pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 113
974k
| source
stringlengths 39
45
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__wiki
| 0.793773
| 0.793773
|
Review Of Miss Universe 2017 Telecast
CREDIT: MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION
Las Vegas, Nevada – November 26, 2017 – Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, a 22-year-old business management from Western Cape, South Africa, was crowned Miss Universe 2017 at the AXIS at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada. The telecast aired live on FOX for the third year in a row. But compared to last year's U.S. telecast which started on time, this year's U.S. telecast was pre-emptied by an NFL game for the first twenty-five minutes, much to my disgust! Luckily, the show was live streamed on Facebook, which was a first in the pageant's history. I found myself watching the live stream on Facebook on my iPhone and the delayed telecast at the same time!
Nel-Peters was crowned by outgoing queen Iris Mittenaere from France. Nel-Peters' victory marks the second time that South Africa has won the Miss Universe crown (Margaret Gardiner won in 1978). According to the Miss Universe website: "... in her spare time, Demi-Leigh is passionate about a program she helped develop to train women in self-defense in various situations called the Unbreakable campaign. She was inspired to launch it by the attempted hijacking she experienced earlier this year in Johannesburg. She plans to share these workshops and help as many women as she can." One wonders if Demi-Leigh had not been hijacked, then she would not have any interesting story to tell and perhaps might have barely made the cut.
For the third straight year in a row, Emmy Award winner Steve Harvey hosted the three-hour event with backstage commentary from "body activist" and top model Ashley Graham, style expert Carson Kressley, and walking coach and model Lu Sierra. Grammy-award entertainer Fergie and international pop star Rachel Platten provided the entertainment.
The panel of judges included former Miss Universe winners Pia Wurtzbach (2015) and Wendy Fitzwilliam (1998), TV personality Ross Mathews, makeup artist and entrepreneur Jay Manuel, social media celebrity Lele Pons, and UFC backstage correspondent and host Megan Olivi.
A record total of 92 countries were represented in the 66th edition of the pageant which was held ten months after the 65th edition which was held on January 30, 2017 in the Philippines. Hopefully, the pageant from now on will take place consistently once a year.
First Runner-Up: Colombia, Laura Gonzalez
Second Runner-Up: Jamaica, Davina Bennett
Top Three: Colombia, Laura Gonzalez; South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters; Jamaica, Davina Bennett
Top Five: Colombia, Laura Gonzalez; South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters; Jamaica, Davina Bennett; Thailand, Maria Poonlertlarp; Venezuela, Keysi Sayago
Top Ten: Colombia, Laura Gonzalez; South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters; Jamaica, Davina Bennett; Thailand, Maria Poonlertlarp; Venezuela, Keysi Sayago; Brazil. Monalisa Alcantara; Canada, Lauren Howe; Philippines, Rachel Peters; Spain, Sofia del Prado; USA, Kára McCullough.
Top Sixteen: Colombia, Laura Gonzalez; South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters; Jamaica, Davina Bennett; Thailand, Maria Poonlertlarp; Venezuela, Keysi Sayago; Brazil. Monalisa Alcantara; Canada, Lauren Howe; Philippines, Rachel Peters; Spain, Sofia del Prado; USA, Kára McCullough; China, Roxette Qiu; Croatia, Shanaelle Petty; Ghana, Ruth Quashie; Great Britain, Anna Burdzy; Ireland, Cailín Toíbín; and Sri Lanka, Christina Peiris.
Best National Costume: Japan, Momoko Abe. The winners of this award usually wear the most colorful, the most elaborate, the most culturally significant, and yes, the heaviest costume - as in the case of last year's winner from Myanmar, Htet Htet Htun, who "wore" a traditional Burmese puppetry. This year's Myanmar delegate, Zun Thansin, has outdone her predecessor by "wearing" an enormous prop representing a traditional Burmese musical orchestra. If Thansin had thought that she could outdo Htun's costume and win for Myanmar again, well she had thought wrong. This year, the judges picked Japan whose costume had the biggest surprise element of all - a samurai outfit which doubles as a kimono!
Usually, special awardees were announced during the telecast but MUO has scrapped this tradition over a decade ago. Now, the awardees are announced either during an après party or posted on social media, which I find tacky and undignified. This year, Miss Panama Laura de Sanctis was voted as Miss Congeniality. This is the second time that a Miss Photogenic award was not distributed (the first being in 2015) - which is pathetic especially since there were so many girls that looked stunning in photographs. Is MUO really on a tight budget that they can't afford to splurge another $1,000 as prize cash for a Miss Photogenic? With the astronomical figure that they had paid Steve Harvey to host for the third time, $1,000 is peanuts.
The Top Three
Misses Thailand and Venezuela were eliminated after the Top 5 question round, which left Misses South Africa, Colombia and Jamaica at the Top 3. Don't you just love Colombia's infectious ecstatic reaction?
After the Top 3 Final Question round, each top finalist had to sashay on stage for the final look while entertainer Rachel Platten sang her hit song, "Broken Glass." Minutes later, the official results were announced: a disappointed Miss Jamaica was declared 2nd runner-up, which left Miss South Africa and Miss Colombia as the last two women standing. Finally, host Steve Harvey declares Miss South Africa as Miss Universe and Miss Colombia as 1st runner-up:
Innovations... but
The opening number and the new selection format. The stage is a repeat of the 2015 show when it was held at the same venue (AXIS) in Las Vegas. It had gigantic LED screens that featured the respective flags of each contestant. But the introduction is an almost repeat of last year's when the candidates did not get to introduce themselves. Instead, a feminine voice-over introduced each contestant - not alphabetically - but by region, which is reminiscent of the regional introductions that first began in the early 1990s. However, a new component was added: the selection of top four scorers from each region (the Americas, Europe, Asia/Africa/Oceania) plus wild cards (the top four scorers regardless of the region). This new selection format sought to offer an equal and fair opportunity especially to countries that have never or rarely placed, but to me it reeked of political correctness. Why should the judges be compelled to advance a mediocre contestant just because her country has not done well in the last 40 or 50 years? I supposed the pageant's new owners, IMG, wishes to perpetuate the notion of global inclusion by telling the world that it is not okay to ignore countries with non-existent pageant tradition.
Lauriela Martins, Miss Universe Angola 2017, struts her stuff during the opening number.
Las Vegas, baby. For the fifth time, the pageant was held in the City of Lights, Las Vegas. And for the second time at the AXIS. Critics claim that the only reason Las Vegas hosted the pageant again was that no other country would host it and/or that no country could afford the exorbitant hosting fees charged by MUO. So naturally, Las Vegas automatically became the default host city. Nothing wrong with that. The city was designed to host all sorts of events, and it is fully equipped with everything that MUO needs to put on a good show. One major concern that was brought up by naysayers was that the city had been the target of a crazy gunman who had opened fire on a crowd of concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest music festival on the Las Vegas Strip last October 1, killing 58 innocent people. What if a similar incident occurred at the Miss Universe pageant? It was a legitimate concern; however, MUO's security staff is one of the toughest in the pageant world. It is so tough that even national directors are prohibited from seeing or speaking to their delegates during the entire competition.
The swimsuit and evening gown presentations return to tradition. I guess this year MUO yielded to the demands of pageant fans who hated last year's presentations where the finalists had to come out in groups of three. This time, it was back to the 2015 format with the girls being introduced one by one, and thus giving each of them more airtime. In the swimsuit segment, the girls with the best bodies are Philippines, Ghana, USA, Colombia and South Africa, but Venezuela and Brazil ruled the catwalk. Thailand was the only one who opted to wear a one-piece (what was she hiding?) In the evening gown segment, Jamaica's bright and intricately designed yellow gown was a real showstopper and complimented her glowing ebony complexion. Philippines looked the sexiest in her sleeveless, crystal-studded light-blue gown with a plunging neckline and high slit which enhanced her ridiculously hot body. Although I don't particularly care for South Africa's long-sleeved nude gown, she did give the best stage projection with her exquisite face and killer smize! As commentator Lu Sierra would constantly stress, "It's all about the girl, the face, the eye contact."
Smizin' To Win: South Africa's Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
Miss-Matched / Separated At Birth? Did anyone notice the striking resemblance between Miss USA Kára McCullough (left) and Miss Brazil Monalysa Alcântara (right) especially during the swimsuit line-up? Matching hairdo, matching smile, matching leg stance, matching swimsuit. Imagine if they had been the last two standing finalists. Who do you think would have won?
Diverse swimsuit styles: This year's top 16 reflected a true rainbow coalition of beauties from all shades and colors. But did you notice, too, that they also sashayed in diverse swimsuit styles and wrap? Cool, isn't it?
Surprises, surprises! Let's face it: it is rare for a pageant expert or fanatic to successfully predict which countries will make the cut, as every year there will always be one, two or more non-favorite countries that will always pull a surprise. This year, there were five: Croatia, Ireland, China and in the photo below, Sri Lanka (Christina Peiris) and Ghana (Ruth Quashie). Croatia has been participating consistently since 1997 and so far has placed twice in the top 15 (2009, 2012); its representative, Shanaelle Petty, was nowhere on the list of favorites of most fans, as she was just as shocked as I was when her country was called. Ireland started competing in 1961 but has never won; Cailín Áine Ní Toibín's top 16 placement is the first for Ireland since Rozanna Purcell's Top 6 position in 2010. Ruth Quashie gave Ghana its second Top 16 placement since 1999, whereas China also got its second since 2013.
And speaking of China, let's appreciate her quasi-androgynous look:
Wild card, wild fans. The Philippines has been placing consistently at Miss Universe since Venus Raj in 2010, and Rachel Peters was not about to break that streak. When her country was not called as a top scorer from the Asia/Africa/Oceania region, it caused much anxiety to her huge league of Filipino fans. Thank God this anxiety quickly turned to rambunctious tranquility when Rachel's country was called as the first wild card.
Rachel Peters' sigh of relief
Filipino fans going wild when their country's rep made the cut. It's hard to imagine a Miss Universe pageant without wild, passionate and entertaining Filipino fans in the audience, as they add so much color and amusement to the show!
How do you solve a problem like Maria? They say that your answer to the final question will either make you or break you. While the other four finalists aced their respective questions, Thailand's Maria Poonlertlarp struggled with her answer to this question, "What do you think has been the most important social movement of your generation and why?" Her response: "I think the most important social movement so far is that we’re having an aging population. So the most important movement in our time is definitely the youth. So the youth is the future, the youth is something we have to invest in because they’re the ones who are gonna look after the earth that we live in."
For someone who used to teach English, Maria seemed unsure about what a social movement is. One could assume that she probably meant that society needs to care about old people and thus we need to encourage today's youth to look after the elderly. But something was lost in translation and overall her response sounded incoherent. Maria was actually my favorite for the crown and I was ecstatic to see her reach the top 5, but alas, she was not destined to win.
Fergie's performance. Wow! I have never seen a more heartfelt performance by a guest artist on a Miss Universe show until I witnessed Fergie's touching rendition of her latest hit, "A Little Work." Who wouldn't be touched by such profoundly spiritual and inspirational lyrics?
When everything around me starts to fall I rise up again to the call We're all just a little bit broken (yeah) We're all just a little bit hurt (yeah) We've all got wounds half open (yeah) We all can use a little work A little work A little
I'm pretty sure the contestants can relate to the song whenever they trip or fall on their butt or when they are bullied online by nasty fans. Lol
Iris Mittenaere doing her final walk wearing a red crystal-studded strapless ball gown by Filipino designer Michael Cinco - the same guy who dressed Pia Wurtzbach in cobalt blue ballgown when she crowned Iris. Iris has never looked so radiant and beautiful:
So from a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest), how would I rate the 2017 telecast? I would give it a 6. The production was dull as dishwasher, Steve Harvey's jokes have become stale, the new selection format was inordinate, and the girls continued to wear those ugly Chinese Laundry tippy toe shoes.
by Rafa Delfin, 12/27/2017
Labels: MISS UNIVERSE 2017, NEWS, REVIEWS, TELECASTS
CRITICAL BEAUTY SALON
END OF THE YEAR REVIEW 2019
WE'RE NOW ON INSTAGRAM!
JONAS GAFFUD INTERVIEW
REVIEW OF THE MISS UNIVERSE 2018 TELECAST
MISS WORLD EXPOSED
REMEMBERING CHELSI SMITH
MISS FAROE ISLANDS 2017
MISS GRAND INTERNATIONAL 2016
Miss World America 2016: Rigged?
Ex-Miss Belgium's Crusade Against Islam
Ann Sidney
Aino Korva - Miss Denmark 1963
World Beauty Queen Scandal
Miss Globe International Fiasco
Scam Alert: Who Is George Buchis?
Scandal In Mister International
Eric Siow's Pageant Toons
Beauty In All Creatures
Critical Photo
Pageant and Image Consulting Services
Review of Miss USA 2015 Telecast
Miss World Bahamas 2015
Review Of Miss Universe 2015
Miss USA 2015 & 2016 Interviews
(C) Copyright 2012 Critical Beauty. Simple theme. Powered by Blogger.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line6973
|
__label__wiki
| 0.697381
| 0.697381
|
Home/[email protected]
[email protected]CubeSat Team2019-03-01T01:21:10+01:00
[email protected] is a 1U CubeSat developed for demonstrating the autonomous active attitude control capabilities based on magnetic actuation: in fact, the payload is an Active Attitude Determination and Control System. It was developed since 2008 and it was launched on orbit with the VEGA Maiden Flight on 13th February, 2012.The commissioning phase foresaw that the payload was activated with the satellite in de-tumbling mode, so with the control activated. In fact, the A-ADCS started its work autonomously, controlling the angular velocities and the attitude of the satellite.The primary scientific objectives of [email protected] mission were:
to demonstrate the capability of autonomous determination, control and manoeuver, through the development and test in orbit of an A-ADCS entirely designed and manufactured by students;
to test in orbit COTS technology and self-made hardware.
Strong Aspects
More than 100 students worked on this project, gaining hands-on experience on space applications!
[email protected] is the first Italian CubeSat and the first satellite of Politecnico di Torino to be inserted on orbit.
[email protected] is equipped with an Active Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem, based on magnetic actuation.
[email protected] bus is the basis of [email protected]: it’s a small step towards future missions and applications.
COMSYS
To achieve a complete three axes control, which actually represents the main objective of the mission, the satellite is equipped with a dedicated system. The system must accomplish the following functions: attitude determination and attitude control. To determine the attitude different sets of sensors have been installed on-board for redundancy reasons: coarse sun sensors, three axis magnetometer, and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The interest of the experiment relies in particular in the space test of a commercial IMU, while the other two set of sensors have been already tested into space in previous programs. The three axes control is pursued thanks to three magnetic torquers mounted on three perpendicular [email protected] panels.
The Telemetry, Tracking and Command system (TT&C) provides the interface between the spacecraft and ground systems.
Operators commands (uplink) pass to the spacecraft through this subsystem to control it and to operate the payload. Payload mission data and cubesat housekeeping data pass from the spacecraft through this subsystem to operators on the ground.
The system is constituted by a UHF module characterized by low power consumption, small dimensions and low weight, and by a dedicated microprocessor: the system results very simple and robust. The system is continuously operating, transmitting data every two minutes during the nominal orbit. The signal can be received by ground stations located throughout the globe.
When the satellite passes over Torino, the system can receives commands from the ground station and transmits the extended telemetry data. The communication satellite-ground station uses one channel in amateur radio frequency, at 437.445 MHz, with a bit rate of 1200 bit/s and digital frequency modulation BPSK. The communication channel is half duplex and it is activated on demand from the ground station.
The TT&C system board dimensions are 96 x 90 cm and the global weight of the system (with dipole antenna) is 60 g. The maximum power consumption during transmission is 650 mW in the worst case.
The communication protocol has been defined on purpose by the team as far as the commands codification is concerned. On the contrary, for the downlink transmission the standard amateur protocol KISS AX.25 is used in order to share the telemetry data with the amateur and CubeSat community all over the world.
In order to collect, convert, distribute and store electrical power, the Electrical Power Subsystem is necessary. [email protected] picosatellite exploits the primary source of energy, i.e. solar flux, to collect the electrical power, when not in eclipses. However, during both eclipses and day-lights it supplies the avionics with the electrical power it needs by means of two battery packages. Apart from solar cells and battery packages, the other component of the Electrical Power Subsystem is a dedicated Power Supply electronic board to manage the energy supplied by the solar panels, recharge batteries, distribute the electrical power conveniently regulated and provide the EPS telemetry. As far as the solar cells are concerned, five faces out of six of [email protected] are covered with solar panels. All panels have two GaAs triple junction cells each, which are 70 mm long and 40 mm wide. The cells have an efficiency of 24% (minimum) and they are connected in series in order to supply a nominal voltage of 4.6 V, and a power of about 2.0 W. The cells have been supplied by CESI S.p.A. – Milano – Italy. Power from each of the solar panel is transferred to the Power Bus via three Battery Charge Regulator (BCR), operating independently. Each BCR sets the panel voltage at the maximum power point (MPPT) so that the available energy from the panel is fully utilized. A kill switch to inhibit the supply of power bus during pre-launch and launch phase is also included in the system. Voltage Regulators (VRs) allow to obtain a stable tension used to supply [email protected] bus and all the devices of the satellite with the correct currents. Filters and protection switches to prevent over-currents and over-voltages are used. Thanks to Analog to Digital Converters and the I2C interface (that allows the connection with the [email protected] bus), the telemetry of solar panels and batteries voltages, temperatures and currents and power bus current is available.
As far as the battery packages are concerned, [email protected] is equipped with two battery packages, each constituted by two Li-Ion battery cells connected in series. Each package supplies 7.2 V/1800 mAh and both battery packages are mounted on the D-PCDU, which is actually the last board of the series, and are easily accessible.
The power consumption of the entire system is less than 0.1 W. The EPS total weight is 250 g and the power board sizes are 96×90 mm.
In order to size and verify the EPS, all the operative modes have been taken into account. The maximum daily power consumption estimated and verified for the envisaged elliptical orbit is less than 4350 mW. After the deployment from the launcher, the satellite is in “detumbling phase” and the power consumption is about 6500 mW.
On Board Computer (OBC) hardware is constituted by a computer board with a micro-controller MSP430, several memory units, a bus interface (named [email protected] bus) and many I/O pins. The OBC main tasks are: to create a physical platform to manage the satellite operations, to interface other subsystems and devices through the main bus, to validate, understand and distribute commands, to process, organize and store telemetry data, and to accomplish the watchdog function.
One switch disables [email protected] main bus before and during the launch phase, and it is set to activate the system 30 minutes after the CubeSat is released from the deployer.
The EPS, TT&C and ADCS are connected via the [email protected] main bus, also to ease the verification activity from the external test equipment.
The OBC software is based on a real time operating system, and the microcontroller is programmed in C language. The OBC main board weights 80 g, its dimensions are 90 x 96 mm, and the power consumption is less than 0.2 W.
[email protected] mechanical system meets the requirements settled by Cubesat standards. The interface with P-POD specifications has also been satisfied.
The lateral panels of the satellite have been obtained by a 100×410 mm sheet metal plate, then appropriately folded and closed by means of rivets. The top and bottom panels are basically modified C section plates, screwed to the lateral structure. Hence no Multilayer Insulation (MLI) is used on the [email protected] Cubesat. The structural layout guarantees quite an easy access to sub-systems.
The structure is devoted to carry the loads induced by the launch vehicle, to support and protect all other spacecraft sub-systems, and to provide for spring plunger devices and deployment switches.
One panel (P1) is equipped to accommodate the antenna and all the connectors to ground test equipment. All other panels are covered by solar cells and related devices.
All components of the main structure are manufactured in anodized Aluminium alloy.
The basic principles in the selection of thermal control techniques have been simplicity and flexibility, since the thermal analysis of a satellite is a dynamic process constantly evolving, especially when the orbit is unknown for the mission. In the particular case of [email protected], we have started by choosing a completely passive system without Multi-Layer Insulation and we have verified by thermal analysis (based on different orbit simulations) that it would be sufficient to satisfy the temperature requirements of all components, ensuring the survival and proper functioning of the satellite throughout his life in orbit. External and internal thermal stresses with both “hot” and “cold” thermal environment conditions have been defined, and temperature profiles estimated for the structure, on-board electronics, batteries, solar panels and surfaces.
The Launch
Vega’s maiden flight, dubbed VV01, took off on 13 February 2012 (it was originally scheduled on the 9th, but then it was postponed by four days).
The vehicle lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying nine satellites into orbit: [email protected] and other 6 CubeSats from European universities, the LARES laser relativity satellite and ALMASat-1 from ASI.
Final orbit of Vega’s AVUM fourth, and so of [email protected], was an elliptical orbit (1450 km x 350 km, orbital period of 103 min, with an inclination of 69° above the equator).
Mission Status
The first contact with the satellite was established, not just after its insertion in-orbit, but few days later. Nonetheless, the contact was intermittent and the team was not able to completely decode received telemetry packets: this was probably due to a very low state-of-charge of the batteries.By the end of 2012 the CubeSat Team of Politecnico di Torino has declared the cessation of [email protected] communications and the end of the mission.On 16/01/2015 [email protected] completed its reentry, so it is no longer on orbit (source).
Design 100%
Functional testing 100%
Environmental Testing 100%
Launch 100%
End of the mission 100%
Re-entry 100%
TLE (predicted by Università di Bologna before the launch)
1 00003U 12006C 12044.46627998 .00000000 00000-0 28115-3 0 18
2 00003 69.4857 238.7662 0796159 45.0883 191.9444 14.06339990 10
First TLE
1 38079U 12006C 12044.70507192 -.00000173 00000-0 00000+0 0 13
Last TLE before reentry
1 38079U 12006C 15016.13455217 .17990388 48979-5 52837-3 0 9992
2 38079 69.3967 125.0648 0013168 47.0341 316.5109 16.44007688156194
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line6976
|
__label__wiki
| 0.685208
| 0.685208
|
Following the rampage at the Legco complex by radical protesters on Monday, lawmakers from the pro-Beijing and pan-democratic camps are indulging in a blame game. Photo: HKEJ
Jul 3, 2019 4:39pm
Lawmakers hurl accusations after Legco storming incident
As the Legislative Council seeks to repair the damage caused to its premises by a group of radical anti-extradition bill protesters, lawmakers from the pro-establishment camp have taken aim at their opposition counterparts, saying the pan-democratic camp needs to shoulder some responsibility for the unfortunate events that took place on Monday.
Severely condemning the July 1 incidents and claiming that the Legco had suffered unprecedented damage, pro-Beijing lawmakers said on Tuesday that opposition legislators need to ask themselves if they were partly to blame for the violent protests on the Hong Kong handover anniversary day.
Lawmaker Martin Liao Cheung-kong, convener of the pro-establishment bloc in the Legco, accused the pan-democrats of turning a blind eye to Monday’s illegal and violent acts and also trying to pin the incident on the government.
The pan-democrats need to bear some responsibility as they tacitly supported demonstrators who were looking for the next target on which they can vent their anger, Liao said.
On Monday night, radical protesters stormed into the Legco building and went on a rampage, breaking equipment and spraying graffiti, before they were eventually driven out.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor condemned the protesters for being “violent and lawless”, saying their actions undermined the rule of law.
On Monday, media reported that some pan-democratic lawmakers had tried to persuade radical protesters from storming the Legco building, only to fail in their attempt.
Civic Party lawmaker Dr. Kwok Ka-ki on Tuesday asserted that if the damage the young people did to the Legco facilities was considered violence, what is even more serious is the strong-arm tactics that authorities were using to distort the Hong Kong system.
Au Nok Hin, another pro-democracy lawmaker, said the public will be the eventual judge in relation to the Legco storming incident.
The government should reflect on why some citizens who had normally been mild have been turning to hardline tactics, said the lawmaker who belongs to the Council Front group,
During the Monday gathering outside the Legco, Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting was seen kneeling and begging a protester not to storm the Legco complex but had been ignored. That protester, however, apologized to him when leaving the scene.
Lam said the situation now is that the government has virtually forced the public to rise in rebellion.
The lawmaker added that he worries Hong Kong could see more such incidents in future as the government continues to ignore people’s concerns.
TL/JC/RC
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line6978
|
__label__wiki
| 0.727928
| 0.727928
|
Morant, Brooks lead Grizzlies to 121-110 win over Rockets
Ja Morant had 26 points and eight assists, Dillon Brooks scored 24 and the Memphis Grizzlies won their sixth straight game by defeating the Houston Rockets 121-110
CLAY BAILEY Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Rookie guard Ja Morant had 26 points and eight assists, Dillon Brooks scored 24 and the Memphis Grizzlies won their sixth straight game by defeating the Houston Rockets 121-110 on Tuesday night.
Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 15 despite going 6 of 16 from the floor. Morant missed only one of his 11 shots as the Grizzlies extended their longest winning streak since December 2016.
James Harden led the Rockets with 41 points as backcourt mate Russell Westbrook took the night off in the first game of a back-to-back. Eric Gordon finished with 23 points, and Clint Capela had 16 points and 16 rebounds.
Harden has scored at least 40 points in five straight games against the Grizzlies.
The teams were tied at 95 with about eight minutes left when the Grizzlies went on an 11-1 run fueled by 3-pointers from Solomon Hill, Brooks and Morant. That gave Memphis a 106-96 lead with five minutes remaining.
As expected, two fast-paced teams put on a scoring display in the first half orchestrated by Harden and Morant.
With step-backs and isolation plays, Harden scored 26 points. On the other end, Morant put together a few highlight passes and slick moves to total 13 points and six assists. He made all five of his shots from the field.
Jackson had 13 points for Memphis. Capela supported Harden with 12 points and 11 rebounds as the Grizzlies used a second-quarter burst to take a 67-61 lead at the break.
Rockets: Westbrook also sat out Houston’s previous game at Memphis on Nov. 4, which was the second of a back-to-back. … With Westbrook out, Austin Rivers started at guard alongside Harden. Rivers was given the nod over Gordon. “Someone has to chase Morant around, and I want Austin to do that,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Help save Eric’s legs a little bit.” … Capela has at least 10 rebounds in 25 of the past 26 games. … The loss left D’Antoni one win short of 200 as coach of the Rockets.
Grizzlies: F Jae Crowder sat out with right hip soreness. Kyle Anderson started in his place, his third start of the season. … Jackson has 13 straight games with multiple 3-pointers, tying Mike Miller for the franchise record. … Memphis has scored at least 110 points in 12 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NBA.
Rockets: Open a four-game homestand against Portland on Wednesday.
Grizzlies: Host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports
Eichel's end-to-end rush sparks Buffalo's 4-2 win over Vegas
No. 4 UConn uses late runt to pull away from Memphis
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line6980
|
__label__wiki
| 0.938593
| 0.938593
|
No. 11 Louisville escapes Pitt upset bid in overtime, 72-68
Pittsburgh forward Terrell Brown thought he had a game-tying tip-in with 21 seconds to play, but he was called for a foul on the play, allowing No. 11 Louisville to escape Pitt’s upset bid with a 72-68 overtime victory
ALAN SAUNDERS Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — With 21 seconds left in overtime and Pittsburgh trailing by two, Panthers guard Trey McGowens put his head down and drove to the rim as he had so often as Pitt put a scare into No. 11 Louisville on Tuesday night.
His layup bounced off the rim to the hand of Panthers forward Terrell Brown, who swatted it back toward and into the cylinder, seemingly tying the game.
Then referee Mike Stephens blew his whistle, calling a foul on Brown for being over the back of Louisville’s Malik Williams.
The home crowd at Petersen Events Center’s cheers turned quickly into boos and Pitt head coach Jeff Capel pounded his fist into the scorer’s table as Pitt’s upset bid ran out of gas.
Williams sunk both free throws to preserve a 72-68 victory for the visiting Cardinals.
“That was crazy,” Louisville forward Dwayne Sutton said. “I’ve never seen anything like that. I’m just glad Malik boxed out and got the over-the-back call.”
The Panthers had less to say.
“Next question, please,” was the only response McGowens gave.
“I’m not commenting on any call, anything that an official made,” Capel said. “I can’t. I don’t want to lose money.”
Pitt got the game to that point with a hot start on offense and by limiting Louisville star Jordan Nwora. Nwora still led the Cardinals with 14 points, but that represented his second-smallest scoring output of the season.
Instead, Sutton, who finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, and David Johnson, who scored 11, picked up the slack for Louisville.
“Some nights, Jordan’s not going to have 20 points,” Sutton said. “I think it’s important for us other players to fill the void for that. …David came in as a freshman and made huge plays.”
Pitt led for over 33 minutes, but never by more than nine points. The entire second half was a back and forth affair, with the Cardinals gradually closing the gap. Louisville tied the game at 61 with under a minute remaining on a Johnson free throw.
“We fought against one of the better teams in the country, had a chance to win in regulation and put our self in a position to have a chance in overtime,” Capel said. “Unfortunately, we came up short.”
McGowens led an unexpected offensive charge from Pitt, which shot 48% from the floor in the first half. He finished 8 of 22 for 24 points. Xavier Johnson added 11 points and five assists.
Louisville: Though a foul against Pitt secured the Louisville win, it was the Panthers making ruts to the free-throw line that kept the game close. Unable to maintain their hot start shooting against Louisville’s strong defense, the Panthers were able to make 26 trips to the free-throw line, with 22 coming in the second half and overtime. The Cardinals are now 2-2 this season when allowing 20 or more opponent free-throw attempts.
“It gives you an eerie feeling when they’re in the bonus with 14 minutes left in the second half,” head coach Chris Mack said. “The physicality was a little different in the first four or five minutes of the second half. That’s how the officials called it and we have to adjust.”
Pitt: The Panthers’ roller-coaster season continues. They hold wins over top opponents like Florida State, North Carolina and Rutgers and have losses to Nicholls State and Wake Forest. After a sloppy loss to Miami on Sunday, Pitt turned around quickly to turn in a solid performance against the No. 11 Cardinals on Tuesday. Developing consistency will be a key for the Panthers moving forward.
“It’s just putting it in the past, forgetting about it and moving on,” McGowens said.
Louisville: Continues a season-long three game road swing with a trip to No. 3 Duke on Saturday. Duke lost at unranked Clemson on Tuesday.
Pitt: Will host North Carolina on Saturday. The Panthers beat the Tar Heels, 73-65 in North Carolina on Jan. 8.
English town's mystery solved as police explain the source of cash bundles appearing on the streets
Nelson scores twice, Islanders pound Red Wings 8-2
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line6981
|
__label__wiki
| 0.665128
| 0.665128
|
Directoryhealthy.com is a leading health directory including animal health, beauty, diseases and conditions, fitness, health insurance, long term care, mental health, medication, pharmacy, nutrition and much more.
By Age and Gender
Home : Diseases and Conditions : Sleep Disorders : Sleep Apnea
CPAP-Supply.com
Single source for CPAP equipment including CPAP machines, CPAP masks, accessories, and replacement parts.
http://www.cpap-supply.com/
Offers information about the conditions and treatments related to tonsils and adenoids.
http://www.itonsil.com/
A.P.N.E.A. Network
Sleep Apnea patient help, news, and information source.
http://www.apneanet.org/
Facial Reconstructive Surgical and Medical Center
One method for treatment of this disorder.
http://www.sleepsurgery.com
New Technology Publishing, Inc.
Health resources for sleep apnea syndrome, snoring, sleep disorders, and other disorders. Authored by patients and health care experts.
http://www.newtechpub.com/
Sleep Apnea Society of Alberta
Information and support.
http://www.sleep-apnea.ab.ca/
Information about a support group based in North West Wales, including past and forthcoming events. Also offers some basic information. [English/Welsh]
http://sleepapnoea.org
Sleep Data
Features details about home-based diagnostic testing for sleep apnea syndrome.
http://www.sleepdata.com
Snoring and sleep apnea resource center for consumers and physicians. At-home patient diagnostic and treatment services for sleep-disordered breathing.
http://www.SleepSolutions.com
Sleepdentist.ca
Provides information on snoring and sleep apnea, and on oral appliance treatments for these disorders.
http://www.sleepdentist.ca/
SleepHelpUSA
Offers general information, including symptoms, risks and treatments. Includes lists of professionals and health centers.
http://www.sleephelpusa.com
Snorer.com
Snoring/Obstructive Sleep Apnoea information for Snorers or partners looking for treatment options.
http://www.snorer.com
The Sleep Site
How to analyze sleep-related symptoms and obtain effective help when warranted. Provided by Columbus Community Health Regional Sleep Disorders Center.
http://www.thesleepsite.com/
Zacher Sleep Appliances
Professional Medical, Dental and general information about snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Including its treatment with oral appliances.
http://www.zachsleep.com/
Home | About Us | Submit Site | Link to Us | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
Copyright © , DirectoryHealthy.com All rights reserved.
Welcome to Directoryhealthy.com Here you'll find out about healthy guide and information linking to health and medical sites about diet, fitness, diseases, health resources, men's and women's health, dental plans, doctors, products and services.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line6983
|
__label__wiki
| 0.730258
| 0.730258
|
This Week - Monday, August 15, 2005
"What The Hell Were You Thinking???" Week
It's the great unanswerable of all time, a question many of us have had to face in the wake of an apparently complete leave of our senses. Most of us hear it for the first time from our fathers, after we decided to play handball against the house four feet from the antique picture window, or have run inside crying and holding our genitals after urinating on an electrified dog fence that we insisted to our friends couldn't possibly be electric and, here, we'll prove it. It doesn't always end with youthful curiosity or overzealosness. When such behaviors are repeated into adulthood, it's just assumed that somewhere along the way, the circuitry has somehow become compromised--living too close to interstate power lines, an unfortunate blow to the head with a shovel by an overexcited sibling, or one of those brain tapeworms you heard a friend of a friend's uncle got--or maybe we were damaged from the word "Go"--Mom's daily diet of Virginia Slims and Tanqueray when we were in the womb, or maybe Dad performed some kind of deviant sexual act on her when she was in her 3rd trimester.
It's too easy to dismiss these acts of abhorrent judgement as merely the backfires of mankind's more damaged or poorly maintained machines. Each of these foolish-in-retrospect acts has at its core an arrogant sense of indomitability; that smug belief that we're somehow smarter than you and immune to the laws of physics or nature. We've got an "in" in this world, because we know something you don't. Life works better for us, because we know how the gears go around; "consequences" are not only for lesser people, but that you'd have the temerity to even ask us about them implies that we don't know with complete certainty how our actions are going to turn out.
Which brings us up to the moment of reckoning and immediately after, as we struggle to wrap our brain around what in our plan could possibly have gone wrong, and, if at all possible, to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off with some shred of cool, as we confront that inevitable question, "What the hell were you thinking???"
It would be natural to react defensively, but this is not the correct response and will likely only invite more scorn and derision, since from a dignity standpoint we're usually at a significant disadvantage.
Ideally, we're allowed to proffer this query with a question of our own, such as, "Can I call a lawyer please?"
Hopefully, we're alive to hear the question, as it relates to why we decided to prop our car up on cinder blocks to work on the differential, or, instead of climbing down into the gorilla exhibit at the zoo, why we didn' t just light a new cigarette instead.
The good news is that if we do survive, it's a question that we'll have a lifetime to answer, thanks to the vast reach and eternal memory of the Internet. Why is this good news? Because it offers ample time for reflection; to not take the easy way out like we could have ten or fifteen years ago just by moving to another county. We may never know how they've found our email or home addresses or phone numbers, but our inquisitors will be many, and persistent. And even when they aren't explcitly asking The Question, we'll hear them loud and clear, with every "DUMBASS" spray-painted on our car or "goat fucker!" shouted from passing pre-teens on bicycles. This seems like untenable abuse for what we could argue was an innocent and fleeting lapse in judgement, but this is Tough Love for the soul; we're forced to climb deep down within ourselves and explore just what it is in our wiring that considers this innocent, and questions whether this behavior is, in fact, anomalous and fleeting. If we're lucky, we'll crawl out of that abyss as better men.
If, on the other hand, we're pictured on this page, well, that's good news, too, in the best spirit of eugenics: We're candidates for DeadAir 2012 and for removal from the gene pool so we won't ever be recklessly spreading our seed to propagate another generation that will end up on these pages.
Editor's Note: This almost went differently --until Thursday afternoon we were actually going to post this week with a feature on Portland, Oregon's news anchors, and let the misdeeds of these three go entirely unpunished. What the hell were we thinking???
Charles Alfred Dreyling, Jr.
Bruce Taylor
Scott Harper
Name: Charles Alfred Dreying, Jr.
Transgression(s): "Sir, you can't take that on this plane. But if you'd like to wait, there's a Republican National Committee charter leaving in an hour."
Evaluation: In a post-9/11 environment, the airport is one place where you can't check your brain at the door. They frown on humor, spontaneity, brisk or furtive movements. Many years ago, I arrived at PDX five minutes before my flight was to depart and sprinted through the airport, like O.J. in the old Hertz commercials. Times have changed--these days, that sprint would have landed me in Guantanamo Bay, and everyone gets nervous when they see O.J. in the airport, even if he's walking.
Proving once again that explosives, Oklahoma, and white men are a recipe for trouble, Charles Alfred Dreying, Jr. was arrested at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City when baggage screeners found an exposive device in his carry-on. He claimed to be an explosives enthusiast and merely "forgot" that he packed the device in the bag he intended to take on an airplane with him. An honest mistake? Perhaps, in the same vein as the professional basketball player arrested after walking through the metal detector "forgetting" that he had a quarter-ounce of marijuana on his person wrapped in tin foil. Honest, possibly, but no one is ever going to accuse you of using the brains that God gave you.
It's also possible that he knowingly left the device in his bag, believing that he could sneak it past the baggage screeners. Granted, the news has been peppered these last few years with stories of hastily-hired baggage screeners who shouldn't be entrusted with a broom at a Carl's, Jr. much less the potential safety of 200+ people aboard an $80 million airplane, but by and large they're the exceptions that prove the rule, and you'd have better odds shoplifting cellos than slipping something dangerous and illegal through the baggage scan. Again, the brains thing (a running theme this week).
Since he apparently has no manifestoes or fiery letters-to-the-editor in his name using words like "cabal", "betrayal" and "retalitory strike", he doesn't appear to be a farm-league TIm McVeigh in the making.
One possibility that at least deserves mention is that he was deliberately seeking incarceration. It's been known to happen, but really there is absolutely no sane reason for purposely trying to earn a lengthy federal prison sentence, unless you're under contract to appear in the next "American Pie" sequel.
Since this was more dumb than dangerous--albeit really, really dumb--we'll leave this a probationary appointment for the time being. He's probably going to be denied access to airports for quite some time, anyway
Nominated by B. Kelter, 8.12.05
Name: Bruce Taylor
Transgression(s): "First floor! Ladies lingerie, ladies lingerie, baby cribs, ladies lingerie...."
Transgression(s): Unlike what you may have learned in high school gym classes and Amway orientation seminars, persistence is not always a virtue. On August 1, Mr. Taylor of Enid, Oklahoma broke into the home of Carlos and Maria Isordia, entering through the laundry room and making off with several pairs of Maria Isordia's bras and panties. On August 2, Mr. Taylor again broke into the Isordia house, entering through the laundry room and making off with Maria Isordia's bras and panties. On August 3, Mr. Taylor broke into the Isordia house, entering through the laundry room and making off with Mrs. Isordia's bras and panties, as he did once again on August 4. On August 5, Mr. Taylor broke into the home of Carlos and Maria Isordia, attempting to enter hrough the laundry room.
Unfortunately, on this night, Taylor didn't make it into the laundry room, instead tripping a coffee cup/string/2 x 4 "alarm" that Carlos had constructed so that he'd know when his wife's undergarments were being pilfered, waking Carlos from a shallow slumber and sending him around the back of the house, where he proceeded to beat Mr. Taylor with the first object at his disposal when he heard his makeshift alarm go off--the leg from his child's crib. He found Bruce reaching through a hole he'd cut in the back door earlier in the week to facilitate his entry, and grabbing at Maria, who had come into the laundry room to see if there was indeed an intruder. By this time, Carlos had reached the back of the house, and found Mr. Taylor groping for his wife. He beat him several times about the back with the crib leg, sending him falling backwards down the concrete steps of the home. Maria rushed out to be with her husband, but Mr. Taylor, as we've already proven conclusively, is very persistent and again began lunging for Maria, forcing Carlos to kick Mr. Taylor in the face--judging from the above photograph, likely more than once.
The police arrived shortly thereafter and took him to the hospital where, after first claiming that he was being chased by parties unknown and was looking for somewhere to hide, 'fessed that he had indeed taken liberties with Mrs. Isidro's unmentionables, and was keeping them "in a lunch box next to his bed". It must have been a large lunch box, as police found 55 pounds of pilfered lingerie in his possession.
It's probably the right thing to put Mr. Taylor on DA2K12, because he well exceeds our definition of "poorly wired", and there aren't many places for a highly-motivated if judgementally-impaired secret panty fetishist in 2004's America, except possibly on Senator Santorum's staff.
Name: Scott Harper
Transgression(s): R. Kelly believed he could fly. He also believed he could videotape himself urinating on nude teenage girls and it would never see daylight. You see where we're going with this?
Evaluation: Authorities aren't sure if he was intoxicated or not. His outfit notwithstanding, he apparently isn't mentally challenged (though his apparent childlike curiosity is somewhat charming). Still, something went awry inside the tender young mind of Scott Harper at a Yankees-White Sox game at Yankee Stadium last week, causing him to walk his talk ("I wonder if that net can hold me?") and leap over a railing on the upper deck and plummet 40 feet to a wire mesh net over the crowd behind home plate. His friends and neighbors from his hometown of Armonk, New York--a tony enclave of tony Westchester, where he lives with his parents in a million-dollar home--were ready with some very plausible explanations. "He certainly has a zest for life!", said Celeste Aberman. "He just loves life and wants to have fun", said another.
His close friend, Michael Spadafino, insists Harper fell. "I know he's smart enough not to jump." Michael gets points for loyalty, but his account doesn't square with surrounding fans saying Harper was crowing beforehand about jumping, wondering if the net would hold him; not to mention some of his fellow students who claimed he had ambitions to appear on an ESPN highlight show someday.
He got his wish, being enthusiastically lambasted all the next day on "SportsCenter", "PTI" and "Around the Horn". He also got to experience the charms of New York's municipal penal system, waiting all of the next day in a jail cell before his Wednesday evening arraignment.
Consider this, young Scott, your baptism as a man. You've shaken loose the yoke of boyhood. Now, just as you're old enough to vote, and old enough to be drafted, you're old enough to be called an idiot for doing something dangerous and moronic on national television.
Virtually condemn your most-loathed celebrity, relative, or backstabbing weasel ex-friend!
Try it--it's a scream, and very cathartic!
Recently Boarded
7.18.05: "Crazy Love"
7.25.05: "Who's Done Something Revolting with Fred Durst's Penis?"
8.1.05: "Celebrity Religion"
8.8.05: "'Pearl Harbor'"
8.15.05: "'What the Hell Were You Thinking???'"
8.22.05: "Portland News Anchors"
8.29.05: "Whaaaa-thletes "
9.5.05: "MTV"
Now Boarding Archive
Archive 9.22.00 9.29.00 10.6.00 10.13.00 10.20.00 10.27.00 11.03.00 11.10.00 11.17.00 11.24.00 12.1.00 12.8.00 12.15.00 12.22.00 12.29.00 1.5.01 1.12.01 1.19.01 1.26.01 2.2.01 2.9.01 2.19.01 2.26.01 3.5.01 3.12.01 3.19-26.01 4.16.01 4.14.03 5.5.03 7.18.05 7.25.05 8.1.05 8.8.05 8.15.05 8.22.05 8.29.05 9.05.05
Copyright © 2000-2005 - B. Kelter
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line6989
|
__label__cc
| 0.702116
| 0.297884
|
News Shotgun 12/14
The great Danny Aiello passed away, the Home Alone reboot gets its first cast members, a popular Star Wars comics character might be getting her own Disney+ show, The Dark Half is getting a reboot, 25 new films were added to the National Film Registry and more in this week’s News Shotgun.
Zach on December 14, 2019
Everything Actioncast Ep 460 “Jungle Cruise, Gemini Man, Bone, Venom 2 and More”
This week on the podcast, Zach and Chris talk about High Frame Rate and Gemini Man, Aladdin 2019, Jungle Cruise, Robert Forster, Bone coming to Netflix, Venom 2 turning into Maximum Carnage and more.
Zach on October 18, 2019
Everything Actioncast Ep 454 “Bad Boys, Tomb Raider, Cobra Kai, DCEU and More”
This week on the podcast, Zach, Chris, and Joe discuss the return of the Bad Boys in Bad Boys For Life, the new Terminator: Dark Fate trailer, the next Tomb Raider movie, the shifting futures of the DCEU, the terribleness of Holmes & Watson, the radness of Cobra Kai and more.
Zach on September 6, 2019
The Mortal Kombat reboot adds a bunch of new cast members, The Irishman and Castle Rock Season 2 get release dates, the 16-bit Aladdin and Lion King games are coming back in a new collection, Tommy Doyle is returning for Halloween Kills and more in this week’s News Shotgun.
Zach on August 31, 2019
New Release Round Up 8/27
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is out this week on DVD and Blu-Ray along with the Elton John biopic Rocketman, the horrific return of The Banana Splits, the previous seasons of shows like Into the Badlands and The Flash and more.
The Arrowverse Gets Ready for Crisis in the Fall (Trailers)
Arrow, Supergirl, The Flash and Black Lightning had teases for their upcoming seasons at Comic-Con this past weekend as the first three of those shows gear up for the massive Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event.
Amazon’s gigantic Lord of the Rings prequel series gets a director, Ariel cast for the live-action reboot of The Little Mermaid, MAD Magazine is shutting down, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman is coming to Netflix and more in this week’s News Shotgun.
Upfronts 2019: The CW
New additions to the Arrowverse and Riverdale universe are coming to The CW in the fall along with a new Nancy Drew and the massive Crisis on Infinite Earths Arrowverse crossover.
Action Hero of the Week: Arthur Curry
A son of the seas and the land, Arthur Curry helps the Justice League defeat Steppenwolf and his forces before he has to try and claim his true place as the King of Atlantis when his half-brother Orm threatens to wage a war against the surface.
Zach on March 27, 2019
Tons of TV seasons out this week as we get closer to the fall TV season starting like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Flash, Chicagos Fire and Med and NCIS: LA along with movies from earlier in the summer like Tag and Upgrade.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line6991
|
__label__wiki
| 0.642266
| 0.642266
|
Literacy and Numeracy Catch Up Premium
Home » About Us » Freedom of Information
The Fernwood School Publication Scheme on information available under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
The governing body is responsible for maintenance of this scheme.
1. Introduction: what a publication scheme is and why it has been developed
One of the aims of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (which is referred to as FOIA in the rest of this document) is that public authorities, including all maintained schools and academies, should be clear and proactive about the information they will make public.
To do this we must produce a publication scheme, setting out:
The classes of information which we publish or intend to publish;
The manner in which the information will be published; and
Whether the information is available free of charge or on payment.
The scheme covers information already published and information which is to be published in the future. If the information in our publication scheme is not available for you on our website to download and print off, then hard copies can be made available through the contact details set out in section 4 below.
Some information which we hold may not be made public, for example personal information.
This publication scheme conforms to the model scheme for schools and academies approved by the Information Commissioner.
At the heart of our ethos is equality of opportunity and shared understanding, respect and tolerance for each other’s differences and needs.
To challenge every pupil to raise their aspirations and excel in academic achievements.
To instil in pupils the values and characteristics necessary to become successful, confident and responsible members of society.
To teach pupils the value of self-discipline, resilience and endeavour in order to become life-long learners.
To prepare pupils to participate in and contribute to a society with ever changing scientific, technical and international needs.
This publication scheme is a means of showing how we are pursuing these aims.
3. Categories of information published
The publication scheme guides you to information which we currently publish (or have recently published) or which we will publish in the future. This is split into categories of information known as ‘classes’. These are contained in section 6 of this scheme.
The classes of information that we undertake to make available are organised into four broad topic areas:
School Prospectus – information published in the school prospectus.
Governors’ Documents – information contained in governing body documents.
Pupils & Curriculum – information about policies that relate to pupils and the school curriculum.
School Policies and other information related to the school – information about policies that relate to the school in general.
4. How to request information
If you require a paper version of any of the documents within the scheme, please contact the school by telephone, email or letter. Contact details are set out below or you can visit our website at www.fernwoodschool.co.uk
Email: admin@fernwoodschool.org.uk
Contact Address: The Fernwood School, Goodwood Road, Wollaton, Nottingham NG8 2FT
To help us process your request quickly, please clearly mark any correspondence “PUBLICATION SCHEME REQUEST” (in CAPITALS please)
If the information you’re looking for isn’t available via the scheme and isn’t on our website, you can still contact the school to ask if we have it.
5. Paying for information
Information published on our website is free, although you may incur costs from your Internet service provider. If you don’t have Internet access, you can access our website using a local library or an Internet café.
Single copies of information covered by this publication are provided free unless stated otherwise in section 6. If your request means that we have to do a lot of photocopying or printing, or pay a large postage charge, or is for a priced item such as some printed publications or videos we will let you know the cost before fulfilling your request.
6. Classes of Information Currently Published
School Prospectus – this section sets out information published in the school prospectus.
School Prospectus The statutory contents of the school prospectus are as follows, (other items may be included in the prospectus at the school’s discretion):
the name, address and telephone number of the school, and the type of school
the names of the head teacher and chair of governors
information on the school policy on admissions
a statement of the school’s ethos and values
details of any affiliations with a particular religion or religious denomination, the religious education provided, parents’ right to withdraw their child from religious education and collective worship and the alternative provision for those pupils
information about the school’s policy on providing for pupils with special educational needs
number of pupils on roll and rates of pupils’ authorised and unauthorised absences
National Curriculum assessment results for appropriate Key Stages, with national summary figures
GCSE/GNVQ results in the school, locally and nationally
a summary of GCE A/AS level results in the school and nationally
the number of pupils studying for and percentage achieving other vocational qualifications
the destinations of school leavers1
the arrangements for visits to the school by prospective parents
the number of places for pupils of normal age of entry in the preceding school year and the number of written applications / preferences expressed for those places
1 Some information might be confidential or otherwise exempt from the publication by law – we cannot therefore publish this
Information relating to the Academy Trust and the Governing Body- this section sets out information published in governing body documents.
Academy Trust and Governing Body details of the Academy Trust Members
details of the membership of the Academy Trust Governing Body, including the name of the Chair and Vice-Chair and the Company Secretary
details of the Governing Body’s Committee structure and membership
details of any expenses paid to Governors
Formal Company Documents Documents required to be kept at the registered address of the Company (i.e., the school), including the Memorandum of Association, the Articles of Association (which set out such matters as the objectives of the Trust and the manner in which the Governing Body is constituted) and the Academy Funding Agreement.
Minutes1 of meetings of the Academy Trust, Governing Body and its Committees Agreed minutes of meetings of the Academy Trust, the Governing Body and its Committees
Pupils & Curriculum Policies – This section gives access to information about policies that relate to pupils and the school curriculum.
Home – school agreement Statement of the school’s aims and values, the school’s responsibilities, the parental responsibilities and the school’s expectations of its pupils for example homework arrangements
Curriculum Policy Statement on following the policy for the secular curriculum subjects and religious education and schemes of work and syllabuses currently used by the school
Sex Education Policy Statement of policy with regard to sex and relationship education
Special Education Needs Policy Information about the school’s policy on providing for pupils with special educational needs
Accessibility Plans Plan for increasing participation of disabled pupils in the school’s curriculum, improving the accessibility of the physical environment and improving delivery of information to disabled pupils.
Race Equality Policy Statement of policy for promoting race equality
Collective Worship Statement of arrangements for the required daily act of collective worship
Careers Education Policy Statement of the programmes of careers education provided for Key 4.
Child Protection Policy Statement of policy for safeguarding and promoting welfare of pupils at the school.
Pupil Discipline Statement of general principles on behaviour and discipline and of measures taken by the head teacher to prevent bullying.
School Policies and other information related to the school – This section gives access to information about policies that relate to the school in general.
Published reports of Ofsted referring expressly to the school Published report of the last inspection of the school and the summary of the report and where appropriate inspection reports of religious education in those schools designated as having a religious character
Post-Ofsted inspection action plan A plan setting out the actions required following the last Ofsted inspection and where appropriate an action plan following inspection of religious education where the school is designated as having a religious character
Charging and Remissions Policies A statement of the school’s policy with respect to charges and remissions for any optional extra or board and lodging for which charges are permitted, for example school publications, music tuition, trips
School session times and term dates Details of school session and dates of school terms and holidays
Health and Safety Policy and risk assessment Statement of general policy with respect to health and safety at work of employees (and others) and the organisation and arrangements for carrying out the policy
Complaints procedure Statement of procedures for dealing with complaints
Performance Management of Staff Statement of procedures adopted by the governing body relating to the performance management of staff and the annual report of the head teacher on the effectiveness of appraisal procedures
Staff Conduct, Discipline and Grievance Statement of procedure for regulating conduct and discipline of school staff and procedures by which staff may seek redress for grievance
Curriculum circulars and statutory instruments Any statutory instruments, departmental circulars and administrative memoranda sent by the Department of Education and Skills to the head teacher or governing body relating to the curriculum
We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have about the scheme. If you want to make any comments about this publication scheme or if you require further assistance then initially this should be addressed to Headteacher, The Fernwood School, Goodwood Road, Wollaton, Nottingham NG8 2FT
If you are not satisfied with the assistance that you get or if we have not been able to resolve your request and you feel that a formal complaint needs to be made then this should be addressed to the Information Commissioner’s Office. This is the organisation that ensures compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and that deals with formal complaints. They can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Enquiry/Information Line: 01625 545 700
E Mail: publications@ic-foi.demon.co.uk.
Website : www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line6993
|
__label__cc
| 0.587175
| 0.412825
|
Posts Peppers in Cool Climates
Peppers in Cool Climates
Fiery Foods Manager April 9, 2014 The Pepper Growing Season Leave a Comment
By Dave DeWitt and Paul W. Bosland
Fiery Foods & BBQ Central Recommendations
Chile Pepper Bedding Plants… over 500 varieties from Cross Country Nurseries, shipping April to early June. Fresh pods ship September and early October. Go here.
Chile Pepper Seeds… from all over the world from the Chile Pepper Institute. Go here.
Photos by Harald Zoschke
Pepper growers in colder climates in the United States and Canada, and in higher altitudes such as Colorado (a 56-day growing season at 8,500 feet), face many challenges in producing a good crop: a short growing season, low night temperatures, unexpected frosts, and high sunlight intensity. Fortunately, there are solutions for these problems.
Handy Hints. In his garden in upstate New York (Zone 5), Ray Lagoe grows more than fifty varieties of chile peppers–everything from habaneros to tabascos to serranos. Ray notes: “If you follow these guidelines and don’t rush and plant too early, you should have the same excellent results I’ve had for years.” His guidelines are:
Select early-maturing varieties.
Start seed indoors eight to ten weeks before the last expected frost date.
Plant seed in a sterile, soilless mix, and keep the seed at 75 degrees, under fluorescent light ten to twelve hours a day.
Two weeks before transplanting seedlings into the garden, cover the rows with clear plastic mulch to warm the soil.
Before planting, harden off the seedlings by leaving them outside for two weeks or more, for increasingly long periods of time each day.
Transplant seedlings when daytime temperatures average 70 degrees and nightime temperatures stay above 55 degrees (ideally).
Soil pH should be 6.5; use a balanced fertilizer (5-10-5 or 10-10-10), but go easy on the nitrogen or you will have great-looking plants and no fruit.
Cutworms can be a problem in northern gardens, so always protect seedlings with cardboard collars.
Water during dry spells (at least 2 inches a week), especially after fruit set.
Dick Worth, who grows eighteen varieties of peppers in Dauberville, Pennsylvania (Zone 6), says that a head start is the best strategy for gardening in cooler climates. “I planted habanero seeds in flats under grow lights on February 15,” he told us, “and transplanted the seedlings into four-inch peat pots on March 15. I kept the potted plants on a window sill until the middle of April, when it was warm enough to transfer them into a cold frame. I put the potted plants into the garden on May 15.”
The results? “I picked the first edible pods in the middle of August,” Dick reported. “The mature plants were about 30 inches high and 30 inches wide, and each of them produced approximately 50 to 60 extremely hot fruits.”
Site-Specific Planting. Cold weather gardeners need to pay particular attention to garden planning. Planting the peppers on the south side of ridges that run east and west in the garden will increase the growth rate because the soil facing the sun will be warmer than level soil. Raised beds that slope toward the south can also be used. Sunken beds covered with polyethylene sheeting that has been cut with slits for ventilation will give plants a good start in cold weather.
Row Covers. In Connecticut, the problem is that the growing season for bell peppers is too short to achieve good production of mature red and yellow pods. In 1987 and 1988, Martin Gent of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station used floating row covers made from spun-bonded polypropylene. This light and porous material is draped directly over the plants and traps solar energy, warming the plants by 5 degrees F. during the day.
Various Types of Row Covers
Gent transplanted seedlings of numerous bell varieties on April 20 and covered them for eight weeks. He also transplanted plants on May 23 and covered them as well. The later transplants did not result in early production, but the results for the April 20 transplanting were good, with several varieties (Golden Belle, Gypsy, Canape, and Parks Early Thickset) producing early yellow or red pods. Growth under the row covers increased yields (number of peppers) by 12 to 19 percent; however, the average weight of each pod decreased between 5 and 15 percent. Gent concluded that row covers work well for gardeners in short growing seasons who need earlier maturing pods.
Polyethylene bed covers worked well at Uvalde, Texas. Researchers from Texas A&M University found that row covers tripled the early yield of New Mexican varieties. Using row covers can bring in a crop between 2 and 3 weeks earlier than normal. Home gardeners can fashion row covers from clear polyethylene stretched over wooden frames, or they can utilize clear, corrugated fiberglass.
Row covers are also available to home gardeners from mail order companies and garden shops. The manufacturers of Reemay say that their product insulates plants against light frost and enables the grower to plant 10 to 14 days earlier. They also claim that their spun polyester row cover extends the harvest by two to three weeks and keeps insects out–which would be a perfect way to avoid cross-pollination. Plastic row covers, which are really small row greenhouses called cloches, protect delicate plants from wind, cold, and snow–but not against insects.
Warming the Ground and Extending the Season. In addition to mulches and row covers, there are other methods to warm the soil so that peppers can get a head start during a short growing season. Some gardeners grow their peppers inside automobile tires (or inner tubes) that are filled with water. The tire protects small plants from the wind and absorbs heat from the sun. The water warms both the soil and the air around the peppers, releasing heat during cold nights.
With the tire, the open water may offer breeding sites for mosquitos, so place a few drops of motor oil on the water. Many nurseries and garden supply shops sell flexible plastic rings that are filled with water, serve the same purpose as the tires, and are more attractive.
Another soil-warming technique is to fill one-gallon plastic milk jugs with water and bury them halfway in the ground next to the plants. Solar radiation will heat the water, which will keep the ground warmer near the plants.
Reflector panels, made of wood and painted black or aluminum, can be mounted on the north side of ridges that run east and west to reflect sunlight onto both the plants and the ground. Such reflectors should be removed later in the summer when the weather heats up.
Microclimates in some regions seriously affect the length of the growing season. For example, in Albuquerque, certain parts of the valley are hit by early frosts but the higher elevations are not (cold air sinks, remember). What often happens is that after an early frost, the weather will warm up sufficiently for another three weeks of growing. The problem is to keep the early frost from killing the plants. Short of using heaters, like the citrus growers do, the best and easiest solution is to cover the plants.
Many materials can be used to cover the plants, such as cotton bed sheets, clear or black plastic sheeting, nylon netting, plastic row covers, and even large cardboard boxes. The choice for the gardener depends on the arrangment of the plants–and, of course, their size. Ideally, the thickest and most dense material will retain ground heat the most efficiently. However, sometimes thick material is heavy enough (especially if there is rain or snow) to break off branches.
Each gardener will have to make the decision based on available materials, the amount of work involved in covering the plants, and the projected low temperature. If the temperature is expected to hover somewhere between 28 degrees and 32 degrees, the effort is probably worth it. If the temperature is expected to drop below 28 degrees, the effort will probably be wasted.
The commercial copy for a product called Wall O’Water claims that this product adds up to eight weeks to the growing season. “Teepees” of clear plastic eighteen inches high, filled with three gallons of water, surround young plants and protect them from the wind and cold. The water teepees absorb heat and release it during the night. When the plants are mature and frost threatens, the water retains heat and releases it at night. In the case of freezing temperatures, the water actually releases heat as it freezes, further protecting the plants.
Recommended Varieties for Colder Climates. We have searched the information sent by various state cooperative extension services in colder states to find the recommended varieties for those areas. Pepper growers in colder regions should contact their extension services for suggestions, then order as many seed catalogs as possible. High Altitude Gardens in Ketchum, Idaho, specializes in seeds and resources for cool weather gardening. The following suggestions are from Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, and Vermont. These varieties are probably the best for cooler climates, but are certainly not the only varieties to try.
Bells: ‘Cal Wonder’, ‘Gypsy’, ‘Carlo,’ ‘Mexi-Bell’.
Other annuums: ‘Yellow Wax Hot’, ‘Jalapa Jalapeño’, ‘Long Red Cayenne’, ‘Super Chili’.
From left to right: Yellow Wax Hot, Long Red Cayenne (immature), Super Chili
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line6995
|
__label__cc
| 0.720694
| 0.279306
|
Training at Home
Elliptical Bike
Eating Japanese in Bangkok
Donald V. Kelly / April 23, 2019
My favorite? Shakariki 432
What was said in the subtitle. For me, Shakariki 432 is my favorite best ราเม็ง in Bangkok, Thailand. It’s not as tightly priced as Imoya, but its quality and also the ambience of the place make up for it. If I want to pay tribute to the Japanese, I always go to this restaurant, which is also easy to get to by being near Asok. But I like to go there at night and I don’t think they open during the day either.
It’s even more Japanese than Imoya, although inside the place they have a Thai flag to compensate. On the other hand, the girls at the entrance are Japanese and don’t speak Thai or English, as their idea is to attract Japanese customers. You can already imagine which is their majority audience.
As soon as you enter Shakariki 432, you will realize that you are in a more Japanese place than Japan itself. Employees shout at you – something very normal in Tokyo – even louder than in most places to eat Japanese around here. There’s a notable commotion, cooks laugh and cook in front of everyone, and the atmosphere is purely festive. Okay, it’s also full of Japanese people doing what they do best, which is getting drunk after work.
It’s a more expensive place, but it’s worth it. The most recommendable part of their menu is the Japanese casserole, a kind of suki that is served boiling and with the fire on your table where you can go pouring meat, vegetables or whatever you choose. How about everything else? Excellent. Whatever you try from their menu, you’ll be convinced. Satisfaction guaranteed
Its price hurts more, but it’s worth it. And it’s still cheaper than many Japanese restaurants in Bangkok every step of the way, especially in tourist areas. Likewise, if you order a suki, some sushi, some ironing and takoyaki, you won’t pay more than about 15 euros per person. That’s by drinking alcohol. Without a doubt, you won’t find anything like it in Spain.
Getting there is easy, as it is in Asok. The best way is to take the BTS or subway and go up to Petchaburi on the right side. To get there, from the Asok junction the best way is to go to Grand Millennium, the hotel that looks like Barcelona’s W and is easily seen. When you reach the height of the hotel, go ahead, cross the Asok soi 1 and start looking to the right. You will see that there are some subways with restaurants, Shakariki 432 is in the background.
If you want to find it with GPS, just look for P.S. Tower Asok on Google Maps and you’ll see how to get there, or you can look up more details on their Facebook page. Remember about the subway and keep the photo of the entrance at the beginning of the review. Essential.
To eat Japanese is to eat ramen
My favorite dish in Japanese gastronomy. Whoever tries ramen ends up loving it, and no doubt in Japan you realize that the best option for everyday life is to eat Japanese based on these soups whose preparation process is really complex. Everyone can try to make a ramen substitute, but only those who really treat it as an art are capable of doing something serious.
In Bangkok, eating ramen is extremely easy, beyond fast food offers such as Hachiban or Oishii, although these can save you a midday. And if someone in Spain doesn’t know this dish, I highly recommend visiting Ramen Ya Hiro in Barcelona or Oishii Ramen in Madrid. Although what you find in Bangkok surpasses every option in our country, both restaurants are very good.
eat Japanese bangkok Ramen King
There I am in Ramen King. An attempt to represent Sapporo’s Ramen Street that didn’t succeed and ended up closing.
Almost any ramen restaurant in Japanese areas of Bangkok may surprise you – for example in Thong Lo-, and if you want a spectacular experience, visit Ramen King is recommended. It’s a small ramen-only shopping centre – so amazing – with all the restaurants open to the public and competitions between its various chefs. It’s expensive, quite expensive – about six euros per ramen – but it’s very attractive and delicious. You can find it at the corner of Rama IV and Sukhumvit 26, and you can see in the photo that it is easy to see. Update 2015: Ramen King is permanently closed.
While I recommend going to Ramen King for the experience it offers, I also say it’s not the best ramen place in Bangkok, let alone the one at the best price. I try all that I find and know quite a few, but I will give you an option that never fails. Fujiyama Go Go 55.
The name is not new to the Japanese. Fujiyama 55 has several very popular stores in the main cities of Japan. Beyond that, it has a restaurant in the Thai capital and also a very successful one in Hong Kong.
To emphasize its quality, just say that the main location of this restaurant, in the always great area of Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong, is for many of the Hong Kong “the best ramen in the center of the island. That’s nothing.
I understand that they have opened a second restaurant in Bangkok in the Asiatique area. But where I usually go is the original, in Sukhumvit 39. It’s very easy to get there, just go to soi 39, very close to Phrom Phong’s BTS, and walk about ten minutes to see the restaurant on the right hand side. It is in a Japanese business area where there is also an onsen (Japanese bathroom) and free parking.
It doesn’t matter what you order for ramen in Fujiyama Go-Go 55. Everything is going to be excellent. Although, of course, you should try ramen and all the appetizers that come with it, like the excellent homemade gyozas they serve. The drink is free and they don’t charge for the service, which makes it excellent value for money. It deserves a visit yes or yes.
Knee Braces For Football
Botanical Skin Care – Tips to Perfect Complexion
Anxiety Cure – Is There One?
About Donald V. Kelly
View all posts by Donald V. Kelly →
Have No Fear of Writing
5 Effective Holiday Travel Tips
Basic Tips for Defining Muscle
The elements you can find in a gym to train
How to use fitness machines
The best boxing styles for women
The Causes of Sciatic Nerve Pain
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line6996
|
__label__cc
| 0.635411
| 0.364589
|
ASL Specialty Forums
WWII History, Weapons and Tactics
Ian McCollum on the PTRD 41
Thread starter Uncle_Duke
Uncle_Duke
PTRD 41: The Simple Soviet Antitank Rifle of WWII
Forgotten Weapons is one of my favorite resources on the firearms used in WWII. The level of research that goes into each of these videos is nothing short of fantastic.
Reactions: Paul M. Weir, Vinnie, johnl and 4 others
See Dummies in the index
Aberdeen , Scotland
That was a very good video.
Hate to have to carry that beast!
Vinnie said:
Come on! Even with all its ammunition, it's only 1PP! You can manage it, comrade!
In all seriousness, I wouldn't be too much a fan of carrying it around either. And I can't imagine trying to use something like that in Stalingrad, or any other street fighting, for that matter.
Bob Walters
Actually, If it were set up on an upper floor of a building as an ambush it would have been quite effective against most of the tanks at Stalingrad.
Bob Walters said:
It's not an issue of effectiveness-- I don't doubt that a hit on the top side of a tank would wreck somebody's day. My concern was more one of being able to find an effective firing position in the first place-- a ~2m long weapon like the PTRD or PTRS isn't going to be particularly easy to emplace, especially if you're looking for a location with good coverage at close ranges.
jrv
A bazooka isn't much smaller, although it is probably lighter. The M9A1 Bazooka was 61" long, about a foot shorter. Plus you had to worry about backblast.
Reactions: Bob Walters
Eagle4ty
Uncle_Duke said:
That's what bipods and sand bags are for, hunt up a table knock out a rat hole or find a window and you're sitting sweet!:nod:
EDIT: We're infantry, we're heart breakers & life takers, our business is is in breaking things and being expedient in doing so-hey it's what we do!
I suspect a handy rooftop would suffice.
Barking Monkey
It's a little confusing to me that the UK and Germans mostly retired their anti-tank rifles by mid-war, yet nowadays most armies seem to value having anti-material rifles (essentially the same as WWII ATRs.) Were they wrong then? Are they wrong now? Or are modern battlefield conditions just that different? I can believe that there are a lot more softskin motorized vehicular targets on a modern battlefield, but it doesn't seem like there'd be that big a difference in the likelihood of encountering a light AFV. And being able to shoot an enemy through light building construction or other light cover would seem to always have value.
Reactions: Paul M. Weir
Paul M. Weir
Interesting angle on ATR, not something I have thought about.
Excuse me for going through the history, but I'm thinking aloud about the question. In '39-'40 the ATR had some chance against the early war tin cans, many with just 15mm of armour. While the various armies had small numbers of proper AT guns, the quantities were low, you might see 2-6 per regiment/brigade. The exception was the Germans who had a company of 12 per infantry regiment and an additional battalion (36) per division. So for most infantry of that period an ATR would be the only AT weapon that they could see.
In the meantime various nations were developing SCW/HEAT hand and rifle grenades, the Germans indeed cut down some of their ATR and fitted them with grenade discharger cups. By '43 the Germans had the Puppchen (8.8cm Raketenwerfer 43) and the US the Bazooka. The Germans used a modified Puppchen round in a Bazooka type tube to give the Panzershreck and the British developed their PIAT. Those and the German Panzerfaust were now capable of dealing with later tanks, albeit at short and risky range. These were needed in large numbers, so why continue to produce heavy and expensive ATR when there were better weapons available and used manufacturing capability. The various SCW could deal with anything an ATR could and were in competition for manufacturing capacity during a high intensity war.
I'm ignoring the assorted 20mm ATR (Lathi, Type 97 and various Solothurns) as these were really too heavy and expensive to be regarded as infantry weapons. Indeed they had inferior penetration than the Soviet 14.5mm PTRD/PTRS. Except very early in the war, just too much gun for too little effect.
So why the resurgence of the anti-material rifle/ATR? The LAW type disposable or RPG-7 type reusable are much better able to dish out than an ATR type weapon against armour. A .50"/12.7mm/14.5mm MG can chew through brickwork just as well. I suspect it's the convergence of peacetime production capability and a wish for something less obvious and destructive for anti-insurgency warfare. In a full on war and you receive "sniper" fire, you just drop a battery of 155mm/122mm rounds on the miscreant's heads. A civilian vehicle is spotted, you put a 120mm HEAT round in it. Not a good idea if you are supposed to be protecting the populace from guerillas. So a 12.7mm round in the engine block might be a better solution. A 12.7mm round or two looks better than razing a city block over one sniper.
The post war convergence of the standard rifle round to the mid-5mm sizes gave many advantages but did reduce both range and common material penetration. Most armies retained WW2 type calibres for sniper rifles and if you have to have small numbers of an "odd" round, bigger might be better for such specialist tasks?
If a full scale war did break out, I doubt that anti-material rifles would have much space in the supply chain. They are surgical weapons and ideal for the currently most common type of combat, the insurgency war where discretion of force is a decided overall political advantage.
Now I may be misreading the military procurement mindset, but I think a combination of warfare type, production/supply capacity and the widespread adoption of the 5.?mm rounds meant that a niche for such weapons opened up. That's my best guess. I'd be interested in other's opinions or slant as it's not something much discussed as a general trend.
EDIT: I almost forgot, the rounds are much cheaper than the alternatives.
Reactions: Uncle_Duke, Vinnie, Steed and 2 others
Thanks Paul - I quite enjoy it when you 'go through the history'. After I posted I started to wonder about the possible role of anti-insurgency warfare and the reduced punch of modern rifles as well - not just in caliber but also I think in velocity? Don't even nominally 30 caliber Kalashnikov type assault rifles have shorter, less powerful rounds than their WW II analogs? I'm not really a gun guy so I could be wrong about this, but it seems like firing a burst of full auto with the type of rounds used in single shot bolt action rifles would be a challenge.
I also wonder about the casualty averse nature of the "modern" sides in asymmetric warfare - you're rather safer firing at a 'technical', improvised bunker, etc. from anti-material rifle range than from LAW ranges. Might be a factor?
Barking Monkey said:
Don't even nominally 30 caliber Kalashnikov type assault rifles have shorter, less powerful rounds than their WW II analogs? I'm not really a gun guy so I could be wrong about this, but it seems like firing a burst of full auto with the type of rounds used in single shot bolt action rifles would be a challenge.
Yup, BarkingMonkey, the AK in 7.62x39mm has a lower muzzle velocity (715 m/s = 2,350 ft/s) than their Tsarist era 7.62x54mmR (840 m/s = 2,755 ft/s), see physics section at end. You would need a strong man indeed to control full power power cartridges in full auto.
Yeah, you would have a range advantage with a rifle over a LAW but that could just as well be said about a tank gun or IFV auto cannon or even an artillery strike. The anti-material rifle round is more surgical, cheaper and might generate less political blowback from the local residents. Less enraged locals might save you further casualties later on.
While I have a better than knowledge than average person in an Irish street (average US street might be a different matter, bloody US gun nuts ) about arms, my knowledge is from (2nd hand) battle reports and simple physics. So I might as well outline what some of the above figures mean.
Terminology:
A cartridge is often specified like the above "7.62x54mmR". A round is both the cartridge (which contains the propellant) and bullet. The 1st number obviously the calibre, the 2nd number is the cartridge/casing length, including the overlapping bit that holds the bullet in place. There are other measurements like the angle of the bottleneck in high power cartridges that allow the round to seat properly in the chamber that manufacturers have to meet, but something like 7.62x39mm is usually enough to uniquely specify the round. The 2nd, cartridge length, gives a good idea of the powder amount and the relative power of the round.
You will sometimes see "R", "B" or "SR" after the 2 values. All cartridges have some way that allows an extractor claw to grip one side of the cartridge when after firing the bolt opens to cause the cartridge to be flipped sideways (or up or down), whether manual bolt or (semi-) automatic. No letter means a depressed ring/trough near the base for the claw to slip into, "R" or Rimmed means the base forms a raised ring that the claw catches, "SR" or Semi Rimmed means a bit of both, a depressed ring with a small raised rim at the base and "B" means Belted which involves a short but fatter section of a cartridge just forward of the extractor rim or recessed ring. Belting has more to do with reinforcing the cartridge and provide sealing against gas escape than extraction and belted rounds typically have rather hairy power.
So the 7.62x54mmR is a bottleneck cartridge (the body is fatter than the bullet) but has an protruding Rim at the base for extraction (like many common .22" varmint rounds). Rimmed rounds are fine for small magazines and bolt actions but can cause problems in large magazines and auto weapons. Compare the Czech ZB-26 (7.92x56mm) straight magazine with it's British .303" variant, the Bren, with its curved magazine for 7.7x56mmR. The rims can interfere with each other causing feed problems.
Between WW1 and WW2 there was a lot of discussion about rifle rounds. From the introduction of rifles in the 1850s+ the idea was to get maximum velocity and range. That was great for colonial warfare and indeed the Boers reinforced that idea with the British when they often out-ranged them (1000m+). However the experience from WW1 showed in high intensity warfare that battle ranges were in the order of 200-400m, often much, much less. In addition mass conscript armies were mostly incapable of achieving accuracy much beyond moderate ranges. The heavy recoil didn't help either.
So between the wars there was a lot of talk of replacing the old full power rifle rounds with somewhat less powerful and more manageable rounds, especially in light automatic weapons. None of those designs got anywhere because there were enormous stocks of rifles, MGs and ammunition and most of the world was pretty well broke after WW1 and the Great Depression. The Germans in WW2 depended upon large numbers of auto weapons and wished to replace bolt rifles with semi and ideally full auto weapons. The pistol cartridges used in SMG were just too weak and normal rifle rounds caused sidearms to climb, dive or go sideways off target in auto mode. So they developed a 7.92x33mm Kurz (= Short) intermediate round for the StG 44, to replace their 7.92x56mm standard rifle round. There is some debate as to whether the Soviet 76.2x39mm was developed in parallel or based off the German 7.92x33mm, but the Soviets were just as good as the Germans in arms design and the idea of an intermediate round had been around for decades. Basically the same weight but lower velocity bullet.
Meanwhile in NATO the US insisted on retaining a full power rifle round that emerged as the NATO 7.62x51mm, somewhat based upon the old .30-06 (7.62x63mm) round (more powerful modern propellants, less volume needed). Eventually they did go intermediate but with a smaller calibre 5.56x45mm. That resulted in a much lighter bullet but kept the velocity high, indeed MV was as good as if not higher than the WW1 era 7.62/7.92mm/.303" cartridges. The Soviets eventually went that way with their 5.45x39mm cartridge.
Light but high velocity bullets give nice flat trajectories out to 300-400m but loose velocity at range and are more easily deflected by light cover. I have read in a few places that there is some talk of going to something more like 6.5mm with muzzle velocities between the 5.56x45mm and the 7.62x39mm due to experiences in Afghanistan. That would be a quite ironic full circle as the world's first Assault Rifle was the Federov Avtomat, a Russian 1915 design using the (Japanese) Ariska 6.5x50mmSR round with a MV of 2,145 ft/s, 654 m/s.
Now for a little physics. Bullet energy is (M*V^2)/2 where M is mass and V is velocity. So doubling the velocity gives 4 times the energy and the destructive effect on the receiving end. That doubling of velocity means the flight time is halved and the distance the bullet falls under gravity is quartered (drop = (g*T^2)/2 where g = earth's gravity = 9.81/M/s^2 and T is flight time). However that doubling of velocity doubles the drag force on the bullet and lighter bullets will slow quicker than heavy bullets. Recoil impulse is simpler at roughly M*V. So halving the bullet weight but doubling the MV gives the same recoil but delivers twice the energy and needs twice the propellant. That's the simplified physics but you can see there are trade offs between high MV light bullets and slower but heavier bullets and these trade offs keep designers in food, lodgings and drink.
Excuse the length but that should give you a reasonably solid basis for further exploration of the subject whether in books, Wiki or Google and may fill out other's gaps in their knowledge. Sometimes having a grasp of why some armies developed something is as important as what and how.
There are a fair few service people here in GS who will be much better able to educate you on the strengths and weakness of the various weapons that they have used, but you should have a starting point.
EDIT: I forgot one quite important advantage of intermediate rounds, whether high MV, light bullet or medium MV, heavy bullet; They are smaller and lighter so more can be carried by the soldier and shipping is easier. Duh!
Reactions: Bob Walters and Uncle_Duke
NUTTERNAME
The Soviet 14.5 mm ATRs were a good enough threat to the Germans, that they developed the 'skirt' (schurzen) armor for the various tanks and assault guns. The physics by which this works is that these WWII type tungsten rounds were very brittle, and would shatter when they went through most metals. When they did penetrate the actual armor of AFV, they would shatter and spray the the interior, not always with great effect. The Germans tested these skirts and found they disrupted the penetrators effectively. They not only would shatter the antitank rounds, but also disrupt the flight path so they were not travelling point first. Post war tungsten carbide rounds were sheathed in a hard steel to protect against this effect BTW. The skirt armor was also meant to defeat HE rounds fired on super-quick fuse against the tracks/bogies. It just so happened later to also have some benefit from bazookas.
The ATR had some great advantages just from it's need to be used at short ranges (against armor). Firstly, it was inherently accurate due to it's high velocity and fairly large round. The sights were close to the line of the weapon, and aiming at specific areas made it a nuisance weapon. Firing at cupulas, vision ports, gun barrels, etc., had a physical and psychological advantage. Integrating them into Pak-Fronts, and having them used against tanks entering into a cross-fire of ATR and ATG made for a bad day for most German armor up till mid-1943. I suppose the Soviets might have stopped manufacture before the end of WWII. They did this with other weapons, I believe the 82 mm mortar, not because of not needing them, but the Logistics guys figured out that they had made enough already.
The Soviets did have steel round as well as tungsten rounds, and this ammunition was used as a basis for the Soviet 14.5 mm machine gun. So, it is certainly a anti-material weapon but a brute to carry. The ammunition is less bulky than rockets, but overall, it is an expensive piece of equipment requiring great machining. I have seen them used in the recent Ukraine war as additional weapons for dug-in troops, and it has quite a firing signature. It could be used at great ranges against buildings and would go through most structures. A poor man's anti-material rifle.
I would think street fighting (or urban fighting), would be an excellent use of the weapon. I once picked up a German antitank rifle in a museum and it is a heavy piece of ordnance to hump around.
Edit: Good video, just because they don't shout out "Death to Bitch-Snitches...", actually they are not using full loads or tungsten rounds (of course).
Reactions: Uncle_Duke, Eagle4ty, Bob Walters and 2 others
One of the reasons for the resurgence of these anti-material rifles is the great ranges and terrain heights encountered in mountainous warfare. Having an enemy at a higher elevation puts friendlies at a distinct disadvantage. Even with matched weapons, the person holding the high ground out-ranges you and generally has the easier shot (less super-elevation). One can't call up a Abrams with a 120mm in the hills of Afghanistan. . High ground rules, and shooting the enemy off the other high ground is sound SOP. Range is always a selling point, and I believe there is an instance in the Korean war of a US sniper using a 14.5 mm weapon on a tripod type mount as a sniping weapon?
I will probably google it, but I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't a civilian type weapon based on the 14.5 mm. Ammunition is probably available cheaply, or cheaper than 50 cal.
http://www.russianammo.org/Russian_Ammunition_Page_145mm.html
The Soviet WWII ATR had unusually long barrels. They would not sacrifice that much velocity with a shorter barrel. Many people equate barrel length with high velocity. It really is powder-weight predominantly, with barrel length being dictated by that parameter.
I agree that powder to projectile weight is the best guide.
However a long barrel does many things:
It permits a longer time to accelerate the projectile
That in turn allows the propellant to burn more completely
The longer time allows the use of a slower burning powder, keeping peak pressure within safe limits
More complete combustion means less flash and blast
A longer barrel adds weight and makes the weapon more controllable against the recoil impulse
A longer sight line aids accuracy.
The British introduced a shortened version of their Boys ATR (Mk II) for paratroopers in '42/'43-ish and while the Boys was regarded as a bit useless and a bit of a pain, the shortened one was regarded as a right nasty bastard.
Well, perhaps true for most early 1800's cannons, but not really applicable to modern arms. Most modern weapons from WWI on use 'smokeless' propellants. These propellants basically turn solids into gases. And the gas makes pressure. This is what makes the projectiles accelerate down the barrel. Due to the nature of the chemistry of these propellants, they will create the greatest pressure very early in the projectile's travel. As the projectile first engages the rifling, forming a seal, the projectile is being pushed by the great pressures generated, but since it is actually moving, and creating a larger cylindrical space behind it, pressure drops. Consequently, the pressure will decrease as the propellant has been fully changed from a solid to a gas, and the cylindrical pressure vessel behind the projectile has increased. The greatest G forces are experienced (both translational and rotational) in the half barrel length or less once fired. The actual velocity gains from acceleration towards the end of the barrell are much smaller.
As an example, take the German P-38 pistol, and the German MP-40 SMG. Both fire the same ammunition, but the SMG has a longer barrel. I believe it is actually twice the length. The velocities are, respectively, 365 M/s and 400 M/s. It would be interesting to know the decibel level of each, I doubt that either has a great 'flash', and not sure what you mean by 'blast'?
A longer barrel adds weight and makes the weapon more controllable against the recoil impulse. A longer sight line aids accuracy.
I would say a longer barrel can aid accuracy, but so does a precision barrel or ammunition. There are schools of thought. If one doesn't care about weight, just make a thicker barrel, it will aid in over-heating.
Interesting info regarding Polish ATR. Especially the projectile.
http://military.wikia.com/wiki/Wz._35_anti-tank_rifle
Smokeless powders are not truly smokeless, I have seen the smoke and residue and cleaned it out. Nitrocellulose does not have enough oxygen to fully oxidise. Nitrocellulose is a polymer but if you took 2 base units the formula would be 12 x C, 14 x H, 6 x N and 22 x O. The 12 C and 14 H require (12x4 + 14x1) /2 = 62/2 = 31 oxygen atoms yet there are only 22 oxygen atoms. Some or indeed most of that deficit is made up by the partial oxidisation of carbon to carbon monoxide (CO) rather than carbon dioxide (CO2). However in practice there is some carbon produced.
The old black powder was a mix of potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal (mainly carbon). Apart from reducing the ignition temperature, the sulphur combines with the potassium part to give potassium sulphides and sulphates, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that combines with potassium to give potassium carbonate. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases that propel the round. The black powder "smoke" is a mix of fine solid potassium sulphate, carbonate and sulphide grains (~55% by weight). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder#Chemical_reaction
So while "smokeless powders" do not produce just gasses, they produce far, far less solids (smoke) than gunpowder.
The 'flame front' speed of a smokeless powder is roughly 7-8,000m/s. Propellant powders have their grains sized to suit the application. You often need some tiny delay (as the flame burns through the depth of the grain) to limit the build up of pressure while the projectile is just starting to move. In small calibre, low power weapons the powder grains can be quite small, flat or thin as the weapon can be sufficiently over-engineered without a great weight penalty (eg a .22" varmint rifle). In higher powered weapons the grains or rods should be made thicker so to slightly delay complete combustion until the projectile has moved a bit (increasing the effective chamber volume). That will keep peak pressure within limits while continuing to providing additional pressure gasses that compensate for the increased volume.
Now as the projectile travels down the barrel and the last of the propellant has burnt the pressure drops. As pressure drops so does temperature. That is not just from contact with the cooler barrel but simply due to pressure drop. Finally the projectile leaves the barrel and the combustion gasses now mix with air. The above nitrocellulose has an oxygen deficit and among the by-products are carbon monoxide with some very fine carbon. If the gas temperature has not dropped enough then the carbon monoxide and the carbon can burn giving muzzle flash and blast, distinct from the initial propellant burn. That turbulent mix of incompletely oxidized gasses and air is more omni-directional when it ignites than the the initial outpouring of the propellant gasses. That can kick up dust and/or produce some flash dazzle (especially at night).
A longer barrel not only can absorb more heat but it's greater internal volume cools the gasses by adiabatic cooling. That can reduce the chances or degree of muzzle flash and secondary muzzle blast.
Reactions: BigAl737, von Marwitz, Bob Walters and 1 other person
Hence my use of the parenthetical 'smokeless powder'....
Well, perhaps true for most early 1800's cannons, but not really applicable to modern arms. Most modern weapons from WWI on use 'smokeless' propellants.
I guess you want to talk past each others points...? Hilary?
NUTTERNAME said:
Right try again
Reactions: Yuri0352 and Paul M. Weir
My main point was concerning flash and blast and how a longer barrel can reduce those. Most pistols and SMG don't have too much of a problem with either, but moving up to rifle power or beyond can.
My late father and I fired both a .22" LR (Long Rifle) and a .22" Magnum. The latter, despite the name, is just a souped-up .22" rimfire, the two having MV of ~1300 and ~2000 ft/s respectively, only the later barely coming into military specs range (AK 47 ~ 2350 ft/s). The Magnum did produce a considerable additional "blast" sound, distinct from the LR "crack" and produced some flash unlike the LR. So I can only imagine what a 14.5mm with a MV of 3500 ft/s would produce, even with its very long barrel. Imagine further what the result would be with a shorter barrel!
I will readily admit that I do go on and on, but my paragraphs on black and smokeless powders were to provide background for those who are not familiar with the details of firearms or the chemistry and physics involved. Some will find that boring, while others seem to like the extra detail or history. I, in my long winded way, try to provide as much information to any readers so that they can understand the underlying principals involved and when faced with similar situations or questions can make a more educated assessment. Not just the answer is X but why is it X. Any factual response to a post should illuminate anyone who reads it not just the original poster.
In the years posting here I have come across many topics that triggered my child like curiosity. I have had to read up on many topics and obscure subjects. As a result I have learned a lot and got much joy from same. I assume the people here are intelligent and curious and hope that what I post will in turn trigger their own curiosity and investigations and hopefully they in turn will get similar satisfaction and joy from their discoveries. I try and give "extra value" for everyone here.
Reactions: Den589, Bob Walters, RRschultze and 5 others
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7001
|
__label__wiki
| 0.777802
| 0.777802
|
DPAC Members
The Consequences of International Trade for Canada’s Dairy Processors
Dairy Nutrition
What is Dairy Processing?
Ask DPAC
Faces of Our Industry
Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
On October 1, 2018, Canada announced that it had reached an agreement with the United States and Mexico after a year of renegotiating NAFTA. Renamed the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the agreement will provide trading partners with 4% market access to Canada’s domestic dairy market, and will impose significant changes to Canada’s domestic dairy policies. DPAC estimates that, at full implementation, CUSMA market access will result in more than $140 million losses per year for Canada’s dairy processors.
What is DPAC doing for dairy processors?
During negotiations, DPAC urged the government not to use access to Canada’s dairy market as a bargaining chip. Unfortunately, that’s precisely what happened. In choosing to further open our border to subsidized American products, the government has exacerbated uncertainty and concern among domestic actors. As with CETA and CPTPP, DPAC is actively advocating for the introduction of an investment program and the allocation of Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) to compensate Canada’s dairy processors for this economic harm.
Want to know more about CPTPP and its impact on dairy?
With CUSMA, compensation needs to go to those negatively impacted.
As the government makes a decision on CUSMA compensation, it needs to remember that Canadian dairy families are worth fighting for.
What are Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ)?
Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
Dairy farmers, processors, and thousands of dairy workers are worth fighting for
TRQ allocations unfairly impact Canada’s dairy processors
DPAC to participate in new Government of Canada dairy sector working groups
The USMCA and dairy market access
A positive step toward the modernization of food safety in Canada
Animal Welfare: Policy Statements
DPAC Supports Sustainable Dairy
DPAC News
Dairy Processors Association of Canada
220 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 500
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5Z9
© 2020 Dairy Processors Association of Canada. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7003
|
__label__cc
| 0.558359
| 0.441641
|
« Opioid prescriptions, panic, and bad math
Thanks, but no thanks »
DEA Will Act on Marijuana Rescheduling Before Obama Leaves Office — What Could It Mean? by Tom Angell
Obviously I would prefer that marijuana was removed from the schedules entirely (just like alcohol and tobacco), but accept that there are positive values that can come from any change in the scheduling. Tom does a good job of laying out some of the benefits.
Senators held a hearing to remind you that ‘good people don’t smoke marijuana’ (yes, really) by Chris Ingraham
Caucus member Jeff Sessions (R.-Al.) spoke of the need to foster “knowledge that this drug is dangerous, you cannot play with it, it is not funny, it’s not something to laugh about… and to send that message with clarity that good people don’t smoke marijuana.”
This Norwegian Man’s UN Speech About People Who Use Drugs Is Extraordinary
My name is Sturla and I’m a drug addict. Because I am an addict, I do not represent most people who use drugs. The vast majority of people who use drugs don’t know what the inside of a rehabilitation center looks like: Most people who use drugs choose to enjoy mind-altering substances besides alcohol without ever needing treatment. They’re doctors, lawyers, politicians, dentists and truck drivers. Far from everyone who uses drugs does so in a compulsory manner, just as far from everyone who enjoys alcohol are alcoholics. I, on the other hand, am seen by some as a sick person because I use drugs more regularly and suffer bigger consequences than most people as a result of my use. By others I am seen as a criminal.[…]
We need to stop demanding that people are drug free before being admitted into society as fully worthy members, and accept that some will always feel the urge to alter their consciousness with substances.
Why Are Heroin, Cocaine and Other Drugs Really Illegal? We Must Never Forget the Answers
As the world grapples with the fallout from the War on Drugs—and heads towards UNGASS 2016, a possible opportunity to put things right—it’s important to know the history of these drugs and their journey from medicine to menace. We didn’t suddenly discover that they were far more addictive or dangerous than other medicines. In fact, the reasons that drugs like heroin, cocaine, marijuana and others are illegal today have far more to do with economics and cultural prejudice than with addiction.
Drug policy reform hits a Russian roadblock at the UN
Russia’s commitment to a hardline approach at home, and its influence as a global superpower, meant it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise to see the Russian delegation flying the flag for the war on drugs at the UN’s annual drug policy jamboree, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), which took place a couple of weeks ago. But what was surprising was the lengths they were willing to go to to stymie any attempt, however incremental, to reorient the debate toward anything that could be considered even vaguely progressive.
April 6th, 2016 by Pete | Permalink
36 comments to Odds and Ends
claygooding
One has to wonder if the DEA/ONDCP are playing politics with the DNC,,are they being sneaky trying to draw cannabis reform supporters away from the only candidate that will actually threaten the continued control of cannabis research by the DEA???
And I look for them to make a new CSA classification just for cannabis and some other psychoactive plants now in Schedule 1 to Schedule 1A,,,subject to high abuse with “some” medical efficacy,, research still controlled by the DEA to keep anyone but the pharmaceutical industry doing any research.
Duncan20903
The announcement that re-scheduling is actually on the table for consideration is so far out of character for the jack booted thugs that it’s perfectly reasonable to wonder what kind of mischief they’re up to. Well, out of character unless they’re trying to monkey wrench the juggernaut.
Keep in mind that no matter their game the DEA does not have the luxury of control of cannabis research anymore. Perhaps they can in the United States but the problem is the dozen or so foreign countries which have acknowledged the medicinal utility of cannabis. The Israelis just aren’t going to ask the DEA for permission to do their research.
Servetus
I can’t imagine that Senate fossils Jeff Sessions (R-AL), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) really concern themselves with the health of regular American citizens, given that the two Republican senators opposed Obama’s health care initiative. Such politicians typically concern themselves only with protecting the government and the financial elite who control it. Protecting the public is always a lesser priority.
Current drug laws parallel the earliest history of drug enforcement, which lends itself to institutionalized persecution and subjugation of certain types or classes of people. As part of a common pattern, William Edward Hartpole Lecky noted, “… a strictly moral and logical inference is drawn from a very immoral proposition which is accepted as part of a dogmatic theology.”*
Lecky’s history offers relevant examples showing modern drug enforcement policies or traditions as motivated by a desire to subjugate and/or persecute weak, curious, or rebellious individuals. The usual targets include women and the poor. The ancient Roman prohibition against women drinking alcohol makes the point:
…Pliny (Hist. Nat. xiv. 14), …ascribes the law to Romulus, … who mentions two cases in which women were said to have been put to death for this offence, and a third in which the offender was deprived of her dowry. Cato said that the ancient Romans were accustomed to kissing their wives for the purpose of discovering whether they had been drinking wine. The Bona Dea, it is said, was originally a woman named Fatua, who was famous for her modesty and her fidelity to her husband, but who, unfortunately, once found a cask of wine in the house, got drunk, and was in consequence scourged to death by her husband. He afterwards repented of his act, and paid divine honours to her memory, and as a memorial of her death, a cask of wine was always placed upon the alter during the rites. (Lactantius, Div. Inst. i. 22.) The Milesian also, and the inhabitants of Marseilles, are said to have had laws forbidding women to drink wine (Ælian Hist. Var. ii. 38). Tertullian describes the prohibition of wine among the Roman women as in his time obsolete, and a taste for it was one of the great trials of St. Monica (Aug. Conf. x. 8). – W. E. H. Lecky, “A History of European Morals from Augustus to Charlemagne ”, (c. 1869, 1955 reprint by C. Wright Mills), p. 94, footnotes.
It took 1920s alcohol Prohibition to challenge the meme claiming it was unladylike to drink. Alcohol was a forbidden fruit. Then women discovered the newly invented mixed drink, flavored to take the bite out of the bootleg grain alcohol. Drinking in speakeasies also afforded women the opportunity of breaking a decidedly stupid law in an exciting and glamourous setting. Alcohol’s popularity among women was thereafter assured. Grassley, Sessions, and Feinstein, take the same path with marijuana prohibition. They make cannabis ever more popular when they seek to disguise archaic and hypocritical moral sentiments as a health issue.
*Lecky, p. 98.
Tony Aroma
The DEA will NEVER reschedule cannabis. EVER.
NotTheOnlyOne
Hope has multiple leaflets
That endear to the soul
waning as excogitated runes
Then disappearing down a hole
darkcycle
It needs to be schedule 3 or higher. Schedule 2 gives DEA the green light to apply whatever strictures it feels like. It could end State medical marijuana programs as we know them, and put the drug even more firmly under their control than it is now. Not to mention that shedule two drugs are fully illegal to possess without a current doctor’s prescription, and there is still the fact that under that classification, marijuana will remain fully illegal on the federal level, meaning it will still have a schedule issue that would have to be addressed for the feds to recognize the status of States that have legalized. If it is rescheduled to two we’ll be sorry.
Thinking Clearly
The DEA should not be the one making this decision. They are the ones keeping the drug war going, not ending it.
strayan
Apparently drug gangs will simply diversify if drugs are legal: http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-04-04/when-drugs-are-legal-gangs-will-diversify
I’m glad someone came to his senses! How the heck can people not understand that criminalized cannabis keeps the members of organized criminal syndicates from getting into REAL mischief?
The difference is that violent crimes leave witnesses and evidence to arrest and convict suspects,,drug crimes seldom leave either.
When street gangs diversify into violent crimes and crimes with victims it will result in more real criminals being arrested instead of people with a joint.
Rats, vexed by Poe’s law again.
Gangs may diversify, but the playing field for crime is being reduced. Far more important is the need to stop government repression, because it affects everyone. Drugs, by contrast, primarily affect their consumers, sometimes those within their immediate comfort zone. The chance of someone’s drugs affecting others can be reduced by legalization.
Diversity, BTW, is the natural order of all things; second law of thermodynamics, entropy and all that, does not predict a static condition for materials, or people.
Mr_Alex
The true face of the Prohibs exposed:
http://wwaspdiaries.com/2012/01/22/the-politics-of-the-troubled-teen-industry/
http://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2001/11/12/2072
http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/health/abuse/news.php?q=1201474274
Jean Valjean
“Read Joe Biden’s Powerful Speech About Combating Violence Against Women,” on International Human Rights Day.
Unless of course the women in question (and men too) happen to be caught consuming the wrong drugs. Under those circumstances Joe’s all in favor of lots of violence like arrest, cuffing and holding hostage. No impassioned human rights pleas from Joe for drug consumers. The man should be a laughing stock every time he opens his trap. Oh, and did I forget to mention the violence against the children of those arrested under Biden’s drug laws…..
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/12/bidens-speech-on-combatting-domestic-violence.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/joe-biden-drug-policy_us_55e6ef7ee4b0aec9f3552420
i would like to point out an interesting study that flies in the teeth of the ‘marijuana and heart attack’ chicken little prohibs:
“Marijuana Use Before Acute Myocardial Infarction May Give Survival Edge in Hospital”
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/861528
“… Lead author, medical student Cecelia P Johnson-Sasso (University of Colorado, Denver), noted that the data aren’t saying that marijuana is causing events, and they don’t yet know the mechanism behind “what appears to be prevention from death ….”
Nude sunbathers, beware. FBI spies in the skies are the new reality, thanks to the drug war:
Each weekday, dozens of U.S. government aircraft take to the skies and slowly circle over American cities. Piloted by agents of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the planes are fitted with high-resolution video cameras, often working with “augmented reality” software that can superimpose onto the video images everything from street and business names to the owners of individual homes. At least a few planes have carried devices that can track the cell phones of people below. Most of the aircraft are small, flying a mile or so above ground, and many use exhaust mufflers to mute their engines — making them hard to detect by the people they’re spying on.[…]
The DHS said that its aircraft were involved with securing the nation’s borders, as well as targeting drug smuggling and human trafficking, and may also be used to support investigations by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. The FBI said that its planes are only used to target suspects in specific investigations of serious crimes, pointing to a statement issued in June 2015, after reporters and lawmakers started asking questions about FBI surveillance flights.
SWAT teams could be a thing of the past if the American police state arms the surveillance aircraft with air-to-ground missiles. The good news (or is it disinformation propaganda?) says the aircraft aren’t flown much on weekends.
Smile, You’re on Candid Camera
I read a blurb of an article a while back that said the local cops aren’t that good at spotting smugglers. They get tips from the DEA and then just pull them over. The Drug War is just another key to open the doors of Fascism. Just another stigma to side step the Constitution. Another citizen with a little less liberty and station in life than the obedient god fearing citizens.
So those who do not fear their god must be punished. Those who don’t follow without question must be segregated. That is the way it is and Jesus his self proclaimed the DEA masters of the human body and nothing shall pass through the mouth, or any other orifice, skin or go into the veins without their permission. The Druggist’s will be saveded from their afflictions by the prison industrial complex. With mandatory maximum profits on mandatory minimum sentencing. Be raped and pillaged for their own good. For the message to the kids that the monopoly on drugs by Fat Pharma is important for the profits it brings. Cannabis can be grown in dirt, with free water and sunshine. Heathens. Must be stopped before the kids get the real message that it’s all bullshit.
I ask some school mates I knew at classmates.com how long they thought surveillance cameras would have lasted in our school. (They want you to join but you can access some of the features without paying like I do. Get emails of people or send messages through the site.) The consensus was they would probably be broken or gone before the maintenance person installing them, put their tools away. What’s the matter with kids today?
Slowly and consistently eroding the privacy, replacing it with fear. Mostly generated by those bartering away Liberty for future Safety that always gets more money for politicians and drug war paraphernalia groups. Always something so bad they can’t deal with it as humans. They must become sneaky weasels and lie cheat and steal or take any other means to the end of perpetuating their paychecks and bloating their budgets. The Untied State of Anemica.
Millions of cars tracked across US in ‘massive’ real-time DEA spy program
American Civil Liberties Union warns scanning of license plates by Drug Enforcement Agency is building a repository of all drivers’ movements
The DEA database has the potential to track every driver’s movements, the American Civil Liberties Union has warned.
The Drug Enforcement Administration was monitoring license plates on a “massive” scale, giving rise to “major civil liberties concerns”, the American Civil Liberties Union said on Monday night, citing DEA documents obtained under freedom of information.
If license plate readers continued to proliferate without restriction and the DEA held license plate reader data for extended periods the agency would soon possess a detailed and invasive depiction of people’s lives, the ACLU said, especially if combined with other surveillance data such as bulk phone records or information gleaned by the US Marshals Service using aircraft that mimic cellphone towers.
“Data-mining the information, an unproven law enforcement technique that the DEA has begun to use here, only exacerbates these concerns, potentially tagging people as criminals without due process,”
The Wall Street Journal, citing official documents and anonymous officials, reported that the programme built a national database to track vehicles in real time and stored hundreds of millions of records about motorists.
U.S. Spies on Millions of Drivers (spare change wall)
DEA Uses License-Plate Readers to Build Database for Federal, Local Authorities Patrick Leahy, shown in December, says the government’s use of … The DEA program collects data about vehicle movements, including … repossess vehicles, and by local police departments to solve crimes. … and other illicit contraband moving along the southwest border and throughout the United States.
Why Do Democrats Defend Nixon’s Drug War?
The DEA has been spying on millions of US drivers for years
DEA documents obtained by the ACLU under the Freedom of Information Act show the license plate-reader program dating back to 2008.
Never Get Busted.com
Barry Cooper was once considered one of America’s top drug agents who worked joint operations with the ATF, DEA, FBI, U.S. Military and Border Patrol but has since switched sides and has dedicated his life to easing the suffering caused by the War on Drugs.
McDuff
The Canadian Medical Cannabis Industry Association (CMCIA) responded today to a call by the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) for pharmacy to play a role in the management and distribution of medical cannabis.
“We welcome opening discussions with the pharmacy profession and industry on how additional distribution channels may be able to help patients with different needs,” said Colette Rivet, Executive Director of CMCIA. “We are pleased pharmacy is now recognizing the valuable role medical cannabis plays in helping patients deal with chronic conditions, particularly since they chose not to participate in the medical cannabis system when the MMPR was introduced in 2013.”
http://tinyurl.com/elkmcdufferty
NEGRO COCAINE “FIENDS” NEW SOUTHERN MENACE
New York Times, Sunday February 8, 1914
Murder and Insanity Increasing Among Lower Class Because They Have Taken to “Sniffing” Since Being Deprived of Whisky by Prohibition
by Edward Huntington Williams, M.D.
For some years there have been rumors about the increase in drug taking in the South-vague, but always insistent rumors that the addiction to such drugs as morphine and cocaine was becoming a veritable curse to the colored race in certain regions. Some of these reports read like the wildest flights of a sensational fiction writer. Stories of cocaine orgies and “sniffing parties” followed by wholesale murders seem like lurid journalism of the yellowest variety.
But in point of fact there was nothing “yellow” about many of these reports. Nine men killed in Mississippi on one occasion by crazed cocaine takers, five in North Carolina, three in Tennessee-these are the facts that need no imaginative coloring. And since this gruesome evidence is supported by the printed records of the insane hospitals, courts, jails, and penitentiaries, there is no escaping the conviction drug taking has become a race menace in certain regions south of the line.
In the North drug addiction is prevalent enough, in all conscience. The hospitals for the insane in New York State admitted one insane drug taker to every 380 other patients last year and New York’s record is about the same as that of her immediate neighbors. But in Georgia the proportion was one to 42, in North Carolina about 1 to 84, in Tennessee 1 to 74, and in one of the Mississippi hospitals 1 to 23.
Stated otherwise, these Southern States had between them, from five to fifteen times as many insane drug takers as New York state.
But these comparisons, although sufficiently startling, fail to show the extent of drug addiction in the South. For most of these insane drug users, both North and South, were the victims of morphine; whereas the negro drug “fiend” uses cocaine almost exclusively.
/snip/
Please keep in mind that drinking alcohol prohibition didn’t start in 1918 with the ratification of the 18th Amendment, or adoption of the National Prohibition Act of 1919 or in 1920 with the enactment of that Federal law.
hey guys this is a very serious article from the NY Times. A personal one. I saw it, reported over at the StopTheDrugWar network. I wrote a response on that site that Ill post here under the link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/05/nyregion/undercover-officers-ask-addicts-to-buy-drugs-snaring-them-but-not-dealers.html?_r=0
NYPD Undercover busts
by Remmy “CJ” Skye (not verified), April 08, 2016, 06:45am
you guys have no idea. its a really big thing but this is once again one of those side effects of the drug situation where the NY Times is a bit late to the dance but I am both greatful and upset about this article and Ill explain.
It’s been awhile but allow me to just remind some people that I am the guy who is an often homeless heroin lover in the LES, I have been involved in online drug reform communities now since about 2011 I’d say which is to say when I was last dealing with a serious arrest. It was at that time that I was lucky enough to realize all those ridiculous guilt questions us users tell ourselves “this is the last time” when it really isnt, “i dont want to do this anymore” when I really do, etc, when those burdens were taken away from me and I realized I love shooting dope, I dont ever want to stop, and the fact that I dont think that there’s absolutely anything wrong with that. I wanted, at the time, to find out as much as I could about the drug itself and the prohibition of it, the history, the chemistry, everything. And I’ve met lots of great people, friends really, through this world online.
But in my real life, things have been hectic, as you can imagine, trying to procure lots of money everyday its a very difficult thing to do, and as you may know from experience, there really is no days off with this, lol.
So being homeless and when I say that, I mean, yes, homeless, meaning when you find out the real definition of starving, like when you actually have physical pain from lack of food and water, but at the same time, if you should ever pay for any food or water you will hate yourself because that dollar couldve been used for what you really want. And yes, at night, before bed, scrounging the streets in the LES for cardboard to sleep on, I know some people have said to me, “whats up with the cardboard, why always cardboard” and I guess if you dont think about it, or whatever, it seems strange but its because the concrete is painful to sleep on the cardboard is a buffer and it makes an insane difference when you sleep on the ground. Panhandling without a dog or girl to make you any decent money, its the life man.
So this NY Post story. Its a shame but its so true. And it is actually one of the main main things I and so many of my friends would be worried about out there.
You see, and especially in the summer, what these undercovers are doing, its not at all uncommon. The area is known for its homeless drug users. And while you sitting infront of McDonalds or Two Bro’s pizza or wherever you are, spanging that money, you will be approached, for me there was a period where it was happening everyday and you have to understand what it means.
Because for me, not having had a dog, being good looking, not having a girl to spange with or for me, it would take an average of 4 hours to make 10 dollars and if youre sick because A. you didnt do anything in awhile or B. the stuff was just awful and had no legs or whatever, that is a brutal 4 hours and its depressing as hell. Some homeless people have been out there for years and its so degrading a feeling and just miserable that they still wont spange/panhandle. But you dont necessarily have to be spanging or panhandling for this to happen as the article says. They will come up to you. That cop IS A LIAR to say that she “randomly” approached a “random table” in that McDonalds. I am telling you, you piece of garbage woman, and believe me, I think I know who you are too, atleast what you look like, you kinda chubby blond piece of garbage.
Its such a relief when someone approaches you saying they need something and can you help them. Because, unlike the NY Times article, the rule is you will get a bag for doing it. Look, theres ABSOLUTELY NO WAY anybody is doing it for less than a bag, and to be honest its actually still 50/50 because depending on your mood or how bad things have been you may just totally beat the person and take all their money and run. I can say Ive only ever done that once when the guy refused to even give me 5 bucks for what i was doing. But anyway, yeah so it happens alot but yes, there are cops coming up to you and the NYPD has been doing this for YEARS.
I will never forget the summer of 2013. It was a very busy year in NYC homeless druggie world. The past few summers not many people have shown up, not as many as used to anyway, some have died, some have changed their lives, whatever but that year was crazy because so many people came in and some got out of jail and some were new etc. That was the summer we had to deal with the Big Lebowski, as we called him. You still hear once and awhile that he comes around but lets give the devil his due this guy got so many people it was insane and let me tell you something NOT ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HE GOT WAS A SERIOUS DRUG DEALER. NOT ONE. HE DID NOTHING BUT BUST HARDCORE USERS, *USERS* and the NYPD glorified in this and what they were doing. Locking up NON VIOLENT, low level users already in the depths of depravity and pain and hell and just destroying life after life.
He started off with Mark and Mary. Everybody loves Mark, hes a loveable guy hes a funny dude too but hell do anything and so he didnt really ask alot of questions. He got them then he got Charlie Brown and someone Im not gonna name. The next one was gonna be me, he used this persons name, he used all those names matter of fact, and usually when people do that, you think, oh so they know so and so who I saw a few days ago and they hooked this person up so theyre ok. He used their names and I thought he was cool. The beautiful thing for me though was, though I was living in the LES, at the time I was copping in BK. He told me he’d done a painting job and had 100 bucks, hed hook me up, he was about to be sick (like the girl in the article) and that his main guy,(the friend i wouldnt name) he couldnt find him. I told him so and so had just got locked up (not knowing he had been the guy to lock up said friend) and he acted. he made this big to do “OH NO! REALLY? SO AND SO GOT BUSTED? NO!!” like wow man you slimy son of a gun. So I said I’d help him but that wed have to go to BK and his whole demeanor changed. he wanted nothing to do with me then. He couldnt go to BK. Nope. A guy about to be sick, has no other means to get anything, Im willing but we gotta take a subway ride (a simple thing in NYC) I immediately knew something was up. I left him. The funny thing is a little while later that same day I saw him walking with a well known junkie somewhere and he waved at me… maybe thinking hed get me eventually. F that. But that summer he nailed everybody. At least 20 people probably way more.
It’s disgusting to use the power of the NYPD to do this. That jurist who wrote that letter to that DA i am SO PROUD of that man. Because this is a war crime, what theyre doing to us.
hey i didnt write this part over at the other site but I am going to write it here because this is a more personal place where I know the faces and I wouldnt be comfortable writing it over at that other site.
So the reason why this article has also been upsetting is because on March 29th, this year, not long before this article was published, this very thing happened and set off a chain of events that got my roommate arrested.
I’ve been inside now for over a year and half, 2 years and this past 6-8 months I’ve had a roommate who slowly became one of my best friends and someone I totally trusted.
Now this roommate was a salesmen if you will. He would give me three things of cat food every night for my cat for staying over, but if he didnt, he’d been previously sleeping on the sidewalk or in shady shady illegal flophouses throughout the city. Not places you want to be when you are responsible for about 150 to 180 units of cat food everyday. Look, thats not a LOT of cat food, and I hope you guys know what I’m realling saying, in the grand scheme of things. The guy barely made enough money to pay me and there were many days where I’d let him stay for less or nothing. But I also made sure the guy ate, I mean, I had a situation where I could get us food everyday so I was techinically also paying for his food in a sense, I mean, the guy wouldnt have had enough money to eat, he was making 1-2 dollars profit on those cat foods he was selling.
So theres a friend of all of ours, someone I thought was a very good old time friend and I wont name names. But he has been around 20 years and he too saw my roommate many many many times and theyd hung out many times as friends as well.
So my roommate got busted on the 29th. Seeing as my health had become accostomed to being dependent on him, like, when Id get the text at anywhere between 6:30-9:30 PM and sometimes even very late, saying “im on the train coming home” you had no idea the relief I felt. Many days when I had no money at all and no way to get any, I was 100% depending on the roommate. So on the 39th at 5PM I just assumed my roommate was working, I had just got home from doing my own work and when i saw the phone ring and it was his boss my heart lept into my throat. I knew something was wrong immediately. Answering that call I knew what I was going to be told and I so didnt want to hear it. The boss is also a friend and potentially couldve had something else to tell me about but no, he told me and my heart broke and immediately I knew I had to get myself together and get the hell downtown or Id be sick that night.
At that point though we didnt know anything. All we knew was that the guys phone was off and had been off for 45 minutes and nobody knew why or understood anything. At that point, there was some concern he was even dead.
Well he did get word out eventually that he was in jail.
The pieces came together. The long time friend whose been around 20 years was approached by a girl who needed “help” getting something. Now both of them are in jail. The buyer and the seller.
I was hoping that he’d make bail, he’d come back, you have to understand, I am not the kind of guy who makes close friends easily after the life I’ve lived and everything I’ve been through. Those few friends who’re close I treasure and I dont expect to make any new close friends in my life. So it was double painful for me that this happened. I will even man up to say that I wept for my friend, knowing he was in jail, in an unwinnable situation, dope sick beyond belief surely and that there was NOTHING I could do about it. I wept. I have tears in my eyes and a burning in my nose right now typing this.
so in the days that have followed I checked for him in the public database, he didnt show up for a few days but he did eventually. Class B felony possession charge, maybe sales charge but the real killer. we all thouhgt maybe his bail would be 1k, 1,500 maybe and that maybe somehow we could put that together but we were totally SHOCKED to see it was 15,000$! yea 15,000$ bail or 25,000$ bond. Nothing we could do.
The horrible ordeal has continued because yesterday just on a whim I looked him up again and where his bail had been said to be 15,000$ the website had changed and instead of 15,000$ it says “remanded” so his day is done and he is totally screwed.
This is the war on drugs and to use the power of the NYPD like this is DISGUSTING and to have personally been involved in this and to have seen the HORRIBLE SATISFACTION all those officers get everytime they arrest one of use nobodies it is F’N REVOLTING it is DISGUSTING.
Thanks, CJ!
Hang tough, CJ. I hope your friend makes it through alright. You’re absolutley right….what purpose could that possibly serve?
This is how many Germans felt about Jews during the Nazi era…. society endorsed and reinforced their prejudices and gave them a self-righteous glow.
Well, who’d a thunk it?
‘”It was an invitation from the Vatican,” Sanders replied. “I was very moved by the invitation. I am a big, big fan of the Pope. Obviously there are areas that we disagree on—women’s rights, gay rights—but he has played an unbelievable role of injecting a moral consequence into the economy.”‘
And one more specific area of difference I can think of….. but I do agree about Frankie’s introduction of a (shock horror) economic consequence for most of what passes as morality in the age of Wall Street materialism.
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/media-baffled-bernies-vatican-invite-and-its-hilarious
SweetBellsJangled
http://tinyurl.com/WhenPoloniusDies
Professor Barnes, who has a long standing interest in the management of spasticity – a condition in which the muscles become stiff, causing pain or interfering with movement and speech –
1952 Webster’s Dictionary
Bhang: An Indian variety of the common hemp… employed in medicine, for its anodyne,hyponotic, and anti-spasmodic qualities; also spelled bang, beng.
Marijuana Stops Child’s Severe Seizures
“AUGUSTA, Maine — A Superior Court judge has overturned Secretary of State Matt Dunlap’s ruling that a citizen petition for a referendum to legalize recreational marijuana in Maine was invalid.
Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy made the decision in a 26-page ruling issued Friday. She ruled that Dunlap “committed an error of law by applying a vague, subjective and/or unduly burdensome interpretation” of the law.
She wrote that variations in signatures are understandable, given how citizen petitions are conducted.
Murphy’s decision puts the question back on track to appear on the November state ballot. Dunlap now will have time to take a fresh look at the signatures to determine whether petitioners submitted enough valid ones to qualify for ballot placement.”
http://tinyurl.com/SleddedEruptions
So what does this mean for the demand by SAM Gagnon that the cannabis law reform advocates be investigated for election fraud? Normally I’d expect something like that would be dropped but SAM hasn’t ever needed a valid reason to denigrate people who choose to enjoy cannabis or have a medicinal need.
Marijuana foes call for investigation of failed petition drive
“As new reporting comes out on why almost half of the collected signatures were deemed to be invalid, SAM Maine believes the Office of the Attorney General should launch an immediate and thorough investigation of the signature gathering operation of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol,” said SAM director Scott Gagnon in a written statement. “SAM Maine strongly supports Maine’s citizen’s referendum process, however, we also strongly believe that the integrity of the process must be protected.”
Scott Gagnon is a total fucking asshole, and as dishonest a person as a person can be. Keep up the good work Scotty, it’s much easier to discredit a total fucking asshole with his own words. It won’t be long before everyone knows that being a lying jackass is a prerequisite for working for SAM.
Me thinks SAM doth protest too much. SAM deflects blame from itself so long as the petition problem really is someone else’s fault. But why should it be? How do we know SAM didn’t plant moles as signature gatherers who subsequently gummed up the works? SAM-Maine and Gagnon are suspects and must be investigated.
The venture capital funding branch of the CIA, known as In-Q-Tel, has financed the startup of a cosmetic skincare company, Kincential Sciences, to produce products that facilitate drug testing and genetics spying:
Skincential Sciences developed a patented technology that removes a thin outer layer of the skin, revealing unique biomarkers that can be used for a variety of diagnostic tests, including DNA collection.[…]
Beyond that, Lebovitz said he was unsure of the intent of the CIA’s use of the technology, but the fund was “specifically interested in the diagnostics, detecting DNA from normal skin.” He added, “There’s no better identifier than DNA, and we know we can pull out DNA.”
Perhaps law enforcement could use the biomarker extraction technique for crime scene identification or could conduct drug tests, Lebovitz suggested.
The CIA finally did it. They got under our skin. Drug enforcement will foist this latest privacy invasion onto an already browbeaten, unwary public. The technology can be used to identify hippies disguised as real people, or, as in the movie Gattaca, leave no place to hide.
“I want America to prosper and I want to do it in the cleanest way we can do it. That’s the reason my picture is on the cover — because I really am an American. Some people just claim to be American. I really am. I really l love this country.”
— Merle Haggard
Spring 1997 issue of HEMP TIMES
A Merle Haggard Tribute: An American Hemp Patriot
Country Legend Merle Haggard Dies
We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee;
We don’t take no trips on LSD
We don’t burn no draft cards down on Main Street;
We like livin’ right, and bein’ free…
Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard – It’s All Going to Pot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6c6eUeoa9Q
Unfortunately, the optimism surrounding this development may have been a bit premature.
Vermont: Legal Marijuana Could Be Doomed for 2016
It was reveled this week that the House decided that Vermont is not quite ready to embark on a journey into the realm of full-blown legalization. A key committee under the guidance of Representative Maxine Grad has ripped the Senate bill to shreds and started from scratch on a new proposal that replaces the concept of full legalization with more decriminalization.
Since 55 percent of Colorado voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, Colorado has experienced record economic growth, record tourism, and record job creation. In addition, Denver was recently named the best city to live in the United States by U.S. News and World Report based on factors such as quality of life, low crime rate, and job prospects.
Marijuana Weekly News Roundup
Should Colorado Limit Marijuana Potency? No
The doomsday predictions of the prohibitionists never came to pass. Colorado is experiencing near record low traffic fatalities, and teen marijuana usage has remained relatively stagnant.
In other words, Coloradans have enhanced their civil liberties and created a new, legal industry while maintaining public safety and boosting the economy.
Despite this good news, marijuana prohibitionists are trying to overturn the will of the voters. With some polls showing more than 60 percent of Coloradans now support legalization, prohibitionists know that an overt effort to make marijuana illegal again would likely fail. So their plan is to undermine the program and make it impossible for legal businesses to operate.
Whoopi Goldberg Could Be Cut from ‘The View’
Over Medical Marijuana Business, Insiders Say
Judge’s Ruling Might Keep Maine’s Legalization Initiative Alive
The old global consensus on the war on drugs is crumbling
Once a decade, the United Nations organizes a meeting where every country in the world comes together to figure out what to do about drugs — and up to now, they’ve always pledged to wage a relentless war, to fight until the planet is “drug-free.” They’ve consistently affirmed U.N. treaties written in the 1960s and 1970s, mainly by the United States, which require every country to arrest and imprison their way out of drug-related problems.
Chomsky on how financial backers corrupt politics using the advertising industry:
‘“Obama didn’t really promise anything. That’s mostly illusion,” confirmed Chomsky. “You go back to the campaign rhetoric and take a look at it. There’s very little discussion of policy issues and for very good reason. Because public opinion on policy is sharply disconnected, from what the two party leaders and their financial backers want. Policy more and more is focused on the private interest that fund the campaigns with the public being marginialized.”’
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/noam-chomsky-explains-why-campaign-financing-just-one-part-corruption-politics
If you think about it, and as a realist I must I must. Just about every dollar spent on campaigns. Ends up with advertisers and media, owned by multinational corporations. Billion this election goes to those businesses. Agencies owned by Industries who are prohibitionists. If simply for the numbers, selling more if competition is outlawed. So the money filtered through the candidates end up with the big buck donors. Like playing poker with the proverbial Mafia. Hand picking employees to serve as representatives in Congress. Buying their elections, then getting a refund from both parties constituents. Nice work if you’re a Neocon Fascist.
Say No to Socialism?
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7004
|
__label__cc
| 0.55799
| 0.44201
|
Home / Posts tagged Richmond California
“The Poet,” 3rd CD by Rising Star Trumpeter Marquis Hill, to be Released Oct. 22 by Skiptone Music
Marquis Hill's robust, fleet-fingered trumpet attack has been turning the heads of jazz fans and fellow musicians around Chicago since he was a teenager a …
September 24, 2013 | Headlines, Richmond
Jazz Guitarist Ricardo Grilli Debuts Oct. 15 with ‘If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler”
Growing up in São Paulo, Brazil, and attending music school in Boston and New York, guitarist Ricardo Grilli absorbed all kinds of influences--from samba …
Meals on Wheels & Senior Outreach Services Is Participating in the “We Give 2013″ Online Community Fundraiser for Charity
The Richmond Community Foundation is hosting it’s first annual We Give fundraising event, which gives people a chance to help raise money for local …
September 18, 2013 | Headlines, Walnut Creek
San Francisco Business Times Presents: Richmond! Your Home Front for Business
Richmond, CA is featured in the latest issue of the San Francisco Business Times, with highlights of successful businesses, available space for lease and …
Luxury Women’s Footwear Brand, ANYI LU, Launches a New E-Commerce Site That Reveals Why Shoes Don’t Have To Hurt Your Feet
The new site also feature a new Fall/Winter collection designed to feel as good as they
Jazz Vocalist Ed Reed Pays Tribute to the King Cole Trio with “I’m a Shy Guy,” Due Oct. 1
On "I'm a Shy Guy," his fourth CD for his Blue Shorts record label, Bay Area jazz vocalist Ed Reed pays homage to the King Cole Trio, a favorite …
September 6, 2013 | Headlines, Richmond
“Pacific Premieres: New Works by California Composers,” New CD by Grammy-Nominated Quartet San Francisco, Due Sept. 24
Recognizing a golden age when you're in its midst is notoriously difficult, but there's no doubt that the jazz scene is experiencing an unprecedented …
August 30, 2013 | Headlines, Richmond
“The Super Villain Jazz Band” Marks CD Debut by Trumpeter/Composer Matt White
A lively and compelling debut recording, "The Super Villain Jazz Band" is an introduction to the brilliant young trumpeter, composer, and educator …
Tenor Saxophonist Michael Pedicin to Release His 12th CD, “Why Stop Now … Ubuntu,” Sept. 24
Jazz is an art form in which second and third acts abound, and tenor saxophonist Michael Pedicin is making the most of his late-career creative surge. His …
“Five and More,” 3rd CD by the FivePlay Jazz Quintet, to Be Released September 17 by Auraline Records
The title "Five and More" is an apt description of what the third CD by the adventurous San Francisco Bay Area jazz quintet FivePlay is all about. …
August 1, 2013 | Headlines, Richmond
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7009
|
__label__wiki
| 0.853654
| 0.853654
|
Dziurzynski WHL Player of the Week
By League Press Release
CALGARY, AB. – The WHL Player of the Week is forward Darian Dziurzynski of the Saskatoon Blades. Dziurzynski scored five goals and had a +3 rating, in just two games this past week.
On Wednesday, October 6th the Saskatoon Blades hosted the U.S. Division powerhouse Tri-City Americans to the Credit Union Centre. Dziurzynski found the net twice leading the Blades to a 5-3 victory and was named the games 2nd Star. On Friday, October 8th, East Division rivals the Moose Jaw Warriors travelled to Saskatoon to face the Blades. Dziurzynski had a 1st Star performance netting three goals for the hat-trick including a short-handed marker leading the Blades to a 6-4 win over the Warriors.
Dziurzynski’s five goals this past week has him sitting 3rd among all WHL goal scorers with seven goals in seven games. The Saskatoon Blades have won four straight contests and currently sit in top spot of the WHL East Division with a 6-1-0-0 record.
Dziurzynski, a 19-year-old from Lloydminster, Alberta, is entering his fourth full season with the Saskatoon Blades. The undrafted winger has appeared in 174 career games with the Blades scoring 34 goals, 32 assists and 66 points.
The WHL has also nominated Darcy Kuemper of the Red Deer Rebels for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Kuemper posted a 4-0-0-0 road record this past week, stopping 88 of 91 shots faced for a remarkable 0.850 goals-against average and 0.967 save percentage. Kuemper, a native of Saskatoon, SK, back-stopped the Rebels to four straight road victories through the WHL East Division earning 1st Star honours twice along with a 3rd Star selection.
Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week
Oct. 3 – Oct. 10: Darian Dziurzynski, Saskatoon Blades
Sept. 27 – Oct. 3: Brad Ross, Portland Winterhawks
Sept. 24 – Sept. 26: Tyler Maxwell, Everett Silvertips
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7010
|
__label__cc
| 0.598287
| 0.401713
|
• Find Pubs • County List • Full List • News • About My Guide •
» Devon » George Inn, Blackawton
George Inn, Main Street, Blackawton, TOTNES, TQ9 7BG [Map]
12-14:30 (Not MO), 19-23 MO-SA; 12-15, 19-22:30 SU
Accommodation, Car Park, Evening Meals, Real Fire, Beer Garden, Lunchtime Meals, Quiet Bar, Campsite At / Near Pub
The George Inn, June 2000
A pub that someone suggested that I ought to go to, and two years later I did! It's well known in the area for good food as is the Normandy Arms just a hundred or so yards up the road though I've not managed to visit there to assess it for inclusion in this guide.
Anyhow, the George is a very pleasant traditional village local with a warm welcome popular with locals and visitors alike. The main bar is partly timbered and the end lounge has a big bay window with fine views across the fields towards the sea. There's also a pleasant quiet pub garden at the rear of the pub.
Having spent a great weekend in late May 2000 in Kingswear celebrating my friend Andrew's 30th we thought that we'd end the weekend by heading down the coast a little and make a surprise visit to my aunt and uncle. Not having seen them for several years we settled down to a good cup of tea and natter whilst admiring the fantastic view of Slapton Ley from their living room. An hour or two passed and long after the parking ticket opposite had expired we waved goodbye and headed on our way. A quick wander around the Ley caused us to build up quite a thirst again and so we called in at the Tower Inn, Slapton (also in this guide) for a swift half and decided that we were also feeling a bit peckish too. With the Good Beer Guide promising ''excellent home-made food" up the road at the George (local CAMRA Pub of the Year 1999) we were sure that the pub wouldn't disappoint and we are pleased to say that we weren't wrong.
Blackawton is buried in a maze of lanes about 4 miles north of Slapton but it was well worth the journey and wrong turns! It's a lovely village with little shop and church and is a previous winner of the CPRE's 'Britain in Bloom' competition. A great selection of beers on offer including one from the local Princetown brewery. An amazing range of bottled beers were also available from all over Europe though do be careful with the stronger brews! A fine selection of food is available too at lunchtimes and during the evening though the pub is usually closed at lunchtimes during the early part of the week in winter. Everything from home-made pizza to chicken balti and dishes cooked on a skillet. I'd thoroughly recommend any of their fish dishes. Great desserts too. Well we were so impressed with the pub that 5 miles down the road on our way home we very nearly turned back to stay overnight. We tuned into the local radio station "South Hams Radio" and they were requesting that visitors to the area called in to air their views about the area. We obviously called in and aired our positive views about the pub!
Well, the story doesn't end here as indeed 6 weeks later we returned and stayed at the pub and as we weren't driving enjoyed a few quality ales, some great food and had an excellent night's sleep. Thoroughly recommend the breakfast too, the scrambled eggs with salmon went down a treat!
The pub's pleasant beer garden, June 2000
• Acknowledgements • Press Reviews • Links • Privacy Policy • Cookies • Contact Me •
© Copyright Dr Ant Veal 1997-2015
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7020
|
__label__cc
| 0.53353
| 0.46647
|
Class of ’88 – 30 Year Reunion Report
5th August 2019 gpa
It’s difficult to understand what the IRFU was thinking of when it invited the All Blacks to the Aviva Stadium on November 17. Didn’t it know that was the Saturday of the Class of 88′ 30th reunion? Come on! No one thought the Test between the No. 1 and 2 in the world was a warm-up for something else, but that’s what it was.
Getting in early
The reunion lasted a bit longer than the 80 minutes it took for Ireland and Joe Schmidt to down New Zealand. Though the main gathering was on November 17, an advance party stormed Adare a night early and went to dinner at the 1826 restaurant, opposite the Dunraven Arms, the venue for the reunion dinner on the Saturday.
On the Saturday it was up early and out to Glenstal to gatecrash another anniversary – the mass marking Br Cyprian’s 25 years as a monk, though it was nice of Abbot Brendan to mention us in his introduction. After lunch in the senior and inter ref we roamed the school and the grounds, noting the impressive upgrade of facilities and stopping for the obligatory homage to the Munster Schools’ Senior Cup, which the SCT won so memorably earlier in the year. It was also good to see some familiar faces such as Frs Denis, William, Philip, Simon, and Christopher. When we reached the pitches, some just had to try to recreate scenes from matches in the distant past – Truff, the posts still didn’t move!
The dry weather lent itself to photo opportunities around the chapel lake and bridge, and in front of the castle. Shane Vaughan operated his drone expertly to provide some memorable images from the day.
We regrouped at the monastery reception, before taking in the retail experience that is the shop – and very impressive it is too. It is a long way from the monks’ CDs and jars of honey, which was about the extent of the offering in our day. Brown Thomas watch out!
Then it was back to the Dunraven Arms and dinner, but before that, the match (see below). A dominant Irish performance meant we sat down in good spirits – apart from those that were already down us – for an evening of fine food and drink, and reminiscing with the aid of an album of over 300 archive photos dating back to 1982. Many of the images were seeing the light of day for the first time
Dinner included other special moments: the letter and poem Br Patrick, as he then was, wrote for our leaving dinner in 1988 got another airing 30 years later and Peter O’Meara, who was unable to attend due to filming commitments in Prague, recorded a video message for the class which was played at dinner
After dinner, it was time for more catching up in the bar, with Paul Hegarty entertaining us at the piano, though a sing-song failed to take off.
Given the action-packed couple of days and nights, it was a credit to us all that we appeared for breakfast the following morning as early as we did. Then the drift away happened, as travel connections had to be made and appointments kept. The weekend happened too quickly.
Thirty one made it to the reunion, including travellers from afar, such as Rolf Hogan from Moscow, Jaime Ordovas from Majorca and Henry Farrell from Washington, as well as our very own monk, Br Luke (John) McNamara. Richard Tierney, Stephen Walsh and Matt Bruton were the event organisers extraordinaire.
Onwards again
However, the reunion would not have been the same without a bit of drama. After all, this is the class that stretched the school’s disciplinary strings as far as they would go and back again. In the same week as the reunion, Andy Beatty, our Western warrior, was caught in a medical misadventure. Thankfully, the medics got to him in time and he is recovering well. He was even spotted with an empty pint glass in front of him not long afterwards. We’re not saying he drank it but…
Here’s to the next 10 years – though no doubt, we will meet again before then – and continued good fortune to the Class of ’88.
Here is a link to photographs
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7qmofkbjcpM545zU6
Report by Ralph Cunningham
Photos by Stephen Walsh
Class of 1967 – Golden Jubilee
31st May 2017 gpa
Glenstal Reunion May 12th – 14th 2017
Recently the leaving class of 1967 met in Kerry for a 50th reunion of leaving Glenstal. Many had not met since departing and there was some anxiety generated as to what the responses would be to such a project.
Using Ubique 2015 the class was listed as 29, however there were two others who had started with the majority who had left during the course of their studies, and were considered to be members of the class of 1967 – Peter Magnier (1966) and Ted (Terence) Hederman (1965), making a total of 31. Sadly during the intervening years 5 had deceased – Robert Griffin (2001), Paul O’Sullivan (2009), Martin Owens (2009), Hugh Kennedy (2011) and David Egan (2016) – now 26. Using the data available – e-mails and addresses contact was made with most; however 3 persons even using personal contacts did not respond – 23. Four of the classmates who responded; two had planned to be abroad at the time – Australia and China, one who returned to Glenstal for another year was hesitant about joining the class of 1967, and the fourth who had agreed to come from America – got held up with his travel arrangements following a fishing trip to Canada – 19.
On the Friday 12th golf was arranged at Dooks Golf Club near Glenbeigh – seven men and three ladies played a stableford scoring competition in a very sunny and warm afternoon. Afterwards the group and others who had arrived had dinner at Jacks Restaurant in Cromane.
On Saturday 13th evening the group met at The Europe Hotel in Killarney for dinner at which 18 “old boys” attended (the “one” was excused as he was previously engaged – but had provided chocolates as prizes for the golfers). Accompanying some of the men were their spouses – some 10 ladies making a total of 28 guests who died (sic) in style in a secluded private area of the Lakeview Restaurant. The group adjourned to the nearby bar and most had got to bed by 02.00 hrs Sunday morning. The meeting was deemed a very successful event and plans were agreed that we should meet again in 5 years time (2022).
Class Picture 2017
Front (L-R): Michael O’Connell, John deVere White, Patrick Bradley, Declan Carroll, Andrew O’Hanlon, Fred Powell, Andrew Dillon.
Back (L_R): Michael Daly, Richard Whelehan, Paul Morris, Aongus Twomey, Martin Mullally, John O’Sullivan, Dan Hutch, Ray Glynn, David Freeman, Bernard Murphy, Peter Fallon
Fred Cudmore (was absent from this photograph).
Front (L-R): Charles Dudley, Charles O’Sullivan, Patrick Bradley, Declan Carroll. Andrew O’Hanlon, Peter Fallon, Andrew Dillon.
Middle (L-R): Peter Gorman, Paul O’Sullivan, Michael O’Connell, Martin Mullally, Dan Hutch, Timothy O’Connor, Hugh Kennedy, John deVere White, Fred Powell, Robert Griffin
Back (L-R): Michael Daly, Martin Owens, Richard Whelehan, Paul Morris, Aongus Twomey, John O’Sullivan, Ray Glynn, David Egan, Fred Cudmore, David Freeman, Bernard Murphy, Thierry Blacque.
Patrick J Bradley
Senior Cup Final 2017 Photos
19th March 2017 gpa
Photos courtesy of David Morris.
Class of 1981 – 35 Year Reunion
19th January 2016 gpa
In 1981 Greece was (regrettably!) admitted as a member of the European Union, forty nine people died in the Stardust fire, President Pinochet was sworn in as the President of Chile, the first DeLorean car was produced in Northern Ireland, there were assassination attempts on Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, Bobby Sands became the first of ten IRA hunger strikers to die in the Maze Prison, Peter Sutcliffe (the Yorkshire Ripper) was jailed for life, John McEnroe launched his famous tirade “you cannot be serious” at the umpire in Wimbledon, Shergar won the Derby, Lady Diana married the Prince of Wales, France abolished the guillotine, Raiders of the Lost Ark pipped On Golden Pond as the highest grossing film and the Human League with Don’t you want me vied for the top spot in the charts with Queen’s and David Bowie’s Under Pressure.
Also in 1981, we would all have had rooms containing a television, record player, radio, torch, alarm clock, bookshelves (with books, newspapers and magazines), diary, address book, camera, cine camera, an egg-timer, a record collection, an atlas, photo album, newspapers, envelopes, letter paper and stamps, typewriter and many other devices. Now we have a single smart phone (and possibly a kindle) which has, would you believe, more computer power than all of NASA’s computer power in the 1980’s.
The other thing that was more common in 1981 was meeting up. Now with Facebook, twitter, WhatsApp, Snapchat etc., meetings often take a back seat. This is hardly an excuse for failing to have a reunion for the last ten years but is sadly consistent with our track record of having only had three reunions in the last thirty five years. In any event, we will all soon be (at least) thirty five years out of school and we are proposing to arrange a reunion at The Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, Co. Limerick on Saturday, 13th February 2016. Sadly, we will be one man down at our thirty fifth reunion because of (as you all probably know) the premature death of Johnny (Sherlock) Holmes who died last year leaving two young sons behind.
We do hope as many people as possible attend because meeting is better than WhatsApp!
Please let us know if you will be attending by contacting either of us at the following email addresses:-
Walter Beatty – walter.beatty@vblaw.ie
Michael Cosgrave – michaelcosgrave@gmail.com
3rd August 2015 gpa
The AGM of the Glenstal Old Boys Society will take place on Sunday 1st November 2015 in Glenstal.
This will be 70 years to to exact day since the first meeting of the Society in 1945.
Further details will be confirmed closer to the date.
A full bottle in front of me or a full frontal lobotomy?
27th May 2014 gpa
Alas we are refreshed without remorse and WOW did we have a party in the RSGYC last Friday.
The group photograph is a who’s who… the caption might read….”Would you buy a used car from any of these men?” I suppose Canto said it all when he remarked that “Although the shapes have changed, the personalities have not!”
Those present were John Purcell O’Dwyer, Tom O’Connor, John O’Gorman, Conor Redden, Aubrey Leggett, Michael Cantwell, Marcus Magnier, Henry Anderson, Emmet Halley, Greg Ashe (President of Alumni) Gerry Nicholas and Billy Gabbett. Email apologies and greetings were read out from Martin Devane and Paddy McGrath – both resident in sunny California.
Many thanks to our dynamic President Greg Ashe, who travelled despite many distractions and chose our party to enjoy a few libations… and doesn’t he speak well.
The biggest round of applause was retained for POD who came from Gay Paris and he also won best dressed in the Paddock… Billy G came second!!
Fr Andrew suffered a groin strain on the platform in Limerick Junction (in truth all the trains were filled with One Direction fans heading to Dublin so there was no room) so alas we didn’t have his company but we did drink to his health… We wish the great man well.
Br Denis, Secretary of Old Boys was hosting the Sportsday that weekend and was Hors De Combat.
From the very fine menu we indulged in the veritable feast for the soul… We accentuated the positives in life and had what was declared an outstanding lunch, with a big dollop of love and friendship.
To those who were unable to attend, we missed you dearly and will keep you posted of our next outing.
Best wishes to all,
Henry, Tom and Marcus
Class of 1964 – Golden Reunion
13th April 2014 gpa
When: Saturday 25th October 2014 (please note change of date)
Where: Dunraven Arms Hotel
Cost: 150 Euro, Dinner+Room+Breakfast
Direct Booking – no centralised system. Glenstal Golden Jubilee Reunion = booking reference for hotel.
Table collection for Dinner wine.
Br Timothy (Eddie) McGrath
John Coyle
Ronnie O’Gormaan
Class of 74 – 40 Year Reunion
The Class of 1974 are holding their 40 Year Reunion.
Where: Dunraven Arms, Adare
When: 27th September 2014
Contact: Robert Barber – rahbarber@gmail.com
Class of 69 – Inaugural Reunion
The Inaugural Reunion of the Class of 1969 (after 45 years!)
Contact: Peter Cudmore – pcudirl3930@gmail.com
Class of 71 – Reunion Lunch
Where: The Royal St George Yacht Club, Dublin
When: Friday 23rd May 2014
Time: 12:30 for 1 O’Clock
Price: € 55 per person to include wine
Henry Anderson henryanderson@bacchus.ie 086 2545962
Marcus Magnier marcus.magnier@colliers.ie 086 2555161
Tom O’Connor toconnor@algoodbody.com 086 2514689
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7031
|
__label__wiki
| 0.61156
| 0.61156
|
UK: Rightmove House Price Index Press (Jan), LSL House Prices (Dec)
OECD Leading Economic Indicators Demonstrate Growing Weakness
by Robert Brusca May 13, 2019
The OECD LEIs are adjusted in such a way that both the change and level give the individual series meaning. Levels below 100 indicate subpar growth and declines also point to weakening conditions. The OECD prefers to look at index changes over six months. The table has two sets of such comparisons gear to look at the indexes on that basis. These looks at the ratio of the indexes to six months ago and at six months ago compared to the six months before that. Both comparisons show a truck-load of weakness.
In terms of the level, all the LEI indexes are below 100 indicating a slowdown. The ratio to six months ago finds all countries/regions lower than six months ago and lower than the six months before that as well (except for Greece over the recent six months). The table also shows values below 100 for all countries/regions over the last three months. That result extends to the last four months and except for Germany to the past five months. April is the latest month in which more than two of the OECD values in the table were at 100 or more for the same month.
The table also offers a look at the OECD LEIs ranked over all values since December 1994. Over that 24-year period, the strongest of the LEIs right now is in its 20th percentile decile in with none as high as their respective 25th percentile. France, Germany and Japan log the relative strongest LEI readings in March. The U.S. with a rank standing in its 15.8 percentile is one of the weaker country readings in the table, surpassed in significant measure only by the weakness in the U.K. The U.K. is suffering from Brexit fever, a long lasting and seemingly incurable ‘disease.’ Just one percentage point stronger than the OECD standing is Greece.
The OECD LEIs have gotten about as weak as they have been as a MINIMAL condition before several past U.S. recessions
Developing economies reveal a rash of weak readings in terms of momentum as well as in terms of levels. Twelve of fourteen are at or below 100 with only Brazil and India have readings above 100; Russia has a reading right at 100. The ratios to six months ago and for six months ago to six months before that show 57% of the developing economies below a ratio of unity over six months and 78% below a ratio value of unity for the previous six months.
