is not explicitly a maritime use. The third plan comes from Kentucky coal mining company Bowie Resources Partners, in partnership with Dutch oil shipper Trafigura. Bowie’s an interesting proposition, as they export a great deal of their coal from the Port of Stockton. According to this press release, Bowie was in talks with the Port of Richmond to create a secondary shipping facility. Howard Terminal could work in a similar manner, though the precautions associated with shipping coal are enough to give one pause. Nevertheless the Port has to consider these options, since they need to figure out a way to offset the $10 million per year the Port will lose by idling Howard Terminal. A decision on how Howard Terminal will operate in the future is expected in the spring. Ballpark proponents seem to be willing to play the long game here, with site readiness not coming for perhaps several years. Any continued use of the site for shipping purposes would potentially delay that readiness, unless a plan was put into place that allowed a ballpark to be built on a shut-down part of the site. At 50 acres in total size, there should be ways to make this happen. Developing the entire 50 acres would be another story. Quan said that the to-be-released plan would be able to sidestep various environmental requirements, including some from the BCDC. However, that contradicts the Port’s own language from its Howard Terminal RFP: 11. Land Use and Permitting In addition to any environmental regulatory oversight resulting from contamination, the Site is subject to the Tidelands Trust, consistent with the grants affecting the property with oversight from the California State Lands Commission. The San Francisco Bay Area Seaport Plan of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (“BCDC”) designates the Site for Port Priority Use. The Site is located within the City of Oakland, and is designated as General Industrial/Transportation Uses in the City of Oakland General Plan. Any proposed change of use or any proposed construction, maintenance or new development at the Site will be subject to environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). The BCDC’s role has become more well known, as the fate of the Warriors’ Piers 30/32 arena plan is in the BCDC’s hands. However, note that the loudest clamoring over environmental impacts is not coming from the BCDC itself. Instead the noise is coming from opponents of the arena, who are using rules set by the BCDC and CEQA to invite greater scrutiny over the arena. While Howard Terminal lacks the picturesque quality of SF’s Embarcadero, it is still subject to BCDC regulations and should invite scrutiny on its own. The southeast corner of Howard Terminal is built on piers over water, just like Piers 30/32. Exactly what measures the City could use to get around CEQA and the BCDC are a complete mystery. I, for one, am looking forward to hearing it out. The City had another waterfront site at one time in Victory Court. It was sold as a transit-friendly, partly publicly-owned, easy-to-acquire site that should cost less than $22 million to acquire. In keeping with that estimate, Oakland and East Bay business interests were willing to pledge up to $100 million to acquire and prep the site. At the time Mayor Quan touted Victory Court more vociferously than she is Howard Terminal now. Exploding costs ($240 million final site cost estimate) and the demise of redevelopment (downplayed as a factor as it was happening) effectively mothballed Victory Court, with no real public statement made by the City about what happened. Whether you want to read this site as objective, slanted, or both, it’s important to get tough questions raised. That’s why I feel good about what Quan said yesterday. It’s proof that we’re doing our job well, that we’re asking the right questions, questions that need legitimate answers. Without this blog asking the tough questions, who will? East Bay media appears to be fine playing cheerleader. The City has been working behind the scenes to get site control, while not getting an EIR or even a feasibility study for Howard Terminal going. So in the spirit of disclosure, let’s see the plan, Madam Mayor. Given her track record, the real situation is not expected to be as rosy as she often paints it. Matier and Ross supposedly got an exclusive on the plan, so we may see some real information as early as tomorrow. This entry was posted in Athletics, Baseball, News, Oakland, Politics. Bookmark the permalink. ← Judge Whyte allows antitrust claims to go to 9th Circuit, state claims to proceed Initial renderings show Howard Terminal ballpark outside of BCDC jurisdiction → 99 thoughts on “Quan touts regulatory-sidestepping Howard Terminal vision” Lakeshore/Neil Thanks ML, good work. I am not really expecting anything, but it will be nice, to see whats in the plan. This would probably only work if the City of Oakland contribute the land, MLB picks up the tab for infrastructure improvements, and Wolff/Fisher/another ownership build the park. At this point, still a total pipe dream, but nothing will surprise me anymore. Somewhat off-topic, but I wonder if BART would be able to build an infill station near Howard Terminal on the cheap. It could serve as an event-only stop, very much likely the Stanford Stadium Caltrain stop, which doesn’t have any station attendants or ticket machines, just some platforms on the sides of the tracks. It would be tough because the alignment at, say, Market and 5th is elevated by about 20 feet, and would almost certainly be extremely expensive. But still, just a thought… And on the same note, what ever happened to the Oakland Streetcar that was supposed to run from Uptown to Jack London Square via Broadway? I thought the city commissioned an EIR that was supposed to be released in late 2013. That’d be huge for the transit connectivity aspect. An Oakland park isn’t going to work without BART or some direct connection. @Lev – A new inline station would cost $75 million or more depending on engineering. A stop can be run as an offline stop, but that doesn’t make it necessarily cheaper. Since all of BART is electrified and automated to an extent, they’d still need to install fare gates and other infrastructure. Stanford’s Caltrain stop makes sense because there are only 6 games a year. For night games that stop only works before games. After games people have to walk to Palo Alto. Serving the A’s 82 games a year while also creating the closest stop to an expanding and developing JLS doesn’t make an offline stop likely. JLS neighborhood groups and downtown advocates would push hard for an online stop. Apropos of the Bart infill station suggestion, there is an exception to CEQA for some kinds of transit oriented developments, per S.B. 375 (the “sustainable communities” law). If Oakland could turn Howard Terminal into some kind of “transit oriented development,” they might be able to sidestep the bill. Either way, the requirement to prepare an EIR (and an EIS under NEPA) is only a procedural requirement to evaluate alternatives – as long as Oakland and the A’s follow proper procedures, it won’t affect the opportunity for future development. What did Wolff and MLB say about Howard Terminal again?… (so this week HT, next week should be CC again for A’s ballpark) @Elvis, The A’s aren’t interested in following “proper procedures” at HT. This is ALL about the city of Oakland, and no one else (except perhaps a shipping company). Only a week ago, wasn’t Oakland proposing an A’s ballpark in Coliseum City, now this? (an impractcal, costly clone of phone company park?) – now wonder Oakland city officials haven’t found a solution for the A’s – Lew Wolff looks wiser by the day. Howard Terminal is more of a pipe dream than Colosseum City and that’s really saying something. Quan’s entirely strategy seems to be ineptly supporting proposals of highly questionable viability and it reeks of desperation. are there new sites in and around Oakland that we have not heard about? because those sites will be mentioned next as possible places for a new park. LOL ! Quam reminds me of political “analyst” Dick Morris, who spent the 2012 election campaign going on Fox News telling viewers what they wanted to hear: that all the polls were wrong and Romney was going to win big. Baynativeguy Great, let’s get BART into this game as well. As if this situation wasn’t dysfunctional enough … @SMG Yeah about as desperate as SJ vs MLB is, which is why if SJ cant come off some tax money, the A’s will probabley be gone from the Bay Area There is a study that was done to evaluate a BART station in JLS. I believe it pegged te number for uh a station at $300M in 2006. That’s not happening. The same study recommended a street car system down Broadway to JLS to improve accessibility. It’s gone nowhere and it was about 1/4 of the cost, if I recall correctly. I am very skeptical that anything will come of this. Well, at the very least we’ll get to see awesome renderings of a ballpark at Howard Terminal, complete with housing, retail, mixed-use, the whole nine yards. Heck, I hope they throw in a Warriors arena to boot! Like the Coliseum City renderings, nothing like some good drawings to make your day… Rayburn's Son Mayor Quan is awesome. If she were in a town like LA or NYC she would be non-stop fodder for the late night comedians…and the best part is that I am convinced that she is oblivious to her ineptitude…(I’ve heard that this is also how other Bay Area leaders see her as well)… @Lakeshore/Neil – I don’t believe MLB cares what SJs contribution to the deal is…I believe they only care about the “bad actor” getting paid their ransom request…because the “bad actor” has threatened nuclear war via a scorched earth lawsuit against MLB…if they get F’d….remember that would only be a breach of the MLB bylaw…no case law, no statute, no admin law, merely a bylaw within the MLB constitution….the threat of which BS fears more than SJ v MLB…because that case could go “all the way” to SCOTUS and would take…well, years… Cochette keeps saying that their primary focus is ATE. Another hurdle – When they re-file the now dismissed state law claims in Superior Court it will most likely be eventually heard in another county pursuant to CCP 394(a). MLB will make a motion to change venue – if SJ opposes they would probably lose – not sure how this will work if the state claims are consolidated with the existing S4SJ v. SJ suit….bottom line is the state law case won’t be at issue until mid-2014 at the earliest…and MLB/Keker has promised a Motion for Summary Judgment which will easily take that well past mid 2014….The only good news is that LW and both of the likely new Mayors for SJ (both lawyers themselves) are committed to seeing the lawsuit all the way….wherever and whenever that may be… @pjk – better yet – on election night when Karl Rove explaining how Romney can still win Ohio when Megan Kelley calls him out…”Karl is this just something you say to yourself…to make you feel good as a Republican”…ROFLMAO @RS, Curious: if SCCo became a shared territory to accommodate an A’s move to San Jose, what could the Giants possibly file a lawsuit over? Territories (geographic and television) have changed/been altered numerous times in MLB’s history. MLB’s constitution allows for these changes with 3/4 of the owners vote. Giants ownership knows this. Heck, A’s ownership and the rest of the lodge know this as well. What gives? Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Oakland business leaders release artist renderings of the Howard Terminal ballpark real soon as the campaign continues… There’s so much inaccurate reporting going on. Saw a report the other day saying the A’s favor HT over Coliseum City when in fact, they’re not interested in either. @Tony D – Remember the “bad actor” is the one who got the territory for free – no consideration – I’ve heard they have promised BS a lawsuit which would presumably go after ATE. They would claim injury by the A’s coming into their territory without their consent, etc. They clearly would have anti-trust standing, etc. They would start with filing a Temp Restraining Order against A’s moving to SCC, seeking a Permanent Injunction, the suit against MLB would primarily be for AT Violations, etc. I heard they promised a scorched earth approach and BS is convinced they are serious. I’ve heard they have circled the wagons enough…I’ve heard that BS is frightened by this…This is what is giving BS his “Mice Nuts”…. Again, no one knows what the outcome of that type of suit would be. The bad actor would be on an island all by themselves. In essence they have already sued the A’s and MLB in their S4SJ suit. For that matter the A’s are truly the real-party-in-interest in the SJ v. MLB suit. These teams are just one step away from breaking the MLB rules anyway…. I’ve heard BS brokered a potential deal for a sum certain, but the bridge is too far. I’ve heard one counter proposal was that if the A’s are allowed to move to SCC then they are willing to submit to binding arbitration which will determine the actual damages suffered by the bad actor after a number of years in SCC, let’s say five years. I’ve heard that the A’s have also offered to assume the debt on ATT (that’s been on the table since around the time the Fremont deal fell apart)….and a combo of the two as well…blah blah blah…. Mr. Mice Nuts can’t bring the deal together…yet…but there is a number… @ML — $75 sounds way low. I remember that BART concluded a station at 30th and Mission in San Francisco would cost $500, and that would be infill too. That’s underground, but even optimistically that’s $200M. The thing is, transit funding is sporadic and can come largely from federal grants. I realize that none of this is, at this point, even remotely realistic, but in an ideal world (at least from my perspective) a ballpark at Howard Terminal with a nearby JLS BART Station would be absolutely unbelievable for Oakland. Obviously, those first two numbers should be in millions… @Lev – Those were estimates I was given from BART for the “Coliseum North” infill station and the Irvington station on the Fremont/Warm Springs extension. Subway stations are an order of magnitude more costly. Not included in the estimate is additional land acquisition, which is generally required for the elevated stations. @Lakeshore/Neil – I think you’re missing something here. Just because MLB may not like whatever San Jose and Oakland are offering doesn’t mean that San Jose should start negotiating against itself to attract the A’s. MLB should at least provide a counteroffer. If not, San Jose’s just spinning its wheels. Rayburn’s Son Hope your right, but as I understand it MLB told the A’s no in June, because they did not want the team to take on to much debt, paying off the Giants for TR’s, land cost for the Dirdon site, and paying for the ballpark, was more then they were cool with, they did not tell the A’s no, because of TR’s, so the question is does SJ have land thats big enough, for retailmixed use like the Fremont plan did, to help cover the cost of the ballpark, or is SJ going to chip in with tax money, to offset the cost at Dirdon? if the answer is little to none, the A’s are gone. Its one thing to have the right to build in SJ, which it seems the A’s have, but the deal has to be right, a lot of people like to bring up the fact that the A’sMLB have said no to HT and CC, they dont bring up thr fact that MLB has said no to Dirdon as well, in its present form, BTW I dont here anyone bashing Lew for not pulling the site back, since MLB has said no. I know JQ macks it easy, to talk about her, but she and Lew are both working with sites MLB may have said no to, HT, CC, and Dirdon, it looks like the only problem with Dirdon is what SJ is willing to put in, so SJ vs MLB or not, SJ may have to come of tax money, if not A’s are gone, so I stand by my statment @Lakeshore/Neil – If it were Boots Del Biaggio or Bruce McNall maybe, but not for Fisher…and it’s not about SJ…. @RS it is about SJ, if they need to come up with tax money and dont, at that point we all take a big fat L @ML I guss your right, but MLB may not offer eather city, anything. @Lakeshore/Neil – Eventually they’ll have to say something. The Coliseum’s not forever. @ML The point was brought up, that SJ would not put tax money, behind the Dirdon site (in the past thried), I was simply saying rather its at this time or latter on, SJ may need to come up with, some sort of tax, if its that site they stick with, and if they do not, give on the tax side its a good chance they (A’s), may leave the Bay Area, and that this point was beyond SJ vs MLB, because when MLB turned down the A’s in June, it had more to do with the turms of the deal, then the right to build in SJ. @pjk I liked Romney and I watch Fox news. Dick Morris just made a mistake. Haven’t you ever made a mistake before? @Ivan That was one hell of a mistake. (-: Can’t argue that there is more to be done here. Though I think it’s rich that ML says, “show us the plans”, while Lew has stated for several years that they did so much research that led to them finding that Oakland as a whole is not feasible, but has NEVER EVER EVER ONCE shown or explained said “research”. The only answer they give is that “it would take hours to go through everything”. In several years, you think he could have carved out a few hours to actually show what he did. The entire process of this is exhausting: considering that Selig/MLB blocked local Oakland ownership, in order to give the deal to Lew, who is BASED in SJ and has stated for years (even prior to gaining ownership) that he wanted to move the A’s to SJ). Instead of wasting years looking to move the team, it would have been nice had he actually met with Oakland officials to work on what it would actually take to get something down in Oakland. Apparently saying “it’s not going to work” and withdrawing from interaction is sufficient. Though it’s pretty funny that Selig knew all along this is where things would end up, and he isn’t allowing the SJ move to happen. Actually, it’s sad, but it’s kind of funny too. @asch – Actually I have seen the case. For Oakland, it’s pretty poor. Wolff tried to do this with Jorge Leon and guess what, the guy wouldn’t listen. That’s too bad, there could’ve been a real dialogue. Can’t make the willfully blind see the light. As for not allowing the A’s to move, it’s very simple. The payoff’s the issue. That has always been the issue, it will always be the issue. Everything else, including city politics, is a sideshow. re: it would have been nice had he actually met with Oakland officials to work on what it would actually take to get something down in Oakland. …Mark Davis has been doing exactly this with the Raiders. So where’s the Raiders stadium deal? There isn’t one – probably because public funding is needed and Oakland can’t offer it. Should Wolff meet with Oakland and get skewered by the press for pointing out that taxpayer dollars that Oakland doesn’t have would be needed to make the ballpark work in Oakland? Re asch, Meanwhile, back on planet Earth… dmoas Asch, you do realize that it’s now been 9 years since Wolff took over the team. In that time, no one has come up with anything contradicting what he’s said about Oakland. A number of ideas have been thrown out. Nearly all have been abandoned because of the cost. If you don’t think we’d love to see Wolff’s plans, you’d be wrong. His Oakland North plan was heavily criticized for being unfeasible. And like it, Fremont never got off the ground. Since then, Wolff hasn’t had a plan to ask for, but he has offered to show several individuals his notes and has had some people see them. The only one truly being vocal about saying he’s wrong still haven’t proven him wrong despite a very serious effort to do so. I think pjk might be undercover Lew everything stated is the same every time about not feasible, where’s the money I want to see it now. It won’t work they have done study’s, Lew has tried, but no substance/facts accompaning it. Like it’s been said before none of us matter if and when a deal will be made the public will know when they want to, everything is done in private. u don’t need details forget about everything from past mayors and start from this one. She has brought in many investors for various projects that are being done. And it takes time for deals like this, everyone acts like u can flip a switch and it’s done. U keep preaching tax payer money no this no that oak won’t do it, that’s what the investors are for. If sj was smart they should bring in some people to front the city money to cover the tax payers. U want to see money yesterday but it don’t work like that. @asch: the smug gnats fans, pro-giants media spin doctors and anti-San Jose A’s fans who keep maintaining that “the A’s move to San Jose is not going to happen” may be in for an unpleasant surprise. Yes, the A’s move to San Jose may not happen. But as we’ve said on this board for years: San Jose losing doesn’t mean Oakland winning. MLB just a few weeks ago showed its “commitment” to Oakland by threatening to move the team to ATT Park. What makes anyone think MLB won’t take the team and move it to the best market available that offers a taxpayer-funded stadium? A golden, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to land an MLB team probably awaits San Antonio, Portland, Sacto, Charlotte, NC; etc very soon. Let the bidding begin. “The payoffs the issue.” And there it is; the truth on why this thing is taking so long. It’s not about MLB keeping the A’s out of San Jose, it’s not about the Giants not wanting to give up the T-Rights, etc. You know, knowing this actually makes me feel a lot better about this situation. San Jose is there for the A’s taking; just need to financially satisfy MLB/Giants and perhaps have SJ “help” them out a bit. It’s gonna happen. In the meantime, entertainment provided by JQ and Co. Go Raiders! GoA's @karim… It’s being done in private- kinda like VC was- and the amazing thing is no one- media or pro- Oakland crowd ever demanded an answer as to what happened. Quan has no problem lying to the press- she knows that they never will question her. Finally, anyone who still claims that LW lied he never tried after 4+ years of a BRC coming to the same conclusion. CC was dismissed by baseball a long time ago- it was a non-starter site; HT has been dismissed by MLB according to LW just several days ago. We’re all waiting with baited breath for JQ big announcement as to how she can avoid regulatory requirements (that she is using to block the W’s new arena in SF) to make HT feasible. Why the delay in starting the EIR- use the money you approved for VC and make it happen if it truly is feasible- llpec It’s sad to think that Oakland blew the only realistic potential opportunity to get a new ballpark built for the A’s, and that time period was during the administration of Mayor Jerry Brown. He had the political clout, contacts with the private sector, and the stature to get things done. Unfortunately, Jerry Brown’s administration did little to raise the stature of Oakland, and instead his mayoralty was mainly used as a stepping stone to become Governor of California, again. Sometimes you only get one opportunity to accomplish something, and then that opportunity goes away. I think that seems to be the case with Oakland, as it relates to keeping the A’s. I sure hope that San Jose does not make the same mistake. daveybaby Jorge Leon made a brilliant move by not looking at that information. Can you imagine if he would have? This entire Wolff lied never tried mantra would have been over the minute he read anything. It’s hard to be mad at things that are true. Instead of holding anyone’s feet to the fire in their own camp, why not continue to villify the carpetbagger lied tried Lewser Lewie Wolf Wolfe Wulf? Even the reaction to Oakland only folk to the VC non-EIR that was promised to the good people of Oakland by their mayor was not as much, “You just started and you’re already lying to us?,” it was more like “Build there anyway Lew!” So, so fascinating. xoot @Rayburn’sSon–I agree after San Jose refiles the surviving parts of its case, mlb could seek to change venue to another county if they wanted to do so. I’m not sure what they’d gain beyond slight delay, given the small size of the remaining claims. Maybe San Jose judges would hometown mlb in discovery disputes, but I doubt it. And under current budget constraints and courtroom workloads, I’m pretty sure that no other county superior court would be happy about receiving such a xmas present from mlb. Anyone who wants a good laugh at the unnecessarily convoluted language of the law should google up the statute RsS cited–California Code of Civil Procedure section 394. Hmmm, was looking at Matier and Ross to see if they had comments on Howard a Terminal, they didn’t. They did note however that Oakland City Administrator Deanna Santana is a finalist for the job in Dallas, TX. Interesting @Lakeshore – San Jose spent some $150 million renovating the convention center and is looking to start discussions with SAP (holder of the labeling rights to SAP Center) to remodel the SAP Center for about another $150 million project that will most likely include a mix of tax incentives, fee breaks, tax write-offs, etc. with a mix of some corporate contributions. If getting the A’s to San Jose is a matter of finding the right mix of tax incentives, I’m sure our city representatives would have made clear their support to make the deal work. I believe the negotiations are stalled because the gap in compensating the Giants is too large for Wolff and party to make it all economically feasible. Other projects issues, like more seating, is also a factor but can easily be changed at a later date, I assume. @Steven Thats good news. Awesome! An AT&T clone at JLS! Really though, very nice renderings. Throw in all the usual bull shit from JQ and Knauss and we have what promises to be a very good “side show.” So $500 million for ballpark, $200 million for site prep, and perhaps $100 million for surrounding infrastructure improvements (I’ll leave out the $ for hypothetically buying the A’s); there must be a platinum mine somewhere in Oakland that we don’t know about. To bad M&R didn’t ask Oakland backers the tough questions re cost and how to pay for this. Nevertheless, again great drawings.. Wait a minute; what about the Raiders and CC? How to pay for it? The same as always – get rich owners to do it. Return on investment? Not a concern. Are we really up to $800 million for an HT ballpark? Yikes. BTW, where’s the “plan?” We got cool drawings and a lot of political hot air, but nothing close to resembling a “plan.” Should we be surprised? @Tonty D. Your right the drawings where cool. RE: How to pay for it? The same as always – get rich owners to do it. Return on investment? Not a concern. Are we really up to $800 million for an HT ballpark? Yikes. $800 million, I would hate to state the obvious, that Wolff said he does not want to build at that location, but before you can convince him it’s a good idea (if it is), can we actually find out if we can BUILD ON IT, damn we don’t even know that, so if Wolff wanted to build on it, and Oakland magically had 800 million dollars, we still would not be sure it could get done. They are some beautiful images. But right now that’s all they are… images. Also I’m shocked, SHOCKED, that M&R didn’t do Quan’s job for her and find ways to bypass CEQA and BCDC (probably because there really isn’t any way to do so). Just more of the same hot air out of Oakland, and apparently it’s getting more expensive the longer they blow hot air. HT was already cost prohibitive at $700 million, and now it’s $800 mil. Which brings any “white knight” buyer’s cost up to north of $1.3 billion (probably more given what MLB teams have been going for of late, particularly in large markets). It was an interesting idea, but the cost alone has already killed HT before it got off the ground. Compare that with the Uptown plan that would have already cost a high, but far more reasonable $385 million back in 2001. Or San Jose today which would only cost the team $500 million. And that’s why HT won’t happen, if the finances of Diridon were shaky in MLB’s collective mind at $500 million, what will HT look like to them at $800+ million? Even if Oakland were to pull out Cobb County levels of cash to help offset some of that $800 million it would still leave the A’s holding a half a billion dollar bill for that imaginary ballpark with even less guarantee of private revenues than San Jose can provide. MLB is probably having a good laugh over the HT “plan.” Has it yet been determined that if the A’s were to get a new ballpark built within Oakland, would they then still be able to maintain their small market status? In that way, the A’s would still be able to continue on as revenue sharing recipients. I don’t believe that any A’s ownership, current or future, would spend a dime on a new ballpark, without the assurances of maintaining their small market status. IIpec, as the CBA is written now ANY new bay area ballpark promotes the A’s to large market status. Only the Coliseum is keeping them in the “small market” category. IIpec/Dan If there was anything ever build in Oakland (as unlikely as that may be), I am sure CBA would reflect the A’s as a small market team, it would have to, they can’t be defend as large market, when the Giants have them restricted to two Alameda/ Contra Costa counties out of nine. Lakeshore, the A’s market as it exists today includes the entire bay area, same goes for the Giants. The “territorial rights” ONLY control where their physical location can be. A new park in Oakland as the CBA was specifically written would upgrade the A’s to large market status the same as San Jose would. As it should quite frankly. The Bay Area IS a large market, even divided in half figuratively. @Dan, Thanks! One can’t cut up a pie unequally, yet still charge the same price. It won’t work. Practicality issues of the site aside, isn’t the ballpark facing the wrong way? Don’t we want it facing East to minimize winds like at AT&T? I don’t even care about the cost (which isn’t really spelled out in this puff piece of pseudo journalism), this a terrible idea. Copying AT&T Park within site of AT&T Park is just bad business. Lev, they’re facing it the only way you’re going to get any kind of waterfront view (looks to be S/SE). Their whole premise is to copy AT&T Park as much as possible. I guess Phase 3 @ CC is dead hah ? LOL stunning design though and very romantic too. Hit balls into the bay !!!! The Bay Area population is usually pegged at about 7M; Chicage metro area at about 9M. But a lot of fans from the central valley, especially from Sacto and Stockton, and from Santa Cruz County (and I suppose Monterey County) are ardent Giants or A’s fans. The Giants and A’s, in fact, have 1/2 of central Calif. and all of N. Calif. watching them. (The dodgers, well, the dodgers we have with us always, like the yankees.) Meanwhile the franchises in Chicago (and New York) have sizable competing markets much closer. (For Chicago, Milwakee’s next door; Minn., Detroit, Cinn., even St. L and Cleveland, aren’t far away. Given the importance of tv revenue now, the Bay Area should be able to support high payroll AL and NL teams. daniel, I was saying this last week. Coliseum City is dependent on the A’s being at that site, yet Quan is simultaneously undermining her own Coliseum City plan with an even more ambitious and infeasible plan at Howard Terminal (a plan MLB and Wolff have already told her doesn’t work financially). This is just a slightly more advanced verison of the same thing Oakland has been doing for over 10 years now. Drawing lines on a map and saying, “it can be built here!” This one just came with two pretty pictures. Which frankly is the only good thing about this latest HT push. We get yet another rendering of an A’s ballpark that we’ll never get to see in reality to go along with the renderings of Uptown, Coliseum North, Pacific Commons and Diridon that we’ve all be looking at longingly for years to take our minds off the fact that in reality the only thing we get to look at besides the A’s on field is Oakland’s folly Mount Davis. Pingback: A waterfront site for the A’s in Oakland? Eh, not so fast. \| HardballTalk FWIW, if HT exists as a viable site and there actually are people ready to spend money to build there, this is great news for all of us. But since the day I got the bad news that Santa Claus wasn’t real, Ive been skeptical of things that appear to be fantasy, like Bigfoot, Martians in New Mexico and Howard Terminal ballpark plans. Nicosan it wasn’t martians in New Mexico. It was the Ferengi. Feasible this feasible that, right now SJ is not feasible, But instead of looking at maybe this can happen with the right plan and thinking its nothing will work in Oakland, even from the people who say I just want to have a new ballpark for the A’s no matter where it is. every one screaming on here about it still doesn’t show me how its paid for or show us the potential buyers again we don’t matter this stuff will never be revealed until it needs be so you will never know. In regards to the Maritime non maritime use, like i mentioned before no need to worry about it being used for maritime use, you all act like this just came out the blue. Quan and co along with the city, have been doing there part to make this happen, look at the things happening as getting the land on both sites, along with a few months ago Quan appointing new Port commissioners to the port of Oakland that’s why Fred Blackwell in the meeting and Quan now said it was just a technicality to get site control because they are making the moves to make things happen. one poster said Desely Brooks didn’t like it and was against projects, I said don’t worry about her and the city has made moves to calm her as, she has already been replaced on the JPA and they have made moves on the city’s part to silence her. We all know that this issue is money and it is SJ vs Oakland, reason why MLB didn’t flat out kill SJ was because it’s city money vs city money, it keeps the pressure on Oakland to not think there safe and can delay again like prior years. MLB does’t like changing territory as it sets president for future moves. So MLB has delayed decision for this last shot from Oakland to satisfy MLB desire for state of the art downtown Park, and some tax payers money, and if Oakland can’t seal the deal a new proposal will come from the A’s for SJ and it will most likely be approved. That will be negotiable , if the A’s remain in Oakland, as a matter of fact it will be negotiable if they remain in their current territory, everything (most ), is negotiable, it like the Pro/Only Oakland folks saying the A’s will never build in San Jose, because the SF Giants say the cant. @Karim: Ms Quan just demolished CC for HT within a week. You know whats next right? She will demolish HT for VC. You know what next after that right? She will demolish VC for CC and the beat goes on Why is it so hard for any of the media to ask appropriate questions–such as what changed at HT to reduce the costs down from the earlier study that pegged it as the most expensive option–way back in 2000. What is the expected cost to Oakland in terms of site clean up, infrastructure improvements, contribution to ballpark construction to make this a viable option for the A’s. If LW says that MLB says the site is not feasible than why does JQ claim they have been working closely with MLB on this site. I think that JQ should submit to an interview from ML and Jeffrey–they seem to be the only ones willing to ask the tough questions– baycommuter I’ve been a San Jose backer and am pretty skeptical of any Oakland plan, but this is a stunning site — really, nicer than AT&T and the Shipping Channel that was magically transformed into McCovey Cove. With what’s happening real estate around here and surrounding retail, commercial and residential, the increase in surrounding real estate values could make this pencil out if the A’s ownership, present or future, could get a big enough piece of it. @ Dan @ daniel Coliseum city is more so dependent of the Raiders like its been said they can scale it down a lot to make it cheaper, as I believe that’s the case and they will adjust accordingly. I for one believe if the Warriors stay they will be downtown as well, as Quan has hinted and in previous interview Lacob and co have study HT in Depth as well. The city is providing multiple sites to debunk Lew’s no available sites fight. If you really thought Phase 3 was for real in 2018 or whenever that was. Like they said its all adjustable. MLB/A’s preferred downtown sites so there’s one ready to go, that’s why CC main tenet focus is the Riders as well. @Karim I am not vary optimistic, I wish things were going better for Oakland , it may ever happen in Oakland, but for some people bad news for San Jose, somehow turn into good news, and good news for Oakland (when its actually good news), will somehow turn in to bad news. A lot of people will never think it could happen in Oakland, in tell it does (if it does), People love to bring up just how ridicules some of the Pro/Only Oakland folks are, but I find many of them are almost as ridicules as that group. multiple sites for what ? unless you can raise big time money, no new park will ever get built. Some schmucks from Mars and Jupiter can point a piece of land and say yeah build there. @Nicosan: #TRUTH @daniel if you review all prior interviews etc with Quan, Knauss etc they have been saying this for at least the last year and a half just because a lot of people overlook/disregard what she has said do to her incompetence at points in her tenure as mayor but they have been touting having multiple sites for MLB and the A’s and again if you you watched the meeting Fred Blackwell said both sites and in today’s release said both sites so Idk where your logic is coming from because this has been said many times in almost every interview with these people. it’s not going back and forth its proving to MLB Lew’s claims are invalid that’s why the city is spending it’s time and money on both. Mayor Quan is doing what any good politician will do. Be seen, offer the most expensive project to the public, (with personal kickbacks of course) and be willing to blame the other party if the project fails to materialize. @daniel and that is why a lot of people are missing the pints and facts of this issue, Mars and Jupiter but that’s the thinking a lot when Oakland comes up in conv’s but why is a 1.5 billion dollar development getting fast tracked in Oakland….. because its the fastest growing real estate market out there, the money is flowing in. How much does it cost to build this unfeasible stadium… 700, 800, 900, a billion we don’t know with clean up cost etc, but I can guarantee you its been accounted for and plans that will be shown/presented to MLB and the A’s when need be. Lew wants high rise condos and a hotel there you go make your money back plus more and just like with CC the infrastructure and cleanup will be taken care of by the city, as the investors for CC project have been mentioned as well to be willing to get in on HT along with CC. @Lakeshore/Neil, You are exactly right! @Dan, Your argument just illustrates that the sole purpose of setting up two unequal territories within the same business market is to restrict where your competitors can set up shop. By so doing, one individual company can maintain a competitive advantage over its competitors. It has been unquestionably proven that the specific location of a ballpark plays a huge role to its operational viability. For example, comparing the Giants’ two ballpark venues within the City of San Francisco; one at Candlestick Point, and the other later at China Basin. One City, two venues with two distinctively different business results. In general, as long as a particular business entity is in compliance with an area’s zoning laws, they should be allowed to set up shop at a location that they deem to be the best for their operational success. In addition, none of its competitors should have the power or authority to intrude as to where they can set up shop, too. When it comes to MLB’s ATE advantage, they should be extremely careful not to step over the line. However, MLB’s foolish attempt to maintain the Giants’ competitive advantage over the A’s within their shared Bay Area market may be just that one step over the line that could finally put an end to MLB’s ATE. @Karim–can you cite evidence of Oakland as “being the fastest growing real estate market out there”–recent articles have indicated that SJ/SF are doing very well while the east bay is struggling–statements like that are just another example of media bites intended to be sensational without any facts to support them– @Karim- here is the article that provides statistics on how things are going for east bay real estate market http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_24549914/bay-area-commercial-real-estate-boom-track-record @GOA’s here are a couple and also shows being the 8th most expensive and 7th highest for renters http://www.marketwatch.com/story/americas-10-hottest-housing-markets-2013-08-14 http://oaklandlocal.com/2013/11/oakland-real-estate-how-the-current-boom-is-affecting-renters-etc-1025/ @Go’A’s also your reference was commercial real estate. I’m stating right now they are fast tracking project such as Brooklyn Basin because of the surge, a lot of people are moving in to Oakland from around the bay area, and U.S creating this boom, there simply is real high demand for condos, housing etc in Oakland that is why starting such projects are getting started and finished at rapid pace. And if either project CC or HT come to realization Lew can dab in on this boom and it will work for his Ballpark Village view he has. @Karim–maybe an article on the fastest growing county or city to support your claim would be refreshing. One exists and I can tell you its not Oakland but some county/city south of it. @GoA’s I just provided you information by a repeatable website if you wanna debate who’s one or two or top 10, it doesn’t matter I’m simply showing that Oakland is taking off at a one of the fastest pace in America and due to the demand real estate is high, so that debunks yours and others Oakland has no money, there like Detroit gonna go bankrupt, etc etc Oakland’s poor all of that. SJ has been growing for many years there’s no denying that but first, second, or 3rd place doesn’t matter the whole bay area is taking off. You guys wanna know wheres the money and fake investors. Well here is one below that many people said was pie in the sky pipe dream as well. So before you start bashing and discounting the city and it’s people lets look at whats happening to the whole bay area. SJ is no better than Oakland and Oakland is no Better than SJ. Both have crimes both have issues, yes SJ has Silicon valley but also a huge homeless problem. Were all hear for the A’s getting a park, and right now Oakland is a step ahead while SJ lawsuit stalls in court, political ploy or however you wanna say it, we will know soon about the future of our A’s http://www.eastbayexpress.com/SevenDays/archives/2013/12/13/massive-housing-development-in-oakland-put-on-fast-track @Karim – There can be no assessment on whether Oakland or San Jose are ahead. Anyone who thinks there is one is ignoring much evidence to the contrary. Pingback: Oakland Pushing For Waterfront Ballpark Site For A’s - Golden Gate Sports - A Bay Area Sports Site - 49ers, Raiders, Giants, A's, Sharks, Warriors, Stanford, Cal @ML agreed, we know nothing is given with MLB. But evidence that has been given and what we have seen with delay after delay on MLB side like we all agree on now is who’s the first to give public funding which SJ said they wouldn’t and Oakland has said they would but for the most part have kept everything private. Yes in the past I can agree Oak POL’s have been a lot of BS and sidestepping etc delaying but everyone seems to give no weight to the various information that we do know. Responds is Pie in the sky not feasible, yes some is for Quan to get reelected but I will stand 4 more years of her if it gets a ballpark built. She has suck at a leader in regards to Occupy, etc for huge projects so why not base are opinion of some facts. she has brought a lot of money to the city that no previous mayor in recent history has done. She appealed to MLB that she will not give up keeping the A’s in Oakland and MLB wanted to see sites and feasibility so she pledged they will provide multiple sites for the A’s so it is feasible. We don’t know all the info but going on facts and all the maneuvering by Quan getting the right people in the right government positions, we do have know both HT and CC is more than just trying to get Quan reelected @Karim – Oh what it would be like to again be as impressionable and naive as you appear to be. Quan is going to be in a race for her life, and she’s propping up her record on vapor. Brooklyn Basin won’t break ground until next year at the earliest, so for now it’s vapor. Coliseum City and Howard Terminal? Extreme vapor. Of course this is all about running for re-election. That’s the simplest and most rational way to look at it. As for public funding, you really think Oakland will do that? Without a vote? How would that pass given the continuing Mt. Davis debacle and the possibility that Howard Terminal and Coliseum City would have to compete for resources? Think about it. To Karim, “think about it.” That’ll be the day… @ML I know there is a part of this so she can tout for reelection but my reasoning is why would she even have approached MLB and Bud when she got in office she wasn’t using that as her platform to bet the man who promised Lew that he wouldn’t challenge the A’s move if he won. I definitely know that she is ramping up the PR move for her reelection but just saying there’s more substance to the actual project than just blowing smoke that a lot of people like to say on here. I do think they will use taxes for infrastructure, just like they tried to sneak in the 40 mil for coliseum Bart. so a vote will be made but not directly tied to building a ballpark or stadium for the teams. And for other funds I think the city will use tax funds, and brought in the investors to front the rest for them, as they will exchange land to build there project how they want and not just purchasing AEG and already taking on a already built project like L.A Live was in there failed bid for the company. @Tony D I actually do think about it and have resources that do know a little bit more than all of us on here in regards to the issue. I never said its gonna happen but its a more realistic chance than you guys tend to give, the think about it should come from the SJ side thinking that a lawsuit is gonna benefit them. I want the A’s in the bay no matter what but I don’t think the lawsuit will be solved anytime soon and think MLB will make a decision well before the courts do. what we do know is MLB doesn’t want to touch TR so if Oak is serious about this seeing it through it will work but also need teams on board for it to work, I know that the city knows that and have been working years, acquiring land and making moves, and spending millions to position themselves to this day, and to say its all to get Quan reelected??? come on now that’s all I’m saying Really neat sketch of a HT ballpark, BTW. Similar to a sketch I once saw of a proposed new ballpark for the Montreal Expos. That never got built, either. An expensive copy of phonebooth park? – this is blasphamy for A’s fans! Quan also loses credibility by disclosing the HT site plan a week after going public with the CC A’s ballpark. Meanwhile the SJ Cisco Field plan was mapped out four years ago. This fan once believed that Wolff possibly was not bargaining in good faith with Oakland city officials because he prefers that the A’s move to SJ, not any more – Wolff is appearing wiser by the day. Am I looking at this right? During a day game, the batter is going to be facing south right? I know Oakland wants splash hits too but day games are gonna be rough … While I could find nothing in the baseball rules saying no to this, one of the sub paragraphs of rule 1.04 says this sort of configuration is undesirable. Maybe they can insist on nothing but night games … Pingback: Bay Area Sports Guy – New A’s ballpark on the Oakland Waterfront? Yes, please! arff2108 Have the A’s move to sacramento! Their AAA affiliate the(Rivercats) play at Raley Field which was designed to be expanded to a major league park. It is next to the downtown area on the river. Bay area fans would drive to the valley for a game as easily as the valley fans drive to the Bay. Plus I think more fans from the foothills and eastern side of valley would come due to it being so much closer. The biggest advantage is lower costs, ex: building, labor, operating, property, taxes…… I guarantee daily attendance would be higher. Can I get a show of hands on this idea? I have been touting this for about seven(7) years now. Leave a Reply to baycommuter Cancel reply Help keep newballpark.org running History from KC to Oakland The never ending quest for a proper home for the Oakland Athletics. Created March 2005 by Rhamesis Muncada (a.k.a. Marine Layer), San Jose, CA Editor: Marine Layer Editor-at-large: Jeffrey Freshest United(?) Stakeholders of Howard Terminal Giles out as A’s COO to start own business Next Stop: Sin City Clock Is Ticking, Says Manfred Offseason News: Sans-Oakland Edition Contraction Comes To The Minors A’s and Cubs to host 2020 Cactus League weekends in Vegas The Adult Conversation, Aborted New Howard Terminal Renderings from the BCDC 10/7 Design Board Meeting Howard Terminal • NEW (1/8/2020) Howard Terminal Transportation Plan January 2020 Workshop Boards (PDF) • Oakland Planning Department application filed by A's for Howard Terminal • State from Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf on A's and Howard Terminal • Notice of Preparation for Draft EIR • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, City of San Jose vs. Major League Baseball • Stand for San Jose vs. City of San Jose (2014) • City of San Jose vs. Major League Baseball (PDF) Athletics Attendance Baseball Basketball Coliseum College Editorial Feature Football Giants Hockey Howard Terminal Legal News Oakland Owners Politics Radio/TV San Jose Soccer Transit Travelogue Archives Select Month January 2020 (2) December 2019 (3) November 2019 (3) October 2019 (3) September 2019 (4) August 2019 (4) July 2019 (3) June 2019 (2) May 2019 (3) April 2019 (1) March 2019 (3) February 2019 (4) January 2019 (5) December 2018 (6) November 2018 (4) October 2018 (4) September 2018 (5) August 2018 (5) July 2018 (3) June 2018 (2) May 2018 (3) April 2018 (6) March 2018 (4) January 2018 (1) December 2017 (3) November 2017 (1) October 2017 (1) September 2017 (5) August 2017 (2) July 2017 (2) June 2017 (2) May 2017 (6) April 2017 (6) March 2017 (5) February 2017 (2) January 2017 (4) December 2016 (4) November 2016 (4) October 2016 (1) September 2016 (3) August 2016 (3) July 2016 (2) June 2016 (3) May 2016 (1) April 2016 (2) March 2016 (4) February 2016 (6) January 2016 (6) December 2015 (4) November 2015 (5) October 2015 (5) September 2015 (5) August 2015 (6) July 2015 (7) June 2015 (7) May 2015 (4) April 2015 (7) March 2015 (18) February 2015 (18) January 2015 (21) December 2014 (15) November 2014 (15) October 2014 (16) September 2014 (13) August 2014 (20) July 2014 (22) June 2014 (17) May 2014 (16) April 2014 (17) March 2014 (22) February 2014 (11) January 2014 (12) December 2013 (15) November 2013 (14) October 2013 (18) September 2013 (24) August 2013 (14) July 2013 (20) June 2013 (15) May 2013 (15) April 2013 (14) March 2013 (28) February 2013 (23) January 2013 (27) December 2012 (17) November 2012 (11) October 2012 (27) September 2012 (25) August 2012 (26) July 2012 (25) June 2012 (21) May 2012 (29) April 2012 (29) March 2012 (32) February 2012 (20) January 2012 (30) December 2011 (31) November 2011 (23) October 2011 (25) September 2011 (20) August 2011 (22) July 2011 (22) June 2011 (30) May 2011 (23) April 2011 (32) March 2011 (31) February 2011 (24) January 2011 (36) December 2010 (24) November 2010 (23) October 2010 (14) September 2010 (20) August 2010 (29) July 2010 (22) June 2010 (14) May 2010 (17) April 2010 (20) March 2010 (14) February 2010 (10) January 2010 (16) December 2009 (31) November 2009 (14) October 2009 (9) September 2009 (20) August 2009 (8) July 2009 (11) June 2009 (9) May 2009 (24) April 2009 (25) March 2009 (30) February 2009 (26) January 2009 (20) December 2008 (17) November 2008 (12) October 2008 (7) September 2008 (10) August 2008 (8) July 2008 (7) June 2008 (6) May 2008 (11) April 2008 (7) March 2008 (9) February 2008 (7) January 2008 (9) December 2007 (3) November 2007 (8) October 2007 (13) September 2007 (6) August 2007 (10) July 2007 (16) June 2007 (7) May 2007 (14) April 2007 (11) March 2007 (11) February 2007 (11) January 2007 (13) December 2006 (7) November 2006 (21) October 2006 (17) September 2006 (9) August 2006 (5) July 2006 (7) June 2006 (7) May 2006 (22) April 2006 (26) March 2006 (24) February 2006 (15) January 2006 (15) December 2005 (16) November 2005 (24) October 2005 (16) September 2005 (15) August 2005 (28) July 2005 (9) June 2005 (19) May 2005 (14) April 2005 (25) March 2005 (37)	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1563
__label__cc	0.718212	0.281788	Jennifer Lawrence Pranks Smosh, and a New Season of Pranks for Good Amazing, Front Page Slider, Internet, News, YouTubers By Tim Falkenberg 12:58 pm November 16, 2015 Posted on... 12:58 pm November 16, 2015 Written By Tim Falkenberg Funny pranks for good causes, courtesy of Prank It FWD. After scoring more than 100 million views on YouTube to date, the Prank It FWD series is getting back into the action with a new season of videos featuring pranks for good. Defy Media’s Prank It FWD has committed to donating a dollar for every 1000 views, plus a dollar for every social mention tagged with #PrankItFWD. So what pranks and causes are kicking off this season? Here’s your rundown on each hilarious new Prank It FWD video so far Jennifer Lawrence & The Hunger Games Cast Pranks Smosh Among the many vidoes on the Smosh channel are a series of videos doing prank interviews with celebrities, in which Smoshers Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox direct each other via earpiece to do increasingly funny and embarrassing gags. For example, this interview with Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston: Prank It FWD decided it was time to turn the tables on the pair, so as they attempted to prank interview Jennifer Lawrence about The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, the Smosh guys were actually being pranked by “Smosh superfan” Dylan Miceli-Nelson and the Hunger Games cast. In addition to the money raised by views, the video intends to raise awareness about Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This isn’t the first time that Smosh has been a part of Prank It FWD. In past years, they’ve pranked a fan with leukemia… …and a big fan of Emma Watson’s from Smosh Games. NEXT: See Greg Benson prank for great causes at shelters for both homeless pets and homeless people. Prank it fwd Top 10 Influential YouTubers Anyone can make videos and post them to YouTube, but few have been able to capture an audience that would have been considered unimaginable back in 20... Newer PostThe Best Halo 5 Multiplayer Strategies Older PostPrometheus Sequel Title Revealed as “Alien: Covenant”	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1565
__label__wiki	0.675714	0.675714	HomeMajor update from Beth Chapman after volcano erupts near her family's island in Hawaii Major update from Beth Chapman after volcano erupts near her family's island in Hawaii May 07, 2018 \| by Rodolfo Vieira Beth Chapman took to her Instagram page to let her thousands of fans and followers that she and her husband, Duane Chapman, were just fine. The announcement was made on Saturday, May 5, 2018, following the eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, where the couple currently resides. Luckily, the natural disaster didn't take place on their island, but it forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes and caused several earthquakes in the following days, as reported by In Touch Weekly. The Dog, The Bounty Hunter star's message was short and simple, and it was accompanied by a map of the Hawaiian Island: Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Oahu, where the couple lives, and Hawaii, the Big Island. We good guys it’s not on our island ... love to everyone thanks for all the concern .. prayers for puna #kilaueavolcano #hawaii #volcano #dogandbeth A post shared by Beth Chapman (@mrsdog4real) on May 4, 2018 at 11:16pm PDT "We good guys it’s not on our island. Love to everyone thanks for all the concern. Prayers for puna." Beth Chapman, Instagram, May 2, 2018 Beth drew two big arrows pointing to Oahu and the Big Island, where the volcano erupted on Thursday, May 3, to accentuate the difference between them. But, although the famous TV couple wasn't affected by the natural disaster, the truth is that more than 1700 people had to run for their lives and 26 homes were destroyed by the molten rock. Had an amazing day at the @makeawishamerica #worldwishday #hawaii There’s nothing like making someone’s wish come true Happy to serve the @makeawishhawaii foundation . #dogandbeth A post shared by Beth Chapman (@mrsdog4real) on Apr 30, 2018 at 10:59pm PDT According to officials, the homes were located in the Leilani Estates subdivision, and that the estimated number of lost properties was done after an aerial survey of the region. The seismic event started off with only small cracks on the side of the volcano, which then turned into fissures, allowing the mountain to spew fountains of glowing hot lava up to 230 feet in the air. Mysterious blue flames spouting from Hawaiian volcano explained Lava from a robust fissure eruption consumes a home then threatens another in Hawaii. 🌋 More than 1,000 people have been ordered to evacuate on Hawaii’s Big Island after the eruption of the Kilauea volcano led to lava flows into residential areas. Hundreds of earthquakes – most of them about 2.0 magnitude – have been recorded in the area. Officials said it was impossible to predict how long the eruption would last. Photos: Bruce Omori/Paradise Helicopters A post shared by Guardian Australia (@guardianaustralia) on May 6, 2018 at 9:40pm PDT Amber Makuakane, a 37-year-old teacher, and mother-of-two, is now one of the many victims who ended up on the street. She remembered seeing the steam rising in her yard but didn't find anything out of the ordinary. On Saturday, the motion sensors installed around her house were triggered and lava surrounded her property. She lived in the house for nine years and during that time she came to accept the devastating power of the Kilauea volcano. People Apr 08, 2019 Family's Statement after Hospitalization: Duane and Beth Chapman ‘Grateful’ for the Prayers TV Mar 11, 2019 Duane 'Dog' Chapman and Wife Beth Bust a Fugitive Wanted for the Alleged Sexual Battery of a Child Beth Chapman begs fans to boycott a radio station for bullying her and her family on air Beth Chapman Sends First Message since Hospitalization to Her Friend Kim Zolciak-Biermann	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1567
__label__wiki	0.661146	0.661146	Expats.cz Jobs & Employment Articles English & Multilingual Jobs in the Czech Republic - View all Jobs The Workers’ Rights Index: How does the Czech Republic stack up? When it comes to work-life balance the Czech Republic excels; but in other jobs-related areas the nation needs work Katrina Modrá In the News, Prague Jobs, Relocation New research by SmallBusinessPrices.co.uk has revealed how workers around the world can expect to be treated with regards to the gender pay gap, parental leave, and work-life balance. So how does the Czech Republic stack up in the 2019 Workers’ Rights Index? According to the survey, in the areas of life satisfaction and parental leave the country comes out on the higher end of the ranking; in terms of the gender pay gap, however, there is room for improvement. Europe is tops for worker’s rights European countries lead the way for workers rights around the world with Norway topping the leaderboard for gender and diversity overall, and Sweden taking the lead for parental leave. Switzerland, Denmark, and the Netherlands have the lowest average weekly working hours at 35.7 and the highest life satisfaction scores. The Czech Republic scores high in life satisfaction According to the study, there is a direct correlation between average weekly working hours and life satisfaction scores. Also read: Most Czechs use Norwegian app for local weather forecasts, though Czech data is reportedly better Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Denmark were found to have the lowest average weekly working hours at 35.7 per week while maintaining a life satisfaction score of 7+ out of ten – the highest score measured. The Netherlands had the shortest working week, with only 29.2 hours. Belgium, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic averaged around 38.5 working hours per week, following closely behind with life satisfaction scores of 6+ out of ten. The rights of women Over the years, increased discussion and activism around inequality and lack of diversity in business have led to countries addressing the very apparent gender pay gap present in their society. Notably, Luxembourg had the lowest gender pay gap at 3.4%, while Korea had the highest at 36.7%. The Czech Republic ranked on the lower end of the spectrum when measuring the gender pay gap and the level of inclusion women have in both the boardroom and Parliament, ranking 29th out of 36 countries analyzed. Its gender pay gap is 16 percent; its score on the boardroom index 4.7/10. Also read: Prague taxi rate going up for the first time in over a decade The Czech Republic among the best for parental leave The research also analyzed the countries with the best parental leave rights in the world. The Czech Republic ranked fifth in Europe for the length of leave but lagged behind in terms of percentage of wages covered during parental leave (16.8 percent). Here, again, the Scandinavian countries came out on top. Maternity leave qualifies for 52 weeks in Norway, with fathers receiving up to 14 weeks in paternity leave. While having 17 weeks less than Sweden in maternity leave, Norway is just slightly behind with 52% of wages being covered during parental leave. To view the complete research, see here.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1568
__label__cc	0.747669	0.252331	Cooperativism Studio In this Studio, students will explore strategies and challenges for organizing cooperative enterprises that facilitate access to markets and decision making power for members. Participants will work with a green coffee import company based in Oregon and a coffee grower’s cooperative in Colombia. These companies have a buyer/seller relation but are also engaged in a project to organize and build capacity among women farmers. The long term goal is to strengthen organizational capacity and increase revenues for women, improve the visibility, marketability and revenues of the coop, and strengthen the trading position and price setting capacity of the importer. “The specialty coffee industry sells difference: coffees that have unique flavors and unique stories about where and how the beans were produced. But how much do farmers actually get to represent themselves in the global market? This Studio is focused on developing strategies for farmer self-representation in the hopes that at some may gain a measure of control over their own image..” Christopher London Faculty Supevisor Students travel to Huila, Colombia to work with community partners and complete independent research projects. About the Studio In this Studio students will explore strategies and challenges for organizing cooperative enterprises that facilitate access to markets and decision making power for members. The context for this work is two emerging partnerships focusing on these issues. The first partnership is with a green coffee import company based in Oregon and a coffee grower’s cooperative in Colombia. These companies have a buyer/seller relation but are also engaged in a project to organize and build capacity among women farmers. The long term goal is to strengthen organizational capacity and increase revenues for women, improve the visibility, marketability and revenues of the coop, and strengthen the trading position and price setting capacity of the importer. This partnership will be the focus of the 2018 Colombia IFP. The second emerging partnership is a with a Rockefeller Family Fund supported project to democratize an electricity coop in rural Alabama. Founded in the 1940s, the coop has apparently never had free and open elections for its board of directors, does not pay out obligatory dividends to members and does not provide cost effective energy service. The board is white, while the majority of members are black and, regardless of race, of very low socio-economic status. The goal of this project is to educate and mobilize members to assert control over the coop board and make it serve membership as intended. There is the possibility of a 7 week Summer 2018, expenses paid, fellowship to work in Alabama conducting community mobilization. Cooperatives have long been considered powerful vehicles for organizing economic and/or managerial activities in such a way that the benefits of an enterprise redound on the membership. While there are many forms that coops can take, for purposes of this studio we will focus on two broad categories: those that serve producers vs those that serve consumers. Producer coops allow people engaged in some form of primary production (service providers, farmers, etc.) to pool their production to more effectively position themselves within markets. Consumer coops are ones that create mechanisms for members to have access to goods (electricity, groceries, etc.) of a kind or at price points that they might not have otherwise. In both cases coops are mechanisms that strive to overcome the competitive weakness of individuals or small enterprises in competing for sales or purchase of goods and services. But the conventional purpose of coops is not limited to engaging in markets. They are also expected to be democratically organized, member-led associations. Through their operations then coops can both instantiate and model democratic practices that may have reverberating consequences for the social context in which the coop is situated. But coops can also, of course, be dysfunctional. Elites can capture control of the coops decision-making and finances and use it for personal gain. Governments can create hurdles that reduce the competitiveness of coops in favor of conventional capitalist enterprises. Members can be disaffected or uninterested in cooperative processes, or make decisions that benefit themselves in the short term while harming the coop. Capitalist competitors can engage in unfair marketing or other practices of disloyal competition that seek to harm the coop for the sake of it. The challenge for coops then is both to establish effective internal organization and protective external operations so that they may meet the economic and political ideals of the cooperative model. This studio can support: Thesis Supervision, Practicum in International Affairs, Research Portfolio. Activities: Research & Design Depending on the number of students and their interests (i.e., activities may be adjusted) this Studio will: Research cooperative models and assess the Colombia and Alabama coop partner operations in light of these. This will involve developing and/or deploying a typology of coops to better understand these specific examples. We will also visit and learn about the formation, and/or restructuring of coops in New York City. Research definitions and strategies for assessing “citizen empowerment” and develop tools to test these with the partners. In the case of Colombia this will focus on “women’s empowerment.” What does this mean? How do we know when it has happened? Are the initiatives in Colombia solely economic or are they truly empowering? For Alabama it means researching other cases of membership revolt against leadership and efforts democratize coop management. What practices or strategies can be gleaned from these to help orient the Alabama campaign? How can youth be enrolled as community mobilizers? Research marketing strategies of cooperative enterprises. This is especially important for the Colombia coop. The green coffee importer has said that for many of his roaster clients “cooperative” is a bad word. Why? Is it because of disaffection with the Fair Trade model? Is it more ideological? How then are coops to situate themselves within the market? A key issue will be designing communicative strategies that facilitate marginalized communities to articulate their own narratives as the foundation for marketing and/or advocacy campaigns. Research price setting in the coffee industry and design tools for improving price transparency so that partners have stronger negotiating positions. Studio participants will have the opportunity to learn about the global value chain of the specialty coffee industry including cupping, grading, logistics, sales and marketing as well as the “culture” of coffee. While the focus is primarily on Colombia, other countries will be addressed and the work will be transferable to other contexts. Students, singly and/or in teams, are expected to produce finished or nearly finished products. Products may include research reports, marketing strategies, design of field research tools, design of business tools, or any other such product as meets the needs of both the New School team and its partners. These products will form the building blocks for a Summer 2018 International Field Program in Colombia and/or a fellowship with the Alabama campaign. Participation in these summer programs is optional though encouraged. Students who participate in the summer programs are expected, though not required, to enroll in the Fall 2018 Studio II in which the preceding work will be used as primary inputs for masters or undergraduate capstone projects. Spring-only participants are encouraged to also participate in the Fall. Each phase is a 3 credit course. Community Mobilization, Cooperative Models, Empowerment and Citizenship Practices, Ethical Trade and Marketing, Global Value Chains, Household and Rural Economics, Racial and Gender Hierarchy, Social Justice, Specialty Coffee, Women Leaders, Youth Mentorship Click here to see work completed by students from the Spring 2018 semester and the Summer 2018! Projects include studies on youth in Huila, life history narratives, explorations of the cooperativism model, and more.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1577
__label__wiki	0.515379	0.515379	Meet Frank Smart Development Better Transportation Strong Neighborhoods Programs for Seniors North Woodbridge SAP Fast Ferry School Overcrowding Railroad Avenue: FAQ Survey & Polls 10 Ways to Shape Policy Civic Association PWC Economic Reports Central District Police Station: The Central District Police Station will be a new 50,000 square foot facility located on Davis Ford Road near the Prince William County Parkway. The $28.6 million facility will provide police services to the mid-County area, primarily the Dale City, Lake Ridge and Davis Ford Road corridor. This will be the third police station in Prince William County and will free up space and resources at the Eastern District Station located in Woodbridge at Route 1 and Cardinal Drive, which is currently overloaded serving the eastern and middle parts of the County. Public Safety Staffing: In addition to the Central District Station, Prince William County has also budgeted for 25 newly sworn officers and three civilian positions in the Fiscal Year 2015 budget. Moving forward, 125 total sworn positions and 15 civilian staff will be added if the current staffing plan is funded over the next five years. This plan will help bring our police staffing levels in line with our adopted policy of 2 police officers per 1,000 residents. Prince William County has also budgeted for 15 new positions in the Department of Fire & Rescue in the Fiscal Year 2015 budget. Moving forward, a total of 90 staff positions will be added over five years. OWL Volunteer Fire Department: The Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department has served PWC residents since 1938, and they recently celebrated 75 years of service to our community. OWL operates two fire stations in Woodbridge, including Station 2 on F Street and Station 12 on Montgomery Ave. Supervisor Principi is working with Chief McAllister and the Fire & Rescue Association (FRA) to fund a $250,000 training facility, called a 3rd Alarm Three Story WHP, at Station 12 on Montgomery Avenue. River Oaks Fire & Rescue Station: A third Fire Station was opened in the Woodbridge District on September 11, 2010 on River Ridge Boulevard, near Route 1. The River Oaks Fire Station or Station 23 is staffed by both Prince William County and Dumfries-Triangle Volunteer Fire Department. It serves the Woodbridge and Dumfries areas with two ambulances and one pumper truck. Dumfries-Triangle Volunteer Fire Department has been serving PWC residents since 1944. Woodbridge District Office 15941 Donald Curtis Drive Supervisor Principi fprincipi@aol.com Major Amtrak, VRE expansion set under $3.7 billion Virginia-CSX deal \| WTOP Women’s Suffrage Memorial Breaks Ground In Northern Virginia : NPR Holiday Cooking Safety Tips The vision for a New Woodbridge incorporates both the traditional and contemporary elements of our community, building on our solid foundation and leveraging new opportunities. ThemeMakers Copyright © 2015 Welcome to New Woodbridge. All rights reserved. Things move quickly in New Woodbridge! Get updates from the Office of Supervisor Frank Principi for the latest in... Opportunities to Make a Difference Just enter your email below to stay in the know! By submitting form, you grant Woodbridge Supervisor Frank J. Principi permission to email you. You may unsubscribe via the link at bottom of each email. Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from New Woodbridge: Official Site of Supervisor Frank Principi. (You can unsubscribe anytime) By submitting this form, you are granting: Woodbridge Supervisor Frank J. Principi, 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Woodbridge, VA, 22191, permission to email you. You may unsubscribe via the link found at the bottom of every email. (See our Email Privacy Policy (http://constantcontact.com/legal/privacy-statement) for details.) Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1578
__label__cc	0.640136	0.359864	Remains Found In World Trade Center Rubble Linked To 40-Year-Old New York Man Filed Under:911, Ernest James, Ground Zero, human remains, Marsh & McLennan Companies, North Tower, World Trade Center Ground Zero (credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images) NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Forensic technicians have identified another set of human remains found in the rubble of the World Trade Center, nearly a decade after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The office of New York City’s medical examiner announced Tuesday that it had successfully matched a set of remains to 40-year-old Ernest James, who had been assumed dead in the Twin Towers’ collapse. James was identified within the last few days through DNA testing, a spokeswoman said. He worked for the professional services firm Marsh & McLennan Companies, which lost more than 350 employees and consultants that day. James’ fiancee, Monique Keyes, said he was a native New Yorker and had been working in information technology at the company for about six years. He worked the night shift and would normally call her every morning at the end of his shift. “When I couldn’t reach him, I pretty much, deep inside, knew,” Keyes said. James had worked on the 88th floor of the North Tower, the first building struck by a hijacked plane and the second tower to collapse. Keyes said he was outgoing and family-oriented. “He just loved to make you laugh,” she said of the Harlem resident. Ten years later, she said the news brought some measure of closure. To date, authorities have identified the remains of 1,629 victims. Nearly 2,800 people died at the trade center on 9/11. The medical examiner’s office says it will continue testing remains. (TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.) sheseethypsug says: I’m pleased to tell you the fact that I am probably the most recent participant here and i look forward to meeting together with everyone inside here shortly. If it’s not a firefighter who remains are identified then who cares nynj says: Every victim of the 9/11 tragedy should be valued. All rescue workers that lost their lives that day ran into those buildings because they valued the lives that they were saving. They were all incredibly brave and will always be our heros. If they valued this man and every other person that day, why aren’t you? Lily Price says: May he rest in peace— finally. ThePatriotMuckraker says: It’s amazing that they managed to find perfect intact passports of the “hijackers” among all those fragments of bone and dust. KPMc says: It is amazing. Just as it was amazing that they found the flight data recorder from the Columbia shuttle disaster even though it wasn’t in a protective case like those of commercial airlines and wasn’t meant to survive a horrific explosion and a 38-mile fall to earth. Amazing.. but they found it intact and and were able to gather much info from it. Hard to explain… but it happened. Amazing! thecrow says: And yet the black boxes from the 767s that hit the WTC “were not found”. So… you have a problem when things do disintegrate in astronomical temperatures and a problem when they don’t. It is easy to see conspiracies when you change the rules at your every whim. Not very amazing at all. Actually they only found one passport near the WTC site. It was found several blocks away BEFORE the towers collapsed. Amazing yes… but get the facts straight before you distort them. Two other passports were found among the wreckage of Flight 93. Not unusual at all as personal effects of downed planes are often found. Finally they collected a fourth passport from luggage which never made it onto a plane. Your need to believe in a conspiracy beyond the one the rest of the world agrees happened (19 men hijacked 4 planes and crashed them) is disturbing. You should examine why you need to do that. I am sure their are some deep-seated psychological scars you no doubtably suffered some time in your past. Get help before it is too late. billrny says: You must mean demolition not collapse . Don’t you! No… they men the collapse caused by the steel beams being taken out and having several floors resting on the building without proper support. Everything pancakes on top causing a “collapse”. It’s really not that hard to figure out. Unless of course you are a loser that thinks everything is a conspiracy even though you witnessed with your own eyes. Even the losers get lucky sometimes. http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2011/07/30/truth-crushed-to-earth-shall-rise/ Leave a Reply to KPMc Cancel reply	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1579
__label__wiki	0.666567	0.666567	by Eduard Kovacs \| Jan 16, 2020 \| Cybersecurity \| 0 comments Rockwell Automation on Wednesday announced that it has entered an agreement to acquire Israel-based cybersecurity solutions provider Avnet Data Security in an effort to expand its cybersecurity expertise. Founded in 1995, Avnet provides a wide range of services and solutions for IT and OT environments, including penetration testing, assessments, training, and network and security products. In terms of ICS and SCADA security, Avnet specializes in consultancy, training and research. The company claims to have assisted major utilities and other organizations secure their OT networks. Rockwell Automation says it has decided to acquire Avnet because its extensive knowledge and experience will support its objective to “achieve double digit growth in Information Solutions and Connected Services by expanding our IT/OT cyber and network expertise globally.” Frank Kulaszewicz, senior VP of Control Products & Solutions at Rockwell Automation, commented, “Avnet’s combination of service delivery, training, research, and managed services will enable us to service a much larger set of customers globally while also continuing to accelerate our portfolio development in this rapidly developing market.” Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but Rockwell says it does not expect the acquisition to have a material impact on its 2020 financial results. The acquisition is expected to close in early 2020. “We are excited to join Rockwell Automation to further expand their already robust cyber offering,” said Igal Cohen, CEO of Avnet. “We are continuing to serve our existing clients while expanding our reach to service a much broader range of customers. Our passion and mission have always been to help as many organizations as possible secure their data from internal and external threats.” Related: Tenable Acquires OT Security Firm Indegy for $78 Million Related: ForeScout Acquires Industrial Security Firm SecurityMatters for $113 Million in Cash Related: Cisco to Acquire OT Security Firm Sentryo Eduard Kovacs (@EduardKovacs) is a contributing editor at SecurityWeek. He worked as a high school IT teacher for two years before starting a career in journalism as Softpedia’s security news reporter. Eduard holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial informatics and a master’s degree in computer techniques applied in electrical engineering. Source: Rockwell Automation to Acquire Cybersecurity Firm Avnet	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1583
__label__cc	0.615619	0.384381	National Common Courtesy Day – March 21, 2020 National Common Courtesy Day With ever-busy lives, we often forget that simple things can make a difference. National Common Courtesy Day is a great way to remind ourselves that the world is better off when we show gratitude and graciousness in both big and small ways. Hey, it only takes a small gesture to be a big hero. Remember to say “please” and “thank you” on March 21. It could make a world of difference! National Common Courtesy Day timeline IITTI was formed An organization named IITTI was formed to test employee etiquette in interviewees. Emily Post began documenting etiquette Emily Post was a famous author who wrote a best-selling book called "Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics, and at Home." The Enlightenment Era and politeness Politeness, certain artistic standards, and behaviors started becoming markers of affluence and upward mobility. 551–479 BC Confucius shapes morality and manners in China The Chinese teacher, philosopher, and politician fostered a mindset that shaped morality, correctness in relationships, and justice. 3rd Millennium BC Ptahhotep wrote his Maxims The ancient Egyptian Vizier Ptahhotep wrote a book of Maxims that discussed how to treat others and exhibit self-control. How to Observe National Common Courtesy Day Introduce yourself to someone new or shy We've all been new to work or school and probably felt intimidated or left out. Introduce yourself to someone new, shy, or who is sitting alone. You could make a friend and you'll make someone feel included. Remember the small actions Giving up your seat for someone who needs it more than you do, holding the door open, and replacing the roll of toilet paper for a new one are all great small ways to show courtesy to others. Best of all, they're free! Donate time or money to a meaningful cause (or a friend) Maybe there's a charity that means a lot to you. March 21 is a great day to volunteer for this cause or donate a few extra dollars to whatever piques your interest. You can also call a friend you haven't had the chance to talk to, buy them a cup of coffee, or help them with something they might need. Why National Common Courtesy Day is Important You can participate in many small ways Courtesy means different things to everyone. Most holidays involved giving gifts or buying something, but Common Courtesy Day involves giving up your seat for someone who needs it more, not cutting in line, saying please and thank you or making more coffee if you drank the last cup. It's easy to participate and contribute to this day. Doing good for others actually has benefits Scientific evidence shows that doing something good for others benefits your health. Volunteering and mentoring are some of the biggest examples of doing good for others, but random acts of kindness—including the oft-forgotten display of common courtesy—is a good way to make the world a better place for everyone. Good deeds are contagious Creating a respectful environment begets you more respect. This is especially true at home and at work. Show courtesy to the people around you and pretty soon they'll follow your example. National Common Courtesy Day dates 2020 March 21 Saturday 2021 March 21 Sunday 2022 March 21 Monday 2023 March 21 Tuesday 2024 March 21 Thursday	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1584
__label__cc	0.598616	0.401384	Home / MAJERSKI:CONCERTO-POEM MAJERSKI:CONCERTO-POEM The Polish pianist-composer Tadeusz Majerski (1888–1963) wrote some of the most interesting Polish music of his day, bringing together late-Romantic sensitivity and the harmonic freedom of Schoenbergian modernism – although primacy of emotional expression was always his watchword. In spite of his musical importance, Majerski spent his entire life in Lwów (now Lviv in Ukraine) and so has been almost completely lost from sight. This first album dedicated to his work presents one of his major scores, the rhapsodic Concerto-Poem for piano and orchestra, as well as two powerful chamber works and a number of representative piano miniatures. An extensive interview with the composer Andrzej Nikodemowicz, now in his 90s, brings personal memories of Majerski and paints a vivid picture of his difficult life in Lviv under Soviet occupation Michal Drewnowski is the pianist who has discovered Majerski and is making him known to the outside world – a task in which this release is a major step. TOCC0344 Toccata Classics Artists Dobrowolski, Arkadiusz Drewnowski, Michal New Art Chamber Soloists Composers Tabakov, Emil Majerski, Tadeusz Orchestras Royal Scottish National Orchestra If you like MAJERSKI:CONCERTO-POEM, please tell your friends! You can easily share this page directly on Facebook, Twitter and via e-mail below. Roussel: The Spiders Feast Roussel: The Complete Symphonies and Other Orchestral Works Barber: Complete Orchestral Works TABAKOV: Concerto for 2 Flutes / Piano Concerto 8570073 01/01/2007 £7.99 THE VERY BEST OF GRIEG 8552123-24 03/01/2006 £12.99 The Story of American Classical Music 8558164-65 04/01/2005 £12.99 TORKE: Rapture / An American Abroad / Jasper 8559167 11/01/2002 £7.99 Nominations for the Gramophone 8555303 01/01/2001 £7.99 Naxos 15th Anniversary CD 8555964 01/01/2000 £7.99	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1587
__label__cc	0.709442	0.290558	Transcript of the September 21, 2012 NCVHS Full Committee Meeting Transcript of the September 21,… THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON VITAL AND HEALTH STATISTICS Hubert H. Humphrey Building Call to Order, Review Agenda – Dr. Justine Carr Standards Administrative Simplification Letter – ACTION Outline of HIPAA Report – Dr. Walter Suarez Privacy Community Health Data Report – Action – Ms. Linda Kloss NCVHS – Summary Steps and Future Directions – Dr. Larry Green De-identification methods for Open Health data – Jonathan Gluck and Khaled El Aman P R O C E E D I N G S (10:08 a.m.) Agenda Item: Call to Order, Review Agenda DR. CARR: Welcome to day two of the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics. I am Justine Carr, Lame Duck Chair of the Committee, Stewart Health Care, alive and well, and no conflicts. DR. TANG: Paul Tang, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, member of the committee, DR. FRANCIS: Leslie Francis, University of Utah, member of the committee, no MR. QUINN: Matt Quinn, NIST, staff of the Quality Subcommittee. MS. KLOSS: Linda Kloss, member of the committee, no conflicts. MR. BURKE: Jack Burke, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, member of the committee, no conflicts committee, no conflicts the committee, no conflicts. DR. CHANDERRAJ: Raj Chanderraj, private cardiologist in Las Vegas, member of DR. SUAREZ: Walter Suarez with Kaiser Permanente, member of the committee, DR. FITZMAURICE: Michael Fitzmaurice, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, liaison to the full committee, staff to the Subcommittee on Quality and the Subcommittee on Standards. MR. WALKER: Jim Walker, Geisinger Health Systems, no conflicts MR. SOONTHORNSIMA: Ob Soonthornsima, Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana, member of the committee, no conflicts. MS. MILAM: Sally Milam, West Virginia Health Care Authority, member of the committee, no conflicts. DR. GREEN: Larry Green, University of Colorado, member of the committee, no MS. GREENBERG: Marjorie Greenberg, National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, and executive Secretary to the committee. MR. SCANLON: Jim Scanlon, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning at HHS, and executive director of the full committee. DR. MAYS: Vickie Mays, University of California, Los Angeles, member of the full committee, no conflicts. (Introductions of staff and guests) DR. CARR: Jim, I would like to turn it over to you. You have an announcement. MR. SCANLON: Let me give the committee an update on a couple of things. About eight weeks ago, we made a set of recommendations for reappointments and new members for the full committee. I am pleased to say, late yesterday, it was at the end of the day, so we couldn’t really announce anything during the meeting, the Secretary approved all of our recommendations. What I can announce today are the reappointments. For new members, we were asked to wait until we heard from the formal confirmation for the new members. We should be getting four members who will fit in very nicely with the committee, and will bring us up to the full complement of 18 members. Number one, I am pleased to say that Sally and Walter have been reappointed for a 15-year term, 4-year times. They negotiated a 7 percent increase in pay, but we had to take away their health insurance. Then, let’s see, we have Justine, our esteemed chair for quite a while now, a member of the committee. She has served two terms and so has reached the limit, we can’t renew her. She will be leaving the committee, but staying on as the chair of our working group on data access and use. The Secretary has asked Larry to serve as the chair. In a moment of weakness, Larry agreed. I think what we can do is, as of the end of the day today, probably Justine can turn over the gavel to Larry, and Larry will be chair for the next meeting subsequently. MS. GREENBERG: I just wanted to say that we have four new members that we have to wait until they accept their appointments. We, of course, hope to bring them in, they will have done that and they will have completed their paperwork, so we can bring them in for the November meeting. We would also be prepared to bring in, to make the transition complete, those, I guess it is just the two of you right now, Justine and Judy, for that meeting, as well. Now, you would be coming in any event because of the working group. You wouldn’t be voting members at that point, assuming that they are voting members. Sometimes, they haven’t gotten all of their paperwork in, so don’t think that those dates are free now on your calendar. On the other hand, I don’t want to put undue pressure on you, but I just wanted to clarify that. DR. CARR: Actually, I want to just take a moment to share the things. Everything I needed to know, I learned at NCVHS as a member, I want to share things. We’ll have to pass this along to new members, but it is relevant to current members, all members. Just a couple of things, and then a couple of things for Larry as the incoming chair. As a member, I urge you to ask dumb questions, to make grids to understand complex issues, very helpful, express your thoughts once clearly, less is more. Turn off your mic if you are prone to sidebar comments. Read transcripts, your wisecracks may not be as good as you thought. Don’t multitask, you’ll be sorry what you missed. Bring snacks to meetings, no public dollars can be spent on food. Go to all the dinners and kick back. Linda, this will be for you, bring a calculator and do the math for Marjorie at the end of the day. Now, for Larry, start on time, end on time, set timely deadlines and meet them. Ask for PowerPoints before developing a letter. Keep track of themes. When concepts are muddy, go around the room. When discord emerges, embrace it as an opportunity to learn. Appreciate and recognize colleagues. Edit letters for one voice. Don’t sign anything you don’t understand. For the members and the chair, recognize the honor bestowed on you and live up to it. One other request, can we do a class photo? It would be fun. (Pause for class photo) DR. CARR: Okay, we are ready for the standards, Walter and Judy. Agenda Item: Standards Administrative Simplification Letter — ACTION Outline of HIPAA Report DR. SUAREZ: Thank you, it will be a tough act to follow. In the spirit of the theme today, and to reflect on our leader, this letter truly reflects some of the things that you just said, Justine, we hope. When you sign it, we hope that everything will be clear. More importantly, I think it always comes back to all of the things that you always told us to think about. Why are we doing this, who is being affected by it, and why is this good? I think those four questions that you always ask us to follow are truly reflective in the work that was done in this letter. We presented this letter yesterday to the committee and we worked through the comments. Thank you again to everyone who provided us with those comments yesterday. We came back with this final draft. Yesterday, the subcommittee reviewed it and edited it, and is submitting it for your consideration. The first change, I think, was down in the introductory party. There are a couple of places, Yes, on the ICD10, I think we added a couple of points. One was this point about ensuring that, through this transition and through this adoption of ICD10, we minimized disruptions in the business of delivering care. We heard testimony, and even specific examples of this one entity that has gone out of business basically. More importantly, the fact that we need to be mindful, as we think of this transition as the Secretary and HHS, through the recommendations, begin to develop this strategy to minimize disruption to business of delivering care. We inserted that as one statement. We also inserted another bullet below this, which is basically the last bullet, that highlights the importance, and we also heard this during the testimony, promoting the establishment of testing areas and test methods, including sample data, and to allow for some innovative opportunities for testing during the transition period, so we wanted to insert that. All of this to ensure a couple of things, clinical consistency, so that when we move from nine to ten, whatever we express in ten is consistently clinically with what we were expressing before in ICD9. Financial neutrality, so a very important point about not seeing any deviation from what we were doing before with ICD9. Those two elements were added to the section here. Those were the only comments in the first part of the letter, although the comments were in the recommendations, so we will go down to the recommendations. I think the first comment on the recommendation was on recommendation three, I believe. I think we did actually, yes. That’s right, we added, as the clarification point on the dental codes to address some concerns that the way this was phrased might suggest some direct relationship or oversight from NCHS to ADA. We added, it was suggested, by testifiers, that NCVHS look into the maintenance process of all HIPAA name standard code sets. It wasn’t just to look at one at or at look at a specific situation, but to look at all of them. In addition to that, I think now we get into the recommendation side. The first change was really in the recommendation in the testing. Testing, we mentioned yesterday, was one of the most consistent and important themes. We had originally one recommendation. It was actually a long paragraph, and so we broke the same paragraph into the three recommendations. The first one did not The second one, we changed the word industry, working session to ensure that it is different from the other listening session that we are recommending in the letter, that CMS convene. I think we added the Research 3C, which was specific to ICD10, and it was highlighting a couple of points. Again, the point about establishing the testing areas and test methods, and then the expectation that NCVHS would look forward to receiving reports on the status of ICD10 being tested on a regular basis. DR. COHEN: We had talked about adding the word, quickly, or expeditiously or DR. SUAREZ: Yes, putting some prioritization, I think that was another point that I don’t think we capture here. We should. DR. COHEN: CMS should, I don’t know whether quickly promote or expeditiously promote the establishment. There needs to be more of a sense of urgency for this to happen. DR. SUAREZ: Expeditiously? DR. COHEN: I would really like to see that. DR. SUAREZ: Timely, expeditiously, pick one. That was the main addition to this recommendation. Any comments or additional questions on this? Okay, then the next one in the location and outreach, I think we also added the importance of two things, targeting the safety net providers and small entities with limited resources in this outreach effort. The point, I think, that was mentioned, and I think that was it basically. That was the concept of we need CMS to certainly prioritize, given the constraints and resources, so it should target safety net providers and small providers and entities in this outreach and location. DR. FITZMAURICE: Walter, would you want to consider outreach should be targets to help and educate safety net providers? DR. SUAREZ: Target to? DR. FITZMAURICE: Just to help safety net providers. DR. SUAREZ: Help safety, sure, health safety net providers and small health care. Oh, help, not health. DR. WARREN: Isn’t that redundant? We are talking already about education. DR. CARR: Do I have a motion? DR. SUAREZ: We still have, I think, a couple of more. The only other one with recommendation seven, we added the word sample, so both conduct adequate sample of compliance audits, so that it did not give the impression that it was complies with audits across the board, to everyone, but the sample of compliance audits, which is something that CMS is — DR. FITZMAURICE: To conduct an inadequate sample? DR. SUAREZ: Yes. DR. FITZMAURICE: Thank you. DR. SUAREZ: Those were the main changes to the letter. DR. FITZMAURICE: I would take out – and put its. DR. SUAREZ: Thank you. DR. CARR: That is now where you want to go. MS. GREENBERG: I assure you, after we finalize these letters, I read through all of them but I always appreciate an extra set of eyes. DR. SUAREZ: Those were the changes. The word industry adoption, or the term industry adoption, changed. We had before industry absorption, we changed absorption to adoption. DR. CARR: Do I have a motion to approve? DR. CHANDERRAJ: Move. DR. COHEN: Second. DR. CARR: All in favor? (“Aye”) Any opposed? None. Any abstentions? None. Well done. (Motion approved.) DR. SUAREZ: We want to next probably just bring up the additional point about the HIPAA report. As you all know, every year, we had been providing a HIPAA report to Congress. Actually, it hasn’t happened really every year since HIPAA was passed, because we are in the 17th year. Last year we submitted our 10th report to Congress. We don’t do it every year, and the subcommittee had a discussion about the timing and the appropriateness of preparing a HIPAA report to Congress this year, in light of a couple of The first one was our very extensive detailed report was delivered late last year, basically almost early this year, to Congress, the 10th HIPAA report to Congress, in which we had a number of things identified, discussed, and proposed to be worked on into the future. The second major consideration was the fact that there has been a number of changes done in the administrative simplification activities, including the adoption of the new version of standards, starting this year in January of 2012, the adoption of operating rules, which will start in January of 2013, the delay of ICD-10, the adoption of a health plan ID. All of these are new things that are going to be changing and shifting the way we continue to attempt to improve administrative processes. The subcommittee really felt that I was early to provide any type of report about those changes, because in reality, some of them just started to happen, and some of them are to happen in the next few months. The decision, and that is the recommendation of the subcommittee, is to not prepare and submit a report this year to Congress, but actually wait until next year, when we would have the experience of at least a year and a half or more of implementation of the new standards, the new version of the new standards, as well as the implementation of some of the new operating rules and some of the other processes. We also, in the letter that we just approved, recommend that CMS begin to consider putting some resources into assessing, into making a more deliberate and complete assessment of the implementation of this standard. All of the regulations really related to administration and publication. In light of that, we are recommending that we not report this year, or not prepare a report to Congress this year, but wait until next year. I will turn it back to you, Justine, to see if there’s any. MS. JACKSON: Just in term of dissemination, Linda’s suggestion about making sure that our documents get out right to the people who want them. Every time this report goes out, as you can see, I’ve got a note that this is a final copy. People really enjoy this report, so I’m kind of happy that we have another year of being able to disseminate this. As you go to your meetings that can use it, please just send me an email. Let me know how many copies, we do have plenty. I am sure when the next report comes out, we will have the excitement of an Apple 5. We want to make sure that this gets out and uses this time for this year while we can. DR. CARR: I think the work that was done last year was tremendous, and I think that when we do these reports, they deserve that amount of attention. It’s too soon to do it again, so I think I agree, accept, endorse your recommendation. I have to say Walter, you are an extraordinary powerhouse. You, and actually Judy and Ob, what you have accomplished, since I’ve been here, is nothing short of extraordinary. I thank you, on behalf of the committee, and also for myself, because you do such great thorough work. Thank you very much. We will now move to the Privacy Community Health Data Report. I think the way that would be a good way to tee this up is to say, what were the takeaways from yesterday and the actions that you did, and then we can go into the Agenda Item: Privacy Community Health Data Report — MS. KLOSS: We gave you both a markup, as well as a clean copy, because it’s hard to encapsulate what we did to it. We did a lot to it. We did combine principle one and three, so we reduced the number of principles from ten to nine. We took out musts, and made them shoulds. We addressed all of the other points we believed that came out in the discussion yesterday. I think we might do best by going through this, paragraph by paragraph, but not worrying about wordsmithing or editing or typos. We didn’t have the luxury of time to do a final polish on any of that. We just wanted to make sure that we’ve captured the issues that were most compelling. DR. FRANCIS: We have got the clean copy up, but if you want to see what got changed, you have a markup copy. MS. KLOSS: On the first page, we changed a must to should, you will see in the second paragraph. We also added reference to the original Code of Fair Information Practice, produced in 1973, to underscore the historical nature of the evolution of these principles. Maya suggested that and added that, and I think that does strengthen. DR. FITZMAURICE: Could you give an example of maybe one way the communities are using this digital data? I am interested in, how did they get it, as well as what are they using it for? MS. KLOSS: Well, the reference in communities today are using digital data to tackle important health issues, is just a general statement, that then is supported on the next page by specific reference to the committee’s report on community health data initiatives. DR. FITZMAURICE: I am saying are they looking at registry for say, influenza vaccines, and then sending out the police to knock on doors saying, you didn’t get your vaccine. MS. KLOSS: Are you suggesting we should put an example right here? DR. FITZMAURICE: No, I am just trying to understand it. I am not suggesting any change, I am just trying to understand. DR. CARR: You are right, it is a bold statement to say, digital data to tackle important issues in ways never imagined. DR. FITZMAURICE: I’m trying to imagine that they get the data and use it without violating HIPAA. DR. FRANCIS: We can take digital out, if that would help. Basically, that was meant to be a summary that came from the community health data report. DR. FITZMAURICE: I don’t mind digital, just what do they do with the data and how do they get it? DR. CARR: You are right, it is the opening kind of introduction, so look forward to achieving the promise of that sentence. DR. KLOSS: We could put footnote the report right here, if that would help. We also looked at ways to flip from anything that seemed like it was on track to be regulatory, to more of a positive. That really, at the top of page two, topic of the letter of stewardship framework, enabling communities to use data to improve health in a manner that fosters trust. Again, positioning these statements in a positive way. DR. CARR: Just in the second paragraph, these developments should be encouraged. Yet, they should be coupled. I am just wondering whether we want to set it up. These developments should be cultivated and divided by data stewardship. I also don’t know what the difference between appropriate data stewardship and data stewardship, or data stewardship practice is or data I think we just need to decide, data stewardship is a frame of mind that is carried out in some practices. I would take out appropriate and I would take out practices, and I would make it and guided by, or perhaps by guided by building the trust through data stewardship or something like that. DR. FRANCIS: When I tucked in appropriate there, my reasoning was that we didn’t want to suggest that there was only a specific set. That was the reason for that extra word, but it is fine to take it out. DR. SCANLON: I like appropriate. I mean, there is the risk if somebody claims that they are doing data stewardship and they are not doing the right DR. CARR: I would say it is appropriate data practices then. I think stewardship, but we will see how is signing this letter. DR. FRANCIS: We have got an appropriate later on, so we could just take it out. Go ahead and take it out. MS. KLOSS: The sentence will read, these developments should be cultivated and guided by data stewardship practices. I am missing the appropriate in there, because I mean the custodianship of data doesn’t mean it is good custodianship. That was the point, I think, right? MS. BERSTEIN: Did you want to take out the word encouraged, or just say encouraged and guided by? You didn’t want to remove the word encouraged, did DR. CARR: I would say it cultivated, I would even say, and guided by data DR. FRANCIS: Then, appropriately comes in at the end of that sentence, because we combine two sentences, yes. MS. KLOSS: Okay, page two. This is where we inserted the definition of community. There’s two new sentences there. DR. MAYS: I want to go back before you start the community definition. The very last part of the sentence at the top of the page on two, yes, right there. The topic of the letter is stewardship frame, enabling communities to use data to improve health in a manner that fosters trust. I am not as comfortable with in a manner that fosters trust, because I don’t think we provide enough of a case for that. Instead, enabling communities to use data to improve the health of their communities, I would suggest is a friendly amendment. MS. KLOSS: I think we were trying to very directly link stewardship to fostering trust, and so that was the point. MR. SOONTHORNSIMA: Trust is the operative word here, I think. MS. GREENBERG: The way we modified that sentence, still has the kind of negative aspect by the if. If you change the if, I think it is these developments should be cultivated and guided by stewardship practices, so that, I think I would say. Then, since you mentioned trust there, do you need to mention it again? DR. CARR: Where you go down to data stewardship, comma, if individuals and communities are to trust. I would suggest that we say rather these developments should be cultivated and guided by data stewardship, building the trust of individuals and communities. DR. FRANCIS: How about changing if to so? So individuals and communities can trust. The reason for making sure trust is there is that that what was called out in the CHIP report as the next step. DR. CARR: I think the subtle things we are saying is that we don’t want to say we have an emergency, it is broken, we have got to jump in. We want to say, we have a continuum of practice that is building. As we grow in our use of it, we grow in our understanding. DR. COHEN: I don’t know that we need may. Why don’t we just say trust, so that individuals and communities trust that their information. MS. KLOSS: Then, the lead-in to the sentence you’re questioning, Vickie, the bottom of that page, these frameworks however have not been developed to attend to the topic of this letter, of stewardship framework enabling communities to use data to improve health in a manner that fosters trust. DR. FRANCIS: The reason for that sentence was to indicate that although there are a lot of data stewardship frameworks out there, they are not directed to this circumstance. DR. MAYS: Now, I understand the trust stuff. I am just feeling it over promises what is to come. What is to come is focused less on the process about trust, and more about the process of the use of data. It is just a little bit switching it in some way. That was why I kind of dropped it at the end, but let me see if I can edit it differently. I think that it is on the data and the community, and not the process of trust. DR. TANG: Isn’t the sentence building on the Fair Information Practices, and what we are saying then is that the framework exists. We are building on the framework in order to accommodate the broader sharing or dissemination of data. That is the uncovered thing that wasn’t present in 1974. I think maybe what we are trying to express is we are building on instead of that wasn’t covered. DR. FRANCIS: Let’s change that sentence to use your language, to say something like this letter. DR. TANG: This letter builds on these frameworks to account for the broader use and sharing of data. I mean, that’s what community creates. What it builds on previous frameworks to accommodate the wider use and dissemination of data. MS. KLOSS: Well, we might want to reference the specific use of communities to use data, to improve health. DR. FRANCIS: To encompass rather than to accommodate? MS. KLOSS: The middle paragraph on page two inserts the definition from the report, many different types of communities today are using data to improve health. The report described some of these efforts. The 2011 report defined a community as an independent group of people who share a set of characteristics and are joined over time by a sense of what happens to one member affects many or all of the others. Then, we go on to say, and reinforce that communities are diverse, although stewardship matters for all, application of stewardship principles may differ, depending on community characteristics. DR. CARR: I don’t understand what that means. DR. TANG: The stewardship principles are uniform and universal, because communities are diverse and they have diverse uses and applications, we need to apply the principles somewhat differently. MS. KLOSS: Principles are not processes. MS. GREENBERG: An example would be, we heard from a number of Indian tribes. In their case, they have a very structured process of approving anything, any research or data that is collected, a whole governance structure because of their tribal relationships and their position. They are going to have a different, there’s going to be a group you have to go to, et cetera, to manifest some of these principles, whereas other communities wouldn’t have these structures already set up. DR. CARR: Is it application of the principles or implementation of the principles. Because I think if we believe these are the principles, we apply them, how we implement them. MS. KLOSS: This says application. DR. CARR: I’m saying, I don’t think that’s the right word. I think implementing, in other words, this makes me think that you have 10, I can choose six. DR. TANG: Okay, so it is like Marjorie said. We said that we need to consult with the community. Well, when you implement that in the Indian tribes, that means you go to the tribal council. MS. GREENBERG: I think we all agree, but Justine is suggesting that implementation is what you are talking about. MS. BERNSTEIN: Implementation strikes me as something you do with an actual rule or a procedure. MS. KLOSS: I think we were trying to be a little more general, and reference how they are applied, rather than getting into specific practices. I think that is why we use application. MS. GREENBERG: Maybe you could say, although the principles, not just stewardship, but although the principles matter for all, their application may differ, depending on community care. Make it clear that the principles are relevant to all. DR. WALKER: I have what I hope is a substantive question. This document has in view the governance of data stewards, correct, not the governance of DR. TANG: Correct. DR. WALKER: I think that could be clearer, partly because in some instances, the community is the data steward. In other instances, it is definitely not. I think there are places here where it’s not clear whether we are governing the Then, the question that comes out of that, so say there is a data steward that serves 12 communities. Which communities’ characteristics does it match its data stewardship to, if they are different? I don’t think we have addressed. When we say it should be matched to the community, I get the point. In practice, that will be a little weird, in some cases, I would guess in many DR. FRANCIS: One way to deal with this, because actually I think we can envision that, although stewardship matters, there may be cases in which a particular stewardship principle isn’t applicable at all. We wanted to keep this very general, so I understand you. DR. WALKER: What if there is one data steward, there are 12 communities, this principle is appropriate to this community, but not to that community. Data steward has two different stewardship responses? DR. FRANCIS: They might have different responsibilities to different communities. Suppose what we do is just say, application of stewardship principles may differ, and then drop the depending on community characteristics, because they might differ, depending on a number. That is why I was trying to address that. DR. TANG: Might we be emphasizing the wrong thing? We want to emphasize actually the universality of the principles across diverse communities. I think it is a bit of an exercise to the reader, in terms of how do you do it with the consortium that you happen to be dealing with. Our main point is that we all have the principles universally apply, despite the diversity of the DR. COHEN: I agree both with Jim and Paul. I think that universally apply, but it’s not a function of the characteristics of the community. It is a function of the characteristics of the data holder, because stewardship principles are very different for a local government than they are for an NGO or a community coalition, or a provider in a community. MS. BERNSTEIN: That is true, but I think if you look at all of the principles that doesn’t universally apply, so for example, one of the principles is transparency and notice essentially. It doesn’t really have to do with withholding the data, but who you are communicating with, how you are going to go about giving that notice. It matters more about the characteristics of the community, its size, the way that you communicate people effectively, and not on the fact that I am holding the data, I am going to communicate with everybody exactly the same way. Depending on which principle you are talking about, that might be right or it might not be. Maybe it is more than just community characteristics, but it is not only the characteristics of the steward. DR. SCANLON: I think what you are saying is there is a set of principles, and they are universal. They need to be adhered to and their application varies, all kind of circumstances, data holder, community, some other external factor, et cetera. The principle, transparency is the principle. You just stick with a set of principles. DR. CARR: This gets back to my PowerPoint recommendation, we are at the end of this thing, we are proposing these 10 things. We are asking the Secretary to accept that these are the 10 things, and we are asking the Secretary to do research to further understand these things. If I could, what is it, this is a letter to the Secretary, and we are asking what? We have recommendations, but we are talking about a lot of things in the beginning that don’t follow through in the recommendations. I just want to take and tie what we are recommending. DR. COHEN: Are we recommending, should this last sentence be, this letter is to help HHS facilitate the stewardship of community health information? MS. KLOSS: Yes. DR. COHEN: So should that be the last statement, this letter is to help HHS? MR. SCANLON: Isn’t this guidance to communities as well? PARTICIPANT: Yes. MR. SCANLON: We don’t necessarily want to do something to them. DR. WALKER: I think that is a good point, and I would say there are two parts of one letter, or two letters. One is what are the responsibilities of data stewards, whoever they are. Then, another would be quite a different thing, as sort of what are the things a community should look for, almost a consumer’s guide to data stewardship, that is the flip side of that. Then, I think the two need to be very clearly distinguished. I think you are right, we need both. Both need to be provided, but if they are not clearly distinguished, it gets unclear who is being governed, who is doing the governing, whose responsibilities are. MS. BERSTEIN: Governing is too strong a word, right? We are not governing anyone. DR. WALKER: We use it a great deal in the letter. DR. FRANCIS: Could we take out facilitate the stewardship? What we are trying to do is lay out an affirmative framework, that we hope will facilitate, that will help HHS. Letters have different functions. Some letters say, Secretary, do X. Other letters can say, Secretary, here is an understanding of the territory, which we see some specific things that you might do. The most important thing is to understand that there is a territory here, and that is helpful. That is our goal in this letter. DR. MAYS: Can I just suggest that rather than health information, it is usually health data. The focus is really on the data. Information is a little too broad, I think. DR. FRANCIS: I would also take out local, because I think that is too narrowing, too. Where it says, although stewardship principles are universal, application of stewardship principles may vary. The communities whose efforts, because that is the point you want to make. MS. BERNSTEIN: I am having trouble with the switch from information to data for the following reason. I think of data as the raw material that we collect and manage, and that information is what we discern from it and what is reported out after. This is supposed to deal with the whole life cycle of what we do, what we collect, how we use data, how we manage it, and eventually, how it gets disseminated. At the point of dissemination, it is not data anymore. In some cases, it is really information. It is results and analysis and so forth. DR. CARR: I need to interrupt for a second. We have got some parallel processes going on here. This letter, clearly, you have done a tremendous amount of work. We are seeing it for the first time, and new themes are emerging. One question is, is it realistic to finish this in the allotted time. The second is that Ed Sondik is strongly encouraging us to do a field trip down to the NHANES trailers. We spend a lot of our time talking about surveys and data collection, and none of us, most of us have never seen it. The proposal on the table right now is to differ, and to give the members an opportunity to read this and set up a call, or some input onto this letter, and use the remaining time to tour the NHANES trail. I am just saying this is what was asked. I am going to ask for a vote of hands as to what we can do. This is the only time that we can do it, so go ahead, Leslie. DR. FRANCIS: All I wanted to say is that we have gone through the hard part. There is another probably five or 10 minutes of looking at it. We really have done the hard part. This is where all of the changes were. I, for one, would feel very sad if we’ve put all this amount of work and we are so close, and to have what feels like — MS. GREENBERG: Obviously the invitation to tour the MEC has to take a backseat to the work of the committee. My concern is, is that there are a lot, maybe we haven’t, you know, gone through the hard part. I think you guys have done a lot of work, but I look through this marked up, and there’s just a lot of changes. It is very hard to personally, I feel, I mean, maybe the committee’s is more agile than I am, there have been so