The percentile standings on rankings back to 1996 show strong standings for Brazil (93rd percentile) and India (80th percentile). No other countries have a ranking as high as the 50th percentile. That means all the rest have standings below their respective medians for this period.
The OECD LEIs are falling on a broad trend to weaker growth. With the U.S.-China trade conflict in gear and Brexit dragging on in Europe and both episodes will be further weakening global trends that already are sliding.
The OECD LEIs have slipped ahead of past recessions as much as they have weakened already. However, in recessions they slid quite a bit more after the recession began. China already has expended a lot of energy and run up already substantial debt levels to try to extend growth in the face of trade pressure. Yet, growth in China is about to come under even greater pressure. The U.S. has already used fiscal policy in this cycle. Central banks are for the most part already full stop on stimulus, the Fed being the main exception. While in the U.S. Federal Reserve is running a wait-and-see policy, it seems as though the bigger more dangerous and global risk is on the downside - not from inflation on the upside. We’ll see if policymakers figure this out in time or not.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7032
|
__label__wiki
| 0.887736
| 0.887736
|
Gypsies and Travellers in the UK are uniting to form a nationwide coalition to fight what they describe as rapidly escalating levels of racism and discrimination. The leaders of the nation’s largest Gypsy and Traveller organisations will hold an unprecedented gathering later this month with the aim of bringing together the country’s 300,000 Roma, Irish, Welsh and English Gypsies and Travellers in a national federation. Two of the UK’s largest Gypsy and Traveller associations – the Gypsy Council and the…
Concerns have been raised over extreme techniques used by police to arrest suspects after the deaths of three people in custody during the past eight days. Investigations have been launched following the deaths of two men this week during separate arrest attempts in Cheshire and Bolton in which Tasers and pepper spray were deployed. Last week a Cumbrian body builder, Dale Burns, became the first person in Britain to die after being subdued by a Taser. Officers shot him three…
One simple yet brilliant brainwave has guided travellers around London for 78 years. Harry Beck’s Tube map is one of the greatest examples of graphic design in history. Beck was an engineering draughtsman whose radical idea to straighten out and simplify the Underground lines was way ahead of its time. It was pure modernism. And it has lasted, in different incarnations, right up to the present day. Geographers talk of mental maps – the way in which the human brain…
Andy Coulson faces the prospect of another public grilling by MPs in the next two months if the police do not charge him with illegal phone hacking. Members of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee are angry about the replies they received when they asked whether Mr Coulson still had a financial link with Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper empire after he began working for David Cameron. One member of the committee, the Labour MP Paul Farrelly, accused him yesterday of…
The Treasury will recoup more than £5bn in unpaid tax from Britons with Swiss bank accounts under a deal between the UK and Switzerland signed last night. Switzerland’s strict secrecy laws have made it a safe haven for the rich, but the UK Government is cracking down on offshore tax evasion. In 2013, the Swiss banks will hand over a one-off levy of more than £5bn to settle past tax liabilities of Britons with money salted away in the country….
Anger over pay for RBS contractors
A union today pressed Royal Bank of Scotland to explain its use of contractors after a recruitment agency mistakenly emailed the details of hefty pay packets for thousands of temporary staff. Unite has expressed “serious concerns” over the revelations, inadvertently exposed by an employee of Hays, which are understood to show temporary staff receiving up to �2,000 a day – equivalent to �500,000 a year. Some 3,000 contractors’ names and billing rates were mistakenly attached to an email sent from…
‘Disturbing’ rise in arrest deaths
Campaigners warned of a “disturbing trend” over fatalities from police confrontations today as investigations were launched into a man’s death following a Taser shooting. The 53-year-old, named locally as Philip Hulmes, was hit with electric probes from the police weapon after barricading himself in his house yesterday. The incident in Bolton came as an inquiry was launched by the police watchdog into the death of Jacob Michael, 25, who was restrained using pepper spray in Widnes, Merseyside. The Independent Police…
Jacqui Smith defends inmates painting home
Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has defended using day-release prisoners to paint her home, claiming they “didn’t have anything else on”. The former Labour MP admitted that two inmates from HMP Hewell in Redditch did some decorating at her luxury property in the Worcestershire town. A Prison Service spokesman said the offenders were supposed to be doing work to “help the whole community” as part of a scheme run by a local charity, the Batchley Support Group. He said: “The…
Broke Britons put economic recovery at risk
George Osborne is under mounting pressure from Conservative MPs for a change of economic course amid new signs that the squeeze on household budgets is choking Britain’s fragile recovery. Backbench Tory leaders are becoming increasingly jittery about the country’s flatlining economy and fear it could cast a shadow over the party’s annual conference in October. They are pressing the Chancellor to trail a go-for-growth package in his conference speech to counteract problems beyond his control in the eurozone and the…
https://www.wycieczka.pl
plemiona
cheap london escorts
billig-lan.eu
credit fara acte
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7042
|
__label__wiki
| 0.570279
| 0.570279
|
Welcome, anonymous guest! [ Register new account | Login ]
F-16 News
F-16 News Archive
F-35 Lightning II News
F-22 Raptor News
F-16 REFERENCE
F-16 Versions
F-16 Users
F-16 Units
F-16 Armament
F-16 Aircraft Database
F-16 Fleet Reports
F-16 Timeline
Aviation Glossary
Various Texts
PHOTOS & PATCHES
F-16 Photos
F-16 Patches
F-16.net Forum
Viper Pilot Hours
Crew Chiefs
F-35 Forum
Aviation Jokes
F-35 Photo Gallery
F-35 Patch Collection
F-35 Aircraft DB
Visit C-130.net
FAQ | Advanced Search | Forum Guidelines
Jump to: Board index » F-35 Lightning II » Program and politics
Greece, Romania, and Poland.
Program progress, politics, orders, and speculation
First unread post • 60 posts • Page 2 of 4 • 1, 2, 3, 4
Corsair1963 wrote: While, I see Poland possibly even Greece as likely F-35 Customers. I have a hard time believing Romania could afford the F-35. At least in the near future...
I don't see any issues with Romania funding F-35 if they want it, they have shown in recent years that they are taking defence serious. I do however think they will prioritise other programs first, such as new corvettes and the program to buy Patriot.
marsavian
Elite 1K
You only need to buy a handful of F-35 to make a radical difference to your air force, you don't need to go all in at first. Six to twelve F-35 to act as forward controllers and EW growlers for the rest of your 3/4th gen fighters could tip the balance. That's the beauty of this stealthy heavily networked aircraft, every one makes a difference greater than its own individual ability.
zerion
Location: Everywhere like such as...
Long article best read there
Looks Like Poland Wants To Replace Its Soviet-era MiG-29 And Su-22 Jets With The F-35 At Any Cost
Is Poland Getting the F-35 in its Harpia Program?
In early April, Vice-Admiral Mathias Winter, representing the US DoD, suggested, at the House of Representatives, that the US is considering selling the F-35 to five allied nations: Poland, Romania, Greece, Spain and Singapore. Back in February, on the other hand, the head of the Polish MoD signed the so called Technical Modernization Plan document, outlining the priorities that shall be addressed over the course of the modernization process. Given that during the presentation of the plan Błaszczak suggested the procurement of 32 fifth generation fighters is a priority, he was probably referring to acquisition of the F-35 – no other true 5-generation aircraft is currently available on the market...
https://theaviationist.com/2019/04/20/l ... -any-cost/
mixelflick
Good for them, the Poles deserve it.
They've integrated well into NATO, and have shown proficiency with the F-16/LM products. Having even a dozen would be a very credible deterrent, and most importantly - up LM's stock price
charlielima223
The article states...
What’s interesting, the pilots that we have talked to tend to suggest that the F-15X would be a better choice for the Polish Air Force.
I am genuinely interesting to hear/read those pilots opinions on the matter. It would seem for the USAF, upper echelons of command prefer not to have the F-15X and the pilots seem for the most part to either agree or not have a strong opinion one way or the other.
I think Poland having the F-35 is a good thing. For one, Poland is a very active military member of NATO and that they take the threat of Russia to be very serious both militarily and politically. Should Poland acquire 32 F-35s, they would have an air force that is more capable then their German counterparts and it symbolically (for them) be a giant "F-you" to Russia.
Corsair1963
charlielima223 wrote: The article states...
Doesn't give any specifics on the pilots??? Which, makes them highly questionable. In addition the Polish Air Force Leadership is so impressed with the F-35. That it's the sole source for their next fighter.....(speaks volumes)
jakobs wrote:
QUOTE: Romania will buy five more F-16 aircraft from Portugal and the acquisition procedure could be completed this year, according to Romanian defense minister Gabriel Les.
Romania bought 12 F-16 multirole aircraft from Portugal in 2013 and will buy five more to have a complete squadron of 17 fighters, the minister also said, local Radio Europa Libera Romania reported. The five F-16s will be second-hand, modernized in Portugal.
Commenting on the news that the U.S. is considering selling F-35 fighters to five new nations, including Romania, Gabriel Les said that, at the moment, this would be “a bit too much” for Romania.
https://www.romania-insider.com/index.p ... 6-portugal
Polish defense minister: F-35 acquisition ‘not far away’
WARSAW, Poland — Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said April 29 that the Polish government aimed to sign a deal to station U.S. troops in Poland this year, and a contract to purchase F-35 fighter jets was “not far away” from being signed.
Blaszczak’s announcement in an interview with local broadcaster TVP indicates that Warsaw could aim to negotiate on the potential troop deployment in parallel with the aircraft acquisition. Poland has pitched for the United States to build a permanent military base in the country, offering to pay at least $2 billion toward the project, dubbed “Fort Trump.”
On April 25, during her visit to Warsaw, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said that a U.S. Air Force team was to be sent to Poland in May to demonstrate the capabilities of the F-35 to Polish defence ministry officials, as reported by local news agency PAP.
Last February, Blaszczak said the planned acquisition of 32 fifth-generation aircraft would be carried out as part of the country’s military modernization program. Under the initiative, Warsaw aims to spend 185 billion zloty ($48.5 billion) on new weapons and equipment by 2026...
https://www.defensenews.com/global/euro ... -far-away/
XanderCrews
"It WoNt HuRt Or CoMpEtE AgAiNsT F-35, GuYZ"
Choose Crews
They should have pushed the F-15EX to Taiwan if anybody.........
jurryaany
US delegation scheduled to brief Polish officials on F-35 later in May.
A U.S. delegation is scheduled to brief Polish defense officials eager to buy the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter later this month, U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said Monday.
https://www.defenseone.com/business/201 ... 35/156971/
https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryProcurement/
spazsinbad
Location: ɐıןɐɹʇsn∀¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Warnings: -2
jurryaany wrote: US delegation scheduled to brief Polish officials on F-35 later in May.
What a shame we have TWO threads to POLISH. Oh well - dems de brakes.
New player on the board? Poland wants the F-35 too.
viewtopic.php?f=58&t=7839&p=419436&hilit=Weisgerber#p419436
A4G Skyhawk: www.faaaa.asn.au/spazsinbad-a4g/ & www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqC_s6gcCVvG7NOge3qfAQ/videos?view_as=subscriber
krieger22
Poland has just announced plans to buy two squadrons of F-35s. http://uawire.org/poland-to-buy-f-35-fi ... rom-the-us
Polish Deputy Minister of Defense Wojciech Skurkiewicz revealed plans to purchase two batches of American F-35 fighters.
According to him, the first aircraft will enter the service of the Polish army by2026. The Minister called this decision a turning point and crucial for the Polish Air Force.
"This is a crucial decision that will raise our Air Force to a higher level. The first squadron of F-35 aircraft will be purchased by 2026, the second squadron - after 2026," — the PAP Agency quotes the Deputy Minister.
madrat
The Poles were not backwards as a military until socialists thwarted her stepping into the 20th century prior to World War 2.
Its safe to say they've learned a hard lesson and do not want to repeat history.
https://twitter.com/mblaszczak/status/1 ... 40608?s=21
The Polish Defense Minister has stated that they have sent a request for quotation regarding the purchase of 32 F-35As along with a logistics and training package
Return to Program and politics
Jump to: Select a forum ------------------ F-16 Fighting Falcon General F-16 forum F-16 Armament & Stores F-16 Procedures F-16 Design & Construction F-16 versus XYZ F-16 Spotting & Photography F-16 Patches F-16 News F-16 Simulators F-35 Lightning II General F-35 Forum Program and politics F-35 Variants and Missions F-35 Armament, Stores and Tactics F-35 Design & Construction F-35 Avionics F-35 Engine F-35 milestones F-35 versus XYZ F-35 Units F-35 Spotting & Photography F-22 Raptor General F-22A Raptor forum Military Community Job Openings Careers & Assignments Future F-16 crew Buddy Finder Air Force Life Military Aviation Modern Military Aircraft Military Aircraft of the Cold War Drones X-planes Rotary Wing Aircraft Mishaps Air Power Technology Scale Modeling Scale Models - F-16, F-35, F/A-22, F-2 Work in Progress Finished Models Showroom Miscellaneous Civil and General Aviation Off-topic About this site Announcements Introduce Yourself F-16.net feedback
Contact Us | Advertise | Contribute | Legal Terms | Privacy Policy
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7047
|
__label__wiki
| 0.579308
| 0.579308
|
She sat up with a start, her bifocals slipping off her ears. They skidded on a bare spot of her desk—so littered with letters and knickknacks—and clattered a few feet across the museum’s checkered tile floor. The historian rose and waddled a few steps from her desk, bending over with great effort as her breasts—victims of gravity and childbirth—hung low in her blouse.
A boy skipped diagonally across white tiles and snatched up her glasses. He handed them to Angela—still bent over, chest heaving from labored breathing—and beamed at her with a grin that would be toothy had he not lost both of his front teeth.
Angela stood up slowly and mustered a smile at the boy as a teacher—dressed in a drab black dress, faded from age—caught up with them, the rest of her class following in an ant line.
“Why, uh, thank you young man,” Angela said. “What is your name?”
“My name’s Billy Barnes!” he said. “Do you like my new shoes?”
Billy’s high-tops blinked a fast pattern of red light as he jogged in place, his striped swishy pants keeping a steady beat.
“Well I’ll be! Those are some—”
“That’s quite enough, Billy,” the teacher interrupted.
Angela glanced at her, marveled at the woman’s wrinkleless face. Her perfect skin poorly complemented the silver hair sprouting above her temples.
“My apologies, Mrs. Robinson,” she said. “I suppose the children are still on a sugar high from last week’s Valentine’s party.”
Angela chuckled, plunked back down in her chair, and wiped her glasses with a tissue.
“Oh, it’s no problem,” she said. “You must be Mrs. Pringle from Wood Creek Elementary Sch—”
“Miss Pringle,” she said. “Yes, we’re here to learn about Piasa Heights for Black History Month.”
Angela withheld a wince; the teacher’s quick correction and pronunciation of “black” lingered on the vowel sound. Malice emanated from Miss Pringle’s wiry brows and stern figure made rectangular by her dress’s shoulder padding.
To Angela, Miss Pringle’s dangly rubber ducky earrings were a thin disguise.
Though she didn’t want to, and it made her stomach ache to do so, Angela could not help but picture Miss Pringle’s thin lips forming less friendly synonyms for “black” outside the classroom.
“Well good!” Angela said after a moment of silence. “I’m glad you and your class came today.”
She mustered up a smile for her audience. Even on the worst of days, children raised her spirits. Class tours were her favorite.
“I hope you all brought your thinking caps with you, because there’s so much to learn in so little time!”
Angela stood up again, this time with less strain, and began the tour. Two decades earlier she would have toted an outline of the Piasa Heights History Museum to help organize her thoughts, but by this time, she had long since cemented her routine. She had more than memorized the old stories of the Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debating on slavery law downtown, the Underground Railroad stop just across the street from the museum, the famous jazz musician born three blocks away in a tiny house, the history of Elijah P. Lovejoy and his abolitionist newspaper. She often played them out in her imagination in her free time, dreaming of new episodes and conjuring alternate endings.
A few minutes after beginning the tour, one student’s question jolted her attention from the comfortable routine.
“Ooh, ooh, Mrs. Robinson!” Billy said. “I have a question!”
“Sure, Billy. What is it?”
“Mrs. Robinson, did you escape to the North on the Underground Railroad?”
Miss Pringle hushed Billy and scowled at him, and her class took that as a signal to remain quiet.
The question did not exactly come as a surprise to Angela. She had answered it several times before, usually with a joke about how she was “old, but not that old” while holding back a tinge of anger at the children’s understandable ignorance.
But this time, something was different.
This time, she took in Billy’s eyes—framed with a girl’s long lashes—his Power Rangers sweater, Mickey Mouse watch, light-up shoes, the gap in his teeth—then shot a look at Miss Pringle, a blue vein pumping in the teacher’s forehead—and was not shocked or frustrated with Billy, but instead felt for him a deep pity.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7053
|
__label__wiki
| 0.518761
| 0.518761
|
In search of deep seas
The morning after Beat finished his journey across Alaska, he took a well-deserved nap and I used the opportunity to steal away for one last outing in Nome. The cold snap was easing but far from broken — it was still 15 below, and the north wind was picking up strength. Phil pointed out a small peak called Anvil Mountain where I could hike, but warned me that the wind could be fierce up there. And as Beat observed after 28 days out in the weather, "Wind is everything."
"Give me 50 below over 10 below with wind," he told me after determining that all of his layers need to be windproof if (and when) he attempts such a journey in the future. When it's calm, cold air hangs like a curtain that can be brushed away. But wind is knife that tears open every tiny crack in the armor and pierces the skin, driving its chill to the core. With this in mind, I geared up substantially ... wind-proof tights, wind-proof shell pants, Beat's primaloft shorts, gaiters, polypro base layer, fleece, Gortex shell, hats, face mask, and goggles. As I pulled on each layer in the comfort of Phil's driftwood-heated front room, I imagined I was suiting up to go deep-sea diving.
I pedaled the purple Pugsley to the base of Anvil; five miles was just long enough for my toes to go numb as I rode up the pavement. It was uphill, but not steep enough to justify how sluggish I felt. I stashed the bike behind a sign propped against four feet of snowpack, warning that the road may be impassable beyond that point. From there, I marched in a direct line up the mountain, postholing in knee-deep drifts. It was a short climb — one mile and about a thousand feet of elevation gain — but the continuous effort was Herculean, about as hard as I'm able to go in a sustained push. On the surface I was gasping and exhausted, but inside I was deeply pleased about how wonderful it felt to be both outside and warm.
And then I crested the ridge, where I met The North Wind. It raced along the broad spine of the mountain and hit my face in a blast of ice shards and breathtaking cold. My instinctual reaction, as it often is, was instant panic. "It's cold, it's cold, run away, run away." It turned my back to the wind to muffle the voices. "Shut up, this wind is not even bad." I reached in my pack to pull out my goggles and face mask, finally completing my full-body wind barrier. When I turned to face The North Wind again, I could hear it gusting in my hood, but felt only hot breath swirling around my face. As I moved into The North Wind, it felt as though I were swimming against a strong current, or taking deliberate steps to slice through deep water pressure. The rolling hills were as barren as the bottom of the ocean. I listened to my own labored breaths echo through my headgear, and imagined I was deep-sea diving.
And sure enough, as soon as it became apparent that the insidious North Wind was not going to kill me, I decided we should be friends. "It is a beautiful thing, what you've done to these hills," I said to The North Wind as I stepped over sparkling sastrugi formations and skittered across granite-like snow crusts. I had heard plenty of stories of how bad the wind can be on the Bering Sea coast, and was grateful the North Wind had granted a relatively workable passage to Beat and Marco, and had been even kinder to me during my three days in Nome. In fact, Alaska had been nothing but kind to me for a whole month. From all the wonderful friends who offered me a warm bed and hot food, to the weather that remained consistently dry and even sunny, to the collision of factors that made it possible to ride the Denali Highway with three busy friends from wildly varying geographic locations, to the two foot races that were timed perfectly to fit my schedule, to the seemingly endless supply of fun bikeable trails and adventure opportunities.
"It's going to be tough to leave all of this behind," I said to The North Wind. I removed a mitten to pull out my camera and shoot photos of the expanse. In the sixty-second interim, The North Wind whisked the blood from my fingers, leaving them pale and rigid. I pulled my mitten back on and shook my arm around to ignite a painful thaw, acknowledging with bemusement how close I was to the hard edge, even now — and wondered how exactly I was going to miss this when we returned to, as Beat put it jokingly, "fake life."
And what is "real life?" During my month of wanderings around Alaska, I felt consistent contentedness, frequently interjected with profound happiness. As Beat and I return to California and our routines, I'm left to ponder the origin of these emotions. It's true I was surrounded by beauty and kindness in Alaska, combined with a satisfying freedom to do as I wanted, when I wanted. But my time there was also filled with physical discomforts — many restless nights with insomnia, fatigue, cold, soreness, acute pains, hunger, and nausea. There were also frequent emotional stresses — anxiety for Beat's situation, loneliness, fear, and a wayward lack of security and routine. But as I've discovered in my endurance pursuits, unrest is not a barrier against happiness ... it may just be an important bridge.
I circled a set of radar towers — eerie relics from the Cold War — and kept walking north. The chill was beginning to find its way into my layers and I found myself running occasionally to send more blood to my extremities. My body protested the pointless discomforts of this walk, and my rational side reminded me that Beat and I had a plane to catch that would take us back to Anchorage in a short four hours. But for now, I was in no hurry to turn away from The North Wind ... not yet.
To paraphrase something Beat told me about his experience of walking to Nome — we find these places that are so beautiful, and so hostile, that they encompass us fully. The farther I walked away from Nome, the deeper I immersed myself in a vast ocean that did not care about my presence. Cold clamped down like a vice on barren tundra that appeared frozen in time; but The North Wind flowed through effortlessly, reminding anyone who dared to listen that nothing is permanent, nothing. We go to these places where our existence does not matter so we can step outside our egos and attachments for brief moments, and look back to see ourselves the way The North Wind sees us — small figures in an unbroken expanse. I block a tiny stream of The North Wind for a few moments, watch my warm breath turn to a cloud and dissipate, and I call this my life.
There's joy in this realization. If life is a goggle-clad figure steeling herself against a sea of cold space, then it's more beautiful and valuable than I ever imagined.
During Beat's final night on the Iditarod Trail, the temperature dropped into the minus thirties. Beat and Marco left the Topkok cabin at 1 a.m. under a bright moon to make the final push through the wind-sharpened cold. I received my final sat phone dispatch from Beat in the late morning, after he and Marco stopped near a ghost town called Safety. They planned a breakfast break there, and while seeking a lee from the wind near a locked cabin, managed to hunker down in a spot that was both in the shade and still brushed with wind. They attempted to hurry through the breakfast-making motions, but the urgent grip of the cold sank in first, until they had no choice but to pack up with numb fingers and keep moving as core heat painfully returned to their extremities. Beat's voice sounded ragged and rough on the phone. They were twenty miles out; but it still seemed so far.
Back in Nome, Phil's 5-year-old daughter Hannah glanced out the window and announced that it was raining. "I don't think it's raining, honey," Phil replied. But as we opened the curtains, we saw a river of water gushing down the street. The stream was gathering in slushy eddies and freezing to the curbs in tiers of ice. A water pipe had burst in the cold and flooded the street. Children were outside splashing through the flood like they were playing in puddles during a summer rainstorm. The temperature was still well into the minus twenties.
The liquor store opened at 1 p.m., so I walked into town to buy Beat and Marco some celebratory beers. The sun warmed my cheeks and I was glad the temperature had risen so much, as I was planning to bike out to see them on the trail and was still nervous about my inadequate foot gear. On the way back to the house, I saw it was minus 17, at midday. It probably wouldn't get much warmer.
Self portrait from six miles out, lungs a bit raw from breathing the cold wind, after running for five minutes to warm up my toes. I can't say any of my Alaska activities, except perhaps for my daylong ride in subzero temperatures in the White Mountains, fully prepared me for the rigors of these simple rides I did while visiting Nome. I don't know exactly why they felt so hard. Maybe it was the lack of proper footgear, or a psychological reaction to the overwhelming expansiveness of the frozen landscape. Or maybe it was the knowledge that this "good" weather could turn on me at any minute and kick up a gale of ground blizzards, unmanageable winds, and potential whiteouts. If I got caught out with my minimal supplies I would quickly be in trouble, and this realization made every nibble from the cold feel that much sharper. I'm not sure I had a full understanding or respect for Beat's daily life on the trail beyond McGrath until I came here, and pedaled my own laughably minimal miles away from the safety net of Nome. The edge is no longer an abstract concept out here; it's visibly real.
I was pedaling across the crystal blue ice of a slough when I first saw figures moving on the horizon. As they rounded the wide edge of Cape Nome, I quickened my pedal strokes up the hillside in time to meet them at the crest of the hill. This energy burst accompanied a blast of emotions — relief, pride, awe, happiness, and love.
It was the first time I'd seem him in a month, and Beat looked rough — as Phil worded it, like he had been through something "real." His beard was thick and coarse, his nose was swollen and red, and his face was crusted with frost nip scabs. His shoes were nearly in pieces, and he'd fashioned dog booties to the tips of his trekking poles. His pants seemed to hang loosely off his waist even though he said he'd been eating "a ton," but he had a big smile on his face. I met Marco for the first time, too — tall, rail thin, with long legs and a fantastically big nose. "Ciao," we greeted each other with a kiss on the cold cheeks. It was a great moment.
I intended to say hello and see you soon, and then leave, so as to not interfere with their race. But I decided it couldn't hurt to shadow them for a short while and listen to the dispatches, not unlike listening to Beat on his sat phone. He talked excitedly about his adventures and gear adjustments he was already making in his mind. It was tough for me to break away — both because I was so happy to see him, and because walking was a more enjoyable activity for my chilled feet than pedaling. But Beat gently suggested that I was skirting that uncomfortable edge of support, so I bowed out.
Of course I couldn't help but linger long enough to take a few pictures on the way out.
Marco and Beat and the expanse.
I pedaled back as quickly as I could muster so I'd have enough time to take a shower, prepare for their arrival, and set up a vigil at the arch on Front Street. This is what Beat and Marco arrived to as they walked the final miles on the shoreline trail — a tiny cluster of buildings lining a frozen sea.
Just before 7 p.m., they made their appearance on Front Street. A few scattered bystanders gave passing glances to the two ice-encrusted guys dragging their sleds on the pavement. I also think it says much about the general atmosphere of Nome that the random bystander in this photo is a bearded guy wearing a Santa hat and a red puffy coat, walking what appears to be an Irish Wolfhound type of dog.
The victorious final approach to the burled arch.
Beat and Marco hoisted their sleds and stepped up there together at 7 p.m. on the dot, Sunday, March 24. A full 28 days, and a round calendar month, had passed since they launched from Knik Lake on the cloudy afternoon of February 24. To a few people who stopped on the street to congratulate them, they were "the guys who walked from Anchorage."
I couldn't resist a posed shot with Beat and the arch.
I pulled a couple of Alaskan Ambers out of the cavernous pockets of my down coat, and the two toasted a grand adventure and partnership. I can only imagine the satisfaction of that moment, drinking in was is truly an incredible accomplishment. But it apparently only lasted for a moment for Beat; he's already talking about next year.
Beat finished his thousand-mile journey across Alaska on Sunday evening, side by side with Marco Berni of Italy as they dragged their sleds up onto Front Street in Nome. They hoisted them under Iditarod's burled arch at 7 p.m. on the dot, for a finish time of 28 days and 4 hours, adjusted for Daylight Savings Time. And just like that, the ongoing battle against extreme cold, wind, ice, blowing snow, overflow, isolation, and desolation that had become Beat's life ... was over. He finished to walk to Nome. I can hardly believe it.
I wanted to write a proper post about that final day, which is why I haven't updated my blog for a couple of days. There's been little time, but I wanted to post a quick update for the friends and family who may have not seen my Facebook posts. Beat is doing well — some frostbite and windburn on his cheeks, a few blisters on his feet, and superficial muscle soreness along with fatigue and hunger. But he's otherwise not worse for the wear. The physical maladies and pains he experienced early in the race seemed to iron themselves out and he fell into a rhythm that didn't break down his body too much — which is necessary if one wants to continue forward motion for four solid weeks.
The Iditarod Trail never made passage easy for Marco and Beat. Their final days along the coast were wracked with deep cold and wind, and the slightest transitions from moving to stopping were a struggle. I'm going to work on a final write-up for my now-neglected Half Past Done blog about it as soon as we get back to California. We leave Wednesday.
This past month of traveling around Alaska, connecting with the wonderful people up here, embarking on cold-weather adventures, and following Beat in spirit has been an incredible experience for me; I can't even imagine how fulfilling Beat's journey must have been. Thanks for following along. More soon.
The longest miles
On Friday evening, I got on a plane and flew to Nome. Part of me is in disbelief that this Alaska adventure has reached this point. I always had faith that Beat would complete the entire distance to Nome, but even he readily admitted the odds were against him during his rookie year. From those early calls where he expressed doubt that he would make the first hundred miles, to the incredible and yet disconcertingly anticlimactic achievement of McGrath, to the horror slush and rain of the Shageluk hills, to the deep cold of the Yukon River, to the wind-blasted coast, to here. Nome. He's only forty miles away and resting as I type this. I expect he'll finish sometime Sunday afternoon.
This is my first visit to Western Alaska. I bought a cheap air-mile ticket and had to take a milk run flight into Kotzebue, which was awesome in itself. "Wow, I'm in the Arctic!" The flight over the Seward Peninsula to Nome was surreal — just a tree-less expanse of white hills and frozen sea as far as that high-reaching view could see. From the air, Nome itself looks like a tight cluster of city blocks pressed like a stamp onto a sheet of white paper. My flight landed at 8:30 p.m. and the sun was still well over the horizon. It doesn't get fully dark here until 10:30. The late daylight is deceiving; it's still only a few days after the equinox so there's not that much more total daylight here than in California right now. But it's so far west in Alaska's ridiculously large time zone that the sun rises late and stays out late (my kind of time zone!) And daylight is now gaining at a ridiculously large rate — seven minutes per day. Winter is officially over.
Except winter's not over yet. The temperature dropped below minus twenty with a fierce north wind during my first night in Nome. It was still fifteen below in the late morning, but the wind had calmed down and it was a gorgeously clear day. My friend Phil, a cyclist who was near the front of this year's fiercely competitive race to McGrath, graciously put me up at his house in Nome while I wait for Beat to arrive. He offered to let me borrow his bike so I could pedal out the Iditarod Trail and check out the sights of Beat's final miles into Nome.
The first ten miles were rough. The wind, although light, was mainly out of the northeast and often blowing directly in my face. I didn't bring any of my bike gear to Nome because I didn't expect to ride, so I had to wear my trail-running shoes as foot gear, and rain pants on my legs. Not quite adequate for pedaling at ten to fifteen below with headwind. Every mile or so, I jumped off the bike to run for five minutes, which felt exhausting but necessary to keep numb toes at bay. The cold wind seemed to creep into every tiny crack in my system. Ice froze painfully to my eyebrows until I could feel the sharp pounding of the dreaded "ice cream headache." My Camelbak valve froze despite being positioned near my armpit. I blew a snot rocket and it hit and instantly froze on Phil's rear derailleur (don't worry, Phil, I chipped it off.) It was tough going, and I was just out for an afternoon joy ride. The experience gave me an even deeper appreciation of what Beat has faced every day in the past four weeks.
But I eventually found a groove in the form of a 500-foot climb onto the bluff above Cape Nome. The hard work warmed my toes, and the elevation offered a stunning vista of rolling hills and the Kigluaik mountains to the north, and the rough ice across the Norton Sound to the south.
I descended to Cape Nome and stamped out a message to Beat in the snow (which had the selfish ulterior motive of warming my feet, which were frozen again after the descent.) I considered adding "only fifteen more miles" as an encouraging note. Even though my GPS read 16.9 miles, I knew the distance would be shorter on the coastal route, which Beat and Marco would likely take, and fifteen miles just sounded better. But then I remembered — Beat hates when I over-optimistically guestimate distance and gets mad at me every time I do it. That's the last thing he needs fifteen (to seventeen) miles from the finish of a thousand-mile journey.
Pedaling back toward the Cape, I marveled at the beautiful desolation and thought about how strange, hectic, and green California is going to appear when we return next week.
For the return ride I took the coast route, which was drifted in spots and blown clear of snow in others. The coast had its own intriguing scenery — fishing shacks lined the frozen shoreline and long-abandoned cars and gold-mining equipment were encased in drifted snow. I veered off trail to explore and old graveyard on a hillside.
Among the wildlife I saw were several flocks of bright-white ptarmigan and two foxes. I never got a good photo, but in this one you can see a small silhouette of a fox behind the grave markers. I do think it's strange that a predator so conspicuously red can eke out a living in a black and white landscape.
Phil borrowed his friend's old-school purple Pugsley and pedaled out to meet me about eight miles from town. It was fun comparing the performance of that bike to his green Fatback, side by side. I seemed to have an easier time cutting clean and fast lines through the snow than Phil did, even with his higher skill and strength. Fat bikes have made some impressive leaps in design during the past eight years.
I hope head out the trail again tomorrow to greet Beat. I'm excited to share that moment when he marches under that burled arch and unhooks his burdon of a sled for the last time.
By Sunday afternoon, my feet were just as swollen as they were after the 2012 Susitna 100 — which is to say, very swollen. I didn't take a photo like I did last year, but you can really only take so many pictures of sausage toes before they all look the same. I'm really not sure why this only seems to happen to me during winter ultras. I ran several long races during the summer — sometimes in very wet (UTMB) or rapidly fluctuating hot and cold (Bear 100) conditions — and did not experience anywhere near this level of edema. It's a puzzling mystery.
I did try to take precautions to avoid skin maceration and swelling. My shoes were GorTex Montrail Mountain Masochist, sized 1.5 sizes too large to accomodate extra socks. Because of the "warm" forecast, I opted to go with two layers of DryMax socks: a trail sock and a larger winter sock — mostly to fill out the shoes, but I expected the socks would move the moisture away from my skin like they do in summer runs. I did wear gaiters, which were in hindsight not needed, but you never know when you're going to have to wade through softer snow and I didn't want to get snow down my shoes. On top of all that, I slathered both feet in Hydropel the morning before the race. Hydropel is an anti-blister ointment that repels water from skin. The company discontinued production last year and Beat bought up every last remaining tube at Zombie Runner at the time. He gave three to me, and I treat it like liquid gold these days. Used only in races, and even then, only the most foot-shredding races. But by the end of the Homer Epic, my heel and forefoot on both feet were bright white, deeply creased, and painful. When I took my shoes off on the trail, I convinced myself they were full-scale huge blisters. But no, it was just maceration, or the colloquial version of "trench foot." After the skin dried, my feet swelled significantly.
Anyway, if anyone has some insight into this condition, I'd appreciate any tips or advice. Winter running is a strange animal.
But yes, my feet hurt a lot after the race. Beyond that, however, I didn't feel too beat up from the Homer Epic. I took Sunday off to catch up on chores and communications, and doze off in my car at scenic overlooks for an hour here and there. On Monday, the weather remained clear and gorgeous, and I started feeling antsy again. Since I was in Homer, it made sense to squeeze in a ride on the beach. Luckily it was a "warm" day (about 32 degrees), because I could only put one thin pair of socks on my swollen feet. Even then they barely fit into my boots.
Winter beach riding has to be one of the more meditative activities there is. Waves are lapping on the shore, waterfalls are encased in ice on the bluffs, and wheels glide over smooth sand in organic lines. The sandy stretches of beach were interspersed with tight boulder fields and very loose — as in inches deep — gravelly sections. I was so desperate to not put my feet on the ground that I rode a lot more of the "chunk" than I would normally bother with, and it was a lot of fun. My still tender quads screamed as I powered over the larger rocks, but it still beat touching the ground with my hurty feet. Bikes rule.
It felt so warm in the sun, and I was still so wrecked, that I opted to lie down for a nap on the sand. I spread out my coat, sprawled out facing the sun, and dozed off. I woke up after what must not have been more than five or ten minutes, shivering and with numb fingers and toes. The beach scenery had lulled me into a sense of summertime comfort, but apparently below-freezing temperatures are not conducive to naps in the sand.
In all I rode for nearly three hours with the nap, but probably only covered twelve or thirteen miles. The tide had come up a lot for the return trip and I had to ride a lot more chunk closer to the bluffs. I cleared all of it — turns out sore feet are a powerful motivator for technical maneuvering. It was sublime.
I intended to get more work done while I was in Homer, but mostly I cruised the different cafes scattered throughout town, drank cup after cup of coffee, listened to K-Wave (best radio station ever) and ate gluten-free organic pumpkin muffins, kale scrambles, and vegan burritos. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy the atmosphere in Homer — it's in Alaska, tiny, but with San Francisco sensibilities. Fun place.
On Tuesday I decided to try Homer's snowbiking opportunities. Since I had already run a hundred kilometers of trail on the east side of town, I decided to head up to Ohlson Mountain to explore some secondary snowmachine trails. It was a fun ride, but brutal. The trail carried me all the way down to the Anchor River — losing nearly a thousand feet in elevation — and then climbed as dramatically up the next ridge on a trail that was soft, steep, and so overgrown that both of my shoulders (and my face) were continuously catching tree branches. I think bicycles sit too high for the likes of that trail. But I didn't give up on it because, well, I'm not really sure why I didn't give up. The legs were so angry with me as I churned back up to Ohlson Mountain. My quads were searing with lactic acid, it still beat pushing on my hurty feet. I guess if you want to ride something flat in Homer, ride on the beach.
By Wednesday, the swelling in my feet had mostly diminished. I prepared to leave Homer and return to Anchorage to wrap up a couple more things. And it was yet another bluebird day. Blast! Sunny days in coastal Alaska are not to be wasted. Since my legs hurt more than my feet on this day, I decided it would be a good day for some mellow snowshoeing breaks as I drove up the Kenai Peninsula. The first place I tried was the Devil's Pass trailhead, which was a bust. I wandered around in the woods for three miles and never found a "trail" of tracks that didn't loop back on themselves. At one point I discovered some survey tape and busted my own path through the brush, following the ribbons down into a drainage that had no possible link to the Devil's Pass trail. Oh well.
It was still early afternoon, so I decided to stop a bit farther north and check out the Portage Glacier area. The wind had picked up significantly, and Portage Glacier has its own microclimate that instantly dropped the temperature another ten degrees. It was 13F at the parking lot. The wind was gusting to 40 mph or so, and the windchill felt awful. I almost turned around to get back in my car, but then decided the wind might provide a fun setting for a more adventurous short outing. I was not disappointed. I climbed Byron Glacier in a full ground blizzard that devoured my footprints within seconds. Blowing snow gave the stark landscape a kind of urgent intensity.
Finally I climbed into a lee of the mountain, enough that I could look back toward Portage Lake. The wind had been entirely at my back on the climb, so it was going to be a thrilling trek down — wrapped in full-coverage goggles and facemask. I was rendered immobile and breathless whenever a larger gust roared up from the valley below.
Then I decided I kinda liked playing in the wind. So instead of returning to the trailhead, I veered onto Portage Lake to hop stastrugi and pretend I was trekking across Antarctica. I did not walk all the way to Portage Glacier — it was a lot farther away than it looked. But I did end up with eight miles of wind-playing, and eleven miles on the day, of what turned out to be rather exhausting walking. Oi. Why do I do this to myself? Well, because it's fun.
Still, I think in the end the legs and feet benefited from the shake-out. My toes look normal again, and the soreness in my legs worked itself out. Part of me is convinced this happens naturally whether one "rests" or not. Especially if one is only in Alaska for one more week, and must take advantage of these beautiful opportunities while she can.
There are moments when time seems more circular than linear, like a minute hand ticking its way back to twelve o'clock. The midday sun lights up a sheen of snow across the Caribou Hills, sparkling on a frozen swamp I'm trying to cross. I've forgotten my sunglasses, again, and the reflection is fully blinding. I have to close my eyes. They remain closed as I jog along, listening to the crunch of my steps and the scraping groans of my sled.
In that moment I feel fully present, but when I open my eyes again, I see the Caribou Hills in a different light — dawn's twilight. It's mid-January, and the sound I hear is the squeak of studded tires rolling over cold-packed snow. My memory sharpens; I see the ski gloves clinging to handlebars, a cheap Cateye headlight, feet clad in three pairs of socks and hiking boots, turning pedals, and a sharp chill surrounds everything.
It must be about seven years ago. I'd set out down the Caribou Lake trail for a day-long training ride for the Susitna 100, an upcoming endurance race that I'd accepted as the most daunting challenge of my life. But the first miles of this training ride brought the depths of my fears to the surface — it felt perilously cold, and this landscape was caked in menacing ice and snow. I had no idea where this trail would lead me and wasn't sure I wanted to find out what discomforts and perils awaited at the end. Alaska turns to backcountry fast, and just a few miles from East End Road the silence was already deafening. There's nobody out here. I'm all alone.
When I read "Homer Epic," the first thing that comes to my mind is a Greek poem — a classic rendering of the universal journey home. I'd been hoping to find a winter race challenge for 2013 and the Homer Epic 100K seemed ideal — a hundred kilometers in the place where I first lived in Alaska, on trails where I occasionally trained with my mountain bike. The timing was ideal for Beat's Nome run, and the distance was appealing — far enough to be challenging, but not so far that I'd have to block out adventuring to make too much room for pre-race rest and post-race recovery. And although I lay claim to a lot of "homes," going home to Homer was the most appealing aspect of the Homer Epic.
Although the Homer Epic had the standard winter-racing format with multiple modes of travel that would allow me to ride a bike, from the start I resolved to do this one on foot. I also decided I wanted to drag a sled — even though the minimal required gear could easily fit in a backpack. This one baffled others but made sense in my convoluted way of thinking — everything is training for something else, for life. While Beat has been out sled-dragging his way across Alaska, we've chatted about someday doing something like that together. I'll be the first to admit I don't love dragging a sled, but a little practice never hurts. I also have to admit that I wanted to finish this race — which had what was in my opinion a tight cutoff — so my sled load was pretty light. It included food for 24 hours (about 4,000 calories), a liter of water (to supplement the two on my back), lights, snowshoes, trekking poles, and extra layers. I never weighed it, but it was probably somewhere in the range of 15 pounds. Probably not much heavier than some of the backpacks I saw out there. But I was the only person in the whole race with a sled.
There were about eighty participants in the Homer Epic. I didn't count the number on foot, but guessed there were seven or eight of us (as it turns out there were eight finishers.) All of the guys had tiny little backpacks and looked fast. I knew one of them, Dmitry, because he joined Beat for much of the last half of the Tor des Geants last year. Dmitry was strong, I remembered, and I didn't see another woman runner at first glance. "Well, I'm going to end up at the very back of this race," I thought, and braced myself for it.
As promised, the trails were perfectly groomed, wide, and hard-packed. Skier trails. A snow biker's dream. It was a definitively runnable surface, and I wondered how much of this race I'd be able to run. I haven't been running enough lately to pull out a hundred kilometers without some damage, and the sled shortened my stride in a way that might also cause some pains. Although I'm convinced I could walk across the country without (too many) issues, I don't consider myself a natural runner and always worry about the physical implications of any event with lots of running. Still, I had those cut-offs to meet. I resolved the keep running while the running was good.
These trails were just the way I remember them — rolling hills, scattered spruce trees, wide open spaces, and the grand skyline of the Kenai Mountains on the horizon. And it was a grand day to be out — clear skies and fluctuating temperatures that ranged from single digits in the lower valleys to 20s on the hills. But it all felt comfortable, even pleasant.
I kept a small group of runners and skiers in sight and followed them down a big drop and back up an equally long hill through a powerline cut. Near the top of the hill, I became suspicious of the number on my GPS — "Six miles? We were supposed to turn right by now I think." I switched to map mode and, sure enough, we were traveling the wrong way up the counter-clockwise loop. I waved my arms but the rest of the wrong-way group was too far ahead. The mistake netted me about two and a half bonus miles, or 4K in Homer Epic parlance. The rest, who eventually passed me again, gave numbers ranging from 6K to 14K out of the way.
The trail was perfect, in a sort-of-infuriating way. I admit I started longing for my bike, especially after twenty miles when my feet started throbbing the way they do when I run that far on dirt. Running this trail wasn't exactly like running on dirt; even well-packed snow puts up a lot more resistance, and feet still punch tracks into the surface while skis and wheels can glide over the top. Still, with the exception of steeper hills and a few deliberate breaks, I'd kept up a solid running pace since the start. It was not a fast running pace — the best I can do is still a 12- to 14-minute mile average; that hasn't changed. But it was a hard effort and it felt great, except for the nagging foot pains.
The harsh reflection of sun on snow began to feel like an oven. By early afternoon I had stripped down to my base layer and would have stripped down farther if I didn't think my sled harness was going to chafe horribly on bare skin. The weird thing is that the temperature could not have gone above or even all that close to freezing, as the surface of the snow remained frozen and hard. But I felt like I was overheating severely, and the increasing length and steepness of the hills wasn't helping my comfort levels.
In hindsight, the overheated feeling was probably the initial warning that I was headed for a bonk. I've noticed in these winter races, when I'm not adequately fueled, my body doesn't regulate temperature as well. I go from hot to cold to hot to cold in big, often inexplicable swings. For whatever reason, I haven't had much of an appetite while I've been out on the trail lately, and it didn't help that I only brought three things to eat — brownies, Swedish fish/gummy peach mix, and Chex Mix. Seriously. I've spent so much time prepping drop bags for Beat during this trip that I didn't want to deal with another set of requirements for myself. I just bought big bags of crap at a gas station in Soldotna, packed a baggie of left-over Chena River to Ridge brownies that Ed gave to me, and called it good. Big mistake.
After 50K, the trail veered off to a long (very long) out-and-back through the North Fork hills. Most of my biking friends, and, well, most of the bikers, had long since covered this section on these super-fast trails and were already finished with the race. The first runner passed me not far from the turn, at least twenty miles ahead of me. Wow ... count me as impressed. But I didn't think I was doing that badly. I hit the 50K split a bit under eight hours, and although I knew the second half would be hillier, was still feeling well enough to believe I could hit ten for the second half. An eighteen-hour finish was far better than my expectation of "I'm going to need every one of those 24 hours to finish."
The Homer Epic advertises 6,500 feet of climbing in 100K. After the first 50K only had about 1,500 feet of climbing, I thought, "Oh, that has to be wrong." It was not wrong. The second half was nothing but hills. Trail runners will think that 6,500 feet sounds mellow for a hundred kilometers. I do not agree. Snow adds a level of resistance that at least doubles if not triples the perceived effort of an incline, in my opinion. This likely also has something to do with the fact I willfully chose to drag a sled. But last year I ran the modified UTMB with its 20,000 feet of climbing in a similar distance, and it was not harder than 6,500 feet in the Homer Epic. Well, maybe it was. Why do I even try to compare snow running to trail running? They're really different games, at least for me.
Still, I loved that North Fork spur. Much of it rolled along a high ridge overlooking the Cook Inlet and several volcanoes. Clouds had moved in and the light flattened out, which added a peaceful atmosphere to the run. I was still trying to run, but my feet were beginning to hurt badly on the downhills and many of the climbs were slowing me to a trudge. Another woman, Kerri, caught and passed me, which came as a surprise — another woman in the race! It also made me feel a bit less lonely, as I'd begun to feel that back-of-pack sting as the last bikers and skiers passed me on their way out.
Sometimes, when I feel that tinge of shame about ending up at the back of a race, I imagine Adam Sandler's graduation speech in "Billy Madison:" "I know most of you are saying 'hey, any idiot could do that.' Well it was tough for me so back off!" As the day waned, I gnawed miserably on frozen Swedish Fish and imagined a magical fairy god-moose would come and turn my sled into a bike, and I could take my hurty feet off the ground for good. I considered riding my sled down the hills, but they were increasingly more steep and at least a half mile long. I probably would smack into a tree or hit a moose and be stomped to death. Too scary. The sunset did not disappoint, however. Homer has the most consistently beautiful sunrises and sunsets that I've ever seen. Even on this mostly cloudy evening, the red glow managed to make an appearance.
The checkpoint two cabin was cramped and crowded with volunteers, and I didn't feel compelled to linger long. But about a mile down the trail, just as the last bits of daylight were fading, I decided to stop and attend to my feet. Sure enough, the skin on both soles was creased and pale white — a result of being wet and hot for too many hours. Runners often call this condition "trench foot" although it's not the same as actual trench foot. But it does hurt something fierce, like an open blister, or running on hot coals. The same thing happened to me last year during the Susitna 100; I tried to avoid it this year by wearing only two lighter pairs of socks rather than my heavy insulated system. But I still had the Gortex running shoes that are designed to keep water and snowmelt out, and my feet had apparently marinated in sweat, again.
It was all I could do to clench my teeth and make it down hills, whether I was walking or running. I still passed the 50-mile split at 14 hours, which I decided was not terrible and I was still actually on okay pace to finish in 18 to 19 hours. My wrong turn meant I still had 14 or 15 miles to run to the finish, but I could probably cover it in four hours. The return trip on the North Fork spur confirmed there was only one other runner still behind me. If he passed me, I would be at the official back of the race. This prospect frightened me a bit. It's strange — I can go out alone for 12-hour rides in the remote White Mountains in subzero weather and feel confident and self-sufficient. But being alone during a race is another type of condition that seems to cause insecurity.
Shortly after I hit my 50-mile split, I caught up to the other woman runner, Keri. She had stopped on the side of the trail and appeared to be waiting for me. "What's up?" I asked. "Can I walk with you for a bit?" she asked. "I'm not feeling great."
"Of course." Keri was shivering slightly and I asked her if she was cold. "A bit," she said. She told me she was sick and couldn't eat. I could empathize and agreed we should stick together through the next checkpoint, which was still about seven miles away. Keri's pace continued to slow. Sometimes I asked a question and she didn't seem responsive, but more often she made jokes and showed the demeanor of an ultra-runner who was just going through a low point. The cold wind picked up and I stopped to put on more layers. We'd walk a bit more, and I'd turn around to find she'd stopped not far from the last break spot and was again a few hundred yards back. As I waited, the chill crept in and I put on more layers. Soon I was wearing most of the extra layers I'd packed in my sled. It wasn't extremely cold as far as extreme cold goes — temperatures were probably in the single digits again, maybe even zero, but with a decent windchill. In addition, I was more than a little bonked myself. My body was no longer efficiently making heat, and once I lost body heat, it didn't come back easily. I started running to warm up, only to look back five minutes later and find I'd gone so far that I could no longer see Keri's headlamp.
I wasn't sure whether I should worry about Keri. She seemed to know what she was doing, lived in Anchorage and thus had plenty of cold experience, and was still moving even if slowly. But I didn't think I could go on like this for four or five more miles, barely clinging to body heat myself. As I thought about it, I decided the best thing I could do was go to the next checkpoint and voice my concerns to someone with a snowmachine, who could actually help her if there was a problem. And if there were any immediate issues, I knew the last runner, Nicolai, wasn't far behind us. In the next mile, the trail veered up a long hill and I could still see her headlamp behind me, so I knew she was still moving.
I lost track of Keri when the trail turned to the right on a two-mile spur. It was there that my bonk really set in. I should have stuck with Keri because I doubt I was moving any faster at that point. I was wrapped in all my layers, plodding along, hating my feet, feeling silly for struggling so much in a "measly" 100K in "easy" single-digit weather. "It was tough for me so back off." At the checkpoint I told the volunteers about my slight concern for Keri and that she wasn't far behind me so if they didn't see her within a half hour, it would be prudent to go check on her. The checkpoint had a ration of two cookies per racer, as all the checkpoints did. I didn't like those cookies much at checkpoints one and two, but this time around my angry stomach sensed desperation and let them in. And because I was near the back of the race, the volunteers didn't care if I stuffed my face with extra cookies. All the cookies! I must have eaten ten. I was suddenly ravenous.
Photo by Keri Riley, taken in Ninilchik, a village about twenty miles as the crow flies from where I was at this time
I saw Keri just a quarter mile from the checkpoint as I was leaving, looking better, although she'd stuffed her emergency blanket under her coat. (I can relate. I was just about that desperately cold myself at times.) She said she planned to take a long rest at the cabin, so I decided to keep going. There were 7.2 miles to the finish, and my bonk had eased enough that foot pain and returned to the forefront of my mind. I shuffled along and tried not to let it encompass every thought.
As I emerged from the woods on an open ridge, I noticed a shimmer in the sky. Cloud cover? I wondered. I turned off my headlamp and noticed a splatter of stars. The clouds had moved out and the night was stunningly clear. The streaks of light began to ripple, and as my eyes adjusted, I noticed definitive hues of green, bright white, and even a faint bit of red. The Northern Lights! All this time I'd been in Alaska, I'd seen only a single weak display. Nearly every night in Fairbanks, I went out at least once to search for them, to no avail. And here I was in Homer, as far south in Alaska as I'd been yet, and this had to be one of the most spectacular displays I'd ever seen. Streaks of light continued to move through the sky, reaching out from the horizon and rippling like a piano whose keys light up when you play them.
For three more hours I marched along, every so often searching for the trail, but more often craning my neck to watch the northern sky. I was still moving painfully slow, but concern about my pace was forgotten. My feet still hurt something fierce, but that was surprisingly easy to ignore. The original inhabitants of this region believed the Northern Lights were communications from the spirit world, voices from the past. I gazed at the ebb and flow of color, the light cycle, and imagined what they might be saying, what secrets the past had yet to reveal. The lights were knowingly vague, promising only that life would always be beautiful and good.
I was surprised to find five people still awake at 4 a.m., waiting for me at the finish. They rang cowbells and hollered and handed me a St. Patrick's Day balloon as I strode across the line. My finish time was 19:53 — third from last. But I was given a beautiful hand-designed mug for winning the women's foot division. Keri would come in three hours later after a rest at checkpoint three. I was just waking up from a nap on the floor of the elementary school, and we were able to congratulate each other on our podium finishes.
I thought back to that first Susitna 100, the training, all those big leaps into the unknown that brought me to this strange but transformative way of living. The clock shifted back to the present, the swollen feet, dry mouth, and raw emptiness in my stomach. But daylight was emerging, and the sunrise was beautiful. Exactly as it had always been.
Best (and worst) taper ever
White joy
Learning to run
Riding the invisible highway, part two
Riding the invisible highway
Restless rest stop
Back from Denali Highway
Headed north
Mush in the slush
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7060
|
__label__wiki
| 0.519659
| 0.519659
|
Home » Volume 23
Why the Saints Meet Together—Their Pretensions—What Their Profession Implies—No Right to Sit in Judgment on the World—All Children of a Common Father—Many Good Men Inspired By the Spirit of God Who Did not Possess the Gift of the Holy Ghost—How Joseph Smith Obtained Knowledge—The Gospel—What the Savior Required—Operations of the Holy Ghost—What is Required of the Saints—Their Feelings—Duty of Missionaries—National Feelings Buried in Embracing the Gospel—Relationship to God—Destiny of the Faithful—What Have Religionists of the World to Offer?—Character of the Would-Be Reformers—Rights to Be Contended For—Corrupt Practices Condemned
John Taylor, Unknown, Volume 23
Discourse by President John Taylor, delivered in the Assembly Hall, Salt Lake City, Sunday, Feb. 11th, 1883.
Revealed Religion and Man-Made Methods of Worship—Only One True and Acceptable Way to Worship God—Ancient and Modern Revelations Corroborate Each Other—God’s Spirit the Light and Life of the Whole World—Men Generally Choose Darkness Rather Than Light—The Coming Forth of the Light in the Latter Days—Joseph Smith and His Doctrines—The Speaker’s Personal Experience—The Operations of the Spirit—The Way to Obtain Knowledge From God—The Necessity of Priesthood and Church Government—The Head of the Church God’s Mouthpiece to the Church—The Perfection, Beauty, and Harmony of the Lord’s Work
George F. Gibbs, Volume 23, Charles W. Penrose
Discourse by Elder Chas. W. Penrose, delivered in the Assembly Hall, Sunday, Jan. 14th, 1883.
Hardship the Heritage of the Saints—The Necessity of Trial Forgiveness of Enemies—Inspired Dreams, “Get the Spirit of God”—The Great Work Expected of the Saints—Labors Among the Lamanites
Wilford Woodruff, John Irvine, Volume 23
Discourse by President Wilford Woodruff, delivered in the Meetinghouse, Kaysville, Davis County, Sunday Morning, December 10th, 1882.
Man’s Natural Spirit and the Spirit of God—Our Relationship With Him—His Dealings in the Latter Days—What is Expected of the Saints—Their Position and Labors Among the Nations—Christ the Example to All His Followers—Words of Counsel to Priesthood and People
John Taylor, John Irvine, Volume 23
Discourse by President John Taylor, delivered in Payson, Thursday Evening, Nov. 23rd, 1882.
Tithes and Offerings—Consecrations and Stewardships—The Law of the Lord to the Latter-day Saints—The Meaning of “Surplus Property”—Tithes and Offerings in Ancient Times—The Year of Jubilee or Release—The Importance of Paying Tithing—God the Giver of Every Good Gift—Tithes and Offerings His Due
Franklin D. Richards, George F. Gibbs, Volume 23
Discourse by Elder F. D. Richards, delivered at Logan, on Saturday Afternoon, Nov. 6, 1882.
The Lord Interested in the Salvation of the Whole Human Family—His Plans, Purposes and Dealings All to that End—Necessity of Charity, Love, Union, Etc., in the Church of Christ—The Logan Temple and a Prophetic Glimpse at Its Future
Lorenzo Snow, George F. Gibbs, Volume 23
Discourse by Apostle Lorenzo Snow, delivered at Logan, on Saturday Afternoon, Nov. 4, 1882.
Men Powerless Except as God Permits—Ordeals Necessary to Purify—Zion Will Triumph
John Taylor, George F. Gibbs, Volume 23
Discourse by President John Taylor, delivered at Grantsville, Sunday Evening, Oct. 29th, 1882.
The Power and Authority of the Priesthood Continuous—Pseudo-Prophets and Their Revelations—Ordination Prerequisite to Action in Any Office—Joseph Smith the Head of this Dispensation—The Twelve Ordained By Him to Bear Off the Kingdom—Joseph’s Legal Successor and Brigham’s—The Priesthood, As It Now Exists, the Rightful Authority of God on Earth
George Q. Cannon, George F. Gibbs, Volume 23
Discourse by President George Q. Cannon, delivered at Tooele, on Sunday Afternoon, October 29th, 1882.
Persecution Fulfilling Prophecy—Vermont, the Birthplace of Prominent “Mormons” and Their Oppressors—The Faith and Integrity of the Saints to Be Tested—Peace Among God’s People a Peculiar Characteristic—In Time of Trouble Trust in God, “Watch the Captain”—The Acts of the Utah Commissioners—God’s Overruling Power and Wisdom—A Great Work Requires Great Sacrifice—Non-Performance of Duty No Cause for Self-Gratulation—Man’s Penalties More Endurable Than God’s—The True Saviors of the Latter-day Saints—Better to Disobey Man Than God—The Danger of Disobedience, of Diverse Temporal Interests and Class Distinctions—All God’s Gifts Intended for the General Benefit and Blessing
Discourse by President George Q. Cannon, delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, October 8, 1882.
The Mighty Mission of the Saints—God’s Dealings With the World in Ancient and Modern Times—God’s Authorship of Creation and Right to Rule—Man’s Agency, the Gospel and the Gathering—Its Attempted Suppression, Contrasted Statesmanship—The Mother of Harlots and Her Daughters—The Political Situation in Utah—The Rights of Man, the Supporters and Subverters of Law and Order—Religious Intolerance and Political Injustice—The Latter-day Saints the Future Saviors of America—The Edmunds Act and Its Unjust Operation—Reverend Falsifiers and Their Dupes—Exhortation to the Priesthood and the People
Discourse by President John Taylor, delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, October 8, 1882.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7061
|
__label__cc
| 0.611247
| 0.388753
|
Gov't Offices/Private Companies Must Do PR/CSR in Good Times to Prepare for Bad Times
At these times when all government and private companies and their officials are vulnerable to attacks from all sides, it pays for all concerned to practice "reputation management" -- the art of ensuring that one has a good personal and corporate reputation -- in good times before criticisms reach their offices.
You don't do it the way the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) did when they hired a public relations firm for a fee of P544,000 when the problem was already in their doorsteps. Managing one's reputation or brand through corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects should be a year-long, life-long endeavor for government offices and private corporations.
To help them do it, we at Dean & Kings have written our friends and clients to offer them a venue for their CSR and PR initiatives, please read on and pass this message to people you want to help resolve their PR and reputation management problems:
Mr. Hans T. Sy
SM Prime Holdings Inc.
Dear Mr. Sy,
We congratulate you for the various life-changing Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) projects that your family and SM Prime Holdings Inc. has initiated.
Unfortunately, most of the newspaper and television news on these causes have landed on the society pages, people and events pages; and show-biz television segments. Many others end up in the obituary pages where few people read them.
There is need to bring news stories about these CSR causes to the prominent and well-read news pages, television segments, radio prime-time spots and magazines so these causes may be exposed to more peoples and invite greater goodwill from the public towards you and your company.
Towards this end, we at Dean and Kings Legal Public Relations & Communications Marketing are launching soon a news forum dedicated not only to bringing light to serious issues of the day, but also to bring attention to worthy causes like yours.
Our weekly press forum – known as Full Court News Forum – is aimed at providing a venue for everyone to bring out word about their activities and accomplishments; clarify and explain issues involving their business projects in the full court of public opinion.
The Full Court News Forum - held Wednesdays of every week at the Manila Pavilion Hotel, United Nations Avenue – offers more services compared to the regular news forums. These include the writing of press releases, research work on news angle to ensure the media will pick up your story; and advice on how best you can present your issues and concerns to the public.
Our expertise on this matter rests on the fact that D&K is the only Philippine Legal PR firm to have its own CSR project – the Kristiyano-Islam (Kris) Peace Library. Kris Library, a ten-year-old literacy advocacy, had gained local and international attention in the traditional news media and leading Internet-Based blogs to include Asia Today (with offices in Chicago, China, Taiwan); World News Report (Russia); Regator (Georgia, USA); Independet.ie (Ireland); and Wikio News (United Kingdom).
Kindly check the Kris Library website news at http://www.krislibrary.com/kris-projects-in-the-news.html to see a few sample of our media exposure or check Kris Peace Library at Google to see and read about 5,000 entries or news about Kris Library here and abroad.
Our advocacy pales in comparison with your advocacy, but we feel confident of being able to give even more media exposure to your causes and generate goodwill to your corporate and personal identity here and abroad.
Please contact us at (02) 3393732 / (02) 3538482; 09064401219 / 09327202766 / 09306778309 or email us atdeanandkingslegalpr@gmail.com for a free consultation on how you can best project your positive issues to the public.
Dean & Kings Legal
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7073
|
__label__cc
| 0.586349
| 0.413651
|
:: Software :: D
Magnetic Pole Reversal
No Fail Games
Download Now: d60.zip
Version: 6.0Beta
Description: The colored DOS directory listing guy.
Supported Systems: DOS
Download Size: 30KB (30,570 bytes)
Download Time: 6.1 seconds (at 5KB/s)
Number of Downloads: 3927
D (as seen by the 6.0) has been around awhile. This is the latest and greatest, though I don't seem to be doing DOS much anymore.
6/9/97 - Version 6.0Beta released, because it works well enough for somebody to use.
~5/1/95 - Version 5.0 was released. Customizable colors, but a little slow and limited.
~3/29/95 - Version 4.1 released. Fast, direct screen writes, and C command line parameters.
~11/29/94 - Version 4.0. First version in solely C, a complete rewrite of any previous versions, but used ANSI.SYS for output.
~2/6/94 - 3.1... in QBasic... wow.
~12/10/93 - Version 3.0, a very short-lived QB version.
~8/16/93 - Version 2.1, a few new colors and a speed fix on top of 2.
~8/11/93 - Version 2.0, speed increase, color modifications, and no clue how to label version numbers.
~6/27/93 - Version 1.0, QBasic, used "dir > file.d" to get files, worked extremely slow, but hey, I was programming.
Many options are not available in the Beta.
Copyright © 2016 by Pete Vasiliauskas.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7080
|
__label__wiki
| 0.852549
| 0.852549
|
Student Online
Mauritian Heritage of An Inclusive And Free Society
Nita Chicooree-Mercier | November 4, 2019 | Politics | No Comments
By Nita Chicooree-Mercier
It is a tradition to pay homage to Indian ancestry which started with the introduction of first Tamilian slaves and, later on, the arrival of indentured labourers from mainly the north eastern coast of India in the mid-19th century, most of whom chose to return to India after the expiry of their contract. Different ethnic groups of Biharis, Tamilians, Telugus and Marathis constituted the core of Indian workers, and different faiths shared a common Indian background. The social structure of the caste system which allowed brahmins to ensure the transmission of spiritual and religious legacy helped to maintain a sense of continuity by ensuring that there be no disruption which might have caused a loss of culture and assimilation of foreign influences – as witnessed in islands where no thought was given to include religious representatives in the migration of Indian labourers.
The commemoration of key events in the life of communities is considered as important to keep a link with past and shared history, understand their political, economic and social development over the centuries, and help to give meaning to their place in society both locally and with their relationship with India as well as in the diaspora at the international level. A sense of belonging, a sense of one’s community history encompassing language, customs, lifestyle and way of thinking is helpful also in times of crisis, social disruptions and upheavals which threaten peace in multi-ethnic societies. The memory of history and awareness of origins contributes to building strong roots and keeping a degree of sanity in society when things seem to fall apart and other components of society are caught in a whirlwind of insanity. Above all, the link with Indian heritage makes even more sense simply because it is an old civilization built on the philosophy of Hinduism, Sanatana Dharma, and is a key contribution to the spiritual and cultural treasures of humanity.
As usual, the commemoration and presence of an Indian government’s representative gives rise to resentful, sarcastic and negative comments on social networks and freely published in the press, and smacks of a continuing anti-Hindu and anti-India prejudice. Any group who tends to disown the common Indian background and relate to other places for historical reasons should feel free to commemorate or not their shifting identity in their own way. A saner option is to come in the open rather than fuming and raging behind the scenes and hiding behind pseudonyms.
The Spirit of Democracy
The philosophy which shapes their mental landscape has enabled Hindus to build an inclusive and free society in India and subsequently, in Mauritius. The spirit of democracy and freedom has been kept alive over decades due to the predominating presence of Hindus though they are not the only supporters of modern institutions.
Just as India has been the only democratic country among Asian nations for decades, compared to other islands with similar history and ethnic components, Mauritius stands out as a unique example of dynamic, progressive and inclusive society which has geared its efforts towards the betterment of one and all by first introducing free education to uplift the masses. Post-colonial Madagascar slipped into dictatorship. Seychelles fomented a coup d’état hardly six months after Independence in 1976.
In the West Indies, Jamaica and Barbados adopted an autocratic regime; the Duvalier tonton Macoute brutal style sank Haiti into poverty and chaos. Trinidad achieved a fair balance between political representation and economic power between its Creole and Indian origin populations. Further away in the Pacific, Fiji refuses land ownership to people of Indian origin just as Madagascar denies citizenship to them, and Malaysia deprives people of Chinese origin land ownership; anti-Chinese riots in 1965 led to the creation of Singapore.
The city-state has made full use of an advantageous geographical location to build a solid regional port hub right from the start and, above all, benefited from the remarkable leadership of a forward-looking, dynamic and bright politician that Mr Lee Kwan Yew was and has bequeathed to the island. In a dynastic style, his son is presently keeping up with his father’s style; there is no western-style democracy and the regime remains authoritarian, something which makes it somehow a suffocating place. It is a fascinating island, though.
French colonies failed to stand on their own feet and ended up as French departments, a status which has entailed a high degree of dependence on France to solve issues and a mendicant mindset in the populations. In Réunion, where the Vergès family has dominated the Communist Party for more than half a century, its leader started his career by shooting down his opponent, a white Creole from the plantocracy class. The party itself gave up its communist ideology. Other places which some sections of Mauritian society might identify with are stuck in dictatorial and military-religious fascist leadership.
Notwithstanding the imperfections, shortcomings and flaws in the running of the country over decades, there has been overall stability, progress and peace in Mauritius – a situation which politicians from all the main political parties have contributed to. It is also a reason why the electorate at large feels closely linked to traditional parties. It’s also due to the fact that these parties have delivered the goods to make Mauritius what it is today despite global economic recessions and subsequent turmoil, and the maintenance of the spirit of democracy and of a free society.
Symbols are important. There has been a tacit understanding despite circumstances that in the post-colonial society, there should be a balance of power with economic power being left largely in the hands of the Franco-Mauritian community, and political leadership going to the majority community. That’s because Indian philosophy and culture which they are natural heirs to creates a tolerant, inclusive and free society which pays due attention to the cultural and religious sensibilities of other components of the larger Mauritian community – which is not necessarily the case where Indian origin people are in minority.
Over the years a sense of belonging to the island has gained ground among all groups and a Mauritian identity has been consolidated. A vision of a progressive country which benefits all in terms of employment in new sectors and better living conditions is shared by all citizens. Mixed marriages have led to more conviviality and shared culture. At the economic level, the development of the sugar and energy sectors, and the manufacturing industry call for more attention. The tourism and hotel sectors need a boost and should not benefit only a handful of capitalists but a wider number of people.
The advantages that favour the present MSM-led government in the upcoming elections are the socialist measures to improve living conditions, minimum wages, housing development, widening the range of opportunities in different sectors, alleviating financial burdens for some categories, the modernization of public transport with more projects ahead, construction of sports facilities and so on. Despite everything, the no-nonsense stance of SAJ in the running of the country’s affairs permeates the party and is still valued by the public. The ML of Collendavelloo is seen as an efficient and dynamic ally, which is reinforced by the presence of militant activists in the past weeks. The age factor also plays in favour of the current Prime Minister. Apparently, what matters to the public is the two-year term of prime ministership which has been marked by commitment to hard work and progress, and concerted efforts to crack down on drug traffic. What has marred the beginnings of the 2014 mandate is not directly pinned on his back.
This column has amply dwelt on ‘apparent rivalry’, interchangeable alliances and past wrongdoings which the four main parties have been directly or indirectly involved in. The slogan of ‘Pour un Vrai Changement’ (For a real change) displayed by the MMM is a slap in the face. What change is the party advocating for? First, fomenting a coup d’état in the early years of its existence; then, it swerved from the ideology which marked its difference. It has continued with the Vergès-style of lifelong party leadership as lider maximo obliging party members to kow-tow to his wishes. 2003-2005 prime-ministership marked by the privatization of Mauritius Telecom by Orange to please the lobby of the French embassy, a totally unnecessary operation while MT was doing well. Orange siphoned off the profits to create branches in Africa. Today Orange offers free home line calls in France, the Dom-Tom with the EU and a few other countries, including free calls to mobile phones. Subscribers pay only for internet connection. There is no such thing in Mauritius.
Integrated Resort Scheme took off immediately with conversion of sugar industry lands into luxury villas for foreigners. A policy which sent land prices soaring for the average citizens. Is the vrai changement the perpetuation of dynastic ownership of the party with sister-in-law, daughter and son-in-law in constituencies where they are not likely to bite the dust contrary to other candidates? Supposedly representing the younger generation, the daughter displayed a most despicable behaviour in a verbal attack on the private life of a female opponent in MP party during the by-election at Quatre Bornes. Comments at the lowest level, au ras des paquerettes. Better not mention the intellectual level of the whole lot.
Scientific Communalism in the showcase of a coalition of ethnic minorities in the forefront? Mauritian politics and the public are, by now, well aware of the havoc that ethnic-based appointment can cause at the highest level of representation. Characters of dubious integrity peddling undesirable ideology with banned outfits abroad use their position generously hoisted by politicians to invite shady foreign figures and promote dangerous and questionable ideologies. No one should be fooled by the intention to appoint such people to represent the country.
There is no meritocracy in such appointment contrary to what can be seen in Singapore.
Over here, just any rascals are ok as long as it satisfies an irrelevant ethnic-based policy of appointment. The present government has pushed forward a series of undeserving mediocrities to the front bench of the Executive just for the sake of pleasing some groups.
There is a lot of hard work that is awaiting the next government. Nominations at all levels should be courageously made on the basis of competence, worth and merit so as to serve public interest efficiently in all domains. Whatever be the outcome and an umpteenth alliance of the same with same, sectarian agenda should not be given an official platform to propagate. The democratic spirit, an inclusive outlook and a commitment to development and progress should prevail. Hopefully, the public will entrust the responsibility and duty to deliver in the right hands.
* Published in print edition on 31 October 2019
Tags:2019 Elections, Collendavelloo, Franco-Mauritian Community, François Duvalier, Hinduism, Indentured Labourers, Indian Diaspora, Lee Kwan Yew, Mauritian community, Mauritian Heritage, Mauritius Telecom, MMM, MSM-led government, Nita Chicooree-Mercier, Political Dynasty, SAJ, Sanatana Dharma, Scientific Communalism, Spirit of Democracy, Tonton Macoute, Vergès Family
Cleaning Up The Mess
Failure to Redress the Export Sector
Mauritius electioneering: a view from afar
Will the political class never learn?
Search Mauritius Times
‘L’Alliance Morisien a bien pris la mesure de la psychologie de la population, son goût pour la société de consommation, la recherche des faveurs et boutes’
Strengthening our democratic set-up
NYCBE: A satisfactory architecture for our education system?
La police face à la criminalité
Understanding Makar Sankranti
Why not a family doctor now?
Le Cri d’un Martyr
‘Le PTr peut encore s’appuyer sur un socle électoral rural, susceptible, dans de bonnes conditions, de faire jeu égal avec le MSM’
2020: Forging Ahead
The Metro: Need for a coherent approach and policies
Transitioning into 2020
About Mauritius Times
Corruption & Good Governance
Down Memory Lane
Drugs & Public Policy
Elsewhere In The World…
Financial Services & Good Governance
Governance & Public Utilities
Judiciary /Justice
Justice & Governance
Matters of the Moment
Mauritian population
Mauritius at 50
Political Caricatures
Public Infrastructure & Transport
Readers Speak
Sports & Good Governance
‘Both MMM and the Labour Party could become the cradle of a political renaissance
“What did you expect with two fils à papa at each other’s throats?”
“It is the politicisation of all dimensions of institutional public space that is the main culprit”
« Il serait souhaitable que Bérenger et Ramgoolam annoncent qu’ils vont tirer leur révérence »
© 2020 Mauritius Times.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7083
|
__label__wiki
| 0.736
| 0.736
|
British Monarchist League
Is The BML For You?
The BML In The Daily Express
BML Founder and Chairman, James Edgecombe has refuted Republic's misleading claims in today's Daily Express.
''Defenders of the monarchy dismissed claims that the amount is five times more than that calculated by Buckingham Palace.And they said that the Royal Family “is worth every penny” and accused the group Republic, which released the report, of exaggerating the costs.''
The full article can be read here:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/254625/-202m-Monarchy-worth-every-penny
BML News
All the latest News updates, Blogs and Press Releases from the British Monarchist League.
British Monarchist League Ltd © 2014.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7099
|
__label__wiki
| 0.719772
| 0.719772
|
American Horror Story Has Been Lying To Us This Entire Time
We are not amused
Someone over at FX really hates us. Or at least they like to watch us suffer. We think that someone is Ryan Murphy.
On Tuesday (August 9), FX president John Landgraf revealed that Murphy and the evil masterminds behind American Horror Story straight-up lied to us. Apparently, someone at FX thought it would be funny to keep us guessing this season, which would explain why Season 6 news has been so cagey. In doing so, FX released fake teasers for “hypothetical seasons” of AHS, focusing on “different genres and different places.” So those six creepy trailers that were previously released? Yeah, they were misdirects — all except for one, which hints at this season’s real theme.
“We just thought that would be a nice change after five years of doing things one way,” Landgraf said at the Television Critics Association panel, EW reports. This is all in an effort to #KeepTheSecrets until the Season 6 premiere on September 14.
OK. That’s a totally fine strategy. But creating fake trailers to trick fans? That’s some next-level trolling. That being said, they were wildly all over the place, so we should have noticed something suspect was going on.
As far as we know, the official Season 6 poster — you know, the one with the spiders — isn’t one of Murphy’s misdirects. Not to mention, Murphy has previously stated that “elements of children” will somehow be involved in the sixth season.
“If you look at horror tropes, the innocence of children, that sort of wide-eyed entryway into some world is always very dramatic and satisfying,” he said back in March.
Hmmm. So this trailer is starting to look very legit. (Of course we can’t entirely rule out this one either.)
American Horror Story [TV Series]
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7106
|
__label__wiki
| 0.868269
| 0.868269
|
The Closest Challenge Finale Contests
The newest ‘Champs vs. Stars’ victors won by the skin of their teeth, and they weren’t the first
Matthew Scott Donnelly 06/19/2018
Let’s do away with diplomacy for a second: The Champs blew The Stars out of the water on Champs vs. Stars Season 2, and won every single mission along the way. It was decisive. It was unarguable. It wasn’t even close.
As for Season 3? Well, that turned out to be a bit of a different story.
On tonight’s finale, in which Teams CT/Tony, Casper/Louise and Wes/Booby squared off for the grand prize, the leaders changed as frequently as the weather in New England. As Mike “The Miz” Mizanin pointed out, it was the closest finale the franchise had seen — each team spent at least one leg in first, each spent at least a bit of time in second and each spent at least some of the race trailing the others in third.
But after all of the “Bankroll” running, untangling and — in Casper’s case — leisurely doughnut-eating — CT and Tony officially won the whole enchilada, a particularly stunning victory considering CT injured his back early in the game and was nearly forced to withdraw.
“There was no way I was gonna quit, no matter how bad the conditions,” CT said. “No matter how bad you feel, you’ve gotta keep moving forward, because sooner or later, you’re gonna catch a break. And we caught one. We won.”
Still, CT and Tony weren’t the first team to come from behind to claim victory, or win by a hair. Check out the closest Challenge finale contests below, and if there’s one that we missed, be sure to share it in the comments!
Straight out of the gate, the smaller Team Real World took the lead, but fell back again once Road Rules — who had twice as many teammates — found their footing. Still, Real World eventually took the lead again toward at the end of the game, but at the final checkpoint, a crossword puzzle, Road Rules proved to have a quicker wit, and Real World literally watched their opponents take a victory march across the finish line.
Duel II
On the women’s side, Rachel won first place by a mile, but where the men were concerned, it was a buzzer-beater like no other. A final checkpoint found contestants having pull themselves up and down a chain-powered elevator, and Evan and Brad hit the ground at virtually the same time, amounting to a crazy photo-finish in Evan’s favor.
http://www.mtv.com/video-clips/scxjcv/the-challenge-free-agents-a-walk-in-the-clouds
The race to the top of Chili’s hulking Villarrica Volcano reduced some competitors to squeals and cries (we’ll never forget you, collapsed Zach…). Still, it was a dogfight between Johnnies Bananas and Reilly on the men’s side and Laurel and Nany on the women’s side. Once each player’s cumulative time had been clocked, TJ revealed that Bananas had barely beaten Reilly, even though Reilly had reached the summit first, and Laurel bested Nany by mere minutes.
Battle of the Seasons
The fiery Team Road Rules was the favorite going into the final mission, and they proved they’d earned the reputation as the stronger team by dominating a majority of the race. But, at the final puzzle, they fell apart and — who’da thunk it — Mike “The Miz” summoned the dormant intellect inside, solved the puzzle in an instant and gave Team Real World the ultimate win, his and Coral’s first.
Battle of the Exes
A two-day race to the top of an Icelandic glacier somehow came down to seconds, and though Diem and CT held the lead toward the end of the game, CT simply lost steam as he made the finale’s final ascent. Diem would have won if the game had been a solo one, but because of CT’s stalling, Johnny and Camila passed their competitors just before the finish line and stole away the coveted prize.
Again, on the women’s side, Jodi dominated the final mission the same way she’d dominated the entire season. But where the men were concerned, Wes barely kept a lead over Brad, who was on Wes’ tail until the finish line. It was later revealed on the show’s reunion special that the race had been so close, Wes might have lost without his two-minute head-start advantage.
The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7107
|
__label__cc
| 0.667535
| 0.332465
|
MyCatholicSource.com Presents...
Catholic Bible Facts
NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK & E-BOOK FORMATS!
Don't miss this handy 'information-filled' treasury of Catholic Bible facts!
Click Here For More Information & To Purchase
Scroll down to view page content...
Topical Scripture [S13]
Scripture / Parables Section | Topical Scripture: Alphabetical | Categorized
Topical Scripture
Important Notice: We make no guarantees regarding any item herein. Do not take items out of context. Do not inflict harm on yourself or others, break laws, take unsuitable/incautious or inappropriate/drastic actions, or take figurative items literally. Use of site is at your own risk and is subject to our terms of use. For more terms information, see below and click here
[S13]
S | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7a | S7b | S7c | S8 | S9 | S10 | S11 | S12 | S13 | S14 | S15 | S16 | S17 | S18a | S18b | S18c | S18d | S19 | S20 | S21 | S22 | S23 | S24 | S25 | S26a | S26b | S26c | S26d | S27a | S27b | S27c | S28a | S28b | S28c | S29 | S30 | S31 | S32
share / shares / shared
When Abram returned from his victory over Chedorlaomer and the kings who were allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to greet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people; the goods you may keep." But Abram replied to the king of Sodom: "I have sworn to the LORD, God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth, that I would not take so much as a thread or a sandal strap from anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I made Abram rich.' Nothing for me except what my servants have used up and the share that is due to the men who joined me - Aner, Eshcol and Mamre; let them take their share." [GEN 14:17-24]
Sarah noticed the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham playing with her son Isaac; so she demanded of Abraham: "Drive out that slave and her son! No son of that slave is going to share the inheritance with my son Isaac!" Abraham was greatly distressed, especially on account of his son Ishmael. But God said to Abraham: "Do not be distressed about the boy or about your slave woman. Heed the demands of Sarah, no matter what she is asking of you; for it is through Isaac that descendants shall bear your name. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a great nation of him also, since he too is your offspring." [GEN 21:9-13]
"This is the ritual of the cereal offering. One of Aaron's sons shall first present it before the LORD, in front of the altar. Then he shall take from it a handful of its fine flour and oil, together with all the frankincense that is on it, and this he shall burn on the altar as its token offering, a sweet-smelling oblation to the LORD. The rest of it Aaron and his sons may eat; but it must be eaten in the form of unleavened cakes and in a sacred place: in the court of the meeting tent they shall eat it. It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it to them as their portion from the oblations of the LORD; it is most sacred, like the sin offering and the guilt offering. All the male descendants of Aaron may partake of it as their rightful share in the oblations of the LORD perpetually throughout your generations. Whatever touches the oblations becomes sacred." [LEV 6:7-11]
This is the priestly share from the oblations of the LORD, allotted to Aaron and his sons on the day he called them to be the priests of the LORD; on the day he anointed them the LORD ordered the Israelites to give them this share by a perpetual ordinance throughout their generations. [LEV 7:35-36]
Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab, son of Reuel the Midianite, "We are setting out for the place which the LORD has promised to give us. Come with us, and we will be generous toward you, for the LORD has promised prosperity to Israel." But he answered, "No, I will not come. I am going instead to my own country and to my own kindred." Moses said, "Please, do not leave us; you know where we can camp in the desert, and you will serve as eyes for us. If you come with us, we will share with you the prosperity the LORD will bestow on us." [NUM 10:29-32]
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Assemble for me seventy of the elders of Israel, men you know for true elders and authorities among the people, and bring them to the meeting tent. When they are in place beside you, I will come down and speak with you there. I will also take some of the spirit that is on you and will bestow it on them, that they may share the burden of the people with you. You will then not have to bear it by yourself." [NUM 11:16-17]
The LORD said to Aaron, "I myself have given you charge of the contributions made to me in the various sacred offerings of the Israelites; by perpetual ordinance I have assigned them to you and to your sons as your priestly share. You shall have the right to share in the oblations that are most sacred, in whatever they offer me as cereal offerings or sin offerings or guilt offerings; these shares shall accrue to you and to your sons. In eating them you shall treat them as most sacred; every male among you may partake of them. As sacred, they belong to you." [NUM 18:8-10]
From this, the Israelites' share, Moses, as the LORD had ordered, took one out of every fifty, both of persons and of beasts, and gave them to the Levites, who had charge of the LORD'S Dwelling. [NUM 31:47]
"At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to be in attendance before the LORD and minister to him, and to give blessings in his name, as they have done to this day. For this reason, Levi has no share in the heritage with his brothers; the LORD himself is his heritage, as the LORD, your God, has told him." [DEUT 10:8-9]
"But do not neglect the Levite who belongs to your community, for he has no share in the heritage with you. At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithes of your produce for that year and deposit them in community stores, that the Levite who has no share in the heritage with you, and also the alien, the orphan and the widow who belong to your community, may come and eat their fill; so that the LORD, your God, may bless you in all that you undertake." [DEUT 14:27-29]
"The whole priestly tribe of Levi shall have no share in the heritage with Israel; they shall live on the oblations of the LORD and the portions due to him. Levi shall have no heritage among his brothers; the LORD himself is his heritage, as he has told him." [DEUT 18:1-2]
On the contrary, he shall recognize as his first-born the son of her whom he dislikes, giving him a double share of whatever he happens to own, since he is the first fruits of his manhood, and to him belong the rights of the first-born. [DEUT 21:17]
When the Most High assigned the nations their heritage, when he parceled out the descendants of Adam, He set up the boundaries of the peoples after the number of the sons of God; While the LORD'S own portion was Jacob, His hereditary share was Israel. [DEUT 32:8-9]
Furthermore, Zelophehad, son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had had no sons, but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These presented themselves to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua, son of Nun, and to the princes, saying, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us a heritage among our kinsmen." So in obedience to the command of the LORD a heritage was given to each of them among their father's kinsmen. Thus ten shares fell to Manasseh apart from the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond the Jordan, since these female descendants of Manasseh received each a portion among his sons. The land of Gilead fell to the rest of the Manassehites. [JOSH 17:3-6]
The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one lot and one share as our heritage? Our people are too many, because of the extent to which the LORD has blessed us." Joshua answered them, "If you are too many, go up to the forest and clear out a place for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaim, since the mountain regions of Ephraim are so narrow." For the Josephites said, "Our mountain regions are not enough for us; on the other hand, the Canaanites living in the valley region all have iron chariots, in particular those in Beth-shean and its towns, and those in the valley of Jezreel." Joshua therefore said to Ephraim and Manasseh, the house of Joseph, "You are a numerous people and very strong. You shall have not merely one share, for the mountain region which is now forest shall be yours when you clear it. Its adjacent land shall also be yours if, despite their strength and iron chariots, you drive out the Canaanites." [JOSH 17:14-18]
Seven tribes among the Israelites had not yet received their heritage. Joshua therefore said to the Israelites, "How much longer will you put off taking steps to possess the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? Choose three men from each of your tribes; I will commission them to begin a survey of the land, which they shall describe for purposes of inheritance. When they return to me you shall divide it into seven parts. Judah is to retain its territory in the south, and the house of Joseph its territory in the north. You shall bring here to me the description of the land in seven sections. I will then cast lots for you here before the LORD, our God. For the Levites have no share among you, because the priesthood of the LORD is their heritage; while Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received the heritage east of the Jordan which Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave them." When those who were to map out the land were ready for the journey, Joshua instructed them to survey the land, prepare a description of it, and return to him; then he would cast lots for them there before the LORD in Shiloh. So they went through the land, listed its cities in writing in seven sections, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. Joshua then divided up the land for the Israelites into their separate shares, casting lots for them before the LORD in Shiloh. [JOSH 18:2-10]
If you consider the land you now possess unclean, cross over to the land the LORD possesses, where the Dwelling of the LORD stands, and share that with us. But do not rebel against the LORD, nor involve us in rebellion, by building an altar of your own in addition to the altar of the LORD, our God. [JOSH 22:19]
We did it rather out of our anxious concern lest in the future your children should say to our children: 'What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? For the LORD has placed the Jordan as a boundary between you and us. You descendants of Reuben and Gad have no share in the LORD.' Thus your children would prevent ours from revering the LORD. [JOSH 22:24-25]
Please, now, let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the LORD has incited you against me, let an offering appease him; but if men, may they be cursed before the LORD, because they have exiled me so that this day I have no share in the LORD'S inheritance, but am told: 'Go serve other gods!' [1SAM 26:19]
But David said: "You must not do this, my brothers, after what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our grip the band that came against us. Who could agree with this proposal of yours? Rather, the share of the one who goes down to battle and that of the one who remains with the baggage shall be the same; they shall share alike." And from that day forward he made it a law and a custom in Israel, as it still is today. [1SAM 30:23-25]
But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. She shared the little food he had and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom. She was like a daughter to him. [2SAM 12:3]
The Israelites answered the Judahites: "We have ten shares in the king. Also, we are the first-born rather than you. Why do you slight us? Were we not first to speak of restoring the king?" Then the Judahites in turn spoke even more fiercely than the Israelites. [2SAM 19:44]
Now a rebellious individual from Benjamin named Sheba, the son of Bichri, happened to be there. He sounded the horn and cried out, "We have no portion in David, nor any share in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tent, O Israel!" So all the Israelites left David for Sheba, son of Bichri. But from the Jordan to Jerusalem the Judahites remained loyal to their king. [2SAM 20:1-2]
The king said to Abiathar the priest: "Go to your land in Anathoth. Though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David and shared in all the hardships my father endured." So Solomon deposed Abiathar from his office of priest of the LORD, thus fulfilling the prophecy which the LORD had made in Shiloh about the house of Eli. [1KGS 2:26-27]
When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king. "What share have we in David? We have no heritage in the son of Jesse. Everyone to your tents, O Israel! Now look to your own house, David!" So all Israel went off to their tents. [2CHRON 10:16]
On hearing of this, Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite slave, and Geshem the Arab mocked us and ridiculed us. "What is this that you are about?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?" My answer to them was this: "It is the God of heaven who will grant us success. We, his servants, shall set about the rebuilding; but for you there is to be neither share nor claim nor memorial in Jerusalem." [NEH 2:19-20]
Thus under King Esarhaddon I returned to my home, and my wife Anna and my son Tobiah were restored to me. Then on our festival of Pentecost, the feast of Weeks, a fine dinner was prepared for me, and I reclined to eat. The table was set for me, and when many different dishes were placed before me, I said to my son Tobiah: "My son, go out and try to find a poor man from among our kinsmen exiled here in Nineveh. If he is a sincere worshiper of God, bring him back with you, so that he can share this meal with me. Indeed, son, I shall wait for you to come back." [TOBIT 2:1-2]
Be lavish with your bread and wine at the burial of the virtuous, but do not share them with sinners. [TOBIT 4:17]
When he saw the sacrileges that were being committed in Judah and in Jerusalem, he said: "Woe is me! Why was I born to see the ruin of my people and the ruin of the holy city, and to sit idle while it is given into the hands of enemies, and the sanctuary into the hands of strangers? Her temple has become like a man disgraced, her glorious ornaments have been carried off as spoils, Her infants have been murdered in her streets, her young men by the sword of the enemy. What nation has not taken its share of her realm, and laid its hand on her possessions? All her adornment has been taken away. From being free, she has become a slave. We see our sanctuary and our beauty and our glory laid waste, And the Gentiles have defiled them! Why are we still alive?" Then Mattathias and his sons tore their garments, put on sackcloth, and mourned bitterly. [1MACC 2:6-14]
Instead of collecting the third of the grain and the half of the fruit of the trees that should be my share, I renounce the right from this day forward: Neither now nor in the future will I collect them from the land of Judah or from the three districts annexed from Samaria. [Taken from 1MACC 10:30]
Therefore, the Place itself, having shared in the people's misfortunes, afterward participated in their good fortune; and what the Almighty had forsaken in his anger was restored in all its glory, once the great Sovereign became reconciled. [2MACC 5:20]
They collected the enemy's arms and stripped them of their spoils, and then observed the sabbath with fervent praise and thanks to the Lord who kept them safe for that day on which he let descend on them the first dew of his mercy. After the sabbath, they gave a share of the booty to the persecuted and to widows and orphans; the rest they divided among themselves and their children. When this was done, they made supplication in common, imploring the merciful Lord to be completely reconciled with his servants. [2MACC 8:27-29]
He urged him to marry and have children; so Judas married, settled down, and shared the common life. [2MACC 14:25]
If I have denied anything to the poor, or allowed the eyes of the widow to languish While I ate my portion alone, with no share in it for the fatherless, Though like a father God has reared me from my youth, guiding me even from my mother's womb - If I have seen a wanderer without clothing, or a poor man without covering, Whose limbs have not blessed me when warmed with the fleece of my sheep; If I have raised my hand against the innocent because I saw that I had supporters at the gate - Then may my arm fall from the shoulder, my forearm be broken at the elbow! For the dread of God will be upon me, and his majesty will overpower me. [JOB 31:16-23]
The wings of the ostrich beat idly; her plumage is lacking in pinions... God has withheld wisdom from her and has given her no share in understanding. [Taken from JOB 39:13,17]
Even the friend who had my trust, who shared my table, has scorned me. [PS 41:10]
May the LORD bless you from Zion, all the days of your life That you may share Jerusalem's joy and live to see your children's children. Peace upon Israel! [PS 128:5-6]
Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. How may your water sources be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let your fountain be yours alone, not one shared with strangers; And have joy of the wife of your youth, your lovely hind, your graceful doe. Her love will invigorate you always, through her love you will flourish continually, When you lie down she will watch over you, and when you wake, she will share your concerns; wherever you turn, she will guide you. Why then, my son, should you go astray for another's wife and accept the embraces of an adulteress? For each man's ways are plain to the LORD'S sight; all their paths he surveys; By his own iniquities the wicked man will be caught, in the meshes of his own sin he will be held fast; He will die from lack of discipline, through the greatness of his folly he will be lost. [PROV 5:15-23,6:22]
The heart knows its own bitterness, and in its joy no one else shares. [PROV 14:10]
It is better to be humble with the meek than to share plunder with the proud. [PROV 16:19]
An intelligent servant will rule over a worthless son, and will share the inheritance with the brothers. [PROV 17:2]
Nothing that my eyes desired did I deny them, nor did I deprive myself of any joy, but my heart rejoiced in the fruit of all my toil. This was my share for all my toil. But when I turned to all the works that my hands had wrought, and to the toil at which I had taken such pains, behold! all was vanity and a chase after wind, with nothing gained under the sun. For what will the man do who is to come after the king? What men have already done! I went on to the consideration of wisdom, madness and folly. [ECCL 2:10-12]
Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; Because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, And I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands; And I rejoiced in them all, because Wisdom is their leader, though I had not known that she is the mother of these. Simply I learned about her, and ungrudgingly do I share- her riches I do not hide away; For to men she is an unfailing treasure; those who gain this treasure win the friendship of God, to whom the gifts they have from discipline commend them. [WISDOM 7:7-14]
For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution, That your holy ones should share alike the same good things and dangers, having previously sung the praises of the fathers. [WISDOM 18:9]
Yet these, after welcoming them with festivities, oppressed with awful toils those who now shared with them the same rights. [WISDOM 19:16]
In the miser's opinion his share is too small; he refuses his neighbor and brings ruin on himself. [SIRACH 14:8-9]
My son, use freely whatever you have and enjoy it as best you can; Remember that death does not tarry, nor have you been told the grave's appointed time. Before you die, be good to your friend, and give him a share in what you possess. [SIRACH 14:11-13]
Make fast friends with a man while he is poor; thus will you enjoy his prosperity with him. In time of trouble remain true to him, so as to share in his inheritance when it comes. [SIRACH 22:23]
He who spoils his son will have wounds to bandage, and will quake inwardly at every outcry. A colt untamed turns out stubborn; a son left to himself grows up unruly. Pamper your child and he will be a terror for you, indulge him and he will bring you grief. Share not in his frivolity lest you share in his sorrow, when finally your teeth are clenched in remorse. Give him not his own way in his youth, and close not your eyes to his follies. Bend him to the yoke when he is young, thrash his sides while he is still small, Lest he become stubborn, disobey you, and leave you disconsolate. Discipline your son, make heavy his yoke, lest his folly humiliate you. [SIRACH 30:7-13]
If you are chosen to preside at dinner, be not puffed up, but with the guests be as one of themselves; Take care of them first before you sit down; when you have fulfilled your duty, then take your place, To share in their joy and win praise for your hospitality. [SIRACH 32:1-2]
A false friend will share your joys, but in time of trouble he stands afar off. [SIRACH 37:4]
Be ashamed of theft from the people where you settle, and of stretching out your elbow when you dine; Of refusing to give when asked, of defrauding another of his appointed share, Of failing to return a greeting, and of rebuffing a friend [Taken from SIRACH 41:18-20]
But [Aaron] holds no land among the people nor shares with them their heritage; For the LORD himself is his portion, his inheritance in the midst of Israel. [Taken from SIRACH 45:22]
Look in the book of the LORD and read: No one of these shall be lacking, For the mouth of the LORD has ordered it, and his spirit shall gather them there. It is he who casts the lot for them, and with his hands he marks off their shares of her; They shall possess her forever, and dwell there from generation to generation. [ISA 34:16-17]
[Jesus said,] "It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one - to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' (Then) the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'" [Taken from MK 2:14-30]
[John] said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed." Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages." [Taken from LK 3:7-14]
While he was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Have you not read what David did when he and those (who were) with him were hungry? (How) he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions." Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath." [LK 6:1-5]
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me." He replied to him, "Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?" Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions." [LK 12:13-15]
Then he said, "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."' So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son. But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet...Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'" [Taken from LK 15:11-14, 17-25, 28, 31-32]
When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it (again) until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, "Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you (that) from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you." [LK 22:14-20]
"And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth." [Taken from JN 17:11-19]
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, "Let's not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be," in order that the passage of scripture might be fulfilled (that says): "They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots." This is what the soldiers did. [JN 19:23-24]
During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, "My brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. He bought a parcel of land with the wages of his iniquity... This became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem, so that the parcel of land was called in their language 'Akeldama,' that is, Field of Blood. For it is written in the Book of Psalms: 'Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it.' And: 'May another take his office.' Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection." [Taken from ACTS 1:15-22]
When Simon saw that the Spirit was conferred by the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me this power too, so that anyone upon whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "May your money perish with you, because you thought that you could buy the gift of God with money. You have no share or lot in this matter, for your heart is not upright before God. Repent of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your intention may be forgiven. For I see that you are filled with bitter gall and are in the bonds of iniquity." Simon said in reply, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." [ACTS 8:18-24]
For I long to see you, that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened, that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another's faith, yours and mine. [ROM 1:11-12]
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. [ROM 8:18-21]
If the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch of dough; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place and have come to share in the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. If you do boast, consider that you do not support the root; the root supports you. Indeed you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." That is so. They were broken off because of unbelief, but you are there because of faith. So do not become haughty, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, (perhaps) he will not spare you either. See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God's kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off. And they also, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated one, how much more will they who belong to it by nature be grafted back into their own olive tree. [ROM 11:16-24]
For Macedonia and Achaia have decided to make some contribution for the poor among the holy ones in Jerusalem; they decided to do it, and in fact they are indebted to them, for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to serve them in material blessings. [ROM 15:26-27]
It is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is God concerned about oxen, or is he not really speaking for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope, and the thresher in hope of receiving a share. If we have sown spiritual seed for you, is it a great thing that we reap a material harvest from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more? Yet we have not used this right. On the contrary, we endure everything so as not to place an obstacle to the gospel of Christ. [1COR 9:9-12]
Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one under the law - though I myself am not under the law - to win over those under the law. To those outside the law I became like one outside the law - though I am not outside God's law but within the law of Christ - to win over those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it. Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. [1COR 9:19-27]
As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Now the body is not a single part, but many. If a foot should say, "Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body," it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. Or if an ear should say, "Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body," it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need you," nor again the head to the feet, "I do not need you." Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety, whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If (one) part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. [1COR 12:12-26]
Our hope for you is firm, for we know that as you share in the sufferings, you also share in the encouragement. [2COR 1:7]
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman. The son of the slave woman was born naturally, the son of the freeborn through a promise. Now this is an allegory. These women represent two covenants. One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. Hagar represents Sinai, a mountain in Arabia; it corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery along with her children. But the Jerusalem above is freeborn, and she is our mother. For it is written: "Rejoice, you barren one who bore no children; break forth and shout, you who were not in labor; for more numerous are the children of the deserted one than of her who has a husband." Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise. But just as then the child of the flesh persecuted the child of the spirit, it is the same now. But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the slave woman and her son! For the son of the slave woman shall not share the inheritance with the son" of the freeborn. Therefore, brothers, we are children not of the slave woman but of the freeborn woman. [GAL 4:21-31]
One who is being instructed in the word should share all good things with his instructor. [GAL 6:6]
The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work with his (own) hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need. [EPH 4:28]
Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me. [PHIL 2:14-18]
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity. Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress. You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was at Thessalonica you sent me something for my needs, not only once but more than once. It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, "a fragrant aroma," an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen. [PHIL 4:10-20]
Therefore, from the day we heard this, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. [COL 1:9-12]
I say this so that no one may deceive you by specious arguments. For even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing as I observe your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ. For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily, and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power. [COL 2:4-10]
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us. [1THES 2:8]
Do not lay hands too readily on anyone, and do not share in another's sins. Keep yourself pure. [1TM 5:22]
Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life. [1TM 6:17-19]
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. [2TM 1:8]
So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well. Bear your share of hardship along with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. To satisfy the one who recruited him, a soldier does not become entangled in the business affairs of life. Similarly, an athlete cannot receive the winner's crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer ought to have the first share of the crop. [2TM 2:1-6]
He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them "brothers," saying: "I will proclaim your name to my brothers, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you"; and again: "I will put my trust in him"; and again: "Behold, I and the children God has given me." Now since the children share in blood and flesh, he likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. [HEB 2:11-18]
For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves and holding him up to contempt. Ground that has absorbed the rain falling upon it repeatedly and brings forth crops useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected; it will soon be cursed and finally burned. [HEB 6:4-8]
Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards. Besides this, we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not (then) submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live? They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness. At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed. [HEB 12:7-13]
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind. [HEB 13:16]
Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you. But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. [1PT 4:12-13]
So I exhort the presbyters among you, as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed. Tend the flock of God in your midst, (overseeing) not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. [1PT 5:1-4]
Symeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of equal value to ours through the righteousness of our God and savior Jesus Christ: may grace and peace be yours in abundance through knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love. If these are yours and increase in abundance, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Anyone who lacks them is blind and shortsighted, forgetful of the cleansing of his past sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your call and election firm, for, in doing so, you will never stumble. For, in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you. [2PT 1:1-11]
Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the antichrist. Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense. Anyone who is so "progressive" as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works. [2JN 1:7-11]
I, John, your brother, who share with you the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos because I proclaimed God's word and gave testimony to Jesus. [RV 1:9]
Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Depart from her, my people, so as not to take part in her sins and receive a share in her plagues, for her sins are piled up to the sky, and God remembers her crimes." [Taken from RV 18:4-5]
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over these; they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for (the) thousand years. [RV 20:6] [Note: The reader is reminded that there are different classes of the priesthood and not all peoples have been allowed to share in the ministerial priesthood. As in the Old Testament, (e.g. where God spoke to Moses: "You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. That is what you must tell the Israelites" - see EX 19:6) different classes of the priesthood exist, including a general priesthood of followers who can offer prayers, thanksgiving, etc. to God. The universal priesthood should not be confused with the ministerial priesthood. For additional information on this topic, visit the non-Catholics section.]
I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book. [RV 22:18-19]
generous / generosity [G]
provide / provided [P20]
aid / assist / avail [H11a]
almsgiving [A]
charity / charitable [C]
Reflections: A-Z | Categorized
Classic Encyclicals & Other Papal Documents
(Also try: Help, A-Z)
more alphabetical scripture | more categorized scripture | top
return to alphabetical scripture | return to categorized scripture | top
Important Notice: Scripture references and translations may vary. Scripture contained herein may not be comprehensive and may be categorized subjectively. We do not guarantee translation, categorization, referencing, accuracy, or anything else concerning any item herein. Old Testament practices may no longer be binding under the New Covenant but may be included herein for reference purposes. We may change punctuation, wording, capitalization, shorten items, etc. We caution that items herein may be out of context. We recommend reading Scripture in full context in an appropriate Catholic Bible. Consult appropriate, competent Church authorities for assistance in interpreting / applying Scripture. Interpretation and application of Scripture should not be contrary to the perennial, official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. Do not take Scripture passages out of context. Do not inflict harm on yourself or others, break laws, take unsuitable/incautious or inappropriate/drastic actions, or take figurative items literally. We are not responsible for any interpretation / misinterpretation, application / misapplication, use / misuse, etc. of Scripture. Use of site is at your own risk and is subject to our terms of use. Click here for important cautionary statement and other important terms/information
We make no guarantees regarding any item herein. By using this site you agree to all terms. For terms information, see "Important Notice" above and click here.
* Catholic Bibles (Topic Page)
* Inspirational Quotes (Topic Page)
* Saints' Quotes (Topic Page)
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7108
|
__label__wiki
| 0.610854
| 0.610854
|
Via.Hypebeast
In recent months, Forever 21 has landed itself in an ocean’s worth of legal hot water and negative press for issues with “ripping off” Kanye West tour merchandise, Tupac designs and more. Most significantly, the fast-fashion giant has become embroiled in a courtroom battle with legendary luxury label Gucci; at the core of that rift, the two companies are dueling it out over the iconic “Gucci stripes.” Now, Gucci is responding in a major way by officially filing a lawsuit against Forever 21.
“Gucci has today taken steps to finally put an end to U.S. mass retailer Forever 21’s blatant exploitation of Gucci’s famous and iconic blue-red-blue and green-red-green stripe webbing trademarks,” reads an official statement from Gucci. “In two filings today in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Gucci has asked the Court to dismiss the spurious claims that Forever 21 lodged on June 26, 2017, and has brought counterclaims against Forever 21 for willful trademark infringement, trademark dilution and unfair competition.”
As of today, August 8, Gucci is starting to take the required legal steps to put an end to any claims from Forever 21 and seek a conclusion to its own issues with the retailer’s alleged “trademark infringement” and “dilution.” Reached for comment, Gucci provided the following official statement on the matter:
“Gucci’s renowned blue-red-blue and green-red-green stripe webbing trademarks have been iconic codes of the House of Gucci for more than fifty years, following their introduction in 1951 and 1963 respectively, with the first U.S. trademark registration of the webbing dating back to 1979.
Despite Forever 21’s attempt to use its lawsuit to intimidate Gucci into ceasing its trademark enforcement efforts, Gucci is as committed as ever to protecting its long established intellectual property rights, which are at the heart of the brand’s identity, and to ending once and for all Forever 21′s reprehensible exploitation of its distinctive trademarks and those of other brands who have suffered the same type of piracy.
Gucci considers the defense and enforcement of its celebrated trademarks of paramount importance in protecting its customers from those who wish to knowingly profit from deception and confusion.”
TagsFashionGucci
Previous « Celeb Style: Justin Bieber Leaves Chick-fil-A Wearing Purpose Tour T-Shirt and Shorts with Zoe Church LA Socks
Next New Video: Denisia “Somebody Nu” »
Katie Holmes Covers ‘Vanity Fair’ Magazine
Tank premieres “Compliments” Video featuring T.I.
Basant
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7110
|
__label__wiki
| 0.578599
| 0.578599
|
Mysterious Reviews
Home | About / Privacy Policy | List of Reviews | Search | Omnimystery Home
The Green Mill Murder
A Phryne Fisher Mystery by Kerry Greenwood
Review: The Green Mill Murder is, chronologically, the fifth mystery in the Phryne Fisher series by Australian author Kerry Greenwood, though the tenth published by Poisoned Pen Press.
It is the 1920s and the Great War is over. It is now the time for laughter, music, dancing, beer and wacky cocktails. Phryne Fisher, an anything goes lady, spends an evening at her favorite dance hall, The Green Mill. There is a continuing dance marathon going on as she and her escort dance to the music of Tintagel Stone's Jazzmakers. In view of the band, the marathoners and the casual dancers, one of the dancers falls and is dead before hitting the floor. No one witnessed the man being stabbed in his heart. The police are called but no one can or will tell them anything. Phryne's escort actually runs away from the scene and goes into hiding. Because Phryne is an investigator she is asked by the police to help solve this crime.
The mother of Charlie, Phryne's escort, hires her to find Charlie before the police do, and bring him home. While she's doing this, the mother tells her she has another son who ran away right after the war and she would appreciate it if she would she look for him. She doesn't know where to look and she doesn't even know if he's still alive or if he is dead.
So, Phryne has three mysteries to solve: who murdered the dancer, where is Charlie, and where is his brother?
Kerry Greenwood makes Melbourne, Australia, come to life in the 1920s. Phryne Fisher is a wealthy woman living in comfort with servants, driving a very large car (actually she is chauffeured most of the time), and a two seated airplane that she loves to fly herself. She wears beautiful expensive dresses with shoes and hats to match. Her jewelry is exquisite.
She has investigated and helped to solve a number of cases with the police so the problem of the murder on the dance floor, plus the two missing brothers is not unusual for her.
Phryne leaps into these mysteries with courage, intelligence and humor. She is a funny, fun-loving lady, with just a tad of "blue" humor. On the ground and in the air, Phryne goes to any length to solve these cases.
Acknowledgment: Poisoned Pen Press provided an ARC of The Green Mill Murder for this review.
Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
Selected reviews of other mysteries by this author …
Death at Victoria Dock
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover), December 2006
ISBN-13: 9781590582381; ISBN-10: 1590582381
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover), June 2007
Location(s) referenced in The Green Mill Murder: Melbourne, Australia
— ♦ —
The Green Mill Murder by Kerry Greenwood — A Phryne Fisher Mystery
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7114
|
__label__cc
| 0.677282
| 0.322718
|
Were Ancient Astrologers Deterministic? What's the Difference Between Fate and Destiny?
The Inevitability of this Moment
Mars is separating from Pluto but now applying quickly to a conjunction with Uranus and opposition with Jupiter, just as we're approaching a solar eclipse on Sunday and the Jupiter/Uranus opposition is exact again.
Here's a deeper look at some of the powers symbolized by the current planetary configurations and some thoughts on how we might work with what's here:
* With Jupiter retrograde in Libra as a powerful planetary player right now, it's possible that we are being called to task for previous actions or arrogance. If you find that you are facing authority figures, laws, codes, rules, or any kind of disciplinary/performance-based review, it's important to look inward right now. Justice doesn't necessarily require that we suffer penalties...but Justice does require that we adjust our internal attitude. Justice asks us to learn something. Justice asks us to respect due process. Justice asks us to learn to be in harmony with cosmic law, truth, order, and wisdom. And with Jupiter in Libra moving backward, we are in a time of review. Calling on your guides and better angels, calling on the divine forces to evaluate you with grace, dignity, and compassion, and opening your heart to correction, goes a long way right now, and it invites mercy from all figures of judgment.
* With Uranus in Aries, along with Mars, we are also being forced to awaken our senses, mind, and body at a deeper level. These planets together act like strokes of fire, lightning, and electricity rocketing out of the ethereal realms. These planets jolt and drive through us until a clear opening appears. Because these energies are opposite Jupiter in Libra, the process of justice right now is swift, immediate, tense, and pivotal. It's an incredibly important moment to call for protection and to ask for patience and clarity. The outer planetary influences sometimes feel impersonal, especially Uranus in a cardinal sign like Aries. But in some ways that's the exact medicine we need right now. The point is that if we don't recognize the qualities above and we get swept up in them, it's a lot harder to receive their guidance. If we are shocked into a pattern of action and reaction, constantly, we will certainly learn and grow, but the growth will tend to happen in a way that is less conscious. Whatever is less conscious we tend to experience as external to us, happening "to us," rather than in and through us.
* With Pluto also in the mix, the "sense of fate" is an integral part of our experience right now. We tend to mistakenly debate within ourselves, in our heads, about how much free-will we have versus how much fate's hand is controlling everything. Pluto's perspective, the underworld perspective, calls us to consider everything from the vantage point of the soul, which is death. As long as we stay fixed to the image of birth, as long as we associate our lives with birth, we tend to live regressively and therefore the future is constantly something we are trying to take back with us into the womb. We demand that the future be entirely open, indeterminate, and entirely dependent upon our choices or will power, as though we live in a permanent and potential state of gestation.
But death isn't a choice. Death is a necessity. All things die. And when we live toward the soul's meaning, we live toward its inevitability. The question shifts from "what will I create with all these endless possibilities?" to "how will I choose to experience all these inevitabilities?" Pluto teaches us the value of living our lives with a view on the future that is moving toward death and the endless mystery of the soul.
Failure, misery, inevitability, impermanence, and pain, these are not the friends of a radically indeterminate future, rooted in the image of birth. But both perspectives are co-present in our consciousness. It's not a matter of which one is right, it's the basic fact that they both exist in consciousness that matters. I think for example of the recent film, "The Arrival," which plays on the themes of precognition and death. Developing pre-cognitive ability is something rooted in birth. It starts with the open possibilities of the future and our genesis, the divinatory or ritual starting moment we might say....but as we learn to see into the inevitabilities of the future, our consciousness narrows or focuses on it, like a keyhole, which in turn leads us back to the present and puts a question to us: how will you choose to live and experience this inevitability? A circle come round on itself. A keyhole vision of the future that is also the key itself. And this is why the aliens in the film used non-linear scripts...sentences that read from both ends toward the center at once.
That might seem like some far out philosophy, but if you sit long enough with all that's happening you will recognize the one within yourself who has seen this, known this, and sensed these inevitable events all along. The question we are all faced with right now, in the honesty of this inevitable moment is, "how will I walk through this valley?" "What forces and qualities of consciousness will I call upon to walk with me?"
Prayer: Your rod and staff, they protect and comfort us.
Reviving Lady Fortuna: The Importance of Prediction in Astrology
Polishing my talk for my upcoming trip to Seattle!
Click here to learn more about my visit to the Washington State Astrological Association!
"Reviving Lady Fortuna: The Importance of Prediction in Astrology."
Here is a list of things I'll be looking at in this talk, which I'll be offering again online to everyone this spring!
1. Why do we tend to hate on the image of the fortune teller?
2. Why is it so trendy to believe in possibilities or probabilities rather than the belief that we can accurately predict the future?
3. What is the potential damage we are doing by emphasizing consciousness, levels of consciousness, choice, and/or free will or spiritual maturity as the key factor in determining how a transit will play out?
4. What does the soul need or love about astrological prediction, both when it's correct and when it's incorrect?
5. Why do many modern astrologers seem to think that ancient/predictive astrologers believed in a completely mechanical or deterministic universe? Is this really true?
6. What is the nature of divination, what does it attempt to do and why, and what might all different kinds of divination practices tell us about the nature of time or being itself?
7. Why do we hold so fiercely to the notion of radical indeterminacy?
8. Why do we hold so fiercely to the idea of a future oriented spiritual evolution path?
9. Why might the importance of prediction be about something more than whether we are right or wrong?
10. Is astrology meant to provide us with answers about the nature of ultimate reality, and if so is there just one reality or are there different realities that different astrologies or astrologers might somehow reflect back to us in the way they practice or in the philosophical positions they take on key issues like time, choice, reincarnation,chance, fate, enlightenment, god, multiples gods, etc?
I know that I'm not alone in considering these questions right now, as I've seen posts, newsletters, podcasts, and live seminars of these exact subjects coming up concurrently, especially in light of the fact that so many astrologers incorrectly predicted the election results. I think these discussions are incredibly important...but beware of anyone who thinks they have the answers or who would tell you exactly where or what we should all be thinking about the nature of reality or complicated metaphysical topics vis a vis astrology....the point of this upcoming talk is to simply advocate for those of us astrologers who believe there are indeed outcomes of all kinds that can be seen and accurately predicted through the divine language of the stars.
Pluto Retrograde: Reflections on Fate
The Moon is squaring Mercury this morning and then goes void of course for the rest of the day until moving into Virgo tonight.
Reflections on Pluto moving retrograde:
* Fate means never having to say, "I told you so." Because when we've really understood fate, then we understand that it's not a matter of prediction or advice. It's not a simple matter of instructions not followed, as though fate is a punishment, and it's not about the early bird catching the worm or any other protestant work ethic that saves the day and earns the righteous paycheck. Fate doesn't need to say, "I told you so," because fate doesn't speak out against anything.
* We can't avoid fate by hoping it will go away or by trying to make choices that eliminate fate's hand in the matter.
* The word 'fate' means, among other things, "to speak," and it carries an old association with the idea that the words or sentences of the gods in human lives are absolute...there are divine words spoken into our lives that cannot be altered or changed...there are guiding events that we cannot control.
* The word 'fate' also carries an old reference to the spirits, guides, or gods assigned to the fortunes and destines of individuals...the 'fates' are plural..they conspire with us and through us in order to weave the words of the gods...some of these beings can be prayed to, their minds changed, their help or hindrance invoked...while others cannot be petitioned.
* Isn't it funny that in certain areas of our lives we already know what's going to happen? We already know the nature of the story. We know what's coming, and yet we play the part and the pain or joy of the results still feel as unexpected or as real as though we never knew. Isn't it strange how fate can feel cold and distancing and yet in the most stubbornly fated events the feelings we have are more alive than ever?
* A question: where are you avoiding the inevitable? What would it look like to stop avoiding it? What are a few small steps you can take to welcome the presence of your fate?
* Fate isn't a nasty killer, and it's also not a smiling saint. Fate isn't cruel, but it's also not entirely benevolent. Fate isn't free and it isn't determined. It isn't mechanical or indifferent but it isn't entirely subjective or personal either. There is an intelligence to fate, and yet it remains always surprising.
* Heraclitus once wrote about fate, "Two made one are never one. Arguing the same we disagree. Singing together we compete. We choose each other to be one, and from the one both soon diverge. Without injustices, the name of justice would mean what? While cosmic wisdom understands all things are good and just, intelligence may find injustice here, and justice somewhere else. Justice in our minds is strife. We cannot help but see war makes us as we are. Thus are things decreed by fate."
* The fates are silent speakers whose words are the invisible echo within everything.
* To contemplate or negotiate your fate, go to a high place and look down at the world below. To remember and receive your fate, look from a low place to something high above.
* To get a second date with fate, stop thinking about her and focus on what you're doing, or the task at hand. She finds independence attractive.
* When you dream, remember to fall asleep first. Fate thinks lucid dreaming can be like a form of adultery.
* Commit yourself fully to your mistakes. No silver linings or positive spin. Just the image of you making your mistake. Stick with the image. See what it does next. See what it becomes. See what else it has to say. Principles destroy images, and fate loves images more than principles. In fact she sees principles as images first.
Prayer: Stranger and more interesting things are always happening when fate becomes an active part of our imagination.
The Invisible Seamstress of Fate 4.7.2015
The Moon is in Scorpio today, applying to oppose Venus in Taurus before going void of course.
What to watch for...
*Rebellious/eruptive/sudden/unexpected/inventive/exciting breakthroughs or outbursts, discoveries or revelations...especially in communication, writing, talking, emails, texts, etc (Mercury/Uranus/Sun conjunct in Aries, square to Pluto in Capricorn).
* Challenging ideas, debates, discussions (same)
* Competition, legacy, history, protest, personal rights (same)
* Beginning a project of creative self expression (same)
* Sexual tension/excitement/desire/erotica (Moon opposite Venus)
* Foreplay, extravagance, decadence, and desire (same)
* The feeling that everything should be handed to you or that everything should happen easily or naturally, without any work (same)
* Moodiness that destabilizes relationships or rains on a parade (same)
* A quickie (same)
* Conversations about finances, resources, time/energy management (same)
* Feeling sick and tired of feeling sick and tired (same)
* Lazy and sexy taking a naked nap (same)
* Violence and celebrities (Mars square Jupiter)
* Violence in the media/film/tv (same)
* Religious violence and holy crusades (same)
* Machismo, muscle, warriors, athletes, masculinity, testosterone, steroids, gangs, money, power, cowboys, and the violence only money can buy (same)
* Aggrandized egos, spending, poor winning/losing (same)
* Bull headed egoism (same)
* Accepting a challenge, pushing through to victory (same)
* A philosophical dilemma, weighs on the mind (Saturn barely moving/retro in Sagittarius)
* A revision of past beliefs (same)
* A new course of study or inquiry (same)
* Disillusionment with something once believed (Saturn square Neptune)
* Bridging the real with the ideal (same)
* Time/space/fantasy/illusion/imagination/science fiction (same)
* Divine discontent..boredom, longing, dreaming (same)
Whenever we read a list of so many different possible qualities happening all at once, we naturally ask ourselves, "How can they all be happening at once? Is there some way of summarizing it all? Some overarching purpose to all the different qualities?" And the answer to these questions is that the psyche is multifaceted. The solar system as a reflection of psyche is like a vast temple with many different sanctuaries, or a vast mansion with many different rooms. Some of these themes will be dramatically pronounced for some people while others will be for others. There's also always the possibility that despite whatever weather is going on around us, we're simply not seeing/feeling it that intensely. We make a mistake in thinking that astrology is "determining" things. The sky is more like a reflection of what's arising..the many different facets of psychic life currently expressing themselves and interacting with each other. But it's always "through a glass darkly" that we come to astrology. Knowing the weather patterns of the psyche, we can take comfort, feel the divine intelligence (even if it's still deeply mysterious), and make soulful choices.
Summing it all up is the great red herring of astrology...a wild goose chase of prophets and their v-formation followings. As long as we know that, then we can be creative with our summaries rather than prescriptive. So here's one of mine, but look at the patterns above and try one of your own!
A Prophetic Summary: We are rising to the challenge of a series of unexpected twists and turns. The invisible seamstress of fate has recently turned the plot inside out (to some degree), and now we're evaluating, taking stock, plotting a new course, gaining confidence and excitement, and gradually working our way out of the muck. This new vision will take time, though we'd like for it to be here now or we'd like for it to take care of itself without our hard work and effort. The new vision might be simpler in some ways, but we're considering the idea that despite it simple appearance, it's also the best thing that could have happened for us. We might still feel a little unsure, worried, skeptical or uneasy about the future at this moment....but we're working that out...one plodding day at a time.
Prayer: The invisible seamstress of fate...looking pretty good lady.
Image by courtesy of Hernan Pinera, at creative commons image licensing
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7123
|
__label__wiki
| 0.511548
| 0.511548
|
The Blind Justice of Libra
The Moon is in Aquarius today making trines to Mercury and Jupiter in Libra.
As the Mercury/Jupiter conjunction perfects here a few simple ideas to keep in mind:
* Lao Tzu once wrote that, "The great Tao flows everywhere. It fills everything to the left and to the right. All things owe their existence to it and it cannot deny any one of them."
Isn't it tempting to look at the state of the world sometimes and wonder why corrupt people succeed or why evil or darkness is allowed to flourish? More than anything with Mercury and Jupiter in Libra we may be feeling offended by injustices around us, and yet, justice has frequently been depicted as a blind woman holding the scales.
* Lao Tzu also wrote, "Tao is eternal. It does not favor one over the other. It brings all things to completion without their even knowing it."
Isn't it tempting to blame ourselves when we're down and out? We think, "I've gotten what I deserve here," or "I did this to myself," or even, "I wasn't conscious of xyz and now that I am things will change." On the other hand, isn't it easy to blame someone or something else when we're down and out? Something doesn't go our way and we feel that an injustice has been done somewhere, somehow. And yet, again, justice is blind. While it's tempting to think of that blindness as a kind of rationalistic objectivity (a fair weighing of the evidence on both sides of an issue), we should also consider the idea that WE are blind to the way in which the Tao completes all processes and all changes without ever demonstrating favoritism.
* Lao Tzu wrote, "Tao nourishes and protects all creatures yet does not claim lordship over them. So we class it with the most humble. Tao is the home to which all things return yet it wants nothing in return, so we call it "the greatest. The sage is the same way--he does not claim greatness over anything. He's not even aware of his own greatness. Tell me, what could be greater than this?"
It's curious to think that Libra, the sign of the scales of justice, is ruled by Venus and yet is the exaltation of Saturn and the fall of the Sun. What deeper lessons might be at work in these designations? First, let's consider the idea that usually the scales only come out in order to settle a contest where there are opposing desired outcomes or forces at work. One traditional meaning of the planet Venus has to do with the objects of our desire. What rationale can we possibly provide for much of our attraction and repulsion in life? But there is a curious sense in which our sense of reason, sanity, fairness, ethics, and even justice are wrapped up with what we desire. Taking Saturn into consideration, there is perhaps no planet more prepared to take credit or receive blame, to dole out praise and punishments alike, for results. At the same time, when the Saturnine mystic contemplates the limitations of reason and rationality itself, there is perhaps no planet as prepared to understand the deeper blindness of the scales and the absurdity of how desire shapes reason. Saturn's exaltation in Libra is thus a matter of greatest vanity or possibly the height of truest wisdom. Similarly, the Sun, a source of wisdom, life, and clarity, has a hard time understanding the invisible knowledge of the scales. The autumn season that Libra initiates brings the death of the light and life, and in a sense all conventional wisdom related to how and why things "ought" to work in the world. The heroic Sun finds the wisdom of Libra tremendously difficult to understand, but at the same time the depression of the Sun in Libra is intimately linked to the exaltation of Saturn in the same sign. The Sun comes to know the limits of reason, clarity, heroism, life, vitality, and visibility in its fall, and hence the Sun in Libra is also capable of a deeper autumnal wisdom...like the classic image of the blind prophet or sage...as Lao Tzu wrote, "he is great without knowing it.
Prayer: Help us to see through a glass darkly. Help us to perceive the invisible ordering of the world, always just but never favoring, always completing but without desire.
Sun/Saturn Contractions
Its last quarter Moon today, and the Moon is in Pisces. Meanwhile Venus and the Sun are traveling closer and closer to an exact opposition with Saturn.
The Sun and Saturn have such an interesting relationship. This morning it brings to my mind a passage from the Tao Te Ching: "Contraction pulls at that which extends too far, weakness pulls at that which strengthens too much, ruin pulls at that which rises too high, loss pulls at life when you fill it with too much stuff. The lesson here is called 'The wisdom of obscurity" -- the gentle outlast the strong, the obscure outlast the obvious. Hence, a fish that ventures from deep water is soon snagged by a net. A country that reveals its strength is soon conquered by an enemy."
As the Sun and Saturn oppose one another we might see any of the following themes:
* What has been overextended will be cut back
* What has been overly visible will retreat
* What is overly confident will be humbled
* What has been naturally obscured will become clear or visible
* Ignorance will lead to clarity or vice versa
* Sickness, old age, and mortality will be at the forefront of our mind
* Paternity and rites of passage between generations of men or father figures
* An alchemical process of purification will take place
* Consequences for current choices, past actions
* Growing up, maturation, and confronting basic truths that we have been avoiding or in denial about
* Depression, isolation, judgment, seclusion, and bitterness being seen or understood, as poison drawn from a wound
* Wisdom traditions and the focus or commitment of the mind on certain subjects or practices of enlightenment
* Renunciation...the purposeful humbling or relinquishing of something
* The violent opposition to something whose time has naturally come...jealousy, revenge, bitterness directed from older people to younger people, etc.
We call Saturn a "malefic" in traditional astrology, but we have to remember that both the Tao Te Ching and the I Ching were being perfected during the same time period that western horoscopic astrology was gradually coming forth in the world. The malefic designation is no different in ancient astrology from the natural place of contraction, weakness, and ruin, mentioned above by Lao Tsu, or mentioned in the numerous "bad" omen hexagrams and lines of the I Ching. The logos, or divine intelligence, of Saturn is beyond good and evil, in other words, while the effects of Saturn in this material world are often experienced as destructive or difficult. I look forward to Saturn/Sun oppositions not for the challenges, because it's not honest to say that I enjoy them, but because I like to prove to myself and to the Universe that I can say "yes" to all seasons of life...that I don't just pray for help when times are rough, but I pray the prayer of thanksgiving all day, all year, all my life...because God is good, because I am alive, and because all seasons of life are sacred...even those natural periods of contraction!
Prayer: Help us to pray the prayer of thanksgiving, all day, all year, all of our lives, even when we face inevitable periods of contraction and difficulty.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7124
|
__label__wiki
| 0.555824
| 0.555824
|
George Michael cancels shows due to ‘anxiety’
Sep - 30 2012 | no comments | By Staff Writer
George Michael – Symphonica Tour, Royal Albert Hall, London. 29 Sep 2012
One of our Pop Scoopers were lucky enough to have caught George Michael’s performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall last night. The Symphonica tour resumed after it was pulled when he suddenly became ill with pneumonia in November last year.
Tags: George Michael
Could This Be The End For One Direction?
One Direction could be on the verge of breaking up as the boys struggle with being the biggest band in the world.
Tags: One Direction
OUT NOW: One Directions ‘Live While We’re Young’
By Charlotte Rees
So One Directions new EP is no available on our iTunes playlist, the five piece boy band that have been sweeping the nation consist of Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik.
Tags: Live While We're Young, One Direction
Justin Bieber Dedicates First Night of ‘Believe’ Tour to ‘Mrs Bieber’
Justin Bieber’s Believe Tour kicks off tonight and the superstar has dedicated the first show to his late friend, Avalanna Routh.
Tags: Justin Bieber
Ed Sheera US Tour a Sell-Out
Anyone hoping to grab last minute ticket to one of his 2012 tour can think again. Ed Sheeran has cemented his state-side breakthrough with the tour having completely sold out.
Tags: Ed Sheeran
Harry Styles goes topless to show off new tattoos
One Direction’s Harry styles took to Twitter to show off his new tattoos. The 18-year-old heartthrob is clearly seen with his eyes closed, holding up his left arm with his latest designs on show.
Among them are a black star, an Iced Gem, comedy and tragedy drama masks, a birdcage and the words SMCL.
Tags: Harry Styles, One Direction
Olly Murs debuts New Album Art
Olly Murs took to Twitter to show off his cover artwork for his new third album ‘Right Place, Right Time’. The singer will release Right Place Right Time as his third studio collection in the UK on November 28.
Tags: Olly Murs
Simon Cowel: ‘One Direction’s new album is Fantastic’
Simon Cowell has revealed he’s heard One Direction’s new album Take Me Home, branding the lads’ latest offering “fantastic.”
Tags: One Direction, Simon Cowell
Olly Murs to Jazz It Up With Big Band for Children in Need
Olly Murs will perform alongside a community big band and acclaimed jazz singer Clare Teal in Leeds to raise money for Children in Need.
One Direction Smash Justin Bieber’s music video record
One Direction have smashed the record for the most number of video views in 24 hours on VEVO. A record previously held by Justin Bieber’s ‘Boyfriend’.
Tags: Justin Bieber, One Direction
« « 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 » »
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7128
|
__label__cc
| 0.683396
| 0.316604
|
Orex Appoints New Director
Vancouver, B.C. - Orex Minerals Inc. - (REX: TSX-V) ("Orex" or the "Corporation") - would like to announce that Dr. Petri Peltonen has resigned from the board of directors and has been replaced by Jukka Jokela, who will serve as Northland Resources S.A.'s ("Northland") appointee to the Orex Board of Directors.
Mr. Jokela is the VP Exploration & Finnish Operations and has been with Northland for the last 4 years serving as the Managing Director of Northland Mines OY. Mr. Jokela has over 25 years of international experience in mineral exploration, geological research, and project and company management in different mining and exploration companies, including Outokumpu Mining Oy, Polar Mining Oy, Store Norske Gull As, and the Geological Survey of Finland. Mr. Jokela holds an M.Sc. in Geology and Mineralogy from the University of Turku, Finland.
Mr. Jokela replaces Dr. Petri Peltonen who resigned as a director of Orex today. Dr. Peltonen served as Northland Resources S.A.'s previous appointee to the Orex Board of Directors. We thank Dr. Peltonen for his contributions to Orex and wish him well in his future endeavours.
Orex Minerals Inc. (TSX-V: REX) is a Canadian-based junior exploration company comprised of highly qualified mining professionals. The Company has two current projects: its flagship property, the Barsele Gold Project located in Sweden, and the Coneto Silver-Gold Project situated in Durango, Mexico, currently under option to Fresnillo PLC.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements and Orex undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Jada Jennings
Sr. Communications/Investor Relations
info@orexminerals.com
www.orexminerals.com
You can view the Next News item: Mon Oct 29, 2012, Orex Ends Investor Relations Agreement
You can view the Previous News item: Mon Oct 15, 2012, Orex and Astral Announce Merger by Way of Plan of Arrangement
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7131
|
__label__wiki
| 0.828395
| 0.828395
|
Here is another powerful film from Ken Loach – brilliantly acted and superbly scripted by his regular collaborator Paul Laverty. They tell the story of Ricky (Kris Hitchen), a hardworking man struggling to make ends meet since the 2008 financial crisis. His debts are increasing but he believes he has finally found a way out when he is offered a job as a freelance driver. His supportive wife Abby (Debbie Honeywood) works equally hard as a carer for old people but then she has to sacrifice her own car in order for Ricky to buy a new van for his deliveries. Both parents adore the children (Rhys Stone & Katie Proctor) and want their lives in Newcastle to return to normality when the pressure begins to escalate up to breaking point…
It is a joy to experience such a well-crafted screenplay with fully fleshed characters whose actions defy any expectations and manage to immediately win the audience’s sympathy. Loach, the father of natural acting since the sixties with his ground-breaking work including CATHY COME HOME and KES draws again amazing performance from his mostly inexperienced cast. He has the ability to discover and nourish fresh talent while telling a hard hitting contemporary story about the state of the station. Essential viewing!
Mike Flanagan’s classy movie is superbly photographed and gracefully acted especially by newcomer Kyliegh Curran. Flanagan’s experience as a horror film director is put to great use here for this eagerly awaited Stephen King sequel to THE SHINING. The story of Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) picks up 40 years following the horrifying events at the Overlook Hotel. Danny is still traumatised by his experiences when he was a child but he now has to put his own powers to good effect and protect a young girl called Abra (Kyliegh Curran), who also shares his special gift known as the “shine”…
It is a mesmerising and fascinating film that demands attention from its opening sequence and doesn’t let go until the end despite its long running time. Flanagan valiant piece of filmmaking also pays a fine tribute to Stanley Kubrick’s work as well.
Jillian Bell deserves to become a major star on the evidence of this heart-warming and hugely enjoyable film. She plays Brittany Fogler, a 27 year-old New Yorker who gets a shock to the system when she visits her doctor. She needs to make life style changes and lose some weight but being unemployed and broke make things even more difficult…
The title is a giveaway and the action very predictable but overall Bell’s highly engaging and committed performance under Paul Downs Colaizzo’s likable direction makes this a worthy and fun trip.
Bart Freundlich’s remake of Suzanne Bier’s Danish drama was screened at the London Sundance Film Festival back in May. The main storyline is the same apart from gender reversal and location change.
Michelle Williams steps into Mads Mikkelsen’s shoes as the manager of an Indian orphanage who travels to New York (instead of Copenhagen) in order to meet Theresa (Julianne Moore), a wealthy benefactor. Isabelle is keen to fix the deal and return to her orphanage as soon as possible but first she has to attend the wedding of Theresa’s daughter…
The acting is of the highest order as can be expected by these wonderful leading ladies but this American version feels more syrupy and sentimental that the Danish original.
The name of Wash Westmoreland is quickly becoming synonymous with strong female led pictures following Julianne Moore’s Oscar triumph in STILL ALICE and Keira Knightley’s recent COLETTE. Now Alicia Vikander takes centre stage in this elegant thriller screened at the recent London Film Festival. She plays Lucy Fly, a mysterious young woman living in Tokyo in the late eighties and whose harsh facade begins to melt after she meets an attractive local photographer…
Vikander is terrific as the troubled protagonist delivering a complex performance in both English and Japanese and that is truly admirable. An attractive and engaging film but curiously it lacks tension.
TALES FROM THE LODGE
An enjoyable comedy/thriller with a good ensemble cast efficiently directed by Abigail Blackmore. A group of five old university friends get together for a weekend in an isolated lodge in order to scatter the ashes of one of their friends, who drowned in the lake three years earlier. During their stay they take it in turn to tell ghost and murder stories to keep themselves amused.
The cast includes Mackenzie Brook, Laura Fraser and Johnny Vegas and each story is directed by the actor who narrates it. Some stories work better than others but overall it is worth seeing for its clever twist.
Also out this week:
MAKING WAVES THE ART OF CINEMATIC SOUND: A long overdue celebration of the use of sound from its birth during the last days of silent cinema to the present day including many landmark movies that changed the way we experience films. Midge Costin’s terrific documentary focuses on many directors and their valuable collaborations with their sound editors- special mention goes to the remarkable Walter Murch for his work in THE CONVERSATION and ALOCALYPSE NOW as well as to Ben Burtt for STAR WARS. A must!
YVES SAINT LAURENT THE LAST COLLECTIONS: There have been several documentaries on the life and work of Yves Saint Laurent but Olivier Mayrou’s fascinating film is quite unique. Started shooting in 1998 for three years and focuses on Laurent’s last collections but especially on Pierre Berge, the designer’s controlling partner in business and life, who suppressed the film for two decades without even seeing it. A real collector’s item!
ROMEO & JULIET (BEYOND WORDS): Michael Nunn brings vividly to the screen the Royal Ballet’s production of the star crossed lovers’ tragedy choreographed by Kenneth MacMillan. An attractive film with impressive production values shot in Budapest, Hungary, and perfectly complimented by Sergei Prokofiev’s monumental score.
George Savvides
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7135
|
__label__wiki
| 0.707934
| 0.707934
|
OECD Home Directorate for Financial and Enterprise AffairsPublications & DocumentsPublications
6-April-2016
OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas - Third Edition
Trade and investment in natural mineral resources hold great potential for generating income, growth and prosperity, sustaining livelihoods and fostering local development. However, a large share of these resources is located in conflict affected and high-risk areas. In these areas, exploitation of natural mineral resources is significant and may contribute, directly or indirectly, to armed conflict, gross human rights violations and hinder economic and social development. The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas provides step-by-step management recommendations endorsed by governments for global responsible supply chains of all minerals, in order for companies to respect human rights and avoid contributing to conflict through their mineral or metal purchasing decisions and practices. The Due Diligence Guidance for minerals may be used by any company potentially sourcing any minerals or metals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas, and is intended to cultivate transparent, conflict-free supply chains and sustainable corporate engagement in the minerals sector.
OECD-Leitfaden für die Erfüllung der Sorgfaltspflicht zur Förderung verantwortungsvoller Lieferketten für Minerale aus Konflikt- und Hochrisikogebieten - Dritte Ausgabe
OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas - Third Edition (Chinese version)
Policies for Sound and Effective Investment in China
Since the start of the economic reform process in the 70s China has been able to generate a large volume of investment, both from domestic and foreign sources. This high volume of investment was instrumental in sustaining strong economic growth and related improvements in living standards. However, this growth model is not longer sustainable. Returns on investment have fallen, excessive capacity is plaguing several sectors and the negative externalities have been very onerous, notably in terms of environmental degradation and rising income inequality. A key objective of the Chinese government is therefore to move the economy towards a more balanced, sustainable and inclusive growth path as envisaged by the 13th Five-Year Plan. In this adjustment process, the country is seeking new approaches for smarter, greener and more productive investment. This will require mutually reinforcing reforms to improve investment planning, rebalance the role of government and market forces, mainstream responsible business conduct and encourage greater private investment, especially in green infrastructure. China’s growing role as an outward investor may act as catalyser for the required reforms at home, as Chinese private and state-owned enterprises have to adopt internationally recognised practices and standards .
Active with China CH 与中华人民共和国 积极互动
Policies for Sound and Effective Investment in China - (Chinese version)
Committing to Effective Whistleblower Protection
Whistleblower protection is essential for safeguarding the public interest, for promoting a culture of accountability and integrity in both public and private institutions, and for encouraging the reporting of misconduct, fraud and corruption wherever it occurs. While many countries are increasingly developing legal frameworks to protect whistleblowers, more can be done to mainstream integrity and promote open organisational cultures. This report analyses whistleblower protection frameworks in OECD countries, identifies areas for reform and proposes next steps to strengthen effective and comprehensive whistleblower protection laws in both the public and private sectors.
English, PDF, 722kb
Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership and Control in Listed Companies in Asia
This report reviews the legal and regulatory landscape for disclosure of beneficial ownership and control in Asia. It compares enforcement practices in 10 Asian jurisdictions and provides guidance and good practices to support policy makers and regulators.
New Zealand - OECD Anti-Bribery Convention
This page contains all information relating to implementation of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention in New Zealand.
Videos on the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention
This page contains video reports and interviews with international anti-corruption experts and campaigners in the fight against foreign bribery.
<< < 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 100 | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 | 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | 111 | 112 | 113 | 114 | 115 | 116 | 117 | 118 | 119 | 120 | 121 | 122 | 123 | 124 | 125 | 126 | 127 | 128 | 129 | 130 | 131 | 132 | 133 | 134 | 135 | 136 | 137 | 138 | 139 | 140 | 141 | 142 | 143 | 144 | 145 | 146 | 147 | 148 | 149 | 150 | 151 | 152 | 153 | 154 | 155 | 156 | 157 | 158 | 159 | 160 | 161 | 162 | 163 | 164 | 165 | 166 | 167 | 168 | 169 | 170 | 171 | 172 | 173 | 174 | 175 | 176 | 177 | 178 | 179 | 180 | 181 | 182 | 183 | 184 | 185 | 186 | 187 | 188 | 189 | 190 | 191 | 192 | 193 | 194 | 195 | 196 | 197 | 198 | 199 | 200 | 201 | 202 | 203 | 204 | 205 | 206 | 207 | 208 | 209 | 210 | 211 | 212 | 213 | 214 | 215 | 216 | 217 | 218 | 219 | 220 | 221 | 222 | 223 | 224 | 225 | 226 | 227 | 228 | 229 | 230 | 231 | 232 | 233 | 234 | 235 | 236 | 237 | 238 | 239 | 240 | 241 | 242 | 243 | 244 | 245 | 246 | 247 | 248 | 249 | 250 > >>
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7145
|
__label__wiki
| 0.870111
| 0.870111
|
Thomas Nast's first Republican elephant print... Homer print...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Nov. 7, 1874 The full front page is a Thomas Nast political cartoon: "A Tammany Rat", but certainly the most significant print in this issue is another full page Thomas Nast political cartoon titled: 'The 3rd term Panic' which shows the Republican elephant for the first time. Thomas Nast was the creator of both the Republican elephant and the ... See More
Chicago fire department...
HARPER'S WEEKLY Dec. 19, 1874 Nice fullpg: "Children Who Go To Public Schools" & "Children Who Do Not Go To Our Public Schools" shows dramatically different results! Very nice fullpg: "The Chicago Fire Dept." shows 5 men & 4 scenes. Ftpg "Shall Teacher's Salaries be Lowered?" by Nast. 3/4 pg "The Chess-Players". Two full pg "Ch... See More
Santa Claus on his sleigh...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Dec. 26, 1874 The full front page is a print: "Faith--Waiting for Santa Claus" showing a young girl waiting at the door of a toy store. Inside has a nice full page: "Santa Claus is Coming!" showing Santa on his sleigh being pulled by 4 reindeer. The great doublepage centerfold is: A Dream of a Christmas Dinner in Five Parts". Also insid... See More
Christmas poem..
HARPER'S WEEKLY dated December 26, 1874. (print only)
This is a single-page poem and print engraving entitled "The Christmas Baby" by Will Carleton. This is accompanied by seven small illustrations -- angels; a church; a father and his children; a lady making a visit; children playing; a cemetery; and a father holding a newborn baby.