many more comments now, just on these first few pages, and I don’t even think we have reached consensus. I am not even sure we have reached consensus on the purpose of the letter. I think the letter is very important. I think it is important for the committee to issue it. I don’t know that it is critical that it be issued at the end of this meeting. I particularly don’t want the committee to be doing this under such a time pressure, that then you have to go back and sort of revisit it. That is my concern, but I defer obviously to the members. MS. KLOSS: May I suggest though that even if we aren’t ready to approve it at this meeting, having everybody here wrestling with these issues is invaluable. We will lose that. MS. GREENBERG: I concur with that. MS. KLOSS: Then, who will be back here in November, because we have got some basic concepts. MS. GREENBERG: We may not be ready to take a vote. MS. KLOSS: Let us walk you through what changes, so that you can read it. DR. WALKER: I think it is unfair to the subcommittee as far as to not give them our full attention. I think it would be a mistake to send them off into a vacuum, and to work some more and have this happen again next time. I think we ought to take what time we need and get this done. MS. KLOSS: Definition. DR. WARREN: Are we still on this data information question that Maya was on? MS. BERNSTEIN: I said we will drop it. MS. KLOSS: In the takeaway here for me was that we need a little more discussion about this last sentence. This letter sets out a framework to do what? I mean, we really need to be crystal clear here, up front. As Leslie said, our goal was laying out the case why more work needs to be done on this, not laying out a definitive set of principles ready to be implemented. We hope that has come through. DR. FRANCIS: If anyone thinks that the purpose of facilitating and supporting effective stewardship is not what should be the focus, it would be great to tell us that. DR. WALKER: We might say this letter sets out principles for stewardship of health data, because I think we all agree that is what it does. DR. FRANCIS: It should be a framework in principles, not a framework in recommendations. That is great. DR. WALKER: Is it a framework? DR. MAYS: You had said something about two letters. I was just curious. DR. WALKER: I just following on what Jim said, that there are two communication tasks. One is to say to data stewards, this is the universal set of principles that apply to data stewards. There is another communication task that would say to communities, highly resourced and not very resourced at all, this is what you can expect when someone holds your information, so that it would be the same thing, just the obverse or whatever you call that. If we want this ecology to really work, part of what we need to do is enable communities, to make sure that we know what these principles are, and have a way to assess whether they are being followed in their case. The baby blood dots is a perfect example, where the community found out belatedly that those principles weren’t being observed. How do we help just make sure we do the other side of it? Often we kind of forget the last mile. MS. KLOSS: The early thinking was that the next step from this might be a revision of a stewardship primer, directed at the community. I think you are right. Are we ready to move to page three? Here, the major change was to delete references to HIPAA, and generalize that into just a discussion of current structures for data protection and ethical use, such as individual informed consent for identifiable data, de-identification. We tried to generalize that because the discussion yesterday was concerned that this was setting up these principles to be an addenda or an extension of HIPAA, and that wasn’t our intent at all. Once we read it, we didn’t really feel we would lose anything by just deleting that reference. Then, we go on to add one sentence, that is inserted. These approaches may not always be adequate or practicalable for community health data uses. Communities need good stewardship principles to use data to improve their DR. CARR: Just to clarify that thought, so in other words, there are times where community data is governed by informed consent or the common rule? DR. MAYS: I was just going to ask, maybe we can say these approaches may not be practicable for community health data usage. I like the not always be adequate out, because I get concerned that it makes the procedures that we use seem like, oh, they don’t protect me as much. We do a lot of work with the communities, to help them with some of that first part. If we could just drop, I don’t think we need it, we can just drop, may not be adequate. DR. CARR: Is it that it is practical or that it is relevant? MS. BERNSTEIN: Getting individual consent, for example, for a very large population is very hard to manage. In some cases, we go directly to records or we waive consent through an IRB, or we do other things. That is just an administrative problem, for example. DR. FRANCIS: We might want to change adequate to applicable. That would capture Justine’s point that sometimes they do apply. We are not denying that. MS. GREENBERG: The common rule includes waiving, or you have waiving, so you have covered it. DR. FITZMAURICE: I notice you have an example here of the common rule. Aren’t they more likely to be governed and be abiding by the HIPAA privacy rule, and maybe security rule, than they are the common rule? How many clinical trials do they face, but they are going to face a lot more uses, which will put them up against the — MS. BERNSTEIN: The common rule covers more than clinical trials, it covers all federal grants that involve human subjects, including surveys that are not. DR. FITZMAURICE: Don’t deny it. MS. BERNSTEIN: Many of these communities are not covered entities and most of them are not covered by the HIPAA privacy. DR. FITZMAURICE: How do they get protected health information if they are not covered entities? MS. BERNSTEIN: You don’t have to be a protected health information to receive the information. For example, a public health entity can receive information, as long as the covered entity is disclosing it properly under the HIPAA rule. Once it is disclosed, it is not covered. DR. FITZMAURICE: Agreed, so we are talking mostly about public health MR. SCANLON: To think in almost every case, the product will be de-indentified. We want it to be. DR. CARR: Communities have names of people who found to have certain diseases, identifiable in detail. DR. FITZMAURICE: It is strange to take out the reference to HIPAA, if you are talking about HIPAA de-identified data. MS. BERNSTEIN: We are not talking HIPAA de-identified data, and that is why we took it out. We didn’t want to connect the concept of de-identification specifically with the definition of the HIPAA rule. DR. FITZMAURICE: Their definition of de-indentification. MS. BERNSTEIN: De-identification existed before HIPAA existed. We used these kinds of things before HIPAA. HIPAA only covers specific kinds of coverage. DR. FITZMAURICE: I understand, I am just wondering what the definition of de-identified data is then, but let’s move on. MS. KLOSS: Page four, we emphasize in the first paragraph that communities differ in many ways, different governance structures, needs, values and successful stewardship much address these differences in a flexible manner. We just tweaked that paragraph. DR. COHEN: Again, it is not only the communities, it is the entities that hold the data. I think that needs to be added. DR. WALKER: Just as a general thing, I think we should use data stewards over and over and over again, to make it clear. That sentence, communities, researchers, data users, consumers, I take it that some of those are data stewards and some are not, but they are all in that sentence together. That is what I mean about just being crystal clear about who is being protected and who is being whatever, governed or whatever, to protect them. DR. FRANCIS: Just say guidance is needed for data stewards. DR. WALKER: I think what this sentence is saying is, and the purported beneficiaries of data stewards, the potential victims, too. That is what I mean, I think this idea that there are two fundamental groups, data stewards and the people for whom they hold the data, are two different groups. I think our position is one that needs to be protected, the other needs to be managed or something, some word like that. They are very different. It is confusing because some data stewards are the communities. One entity can be in both groups, but it is just everything we can do to keep those two groups separate, data stewards and whatever the other is, communities roughly DR. FRANCIS: Maybe just tuck in, after desired by, data stewards, comma, communities, researchers, data uses and consumers. We heard from all of those MS. BERNSTEIN: I thought it was trying to get at the comment that you were making before, that the principles that apply to data stewards also consumers or users or whatever, understand what can be expected. The guidance is beneficial to all of those different groups at different times. DR. WALKER: I think of it as car makers and car buyers. There is a framework that controls car makers. They have to have seatbelts and there are a bunch of things they have to do. The recipients of those protections, the consumers, have a different perspective. They need to be informed about their rights. If you don’t keep those two separate roles, separate, than when you read this, it just gets hard to tell whether we are talking about the consumers, just say it that way, or communities, or we are talking about the data stewards. MS. BERNSTEIN: I understand that. The way I look at that, with your metaphor, is if I am a consumer and I am aware that car manufacturers are required to put seatbelts, if I see a car without seatbelts, I am going to be worried. If I know what those rules are that apply, then that helps me to understand what is safe and appropriate for me, even though I am not the person who has to implement that. DR. WALKER: If it is a good safety regimen, I am allowed to be ignorant of that all that and still buy a safe car. MS. BERNSTEIN: I don’t think that we want communities to be ignorant of all DR. WALKER: I don’t think we want them to be ignorant, but it is not their Constitutional obligation to be educated, either. DR. MAYS: Since I think what we are doing is advisory, I just want to say that I think this notion of trying to see the letter. This is why I was asking about the two different letters. I think I am now coming to a different convergence, and that is trying to make this distinction. When I edited an earlier version of the letter, that is what I was really struggling with. I would see some things as if I were in role A, which would be I am the data steward, I should do it this way. If I am in the other role of being the person whose data is being used, I kind of felt like I had a little, there was a different nuance to that. To the extent possible, as the revisions are done, either having a reorganization where there is a separate section that talks about kind of each person’s responsibilities or what they have to gain, I would suggest that. Or to the extent possible, that we go through and make sure that those two things are separate. I am more worried about the community. I just don’t think the community has the same responsibilities as the data steward, and the data steward is where we really are trying to push for the change, then, for the community to be informed. MS. KLOSS: We will clarify that, because when we are using community, we are using it as data steward. We will be more deliberate in doing that, because we are addressing this to the organizations that came before the committee. And they said, here are all the wonderful things we are doing, but we are worried about trust of data. I think we can fix that. MR. SCANLON: It is directed at the sponsors of these community health data initiatives, maybe stewards who are probably the stewards, should be stewards. MS. KLOSS: Right. MR. SCANLON: They are clearly the sponsors. They may be stewards. MS. KLOSS: We will be very explicit in terms of who it is addressed to. MR. SCANLON: Just say community health data, because when we say community health initiatives, it takes care of this. DR. CARR: Just a question on the next sentence, the community recommends that HHS develop guidance on stewardship practices for use of, would this be community health data then that we are talking about? Is that the same recommendation that appears at the back? DR. FRANCIS: Justine, I think part of what we need to do is combine those last two sentences. The committee recommends that HHS should develop guiding principles and resources to enable data users and data subjects to understand the chain of trust required to be effective stewards. That captures both sides. It doesn’t look like we are making guidance documents, which is what we were trying to avoid. Develop guiding principles, take out the develop guidance, develop guiding principles and resources. Take out from develop principles and resources, okay, to enable. DR. CARR: We have incorporated here a starter set, I guess, that is missing in the recommendations. We also recommend that those principles address the following 10 things. That doesn’t make it through, I don’t think, to the recommendations. DR. COHEN: Can you explain to me the difference between the principles and the framework, or how they work together? I am just unclear on that. DR. CARR: I go back to the data definitions, who is the steward, what is the framework, what is the guiding principle. DR. COHEN: I see the principles, but I don’t see the framework. DR. CARR: Let’s hear from the authors, what is your concept of a framework, and Bruce or Judy, what is your concept of a framework? DR. FRANCIS: The reason I think that we use the idea of a framework was that we did not want to imply that this was a set of principles that are necessarily set in stone. They are a starting architecture that should frame the way we think about stewardship. There may well be other principles. I mean, these are principles that fall under a stewardship framework. DR. COHEN: I see those principles, but a framework implies a structure to me about how you integrate them, how you follow them, and how you apply them. I don’t see that framework in this letter, I just see the principles. DR. FRANCIS: We didn’t tell you we are doing the full framework. We said we are starting on one. DR. CARR: I think the word has different meanings to different people. We either need a data definition in the beginning to set expectations, or we need to stay away from framework. MS. KLOSS: We get a little closer to the framework, as you are describing it, Bruce, in the appendix, which does differentiate between individual responsibilities and community responsibilities. I think that we saw that that is where we needed to head. I will say up front that we did not take out some of the musts in the appendix yet, so that part is still needing to be tweaked. That clearly is moving in the direction of a framework. MS. GREENBERG: Our primer uses the word framework, doesn’t it? It is a stewardship framework? I don’t know if it uses framework or not. MS. MILAM: It is the way it used when you look at any other stewardship or privacy framework nationally, as well as internationally. You have principles making up the different components of your framework. DR. WARREN: The problem I have is all I see and hear are principles. I don’t see any components of a framework. If you are telling me the components of the framework are in the appendix, then my question is, why not put them in the letter. Your letter is a stewardship framework for the use of health data. If you put the development of the framework in the appendix, to me, that says it is not that good. DR. COHEN: I don’t see the table in appendix A as being actual framework. I just see it is a list of responsibilities for different parties, with respect to the principle. DR. FITZMAURICE: Suppose we just say stewardship principles for the use of community health data? DR. WARREN: Then, I think what you can do is at the end, say this is step one of developing a stewardship framework. That tees us up for the next big MS. BERNSTEIN: What else would be in that framework, that makes it a framework and not a set of principles? We have talked about how we really can’t place a governance structure, because the Indian communities, some have governance structures, some don’t. That was the point of this, is that the governance structure that is appropriate to the community or developed by the community is what they should use, right, which we say. DR. FRANCIS: That actually argues for just talking about principles here. I am fine. We will rewrite this so it talks about principles, not framework. DR. COHEN: Maya, you need to apply the principles in some kind of ordered fashion to have a framework, and that is what is missing. That is the distinction I would make. DR. WALKER: I think the consensus is that principles is a perfectly brilliant place to start. It is not a problem. MS. KLOSS: We aren’t ready for a framework, as you’re defining it. DR. WALKER: Can I ask another framing question, I am sorry. We say community data stewards, does this exclude other data stewards? We don’t mean to exclude other data stewards from this set of principles, right? I think the fact that, we have enunciated these principles in response to a community data steward request. That is different from implying somehow that this doesn’t touch other data stewards. Every time we say community health data steward, I am just thinking we ought to say health data steward, and that applies to everyone, communities and researchers and all of the others. MS. BERNSTEIN: I think we were just talking about stewards of community data, community data stewards and not community data stewards. I don’t think it was more than that. MS. KLOSS: I think we were being cautious to have this more specific and narrower audience in mind, but realizing at the same time that this set of principles are more universal. DR. WALKER: Then we ought to take the Texas Department of Health, because see the issue there is that this data steward betrayed these principles. Then, it is not relevant if we are really talking about. I would, by the way, say stewards of community data, then nobody could misinterpret it. MS. KLOSS: That is perfect. See, we couldn’t have done this over the telephone or on SharePoint. Let’s just take a few minutes now to sail through principles themselves, because we worked hard to take the musts and the prescriptive language out of this, and just lay them out as topics. Principle one, openness and transparency, there we moved what had been in three, which was the communications principle, we moved that into this one. MS. BERNSTEIN: We made more specific connection between the blood spots, which was having to do with outreach in particular and communication. MS. KLOSS: Number two, purpose specification and use limitation. You can give us feedback on the stuff within that, in the next iteration, but let’s make sure we have got the titles right. Three is gone, so a new three is involving communities in decision-making. DR. WARREN: I have a question on two. One of the things that we are learning about health data is that later on, with new knowledge and science, we may want to repurpose the use of the data. How is that handled, because you have got limitation? You have purpose specification and use limitation. We can say we can’t do. DR. FRANCIS: No, we just say you reevaluate it. That is what the second sentence says. MS. GREENBERG: I would still just say purpose specification and use, and then talk about it. That limitation right away is a red flag. MS. KLOSS: How about purpose and use specification? MS. GREENBERG: Yes, but I would take limitation out of the title. DR. FRANCIS: That actually comes from the original Fair Information Practice Principles statement. MS. BERNSTEIN: That would be a red flag on the other side, to people in the privacy community and other kinds of advocacy community, because that is sort of how it is stated. A basic principle of privacy is that information collected for one purpose should not be used for another purpose, without going back to the data subjects. Now, we do that in research sometimes, but that is by the reevaluation. DR. WALKER: I think what Maya is saying, if I understand it, is if we take it out of the title, that will be read as a message. I think that Maya is saying is from the privacy community’s standpoint, it won’t be seen as a good message. It will be seen as a betrayal of privacy. It is just something to be aware of. I am not saying we can’t do it. DR. FRANCIS: Actually in FIPS, typically purpose specification and use limitation are two separate FIPS. It wouldn’t look unusual to just have purpose specification. We do, in the body of this, say that if there are changes, that it should be reevaluated. That is not saying that you can’t do it, it is saying that you have to think about whether, as a good steward, this is a change. MS. GREENBERG: I think that is reasonable to say. MS. MILAM: At the same time, when you look at every other framework that is out there, and there are dozens, not having this, and as I think Maya said, it is usually a standalone principle. Not having it in its entirety will be a red flag to the privacy community. DR. CARR: The way I look at two and three is that today’s reality is we collect data, and now we make connections where that same data can inform, enhance, improve health. Even raising the question of, should we go back to the others, I don’t see how we can go back to the original people and now say, oh, we now discovered something else. I think it ties more into involving the community. There you say, this data now can answer that question, and how do we engage the community around that repurposing of that data. MS. BERNSTEIN: That is going back to the people. That is one way to go back. DR. CARR: I guess I read this as if you have to go back and talk to the original people who were in that cohort, to get their opinion. They may have been long gone. DR. FRANCIS: We don’t intend to have it be read that way. What we do intend, one way that, I will just speak personally, that I see as deeply problematic from the point of view of public health, is that there has been a lot of insistence on going back. Part of the whole point of some of the earlier framework stuff is that this is not a good model, the one you just described, for many public health circumstances. That doesn’t mean anything goes, so that is why we wanted to say reevaluate under these stewardship principles. Maybe the best way to do it would be to say specification of purposes and uses. DR. CARR: Maybe what needs to be explicit is in this new world, data will be repurposed. Maybe that is the message that people need to get when the data is used, and not the expectation that it will never be used. I think it is all being reused, that broadens the purpose. MS. BERNSTEIN: This doesn’t say it will never be reused. This says, if you make a significant change, you have to reevaluate how to do that. That is all this says, but you don’t want to get into the Havasupai case, right, where you have got something, where you collected information for one purpose, used it for something completely different, and you have got a lawsuit on your hands because the researchers went off on some track that the community completely didn’t expect, and objects to. DR. CARR: I guess researchers are guided by their IRB common rule, whatever that kind of stuff. I had thought we were talking about the kind of public census information that was used to define a community. Now, we can take it and marry it up with something else, and tell a new story. When I gave census information, I thought they just wanted to know how many people lived in my house. Now, I find that it is being repurposed for some other thing. That is what I think we are talking about. Anything that is guided by a consent, an IRB, privacy research, that has a whole separate set of rules. I think maybe that is where we are getting confused, for me. MR. BERNSTEIN: Also, things that are also in the original consent form may be more narrow than future uses. I think this is Judy’s point that, in the future, someone may look at the data and go, you know, I can tell a different story with this data that the original consent form did not anticipate. Now, what do I do? Even if I had an IRB at the time, I mean, we may not. DR. CARR: These are two separate tracts, and I think trying to create a middle ground is what is making it difficult. Anything covered by consent needs a separate thing. Data that is in the public domain, maybe collected, you have a heel stick because you wanted to know if my child had homocystinuria. I don’t even know if that is the right answer, but things that are in the public domain already, that have been repurposed, I think people should know when data is collected about them in the public domain, it likely will be repurposed. That is all of what we are talking about today, of matching stuff MR. SCANLON: I think this is really sort of getting at the crux of this, plus who exactly does this. We are mixing up publically available data that is identified and often statistical, that is meant to be used for the vital statistics rates, the infant mortality rates. Who cares how many people use it over and over again for counties or cities? That is meant to be an indicator. We are not revealing anything about individuals or causes of death, it is a statistical indicator. The whole other area, where you have done community research, you may or may not involve HIPAA, it could be re-identified, or its publication would result in harm to the community. Those are things that are almost a different set of guidance for the data developers, I would think. Mixing them together, I think you are scaring people here with a level of governance and regulatory framework, even though we are not saying it, it is publically available data. MS. BERNSTEIN: There’s no governance here, there’s no regulatory framework, and these principles apply to both what you are just talking to. MR. SCANLON: You have to make this distinction or no one will know what to DR. WALKER: I wonder, it sounds to me like what we are talking about is something like accountable reuse. If you are going to reuse data, there is an expectation that you justify that to yourself, to others, in some kind of way, to be specified further, and maybe undoubtedly situation specific. It is accountable reuse, and something like that, I think, is what we are trying to Yes, information will be reused. Some of it was even designed to be reused. Whatever the case is, when you do that, there should be a set of questions you ask and answer, and record publically probably, that prevent the public feeling blindsided, communities feeling like it has to sue. DR. COHEN: This discussion just needs to be expanded. DR. CARR: I want to hear from Glen and then Vickie and then Bruce. DR. NICHOLS: Just very briefly, thank you, I just wanted to have everybody go back and read this sentence. It just says stewards also need guidance about when types of data might be considered. It is just saying be mindful of it and that we ought to develop standards to govern the reuse. There is nothing, I mean, I am as nervous about having avenues to research cut off as anybody. I don’t think that is what is happening here. I think what is happening is a recommendation that we actually think about what it means to design a principle around which reuse would occur. I think that is all they are saying. DR. CARR: It is the first sentence, the purpose of data collection and use should be explicit. Today, I am explicitly collecting these data for X, Y, Z. What do I do tomorrow? DR. NICHOLS: It is saying we should develop guidance. It is not saying you can’t do it. It is saying we need to think about how to govern that situation. DR. CARR: I am saying that there is certain data, by definition, is for reuse, and that is what we need to say. DR. NICHOLS: That would be part of the guidance, I think. MR. BERNSTEIN: That is an explicit purpose you can specify up front, if you know up front. This is a question of what happens when you don’t know up front. How do you deal with that situation, because if you know up front, Justine, you can give that notice. DR. FRANCIS: Then, actually what it is trying to say is, when you have the new purpose, you should state it. You should think about, not that you are limited, but you should think about under these principles whether the due use is okay. That is all it is saying. If we are not clear about that, that’s an DR. CARR: Vickie and then Bruce and then Marjorie. DR. MAYS: If these sentences stay, the purpose of the data one, the significant changes, then there needs to be at an earlier place in the document, a longer discussion about these different types of data and I am going to tell you why. When you say significant changes from the original purpose should be reevaluated and the principles of community health data stewardship, the person in the community is not going to understand the different between my NIH grant, in which I had an IRB that had community members on it, that allowed me to have brought a different use later in my Then, I can see I will be out of the meeting and they will say, then, we have to do these principles of community health data stewardship. It is like, no, we already had consent to do what we did. It feels like then that, on the subject of, I did something that wasn’t honest or something. There are too many different types of data, and I think the notion of what we are really about to experience, which is what I think we want to deal with, it is almost like our group that is coming later actually is going to start trying to figure out ways to connect all kinds of data together, to give it to the community. It is going to be repurposed, beyond what I think any of us are sitting here imagining. We want to be ahead of the curve. I think you actually will do an incredible contribution to help the community understand the notion of repurposing, and how then technology, as well as the departments like open use and trying to facilitate use of the data more, for them to think about those things would be great. I mean, it would be exciting to the community, I think, to hear it that way. This way, there is another side that, unless we tell them, well, you were given the chance. We did tell you that we would come back and do this. I think we are at a place where we can make an incredible contribution, that would be great for the community. DR. FRANCIS: Could I just ask a question, because this could be written in a way that says, with research data, we have the following regime that applies. With data originally collected for public health, we don’t have this regime that applies. There are still questions about repurposing. There are also questions about repurposing research data. They look just different in different contexts. We could write that. It is at least three paragraphs to write, and the letter is really long if we do that. I guess one of the things we were trying to do was cut a balance between length and raising the questions. If having it be this short is seriously misleading, then we cut the balance the wrong way. I just want to raise that for reactions, because at least my sense is that in order to be responsive to a lot of the kinds of comments, this is going to have to be a longer letter. DR. WALKER: Vickie, I would have thought that when you are in that public meeting, you just would have said, this is the original purpose that this information was collected for, and here is the process we went through. It is probably a teachable moment for you. I would have thought the first sentence here would have taken care of that, because what you are talking about is not reuse, it is just someone misinterpreting your original specified carefully-worked out use, as reuse. You just need to explain to them, no, the reason this data was collected was for this exact purpose. DR. CARR: I do have Bruce and Marjorie. DR. COHEN: A couple of things. I think you are correct. I think in your attempt to be parsimonious in your words, you lost the richness of the context. Some of these basic declarative statements need more context, so everybody reads them and understands them the same way. That is what is I happening. It is clear to you what you meant when you wrote them, but it is not clear to the reader. I think the letter needs to be longer, to explain some of these things. That is my first point. My second point is, you say stewards also need guidance. Guidance from whom? Is the intent there from the community, from some other body? I don’t know who is going to provide stewards guidance. Again, that is another example of your attempt to be discreet, but it raises more issues than it clarifies. MS. KLOSS: It does relate back to the discussion of where this came from, from the testimony of the communities, that indicated a need for guidance. We were referencing that back. DR. COHEN: The intent here is that HHS is going to provide that guidance to stewards? DR. FRANCIS: Or facilitate someone else doing it. DR. COHEN: Okay, whatever the answer is, it just needs to be here, because it raises more questions to me not knowing who is going to provide that guidance. MS. GREENBERG: This has been a very interesting and rich discussion. I think there is no doubt that there is need for something like this. There also is no doubt that some additional work, I think, needs to be done by the committee before we can ask anyone else to do additional work, like the department or someone else. I think what you said about needing context is obvious. I loved the letter when I read it the first time because it was clear, it was crisp, it wasn’t bogged down. All right, maybe lack of context, too. I think where you suggested a few times, Linda, that really what this might be leading to is an updating of the stewardship document, the primer, which could really spell out these different types of data, different types of uses, different types of issues, either in several appendices or something else. I think that that is probably what is really needed. Whether the committee has the bandwidth to do it, we have already started it, so maybe you do, at least to take it to a certain I just want to challenge the concept that data will always be reused, you just have to be clear about that. I think there are cases where certain repurposing is inappropriate, and as Maya said, could get you in a lot of trouble if you have not gotten either, whether it was informed consent or the waiver, or whatever understanding under which you collected the data, really doesn’t permit that. I don’t think we want to go on record saying, we just want to be clear that that is going to happen. It shouldn’t happen sometimes without either going back to the IRB, going back to the individuals, doing something. Exactly what, it depends on the circumstances. This is maybe kind of a wordsmithing, except that I think when you are talking about number two, I would rather you said the purposes and uses should be explicit or should be clear. It isn’t always, you don’t have to only have one purpose of data collection or one use. It is just that, if you have multiple purposes, you should make it clear. It is like you said, if purposes are allowed, I mean, we collect some data through HANES where we tell people, this is the way it is going to be used. It might be used in these other ways, too. The point is that you have to really be transparent and open. I think these nuances need to be, if not in this document, in that updating of the primer. I agree with Vickie that it will be very useful. It obviously needs some additional work. Now, the question is whether that is where you want to go next, or whether you want to start with this letter and say that you are going to do that, and then that would be your next product, one or the other. DR. CARR: If I refer to our agenda, we are actually at the juncture where we say summary steps and future directions. I think that is a good way for us to wrap up this conversation, this very rich discussion, and then also we turn to the discussion we had from 8:00 to 10:00 this morning, and decide on next steps. Larry, I am looking to you a little bit, to put your perspective and how you would like to see next steps, because you will be sitting here. MS. BERNSTEIN: Before we move on, I could just ask that we wrap up this letter by asking members of the committee, if they have further comments, one of the comments was that we hadn’t seen the letter, that we continue to work on this, that they really make an effort to read it carefully and make comments, send them to myself. MS. GREENBERG: You want to make changes to it, based on this discussion, before? DR. FRANCIS: We will make changes and send a new version around. A couple of things, before I do that, I really want to be sure of, which is that it is okay to do a letter because earlier on, we actually asked this question, whether it should be a letter or a primer, and we got the sense of the committee that it should be a letter first, so we wrote a letter. It should be understood that we are going to start with a letter. If people really think we should start with a primer, we should know that. The second thing really early on is that it will be longer because it is going to need to give context. If anybody has any trouble with that, we ought to know that now, too. DR. CARR: I think the whole discussion of letter, primer, length is secondary to what is it that you want. What is the ask, what is going to move this forward? If there are things we need from the Secretary, we want to articulate them and move that forward. If there isn’t an ask, it is a reflection on what we heard, then it shouldn’t be a letter. I don’t want to get locked in stone. I think the dialogue has been very rich, and I think the sensitivity about the importance of this type of document has helped us be very meticulous in saying what we mean. As difficult as it is to kind of hammer through this, this is really when we do our best work. I think it is because this deliberative group, community, committee really does deliberate, because no one else will. If it feels hard, it is because it is hard. Every contribution to this is making this sharper and more helpful. Take it as an affirmation we are on the right track, and it should be a letter if there is an ask. DR. FRANCIS: That is something I have never understood because couldn’t a letter inform the Secretary? In order to take the form of a letter, does a letter have to say, Secretary, we need you to do A, B and C? MS. KLOSS: I think there is an ask here that isn’t something that we need a new taskforce for or something like that. It is an ask that underscores the dynamic of what is going on in community health daily use, and raises this as an issue that needs attention. I think there are a lot of different ways that can be carried out by the Secretary, through new thoughtful provisions perhaps in granting and other varied ways. I think that we were seeing this as thinking that needs to permeate a lot of things, not being one single sort of project to be done. MS. GREENBERG: Let me just say that that kind of letter, the committee has done that in other cases. This is where we are in thinking about this issue. I remember with the PRMI standards. Then, it gets it out to the broader community, the health industry, the communities, whatever, at large, too, so there are some opportunity, if it works right, for people within the department, outside of the department, et cetera, to communicate back to the committee and say, we think this is going in the wrong direction and this is going in the right direction, whatever. I think there are purposes for letters that go beyond adopt this standard for this transaction. MR. SCANLON: The purpose here is to inform, somewhat persuade. If the committee said, we have become aware of this, this represents what we heard in our thinking to date, we will continue to look at ways of approaching this. I don’t think we have something that HHS can do much with at the moment, other than do that. Even explaining it to our data holders, I am not sure they would I think you have identified an issue that is an emerging issue, and I think the letter should be an informing letter, and say you are doing it and you are looking into it and so on. DR. TANG: Maybe I might summarize it a little bit, in terms of the ask. We are pointing out a need for universal protection. Because it is universal, that is the federal government kind of responsibility. The suggestion or ask for the Secretary is it would be wonderful if we had uniform guidance about how to be a good steward of community health data. That is voluntary at this point. If it is widely abused, then it should be mandatory. It is still front and center. When it is privacy, it would be wonderful, we could do things voluntarily. Because we are state-based, we would like to have some uniformity. They ask us for uniform guidance, that could address that thing which really is a universal right of citizens in this DR. CARR: Also, we would like to seek input from the working group on data access and use this afternoon. I don’t know if we will have an update on the letter, or at least maybe we will take a look at the ten principles and provide you their feedback, as well. The plan will be that we work what we have, circulate it to the full committee with the timeline for their feedback, incorporate that. Then, it will go to the executive subcommittee in preparation for the November meeting. DR. MAYS: Can I just ask for clarity, because I hear two different things? There is going to be an ask in it or not an ask. Maybe at the very beginning, tell us that, so that as we read it, we will know what we need to help with. DR. CARR: I think that will be helpful, because there are rich things in there, and I think that just calling them out, deciding on the ask is good. DR. FRANCIS: Jim put the point of the letter, I thought, very well. DR. CARR: That brings us to our third theme. That reminds me, there may be a little more work to do to tighten up the document that we discussed yesterday, which was actually just the minutes of our meeting. At some point, I think we may want to revisit that document, and perhaps seek input on that, in terms of our guiding principles and our work. MS. GREENBERG: Were you thinking of revising? People do it all the time, I was going to say we don’t want to rewrite history. History is in the view of the writer obviously or the historian. There is one thing that just documents what the executive subcommittee discussed. At the same time, I think there was some useful and good input yesterday. You just have to decide how you want to DR. CARR: Kind of having it, I think someone said it yesterday, Jim said it, dynamic document, because it is a moment in time. The principles are things that we have learned along the way, we may revise, et cetera, and the focus. MS. GREENBERG: We can even just introduce them as a summary, as modified by discussion with the full committee, so we have a single document. Agenda Item: NCVHS – Summary Steps and Future DR. CARR: All right. Then, that brings us back to our discussion from 8:00 this morning. Then, Larry, I will turn it to you, in terms of how you would like to see next steps on that work. DR. GREEN: First of all, Sally and Paul and I all want to thank you for coming to the 8:00 a.m. discussion. I think our first next step is we get a nice summary of that discussion, sculpted toward a conceptual framework and also narrowing that framework down to some focus particular work. I think the next step is a written document that allows us to say, yes, it is the same meeting I went to. I think the second step is we need clarification of the federal players that are relevant to care about and involved in this theme, what we were talking about. To make that specific, I studied the minutes from last time, and we heard from the ONC about issues that are pertinent to this. We heard about the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. There is the new workgroup and I will be engaged in the workgroup in this area. Brian Civic is the new CTO for HHS. This is extremely pertinent to his charge and his work. We have the CNS Office of Information Products and Data Analysis, that is pertinent. It goes on, and I am frankly befuddled by all of that. We need some clarification, I think, probably from Jim and Marjorie. When we start chewing on this theme, these are the folks that have to come along. I am sure our liaisons can help us with that, too. MS. GREENBERG: In fact, in that regard, I just wanted to mention that Seth Foldy, he had a two-year appointment at CDC, and his two years have ended. He has gone back to I don’t know if it will be the private or the public sector, maybe both. He obviously will no longer be the CDC liaison, although he was working to get a new one. I think first of all, I would like to propose that we write him a letter, thanking him for his liaison function during the time that he was liaison to the committee. Also, that this project or this theme is the one that I think we could use the most help from CDC, to say as we discussed this morning. This is an area that they work in and have done work and are very involved with, so that we could actually rather than just asking for a liaison, we could ask for a liaison particularly who could maybe help support and bring CDC expertise to this project, and help define it for that matter. DR. GREEN: A key thing that I have heard mentioned at least four or five times in the conversations is we want to not do something redundant. We want to step into a space that needs to be stepped into, and where we are positioned to be the right group to be doing it. It seems to me, as part of the next step, we had better get clear about that, so that a year from now, we don’t have a discussion saying, why the heck did we get here. MR. SCANLON: I was at a meeting the other day where everyone talked about being agile and lean, and not necessarily have a biblical outline before we start a project. Basically, take it step-by-step. Here, I think we need a fair amount of exploration before we know what it is. I am wondering if we should start with some facts like what exactly does CDC have in the nature of community, health information, products and services, and maybe CMS and others, just so we have a better sense. I think there may be organizations, I think the folks know, that do this, as well. There is the whole community health indicators project that we were doing. I don’t know. It is probably maybe a subcommittee hearing or just a meeting. I just think that we haven’t really don’t a good environmental scan. You are exactly right, Larry, and I don’t want to commit to some specific report when it probably was true that someone else had a lot better. DR. GREEN: Staying pretty operational, I think the co-chairs of the executive subcommittee are going to have to work with Marjorie to have a manager approach for ourselves. Now that we have got the three themes consolidated, and we have a new workgroup and we are about to be 18, and we are going to suddenly have people sitting around the table, have no idea what the heck we are talking about. I am thinking that the next step is to do as much preparation as we can in orienting them, so that we do our best to put them in a position where they can start being effective now, rather than two years from now. I am going to hang myself again. You don’t often have opportunities to hang yourself in public twice for the same crime. The last meeting we said, we want one of the Susans. It appears to me that we have lost one of the Susans, I don’t want to lose the other one. Susan Queen is working with another group, so for our theme, we want the other Susan. The point here is that, I bet we have got unanimous opinion. We are putting pressure on our staff. We cannot pursue this community as a learning health system them. After the conversation I just heard, I am pretty sure that to be successful, we are going to have to really tighten up our staffing, and people assess the implications for that. Right now, at the most, the publication subcommittee has no lead staff. The next step is resolving that, there has got to be lead staff here, I think. I want to invite both Sally and Paul to add other next steps. I have one personal one, and this one I am going to go off the ranch from reporting about communities learning health system theme, and pretend that I am about to become the chairman of the whole committee. These are work assignments for you guys. Pretend you are in fifth grade and I am your teacher. This is a homework assignment, okay? Think about it that way. Read before you get here, read it all. I am absolutely convinced from the conversations I have heard last night over dinner and here this morning, that some of us arrive here not knowing really what has already been done. We haven’t digested it, and we learn about it as we go. That slows us down. In the instance of the communities learning health system, please read our report, from cover to cover. If you can spare a little more time, read the appendix, because so many of the issues that come rolling out on the table, they are already there. They have been debated by those whose shoulders we are standing on, they have been expressed. Then, if you read it and you say, this is wrong, bring it to the table immediately, please. Consider that a homework assignment. The second one, if you have never read anything from or about the Folsom report in 1967, go online and track something down about that, to the point that you can come back next time and know what a community solution is. What is a community solution? It was the key idea, produced by the American Public Health Association in the 1960s, after doing a bucket load of work. Once we do that, I think it will provide us with some common understanding where we won’t have to have some of the discussions that we seem to have to have right now. Thirdly, would you take about 10 to 15 minutes, and go on the web and Google NIH community engagement. There is six years of work funded by the CTSAs in 60 locations in the country that have various levels of community engagement stuff that often say what I have heard you say maybe five times this morning. It seems to me that we could build a common understanding of where the country is around this community engagement stuff, and why this letter from the privacy committee is so important. I am going to end with this. The discussion so far, Justine has reminded me of two things. One is that Obama video, after he was elected, but before he was in office and the economy collapsed. Our first thought was, can we get a recount? After that discussion, I wonder if I can reconsider. DR. CARR: I want to then take it back. We talked about this letter and standards. Walter, you updated us, was there anything more in the work on standards? DR. GREEN: Before you say that, can I say one more thing and then go to Walter and then I will quit. I will be done, I won’t have to do anything else. The other thing is I had this quick exchange with Matt at the break. He was telling me about a sergeant that he had a discussion with, about how they could put a nuclear weapon on a shell in a Howitzer and shoot it off to distances as far as 28 miles away. They developed a work plan for that. It was going to be all right because they are going to wear special suits. Where we are with this theme of the communities of learning health system is that everything has changed, except the way we think about it. That is why we have got hard, difficult discussions to have, because the committee’s role and position for these communities of learning health system, is to step into this space where there is a missing infrastructure. They don’t even know what a data steward is. There is no place for the data steward to live. There is no one that will pay the data steward. This is a momentous shift. What is happening at a community level around the country, the change is unleashed and it is rolling right along like crazy. There is urgency for this framework that this committee is calling out for. There is going to be trouble here. There is already trouble here. You want to predict that because it is already here. We have serious work to do on this. I want to ask each of you, as members of the committee, to do two things. One is, help me help you. I am going to shift roles after this meeting. My number one job here is to help you get these themes explored. You can help me by doing your homework assignments, coming prepared. I am going to get Justine to write down and send me that list of things she blurted out really fast. We may pass that out every meeting, we may pass it out in the middle of every meeting. I am going to try to become a manager of the process. This is, I know, basically impossible. Please, I would ask you to just see me that way. I want you to know that I need your help to manage this group. Secondly, I want you to know the following. I have come to admire each of you. Because of that, I am really quite confident. I can hardly wait to meet our new members, because I don’t know them all. It is a great group, and never, ever think that I don’t have respect for you. Never think that what you have to say won’t matter to me. It does, it has and it will. When you see me get frustrated, I will be frustrated because we seem to be inextricably stalled, going around in circles, making the same points again. I will try to unstick us. If I unstick us in a way that offends you, you will tell me and I will try to do damage repair and that sort of stuff. I will quit being a strong advocate for the communities of learning health system in 30 seconds. I will become a strong advocate for this committee, making progress in all three themes. You will have to help me, and know that is my intense desire. I will do my homework, you do yours. DR. CARR: Walter, was there anything you wanted to add? DR. SUAREZ: Why do I get to follow all of these difficult? Just to build up on what you just said, Larry, I think standards is a reflection of a lot of the things that are happening in the market. It needs to be and it needs to support what is happening in the market. As Larry said, a lot of things are changing and a lot of the things that we focus on in the standards world are changing significantly. The administrative transactions of the past are now being looked upon and saying, are they still the right ones. In light of all of the transformation of the health care system, the experience, should we be looking at that. Since a lot of things are changing, and we haven’t changed the way we think about them, I think that is what we, in the standards community, are going to begin to do, is change the way we think about things, based on the changes that we see are going to happen. We are already talking about, for example, how we were asked to identify standards for attachments. The word attachments and the word claim attachments are probably a relic of this old view of how health care is being done. We are not thinking or going to begin to not think about that, that way, but more the importance of the need for information exchanges that are happening already, that are going to expand and are going to expand not just between providers, but in the content of the exchange itself and the substance. Our task, I think, into the future, and we already started talking about it at the standards committee, is to really charter our course with that in mind, the changes that are coming into the future, how we need to really transform the way we see those, and how we need to think about the changes and the standards that need to support those transformations. MS. GREENBERG: I want to just ask regarding the third theme. This morning, at least I came to the thinking that, our discussion this morning was very much around both the first theme and the third themes. We kept talking about convergence, we talked about all. My original suggestion that we spend maybe a half a day on the 15th or whatever, trying to address that third theme, now I am thinking that it would be different, more theme one than theme We could try to do some work with the chair and the relevant subcommittee chairs, et cetera, with Susan Kinon, to look at past work, look at related work, a short sort of environmental scan, prior to that meeting. Is that something that you are interested that we would at least poll for, to see how many people could stay over for a half day on the 15th? Or maybe we reorganize the two days that we have. We still would want to, I think, have a half day for the working group, right? DR. CARR: I really think the 8:00 to 10:00 timeframe today was terrific. I would frame it as committee time, working on these themes. It is not populations, it is not quality standards, it is everyone. I think continuing to create, within the time we are here, to work on those things. That is one part I think the other thing, a little bit of housekeeping, we need to identify who is on the executive subcommittee, because we have got co-chairs that become chairs, we have chairs that have become. You may want to do that offline. MS. GREENBERG: We are in this transition period, but I think Sally and Larry, who are the co-chairs of population, except now in five hours or something, Larry will be the chair of the full committee. He can’t be the co-chair of that. They have asked someone else to serve as the co-chair. Did you want to mention that? MS. MILAM: I would like to let everyone know that Bruce Cohen will be the new co-chair of population health with me, and I am really excited to work with MS. GREENBERG: We have Paul, who is at least two people. At the same time, I think this is part of what the executive subcommittees. Obviously, Paul is on the executive subcommittee, Bruce, Larry, Sally and Ob and Walter, and Leslie and Linda, so I think that continues. I think we will need to have a call of that group. I think that is clear. What we will have to discuss is, it is very possible that one of the new members would be a good co-chair for quality, except if quality is not going to have a separate agenda. That needs to be discussed. Obviously, at this point, we are not prepared to name a new co-chair, I assume, of quality. I would suggest a call of the executive subcommittee as soon as possible. What I would hope is it could be in the next two weeks, because then I am going to be going on some international travel, and we come back and there is a meeting. We will poll for that, and with Susan, who will be involved, as well. DR. SUAREZ: One quick object from the standards committee I forgot to mention. During the standards subcommittee meeting, we actually talked about, well, we are going to be having conference calls monthly, but convening a half day hearing on the 15th. We thought the day before, that is Monday the 12th, which is a holiday. The 15th is the day that we were targeting for. MS. GREENBERG: That is why the executive subcommittee needs to have a call, as I said, in the next two weeks. Talk about the November meeting, talk about the 15th, maybe you want to use a half day, and this other activity be the other half day, or how we are going to structure. I think right now, as I understand it, we have one action item for the November meeting, and that is a letter, the stewardship letter, yes. Do we have any other action items? If not, we can move as much of the full committee meeting as possible for some of this continuation of this morning, et cetera. Maybe then just seed the half day to you all. I would like to have that call, so that we can all agree on that. DR. SUAREZ: The other one that we already started to plan is in February. It is not too early to do it. In February, we will need also at least a half day, if not a full day, hearing before the committee meeting. I think it is Wednesday, February 27. DR. CARR: Let’s take it offline, because I realize we have 30 minutes for lunch, and we have our speakers are calling in at 1:00. We really do need to be here in place, ready to listen at 1:00. A F T E R N O O N S E S S I O N Agenda Item: De-identification methods for Open House data DR. CARR: Welcome to the afternoon session of NCVHS. Do we have our speakers on the line? MS. GREENBERG: Do we have Jonathan and Khaled on the phone? We are just reconvening here from lunch. DR. CARR: Well, let’s bring this meeting to order. Thank you very much to our speakers, Jonathan Gluck and Khaled El Aman. We are very grateful for you making yourself available to us, on the topic of de-identification methods for open health data. As you know, we have a working group now of the NCVHS that is focused on data access and use. This is a topic of particular interest to that group, as well as to the NCVHS in an ongoing fashion, going back to our report on secondary uses in four or five years ago. I will open it up to you. Do we have slides or is there anything we need to follow this presentation? MR. GLUCK: The first half of the presentation, there are no slides. For the second half, which is Khaled’s, Khaled does have some slides. DR. CARR: We will open it to you, Jonathon, thank you. MR. GLUCK: Good afternoon. My name is Jonathon Gluck and I am a counselor for Heritage Provider Network. I also do other special projects for Heritage, such