The print size is approximately... See More
Read note regarding prints salvaged from damaged issues.
Kate Greenaway Christmas print...
ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, England, Dec. 26, 1874
* Kate Greenaway
* Christmas Dream
The full front page is a print: "Little Willie's Christmas Greeting". Inside has several full page prints including: "Christmas In Roumania", "Landing Oranges at Fresh Wharf, London Bridge, For Christmas", "Christmas Time Forty Years Ago" "A Christmas Pre... See More
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Dec. 26, 1874 The full front page is a print: "Faith--Waiting for Santa Claus" showing a young girl waiting at the door of a toy store. Inside has a nice full page: "Santa Claus is Coming!" showing Santa on his sleigh being pulled by 4 reindeer. The great doublepage centerfold is: AA Dream of a Christmas Dinner in 5 Parts". Also inside ... See More
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Dec. 26, 1874 The full front page is a print: "Faith--Waiting for Santa Claus" showing a young girl huddled at the door of a toy store. Inside has a nice full page: "Santa Claus is Coming!" showing Santa on his sleigh being pulled by four reindeer. The great doublepage centerfold is: A Dream of a Christmas Dinner in Five Parts". Also in... See More
Indian dance illustration... Mormon illustration...
HARPER'S WEEKLY Jan. 2, 1875 The full frontpage illustration is entitled "Alone with the Dying Year" shows a small child in a snow storm. Fullpage "Bringing Home the Fifth Wife--A Sketch in Mormondom" also includes a small article. Nice dblpgctrfld: "Indian Sun Dance - Young Bucks Proving Their Endurance by Self-torture". Fullpage Thomas Nast: "The Outs Alway... See More
Nast political ccartoon...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 16, 1875 Full front pg. illus. of "Compulsory Education-The Safeguard of Free Institutions." Inside is a 1/4 pg. portrait of "The Late Gerrit Smith." 1/2 pg. illus. of "Waiting." Full pg. illus. of "Christmas on an Ice Floe-An Incident of the Austrian Polar Expedition."
Full pg. Nast illus. of "Amphitheat... See More
Discovery of Greenland...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, September 25, 1875. Full front pg. illus. of "The Song of the Kettle - An Evening Reverie." Inside is a 1/4 pg. portrait of "President William C. Ralston, of the Bank of California." 1/2 pg. illus. of "Ralston's Death - Scene of the Drowning." Full pg. containing five illus. pertaining to "The New York Post Office - Views of the New Build... See More
Nast: "Go West, young man..."
HARPER'S WEEKLY, November 20, 1875. Front full pg. Nast illus. entitled "Go West, Young Man." Inside is a full pg. Nast illus. of "Tammany Down Again - The 'Reform' Trap Smashed." Four 1/4 pg. portraits of "The Hon. John Bigelow," "Stephen D. Van Schaick," "Frederick A. Schroeder," and "Henry A. Gildersleeve." Dblpgctrfld. of ... See More
Statue of Liberty...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, Nov. 27, 1875 Full ftpg: 'Elk hunting in the bad lands of the upper Missouri'. Fullpg: 'Projected Statue of Liberty for New York Harbor'. 1/3 pg: 'The Fast Mail Train, Engine No. 110'. 1/3 pg: 'Mining in Colorado, a played out Gulch'.
Nast political cartoons...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, December 4, 1875. Front full pg. Nast illus. of "Thanksgiving Finance." Inside is a small portrait of "Joseph Guibord." 1/2 pg. illus. of "The Cemetery Where Joseph Guibord was Buried." 1/2 pg. illus. of "Thanksgiving Time - Driving Home the Turkeys." 2/3 of a dblpgctrfld. of "Bravo Torro - A Reminiscence of San Roque." Full pg... See More
Edgar Allen Poe... Cleopatra's Needle...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, December 11, 1875. Front full pg. Nast illus. of "Ay, There's a Rub." Inside are two large illus. pertaining to "Moody and Sankey in Philadelphia" including "...Outside the Building" and "...The Opening Service." 1/4 pg. illus. of "Edgar Allen Poe." 1/4 pg. illus. of "Poe's Monument at Baltimore." 1/2 pg. illu... See More
Henry Wilson...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, December 18, 1875. Full front full pg. Nast illus. titled: "Post Haste--Let This Be the Fastest (Male) Mail on Record." Inside are two 1/2 pg. illus. pertaining to "Obsequies of Henry Wilson" including "...The Procession Passing St. Paul's Church, New York" and "...The Remains Lying in State in Doric Hall, Boston, Massachusetts." Fou... See More
Selling Christmas greens in Richmond, Virginia... Thomas Nast prints...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 25, 1875 Front full pg. illus. of" "Selling Christmas Greens - A Scene in Richmond, Virginia." Inside is a full pg. Thomas Nast illus: "J. G. B. Jun., In His Property Room." Two one-quarter pg. portraits of: "The Hon. Michael C. Kerr" and "The Rev. Dr. W.E. M'Laren."; one-third pg. portrait of: "J. ... See More
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Dec. 25, 1875 Front full pg. illus. of" "Selling Christmas Greens - A Scene in Richmond, Virginia." Inside is a full pg. Thomas Nast illus: "J. G. B. Jun., In His Property Room." Two one-quarter pg. portraits of: "The Hon. Michael C. Kerr" and "The Rev. Dr. W.E. M'Laren."; one-third pg. portrait of: "J. Ross... See More
Nast's Santa Claus about to come down the chimney...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 1, 1876 The full ftpg. shows a mother with two young children in a snowstorm: "Light In The Window". An inside page has a 3/4 pg. print: "The Christmas Chariot--The Coming of the Plum-Pudding" being pulled by two turkeys. Also a fullpg. print: "No Small Breed Fer Yer Uncle Abe Dis Christmas!..." showing a Black family with a l... See More
The Rio Grande... Monrovia...
FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Jan. 1, 1876 The full front page is a Keppler political cartoon: "The Anti-Third-Term Bombshell in Congress". Other prints within include: "Holiday Exhibition of Dolls in a Window at Macy's...", a full page Christmas-theme print (see); "The Martha Washington Reception at the Academy of Music...", 3 prints concerning ... See More
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 1, 1876 Although there are several Christmas-themed print, perhaps the best is the large doublepage centerfold by Thomas Nast (considered the creator of the modern version of Santa Claus) captioned: "The Watch On Christmas Eve" showing two children sitting in anticipation, by a fireplace.
And equally as nice, and also by Thomas... See More
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 1, 1876
* Santa Claus - Christmas
* Thomas Nast print
Although there are several Christmas-themed print, perhaps the best is the large doublepage centerfold by Thomas Nast (considered the creator of the modern version of Santa Claus) captioned: "The Watch On Christmas Eve" showing two children sitting in anticipation, by ... See More
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 8, 1876 The front full page Thomas Nast illustration of "Calling On Miss Columbia - New Year's Day, 1876." Inside is a full page illustration of "The Centennial Banquet in Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia, December 18, 1875." Full page Nast illustration of "In My Mind's Eye." Full page illustration of "Saved Fr... See More
Bear hunt in the Rocky Mountains...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 15, 1876 Full front page Thomas Nast political cartoon 'Madness (Yet There's Method In It)', plus another full page inside 'The (D. D.) Field of Gold, or The Lion's Legal (?) Share.' A half page: 'A Bear Hunt in the Rocky Mountains.' Most of the doublepage centerfold: 'A Visit to a Light House' which is comp... See More
Hunting deer in Scotland...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 29, 1876 Front full page illustration of "The Conspirators."; Inside is a full page illustration of "A Chase After Smugglers."; 1/2 page illustration of "High Street, With the First Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia."; 1/4 page illustration of "Monument to Agassiz."; 2/3 of a doublepage c... See More
Thomas Nast print of Uncle Sam...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 22, 1876 Full front page Thomas Nast political cartoon 'Cur-Tail-Phobia' shows Uncle Sam, and more. Another full page Nast political cartoon shows the 'Democratic Tiger in the Manger.' A full page illustration entitled 'Centennial Views' is comprised of two half-page illustrations. The doublepage centerfold is a 3/4 size entitled &... See More
The Thanksgiving turkey...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 9, 1876 Full front page Thomas Nast political cartoon: 'The Ignorant Vote--Honors Are Easy' is Black-themed. A half-page illustration 'The Louisiana Returning Board - Taking the Oath' with an accompanying article.
Doublepage centerfold: 'The British Arctic Expedition - Sunday Morning on Board the Alert, in Midwinter... See More
Fort Fetterman and Old Fort Reno.....
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 16, 1876 Full front page Thomas Nast cartoon entitled 'Another Outrage at the Pole (Poll) - The British Lion Bear-Dozed.' Full page of 3 illustration of the Sioux War: 'The Powder River Expedition' and 'Gen. Crook's Hqts., Ft. Fetterman' and 'Old Ft. Reno'.
Four half-page illustrations 'The Louisiana Returning B... See More
Opening of the season at the North Pole...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 23, 1876 (includes supplement with "Vanity Fair Christmas, 1683") Doublepage by Thomas Nast: 'Grant's Last Annual Message' shows a weeping Liberty figure; Full page: 'The Centennial--Wall paper Printing Press'; Front page: 'Burning of The Brooklyn Theatre - Scene at the Washington Street Entrance"; ... See More
Famous Thomas Nast Santa Claus print...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Dec. 30, 1876 The full front page shows: "Christmas-Eve In A Light House". Inside has a fullpg: "Christmas Eve--Getting Ready For Santa Claus" "Christmas In A Fishing Smack" and a few others. But the prime Christmas print has to be the very nice full page Thomas Nast print: " 'Twas The Night Before Christmas" showing ... See More
The full front page shows: "Christmas-Eve In A Light House". Inside has a fullpg: "Christmas Eve--Getting Ready For Santa Claus" "Christmas In A Fishing Smack" and a few others.
But the prime Christmas print has to be the very nice full page Thomas Nast print:... See More
A.B. Frost on hunting... Santa Claus... New Year's...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 6, 1877 The full front page is a montage of prints captioned: "The New Year". Prints within include a Thomas Nast political cartoon: "No--No More Chestnuts For Me."; full pg: "An American Farm Yard--A Frosty Morning" & a fullpg: "The Children's Corner at the Centennial--Exhibition of Dolls and Toys"; anoth... See More
Christmas in the wilds...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 13, 1877 Full ftpg. Nast political cartoon: 'Justice Brings Peace'. Nearly fullpg: 'The Terra Nova Snowshoe Club of Montreal' & 'One More Mouth to Feed' Very nice fullpg: 'Christmas In the Wilds--With the Hudson Bay Company Hunters' & 'Sleighing Sketches In New York'.
Cornelius Vanderbilt...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, Jan. 27, 1877 Full ftpg. Nast cartoon. 1/2 pg: 'Burial of Cornelius Vanderbilt'. Fullpg: 'The stranded steamship 'L'Amerique'. Fullpg: 'Winter sketches'.
Rutherford B. Hayes is inaugurated... Republican elephant...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, Mar. 24, 1877 Full ftpg. shows: 'Our New President Taking the Oath'. Great dblpgctrfld: 'Our New President--General View of the Inauguration Ceremonies' at the Capitol. Two other halfpg. scenes. re. the inauguration. Nice fullpg. Nast cartoon: 'Another Such Victory & I am Undone' shows a wounded Republican elephant in bandages. Fullpg: 'Pres. Gr... See More
The Republican elephant on the front page...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 24, 1877 Full front page shows a Thomas Nast political cartoon entitled "Saved (?) By The Skin Of His____" showing the injured Republican elephant hanging onto a limb with his trunk. Great full page shows construction of the Brooklyn Bridge "The East River Bridge - Demolition of Buildings for the New York Approach". Full page Thomas... See More
Artificial chicken hatching...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 15, 1877 Front full pg. Nast illus. of "C. O. D." Inside is a full pg. illus. of "Artificial Chicken Hatching." 1/3 pg. illus. of "Breakfast for the Prisoners." 2/3 of a doublepage centerfold of "Rainy Weather." 2/3 pg. illus. of "The Last Purchase." Two 1/4 pg. portraits of "M. Jules Grevy, ... See More
The masquerade ball...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 22, 1877 Front full pg. Nast illus. of "More Pacification." Inside is a 1/2 pg. illus. of "Farewell Reception to Minister Welsh at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts." 1/3 pg. portrait of "Osman Pasha." 1/4 pg. illus. of "Victor Hugo in Auguste's Wine Shop." 2/3 of a doublepage centerfold of "An Old-F... See More
Virginia City, Nevada...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 29, 1877 Front full pg. illus. of "The Christmas Baby." Inside is a full pg. Nast illus. entitled "Death on Economy." Full pg. illus. of "Chinese Quarters, Virginia City, Nevada."
Doublepage centerfold containing many illus. pertaining to "The Story of a Giant." Full pg. illus. of "Annual Dinner of the St. ... See More
Judaica item...
AMERICAN STANDARD, Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1878
* Judaica item : "Work of Jewish Bondholders"...
* "An Ugly Day at Harper's Ferry"...
Page 2 has a lengthy half column article headed:
"The National Suffering The Work of Jewish Bondholders"
with the full text visible in the photos below.
Also on pg. 2: "... See More
Santa Claus by Thomas Nast... "The New Comer...", by F.S. Church...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 5, 1878 The full ftpg. is taken up with: "The New Comer--A Sketch in the Depot of an Importer of Animals", by famed artist F.S. Church.
There are two very nice Thomas Nast Christmas prints, one being a great doublepage centerfold captioned: "Here We Are Again" showing a full-figure Santa Claus, with toys, next to a fireplace. "... See More
Nast on Boss Tweed...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, Jan. 19, 1878 Full ftpg. Nast: 'The Tweed-ization Of Silver' & another fullpg. Nast: 'Ideal Money'. Nice fullpg: 'A Warm Bed For Uncle' Two halfpg. views: 'Loading Cotton at Charleston' & 'A Cotton Wharf, Charleston, S.C.' 3/4 pg: 'Henry Stanley, The African Explorer' with text.
Nast cartoon...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 21, 1878 Full ftpg. Nast cartoon: 'The New Indian War' shows the 'Noble Rem Man' caught between the Interior Dept. & the War Dept. Another fullpg. Nast cartoon inside showing a Black man. A full page shows: "A Group of Afghan Chiefs."
Other news and advertisements of the day are included. This issue is complete in 16 pages and ... See More
With the Christmas supplement...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 28, 1878 (with Christmas Supplement . Ftpg: Th. Nast political cartoon: "Spoiling for a fight". Dblpgctrfld: "Christmas Fairy Gifts". Full pg. illus. "Patience until the Indian is civilized - so to speak". Full pg. illus: A Chinese Fortuneteller.
Other news and advertisements of the day are included. This issue is complete in 1... See More
Nice Thomas Nast Christmas centerfold...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Jan. 4, 1879 The full front page is a nice Christmas-themed print by Thomas Nast, captioned: "Christmas Post" showing a boy mailing a letter to Santa Claus. The other great print is the doublepage centerfold, also by Thomas Nast, captioned: "Merry Christmas" which shows five young children hanging on a jolly Santa Claus. Thomas Nast is credi... See More
Pine Bluff, Arkansas...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 11, 1879 Full ftpg. Nast cartoon: 'The Gold New Year', plus another fullpg. by Nast inside. One-third pg: 'Scene At Pine Bluff Station, Arkansas'. Great fullpg. of 6 scenes of: 'Wonders Underground--The Caves of Luray, Va.'
Other news and advertisements of the day are included. This issue is complete in 16 pages and is in good c... See More
Standingd Rock, the sacred stone...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 25, 1879 Full ftpg. Nast: 'No More Outbreaks' plus a Nast inside also. Halfpg: 'Sketches in the Northwest--Standing Rock, the Sacred Stone' & 'Traders at Ft. Garry, Manitoba' Spine wear. The double page centerfold has an illustration: "Too Late!" and much more.
Other news and advertisements of the day are included.... See More
Bowery branch of the YMCA...
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, February 8, 1879 Full ftpg. by Nast shows an Indian speaking to a man from China, discussing their common plights. Fullpg: 'The Bowery Branch of the Y.M.C.A.' Halfpg: 'First Public Inauguration of a Gov. in Kansas'.
Other news and advertisements of the day are included. This issue is complete in 16 pages and is in good condition.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7150
|
__label__cc
| 0.67545
| 0.32455
|
The Sand Bridge Chronicles
Getting There, One Handful of Sand at a Time
Category: Forgiveness
“I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy; we fought ourselves. The enemy was in us.” That’s how the film Platoon, a commentary on U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, ends in the words of protagonist Chris Taylor (played by Charlie Sheen). The words seem appropriate today as I read that little Wang Yue, the two-year-old injured in two horrible hit-and-runs in China has died. Continue reading “The Evil Within”
Signature of Jesus Found in Ecuador
Ecuadorians called them savages, but they are the Huarani people. A primitive tribe, they lived in the shadows of the jungle in Ecuador, launching savage attacks against one another, attacks that went on so long, no one remembered what rift had begun them. They were well acquainted with death but not with the outside world until, in 1956, five American missionaries went missing after making contact with them. Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, and Peter Fleming packed a small plane with gifts and began making inroads with the tribe in hopes of reaching them with the Gospel. After just a few days of contact, the Huaorani killed the five men. A handwritten journal chronicling the contact was left behind, as were five young widows and their children. News of the deaths spread worldwide. Continue reading “Signature of Jesus Found in Ecuador”
The Ants Go Marching, II
The Ants Go Marching
A Theology of Violence
Spring’s Honey
How to Say Good-bye?
A Roatan Journal
Acedia
Against a Deist God
Christian Lingo
Grasping for More
Leaps of Faith
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7153
|
__label__cc
| 0.529954
| 0.470046
|
MYOB adds 57% more subscribers in 2018 but total online customers still lag Xero's
Thursday 21st February 2019
Accounting software firm MYOB has been adding online customers at more than twice the rate of arch-rival Xero but its total subscriber numbers are still two-thirds of Xero’s numbers for Australia and New Zealand.
MYOB added 229,000 online subscribers in calendar 2018, a 57 percent increase, taking total online customer numbers to 628,000 and chair Justin Milne says the company is on track to reach 1 million online subscribers in 2020.
That compares to Xero’s Australasian customer numbers of 981,000 at Sept. 30, a 24 percent increase, but that means only 192,000 customers were added – Xero’s total customers at that date were 1.58 million but MYOB doesn’t compete outside of Australasia.
Xero's growth rate used to be faster when it had fewer customers and MYOB's rate of growth is also starting to slow a little now - subscriber numbers grew 60 percent in 2017.
But MYOB just can’t seem to get used to the idea that Xero is the dominant player in its market.
“The superior growth we’ve seen in online subscribers has placed us in the leadership position in the online accounting market,” says chief executive Tim Reed.
Xero founder Rod Drury started his company in 2007 and stole a march on MYOB, which was then the Australasian market leader for desktop software, a part of the market that is now slowly dying as online products gain ever greater market traction.
While MYOB operates in other markets, notably with its enterprise product which is aimed at the larger end of town, it says its online figures are comparable to those of its competitors.
Another slide in the company’s presentation shows it had 388,000 paying small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at Dec. 31 and MYOB says the balance are practice ledgers used by accountants to complete compliance work for SMEs that don’t use one of MYOB’s SME solutions.
“Our competitors include practice ledgers in their online subscription count, so it’s all consistent in terms of reporting.”
MYOB does still have 253,000 paying customers still using its desktop software, but that number has dropped from 314,000 a year ago.
It says it is converting those customers to its online products at an accelerating rate – they were converting at a 6 percent pace in 2016, at 10 percent in 2017 and at 12 percent in 2018.
Nevertheless, those converted customers are accounting for a smaller proportion on new SME customer gains – they went from 60 percent in 2017 to 54 percent in 2018 – because MYOB’s sales to new SMEs are growing faster.
MYOB’s annual net profit rose 5 percent to A$63.8 million. The company has agreed to a scheme of arrangement with private equity giant KKR whose offer is A$3.40 per share.
Part of the agreement allowed MYOB to seek a higher offer – KKR had agreed to sell into any higher offer that materialised – up until close of business today. MYOB says it will announce the outcome of its “go shop” period on Friday.
The market appears sceptical a rival offerer will emerge because the shares are trading at A$3.37, down 4 cents from Wednesday.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7160
|
__label__cc
| 0.606937
| 0.393063
|
DryShips profitable for second consecutive quarter
DryShips, a diversified owner and operator of ocean going cargo vessels, announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2018.
Second Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights
For the second quarter of 2018, the Company reported net income of $3.6 million, or $0.04 basic and diluted earnings per share.
Included in the second quarter of 2018 results are the following:
Vessel dry-docking costs of $3.3 million, or $0.03 per share.
Gain of $5.1 million, or $0.05 per share, on the sale of the Company’s 2001 built Panamax vessel, the Maganari, to an unaffiliated buyer.
Excluding the above, the Company’s net results would have amounted to a net income of $1.8 million, or $0.02 per share.
The Company reported Adjusted EBITDA of $13.3 million for the second quarter of 2018. (1)
(1) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-U.S. GAAP measure; please see later in this press release for reconciliation to net income/ (loss).
Updated Key Information as of July 30, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents: approximately $155.4 million (or $1.57 per share)
Book value of vessels: approximately $893.2 million (or $9.05 per share)
Debt outstanding balance: approximately $434.1 million (or $4.40 per share)
Number of Shares Outstanding: 98,708,716
$50.0 million Common Stock Repurchase Program
As of July 31, 2018, the Company has repurchased a total of 5,565,992 shares of its common stock for an aggregate amount of $23.1 million, including commissions, pursuant to its previously announced stock repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $50.0 million of its outstanding common stock until February 28, 2019. The current number of the Company’s outstanding common stock is 98,708,716.
Suspension of Cash Dividend
While announcing the results of its common stock repurchase program under which the Company has repurchased a total of 5,565,992 shares, the Company’s Board of Directors has decided to suspend the Company’s previously announced cash dividend policy until further notice. As previously noted, both the dividend policy and common stock repurchase program are subject to the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and may be suspended or amended at any time without notice.
Vessel Deliveries
On July 18 and July 24, 2018, the Company’s Panamax vessels Redondo and Marbella, respectively, were delivered to their new owners according to the terms of the previously announced Memoranda of Agreement with unaffiliated buyers.
Fleet List
The table below describes the Company’s fleet as of July 30, 2018:
Year Gross rate Redelivery
Built DWT Per day Earliest Latest
Drybulk fleet
Panamax:
Bargara(1) 2002 74,832 Spot N/A N/A
Capitola 2001 74,816 Spot N/A N/A
Catalina 2005 74,432 Spot N/A N/A
Levanto 2001 73,925 Spot N/A N/A
Ligari 2004 75,583 Spot N/A N/A
Majorca 2005 74,477 Spot N/A N/A
Mendocino(1) 2002 76,623 Spot N/A N/A
Rapallo 2009 75,123 Spot N/A N/A
Raraka 2012 76,037 Spot N/A N/A
Newcastlemax:
Bacon 2013 205,170 T/C Index Linked Aug-18 Jan-19
Huahine 2013 206,037 $ 24,500 Feb-19 Apr-19
Judd 2015 205,796 $ 20,700 Jan-19 Apr-19
Marini 2014 205,854 T/C Index Linked Dec-18 Feb-19
Morandi 2013 205,854 T/C Index Linked Feb-19 May-19
Kamsarmax:
Castellani 2014 82,129 Spot N/A N/A
Kelly 2017 81,300 Spot N/A N/A
Matisse 2014 81,128 Spot N/A N/A
Nasaka 2014 81,918 Spot N/A N/A
Valadon 2014 81,198 Spot N/A N/A
Tanker fleet
Very Large Crude Carrier:
Shiraga 2011 320,105 Spot N/A N/A
Suezmax:
Marfa 2017 159,513 Spot N/A N/A
Samsara 2017 159,855 $18,000 Base rate plus profit share Mar.-22 May-25
Aframax:
Balla 2017 113,293 Spot N/A N/A
Stamos 2012 115,666 Spot N/A N/A
Gas Carrier fleet
Very Large Gas Carriers:
Anderida(2) 2017 51,850 $ 29,997 Jun.-22 Jun.-25
Aisling(2) 2017 51,850 $ 29,997 Sep.-22 Sep.-25
Mont Fort(2) 2017 51,850 $ 28,833 Nov.-27 Nov.-27
Mont Gelé(2) 2018 51,850 $ 28,833 Jan.-28 Jan.-28
Offshore Supply fleet
Platform Supply Vessels:
Crescendo 2012 1,457 Laid up N/A N/A
Colorado 2012 1,430 Laid up N/A N/A
Oil Spill Recovery Vessels:
Indigo 2013 1,401 Laid up N/A N/A
Jacaranda 2012 1,360 Laid up N/A N/A
Emblem 2012 1,363 Laid up N/A N/A
Jubilee 2012 1,317 Laid up N/A N/A
(1) Sold and expected to be delivered to new owners in 2018.
(2) Sold and expected to be delivered to new owners in 2018, subject to charterers’ approval.
Drybulk, Tanker and Gas Carrier Segments Summary Operating Data (unaudited)
(U.S. Dollars in thousands, except average daily results)
Drybulk Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
Average number of vessels(1) 15.5 20.9 14.3 21.0
Total voyage days for vessels(2) 1,410 1,850 2,580 3,740
Total calendar days for vessels(3) 1,410 1,903 2,580 3,793
Fleet utilization(4) 100.0 % 97.2 % 100.0 % 98.6 %
Time charter equivalent(5) $ 6,985 $ 11,431 $ 6,365 $ 11,225
Vessel operating expenses (daily)(6) $ 6,320 $ 7,543 $ 5,787 $ 6,841
Tanker Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
Average number of vessels(1) 1.9 4.3 1.0 4.1
Total voyage days for vessels(2) 175 387 175 747
Total calendar days for vessels(3) 175 387 175 747
Fleet utilization(4) 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 %
Time charter equivalent(5) $ 10,057 $ 15,080 $ 10,057 $ 17,444
Vessel operating expenses (daily)(6) $ 17,720 $ 7,674 $ 17,848 $ 7,764
Gas Carrier Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
Total voyage days for vessels(2) 3 364 3 714
Total calendar days for vessels(3) 3 364 3 714
Vessel operating expenses (daily)(6) $ 272,899 $ 8,536 $ 272,899 $ 9,125
(1) Average number of vessels is the number of vessels that constituted the Company’s fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of days each vessel was a part of the Company’s fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.
(2) Total voyage days for fleet are the total days the vessels were in the Company’s possession for the relevant period net of dry-docking and laid-up days.
(3) Calendar days are the total number of days the vessels were in the Company’s possession for the relevant period including dry-docking days and laid-up days.
(4) Fleet utilization is the percentage of time that the Company’s vessels were available for revenue generating voyage days, and is determined by dividing voyage days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.
(5) Time charter equivalent, or TCE, is a measure of the average daily revenue performance of a vessel on a per voyage basis. The Company’s method of calculating TCE is consistent with industry standards and is determined by dividing voyage revenues (net of voyage expenses) by voyage days for the relevant time period. Voyage expenses primarily consist of port, canal and fuel costs that are unique to a particular voyage and are paid by the charterer under a time charter contract, as well as commissions. TCE revenues, a non-U.S. GAAP measure, provides additional meaningful information in conjunction with revenues from the Company’s vessels, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, because it assists the Company’s management in making decisions regarding the deployment and use of its vessels and in evaluating their financial performance. TCE is also a standard shipping industry performance measure used primarily to compare period-to-period changes in a shipping company’s performance despite changes in the mix of charter types (i.e., spot charters, time charters and bareboat charters) under which the vessels may be employed between the periods. Please see below for a reconciliation of TCE rates to voyage revenues.
(6) Daily vessel operating expenses, which includes crew costs, provisions, deck and engine stores, lubricating oil, insurance, maintenance and repairs is calculated by dividing vessel operating expenses by fleet calendar days net of laid-up days for the relevant time period.
Drybulk, Tanker and Gas Carrier Segments Summary Operating Data (unaudited) – continued
(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for TCE rate, which is expressed in U.S. Dollars, and voyage days)
Voyage revenues $ 12,225 $ 22,748 $ 20,713 $ 45,281
Voyage expenses (2,376 ) (1,601 ) (4,292 ) (3,299 )
Time charter equivalent revenues $ 9,849 $ 21,147 $ 16,421 $ 41,982
Total voyage days for fleet 1,410 1,850 2,580 3,740
Time charter equivalent (TCE) $ 6,985 $ 11,431 $ 6,365 $ 11,225
Voyage revenues $ 3,606 $ 9,918 $ 3,606 $ 21,147
Time charter equivalent revenues $ 1,760 $ 5,836 $ 1,760 $ 13,031
Total voyage days for fleet 175 387 175 747
Time charter equivalent (TCE) $ 10,057 $ 15,080 $ 10,057 $ 17,444
Voyage revenues $ 50 $ 10,590 $ 50 $ 20,883
Voyage expenses (6 ) (424 ) (6 ) (832 )
Time charter equivalent revenues $ 44 $ 10,166 $ 44 $ 20,051
Total voyage days for fleet 3 364 3 714
DryShips Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Expressed in Thousands of U.S. Dollars
except for share and per share data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
16,381 43,256 28,189 87,311
Voyage expenses 4,395 6,107 6,629 12,247
Vessel operating expenses 15,532 20,560 23,686 38,660
Depreciation 2,290 7,156 3,102 13,974
Impairment loss,(gain)/loss from sale of vessel and other 300 (5,109 ) 300 (5,109 )
Other, net – (347 ) (12 ) (365 )
Operating income/(loss) (13,218 ) 7,277 (21,311 ) 13,123
OTHER INCOME / (EXPENSES):
Interest and finance costs, net of interest income (2,270 ) (3,915 ) (4,709 ) (8,805 )
Other, net (156 ) 214 (331 ) 31
Total other expenses, net (2,426 ) (3,701 ) (5,040 ) (8,774 )
Net income/(loss) (15,644 ) 3,576 (26,351 ) 4,349
Net income/(loss) attributable to DryShips Inc. $ (15,644 ) $ 3,576 $ (26,351 ) $ 4,349
Net income/(loss) attributable to DryShips Inc. common stockholders (15,644 ) 3,576 (26,351 ) 4,349
Earnings/(Losses) per common share, basic and diluted (1) $ (37.12 ) $ 0.04 $ (108.25 ) $ 0.04
Weighted average number of shares, basic and diluted (1) 421,418 100,581,638 243,433 102,123,365
(1) Share and per share data for 2017 give effect to the 1-for-7 reverse stock split on July 21, 2017.
(Expressed in Thousands of U.S. Dollars) December 31, 2017 June 30, 2018
Cash, cash equivalents, including restricted cash (current and non-current) $ 30,226 $ 140,241
Other current and non-current assets 123,713 97,722
Advances for vessels under construction 31,898 –
Vessels, net 749,088 887,094
Total assets 934,925 1,125,057
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Total debt 216,969 433,335
Total other liabilities 10,920 7,953
Total stockholders’ equity 707,036 683,769
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 934,925 $ 1,125,057
SHARE COUNT DATA
Common stock issued 104,274,708 104,274,708
Less: Treasury stock – (5,565,792 )
Common stock issued and outstanding 104,274,708 98,708,916
Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and certain other non-cash items as described below. Adjusted EBITDA does not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or cash flow from operations, as determined by United States generally accepted accounting principles, and the Company’s calculation of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is included herein because it is a basis upon which the Company measures its operations. Adjusted EBITDA is also used by the Company’s lenders as a credit metric and the Company believes that it presents useful information to investors regarding a company’s ability to service and/or incur indebtedness.
The following table reconciles net income / (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA:
(U.S. Dollars in thousands) Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
Net income/(loss) attributable to Dryships Inc $ (15,644 ) $ 3,576 $ (26,351 ) $ 4,349
Add: Net interest expense 2,270 3,915 4,709 8,805
Add: Depreciation 2,290 7,156 3,102 13,974
Add: Dry-dockings and class survey costs – 3,310 – 3,699
Add: Impairment loss, (gain)/loss from sale of vessel and other 300 (5,109 ) 300 (5,109 )
Add: Write-off of capitalized expenses – 470 – 470
Add: Income taxes 11 2 20 2
Adjusted EBITDA $ (10,773 ) $ 13,320 $ (18,220 ) $ 26,190
DryShips back in profit as revenue sharply increases
DryShips to buy four ships from Economou affiliates
DryShips returns to first-quarter profit
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7162
|
__label__cc
| 0.739232
| 0.260768
|
Xing PathsReleased on 26 May 2009 by Xenovibes
Been There Too
Fantasy (Caravan of Dreams)
No Imitation
Vibe PN
Black Card Circle
Good Vibrations (cover)
Shueh-li's 3rd CD released under the Xenovibes concept.
"I like to be trying something new, always finding a fresh perspective to music. How can one built a new piece from the same 12 notes?! So I concentrated on building new sound, putting my voice and theremin through ‘awkward’ moments and fine-tuning my style of synth performance. I allow my music/sound to remove all stereotyping of my gender/genre/ethnicity/training. I am appreciative of this avenue to be whatever I want to be without being condemned.
The 1st CD was a ‘sampler’ of what I do as a composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and producer/engineer. The 2nd CD allowed me to inch closer to showing off what XV is all about; the melding of my background and persuasions, and my philosophical approach to my work. In Crossing Paths (XV III - Xing Paths) I get to relax and have fun!
I invited John to contribute 3 ideas that I could transform for this CD; Vibe PN, Who Knew and Concrete Jungle originally conceived on his Roland S50 in the '90s."
Dean Parks (guitar tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 9)
Curtis Randall (bass tracks 4, 5, 6, 7)
Boo Massey (extra guitar tracks 1, 6, 8, 12)
John A Martinez (drums)
The overwhelming feeling I got at the end of listening to Xing Paths was one of freshness. New, original and engaging sounds are abundant throughout this wonderfully crafted album. Rated 9.6 out of 10.
- Mark Eliot, Usaprogmusic
It's Ong's best stuff yet. Lush blend of quirky electronica driven by strong melodies and lots of imaginations. If there's one thing that Xing Paths demonstrate as a whole, it's that Ong isn't a one-trick pony, and her vocals are appealingly polished. Rated 'A.'
- Chris Lim, The Business Times Singapore May 2009
So immediately appealing, it's a sterling effort that sets a new benchmark for Xenovibes, and a showcase for making sophisticated music accessible to a mainstream audience.
- musicgoondu, 01 May 2009
The world needs more Good Vibrations and these are some of the best. Creative, artistic use of technology is a beautiful thing, especially when it is this well done.
- Chris Stack, MoogMusic
I just wanted to say I really enjoy your music, it is not often I come across something that is totally different. I have been peripherally involved in music since the mid 60’s in England … I (did) a bit of work for Todd Rundgren on his Patronet project.
I really was very pleasantly surprised by your music; it prompted me to purchase Good Vibrations. You made a great version of a pivotal piece of music!
- Mike Brunt
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7165
|
__label__wiki
| 0.906952
| 0.906952
|
Vikings 2017 Preview
Kicker Kai Forbath emerged from the Vikings preseason with a job, and that wasn't always certain to happen. Last year’s replace- ment for Blair Walsh won a competition with Marshall Koehn, and Ryan Quigley overcame Taylor Symmank to become the punter. Photo by Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune
With Vikings, special teams bar is raised to superstar status
Under the guidance of coach Mike Priefer, the dirty work is a popular task.
By Mark Craig Star Tribune
September 9, 2017 — 7:42am
Young Danielle Hunter’s prowess as a pass rusher was beginning to overflow last season when Vikings coach Mike Zimmer sat down with special teams coordinator Mike Priefer for a conversation Priefer has heard many times before.
“He was like, ‘Prief, we don’t want him covering kickoffs anymore because he’s really, really good [at defensive end],’ ” Priefer said. “So you lose a very, very good special teams player. But that doesn’t slow us down. Never has. It’s been ‘next guy up’ around here for a long time on special teams.”
VIKINGS PREVIEW 2017 Offense: Vikings unleash modernized offense to break away from the Adrian Peterson era Will dynamic zone-running schemes reform Vikings ground attack? Defense: Vikings defense elite? They’re out to prove they didn’t ‘taper off’ Mackensie Alexander is learning the true value of playing nickel Special Teams: Around the Vikings, special teams bar is raised to superstar status Chip Scoggins: How Mike Zimmer’s visit with Sam Bradford in Oklahoma knitted their relationship Jim Souhan: It’s logical to assume Vikings GM Rick Spielman has to soon produce a winner to keep his job Sid Hartman: Twin Cities setting stage for Super Bowl LII in grand fashion
There also was a time when Everson Griffen was one of Priefer’s standout special teams players. Ditto for Harrison Smith. And Adam Thielen, among other big names.
But then they became core starters with contracts to match. And, frankly, in the brutal reality of the NFL their health became too valuable to risk on special teams.
So Priefer is asked time after time to turn toward the bottom of the 53-man roster, where the residents are younger, cheaper and, hopefully, eager for some of the more violent collisions in football.
“That’s what I love, though,” Priefer said. “I fell in love with coaching special teams because you get to coach all the positions, especially the young and hungry guys.”
This is Priefer’s seventh season with the Vikings and 16th season of coaching NFL special teams. One more season and he’ll match his father and coaching hero, Chuck, who coached NFL special teams for 17 seasons before retiring after the 2006 season.
Since Mike joined the NFL, his units have scored 26 times, including a league-high 14 since the Vikings hired him in 2011.
“The bar is high because guys take special teams seriously around here,” said Marcus Sherels, who has rewritten the team’s punt return records since 2011. “That’s a testament to Coach Priefer. He pays attention to detail, he’s honest, he’s got good schemes and we play hard for him.”
Sherels owns the franchise’s top two single-season punt-return averages (15.2 yards in 2013, 13.9 last season), the career mark of 10.6 and the records for most punt returns for touchdowns (five) and 50 or more yards (seven).
Meanwhile, Cordarrelle Patterson became the first player ever to lead the NFL in kickoff return average three times. But then he departed via free agency after last season, leaving Priefer with the familiar task of starting over again.
Jerick McKinnon more than likely won that job with his 108-yard return for a touchdown against the 49ers in the third preseason game. The running back would join punter Ryan Quigley and kicker Kai Forbath as the victors in the three most hotly contested special teams battles this summer.
Vikings vs. the NFL: An inside look at every game this season
To kick off the Vikings season, go in depth with game-by-game analysis, a breakdown of key matchups and a look at critical new roles for select players.
Other rookies and young veterans will be stepping into some of the more unsung special teams roles while the veterans watch closely.
“We have older guys in the locker room who have played special teams and now preach their importance to the younger guys,” Priefer said. “Andrew Sendejo was a great special teams player. He still leads our players-only special teams meeting every week. ... It’s a great culture.”
Priefer credited General Manager Rick Spielman for bringing in guys who “love the game of football.”
“And I always tell them if they don’t love the game of football, they won’t like playing special teams,” Priefer said. “It’s not easy. It’s what the Navy SEALs call violence of action. The violence of your action is going to cause you to do damage to the opponent, but it’s also going to cause you a little bit of pain and suffering, too. To me, this is a special group.”
KEYS TO VICTORY
Attitude stands out in those who are special on special teams
Instinct drives former undrafted rookie
Anthony Harris has gone from undrafted rookie long shot in 2015 to the Vikings’ most versatile, most unsung special teams player heading into the 2017 season.
“Man, he’s awesome,” said special teams coordinator Mike Priefer. “Anywhere I need a guy I can trust is going to get the job done, I put Anthony there.”
The 6-1, 192-pound safety from Virginia isn’t, as Priefer puts it, “the fastest guy in the world or the biggest guy in the world.”
“Guys who might be faster than Anthony will be a step slower because they don’t have the instinct to play special teams like Anthony does,” Priefer added.
Harris sets the protection as the fullback on the punt team. He’s also on punt return, kickoff and kick return.
“He’s probably the most versatile guy I have,” Priefer said. “For example, on kick return, he starts on the front line wherever I need him. I look at the opponent’s best matchup and put Anthony on that guy.” Harris said he’s always loved special teams.
“I came in my freshman year of college wanting to play special teams,” said Harris, who had 11 interceptions while starting 35 games in college. “To be a good special teams player, it’s taking coaching and having the will to want to do it.”
Marcus Sherels
Execution puts returner in the right spots
There isn’t a smaller guy on the Vikings’ roster than Marcus Sherels. Nor is there anyone who has made a bigger impact on special teams going all the way back to 2011.
So what makes this 5-10, 175-pound ex-Gopher a record-setting punt returner, comforting backup kick returner and elite cover guy as the gunner on punts and outside safety spot on kickoffs?
“He does exactly what you want him to do 99 percent of the time,” special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. “And I mean exactly how he’s coached to do it. And then he uses his God-given ability and talent level.
He’s a film junkie, works very hard to take care of his body and plays fast all the time. Even in practice.”
Only two current Vikings, Brian Robison and Everson Griffen, were on the roster when Sherels landed on the practice squad after surviving a rookie minicamp tryout in 2010. Today, Sherels owns the franchise’s top two single-season punt return averages (15.2, 13.9), the career mark of 10.6, and the records for most career punt return touchdowns (five) and punt returns of 50 yards or more (seven).
“It’s just doing your fundamentals, taking coaching and improving every day,” Sherels said. “That’s pretty much it.”
Mark Craig
Kicker/Punter: 2.
Need to see more from punter Ryan Quigley and kicker Kai Forbath under pressure situations. Both won open competitions in training camp but must show consistency to keep their jobs.
Kick returner/Punt returner: 4.
Marcus Sherels is Mr. Reliable as one of the NFL’s top punt returners. Jerick McKinnon won the kickoff returner job with a 108-yard touchdown against San Francisco in the third preseason game.
Super Bowl bound?
All four phases — kicking, punting, coverage and return — play extraordinary complementary football to counter weaknesses on offense with advantageous field position that allows the defense to consistently control the game.
Mark Craig has covered college or pro football for 27 of his 31 years as a sports writer at the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and Star Tribune. He is in his 24th season of covering the NFL. He is one of the 48 selectors for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
mcraig@startribune.com 612-673-7011 markcraignfl
South Metro Man found dead in Hwy. 169 median many hours after crash is ID'd
As snowfall ebbs, roads remain icy and winds pick up
The Latest: Stefanos Tsitsipas wins in 3 sets over Caruso
The Latest on the Australian Open (all times local):
Everyone had the same question when the Australian Open draw was revealed: What were the odds that Coco Gauff and Venus Williams would face each other again in the first round at a Grand Slam tournament?
Update on the latest in sports:
NFL-SCHEDULENiners romp past Packers; Chiefs end half-century of frustrationUNDATED (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs have earned trips to Miami for…
For all of the concerns about air quality at the Australian Open, it turned out the biggest issue related to playing conditions on Day 1 was heavy rain — which, hopefully, will also help tamp down the destructive wildfires burning in parts of the country.
Denver Nuggets (29-13, third in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-27, 13th in the Western Conference)Minneapolis; Monday, 8 p.m. ESTLINE: Timberwolves -2.5; over/under is…
Vikings kickoff: Offense reboots, defense hammers down
Souhan: Past, present story lines raise interest in 49ers-Chiefs • Vikings
Mahomes' feet, arm lift Chiefs to Super Bowl over Titans • Vikings
The Vikings in 2020: Who's back, and who's gone? • Vikings
Rodgers again falls short of another Super Bowl appearance • Vikings
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7171
|
__label__cc
| 0.709104
| 0.290896
|
Inside the mind of a House Republican
Trump defense collapses at Thursday’s Impeachment hearing
A wine review, and an Overview of Napa Cabernet
Posted by steve on Nov 21, 2019 in Cabernet Sauvignon, Marketing, Napa Valley, News, Reviewing | 1 comment
Nickel & Nickel 2009 C.C. Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley). The C.C. Ranch is in the eastern Rutherford appellation, just west the Silverado Trail, near the hilly knolls of Quintessa. It’s a younger vineyard, with planting starting in 2000 to Cabernet Sauvignon. The gravelly soils are well-drained. Nickel & Nickel gets a portion of the grapes of the 115-acre vineyard.
When I first reviewed this wine, in 2012, it was disagreeably hard in tannins—a trait that marks all of Nickel & Nickel’s single-vineyard Cabernets. Which suggests aging. So how’s this 100% Cab doing?
Splendidly. The tannins are still there, but they’ve grown softer and melted. The youthful blackberry, cherry, plum and raisin flavors, liberally enriched with oak and tangy spices (anise, Chinese 5 spice), are turning the corner into secondary character: dried fruits, cassis, dark chocolate, enlivened with acidity. With a complex, long finish, it argues the case for aging high-quality Napa Valley Cabernet; a decade is a good guideline. Does it have a future? Yes. Already throwing sediment, it should continue to glide through the next ten years. But right now is a good time to pop the cork. Score: 95.
My review of this Cabernet opens up the wider question of the role of Napa Valley Cabernet in today’s world. The glamor, I think, that haloed Napa Cab from the 1960s until the end of the century has largely faded. Like a famous movie star in her time—Garbo, Bergman, Dietrich—its luster necessarily diminishes. And yet, Napa Cab has achieved what its pioneers always dreamed of: reputational parity, or nearly so, with classic European wines: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, German Riesling. The words “Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon” finally signify something important, coveted and expensive.
Still, Napa Cab suffers from limitations that do not impact classic European wines. For starters, Napa Cab is notoriously difficult to pair with food. It can be done, of course: if you go to a steakhouse, chances are you’ll see a lot of Napa Cabernet on the wine list. But people are eating less beef these days. Between 2000 and 2017, beef consumption in the U.S. declined significantly, by 15.5%.
People are turning away from beef, in favor of lighter meats (chicken, pork, lamb) or plant-based foods. And the fact is that Cabernet is not a particularly deft partner for lighter meats. It swamps poultry, while for pork or lamb, lighter reds, such as Pinot Noir, and even white wines, are far more amenable.
I suspect that my experience with Cabernet Sauvignon is similar to that of many other Americans. I drink it less and less (even though I have a lot in my cellar), simply because it’s too heavy for my eating habits. (I also drink far less Cabernet in the summer, for that very reason.) Napa Cabernet is high in alcohol, relative to other dry red table wines, which is another reason to reduce my consumption of it. I’m not a Millennial, but my hunch, based on anecdotal information including my observation of “hot” wine bars in the San Francisco Bay Area, is that Millennials (Gen Y) and Gen Z (at least, those old enough to legally consume alcohol) are not drinking Cabernet Sauvignon. They’re looking for lighter, more interesting wines from around the world, not something expensive and heavy, which their parents and grandparents drank. Having said this, I’m aware that Cabernet Sauvignon, as an international varietal wine, is the most popular red wine in America, by far. But that’s everyday Cabernet, under $20 or so—the polar opposite of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: the former Toyota, the latter Porsche.
Napa Cabernet will be around for a long time, but I think it has now entered a period of stasis. It will rest on its laurels, enjoying its exalted status, but its best, most exciting days are behind, at least here in the U.S. This has long been foreseen by Napa wineries, at least those capable of forward-looking vision, which is why so many have labored for so long to establish overseas markets. But export markets aren’t a silver bullet: Trump’s tariff wars threaten the foreign importation of U.S. wines.
So if you’re a Napa Cabernet producer, what do you do? For one thing, you’re grateful you have a personal fortune (which is practically a prerequisite for owning a Napa winery). Your money will allow you to continue in business, despite headwinds, for some time to come. But your money can’t compel consumers to buy the product you’re selling, and eventually, for many upscale Napa producers, getting bought out by a large company is the only way out (Cf. the Pahlmeyer-Gallo deal).
Don’t get me wrong: as my review of the Nickel & Nickel ’09 C.C. shows, it is a fabulous wine. I enjoyed reviewing it, and, afterwards, drinking the remainder with a perfect hamburger I made myself, using good ground beef with 20% fat content. But that was the first hamburger I’d made at home in years; it was only the second hamburger I’d eaten in years, and in fact, the reason I chose to make a hamburger was because I wanted something to drink the wine with, and a hamburger seemed a healthier alternative to steak. None of my “normal” dinners (grains, vegetables, chicken, salmon, omelets) would have been suitable for such a rich wine, sweet in fruit and oak, and thick in tannins. And so, all those other older bottles of Napa Cabernet will remain in my cellar until the next time I chose to make a hamburger, much less a steak. All of which makes drinking my Napa Cabs, frankly, problematic…
One Response to “A wine review, and an Overview of Napa Cabernet”
Jeffrey Noel says:
Very well written Steven ! for so long the truth has been “The Bigger the Bolder the Better” ! And so went the review points ,to which the idea of cooler climate Cabernet ie most Sonoma County gives you full flavor without the Reduction Sauce version of Cabernet . Jeff Noel ,Blue Rock Vineyard Cloverdale Ca.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7172
|
__label__cc
| 0.698255
| 0.301745
|
Contact Me | 850-699-7420
Phone:* Postal Code:*
My 24/7 Homewatch
Beaches of South Walton/30A
Ft. Walton Beach
Tell Me About Your Dream Home
Find My Homes Value
Steve Youell
Broker Associate, serving the Florida Panhandle
City or Zip Code:
Select Property Type:
Residential Mobile Home Multi Residential Lots and Land Commercial Business Opportunity Residential Rental Multi Residential 5+ Farm Condo Commercial Lease Planned Development Multi Residential Time Share Residential CoOp
Select Price Range $0-$99,999 $100,000-$199,999 $200,000-$299,999 $300,000-$399,999 $400,000-$499,999 $500,000-$599,999 $600,000-$699,999 $700,000-$799,999 $800,000-$899,999 $900,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,099,999 $1,100,000-$1,199,999 $1,200,000-$1,299,999 $1,300,000-$1,399,999 $1,400,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$1,599,999 $1,600,000-$1,699,999 $1,700,000-$1,799,999 $1,800,000-$1,899,999 $1,900,000-$2,000,000 $2,000,000+
Find your next home.
Min $250 $500 $750 $1000 $1250 $1500 $2000 $2500 $3000 $10k $20k $30k $50k $100k $130k $150k $200k $250k $300k $350k $400k $450k $500k $550k $600k $700k $800k $900k $1M $1.1M $1.2M $1.3M $1.4M $1.5M $1.6M $1.7M $1.8M $1.9M $2M $2.5M $3M $3.5M $4M $4.5M $5M $5.5M $10M $20M to Max $250 $500 $750 $1000 $1250 $1500 $2000 $2500 $3000 $10k $20k $30k $50k $100k $130k $150k $200k $250k $300k $350k $400k $450k $500k $550k $600k $700k $800k $900k $1M $1.1M $1.2M $1.3M $1.4M $1.5M $1.6M $1.7M $1.8M $1.9M $2M $2.5M $3M $3.5M $4M $4.5M $5M $5.5M $10M $20M
More Search Options Search by Map Search by MLS#
Request an updated valuation of your home
from a licensed Real Estate Professional.
Visit our blog and stay on top of the latest company and real estate news.
PenFed Realty Blog
My 24/7 is your portal to real estate activity in your current or future neighborhood.
Explore and find out more
about the Destin region.
Our calculators help make your financial planning more convenient.
Our award-winning Business Development department is ready to assist you.
One of these beautiful homes may be your new dream home! We know each of these properties and the neighborhoods they are located in very well, so feel free to ask us any questions you may have or schedule a private showing! Click on a property and inquire today!
Selected Property Listings
61 Siaconset Ln Lot 28 Inlet Beach, FL$821,900
48 Chapman Oak Wy Santa Rosa Beach, FL$2,850,000
429 Bridge Ln UNIT 317A Watersound, FL$1,825,000
303 Morgans Trl Santa Rosa Beach, FL$899,000
87 The Greenway Loop Seacrest, FL$850,000
41 Anchor Rode Cir Santa Rosa Beach, FL$849,000
1463 Baytowne Ave Miramar Beach, FL$1,149,000
270 Water St Rosemary Beach, FL$2,950,000
184 Royal Fern Wy Santa Rosa Beach, FL$1,629,000
119 Avalon Blvd Miramar Beach, FL$1,399,000
1654 San Marina Blvd Miramar Beach, FL$1,315,000
24 Escape Dr Inlet Beach, FL$5,670,000
31 Lupine Rd Santa Rosa Beach, FL$3,250,000
53 Sea Venture Aly Inlet Beach, FL$5,695,000
25 Kristi Ln Santa Rosa Beach, FL$1,999,000
95 Tyler Lot 33 Santa Rosa Beach, FL$1,719,000
17 Sand Shovel Ln Seacrest, FL$919,000
4458 Southwinds Dr 4458 Miramar Beach, FL$1,200,000
10 Tidepool Ln Watersound, FL$2,250,000
26 Blue Coast Ct Inlet Beach, FL$1,125,000
202 Canal St Santa Rosa Beach, FL$1,299,000
431 Eastern Lake Rd Santa Rosa Beach, FL$1,449,000
158 Coopersmith Ln Inlet Beach, FL$3,295,000
142 Hilltop Dr Santa Rosa Beach, FL$1,100,000
44 Calla Wy Miramar Beach, FL$950,000
114 Wadleigh Wy Miramar Beach, FL$875,000
3273 Burnt Pine Cir Miramar Beach, FL$1,525,000
See more listings!
My 24/7 Home Watch
Foreclosure/Short Sale Properties
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Ped Fed Realty
Property Search | Search by Area | Buyers | Sellers | School Info | My Profile | My Company | Sitemap | Admin Login
<img alt="" src="https://media.salecore.com/salesaspects/Core/Personnel/51162/ImageLibrary/eho-r-mls.gif" style="float: right;" /> ©2019 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity. <a href="http://www.pfrhomes.info/PFR_privacy.pdf" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a>
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty 7684 W. County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, P: 850-699-7420
BK 3100602
www.steveyouell.com uses cookies to ensure the best experience on this website. Learn More
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7173
|
__label__cc
| 0.722278
| 0.277722
|
The Climate, Week Nine: Holiday Ratings Resiliency
Today in The Climate, a few observations about the ratings downturns during Thanksgiving week.
Labels: climate, spotlight
Spotted Ratings, Thursday 11/29/12
The week of broadcast upswing pretty much came to an end, mostly just because this was the first night that wasn't being compared against holiday-deflated results. Compared to two weeks ago, it was generally ABC, CBS and NBC a little down and Fox and the CW a little up.
A few noticeable exceptions:
Scandal finished with an outright season high despite a rather meh result from lead-in Grey's Anatomy.
Two and a Half Men dropped in finals but still took the smallest percentage drop of the CBS shows despite Angus T. Jones urging viewers not to watch.
Parks and Recreation and Last Resort had the night's most terrible results, each going two tenths below their previous season lows.
Labels: Parks and Recreation, Scandal, sr, sr thursday, Two and a Half Men
Spotted Ratings, Wednesday 11/28/12
The strong season for holiday specials continues. ABC's A Charlie Brown Christmas and NBC's Christmas at Rockefeller Center were slightly up year-to-year, while NBC's two-hour Saturday Night Live Christmas special was up even more vs. last year's SNL special A Very Gilly Christmas (2.1). All those shows were huge improvements over the normal timeslot programming.
Everything else was original, and most shows were pretty much in line with the last "normal" Wednesday two weeks ago. CSI followed up its pretty strong Thanksgiving Eve showing last week by tying a season high this week and holding about 90% of the Criminal Minds demo.
Labels: CSI, holiday, sr, sr wednesday
Spotted Ratings, Tuesday 11/27/12
The broadcast upswing continued into another day. The only network with atypical listings was ABC, where holiday specials How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Shrek the Halls were just about even with year-ago levels. The finale of Dancing with the Stars, finally given a chance to air fully apart from The Voice, managed to easily outrate all other points this season. Sure, it was still way down year-to-year (vs. last fall's 4.1), but that's been the case all season, and usually to a larger extent. So a generally miserable season for the franchise at least ends on a less miserable note.
CBS saw the mothership NCIS take a big surge, but that upswing didn't really continue into NCIS: Los Angeles and Vegas, which had to face DWTS this time (when it's usually the mothership doing so). This is another piece of evidence that DWTS has an incredible amount of crossover with CBS programming; see also CBS' big surge in the Dancing-free 9:00 hour last Monday.
Regularly-scheduled Fox and NBC on average upswung somewhere in the mid-teens vs. last week.
Labels: Dancing with the Stars, holiday, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, sr, sr tuesday
Spotted Ratings, Monday 11/26/12
Everybody gets a prize! Almost every show was up double-digits week-to-week. CBS can thank the 8:30 repeat of The Big Bang Theory for boosting 2 Broke Girls, Mike and Molly and Hawaii Five-0 to season highs. Revolution heads into its nearly summer-length hiatus with an uptick and Dancing with the Stars hit an outright season high too.
The only real loser was the short-order return of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, down 40%+ vs. last week in both hours. So that's why they cancelled it! ESPN also laid a relative egg with a dud Monday Night Football (4.0). Those results probably contributed to the magnitude of the increases elsewhere.
Labels: 2 Broke Girls, Dancing with the Stars, Hawaii Five-0, Mike and Molly, Revolution, sr, sr monday, The Big Bang Theory
The True Top 25, Week Ending 11/25/12 (2012-13 Week Nine)
Football dominated the True Top 25 in a holiday week. Though the Patriots/Jets Thanksgiving primetime game was actually four tenths weaker than the Giants/Packers Sunday game in raw numbers, it graded out much better Truly speaking because the 18-49 TV usage was nearly ten percentage points weaker on Thursday than on Sunday. And ABC's college game, the best since the network picked up regular primetime football in 2006, was an extremely strong #3.
The holiday meant pre-emptions for the two top entertainment programs, so The Voice was left on top of that pack even with (by its standards) a really horribly-rated week.
Labels: nfl, true top 25
Spotted Ratings, Sunday 11/25/12
ABC's Once Upon a Time had a bounce-back from its head-scratching drop two weeks ago, but it was still near the low end of its pre-last week results. But ABC had another problem result as this time it was Revenge coming back after the week-ago pre-emption at well below its previous results this season.
With the late afternoon NFL game on Fox, its animation was at relatively normal post-overrun numbers. The Cleveland Show had a fairly American Dad!-esque tryout at 9:30. CBS was at pretty typical start-on-time levels with The Mentalist way up from last week when it started super-late.
Labels: Once Upon a Time, Revenge, sr, sr sunday, The Mentalist
Spotted Ratings, Saturday 11/24/12
ABC is greatly disadvantaged in the overall averages every year due to sports, so it's nice to see them finally have a big day in that realm. Notre Dame's victory over USC was the highest-rated Saturday Night Football of not just this season but any season since ABC picked it up in 2006. A game this big lifts ABC as a whole by several ticks for the week. Fox's Stanford/UCLA got left wayyy behind.
CBS commenced its Made in Jersey burn-off, but I have to think it's no guarantee they will even air all the episodes if it continues to drag down the rest of the night like this. The night as a whole was down more than 40% week-to-week, but ABC's strength could also have something to do with that.
Labels: ncaa, sr, sr saturday
Spotted Ratings, Friday 11/23/12
The Thanksgiving downturn in overall viewing always behaves about the same way: a small downturn on Monday and Tuesday (though it seemed to have a larger impact on broadcast ratings this year), a significant downturn on Wednesday, a huge one on Thursday, and then... poof. Order is almost completely restored on Black Friday. That meant the few entertainment programs on the evening, Last Man Standing and Malibu Country and 20/20, were basically unaffected.
Returnee holiday specials on CBS were even to up year-to-year, but the network got little mileage out of its originals. It's a SpongeBob Christmas! didn't move the needle and the return of Person to Person was way down from the last special CBS tried late last season.
Labels: 2020, holiday, Last Man Standing, sr, sr friday
Thanksgiving Night is the depth of this week's holiday viewing downturn, but NBC provided a nice boost to the broadcast evening thanks to their newly negotiated Thanksgiving football game. The Thanksgiving game was on the NFL Network last season. It had ratings comparable to recent SNF results despite airing on a much, much lower-viewed night.
Fox aired its normal Thursday lineup, probably in large part because they had the benefit of an NFL overrun in the late afternoon. That overrun was evident in The X Factor's numbers but clearly out of the mix by the time Glee got going; it was a whooping 29% behind last week's already bad number. I'll include the NFL overrun, if available, as a lead-in in the final True2 number for The X Factor.
Labels: Glee, nfl, sr, sr thursday, The X Factor
Overall 18-49 viewing was down about 10% week-to-week on Thanksgiving Eve, but as usual most shows were down by more than that, and CBS' older-skewing offerings were most resilient to the holiday. But some of the worst droppers came on cable; American Horror Story (0.9) was down nearly 50% from last week!
The best ratings story of Thanksgiving Eve was A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, up 22% from last year's telecast on Thanksgiving Night and continuing a great year for ABC's Peanuts specials. (It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was also up four tenths.)
Labels: holiday, sr, sr wednesday
The Question, Monday 11/26/12: Can ABC Go Home Again?
Though ABC cancelled Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as a regular staple, tonight it returns to serve in more of a holiday special capacity. It'll run for two hours on each of the next four Mondays to help the network bridge the gap in that big plot of Monday real estate between seasons of Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelor. Can ABC go Home again? That's The Question for Monday, November 26, 2012.
Labels: the q
The Climate, Week Eight
Had a rather unproductive holiday weekend, so just the normal numbers this time:
Labels: climate
Almost everyone was down to some degree on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Like on Monday, it appears there was only a tiny week-to-week downturn in overall viewing. It doesn't really get severe till tonight (Thanksgiving Eve).
Again, the most noticeable of the droppers was The Voice (3.3), whose 15% week-to-week fall just about mirrored the Monday drop. The comedy logjam at 9/8c continues to get worse; this week saw Apartment 23 (0.9) plunge sub-1.0 and New Girl (2.0) and The Mindy Project (1.3) each drop well below their previous lows. The only shows up week-to-week were 10:00 dramas Vegas (1.8) and Private Practice (1.2).
Labels: New Girl, sr, sr tuesday, The Mindy Project, The Voice
SpotVault - Whitney (NBC) - 2012-13 Ratings
Wednesdays, 8/7c, NBC
Labels: sv
The True Top 25, Week Ending 11/18/12 (2012-13 Week Eight)
Sunday Night Football easily topped the True Top 25 and a big surge by The Big Bang Theory helped widen its lead over the rest of the entertainment programming field. In a fall full of pre-emptions, there were shockingly few this week; the only usual top 25 contenders to sit out were the ABC Sunday shows, but their replacement (the American Music Awards) cracked the top ten.
The only Friday/Saturday representative this week was ABC's strong Saturday Night Football, while Revolution and Elementary were the only new shows on the list.
The yanking of Partners was of only minor help to CBS at 8:30 (where the Two and a Half Men repeat scored a 2.0, actually a bit below what Partners was pulling prior to last week's big drop) and at 9:00 where 2 Broke Girls was up a couple ticks. And the 8:00 and 9:30 comedies actually ticked down.
The Voice had a really bad night. It was over 10% below its worst Monday results this season, and it seems Dancing with the Stars picked up some of the pieces.
Labels: sr, sr monday, The Voice, Two and a Half Men
The American Music Awards were down a drastic 21% year-to-year, which lined up exactly with the CMA Awards year-to-year drop from a two and a half weeks ago.
Fox animation went low again with The Simpsons and Family Guy and everything else at or near their timeslot season lows.
Most CBS shows were on the low end of normal, but The Mentalist again had a near-worst case scenario, starting at 10:53, and it took a huge week-to-week hit.
Labels: awards, Family Guy, sr, sr sunday, The Simpsons
An overtime epic between Stanford and Oregon posted one of ABC's best football numbers this season, and the Stanford win re-opened the national title picture to the big-money SEC. Great night for ABC/ESPN. Meanwhile, Fox somehow got stuck sub-1.0 again with nationally irrelevant (yet very entertaining) Oklahoma/West Virginia. They lost to ESPN, where Kansas State (1.1) finally cracked a 1.0 demo. But that's surely not much consolation to the school, which lost by 28 to Baylor and dropped out of the title race.
From potential Friday game-changers to marginal-for-Friday ratings, in just two weeks. Last Man Standing dropped two more ticks and Malibu Country followed its week two 26% drop with another -18% in week three! Next week they'll be pretty much the only original entertainment options on all of Black Friday, but they'll have to fight off a bevy of holiday specials.
The comedy collapse has left Shark Tank, Undercover Boss and Grimm as the clear Friday leaders, but they too were down a bit on the last Friday of sweeps.
Labels: Grimm, Last Man Standing, Shark Tank, sr, sr friday, Undercover Boss
The Question, Monday 11/19/12: Will CBS Monday Man Up?
The era of Partners patience finally came to an end last Monday, as a 1.8 in a lineup of otherwise 3.0+ programs was just too much for CBS to take. In the short term, they'll hope that repeats of the Thursday sitcoms will help resuscitate a Monday that's been well below expectations all fall. That starts tonight with a Two and a Half Men repeat at 8:30. Will CBS Monday man up? That's The Question for Monday, November 19, 2012.
2:00 PM 14 comments Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook
Labels: the q, Two and a Half Men
The Climate: How Much is The Voice Boosting NBC?
We'll start with the weekly update on the climate numbers intro'ed last week:
Week-by-week:
Week Ending TPUT y2y bc y2y LeAv y2y
1 9/30/2012 32.4 -6% 9.2 -16% 2.50 -15%
2 10/07/2012 32.8 -5% 8.7 -15% 2.26 -17%
3 10/14/2012 33.7 -1% 8.6 -10% 2.33 -9%
4 10/21/2012 33.4 -3% 8.6 -6% 2.30 -6%
5 10/28/2012 34.2 -0% 9.1 -3% 2.12 -16%
7 11/11/2012 35.1 +1% 9.3 -9% 2.30 -7%
In week seven, overall viewing ticked up yet again and was on the year-to-year upside for the first time all season, and broadcast viewing was at its highest level of the season, even beyond premiere week. Much of the credit on both fronts goes to the very high-viewed Tuesday election night.
The Question Results through 11/14/12
Here are the results and individual standings through November 14 for the ratings prediction game The Question:
Bazinga. The Big Bang Theory swung up to easily its biggest number of the season and, after a finals boost, actually beat its highest Thursday demo rating ever. It also had a series high in total viewers. That good mojo continued for CBS with Two and a Half Men and Person of Interest also at season highs. Elementary is still rather modest but it was up a touch as well.
The only other noticeable changes came on Fox. The X Factor finished off a week of upswing, but it looks like Glee was just waiting till the episode after the return from hiatus to take its big dip.
Labels: Elementary, Glee, Person of Interest, sr, sr thursday, The Big Bang Theory, The X Factor, Two and a Half Men
Demos Year-to-Year, November Sweeps 2012 Week Three Winners/Losers
Though I've retired the formal daily year-to-year posts, after the premiere week I did pledge to shoot for at least one year-to-year summary for each sweeps period. I'm trying to pick out the most "normal" week from each period, and it looked like week three was by far the best this time. (No weather-related pre-emptions, no election pre-emptions, no awards shows, no Thanksgiving Eve.)
Top 10 year-to-year SHOW losers
1. Private Practice (Tu 10-11pm vs. Th 10-11pm) -61%
2. Happy Endings (Tu 9-9:30pm vs. W 9:30-10pm) -59%
3. Nikita (F 9-10pm vs. F 8-9pm) -50%
4. Last Man Standing (F 8-8:30pm vs. Tu 8-8:30pm) -38%
5. Whitney (W 8-8:30pm vs. Th 9:30-10pm) -38%
6. New Girl -37%
7. Hawaii Five-0 -36%
8. How I Met Your Mother -35%
9. Dancing with the Stars Mon -34%
t-10. Gossip Girl (M 9-10pm vs. M 8-9pm) -33%
t-10. 2 Broke Girls (M 9-9:30pm vs. M 8:30-9pm) -33%
As always with the show lists, many of these numbers were inevitably going to be bad because of timeslot downgrades: namely Private Practice, Happy Endings, Last Man. But I don't think anyone would argue any of these shows (except maybe Last Man?) are doing "well." There's a big CBS Monday presence on this list, and Mike and Molly (at -32%) just barely misses.
Labels: y2y summaries, year2year
DVR: Three Days vs. Seven Days
We know that networks love to tout huge DVRing gains from Live + Same Day to Live + three days after the airdate. We also know that networks love to tout huger gains from Live+SD to Live + seven days. And finally, we know that (frustratingly for the networks) all those gains do not end up translating to huge gains in the actual money numbers, the ratings for commercials within three days (C3).
Facing a bad year pretty much any way you realistically slice it, the networks have turned their public attentions to new frontiers, a faraway land where the numbers aren't so bleak. Namely, they want more DVR viewing counted. They want a switch from C3 to C7, or commercial viewing within seven days. As Cynthia Littleton notes in that article, they hold big presentations at the upfronts about the pressing need for this switch. And they sure seem to love to talk to people who want to write articles about huge +7 DVR gains.
However, the number that matters in this argument is not huge gains relative to Same Day numbers. It's about the difference between C3 and C7, and pretty much nobody ever talks about what those numbers really are. Some may even look at it like, "Seven days vs. three days! That's more than twice as long an opportunity to view, thus more than twice as much viewing!"
So what's the C3 -> C7 difference really like? We can't know for sure, since C7 is unseen in public settings. But what we can look at is the Live+3 -> Live+7 difference in program ratings. If the switch to seven days is such a big deal, there should at the very least be big bumps from three to seven there.
Unfortunately, as is usually the case when we drill down into DVR ratings, the reality is underwhelming, especially relative to the amount of press.
Labels: dvr, spotlight
NBC's Wednesday fix wasn't much of a fix. While Whitney returned to better ratings than recent Animal Practice episodes, it was less than half of its year-ago series premiere rating, below last spring's level and provided no help whatsoever to fellow multicam Guys with Kids or 9/8c drama Law and Order: SVU. It was way below what I expected, but everyone else was more realistic. And the week after a big The Voice boost, Chicago Fire reverted right back to its Halloween series low.
ABC also saw most of its shows return to softer Halloween-esque levels, while The X Factor, finally free of pre-emptions and Halloween and The Voice, managed to bounce back somewhat.
Labels: Chicago Fire, Law and Order: SVU, sr, sr wednesday, The X Factor
First Two Weeks, Malibu Country
On premiere night, the Reba McEntire fanbase brought a serious reinvigoration to Friday night. Malibu Country opened with 9.13 million viewers and a 2.3 demo rating, the highest number for a Friday series premiere in years. It did even better than the last couple shows that went on to become Friday staples, Blue Bloods (2.2) and Grimm (2.1), it built from its Last Man Standing lead-in (an also overachieving 2.0) and it helped boost Shark Tank to a series high (2.3). It was as strong a start as ABC could've possibly hoped for.
Labels: first2
The Question, Wednesday 11/14/12: Is NBC Wednesday Getting a Whit Knight?
For the second straight season, NBC had an obvious pairing with sitcom Whitney that for some reason they ignored in the fall. Tonight, for the second straight season, they're bringing that pair together later in the season as Whitney returns at 8/7c to lead into the network's other multicamera comedy Guys with Kids. Is NBC Wednesday getting a "Whit" knight? That's The Question for Wednesday, November 14, 2012.
The Voice may have left the 9/8c hour, but the horrible sitcom ratings remain, as New Girl and Happy Endings and Apartment 23 saw no rallies from their ratings against Voice the week before the election pre-emption. Only The Mindy Project showed any bounce-back whatsoever. It was really the first time yet that Mindy looked like a definitively stronger show than fellow Fox newbie Ben and Kate, which took a big dip.
Labels: Hart of Dixie, New Girl, sr, sr tuesday, The Mindy Project
The True Top 25, Week Ending 11/11/12 (2012-13 Week Seven)
Pretty standard week for the True Top 25. Sunday Night Football was tops, The Big Bang Theory held off Modern Family again for top entertainment program, The Voice was next, then everything else.
A big drop in the 8:00 hour for ABC Friday meant that Shark Tank was the only Friday/Saturday show on the list this week (with a surging Undercover Boss just barely missing). Revolution was the only new show thanks to Elementary and Malibu Country both dropping out of the mix this week.
It's official: the only new network hit this fall, Revolution, is in a slump. Its 2.6 demo last night marked a third straight episode to dip by at least 0.2 points. With just two eps left before a four-month hiatus, it would sure be nice from the NBC perspective to see this level off or get back a bit.
The one show to have a really bad relative result last Monday, How I Met Your Mother, picked back up by a couple ticks this week. And just as I was starting to wonder, "Huh. Maybe Partners is starting to edge its way back into this thing" following some steadiness amid the HIMYM struggles, it took a 0.3 drop to 1.8 and looks dead all over again.
Labels: How I Met Your Mother, Revolution, sr, sr monday
An NFL overrun well into the 8:00 hour provided a big boost to Fox's average. That extra NFL competition seemingly clobbered ABC's Once Upon a Time, down about 20% from its recent level and at a series low. Even if the NFL was to blame, that's a terrible result for Once, which last season held up pretty well against the worst of NFL competition (like the AFC Championship Game on 1/22/12). Lending credence to that theory was the fact that the ABC problem lessened as the evening wore on, with Revenge and 666 Park Ave down in the single digits.
Fox usually doesn't have to deal with starting their shows late due to the NFL, but on this day they did. Like with CBS, it was a good news/bad news situation: good for The Simpsons and Bob's Burgers, bad for the 200th Family Guy, particularly the second half.
Labels: Once Upon a Time, Revenge, sr, sr sunday
ABC got back on top of the primetime college football world with Boston College and Notre Dame. Kansas State won the Fox game and claimed the #1 spot in the BCS, but you can tell from these ratings and the ones last week (when ABC was the one with K-State and finished a distant third) that the ESPN execs would muuuch rather have Notre Dame in the title game.
Spotted Ratings, Friday 11/9/12
The new TGIF fell back to Friday reality in week two, with Last Man Standing down 20% and Malibu Country plunging by 26% from last week's 2.3. But ABC still won Friday with first place finishes at 9/8c from Shark Tank and at 10/9c from 20/20, and they remain up by at least a third year-to-year in every half hour.
With the competitive situation finally clearing up somewhat at 8/7c, Undercover Boss had a huge surge in its second week back and Kitchen Nightmares grew for the second straight week and is getting back toward a more respectable level.
Labels: 2020, Kitchen Nightmares, Last Man Standing, Shark Tank, sr, sr friday, Undercover Boss
The Question, Tuesday 11/13/12: Will Endings Get Happier?
We're not sure who the "real" Happy Endings is yet. It premiered to a relatively as-expected 1.8 on October 23, then tanked to a 1.4 the next week with The Voice haunting the 9/8c hour. Was the 1.4 blip or trend? The drop was severe enough that I'm fairly sure it's not getting back to 1.8 tonight; it was gonna have a post-premiere drop regardless of The Voice. But I do expect some rally this week with NBC over 2 points weaker. Since it was pre-empted last week, I'm saying it only makes up a tick or two for now.
Over/Under: 1.55.
The Climate: Are We Waking Up from the Premiere Week Nightmare?
This is "The Climate," a weekly look at the "big picture" numbers of broadcast primetime. I will provide a few "big picture" numbers both week-by-week and from the season-to-date. These numbers will be the starting point for this post every week, and some weeks they will be pretty much the whole post. But I'm also hoping to do a column of sorts on a fairly regular basis, examining the big picture in much the same way I did in the A18-49+ posts last spring. I have a lot of big-picture observations that don't really fit into any of the "regular" posts around here, so hopefully this will provide an outlet for some of that.
Since I never really had the time in the crazy opening 6+ weeks of the season to get this off the ground, it means we have a lot of numbers in the books. So here's where we'll begin this. We all know that premiere week, when TV ratings get a ton of attention, was pretty hellish. But is this TV season still as nightmarish as premiere week suggested, or are things "evening out" somewhat?
The Question, Friday 11/9/12: Will Week Two of Malibu Stay Above Two?
I said earlier this week that I thought ABC's showing last Friday was the best regular-programming night any network has had on a Friday in several years. I'm probably missing something but I don't think anyone's averaged a 2.0 for a full night of regular programs on Friday since Ghost Whisperer and Numb3rs were around, and "best in three years" is hard to find in today's Live+SD TV ratings world. Now we're left to wonder if all of this has legs. Will week two of Malibu stay above two? That's The Question for Friday, November 9, 2012.
Spotted Ratings, Thursday 11/8/12
The latest of the The Voice / The X Factor duels again went decisively to The Voice. While The Voice again provided a triple-digit timeslot improvement, yet another special night led to yet another huge drop. The Voice provided a significant boost to The Office, whose 8:30 lead-in was about two points better than it had been all year. Factor out the fact that its lead-in was a point weaker than in early October and it looks like Glee was pretty close to the same show as in its last episode pre-hiatus.
On CBS, it looks like "The Miley Cyrus Effect" might be an actual thing; Two and a Half Men has now broken a 4 in each of its Miley-starring eps and averaged about a 3.6 in the non-Miley eps. And ABC's Last Resort was able to get back one tenth after its extreme drop last week.
Labels: Glee, sr, sr thursday, The Office, The Voice, The X Factor, Two and a Half Men
The Question, Thursday 11/8/12: Will Glee's Post-Baseball Return Strike Out?
What sucks about Fox's baseball arrangement is that they have to "sacrifice" some part of the schedule to fit in all those pre-emptions. Last year, they protected The X Factor at the expense of Tuesday, and Glee/New Girl/Raising Hope were never the same when they came back in November. This year, they tried to minimize Tuesday pre-emptions and essentially had to derail X Factor to do so. The show that got screwed both times was Glee, which returns tonight after four Thursdays off and has to be praying it goes better this year than last. Will Glee's post-baseball return strike out? That's The Question for Thursday, November 8, 2012.
Labels: Glee, the q
Spotted Ratings, Wednesday 11/7/12
NBC brought The Voice into the Wednesday mix and grew by over 100% vs. the typical Wednesday 8:00 to 10:00 results. But the special night and the X Factor competition meant this was still a much weaker Voice than the one we usually see on Monday/Tuesday. The lead-in boost helped Chicago Fire become the first new show this season to exceed its series premiere results, and it did so by a decent amount. It did basically what I expected even though The Voice was a tad weaker than expected. Given the same big lead-in, it's about what we thought it was; no Revolution, but probably stronger than something like the later eps of Smash. Now we'll see if this helps at all when SVU is the lead-in.
Despite the added competition, most other shows were even to up vs. last week's Halloween numbers and very close to even with the last "normal" Wednesday two weeks ago. ABC looked particularly good with The Middle up for its fourth straight episode and The Neighbors and Suburgatory beating any previous results in their timeslots this season. Nashville got back to its pre-Halloween level and (like fellow 10/9c newbie Chicago Fire) now probably looks pretty safe for some kind of extension.
Labels: Chicago Fire, Nashville, sr, sr wednesday, Suburgatory, The Neighbors, The Voice
The Question, Wednesday 11/7/12: Will The Voice Fire Up Chicago's Ratings?
Tonight begins NBC's effort to finish off Fox's sagging The X Factor by airing The Voice against all three of its hours this week. That'll be a matchup to watch, but I'm more interested in seeing what that Voice lead-in does for NBC's new drama Chicago Fire. It's probably not done as poorly as it could have, but it's still been a pretty "meh" performer thus far, dropping a bit from struggling Law and Order: SVU. These one-offs are rarely game-changers, but this will undeniably be an opportunity for a lot of new exposure for this show. Will The Voice fire up Chicago's ratings? That's The Question for Wednesday, November 7, 2012.
Labels: Chicago Fire, the q
Spotted Ratings, Tuesday 11/6/12
Preliminary ratings for Election Night coverage pretty much lined up the way the news organizations always do: NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox. Strangely most of the coverage got about the same ratings as week-ago regular series except for ABC (which was wayyy stronger). Everything (including the CW's repeats) got adjusted down by 0.2 to 0.4 after finals due to local coverage being removed.
Labels: elections, sr, sr tuesday
The True Top 25, Week Ending 11/4/12 (2012-13 Week Six)
Let's hope, for everyone's sake, for no more natural disasters. With the exception of Halloween on Wednesday, this was an extremely high-viewed week of television, yet that for the most part did not show up in the entertainment programming ratings. This is particularly evident in the True2 numbers toward the beginning of the week, when coverage of Hurricane Sandy appeared to drastically lift viewing levels yet much of that local affiliate coverage was not quantifiable in national ratings.
A best-in-a-month Sunday Night Football easily topped the charts. (And by more than it previously would have thanks to a recent fix in the sports program calculation!) In a reversal of what we've come to expect from their situations, The Big Bang Theory only barely held off Modern Family for top entertainment program despite a full point raw-numbers advantage. TBBT's Thursday 8/7c slot was (on CMA Awards night) easily the highest-viewed it's been all season while Modern Family's Wednseday 9/8c slot on Halloween was easily at its lowest-viewed.
ABC had what I think I'm safe in calling the best Friday night with regular programming for any network in several years, and three of those programs made it onto the list for at least this one week. CBS also joined the Friday/Saturday Watch thanks to a huge college football game on Saturday. Malibu Country also joined usual Top 25ers Revolution and Elementary as a third show on what's been a pretty thin year for new shows on this list.
Spotted Ratings, Monday 11/5/12
Most shows were even to down a bit in the first totally normal Monday in quite some time. Somehow-still-airing The Mob Doctor was amusingly the only show on the rise, while How I Met Your Mother was really the only show to finish well below previous results.
Labels: How I Met Your Mother, sr, sr monday
Spotted Ratings, Sunday 11/4/12
Fox began its effort to revive its schedule on the other side of the baseball hiatus, and it didn't go so well with everything including The Simpsons and Family Guy well below prior results. They'll look to the NFL for a shot in the arm next week.
Some kudos to Once Upon a Time for three straight weeks of growth, and it looks like it will end up as broadcast's #1 drama this week. (Though it lost handily to AMC's The Walking Dead (4.9).) But the bottom seems to have finally fallen out for previously lingering 666 Park Ave.
CBS ended up with relatively normal numbers after finals, with The Mentalist seemingly having settled in after its early-season schizophrenia. NBC's Sunday Night Football had a big upswing thanks to a close game, no sports competition and the Dallas Cowboys.
Labels: Family Guy, Once Upon a Time, sr, sr sunday, The Amazing Race, The Good Wife, The Mentalist, The Simpsons
Spotted Ratings, Saturday 11/3/12
It was an extremely sporty evening with three nationally relevant football games in broadcast primetime plus NBC airing Breeder's Cup coverage and the movie Rudy. While CBS won by a mile with both the best game and the best matchup, LSU/Alabama, the game was still down 44% from the absurd ratings this matchup pulled in last year's "Game of the Century." Despite the competition, USC/Oregon ranked among Fox's best football ratings of the year and crushed a season low for Kansas State/Oklahoma State on ABC.
Pretty good news on all the broadcasters, but it must start with ABC, where Last Man Standing returned very well, a couple notches above last season's post-DST level on Tuesday, then the series premiere of Reba's Malibu Country also did big business with the expected multiple-tick growth at 8:30. The latter ended up tying Shark Tank, which picked up even more steam in its debut at 9/8c and (along with Malibu) did the best numbers for any Friday entertainment show since the Undercover Boss debut in February. All three of those shows were up at least 100% year-to-year in their timeslots. So far so good for ABC Friday.
Against remarkably heavy 8/7c competition, Undercover Boss was back in reasonably respectable fashion, though it was near the low end of last season's numbers. If it fades throughout the season as is Boss tradition, look out, but I don't know that CBS could've expected much more considering how last season ended.
NBC found yet another strong option in its patchwork Friday 8/7c plan, this time going with a last-minute Hurricane Sandy benefit concert; it was sustaining programming so it won't count in official averages, but preliminarily it did somewhere in the mid-1's, fairly Mockingbird Lane-esque numbers. That helped keep Grimm pretty high, though it did come down a bit from last week's Halloween surge.
Even some of the usual ratings losers of Friday night were on the upswing, with Kitchen Nightmares and Nikita each picking up a tick.
Labels: Grimm, Kitchen Nightmares, Last Man Standing, Nikita, Shark Tank, sr, sr friday, Undercover Boss
SpotVault - Malibu Country (ABC) - 2012-13 Ratings
Fridays, 8:30/7:30c, ABC
SpotVault - Last Man Standing (ABC) - 2012-13 Ratings
Fridays, 8/7c, ABC
Labels: Last Man Standing, sv
SpotVault - Undercover Boss (CBS) - 2012-13 Ratings
Fridays, 8/7c, CBS
Labels: sv, Undercover Boss
SpotVault - Kitchen Nightmares (Fox) - 2012-13 Ratings
Fridays, 8/7c, Fox
Labels: Kitchen Nightmares, sv
The Question, Friday 11/2/12: Is Friday Reba Country?
I said pre-season that ABC's Last Man Standing and Malibu Country had the best chance for success among the four scripted options in the Friday 8/7c hour. I guess I win by default, since two of those four lineups were rescheduled elsewhere before even airing and a third (CSI: NY) lasted for just two weeks before moving. LMS and Malibu are still a go starting tonight, but it remains rather questionable whether ABC's rearrangement of an already successful Friday will be a net positive. Is Friday Reba country? That's The Question for Friday, November 2, 2012.
ABC won the evening and was 81% stronger than last week with The CMA Awards, but it was down by a full point year-to-year.
Fox's The X Factor problem persists, with its two-hour return to the Thursday schedule down by about 20% from its last Thursday airing. It was perhaps hurt somewhat by NBC pulling its comedies in favor of The Voice, which repeated the Monday episode that many may have missed because of Sandy. It was 16% weaker than the usual comedy numbers but certainly had more overlap with its music-themed competitors. NBC then had its highest result since the season premiere from a Sandy-themed Rock Center.
Elementary finally reversed its downward trajectory, while The Big Bang Theory began its seemingly annual November upswing. The Vampire Diaries also had a big night.
Labels: awards, Elementary, sr, sr thursday, The X Factor
CW Weekly True Power Rankings for 2012-13
These are the CW's Weekly True Power Rankings for 2012-13. This is a leaner, analysis-free edition that gets updated every Wednesday when I do all my other archive updates.
I would expect these pages will be fancied up somewhat in the coming weeks. A couple ideas that come to mind are some explanations and perhaps a number for week-to-week changes. For now, it's just the same tables from the analysis-filled posts of last week.
These rankings cover numbers through Sunday, May 26.
Labels: The CW
Fox Weekly True Power Rankings for 2012-13
These are Fox's Weekly True Power Rankings for 2012-13. This is a leaner, analysis-free edition that gets updated every Wednesday when I do all my other archive updates.
Labels: fox
NBC Weekly True Power Rankings for 2012-13
These are NBC's Weekly True Power Rankings for 2012-13. This is a leaner, analysis-free edition that gets updated every Wednesday when I do all my other archive updates.
Labels: nbc
CBS Weekly True Power Rankings for 2012-13
These are CBS' Weekly True Power Rankings for 2012-13. This is a leaner, analysis-free edition that gets updated every Wednesday when I do all my other archive updates.
Labels: cbs
ABC Weekly True Power Rankings for 2012-13
These are ABC's Weekly True Power Rankings for 2012-13. This is a leaner, analysis-free edition that gets updated every Wednesday when I do all my other archive updates.
We'll probably get official numbers on the week-to-week HUT declines on Halloween from a network press release, but my estimates suggest there were about 7 or 8% fewer adults 18-49 watching TV than last Wednesday, and as expected the drop was more than that early in the evening and less later. (EDIT: A network press release said adults 18-49 usage was -7% from last Wednesday.)
As is holiday tradition, you drop more the younger/family-friendlier you skew. Fox's The X Factor only barely did better than its recent erratically-scheduled episodes and was down a whooping 26% from its last "normal" Wednesday episode. The last-minute scheduling following a short World Series may have also hurt. Regular shows on ABC and NBC were all down in the general 10% vicinity, but ABC had good news at 8/7c as the yearly special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (2.7) was up noticeably from last year. And the oldest-skewing shows of the evening, Criminal Minds and CSI were least hit.
Labels: Chicago Fire, Criminal Minds, CSI, holiday, Law and Order: SVU, sr, sr wednesday, The X Factor
The Climate, Week Nine: Holiday Ratings Resiliency...
The True Top 25, Week Ending 11/25/12 (2012-13 Wee...
The Question, Monday 11/26/12: Can ABC Go Home Aga...
The Question, Monday 11/19/12: Will CBS Monday Man...
Demos Year-to-Year, November Sweeps 2012 Week Thre...
The Question, Wednesday 11/14/12: Is NBC Wednesday...
The Question, Tuesday 11/13/12: Will Endings Get H...
The Climate: Are We Waking Up from the Premiere We...
The Question, Friday 11/9/12: Will Week Two of Mal...
The Question, Thursday 11/8/12: Will Glee's Post-B...
The Question, Wednesday 11/7/12: Will The Voice Fi...
The True Top 25, Week Ending 11/4/12 (2012-13 Week...
SpotVault - Malibu Country (ABC) - 2012-13 Ratings...
SpotVault - Last Man Standing (ABC) - 2012-13 Rati...
SpotVault - Undercover Boss (CBS) - 2012-13 Rating...
SpotVault - Kitchen Nightmares (Fox) - 2012-13 Rat...
The Question, Friday 11/2/12: Is Friday Reba Count...
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7187
|
__label__cc
| 0.538355
| 0.461645
|
Tag: Marines
Charges Dropped Against Marine in Haditha Murder
By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 01:03:00 AM EST
Tags: Haditha, Marines (all tags)
Charges against one of the Marines in the Haditha killings have been dropped, but it's not because he wasn't involved.
Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz, 24, had been charged with premeditated murder and making a false report in the November 19, 2005, deaths, which damaged U.S. prestige and led to international condemnation.
``Charges against him were dismissed on April 2 after the government balanced his low level of culpability in the alleged crime against the potential value of his testimony,'' a Marine Corps statement said.
Two dozen Iraqi men, women and children were killed in this raid.
Three Marines remain charged with murder and four others are charged with dereliction of duty for failing to properly report and investigate the shooting deaths of the two dozen Iraqi men, women and children.
Was this deal really necessary? Why not make Dela Cruz plead to the dereliction of duty count? Why reward him with a complete dismissal? How trustworthy will his testimony be?
TalkLeft's prior coverage of the Haditha killings is accessible here.
Marine Charged With Murder in Haditha Killings
Posted on Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 06:48:00 PM EST
Bump and Update: Iraqis want the Marines charged in an Iraqi court. They fear they won't be held accountable in the U.S.
Update: Four Marines have been charged with murder. In all, eight marines have been charged with crimes in the Haditha killings.
Bump and Update: Twelve counts of murder have been filed against Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich who commanded the marine squad near Haditha when 24 people were killed.
Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, who commanded a squad of marines near the town of Haditha in November last year faces 12 individual counts of murder and an additional count for ordering the troops under his charge to "shoot first, ask questions later", the charge sheet released to his attorney, Neil Puckett, said.
The charges do not include premeditated murder, and Sgt Wuterich faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Bump and Update: Charges will be announced at 4:00 pm ET.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7193
|
__label__wiki
| 0.901798
| 0.901798
|
Authorities ‘Ensure Stability’ Through Forced Labor For Uyghurs in Xinjiang Township
Authorities in northwestern China’s troubled Xinjiang region have ordered ethnic minority Uyghur farmers in Aksu (in Chinese, Akesu) prefecture to take part in a forced labor scheme to “better ensure social stability” in the area, according to residents and officials.
Farmers in Aykol township in Aksu city—the site of a deadly police action on a Uyghur crowd in August 2013—recently told RFA’s Uyghur Service that they are required to take part in “hashar,” or forced labor, seven days a week for up to 11 hours a day.
Sherwan Tohti, a farmer and chair of the Women’s Committee of Aykol’s No. 14 village, said every adult male has been required to labor for the township since early May, regardless of their ability.
“Since my husband Mamut Abla is sick, his brother must take care of both of their shares each day,” Tohti said.
“My husband has been sick since July 31 with tuberculosis, but my brother-in-law’s wife also suffers from heart disease. We have two sick people to care for in this family.”
Mamut Abla’s brother, Hamut Abla, confirmed that he had been forced to account for two shares of labor daily without rest.
“Yes, I have my land [to farm] and shares of Hashar allocated to me [in addition],” he said.
“My brother is sick and cannot work, so I am doing his share. It has been three months.”
According to Hamut Abla, laborers travel to their work sites daily after breakfast, beginning hashar around 7:30 a.m. and ending about 6:00 p.m.
“We do not rest during the week—we take part in hashar everyday, with no weekends. It has been six months,” he said.
“We do different work every time, such as fixing the roads, tending to orchards, and so on. But we are never paid.”
Hamut Abla said he dare not ask local authorities to spare his brother from the labor requirements, despite his sickness.
Asked whether he feared possible harsh consequences for asking reprieve, he simply said “yes.”
When contacted by RFA, No. 14 village party secretary Akkari said that hashar is required of the township’s residents “to better ensure social stability,” without elaborating.
Akyol’s No. 16 village was the site of deadly violence on Aug. 7, 2013, when police opened fire on a crowd of Uyghurs who pelted them with stones and bricks after local authorities prevented residents from traveling to a nearby hamlet to perform prayers on the eve of the Eid al-Fitr marking the end of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan.
At least three Uyghurs were killed and more than 50 injured in the violence, while hundreds of Uyghurs were taken into custody by police in the weeks following the incident.
Banned practice
China’s ruling Communist Party banned hashar in Xinjiang decades ago, but sources recently told RFA that the practice continues in some parts of the region under a different name and had been implemented in Aksu (Akesu) prefecture in January as “dolqun,” or “wave,” hashar by authorities to promote stability—suggesting it was a sweeping trend to benefit the region.
The mostly Muslim Uyghurs have complained about pervasive ethnic discrimination, religious repression, and cultural suppression by Beijing under its series of “strike hard” campaigns in Xinjiang in the name of fighting separatism, religious extremism and terrorism.
But experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from Uyghur “separatists” and that draconian domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence that has left hundreds dead since 2012.
Authorities rolled out the strike hard campaign following a deadly suicide bombing in May 2014 in the regional capital Urumqi, which they blamed on Uyghur separatists.
The campaign has included police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people.
Source: rfa.org
Jurat Barat Jurat Barat Uygur Vakfı, Jurat Barat Avrasya Sivil Toplum Forumu Başkan Jurat Barat Hollanda Jurat Barat Uygur Vakfı Jurat Barat Stichting Oeigoeren Nederland Jurat Barat Stichting Oeigoeren Nederland Jurat Barat Başkan Jurat Barat Jurat Barat Uygur Vakfı Hollanda Uygur Vakfı Hollanda Uygur Vakfı Uygur Vakfı Uygur Vakfı Uygur Vakfı Uygur Vakfı Uygur Jurat Barat Jurat Barat Vakfı Uygur Amsterdam
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7203
|
__label__cc
| 0.622524
| 0.377476
|
Protocol on Water and Health
Web page of the first session Meeting of the Parties
Roundtable on the Human Right to Water
Water Convention
(Bureau Login)
Working Group on Integrated Water Resources Management
Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment
Implementation Committee
Legal Board
Task Force on Water and Climate
Task Force on the Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus
International Water Assessment Centre
Areas of work of the Convention
Reporting under the Water Convention and Sustainable Development Goal 6.5.2
Financing of transboundary water cooperation
Benefits of transboundary water cooperation
Water-food-energy-ecosystem nexus
Monitoring, assessment and information sharing in transboundary basins
Water and adaptation to climate change
European Union Water Initiative and National Policy Dialogues
About the National Policy Dialogues
The EUWI+ Programme
Country Dialogues
Projects in the Caucasus
Projects in Central Asia
Projects in Eastern Europe
Projects in South-Eastern Europe
Management of transboundary groundwaters
Water and ecosystems
Working Group on Water and Health
Committee initiating a case
Task Force on Target Setting and Reporting
Areas of work of the Protocol
Target setting and reporting
Equitable access to water and sanitation
Small-scale water supplies and sanitation
Water-related Disease Surveillance
Safe management: Sanitation
Increasing Resilience to Climate Change
Assistance at national level
Targets set by Parties
Members of the Bureau of the Water Convention
Members of the Bureau of the Protocol on Water and Health
Staff of the UNECE secretariat servicing the Convention
Staff of the joint UNECE and WHO/Europe secretariat servicing the Protocol on Water and Health
National representatives for the National Policy Dialogues
UN Watercourses Convention
First Meeting of the Parties
Geneva, Switzerland 17-19 January 2007
Roundtable on the Human Right to Water and the Protocol on Water and Health:
making access to water a reality
In the past 30 years, since the 1977 Mar del Plata Declaration, there has been growing recognition of the human right to water, both by individual States and by the United Nations as a whole. Recent developments in the UN Human Rights System – in particular general comment No. 15 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the right to water and the latest decision of the Human Rights Council on international human rights and access to water – have drawn further attention to this linkage. But the recognition of the human right to water is only the first step towards its implementation. How can this right be translated into reality?
The Roundtable brought together the human rights, health and environment communities to exchange views and work towards a common understanding of this issue. It examined progress to date in interpreting the human right to water and the legal, political and practical results of this debate.
Finally, the Roundtable explored the links with the Protocol on Water and Health and how the Protocol can help countries put the right into practice.
Setting the scene: The United Nations human rights system and the right to water
Maria Francisca Ize-Charrin, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Presentations by panellists:
Access to water as a key element for sustainable development
Joaquín de Arístegui, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative , Permanent Mission of Spain to the United Nations Office at Geneva
The right of access to water: different ways to fulfil this vital commitment
Bart Ouvry, Deputy Permanent Representative of Belgium at the United Nations, Geneva
Equitable access to water: the French approach to achieving it
Elodie Carmona, Ministry of Health, France
Protection of water resources: a prerequisite for access to safe water
Hannele Nyroos, Counsellor, Ministry of the Environment, Finland
The role of NGOs in improving access to safe water in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia
Anna Tsvetkova, European ECO-Forum
Brief report on the main results of the Roundtable by the moderator, Mr. François Münger, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7204
|
__label__wiki
| 0.790241
| 0.790241
|
Movie Review - Birds of Neptune (Portland Film Festival) - WBOC-TV 16, Delmarvas News Leader, FOX 21 -
Good Day Delmarva
WBOC News Bios
Travels With Charlie
WBOC Proud to Serve Videos
The M Report
On the Waters
Delmarva Cams
WBOC Weather-Facebook
Download the WBOC Weather App
WBOC/Mountaire Farms Scholar Athlete Award
The Final Score
Shorebirds Sit Down
WBOC and WRDE-Coast TV Job Openings
Rising Tide - Together We Lift Delmarva
Bless Our Children
List of Cable Providers & Channels for WBOC, FOX21, WRDE, WBOC Classics, & Telemundo
Delmarva Experts
Honoring Delmarva Farmers
Request a Tour of the WBOC/FOX21 NewsPlex
WBOC Internship Application
102.5 WBOC FM
107.1 The Duck
Chesapeake Country 106.3
100.9% Classic Country WAAI
CBS Sports Radio 1240AM
Movie Review - Birds of Neptune (Portland Film Festival)
By Marlon Wallace
mwallace@wboc.com
Also on the Web
The M Report blog
The M Report on WBOC
At first glance, it seems as if this film is taking place in the present, this recent year or so, but, specific pieces of technology showcased indicate that the time period is the 1990's, or just before the dawn of the 21st century. The phones used is one indication. The VHS cassette player used is another. However, the movie is set in Portland, Oregon, so the likelihood is high that it is the present and the characters are simply being kitsch or hipster.
Britt Harris stars as Rachel, a high school senior who like many young people in Portland is an aspiring musician. She plays guitar and has instruments and other music equipment in the basement of her family's house.
Molly Elizabeth Parker co-stars as Mona, the older sister of Rachel. She works as an exotic dancer and does characters on stage that are provocative. She's essentially taking care of her sister given that they've recently become orphans. They had a younger brother who drowned, probably due to negligence on Mona's past.
Director and co-writer Steven Richter begins the movie utilizing a lot of close-ups to tell his story. There isn't much dialogue in that Richter lets close-ups relay most of the information here. This is effective for about half the movie, but it reaches a breaking point where dialogue becomes necessary and Richter's resistance to dialogue becomes a detriment.
Kurt Conroyd also co-stars as Zach, a thick-bearded, graduate student studying psychology but doesn't seem to take it seriously. He meets Mona at the strip club or topless bar where she works. With little effort, he's able to go home and have sex with her. He then launches into a relationship with her, which then has an effect on her relationship with her sister.
The key reason is because only two seconds after waking up from sex with Mona, he then becomes obviously interested in having sex with Rachel. Immediately, Zach comes across as unlikeable and disgusting. At one point, Mona and Zach call themselves adults. They also call Rachel an adult, but she claims to be a high school senior, which means she's most likely 18 or younger. That would make Zach having sex with her possibly a crime.
This doesn't seem to be anything Richter wants to acknowledge. One could presume she was left back a grade and can be a high school student of consenting age, but because Richter doesn't do a lot of dialogue, this aspect is never explored. The assumption is that Rachel has a thing for older guys in general, but there is no exploration as to why or what specifically is it about Zach or any other guy that is attractive to her. Is it unresolved daddy issues because that would be cliche?
There are questions about Zach's sexuality as well. During his first encounter with Mona, she whips out a strap-on dildo, which he doesn't mind or seems to enjoy. Rachel later sees Zach with another guy with whom he appears to be flirting. Immediately after that, it appears that Zach is living in the house with Mona and Rachel, and it's not clear when that happened, or how much time has passed.
It's then unclear what exactly is going through Zach's head. He claims to want to help them, but his actions prove otherwise, or prove him manipulative or using them for completely libertine purposes. His actions also prove him violent and the antithesis of anyone you'd want as a psychologist.
His character is uneven and nonsensical in that regard, but that's not as unforgivable as the unevenness of the two female characters. Rachel seems smart in instances and then dumb or nothing more than a plot device at other times. Never at any point do I get what she wants or what her motivation is. Her sister Mona seems stuck in the past or desperate to stay where she is, but Rachel comes across as all over the map, and mainly this is due to the vagueness of her past and her relationship with the other older guy as well as her relationship with what could be called a cult.
The images of birds and the references to them, along with the reference to Neptune, all feel completely random. There might be a metaphor to be gleaned, but it all literally went over my head.
Two Stars out of Five.
Not Rated but contains full-frontal, female nudity and sexual situations.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 36 mins.
Reviewed for Portland Film Festival.
For more information, go to http://portlandfilmfestival.com/
WBOC Advertising Info
WBOC Jobs
Site Map FAQs
Closed Captioning Help Desk
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2020 WBOC. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service, and Ad Choices
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7207
|
__label__wiki
| 0.934248
| 0.934248
|
Wikipur
November 26 famous birthdays in India Indian celebrity stars
In this post -- Famous Birthdays November 26 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics, check who are sharing your birthday in India November 26's famous birthday personality in India like Bollywood actor, actress, cricketer, politician and all famous Indian celebrity.
November 26 famous birthdays in India
Arjun Rampal (born 26 November 1972), is an Indian film actor and a former fashion model. He works for Bollywood movies. He made his acting debut in Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001), which earned him a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. The film was a failure but Rampal was appreciated for his performance and received several awards for his work in the mov...
Birth Date: 26-Nov-1972
Birth Place: Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
Career: Actor, Model, Film Producer
Citizenship: India
Anna Leonowens
Anna Leonowens (26 November 1831 – 19 January 1915) was an English travel writer, educator, and social activist. She worked in Siam from 1862 to 1868, where she taught the wives and children of Mongkut, king of Siam. She also co-founded the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Leonowens's experiences in Siam were fictionalised in Margaret Landon's 1944 bestselling novel Anna and the King of Siam...
Birth Place: Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
Death Date: 19-Jan-1915
Career: Writer, Teacher, Governess
Citizenship: United Kingdom
Verghese Kurien
Verghese Kurien (born 26 November 1921 at Kozhikode, Kerala) is the founder of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), an apex cooperative organization that manages the Amul food brand. He is recognised as the man behind the success of the Amul brand. He is credited with being the architect of Operation Flood—the largest dairy development program in the world. Kurien helped mod...
Birth Place: Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Death Date: 09-Sep-2012
Career: Engineer
Meera Nandan
Meera Nandan (Malayalam: മീര നന്ദന്; born Meera Nandakumar on 26 November 1989) is an Indian film actress and a television anchor. She did her schooling in Bhavan's Vidya Mandir, Elamakkara,near Elamakkara temple. She is currently studying at Presidency College... She started her career in 2007 by co-hosting the popular reality-based singing competition Idea Star Singer on Asianet Television with...
Birth Place: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Career: Actor
Anupriya Kapoor
Anupriya Kapoor is a television actress who hails from Delhi. She won her first and only award for Best Debutant for her short lived yet highly popular serial Tere Liye. She has also done different serials like Miley Jab Hum Tum and Sshhh...Koi Hai and done cameo roles for YRF production. After Voice of India was over she began auditioning for ads and albums and that's how she landed roles in seri...
Birth Place: Punjab, India
Yash Pal
Yash Pal (born 26 November 1926) is an Indian scientist and educator. He was raised in Pai, Kaithal, Haryana (India), graduated with a degree in physics from Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1949 and gained a PhD degree in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1958. Yash Pal has held many positions within the educational establishment of the Indian government, is known for regu...
Career: Physicist, Professor
Anwar Shah Kashmiri
Maulana Anwar Shah Al Lolabi Kashmiri (November 26, 1875 - May 28, 1933) was an scholar of Islam. During his career, he taught at a number of prominent institutions, including the Darul Uloom Deoband which contains a gate named at his honor. He authored a numbers books on Islam, which were published in Arabic and Persian. A native of Kashmir, Shah was born on 26 November 1875. Raised in the Muslim...
Birth Place: Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Ram Sharan Sharma
Ram Sharan Sharma (26 November 1919 – 20 August 2011) was an eminent historian of Ancient and early Medieval India. He taught at Patna University, Delhi University (1973–85) and the University of Toronto and was a senior fellow at School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London; University Grants Commission National Fellow (1958–81) and President of Indian History Congress in 1975. It...
Death Date: 20-Aug-2011
Career: Historian
Xan Fielding
Major Xan Fielding DSO (26 November 1918 – 19 August 1991) was a British author, translator, journalist and traveller, who served as an Special Operations Executive agent in Crete, France and the Far East during World War II. Alexander Wallace Fielding was born at Ootacamund, India, where his father, Percival Wallace Fielding served in the Indian Army, as a major in the 50th Sikhs. Fielding's moth...
Birth Place: Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu, India
Career: Author, Translator
Ranbir Singh Hooda
Ranbir Singh Hooda (26 November 1914 – 1 February 2009) is well known in Haryana's Jat heartland for his role in India's freedom struggle as a leading member of the Indian National Congress. Born on November 26, 1914, in the house of Matu Ram in Sanghi village Rohtak district, Hooda studied at Vaish High School, Rohtak, Government College, Rohtak and Ramjas College, Delhi from where he graduated i...
Death Date: 01-Feb-2009
Career: Politician
Suniti Kumar Chatterjee
Suniti Kumar Chatterji (26 November 1890 – 29 May 1977) was an Indian linguist, educationist and litterateur. He was born on 26 November 1890 at Shibpur in Howrah. He was the son of Haridas Chattopadhyay, an affluent Kulin Brahmin. Suniti Kumar was a meritorious student, and passed the Entrance (school leaving) examination from the Mu...
Birth Place: Howrah District, West Bengal, India
Nathuram Premi
Nathuram Premi (in Hindi - नाथूराम प्रेमी) was a writer, publisher, poet, editor, linguist and an intellectual giant in the field of Jainism as well as Hindi literature. A budding poet, he wrote under the nom de plume of "Premi". Although belonging to the Digambara sect of Jainism, he adopted a non-sectarian attitude and published and translated many Digambara as well as Śvetāmbara works. Working ...
Birth Place: Deori, Madhya Pradesh, India
Career: Writer
K. D. Sethna
Kaikhosru Dadhaboy (K.D.) Sethna (26 November 1904 – 29 June 2011) was an Indian poet, scholar, writer, philosopher, and cultural critic. He published more than 40 books. He is also known as Amal Kiran. Sethna studied at Bombay University and was one of Sri Aurobindo's earliest disciples, arriving at the Sri Aurobindo's ashram in 1927, at age 23, to take up the path of Integral Yoga under Sri Auro...
Birth Place: India, , India
Death Date: 29-Jun-2011
Karan Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria
Karan Faridoon Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria, CBE (born 26 November 1961) is an entrepreneur and a life peer. He is best known as one of the two founders and chairman of Cobra Beer. Bilimoria was born in Hyderabad, India of Parsi Zoroastrian descent. He did his schooling from Hebron School, Ooty in the Nilgiris, India. He received the Bachelor of Commerce degree from Osmania University (Indian Instit...
Birth Place: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Citizenship: United Kingdom, India
Jasu Patel
Jasubhai Motibhai Patel pronunciation (help·info) (26 November 1924, Ahmedabad, Gujarat – 12 December 1992, Ahmedabad) was an off-spinner who played Test cricket for Indian cricket team. His fame lies entirely on a single match against Australia where he took 14 wickets. At the age of ten, he broke his arm falling from a tree. Because of this injury he had a jerky bowling action, which some consi...
Death Date: 12-Dec-1992
Raja Sir
His Highness Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Sir Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman GCIE (26 November 1875 - 28 May 1928) was the ruler of the princely state of Pudukkottai from 15 April 1886 to 28 May 1928. Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman was born on 26 November 1875 to Princess Brihadambal Rajammani Sahib of Pudukkottai and her husband M.R.Ry. Kolandaswami Pallavarayar Sahib Avargal. Princess Brihadambal was ...
Birth Place: Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, India
Death Date: 28-May-1928
Hari Singh Gour
Hari Singh Gour (26 November 1870 – 25 December 1949), also known as Sir Hari Singh Gour and Dr. Hari Singh Gour, was a distinguished lawyer, jurist, educationist, social reformer, poet, and novelist. He was one of the greatest visionaries of education of this century on the Indian subcontinent and even on a global scale. Gour was the Founder Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi and Nagpur U...
Career: Lawyer, Novelist
Shyama Singh
Shyama Singh (Hindi: श्यामा सिंह) (born 26 November 1942) is an Indian politician and a former Member of Parliament from the Aurangabad (Bihar) (Lok Sabha constituency) and is married to the Governor of Nagaland, Nikhil Kumar, who was also elected to the 14th Lok Sabha from the same constituency in Bihar. She is daughter of Indian Civil Service officer Shri T. P. Singh and her mother Madhuri Singh...
Birth Place: Patna, Bihar, India
V K Duggal
V K Duggal, formally India's Water Resources Secretary, was Indian Union Home Secretary from March 2005 until April 1, 2007 when Madhukar Gupta took over the post. Mr.Duggal was born on 26 November 1944. He belongs to U.T. cadre as well as the former advisor of Chandigarh. Duggal has held a variety of posts after a stint as a short service commission officer in the Army. He had a stint in the Muni...
Bharatsinh Madhavsinh Solanki
Bharatsinh Madhavsinh Solanki (born November 26, 1953) is the current Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways and a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Anand constituency of Gujarat and is a member of the Indian National Congress....
Birth Place: Anand, Gujarat, India
1960 old songs list1
1970 hindi songs list1
1970 Old hindi songs list1
2 line whatsapp status1
Alka Yagnik All songs list1
all Emojis hindi Meaning1
Anmol vachan1
arijit singh romantic songs list1
Attaullah Khan sad songs list1
Best ghazal lyrics in hindi1
Best of 60s Hindi songs list1
English sad status1
famous birthdays86
100 Flirty questions to ask your girlfriend in Hindi1
Aafat Wapas Lyrics Aafat Wapas Lyrics in Hindi1
All Indian TV channels price rate list Hindi channels rate list per channels3
Arijit singh sad songs list1
Arijit Singh Songs List1
Attaullah Khan gazals list1
Attaullah Khan old sad songs list1
Attaullah Khan songs a to z songs list1
Attaullah Khan songs list1
attitude whatsapp status1
August 31 famous birthdays in India Indian celebrity stars1
Balma powerful song lyrics1
best of Arijit Singh Songs List1
best of mukesh songs list1
Best whatapp status ever1
December 1 famous birthdays in India Indian celebrity stars1
December 10 famous birthdays in India Indian celebrity stars1
December 14 famous birthdays in India1
EMIWAY BANTAI1
english status2
Famous Birthdays April 1 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays April 10 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays April Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays August 1 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays August 10 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays August 21Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays February 22 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays July 1 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays July 10 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays July 27Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays June 1 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays June 11 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays March 1 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays March 10 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays May 1 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays May 10 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays November 1 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays October 1 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays October 10 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays September 10Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays September 11 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous Birthdays September 3 Bollywood Actor Actress Cricket Politics1
Famous ghazal lyrics1
February 1 famous birthdays in India1
February 10 famous birthdays in India1
Flirty questions to ask a girl in Hindi1
Foji Gelya Aake Song Lyrics1
Ghar More Pardesiya Lyrics in Hindi1
Ghazal lyrics Gulam Ali1
Ghazal lyrics of mirza ghalib1
Haryanvi song Ram rakhwala lyrics1
heart broken status1
Heart touching ghazal lyrics1
heart touching status1
Hindi Karan Randhawa1
Hindi motivational quotes1
hindi movies on tv channels today1
Hindi movies on tv today India1
Ja Ve Ja Ve Lyrics1
Jagjit Singh ghazals lyrics in hindi font1
January 1 famous birthdays in India1
January 10 famous birthdays in India1
January 4 famous birthdays in India Indian1
June 10 famous birthdays in India1
June 3 famous birthdays in India1
Kasbe ka arth paribhasha1
Khakhata Song Lyrics Khakhata Lyrics Haryanvi song1
List of Indian companies in Dubai1
List of Indian companies in UAE1
Love Songs for Husband in Hindi1
May 15 famous birthdays in India1
Mirzaye Song Lyrics1
Motivational quotes1
Motivational quotes in hindi1
mukesh old sad songs1
mukesh old sad songs free download1
mukesh sad songs free download1
mukesh sad songs list1
mukesh songs mp31
mukesh video songs free download1
new whatsapp status1
November 10 famous birthdays in India1
November 11 famous birthdays in India Indian celebrity stars1
old Hindi songs 1960 list1
old hindi songs 1970 to 1980 free1
Old Hindi Songs to Dedicate To Husband List1
old song 1970 mp31
Parmish Verma Song Ja Ve Ja Lyrics1
Ram rakhwala song lyrics1
Sad ghazals lyrics1
satya vachan1
September 1 famous birthdays in India Indian celebrity stars1
September 13 famous birthdays in india1
Smiley meaning in chat1
Smiley meaning in hindi1
Tere Bare Song Lyrics1
Tu Mujhse Nikalta Nahi Song Lyrics1
urdu mohabbat shayari1
urdu romantic shayari1
urdu shayari in hindi1
urdu shayari love1
Ved Sharma Mirzaye Song Lyrics Hindi1
Whatsapp emoji meaning in hindi1
Zaruratich nai hai 21
नगर की अवधारणा को स्पष्ट करे ।1
मुसलमानो में मेहर का क्या तात्पर्य है1
व्हाट्सएप्प इमोजी का हिंदी अर्थ1
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7211
|
__label__cc
| 0.706796
| 0.293204
|
TRADE WATCH
INBOUND / DOMESTIC NEWS
OUTBOUND NEWS
DEALZ CLUB
About Us | Contact Us | Advisory Board | Archives | Feedback
Inbound/ Domestic News
Home Top Stories Details
Friday, 31 May, 2019, 10 : 00 AM [IST]
Israel Ministry of Tourism appoints Sammy Yahia as Director of Tourism
By TBM Staff | Mumbai
Israel Ministry of Tourism has appointed Sammy Yahia as the new Director of Tourism for India &Philippines markets effective June 3, 2019. He will be responsible to lead the tourism board’s initiatives in India while overseeing the development of policies and strategies to strengthen Israel’s reputation as a world-class tourism and travel destination.
A champion marketer by profession, prior to his appointment to India, Sammy was the Director of Marketing &Communications for Israel Ministry of Tourism from 2012 to May 2019. During his tenure there, he was awarded ‘Employee of the Year - Civil Service Commission’ and a certificate of appreciation from the Minister of Tourism and the Director General for his valuable contributions. With an MBA in Marketing and Communication from the University of Derby, Yahia also completed his BA in Social Sciences, Sociology and Anthropology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The new Director brings great expertise and know-how to the role with extensive and holistic experience in tourism marketing, strategic government relations and investment facilitation. He will be instrumental in integrating the ideologies of the Israel travel industry with the Indian market to facilitate effective marketing strategies for the destination in India. Being at the helm, Yahia will help maximise all opportunities to achieve continued growth in tourism arrivals from India.
Commenting on his appointment, Yahia said, “I am delighted to take on this new position and look forward to working closely with various partners in India by building on existing partnerships alongside initiating new ones. India has a rich heritage, culture and history, similar to Israel, and is an exciting market for me to take charge of. I foresee ample opportunities for us to push boundaries and reinvent the ever evolving and dynamic Indian traveller”.
While talking about his vision for the India office, he added, “The arrivals from India have amassed expectations in the last few years to present some record-breaking numbers. While keeping the current momentum going, the goal is to place India as one of the top global source markets for Israel. Besides the metropolitan cities, continuing to capture Tier II cities would be the strategy to lure travellers to consider Israel for a leisure holiday offering dynamic experiences catering to varied interests. Having said this, our office will aggressively work towards increasing connectivity between India & Israel by introducing new airlines to service the route.”
With the appointment of a new Director, Israel Ministry of Tourism hopes to surpass their achievements of last year – a whopping 21% increase in Indian tourist arrivals elevating India to the 12th position among top source markets for Israel worldwide.
Printer-Friendly Version E-mail This Article
Receive the best of Travel content in your mailbox.
Enter your e-mail ID for our
HOME ABOUT US CONTACT US DISCLAIMER SITE MAP ARCHIVES
© Copyright 2015 Saffron Synergies Pvt Ltd
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7219
|
__label__cc
| 0.681704
| 0.318296
|
Call to Action on Health and Safety
The TUC, which URTU is an affiliated member, wants to use 28 April 2012 as the day when workers up and down the country take action to protect our health and safety.
Driver Qualification Card
Bus, coach and lorry drivers holding a British paper driving licence are asked to exchange it for a photocard licence in order to receive their driver qualification card (DQC) at no cost.
Your Union is again supporting the annual MAN everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards and we would love to see some of the exceptional women URTU members lifting a trophy at the 2012 awards.
Longer Semi Trailers Trials to Begin
Following its recent consultation, the Department for Transport (DfT) has given the go-ahead for a ten year trial of up to 900 semi-trailers at an increased length of 2.05 metres, and 900 at an increase of one metre.
Make the Most of your Money
URTU has teamed up with the Money Advice Service to offer you a free confidential online money health check.
POA E-Petitions
The Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional & Secure Psychiatric Workers (POA) have recently put forward 2 e-petitions.
Kammac plc withdraws notice of its intention to vary their drivers contracts of employment
The United Road Transport Union (URTU) has received written confirmation from Kammac plc, Skelmersdale that the notice to vary drivers contracts of employment, which included the removal of paid breaks, has now been withdrawn.
URTU members to take strike action at Kammac plc
United Road Transport Union members will be taking strike action at Kammac plc, Skelmersdale from Saturday 10 December 2011.
ETF Position on White Paper
The European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) has produced a position document on the European Commission's Transport White Paper
Paper Licence Holders - Obtaining a DQC
Since the 18 October, following the introduction of new regulation, holders of a UK paper driving licence are obliged to exchange it for a photocard licence to receive a Driver Qualification Card (DQC) following completition of 35 hours periodic training.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7225
|
__label__wiki
| 0.921287
| 0.921287
|
Valence Group
Valence Group / News / Press Releases / The Valence Group advises Indorama Ventures on acquisition of Huntsman Integrated Oxides & Derivatives
The Valence Group advises Indorama Ventures on acquisition of Huntsman Integrated Oxides & Derivatives
The Valence Group has advised Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited on its acquisition of Huntsman Corporation’s global Integrated Ethylene Oxide and Derivatives, Ethylene Glycol, Propylene Oxide/MTBE, LAB and downstream Surfactants businesses for $2 billion in cash plus the assumption of up to approximately $75 million in deferred pension obligations. This is the largest acquisition in IVL’s history and one of the largest acquisitions by a Thai company in the last decade. Expected closing is Q4 2019, subject to regulatory approvals.
About Indorama Ventures
Indorama Ventures, listed in Thailand (Bloomberg ticker IVL.TB), is one of the world’s leading petrochemicals producers, with a global manufacturing footprint across Africa, Asia, Europe and Americas. The company’s portfolio comprises Integrated PET, Fibers, Packaging, Specialty Chemicals and Olefins. Indorama Ventures products serve major FMCG and Automotive sectors, i.e. Beverages, Hygiene, Personal Care, Tire and Safety segments. Indorama Ventures had approximately 19,000 employees worldwide and consolidated revenue of US$ 10.7 billion in 2018.
About Huntsman
Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals with 2018 revenues of more than $9 billion. Its chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. It operates more than 75 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 30 countries and employ approximately 10,000 associates within the four distinct business divisions.
About The Valence Group
The Valence Group is a specialist investment bank offering M&A advisory services exclusively to companies and investors in the chemicals, materials and related sectors. The Valence Group team includes a unique combination of professionals with backgrounds in investment banking and strategy consulting within the chemicals and materials industries, all focused exclusively on providing M&A advisory services to the chemicals and materials sector. The firm’s offices are located in New York and London.
The Valence Group Advises INEOS on Acquisition of N.A. TiO2 Business from Tronox
May 02, 2019 The Valence Group Advises INEOS on Acquisition of N.A. TiO2 Business from Tronox The Valence Group acted as financial advisor to INEOS Enterprises, a division of INEOS,...
The Valence Group advises Nubiola Group on its sale to Ferro Corporation
April 30th, 2015 The Valence Group has advised Nubiola Group, a global producer of specialty colour pigments, on the sale of the company to Ferro Corporation. Ferro will acquire 100%...
The Valence Group advises Evonik on its acquisition of Huber
December 12th, 2016 The Valence Group has advised Evonik on its acquisition of the silica business of J.M. Huber for $630 million. Huber Silica is a world class, global precipitated...
The Valence Group advises Eurazeo on its acquisition of Novacap from Ardian
April 11th, 2016 The Valence Group has advised Eurazeo on its acquisition of Novacap, a global participant in the pharmaceutical and chemicals industry, for an enterprise value of €654m ($746m1),...
Member SIPC
Telly Zachariades
tzachariades@valencegroup.com
phall@valencegroup.com
Kirk McIntosh
kmcintosh@valencegroup.com
Ariel Levin
alevin@valencegroup.com
AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF
Digital & Site by VERB
The Valence Group would like to place cookies on your computer to optimize your user experience. By continuing to browse the site you consent to the use of cookies. View our Privacy Policy for more information. Privacy PolicyCookie Policy
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7226
|
__label__wiki
| 0.635039
| 0.635039
|
the front view: fiction
An Android Awakes
Interview with Emili Rosales
Emili Rosales
interview by Mike
Emili Rosales was born in Sant Carles de la Ràpita in 1968. He works as a publisher and has been a regular contributor to the newspapers Avui and La Vanguardia. He has been described by critics as one of the most interesting voices of the new generation of Catalan writers. His fourth novel The Invisible City is an international bestseller and an English translation was published on the 22nd October by Alma Books. Emili took a break from the Frankfurt Book Fair last week to talk to us.
When and how did you discover that you could write?
Many teenagers feel the need of writing. I was one of them. I loved poetry, then I try to write as my favourite poets.
The Invisible City won one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the Catalan language in 2004, The Sant Jordi Prize. How did that make you feel and what effect did it have on your writing?
It was with my fourth novel, and I had taken before the decision of combining writing and editing. The prize didn´t change this situation. I think the reason of the higher attention paid to this novel is in the theme and the story. Perhaps one has a few good stories to tell. Perhaps this is my good one.
How important do you think awards are in general to a writer and the publishing industry?
They are useful if they are able to put the focus on one book; if they shorten the way to the readers; but anyway readers are the stars of this play. With or without prizes.
What was the motivation and creative force behind The Invisible City?
A combination of a big historical event and personal interest. My family arrived to my village in the Ebro delta 2 centuries ago when the building of a promising city started. But the city never existed, and I wanted to know why. The king behind this project was Charles III, the same that discovered Pompeia and then pushed the irruption of neoclassicism. So, my own familiar story, in a small town of fishers, in the center of a continental cultural focus.
What were the reasons for giving the protagonist the same first name as yourself and placing him in Barcelona, where you live?
I like to play with that, and I think readers enjoy this ambiguity. A novel is alive while the reader trust the narrator, and if it helps.
There are lots of descriptions of architecture and the tone of the book quietly draws you into the two worlds in the novel. Do you think history and architecture can shape the present and how important to you was it that this came over in the novel?
Art, architecture helps you to talk about the past, about history, but my interest is how they can show the peoples’ feelings, the peoples’ soul, the peoples’ dreams (this story is about a failed dream: the invisible city).
Did you find it hard to juxtapose the eighteenth-century court with the contemporary art world? Did you write the two parts separately and combine them later or did you switch between the two as you wrote?
It was really hard to combine both times. It took to me more time the building than the writing of the novel, but I enjoy very much as well as writing, the preview investigation: traveling to Naples, to Venice, to St Petersburg, and reading about Enlightenment, and neoclassical architects, etc. The writing of this novel has been one of the more fascinating experiences in my whole life!
Where do you write, what kind of view do you have?
I prefer a window on Sant Carles harbour, but many times I write in hotels, flights, trains...
What's been the reaction of friends to your writing?
Enthusiastic. They are better than me.
You've been described as an interesting new voice in the new generation of Catalan writers. Do you think The Invisible City is of a similar style to that body of literature or do you think it breaks new ground?
Catalan writing is as diverse as other literatures, I mean, there are authors more close to other European authors than to other Catalan writers. I am trying to build my own world, my own references, and of course many of them are Catalan (note two big writers of XX century:
Josep Pla and Baltasar Porcel) and many others are Italian, French, Anglosaxons, Spanish ... Catalan literature, anyway have become a singular, special case among European literatures, and I am proud of being part of that.
I understand you have worked as a translator. What kind of chemistry has to happen for a translator to bring a faithful version of a book into a different language?
Translating is an art! You must be a writer in the language of arrival!
Are you happy with the translation of La Ciutat Invisible and how does it feel to see it translated into English?
As far as I can appreciate it, I like it very much. I lived one year in England in 1998-99, and I am really happy seeing my novel translated to English.
What has it been like working as the Spanish writer, Carlos Ruiz Zafón's editor?
Working with Carlos is wonderful. And a privilege. His literature has changed many things in Spain. I admire very much him because he was very confident from the first minute of all that was going to
happen. He is a genius.
Did being a literature professor help you in your writing and did you enjoy that role?
Being a literature professor is too much hard for me. I admire the work they do.
What's next? Are you working on another novel?
Yes. Perhaps Emili Rossell hasn´t died.
Thanks Emili.
Visit Alma's book site here to read more about The Invisible City.
It's been over 7 wonderful years but on the 1st Nov 2014 it all came to an end for The View From Here.
Thank you to everyone that was part of it - we had fun, we laughed, we tore our hair out, we did a heck of a load of stuff!
We will keep everything on-line as an archive.
After the 1st November any communication with us is likely to met with silence - as we will all be in cold storage.
Senior Editor: Mike French
Managing Editor Fiction: Kate Brown
*LATEST* New project from Mike French: An Android Awakes
Artwork for site created by Fossfor
Site design: BLAM! Productions
email BLAM! Productions with any problems with the site
Copyright © 2007 -2014 The View From Here All rights reserved.
All content contained within this site is protected by copyright laws.
Unauthorized use of graphics or literary material is strictly prohibited
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7229
|
__label__cc
| 0.675437
| 0.324563
|
80'sTees.com Giveaway
The 1980's brought a lot of economic, political, and social change for all. It was a time where times were changing and technology was advancing too. A lot of my favorites movies, music, and TV shows were from the 80's. I also was born in this decade. Some may look back fondly at the 1980's and wish for a time where things were simpler and life easier. However way you look at it, this decade means something different to everyone.
80sTees.com sells a variety of 80's based shirts featuring music, cartoons, television shows, movies and more. Whether you'd like a shirt featuring a scene from Back to The Future, the Double Dare Logo, or even the Cheers logo, they have you covered and offer much more. Why not purchase a Madonna shirt for the Madonna fan in your life, or a Superman shirt for that Superman fanatic? They also sell costumes, backpacks, blankets, and more. Go ahead and surprise the 80's lover in your life with something that will make them say that's gnarly dude!
One of my favorite games of all time is Pac-Man. If I lose quickly when I play, I tend to get mad and frustrated. Those ghosts won't leave my poor Pac-Man alone! They're always chasing after him. Can't they just go away? They look sick, like they need some sunlight too. Years ago I even found an electronic tabletop Pac-Man game that was my parents. I was really excited and played it a lot. I enjoyed bringing the video game experience into the comfort of my own home. You can even find me playing Pac-Man online too. There's just something so addicting about it!
Many people share my love for Pac-Man and 80'sTees.com definitely recognizes this. To solidify the love for the yellow one, there's now a Pacm-Man blanket that makes my heart sing.
This Pac-Man microfiber fleece blanket features the unmistakable game board on a 50x60 throw. It's thin but features warm and soft fleece. You'll find the non-gamers in your life will end up using it because it's so comfortable, and you'll love it because it's Pac-Man!
Stay warm this winter with this fabulous blanket. Let the memories of going to the arcade after school and playing video games trickle in. Also, be prepared to have others want it because it's so cool.
I remember sitting down at the big video machine and we'd play for hours! Loved that game and still do!
Edge Of Insanity August 20, 2013 at 6:10 PM
I remember that when we would go to Dairy Queen, my twin sister and I would sit at the Pacman table they had and played until it was time to go.
Brian E. August 20, 2013 at 6:30 PM
Thanks for the giveaway…my Pac-Man,Space Invaders,and Asteroids memories involve the loss of far too many quarters into the maw of arcade machines in my wasted youth !
Patricia Wojnar Crowley August 20, 2013 at 6:31 PM
I remember sitting on the livingroom floor playing pac mand on the Atari...it was always a fight to get a turn from my brothers!
Carrie August 20, 2013 at 7:04 PM
my sisters and I LOVED playing Pac-man. I remember screaming me head off every time I got close to Blinky, Pinky, Inky, or Clyde. Haha.
Barbara A. August 20, 2013 at 7:43 PM
Going to the arcade with the family... playing Pac Man and Donkey Kong.
I remember playing the game at the arcade
robyn paris August 20, 2013 at 9:10 PM
I remember playing the game in the arcade.
I remember staying up all night with my sisters playing pacman
I remember staying up night with my sisters playing pac man
nickieisis3 August 21, 2013 at 12:15 AM
I remember MTV and the big hair.
Pinky Sade August 21, 2013 at 9:45 AM
i remember playing it with my sisters! haha
beth August 21, 2013 at 11:06 AM
I remember losing...a lot. I was really bad at pac man but I liked playing it. Oh, and who can forget the pac man fever song?
dez3b@yahoo.com
kim h August 21, 2013 at 11:13 AM
I LOVE pac man. I used to play Mrs Pacman at the arcade in the mall all the time!! I miss the 80s
Playing on the arcade machine with my Dad!
I remember we had the first Pacman machine in the are placed in our brand new Bowling Alley and there would be people (kids) lining up their quarters on a sill that would also hold ash tray, (yes-I am older than I want to be.) By some miracle know one ever confused who's quarter was next even thou quarters look the same. Go figure?
I blogged about this giveaway on my blog.
http://marriedtomysweepstakes.blogspot.com/2013/08/ends-9113-sammis-blog-of-life.html
Julie Lynn Bickham August 21, 2013 at 4:41 PM
I remember playing this a lot when I was little. Not sure where or on what though.
I just remember playing it and how much fun I thought it was. I was more excited when Mrs. Pac man came out
Kortney August 21, 2013 at 6:15 PM
Oh goodness! I used to stay up all hours of the night and play this game!
smilekisses August 21, 2013 at 8:38 PM
I remember playing this at the local hangout--a pizza shop.
Kim August 21, 2013 at 8:40 PM
We used to have this game in our diner!
We had an Atari - I was better at Frogger than Pac Man
jalynnstevulak August 21, 2013 at 9:17 PM
I remember staying up late playing Pac Man with my Grandma when I was little!
I loved playing Pac-Man at the local arcade, I put many a quarter in that game!
Valerie Taylor Mabrey August 21, 2013 at 11:06 PM
putting quarters in the machine at stop and go
AStarrA August 22, 2013 at 11:18 AM
Mine would be of watching my brothers play, the stinky pants haha would never let me have a turn.
Michele P. August 22, 2013 at 7:54 PM
when I was younger I would go to an arcade called Megatron in my hometown and spend lots of money on tokens to try to get high scores on PacMan Asteroids, MS Pac Man and Centipede lol...and I actually have an old Atari 7800 at home with those games now!
My best friend and I used to walk to the bowling alley to play video games including Pacman
Rebecca Orr August 23, 2013 at 12:38 AM
I don't have any memories from the 80's because I was born in 1986. But I remember playing it in arcades in the 90's.
Mindi August 23, 2013 at 2:00 PM
I loved playing Pac-man on Atari as a kid!
mogrill August 23, 2013 at 6:20 PM
I just remember playing in the arcade at the local skate rink.
I have so many arcade memories, but pac man always stands out as being the most popular game at the arcade in the 80's
Steamy Nails August 23, 2013 at 11:24 PM
I remember playing it at the movie theater along with lots of other classic vintage games hahaha. Love pacman <3
I blogged about this
http://thefallsgirl.blogspot.com/2013/08/sammis-blog-of-life-pac-man-fleece.html
I Blogged about this:
http://thefallsgirl.blogspot.com/2013/08/sammis-blog-of-life-pac-man-fleece.html cdvf
Back in the day we would sit down and play several games on the atari, I remember always losing at pacman. I would get to mad because the ghosts would get me.
Patty White August 28, 2013 at 1:22 PM
I remember playing this on Atari with my dad
coliebear August 28, 2013 at 2:05 PM
I remember playing pacman with my brother all weekend long.
I used to play pac man every day in boarding school I made it level 50!
Mandee August 28, 2013 at 3:07 PM
I remember when our family would get together my cousins and I would take turns playing my Atari. We thought it was the bomb.
I remember when my family would have bbq's or other special times I can remember my cousins and I playing pacman for hours on our Atari. We thought it was the coolest thing back then.
Pam OLeary August 28, 2013 at 3:49 PM
My brother and I would play on the old table version at the pizza place. Then I would play the arcade version at the skating rink - 1985.
i remember playing pac man as a kid in the arcade loved it and love ms pac man too
heather hgtempaddy@hotmail.com
9string August 28, 2013 at 6:14 PM
I remember wasting quarters on the game at school.
I used to play Pac Man at a pizza place while waiting for my pizza to be made.
OMG i love the 80's i had pacman on atari and would play always after dukes of hazzard or punky brewster ..and the best day was when i got a color tv in my room to hook the atari up to and for the first time ever i seen pacman in living color and cried i was only 7 at the time but yes i cried
i want this prize so bad ..makes me want to play right now please pick me i love pacman it made me the man i am today
I loved playing this when I was little!
love playing pac man
I never caught the PacMan Fever myself but, I remember it used to be in just about every bar and store.
Serena Powell August 29, 2013 at 12:32 AM
I remember Pac Man was one of the one video games I had when I was younger, so I logged a lot of hours playing it.
I remember going to the arcades and playing pacman when I was younger.
Cody August 29, 2013 at 2:34 AM
I remember playing it on one of the old school tabletop machines at various restaurants in my area!
I remember playing pacman with my cousin for hours but I sucked at it
Carla S August 29, 2013 at 8:00 AM
I used to play at Pizza Hut when they used to have the arcade version.I remember we had to blow on the cartridge everytime Pacman stopped working.There used to be a Pacman cereal that was really good too!I love Pacman.
jeremy mclaughlin August 29, 2013 at 12:57 PM
I remember playing Pacman with my brother and sister.
Leenburke August 29, 2013 at 6:12 PM
I remember thinking it was the hardest game ever!!!
Eileen Burke
Sonya August 29, 2013 at 7:28 PM
I remember playing it on my Atari, and I always loved (and still do) play Mrs. Pacman at the tabletop-style arcade games!
Lisa V. August 29, 2013 at 7:30 PM
When I was 16, 1983, I worked in a Sub Shop. I remember there being a pacman arcade game in the shop and all the teens would come in to play while waiting for their food.
Xty Cruz August 29, 2013 at 9:07 PM
I remember playing this in the dentists office with my younger sister.
We used to play pac man on the nintedno 64!
SteelFox August 30, 2013 at 7:18 PM
I remember playing Pac Man at our local pizza joint.
The only memory I have is playing pacman in the arcades.
I remember wanting to play Pac Man with my older sister, not realizing it was a one player game. She gave me a dummy controller and told me that I was the ghosts.
Going to the bowling alley and playing pac man with all my friends :)
-Friederike Graedener
Brittney August 31, 2013 at 10:23 AM
I used to play pac man at the bowling alley/arcade.. man i miss that place.
Jill Myrick (jsc123) August 31, 2013 at 2:28 PM
I love Pac Man.
While my boyfriend was playing his space games at the arcade I was always busy trying to beat the high score on Pac Man.
playing for hours in the arcade with my brother
Mahdi M August 31, 2013 at 6:09 PM
Pacman made my heart race!
Shilo Beedy August 31, 2013 at 6:27 PM
I remember going to the laundromat with my mom and begging her for quarters to play pacman.
ReggieMann August 31, 2013 at 8:31 PM
Joel Higgins dancing to the Pac Man theme at the beginning of the Silver Spoons (TV Series 1982–1987)
Sadly Pac man was a little bit before my time. colleenaw@hotmail.com
bbrittbrat1398 August 31, 2013 at 10:23 PM
I remember when my parents bought me the game and it used to make me so scared because I was scared of the ghost getting me.
AndreaH August 31, 2013 at 10:55 PM
When I was younger I use to go up to the arcade and play this. Fast forward to early 2000s and when my husband and I first started dating he had a pac-man game on his older laptop and we use to challenge each other. Of course, I think he let me win a few times when I got a really low score. We had such fun and I will always remember that.
I loved playing pack man at the pizza place by my house as a kid
we had an arcade by my house growing up. pacman was the only game i was good at.
dani marie ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com
I used to play at the pizza shop at one of those sit down style arcade games.
I blogged again-
http://marriedtomysweepstakes.blogspot.com/2013/09/sammis-blog-of-life-80steescom-giveaway.html
I blogged again.
Andi r September 1, 2013 at 11:31 AM
I loved playing with my brothers and sisters!
iggysaysno September 1, 2013 at 11:32 AM
playing it on atari with mysister
Shooting Stars Mag September 1, 2013 at 12:55 PM
I remember playing a bit when I was younger, but I wasn't that great. I think this blanket would be great for one of my video game loving friends.
AmyBond September 1, 2013 at 12:57 PM
Going to the arcade and playing with my dad! I always preferred Ms. PacMan though, lol
Denise S. September 1, 2013 at 1:09 PM
I remember staying up late trying to get a higher and higher score.
tina page September 1, 2013 at 1:43 PM
playing for hours at the arcade
trixie420247 at yahoo dot com
rah267 September 1, 2013 at 1:52 PM
Playing with my friends down at the corner convenience store after school
rah267 atyahoo dotcom
Lisa Weidknecht September 1, 2013 at 2:19 PM
I played Pac Man at the arcade at the campground my family used to camp at when I was little.
natalia ryjova September 1, 2013 at 2:30 PM
I was always really scared playing pacman. I always freaked out when I was about to die.
yanabanana70@yahoo.com
Ha, I was too young for the Pac-man craze! I used the game as part of a Psychology experiment in college, though
Deb S. September 1, 2013 at 5:05 PM
I had a friend who got one of the first systems. We use to spend hours playing.
lots of quarters at the arcade mamotts
JACLYN September 1, 2013 at 9:13 PM
I remember playing PacMan at the bowling alley arcade!
firstrosegrrl@yahoo.com
Melanie Montgomery September 1, 2013 at 10:15 PM
I always liked Mrs. Pac Man
Jenny Q. September 1, 2013 at 10:16 PM
My brother and I spent hours playing pac man as kids!
Cassandra M September 1, 2013 at 10:52 PM
Pac-Man,Space Invaders,and Asteroids was my favorite growing up
I used to play Pac Man at the skating rink. It was my favorite game.
Candice September 1, 2013 at 11:52 PM
My parents owned a restaurant so we spent every day there. In the back was a Pac-Man machine and my parents would switch it over to unlimited play and my brother and I would play it while we waited for my parents to close each night
Kayla September 1, 2013 at 11:57 PM
I played it on the original Nintendo!
NeraCaligula September 2, 2013 at 12:13 AM
I remember playing Pac-Man in the arcade with my brothers. I would be soooo upset when the ghosts got to me lol.
I use to play with my brother!!
i remember my dad playing with me.
KrazeKatLady September 2, 2013 at 12:41 AM
I remember going to the arcade with my brother and playing pacman. I always loved it.
#1 Blogged about this awesome giveaway http://happeeliving.blogspot.com/2013/09/pac-man-blanket.html
Erika JM September 2, 2013 at 12:52 AM
Being a late 80's baby, I haven't any 80's Pac-Man memories. However, since its now on PS3, I enjoy playing Pac-Man and enjoying part of the 80's now.
brendaelsner September 2, 2013 at 1:38 AM
I used to sit with my dad and play pac-man on the atari all the time!!
Jennifer September 2, 2013 at 2:22 AM
I remember going down to the arcade to play Pacman, ms Pacman, and Centipede. 80's were a blast.
Angela Ash September 2, 2013 at 2:37 AM
My Pac-Man memories are remembered at random places that housed a Pac-Man arcade machine. It was one of the least expensive games to play & you got a decent amount of play time out of it for the price. I used to like it a lot but loved it even more when I saw a Mrs. Pac-Man arcade machine (prob since I'm a girl). It felt like it was a game just for us girls. The original Pac-Man was just as good & kids everywhere still know what it is. So, I'm sure it will live on as a classic for quite some time.
Well, I wasn't actually alive in the 80s! But I still love playing Pacman on my PC. The catchy little tune gets stuck in your head for ages.
Claire September 2, 2013 at 2:46 AM
Spending hours (and tons of quarters) in the mall's arcade trying to beat it with my brother... never did!
Robin T September 2, 2013 at 9:25 AM
I remember playing the game on my game console.
I remember the pac-man arcade machine at the local diner!
daddonut at yahoo dotcom
Angie Bailey September 2, 2013 at 9:28 AM
There used to be this pizza/sub place close to my grandma's house that we would order from occasionally and I'd always play Pac-Man while we waited for our food. (Angie PreciselyMine)
Catherine R September 2, 2013 at 9:36 AM
I remember going to the arcade and playing it and how much fun I thought it was.
missreneer September 2, 2013 at 10:09 AM
I remember my mother never played any other video games but she was obsessed with Pac-Man and my sister and I would laugh at her. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway and congrats on your new marriage :)
fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com
itsrob September 2, 2013 at 10:38 AM
i remember having a mini arcade-style pacman machine game that was pretty awesome. It was about 10 inches high and had a joystick. Played that thing for hours. And wish i still had it.
Robby Rob
Kathy Pease September 2, 2013 at 10:41 AM
My brother and I dropped so many quarters on this game at the arcade frankly because I really sucked at it! lol
bac1 September 2, 2013 at 11:07 AM
i was really bad at this game but my sister was really good at it id give it to her
I remember being at the bar and calling some guy a fairy for hogging the game - only to find out the "fairy" with his pinky in the air was Harry Carson of the NY Giants - far from a fairy but had a great sense of humor LOL
jules mcnubbin (buttmuffin) September 2, 2013 at 11:34 AM
i remember sitting on the floor in front of the big old wooden tv console playing my atari!
I LOVED playing pacman at my friends house. They actually also owned a Ms Pacman machine which is my all-time favorite!
I remember eating pizza and playing pacman with friends for hours!
Shakeia Rieux September 2, 2013 at 1:02 PM
I remember staying up all night trying to beat the game
We used to go play this at the arcade- it was so much more fun than on the Atari.
Ellie Wright September 2, 2013 at 1:17 PM
I didn't have a video game console in the early 80's because we could not afford it. But I babysat for a family that did. I would play Pacman with the kids and have so much fun.
matt lehman September 2, 2013 at 1:46 PM
in the mid 1980's i can remember challenging my mom and dad to games on the atari mostly mrs pac man though....i still have the atari and at least 50 games, ahh the memories
me and my sister would play for hours.we loved it
chromiumman September 2, 2013 at 7:04 PM
I remember playing at the bel-air supermarket - ain't it a shame that grocery stores no longer have arcade machines?
Savings September 2, 2013 at 7:06 PM
i remember playing mrs pac man all the time in the 80s
tony l smoaks on rafflecopter
Vikki Billings September 2, 2013 at 8:32 PM
Pac Man was one of the most popular games to play in the 80's, when we would go to the bowling ally they had a big pac man machine that I always played.
vikki.billings@yahooc.om
I remember playing Pac-man at the Bowling Alley.
We always got to play when we did our youth group lock in nights at the YMCA! It was a great time
Allison.bahr@yahoo.com
ZESTYWONDERLAND September 2, 2013 at 9:40 PM
My favorite memory is getting dropped off at the gameromm with a whole roll of quaters to play pacman & Tron! It was like a hangout for teens!
Ah well, I was a 90s kid, but I do remember investing a ton of laundry quarters on Pac man. It made laundry days fun! lexbaylor17 (at) gmail (dot) com
lmurley2000 September 2, 2013 at 10:13 PM
we use to play that game for hours and never got tired of it
Emiller September 2, 2013 at 10:33 PM
Playing in the dentist waiting room when I was a kid.
michedt September 2, 2013 at 10:38 PM
I played pac man with my dad all the time. It's the only video game dad liked!
Kristin September 2, 2013 at 11:09 PM
This was one of our first Atari games -- but definitely my favorite and most addictive! Wow. Pac Man just screams "80s" to me. I miss it!
Tooth Fairy September 2, 2013 at 11:12 PM
Sitting in a Lodge at a Ski Resort and playing Pac-man on the machine. I dont play video games now but those old skool times were fun!
I don't see my comment so I will try again. I played Pac Man at a Ski Lodge. I dont play video games now but those Old Skool times were really fun!
I remember playing pac man with my little sister every week when we went to the bowling alley. wilcarvic
corey1971 September 2, 2013 at 11:22 PM
I spent way too my of my life and my parent's money at a bowling alley in my hometown playing pacman! (Coreyolomon at gmail dot com)
Roxann September 2, 2013 at 11:30 PM
I played Pac Man at an arcade in the 80's. My kids got to play on a tabletop version whenever we went to Pizza Hut. (Roxann)
Denise M September 2, 2013 at 11:45 PM
i was actually more of a Miss Pacman fan instead but loved playing at the arcade with my sister
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7234
|
__label__cc
| 0.568677
| 0.431323
|
Political & General Discussion
The battle of Brexit!
Greetings, and welcome to the World Affairs Board!
The World Affairs Board is the premier forum for the discussion of the pressing geopolitical issues of our time. Topics include military and defense developments, international terrorism, insurgency & COIN doctrine, international security and policing, weapons proliferation, and military technological development.
Our membership includes many from military, defense, academic, and government backgrounds with expert knowledge on a wide range of topics. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so why not register a World Affairs Board account and join our community today?
Page 102 of 125 First ... 93949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111 ... Last
Thread: The battle of Brexit!
04 Jul 19,, 19:37 #1516
Senior Contributor
Originally Posted by Freyr
Correct and therefore can leave most people dead in the water on this subject
On the Tudors maybe.
Spoken like a true Socialist! So you don't think that one of the greatest things Thatcher did for the working class helped raise the standard of living in the UK???. Starkey is Working class and comes from a working class family that made sure their son got an education and that in short is why you despise him. I find your comments absurd and point no blame at Gordon Browns policies at undermining UK Private pensions. Investors had to put money into property because of his Tax policies..Which created the Property boom in the 2000's There was nothing wrong with what Thatcher did. Its what came after in the Bliar Gov that caused the current housing crisis, that and immigration policy (Straight out of a joke book) When you have 2 immigrants coming into the UK while only one UK resident leaves, coupled with the fact that housing prices are sky rocketing due to a false boom created by GOV policy. Well it doesn't take Einstein to work it out.. Hence why the current generation are struggling to buy and so rent instead. Not what Thatcher did, what BROWN ( 'No more Boom and Bust') did!!!! Should I now go on and explain why this property boom caused the banking collapse in the UK as well or do you think that was Thatchers fault as well??
I am certainly not a socialist. My family and I own shares and commodities as well as parts or whole businesses. I own a solely a fruit farm outside Poltava and a yacht (which I charter when not able to use her), co-own a bakery/patisserie in Kyiv and part of a coffee shop in Lwow and my Husband and I jointly own and are involved in restoring a castle outside Lwow with local authority grants for some of the work that will be opened to the public once the restoration is done. We plan to host medieval style banquets and jousting as well offer conference space and host weddings. My Husband owns and runs his own farm. It's not that I am a 'business type'; business is not really my interest. I just like real croissants and real french bread, picked up a farm at a Government auction for next to nothing and like history and castles. It is not my day job which is far more mundane organisational issues in the UAF largely. I get some extra income, fresh organic fruit and fresh baguette when in Kyiv and have helped some displaced Tatars and former residents of Donbass so all is good. I am not an out and out 'business person' or 'money orientated' myself - I am basically a historian by nature - but I own stuff that keeps me comfortable and happy: I love sailing and as soon as I can get away go visiting ancient sites on my yacht. So much for me.
Well first of all I was no fan of Gordon Brown and voted for Cameron in 2010. I am not sure what Brown did to undermine pensions but I assume you refer to the 2008 crash - which started in the US 'sub prime' mortgage market. How this effected the UK 'social housing' market you do not even hint at so I cannot really understand why you mention it. I was myself deeply against Brown's bailing out the banks at the time. I am not sure if RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) is still yet fully out of public ownership 11yrs later. It was immoral to nationalise the bank losses - due to their own stupidity - while allowing them to keep privatising their profits and this I thought a was a mistake that would have further consequences. I also strongly disagreed with this making money out of nowhere - what they quaintly called "Quantitative Easing" policy (which the ECB is still doing). The Central Bankers literally got on their computers and 'created' trillions of US$ GBP£ and euros with which they then bought bank and mortgages etc on the markets. It was great to trade in the US in particular - every month the Fed would come out and say "Yea we are going to magic a whole new bunch of money" and sure as hell the US$ would drop and Gold would rise; it was a dead cert and I made quite alot of money trading it for my family and myself. Personally I believe in 'hard money' on a more Hayekian level and letting the markets operate freely more than Keynesian interventionism. If it needs building in a relatively prosperous economy the private sector will build it. In Ukraine at present that is not always possible as the private sector is some 60% in the hands of criminal oligarchs, the courts corrupt, and the middle class largely deprived of a political voice so the Government for now bears the burden of responsibility both to squish the oligarchs and disburse their holdings and for improvements in roads, hospitals and military supply and equipment etc... On the roads they have not entirely failed.
Nor am I saying what Thatcher did was in itself wrong when she allowed Council tennants to buy their own homes - though they were sold cheap and not at market prices. The problem was that after the 'Council Houses' were sold off cheap the money was not used to build more 'social housing'. Though I am not a socialist I am a Christian and a pragmatist and there will always be a working poor who need some sort of subsidised housing if they are to remain productive and not homeless. It is in everyone interest to keep these people as decently as we can so they can continue working in factories or doing whatever they do. Hopefully some will start their own businesses and pay more tax in time. I agreed with the Cameron/Osbourne (who is now going for the IMF post) policies of raising the income level at which the working poor start to pay tax. I disagreed with 'Help to Buy' (where if you had £5000 the Government would loan you another £10,000 to put down a deposit on a house type deal) and 'buy to let' type schemes which in my view just keep the UK property market artificially high and unaffordable for people on minimum wage living in rented accomodation. They should have invested in new subsisdised social housing - simple.
None of this is about the migration of European and Asian workers to the UK though. On that matter there were actually more migrants from outside the EU than from EU member countries itself. The UK had not invested in new 'social housing' since the 1950's and 60's and Thatcher sold alot that off cheap and did not replace it. So sure rents went up as did house prices. But these migrants also payed tax in the UK and did jobs that otherwise wouldn't be done. Last time I went to a Hospital in England I needed a couple of stitches in my finger (chopping firewood injury) and the Doctor was a Malaysian Christian Evangalist! I had a very interesting conversation with him and got his email and we are still in touch today. I do not have a problem with him become British, even if I am not any longer, as doubtless he has sewed up many more people since me. Last time I visited England I went into a shop wearing a Ukrainian badge on my jacket and the Lady greeted me 'Slava Ukraini!' but she was Polish as was I. I do not have a problem with that. Are the US and Canada - all the American nations inherantly 'wrong' because they are composed of migrants? Are not the original English themselves also migrants? Hengist and Horsa landed at Reculver as I recall the story...Other modern migrants go temporarily to pick fruit, potatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, hops and what not and then just go home back to Romania and Bulgaria again. Most of these farms have temporary camp sites or housing for them so they live on site and do not effect the housing market while in England anyway. I knew people who used to go grape picking in France in summer after Uni in the same way.
Gordon Brown never sold huge amounts of social housing but did not make much either and to blame him for the crash is just wrong though I did not agree with his response by bailing out the banks. Nothing is as simple as you would like to paint it. The 2008 crash temporarily lower the housing market and what pensions have to do with it I do not know. So as far as I can see you are talking rubbish. Another problem in the UK has been planning permission to build new housing which is an extremely long and complicated process and can be costly if you hire lawyers. Still has nothing to do with Gordon Brown though who I find myself almost defending though I never voted for him. Just because you are wrong about Brown's mistakes does not make me a 'socialist' - just a bit more knowledgeable about the UK when I lived there than you.
As for 2 arriving and 1 leaving that has never occured in UK but I would rather have their problem of an increasing population that the one we have here where demographic decline is serious issue.
Lei Feng Protege Defense Professional
never thought i'd see the day when someone calls snapper a socialist, LOL.
There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."- Isaac Asimov
Turbanator Senior Contributor
The BBC are more dangerous than left wing ...they're liberal, privileged and highly conceited hypocrites...
This will make for an interesting quote : )
Originally Posted by snapper
The UK never joined the euro.
They tried for a month and then pulled out.
Banned Contributor
Why only the Tudors? Do you seriously think his knowledge is limited thus? ...You clearly don't know him. He is an English constitutional historian which hardly limits him to the Tudor period.
I am certainly not a socialist.
Well you either don't understand what happened in the UK in the 80's when the working class were finally allowed to buy what they had been renting for decades or you just Blamed Thatcher without understanding what had fallen before!
My family and I own shares and commodities as well as parts or whole businesses. I own a solely a fruit farm outside Poltava and a yacht (which I charter when not able to use her), co-own a bakery/patisserie in Kyiv and part of a coffee shop in Lwow and my Husband and I jointly own and are involved in restoring a castle outside Lwow with local authority grants for some of the work that will be opened to the public once the restoration is done. We plan to host medieval style banquets and jousting as well offer conference space and host weddings. My Husband owns and runs his own farm. It's not that I am a 'business type'; business is not really my interest. I just like real croissants and real french bread, picked up a farm at a Government auction for next to nothing and like history and castles. It is not my day job which is far more mundane organisational issues in the UAF largely. I get some extra income, fresh organic fruit and fresh baguette when in Kyiv and have helped some displaced Tatars and former residents of Donbass so all is good. I am not an out and out 'business person' or 'money orientated' myself - I am basically a historian by nature - but I own stuff that keeps me comfortable and happy: I love sailing and as soon as I can get away go visiting ancient sites on my yacht. So much for me.
I'm very happy for your apparent wealth, But thats non of my business! plus I seriously wonder why any of that negates you from being of a left of centre persuasion. For all I know you could be hiding in a closet.
Well first of all I was no fan of Gordon Brown and voted for Cameron in 2010
.Oh ..the same Cameron that just blamed Boris Johnson for Brexit?
I am not sure what Brown did to undermine pensions but I assume you refer to the 2008 crash
No, I am referring to his taxation of private pensions shortly after coming to power in 97...Which caused a money shift into Property, which then created a house price boom. Which then created a chasm between wages and the ability to get a mortgage ..resulting in mortgages leaping from 3 times earnings upto 7 times earnings
which started in the US 'sub prime' mortgage market. How this effected the UK 'social housing' market you do not even hint at so I cannot really understand why you mention it.
Because you're not fully aware of the situation in the UK in 97 -07 at which point Northern Rock started to show signs of hemorrhage?
I was myself deeply against Brown's bailing out the banks at the time.
Yeh sure he could have paid everybody's mortgage off instead, But hey the Populace have to be kept in debt otherwise the capitalist system will collapse!
I am not sure if RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) is still yet fully out of public ownership later. It was immoral to nationalise the bank losses - due to their own stupidity - while allowing them to keep privatising their profits and this I thought a was a mistake that would have further consequences. I also strongly disagreed with this making money out of nowhere - what they quaintly called "Quantitative Easing" policy (which the ECB is still doing). The Central Bankers literally got on their computers and 'created' trillions of US$ GBP£ and euros with which they then bought bank and mortgages etc on the markets. It was great to trade in the US in particular - every month the Fed would come out and say "Yea we are going to magic a whole new bunch of money" and sure as hell the US$ would drop and Gold would rise; it was a dead cert and I made quite alot of money trading it for my family and myself. Personally I believe in 'hard money' on a more Hayekian level and letting the markets operate freely more than Keynesian interventionism.
Are you really telling me that you haven't yet realised what the global financial system is based upon?..Its one word
If it needs building in a relatively prosperous economy the private sector will build it. In Ukraine at present that is not always possible as the private sector is some 60% in the hands of criminal oligarchs, the courts corrupt, and the middle class largely deprived of a political voice so the Government for now bears the burden of responsibility both to squish the oligarchs and disburse their holdings and for improvements in roads, hospitals and military supply and equipment etc... On the roads they have not entirely failed.
UKraine is totally corrupt as is Russia and many others
Nor am I saying what Thatcher did was in itself wrong when she allowed Council tennants to buy their own homes - though they were sold cheap and not at market prices.
Correct and rightly so, she actually did something for people that would die fighting for their country not hide out in some Tax Haven
The problem was that after the 'Council Houses' were sold off cheap the money was not used to build more 'social housing'. Though I am not a socialist I am a Christian and a pragmatist and there will always be a working poor who need some sort of subsidised housing if they are to remain productive and not homeless. It is in everyone interest to keep these people as decently as we can so they can continue working in factories or doing whatever they do. Hopefully some will start their own businesses and pay more tax in time. I agreed with the Cameron/Osbourne (who is now going for the IMF post) policies of raising the income level at which the working poor start to pay tax. I disagreed with 'Help to Buy' (where if you had £5000 the Government would loan you another £10,000 to put down a deposit on a house type deal) and 'buy to let' type schemes which in my view just keep the UK property market artificially high and unaffordable for people on minimum wage living in rented accomodation. They should have invested in new subsisdised social housing - simple.
This is called tinkering after the horse has already bolted
None of this is about the migration of European and Asian workers to the UK though. On that matter there were actually more migrants from outside the EU than from EU member countries itself.
Alot of EU workers came to the UK because the UK required their skill sets or labour. This became even more so after 2008 because their tax contribution was helping the UK recover. But its a bit hard to build social housing when you are cutting back on everything else (Austerity)THink about that and you can stop blaming Thatcher
The UK had not invested in new 'social housing' since the 1950's and 60's and Thatcher sold alot that off cheap and did not replace it. So sure rents went up as did house prices.
Selling off the council houses did not cause the House price boom in the early 2000's. But Gordon's Tax policies did!
But these migrants also payed tax in the UK and did jobs that otherwise wouldn't be done. Last time I went to a Hospital in England I needed a couple of stitches in my finger (chopping firewood injury) and the Doctor was a Malaysian Christian Evangalist! I had a very interesting conversation with him and got his email and we are still in touch today. I do not have a problem with him become British, even if I am not any longer, as doubtless he has sewed up many more people since me. Last time I visited England I went into a shop wearing a Ukrainian badge on my jacket and the Lady greeted me 'Slava Ukraini!' but she was Polish as was I. I do not have a problem with that. Are the US and Canada - all the American nations inherantly 'wrong' because they are composed of migrants? Are not the original English themselves also migrants? Hengist and Horsa landed at Reculver as I recall the story...Other modern migrants go temporarily to pick fruit, potatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, hops and what not and then just go home back to Romania and Bulgaria again. Most of these farms have temporary camp sites or housing for them so they live on site and do not effect the housing market while in England anyway. I knew people who used to go grape picking in France in summer after Uni in the same way.
hmmm zzzzzz!
Gordon Brown never sold huge amounts of social housing but did not make much either and to blame him for the crash is just wrong though I did not agree with his response by bailing out the banks.
I would blame him for selling the Gold at rock bottom prices..But no he didn't sell social housing but he dd sell everything else!
Nothing is as simple as you would like to paint it. The 2008 crash temporarily lower the housing market and what pensions have to do with it I do not know. So as far as I can see you are talking rubbish. Another problem in the UK has been planning permission to build new housing which is an extremely long and complicated process and can be costly if you hire lawyers. Still has nothing to do with Gordon Brown though who I find myself almost defending though I never voted for him. Just because you are wrong about Brown's mistakes does not make me a 'socialist' - just a bit more knowledgeable about the UK when I lived there than you.
Your summary was pathetic, uninformed, disconnected and worthless. Knowing when to stop typing is always a good characteristic!
Last edited by Freyr; 06 Jul 19, at 11:47.
Anne Widecombe backing the Fisherman but using the Slave analogy to explain the oppression of the EU was pushing it just a bit...But she was quite correct to highlight the stitch up at the Top of the Commission which is deplorable, undemocratic and absurd!
Originally Posted by Double Edge
Note quite correct. The UK was in the UK shadowed the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) in the 1980s when Geoffrey Howe was Chancellor and joined it in 1990 only to crash out in 1992. Joined at to a high a GBP to DDM level basically given the current inflation in the UK. The free floating value of GBP after leaving did provide an economic stimulus afterwards. I was never a fan of the euro and never will be. I think it is repressive both politically, as we saw with Hellas and the illegal Cypriot Bank Robbery and in economic terms. It is insane for Portugal to have the same interest rate as Estonia just because it suits Germany. It stifles growth that a local interest interest rate and free floating currency would otherwise stimulate.
Why only the Tudors? Do you seriously think his knowledge is limited thus? ...You clearly don't know him!
Two things on that Starkey blurb you posted. First he said that if these migrant workers had all come in and occupied all the cheaper end of the housing market that would be a 'matter of fact'. Well fair enough... but then he quotes no statistics that proves it was 'matter of fact'. He just assumes that having said if this had happened it would have been a matter of fact - which is a bit circular anyway - is enough to prove that it did in fact happen. But he not prove the 'matter of fact' merely stated a circular argument; if it rained yesterday evening it rained yesterday. That does not mean it DID actually rain yesterday.
Second suppose a person is specialist brain surgeon or rocket scientist or something else. Does that make their opinions about modern political affairs somehow more meaningful? Archimedes was certainly a clever fellow but he wasn't entrusted with political affairs in Syracuse. Aristotle was tutor to Alexander but not a statesman himself. Turing was a mathematician, brainy as you like but probably not the best person to handle war policy. Newton I think briefly managed the royal mint but just because person is a specialist in one field - even if they are exceptional in that field - that does not make them automatically correct in another field. Yet you seem to think Starkey, who is barely extra ordinary even in Tudor history - should be an exception.
Let me make this real simple for you... Before Thatcher sold off the the Council Houses below market prices just about anyone of the 'working poor' could get an average quality family home for affordable rent and continue working, bringing up their kids and life went on as normal. These houses went back to post WW1 when they were built to house returning soldiers. In effect having this vast social housing stock acted to keep private sector rents down because why pay a fortune when after two years on a waiting list you could get a cheap rent Council House. Thatcher sold alot of them off cheap which flushed the Local Authorities with cash and gave the tenants that bought them a capital asset. I am not saying this was wrong in itself but nobody really invested in new social housing stock in the public sector. This was left to what became 'housing associations' which acted a bit like charities. It was great for the people who could afford to buy their houses cheap - they got a capital asset cheap - but those who could not afford to buy got further left behind and the Government more or less said they were not it's problem; the private sector should do some magic and produce a solution for them.
Not read that anywhere.
Well that is just bollocks. The property boom was transatlantic and based largely on a mishandling of interest rate policy by the Fed following the .com bust of 2000. They lowered rates from 6.5% to under 2% so made it worth borrowing to buy property. This in turn lead to the rise of people selling mortgages to people who probably did not the means to pay them - the so called 'sub prime mortgage' market. Then they put alot of these mortgages together and traded them as asset bundles between the banks, collateral for hard cash or other assets. This started to wrong when rates rose to above 5% in 2006 and it became obvious that alot of these mortgages were worthless as the purchasers could not actually pay then at the higher rates and in 2007 - 2008 the banks left with these packages of mortgages that they could trade or use as collateral realised they have gaping holes in the value of their assets where they had thought these packets of mortgages had a value. So cash flow problems grew until inevitably Lehmans went bust in September 2008. This started a domino effect as banks could no longer borrow from each other and each was scrambling for cash. It affected the British banks and the Icelandic banks - where alot of the British local authorities had stashed their money as they had been told it wasn't their business to build new social housing. Iceland of course could not hope to cover the losses of their banks as the debts were many times greater the value of the Icelandic economy so had to let them go to the wall. Brown and to a large extent the US thought it was an 'existential threat' to economic solvency. If all the banks go broke everyone loses money - whether you've got $50 or $5m in the bank it's gone - and the economy just grinds to a halt, people return to barter etc... So they set about bailing out the banks to keep them and (in their eyes) the economy going. Central Banks interest rates went down 0.25% etc making them negative in real terms in some cases. Then they started this 'quantitative easing' magic money making farce to provide further suplus value and cash in the markets mostly to bring liquidity to the banks.
US Fed Rates; https://www.macrotrends.net/2015/fed...storical-chart (just click 20yrs)
BoE Rates; Attachment 47823
BoE rates pretty much mirror US Fed rates though at a higher level during the 2002-2005 period.
Northen Rock I think started as a Building Society but like alot of Building Society demutualised persumably in the 1990s when there was a trend of doing that. It allowed the new banks to borrow alot more which they did to fund mortgages in the early 2000s. When the liquidity crisis caused by the US sub prime reduntant value hit in 2007 they couldn't borrow to pay their loans so got 'nationalised' by Brown for the reasons I have explained. I think someone later bought them from the Government though doubtless for less than the value of the debts the Government absorbed.
As I have explained I the worry was more about the economic liquidity itself. DOR or astralis who agreed with this more than I could probably explain better why they think it was a good idea.
I think it's a bit more complicated than that.
We are trying to change that though.
Are you saying Aaron Banks is not a true British patriot? I am not saying that the old 'Council House' system in the UK was ideal. I seem to think children could inherit the rent of their parents house but partly due to the 2008 crash, where I know Kent County Council lost money in the Icelandic bank collapse and partly due to the increasing difficulty in getting new building permission due to a desire to preserve the 'green belt' the private sector has not been able to keep up a suffient new build rate to keep rents low for the 'working poor' and this has again become a problem for Local Authories who are faced with increasing homelessness and the crime and drug dependence such desperation brings.
UK House Building: Attachment 47822
Well no not really. The local authorites were told by Thatcher that providing social housing was not a Government job; the markets operate to provide new affordable housing in future which is fine in theory. But for this to happen you need to be able borrow to build new houses and you need a planning permission process that doesn't take forever and cost a small fortune in itself. I recall representing an old friend of mine at a planning appeal in the UK; the Local Authority had three lawyers representing them and I was in my first year at Uni but this old Lady could not afford a lawyer - she was a fortune teller and quite nuts but my Mater lectured in property Law and I had read up on it all and appealed under 5 sections I think including a case for estoppel - a complicated and little know form of equity law. The whole problem was this old woman had erected a shack in her back garden to keep sick pigeons (she believed her Husband had come back as a pigeon) in a 'Conservation Area', which means you need special permission to make any changes. We won because nobody could see the shack but imagine the costs had this been a company paying it's own lawyers for some permission?
'Austerity' in the UK economic jargon did not start until 2010 with the Conservative and Libdem Government following Gordon Brown and George Osbourne as Chancellor. There was good reason for austerity at the tim. I believe the incoming Secretary to the Treasury (no2 to the Chancellor) was left a note by their outgoing counterpart to the effect of "good luck, we spent it all" which of course Brown had - largely on bailing out the banks and trying to inject liquidity in the markets. Debt to GDP was around 75% and the current account deficit - ie the amount the Government was spending compared what it was receiving was dangerously high so Osbourne set out to not spend so much and get more coming in and in doing so 'balance the books'. I highly approved of it myself and they managed to keep the AAA credit status and generate a small surplus which they used to raise the income level at which the less well payed start paying tax. All sensible stuff. They lowered Corporate tax which actually resulted in more being payed. It was in effect the last time a British Chancellor had a coherent plan and though it did not work exactly as planned it was a good goal and a coherent plan. I hope Osbourne does get the IMF job.
As I said before I did not agree with some of the other policies such as 'help to buy' but as the housing market was recovering the new building rate should have increased. Trouble is there is always a delay between cause and effect in markets, particularly when planning permission can take 2 or 3yrs to obtain so the uptick in new housing didn't start until around 2013.
You can say that and even believe it as much you want but the facts contradict you. In fact new housing hit a high during Brown's Government but the fact is it fell off due to the liquidity crisis caused by the US sub prime business and in the interval supply could not match added demand. This though is not the fault of incoming migrant workers.
Not even the Celts were the original inhabitants of the UK as they speak an Indo European language. The people who built Stonehenge were wiped out or absorbed into the successive migrant waves of Celts, Romans, Anglo Saxon, Vikings, Normans, Dutch protestants, French protestants, as well as the more recent 'Widrush' Afro Caribeans, Ugandan Asians etc etc etc. Nothing will change that no matter what the Brexiteers think.
Fully agree on the gold.
Why so antsy my friend? I am merely trying to engage in a polite conversation about these matters which seem somehow to concern you. You have shown me not one correlation between Gordon Browns tax policy and the housing market nor the crash of 2007-8 or the lack of affordable housing stock today in the UK. I on the other hand offer a comprehensive explanation of it all from Thatcher to Cameron. Yet I am the uninformed when your only answer is Gordon Brown done it? You accuse me of being a socialist... and that I am no business person I probably run more small businesses than you - not for love of money but for interest mainly, save some pennies so I can send my Children to a private school etc... If you cannot engage politely best we agree to differ and thanks for the fish.
Last edited by snapper; 06 Jul 19, at 16:05.
Now its official. Trump said May made a mess of Brexit.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...ish-ambassador
He enjoyed his trip and liked the Q the most.
Trump does not like the words, inept & dysfunctional.
Stable & genius would have been a better choice.
Alan Duncan, a Foreign Office minister, told the Commons it was the government’s belief that the leak made its way to Oakeshott “from within” Whitehall, rather than being handed over by foreign agents. He said the Cabinet Office had begun its formal hunt for the mole among current senior politicians, aides and civil servants, but did not at this stage think it was right to involve the police.
He said one of the documents was saved from 2017, but three of the memos were produced just eight to 10 days ago, which appeared to point to someone who was still in post.
The cross-government inquiry has already begun examining who had access to the recent memos – which went to potentially hundreds of people – and a highly sensitive letter from 2017 that had a much narrower circulation list.
Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, told MPs he had written to the Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, to “ask that a criminal investigation also be opened into the leak”.
I remember a Toyota car that also had the name Cressida.
Darroch also gave a scathing assessment of the White House, saying: “We don’t really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction-riven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept.” He questioned whether the White House “will ever look competent”.
Ned Price, who served under Barack Obama as a special assistant to the president for national security affairs, said Trump’s tweets only reinforced Darroch’s descriptions of him in private.
“The UK ambassador didn’t write anything that wasn’t already patently obvious to an informed observer,” Price said. “He spoke of Donald Trump as someone with thin skin, as someone with a delicate ego, as someone who would be receptive to pandering, and just look at Trump’s reaction.
“He has proved the ambassador right in every respect — by proving he is ego driven, by proving he is thin-skinned, and by proving he will quite literally refuse to deal with people who don’t say nice things about him.”
Last edited by Double Edge; 09 Jul 19, at 19:15.
I think this country needs a bit of optimism -- Boris
He may as well have said the country needs more unicorns. There is no basis for either on a no deal Brexit. Nor much chance he will last if he becomes PM long enough to see it through as the Tory 'wets' (those that reject a 'no deal' Brexit as it would be a disaster for the UK) would likely vote with the Labour and Libdem Parties in a vote of no confidence forcing a new election. It is pretty clear the Conservative Party would come 4th in any near future General Election with most of it's former voters voting for Farage's Brexit Party (who's funding is under investigation), the Libdems and unrepentant Menchevicks of Comrade Corbyns current Labour Party (currently in civil war over antisemitism with the Party Secretary writing openly hostile open letters to the Deputy Leader) coming in both with more votes than the Conservative Party. He would probably be the last Conservative PM.
Bluster and scruffy hair are not solutions to real problems.
The man is sticking his head out now unlike earlier. This has to be an improvement.
surfgun
With Boris taking the helm, hopefully Brexit will finally be sorted.
Pedicabby
Rickshaw Professional Senior Contributor
Originally Posted by surfgun
One can only hope.
"Energy and optimism" is what Johnson says he brings. It wouldn't matter if the whole Government were on amphetamines and forced to smile, you cannot square the circle that they want a hard border at the Channel and no border in Ulster. The contradiction will not somehow suddenly resolve itself because you buzz around with a 'belief' that it can be resolved.
His majority is 2 when combined with Ulster Unionists and likely to be lost by the end of this week as more Tory MP's defect to the Libdems who recently elected Jo Swinson as their new leader. To be honest I would have more confidence in her than Boris.
Quick Navigation International Politics Top
WAB Community & Information
WAB Information Center
Members' Guide on How-To Use WAB
World Affairs Board Pub
Multimedia & Jukebox room
Movie & TV Room
Modelers Corner
American Politics & Economy
International Economy
Computer & Gadgets
Military Affairs & Equipment Discussion
The Field Mess
Ground Warfare
Naval Warfare
Battleships Board
Small Arms and Personal Weapons
International Defense & Geopolitics Discussion
The Staff College
Europe and Russia
The Middle East and North Africa
The Iranian Question
Arab Protests of 2010-2011
Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn
Operation Enduring Freedom and Af-Pak
International Defense and Terrorism Topics
History of International Relations & Conflict
What-if discussions
Ancient, Medieval & Early Modern Ages
Warfare in the Modern Age
Post Brexit-EU planning
By troung in forum Europe and Russia
Last Post: 01 Sep 19,, 20:17
By tankie in forum International Politics
Last Post: 07 Jan 17,, 06:38
IEA Brexit Prize
By snapper in forum Europe and Russia
Last Post: 17 Jul 13,, 14:29
actual naval battle footage of the battle between the LTTE and the SL NAVY yesterday
By starsiege in forum Naval Warfare
Last Post: 10 Nov 06,, 08:37
Share this thread with friends:
World Affairs Board
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7235
|
__label__wiki
| 0.81857
| 0.81857
|
Int. Scene News
Int. Scene Blogs
Int. Scene Articles
Int. Scene Reviews
Int. Scene Profiles
TRS: What do you do with stale goods?
By: Robert Heard
In my last edition of the rising sun I highlighted the big new young guns looking to move up in NJPW, the likes of Yoshie, Shibata, Tanahashi, Nakamura and Taguchi... Well bright as the future is for them the future isn't golden quite yet...
The generation before them produced 4 talents who should have been the top liners in Japan for years to come. Their names? Nagata, Tenzan, Kojima and Akiyama. Now out of all of these Akiyama was the most promising, a startling natural talent, an innovator (Wrist Clutch Exploder, Sterness Dust) and an easily credible babyface who was fast becoming a carrier....
After the split and NOAH came about it seemed that Akiyama was set to be the big dog in the yard, he turned on Kobashi his long time partner and went into a run against the GHC Champion Misawa... In NOAH's biggest show (at the time) Aki got the duke after two Wrist Clutch Exploders and began a run as the champ which many thought would be lengthy...
That was all until the best friend of Misawa, a former 5 time AJPW Jr Heavyweight title holder by the name of Yoshinari Ogawa beat him in 4:20 with a small package! Ogawa dropped the gold to Takayama who was everywhere at this time after two poor defences against Rikio and Taue and then the belt began passing round Misawa and Kobashi....
So we come to NOAH's biggest ever show, their first Tokyo Dome show and Kobashi holder of the gold for over a year faced off against Akiyama, many thought Kobashi would drop the gold, it made sense after all to drop to the younger, better conditioned and red hot superstar.... So what happened? Kobashi retained after a Burning Hammer in 35 minutes!
And this is typical in Japan at the moment, in All Japan over the past year the gold has been passed around Hashimoto, Muto and Kawada... Three 40 somethings who have seen better days in particular Hashimoto and Muto whose American leanings are hurting All Japan at the moment... The guy who should be fighting for the gold, the man who would have an epic fued with the Crown holder Kawada.... Satoshi Kojima. But instead the last fighters up for the Crown? Mick Foley, Jamal, Tenryu, Hashimoto and Don Fyre...
The only hope is New Japan which has placed great faith in the new 3 musketeers of Nakamura, Shibata and Tanahashi, placing the gold on Nakamura and giving chances to Tanahashi and Shibata to fight Fujita the IWGP Champ... But they are no angel's however as the Nagata generation that held such talent as Nagata, Tenzan, Kojima (before the switch) and Nakanishi was held down by Chono, Hashimoto, Tenryu and Muto (�wait those names again!) and stagnated for quite a while in the mid-card....
It's made worse by the fact that Chono, Muto, Hashimoto and Misawa, old fading stars wary of their spots are in charge or in positions of power in the big 4 companies... Unless this changes then the problems that hurt NJPW's bright young things in the late 90's and is effecting Akiyama now will continue and the 'Generation Next' will fail. The last time a company was in this position? WCW, and we know how that turned out....
So I leave you with that thought until the next Rising Sun when I'll try and come up with some remedies to the problem...
Till next time....
Robert Heard
- Contact Robert Heard -
TheBigBoot Goes Global #1: Mitsuharu MisawaBy TheBigBoot - 06/24/2009 5:31 PMIn memory and respect of Mitsuharu MisawaBy Robert Heard - 06/15/2009 12:02 AMMascarita Sagrada InterviewBy Stephen Ashfield - 12/03/2008 9:52 PMTRS: The IWGP title comes home and an unfortunate case of eventsBy Robert Heard - 02/18/2008 10:40 PMTRS: Critical AcclaimBy Robert Heard - 02/05/2008 9:42 PMTRS: The Road to unificationBy Robert Heard - 01/20/2008 3:19 PMTRS: Puro Predictions for 2008By Robert Heard - 01/13/2008 3:53 PMTRS: The movers and the shakersBy Robert Heard - 12/15/2007 11:03 PMTRS: Whatever happened to the Golden Generation?By Robert Heard - 12/02/2007 7:48 PMTRS: Japanese Wrestling MovesBy Robert Heard - 11/21/2007 12:45 AM
TRS: Japanese Wrestling MovesBy Robert Heard - 11/21/2007 12:45 AMA beginners guide to Joshi PuroresuBy Mr Dragon - 07/15/2004 11:00 PMTRS: History of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) - Part OneBy Robert Heard - 10/19/2007 10:29 PMAkira Hokuto ProfileBy Mr Dragon - 08/22/2004 11:00 PMTRS: History of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) - Part TwoBy Robert Heard - 11/05/2007 1:45 AMVince McMahon and Antonio Inoki: The fight of their professional livesBy Matt Singh - 12/07/2003 12:00 AMKenta Kobashi ProfileBy Robert Heard - 05/04/2006 11:00 PMIn memory and respect of Mitsuharu MisawaBy Robert Heard - 06/15/2009 12:02 AMHayabusa ProfileBy Christopher Locke - 07/18/2004 11:00 PMMascarita Sagrada InterviewBy Stephen Ashfield - 12/03/2008 9:52 PM
Toryumon January 2004 Revolucion PPV ReviewBy Jason Chedy - 09/27/2004 11:00 PMTRS: History of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) - Part OneBy Robert Heard - 10/19/2007 10:29 PMTRS: The Pain Killed In The East?By Robert Heard - 12/21/2005 12:00 AMTRS: The G-1 Climax By Robert Heard - 08/10/2004 11:00 PMAkira Hokuto ProfileBy Mr Dragon - 08/22/2004 11:00 PMTRS: Japanese Wrestling MovesBy Robert Heard - 11/21/2007 12:45 AMTRS: NJPW A-O-K?By Robert Heard - 12/03/2005 12:00 AMTRS: Whatever happened to the Golden Generation?By Robert Heard - 12/02/2007 7:48 PMTRS: The Future of NOAHBy Robert Heard - 11/22/2005 12:00 AMTRS: Pro Wrestling NOAHBy Robert Heard - 10/04/2007 2:33 PM
Japan: Wrestling News Roundup - 4th February 2008By Robert Heard - 02/04/2008 12:16 AM Japan: Festive Wrestling News Roundup 2007By Robert Heard - 01/07/2008 3:37 PM Japan: November 2007 Wrestling News Roundup 2By Robert Heard - 11/22/2007 12:04 AM Japan: November Wrestling News Roundup 1By Robert Heard - 11/13/2007 12:30 AM Japan: October Wrestling News Roundup By Robert Heard - 11/05/2007 12:54 AM Japan: Wrestling News RoundupBy Robert Heard - 10/19/2007 12:10 AM NJPW: Jan 8th Tokyo ResultsBy Mitchell Jones - 01/09/2006 9:34 PM WXW-Germany: Carot Gold Tournament ft. Doug WilliamsBy Mitchell Jones - 12/31/2005 1:55 PM WWE Withdraw Lesnar Order, Akebono Set For New JapanBy Mitchell Jones - 12/30/2005 9:46 PM CSAC Letter Concerning MMA In CaliforniaBy Mitchell Jones - 12/09/2005 2:41 PM
Japan: November 2007 Wrestling News Roundup 2By Robert Heard - 11/22/2007 12:04 AM Japan: Wrestling News RoundupBy Robert Heard - 10/19/2007 12:10 AM Japan: Wrestling News Roundup - 4th February 2008By Robert Heard - 02/04/2008 12:16 AM NOAH updates, 22 and 23rd of May resultsBy Robert Heard - 05/23/2004 6:22 PM Japan: Festive Wrestling News Roundup 2007By Robert Heard - 01/07/2008 3:37 PM Japan: October Wrestling News Roundup By Robert Heard - 11/05/2007 12:54 AM WXW-Germany: Carot Gold Tournament ft. Doug WilliamsBy Mitchell Jones - 12/31/2005 1:55 PM NJPW: Jan 8th Tokyo ResultsBy Mitchell Jones - 01/09/2006 9:34 PM CSAC Letter Concerning MMA In CaliforniaBy Mitchell Jones - 12/09/2005 2:41 PM NOAH announce Tokyo Dome matchesBy Robert Heard - 06/08/2004 11:45 AM
Interview with Jens Pulver coming soonBy Joe Reilly - 10/02/2003 6:19 PM NJPW 19/7/04 PreviewBy Robert Heard - 07/18/2004 3:57 PM All Japan results - Rise Up Tour 14th & 15th MayBy Robert Heard - 05/15/2004 10:58 PM Full NOAH line up for the Tokyo Dome...By Robert Heard - 06/16/2004 12:15 PM More on the WWE/NJPW link up...By Robert Heard - 05/20/2004 9:34 PM NJPW UpdateBy Robert Heard - 06/06/2004 4:43 PM DSE Hustle 4 resultsBy Robert Heard - 07/25/2004 12:42 PM Japan: November Wrestling News Roundup 1By Robert Heard - 11/13/2007 12:30 AM Osaka Pro stage J-Cup tournamentBy Matt Singh - 11/22/2003 3:24 AM Historical title winBy Matt Singh - 11/30/2003 9:05 PM
TRS: Mitsuharu Misawa vs Jumbo TsurutaBy Robert Heard - 11/12/2009 9:13 PM
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7237
|
__label__wiki
| 0.666098
| 0.666098
|
News US Scene News
TNA: Kurt Angle Says He Is Open To A WWE Return!
by Cassidy Haslett on 6 October 2010 11:39 pm
Kurt Angle told the Right After Wrestling radio show on Monday night that he is open to returning to WWE in the future.
Angle said: “There comes a time when everybody has to hang it up. I’m coming to the close of my career whether it be a year or two or three. I know it won’t be full-time after this year. I would like to stay in TNA, but if I my option goes to WWE, I will. I want to stay in TNA, no doubt about it.”
Source: WrestleScoop.com
GB&U: WWE Saturday Night�s Main Event - 18th March 2006By Chris Dewing - 03/20/2006 12:00 AMTed DiBiase Book ReviewBy Simon Lamb - 04/19/2004 11:00 PMT3C: WWE Bad Blood 2004 PreviewBy Stephen Ashfield - 06/11/2004 11:00 PMBrian Pillman: Loose Cannon DVD ReviewBy Stephen Lyon - 02/05/2007 12:00 AMT3C: WWE New Years Revolution 2005 PreviewBy Stephen Ashfield - 01/08/2005 12:00 AMWWE Tagged Classic: Survivor Series 1997 & 1998 Double DVD ReviewBy Clarkey - 11/17/2007 1:12 AMThe Bell Ringer: S.O.S. to the WWE: Save SmackDown!By Buddy Jones - 09/07/2005 11:00 PMThe Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling DVD ReviewBy TheBigBoot - 07/06/2008 11:28 AMHollywood Hulk Hogan Book ReviewBy Simon Lamb - 04/07/2004 11:00 PMWWE: The Ladder Match DVD ReviewBy TheBigBoot - 04/09/2008 10:38 PM
WWE: Dragon to take leaveBy Mitchell Jones - 04/15/2004 2:15 PM WWE: Creative And Road Agents Worried About Their Jobs? By Nemesis Enforcer - 11/26/2008 9:31 PM Judge Denies Ultimate Warrior's Lawsuit Against WWE For The "Self Destruction" DVDBy Cassidy Haslett - 09/18/2009 8:42 PM ECW March 4, 2008 ResultsBy Cassidy Haslett - 03/05/2008 4:28 AM WWE: Trinity ReleasedBy Steve McLaren - 06/22/2007 10:57 PM WWE: Raw House Show, Madison, WI, 17th January 2004By Chris Dewing - 01/18/2004 7:56 PM WWE: Raw Report 19th January 2004 (Spoilers)By Chris Dewing - 01/20/2004 6:39 PM WWE Spoilers: Updated Card for The Great American BashBy Cassidy Haslett - 07/08/2008 4:27 AM WWE SmackDown! December 7, 2007 ResultsBy Cassidy Haslett - 12/08/2007 3:27 AM WWE: Update on Torrie Wilson; asked for her release?By Nemesis Enforcer - 05/10/2008 1:29 PM
TGP: Should the stay or should they go?By Darlin Danny Dunn - 05/22/2007 12:55 AMSSP#13: Thoughts on The Bash and the WWE Superstar Trade By Edgedogg - 06/30/2009 11:15 PMRuses WWE Raw Review: 4th January 2010By David Ruse - 01/05/2010 9:15 PMCBlog XXVI- Thoughts on WWE Unforgiven 2008By Cassidy Haslett - 09/09/2008 5:04 PMCBlog XXXVI- Thoughts on WWE No Way Out 2009By Cassidy Haslett - 02/16/2009 9:40 PMRuses WWE Raw Review: 3rd May 2010By David Ruse - 05/08/2010 12:20 AMRuses WWE Raw Review: 15th February 2010By David Ruse - 02/19/2010 11:13 PMFPU: Analysis On The WWE Draft 2007By Seabass - 06/22/2007 1:16 AMTP: Drugs in the WWE?By Tony Pentin - 07/21/2008 8:56 PMCBlog IIBy Cassidy Haslett - 05/25/2007 4:00 PM
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7238
|
__label__cc
| 0.560202
| 0.439798
|
Taste And See That Passion And War Are Deliciously HOT In "Smoldering Hunger"
Title: Smoldering Hunger
(Dark Kings #8)
Author: Donna Grant
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
TEMPTING FATE
Darius is back. Edinburgh thought it had seen the last of this seductive Dragon King, but that was before Darius found something worthwhile. He just can't stay away from the impossibly beautiful Dr. Sophie Martin-even though he knows that a passion this strong could prove detrimental...for them both.
CRAVING DESIRE
Sophie tried to forget her encounter with smoking-hot Darius to no avail. He's in her dreams, tempting her. But her association with Darius catches the attention of another, putting her
in mortal danger. . .and Darius, who has vowed to protect her, is her only hope. But can she trust the notorious dragon shapeshifter? The only thing she knows for sure is that she cannot resist him. -Goodreads
* Reviewer's Note: Characters appearing in Smoldering Hunger are continuing a story line directly related to (Bk. 7) Passion Ignites. Therefore it is strongly suggested that one reads Passion Ignites, in order to fully understand the interrelationship of both stories to each other, and to the overall series.
Smoldering Hunger marks a definite change in tempo on all fronts, from the unexpected lull that readers were treated to in its predecessor, Passion Ignites.
While embers of both story and passion may have found a spark in book seven. It is quite clear from the outset, that things in book eight have been allowed to reach 5-alarm fire proportions!
With Thorn newly mated to the fiery Lexi, and happily ensconced back at Dreagan. The fight to keep the streets of Edinburgh safe from the deadly desires of the Dark Fae has been left to Violet Dragon King, Darius.
Reveling in his newly found solitude, Darius longs for little more than the pleasure that he finds when facing and defeating legions of Dark Fae in battle.
A pleasure that is now eclipsed in new and overpowering ways by the sheer intensity that is her.
Dr. Sophie Martin!
Readers and Darius were first introduced to the intriguing Dr. Martin, when she was sent to tend to Lexi in Passion Ignites. A story which allowed her a very low key role in said book. A role which is then revisited and expanded upon in a big way in Smoldering Hunger.
The fact that this leading lady and her irresistible leading dragon have found a way to become closer than close between books, is further evidenced by the scorching sex scene/dream sequence that greets readers in this story's opening pages.
Sophie and Darius's exhibitionist sexual tendencies aren't the only goings on singing this book's pages. It seems that things with the Dark Fae are taking a turn for the...absent?
That's right!
The Dark Fae are being killed right and left, and no one has a clue as to who is responsible.
Things in Rhi-land are more up in the air than ever. With Rhi still unsure where she belongs. Balladyn laying on the charm thicker than the snowfall of a Canadian blizzard, and Constantine still unwilling to trust that she has the best interest of the Dragon Kings and their mates at heart. There is also a bittersweet link between Rhi's past with the kings and Darius that is not to be missed.
This book is an awesome reminder of the reasons that Donna Grant inspires such a fierce and unwavering loyalty in her readers.
A perfect mix of characters and stories that readers know and have become invested in, and plot twists character additions, and story elements so new that they still have their tags on.
Darius stands out among the Dragon Kings because of his "down and dirty" persona. You know right from the start that he is the type of man tailor-made for all action, and no regrets.
The fun comes in finding that the straight-laced Dr. Martin has more than a little raunchy kink in her bedside manor. At least where a certain someone is involved.
The only negative to be found in this story is the glaring disconnect between Ulrik's story line, and that of Sophie and Darius. But this is not something to fret over, given that Smoldering Hunger appears to be a gateway to a dramatic climax in the coming Smoke and Fire.
*Reviewer's Note: I was provided with copies of the above referenced literary works for the express purpose of review. All opinions expressed therein are mine, and have been in no way influenced by St. Martin's Press or those acting on their behalf.
Donna Grant is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels and novellas spanning multiple genres of romance.
She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.
Her childhood dream was to become a professional ballet dancer and study under the amazing Mikhail Baryshnikov. Though she never got to meet Baryshnikov, she did make it to New York City and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Later, Donna’s love of the romance genre and the constant stories running through her head prompted her to sit down and write her first book. Once that book was completed, there was no turning back.
Donna sold her first book in November 2005 while displaced from Hurricane Rita, a storm that destroyed portions of the Texas Gulf Coast. Since then, Donna has sold novels and novellas to both electronic and print publishers. Her books include several complete series such as Druids Glen, The Shields, Royal Chronicles, Sisters of Magic, Dark Sword, Dark Warriors, and her new series, Dark Kings.
Despite the deadlines and her voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two young children, four cats, three fish, and one long haired Chihuahua. She’s blessed with a proud, supportive husband who loves to read and travel as much as she does.
You can contact Donna any time.
Labels: 4 Stars, Adult Paranormal Romance Review, G
"Dark Alpha's Claim" Pays Homage To A Darker Kind ...
Grand Central Publishing Presents: How I Married ...
See Why "You Can't Always Get The Marquess You Wan...
Will Readers Dare To Solve The Mystery of "Mr And ...
Find The Truth Of Feel Good Romance In "Sweet Litt...
Sourcebooks Fire Presents: My Kind Of Crazy Book ...
Warm And Cozy Romance Tangles Reader Heart Strings...
The Understated Honesty of "Good Girl" Translates ...
Plots and Secrets Are Enough To Drive Readers Into...
Love And Family Are Both A Choice The Heart Makes ...
Taste And See That Passion And War Are Deliciously...
"Passion Ignites" Is A Story That Takes A Little L...
Forever Publishing Presents: Dragon Soul Review +...
Forever Publishing Presents: Cuff Me Review and G...
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7239
|
__label__cc
| 0.739633
| 0.260367
|
Tag Archives: punk
Visit by a German Journalist
By lifenomadik | юли 23, 2013 - 11:42 pm | English
A few days ago, a journalist, Ann-Katherin Eckardt, came all the way from Germany to write a piece on Boat Punk for NEON magazine, a magazine targeting readers in their twenties and thirties, reflecting the young generation’s issues, aspirations, and viewpoints of the world. With her came a photographer Charles Ommanney, and they stayed for 3 days in Key West interviewing and photographing kids from the Boat Punk community.
Tyler, who is one of the founding fathers and nucleus of the community, helping everyone, organising Boat Punk events and meet-ups, and who was also featured in a French reportage by Anne-Cécile Genreand , was the official host of the event and the star of the article which should be published in NEON soon.
Tyler introduced us to Ann Katherine and we had the chance to talk to her a few times during her short stay even though we felt we don’t truly qualify as Boat Punks, or at least as Punks: we have no tattoos nor piercings, no Mohawk haircuts, and we don’t listen to the right music. The only reason we are part of the Boat Punk community here in Key West is our common ideas and ways, shared experiences, as well as our friendship with Tyler and the others which is now fathoms deep.
Still, we all felt a bit flattered by the attention. By the recognition that what we, as a community and as individuals, are doing is interesting to others, unique and exciting, but also valid and rebellious, worthy of international attention and recognition. That people across the Oceans will read about us, the Boat Punks, and maybe get inspired.
The last day of their visit, we all gathered for a sunset sail aboard Tyler’s boat Rocksteady.
Tagged alternative living, boat, boat punk, cruising, culture, journalism, liveaboard, magazzine, off grid, photography, punk, sailing, travel, weekly photo challenge
Boat Punk Mash-Up
By lifenomadik | юли 17, 2013 - 8:44 pm | English
The following is a collage of recorded conversations and personal written reflections, and an attempt to reveal (maybe this is not the right word) who, what, why, when, and how of the relatively recent Boat Punk phenomenon. These are the stories and thoughts of Rebecca, Cherri, Ryan, Tyler, Tony, and Stacie: the Boat Punks in Key West, mashed up in one piece. I collected their written and oral accounts and took the liberty and huge responsibility to slice the individual stories and collage them in a way to create a collective piece that would pertain to the entire gang, a piece all can relate to. Even though I have been very careful, individual passages have been taken out of context to produce a somewhat universal but nevertheless altered meaning.
BOAT PUNK MASH UP
by Rebecca, Cherri, Ryan, Stacie, Tony, and Tyler
Met up with friends Sunday and hatched those rafting plans I mentioned with a couple close friends over drinks that very night. Yesterday we visited some places and found beginning flotation and building supplies, and today I found a place next to a boat ramp where we can build and launch the framework for free!
You can call me a boat punk and I can tell you what I’m thinking right now.
As I write this, I’m sitting in the cockpit of my private yacht, my own personal ship, floating in a sea of turquoise, beneath a sky of stars.
The process of transferring our hopes and dreams, our whispered fantasies, from the realm of the imagined and intangible to the concrete and lickable world of truth is one of the most fascinating processes available to the human experience, in my perception. The amount of roadblocks, obstacles and governors we place between our dreams and our realities is another concept I have been masticating for months. From what I can see, from my frontal lobe experience, it is possible to achieve your dreams. I just did it.
I have an oven to bake bread in; I have a cooler to keep beer cold, a liquor shelf, and a toilet. I have a bed (10 of them in fact). I have the table I’m sitting at with a computer plugged in and hot coffee at my side. I have a fishing pole and a small BBQ that I can use at the same time while listening to my favorite music. I have a library and a bike shop, and a backyard fenced in by over a million miles of coast line where my neighbors are interesting and the crime rate is almost nonexistent. I have a wall to hang art and another to hang my hat. And all this for the arguable sum of nothing.
I realized I didn’t want to live like normal people when I was a little kid.
I had so many questions. I went to Sunday School. I had to read the bible, but I didn’t understand. I wanted to ask questions. How did this happen? How did that happen? They couldn’t answer my questions! Like the Noah’s Ark thing, that was a huge deal. They were teaching me Lord of the Rings type of stuff and I wanted to know like how the fuck this magic shit happen? They couldn’t answer me! They couldn’t answer me! And even when I was 6 years old I could still put two and two together. You got two animals of each on the arch. Forty days and forty nights, all you gonna have left at the end is lions and tigers. And also there is like you know one hundred thousand different kinds of ants and they live communally… That just doesn’t work! It’s fake, it’s thought to kids, it’s fucking…you know…and don’t bring up dinosaurs. So I got kicked out of Sunday school for not asking the right questions. And my parents were very, very upset.
There is an unrest forming, a casually brewing system of frustration, present amongst many of the finest people I have the joy of being connected to in my life. It is a storm of confusion, of anger and resentment, for the prevailing public standard in America. For the way many people raise their children, for the fog that exists in the minds and the eyes of the tourists we see bumbling through the streets on a daily basis, for the midwesterners drowning in our seas because, at the age of forty, they have never swam in the ocean, for the boy scouts who come to our schooner’s to learn of the sea who’s hands are lilly soft, for the mothers in the parks who warn their children of the inherent dangers of the sand beneath their child’s feet at the playground, frantically dressing them with fresh, thick socks, a filter for the evils of dirt and potential pain, for the war veterans we take into our homes to avoid their slow death on the sidewalks of our finest cities and the dreamy teenagers who volunteer on our properties, lacking the taught skills or motivation to wield a hammer or drive a plow, entrenched in their personal sagas, lost in a dreamland of television, nutritionally defunct meals, apathy, fear and misplaced ideals.
It’s all very interesting.
When I was in high school I said I wanted to be an ex-patriot as I grow up. I got suspended for three days.
When I was in high school I was an outcast. My neighbors were my only friends. They were much older than me and they were Punks. They were the only friends I had. They would take me to Punk shows. It was the only time I felt cool, it was the only time I felt accepted. I was fortunate enough to have this outlet because I didn’t fit in the school at all. So I started going to Punk shows. And I realized: Punk music caries a message. I got the message.
It’s so strange…even some of my earliest memories were listening to music. I remember sitting in the driveway, someone working on their car, listening to music. And I was listening to the lyrics of the music realizing that they are saying something. And just like that, the whole discovery. Wow! Tripped me out, dude. This one memory I’m saying, the song was I can see for miles and miles by The Who, an old classic rock. Then I kind of looked out and I was sort of like, Wait, I could see for miles and miles too! It was like a weird revelation.
In my personal realm, I am on the reaping end of a dream I have been sowing for months. Post the „completion“ of a nearly eight month long, filth infested restoration of the boat on which I now rest, write and create art, I’m reflecting on a process that reminded me of the values I intend to place upon my own life and instilled in me a brand of astonishment that is reserved for the people who have a vision and possess the fortitude, both mentally and physically, to apply the strength, dedication and patience necessary to reap fruition in a tangible sense.
I got a skateboard as a kid. That was really sort of cutting edge back then. Now every kid has a skateboard but back then not a lot of people had a skateboard. And, you know, getting into skateboarding writing graffiti, hanging out with punk kids and stuff, I started getting into Punk Rock. And I started listening to this old Sex Pistols type of Punk Rock and stuff. It was cool ‘cause you could say SEX pistols without getting in trouble. I was about 9 or 10.
Then there was this alternative college radio station It was on the Fridays nights and it would go till like 4 in the morning and it was called the bottom 40. They would play mostly Punk music and shit like hat. I remember staying up listening to songs and I would record some things. I always wanted shit that was fast, I needed something Punk but fast and they played this Bad Brain song and that fucking changed my life, it was fast as fuck, the fastest music I ever heard, dude. That was my influence right there.
At that point I kind of knew what anarchy was just being a skater, there were anarchy signs on everything. And when you research the bands and learn where they come from really influences you.
I suppose though I’m unsure whether I fit into the [Boat Punk] piece, as I’m at most a fringe-boat punker–there because of the situation. Many would never consider me ‘punk’. I never wore the right studded pants or collected the right audio cassettes. For me punk meant screwing the normal assumptions, roles, and attitudes pushed upon us by society. It meant doing something different and working, in whatever small way, for a world that could be something different. The people I think of as punk are radically different from what most might visually and aesthetically think of as punk. While part of me was on Rocksteady because of Tyler, another part was there because I believed in a boat that offered inspiration and a website (www.boatpunk.com) that offered collaboration.
Punk is no more an expression of freedom as claiming a national or spiritual identity. It’s common to point out all the black cloths and tattoos and the shinny things in the face. It may be true that we all look the same, which is a two way street that, in my mind, is just a wash at best. Probably like cowboys, businessmen and gangsta’s, the dress and hangout spots filter out people with strongly opposing characteristic values. I’v never been to prison but I don’t imagine on the first day you walk around introducing yourself to every single person you see and discuss the potential benefits of acquaintanceship. If I had a swastika on my face I think I would try to get to that side of the room as quickly as I could. On one hand a marked punk can walk into any city in the world, find the other punks and be in good hands, on the other hand I’ve been cornered by some jock who has me totally confused with some other black shirt tattooed kid that threw a bottle at him the night before. Or upon walking into a store for the first time in my life only to have some manager escort me out reminding me that just last week I had been banished for life. And I know there are people out there who have paid heavily for my own shenanigans. Like I said the looks part is a wash. Below and within that, however, exists camaraderie in a community that is strong and free. Though widely varying philosophies and practices surface, networking and moral support persevere in creating a bond of unity where d.i.y. (do-it-yourself) becomes d.i.t. (do-it-together).
Community is: everybody takes care of each other. And it’s really important. It’s kind of like here, you know. If you guys need anything you call us, or we hail you guys. Like if we need a dinghy ride. Everybody working together to create a community.
I lived in the Slabs for 14 months and I made moccasins. I made a little community camp, and did little acoustic night and all this shit. And that’s what I did.
I was dating a girl at a time and she lived in LA and she took me to Slab City. We just stayed for like a weekend. But I felt in love with the place. And I didn’t go back till 6 years later. I was touring with a Punk band and all this stuff, so…but in the back of my mind I knew the band wasn’t gonna last forever and I knew I didn’t want to work, pay rent: I didn’t want to do all that stuff, you know what I mean, it just didn’t feel right to me. So after the band broke off I went to Slab City. And Slab City is a giant community in the very essence of the word. In the Slabs there’s gardens, and there’s libraries, music and arts and everything, and you don’t get this anywhere else. There is for sure a dark side to it. The thing about the Slabs is, you either want to live there or you have to. Because, you know, some people have no place else where to go. Whether they have a warrant or they are running from the law or whatever. So it’s like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. All these crazy people. I’ve seen giant mansions made out of trash. I mean, nicer than any Hilton that you can stay in. Some of these people have been there for 40 years. Oh my god, I met so many cool people there: Builder Bill, New York Mike… I want to go back, I miss it right now…
And then I got this idea to buy a sailboat and I did that. I got the idea because of this documentary called Hold Fast. It was this punk guy and two girls, they bought this boat and filmed their experience. Kind of crappy filming but super awesome. Full inspiration. And I was in the Slabs. I was gonna stay there but I decided I still had some adventure left in me. So I watched this documentary and it just filled me with zeal. And I was just like Fuck this. I got out of the desert and I got me a sailboat. From the desert to the ocean.
I tried living on land and I hated it; it’s very expensive. So I ended up buying my own boat which was the most exciting day of my life. I know she doesn’t look much to anybody else but me but I think she is beautiful. So that’s how I ended up down here. It’s been quite the adventure for sure. A learning experience. I was really scared at first. Now I am completely comfortable.
I always wanted a home for myself. But I am a traveler. A house, you always have to go back to. So, I figured a boat will be perfect. I am almost turning 40 and finally have a home of my own. A home I can travel with anywhere in the world. I really like the freedom of it, travelling, and self-sufficiency. Plus, it is free to travel using the elements. And that is amazing for me. Humans have been doing this for centuries and we lost it.
I believe it is important to live a life intimately connected to the rhythms of the natural world–one who’s daily processes are affected by earthbound realities like wind, rain and tide. The loss of connection to the natural world is destroying our humanity.
I like being immersed in science and facing the challenge of adapting to it by way of education and experiment. I like being reminded that being human is nothing in comparison to nature as a whole and that an interest in self preservation is nothing more than that. I like living almost off grid and only very near an overly structured society. I like seeing the fruits of my labor very directly providing a sustainable freedom of travel. I like the gleam of wanderlust in the eye’s of the dreamers.
I think the most important thing we can continue to do is act on our wildest dreams. To stay true to ourselves and our intentions. To laugh loudly and create blindly. It is a fucked up global situation. We’ve made some pretty big mistakes, as a species, and I wouldn’t be surprised if momma Earth decides any moment now she’d like to wipe the slate clean and start again. I’m easily convinced of this potentiality every time I saunter down Duval Street and watch a fraternity boy in American flag print swimming trunks chuck a full can of beer across the street at noon on the 3rd of July, drunkenly screaming „YOLO!!“ and then pointing a series of gyrating pelvic thrusts in the direction of the guy he just creamed, who is now crying. Or many of the more subtle examples of mistreatment that you can see every day if you chose to seek them out. What, exactly, defines our culture’s definition of „crazy?“
The other day, I got these worms, I call them burn worms. I thought they’d be great bait. Got them under the rocks. Giant worms! And I grabbed them and they burned the shit on my hands. So I looked them up online and they are called bearded fire worms. Here you go, there is the name!
I love critters, I love nature, I love checking all that shit out. I think it’s really important that everybody knows about how everything lives and its little spot in the environment, and how little it takes to destroy it…But people are ignoring that. I try not to get depressed about it…
Still, a lot of kids are getting around now, caring about the environment and all that stuff. I think that it’s really good for the kids to know ‘cus if they all band together can get pretty cool. When I was a kid I felt I could do more about it, but there is not much you can do as a single person, you can just do your part… As I get older I’m getting a little more bitter and angrier about it. I think animals are more important than people. But I think it’s up to people to protect them.
Personally, I am reacting to my own disgust by concentrating on building a life for myself that I believe in, the type of life that, if more people chose, would generate a better world. I have only been back on the water for a week–a week that has rekindled truths I am, personally, consistently guilty of forgetting about. It has been a wild week–consistent high winds with numerous passing gales possessive of headwinds over 30 knots, some gusting upwards of fifty. She has not been a particularly gentle teacher, aside from when I float in her relatively still waters during a warm tropical rain, an hour of respite between the winds. These are the lessons the sea taught me this week:
Tagged alternative living, blogging, boat, boat punk, community, creative writing, cruising, culture, environment, florida, freedom, frienship, inspiration, liveaboard, nature, nostalgic, off grid, photography, post ideas, postaday, punk, reflections, sailing, travel, writing, writing challenge, writing challenges
The Wreckers by Rush
The breakers roar
On an unseen shore
In the teeth of a hurricane
Oh, we struggle in vain
A hellish night
A ghostly light
Appears through the driving rain
Salvation in a human chain
All I know is that sometimes you have to be wary
Of a miracle too good to be true
All I know is that sometimes the truth is contrary
Everything in life you thought you knew
‘Cause sometimes the target is you
Driven to ground
With a helpful sound
Drowned by the cheer from the shore
Oh, we wonder what for
The people swarm
Through the darkening storm
Gather everything they can score
‘Til their backs won’t bear any more
Key West’s Geology
Lying in shallow tropical seas, a long and disordered chain of islands, the Florida Keys, stretches between the southernmost point of Florida’s mainland and Dry Tortugas. Alongside, submerged in turquoise waters and hidden from view, run the corral reefs: a 200 miles (320 kilometres) of underwater wilderness just a few feet bellow the surface. Beyond the reefs, a busy ocean highway flows, a major shipping route: The Gulf Stream.
How many absent-minded ships carried by winds and powerful currents have diverted from their route in the uncertainness of night to slit their bellies open upon the shallow underwaters? Countless.
For them- disaster.
For local wreckers- booty.
A Short History of Key Wet’s Wreckers
It’s been going on for centuries, since ships started sailing in these waters: a wreck per week. For centuries, rootless islanders have been awaiting unaware vessels to run aground, sometimes luring them towards the shallows with deceiving lights.
When an elephant falls, a hundred hyenas rush to the carcass,devour it, fight for a chunk.
The wreckers would anchor behind mangrove islands at night and patrol the dangerous waters during the day looking for stranded vessels to pillage. The first wrecking captain to reach a crushed ship would became the wreck master. He would employ as many wreckers as he needed to help salvage the ship, and direct the whole operation.
The salvaged cargo and the ship, if it could be saved, were taken to Key West where they were appraised or auctioned. The wrecking vessels and crews that participated in the operations would then be awarded a share of the salvage value. Half of the salvage award went to the owners of the wrecking vessels, divided among the boats on a tonnage basis. The other half went to the wrecker crews, proportional to the number of crewmen on each vessel.
Thus, by the mid 19 century wrecking, regulated, became one of the main industries in the region, along with piracy, drug trafficking, smuggling, and other shady activities.
Recent Wrecking Events
Tyler calls on the VHF and tells us of a recent wreck. A sailboat has ran aground and has been abandoned. What exactly has happened and why is a mystery. So are the identity and the whereabouts of the boat’s owner. We decide to go check it out.
The wreck is near Stock Island, a few miles away from our anchorage, and we get there sailing aboard Fata Morgana in a couple of hours. With us are Tyler and Tony. We get to the site in the afternoon and drop anchor away from the shallows using our dinghy to get to the wrecked vessel.
The crippled boat is leaning on its starboard side, the tip of its mast pointing towards the sunset. Its insides are a dark mess half full of water and green liquids. It must have been a slow painful death. There is a yellow note from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Law Enforcement explaining: Vessel aground. No sails. Abandoned. No apparent value. Open to elements. We, Tyler, Tony, Ivo and Mira, thereupon name ourselves The Elements, pumped up with adrenalin, and proceed to scavenging the wreck, working with screwdrivers and hummers, taking anything that looks useful.
We get a bunch of valuable stuff, we have to do two dinghy rides to bring them to Fata.
The boat is stripped of most of its valuables before the night falls and we are going back to our anchorage in Key West to split the goodies.
Approaching the wreck
Boarding the wreck
Ivo and Tony
Inside the Wreck
Tyler and Ivo
Green diesel water inside the wreck
Grabbing stuff
Ivo finds the American Flag
Tony and Tyler
Bathroom break
Tony’s new anchor chain
Back at Fata Morgana
Tyler and Tony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClbE019cLNI
Tagged alternative living, boat, boat punk, catamaran, cruising, Fata Morgana, florida, frienship, inspiration, key west, liveaboard, off grid, photography, post ideas, punk, sailing, travel, wreck, wreckers, WRITING PROMPTS
Liveaboards, Yachtsmen, Cruisers, and Boat Punks
By lifenomadik | юли 5, 2013 - 4:04 pm | English
*The following personal and highly subjective observations are based on the local boat scene in Key West, Florida.
There are various groups of boating people. Each of the four groups I will outline here can be subdivided in others smaller and more specific ones.
The majority of boat owners actually don’t use their boats for sailing and cruising but to liveaboard at the dock or at anchor. It is much cheaper (and in some cases completely free) than owning a house or renting an apartment: there are not municipal, school, road, garbage or any other taxes to be paid when you live on a boat. These are usually single men above fifty, unemployed and unwilling to work, with long beards and bad teeth. Their derelict vessels are in desperate state of neglect and the chances of them ever sailing again are slim to none.
Only a fraction of all boat owners, about 5 %, actually sail. To do so the boat needs to be ship-shape and this requires tons of money and constant work. For this reason, sailing was until recent years, an activity privileged to the rich yachtsman and his wife, members of the yacht club. They would go out sailing (with a hired captain) not too far from port, participating in regattas and races once every year or two, dressed exclusively in white. For maintaining their boat sitting at the marina the rest of the time, they would pay others to do it.
The cruisers, mostly single men, often couples, and rarely families with children, who permanently liveaboard and travel by sea, are a sort of a romantic minority. These are generally very interesting, intelligent, and hardworking people whose stories of bravery and exotic adventures we read in magazines and books. They inspire us and challenge our limits.
Boat Punk
Since a few years now, there is a distinctive fourth group of seafaring people. These are young kids in their twenties and thirties with left-wing progressive views, disenchanted with the capitalist system, and the middle class standards in the United States of America, seeking alternative ways of off-grid living, self sufficiency, and ultimate freedom.
Recently, owning and maintain a boat has become more affordable than ever thanks to the development of new cheaper technologies, the access to on-line information about how to build and repair a boat, and to the global economic collapse. Boat prices have dropped dramatically.
Thus, young rebellious kids can now get an older used boat for as little as a few hundred dollars and fix it up on a very low budget using all sorts of recycled materials, even junk, and go exploring the world.
What sets them apart from the rest of the boaters is their willingness to come and stick together in a tight community, almost a kinship, sharing knowledge and skills, helping each other, having fun, working together, facing common problems, and doing all sorts of unusual things.
In Key West we met and befriended an interesting crowd of artists, anarchists, environmentalists, animal rights activists, feminists, socialists, musicians, vegetarians, misfits, jacks-of-all-trades, and other non-mainstream enthusiasts, all suffering from incurable wanderlust: Tony and Chopper aboard Pisces, Ryan and Stacie aboard Liquid Courage, Becca aboard Dolphin, Miranda aboard Snoopy, and Cherrie and Tyler aboard Rocksteady who have baptised themselves Boat Punks, deriving from the streets and the Punk scene.
Punk is a lifestyle, a movement, and a political statement. Since its origins in the 1960s and 70s as an underground music genre, Punk has evolved into a complex ideology opposing the state system and established social structure, challenging the social orthodoxy, political and mainstream cultural establishment, and promoting individual freedom, an anarchic resistance, non-conformity and social revolt, DIY ethics and anti-consumerism.
Cherrie and Tyler
Although our shiny 38 feet relatively new catamaran Fata Morgana doesn’t really belong, conceptually or visually (unless we spray some graffiti on her, which I have considered) in this fourth group, our family’s ideology, values, and way of life do. And so naturally we have joined their extravagant community here in Key West. Our experiences with the Boat Punks include:
a foot operation without anaesthesia aboard Fata Morgana;
sailing to a reef and snorkeling, fishing and jumping off the boat all day;
scavenging an abandoned recently wrecked vessel;
volunteering at the food bank;
hosting a visit by a German journalist and a photographer who came to write a magazine article about Boat Punks;
cooking and eating poisonous fish;
and more. (I will write about all these with more details as soon as I have more time and some internet, so stick around.)
Moreover, we have decided to write a collage article on Boat Punk in collaboration, each person contributing his/her own individual story and reasons for doing what we are doing. I will publish it here soon.
Tagged alternative living, anarchy, boat, boat punk, cruising, culture, family, Fata Morgana, frienship, government, liveaboard, off grid, politics, punk, sailing, travel, usa
The Sound of The Sleeping Sea
Once, when I was a small child, I pressed my ear to my sleeping mother’s belly, I remember. I listened to her inner world. The murmur of rivers running inside her, the screeching of doors, the eruption of miniature volcanoes, the distant cry of a whale. Thus, I was drifting away in my sleep, my ear pressed to her body, my head rhythmically capsizing a bit with every exhaling of her breath.
They are longing for freedom. As we all do. A total and simple state of weightlessness, like kites high above the world, detached from their strings, lost in the upper corners of the atmosphere, long forgotten by the kids who made them, who knew they would never find them again.
Thus, they float. In small illuminated vessels, pushed by the winds, carried by the waives, as if the sea herself has heaved them up overnight. A tiny subculture outside the rest of the world, outside the confinements of your familiar city, outside the buildings where you work, where you live, and where you die.
We were anchored out in the bay, far from all other boats. There was music coming from the radio. Familiar old songs I was hearing from the first time. More people showed up on dinghies and climbed aboard. The sun did its usual trick and gloriously left the scene provoking much admiration and delight among all. The night fell. We ate and drank and talked and laughed. Someone remembered his childhood aliens. Someone else revealed a secret about this uninhabited phantom-island, not far from here, that is still Spanish territory as a result of some ancient agreement, but nobody knows. A woman’s voice on the VHF radio announced that there were reports of ‘a man in the water’ and the coastguard was looking for him. Over.
Kids went to bed first, then I curled up next to Maya in the aft cabin under the deck. I heard goodbyes as some people left; I heard dinghies detaching themselves from the boat and disappearing; I heard the people who stayed still talking and laughing. We were ten left on the boat, the music still playing, the VHF woman still desperately searching for her man in the water. Then all was silent. The sea was sleeping beneath us.
The sea was sleeping beneath me. I pressed my ear to her belly. I listened to her inner world. The murmur of rivers running inside her, the screeching of doors, the eruption of miniature volcanoes, the distant cry of a whale. Thus, I was drifting away in my sleep, my head rhythmically capsizing a bit with every exhaling of her breath.
Boat Punk Video reportage by Anne-Cécile Genre
Tagged alternative living, boat, culture, inspiration, literature, photography, poetry, punk, sailing, weekly photo challenge, WRITING PROMPTS
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7250
|
__label__wiki
| 0.525252
| 0.525252
|
Interview with Team Jengkreng – Malaysian Representatives of Clara Cow’s Cosplay Cup 2018
The winners of AMG-Chan’s cosplay competition, Team JengKreng, agreed to have an interview with us and graciously shared their thoughts for winning the competition, and the process of preparing for the Clara Cow’s Cosplay Cup (C4) that happened this past Saturday! The team comprises of Zafirah a.k.a. Kuinn (22), who lives in Johor, and Farid a.k.a. Momo (29) from Perak.
Kuinn shared that she first started cosplaying three years ago. “I’ve been going to Comic Fiesta since 5 years ago but I didn’t cosplay due to financial issues. I later started to cosplay because my friend asked me to. (laughs)” She also gave a shoutout to her mother for sponsoring the expenses for her first cosplay costume. Momo, however, started in 2012 when he wanted to use cosplay as means to try and forget the frustration of being betrayed and left behind.
On a lighter note, the team talked about their cosplays that they brought to C4. Kuinn cosplayed Gudako, the female protagonist of Fate/Grand Order. She liked how the character seemed to be super meticulous and sadistic while still remaining cute. She explained that the costume took two weeks to prepare because the details and costume were simpler, hence it was easier to do.
Momo was King Hassan, an assassin class servant in Fate/Grand Order. Momo described the character as “adorable; gramps and tsundere”. It took him about two months to make the costume; most of the process was done free-hand without any references as he prepared it right after the character appeared in the game for the first time.
Kuinn laughed when sharing their difficulties of preparing for C4. “Fighting with Momo, fighting with Momo and of course, fighting with Momo. We bickered almost every day.” She described herself as the “stress machine” who constantly stressed her teammate out. Upgrading their performance to a larger scale competition was difficult, and knowing that some other contestants were from the World Cosplay Summit (WCS) placed even greater pressure on them.
Momo added that they had to prepare for the new format that C4 had, which was nothing like the average. His costume for King Hassan also needed a lot of weathering and upgrades, and everything had to be completed within two weeks of preparation time. Their challenge of having limited time to prepare went a lot smoother thanks to the help of their friends. On the other hand, Momo also added a similar difficulty that Kuinn brought up. “One of the biggest difficulties is handling Kuinn, handling Kuinn and handling Kuinn.”
We thank Team JengKreng for representing Malaysia in C4, and we can’t wait to see what new costumes and performances they will bring for us next!
Would you like to hear about their experience in the Netherlands? Should we do a part 2? 😉
Previous Post New Visual Revealed for Non Non Biyori Vacation Film
Next PostYuri!!! on Ice to Release a Special Movie in 2019
The Mystic Rain Rolls Out With The Debut Of Four Talented Cosplayers!
Video Game Orchestra Rocks the Stage @ Level Up KL Play
World Cosplay Summit MY 2019 Is Arriving At Geek Summit!
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7251
|
__label__cc
| 0.740477
| 0.259523
|
Kimbra – Vows
2012/06/06 One comment
Kimbra's cover for her album Vows
Being the featured artist on Gotye‘s Somebody That I Used To Know could work as both a blessing and a curse for New Zealand’s Kimbra. On the plus side, it works as a huge stepping stone to gaining attention of her own considering the single is on track to being bigger than Rolling In The Deep. On the downside, it might be difficult to escape the notability of that song despite it barely touching on what Kimbra to offer. She’s is a very stylistic artist. From just one listen to Vows, one can tell that she’s very versatile. Any comparisons she’s gotten to Katy Perry are completely unfounded on this album that fuses outside-of-the-box pop with jazz and soul while showing off her vocals but not overdoing it.
The songs on Vows take great care with each aspect of them. The bass in Something In The Way They Are, for example, provide a life of their own acting as the support for one of the album’s early highlights. Cameo Lover is a wall of sound appropriate for accompanying a gathering for martini drinking before heading out to the club. Classy, stylish but not intrusive. To further hear how powerful Kimbra can be, right in the middle of the record is a live recording of Plain Gold Ring which finishes with some strong vocals that clearly aren’t studio magic.
While Kimbra is oozing with personality on Vows, there seems to be a level of restraint as if she’s trying to keep up the appearance of being proper and polite while keeping her true self under wraps. That’s not to suggest that she isn’t proper and polite but there could very well be more to her than meets the ear and this is merely just one side to many dimensions.
To answer the inevitable question, Vows is a stronger album than Gotye’s Making Mirrors. It provide a more cohesive collection of songs without sounding redundant or repetitive. Other than that, both are very different but very interesting and fresh sounding artists to today’s musical landscape. For Kimbra, Vows is her beginning and if the cards are played just right, it could be the introduction to someone that everyone will know of.
1. Settle Down
2. Something In The Way You Are
3. Cameo Lover
4. Two Way Street
5. Old Flame
6. Good Intent
7. Plain Gold Ring [Live]
8. Come Into My Head
9. Sally I Can See You
10. Posse
11. Home
12. The Build Up
13. Warrior [with Mark Foster, Alain Macklovitch and Isom Innis]
tagged with Kimbra, Vows
Pingback: Kimbra – The Golden Echo | theMaxOnline
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7252
|
__label__cc
| 0.676318
| 0.323682
|
Our wide range of affordable Sandpits, Water and Mud products allows children of all ages and abilities to have fun playing with Sand and Water and Dirt. Encouraging children to socialise in groups whilst exploring their creative skills and using their imaginations. All of these products designed specifically for children and are built to last when installed into your playground area.
Sand Play
Call us on 0800 975 5648 or fill in the form below and we will get back to you within the next 24 hours.
Click the link below to download a pdf of our latest brochure. Alternatively, get in touch and we can send you a hard copy through the post.
"Excellent communication with the main office when putting together our quote. We are very pleased with the quality of the equipment. Installers were professional and efficient and the price for the equipment installed was very competitive. Would recommend."
Head Teacher Goldsborough C.E. Primary School - Goldsborough C.E. Primary School
"We have used the Playground company on a number of occasions now and have always found them to be helpful, flexible and competitively priced. We have been very pleased with their service."
Head Teacher Bexton Primary School - Bexton Primary School
"Would give more stars if they were available. Great company to work with, helpful and supportive, nothing was too much for them. The playground is top quality and fitted by a great team, who turned up when they said they would and did an excellent job. Thank you to all!! Would Recommend and use again.."
Hillcrest Children's Services - Hillcrest Children’s Services
"Martin and the team were outstanding from start to finish on our project. We worked together to create a bespoke design and the product is really high quality at a reasonable price."
Race Leys Junior School - Race Leys Junior School
"First class customer service from the first point of call till the final installation our tailor made climbing frame is not only well build but looks great, a lovely touch was our school logo being etched into the frame. I would recommend The Playground Company 100%"
Astmoor Primary School - Astmoor Primary School
"It was a delight to have the very professional ' Playground Company' design and complete a truly wonderful trim trail for Lower Peover Primary School. The children absolutely love using the new equipment. I recommend the company unreservedly to anyone who requires a new play area."
Head Teacher at Lower Peover Primary School - Lower Peover Primary School
"Great product, installed by really friendly and helpful installers who ensured that the site was left clean and tidy. The office staff were exceptionally helpful from start to finish. We have used The Playground Company a number of times now, and would have no hesitation in using them again in the future."
Julie White - Bursar - Norley CE Primary School - Frodsham - Norley CE Primary School
"This is the first time we used 'The Playground Company' after they had been recommended to us. The process of ordering and installation went very smoothly from start to finish. We were kept fully informed all the way through with the progress of our order right up until our installation. The installers fitted the equipment well, first time and consulted me fully when the equipment did not quite fit as originally planned. We were also very impressed with the quality of equipment. We will gladly recommend "The Playground Company" to other schools."
Mr Gaetano Campana - Site Manager - St Joan Of Arc School – Highbury -
"We can't thank 'The Playground Company enough'. They gave a five star service from the first meeting right through to the finished installation. Even when our plans needed to be changed mid installation nothing was too much trouble for the team.. They have totally transformed our garden area We would thoroughly recommend them to anyone."
Mrs Liz Payne - Facilities & Finance Officer - Highlands Primary School - Ilford - Highlands Primary School
"The Playground Company have carried out some fantastic new developments for us over the last few years. Great service from quotation through to installation and the after service is second to none. We would always use and recommend The Playground Company to anyone who is looking to develop their outdoor spaces."
Mrs Amanda Powell - Headteacher - The Acorns School – Ellesmere Port
"As nursery manager, I was more than impressed with the quality of service provided by The Playground Company. Nothing was too much to ask and after the job was finished, the work was completely checked and phone calls were always made to ensure we were happy with everything. I couldn't recommend a better childrens outdoor play company."
Natalie Moore-Copnall - Nursery Manager - Sunrise Nursery – Winsford
@theplaygroundco
Our twitter feed is unavailable right now. Follow us on Twitter
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7254
|
__label__wiki
| 0.663805
| 0.663805
|
Brief History Calendar of Events
Mackay Memorial Hospital, under the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, was established in memory of Dr. George Leslie Mackay who followed in the footsteps of his Master by coming to Taiwan with the message of salvation for all men. Tracing back school history, Mackay College started out as a nursing program at Mackay Memorial Hospital.
Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management originated from Nurse Training Class of Mackay Memorial Hospital, which was activated in 1913. The Nurse Training Class was the very early cradle of nurses in northern Taiwan. There were only six students graduated from the first class. Then, it was renamed as Nursing School of Mackay Memorial Hospital after the World War II. Later on, it registered Private Mackay Nursing Vocational School at Taipei City Government in 1970. Again, with new campus construction in Sanjhih the school was qualified to the college level and was accredited by the Ministry of Education as Mackay Nursing College in 1999. Five years later, in 2004, the school once again was renamed as the present one. Tracing back the history of this college, we really have to appreciate all the efforts made by people for the development in various phases.
Phases of School Development
The development of Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management was planned to take place in five phases: (1) 1913-1944, (2) 1948-1965, (3) 1970, (4) 1999, and (5) 2004.
Due to the urgent need of medical and nursing professionals, Mackay Memorial Hospital was the first hospital in north of Taiwan to set up a nurse-training class. There were only 6 students who graduated from the first class and it was until 1944 that 10 competent nurses who became the core team of the nursing staff in the hospital.
The nurse-training department affiliated to Mackay Memorial Hospital was founded on 10th March 1948 and Miss Hildur Hermanson had been assigned to be in charge of the training course. There had been 83 graduates until 1963. The duration of the taught course had been 1 year for the first 9 years and it extended to 3 years in the tenth year. The course was comprised of Principles of Anatomy,Physiology and English conversation.
To cope with the social changes, the hospital expansion and need to increase the nursing staff, Mackay Memorial Foundation Presbyterian Church in Taiwan decided to set up the branch hospital in Tamsui and set up a nursing school which was headed by the vice-president of the Hospital then, Mr. Chang Jin-Wen . The school was officially registered with the government as “Mackay School of Nursing ”. There were 2 classes of student intake in the first year and the classrooms were located in the Tamsui branch of Mackay Memorial Hospital.
With the continuous efforts and support from the Board of Directors, Mackay School of Nursing had grown under the leadership of President Jing-wen Chang and Shiou-yu Tsai who, with the pioneering spirit, endured great hardships for deep cultivation and remarkable establishment.
After the opening ceremony of Guan-do campus on the sixth of September, 1976, the school had experienced flourishing development in the next decades with the addition of student dormitory, gymnasium, and other important expansions.
In1988, the Academia Sinica academician Dr. Ming-tsung Peng was invited to become the president of Mackay School of Nursing which was then well established and with wide recognition in the field of medicine and nursing education.
In 1993, Ms. Yann-tzy Sheen was welcomed unanimously to become the fourth president of the school. She led the school to grow to meet the demands of the times, as well as act in accordance with the national education policies. In 1999, president Sheen continued to lead the school to pass the accreditation successfully to become the “Mackay Junior College of Nursing”.
In 2004, our school successfully passed the approval procedure by the Ministry of Education and was upgraded to be “Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College.”
Nowadays, it is an era of information, innovation, globalization and integration, to fit in rapid and rounded development of society, Mackay Vocational Nursing School was upgraded to be“Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College”. Apart from the Department of Nursing, we have also founded the Department of Early Childhood and Education, the Department of Food Science, the Department of Management of Food and Beverage, the Department of Cosmetic Science and Management, the Department of the Elder Affairs and the Department of Applied Foreign Language. In our future developments, we shall pay attention to the renewal of the software, hardware and other teaching resources.
Based on the financial support of Mackay Memorial Foundation, Main Building at Guan-do Campus was completed at the year-end of 2004. In August of 2006, Sanjhih campus, with an area of about 12 acres, was officially opened to students. In order to provide students of the Department of Early Childhood and Education practical training environment and, at the same time, serve the locals at Sanjhih, the Childcare Center was founded in August, 2008.
Both Guan-do and Sanjhih campuses are blessed with eye-pleasing scenery, possessing a panoramic view of all the mountains and rivers. It is hoped that with the great blessing of nature students can be the most productive and accomplished.
While expanding the teaching resources and facilities, the school authority provided incentives for teachers to pursue more professional training and higher degrees. Besides improving the teaching quality, our school has made efforts to construct a friendly environment, emphasize on character-building for students, encourage international exchange and take in foreign students, build an e-learning campus, actualize college-industry cooperation. Initiate life-long learning program, promote holistic education & community service, build a healthy financial structure and board-of-director operation. Throughout this process, our school faced many challenges and came out triumphantly each time. For example, in 2004, our school was rated top in the college-accreditation; in 2006, the Nursing Department passed TNAC accreditation with flying colors; in 2008, our school was rated the best again in college-accreditation.
In other areas such as student affairs, student counseling, environmental safety, gender equality and etc., our school has also performed well. The assessment on all these areas has reaped good results from the Ministry of Education. Because of all the good work mentioned above, the school has been able to obtain government subsidies for many years.
In 2010, having full confidence in our school’s education quality, the Kingston Technology Company, Inc. set aside a NT$180,000,000 fund under David & Diana Sun Foundation to entrust with our school the “Family-Improving Program for the Underprivileged Indigenous People”. Under this program, for 5 consecutive years, there will be 40 students from the indigenous communities studying in the Nursing Department of our school. These students will have all the tuition and fees waived and receive their monthly stipends throughout the 5-year program.
Thanks to the support from the Board-of-Directors, and the dedication from all the faculty and staff, our school has made all these commendable achievements.
Based on the following principles—Dr. Mackay’s life affirming philosophy “rather burn out than rust out”, and our school motto: honesty, respect, love, and diligence, with whole-person education we aim to educate our students the exquisiteness and practicality of learning and studies, insisting unselfishness and truth, and pursuing the ideals of lifelong learning and serving our society.
Looking ahead, the school will promote industry and academic cooperation of all kinds, encourage teachers to strengthen their research skills and build on international interaction in all academic fields. It is expected that in the near future Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management will upgrade to university and we will continue to educate our students as practical, pragmatic and devoting at the age of globalization in the 21st century.
Translated by Joan Huang
Mackay Memorial Hospital was the first hospital in Taiwan to set up a nurse-training class. During the Japanese occupation, the class produced 103 competent nurses who became the core team of the nursing staff in the hospital.
After the War, Mackay Memorial Hospital resumed the nurse-training classes and up to the year 1963, the classes produced 154 nurses.
To cope with the social changes, the hospital expansion and the the need to increase the nursing staff, Mackay Memorial Foundation Presbyterian Church in Taiwan decided to set up the branch hospital in Tamsui and set up a nursing school which was headed by the vice-president of the Hospital then, Mr. Chang Jin-Wen . The school was officially registered with the government as “Mackay Vocational Nursing School”. There were 2 classes of student intake in the first year and the classrooms were located in the Tamsui branch of Mackay Memorial Hospital.
The foundation decided to donate 4000 ping(1 ping = 36 sq ft) of land to the nursing school unconditionally.
Without taking exams, 3 graduates from the second-year graduating classes got admission to study at the National Nursing College. Subsequently, there were several students admitted by this college without having to take school entrance exams. It was a proof that our school produced excellent graduates which were much sought-after.
Ms. Tsai Hsiu-Yu became the second president of our school while holding the position as the chief of the nursing staff at the Hospital.
Students of the fifth year enrollment started to participate in the contest of nursing techniques. ( From then on , many students won awards in this competition. The most remarkable incident was when the students from the eighth year enrollment simultaneously won 2 championships on Nursing and Public Health.)
The opening ceremony of Jing-Ye Building at the Guan-Du campus.
The students of the 7th year enrollment moved into this building.
The opening ceremony Tsi-Guang Building which housed the student dorm.All the faculty, staff and students began to be located at the Guan-Du campus.
The back block of Jing-Ye Building was opened for occupation to cope with the increase in classes(6 classes in a year).
A courtesy visit from Sugimori (Shan-Sen) Girls’ High School in Japan.
Up to 2001, there were altogether 7 visits which led to a close relationship and dynamic interaction between the 2 schools.
Our school began to take in fully-subsidized students from Hua-Lian and Tai-Dong to care for the under-privileged students of the remote areas.
Opening of the auditorium cum indoor stadium which became the venue of meetings and sports events.
Dr. Peng Ming-Tsung became the 3th president of our school.
A courtesy visit from the affiliated nursing school of Japan Beppu University.
The opening of Tsi-Hui Building which served as the admin. building and the dorm.
The seventh-term board of directors included Hsieh Ying-Jie, Zhan De-Fu, Liao En-Hua, Guo Jun-Hsiung, Wu Zai-Cheng, Zheng Zhang-Ze, Jian An-Hsiang , Chen Chun-Zhen and Yang Guo-Bao.
The chief of the nursing staff at Mackay Memorial Hospital, Sheen Yann-Tzy, served as the 4th president of our school while working in the hospital until June 6,1993.
1993.02~12
The school board set up an office to work on the upgrading of the school to be a college. The Foundation managed to purchase a piece of land for the new campus at San-Zhi on Dec. 16.
The Foundation applied to the Ministry of Education to set up Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College at San-Zhi.
The eighth-term board of directors included Hsieh Ying-Jie, Zheng Zhang-Ze, Yang Guo-Bao, Jiang An-Hsiang, Zhan Kuan-Wu, Tien Sheng-Fang, Mu Hsin-Tai, Liu Rong-Sheng, Du Fen.
To uphold the ideal of Dr. Mackay in medical and education ministry, as well as fulfill the idea of “ where the need is, there my service will be also”, our school community service team visits Wu-Jie every winter to offer our service in different aspects.
1995.6.27~07.03
Board members as well as faculty and student representatives visited the Japan Sugimori (Shan-Sen) Girls’ High School ? Nursing School, Beppu University Affiliated Nursing School and Osakai Hospital.
The ninth-term board of directors included Chairman Jian An-Xiang, board members Yan Guo-Bao, Du-Fen, Chen, Zhe-Nan, Tien Sheng-Fang, Zhan Kun-Wu, Yang Shi-Tsing, Wang Zhao-Zi, and Huang Dao-Fu.
The Ministry of Education allowed the vocational schools to be upgraded to colleges. The Mackay Foundation and the school board approved of the application.
The Ministry of Education granted approval for our school to be upgraded.
The transaction of the donated land was completed. The Ministry of Education approved of the new student intake by our school under the new name as a college.
Mackay Nursing College offered 2-year program and 5-year program. Sheen Yann-Tzy was appointed the first school president, The school administration has Academic Affairs Dept., Student Affairs Dept., General
Affairs Dept., Internship cum Career Counseling Dept. Personnel Dept, Accounting Dept. and Pastoring Office.
There were 15 directors on the board, including Chairmen of the board, Jian An-Xiang, as well as board members Li Xiang-Zhou, Xie Ying-Jie, You Ren-Shun, Ke Tsung-Xin, Ye Feng-Sheng, Lian Jiang-He, Wang Jin-Tai, Lin Zhuang Shu-Zhu, Xu Shang-Wu, Lin Ma-LI, Liang De-Cheng, Huang Fu-Yuan, Shen Yuan-Yao, and Tien Sheng-Fang.
President Lee Teng-Hui graced the occasion of the ground-breaking ceremony of our San-Zhi campus.
The tenth-term board of directors included Lee Sian-Zhou(Chairman of the board), Jian An-Xiang, Xie Ying-Jie, You Ren-Shun, Huang Dao-Fu,, Jiang Tien-Tsung, Huang Jun-Siong, Tsai Zheng-He, Liang De-Cheng, Chang Wen-Xin, Zhang Ze-Yun, Mu Rong-Zhang, Zhou Yen-Shan, Wang Hui-Min, and Lin Wen-An.
The 29th graduating class of the old Mackay Vocational Nursing School and the 1st graduating class of the new Nursing College attended the commencement.
The Night School was set up, the 2-year night school program had the first year intake of students who were working adults.
2001.03.06-03.10
On the 100th Anniversay of the death of Dr. Mackay, Canadian Institute in Taiwan, and Taiwan Presbyterian Church and our school, collaboratively held a series of activities, including the torch-passing ceremony and sports event like tug-of –war contest.
The Education Minister Mr. Zeng Zhi-Lang conferred an award to the Mackay Foundation for donating 28.9 million dollars to the school.
Dr. Su Tsung-Siang was appointed the 2nd president of the Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College.
The Ministry of Education visited our school and recognized the achievement made.
The Vice President Lu Hsiu-Lien graced the occasion of the Crowning Ceremony of our nursing students.
The eleventh-term board included Chairman Jiang Tian-Tsung, and board members Zhou Yan-Shan, Chen Mei-Luan, Wei Yi-Yong, Huang Jun-Hsiong, Tsai Zheng-He, Wang Yang-Ming, Liang De-Cheng, Zhang Ze-Yun, Wang Hui-Min, Zheng Guo-Zhan, Zhang Hsi-Yi, Chen Dao-Siong, Huang Dao-Fu, and Chen De-Ming.
The launch of processing documents electronically.
The setting up of 2 new departments – Preschool Education and Food Science.
Thanksgiving Ceremony for the groundbreaking of Zong-He Building.
The school name was changed to Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College.
The signing of the agreement with Nazarene Theological College and Seminary to lease part of their campus land for our sports activities.
2004.07.28~08.03
Our school started to have cooperation with several schools and private enterprises in Vietnam since 2006 both academically and commercially.
Food Science Dept. had the first intake of boy-students.
The admin.section and the Nursing Dept of our school was rated Level A in the 2004 accreditation of vocational colleges held by the Ministry of Education
Zong-He Building at Guan Du Campus was opened for occupancy and operation and the requirement of floor space increase for new departments was met
2 new departments – Food & Beverage Department, and Applied Foreign Languages – were added to the existing departments.
Food Science Department recruited Vietnamese students and marked the beginning of internationalization of our school programs.
Entrusted by the Ministry of Education to hold the big event-“Healthy Taiwan 2006”. Over 3000 guests, teachers, and students attended the Health Forum. 50 college teams participated in the Innovative Invention Fair.
The twelfth-term of board included Chairman Jiang Tian-Tsung, as well as board members Zhang Hsi-Yi, Liao Hsun, Zheng Guo-Zhan, Xie Ruo-Lan, Zhang Jin-Cheng, Lin Kun-Lin, Huang Jun-Hsiong, Tsai Zheng-He, Zhang Wen-Cheng, Liang De-Cheng, Zhang Ze-Yun, Hu Zhi-Qiang, Wang Min-Hui, and Hsieh Qing-He.
Minister of Executive Yuan, Su Zhen-Chang, graced the occasion of the opening ceremony of our San-Zhi campus. The campus buildings include the library, Nursing Department, Preschool Education cum Applied Foreign Language, Student Dorm. And Faculty Dorm.
The 2nd year and 3rd year students of the Nursing Department, as well as students of Preschool Education and Applied Foreign Languages started their classes at San-Zhi campus.
A new department-Cosmetics Application and Management was added to the existing
departments.
12.11~ 12.15
The Nursing Department passed the accreditation of TNAC.
Entrusted by the Presidential Office of Taiwan to hold the exhibition of Taiwan’s history with great success.
Inspired by the spirit of service of Dr.Mackay,the volunteer team composed of
members of the teaching faculty and student body have rendered their volunteer
service in Vietnam, Nepal,and Thailand.since 2007.
The Department of Geriatrics became the new addition to the school.
The Research Department was changed to The Technology Cooperation Department
to include research, industry cooperation, and international cooperation.
The Republic of Kiribati paid our school a courtesy visit.
The Affiliated Model Kindergarten of our school registered with the government and started the first enrollment of pupils.
2009.03.12- 03.15
In the 2008 Vocational School Accreditation, our school won Level A for the Administration Section, Preschool Education Department and Applied Foreign Languages Department.
The 13th term of board of directors included Chairman Lin Kun-Lin, as well as board directors Liao Hsun, Huang Lian-Hsing, Hu Zhi-Qiang, Zhang Jin-Cheng, Wang Tsung-Hui, Zeng Bo-Ya, Chen Qing-Cheng, Chen Dao-Hsiong, Pan Hsiu-Da, Wang Gong-Liang, Huang Rui-Mei, Wu Jian-Liang, Ye Hong-Yi, and Tsai Li-Yun.
The library and the Computer Center were combined to be the Library-Information Center to raise the efficiency.
The 13th term of board of directors held the 3th board meeting and passed the resolution to combine our school and Mackay Medical School as one school.
After a typhoon ravaged the towns of the indigenous people in the year 2009, the David and Diana Foundation donated 180 million dollars to the “Indigenous Family Turn Around Program” which was entrusted to our school from 2010 to 2014. 200 indigenous students would be fully subsidized to complete the 5-year nursing program.
The first batch of students from the “Indigenous Family Turn Around Program” began to enroll into our school. The 40 indigenous students were from 40 cities and counties and the student belonged to 8 different tribes.
2011.7.15~7.25
2011 Volunteers Program at Akha in Northern Thailand: 2 teachers and 5 students went into the poor and backward area in the northern border of Thailand to offer medical service.
Dr. Chen Han-Hsiang from Mackay Hospital became the 3rd president of our school.
“Indigenous Family Turn Around Program” recruited 60 students who belonged to 10 tribes from 14 cities and counties.
3 staff members and 11 student volunteers went to Ugtaal Community in the city of Ulan Bator in Mongolia to offer Dental care service,Mackay Medicine and Nursing College International Youth Service Team- Oral Health Training Camp.
Board member Zeng Bo-Ya donated 1 million dollars to the School History Foundation.
The second phase of Student Dorm.at San-Zhi Was completed and a thanksgiving ceremony was held for it.
Signing of Collaboration Program with Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
“Indigenous Family Turn Around Program” recruited 38 students who belonged to 7 tribes from 14 cities and counties.
Translated by Sophia Chen
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7258
|
__label__cc
| 0.568076
| 0.431924
|
Dr Heather Gifford
Dr Heather Gifford Ngāti Hauiti, Te Atihaunui ā Papārangi
What is leadership, and how is it manifest in this competitive world? The challenge to write about Māori leaders is timely. Only recently have I, as a Māori woman academic, come to understand the critical qualities of a true leader. My ability to answer this question is a consequence of having had the rare opportunity and honour to work as a researcher alongside, and under the guidance and direction of, Dr Heather Gifford. Having worked closely with Heather now for some eight years I can readily identify those aspects of leadership which propel me to strive both for excellence in the academic world and towards a philosophy of service for our people. The qualities of leadership demonstrated by this wahine toa, who is recognised not only as a leader amongst the people of Ngāti Hauiti, but also as a leader in the field of tobacco control research, are myriad.
A great Māori leader is visionary, passionate, inspiring, tireless in their commitment to their people, staunch, unselfish, encouraging, loving, and demanding of excellence. These attributes have all been demonstrated in Heather’s journey to develop and run the first, and so far only, iwi-owned, Māori health research centre in Aotearoa. Emerging from a deep-seated passion and love for iwi, Heather envisioned a stand alone, academic research entity under the auspices of, and mandated by iwi at a time when such an idea seemed impossible.
Leaders are, however, of no use unless they lead – which means they must inspire people to follow. Leaders are able to identify the unique contribution each person can make to a vision, draw out those unique skills and abilities and bring together a team to give effect to the vision. Heather inspired such a team and now ten years on from that initial idea, Whakauae Research represents the “coming to life” of that vision. Whakauae Research occupies a unique place in the academy, marrying academic excellence with research that meets needs and desires of the people of Ngāti Hauiti, and Māori whānau more broadly. It is Heather’s legacy, the legacy of a true Māori leader.
Dr Fiona Cram
Ngāti Pāhauwera
Dr Ihirangi Heke
Waikato-Tanui
Dr Jacquie Kidd
Ngāpuhi
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7266
|
__label__cc
| 0.544424
| 0.455576
|
LAPD Confirms Video Of Additional Suge Knight Altercation
Omar Burgess
According to the Associated Press, LAPD Sherriffs spokeswoman Nicole Nishida confirmed detectives are reviewing video of Marion ‘Suge’ Knight while the Death Row Records co-founder remains held in custody in lieu of a $2 million bond. The 49-year-old Knight is being held on suspicion of murder charges, while Knight’s attorney, James Blatt, has stated his client was the victim of an attack.
The incident, which occurred January 29 in a Compton, California fast food restaurant, left Knight’s friend Terry Carter dead and another man, Cle ‘Bone’ Sloan injured. Knight reportedly argued with Sloan on the set of a promotional video for the N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton before the argument resumed a few miles away at the restaurant.
Sherriff’s Lieutenant John Corina provided statements to the AP that Knight and Sloan exchanged punches through the open window of Knight’s pickup truck.
‘Then he puts the truck in drive, drives forward, running over him, and then keeps going forward and keeps on driving, and runs over Carter, who is standing in the parking lot, and keeps on going after that,’ Corina told the AP.
Blatt said Knight drove off in fear with no idea he hit two men after four assailants attempted to punch him through his window, pulled him outside the vehicle, and threatened to kill him.
LAPD Confirms Video Of Additional Suge Knight Altercation was originally published on theurbandaily.com
Marion Suge Knight
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7267
|
__label__cc
| 0.608936
| 0.391064
|
Tag Archives: attempt to eliminate
Historic: First State Calls For Convention Limiting Federal Government
http://www.offthegridnews.com/2014/02/27/historic-first-state-calls-for-convention-limiting-federal-government/
Ukraine accuses Russian military of blocking airport
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/02/28/ukraine-accuses-russian-military-blocking-airport/
Ousted Leader Seeks Russian Aid as Tensions Rise in Crimea
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/world/europe/ukraine.html?src=twr&_r=1
Armed men seized the regional government headquarters and parliament in Ukraine’s Crimea on Thursday and raised the Russian flag
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/27/us-ukraine-crisis-crimea-idUSBREA1P23U20140227
Russia Puts Fighter Jets on Combat Alert as Tensions Mount
http://www.infowars.com/russia-puts-fighter-jets-on-combat-alert-as-tensions-mount/
Mystery: Russian Warship Docks in Cuba Without Warning
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/27/mystery-russian-warship-docks-in-cuba-without-warning/
Obama’s Attempt to Disarm and Disable the US Military
http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/obamas-attempt-to-disarm-and-disable-the-us-military/
Commander: U.S. Military Not Ready for Cyber Warfare
Gen. Alexander tells Senate threat of major cyber attacks is growing
http://freebeacon.com/commander-u-s-military-not-ready-for-cyber-warfare/
U.S. Military Hires Chaplains Endorsed by Muslim Brotherhood Entity
http://www.clarionproject.org/analysis/us-military-hires-chaplains-endorsed-brotherhood-entity
Ted Cruz fears ‘massive loss of life’ as result of Obama and Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy
http://washingtonexaminer.com/ted-cruz-fears-massive-loss-of-life-as-result-of-obama-and-hillary-clintons-foreign-policy/article/2544790
‘Nation of random enforcement’: Is America’s chief executive too powerful?
http://watchdog.org/130254/chief-executive/
Major Updates in Justina Pelletier Case: Lawmakers Get Involved, Teen Will Not Be Transferred to Foster Care
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/26/major-updates-in-justina-pelletier-case-lawmakers-get-involved-teen-will-not-be-transferred-to-foster-care/
State Rep. Fighting to Free Justina Pelletier Slams Mass. Officials: ‘They’re Protecting the System That They Have Control Over’
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/27/state-rep-fighting-to-free-justina-pelletier-slams-mass-officials-theyre-protecting-the-system-that-they-have-control-over/
ALSO LISTEN TO: Jim Lyons On Jay Severin – 02/27/14.MP3
‘Are you a parrot or a moron?’ Glenn Beck reacts to hilarious Al Sharpton video (Be sure to watch this!)
http://www.glennbeck.com/2014/02/27/are-you-a-parrot-or-a-moron-glenn-reacts-to-hilarious-al-sharpton-video/
Here’s another one you’ll like . . .
Suicide bomb instructor in Iraq accidentally blows up his class
http://libertyunyielding.com/2014/02/12/suicide-bomb-instructor-accidentally-blows-class/
Revealed! FCC’s excuse for newsroom snoops
http://www.wnd.com/2014/02/fcc-study-prior-to-controversy-listed-demands-on-media/
Supreme Court To Consider: Can Swat Teams Raid Gun Owners’ Homes?
http://www.offthegridnews.com/2014/02/26/supreme-court-to-consider-can-swat-teams-raid-gun-owners-homes/
Is Gun Confiscation on the Way in Connecticut? See the Letter the State Is Reportedly Sending to Owners of Newly ‘Illegal’ Firearms
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/26/is-gun-confiscation-on-the-way-in-connecticut-see-the-notices-the-state-is-reportedly-sending-to-owners-of-illegal-firearms/
REMEMBER: In the Revolutionary War, the shooting started at Lexington and Concord when the British soldiers tried to confiscate the Colonists’ guns !
Congress Recalls IRS Official Who Took the Fifth: ‘If We Have to Hold Her in Contempt, So Be It’
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/27/congress-recalls-irs-official-who-took-the-fifth-if-we-have-to-hold-her-in-contempt-so-be-it/
Brent Bozell on IRS Targeting Conservatives: ‘Where’s The Rest Of The Press, Where’s Anyone Covering This?’
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb-staff/2014/02/27/bozell-irs-targeting-conservatives-where-s-rest-press-where-s-anyone-cover
Even the Left Hates the IRS’s New Proposed Rules, But Mainstream Media Networks Still Won’t Report
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/geoffrey-dickens/2014/02/27/even-left-hates-irss-new-proposed-rules-nets-won-t-report
MSNBC Kid Wins Cronkite Journalism Award After Just Three Days on the Air
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/02/27/msnbc_kid_wins_cronkite_journalism_award_after_just_three_days_on_the_air
Gowdy: I Get Tougher Questions at a Drive-Thru Than NBC Asked of Susan Rice
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2014/02/27/trey-gowdy-i-get-tougher-questions-at-a-bojangles-drivethru-than-nbc-asked-of-susan-rice-n1801649
The IRS Persists: It says most of what social-welfare organizations do is “candidate-related political speech.”
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/372093/irs-persists-john-daniel-davidson
The Jackbooted IRS Thugs are Coming
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/02/27/the_jackbooted_irs_thugs_are_coming
Obama Administration’s Unbelievably Brazen Obstruction of Inspector Generals’ Investigation
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/02/27/Obama-Admins-Unbelievably-Brazen-Obstruction-Of-IG-Investigation
Government Spies On Innocent People Via Webcams, Laptops, Xbox
http://www.infowars.com/you-read-it-here-first-government-spies-on-innocent-people-via-webcams-laptops-xbox/
Yahoo webcam images from millions of users intercepted by GCHQ
Britain’s surveillance agency GCHQ, with aid from the US National Security Agency, intercepted and stored the webcam images of millions of internet users not suspected of wrongdoing, secret documents reveal.
• Optic Nerve program collected Yahoo webcam images in bulk
• 1.8m users targeted by UK agency in six-month period alone
• Yahoo: ‘A whole new level of violation of our users’ privacy’
• Material included large quantity of sexually explicit images
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/27/gchq-nsa-webcam-images-internet-yahoo
Jeff Sessions: Tea Party Is ‘Right on Every Issue’
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/02/27/Jeff-Sessions-The-Tea-Party-is-right-on-every-issue
New Assaults on American Law
http://townhall.com/columnists/judgeandrewnapolitano/2014/02/27/new-assaults-on-american-law-n1801001
Should Government Watch the Terrorists — or Americans Reaching for a Snack?
http://blog.heritage.org/2014/02/27/government-watch-terrorists-americans-reaching-snack/
NYT/CBS News Poll: GOP Has Edge in 2014 Midterm Elections
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfro
Progressive Political Strategist Gives Surprising Advice to the Left Regarding the Tea Party
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/27/progressive-political-strategist-gives-surprising-advice-to-the-left-regarding-the-tea-party/
Court Rules School Can Ban U.S. Flag Shirts to ‘Avoid Violence’
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/27/court-rules-school-can-ban-u-s-flag-shirts-to-avoid-violence/
If that is their REAL reason, the school should have banned BOTH the American Flag t-shirts AND the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
SEE: American Flag vs. Mexican Flag at Montebello High School in California:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_mexican_flag.htm
WHY ARE WE SURRENDERING TO MEXICO ?
VA employees actually destroy veterans’ records to ease backlog
Employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs have destroyed veterans’ medical files in a systematic attempt to eliminate backlogged veteran medical exam requests.
I really thought we’d hit bottom as far as this administration’s disdain for our veterans — the real one percenters — but this is a new low.
We owe our veterans a debt that cannot ever be fully repaid — but for goodness’ sake, we should at least try.
Steadfast and Loyal
http://allenbwest.com/2014/02/va-employees-actually-destroy-veterans-records-ease-backlog/
Why Libs Fear Black Conservatives
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/02/27/why_libs_fear_black_conservatives
The Moment a Professor Warned About: America Is at a ‘Constitutional Tipping Point’
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/27/the-moment-a-prof-warned-that-america-is-at-a-constitutional-tipping-point/
Tea-party beauty surprises TEXAS governor race
http://www.wnd.com/2014/02/tea-party-beautysurprises-governor-race/
Ted Cruz: We’ll ‘turn this country around’
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/ted-cruz-tea-party-104061.html
Tax Reform at Last?
http://blog.heritage.org/2014/02/26/tax-reform-last/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=afternoon1_140226
“I think we ought to abolish the IRS and instead move to a simple flat tax where the average American can fill out taxes on postcard,” – Ted Cruz
Good News: Illinois Hired Convicted Terrorist as Obamacare Navigator
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2014/02/27/good-news-illinois-hired-convicted-terrorist-as-obamacare-navigator-n1801163
Harry Reid: All Obamacare Horror Stories Are Lies
http://blog.heritage.org/2014/02/27/harry-reid-obamacare-horror-stories-lies-video/
Actually, ALL of Harry Reid’s statements are LIES !
Ted Cruz: ‘We’re Going to Repeal Every Single Word of Obamacare’
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/02/27/Cruz-I-m-Absolutely-Convinced-We-re-Going-to-Repeal-Every-Single-Word-of-Obamacare
Mark Levin Calls on Tea Party to Fight Tyranny in USA
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/02/27/Mark-Levin-Tea-Party-Last-Line-of-Defense-Against-Tyranny-of-Runaway-Gov-t
Let’s close with a little comparison of Putin and Obama
Thank you, Karen.
“I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground that ‘all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.’ To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power not longer susceptible of any definition.” – Thomas Jefferson .
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged 2014 Midterm Elections, a new low, abolish the IRS, accidentally blows up, administration’s disdain, Advice to the Left, Al Sharpton, Allen West, America, America’s chief executive, American Academy for Constitutional Education, American Flag vs. Mexican Flag, Americans, Armed men seize, Assaults on American Law, attempt to eliminate, Avoid Violence, ‘Constitutional Tipping Point’, Barack Obama, BarackObama, Battle of Concord, Battle of Lexington, Benghazi, Black Conservatives, blows up his class, Brazen Obstruction, Brent Bozell, British soldiers tried to confiscate the Colonists' guns, California, calls for convention, candidate-related political speech, Central Intelligence Agency, Chaplains Endorsed by Muslim Brotherhood, chief executive too powerful, CIA, Cinco de Mayo, civil rights, Colonists' guns, Common Core, Communist, comparison of Putin and Obama, confiscate the Colonists' guns, Congress Recalls IRS Official, Connecticut, Constitutional Convention, Convention of States, Court Rules, Court Rules School Can Ban U.S. Flag Shirts, Crimea, Cronkite Journalism Award, Cuba, cyber attacks, cyber warfare, Democrats, Department of Veterans Affairs, destroy veterans’ records, destroyed veterans’ medical, Disable the US Military, disarm US Military, disdain for our veterans, FBI, FCC's excuse, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fight Tyranny, Fighter Jets on Combat Alert, fill out taxes on postcard, First Amendment, foreign policy, fourth amendment, free America, free speech, GCHQ, Gen. Alexander, Glenn Beck, GOP Has Edge in 2014, government headquarters, Government Spies, gun owners, Gun Owners’ Homes, Harry Reid, Harry Reid's statements, Harry Reid's statements are LIES, hilarious Al Sharpton video, Hold Her in Contempt, Illinois Hired Convicted Terrorist, Inspector Generals' Investigation, Iran, IRS, IRS Official Who Took the Fifth, IRS Persists, IRS Targeting Conservatives, IRS Thugs, IRS's New Proposed Rules, Islam, Israel, Jackbooted, Jackbooted IRS Thugs, Jeff Sessions, Justina Pelletier, Kid Wins Cronkite Journalism Award, lapdog media, Laptops, law, law enforcement, lawsuits, legal, Liberals, Libertarian, Libs Fear Black Conservatives, limiting federal power, Mainstream Media, mark levin, Mark Levin Calls on Tea Party, Media Networks, media Still Won't Report, Medicaid, Medicare, Mexico, midterm elections, Military Hires Chaplains, Military Hires Chaplains Endorsed by Muslim Brotherhood, Military Not Ready, millions of users, Minutemen, Montebello High School, Nancy Pelosi, national security, NBC, news, newsroom snoops, Obama, Obama administration, Obama and Hillary Clinton's foreign policy, Obama’s Attempt, Obama’s Attempt to Disarm and Disable the US Military, Obamacare, Obamacare Navigator, Obstruction of Inspector Generals' Investigation, parliament, Patient Protection and Affordable Protection Act, Paul Revere, Progressive Political Strategist, Progressives, Protecting the System, Putin, Rand Paul, random enforcement, religion, religious persecution, religious rights, Repeal Every Single Word of Obamacare', Republicans, Revolutionary War, Rush Limbaugh, Russia invades Ukraine, Russia occupies Ukraine, Russian fighters, Russian flag, Russian military, russian military blocking airport, Russian Warship Docks in Cuba, School Can Ban U.S. Flag Shirts, schools, Sean Hannity, Second Amendment, Seeks Russian Aid, senate, Shane F. Krauser, Social and Economic, social-welfare, Socialist, Spies On Innocent People, Spies On Innocent People Via Webcams, State Is Reportedly, Suicide bomb instructor, Supreme Court, Surprising Advice, SURRENDERING TO MEXICO, Susan Rice, Swat Teams Raid, Swat Teams Raid Gun Owners’ Homes, systematic attempt, tax reform. flat tax, Tea Party, Tea Party Is 'Right, Tea Party to Fight Tyranny, Ted Cruz, Ted Cruz fears 'massive loss of life', tensions mount, Tensions Rise, Terrorist as Obamacare Navigator, texas, TEXAS governor race, thomas jefferson, Took the Fifth, Transferred to Foster Care, Trey Gowdy, turn this country around, Tyranny in USA, Ukrain accuses, United States, Updates in Justina Pelletier Case, VA, VA employees, veteran medical exam requests, VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION, Watch the Terrorists, Where’s The Rest Of The Press, Xbox, Yahoo webcam images on February 28, 2014 by paulrevere1775.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7269
|
__label__cc
| 0.589836
| 0.410164
|
Network Working Group A. Farrel, Ed.
Request for Comments: 5151 Old Dog Consulting
Updates: 3209, 3473 A. Ayyangar
Category: Standards Track Juniper Networks
JP. Vasseur
Inter-Domain MPLS and GMPLS Traffic Engineering --
Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) Extensions
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
This document describes procedures and protocol extensions for the
use of Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE)
signaling in Multiprotocol Label Switching-Traffic Engineering
(MPLS-TE) packet networks and Generalized MPLS (GMPLS) packet and
non-packet networks to support the establishment and maintenance of
Label Switched Paths that cross domain boundaries.
For the purpose of this document, a domain is considered to be any
collection of network elements within a common realm of address space
or path computation responsibility. Examples of such domains include
Autonomous Systems, Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) routing areas,
and GMPLS overlay networks.
Farrel, et al. Standards Track [Page 1]
RFC 5151 Inter-Domain MPLS & GMPLS RSVP-TE Extensions February 2008
1. Introduction ....................................................3
1.1. Conventions Used in This Document ..........................3
1.2. Terminology ................................................4
2. Signaling Overview ..............................................4
2.1. Signaling Options ..........................................5
3. Procedures on the Domain Border Node ............................6
3.1. Rules on ERO Processing ....................................8
3.2. LSP Setup Failure and Crankback ...........................10
3.3. RRO Processing across Domains .............................11
3.4. Notify Message Processing .................................11
4. RSVP-TE Signaling Extensions ...................................12
4.1. Control of Downstream Choice of Signaling Method ..........12
5. Protection and Recovery of Inter-Domain TE LSPs ................13
5.1. Fast Recovery Support Using MPLS-TE Fast Reroute (FRR) ....14
5.1.1. Failure within a Domain (Link or Node Failure) .....14
5.1.2. Failure of Link at Domain Border ...................14
5.1.3. Failure of a Border Node ...........................15
5.2. Protection and Recovery of GMPLS LSPs .....................15
6. Reoptimization of Inter-Domain TE LSPs .........................16
7. Backward Compatibility .........................................17
8. Security Considerations ........................................18
9. IANA Considerations ............................................20
9.1. Attribute Flags for LSP_Attributes Object .................20
9.2. New Error Codes ...........................................20
10. Acknowledgments ...............................................21
11. References ....................................................21
11.1. Normative References ....................................21
11.2. Informative References ..................................22
The requirements for inter-area and inter-AS (Autonomous System)
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Traffic Engineering (TE) are
stated in [RFC4105] and [RFC4216], respectively. Many of these
requirements also apply to Generalized MPLS (GMPLS) networks. The
framework for inter-domain MPLS-TE is provided in [RFC4726].
This document presents procedures and extensions to Resource
Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) signaling for the
setup and maintenance of traffic engineered Label Switched Paths (TE
LSPs) that span multiple domains in MPLS-TE or GMPLS networks. The
signaling procedures described in this document are applicable to
MPLS-TE packet LSPs established using RSVP-TE ([RFC3209]) and all
LSPs (packet and non-packet) that use RSVP-TE GMPLS extensions as
described in [RFC3473].
Three different signaling methods for inter-domain RSVP-TE signaling
are identified in [RFC4726]. Contiguous LSPs are achieved using the
procedures of [RFC3209] and [RFC3473] to create a single end-to-end
LSP that spans all domains. Nested LSPs are established using the
techniques described in [RFC4206] to carry the end-to-end LSP in a
separate tunnel across each domain. Stitched LSPs are established
using the procedures of [RFC5150] to construct an end-to-end LSP from
the concatenation of separate LSPs each spanning a domain.
This document defines the RSVP-TE protocol extensions necessary to
control and select which of the three signaling mechanisms is used
for any one end-to-end inter-domain TE LSP.
Autonomous Systems, IGP areas, and GMPLS overlay networks
([RFC4208]).
1.1. Conventions Used in This Document
document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [RFC2119].
1.2. Terminology
AS: Autonomous System.
ASBR: Autonomous System Border Router. A router used to connect
together ASs of a different or the same Service Provider via one or
more inter-AS links.
Bypass Tunnel: An LSP that is used to protect a set of LSPs passing
over a common facility.
ERO: Explicit Route Object.
FA: Forwarding Adjacency.
LSR: Label Switching Router.
MP: Merge Point. The node where bypass tunnels meet the protected
LSP.
NHOP bypass tunnel: Next-Hop Bypass Tunnel. A backup tunnel, which
bypasses a single link of the protected LSP.
NNHOP bypass tunnel: Next-Next-Hop Bypass Tunnel. A backup tunnel,
which bypasses a single node of the protected LSP.
PLR: Point of Local Repair. The ingress of a bypass tunnel.
RRO: Record Route Object.
TE link: Traffic Engineering link.
2. Signaling Overview
The RSVP-TE signaling of a TE LSP within a single domain is described
in [RFC3209] and [RFC3473]. Inter-domain TE LSPs can be supported by
one of three options as described in [RFC4726] and set out in the
- contiguous LSPs
- nested LSPs
- stitched LSPs.
In fact, as pointed out in [RFC4726], any combination of these three
options may be used in the course of an end-to-end inter-domain LSP.
That is, the options should be considered as per-domain transit
options so that an end-to-end inter-domain LSP that starts in domain
A, transits domains B, C, and D, and ends in domain E might use an
LSP that runs contiguously from the ingress in domain A, through
domain B to the border with domain C. Domain C might be transited
using the nested LSP option to reach the border with domain D, and
domain D might be transited using the stitched LSP option to reach
the border with domain E, from where a normal LSP runs to the egress.
This document describes the RSVP-TE signaling extensions required to
select and control which of the three signaling mechanisms is used.
The specific protocol extensions required to signal each LSP type are
described in other documents and are out of scope for this document.
Similarly, the routing extensions and path computation techniques
necessary for the establishment of inter-domain LSPs are out of
scope. An implementation of a transit LSR is unaware of the options
for inter-domain TE LSPs since it sees only TE LSPs. An
implementation of a domain border LSR has to decide what mechanisms
of inter-domain TE LSP support to include, but must in any case
support contiguous inter-domain TE LSPs since this is the default
mode of operation for RSVP-TE. Failure to support either or both of
nested LSPs or stitched LSPs, restricts the operators options, but
does not prevent the establishment of inter-domain TE LSPs.
2.1. Signaling Options
There are three ways in which an RSVP-TE LSP could be signaled across
multiple domains:
A contiguous TE LSP is a single TE LSP that is set up across
multiple domains using RSVP-TE signaling procedures described in
[RFC3209] and [RFC3473]. No additional TE LSPs are required to
create a contiguous TE LSP, and the same RSVP-TE information for
the TE LSP is maintained along the entire LSP path. In
particular, the TE LSP has the same RSVP-TE session and LSP ID at
every LSR along its path.
One or more TE LSPs may be nested within another TE LSP as
described in [RFC4206]. This technique can be used to nest one or
more inter-domain TE LSPs into an intra-domain hierarchical LSP
(H-LSP). The label stacking construct is used to achieve nesting
in packet networks. In the rest of this document, the term H-LSP
is used to refer to an LSP that allows other LSPs to be nested
within it. An H-LSP may be advertised as a TE link within the
same instance of the routing protocol as was used to advertise the
TE links from which it was created, in which case it is a
Forwarding Adjacency (FA) [RFC4206].
The concept of LSP stitching as well as the required signaling
procedures are described in [RFC5150]. This technique can be used
to stitch together shorter LSPs (LSP segments) to create a single,
longer LSP. The LSP segments of an inter-domain LSP may be
intra-domain LSPs or inter-domain LSPs.
The process of stitching in the data plane results in a single,
end-to-end contiguous LSP. But in the control plane, each segment
is signaled as a separate LSP (with distinct RSVP sessions) and
the end-to-end LSP is signaled as yet another LSP with its own
RSVP session. Thus, the control plane operation for LSP stitching
is very similar to that for nesting.
An end-to-end inter-domain TE LSP may be achieved using one or more
of the signaling techniques described. The choice is a matter of
policy for the node requesting LSP setup (the ingress) and policy for
each successive domain border node. On receipt of an LSP setup
request (RSVP-TE Path message) for an inter-domain TE LSP, the
decision of whether to signal the LSP contiguously or whether to nest
or stitch it to another TE LSP depends on the parameters signaled
from the ingress node and on the configuration of the local node.
The stitching segment LSP or H-LSP used to cross a domain may be
pre-established or signaled dynamically based on the demand caused by
the arrival of the inter-domain TE LSP setup request.
3. Procedures on the Domain Border Node
Whether an inter-domain TE LSP is contiguous, nested, or stitched is
limited by the signaling methods supported by or configured on the
intermediate nodes. It is usually the domain border nodes where this
restriction applies since other transit nodes are oblivious to the
mechanism in use. The ingress of the LSP may further restrict the
choice by setting parameters in the Path message when it is signaled.
When a domain border node receives the RSVP Path message for an
inter-domain TE LSP setup, it MUST carry out the following procedures
before it can forward the Path message to the next node along the
1. Apply policies for the domain and the domain border node.
These policies may restrict the establishment of inter-domain
TE LSPs. In case of a policy failure, the node SHOULD fail
the setup and send a PathErr message with error code "Policy
control failure"/ "Inter-domain policy failure".
2. Determine the signaling method to be used to cross the domain.
If the ingress node of the inter-domain TE LSP has specified
restrictions on the methods to be used, these MUST be adhered
to. Within the freedom allowed by the ingress node, the
domain border node MAY choose any method according to local
configuration and policies. If no resultant signaling method
is available or allowed, the domain border node MUST send a
PathErr message with an error code as described in Section
Thus, for example, an ingress may request a contiguous LSP
because it wishes to exert maximal control over the LSP's path
and to control when reoptimization takes place. But the
operator of a transit domain may decide (for example) that
only LSP stitching is allowed for exactly the reason that it
gives the operator the chance to reoptimize their own domain
under their own control. In this case, the policy applied at
the entry to the transit domain will result in the return of a
PathErr message and the ingress has a choice to:
- find another path avoiding the transit domain,
- relax his requirements, or
- fail to provide the service.
3. Carry out ERO procedures as described in Section 3 in addition
to the procedures in [RFC3209] and [RFC3473].
4. Perform any path computations as required to determine the
path across the domain and potentially to select the exit
point from the domain.
The path computation procedure is outside the scope of this
document. A path computation option is specified in
[RFC5152], and another option is to use a Path Computation
Element (PCE) [RFC4655].
4a. In the case of nesting or stitching, either find an
existing intra-domain TE LSP to carry the inter-domain TE
LSP or signal a new one, depending on local policy.
In the event of a path computation failure, a PathErr message
SHOULD be sent with error code "Routing Problem" using an
error value selected according to the reason for computation
failure. A domain border node MAY opt to silently discard the
Path message in this case as described in Section 8.
In the event of the receipt of a PathErr message reporting signaling
failure from within the domain or reported from a downstream domain,
the domain border node MAY apply crankback procedures as described in
Section 3.2. If crankback is not applied, or is exhausted, the
border node MUST continue with PathErr processing as described in
[RFC3209] and [RFC3473].
In the event of successful processing of a Path or Resv message, the
domain border node MUST carry out RRO procedures as described in
Section 3.3.
3.1. Rules on ERO Processing
The ERO that a domain border node receives in the Path message was
supplied by the ingress node of the TE LSP and may have been updated
by other nodes (for example, other domain border nodes) as the Path
message was propagated. The content of the ERO depends on several
factors including:
- the path computation techniques used,
- the degree of TE visibility available to the nodes performing path
computation, and
- the policy at the nodes creating/modifying the ERO.
In general, H-LSPs and LSP segments are used between domain border
nodes, but there is no restriction on the use of such LSPs to span
multiple hops entirely within a domain. Therefore, the discussion
that follows may be equally applied to any node within a domain
although the term "domain border node" continues to be used for
When a Path message reaches the domain border node, the following
rules apply for ERO processing and for further signaling.
1. If there are any policies related to ERO processing for the
LSP, they MUST be applied and corresponding actions MUST be
taken. For example, there might be a policy to reject EROs
that identify nodes within the domain. In case of
inter-domain LSP setup failures due to policy failures related
to ERO processing, the node SHOULD issue a PathErr with error
code "Policy control failure"/"Inter-domain explicit route
rejected", but MAY be configured to silently discard the Path
message or to return a different error code for security
2. Section 8.2 of [RFC4206] describes how a node at the edge of a
region processes the ERO in the incoming Path message and uses
this ERO, to either find an existing H-LSP or signal a new
H-LSP using the ERO hops. This process includes adjusting the
ERO before sending the Path message to the next hop. These
procedures MUST be followed for nesting or stitching of
inter-domain TE LSPs.
3. If an ERO subobject identifies a TE link formed by the
advertisement of an H-LSP or LSP segment (whether numbered or
unnumbered), contiguous signaling MUST NOT be used. The node
MUST use either nesting or stitching according to the
capabilities of the LSP that forms the TE link, the parameters
signaled in the Path message, and local policy. If there is a
conflict between the capabilities of the LSP that forms the TE
link indicated in the ERO and the parameters on the Path
message, the domain border node SHOULD send a PathErr with
error code "Routing Problem"/"ERO conflicts with inter-domain
signaling method", but MAY be configured to silently discard
the Path message or to return a different error code for
security reasons.
4. An ERO in a Path message received by a domain border node may
have a loose hop as the next hop. This may be an IP address
or an AS number. In such cases, the ERO MUST be expanded to
determine the path to the next hop using some form of path
computation that may, itself, generate loose hops.
5. In the absence of any ERO subobjects beyond the local domain
border node, the LSP egress (the destination encoded in the
RSVP Session object) MUST be considered as the next loose hop
and rule 4 applied.
6. In the event of any other failures processing the ERO, a
PathErr message SHOULD be sent as described in [RFC3209] or
[RFC3473], but a domain border router MAY be configured to
silently discard the Path message or to return a different
error code for security reasons.
3.2. LSP Setup Failure and Crankback
When an error occurs during LSP setup, a PathErr message is sent back
towards the LSP ingress node to report the problem. If the LSP
traverses multiple domains, this PathErr will be seen successively by
each domain border node.
Domain border nodes MAY apply local policies to restrict the
propagation of information about the contents of the domain. For
example, a domain border node MAY replace the information in a
PathErr message that indicates a specific failure at a specific node
with information that reports a more general error with the entire
domain. These procedures are similar to those described for the
borders of overlay networks in [RFC4208].
- A domain border node MUST NOT suppress the propagation of a PathErr
message except to attempt rerouting as described below.
- Nodes other than domain border nodes SHOULD NOT modify the contents
of a PathErr message.
- Domain border nodes SHOULD NOT modify the contents of a PathErr
message unless domain confidentiality is a specific requirement.
Domain border nodes provide an opportunity for crankback rerouting
[RFC4920]. On receipt of a PathErr message generated because of an
LSP setup failure, a domain border node MAY hold the PathErr and make
further attempts to establish the LSP if allowed by local policy and
by the parameters signaled on the Path message for the LSP. Such
attempts might involve the computation of alternate routes through
the domain, or the selection of different downstream domains. If a
subsequent attempt is successful, the domain border router MUST
discard the held PathErr message, but if all subsequent attempts are
unsuccessful, the domain border router MUST send the PathErr upstream
toward the ingress node. In this latter case, the domain border
router MAY change the information in the PathErr message to provide
further crankback details and information aggregation as described in
[RFC4920].
Crankback rerouting MAY also be used to handle the failure of LSPs
after they have been established [RFC4920].
Farrel, et al. Standards Track [Page 10]
3.3. RRO Processing across Domains
[RFC3209] defines the RRO as an optional object used for loop
detection and for providing information about the hops traversed by
LSPs.
As described for overlay networks in [RFC4208], a domain border node
MAY filter or modify the information provided in an RRO for
confidentiality reasons according to local policy. For example, a
series of identifiers of hops within a domain MAY be replaced with
the domain identifier (such as the AS number) or be removed entirely
leaving just the domain border nodes.
Note that a domain border router MUST NOT mask its own presence, and
MUST include itself in the RRO.
Such filtering of RRO information does not hamper the working of the
signaling protocol, but the subsequent information loss may render
management diagnostic procedures inoperable or at least make them
more complicated, requiring the coordination of administrators of
multiple domains.
Similarly, protocol procedures that depend on the presence of RRO
information may become inefficient. For example, the Fast Reroute
procedures defined in [RFC4090] use information in the RRO to
determine the labels to use and the downstream MP.
3.4. Notify Message Processing
Notify messages are introduced in [RFC3473]. They may be sent direct
rather than hop-by-hop, and so may speed the propagation of error
information. If a domain border router is interested in seeing such
messages (for example, to enable it to provide protection switching),
it is RECOMMENDED that the domain border router update the Notify
Request objects in the Path and Resv messages to show its own address
following the procedures of [RFC3473].
Note that the replacement of a Notify Recipient in the Notify Request
object means that some Notify messages (for example, those intended
for delivery to the ingress LSR) may need to be examined, processed,
and forwarded at domain borders. This is an obvious trade-off issue
as the ability to handle notifiable events locally (i.e., within the
domain) may or may not outweigh the cost of processing and forwarding
Notify messages beyond the domain. Observe that the cost increases
linearly with the number of domains in use.
Also note that, as described in Section 8, a domain administrator may
wish to filter or modify Notify messages that are generated within a
domain in order to preserve security or confidentiality of network
information. This is most easily achieved if the Notify messages are
sent via the domain borders.
4. RSVP-TE Signaling Extensions
The following RSVP-TE signaling extensions are defined to enable
inter-domain LSP setup.
4.1. Control of Choice of Signaling Method
In many network environments, there may be a network-wide policy that
determines which one of the three inter-domain LSP techniques is
used. In these cases, no protocol extensions are required.
However, in environments that support more than one technique, an
ingress node may wish to constrain the choice made by domain border
nodes for each inter-domain TE LSP that it originates.
[RFC4420] defines the LSP_Attributes object that can be used to
signal required attributes of an LSP. The Attributes Flags TLV
includes Boolean flags that define individual attributes.
This document defines a new bit in the TLV that can be set by the
ingress node of an inter-domain TE LSP to restrict the intermediate
nodes to using contiguous signaling:
Contiguous LSP bit (bit number assignment in Section 9.1)
This flag is set by the ingress node that originates a Path message
to set up an inter-domain TE LSP if it requires that the contiguous
LSP technique is used. This flag bit is only to be used in the
Attributes Flags TLV.
When a domain border LSR receives a Path message containing this bit
set (one), the node MUST NOT perform stitching or nesting in support
of the inter-domain TE LSP being set up. When this bit is clear
(zero), a domain border LSR MAY perform stitching or nesting
according to local policy.
This bit MUST NOT be modified by any transit node.
An intermediate node that supports the LSP_Attributes object and the
Attributes Flags TLV, and also recognizes the "Contiguous LSP" bit,
but cannot support contiguous TE LSPs, MUST send a Path Error message
with an error code "Routing Problem"/"Contiguous LSP type not
supported" if it receives a Path message with this bit set.
If an intermediate node receiving a Path message with the "Contiguous
LSP" bit set in the Flags field of the LSP_Attributes, recognizes the
object, the TLV, and the bit and also supports the desired contiguous
LSP behavior, then it MUST signal a contiguous LSP. If the node is a
domain border node, or if the node expands a loose hop in the ERO, it
MUST include an RRO Attributes subobject in the RRO of the
corresponding Resv message (if such an object is present) with the
"Contiguous LSP" bit set to report its behavior.
Domain border LSRs MUST support and act on the setting of the
"Contiguous LSP" flag.
However, if the intermediate node supports the LSP_Attributes object
but does not recognize the Attributes Flags TLV, or supports the TLV
but does not recognize this "Contiguous LSP" bit, then it MUST
forward the object unmodified.
The choice of action by an ingress node that receives a PathErr when
requesting the use of a contiguous LSP is out of the scope of this
document, but may include the computation of an alternate path.
5. Protection and Recovery of Inter-Domain TE LSPs
The procedures described in Sections 3 and 4 MUST be applied to all
inter-domain TE LSPs, including bypass tunnels, detour LSPs
[RFC4090], and segment recovery LSPs [RFC4873]. This means that
these LSPs will also be subjected to ERO processing, policies, path
computation, etc.
Note also that the paths for these backup LSPs need to be either
pre-configured, computed, and signaled with the protected LSP or
computed on-demand at the PLR. Just as with any inter-domain TE LSP,
the ERO may comprise strict or loose hops and will depend on the TE
visibility of the computation point into the subsequent domain.
If loose hops are present in the path of the backup LSP, ERO
expansion will be required at some point along the path: probably at
a domain border node. In order that the backup path remains disjoint
from the protected LSP(s) the node performing the ERO expansion must
be provided with the path of the protected LSPs between the PLR and
the MP. This information can be gathered from the RROs of the
protected LSPs and is signaled in the DETOUR object for Fast Reroute
[RFC4090] and uses route exclusion [RFC4874] for other protection
5.1. Fast Recovery Support Using MPLS-TE Fast Reroute (FRR)
[RFC4090] describes two methods for local protection for a packet TE
LSP in case of link, Shared Risk Link Group (SRLG), or node failure.
This section describes how these mechanisms work with the proposed
signaling solutions for inter-domain TE LSP setup.
5.1.1. Failure within a Domain (Link or Node Failure)
The mode of operation of MPLS-TE Fast Reroute to protect a
contiguous, stitched, or nested TE LSP within a domain is identical
to the existing procedures described in [RFC4090]. Note that, in the
case of nesting or stitching, the end-to-end LSP is automatically
protected by the protection operation performed on the H-LSP or
stitching segment LSP.
No protocol extensions are required.
5.1.2. Failure of a Link at a Domain Border
This case arises where two domains are connected by a TE link. In
this case, each domain has its own domain border node, and these two
nodes are connected by the TE link. An example of this case is where
the ASBRs of two ASs are connected by a TE link.
A contiguous LSP can be backed up using any PLR and MP, but if the
LSP uses stitching or nesting in either of the connected domains, the
PLR and MP MUST be domain border nodes for those domains. It will be
usual to attempt to use the local (connected by the failed link)
domain border nodes as the PLR and MP.
To protect an inter-domain link with MPLS-TE Fast Reroute, a set of
backup tunnels must be configured or dynamically computed between the
PLR and MP such that they are diversely routed from the protected
inter-domain link and the protected inter-domain LSPs.
Each protected inter-domain LSP using the protected inter-domain TE
link must be assigned to an NHOP bypass tunnel that is diverse from
the protected LSP. Such an NHOP bypass tunnel can be selected by
analyzing the RROs in the Resv messages of the available bypass
tunnels and the protected TE LSP. It may be helpful to this process
if the extensions defined in [RFC4561] are used to clearly
distinguish nodes and links in the RROs.
5.1.3. Failure of a Border Node
Two border node failure cases exist. If the domain border falls on a
link as described in the previous section, the border node at either
end of the link may fail. Alternatively, if the border falls on a
border node (as is the case with IGP areas), that single border node
may fail.
It can be seen that if stitching or nesting is used, the failed node
will be the start or end (or both) of a stitching segment LSP or
H-LSP, in which case protection must be provided to the far end of
the stitching segment or H-LSP. Thus, where one of these two
techniques is in use, the PLR will be the upstream domain entry point
in the case of the failure of the domain exit point, and the MP will
be the downstream domain exit point in the case of the failure of the
domain entry point. Where the domain border falls at a single domain
border node, both cases will apply.
If the contiguous LSP mechanism is in use, normal selection of the
PLR and MP can be applied, and any node within the domains may be
used to fill these roles.
As before, selection of a suitable backup tunnel (in this case, an
NNHOP backup) must consider the paths of the backed-up LSPs and the
available NNHOP tunnels by examination of their RROs.
Note that where the PLR is not immediately upstream of the failed
node, error propagation time may be delayed unless some mechanism
such as [BFD-MPLS] is implemented or unless direct reporting, such as
through the GMPLS Notify message [RFC3473], is employed.
5.2. Protection and Recovery of GMPLS LSPs
[RFC4873] describes GMPLS-based segment recovery. This allows
protection against a span failure, a node failure, or failure over
any particular portion of a network used by an LSP.
The domain border failure cases described in Section 5.1 may also
occur in GMPLS networks (including packet networks) and can be
protected against using segment protection without any additional
protocol extensions.
Note that if loose hops are used in the construction of the working
and protection paths signaled for segment protection, then care is
required to keep these paths disjoint. If the paths are signaled
incrementally, then route exclusion [RFC4874] may be used to ensure
that the paths are disjoint. Otherwise, a coordinated path
computation technique such as that offered by cooperating Path
Computation Elements [RFC4655] can provide suitable paths.