as manage the Heritage Health Prize. Initially, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today. I apologize for having to do this over the phone, but I just simply couldn’t get away for two days. I think it is important to start off by giving you some background into who we are, why we created the prize, and describe how the privacy issues drove many of the decisions we made about the structure of the prize. Khaled will get into a more detailed discussion of the de-identification methods that were used. I think it is very important to understand the business decisions behind the prize, and how they were impacted by the privacy issues. To start with the brief description about Heritage Provider Network, Heritage is a fully integrated physician’s network that was founded by Dr. Richard Merkin about 30 years ago. Heritage is spread throughout Southern California, from San Luis Obispo to the north and to the west, to San Diego in the south, Bakersfield and Palm Springs in the east. In Southern California, we have approximately 35 physical clinic locations, which range from 100,000 square foot, almost mini hospitals, to small offices that might only have 10 doctors. We employ approximately 400 doctors at these locations, and then contract with an additional 3000 primary care doctors, 30,000 specialists and 100 hospitals to provide care to the members. In the industry, we are kind of what’s known as the clinical model with the wraparound IPA. We also have operations in Arizona, as well as the five boroughs and Long Island and New York. We have approximately 700,000 members for whom we care. Heritage is a full-risk, fully capitated medical group. By full capitated I mean that we are fully at risk for both professional and hospital claims. As a full-risk group in California, we have a limited Knox-Keene license, which is the license required by the state to take hospital risk. It has far more stringent and tangible equity requirements, reserve requirements. For an average medical group, because the state wants to make sure that the licensee has the wherewithal to pay expensive hospital claims. Because we are at risk for those hospital claims, controlling hospital costs and reducing unnecessary utilization of the hospital is critical. To that end, we have lots of programs which aim to reduce hospitalization. We have, for example, chronic disease case management, where we risk stratify our population to provide them different case management techniques, depending on the severity and type of the illness. Programs for diabetics, COPD and CHF patients. We have pharmacists that will go to the home to do medication, reconciliation, post-discharge, home-visiting doctors that will visit a patient who can’t get out of the house to get to the doctor, because we know that the alternative may be to dial 911. We want to prevent that unnecessary hospitalization. It can be prevented simply by a doctor going to the house. Then, we have 24/7, 365 nurse/doctor hotlines the patients can call, all in an effort to prevent hospitalization. In addition to these programs, we wanted to see what we were missing and what other component could we create that might add to what we are already doing, and specifically to do something through the use of data that would allow us to find new ways to attack this ongoing problem of unnecessary utilization of the hospital. Dr. Merkin, who is the founder of our group, is also on the board of X Prize. You are probably familiar with X Prize, they are the ones who created the Ansari X Prize which awarded $10 million to the first group that sent an individual 100 miles into space and returned them safely to earth. We wanted to do a prize that involved health care. Dr. Merkin is a mathematician by training, and for a long time has believed that the use of data in health care has lagged somewhat behind some of the other industries, such as the tech industry and possibly the finance hedge fund industry. We also wanted, through the use of a prize, to open up what we considered to be some of the best young minds in the country, to the possibilities that would exist in the health care field, that they may not realize. Typically, when we speak to these types of individuals, when I have spoken about the prize at Strata Conference or elsewhere, these individuals are really thinking about tech or finance or some other industries, and don’t really think about healthcare. We wanted to use the prize to kind of open them up to the possibilities in health care. We began discussing a prize to predict hospitalization, which we believe would solve a real world problem, and do so through the use of readily available data. Now, the goal behind predicting hospitalization is simple. We know that unnecessary hospital utilization in the United States is a $40 billion a year problem. We also know that you are not going to be able to prevent every hospitalization, nor should you. We also know that among hospital visits, there will be many that can be prevented through the use of preventive care measures. Indeed, many of the types of measures we have used for a long time. We wanted to do a better job of identifying those members, who would benefit from the preventive measures. We began discussing the creation of a data prize to find these individuals, and predict these individuals who would benefit from the care protocols. When we discussed the prize, there were really two critical components that stood out above everything else. Number one, we wanted to make sure that the prize was real world usable and it had real world results. We do a lot of analytics work today, just as does most of the other larger health care companies. We attempt to use the data to risk stratify the population, to decide who would benefit from which care management protocols. This work, however, relies largely on physicians, using their years of experience to place the patients in the risk bands I discussed. We wanted to make sure that the winning algorithm would do a better job than simply the human beings that had previously been working on the problem, or would add additional knowledge that could then be used in the real world to give us better results. The second, and I must say equally as critical a component as we were discussing this, was the need to make sure that the data was de-identified. First, we obviously had to be HIPAA-compliant. I mean, that was a no-brainer, it goes without saying. This obviously had to be HIPAA-compliant. On a more mundane level, we could not take the risk that the data would be re-identified. This was one of the first times that such a large and detailed data set had been made available, generally online. As a for-profit business, even if the data was HIPAA-compliant, re-identification of the data would have been a public relations nightmare. That de-identification privacy issue was in our minds just as much as the real world usability issue was. We quickly realized that doing the de-identification in-house was going to be challenging, to say the least. We are obviously HIPAA complaint, but we are not data de-identification experts. We asked around and quickly were led to Khaled, who came on-board to do the de-identification process on our data. Now, as a full-risk medical group, we have claims data, encounter data, pharmacy data and lab data on our patient population. The original intent was to provide the competitors in the prize with the full data set, each of those components, to each of the competitors. We knew, in speaking with people who have run these types of prizes a number of times, the richer the data set you can provide, the better solution you are going to get. The more information you have to pull out, the weaker the solution is going to be. However, after discussing with Khaled, it quickly became apparent that we were not going to be able to provide all of the data we had wanted to provide, without running into two greater risks for re-identification. Khaled is going to discuss the details and specifics as to what we had to pull back and why. We had to make a number of revisions to what we intended to release, to ensure that the data remained de-identified. This did not allow us to provide as rich a data set as we had originally intended. In addition to having to pull back data from release in order to assure that it was not re-identified, we also tried to create a strict legal structure around the release of the data, as we possibly could. We made entrants enter into what many of them considered, because many of the people we were dealing with think that data should be for everyone, and data that is released should be used as anyone wants. They thought our legal structure was very onerous, but we made everyone agree to keep the data private, not attempt to re-identify the data, as well as certain other legal hurdles we made people jump over if they wanted to participate in the prize. I don’t know if the legal structure we had to put around it deterred anyone from participating. However, we are very happy with the participation we did get. I could not say that there are people who did not participate because of the legal structure. We do believe that legal structure has somewhat acted as a deterrent, because we have not really got wind of people attempting re-identification such as was attempted, with certain other prior data prizes. Finally, we also commissioned an adversarial attack on the data before release, to determine if we thought it was stringently enough de-identification. We hired an individual at Stanford University who had actually done the re-identification of the second Netflix prize data set, to see if they could re-identify the Heritage Health Prize data set. The conclusion was it would be extremely difficult to re-identify the Heritage Health Prize data set. However, we also realized, through having to hold back some of the data that we wanted to release, that the solution we will ultimately get is not the optimal solution, or likely will not be the optimal Where we sit today in the competition with approximately eight months to go, we don’t know how much more robust the solution we are hoping to get will be, from what we can already do with our doctors and our private protocol that we have used, to identify the population. We are hopeful. We have approximately seven months to go, but we simply don’t know yet how much better this result is going to be from what we have always done in the past. Now, speaking of the business, it is looking for a business solution to a real world problem. I wanted to leave you, before we get to Khaled, with the few key takeaways related to the de-identification issues. We have run other prizes before. This is the first data prize we have run, but we have run other prizes before. Prizes in competitions derive their benefit from the numerous individuals, from all walks, that participate and try to solve the issue. We have realized, as others who have run prizes, you just don’t know where your best solution is going to come from. This is why you don’t want to hire five people and have them try to solve the problem. If we had done so here, they undoubtedly would not have done as well as the competitors in the prize competition. This has been born out in the year and approximately four months, during which the prize has been ongoing. Most of the leading solutions have not been created by people who are working in the medical space. Indeed, they are mathematicians, they are hedge fund managers, they are people from all other types of industries who happen to have a gift for doing data work. We certainly could not have hired all of them. Even if we could have afforded them, they probably would not have all wanted to come work for us. That is the benefit of doing a prize model. On the other hand, data prizes require the release of data sets. There has to be a way to balance the individual’s privacy interest with the greater good to society that would be achieved by solving somebody’s bigger problems through crowd sourcing and prizes. Clearly, the problem we are trying to solve is a large one. We spend $40 billion a year, as I mentioned, on unnecessary hospital utilization in the United States, and we have a health care crisis on our hands. The general use that we are trying to make of the data have larger implications in the general attempt to move from a post disease provision and care model to a pre-disease prediction, prevention and cure model. I am going to have to, however, leave it to people smarter than myself to figure out where the balance between the two lie. Thank you for letting me address you today, and now I will turn it over to Khaled, who is going to discuss much more specifically the de-identification of the Heritage data set. MR. EL AMAN: Thank you, Jonathan. I have sent you some slides. I am not sure if they made it, but I will still talk to the main points on the slide. MS. QUEEN: Khaled, this is Susan. I just sent you an email a few minutes ago about a different person to send the slides to. Have you received that? MR. EL AMAN: I am Khaled El Aman. I am the CEO of the company, focusing on data de-identification, which was contracted by Heritage Provider Network, to do the data de-identification work. I will give you an overview of the technical issues that we faced while doing de-identification for the Heritage prize. I am just going to start off with a number of general observations. First of all, we use, at the time which was around 18 months ago, we use best de-identification practices that were available at that point in time. There have been had been a number of improvements in methodologies, metrics and algorithms that we have developed and others have. This is a very active area of research. I think more can be done, if we were to start again. I will discuss some of the improvements as we go along. The other point I would like to make is that re-identification attacks are hard to do. They take a lot of skills and resources to do successfully. This should be also kept in mind. We did a review of publically mandated attacks that was published in Plus One at the end of last year. There were 13 attacks, six of them on health data, but two of them were on data sets that were properly de-identified. We used the HIPAA standard as the basis for definition of properly de-identified. In these two cases, the hit rate was quite low. I think a lot of the conclusions were if you de-identify a data set properly, using contemporary standards, the probability of a successful re-identification attack is low. The stories we hear about people re-identifying data sets stem largely from the fact that these data sets were de-identification properly when they were released. The systematic review, I think, makes that point clearer when you look at all of the evidence on one page. This next point is about reasonableness criteria which, is the way this issue of address and HIPAA. I am going to read from the regs the definition of identifiable health information. Health information that does not identify an individual, and with respect to which there is no reasonable basis to believe with information can be used to identify an individual, is not individually identifiable health information. There is the no reasonable basis term in the privacy rule. Also, it requires that the risk is very small and that the information could be used alone or in combination with other reasonably available information. Again, the reasonableness criterion is used in the privacy rule. Here, I am talking about the typical standards for de-identification in HIPAA. We are not striving for perfection; we are striving for something that would pass the reasonableness test. Of course, we have to figure out what very small risk means. I will describe how we approach that here. In terms of the data sets, so we started off with original longitudinal data sets that had information on 175,000 patients or members, over a three-year period. That data set included claims, to have diagnosis and procedures, as well. We have drug data and a lot of information. We had the three domains in the original data set. What we ended up releasing was a three-year longitudinal data set with data on 113,000 patients. It was a subsample from the original data set. It included the claims data on some drug information, and no lab information. A decision was made not to release lab information as it truncated drug information. Again, I will describe the reasoning behind that, as we go through this. Another important point is that there is a lot of missing variables in the original data set, for example, length of stay. This was normal for data sets that come out of clinical information systems. If you do look at the Heritage Health Prize data and you notice a lot of the missing data was missing in the original data, as well. It was not necessarily a function of the de-identification. The data set has information on some basic demographics, information about the specialty of the provider, place of service, CPT codes, ICD-9 codes, length of stay, then pseudonyms for provider and vendor and the information about the payment. Then, the drug also had information about the number of drugs dispensed to the patient over a certain period of time. In terms of the technical issues that addressed, the first issue is what was the definition of very small, according to the statistical method and the HIPAA privacy rule? We chose a probability of 0.05 for de-identification of a single record. A maximum of 0.05 for the de-identification of a single record, and that was our definition of very small. The reason we chose that was we erred on the conservative side. I think throughout the whole project, there was a general sense that it was necessary to err on the conservative side, because of the volume of data, visibility of the competition and also the potential consequences of a successful re-identification should it happen. We used the maximum probability of 0.05. That is a little bit higher than the threshold that was used by CMS recently to release their claims data. They used a maximum probability of 0.1, so we are more conservative than them. One of the reasons was that the longitudinal nature of the data, but also the details of the data was more detailed NBCMS data that was released. That a .05 threshold was consistent with other public releases of data, so we are involved with other agencies that use data publically and they use the probability of .05. It is not completely inconsistent. However, it is more lower than the more recent CMS data release over claims data sets. Also, the fact that we use the maximum probability, rather than the average probability is important. Again, that is erring on the conservative side. It meant that we took the worst case scenario and upgraded on that, while it minimized the risk on the worst case scenario, rather than looking at the average risk across all of the records and the data set. One of the other factors we looked at, we looked at two types of attacks. One was an adversary who may know a member of HPN and will try to re-identify that member. It could be a nosey neighbor scenario or it could be a famous person who is an HPN member. Then you maybe have a member of the press, for example, trying to re-identify them. The second type of attack we looked at was matching against external databases. The two databases we considered were the voter registration list for California, and the state and patient database for California as well for the three years that were covered by the data set. We did some matching experiments with the state. We did some estimations and simulations for the voter registration, using Census data to estimate the probability of a successful match with those databases as a potential attack. This was strictly speaking, it was not really necessary because when we managed the risk of a single record being re-identified, we can show mathematically that that manages the risk from matching with the other databases. We did it anyway, just for the sake of completeness, and to see how much buffer we had. We want to leave a bit of contingency with a 0.5 threshold for that data. Also, at the outside, we removed the patients that had sensitive diagnoses. The NCVHS actually has published a report on definitions of sensitive information, so the definitions we used were certainly consistent with that, plus the previous work on rare and visible ICD9 codes. We also used common sense, of course. The paper that we published, we just list those diagnoses and procedures and types of visits that were removed. So in theory the de-identification we did would have reduced the risks for those individuals, those individuals with sensitive information. These are members with HIV, substance abuse, certain types of mental health diagnoses and so on. De-identification would have been principally protected those individuals. We were concerned about experiences. The data set was so rich, and as we know, health medical records tend to have multiple domains that are strongly correlated with each other. The concern was if we remove only certain pieces of information, we would also have to test that that information could not be inferred from other information we were disclosing or releasing. For all of the different types of sensitive information that would have been, at the time, not possible, so the decision was just to remove those individuals from the data set. This is consistent also with practices from other agencies that release data. They would just remove those with the most sensitive information. The matching experiments we did with the voter registration list on the state and patient database shows that for building a successful match for any of the three years, the highest was 1.7 for the certain combinations of variables, age, length of stay, sex, condition groupings, procedure codes, CTP codes. The hit rate was lower than our threshold for all individual years and combined years. Also, the numbers were very small for the estimated match, should someone try to match with the voter registration list. Now coming back to the correlation issue, because I think that is quite important. We are concerned that if we try to reduce some of the details in the claims data, and also provide drug information and lab information, that our adversary can use the drug and/or lab information to predict the diagnosis We did a number of experiments with pharmacists, where we wanted to get a number. We know that if you give the pharmacist the drug information, and ask them to essentially reverse engineer the diagnosis, we know they can do this. The question was, how accurately can this be done? On this particular data set, because if the accuracy was low, then that inference channel would not be a concern for us. If it was very high, then of course it would be a concern for us. We did a number of experiments or empirical studies with pharmacists, where we gave them incomplete medical records, and asked them fill in the gaps. We found that the success rate varied from about 30 percent to 60, 65 percent, depending on the level of detail we ask them to predict. We didn’t find much of an experience effect. We felt that that rate was sufficiently high, and that was a driver for curtailing the amount of drug information that was disclosed in this data set. We have to get out the claims data, but we didn’t want the adversary to use the drug data to enhance or create more information in the claims data set that will increase our risk level with these inference channels. Then, for the same reasoning, we recommended that we don’t release the lab data. For the lab data, we actually built a number of models. Also for the drug data, there was a number of machine-learning models that would predict one domain from the other. It turns out that even simple models, such as naïve days(?) had a remarkably high accuracy for predicting values that we tried to generalize or suppress. Again, the more information you have, the drug and lab, the models were very accurate. If you only had drug, predictive diagnosis or procedure codes, they were less accurate, but still very high F scores. That was some of the decisions around how much drug data to release and not releasing the lab data. The other issue was the number of claims. Some members had a very large number of claims. They really do stand out. We removed or truncated claims, to essentially cut off the tail of that distribution, because some of the members were really extreme outlies just by the number of things that they had. If you had some basic demographics like age and gender, and then look at just the number of claims, they were quite unique. We developed those methods to do this claim truncation, so that these individuals would not stand out as extreme outliers. They represent so that only the claims that were most unique in the data that were truncated, so that way, we wanted to minimize the impact on the data set. The argument being the extreme outliers would, in many data analyses they would be removed anyway. We would try to be as careful as possible to minimize the number of claims truncated, but also focus on the ones that were really outliers of all the variables that I mentioned. Another important concept was that of adversary power. When you have a patient with a hundred claims, normal risk assessments would say, at least historically, I have an adversary who would know what is in these hundred claims. That is quite an implausible assumption. Nobody would know what is in a hundred claims about anybody. Even the patients themselves don’t have that much detail about themselves. With each claim having about seven or eight variables, that is 700 or 800 pieces of information. It just didn’t seem plausible. There is the concept of the adversary power, where we assume that an adversary would only have information about a limited number of claims. For example, if we say an adversary would have background information they can use for re-identification on five claims, then we can assess the risk on that basis. That will, of course, have a dramatic impact on risk, without the release of more data, using a very plausible, a very reasonable assumption. The other problem is if you have 50 or 100 claims, which combination of five claims do you assess? It is a combinatorial problem. We have various methods to assess risk, taking into account this adversary power concept. This is a concept that has existed in the computational disclosure control for some years, not applied to longitudinal health data, but I think it provides a reasonable way to evaluate risk for data sets, where you have multiple instances — they have transactional type data sets, claims data, visits data, so on. Another important concept was that of patient diversity. Some patients who have chronic conditions, if you know the information in one or two claims, you can predict the remainder, or a lot of the remaining claims throughout the rest of the year or subsequent years. A good example would be a patient receiving dialysis. It is a recurring pattern for those patients. If you know part of that pattern, you can fill in the gaps. Then you have patients where they have a lot more diversity in their claims. They have a number of acute incidents that are not directly related to each other. Then in computing what an adversary would know, we took that into account. The kidney dialysis patient, for example, if an adversary knew one thing, they could predict a long trail of claims for that patient. Whereas the second type with high diversity, the information content in each claim was smaller because you can’t use it to predict other claims. The claims were very diverse and they didn’t have a pattern. We developed a number of diversity metrics and used those also, to determine how much power or deciding how to compute the adversary power we considered the diversity of each patient, as well. Patients that had low diversity, we would give the adversary a lot of power. Those with high diversity, we give them less power. That way, we essentially tried to customize or adjust the risk for each single patient, so that we can release more data in a defensible way. For generalized suppression, we used an algorithm called optimal lateral(?) optimization, or OLA. This is a globally optimal generalization suppression method that we had developed a few years prior, and we are using that for this data set. I think the article references some material on that. As I mentioned before, we subsampled the data sets to add another subsampling, of course, it increases the uncertainty and works with the risk metrics. We released 113 out of the 175, again to allow for a little bit of buffer, in case any of our assumptions were violated in the future. We assumed a power of five, but what if there was an adversary with a power of 10. Would that increase the risk beyond that threshold? We did some (inaudible) analysis and we found that our assumptions would have to be violated quite a bit to have the risk above that .05 threshold. We needed that buffer, which was achieved partially through the subsampling, in order to maintain this insensitivity. Then, the final thing, in terms of data modification is that we linked them(?) to protect provider identity, because we had provider IDs, we had also vendor IDs and information about place of service and so on. The adversarial attack that Jonathon had mentioned identified using information about provider IDs and so on, in order to draw some inferences. This is not necessarily a privacy issue, per se, or patient privacy issue, per se. It was more on the provider confidentiality. It was possible to figure out the identity of a provider from the information here, by looking at the pattern of patients that an individual was seeing. You can determine, to some extent, which facility people were looking in, by looking at the age of the patients and how many patients go there per year, if it is pediatric or adult. If it is pediatric, you can look at how many visits to determine which is the bigger facility and which is the smaller facility. There are paths that you can walk down, where you can draw inferences about the provider. We made some additional modifications to thwart such attempts, from the perspective of protecting provider confidentiality. For the de-identification methods that we use, in terms of lessons learned, where would we be now if we were to start to do this again? I think we would look more at the average risk, rather than maximum risk. I think a good case can be made that this can be a reasonable compromise between data quality and the protection of privacy. In general, I don’t think it is necessary to do these matching experiments because by managing the risk from an individual being re-identified, you essentially manage the risk from matching with the external databases. It will always be low. In principle, thinking about these matching experiments may not be necessary for future de-identification efforts. The issue of correlations within the data sets and what it in the data set, especially across domains, diagnoses, procedures, et cetera, it is complex and requires careful consideration, especially if you are trying to release a very detailed data set. Then in terms of improvements in algorithms and so on, an active area of work has been improve claim truncation(?), algorithms to compute adversary power. There have been a lot of advances in that over the last 18 months, which can result in more data to be released, just because the optimizations are much more effective compared to that. I think that that would be it. These are all of my comments. That gives us some time to answer some questions, thank you. DR. CARR: This is really fascinating, a very fascinating analysis. I will open it up to questions. I believe Leslie Francis has the first question. DR. FRANCIS: I have a very simple set of questions for Jonathon. One is, would you be willing to share a copy of the contract that you ask everybody to sign, or at least some parts of it, with us. The other is, do you have any way of following up, so that if person number one gets a data set, and somehow they were to use it to re-identify, could you figure out that it was the release of the data to person one, rather than to person 53, that had been the source of the data breach, or the source of the effort to re-identify? MR. GLUCK: With respect to your first question, I would be happy to share with you a copy of the contract. Again, we had outside counsel who works specifically on — I did not even know that such a practice existed, but they do. Prize, rules and contracts for companies, such as McDonald’s when they do their buy your Big Mac, I guess, and get your game card thing. I would be happy to share the contract with you. If someone, for example, downloaded the data, and then shared it ten ways down the line, I don’t think we would be able to identify necessarily who that individual who breached the agreement was. Khaled, do you think differently? I don’t know that we would be able to do that. MR. EL AMAN: We did have a discussion as we were doing this of watermarking the data sets, so that if a breach occurred from this invisible watermark, you would be able to determine which account downloaded that version of the data set. It was deemed to be quite complex because it would have generated such variations in the data set each time. The watermark would have to be embedded within the data. You have different versions of the data set that would have to be generated dynamically, and it was a very large data set. Then, the second issue, of course, was concern that a different entrants get different data sets, would that be a fair competition. MR. GLUCK: One of our concerns throughout this entire competition was given the magnitude of the final prize, we had to be very careful we didn’t wind up with anyone suing us because, like Khaled said, someone got a slightly different data set, which they thought prejudiced their ability to win. If someone could send me the information on where I should send that contract, I should be able to get that to you. MR. SCANLON: Jonathan and Khaled, thanks again. This is very interesting. It sounds like the model you are describing is not an open health data set in the sense of you just put it out there and de-identified It sounds like it is more for restricted use, where you sort of chose who you would release it to under the protection of a data use and contract agreement. This is not something you would simply put out. MR. GLUCK: I think it is kind of a hybrid, because while it is limited to people who have agreed to sign up and abide by the rules of the competition, I believe that clearly we are over 5,000 competitors. It is not like we chose or handpicked people who could compete. As long as they were willing to agree to the rules, and they didn’t live in certain countries which were excluded, they were able to download the data. We tried to put some very, very broad guardrails around it, but generally, it is pretty open. DR. GREEN: You may have covered this, and I just didn’t digest it. I am interested in what part of an address, if any part, of the individuals whose data are in the data set is included in the released data set. MR. EL AMAN: There is no address information. There is no ZIP Code information included. I think it was made at the very outset, not include the code information. If someone really tried very hard, they may be able to infer the facility where treatment was received, by looking at the size of the facilities, and just focusing on the large and the smallest. I think that would still be hard to do. In terms of geography, there was little there. DR. COHEN: Many of the open data sets that we work with use county as the lowest level of geographic identifier. How sensitive do you think your de-identification method would be, with the inclusion of county as an identifier? MR. GLUCK: I would like to begin the answer and then Khaled can follow-up on my answer. One of the issues for us specifically is that we are in 11 counties throughout Southern California, some of which have much more sparse population. Including counties, together with certain conditions, might get us too close to be able to re-identify. If we were talking, for example, only about L.A. and Orange County, I don’t think it would be a big deal. We were including in our data set individuals who lived in these much more sparsely populated counties. Khaled, do you want to follow up on that? MR. EL AMAN: I think also it is an empirical question. We could have added the county variable, and then done a risk assessment when we measured the de-identification. We would have been able to measure the risk with county information included, and then, determine whether that was a problem or not. I think, for this particular data set or any particular data set, the exact answer would require including the variable and measuring the risk on that DR. GREEN: In the rules of the game, where the contestants allowed to make use of any other data set they wanted to, besides yours? MR. GLUCK: They were allowed to use certain publically available data sets. If they used a data set, it had to be something that everyone could use. DR. GREEN: They could go to Healthdata.gov and use any data that they found there in the contest? MR. GLUCK: As long as it was publically available. One of the things, and Khaled, I don’t know if you covered it completely or if you want to address it, one of the things we did actually have to take into account as we were doing the de-identification, this was something that actually arose somewhat at the last minute, was the realization that, by cross-referencing a different data set with ours, it would have upped the re-identification risks and having to account for that. Yes, if it was a publically available data set, people could use it. MR. EL AMAN: As I mentioned, we included the explicit analysis, the state and patient database for California, that covers the hospital discharges, and data matching experiment with a few years’ worth of data for that, and also looked up voter registration lists. The age data or the OECD data covered a lot of the variables in the claims that included diagnosis procedures, demographics, length of stay and so on. That was a good big to match against, because a lot of the fields that were included in the prize data sets were matchable to that discharge data. It gave us a good sense of what the risks were. Those results were also taken into account and the de-identification. MR. SCANLON: That is the question that I think I was interested in. While there are folks who tell us that from the motor registration list and the voter registration lists, and they are publically available health care data sets. They can often re-identify. You actually did this in-house to see what was the probability and likelihood that re-identification could take place. MR. EL AMAN: Right, for the voter registration list, we estimated it. We used a number of estimators to compute, with the help of some consensus data, what the match rate would be if we got the voter registration. In Southern California, you are not allowed to get the voter registration list for purpose unrelated to an election. We couldn’t use it for a re-identification. We couldn’t get it and use it for that purpose. We were able to estimate the risk, and the match rate was quite low. Then, we obtained the data and did actual matching experiments for the three years with the possible discharge data. Again, I think that the metrics that we used would have anticipated the results of those matching experiments. When we managed the maximum probability of verifying a single record, if we ensure that that probability is 0.05, then the proportional success for the matched records would also be less than 5 percent, any database that overlaps with this data set. I think matching experiments are good for assurance, but in terms of them revealing something completely surprising after you managed the original type of risk, would be unlikely. To answer your question, if you do this well, the matching with these external databases would not be an issue. MR. SCANLON: Depending on the geography, I guess and the detail. It sounds like you curtailed the information on diagnosis and dates of service and procedures, or did you not have to? MR. EL AMAN: We did, to some extent, yes. MR. SCANLON: That is traditional. DR. CARR: This is Justine Carr, maybe I will make the last question. Do we glean from this that there is a generalizable application out of this? Are we to learn from this that, at the end of the day, labs are dicey and ZIP Codes are dicey? Or are we to learn that, given your own data set, you have to put it through these maneuvers to come to your own measurement of de-identification? MR. EL AMAN: I think there is a general process that you have to follow, because the answer will depend on the data set. We have tried to spell out the steps in the article. I also covered them in the presentations. If you think through all of these issues, then I think you can produce a data set where you can maintain good utility, and then also have strong guarantees at the end. MR. SCANLON: The contest is still under way, right? DR. CARR: Wouldn’t that be the measure of the utility of the data set? DR. FRANCIS: Do you plan to recapture the data after the ending of the prize? The reason I ask that is that data sets that are available now may not be the same in five years. MR. GLUCK: I am not sure what you mean by recapture the data set. DR. FRANCIS: Is one of your requirements that people give it back at the end of the prize time period, without retaining copies or having sent copies to anyone else? The reason I am interested in that is that if the data hang around for 15 years, and the other kind of available data sets that are available, the landscape of what is reasonably anticipatable, that somebody might get ahold of, has really changed. MR. GLUCK: The rules require that the data only be used for purposes of the prize. It is not to be used for anything else without special permission. We have actually had a few research institutions who were unable to get other data, specifically ask for the ability to use it for other research purpose. We have typically granted those, if they are reputable. No one is allowed, under the rules, to use it for any other purposes. Because it is data and they have downloaded it onto their computer, at some level we are going to have to, I guess, trust people that they are not going to use it for other purposes. I don’t know that a requirement that it be returned or destroyed would add that much to the requirement that it not be used for any other purposes. DR. CARR: Your work is very stimulating, and as by evidence by that, we have two more last questions. MR. QUINN: This is Matt Quinn. This seems like something, de-identification validation, and re-identification ability, seems like something that NISS could provide technical guidance towards, if they haven’t already. My takeaway is that, as opposed to everybody reinventing this for every contest and everything, that guidance does exist today. I will talk to Kevin Stein and Matt Shoal(?) at NISS to see that. It seems like a great joint project with HHS and NISS. MR. SOONTHORNSIMA: You talked about a lesson learned in terms of balancing the trade-offs, because along the way, you talked about truncating data, claims data, promissory data and so forth. The richness of data, because of re-identification risk, therefore, you start taking away pieces of information, pieces of data. Therefore, the richness of data and the ability to stratify its more useful purpose may have diminished as a result of that. I guess, what is your reaction to that comment? MR. GLUCK: I would agree. I think again, that is why the balance has to be struck. I am not sure where I am sitting now, I guess about my job, that is a difficult question. I have to leave it to policymakers to figure out where that balance should be. I agree wholeheartedly with the comment. DR. CARR: Thank you very, very much. We really appreciate you taking the time and very exciting, very thoughtful work, and we are looking forward to see who wins the prize. With that, I believe it is almost time to conclude the full committee meeting. Before we do, I want to again express my gratitude to all of the people that I have worked with, as chair of the committee, particularly obviously Jim and Marjorie taught me so much, and our incredible staff, Catherine and Debbie, Marietta, Janine and Nicole, Susan, and also to John and Shanda for helping us with our acoustics. Of course, to the very able staff, to Matt, Lorraine, Maya, all of you, it has been really my privilege to serve as chair of this committee. With that, I will entertain a motion to adjourn.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1588
__label__cc	0.694039	0.305961	Why is the guitar tuned like it is? Why is there that funny tuning kink between the G and B string on a guitar in standard tuning? I.E. the gap (interval) between the rest of the adjoining strings is 5 frets (or a perfect fourth), but the gap between the G and B string is only 4 frets (or a major third). Why is that? It seems to make more sense to tune it all in perfect fourths and end up with EADGCF. I understand that other string instruments have the same gap between all of their strings. guitar theory tuning Dom♦ David KethelDavid Kethel Try it! You'll either love the 'CF' or you'll know why not! (empirically) – luser droog Oct 29 '12 at 6:23 It helps with the bar chords. Many bar chords would be impossible if not for the G - B interval. – Neil Meyer Nov 13 '13 at 10:31 I've recedntly been experimenting with E A D G C F (straight 4ths) tuning having played guitar for 20 odd years in standard tuning. Conclusion : * For solos, it's great. You can blat about the neck using the same methods and don't have to pay attention so much to patterns or worry that you're going to miss that semitone and hit a bum note. Makes it quite a lot easier. * "Power chords" with the 1st 3 strings. You can do this anyway with standard tunung of course, but they sound more fulsome with E A D G C F tuning. Also the E and B are a bit tighter than normal so they sound slightly brighter. – user2808054 Jan 9 '14 at 11:58 I've seen it argued that the instrument that became the guitar started with the major G chord set, the second, third and fourth string, probably in pairs, as the entire string set for the instrument. The first string was then added, and the lower strings were added in fourths to provide more bass harmony, much the same way we see the 7th string being brought in these days. Man, I wish I could source that. In a more practical manner, I play mandolin, which is tuned in fifths. For melodies, it makes great sense to tune in fifths. Scales that seem kinda haphazard on guitar just lay out so nicely on the mandolin. But chords are ugly hand-stretchers. David Grisman, a great bluegrass and newgrass mandolin player, suggests that if you have to play four-or-more-note chords, drop the root and let someone else play it. Guitars, being tuned mostly in fourths, make chords much easier. Dave JacobyDave Jacoby This: "Guitars, being tuned mostly in fourths, make chords much easier" – Jduv Mar 13 '11 at 14:15 Yeah, it sounds like the tuning gives a good compromise between playing melodies and chords. – Anonymous Mar 14 '11 at 9:07 +1 I played guitar for years and never really understood what I was doing, I just memorized chords and runs... then I started learning the mandolin and poof everything seems to make sense - but the chords are a pain. – DQdlM Mar 27 '13 at 13:40 My further recollection is that it was Bob Brozman where I found that theory, but I can't recall if I read it or heard it. – Dave Jacoby Nov 4 '13 at 17:33 That is brilliant, that "...the instrument that became the guitar started with the major G chord set..." It makes sense that the outer strings were added on later, but impossible to prove. In order to prove that, you would have to have guitar method books from the first millennium A.D. with tuning diagrams. Also, as Neil Meyer mentioned, bar chords are much easier if the top and bottom strings match. – Iktys Jul 13 '16 at 8:22 Actually there is an alternative. There are a few guitarists who tune their entire guitar in "straight fourths", such as E A D G C F There is an article on All Fourths tuning on Wikipedia. Stanley Jordan is a famous jazz guitarist who uses this tuning exclusively. Freddie Green, the famous rhythm guitarist with the Count Basie orchestra, effectively played only in all-fourths tuning by virtue of the fact that he only played on the bottom four strings of the guitar, moving up and down the neck a great deal, but virtualy never crossing over that major third to the high B and E strings. Also the Chapman Stick, a unique 10-course instrument related to the electric guitar, uses straight fourths for the top five strings and fifths for the lowest five strings. When I studied jazz guitar, I determined to teach myself to play in straight fourths. I believe it has many advantages. The more complex the chords and harmonic progressions you are playing, the more the straight fourths system makes sense. But if you want to learn music by exactly copying your favorite solos and pieces transcribed from famous guitarists, you're going to need to use the same tunings that those guitarists used. I kinda like the idea of straight fourths, if only because it could mean fewer unreachable stretches for my small hands. 15 years of having the standard tuning ground in, though, is a significant barrier. – slim Sep 27 '11 at 14:04 There are a lot of fourths tuning resources here: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Perfect_fourths_tuning – user3104 Oct 27 '12 at 0:00 I like the fact that you presented and explained a viable alternative and also explained a valid reason why one might want to keep at least one guitar tuned "standard". – Rockin Cowboy Feb 3 '16 at 1:44 Actually you can easily do both with one guitar. Going from "straight fourths" to "standard" only involves re-tuning two strings by a half-step. It only takes a couple of seconds. That's what I do. – user1044 Feb 3 '16 at 6:38 For beginners, it's actually unbelievably helpful to setup a guitar using all-fourths. After playing with it for a while and going back to standard tuning, you start to realize how to make slight adjustments when playing the B and E strings. – user1164937 Mar 22 '18 at 4:37 I was under the impression it was more historical than anything else, although Wikipedia tells me: Standard tuning has evolved to provide a good compromise between simple fingering for many chords and the ability to play common scales with minimal left hand movement. Uniquely, the guitar's tuning allows for repeatable patterns, which also facilitates the ease of playing common scales. Doktor Mayhem♦Doktor Mayhem Mandolin (and the bowed string instruments) have repeatable patterns, which lay out nicely per scale, but are crap for chords. – Dave Jacoby Apr 15 '11 at 17:24 I think it's tuned like it is to maximize the number of strings we can use in chord voicings. If the guitar were tuned in fourths, barre chords would be out. JimRJimR Well, there are even better tunings for playing chords. For example, Russian 7-string guitar is tuned D2 G2 B2 D3 G3 B3 D4, where open strings form a chord. Classical guitar tuning is just a balance between playing chords and soloing. – sesm Dec 10 '15 at 15:53 I should also make reference to the practice of tuning the guitar in 5ths. "Crafty" tuning, or "New Standard Tuning", popularized by guitarist Robert Fripp of the rock band King Crimson, is based on this principle. In Crafty tuning, the lowest note on the guitar is the "C" below the usual low "E", as on the cello, and the strings go up in 5ths from there, except for the highest string. Special string gauges are required to get this to work correctly. There was an active guitar education movement called Guitar Craft built around the "Crafty" system some years ago. In Bill Edwards, Freboard Logic books, I remember him explaining that the interval mix of EADGBE is pretty optimal if the goal is to find a compromise between easy scales and easy chords. Sean McGrathSean McGrath I wouldn't exactly call the guitar's chords "easy", though I've tried writing an experimental program to identify what barre chords would be available for a tuning given certain constraints (e.g. up to three fingers doing one note each, within 3 frets of the "bar"), and standard tuning comes out pretty decently, with two 6-string, two 5-string, and one four-string barre chord for major. Many other tunings end up with far fewer possibilities. – supercat Feb 5 '13 at 1:53 @supercat What's this program called? – jason328 Sep 3 '15 at 19:40 The tuning EADGBE makes certain important technical things possible on a six string guitar. In a symmetrical tuning like EADGCF the top two strings (top and bottom refer to pitch, not location on the guitar) are outside the keys of E, A and D major. Solo guitar music depends heavily on the use of open strings- with an open string in the bass, the left hand is free to move all over the fretboard. If you have E in the bass, the first string F open is not convenient, neither is C. It makes more sense for an E in the first string and the perfect fifth on the second. Not only are they in E major but they are also in E minor, A major, A minor, D major and D Dorian and C major, G major etc. Conversely, if you play in the key of F in standard tuning, there is no open string and one finger is anchored to that note, limiting the movement of the left hand. Solo music becomes much more difficult and limited in this key. This is also why solo guitar music tends to favor sharp keys- when we proceed through the flat keys we start losing open strings immediately in F major, Bb, Eb etc. In many cases it would be better to retune the entire guitar flat for pieces that require these keys in an ensemble setting. With the fifth and the octave on the first two strings, barre chords become possible with one finger and other chord tones fall under the fingers well. In a symmetrical tuning we do not have enough fingers to play a full E major chord even in open position. It makes more sense to shift one fret for single note runs than deal with chords in a difficult, limiting way. The use of fourths separating the bass strings is also important from a technical standpoint. If you have only a low E string and wish to play the three primary notes in the key of E, (E, A and B) you must move up the string to the fifth fret to find the A. This is a long distance which is not a problem when playing an open string, but when playing in a key like F or G you must fret a note and then move that long distance or stretch. The next A string puts the subdominant A very close to E and B is just a whole step higher than A. A small two fret box containing the primary notes then repeats up the neck making those three notes easily accessible for all keys, major or minor. If the next string is B instead of A, then the B is convenient but the A requires moving a long distance up the string. Of course standard tuning doesn't fit the needs of every piece of music you might play- so we retune certain strings or use capos or retune the entire guitar as needed. That little kink is essential if you're trying to play slide in standard tuning. If you play slide on EADGCF, you can't make any chords! For folk guitar (with/or without a slide), it's often useful to make it a curve by dropping the E to D. It makes possible the stacked-thirds that piano players (and horn sections) are so proud of. And that minor third on top makes slide playing really fun. luser droogluser droog I'm sure someone's invented an "elbow slide" or something that would address this ;) – Mr. Boy Dec 16 '14 at 12:13 Also, it wouldn't be unusual for one particular style to need a special tuning - so sliders could still use EADGBE. – Mr. Boy Dec 16 '14 at 12:16 With all due respect I would not call it a kink, or quirk. The tuning of the guitar as is creates optimal opportunities for fingering of the chords and chord melodies that are frequently played on guitar. It may be somewhat historical but that doesn't mean it isn't functional. Things evolve to meet a need. Today's guitarist is frequently more concerned with playing single note lines as fast as possible. Any alteration of the guitar that helps one achieve this goal is an "evolution". Historically the guitar was used as a multi voice instrument both in group setting and solo. Solo classical guitarists play all voices, Bass line, rhythm accompaniment, and melody or solo lines. There are plenty of alternate tunings for the guitar but in my experience the standard tuning makes standard chord progressions very sensible and logical in terms of movement and ease of play while fingering melody notes on the top strings. As a specific example, for the minor ii - V - i chord progression (E-7(b5) --> A7 --> D-7) All three of these chords have the exact same fingering (different inversions) at the 5th fret each covering four strings. I've heard a lot of modern guitarists complain that they can't play a major bar chord starting on the D string because of the B string. In my opinion this is not a good reason to pick a tuning as you will not encounter consecutive major chords in 4ths in any key signature. The same analysis works for other common progressions. To this end I might say that the choice of tuning should make your choice of musical playing style sensible. So tuning in all fourth might make sense for some tasks, open tuning makes sense for others. But I think standard tuning covers more bases. As I stated in the beginning things evolve for a reason. If the reason goes away, the need goes away, and it's time for more evolution. ggcgggcg To add to @OldJohn's answer, renaissance viols also followed this "kinked" tuning pattern, e.g. D G C E A D (6 strings) or A D G C E A D (7 strings). Clearly this tuning meme was applied to a range of different types of fretted instruments. One possible explanation is that it helped to accommodate them to non-equal temperaments, using "unequally" spaced frets. For example tuning a 7-string instrument in fourths, A D G C F Bb Eb, the first fret would either give A# D# G# C# F# B E or Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Fb. Either you have a clash between A#/Bb and D#/Eb on the outer strings if an group (consort) of viols are playing together, or the flats and dbuble-flats go way outside the conventional key range of the period. That said, some music for viols was apparently intended to be played in (an approximation to) equal temperament, but that may have been "avant garde experimentation" compared with the customary unequal tuning. Unlike modern guitars, the frets on both lutes and viols were adjustable, being simply loops of gut tied around the neck of the instrument. I think there's a practicality reason as well. For all that the major third in the middle disrupts the scale patterns in an annoying manner for learners, it does work well for playing pieces easily in keys from two sharps to two flats, and another couple of sharps and flats aren't enormously more difficult. I suspect having Bb and Eb strings at the top of the instrument would be far more annoying in non-flat keys than the major third we currently deal with. I know some people have tried it, and I have been told that a Bb string leads to some awkward fingerings in common pieces. – Matthew Walton Jul 7 '16 at 11:51 Why is the guitar tuned like that? Short answer: tune your guitar in 4ths EADgcf and strum your EMaj chord. Can't hear it? Play your E and f strings together. That's why we don't tune it in 4ths. Why B instead of C? Look at your cycle of 5ths/4ths with E as the I note. You'll see A is the V and B is the IV Ken Graham Geetar manGeetar man Just a bit of an addition to all the excellent answers so far ... The renaissance lute has a very similar tuning system, although the "kink" in the tuning is between a different pair of strings (or "courses" of double strings, usually). Standard guitar tuning can be converted to renaissance lute tuning by two simple steps: tune the g string down to f-sharp, and put a capot on at the third fret. So, it would seem that the presence of the "kink" in the tuning goes back a long way before the modern day guitar tuning. Old JohnOld John Why is the guitar tuned E A D G B E? Why are guitar strings named in such a nonintuitive manner? Why isn't the guitar tuned EADGCE? Do I need a teacher to learn violin? What are the advantages and disadvantages of an all-fourths guitar tuning? Can someone please tell me why there are 5 different patterns to Penatonic scales What do I need to learn before I can alternate tune my guitar? Would it be better to learn songs rather than learn chords Best guitar alternate tuning to start with when playing one's own music Why tune the guitar other than standard? What frequencies should the violin and viola be tuned to? Short scale guitar tuning to A play melody with perfect fourths on guitar Why are there major and minor intervals? Guitar tuning “perfect” fourths? Standard and Drop C tunings difference	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1593
__label__cc	0.601239	0.398761	Photo: Derrek Kupish / dkupish productions Garth Brooks Inducts Steve Wariner into Musicians Hall of Fame Boot Kickin' Mayhem October 23, 2019 Boot Kickin' Mayhem - Featured, Boot Kickin' Mayhem - Music News Longtime friend and collaborator, Garth Brooks, inducted singer/songwriter/storyteller and multi-instrumentalist, Steve