6. Reoptimization of Inter-Domain TE LSPs
Reoptimization of a TE LSP is the process of moving the LSP from the
current path to a more preferred path. This involves the
determination of the preferred path and make-before-break signaling
procedures [RFC3209] to minimize traffic disruption.
Reoptimization of an inter-domain TE LSP may require a new path in
more than one domain.
The nature of the inter-domain LSP setup mechanism defines how
reoptimization can be applied. If the LSP is contiguous, then the
signaling of the make-before-break process MUST be initiated by the
ingress node as defined in [RFC3209]. But if the reoptimization is
limited to a change in path within one domain (that is, if there is
no change to the domain border nodes) and nesting or stitching is in
use, the H-LSP or stitching segment may be independently reoptimized
within the domain without impacting the end-to-end LSP.
In all cases, however, the ingress LSR may wish to exert control and
coordination over the reoptimization process. For example, a transit
domain may be aware of the potential for reoptimization, but not
bother because it is not worried by the level of service being
provided across the domain. But the cumulative effect on the
end-to-end LSP may cause the head-end to worry and trigger an
end-to-end reoptimization request (of course, the transit domain may
choose to ignore the request).
Another benefit of end-to-end reoptimization over per-domain
reoptimization for non-contiguous inter-domain LSPs is that
per-domain reoptimization is restricted to preserve the domain entry
and exit points (since to do otherwise would break the LSP!). But
end-to-end reoptimization is more flexible and can select new domain
border LSRs.
There may be different cost-benefit analysis considerations between
end-to-end reoptimization and per-domain reoptimization. The greater
the number of hops involved in the reoptimization, the higher the
risk of traffic disruption. The shorter the segment reoptimized, the
lower the chance of making a substantial improvement on the quality
of the end-to-end LSP. Administrative policies should be applied in
this area with care.
[RFC4736] describes mechanisms that allow:
- The ingress node to request each node with a loose next hop to
re-evaluate the current path in order to search for a more optimal
path.
- A node with a loose next hop to inform the ingress node that a
better path exists.
These mechanisms SHOULD be used for reoptimization of a contiguous
inter-domain TE LSP.
Note that end-to-end reoptimization may involve a non-local
modification that might select new entry / exit points. In this
case, we can observe that local reoptimization is more easily and
flexibly achieved using nesting or stitching. Further, the "locality
principle" (i.e., the idea of keeping information only where it is
needed) is best achieved using stitching or nesting. That said, a
contiguous LSP can easily be modified to take advantage of local
reoptimizations (as defined in [RFC4736]) even if this would require
the dissemination of information and the invocation of signaling
outside the local domain.
7. Backward Compatibility
The procedures in this document are backward compatible with existing
- Ingress LSRs are not required to support the extensions in this
document to provision intra-domain LSPs. The default behavior by
transit LSRs that receive a Path message that does not have the
"Contiguous LSP" bit set in the Attributes Flags TLV of the
LSP_Attributes object or does not even have the object present is
to allow all modes of inter-domain TE LSP, so back-level ingress
LSRs are able to initiate inter-domain LSPs.
- Transit, non-border LSRs are not required to perform any special
processing and will pass the LSP_Attributes object onwards
unmodified according to the rules of [RFC2205]. Thus, back-level
transit LSRs are fully supported.
- Domain border LSRs will need to be upgraded before inter-domain TE
LSPs are allowed. This is because of the need to establish policy,
administrative, and security controls before permitting
inter-domain LSPs to be signaled across a domain border. Thus,
legacy domain border LSRs do not need to be considered.
The RRO additions in this document are fully backward compatible.
8. Security Considerations
RSVP does not currently provide for automated key management.
[RFC4107] states a requirement for mandatory automated key management
under certain situations. There is work starting in the IETF to
define improved authentication including automated key management for
RSVP. Implementations and deployments of RSVP should pay attention
to any capabilities and requirements that are outputs from this
ongoing work.
A separate document is being prepared to examine the security aspects
of RSVP-TE signaling with special reference to multi-domain scenarios
[MPLS-SEC]. [RFC4726] provides an overview of the requirements for
security in an MPLS-TE or GMPLS multi-domain environment.
Before electing to utilize inter-domain signaling for MPLS-TE, the
administrators of neighboring domains MUST satisfy themselves as to
the existence of a suitable trust relationship between the domains.
In the absence of such a relationship, the administrators SHOULD
decide not to deploy inter-domain signaling, and SHOULD disable
RSVP-TE on any inter-domain interfaces.
When signaling an inter-domain RSVP-TE LSP, an operator MAY make use
of the security features already defined for RSVP-TE [RFC3209]. This
may require some coordination between the domains to share the keys
(see [RFC2747] and [RFC3097]), and care is required to ensure that
the keys are changed sufficiently frequently. Note that this may
involve additional synchronization, should the domain border nodes be
protected with FRR, since the MP and PLR should also share the key.
For an inter-domain TE LSP, especially when it traverses different
administrative or trust domains, the following mechanisms SHOULD be
provided to an operator (also see [RFC4216]):
1) A way to enforce policies and filters at the domain borders to
process the incoming inter-domain TE LSP setup requests (Path
messages) based on certain agreed trust and service
levels/contracts between domains. Various LSP attributes such as
bandwidth, priority, etc. could be part of such a contract.
2) A way for the operator to rate-limit LSP setup requests or error
notifications from a particular domain.
3) A mechanism to allow policy-based outbound RSVP message processing
at the domain border node, which may involve filtering or
modification of certain addresses in RSVP objects and messages.
Additionally, an operator may wish to reduce the signaling
interactions between domains to improve security. For example, the
operator might not trust the neighboring domain to supply correct or
trustable restart information [RFC5063] and might ensure that the
availability of restart function is not configured in the Hello
message exchange across the domain border. Thus, suitable
configuration MUST be provided in an RSVP-TE implementation to enable
the operator to control optional protocol features that may be
considered a security risk.
Some examples of the policies described above are as follows:
A) An operator may choose to implement some kind of ERO filtering
policy on the domain border node to disallow or ignore hops
within the domain from being identified in the ERO of an
incoming Path message. That is, the policy is that a node
outside the domain cannot specify the path of the LSP inside the
domain. The domain border LSR can make implement this policy in
one of two ways:
- It can reject the Path message.
- It can ignore the hops in the ERO that lie within the
domain.
B) In order to preserve confidentiality of network topology, an
operator may choose to disallow recording of hops within the
domain in the RRO or may choose to filter out certain recorded
RRO addresses at the domain border node.
C) An operator may require the border node to modify the addresses
of certain messages like PathErr or Notify originated from hops
within the domain.
D) In the event of a path computation failure, an operator may
require the border node to silently discard the Path message
instead of returning a PathErr. This is because a Path message
could be interpreted as a network probe, and a PathErr provides
information about the network capabilities and policies.
Note that the detailed specification of such policies and their
implementation are outside the scope of this document.
Operations, Administration, and Management (OAM) mechanisms including
[BFD-MPLS] and [RFC4379] are commonly used to verify the connectivity
of end-to-end LSPs and to trace their paths. Where the LSPs are
inter-domain LSPs, such OAM techniques MAY require that OAM messages
are intercepted or modified at domain borders, or are passed
transparently across domains. Further discussion of this topic can
be found in [INTERAS-PING] and [MPLS-SEC].
9. IANA Considerations
IANA has made the codepoint allocations described in the following
sections.
9.1. Attribute Flags for LSP_Attributes Object
A new bit has been allocated from the "Attributes Flags" sub-registry
of the "RSVP TE Parameters" registry.
Bit | Name | Attribute | Path | RRO | Reference
No | | Flags Path | Flags Resv | |
----+----------------------+------------+------------+-----+----------
4 Contiguous LSP Yes No Yes [RFC5150]
9.2. New Error Codes
New RSVP error codes/values have been allocated from the "Error Codes
and Globally-Defined Error Value Sub-Codes" sub-registry of the "RSVP
Parameters" registry.
For the existing error code "Policy control failure" (value 2), two
new error values have been registered as follows:
103 = Inter-domain policy failure
104 = Inter-domain explicit route rejected
For the existing error code "Routing Problem" (value 24), two new
error values have been registered as follows:
28 = Contiguous LSP type not supported
29 = ERO conflicts with inter-domain signaling method
10. Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the input and helpful comments
from Kireeti Kompella on various aspects discussed in the document.
Deborah Brungard and Dimitri Papdimitriou provided thorough reviews.
Thanks to Sam Hartman for detailed discussions of the security
considerations.
11.1. Normative References
[RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
[RFC2205] Braden, R., Ed., Zhang, L., Berson, S., Herzog, S.,
and S. Jamin, "Resource ReSerVation Protocol (RSVP)
-- Version 1 Functional Specification", RFC 2205,
[RFC3209] Awduche, D., Berger, L., Gan, D., Li, T., Srinivasan,
V., and G. Swallow, "RSVP-TE: Extensions to RSVP for
LSP Tunnels", RFC 3209, December 2001.
[RFC3473] Berger, L., Ed., "Generalized Multi-Protocol Label
Switching (GMPLS) Signaling Resource ReserVation
Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) Extensions",
RFC 3473, January 2003.
[RFC4206] Kompella, K. and Y. Rekhter, "Label Switched Paths
(LSP) Hierarchy with Generalized Multi-Protocol Label
Switching (GMPLS) Traffic Engineering (TE)", RFC
4206, October 2005.
[RFC4420] Farrel, A., Ed., Papadimitriou, D., Vasseur, J.-P.,
and A. Ayyangar, "Encoding of Attributes for
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Label Switched
Path (LSP) Establishment Using Resource ReserVation
Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE)", RFC 4420,
February 2006.
[RFC5150] Ayyangar, A., Kompella, K., and JP. Vasseur, "Label
Switched Path Stitching with Generalized
Multiprotocol Label Switching Traffic Engineering
(GMPLS TE)", RFC 5150, February 2008.
11.2. Informative References
[RFC2747] Baker, F., Lindell, B., and M. Talwar, "RSVP
Cryptographic Authentication", RFC 2747, January
[RFC3097] Braden, R. and L. Zhang, "RSVP Cryptographic
Authentication -- Updated Message Type Value", RFC
3097, April 2001.
[RFC4090] Pan, P., Ed., Swallow, G., Ed., and A. Atlas, Ed.,
"Fast Reroute Extensions to RSVP-TE for LSP Tunnels",
RFC 4090, May 2005.
[RFC4105] Le Roux, J.-L., Ed., Vasseur, J.-P., Ed., and J.
Boyle, Ed., "Requirements for Inter-Area MPLS Traffic
Engineering", RFC 4105, June 2005.
[RFC4107] Bellovin, S. and R. Housley, "Guidelines for
Cryptographic Key Management", BCP 107, RFC 4107,
[RFC4208] Swallow, G., Drake, J., Ishimatsu, H., and Y.
Rekhter, "Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching
(GMPLS) User-Network Interface (UNI): Resource
ReserVation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE)
Support for the Overlay Model", RFC 4208, October
[RFC4216] Zhang, R., Ed., and J.-P. Vasseur, Ed., "MPLS Inter-
Autonomous System (AS) Traffic Engineering (TE)
Requirements", RFC 4216, November 2005.
[RFC4379] Kompella, K. and G. Swallow, "Detecting Multi-
Protocol Label Switched (MPLS) Data Plane Failures",
RFC 4379, February 2006.
[RFC4561] Vasseur, J.-P., Ed., Ali, Z., and S. Sivabalan,
"Definition of a Record Route Object (RRO) Node-Id
Sub-Object", RFC 4561, June 2006.
[RFC4655] Farrel, A., Vasseur, J.-P., and J. Ash, "A Path
Computation Element (PCE)-Based Architecture", RFC
4655, August 2006.
[RFC4726] Farrel, A., Vasseur, J.-P., and A. Ayyangar, "A
Framework for Inter-Domain Multiprotocol Label
Switching Traffic Engineering", RFC 4726, November
[RFC4736] Vasseur, JP., Ed., Ikejiri, Y., and R. Zhang,
"Reoptimization of Multiprotocol Label Switching
(MPLS) Traffic Engineering (TE) Loosely Routed Label
Switched Path (LSP)", RFC 4736, November 2006.
[RFC4873] Berger, L., Bryskin, I., Papadimitriou, D., and A.
Farrel, "GMPLS Segment Recovery", RFC 4873, May 2007.
[RFC4874] Lee, CY., Farrel, A., and S. De Cnodder, "Exclude
Routes - Extension to Resource ReserVation Protocol-
Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE)", RFC 4874, April 2007.
[RFC4920] Farrel, A., Ed., Satyanarayana, A., Iwata, A.,
Fujita, N., and G. Ash, "Crankback Signaling
Extensions for MPLS and GMPLS RSVP-TE", RFC 4920,
July 2007.
[BFD-MPLS] Aggarwal, R., Kompella, K., Nadeau, T., and G.
Swallow, "BFD For MPLS LSPs", Work in Progress,
[INTERAS-PING] Nadeau, T. and G. Swallow, "Detecting MPLS Data Plane
Failures in Inter-AS and inter-provider Scenarios",
Work in Progress, October 2006.
[RFC5152] Vasseur, JP., Ed., Ayyangar, A., Ed., and R. Zhang,
"A Per-Domain Path Computation Method for
Establishing Inter-Domain Traffic Engineering (TE)
Label Switched Paths (LSPs)", RFC 5152, February
[MPLS-SEC] Fang, L., Ed., Behringer, M., Callon, R., Le Roux, J.
L., Zhang, R., Knight, P., Stein, Y., Bitar, N., and
R. Graveman., "Security Framework for MPLS and GMPLS
Networks", Work in Progress, July 2007.
[RFC5063] Satyanarayana, A., Ed., and R. Rahman, Ed.,
"Extensions to GMPLS Resource Reservation Protocol
(RSVP) Graceful Restart", RFC 5063, October 2007.
Authors' Addresses
Adrian Farrel
Old Dog Consulting
EMail: adrian@olddog.co.uk
Arthi Ayyangar
1194 N. Mathilda Avenue
EMail: arthi@juniper.net
Jean Philippe Vasseur
300 Beaver Brook Road
Boxborough , MA - 01719
EMail: jpv@cisco.com
Full Copyright Statement
Copyright (C) The IETF Trust (2008).
This document is subject to the rights, licenses and restrictions
contained in BCP 78, and except as set forth therein, the authors
retain all their rights.
This document and the information contained herein are provided on an
"AS IS" basis and THE CONTRIBUTOR, THE ORGANIZATION HE/SHE REPRESENTS
OR IS SPONSORED BY (IF ANY), THE INTERNET SOCIETY, THE IETF TRUST AND
THE INTERNET ENGINEERING TASK FORCE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF
THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
The IETF takes no position regarding the validity or scope of any
Intellectual Property Rights or other rights that might be claimed to
pertain to the implementation or use of the technology described in
this document or the extent to which any license under such rights
might or might not be available; nor does it represent that it has
made any independent effort to identify any such rights. Information
on the procedures with respect to rights in RFC documents can be
found in BCP 78 and BCP 79.
Copies of IPR disclosures made to the IETF Secretariat and any
assurances of licenses to be made available, or the result of an
attempt made to obtain a general license or permission for the use of
such proprietary rights by implementers or users of this
specification can be obtained from the IETF on-line IPR repository at
http://www.ietf.org/ipr.
The IETF invites any interested party to bring to its attention any
copyrights, patents or patent applications, or other proprietary
rights that may cover technology that may be required to implement
this standard. Please address the information to the IETF at
ietf-ipr@ietf.org.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7273
|
__label__cc
| 0.62284
| 0.37716
|
Sophie Hoffmann's Portfolio
Tag: Intercultural Citizenship Education
Reflection 10: Cultural Studies
Reflection based on chapter 3 En Cultural Studies-tilgang til kulturmøder og interkulturalitet by Lone Krogsgaard Svarstad in Daryai-Hansen, P., Søndergaard Gregersen, A., Jacobsen, S.K., Von Holst Pedersen, J., Svarstad, L.K. & Watson, C. (2018), Fremmedsprogsdidaktik. Mellem fag og didaktik, Hans Reitzel Forlag.
Since 2013, English as a subject in the Danish schools has changed status to a global lingua franca and cultural communication language, thus intercultural competence has become central for foreign language teaching. But the biggest recent change within foreign language teaching began in the 90s; an increased focus on the learner’s personal development and intercultural competencies, and an educational focus on internationalisation. Especially Michael Byram’s model of intercultural communicative competence (1997) put its mark on how we understand individual intercultural competence today. The dimensions of the model include knowledge, skills, attitude and critical cultural awareness, supports the teacher’s and the learner’s work with developing intercultural communicative competencies with the purpose of building bridges between cultures. The model has been criticised for having an essentialistic view on cultures in which comparison is central, yet Byram’s recent work on intercultural citizenship and Autobiography on Intercultural Encounters (2008 & 2009) has a more dynamic view on culture. Nonetheless, Byram’s work is still at the core of the Danish common objectives framework and globally within the cultural studies. Since the 2000s, Karen Risager (2003) has argued for a transnational view of culture and linguaculture (also languaculture) as general understandings of foreign language teaching. Additionally, Fred Dervin (2016) has, fighting essentialist views through changing discourses, introduced the term othering as a way of enabling students to act critically and ethically towards othering-tendencies such as racism and social injustice. Lone Svarstad (2016) concludes that it’s the teacher’s responsibility to obtain a metalanguage of cultural understandings, not only to teach students intercultural communicative competence but also to be able to choose objectives and material. Risager (2018) has looked at material for teaching interculturally within foreign language teaching and has found 5 different perspectives, that each offers different potential:
National studies
Citizenship studies
Post-colonial studies
Transnational studies
Even though these perspectives might overlap, Svarstad argues the importance of the teacher’s ability to make conscious choices. She presents from one of her own studies, a cultural studies-approach. The knowledge foundation for such an approach can support the work of a complex and dynamic view of culture. Cases of pop culture can be used to analyse media representations (intersectionality) i.e., how themes or people are represented in the media. Linguistic analyses of discourses presented in different texts can enhance the students’ awareness of interculturality and othering-processes for example by using Liddicoat and Scarino’s (2013) 4-step model for interaction-processes; notice, compare, reflect and interact, and/or incorporating Svarstad’s (2016) metalinguistic term subtextuality in order to find hidden cultural perspectives or discourses.
Byram, M. (1997): Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Byram, M. (2008): From Foreign Language Education to Education for Intercultural Citizenship: Essays and Reflections. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Byram, M. /w. Council of Europe. (2009): Autibiography of Intercultural Encounters. Strasbourg: Council of Europe, Education Department, Language Policy Unit.
Dervin, F. (2016): Interculturality in Education: A Theoretical and Methodological Toolbox. London: Palgrave Macmillian.
Liddicoat, A.J. & Scarino, A. (2013): Intercultural Language Teaching and Learning. Malden: Wiley-Blackwell.
Risager, K. (2003): Det nationale dilemma i sprog- og kulturpædagogikken. Et studie i forholdet mellem sprog og kultur. København: Akademisk Forlag.
Svarstad, L.K. (2016): Teaching Interculturality: Developing and Engaging in Pluralistic Discourses in English Language Teaching. Ph.d.-afhandling, Aarhus Universitet.
This reflection is based on the reading of The Red Line by Charlie Higson (origin; 1993, pub. René Bühlmann, 1995) and is different than my previous reflections in as much as I am proposing the usage of the short story in intercultural citizenship education as a part of English teaching.
Wikipedia: Red line, or “to cross the red line“, is a phrase used worldwide to mean a figurative point of no return or line in the sand, or “a limit past which safety can no longer be guaranteed.
The short story has a 3rd person narrator and happens in the tube of London – On the red line. The chapters of the short story are named of and in the same order of the stops of the tube. Following is a brief recap of the chapters:
Chapter: Oval
We find out, that the story takes place in London. We are in the head of an unnamed man. This 1st, an unnamed character is introduced and described as; male, white, pale, hairless (routine), perfectionistic, loves karaoke, infatuated w. Bob Seger, and hates change. We meet him in a situation, where his world has fallen apart as he finds, that the (/his) karaoke machine has been removed.
Chapter: Embankment
Now we are at the actual tube. The 2nd character introduced – we are now in his head; Berto – He is new in London visiting Cathy, from Venice — met Cathy there. Even though they are not on the tube, the 3rd & 4th characters are introduced; Cathy — English, in an open relationship, Cathy’s boyfriend; Talks a lot, friendly. Berto is confused about his relationship with Cathy and her relationship with her boyfriend. Upsets Cathy for an unknown reason and she leaves him alone on the tube in London.
Chapter: Leicester Square
Flashback to a situation where the unnamed guy tries to find a new karaoke place to sing Bob Seger at, he fails. We find out he is disgusted by people, as they are all ugly and hairy.
Chapter: Goodge Street
Berto is trying not to panic at the tube — tries to gather the courage to ask anyone for help, is scared no-one will understand him. Is scared to be laughed at. He is considering the fellow-tube-riders; “Old people are all deaf, the middle-aged man is half asleep and must be a drunk, he wants to ask a sympathetic person, a young woman, she is probably nice.”
Chapter: Euston
Now the 5th character; Denise (the young woman on the train) — she is both paranoid and scared. She is interpreting Berto as; dark-skinned, dark eyes, looks a bit like a model, but like all men a potential rapist. A 6th character is briefly introduced; Neil (Denise’s boyfriend) — thinks Denise should relax. The unnamed guy is described by Denise as having curly blond hair. Denise feels like the unnamed guy and Barto are staring at her in the tube and she is very uncomfortable.
Chapter: Tufnell Park
The unnamed guy feels stared at by both Denise (snotty girl) and Barto (greasy monkey) and is getting really worked-up in his own head about some tape, that he hopes is strong enough…
Chapter: Archway
Barto is listening to his cassette with an Italian voice trying to teach him English.
Chapter: Highgate
Barto has finally gathered the courage to ask Denise for help, but she sees him approaching as a nightmare (almost) coming true. She rushes out of the train (one stop too early) and up the stairs just to find that ‘the man’ (Barto) didn’t follow her. She is frozen by fear and starts crying.
Chapter: East Finchley
As Barto passes the unnamed man in the tube, regretting he didn’t follow Cathy or got to ask Denise for help before she got off, he walks in the opposite direction of the train. The unnamed man stabs Barto with a kitchen knife wrapped around his wrist with tape. Before Barto realises what is happening, he is left to die on the floor of the train, and whilst watching his own blood forming a red line, he suddenly remembers how he could’ve found his way back home to Cathy’s place.
The short story was in 2014 published as a short movie of just 19 minutes:
I haven’t been able to get a hold of the full 19-minute version of the movie, but I think a combination of first the short story, then watching the movie, would enable students’ awareness of prejudices. The story itself is written in an easily understandable English, and with a little help from a glossary list and/or repetition of the new vocabulary, I think the students would find it easy to identify the actions, different persons and perspectives within the story as listed above chapter per chapter. Thus after discussing the story thoroughly, the students have created images in their heads of both the characters and their situations, most likely many of them can identify with the fears of the characters – I think no one can say that they have never been there; on a train, judging someone or feeling irrational fear. These discussions are important, especially if we want the students to be able to reflect on their own behaviors and attitudes, past and future. And the end goal would be for the students to receive some sort of critical political awareness, for example combining this module with The Red Line, with continuing to discussing how the media (incl. the Red Line film) affects our perceptions of certain groups of people.
Intercultural Competence in Foreign Languages
Reflection on Michael Byram’s text, The Intercultural Speaker and the Pedagogy of Foreign Language Education, chapter 18 of Intercultural Competence in Foreign Languages.
“The weakness in education for citizenship is the assumption that the focus of attention should be local and national, that political literacy means knowledge about processes and institutions within one’s own school, neighborhood, and state/country, and activity should be focused at one or more of these levels. There is nothing surprising in this sense education systems are usually national and were formed with the intention of creating identification with nation-states. But this is now a weakness in the contemporary world of global economies and international organizations, both civic and political” – Michael Byram
The intercultural speaker is a speaker that possess a linguistic proficiency but also an intercultural competence when engaging cross-culturally, thus has no connection with the term native speaker. Michael Byram has created a 5-dimensional model (beneath) to showcase the desired skills of the intercultural speaker (or learner). The categories are divided as follow:
Skills of interpreting/relating
Skills of discovery/interaction
Attitudes-curiosity/openness
Critical cultural awareness
Worth stressing is, the final dimension mentioned, critical cultural awareness, can be compared to the German educational tradition Bildung aiming of encouraging learners to reflect critically on the society, and this is also one of the most important elements of intercultural citizenship education, thus the category/dimension is placed at the centre of the model, as it is absolutely essential to ensure language teaching has an intercultural – It is essential and ensures that language teaching has an intercultural educational purpose.
Model: Michael Byram’s ICC (Intercultural Competence)-Model
The additional dimensions don’t require a specific priority of the teacher, rather an individual “when it makes sense” implementation.
Worth noting is that Rathje (2007) and others criticise the term intercultural competence as there isn’t any officially-agreed definitive definition, which makes the teaching of it, too soft and unsystematic, thus the models or definitions thereof becomes a contradiction of itself according to Rathje.
“The problem with taking a national culture and identity as the basis for teaching intercultural competences is not, therefore, the problem of essentializing or reductionism. The problem lies in the exclusive focus on one identity and the assumption that, in interaction in a foreign language, it is the only identity present.” – Michael Byram
On Intercultural Learning (Karin Risager)
This reflection is based on Intercultural Learning: Raising Cultural Awareness by Karen Risager (Roskilde University).
“Do we emphasize knowledge, whether in the form of facts or deeper insight? Do we favor attitudes and emotions in the cultural encounter? Do we focus on intercultural understanding via the reading of texts? Do we want to offer opportunities for personal intercultural experience and personal cultural encounters? Do we draw on the internet and new social media for intercultural learning? Are we interested in education for citizenship? Are we thinking of national, European, global citizenship, or a cosmopolitan identity? Intercultural learning can have many different objectives and can take many roads indeed.” (Risager 2012:152)
This text is an article that introduces the international field of culture pedagogy in foreign language teaching and learning. Risager presents the multidisciplinary nature of the field and an overview of its diverse development since 2000, thus includes a number of contemporary trends:
The increasing importance of postmodernism and its emphasis on the individual learner and his/her learning processes and intercultural competence
The development of cultural approaches to literature pedagogy working with the interplay of cultural perspectives
Ethnographic approaches to intercultural learning that enable learners to create their own insights into local cultural complexities (I took no notes on this as I didn’t find it interesting)
Ideas of critical citizenship that emphasise the importance of reflection, wondering, criticism and hope as a part of language and culture learning
The idea of culture in language (languaculture)
Transnational perspectives on language and culture learning, which foreground the transnational flows of languages across cultural contexts, and hence suggest a more global approach to language and culture learning and the raising of multicultural awareness
Historical Perspective: Modernism to Postmodernism
Not until the 1960s did the content of language teaching go beyond literary education as such, but onwards the cultural dimension was introduced gradually to a broader sense inasmuch as the culture teaching or culture pedagogy was crystallised into a more or less independent discipline. Language pedagogy and culture pedagogy did not, however, have much to do with each other until the 1990s labeled as “intercultural learning”. Obviously as of today’s common knowledge and global awareness, the culture pedagogy is drawing on humanities and/or social sciences (category 1), whilst some also draw on the developments of linguistics (category 2).
The first category (also the oldest) has a holistic view of language learning, not just a man or language learner, but as someone who also develops other facets of the personality in connection with language learning – especially a greater knowledge and understanding of the world. This category of culture pedagogy is particularly interested in teaching about cultural and societal conditions in the countries where the target language is spoken as the first language. Content and themes (text and methods) within this type of culture pedagogy has a broad horizon and covers e.g. everyday life, technology, politics, economics, music and art, subcultures and educational conditions.The second category (drawing upon developments within linguistics) tends to focus more instrumentally on the practical knowledge that the language users have to possess in order to communicate effectively with the aid of the target language. This category manifested itself in the 1970s in connection to the work done by the Council of Europe to develop communicative skills and mobility within the European Common Market.
In the 1990s the interest in intercultural learning and cultural pedagogy took off as many began to see intercultural learning as an integral part of language teaching. Key influencers at the time, that are still relevant: Kramsch (1993) and Byram (1997).
The ICC-Model
Byram presents a model of comprising five components/dimensions in intercultural communication:
interpret and relate (savoir comprendre)
of self and other;
of interaction: individual and societal (savoirs)
critical cultural awareness (savoir s’engager)
relativising self-valuing other (savoir être)
discover and/or interact (savoir apprendre/faire)
The history of culture pedagogy can be interpreted as a fight between modernism and postmodernism. The modernist identity was predominant until some time in the 1980s and has to do with an emphasis on the content dimension. From the 19080s onwards the postmodernist tendency was added and gradually came to dominate culture pedagogy as we know it today, but without completely ousting the older view e.g. we still use textbooks and official syllabuses which tend to emphasise knowledge og society. The postmodernist tendency emphasises the learning processes and the raising of cultural awareness through teaching. It also focuses on diversity in the individual students’ qualifications and life experiences, attitudes, emotions, and
their ability to understand and deal with “the other” i.e. their ability to mediate between various languages and various cultural contexts. Interestingly: The interest in poetics and narrativity were also a part of this development: playing with language, with different perspectives and voices, with imagined worlds (Kramsch:1993)
Critical Citizenship
This is a ‘movement’ of culture educationalists that are especially interested in developing a more politically-oriented dimension of intercultural learning; critical citizenship in an intercultural world to provide students with resources for reflection, wondering, criticism and hope to awaken their commitment to transformative action and border crossing. Human rights education and education for democratic citizenship are some of the most common themes. Key influencers on this subject besides Byram (1997/2008) are Guilherme (2002), Starkey (1996) and already in the 1960s Doyé (1966).
Culture in Language (Languaculture)
Kramsch empathises (1993) that language and especially language in discourse is a culture in itself. So when one teaches language in discourse, one, in fact, teaches culture. Meaning that Kramsch does not distinguish between language and culture nor between language teaching an culture teaching. Other people that share this view concerning introducing of culture-in-language in language teachings are: Risager (2006/2007) and Crozet & Liddicoat (2000).
Risager analyses the concept of langaculture in three interconnected dimensions:
The semantic-pragmatic dimension has to do with connotations of words and utterances in use — linked to linguistic anthropology and cross-cultural semantics and intercultural pragmatics.
The poetic dimension has to do with the aesthetic uses of language in play, ritual, and art — linked to the study of literature.
The identity dimension has to with the social and cultural significance of the choice of language or variety of language — linked to sociolinguistics (especially social meaning and relations between language and identity).However, all of these dimensions will — naturally — be affected by the fact that we draw upon our knowledge (languaculture) of our first language (mother tongue), when one learns a foreign language.
Transnational Perspectives
Introduced by Risager, this perspective empathises the fact, that language is not only spoken in the target language countries. Almost all languages except the very small and isolated, are spoken all over the world as a result of people on the move. When taking the transnational flow of languages into account, culture pedagogy does not need to limit itself to an exclusive focus on national culture and society of a target country — rather it can be more flexible and open to the needs and interests of both teachers and learners.
Fun fact: Danish is taught in more than 25 countries and at more than 100 universities and institutes.
Posted on August 24, 2017 January 1, 2018
Reflection on the first lesson we were introduced to Michael Byram.
The Intercultural Speaker
An intercultural speaker is, according to Byram, a substitute for what used to be strived for (native speaker). “The phrase intercultural speaker was coined by Byram and Zarate in a working paper written for a group preparing what eventually became the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages of the Council of Europe (2001).“ (Byram, p.321). An intercultural speaker is – simply – a person who posses intercultural competencies. An intercultural speaker knows about conventions of communication and evaluation of phenomenon and knows about social distinctions and their principal markers.
Mediating between cultures/nations
Mediating between cultures is something that occurs when two interlocutors communicate and misunderstandings in fx. cultural differences are apparent. The resolvent of those misunderstandings by an intercultural speaker with strong intercultural competence is called mediating.
Shift towards students’ learning process
Due to a paradigm shift, there was a change in the view on teaching in general, where the focus shifted from teaching being content centered, to being student-centered.
Byram’s 5 Dimensions of the ICC-Model and Common Objectives to match
Skill of interpreting/relating: Eleven har viden om potentielle konfliktpunkter i kulturmøder
Skills of discovery / interacting: Eleven kan agere i spontane internationale kulturmødes
Knowledge: Eleven har viden om sproglige regler, normer og værdier i forskellige kulturer og samfund
Attitudes: Eleven nysgerrig efter at høre andre typer af engelsk
Critical Cultural Awareness: Eleven kan give eksempler på forskelle og ligheder mellem kultur- og samfundsforhold i eget land og i engelsksprogede områder. Eleven kan vurdere engelsksprogede tekster i forhold til genre og sprogbrug.
Criticism of the ICC-Model
The model has been criticised for its national orientation and ‘knowledge of the dominant culture in society’ (Matuso, 2012; Risager 2007; Spitzberg & Changnon, 2009) because the national and holistic perception of culture may lead to stereotyping and essentialist interpretations of intercultural encounters.
Intercultural Citizenship Education in Foreign Language Education
The undeniable structure of our societies, in the western world, is that of a multiculturalistic society. As the text mentions students, up until the paradigm shift, were not familiar or in direct contact with political processes: in Europe, there was a need to educate whole populations about the meaning of democracy, as many people had grown up without access to democratic processes.
There was a need to educate for an active citizen that could take part in society. Such a citizen is to be equipped with rational thought and critical evaluation of the subject matter. The intercultural citizenship term is an awareness that to be this active citizen in a multiculturalistic society, we need to be able to properæy “deal” with the diverse and plentiful cultures they will meet in their everyday life in their own society. As well, it’s important to note that we educate not only national citizens, but, more so and in addition to, global citizens, and these as well, perhaps even more so, need to be equipped with these skills, knowledge, and attitudes.
Critical cultural awareness according to Alred et al. promotes the importance of individuals being aware of their own ideology – political and/or religious – and the need to be explicit about and justify one’s criteria for evaluating other people’s actions, or the documents and events of other cultures, as well as one’s own (Alred et al., 2006, p. 124).
EN1 (14)
Aims (1)
Pre-, During- and Post Activities (1)
Teaching Sequence (1)
Annual Plan (1)
Innovation Media Project (1)
Reflections: Lessons & curriculum (10)
Feedback to other student (1)
Group Presentation (1)
Professional & Personal Aims (1)
Reflections (lessons + texts) (10)
Teaching Material Analysis (1)
Genstandsanalyse (2)
Maling (1)
Materiel kultur (2)
Skoletjeneste (3)
Strik (1)
Træ (2)
PL1 (8)
Logbøger (8)
Anerkendelse
Critical media literacy
DeKeyser
Derewianka
Dervin
functional grammar
ICC-Model
Intercultural Citizenship Education
Intercultural Speaker
Interlanguage Analysis
Krashen
Large culture
Liddicoat
Lyhne
Plurilingual
Risager
Small culture
Soffos
Student's text
Subtextuality
Teaching Sequence
Technology Enhanced Language Learning
Verdensborger
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7274
|
__label__cc
| 0.689891
| 0.310109
|
Various & Sundry for the Weekend
October 10, 2009 in Economy & Business, Montana, Water Quality
Please consider this an open thread
7 Montana businesses were amongst 140 that went to Washington to lobby Senators Baucus and Tester to pass “strong” climate and energy policies that would cut carbon pollution and create over 1.7 million jobs.
The two mentioned in that link from Bozeman.
Our Sen. Jon Tester is filing an amicus brief, along with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Rep. Mark Souder, to the U.S. Supreme Court which sides with the National Rifle Association in challenging Chicago’s handgun registration laws. Great Falls Tribune has a local perspective, as does KFFB in Great Falls.
Ellie Hill, Director of Missoula’s Poverello complex of facilities is celebrating her 4th year anniversary at the job. She’s still a lawyer, she says, and says the Pov’s biggest perk for her is being a celebrity in dark alleys. Ms. Hill contributes immensely to Missoula, so next time you see her on the street (or in an alley), say “Thank You, Ellie Hill,” because without her a whole hell of a lot would not be happening.
This past Thursday, Rehberg voted in support of a bill that included the expansion of the definition of hate crimes to include sexual orientation.
The newest self-promoting, fund-us-with-a-new-tax boondoggle pitching to Missoula is the Tourism Business Improvement District . Bunk in the West has the story.
The Button Valley Bugle always has something interesting to say. Daily must read. One of the latest best is this one which thanks tourism for pumping $168,000,000 into Montana’s economy. That generated 45,000 jobs. People who stayed the longest? People who were here to fish. Here to use our waterbodies; Our streams and lakes and rivers. Beautiful in its simplicity, isn’t it?
Goes to show, you don’t always know that good old clean streams is all it takes to get people out here to spend some cash. TBID’s? Fuggedaboutit!
Montana should sit back and take a serious look at that: Montana’s open space and mountains and streams and rivers are what people come here to see. Taking care of ensuring that there’s water – clean water at that – in our streams and rivers, and taking steps to maintain our agrarian roots will help keep people wanting to come here and spend their cash for far longer than some new tourism bureau designed to merely add to tourism magazines and play 2nd fiddle the local chamber of commerce.
OK. That was a bit preachy for a Saturday. My apologies.
Wanna smile? Check out this post from Chris LaTray, who is naked-in-your-face open about his love for the rock band KISS.
Some newer blogs? Montana Wildlife Gardner, Duganz, A Heretic’s Life, and A Drunk Goes Jogging, the latter being painful at times…but you can’t help but root for him.
Got any other blogs you wanna share?
Yeah, Rehberg voted for the hate crimes bill, but as he so kindly explained to his constituents, it was only under duress. A gem from his letter to Nancy Pelosi:
I cannot help but note that these provisions violate our nation’s founding principles, which the members of our Armed Forces put their lives on the line every day to protect.
Apparently, civil rights violate our nation’s founding principles. Amazing. Okay, when it comes to Denny, I’m not really surprised at anything he vomits forth, but still. The man needs to go. I’m tired of paying for the extended time he spends partying on the taxpayer’s dime while voting against basic decency.
Ellie Hill
Ahhh, jhwygirl, that was pretty damn nice. Thanks! I am just beginning my 4th year at the Pov, and I’ll admit, it ain’t always the easiest job. Not everyone likes poor people. Who knew? I was only half-kidding, of course, about being a celebrity it dark alleys… I love my work, including the hobo coffee, toothless smiles, inspirational colleagues, and free lunch!
And, when a recent rant on the Missoulian’s anonymous comment pages included the following statement, “the murder of Clay Salcido seems to be a good way to solve homelessness,” we know our work is not done!
That said, thank you to the b’birds on this site who tirelessly bring awareness to progressive issues in our State and provide a forum for this community to express our shared values. Your work is appreciated and it matters.
goof houlihan
My brief weekend thoughts:
Way past time for “don’t ask don’t tell” to be gone. It’s an easy one, Mr. Commander in Chief, and you made a campaign promise, right?
The Montana Creativity Movement, a small group of more than likely imported from Illinois white supremacists, has anonymous “offices” with PO Boxes and hotmail accounts in Bozeman, Billings and Kalispell…and a website, not linked here.
Apparently, according to reports on the Bozeman Chronicle based “Bozeman talks” all six or so of them demonstrated in front of the Gallatin County Courthouse. They’ve also put stickers on local businesses and flyers on automobiles in the Bozeman library parking lot. I think a phone tree/Twitter based “instant response” team should be started to counter demonstrate and take pictures every time someone sees them crawl out of their hole. Last time the response was a community wide, “all are welcome here” slogan. I don’t agree. Some people aren’t welcome here, and these guys, coke dealing murdering scholarship athletes, and meth dealers come to mind immediately. They’re all equally toxic.
City elections this year are total snoozers. Why? Because the bad economy has the “we hate people and growth” elitists laying pretty low. You’ve got your “no growth” and it’s wiped out a lot of jobs and family finances and caused a lot of misery. Instead, every candidate has some plan for backing off of impact fees and streamlining planning department applications. Suddenly, people realize “quality of life” starts with having a job, a roof and a meal.
« Tester Makes it 51. They Have the Votes. Pass the Public Option
Why do Republicans Hate America so? »
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7277
|
__label__wiki
| 0.593764
| 0.593764
|
YEEhaw!
To be absolutely cynical (but accurate), if you support some 'human rights' cause in the United States you get your group of billionaires to bribe politicians and buy media propaganda in various states until you have the legislation you want in 26 or so states. The hillbilly states are more intractable, and thus will be far more expensive. The US Supreme Court has determined that the other 24 states are free, requiring no bribery or propaganda buys, on the basis of 'equality'. The message for politicians and media companies is that you have to move fast to be within the first 26 states, or you are shit out of luck.
"YEEhaw! This side-effect of the gay marriage ruling will make liberals EXPLODE" This sounds nuts, but it is the US Supreme Court we're talking about, and guns are good for business/libertarianism.
"Spin Becomes “Fact” in NY Times Gaza Flotilla Story" On the theory that Embarrassments For The Jews don't happen if the NYT fails to mention them. Reporting only occurs when it is time to convey official Israeli spin.
"Syrians in occupied Golan furious about Israel's alliance with al-Qaeda" "Israel acknowledges it is helping Syrian rebel fighters"
"The complementary tactics of Israel and the UNHRC"
"IKN's two drachmas on Greece"
It is remarkable how much mainstream 'lefty' economists purport to be concerned about the viability of Greek banks, as if any problems couldn't be instantly solved by nationalization and the printing of drachmas, with an order that depositors be kept whole.
"Russia: “Calm Amidst the Tempest”. EU Sanctions, US-NATO Military on Russia’s Border" by Israel Shamir
"Russia, China Deepen Win-Win" Note again that positive developments on a large scale only happen outside of the American orbit. Literally, all the Americans can do is fight and plan Wars For The Jews.
Oh, and pathetically do some industrial espionage amongst the collection of blackmail information. "NSA -- Despite Claiming It Doesn't Engage In Economic Espionage -- Engaged In Economic Espionage" Discussion ("New WikiLeaks Documents Reveal NSA Spied on French Companies (techcrunch.com)").
"Wikileaks published some of the most secret NSA reports so far":
"This listing shows that in most cases, NSA's source of the intercepted communications is "Unconventional". It's not clear what that means, but phone calls between the president and his ministers will in most cases be handled by a local switch and therefore don't go through the intercontinental submarine fiber-optic cables, where they could pass NSA's conventional filter systems for telephone and internet traffic.
For intercepting this kind of foreign government phone calls, NSA would have to have access to the public telephone exchange(s) of Paris or the private branch exchanges (PBX) of the presidential palace and important government departments."
"College is a con: The savage truth about your bachelor’s degree" To a large extent, human civilization depended on creating places where turbo capitalism didn't completely apply. There are now no such places. In fact, it is considered theft - of the prospective profits to be made by the 1% - to even contemplate the existence of such places. Barry's 'trade' agreement will formalize the fact that 'theft' from the 1% will not be tolerated.
"Orthodox Jewish Group Invents Uber For Protesting Gay Pride" So far, my favorite story of the year.
Flawed and dangerous
"Lord Janner to face justice after DPP ruling overturned" It is not just Janner but the entire British establishment that is protected by shielding Janner. Janner was running a big Zionist blackmail operation to control high-level pedophiles. We can still bask in the absurdity that the authorities were maintaining that he wasn't mentally competent to stand trial but he was mentally competent to continue to pass laws at the highest level.
Cartoon of the year. As an aside, it's funny how all civil rights 'victories' coincide with the interests of big capital. The gays have their billionaires too (as some have pointed out, mostly Jewish billionaires). Instead of moving to the 'left', the US Supreme Court is remarkably consistently e-x-t-r-e-m-e right: "Big business on winning side in U.S. top court's major rulings".
"Concurrent Head Explosions" I've got absolutely nothing against the decision, and wish for as many gay marriages as the gays can stand, but isn't Scalia absolutely right (the irony being that Scalia himself is the worst offender on this score)? Americans should be very afraid how this kind of judicial lawmaking plays itself out in future corporate-friendly Supreme Court decisions. The 'left' has again been set up.
"African-American Churches Are Burning Again In The South"
"Missing Document From FISA Court Docket Suggests Yet Another Undisclosed Bulk Records Program"
"The U.N.’s Gaza Report Is Flawed and Dangerous" by Richard Kemp, Christian Zionist. "The hardcore Christian Zionism of Israel’s favorite British colonel"
"Israel once again commits an act of state piracy in the Mediterranean" I don't know how many reminders we need that international law doesn't apply to Jews.
"“Sewer Socialist” Bernie Sanders’ Anti-Russian Propaganda"
"9 sobering facts about California’s groundwater problem" Again, as usual, I remain astounded by the inability of Americans to even contemplate their biggest problems.
"Eastring vs. Balkan Stream: The Battle For Greece" The Greek problem is just a sideshow to the real issue of whether (when?) the Germans leave the Zio-American alliance and join the China-Russia alliance, an inevitable move if Germany wants to remain a rich and important country.
Everybody is waiting to see how many innocent heroes the Jews murder in the Freedom Flotilla. Some bookie should take bets on an over-under.
A lot of ink wasted on Greece, when it appears that waiting until after the final-final-final drop-dead deadline was the Greek plan all along. The Greeks had absolutely no negotiating strength before the deadlines. It is now a game of chicken: the Germans are forced to weigh their fear of Grexit - imagine a flourishing Euro-free Greece in five years as an example for other countries under the yoke of the German banks - against their fear of the example set for other countries of a tiny lifting of ultra-austerity.
"Greek Investigator’s Report Finds Evidence of Plot Against Former PM’s Life, ‘Silver Drachma’ Plan":
"Foukas cited evidence – including Wikileaks reports – supporting the existence of the Pythias Plan, which he said was designed to exert pressure on the Greek government to change its policy in crucial sectors, such as energy, arms procurements and public sector procurements. According to the report, the rapprochement between Greece and Russia provoked action by the United States to avert agreements for Russian pipelines, leading to the gradual abandonment of the plans by Athens and its commitment to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), as well as the cancellation of plans to acquire Russian military equipment."
"London: the city that ate itself" London is the prime example of a place that is uninhabitable for human beings due to the percentage of the 0.1% living there. Having large 0.1% areas is more destructive than having slums.
"How the UK Prime Minister's office gets around Freedom of Information requests" Tony. As an intellectual exercise, compare to Hillary's email scam.
"Blesa's e-mails: the end of an era" Spanish corruption.
"Police seized abuse evidence to protect Lord Lanner - ex-officer" This is a lot more than the usual dragging of feet and 'losing' of files, but active obstruction of justice.
Tweet (the grugq) (I am still firmly of the opinion that the real head of Silk Road still walks free, probably because he was working as a honey pot for some intelligence service):
"Fascinating story, but there's no new information to verify it by. (Via @securedmh)"
"Canada clearing final obstacles to Ukraine military aid mission: Kenney" You wouldn't know it to read it, but this is about Canada giving military training to neo-Nazis. Note the final sentence, an excellent example of a technique of modern 'journalism'. Dead children are mentioned. You are supposed to feel heartened that Canada is going to fix this terrible problem What isn't mentioned that the dead children are killed by the forces Canada is training! As usual, the comments embarrass the article.
"Ex-CIA Official: End of Cold War Sparked Spy’s Paradise" The French knew, but the nature of blackmail is that the blackmail victim has to keep the blackmailing a secret or risk release of the embarrassing facts.
"French Asylum For Snowden And Assange Would Send ‘Clear Message’ To US" The blackmail is still in place, so this will never happen. From the Strauss-Kahn case, we've seen the tip of the iceberg of what French politicians get up to, and we haven't even started on the pedophilia.
"Yemeni Heritage, Saudi Vandalism" The Saudis, exactly like the Jews, regard the destruction of historical artifacts that don't match their twisted narrative as a positive.
"Erdoğan and the Islamic State (FB Ali)" Erdoğan was given a clear rebuke from the voters in the recent election, and is completely unmoved by it. "Erdogan Isn’t Finished" Somewhat like the last British election, with the Kurds playing the Scots.
With Barry's excellent week, the 0.01% must be thinking they chose wisely.
"Saker rant: the Neocons have robbed us all from the peace we wanted so much":
"One could have imagined that having done 9/11 and launched the worldwide GWOT (Global War on Terror), the Neocons would have quenched their thirst for blood, but apparently this was not enough. They had to go on challenging Russia and risk not just a global war, but a nuclear global war.
And now they are openly supporting the three most demonic ideologies on the planet: Daesh Takfirism, Ukro Nazism and Israeli Zionism.
That such a small amount of individuals would have such a fantastic capability for evil is just amazing, and very discouraging.
Make no mistake: absolute evil does exit."
When a family of grifters reaches high levels in American politics: "Bristol Palin Living In Sin For Third Or Eighteenth Time, For Abstinence"
"NYT’s Orwellian View of Ukraine" It is fairly straightforward as we mustn't over tax the pea-sized brain of the average American 'journalist': you simply take whatever illegal outrage the Americans are doing and ascribe it to the Russians.
"Controversy in Canada After U.S. Blocks Training of Neo-Nazis in Ukraine" Harper strides boldly into areas even the Americans can't stomach.
"Russian Trolls Are Deceiving the American Public and Now They’re Covering Their Tracks":
". . . online trolls based in Russia were attempting to manipulate Americans through false media and political misdirection."
As opposed to the American mainstream media which is attempting to manipulate Americans through false media and political misdirection.
"Israeli diplomat in Berlin: Maintaining German guilt about Holocaust helps Israel"
"A Radical Imam, His Alleged CIA Kidnapper, and Their 10-Year Hunt for Justice"
The United States in a nutshell: tweet (Shit Food Blogger):
"This is a weird use of "or.""
Stunts and tricks
"CIA Torturer Alfreda Bikowsky's Pseudonym Redacted" You'll note that the entire issue of name redaction was a CIA-Barry trick to delay release of the report long enough so the Republicans would be in charge and it would be permanently buried.
"Robert Kennedy Jr.’s 25 Truths on the Secret Negotiations between Fidel Castro and President Kennedy"
"Electronic Voting Fraud: A Real Threat to Any Democrat Running for President" If elections weren't just a charade something would have been done about this by now. I should note that Hillary is perfectly acceptable to almost all oligarchs, and so this danger doesn't apply to her.
Another stunt: "A Pro-ISIS Group Hacked an Ontario Food Truck’s Website to Say ‘I Love Jihad’" "Hacked By Team System Dz"
"The arrest of two mass murderers can blow up Europe" It is funny how crooked these war crimes trials can be. Serbia is still being punished by Europe.
"Saudi Arabia’s War on Yemen Comes Home" A Saudi civil war would change everything.
"After Faux Apology for Racist Obama Tweet, Judy Mozes and Kahanist Settler Agree Both Like “Strong Black” Coffee" Supremacists always double down on the offense as they feel it is beneath them to defer in any way to Untermenschen.
"Camera phone 'pervasiveness' reduces police violence, study finds" The writer has been a policeman for 28 years and is now working on his PhD in sociology and anthropology!
Outrages
Those slimy American politicians have managed to force their ruinous 'trade' trickery through with nary a whimper from the American 'left'. The key seems to be the phony 'victory' of last week, causing activists to relax, and a lot of procedural shenanigans.
"Espionnage Élysée" The investigation of similar snooping against Germany has been dropped, and the French are already supplicating. We now have certain proof of the method by which the Americans blackmail European politicians to take political positions so obviously contrary to the interests of Europeans.
"Google eavesdropping tool installed on computers without permission" Seriously? Will this crap ever stop?
"What Is Chuck Johnson, and Why? The Web’s Worst Journalist, Explained" Reading the reasons for attacking him, I cannot but be struck by the fact he is a far better journalist that 99.9 percent of those who retype for the mainstream media, including Gawker. For example, it is a bit much to be calling the Menendez story "a complete fabrication" while Menendez is under indictment and a rather obvious heavy-handed cover-up is in place in the Dominican Republic.
"Perhaps the world's conspiracy theorists have been right all along"
Brotherhood of supremacists
"The CIA Can’t Keep Its Drone Propaganda Straight" For institutional power reasons, the CIA is desperate to keep torturing, and murdering using drones.
"Ask Judith Miller About Iraq, the New York Times' War Reporting, and WMD" For the love of God, don't read it (or anything else by this enabling monster Arkin) - it is simply appalling. But there are good comments by Rikki-Tikki-Deadly:
"What are your thoughts on sleep trackers? Do you use one to help quantify and qualify the sleep you’re losing as a result of having contributed to the needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of people? Or do you sleep just fine?"
and (bearing in mid that this War For The Jews has fuck all to do with oil):
"Hi Judith, thanks for doing this! I’m looking to put together a fun summer beverage for a salon I’m hosting and given your extensive cocktail party circuit experience I thought you could give me some advice. Which do you think would provide a better finish to a prosecco / St. Germaine cocktail: a few spritzes of kerosene distilled from the Iraqi oil fields that were plundered by foreign companies, or the tears of Sunni orphans whose parents were murdered in sectarian violence?"
Tweet (Adam Johnson) (for some inexplicable reason, the Walmart PR department thought it would be a good idea to tell the world how much racist kitsch they have been selling to rednecks):
"Most American story ever: Mass shooting ✓ Racism ✓ Walmart ✓ Clueless PR firms ✓ Token reform ✓"
The brotherhood of supremacists: tweet (Julia Carmel):
"O’Sullivan displays Confederate flag he took with him when he invaded Lebanon as IDF soldier: http://www.jta.org/2012/02/22/news-opinion/united-states/israeli-redneck-arieh-osullivan-gets-his-confederate-stripes … "
"Israel bans publication of details of report into church arson attack"
Tunnels, tunnels, tunnels, it is all we heard from the Jew-controlled media. Yet they were only used against legitimate military targets: "UN Report Delegitimizes NY Times Hype on “Terror Tunnels”"
More on Jewish Voices For War: "JVP and Alison Weir – A Dissident View" Never forget that the only point of all these groups is to buy time for Jews to murder and steal land to increase the Zionist Empire.
"The past informs the present in rebel-held eastern Ukraine" The brave junta neo-Nazis continue to shell civilians, but seem terrified to engage in an actual war (and get their asses kicked, again).
""Who's Allied With Whom?" Putin & The Saudi Caravan" Unlike the case with many mainstream media articles where the comments are infinitely smarter and saner than the original article, the comments in Zero Hedge are remarkably dumb.
"Dylann Roof Appears To Have Regularly Commented On A Neo-Nazi Website" All this could prove is that the person who wrote the 'manifesto' commented on The Daily Stormer, and not that there is any connection to Dylann Roof.
Black and weak
Saudi cables:
"Ben Hubbard on Saudi cables: My take versus the NYTimes";
"Saudi Cables: The "Iran Kills Saudi Ambassador in DC" Plot Was A U.S.-Saudi Conspiracy" (subject to the comment by Paul);
"Yemen, the US and the Houthis".
"Something critical might be happening in the Ukraine"
"India’s War On Terror Moves To Myanmar"
Tweet (Emma Quangel) (Jezebel took money from World Jewry to publish Israeli propaganda masquerading as progressive news):
".@natashavc can we discuss your website's pinkwashing first? I feel like it's a more timely issue http://jezebel.com/dispatch-from-tel-aviv-pride-israels-holiday-for-liber-1711237913 …"
"Why Can't Israel Solve Its Church-Burnings?"
Supremacist peas in a pod:
"The Long History of Southern Terror"
"‘You have to go’"
Tweet (Tom Gara) (background):
"This is the wife of the Israeli Interior Minister"
"Israel and Hamas form unspoken alliance against Islamic State group" What is really happening is that JSIL is using its ISIL allies in Gaza to send harmless rockets towards Israel so Israel can murderously retaliate.
"Israel and Al-Qai`dah terrorists in Syria" "Why has Israel embraced al-Qaida’s branch in Syria?"
Tweet (Glenn Greenwald) (amazing to see Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch accurately described as terrorists in an American newspaper!!!):
"USA Today surprisingly publishes Op-Ed showing that it's US, not Cuba, that was state sponsor of terror in the region http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/06/01/cuba-america-terrorism-obama-policy-communist-column/28300959/ …"
Tweet (Stop the War) (actually, many hundreds of 1000s) (as do we all):
"Cherie Blair: Widowhood is one of developing world’s key problems not least since my husband created 1000s in Iraq http://bit.ly/1IWQinX "
The 'manifesto' seems fairly certain to beyond the abilities of Dylann Roof:
"Skepticism on Dylann Roof's "manifesto" and website";
"How I Screwed With The Biggest News Outlet in The World"
I note that this second generation spin may itself be part of a stunt. All we know is that 'journalists' are hungry for evidence supporting the mainstream propaganda view.
Bags full of money
If Dylann Roof didn't write his 'manifesto' - and note that there is absolutely no proof he did, despite the speed with which everybody seems to have accepted his authorship as a fact - we move from 'lone nut' to conspiracy.
"WaPo Propagandizes For Israeli Takeover Of More Syrian Land" Note:
never-ending thievery and scheming to steal;
Jew-controlled media assisting with the thievery.
"Charleston Murders Commonplace In Middle East, Mister Obama"
"Church burning highlights danger to Palestinian heritage from Israeli extremists"
"Hasbarists Are Cynically Attempting to Hijack the Charleston Massacre to Promote Israel’s Image Abroad"
"Paul Craig Roberts: "Washington Is Impotent To Prevent Armageddon"":
"Sanctions are contrary to Europe’s interests. Nevertheless European governments accommodated Washington’s agenda. The reason was explained to me several decades ago by my Ph.D. dissertation committee chairman who became Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. I had the opportunity to ask him how Washington managed to have foreign governments act in Washington’s interest rather than in the interest of their own countries. He said, “money.” I said, “you mean foreign aide?” He said, “no, we give the politicians bags full of money. They belong to us. They answer to us.”"
"We Added More Seats to Citizenfour Screening With Judith Miller" Thus signalling the end of any credibility whatsoever for the surprisingly weak Phaze Zero.
"Orwell, Huxley and America’s Plunge into Authoritarianism" It is not only how bad it is, but the fact there is no appetite whatsoever to discuss anything other than how to make it worse.
"JVP, Alison Weir And the Hatred of the White" (Atzmon) Note how Jewish it is to categorize people as kosher or treif, and then determining that even the slightest contact with someone deemed treif makes you also permanently treif, with all your ideas and information to be shunned. Weir is lucky she doesn't have to pay JVP for the privilege of being certified.
Supremacism is in the news, and also, as always, hasbara: tweet (Ben Norton):
"Umm, you realize hours after the Charleston church shooting, Israelis burnt down an ancient church, right? http://nyti.ms/1dLUThN @cvaldary"
Oren caught in a lie: "Not Good. Not Good At all."
"How a Jailbird Con Artist Uncovered a Secret FBI Surveillance Tool" Paranoia used to consist largely of the delusion that people were secretly watching you, but that is now just common sense.
"Kiev: Chestnuts Blossom Again" by Israel Shamir
"The Russian Pipeline Waltz"
Tweet (Dulce):
"I'll leave this right here... "
"How Obama Consolidated the Legacies of Bush and Clinton" You don't even get a chance to run unless they are confident you will toe the line.
"Prosecutor cancels Assange meeting" Swedish prosecutors are farcical. They've been using the lack of an interview with Assange to avoid having to lift the prosecution/persecution, and so don't actually want the interview to take place. "Why the ‘case’ against Julian Assange in Sweden should be dropped, and dropped now!"
"WikiLeaks adds 276,394 more leaked Sony docs to its database" Tweet (WikiLeaks):
"RELEASE: Sony Files Part 2 -- 276,394 more docs Search: https://wikileaks.org/sony/docs/ Browse: https://wikileaks.org/sony/docs/filelist/ …"
"Charleston Shooting Suspect Dylann Roof Called a Pill-Popping Racist" Note that threats of racist mass murder were considered normal banter within this culture, hardly worthy of notice.
Tweet (Ben Norton):
"This is how the Washington Post describes US racism and apartheid: "historical white resistance to" equal treatment."
"Looking for a Longer Jail Sentence? Cooperate with FBI!" The issue in the background is whether you have information tying the American government (FBI) to the attack or to foreknowledge of the attack. If so, they either murder you, deport you, or keep you out of court.
"The “occupation” of medical journals by pro-Israel professionals without any “preoccupation” about health issues" "Justice minister said gearing up to sue Israel boycotters" Traditionally, gentile societies are e-x-t-r-e-m-e-l-y tolerant towards Jewish behavior, but they are only able to put up with so much.
"The great Moldovan bank robbery"
"Dominican Republic strips thousands of black residents of citizenship, may now expel them" "We Regret to Inform You That in 4 Days You and Your Family Will Be Deported to Haiti"
"By Definition, An Aggressor Cannot Act in Defense" The essential point in any discussion of Palestinian resistance. If Israel thinks this is unfair, it is within its power at any time to end the occupation.
Change the subject
The shooting at Emanuel AME Church has allowed the Jew-controlled media to completely cover up the destruction of an ancient and religiously important Christian church in Galilee by Jews who hate Christians. If Americans knew, right?
Note how Silverstein manages to write angrily about it while minimizing the issue of Jewish hatred of gentiles:
"No Israeli media outlet will call this what it is: an act of terror. It is a hate crime. Just as there is anti-Semitism among non-Jews, there is both Isalmophobia and anti-Christian hate among many Israeli Jews. Let’s not pretend otherwise. Repeated national polls attest to this fact."
Drunk Party Animals
As anyone could have predicted, Americans have been through the surveillance legislative 'reform' process, with the snoops left with even more power than they had before, so much so that we've reached the gloating stage: "Hayden Mocks Extent of Post-Snowden Reform: “And This Is It After Two Years? Cool!”"
"Deaths of Irish Students in Berkeley Balcony Collapse Cast Pall on Program" "Letter to the editor of the New York Times from Ambassador Anne Anderson" "New York Times Regrets Calling Dead Irish Students Drunk Party Animals"
"Study: Anti-Semitism Skyrockets in Canada" There will be a never-ending stream of these stories until Israel is gone.
"Remember When a Dead Intern Was Found in Joe Scarborough's Office?" What is remarkable is how efficiently this incident was swept under the rug. Scarborough may have had nothing to do with it, but we'll never know.
"The Zero-Armed Bandit" The transfer of the cash is always the problem for extortionists, but this guy had an ingenious plan.
I'm sure the Chinese factories are already hard at work on the wigs and makeup: tweet (Chloe Angyal, PhD):
"Already dreading hearing people explain how it's not really blackface to go as Rachel Dolezal for Halloween."
Tweet (Bipartisan Report):
"Donald Trump has released his 2016 campaign poster:"
Muammar on Mars
"Clinton Confidante Blumenthal Sent Bad Intel on Qaddafi":
"Only days before Muammar Qaddafi was killed in Libya, Hillary Clinton’s confidante Sidney Blumenthal wrote her a personal e-mail passing on erroneous intelligence that the Libyan dictator was hiding in Chad and about to be interviewed by journalist Seymour Hersh.
The previously undisclosed e-mail, which was given to me, was sent by Blumenthal to Clinton’s private e-mail account on Oct. 15, 2011, five days before Qaddafi was found hiding in a drainpipe near the Libyan city of Sirte and subsequently killed by opposition fighters. The e-mail was provided by Blumenthal and his lawyer James Cole to the House Select Committee on Benghazi in advance of Blumenthal’s closed deposition to the committee Wednesday. It is only one of the dozens of e-mails that Blumenthal gave the committee but that the State Department had not previously produced.
The e-mail, marked “CONFIDENTIAL,” had the subject “Qaddafi’s location,” and was addressed, “For: Hillary, From: Sid.” It alleges that Hersh was approached by a former financial beneficiary of the Qaddafi regime about an exclusive interview with the fugitive Qaddafi.
“Hersh was told that Qaddafi is in Chad,” Blumenthal wrote. “He was also told that Qaddafi intends to wage endless war from his new location.”
Blumenthal noted that Qaddafi had helped install the president of Chad. He attributed the information to “a close friend of Hersh.”
Hersh told me today he had no idea what Blumenthal was talking about. “Say what? Interview Gaddafi...in Chad, no less... Actually the plan was to meet up with him on the first commercial space flight to Mars... It's only a few decades away, so I hear,” Hersh joked."
This is weird
"A Partnership with China to Avoid World War" by George Soros. I don't think I've ever seen so much bullshit in one place. The irony is massive, given the fact that it was World Jewry, including Soros, who schemed to form Kaganistan (formerly known as Ukraine), all for the failed goal of forcing Russia to stop its perceived anti-Zionist actions in the Middle East. It does, however, reflect the fact that American strategic planners are terrified that Germany will eventually come to its senses and join the Russia-China alliance, leaving the Americans looking in from the outside. Historians will surely look back and see that the only hope for the American empire was to have utterly destroyed the Jewish empire, something made impossible by weaknesses in the structure of the American political system and the extreme corruption provided by the Jewish billionaires, including Soros.
"Saudi Journalist Calls for Attacking Iran, Wants Inauguration of Israeli Embassy in Riyadh" You don't get to be a Saudi 'journalist' unless you reflect the views of the dictators who run Saudi Arabia.
"Israel and the politics of boycott" More irony. As well as inventing modern terrorism, the Jews also invented the modern use of the boycott. Massive amount of hidden history in this article.
"Orange boss sues over 'death threats' amid Israel spat" We've seen the physical violence inflicted on Reid and Kerry. It is amazing in this day and age how much of a role actual violence and threats of violence against individuals still plays in politics and business. ". . . his personal data were published on an Internet site in the context of the controversy over Orange's presence in Israel . . . " This is how World Jewry operates. If you won't or can't take the bribe, they destroy your career using their power (Canary Mission), or beat you up or kill you. This kind of activity goes back as far as Zionism.
"Jewish Voice for Peace Statement on Our Relationship with Alison Weir" Weir's huge fault is that she provides piles and piles of anti-Zionist facts. She appears on marginal media outlets simply because the Jew-controlled media won't allow her on mainstream outlets!!! This kind of lite-Zionist boycott just proves that there is no difference between blood-pouring-from-the-fangs Zionists and lite Zionists. Lite Zionism is simply a trick. The young lizard approves.
Of course, it is 'anti-Semitic' to suggest the Jews control the media: "Michael Oren: American Jewish journalists lead media’s anti-Israeli assault"
Is this also 'anti-Semitism'?: "GMOs and the Neoliberal Apologists"
"Is Bernie Sanders a Lefty on Everything Except for Israel?" Yes. He has become a little more careful since he decided he could be President.
"“We Just Publish the Position of the British Government”" Good summary of the Sunday Times propaganda fiasco.
"Obscure Netanyahu minister emerges as unsung international hero in latest ‘NYT’ report" See how strikingly ridiculous it is when Jews try to lie themselves into the role of peacekeepers?
"Where Does ISIS Get Those Wonderful Toys?" The much talked about moderate Syrian rebels were always intended to be a conduit.
Tweet (Asa Winstanley) (a mistake, or did it actually occur?):
"This is weird: US just assassinated head of al-Qaida in Yemen, yet its ally Saudi Arabia is basically fighting alongside al-Qaida in Yemen"
Tweet (Mayor Rob Frod) (in case it isn't obvious, and it isn't - that's the point! - a parody account):
"Looking forward to campaigning for Donald Trump this fall in his run for Prime Minister. #CrackheadsforTrump #TOpoli"
"Reports: Russia, China have files leaked by Snowden" "Author of That Horrible Snowden Article Has Even Worse CNN Interview" Incredible - and important - interview, in which a 'journalist' for the Sunday Times, who looks like a very polite deer in the headlights, admits to being merely a retypist for British government propaganda. The article itself is written in the finest Judy Miller style, based entirely on anonymous government sources, but of course is immediately spun as undeniable evidence of the massive dangers of whistle blowers, and of any attempts to lift or modify the Panopticon.
Greenwald. "Sunday Times sends copyright threat to The Intercept over critical article" Ha!
"A Billion-Dollar Bank Fraud in Moldova, and 20,000 Opaque British Corporations" The use of British corporate entities, shells that can be set up without any way to determine who owns or runs them, in international fraud.
"Germany Probably Still Full of Nazis: Study" Part of the everybody's-a-Nazi meme which is going to run over us in an attempt to protect the Zionist imperial project.
"Lest We Forget…"
"John Friend: Gilad Atzmon on Jewish ethnocentrism, hypocrisy, & "anti-Semitism"" Everybody should be able to notice that there is something very strange about the massive overreaction to Atzmon's reasonable ideas. The Jews have spent an enormous amount of time and money building a cordon sanitaire around discussion of their activities and motives, and any breach is regarded as a horrible invitation for others to look at the facts and think for themselves. In fact, the overreaction, even from 'good' Jews, is our indication that a Jewish conspiracy is in play.
Serious turbulence
"US and Iraq: a chronology" The neocons never wanted to leave Iraq, and now, by setting up ISIS, they get what they always wanted.
"Chilcot report into Iraq war 'unlikely to be published for another year'" Releasing it now would politically complicate future actions in Iraq and Syria.
"Tony Blair takes on new role fighting anti-Semitism as chairman of European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation" Of course he does.
Tweet (Joe Catron):
"Q. What do you call a "world court" that only prosecutes African leaders? A. "The International Criminal Court!" #AUSummit #Bashir"
"Expect the ICC to say Article 98 (http://bit.ly/1JNM7Oc ), barring #Bashir's extradition, is for Western states, not African ones. #AUSummit"
"Iran’s Spies Tried to Recruit Me" Ridiculous clickbait headline.
"Prepare for serious turbulence in Russia" Bizarre, but the comments are grounded in reality. It is curious how much 'serious turbulence' there is in the United States, all just about invisible, as it is the kind of thing that 'can't happen here'.
Tweet (Ben Norton) (I've always wondered about the identity of the big-money funders of PETA, which is, along with Greenpeace, the trolliest of the self-aggrandizing 'do-gooding' organizations):
".@PETA, delete your account. Then delete your website. http://www.peta.org/blog/petas-idea-promoting-peace-middle-east/ … "
I haven't seen one of these for a while: tweet (joel rayner):
"An obvious solution #BDS #Palestine "
Education, honesty
"Germany calls off probe into whether the NSA spied on Angela Merkel":
"Range also said that "vague remarks from US officials about US intelligence surveillance of the chancellor's cellphone -- i.e. 'not any more' -- are insufficient evidence.""
The nature of the American hold on Germany remains mysterious, but is certainly in full effect (see also, sanctions on Russia).
"Germany dominance over as demographic crunch worsens"
"Trapped in a Bubble" The example of the blight is Palestinian- and Rachel Corrie-crushing company Caterpillar.
"Here's the CIA's Just-Released Top Secret File on Saudi Ties to 9/11" These pseudo-attacks on the Saudis appear to be a way for the Americans to attempt to curtail Saudi military exuberance.
"Who’s really funding the Israeli right?":
"Israelis conflate international NGOs, and non profits with the UN and organizations that use human rights lingo (there is even a common expression in Hebrew - Um Shmoum - meaning the UN is bullshit, in short).”"
"The Henry Jackson Society and the Degeneration of British Neoconservatism: Liberal Interventionism, Islamophobia and the 'War On Terror'" Worth reading the whole thing, but Part 6 covers the funding by the you-know-whos.
The propaganda never ends: "Mob architect Meyer Lansky stressed education, honesty as the best policy" Seriously?!
Control of narrative
"Mark Dankof Responds to the Jewish Voice for Peace Broadside of Alison Weir" The typical shrillness of the Jewish response to anything outside the Zio-centric accepted facts is tied to the control of narrative. The whoppers we have to accept are so huge that they fear the entire edifice will collapse if the tiniest deviations are permitted. Note that Zionists and lite Zionists are indistinguishable when it comes to maintaining order amongst the gentile herd.
"US confident there was no cyber-spying breach in Iran talks" World Jewry has less control of Switzerland and, particularly, Austria, than they'd like.
"A surprising new feature in Apple's iOS 9: the Palestinian flag"
"Orange CEO flies to Jerusalem to apologize personally to Netanyahu: Israel is ‘fantastic’"
"U.S. House Admits Nazi Role in Ukraine"
"Stopping Obama’s “Legacy” ‘Trade’-Deals: Did Reid Finally Do It?" This is superb as it ties American politics directly to Barry's desire to become a billionaire through post-Presidential bribes. Note the mention of the role of Reid, and don't forget Reid was badly beaten up and forced out of politics (as we've seen with Kerry, sometimes physical violence just slightly short of death is the only way to deal with politicians who show slight signs of non-treasonous activity). Note also how Barry has decided to start the Vietnam War in Iraq for the Jewish billionaires. The only proper analysis of American politics consists of an analysis of Barry's mind in balancing projected bribes from Jewish billionaires and gentile billionaires. If he gets the trade monster through, he needs fewer Jewish bribes, and thus can afford non-treasonous policies towards the Middle East. When trade prospects falter, he needs a bigger proportion of Jewish bribes, and thus leans to neocon policies. Everything he does is completely understandable based on the Jewish-gentile bribe equation.
Dog must cough up homework
"Argentina’s “Me-Toos” Make Sure No Vultures Left Behind"
"Russian Groups Crowdfund the War in Ukraine" The liars at the NYT somehow fail to catch that this trifle cuts against the entire American fiction of how deeply involved Russia is in fighting a war against Ukraine.
"Israel Forgives Itself For Death of Four Palestinian Children" Gawker and its comments are usually lousy with Zionists, but this is too bad even for hasbara. As usual, the NYT lacks all shame: "‘NY Times’ helps Israel whitewash the killings of four boys playing soccer on Gaza beach"
One way to fix an image problem: "The Monsanto We Know and “Love” Could Soon Be “Dead”. CEO Says Name Change Could Be Coming Soon" I wonder if Israel could change its name.
"Israel in Action: Spoiling the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty" One of the many examples of how Zionism has a massively disproportionately terrible effect on everybody on earth. It is not just the Palestinians and people subject to the Wars For The Jews who suffer.
Tweet (Ali Abunimah):
"BREAKING: Illinois judge rules Uni of Illinois must release emails to @stevesalaita under FOIA."
"Major Questions Remain Unanswered in Boston Killing of Alleged ISIS Beheading Plotter" Usaamah Rahim hadn't committed any crime, but he was a Muslim with an attitude, so a gang of undercover cops executed him on the street.
"Obama Goes Full Stalin: Tells Secret Court To Ignore Law He Signed 4 Hours Earlier, Extend Illegal NSA Surveillance" With grubbing for the TPP, and what is going on in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya and elsewhere (including a constant stream of obvious whoppers about Russia, made worse by the fact that it is the Americans who are doing what Russia is accused of), and the mangling of relations with Europe and China and the rest of the world, and a complete lack of interest in dealing with the racist and fascist American police state (which would count as ironic if he were actually black), and no hope of dealing with climate change in any meaningful way, and the servility to the illegal surveillance state, the end of Barry's Presidency may go down as the worst ever.
"Jeff Sessions Was Right! WikiLeaks Reveals Immigration Provisions Of TPP Trade Deal That Paul Ryan Called An “Urban Legend”" "Revealed: The Secret Immigration Chapter in Obama’s Trade Agreement"
"Does Sheldon Adelson really want to defeat BDS?"
"Terror trial collapses after fears of deep embarrassment to security services":
"The prosecution of a Swedish national accused of terrorist activities in Syria has collapsed at the Old Bailey after it became clear Britain’s security and intelligence agencies would have been deeply embarrassed had a trial gone ahead, the Guardian can reveal.
His lawyers argued that British intelligence agencies were supporting the same Syrian opposition groups as he was, and were party to a secret operation providing weapons and non-lethal help to the groups, including the Free Syrian Army."
"Now the truth emerges: how the US fuelled the rise of Isis in Syria and Iraq"
"Soldiers expel 200 Palestinians from pool to allow settlers to bathe" "911 caller in Texas pool party incident was convicted of torturing animals"
"Bizarre and Disturbing" Note that questioning whether an American politician might be subject to dual loyalties is 'bizarre and disturbing'.
"Gatineau renames two city streets after complaints over Nazi links"
"The Bravery of Vince Bugliosi" It is not brave to suck up to establishment opinions.
The ISIL-JSIL alliance is very close and undeniable: "Israel and ISIS working together to undermine Hamas"
Young lizard
"Guccifer Letter from Prison" Entertaining and informative throughout, mostly on the Sid Blumenthal/Hillary Clinton connection, with Blumenthal running the under-the-table intelligence operation for Clinton (an operation which provided her with enough information that she should have been prepared for the attack at Benghazi), based on Blumenthal's connections to various private military contractors. Note the early reference to John O'Neill, and the description of Max:
"The eight hours were sufficient to extract the "sap" from the safe-box of information of Vicious Sid. If I had a frustration, it was that I hadn't managed to also penetrate the Yahoo account of his son, Max, a young lizard, maker of dirty games, journalist and blogger, "righteous heir" of his father's, known whippersnapper in Chicago's high-life."
"Vladimir Putin Interview to the Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera" Putin is one of the rare world leaders who is both intelligent and sane (although he has to pretend to be confused at the irrational actions of the American Empire, as even he can't mention the concept of Kaganistan/Wars For The Jews):
"What does the actual potential show? US military spending is higher than that of all countries in the world taken together. The aggregate military spending of NATO countries is 10 times, note – 10 times higher than that of the Russian Federation. Russia has virtually no bases abroad. We have the remnants of our armed forces (since Soviet times) in Tajikistan, on the border with Afghanistan, which is an area where the terrorist threat is particularly high. The same role is played by our airbase in Kyrgyzstan; it is also aimed at addressing the terrorist threat and was set up at the request of the Kyrgyz authorities after a terrorist attack perpetrated by terrorists from Afghanistan on Kyrgyzstan.
We have kept since Soviet times a military unit at a base in Armenia. It plays a certain stabilising role in the region, but it is not targeted against anyone. We have dismantled our bases in various regions of the world, including Cuba, Vietnam, and so on. This means that our policy in this respect is not global, offensive or aggressive.
I invite you to publish the world map in your newspaper and to mark all the US military bases on it. You will see the difference.
Sometimes I am asked about our airplanes flying somewhere far, over the Atlantic Ocean. Patrolling by strategic airplanes in remote regions was carried out only by the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. In the early 1990s, we, the new, modern Russia, stopped these flights, but our American friends continued to fly along our borders. Why? Some years ago, we resumed these flights. And you want to say that we have been aggressive?
American submarines are on permanent alert off the Norwegian coast; they are equipped with missiles that can reach Moscow in 17 minutes. But we dismantled all of our bases in Cuba a long time ago, even the non-strategic ones. And you would call us aggressive?
You yourself have mentioned NATO’s expansion to the east. As for us, we are not expanding anywhere; it is NATO infrastructure, including military infrastructure, that is moving towards our borders. Is this a manifestation of our aggression?
Finally, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which was to a large extent the cornerstone of the entire international security system. Anti-missile systems, bases and radars are located in the European territory or in the sea, e.g. in the Mediterranean Sea, and in Alaska. We have said many times that this undermines international security. Do you think this is a display of our aggression as well?
Everything we do is just a response to the threats emerging against us. Besides, what we do is limited in scope and scale, which are, however, sufficient to ensure Russia’s security. Or did someone expect Russia to disarm unilaterally?
I have proposed to our American partners not to withdraw from the treaty unilaterally, but to create an ABM system together, the three of us: Russia, the United States and Europe. But this proposal was declined. We said at the time: ”Well, this is an expensive system, its efficiency is not proven, but to ensure the strategic balance we will develop our strategic offensive potential, we will develop systems of overpowering anti-ballistic defence. And I have to say that we have made significant strides in this area.
As for some countries’ concerns about Russia’s possible aggressive actions, I think that only an insane person and only in a dream can imagine that Russia would suddenly attack NATO. I think some countries are simply taking advantage of people’s fears with regard to Russia. They just want to play the role of front-line countries that should receive some supplementary military, economic, financial or some other aid. Therefore, it is pointless to support this idea; it is absolutely groundless. But some may be interested in fostering such fears. I can only make a conjecture.
For example, the Americans do not want Russia’s rapprochement with Europe. I am not asserting this, it is just a hypothesis. Let’s suppose that the United States would like to maintain its leadership in the Atlantic community. It needs an external threat, an external enemy to ensure this leadership. Iran is clearly not enough – this threat is not very scary or big enough. Who can be frightening? And then suddenly this crisis unfolds in Ukraine. Russia is forced to respond. Perhaps, it was engineered on purpose, I don’t know. But it was not our doing.
Let me tell you something – there is no need to fear Russia. The world has changed so drastically that people with some common sense cannot even imagine such a large-scale military conflict today. We have other things to think about, I assure you."
"Missing Evidence of Prior FBI Relationship with Boston Bomber" (the request by the FBI for public assistance in identifying someone known to the FBI is the big giveaway):
"Keeping an eye on the ball being constantly moved by the feds, one inevitably focuses back on Mueller’s remarkable if unnoticed admission, which raises these questions:
• Considering all of the previous contact, if the FBI had publicly admitted it knew the Tsarnaev brothers right from the get-go, wouldn’t that have averted not only Collier’s death—but also that remarkable sequence of post-bombing events in Boston, including the unprecedented lockdown of a major American city, a carjacking, shootings and bomb tossing, the serious injury of another police officer, and Tamerlan Tsarnaev dead and his younger brother Dzhokhar badly injured?
• If the FBI and CIA had acted on their knowledge of the Tsarnaevs, could they have prevented the bombing itself? (Russia’s FSB also sent a “warning” to the CIA.)
• Why wasn’t the FBI able to recognize either brother after the bombing despite being in possession of a trove of photos of them at the Marathon? And didn’t they look familiar to the FBI counterterrorism agent who, by the Bureau’s own admission, had interacted repeatedly with Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his family?"
"Hacking as Offensive Counterintelligence" It should be obvious, as always, that there is no real evidence the Chinese are involved, as the 'evidence' is the same kind of shoddy reasoning used to blame the North Koreans for the Sony email breach, 'forensic analysis of the malware and tactics', which of course could, and would, be easily spoofed by the real perps. If you wanted to identify the most likely guilty party, I'd suggest another part of the American government, with the goal of increasing American paranoia on the road to increasing fascism.
"New low: Israeli conference boos and heckles Obama’s treasury sec’y when he says US looks out for Israel" Jack Lew is Lack Jew.
Ban Ki-Moon adds to his considerable shekel collection: "UN rules not to blacklist Israel over abuse of children's rights"
"Reflections on the Delegitimization of Israel":
"In the face of the clear Israeli intention to maintain the current undemocratic and discriminatory system of “one state with two systems”, many people have started to look again at the seminal injustice, the original sin, of 1948 and at the inherent nature of political Zionism and to think seriously about the desirability of reforming and transforming ethno-religious-supremacist “Israel” into a fully democratic state with equal rights and human dignity for all who live there – the same political system which Western governments profess and proclaim to be the ideal form of government for all other states."
The essential problem with Zionism is the essential problem with any con, when do you take your plunder and stop drawing attention to your plundering.
I had no idea this kind of gloating existed (very fin de siècle, not to mention an excellent potential resource for robbers): "The New Conspicuous Consumption"
Tweet (Jonathan Cohn) (bribery knows no borders):
"Worthy of note: South Carolina, the first state to pass an anti-BDS bill, has basically no Jewish population. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/usjewpop.html …"
"Edward Snowden: The World Says No to Surveillance" Strange victory lap doesn't help with the suspicions of what he is really up to.
"Lost Soul Edward Snowden Is The Perfect Embodiment of America":
"Today is the second anniversary of the age of Snowden. Some would have you believe that the evils of the surveillance juggernaut has been rolled back and that there has been a triumph over the secret state. I think nothing of the sort has occurred. Because the complexity of what the government is actually doing is still so difficult to comprehend, we see only temporary and vague technicalities used to impose seeming constraints. If the government was doing anything illegal two years ago, I think they are still doing it. If anyone’s rights were being infringed upon then, they still are. If our communications were subject to gratuitous collection and storage, that’s still going, too. And if our basic right to privacy was being challenged by the dark arts of signals intelligence and cyber collection, it still is. Meanwhile the internet has become intrinsic to daily existence from Argentina to Zimbabwe as well as a vast battleground of the nation state, of the corporate world, of terrorists and criminals and Snowden’s of Arc. I know that there are ponytailed prophets toiling away in New York and Berlin and Silicon Valley to slay the dragon, but the vagueness of progress— and even of their quixotic crusade—seems to match our piecemeal and imperfect understanding of the problem."
"New trial ordered in Chandra Levy murder case" Condit didn't do it - though the weirdly incompetent way he handled the public relations indicates he was up to something - and the patsy didn't do it, so who did?
"Syrian army regains ground against Islamic State in Hasaka city" That didn't take long. Am I to read the last line as an indication that the Americans are supplying air support to the Syrian Army? It is possible. From time to time we see some American patriots pushing back in limited ways against the stranglehold of Jewmoney on traitorous American politicians.
""If you knew then what you know now..."" Remember that the timing of the war was accelerated to force the UN weapons inspectors out of Iraq before Hans Blix was able to deliver a report that there were no WMDs. Both the American and British governments were always completely aware that the entire neocon propaganda basis for the illegal attack on Iraq was a lie.
"The Era of Breakdown"
Life-ruining projects
"Portugal decriminalised drugs 14 years ago – and now hardly anyone dies from overdosing" "Ecuador could become first country in hemisphere to legalize all drugs" Complete and utter decriminalization is the most obvious of positive public policies that won't happen in any of the proctocracies due to the money and power derived from the war on drugs. It is still striking that the countries of the future, the ones making the big positive policy decisions, are always outside of American imperial control.
"Obama Sidelines Kerry on Ukraine Policy" Kaganistas were embarrassed, so then they broke his leg!
"Damascus Goes Into Defense Mode" Remember this has happened once before, with the Jew-controlled media gloating that Assad was finished, and the problem was solved with assistance from Iran and Hezbollah. The promised increased level of this assistance should again fix this problem.
"Sheldon Adelson’s “secret” desert conference to plot against the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement" I was pondering why the funding behind the Canary Mission was hidden, as usually the Jewish billionaires who fund this kind of life-ruining project like to have their names attached to prove their worth to the Jewish community. Then I realized that they intend to ruin the careers of lite Zionist Jews, a big no-no, and not something you want to be known for. This is a civil war amongst World Jewry, the settler movement against every other Jew, and should be interesting, despite the fact there is really no practical difference between Zionists and lite Zionists.
"Male Former Student Identified as Alleged Dennis Hastert Sex Abuse Victim: VIDEO" The Hastert story is stranger if the guy getting the money wasn't the victim.
"Anti-TPP Website Being Blacklisted" Slashdot is not sympathetic, but, given the amount of money which the 1% intends to steal using TPP, I'd be very shocked if there was not an organized campaign to prevent any truth getting out.
Tamám Shud
"The Lost Man" Excellent article on one of the biggest of all unsolved mysteries, with a crazy twist at the end.
Reddit AMA: "I am Professor Derek Abbott, a researcher of the Taman Shud / Somerton Man mystery. AMA!"
"On the Trail of the Somerton Man" by Derek Abbott
Pork sandwich
"Israel’s Unlikely Alliance" The irony is that once the ISIS state is established, Israel will use its existence to scream for more American money to defend itself from the new 'existential threat'.
"The US arming of ISIS"
"This country is trying to go cash-free" I wouldn't have picked Denmark as the first all-slave country.
"WhoWhatWhy Exclusive: Our Homeless, Explosive Radioactive Waste" The old 'in organic'/inorganic problem. An easy mistake. It would all be fine if the issue was flammability.
"Rand Paul Makes More Sense than the Democrats’ “Left” Champion" "Bernie Sanders' Troubling History of Supporting US Military Violence Abroad" Remember he spent six months on a kibbutz, the equivalent, for the time, of going to Israel to become a concentration camp guard.
A comment by Citizen to a Weiss piece on the concentration camp guard:
"“And a lot of Iraqis died too, in the war that Goldberg pushed. ” Yeah, a whole lot. Not that it matters; but the death & maiming of US soldiers? At some point, don’t he Zionists realize there will be an accounting for this?
A civil, civil war between Americans Jews & Israeli Jews? Yes, but aren’t there more American Jews fighting in the IDF than in US military? And just look at what Sheldon Adelson said: he wished he had worn an IDF uniform, not a US military unform–this from the #1 individual political donor to candidates for the next POTUS. Fool me once, fool me twice; I don’t see a good ending to this stuff."
One of these soldiers: "IDF Soldier To Be Jailed For Eating Non-Kosher Sandwich On IDF Base" "IDF Says It Erred When It Punished American Recruit For Bringing Treife Sandwiches On IDF Base"
"Putin Has Shifted His Internet Propaganda Army Into Overdrive" In case you accidentally thought that Techdirt was a smart site.
Are Americans completely incapable of distinguishing a money-making publicity stunt by a family of celebutard grifters from a political (well, identity politics) statement?: "Family Guy And Their 2009 Caitlyn Jenner Prediction"
It is a funny coincidence how Brown-nose Moses always discovers things which would be valuable to western intelligence agencies, and which have all been easily rebutted: "Media's Beloved "Expert" Eliot Higgins - Wrong Again And Again And Again"
While Americans are basking in the glow of the hopelessly insufficient 'USA Freedom Act' (a most Orwellian name for an act to preserve fascism) . . . "This Shadow Government Agency Is Scarier Than the NSA" "How Private Contractors Have Created a Shadow NSA" "The Internet Knew About the Government's Spy Planes Two Years Ago"
Erasing history
"Frustrated NSA Now Forced To Rely On Mass Surveillance Programs That Haven’t Come To Light Yet"
Soros in Ukraine: "Ukraine SITREP June 1st, by Duff" "Hacked Emails Expose George Soros As Ukraine Puppet-Master"
"Europe Shocked When Russia Does To It What Europe Did To Russia"
"Tony Blair 'in £330,000 demand for hunger talk'"
"Sheikh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi Responds to al-Julani’s al-Jazeera Interview"
"ISIL, Kiev’s Nazis, And The Rage Against History" The Israelis and Saudis are the champions at erasing history.
"Cognitive dissionance on Democracy Now? Read this.":
". . . Goodman is a valuable asset to Washington and Wall Street because her broadcasts can serve to disorient and undermine a constituency that is normally opposed to Western warmongering and imperialism."
"Sheldon Adelson To Host Secret Anti-BDS Summit for Jewish Donors"
Yinonized while you wait (and watch)
"Judith Miller's Comeback" Taibbi refuses to touch the Third Rail of Truth, which was that Miller's reporting wasn't a mistake, but a supremacist Jewish conspiracy to build the Zionist Empire by using countries other than Israel to fight Wars For The Jews, starting with the illegal attack on Iraq. It is important to stop shielding Miller and her ilk as the same players are now using the same techniques to Yinonize Iraq and Syria by creating the new ISIS state.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7287
|
__label__cc
| 0.660817
| 0.339183
|
Subscribe for News & Offers Privacy Policy
© 2020 Ye Olde Inn
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them, see our privacy policy.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7288
|
__label__wiki
| 0.981662
| 0.981662
|
New test can predict which pregnancies will turn into a premature delivery
By Denise Dador
The tiniest of tiny, preemies, weighing in at three, two, even one pound are being born, surviving and thriving.
Right now, there's no telling which moms will deliver early and which ones will go the full 40 weeks.
But soon a simple blood test may be able to pinpoint a due date and save little lives.
You could say Haven and his mom are both heroes. Haven's mother Amanda Smith said, "I tell people this is like a war zone, only this time it's not my life on the line, it's my little innocent child's."
Smith, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, gave birth to Haven 100 days early, weighing just nine-tenths of a pound. "It's about the size of coke can," Smith said.
Haven is one of 450,000 babies in the United States born prematurely each year. For two-thirds of those deliveries, no one knows why.
"When people think about what tools an obstetrician has right now to look at a pregnancy, it's ultrasound and that's it," Mira Moufarrej, a bioengineering PhD student at Stanford University said.
Now bioengineers at Stanford have developed a blood test that detects with 80 percent accuracy who will deliver early, something that ultrasound cannot do.
"It tells you more about what's going on in the process of building a baby and what might go wrong," Moufarrej explained.
The test looks at RNA molecules found in the mother's blood.
"Looking at those seven types of RNA molecules, they're higher in women who deliver preterm than full-term," Moufarrej said.
The team hopes doctors will then be able to start treatments that will delay delivery.
Haven spent the first 241 days of his life in the hospital, has had seven surgeries since birth, he's on oxygen and takes 18 syringes of medication daily.
But as his mom says, he's a fighter. Smith said to Haven, "I get to watch you stand up, smile, and give people hope."
In low-resource settings, a test to predict time to delivery has tremendous potential to impact women's health, particularly for disadvantaged women with limited access to hospitals.
Because a blood test is cheap and easy to use, it has the potential to complement ultrasound and expand access to good prenatal care.
health & fitnessstanford universitybaby deliverymedicalcircle of healthbabyblood testpregnancyhealth carepregnant woman
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7289
|
__label__cc
| 0.738956
| 0.261044
|
ACFT Calculator
ACFT Events
MOS Calculator
ACFT Events & Standards
The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) was created by the U.S. Army to replace the longstanding Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The ACFT Events were chosen to assess the combat readiness of all Soldiers. Below are the ACFT standards and events that all soldiers must meet. Your standard is based on your physical demand category.
Maximum Deadlift (MDL)
The first exercise in the list of six ACFT events is the 3 Repetition Maximum Deadlift (MDL). The MDL was chosen by the Army to measure the condition of Soldiers leg and back muscles.
In combat, Soldiers will have to carry a large loads on a daily basis. A Soldier must deadlift a minimum of 140 points in order to meet the ACFT standards. For the High-Speed Soldiers out there, the max is 340 pounds. Below is the key weights you should know.
Physical Demand Category
Max: 340 pounds
Heavy: 180 pounds
Significant: 160 Pounds
Moderate: 140 Pounds
Standing Power Throw (SPT)
The Standing Power Throw (SPT) is the second ACFT event. It measures Soldiers explosiveness and ability to transport equipment and personnel.
Max: 13.5 meters
Heavy: 8.5 meters
Significant: 6.5 meters
Moderate: 4.6 meters
Hand-Release Push-Up (HRP)
The Army will be transitioning to a new Push-Up. The Hand Release Push-Up (HRP). Therefore, Soldiers will have to change the way they do push-ups to prepare for the ACFT. The HRP event measures upper body strength and endurance. Meaning it measures the same muscles as the push-up from the APFT. Another similarity between the push-up events is the two (2) minute time limit.
Max: 70 Hand-Release Push-ups
Heavy: 30 Hand-Release Push-ups
Significant: 20 Hand-Release Push-ups
Moderate: 10 Hand-Release Push-ups
Spring-Drag-Carry (SDC)
The Sprint Drag Carry is one of the new ACFT events that was not in the APFT. The SDC is basically a shuttle run while carrying weighted equipment. The equipment includes two 40-pound kettlebells and a 90-ound sled.
Max: 1:30
Heavy: 2:09
Significant: 2:45
Moderate: 3:35
Leg Tuck (LTK)
The Leg Tuck event is the main event that replaces the Sit-up event from the APFT. The ACFT standards on this event is not very high. In the moderate category, a Soldier only need to perform 1 to pass.
Heavy: 5
Significant: 3
Moderate: 1
Two-Mile Run (2MR)
The ACFT standards for the Two-Mile Run are similar to the APFT standards. The big difference is that there is now one scale. The old APFT had a different scale based on age and gender. Now there is one scale and the minimum requirement is based on the Soldier’s physical demand category.
Heavy: 18:00
Significant: 19:00
Moderate: 21:07
ACFT Standards Score Chart
maximum deadlift
Power Throw
Hand-Release Push-up
Sprint Drag Carry
Leg Tuck
100 340 13.5 70 1:40 20 12:45
99 330 13.2 68 13:00
98 320 13 66 1:41 19 13:15
97 12.8 64 1:42 13:30
96 310 12.5 62 1:43 18 13:40
87 11 47 1:52 15:10
79 9.8 39 2:00 16:30
78 220 9.7 38 2:01 9 16:40
68 170 8 26 2:23 18:20
67 7.5 24 2:30 4 18:35
66 7 22 2:37 18:50
60 140 10 3:35 1 21:07
59 3:36 21:09
56 4.5 3:39 21:15
54 9 3:41 21:19
50 130 3:45 21:27
© 2019 Troopsy, LLC
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7296
|
__label__wiki
| 0.51092
| 0.51092
|
SoHo, Manhattan
New York City Explorer Pass w. Over 85 Tours & Attractions
Valid: 30 days
The New York City Explorer Pass is the best choice for maximum savings and flexibility. Save up to 55% off admission to over 85 attractions and…
SoHo, Manhattan: Tours & Tickets
SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown 2-Hour Guided Walk
Spend an intriguing 2 hours immersed in authentic New York City neighborhoods. Discover the fascinating histories of SoHo, Little Italy, and…
New York Pass: Access to Over 100 Attractions & Tours
Valid: 1 - 10 days
The New York Pass offers you free entry to 100+ iconic attractions for up to 10 days. Save up to 45% off the normal admission price, while enjoying…
New York City: Color Factory Admission
Immerse yourself in a world of color at New York City’s unique Color Factory. Explore over 20,000 square feet of participatory installations that…
Sex and the City Hotspots Tour
Explore the Manhattan immortalized in the TV series and Hollywood movies of Sex and the City. See more than 40 New York locations from the sexy,…
3 Neighborhoods Tour: Soho, Chinatown & Little Italy
Come explore three unique neighborhoods and see some of the sites these places have to offer.
New York City by Night Tour
See all of the sights of the Big Apple by night and watch the glittering lights on this fully guided tour. As you marvel at the illuminated…
Manhattan and Central Park Bike Tour
See the sights of New York City by bike on an epic half-day morning or afternoon tour. Marvel at iconic monuments such as the Brooklyn Bridge and…
Private Soho, Chinatown & Little Italy Tour
Come explore three unique neighborhoods with rich history and see some of the sites these places have to offer.
See all tours & things to do in SoHo, Manhattan
Top sights in New York City
Queens, New York City
What people are saying about SoHo, Manhattan
Worth it if you're committed to doing a lot of things!
We found the pass to be worth it when we added up the costs of what we did and what it would have cost to do them by paying separately. The pdf information the pass provided on the 100 included attractions was most helpful and maybe we could have gotten that from other sources but it worked out well for us to plan our itinerary from the list of things the pass would pay for. Not all of our activities that we did in NY were covered, but that still was OK. You need to calculate how much you think you're going to do on your trip to determine if it's good for you. We did not feel like we were running all over to do things to make it worth it, but we were busy most days all day long.
New York Pass: Access to Over 100 Attractions & Tours Reviewed by Alison, 05/09/2019
So, so worth the experience of this event
Loved Melissa! She did a fantastic job highlighting the must see spots of this show. As a huge fan of he show, it was great to experience places that became moments and put a smile on our faces It was a fun filled few hours and am so happy that I put this on the agenda. Thanks Melissa & bus driver Mike for a great day
Sex and the City Hotspots Tour Reviewed by Charmaine, 19/09/2017
Eric did a great job talking about the neighborhoods he loves.
In the two hour walk, Eric engaged visitors from France, Germany, Norway, Argentina, and the States, with the history, architecture, and culture of SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown. His energy, and love of the neighborhood encouraged one to want to revisit each area again.
SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown 2-Hour Guided Walk Reviewed by valerie, 03/05/2019
Fantastic value , great way to see all the sights
We bought the pass and I was a bit worried that we wouldn’t get our monies worth but it exceeded expectations. We saw so many sights included was hop on hop off bus and water taxi. Easy to use and good value for money.
New York Pass: Access to Over 100 Attractions & Tours Reviewed by sarah, 17/07/2019
Fun way to see the city with many SATC highlights
Ally, our tour guide, was really great & fun! The only thing that would have made this better is to have a bit longer time at a couple of the spots, the allotted time didn’t allow for actual shopping or time to eat!
Sex and the City Hotspots Tour Reviewed by Anonymous, 01/07/2018
Things to do near SoHo, Manhattan
Cover photo: Fuzzy Images, CC BY 2.0
Seville Cruises & Boat Tours
Dubai Activities
Amsterdam Day Trips
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7298
|
__label__cc
| 0.645302
| 0.354698
|
Private Sector Development and Infrastructure Vice Presidency, 1 résultats 1
Private Sector Development Vice Presidency, 1 résultats 1
Theodores, James L., 1 résultats 1
Vita, Frank K., 1 résultats 1
Records of the Africa Regional Vice Presidency
WB IBRD/IDA AFR
The countries included in the Africa region (AFR) have remained constant throughout its history, with the exception being the removal of northern African countries (Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco) into the Europe and Middle East Depar...
Africa Regional Vice Presidency
WB IBRD/IDA AGR
The content of this fonds reflects a very small portion of the work of the Agriculture and Rural Development Sector. Subject files of the director of the Economics and Policy Division, of the forestry and fisheries specialists, and of the irrigati...
Agriculture and Rural Development Sector
Records of the Consultative Group on Food Production & Investment in Developing Countries
WB IBRD/IDA CGFP
The records of the Consultative Group are of three types: the records of the four meetings of the Group, the correspondence of the secretariat, and the files on the projects sponsored by the Group. Read together, the records of the meetings and t...
Consultative Group on Food Production and Investment in Developing Countries
WB IBRD/IDA CGIAR
The records in this series reflect the two principal activities of the Consultative Group: funding and evaluating the international institutes. The Group's activity is carried out through regular informal contacts, through consultation at yea...
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
Personal Papers of William Clark
WB IBRD/IDA CLARK
William Clark's notebooks provide a unique view of the World Bank during the McNamara years. Although some of this material found its way into the memoirs, the notebooks contain colorful and candid entries that are not in print. The descripti...
WB IBRD/IDA DC
The Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on the Transfer of Real Resources to Developing countries, usually known as the Development Committee, is an advisory body only. The p...
Personal papers of William Diamond
WB IBRD/IDA DIAMOND
Throughout his career, Diamond kept a personal file in chronological order. Sometimes this file was primarily copies of the messages he sent, but at other times he included copies of incoming messages and copies of correspondence that had been sen...
Diamond, William
Donated materials collection
WB IBRD/IDA DONATED
A number of individuals have donated to the World Bank Group Archives small quantities of material about the history of the Bank. All of the donations in this fonds are less than four inches in size (the size of a standard archival box). For conve...
Records of the East Asia and Pacific Regional Vice Presidency
WB IBRD/IDA EAP
Note that the countries included in the East Asia and Pacific Region fonds fluctuated over the years; countries were moved from one Region to another and Regional Vice Presidencies were merged and separated. The only significant impact this had on...
East Asia and Pacific Regional Vice Presidency
Records of the Europe and Central Asia Regional Vice Presidency
WB IBRD/IDA ECA
This fonds has been provisionally arranged into eight series. Sub-headings are used to break up the content of this field according to provisional series. For a complete list of the provisional series, see the "System of Arrangement" fie...
Europe and Central Asia Regional Vice Presidency
Records of the Environment Sector
WB IBRD/IDA ENV
The fonds consists of records that reflect the various activities of the environment sector in the World Bank. The majority of the records in this fonds were created or received by the Environment Department's Global Environment Unit (ENVGC) ...
Environment Sector
WB IBRD/IDA EXC
The records of cover the entire span of administrative and substantive activities of the Bank. Particularly useful is the documentation of public relations activities by the presidents and coordination efforts with outside partners. Briefing books...
Records of the Office of External Relations
WB IBRD/IDA EXT
Records in this fonds relate to the functions of the external relations complex as described in the Administrative History field above. In addition, records created and received by EXT Vice Presidencies are also included. Note that, periodically, ...
External Relations Vice Presidency and reporting units
Records of the Global Environment Facility
WB IBRD/IDA GEF
The fonds consists of records that relate to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Secretariat's various activities. The majority of the fonds consists of GEF project files. Project types include the Small Grants Programme, Enabling Activitie...
Records of the Human Development Network
WB IBRD/IDA HRD
The fonds consists of records that reflect the various activities of HDN and its oversight of, and involvement with, sector departments within the network. Note that a small amount of records in this fonds were created prior to the creation of HDN...
Human Development Network
Records of the Industry Development Sector
WB IBRD/IDA IND
These files, created by the Industry Development Division of the Industry Department, include a large quantity of records of two Banks studies: the 1975 survey of Korean exporting firms and a study of the acquisition of technology capabilities of ...
Industry Development Sector
Personal papers of Benjamin B. King
WB IBRD/IDA KING
1964-1994 (predominant 1982 - 1989)
The papers consist of a body of materials related to Zambia and a set of general policy and issues papers. King undertook a mission to Zambia for the Bank and wrote a report on it, and he collected information about and remained interested in Zamb...
King, Benjamin B.
Records of the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Vice Presidency
WB IBRD/IDA LAC
This fonds consists of records created by the departments and vice presidencies that were responsible for World Bank operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Country operational recordsThe majority of the records of this fonds ar...
Latin America and Caribbean Regional Vice Presidency
Records of the Operations (Loan) Committee
WB IBRD/IDA LC
The records of the Loan Committee consist of three distinct types of files: minutes; records of the chairman; and background information. The official Loan Committee minutes were maintained by the Bank's Central Files unit until 1987; this Ce...
Operations (Loan) Committee
Personal Papers of Louise Taraldson Woods
WB IBRD/IDA LWOODS
This fonds consists of diaries and photographs of social activities, principally during the period when George D. Woods was President of the World Bank.
Woods, Louise Taraldson
Records of General Vice Presidents and Managing Directors
WB IBRD/IDA MDS
The records of the era of the general vice presidents are fragmentary. A few records of a Middle East and North African trip by Robert L. Garner exist, as does a file on a meeting in Jogjakarta attended by Mohamed Shoaib. The files of Sir Denis Ri...
General Vice Presidents and Managing Directors
Records of the Middle East and North Africa Regional Vice Presidency
WB IBRD/IDA MNA
This fonds has been provisionally arranged into one sub-fonds and eight series. Sub-headings are used in this "Scope and content" field according to provisional sub-fonds and series. For a complete list of the provisional series, see the...
Middle East and North Africa Regional Vice Presidency
Personal Papers of Lester Nurick
WB IBRD/IDA NURICK
The topics to which the records relate reflect issues of personal interest to Nurick or issues which he handled on behalf of his clients. Records relate to the legal structure of the World Bank as an institution and of its lending operations. Reco...
Nurick, Lester
Joint Bank-Fund Library Collection on Presidents of the World Bank
WB IBRD/IDA PRES
Clippings, speeches, press releases, biographical information, and occasional copies of letters and memoranda by and about Bank Presidents Eugene Meyer, John J. McCloy, George D. Woods, Robert S. McNamara, A.W. Clausen, and Barber C. Conable, Jr. ...
Reference Collection on World Bank History
WB IBRD/IDA REF
This fonds hold copies of records from other repositories that relate to the history of the World Bank. One group of records copied from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library deals with the Bretton Woods conference. A second group, copied from the Har...
Records of the South Asia Regional Vice Presidency
WB IBRD/IDA SAR
Note that the countries included in the South Asia Region fonds and, in particular, the "Country operational records" series, fluctuated over the years; countries were moved from one Region to another and Regional Vice Presidencies were ...
South Asia Regional Vice Presidency
Personal Papers of Orvis A. Schmidt
WB IBRD/IDA SCHMIDT
The papers cover the period of Schmidt's service with the US Treasury and include his files on his dissertation. Both the Treasury and the dissertation materials include subject files; some topics overlap; all concern Brazil exclusively. The ...
Schmidt, Orvis A.
Personal Papers of Davidson Sommers
WB IBRD/IDA SOMMERS
The files consist of correspondence, speeches, articles, and photographs related to Davidson Sommers' years of employment in the World Bank's Legal Department and his subsequent service as a consultant to the Bank.Topics covered in the c...
Sommers, Davidson
WB IBRD/IDA STAFF
A number of individuals accumulated bodies of records from various offices in which they served. When these individuals retired or resigned from the Bank, these records were transferred to the Archives. Because the records cover the individual...
Individual Staff Members
Records of the Transport Development Sector
WB IBRD/IDA TRA
1952 - 1953, 1960 - 1991 (predominant 1968 - 1991)
The fonds consists of records that reflect the various activities of the transport sector in the World Bank. The fonds includes: research materials and background documentation; operational support and project-related records; seminar, conference ...
Transport Development Sector
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7310
|
__label__wiki
| 0.765554
| 0.765554
|
Selldorf Architects completes new a Zambian school for the 14+ Foundation
By Sydney Franklin • October 10, 2019
The Mwabwindo School was designed by Annabelle Selldorf's team in New York and constructed by architect Fabian Bedolla using local mason workers. (Chosa Mweemba/Courtesy Selldorf Architects)
Selldorf Architects has completed a 30,000-square-foot school in the Mwabwindo Village of Zambia, the second of its kind in the rural community. Built through the non-profit 14+ Foundation and designed as a multi-building education center, the Mwabwindo School gives over 250 students, ranging from preschool to 7th grade, the chance to learn in a safe and welcoming environment with a vision inspired by the scattered trees of the Central African Plateau.
According to the architects, the center’s unique layout—built like a village—was prompted by the tall, individual trees in the savanna that protect people and animals from the oppressive heat and heavy rain seasons. As a nod to these natural shading structures, Selldorf integrated a 23-by-23-foot corrugated metal canopy over the series of mud-brick classrooms, all of which are situated around a courtyard and internal “street.”
Featuring a large-scale steel canopy to shelter children from heavy rain, the school is a refuge in the middle of Southern Zambia. (Chosa Mweemba/Courtesy Selldorf Architects)
Joseph Mizzi, president of Sciame Construction and co-founder of the 14+ Foundation, told AN that it took over 150,000 bricks to build the structures, and each brick was handmade by local masons and fired using earth from the region. Based on the foundation’s work building the Chipakata Children’s Academy in nearby Lusaka, Zambia, in 2015, leadership wanted locals to be heavily involved in the construction process this time as well.
“Our experience is that when parents of the school children and community members become integral to the building process, it allows them to feel more proud of the end result and more respectful of what the school stands for,” said Mizzi.
In total, the Mwabwindo School contains eight classrooms, an art space, a library, support structures for storage, and a six-unit cluster of housing for teachers. It also features a community vegetable garden and playing field for the kids. In the near future, the center will include expanded teachers’ housing and dormitories for students.
Latticed brickwork was used throughout the interior to add texture and amplify daylight in the hallways. (Chosa Mweemba/Courtesy Selldorf Architects)
The 14+ Foundation was started by Mizzi and Zambian-born stylist Nchimunya Wulf in 2012 in an effort to enhance education in the rural communities of Africa where most students have to walk over four miles each way to school every day. The Chipakata Children’s Academy, designed by Susan Rodriguez of Ennead, Frank Lupo, Randy Antonia Lott, and Nat Oppenheimer of Silman Engineering, is located in the same jurisdiction as the Mwabwindo School. With the two now open, there are four total schools in the village; the other two are run by the government. Mizzi said the new projects give children across the entire village better access to the personal education they deserve.
“In addition to serving the students at both our schools, we’re also addressing a bigger issue within the larger community by reducing the teacher-to-pupil ratio,” he said. “At the Mwabwindo School, there are around 25 to 30 children in a classroom.”
Together with the Chipakata Children’s Academy, over 400 local children are being educated thanks to the foundation’s work. (Chosa Mweemba/Courtesy Selldorf Architects)
The Mwabwindo School has already won numerous architectural awards both for its design and for its commitment to sustainability. Like the children’s academy, which dually features an angular, lightweight roof structure, the architecture isn’t supposed to be attention-grabbing but instead functional and beautiful. The village itself already runs on 100 percent renewable energy, so Selldorf specified solar panels and integrated a rainwater collection system into the community garden.
While students will learn how these green resources are used on-site, they will also focus on arts-based programs at the school. It was recently announced that artist Rashid Johnson is working with the foundation on a site-specific mural with the help of students, expected to be completed next spring.
Selldorf designed small homes for teachers on-site and is working on the designs for student dormitories as well. (Chosa Mweemba/Courtesy Selldorf Architects)
Africa Annabelle Selldorf Schools Sciame
September 27, 2019 A federal database for designing safer schools is working through the Senate
August 26, 2019 Michigan high school upgrades campus to combat potential active shooters
August 22, 2019 CannonDesign centers a new Rockford Public School around a colorful town square
August 2, 2019 Museum of Modern Art receives massive gift of African contemporary artwork
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7311
|
__label__cc
| 0.662183
| 0.337817
|
POCKETBOOK Week Ending Feb.22, 2019
February 25, 2019 Uncategorized401(k) balances, advice from Warren Buffett, average balance in 401(k), Fidelity, indices up, Lipper, median balance, money, mutual fund returns higher, the cost of stuff, where to invest, year-to-datedianvujovich
The cost of stuff.
When asked about a 10-year investment horizon, Warren Buffett was asked where he’d plop his money—stocks or bonds?
Buffett’s answer, according to CNBC.com was this: “If I had a choice today for a 10-year purchase of a 10-year bond at whatever it is…or buying the S&P 500 and holding it for 10 years, I’d buy the S&P.”
Fidelity’s 401(k) balances
Having $100,000, or any six-figure sized 401(k), is a common goal for many who are saving for their retirement. And while it’s noble, truth is many of us are going to a seven-figure coffer to cover us for the 20, 30 or more years of retirement.
Fidelity is home to more than 16.2 million 401(k) accounts. I’m guessing, no two of them with the same account balances.
That said and if you’re curious, at the end of September 2018 the average balance in those accounts was $106,500.
But wait there’s more: We all aren’t average and a better look at the numbers is represented by the median size of those retirement accounts. (The median represents the middle between the high and the low balance.)
In that case, the figure changes precipitously resulting in a median figure amounting to tens of thousands of dollars less than the average figure: The median amount at that time was $24,800.
Feeling better?
Indices up last week….
Below are the weekly and 1-year index performance results for the three major indices—DJIA, S&P 500 and NASDAQ — including the dates each reached new highs. Data is according to CNBC.com and based on prices at the close of business on Friday, Feb.22, 2019.
–DJIA 11.59% YTD up from the previous week’s 10.96%.
1 yr. Rtn 4.28% up from the previous week 2.71%
-NASDAQ 13.45% YTD up from last week’s 12.62%
1yr Rtn 4.40% up from last week’s 2.98%
Funds have enjoyed a big jump up from their January 10 performance figures.
At the close of business on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, the year-to-date total return for the average stock fund under the broad U.S. Diversified Equity Fund heading was 12.62%. That’s nearly 3x higher than the average return of 4.70% registered on Jan. 10, 2019, according to Lipper.
Looking at the fund types with the highest year-to-date gains under the various equity headings shows the following:
-The highest total return under the U.S. Diversified Equity Funds umbrella was Equity Leveraged Funds, 23,76%; the lowest, Dedicated Short Bias Funds, -17.8%.
-The Sector Equity Funds group averaged 11.37%; the highest fund type under that category was Commodity Energy Funds, 17.21%; the lowest Alternative Managed Funds, -1.65%.
-World Equity Funds average 9.51%; the fund type with the highest ytd return was Global Small/Mid-Cap Funds, 12.97%; the lowest India Region Funds, -5.07%.
February 18, 2019 UncategorizedBloomberg, BMW, debt, earnings estimates, gdp, Lipper, Minnesota, municipal bonds, Presidents Day, recession, Toyota, Wall Street, year to date returnsdianvujovich
Happy Presidents Day to you from four of our most outstanding past presidents.
Got Debt? No Problem?
Way back in the last few decades of the last century when I first began selling municipal bonds, one of the roads to financial success for a new salesperson—-according to management—was to get yourself into debt. Big debt. You know, the kind of debt that gets you to buy that new BMW 5 series you’ve always wanted when what you really could afford was a used Toyota. The reasoning behind management’s thinking was that responsible salespeople with debt will work hard to pay off—or down—their debts. And while that really didn’t follow the Minnesota money logic I was raised with, I was in Florida after all and things, as we all have come to learn, can be very different on Florida’s Wall Street.
I tell you this because that kind of money management logic still exists today. And, still plays a big part in how many people manage their own personal finances as well as how our government manages its debts.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal story, our US annual budget deficit will top $1 trillion in three years, by 2022. The key to managing that debt and seeing that its gets tended to is simple: America’s growth rate has to keep growing and wind up greater than what the cost of what carrying that debt is.
It’s a keep working kind of thing.
Trouble is, America’s growth rate, its GDP, changes year to year. Much like how one’s salary or annual income can.
Knowing that and the risks inherent in any changing environment, life has taught me that it’s best to live below one’s means than it is to hope for some future income that may or may not materialize.
Big time moves upward for year-to-date returns for the indices below. Big time slides backwards for 1-year returns.
–DJIA 10.96% YTD up plenty from the previous week’s 7.63%.
1 yr. Rtn 2.71% down bigly from the previous week 5.22%
-S&P 500 10.72 % YTD up lots from last week’s 8.02%
1 yr. Rtn 1.63% down plenty from last week’s 4.92%
-NASDAQ 12.62% YTD up plenty from last week’s 9.99%
1yr Rtn 2.98% way down from last week’s 7.69%
Repeat from January:
At the close of business on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, the total return for the average stock fund under the broad U.S. Diversified Equity Fund heading was 4.70%, according to Lipper.
Looking at the fund types with the highest year-to-date gains under the various headings shows the following:
-U.S. Diversified Equity Funds average, 4.70%; highest Equity Leveraged Funds, 11.08%; lowest, Dedicated Short Bias Funds, -8.88%
-Sector Equity Funds average 4.88%; highest Energy MLP Funds, 11.74%; lowest Alternative Managed Funds, -2.20%
-World Equity Funds average 4.07%; highest Latin American Funds, 9.01%; lowest India Region Funds, -1.23%.
Recession Ahead?
A recent Bloomberg.com story, noted that S&P 500 profits are expected to fall in Q1.
From that piece, pub date 2/16/19 by Titiana Darie, titled “Wall Street Is Split on Profits: Does an “Earnings Recession” Loom?” come these words worth considering:
“Based on the average of analysts estimates, U.S. firms are on the cusp of suffering two consecutive quarters of profit declines, the common definition of a recession. Earnings will contract in the first quarter, and while a small increase is currently projected for the following period, that is likely to evaporate. Analysts have been lowering forecasts since the start of the year as companies continue to slash outlooks, citing everything from a stronger dollar to weaker demand in China and rising costs.”
February 11, 2019 Uncategorized2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act, Cerulli Associates, ETFs, future, IRS, Lipper, market indices, money, refunds, Trumpdianvujovich
•Tax Cuts.
If you’re expecting a big fat refund check from the IRS this year, don’t hold your breath. Turns out Trump’s big fat tax cuts haven’t turned out to reward tax payers as generaosly as they have the wealthy and large corporations. But that comes as no surprise if you’ve been a follower of this site.
Basically, tax cuts work best when taxes are high—which makes sense. And the highest max tax rate has been high for corporations, sort of:That said, corporations have always had more ways to reduce their tax bills and reduce the tax rate paid thanks to a number of write-off’s companies can take vs. the puny few available to individuals.
Additionally, all the poppycock the Trump administration spewed about how his 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act would put more money into people’s pockets, bring about more jobs and pump up salaries along the way, really hasn’t happened.
Sadly, cutting the corporate tax rates wound up rewarding those very same corporations more than they have individuals. One of the results has been smaller refund checks for individuals as the average tax refund check is down 8 percent this year over last translating into about $170 less, according to the IRS.
To put your best tax foot forward, do yourself a favor and take another look at the number of dependents claimed on your withholding. Changing it could mean less in your take home paychecks but maybe possibly could be more in the size of next year’s refund check.
Positive strides upward on year-to-date returns for the three indices below and big jumps up on 1-year returns.
Below are the weekly and 1-year index performance results for the three major indices—DJIA, S&P 500 and NASDAQ — including the dates each reached new highs. Data is according to CNBC.com and based on prices at the close of business on Friday, Feb.8, 2019.
–DJIA 7.63% YTD up a hair from previous week’s 7.44%.
1 yr. Rtn 5.22% huge jump from the previous week -4.29%
-S&P 500 8.02 % YTD up from last week’s 7.97%
1 yr. Rtn 4.92% hugely improved from last week’s -4.09%
-NASDAQ 9.99% YTD up a bit from last week’s 9.47%
1yr Rtn 7.69% huge jump up from last week’s -1.65%
Repeat from early January:
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have come a long way over the past 20-some years. Not only have the number of them swelled right along with assets invested in them, advisors are using and suggesting them big time.
Cerulli Associates reports that 14.1% of financial advisors’ clients were allocated to ETFs at the end of 2018 compared with 5.4% in 2009.
With money pouring out of mutual funds the growing trend for ETFs shows no sign of stopping this year.
But buyer beware, ETFs do have their pluses but they also aren’t the appropriate vehicle for everyone. Make sure to do your homework and research what’s in an ETFs portfolio before investing.
POCKETBOOK Week Ending Feb.1, 2019
February 4, 2019 UncategorizedChina, Christian investing, economic difficulties, gold prices, historic gold prices, Kitco, Lipper, markets up, Poland, Russia, sin stocks, The Timothy Plan, World Gold Councildianvujovich
Golden appeal
Turns out, central banks bought more gold in 2018 than any years since 1967, according to the World Gold Council. That’s good news for anyone loving this precious metal—just not always profitable news.
Surprisingly, that increase in what gold was being used for wasn’t in jewelry. Nope, counties such as China, Poland, Russia, Turkey and Kazakhstan have been adding it to their reserves. Jewelry demand, on the other hand, was pretty much unchanged.
We’ve been told that gold is generally thought of as a good bet during times of political or economic unrest and turbulence. And, it’s always been thought of as a kind of balancer, or hedge, to one’s existing equity portfolios during volatile markets even though making money from it hasn’t been a slam dunk.
That said, if you’ve an interest in the glittery stuff, here’s a brief look at how its per ounce price has performed over the years according to data from KITCO.com;
-10 year high 1900.30; low 868.70
-5 year high 1382.; low 1050.6
-1 year high 1353.30; low 1173,70
-Today, Monday, Feb.4, 2019 at 2:52 pm—1313.70
“Economic uncertainty, slowdown, (and the) U.S.-China trade conflict supported investment flows,” said the World Gold Council’s head of market intelligence, Alistair Hewitt who added. “This dynamic is likely to run through 2019.”
Nice jump ups last week on the year-to-date returns for the three indices followed here. But can that trend, if it is a trend, continue? Time will tell.
–DJIA 7.44% YTD up from the previous week’s 6.04%.
1 yr. Rtn -4.29% improved from the previous week -6.2%
-S&P 500 7.97 % YTD down from last week’s 6.30%
1 yr. Rtn -4.09% improved from last week’s -6.15%
1yr Rtn -1.65% improved from last week’s -3.32%
Christian Investing
I remember learning that it was easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than it was for a rich man to get into heaven. I’m going to guess that the folks who run the various portfolios of the Timothy Plan might see that differently.
The Timothy Plan group of funds was created 25 years ago to meet the needs of Christian investors who didn’t want their money invested in companies that support things such as pornography, abortion, wars, any anti-family causes or simply companies whose products run contrary to the teachings of Scripture.
To date that’s paid off for them as the family now has over $1 billion under management.
From their recent press release: “The impact of our investments affects more than the return column on our account statements, it enables companies of high moral character to establish a greater presence in our community at large—Kingdom Impact Investing.”
Believers in that style of investing can learn more about their funds, fund performances, etc. at TimothyPlan.com.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7316
|
__label__wiki
| 0.942237
| 0.942237
|
Pages with script errors, Pages containing cite templates with deprecated parameters, NFL player missing current team parameter,
People from Beaumont, Texas
American football defensive linemen
SMU Mustangs football players
San Diego Chargers players
San Francisco 49ers players
American Conference Pro Bowl players
Super Bowl champions
Louie Kelcher
No. 74, 94
(1953-08-23) August 23, 1953 (age 66)
French High School
1975 / Round: 2 / Pick: 30
* San Diego Chargers (1975–1983)
San Francisco 49ers (1984)
* Super Bowl champion (XIX)
First-team All-Pro (1978)
3× Second-team All-Pro (1977, 1980, 1981)
3× Pro Bowl (1977, 1978, 1980)
San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame
San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team
Louis James Kelcher (born August 23, 1953) is a retired American football player who played most of his career with the San Diego Chargers. His primary position was defensive tackle, where his honors included being a four-time All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowl selection. His outstanding performance made him one of the team's most popular players from 1975-83. Kelcher was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame, and is a member of the franchise's 40th and 50th Anniversary Teams. He was a graduate of Southern Methodist University and French High School in Beaumont, Texas.
Growing up in Beaumont, Texas, Kelcher was more interested in playing baseball, even though youngsters in Texas who were big typically played football. He was supposed to be eight years old to play peewee league. However, Kelcher was bigger than his peers, and the Little League president next door got him in a year early. He started playing football in junior high school. Entering high school, he was only interested to play baseball, but the coaches placed him into football.[1]
NFL career Edit
Kelcher was known for his immense size. Standing 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m), he once said his weight varied between 280 pounds (130 kg) and infinity.[2] He wore size 17EEE shoes,[3] and had a size 16.5 ring finger.[citation needed] He was drafted in the 2nd round in 1975 and was named to the NFL All-Rookie team. In nine seasons (1975–1983) with the Chargers, Kelcher was selected to three Pro Bowls (1978, 1979 and 1981),[2] twice as a starter.[4] He was named All-AFC in 1977, 1978 and 1980; and 1st-team All-Pro in 1978 and 2nd-team All-Pro in 1977, 1980 and 1981.[5] In 1977, his teammates voted him the team's Most Valuable Player.[6]
Kelcher was sidelined in 1979 for all but three minutes after a knee operation.[7] He returned in 1980, teaming with fellow 1975 Chargers' draftees Fred Dean and Gary "Big Hands" Johnson as the Chargers led the NFL in sacks (60). Johnson and Dean were named 1st-team All-Pro, with Kelcher being named 2nd-team All-Pro. The trio, along with Leroy Jones formed a defensive frontline that was locally nicknamed the Bruise Brothers.[8][9] In the 1980 AFC Championship Game against the Oakland Raiders, Kelcher has 20 tackles, 10 solo and 10 assisted, and also one sack.[10] In the Epic in Miami, the 1981 divisional playoff which became one of the greatest football games ever, the Dolphins were leading 38–31 in the fourth quarter and threatening to score again at the Chargers' 20 when Kelcher stripped the ball from Miami's Andra Franklin and San Diego's Pete Shaw recovered the fumble. The Chargers rallied to force overtime and won 41–38.[11][12] Don "Air" Coryell's Chargers teams of that era are mostly remembered for its high-scoring, pass-oriented offense. The Chargers won the AFC West from 1979–1981 and made the playoffs in 1982.
Kelcher retired in November 1983, but remained on the Chargers reserve list. The Chargers traded him to the San Francisco 49ers in March 1984. Kelcher had wanted to play again, but not with San Diego.[13] The trade reunited him with former Charger teammates Billy Shields, Johnson and Dean. In his final NFL season that year, the 49ers won Super Bowl XIX.
Kelcher was a favorite among Chargers fans, who greeted him at home games with cheers of "Loueeee".[14] Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts called him "the most universally beloved guy on our team."[2] Kelcher was among the first NFL defensive lineman to weigh 300 pounds (140 kg).[15] He was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame (now the Los Angeles Chargers) in 2003,[16] and the Breitbard Hall of Fame in 2006.[17]
↑ Jackson, Michael (2014). The Game Before the Money: Voices of the Men Who Built the NFL. U of Nebraska Press. p. 317. ISBN 9780803262973. https://books.google.com/books?id=1IfoAwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA317&dq=%22louie%20kelcher%22%20big&pg=PA317#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Graney, Ed (July 17, 2003). "Chargers Hall of Fame finally finds space to fit in Big Louie". The San Diego Union-Tribune: p. C-1. "Kelcher once said his playing weight fluctuated between 280 and infinity, depending on the buffet special being offered."
↑ Pascarelli, Peter (September 8, 1978). "Rating the NFL's top defenses". Poughkeepsie Journal. Gannett News Service: p. 13. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28772802/. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
↑ "Former All-Pro defensive lineman Louie Kelcher, 28, whose unexpected...". UPI. August 3, 1982. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/08/03/Former-All-Pro-defensive-lineman-Louie-Kelcher-28-whose-unexpected/2165397195200/. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
↑ "2012 San Diego Chargers Media Guide". San Diego Chargers. 2012. pp. 244–45. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130120052233/http://prod.static.chargers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/pdf/2012/2012-Media-Guide.pdf.
↑ San Diego Chargers 2012, p. 247.
↑ Zimmerman, Paul (September 8, 1980). "Afc West". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2014-01-30. http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=&title=Afc+West+-+09.08.80+-+SI+Vault&urlID=412270207&action=cpt&partnerID=289881&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1123752%2Findex.htm.
↑ "Grambling State University Loses Two Football Legends". FoxSports.com (Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC). August 11, 2010. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100819165517/http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/Grambling-State-University-Loses-Two-Football-Legends-86642150.
↑ "No. 16: Chargers' best draft class". ESPN.com. March 28, 2009. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/news/story?id=4017589. Retrieved May 27, 2011. "The 2001 class was good, but the 1975 class ranks the best. San Diego had four of the first 33 picks in the draft, and the Chargers selected three defensive linemen that would form the nucleus of "The Bruise Brothers" and once formed three-fourths of the AFC Pro Bowl defensive line."(subscription required)
↑ Smith, Rick (1981). 1981 San Diego Chargers Facts Book. San Diego Chargers. p. 45.
↑ Reynolds, Tim (January 1, 2002). "The Longest Yard". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2002-01-01-0201010100-story.html. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
↑ Reilly, Rick (October 25, 1999). "A MATTER OF LIFE AND SUDDEN DEATH THE 1982 PLAYOFF BETWEEN THE CHARGERS AND DOLPHINS WASN'T JUST A FOOTBALL GAME AND WASN'T A WAR, EXACTLY, BUT IT DID CHANGE A FEW PEOPLE'S LIVES". Sports Illustrated. https://www.si.com/vault/1999/10/25/268587/a-matter-of-life-and-sudden-death-the-1982-playoff-between-the-chargers-and-dolphins-wasnt-just-a-football-game-and-wasnt-a-war-exactly-but-it-did-change-a-few-peoples-lives. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
↑ Brown, Brian (March 29, 1984). "Chargers deal Kelcher to 49ers for low picks". The San Diego Union: p. C1. "Kelcher also told Charger linebacker Cliff Thrift, a friend, that he wanted to return to football but did not want to play again for the Chargers."
↑ Magee, Jerry (February 26, 2006). "Chargers fans had love affair with 'Loueeee'". The San Diego Union-Tribune: p. C-6. "'Loueeee,' Chargers crowds at Qualcomm Stadium crowds would coo, lovingly. 'Loueeee.'"
↑ Plaschke, Bill (September 1, 1995). "The BIG Picture : On the Field, Those 300-Pounders Look Large Enough, but Off the Field, They Face a Different World". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1995-09-01/sports/sp-41297_1_big-guys. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
↑ Magee, Jerry (November 10, 2003). "Seems like old times, circa 1980s". The San Diego Union-Tribune: p. C-6. "Fouts showed up to offer a few words at halftime on the occasion of Kelcher being received into the Chargers Hall of Fame."
↑ sdhoc.com, San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum Script error
QB Steve Bartkowski | RB Anthony Davis | RB Archie Griffin | RB Joe Washington | WR Peter Demmerle | TE Bennie Cunningham
OT Marvin Crenshaw | OT John Roush | G Gerry DiNardo | G Ken Huff | C Steve Myers
DL Rubin Carter | DL Leroy Cook | DL Pat Donovan | DL Mike Hartenstine | DL Louie Kelcher | DL Jimmy Webb | DL Randy White
LB Kenneth Bernich | LB Woodrow Lowe | LB Rod Shoate | LB Richard Wood
DB Dave Brown | DB John Provost | DB Pat Thomas
v · d · eSan Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XIX Champions
4 Max Runager | 6 Matt Cavanaugh | 14 Ray Wersching | 16 Joe Montana (MVP) | 21 Eric Wright | 22 Dwight Hicks | 24 Derrick Harmon | 26 Wendell Tyler | 27 Carlton Williamson | 28 Tom Holmoe | 29 Mario Clark | 30 Bill Ring | 32 Carl Monroe | 33 Roger Craig | 42 Ronnie Lott | 43 Dana McLemore | 49 Jeff Fuller | 50 Riki Ellison | 51 Randy Cross | 52 Blanchard Montgomery | 53 Milt McColl | 56 Fred Quillan | 57 Dan Bunz | 58 Keena Turner | 61 Jesse Sapolu | 62 Guy McIntyre | 64 Jack Reynolds | 65 Lawrence Pillers | 66 Allan Kennedy | 67 Billy Shields | 68 John Ayers | 71 Keith Fahnhorst | 72 Jeff Stover | 74 Fred Dean | 76 Dwaine Board | 77 Bubba Paris | 78 Manu Tuiasosopo | 79 Jim Stuckey | 81 Russ Francis | 83 Renaldo Nehemiah | 85 Mike Wilson | 86 John Frank | 87 Dwight Clark | 88 Freddie Solomon | 89 Earl Cooper | 90 Todd Shell | 94 Louie Kelcher | 95 Michael Carter | 97 Gary Johnson | 99 Mike Walter
Head Coach: Bill Walsh
Coaches: Paul Hackett | Tommy Hart | Norb Hecker | Sherman Lewis | Bobb McKittrick | Bill McPherson | George Seifert | Ray Rhodes | Fred von Appen
v · d · e50 Greatest Chargers
Allen • Alworth • Bauer • Benirschke • Bennett • Buchanon • Byrd • Carney • Chandler • Coryell • Dean • Dielman • Duncan • Faison • Fouts • Garrison • Gates • Gillman • Hadl • Hardwick • Harrison • Humphries • Jammer • Jefferson • Johnson • Joiner • Kelcher • Ladd • Lincoln • P. Lowe • W. Lowe • Merriman • Macek • McNeil • Means • Mix • Muncie • O’Neal • Osgood • Rivers • Ross • Scifres • Seau • Smith • Sproles • Sweeney • Tomlinson • Washington • White • Wilkerson • Williams • Winslow • Wright
Retrieved from "https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Louie_Kelcher?oldid=249482"
Pages containing cite templates with deprecated parameters
NFL player missing current team parameter
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7327
|
__label__wiki
| 0.714332
| 0.714332
|
Home National Trump threatens to 'get involved' to stop Mueller's Russia investigation
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Trump threatens to 'get involved' to stop Mueller's Russia investigation
Tommy Christopher
As Mueller closes in, Trump pushes toward a constitutional crisis.
After the latest bombshell in the Russia investigation, Trump is loudly threatening to use his "powers" to interfere with the Justice Department.
Trump's spin about the revelation of Robert Mueller's questions has been failing for days, so Trump has now issued an explicit threat via Twitter.
"A Rigged System - They don’t want to turn over Documents to Congress," Trump wrote Wednesday morning. "What are they afraid of? Why so much redacting? Why such unequal 'justice?' At some point I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the Presidency and get involved!"
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) responded almost immediately with a warning, tweeting "Mr. President, the powers of the Presidency do not give you the right to interfere with or shut down the Russia investigation. Firing the Deputy AG or Director Mueller would create a constitutional crisis. Do not go down this road."
Trump's tweet goes further than more veiled comments he made during an unhinged interview with "Fox & Friends" last week.
"I have decided that I won't be involved," Trump said last week, but added "I may change my mind at some point."
Trump's latest threat comes barely a week after the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bipartisan bill that would protect special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired by Trump.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has promised not to allow a vote on that measure, arguing it isn't “necessary” because he doesn’t believe Trump would fire Mueller.
Trump has already fired people to try to obstruct investigations into his campaign and his administration. He has even tried to fire Mueller on at least two separate occasions. And Trump’s attacks on Mueller and his investigation have been escalating for months.
If this latest threat isn't enough to wake McConnell up, then nothing will be.
Previous articleTrump ignores killed Army specialist to promote Fox crackpot's new book
Next articleTrump's top lawyer doesn't have security clearance as Mueller closes in
Former White House correspondent and politics reporter for AOL, The Daily Banter, and Mediaite, and a longtime liberal journalist and commentator. Follow Tommy on Twitter @Tommyxtopher.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7328
|
__label__cc
| 0.73366
| 0.26634
|
10Best Trucks / SUVs
2019 10Best Cars
Battle of the Beaters
2018 Editors' Choice
New Cars for 2018
The official Car and Driver community
Advertisement - Continue Below
Record-Breaking Thread
Jordan M Brown
Manage Content Subscriptions
Forums / Off-Topic Discussion / Record-Breaking Thread - Page 597
Posted by Jordan M Brown April 07, 2010 14:46
Latest reply by T M January 19, 2020 13:24
Begin breaking records here.
Election day in Alberta today with the polls closing at 8:00 PM local. It would seem a major statement is going to be made. In 2015, advance polls set attendance records, but this year approx. 700,000 people cast their ballot at the advanced polls, roughly triple the record set in 2015. The current government is NDP but CBC is reporting that there is a greater than 99% chance the UCP win. I know alot of people are frustrated and people are losing their jobs like crazy. Downtown Calgary (our largest city) is sitting at 26.5% vacancy.
Going to be an exciting evening.
John's ShelbyAMG
Looked up those 2 parties to see what they are. Think I know who you're pulling for. :) And it does sound exciting. Also, learned a little about Canadian politics.
Well, I have never had to doubt the political party that ran the province in the past but I really don't want to see that wrinkly old bee with an itch back in power. Oops, my inner voice speaking.
We have a new government. The UCP swept a majority with a proposed 63 seats (44 needed for a majority) and 55% of the popular vote while the NDP won 24 and received 32% of the popular vote. No other party won any seats.
Russell Lehman
Well got the new issue in the mail today, and the 4 way comparison among mid sized (used to be full-size) trucks surprised me, both the winner and the loser. Two things I did notice, the Ranger and the Gladiator in the pictures shown both had manual drivers seats. The Ranger was 43,000 and the Gladiator was 55,000. Both of those prices seem really steep for manual seats. I guess in the Gladiator it makes some sense because the roof and the doors come off, and power seats would be a liability when splashing through water but still. The other thing I noticed is that they didn’t bring the Gladiator with the manual to the test, even though you can get a stick in every trim level. They also complained about its on road tires, but seeing as how it was the overland and not the Rubicon I think maybe the complaints are a little miss placed, since the Rubicon is the most off road oriented version and would have been more off road capable than all the others, it’s about equal to a ZR2 on paper. That’s actually a comparison I’d like to see, a Gladiator Rubicon against a ZR2 in the backwoods someplace where a Raptor won’t fit.
Wednesday - Yet another afternoon and evening of digging into my friend's new Maggies and how they're sounding. Always enjoyable.
Thursday - Not really certain what's going on today, but something is likely to. It usually does...
maarp
Ah, the life in IT. Still recovering today from multiple hardware failures yesterday, including a network switch, our CCVT recorder, and a UPS.
Just in time for long weekend.
Jim Ciancia
Today's random thought...
For major American auto shows, LA had been considered the first of the season, while NY was generally considered the last. Now that the NAIAS in Detroit has officially moved to June for 2020 and beyond, will it be considered the first of the new season, or the last of the previous? Thoughts?
Pat Daly
How is June considered the first of the season and April the last?
Kind of my point. The placement in June makes it all quite convoluted. Although, with the NY show always happening on Easter week (starting the Wednesday before for press, etc.) it sometimes happens in mid-March. The prior schedule seemed much more fluid. LA in November/December, Detroit in January, Chicago in February, then NY in March/April. Quite the flow.
I suppose when you look at the whole of auto shows, including major international shows in other countries, the June timeframe fits. I know they are doing it because the weather is clearly better in June, and they want to have more interactive events outside of the COBO Center. But, it’s just weird and seems to throw off the balance in the universe.
So I came across a dodge rampage of all things, 4500 bucks, no rust at all, and it’s only on its 2nd 2.2L carbureted engine! Of all the K-Car derivatives it has to be one of the rarest body styles. At any rate I’m sure there will be somebody out there that would pay 4500 for one.
Friday - Likely a do-nothing day for me, as my gal will take the morning at least to SLEEP (sadly a fibromyalgia thing). I'll figure out something to do ... quietly!
Saturday - More rain here, and the grass is loving it. Not a lot doin' around here, other than having the mini-kid around for the weekend.
Nasty system of storms gifted us with almost 2 inches of rain during sporadic downpours since the middle of the night. We're past the worst of it now as it hammers most of northern New England and Boston. We've been under flood warnings and watches since last night. It just strafed New York and they've been clear since this morning. Won't affect the Yankee game at all but 100 miles north it's raining and my yard looks like a swamp.
Unfortunately the A6 will be out of commission for a while due to a relatively sudden groaning when I turn the wheel, especially at low speeds. At first it wasn’t bad, but it got progressively worse, and it got to the point that I was concerned for both my safety and the car’s well-being. I thought it was the axle or maybe the flange where it bolts onto the front diff, but it’s looking like it might be something inside the transmission or diff.
Anyway, the Si and TT both fell through, but earlier this week I stumbled upon a pretty nice 09 GTI, and long story short it’s in my driveway now. Hadn’t ever driven one before but now I understand the hype about them. Drives similarly to the B5 Passat that my mom used to drive except better in every way. Looking forward to putting some miles on it!
Congrats on the new ride! Should be reliable and FUN. Too bad about the A6. Still hope to get it back on the road?
John's ShelbyAMG wrote:
Yes, the A6 is in far too good of shape not to make it driveable again. I knew I was going to need a rear diff, and would probably also need to do some stuff under the hood, but due to how much driving I have to do as well as how little time I have to work on it, it knew I was going to need something to drive while it was down.
Sunday - I've been curious about the movie Watchmen for a while, having seen bits and pieces of it, so I decided to watch the whole thing on Netflix last night. UGH. Now I know where the term, "violence porn" comes from.
Off to NYC shortly for the NYIAS tomorrow. Hopefully, I will have fully recovered from the bout of food poisoning that struck Friday night into Saturday morning. I believe the worst is over at this point, so i am looking forward to a nice trip. Pics to come. Stay tuned.
Good luck with the show and hope you feel better soon.
Recall thinking I was dying while groaning out loud in the fetal position during the worst bout of food poisoning I ever had many decades ago. Followed by the amusing thought "No... Death would be easier than this..."
Man that sounds fun. Saw a video clip on You Tube. The high perf eco boost Mustang looks very interesting. Hope I get a chance to drive one. They showed a white Supra that looked really good to me in the video, much better than the still pics I've seen before. Very interested to hear how these and all the other cars look to you in person.
Awesome! Sounds like a great time.
Pat Daly wrote:
It could be worse. You could be in a foreign country, where toilets are so clean that one would rather die from holding it in.
I will never forget the food poisoning I ran into when I was in India in 1985. Emptied myself out both ends faster than you can blink, with cramps that could kill at 20 paces. That was 36 of the most miserable hours of my life, yet once it was over, I was eating the local foods, having zero problem, and enjoying myself enormously.
Sometimes, that's how it works.
T M wrote:
Had that happen to me in Burma. It was so bad that I actually missed my flight. I now carry a dosage of norfloxacin (very effective against the montezuma) whenever I travel out of North America.
Monday - GoT last night seemed to be the "girding up the loins" episode before the sh!t hits the fan. The worst part of all this is knowing that, up against the Night King, the Starks are going to lose people. Question is: who?
My daughter got an email last week from her alma mater saying that she had won an endowment to the tune of $13K for having the highest GPA in her program when she graduated last spring. Pretty sure the brains and goods look come from my wife's genes....
Below is both of them at her graduation in June last year.
John Albrecht
Yes, neither of them look like your avatar. But that's a nice surprise. Good job!
Nice work dad!
Presume you paid tuition and she got the endowment. :-)
Isn't that how it works? ;-)
Congrats, Al!!
Beautiful kids, Al. You done good.
So, I might have been hasty on my diagnosis of food poisoning the other day. I am now thinking that it could have been a stomach, or intestinal, bug. The reason for my change of heart? My poor wife suffered the same fate on our way down to our hotel in NJ yesterday; a whole two days after my attack. We both had the same thing for dinner the day it got me, so in theory, she should have fell ill at the same time (roughly). I believe that in her efforts to help me while I was doing my best interpretation of a bazooka, she contracted the bug herself, and it manifested yesterday. How many of you can say that you've had the opportunity and privilege of barfing over a Jersey Barrier on the side of the Garden State Parkway? My wife has checked that off the bucket list, sadly.
Fortunately, she was mostly back to normal today. We were able to enjoy our trip to the car show, and even checked out the new Hudson Yards development. I'll post some pics soon. In the meantime, here we are at The Vessel...
Tuesday - After 20 laps in the community center pool AND mowing the lawn, I was well and properly POOPED, though I didn't seem to need a nap yesterday. Might enjoy a walk today before the weather closes in, plus some good music.
How is the Blue Bullitt doing?
Russell Lehman wrote:
Wonderfully. I have something less than two years to pay it off, and with a tad over 37,000 miles on it, it is still Da BOMB. I am enjoying the hell outta that car like I've enjoyed damned near nothing else!
G*****n Leafs.
The over reaction is incredible, Babcock needs to go, Kadri needs to be traded, Marleau is to old, Gardiner needs to be traded....
Wednesday - I watched Doctor Strange again last night, and I have to say, as it comes to MCU origin stories, I think it's the best of the bunch, with Cumberbatch being no small part of the reason why.
Anyone else following the complete collapse of the Vegas Golden Knights? Watching from a distance, I found it amusing to say the least.
Didn't know there was a Vegas Golden Knights. Had to google them to learn what sport they played.
Nothing against hockey. It's just never been on my radar.
My only brush with hockey greatness was standing next to Gretzky at an open house at the girl's school our daughters went to in Manhattan. He appeared as thoughtful and friendly in person as he did on every interview I ever viewed of him. Would occasionally see his smokin' hot wife Janet at the corner ice cream store after school. :-)
Smokin' hot hockey wives are apparently on the radar. Not that there's anything wrong with that... ;)
Pat, I saw this earlier and thought immediately of you and your recent acquisition...
"Words to live by:
Racecar backwards, is racecar.
Racecar upside-down, is expensive."
Here's to you keeping the shiny side up!
In other news, for the rest of you all, NYIAS pics have been posted!
Have been upside down and backwards a few times but this was one of my more spectacular masterpieces of disassembly, occurring at VIR in April of 2011. It happened shortly after setting an altitude record that should have required a pilot's license.
Wow, talk about roll cages saving lives! Glad you were ok.
I saw those pics. Nice!
Nice pics.
Ford had a similar stage at the Toronto autoshow. Very well made augmented reality stage. My wife even said it made her want to buy a Ford truck.
"Have been upside down and backwards a few times but this was one of my more spectacular masterpieces of disassembly, occurring at VIR in April of 2011. It happened shortly after setting an altitude record that should have required a pilot's license."
Yikes!! Glad you weren't hurt. You should have seen if the flight time would count toward your certification for the aforementioned pilot's license.
John Albrecht wrote:
Lego wrote:
Based on you pics, feel like I've been to the show. Nice job. Don't think a Mercedes should ever be painted neon green but that's just me.
Was looking at pic 226 of a Ford pickup on a big X elevation stand and thinking they probably used a fork lift to slide the truck in given how close to the ceiling it was when I noticed two gents both at odd angles to the left of the stand. What's funny is they're both leaned way over on one foot so parallel in angle that it almost looks like they are posing there but I'm guessing you captured a happy accident as they hustled from one exhibit to another. :-)
You guessed it. Didn’t even see them when I took the pic. Only did it because, like you, I was pondering how they got it up there with the low ceiling. I’d venture to guess you’re on the right track with the forklift theory.
And, thank you. I do take these pictures, in part, to give those who don’t attend a feeling as if they did.
"Until this past February, it seemed like Kyler Murray was destined to play Major League Baseball and not in the NFL. Now, the former first-round pick of the Oakland A’s is strongly being linked to go No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals."
Would be a nice problem to have. Kind of enjoy it, as most kids these days are being funneled into one sport at a very early age. The athletic ability on this guy must be unbelievable though, drafted in the 1st round in two different sports, impressive.
Saw this morning that he indeed was taken first. Wonder if a quarterback could play 2 professional sports? It would have to be a tough contract to work out. Still remember Bo Jackson as the only player to be both an all star in baseball and make the Pro Bowl.
Quite an accomplishment for Kyler Murray.
Thursday - A bit late today, but no biggie. Went through Avengers: Infinity War again, in preparation for Endgame, which, so far, is getting excellent notices and, the last I looked, was rated a 97% on rottentomatoes.com. Offhand, I'd say that is about as solid a recommendation as anyone could ask for. No, I won't likely see it tomorrow, but damned soon, for sure.
Wonder what it's rating would be if it wasn't Marvel. I've seen some Marvel films, that I thought were average at best, that were rated quite highly.
Trochu wrote:
Iron Man 2 and Captain Marvel are two MCU pieces which I didn't think were that great, and frankly all of the Captain America films were simply too dark for me, but that's my own tastes. I still think the least of Marvel's handiwork outpoints anything that's come from the DCU.
Ran across this...
My window cracked so I fixed it the only way I know how
AllWheelsDriven
On a scale of one to ten I give that fix OVER NINE THOUSAND!!
Friday - Other than the US release of Endgame, there's not a lot going on here. Lots of rain, but that's about it.
It's 426 today. In honor of that...
Now there was one potent power plant. You have to wonder what could be achieved with that block, given current induction and fuel distribution technology. A whole lot of horses, to be sure!
So, as promised, more pics of our visit to Hudson Yards and what is currently known as The Vessel. Apparently, that name was only temporary, and a contest is currently afoot to select a permanent name for this interactive sculpture.
For those who don't know, Hudson Yards is a new development in Mid-Town Manhattan with retail, commercial and residential buildings all basically held aloft above an existing, and active, rail yard. Quite the feat. It was still partially under construction. Although, all the major stuff is done.
As for the aforementioned Vessel, some pointers in case you decide to visit. It opens at 10am. Tickets are free, but you do need one for entry, and will need to wait in line to acquire one, then again to get in. The tickets are issued with 10 minute increments (10:00, 10:10, 10:20, etc.). They won't let you in until your time; hence waiting in line again. It is a bit chaotic to be honest. They will, however, come through the line asking for people with the current time's tickets to move to the front. So, it doesn't really matter where you are in the line. I would recommend earlier in the day as we pretty much got right in. We had 10:10 tickets, and made it in within a couple of minutes of that time. Once you are "inside", you can head up any of the 2500 individual steps, which connect 80 landings. The 360º views are pretty spectacular. There is an elevator, or rather, an inclinator, that can bring you to the penultimate level of landings. They do reserve it for handicapped, pregnant, or elderly folks however. Only 6 people at a time can fit, and it takes 3 full minutes to go up or down. Here is a link for all the information you could ever want:
https://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/discover/vessel
Has anyone pitched "The Hive"? It's got that cool honeycomb stucture and is positively BUZZING with activity...
Visually, that annular stair complex is so intriguing that I feel as though, at some point or other, I HAVE to visit it. Very beautiful!
You should! I would also add, if you see in the last shot, the square tiles on the landings? Some of them tend to wobble a bit. Can be a little disconcerting on the upper levels if you don’t expect it. And, if you are susceptible to vertigo, stay away! Otherwise, it is really fun.
AllWheelsDriven wrote:
I’m not even sure where to submit an entry. You’re welcome to go for it, however. I like the idea.
Impressive as that area was the derelict remnants of the old elevated west side highway and rail yard where Ringling Brothers used to bring their circus train. They'd then have their yearly publicity walk of elephants and horses east to Madison Square Garden.
Saturday - This evening sees my gal and me at Severance Hall for another Cleveland Orchestra performance. The rest of the day will be played as it lies, I suppose.
How fortunate you are to have an orchestra that good right "in town". My dad was born in Cleveland and my uncle is still there. And loves it.
I have loved The Cleveland Orchestra since I fell in love with Severance Hall and its people and the music they make when I was nine years old. Nearly 60 years later, the love affair goes on unabated!
So, how's your spring coming along?
You've got snow?!! It's almost May... Our spring is getting more and more like summer, and we have a long HOT summer. Mornings are still VERY nice...
85°62°Sun 89°64°Mon 87°68°Tue 89°69°Wed 88°68°Thu 88°68
Can I give you a thumbs down for that John?
Yeah, I'm not impressed. I have an idea that the seasons have actually shifted somewhat in the last decade, by about 3-4 weeks. Not sure if it's climate change, or what, but it seems to stay warmer later into the fall, and winter hangs around longer. Where we used to regularly have snow on the ground to stay by the end of November, it doesn't seem to happen until at least mid-December or even Christmas time. And then today, this nonsense. Flurries (and even major storms) were not uncommon in the first week of April, but not at the end of the month.
maarp wrote:
Agreed. Been thinking the same thing myself for a few years now at least. We got some flurries here, but nothing is sticking. I’m just glad I opted to mow the lawn two days ago when it was in the mid 60’s and sunny.
When you're ready to step up to the big leagues, let me know. We've got about 3" to 4" on the ground, it's still coming down, and they are forecasting 8".
I don't mind though, the snow soaks in slower than the rain, which has a greater tendency to just run off, I wasn't planning on cutting the grass/trimming the hedge/suntanning/run a 1/2 marathon today anyways, it will probably be gone by Monday, and it was pretty dry.
Please log in or sign up to reply.
Post to thread
January 20, 2020 09:22 Score:
www.caranddriver.com
Welcome to Backfires
Member Points
Earn Points, Get Swag
Specialty Files
From the Review Vault
Tech Department
About Car and Driver
Subscriptions / Customer Service
© 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.,
| Your California Privacy Rights
| Internet-Based Ads
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7336
|
__label__cc
| 0.696393
| 0.303607
|
Home keyboard_arrow_right Businesskeyboard_arrow_right Sourcingkeyboard_arrow_right Feature
AKR Industries steadily marching towards Rs. 1,000 crore goal
by Dheeraj Tagra
Our workforce is our asset. Logu, MD (C) with his core team (R-L): Samy, Merchandising Manager; Suresh, Business Head; Bala, Finance Head; Senthil, Business Head and Planning; Pretty Abraham, DMM and Anbu, Director Production
Most of the Indian garment exporters are working with proper know-how, similar infrastructure and same brands, but despite this similarity, only few of them are growing steadily and are geared up for further growth. What makes them different from others? It is their passion towards business, unique business strategy, risk taking ability, working culture, positive mindset or inclusiveness of all such factors that are helping to set a new benchmark.
Tirupur-based AKR Industries, one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of fleece-based garments having production facilities in 3 different states (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh), is one such growing company. Dealing in different and interesting garment categories, AKR Industries is currently doing a business of Rs. 450 crore and is aiming to achieve Rs. 1,000 crore in next 5 years. That’s big!
Logu, Managing Director of the company and a first-generation businessman from an agriculture family in a small village in the western part of Tamil Nadu, shares how his company is different and how he is confident to achieve this ambitious target by increasing his business twofold.
Constructing business, not buildings
Building business beautifully. Logu strongly says that he is not a builder and wants to grow only by garment manufacturing, so he doesn’t prefer to invest in land and building
“From day 1, our mind was clear that we will invest only in necessary segments. Since garment manufacturing is our core strength, whatever profit we made from the business was invested again in the same business majorly in advanced machineries and automation. We never ever invested in real estate or factory buildings as we had no greed of owning land or building at the cost of limiting the funds flow for new investments in the business. There are people who have invested so much on buildings and are ready to invest in that sector and looking for occupiers. We will use those resources rather than investing again, which is waste for me and the nation as well. For many, this may sound peculiar and a costly affair, but in fact with this strategy, we are saving a lot of money” avows Logu.
Having a workforce of around 10,000 people, AKR Industries’ manufacturing facilities are spread across 17 lakh sq. ft. area, and out of that, just 3.5 per cent or 60,000 sq. ft. only is owned by the company. Rest all are rented premises. Being in Tirupur helped him in this vision as the cluster has so many buildings that are constructed specifically for garment factories and one need not do any major alterations in those buildings to meet the industry norms. This plug and play system proved to be of big inspiration to Logu.
AKR Industries’ factories are almost service and maintenance-free as the company has the policy to use any machine till around 50-60 per cent of its total life and replace it with a new one. This helps to upgrade the technology at quite shorter intervals, and is AKR’s way of getting the best out of the machines.
On the other hand, HR aspects find a strong place in AKR Industries which are generally ignored by many of the apparel manufacturers. Unlike many of the Tirupur factories where it is hard to find the key staff between 2 pm and 4 pm (thanks to extended lunch hours), AKR’s canteen has the same lunch time for all employees including the senior staff. AKR doesn’t have any contractor to manage the canteen.
In fact, while visiting the factory for interview, Team Apparel Resources saw the workers having tea with local snacks in the factory premises.
“My assets are not my buildings, my assets are my team, my people. Generally in this place (Tirupur), employee attrition rate is very high. Whereas there are many employees working here for the last 2 decades. I believe that we can change the mindset and improve people by persuasion. We are always ready to accept new things and ideas. We regularly observe how our staff has improved presently compared to previous year,” avers Logu.
60% menswear
30% womenswear
10% kidswear
To train its professionals, the company has strong tie-ups with Sri Lankan garment manufacturers and exporters. The senior team regularly visits top technology events like CISMA. This helps the company improve its productivity, sustainability as well as explore new products. Besides, the company has a scientific incentive system and all these have resulted in an attrition level of around 3 per cent, which is far less when compared to industry’s average.
AKR Industries has been primarily into custom-made garments all these years; all its clients are from Europe. Of late, AKR is focusing on the US market to grow the business. Having product development (PD) office in Spain, it is in the process to have a PD office in the US, to understand and cater to the fashion demands of US. Even though the company’s growth was slow last year, Logu believes that it will revive this year, and the addition of US business will also be an added advantage.
Spinning: 15,000 spindles
Knitting: 25 tonnes daily
Dyeing: 50 tonnes daily
Garmenting: 1.5 million per month
Merchandising team of the company never waits to get design guide from the buyers, but offers them with loads of self-developed styles which give the brands lot of inspirations for new fashion concepts. This strategy has helped to boost their business and it’s a win-win situation for the company as well as the brands.
As stated by Logu in his own words, “I never try to fetch orders from Bangladesh or China, my focus is always to get a share of garments manufactured in Italy or Turkey. We are almost 20 per cent at disadvantage compared to Bangladesh, especially when it comes to exporting to Europe, so all our additional efforts like focusing on new markets like USA, on PD, continuous training to employees can only help us to grow in continuously.” All clients, irrespective of their scale of business, order sizes, are treated with utmost care and equal respect by the company.
Truly Sustainable
60% cotton used is BCI
30% cotton used is organic
100% recycled polyester will be used in near future
More and more use of solar and windmill energy
Moving forward, in manufacturing, the focus of the company is to expand its manufacturing base in Andhra Pradesh as Logu believes that labour availability is good there. He adds, “There may be little more incentives that we may get in Andhra Pradesh and we will spend it on training the unskilled workers.”
We often hear that small things matter; Logu too follows the same, dedicatedly working from 9 am to 7 pm daily.
Garment ExporterApparel ExportersIndia
Dec 31, 2019 | 3 weeks ago | Business
Popular In Sourcing
How to remain cost-competitive in sustainable manufacturing!
Dec 11, 2019 | Sourcing
Quality Knit Wears on its way to become a public limited firm! Product diversification is the key
Nov 21, 2019 | Sourcing
Netherlands’ The Sting Company expands sourcing from India and South Asia
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7340
|
__label__cc
| 0.748322
| 0.251678
|
Austenprose – A Jane Austen Blog
Your online source for Jane Austen & her legacy, historical fiction & romance novels, & period drama
Jane Austen’s Works in Detail
Jane Austen’s Lady Susan in Detail
Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park in Detail
Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey in Detail
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in Detail
Jane Austen’s Sanditon in Detail
Austenesque
The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion) Blog Tour with author Carrie Bebris & Giveaway
Posted in Austenesque, Giveaways, Guest Blog, Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction, Regency Era by Laurel Ann Nattress
Please join us today in welcoming author Carrie Bebris on her blog tour in celebration of the release of The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion), the sixth book in her Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery series released today by Tor Books.
Laurel Ann, thank you so much for inviting me here to talk about my new Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery, The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion) on its release day. It is always such a pleasure to visit Austenprose and enjoy, as Anne Elliot would say, the good company of “clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation.”
Ever since my series debuted in 2004 with Pride and Prescience, readers have been asking for a Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery based on Persuasion, and I indeed planned to write one. Persuasion competes with Pride & Prejudice as my favorite Austen work (the winner is generally determined by whichever one I happen to be reading at the time), and the opportunity to bring together Mr. Darcy and Captain Wentworth in the same novel—well, let’s just say that the idea of spending every day with the two of them for the year or so it takes me to write a book was very appealing indeed!
However, whenever I begin writing a new novel, I look at where Darcy, Elizabeth, and other characters were left (both physically and in terms of personal growth) at the end of the previous books of the series. I contemplate which of Austen’s characters they might naturally encounter next, without the meeting feeling forced or coincidental. And I reread Austen’s novels with an eye toward loose threads that, with a little tugging, can be woven into a web of intrigue that entangles the Darcys whether they want to be involved or not.
Before now, both my own intuition and the Darcys themselves told me the timing wasn’t right for a Persuasion-based Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery. The Darcys weren’t ready to meet the Wentworths yet, and I wasn’t ready to introduce them. Austen’s “light, and bright, and sparkling” P&P was written early in her career; Persuasion was written at the very end and has a different tone. It is the work of a more mature writer, the story of a more mature hero and heroine. Before entering that world, the Darcys needed to have other adventures first, needed to gain more life experience. And I needed to develop a story worthy of bringing Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Anne Elliot, and Captain Wentworth—Austen’s most popular and compelling pairs of heroes and heroines—together. A mystery that only these four individuals, working collectively, could solve.
Now, as the Darcys enter their sixth adventure, the time is finally right. And that story is The Deception at Lyme.
It is a mystery that will take readers from the cliffs of Lyme to a battle at sea, as the Darcys and Wentworths investigate not one suspicious death, but two. Austen left me a number of loose threads and possibilities to work with. I was particularly inspired by the Cobb itself: After Louisa Musgrove’s fall, what mystery writer could resist sending another victim tumbling off the seawall—perhaps not so accidentally—for the Darcys to discover? The clandestine meeting that Mary Musgrove observes in Bath between Mrs. Clay and Mr. Elliot provided still more strands to weave into the story. What were those two scoundrels really discussing?
I also incorporated a loose thread I myself had left in a previous Darcy Mystery. In North by Northanger, I had created and killed a character in a single sentence (I must have been having a good writing day!) by stating that Darcy’s cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam had a younger brother, a naval officer who had died at sea. What if Darcy found cause to question whether his youngest cousin had truly died in action—and needed Wentworth’s help to uncover the truth? That casual mention provided a reason for Mr. Darcy and Captain Wentworth to ally.
In the course of their investigations, the Darcys meet all of your favorite characters from Persuasion—the Elliots, the Crofts, the Harvilles, the Musgroves, even poor Mrs. Smith. Mr. Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, also has a significant role in this novel. For years, readers have been asking me when Georgiana would enjoy a romance of her own, but a worthy enough gentleman never presented himself before. Now she finds herself with two suitors—an enigmatic naval officer and a handsome young baronet—while also finding that the course of true love never does run smooth. At least, not for an Austen heroine!
Persuasion tells the story of a love worth waiting for. I hope readers will find The Deception at Lyme the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery they have been waiting for. For me, it is a story that was worth waiting to tell.
Carrie Bebris is the author of the award-winning Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries, in which the married Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth become embroiled in intrigues involving other Jane Austen characters. Reviewers praise her novels for capturing not only the spirit of Austen’s works but also the historical details of the era. The Royal Navy figures prominently in the Darcys latest adventure, The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion), a book whose extensive research took her from the top of the Cobb to the hold of the 18th-century warship HMS Victory.
Carrie also writes for Jane Austen’s Regency World magazine and other publications and has edited nonfiction books about Austen and Shakespeare. She holds an M.A. in English literature and is a life member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. When not writing, she likes to travel, watch costume dramas that send her husband fleeing the house, and indulge in her love of all things British. Visit Carrie at her website, Carrie Bebris.
A Grand Giveaway
Enter a chance to win one of three copies of The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion), or, one lucky winner will receive one complete set of the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries. Yes, that is all six novels – Pride and Prescience (2004), Suspense and Sensibility (2005), North by Northanger (2006), The Matters at Mansfield (2008), The Intrigue at Highbury (2010), and The Deception at Lyme (2011), by leaving a comment stating what intrigues you about reading Carrie’s new Persuasion-inspired murder mystery, or which characters from Austen’s original novel you think might meet their demise in this new Mr. & Mrs. Darcy adventure by midnight PT, Wednesday, October 5th, 2011. The winners will be announced on Thursday, October 6th, 2010. Shipment to US and Canadian addresses only. Good luck!
The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion), by Carrie Bebris
Tor Books (2011)
Hardcover (304) pages
© 2007 – 2011 Carrie Bebris, Austenprose
Carrie Bebris, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Jane Austen, Jane Austen Sequel, Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries, Mysteries, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, The Deception at Lyme, Thriller & Suspense Fiction 78 Comments
« The Unknown Ajax, by Georgette Heyer – A Review
The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion), by Carrie Bebris – A Review »
78 thoughts on “The Deception at Lyme (Or, The Peril of Persuasion) Blog Tour with author Carrie Bebris & Giveaway”
I would be pleased to see Elizabeth Elliot offed. She was so mean and demeaning to poor Anne.
BTW, is there any chance of a future Mr. & Mrs. Darcy adventure that will involve Lady Susan?
Carrie Bebris
Hi, June ~ I am currently writing the seventh Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery. Lady Susan doesn’t appear in it, but she is certainly a marvelous, intriguing villainess, one well worth considering for a future novel.
I must confess that I have not read a single one of your Mr and Mrs Darcy Mystery Series but I’ll bet I’d enjoy any one of them. My wife is the one in the household who devours mysteries. Being a lover of all things Austen, this sounds like great entertainment. Wishing you much success on your latest offering.
Thank you, Jeffrey. If you also happen to be a lover of Patrick O’Brian (Master and Commander) or C.S. Forester (Horatio Hornblower), I think you would definitely enjoy The Deception at Lyme, because it captures some of the spirit of the Age of Sail. (So does “The Chase,” the short story I wrote for Laurel Ann’s anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It.) The more research I did on the Royal Navy, the more ideas it inspired.
Also, many of my male readers have told me they particularly enjoyed the fourth Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mystery, The Matters at Mansfield (Or, The Crawford Affair). Dueling plays a major role in the plot of that novel. (I figured for Henry Crawford, it wasn’t a matter of whether he would ever be involved in a duel, but how he had managed to avoid one until now!)
ov099
I’ve been slowly making my way through the series – what I love about it is that I can get my Darcy fix, but I love that you are writing about the other book’s characters as well. Sure, I love Darcy and Lizzie, but definitely think we need more related to the other books. And in this series, Lizzie is the person through who we are seeing the others again. Love that! :)
araminta18
Oh man, I *love* this series! So fun and inventive. Can’t wait to read this new one. But, as for who dies? Um, I’d like to think a double murder: Mrs Clay and Mr Elliot! :)
I’ve long been a fan of historical fiction, esp. Regency era novels. And, recently I started reading historical mysteries. Since Captain Wentworth is a favorite hero, this book sounds like it will be perfect. Thanks for the giveaway.
I haven’t read any of these books yet either. But they sound great! Persuasion and Pride & Prejudice are also my favorite Austen novels, so this is the perfect book for me.
Perhaps Lady Russell will meet her demise??
Within this past year I have been ‘reintroduced’ to the world of Jane Austen and the wonderful ‘what if’ books. I cannot get enough, and I am finding this is very common! (I worried about myself at first!) I am continually searching for more books that are worthy reads. This book and the others in the series sound very much like such books! I can hardly wait to start reading your books and living in the time with them. Congratulations on your success and please accept my well wishes for continued success.
By the way, this site has been the source of much of my research for books and authors. Thanks for all the good information afforded us here.
Sourkraut
I’d never heard of this series but think it’s a great idea from what I’ve read here! Might Mrs. Clay be one of the victims?
I have read this series from the beginning and have been delighted. I love Austen and I love british murder mysteries so I am in a win win situation. I agree with one of the comments above that Mr Elliot or Mrs Clay could serve as interesting victims especially since we know them fro m Persuasion as capable of dealing with less honorable sorts to get ahead in the world .One of the characters I dearly hope was not “killed off” though is Anne’s father. He is such a comedic figure I would miss him.
Theresa, I agree ~ Sir Walter is a great comic character, and I had a lot of fun with him in Deception.
willowisp
I have been so fortunate as to read all the prior Darcy mysteries and I found them uniformly charming! But I confess myself to be considering Deception at Lyme with greater anticipation than usual, as I am most devoted to dear Georgiana. To see her with a more worthy swain than Wickham will gratify the imagination.
Time for a new BBC Austen.
I have read most of Carrie’s Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries, and have enjoyed them all. Persuasion is my favorite of Austen’s books, and I’m looking forward to seeing it in a new light.
I can hardly wait to read this latest installment! I love your treatment of the Austen characters. Fingers crossed for Mrs. Clay to get what’s coming to her.
Kim Burch
I am really looking forward to reading this new novel! I have read all of the books in the series and eagerly awaited this one. As to who could be the next victim, I have to agree with above opinions or either Mr. Elliot or Mrs. Clay.
Congratulations on your latest achievment, Ms. Bebris!!!
I’m very much looking forward to this one!
Pamela Wood
I’ve read each book in this series so far & I can’t wait to get this new one! Of course Elizabeth & Darcy are my favorite characters in literature…..who could resist reading more about them. Anne & Captain Wentworth have never appealed to me as much, but I’m more than willing to be converted!! Perhaps now that Anne has found happiness she will have also found some backbone. As to who dies…Anne’s oily cousin would be a good candidate.
This my favorite of the Jane Austen novels. I have been waiting for this book since I read your first. The two people that I am willing to guess (or rather hoping to read about) die in this novel are Sir Walter Elliot and Elizabeth Elliot for they’re cruelty and arrogance, and especially their ill-treatment of Anne, who endures it all so graciously.
Lori Hedgpeth
Carrie’s series is my absolute favorite Darcy series of books. I’ve read each of them and love them all, for different reasons. I think she’s stayed true to the characters Jane Austen created while introducing new aspects to lucky readers, as well as throwing in some fun mysteries.
I cannot wait to read what Darcy and Lizzy will be up to in the newest book, and Darcy and Captain Wentworth together – – yay! I have absolutely no idea who the unlucky person will be meeting their demise but I know it will make a great mystery.
Thanks so much for the giveaway!
~Lori
Psychotic State Book Reviews
Thank you, Lori. I always look forward to your reviews, and can’t wait to hear what you think of The Deception at Lyme.
I have enjoyed this series and love the way the Austen characters continue, especially Caroline Bingley, Anne de Bourgh and, of course, the Darcys. I am looking forward to seeing how Anne and Frederick continue.
Mattie B.
I’ve enjoyed the other books in this series and look forwarding to reading this one. Anne and the Captain are two wonderful characters, and despicable Mr. Elliot (actually both Mr. Elliots – young and old) are much more developed than purely bad Mr. Wickham. In the other novels, Ms. Bebris keeps the language and styles in good Regency form, and her characterizations stay true to the originals. Her work is some of the best “Austenesque” around.
faith hope & cherrytea
I am anxiously awaiting library processing to complete for this newest so I can get it from the requested to the reading!! I have loved every one in the series thus far, Carrie. You write accurately and with those humourous asides I enjoy! I am very excited for your new ‘darling child’ to have safely arrived =)
What intrigues you about reading Carrie’s new Persuasion-inspired murder mystery? Actually, reading Carrie’s description I wonder what wouldn’t intrigue me? Every new plot inclusion piqued my interest further! What ARE the scoundrels, Mrs Clay and Mr. Elliot discussing? What of Georgiana’s not one but two suitors? Cptn W AND Darcy adventuring on the highseas?… I cannot wait to read more! =)) and the opportunity to actually OWN this series? a dream….
Heartfelt thanks for the opp and for offering us another solid JA read, Carrie!!
Well Done! You’re a Star*!
Jakki Leatherberry
I like the prospect of someone falling off the Cobb and dying. Very interesting! And bringing Darcy and Wentworth together in one book, what could be better?!!
Thanks so much for the giveaway! :)
You mean I would get to have Mr. Darcy and Capt Wentworth in the same book? That would be really interesting. I am curious to see how the two will get along. I find some similarities in their characters but a lot of differences as well. I think they will get along but have some differences of opinion as well which should make for a very interesting read. I have to say that Capt Wentworth is my favorite hero and Persuasion is by far my favorite Austen book.
Danielle, there certainly are a lot of differences between Darcy and Wentworth, and that proved one of the challenges of writing this novel. Darcy is a wealthy landowner who inherited an estate passed down through generations on his father’s side; his maternal grandfather was an earl. Wentworth is a self-made man who, with “nothing but himself to recommend him,” earned his fortune and professional rank through determination and success in combat. On the surface, they have little in common. They would not move in the same circles (indeed, would be unlikely even to share a mutual acquaintance), and if they were to meet at some social event, would probably struggle to find something to talk about. But what they *do* have in common are the inner qualities that really matter, traits essential to all Austen heroes. They are both men of honor and integrity, conscious of the responsibility they bear for the people in their care, whether family, friends, servants, tenants, or ship’s crewmembers. I think that’s why we as readers can admire and fall in love with both Darcy and Wentworth, despite their being two very different individuals. And it’s how, in my novel, they managed to form a friendship along with an alliance ~ by recognizing those qualities in each other.
I haven’t read any of these books in this series yet, but they have been on my wishlist for so long! Mysteries and Mr & Mrs Darcy together sounds like heaven!
It would be interesting if Lady Dalrymple met her demise in this book! I’m so eager to read The Deception at Lyme now to find out!!!
Lady T
With Persuasion being my favorite Austen book(plus,I did get to walk the Cobb many years ago!),I’m happy to hear that this latest Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery is set in Lyme.
As for a likely victim,I fear for Sir Walter-after all,there was much concern about
his possibly remarrying and bearing a son that would affect the plans of a certain
unscrupulous heir. Although,I doubt that Sir Walter would ever go near enough to the Cobb to fall off it,due to his dislike of sea air upon the complexion! Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Lady T, if you want to re-experience your walk on the Cobb, I have created a visual tour of Lyme and the Cobb with photographs from my research trip. It’s on the Deception at Lyme page of my website (www.carriebebris.com)
Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion are also my favorite Austen books, despite their differences. After all, Anne loves Wentworth but is persuaded away from him, at least for a time, while Elizabeth can hardly be persuaded to like Darcy. Of course, it all works out in the end.
I love this series, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the Darcy’s meeting with the Wentworths. I’m ready for the next whodunit, and I must admit I’m just as excited to meet Georgiana’s suitors. I smell intrigue!
Sheli
I work in a library and I have the chance to direct patrons to the Darcey mysteries whenever I can. Must say, I have yet to see a disappointed reader!
I’ve been checking our computer for Deception at Lyme and a few weeks ago, it came up. I got 1st in line and can hardly wait! Nice work Ms. Bebris. True to Austen and her characters. Love seeing them go on.
Christina B.
I’ve read and own them all. Until this book, North by Northanger was my favorite. This one is a pitch perfect, page turner! Carrie Bebris is at the top of her game! (Do not enter me, as I all ready have the ARC and am awaiting my pre-ordered hardbook copy from the UPS man!)
Thank you, Christina, for your praise of Deception. North by Northanger holds a special place in my heart, too. Elizabeth really comes into her own as mistress of Pemberley in that novel ~ part of the character growth I was talking about in my original post above.
Sally Michele Shaw
I was so glad to see that Carrie Bebris was being hosted today. I love her books though I have only finished the first four. Thank you for explaining how you arrived at the order of the characters Elizabeth and Darcy meet. I always wondered about that.
As to who is killed off, I have two different answers. For an innocent victim who knows too much, I choose Mrs. Smith. For who I would like to see killed off, that would be Mrs. Clay and Mr. Elliot.
Thanks for the opportunity for a give away.
I am so excited that this story is set in Lyme and that Mr Darcy and Captain Wentworth are in this book together! This sounds like such a fun mystery and I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for the giveaway!!=)
Lil Gluckstern
I fell into your books as if by accident, and I find them delightful and brain teasing. I love the “what if” premise, and have so enjoyed the development of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. I don’t know who might die, but I am sure I’ll look forward to more.
AmyA.
What intrigues me most is how this will end….because I don’t want it to! I have enjoyed each story I have read! I’m glad Georgiana’s story is told. Can’t wait to read it.
Amy, though I’ve now written a Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery based on each of Austen’s six finished novels, this is not the end of the series. I am already writing a seventh.
I have not actually read a Jane mystery which is why I would love to win. I think it would be most interesting the combination of the two. Thanks!
singitm@hotmail.com
Laura W
What intrigues me is this: “Reviewers praise her novels for capturing not only the spirit of Austen’s works, but also the historical details of the era” — plus an M.A. in literature. That sounds like an author worth reading!
Thank you, Laura. I do take care to remain true to Austen and respect her creations, and to research historical and setting details as thoroughly as I can. Some of the details are so small that I am probably the only person who would ever know the difference (such as the times of the tides in Lyme during the weeks of 1815 in which Deception takes place), but accuracy is very imporant to me. Even if some of my research doesn’t directly find its way into a book, it all gives me a better understanding of the era and people who lived in it. And very often, the research leads to new ideas for the plot, clues, or characters.
Irene Nash
I absolutely love this series and I am thrilled that you have a new book coming out. It’s such a great Darcy “fix”! and I love the mystery and revisiting with the characters!
Monica P
I’m so excited to read this; I loved all of the previous Mr & Mrs Darcy mysteries! The way the characters from the different novels are brought together is just ingenious. I hope the Darcys bring little Lily-Anne along with them, too :) I love the idea of the Darcys and the Wentworths together in one story and seeing how they get along. And I love Georgiana, too, so that’s a plus. Thanks for the giveaway, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
mpgottaloveme @ aol.com
I have adored every one of Carrie Bebris’ books that I have been able to read so far. They are a perfect continuation of Pride & Prejudice with my favorite couple, the thrill of a mystery, and other Jane Austen characters. I’ve only had the chance to read the first three so far, but I’m going to try to find the others somewhere.
I am ecstatic about the publishing of this sixth book of the series! I’m intrigued by Georgiana’s suitors, the whole mystery really, and the Persuasion characters. Although I have, unfortunately, completely read only Pride & Prejudice out of all of Austen’s novels, Bebris’ series introduce me to new Austen characters and inspire me to read the other novels. (I am currently reading, very slowly but surely, Sense & Sensibility.) Having said I’m not really familiar with the characters of Persuasion, I am at a loss as to guessing who should die.
Thank you to Mrs. Carrie Bebris, for six novels of lovely writing! Reading them makes my day and re-inspires my love for Pride & Prejudice and nurtures my love for Austen. Thank you for the giveaway as well :)!
God bless<3
Marilyn Ritter
This series sounds fantastic and I would love to start my enjoyment with this new novel. Thank you for the giveaway.
WOW! This series sounds fantastic! Thank you for introducing me to it!
Karen Field
Sign me up! I love these books and think I’m two behind. I can’t wait to read them. Will Carrie be at the Ft Worth for the AGM?
Karen, I will indeed be in Ft Worth for the JASNA conference. In fact, I’ll be delivering a presentation on dueling in Jane Austen’s time that grew out of research I originally did for The Matters at Mansfield.
While in town, I’ll also have a Texas book launch for The Deception at Lyme on October 14, 6:30-8 pm, at Barnes & Noble Sundance Square. It’s a triple launch with Laurel Ann’s anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It, and Janet Mullany’s novel Blood Persuasion. A number of the anthology authors will also be there. More info is on my website and the JAMMDI website.
I would kill off Mr. Elliot, the younger. Such a player! I have enjoyed the first several books but need to catch up again before this one comes out!
I’m really looking forward to reading this– Persuasion is my favorite of Austen’s novels and P&P is my second fav so throwing the two together with a mystery sounds delicious!
Just found you and your series and I find myself wishing my local library was open right now!! You can bet I will be there tomorrow to dive in. I’m very happy to have stumbled on this!!
As you can probably imagine, this has been a busy (in the best of ways) day for me. How delightful to return here and find so many comments! I will try to answer as many as I can. It’s particularly interesting for me to read your speculation about who survives and who meets his or her demise in The Deception at Lyme. I won’t spoil your reading pleasure by revealing too much, but I will say that all of the Persuasion characters you’ve mentioned (Sir Walter Elliot, his daughter Elizabeth Elliot, Mr. William Elliot, Mrs. Clay, Lady Russell, Lady Dalrymple) appear in my book, most of them playing significant roles. And by the end of the novel, some poetic justice has definitely been handed out :)
I am also glad to know that so many of you have read previous Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries and enjoy the series. I look forward to hearing what you think of the Darcys’ latest adventure once you’ve had a chance to read it.
I’ve read every one of your novels, Carrie, and I’ve really enjoyed each one! I’m so excited to read this new one based on Persuasion. Persuasion is my second favorite Jane Austen novel, too, next to Pride and Predjudice. And I can’t wait to see Darcy, Elizabeth, Anne and Capt. Wentworth join together to solve another mystery and see the rest of the characters continue to develop. I’m trying not to guess too much what’s going to happen because I can’t wait to see it unfold as I read. I would love to see Elizabeth and Sir Walter finally realizing Ann’s merit and lady Russell realize Capt. Wentworth’s. Thank you for bringing me many, many hours back in the Jane Austen world.
I’m currently reading The Deception at Lyme and am just about to start Chapter 3. I’m doing my best to read as slowly as possible but it’s so hard! I love these books. I think Mrs. Clay will meet her demise, but I wouldn’t mind if William Elliot also got his comeuppance! Thanks Carrie for taking the time to read and respond to these comments. I’m very happy to see you already working on the next book in the series. This is one of my favorite series to read overall, and I hope Mr. and Mrs. Darcy have many more adventures to come!
I got the e-mail today that my copy was on it’s way and I squealed for excitement! I can’t wait to read the story of Georgiana’s romance! As well as the coupling of my two favorite Austen couples (I too love Elizabeth and Darcy and Anne and Wentworth as my two favorite Austen heroes and heroines). The ones that intrigue me for plot points would be Mr. Elliot and Mrs. Clay of course (if anyone deserves to be offed it’s the scheming Mr. Elliot). I’m also curious as to what happens with Sir Walter – as annoying as he is, I don’t want to see anything happen to him as it would distress Anne; same with Elizabeth, although I would love to see her get some form of comeuppance (like having her new suitor be the villain?). Can’t wait for the book to get here, and plan on spending the interim refreshing myself with the previous 5 books :)
LynnS
I can’t wait to read The Deception at Lyme. I love these books in particular because they actually are about Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy instead of characters who have those names, but bear no resemblance at all to the characters Austen created. I’m looking forward to their meeting with Anne and Captain Wentworth.
KymPossible
I have been eagerly awaiting The Deception at Lyme for so long and am excited that I’ll finally be able to get my hands on it. 8-) I love these novels because they combine mystery and historical novel (my two favorite genres) and the Austen characters ACT LIKE Austen characters. I think Austen herself would have enjoyed them. I love reading how Elizabeth and Darcy interact as their relationship matures. So in Deception, I’m most looking forward to meeting Anne and Wentworth again as a married couple.
I have read the other ones. Can’t wait to read this one.
Love to read about both Darcy and Wentworth in one novel. Plus, looking forward to reading about Georgiana’s suitors. I think I would be pleased if Elizabeth, Mr. Elliot, the younger, or Mrs. Clay dies.
Meredith (Austenesque Reviews)
I absolutely cannot wait to read this novel! It sounds fantastic! And I am so delighted to hear that the series isn’t over! *doing a happy dance* I’m greatly intrigued to hear that Georgiana is going to have some romance in this novel! Thanks so much for the lovely post and opportunity ladies!
I thoroughly enjoy your novels, Mrs. Bebris! When I discovered Pride and Prejudice, I was completely taken with Ms. Austen and her talent for weaving a beautiful and amusing and touching story out of the lives of ordinary people. I found your first novel by chance while browsing through the library shelves and was absolutely thrilled to find a fascinating mystery written around these same characters! I looked you up online, found that you had two (at the time) other mystery novels based on Ms. Austen’s characters, and of course I had to read those first. I thank you for the inspiration which took me on the path from a being merely a fan of Pride and Prejudice to a full-fledged fan of Jane Austen herself. Thank you, and please keep writing your Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mysteries. They have brought me many hours of enjoyment!
Carrie – I am such a huge fan of your Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries! I have read several P&P “sequels” by other authors, but none have given me as much enjoyment as yours have. You stay so true to Jane Austen’s characters and how they would think and act. There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of a book and saying, “now, I know so-and-so wouldn’t do that!”. I (and my husband, if you can believe it!) are so looking forward to this next installment!
I’m not going to try to guess who meets their demise – I would rather keep an open mind, and let the story unfold as you have created it. Thank you for all your hard work to bring these stories to us!
Joanna Y.
I would love to hope it’s Mary that falls off the Cobb which would leave Charles free to marry Miss Smith! But given the order of the comments, I fear Mary makes it alive through the book!
I love reading these stories because they are very believeable and keep me eagerly turning the pages to see what happens! thanks for writing!
I would love to read this! Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice are my top three favorite Austen novels so to see my favorite characters from them working together is going to be a real treat
I would see one of Anne’s relatives be killed. They were mean to her
I stumbled across the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mysteries this summer and have thoroughly enjoyed them! After reading the Intrigue at Highbury, a wonderful “continuation” of the characters from Emma, and since Persuasion is my second favorite after P&P, I can’t wait to read the Deception at Lyme.
Don’t know what you have in mind next, but how about a mystery with the characters from The Watsons? I’m always disappointed when I reach the end of that unfinished novel.
Andrea Staten
I adore The Intrigue at Highbury! I borrowed it from my local library and it is now one of my absolute favorite books.I am excited to read more from Carrie Bebris. I think that The Deception at Lyme will be just as fun and exciting! I hope to collect all of the books in the future. :)
windicindi
Where have I been?! I was just sent here by an email from the Psychotic
State blog…I am a Jane Austen fan and a lover of mysteries. Now, I
have to get my hands on your book series. How intriguing?????
Valerie R.
I am a HUGE fan of the Austen stories, most especially P&P, S&S and Persuasion. To have a story that mixes the Darcy’s in with Captain Wentworth…. sounds very intriguing! I’m very excited to read this story, and can’t wait to find out what happens!!
I have read all of the previous ‘Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery’ books and have enjoyed every one of them. I can’t wait to read ‘The Deception at Lyme’. I really am looking forward to reading about Georgiana’s romance – she is a character that I love reading about. I hope that there will be more books in this series.
Mayra Nemeth
Hi Carrie, I have read several of your “Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mystery” books and enjoyed them all. In my opinion “Deception at Lyme” is your best and most satisfying as it offers plausible resolution of secondary plots and characters that unfortunately Jane Austen was unable to do before she died. Your mention of the murder of the Princes in the Tower (pg. 150) brought to mind my favorite mystery of all time: “The Daughter of Time”, the 1951 novel by Josephine Tey.
I cannot make a guess as to who dies, since I’ve already read the book, but I can definitely comment on it!
I have loved the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy stories. When my husband was in Iraq, I found myself reading and rereading Pride and Prejudice over and over; every time I finished, I would flip back and start it anew, not wanting the story to end. Then I discovered the mysteries! The story didn’t end, it continued on into their married lives and I loved every word of it.
I am a devoted reader of the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy mysteries and will continue to read them (on the release date) so long as they are written. Thank you for keeping the story alive.
I am very intrigued by a mystery involving Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and characters from any of the other Jane Austen books, but especially those involving the characters from Persuasion. Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy are my two all time favorite characters. I have not read any of mysteries to date but these do sound very interesting and I think I should like to read them. The reviews have piqued my interest. They have been added to my list. Thanks!
A novel with Darcy, Elizabeth, Wentworth, Anne and mystery…I’m so there!
Laurel Ann (Austenprose)
I have so enjoyed all of the mysteries in this series, but the combination of the Darcys & the Wentworths in Lyme with a romance for Georgiana is totally irresistible. I am looking forward to the big reveal of the seventh novel.
Thanks for the guest blog & giveaways Carrie.
Mary Beth Preston
I discovered Carrie Bebris Mr. and Mrs. Darcy murder mysteries several years ago when looking for a book to read on a plane. I’ve been an avid fan ever since. I am currently reading the The Deception at Lyme on my e-reader. I would not mind winning hard copies of the books. :)
Pingback: Giveaway winners announced for The Deception at Lyme & set of M&M Darcy Mysteries Series « Austenprose – A Jane Austen Blog
Please join in and have your share of the conversation! Cancel reply
Follow Austenprose on Social Media
Enter a Sweepstakes for a copy of Miss Austen, open until Mar 01, 2020
WELCOME TO AUSTENPROSE
where "There is a monsterous deal of stupid quizzing, & common-place
nonsense talked, but scarcely any wit."
Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra,
Join us in celebration of author Jane Austen (1775-1817) through her novels, letters, life and modern interpretations.
© 2007 - 2020 All rights reserved by
Laurel Ann Nattress
Forthcoming Review on January 22nd
Sanditon – a New Jane Austen-inspired TV series began on January 12th on Masterpiece PBS
Enter your email address to subscribe to Austenprose and receive notifications of new posts by email.
EMMA MOVIE UPDATE 12/16/19 Watch the 2nd trailer
Fun search engine terms on Austenprose.com today. Q. Jane Austen & @TheHuntington. A. 2 topics dear to my… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 hour ago
Sanditon | A Guide to Jane Austen's Novels | Masterpiece | Official Site | PBS pbs.org/wgbh/masterpie… 3 hours ago
Meet the Stars of the Sumptuous New @emmamovie. #EmmaMovie. vogue.com/article/anya-t… via @voguemagazine https://t.co/rEsLEcmETc 3 hours ago
Follow @Austenprose
Jane Austen Made Me Do It
“Austenesque ... box of bonbons.”
— The Seattle Times
MADE ME DO IT
My Austen-inspired short story anthology, from Ballantine Books
eBook only $4.99
Unabridged audio recording now available from Audible
LEARN MORE ABOUT JAMMDI
Follow Austenprose – A Jane Austen Blog on WordPress.com
Stream Downton Abbey the Motion Picture
Our Share of the Conversation
Laurel Ann Nattress on All the Ways We Said Goodbye,…
Theresa on A Preview of Miss Austen: A No…
Jean Moyer on A Preview of Miss Austen: A No…
sheilalmajczan on Hearts, Strings, and Other Bre…
Sarah on A Preview of Miss Austen: A No…
Sophia Rose on All the Ways We Said Goodbye,…
Forthcoming Preview on January 24th
All the Ways We Said Goodbye, by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, & Karen White — A Review 15 January 2020
Sanditon: A Novelization of Andrew Davies’ TV Adaptation of Jane Austen’s Unfinished Novel, by Kate Riordan 13 January 2020
A Preview of Falling for Mr. Thornton: Tales of North and South, by Trudy Brasure, Et Al 10 January 2020
A Good Name: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Variation, by Sarah Courtney — A Review 6 January 2020
A Preview of Strong Objections to the Lady: A Pride and Prejudice Variation, by Jayne Bamber 3 January 2020
A Preview of Miss Austen: A Novel, by Gill Hornby, & Exclusive Sweepstakes 1 January 2020
Poldark: Seasons 1-5 Complete Collection from Masterpiece PBS Now Available!
Sanditon: List of Characters
Sanditon: Plot Summary Chapters 1-4
Downton Abbey Season 1: Episode 1 on Masterpiece Classic PBS – A Recap & Review
Sanditon: Plot Summary Chapters 9-12
Downton Abbey Entailed? Understanding the Complicated Legal Issues in the new Masterpiece Classic Series
A Preview of Miss Austen: A Novel, by Gill Hornby, & Exclusive Sweepstakes
Jane Austen's Sanditon in Detail
Puzzling Legal Nonsense in Austen's Sense and Sensibility
Which edition of Pride and Prejudice should you read?
Forthcoming Review on January 27th
Category Menu Select Category A Soirée with Lady Susan Audiobooks Austenesque Author Interviews Being a Jane Austen Mystery Reading Challenge 2011 Between the Wars Era Biography Blog Events Blog Tours Book News Book Previews Book Recommendations Book Reviews By the Seaside with Sanditon Celebrating Georgette Heyer Children’s Books Christian Fiction Collaborative Fiction Contemporary Fantasy, Paranormal & Gothic Fiction Contemporary Fiction Contemporary Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction Contemporary Romance Critiques & Analysis Cultural Studies Dining, Etiquette & Entertainment Downton Abbey Dual Time Frame Fiction Edwardian Era Emma Adaptations Fashion & Clothing Favorite Books French Revolution Georgette Heyer Book Reviews Georgette Heyer Books Georgian Era Giveaways Go Gothic with Northanger Abbey Guest Blog Historical Fantasy, Paranormal & Gothic Fiction Historical Fiction Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction Historical Romance History Holiday Gifts Holiday Reading Home & Garden Jane Austen Jane Austen Adaptations Jane Austen Book Sleuth Jane Austen Books Jane Austen Contemporary Inspired Book Reviews Jane Austen Critiques & Analysis Book Reviews Jane Austen Humor Jane Austen Illustrators Jane Austen in the News Jane Austen Inspired Jane Austen Merchandise Jane Austen Quotes Jane Austen Sequels Book Reviews Jane Austen Stage Productions Jane Austen Tours Jane Austen’s Emma Jane Austen’s Emma Jane Austen’s Lady Susan Jane Austen’s Letters Jane Austen’s Life & Times Jane Austen’s Life & Times Book Reviews Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park Jane Austen’s Minor Works Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey Jane Austen’s Novels & Letters Book Reviews Jane Austen’s Persuasion Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice Jane Austen’s Sanditon Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen’s The Watsons Jane Austen’s Works JASNA JASNA AGM Literary Analysis Literary Quotes Mansfield Park Madness Mansfield Park Movies Masterpiece Classic Masterpiece Mystery Miss Austen Regrets Movie & TV Previews Movie & TV Reviews Movie, TV & Stage Adaptations Nonfiction Northanger Abbey Movies Period Drama Persuasion Movies Pride and Prejudice Adaptations Pride and Prejudice Sequels Pride and Prejudice without Zombies Randomly Not Jane Austen Book Reviews Reading Austen Reading Challenges Regency Era Regency Era Book Reviews Regency History Regency Romance Regency Romance Reading Challenge 2013 Roaring Twenties Era Sense & Sensibility Movies Sex and the Austen Girl Short Story Anthology The Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge 2013 The Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011 Travel Guides Victorian Authors Victorian Era Victorian Era Book Reviews WWI Era WWII Era Young Adult Fiction Young Adult Fiction Book Reviews
Forthcoming Preview on February 5th
Austenprose Contributors
Debbie Brown
Katie Patchell
Natalie Jenner
Tracy H
Forthcoming Review on February 17th
Jane Austen Blogs
All Things Jane Austen
Austen Variations
Jane Austen Addict
Pride & Prejudice 2005 Blog
Favored Links
A Covent Garden Gilfurt's Guide to Life
Georgian Index
Jane Austen Centre
Jane Austen Fiction Manuscripts
Jane Austen Society of North America
Jane Austen's House Museum
The Regency Reader
The Secret Victorianist
Willow and Thatch
Write Like Jane Austen
Forthcoming from Janice Hadlow on March 31st
Favored Book Blogs
Avid Reader's Musings
Babblings of a Bookworm
Bookfoolery
Confessions of a Book Addict
Impressions in Ink
Let Them Read Books
Margie's Must Reads
My Vices and Weaknesses
Regency Reads
She Reads Novels
The Book Fetish
The Fiction Addiction
The Lit Bitch
The Silver Petticoat Reveiw
Forthcoming from Gill Hornby on April 7th
Like Austenprose on Facebook
Forthcoming from Sonali Dev on May 19th
Archives Select Month January 2020 (6) December 2019 (9) November 2019 (15) October 2019 (13) September 2019 (5) August 2019 (3) July 2019 (2) May 2019 (3) January 2019 (5) December 2018 (1) November 2018 (2) October 2018 (2) July 2018 (1) July 2017 (1) May 2017 (1) July 2016 (1) June 2016 (4) May 2016 (4) April 2016 (6) March 2016 (1) February 2016 (1) January 2016 (5) December 2015 (7) November 2015 (2) October 2015 (4) September 2015 (4) August 2015 (10) July 2015 (17) June 2015 (12) May 2015 (3) April 2015 (1) March 2015 (7) February 2015 (13) January 2015 (6) December 2014 (13) November 2014 (10) October 2014 (12) September 2014 (6) August 2014 (10) July 2014 (9) June 2014 (6) May 2014 (10) April 2014 (7) March 2014 (11) February 2014 (11) January 2014 (8) December 2013 (9) November 2013 (13) October 2013 (15) September 2013 (9) August 2013 (13) July 2013 (8) June 2013 (5) May 2013 (6) April 2013 (11) March 2013 (17) February 2013 (19) January 2013 (18) December 2012 (21) November 2012 (10) October 2012 (17) September 2012 (20) August 2012 (20) July 2012 (8) June 2012 (3) May 2012 (20) April 2012 (18) March 2012 (16) February 2012 (21) January 2012 (21) December 2011 (24) November 2011 (14) October 2011 (24) September 2011 (23) August 2011 (28) July 2011 (21) June 2011 (25) May 2011 (26) April 2011 (29) March 2011 (28) February 2011 (22) January 2011 (16) December 2010 (21) November 2010 (16) October 2010 (11) September 2010 (18) August 2010 (52) July 2010 (24) June 2010 (22) May 2010 (19) April 2010 (19) March 2010 (31) February 2010 (19) January 2010 (17) December 2009 (16) November 2009 (11) October 2009 (11) September 2009 (29) August 2009 (16) July 2009 (18) June 2009 (13) May 2009 (6) April 2009 (7) March 2009 (21) February 2009 (18) January 2009 (15) December 2008 (23) November 2008 (13) October 2008 (36) September 2008 (24) August 2008 (25) July 2008 (12) June 2008 (8) May 2008 (15) April 2008 (11) March 2008 (13) February 2008 (17) January 2008 (22) December 2007 (30) November 2007 (30) October 2007 (5)
Forthcoming from Natalie Jenner on May 26th
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7344
|
__label__wiki
| 0.649812
| 0.649812
|
Posts Tagged ‘united kingdom’
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged boredom, capitalist boredom, crisis systems, disciplinary society, her majesty's prison service, pop theory, prison society, prison strikes, situationist, social theory, united kingdom, zine on September 16, 2018| Leave a Comment »
– from Dialectical Adventures into the Unknown (1974), Spontaneous Combustion.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged blackmail, capitalism, causes of crime, Crime, criminology, george ives, inequality, internal emotional causes of crime, policing, prison methods, prison reform, prisons, social inequality, social problems, social reform, Society suffers from the kind of criminals it deserves, united kingdom on January 26, 2018| Leave a Comment »
“Endeavouring to control the psychic storms and the physiological
cravings by external terror, is very much like trying to steer a ship from the outside;
it cannot be done. The mental self-searching restraints of believed religions
alone really influence hidden desires; even then the great passions will mostly
break through.
Meanwhile the successive attempts on the part of the State
to regulate those matters of private judgment and individual conscience, which
were once adjudicated upon purely theological grounds and authority,’ has
resulted in sequelae widely divergent from, and often directly contrary to, the
wishes of empirical law makers.
The first and most obvious was the endowment of blackmail.
The blackmailer is a variety of the human parasite, allied to all those others
of the tribe of Judas — those traitors, sneaks, and hypocrites who, in some circumstances,
may be employed by the State itself at a fixed salary, and in others may be
found lurking with its most loathed criminals, for speculative and illicit gains.
Particularly in an artificial and deliberate offence like blackmailing, Society suffers from the kind of criminals
it deserves. Because oppressive puritanical laws serve as the potent
instruments of private revenge or selfish extortion,’ and a scandal-loving,
prurient public taste creates the “ culture ” which the parasite can
flourish in. (And, to continue the metaphor, how one bright beam of the
sunlight of truth would kill all these unclean things !) The law-makers and politicians,
as usual cheaply theorising about things, have assumed the victim of blackmail
to be innocent, and have placed frightful penalties in his hands to hurl upon
those who shall threaten him.
The blackmailer, being a practical person, knows the accused
to be generally guilty, or at any rate compromised, and that, consequently, he
will endure almost anything rather than figure in a police-court scandal. (Perhaps
nine times out of ten, but not always. Older people may recollect how a
distinguished statesman was once threatened, on which he instantly caused the
arrest of his traducer, who was afterwards convicted. Those few who follow and
study criminal cases may recall a remarkable incident where a young man, in the
open street, was accused of indecency, forthwith seized, and marched towards
the nearest police station. On the way, his captor suggested release upon
payment, but the “prisoner" calmly elected to stand in the dock. Presently
his assailants took fright and bolted, but were afterwards caught and sent to
penal servitude, the magistrate warmly commending the prosecutor. Had he,
however, been really an invert, the course of events might have been more
profitable to the blackmailers and much less satisfactory to the public
interest.)
The greater his social position, and the higher his general
character and reputation — his sexual nature being really a question apart —
the more will he dread the odium of publicity; the safer will the sex
blackmailer feel.
And, on the whole it is to be feared with reason, these creatures
are extremely hard to catch; the cases
that get into the newspapers represent only unsuccessful operations. Effective
deals are squared up secretly, and are never heard of, though many things are
pigeonholed at Scotland Yard — In fact a number of most villainous gangs are
always badly wanted by the State, whose laws these very criminals get their
living by.”
– George Ives, A History of Penal Methods: Criminals, Witches, Lunatics. London: Stanley Paul & Co., 1914. pp. 353-355.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged capitalism, causes of crime, Crime, criminology, george aves, homeless, inequality, policing, prison methods, prison reform, prisons, social inequality, social problems, social reform, unemployed, united kingdom, vagrant on January 19, 2018| Leave a Comment »
“A man is taken out of the police cells to the magistrate, who
is too horribly filthy even for the dock, and so is tried out in the open yard.
Only last summer a number of more or less degraded and verminous people were turned
out of the parks: the press rejoiced as if some reformative scheme had really
been evolved. Nobody knew, or cared, where they were driven to, but the human dust
was shaken up and shifted, as by a careless house-maid in a room; and fell down
somewhere else! And this measure is typical of all those negative and superficial
processes and “crusades“ which Herbert Spencer has so well compared to the mere
kicking in of a brass pot, on which it bulges out the other side ! We see again
the “moving on” system, which Dickens pictured with his master hand.
” ‘Where can I move to? ’ Jo cries out in desperation. ‘My instructions
don’t go to that,’ replies the constable. ’ My instructions are that this boy
is to move on ’ … and pointing generally to the setting sun, as a likely
place to move on to, the constable … walks away.“ ’
The State has acted just like its dull minion; has walked
away and left the problem lying — truly a master-piece of "brass pot”
policy! The State would not admit that there was a problem, it simply preached
“self-help” — the only sort of help it understood — and “save yourselves.”
This is the last cry in catastrophe! How should the weaker individual units solve
social questions the community recoiled from?
They did not, and in dumb response there spreads before our
eyes the battle-field of ruin. One winter’s night (Jan. 29, 1904), the [City of
London] officials found nearly two thousand wanderers, trudging the streets or
crouched in nooks and archways.’ And there is yet a colder habitation— all of
us know about the Morgue in Paris; many a time I speculated there, upon an
awful silent company collected: poor derelicts, who, in the sea of shams, had
foundered on that grim rock of reality. There ’ For instance, are some thirty
mortuaries in London; we do not talk about or show such things, but they are
there, like all else good and evil, in this vast centre of the works of man. Thence,
and from wards and workhouses, there come the nameless bodies for the hospitals,
whose histories and troubles none can know. Many so outcast in the hurrying world
as to have had no value till they died: only the searching knives of the dissecting
rooms proclaimed their kinship with humanity.
Yes, there is much to do. For we must grapple with four
potent crime-causes: want, waste, competition, and drink. These evils act, and
react, on each other. Poverty may be honest; wealth, once acquired, may be honourable;
but whenever poverty and wealth dwell side by side, crime is as sure and
certain to evolve as are the two parts of a seidlitz powder to effervesce and
fizz when they are poured together.
Competition is war, and worse — it is a fight within the nation-fold.
Drink degrades all. It may be said that these statements are truisms. I would
reply that they express the truth! Prison reform really means social reform; it
would be strange indeed if our regeneration came from the weak and wayward
inmates of our prisons. No, it is not the “failures” who will solve the
profound problems of civilization, but the best intellects of Europe and
America. All these long years we preached to the poor prisoners, bidding them
bear the burden and walk straight: we might have known that to be impossible! The
State alone, by strong and sustained efforts, can lift the load of long
neglectful years. A tremendous task: yes, even for the State, because it means
that we should bring to use, burn, cleanse, repair, put right, set in its place,
the litter and the deep decay of centuries.
“The evil that men do lives after them.“ And we inherit
from the inhuman past social as well as physical diseases, that men have made,
which never need have been. Thus those slave ships, conveying their living cargo,
carried the curse of “colour ” to America, setting up slavery and civil war,
leaving a problem which is yet unsolved. So the mean slum indifference allowed,
grows to a complex vested interest that may cost millions to posterity. These
are but large examples out of many. None
need invoke religion to perceive that fathers’ sins are visited on children.
This is not (appreciably) a moral law, but a physical fact.
Besides that piled-up burden of taxation, which is expressed
in silver and in gold, there is a deeper, rnore destructive debt, which, like
the smoke-fog or miasma from corruption, rolls an impenetrable blight over
civilization. An old account, our forefathers incurred, but which stern Nature
sends in to the Nations, and will exact through glacier-grinding power, with
unremitted age-old interest. Of many items, but yet all expressed in that one word
which bars men out of Eden, and builds up a blind blank wall between us and
Utopia : and that one all-comprising word is, “Selfishness!”
We cannot indeed expect to alter human nature; but we can
alter the eliciting surroundings. That there are depths of wickedness in men,
we ought to know, since our civilization urges to effort, not to altruism. But
there is untold goodness in them too, which even competition has not killed.
All possibilities of love and hate lay hid and sleeping in the children’s souls
; what has Society invoked and stirred up into action? Decidedly the anti-social
qualities! Our life, as Herbert Spencer pointed out, involves the continual
searing of the sympathies. In practice we have penalized compassion, we have
imperilled generosity, we have exalted exploitation, we have rewarded gambling
and greed. And after this shall we rail at results?
But we must do something more than raise a jeremiad. If I
have dwelt so much upon social surroundings, it is because they underlie our
problem. To apply prison systems to the criminals, and leave at large the
terrible temptations which beset people struggling in competition, is, as it
were, to stop an uncleansed tooth. To treat the captured, yet neglect crime-causes,
is just as if, in an eruptive fever, we spent our efforts in anointing spots!
The surface rash is not the cause of illness, but an effect of the internal poison.
Likewise the prisoners are but outward signs of inward troubles which torment the
– George Ives, A History of Penal Methods: Criminals, Witches, Lunatics. London: Stanley Paul & Co., 1914. pp. 331-333
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Óglaigh na hÉireann, irish army, irish history, irish independence, irish military, poblacht na hÉireann, prelude to world war 2, the emergency, united kingdom, war planning, war preparedness, world war 2 on March 29, 2017| Leave a Comment »
The Suicidal Army
“In the 1934 plan, G-2 branch had produced an inventive way for the Army
to draw on its guerrilla warfare heritage and make maximum use of the
limited resources available to it. However, this plan was quite at odds with
the prevailing view within the Army General Staff. Two years earlier, the
Army Chief of Staff had submitted a programme to the government for the
development of a sizeable conventional force. He proposed building-up the
Army, over a 15-year period, to a 75,000 strong force which could field a
corps of three divisions well equipped with artillery, tanks, armoured cars
and aircraft. The Army Staff told the Minister of Defence that the purpose
of the programme was to provide for ‘the systematic building up … of a
Field Force suitable to the defence requirements of this country… organized
in a self-contained, properly balanced whole … [and] equipped with all the
modern weapons required.’ The massive scale of this programme can be
appreciated by noting that, at the time, the Army had only 13,000 troops,
little artillery, a handful of armoured cars, very few aircraft, and one tank.
As part of this programme, the Army convened a board in January 1933
to examine options for a new armoured fighting vehicle capable of
countering a tank attack, and which could be manufactured in Ireland. After
a year of deliberation, the Board proposed purchasing a single light tank
from a Swedish firm, and components for two additional tanks along with
assembly instructions, ‘with a view to gaining the practical experience
which would be invaluable when the more ambitious programme is
undertaken’. The Defence Department believed that assembling these
tanks could ‘pave the way for the possible development of a mechanical
industry in this line’. Needless to say, Finance officials strongly disagreed
with the Army’s proposal. They saw ‘no future for any Irish Firm in the
manufacture or even in the assembly of tanks’. In addition, the Department
of Finance was sceptical about the estimated cost of the programme,
particularly as it was believed that the Army had simply pulled their figures
out of thin air. Accordingly, the Minister of Finance rejected the Army’s
proposal and only gave permission for the purchase of a second completed
tank. Whereas the Army had wanted to start up a tank industry in Ireland,
all it got in the end was two tanks. Similarly, the rest of the Army’s buildup
programme was vetoed just as effectively by the Department of Finance.
Obviously the war in Europe increased the military threat to Ireland.
Britain had agreed in 1938 to give back the ports it had held onto in the Irish
state on the assumption that they would not be denied access to these ports
in wartime. When war broke out, the Irish government, led by Eamon de
Valera as Taoiseach (Prime Minister), did just this to preserve Irish
neutrality. This infuriated Winston Churchill who, now back in office as
First Lord of the Admiralty, had been highly critical of the decision to hand
back the Irish ports in the first place. He considered them vital to the Royal
Navy’s ability to defend Britain. Robert Fisk persuasively shows that this
led Churchill, as Prime Minister from 1940, to have an ‘unhealthy fixation
with the idea that strong-arm tactics might be used against the Irish’. This
was precisely what Irish intelligence officers had predicted in their 1936
‘Fundamental factors’ report.
Thus, Irish political and military leaders were only too aware of the
military threat they faced from Britain. However, at the same time, they also
relied on British military support to repel any German invasion. Indeed, in
the Summer of 1940, this is what Army planners worried about most.
Hence, General Defence Plan (GDP) No.l, drafted by the Plans and
Operations (G-l) branch of the Army General Staff, was designed in May
to suppress a rising by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and from July to
repulse a German invasion.33
Britain worried about this also; not only did
Britain want Irish ports for its navy, but it also wanted to ensure that
Germany did not overrun Ireland. Thus, there was considerable cooperation
between the Irish and British militaries to facilitate this. In July
1940 the British Army established a liaison team, called the 18th Military
Mission, to prepare plans for a British military intervention in aid of the
Irish Army.
Irish neutrality was primarily about Ireland affirming its sovereignty and
asserting its independence from Britain. Hence, the Irish government was
adamant that the British military should only come to Ireland’s rescue after
the Irish Army had first engaged the Germans, and Ireland had officially
requested assistance. Yet the British Chiefs of Staff told the British War
Cabinet that they could only defend Ireland if British forces entered the
country before the invading German force landed in Ireland. Hence, the
British military came up with a plan (Plan ‘W’) which ‘on one level fully
intended to be the British response to an Irish call for assistance – was also
the embryo plan for the British invasion of Eire.’ Irish Army staff knew
full well Britain’s ambivalent military intentions. The Irish Chief of Staff,
Major-General Dan McKenna, reported to senior Irish politicians in 1941
that the British appeared to be preparing to strengthen their force in
Northern Ireland, adding that: ‘Whether this increased force is to assist us
in the event of German aggression or to be used against us we cannot
definitely say.’ What is clear was that by November 1940 the threat of a
German invasion had receded, while Britain began to look ever more
threatening. As McKenna later recalled:
Although [the British Army] had given us their North of Ireland order
of battle earlier in the year 1940 towards the end of the year, when
more troops came to Northern Ireland, they notified us that they no
longer could make their order of battle available to us, and that in
consequence they would not ask for ours. In the atmosphere then
prevailing we could have had an invasion at any time.
This view was shared by Taoiseach de Valera who believed that ‘there was a
danger that Britain might attempt a rapid and surprise occupation of the
country.’ De Valera was so worried about the threat of imminent British
invasion that he ordered all Christmas leave to be cancelled for the Army. It
should be noted that for the purposes of assessing the Irish Army’s War Plans,
the actual threat of invasion from Britain was less important than the Irish
perception of this threat. As we have seen, to Irish military and political
leaders the threat was very real, and remained so until December 1941.
In response, G-l branch switched their attention in mid-November 1940
from completing GDP 1 against a German attack to drawing up GDP 2
against a British invasion. The sense of urgency is indicated by the fact that
GDP 2 was completed by staff officers, approved by the Taoiseach, and
promulgated to army commanders in Operational Order 3/1940, within one
month. At the same time the Irish government was so concerned about not
doing anything that might be seen as provocative by the British, that all
reference to Britain was deleted from Operational Order 3/1940.
Nevertheless, the force posture adopted under GDP 2 was clearly
designed to meet a British invasion of the entire country, the main effort of
which was expected to be an overland drive from Northern Ireland directly
down to Dublin. Under GDP 2, the Irish Army re-organized itself into two
divisions. The 2nd Division was given the task of meeting the main British
thrust from Northern Ireland. The 1st Division was tasked with providing
reinforcements for 2nd Division, and defending the rest of the country
against sea and air landings. GDP 2 determined that a ‘definite stand must
be made as far north of the line Dublin-Athlone-Galway as possible’ and
to this end the bulk of 2nd Division was to be deployed on a Main Line of
Resistance (MLR) along the line of the rivers Boyne and Blackwater. In
addition, an infantry outpost system, augmented by patrols and cyclist
squadrons, was set-up ahead of the MLR to initially delay the enemy
advance and allow time for the mobilization of forces on the MLR.
GDP 2 was quite at odds with the 1934 war plan and 1936 intelligence
report, both of which strongly warned of the risks of deploying along static
defensive lines. The adoption of a static defence may be explained by the
fact that the new war plan had a different objective. Whereas the purpose of
the 1934 plan was to drag out the war as long as possible with Britain, the
purpose of the GDP 2 was to buy enough time for German forces to
intervene on Ireland’s behalf. GDP 2 does not explicitly refer to a German
intervention in support of the Irish Army, but the Irish General Staff clearly
saw GDP 2 in this context. So, whereas the 1934 plan sought to preserve
the regular Army, by organizing it into mobile formations, and to use it to
prepare the nation for guerrilla warfare, under GDP 2 it merely had to keep
the British at bay for a few days until the Germans arrived.
However, it is difficult not to conclude that the 1934 plan offered a far
better defence for Ireland during the early war years than GDP. 2. There are
two reasons for this. First of all, six years had not changed the basic truth
that it would have been suicidal for the Irish Army to engage the British
force head on. In 1940, G-1 expected the British invasion force to consist of
three divisions and an armoured brigade from Northern Ireland, and a
further two divisions from Great Britain; totalling 70,000-80,000 troops
with approximately 1,000 armoured fighting vehicles and up to 400 field
guns. Against this, the entire Irish Army was only 40,000 strong with a mere
73 armoured fighting vehicles and 51 field guns. Thus, as in 1934, not only
would the British have had numerical superiority, but their force would have
been far better equipped and trained.
For this reason the Irish 2nd Division would have had slim chance of
delaying the British advance for sufficient time to allow for German
military intervention. G-l expected the British to launch a surprise attack
with ‘mechanized and motorized forces … utilized in the German model’. Such British forces would, in all likelihood, have swept past the Irish
infantry outposts and rapidly overrun the MLR. As one of the authors of
the GDP 2 admitted: ‘each forward battalion [on the Irish MLR] may
encounter a force 5 to 9 times its own strength in men alone. In the nature
of things unless the enemy blunders badly or we happen to be extremely
lucky, the odds are against us.’
In short, had the Irish Army executed GDP 2, it would have suffered the
same dire fate as the Iraqi Army suffered when it put up a static defence
against the US-led coalition in the 1991 Gulf War. Indeed, the analogy is
striking. In his recent analysis of the outcome of the Gulf War, Stephen
Biddle argues persuasively that in explaining the scale of the coalition’s
victory, the superior technology and superior skill of the Coalition forces
operated in synergy to produce overwhelming victory: ‘the Coalition’s
advanced technology made it possible to exploit Iraqi mistakes with
unprecedented severity, enabling entire Republican guard divisions to be
annihilated in close combat with minimal losses.’ Similarly, reports of divisional exercises carried out by the Irish Army in 1942 reveal a catalogue
of basic tactical errors by Irish troops which the better trained and equipped
British Army would have been able to exploit with devastating effect. For
instance, one report notes that: ‘There were, in fact, far too many avoidable
occasions when troops bunched on roads and offered excellent targets to
enemy machine-guns, mortars, artillery and air attack.’This was a critical
shortcoming, given that any invading British force would have enjoyed
overwhelming superiority in artillery and airpower. Overall, the report
found that the standard of tactics and fieldcraft ‘was generally below the
required standard. Under these circumstances, the basis of the 1934 plan –
to fight a series of delaying actions in order to preserve the regular Army,
train the volunteer force and give it experience – made a lot more sense.
The second reason for favouring the 1934 plan over GDP 2 was the
probability that Germany may not have been able, or even willing, to send
an intervention force to bail out Ireland. The Irish General Staff simply
assumed that: ‘In the event of Britain initiating acts of war in this country it
is quite certain that Germany will at once intervene.’ McKenna later
admitted that the Irish Army had greatly underestimated the extent to which
Germany was deterred from invading the British Isles by the Royal Air
Force and Royal Navy. It has also been suggested that the Irish
government realized that ‘it would have to face a hostile British incursion
alone — accepting German help would be militarily pointless and would be
politically disastrous.’ There is some evidence to support this view, in that
de Valera refused to accept a German offer of a stockpile of captured British
weapons. Thus, preparing a guerrilla campaign arguably would have been
a more prudent course of action than relying on German assistance. Indeed,
such a campaign may have offered a considerable deterrent to British attack,
given that Britain would not have wanted five army divisions bogged down
in Ireland in the midst of a world war.”
– Theo Farrell, “Professionalization and Suicidal Defence Planning by the Irish Army, 1921-1941.” Journal of Strategic Studies, 21: 3 (September 1998), pp. 71-75.
Photograph source. “Taking aim: An Irish Army soldier, wearing a German-style helmet, trains in 1939.”
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Óglaigh na hÉireann, irish army, irish history, irish independence, military organisation, saorstát Éireann, united kingdom, volunteer army, war planning, war plans on March 23, 2017| Leave a Comment »
The Army’s First War Plan
“The 1922 treaty with Britain at the end of the Anglo-Irish War of
Independence (1919-21) did not guarantee Ireland’s security. The British
Armed Forces (in particular, the Royal Navy) provided some protection for
Ireland against invasion by other European powers. However, there was
always the risk that strategic imperatives might lead Britain to forcibly reoccupy
the new Irish state. Indeed in mid-1936, the Intelligence (G-2)
branch of the Irish Army General Staff produced a major report on
‘Fundamental factors affecting Saorstát defence problem’ which
highlighted the possibility of just such threat. The report argued that
Ireland’s ‘greatest strategic importance is as a base for possible British naval
operations in the Western Atlantic, and as a base without which British
authorities assert they cannot effectively secure their own sea
communications’ and, therefore, ‘an attempt to maintain our neutrality
would lead to immediate conflict with Great Britain.“
The first war plan, drawn up by G-2 branch in 1934, painted a pretty
grim picture. The plan recognized that the Army lacked the resources to
develop a force structure capable of repelling an invading British force
through sustained conventional operations. This was due to severe underfunding
of the Army by successive civilian administrations. This, in turn,
had much to do with the centralization of power in the fiscally-conservative
Irish Department of Finance. All public expenditure was quickly and
firmly placed under the control of the Department of Finance by the
government of the new Irish state. Government departments were instructed
in May 1922 to seek permission from the Department of Finance before
spending any money or making any appointments.” This procedure was
institutionalized with the passing of the 1924 Ministers and Secretaries
Act.12
This meant that every single item of army expenditure, right down to
telephone lines and spare parts for machine-guns, required prior approval
from Finance officials. Since the Department of Finance was run by
former British civil servants who obviously did not share the Army’s view
of the threat from Britain or Germany, it was content to starve the Army of
resources. Thus, the Army budget was slashed from £11 million in 1924 to
just over £1 million in 1932.
So by the mid-1930s, the Irish Army was in poor shape to repulse a
British attack. The 1934 plan estimated that Britain could immediately put
at least 71,000 troops in the field against an Irish force of 25,000-36,000.
Moreover, it noted that ‘British units would all be highly trained,
completely armed and equipped, and properly organized. The bulk of our
troops would be half-trained, badly armed, and imperfectly organized.“ For
this reason, G-2 branch concluded that ‘we could not hope to successfully
resist on orthodox lines a British force of even equal size.” The obvious
alternative was to deter invasion by promising a campaign of guerrilla
warfare. Army intelligence officers noted that:
the bulk of our present Army officers, and many of our public men,
have practical experience of [guerrilla warfare]. Hence there is a
constant feeling that having fought the British on this basis before,
with a certain measure of success, that it forms the obvious basis upon
which we should fight them again.
Notwithstanding this, they concluded that Ireland’s defence could not depend
on guerrilla warfare alone. While a guerrilla campaign would last longer than
a conventional war against Britain, it was designed to attack the institutions
of an organized state not to defend them. Army intelligence argued that
Ireland could not hope to rally international support for its cause if it gave up
the institutions of statehood without a fight: ‘we would be regarded as an
organized state which had ignominiously collapsed almost without resistance,
and would not, therefore, be worth worrying further about.
Based on a recognition of the political reasons for offering organized
resistance to a British invasion, and the military reasons for preparing a
guerrilla campaign, the Army’s first war plan actually proposed an inventive
combination of both:
the object of the campaign of defence should be to prolong the
struggle to the greatest possible extent; to inflict as much loss as
possible on the enemy; to force him to deplete his main forces by
detachments; secondary efforts; security posts, etc., while all the time
avoiding the commitment of our own main forces to any decisive
engagement until the enemy is so worn down and dispersed that a
situation arises which would justify the risk … under this scheme each
Command would normally initiate its defence on a basis of organized
resistance, that as enemy advance progressed, this would be
supplemented by guerrilla tactics in his rear and along his lines of
communication, that when further organized resistance in any
particular Command became impossible that the bulk of the troops
would be withdrawn, and resistance continued on guerrilla lines
It is important to stress that at no time did this plan envisage a static defence
against British attack. The plan specifically states this:
When we speak of organized resistance we do not suggest that badly
armed, ill-trained Irish Brigades should be permitted to sit down to be
battered up to pulp by vastly superior British forces. What we do
require is that an organization should be devised which will enable us
to concentrate our forces in, say, light brigades, when an opportunity
arises to gain a definitive tactical success, and which will enable us to
scatter them as rapidly when such an opportunity has passed.
These light brigades were to be used to fight ‘a series of continuous
delaying actions’ rather than attempting to halt a British force at any static
line of defence. Such a plan of action was also designed to ensure that ‘our
most highly trained manpower [are not] sacrificed at the very beginning of
the campaign’. Indeed the primary purpose of the regular army was to
‘provide the highly trained cadres upon which the Volunteer Force can
organize, train, mobilize and fight’. It was also designed to buy time in
order to get volunteers into the field so that ‘practical experience of active
service would transform them from raw militia-men to confident veterans.’
The assessment underlying the 1934 war plan was confirmed in the 1936
‘Fundamental factors’ report. The report noted that the British military
believed it would take 150,000-200,000 troops to re-conquer Ireland, that
is, ‘approximately the strength of the readily available British Expeditionary
Force’; against this the Irish Army could field 20,000 troops. Irish
intelligence officers quite reasonably concluded that ‘it would be military
suicide for the Defence Forces as they exist at present to make more than a
show of organized resistance, they must of necessity revert to guerrilla
warfare as soon as possible.’”
– Theo Farrell, “Professionalization and Suicidal Defence
Planning by the Irish Army, 1921-1941.” Journal of Strategic Studies, 21: 3 (September 1998), pp. 68-71.
Photograph is W.D. Hogan, “Irish Free State Army soldiers grouped behind heavy field artillery.” 1922. UCD Dublin Archives.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7348
|
__label__cc
| 0.687442
| 0.312558
|
New Scientific Data Forces Government to Reverse Its Stance on Fluoride in the Water Supply
Why are some states simply ignoring the latest studies, and passing new laws that will hurt your teeth and harm your health? Action Alert!
Water fluoridation was introduced to the United States in the 1940s as a way to use waste product from the manufacture of aluminum, a waste product that was expensive to dispose of and which was harming cattle and farmland. Since then, the federal government has taken the stance that the fluoridation of drinking water, which conveniently disposed of the waste, is vitally important to help prevent tooth decay; the CDC called it one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century. But the the latest scientific studies have finally made the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) change their tune on how much fluoride is safe.
The data indicates that dental fluorosis—damage to the teeth from fluoride, ranging from lacy white markings or spots on the enamel to staining and pitting of the tooth surface—happens when fluoride levels are too high. Water is only one of several sources of fluoride. Other common sources include dental products such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, prescription fluoride supplements, fluoride applied by dental professionals, and exposure through our food, which is often sprayed with fluoride-based pesticides.
Today the fluoride in your water mostly comes from the phosphate fertilizer industry—but it’s still toxic waste, containing other byproducts such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. And two studies show that fluoride increases the accumulation of lead in bone, teeth, and other calcium-rich tissues, transporting heavy metals into areas of your body they normally would not be able to go—like your brain.
Another study revealed that prolonged, high intake of fluoride can increase the risk of brittle bones, fractures, and crippling bone abnormalities. Longtime readers may recall our 2008 article on the effects of fluoride on teeth and bones (harming kidney patients worst of all); we also noted that fluoride is a known neurotoxin, and can have detrimental effects on the thyroid, which could affect intelligence.
Moreover, fluoride can combine with other chemicals in the water to make them even more harmful. For example, when chloramines combine with the fluoride in water, they work together to extract lead from old plumbing systems, which leads to the accumulation of lead in the water supply.
EPA and HHS now recommend the level of fluoride in drinking water to be set “at the lowest end of the current optimal range”—that is, no more than 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water instead of the current recommended range which goes as high as 1.2 milligrams.
Despite studies so compelling that the federal government has started back-pedaling, the states of New Jersey and Vermont are attempting to mandate the fluoridation of water supply. Unfortunately, the New Jersey bill is very close to being passed. By contrast, Illinois and New Hampshire have introduced bills to prohibit fluoride in drinking water.
In New Jersey, both S959 in the Senate and A1811 in the Assembly are on red alert—they have been reported out of committee and are already on the floor, so they can be voted upon at any time. These bills mandate the fluoridation of water. At minimum, this is a freedom of choice issue—citizens should be able to choose whether they want to ingest fluoride or not. Write your legislators and ask them to oppose these bills—take action now!
In Vermont, H615 (currently in the Health Care Committee) contains many provisions to do with oral care—so we are specifically opposing section 108a, which mandates fluoridation of water. It requires that any municipality, government agency, or other entity that owns or controls a water system shall maintain fluoride in the water supply. Write your representative and request an amendment to strike out that part of the bill—take action now!
In New Hampshire: HB1529 would amend current law to say, “No fluoride, nor any chemical containing fluoride, shall be introduced into the public water supply,” as well as other specific provisions against the the use of herbicides within ten miles upgradient (that is, uphill) from a water intake of a domestic water supply. Write your representative and express your strong support for this bill—take action now!
In Illinois: HB5383 would do one thing: repeal the current fluoridation mandate. The bill is now in the Environmental Health Committee. Write your representative and express your strong support for this bill—take action now!
109 responses to “New Scientific Data Forces Government to Reverse Its Stance on Fluoride in the Water Supply”
Steve Kilpatrick, D.D.S. says:
It is unfortunate you has chosen to be a health terrorist. The mis-information you spread about fluoride is shameful. You can not back your claims with any valid study instead relying on junk science and lies to support your claims. Fluoride occurs naturally in all ground water and is the natural state.
Dr. Richard Edlich says:
Fluoride should be banned in drinking water, toothpaste, and mouth wash. Scientific studies have proven that fluoride is more dangerous than good.
Dr. Edlich
Anne Peterson says:
This ‘war’ has been going on for years!!! I remember hearing it on the news back in the 60s! Our city has just added more fluoride to our water, like we’re going to welcome that? NOT on your life!!! We avoid as much fluoride as possible but still getting some in bathing. I have already experienced pitting on my teeth! Any recommendations on the best commerical water without fluoride???
John Zeigler says:
The human Thyroid gland should have four iodine atoms around every cell. Fluoride displaces iodine, rendering the thyroid non-functional. The fluoridation of water supplies has caused a pandemic of thyroid disease in this country, resulting in myriad manifestations, including obesity and a huge portion of the society depending on energy drinks to keep up a modicum level of functionality.
Fluoride is a poison, and must be eliminated from our water supplies!
Teri Hodge says:
I have seen horses die from calcification due to drinking fluoridated water, if that is happening to them, just think what it’s doing to us. Please either remove or greatly reduce fluoride in our water supply, IT’S KILLING US!!!!
Linda Eisley says:
Fluoride has always been a poison!!!!! This fact will never change. I have been filtering my city water for many year in order to protect my family. Please remove all fluoride from the water systems across America.
Bill Taylor says:
The City of Sacramento flouridated it’s public water supply several years ago. I protested the action at the time, but to no avail. It has also recently been discovered that flouridated water can contribute to the body’s retention of aluminum, which goes to the brain. High concentrations of alminum are found in alzheimers’ patients! I was just about to write our city councilmembers and tell them that I no longer consider our water safe to drink, so this is great timing on some great information.
HDMania says:
Good for the states that want to ban that crap..I dont know why the water companys want to buy that crap..I’m sure it isnt free to them?.how much money would they save the city?..If the aluminum companys create a waste let them pay to dump the stuff..if they pass it on to the customer then if the price is too high to buy their product we either dont buy and then they might go out of business..find another way to make money instead of poisoning us people.
Having grown up in the 1950’s in a city that did not fluoridate its water, I had fillings in every tooth. I use the past tense because every tooth is now crowned or veneered. I am fortunate to have those teeth at all since I also had two root canals due to failure of old fillings. My wife who grew up in the same area has graduated to implants.
My dentist tells me that he sees almost no old fillings, almost no rework and few root canals in patients who grew up with fluoridated water. The EPA and HHS recently reduced target fluoridation levels to avoid cosmetic issues. I would freely trade all of my cavities for a few white spots on otherwise healthy teeth.
Since my dentist’s other patients are still alive, some far older than I, the alleged dangers of fluoridation do not appear credible.
Perhaps that is because the reported bone problems occurred in dialysis patients whose fluids were rehydrated with fluoridated water. That bypassed the natural barriers to intestinal absorption for patients unable excrete unwanted minerals. Forgive me if I do not find their experience relevant to mine.
There is a very real connection between tooth decay and cardiovascular disease. Public health experts can save thousands of hearts for what I have spent on one mouth.
Why would ANH sacrifice proven benefits to avoid alleged dangers that have not materialized in over a half-century of public fluoridation? While this position offers an alliance with the more extreme tea-baggers, they are far too busy looking for abortionists in every closet to waste time on supplement deregulation.
There is no obvious profit for ANH to sacrifice the dental health of a generation just to stick it to those who were foolish enough to earn a medical or dental degree.
Who did the study you mentioned and where is it published?
“Big money” + government mandate to use a product = guarenteed profits.
jessica coco says:
If you live in NJ & want to stop this maddness, please contact us at NoFluorideNj@gmail.com or call us at 201-855-8732. A vote is scheduled for March 15th, so time is of the essence.
Carol Newman says:
Please do not allow our water supply to have fluoride added to it anymore. We should have a choice as to whether or not we wish to have this known toxin in our bodies. Stand up for our right to be healthy, and discontinue this travesty. PLEASE stop the practice of dumping fluoride into our water supply NOW!!!
Carol Newman
If you want to know, go to http://www.cgg.org and read the commentary from Mark Collins about De-population/Sterilization and De-population/Vaccines. Very interesting.
art palmer says:
so the question i still have is to what extent did fluoride treatments help our teeth? it does seem from this article that once again our corporations have flooded the market with a product which is damaging in excess, but how helpful is it in rational doses?
Rixar13 says:
“Water fluoridation was introduced to the United States in the 1940s as a way to use waste product from the manufacture of aluminum, a waste product that was expensive to dispose of and which was harming cattle and farmland. ”
Very Sad indeed…. sigh
“But the the latest scientific studies have finally made the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) change their tune on how much fluoride is safe.”
Rigzin Dorje says:
follow the $$$$$$$$$$$$
Please make the new research, that is referenced above, available to us. This would add necessary credibility to a significant assertion.
patricia behr says:
Harmful chemicals in our water supply must stop. Fluoride may be one of the greatest.
I beleive it is illegal to provide a substance such as fluoride to water without a Doctors perscription. Also, each individual has the right to accept or not accept drugs of any kind.
A majority vote on such issues is also illegal. Look up the definition of drugs on the FDA
website. The addition of fluoride without a persons individual consent violates your constitutional rights and also laws of providing a drug without being a Doctor is a criminal offence.
Do not take my word for it. Look it up for yourself!
Bertram Levinstone says:
I am a physician. My dentist tells me that he hardly sees any children with caries, due to the fluoridation of the water. Why stop what seems like a successful process? Are there statistics on the undesirable side effects of fluoridation of water, or are those effects only seen with too much fluoride intake?
Karen Smith says:
The amount in the public water supply is quite low. I was a licensed dental hygienist for years, and fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in some teas that people drink, and in the soil. It really does help prevent decay. Certainly we do not want contaminated fluoride with arsenic , etc. in it. And the ridiculously high amounts can cause problems – as with a lot of things that are good for you – many vitamins, for instance. But tooth decay is an all too common problem, too, which fluoride definitely helps to combat.
“Soylent green is people!!!”…….we cannot trust our government!!!
Andrea Peterson says:
With all of the current information about how bad flouride is when overused, I would ask that you support HB 1529 and take flouride out of our drinking water. It’s outdated, since we now have other ways of getting flouride, if we even need it at all. We have been learning the same similiar misuse with antibiotics.
Richasu Young says:
All fluoridation of water must end.
Marquette Bruce says:
Can anything be done about the stupidity in Arkansas…this state just made it mandatory!?????
Barbara Simmonds says:
What is the law in Minnesota?
My dentist recently prescribed a high-fluoride toothpaste—essential, he says, to prevent decay in my old teeth. I did not fill the prescription; I don’t use fluoride toothpaste or other topical/ingestable fluoride—except that which is in the water supply…but I don’t know if/how much there is in St Paul water.
This comment is not meant as a criticism but an observation intended to provoke dialog. As a 1946 baby boomer from New York City I became aware of the fluoride debate in the early 1960s when the City initiated its widespread fluoridation program. I left NYC permanently to attend college, the navy, chiropractic school and eventually settled in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. Most of my contemporary relatives and friends remained in NYC where they continue to reside. I know of no public health studies suggesting that permanent NYC resident Boomers of my generation have health problems directly attributable to NYC’s fluoridated water supply. Are there any known diseases that affect this population of Boomers that is disproportionately higher than the national average and directly attributable to NYC’s fluoridated water supply??
Don’t medicate me! How about calcium or magnesium or strontium? We need all these. Why don’t they make sure there’s enough in our water so we all get our RDA. After all fluoride isn’t even needed, it’s just a little bonus the government is throwing in for us! LOL
I have a friend on the local water board but he seems to not hear me talking when I say something about not adding fluoride to our water.
I filter the fluoride out of my drinking water but refrigerator filters are required to leave the fluoride in! You have to mount a filter ahead of the refrigerator unless someone knows a source for better filters.
Judy Zitko says:
Arkansas introduce legislation this year mandated cities with more then 5,000 in population have to fluoridate their water. I live in a private gated community which is exempt, but they want to do this here too, despite an aging population due to the fact the majority who live here are retired.
Cuyler Brooks says:
I am old enough to remember the original fuss over “fluoride” – my father was against it, though he had no expertise in the field. This is the first I had heard that it was all a plot to dispose of hazardous toxic waste. But if you are going to talk science, you should use proper terminology! The word “fluoride” just denotes part of a chemical compound that contains the element fluorine – fluorine will react with almost anything, so WHICH fluoride are we talking about here?
Elyse Warner says:
Please no more fluoride in drinking water.
Stan Soboleski says:
Thank you for an honest to goodness opportunity to voice my pent up remedy for the Medical
Abusive Monopoly we Never-Enjoy and which is decaying! Ready?
DE-REGULATION ! As five of our states have deregulated electric and/or gas to break up the
Power Monopoly that’s strangled U.S. for years, this is the grandest idea for the AMA, Big
Pharma Industry, ADA, FDA, FTC, World Health Org and whatever else has abused U.S. and
other parts of the world for too many years with untimely deaths. Do I hear applauds?
Where do you think the HIV deaths throughout Africa came from? America’s AMA and through
the U.N. was used to vaccinate people against disease but instead these unsuspecting needy
people began dieing by nearly a million people.
De-regulation allows competition to bring the cost down and cures out of the closets.
I visualize patients who arrive in wheel chairs, push the wheel chair out the door to the dumpster!
De-regulate the Pharma controlled toxic waste meds and petroleum by-product meds that
abuse the already hurting and fearful patient.
Petroleum is toxic and Carcinogenic therefore, not to be ingested and never to be used to treat
any patient to new levels of abuse while Insurance companies reward AMA abusers with a
smile! Do I hear applauds? I’m just getting started. I must close. How about mercury?
I am Stan Soboleski, a horse farmer who cured a young mother of M.S. by accident in 1986
and disturbed the husband who retaliated by introducing me to 4 professional friends who
harassed me for 45 minutes. Two were Md’s, one a Lawyer and one a Camden Co NJ Judge.
Thomas Uhing says:
It’s about time! We were being told this years ago by intelligent doctors and nutritional scientists! But just try to find a toothpaste without flouride! So I went back to the good ‘ole days: Bicarbonate of Soda, like my monna used during WWII! Nothing like an Arm and Hammer to knock out corporate poisoning! The problem here is, where are they going to dispose of fluoride now? Dump it in our oceans and seas? One reason to stop using aluminum products….use stainless steel for cooking, in any case, another thing we knew years ago!
Humberto Zarate says:
Fluoride is considered a high toxic on its data sheet, why it is being introduced in our drinking water? To fatten the wallets of the producers of aluminum that do not want to pay for its disposal?
Natalie Mannering says:
Please don’t forget about the battle still going on in Arkansas!
Although the state government has mandated state-wide fluoride in communities of 5,000 or over, we are still fighting it here.
Jeff Campbell says:
I can only tell you I grew up with fluoridated water, am 54 years old, and only have 3 cavities, all filled. I have no idea what all the hyperbole is about.
Richard Weir says:
Well, it seems that somebody woke up to the fact that fluoridation was a hoax. I have been shouting this for years and had an argument with my dentist. he stood by the American Dental Association’s stand that fluoride was beneficial. i will see what he has to say when I see him next month.
Barbara Waldman says:
Keep fighting the good fight. We must keep fluoride – this known toxic chemical – out of our water supply.
Another very disturbing finding regarding flouride in the water is that is attracts aluminum which goes to the brain and is toxic causing serious neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and autism just to name a few.
Imogene Burkhart says:
Does Indiana have such a action?
Charles Cohn says:
Several years ago, I was using fluoride toothpaste, but in response to all the anti-fluoride stuff I was bombarded with, I switched to a non-fluoride toothpaste. Almost immediately, I came up with three cavities, which I hadn’t had for quite some time. So I went back to the fluoride toothpaste and haven’t had any cavities since.
The best information on fluoride you will ever hear is at the website MaeBrussell.com. Dr. John Lee, Dr. John Yiamouyannis, Dr. Phyllis Mullenix, and Joanie Greggains give you the history, health effects, origins, and reasons why this toxic industrial waste product is banned in most countries of the world. The audio is 75 minutes long which fits perfectly on a regular audio cd. You might consider burning hundreds of cds and circulating them around your area. The pro-fluoridationist fanatics will have a much harder time doing their job when surrounded by an informed public. Good luck.
Sharron Chadwick says:
It’s poison, plain and simple.
James Brady says:
When I was in school in the 50s I was in the debating club. The topic of my debate was; Should We Begin to Fluoridate the Water? Much of this information presented in this article was available then but there were no scienticic studies done to back up the information. I lost the debate because the American Dental Association provided my opponents with Printed pamphlets of propaganda. Even then the truth was out there if you wanted to find it. I do not believe that anything will change just because of new studies. Big money won in the 50s and will win again today.
Glenn Mosher says:
I’m from New York State and I support the lowering of flouride to an absolute minimum level. Most kids today have had cavity prevention treatments shortly after their permanent teeth came in so there doesn’t seem to be a need for flouride in our drinking water. I was also convinced for years that flouride was a great additive and that it greatly helped us to maintain our teeth. I no longer believe this is true.
I have been convinced for years about the toxic effects of fluoride, but have to make special arrangements to decline fluoride treatments at the dentist office. For both myself, and my kids. I intend to print out this article which articulates so effectively the dangers of this toxic waste byproduct. THANK you, ANH, for this well-written and informative article.
Fluoride is neither a nutrient nor essential for healthy teeth. It is one of the most poisonous substances on Earth. The chemical used (Hexafluorosilicic acid, which is an induatrial toxic waste chemical) cures nothing and heals nothing and has never been tested or approved by FDA or any government agency (in the USA) as safe and effective for human ingestion.
The company CEO would be arrested immediately if this waste were dumped in a river. The only way they can dump it legally is to run it through the community drinking water system first. It is the defintion of insanity.
Read the truth produced in the best scientific information on fluoridation here: (www.fluoridealert.org). You will see a petition signed by over 4000 professionals, including hundreds of dentists, hundreds of doctors, and other medical researchers calling on governments everywhere to stop fluoridation.
There are many large scientific studies there to show that drinking fluoridated water has no positive effect on cavity reduction and to show that it causes cancer, thyroid damage, broken hips from brittle bones, lowered IQ and other health problems.
dr. p.m. goodman says:
if you or your readers would be interested about how the flouride debacle began let me know and I’ll share the reason that another politician, motivated by greed, started the whole flouride mess.
also information about amalgam fillings (that are mostly free mercury) and why it is not banned in this country but is indeed banned several european countries.
Lisa Jason says:
So glad you see you writing about this! Not emough people know this! Thank you!
Standing_Bear says:
Nothing new here, the Government has known for years about the toxic properties of Fluoride, and has allowed it’s use anyway. It is all about money, not your health, or well being.
Does anyone know if carbon filters will remove the fluoride from the drinking water?
No, carbon filters will not work. You need reverse osmosos filters of distilled water.
A sound approach to making sure your body is fluoride free IMO is to DISPLACE the fluoride which may exist and does not belong n your body with IODINE which does belong in your body. This is almost never done because we as a nation are chronically low in iodine.
A way to REMOVE Fluoride from your Body
“Iodine therapy helps the body eliminate fluoride, bromine, lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum and mercury. Could this substitution of bromine for iodine have been carried out to increase diseases and thus create more need for pharmaceutical drugs?” Doctor James Howenstine, MD
“Dr. Abrahams thinks that the correct quantity of iodine needed to maintain sufficient amounts of iodine in the body is 13 mg. daily. This is 100 times more than the government recognized RDA for iodine.” Doctor James Howenstine, MD
“Iodine intake immediately increases the excretion of bromide, fluoride, and some heavy metals including mercury and lead. Bromide and fluoride are not removed by any other chelator or detoxifying technique.” Iodine and Chelation , Note iodine should also chelate chlorine
Most of us are deficient in iodine. This deficiency allows the fluoride to displace what little iodine we have. Repleting your iodine along with CEASING fluoride ingestion, can drive out the fluoride out of your body. See (iodine Protocol), To replete your iodine you will HAVE to start thinking of milligrams of iodine NOT micrograms.
Caroline Muirhead says:
Have always felt the fluoridation of our water was responsible for osteoporoses . fluoride breaks down our bones and then the bones build up stronger. But, after around the age of thirty-five, however, our bones breakdown faster than they build up. This fluoride , to me, is a killer.
Jean Burdge says:
Stop putting fluoride in the water, which poisons all of us and has an adverse effect on everyone.
Marna Ehrech says:
Fluoride is a poisonous neurotoxin. I’ve been driving 40 miles to a natural spring for years to get decent, non-toxic drinking water. GIVE ME UNCONTAMINATED WATER! If you are under the misguided impression that it’s actually a good thing, please get informed. Ignorance on this issue is inexcusable for someone in your position.
george smeenge says:
Thank God, we’re getting smarter and overcoming the commercialization of many years. When making money is the primary motivation we know we will ALL be victims.The lobbyists for big business even corrupt our governing agencies to accept bad solutions like drugs etc.
Thank you… Thank you ANH-USA for the good work and communications you DO!!!!
grandpa george
Lynn Kocal says:
Just an update on Illinois’ mandated fluoridation. HB 5383 releases the mandate for public safety. The bill doesn’t prohibit the addition of fluoride, just makes it optional. It was entered as a bill because of an unfunded mandate. It just moved out of the rules committee to the environmental committee.
Say a prayer for Illinoisans that we no longer have to have this poison in our water.
Dalon Jones says:
We’re just starting to scratch the suface if the many toxins we’ve been exposed to. Stopping flouridation is a good start. Let’s stop the other air, land, water, and food poisonings this nation has manifested through scientific research. UMSIH, Dalon Jones
If the FDA says it’s good, I usually run the other way.
Marvin Lewis says:
I called Mik Stack PA senator and asked that he start a bill to got rid of F in drinking water.
Greg Wilson says:
Dunedin, FL has recently approved the purchase of a new fluoride tank to continue adding fluoride to the city’s water supply. The purchase is two years away. I believe the Dunedin Commission is prescribing a medical treatment with out a proper medical license. Politicians should not have the power to dispense a preventive treatment ignoring the protests of citizens.
Dr Sickels says:
The evidence seems to say that topical use of fluoride (in toothpaste, dentists’ offices) may help reduce cavities, but that systemic use (in water) doesn’t.
You’d think that with all the budgetary constraints these days, municipalities would be eager to drop their water fluoridation and save that money for something else.
Doug Cragoe says:
The government has not reversed it’s stance on fluoridation. No government agency at the state or federal level has done that.
I would like to commend you on your excellent reporting because now we know about the mandatory fluoridation law in the Vermont legislature. It will be vigorously opposed .
The New Hampshire bill has been completely rewritten. It no longer calls for stopping fluoridation, but it merely requires a warning on water bills regarding the fluorosis risk from infant formula made with fluoridated water. Many people in public health do not want parents informed about this risk. Last year in the New Hampshire legislature a similar bill required a warning on water bills was shot down primarily for that reason.
fisfall says:
It’s a crime that elected officials our mandating that their constituents be used as a toxic dump
Randy C. Smart says:
Good synopsis of the situation. Fluoride is the poster child for stupity in America after WWII.
Geraldine V says:
35 years ago people in Europe were demonstrating against Fluoridizing their water supply because THEY did not consider it safe. When my Pediatrician in NJ suggested I give my children vitamins that included Fluoride because unlike NYC where it was in the water supply, that was not the case in NJ, I declined. He was shocked and predicted that my children would have poor teeth as a result and suffer much decay. My children are in their 30s and neither of them have EVER suffered a cavity. It has been known by the scientific community that Fluoride is harmful to the human body. It is criminal and it might be useful to do some research as to WHO pushed this use of Fluoride and put it in the water supply so that it caused so many people to suffer cancer and other deadly illnesses. Follow the money might be a good place to start.
Thanks very much for the article.
VOXPOP says:
Unfortunately texas is so backward..outlawing fluoride will never happen here.
What are the fluoride levels in Californian tap water?
patty brey says:
Could you do a petition for every single state in the nation (including Louisiana) to take alll fluoride out of all of our water and let the chemical companies have to deal with their own poisonous wastes.
RAPHAEL LANGSAN says:
FLUORIDE HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN AS A POISON TO HUMANS (AND ANIMALS ) IT IS A BY PRODUCT OF SEVERAL PROCESSES AND “WHY THROW IT AWAY WE’LL FIND SOMETHING TO USE IT AND SELL IT FOR. ANOTHER SCAM WHICH THE HEALTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL IS PUT AT RISK.
I have been preaching this for many years. And people thought I was extreme or nuts!
That is what happens when you are telling the truth about health and political issues. People believe you are overreacting or making it up.
James R. Johnston Ph.D says:
Good work with information and much appreciated.I will pass this on to the community we have served for 33 years (CN Certified Nutritionists).
Note about Illinois. In the near future the American Dietetic Association ADA (new name, American Nutrition and Dietetic Association (ANDA) will be applying to increase their power in Illinois where their home office is located. I am not aware if they have submitted there bill as yet.
As we all know since 1985 the ADA/ANDA has mounted efforts to get laws passed in every state basically giving them an exclusive in the dissemination of nutritional information and when possible even have the right to decide who they will accept as competitors.
With funding from supporters like Coca Cola and Burger King they are able to maintain their extensive efforts, state by state.
So, with the 4,000,000 or so professionals in the nutrition, health and life enhancement professions who would be forced out of their professions, some practicing disciplines involving nutrition that are thousands of years old it is important to take action to defeat the ADA/ANDA ACTS in their home state
I plan to mount an “All Hands” effort to stop the ADA./ANDA from further expansion. Letting elected officials know that thousands of “Illinonians” and their friends outside of IL that the ADA/ANDA gets the message that they have done enough damage and so the bill they have prepared for 2012 doesn’t even get out of Committee.
I am happy to keep you posted .
That will be a new
Michael Slater says:
Please do not require the public waters to be fluorinated.
Audrey Adams says:
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because you don’t drink fluoridated water that you’re “safe”. You are not—there are countless other sources from food and beverages now that are very concerningly highl. Also, don’t assume that your filter protects you—standard household carbon filters like Britta or PUR don’t remove any of the fluoride. And finally, don’t discount exposure from your shower—depending on the other food, drinks and products you use, and depending on how you shower (time, temperature, water pressure), you could get as much as a third to a half of your toxic fluoride exposure each morning as you attempt to get clean.
Wow, another “conspiracy theory” is looking like it is true…….. again.
Dentists 0 Toxic substances 2.
Dentists are mind contolled dunces.
First Mercury then Fluoride. DUUHHH
Emily Scott and family says:
Flouride, added to water, causes problems. It is an unnatural thing to do.
Randy Felder says:
Please let me know if Georgia fails to act responsibly in this or any other health matters.
On our side!, Randy Felder
sooz says:
what’s wrong with maine, other than the imbecile who is in the governor’s office? get on board, maine…flluoride is a carcinogen..take it out of our water supply…please
wendy Dannett, CSW says:
Remove flouride from our water.
The Dead M3ss3nG3r says:
Thank you so much for all you do to improve the Human condition. Thanx to groups like yours & each individual within them, we WILL eventually win this Information War against the elitist, corporatist bankster cartel; thus crushing their agenda for a “new world order” (i.e., a global dictatorship where Freedom becomes an unknown concept to the People).
The People are Awakening exponentially to the insidious machinations of this globalist beast. Their Machiavellian-Hegelian dialectic methods are faiiling more & more.
Resistance is victory….
Our success is inevitable.
Upon reaching a critical mass of well-informed. compassionate & motivated individuals- including those INSIDE the system, most importantly- we WILL prosecute these guilty conspirators & ALL their willing puppets for their myriad crimes against Humanity!!!
…ON WITH THE R3V0|UTION*!*!*
Moises Sanft says:
Can you tell me if California pass any laws against the use of fluoride in the water and any other products like toothpaste
No. To date no such law has ever been passed and all court challenges to remove Flouride have failed.
Julie Haddad says:
I say thank you for your time and dedication to this critical cause. We are very pleased to see the bill written, sponsored, and being considered in the Enviromental Health Committee. Not only are we overdosed from our drinking water, flouride is present in any of our food supply packaged with a city water source. I am with hopes they will take head to this information brought forward and repeal the mandate so we can get on with removing it from all of our water sources. Our representatives are not exempt from ingesting this awful toxin, so there families are at risk as well. I would encourage anyone that is interested in educating themselves to read Dr. Dean Murphy’s book. “How Fluoride is Poisoning You” He is an amazing well respected doctor, who has spent many years of his life unfolding the inhumane effects of fluoride on our population.
I take a lot of vitamin C and other vitamins and supplements. One of the ‘side effects’ of vitamins is that they aid the immune system in removing heavy metals, poisons, and toxins from our body and storing them in the liver. Caffeine trigers the liver to dump the poisons in the stool and are eliminated from our body resulting in an almost black stool. A normal stool is brown. I live in oregon and my well water is very pure. The last two months I have been in Orange County California where the water is fluoridated. Every stool has been ‘black’ which is not normal for me. Do the research. All this information is available on the internet.
netace says:
Also read Dr David Brownstein’s books on “Overcoming Thyroid Disorders” and “Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It”. Fluorine/fluoride and Bromine are 2 of the world’s most common toxins, next to mercury and lead, and are responsible for much sickness. Everyone needs to put a stop to fluoridation, as well as the use of bromine, in all areas of our lives. In the meantime, take iodine supplements daily to help your body rid itself of the fluoride and bromide poisons.
For me, the CDC, FDA, and USDA are NOT standards. They have been allowing the addition of poisonous substances into food and the brainwashing of citizens for decades.
I can’t believe that dentists are so insistent when it comes to fluoride treatment. I can’t believe I have been swallowing this neurotoxin obediently for years!
Keep on educating us, ANH!!
Dentists had better come up to speed quickly as they have surpassed Pediatricians as the most “clueless” of the Medical/Dental Industry.
o Silver fillings contain 50% mercury
o Dental X-rays irradiate the thyroid and head
o Fluoride is a DEADLY poison which has NO function in a healthy human body
o Root Canals create a deadly toxin creating machine in your mouth. If you die of any cancer the odds are overwhelming you have had a root canal.
“There is a common dental procedure that nearly every dentist will tell you is completely safe, despite the fact that scientists have been warning of its dangers for more than 100 years. Every day in the United States alone, 41,000 of these dental procedures are performed on patients who believe they are safely and permanently fixing their problem. What is this dental procedure? The root canal. More than 25 million root canals are performed every year in this country. Root-canaled teeth are essentially “dead” teeth that can become silent incubators for highly toxic anaerobic bacteria that can, under certain conditions, make their way into your bloodstream to cause a number of serious medical conditions—many not appearing until decades later. Most of these toxic teeth feel and look fine for many years, which make their role in systemic disease even harder to trace back.” 97% of Terminal Cancer Patients Previously Had This Dental Procedure
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/18/dangers-of-root-canaled-teeth.aspx?e_cid=20120218_DNL_art_1
L..P. says:
This is just another method….and part of the depopulation agenda, compliments of the United States Government. it is the same premise as GMO’s and vaccines. The *Elitists* are in control now, and there’s not a damn thing WE, the People can do about this. Try to enjoy your time here on earth NOW.
Rashele says:
Our children are being overfluorinated. There is fluoride in toothpaste and many other areas of consumption these days. To add fluoride to the water would be the same as drugging our society and drugging our children. As well as taking away civil rights to choose, and spending civilian tax dollars on something only the politicians want. So much for the politians promising to represent us when elected. This is not what people want.
A posting I found discusses how fluoridation got started and that it has suppressive affects on the thyroid hormone.
http://www.doctoryourself.com/thyroid.html
An unexpectedly pleasant surprise was the authors’ uncompromising criticism of water fluoridation. It takes a bold medical author (and publisher, for that matter), to so solidly slam fluoride, which though “currently touted as harmless enough to be put into the water supply, has been used in the past as a powerful medication to slow down overactive thyroid activity.” A citation to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology backs up this most interesting statement. The authors clearly state that water fluoridation is a significant cause of low thyroid illness in millions of people. They also mention the curious origins of water fluoridation, first employed in Nazi concentration camps to allegedly “force inmates into submission.” (p 173) The authors’ unequivocal conclusion: “Do not allow your children to be treated with fluoride.” (p 175)
The solution to our “fluoride problem” starts IMO with the realization that it is primarily a POLITICAL problem. Yes it was sold as a “cavity solution”; yes the economic justification was sold as a way to dispose of toxic waste. These were subterfuges and straw men.
The REAL reason fluoride was put in our water and will remain in our water is because it is a depopulation et al means DESIRED by the people who own HHS. Fluoride has thousands of ways to subtly steal years from your otherwise expected life span. When you or a loved one dies the role fluoride had in the death will not be apparent; this has been proven over the 50 years this poison has been PUT in our water.
This graph, which HHS completely understands, is the beginning and end of the health question.
http://www.nofluoride.com/presentations/Fluoride%20Lead%20Arsenic%20Comparison.pdf
As for the economic reason, do you know many communities are now IMPORTING their toxic fluoride waste products from CHINA? Yes because Chinese toxic fluoride waste is cheaper than local USA toxic fluoride waste.
Once we understand the fluoride is in our water to slow kill us we may be able to mount an effective response.
http://healthyprotocols.com/2_fluoride.htm
Fluoridation: A Triumph of Science Over Propaganda
Community water fluoridation (herein called simply “fluoridation” or “water fluoridation”) is the precise adjustment of the concentration of the essential trace element fluoride in the public water supply to protect teeth and bones. In 1945 Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first city in the world to fluoridate its public water supply. Since then, communities throughout the United States have adopted the practice. Water fluoridation is similar to food fortification and enrichment, which encompass the addition of iodine to table salt; vitamins to fruit drinks, milk, and various kinds of pasta; and vitamins and minerals to breakfast cereals and bread. Water fluoridation is the perfect public health intervention, particularly for children. Whole towns are protected in a nondiscriminatory manner. The protection is continuous and effortless to obtain. The fluoride in the water is incorporated into the enamel of developing teeth in children below the age of 16, making their teeth more resistant to decay for a lifetime. It also promotes remineralization of early decay in adults and interferes with the life cycle of decay-causing bacteria present in the mouths of both children and adults.
Water fluoridation is remarkably simple to implement and mimics nature: Virtually all sources of drinking water in North America naturally contain some fluoride. Fluoride levels in the United States are adjusted to about one part fluoride per million parts of water — a minute concentration.
The Antifluoridationists
While only a minuscule percentage of Americans opposes water fluoridation, an extremist minority urges avoidance of water fluoridation. These antifluoridationists or flurophobics falsely allege that it is unsafe, ineffective, or costly. They assert that exposure to fluoridated water increases the risk of contracting AIDS, cancer, Down’s syndrome, heart disease, kidney disease, osteoporosis, and many other health problems in children and the general popluation. But the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence confirms water fluoridation’s safety and effectiveness, and hundreds of peer-reviewed studies on fluoride have discredited antifluoridation propaganda. Almost at the moment Grand Rapids became the first community to adjust the fluoride content of its water supply, small groups of ill-informed people began objecting to water fluoridation. Early opponents included chiropractors, health food advocates,…
I would refer you to the scientific works of Dr. Phyllis Mullenix, PhD. I do not believe you will continue the same lines of thought after having read this interview. At the very least I should hope it would give you pause to reconsider. http://www.fluoridealert.org/mullenix-interview.htm
What About the Report From the National Research Council?
Anti-fluoride activists are talking a lot about a report done by the National Research Council (NRC) a few years ago. Supposedly, this report contains “new” information that highlights the “dangers” of community water fluoridation.
That would be news if it were true. However, they are misrepresenting both the report and some recommendations which are being made by a few of the report’s authors. The report actually deals with how much naturally-occurring fluoride should be allowed in water before steps are taken to remove it. The current limit is 4 times the amount that is used for community water fluoridation.
What about recommendations to lower fluoride levels being made by “the report’s authors?”
You notice that they usually say these recommendations are being made by “the report’s authors” and not that the report makes those recommendations. In an effort to be absolutely fair, the National Research Council invited 3 panelists who disagree with water fluoridation to participate in writing the report. These individuals had the opportunity to make their best anti-fluoride case to the other 9 panel members. Their recommendations were rejected by the majority of scientists on the panel. Since the report came out, these 3 individuals have made many presentations advancing their point of view. While nobody disagrees with their right to make these presentations, anti-fluoride zealots are trying to confuse their individual opinions with the findings of the NRC report by saying that “authors of the NRC report reject fluoride” even though the report says no such thing.
The NRC report was actually requested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help them in their periodic review of the safety of fluoride. To date, the EPA has not changed its regulations with respect to the amount of naturally-occurring fluoride in groundwater. They have made absolutely no recommendations regarding changes in community water fluoridation.
Here is what the CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (a branch of the U.S. Public Health Service) – has to say about the NRC report: “The findings of the NRC report are consistent with the CDC’s assessment that water is safe and healthy at the levels used for water fluoridation (0.7-1.2 mg/L). CDC reviews the latest scientific literature on an ongoing basis and maintains an active national community water fluoridation quality…
The first known instances of deliberate water fluoridation were in Nazi Germany ghettos and prison camps. Sodium fluoride was added to the human inmates’ water to sterilize them and to cause them to become docile, subservient subjects willing to comply with orders. Charles Perkins, a research chemist, wrote a letter to the Lee Foundation for Nutritional Research in 1954 about fluoride. In it, he stated that repeated ingestion of low doses of fluoride over a long period of time will destroy the areas of the human brain that trigger resistance to tyranny and unlawful coercion and control.” Fluoride Causing Premature Births
“Fluoridation is the greatest case of scientific fraud of this century, if not of all time.” Robert Carton, PhD, EPA scientist
“Our members’ review of the body of evidence over the last eleven years, including animal and human epidemiology studies, indicate a causal link between fluoride/fluoridation and cancer, genetic damage, neurological impairment and bone pathology. Of particular concern are recent epidemiology studies linking fluoride exposure to lowered IQ in children.” J. William Hirzy PhD, EPA scientist
“A Harvard thesis has shown a connection between water fluoridation and a 700% increase in osteosarcoma in young men if they are exposed to fluoridated water during their 6th to 8th years.” Doctor Paul Connett
“There is no disease that develops from a shortage of fluoride.” Doctor Paul Connett The Case Against Fluoride, Note fluoride contrary to popular opinion has NO function in the human body it is ingested like lead as an impurity and is rejected as best your body is able.
Warning: Fluoridation of Water is Damaging Your Bones, Brain, Kidneys, and Thyroid
“There was no significant difference in the decay rates of 39,000 fluoridated, partially fluoridated and non-fluoridated children, ages 5 to 17, surveyed in 84 cities.” National Institute of Dental Research 1987
The Pasteur Institute and the Nobel Institute have already caused fluoride to be banned in their countries (France and Sweden). In fact, most developed countries have banned, stopped or rejected fluoridation. Note Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria and the Netherlands also ban fluoride from their drinking water.
“Dentists make 17 percent more profit in fluoridated areas as opposed to non-fluoridated areas.”
“Sodium fluoride added to drinking water is one of a number of substances that is harmful to our bones. It…
Marj says:
Ever notice the warning on the box of toothpaste? It’s not printed on the tube, but on the box you throw away…… “If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poision Control Center immediately.”
Fluoride also helps with keeping the population complacent. Hitler’s scientific minds brought that little tidbit over to the U.S. when they defected here.
Thanks Grandaddy Bush!
davefromwisconsin says:
So either way it is all right to take toxic waste and put it in our water so we have better health?
Why don’t I just eat a uranium235 candy bar at least that would be quicker
Never ends the government conspiracy to control and kill the population
90% of municipalities do not add Sodium Fluoride NaF, They add Fluorosilicic Acid H2sif6, a waste by-product of the Phosphorous Industry. Sold mostly by Mosaic, Inc in Florida. Only 3% of the cities in the US actually use the FDA approved Sodium Fluoride, that was until Fluorosilicic Acid was introduced as a much cheaper alternative. There are only 2 ways companies like Mosaic can dispose of this chemical. One is by paying $1.40 per gallon at a special Hazardous waste dump, or in our municipal drinking water….which we pay them for!. Try and find a study on the safety of Fluorosilicic Acid by consumption to humans.
Chemical Industry Pay-to-Play Regulation Threatens Public Health
User fees create a regulatory system ripe for corruption. Action Alert! We at ANH-USA have written many times before about how the FDA is beholden to the pharmaceutical industry: through drug user fees, Big Pharma pays the FDA to review its products, giving the FDA a bias towards the ...
Sugar Dumbs Us Down
But new evidence shows that omega-3s may reverse sugar’s brain damage. (more…)...
Problems with Compounding Regulation?
Recent regulations released by the FDA contain several provisions that are harmful to doctors, patients, and compounding pharmacists. Office Use: This is an area of the rulemaking that has garnered the biggest reaction from the compounding community. Congress and the FDA have required a patient-spe...
Genetic Modification is Not the Same As What People Have Been Doing for Thousands of Years
Farmers have been crossbreeding plants for thousands of years to get traits they want, such as sweetness in peaches or big petals on roses. But this breeding for a trait, done naturally with the plants’ own pollen, is far different than forcibly mixing the DNA of one species with another. Natural ...
Jul 7, 2015 175
Media Misrepresenting the Facts in the First “Measles Death” Since 2003
As far as we can tell, there was no “death from measles,” just a seemingly desperate attempt to twist the facts to support a pro-measles vaccine narrative. Last week, news reports started discussing the death of a woman in Washington. For the first time since 2003, the stories went, someone in t...
Will FDA’s “Grandfathered” Ingredients Rule Mean No More Real Vitamin E?
Supplements not on an FDA “approved” list could disappear. (more…)...
The Battle is Not Over for Our Iraqi War Vets—Traumatic Brain Injury Has Long-Lasting Consequences
The latest issue of Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development focuses on identifying which combat veterans with traumatic brain injury might need more intensive treatment. As Pulse of Health Freedom pointed out in its October 7 issue, concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are common...
Pharma Companies Sued Over MRI Drug
Will justice be done? From Business Wire: Chuck and Gena Norris announced today that they have filed a lawsuit against eleven drug companies, including McKesson and Bracco, that they claim are responsible for the gadolinium contrast dye used during the MRIs that nearly cost Gena her life. The lawsui...
Massive Vaccine Cover-Up
New evidence shows that members of a global vaccine committee may have been involved in a massive cover-up regarding the safety of the HPV vaccine. State-based action alerts! Earlier this month, Cornell-trained clinical pathologist Sin Hang Lee, MD, sent an open letter to the director general of the...
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7351
|
__label__cc
| 0.519201
| 0.480799
|
← Tears on my Pilau
One in Ten →
A Few Clowns Short of a Circus…..
by Anna Raccoon on March 26, 2010
“Palpitating pageant of pachyderms, pulchritude and pantomime! Extraordinary wild animal exploits! Desperately dangerous displays of unrivalled aerialism! Colossally comic comedians! Dainty and dexterous displays of principal bareback equitation!”
Oh, the language of the circus!
Ballyhoo, bravado and exaggeration are stretched to linguistic limits with alliterative phrase heaped upon alliterative phrase until the words are as poetic as the movements of any daring young man, or woman, on the flying trapeze.
Christmas is a busy time for the travelling circus, expectant families to be entertained, animals to be cared for, homes to be uprooted and repositioned hundreds of miles away overnight. So little surprise that as soon as Christmas is over, both circus actors and animals take a well earned winter break, and have no contact with their appreciative audiences until around Easter time.
Thus it will come as no surprise to you either, that December 21st to March 15th was precisely the ludicrously short period of time that DEFRA gave both sides in the ‘are circuses cruel’ debate to submit their views to a government committee determined to spend our tax payer pounds on regulating yet something else.
The effect of choosing this period of time can be seen in the governments own admission that the 12,907 responses out of a total population of 60 million in the UK, broke down as follows.
2,231 postcards – which were part of a campaign by ‘an’ animal welfare organisation – and which consisted of ‘some’ of the questions posed. Nothing quite like selective polling….
9,390 electronic responses to the on-line questionnaire, which members of the circus audience would have been entirely unaware of, since the circuses would have had no contact with them during this period.
I am reminded of the university ‘poll’ which posed the question ‘should the café be non-smoking’ to the entire user base of the university café on Christmas Eve – no students present, merely the Mother and Baby Toddler group having their annual chin wag – not surprisingly they claimed 100% of those polled wanted the café non-smoking, and non-smoking it was!
As if this wasn’t enough, the questions were so loaded as to be obscene.
Do you think that there are any species of wild animal which it is acceptable to use in travelling circuses?
Don’t know 1% (85 out of 9920 responses)
No 95.5% (9463 out of 9920 responses)
Yes 4% (372 out of 9920 responses)
Now that in itself is an interesting question for – suitably buried in the small print on a well hidden page – DEFRA makes clear that it was specifically excluding any question of the use of animals in circuses as entertainment, and was considering neither their performance nor their training:
Performance and training techniques were excluded as we considered that if any cruel practices were used in the training of animals it should be relatively straightforward to mount a prosecution for cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act.
So the question only relates to the fact that the animals were part of a ‘travelling’ circus, rather than being used as entertainment.
How many of the 9,390 on-line respondents were reacting to the notion of animals being used as entertainment and how many were correctly understanding that it was merely their transport that was complained about is open to conjecture – as is the number of those respondents who were encouraged to take part as a result of the many PETA organised campaign groups. My guess would be that the PETA encouraged participants accounted for the 9463 who said NO…..
You might imagine from all this activity, committees, academics submitting reports, and postcard campaigns, that this is a huge problem.
If so, you will be bewildered to learn that there are only 4, I repeat 4, circuses left that use non-domesticated animals. They are:
The Great British Circus with a grand total of 1 Kangaroo, 2 Llamas, 4 Reindeer, 5 Lions, 7 Tigers. 7 Camels, and one lone Zebra.
Bobby Robert’s Super Circus who only possess 1 Elephant (touring, but retired from performance) and 1 camel.
Circus Mondao with 3 Zebras, 2 Llamas, and thinking of acquiring 2 Camels…
And last but not least, Jollys’ Circus with 2 crocodiles, 1 Zebra,1 Ankole, 1 Llama and 6 Snakes….
Labour have already passed the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which prevents unnecessary cruelty or suffering to any vertebrate animal. It is a ‘common informers’ Act, which means that anyone can make a complaint which would lead to prosecution. In addition, it introduced a new ‘duty of care’ for any animal under the control of man, which makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met. This duty applies to animals kept in circuses just as to pets, farmed animals and other domestic and companion animals.
There are also extensive rules and regulations about transporting any animal – if there were not I should have a 100 squealing pigs with ‘MP’ stamped on their rump, trailing Old Holborn round Cambridge – but illegal, unfortunately.
None of this is sufficient to satisfy the zealots at PETA and the other Peter Springer inspired Animal Rights groups – they have lobbied the entire machinery of government to introduce new legislation in respect of those 4, repeat 4, circuses, and their habit of taking their animals with them as they move from place to place.
Thus, this morning we have the BBC proudly announcing a ministerial statement from Jim Fitzpatrick MP.
“Wild animals are set to be banned from circuses after a consultation found overwhelming concern by the public.”
The large number of responses that we have received is a testament to the interest that stakeholders and the general public have taken in this issue.
On the basis of the preliminary analysis that Defra’s animal welfare team have done on the responses received, I am minded to pursue a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in England. Jim Fitzpatrick MP
The RSPCA piled in of course.
RSPCA wildlife scientist Dr Ros Clubb said: “Watching animals perform unnatural tricks also does nothing to educate the public or promote compassion for animals.”
But remember gentle reader – this was never about animals performing, it was about their inclusion in travelling circuses…….and any regulation or ban would only apply in England as animal welfare is a devolved matter.
Just as well it was not about animals performing, for also this morning we hear that in London Zoo, in the Bio-Dome (good marketing, like the Bio bit) the monkeys are to be released amongst the public by way of encouraging more visitors to the zoo – otherwise known as providing entertainment…….
“We want people to be immersed in the jungle as soon as they get off the bus,” said Mr Dobbs. “We are actually letting the animals come out and get close to the public. We think they will be happy running around when the public are in here.”
“It’s about inspiration.”
This is where the circuses went wrong. They should have re-named the Big-Top a Bio-Zone; the Ring master could have been a Facilitator; the clowns ‘Outreach Consultants’ communicating by sign language to a multi-cultural multi-lingual audience, the Lions and Tigers could have come out to celebrate Eid and Hajj in the traditional way by snatching a child or two for breakfast – maybe even a roaming DEFRA Minister throttled by a Boa Constrictor for good measure.
Dr Clubb would have been happy to see the animals performing natural tricks…..
All this nonsense brought to you courtesy of DEFRA, who yesterday announced that they had found ways of trimming £194 million off their tax payer funded budget! Since this has been announced post ‘cuts’, I cannot bear to think how else they were wasting money before.
Tweets that mention DEFRA Ban wild animals in travelling circuses. — Topsy.com
Uncle Marvo March 26, 2010 at 12:06
Yes. And there should be quite a few of them once the full extent of their troughing activities have been revealed. I can’t think that anyone else would want to employ them.
Antisthenes March 26, 2010 at 12:17
“Labour have already passed the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which prevents unnecessary cruelty or suffering to any vertebrate animal”.
So it’s open season on Labour MPs then because they are spineless bunch of bastards and not covered under the act.
SadButMadLad March 26, 2010 at 12:22
What is a “wild animal”. I could be wrong but animals used in circuses are captive born. So the definition of a wild animal is that they are not commonly used as pets. Note I said commonly because tigers have been used as pets in the past. Dogs are only a bit of training away from being wild wolfs. Witness the number of dog attacks. Then you have cats which cause havoc with the local bird and rodent life. Why are they allowed to be pets when they cause such carnage?
The care to which circus owners look after their animals is probably the same or even more than the public looks after their pets. That’s because the circus animals provide an income. In fact with various laws circus animals are inspected a lot more than pets are.
Animals rights campaigners then go one about the stress of the wild animals as they are being transported. What about the stress of wild animals as they are being hunted by other wild animals. What about the stress of horses as they are transported in tiny boxes? What about the stress of chickens and rabbits when they are put on show in argicultural shows?
Animal rights supporters have a beef with the captivity of circus animals. Why aren’t they having the same beef with pet birds? Or snakes. What about fish kept in small aquariums. There arguments can easily be turned against them. What about zoo animals?
What about the entertainment of humans by animals? Aren’t dog shows like crufts entertainment? Why isn’t it banned. What about kids petting farms with lambs and goats?
I could go on, but it’s easy to shoot holes in animal rights issues. Either they have to accept that so long as animals are not tortured or ill treated and are cared for, well fed, and have oppurtunities to play then animals can be used for what ever humans want, as pets or for entertainment or for food. Yes food, what is the difference between some society/group eating dogs and another eating pigs. In both cases another society or group thinks of it as abhorrent. Who is right?
Thought for the day. Are all animals rights campaigners vegatarian? If not why not?
Anna Raccoon March 26, 2010 at 12:36
Antisthenes,
“spineless bunch of bastards and not covered under the act.”
Superb comment!
The Grim Reaper March 26, 2010 at 12:51
I was flicking through Obnoxio’s blogroll when I came across something saying you’d written a piece called “A Few Clowns Short of a Circus”.
I’m disappointed it wasn’t about Boring & Demented and their endless rants about yourself and Holby. Oh well.
How is life as Holby’s agent?
Grim Reaper……ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha….can’t get my breath……ha, ha……..
Life as Holby’s agent is just grand thank-you – a lot of fun, and feels good to be doing something positive.
Saul March 26, 2010 at 13:11
Two Lions are eating a Clown who failed to get out of their cage in time.
One turns to the other and says…
“Does this taste funny to you?”
Demetrius March 26, 2010 at 17:26
How about reintroducing Brown Bear baiting with bulldogs etc.? It need not be an actual bear, just someone called Brown dressed up in a nylon bear costume. I’d pay good money to see that.
Blink March 27, 2010 at 07:19
the biggest and maddest wild animal is still on the loose in downing street
2Mac March 27, 2010 at 08:44
Westminster Troughing Swine are the common Pig in the City of London. The lesser known and vary rare Westminster Non-Troughing Swine have not been seen in public for a number of years. TheRSPCA fear this rare political variety has actually died out and the public did not even notice.
There has been talk of importing non native species from Europe to try and re establish the population but so far nobody has been able to find any of the Non Troughing variety.
A Mass Cull of the Westminster Troughing Swine is expected to take place in May with the Public up and down the country taking action.
auntiejen March 27, 2010 at 14:02
Right on, couldn’t agree with you more. It’s a shame that DEFRA didn’t pay more attention to their own conclusions in their October 2007 report. After an extensive consultation process with members of circus, animal rights groups and scientists, they concluded that “the welfare of animals kept in travelling circuses is any better than that if animals kept in other captive environments.”
uncle bill March 27, 2010 at 14:11
I joined my first circus by chance or design in Florida in 1981. Since then I have worked with circuses in England, Ireland and the east and west coast of America and am currently writing a book about my experiences. The biggest myth in circus is the treatment of it’s animals. If I had a wish for 2010 it would be that investigative reporters focus on the activities of animal rights activist groups who kill far more animals than public motorways. The DEFRA survey is an example of how animal rights groups infiltrate and manipulate government agencies that the public deem credible. The Circus Proprietors Association of Great Britain for decades has been trying to encourage the government to introduce regulations for circuses with touring animals, to no avail. The circus ring is a place of innocence where men, women, children and animals work in harmony together. Take your kids to the circus with a clear conscience.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7353
|
__label__wiki
| 0.510592
| 0.510592
|
← I won the EuroMillions!
Murdoch the indefensible →
Tom Harris interview about #hackgate
by Matt Wardman on July 19, 2011
Yesterday Law Blogger CharonQC, who will be known to many Anna Raccoon readers, did a short (20 minute) podcast interview with Tom Harris MP.
Tom Harris has appeared before Select Committees as a Minister, is now an Opposition Backbench MP, and has been both a working journalist and a press officer before entering Parliament.
It is a superb backgrounder to the hearings where Rupert Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks will attend the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee this afternoon.
:http://www.insitelawmagazine.com/WPSpecial18jul11
Direct download.
They cover a number of areas, including:
What is the nature of a Select Committee?
Does a Select Committee have the power to compel an answer?
Why didn’t Labour deal with the HackGate affair?
Gus O’Donnell’s advice to Gordon Brown not to hold an enquiry earlier.
The implications for David Cameron.
John Yates’ resignation.
Where will this end up?
What are the potential political outcomes?
Do we actually need to create new press regulatory machinery, or should this be treated as within the scope of Criminal Law?
Charon QC has been blogging for many years, and publishes podcasts (RSS feed) about UK Legal Affairs, and sometimes how they impinge on politics, regularly. He also does a regular legal commentary podcast Without Prejudice (explained), hosted with David Allen Green and Carl Gardner.
The post image is also a Charon QC production. Murdoch as a potentially dead shark put on public exhibition has a certain resonance.
Danny Darrow
My view is that it will be the image of Rupert Murdoch, the dark power broker behind the scenes, potentially humiliated by a couple of hours of sharp questioning, which risks damaging his potency as much as the possible legal threat.
He could turn into a Scooby-Doo villain. Or, of course, he might not.
I think that Mr Murdoch will be more persistent than Danny Darrow, but I do think that the end of Fear of Murdoch will be important, which is one reason why his best strategy may be to use the assembled phalanx of Enquiries and Police Investigations as an excuse for saying no more than did the Maxwells.
And that would be a carefully worded legal statement, followed by a straighter bat than Geoffrey Boycott when he’s nearly reached his Century.
We haven’t tried running audio segments on annaraccoon.com often (if at all) in the past, so comments would be welcome.
john malpas July 21, 2011 at 00:52
murdoch has many allies .elections are coming soon in the USA.
Wardman July 19, 2011 at 15:28
I’m listening on Radio 5. As I think is everybody else, on various
channels.
Livewire July 19, 2011 at 13:35
All we can do is chew on popcorn and watch the show at 1400 ?, our few
votes sure ain’t gonna change things much.
LW’s predictions, and I don’t
have a good track record with the Nostradamus stuff, are-
1. ‘Witness questioned by lawyer answers’ – “Yes”, “No”, “I don’t recall”
and sweet-FA else said. He might vary it with “That’s subject to an ongoing
police investigation”.
2. He fights back hard. Boxes of files,
statements and photos proving that Labour, the Guardian and the BBC all
behaved like Caligula 1997-2010, stabbings, sister-screwings
and satanism,
all on live tv.
Throw a few coins in the wishing well for 2 to happen.
Randy Hack July 19, 2011 at 11:47
He would have got away with it too, it it hadn’t been for you pesky
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7354
|
__label__cc
| 0.66518
| 0.33482
|
Make It Better’s 2018 Holiday Issue: Effortless Entertaining, the Ultimate Gift Guide and More
by Brooke Geiger McDonald November 8, 2018
As I drove my kids to school recently, I marveled at the breathtaking beauty of the fall trees — the brilliant oranges, yellows, and reds at their peak right now as we move into November. Blink, though, and it’s gone! Having lived in Chicago much of my life, I know how fleeting this season is and how important it is to appreciate all this gorgeous color while it’s here. Before we know it, the trees will be bare and snow-covered and we’ll have moved on to dreaming of spring.
Lately, I find myself talking a lot about the passage of time; no doubt, my two boys are to blame. Every night, their pajamas fit a little more snugly; every morning, they spill less milk as they get a little bit older and a lot more independent. It seems each milestone, big and small, from the changing of seasons to a birthday to growing out of another pair of shoes, serves as yet another reminder of how precious every moment really is.
Isn’t that what “the most wonderful time of the year” is really all about? Pausing to reflect on those ephemeral special moments? Sure, it can get a little bit hectic, but it’s punctuated by so many meaningful opportunities to press pause, gather our most beloved close, and say thank you for this life we have. Helping you to create and savor these moments is at the heart of what this issue is all about.
One of the easiest — and most poignant — ways to stop and recognize all we have to be grateful for is to look beyond our own families to those who are struggling. This holiday season, why not start a new tradition of family giving? In “The Giving Season,” we share engaging and impactful ways families with children at every age can spend time together on an activity that will make a real difference for someone less fortunate. It’s an ideal time — before all of those parties and presents descend — to remind kids that there really is more joy to be found in giving than receiving.
Speaking of parties, are you assuming hosting duties for a holiday soiree or the big meal this year? Dining Editor Julie Chernoff’s “Holiday Survival 101” is packed with tips, tricks, and genius hacks to help you throw a Pinterest-worthy fete yet still have the time — and remaining strength — to actually enjoy it. Even if you’re just along for the ride, there truly is an art to being an elegant and gracious guest.
And while we all know it’s not all about the parties and presents, we’re sure you’ve made that list and checked it twice. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know that when you buy gifts for your nearest and dearest, you could also be doing something to make the world a little bit better? In some small way, the purchase of every single item in our 2018 Better Gift Guide does just that. You’ll find something fabulous for everyone on your list, and feel good knowing you’re spreading that love even further.
In between all the partying and gift-giving, my goal this season is to spend as much time with my family as possible. On our list: Illumination at Morton Arboretum, CSO at the Movies: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert, the Joffrey Ballet’s “Nutcracker,” and the BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, where our favorite Disney pals Mickey and Minnie will be marshaling the Tree-Lighting Parade. Come join us — and discover more festive happenings around town. From my family to yours, here’s to a joyful holiday season and a happy new year.
Editor in Chief of Make It Better, Brooke Geiger McDonald is a Chicago native and Northwestern University grad who spent a decade away working for O, The Oprah Magazine and Shape magazine in NYC, and getting her master’s degree in English literature and working in book publishing in London. Back home in Chicago, she’s outnumbered by her husband and two sons, and the four of them are certifiable Disney and Star Wars fanatics. Other obsessions include Charles Dickens, wine, and authentic Neapolitan pizza. Her favorite cause to support is Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Follow her on Instagram: @brookejmcdonald
familygift guidegive backgivingholidayholidaysmagazineMake It Better
10 Beauty Tips from a Celebrity Makeup Artist
Talking Smack: The North Shore Heroin Epidemic
Harley Pasternak: 7 Tips to Improve Your Health Today
The Dangers of Facebook Friending Your Old Flame
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7364
|
__label__cc
| 0.702915
| 0.297085
|
Bluegrass Picking – Gipsy Moon & Special Guests
Gipsy Moon along with T Sisters' mandolin player Andy Allen-Fahlander and members of Lineage Music Project will be hosting a bluegrass picking workshop to help explain the etiquette of joining a pick! This will lead into an actual pick with all of you. Attendees are invited to bring up their instruments and join the pick!
Gipsy Moon is a four-piece group of artists on an endless musical journey, sharing songs with the hopes of planting inspiration into the soul, starting a fire in the heart, and building community that invokes love in its wildest manifestations. The four members Silas Herman (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Mackenzie Page (guitar, tenor banjo, vocals), Matt Cantor (bass, vocals), and Andrew Conley (Cello) reside in the mountains of Nederland Colorado where they write all original material about nature, sunsets, mountain rain, and love. With soothing harmonies, soul-stirring poetry, and instrumentals that make the hips sway, Gipsy Moon is constantly reinventing their version of indie-folk to include celtic melodies, latin rhythms, jazzy vocals, bluegrass drive, and a gypsy swing that brings acoustic music into an exciting new dimension. A blending of genres that hippies and poets, lovers and dancers, freaks and families alike can all come together to sing and dance until the sun comes up.
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7369
|
__label__wiki
| 0.851153
| 0.851153
|
Humans, Characters, Characters from Earth-38,
Allusions to the comics
Superfriends members
Lena Luthor
Revision as of 15:12, August 3, 2019 by Operep (Talk | contribs)
Human Alive
CEO of L-Corp
Owner of CatCo Worldwide Media
Member of the Superfriends (in secret)
L-Corp
CatCo Worldwide Media
Superfriends (in secret)
Lionel Luthor (father; deceased)
Unnamed (mother; deceased)
Lillian Luthor (adoptive mother; estranged)
Lex Luthor (paternal half-brother; deceased)
Mon-El (ex-fiancé; unwillingly)
Home universe
Camille Marty (young; season 2)
Norah Dobbyn (young; season 4)
"Who would've believed it? A Super and Luthor working together."
—Lena Luthor to Supergirl[src]
Lena Kieran Luthor[1] (born 1993)[2][3] is the billionaire CEO of L-Corp and the owner of CatCo Worldwide Media. Lena is also the daughter of the late Lionel Luthor and a late unnamed woman, the estranged adoptive daughter of Lillian Luthor, the estranged younger half-sister of the late Lex Luthor, the ex-girlfriend of the late Jack Spheer, the ex-girlfriend of James Olsen, the best friend of Samantha Arias and the best friend of Kara Danvers/Supergirl.