Wariner, into the Musicians Hall of Fame at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tenn Tuesday night after they performed their multi-platinum No. 1 hit “Long Neck Bottle,” which Wariner co-wrote. Wariner wowed the crowds with two instrumental performances that he wrote, including “Nashville Gent,” and “Four Bus Breakdown,” which he crafted for the show. Wariner also sang the ACM and CMA-winning smash “Holes In The Floor Heaven.” “What an incredible night! Going into the Musicians Hall of Fame brings me full circle. I came to Nashville in ’73. So many people to thank! I’m still reeling! I can’t even describe what this means being inducted. I’m so proud my family was there to share this moment,” Steve Wariner said. During Garth Brooks remarks on stage, he lauded, “Not only is he talented, but he’s a fantastic artist. We’re all lucky that he chose music. This is truly one of the most talented people and at the same time, one of the greatest human beings to be around.” Wariner, a four-time Grammy® winner, joined 2019 Musicians Hall of Fame newly inducted members Don Everly, Alabama (Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen), Felix Cavaliere, The Surfaris (Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller, Ron Wilson), The Original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (David Briggs, Jerry Carrigan, Norbert Putnam, Terry Thompson, Earl “Peanutt” Montgomery, Joe South, Reggie Young), The Players (Eddie Bayers, Paul Franklin, John Hobbs, Brent Mason, Michael Rhodes), The Muscle Shoals Horn Section (Aaron Brown, Harrison Calloway, Ronnie Eades, Charlie Rhodes, Harvey Thompson), Owen Bradley*, Billy Sherrill and Bob Taylor. Recently, Gretsch Guitars celebrated the incredible talents of the revered musician with the newly released G6120T-SW Steve Wariner Signature Nashville® Gentleman model. To keep up with Steve Wariner, visit SteveWariner.com and follow him on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Tags Garth Brooks Steve Wariner About Boot Kickin' Mayhem Previous Yungblud, Dan Reynolds’ Give Explosive Performance of “Original Me” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Next Eric Church, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, P!NK, Keith Urban and More to Perform at 53rd Annual CMA Awards Creative Nation singer-songwriter and country/Americana hitmaker Steve Moakler has released the final Pocket of his …	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1594
__label__cc	0.64877	0.35123	AFFORDABLE CEBU AND BOHOL TOURS AFFORDABLE CEBU-BOHOL VACATION PACKAGES Do you dream of taking a holiday in some exotic tropical island with the best value for your money? If you've never been to Cebu and Bohol or even heard of these islands, then it's time to check out this amazing getaways! These two neighboring islands landed the top 10 Best Philippine Destination and are 2-hours away by fast sea crafts and could be reached by plane direct from Manila. Slow boats are also available at various ports and entry points from both islands. Cebu and Bohol islands are blessed with marvelous white, powdery and sugary sandy beaches and are endowed with the best marine underwater species to explore and dive in the world! Enjoy island hopping and get face-to-face encounters with the ocean wildlife like the dolphins and “Butandings”. Find out more of Malapascua, Bantayan, Camotes in Cebu as well as Panglao, Balicasag, Pamilacan and Virgin Islands in Bohol. Aside from exploring these beautiful islands, there are traditional and budget inland tours to discover the rich culture and fall in love with the bizarre-shaped Chocolate Hills and cuddly tarsiers which are among the world’s wonders. Plan your vacation getaways to Cebu and Bohol with our guide to this amazing tropical Islands. See the best resorts and hotels including the resorts in Panglao and the latest unspoiled wonders of Anda beaches at affordable tour packages. A one-day Cebu City Tour Package could cover the following spots: Magellan’s Cross commemorates the moment Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan planted a wooden cross on Cebu’s soil to mark converting its locals to Christianity. The Basilica del Santo Niño houses one of the country’s oldest religious relics: a statue of the Child Jesus that dates back to 1521. Fort San Pedro is the smallest Spanish outpost in the Philippines. Casa Gorordo give a glimpse into residential life in Cebu during the Spanish era. Taoist Temple Beverly Hills Lahug - Approximately six km from the city centre in Lahug district lies Beverly Hills, the millionaire quarter of Cebu-City. From Cebu-City you can get fairly close to the temple by an Lahug jeepney. Atop Beverly Hills is the highly photogenic Taoist Temple of Cebu which was built in the second half of the last century. There is also a beautiful view of the city from this lovely place. Malls like Ayala Center and SM City provide a range of shopping, dining and leisure activities for various budgets. The centuries-old Magellan's Cross The Magellan's Cross established inside the City Hall Plaza The Basilica del Sto. Nino The altar of the Basilica The Cebu Museum Port San Pedro The entrance of the Taoist Temple Other tourist spots to visit: The Museo Sugbo showcases the province’s history. And if you can brave the cacophony, walk down Colon Street, the oldest street in the Philippines. Not much of a history buff? Cebu still has a lot to offer. Head to Tops, a popular observation deck that offers romantic views of the city. For a more adrenaline-pumping view, ride the Edge Coaster more than 130 meters off the ground, or go for a Sky Walk at the Crown Regency Cebu. While you’re at it, don’t forget to stuff yourself with lechon (roast pig), which Anthony Bourdain called “the best pig ever” on an episode of his hit television show No Reservations. Zubuchon and CNT Lechon serve some of the best lechon in Cebu. Other traditional and no less yummy Filipino dishes are best enjoyed at Café Laguna, the Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant and Abuhan. Sophisticated palates will enjoy the international buffet and vegetarian menu at Shangri-La Mactan’s Tides and Marco Polo Plaza Cebu’s Cafe Marco, or the savory Chinese offerings at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel & Casino’s Tin Gow. Gustatory exploits can also be had at Nonki (Japanese), Café Orchidia (Italian) and La Marea (try their best-selling warm brownie cups). No visit to Cebu is complete without a taste of its nightlife. Dive into a little debauchery at hip spots in IT Park or Crossroads. Or just park yourself at your hotel bar. Treff boasts inventive dishes and a beautiful glass-and-white façade, while the scenic Blu Bar & Grill was named one of Asia’s best bars by Travel + Leisure Asia. The famous Sinulog Festival is the Philippines’ largest crowd drawer of devotees, celebrated for the child Jesus and held every third Sunday of January. The city hosts a wild, colorful street party attracting revellers from around the Philippines and the world. Crown Regency Towers - the highest building in Cebu City Edge Coaster ride at the top of Crown Regency Towers The Image of Sto. Nino de Cebu (Child Jesus) Sinulog Festival in honor of the Feast of Sto. Nino Tops overlooking Cebu City Subject to minimum seating capacity, we offer a Share-A-Ride (Seat-in-Coach) type of tour to visit these places in a day: Chocolate Hills - The Chocolate Hills is a geological formation in Bohol Province, Philippines. There are at least 1,260 hills but there may be as many as 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres (20 sq mi). The Chocolate Hills is a famous tourist attraction of Bohol. Philippine Tarsier - Another famous tourist destination in Loboc is the Philippine Tarsiers Sanctuary. The Philippine tarsier, (Tarsius syrichta) is very peculiar small animal. In fact it is one of the smallest known primates, no larger than a adult men's hand. Mostly active at night, it lives on a diet of insects. Folk traditions sometimes has it that tarsiers eat charcoal, but actually they retrieve the insects from (sometimes burned) wood. It can be found in the islands of Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and Mindanao in the Philippines. Loboc Ecotourism Adventure Park offers zipline and cable car rides with exhilarating heights of 120 and 100 meters respectively. This will let you take a good look at Loboc’s wonderful mountainous slope while enjoying the ride. Have a great time viewing Loboc’s lush green trees together its ravishing clean river. Blood Compact Site - Located at Bool District, the Blood Compact Sight is a remarkable landmark of the first international treaty of friendship between Spain and Philippines. This is why Tagbilaran is known as “The City of Friendship”. Baclayon Church - One of Bohol’s oldest stone churches, Baclayon Church is considered as one of the best-preserved churches existing in the Philippines. It is undergoing massive restoration works having been damaged by the strong earthquake in October, 2013. Butterfly Sanctuary - In the town Bilar, some 40 kms. away from Tagbialran City, there is a uniquely created environment called “Simply Butterfly” with a waterfall and shade plants which has now become a butterfly sanctuary. Nature lovers and environmentalist would appreciate the several species of local butterflies fluttering inside the sanctuary and resting in colorful flowers. Many butterflies feed, breed and play here. Sipatan Hanging Bridge - The Bamboo Hanging Bridge crossing the Sipatan River in the Municipality of Sevilla, Bohol, is a fun tourist attraction. Originally constructed using just bamboo and rope, today the rope has made way to steel cables, giving added safety and stability. The deck of the bridge is formed out of woven bamboo slats. The bridge spans around 40 meters and offers a great view of the emerald Sipatan River below. On the far side of the bridge you will find a small shop, selling souvenirs and a welcome cold drink and snacks. Loboc River Cruise - One of the main things you have to visit when you’re in Loboc, Bohol is the clean and green Loboc River. Some of the activities involve while cruising the river are eating delicious buffet lunch or dinner and enjoy the fiesta atmosphere! Local Boholanos gathered and serenade tourists with their lively cultural songs. Bilar Man-Made Forest - Before visiting the Chocolate Hills, you can’t skip out the Man Made Forest! This is one of the most favorite stops for tourists. As you pass by this forest, you could feel instantly the change in temperature, even on the hottest day of the year. This forest is located along the highway in Bilar, Bohol. A world wonder -- The famous Chocolate Hills The world's smallest primates - Philippine Tarsiers Centuries old stone church of Baclayon The Loboc River Cruise The Blood Compact marker Sipatang Hanging Bridge Bilar man-made forest Loboc zipline A fun way to enjoy the colorful butterflies If you are up for thrills and adventures, why not try adrenalin-packed actions at Extreme Adventure Tour (E.A.T Danao). Release your stress and shout it out with thrilling outdoor adventures like the zipline, “plunge”, rapelling, caving and other extreme action! See for yourself if you’re brave enough to face your fears! Chocolate Hills Adventure Park - Chocolate Hills Adventure Park is the latest eco-tourism adventure park situated in Carmen, Bohol. It can be reached by an hour and 15 mins. taking a bus or van from DAO Terminal in Tagbilaran. The park offers over twenty (20) thrilling adventure challenges like hiking trails, tree top adventures and the famous Bike Zip called "The Rush". Bike Zip is a 275-meter zip line using a mountain bike to cross from one hill to another. Pedal your way and commune with nature with the Chocolate Hills as your backdrop! Sandugo Festival – Celebrated in the month of July, this festival commemorates the historic first international treaty of friendship between the Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna the chieftain of Bohol on March 16, 1565. As part of the tribal tradition, both leaders sealed the agreement with their own blood! "Sandugo" is a Visayan word which means "one blood". AFFORDABLE PLACE TO STAY? Most tourists prefer to stay in Panglao, to optimize the beach and get close with the world’s top diving locations. It may not be the cheapest option to stay there. However, a budget traveler could find a decent accommodation starting Php600 at Marcelina’s Guesthouse (check the rates at www.marcelinasguesthouse.com). Located at Tagbilaran Citiy, the place is a walking distance from the airport (just 2-3 mins. walk) and 5-min. ride from the pier. Panglao island could be reached thru 20-min. drive by taxi, car or van hire which could be easily arranged. To save on food, the place is provided with a mini-kitchen, equipped with ref, cooking and dining facilities where guests could prepare their own meals free of charge. Getting around Bohol is made easy with motor-bikes, car or van for hire at very affordable prices. Most budget travelers arrange motor bikes on daily or weekly basis. The facade of Marcelina's Guesthouse Deluxe Barkadahan good for 6 pax at P2,000/night Shared Barkadahan good for 7 pax at P2,100/night Deluxe double at P800/night Standard Twin - Shared bath at P600/night Deluxe Quad at P1,600/night The living/common area of the guest house The lobby leading to the rooms BERNADETTE G. CABERTE Manager, ROYAL FANTASY TOURS Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1598
__label__wiki	0.904974	0.904974	On MTA Board, David Paterson Could Be a Force for Transit Funding By Noah Kazis In late 2008, then-Governor David Paterson stood with Richard Ravitch and Michael Bloomberg to announce his support for tolling the East and Harlem River bridges. Will Paterson continue to serve as a voice for road pricing and transit funding on the MTA board? Image: ##http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/ravitch-unveils-mta-rescue-plan/##Seth Wenig/Associated Press## As first reported by the Daily News this morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo has nominated former Governor David Paterson to serve as the newest member of the MTA board. Paterson is an unusually high-profile pick for the board — he will have nominated some of his fellow board members — and it’s not yet clear what the political implications are of Cuomo selecting his predecessor. Will Paterson’s status, for example, lend him more leeway to speak freely on transit issues than other gubernatorial nominees? For transit advocates, there’s a lot of promise in the possibility of David Paterson turning his attention to the MTA. What the system needs right now is money, and there aren’t many public officials who know that better than Paterson. It was Paterson that helped pass the payroll mobility tax, which brought in well over $1 billion a year for the MTA. That measure, unpopular with suburban lawmakers, has been absolutely critical in keeping the transit system afloat, though it wasn’t enough to prevent Paterson from presiding over an unprecedented series of service cuts and fare hikes. Now, the payroll tax is under attack. Just last December, Senate Republicans won a deal to eliminate part of the tax, removing $320 million from the dedicated funding stream Paterson helped establish and forcing the MTA to depend on unreliable annual appropriations from Albany. Moreover, Paterson knew at the time that even the payroll tax wasn’t enough to pay for the aging transit system, and was perhaps the most important supporter of instituting tolls on the East and Harlem River bridges. Paterson first appointed Richard Ravitch to find a solution to the MTA’s fiscal woes, then backed the resulting plan, including bridge tolls. “It’s either going to be fare hikes or it’s going to be tolls and a combination of payroll taxes, but it’s the only way,” said Paterson in 2008. Eventually, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver endorsed bridge tolls, but the same amigos who temporarily handed control of the State Senate to Republicans also scuttled tolls in that chamber. Even after bridge tolls were officially dead, however, Paterson stayed firm in his support for them. “The framework I see is that the Senate has really eliminated what my choice would be, which would be to have the tolls,” Paterson said at the time. “If that’s the case, then we’re going to have to try to find alternative ways to come up with several hundred million dollars that would replace what would have been the revenues generated by the tolls.” Now the MTA is again headed toward the reckoning that Paterson confronted in 2009. The three years of the MTA capital program that Paterson wanted to pay for with bridge tolls? Cuomo paid for them with debt that transit riders will have to shoulder for decades. And experts say that the MTA can’t pay for its next capital program, which is right around the corner, with more debt. The system needs new revenue, and soon. Paterson, if confirmed, will be perfectly positioned to make that case with authority and get a lot of attention in doing so. “One thing I did for the three years I was governor was take tough stands, and I think that is going to be of some service,” Paterson told the Daily News. On the other hand, Ben Kabak notes that Paterson repeatedly raided dedicated transit funds to help close the state’s budget deficits, a practice which greatly exacerbated the MTA’s financial difficulties. Transportation Alternatives cheered the appointment in a press release this morning. “Paterson knows well that straphangers can’t handle another hit to their wallets — as Governor, he saw New Yorkers endure back to back fare hikes and reap service cuts in return,” said TA Executive Director Paul Steely White. “He also created new funding for our transit system. If anyone knows New Yorkers are tired of paying more for less and how to find fairer ways to invest in transit, it’s David Paterson.” “Governor Paterson got the state legislature to approve more than one and a half billion dollars in new aid to keep fares down and transit capital repairs up. That hopefully will make him a spokesperson to meet their future financial needs,” said the Straphangers Campaign’s Gene Russianoff. “The former governor will add badly needed diversity to the MTA board, and should make it more sensitive to the needs of African Americans and the handicapped, among others.” Filed Under: Bridge Tolls, David Paterson, MTA, Transit, Transit Funding Cuomo Names Patrick Foye to Head Port Authority By Brad Aaron \| Oct 19, 2011 As expected, Governor Cuomo has tapped Patrick Foye to replace Chris Ward as executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Foye, Cuomo’s deputy secretary for economic development and an MTA board member, had been considered a contender since shortly after Ward announced plans to step down. An appointee of David […] Cuomo Appoints 20-Member Committee to Help Search for New MTA Chief By Ben Fried \| Aug 8, 2011 With about 70 days to go until Jay Walder puts in his last day as MTA CEO, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he has assembled a search committee to help pinpoint the right candidate to take over the nation’s largest transit agency. The next MTA chair will inherit an agency in perilous straits, whose finances […] Malcolm Smith Spins Transit Band-aid as Victory for “Reform” By Ben Fried \| May 5, 2009 Now that Governor Paterson has backtracked on his pledge to secure a long-term solution to New York’s transit funding crisis, the push is on to spin the slapdash result as a responsible outcome, not a capitulation to Albany’s lowest common denominator. Courtesy of Liz Benjamin, here’s Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith emerging from last night’s […] Paterson Backs Pricing, Introduces Bill in Albany By Ben Fried \| Mar 21, 2008 David Paterson is going to do right by his old State Senate district after all. New York’s new governor settled any doubts about his position on congestion pricing this afternoon, introducing a bill that follows the recommendations of the Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission. The Daily Politics has the scoop: "Congestion pricing addresses two urgent concerns […] Cuomo Wants Budget Fix ASAP, So Another MTA Raid May Be Coming Soon By Noah Kazis \| Nov 10, 2010 If Andrew Cuomo has his way, the state legislature and Governor Paterson will close the state’s $315 million shortfall before he takes office. The push from the governor-elect means that in the next two months, New York state’s current leadership may again determine whether to close a budget gap by raiding MTA dedicated funds. Nearly […] What We Know So Far About Cuomo’s MTA Reinvention Commission By Stephen Miller \| Jul 9, 2014 In early May, Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the MTA to create a “transportation reinvention” panel as the authority prepared its next five-year capital plan. Members were appointed late last month, and the commission has launched Facebook and Twitter accounts. But details about its agenda and how open it will be to the public are scant. […]	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1601
__label__cc	0.66119	0.33881	NY Marijuana Info \| New York Marijuana Info New York Marijuana Information and News Home / World Marijuana News / Study Is Testing Cannabis on Children with Aggressive Behaviors Study Is Testing Cannabis on Children with Aggressive Behaviors Sarah Parfitt May 18, 2019 World Marijuana News Researchers at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia are conducting a trial to determine the efficacy of medical marijuana for children with intellectual disabilities that lead to aggressive behaviors or self-harm. Children as young as eight are participating in the study, according to Daily Mail. Depending on the outcome of the study, the results may allow those with these aggressive behaviors to have another option for treatment. Currently, antidepressants and anti-psychotics, which have terrible side effects, are the common course of treatment for aggression disorders. Lead researcher Professor Daryl Efron said, “It is hell for these kids a lot of the time — they are really aggressive, damaging property, injuring themselves, injuring other people.” It’s noted that 50% of the participants are using CBD and the other 50% are using a placebo. Two teaspoons of CBD are administered daily for those using CBD. Dr. Efron said, “I have no doubt medical cannabis has a wide range of application in kids, and particularly for kids with behavioral problems. But we really need to understand which kids it is going to be helpful for, which form of medical cannabis, and which particular symptoms it is going to help with — so we need to do proper studies.” Preliminary results reveal that the study will have a positive outcome as many of the children are already responding well to the treatment and showing encouraging improvements to behavior. Previous Video: Joe Biden’s Anti-Marijuana Past May Come Back to Haunt Him Next Coca-Cola Heir Arrested with 5,000 Cannabis Plants on Private Jet 77,000 Transactions for $3.2M of Marijuana Sold in Illinois on 1st Day Marijuana Legalization Reduces Binge Drinking, Study Finds Newly Discovered Cannabinoid Is 30-Times More Potent Than THC Travelers with Marijuana at Chicago Airports Won’t Be Busted, Police Say 2 Polls Find Over 60% of Americans Support Legalizing Marijuana Trump Declares He Can Ignore States’ Medical Marijuana Protections © Copyright 2020, Hemp American Media Group Contact \| About \| Terms \| Herrrb \| Links \| Privacy \| Sitemap \| Advertise	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1603
__label__cc	0.628609	0.371391	Mobile Child Advocacy Centers Debut in New York State With More to Follow Hamilton and St. Lawrence counties joined Delaware County in July as being among the first counties in New York State to receive a mobile child advocacy center (CAC), as part of a $4.45 million investment by the state to improve services for children who are victims of physical or sexual abuse. The first unit was unveiled in Delaware on Monday, June 24, when OCFS Commissioner Sheila Poole joined Office of Victim Services (OVS) Director Elizabeth Cronin and other social services and law enforcement leaders for a grand opening event that highlighted the mobile unit. Local media covered the event and it was shared on social media as well. “These mobile child advocacy centers will go far in lessening trauma for survivors of abuse and provide the services they need to heal,” said Deputy OCFS Commissioner Lisa Ghartey Ogundimu. “The spectacular work done by Bernadette Johnson, Melaney Szklenka, Adam Berry, Darci Primeau, Jaclyn Nemetz and the staff in our child welfare division has been critical in rolling out this important resource.” Left: Adam Berry and Melanie Szklenka, of the OCFS Child and Family Safety Unit, and Bernadette Johnson, director of the Bureau of Program and Community Development Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the funding – available through a partnership between the Office of Victim Services and Office of Children and Family Services – late last year. CACs bring child protective services, law enforcement, medical providers, advocacy and therapeutic resources together to investigate allegations of child abuse or maltreatment, making that process less traumatic for children. The mobile unit is a CAC on wheels, allowing counties that are in geographically larger and rural communities to have access to resources and services. CACs are child-focused centers that coordinate the investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse while helping abused children heal. CACs bring professionals and agencies together as a multidisciplinary team. In 2018, New York State CACs served thousands of children who were victims of abuse. CACs help to hold offenders accountable by utilizing a coordinated approach in prosecuting child abuse perpetrators. CACs help child victims heal by offering specialized medical exams, trauma-focused mental health services, and ongoing advocacy services to all child victims and to non-offending caregivers. They are an effective and positive response to child abuse. Child Fatality Review Team 2019 Annual Conference This year’s CFRT conference highlighted the efforts OCFS is making to reduce the number of child fatalities attributed to unsafe sleeping practices, including its role in fulfilling Governor Cuomo’s “Infant Safe Sleep Month” initiative in May. On July 23, Michael Miller (pictured right, with Michele Maye, director of the NYC Administration for Children’s Services Infant Safe Sleep Initiative) a child and family services specialist in the Division of Child Welfare and Community Services, encouraged the audience to share and retweet posts from the OCFS Facebook and Twitter pages related to safe sleep, and spoke of the visibility of his team’s work through videos seen playing at rest stops along the New York State Thruway and in DMV offices across the state. The conference included presentations from Noel Hengelbrook, a key developer of a review process in Tennessee that was the first of its kind to take into account human factors in the review of critical incidents by child welfare agencies. He has worked with several state agencies in the U.S. to improve their review processes. Paula O’Brien, the director of the state’s Division of Consumer Protection also presented on the safety of children, and Anthony DeVincenzo, a training specialist at the Northeastern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center shared his experiences investigating crimes against children during a long career in law enforcement, which included a stint as supervisor of a sex crimes/child endangerment unit. Above and below: Deputy Commissioner Lisa Ghartey-Ogundimu welcome review team members to the conference. FAR Peer Case Conference Brings Districts Together to Share Practice Insights For two full days in the spring, social services providers from Suffolk and Nassau County came together for a Family Assessment Response Peer Case Conference. The event included caseworkers, supervisors, and administrators from each district’s CPS FAR program. This development opportunity is available to all FAR districts on a voluntary basis, and allows protected time for small-group, guided peer learning, during which participants have a chance to network with other FAR districts and learn about their practice while evaluating their own. FAR Coach Gina Newlin and FAR Program Manager Amy Papandrea led technical assistance sessions participants had previously requested. “Any time we can come together to network and learn about emerging family engagement practices, we build on our success and continue to grow as caseworkers, supervisors, and administrators,” said Ms. Papandrea. “This event created an opportunity for child welfare staff to celebrate their good work, and created a space for open discussion on challenges and solutions we face in effective family engagement.” The conference included a packed agenda that featured an examination of important FAR-related data points, a policy/practice comparison session, and a FAR case screening activity. Participants also practiced with the FAR ongoing monitoring assessment tool, conducted a FAR Group Case Consultation, and piloted a new coaching tool aimed at improving documentation during FAR cases. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive: “The peer support strategies were very useful. It was a good networking opportunity and helpful for building on our strengths.” “Thank you for the coaching tool…It was amazing to see a tool that we can use as an example!” If you are interested in participating in this type of conference, reach out to your county lead, or email FAR program management at FARinfo@ocfs.ny.gov for more information. Human Services Call Center Continues to Excel The Human Services Call Center (HSCC) was recently recognized as a Times Union Top Workplace for 2019. It was the fourth consecutive year that the HSCC received this award. The annual award is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey. As one of only two state agencies nominated, OCFS was honored to receive this accolade. With a team of dedicated leaders and staff, the HSCC builds a supportive environment using open communication, recognition awards and other morale building exercises. The HSCC perpetuates an openness to ideas and change. Regional Permanency Resource Center Conference On June 13, 2019, the OCFS Bureau of Permanency Services held the third annual Regional Permanency Resource Center (PRC) conference at the OCFS home office. There are 16 PRCs throughout New York State providing statewide coverage. PRCs provide intensive case management services to families who present in crisis, and/or to families seeking supportive services, after they have either finalized an adoption or have been granted an order of guardianship. Services are available to any family who has adopted a child whether through foster care, international adoption or agency or private adoption. A main component of PRCs is the monthly visits to participant families’ homes. Two guest speakers presented material covering interracial adoptions and the impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Staff from the PRCs shared their successes with one another during the conference. At one PRC, staff members bring “goodie bags” of sunscreen and first aid supplies to home visits, and families have been receptive. Another program discussed having helped families advocate for adoption subsidy increases. Others shared information about their monthly youth and adult support groups. Several other agencies described their successful use of respite services and therapeutic trainings that they have provided for families. Statewide Central Register News and Notes The SCR’s Quality Assurance (QA) team has expanded, with Laurie Smith being promoted as the quality assurance manager, and the additions of Sophia Davis, Julie Moessner and Mark Walden. The SCR has also completed implementation of the new QA software package called NICE, which combines QA and workforce management components for a thorough view of quality performance indicators and quality trends. The QA team works with new staff to develop their skills, coaches experienced staff on new procedures, uses call recordings to analyze call flows and finds economies of scale with procedures to improve quality and productivity. The SCR’s expanded team is developing programs outside the traditional intake work to enhance the quality of data and operations management. Through ongoing auditing and monitoring, the team is completing special projects that target key performance areas and create trend-reporting data that can improve efficiency. The SCR is researching and combining state-of-the-art aspects of various OCFS programs to broaden the scope of its quality measures. Electronic Court-Ordered Investigations A Local Commissioners Memorandum issued in May 2019 instructed local departments of social services (LDSS) to begin submitting court-ordered investigations (COI) to the SCR electronically. This streamlines the process, and by June 3, 2019 the entire state was submitting COIs electronically. The SCR is now processing more than 80 COIs a week. LDSS and SCR staff have found this quite helpful. Using Metrics and Software to Improve Business Flow The SCR has continued to explore opportunities to improve the efficiency of operations over the past quarter. Examples include using software to automate manual supervisory tasks and using key performance measures to inform staffing decisions. As a result, supervisory staff now have more time to devote to their other responsibilities. The number of overtime hours has been decreased for all staff and the remaining overtime hours have been shifted to the areas of greatest need.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1605
__label__wiki	0.507935	0.507935	OCSiAl TUBALL™ 材料解决方案 TUBBOX 认证及健康安全前厅 Graphene Magazine: The way forward to mass- and energy-efficient EVs: rapid progress with graphene nanotubes After more than 100 years of domination by cars with internal combustion engines, we are now in the process of changing our seats to electric vehicles (EVs). The auto industry is in great need of lighter functional materials and new energy storage systems. At the 2019 Nanoaugmented Materials Industry Summit (NAUM’19) in Kyoto, 450 experts from 31 country debated how single wall carbon nanotubes meet these challenges and unlock the development of completely new materials and products. “The entire auto industry is ready for a dramatic change. And single wall carbon nanotubes are an excellent candidate for achieving these ambitious goals,” said Ivica Kolaric, Fraunhofer IPA Head of Department, at the debates on the future of transportation and the role of graphene nanotubes, also known as single wall carbon nanotubes, in this. Rob Thompson, Arrival Chief of Materials, agreed: “We need to switch to electric powertrains, and we acknowledge the importance of tiny single wall carbon nanotubes in this process. They help to create really smart, strong and recyclable materials.” What are the key obstacles for EV sales growth? “The current high cost of EVs and their low energy efficiency, which is a result of low battery charging rates and limited mileage,” says Mikhail Predtechenskiy, OCSiAl Head of R&D. “Using graphene nanotubes, it is absolutely possible to cut the price of EVs by 30% to meet that of a standard internal combustion engine car. Nanotube use enables improvements in the battery pack and reductions in the car’s body weight and the tires’ rolling resistance.” 60% of the material used in cars today is steel. How can we replace this with polymers that are lighter, cheaper and more flexible in terms of design? Martin Wildemann, LEHVOSS Group Senior Consultant, said, “I believe the body will be the first part of the car to adopt single wall carbon nanotubes, as we see a lot of potential to enhance it and reduce the weight. Engineers have great opportunities in developing completely new materials and making the whole car smarter.” “We’ve made an aluminum reinforced with nanotubes for a premium OEM,” said Ivica Kolaric. Furthermore, with single wall nanotubes, Fraunhofer is able to turn the more than 16 square meters of car surface into an artificial smart skin for connected cars with sensors and that can change color on demand. Maxim Predtechenskiy, Head of the Digital Department at UJET, has stated that the UJET e-scooter has already made the mobility leap that everyone is dreaming about. “We are proud of the unmatched absence of weight – UJET is the lightest e-scooter in the world – and we are keen to decrease it further with the help of TUBALL nanotubes produced by OCSiAl. Another example is our TUBALL-augmented tires – the world’s best-in-class tires that deliver up to 30% better wet grip while being the lightest on the market.” Jean-Nicolas Helt, OCSiAl Development and Support Leader, added: “Car weight reduction and powertrain energy efficiency are important, but tire innovation should be a priority, as the tires are responsible for 30% of the overall energy consumption of the vehicle.” He added that, after the inventions of radial construction and silica technology, the third big revolution in the tire industry is now possible thanks to graphene nanotubes, which improve all the key properties at the same time, something that was unachievable with any conventional additive. “TUBALL nanotubes optimize the overall performance, improve the abrasion resistance leading to a longer life, bring a strong improvement in wet grip that boosts safety, enable excellent electrical conductivity resulting in equipment protection, and allow a unique improvement in rolling resistance that reduces vehicles’ energy consumption and emissions.” But the most rapid advances with graphene nanotubes are being achieved in battery systems, where they break the limits of energy density. Nanotubes enable high energy density 300 Wh/kg batteries with silicon anodes and increased cycle life. Dr Jian Lin, Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Vice President, said, “Single wall carbon nanotubes can be widely applied in both cathodes and anodes. We have a lot of experience with using just a very small amount of these nanotubes for significant improvement of the total energy density of silicon anodes.” The first mass-produced EVs with lithium-ion batteries enhanced with TUBALL graphene nanotubes have already been launched on the Chinese market. Source: Graphene Magazine Redefining materials Reinventing technologies © All rights reserved. OCSiAl 2016 1 Rue de la Poudrerie, L-3364, Leudelange, 500 S Front St, Suite 860, Columbus, OH 43215 usa@ocsial.com 产地为 Bro. Partners R&D Associations	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1606
__label__cc	0.507436	0.492564	Synthesis of Y chromosome-specific labeled DNA probes by in vitro DNA amplification H. U G Weier, R. Segraves, D. Pinkel, Joe Gray We describe the use of in vitro DNA amplification for production of double-stranded, biotin-labeled DNA probes. Specifically, a 124 BP DNA segment of the Y chromosome-specific 3.4 KB repeat was amplified in preparations of human genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a thermostable DNA polymerase. The PCR products were amplified further in the presence of a molar excess of biotin-11-dUTP. The resulting double-stranded DNA segments showed a high amount of incorporated biotin-11-dUTP. The probes were used in DNA-DNA hybridization experiments without further purification. When DNA sequences flanking the target region are known, probe generation by enzymatic amplification offers a rapid and efficient alternative to molecular cloning and nick translation. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry DNA Probes DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase Molecular Cloning biotin-11-dUTP Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Weier, H. U. G., Segraves, R., Pinkel, D., & Gray, J. (1990). Synthesis of Y chromosome-specific labeled DNA probes by in vitro DNA amplification. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, 38(3), 421-426. Synthesis of Y chromosome-specific labeled DNA probes by in vitro DNA amplification. / Weier, H. U G; Segraves, R.; Pinkel, D.; Gray, Joe. In: Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, Vol. 38, No. 3, 1990, p. 421-426. Weier, HUG, Segraves, R, Pinkel, D & Gray, J 1990, 'Synthesis of Y chromosome-specific labeled DNA probes by in vitro DNA amplification', Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 421-426. Weier HUG, Segraves R, Pinkel D, Gray J. Synthesis of Y chromosome-specific labeled DNA probes by in vitro DNA amplification. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 1990;38(3):421-426. Weier, H. U G ; Segraves, R. ; Pinkel, D. ; Gray, Joe. / Synthesis of Y chromosome-specific labeled DNA probes by in vitro DNA amplification. In: Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 1990 ; Vol. 38, No. 3. pp. 421-426. @article{7b0ab1dd59204ca49b724431679a82aa, title = "Synthesis of Y chromosome-specific labeled DNA probes by in vitro DNA amplification", abstract = "We describe the use of in vitro DNA amplification for production of double-stranded, biotin-labeled DNA probes. Specifically, a 124 BP DNA segment of the Y chromosome-specific 3.4 KB repeat was amplified in preparations of human genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a thermostable DNA polymerase. The PCR products were amplified further in the presence of a molar excess of biotin-11-dUTP. The resulting double-stranded DNA segments showed a high amount of incorporated biotin-11-dUTP. The probes were used in DNA-DNA hybridization experiments without further purification. When DNA sequences flanking the target region are known, probe generation by enzymatic amplification offers a rapid and efficient alternative to molecular cloning and nick translation.", keywords = "Biotin-11-dUTP, DNA probes, In situ hybridization, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)", author = "Weier, {H. U G} and R. Segraves and D. Pinkel and Joe Gray", journal = "Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry", publisher = "Histochemical Society Inc.", T1 - Synthesis of Y chromosome-specific labeled DNA probes by in vitro DNA amplification AU - Weier, H. U G AU - Segraves, R. AU - Pinkel, D. AU - Gray, Joe N2 - We describe the use of in vitro DNA amplification for production of double-stranded, biotin-labeled DNA probes. Specifically, a 124 BP DNA segment of the Y chromosome-specific 3.4 KB repeat was amplified in preparations of human genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a thermostable DNA polymerase. The PCR products were amplified further in the presence of a molar excess of biotin-11-dUTP. The resulting double-stranded DNA segments showed a high amount of incorporated biotin-11-dUTP. The probes were used in DNA-DNA hybridization experiments without further purification. When DNA sequences flanking the target region are known, probe generation by enzymatic amplification offers a rapid and efficient alternative to molecular cloning and nick translation. AB - We describe the use of in vitro DNA amplification for production of double-stranded, biotin-labeled DNA probes. Specifically, a 124 BP DNA segment of the Y chromosome-specific 3.4 KB repeat was amplified in preparations of human genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a thermostable DNA polymerase. The PCR products were amplified further in the presence of a molar excess of biotin-11-dUTP. The resulting double-stranded DNA segments showed a high amount of incorporated biotin-11-dUTP. The probes were used in DNA-DNA hybridization experiments without further purification. When DNA sequences flanking the target region are known, probe generation by enzymatic amplification offers a rapid and efficient alternative to molecular cloning and nick translation. KW - Biotin-11-dUTP KW - DNA probes KW - In situ hybridization KW - Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) JO - Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry JF - Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1611
__label__wiki	0.559546	0.559546	Imaging of reactive oxygen species using [3H]hydromethidine in mice with cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity Nozomi Takai, Koji Abe, Misato Tonomura, Natsumi Imamoto, Kazumi Fukumoto, Miwa Ito, Sotaro Momosaki, Kae Fujisawa, Kenji Morimoto, Nobuo Takasu, Osamu Inoue Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of using [3H]-labeled N-methyl-2,3-diamino-6-phenyl-dihydrophenanthridine ([3H]hydromethidine) for ex vivo imaging of regional ROS overproduction in mouse kidney induced by cisplatin. Methods: Male C57BL/6 J mice were intraperitoneally administered with a single dose of cisplatin (30 mg/kg). Renal function was assessed by measuring serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and morphology by histological examination. Renal malondialdehyde levels were measured as a lipid peroxidation marker. Autoradiographic studies were performed with kidney sections from mice at 60 min after [3H]hydromethidine injection. Results: Radioactivity accumulation after [3H]hydromethidine injection was observed in the renal corticomedullary area of cisplatin-treated mice and was attenuated by pretreatment with dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a hydroxyl radical scavenger. Cisplatin administration significantly elevated serum creatinine and BUN levels, caused renal tissue damage, and promoted renal lipid peroxidation. These changes were significantly suppressed by DMTU pretreatment. Conclusions: The present study showed that [3H]hydromethidine was rapidly distributed to the kidney after its injection and trapped there in the presence of ROS such as hydroxyl radicals, suggesting that [3H]hydromethidine is useful for assessment of the renal ROS amount in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. EJNMMI Research Blood Urea Nitrogen Hydroxyl Radical N-methyl-2,3-diamino-6-phenyl-dihydrophenanthridine Takai, N., Abe, K., Tonomura, M., Imamoto, N., Fukumoto, K., Ito, M., ... Inoue, O. (2015). Imaging of reactive oxygen species using [3H]hydromethidine in mice with cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. EJNMMI Research, 5(1), [38]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-015-0116-0 Imaging of reactive oxygen species using [3H]hydromethidine in mice with cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. / Takai, Nozomi; Abe, Koji; Tonomura, Misato; Imamoto, Natsumi; Fukumoto, Kazumi; Ito, Miwa; Momosaki, Sotaro; Fujisawa, Kae; Morimoto, Kenji; Takasu, Nobuo; Inoue, Osamu. In: EJNMMI Research, Vol. 5, No. 1, 38, 23.12.2015. Takai, N, Abe, K, Tonomura, M, Imamoto, N, Fukumoto, K, Ito, M, Momosaki, S, Fujisawa, K, Morimoto, K, Takasu, N & Inoue, O 2015, 'Imaging of reactive oxygen species using [3H]hydromethidine in mice with cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity', EJNMMI Research, vol. 5, no. 1, 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-015-0116-0 Takai N, Abe K, Tonomura M, Imamoto N, Fukumoto K, Ito M et al. Imaging of reactive oxygen species using [3H]hydromethidine in mice with cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. EJNMMI Research. 2015 Dec 23;5(1). 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-015-0116-0 Takai, Nozomi ; Abe, Koji ; Tonomura, Misato ; Imamoto, Natsumi ; Fukumoto, Kazumi ; Ito, Miwa ; Momosaki, Sotaro ; Fujisawa, Kae ; Morimoto, Kenji ; Takasu, Nobuo ; Inoue, Osamu. / Imaging of reactive oxygen species using [3H]hydromethidine in mice with cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. In: EJNMMI Research. 2015 ; Vol. 5, No. 1. @article{b2b9a8590f05467fafaf9d890fb11e1a, title = "Imaging of reactive oxygen species using [3H]hydromethidine in mice with cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity", abstract = "Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of using [3H]-labeled N-methyl-2,3-diamino-6-phenyl-dihydrophenanthridine ([3H]hydromethidine) for ex vivo imaging of regional ROS overproduction in mouse kidney induced by cisplatin. Methods: Male C57BL/6 J mice were intraperitoneally administered with a single dose of cisplatin (30 mg/kg). Renal function was assessed by measuring serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and morphology by histological examination. Renal malondialdehyde levels were measured as a lipid peroxidation marker. Autoradiographic studies were performed with kidney sections from mice at 60 min after [3H]hydromethidine injection. Results: Radioactivity accumulation after [3H]hydromethidine injection was observed in the renal corticomedullary area of cisplatin-treated mice and was attenuated by pretreatment with dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a hydroxyl radical scavenger. Cisplatin administration significantly elevated serum creatinine and BUN levels, caused renal tissue damage, and promoted renal lipid peroxidation. These changes were significantly suppressed by DMTU pretreatment. Conclusions: The present study showed that [3H]hydromethidine was rapidly distributed to the kidney after its injection and trapped there in the presence of ROS such as hydroxyl radicals, suggesting that [3H]hydromethidine is useful for assessment of the renal ROS amount in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.", keywords = "Cisplatin, Hydroxyl radical, Nephrotoxicity, Reactive oxygen species", author = "Nozomi Takai and Koji Abe and Misato Tonomura and Natsumi Imamoto and Kazumi Fukumoto and Miwa Ito and Sotaro Momosaki and Kae Fujisawa and Kenji Morimoto and Nobuo Takasu and Osamu Inoue", journal = "EJNMMI Research", publisher = "Springer Berlin", T1 - Imaging of reactive oxygen species using [3H]hydromethidine in mice with cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity AU - Takai, Nozomi AU - Abe, Koji AU - Tonomura, Misato AU - Imamoto, Natsumi AU - Fukumoto, Kazumi AU - Ito, Miwa AU - Momosaki, Sotaro AU - Fujisawa, Kae AU - Morimoto, Kenji AU - Takasu, Nobuo AU - Inoue, Osamu N2 - Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of using [3H]-labeled N-methyl-2,3-diamino-6-phenyl-dihydrophenanthridine ([3H]hydromethidine) for ex vivo imaging of regional ROS overproduction in mouse kidney induced by cisplatin. Methods: Male C57BL/6 J mice were intraperitoneally administered with a single dose of cisplatin (30 mg/kg). Renal function was assessed by measuring serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and morphology by histological examination. Renal malondialdehyde levels were measured as a lipid peroxidation marker. Autoradiographic studies were performed with kidney sections from mice at 60 min after [3H]hydromethidine injection. Results: Radioactivity accumulation after [3H]hydromethidine injection was observed in the renal corticomedullary area of cisplatin-treated mice and was attenuated by pretreatment with dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a hydroxyl radical scavenger. Cisplatin administration significantly elevated serum creatinine and BUN levels, caused renal tissue damage, and promoted renal lipid peroxidation. These changes were significantly suppressed by DMTU pretreatment. Conclusions: The present study showed that [3H]hydromethidine was rapidly distributed to the kidney after its injection and trapped there in the presence of ROS such as hydroxyl radicals, suggesting that [3H]hydromethidine is useful for assessment of the renal ROS amount in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. AB - Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of using [3H]-labeled N-methyl-2,3-diamino-6-phenyl-dihydrophenanthridine ([3H]hydromethidine) for ex vivo imaging of regional ROS overproduction in mouse kidney induced by cisplatin. Methods: Male C57BL/6 J mice were intraperitoneally administered with a single dose of cisplatin (30 mg/kg). Renal function was assessed by measuring serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and morphology by histological examination. Renal malondialdehyde levels were measured as a lipid peroxidation marker. Autoradiographic studies were performed with kidney sections from mice at 60 min after [3H]hydromethidine injection. Results: Radioactivity accumulation after [3H]hydromethidine injection was observed in the renal corticomedullary area of cisplatin-treated mice and was attenuated by pretreatment with dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a hydroxyl radical scavenger. Cisplatin administration significantly elevated serum creatinine and BUN levels, caused renal tissue damage, and promoted renal lipid peroxidation. These changes were significantly suppressed by DMTU pretreatment. Conclusions: The present study showed that [3H]hydromethidine was rapidly distributed to the kidney after its injection and trapped there in the presence of ROS such as hydroxyl radicals, suggesting that [3H]hydromethidine is useful for assessment of the renal ROS amount in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. KW - Cisplatin KW - Hydroxyl radical KW - Nephrotoxicity KW - Reactive oxygen species JO - EJNMMI Research JF - EJNMMI Research	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1613
__label__wiki	0.681336	0.681336	Garmin Mourne Skyline MTR once again part of Skyrunner National Series: Garmin Mourne Skyline Mountain Trail Race again part of Skyrunner National Series 2017: Today, Wednesday 1st March 2017, Skyrunning UK announced the 2017 Skyrunner National Series. NiRunning's Garmin Mourne Skyline Mountain-Trail Race, which will take place on Saturday 21st October 2017, will again be part of the prestigious Series. NiRunning's Ryan Maxwell, race director of the Garmin Mourne Skyline MTR, said "Since the first year of our Garmin Mourne Skyline MTR, we have been truly humbled by the level of support that we have received in relation to the event. Year on year it's amazing to see our best NI athletes take on the cream of Skyrunning talent from around the globe - this year will be no different." Ryan continued, "again in 2017, like previous years, we will try to build on the event. We have already received enquiries from some major teams in the Skyrunner World Series and we hope that they will encourage their athletes to come to Northern Ireland and race in our amazing Mourne Mountains. Entries for the Garmin Mourne Skyline MTR 2017 will open on St Patrick's Day (Friday 17th March 2017) at 7am. We have massive respect for the mountain environment and the entry limit will remain at 250 - I would therefore encourage anyone who wants to race at the event to secure there place early as we expect to reach capacity fairly quickly." Full details of the Garmin Mourne Skyline MTR can be found on the official race website at www.mourneskylinemtr.com Skyrunning UK published the following press release in relation to the Skyrunner National Series 2017... Skyrunning UK is pleased to announce the confirmed calendar for 2017 (article by Skyrunning UK): Following on from a very successful 2016, changes have taken place over the winter months and Skyrunning UK is now pleased to confirm races that will take place in the UK calendar for 2017. V3K (WALES): The season will start with the V3K taking place on June 24th. Now in its 4th year on the Skyrunning UK calendar, the race personifies what makes a great Skyrunning course – technical terrain, elevation, a challenge and amazing landscape. It’s a rugged race that requires an awareness of the mountains and the challenging Crib Goch provides exposure and lofty heights to place each and every runner in the sky! 55km and 4000m of vertical ascent provides a stunning start to the 2017 season. LAKES SKY ULTRA & SCAFELL SKYRACE (ENGLAND): The Lakes Sky Ultra team once again bring us the Lakes Sky Ultra and a new race, Scafell Sky Race for 2017. This duo of races take place on the 15th and 16th July and provide two incredible opportunities. The Lakes Sky Ultra is a tough, challenging and adventurous race that requires experience and vetting. Elevated ridge lines, exposure, tough, challenging and technical terrain all pale into insignificance with grade 3 scrambles. Extreme, gnarly and hardcore, it’s everything a Skyrunning race should be! 55km in length and 4500m of vertical gain. The Scafell Sky Race offers a 40km race and 2700m of vertical gain. It’s a challenging race that like its bigger brother offers an incredible Skyrunning experience. However, the challenge is less extreme and vetting is not required. Therefore, this race is open to all. SKYLINE SCOTLAND (SCOTLAND): In 2017 Skyline Scotland provided us with three events, the Mamores VK, the Ring of Steall Sky Race and the Extreme Glen Coe Skyline – the latter event was a Skyrunner World Series event. In 2017, race organisers Ourea Events add an Ultra, the Ben Nevis Ultra. For the UK series, to have a Skyrunner World Series event in the UK was incredible – in 2017 we don’t go one step farther, but three steps. The Ring of Steall, Ben Nevis Ultra and Glen Coe Skyline will all be in the SWS calendar. The Mamores VK will be added to the new VK Series. Taking place over an action packed weekend of the 15th, 16th and 17th September, Skyline Scotland will not only provide one of the key weekends on the UK calendar but also the world calendar. GARMIN MOURNE SKYLINE MTR (NORTHERN IRELAND): To conclude the 2017 season will be the Mourne Skyline MTR in Ireland which takes place on October 21st. This race over the last 3-years has grown to become a favourite of all the runners who have participated in the UK series. At 35km’s it is one of the shorter races in the UK circuit, however, the Mourne Mountains pack a whopping 3370m of vertical gain. Salomon International athlete and Skyrunning World champion, Stevie Kremer, said it is one of the hardest events she has ever participated in. Don’t let that put you off though. The landscape, terrain, views and Irish hospitality make this a stunning way to close the 2017 series. Entries are available from Friday 17th March 2017. In 2016, the Skyrunning UK Series was won by Bjorn Verduijn and Sarah Ridgway, they both will gain free entry into all 2017 events as part of their prize. For 2017, the Series will take place once again but with some changes. Full details can be found on the Skyrunning UK website HERE. David McKee and Shalene McMurray excel at Born 2 Run's Castlewellan 10k: Born 2 Run ‘Run Forest Run’ Castlewellan 10k & 5k 2017: On Saturday 25th February 2017, hundreds of athletes descended on the picturesque Castlewellan Country Park in County Down for the final race of Born 2 Run’s ‘Run Forest Run’ Series, the Castlewellan 10k. There was also an associated 5k event. Mourne Runners star David McKee, who has impressed throughout the Series, delivered an excellent performance to seal a well-deserved victory. After seeing off the ever consistent Don Travers (Newry City Runners), David broke the tape in 35:18 (1st place), with Don following in 35:31 (2nd place). Tim Johnston (Mourne Runners) crossed the line in 37:07 for 3rd place. In the ladies race, Northern Ireland international Shalene McMurray (Newcastle AC) lived up to expectation. Not only did Shalene win the ladies race in an excellent 39:20 (1st place), but she also claimed 6th place overall. Cathy McCourt (Unattached) took 2nd place in 41:45, before mountain runner Moire O’Sullivan (Unattached) clocked 43:21 for 3rd place. In the associated 5k race, Acorns AC’s Sam Linton continued his winning form with another victory in the Series. Sam led the field home in 18:04 (1st place). The leading lady, Ann Terek (City of Lisburn AC), another top performer throughout the Series, took 2nd place behind Sam and 1st place in the ladies race in 19:17. Full Results: Born 2 Run Castlewellan 10k Race & 5k Race 2017 Results. The overall standings of the Born 2 Run ‘Run Forest Run’ Series are available on the Born 2 Run website HERE . Karen Alexander and Vincent McAlister win Sperrin Harriers Winter League finale: Vincent McAlister and Karen Alexander win at Sperrin Harriers Winter League finale: On Saturday 25th February 2017, almost 140 runners braved the blustery conditions as they took on the final race of the Sperrin Harriers Winter League Trail Series 2017. The Series finale saw competitors take on a testing but scenic Parkanaur Forest 10 mile course, which comprised of three laps of the forest. In the overall men’s category, Eoin Hughes (Acorns AC) and Vincent McAlister (Unattached) were vying for top spot. Vincent gained the advantage over Eoin, who was the leading contender going into this race, with an impressive win to finish the Series. The unattached athlete recorded an impressive 57:17 for 1st place. Next across the line was Newry City Runners’ Christopher Devine taking in 58:08 (2nd place). The aforementioned Eoin, encouraged by club mate Martin McVey (Acorns AC) toughed it out to claim 4th place in 58:55, but this was just behind Martin, who finished in 58:54 for 3rd place. In the ladies category overall, Karen Alexander (Acorns AC), who had picked up perfect scores at the Davagh Forest and Drum Manor Forest races, went into the final race as Champion elect. The only athlete who could stop Karen from taking top spot overall was Ciara Toner (Springwell Running Club) who had to beat her in this race to stand a chance. However, Karen was in winning form again, taking 1st place in 1:02:46. Martsje Hell (North Belfast Harriers) took 2nd place in 1:05:25, before Ciara Toner completed the podium in 1:07:25 (3rd place). Full Results: Sperrin Harriers Winter