Initially, Lena had a good relationship with the super-heroine, though, she loses complete trust and respect for Kara (under the persona of Supergirl; initially unaware that the two are one-and-the same) after the latter violated her privacy; since then, Lena has become (openly) cold and distant towards the Kryptonian.
However, later, the two have agreed to put the past aside (for now) in order to clear Kara's name; after the attack on the White House. That was engineered by Lex, whom she later killed as a revenge for everything he did. However, in his dying moments he reveals to Lena that Kara and Supergirl are one-and-the same. So far, it is unclear whether his last efforts were enough to damage Lena's friendship with Kara, but she is currently (apparently) angry at the super-heroine for her deception and lies.
Lena was born in 1993 in Metropolis to the billionaire Lionel Luthor and an unnamed woman with whom he was having an affair.[3]
When Lena was four years old, she and her mother went out to a lake during an overcast day while visiting family. Lena was watching her mother swim in the lake from the shore when she suddenly witnessed her drowning. Realizing something was wrong, the precocious Lena froze up in terror, unable to do anything. After her mother's death, Lena was wracked with guilt over freezing up, feeling her inaction killed her mother and believing the latter would still be alive if she had actively tried to intervene, such as swim to her mother or call for help.[4]
Four-year-old Lena is welcomed to the Luthor family.
Following this tragedy, Lena was adopted by the Luthor family.[2] However, despite being loved deeply by her half-brother Lex, who made her feel especially welcomed in the new family, and her father Lionel, who considered her his favorite, Lena had a difficult upbringing with her adoptive mother Lillian, who never considered her a "real Luthor" and always favored Lex over her.[5] Also, the truth about Lena's parentage was left unknown to her and she was convinced that she was simply adopted.[2]
In the fifth grade, Lena's boyfriend was lured away from her by her classmate, Cindy Ryan, and Lena planned retaliation for months. She stole Cindy's personal diary and exposed it to the entire school, publicly humiliating the latter and ruining her life. While Lena would grow to regret this cruel, impulsive act, Lillian was proud of it, seeing it as proof that her adoptive daughter embodied the Luthor traits.[6]
Lena later went to boarding school with Veronica Sinclair, but the two never really got along.[7]
In their youth, Lena and her half-brother, Lex, were very close. Lena frequently sought to impress her brother with her various inventions, which she would keep hidden until they were perfect so Lex couldn't demean them.[8] In their adulthood though, Lex grew cold, power-mad, and delusional. When he started targeting Superman, Lena grew concerned for his well-being and tried to help him, but he ignored her and proceeded with his plans to destroy the superhero, resulting in the deaths of many people.[9][2] Lex's actions and the subsequent backlash worsened Lena's self-perceived existence as a pariah; she already had to endure much from her connection to the very affluent but controversial Luthor family, from which her supposed adoptive and infamous older brother also hailed. Thus, Lena strongly desired to be seen as a separate individual and a good person by the general masses.[10]
Lena grew close to Mercy Graves when the latter began a relationship with Lex. Mercy took Lena under her wing, providing her with the support and advice she lacked from Lillian; she taught Lena about fashion, etiquette, and even how to shoot a gun, also encouraging and helping Lena as she built her inventions. After Mercy left Lex due to his hyper-focus on Superman, she cut off her personal ties to the Luthor family, leaving Lena feeling hurt and abandoned. However, Lena came to somewhat agree with Mercy's desire for humans to achieve the superhuman capabilities of aliens.[8]
Lena graduated from MIT.[11] During this period in 2012 at the age of 19, she met and befriended Jack Spheer and the two began a start-up in a garage, working to try and find a cure for cancer and other diseases using nanotechnology. After three years, Lena and Jack fell in love and started a romantic relationship. Two years later, after Lex was sentenced to 32 consecutive life terms in prison, Lena ceased contact with her mother,[5] took over as the CEO of LuthorCorp, moved to National City to helm the company, and immediately set about atoning for her brother's crimes.[2] Her relationship with Jack subsequently came to an end. Jack tried to get Lena to stay with him in Metropolis, but she would not be dissuaded and they did not part on amiable terms.[12]
Presumably around the time she was working with Jack, Lena also served as an advocate for LuthorCorp when her family's business acquired the rights to the company that Samantha Arias worked for. When Lena came to spearhead LuthorCorp's takeover, she found Samantha all alone, working overtime at 3:00 am at her company desk. Impressed by Samantha's diligence and impeccable concentration to her job, Lena personally opted to work with the other woman by her side — leading to Samantha rising considerably higher up the company hierarchy by the time Lena renamed it into L-Corp. The two of them maintained a moderate, initially professional correspondence.[13]
Transforming LuthorCorp into L-Corp
Lena interviewed by Clark Kent and Kara Danvers.
Lena was given the opportunity to travel on the suborbital spacecraft Venture but had to back out at the last minute due to an important business meeting regarding the renaming of her company. After the spacecraft exploded and was rescued, Clark Kent and Kara Danvers — in their civilian guises — ventured to LuthorCorp to investigate her after receiving a tip from the D.E.O. that the company owner may have had a hand in the space-craft's maiden flight disaster. They secretly scanned her entire office via x-ray vision as Lena explained her intents and goals with her family's company, as well as her timely exclusion from the Venture's inaugural flight. Lena suggested that the Daily Planet reporter suspects her of foul play regarding the Venture's averted tragedy and that its unexpected mechanical failure has something to do with Lena's affiliation to the Luthor family. She goes on to note that she assumed this was the core reason for his visit with Kara (whom Lena initially thought was an advocate for CatCo, same as Clark for the Daily Planet, with similar a cause for coming) in tow. With his cousin standing somewhat nervously next to himself, Clark only politely did not deny this, amusing Lena with his reply. However, she urged that she had nothing to do with the Venture incident, simply wanting to start anew outside of her family, of which Lena has a lot of arduous work ahead of her given the depths of how far the Luthor name sank on account of her brother, and giving the two a flash drive with information on the Venture's destroyed oscillator that a subsidiary of her company had manufactured; she didn't know it then, but the words that Lena imparted to the Kryptonian cousins, prior to handing them the stored digital data, will have a lasting effect on Kara herself and influencing the other woman into making a huge decision. Thus developing a high opinion for Lena from then and later onwards. Later that day she boarded a helicopter. However, before the helicopter could get very far, two drones appeared, controlled by mercenary John Corben, and targeted Lena. Supergirl and Superman intervened, preventing Lena from being shot whilst airborne. The latter went looking for more drones, while the former (with some difficulty) took out the two angling Lena's chopper, helping it land safely.
The following day, at a presentation unveiling Lena's intention to re-brand LuthorCorp to L-Corp, Kara walks alongside her, trying to convince Lena from carrying on with the re-naming ceremony. Lena would not be deterred, explicitly stating that she does not wish her family's company to be remembered as her brother's mere implement that he used as a front in his madness to destroy Superman. While Lena gives her presentation, a number of explosions occur, causing her to run to safety. She encountered a person she initially thought was a police officer, but was revealed to be John Corben, a mercenary hired by Lex Luthor to kill his adopted sister. Alex Danvers helped to hold him off in single combat, but she was eventually overpowered. Before he could escape with Alex as a hostage, Lena near-fatally shot him from behind. The next day, Clark and Kara visit Lena's office and she offers thanks for a positive article about L-Corp published in the Daily Planet. She asks why Kara's name wasn’t printed on the byline along with Clark's. Receiving a modest answer from Kara, Lena notes that from the moment of their first encounter, she sensed Kara to bear the presence of a competent journalist, and hopes to see more of her in the future. Kara concedes, leading to her return to CatCo and inform Cat Grant of her desire to take up journalism at the CatCo editorial outlet.[2]
Befriending Kara
Kara interviews Lena.
When the US President came to National City to sign a decree on the Alien Amnesty Act, Kara came to Lena as she needed a comment from "the sister of the (world's) most famous alien-hater." Lena produces a handheld, thumbprint scanner-like tool from a small vault in her office and proudly tells the reporter that L-Corp is developing a new and high-tech commodity capable of identifying aliens. She emphasizes that the prototype will soon be perfected and mass-produced in time with the Act's official ratification. Lena uses it on herself as a demonstration before offering Danvers the device to test it. Cautious of the contraption outing her true Kryptonian nature, Kara dances around the subject, mildly debating with Lena that singling out aliens living in the general population would defeat the purpose of racial and inter-planetary acceptance, behind the Alien Amnesty Act. The profit to be gained from such a device aside, Lena genuinely believes that people on Earth have the right to know who is an alien and who is not. But unlike Lex, Lena intends to launch the tech to the public for everyone's safety and benefit, mutually going along with L-Corp's profitability as a business enterprise. In a moment when Lena looks away, Kara used her laser vision to sabotage the device and then agrees to test it. It gives a negative result, much to Kara's relief.
Later Kara returns to Lena, who warmly praised her wonderful article, but admits she initially thought that Kara would "mix it with mud" because of their differing views on alien-on-Earth lifestyle. Kara confesses that she would have written a scathing piece, had her editor not disapproved of her initial draft, and made her rewrite it. Kara tells Lena she was glad she rewrote the piece since recent developments made reconsider her position. Bringing up her past with Lex, Lena notes that some people are inherently evil, even if their ill intents are not obvious at first.[9]
A few days later, Kara barged into Lena's office to ask she knew where Veronica Sinclair would be hosting her next alien fight club. Seeing Kara's desperation, Lena instructs her assistant to grant unfettered access to Lena. Kara then informed Lena that a “friend” of hers was taken by people operating outside of the law and, given Lena's widespread family connections, she was Kara's best chance of finding those people in order to mount a rescue. Lena guesses at once that the people in question are connected to Veronica Sinclair, also known as Roulette. As a Luthor, Lena was invited to Sinclair's fight club, although she was never interested in Roulette's kind of "entertainment." Lena gives the address to Kara, who thanked her and said that she owed her a great debt, to which Lena replied that she did not, as she knows that she would help her when the time came.[7]
Lena "meets" Supergirl.
Later, Lena comes to CatCo and invites Kara to a charity event to raise funds for a children's hospital (that was partly damaged from earlier in a bank robbery that Supergirl failed to thwart) as she was practically the only bonafide friend Lena had in National City; and in extending the invite, which Danvers graciously accepted, Lena acquaints herself with Kara's new co-worker “Mike Matthews”, who suggests that he comes along with Kara for the event as well. The next day, Lena came to Kara's apartment where she catches Alex talking with Kara and learning the fact that they are adoptive sisters. She asked her to arrange a meeting with Supergirl. In the evening, Kara arrives at Lena's L-Corp office in the guise of Supergirl. Lena invites her to the same party in the case of gang attacks. Supergirl expressed her disapproval for the proceedings of the event, as it was a liable target for Chet Miner and his gang of extra-terrestrial armed robbers. Noticing Lena's determination to carry on, Supergirl inquires about Lena's motives and Lena points out that National City's extra-terrestrial superheroine actively goes out of her way to aid the city's residents and beyond, with little to no personal gain for herself. Lena asks if it was a burden that only Supergirl was allowed to bear because of who she is and what her abilities allow her to be. She challenges whether, given Superman's history with her brother Lex, Supergirl was among those who believe that there was no such thing as a "good Luthor." Receiving a commendable answer from the disguised Kara, Lena was elated when Supergirl promises to attend her gala and watches as she flies off from her balcony.
The next evening, Kara and Winn (who brought along a device to warn them ahead of time should Miner's gang show up) arrive at the charity event. Kara supports two conversations at once with Lena, as Supergirl and in her civilian identity, by using her super-speed to rapidly change her clothes so Lena doesn't catch sight of both personas at once. Soon enough, Miner's gang of criminals crashes the party starting a struggle with Supergirl. In the midst of the battle, Winn hides under a dais where he find Lena busily trying to use a black burst generator that she prepared beforehand. Winn quickly realizes that Lena arranged the gala as a trap to lure the criminal gang out into the open. All that was left to do was for Supergirl to dispatch them. Together, Lena and Winn were able to complete the device, emitting a pulse and destroying the criminals' weapons so that the gang would be captured. Later, Supergirl flew back to Lena thanking her for her help. At this point, Lillian Luthor enters her daughter's office and Kara leaves. Lillian apologizes for having missed her daughter's party, but her absence does not faze Lena.[14]
Her name would later be brought up by a captive Supergirl in her conversation with Lillian Luthor. Lured into a trap where she was bested by the real Hank Henshaw (revealed to be alive and now cybernetically-enhanced) Supergirl was visited in captivity by the Head of Cadmus herself. Recalling her passing encounter of the older woman once in Lena's office, Kara inquires why she saw her with the CEO of L-Corp that night and Lillian repressively reciprocates the question, not the least bit thrilled with the idea that her daughter was receiving nightly visits from the cousin of the man who sent Lena's brother in prison.
Realizing that the person before her was Lena's foster mother, Lillian, but apparently not thinking worse of Lena herself, Supergirl indignantly demands to know if Lena knew what Lillian was doing at the helm of Project Cadmus — showing that Kara wholeheartedly trusts Lena enough to doubt (or at least jump to the immediate conclusion) that the latter could secretly be part of Lillian's organization. Lillian, unimpressed, only offers that she and Lena do not normally see eye-to-eye, and vehemently demanded, in turn, to know who Supergirl was to her daughter. Kara was unmoved by Lillian's monologue.
After she and Mon-El escaped from Cadmus with some help from Jeremiah Danvers, Kara returns to her loft where she and the Daxamite were welcomed back to safety by Alex, Winn, and Jimmy. Showing the return of her alien abilities by heating up some pizza, Kara conversed with her sister — who just mended her differences with her crush, Maggie— and commended Alex for coming to terms with her sexuality. Kara then brings up the matter of their father, Jeremiah, being held by Cadmus and promises her adoptive sister that they will rescue him from the organization. While the Kryptonian was relieved to find Jeremiah more or less like how she remembers him from her youth, Kara was still in disbelief that Lena's mother, Lillian, was the head of Cadmus. She wonders if Lena is aware, though Alex was more concerned about why Lillian would go through all the trouble of kidnapping Mon-El and then using him to lure Supergirl into captivity, just so Lillian could acquire a vial of blood from Kara. Unbeknownst to the Danvers', Hank Henshaw (who dubbed himself as Cyborg Superman after emerging victorious over the costumed Kara during their confrontation) embarked to the North Pole and into the Fortress of Solitude where he was confronted by Kelex. Initially, Kelex orders the cyborg to cease under the threat of immediate disintegration. However, Kelex ceased his warnings after Henshaw spilled the vial of Supergirl's blood over the control console of the fortress and then used his cyber enhancements to interface with the structure's operating system. While pressing his hand against the blood-smeared biometrics scanner, Kelex began to view him as Kara, and immediately asked how he can be of assistance. Hank orders Kelex to share all information concerning the Medusa project.[15]
Kara questioning Lena about her mother.
Right after Thanksgiving (featuring a space-time breach that momentarily tore open over the dining table at Kara's place), Kara, Alex and their friends went back to the D.E.O. where they discussed what to do with Cadmus, now aware of Lillian's role in its chain of command. Though she finds it unlikely that Lena could provide any knowledge on Lillian beyond familial matters, Kara eagerly volunteered to investigate L-Corp herself on behalf of the agency. She insists that her civilian guise as a reporter — and her so-called “sneakiness” — was enough to gather intel from Lena. She asks her agency colleagues to stave off their usual cloak-and-dagger methods of discreetly gathering information (i.e. bugging phones, hacking company records, etc.). Unbeknownst to Kara, Alex has Winn prepare such underhanded methods anyway, telling him to have them ready soon after Kara left.
When Kara comes to L-Corp asking Lena about her mother, the latter says they did not have a very good relationship and often disagreed. However, Lena notices that Kara was trying to glean information on Lillian through her, and after Kara's departure, Lena calls her mother and says they need to talk. As Lillian comes, the two of them exchanged some snide comments — about the holiday and how more open to each other their family used to be when both Lionel and Lex were still with them together in their collective lives — before Lena tells her that a reporter is investigating about her, and asks if she's hiding something. Lillian knows at once that the reporter in question was none other than her former Kryptonian captive but instead says that she has no idea. Lena realizes that her mother is lying.
Later Cyborg Superman comes to L-Corp, in an attempt to steal a rare synthetic substance that Cadmus needed to spread the Medusa Virus, but Supergirl arrives and a fight between the two ensued. Lena comes to the site of their fight and, noticing her, the cyborg throws her the detached 'L' of the company's scaled-up three-dimensional logo. Kara manages to cover her and asks her to leave. After a while Kara returns to Lena's office in the guise of Supergirl and Lena graciously thanks her for saving her life, then Supergirl reveals to her that her mother runs Cadmus. Hurt, Lena refuses to believe it, accusing the superheroine to be no different than anyone who readily condemns the Luthors' disposition and morality because of their family name, and asks Supergirl to leave. Before she does, Kara imparted a few inspiring words to the CEO, that she honestly believes Lena to be a better person than anyone else in the Luthor family. She tells Lena she must shine through as her own hero if she were to ever get out of Lex and Lillian's villainous shadow, and that got Lena thinking.
Later, Lena organizes another meeting with her mother at L-Corp and confesses she knows Lillian runs Cadmus. Lillian makes no effort to refute the allegation. Then, she was told that if she wanted Lena's help, all Lillian had to do was ask for it. Lena gives Lillian a case containing Isotope 454, the substance exclusively manufactured by L-Corp, that Cadmus needed to initiate the Medusa Virus into a city-wide outbreak effect. Lillian was surprised at Lena’s sudden, out-of-the-blue willingness; Lena tells her that perhaps it was time for Lillian to get to know her daughter better.
Lena betrays Lillian and gets her arrested.
They then left for the National City port, where they intend to release the virus with a rocket launcher. Lillian, as a means to test her daughter's loyalty to Cadmus, gives Lena the key to activate it. Just as she is about to do it, Martian Manhunter and Supergirl arrive to stop her, having been alerted by their agency's sensors of the Isotope 454 portion, provided by Lena to her mother, being moved from L-Corp to where the Luthor women now are. Supergirl attempts to talk Lena out of releasing the virus but the latter seemingly conforms to her tainted family legacy, remarking that she is "a Luthor," and launches the rocket. Supergirl flies after it while Martian Manhunter confronts Lillian and Lena, and forcibly battles Cyborg Superman who interfered to prevent the Luthors from being apprehended. Lillian makes the rocket explode before Supergirl could act, spreading the virus across the sky. However, none of the aliens in the city were affected. Lillian realizes that Lena substituted the isotope for one that would instead render the virus inert. Lena condescendingly confesses and reveals that she also called the police, who were coming to arrest Lillian. After that, Lena presumably provided the D.E.O with an unaltered sample of Medusa, which was crucial in finally curing J'onn of his condition of becoming a White Martian after a blood transfusion from one.[5]
Kara's trust
When Lena testified in court against her mother for her actions as the leader of Cadmus, the media was divided between calling her testimony the rant of a scorned child, or the bravery of a hero. Kara visits Lena and learns that Lillian is desperate to see her daughter. Lillian had a message passed through her lawyers to Lena twelve times, but Lena does not want to go. She seeks Kara's counsel. Kara puts her own biological family's present status into perspective (omitting that they were aliens who met their ends on Krypton, of course) and suggests that Lena visits the prison, despite their estranged relationship, as Lillian was still her mother and that Lena was fortunate to still have hers in her life.
Lena discovers the truth about her adoption.
Taking her friend's advice, Lena goes to the prison to see her mother where Lillian reveals that Lena is Lionel Luthor's illegitimate daughter. Her mother was a woman Lionel was having an affair with and then paid off to disappear with the intention to start anew with Lillian. However, four years later, his mistress died and Lionel decided to adopt his four-year-old daughter. Neither Lionel nor Lillian revealed to Lena or Lex that she was an actual Luthor growing up. The revelation stuns Lena, which Lillian further uses to guilt her into supporting her mother. Lillian tells her to have her back, as the only two Luthors left (outside of Stryker Island's imprisonment where Lex presently was); they hold hands over the table separating them. The next day, Metallo uses synthetic Kryptonite to break him and Lillian out during their impeached trial, and soon after the moment it happens, fingers point to Lena when it was learned that she visited the very prison where Lillian and Metallo were imprisoned in last night — the only brief time interval wherein Corben could have acquired his empowering substance.
Hearing of that from back at the D.E.O., Kara attempts to warn Lena in the latter's office about these rising allegations, and the latter starts to go all defensive, when the NCPD, led by Detective Maggie Sawyer, arrives to arrest Lena with video footage revealing that she had recovered Kryptonite the day prior to the escape, in spite of a protesting but ignored Kara taking Lena's side as the latter was cuffed and read rights to by Sawyer, with Lena herself futilely denying her involvement with what was shown from the footage, shooting furtive glances at Kara as she did in hopes that she still has the reporter's trust, along with Kara's confidence, in light of this happening development. Stripped of her privileges and sent into incarceration, Lena's arrest makes the headlines, and the stigma of being a Luthor is heightened with the people, like the correctional officers at the penitentiary that Lena was being kept at, commenting on how she is just like her brother (or physically will be) as they passed her cell. The only one exempt from this belief is Kara, who confronts her friends and sister about their lack of faith in a woman who has done nothing but help them, blatantly disregarding what any presented evidence may state on the contrary. As the one most insistent on Lena's transgression, James Olsen (who even points out to Kara, at CatCo, that if Lena can stab Lillian in the back, then Lena's pretty much capable of anything — including doing the same, or worse, to her own best-friend, Kara) leaves to find proof that Lena is guilty, anticipating and discovering that Metallo returned to the prison that evening to break Lena out. Metallo succeeds however, having battled and defeated James, in the guise of Guardian, and went over to tear the bars off from Lena's cell. Lena, who went close to her cell's threshold in response of the ruckus between Metallo and Guardian, could only look on fearfully at the arrival of the Kryptonite-fueled cyborg that she herself had once shot from behind, and left in a critical state, from back when he was still a normal person. Metallo, however, merely apologizes for the delay.
At the D.E.O., James was being treated by Alex in her lab for his fresh injuries from his skirmish with Metallo. Jimmy tries to humor it off, despite of the Danverses, who were both there with him along with Winn and J'onn, being none too happy knowing that Olsen, without their knowledge, staked out an incarcerated Lena and then got into a scuffle with Metallo in the process when the Cadmus-modified cyborg seemingly came to liberate the Luthor. Kara, still unwavering in her belief of Lena's innocence under the impression that Metallo kidnapped her from prison, and was now probably holding Lena against her will, implores her allies that they must now focus efforts into finding where her best friend is being kept so they could rescue her — drawing an indignant reaction from Jimmy, distraught that, even now, the Kryptonian still remains loyal to her friend in spite of the evidences, so far, pointing towards the condemning direction implying that, this whole time, Kara’s trust and staunch faith for Lena's character has been misplaced.
Kara loudly insists otherwise; but sadly, James has the support of everyone else in that room. Even Alex seemed (uncertainly) convinced when Olsen insinuates Lena's gunning Corben from behind, to save her when John had Alex at his mercy, was a Machiavellian ploy that Lena orchestrated together with Cadmus as a preset to turn him into Metallo. Kara beseeches Winn to review the video showing the Luthor's apparent procuring of the Kryptonite that Metallo is now using, as there might be something there that they have all missed and thereby could prove Lena as innocent, dismissing Winn's stressing that he's thoroughly done that already, as he was perhaps just as quick as nearly anyone else in judging Lena's character to comb deeper into the footage. J'onn maintains his prudent and pragmatic stance, stating that until evidence to the contrary comes about, they must be wary concerning Lena; and everything happening thus far, starting from Lillian’s interrupted hearing and escape — together with and effected upon by Metallo who, of course, later did the latter with Lena — has yet to indicate that Lena’s hands were clean.
Seeing that the odds stacked against her, Kara takes her leave but not before expressing to everyone there with her that Lena still remains as her friend, and that the latter has Kara's trust — no matter what others have to say. James follows her outside, bringing up to Kara how he has trouble comprehending and finds it unfair that Lena has the Kryptonian's steadfast faith while he doesn't, when Olsen was also Kara's friend much like Lena who, unlike James, was unaware of her journalist friend's extra-terrestrial identity. He then recounts to her how Superman and Lex Luthor used to be like from long before their enmity of epic proportions — about how it started quite amiably, with the two of them seeing the each other as necessary allies both true and open to each other as they worked together for the greater good, until the latter began showing his more sinister side and conducts, forcing Clark to convince himself and see Lex in anything but a disparaging light, despite of practically everyone else considering and even saying differently of the latter that Superman had to defend Lex from such, time and again. But ultimately, even he was turned upon by Lex, setting in motion their antagonism. Olsen goes to say, that it wasn't until a step too late did Superman finally acknowledged how Lex truly was and nobody could even recall that alliance anymore, owing to the animosity now existing between the former allies. And now perhaps history was repeating itself between Kara and Lena, in Jimmy’s opinion.
Kara deflects that, strongly insisting that Lena is not Lex and in turn, James responds that while they may not be the same person, both said Luthors were brought up together in one shared household — so inevitable similarities in character and tendencies, which Lena and Lex should be prone to, between the two of them are bound to express themselves sooner or later. Marginally upset, he goes on complaining to Kara over the fact that Lena seems to be firmly in the Kryptonian's good graces, with Kara herself being adamant about it, while having none for Jimmy, along with his worth and conduct, as Guardian, when he's known Kara for longer than Lena has.
Taken back by her friend's apparent protest, Kara points out that her seeming lack of faith in Olsen as Guardian is one born out of concern and worry for his well-being, trying to protect him from the very dangers of his vigilante activities — by not giving James her wholehearted support of that — and thereby has nothing to do whatsoever with any intrinsic difference in trust that Kara holds for both and between him and Lena. But Jimmy resignedly tells her that, as a masked vigilante, it's not protection he requires from Supergirl. If anything, he requires her trust. Now she already has Jimmy's; so it just plainly frustrates him as to why he does not have Kara's? Not the way Lena does — especially considering what Kara knows of the Luthor family is but a mere fraction of what Olsen does concerning them. And with that, the two of them tensely parted ways.
Kara was later seen venting out her own frustrations by furiously smashing apart and crushing concrete, while still garbed in her civilian attire, in the D.E.O.'s training room and Mon-El visits her. Noticing her inner conflict, the Daxamite tries to lighten Kara's mood; but she thinks that, like everyone else, Mon-El believes that Lena is now on the opposite side of the law and that he came in hopes of making Kara shift her views and see from that perspective. However, Mon-El amicably clarifies that Kara's capacity for unconditionally extending her trust towards those who may or may not deserve it has always been one of her more admirable traits as a person; and that if she, a Kryptonian, could find it within herself to give a Daxamite like him the benefit of a doubt and be proven worthy of it, then maybe a Luthor can also.
That endears Kara; and after a few further awkward exchanges between herself and Mon-El — straying somewhat from the latter's dubious love-life — she decides to get back to business, announcing to the Daxamite that she needs to go and see if the others have determine where Lena is, before taking her leave from the training room.
Lena, Lillian and Metallo in one of Lex's vaults.
Metallo reunites Lena with Lillian, who tells Lena that no one would believe her now that she, too, “escaped” police custody. Travelling together by van, she tries to use this as a means to goad Lena into joining Cadmus, saying the public would never offer redemption to a Luthor and that her efforts in attempting to prove otherwise were pointless. Lillian divulges that this is the only way for them to be a family again, as fugitives on the run — the thought of which Lena understandably did not find too promising at all. Neither Luthor noticed their driver of the vehicle that they were in, Metallo, having vein-like patterns of kryptonite now creeping along the skin by the length of his arm, which he discreetly hides underneath his sleeve as he drove. Lillian takes Lena to a secure location, where a customized weapons' vault created by Lex, which has to be opened with someone from the Luthor bloodline (evident by the biometric lock that Lena instantly recognized), was located. Lena (somewhat disgustedly) thinks that meant Lillian also obsessively kept and brought along a sample of Lex's genetic material, with which his mother intends to use in accessing her son's vault, but Lillian clarifies that the means of access does not have to come exclusively from Lex, given how he designed the biometric security around it as anyone having or sharing Lex's genetic markers would be able to bypass the said security if they only know how; her daughter puts together and denotes that this entire plan was never to tie loose ends between the two, but to bring her to Lex's vault so that Lillian could gain access to whatever’s inside, since it was much easier to get to her than it would be with the incarcerated Lex, the only other living person of Luthor blood still in existence, under maximum security. Lillian admits so but also insists, in concern of Lena and her biometrics, that neither necessarily invalidates the other in continuing from where Lex left off after his imprisonment, and so she is making ends meet as her mother. Lena refuses and backs away, wanting to take her chances with a possible life sentence instead of assisting her mother and Cadmus in their war against non-humanity, but is forced to open the vault by the real Hank Henshaw, revealing that it was indeed filled with highly advanced anti-alien weapons, organic and otherwise; a majority of which Lillian was already intimately familiar with, marveling at her son's brilliance and cunning for having amassed such an impressive collection of weaponry to use against the likes of Superman. Her daughter remarks that she was worse than Lex, but Lillian assures Lena, who was browsing the accrued items there herself, that she will be remembered righteously in history — as will Lena for joining her, in the end. And of the many secured articles found inside that vault, that Henshaw and Corben were prepping, one-by-one, to be then brought elsewhere, Lillian's attention was ultimately caught by a small, handheld box; walking over to it and partly lifting off its lid, Lillian displays both awe and reverence at the sight of the content(s) inside, much like an appraising curator beholding a prized masterpiece about to enter and be added into the private collection, remarking how Lex finally perfected “it”. Lena could only look on, slightly disturbed, at how her mother was behaving.
Supergirl comes to the rescue — much to Lena's expressed shock that the former, of all people, would come to save her from Lillian — bursting down through the ceiling and announces that Kara Danvers asked her to help as she still believes in her. Lillian activates one of the weapons she took from Lex's vault, a handheld canister-like device, and threw it at Supergirl, who catches it. An unwise move, for she quickly realizes that it was a sonic-emitting device that overwhelms her Kryptonian acute auditory perception, immediately bringing Supergirl to her knees. With her incapacitated and rendered defenseless by the modified high-pitched noise, a pleased Lillian instructs her cyborg henchmen to entrap the helpless Supergirl into the vault as well. Lena tries to intervene, desperately begging her adoptive mother to leave the alien be, only to be promptly ignored by the latter and mockingly apologizing to her daughter that Supergirl must pay for what her cousin did to Lex; Henshaw grabs her then throws her down, knocking Lena out. But even whilst being dragged to her doom, Kara would not be deterred and informs them that the synthetic Kryptonite in Metallo's chest is volatile and would shortly explode, killing them all. Kara heat-visions the sonic-emitter, but still had a hard time fighting Metallo, who repeatedly strikes her with streams of weaponized radiation from his said equipped Kryptonite, weakening Supergirl enough for Metallo to overpower her in melee, getting her on her knees again and pinning her arms behind her while his power-sorce reaches critical. With J'onn's unexpected aid, she escapes in time with Lena, who fills Kara's office with thank-you flowers the following day after she learns that Kara not only sent Supergirl to rescue her, but she also managed to prove that the incriminating footage was falsified. Lena thanks Kara when she visits later, saying "Well, Supergirl may have saved me. But Kara Danvers, you are my hero."
After Kara left, Lena picks up a chess-piece, the white knight, from the chessboard at the table and recalls of the first time she's ever beaten Lex at that game; setting the piece back down on the board, Lena starts to ponder and contemplate of her past with her supposed adoptive family in relation to how she is now in the present.[3]
Lena meets Kara at CatCo.
One day, Kara bumps into Lena at CatCo having forgotten that the two were scheduled for a lunch kombucha date. Kara sincerely apologizes and expresses her frustration in trying to get a warning out that Cadmus was abducting aliens after the terrorist organization stole the National Alien Registry. Snapper Carr wouldn't publish the article without a second viable source apart from Supergirl who, in turn, cannot reveal the existence of the D.E.O. for security reasons. Seeing that Danvers was in a sticky wicket, Lena suggests she write a blog to get the news abroad. She also volunteered to check into her company's history as her mother had been on the board when Lex was the CEO and might have left a trail. Lena discovers a LuthorCorp facility that was supposed to be defunct yet her company was billed for its utilities. She asks her assistant for the records, who is a Cadmus mole unbeknownst to Lena. The assistant calls Lillian who tasked two goons to capture Lena, who was communicating with Kara via phone, in her own office but they fail thanks to Supergirl’s arrival, passing off her timely rescue as being there together with Kara when she was conversing with Lena through the phone; Lena then informs Supergirl where the abducted aliens are most likely being held with their presence there, together with Cadmus, now made certain to Lena on account of the thugs’ arrival to stop her from delving further which only confirms that something was indeed going on and being hidden there.[16]
Biomax and working with Queen Rhea
Lena is reunited with Jack Spheer.
Weeks later, Lena receives a personal invite from the CEO of Spheerical Industries, Jack Spheer, for her to attend his press conference about a new technology that his company shall be introducing throughout National City. She visits Kara at her apartment to ask if she could attend the presentation with her as support, revealing that she and Jack were romantically involved for two of their five years together, just before she moved to National City. She reminisces about the good times she spent with Jack as they journeyed to find a cure for cancer in a garage, but found the prospect of having to attend the press conference alone challenging as they ended on a bad note. Kara agrees to go along making it bearable for Lena to face, and could only wordlessly reply when Lena earnestly asks her what her “Kryptonite” (slang for one’s known vulnerability, usually emotionally, as a person) was, humorously not realizing the conundrum (of sorts) embedded in that very question due to unwittingly asking it to an otherwise unstoppable being — who was practically and exclusively vulnerable only to physical exposure of the said actual substance — in disguise as the two women exited the loft. At the presentation, Jack awes his attending audience as he showcases his newly-designed nanobot technology that is able to cure any medical ailment, such as injuries or diseases, revealing that he perfected his and Lena's project, Biomax, which Lena is insanely proud of. Afterwards, Jack goes in search of Lena whom he finds outside together with Kara, leaving the presentation with the other flocking audiences who came for the event. Lena introduces the former CatCo reporter to Spheer (who recognizes her as among those who extended questions to him after he demonstrated the capabilities of Biomax during its presentation) and gave flattering comments about her before Jack, flustering Kara — who then takes her leave realizing that she pretty much fulfilled her purpose, of lending Lena some emotional backbone and confidence, when she came to the presentation together with the L-Corp CEO in the first place; she reasons that she has to start working on her latest online article, based on what she just witnessed at Jack's launching presentation, and parts away from the two exes. Jack wishes to catch up with Lena, asking her to dinner after the press conference but the company's CFO, Beth Breen, tears him away before she can answer. He then appears at Lena's office at L-Corp to ask her again, which she declines. Jack thinks she may be mad at him for having cracked Biomax problems on his own, to which she says she wishes the best for him. He then asks her about her life in National City before delving into the good memories of their relationship and then asks to go to dinner again after confessing that he missed her. Lena agrees on the account that the occasion is non-romantic, just for the sole purpose of catching up with each other.
She later tries to call Kara to ask her to talk her out of the dinner but left a message with Mon-El as she was not there (she was following up Snapper on a lead regarding Biomax — and narrowly rescued her former boss from a swarm of such that, unfortunately, managed to instantly consume the whistleblower Snapper was talking to concerning Spheerical’s breakthrough). However, when Kara, who barely saved Snapper from the same nanobot swarm that killed the second Biomax lead who also tried whistleblowing Jack's company through CatCo, like it did with the first, learns about Lena and Jack's dinner from Mon-El upon returning to her loft, she abruptly crashed Lena's date at the restaurant. Though a protective Kara claimed that she and “Mike” were there purely by chance, it is clear as day to Lena that Kara is investigating Spheer about Biomax (as the Kryptonian kept nailing Jack with questions concerning the finished product, right in the midst of his dinner with Lena), which leads her to ask Jack how he perfected the project. His story denotes that his breakthrough only came after he realized that he should have gone with Lena to National City, endearing Lena at knowing that some good did came from the breakup. Still suspicious, Kara attempts to press on with her investigation but Lena kindly asks Kara and Mon-El to leave them alone so that they may speak alone with no outside interventions. The aliens in disguise did as they were told; but not before Mon-El smarmily claims that he feels a “connection” with Jack, prompting him to Spheer a humorous and manly hug — to which a mildly confused Jack somewhat awkwardly reciprocates, not realizing that the Daxamite managed to steal his Spheerical security badge which Mon-El and Kara would later use in accessing Jack's personal office at Spheerical Industries, leaving the humans to finish their dinner together. They eventually leave the restaurant for L-Corp, where Jack apologizes for making Lena's decision to move more difficult, that he wishes he had rather said that he could make space for her and his work.
Lena and Jack kiss.
Lena understands, confiding in him how she wonders whether her life and legacy may have turned out different had she stayed with Jack; and carving a different path for herself separate from her family's questionable own, on account of Lex, was ironically the reason why Lena left Jack in the first place. They kiss but then Jack seems to zone out and tells her that he needs to go and then leaves her abruptly. The following morning, Lena was combing fondly at images of her together with Jack, through her personal office computer, when Kara comes in and informs Lena that the Biomax human trials were faked and that Jack was covering it up, that he had used it on himself and was using the nano-robotic swarm to eliminate possible leaks; and seeing Lena getting defensive and having doubts to the allegations, as proof, she even showed Lena the video solidifying her word against Jack. Danvers wanted her to know but makes her promise she won't confront him. Lena defies that, however, and meets Jack in his research lab at Spheerical informing him that she knows about the falsified trials and that he's killed two people with Biomax to eliminate any further leads to the subterfuge. Distraught, she demands to know how could he sink so low by still proceeding with the public release of Biomax, regardless of knowing the nanobots' underlying detrimental side-effects of compromising the recipient’s free will along with potentially altering the host’s entire physiological constitution. Side-effects that Lena should have recalled from years back when she and Jack conducted test trial experiments with rodent test subjects for Biomax to be used on, all of which were never the same again after the experimentation, and yet Lena’s excitement and appreciation at Jack's supposed success with their collaborated work made her turn a blind eye, overlooking — until Kara's revealed discovery to Lena from earlier that day — the known dangers that the Biomax nanobots posed. But Jack has no idea what she's talking about, ultimately making Lena realize Jack's honesty on the spot. He suddenly became emotionlessly unresponsive and unmoving from where he stood, and Beth Breen appears behind him wearing a technological single earphone and simultaneously addressing Lena, revealing that she has been using the Biomax, administered by its maker into himself, in order to control Jack. Apparently, Jack intended to shut down Spheerical Industries after realizing the underlying risks in using Biomax; but with so much finance at stake, Breen had abscond some of the company's technology and then used it to control Jack against his will, hence allowing Biomax's launching to the open public unimpeded. After some cutting remarks on sexism (and how Lena was basically constrained with having to correct the otherwise irredeemable transgressions of her brother, Lex, and “cleaning up” after his faults), she reveals to Lena her aim to spread Biomax availability not just for civilian usage, but also extending to medical and military factions and entities alike who will be invested in its applications — ignoring Lena's repressed protests. Lena thinks Breen was about to have the Biomax-controlled Jack kill her, as that was the only reason Beth could be nonchalantly divulging to Lena her “evil plan” in true Bond villain-style knowing that Lena will not be alive to tell anyone about it after this. But Beth stresses that as not her intent; not when she could profit further with Biomax by planning to use it on Lena to control her and L-Corp, as she already had with both Jack and Spheerical, thereby merging Beth's company with Lena's for more marketable prospects in the future. She then orders Jack to take and use a Biomax-filled injector gun on Lena to bind her with the nanobots, terrifying his lover, who backs away from the advancing Jack.
Supergirl unexpectedly comes into the mix of things, rescuing Lena and forcing Beth to release the Biomax swarm from Spheer's body to combat Lena and Supergirl. Kara thinks Lena should run, leaving her with the swarm without having to worry about Lena as well; but Lena insists on staying, coming up with a plan of her own and asking Supergirl to preoccupy the nanobots while Lena herself goes after the root of the problem — Breen. Supergirl did as told and flew around trying to outmaneuver and fight the Biomax, only to be eventually caught and pinned to some lab equipment by the said swarm, helpless and gradually being engulfed by the nanobots, suffocating her, while Lena brawls with Breen, who thinks she can take Lena down with ease in unarmed single combat but was quickly proven otherwise, with Lena reminding her adversary that Beth was going up against a Luthor while knocking the other woman down, disarming her of the earpiece that controls Jack and destroying it. With Jack suffering agonizing pain from the now out-of-control nanobots still within him, and the Biomax-restrained Supergirl slowly dying too from the nanoswarm moving up to her nasal and oral orifices to smother her respiration, Lena attempts to override the Biomax mainframe through the computer system in Spheerical’s lab. However, Breen tells her that the nanobots have merged with Jack's body and that overriding the mainframe destroys the nanobots and kills Jack, earning Breen an elbow to the face from the Luthor. Begged by Jack to end his misery, Lena apologizes and reluctantly chooses to override the mainframe, saving Supergirl at the expense of Jack; descending down from where the swarm of Biomax had her pinned against only mere seconds ago, Kara can only sympathetically gander at whom and what the bereaved Lena had to sacrifice to save her friend from the said nanoswarm. Kara visits Lena the next day, bringing flowers to the latter’s office and sits down with her, wishing she could do more to ease Lena’s pain but was told by the grieving CEO that her presence was enough. Lena explains that she feels cold and calm like her mother after Lex's incarceration, with the only consolation being the thought of Breen dying in her cell (and with no way out due to the discredited Spheerical Industries' liquidation in light of the Biomax human test trials' fraudulence being brought into public knowledge[17]) — which startles Kara. She says her friend is in shock at being directly responsible in the death a loved one as the cost of saving someone else who was just as important. But Lena continues, saying that loss does strange things to her family and she personally lost a lot in her life even before she was recognized as a Luthor, thinking that whatever may happen within the span of her mourning could mold her thereafter into something she will one day fear, as that was what happened to Lillian after losing Lex. Kara hugs and assures her that she will never let anything happen to her, that she is there to protect her forever and always. As she is watching the city from her office that night, she is visited by Rhea who tells her that she has come with a proposal.[12]
Lena is visited by Rhea for her proposal.
Rhea had given Lena the design schematics for a transmatter portal. Lena was excited at the possibilities and benefits that such a device could have on the world, though she knew that it was currently just a theory. Rhea told her that it was possible and then revealed that she didn't tell Lena all of her secrets towards the design as she wanted to gauge her interest before trusting her with them. Lena told her that she was very interested and Rhea agreed to share them. They went off to have dinner together where the two of them discussed Lena's educational attainment — awing Rhea — before the disguised queen gave her a thumb drive with the remaining pieces of the schematics for the device, which she withheld from Lena during their initial meetings. Right before entrusting the Luthor with that stored digital knowledge, Rhea then said that her mother must be quite proud of her but Lena told her that she and her mother don't speak to one another anymore especially after her attempts to frame her. Rhea told her that she was surprised as she believed that a mother-daughter relationship was a strong one. She told Lena about her son and that she loved him deeply but then he had fallen for a woman that went on to take him from Rhea and after which her husband, Lar Gand, was killed. Lena rather thinks that the delay of handing in the data was due to Rhea cautiously wary that Lena might steal and modify the designs of the portal under the L-Corp brand, and thereby claim proprietary credit over the contraption’s introduction for public usage. Rhea, in turn, assures the Luthor that her trust of her is true, then toasts and praises the gods for allowing her to find Lena. And as she expresses her praise, Lena watches Rhea with a curious and speculative look from by the table they were at… Lena was then visited by Rhea at office again as she was going over all the new data for the portal. Lena told Rhea she was arranging for security to let her have access to her office but she just needed her thumbprint. She then moved her alien detection device for Rhea to use, under the guise that it would register her thumbprint, and saw the device indicate that the latter was an alien. When Rhea asked why the device acted the way it did, Lena dismissed it before she told Rhea that she had reviewed her design and realized that it would need an element that didn't exist on Earth. She then revealed that she knew that Rhea was an alien — a fact she first suspected when Rhea openly gave praise “to the gods” during her dinner at the restaurant with Lena, since polytheistic practices have long since died out by the time of Earth's Modern Era, and then just confirmed with the extra-terrestrial discernment device that Rhea just gave her thumbprint to. Lena angrily told her that she wouldn't build anything for her and that she wanted her out of the building. Rhea then left without another word. Later on in the evening, Lena was visited by Rhea who told her that the reason she lied about being an alien was because she had been aware of her mother's reputation and couldn't be sure that she wasn't the same way. Lena spitefully told her that many people automatically assume that she was a certain way because she was a Luthor, hurt that Rhea turned out to be one of them. Rhea then told her that her proposal was genuine and she did want to work with her, hoping that Lena would reconsider since they could achieve greatness together; she then teleported out of her office to leave Lena to her thoughts. Lena tried to call Kara for her opinion, but the Danvers told her that it wasn't a good time as she was in the middle of a crisis of her own concerning a kidnapped Alex.
Later, Kara was called by Lena and she asked if she was okay. Kara told her that everything had turned out fine and Kara then asked what Lena wanted to talk about earlier. Lena told her that she had actually settled that on her own. Hanging up, Lena then looked over at Rhea, whom she had decided to work with on the portal after all. Lena then asked if they were ready to change the world which Rhea told her that she was.[11]
Rhea's betrayal
Lena having lunch with Kara as she talks of her new project.
Lena later has a lunch date with Kara, who asks what has kept her so busy. Lena tells her that she is working with a new partner, whom she thinks the reporter will get along fine with — prompting Danvers to inquire for more details on the L-Corp project that her best friend was apparently overseeing together with this new associate; in response, Lena could only give away a couple of technically-related phrases (that go way beyond the present scope of Kara’s vocabulary understanding) and, seeing that Kara could hardly keep up with the nomenclature, instead promises that once the undertaking was complete, it will be worth the wait — before leaving to do their first test on the portal. Later, Lena and Rhea are at dinner discussing the failed first test of the portal. Lena is disappointed but Lillian reassures Lena that she believes in her. Once again, at the project's testing site, their tests fail and Lena halfheartedly suggests they go get Lex from imprisonment and maybe even attempt a bargain with him to offer his services in helping find a solution for the portal’s performance inconsistencies; because then, he would be able to fix it in a way that his sister obviously could not. Lena continues to be frustrated at the lack of progress being made and says she wanted to get it working to prove to everyone, and herself that she was just as good as Lex. Rhea reassures Lena that she is smart and assures her that she can do it and gives her advice on how to get it to work, emphasizing that Lena was trying to solve the technical problem in a way that Lex would when the younger Luthor should be charting out her own course for a solution, and one separate from her brother's usual methods. Taking Rhea's advice to heart, Lena and everyone there watched with glee as the portal's matter-transferral effect finally stabilizes.
When Rhea is next seen, she tauntingly dismisses a call from Kara who was trying to contact Lena upon realizing the possible connection between Lena's latest business project, which regards to the massive unleashing of polyatomic anions into the open atmosphere, and how — for twice in a row now — have some Phorians in National City begun to spontaneously and inconsistently exhibit uncharacteristic bursts of supremely chaotic and destructive behavior uncommon for their race, and telekinetically ravaging their surrounding vicinity as they did, as a result of “going high” with the heavily anion-laced ambience within the city; and when Lena asks her about it, Rhea lies, claiming that it was a telemarketer who just called. Lena later runs up to her and on this third scheduled test run to happen, the portal is being activated. Lena suddenly comes to realize that success means that Rhea will be leaving and is disappointed, having seen her as a mentor figure. Rhea tells her that no matter what, she cherished the time they spent together. Seconds after, Rhea powers the portal again, flummoxing Lena who demands what the former did and her son, J'onn and Supergirl crashed into the facility to stop her; Lena realizes that Rhea used her to get the now self-sustaining portal working and it is discovered that she was using the portal to bring something to earth. While Supergirl is fighting Rhea, Lena is knocked unconscious and later transported with Rhea and Mon-El to one of the Daxamite ships.[18]
Lena and Mon-El tell Rhea that they refuse to get married for her.
Lena wakes up, in a different attire, to see Rhea sitting by her side. Rhea tries to convince her that Supergirl almost killed her but Lena knows that she was trying to stop Rhea and says that she should have been one to stop her. Lena is hurt that Rhea used and betrayed her while Rhea tries to convince her that everything she said was true. Rhea calls Lena the best of her race amongst humanity's wasted potential. Rhea calls Lena and Mon-El into the throne room and announces they are to be married and they are to produce an heir, which Lena flat-out refused, though Mon-El informed her that only their genetic material is needed. Despite that, the two of them still refused to be married, which Rhea answers by threatening to destroy thousands of children's hospitals, including the Luthor Family Children's Hospital. Blackmailed and heartbroken, Lena reluctantly agrees to Rhea's demands to avoid innocents suffering.
As the wedding preparations came into progress, back on Earth, the D.E.O. and Cadmus came into an uneasy alliance as proposed by the latter's leader, Lillian Luthor, in which Supergirl must allow her and the real Hank Henshaw access to the Phantom Zone projector kept inside the Fortress of Solitude and have them re-purpose the projector, which was formerly employed to instantly teleport the convicted prisoners of Krypton to Fort Rozz, into teleporting them aboard Rhea's ship instead. Coming into a concession, Kara brings them to the Fortress where their way to rescue Lena and Mon-El awaits; and as Henshaw worked on the projector, Kara offhandedly asks Lillian, who was obviously aware of her dual identity as both Kara Danvers and Supergirl, as to why she never revealed Kara's secret to Lena and Lillian imperiously admits that she doesn't have to. For as presently unaware as her daughter might be of Kara's alien identity, and one who happens to be National City’s recognized heroine at that, Lillian expresses confidence that Lena would ultimately see through her best friend's duplicity and consider it — with Kara not deeming the youngest Luthor trustworthy enough to know of who the former truly was — as a breach of the supposed mutual trust existing between the two women and one destined to destroy their friendship altogether, as Lillian foresees. Hence why Lillian would rather let her vision come to pass, and simply watch her adopted daughter realize Kara's shameless deception, at Lena's own terms, over Lillian exposing it to her straight since the former’s course of unaided discovery bears greater impact to the said friendship than any other possibility. With Lillian obviously relishing the idea of Lena despising her best friend on account of the Kryptonian’s own doing, Supergirl could only snidely remark on the consistency of the Luthor she was standing next to which barely affected Lillian herself. Their shared desire to rescue Lena from Rhea's clutches was all that united them as allies, and once their business aboard Rhea's vessel is over, they go straight to their ongoing enmity against each other. And with Lena's life at stake, Supergirl swallows her personal pride and reciprocates Lillian’s attitude with confidence, telling her that she looks forward into being enemies again with her afterwards.
While the ceremony commences, with both Lena and Mon-El in appropriate attires, it is interrupted by Cat Grant, warning Rhea that she messed with the wrong people and encouraging the people of National City to defend themselves and not let the invaders win. Lena and Mon-El are then ordered back to their holdings while Rhea tries to see to the refreshed resistance that is occurring in the city. Mon-El orders the guard to stand down as the Prince of Daxam; this unsurprisingly (and somewhat humorously) fails, so he disarms and then struggles to take him out until Lena cooly shoots him with his dropped gun and walks off, unimpressed with Mon-El.
Lena is surprised to see her mother working with Supergirl to save her.
When they come across a locked door, Lena orders Mon-El to break the glass and cleverly uses the tiara she is wearing to get it to open, where Mon-El tells Lena he realizes why Kara loves her. Getting through the door, they run into Supergirl, Lillian and Cyborg Hank Henshaw, through a platoon of felled Daxamite guards. Lena is shocked to see her mother having come to get her along with Supergirl and Lillian told her that she would do anything to save her. They then moved to leave through the portal and emerged in the Fortress of Solitude, however, she saw that only she, her mother and Henshaw had come while Supergirl and Mon-El weren't. Lena angrily asked "Where's Supergirl?" and Lillian then told her that she had rigged the portal to only allow humans to come back and not the aliens before she sent the call for Rhea's ship to be destroyed. Upon seeing that her mother betrayed and had left Supergirl and Mon-El on the ship to die, she realized that her mother hadn't changed. However, Supergirl and Winn had foreseen this move and had rigged an override in Hank Henshaw that made him re-start the portal and keep Lillian from interfering. When the portal was reactivated, Mon-El stepped through, abandoning Supergirl, and told Lena that Supergirl chose to stay to confront his mother.[19]
Lena's mother Lillian comes to see her about the Daxamites.
Lena found her way back to L-Corp where, whilst drinking away her guilt and sorrows, she moved to make a mess of the Luthor Family chess set in her office. Lillian then came in and asked her why she would let herself be duped by Rhea. Lena angrily pointed out that Rhea believed in her and had inspired her. She felt that Rhea gave her the support and encouragement which her own adoptive mother never did. Lillian relented that she wasn't the best mother and failed to put her daughter first, but they needed to work together now to stop Rhea and her army. Lillian then revealed the device that Lena had seen her take from Lex's vault, with her daughter instantly recognizing the box that it was held in. Lillian explained that it was intended to be used on Kryptonians but, with Lena's help, it could be altered to be used against the Daxamites instead, seeing how Lena was able to convert what was originally L-Corp’s large-scale generator ring into a working transmatter portal (that brought Earth's present state of overwhelming crisis from the invading Daxamites) with her brilliance. Lena then contacted the D.E.O. and told them that she and her mother had a weapon to turn the tide, but presumably requests that they first send the Kryptonians over at L-Corp to offer some outside opinion. She was then visited by Supergirl and Superman, and the Luthors revealed to the aliens that the device they had was built by Lex to dispense Kryptonite into the atmosphere in order to make the planet uninhabitable to Kryptonians. However, Lena took time to examine it and was working to make it dispense lead instead so that it would force the Daxamites to leave. But, Lena knew that it would work on all Daxamites, including Mon-El. She then piercingly asked if Supergirl knew that Mon-El had been dating Kara Danvers, missing the look passing between her and Lillian. Rather than answering the question, Lena was instead ordered by Supergirl to begin working with the device to set their back-up plan (with the “Plan A” being that Kara just challenged Rhea into a Dakkam Ur trial by combat, to which both of them are now preparing for) into motion. Later, Winn Schott (who was sent by J'onn to assist Lena in her office) and Lena are working on the device while Lillian lofts about, giving waspish comments as the alien invasion outside worsens. Upon completion, Lillian grabs the device and activates it but, when it doesn't work, is told by Lena that she secretly gave Supergirl the remote, so that only the Kryptonian could activate it when she needs it, and then instructs Schott to inform the D.E.O. of their achievement. Thus, the three of them vigilantly stayed inside Lena's office, and standing guard over the finished contraption, until it was finally triggered by Kara. After everything is over with the Daxamites' forced retreat, it is discovered that Lillian took all the credit despite Lena and Winn being the ones to finalize the device.[20]
Rebuilding National City
Following the months after the expunged Daxamite invasion, it was revealed that Lena has allocated her resources to have her company assist in any way it can for the rebuilding of all the damage left by the invaders, donating billions of dollars for the renovation and rebuilding of damage left in the Daxamites' wake. In that daunting venture, she reached out to Morgan Edge for aid, as the land and real estate developer's impeccable portfolio deemed Edge's development plans as her (and everyone else's) best shot in the restoration efforts for the ravaged National City. And true enough, within barely half a year, the collaborated reconstruction efforts (together with Supergirl's aid and the mayor's permission) permitted the city infrastructure and economy to emerge stable and operational once more. However, overtime, Lena became aware of Morgan's egotistical sexism, about how he thinks little of other people's thoughts and opinions, especially if from the fairer sex; but Lena kept silent about hers concerning Edge, not wanting any friction to expand between the two of them since they are both, at the time, controversial pillars of the city's damaged and recovering community. She however, like some of National City's one percenters, vocally disapproved when Edge furthers his notions of renewing National City by remaking its waterfront to his liking (and profitability). During these past six months of mass-scale structural renewals in municipality, Lena also attempted contact with Kara, who was suffering emotionally from the loss of Mon-El, setting up schedules and plans, but was turned down every time due to Kara dedicating her time and focus as Supergirl (drastically reducing crime despite the vulnerable and shattered state their city was in, along with assisting in its property renovations) which Lena wasn't aware of as she was still unaware of Kara's actual alien nature and heroic alternate persona.
Morgan Edge verbally slandering Lena's good efforts to help National City.
She was seen, along with other business representatives and negotiates, seated at a table conference in Morgan's office wherein he was basically over-praising himself and those who enabled him to conduct his projects for reviving the city back to its former glory. But Lena, along with James Olsen who was also seated there, was rather quick to point out that Supergirl had a hand in the restoration as well. Morgan then shifted the subject as to why his business proposition to renovate the waterfront as well has yet to be given clearance from the city officials; and again, both James and Lena responded with simultaneous controversy as such an undertaking would deprive the less-than-privileged of their homes for the benefit of the wealthy.
Morgan then proceeded to verbally target Lena, bringing up the fact that she was trying to absolve not only her family of their transgressions but also her own, since it was because of her that the Daxamites were able to descend upon National City in the first place. He stresses to her that guilt is not a particularly effective business strategem, with Lena coldly replying that neither was exploitation. Sensing that he may have gone too far and that it was almost lunch time, Morgan suggested everyone present there that they all adjourn to the office room next door, where his catering staff prepared a glorious buffet for Edge's business associates and guests. As the group rose up, Lena calls out to Morgan, telling him that he's not as influential or powerful as he'd like to believe himself as. Morgan arrogantly brushes this off, pointing out to her that powerful people, herself included, were in his office.
Lena was later visited by Kara in her office at L-Corp, bringing up Morgan Edge's intent to buy CatCo Worldwide Media, which was now up for sale as a result of Edge cunningly and subtly buying a series of its company shares, rallying up the editorial's shareholders behind him as support up to that point, and with Snapper Carr off to a Sabbatical and Cat Grant not being there (Cat now serves as the president's press secretary and had to put CatCo on a blind trust) to rebuke his impending takeover. Kara rather thinks Morgan's bid was intended to stop James from further using his editorial influence to downplaying Edge's future land development plans and about how he and Lena stood up against Morgan in his office from earlier; Lena did not put this past Morgan, whom she believes wasn't above spending that much money on a petty grudge. She nevertheless agrees with Kara that Morgan also taking control of CatCo would mean bad for those below the higher societal class since the real estate mogul would then be able to sway public opinions and supports to his favor, leaving his developmental projects unopposed in National City. Lena was then asked by her friend to try convincing Morgan Edge to lay off his purchasing CatCo.
Assuring Kara that she would try, Lena then tells the then-leaving reporter she misses her. The two apparently have had very little contact with each other after the city's alien invasion. Lena thinks Kara was cold-shouldering her for her part in driving away the Daxamites with that lead dispersion device she modified from Lex's original design that also resulted in Mon-El having to be sent away from Earth to keep the planet's lead-infused atmosphere from killing the Daxamite prince. She tells Kara that she was there for her, as Kara was for her when Lena lost Jack, and wanted to apologize for her conduct. Kara replies that Lena did what she had to do; and that in the end, it was Supergirl's decision to activate the device and so Mon-El's fate was not on Lena's, but was then distracted by a crime in progress being reported from a tablet on Lena's desk. Excusing herself out the door, Lena suggests brunch later with the departing reporter, to which Danvers wordlessly nods as she left, leaving Lena doubtful about to Kara's claim of not blaming her for the Daxamite's forced banishment.
She later visits Morgan Edge in his office. Morgan, who was playing office golf, took note of this and coyly expresses what people might say when they hear of Lena's recurring presence in his domain and she snidely tells him that his charms equate to a film starring Michael Douglas from the concluding decade of last century. Morgan found that flattering, but finds it unlikely that the Luthor would come all this way just for that and Lena extends his proposition of investing more capital to Edge's campaigns. Morgan immediately suspects that in return for the commission, Lena would want him to cease his bid in buying CatCo Magazine. Lena doesn't deny that and emphasizes that Morgan should just stick to what he's good at: overseeing the rebirth of National City, as there were still sectors that require renovating, and managing a media conglomerate at the same time could eat away at his time table. Morgan ignores this and mocks Lena by stating that no matter what she does, no matter how benevolent, people will still see her as one who bears a name that brought prominence and infamy to her known family, a Luthor; a belief that he intends to reinforce and then use to his personal advantage in turning the community against Lena via CatCo's editorial resources. Lena then realizes the twofold reason behind Morgan's attempt-in-progress to purchase CatCo: negating the biased reports that the people have been receiving about him and also using that same media outlet to deface his enemies in business, starting with Lena. Edge would only affirm this, attributing it as "good business". Disgusted, Lena saw herself out, missing Robert Dubois, who was hiding behind one of the pillars in Morgan's personal office.
Standing later behind the podium at the unveiling of the Girl of Steel Statue by the waterfront, Lena gave a few witty and amiable words to the people who came there for the event in deference for their savior. But everyone's elation quickly turned to horror when a large tremor erupted somewhere by the waterfront, causing Lena and so many others to duck for cover. She soon witnessed as Supergirl arrived and stopped Dubois' attack and flew his submarine out of the water.
Kara later visits Lena again in the latter's office. After two of them pushing aside the absolved matter concerning the underwater assault at the waterfront, Lena tells Kara how she bought CatCo Magazine from under Morgan Edge, meaning she is now the official proprietor of both Cat Grant's company and L-Corp, sparing the former from Edge's reach much to Kara's delight. However, Lena became distraught when Kara tells her of her resignation from CatCo; she urges Kara to return there for work, knowing very little about journalism in which Kara knows plenty. Lena adds that it's rare to work together with someone close to you, and Kara seems to consider this. And that was when Morgan Edge, evidently peeved for having been out-bought by L-Corp in his CatCo takeover, unceremoniously came by insulting Lena' sanity, forcing Danvers to get in between the two capitalists. Edge continues to vocally threaten Lena, who tells him that he warrants getting himself tossed, by her security detail, out of her office with that attitude. This prompts Kara to take her leave. That left Morgan and Lena alone, with the former menacingly going on with his verbal harassment. Lena retorts by saying she couldn't care less. Supergirl unexpectedly descends on the balcony, greeting Lena and then asking if she was done with Edge. Lena confirms that she was and moves away from her business rival.
Later inside her loft, after Kara looked on at photos of herself and Mon-El, she sent Lena a reply via her phone accepting the latter's behest — for Kara to return working at CatCo again — and hang out together the next day, addressing her as boss. Lena sends back a heart-shaped emoji to Kara.[21]
Heading CatCo and having friends
On her first day at CatCo Magazine, Lena arrives on her first day there at the office with seemingly nervous excitement through and then out of Cat Grant’s private elevator, which she was apparently unaware as to whom it was specifically reserved for. Upon arriving and surveying the work environment, she seemed uncertain of what to do next, having delved into a wholly new business enterprise of which is entirely foreign to her. She was warmly greeted by Eve Teschmacher, who seemed thrilled to meet her up-close and offers to get her anything on her Lena's first day as her and Lena suggests that Tess utilizes the private elevator as it would be faster to traverse up and down the establishment that way. Eve shies away from the suggestion and explained that particular elevator was reserved for only for Miss Grant's usage, or for whomsoever's at the top of CatCo’s hierarchy — meaning that the Luthor definitely qualifies.
Lena refutes this, saying that anyone could now use the elevator at their discretion and not just her, much to Eve's delight and Lena soon stumbles upon James Olsen who wanted to chaperone Lena around the office and amenities that day. But knowing that she also had a company to run in L-Corp, James advises her to segregate her now-divided time between both companies wisely; and Lena informs Olsen that it won't be necessary, as she had already arranged and settled affairs at L-Corp in her stead, so she could roam free in CatCo, taking in all of its intricacies, without any hindrances from the former, much to Olsen's surprise. They both get into his office (formerly Cat Grant's) and Kara comes into the office room, welcoming Lena there as her new boss after the latter's generous purchase and handing, in personal appreciation, the new company Head a customized planner on her first day. James tells her that the top management there has yet to adapt to recent changes in leadership as the result of Lena's abrupt purchase; they have even yet to secure a personal office room for her. James subtly hints on Lena taking his, but Lena tells him he could keep it viewing such as irrelevant, since her experience in L-Corp has somewhat made her antsy in having a whole office room all to herself (she had no idea how Cat or James does it, cooped up in theirs with all those flat television screen monitors in broadcast, lining the wall behind them), and that she'd rather have an active running of the establishment by roaming about and supervising its branches, unconfined by desk space. Turning to Kara, Lena brings up that she has a lead at Morgan Edge's accounting and that she wants Kara to cover it, but an emergency call from the D.E.O. forced the newly-returned reporter to decline from the assignment.
She would later approach both Kara and James again, moving side-by-side from the elevator, after a conference meeting with some of CatCo’s top-brass staff that she informs them of and having apparently summoned for the former to confer there as well (and only to arrive late), though James was apparently unaware of the meeting until last minute and, quite frankly, was beginning to feel that she was trying to leach the office off of him much to his displeasure. Lena then starts telling Kara of what happened there in the meeting and how she would have wanted her there, but yet another D.E.O. urgent call caused the office subordinate to take her leave. Curious, Lena inquires James as to where Kara was headed and James responded somewhat curtly, asking in turn as to why he wasn't part of the meeting, nor was he informed on it, as it took place in a work environment that he ran in Cat Grant's stead for over a year. Noticing that her ability to make independent decisions was being challenged by her senior, but one whom Lena knew she must not make an enemy of from the beginning of her starting days at CatCo, Lena and James tensely stared down at each other, giving waspish remarks before going on their way.
Seemingly grown weary of Kara's constantly weaseling away from her, Lena goes to visit the former at her desk, mildly confronting Kara of her scuttling behavior but states that she understands why so. Kara thinks and worries that Lena finally worked out her secret as Supergirl, afraid that what Lillian predicted — of Lena hating her best friend for lying to her — has finally come true, but learns that Lena believes Kara hasn't truly gotten over Mon-El's necessary departure, which was causing her work performance to suffer, and ignorant to the fact that Kara recently had her hands full as Supergirl battling against a formidable meta-human, Psi, who recently arrived in National City, robbing its banks in a continuous spree and easily defeating Supergirl at every turn of confrontation by using the Kryptonian's worst fears against her, incapacitating the city's heroine twice in a row now while the poetically-gloating super-powered criminal gets away clean with her stolen prize at both times.
Relieved that her apprehensions weren't the case, Kara tries to let Lena down easy, standing up to her and saying that she intends to settle the matter with Mon-El in her own way, overlapping with work if she must, despite Lena stating that she was free to take a break from duty if that was what Kara needed. Noting the change in Kara's tone, Lena then shifts to stern pragmatism and talked to Kara not as a friend, but as her employer declaring that she did not spend large sums to overtake Morgan's attempt in owning CatCo on a whim; that she was a businesswoman at her core. One with expectations, not just in remuneration, from her fresh purchase and that, as CatCo's newest owner, she cannot slack off of her duties there much less tolerate such conduct from the employees under her and not even from Kara, as that would be favoritism, tightening tension between the two close friends. Cornered, Kara promises to get Lena’s delegated task done. And with that, she thanked and left Kara to her thoughts, looking over her shoulder just enough to watch the CatCo reporter leave. Presumably Lena would be later communicating, from off-screen, with her L-Corp CFO through the phone and being told by the latter that her child has had some problems at school, but assured by the person at the other end that it was already handled in lieu with all the other business expectations and arrangements as designated by Lena's company — all ready for the next day and should go smoothly with no problem. This other person then thanked Lena for being so understanding and, before hanging up, promised to meet up with Lena later in the evening.
Lena's name is later mentioned by Kara in her apartment where she was confronted by Alex, who was now aware of the true nature behind the panic attacks that her adopted younger sister was experiencing during her skirmishes with Psi, after Winn spilled the beans to Alex while back at the D.E.O., that the meta-human was making Kara relive the terrific and paralyzing vision of Krypton's destruction as latter herself was forcibly evacuated from that via a space-worthy pod. Losing her confidence, Kara laments that things have not gone right for her since her first encounter with Psi, and Lena’s gradually emerging habit of making inquiries about Kara’s “side-jobs” — to Kara and those she works with at CatCo — is not making things any easier for the already-distressed Kryptonian.
But Lena's suppositions on Kara's inner conflict would later prove to be (partially) correct after all, when Supergirl's third confrontation with Psi revealed her deepest and darkest fear: having sent Mon-El from Earth's lead-infused atmosphere in a pod, she has no idea what became of her beloved after his exile and that, having been sent off in a similar fashion by her own mother, Kara knows the feeling of being sent away by someone dear (a parent, and from a planet that was once home, no less, but was literally rejecting Kara to the point of actual planetary self-destruction in her final moments there, only moments before the Kryptonian's expedited and unceremonious leaving) all too well, worrying that she may very well have sent the Daxamite to his death — never to be heard from again. Alex's words of encouragement, of how Mon-El was safe wherever he is now just as Kara was when Alura loaded her into the pod that brought her to Earth and the premise that the two literally star-crossed lovers will eventually reunite because of that, finally enabled Supergirl to get over her own crippling fears and she bested Psi with her newfound courage.
Upon her return to CatCo, Kara searches for Lena, whom she finds overseeing the work progress of one the office workers there. She tentatively approaches the Luthor to affirm that the latter's assigned task to Kara beforehand was now met, and then admitting to what Lena surmised from earlier was true but just didn't want up that point to admit it in herself, apologizing in regards of her own job performance thus far as a reporter; that it was crass of Kara not giving Lena her due respect. Not merely as her new employer, but also her well-intended friend who sympathizes with another's loss. But Lena understands Kara's plight, having gone through the same with Jack. Lena jokes that the concept of friendship was also foreign territory for her since the Luthor family have minions in the place of legitimate friends, hence why she's not particularly good at it. They laughed together and Lena suggests that she and Kara make amends with a hug though was hesitant at the same time, maintaining her stance against favoritism but gives in due to Kara's good-natured and ushering invitation, and the two women wrapped each other together in their arms.
A most unlikely trinity born...
It was then that they were approached by the newly-promoted Samantha Arias, Lena's new mouthpiece and privy in L-Corp, governing its activities and operations in Lena's place (and confirming that Sam was the one whom Lena was talking to from earlier right before the former received her pizza delivery at the Arias residence), causing Lena and Kara to break off from their warm hug. Smiling, Lena introduces her to Kara and vice-versa, and her two acquaintances before her amicably shook hands with each other. A fateful encounter, this triumvirate of powerful women (with some of them perhaps more powerful than even they themselves presently realize) are only blissfully aware of what now awaits them some time in the future from that point onwards.
Later that night, Lena was seen leaving the office with Eve. They came across James, who appeared to have gotten over his hard-shelled demeanor for and impression of Lena; the two higher-ups of CatCo briefly greeted and departed for the night.[22]
Lena, with Kara in tow, visited her old office in L-Corp to leave her signature on some documents there and Sam Arias conveys with them after her daughter's soccer game, followed by a trip to the ice cream parlor with Ruby's team. With Lena congratulating Sam on her first major successful endeavor as L-Corp's CFO, Danvers suggests they celebrate at her place that night. Sam showed her reservations, but Lena and Kara were insistent she joins them.
Later, in Kara's apartment, Lena, Kara, Sam, Alex and Maggie were all gathered, telling stories of their personal lives and their plans for the future, when Kara had to scoot when she heard the sound of fire-truck sirens, passing it off as the need to get some more ice cubes, that only Alex and Maggie were aware of the pretense.
Lena would later find Sam in the office again, with the latter tearfully lamenting that she was failing Ruby as a mother due to her obligations at L-Corp. Lena offers a few words of encouragement, saying that the love Sam gives to Ruby was more than enough to make up for the times when Sam fails to be at her daughter's side, or when she's not giving Ruby her fullest and undivided attention.
Lena, Kara and Alex would later arrive at Ruby's performance recital. Sam was surprised that her employer and the Danvers sisters came, and Lena reminded her that Ruby was going to have a lot of cool Aunts.[23]
A couple of days later, she and James discussed CatCo's statistics when Kara walked into the room and told them to watch what Morgan Edge was broadcasting. Lena did and learned that several children were rushed to Luthor Family Hospital, as they were all suffering from lead poisoning. She and Kara rushed to the hospital, where they found Samantha already there, having brought one of Ruby’s lead-ailed classmates in. Lena angrily confronted Edge who stood by what he televised, and accused Lena of not minding the consequences to her own actions when she altered the lead bomb to drive away Rhea, along with her entire faction and species.
Upon being accused of inadvertently poisoning children via the lead bomb deployed during the Daxamite invasion, Lena temporarily stepped down from both L-Corp and CatCo Worldwide Media, despite Kara and Sam's insistence that Lena's re-designing of the bomb was what saved the city and that stepping down now could be taken as an act of admitting guilt, in order for the latter company to provide unbiased reporting during the investigation, in addition to maintaining L-Corp's integrity, lest both enterprises under Lena's ownership be branded for profiteering — a notion that Jimmy did not disagree to. She later held a press conference outside to, in apologetic tone, let the public know of her plans, despite of herself being unsure if the contraption she modified was indeed to blame, only to be shot upon by an aggrieved mother of one of the affected children, though James (and Sam, as it would later be revealed) valiantly took a non-lethal hit for her. He was later seen contemplating together with Kara and Winn, whilst his sustained injury being tended to at the D.E.O., in light of recent developments and how they escalated that way due to Lena's somewhat reckless actions during around the time of the Daxamite's invasion and with Edge provoking the general masses against her as of late, coming into a quick argument with Kara who confronts Jimmy for seemingly blaming the Luthor as the one behind the mounting tragedy. Olsen would only defend himself saying that while Lena may not have knowingly lead-poisoned the children with apparent intent, it does not make them falling ill any less her fault due to Lena altering her brother's device of its original purpose and then offering its usage — and nothing good has ever truly came from the hand of one Lex Luthor, leaving Kara speechless in Lena's defense. Seeing where this debate was headed, with neither side obviously willing to let go of their conviction in relation to Lena's actions that time when the Daxamites both arrived and left, Schott attempts a diplomatic approach and suggests to his friends that they run verifying trial upon the device's re-purposed function themselves to confirm if it was indeed the source of the severe poisonings. Kara agrees and Winn leads her (as Olsen obviously couldn't go due to his wound) to the quarantined and monitored testing room with the atmosphere bomb at the center of the flooring just below them. Winn notes that while he was working with Lena to alter the said bomb, they made numerical computations to ensure that the device would only target Daxamites once triggered — determining only a fraction of a percentage to indicate that should it also affects humans, caught in the released lead cloud or exposed to its atmospheric residue, will be irrelevant at best; and assuming that they get the same percentage from the testing procedure, then it shall be confirmed that the lead outbreak was, in fact, incited by causes other than the device about to be tested by Schott.
Activating the device and watching it spread its lead-based cloud within the room's confinement and waiting for the sensors there to measure to particulate content, a perturbed Winn can only show the results to Kara — showing that there may have been a slight error to the computations that he and Lena made when they pooled their efforts together in re-purposing the atmosphere-affecting device, since they were in such a rush at that time (with the invading Daxamites and all) putting it together that they did not even consider how pre-adult or even pre-adolescent humans, whose immune systems are understandably weaker than those of their adult counterparts, would somatically react to the mass-dispersed lead. And because of their collaborated error, the afflicted juveniles are now paying the price — meaning that Winn too may have had a hand at their grisly ordeal. Kara leaves him with the results being shown from the tablet at his hands, defeated.
Forced to take refuge herself in Sam's household, Lena was gratified that her acting CEO was allowing her to stay there but unsure if it was a wise choice, as she was basically a marked woman with all the angry parents practically out for her blood. Sam assures Lena that it was okay and letting her in her home was the least she could do when the latter came in her time of need with her daughter. She confidently tells Lena to ease up and adds that this was what friends do for each other. Lena then piercingly asks if Sam would still be so if Ruby (who just walked past them with arms laden with sheets and pillows) was one of the children that got sick from lead; Sam could only look back without a reply, before looking down and Lena sadly does likewise — Samantha's wordless response was all it took for Lena to sadly understand how things could have come to between the two of them had the scenario she suggested indeed been the case.
Kara later visits the Arias residence, finding Lena by the kitchen counter and in an uncharacteristic state of despair, apparently drinking herself non-stop in liquor and carelessly breaking a wine glass or two in this stupor. Sweeping away the glass shards off the counter and dropping the broken pieces to the trash bin, the Kryptonian tries to get her friend to pull herself together, in spite now knowing from the recent experimentation, conducted by Winn at the D.E.O., that Lena’s lead dispersion bomb was liable for the afflicted juveniles' deteriorating condition by around 10%. Kara chose not to tell Lena this, only for the latter to morosely and amusedly claim that her friend was "terrible at hiding things" from her boss; of course, given her superheroine persona that Lena has not even vaguely begun to suspect, the former mutters she wasn't so sure of Lena's claim, which barely registered to the heavily inebriated Lena.
The reporter assures that she won't rest until Lena's name was cleared from the accusations, mirroring her adamant tenacity from back when Lena was accosted for providing Metallo with a second Kryptonite heart and the subsequent escape of Lillian Luthor; but at this point, the despondent Luthor tells her, not as her employer but as her friend, to cease having truly believed that she was indeed at fault for what the children were going through right now by the workings of the device that Lena modified. She commends Kara for her insistent belief that there's inherent good in everyone, even for someone bearing the Luthor name, as that was what Lena loves most about the reporter, but goes on to say that in the real world, there was good as well as bad and that either can happen even without deliberate intent. Lena laments at having led her life as a pariah — first due to her access into her family's immense wealth and then, of course, because of Lex's activities against Superman which was what motivated her to be positively seen by others as her own person, in addition to restoring the Luthor family's honor. But in the end, regardless of what she commits herself into, Lena will always amount to what the general masses perceive her as: the (half-)sibling of a megalomaniacal mass murderer and criminal mastermind. Except that Lex never went as far as to endanger the well-being of innocent human children for what he perceived was the greater good, even by accident, meaning she just sank the Luthor name down to a new definition of low — perhaps deeper than either Lex or Lillian before her ever had — as far as morality was concerned. Kara could only listen with growing sadness as the person before her, whom she came to know as one of the strongest women in her life, devolve into how Kara herself basically was in following the days and months when she lost Mon-El — coincidentally to the same doomsday contraption that was the source of Lena's complete loss of hope and juveniles suffering. Lena then tries to have Kara spare her efforts in proving her best friend's innocence, saying that "she was not worth it". She later lapses to sleep that night.
However, Kara stayed up all night for Samantha to arrive as well and the two researched and worked together while Lena slept silently nearby on Sam's living room couch. Sam tells Kara how she has never seen Lena this vulnerable before, despite having known her employer for a long time and Kara agrees that Lena was secretly “mush” inside in spite of the tough image she typically upholds herself as. Later, Lena's two associates are later seen pooling efforts and skimming up through attained facts and information, on both paper documentations and through Samantha's laptop, as they attempt to get another perspective lead as of how those children could have gotten lead-poisoned, hopefully without tailing back on Lena's altered device. Realizing that all of the afflicted children have taken residence all across National City and not within the same localized area, which makes their illness allegedly attributable to the device somewhat questionable and that something else must be connecting them to the lead-poisonings, the two women then decided to scour for any connections on the expenditures and accounts of the kids' families, trailing up to time of the children coming into affliction, with Kara pulling out her phone and about to make the call to her necessary contact(s) in pulling out the intel for them to review when Arias intercedes that with a quicker method — promptly tapping the keys and appropriate commands on her laptop, she immediately brings up the information that she and Danvers sought within seconds, impressing the latter and commending Lena's choice to have Sam put in charge of L-Corp in her stead, as now Kara understands why Lena thinks so highly of Sam.
Surveying the families' recorded financial accounts, Sam and Kara determines that they all went to Frances Park where an Oktoberfest was apparently held. Leaving the sleeping Lena at the house, Arias and Danvers left to investigate the park where Kara (while Sam was looking away) had to do a slight breaking and entering by using her Kryptonian strength to open the door to access one of the indoor facilities there. Going inside, they beheld several pools for public use and related to each other of their past as adopted in their youth. Suspicious of the water, Kara x-rays the pools and notices something odd about it; declaring that she will test the waters, she produces a liquid substance-sampler and bends over the edge of the pool to get a sample telling Sam that the sampler was given to her by a friend from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, intriguing Arias as Kara contacts that person, Winn, on her phone. And within moments Winn got for them the results: the pools are laced with disseminated traces of advanced hydromorphic carbon nitrate compound that is passable as lead when combined with water which, in turn, induces symptoms akin to lead poisoning to anyone exposed to the deadly combination — thereby confirming Kara and Sam’s persistent belief that Lena’s workings with her brother's device wasn’t to blame for the kids falling ill. Looking around the establishment interior, the two women headed over to the cabinets, opening them to find several barrels of the compound labeled under Acre Lee Chemical.
Lena's phone woke her up, a bit startled, but she answered. Kara's informed her that she and Sam went off to conduct an impromptu investigation of their own to prove that Lena was not to blame for the sick kids, and an exasperated Lena reminded Kara how she told her to just let things be. Kara quickly stated how the children were poisoned due to a chemical reaction in the pool rather than actual exposure to dispersed lead. Lena reacted when Kara mentioned the name Acre Lee which she intends to investigate together with Sam, and Kara asked their employer if she knew the name, to which Lena said she didn't. She then visited Morgan Edge in his office, confronted him about the fact that she was now aware of his ploy to discredit her by blaming the poisoned children on her re-designed device, when he was the one who orchestrated the whole incident having integrated Acre Lee Chemicals into his enterprise and thus rendering the chemical company's resources available for Edge's disposal. His plan all along was to smear Lena's good name while bringing himself up in the public eye.
Morgan was unfazed of her allegations and Lena was coldly furious of the fact that her business rival would mindlessly endanger innocent kids in his vendetta against her over the vendetta itself, pulls out a gun. She stated that she knew the woman who shot at her at the press conference was right and that it was high time she lives up to her Luthor name. However, she was hit over the head by one of Morgan Edge's men and falls unconscious. When she awoke, Lena found herself in a cargo plane loaded with the same chemical substance from Acre Lee. The plane was being controlled by Edge, and she realized his plan was to dump barrels of the substance into the water to infect more people in National City, and then direct the public's blame to her device once more. She tried to radio-contact the air-base for help, but Edge cuts off the transmission. Fortunately, the D.E.O. detected the aircraft's presence and caught wind of Lena's interrupted transmission — with Kara being there to discern that it was Lena at the other end. The plane's cargo door suddenly opened and, thinking quickly, Lena tried to prevent the cargo from being dropped into the water. She pinned the platform where the barrels were on to the plane’s inner cabin, which forced Morgan to have the pilot crash the plane.
Supergirl flew in and closed the cargo hatch all the way. She and Lena began to feel some turbulence, forcing Supergirl to attempt holding the aircraft up from the inside. She also shouted to Lena to strap in, but Lena was thrown loose when one of the wing engines of the plane blew. The plane, unable to withstand Supergirl's pressure, broke in half; with the chemical barrels in one end and Lena falling to the bottom of the other. Supergirl told Lena that she couldn't hold both sides, reflecting the time when Lena herself was forced to choose between Kara and Jack, and had to make the painfully heart-breaking choice of sacrificing the latter. With their time running out and nary a thought to the contrary, Lena insisted the alien heroine to save to chemicals over her, but Kara (who would have none of it) refused, despite the strained efforts that she was already exerting in literally holding the aircraft's pieces together, and urged the former to climb up, making Lena realize what was at stake and the risks that the Kryptonian was willing to take in saving everyone in National City — Lena included. Thus, her life matters just as everyone else there. Regaining her confidence, Lena nodded and began climbing, before jumping to grab Supergirl's outstretched hand, sparing both Lena and the barrels.
She visited CatCo to check on James Olsen who was slowly but surely recuperating from his shoulder wound, and the two shared a moment alone together. Lena told James that anyone who took a bullet for her could call her by her first name, and James agreed to do so. He then told her that his friends called him "James" or "Jimmy". Lena nodded and told him goodnight, and called him Jimmy.
She was later seen at Sam's house again, on the couch, and thanked both Sam and Kara for their collaborated efforts in acquitting her name (despite of Edge coming off clean at the end) and not giving up on their boss when Lena practically did; she was particularly grateful towards Kara for staying true to her employer and friend when Lena's personal morale was at its lowest point, and apologizes in the way she dismissed Kara's unwavering support and loyalty from earlier. Lena informed them that she never had anyone willing to love her no matter what, and Kara told her that it was because she never had a sister. Sam chimed in that Lena had two sisters now, and they both come together and hugged either side of Lena. After the truth was revealed, it is believed that Lena returned to her companies after L-Corp succeeded in synthesizing a cure for the lead-poisoned children.[10]
A grim Yule
Lena was seen, by the kitchen counter, in Kara's apartment together with the latter's inner circle of friends who gathered there in celebration for the Christmas holiday; she was drinking in friendly conversation together with James while everyone else around them readied for the season's coming event. Sam and Ruby later arrived and Lena took note that the former seemed slightly pale and tired. Sam assures her that it was no issue and then proceeded to tease Lena on recent developments with her relationship with Olsen beyond work, to which Lena attempts to dance around the subject.
Overhearing them, Kara soon comes along and also noted her personal opinions on Jimmy and Lena's burgeoning feelings for each other. Again, Lena tries to evade the topic and Kara expresses her gratification at celebrating that Christmas in her place together with Lena and Samantha — the two best gifts she attained that year — endearing both the latter two. Kara continues, saying that she has always appreciated being close to her sister Alex but never quite, outside of the Danvers family, had intimate best friends before either Sam or Lena came into her life and Kara in theirs. And it was because of their presence and relationship with her that the Kryptonian was able to pull through the approaching end of that year, in spite the layers upon layers of hardships and difficulties that she's faced (and still facing), earning her an affectionate and comforting side-hug from Sam while Lena appreciatively looks on.
Lena was later seen discussing the matter of mysterious sigils appearing all across National City with James at CatCo; suspecting that this was yet another elaborate plot being instigated by Morgan Edge — due to the first and then now several of the sigils were left unceremoniously marking property owned under L-Corp — against Lena and her company, she and Olsen (who insisted to come along) decided to confront Edge in his office. Morgan, in his predisposed condescending and flippant demeanor, plainly claims that he had nothing to do about it and that his methods would be more direct, if that. Lena and James would later visit a site where they were to rendezvous with a contact of hers who could provide some information on Edge's more discreet activities, in hopes of finding a lead that can connect Edge with those Kryptonian marks, with Jimmy himself expressing his doubts and worry as they could easily be ambushed while out in the open like this.
James' apprehensions are later proven on the mark when he and Lena, while surveying a freshly-found and made Kryptonian mark, were fired upon from behind and afar by someone armed with a hi-tech armament, causing Olsen to usher Lena to safety as the gunman chased after them. And in that chase, Lena fell to the ground and was told to stay down until its safe, allowing Olsen to produce his Guardian Shield to deflect an ordnance fire without Lena seeing and proceeded to overpower their assailant, in time to retract his shield once again by the time Lena stood back up on her feet. She was none too flustered and jokes to him that it was merely the quarterly assassination attempt on her life as the year was about to end, and there’s always the next after that in the following year; James, on the other hand, wonders who their attacker was.
Returning to CatCo, James and Lena were ruminating over the assailant they delivered to the authorities. Apparently, the man refused to answer questions and was shielded from further interrogation under legal protection. Samantha came, having heard of what happened, and was worried for Lena. Her boss then showed some gathered intelligence on the assailant for Sam, affirming that the man had past connections with Edge and also had access to advanced weaponry and similar articles, such as the implement used when he went earlier after Olsen and Luthor. However, this only establishes a circumstantial link between the weapon and Edge himself. And in a silently ominous and seething tone while browsing at the collected data, Sam notes that Edge should be dead; this dark and subtle change in behavior did not go unnoticed by Lena, who frowns slightly from Sam’s perceived reaction. James then drew Lena's attention to the televised reports on the murders of the One-Seven Gang that happened elsewhere on the same night the two of them were attacked, and neither noticing Arias wordlessly leaving the office.
They are later seen watching Morgan Edge, who narrowly survived an encounter with an unknown and murderous Kryptonian that went after him, in his own office, at his company's Christmas party. Turning her back on the screen, Lena retreated into her office at CatCo with James at her heels, noting to him that he’s saved her life twice now and is grateful. She offers him a drink and Jimmy accepts. Then, giving in to desire, they began to kiss.
The two of them later rushed out to the open streets, where the brutal battle between Reign and Supergirl had finally reached. Lena and James watched the breathtaking sight of the two powerful Kryptonians fight in shock (with Lena, of course, oblivious to the said pair of combating aliens actually being none other than her best friends, Sam and Kara, in disguise), and James then ushered the nearby civilians and bystanders away from the battling aliens with Lena following suit. Then, James and Lena looked increasingly aghast in overwhelming disbelief at the sight of National City’s heroine weakening before the might of her masked adversary, culminating to a severely battered Kara falling into the middle of a crater, defeated at last by Reign.[24]
Dating James Olsen
Two days later following Supergirl and Reign's epic battle, Lena watches the televised news with Jimmy at her side at CatCo, showing how much the city's criminal element sky-rocketed in the wake of Supergirl's defeat; she expresses her concern, but James assures Lena that everything will be fine. Lena then brings up the matter concerning Kara — whom she acknowledges as the only journalist in the city with the knack for finding the alien heroine out of the blue — who has yet to turn up for work since Christmas and much less spotted in the wake of the Kryptonians' skirmish that night.
And again, Jimmy tries to cover, albeit with a slight stammer as he couldn't afford to let anything slip concerning Kara's secret nor the fact that she was presently being medically-observed and treated from her loss, as Supergirl, at Reign's hands. His gorgeous boss then turns the somewhat awkward subject of what was now going on between her and Olsen, and how Kara may regard that once she catches wind of Lena and James' new and burgeoning relationship — aware of the short-lived one that was once between Jimmy and Kara, and that Lena was uncomfortable with the thought of withholding that knowledge from her best friend since keeping secrets from each other like this was one of the root causes why the Luthors have such an unscrupulous reputation, and not to mention the shattered state of the family from within. James could only agree but that was when CatCo received an unexpected visit from Reign herself, with a captured criminal, having flown all the way into the building, through a glass window, with the deviant literally at hand and throwing the unfortunate man down at everyone's feet there, much to their shock.
With the entire office flocking cautiously, at a safe distance, around the infamous Kryptonian responsible for felling Supergirl not a fortnight ago, Lena demands Reign why she came and the alien (who was also secretly Lena’s L-Corp employee, Sam, unbeknownst to her employer and close friend) simply states her intent to send out a message through CatCo, much to Lena's immediate protest. Amused, the disguised Sam would only reply, with a chilling smile at Lena's defiance, that the latter's people there will do so regardless. True enough, Reign addresses one of the cameramen there to use his camera in broadcasting her statement and proceeded to extend her message throughout National City — which was to expunge criminality in all of its forms present there, leaving only the righteous and with little regard to people’s humanitarian rights.
Lena was next seen striding back into her office with Jimmy, talking about how things quieted down since Reign left CatCo; though everyone and everything else from beyond there were still in repressed panic due to the dark-clad Kryptonian’s ongoing reign of terror. Olsen reassures her that not all are bound by fear and, even in this moment of rising crisis, those who have that courage will rectify it. Lena then brings up that she now knows why he was acting weird earlier — back when they were talking about Kara right before Reign’s arrival. She believes James finds it awkward that he locked lips with her, who was not only his employer but also that to as well as the best friend of Kara, his ex's, and thereby discomforting him. Again, James assures her that it wasn't why he acted such back then but fumblingly continues, with an obvious stammer, as he attempted to fabricate a (sort of) viable explanation on the spot. He blisteringly comes up with telling Lena that Kara was sick, hence explaining her continued absence from work which was also the cause of his worry and defensiveness around Lena. Olsen then proceeded to exaggerate the situation, prompting Lena to go over to Kara's place. But with Kara not actually there to entertain Lena on her visit, and realizing that it was too late to take back his claims, Jimmy recommends her for bring some warm soup to Kara, as he was sure Kara would most appreciate that. Lena agrees and left for Kara's loft; Jimmy quickly contacted Winn after that.
She was then greeted and allowed entrance by “Kara” (actually J'onn shape-shifted into Kara's form and wrapped around in a robe, much to his chagrin) into the loft after knocking at the door. Not feeling or even sensing anything remotely suspicious of the “Kara” who allowed her in and exchanged with her some very out-of-character opening comments in the process, Lena passes her the soup that she brought and immediately filled “Kara” in with the recent developments between herself and James — specifically the kiss she shared with him on Christmas. Though momentarily taken back (and growing uncomfortable with where this conversation was going that, at any rate, should just be between Lena and the real Kara), “Kara” congratulates Lena on how far she's gone with Olsen; but Lena expresses her concerns of Jimmy shying away from her due to herself as a Luthor, for he had not been on the best of terms with anyone else who also carried that surname, bringing up Jimmy’s strong rapport with Superman — who, in turn, was formerly but now far from such in relation to Lena’s brother, Lex — as emphasis.
“Kara” assures Lena that Jimmy's faint distancing away from her has nothing to do with her Luthor name, as it would be anything but faint, if that was the case. Somehow instantly convinced by that statement, Lena thanks “Kara” before leaving for work again, recommending the latter to stay and get better. She later sees James again at their CatCo workplace, amending the insecurities of their fledgling relationship and making out in the room with him.[25]
Lena was next seen in Sam's office at L-Corp, giving some last-minute coaching for the latter in preparation for a business trip that Sam was about to undertake. Sam assures her employer that she has this and Lena brings up that it must not be easy for her to prioritize her work over her own daughter like this, but Sam states her confidence that Ruby was in safe hands. She bade Sam farewell and left. Later, Lena would leave several missed calls and messages for Sam due to her employee apparently failing to attend her assigned trip and back, much to Sam's distress and confusion when she finally sees them via her smartphone.[26]
She and Olsen later strolled through a neighborhood street in National City towards a restaurant found there, Vironique's, for breakfast. Basically a morning date between the newly-formed couple, Lena could barely contain her eagerness to have Jimmy sample the restaurant’s fabulous egg benedict as the two of them discussed the tasks set ahead of and waiting for them at CatCo; and sensing Jimmy’s reservations in letting her join him in the staff meeting due later at their workplace, Lena concedes that she meets up with him thereafter. And it was then that they stumbled upon Morgan Edge, who just finished his morning meal at Vironique's and was now leaving the establishment. Spotting James and Lena, Edge started to mock them, leading to the former two to respond in kind. Morgan then went on to take his leave, getting into his car (but not before leaving a final parting remark in his insulting exchange with Lena) and driving off, right after rather rudely telling the valet occupying the driver's seat to scoot.
Later at CatCo, and just as she promised Olsen at the restaurant, Lena approaches him at the nearing conclusion of the editorial meeting that he was overseeing, where the members, Kara included, had just finished pooling all the information they acquired in preparation for their next issue which covers Reign's recent assault on Albatross Bay Correctional Facility and most of the escapees who got rounded up. Lena then throws in what she knows of the concurrent stirrings concerning charitable organizations and individuals to the group, bringing up the approaching gala that Parks Conservancy was arranging in which the said representatives and patrons of charity will doubtless attend within the week.
Then without warning, a visibly ruffled Morgan Edge forced his way into the building and made his presence known by forcefully throwing the keys of his car, which was destroyed very recently and from where Morgan barely survived, at Lena and would have hit her right in the head had Kara not caught it in time. He begins to badmouth Lena in front of her appalled staff accusing her as the one behind the recent attempt on his life and forcing both Olsen and Kara get defensive as Lena deflects Edge's accusations, insisting that she would not go as far as arrange assassinations over grudges — petty or otherwise. Edge recalls and mockingly notes that she has a fair point since, to him, Lena made it very clear once,[10] that she'd personally settle things, without anyone else's assistance or involvement, if she were to set out and do something drastic, locking eyes with Lena and silently reminding her of the time when she once tried to kill him in his own office, which does not sit well with Lena. Morgan dares her to “man up and finish the job”, prompting James into dismissing Morgan, or else he will manhandle the other man to the exit himself. Edge would only finalize his vocal threat against Lena before taking his departure.
Lena, Jimmy and Kara are next seen in the CEO's office discussing Morgan's unexpected outburst at CatCo, which basically could be taken as a declaration of war against the Luthor, who was the one most frazzled; from the start of her dealings with and knowing Edge, this was the first time that Lena has seen him that aggravated. Fully aware that Edge will make good on his threat, and just a matter of when and how, Lena worries that someone kicked the proverbial beehive for her when they targeted Morgan to rile him up and left her to be implicated with the attempted murder as it was unlikely that Edge would orchestrate the attempt, on himself, as a mere ploy to frame Lena, the way he did with all the lead-poisoned children to which he still stands unsatisfactorily linked. Kara and James both point out that Edge has made many an enemy in the city since he’s set up shop there, but very few are audacious enough to actually put out a hit on him at any rate and Lena certainly is not one of them, despite the many reasons she would have in retaliation to the number of times, thus far, that Morgan pulled the strings to have Lena land in hot water. That discomfortingly quieted Lena, since her two friends in the room still remained unaware of the time when she approached Edge with a loaded gun in a bid to kill him in person. Jimmy also points out that Edge was too meticulous to leave anything even a hint damning that could be used against him in court, postulating that he must have taken the latest attempt on his life very personal to lash out at CatCo the way he did, agreeing with Kara that they should look into the evidence (i.e. the remains of Edge's supposedly hacked car). Lena expressed her apprehensions, saying that unending violence such as this brings down people from grace as what exactly happened to both her mother and brother, but her friends assured her that Lena will not go down that same path. For it is what friends do: they come to and support each other in times of need.
Later, Lena receives a cup of coffee from Eve in her office while Kara and James thought up of angles and theories concerning Morgan's claims on someone targeting him. According to Kara, NCPD's technical forensics couldn't find anything that could be traced as foul play — meaning that either there wasn't any to begin with or that sophisticated technology was used. The kind that is easily beyond the local law enforcement's ability to analyze, and that seemed to have got Lena into silent thinking; she is, in fact, well aware of a faction who would have access to such advanced technological resources and vocations. But more importantly, those people — or rather, the person they answer to — would have motive to hunt down Edge if they knew he's coming into direct and violent opposition against Lena. Walking over to the office balcony with her friends following her, Lena took a gulp of the coffee and then frowns at the taste, looking down on the cup before collapsing and writhing on the floor, frothing from her mouth. Realizing that their friend’s beverage was poisoned, Kara urges Jimmy to find the source while Kara herself lifts Lena and speed-flights her to the D.E.O. From there, Alex, whom Kara called and was standing ready with an emergency medical staff and equipment proceeded to Lena's treatment culminating in the older Danvers sister determining the type of poisoning, cyanide, after partly removing Lena's worn medical breathing mask and sniffing her breath, leading to Alex having Kara use her icy breath on their poisoned friend so that the resulting hypothermia would stabilize Lena's condition. It works as intended, allowing for detoxification and thereby saving Lena's life; but because she cannot awaken inside of a secret government establishment, J'onn had Kara bring Lena back to CatCo in time for her civilian identity’s employer to regain consciousness, with Kara and Olsen watching over her in the office.
Coming to and seeing them, Lena asks as to what happened and two of them inform of her coffee poisoning; luckily, Kara reacted quickly enough to summon the paramedics in time — though Lena seems to faintly remember soaring at high speeds while being carried in Kara's arms, much to the reporter's amused denial. After confirming to Lena their collective suspicions of Edge being behind the poisoning, but with no links to him, on account of the poisoner, whom Jimmy caught up to and physically accosted right outside of CatCo only to be killed, by a mysterious shooter using a special type of untraceable ammunition, before James could get anything out of the man. Hence, once again with no solid leads; this sowed Lena with a growing belief that Reign's message of brutal vigilante justice and unfettered conviction was perhaps the only way that people like Edge could ever get their deserving comeuppance, as they would otherwise just keep on bending and twisting facts and evidence to their favor, and that Lena needs to stoop down to both Reign and Morgan's level to finally end her feud with the latter, lest Morgan gets away clean again. Kara vocally disapproves that, pointing out the Lena is no murderer like the masked Kryptonian and Lena refutes that statement, telling Kara that maybe she doesn't know her friend that well. The mention of the dissolving bullet that practically vanished upon hitting its target seems to have made Lena remember something, and Kara solemnly vows to her that Edge will not get away with his recent conducts this time around, reassuring her boss. Later, with a flashlight in hand, Lena sneaks back into her L-Corp office at the dead of night to access some of the corporation's more classified documents from the office’s filing vaults. Rifling through the documents, she finally came across information and records on a now-defunct subsidiary of the company, Thundercorp Labs, that was concerned with the perfection of specialized ammo for stealth and military applications — the Evanesce Project; reviewing the file, this document revealed that though said subsidiary was no longer in operation, its main production facility and utilities have yet to reach foreclosure in National City, making it an ideal hideout and base of operations there.
Walking the thin lines
Taking her car and heading off there to see the facility herself, but deep down already knowing what (or whom) was waiting for her there, she unsurprisingly finds her mother Lillian with a handful of her Cadmus support staff freshly bringing in their implements and other related equipment into the establishment, repurposing some sections here and there, for their most recent return and arrival to National City. Seeing her adopted daughter come in, Lillian greets and congratulates Lena for successfully discerning the location of her most recent lair using only the limited clues she left for her daughter to follow a trail on; and perhaps faster by a slight margin than Lex would have had he been in Lena's position. She then asks the jaded Lena for an affectionate hug, only for the later to stand firm from where she was. Dismissing the unsaid awkwardness and pretense between them and eager to get to the point, Lena demands Lillian of her purpose for returning to National City, since she hasn’t caught noise of her since the Daxamites left. Lillian would only answer that it was attributable to motherly instinct as upon learning that Morgan Edge was at odds with Lena, Lillian set out to what any loving mother would do: kill the apparent threat to her child.
In true Lena-distrusting-Lillian fashion, Lena did not believe that for a second and repeats the question. “Hurt” that Lena didn’t take her word for it, Lillian stresses that very few mothers would go to the same murderous lengths that the latter would for their child's sake — to which a cynical Lena sarcastically replies it was probably in everyone’s best interest that such mothers were indeed rarely found living within the general population, considering such measures of motherhood action as a moral low point and hardly something that anyone ought to commend, which makes Lillian's conduct even more damaging for Lena's own set of morals due to the older woman shamelessly claiming willingness for all of that in her daughter's name. They then bantered on how to deal with Edge, with an amused Lillian reminding and humoring her daughter of the time when the latter utterly humiliated a fifth grade acquaintance for stealing Lena's boyfriend — a conduct that Lena has long since grown out and not particularly proud of; but apparently the same cannot be said of Lillian, who saw it as an achievement worth acknowledging on Lena's part. Her mother lightly reprimands her daughter for selling herself short when Lena blamed her own immaturity for that accumulative act of revenge. Lillian further notes that Lena and Lex were equal parts both cunning and expedient, but perhaps the older Luthor sibling lacked his sister's sense of finesse and subtlety leading to him coming into direct conflict with the Man of Steel when all of his nefarious plans got exposed. She then advises Lena to learn from her brother's mistakes and failures, encouraging her to be ruthless in that endeavor, believing that doing so will truly unlock Lena's potential.
Lena coldly brushes this off, making it clear that she has already owned the greatness of her said potential and was now yielding its benefits, regardless of what the likes of Edge might think, earning a dismissive scoff from Lillian, aware of Lena's taking over CatCo which she sees as Lena again limiting herself by modeling her own image after Cat Grant's when, as Lena Luthor, the scope of her corporate capability was already much wider and farther-reaching from back when Lena was focused solely on L-Corp. She then tries to tempt Lena, telling her that she has as much desire to end Morgan as Lena does and, not bringing up her failed assassination attempt she once tried to execute on Edge (that Lillian appeared surprisingly unaware of), Lena lies saying she’d never set herself to act upon it knowing that she’ll be tied into the murder investigation.
Lillian would only use that statement to her advantage saying that this was precisely why Lena needs her guidance, claiming that her mother can make it happen, that very night, without leaving anything to implicate Lena and she will. She only asks in turn for Lena's blessing so that, by night's end, both mother and daughter will have finally settled their differences and work together in synergy. Lena half-heartedly agrees, to her mother's pleasure. Lillian then turned her attention from Lena and began tending to the advanced technology brought along with her entourage, giving Lena the opportunity to spy on some of the articles there — including an array of modified unmanned aerial drones (with some being forklifted here and there) and a set of press pass ID tags that Lillian was personally loading into a container, giving Lena a fair idea on how Lillian will set her assassination plot in motion tonight. Lena then returns to CatCo.
And deep in thought as she came out of the elevator, Lena was approached by Kara who senses her friend and employer's conflicting inner musings. Asked about it, the former decides to finally let the journalist in through the noise; she was about to tell Kara of her recent run-in with Lillian when they were, in turn, approached by Kara's sister Alex and Lena's L-Corp CFO, and also her acting CEO there, Samantha Arias. The four women headed to and were later seen seated on the couches in Lena's CatCo office, with both Kara and Lena finally been told of the recent troubles that Sam has been having at work and at home. Apparently, she was advised into doing so by Alex who, from earlier had Arias subjected into medical tests at L-Corp to discern the cause of her problems — only to reap inconclusive results as none of the tests revealed what could be causing the mental blackouts and memory losses that she was experiencing. The Danverses and Luthor were all nothing but supportive and sympathetic as they listened on to Sam's plight, worried of what could happen to herself and to her daughter should anything happen to Ruby's mother, thus leaving Ruby alone in the world. The three other women in the room emphasizes to Sam that, in their collective, no one stands alone and neither is Ruby who is just as dear to them as Sam herself. And together they promised to find a way in absolving Samantha of her inexplicable ails.
Later, after Alex and Sam left, Kara approaches Lena again, who was standing by the balcony and deep in thought. Turning around to face her, Lena confesses of her failed attempt to kill Edge in retaliation for the time he framed her for poisoning the lead-afflicted children, but got outsmarted and then placed into a remote-controlled aircraft for her efforts. This shocks Kara (showing that she may not have gotten the full story from after when, as Supergirl, she saved Lena from that said aircraft, along with the city's denizens from the toxic substances also being carried in that same vessel that Lena was in), but discounts Lena’s intent at the time saying she was fortunate that it didn't bear into fruition in the end, for there was no coming back from cold-blooded murder. Lena then divulges her recent rendezvous with Lillian, about how her mother plans to kill Edge that night, and how the encounter made Lena realize there belies a cold-blooded streak of savvy ruthlessness deep within her after all, in lieu with her formidable erudite qualities, and that there was virtually no limit to what she was capable of if only she chooses combining the two — but does not, since Lena has always thought that at least either or both are needed to be kept in check no matter what (a wise choice, for both Lillian and Lex failed in that department, and look where that got the widowed mother and her biological son in the long run); Kara could only stress that, as smart as Lena is, her not giving in to her darker impulses is not something shameful, and nor should anyone belittle her for, as a restricting limitation to what her boss can otherwise achieve, strengthening Lena's resolve. Her last meeting and conversation with Lillian brought Lena into an epiphany: she could take advantage of her prodigious intelligence, in dealing with white-collared miscreants like Morgan, without compromising her chosen principles. Lena got Kara on the tips of her toes when the former revealed she has a pretty good idea on how her mother will enact Morgan’s assassination. Of course, the devil's in the details. And if she was to save Edge from Lillian tonight, Lena would have to use her wits along with some assistance from Kara, who was more than willing to oblige.
Just then, the both noticed Morgan's televised interview, at the Parks Conservancy gala, displaying itself from one of the office TV screens. Looking over to it and turning on the volume, Lena and Kara see Edge smugly bragging about his latest donation to charity right before getting handed an ID press pass to the gala — one identical to those that she just saw Lillian handling in her newest hideout. Taking that as confirmation, the younger Luthor states “Bingo”.
Dressed in formal evening attires, Lena and Kara headed to the gala where they immediately spotted Edge attempting to pick up an attractive female at one of the tables there. However, a burly bodyguard stood close by and Kara tells her boss that she'll handle the guard, leaving Lena with a clear shot at Morgan. Coming into proximity, she hears him trying to impress the woman he was talking to with his personal resident property; and soon after reaching them, Lena insinuates a scathing comment causing Morgan to dismiss the woman for later. Turning his attention to Lena, he demands as to how she was able to bypass his security detail and she gave a snarky reply that it was just about as easy as sending poison to an enemy, as cowardly as that was.
She then pulls out a voice recorder and Edge looks at it, intrigued. He wonders if Lena came to murder him in a place as public as a gala where a good percentage of the city's most connected and influential have gathered and Lena clarifies that her purpose for coming, as out of character as it may sound, was actually the exact opposite to killing Edge and informs the affluent real estate mogul that his latest movements against Lena have earned him her mother's enmity, along with the latter woman's crosshairs, that Lillian intends to take him out that very night after failing to do so with that car stunt from earlier. This worries Morgan, fully aware of Lillian Luthor's reputation and the means at her disposal to make any threats she issue credible for people she directs them to — humans and aliens alike; he tries to maintain his composure, telling Lena that her foster mother is a wanted criminal and a known alien-opposing terrorist who was supposed to be in hiding. So why then would Lillian risk getting caught, “witch-hunting” out in a city from where she has already committed a number of atrocities and therefore warily high-strung of her mere presence, by targeting him as Lena claimed? And taking a page from Lillian's book, Lena could only blame it on whatever version of “motherly drives”, however twisted, that Lillian fosters for her children, adopted or otherwise — flushing away what remained of Morgan's self-assured confidence.
And just then, a vast squadron of remote-controlled drones shot up high into the sky to form lit-up and graceful patterns while airborne. Guests of the gala were awed with the display with Lena telling Edge that now was the time for the moment of truth and he doesn't have too long for that before her mother sets her plan in motion, and so she advises him to use his “window of opportunity” wisely — granted, a forced confession to his crimes will send him behind bars for life, but that's a better alternative compared to dying painfully there and then at Lillian's hands. She then readies the recorder as one of the drones broke out of formation and descended to where the gala was. Noticing that, Lena confidently warns Edge that this particular drone was programmed and armed by Cadmus to kill him, disturbing and rendering Morgan in denial of that knowledge but quickly learns that his business rival wasn’t bluffing when the said drone began firing at the gala, raising panic and havoc.
Amidst all of the mayhem, Lena, with the recorder still held at hand, follows a fleeing Edge while the killer drone closes in on the latter. Cornering him, the former recommends that he now gives what Lena wants to hear as confession, since it was the only way he could survive this, and Edge finally concedes. After admitting to his crimes, he then orders Lena to deal with the heavily-armed contraption targeting him. Satisfied that she got what she wanted, Lena reached and pulls off Morgan's press pass, throwing it into the air where it was instantly shot at by the weaponized drone, showing that the pass was indeed chipped with sophisticated circuitry to which the drone was programmed to target and, in the process, kill Edge — the person whom Lillian arranged for this cleverly-disguised bull’s eye to be given to, as Lena correctly suspected.
As Lena was distracted in dealing away with her mother's attack drone, Morgan took advantage of that to get a knife from the ruined buffet table and used it to threaten Lena into handing him his just-recorded confession. Lena tenses up, seemingly caught off-guard and did not anticipate this turn of events. Just then Lillian Luthor shows up behind Lena, asking her daughter why she stands in the way of her killing Edge and the latter replies that justice can still be met on Edge without killing him. Lillian thinks otherwise and says that she plots a step ahead of Lena — who, from earlier, her mother stated can scheme ahead of most people — having learned from the time when Lena deviated from the former's Medusa Virus plot, after making it at first appear that she shared Lillian's ideals, that her adopted daughter might once again have cold feet in her mother's intent to kill Morgan after outwardly agreeing to let Lillian have a crack at him. Putting her statement into emphasis, a customized drone hovered close and descended behind Lillian, disassembling then wrapping and reintegrating itself around her body to form a sleeker and feminized version of her son's Lexosuit. And there she stands, fully-armored and ready to finish what she started.
Supergirl flew down right next to Lena, and snidely comments on the armored Lillian for putting on such a hi-tech array of equippable armaments can only mean that she intends to end Morgan in person — which was so unlike Lillian's personal style of villainy since she rarely endeavors to get anything done personally — and wonders if she was trying to emulate her son Lex, who famously implemented such protective armoring during his battles against Superman, knowing there was a good chance that Lillian might find herself facing off with Supergirl upon the former's return to National City. And as Lena wisely back-steps away from both her alien friend and foster mother, knowing of the skirmish that was about to transpire between the two, the latter would only mockingly reply that the former's choice of including a cape into her suit was just as redundant if not more so.
Despite Lillian producing a retractable long wrist-blade of pure green Kryptonite from her armor's right gauntlet, Kara flew right in to try to engage her, only to be easily swatted back by the combination of the Lexosuit augmenting Lillian’s strength in addition to the buffered-sharp Kryptonite it has equipped. Their fight caused Lena to drop the voice recorder that she was holding, allowing Edge to retrieve it and run off with the evidence that Lena planned to use against him. Chasing him across the gala, Lena later finds him intercepted by Guardian, who knocks Edge down and enabling Lena to get back her evidence, kicking the corrupt businessman unconscious for good measure. Both Supergirl and Mon-El (who arrived just in time to aid former against Lillian) then literally dropped by to check up on Lena, who was surprised to see the Daxamite whom she almost got married to[19] unaffected by the still lead-infused atmosphere as he stood side-by-side of the disguised Kara. Lena nonetheless reciprocates it when Mon-El expresses his relief to see her safe and sound, and Supergirl congratulates Lena when it seems that the human capitalist's plan to expose Edge played out more or less as they plotted, with the added bonus of also detaining Lillian — implying that, once again, Lena contacted the alien superheroine “through” Kara, to have as back-up at the gala, should anything go wrong.
Lena was later seen looking over a cuffed Morgan Edge as he was dragged away by the authorities, with him swearing that he'll be out in no time and promising to destroy her on his return. Merely brushing his feeble threats off and saying that he knows where to find her when it comes to that, Lena went over to Kara whom she thanks for providing her the voice recorder for Edge's admission of guilt, revealing that it was lent to her by the reporter; though as now bearing incriminating evidence that needed to be handed to the authorities, Lena may have to get another one for her journalist best friend. Kara reminds her that as CatCo's owner, anything and everything there was at Lena's disposal to begin with. Lena then shares with the reporter that the reason she didn't go along with Lillian's plot was because of friends like Kara and her sister, James and Sam — friends who would not want Lena to veer away from what is right for the sake of what needs to be done at any and all costs, trusting Lena to choose the former every time, and so Lena would continually uphold that trust in the name of that friendship, lending to those people her untainted support as knowing that they would do the same for her in Lena's time of need. The two of them got to the topic about Mon-El, whom Lena says she just saw with Supergirl, but Kara was already aware of the Daxamite’s unexpected return, even though she still cannot be together with her former love; Kara promises to tell Lena of her current state of affairs with Mon-El later.
They were then approached by Olsen, freshly out of his Guardian attire and now formally-dressed, whom Lena had a few words with before Lena moving to where her mother (being treated by the paramedics after being felled from the fierce aerial battle between herself and the aliens she was fighting against when Supergirl and Mon-El’s combined efforts, together with Winn's ingenious hacking, destroyed the Lexosuit that Lillian was wearing, sending her crashing) was. On a stretcher, Lillian tells Lena that she honestly hoped that this time she'd be able to find undisputable unity with her daughter. Lena would only reply that maybe things turned out for the best the way they did, as for the first time it allowed her to embrace her Luthor side without discarding the principles she chose in distancing herself from whichever parts of that she was trying to avoid; she goes on to say that she will need to own the merits from both sides, and none of their downsides, for what is to come. And tonight has certainly taught Lena that, however difficult that may prove, it is far from impossible. As physically hurt as she was and about to be incarcerated once again, Lillian finds it gratifying that her return to the city to see Lena again was, at the very least, not all for naught and the latter says that if she herself can separate her Luthor's cunning from their family's more malevolent proclivities, then surely her foster mother could also.
Later, she was seen in Kara's loft, together with the Danvers siblings and Sam, whom Lena and Kara sat with, at either side, on the same couch that all of them were seated upon while Alex paces about talking to someone on her phone. Hanging up, she tells the other three women in the room with her that Sam's blood work and physical test results came back with nothing to plainly suggest that she sustained anything serious to both her bodily and mental health. But at the same time, that also still leaves no discernible explanation to the series of memory loss and episodes of blacking out increasingly plaguing Sam time and again. And so, Sam still remained apprehensive, despite of her friends finding relief in the news; they advise her to live out her life wholly in the meantime. Not just for herself but also for her daughter, Ruby. Sam expresses her thanks, placing her hands on Kara and Lena’s knees, with the latter two each placing reassuring a hand on both of Samantha's in turn, before leaving for home. As she parted, Alex promises to find some answers and thereby a solution to Sam’s elusive predicament; Lena exaltedly declares that they all will, for their friend[6]
Not long after the gathering at Kara's place, Lena was seen present, and looking at the statistical and company reports from her tablet computer atop of the desk, in her L-Corp office as she prepared to greet her day in her old workplace. Sam enters, whilst talking through her phone to someone, and is surprised to see her employer there. Greeting each other, Lena says she has been away from her old work domain for a while now and that it was high time for her to relive all of it again, presumably having took the liberty in arranging for Jimmy to handle affairs for her at CatCo before she came to L-Corp. Sam thinks her employer briefly taking the leadership reins from her was due to Lena's concern for the former’s inexplicable mental complications, which was apparently affecting her work performance by a slight margin, and begins to get defensive as it bluntly seemed to her that her boss and friend was starting to doubt her ability to run L-Corp.
Lena has the two of them sit down before the desk as she proceeds to remind Sam of their first meeting. Of how, from that moment, the former had the instinct to recruit Sam for her dedicated work ethics and how because of those ethics that everyone whom Samantha ever worked with came to acknowledged her worth — not just by Lena — and it is not like she has to win “Employee of the Month” every time in order to cement that. And so, the company CEO of both CatCo and L-Corp recommends her employee to take the day off in leisurely time to deal away with the stressful complications that Sam was harboring lately. She finally asserts herself when Sam continued to insist on staying, ordering the latter to go be with her daughter, Ruby, for the day; and a grateful Sam finally complies.
Later, at the ice rink, from where Sam took Ruby to have fun ice skating together but with the former suddenly disappearing and leaving her daughter unattended, Lena came rushing into find a distressed Ruby sulking on one of the establishment's interior bench seats, by the edge of the rink, after receiving the latter’s call at L-Corp thinking that her mother made an abrupt rush back to work — to which Lena replied that it wasn't the case, hence prompting her into going to the jilted girl's location. Coming over to and taking a seat at a table opposite of the young girl, her “niece”, Lena tries to comfort Ruby saying that, despite whatever issues her Sam may have been having recently, everything will be fine.
But Ruby believes otherwise, telling her “(nerdy) aunt” that, prior to Sam unexpectedly vanishing on the rink and leaving her own daughter literally over the ice, her mother was really looking forward to spending the entire day with Ruby, making her sudden disappearance very out-of-character. Ruby then brings up the time from when Sam went away months' back on a trip promising her child that she'll be bringing back “something wonderful” upon the latter's return; only for the Sam to return with no apparent recollection of the venture, much to Lena’s own confusion and Ruby goes on to say she thinks something must have happened to her dear mother during that trip — since from that point on marked the times when Samantha would sporadically act like someone other than Ruby's beloved raison d'être responsible for raising and loving her daughter. Someone entirely different, in fact, who would randomly vanish from her daughter's side and that erratic behavior worries Ruby.
Sensing the depth of Ruby's dilemma, Lena tries to lend the girl some courage telling her that in every predicament, there is always an answer that only awaits to be unearthed by discovery; she goes on to assure Ruby saying that her “Aunt Lena” excels at finding the latter regardless of whatever the challenges and nature of the former. This earns a somewhat unsure nod from the teary-eyed Ruby, and Lena smiles at the pre-teenager's reaction.
And later on, once again, Lena was in her office looking at some data on her portable computer when Samantha fervently enters, concernedly asking of her daughter. Apparently, she received her employer's text saying that she took over and brought Ruby to her apartment where the girl now sleeps. But this did nothing to ease Sam's mind, who worries what far worse could have happened had she blacked out while in the middle of doing something more precarious (i.e. car driving) than merely abandoning, without a word, own daughter whilst they were on the ice rink. Harboring a clear mental picture of how Sam may react to what she was about to be told and asked of by her boss, Lena proceeded to assure her (near-frantic) friend and employee of Ruby's safety when Sam went MIA — to which, again, Arias could not recall a single shred of detail and Lena reveals that Ruby filled her in on the other times this had happened along with from when exactly did they start, and how Ruby now thinks that there must be a connection somehow. This surprises Sam, shocked to know that her own child noticed what was happening to her mother even long before the parent did, and Lena points out that it wasn't that fleeting nor infrequent for even a nearing teenager to miss. However, her shock quickly turned to anger when she realizes that, for Lena to know what her Ruby knows, the implication naturally meant that her employer must have shared some sensitive information to her daughter, in turn, concerning her mother's mysterious illness — information that Sam hoped was confidential and therefore just between her and Lena (along with the Danvers sister).
With no purpose in denying it, Lena could only soften the blow telling Sam, whose agitation was gradually rising, that she had to somehow placate Ruby with something in light of the former's latest disappearing act; but Samantha saw it as Lena overstepping her boundaries as her employer and only Sam gets to decide matters like that for her own family. However, as it turns out, Lena did more than just listened to and took in all that Ruby disclosed to her about her mother's periodic disappearances. She presumably worked out how Sam's blacked-out disappearances, and then coming to with completely no memory of what happened up to that point, closely coincides — roughly in both timing and length — with just about every time the villainous Kryptonian, Reign, made her presence known to exact her barbaric brand of justice upon humanity, with the first black-out happening to the former being coincidentally close to the timeframe when the black-clad alien vigilante first came upon National City, leaving her mark (or marks) there, then coming into conflict with its criminal element and, of course, with Supergirl whom Reign bested shortly after arriving. Furthermore, Reign and Sam are both never actively seen by anyone, while out in the open, at the same time (though how could someone as keenly observant and astutely deductive as Lena keep on overlooking the semblance, and similar pattern of appearances and absences, regarding between Kara Danvers and Supergirl is anyone’s guess). Dreading the only possible conclusion to what that blatantly implies, with apprehension, Lena tells Samantha, who was walking around of the former in the room they were in before stopping and facing away from her boss, that she has some questions which she now needs the latter to answer — only to be quieted when Arias loudly tells her to be silent in a booming tone. Turning around to face Lena and somewhat in a detached trance, Sam menacingly advances towards her employer who cautiously edges back from the other woman approaching her when Sam's eyes momentarily flickered red, displacing her suddenly cold and gripping demeanor, and allowing Sam herself to return, albeit unable to recall what just happened. Lena saw her eyes flashed and wonders if Samantha just had a mental black out and a now seated-down Sam affirms, remembering nothing from during out of her own lucidity.
With her suspicions confirmed, Lena got down on her knees before the unsettled Sam, telling her that she now knows what is happening to the latter, and — in accordance with what she told Ruby from back at the ice rink — promises to find a solution.[13]
Following the revelation at L-Corp, Lena would later be repeatedly absent at work and dodging multiple calls from James for days now, having practically disappeared from the public eye and seemingly into seclusion away from CatCo, with Olsen only hearing Lena's recorded response message at most times he tried to contact Lena via the latter's phone. Eventually, Lena herself actually responded back to Jimmy in that manner and apologizing to him for being so evasive as of late; she lies that she, together with Samantha Arias, were working overtime at L-Corp — when in reality, Lena has placed Sam under heavy sedation and surveillance in a secret lab in her company establishment — but tried to pass it off as no big deal as she goes over to where Arias was, which appeared to be a specialized and medically-equipped containment unit wherein Lena’s employee is kept secured and sedated unconscious. Hanging up on James, Lena glances down at Sam atop of the hospital bed that the latter was lying down upon, looking concerned at her torpid employee.[27]
Next, she was seen at that lab putting study entry into vocal record, by clinical protocol, her observational and progress reports on Samantha's condition. Noting of how the preliminary tests indeed confirming that something was beyond normal concerning Sam's being, Lena records that she will now move on to the next phase of testing in her search of a solution for her employee's predicament, which requires Arias to awaken, and proceeded to end the report as she halts the running IV drip of medical sedatives keeping Sam in her torpid state. Worried for her friend as the sedation wanes, she looks over to the framed photo of Sam together with her daughter, Ruby, at the table just across from where Arias slept and beseeches hope that by the time Sam comes to, she will be the Samantha Arias whom Lena came to know as her friend and vice-versa.
Samantha soon returns to consciousness and, seeing Lena at a solid distance away outside of the structure she was in, sits up to inquire her boss things as of how long she has been out and about Ruby. The Luthor assures Sam that her daughter is fine and taken after by the nanny. Samantha then asks of her employer's prognosis to her condition and, with evident hesitation, Lena tries to soften the blow by explaining to Sam that the cutting-edge tests and blood work she personally conducted on Samantha, while Arias was comatose, revealed something that Alex clearly overlooked: trace evidence of bodily mutation comparable to certain types of fauna, namely insects, that seems to take hold of Sam whenever she blacks out and that she was undergoing that as a cycle, back and forth, into a state of cellular metamorphosis, before regressing back to normal, during periods in which she could not remember her own actions or where she went — times when she becomes Reign.
Quickly in denial at Lena's seemingly outrageous theory of her being the nigh-unstoppable extra-terrestrial vigilante responsible for outright defeating Supergirl only last year, when Sam — as a mere mortal, and thus not exempt from the monumental limitations (such as injury or diseases) of one — surely would not have been able to throw a punch at the said Kryptonian without seriously injuring herself, Samantha snipes out known facts of herself to refute against Lena's postulations that Sam could be anything but an ordinary human being. She then announces her decision to leave the Luthor's observation, having been kept away from Ruby's side long enough, prompting Lena to show further proof to her suspicions via the large flat screen monitor built into the interior of Sam's containment. Apparently, she took the liberty of also collecting information on Reign’s appearances and activities, shown on the news, and assembled them into presentable format for Arias to understand the seriousness of the matter at hand; she proceeded to show them to Sam, one at a time, through the monitor and all the while explaining that these images were taken during times in lieu with the duration of Sam blacking out, which is why she never directly saw Reign first-hand with her naked eyes. Still unconvinced and noting that it was a mistake to consult Lena with her problems, Sam gets off the bed and tries to leave — only to realize that the technological unit she was in is equipped with an energy field that keeps her trapped within. She turns back to face Lena, looking shocked that the latter was basically holding her against her will, and orders that she be released. Unfortunately for her, Lena, who was obviously taking no pleasure of what she was currently doing to her employee, replies that she cannot let her go. Samantha asked for her help and so this is what the Luthor is now doing for her dear friend.
Later emerging from an elevator down at the level of the secret lab where she was keeping Arias, Lena goes over to her captive friend, asking Sam if she believes her now and Samantha, beginning to regret ever trusting the Luthor, brings up that she could barely muster the courage to squash household pests, let alone people. Lena meekly accedes, agreeing that she — and that is Sam as purely herself — was too moral to go out of her way in hunting and killing people, regardless whether or not they actually deserved to be put down. Sam reads between the lines, expressing that her boss was delicately suggesting she has a dissociative identity disorder, or alternative personality, being held within herself and a tremendously super-powered one at that. The Luthor admits so, explaining that while Sam and Reign are separate entities sharing the same physiological vessel, shifting from one to the other not only excludes either of the other's active cognizant functions and self-awareness, hence Samantha’s continual series of memory losses, but also somehow dramatically alters the shared body’s shared constitution to facilitate and host, one at a time, two polar extremes: one with the frailties of a human person, which Samantha embodies, and the other in command of empowered physiological parameters and abilities (exceeding even those known of the mighty Kryptonians), as personified by Reign — in turn explaining why Sam is incapable of exhibiting Reign's full range of otherworldly abilities while the latter, in contrast, carries none of the former's mortal vulnerabilities and limits of being. Lena emphasizes that she would not be bringing this revelation before Sam if she was not absolutely certain about it and had not ruled out any other possibility.
That was the final straw for Sam. She coldly laments how things lead to her imprisonment this way after asking for her employer's help on her mysterious affliction. Lena notes her tone, inquiring what she meant by that and Arias venomously remarks that had she instead gone to anyone else qualified for the treatment of her condition, they would likely have attributed it, at the very least, with disease and treat her with the proper medical solutions; but having gone to someone hailing from a family that generally assume (like it was second nature to them) the worst of others and sporadically deeming other people as immensely villainous threats, to the point of even questioning the humanity of such individuals, Samantha curses herself for thinking that Lena was any different than Lex or Lillian — accusing the Luthor before her, standing at the other side of the containment, of only seeing Sam as the person behind Reign because suspecting super-villain identity or likewise activity, regardless how well-intended or mild the target of their suspicions may be, is plainly the first instinct of any Luthor does to anyone whom they perceive as challenging them in any way, alluding what happened between Lex and Superman. And now Sam herself has the misfortune of being the subject to Lena's hidden paranoia and jealousy, helped levied by circumstantial and precarious facts and evidence, on account that the former was effectively running L-Corp in the latter's stead.
Hurt by Samantha's accusations and unable to deflect, Lena's phone started ringing. Answering it, she was informed by the caller that someone was apparently waiting for him somewhere outside of the lab; Lena replies that she'll arrange to contact that person later on only to be informed, by her caller, of that person in question's present whereabouts — leading to Lena taking her leave from Sam’s containment. She later walks into her L-Corp office to find James Olsen by Lena’s desk and waiting for her there. She quickly tries to apologize to him for being so elusive and hard to reach as of late, saying that what she was preoccupied in was an urgent matter. James then apologizes in turn and asks how things are going at Lena's end, thus far.
Carefully choosing her words, Lena tells Jimmy of an employee of hers approached her for help and now that the Luthor has plot out a course of action, the employee wants no part of it any longer. Seeing the fickle that Lena was in, Jimmy leans on the desk next to Lena and recounts about an unruly roommate he once had during college. That acquaintance apparently indulged in something (which Olsen himself wasn't quite sure what) and so would come to his and James' dormitory late at night to go berserk at their room, trashing the place. James tried to reason with and point out this inappropriate behavior to his roommate, only for the latter to rebuke him every time, forcing Jimmy to clean up after his roommate's messes. Lena inquires if James' roommate, at some point, ever took responsibility for his own faults and Olsen solemnly answers that if you truly want another's character to improve, they have to realize it for themselves the prerogative and driving need to do and be better than they currently are, especially when everything that person does up to that point only makes things go from bad to worse — otherwise it is a lost cause to even try intervening. Lena heeded and wordlessly contemplated on Jimmy's advice.
Heading back to the confined Sam and knowing that the only way to move forward was for Sam to rid herself of all pretense and denial regarding what she has been doing, or who she was becoming, for the extent of her blackouts, Lena decided to implement the “nuclear option” — steeling her resolve refusing to heed Samantha's pleas to be released and then be allowed to return home. She then forced Arias to confront her suppressed memories, bringing up images of her past assaults, as Reign, on Morgan Edge, Supergirl and the Worldkiller's other slain victims, with Lena speaking with rising cruelty as she did. A distraught and frazzled Sam demands why her boss was doing this, when all she just wants to go back home where Ruby awaits. Lena tauntingly responds to that and further chides Sam, as though the latter was actually Reign herself, living under the same roof as Ruby and could kill Sam's daughter at any point in time had the alien vigilante felt like it; the capitalist then threatens to take Ruby away from Sam indefinitely, causing Reign to finally emerge and violently lash out at Lena, who backs away, as Reign furiously thrashes everything inside of the containment unit, unable to leave its boundaries due to the functionally powerful security measures built into the customized containment unit. Unbeknownst to both Reign and Arias, however, Lena intentionally weaved this entire scenario just to gather proof for Sam to see for herself that her employer's allegations are no exaggeration — with the unit's installed surveillance system that was recording footage of Sam's body exhibiting, in transition, superhuman capabilities (i.e. heat vision and super-speed) as Reign attempted to escape their shared confinement. Presumably, Lena would soon neutralize the raging worldkiller by triggering the concentrated flow of synthetic green Kryptonite, from a remote-controlled drug-pump device attached close to Samantha's sternum, into Reign's bloodstream, incapacitating the latter and staving off the damage that she was incurring from within the confinement.
Samantha — as herself — would later wake up, with a patient (but understandably unnerved) Lena still watching over her from the safe side of the unit's sealing barrier, as the final vestiges of injected Kryptonite was purged away from her body by itself. Seeing her awaken, Lena began to play the footage of her as Reign, whilst inside the unit, via the still-intact monitor, allowing Sam to finally see what she becomes when she blackouts. Distraught at realizing the truth behind what her boss was trying to convince her of all along, Arias suffered a breakdown at knowing that she had a hand in all of the murders that Reign committed. And seeing Sam in despair, Lena disengaged the barrier and goes over to her, kneeling next to and trying to placate the whimpering Sam — reasoning with her that she is not accountable for any of alien persona's brutal actions and now that she holds a sample of Reign's genetic material, which she acquired when the Worldkiller briefly took over Sam, ridding Arias of her empowered malevolent side is now an open possibility, for “knowledge is power”.
Lena permits Sam to extend a call towards Ruby at the Arias household and listens on as Samantha omits the more disturbing details, claiming to her daughter that she was at the hospital for close medical observation, and that Lena shall be checking up on Ruby from time and again until the medical staff discharges her mother. Hanging up, she hears Lena assure her friend of her child; but Sam stops her before her employer could detail Ruby’s present whereabouts. Until she is rid of her Worldkiller side, Sam cannot afford to be anywhere near her daughter and Lena silently agrees.[28]
Inside of the containment and sitting right next to her patient on the latter's bed there, Lena later shares to Arias her recent findings concerning Sam's condition telling her that her body's genome rewrites itself whenever Reign emerges, which explains why Samantha herself does not have full access of Reign fearsome otherworldly capabilities and why Sam could qualify so convincingly as a human, even to herself, whenever her Worldkiller side lies dormant from within. Lena continues to elaborate that the transition from Samantha to Reign, and then back, has a somatic basis aligning with the two alternating personalities taking inconsistent duration turns in claiming dominion over their shared body; and so Arias learns that if they can unravel the workings of that phenomena, they just might be able to neutralize Reign indefinitely. However, the catch was that Lena must conduct her experimental study while the Worldkiller was active and in control of Sam's body — and the methods which the Luthor must employ to deliberately incur Reign's manifestation would be torturous for Sam. Confirming the agony that her friend will soon feel, Lena apologizes for what must be done for time was not on their side. Knowing what was at stake, Arias agrees with the experiment and Lena attached electroshock nodes to Samantha's temples before releasing the voltage through them to simulate enough pain to bring Reign out. The agony wreaked by the running current somehow sends Sam into a part of her own subconscious (inexplicably tied to an alternate realm) where she meets Reign herself, frightening the Worldkiller's human host.
With Sam returning to consciousness, Lena tries to console her and Sam divulges the encounter she just had with Reign inside of their duality-shared psyche, which she says expressed itself as “a dark valley” wherein only she and the Worldkiller were the apparent occupants; Lena surmises that this must be the parallel domain, accessible within Sam and Reign’s combined subconscious, where either remains trapped in while the other takes control of the physical body — hence why the former can never recall the latter's actions at times when the Worldkiller is liberated at the cost of Arias being the one who was trapped in this grisly form of mental imprisonment within her own psyche. Lena and Sam theorizes that Reign being there together with Samantha at the same time must mean that the Worldkiller was becoming more cautious, aware that the two L-Corp associates, who knows her secret, are trying to separate and expunge altogether her existence from her human vessel. Thus, she is now keeping herself from physically manifesting lest she unwittingly provides the two women, opposing her this way, with the means to actually bring their intent of ending Reign's specific existence into fruition.
Sam adds that while she was mentally synched with her Worldkiller side, Reign ominously told her that “they were coming”; worrying Lena despite Sam herself not quite certain about whom it was that Reign was referring to. They both agreed in continuing with the procedure in order to delve deeper into the matter.
Lena tries to comfort Arias again after another rough session of shock-induced therapy brought the latter into a more concise conversation with Reign in the subconscious. Apparently, Reign attempted to lure Sam to her side by tempting her human host with controlling power and the freedom it gives — the two things that Samantha never had much of ever since Ruby came into her life, compelling her to commit herself as a self-sustaining and loving mother of her child to compensate for the luxuries that she had been missing for the longest time of her existence, rattling Sam that Reign knows that much of her own repressed dissatisfaction concerning her human life. Awakening again and bristling, Sam desperately begs her boss not to put her back in Reign's company that way again. But as painful a decision as it is, the Luthor insists otherwise; she reasons that if they don't deal away with Reign from as early as possible, then at some point, the transitioning between her and Samantha shall be permanently irreversible — leaving one freed and in unfettered control of the physical vessel, while the other will be left imprisoned forever within the same body. Lena stresses it as an absolute imperative that Arias be the one to emerge victorious. Not just for Sam’s own sake but for everyone else who will easily fall prey to Reign's ruthlessness should Sam and Lena’s combined efforts fail.
While analyzing the progress thus far on Sam's test results, Lena receives a call from Jimmy telling her that Winn and Alex fall victim to the mysterious plague taking hold of select citizens in National City. Olsen implores the L-Corp Chief Executive for help, as her company has access to pharmaceutical resources that is unparalleled all across America and naturally has the best chance of finding a cure. Aware of the growing epidemic herself, despite already having her hands full with Sam at their company's basement levels, Lena considers turning her conclusions so far on Samantha's blood tests into an asset so as to assist medical authorities in securing a cure for the city’s newly-emerging pestilence (and punned or not, the terminology's timely and fitting); she just has to find a way in presenting it without raising questions like how she acquired the data, and the literally unearthly genetic samples to which the information accordingly entails to, in the first place — lest they all be linked to Reign and, by extension, Sam whom Lena has sequestered away from the outside world for her own protection as well as everybody else's.
And so, once again, Lena dances around the truth, telling James that she was already working on the outbreak (which, in a way, was the truth). At his end of the call, Olsen shows surprise at knowing Lena was already making steps to counter the present crisis, practically before anyone else, and then asks if she already talked to Supergirl as well. Lena replies that she hasn’t and requests that Jimmy doesn’t either because she herself is yet to be absolutely sure, throwing an uncertain glance at Sam in her confinement, even though her progress appeared promising, but that certainly does not make the knowledge being assembled, at this point, any less sensitive or fragile — not wanting to get anyone's hope up too much. Jimmy then languidly pines at seeing Schott in the state he’s currently in and not able to do anything about it, but the Luthor assures him that by being there for Winn — he is doing something for his friend. And with that, she and Olsen bade each other before ending the call.
Back at Sam's place of observation and containment, she was again in a panicked state after emerging from another mental rendezvous with Reign inside of their one mind, forcing Lena to try appeasing her friend’s terror. Samantha tells her that Reign just threatened to kill Ruby, for openly defying and attempting to get rid of her Worldkiller side, by taking Lena's assistance in expunging Reign from Sam's existentiality. Beginning to think that her collaboration with Lena in their bid to eliminate Reign was going nowhere, Arias informs Lena that they need to get some outside help, suggesting maybe it was time for Alex or even Supergirl — the former of which Samantha already once reached out to and the latter whom she knows is personally acquainted with her boss and so Lena would have the means of contacting — to be informed of and brought into their predicament. The Luthor disagrees, however, saying that Reign is high on Earth's most wanted list of alien criminals. And if they were to go to the Supergirl or the authorities (to which Supergirl is selectively in liaison with, via the D.E.O.) for assistance before Lena can secure a method for Sam to keep the side of her that is the Worldkiller infallibly in check, other people are liable to see Arias as Reign herself — leading to them taking reins in neutralizing and maybe even experimenting upon Samantha's body in unspeakable ways to end Reign's threat. Sam, despondent and now on her final wits, desperately argues that what she would suffer at their hands shall be no different, or worse, to what she was already enduring right now in part of Lena's procedures or Reign's temptations. But still worried for Sam and her friend's intent, the Luthor emphasizes that she is the only one who could do this with the least amount of personal expense from Sam; Lena presses her forehead against Sam's to calm her and promising to the latter that should things get out of hand, she would be there to keep Ruby safe — protecting her from Reign, if need be.
Ultimately, Lena and Sam's secret would be exposed at a critical time when the former's efforts with Arias appeared to have finally shone a glimmer of assuring hope; she tries to show her findings to Samantha, who has become uncharacteristically motionless whilst sitting with her legs crossed on her bed, inside of the containment unit, and saying “They’re coming” to particularly no one in a nearly trance-like manner. Just then, J'onn J'onzz (in Hank Henshaw's form) Martian-phased himself along with Supergirl, Imra Ardeen and Mon-El down through the ceiling of the establishment's underground level that Lena and Arias were in, much to the company head's surprise and confusion. Having caught in their radar that the other Worldkillers — Pestilence and Purity — are coming to L-Corp after the D.E.O.'s sensors (reprogramed with a tracking algorithm by Brainiac 5 and the recently-recovered Winn) detected the latter's signature vibrational frequency heading there, the four benevolent aliens got ahead of them first (being more familiar with National City’s domain) and came to warn the Luthor of their not-so-benevolent counterparts' approach towards Lena's company, with the disguised Kara herself coming up-close to Lena, who gets all apprehensively tight-lipped before this unexpected visit, warning her of their enemies' impending arrival. And that was when she finally notices the confined and unmoving Samantha Arias, within her enclosure, while the Kryptonian heroine was in the process of urging Lena into arranging the evacuation of her company and everybody there. Unsure with what to make of what she was seeing, as are the three other new arrivals who came with her, Supergirl walks up closer to state-of-the-art enclosure, tentatively extending forth a hand to its threshold and causing its near-impenetrable defenses to act up, rejecting and keeping the appendage from entering; looking around the apparent protective barrier, a baffled Kara inquires of what is happening down there at that level.
Caught in the most inconvenient of timing (oh, she has no idea…) and with no hope of coming up with a plausible excuse on the spot, a guilty Lena reluctantly confesses to the disguised Kara that she was going to tell her about this at some point. Still not catching the gist of the situation that she, J'onn and the Legionnaires have stumbled upon down at Lena's secret L-Corp lab, the said Kryptonian turns her attention back to the Luthor, incensed and demanding (with a hint of suspicion in response to a possible betrayal) on what was Lena apparently withholding, from the alien heroine, there beneath L-Corp with Samantha Arias seemingly held prisoner in Lena's custody. At that instance, Reign, who has now taken over Sam, due to “resonating” with the approaching Pestilence and Purity compelling Reign to emerge in response to her Worldkiller siblings' inevitable arrival, coldly answers her archenemy's question for Lena, expediently alluding to Supergirl that she was kept hidden thereby the Luthor this whole time, moving off of the bed as she did and began walking towards the unit’s entrance, ignoring Supergirl when she uncertainly addressed Reign in the identity of Sam, her human vessel.
Realizing who was now in control of Sam's body, Lena immediately taps some commands onto the tablet that she was holding, leading to the Kryptonite-pumping mechanism on Reign's person instantly subjugating the awakened Worldkiller with trace amounts of concentrated green Kryptonite now being pumped throughout her body, halting the latter's menacing advance and sending Reign down on her knees, weakening her, much to the Worldkiller's anger at Lena and the astonishment of Supergirl (who, of course, recognizes at once the symptoms that “Samantha” was displaying — that of a Kryptonian under agonizing Kryptonite exposure actually happening from within the body) and the other three aliens in the room at the other side of Reign's enclosure. By then, the other two Worldkillers arrived bursting through the elevator doors and sending them crashing against the containment unit — disabling its energy shielding, propelling away and knocking Lena, along with Mon-El and Imra, down at once with the unit's sudden burst of disturbed power output; but with Reign still incapacitated by Lena's Kryptonite, Purity and Pestilence, both now garbed in Juru custom-made attire, proceeded to rescue their detained sister and leader, freeing Reign at last. And together, growing stronger within each other's proximity, they made quick work of the alien heroes before joining together, side-by-side, and suffusing themselves in bright bluish-white light that somehow instantly garbs Reign in her recognizable Worldkiller attire. Everyone else there could only stare awestruck and in utter terror as the redoubtable trinity of worldkillers levitated over them, finally united and looking down below, with Reign quoting the House of El's famous Kryptonian motto, before all three of them speeding away in flight, leaving Lena and the four other aliens, on the side of humanity, by themselves at the very place that once held Reign imprisoned but now had just been liberated from. Kara then glances down at Lena, who was sprawled on the ground and, in turn, silently looked back up at the Kryptonian.[29]
Much later, after salvaging what still can be from the ravaged lab, Lena was brought to the D.E.O. and into its discussion room wherein, on the head seat at one end of the table, Lena was seated in jaded disquietude as Mon-El, Brainiac 5 (in his human guise) and Imra sat by the row adjacent to her right while Supergirl, J'onn and Alex (freshly recovered from Pestilence's infection) sat on the other side opposite of the Legionnaires — all of whom appeared just as perturbed as the Luthor before them, as not only had an independently-operating woman like Lena succeeded, where they have all collaboratively failed, at identifying Reign's alter-ego and subsequently even housing into containment the Worldkiller's human persona for a time afterwards, but now they are left with the freshly-missed opportunity to put one of the three otherwise nearly-unstoppable Juru Worldkillers out of the equation altogether, which could have easily been amended had Lena chose to approach and be straight-up honest with them, from long before now, for taking and literally placing their known enemy under her owned property’s sheltering and protection.
Stating her full name after the agency's director requests her to formally identify herself, Lena acidly asks from where, on her part, shall this interrogation for her shall begin. Supergirl, with her arms crossed over her chest, visibly displeased and sitting adjacently to Lena's left, was the first to speak. She confronts the Luthor with how long has she been keeping Sam after Lena learned disturbing facts concerning her employee — to which the L-Corp CEO dryly answers that it was for around three weeks now, prior to Reign's recent escape from Lena’s company, explaining why nobody, up to that point, has seen or even heard of the said worldkiller wreaking her usual havoc the entire time and thus the only “silver lining” to this amounting debacle after all things considered. The disguised Kara drills further, impatiently asking as to what exactly had the Luthor been doing with Samantha that whole time and Lena admits to having employed her scientific expertise in discreetly diagnosing Sam's mysterious ailment, kicking her analysis extent of Arias up a notch when Lena realizes that what plagues Samantha was no mere illness and that led to the patient being brought by the Luthor down to L-Corp's more restricted basement levels for off-the-books observation and specialized data-gathering, as well as abstrusive processing procedures and restraining protocols, in hopes of finding a solution while also denying Sam of unconstrained contact with the outside world — all of which Arias agreed to be done upon herself by her employer.
Alex speaks up, saying that when she examined and had Sam through the former's own set of clinical tests and physicals, she did not spot anything that would imply something out of the ordinary about Arias, let alone as having anything to tie Samantha with the fearsome Worldkiller who nearly killed the operative on two separate occasions now. Lena blandly and humbly replies that, be despite of so as it may, Alex simply never assumed or accounted anything extraordinary regarding Samantha to begin with — and that was what chiefly caused the D.E.O. agent to overlook what the Luthor obviously did not. The older Danvers sister seemed to have somewhat taken Lena's given statement like a brushing insult, demanding at once on how the latter was able to discern the now very apparent Sam-Reign connection, and what confirmed it, when no one in the alien-countering government agency, Alex herself included, before now could connect the dots. Lena responds by calmly explaining that she did not limit herself in monitoring Sam under a microscope, to determine anything unusual about her biology, all the way to the cellular level; rather, she also mapped out a timeline that details the times when Samantha lost consciousness, all the way to when she gets it back and comes to, then cross-referencing it with any aligning resource that Lena could find matching those periods when Arias was supposedly unconscious, combing for some kind of pertinently possible connection under the conceived impression that Sam's fainting episodes may be of extrinsic causes. And that was when the pattern between Sam's unanticipated disappearing closely matches in timing and duration with Reign's emerging to conduct her attacks — not to mention the latter, in turn, being the one disappearing from the public eye whenever the former was, in reverse, as the one who was up and actively about — turned evident for Lena, prompting her to look deeper into the microscopic level using unconventional forensic methods and uncommonly thorough techniques in biological analysis afforded to her by the tech company she owns, with the underlying bid to disprove her eerie suspicions by scouring for any alternatively possible cause or causes of how Reign and Samantha seemed to be linked together somehow. But regardless of Lena's personal thoughts and hopes on the matter, her research into Sam just wasn't in the Luthor's personal favor no matter how much she wanted it to be. Hence, her formed theory of the two entities, Samantha Arias and Reign, trapped within the same existence of one body, Jekyll and Hyde-style was verified. Alex fell very quiet and uneasy as the capitalist under interrogation concluded her guilt-laced summary, chagrined and realizing in dismay just how much she, along with her sister Kara (who looks down and away from the Luthor, subdued), have indeed underestimated both Lena and Sam by a long way without even knowing it until too late — and now it is only starting to dawn on the Danvers sisters the consequences of that, currently pressing them with each passing moment.
Next was Director J'onzz turn to speak; he implores Lena as to why she'd keep a secret of this magnitude hoarded only to herself when she should have went straight away to the D.E.O. to quickly notify them of the situation, pointing out that with the way Lena allowed the events to play out, before Reign's retrieval from L-Corp's confinement enacted by her fellow Kryptonian Worldkillers, the Luthor essentially abetted a mass murderer when she harbored Sam (even as herself, and not as Reign) under her care and observation for weeks now; and so, technically, a case could be legally mounted against her. Lena retorts that all she did was extended her aid to a friend in need, whom she still sees Samantha as, in spite of the circumstances and recent developments insisting that it was Arias whom she harbored and that Lena also neutralizing Reign by way of containing Sam, the way Lena did, was just an added (and more or less fortunate) bonus into her and Sam's undertaken attempts of purifying the latter of her extra-terrestrial aspects. The Martian grits, arguing that regardless of Lena's motives, what she unearthed was not something that anyone must keep beyond the D.E.O.'s awareness, and that Lena should have went to them, first and foremost, after discovering what she did of Sam — given that they were better-experienced and equipped in coping with predicaments such as this, and that Lena surely could have found a lead on them for contact reach had she set her mind to it.
Again, Lena adamantly defends her decisions —asserting that a private citizen like herself is under no obligation to indiscreetly share everything, or anything she does not want shared, to indiscriminately anyone; least of all to a clandestine organization that predominantly operates behind the shadows and to which she has no official affiliation with whatsoever, especially seeing how the said organization generally refuses to share all about their aggregation with an outsider like her in turn. And so, reciprocation (of sorts) should not only be unsurprising but it is also rightly in order. Those of the agency in that room with her look disconcertedly and exasperatedly away from Lena and at each other, as not only was the D.E.O.'s own sense of maintained secrecy partly to blame for the L-Corp and CatCo proprietor withholding from them the disturbing facts she uncovered about the first Worldkiller to emerge, but also knowing full well that they cannot argue against the Luthor's fronted logic since they couldn’t name a single person in their lives to whom they have, without fail, completely been transparent to with absolutely no pretense (i.e. Alex kept the fact that she was an alien-combating operative from both Eliza and Kara, J'onn assuming Hank Henshaw's likeness and authority over the D.E.O. for a decade and a half with none in the organization any wiser and, of course, Kara in her dual identity as both Kara Danvers and Supergirl — both of whom Lena somehow bizarrely still believes to be two different people) as that would be hypocritical on their part. Lena continues, insisting that everything she has done to absolve Sam, upon learning of her employee’s conditional alien nature, was done within the domains of L-Corp and utilized its respective resources. Thus, for as long as it does not count as technically illegal, Lena should not have to answer to the people before her in regards of whatever she does with her own company, its assets and the people working for her there.
Supergirl then presses Lena on what the latter had discovered during her time with Sam/Reign and, in a defeated tone, the Luthor divulges that she did all that to isolate whatever factor within Samantha that turns her into her Reign persona — with the aim of using that knowledge to suppress and end the latter subliminal existence for good; only that Lena did not get to finish in that endeavor due to Reign's liberation from close monitoring, taking Sam's body along with her. A clearly vexed Supergirl raised her eyebrows and cynically comments on the multi-layered irony of realizing now that not only does she and Reign both having civilian identities that were amicably acquainted together and under the employ of the same person, but how that said employer — whom they were both equally close to and would want to keep her two employees, Kara and Sam, from coming into open conflict with each other anyway (and certainly doing so without choosing to favor either belligerent side) — had been keeping Supergirl's mortal enemy in a short leash for three weeks now, and to think that Kara herself was anxious the whole time for her next confrontation with the powerful Worldkiller, who came close to murdering her last year, when a frail human being like Lena (in comparison) had inadvertently kept the two immensely formidable aliens from each other for just as long with her secret activities together with Arias in the L-Corp secret lab. This was made even more demeaning for Supergirl and her allies; considering Lena, as the one of the two people in her closest circle of friends, with the other being Samantha herself, who still doesn’t know of Kara's Kryptonian identity, believing that she and Supergirl are two separate individuals, also ironically becoming the one who was nonetheless able to figure out Reign's human identity all by herself before anyone else could.
Kara then shifts the subject by asking Lena if she has a way to track down the Worldkillers, to which the latter replies that she does not and neither do the Legionnaires sitting down with them at that table. Brainy, having already calculated their odds of defeating Pestilence, now that she came into contact with both Purity and Reign and no doubt more powerful than ever as are the two that were activated and came before her, asked anyone there at the table with him if they wanted to know their probable chances for that likelihood; both Mon-El and Imra simultaneously and flatly refuses, knowing full well how those sparing odds are even without the Coluan having to vocally express it, having gone up first-hand against all of the three Worldkillers, at the same time, at L-Corp's sub-levels and only survived in the presence of Reign, Purity and Pestilence, who left without much hassle, purely because they probably did not deem a Kryptonian, a Green Martian, a time-traveled Daxamite, a telekinetic Saturnian from the future and, finally, a human being (who, in fairness, did kept at least one Worldkiller confined and controlled) even worth the effort of killing with the collective power that these Worldkillers now have at their disposal. Supergirl then wonders as to how Lena could have kept Sam contained when the sheer strength and might of the latter's Worldkiller side could have easily broke through any conventional restraints that can be designed to hold her at bay, leading to another confession from Lena who admits that she employed Kryptonite — supposedly kept inside of a vault at L-Corp wherein Lex, prior to his imprisonment, maintained his gathered stocks of the substance in repelling Superman with — to keep Reign in check. Kara could only blink her eyes in surprised resignation of hearing yet another shocking revelation from Lena.
Later, Lena walks by one of the D.E.O. establishment's balconies with a phone in hand, calling James Olsen (who was delegating tasks to his subordinates at CatCo in gathering information, for due report to the public, in response to the now-waning lethal plague incited by the Worldkiller, Pestilence, upon the city mayor and several others of National City's prominent individuals); answering her, Lena quickly apologizes for keeping secrets from him and keeping distance as she did. But now comes the time for the truth, which she was now ready to divulge to Jimmy — piquing his interest. Lena then informs him of what has really been going on between herself, Samantha Arias and Reign. About how Reign sharing the same bodily vessel with Sam and that Lena was aware of the fact and had been keeping that a secret from anyone else for a while now, surprising James with the revelation. He then remembers the time when Lena spoke of an employee of hers who could not accept her own bitter circumstances under the Luthor's care,[28] wholly realizing now all that entailed from what Lena was telling him: that his girlfriend worked out and determined the unusual relationship between Reign and Sam all on her own and, rather than to bring it to the proper authorities, choose to withhold that knowledge by confining Sam inside of L-Corp and locking her away from the rest of the world.
She confirms it, saying that she was laboring together with Sam to rid herself of her powerful malevolent side that is Reign. This confuses Jimmy as to how a mere human like Lena was able to keep Reign, who once brutally injured Supergirl, under control and Lena (somewhat) confesses yet another troubling detail — the allegedly last portion of Kryptonite gathered and confidentially stored by Lex within L-Corp, which his younger sister had all now inherited and subsequently depleted in her (stymied) bid to cure Sam. James asks why Lena was telling him this now and the latter discourses how she gambled a great deal — her personal reputation, Supergirl's trust in her and Lena’s favorable relationship with James — in her intent to cure Sam to which she just failed in a major way; so now she just wants a measure of comfort hearing the sound of his voice over the phone, since she couldn't stand him looking at her like the very image of a Luthor that she constantly tries to expunge herself of as she had enough of that when her secret concerning Sam was exposed to Supergirl and her allies.
Supergirl herself would approach Lena at the balcony, calling for her and trying to get the latter's attention. Hanging up on James, Lena turns to face the Kryptonian, who made no effort hiding her obvious disappointment to her human friend; Kara verbally accosts Lena, saying that while everyone else have always assumed incriminatingly of the latter, time and again, because of her brother and their family name, Supergirl has always stood by her side, defending Lena from such suppositions and accusations, seeing Lena as her own person separate of the general perception of how most people would often regard someone bearing the name Luthor. But now, in that one time when she could have — and should have — went impeccably and without delay to Supergirl for help concerning Sam and her Worldkiller problem, Lena, under the erroneous belief that only she alone could sympathize with Arias, chose to assume the worst of the superheroine and everyone else that could have helped, and instead opted to solve Samantha's dilemma all on her own, with only Sam's voluntary cooperation, when she and Lena both have friends that would just as likely have aided the two women and made a difference. Granted, from Lena's perspective, the fact of Reign's violently purging the city of criminality, and even severely injured Supergirl in one instance for that endeavor, can also mean that the disguised Kara may not be as open-minded in defeating Reign, by way of ridding Arias free from her Worldkiller side as Lena intends, even if she has learned of Sam’s secret sooner from their boss; not to mention the open question of whether or not Lena may have divulged to Supergirl that knowledge had she known that the latter and Kara, whom the Luthor trusts (and knows would have as much interest in saving Samantha as Lena does), were one and the same. Lena timidly brings up that Arias came to her in such a volatile and precarious state, with such high stakes that nobody — not even Sam herself — knew just how great until Lena took Samantha into hiding. Hence, she couldn't risk exposing Sam to the dangers of being seen as the very threat that her alien persona imposes by anyone who may or may not lack both Lena's sympathy and reservations.
Pushing that aside, Supergirl crosses her arms in front of her, looked the other woman before her right in the eye and pleads Lena to be downright honest with her for what she will next be asking of the latter concerning Lex Luthor's alleged stash of Kryptonite that his younger sister supposedly acquired through the renamed L-Corp: does Lena have any more of the said substance remaining? And abashedly, the Luthor admits that she does not — having used the entire supply to weaken and medically subdue Reign, rendering the worldkiller “docile” while Lena kept her imprisoned by securing Samantha into the secret L-Corp lab. As Lena spoke, the gleaming Sun behind her outside slowly but surely being (literally) eclipsed and Kara notices, before falling into unconsciousness and collapsing down on the floor as the yellow rays were dimmed by the Moon’s progress in blocking them, going between the Earth and the Sun it revolved around of, as did the empowerment that the Kryptonian biologically derives from thereof.
She would later come to, with both Lena and Alex standing over her and looking concerned. Getting up, she tells them that she saw Sam and Julia in a vision of a dark wooded valley that Kara saw the two Worldkiller hosts running through. Kara, Alex and Lena would later climb down the stairs as they headed to the D.E.O.'s mission control center, with the Luthor stating that the eclipse happening was, all hands down, an entirely unprecedented phenomena that should not scientifically — and let alone technologically — be possible. The disguised Kara intercedes, saying that science or technology has nothing to do with the eclipse, but something far older than both and apparently at their enemies' disposal.
That drew an incredulous reaction from Lena, in spite of the circumstances, beseeching the Kryptonian to please not mention and include “magic” into the debate. But Supergirl clarifies so, in its most malevolent aspect, dark magic, as indeed the culprit. She then denotes to Alex and Lena of old parables, from her destroyed planet origin, involving Kryptonian witches forming a trinity and joining hands to induce a global darkness like what Earth was experiencing at the moment. They conclude that the three Worldkillers, Reign, Purity and Pestilence — now joined together into such a fearsome triumvirate — must be enacting just that as part of a ritual to “rebirth” Earth itself as envisioned by their Juru creators. Reckoning that the accruing planetary darkness was only the first step to the Worldkillers' intent, predestined into them by the Juru, slowly growing into fruition, Kara, Lena and Alex all agreed that the opposition needs to be stopped before Worldkiller trinity could succeed further in their bid.
Going over to mission control where J'onn, Winn and handful others of D.E.O. commanding staff were already at, trying to coordinate against and mitigate the amassing confusion incited by the sudden eclipse worldwide; the three women informed that they all have a little less than two hours before the amounting planetary darkness reaches completion and the clock is ticking. Consequences to living in a world without light would soon come later (i.e. global temperature dropping, compromised growth of worldly flora, Kryptonians on Earth rendered powerless, etc.). Gathering around the central table, the eclectic group of humans and aliens began to pool down all attained knowledge they gathered in coming up with a brainstorm to counter the Worldkillers’ eclipse.
Bringing the discussion to the mysterious valley that Kara apparently just saw both Julia and Samantha ran and disappeared into, the group together surmises that what she experienced was not a dream at all and Lena confirms it, recognizing so from Supergirl's description as the same alternate dimension that Sam only recently spoke up to her during their “treatment sessions”, and thereby allowing Kara to identify it as Juru, the Kryptonian valley for which the Worldkillers' eponymous makers were named after. Together, the group surmises that Supergirl's unexpected visualization of the said dimension, whilst unconscious, would mean that her Kryptonian heritage must be somehow allowing her to catch glimpse of Juru Valley, aligning with the Worldkillers finally achieving their completed trinity and that the scope of their collective's combined power was bending the known laws logic and reason in more ways than one.
Lena then opines a bold plan; one wherein that they must first contact Sam through that esoterically-accessible valley and convince her to take hold of her body again so she could hopefully send out a signal that will help reveal the Worldkillers' present location and allow the possibility of stopping them in their eclipse-inducing activities And as viable as this strategy may sound for those at the D.E.O. table, the fact still remains that they have no means of deliberately harnessing that phenomenon to their advantage, given that Supergirl has only randomly tapped into Juru, from time to time, purely by chance and without intent every time it happened thus far. For a moment, the group balks — until the disguised Kara offers an earnest suggestion of her own: taking not-so-fictionalized mysticism head-on with realistic and practical 31st Century science at their side.
Lena, Alex and Supergirl are next seen at the D.E.O.'s forensics lab with Brainiac 5, where the said Coluan, still in human likeness but nonetheless displaying his usual meticulously insufferable and verbose self, was detailing Kara's suggested intent of using the Legion's mind-intrusive technology to enable her access to the valley of Juru straight from where they are, even though such tech was not originally meant for that purpose but rather to permit one person’s psyche entrance into another's. Thus, Kara wishes for the extraordinarily brilliant Coluan (even for his race) to repurpose that technology — using herself as the catalyst factor — for just that notion, and she wants for Brainy to do all of that before the eclipse finalizes. Kara confirms. And exhibiting a jaw-dropping amount of reservation and composure, in spite of the dire circumstances and demanding expectations that have just been pushed into his hands, Brainy nonchalantly assures the three women that he will set work on the task at hand as though it was merely a challenging obstacle of menial proportions; he then made way towards the Legion’s cruiser with Supergirl following him.
However, Lena insists on coming along and the Danvers sisters bluntly refused, still not having gotten over Lena's apparent subterfuge in helping conceal from them Sam's hidden alien nature, even though Brainiac 5 offhandedly states that it was perfectly possible to bring others with Supergirl to Juru when the Kyrptonian tries to mentally set foot on that realm. Lena stays true to her conviction, saying that she can get to Sam through Reign, having known the Worldkiller's human host for a long time and even practically spent the last month understanding the workings between both separate existences subliminal within the same body. And that while everyone around there with Lena may not fully trust her right now in light of Lena’s recently-revealed secrecy, she was their best chance of defeating the Worldkiller trinity via Samantha. The Danvers sisters resisted but eventually gave in, with Alex also suggesting that she goes along with both Supergirl and Lena to Juru, as precaution given Kara's weakening state caused by the eclipse. Unbeknownst to Lena however, after she left, the disguised Kara tells Alex, who already has her doubts of including Lena into the mission, that she only conceded in taking Lena along because she has a point, having studied both Sam and Reign in the same containment unit for weeks now, along with the fact that the Luthor would be preoccupied whilst in Juru. That way someone from their side can confirm Lena's story out, of running out and possessing no more green Kryptonite as of late, in the real world.
And that someone would be none other than the vigilante, Guardian. So as Brainy readies the tech for the three women to use, Supergirl took her time flying back to visit CatCo and meet up with James, who shows worry on why would Kara squeeze passing time in visiting him knowing her yellow sun-originating powers must be gradually weakening into irrelevance due to the looming eclipse. Kara abruptly brings him up on Lena's possession of Kryptonite; but Olsen already knows having been told of that and of what was going on between Sam and Reign from moments earlier by Lena herself and Kara, though unsurprised (as she may have overheard the conversation), was chastised. Jimmy goes on in Lena's defense to say that the said substance was originally obtained by Lex before it was discovered and procured, from L-Corp, by his sister to use against Reign and that — at this point — Lena has already depleted what remained of the inherited Kryptonite that was still in her ownership while containing Sam and keeping her Worldkiller side neutralized with the Kryptonian-weakening substance as the controlling factor; hence, that stash no longer poses a potential threat for Supergirl. Kara, however, was unyielding of her newfound distrust towards Lena — stressing to Jimmy that Lex was incarcerated for a while now, leaving his company assets to his sister, whom, out of her friendship with a Kryptonian, should have gotten rid of the Kryptonite cache from the moment she learned of its existence. And if Lena’s relationship with Supergirl was indeed genuine, by both ways, why would the latter need to keep a supply, of one of the very few things that could bypass the standard invulnerability of Kryptonians to the point of actually able to kill them, in her possession?
James tries to appease the costumed Kara, downplaying the situation with Lena that the Kryptonian was in. And in an ironic reversal of roles, Jimmy defends the Luthor by making it a point to his alien friend that Lena is not her brother — echoing the time when he heard those very same words ("Lena is not Lex") from Kara herself standing up for Lena's honor when it appeared as though Metallo broke her own of prison to finally join Cadmus full-time with Lillian— and how it may have took Olsen a long while to consider and come in acceptance of that, but it was Kara who helped him acknowledge it in the first place.
However, Supergirl remained firm in her conviction; stressing that Lena had been nothing but an indisputable ally until in light of the recent discoveries to her secret conducts with Samantha. With Lena's capacity for duplicity even to her known allies now shown, Kara, who consequently could not unconditionally take the Luthor's word for it despite wanting so deep down otherwise, felt it was imperative that she determine what else her friend could be hiding and moreover, if it could prove a threat to Kryptonians — and not just to Supergirl — in the future. Stepping up, Jimmy asks what she needed from him and Supergirl states that it was not James Olsen he needs, per se, but Guardian. Concisely, she needs him in his vigilante persona to break into L-Corp and see for himself this vault that Lena spoke of, and see if the Kryptonite stash that the Luthor used was indeed depleted from within.
Plunged into dissension, a hesitant Olsen tells Kara that she was basically asking him to go behind the back of someone whom he has grown quite close to. But Supergirl clarifies that they both have grown close to Lena, and her with them, since coming into acquaintance. As of the moment, the Luthor's concealment of Sam's true nature has considerably shaken Kara’s trust of her human ally; and regarding Earth’s present state of crisis and the three Worldkillers she will inevitably fight against at some point, the sooner Kara could put her personal apprehensions about Lena to rest, the better. And so, Olsen agrees.
Later, in Legion's cruiser, Lena was seen garbed in a full-body and tight-fitting tracksuit, leaning against some of the equipment there when she was tentatively approached by an anxious and similarly-attired Alex, intent on asking the former a question. Lena instantly and correctly guesses that the agent was about to inquire as to why her friend did not bother to inform Alex, whom Samantha first shared knowledge to and consulted with after noticing her cryptic condition, of what she learned concerning Sam’s so-called “illness”. Alex affirms this, stating that it was unfair for her to be kept out of the loop from what Lena and Sam learned, seeing that she was the one who initially brought Arias to medical testing, which began at L-Corp, before she was inducted likewise by Lena, who only got her turn following that after Alex recommended for and ushered Sam to come clean to her other friends, Kara and Lena, about her enigmatic problems and that the Luthor certainly could not have gotten to where she was on her surreptitious Worldkiller research, concerning Arias, without Alex pushing down that first domino that led to it.
Lena blithely replies that she has her reasons for not sharing what she knows of Arias, much like how Alex has hers that she makes it a point not sharing facts like she is a D.E.O. operative to just anyone. The said operative was only mildly surprised that the capitalist turned out to be aware of her affiliation to the off-the-books organization at this point — given the very obvious implications since Lena was brought there with Alex close at hand. With her own mother high on the D.E.O.'s wanted list, Lena, of course, has a respectable amount of knowledge about those from the organization leading the charge and serve as vanguards to their cause, with Alex Danvers understandably ranking high in the agency's roster of field agents; but wisely adds to Alex that her allegiance to the D.E.O. was her own secret to divulge at her choosing. And in that vein, Samantha's recent discovery to her own identity, of being alternatively the person behind Reign's mask, was also strictly hers to reveal with Lena's auxiliary role to which being that she helped Arias come to terms with that, between the two of them, and nothing more. Lena only wanted to make sure that other people can remain lenient and still be reasoned with — by substantially keeping the Worldkiller in Sam, Reign, contained and harmless, for Arias herself to be given the benefit of the doubt — when she and Sam finally opted to let other people in on the secret that the two women uncovered. So until then, it wasn’t in Lena’s place to say anything.
Stiffly appreciating Lena's reasons for not sharing, Alex turns the subject to Samantha's daughter, Ruby Arias, asking Lena if Ruby was fine. Lena assures so. Supergirl then arrived, asking the Legionnaires if everything was in place. Brainy announces that everything's set, but cautions the Kryptonian that the eclipse outside was severely depleting what little energy reserves she has left; at this point, mentally transmitting the disguised Kara’s consciousness to Juru along with Alex and Lena's as her “extra passengers” will no doubt put a strain upon Supergirl in both body and mind. Heeding the Coluan's forewarning, Kara confers privately with Mon-El, instructing the Daxamite that he pulls both her sister and best friend, but leave Kara herself at Juru — at least until she accomplishes her reason for coming there — in case this precarious plan of theirs go south; they cannot afford to fail in this mission of determining the Worldkillers’ lair.
Of course, Mon-El expresses his reservations immediately but Kara remained insistent as both the present and future hinges on their success. And so the Daxamite concedes. Hooked into the Legion Cruiser's tech equipment, Supergirl Alex and Lena are all instantly transported to Juru valley by Brainiac 5 (after some humorously misconceived exchange of words between the three women and the Coluan). From within that dark domain, and in spite of what was currently happening outside of it into the real world, Lena displayed a level of fascination in Juru; but the Danvers sisters, on the other hand, were more cautious, with Supergirl's strength still diminishing and a prudent Alex even crafting make-shift spears of carved wood, from nearby fallen branches, for the three of them to use in self-defense and using one to jokingly poke Lena when the Luthor muses if they can even be injured in this bizarre domain (which, apparently, they can). They soon stumbled upon Grace Parker's lifeless avatar in Juru, making this somewhat diversified triumvirate of visitors realize that Grace's death must mean that a similar fate awaits both Julia and Sam if they don’t make haste on their reason for voluntarily coming to the valley in the first place, and so began their search for the avatars of the (hopefully) still-living human hosts of Purity and Reign, respectively, across Juru.
Whilst they were walking, Lena began to notice Supergirl's pattern of breathing and movements becoming heavier overtime — a sure indication of what Brainy warned them about: their Kryptonian “driver” gradually losing power and was now showing very noticeable signs of that to her human companions. Kara tries to brush this off as merely being tired as they have been walking for a while now; and then, in a bid to verbally attack Lena as a petty way of getting back at the Luthor for keeping such groundbreaking secrets even from her, Supergirl condescendingly denotes that her present state right now pales in comparison to what she would otherwise feel right, then and there, had green Kryptonite been put in the equation.
Knowing that Supergirl's offhanded but scathing remark was meant to specifically target her, Lena mildly complains on the Kryptonian's expressed attitude, saying that they have so much at stake for Supergirl to petulantly hold Lena's revealed possession of Kryptonite against the latter. The disguised Kara would only reply that though she agreed to take the Luthor along with her to Juru, the alliance between the two of them remains no less compromised in light of Lena keeping secrets concerning Sam and the Kryptonite. Lena deflects that her keeping knowledge of both, exclusively to just between herself and Sam, and no one else, was not motivated by any self-serving agenda; but Alex stresses that her retaining of something that — for all intents and purposes, can kill a Kryptonian like her adopted sister, Kara — plainly implies Lena’s reasons are indeed personal for keeping, in her possession, that literal “Kryptonian-killing stash”.
Despite of the Luthor arguing that would certainly never deliberately use green Kryptonite against a known Kryptonian ally, Kara backs her sister's assessment, declaring that until that time she found Sam confined under L-Corp, she had always regarded Lena transparently. And now that secrets from the latter were exposed, it drastically puts a strain into their friendship dynamic. Seeing how the Kryptonian strongly does not like being kept out of the loop, Lena decides to turn the tables. Calling out Supergirl for disliking secrets, to which Kara dryly confirms, Lena then confronts Supergirl about her actual name — wordlessly implicating a level of hypocrisy on Supergirl's part for being comfortable with keeping her real identity a secret from others, but not when others keep secrets from her in turn.
Cornered by what her friend is demanding of her (not to mention caught by the irony knowing that Lena already knows her name, as Kara Danvers, but not her original designation, from Krypton, as Kara Zor-El), the disguised Kara allowed a beat to pass in stumped silence before trying to misdirect Lena's inquiry, bringing up that such an intel coming into the knowledge of a Luthor could have severe repercussions — especially for Supergirl and her family. Lena doesn’t disagree. She then emphasizes that everyone has their secrets, not just the two of them. Secrets that are kept for what the owner judges to be for the right reasons; and the difference between right and wrong has always been a rather subjective and very relative topic to be discussed. That said, the right to secrecy should not belong to one person alone. Firmly saying that she is fine with Supergirl withholding secrets — such as whole and unconstrained knowledge of her true identity, including when not garbed in the cape and the House of El emblem present upon her chest — from seemingly everyone, including Lena, so why could the Kryptonian not mutually be so with the Luthor's own?
This penultimate conversation was then interrupted by an eerie sound coming from amongst the trees surrounding them. The somewhat disagreeing group looked around, trying to discern its source before finally spotting a Kryptonian Demon nearby, only for it to disappear after Alex threw her spear at it and prompting the three visitors to leave at once, knowing that it will return to menace them again at some point. They later came upon the sealed secluded cavern from where they discovered Samantha and Julia — who were languishing in distress as they were both gradually losing their memories (such that they had to write down the recollections they both still have on nearby rocks to prevent the memories from fading entirely) and every fiber of their existential being in Juru, along with also being mentally plagued by vivid hallucinations of Reign and Purity's kills, while their said Worldkiller counterparts slowly take over their physical vessels to come into completion out in the real world, concurrently with the eclipse they are instigating together with Pestilence — were holed up in. Spotting Julia first, they found her in a state of utter despair, distressed but aware that she is unable to do much about it besides accept her fate, Lena soon finds Sam nearby; and in no better condition than the other Worldkiller human host there with them.
Noticing the new arrivals, a distraught Sam cries in anguish at the sight of Lena, Alex and Supergirl — believing them to be hallucinations as well and that they, too, have all fallen and met their ends by Reign's hand. Her employer assures Arias otherwise and that they came to help her but Sam sobs that the people she's killed are coming to claim her as well, but was told that they perished by Reign's hand, not hers, and that the Worldkiller can and must be stopped. But for that to happen, they need to where she, Purity and Pestilence are first, requiring Samantha to forced herself back into her physical body and signal out a beacon to expose the whereabouts of the Worldkillers' lair. Given her present state of mind, the fearful Samantha wasn't compliant at once. So Lena encourages her into doing what she knows is right, with Supergirl and Alex following suit, bringing up that her daughter, Ruby, is also at stake. It works, allowing Arias to spontaneously assume control of Reign's body at the heart of the Fortress of Sanctuary; she tentatively looks around, apparently still holding hands in triangular formation together with the two other Worldkillers there with her. Breaking of the connection Sam-in-Reign’s body headed to the fortress control console and fiddles with the controls and crystals found atop of it.
Unfortunately, Sam's consciousness returning to the physical world means that Reign's was displaced and sent in turn to Juru, where she assumed Samantha's avatar, in equivalent exchange. Lashing out fiercely and grabbing Lena by the neck, lift-choking the human off of her feet, Reign cautions Alex and Supergirl — with the latter ordering the Worldkiller in Sam's likeness to release Lena — to stay clear as she could easily kill her instant hostage. Knowing that Reign was right, the disguised Kara tries to bargain, offering herself up in Lena's place. Sneering while still holding Lena in place, an overweening Reign tells Supergirl that the Kyrptonian beseeching before her holds not her interest; since compared to Reign — and from then and even up to the present — Supergirl was nothing, for only a being of equal might to a Worldkiller can defeat such.
But unbeknownst to everyone at Juru, Samantha finally succeeds at sending out a pulsing signal from the Worldkillers' fortress that was quickly picked up on by the Legion Cruiser's sensors, prompting Mon-El to now have Brainy pull the expedition they sent to Juru back into the real world, having fulfilled their intended purpose there. And so, Lena, Supergirl and Alex's consciousness disappeared from the eerie valley, one by one as Brainiac 5 unplugs their mind-based connection to it, leaving Reign confused as to where could her trinity of prey have gone but realizing at once that they have achieved their reason for coming.
Back at the fortress of Sanctuary, Sam was confronted by Pestilence, who notices that the former's humanity, in the absence of her Worldkiller side, now in control of their shared physical body. She punches Sam, causing Reign to resurface once more but punches Pestilence back in retaliation, sending the latter to the ground but thanking her nonetheless for the intervention. Reign then heads over to Purity, as Pestilence clambers back up to her feet, telling her Worldkiller siblings that their enemies were approaching. However, Purity corrects their leader, announcing that those opposing them were already upon their whereabouts. They all looked up to the Fortress’s cavernous ceiling; and indeed, floating just right over it into the open sky above was the Legionnaires' ship, with its occupants already preparing for the imminent battle soon to ensue. Of course, with Lena not being a legitimate fighter at any rate and still fresh into lucidity from excursion to Juru, instead obliged to stay aboard the ship with Brainiac 5 and Winn, who took initiative to assume command central in directing their belligerent field assets from there — with Winn even bequeathing to Alex (as Brainy made sure that the Luthor with them was fine) her own custom-made battle suit, that he has apparently conceived and been working on for a while now, which features some virtually unprecedented utilities (i.e. a multi-faceted firearm with specialized ammunition and magnetized gauntlet designed to magnetically pull the said gun back into Alex's hand in case she ever drops it or gets disarmed in the midst of a fight) for her advantageous usage during a confrontation, much to the agent’s elated approval.
Soon, the literal aftershocks of the skirmish happening inside of the fortress, after Supergirl, J'onn, Mon-El, Imra and Alex teleported down into it from their ship, was felt even by those staying inside of the said airborne vessel in the form of Purity's destructive soundwaves piercing through and significantly damaging its propulsion systems. At risk of the cruiser crashing down upon the structure beneath it where allies and foes were locked into combat, Brainy left his pilot's seat and strode over to the ship's engines' console, far and separate from the former, trying to program that sections that are still in fine and working order to consolidate together and compensate for the losses thereby maintaining the ship's ability to remain aloft over the battlefield happening in the Fortress of Sanctuary's interior. But knowing that there's a limit to the extent of how effectively and efficiently could even the Colouan multi-task (despite Brainy's earlier claims to a comatose Kara, regarding the matter, from last year's conclusion) at this point, Lena furthers her contributions by taking rein over the futuristic vessel that she was in — occupying the orbiting seat that Brainy just vacated and expertly moving her hands about on the futuristic controls that by the time Brainy returns, Lena was already stabilizing the ship's positioning and making the piloting operation of a scientific and technological wonder, like the Legion's Cruiser, appear easy and almost like second-nature to her, much to the alien and Winn’s awe.
Later, after Purity and Pestilence's demise and the Fortress of Sanctuary's fall, leaving Reign as the sole surviving Worldkiller who escaped, at the D.E.O. National City HQ, Supergirl approaches Lena, having just been informed by Winn — who helped Guardian navigate through L-Corp's basement levels towards the vault where the Kryptonite that Lena used on Sam/Reign was said to be kept — that there was indeed none of the alien substance there left, much to Kara's relief. But unbeknownst to the two of them, James had not in fact broke into the vault as he claimed to Winn over the comms; even though he had at hand the means to bypass its security (a hand-held pulse-bomb supplied to him by Winn), Olsen decides not to, as his care and affection for Lena grew, at that point, has grown too strong for him to go along with this breach of trust. And so, Jimmy lied to Winn — relaying to the latter that he got the vault opened, but there was no Kryptonite to be seen inside.
Silently acknowledging that she may have acted with a hint of paranoia when she had James look into L-Corp as Guardian, but apparently still not prepared to inform Lena of what she had Guardian (supposedly) do, Supergirl graciously expresses her gratitude for Lena’s vital assistance; though the Luthor mildly deflects, saying that they weren’t able to rescue Sam with Reign escaping from the self-leveled Fortress of Sanctuary. But the disguised Kara notifies Lena that they found redemption for Julia over Purity at the last possible moment and if that could be done with the former, then surely also for Samantha Arias.
Supergirl's assuring words eased Lena’s uncertainty. The Kryptonian then extends a cordial handshake that was taken by the Luthor, with the former declaring that she now understands the latter’s reasons for keeping her in the dark about both Sam held and the kryptonite being kept at L-Corp — all of which are now officially water under the bridge for the disguised Kara and now the slate between the two women is clean once more.
Lena later returns to L-Corp, where she found Jimmy Olsen waiting for her by the balcony of Lena’s office. Musing that she was surprised to find that he even wants to see her after Lena’s confession to him earlier that day, she hears James confess that for the past couple of years he has marginally scoured for anything that he can use in thinking ill of Lena’s character; admitting that this has nothing to do with what Lena may or may not have done, but rather because of personal insecurities and harbored animosities that Olsen has against the Luthor name on account of his past experiences with Lex. He adds that, despite of those disparaging beliefs, Lena proved herself — time and again — to be anything like her brother and that James’ suspicions of her, along with her motives, were uncalled for.
But an ashamed Lena rather thinks that Jimmy was about to end their relationship, due to her keeping knowledge of Sam’s true nature a secret even from Jimmy, and that all trust that may have existed between her and James came to a screeching halt when that secret came to light. Olsen corrects here, however, saying that Lena committed herself fully in trying to help Samantha with getting rid of Reign — ignoring both the weight of the (near-impossible to be solved) problem and how others might think when they realized what Lena was bidding to accomplish with Samantha Arias. And anyone with the kind of will and resolution to do all of that in the name of saving a friend, in Olsen’s opinion, was someone worth knowing and opening up to.[1]
Later in the morning, after spending last night in passion in Lena's opulent penthouse, Lena and Jimmy both dressed up as they greeted and exchanged endearingly amiable overtures with each other, culminating to a loving kiss and coming into one another’s arms…when Reign shatters the window with heat-vision and came flying in, demanding from Lena the whereabouts of one Ruby Arias. Easily overpowering James (who even produced his Guardian Shield against the worldkiller) and tossing him aside, Reign continues her aggressive interrogation of the Luthor there with her — only for the latter to pull out a hand-spray of green kryptonite and sprays, full and up-close, the advancing Reign (in mid-threat) into the face with it. And with the substance instantly weakening and discouraging her from acting further, the worldkiller immediately flew away, leaving Lena and the downed Olsen still in the room that Reign briefly just ravaged inside of. After hearing word of the attack, Alex, Supergirl, Winn and J'onn (who were all wishing well Legionnaires about to return to their original time period) would later arrive at the penthouse, overseeing the damage that Reign wreaked. Surveying the scene, the disguised Kara muses on why would the worldkiller go after Lena and Winn snarkily quips, saying that Reign did suffer imprisonment and unwilling experimentation at Lena's hands after all, so it is only natural that the worldkiller would want to exact some payback on her former imprisoner. However, both J'onn and Alex conjectures that it is not like Reign to exact vengeance upon those who wronged her personally.
Lena accedes, coming into the room with Jimmy at her heels, informing them that Reign was targeting Ruby and only came to Lena for information on the child's whereabouts. Supergirl inquires if the couple were fine, to which the Luthor responds that they are. Still, the issue remains that Reign is clearly intent on finding Ruby with the obvious desire to harm. Informing the D.E.O. members present there with her that the other place where the worldkiller may look for next might be Samatha’s adoptive mother, Patricia Arias’ place, a small farm situated just outside of National City. Lena listens on as Director J'onn gives instructions — him and the disguised Kara going over to Patricia’s residence, to get the old woman to safety before Reign arrives and also to set a perimeter in hopes of capturing the worldkiller, potentially approaching there, when she does. The Martian inquires Lena for anything she learned during her studies of Reign that may prove beneficial for their side in helping subdue her for a potential later confrontation between them and the said worldkiller, and the Luthor informs them that electricity proved to be an effective catalyst in turning Sam into Reign and vice-versa. And Winn quips that he could probably put together something that can work well against Reign using Lena’s provided information.
Alex then walks up to Lena, telling the other woman that she needs to be at Ruby’s side and therefore needs to know the child’s present whereabouts. Lena was hesitant at first, insisting that Ruby Arias was safe wherever she presently was and reasoning that the less people know about it, the safer Sam’s child will be. But Alex insists, saying that Ruby was probably afraid at this point — not even having catching a glimpse of her own mother for a while now since Samantha’s containment into L-Corp by Lena. Conceding, Lena divulges that Ruby is currently being kept safe in a location that cannot so easily be found with conventional means; with the featured security measures that effectively cloaks it, denying even a bird’s eye vantage view of it from outer space, along with the arrangements made to ensure that it is not shown on known maps. Apparently, the only people who knew about such a place would be Lena and her brother, the incarcerated Lex, piquing the disguised Kara’s interest and Lena finishes that the reason for that is because Ruby is at the very mansion — in Smallville, Kansas — that Lex Luthor once owned and grew up in.
Having been granted the mansion’s coordinates, Alex went there herself to personally check up on Ruby, who was being looked after in the establishment by her babysitter, Mrs. Queller, whom was also assigned to and stationed there by Lena.
Later, in her L-Corp office, Lena was approached by James who dejectedly informs her of Patricia Arias’ demise, killed at home by Reign in her murderous search for Ruby. Lena barely had time to express her shock when James further elaborated that the worldkiller was now more powerful than ever before, displaying both the late Purity and Pestilence’s powers — urging to the Luthor that they need kryptonite more than ever, which he now knows is within Lena’s ability to make, and that it is imperative she works together with the D.E.O. in subduing Reign without killing her or the dormant Sam from within. Unfortunately, that would require Lena informing Supergirl of the former’s capacity to artificially produce the substance specifically lethal for the latter, and so Lena immediately shies away from the notion. Olsen tries to reason with his girlfriend, claiming that a Kryptonian like Supergirl would only see kryptonite as an offensive weapon against her on account that Lex infamously used it against Superman; and compared to the two of them, the bond between Lena and Supergirl is much stronger, allowing the latter to understand and tolerate the former’s motives in intentionally making and weaponizing the substance to counter Reign.
Taking Jimmy’s words to heart, Lena later arrives at the D.E.O. with a freshly-made batch of green kryptonite sealed in a tight, lead-shielded case. She was spotted by Kara in her heroic guise; approaching each other by the stairs, the Luthor then offered to the disguised Kara the fancy case she brought with her — with the latter correctly and grimly guessing at once the nature of the content(s) inside. Lena confirms it, drawing an incredulous reaction from Supergirl who calls Lena out for apparently lying to her. Setting the contained kryptonite down, Lena firmly states that she did not lie when she told Supergirl that has no more of her brother’s green kryptonite at hand; this particular iteration that she brought to be used, at Supergirl and the D.E.O.’s disposal, against Reign was artificially-manufactured by Lena specifically for that endeavor. However, the conversation between the Luthor and the Kryptonian only went further down south from there, with an exasperated Supergirl instantly ordering Lena that she is to surrender the artificial kryptonite formula to Alex Danvers, along with the means that Lena has in producing it so as to ensure that she could not ever do so again.
Lena likewise gets defensive; she brings up knowing that this was how Supergirl was likely to react, Lena initially didn’t want to deliver the kryptonite. But then James Olsen convinced her otherwise — reasoning that Supergirl would instead be gratified if she knew that the green kryptonite was of Lena’s making and understood the reasons she had for producing it, and that is to stop Reign. [30][31][32][33][34]
Friendship with Supergirl severely damaged
This section is a stub. You can help expand this section by adding some information.
Researching the Harun-El
Working to clear Supergirl's name
Discovering that Kara is Supergirl
After Lena depowered and then shot him, Lex, in his final moments, showed her a video recording of Kara Danvers using her kryptonian, he also revealed to her that her best friend is Supergirl, ending her friendship, as well as her complete trust and respect for the Kryptonian. Lena becomes severely depressed because of this, drinking alcohol and smashing a picture of her with Kara. This betrayal has likely led Lena to go down a dark path; similar to Lex and Lillian respectively.
Despite being raised by Lillian, following Lionel's death; Lena is the complete opposite of her half-brother and step-mother; whereas they are delusional, egotistical, immoral and murderous, Lena is kind, caring, dutiful, selfless, responsible, loyal, moral and honorable (in short, she is everything a typical person would not expect from a Luthor). While proud of her family name, Lena is ashamed of their deviated conducts, committed under the Luthor name, that ravaged the known world and is determined to return her company to its former good status and grace by using it to help people - and in so doing, absolve the Luthors of the schism incited by Lex.
However, she is not above withholding crucial information from known allies if it meant the smooth proceeding of any plans she instigates but has, thus far, done in good conscience. In addition, she is quite intelligent and insightful, going along with the aforementioned determination and, in the imposing disposition of her Luthor name (not to mention the extensive contacts and replete resources at their disposal) these qualities make Lena an invaluable ally for those who has her solid allegiance and at the same time, a very dangerous individual to anyone who would dare count her as an enemy or underestimate what she is capable of, with little care of the consequences (and Chet Miner along with his associates, overconfident with the alien technology provided by Lillian Luthor, made the colossal mistake of doing both in spite of warnings received from Lillian herself - ultimately to their agonizing regret and Queen Rhea would later follow suit); though her high moral standards generally meant that Lena would never bring such retribution upon anyone who did not deserve it and nor will she go overboard in exacting so (though she remorsefully admits to have done such with one Cindy Ryan) as she feigned allegiance to Lillian Luthor in order to destroy the Medusa virus and ends the betrayal by turning Lillian over to the cops, successfully deduced at least twice where Project Cadmus was holed up in (although the second time, Lillian deliberately allowed it so)[16][6], practically sensed and figured at once (over a restaurant dinner) Rhea's true alien nature, briefly voiding the Daxamite queen's business proposal and asking her to leave L-Corp's premises, upon confirmation[18] and at age four, beat her older half-brother in chess upon being brought home by her father.[5]
A resourceful, honest and practical (but not overly consummate) entrepreneur and capitalist, Lena seems to admire those with strong resolve. This was shown when she subtly accused Clark Kent of suspecting her based on her last name, as he did not back off and she responded by showing an amused respect for his steel resolve.[2]
Despite this, Lena's strong moral compass prevents her from exhibiting that same level of appreciation towards those of less than honorable intent, as seen when she explicitly stated her repulsion to both Beth Breen[12] and Morgan Edge[21] after learning that they were unethically using their respective company resources and business interests for anything but noble ends which makes it safe to assume that she also discontinued or even terminated L-Corp's military contracts and channels, along with R&D on warfare technologies, that supplied eclectic clients with advanced armaments and ordnances, for that same notion as she no longer wanted her family's company in any way associated with murder and world domination through pretentious businesses and unscrupulous contract deals, like war profiteering, from back during its Luthor Corp days when it was still under her brother's control, but apparently did not discarded all archived knowledge of that which was how she was still able to access information on the Evanesce Project[6] and presumably data on the artificial production of Kryptonite that Lex compiled, which Lena has then finalized and perfected[1]; likewise, her firm morality was what irreparably broke Lena's otherwise strong bond with Rhea[19] despite of finding in the latter the sort of maternal affection - denied of such by her adoptive mother, Lillian, from the point of childhood - that Lena craved for a significant portion of her life.
Lena is also perceptive enough to know that Kara was actually trying to milk from her intel concerning Lilian[5] and then later on Biomax when she and "Mike" unexpectedly inserted themselves into Lena and Jack's date.[12] But interestingly, she has a monumental blind-spot towards people close to her life that inhibits Lena’s ability to discern deeper into such individuals beyond the realms of simple acquaintance out of respect to their personal privacy, seemingly until it’s too late - such as the lines of what both her adoptive mother and half-brother are willing to cross for their murderous self-interests, followed later by Rhea's and, of course, her long-termed ignorance that now not just one but two of her dearest friends and "sisters" (i.e. Kara and Samantha) are, in fact, super-powered aliens.[24]
During times of distress, or anything detrimental and either in or out of capitalism, Lena often exhibits, for as long as it isn't personal, the ability to remain oddly calm and perhaps even coldly calculating, allowing her to commit necessary acts with evident conviction and pragmatism, as seen when she shot Corben from behind while the latter was restraining Alex; she later repeated the act by shooting a Daxamite guard whom Mon-El was fighting against with the guard's very weapon, which Lena quite reservedly retrieved from where it fell to use on their captor. She did, however, showed some internal conflict when she set out to thwart Lillian's Medusa Virus plot, followed by reluctance to answer calls from Lillian whilst the latter was on trial (only deciding to respond and visit her in prison after Kara advised her so) and when it was revealed that her mother broke her out of incarceration (since Lena was in prison herself then) so she could use Lena to bypass the genetic lock securing Lex's weapons vault, had to condemn Jack to death in order to save Kara (as Supergirl) from the Biomax swarm.
Distrusted Rhea (despite developing a mother-daughter like bond with her) when she realized the Daxamite queen used her orchestrate the invasion of Planet Earth by her scattered species, how she initially coped in her dealings with Morgan Edge when the latter began to discredit and target her, and then later expressed insecurity in her by the presence of Reign, even whilst she had the Worldkiller into confinement, in Lena’s bid to quell Reign’s existence and thereby bring Samantha back - on account of the imprisoned Worldkiller gradually growing in power that Supergirl and Mon-El may not return in time with the Harun-El, leaving it up by Lena’s choice to decide if she must kill Reign (and Sam along with her) with an overdose of Kryptonite should the worst case arise.
As a side note, in alignment to her role as the CEO of a major tech corporation (and later also over an editorial conglomerate) Lena herself has shown some propensity towards technological advancement that this "geeky" aspect of herself can sometimes be perceived as contrasting to the usual image of serene and dignified professionalism she is known for that Lena appears to have no problem at all in identifying herself as a "nerd"[23] - easily fascinated with advanced pieces of science and technology, and how they can be adapted into beneficial practicality as seen with how she regarded Jack's Spheer's seeming perfection of his and Lena's Biomax nano-robotics, and later her eagerness to harness the power of Transmat portal tech after Rhea showed her the blueprints to such a portal, for purposes like infallible medical applications and unconstrained transportation, respectively, meaning that advanced alien technology draws her interest just as much as its state-of-the-art Earth counterpart.
However, the said fascination is only there for as long as the tech in question was implemented scrupulously and with good intent, since Lena went out of her way to enact a plan in quelling the threat of a criminal gang in possession of advanced alien weaponry, and then later with Beth Breen’s bid to have Biomax pretentiously available to the open public; both of those threats neutralized with more or less of Kara's help as Supergirl.
Ultimately, it is by those scrupled principles that Lena worked double-time to re-purpose her brother’s anti-Kryptonian atmosphere bomb to save National City, as well as the rest of the world, from the Daxamites who came through the large-scale Transmatter gateway that Rhea tricked her into building for people’s arrival to Earth, despite knowing that the bomb was originally designed as a determinant failsafe against Kryptonians residing on Earth - one of which happens to be a staunch ally of Lena and vice-versa.
This only shows that Lena practices an open-minded and pragmatically neutral view on the issue of technology and how it is exploited, seeing it inherently as neither truly good nor evil until used in the hands of such individuals; and even then, she is not above weaponizing such tech herself if it meant serving the greater good as seen when she reluctantly prepared a stock of artificially-made green Kryptonite, after James pleaded her to, and offered it for Supergirl's disposal against Reign, despite knowing that sharing nearly same weaknesses as the worldkiller would mean that Supergirl will also be put at risk should she actually resort to using that and how Lena's recently-attained ability to produce synthetic Kryptonite will probably puther under the frowning and distrustful gaze of the disguised Kara. This same supply of the substance - left in the D.E.O.'s storage area - would later prove itself crucial in the hands of Alex Danvers, who promptly equips it into her specialized combat suit in preparation of her confrontation with the Juru Kyrptonians. And together with Lena's genius, said technology being crafted or altered in her hands have often led to very decisive outcomes.
Unsurprisingly, because of Lena’s inclination for technologically-applicable forces and entities that can be scientifically understood, she also displays a degree of skepticism and scrutiny towards understanding the concept of so-called "magic" to the point of even openly doubting its existence.[1]
Lena is disgusted by the horrible acts committed by her half-brother and step-mother respectively, as she makes no attempt to defend her half-brother, Lex Luthor for his crimes, and doesn't blame Superman for his imprisonment, as she knows full well that the latter brought it on himself, but did attempt to reach out to Lex and reprimanded him; ultimately, she was forced to kill him, after realising that Lex was nothing more than an irredeemable monster. She was even disgusted by her step-mother, Lillian for her attempt to wipe out all alien life on Earth, as Lena had no qualms about turning her step-mother over to the authorities for her crimes. The reason why she never had a good relationship with Lillian, partly due to her adoptive mother always favored Lex over her and mainly because Lillian has always been cold to Lena, because she is a living reminder of Lionel's affair.
But in spite of her presented family's somewhat more questionable conducts, Lena's experience from childhood to early adulthood under their care and nurturing led to her becoming proud to be their ward, harboring a rare degree of respect for the family name uncommon to those outside of or even remotely close to, the said family.
In fact, this reverence to her foster name as a Luthor serves as one of Lena's primary and staunch motivations in committing herself to absolving the Luthor name after Lex besmirched it considerably in his campaign against Superman, such that she once reacted defensively when Supergirl revealed to her that Lillian was the head of Cadmus, despite the Girl of Steel having just saved Lena from Henshaw's assault (though given how Lena thwarted Lillian's release of Medusa later on, it was unknown if it had all been an act from the moment Kara, as Supergirl, informed Lena of Lillian's directives in leading Cadmus) and then again with Rhea when Lena realized that the Daxamite Queen withheld some details concerning her alien identity, out of caution because of Lena's adoptive family.
Despite her estranged relationships with her half-brother and adoptive mother, Lena at least had a good relationship with her father, Lionel Luthor (prior to his death) as he was always loving towards her and treated her warmly, Lena held her father in high esteem, so much that she became angry when her adoptive mother spoke ill of him, although she did not know Lionel was her biological father until she was an adult and years after her father passed away, after finding out that Lionel was her biological father, Lena showed no signs of anger or bitterness that he never told her the truth about their relationship. She initially also adored Lex, saying that her adoptive older brother (later confirmed to be Lena’s paternal half-brother) made her feel most accepted into the Luthor household, and proud to bear their family's name, from the time when she was but a total stranger brought in by Lionel into his home after Lena's mother died.
This amicable relationship between the siblings turned sour as they reached maturity, with Lex gradually becoming power-mad and obsessed with destroying Superman, supposedly under the persistent belief that accomplishing so would save Earth from the very threats, of extra-terrestrial nature, that the Kryptonian periodically defends it from due to Superman drawing them there; Lena repeatedly tried getting her brother to see reason, but to no avail.
The first-born Luthor's madness and irrationality progressed to the point that, as of adulthood and after being convicted with around three dozen consecutive sentences, Lex would orchestrate Lena's assassination from inside his containment in maximum security, using his global connections to hire John Corben for the deed, after hearing of his sister's declaration to rename LuthorCorp into L-Corp as the first step in purifying it from her brother's legacy and also to stand out on her own. At that point, upon realizing that Lex was willing to put a hit on her in order to preserve the "proper" Luthor Family legacy and his place in it, any sibling love between him and Lena became a thing in the past when the latter learned how far Lex would go to make ends meet.
With the assassination attempt on her life thwarted thanks to the intervention of Supergirl and the D.E.O. Lena hopes that her brother will not be able to repeat another such attempt, borderline confident that no other hitman would accept from Lex the job of targeting her, seeing that she was the one who personally shot the last assassin Lex sent after her, and relishes at the thought of Lex being mocked behind bars, by the prison guards and the inmates he was incarcerated together with, for his failure; and the fragile cordiality aside, Lena's worst but long-standing and (sadly) still active relationship within her family was no doubt with Lillian, who claims to have loved Lena, as much as Lex, in Lillian's own subtle way but also acknowledges that her son was her favorite (as Lena was Lionel's) and kindly stating to Lena that no parent loves their children equally as a whole.
In spite of that, Lillian has been known to visit Lena at L-Corp from time to time, trying to establish some even ground between herself and her adoptive daughter. When Lillian learned that Lena unexpectedly became friends with Supergirl, catching the latter two together once in Lena's office, her (twisted) protective motherly instincts kicked in; she saw the surprising friendship developing between Lena and Kara's alter-ego as no different to what was once between her son Lex and Superman — wherein one will eventually be reneged on and doomed by the other. Having already lost one child due to the Kryptonians, Lillian sets out to further enact Cadmus' future plans in her perceived attempt to "save" Lena.
Kidnapping Kara after Mon-El, Lillian made it very clear to the former that she did not want her anywhere near Lena, proceeding to threaten and put the two captive aliens under duress, culminating in Cadmus gaining access to the Medusa Virus. Luckily, Lena did not share her adoptive mother's anti-alien sentiments and enacted her own plan to save the aliens of National City from the Krypton-based pathogen, soon after Supergirl informed Lena of Lillian's plot, and called the authorities on Lillian at the end.
The fact that Lena could just shamelessly insert herself into Lillian's organization and then ultimately backstab her whilst within shows how little mother-daughter affection exists between the two of them (which will later contribute in Lena becoming very accepting towards Rhea over her better judgement); though it did not prevent the former from feeling some guilt at betraying Lillian the way she did, despite knowing that she did the right thing, such that it took some friendly advice from Kara before Lena visited Lillian in prison. Shortly after Metallo and Lillian's escape, the latter has Cyborg Superman successfully frame Lena for providing Metallo with the synthetic Kryptonite that energized him for the escape, getting Lena arrested by the NCPD and then later had her broken out by the empowered Corben. Sitting together in their getaway vehicle, Lillian tried to explain to her daughter that everything happening thus far was her way of showing a mother's love to Lena; and that getting through the biometric lock, accessible only by a Luthor such as Lena by means of her handprint, to Lex's weapons vault was an added bonus.
Ironically, this did not stop Lillian from leaving Lena at Lex's hideout just when Corben's Kryptonite heart was about to go critical (though she may not have been aware, choosing instead to disbelieve Supergirl's warnings) but on the other hand, it appears that Lillian knows better than to antagonize Lena directly, knowing full well how unwise it would be to underestimate her adopted daughter, whose own intellect is almost on par with her older brother's. Unfortunately for Lillian, Lena has not made it easy for the former due to Lena having chosen to take Kara and the D.E.O.'s side, and aiding them against Cadmus whenever she can, even coaching the (then-) reporter into posting, without full authorization from CatCo once, an online article against Project Cadmus[16], coming into an egregious conflict of interest time and again with her foster mother’s machinations.
Later when Cadmus agents set out to abduct every alien whose registered identities were on the D.E.O.'s alien registry, Lillian sent some henchman to forcibly stop Lena's investigation on the ties between Lillian and Luthor Corp, as such connections could lead to where the Cadmus-abducted aliens were being kept and thereby derail what the organization has in mind for them. However, while Lillian had in mind to halt Lena's progress, she showed restraint by specifically instructing her subordinates to not harm their target.
Lena would later be shocked at seeing Lillian working together with Supergirl and the D.E.O. to rescue both her and Mon-El from within Rhea's flagship; only to be disappointed when Lillian had Henshaw lock down the portal after the three of them went through, trapping the Daxamite prince and his Kryptonian girlfriend aboard the said vessel. Though grateful at being saved from the force marriage, Lena was furious at her mother for arranging to have the former’s alien allies left behind, realizing that this was what Lillian planned all along. Lillian defends her actions, insisting that Supergirl and Mon-El were still aliens, and the eradication of non-human sapient species from Earth was her organization's priority goal.
Lillian would later admit that her hatred for extra-terrestrials overshadows her own love for Lena, and then offers to renew their relationship by first driving away the Daxamites using a contraption that Lillian retrieved from Lex's arsenal.
Mellowing down, she states to Lena that with the Daxamites invading, Lex had the right mind to lead first into the offensive when he targeted Superman, but perhaps Lillian has supported the wrong child with Cadmus behind her and then offers to Lena the possibility of correcting her mistake of bringing the Daxamites to Earth by also becoming the one to cause them to flee from the planet; the device she brought to Lena was originally designed to force Kryptonians into leaving Earth. But given how Lena could get a large-scale transmatter portal working for the use of an entire invading alien armada, Lillian believes that Lena could alter the device so it would target the Daxamites instead. Though succeeding in that venture, Lillian would take credit with no mention of Lena to the public until later.
It should be noted that though Lillian had unshakeable faith in Lena's success, it was possible that she was just using her adoptive daughter (yet again) for something that Lillian could not achieve even with Cadmus at her side as she was quick to deploy the anti-Daxamite weapon after Winn and Lena completed it, only to be smugly told by her daughter that it was assembled and arranged so only Supergirl would have the means to activate it when the need arises, since the Kryptonian was engaged in a trial of combat with Rhea to determine the fate of Earth and humanity at that time.
Lena has proved to be very different from her family, however other individuals, such as Alex Danvers, Winn Schott, Eliza Danvers, Clark Kent, James Olsen and Snapper Carr (incorrectly) believe that she is secretly like any other Luthor, effectively making Kara one of the standing precious few with reserved judgement (though she, along with her cousin Clark, initially suspected that Lena was following along the path of her brother, when Alex informs them of Lena possibly committing terrorism, that they both discreetly scanned her office without her knowledge) and impartial enough to steadfastly give her friend the benefit of a doubt; which only solidified after she got to know the Luthor on a personal level that Kara has been known, time and again, to stand up in Lena’s defense over any allegation that her inner circle of family, friends and even other people might have or impose against Lena's character reminiscent to how Clark himself defended Lex from long prior to their near-legendary enmity, as likened by Jimmy. Kara, as Supergirl, even once firmly retorted to Mercy Graves, who was locked in combat with Lena and deriding the latter's place in the Luthor family at the time, that it was the Luthors who were unworthy to have someone like as moral as Lena to be part of the same family tree as them.
In fact, one could go so far to say that - with Cat Grant leaving National City - upon their first encounter, Lena has since became the "new Cat" in Kara's life who occasionally gives out sagely advice based on her own life's experiences, much like Cat did, that gradually molds and helps Kara in balancing her own life as both Kara Danvers and as Supergirl (and that was even before she bought CatCo, making her Kara’s boss there, with convenient irony, following Jimmy's transferred leadership in the wake of Grant’s departure). But even so, Lena herself does worry, especially after learning of her true biological relation to Lex, that she may become like him and Lillian one day.[3] And on the part of her adoptive mother, Lillian, in spite of the emotional distance between the two of them, rather thinks that Lena shows promise to make her proud as Lionel's true-blooded daughter, when Lena finally joins Cadmus in Lex and Lillian's bid to purge their world of Kryptonians and all manner of extra-terrestrial life staying therein[5], believing that Lena does hold that kind of darkness within her but has yet to give in; it is for that reason why Lillian determinedly refuses to let her adopted daughter know of the fact that Supergirl and Kara Danvers were the same person - invested in the belief that, factoring Lena's intelligence, she would discern Kara's secret eventually and will despise the Kryptonian for the in-plain-sight deception, trusting that the resulting fallout between Kara and Lena would be the right catalyst in turning the latter to Lillian's cause for good.[19]
Ironically enough, with some coaching temptation and unintentional influence from her estranged adoptive mother, Lena later acknowledges that she need not to fully accept her inner malevolence that naturally goes hand-in-hand with her vast erudition, both genetically afforded to her by her Luthor blood inheritance, in order to gain advantage from the latter, for there exists a sliver of balance in-between from where Lena can exploit the positives of both sides without losing herself to the malignant ruthlessness also found therein, in the process.[6] Lena showed her sympathetic and compassionate side when Sam was reduced to tears, thinking that her new role as Lena's acting CEO, in addition as L-Corp's CFO, was gradually causing her to miss out on her responsibilities as Ruby's mother; Lena kindly took note of this with a heart-to-heart and puts Sam's predicament into perspective by bringing up that she knows something about "worst mothers" and that Sam was nothing like Lena's own, who barely extended to Lena what was passable as "motherly love", because even though Sam couldn't be around her own daughter all the time as demanded of her by Sam’s work obligations, her affection for Ruby during their times together more than compensates for it.[23]
Lena would later extend the same sentiments to Sam's pre-adolescent daughter, Ruby, at a time when it seemed as though Sam was failing Ruby not just because of the former being a single working parent in Lena’s company, which finally prompts Lena to look deep into the Arias family matter - leading to the disturbing discovery of Lena discerning Sam's hidden alien nature as a Worldkiller, practically before anyone else close to them has.[13]
However, Lena is also sometimes emotionally vulnerable (or "mush", as Sam calls it) that, though affable and open to others in her own way, Lena's imposing family background and exploited channels of widespread connections has led her to become somewhat reticent and guarded to outsiders - which may even extend to those whose respect that Lena earned and them in reciprocation with hers, such as her business employees and associates, who likes her in turn if not for the professionalism of it. She even claims herself, before moving on to National City in taking over the family company and later Cat Grant's, as entirely stranger to the concept of friendship because of the Luthors' high standards when it comes to socializing outside of the family (which normally involves hiring a private investigator to profile and provide intensive and extensive information concerning said outsiders) and coming to National City was the turning point that turned Lena's underlying, segregated lifestyle for the better.
But unlike the rest of her family, she seems veritably able to give strangers the benefit of a doubt to permit them into personally getting to know Lena and vice-versa, and that was what led to both Samantha and Kara (both non-humans, without Lena knowing better, and also both of a handful from whom Lena would probably and plainly listen to in regards to outside perspective and advisory capacity) into Lena's inner circle of close relationships, whom Lena would ultimately admit as the reason how and why she can keep her darker impulses tethered and grounded within herself to prevent her from committing the morally-questionable[6]; not to mention Jack Spheer, whom she fell in love with before moving on from where he was at Metropolis (and to whom Lena nursed an aching spot ever since their breakup that she'd repeatedly sought Kara’s side-by-side support or friendly advise not long after Lena heard that Jack arrived in National City to showcase his latest medical breakthrough, with the possibility of reconciliation with Lena once all was said and done), and now James Olsen who, because of his past brushes with Lex, started out very defensive (and some would say even distrustful) in her presence and disposition even before Lena bought CatCo - officially making her everyone's superior there, Olsen included.
This trait of sometimes being unsure of or lacking confidence in herself, despite of Lena's achieved accomplishments, proved itself a weakness that Rhea exploited in order to get the portal constructed and completed. She becomes a mentor and almost a mother-figure to Lena by giving her pep talks, reassuring her that she is intelligent, that she can repair the portal, and that she believes in her. It is clear that Lena craves a mother-like relationship that she did not get from her step-mother Lillian.
Lena has also shown being able to accept due guilt should there even be a slightest hint of her own hand in its making and will try to alleviate those affected in any way she can, such as donating sizable sums to effect repairs on National City and when she meekly attempted several times to hang out with and provide solace to Kara in the time following the countered Daxamite invasion, rightly believing that the reporter was devastated by Mon-El's exile (so much that the Kryptonian immersed herself in serving the city as her heroic alter-ego to suppress her emotional pain) brought about by the piece of anti-alien tech that Lena herself deviated and entrusted to Supergirl and the D.E.O's disposal and when Morgan Edge succeeded in vilifying Lena for accidentally poisoning a good percentage of National City’s juveniles with lead from the anti-Daxamite bomb she rigged, Lena practically made no attempt to defend her actions in setting up the device, nor to re-direct the blame elsewhere (i.e. Supergirl, who ultimately made the decision to trigger the device against the Daxamites after Lena readied it for usage) and instead publicly announced her decision to step down from both CatCo and L-Corp so to uphold both companies' dignity for the community.
She would later be seen moping in a hopeless state, with none of the usual air of reserved self-confidence that Lena generally maintains, instead drunk and close to breaking down in tears after erroneously coming to the conclusion that all those children becoming afflicted were indeed on her account.
After Kara and Sam brought up to Lena that this wasn't the case, Lena went after Edge in his own office, armed with a gun and showing a truly reckless side of herself that was willing to ignore the typical constraints of morality and ethics if pushed to her moral limits for at that point, Lena was on her last straw such that she found justifiable what she intended to do upon Morgan under the premise of finally embracing the darker aspects of her foster family’s name. It took an airborne rescue from Supergirl and the two of them working together to stop another wave of lead-based outbreak upon National City - wherein Lena exhibited unquestionable altruism by imploring the disguised Kara into saving the entire city over Lena herself - to get Lena’s confidence and composure back on track.
Lena found out from Lex before he died, that Kara Danvers is Supergirl. Lena stooped into Lex's level when she killed him. Left upset and betrayed that she was lied to by the one she considered her best friend, although she was willing to celebrate victory with Kara and the rest of their friends, Lena would soon vent out her bitterness by cracking the picture of them together. Lena is about go into a dark path and that her mother and her brother did.
Despite Lena's hatred of Lex, she was still willing to help cure him of his cancer (despite the atrocities he committed) after discovering that she had figured out that he remotely cut off the backup power of the hospital during the power outage caused by Manchester Black, in order to force her sister to inject James with the Harun-El, in order to find out if it can be safely injected did non super-powered humans, she refused to Lex of his cancer, as you would allow him to die, unfortunately for her, someone had already injected Harun-El into him.
Initially, Lena was unable to bring herself to kill her half-brother, despite her hatred for him, however, after Lex had gotten out of control, she was forced to ruthlessly kill him, to prevent the latter from further harming anyone in the future.
Lena (initially) had a good relationship with Kara Danvers and by extension, her alter-ego, Supergirl, but after she discovered that the latter had violated her privacy, she had become (openly) cold and distant towards the kryptonian, despite their strain relationship, she was still willing to help clear Supergirl's name when copy of the kryptonian (Red Daughter) attack the White House.
Lena still had a good relationship with Kara (initially unaware that Kara/Supergirl are one-and-the same) however, after she shot Lex (before he succumbed to his wounds) he showed her a video recording of Kara using her kryptonian, he also revealed to her that Kara is Supergirl and that the kryptonian has been lying to her from the beginning, as she is left upset and betrayed that she was lied to and deceived by the one who she considered her best friend, although she was willing to celebrate victory with Kara and the rest of their friends, Lena would soon vent out her bitterness by cracking the picture of them together. This betrayal has likely led Lena to go down a dark path; similar to her step-mother and her half-brother respectively.
"I can't summon a breakthrough through sheer force of will."
"Then how is it that every time I've seen you work under pressure, you have done exactly that?"
—Lena and Alex[src]
Genius-level intellect/Great business acumen/Expert tactician/Leader: Lena is highly intelligent, a recognized hallmark quality of the Luthor family, able to often beat her prodigious older half-brother in chess in her toddler years. Later as an adult, her intelligence - which enabled her to impressively master several disciplines, academic and otherwise, to her own credit - was proven enough to be the CEO of L-Corp, overseeing it's daily activities and seeing to its successful rebirth as a legitimately legal multibillion-dollar corporation, ensuring that it would stay operational up to at least four centuries later on[35], as well as re-branding it as a force of good[2], and Rhea, the matriarch of an incredibly advanced alien civilization, would ultimately address Lena as an outstanding example of the human race not long after meeting her that she’d want to have her own son Mon-El father a child through Lena (and not necessarily through coital procreation).[19] She devised a wily trap for Chet Miner's criminal gang with Supergirl close at hand, for the "clean-up", should anything go wrong[14], clever enough to deceive Lillian Luthor feigning an allegiance to her in order to destroy their plot with the Medusa virus[5], astutely deduced where all the kidnapped National City-registered extra-terrestrials were being held[16], quickly thought up on the spot an effective strategy wherein she and Supergirl, side-by-side, took on both Beth Breen and the Biomax nanoswarm that Beth controls, later succeeding with a ploy in getting a confession from Morgan Edge to have him finally face legal justice (and using to her advantage her mother’s bid to kill Edge into instead intimidating him to admit, no less)[6] and eventually determining the unusual connections existing between her employee, Sam Arias, with the terrifying alien vigilante, Reign, whom Samantha erratically becomes against her will[13] to even going as far as secluding[27] and conducting (somewhat) humane experimentation[28] on a confined Sam with the aim of discerning a way to literally humanize the genetically-modified extra-terrestrial[29] and this paved the way for Lena mastering how to artificially reproduce certain substances of extra-terrestrial nature.[1][34] By the time of her late teens, Lena was already well-versed in nanotechnology and nano-robotics, working with Jack Spheer for the pre-cursor of Biomax.[12] During her and Mon-El's escape from their guards aboard the Daxamite flagship, Lena was able to impress the alien prince by bypassing a technologically-advanced alien security system's lock using a simple (but priceless) tiara, given to her for the forced wedding, as a makeshift lock-pick, practically deducing with a glance how the mechanism works.[19] And not long after purchasing CatCo, Lena would assign Samantha Arias as her acting CEO at L-Corp with the latter certainly proving herself capable of taking on the company challenges and satisfying Lena's expectations of her whilst working there at her stead, showing considerable aptitude in organizing, and handpicking from her present employees those most suited for the tasks delegated to them, on the part of Lena with Lena herself proving easily adaptable towards her new obligations at her overseeing of CatCo.[22] Lena has demonstrated commendable skill in statecraft and business negotiations, and managing of L-Corp's corporate-level business interests - having taken over and left in charge of the company, founded by her family, after the irredeemable acts conducted by her brother earned Lex his life sentence. She has proven herself quite adaptable in overseeing her company's disparate business procedures and intricate protocols in expenditures, revenues, inventory, human resources, utilities and so on. Her knack for choosing the right people, including herself, for the right job, and even motivating them to be at their best, was highlighted on her dealings and interactions with Sam Arias, whom she knew - from the instant the Lena first encountered her working by herself on the office of a company that LutherCorp was in the process of assimilating - would be a keen asset for her family's company.[13] And Sam would later go on to prove that the Luthor's given trust in and extended friendship to her was well-invested, ascending L-Corp's overall profitability to new heights and was even instrumental in helping clear Lena's name during the lead-poisoned children incident.[10]
Expert biologist: Upon realizing the irrefutable connection between Sam’s blackouts and the similarly-periodic times that align whenever the worldkiller Reign appears to commit her vigilante activities, Lena then took Arias into a secluded lab equipped with everything (i.e. containment systems and observation utilities, emergency medicals, etc.) needed to further diagnose Samantha's condition in hopes of finding a cure, or at least a means of suppression, for the side of her that is Reign. And it was from there where the Luthor was able to thoroughly perceive her employee's true extra-terrestrial nature, which was something that even the highly capable and medically proficient Alex Danvers - with all the means, contacts and resources at the D.E.O. agent’s disposal - failed to take notice of when Sam agreed to undergo the medical tests ran by Alex in her bid to discern what is wrong with her friend and the memory losses in lieu with the mental blackouts that Sam was having. This all implies a refined and more proficient aptitude in the field of genetics and bioengineering on the side of Lena herself.[28] And after obtaining some Harun-El, brought by Mon-el and Kara from Argo, Lena later succeeded in ridding Samantha of Reign from each other, though the Luthor failed to realize that the method used for that merely separated the two existences from each other rather than fully eliminated the worldkiller persona, like she hoped, as secretly orchestrated by Selena[32]and soon after worked out that Sam and Reign are still connected which was why, though the former was exhibiting Kryptonian attributes, Samantha was weakening on account of the latter remotely siphoning power from her former host in order for Reign to empower herself in preparation of terraforming planet Earth at the Juru's command.[34] From as early as in her toddler years, Lena displayed a promising strategic capacity evident by how she could checkmate Lex in a game of chess not long after he taught her the basics of the game.[3] As an adult, she retained this quality and used it effectively - in light of Lena's inheriting and renaming L-Corp - and could even employ it combatively since she was the prime reason for the downfall of Lillian's scheme to turn public opinion against Alien Amnesty, by providing two-bit crooks like Chet miner and his cohorts with sophisticated alien weaponry. Lena steps in after seeing that even Supergirl was helpless in countering these uncommonly-armed gang of criminals, paying a visit to Kara Danvers whom Lena has accurately determined is in contact with the Kryptonian super-heroine and then arranging for Danvers to arrange a meeting between Lena and the said Kryptonian so Lena could talk the latter into attending a charity event that she will be hosting, where she concealed a portable black body field generator intended to disable the criminal gang’s highly advanced weaponry - knowing that the one percenters also attending there would make the event too tempting a target for Chet and his accomplices to resist; and with overconfidence lent to them by the Cadmus-given implements at their disposal, not even Supergirl's presence there could deter them from looting the attendees as Lena anticipated, thereby setting the plot motive for Lena’s trap in motion with her ultimately using thieves' own sense of hubris against them that led to her instigated ploy coming into fruition.[14] She would later aid Supergirl and the D.E.O. in the repeated foiling of Project Cadmus schemes[5][16], along with those of Beth Breen's[12], Morgan Edge’s[6] and even the Kryptonian Juru faction’s[1], and their worldkillers, after Lena sets and narrows her sights on them. Able to cope with most situations, more so if she had time to prepare, Lena has been known to devise redeeming contingencies and measures for inconsistencies awaiting in the future.
Expert chemist: Lena has a great aptitude in the field of chemistry; for example, she was able to create a synthetic version of Green Kryptonite, that perfectly replicating the effects of that said kryptonite, however, Lena was also able to create an extremely stable synthetic kryptonite, a feat that even Lex Luthor, Maxwell Lord and Lillian Luthor respectively could not achieve, despite of all them being accomplished scientists in their own rights.
Expert of deception/Manipulator: Despite ultimately having a moral compass, Lena can be very deceptive to the point where people - for better or worse - would prevalently assume that she knows or intends less than what the well-rounded and accomplished Lena actually does, once effectively convincing Lillian that she was on her side; regarding her crusade to wipe out all alien life on the planet earth, only to reveal that she was setting up Lillian to get her arrested by the authorities and later succeeded in convincing Sam of her extra-terrestrial side's existence after Lena repeatedly provoked a violent response from her, triggering Reign and allowing her to get the evidence she needs.[28] She even pretended to be oblivious to the existence of the D.E.O.; until the time they brought her in concerning the worldkiller issue with Samantha.
Expert investigator: Easily one of the more perceptive and astute characters as seen in the series thus far, Lena has proven time and again able to pick up and thoroughly comprehend within mere seconds of observation what most others cannot - and with enough depth in that regard combined with her attained deductive and problem-solving prowess to hopefully come up with potent solutions in the midst of and response to obstructions and difficulties. Lena's scope in this covers a wide range, going from merely deducing the inner workings of a then-foreign technological mechanism, such as security devices[12][19] and even whole vehicles, to substantially figuring out argumentative trends and incriminating topics of discussion to determine both links and weak-points of validity that can be found therein and thereby turn an entire debate in her favor.[1] More often than not, she is capable of noticing details presented to her that, while seemingly minute or immaterial to people's general first glance, have turned out as anything but irrelevant in the end with Lena subsequently being the first to take note of after identifying hints and cues, no matter how blatant or miniscule, to discern any viable connections or emerging patterns, if there are any within a given structure of any nature. Indeed, this attribute has, on at least two occasions, proved instrumental in foiling her mother's schemes and oversight over her directed operations as the leader of Cadmus, when Lillian attempted to forcibly deport from Earth the legally-registered aliens that her faction successfully kidnapped[16], then tried to do "a favor" for Lena by targeting Morgan Edge[6] and even ultimately led to Lena as the first person, outside of the Juru, in discovering Samantha Arias’ secret alien nature as well as the latter's connection to the Kryptonian worldkiller, Reign, because of it after reviewing Sam’s series of memory loss-related disappearances in comparison with Reign's vigilante activities.[13] However, her observational skills seem to have their limits, particularly with people she holds most dear, since Lena wasn't able to tell that "Kara" was actually a shape-shifted J'onn at one time and had yet to unearth the connections between the actual Kara Danvers and Supergirl. However, as confirmed by Lex Luthor, Lena has always suspected that Kara and Supergirl are one-and-the same, but has been in complete denial; until he showed her a video recording of Kara using her kryptonian powers.[36]
Master scientist/Master engineer: Lena was able to construct a portable black body field generator that effectively disabled the Cadmus-supplied alien weaponry that Miner's gang used; though she needed finalizing assistance from Winn to render the device functional, since Lena was not certain if the pulse to be generated by the device would be properly sufficient to counter the extra-terrestrial armaments without seeing the weapons in person herself, hence the trap she sprang to lure Chet Miner's gang to her charity gala, indicating that her technological aptitude is far from absolute. Despite this, she was praised by Winn for her ingenuity; the D.E.O. had thought up of a similar approach, as Alex stated earlier to Maggie, but was enacted ahead by Lena proving that her technical expertise was not limited to mere state-of-the-art human technology,[14] and yet even Lena herself admits that, in the progressive wake of her taking over her brother's company and renaming it into L-Corp, Lex still outshines her in some aspects of brilliance. She would later head the successful large-scale construction of a Transmatter portal on Earth (though she was unaware that it was also drastically affecting Phorians on Earth, briefly causing the typically benign psychic species to react violently and lash out with their telekinetic powers) with a few helpful tips from Rhea, that allowed the Daxamites to invade the planet.[18] Perhaps her greatest engineering feat yet was when she re-purposed (once again, with Winn's help) the device originally made by her half-brother to imbue Earth's atmosphere with Kryptonite - strictly against Kryptonians — into dispersing lead instead, complete with a remote controller that she entrusted to Supergirl, which drove away the Daxamite invaders.[20] Much later, upon learning of Reign's existence within Sam and in the bid to expunge the former from the latter's self, Lena would devise effective contingency measures in keeping the powerful worldkiller contained using resources from her company by constructing a specially-designed and technologically-loaded enclosure that has proven resilient enough to even barricade against the likes of Reign[28] or Supergirl[29], for a definite amount of time. And in the wake of her clandestine research into Sam’s alien nature, Lena progressed in the artificial production of synthetic Kryptonite - which was something that not even Maxwell Lord or Cadmus were able to accomplish in their own respective attempts, since the synthetically produced substance, by Lena’s own design, was undeniably flawless by comparison and proved itself indispensible in helping keep Samantha's worldkiller persona neutralized, whenever Reign (from prior to acquiring and fully manifesting Pestilence's power essence) threatens to emerge, through forced administration and incapacitation. Arguably, this recently acquired knowledge may well make Lena as the literally greatest human threat to all Kryptonians in general,[1] and after learning of the role that Harun-El serves in maintaining Argo City's fragile existence, Supergirl went out of her way in making a humble request to Lena if the latter can also artificially duplicate the said Kryptonian mineral the way she did with green kryptonite, having come to believe that it was well within the Luthor's scientific expertise to do so and that Argo's thriving denizens would be most benefitted should the Luthor succeeds in that. Taking on the requested task, Lena would later succeed in the endeavor, personally handing to Alura a sealed case containing a synthetic sample of Harun-El, along with the formula derived from the original substance, to bring back to Argo.[34]
Expert pilot: Despite considering herself as not strictly a fan of aerial transportation, and typically preferring to have someone hired to pilot for her when traveling in this manner, Lena seems familiar with the ins and outs of such a mode in transport. Not just in the actual piloting, but also in other utilities that can be found featured by such a craft, such as a moving airborne communication. Later, she instinctively demonstrates the ability to effectively and seamlessly pilot a highly advanced 31st alien vessel from the future, for the very first time, after taking over the ship’s controls - impressing Brainy with her level of intuition and conceiving grasp to pilot even non-human and expansive interstellar vehicles, like the Legion's, with little to no assisting aid.[1]
Computer specialist/Expert computer hacker: Lena was able to override the Biomax nanobot swarm, after accessing Spheerical Industries mainframe from Jack's lab, in time to save Kara from being consumed by the said swarm. This hints great aptitude in the field of computer programming, possibly on par with Winn Schott and Felicity Smoak's, having spent years with Jack trying to perfect the nanobots' operational programs to guide their functions and coming pretty close to solving it together had the two of them not broke up and parted ways.[12]
Skilled hand-to-hand combatant: Though mostly "unpolished", Lena has some aptitude in hand-to-hand combat, when she traded blows with Beth Breen, a self-proclaimed black belt, and was resilient enough to take one of Beth's kicks to the gut before retaliating herself and knocking Beth down twice.[12] However, she was no match against combatants such as Alex and Mercy Graves' level; both of whom fought each other briefly to a stalemate at Camp David but, against Lena, the latter clearly having the upper hand with Lena barely able to defend herself when she and Mercy confronted each other at L-Corp - both equipped with opposing modified gauntlets of Lillian's dismantled Lexosuit - and with the narrow skirmish only ending due to Supergirl's timely intervention. It was later implied that Mercy may have had a hand moderately training Lena in melee combat, which explains her monumental advantage over the Luthor in that regard. Later on Lena's combat skills (seemingly) have improved as she easily disarmed and knocked Eve unconscious before the latter could fire at her; however, it should be noted that she simply caught Eve off-guard.
Skilled markswoman: Lena is quite proficient in the use of firearms, human-made or otherwise, as she proves by gunning down John Corben[2] and later a Daxamite with the latter's own weapon.[19]
Skilled blade welder: Lena was able to fend off Eve for some time with using a baton that had a sharp edge.
Skilled medic: Though she was never explicitly stated to have an M.D. or doctorate, Lena demonstrated satisfactory resourcefulness and sufficient knowledge in the medical field when she inducted Samantha into clandestine monitoring[27] and exclusive research in Lena’s quest to determine her suspicions of Samantha’s true nature and also to hopefully cure her employee from thereof.[28][29]
Sharp edged baton: Lena carries a baton that expands and keeps it hidden on her shoe
Taser: Lena was able to briefly fend off two Cadmus agents with a taser.
"The Adventures of Supergirl"
"Welcome to Earth"
"Survivors"
"Crossfire"
"The Darkest Place" (mentioned)
"Medusa"
"Luthors"
"Ace Reporter"
"Alex"
"City of Lost Children"
"Resist"
"Nevertheless, She Persisted"
"Girl of Steel"
"Triggers"
"The Faithful"
"Damage"
"Reign"
"Legion of Super-Heroes"
"Fort Rozz"
"For Good"
"Both Sides Now"
"Schott Through the Heart"
"In Search of Lost Time"
"Of Two Minds"
"Trinity"
"Shelter from the Storm"
"The Fanatical"
"Dark Side of the Moon"
"Not Kansas"
"Make it Reign"
"Battles Lost and Won"
"American Alien"
"Fallout"
"Man of Steel"
"Ahimsa"
"Parasite Lost"
"Call to Action"
"Rather the Fallen Angel"
"Bunker Hill" (mentioned)
"Suspicious Minds"
"Blood Memory"
"Menagerie"
"What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?"
"Stand and Deliver"
"O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
"The House of L"
"All About Eve"
"Crime and Punishment"
"American Dreamer"
"Will The Real Miss Tessmacher Please Stand Up?"
"Red Dawn"
"The Quest for Peace"
This version of Lena Luthor is (initially) legally Lex's adoptive sister instead of his biological sister. This is the second instance the two siblings appear to share only one parent, with the first one being the TV show, Smallville, though on which Lena (Tess Mercer) is never adopted by the Luthors (although in an alternate reality, Tess was kept by Lionel Luthor but he was extremely abusive to her).
Lena wearing a National City University sweatshirt.
Lena was revealed to own a sweatshirt from National City University in "Damage", indicating she may have attended the school at some point.
At the start of Season 2, Lena is 23 years old and thus three years younger than Kara Danvers on the physical level.
Lena mentioned she is not fond of flying, even though it is statistically the safest way to travel.[2]
She takes her coffee black.[22]
She hates salmon.[22]
Lena is fond of scotch,[24] but dislikes tequila.[23]
Lena dislikes fliers and leaflets, proclaiming them to be "a waste of trees and of our time".[23]
She loves Big Belly Burger.[8]
Lena, Alex Danvers, Maxwell Lord, Lillian Luthor, and Eve Teschmacher are so far the only humans known to be able to create Kryptonite.
However, Alex is only able to create Blue Kryptonite, Max was only able to create Red Kryptonite, Lillian is only able to create Green Kryptonite, Lena is only able to create Green Kryptonite and Harun-El, and Eve is only able to create Harun-El.
In "Rather the Fallen Angel", it's heavily implied that Lena's middle name, Kieran, was her original surname before being taken in by the Luthor family.
It's also implied in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" that she is of Irish descent.
Lena Luthor first appeared in Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #23 (February 1961) and was created by Jerry Siegel and Kurt Schaffenberger. She usually appears as Lex Luthor's younger, and in some versions estranged or foster, sister.
Not to be confused with the character of the same name, who is Lex's daughter with his eighth or ninth wife and is named after her aunt, the original Lena.
Supergirl marks Lena's third live action television appearance; previously appearing in Superboy, and most notably, Smallville (although in Smallville the character was initially introduced under the name Tess Mercer in the show's eighth season, with her true identity not being revealed until the tenth season as Lutessa Lena Luthor).
↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Trinity"
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 "The Adventures of Supergirl"
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Luthors"
↑ "Rather the Fallen Angel"
↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 "Medusa"
↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 "For Good"
↑ 7.0 7.1 "Survivors"
↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Fallout"
↑ 9.0 9.1 "Welcome to Earth"
↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "Damage"
↑ 11.0 11.1 "Alex"
↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 "Ace Reporter"
↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 "Both Sides Now"
↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "Crossfire"
↑ "The Darkest Place"
↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 "Exodus"
↑ "Man of Steel"
↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 "City of Lost Children"
↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7 "Resist"
↑ 20.0 20.1 "Nevertheless, She Persisted"
↑ 21.0 21.1 "Girl of Steel"
↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 "Triggers"
↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 "The Faithful"
↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Reign"
↑ "Legion of Super-Heroes"
↑ "Fort Rozz"
↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 "Schott Through the Heart"
↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 "In Search of Lost Time"
↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 "Of Two Minds"
↑ "Shelter from the Storm"
↑ "The Fanatical"
↑ 32.0 32.1 "Not Kansas"
↑ "Make it Reign"
↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 "Battles Lost and Won"
↑ "Wake Up"
↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named The_Quest_for_Peace
Retrieved from "https://arrow.fandom.com/wiki/Lena_Luthor?oldid=521485"
Page parameter
Characters from Earth-38
2 Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Five
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7372
|
__label__wiki
| 0.905714
| 0.905714
|
South Bay History: Gardena’s Vermont Drive-In Theatre becomes the South Bay’s last drive-in
Daily Breeze
The Vermont Drive-In Theatre in Gardena began as a new, innovative entertainment venue — and ended as the last of a dying breed. Sam Gnerre
The Pacific Theatres chain started building drive-in theaters after World War II, and the Vermont was the company’s fifth such outdoor theater in the Los Angeles area.
"Snow White Mural Feature at Los Angeles Drive-in,"
South Bay History: Auto racing legend Parnelli Jones has deep South Bay roots
Rufus Parnell “Parnelli” Jones competed in and won all types of auto races in all types of cars during his racing days, and the businesses he started in Torrance led to a...
Daily Breeze 2020-01-06
South Bay History: Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears began their annual New Year’s Day dips in 1953
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club in New York City gets the credit in America as the oldest organized ritual of swimming in cold winter waters to start the New Year, having...
Out & About: Things to do in the South Bay Jan. 12-16
Jan. 12 Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay: Featuring pianist Claire Huangci, Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. 6:45 p.m. $62. 310-544-0403,...
The Last Picture Show: Southern California’s Most Beautiful Movie Theater Closes
When Avalon Theatre opened on Wednesday, May 29, 1929, as part of chewing-gum tycoon William Wrigley Jr.’s Catalina Casino, the festivities — which included marching bands...
LA Weekly 2020-01-08
Asiatimes
Cryptopolitan
Jan. 10 Launching the Future: Presented by Lianne and Friends, featuring Lee W. Rosen, SpaceX’s vice president of customer operation and integration, Fred Hesse Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes. 4 p.m. 310-541-8477, lianne_lareine@hotmail.com. Managing Cancer with Therapeutic Metabolic Nutrition: Led by Jeanne Peters, Nutrition Director of the...
Braving San Pedro’s winter temperatures, crowds return for the annual Polar Bear Swim
Participants are seen after the 68th annual Cabrillo Beach Polar Bear New Year’s Day Swim on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia, Contributing Photographer) Penny Orderlin, 3, runs to shore as her mother Erin Oderlin stands behind during the 68th annual Cabrillo Beach Polar Bear New Year’s Day Swim on Wednesday, January 1, 2020. (Photo by Ana P. Garcia,...
Jan. 17 Hollywood U2/Atomic Blonde: Sainte Rocke, 142 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach. 8 p.m. $13. 310-372-0035. Pick of the Vine: Little Fish Theatre, 777 Centre St., San Pedro. 8 p.m. Also 8 p.m. Jan. 18. $26-$28. 310-512-6030. The Giver: Directed by Harold Dershimer, Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester. 8 p.m. Also 8 p.m. Jan. 18 and 2 p.m. Jan. 19....
Man pleads no contest, gets 31 years in prison for 2017 Gardena murder
A 34-year-old man was sentenced to 31 years in state prison for gunning down a father-to-be in Gardena in 2017, authorities said. Jason D’Shaun Franklin was immediately sentenced after pleading no contest to one count of voluntary manslaughter in Torrance Superior Court on Monday, Dec. 30, said Ricardo Santiago, spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office....
Out & About: Things to do in the South Bay Jan. 5-9
Jan. 5 Guitar Shorty/ Triple Banger: Saint Rocke, 142 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach. 8 p.m. $15. 310-372-0035. Meaningful Conversation Series: “Unity vs. Uniformity” presented by Baha’is of Rancho Palos Verdes, Peninsula Center Library conference room, 701 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates. 2-4 p.m. Free. angiesabet@hotmail.com. Rose Pruning Demonstration:...
CJ 4DPLEX Successfully Launches the Future of Cinema at CES 2020
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CJ 4DPLEX, the world's leading cinema technology company, successfully debuted at CES 2020 - The Global Stage for Innovation - proving the changing trend of cinema-going from simply 'watching' to 'experiencing.' At the event, the company presented its latest '4DX Screen' Cinema, an innovative theatre format with an integrated screening...
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7374
|
__label__cc
| 0.568043
| 0.431957
|
Bing’s Navy Blazer in High Society
Bing Crosby as C.K. Dexter Haven in High Society (1956)
Bing Crosby as C.K. Dexter Haven, jazz musician
Newport, Rhode Island, Summer 1956
Film: High Society
Director: Charles Walters
Costume Designer: Helen Rose
Happy St. Valentine’s Day! This year’s theme for the #WeekOfWeddings seems to be impromptu nuptials that find our cheeky protagonists thrust into taking the vows without a chance to don traditional wedding attire. Today, we’re following a mischievous summer weekend among the socialites of Newport, Rhode Island, in High Society, the musical remake of The Philadelphia Story.
High Society recasts The Philadelphia Story‘s leading gents Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart with the more musically inclined Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, respectively, though it’s interesting to note that Crosby is actually a few months older than Grant, making this surely one of the few times in movie history that a remake actually featured a performer older than his or her predecessor!
Katharine Hepburn’s role was recast with Grace Kelly, establishing High Society as the actress’ final film role before her retirement at the age of 26 upon marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco. In the spirit of marriage, Kelly wore her actual Cartier engagement ring from Rainier on screen.
Other than his tuxedo, Bing Crosby’s primary wardrobe as C.K. Dexter Haven in High Society consists solely of blazers and spectator shoes, a signature look for the moneyed man of leisure in the 1950s.
Dexter’s first blazer is a navy hopsack wool (or wool-and-mohair blend) single-breasted jacket with notch lapels that roll to a two-button stance, with the buttoning point placed perfectly at the natural waist to meet the top of the trousers. Both the front buttons and the three smaller buttons on the cuffs of each sleeve are smooth gold-toned shank buttons.
The blazer has a single back vent, jetted hip pockets, and a squared patch breast pocket adorned with a shield-shaped stitched crest. The crest appears to be illustrated with a black-and-white horse on a light blue ground with a blue trim that just slightly contrasts against the darker navy of the blazer’s wool jacketing.
Does anyone know the provenance of the crest of Bing’s summer blazer?
Like many other actors of the era, Bing Crosby was known to have worn his own clothing in his films, so it’s possible that this blazer carries the crest of one of the at least 75 golf clubs to which he was a member, although the appearance of a horse (or a horse-like shape) may signify the possibility of a riding club.
Dexter’s first appearance finds him totally in leisure, smoking his pipe while enjoying the sounds of Louis Armstrong’s band. He wears a cotton open-neck shirt in a light blue and white mini-gingham check with a long point collar and button cuffs.
As in White Christmas two years earlier, Bing sports what is likely his personal timepiece, a gold wristwatch on a curved brown tooled leather strap… worn with the face on the inside of his wrist.
The next time we see Bing in this blazer, he’s wearing it with a plain white shirt, similarly styled with a long-pointed semi-spread collar, single-button rounded cuffs, and a plain front. He has also added a white pocket square, neatly folded into the breast pocket of his blazer for an added touch of formality that will come in handy for his impromptu wedding.
The happy couple?
Luckily for Dexter, this white shirt and pocket square adds a higher touch of formality to the outfit than his gingham shirt the previous day, making it far more easy for him to don Mike Connor’s repp tie and look decent enough to impulsively marry his ex-wife Tracy (Grace Kelly).
As the exuberant Spy Magazine reporter Mike Connor, Frank Sinatra wore a sharp dark navy suit with a blue-on-navy striped tie that he was all too happy to lend to Dexter. The tie’s blue “downhill” diagonal stripes are spaced about an inch apart, alternating in width over the navy ground.
Between his hastily borrowed tie and wedding to Tracy, C.K. Dexter Haven was tying more than a few knots.
Perhaps I’m partial to this outfit because Bing pairs his blazer with gray trousers, my personal preference, rather than khakis. The blazer’s first appearance, with the open-neck gingham shirt, finds it paired with light blue-gray pleated trousers. Later, when wearing a white shirt and striped tie for his re-marriage to Tracy, he sports a pair of darker gray flannel trousers.
Both pairs of gray trousers are pleated with turn-ups (cuffs). He always wears his blazer buttoned, concealing the trouser waistband.
Bing in mid-croon, sporting his navy blazer, open-neck gingham shirt, and light blue-gray trousers.
Dexter wears brown-and-white spectator oxfords, and his caddish personality corresponds to this footwear’s original “correspondent shoe” connotations as they were evidently favored by men described as “correspondents” in British divorce cases.
These particular shoes have dark chestnut brown leather medallion toe cap, heel cap, and lace panels with a white leather vamp. They appear to be full brogues but with straight toe caps rather than the wingtips commonly associated with full brouging. He wears them with charcoal gray cotton lisle socks.
Despite his snappy shoes, Dexter’s charm initially fails to recapture Tracy’s attention.
To see how Cary Grant’s C.K. Dexter Haven dressed for a day of leisure that turned into his wedding day, check out his collarless jacket in The Philadelphia Story.
What to Imbibe
After a particularly rough pre-wedding night, Tracy Samantha Lord (Grace Kelly) is prescribed a hair of the dog recovery by her ex, C.K. Dexter Haven (Bing Crosby):
…the juice of a few fresh flowers called a Stinger. Removes the sting.
The 1950s may have been the high point of the Stinger’s popularity, appearing not only in High Society (1956) but also In a Lonely Place (1951), Patricia Highsmith’s romance novel The Price of Salt (1952), Ian Fleming’s 007 novel Diamonds are Forever (1956), and Cary Grant’s beleaguered character in Kiss Them for Me (1957)… to name a few.
The Stinger is one of many classic cocktails that all but disappeared from the American mixology scene around the 1970s. It traces its origins to, appropriately enough, the “high society” elite of Edwardian era New York City when it was considered a post-prandial digestif rather than a cocktail.
A century later, the Stinger seems to have eluded the renewed interest in classic cocktails that revived the Manhattan and Old Fashioned on the menus of hip watering holes, though it was a staple of mid-century pop culture with references to the drink appearing in novels like Diamonds are Forever, The Price of Salt, and The Spy Who Came in From the Cold as well as films including The Bishop’s Wife, In a Lonely Place, The Apartment, and the original cinematic version of this tale, The Philadelphia Story. A mention in Mad Men‘s first season failed to revive the drink to the same extent as Don Draper’s preferred Old Fashioned, and your best bet for a Stinger these days would be to make your own… so let’s explore that!
All you need for a Stinger is two central ingredients: brandy and white crème de menthe. (Green crème de menthe works in a pinch for the same taste, but it will look rather muddy… and you don’t want to be the sort of person who would offer a glass of mud to Grace Kelly, do you? Ray Milland, on the other hand…)
Ratios differ by taste palettes, of course, but common practice is a 3-to-1 ratio of cognac to crème de menthe, poured together in a mixing glass filled with ice, stirred, and strained into a chilled cocktail glass or a rocks glass over ice; the latter became a more popular practice following Prohibition when drinkers were approaching the Stinger as a traditional cocktail rather than a strictly after-dinner drink.
Bing Crosby as Grace Kelly tie the knot in High Society (1956)
Bing follows a traditional template for classy yet dressed-down leisure attire… as well as proving the outfit’s versatility when he is pulled into a more formal situation with no time or opportunity to change.
Navy blue hopsack wool/mohair single-breasted 2-button blazer with crest-embellished patch breast pocket, straight jetted hip pockets, 3-button cuffs, and single back vent
White or light blue gingham cotton shirt with long-pointed collar, plain front, and 1-button rounded cuffs
Gray flannel pleated trousers with side pockets and turn-ups/cuffs
Dark brown-and-white leather spectator oxford brogues with medallion toe-cap
Charcoal gray cotton lisle socks
Gold round-cased wristwatch with white dial on curved brown tooled leather strap (with a gold single-prong buckle)
If there’s no charming Sinatra-type around to lend you his tie in a flash, you can check out the classic repp ties from Brooks Brothers… particularly this BB#3 Rep Slim Tie in navy and light blue. Look familiar?
Written by luckystrike721 Posted in Sport Coat & Slacks Tagged with 1950s, Bing Crosby, Blue/Navy Blazers and Odd Jackets, C.K. Dexter Haven, High Society, Musician, New England, Rhode Island, Spectator Shoes, Sport Coat & Slacks, Summer, Wedding, Wedding Groom, White Shirt
February 14, 2018 - 2:53 pm VR
Fabulous movie, I re-watched it just a few weeks ago.
Loved the costumes, songs, settings and dialogue.
February 18, 2018 - 8:05 am Mark Gibson
In the 1983 thriller GORKY PARK, Moscow cop Renko visits New York and insists on being served a Stinger. The cop escorting him laughs and says that a Stinger is a hooker’s drink. Charming! Bing looks perfectly at home at this grand estate in what would have been very casual attire by ’50’s standards. But it is simple, elegant and tasteful. He’s trying to wreck Tracy’s wedding so I guess the correspondent shoes are appropriate. No idea what the crest means but C.K. is a nautical man so I’d favour a yacht club insignia.
Steve Martin’s Gray Plaid Jacket in My Blue Heaven
Cottonmouth’s Gray Wool-Silk Suit on Luke Cage
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7385
|
__label__cc
| 0.730864
| 0.269136
|
Pricing/Membership
ISUSU · Pan-African Festival · Grand Opening
Exerzierstr. 14, 13357 Berlin
Admission is free - donations are encouraged
** This event is part of ISUSU Pan-African Festival 2019 · Black to the Future **
► Festival Grand Opening
Vernissage, Poetry, Fashion Show & Live Music
FRI, Aug 16th, 2019
Start: 19:30 h
‘ISUSU’ means ‘us’ in Shona. This festival aims to bring us together as Africans* (diaspora) to celebrate ourselves while shedding lights on an intersectional, sustainable and queer Africa. ✨
To launch our first edition of ISUSU Pan African festival, we start the ignition with an Afrofuturistic weekender. Expect cinematically-charged music, visual art, performances, Afrofuturistic and Afropresent short films, an open celebration of fashion as a medium for storytelling and a heart-warming African pop-up brunch. On our trip to black the future, we will also host workshops by keynote speakers. ✨
✨ · ABOUT THE GRAND OPENING ·
Come and enjoy art, music and spoken word while sipping on some complementary Sekt. be’kech will host four exceptional visual artists whose work will be exhibited all throughout the festival. Expect a ground-shaking performance from Thierno Diallo where he will tell a story connected to the color material indigo and the west African cotton, while introducing WearFula‘s traditionally handcrafted fabrics. In addition, we are proud to welcome and showcase the works of Tewa Barnosa & M. Tidou – Photographer. With afro-networking at its core, we will also showcase spoken word artists and music performances by talents such as Amora Bosco, Shannon Sea, Trovania and DJ Chabela. ✨
*Scroll down for participant bios and for more information on the schedule, donations and accessibility of be’kech. Looking forward to welcoming you all!*
► FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY
· Shannon Sea Music ·
Shannon Sea is an American composer, sound artist, and writer, based in New York and Berlin. Her classical compositions are deeply influenced by the avant-garde aesthetic and her Afro-Caribbean roots; and she seeks to create sound worlds that fuse together acoustic and electronic means of expression. She releases her debut composition, “Elisa’s Theme,” this fall.
· TRVΛNIΛ’s Ink ·
T R V Λ N I Λ is a multilingual haitian poet, performer and social worker, currently based in Berlin. Her connection to writing helps her give a voice to her inner-chaos, reflect on the societies in which she finds herself by navigating and playing with ideas of identity, vulnerability and sexuality. She is also a co-founder of Poet & Prophetess , a Berlin-London based collective seeking to promote and create a platform for writers/artists of color.
· DJ Chabela ·
Abidjan-based Chabela (real name Isabelle Guipro) is the powerhouse behind the rising electronic music scene in Côte d’Ivoire. Her mission-resembling passion for mixing African traditional repertoire with House and Deep House has led her to DJ from the main electronic music events in West Africa,
to underground festivals in Europe. As a promoter, she is known in the country for increasing the army of fine electronic music lovers through the creation of various concept-based events.
· Amora Bosco ·
Amora Bosco is a spoken word Performer and Life Skills Facilitator based in Berlin, Germany. Her mission is to bring about positive change in the lives of African and African diasporic women in Europe, dealing with issues like social justice, health and education by means of performance poetry. She is giving underprivileged Black women a voice so their problems become known. She is creating a safe space for them in order to talk freely and openly. She teaches young Black girls how to relate to one another and creates dynamic opportunities for them to live up to their full potential. Amora is the pioneer of Poetry_lab a creative writing mentoring Program Growing up in Mombasa’s thriving hip hop scene Bosco performed, recorded music, and cofounded an artist network and event management organisation focused on promoting Kenyan hip hop acts. Bosco facilitates Workshops on a range of topics.
· Thierno Diallo with WearFula ·
Thierno was born in Conakry, Guinea and raised in Villingen, South Germany. He studied Architecture and urban Planning in Stuttgart, and travelled to 12 countries in Africa while working as architect. He also founded WearFula, a Start Up that aims to maintain African culture by combining handcrafted traditional fabrics and pattern with a modern twist. These African fabrics represent an alternative to the colonial waxprint. WearFula fabrics are part of a long-standing tradition based around myths of the Fula people, therefore wearing it requires more than love for fashion – it requires attitude.
Every WearFula client takes part in the creating process by choosing their style, material and design according to their fitted size. The unique pieces are created in a sustainable manner through tailored fashion and original material out of 100% organic cotton. WearFula engages with young African tailors only as the aim to create a platform that enables African newcomers to show off their skills and roots. WearFula‘s goal is to bridge the gap between culture, identity, politics and even architecture.
► FEATURING VISUAL ART BY ✨
· Tewa Barnosa · Variant Space
Barnosa’s work is focused on the use of Tifinagh alphabet, the original language of North African countries, The language is widely used in Morocco, Algeria, and Libya, also in some villages in Tunis and Egypt. However, the Tamazight race and culture was denied in the Libyan social fabric until the revolution of 2011, the tamazight roots in Libya spreads over the cost, the nafusa mountains and the desert. Barnosa used this poem by the Libyan poet Saied Sifaw who was assassinated by the former regime, spoke out and wrote about the struggle of identity and belonging, and how the leaders want to obress it and deny its existence.
· M. Tidou – Photographer
Médine is a French-Ivorian photographer based in Berlin. She started photography eight years ago with a Canon Powershot holding on to the saying that “The camera doesn’t make the photographer”. Scanning the photographs of her heroes Henry-Cartier Bresson, Diane Arbus, Josef Koudelka, Médine learnt to sense moments few seconds ahead.
· Selflovetribute ·
Selflovetribute is an African/French Queerfeminist visual and audio artist based in Berlin. Her work primarily focuses on portraiture, performance, and documentation through which Self Love Tribute explores the varying nuances of intersectional identity, gender, intimacy and vulnerability within womxn, communities of color, LGBTQIA+ communities and especially the intersectionality of those.
► DONATIONS ✨
This event is free to attend and open to all – donations are strongly recommended, as all proceeds will be going towards the artists.
LOCATION ·
be’kech [anticafé · coworking space · bar] Exerzierstr. 14
13357 Berlin- Wedding
(U8 + U9/ Pankstr., Osloer Str.)
· HOUSE RULES ·
We have no place for sexism, queerphobia, transphobia, any form of racism or discrimination such as anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish racism, and any sort of violent or aggressive behaviour. be’kech is a safe space for all, an open forum for dialogue, criticism and a place where we stand up for each other. If someone/something is bothering you, please approach a member of staff who are here to help!
· ACCESSIBILITY ·
There are three steps to enter be’kech and the bathrooms are on the lower level. Regrettably, the bathrooms are inaccessible for wheelchair users due to the design of the building.
Whilst the bathrooms are gendered by law, we encourage guests to use whichever facilities they identify with. Bathroom policing will not be tolerated.
· LINKS ·
selflovetribute.com
m-tidou.com
variantspace.com
trovaniasink.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Clothing-Store/WearFula-353700595301287/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/AmoraPoetryLab/about/?ref=page_internal
✏ For media and press inquiries, please contact us at hello@bekech.com (DE/EN/FR)
Copyright © 2017 be'kech. All rights reserved.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkDatenschutz
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7388
|
__label__cc
| 0.698299
| 0.301701
|
Bionutrient Food Association
Bionutrient Rich Food
Bionutrient Rich Food & Health
Basic Protocols
Soil Fertility Principles
Amendment Principles
Amendment Suppliers
Soil Tests
Agronomy Consulting
Real Food Campaign
Bionutrient Meter
Nutrient Variation in Our Food Supply
Soil & Nutrition Conference
Chapter Handbook
Soil & Nutrition Conference Archive
Documents & Sundry
Empirical Nutrient Testing
I've been waiting a decade to write this column. I'm always squeamish about touting something too early. Like friend and fellow pastured poultry enthusiast Andy Lee always said: “I don't want to hear ‘I'm gonna;’ I want to hear ‘I did.’”
How many times have businesses or well-spoken visionaries described "gonna" and everything falls off the rails before it happens? Or it runs out of steam or out of money or the concept doesn't work. The point is I'm pretty conservative about making announcements too early, so I've sat on this one almost to the point of embarrassment but it was worth the wait. Do I have your attention now? Good.
More than 10 years ago a bright-eyed visionary youngster named Dan Kittredge button-holed me at a conference and told me his plan. Well bred, his parents edit and produce the New England Organic Farmers' Association newsletter. He grew up around organics, foodies, and local food branding and marketing. Over the years he became more and more distrustful of the federal government's organic certification program as a final answer to authentic food. While not perhaps a naysayer of the federal organic program like I am, he saw the minimalist thresholds as being nutritionally weak. The program asks for no lab analysis of nutritional quality. The testing that has been done comparing pastured to organic in eggs, poultry, and livestock consistently shows superiority in the pastured sphere.
I remember as the grass-finished beef movement gained steam Allan Nation predicting that some day there would be independent tastings and certification programs for our product just like exists for wine. Allan equated grass-finished beef with the wine industry. I'm not sure the awards programs and independent standards of excellence have played out like Allan envisioned, but I do know that variability is the bane of our industry. That was an issue Allan harped on and I felt the sting of it more than once because I knew our own variability was an Achilles heel.
Those of us well-versed in the grass-finished beef movement love Fred Provenza's contributions to our understanding of taste and nutrition. Canadian Mark Schatzker brings complementary taste and nutrition connections to the table. When you add in the work of our favorite tasty beef guru, Anibal Pordomingo, and our Gearld Fry protegee, Allan Williams, we have an all star cast offering science, intuition, history, and messaging to identify critical factors in well-produced grass-finished beef.
The result is a hodge-podge of production protocols. In general, the best grass-finished beef according to foodie awards comes out of the arid Northern states like Idaho and Wyoming. As much as anything, that's probably a result of highly mineralized soil and generally dry (not washy) forages. Perhaps even temperatures that create more stress- free days than other areas.
For those of us who don't live there, how do we duplicate the results? What's the right level or right kind of protocol to get the same results? If you're like me, I just knock around trying to get it as right as possible, but I'm never sure. As long as customers are happy 98 percent of the time, I figure I'm in the ballpark. But could I do better?
Is a set of generally accepted protocols the best we can do? This was the question haunting Dan Kittredge and the one he wanted to solve. Kittredge surmised that if an empirical test to determine quality could be created, then each of us could measure against a standard and customize our protocols to our place. Maybe the weak link on one farm is heat stress, so investing in mobile shade or silvopasture is the next step. On another farm, perhaps forage brix is the weak link so accelerating mineral and organic matter accumulation in the soil is the next step.
Kittredge eventually founded the Bionutrient Food Association dedicated to the idea that regardless of protocols, we should all be producing the most nutrient-dense food possible. Coupled with that is the notion that the market will pay more for nutrient- dense foods. And of course the assumption is that nutrient density varies dramatically from carrot to carrot, or T-bone to T-bone. Furthermore, Kittredge envisioned the ultimate Uberization for determination: an affordable handheld device that could identify the nutrient density of products.
If you're a fan of "NCIS" and Abby's crime lab, you're familiar with her ultra- computer called a mass spectrometer. She can feed it a drop of paint and it'll tell all the ingredients. She can put in a piece of paper and it spits out every compound involved in the paper-making process. This is real technology we already have.
Kittredge wondered if such technology could be micro-duplicated to a hand-held device, and if it were, what would "nutrient dense" ingredients look like. In other words, it's not enough to just know what's in a food item; it's only meaningful if you know whether those ratios, or rates of expression, are excellent, fair, or poor.
He needed not only the data, but a database against which to compare any similar food item to know how it rated.
This multi-year project, as sci-fi sounding as it seemed to me back in 2007, is now entering the realm of possibility. So first, let me give kudos to this enterprising young visionary; we need more like him and I congratulate him on his tenacity through multiple set-backs, both scientific and financial. In 2017 his team built the first real usable and successful prototype hand-held spectrometer. In his words, "this is the first hand-held, consumer-level tool designed to allow anyone to assess relative food quality in real time." It's called the Bionutrient SpectroMeter.
Building a lab to consolidate and test results, this year his team released its first data to prove the concept and verify their long-held hypothesis of variations in seemingly identical food products. The results are astounding. Kittredge says "as far as we are aware, this is the first of its kind in scope and depth. The findings were more astounding than even I had anticipated."
They aren't doing meat yet. They're starting with simple things. One item was iron in spinach, which is touted as a good source of iron by dieticians worldwide. Measured in parts per million, they found spinach leaves varied from almost 0 to nearly 1400, a variation of 1800 percent.
As Kittredge points out, "depending on how a given carrot or leaf of spinach was produced, this means it could have 4-18 times more nutrients than one produced poorly. To be conservative, if we were only to consider the low end of the data, it means that one high quality carrot would have the same nutritional value as four low quality carrots."
As if that wasn't enough to raise eyebrows, he added, "When we looked at the more complex health-giving compounds like antioxidants and polyphenols, the variation was even higher: between 75:1 and 200:1. In the real world, this would mean that the best carrot we sampled had in it the same total amount of polyphenols as 200 of the worst carrots we sampled." The obvious question, as you eat that carrot for lunch, is this: what kind of carrot am I eating?
For all of us who have wrestled with subjective inspectors, compromise and adulteration in the government organic program, animal welfare certification weirdness and the rest of these supposedly independent third party programs, what Kittredge and the Bionutrient folks are attempting is nothing short of paradigm-breaking. The Savory Institute launched its Eco-Verified program a couple of years ago and is trying to get traction by measuring soil cover and health. That data collection, as scientific as it is, still allows for significant subjectivity. This spectrometer system, however, is far less subject to human biases. It puts the consumer in the driver's seat without regard to certification agencies, paperwork, or government inspectors. It's far closer to pure science and measures what is first and foremost in the consumer's mind: am I getting what I'm paying for? Imagine the value of one good carrot versus 200 poor ones.
A nationwide voluntary effort using citizen scientists shepherded by Kittredge and his team is now accumulating data to create benchmarks. The spectrometer cannot tell you what is good or bad unless it knows the benchmarks, and that can only be established from thousands of samples. That's where the project is right now.
Imagine if a consumer could walk down a supermarket aisle, or at farmers' market, whip out this cell-phone sized monitor, wand the item, and know in real time if it's better or worse than standard. That would be a game changer, and that is where this is headed. That's why I call this the ultimate Uberization of food choices. Empirical measuring, in real time, gets rid of certification agencies, inspectors, and paperwork.
While it's true that it may not measure some aspects that are important in the marketplace, like worker treatment, animal treatment, or soil development, I would suggest that the actual nutrient content will reflect practices that touch many of these peripheral practices. And it would be hard to cheat.
Anyone who loves authenticity and honesty should be excited about this development in the good food space. Undoubtedly it will create some embarrassment. Some of us may find out that our products are not as good as we thought. But at least we can know who has the best, visit them, share information, and all float our boats to a more consistently valuable level. That's reason to celebrate.
The Stockman Grass Farmer
https://bionutrient.org/site/download/JoelSalatin_Nov2019.pdf & https://bionutrient.org/site/download/Joel-Salatin-Blessing-SGF.pdf
Bionutrient Food
Thank you to our generous supporters:
Bionutrient Food Association | 411 Sheldon Rd, Barre, MA 01005 | info@bionutrient.org | Tel: +1 (978) 355-1199
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7395
|
__label__wiki
| 0.508285
| 0.508285
|
‘Superspa’ breaks for 2020
I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want... a massage, mani and Jacuzzi please, and make it snappy.
I can’t think of a better antidote to those tough days that life throws at you than something fragrant and pampering to look forward to. Here are the ones I’d most like to be floating blissfully around in a fluffy white robe in the coming months – and we’re not just talking any old spas here. We’re talking the blockbuster, A list, dream destinations that everyone is talking about. Because you’re worth it, obvs.
The Langley, Bucks
The Langley opened last summer after a mega five year build and it really is a stunner (read my review here). Head underground and you’ll find a luxe superspa, the second biggest underground spa in Europe, with 1600 sq m of luxury, plus the only hotel hammam outside of London. The spa also features exclusive VIP suites, an amethyst crystal steam room, female only areas, heated relaxation loungers, plunge pool, ice fountain, five treatment rooms, two thermal areas, a remarkable Himalayan salt sauna. I can tell you from personal experience that it’s drop dead gorgeous and, well, you’ll want to stay forever. A treatment list to boot including a range of massages, facials, hair treatments, manicures/ pedicures, waxing, men’s services and fitness counselling. FYI fitness guru Matt Roberts has a gym here too if you want to book in for some buns of steel (yours not his).
Stoke Park, Bucks
One of world’s must-visit spas, according to Vanity Fair and pretty damn fine – the spa is situated in The Pavillion with it’s own set of 28 bedrooms if you fancy a relaxing weekender, plus top-notch facilities – an indoor heated pool, Italian marble steam rooms, Scandinavian Suana, hot tub, nail bar and five meter tropical aquarium because why the hell not? Running from Jan – Mar is a Sensory Spa Retreat including full use of the spa, a full body aromatherapy massage with the option of a warming lava shell (alright, go on then!) and two course lunch (cost: £135, £170 if you want a facial thrown in).
Spa Illuminata, Danesfield House, Oxon
The sister spa to the groovy Spa Illuminata in Mayfair, the spa at Grade II listed, late Victorian, five star Danesfield House is accessed via a glass walkway from the main hotel. The star of the show is the gorgeous, glittering 20m indoor pool and poolside jacuzzi, plus there’s a huge range of treatments on offer including a full range of massages, facials and holistic treatments such as Reflexology and Reiki. There are loads of Spa packages available, but if you opt for an overnighter at the hotel then you get full access to the facilitates including the gym and fitness classes.
Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire
David Beckham’s favourite hangout (he lives next door) and Meghan Markle’s hen-do venue is a member’s club but book an overnight stay and you’re free to roam amongst the beautiful people. There’s an excellent Cowshed spa on site, a large gym in the basement, a hair salon and a show-stopping indoor/outdoor pool with views across 100 picture-perfect acres of Oxfordshire countryside.
Cottonmill Spa, Sopwell House, Herts
Brand spanking new this year, Cottonmill Spa is the UK’s first private members’ spa located on Sopwell House’s 12 acres of gorgeous countryside (you’d never guess it’s just a one hour drive from London). The spa cost £14m *yikes* to build and is three storeys of state-of-the-art facilities including an organic sauna, a plethora of steam rooms, vitality pools and high-tech gym. Members have access to signature treatments that harness the soothing and healing powers of sand and water like thermal therapy on an Amber & Quartz Crystal Bed, and bespoke hydrotherapy. There’s also a stunning spa garden created by award-winning garden designer Ann-Marie Powell along with luxe touches like Tom Dixon lighting, Dyson Supersonic hairdryers and sensory showers.
House Spa, Dormy House, Broadway
How utterly heavenly does this infinity pool look? House Spa at luxury Cotswolds retreat Dormy House has top-notch facilities (and a bucketload of awards to boot) including soothing lavender sauna and salt-infusion steam room. Treatments all come from cutting-edge brands Natura Bisse, Temple Spa and Pure Massage plus you can have a pop at golf or, erm, quad biking afterwards if that’s what floats your boat. Individual treatments are available to guests only, but you can book onto a spa day if you’re not sleeping over.
Calcot Manor, nr Tetbury, Gloucs
Calcot Manor is about as quintessentially Cotswolds as it gets – all that gorgeous honey stone and rolling countryside and fit young farmers forking hay with their tops off (hey, just go with it). The spa is a tranquil retreat with headline facilities including an indoor heated 16m pool, sauna, steam room, seven treatment rooms and relaxation lounge but you’ll find us mainlining the outdoor fireside hot tub in the pretty lavender-lined courtyard. The spa’s also kitted out with the latest gym equipment, plus a full timetable of classes from gentle pilates to HITT (tried it once, couldn’t walk for a week). There’s also the option to borrow a bike to cycle around the 220 acre grounds or a racket to hit the tennis courts.
Bamford Spa, Daylesford Farm, Gloucs
Located next to Daylesford Farmshop (spa and shop, anyone? Me, ME!), Bamford Haybarn Spa is an absolute corker of a space and, like everything at Daylesford, has been created in the best possible taste. The spa has an extensive programme of activities in the stunning studio – yoga, meditation, pilates, sound healing, HITT, personal training – and treatments that have a holistic approach, using Bamford’s own range of natural body-care. I have some in my bathroom, it’s divine.
Chewton Glen, Hampshire
Yeah baby. Floor-to-ceiling windows, natural light and heavenly hydrotherapy pools at superluxe, 5* Chewton Glen spa in the New Forest. Lose yourself in the sprawling facilities, including an outdoor Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, 17m swimming pool, and choose from 50+treatments that use delicious beauty products in collaboration with Oskia. Top top: save up for a stay in one of the treehouses – and make sure you leave time between massages for a stroll down to the beach.
Lime Wood Hotel, Hampshire
A sublime chic New Forest hideaway, Lime Wood’s Herb House spa is your spot for a luxe Sarah Chapman facial – which are like gold-dust because they make you emerge resembling a supermodel. There are indoor and outdoor pools, a hydrotherapy suite, a rooftop gym and helipad – phew, I was wondering where to park my chopper. For New Year there’s a special package for two (Jan – Feb, Mon – Thurs) which includes an overnighter, use of the spa and Champers, from £299.
Monkey Island Estate, Bray, Berkshire
It may sound like something out of a Disney theme park but it’s actually a très chichi boutique hotel that opened in April 2019 on an historic private island in the middle of the Thames. The design team behind The Dorchester in London and The Carlyle in New York are conjuring up 41 rooms and suites, from £275 and all with amazing river views, of course, plus – the tour de force – a floating spa on a converted barge. Because, well, why not?
Thames Lido, Reading, Berks
Winner of Best Spa in the Berks Muddy Awards, Thames Lido is as quirky as it is unique. Sandwiched between Reading train station and the River Thames, it’s an oasis of escapism and in a town centre location. Built in Edwardian times as a women’s-only swimming bath, the pool was fed by water from the river (er, gross), but is now a cool, stylish urban retreat with Scandi vibes at its core. The massages are a must, the pool is lusciously low in chlorine and the food is to die for. Spa packages start at £50pp (Twilight package) and goes up to £105pp.
Cliveden House Spa, Taplow, Berks
Strip down like a Sixties showgirl and get yourself to Cliveden Spa. Loved by celebs and royalty, it’s a stylish, light filled space of whites and neutrals with deco-inspired touches. The Grade II listed Profumo pool – where Christine Keeler flouted the no heavy petting rule with John Profumo – is FAB-U-LOUS. Inside, there’s another pool, jacuzzi, infrared sauna, steam room and 7 treatment rooms with the most incredible water mattresses. There’s a gym for anyone suffering from spa guilt (no, me neither) and a lovely cafe. It’s grand, beautiful and a ton of packages to choose, from £140, with overnighter will set you back £367.50pp, based on 2 people sharing a room and includes a 60 minute treatment, full use of the facilities, lunch and breakfast.
Coworth Park, Ascot, Berks
Not the Jetson’s futuristic crash pad, but Coworth Park’s award-winning spa in Ascot. If you’re looking for a spa break that’ll make you feel like a new woman, I’d suggest the Luxury Spa Package. Enjoy three hours of pure indulgence – an 80-minute Carol Joy Time Defying Signature Facial, sculpting eye lift treatment and the Caviar and Collagen Cocoon body treatment. Basically you’ll come out looking 10 years’ young and 10lbs lighter. Amen to that. This spa day costs £350 (a cheeky overnighter starts at £318).
Ragdale Hall, Leics
An awards-magnet, this Leics hotel is a dedicated pampering palace with extensive facilities like this amazing rooftop infinity pool. Romantics can get stuck into the atmospheric candlelit pool and a ‘cave shower’, which mimics being caught in a tropical downpour, complete with thunder and lightning. Full marks for creativity. Not forgetting the vast treatment menu, with 140 therapists for whom your wish is their command. In which case, I’ll take three days of massage with a side order of Chris Hemsworth please.
Aqua Sana Sherwood Forest, Notts
OK, here’s a curveball – this is actually part of Center Parcs which admittedly might not be your first port of call when it comes to a dedicated spa break. But, but, but… in 2019 it was voted best spa in its region by The Good Spa Guide so it’s definitely worth a look. The highlight is the treetop sauna with superb views of the surrounding forest and, with treatment days starting from £79 per person, it won’t break the bank. Center Parcs – who’d have thought it, eh?
Any utterly brilliant UK spas I’ve missed off the supers list? Let me know in the comment box below. It’s my duty to try them all.
MassageSpasWellbeing
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7414
|
__label__cc
| 0.71584
| 0.28416
|
Questions to deniers of traditional view on Rebirth
If there's no rebirth, what happens after death of a non-arahant? Does a new life ensue dependent on the one which has just ended?
Rebirth is tightly connected with kamma.
a) Do you observe ripening of all results of wholesome and unwholesome actions in the current life?
b) If you don't, what's in your opinion the fate of those kammas which haven't produced result in the current life?
Current existence is traditionally thought of as being a manifestation of kamma amassed in previous existences.
If there's no rebirth, current life hasn't been preceded by any other existence which would contribute its kamma to it.
How do you then explain differences between people and their experiences, which in MN 135 in particular are explained through kamma?
From experience (one salient example is fate of many Nazi war criminals) it's known that retribution for deeds both evil and good often doesn't occur in the current life (yet the law of kamma somehow needs to operate), it's also unlikely that aranantship will be achieved in the current existence.
Without afterlife and no arahantship in sight, what then should be incentive to do good and deterrent against doing evil?
If a person doesn't attain nibbana in the current life, isn't there any hope for them?
karma rebirth reincarnation secular-buddhism
Баян Купи-ка
Баян Купи-каБаян Купи-ка
1. If there's no rebirth, what happens after death of a non-arahant? Does a new life ensue dependent on the one which has just ended?
Life continues all the time. New lives inherit some characteristics from previous lives. Information is rarely lost completely. Influences carry on. They are not necessarily linear 1:1, but due to grasping some people may identify with a previous life.
2. Rebirth is tightly connected with kamma. a) Do you observe ripening of all results of wholesome and unwholesome actions in the current life?
Nope. Some are latent until a following life or lives. The question is, whose life?
3. Current existence is traditionally thought of as being a manifestation of kamma amassed in previous existences.
Not correct. This is an eternalistic view. There are influences from the past sure, but the experience of current existence is primarily an interpretation we make in the here and now.
Previous lives did contribute. Not necessarily your lives.
4. If a person doesn't attain Nibbana in the current life, isn't there any hope for them?
For them? Sure there's hope for them. But not for the dead John Smith, right?
To summarize, there are past and future lives, OUR lives. There's karmic influence that carries on. There's identification with a living organism in this life, or with a story from a past life. There's hope for and fear of a future life, due to craving.
There's no entity or identity that carries on from life to life, only disjointed influences. In fact, even in this life it is the same, the assemblage of disjointed influences into a bundle is a magic trick performed by the grasping mind.
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
in this case there's no point in deliberate attempts of escaping from samsara, one is automatically freed from it at the moment of death, and by extention there's no point in the entire Dhamma because ultimate cessation of suffering isn't likely to occur in the current life anyway – Баян Купи-ка Oct 4 '17 at 15:34
I remember several questions around this concern, let me see if I can find them... – Andrei Volkov♦ Oct 4 '17 at 15:42
1) buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/21928/… 2) buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/21298/buddhism-on-suicide 3) buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2122/… 4) buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/3721/… – Andrei Volkov♦ Oct 4 '17 at 17:16
5) buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/22718/… 6) buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/22706/… 7) buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/8973/… – Andrei Volkov♦ Oct 4 '17 at 17:17
8) buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/15023/… 9) buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/7469/… – Andrei Volkov♦ Oct 4 '17 at 17:18
I'm not a denier of literal rebirth but my understanding is thus:
For an ordinary person, until concentration and wisdom are developed to the levels that allow him to stop identiftying with the aggregates, karma and subsequent births make sense to him and can even attract him to the Path out of suffering.
In later stages, as Samidhi I think asks the Buddha "who feels" and the Buddha says that that is anwrong question and answers "dependent on contact there is feeling", we no longer see a person but conditioned phenomena so we can use this to further stop identifying until release.
Gradual training starts with sila which is related to karma.
No point in fighting about this. Everybody is right:)
The Dhamma is a raft!
Disclaimer: I'm in fact not sure where you stand on rebirth, whether you deny it or just dismiss as unimportant.
I consider 'birth' ('jati') to refer to the production of the view ('ditthi') of 'a being' ('satta'), per SN 12.2, SN 23.2, SN 5.10, SN 22.81, etc. Therefore, I do not deny 're-birth', which is the re-production of this self-view or self-identity (MN 44) of 'a being', both internally & externally. My personal research on 're-birth' can be read at this link.
'Death' ('marana'), similar to 'birth' ('jati'), is a self-view about the death of 'a being', per SN 12.2, SN 23.2, SN 5.10, etc.
The sutta says arahants are not only not subject to 'birth' but they are also not subject to death (per MN 140; SN 22.85). The Dhammapada states arahants do not die but non-arahants are dead already.
Given the questioner is also a student of Xianism, they should understand 'birth' (per Nicodemus) & 'death' do not always have a physical meaning.
Therefore, the minds of non-arahants are subject to birth & death of self-views & self-identities.
As for a new life ('jiva') after the termination of life, this idea or speculation arises in minds that cling to & crave for life. It is a natural instinct that people do not want to die and wish for new life or eternal life, which is why religion is very popular.
2. Rebirth is tightly connected with kamma.
Absolutely. MN 117 states kamma & results ('rebirth') is a mundane teaching siding with merit & attachment. What this means is the results of kamma is always taken personally, such as "I did good", "I did bad", "I am happy", "I am unhappy". Kamma has self-view, unless it is noble kamma that ends kamma (per AN 6.63).
Noble practitioners have ended kamma. However, result of kamma can only be observed in this life. SN 12.25; AN 6.63, etc, state there can be no kamma without contact.
All kamma produces a result in the present & also future. For example, if my mind gets angry or annoyed, my body & mind become stressed. This stress is a result of kamma. The most small act of clinging produces a result of dukkha, which is why MN 140 & elsewhere states conceiving 'self' is a dart, a tumour, a cancer. In the 1st noble truth, the Buddha summarised 100% of dukkha as 'upadana' ('attachment'). But in MN 26, Buddha said this generation that delights in attachment cannot see attachment is dukkha. That is why this generation believes attachment to a wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, child, etc, is happiness.
No. I do not believe a Buddha can teach this. It is only a view of those who reject the Dhamma is visible here & now.
The sutta (SN 35.145) about "old kamma" refers to the sense organs (not the aggregates) and says they "ought to be viewed as old kamma", which means the noble practitioner should not let the mind drift back to the past, thinking about old kamma but, instead, focus on the sense organs.
This question is irrational because we know life comes from the sperm & ovum of our parents & we know the kammic or otherwise random events that have lead to our fortune & misfortune in life. Kamma is intention. A new born child is only born with very primal instincts. Please refer to MN 64 about a new born child.
MN 12, SN 14.15, etc, say the difference among people occur due to the 'elements' ('dhatu'), just as the modern science of nature (genetics) vs nurture. AN 3.61 states present life experience is not due to past kamma.
There is no evidence the Buddha spoke MN 135, considering its views are only found in two suttas. Also, MN 135 refers to worldly conditions rather than to happiness & suffering, which the other kamma teachings are about. Also, the worldly conditions in MN 135 are found in many other suttas as states of mind, such as spiritual beauty, spiritual wealth, etc. Also, if MN 135 referred to physical conditions, it is obviously false, since the most wealthy people in the world have acquired their wealthy via very evil means. It is ridiculous to say the Rockefellers, Rothschilds, Bush Family, George Soros, etc, are wealthy due to past good kamma. Rational people understand the wealthy families of the world often gained their wealth via colonialism, exploitation, murder & evil. Many of the most wealthy people & families in the world engage in wrong livelihood.
Regardless, MN 135 is not the Dhamma. It is a sutta spoken to a non-Buddhist Brahman student and anyone who takes it seriously cannot, imo, be considered a noble Buddhist.
The Dhammapada states the heedless are as if dead already. The Buddha remained silent when asked would he save all sentient beings. The last chapter of the SN states all beings who do not realise the 4NTs will take rebirth in hell (dukkha). The Dhammapada compares the people of the world to a rubbish heap.
If there was a next life, those who do not reach stream-entry in this life would not get closer to Nibbana in a future life because no amount of morality alone can result in stream-entry.
I have not read any suttas where the Buddha taught puthujjana laypeople they might reach Nibbana in future lives. The Buddha did not teach about Nibbana to puthujjana laypeople. In his loving-kindness, the Buddha generally taught laypeople if they do good kamma they will have a 'heavenly' ('happy') 'rebirth'. He did not teach them after eons in heaven they will be reborn in hell.
Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless. Heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful die not. The heedless are as if dead already.
Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing.
Even so, on the rubbish heap of blinded mortals the disciple of the Supremely Enlightened One shines resplendent in wisdom.
Blind is the world; here only a few possess insight. Only a few, like birds escaping from the net, go to realms of bliss.
To conclude, I have not read in the Pali suttas the role of Buddhism is to save all sentient beings, let alone seek to convert or attract unsuitable people to Buddhism. Originally, the scriptures say the Buddha determined to teach only those with little dust in their eyes. Buddhism is not the same as Christianity, which condemns non-believers.
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat. – Andrei Volkov♦ Oct 4 '17 at 19:06
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged karma rebirth reincarnation secular-buddhism or ask your own question.
Secular Buddhism and Suicide
If there's no “self” then why should I care about the future lives and nirvana?
Why is life so important?
Can a stream enterer commit suicide?
Impermanence, nonexistance of self, meaning of life
Is suicide similar to Nibbana?
Buddhism on suicide
Justifying the Four Noble Truths without rebirth
Suttas where Buddha taught laypeople after heaven they will be reborn in hell?
“Idea of reincarnation(rebirth) is due to craving for existence”
if rebirth/reincarnation is true then what is your first birth/incarnation?
Consciousness, death and reincarnation
What are the traditional Buddhist arguments for rebirth?
Does DN2 and MN36 provide an irrefutable statement on the fact of rebirth?
Questions about strong acceptance of rebirth?
Is the belief in no rebirth conditioned by craving?
What is right view regarding rebirth?
Will someone explain rebirth and the differences between reincarnation?
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7415
|
__label__cc
| 0.504744
| 0.495256
|
Tag Archives: Codon Devices
by Steve Dickman | May 25, 2010 · 11:48 am
Venter Builds a Bacterium – and a Bio+Technology Company
For a glimpse at the future of biotechnology, we recommend this week’s Economist cover story on Craig Venter and his Science paper describing the creation of a bacterium with a synthetic genome. The accomplishment, which made front pages around the world on Thursday*, reflects a high-profile step along the winding path to a new industry. The new bio+technology will practice true genetic engineering on genomes and organisms, yielding predictable and practical results including – one hopes – cheap and environmentally friendly biofuels.
The Economist story along with an accompanying editorial is available without charge here. The Science paper is similarly free here.
The Economist has done its usual thorough job in this piece. The science and technology editor of many years, Geoff Carr, demanded and got the cover for the story, not to mention three full pages inside. That’s unusual treatment for a science piece. The piece, unattributed, lays out the case for why Venter’s creation is so remarkable: “the first creature since the beginning of creatures that has no ancestor.” As you see from this example, the treatment is somewhat breathless (cue the Frankenstein metaphor) but also persuasive:
• We learn the limitations of Venter’s organism, cobbled together as it was from the carcass of an enucleated bacterium in which the new genome hijacked the cadaver’s protein synthesis machinery.
• We learn the status of Boston-based academic projects like the RNA-based self-replicating life forms that Harvard’s (Nobel laureate) Jack Szostak hopes to create that can mimic what early life may have looked like in a primordial “RNA world.”
• And we learn of next-stage projects like that of another Harvard professor, George Church http://arep.med.harvard.edu/gmc/, who is attempting to engineer a protein-synthesizing ribosome from scratch.
• Finally, we learn the magazine’s view that although technology, which until now been mostly of academic interest, is perhaps still nothing more than a parlor trick (the magazine calls it a “stunt”), there is one big reason to believe that re-engineering of microorganisms is the next big step toward true bio+technology.
That reason derives largely from two diverging exponential curves: the rising productivity of efforts to synthesize DNA; and the cost of said synthesis, which is plummeting. This application of “Moore’s law” leads directly to the conclusion that ever-fancier tricks will lead to ever-more practical and powerful end products, which might include carbon-dioxide-eating, gasoline-producing bacteria. At least this is what Venter wants investors in his company Synthetic Genomics to believe. The case is strengthened by this publication, although in July, 2009, presumably even before the paper was even submitted to Science, Exxon Mobil had promised to invest as much as $600 million in Synthetic Genomics.
Figure 1: Exponential improvement in the availability of (some of) the stuff of life (Courtesy The Economist)
And therein lies an interesting twist not covered in the article: how the race for a new organism is playing out on the commercial side. It is just thirteen months since the Boston Globe (in April, 2009) announced the demise of the Boston area’s entry to the gene synthesis race, a now-defunct, then five-year-old biotech company called Codon Devices. Codon Devices, a CBT Advisors client, went to market with a strategy of selling synthetic DNA. The company had high-profile advisors, including Church and then-MIT professor Drew Endy, also quoted here. Codon did not lack for high-profile investors, who included Kleiner Perkins, Alloy Ventures and the Boston area’s own Flagship Ventures and Highland Capital. Its corporate slides, presented at BIO 2006 in Chicago, even mentioned “Moore’s law in biology” as a selling point. But the assumption that “if you build it they will come” did not work for a DNA factory. There was a lack of demand for DNA, even long stretches of it, at premium prices.
Codon’s problems included the main one mentioned by the Globe: lack of ability to raise additional venture money during a financial crisis and an IPO drought. But in retrospect it also seems like the company did not forward integrate quickly enough into lucrative end markets, preferring instead to try to supply them all and try thereby to capitalize on its technology advantages. Other gene synthesis companies have recently moved beyond selling genes (e.g. California-based DNA 2.0, which just signed a strategic alliance with a protein expression company) or been sold off (GeneArt in Germany, bought by Life Technologies last month).
Venter’s firm was never content to stop at DNA synthesis alone. It forward-integrated all the way to a new and interesting form of life. Synthetic Genomics has also been quicker and more efficient – not to mention having Venter himself as its marquee spokesman – at finding a deep-pocketed and thus far sustainable base of investors.
We agree that synthetic biology has the potential to be the future of biotech. That’s why we are calling the field it is spawning bio+technology. It will take not just cheap DNA but brilliant bio-architects doing more than parlor tricks to make the new industry a reality.
*The Belfast Telegraph jumped the gun and broke the Science embargo on publication early on Thursday. That landed the story at the top of the web sites of newspapers and scientific journals around the world a day or so ahead of the original plan.
Tagged as Alloy Ventures, Codon Devices, Craig Venter, DNA 2.0, Drew Endy, Economist, Flagship Ventures, gene synthesis, GeneArt, George Church, Harvard, Highland Capital, Jack Szostak, Kleiner Perkins, MIT, Science, Synthetic Genomics
|
cc/2020-05/en_middle_0032.json.gz/line7419
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.