League Trail Series Parkanaur 10 mile Trail Race 2017 Results. The overall standings of the Sperrin Harriers Winter League Trail Series 2017 will be published on the Sperrin Harriers website HERE in the coming days. Local athletes perform well in England, Scotland, Ireland, Japan and Australia: Local athletes impress outside Northern Ireland: As always, the weekend (Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February 2017) saw a large number of familiar faces toe the line at numerous events outside Northern Ireland. Most notably, there was quality performances by local runners at events in England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and Japan. Queensland Track & Field Championships (Australia): Northern Ireland's Amy Foster (City of Lisburn AC) continued her good form in Australia over the weekend (Friday 24th and Saturday 25th February 2017), adding a Queensland Track & Field Championships silver medal to her recent accolades. Amy recorded 11.72secs for 1st place in her 100m Heat, then clocked 11.73secs to claim 2nd place in the Final. Leinster Indoor Track & Field Championships (Ireland): At the Leinster Track & Field Championships in Ireland on Sunday 26th February 2017, Ciara Mageean (UCD AC) looked in excellent shape as she cruised to victory over 800m. According to reports from the event, the newly crowned AAI National 3,000m Indoor Champion went through 400m in 62secs – she went on to win in 2:03.73 (1st place). Scottish National XC Championships (Scotland): In Scotland on Saturday 25th February 2017, there was a host of NI talent on show at the Scottish National XC Championships in Calendar Park, Falkirk. The local contingent performed well, with Conan McCaughey (37:06) claiming 20th place in the men’s 10k race; his Central AC team won team title for the sixth time. Also, Eoin Lennon (Carnethy HRC) ran 37:14 for 22nd place. In the ladies 10k race, Erin McIlveen (City of Lisburn AC & Victoria Park Glasgow AC) covered the muddy route in 49:43 for 107th place, while Dumfries RC athlete & Sian Finlay clocked 52:17 for 154th place. Glentress Trail Marathon (Scotland): Staying in Scotland, local athlete Aisling Allum (Carnethy HRC) secured a top ten place at the tough Glentress Trail Marathon on Saturday 25th February 2017. Aisling recorded 4:51:00 for 9th place - the very competitive race was won by Anna Gilmore (Harmeny AC) in 4:26.54. NI man Dave Maxwell (Unattached) ran well in the associated 21k event, taking 108th place in 2:20:55. Tokyo Marathon (Japan): In Japan on Sunday 26th February 2017, there was some impressive outings by local athletes at the famous Tokyo Marathon, which attracts tens of thousands of competitors from across the globe. The race was won by Wilson Kipsang in 2:03:58, but it was a significant personal best by NI based Aaron Woodman (PACE Running Club) which caught local attention – Aaron ran 2:33:55, smashing his previous 26.2 mile best of 2:38:10. English National XC Championships (England): On Saturday 25th February 2017, local athletes were also in action at the English National XC Championships in Nottingham, England. Derry Track Club’s Adam Kirk-Smith represented London Heathside AC and covered the 12k course in 41:54 for 43rd place. Katie Moore (North Down AC & Herne Hill Harriers) claimed 75th place in the ladies 8k, running 32:51 for the distance. Hundreds brave tough conditions for record breaking Resolution Run 10k & 5k: Resolution Run 5k & 10k 2017: On Sunday 26th February 2017, hundreds of runners braved torrential rain and blustery wind as they took on the increasingly popular and well-organised Resolution Run 5k & 10k races, hosted by Stroke Association NI at the Queen’s Sport Complex on the Upper Malone Road in Belfast. A record number of athletes covered the one (5k) or two (10k) lap course, depending on the event they chose – the lap took runners around the QUB Complex towards Barnetts Demesne and Shaws Bridge, along the Lagan Towpath and uphill into the Mary Peters Track, before they made their way back to the QUB Complex; the 5k participants would finish and the 10k runners would complete their second and final lap. Ballydrain Harriers man Daniel Burns was the star of the show in the 5k event. Despite some noteworthy competition, Daniel cruised to victory in an excellent 19:24 (1st place). Well respected athlete Turlough Donnelly (Unattached) was a welcome addition to the line-up and the former Abbey AC star, who has previously recorded 15:31 for 5k, claimed 2nd place in 20:20. Martin Southwood (Annadale Striders) completed the top three in 20:24 (3rd place). In the ladies race, experienced Dromore AC athlete Andrea Heslip led the way. Andrea looked a class act as she claimed a comfortable victory in 22:51 (1st place). Laura Graham (Unattached) followed in 2nd place, clocking 26:04 for the distance. Donna Healey (Unattached) crossed the line in 28:42 for 3rd place. In the 10k race, Damien Burns (Club Unknown) saw off last year’s first and second place finishers to secure a well-deserved win. Damien led from the off and broke the tape in a credible 37:28 (1st place). Finbar Keary (Unattached) bettered his third place finish from 2016 when he took 2nd place in 39:54, before outgoing Champion Connor Kerr (Unattached) completed the podium places in 40:08 (3rd place). As expected, Larne natives Allyson O’Toole (East Coast AC) and Gillian Logan (Orangegrove AC) contested the ladies top prize. Both ran well, but it was NIMAA cross country international Allyson who came out on top, winning in 44:20 (1st place). Gillian crossed the line in 48:05 for 2nd place, while Aoife Fitzgerald (Unattached) ran 48:16 for 3rd place. Podium Places – 5k Race: Top 3 Men: 1st Daniel Burns (Ballydrain Harriers) – 19:24, 2nd Turlough Donnelly (Unattached) – 20:20, 3rd Martin Southwood (Annadale Striders) – 20:24 Top 3 Ladies: 1st Andrea Heslip (Dromore AC) – 22:51, 2nd Laura Graham (Unattached) – 26:04, 3rd Donna Healey (Unattached) – 28:42 Podium Places – 10k Race: Top 3 Men: 1st Damien Burns (Club Unknown) – 37:28, 2nd Finbar Keary (Unattached) – 39:54, 3rd Connor Kerr (Unattached) – 40:08 Top 3 Ladies: 1st Allyson O’Toole (East Coast AC) – 44:20, 2nd Gillian Logan (Orangegrove AC) – 48:05, 3rd Aoife Fitzgerald (Unattached) - 48:16 Full results: Resolution Run 5k & 10k Results 2017. Photos from the Stroke Association NI Resolution Run 5k & 10k will be added to our website in the coming days. William McKee and Sinead Sweeney take charge at Stormont XC: NICS AC Stormont XC 2016: On Saturday 25th February 2017, hundreds of athletes and spectators descended on the home of Northern Ireland’s government, Stormont Estate, for the annual Northern Ireland Civil Service AC Stormont XC. After several days of unsettled weather, athletes were greeted by almost perfect conditions and the competitive junior race programme set things up for the adult races to follow. The first of which was the Ladies and Veteran Vet60+ Men’s 3.3 mile race. Like all the races, this covered a new course, all of which was based on the western side of the famous Prince of Wales Avenue, in the shadows of Stormont Castle. In truth, it was a surprise package in the form of QUB AC athlete Sinead Sweeney who stole the headlines. As the athletes set off on their three lap course, Sinead made her way to the front of the pack, with emerging English triathlete Sarah Hodgson, AAI National Marathon and Half Marathon Champion Laura Graham (Mourne Runners), NI international XC runner Rachel Gibson (North Down AC) and Ulster Schools Champion Rebekah Nixon (Dromore AC) settling in behind. As the ladies moved into the second lap, Sinead had a 20 metre lead on Sarah, who in-turn was approximately twenty metres ahead of Laura, Rachel and the leading Vet60+ athlete Matt Shields (North Belfast Harriers). Rebekah was still in touch, but just off the chasing pack. As the race progressed, Sinead continued her relentless pace and moved clear of the pack. Behind, Laura, who was competing in her first competitive cross country race had moved clear of the always consistent Rachel and reduced the gap between herself and Sarah. By this time, Matt (who was in second place overall) had all but secured victory in the Vet60+ event. There was no stopping Sinead as she powered through the final lap, holding onto her lead despite a strong finish by Mourne Runners star Laura. Sinead recorded 19:40 for 1st place, with Laura securing the runners up spot in 20:13 (2nd place). Sarah held on for 3rd place, crossing the line in 20:22. Matt led the Vet60+ men home in 20:06 (1st place). The final race of the exciting event programme saw the men take to the start line for their four lap 4.4 mile race. After a fast start, a group containing Neill Weir (Willowfield Harriers), William McKee (Mourne Runners) and North Belfast Harriers pair Michael McKillop and Ed Cooke led the way. Behind, Neil Carty (North Belfast Harriers) fronted a chase pack which included Ryan Andrews (Ballydrain Harriers), Francis Marsh (North Down AC) and Ethan Dunn (Ballydrain Harriers). After lap two of four, there was some change at the head of the pack, with Neill Weir and William McKee moving clear, running pretty much shoulder to shoulder in the lead. Neill Carty was now in the final podium place, with Ryan Andrews and the emerging Joe McKevitt (Slieve Gullion Runners) in pursuit. Nothing split Neill Weir and William McKee until the final lap, when William made a significant move, surging clear as he ran towards the dominant Stormont Castle for the final time. Neill Weir continued to battle and was now well clear of Neil Carty who had all but cemented his third place. In the end, it was NIMRA Champion William who broke the tape first, taking top spot in 24:14 (1st place). Neill Weir claimed a well-deserved 2nd place in 24:24, before Neil Carty completed the top three in 24:48 (3rd place). Top 3 Ladies (3.3 miles): 1st Sinead Sweeney (QUB AC) – 19:40, 2nd Laura Graham (Mourne Runners) – 20:13, 3rd Sarah Hodgson (England) – 20:22 Top 3 Men (4.4 miles): 1st William McKee (Mourne Runners) – 24:14, 2nd Neill Weir (Willowfield Harriers) – 24:24, 3rd Neil Carty (North Belfast Harriers) – 24:48 Full Results: Stormont XC 2017 Results. Photos from the Stormont XC will be added to our website in the coming days. Weekend Preview: Local athletes set for a busy weekend of running... Weekend Preview: A busy weekend ahead for local athletes! Almost every week of the year local athletes are treated to an excellent choice of races and this weekend is no different, with four major fixtures taking place over a variety of terrain. The Stormont XC, Born 2 Run Castlewellan 10k, Sperrin Harriers Winter League Series Parkanaur 10 mile Trail Race and the 3rd annual Resolution Run 10k & 5k will take centre stage. All four races will attract a large number of participants, as should the St Martin’s GAC 10k in Desertmartin. Stormont XC: On Saturday 25th February 2017, hundreds of athletes are expected to descend on the home of Northern Ireland’s government, Stormont Estate, Belfast, for the annual Stormont XC, hosted by Northern Ireland Civil Service AC. The event, which offers an exciting race programme for all ages, kicks off at 11am and for the first time in several years, organisers have been granted permission to use the original ‘all grass’ course; this will prove popular with competitors. North Down AC should be well represented and it could Dennis Scott, the reigning Champion, who again steals the headlines. Dennis had a good run at the Armagh 3k where he recorded 9:38 for the distance. Neill Weir (Willowfield Harriers) should start and will be amongst the leading contenders for a podium spot if he does – the Belfast man could be joined by North Belfast Harriers athlete John Black, Newcastle AC’s David McNeilly and Acorns AC’s Darrell McKee. Other men who will go well could include Neil Carty (North Belfast Harriers), Kevin O’Boyle (Unattached), Francis Marsh (North Down AC) and Eddie Cooke (North Belfast Harriers). In the ladies race, recently crowned NI & Ulster Intermediate XC Champion Jodi Smith (North Down AC) and NI & Ulster Masters XC Champion Amy Bulman (Willowfield Harriers) will be considered as pre-race favourites considering their form throughout the cross country season. However, the talented pairing will come up against Laura Graham (Mourne Runners), who is keen to test herself over the heavy ground. Last year’s winner Karen Alexander (Acorns AC) may return if she doesn’t opt for the Sperrin Harriers Winter League Series fixture and could be joined by Laura Bickerstaff (Dromore AC), Debbie Matchett (Ballydrain Harriers), Beverley Mitchell (Albertville Harriers) and Shileen O’Kane (Lagan Valley AC), amongst others. Born 2 Run ‘Run Forest Run’ Castlewellan 10k: Also on Saturday 25th February 2017, local events management company Born 2 Run will host the final race of their Run Forest Run Series, the Castlewellan 10k trail race (and the associated 5k event). The Series has attracted thousands of competitors and this race alone will bring over seven hundred athletes to the picturesque Castlewellan Country Park in County Down. Don Travers (Newry City Runners), winner of the last Born 2 Run event in Gosford, will again be hunting for victory. The Northern Ireland international has what it takes to lead the way, but will have to fend off the always impressive Timmy Johnston (Mourne Runners), who has also tasted success in this year’s Series. Oliver Cooke (PACE Running Club) has featured regularly throughout the Run Forest Run Series and will again perform well here, as will Jonny Gregg (Unattached), Ian Keys (Lagan Valley AC) and the always consistent Michael McKeown (East Down AC). It's hard to look past Newcastle AC star and current NI & Ulster Senior XC Champion Shalene McMurray when selecting a potential winner. The versatile athlete never fails to impress when she takes to the start line, and this course will suit her! Series regular Catherine Roberts (North Down AC) will no doubt be amongst the leading ladies, while Mourne Runners duo Joanne Graham and Bethany Haugh will be hoping to continue their recent good form. Triathlete Nichola Swann (Invictus Triathlon Club) will also go well. Sperrin Harriers Parkanaur 10 mile Trail Race: In County Tyrone on Saturday 25th February 2017, Sperrin Harriers will host the final race of their increasingly popular Winter League Trail Series, with the Parkanaur 10 mile trail race taking place close to Dungannon. At the Drum Manor 10k, Vincent McAlister (Unattached) was rewarded for his excellent performances throughout the Series with a superb victory. There’s no doubt Vincent will return for this event and will again feature at the head of the pack. However, City of Derry AC’s Michael Crawley will be the man to beat if he starts. Michael has claimed a podium spot in the two previous races he’s attended in the Series and after a 15:51 clocking at the Armagh 5k, he has shown that he has the speed to lead the way. Acorns AC’s Eoin Hughes and Martin McVey should play a part, while Pierce McCullagh (Sperrin Harriers), Alex Brennan (Ballymena Runners), Andy Gregg (Larne AC) and Mark Alexander (Ballymena Runners) will all finish well up the field. A stunning performance by Catherine Whoriskey (City of Derry AC) in Race 3 lit up the Series, but the Spartan athlete is unlikely to return following her marathon heroics in Spain last weekend. That leaves the way for the Karen Alexander (Acorns AC) to add to her Series points with another top spot here. Karen will come up against Springwell Running Club duo Ciara Toner and Karen McLaughlin, as well as Sperrin Harriers’ Angela O’Neill and Tanya Quinn. Ballymena Runners’ Gillian Wasson will also be worth watching, as will North Belfast Harriers’ Martsje Hell. Resolution Run 5k & 10k: On Sunday 26th February 2017, a record number of athletes will take on the 3rd annual running of the popular and well-organised Resolution Run 5k and 10k races at the Queen’s University Sport’s Complex on the Upper Malone Road, Belfast. The event, hosted by the Stroke Association NI, is organised to raise funds for the worthwhile Charity, but has already built a strong reputation for mixing the competitive nature of running with the atmospheric and meaningful aspect of a charity race. Three of the four race winners from 2016 will return – Gillian Logan (Orangegrove AC) and Conor Kerr (Unattached) will again take on the 10k, while North Down AC’s Sarah Lindsay will be the one to beat in the ladies 5k. Men’s 5k winner in 2016, Gavin Campbell (Unattached), is an unfortunate absentee due to injury. Finbar Keary (Unattached) will also be hoping for a podium place in the 10k race, he will come up against experienced runners Michael Kelso (Unattached) and Ian Keys (Lagan Valley AC). Meanwhile, Gillian will face Northern Ireland international Allyson O’Toole (East Coast AC) in the ladies 10k. The aforementioned Sarah Lindsay while be the lady to beat in the 5k – the talented runner will place well overall, not only in the ladies event. Dromore AC’s Andrea Heslip will contest a podium spot. Important Note: Although inline entry for the Resolution Run 2017 is now closed, a limited number of spaces will be available on race day. These will be sold on a first come first served basis and those wishing to register on the day should arrive early. St Martin’s GAC Desertmartin 5k & 10k: Also on Sunday 26th February 2017, St Martin’s GAC will host their annual Desertmartin 10k (and associated 5k) in the village of Desertmartin, close to Magherafelt at the foot of Slieve Gallion. Given the other races occurring in the area over the weekend, it’s hard to predict who will take to the start line here, but we would expect local clubs Sperrin Harriers, Magherafelt Harriers and Acorns AC all to be well represented. Gavin Corey (Sperrin Harriers), Sam Linton (Acorns AC), Shane Donnelly (Acorns AC), Delfim Pimentel (Unattached), Esther Dickson (Newry AC) and Pauline McGurren (Sperrin Harriers) are amongst those who could feature in what should be an excellent event. Parkrun: As always, Northern Ireland’s twenty four parkrun events will take place this weekend, for more information on these, or to locate your nearest event, please visit our dedicated ‘parkrun’ section within our fixtures page. Popular Novosco 10k Grand Prix returns for 2017: Novosco 10k Grand Prix returns for 2017: The Novosco 10k Grand Prix is back bigger and better, with the addition of two major races for 2017. The Craic 10k and the Run in the Dark are joining the series this year, bringing the total number of races in the Grand Prix to 15. The not-for-profit competition of 10 kilometre races will take place between March and November and will have a prize fund of more than £6,000. Sponsored by managed cloud company Novosco and organised by Glenn Grant, who owns electronic timing chip company ChampionChip Ireland, the Grand Prix features individual racers as well as club and corporate teams. The first race in the competition is the Jimmy’s 10k in Downpatrick on Sunday 12th March 2017, followed by the Craic 10k in Belfast on St Patrick’s Day (Friday 17th March 2017). Other races in the series include the Run Armagh 10k, the Enniskillen 10k and the Bangor Classic, before finishing up with the Seeley Cup in Ormeau Park, Belfast in November. Organiser Glenn Grant said: “The inaugural year of the Novosco 10k Grand Prix attracted interest from thousands of runners, and we are delighted to bring the series back bigger and better for 2017, thanks to the ongoing support of our sponsor Novosco. We already have well over 500 registered this year and anticipate further significant interest from individual runners, clubs and corporate teams. Runners only have to complete six races to be ranked in the final table, so entries can made right up until the Comber 10k in July." Novosco managing director, Patrick McAliskey, said: “We are delighted to support the enlarged Novosco 10k Grand Prix in 2017. Running is popular in the IT sector, and we know that it is a passion for an increasing number of people across Northern Ireland. So it is fitting that the Novosco Grand Prix is increasing in size and promises to involve an even larger number of people this year. In addition to individual runners and club teams, we also look forward to welcoming corporate teams to the competition, and are very pleased that some of Northern Ireland’s largest companies already have teams signed up.” Further information about the Novosco 10k Grand Prix, including registration, is available at: www.novosco10kgrandprix.com Hundreds expected to turn out for popular Queen's 5k road race: Hundreds expected to turn out for popular Deep RiverRock Queen’s 5k ‘Race Round the River’ 2017: Hundreds of students, staff and local runners are expected to turn out once again for the popular Deep RiverRock Queen’s 5k ‘Race Round the River’ event that will take place on Wednesday 29th March 2017, just ahead of the Easter break. The main event will kick off at 7.30pm with the 3k‘warm up race’ starting at the earlier time of 6.50pm. The flagship 5k race in Northern Ireland has again been granted NI and Ulster 5k (Road) Championship status from Athletics NI and organisers look forward to another fast and competitive race along the unique route around the River Lagan. Queen’s Sport, Physical Education Centre (PEC) will once again act as the Race HQ for pre and post-race requirements. Kevin Murray, Sport Development Officer at Queen’s said, “We look forward to another successful event with runners from throughout Belfast and beyond taking part in this special ‘Race Round the River’. The 3k ‘warm up race’ also offers a shorter route for junior athletes and participants of all abilities to get involved. We acknowledge the support from the University and our principle partner Deep RiverRock in making this event happen. Deborah Gilliland, Captain of the Athletics Club added, “We encourage those interested in taking part to enrol early to avoid disappointment as we sold out last year. Early enrolment will guarantee the specially branded Queen’s 5k T-shirt. We are also encouraging students of all abilities to get involved and challenge themselves over the 3k or 5k course routes.” Oonagh Gildea, Marketing Manager for Deep RiverRock said, “I am delighted to announce our continued support for the ‘Race Round the River’ event taking place from the beautiful Queen’s PEC. “With its roots in the glacial hills of County Antrim, Deep RiverRock is a locally sourced water brand and a perfect fit for this much-loved community event. We are passionate about encouraging athletes to stay hydrated and on top of their game, and will be keen to support all participants with fun and refreshment on the day.” For more information on the races, entry fees and the course visit www.queenssport5k.com. Four NI runners named in Ireland's European Indoor Championships team: Four local runners named in strong Ireland team for European Indoor Championships 2017: On Monday 20th February 2017, Athletics Ireland named an 11 strong Ireland team for the upcoming European Athletics Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will take place in Belgrade over the weekend of Friday 3rd and Sunday 5th March 2017. In the team are four Northern Ireland based athletes. Amy Foster (City of Lisburn AC) will compete in the 60m, while Kerry O'Flaherty (Newcastle AC) and Ciara Mageean (UCD AC) will take on the 1500m. North Down AC's Ben Reynolds will line up in the 60m hurdles. Irish 100m and NI 100m and 200m record holder Amy has shown excellent early season form outdoors in Australia. Just last weekend, the City of Lisburn AC star recorded 11.42secs for 100m, a mere 0.02secs away from her current personal best. Meanwhile, Kerry enjoyed an excellent week last week - first was a 1500m indoor personal best and Euro qualification time of 4:14.63 at the AIT Grand Prix, then a 3k road personal best of 9:19 in Armagh - the Newcastle AC Olympian then finished the week by taking gold over 1500m at the AAI National Senior Indoors. UCD AC's Ciara received criticism from some parts after her performance at the AIT Grand Prix last week, where the European bronze medallist ran 4:12.46 for fifth place in the 1500m event - a performance which we feel was mitigated by the fact that she was suffering from a lingering head-cold. Ciara returned to action at the AAI National Senior Indoors with a superb race winning performance over 3,000m, beating a stacked field to take gold in 9:08.83 (1st place). Experienced hurdler Ben also impressed at the aforementioned AAI National Senior Indoors, retaining his 60m hurdles title in 7.83secs, his second quickest outing over the 60m hurdles this year. Athletics Ireland released the following press release in relation to the team... 11-strong Irish team selected for European Indoors: An 11-strong Irish team has been selected for the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia on March 3rd-5th. This will be the first phase of the next four year Olympic cycle in Tokyo 2020 and European outdoor 1500m bronze medallist Ciara Mageean is one of the leading names on the team. The UCD athlete will be looking for another strong showing in Belgrade. She will be joined by fellow Rio Olympian Kerry O’Flaherty. The Newcastle athlete competed at the Rio Olympics in the 3,000m steeplechase. Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers) is currently ranked 10th on the European indoor list in the 400m and will be looking to take it round by round in the two lap event. 17-year-old Ciara Neville (Emerald) makes her first major senior championship and should provide an excellent platform to gain some experience against Europe’s best athletes. Amy Foster (City of Lisburn) will also compete in the 60m and Phil Healy (Bandon) is entered in the short sprint but the emphasis will be on the 400m where she won the Irish Life Health national senior indoor title on Sunday. Sinead Denny (DSD) is also in the 400m and made the semi-finals of the European outdoors last summer. John Travers (Donore Harriers) is in the 1500m and he will be aiming to replicate his performance from the last edition in Prague by making the final. Zak Curran (DSD) and Tomas Cotter (Dunleer) make their European Indoor debuts in the 800m and 3,000m respectively. Ben Reynolds (North Down) is an experienced indoor international campaigner and will compete in the 60m hurdles. The team is headed by Patsy McGonagle as team manager. The Finn Valley man is vastly experienced having been team manager at four Olympic Games and he is excited as the next Olympic cycle begins. McGonagle said: “This is the first step out into the next Olympic cycle having acquitted ourselves extremely well in Rio. We will be building from that and we look forward to the year ahead. This will be the highlight of the indoor season at elite level.” Team: Phil Healy (Bandon) 60m & 400m, Ciara Neville (Emerald) 60m, Amy Foster (City of Lisburn) 60m, Sinead Denny (DSD) 400m, Ciara Mageean (UCD) 1500m, Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle) 1500m, Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers) 400m, Zak Curran (DSD) 800m, John Travers (Donore Harriers) 1500m, Tomas Cotter (Dunleer) 3,000m, Ben Reynolds (North Down) 60m hurdles. Team Manager: Patsy McGonagle Nearly 200 runners take on 2nd annual 'Last One Standing' endurance event: Atlas Running - Last One Standing 2017: Over the course of this weekend (Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th February 2017), Atlas Running, the brainchild of running enthusiasts and brothers, Sammy and Adrian Daye, hosted their 2nd annual ‘Last One Standing’ endurance race at the scenic Castle Ward Estate in County Down. As part of the race programme, there were also two associated events, the Castle Ward 4.2 mile and 8.4 mile Trail Races. The unique endurance spectacle, saw 179 athletes take to the start-line at 12pm on Saturday – the runners had one hour to complete a 4.2 mile lap and then had to be back at the start line ready to go again at 1pm, then again at 2pm and so on. Any runner not finishing the 4.2 mile lap inside the time limit and back on the line ready to start again on the next hour was disqualified. The theory is that this would happen every hour until only one runner returned to the start line, at which point that runner would have to complete a solo lap inside the time limit to be crowned the winner. All runners with the exception of the winner would then be awarded an official DNF (did not finish) medal and any competitor still in the race at 24hrs (100.8 mile) received an Atlas Running 100 mile medal. After 24 hours, 18 runners went through the 100,8 mile mark, at which point seven runners dropped out leaving eleven hardy souls to proceed into day two of the event. The last remaining lady, AAI National 24 hour Champion Louise Smart (County Antrim Harriers) completed 26 lapd, totalling 109.2 miles. After 31 laps and 130.2 miles, just three men made it back to the start line for the next lap, they were Peter Cromie (Roe Valley CC), Richard Cranswick (Unattached) and Denis Keane (Marathon Club Ireland). On Lap 32, Peter and Denis ran together, completing the tough loop in 52:04, with Richard following in 53:21. All three completed a further lap, after which Richard dropped out - this left Peter and Denis to battle it out for victory. However, there was no battle, that had already been run, with the two men running pretty much the last six hours together. In the end, Peter and Denis completed two further laps, both clocking 51:53 and 55:10 - then they timed out on the next lap. This meant, despite the heroics of many runners, there was no official winner, or 'last one standing'. Peter and Denis both covered 151.2 miles. Approximately one hundred athletes supported the associated 4.2 mile and 8.4 mile trail races, which covered one and two laps of the same route as the 'Last One Standing' event. Full results for all races are available below. Full Results: Last One Standing 2017 Results - LOS 8.4 mile & 4.2 mile Trail Races 2017 Results Spartan athlete Catherine Whoriskey impresses on 26.2 mile debut: City of Derry AC star shows real marathon potential in Sevilla: On Sunday 19th February 2017, City of Derry AC's Catherine Whoriskey took her first steps into the world of marathon running and on doing so, showed real potential going forward. Competing at the Sevilla Marathon is Spain, the NI & Ulster 5,000m (Track) and 10,000m (Track) Champion paced herself well, going through 10k in 38:59, 20k in 1:18:08 and 13.1 miles in 1:22:21. Catherine battled well in the final miles to cross the line in 2:48:40, which was enough to see the Spartan athlete claim a very credible 10th place finish in the ladies race. The ladies race was won by New Balance athlete Paula González Berodia in 2:28:54 (1st place). Talented and humble athlete Catherine took to social media after the race, thanking everyone for their support in the lead up to and during the event, "thanks so much for your lovely messages, means so much. We are having a great time and delighted with my first attempt at the ultimate test. I have learnt a lot this morning but was worth all the hard work." BUCS Indoor Track & Field Championships (England): On the same day, Sunday 19th February 2017, Northern Ireland's Andrew Wright (Willowfield Harriers) was in action at the BUCS Indoor Track & Field Championships in Sheffield, England. After making it through his 1500m heat and semi-final in 4:02.98 and 3:53.66 respectively, Andrew recorded an excellent 3:48.91 for 2nd place in the final;this was just over one second outside his personal best for the distance. Local athletes secure impressive medal haul at AAI National Senior Indoors: Irish Life AAI National Senior Indoor Track & Field Championships 2017: On Sunday 19th February 2017, some of Northern Ireland’s best known athletes were in action on Day 2 of the Irish Life AAI National Senior Indoor Track & Field Championships in Abbotstown, Ireland. Following on from a brilliant 3,000m gold for UCD AC’s Ciara Mageean on Day 1 of the meet, the local contingent did not disappoint, bringing home an impressive medal haul. Two of those medals went to England based NI man Leon Reid (Birchfield Harriers). Leon sealed an impressive 60m and 200m double, clocking 6.74secs for 60m victory and 21.08secs for 200m gold. In the aforementioned 60m event, Ballymena & Antrim AC’s Dean Adams claimed 3rd place and the associated bronze medal in 6.87secs, just seeing off fellow NI man Christian Robinson (City of Lisburn AC), who ran 6.93secs for 4th place. Newcastle AC’s Kerry O’Flaherty ended an excellent week of competition with a podium topping performance in the 1500m. After impressing at the Athlone International Grand Prix and the Armagh International, Kerry broke the beam first in the 1500m; the Olympian completed the distance in 4:20.86 (1st place). North Down AC’s Rachel Gibson was just over a second away from a national medal when she ran 4:32.23 for 4th place in the same race. The always impressive Ben Reynolds (North Down AC) took on his second high profile 60m hurdles race in as many days – following a good run at the British Athletics Muller GP in Birmingham yesterday (Saturday 18th February 2017), Ben sealed yet another AAI title when he covered the jumps in 7.83secs (1st place). Northern Ireland ladies Mandy Gault (Lagan Valley AC) and Erin McIlveen (City of Lisburn AC) picked up well-deserved bronze medals in their respective 400m and 800m events. Mandy ran 55.06secs for 400m, while Erin crossed the line in 2:08.59 in her 800m event. Interestingly, in Mandy’s 400m race, up and coming Beechmount Harriers athlete Davica Patterson missed a medal in a ‘blanket finish’ – Davica ran a personal best of 55.76secs for 5th place; this was less than a second away from Mandy in third place. Full results from the Irish Life AAI National Senior Indoor Track & Field Championships 2017 can be found HERE. Ciara Mageean and Amy Foster excel as NI athletes impress on the track: Ciara Mageean claims gold as Amy Foster records CWG standard: On Saturday 18th February 2017, a large number of local athletes were in action at the Irish Life AAI National Indoor Track & Field Championships in Abbotstown, Ireland. The first day of the two meet comprised mainly of heats - however, Portaferry athlete Ciara Mageean secured the 3,000m title. After recording the European Athletics Indoor Championships qualifying standard in Athlone during the week, 24 year old UCD AC athlete Ciara refused to let a lingering head-cold stop her producing an excellent performance against top opposition. In total, there were three Olympians toeing the line in the 3,000m, as well as multiple internationals including two-time European Cross Country Champion Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole AC). Fionnuala led in the opening stages of the race with Ciara and Leevale AC Steeplechase star Michelle Finn in close pursuit. Close to halfway, Michelle split the pack and only Ciara could hold on to the pace. The Northern Ireland lady then eased away in the final 400m to win in 9:08.83 (1st place). After the race, Ciara told BBC Sport NI, "It's a good confidence boost and I still have a good two hard weeks in the lead up to Belgrade, so I will be focused on being healthy and getting rid of this head cold." There was also impressive performances by a number of other Northern Ireland based athletes, with Leon Reid (Birchfield Harriers), Erin McIlveen (City of Lisburn AC), Dean Adams (Ballymena & Antrim AC), Christian Robinson (City of Lisburn AC), Craig Newell (Ballymena & Antrim AC), Lauren Roy (City of Lisburn AC), Adam McCombe (University of Ulster AC), Mark Hoy (Finn Valley AC) and Michael Dyer (North Down AC) all progressing to the next round of their respective competitions, which will conclude tomorrow, Sunday 19th February 2017. ACTT Track & Field Championships (Australia): Also on Saturday 18th February 2017, sprinter Amy Foster (City of Lisburn AC) continued her good form in Australia. Following on from some excellent results, which has seen the multiple record holder narrowly miss the Athletics NI Commonwealth Games nomination standard, Amy went one better and achieved the required times. Competing in the 100m, the City of Lisburn AC star recorded 11.42secs (Wind - 2.0) for 3rd place. Full results are available HERE. British Athletics Muller Indoor Grand Prix (England): Closer to home on the same day, Saturday 18th February 2017, well-known and respected Northern Ireland and Ireland hurdler Ben Reynolds (North Down AC) took to the track at the televised British Athletics Muller Indoor Grand Prix, in Birmingham, England. Up against top opposition in the 60m hurdles, Ben covered the distance in 7.87secs (5th place). Full results for the event are now available HERE. Ben will now look ahead to tomorrow's AAI National Senior Indoor Championships in Ireland. Weekend Preview: All eyes on the AAI National Indoor Championships... Weekend Preview: Local athletes ready for events from 60 metres to 48 hours… After a busy and exciting week of action, which included two major events, namely the AIT International Indoor Grand Prix and the Armagh International Road Races, it’s once again time to look ahead to the weekend’s action. This includes the AAI National Indoor Track & Field Championships, as well as the 2nd annual running of the ‘Last One Standing’ (an associated trail races)… an interesting event which will be hosted by running enthusiasts Sammy and Adrian Daye under the guise ‘Atlas Running’. NI Duathlon will also welcome athletes to Victoria Park, Belfast for their regular Belfast Tandem 10k and 5k road races. Further afield, local runners will be in action at the prestigious British University & Colleges (BUCS) Indoor Track & Field Championships in England. BUCS Indoor Track & Field Championships 2017: The weekend action has actually started - earlier today (Friday 17th February 2017), students from across the UK kicked off their medal hunt at the BUCS Indoor Track & Field Championships in Sheffield, England. Athletes from Northern Ireland will represent their universities and colleges, which should come at the right time for some of our top student talent, given that the IUAA Indoor Championships have just been held. We would expect Northern Ireland pair Andrew Wright (Cardiff University) and Megan Marrs (Loughborough University) to contest podium places in their respective 1500m and 60m hurdles events. Irish Life AAI National Indoor Track & Field Championships (Ireland): Arguably the most notable event over the weekend will be the Irish Life AAI National Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will take place over Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th February 2017 at the AIT Arena in Abbotstown, Ireland. The major Championships will attract a plethora of talent from Northern Ireland, many of whom are mentioned in the official Athletics Ireland event preview (HERE) as potential contenders. We have included it below… Abbotstown set for thrilling Irish Life Health National Indoor Championships: Medals, records, European Indoor qualification and much more will be at stake at the Irish Life Health National Senior Indoor Championships at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown this weekend (February 18/19). There promises to be some exciting showdowns in the new national indoor arena which is now bedding in fully after a number of events have been hosted on the blue-banked track. A one hour highlight show will be shown on RTÉ 2 at 8:30pm on Sunday evening. The European Indoor Athletics Championships are set for Belgrade, Serbia on March 3rd-5th with athletes looking to rubber stamp and gain selection this weekend. Ciara Neville bounced back to top form this indoor season and equalled the national senior 60m indoor record to win the national junior title in Athlone. The time was also a national junior record and European indoor qualifying time. Neville was part of the 4x100m team that finished fifth at the World Junior Athletics Championships in Poland last summer and will be aiming to add the national 60m title to her CV. Others set to feature include Joan Healy (Bandon) and Molly Scott (SLOT). In the men’s 60m Dean Adams (Ballymena and Antrim), Christopher Sibanda (Clonliffe Harriers), Leon Reid (Menapians), Christian Robinson (City of Lisburn) and Leo Morgan (Clonliffe Harriers) will all be battling to be Ireland’s fastest man. In the 200m Sibanda and Reid are down to return for the 200m and will face, amongst others, Eanna Madden (Carrick on Shannon) and David McDonald (Menapians) Rising star Sharlene Mawdsely (Newport) is in the women’s 200m but should be pushed hard by Sarah McCarthy (Mid Sutton). Catherine McManus (Dublin City Harriers) has been one of the most active athletes this indoor season and should be in contention for medal while also being one of the favourites for gold in the women’s 60m hurdles alongside Elizabeth Morland (Cushinstown) and Lily-Ann O’Hora (Dooneen). Sinead Denny (DSD) and Phil Healy (Bandon) are set for an exciting duel in the women’s 400m. Denny ran 53.73 under the European indoor standard (53.75) last weekend in Vienna and. Healy’s top end speed is in fine fettle having run 7.31 for the 60m and just outside the Irish record of 7.30 seconds. She also held off Denny at the AAI Games – it should prove to be one of the races of the championships with the Bandon bullet looking for the European Indoor 400m standard to go alongside her 60m standard. Luke Lennon-Ford, Brian Gregan (both Clonliffe Harriers), Richard Morrissey (Crusaders), previous champion Dara Kervick (Clonliffe Harriers) and Brandon Arrey (Blarney/Inniscara) will be in the men’s 400m which could spark fireworks. Ben Reynolds (North Down) and Gerard O’Donnell (Carrick on Shannon) are set to face off one more time over the 60m hurdles. Reynolds has his European Indoor standard (7.80) from the AAI Games with 7.78 while O’Donnell will be looking to dip under the standard and snatch gold. Ciara Mageean (UCD) is entered for the 800, 1500m and 3,000m but is still undecided on what event she will run and will decide closer to the weekend with her coach Jerry Kiernan. Interestingly Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole) is on the entry list for the 3,000m where Emma Mitchell (Queens University) who has been in excellent form over 1500m and 3,000m is also listed. Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle) ran the 1500m European indoor standard at the Athlone International and is listed for the 1500m and 3,000m. Ellie Hartnett (UCD), Nadia Power (Templeogue) and Ann-Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny) should be among those to feature in the women’s 1500m while Erin McIlveen (City of Lisburn) will be one the favourites for the women’s 800m with Fiona Kehoe (Kilmore), who is second on the season’s list, Alanna Lally (UCD), Amy O’Donoghue (Emerald) and Rose Finnegan (Bohermeen). Paul Robinson (St Coca’s) is on the road back to fitness having run a 4:02 mile in Athlone. He is entered in the 1500m and 3,000m but it likely to favour the longer event in Abbotstown. Eoin Everard (Kilkenny City Harriers) is the defending champion in both events but is likely just to choose one as is John Travers (Donore Harriers). Matthew Bergin (DSD) is also likely to feature in the men’s 3,000m. Kieran Kelly (Raheny Shamrock) has been will be looking to win his first national senior title in the 800m with Niall Touhy (Ferrybank) and Kevin McGrath (Bohermeen), who finished an agonising fourth at the European Youth Athletics Championships, those most likely to challenge for the top spot. Other Northern Ireland based athletes to look out for will include Jonathan Browning (Ballymena & Antrim AC), Dean Adams (Ballymena & Antrim AC), Naomi Morgan (City of Derry AC), Mark Hoy (Fin Valley AC) and Conor Bradley (City of Derry AC). Over the course of this weekend (Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th February 2017), Atlas Running wil welcome a record number of participants to the 2nd annual running of their ‘Last One Standing’ endurance race at the scenic Castle Ward Estate in County Down. As part of the race programme, there were also two associated events, the Castle Ward 4.2 mile and 8.4 mile Trail Races. The unique endurance spectacle will see athletes take to the start-line at 12pm on Saturday – the runners then have one hour to complete a 4.2 mile lap before making their way back at the start line ready to go again at 1pm, then again at 2pm and so on. Any runner not finishing the 4.2 mile lap inside the time limit and back on the line ready to start again on the next hour was disqualified (for want of a better phrase!). This will happen every hour until only one runner returns to the start line, at which point that runner must complete a solo lap inside the time limit to be crowned the winner. All runners with the exception of the winner were awarded an official DNF (did not finish) medal and any competitor still in the race at 24hrs (100.8 miles) will receive an Atlas Running 100 mile medal. A full description of the event is available on the Atlas Running website HERE. In terms of potential front runners for the ‘Last One Standing’, there are several obvious contenders. After covering 126 miles at the event in 2016, reigning Champion Bobbie Irvine (Seapark AC) could well secure top spot yet again – however, he’ll once again have to see off Westport AC’s Pat Staunton, who he battled with until the end twelve months ago. Roe Valley CC’s Peter Cromie has what it takes to be victorious if he is fully fit and inform. Mourne Runners’ mountain man William Marks could well be a good outside bet! In the ladies race, current AAI National 24 hour Champion Louise Smart (County Antrim Harriers) will go into the event as pre-race favourite. That said, Fiona Prue (Ballydrain Harriers) and Emma Louise Kirk (North East Runners) are two quality athletes who will be worth watching! Omagh Harriers’ Donna Owens should also go well. Belfast Tandems 5k and 10k Races: On Sunday 19th February 2017, NI Duathlon will host the latest of their 5k and 10k races in support of their Belfast Tandem Cycling Group. Registration will be open from 8am with both races starting at 10am at the Sam Thompson Bridge, Airport Road, Belfast, BT3 9EF. Past races have produced a significant number of personal bests for those involved, which has encouraged progressively higher numbers to attend. The 5k and 10k are both officially measured road races around the flat, scenic Victoria Park in Belfast, starting and finishing at the Sam Thompson Bridge with timing mats at the start and end of each lap of each race. Entry is £10 online HERE or you can pay and enter on the day. The 5k is open to ages 11+ whilst the 10k is open to ages 15+ (Under 16's can enter with an adult on the day). Each race has prizes for the top three male and female finishers, prizes for first place in each age category, chip timing, bananas, water, 10% off at Athlos Triathlon store and... medals! Proceeds (plus any additional donations) will go towards growing the Belfast Tandem Cycling Group for blind and partially sighted cyclists (the group is also seeking a few more sighted 'pilots'). In the previous 5k race, Jonathan McKee (Springwell Running Club) and Kirsti Foster (East Down AC) secured the top spots, while in the 10k race Wesley McDowell (Dromore AC) and Siobhan Brown (Tafelta AC) crossed the line with winning times. Entries are available on the day (and online until midnight on Saturday) and it looks like there will be a good field in both distances, with runners of all levels keen to bag a personal best on a totally flat course in decent conditions! Registration and parking are beside the Sam Thompson Bridge. This course is regarded as quick so arrive early to avoid a queue! Laura Weightman, Ben Connor & Stephen MacKay win at Armagh International: Armagh International Road Races 2017: On Thursday 16th February 2017, athletes from fifteen countries took to the streets of the Cathedral City of Armagh for the 27th annual running of the Armagh International Road Races, an exceptionally well organised event hosted by Armagh AC. This year also celebrates 50 years of athletic promotion for Armagh AC and continued a tradition of International Road Races which began in 1975 with the NACAI International Sport & Cultural Week. An exceptional night of racing saw Laura Weightman (Morpeth Harriers), Ben Connor (England) and Stephen MacKay (Inverness Harriers) steal the headlines, but ultimately, it was road racing itself which benefited most - a staggering 79 men ran under 15 minutes for 5k and 29 ladies dipped under the 10 minute mark for 3k. The atmosphere within the oval shaped 'Mall' area of the historic city was electric, with supporters turning out in force to cheer on the thousands of junior and senior athletes as they took on the flat and fast course. After the well supported junior races, which attracted in excess of 1,200 participants, had warmed things up perfectly, it was the turn of the elite fields to take to the roads. Perfect conditions and talent laden fields awaited, all that had to be delivered was the performances to match... and they were! In the International Ladies 3k, double Olympian Laura Weightman lived up to expectation, smashing Mary Cullen’s course record. Despite strong early running by fellow English athlete Jessica Judd, it always looked like Laura would have the final say and that did indeed prove to be the case as the Steve Cram coached athlete moved clear going into the 1,000m. Laura broke the tape in a new course record of 8:59 for 1st place, with Rosie Clarke, a fourth place finisher here in 2016, taking 2nd place in 9:02; this was also inside the previous course record of 9:07. Jessica Judd completed the top three in 9:11 (3rd place). After the race, Laura told Athletics Weekly’s Alex Donald, “I knew it was a strong record to beat. I really wanted to test myself and that’s a good platform now looking forward to the summer.” Rio Olympic Steeplechaser Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC) showed very little signs of fatigue following her impressive outing at last night’s AIT International Grand Prix, where she recorded a European Indoor 1500m qualifying time, as she led the Northern Ireland team home in a new 3k road personal best of 9:22 for 9th place. The International Men’s 5k brought a record number of participants to the Mall West start line. Just like the ladies event, the men set off at a blistering pace, which they kept up for much, if not all of the race. Little separated the lead group until the latter stages when England’s Graham Rush made a brave surge. This provoked a reaction from the remainder of the lead pack, from which Ben Connor (England), Brandon Doughty (USA) and Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers AC) emerged. In a frantic battle for top honours, it was Ben Connor who held strong to cross the line first, taking top spot in 13:55 (1st place) – this was an agonising one second off the long standing course record of 13:54, held by USA’s David Nightingale since 2009. Brandon also finished in 13:55 (2nd place), with crowd favourite Dewi following in 13:58 (3rd place). Ben spoke to Alex Donald (Athletics Weekly) about his victory: “I always wanted to give this race a go, the atmosphere is amazing. It’s the best 5km I’ve ever done. To come through and win like this was great, winning is a habit you get into.” City of Derry AC’s Conor Bradley looked close to his best as he continues his return to competition, leading the local runners home in 14:30 (31st place), while Neil Johnston (Springwell Running Club) led the Northern Ireland team home five seconds later in 14:36 (38th place). The final race of an excellent event programme was the Open Men’s 3k. After a similarly fast start to the international events, it was City of Lisburn AC’s Jonathan Whan who headed to lead pack. Up and coming star Jonathan was then absorbed back into the chasing group, with Stephen MacKay (Inverness Harriers) and Zak Hanna (Newcastle AC) coming to the fore as the men entered the final 400m stretch. In the final metres, Stephen moved ahead, eventually sealing victory in 8:45 (1st place). Zak was rewarded for an excellent performance with the runners up prize – the Northern Ireland and Ireland mountain running international clocked 8:49 for 2nd place. Last year’s winner Craig McMeechan (North Down AC) claimed 3rd place in 8:52. International Ladies 3k – Podium Places: Top 3 Ladies: 1st Laura Weightman (Morpeth Harriers) – 8:59, 2nd Rosie Clarke (England) – 9:02, 3rd Jessica Judd (England) – 9:11 Top 3 Northern Ireland Ladies: 9th Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC) – 9:22, 10th Emma Mitchell (QUB AC) – 9:23, 14th Ann-Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny AC) – 9:34 International Men’s 5k – Podium Places: Top 3 Men: 1st Ben Connor (England) – 13:55, 2nd Brandon Doughty (USA) – 13:55, 3rd Dewi Griffiths (Swansea Harriers AC) – 13:58 Top 3 Northern Ireland Men: 31st Conor Bradley (City of Derry AC – 14:30, 38th Neil Johnston (Springwell Running Club) – 14:35, 42nd Danny Mooney (Letterkenny AC) – 14:37 Open Men’s 3k – Podium Places: Top 3 Men: 1st Stephen MacKay (Inverness Harriers) – 8:45, 2nd Zak Hanna (Newcastle AC) – 8:49, 3rd Craig McMeechan (North Down AC) – 8:52 Top 3 Northern Ireland Men: 2nd Zak Hanna (Newcastle AC) – 8:49, 3rd Craig McMeechan (North Down AC) – 8:52, 4th Shane McGowan (Derry Track Club) – 8:55 Full Results: Armagh International Road Races 2017 Results Ciara Mageean and Kerry O'Flaherty hit Euro standard at AIT International GP: AIT International Grand Prix 2017: On Wednesday 15th February 2017, a sell out crowd descended on the AIT Indoor Arena in Athlone (Ireland) for the annual AIT International Grand Prix, an event which never fails to attract talented from across the globe. On a night when a British record, an ‘all-comers’ record and several stadium records all went, it was the performances of three Northern Ireland ladies which will attract local attention. Ciara Mageean (UCD AC), Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC) and Emma Mitchell (QUB AC) lined up in a talent laden 1500m event. Despite the focus being on the front running exploits of eventual winner Claudia Bobecea (1st place – 4:08.19), the NI and Ireland trio came through well with Ciara and Kerry achieving European Indoor qualifying standards and Emma recording a new personal best. Irish and NI 1500m record holder Ciara clocked 4:12.46 for 5th place, with Kerry following in 4:14.63 (7th place). Emma then narrowly missed the 4:15.00 standard with a 4:15.32 finish for 9th place. There was also encouraging performances by Leon Reid (Birchfield Harriers) and Erin McIlveen (City of Lisburn AC) – Leon ran 6.88secs for 60m, while Erin completed the 800m in 2:07.63. Full Results: AIT International Grand Prix 2017 Results Special Preview: Armagh International Road Races 2017 This week, the eyes of the athletics world will once again be on Northern Ireland. The reason? Of course, it’s the world renowned Armagh International Road Races. The 27th edition of the Armagh International Road Races takes place on Thursday 16th February 2017 in the world famous setting of Armagh’s historic 18th Century City Centre Mall. This year also celebrates 50 years of athletic promotion for Armagh AC and continues a tradition of International Road Races that began in 1975 with the NACAI International Sport & Cultural Week. The Armagh Road Race started in 1990 and continues a very long tradition of athletics in Armagh combining both elite athletics through the world renowned Brooks 5k for Men, the Intersport 3k for Women and the Linwoods Open 3k for Men and encouraging participation in athletics through the eight supporting races for local schools and clubs. The in-depth quality of both the Brooks 5k and Intersport 3k has long established the Armagh International Road Race series as arguably the best events of their kind in the world and 2017 will be no exception to this tradition. World Orienteering 3 Day Sprint Events adds further interest… The addition this year to the Armagh programme of the World Sprint Orienteering 3 Day event has extended things to almost a week of elite sport in the city with many of the world’s best orienteers joining both the 5k and 3k races. Last year, well-known orienteer Yannick Michiels of Belgium claimed a superb runners up spot – Yannick will return this year with ambitions of going one better! Amongst the orienteers in the ladies’ 3k race, Hungarian Fanni Gyurko will start as the favourite, closely followed by Britain’s Charlotte Ward who ran in Armagh last year. In 2012 orienteer Lizzy Adams won the ladies 3k race! Can any of the current crop of international orienteers repeat this and be crowned fastest in Armagh? Intersport Ladies International 3k: In 2016, a total of 29 ladies dipped under the 10 minute mark, with 14 of these going sub 9:30. Irish international Sara Treacy won in 9:18 – less than one second split the top three that night, with Sara Inglis and Laura Whittle both clocking 9:19 for 2nd place and 3rd place respectively. Last years field was fairly talent laden, but if anything the organisers have raised the bar by a few more notches. The Intersport Women’s 3k will bring together an unsurpassed array of talent that could well challenge the course record of 9:07.90 set by Mary Cullen (Ireland) in 2013. Among the high profile women who will take to the start line is Laura Weightman (Morpeth Harriers). Laura is currently coached by Steve Cram and has a 3,000m best of 8:43 - she’s currently concentrating on the 1500m where she has run 4:02.66. In addition, Laura has a wealth of experience having run in all the major World Championships including European, World and Olympic Games. Podium finisher in 2016, Laura Whittle (Scotland) knows what it takes to win here having stormed to victory in 2014. Last year she ran 9:19 for third place, but her fastest 3,000m in 2016 was 8:51.48 on the track. It is worth noting that the Under 23 European Championship gold medallist has run 15:08.58 for 5,000m. Cardiff AC’s Charlotte Arter turned a few heads with a new 3,000m indoor personal best of 9:11.79 for fourth place at the British Athletics Championships last weekend. At the same event, highly respected Team GB athlete Emelia Gorecka recorded 9:24 despite still making a return to full fitness – Emelia, who has a personal best of 8:55.11 (2012) for 3,000m is due to compete here. Former British Athletics Euro Trails 3,000m winner Jessica Judd (England) boasts a 3,000m best of 9:00.06 and will therefore be worth watching, as will her England team mate Rosie Clarke who claimed fourth place here in 2016 – Rosie ran 9:21 over this course twelve months ago but has run 9:10.99 for the distance. Gemma Hillier (Charnwood AC) is another athlete who knows this course and clocked 9:22 in Sheffield last week – considering that race was a tactical and rough affair, we’d expect Gemma to run quicker here. Scotland’s Stephanie Pennycook will also go well, as will Welsh athlete Melissa Courtney. Young Warrington AC starlet Harriet Knowles-Jones has enjoyed an excellent cross country season and could cause an upset if she brings that strength and her 1500m speed to the party. There is of course local interest as well with Irish Olympian Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC) leading the Northern Ireland team. Kerry won here in 2009 and 2010 but is better known these days as a 3,000m Steeplechaser who represented Ireland in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Last year, Kerry ran 9:24 for eight place here. Strabane lady Ann-Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny AC) will represent Ireland and will be hoping to match, or better her stunning sixth place at this race in 2016. NI & Ulster 10k Champion Emma Mitchell (QUB AC) has run 9:17 for 3,000m and will play a part at the front if she gets close to this time on the road. Danielle Fegan (Armagh AC), Judith Lonnen (City of Lisburn AC), Laura Bickerstaff (Dromore AC), Joanne Mills (Newcastle AC / Northern Ireland) and Jessica Craig (North Down AC) will all take to the start line. Brooks Armagh International 5k: A quick glance at the solid in-depth talent entered for this year’s Brooks International 5k Men’s race suggests that the record of 13:54 held since 2009 by USA athlete David Nightingale could well go. A field of almost 250 athletes are entered, of which, there at least eighteen sub 14 minute runners and well over 100 who have run sub 15 minutes for the distance. Last years 66 runners under 15 minutes could well be smashed, which would also further enhance the reputation of this event, which now attracts global attention. Sometimes however a field like that with so many well matched athletes can result in a very tactical race with no one athlete prepared to lay down the gauntlet and go for it – lets hope that this is NOT one of those nights! There is once again a big International dimension with last year’s winner Charlie Hulson (Sale Harriers) among the top contenders. In 2016, Charlie saw off Yannick Michiels in an epic finish to win in 14:02.83, with Yannick running 14:02.99 for the runners up prize. Charlie has a 5,000m best of 13:43 among his achievements which also include winning the English Cross Country Championships in 2015. Another top English contender will be Jonny Davies, a former European Under 23 Cross Country Champion, who quite recently recorded an excellent 13:23 for 5,000m in Belgium. As previously mentioned, orienteer Yannick Michiels will also return which could mean an excellent ‘re-match’ between the 2016 top two! Former European team 3,000m Steeplechase Champion Krystian Zalewski continues a long tradition of Polish participation at the Armagh International and his 3,000m Steeplechase personal best of 8:17 indicates that he could be a real contender this year. Krystian’s previous visits to Armagh will have increased his knowledge of this technical course, which includes around 19 ninety degree bends! There will be a talented contingent from Wales on the start line – this will include Swansea AC’s Dewi Griffiths who has run 13:53 for 5k. If Dewi’s win at the British Athletics Cross Challenge event in Cardiff last month is anything to go by, he could well be a genuine title contender here. The USA has always featured strongly in Armagh thanks to the efforts of athletic supremo Charlie Breagy who works hard to get some of the best USA athletes over each year. Americans have notched up no less than six wins and the current course record in the 12 years since their first appearance in 2005. This year’s USA quartet is led by Brandon Doughty who has a 5,000m best of 13:39. The team also includes Irish athlete Shane Quinn from Providence University – Shane, the son of Irish 3,000m Steeplechase record holder Brendan Quinn, just missed selection on the Ireland team with a personal best of 13:48. The USA contingent is completed by Jonny Crain and Jordan Mann who have both run 13:53 for the 5k The Ireland team is led by Matt Bergin (Bedford County AC) - he is another sub 14 runner with a best of 13:54. The team is completed by Mark Christie, Kevin Dooney and Thomas Hayes. AAI National Marathon Champion Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham WSAF) will also go well. There is a strong Scotland team as well with Olympic 1500m runner Jake Wightman the best known – Jake has previously run in Armagh and regards the race as critical to his early season preparation for the track. In 2016 Jake recorded a superb 3:54.20 for the 1 Mile while; he has run five sub four minute miles! Jake’s 1500m best of 3:35.49 puts him among the elites of the world. The team includes Grant Sheldon, Derek Hawkins and Ben Stevenson - all of whom have run low 14 minute times for the distance. The addition of the World Sprint Orienteering 3 Day has brought a new dimension to the Armagh International programme with World Champion orienteers like Tim Robertson from New Zealand and Oystein Kvaal of Norway joining the aforementioned Yannick Michiels of Belgium on the line. A team of Finland orienteers will include Arttu Vattulainen, a 13:53 runner, and Henri Manninen better known for the marathon where he has run 2:16:43. There are a couple of other English athletes worth looking out for on the night, namely John Beattie from Newham & Essex Beagles AC and Jake Shelley of Shaftesbury Barnett AC. Cameron Boyek (Scotland), Daniel Cliffe (Liverpool Harriers) and Joshua Grace (Real Runners) will also feature at the head of the pack. The Northern Ireland challenge for honours will be headed up by the likes of Paddy Hamilton (Slieve Gullion Runners), JP Williamson (Derry Track Club), Ben Branagh (St Malachy’s AC) and Conor Duffy (Glaslough Harriers). Seamus Lynch (Newcastle AC), Conan McCaughey (Central AC / Derry Track Club), Conor Bradley (City of Derry AC) and Danny Mooney (Letterkenny AC) should also place well. Not forgetting, the supporting programme… In addition to the two International events there are no less than 9 other races, including the Linwoods Open Men’s 3k with an entry of 200 plus representing athletes from all over Ireland, Britain and Europe including France and Norway. Looking for a podium place and potentially the win will be the likes of Keith Shiels (Foyle Valley AC), Dennis Scott (North Down AC), Shane Brady (Clones AC), Stephen O’Gorman (Dromore AC), Aaron McGlynn (Finn Valley AC), Craig McMeechan (North Down AC) and Sean Corry (Omagh Harriers). However, interestingly, what most people will be interested in are the 8 juvenile races bringing together over 1,000 young athletes from local schools and clubs from all over Ireland. These 8 races feature the future of the sport and many previous participants have graduated year on year to joining the ranks of the competitors in the 3k and 5k races. These 8 races present a colourful and exciting opening to the elite senior races which follow on and are a credit to the schools and clubs who give up their time to coach and supervise the development of this up and coming pool of talent. Brian McCluskey and Laura Graham victorious at DUNE Half Marathon: DUNE Half Marathon 2017: On Sunday 12th February 2017, a record number of close to eight hundred competitors took on the first race of this year’s Pure Running Half Marathon Series, the DUNE Half Marathon. The cross-border event started at the Quays Shopping Centre in Newry (Northern Ireland) and finished in Market Square in Dundalk (Ireland). In the absence of 2016 Champion Paddy Hamilton (Slieve Gullion Runners), it was last years runner up Brian McCluskey (North East Runners) who stole the headlines. Brian put in an impressive performance on his own at the front, eventually recording 1:12:43 for 1st place. Arguably the most notable run of the day came from Acorns AC man Francis McDaid; Francis smashed his own personal best as well as his club record when he claimed 2nd place in 1:13:54. Popular local man Don Travers (Newry City Runners) crossed the line in 1:14:32 for 3rd place. On her return to competitive action following a busy 2016, Laura Graham (Mourne Runners) dominated the ladies race. Leading from start to finish, the ever improving Kilkeel lady broke the tape in 1:18:21 for 1st place; this was well over one minute quicker than her time here in 2016 and saw Laura take 7th place overall. Consistent performer Diane Watson (City of Lisburn AC) was next across the line in 1:26:17 (2nd place), while Nuala Uighruaghain (Club Unknown) recorded 1:28:24 for 3rd place. Top 3 Men: 1st Brian McCluskey (North East Runners) – 1:12:43, 2nd Francis McDaid (Acorns AC) – 1:13:54, 3rd Don Travers (Newry City Runners) – 1:14:32 Top 3 Ladies: 1st Laura Graham (Mourne Runners) – 1:18:21, 2nd Diane Watson – (City of Lisburn AC) – 1:26:17, 3rd Nuala Uighruaghain (Club Unknown) – 1:28:24 Full Results: DUNE Half Marathon 2017 Results Mark McKinstry and Catherine Diver take top honours at Mallusk XC: Mallusk Cross Country 2017: On Sunday 12th February 2017, respected County Antrim based club Mallusk Harriers hosted their Mallusk Cross Country at the Belfast City Playing Fields. The weather conditions may have been cold, but there was plenty of top quality action to heat things up. The extensive race programme kicked off with an excellent junior timetable, which brought impressive wins for Rhys McManus (East Coast AC), Ellen Montgomery (Larne AC), Joel Chambers (Ballydrain Harriers), Casey Miskelly (Ballydrain Harriers), Matthew Lavery (North Belfast Harriers), Lily Toorish (Derry Track Club), Sean McIntyre (Derry Track Club) and Ciara O’Rawe (North Belfast Harriers). In the ladies 3 mile race, Beechmount Harriers athlete Catherine Diver followed on from her impressive run at the NI & Ulster Intermediate and Masters XC with a winning performance. Catherine led the field home in 19:46 (1st place). Catherine Hriber (City of Derry AC) sealed 2nd place in 22:42, before Susan Thompson (Mallusk Harriers) completed the podium in 23:04 (3rd place). Eric Montgomery was the first of the Vet60+ Men to complete the course, clocking 20:49 (1st place). The final race of the day was the men’s 4 mile event. As expected, pre-race favourite Mark McKinstry (North Belfast Harriers) played a major part in proceedings, which were dominated by North Belfast Harriers. Mark took top honours in 22:41 (1st place) and was followed across the line by club mates Michael McKillop and Eddie Cooke in 23:09 (2nd place) and 24:28 (3rd place) respectively. Top 3 Ladies (3 miles): 1st Catherine Diver (Beechmount Harriers) – 19:46, 2nd Catherine Hriber (City of Derry AC) – 22:42, 3rd Susan Thompson (Mallusk Harriers) – 23:04 Top 3 Men (4 miles): 1st Mark McKinstry (North Belfast Harriers) – 22:41, 2nd Michael McKillop (North Belfast Harriers) – 23:09, 3rd Eddie Cooke (North Belfast Harriers) – 24:28 Full Results: Mallusk XC 2017 Results Tim Johnston and Ciara Toner win O'Cahans Trail Race: O'Cahans Trail Race 2017: On Saturday 11th February 207, local events management company Northern Velocity staged the latest of their trail race events in Roe Valley Country Park in Limavady, County Derry/Londonderry. The O'Cahans Trail Race measured 8k in distance and consisted of two laps through this picturesque setting with athletes leaving the Country Park Visitors Centre and running along the riverbank to cross the river at the Carrick Mills Bridge, before running down the opposite riverbank to the Visitors Centre to complete lap one. The weather conditions were ideal for running and the men’s race was closely contested, with Timothy Johnston (Mourne Runners) and Odhran McHone (Unattached) matching each other stride for stride until the closing stages of the race when Timothy moved clear to win in 28:35 (1st place). Odhran finished in 2nd place in 28:44. The podium was completed by Ciaran Ferris (Springwell RC) in 29:02 (3rd place). In the ladies race, Ciara Toner (Springwell RC) dominated from the start and continued her recent form with a convincing win in 32:59 (1st place). Emma Smith (Club Unknown) secured 2nd place in 34:48, while Kirsty Bogle completed the course in 36:19 for 3rd place. Full results for the event will be added to our results page when available. Louise Smith strikes gold as local runners compete outside NI: On Saturday 11th February 2017, local lady Louise Smith (North Belfast Harriers) made an impressive step into the world of ultra-running. The North Belfast Harriers lady travelled south to Donadea for the popular Donadea 50k trail race, which incorporated the AAI National 50k Trail Championships. Up against quality opposition, Louise sealed an excellent victory in the ladies race, covering the route in 3:51:09 (1st place). Another athlete new to the competitive ultra running scene, Dave Slater (Enniskillen Running Club), clocked 3:20:40 to claim a very credible 5th place. Veteran athlete Matt Shields (North Belfast Harriers) secured a top twenty place when crossing the line in 3:43:48 (13th place), while Enniskillen Running Club’s Tara Malone (4:08:56) narrowly missed the ladies podium when finishing in 4th place. Full results from the Donadea 50k can be found HERE. British Athletics Indoor Championships 2017 (England): On Saturday 11th February 2017, at least four Northern Ireland based runners were in action at the prestigious British Athletics Indoor Championships in Sheffield, England. Olympian Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC) and NI & Ulster 10k Champion Emma Mitchell (QUB AC) lined up in a star studded 3,000m event. Kerry claimed 6th place in 9:19.51, with Emma following in 9:31.20 (11th place). There was also seasons best performances by Mandy Gault (Lagan Valley AC) and Andrew Wright (Willowfield Harriers) at the event. Mandy recorded 55.31secs for 400m, while Andrew completed the 1500m in 3:56.88. Full results from the British Athletics Indoor Championships can be found HERE. Carnethy 5 Mountain Race (Scotland): Also on Saturday 11th February 2017, local runners placed well at the annual Carnethy 5 Mountain Race just outside Edinburgh, Scotland. As expected, Irish international Eoin Lennon, who is affiliated to Scottish club Carnethy HRC, was the first Northern Ireland athlete to negotiate the five major Pentland peaks, covering 6 miles in distance and 2,500ft in ascent. In tough weather conditions, Eoin claimed 16th place in 56:46, finishing just over four minutes behind race winner Finlay Wild, who ran 52:50 (1st place). As Eoin now lives in Scotland, the next NI finisher, North Belfast Harriers man Nat Glenn was awarded the coveted ‘1st Place Overseas Athlete’ trophy after completing the course in 1:10:07 (114th place). Newcastle AC’s Eugene McCann enjoyed an excellent run, taking 205th place in 1:16:45, while Ballymena Runners’ Jack McKenna followed in 1:25:11 (324th place). Lagan Valley AC athlete Anne Sanford finished in 64th place in the ladies event, having recorded 1:32:33 for the route. Full results for the Carnethy 5 Mountain Race can be found HERE. Amy Foster continues to impress in Australia… Further afield on Saturday 11th February 2017, City of Lisburn AC athlete and multiple Northern Ireland and Ireland record holder, Amy Foster continued to impress in Australia. The exceptionally talented sprinter claimed two 2nd place finishes at an University of Brisbane track and field meeting. Amy came close to the IAAF World Championships qualifying standards for both 200m (23.10secs) and 100m (11.26secs) when clocking 23.30secs for 200m and 11.45secs for 100m. The fact that her 200m time was Amy's fastest ever run over the distance (albeit wind assisted) bodes well for the upcoming season. Midlands Counties Open Track & Field Meeting (England): Also over the weekend, Leon Reid (Birchfield Harriers) and Jason Harvey (Crusaders AC) were in action at the Midlands Counties Open Track & Field Meeting in England. Leon won the 200m in a fast 21.11secs (1st place) which sets him up well for the AAI National Senior Championships next weekend. Jason came from behind to win his 400m heat in 48.50secs (1st place) which is a significant improvement on his performance at the AAI Games last week. Paul Barbour and Pauline McGurren lead the way at Omagh CBS 10k: Omagh CBS 10k 2017: On Saturday 10th February 2017, well over two hundred runners descended on Omagh for the annual Omagh CBS 10k (and associated 5k), an event which never fails to attract some of the provinces top running talent. Reigning Champion Conan McCaughey did not return to defend his 2016 title, but instead, it was his Derry Track Club team mate Paul Barbour who walked away with the trophy. After a strong display of front running, the returning Paul broke the tape in 33:30 for 1st place. Ever improving Acorns AC man Eoin Hughes took 2nd place in 34:08, while Brian Taggart (Sperrin Harriers) recorded 36:08 for 3rd place. In the ladies race, Sperrin Harriers’ Pauline McGurren went one better than her second place finish here twelve months ago. The consistently impressive athlete saw off a strong challenge from Sarah Jane Guiney (Albertville Harriers) to win in 39:10 (1st place). Sarah Jane followed in 39:23 (2nd place), before Paula Donnelly (Unattached) crossed the line in 42:22 for 3rd place Top 3 Men: 1st Paul Barbour (Derry City Track Club) – 33:30, 2nd Eoin Hughes (Acorns AC) – 34:08, 3rd Brian Taggart (Sperrin Harriers) – 36:08 Top 3 Ladies: 1st Pauline McGurren (Sperrin Harriers) – 39:10, 2nd Sarah Jane Guiney (Albertville Harriers) – 39:23, 3rd Paula Donnelly (Unattached) – 42:22 Full Results: Omagh CBS 10k (and 5k) 2017 Results David McNeilly and Gerrie Short first past the post at Rollercoaster 5k: Rollercoaster Road Races 2017: On Saturday 11th February 2017, runners of all ages turned out in their hundreds for the annual Rollercoaster Road Races, a well-organised event by East Down AC within the confines of the famous Downpatrick Horse Race Track. After the vast array of junior races, it was time for the senior and veteran competitors to take to the start line for their 5k race. The course which covers the road around the race track, is as it says in the race title, just like a rollercoaster, a perfect example of undulating. As expected, Newcastle AC were well represented alongside hosts East Down AC, and it was a Newcastle AC man who stole the headlines. David McNeilly looked a class apart as he cruised to a well-deserved victory in 17:30 (1st place). East Down AC’s Ciaran Denvir ran well to take 2nd place in 17:52, while Annadale Striders’ Conor McMullan clocked 18:01 for 3rd place. The ladies race, Beechmount Harriers’ Gerrie Short bettered her runners up spot from 2016 when she secured an excellent victory in 19:36 (1st place). Young East Down AC star Laura Gardiner completed the course in 21:19 for 2nd place, before Novosco Grand Prix winner Ruth Perioli (Ballydrain Harriers) completed the podium on 21:37 (3rd place). Top 3 Men: 1st David McNeilly (Newcastle AC) – 17:30, 2nd Ciaran Denvir (East Down AC) – 17:52, 3rd Conor McMullan (Annadale Striders) – 18:01 Top 3 Ladies: 1st Gerrie Short (Beechmount Harriers) – 19:36, 2nd Laura Gardiner (East Down AC) – 21:19, 3rd Ruth Perioli (Ballydrain Harriers) – 21:37 Full Results: Rollercoaster Road Races 2017 Results Neil Johnston excels as local runners perform well at IUAA Indoor Championships: IUAA Indoor Track & Field Championships 2017: On Friday 10th February 2017, a large number of runners from Northern Ireland travelled to Athlone (Ireland) to represent their Universities at the prestigious Irish Universities Athletics Association (IUAA) Indoor Track & Field Championships at the impressive AIT Arena. Up and against some of Ireland’s top up and coming talent, the Northern Ireland based students excelled in several events. Springwell Running Club’s Neil Johnston of QUB AC excelled with a hard fought victory in the 3,000m. Neil recorded 8:42.20 for 1st place, seeing of UCD AC’s Darragh Fitzgibbon (2nd place – 8:42.72) by less than a second. Another QUB AC athlete, Claudia Jalon, continued her rise through the ranks with an excellent silver medal in the 800m won by Amy Ni Hamail (DCU AC) in 2:16.10 (1st place) – Claudia crossed the line in 2:17.10 (2nd place). Ballymena & Antrim AC’s Jonathan Browning, representing QUB AC) could not retain his 60m title from 2016 in what was a tightly contested race, but he should be pleased with his 6.92secs clocking for 3rd place; this bodes well for the outdoor season ahead. The race was won by Limerick IT’s Christopher Sibanda in 6.91secs (1st place). University of Ulster student Adam McCombe also made the podium, after claiming 3rd place over 400m. Adam covered the distance in 48.89secs. The race was won by Irish international and University of Limerick student Thomas Barr in 46.87secs (1st place) Full Results: IUAA Indoor Track & Field Championships 2017 Results Weekend Preview: Local runners prepare for a variety of events... Weekend Preview: We LOVE running… On a weekend when love is very much in the air (remember, it’s Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, get out and buy that card/present!), the local running fraternity will lace up their racers in anticipation for another few days of exciting action. On the home front, the Pure Running Half Marathon Series will kick off with the DUNE Half Marathon, while East Down AC’s Rollercoaster Races and the Omagh CBS 10k will also provide options on the road. Cross country enthusiasts will get their fix with Mallusk Harriers’ XC and trail runners will also be catered for in the form of Northern Velocity’s O’Cahans Trail Race in Limavady. Outside the province, Northern Ireland will be well represented at the Irish University Athletics Association (IUAA) Indoor Track & Field Championships (Ireland), the AAI National Masters XC (Ireland), the British Athletics Indoor Championships (England) and the prestigious Carnethy 5 Mountain Race (Scotland). Irish Universities Athletics Association Indoor Track & Field Championships (Ireland): The weekend action will kick off later today (Friday 10th February 2017) when thousands of athletes will descend on the AIT Arena in Athlone (Ireland) for the Irish Universities Athletics Association Indoor Track & Field Championships. Amongst the plethora of up emerging talent who will be in competition will be numerous athletes from Northern Ireland, representing the University of Ulster and Queens University, as well as those who attend University in Ireland, such as UCD. Some of the local stars on show may well include Jonathan Browning (Ballymena & Antrim AC), Jane Matthews (Lagan Valley AC), Anna McIlmoyle (City of Lisburn AC), Andrew Mellon (North Down AC), Christine McMahon (Ballymena & Antrim AC), Neil Johnston (Springwell Running Club), Katie Kirk (QUB AC), Aislinn Crossey (Newry AC) and Rachel Gibson (North Down AC). Rollercoaster Road Races: On Saturday 11th February 2017, East Down AC will welcome athletes to Downpatrick Horse Racing Track for their annual Rollercoaster Road Races. The extensive race programme incorporates races for both junior and senior athletes, with all courses following the outer road around the famous horse racing venue; the day culminates with a 5k for the senior and veteran competitors. In the past, when the host club’s own Brendan Teer (East Down AC) has not dominated, Newcastle AC athletes have come to the fore at the head of the pack. That should be the case this time around, with reigning Champion David O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC) likely to lead the way. Following on from a fantastic performance at the Trim 10 mile road race in Ireland last weekend, David will no doubt better his winning time of 16:35 from twelve months ago. His Newcastle AC club mates, David McNeilly, Zak Hanna, Colum Campbell, Jack O’Hare and Joe McCann may all toe the line. East Down AC may be well represented in the form of Barrie Atkinson, who despite not having been a prominent figure within the local scene of late, always seems to produce quality performances. Martin Wilcox (East Down AC), Gareth Lyons (Ballydrain Harriers), Andrew McIntyre (Orangegrove AC) and Lee Maginnis (Newry AC) will all place well should they race. In the ladies race, two time Champion Rebecca Henderson (Dromore AC) may return to defend her title. Since winning here in 2015 and 2016 Rebecca has continued to establish herself as one of the country’s top female runners, excelling throughout 2016. The Dromore AC athlete and Northern Ireland international impressed with a podium place at the Laganside 10k and wins at the Larne 10k and Bobby Rea XC during the latter part of last year. Northern Ireland veteran XC international Gerrie Short (Beechmount Harriers) will be there or there abouts if she decides to make use of the on the day entry system. The same could be said for Newcastle AC’s Joanne Mills and another Beechmount Harriers athlete, Catherine Diver. East Down AC trio Laura Gardiner, Catherine O’Connor and Cheryl Denvir should all perform well if they decide to race. Northern Velocity O’Cahans 8k Trail Race: Also on Saturday 11th February 2017, events management group Northern Velocity will host the O’Cahans 8k Trail Race in Limavady. The event will take participants on an exciting and scenic route through Roe Valley Country Park, covering the majestic trails and interesting forest paths along the River Roe. Allan Bogle (City of Derry AC) was victorious at this event in 2016 and it’s hard to look past the versatile Northern Ireland runner and experience orienteer when choosing a potential winner. Foyle Valley AC’s Chris McGuinness and Derry Track Club’s Chris Millar could also be involved at the sharp in should they take to the start line. Meanwhile, in the ladies race, Springwell Running Club duo Kerrie McIlmoyle and Ciara Toner may go head to head. Based on their recent individual outings, where both have regularly made the podium, this should be an exciting race. Anne Paul (City of Derry AC) will also contest a prize. Omagh CBS 10k (and 5k): In County Tyrone on Saturday 11th February 2017, hundreds of athletes are expected to take to the start line of the annual Omagh CBS 10k road race and associated 5k event. After having to settle for a third place finish at the recent NI & Ulster Masters XC Championships, the 2016 Champion here, Stephen Duncan (Omagh Harriers) will be keen to retain his title. Fellow Omagh Harriers men Chris McGuigan and David Gormley, and Enniskillen Running Club’s Stephen Prentice should also feature at the head of the pack. In the ladies race, Pauline McGurren (Sperrin Harriers) and Esther Dickson (Newry AC) could go head-to-head once again. At this event in 2016, Esther sealed victory by just over thirsty seconds. However, given her almost permanent place on the podium, Pauline will start as pre-race favourite. Patricia O’Hagan (St Peter’s AC), Tara Malone (Enniskillen RC), Julie Butler (Omagh Harriers) and Karen Dolan (Enniskillen RC) should all challenge for a podium place if they race. Elsewhere on Saturday 11th February 2017, at least five runners from Northern Ireland will travel to Scotland for the tough and somewhat iconic Carnethy 5 Mountain Race, close to Edinburgh, an event hosted by highly respected Scottish club Carnethy Hill Running Club. Northern Ireland man Eoin Lennon, who is affiliated to local club Carnethy HRC, is expected to lead the local athletes over the five major Pentland peaks, covering 6 miles in distance and 2,500ft in ascent. Eugene McCann (Newcastle AC), Ann Sandford (Lagan Valley AC), Jack McKenna (Ballymena Runners) and Nat Glenn (North Belfast Harriers) are amongst the Northern Ireland contingent travelling to the race. British Athletics Indoor Championships (England): Over the course of Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th February 2017, the best athletes in Britain will gather in the EIS Arena in Sheffield (England) as they compete for the prestigious honour of being crowned British Champion and battle for a place on the British Athletics team for the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade at the start of March. Amongst the plethora of talent who will be in competition at the event are at least four familiar faces. Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC), Emma Mitchell (QUB AC), Andrew Wright (Willowfield Harriers) and Mandy Gault (Lagan Valley AC) will all take to the start line, hoping to cause a few upsets. DUNE Half Marathon (Pure Running Half Marathon Series): On Sunday 12th February 2017, thousands of athletes and spectators are expected to turn out for the first race of this year’s Pure Running Half Marathon Series, the DUNE Half Marathon, a cross-border event which this year will take competitors from the Quays Shopping Centre in Newry (Northern Ireland) to Market Square in Dundalk (Ireland). Organisers are expecting almost double the number of athletes who finished the race in 2016, which is testimony to how it has progressed throughout the years. At the head of the pack, local man Paddy Hamilton (Slieve Gullion Runners) will be hoping to retain the title he won so convincingly twelve months ago; that day the Northern Ireland international recorded 1:08:13 for top spot. Newry City Runners athlete Don Travers will lead the chase group, which could well include the likes of Gerard Heaney (St Peter’s AC), Joe McKevitt (Slieve Gullion Runners), Chris Devine (Newry City Runners), Aaron Woodman (PACE Running Club) and Nigel Kelly (Ballydrain Harriers) Like the men’s event, there is a lot expected from the 2016 ladies Champion, namely National Marathon and Half Marathon Champion Laura Graham. Since her success at the Dublin Marathon in 2016, Laura has raced sparingly, opting to include some planned rest into her hectic schedule. The Kilkeel lady will return to competitive action looking for a good run out as she looks towards a personal best at the London Marathon in April. Laura could find competition in the form of Heather Foley (Unattached) and Judith Lonnen (City of Lisburn AC), to classy athletes; both of whom possess the ability to top the podium on their day. The ever consistent trio of Eileen Stevenson (St Peter’s AC), Susan Smith (Dromore AC) and Diane Watson (City of Lisburn AC) should all start. Mallusk Cross Country: Also on Sunday 12th February 2017, respected County Antrim based club Mallusk Harriers will host the Mallusk Cross Country at the Belfast City Playing Fields – interestingly, this venue has hosted several top class international cross country events in the past and should therefore prove to be a popular choice. The extensive race programme will kick off at 11am and will include Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 races, all leading up to the Senior and Masters events which will close proceedings. North Belfast Harriers’ Mark McKinstry may well turn out here and should he do so, the talented athlete will more than likely take the victory. Mark showed his form recently with an excellent 25:42 clocking at the Raheny 5 mile road race at the end of last month. That followed a runners up place at the Race Over The Glens at the turn of the year and more importantly, a win at the Comber Cup XC in late 2016. Neill Weir (Willowfield Harriers), John Black (North Belfast Harriers), Ben Morrow (Ballymena Runners), Mark Wright (Annadale Striders), Lorcan Magee (Beechmount Harriers) and Philip Goss (North Belfast Harriers) will be worth looking out for. The ladies race will be as hard to predict as the men’s event, but one athlete who could feature well if she races is Cathy McCourt (Unattached). Cathy has enjoyed some excellent outing over the country this season and will be there or there abouts here if she decides to compete. Other athletes who could enter on the day include Amy Bulman (Willowfield Harriers), Suzanne Higgins (Lagan Valley AC), Pauline Thom (Ballymena & Antrim AC), Riogrinach Catney (Beechmount Harriers), Sarah-Jane Guiney (Albertville Harriers) and Shileen O’Kane (Lagan Valley AC). AAI National Masters XC Championships (Ireland): In Ireland on Sunday 12th February 2017, a host of runners from Northern Ireland will be in action at the AAI National Masters XC Championships in Waterford. North Belfast Harriers look to be the best represented local club, with Tommy Simmons, Andrew Considine, Eamon White, Neil Carty, Paul Elliot and David Clarke all set to compete. Dromore AC’s in-form Wesley McDowell will also run. A full list of entries for the event are available HERE. Paul Pollock and Ben Reynolds excel as local runners impress outside NI: Paul Pollock and Ben Reynolds set standard as local runners impress outside NI: This weekend (Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February 2017), a large number of runners from Northern Ireland were in action at events outside the province, most notably the AAI Games in Abbotstown, Ireland. However, there were also exceptional performances by familiar faces in Trim (Ireland) and Beppu-Oita (Japan). This culminated in two local runners hitting qualifying standard for upcoming major events. Paul Pollock (Anndale Striders) achieved the Commonwealth Games 2018 and IAAF World Championships 2017 marathon standard, while Ben Reynolds (North Down AC) bettered the European Athletics Indoor Championships standard. Paul and Ben were not the only athletes in action, here is a round of some of the most impressive performances outside Northern Ireland this weekend... AAI Games (Ireland): On Saturday 4th February 2017, runners from Northern Ireland secured numerous titles and podium places at the AAI Games, which were held in the impressive new indoor arena in Abbotstown, Ireland. Ben Reynolds (North Down AC / Tom Reynolds) came back from a Round 1 defeat by Gerrard O’Donnell (7.88secs to 7.90secs) in style to win Round 2 in 7.77secs (1st place); this surpassed the qualifying standard for the next month’s European AthleticsIndoor Championships. There was an exciting battle between Emma Mitchell (QUB AC / Eamonn Christie) and Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC / Richard Rodgers) in the Women’s 1500m. Emma kept tight to the pacemaker and then led until 1100m when Rio Olympian Kerry took the lead for the last two laps. It was still a close finish with Kerry taking the win 4:16.04 (1st place) and Emma securing 2nd place in 4:17.42. Both Athletes will contest the 3000m at the UK Championships in Sheffield next weekend. European 1500m Medalist Ciara Mageean (UCD AC) put in an impressive display of front running in her first 800m of the season, taking victory in 2:06.02 (1st place) from Erin McIlveen (City of Lisburn AC / Brian Whittle) in 2:07.15 (2nd place). Following his bad luck with the starting blocks in Glasgow last week, Dean Adams (Ballymena & Antrim AC / Alan Kennedy) recorded two dominant victories and his fastest 60m time in four years with 6.91secs and 6.89secs. Jonathan Browning (Ballymena & Antrim AC / Melanie Browning) was 0.10secs behind in both rounds with 7.01secs and 6.99secs which is a positive start to his season. Jason Harvey (Crusaders AC / Nick Dakin) recovered from a first lap in lane two to finish in 2nd place in Heat 1 of the 400m in 49.16secs and Craig Newell (Ballymena & Antrim AC / Ian Neely) won Heat 2 of the 400m in 49.87secs (1st place). Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon (Japan): On Sunday 5th February 2017, Olympic marathoner Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders / Andy Hobdell) was the first Northern Ireland athlete to exceed a consideration standard for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games when finishing in 18th place at the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon in Japan. The hard working athlete also beat the London IAAF World Championships mark and set a fantastic personal best of 2:15.30. Trim 10 mile Road Race (Ireland): In Ireland on Sunday 5th February 2017, there was a sizable Northern Ireland contingent at the popular Trim 10 mile road race. The event was won by Valdas Dopolskas in 51:30 (1st place), but arguably the best performance of the day came from Newcastle AC's David O'Flaherty - David recorded a superb personal best of 52:26 for 2nd place. His club mate Zak Hanna also made the top ten, taking 8th place in 55:23. There was further success for local athletes in the ladies race, with North Belfast Harriers duo Breege Connolly and Gladys O'Neill securing 1st place and 2nd place respectively. Breege won in 58:25, with Gladys following in 58:58. Full results for the event are available HERE. Quality competition at NI & Ulster Age Group Indoor Championships 2017: NI & Ulster Age Group Indoor Championships 2017: There were a number of encouraging performances across a range of events at the NI & Ulster Age Groups Championships in Magherafelt at the weekend (Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February 2017). Report by Athletics NI. In many of the track events there were double golds across the board. Oriel’s U12 Amy Jo Kierans and Annalees Cormac Grotty took gold in both the 60m (8.99 & 8.63) and 600m (1.54.74 & 1.54.65). U14 Ben Campbell of Tir Chonaill was successful in the 60m (8.26) and the 60mh (10.07) to secure the top podium position. Eoin Sharkey of Tir Chonaill received one of each medal with a win in the 60mh’s (9.46), 2nd place in the 200m (25.39) and bronze in the 60m sprint race (7.87). In the field events Finn Valley’s Keeva Johnston (U14) took the silver medal in both the High Jump (1.35m), just behind team mate Cara Wilkinson (1.40m) and the Long Jump (4.21m), which was taken by Michaela Galvin of Letterkenny (4.22m). Finn Valley also took the gold medals again in the boys Long Jump and High Jump events thanks to Joseph Gillespie (4.76m) and (1.50m). Annalee’s Niamh McCorry had an impressive 9.95 sec run in the U15 girls 60mh’s to take 1st place, which was a staggering 0.56 of a second in front of 2nd place team mate Kate Donohoe. Niamh went on to take the gold in both the 800m’s (2.29.48) and High Jump (1.53m) events. Last years’ U12 champion, Hannah Murray of Finn Valley cleared up again in the U13 girls 600m (1:51.42), and 60m (8.67) to take gold in each of these events. The U14 girls’ 60mh event top 3 was taken by Tir Chonaill team mates Niamh Moohan (8.69), Lucy McGlynn (10.01) and Rachel Gallagher (10.10). Both Lucy (8.47) and Niamh (8.69) also took 2nd and 3rd position in the 60m flat race just behind Glaslough’s Rachel Callery (8.40). There was an impressive display in the girls U12 high jump, which saw a gold medal split 3 ways between, Annalee’s Kayla Bartly and Ellie Brady, and Ashleigh McArdle of Lifford Strabane all claiming the top spot on the podium jumping at 1.20m. Matthew Willis (City of Lisburn) had two great runs in the U16 boys 1500m (04:32.96) and 800m (02:09.81) to take gold. The U16 girls’ long jump was dominated by Finn Valley’s Lauren Callaghan (5.32m), Michaela Byrne (5.07m) and Cate Smith (4.83m) with all 3 taking the podium positions. Lauren went on to win both the 60m’s (8.17) and 200m’s (27.28) with fellow team mate Michaela taking 3rd (28.59) in the 200m and the silver in the high jump (1.50m), behind Aine Wilkinson also of Finn Valley (1.55m). Cate took the bronze in the 60mh race in 9.94 seconds. The Young Coach of the Year Award Winner Ollie Wakefield of North Down had an impressive jump in the U19 age category to take the gold with 6.15m. Other highlight performances at the Indoor Championships were High Jumper Brendan O’Donnell (Lifford Strabane) jumped 1.70m as well as taking gold in the U19 Shot Putt (9.62m), Ballymena & Antrim’s Ronan Campbell ran 7.80 seconds in the U16 60m sprint, Liam Keane (Letterkenny AC) 5.69m in the U17 Long Jump and Bridget Mc Dyer (Finn Valley) had an impressive throw in the U19 Shot Putt (10.22m). U16’s Jordan Cunningham (City of Lisburn) was 1st in the Shot with an impressive throw of 11.44m and also took the bronze in the Long Jump (5.63m). Willowfield’s Dylan McBride took the 800m title in 2.11.01, Adrienne Gallen (Lifford Strabane) won the U14 girls Shot in 12.03m and Murphy Millar (North Down) took gold in the U16 girls 1500m with 05:00.16. Olivia Bowes (Lagan Valley) impressed in the Long Jump (4.90m) and Casey Mulvey (Innyvale) took the title in the U15 Shot (12.78m). Full Results: NI & Ulster Age Group Indoor Championships 2017 Results North Down AC and Beechmount Harriers collect awards at XC Relays: North Down AC ‘Festival of Cross Country Relays’ 2017: On Saturday 4th February 2017, cross country enthusiasts from across Northern Ireland descended on Castle Park in Bangor for North Down AC Festival of XC Relays. The well organised event offered an extensive programme of races, from Primary School right through to Senior and Masters races. Budding stars Katie McCleary (City of Lisburn AC), Robert Lockhart (Penninsula Triathlon Club), Daniel Playfair (North Down AC), Tara McDonough (North Down AC), James Jack Gracey (Beechmount Harriers) and Bethany Nixon (Dromore AC) all enjoyed victory in the junior races. The Senior/Masters Ladies teams were made up of three runners, all of whom covered 2 x 1300m laps with the team totalling 7.8k. Despite the inclusion of reigning Champions and pre-race favourites, Dromore AC in the line-up, it was Beechmout Harriers trio Gerrie Short, Catherine Diver and Grainne Doherty who sealed victory in 31:22 (1st place). Denise Logue, Amanda Perry and Debbie Matchett from Ballydrain Harriers took 2nd place in 31:50, while the host club (North Down AC), represented by Jodi Smith, Valerie McDonough and Sarah Lindsay claimed 3rd place in 32:02. There was further success for the hosts in the Senior/Masters Men’s event, which saw teams of four runners complete 2 x 1300m each, totalling 10.8k. North Down AC’s Dennis Scott, James Budde, Craig McMeechan and Jamie McMeechan, secured top honours in 36:06 (1st place). Ballydrain Harriers (Aaron Harrison, Nigel Kelly, Paul Flynn and Joel Harrison) clocked 38:02 for 2nd place before North Down AC Junior Team Thomas Patterson, Conor Brady, Cameron Jenkins and Jake Rushby completed the overall podium in 39:09 (3rd place) Full Results: North Down AC ‘Festival of Cross Country Relays’ 2017 Results Vincent McAlister and Karen Alexander win Sperrin Harriers Drum Manor 10k: Sperrin Harriers Winter League Trail Series - Drum Manor 10k: On Saturday 4th February 2017. the scenic Drum Manor was a picture in the winter sun for the penultimate race of the 2016/17 Winter League Series. Almost one hundred and seventy runners turned out to take on the testing course which comprised of two laps of the forest. The runners took off at a strong pace as they made their way through the butterfly gardens and past the tea rooms to head out into the forest. Vincent McAlister (Unattached) made his intentions clear from the off, moving into the lead ahead of Eoin Hughes (Acorns AC) and Michael Crawley (City of Derry AC). Vincent maintained his advantage until the finish to win in an impressive time of 35:27 (1st place). Eoin and Michael continued their rivalry illustrated in previous races of this year’s league, with Eoin gaining the upper hand again to finish second in 35:48 (2nd place), just seconds ahead of Michael who completed the route in 35:56 to take 3rd place. In the ladies, Karen Alexander (Acorns AC) returned to winning form in the league finishing first in 39:48 (1st place), well ahead of chasers Ciara Toner (Springwell Running Club) who recorded another 2nd place in the league crossing the line in 41:38, and Martsje Hell of North Belfast Harriers who was 3rd place in 42:16. Full Results: Sperrin Harriers Drum Manor 10k 2017 Results Nearly one thousand athletes turn out for Born 2 Run Antrim Castle event: Born 2 Run ‘Run Forest Run’ Antrim Castle 10k: On Saturday 4th February 2017, nearly one thousand athletes descended on Antrim Castle in Antrim for the latest race in Born 2 Run’s Run Forest Run Series, the Antrim Castle 10k. The 10k route (and the associated 5k) took competitors on a scenic course within the picturesque grounds of Antrim Castle. As expected, North Belfast Harriers star Conor Curran played a prominent part in proceedings. The talented athlete always look like had and ultimately proved his worth with a 33:54 clocking for 1st place. Mourne Runners’ Timothy Johnston, who has impressed throughout the Series, followed in 34:24 (2nd place), before Catherine Whoriskey (City of Derry AC) claimed 3rd place overall and 1st place in the ladies race in a time of 34:29. Stephen Nicholson (PACE Running Club) completed the men’s top three in 35:36, while Cathy McCourt (Unattached) and Rachel Gibson (North Down AC) secured 2nd place and 3rd place respectively in the ladies race. Cathy ran 36:51, while Rachel crossed the line in 37:16. In the associated 5k race, Acorns AC man Sam Linton again picked up the top prize. After having won numerous 3.1 mile races throughout this Series, Sam broke the tape in 16:51 (1st place) to continue his good run of form. Likewise, Ann Terek (City of Lisburn AC), a regular at the Born 2 Run 5k’s, led the ladies home in 18:29 (1st place). Full Results: Born 2 Run Antrim Castle 10k 2017 Results and Born 2 Run Antrim Castle 5k 2017 Results Weekend Preview: Record numbers expected at Born 2 Run Antrim Castle 10k... Record numbers set for Born 2 Run’s Antrim Castle 10k event: A new month is upon us and another weekend is around the corner, which means only one thing… and no, it’s not the Six Nations Rugby (although that will be good too!), it is of course RUNNING; and there will be plenty of it over the coming days. Born 2 Run will host the latest installment of their Run Forest Run Series, the record breaking Antrim Castle 10k, while North Down AC will welcome athletes to their Festival of XC Relays. These two main fixtures will be backed up by Sperrin Harriers’ Drum Manor 10k, the Belfast Tandems 5k & 10k races, the NI & Ulster Age Group Indoor Track & Field Championships, and the Grand Final of East Coast AC’s popular Junior XC Series in Larne. Meanwhile, outside Northern Ireland, there will be plenty of familiar faces at the prestigious AAI Games, hosted by Athletics Ireland at the new Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown, Ireland. On Saturday 4th February 2017, local events management company Born 2 Run will welcome a record number of competitors to the latest race of their Run Forest Run Series, the Antrim Castle 10k. The 10k route (and the associated 5k) will cover a scenic course within the picturesque grounds of Antrim Castle. Nearly one thousand runners will take to the start line of the event, making it the biggest since the inception of the Run Forest Run Series. At the front of the field, there should be some talented athletes on show – reigning Champion Mark McKinstry (North Belfast Harriers) could well return to defend his crown. Should he do so, the North Belfast Harriers man may face opposition from PACE Running Club trio Aaron Woodman, Stephen Nicholson and Oliver Cook, all of whom have impressed throughout this Series. Another North Belfast Harriers athlete, the always impressive Conor Curran, will also be worth watching. The same could be said for the likes of Jonny Steede (Glens Runners) and Kevin O’Boyle (Unattached) if they decide to make use of the late entry system. Dromore AC duo Stephen O’Gorman and Wesley McDowell could also be in the mix, while Bliadhan Glass (Acorns AC) may return in the hope of bettering his fourth place finish from 2016. Current NI & Ulster 5,000m (track) and 10,000m (track) Champion Catherine Whoriskey (City of Derry AC) will be the stand out athlete in the ladies race. The Spartan lady has hit the headlines with some exceptional performances over the last twelve months, most notably after winning the Waterside HM in 1:17:52 and the Greencastle 5 mile road race in 28:12. It’s hard to look past Catherine as a potential winner, but that will not put North Down AC’s Northern Ireland international Rachel Gibson off; the always consistent and versatile athlete will be waiting to pounce should Catherine falter. Cathy McCourt (Unattached) is another lady to look out for, while Nicola Swinson (PACE Running Club) and Catherine Roberts (North Down AC) should also be considered as potential podium placers. Michele Mowlds (Newry City Runners) will finish well up the field. North Down AC ‘Festival of Cross Country Relays’: Also on Saturday 4th February 2017, cross country enthusiasts will lace up their spikes for the return of the North Down AC Festival of XC Relays. The event, which will take place in Castle Park, Bangor (with registration at Bangor Aurora), has an extensive programme of races, from Primary School right through to Senior and Masters races. A timetable of events is included below: 12.00pm - P6 & P7 boys & girls 1000m 12.20pm - U13 boys & girls 1600m 13.15pm - Relay race for women (3 athletes to count): Seniors & Masters (O35) 2600m 14.15pm - Relay race for men (four athletes to count): Seniors & Masters (O40) 2600m It is expected that the host club will field several teams, all of which should place well. James Budde, Craig McMeechan, Francis Marsh and Dennis Scott would make a good team based on recent performances by the quartet. Reigning Champions Derry Track Club could return and should have newly crowned NI & Ulster Intermediate XC Champion available to lead the way. Other clubs who could field notable teams may include Newcastle AC, Ballydrain Harriers, East Down AC and Dromore AC. In the ladies race, last year’s winners Dromore AC will again be the team to beat. Rebecca Henderson, Rebekah Nixon and Laura Bickerstaff led the black and yellow vests to victory in 2016 and the trio should start again this year. City of Lisburn AC, who are likely to be led by Zoe Carruthers, and Newcastle AC, who should have Mari Troeng and Joanne Mills available, will also play a part in what should be a god contest. Ballydrain Harriers, North Down AC and Lagan Valley AC all possess the strength in depth to push forward potential podium placing teams; whether they do or not is the question! Sperrin Harriers’ Winter League Trail Series (Race 4 – Drum Manor 10k Trail Race): In County Tyrone on Saturday 4th February 2017, Sperrin Harriers will host Race 4 of their ongoing Winter League Trail Series. On this occasion, competitors will be faced with a 10k route around the well-used Drum Manor Forest. The race kicks off at 12pm. Should he opt for this event instead of the Born 2 Run Antrim Castle 10k, Jonny Steede (Glens Runners) will start as pre-race favourite. However, Race 2 winner Eoin Hughes (Acorns AC) and Race 3 winner Paul Barbour (Derry Track Club) could both turn out - should all three toe the line, it will be an excellent battle. Northern Ireland and Ireland international Jonny should have enough to seal his second victory of the Series. Michael Crawley (City of Derry AC), a consistent performer on both road and trail, will play a major part in proceedings. The aforementioned men could well be chased by a plethora of talent, which should include East Coast AC’s Matthew Hewitt, Acorns AC’s Aaron Meharg, Foyle Valley AC’s Mark Long and Acorn AC athlete Martin McVey. Pierce McCullagh (Sperrin Harriers) will lead the way for the hosts, while Vincent McAllister (Unattached) should place well. Despite missing Race 3, Karen Alexander (Acorns AC) will be considered by many as the favourite in the ladies race, should the Race 1 winner return. However, Race 2 winner Ciara Toner (Springwell Running Club) has hit good form, and should therefore not be ruled out. Ciara’s club mate, Karen McLaughlin (Springwell Running Club) should contest a prize. Other ladies to look out for include Grace Carson (Mid Ulster AC), Anne Paul (City of Derry AC), Paula McAllister (Ballymena Runners), Leanne Sands (Acorns AC) and Sperrin Harriers pair Tanya Quinn and Angela O’Neill. Belfast Tandems 5k & 10k Races: On Sunday 5th February 2017, NI Duathlon are hosting the latest of their 10k and 5k races in support of their Belfast Tandem Cycling Group. Registration will be open from 8am with both races starting at 10am at the Sam Thompson Bridge, Airport Road, Belfast, BT3 9EF. Last month's races produced quite a few PB's and the initial 10k course records! In the 5k race in January, Stephen Orr (Orangegrove AC) and Maeve Lavery (City of Lisburn AC) secured the top spots, while in the 10k Brendan Grew (North Belfast Harriers) and Amy Bulman (Willowfield Temperance Harriers) set the mark for the fastest 10k times. With entries on the day (or online until midnight on Saturday) it is looking like there will be a good field in both distances again, with runners of all levels keen to bag a PB on a totally flat course in calmer conditions! Registration and parking are beside the Sam Thompson Bridge. Arrive early to avoid a queue! East Coast AC Junior XC Series (Race 3) Grand Finale: Also on Sunday 5th February 2017, Larne based club East Coast AC will host the final race of their increasingly popular Junior XC in the Larne Grammar School Playing Fields (Lower Cairncastle Road, Larne). The 3rd annual running of the Series has attracted athletes from clubs all over the province and with not only race, but overall Series prizes up for grabs, a large turnout is expected. Full details of the event (including a race timetable) are available HERE. NI & Ulster Age Group Indoor Track & Field Championships: In Magherafelt, on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February 2017, junior athletes from across the province will take to the indoor track at Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt for the annual NI & Ulster Age Group Indoor Track & Field Championships. The event, hosted by Athletic NI, will see athletes from Under 12 to Under 19 age groups take on events ranging from the 60 metres to 1500 metres. Many of the provinces top junior stars will be in action as they work their way through the athletic ranks. We would expect the likes of Enya Haigney (Omagh Harriers), Toni Moore (Omagh Harriers), Joshua Courtney (Ballymena & Antrim AC), Adam Hilditch (Dromore AC), Cathaoir Purvis (North Belfast Harriers), Oisin O’Callaghan (Newry AC), Niamh Heaney (Omagh Harriers) and Eilish Flanagan (Omagh Harriers) to be amongst those who contest podium places in what should be an excellent few days of competition. A full timetable for the event is available is available on the Athletics NI website. Irish Life Health AAI Games (Ireland): Over the course of this weekend (Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February 2017, the Irish Life Health Indoor League Final and AAI Games are set to light up Abbotstown and the new Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena. The Indoor League Final gets action underway on Saturday in what will the first athletics event proper in the new arena. Then on Sunday, a large number of Ireland's top track stars will take to the brand new track for the annual AAI Games – there will be a large number of athletes from Northern Ireland. Leading the local chase for honours will be well-known athletes Ben Reynolds (North Down AC), Ciara Mageean (UCD AC), Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC), Emma Mitchell (QUB AC) and Ann-Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny AC). Ben Reynolds (North Down AC) and fellow 60m hurdles competitor Gerard O’Donnell (Carrick on Shannon AC) will be hoping to push each other to the European Indoor 60m hurdles standard of 7.80secs in a solid line-up. Ciara Mageean (UCD AC) is set to make her indoor debut over 800m and will have an eye on the European indoor standard of 2:03.75 to make it two Irish women with the time. Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (DSD AC) achieved the time last week in the US with a school record of 2:02.97 for Villanova. Meanwhile, Olympic steeplechaser Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC) will compete in the women’s 1500m. Emma Mitchell (QUB AC) has been in excellent form this indoor season and will be looking to continue her fine form in the 3,000m. Other familiar faces to look out for include Dean Adams (Ballymena & Antrim AC), Jonathan Browning (Ballymena & Antrim AC), Fintan Stewart (City of Derry AC), Aaron Sexton (North Down AC), Craig Newell (Ballymena & Antrim AC), Peter Glass (City of Lisburn AC), Hannah McGowan (City of Derry AC), Laura Frey (Lagan Valley AC) and Erin McIlveen. A full start list for the event is available HERE. Note: Remember - If you would like to catch up on the news from January 2017, just click HERE. You can also view the 'news' archive by using the navigation bar at the top of the page.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1619
__label__cc	0.64312	0.35688	"Tietjen Bassett, Priscilla" "Civil rights" Domestic life 1 Grahamsville 1 Henry County 1 Union County 1 Civil Rights History Project 1 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom 1 Mosnier, Joseph 1 Smith College 1 Till, Emmett 1 Till-Mobley, Mamie 1 Tuskegee Institute 1 Emmett W. Bassett, Ph. D. and Priscilla Tietjen Bassett Oral History Interview Bassett, Emmett W. Ph. D., American, 1921 - 2013 Tietjen Bassett, Priscilla, American, born 1928 Smith College, American, founded 1871 Tuskegee Institute, American, founded 1881 Carver, George Washington, American, 1860s - 1943 Till, Emmett, American, 1941 - 1955 Till-Mobley, Mamie, American, 1921 - 2003 Grahamsville, Sullivan County, New York, United States, North and Central America Plainfield, Union County, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America Henry County, Virginia, United States, North and Central America New York, United States, North and Central America Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America The oral history consists of ten digital files: 2011.174.38.1a, 2011.174.38.1b, 2011.174.38.1c, 2011.174.38.1d, 2011.174.38.1e, 2011.174.38.1f, 2011.174.38.1g, 2011.174.38.1h, 2011.174.38.1i, and 2011.174.38.1j. Priscilla Tietjen Bassett recalls growing up in Plainfield, New Jersey, and attending Smith College, and Emmett W. Bassett, Ph. D. remembers growing up in Henry County, Virginia, serving in World War II, and attending Tuskegee Institute, where he assisted George Washington Carver with research. They tell how they met at a protest of a segregated restaurant in Massachusetts, raising money for Emmett Till's mother, their involvement in many civil rights groups in New York, and attending the March on Washington. They also discuss Dr. Bassett’s career as a professor of dairy science, Mrs. Bassett's career as a librarian, and their struggles as an interracial married couple. 2011.174.38.1a-j	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1620
__label__wiki	0.639593	0.639593	Oxford Research Encyclopedias Encyclopedia of Social Work Addictions and Substance Use Aging and Older Adults Clinical and Direct Practice Health Care and Illness International and Global Issues Macro Practice Populations and Practice Settings Race, Ethnicity, and Culture Research and Evidence-Based Practice Social Justice and Human Rights Social Work Profession Public Health Social Work Betty J. Ruth, Sarah Sisco, and Jamie Wyatt Marshall Health Care and Illness, International and Global Issues 10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.324 Background: Social Work, Public Health, and the Common Ground Between Them History of Public Health Social Work Public Health Social Work Today: The Future of Social Work? Challenges and Barriers to Public Health Social Work Trends and Opportunities Children: Health Care Health Care: Overview Health Care: Practice Interventions Women: Health Care Transdisciplinary and Translational Research Article has been thoroughly revised to include discussion of recent research. Updated on 5 August 2016. The previous version of this content can be found here. PRINTED FROM the Encyclopedia of Social Work, accessed online. (c) National Association of Social Workers and Oxford University Press USA, 2020. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the applicable license agreement governing use of the Encyclopedia of Social Work accessed online, an authorized individual user may print out a PDF of a single article for personal use, only (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice). Public health social work is a subdiscipline within social work that uses multifaceted transdisciplinary approaches to promote health equity and mitigate human health problems. Originating in the early 20th century, public health social work applies social work and public health theories, frameworks, research, and collaborative practice to address contemporary health issues. Epidemiologically informed and characterized by prevention, health promotion, and other integrative practices, public health social work is highly relevant to pervasive 21st-century challenges, such as health inequity, behavioral health integration, chronic disease, health reform implementation, and global health. With its strong focus on health impact and population health, public health social work is central to the profession’s viability and success in the post–Affordable Care Act (ACA) health environment. Keywords: public health, public health social work, prevention, health, population health Betty J. Ruth Director, MSW/MPH Program, Boston University School of Social Work Sarah Sisco New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Jamie Wyatt Marshall Group for Public Health Social Work Initiatives Access to the complete content on Encyclopedia of Social Work requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter without a subscription. If you are a student or academic complete our librarian recommendation form to recommend the Oxford Research Encyclopedias to your librarians for an institutional free trial. Please subscribe or login to access full text content. If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code. For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1623
__label__wiki	0.778946	0.778946	Fear of Floating 64 Pages Posted: 8 Dec 2016 Last revised: 22 Dec 2016 See all articles by Carmen Reinhart Carmen Reinhart Guillermo A. Calvo Columbia University - School of International & Public Affairs (SIPA); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) NBER Working Paper No. w7993 Number of pages: 64 Posted: 03 Nov 2000 Last Revised: 25 Jun 2001 Number of pages: 64 Posted: 08 Dec 2016 Last Revised: 22 Dec 2016 Date Written: november 8, 2000 Many emerging market countries have suffered financial crises. One view blames soft pegs for these crises. Adherents of this view suggest that countries move to corner solutions—hard pegs or floating exchange rates. We analyze the behavior of exchange rates, reserves, and interest rates to assess whether there is evidence that country practice is moving toward corner solutions. We focus on whether countries that claim they are floating are indeed doing so. We find that countries that say they allow their exchange rate to float mostly do not—there seems to be an epidemic case of "fear of floating." Keywords: reserves, exchange rates, fear of floating, central banks, interest rates JEL Classification: E58, F31, F33, F41 Reinhart, Carmen and Calvo, Guillermo A., Fear of Floating (november 8, 2000). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2882527 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2882527 Carmen Reinhart (Contact Author) Harvard University ( email ) Columbia University - School of International & Public Affairs (SIPA) ( email )	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1628
__label__cc	0.588519	0.411481	I was reticent to post about this topic; I polled it on Patreon in December and it got just under 50% while the two topics I did blog, difficult urban geography and cross-platform transfers, got 64% and 50% respectively. However, between how close the vote was and the conversation about the current state of the subway in New York, I felt obligated to explain what’s been going on. The short version is that practically the entire change in subway ridership in New York over the last generation or two has come from the off-peak, and the way American cities set their frequency guidelines off-peak amplify small changes in demand, so that a minor setback can lead to collapse and a minor boost can lead to boom. The good news is that by setting frequency to be high even if it does not look like ridership justifies it, cities can generate a virtuous cycle on the upswing and avoid a vicious one on the downswing. However, it requires the discipline to run good service even in bad times, when bean counters and budget cutters insist on retrenchment. The Chainsaw Al school of management looks appealing in recessions or when ridership is falling, and this is precisely when people who run transit agencies must resist the urge to cut frequency to levels that lead to a positive feedback loop wrecking the system. Ridership-frequency elasticity The key to the frequency-ridership spiral is that cutting frequency on transit makes it less useful to passengers, since door-to-door trip times are longer and less reliable. The size of this effect can be measured as the elasticity of ridership with respect to service: if increasing service provision by 1% is demonstrated to raise ridership by e%, we say that the elasticity is e. Fortunately, this question is fundamental enough to transit that there is extensive published literature on the subject: In a classical TRB paper, Armando Lago, Patrick Mayworm, and Matthew McEnroe look at data from several American cities as well as one British one, disaggregating elasticity by frequency, mode (bus or commuter rail), and period (peak or off-peak). The aggregate average value is e = 0.44 for buses and e = 0.5 for commuter rail, but when frequency is better than every 10 minutes, e = 0.22 on average. Todd Litman of the advocacy organization VTPI has a summary mostly about fare elasticity but also service elasticity, suggesting e is in the 0.5-0.7 range in the short term and in the 0.7-1.1 range in the long term. A paper by Joe Totten and David Levinson includes its own lit review of several studies, including the two above, finding a range of 0.3 to 1.1 across a number of papers, with the lower figures associated with urban service and the higher ones with low-frequency suburban service. The paper’s own research, focusing on transit in Minneapolis, finds that on weekdays, e = 0.39. One factor that I have unfortunately not seen in the papers I have read is trip length. Frequency is more important for short trips than long ones. This is significant, since when the headway is shorter relative to in-vehicle trip time we should expect lower elasticity with respect to the headway. Waiting 10 minutes rather than 5 minutes for an hour-long trip is not much of an imposition; waiting 30 minutes rather than 15 for the same trip is a greater imposition, as is waiting 10 minutes rather than 5 for a 20-minute trip. In New York, the average unlinked subway trip is 13.5 minutes long, so the difference between 10 and 5 minutes is very large. Lago-Mayworm-McEnroe cite research saying passengers’ disutility for out-of-vehicle time is 2-3 times as large as for in-vehicle time; the MTA’s own ridership screen states that this penalty is 1.75, the MBTA’s states that it is 2.25, and a study by Coen Teulings, Ioulina Ossokina, and Henri de Groot says that it is 2 in the Netherlands. Figuring that this penalty is 2, the worst-case scenario for off-peak weekday wait time in New York, 10 minutes, has passengers spending more perceived time waiting for the train than riding it, and even in the average case, 10/2 = 5 minutes, it is close. In that case, higher values of e are defensible. Lago-Mayworm-McEnroe have less data about in-vehicle time elasticity and do not attempt to aggregate in- and out-of-vehicle time. But adding everything together is consistent with e = 0.8 relative to speed averaged over the total wait and in-vehicle time, and then e is maybe 0.4 relative to frequency. The impact of service cuts If the elasticity of ridership relative to frequency is 0.4, then cutting service by 1% means cutting ridership by 0.4%. If half the operating costs are covered by fares, then revenue drops by 0.2% of total operating expenses, so the 1% cut only saves 0.8% of the total subsidy. Achieving a 1% cut in operating costs net of fare revenue thus requires a 1.25% cut in service, which reduces ridership by 0.5%. This may not sound too bad, but that’s because the above analysis does not incorporate fixed costs. Rail comes equipped with fixed costs for maintenance, station staffing, rolling stock, and administration, regardless of how much service the agency runs. Lisa Schweitzer uses this fact to defend Los Angeles’s MTA from my charge of high operating costs: she notes that Los Angeles runs much less service than my comparison cases in the US and Europe and thus average cost per train-km is higher even without undue inefficiency. In contrast, bus costs are dominated by driver wages, which are not fixed. New York does not keep a headcount of transit employees in a searchable format – the Manhattan Institute’s See Through New York applet helps somewhat but is designed around shaming workers who make a lot of money through overtime rather than around figuring out how many people work (say) maintenance. But Chicago does, and we can use its numbers to estimate the fixed and variable costs of running the L. The CTA has somewhat more than 10,000 workers, split fairly evenly between bus and rail. The rail workers include about 800 working for the director of maintenance, working on the rolling stock, which needs regular servicing and inspections regardless of how often it’s run; 550 working for facilities maintenance; (say) 400 out of 800 workers in administrative capacity like communications, general counsel, purchasing, and the chief engineer’s office; 600 workers in power and way maintenance; nearly 1,000 customer service agents; and 450 workers in flagging, switching, and the control towers. Only 500 workers drive trains, called rapid transit operators or extra board, and there may charitably be another 200 clerks, managers, and work train operators whose jobs can be cut if there is a service cut. A service cut would only affect 15% of the workers, maybe 20% if some rolling stock maintenance work can be cut. In New York the corresponding percentage is somewhat higher than 15% since trains have conductors. Train operators and conductors together are about 13% of the NYCT headcount, so maybe 20% of subway employees, or 25% with some extra avoidable maintenance work. What this means is that achieving a 2% cut in subsidy through reducing service requires a service cut of much more than 2%. If only 25% of workers are affected then, even without any frequency-ridership elasticity, the agency needs to cut service by 8% to cut operating costs by 2%. The Uber effect The combination of elasticity and fixed costs means that rail ridership responds wildly to small shocks to ridership. For a start, if the agency cuts service by 1%, then operating costs fall by 0.25%. Ridership falls by 0.4%, and thus revenue also falls by 0.4%, which is 0.2% of total operating costs. Thus operating costs net of revenue only fall by 0.05%. The only saving grace is that this is 0.05% of total operating costs; since by assumption fare revenue covers half of operating costs, this saves a full 0.1% of the public subsidy. Read the above paragraph again: taking fixed costs and elasticity into account, cutting service by 1% only reduces the public subsidy to rail service by 0.1%. A 2% cut in subsidy in a recession requires a brutal 20% cut in service, cutting ridership by 8%. And this only works because New York overstaffs its trains by a factor of 2, so that it’s plausible that 25% of employees can be furloughed in a service cut; using Chicago numbers this proportion is at most 20%, in which case revenue falls one-to-one with operating costs and there is no way to reduce the public subsidy to rail operations through service cuts. Of course, this has a positive side: a large increase in service only requires a modest increase in the public subsidy. Moreover, if trains have the operating costs of Chicago, which are near the low end in the developed world, then the combined impact of fixed costs and elasticity is such that the public subsidy to rapid transit does not depend on frequency, and thus the agency could costlessly increase service. This is relevant to the Uber effect – namely, the research arguing that the introduction of ride-hailing apps, i.e. Uber and Lyft, reduces transit ridership. I was skeptical of Bruce Schaller’s study to that effect since it came out two years ago, since the observed reduction in transit ridership in New York in 2016 was a large multiple of the increase in total taxi and ride-hailing traffic once one concentrated on the off-peak and weekends, when the latter rose the most. But if small shocks to ridership are magnified by the frequency-ridership spiral, then the discrepancy is accounted for. If a shock cuts ridership by 1%, which could be slower trains, service disruptions due to maintenance, or the Uber effect, then revenue falls 1% and the subsidy has to rise 1% to compensate. To cover the subsidy through service cuts requires a 10% cut in service, further cutting ridership by 4%. Off-peak service guidelines The above analysis is sobering enough. However, it assumes that service cuts and increases are uniformly distributed throughout the day. This is not the actual case for American transit agency practice, which is to concentrate both cuts and increases in the off-peak. Unfortunately, cuts in off-peak service rather than at rush hour do not touch semi-fixed labor costs. The number of employees required to run service is governed by the peak, so running a lot of peak service without off-peak service leads to awkward shift scheduling and poor crew utilization. Higher ratios of peak to base frequency correlate with lower total service-hours per train driver: in addition to the examples I cite in a post from 2016, I have data for Berlin, where the U-Bahn’s peak-to-base ratio is close to 1, and there are 829 annual service-hours per driver. I discussed the fact that the marginal cost of adding peak service is several times that of adding off-peak service in a post from last year. However, even if we take rolling stock acquisition as a given, perhaps funded by a separate capital plan, marginal crew costs are noticeably higher at the peak than off-peak. In New York, the rule is that off-peak subway frequency is set so that at the most crowded point of each route, the average train will be filled to 125% seated capacity; before the round of service cuts in 2010 this was set at 100%, so the service cut amounted to reducing frequency by 20%. The only backstop to a vicious cycle is that the minimum frequency on weekdays is set at 10 minutes; on weekends I have heard both 10 and 12 minutes as the minimum, and late at night there is a uniform 20-minute frequency regardless of crowding. Peak frequency is governed by peak crowding levels as well, but much higher crowding than 125% is permitted. However, the busiest lines are more crowded than the guidelines and run as frequently as there is capacity for more trains, so there is no feedback loop there between ridership and service. The saving grace is that revenue is less sensitive to off-peak ridership, since passengers who get monthly passes for their rush hour trips ride for free off-peak. However, this factor requires there to be substantial enough season pass discounts so that even rush hour-only riders would use them. Berlin, where U-Bahn tickets cost €2.25 apiece in bundles of 4 and monthly passes cost €81, is such a city: 18 roundtrips per month are enough to justify a monthly. New York is not: with a pay-per-ride bonus a single ride costs $2.62 whereas a 30-day pass costs $121, so 23.1 roundtrips per month are required, so the breakeven point requires a roundtrip every weekday and every other weekend. New York subway ridership evolution The subway’s crisis in the 1970s reduced ridership to less than 1 billion, a level not seen since 1918. This was on the heels of a steady reduction in ridership over the 1950s and 60s, caused by suburbanization. In 1991, ridership was down to 930 million, but the subsequent increase in reliability and fall in crime led to a 24-year rally to a peak of 1,760 million in 2015. Throughout this period, there was no increase in peak crowding. On the contrary. Look at the 1989 Hub Bound Report: total subway ridership entering Manhattan south of 60th Street between 7 and 10 am averaged about 1 million, down from 1.1 million in 1971 – and per the 2016 report, the 2015 peak was only 922,000. Between 1989 and 2015, NYCT actually opened a new route into Manhattan, connecting the 63rd Street Tunnel to the Queens Boulevard Line; moreover, a preexisting route, the Manhattan Bridge, had been reduced from four tracks to two in 1986 and went back to four tracks in 2004. Nor was there much of an increase in mode share. The metropolitan statistical area’s transit mode share for work trips rose from 27% in 2000 to 30% in 2010. In the city proper it rose from 52% in 1990 to 57% in 2016. No: more than 100% of the increase in New York subway ridership between 1991 and 2015 was outside the peak commute hours, and nearly 100% of it involved non-work trips. These trips are especially affected by the frequency-ridership spiral, since frequency is lower then, and thus a mild positive shock coming from better maintenance, a lower crime rate, and perhaps other factors translated to a doubling in total ridership, and a tripling of off-peak ridership. Conversely, today, a very small negative shock is magnified to a minor crisis, even if ridership remains well above the levels of the 1990s. Managers like peak trains. Peak trains are full, so there’s no perception of wasting service on people who don’t use it. Managers also like peak trains because they themselves are likelier to ride them: they work normal business hours, and are rich enough to afford cars. That current NYCT head Andy Byford does not own a car and uses the city’s transit network to get around scandalizes some of the longstanding senior managers, who don’t use their own system. Thus, the instinct of the typical manager is to save money by pinching pennies on off-peak service. In contrast, the best practice is to run more service where possible. In Berlin, nearly all U-Bahn trains run every 5 minutes flat; a few lines get 4-minute peak service, and a few outer ends and branches only get half-service, a train every 10 minutes. At such high frequency, the frequency-ridership spiral is less relevant: an increase to a train every 4 minutes would require increasing service by 25%, raising costs by around 5% (Berlin’s one-person crews are comparable to Chicago’s, not New York’s), but not result in a significant increase in ridership as the shorter headway is such a minute proportion of total travel time. However, New York’s 10-minute off-peak frequency is so low that there is room to significantly increase ridership purely by running more service. In 2015 I criticized the frequency guidelines in New York on the grounds of branching: a complexly branched system must run interlined services at the same frequency, even if one branch of a trunk line is somewhat busier than the other. However, the frequency-ridership spiral adds another reason to discard the current frequency guidelines. All branches in New York should run at worst every 6 minutes during the daytime, yielding 3-minute frequency on most trunks, and the schedules should be designed to avoid conflicts at junctions; non-branching trunk lines, that is the 1, 6, 7, and L trains, should run more frequently, ideally no more than every 4 minutes, the lower figure than in Berlin following from the fact that the 1 and 6 trains are both local and mostly serve short trips. Moreover, the frequency should be fixed by a repeating schedule, which should be clockface at least on the A train, where the outer branches would only get 12-minute frequency. If ridership increases by a little, trains should be a little more crowded, and if it decreases by a little, they should be a little less crowded. Some revision of schedules based on demand may be warranted but only in the long run, never in the short run. Ideally the system should aim at 5-minute frequency on every route, but as the N, R, and W share tracks, this would require some deinterlining in order to move more service to Second Avenue. This increase in frequency is not possible if politicians and senior managers respond to every problem by cutting service while dragging their feet about increasing service when ridership increases. It requires proactive leadership, interested in increasing public transit usage rather than in avoiding scandal. But the actual monetary expense required for such frequency is not large, since large increases in frequency, especially in the off-peak, mostly pay for themselves through extra ridership. The initial outlay required to turn the vicious cycle into a virtuous one is not large; all that is required is interest from the people in charge of American transit systems. Written by Alon Levy Posted in Incompetence, New York, Transportation, Urban Transit Do you have data for the “S-Bahn crisis” that Berlin went through about a decade ago? It was in part caused by badly handled deferred maintenance and penny pinching…. By the way, if media and IGEB (the Berlin transit riders pressure group) are to be believed there is currently an U-Bahn crisis caused in part by lack of rolling stock – the F79 falling apart “ahead of schedule” exacerbating a long low simmering crisis to disaster levels… Another interesting factor is “rail bonus” – studies show that replacing the same bus service with a tram increases ridership. Maybe this can cause another of the frequency ridership speaks you describe…. So what used to be a bus every ten minutes first goes to a tram every ten minutes but later to a tram every five minutes… 2019/02/26 - 09:21 electricangel Well, every few months you create a post that is absolutely path-setting in importance, Alon. Congratulations on actually using the numbers. Maybe we can pull out of the onrushing death spiral. 2019/02/26 - 10:06 orulz Fantastic stuff. Lately between this, your coverage of operating and construction costs, and the “fish rots from the head” article it seems like you are dealing lightning bolts with both hand. It seems you have the attention of the whole industry and I hope I am right about that. Keep up the good work. Oh, and give Japan a visit sometime. Would love to see you integrate some on the ground experience there with your insights. 2019/02/26 - 11:24 Stephen Bauman “practically the entire change in subway ridership in New York over the last generation or two has come from the off-peak, ” The yearly Hub Bound Reports show that peak hour (8-9) and peak period (7-10) have continued to decline, while daily use has increased. The 1963 report shows peak hour to be around 600K, whereas 2016 report shows peak hour was around 400K. Peak hour trains are crowded. How did the Transit Authority manage to carry 50% more passengers during the peak hour in 1963, than they do today? The trains were more crowded then. Unfortunately the data definitions have changed, so I don’t know whether the ~3.6 ft^2 per passenger figure from the mid-1980s, or about 3 passengers per m^2, is comparable to total standees per standing area today, which on average is 2.75/m^2, or total passengers per car area, which is a lot lower since seated passengers get more space. I’m told crowding levels were even higher in the 1970s, and presumably they were also higher in the 1960s. And don’t forget, peak frequency was higher then – in the 1960s lines routinely ran 30 peak tph still, whereas today they’re restricted to 24. “peak frequency was higher then – in the 1960s lines routinely ran 30 peak tph still, whereas today they’re restricted to 24.” What’s the reason for today’s restriction? 2019/02/26 - 12:48 Russell.FL 1) People were skinnier back then 2) People carried around less stuff than they do right now People don’t relentlessly work 9-5 as much as they did back then either. “One factor that I have unfortunately not seen in the papers I have read is trip length. Frequency is more important for short trips than long ones. This is significant, since when the headway is shorter relative to in-vehicle trip time we should expect lower elasticity with respect to the headway.” The same principle should apply to bus rides. The average local NYC bus trip is 2.1 miles, according to the NTD. Dividing the trip distance by the 7.05 mph average speed yields that the average local bus trip duration is slightly under 18 minutes. This means that the average NYC bus trip duration already takes less time than most cities where the average bus speed is greater. Most strategies for reversing the decline in bus use has been to increase bus speed. When the walk to/from the bus stop is taken into account, strategies that increase bus speed by reducing the distance between bus stops becomes counter productive. Any time savings created by eliminating a bus stop is matched by increased walking time to the bus stop. Even when you take into account the fact that passengers are indifferent between spending 1 minute walking or waiting and spending 2 in motion, bus stop consolidation leads to lower overall weighted trip times. Plugging in New York numbers here yields an optimum of maybe 500 meters (less if destinations are randomly distributed, more if they’re all at definite stop locations like subway stations). But more broadly, when I wrote this post I expected the theory to produce the same frequency-ridership spiral for buses and for trains, but this is not so. The important bit is that on the NYC subway, only about one quarter of workers are affected by service cuts, so to cut the workforce by 1% you need to cut service by 4%. This is not the case on the buses, where drivers are around 70% of all employees (link, PDF-p. 273), so figure maybe three quarters are affected by service cuts if you add in some maintenance workers and supervisors. The formula for the ratio of subsidy to service cut is where v is the proportion of cost that’s variable, e is the elasticity of ridership with respect to frequency, and r is the operating ratio. For the subway, one gets (0.25 – 0.40.5)/0.5 = 0.1. For the buses, one gets (0.75 – 0.40.5)/0.5 = 1.1. So cutting subsidy by 1% means cutting service by just 0.9% and cutting ridership by just 0.36%. Similarly, the formula for the impact of an exogenous shock is on service and on ridership. With subway parameters these work out to 10 and 4 respectively, so a 24.6% positive shock actually triples ridership since 1.246^4 = 3. With bus parameters these values are only 0.91 and 0.36, so a positive shock is magnified with an exponent of 1.36 rather than 5. This intuitively makes sense: the positive exogenous shock of the 1990s did not lead to a tripling of bus ridership – on the contrary, bus ridership peaked in 2002. The key here is that spirals work both ways, so if service cuts are vicious cycle, then service increases should be a virtuous one. 2019/02/26 - 16:25 Michael “When the walk to/from the bus stop is taken into account, strategies that increase bus speed by reducing the distance between bus stops becomes counter productive” Depends on what the goals are – ridership versus costs. Holding Level of Service constant, labor hours needed in a bus system is function of average speed. So if the bus can be sped up considerably by better stop spacing, stop design, signal timing, reducing schedule padding, etc, labor hours can be reduced proportionally with little-to-no change in service. i.e. if buses averaged 14 MPH instead of 7, we’d only need half as many drivers to provide the same level of service. Since buses wear out by the mile & bus system costs are primarily labor, speeding up a bus substantially reduces costs holding LOS constant. Similarly, LOS can increase significantly while holding cost constant by increasing speed. On that same note. For all the neocons that want public transit to “breakeven” on fare box… the formula is full dedicated lanes, aggressive signal preemption, & getting the buses moving about 3X combined with laying off 2/3 of drivers. They are all for mass transit breaking even but since all Real Americans(tm) drive everywhere those subsidies are okay. I want them to get back to me once automobiles start breaking even. 2019/02/26 - 12:22 mdahmus Great post and one I am definitely going to come back to multiple times. Possible typo here: “The combination of elasticity and fixed costs means that rail ridership responds wildly to small shocks to ridership.” did you mean the second “ridership” to be “service”? No, I mean ridership. Using NYC subway parameters, a small shock to ridership, like a change in the crime rate, train comfort or speed, gas prices, travel behavior, etc., is magnified with an exponent of 5. This way, if 1% of subway riders switch to Uber, the ensuing service cuts lead to a loss of 5% of subway ridership, which may evaporate, go over to Uber, or go to private cars. Got it. I think it might be helpful to reword to make the implied “service cuts” in the middle of the sentence more obvious. 2019/02/27 - 20:44 ckrueger99 How would we examine the effect of fares on ridership? Particularly in cases like LIRR/MTA and SEPTA where regional rail fares are much higher than bus and subway. I ask this because the solution to making better use of city RR stations/lines is both higher frequency and fares closer to that of a subway swipe. There’s literature on that as well. Lago-Mayworm-McEnroe has some lit review, and the VTPI paper has a lot more lit review. However, I believe the test cases all involve raising or lowering the fare on a system, rather than offering two services at different price points (like US commuter rail vs. urban transit). I would assume you get non-linear elasticity for city RR stations. No change in demand until you get close to swipe price, then boom. Or integration into the free transfer or monthly pass systems Most places in the US don’t have two services. And the few that do are serving different markets because there is actually enough people to have two. 2019/02/28 - 10:29 Michael Whelan Alon, when these frequency-derived ridership declines happen, do you think people are mostly accomplishing their trips through other means or not making the trip at all? I ask this question from the context of Washington DC. If I have a non-essential trip (for example, hanging out with friends), I will do one of five things depending on where my origin and destination points are: 1. Ride my bike (my favorite choice, but tough in rain and snow, and unsafe on the return if I’m going out drinking) 2. Bring a book to read and suck it up and wait for Metro 3. Take a bus (for example, the Green Line is mostly paralleled by the 70 bus, which is more frequent than rail on weekends) 4. Take an Uber/Lyft 5. Cancel my plans (most often, this happens when I am meeting my friends in Virginia, which often is nearly impossible to get to on weekends) 6. Drive a personal car (I don’t own a car, but for many people, that would be a go-to option) I think that the answer to which of these is happening is important. Obviously, if people are mostly taking the bus, they are still paying a fare, usually to the same transit agency. Therefore, would you consider those diversions less of a problem than people switching to Uber/Lyft? And then from a broader urbanist perspective, shifting trips to bikes is obviously a lot better than shifting them to cars. Finally, I think the worst of them all is cancellations, since it demonstrates that bad frequency actually shrinks the civic connectedness of the metropolitan area. 2019/02/28 - 19:02 Ryan Kennedy Sorry not exactly on topic but it’s news on subway costs, which nobody does better than Aron and this blog: https://la.curbed.com/2019/2/28/18244970/purple-line-subway-budget-westwood The Purple Line is the latest project affected by swiftly escalating construction costs, which have inflated the prices of some of Metro’s signature projects. Metro had previously budgeted slightly less than $1.4 billion for the third phase of the project, though when Los Angeles County voters approved the Measure M sales tax initiative in 2016, the agency predicted it would cost closer to $2 billion. On Thursday, the board agreed to spend $3.2 billion on the project. Metro staff told the board Thursday that the entire nine-mile project, which will bring the line to Westwood, is now expected to cost roughly $1 billion for every new mile of track. The third phase is the one where they signed a contract with Tutor-Perini, right? 2019/02/28 - 19:34 Ryan R Kennedy https://www.constructiondive.com/news/tutor-perini-wins-14b-los-angeles-purple-line-section-3-contract/548728/ Yes. But I think they might have also done the second phase. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Like another paroxysm of how Altamont is so much better, world peace will descend, all want be eliminated and make the chewing gum save it’s flavor on the bedpost overnight.? …chewing gum on the bedpost? What? Novelty song that made the phrase “but will it make your chewing gum lose it’s flavor on the bedpost overnight?” common for quite some time. It’s a terrible thing, if it does. >> In contrast, bus costs are dominated by driver wages, which are not fixed. No, but the same sort of peak versus non-peak wage issues you mentioned exist (https://humantransit.org/2017/08/basics-the-high-cost-of-peak-only-transit.html). While the numbers may not be quite as strong for all day frequent bus service as it is for all day frequent rail service, pretty much all the same arguments apply. Service cuts are not that cost effective and lead to weaker fare box recovery, which means that you get little savings. (The opposite is true as well — improved all day service isn’t that expensive). As a resident of Seattle, it is interesting to see how we have managed to buck the trend, and have increased transit ridership the last couple years. There are number of reasons for this, and they all work together: 1) Finally (mostly) building the most important segment of the light rail subway system, between the University of Washington and downtown. 2) Small speed improvements for the buses. 3) Large frequency improvements for the buses. 4) Increased urbanization. My money is on the last two. Seattle has been going through a massive population boom and growth is happening much faster (especially in absolute terms) in the city than in the suburbs. It is also centered around various “urban villages” meaning that communities with fairly good transit have seen the biggest growth. At the same time, frequency has increased substantially as funding has increased. The light rail line also caused a restructure, which in turn lead to more frequency. It is tempting to chalk up the speed improvement of the new extension of the subway as being responsible for a lot of the increased use, but I think this is exaggerated. The stop at the UW (the northern terminus of the line) is awkward, and requires a long walk for many riders. It is also not far enough north (the next stop they are building will be). For many riders, there is no speed improvement over taking the old bus — but there is a frequency improvement (both for getting to the UW as well as making the transfer). If you just look at the numbers, you can see that the new subway extension — while successful — still represents a small portion of the overall transit growth. Finally, while the city (and county) have made some speed improvements (off board payment here and there, some bus lanes) nothing really big has been built in the last couple years (again, this will change in a few years). It is mostly urbanization and better all day service that has lead to the increased transit use. I expect this to continue, as the light rail system moves further north. Right now the Seattle transit network is still fairly awkward, with trips focused on the more popular destinations, as opposed to something close to a grid. As frequency increases, though, transfers become less of an issue, and this should enable the county (which runs the bus system) to create a real grid. This should in turn lead to higher ridership. Trips that used to require a very time consuming, out of the way transfer will instead be straight forward. Moving towards a grid — or an “anywhere to anywhere” — system is another example of how service improvements can pay for themselves (or come close to it). Transit scales. What would happen if a government started to subsidize tickets during a recession, for example? Would you have to increase service or should the service stay the same? 2019/03/22 - 22:59 Pingback: The Boundary Between the Transit City and Auto-Oriented Suburbia \| Pedestrian Observations 2019/04/12 - 19:37 Pingback: Little Things That Matter: Bus Shelter \| Pedestrian Observations 2019/10/10 - 03:58 Pingback: The Hazards of Federal Subsidies for Operations \| Pedestrian Observations 2019/12/26 - 14:54 Pingback: Off-Peak Public Transport Usage \| Pedestrian Observations Leave a Reply to Stephen Bauman Cancel reply 30-30-30 is Feasible	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1632
__label__cc	0.71973	0.28027	January 19, 2020 By bethphonix Leave a Comment Los premios Grammy 2020 saldrán al aire el 26 de enero. Faltan unos días para que su Grammy Awards 2020 favorito salga al aire. Los premios Grammy 2020 En Vivo No tienes tiempo suficiente para prepararte para disfrutar de tu Show favorito. Si está dispuesto a disfrutar de la transmisión en vivo de los Premios Grammy 2020, necesita mucha información al respecto. Obtendrá la información de la página oficial. Los premios Grammy 2020 saldrán al aire el 27 de enero de 2020 en el STAPLES Center, Los Ángeles, California, Estados Unidos. Aerosmith será honrado como la Persona del año de MusiCares dos noches antes de la transmisión. Esta será la primera edición de los Premios Grammy que presidirá la nueva presidenta de la Academia de Grabación, Deborah Dugan. CBS es el canal oficial de los Premios Grammy 2020. 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From the start, DIRECTV NOW combined the convenience and savings of streaming services with the live viewing and DVR features of traditional TV. It’s perfect for cord cutters, apartment or dorm residents and anyone looking for a low-cost alternative to cable TV. DIRECTV NOW has a new name, AT&T TV NOW. For the most part, only the name has changed. How the service works, including channel lineups and features such as DVR, has largely stayed the same or improved. You know DirecTV Now telecast a lot of high-voltage events. For this reason UFC 246: McGregor vs Cowboy is one of the most wanted matches that Direve than 100 live streaming channels for $35 per month. Prices have been steadily increasing since. When these new changes go into effect, the company will offer DirecTV Now Plus at $50 per month for 40-plus channels and DirectTV Now Max at $70 per month for 50-plus channels. So not only will you be paying more, you’ll be getting less. The current base package offers 65-plus channels for $40 per month. Perhaps a small consolation, the new packages will include HBO, which was a $5 add-on in the past. Rolex 24 he must have to qualifying round.Rolex 24 At Daytona Live Stream The players who will qualify they will play in the main round. Scroll over the map to check out each location and find out more about DAYTONA! This information is relative to many events here at Daytona International Speedway including DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth races and the Coke Zero Sugar 400. For specific maps, see the list of downloadable maps below: Need to locate your entry gate? How about finding where your campground is? Looking for the location of the Midway? We have all of the most important items all listed on our general facility map. Will you be in the UNOH Fanzone for race day? Navigate your way around with ease using our UNOH Fanzone map which includes restrooms, merchandise areas, Gatorade Victory Lane and more. Looking for your parking lot during your trip to DAYTONA? Use the map to locate your lot or to find the free parking located in Lot 7 for select events with free shuttle transportation to-and-from the Speedway. Locate all points of interest inside each of the concourse on each level while inside Daytona International Speedway including locations of restrooms and hospitality areas. Not sure where your current seating location is or just trying to find the perfect seating area? Check out our Section Map to find out exactly where your seats are located. Interested in camping at Daytona International Speedway in 2020 for the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA? Find exactly the option you’re looking for. From RVs to tent camping, there are plenty of options in our GEICO camping areas. Book early, campsites sell out fast. Additional tent camping will once again be made available in GEICO Park West located outside of Turns 1 & 2. Outside tent camping is $45 per vehicle. Have your frontstretch seating tickets and looking for a place to camp? Stay right on property outside of Turns 1 and 2. Ideal for RVs, travel trailers and motorcoaches. Tent camping is not permitted in GEICO Park West Premium area. Reserve your GEICO Park West RV camping spot in advance. Open 24 hours so come and go as you please. Perfect for RVs, travel trailers and motor coaches. Tent camping is not permitted in the GEICO Park West RV area. NHL All-Star Game in 1970 and 1988 at the former St. Louis Arena. The NHL All-Star Skills Competition is scheduled for the night before on January 24.NHL All-Star Game 2020 Live The skills competition consists of the Fastest Skater, Passing Challenge, Save Streak, Puck Control Relay, Hardest Shot, and Accuracy Shooting events. After years of being held on a Sunday, the 2019 All-Star Game was played on a Saturday, January 26, at 5:00 p.m. PST / 8:00 p.m. EST, while the Skills Competition was also moved from its traditional Saturday night to Friday, January 25, 2019. NHL All-Star Game 2020 is an exceptionally famous Occasion, The cost of tickets relies upon numerous components. Some of them are timetable, execution, and past execution. For this situation, on the off chance that you pursue, you will locate some changing costs of tickets. NHL All-Star Game 2020 Understood Occasion. Along these lines, on the off chance that you need to a off chance that you choose to watch the Occasion NHL Top pick Game 2020 group your cost will be not quite the same as another Occasion. In any case, this is regardless of for you, since, you need to get the climate of NHL Top pick Game 2020 Live time Occasion at the arena. With the assistance of continuously current improvements, it has wound up being anything but difficult to recognize NHL All-Star Game 2020 on any contraptions. Fans can watch NHL All-Star Game 2020 Live stream online on their Cushion, Macintosh, PC or any Android contraption. They can watch and look at the examinations at whatever point, wherever, any place on the planet. Along these lines, you can make the most of your most loved NHL All-Star Game 2020 Live Spilling. We proposed to offer the most raised attributes live Spouting associations at the best costs. Fans basically need to pay a little mean an incentive for the NHL All-Star Game 2020 live gushing activities. The best part is you get access for a whole year, so you’ll be watching and following your favored assembling or rivalry all through the whole occasion.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1637
__label__cc	0.610594	0.389406	Of Course Disney's First-Ever Echo Device Is So Freaking Cute Order it now and you’ll have it in time to gift this Christmas! By Jessica Leigh Mattern Amazon just gave one of its popular devices a magical makeover — and Disney fans are going to love it. The retailer dropped its newest device, the Mickey Mouse edition of its Echo Wall Clock, just in time for the holidays. The $50 smart clock is compatible with other Echo devices and comes with a slew of neat features, including countdown animations and the ability to set multiple timers with a little help from Alexa. The wall clock is Disney’s first Echo device ever and follows the release of Amazon’s original best-selling Echo Wall Clock, which launched in 2018 and has earned over 700 five-star reviews. The latest edition comes with all of the same features as the first, but with a playful new design. Plus, Prime members, or anyone who signs up for a free 30-day trial, can get it in time for Christmas (just be sure to order it by December 22). Buy It! Disney Echo Wall Clock, $49.99; amazon.com Set up is incredibly easy. Simply say, “Alexa, set up my Echo Wall Clock,” and your Echo device will do all of the work for you. From there, you can set timers, prompt alerts, check in on timers, and more, all with your voice. While this Disney version has yet to be reviewed by many shoppers, owners of the original call it “incredible” for cooking and baking, while another gave it a perfect review and stated, “this allows me to relax during lengthy cooking times.” “If you already have any Alexa compatible device this clock is a must-have,” one reviewer wrote. “It is more useful than you can imagine. It is 100 percent hands free. All I have to do is tell my Echo Dot to set a timer for what’s cooking on the stove and the clock shows me a visual countdown on the clock face. I can also tell Alexa to set another timer for what’s cooking in the oven, and another to remind me I have something in the hotpot — all without me touching one single button.” Everyone in the family will find it helpful, especially children who can use it to set timers for homework, projects, and much more. “If you have kids and want to limit screen time without meltdowns (having a visual timer helps my kids count down the time remaining), get an Echo Wall Clock,” one parent and reviewer recommended. We have a feeling that everyone — kids and grownups alike — will agree that it’s just as fun as it is functional.	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1639
__label__wiki	0.597117	0.597117	Did Pixar Create Another Masterpiece? Disney and Pixar apparently have another hit on their hands with Toy Story 4. When the sequel was first announced, many fans believed it was a mistake to continue after the last movie. As production carried on, we started to learn more about the movie, including new characters and cast members and the excitement level started to grow. The addition of Tony Hale, Keanu Reeves, Keegan-Michael Key, and Jordan Peele have reportedly given the upcoming movie something special. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen have both commented on how emotional Toy Story 4 is with Hanks even calling it “historical.” It appears the actors weren’t exaggerating since the first reactions to the movie have been on par with what they teased. More than one person has claimed that it is the best movie out of the entire franchise, which is debatable, but it is telling when more than one person is saying that. The sequel brings the Buzz and Woody story to a close and audiences may want to pack some tissues with them. While the Buzz and Woody story is coming to a close in Toy Story 4, it does leave the door open for a future with the new characters who were introduced. On that note, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele have been labeled as scene stealers for their new characters. It looks like we might be seeing more of them in the future. Keanu Reeves’ Duke Caboom is getting a lot of praise too, but that was to be expected since he was already getting an early buzz from when it was announced he was officially a part of the cast. Related: Final Toy Story 4 Poster & New TV Spot Shine a Spotlight on Bo Peep For fans who are on the fence about Toy Story 4, the early reactions are calling it a good conclusion with some going out of their way to call it “necessary.” Many didn’t and still don’t believe the movie needed another installment, but these early reactions are going against that train of thought. When it comes down to it, the fans who don’t want to see the movie might end up pleasantly surprised when the credits roll. We’ll just have to wait for the movie to hit theaters on June 20th. Only time will tell if Toy Story 4 goes down in history as the best installment in the franchise. For now, the early reactions are heaping praise on it, which should be pretty exciting for Disney and Pixar fans who have been waiting to see the movie for years now. Disney is also looking at another successful box office run with the sequel, which may end up breaking records when all is said and done. You can check out some of the early Toy Story 4 reactions below while we wait for the movie to hit theaters in a few weeks. Just saw #ToyStory4…and it’s my favorite in the franchise. You’ll laugh as much as you’ll cry. You’ll feel like a kid one minute and an adult the next. Can’t wait to take my friends to see it. pic.twitter.com/hhPf0Va7CF — ZACH JOHNSON (@zmjohnson) June 7, 2019 #ToyStory4 is a touching and moving addition to the franchise. BRING THE TISSUES!!! You will fall in love with Forky and @KeeganMKey / @JordanPeele steal every scene as these guys 👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/WpKli7wyrT — Jason Guerrasio (@JasonGuerrasio) June 7, 2019 #ToyStory4 takes audiences down so many pleasant emotional avenues. You’ll laugh, you’ll think about your own life, reminisce… maybe even shed a tear. It was the perfect extension — and ending — for the nearly 25-year-old franchise. Duke Caboom deserves his own spinoff. pic.twitter.com/VKd7lNJJ3l — Mark Daniell (@markhdaniell) June 7, 2019 For those worried about #ToyStory4, don’t be! The movie is magic and delightful. It will also wreck your emotions just as much as the other three, so that’s something to look forward to! — Rachel Paige (@rachmeetsworld) June 7, 2019 #ToyStory4 was a NEEDED FILM. Emotional all around that furthers the story past the third one. New Toys are incredible and each have multiple moments that steal the show! It’s another Perfect Adventure with your favorite deputy and friends. More to come #Toystorypic.twitter.com/ZKBCZ0AwiY — Zach Pope (@popetheking) June 7, 2019 Pixar has done it again! #ToyStory4 is my new favorite! I dare you not to laugh and cry at this love story about friendship. — Tania Lamb (@LolaLambchops) June 7, 2019 #ToyStory4 brings a conclusion to the story of Buzz & Woody that we never knew we wanted but is totally worth it. It sets up a potential future for the franchise with a host of new characters. Definitely a quality Pixar film and one of their best sequels. — JoBlo.com (@joblocom) June 7, 2019 #ToyStory4 goes to infinity and beyond. It tugs at the heartstrings right from the get go and doesn’t stop. The new characters fit right in and all your old favorites get time to shine. — James Viscardi (@JimViscardi) June 7, 2019 #ToyStory4 is another fantastic entry in the series & the one installment that feels most like an adventure movie. With themes of hard goodbyes, second chances & finding your way home, it’s packed w/ big belly laughs, but I also cried harder here than I have for any of the others pic.twitter.com/MoFFY2pNqJ — Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) June 7, 2019 #ToyStory4 made me want to run and hug my childhood toy. Pixar rewards fans for being invested all these years. Beautiful character journey for Woody. Not quite as good as Toy Story 3. Keanu as Duke Caboom is an absolute treat. Has my favourite nod to The Shining yet. — Jonathan J. Spiroff (@jonjspiroff) June 7, 2019 #ToyStory4 is simply delightful. A tightly paced narrative that harkens back to the feeling of the original 2 films featuring some of the franchises best comedy. A relatable & mature message that speaks to those who grew up with it. #DukeCaboom RULES! More Keanu please. pic.twitter.com/JB3RZRGrTi — Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) June 7, 2019 Many people have said we dont need a #ToyStory4 (myself included) but trust me when I say we NEEDED this story. I cried harder than I ever have at a #ToyStory film, and also laughed harder. This is a MUST SEE! in theaters June 21st! #Disneypic.twitter.com/2YH4FAtLH8 — Mama’s Geeky – Tessa Smith (@MamasGeeky) June 7, 2019 I can’t describe #ToyStory4 as anything other than “emotionally punishing”. This is Pixar at it’s best, and it’s the first of their nostalgia sequels since Toy Story 3 that truly feels earned in every sense as it twists and warps that very nostalgia into something transcendent. pic.twitter.com/uF32uTsCGg — Bailey (@loverboymedia) June 8, 2019 Topics: Toy Story 4, Toy Story	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1642
__label__cc	0.593316	0.406684	Baltimore County - Overlea High & Academy of Finance (1473) Welcome to the Overlea High & Academy of Finance Homepage. This page is updated as new data is released throughout the year. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law December 10, 2015 and replaces No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Maryland is in the process of developing a Consolidated State Plan for the implementation of this law which will be implemented in the 2017-2018 school year. Information about this work can be found at http://marylandpublicschools.org/ Pages/default.aspx Graphs And Tables School Print Report (pdf) Maryland collects student demographic data that helps further clarify the populations served by the state's schools and local education authorities. Demographics Data Summary Attendance Rate Absentee Rate Students Receiving Special Services State Certifications Students in grades 3-8 and high school participated in the PARCC assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics. PARCC complements, but does not replace, the existing Maryland School Assessment, which assesses performance in science in grades 5 and 8; the Alternate Maryland School Assessment (for students with disabilities); or the Maryland High School Assessments in Biology and Government. In addition students take other assessments such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress and college Readiness tests like AP and SAT. Students who are identified as English learners also take an annual English language proficiency assessment. Assessments Data Summary PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSESSMENT OF READINESS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS (PARCC) Advanced Placement (PDF) SAT (PDF) ACT (PDF) PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 (PDF) Maryland reports on the progress students make towards graduation and their plans post-graduation. Federal law requires that Maryland use an adjusted cohort graduation rate and dropout rate. These adjusted rates ensure that all students who enter 9th grade together are accounted for at the end of three, four or five years. Graduation Data Summary Cohort Graduation Rate 5-Yr Adjusted Cohort Promotion Rate High School Program Completion Grade 12 Documented Decisions College Status Maryland collects Nationwide College Enrollment data for Maryland graduates from the National Student Clearinghouse along with Maryland Public College Enrollment and Maryland Public College Credit data from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Maryland captures this information to determine the post-secondary enrollment and college credit earned of Maryland graduates. College Status Data Summary Nationwide College Enrollment	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1645
__label__cc	0.687023	0.312977	Click here to Learn more about show infoShow Info Click here to Learn more about show infoNow Playing Click here to Learn more about show infoParties and Corporate Events Click here to Learn more about show infoGet a Clue…or Die! Click here to Learn more about show infoDeadly Housewives Click here to Learn more about show infoMurder on the Movie Set Click here to Learn more about show infoHow to Murder a Millionaire Click here to Learn more about show infoMurder at Miss Mary's Click here to Learn more about show infoMurder on the Poopdeck Click here to Learn more about about usAbout Click here to Learn more about about usWhy Choose Us Click here to Learn more about enjoy dinnerEnjoy Dinner Mother always told us that it’s not nice to talk about one’s self … but here are what others are saying! If you have seen the show and would like to submit your own review fill out the form at the bottom of the page. See what Northwest Valley Newspapers Entertainment Editor, Rich Ott, wrote and published in the Daily News-Sun, Surprise Today paper! Thank you soooo much for making my graduation party a wonderful and fun success. The Get a Clue crew was awesome and we loved the show. Thank you for all your professional help. You guys and gals are great. We will be back…” – Equality and family, AZ The show was great, very funny! Food was good, but you mainly go for the show which was excellent! Made for a fun Girl’s Nite Out, the acting was A+ in my book! Would definitely go back!” – Tina Baron, AZ I’ve actually had the pleasure of watching both shows. And I can honestly say the cast had me laughing from beginning to end. The play never lost my attention and there was a lot of interaction with the audience. All the actors were great! I feel like I got to know the actors a little bit from talking to them personally in between show times and they all had great personalities. The Director of the Production is a riot! And when they served all the guests they were very friendly and provided great customer service. At any rate, you have to experience one of these shows! You won’t be disappointed! GOOD JOB YOU GUYS!!” – Angela, Goodyear, AZ What a great show! The characters were so great they kept surprising us with each new scene. The show has comedy suspense and intrigue. Bring your friends and family and enjoy the show. It’s a hoot!” – Blenda and Dale Chmielewski, AZ My Lady and I attended the show and had a wonderful time. The show going on so closely around you (and in some cases with you) made us feel less like we were watching the show and more like we were involved in it. … The double-ententres are slightly risque, making it great fun for adults and teens alike, while the cast serving your food, allows for questions in character, making it much more interactive than the standard “We need a volunteer from the audience.” My Lady and I will certainly return with our entourage of squires in tow. Thank you for a lovely evening and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.” – K. Weibley, Phoenix, AZ Excellent show! Excellent food! Excellent time!” – M. Johnson, Goodyear, AZ It was so much fun! The actors were great in their roles and it was hard to figure out who did it. The food was good too. I will recommend this to as many people as possible and plan to come back to see the new show.” – H. Back, Phoenix, AZ The show was very entertaining from start to finish. Talented cast and good writing I had a smile on my face long after the show was over! I can’t wait for the new show!” – Hayley and family, Phoenix, AZ This show is so funny. If you want to be entertained then go see this show. It’s pure fun!” – H. Cloughton, Scottsdale, AZ I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish! The ‘who dun it’ was very nicely done! I look forward to seeing another performance in the future! Thank you for the entertainment.” – M. McMahon, Glendale, AZ If you like Monty Python, Mel Brooks, Saturday Night Live or anything similar to those you will love this production. They are fun and the food is wonderful every time we have been. The humor is adult natured at times but not vulgar or too bad at all. (ie. Monty Python/Mel Brooks, etc) Me and my husband have been to two of their shows and have had an extremely fun time. The whole crew is funny and wonderful actors who seem to enjoy their work which makes everyone else enjoy it even more in my opinion. The fact that they have been so quick and willing to make accommodations for our special needs (handicapped) means something we do not have to worry with and it allows us to enjoy the show without undue stress. We have every intention of coming back every chance we get and can not wait till we can bring our (grown) children to see their shows. We know they will enjoy it as much as we have. Thank you A Murder and a Meal Dinner Theater for everything and keep it up, you are helping to bring laughter back to some people who need it more than you could possibly know.” – Elisabeth & Bill Luce, AZ I never attended one of these type of shows before, and all I can say is AWESOME! Loved how they included the audience and the actors where very good. I don’t remember the last time I laughed so hard and for so long.” – D. Ruelens, Lancaster, PA We heard you all are returning, and with new shows coming soon? Count us in!” – Jake and Sydney Hoffman, Phoenix My husband and I went for our anniversary to do something different. This was a fantastic something different. I laughed so hard, I couldn’t stop, no really, for about 5 minutes (or so it seemed) I kept giggling, not just a snicker either, all out bust a gut, milk spewing laughter. This show should come with a warning, because you might even laugh your self to death….. ahhhh. I did love through it and will DEFINITELY see the show again.” – The Burdis, Phoenix, AZ We were totally thrilled with the show and dinner. Everyone was extremely courteous and friendly. The show itself was awesome and the actors were fantastic. Last but not least, the service was second to none! We will definitely be back in the near future.” – Mark P., Phoenix, AZ What a great cast of characters and everyone of them pulled the audience right into the play. Look forward to the poop deck.” – Dave G., Phoenix, AZ It was so much fun. I’m not the type to go to see a show of this such, but now I’m glad I did. The actors were so good, especially that little rascal, Dewey. The butler was just too funny and all the cast was great. Keep the good job up.” – M. Gonzalez, Phoenix, AZ We Red Hat Ladies had the time of our lives — thanks for all the laughs!!” – Red Hat Ladies, Sun City West, AZ The maid was a delight to watch. She had adorable facial expressions. The cook had incredible energy and was very funny. The hostess/wife was very charming and friendly and made me feel welcomed in her home. The dinner was good, the help helpful and, overall, the play held my interest.” – C. Vincent, Glendale, AZ My friends and I went to your show last night and had so much fun.” – Guest, Mesa, AZ This is a great interactive experience where you can take out of town guests or your local friends. It is light-hearted comedy and spoof, with a great country club meal. Most touching to me was the friendliness of the actors, producer and director. I left wanting to be friends with all of them. I brought an out of town guest who was used in the show and he had a memorable wonderful night. Thank you to all. 5 Star Rating, Highly recommend!!!! I will definitely go again and bring more friends along.” – Scottsdale Girl, AZ I heard you are coming back and will be doing more shows! My wife and I are so excited about that and will definitely be telling everyone about it. We had such a great time when we “last visited the Bottom’s mansion”!!! See you soon!” – Damon and Shralynn Wellington, AZ This was the first time we had been to a murder mystery dinner theater and we were not disappointed! The actors were amazing as they did absolutely everything there was to do for the evening. The food was okay, the venue was intimate, and we liked the small group atmosphere. We will definitely come again. Well worth the money. Great evening!” – Kayla Kolar, AZ Oh, my goodness, I never would have expected to have had so much FUN!! What a wonderful way to spend an evening!! Not ONLY was the cast very talented and friendly, but they made the act even more funny with how they interacted with the audience–it was hilarious!! I had so much FUN!! The food was great, the service was excellent (and funny, too) and it was a nice, family atmosphere. The only disappointment was that there weren’t more people there to enjoy it!!! We will definitely be coming again!” – L. Eades, Pheonix, AZ We thought this event was fun and entertaining. We enjoyed interacting with the cast. There was a lot of laughter and we are looking forward to doing this again.” – C. DePauz, Surprise, AZ My daughter and I had a wonderful time. There were just enough people to make it fun and not so many as to lose the feel of being a guest. We would definitely do this again and I will recommend it to people I know.” – M. McDowell, Phoenix, AZ What a fabulous and entertaining show! The characters are rich and full of life – and the interactive part was awesome. I brought two friends in from out of town just to see your production. Top notch!” – Dee, AZ I had a great time. This was the first time I had ever been to anything like this. I will definitely come back again. The cast was awesome. Thank you for such a wonderful time.” – L. Wright, AZ Never having been to dinner theater before, I found your show a great introduction to the art form. I have to say from the moment I got there, I had a great time – right up until I left. It was an evening well spent. The cast was outstanding!” – T. Robison, Mesa, AZ Date of Show Click here to Buy A Gift Card Gift Buy A Gift Card Phone Click here to call 602.845.0503 602.845.0503 Envelope Click here to email [email protected] [email protected] Envelope Click here to email [email protected] [email protected] Map Marker Click here to view location 10601 North 56th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85254 10601 North 56th Street	cc/2020-05/en_middle_0026.json.gz/line1649

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